After a moment, Aldren seemed to recall the boys and Talvek suggesting to Fhingle that he take them back home. ”I’m not much good at searching places like this. I’ll take Ba and the boys back up, then be back in a minute.”
And so, with his holy symbol displayed, Aldren went back to join Fhingle/Ba. He spoke to the boys directly but in a soft tone of voice. ”We are going to get you out of here now and my friend Ba is going to take you back to your parents. Before we go, I want you to know the people who did this to you can’t hurt you any more. They can’t hurt anyone ever again. But know if that if you are harmed — you, your family or anyone you love — you can ask Calistria or her priests to avenge those wrongs. Just look for someone or a building with a symbol like this,” he tapped the tri-dagger symbol.
”And tell your family and friends that the Silver Ravens are back, and they’re going to save Kintargo. Now...” he clasped the boys in their shoulders and looked at Fhingle, ”Let’s get these boys back to their families, yes?”
Lubella spoke to Aldren privately, "Give me a couple of minutes to make the entrance area a little less traumatic for the twins. There's still going to be a lot of blood, but at least I'll get the corpses out of view. They've been through enough as it is."
She went ahead to the cultists' quarters and pulled the bodies into the rooms and closed the doors. "OK, bring them through now." She remained in communication through her spell until the boys and Fhingle were safely outside.
Afterwards she spoke with the remaining Ravens, "Let's make our search here quick; we don't have time today to explore the whole complex. We still have to track down Rexus before something terrible happens to him."
The priest listened to Lubella’s plan to move the bodies and sighed inwardly though maintained a kind expression. ”Of course, if you think that’s best...”
Privately, he thought seeing the bodies would bring a sense of closure and maybe even help sow the seeds for a new generation of hunters and assassins for the faith, but it was likely the halfling was right. Too much and they could wind up just as bad as these cultists...
He helped Fhingle guide the boys out when Lubella signaled to do so.
Lubella noted the sculptures depicting Mahathallah's daily transformation. While she could appreciate the artwork, they would have to be removed.
As the party mulls around and gathers the boys to return home, Aldren with daydreams of taking the fight to Thrune, enters the room to grasp the golden skull. As he does so, there is a deafening boom as an explosion rocks the room and the Half Elf.
DC17 for half
After his ears stop ringing and he is patched up a bit, he finds the skull appears to be real gold (250gp) but also contains 4 vials of water that look unsavory at best...and make Lubella and Fhingle especially uncomfortable to be near.
The boys ask What was that noise? Can we leave now?
Those in the hall see a pair of immense iron doors standing closed, blocking passage further east.
A short message has been written onto the doors in precise script,
along with a symbol of an armored fish.
The symbol is that of the Order of the Torrent
The note appears aged, obviously left here decades
ago, the script, written in Infernal, reads,
“These doors sealed by the Order of the Torrent;
all holdings within awaiting arbitration.
Lady of Graves, have mercy on the souls of
those who perished within, and may the Guildmasters of
the Gray Spiders burn for their sins.”
"You OK Finch?", Lubella asked Aldren, after she determined that no enemies had made a sudden appearance.
Having a look at the double doors, she pointed at the armored fish design and told the others, "That's the symbol of the Order of the Torrent. Maybe we should talk to Octavio before we try to open them."
She looked closely at the doors, trying to spot any sign of a trap.
Talvek gathers up what seems important and prepares to leave. "Yes, we should talk to the lictor before trying to access that part of the complex. Shall we get the boys home and then search for Rexus?"
After being tossed on his backside with ears ringing, Aldren began laughing. ”By the Nine Hells!!! That hurt!”
He stood up, shook himself off, and cast a quick spell of healing.
The worst of the nascent bruises and contusions were washed away.
”I agree we hold off on searching the rest of this place until talking to these new allies of yours. I need to pray for another spell to find Rexus’s cane. It’ll take about 10 minutes. If we are all walking the boys back, I can do it later. If we’re willing to let Ba do it, I can do it here while you do a more detailed search of the areas we’ve found so far.”
You are able to help Aldren regain his feet and patch him up while the boys are being prepared for the trek back to the streets and home.
Nothing else noted on the sealed doors.There are no further issues as the entire complex appears to have been deserted or neutralized as you make your way back to the surface.
You reach the streets and the sun is still bright in the sky.
Seeing no immediate threat after the sonic blast, Sidius casts another healing spell on Aldren.
Sidius suggests, "Let's send Ba with the boys and try to find our missing friend while we still can?"
Fhingle offers to take the boys back to their parents (and collect their rewards) :)
Oh thank you...thank you Master Ba...and your henchmen for saving us.
The rest of you try to figure out another path to sweep with Aldren's locate spell.
Lubella took some notes about the Lucky Bones, including the inscription on the sealed doors, for later discussion with Octavio. She wanted to write down what they had found while it was still fresh in her mind.
When Fhingle took the boys back to their parents, she talked to the the rest of the team, "Now we have to decide where to do our magical search for Rexus. One possibility would be to search in Old Kintargo, from the docks to the old courthouse; another option is to check in Redroof, from the Fantasmagorium to the Fair Fortune Livery."
Fhingle and the boys are actually able to travel with the rest of you as Aldren checks for vibes from the missing aristocrat.
The boys run as they approach their apartment, calling out to their parents in job and tears.
Mamma! Papa! We are home!
The landlady spots them first.
Mr. and Mrs. Shellet! Come down here! They found Angus and Phenio!
The parents come down and drop to their knees as they hug their lads in disbelief.
Sobbing How...where...oh boys! We looked everywhere! Are you both really ok?
---
Aldren's scans are completed during or after the drop off, but he does not ping anything from Rexus's cane.
Lubella watched the reunion from the street. She didn't need to give everyone another good close-up look at her face, so she kept her distance. She smiled and nodded to the Shellets, You're welcome.
She was disappointed that they still hadn't detected Rexus. Where have you gone, you fool?
She spoke to her comrades, "I guess the only other place to scan on this side of the river is Redroof, or the castle. Anyway, we've done what we can for today. Let's talk to Octavio about the Lucky Bones, and see what he recommends. I'd to get his take before we try those doors."
Talvek is disguised again as they take to the streets, hiding his tiefling features and masking his armour and weapons under his cloak. With a grin at the happy reunion and a wave at the Shellet family, he turns to the task at hand again.
"Many things could have gone differently than what we imagine, so let's not lose hope. We can ask some of the teams to keep an eye out for him, ask around. Until then, talking to Octavio seems like our best course of action."
If his life had depended on it, Aldren couldn't recall what disguise he'd worn when he'd met the parents and, if he was going to be parading about on some sort of carriage, he thought appearing as himself -- an arrogant, haughty son of a nobleman -- might actually help in dismissing any overly curious dottari, so he did not call forth a disguise. He did, however, thank Sidius for the additional healing.
When his own spell failed to find Rexus, his irritation was evident. "Well... if he's not dead yet and we ever do find him, I may kill him myself."
When the others began talking about Octavio, he asked, "Anything I should know about this Octavio? You seem to trust him. Is he one of the blokes I heard you'd rescued from the excruciation?"
Thank you. As we are the twins’ parents, Morten and
Cessei Shellet.
They smile between tears.
As you know, we are just poor common folk who live here in the
Iudeimus Tenement. We have no real way to repay you for resucing our boys but know that we are incredibly
grateful and offer all our savings in reward.
The man hands Fhingle a bag of coins.
The woman shouts with exuberance.
But we will spread the word to every corner of Kintargo of your honorable deeds in gratitude for all you have done for us! Nay for the entire city!
===
The sun has pushed past noon while you traversed the city and now early afternoon approaches.
Aldren stared at the bag of coins the Shellets shoved towards Fhingle with an unusually flat expression. On one hand, he didn’t want to dismiss a gesture of gratitude or demean those who clearly loved their sons. On the other, the paltry amount of coinage was clearly of more value in the Shellets’ hands than their own, or at least Aldren’s.
”Um, Master Ba, Mr. and Mrs. Shellet, if I may... I think you should keep your coin. Saving your boys was the right thing to do. They’re going to need you, and you may need that gold to help them and yourselves in the days ahead. It’s a kind gesture, but I wouldn’t feel right taking your savings. Knowing they’re back with parents who love them is... enough.”
In response to Aldren's question about Octavio, Lubella replied, "He's the leader of their order. He had gone into hiding at the Shrine of Saint Senex in the marsh south of the city. With our help, he returned to the city and has joined his Armigers at the Tooth and Nail."
She had also felt uneasy about accepting the Shellet's life savings, and supported Aldren's unexpected display of generosity, "Your kind words are most appreciated. Thank us by helping a neighbor in need — that's what we need more of in Kintargo these days."
After bidding farewell to the Shellets, she told her friends, "OK, I'm starving after all that fighting and searching. Let's get some lunch and check in with our Torrent friends." Indeed, she had completely missed elevenses this morning.
The Shellets can't stop thanking you...but their boys, also ready for a few missed meals usher them into their small apartment and wave goodbye.
We will never forget what you have done champions of Kintargo!
With a final wave, they close their door, leaving you to the streets and to find a suitable place to dine...knowing that the Tooth and Nail will no longer be serving the sweet torts some of you had grown accustomed to enjoy.
As the door shut behind the happily reunited family, Aldren stared at the Shellet's tenement for a moment, his jaw slowly tightening as his gaze seemed to drift through the building to something beyond. He began to speak to himself in a voice that was soothing yet baleful. "Aku ngelingi jaman kepungkur; Aku nggagas kabeh tumindak lan nimbang apa sing wis ditindakake tangan." He repeated it several times until the tension faded.
Visibly more relaxed but still quiet, he then turned and followed the others, expressing no opinion as to their destination or next set of priorities. However, at one point he said to Talvek, "Sometime, I'd like to talk with you about last night. I owe you an apology... several, actually."
Talvek understands both the words and the meaning of the prayer, but remains silent. After all they had seen and heard in the last few weeks, it was difficult not to want those responsible punished, and perhaps visit that revenge on them yourself.
As the half-elf addresses him, Talvek smiles and claps Aldren on the shoulder. "I appreciate it. I'm happy to talk, but know that there's room in my heart for only one grudge, and you would have to work considerably harder than this to usurp my... father's place." There is a perceptible hesitation as Talvek talks about his father, and a tightening of his features.
Sidius notes the muttering, understanding the words but not the religious nature of them. He considers interjecting before noting the calming effect they seem to have, Maybe it's some sort of mantra...
He then says, "I had thought our priority was to take a carrige tour in search of Rexus - if that's not the case, then speaking to Octavio would seem a good idea... and one that shouldn't take too long, compared to some other tasks we might set out to accomplish."
Lubella understood the basics of what Aldren said, having learned some Infernal herself. She suspected it was something to do with revenge, perhaps waiting for the right moment, since that was a big part of Calistria'a religion. The focus on vengeance was troubling, but she didn't think she could bring about the needed change in Kintargo just by working with followers of Sarenrae and Shelyn. The church of Asmodeus was very strong, and a broad-based coalition was needed to overcome it. So working with the Calistrian faith was, on balance, the way to accomplish the greater good. Besides, she liked Aldren, and he had been a great help so far.
She stayed out of the discussion of family resentments. Her own experience had been a close bond with her father, so it was hard to relate to Aldren and Talvek's grudges. Her relationship with her mother had been more stormy during her teenage years, but they had made peace with each other when she matured into an adult.
She turned to the discussion of what do do next, "I could certainly do with a good rest before we tackle another dangerous task. Talking to Octavio shouldn't be too arduous."
Most people would have missed it, but those who had spent time with the half-elf might have seen the slight twitch around his left eye and cheek with Talvek's response, almost a wince. But he flashed one of his too-bright smiles and quipped, "And let's keep it that way, hmm? There's only so much room in this town for moody, grudge-bearing yet devilishly handsome rakes and, sorry, but I've got that job! You can't have it!"
Brought out his thoughts, he said to Lubella and Sidius, he said, "Food would be good. I threw up the little bit I had this morning and I'm afraid my stomach is going to bring down part of the town if it rumbles much more. Maybe we can grab something and share it with this Octavio fellow and his lads."
The Calistrian didn't much fancy the idea of time with Hellknights, even for a relatively well-intentioned order such as the Torrent. As a collective, their reputation as doctrinaire and rigid enforcers of the law did not appeal to a purveyor of vice and lies. But, unknowingly mirroring Lubella's own thoughts, strange times made for strange bedfellows. Hmm, come to think of it, a hellknight may make a pretty decent bedfellow...
His mood seemed to have improved significantly.
The trip back to the Tooth and Nail is relatively quick and without incident.
Setrona greets you as you enter.
Hello friends! How can I help you? I trust your business this morning have been fruitful. I hope you are not hungry as unfortunately my usual order of tarts did not arrive. Very unusual. She adds with a shrug.
But I can give you a drink or some rolls from last night.
Hellknight Lector Octavio emerges from a back room at the sound of your voice.
Hail. What news do you bring of your investigation?
"Hi Setrona," Lubella said cheerfully as she walked in the door. Once she was sure that no-one else would overhear the conversation, she continued, "We have some good news and some bad news:
"The good news is that we rescued the twins that went missing from the Iudeimus Tenement! They were being held in the Lucky Bones by some evil cultists of Mahathallah — about to become human sacrifices. We wiped out the cult, so the danger to the population should be over.
"The bad news is that you're going to need a new supplier for your morning tarts; Lucella was the cult leader! And a changeling, as it turns out."
She summoned Octavio over and summarized the battle against the cultists, then gave a basic description of the Lucky Bones basement. "Further on, there was a set of double doors, with an inscription written on it, along with the symbol of your order."
She pulled out her notebook to make sure she got the wording correct. "The inscription is written in Infernal; translated it reads,
“These doors sealed by the Order of the Torrent; all holdings within awaiting arbitration.
Lady of Graves, have mercy on the souls of those who perished within, and may the Guildmasters of the Gray Spiders burn for their sins.”
"We didn't open the doors; we wanted to get the boys back to their parents. I thought we should talk to you before we explore any further."
Setrona is nearly dropped to the floor in shock. NO! That cannot be! I trusted her. Oh no! she sobs as she realizes she had been duped by the cult leader.
Octavio takes more interest in the sealed door as Lubella explains.
Yes, you have done well in destroying the cultists. Members of my Order of the Torrent sealed those doors after raiding the Gray Spiders some 40 years before I took the office of Lictor for the order. he pauses in thought or recollection.
I had long wondered what might have been sealed away in the chambers below the Lucky Bones, but lack of resources—and concerns
what I might uncover could very well be the final straw
in destroying the order’s reputation—stayed my hand. he continues, pained by some guilt or shame.
You must understand, the very existence of these chambers has remained a secret for these 4 decades, and now, in an ironic turn,
the same order that put a final end to the Silver Ravens
so long ago may provide clues lost in time and a base of operations yet undiscovered by the Thrunes.
It is obvious now the Hellknights of my Order chose these doors as the site of the seal for their intrinsic strength and their role as a choke point in the dungeon layout, trapping within those they could not extract for justice.
Talvek nods thoughtfully at Octavio's revelations. "Then it was a good thing we did not open them in our depleted state after fighting Mahathallah's cultists." The tiefling turns to the others. "Shall we try to rest now, and resume our activities later? We still have the letter to deliver, which should be best done at night. Then we can continue our exploration of the Lucky Bones while the teams search for Rexus or any word of him."
Aldren was crestfallen when greeted with word there was nothing to eat but stale bread. As the others began to talk, he focused on priorities: getting something into his stomach. Rummaging through his pack, he pulled out a pair of harlot sweets, staring at them for a moment — I’d forgotten I had those... must find a time soon—before setting them aside. Following that was a half-bottle of absinthe, miraculously intact after all the dungeon crawling. He smiled at it before gently setting it aside, too. Finally, he found some trail rations. He couldn’t hide the disappointment on his face, but the growling in his stomach won the day so he began chewing on hardtack and jerky while the others talked.
He watched Octavio with interest, listening to the history and slowly came to realize how vulnerable and precarious the man’s situation was. These would be valuable secrets, he couldn’t help but think. Still, the man was sharing them with the Ravens and while Aldren felt no particular loyalty to the Hellknight, he did to the others.
But then, when Octavio mentioned his order had been responsible for the final destruction of the Ravens, Aldren choked on his rations, began coughing, and brought it to an end with a splash of absinthe before saying, ”Wait... did you say your order was responsible for destroying the original Ravens....” Then to Lubella, ”And you’re trusting him!? This deposed myrmidon, sworn to uphold laws that extinguished the last iteration of this group?” He was utterly flummoxed. ”By Her Sweet Sting, tell me I’m missing something here?”
Sidius steels himself at the mention of tarts, dreading the impact of the news in that regard.. He approaches the fallen shopkeeper and passes her a small pouch of herbs, "These should help calm your nerves just a small bit. Best if you boil them in water and make a tea - but they're bitter, so you'd probably want to add a touch of honey."
He heads back to the others in time to hear the end of Octavio's conversation, and forces his face into a locked neutral expression -- something not shared by the hissing and growling dinosaur that emerges from under his cloak. His voice icy, he asks, "They would have locked in a number of Ravens letting them starve to death? That's inhuman... horrifying..." He trails off, but his nostrils flare as he adds, "..and, I would have thought, a dereliction of duty, as rebels are famous for having secret ways in and out of their hideouts..."
His mind racing, he mutters his thoughts aloud, not realizing he's doing do, "..certainly gives me pause what we might find beyond the doors. All that pain and terror seems like a perfect recipe for some of them not quite letting go all the way. Haunts, undead - or maybe even something worse that fed off their final pain."
Arcos turns to Octavio, an unusual anger in his voice, "What my companion raises is a valid point. Were you a part of this massacre? If you were...then...gods."
"Wait, hold on..." Talvek looks bewildered, his gaze going between his companions and the lictor. "I must have misunderstood then. I thought... that the Order of the Torrent fought the Grey Spiders under the Lucky Bones. Is that not so?"
the same order that put a final end to the Silver Ravens
so long ago may provide clues lost in time and a base of operations yet undiscovered by the Thrunes.
Octavio hangs his head and emits a heavy sigh.
It has been a few days, and not all of you may recall my tale or were here for the telling, so I will repeat what history I have been told. As it was some 40 years ago, I was but a new recruit and have only been informed once I assumed the office of Lictor.
He continues.
“The Lucky Bones was, to the public, a gambling hall and opium den. In truth, the building was a front for a guild of
thieves and abductors known as the Gray Spiders. When my order learned the Gray Spiders were involved in a kidnapping and slavery ring tied to the cult of Norgorber, we confronted them. They responded by assassinating Lictor Reya, our heroic founder. In turn, we brought the full might of the Order of the Torrent down on them, and when we were done, the Gray Spiders were no more.
He looks to each of you, seeking recollection...
But then Lictor Reya’s successor, Lictor Yehl, made the curious choice to seal the Lucky Bones rather than fully explore it. It was shortly afterward that others in the order discovered that Yehl and some of his subordinates had sought to preserve the Gray Spiders’ ill-gotten gains for themselves and had planned to return to the complex to loot it. Yehl and the others were charged with corruption and expelled, and command of the Torrent passed to Lictor Arcamo Hyrmagus, but no one ever followed up with the Lucky Bones....until now.
He smiles thinly.
Lictor Arcamo was ashamed of the entire episode and forbade any of the rest of us from investigating it, and in time, it all mercifully slipped from memory. But those chambers still exist below the ruined gambling hall—chambers that were never mapped or officially reported. For all intents and purposes, they do not exist. Sounds to me to be the perfect place for a rebellion to set up shop... provided someone first scouts the place out to ensure nothing unwanted has moved in!”
Lubella listened to the tale again, refreshing her memory. "It's fortunate for us that the lower levels were sealed and largely forgotten about. Hopefully the dottari and Thrune don't know about the complex."
After the discussion about the past events concerning the Lucky Bones, she asked their host, "Setrona, could I trouble you for a bucket of warm water? Our battle in the Lucky Bones was most strenuous, and my clothes badly need washing. I think I could use a bath too; I'm afraid of how I must stink about now."
Sidius nods, "I do not think I'd realized that there were people sealed within when the doors were closed. As I said, that can be a mite worrisome." The tiny dinosaur retreats under his cloak, and he nods at Lubella, "I certainly agree we should be well-rested and ready before seeing what lies beyond the door. Though, as we said on the way back, it's not the only thing on our to-do list."
He shrugs, "Of course, if we think of it as a potential base -- one that may already contain resources -- then that certainly moves it up - on my list anyway. Though still not ahead of finding... our... friend." he trails off, not sure how much he wants to give away in front of the Hellknight.
As the Hellknight tried to explain his Order's twisted history, Aldren tamped down on his outrage and slowly became willing to accept there was just a miscommunication. Regardless, he didn't care for the lictor's affect. Sitting here in safety, nursing his pride, while the rest of us are risking our lives. As if his oath alone were some great burden. What a sad sack.
"Hmm," he half-sniffed at the end of the recitation. History had always bored him, no matter how much his second-rate tutor had tried to hammer it into his brain.
"Setrona," he changed his focus entirely, "if you're in need of more baked goods, try the Owl Bakery. It's just down the street and the owner, Julessa, is a friend of ours. Sadly, she refuses to put any rum in her cakes, but otherwise they're quite delicious."
Then, to the Ravens, "Food and rest certainly seem to be the order of the day, along with seeing if there are resources we can dispatch to look into that loose end. Shall we find another inn or tavern? My treat. I'm famished."
Talvek asks around the area about the ending of the silver ravens from a fellow denizen of the Nursery, and (with assistance) was able to determine some scraps of interest to the party and also to Octavio.
As with so many of the desperate acts the Silver Ravens
attempted in those dreary days, this effort backfired.
The abduction humanized Lord-Mayor Sarini and gave
him a potent narrative for the people of Kintargo to
sympathize with. Brakisi’s pride prevented him from
admitting the abduction was a bad idea, and the situation
escalated until a Hellknight of the Order of the Scourge
named Reya Naulvaneti intervened. Combining her
keen investigatory eye and focused will on the problem,
Reya single-handedly tracked down Brakisi’s hideout,
confronted the Silver Ravens, and defeated the man
in a public battle at Salt Gate in the spring of 4644 ar.
Her return of Alvek, safe and sound, to his distraught
father earned the Hellknight more than the adoration
of the public—her commanders were so impressed they
mandated that she should found a new order in Kintargo,
dedicated to the recovery of abductees and missing
persons. And thus was founded the Order of the Torrent.
Octavio nods to Sidius. Aye, the Grey Spiders were notoriously ruthless, and had many hiding holes they said. I suspect there are still remnants of them in the city. However, after 40 years within the dungeon, I suspect you were only find bones...and they may not be resting peacefully.
Octavio stands and offers Unless your group has powerful magic, the seal on those doors may need the assistance of one strong in the arts to break. Although I am still a wanted man in Kintargo, I will willingly pay the fee to break the door if you wish to continue below.There may yet be clues to the history of the Silver Ravens entombed. If nothing else, the place will serve as a better base of operations for your growing movement. Our Order would be a willing team to join your cause if you can clear us a home. Besides, my cousin grows tired of our sleeping in her store room.
Just then, Setrona, bringing a warm water bucket for Lubella, mock punches Octavio in the arm with a wink, then nods to Aldren. With all these 'guests' I will definitely give the Owl Bakery another try. She makes great rolls, I just found the shop next door so incredibly convenient. the woman is still upset and ashamed she was fooled.
On the subject of breaking the seals on the doors in the Lucky Bones, Lubella said, "I can cast some arcane spells, but perhaps others are more suited for the task. Whether we can open the seal ourselves, or need assistance is not easy for me to judge."
She thanked Setrona for the bucket ful of warn water and set about doing her laundry. Prestidigitation was good for spot cleaning and such, but your still needed to thoroughly wash your clothes in soap and water periodically. After winging them out, she hung her garments up by the fire and then had a good bath herself. She was glad for the chance to properly wash her hair; she always felt refreshed after doing that. Once she was finished, she dried off and wrapped herself in a blanket, and sat down in front the fire. She gazed at the flames, content to sit and do nothing for a while.
Aldren returned Setrona's nod, not really knowing her nor her confectionery purchasing history. "If the walk is a burden, hire some local kids to make the deliveries for you. Maybe the Shellet twins... if they're willing to go into another bakery, that is."
As for opening the door, "Tomorrow, let's take a look at the door. If we can't open it ourselves, take the..." He paused, considering his next word as he glanced at Octavio, then continued, "gentleman up on his offer to pay to have it opened, though a scroll may be best so we can avoid unnecessary exposure."
As Lubella went about doing her laundry, he couldn't quite suppress a sigh, though he fully understood the necessity, having nearly had a fit with the grimple vomit the last month. "When you're ready, can we get some proper food? And have you all found a proper place to sleep? I can get you warm beds, though the company may keep you from much sleep."
He looked about somewhat impatiently, eager to get some hot food and hearty wine in his stomach, but the rations had taken the worst of the edge off. "Um, Jackdaw..." He still wasn't sure how open the group had decided to be in front of Setrona or Octavio, "While Kyda tends to her garments, can we talk for a moment?"
The mention of their other tasks had reminded Talvek that there was a murderer still at large in the city, so the tiefling is gazing intently into his drink as he rearranges the priorities. The letter delivery could certainly wait. Finding a killer who was perhaps even now stalking their next prey...
"Hm? Yes, of course." Aldren's direct address jolts him out of his musings.
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Aldren explained he felt Talvek had been judging him over the last few days. Generally, he would either ignore it or take to nursing a grudge, but after some thought had come to the conclusion Talvek had a right to judge him. He confessed to having lied to the tiefling when they first met, wanting to manipulate Talvek's feelings for his family, and had planned on trying to manipulate the tieflings of Devil's Nursery into violent rebellion in a misguided quest to earn Calistria's favor.
After some reflection, he'd realized he was wrong; that his goddess would not care about manipulating people into taking vengeance, and that Aldren had grown to respect, if not fully understand, Talvek's loyalty to his family. The half-elf also apologized for lying and for anything he had done that put Talvek's family at risk.
=================
Aldren tried to find a relatively quiet or private corner. Once there, he said, "This is... a little unusual for me. I'm so used to double-meanings and false apologies, but I think I need to clear something up."
He took a breath, as if for courage, then said, "We talked earlier about grudges. You said you only have room in your heart for one. Sometimes I think I have no room in my heart for anything but them. And the other day, when I met you all in the square again, maybe I'm wrong, but I felt you judging me for something. Then we had that exchange in the alley, when I used your real name in a public place, and you said I had nothing to lose but you did. I was furious, but you were right."
"My mother thought so little of me she left me at the door of a father who wishes I didn't exist. A mere glimpse of me, and his wife wonders if it was love or rape that conceived me and, of the two, she thinks love the worse. I have siblings who..." The fingers of his right hand reach for the air as if grasping -- a weapon? a neck? -- something, while an expression of unfiltered, murderous fury flashes across his face. "Siblings who sold the only person who ever cared about me into the clutches of some diabolist from Westcrown..."
Aldren stopped, realizing he was ranting and a pained expression came to his eyes. His became softer, quieter, "I know you worry for your family. When we first met, I thought it contemptible. I thought I could use it." He paused, letting the significance of the last phrase sink in. "This is supposedly one of the better cities for your kin, yet the conditions are abominable, even before Thrune arrived under the supposedly enlightened rein of Jilia Bainilus. I thought I could use that to gain Calistria's favor. I was wrong." The last three words are precise, pointed.
"Seeing the twins with their parents, remembering you with your mothers and your sisters... Where you could ask for vengeance, you instead try to protect what you have. Calistria offers vengeance for those who ask for it, but I don't think she cares about manipulating people into taking it. Some of Her clergy do -- I tried -- but I don't think She cares."
His voice caught slightly and he swallowed to regain it, then said, "I don't owe you an apology just for using your name in an unsafe place. I need to apologize for much more than that. For all my self-indulgences, I try to be honest with myself. And I was wrong. Not having anything to lose may have made me reckless with your safety. I don't want to hurt you or put you at risk, nor your family. I'm sorry if I did, and I am sorry for trying to use you when we first met."
All of you realize the wisdom of Lubella, as you start to notice Setrona turns up her nose as she gets close.
Oh and I am more than happy to get more soap and water. Where in the world did you discover such a repugnant stench? Tell me you were not actually crawling around IN the sewers.
As the afternoon wanes in the discussions, confessions, laundry and dining, Talvek sees a very familiar silver metal bird perched outside the window as he muses upon killers.
A note is attached.
Hey, this is your favorite hostess. I have not heard from you in a bit. Any word on our missing aristocrat? Also, some of the teams have returned and started asking me what they should do. I have a business to run and the Dottari are spying on the shop. Please tell me you are ok, dearies. ~L
Finally, even after Lubella cleans herself, she is not feeling quite right, actually maybe even worse.
Lubella replied to Setrona, "We were attacked by creatures that actually eat garbage and dung. Needless to say, their hygiene left something to be desired." In fact, the bite wound on her shoulder was still bothering her, despite the healing. I'll need to clean that again before bed.
After Talvek had read the letter attached to the raven figurine, she looked at it. "We better reply to Laria, and tell her we'll drop by tomorrow. We need to give the teams their instructions for the week."
After thinking about it for a minute, Lubella said, "If we're going over there tomorrow, it might make sense to deliver Captain Sargaeta's letter to the Aulorian estate while we're on that side of the river. The captain suggested that a night delivery might be best."
Talvek is silent for a long moment after hearing Aldren's apology and confession, his gaze unfocused and wandering. Then, he sighs deeply and raises his head, looking the half-elf in the eyes.
"Well, that's... a lot. I should be angry, but mostly I'm tired, and a little ashamed." He runs a hand one horn and through his hair, looking away for a moment. "My mothers didn't raise me to judge others, so I should not have done so with you. I was... I resented that you weren't there with us when we were risking our lives to try and change things in this city. But I understand now that we should not place such expectations on others, only on ourselves. And you helped us before, and you helped us just now, which I am grateful for." A warm half-smile accompanies the last words.
"And what those people did to you, that is awful and terrible. But I would like to posit that they are not your family. Blood may tie you to them, and them to you, but the heart forges stronger bonds than that. And you spilled your blood alongside us, so - in a way - we are also your family. But one you can choose, and I for one will never treat you like they did." Talvek's voice grows low and intense as he says the last sentence, with a pause and emphasis on 'never'.
The half-elf's expression was rather flat and inscrutable while Talvek processed what he had just said, as though braced for the anger he knew the tiefling had a right to feel. When the response was instead one of acceptance and support, a shuddering breath escaped him.
"You should listen to your emotions, and you had a right to judge me. Maybe not the reasons you knew, but certainly for others. I don't deserve your kindness, but thank you." He looked at the others, then back at Talvek and said, "You are good and decent. All of you. I'm not going to stop trying to whip that silly idealism out of them," he said with a grin before turning more serious, "but maybe you all have something to teach me, too. I don't know if that's 'family'," he was clearly uncomfortable with the idea, "but I'm glad for the company."
"And if you ever need anything from me, for your family or yourself, I will do everything I can, no matter how long it takes." There was an irrepressible twinkle in his eyes and a slight tug as the corner of his lip and one might wonder if a double-meaning had slipped unbidden back into his words, but then he sniffled and wrinkled his nose as he looked down at himself.
"Oof, maybe the ladies are right after all..."