Ensis says, "Silver ravens? How... literal. I wonder if they're here to mark the cache?" He whistles at the findings, then sighs, "No records? Nothing about the organization? Maps to other headquarters or caches?"
Valexia takes the batons and looks them over, using Detect Magic to be sure of it.
"Ah! Cure Light Wounds, handy to have in a wand like this. That means I do not have to expend energy on your wounds any longer." She points it at each member of the party in turn, without dispensing any actual magic, "You feel better, and you feel better, and you feel better!"
"And this other one is to purify food and drink," says Valexia, tucking them into her belt. "You know, I am not sure, if you used this on a good drink, would it turn to water?"
Ben glances at the contents of the crates with the others, but it is the metal coffin that peaks his interest.
"Hmm,... Well made, built to last, good workmanship, sturdy not fancy. Obviously built to keep it's contents safe and people out."
Ben looks up at the others, an almost sinister smirk on his green-tinged face.
"Challenge accepted!"
The emerald-tinged alchemist rubs his hands together briskly, then holds them open over the metal box. There is nothing magical in his gestures, he is merely focusing his attention.
After a few moments of examination and study, Ben makes a 'HMM'ing noise to himself, pulls out a few short lengths of wire, bends them into a few odd angles as he looks at the chest, then goes to work,...
Checking out the locked metal chest: Per: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Disable device: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
"Hm. This might take a little more time than I thought." Ben says matter of factly.
"I'll Need more time, and a decent set of actual lockpicks. I think we'll need to carry it out of here. So we can work on it at our leisure. Unless?,..." He raise an an eyebrow at Bertom.
"You want to give it a try? Otherwise, I suggest that we all grab a corner, and get this thing out before the unwelcome tenants return!"
Bertom digs out his tools. "Step back and let a pro handle this."
Inside the metal box is a stack of documents along with several pieces of rolled vellum. The vellum has writing in what seems to be a personal set of symbols, while the documents are written in a strange mix of somewhat familiar characters. Rexus' eyes light up at the sight.
"There's the Elven character leem... and that one looks like Celestial. That scratchy one looks like the Strix âsh..." He trails off as his enthusiasm wanes.
"I think this is a code cobbled together from several languages. I might be able to translate it... given time." The nobleman shrugs. "Which I've got, if I can find a safe place to work. Being on the run and sleeping rough is not conducive to scholarship. And with all this material, it's going to take a while."
Ben seems non-plussed and quite content to allow Bertom the honor of unlocking the chest. He can heard muttering "Add Lockpicks to list of new equipment".
"Well then." Ben says, looking between the stack of documents and the contents of the other crates.
"I think it's safe to say we found what we came for? Can you imagine the looks on the faces of those buffoons we saw earlier when they realize there was this sitting right under their noses the entire time?" Ben smirks satisfactorily.
"Now. Let's get this stuff out of here before they actually do come back and ruin our moment!"
"I think I know a place we can go to keep this stuff safe, if that's OK with you?" Rexus looks at the group questioningly.
Ben uses his mutagen-enhanced brawn to pick up one of the crates by himself and set it on his shoulder.
"Lead on." He rumbles in way of answer.
Ensis nods, "A safe house not tainted by Hellspawn and gremlins seems a much more enjoyable place -- especially if there's ale to be had."
Rexus nods. ”I don’t know about ale - she might have some - but it’ll be close to dawn when we arrive, and you’ll probably be glad for some of Laria’s brew. She’s an old friend of my mother’s who has a place that should be safe. Unfortunately, it’s clear across town. Tell you what: we hike out of this area and I’ll spring for a carriage, if we can flag one down. There should be one on the main road. I don’t have much, but those pearls should help out the Silver Raven’s treasury. Otherwise, we’ll be walking until noon, and I don’t care to have the guard see what’s in this box.” He pats the metal carton full of documents affectionately.
Rexus is right. The carriages for hire avoid the deserted (and possibly dangerous) warehouse district, but once the group reaches the main road leading towards the bridge, it isn’t long before he’s able to flag an empty coach.
Inside the rather closely-packed vehicle, he explains that Laria is one of his mother’s oldest and most trusted acquaintances. He suspects she might be involved with somewhat shady causes, but nothing noxious. If she were a criminal, Rexus’s mother would never have trusted her.
Rexus has been avoiding her, not wanting to bring trouble to her house, but he feels she won’t hesitate to help — and quite probably jump in with both feet if they can persuade her to their cause.
The carriage bears them to a well-lit establishment on the north end of town just as the light of false dawn brightens the sky. Rexus limps out to pay the driver, then leads the way into the Long Roads Coffeehouse, his pained-looking reliance on his sword cane showing what toll the night took on his physical state.
A short-haired blonde behind the counter looks up as the opening door rings a bell. Her face breaks into a smile when she sees Rexus, a smile that changes not one iota when the rest of the group trails in.
”Oh, it’s so good to see you all! And you brought my shipment, thank you! I didn't expect everyone to come along, but I'm glad you did. What a nice surprise! It’s been ages. Come on in back so we can catch up and chat about old times without disturbing these folks. Rocco, take the counter and bring a platter for six when you get the chance,” she directs a weedy man covered in tattoos. As Laria reaches the end of the counter, she seems to descend a few small steps and proves to be a halfling when she emerges. The flow of effusive greeting continues as she takes Rexus’s hand and leads him past the counter and into a private lounge.
“These folks” turn out to be a table of rumpled and sleepy-looking city guards who are sipping steaming cups of coffee while they nibble on pastries, apparently attempting to wake up before they take the dawn patrol. Most seem supremely disinterested in the newcomers, though two of the men size up the party and the metal container openly and professionally. They say nothing and give no further indication of interest.
Once in the back room - a comfortable lounge with plush, comfortable chairs and a sprinkling of small tables - Laria closes the door and rushes to hug Rexus. ”It’s so good to see you. I was worried after the fire.” She raises her eyes to his face searchingly. ”Did anybody else…?” His profoundly sorrowful expression answers the question even without the negative headshake. ”I hoped… seeing you… but ah well.”
She draws a deep breath and expels it shakily before turning to the group. ”Please be comfortable. Any friend of Rexus is a friend of mine. I wanted to get him out of the common room so he’s not recognized. I don’t know that the guards have orders to arrest him, but…” She gives an eloquent shrug.
”So what brings you here at this ungodly hour, while most of Kintargo still sleeps?” She motions everyone to chairs and takes a halfling-sized seat for herself, then directs Rocco, who enters after a quick knock, to set his platter of pastries, cups, and a steaming carafe of strong coffee on a table in the center of the room. She waves him out and ensures the door is closed. ”Eat, drink, sit! If you want anything else, let me know. This was ready for customers and convenient.”
Rexus quickly sketches his mother’s legacy and the night’s activity to Laria, who looks surprised but not shocked. She whistles softly. ”Traces of the real Silver Ravens? Amazing! But why would you…. Oh, you aren’t really. Are you?” She looks around the room at the company while Rexus remains silent. ”Reviving the Ravens, after all this time? Opposing… Barzillai? Are you? And why? Why would such promising young people throw themselves into such a fruitless battle?”
Ensis blinks as he's dragged along, This is quite the wave we're riding..., then stops when Laria asks her pointed question. "Which reason would you like?", he asks, his tone harsh, but level, "The fact that House Thrune is a plague that corrupts and ruins all it touches, including my mother's life -- and the life of the one person who was actually kind to me as a child? That I would gladly fight to the last breath to stop them from doing to Kintargo what they've done to me and to countless others? The fact that the new Lord-Mayor is deliberately putting his heel on the throat of the good people who live here? And, worse, we can't tell if he's doing it for nefarious reasons or his own twisted amusement."
He pauses, taking a deep breath to calm himself, feeling the heat in his face, even if it was not present in his voice," then says softly, "Or is it enough to say that the Everbloom asks it of me?"
"Well, as petty as it might seem, I worked very hard in order to get somewhere in the opera here, and Thrune decides to take residence up in there and ruin my chances of getting my dream role!" says Valexia, throwing up her hands in exasperation.
"With my aspirations dashed, I need to find something with which to occupy my time, and opposing Thrune seems like a perfectly reasonable hobby. If he wishes to spit on the art, the city and the people I adore here, well, I'd at least prefer he be spitting blood," finishes Valexia coldly.
Ben morosely fingers a ripped seam of his jacket, left by his de-flated muscles. (His mutagen having worn off before they even found a carriage.)
"Well, I wish I could say something suitably awe-inspiring and noble here. But the fact is, I consider myself far too wise to become embroiled in such activities. Usually. However with the recent, rulings, I must confess,... It just felt like the right thing to do." Ben shrugs, reaching for another pastry.
Besides, these are my friends. And I would be a poor friend indeed if I were to allow them to become embroiled in 'situations' without the benefit of my problem-solving abilities to get them out of it now, would I?" He asks with a hint of a smile.
Ben also realizes that since his Mutagen wore off, he is HUNGRY. Likely something to do with the Mutagen's Alchemical reaction increasing his metabolic rate. That would explain the alchemical formula's ability to increase his strength so dramatically,...
After having a quick wade in the pool, to ensure there wasn't any more items or markings, Dee stands aside when the chest is opened. 'Interesting... one wonders if the figurines could be used as identifiers or if the leaders of the ravens knew each other - or if they were like the Decemberate.'
However once they get out of the cellars, Dee excuses herself to get redressed and dispose of any ruined garments. All too soon they arrive at the coffee-house, where Dee's throat begs her for some heavy brew to take the taste of the well-water away.
Ravenously Dee tastes a cup of the coffee, whilst barely keeping her manners, however she does let out a sharp breath when she nearly scolds her tongue on the hot beverage. The rest seem eager to declare their intents, but the recently injured noble is a trifle more circumspect. "Problem-solving? Doesn't that mainly include the 'problem' of sobriety?" She heckles her friend softly. "As for me, well I'm merely an interested Historian. Wanting to find out more about this group that was meant to return when our Empire is in dire need..." She purposefully leaves the last words open to interpretation, but she's not declaring any allegiance to a stranger - even if she is a friend of Rexus.
"I take it there's no tea, or you've no clue what's happened to all the mint tea in town?"
The halfling says nothing as the party speaks, only watches each one with bright, sharp eyes. After Dee speaks, she turns her attention to Bertom, the only one who has not answered, and waits for his take on the situation.
Bertom looks towards the halfling woman as her gaze moves towards him quickly popping a pastry in his mouth he shrugs his shoulders "Better than sitting around waiting for the next decree that gives the guards more excuses to beat the life out of us..."
He sighs and shakes his head "Honestly I think I'm here because of a misunderstanding, I was really just trying to get a closer look at Ms Aulamaxa's performance, and I guess they just assumed I belonged... I never really belonged anywhere before so I couldn't bring myself to correct them. Somewhere along the line I started thinking I could be more than just a rat on the street. I'd rather be a Silver Raven than a sewer rat any day." Wiping crumbs from his hands he adds "Besides it's getting impossible to earn a dishonest living nowadays."
The young rogue's word ring of truth, but it's not necessarily the full truth, if someone on their little adventure they may have noticed that he seemed to have a knowledge of the Silver Ravens specifically and there was likely more to his reasons for wanting to be a part of them than he's willing to offer up, at least at this time.
Laria nods. "There can be many reasons to oppose people like our new mayor. For me, I find myself reluctant to sit back and relax while the man who ordered my friend burned in her home makes himself at home in our opera house." Her face and voice harden, the cheerful halfling mask dropping away for a moment while Rexus studies his feet, jaw muscle twitching.
After a beat or two, Laria relaxes and continues. "You all seem to have as good a set of reasons as any I have heard. Now, what brings you here, laden with gifts for me?" She gazes at the metal box with particular interest.
"Well we need somewhere quiet to plan out our civic duty to the citizens. For any overt actions may cause reprisals, like after the protests." Dee says smoothly sipping on her coffee.
"For the Governor must have plans or at least an objective for his actions are too erratic otherwise. Seems like he's trying to create strife, probably to enable him to replace the infrastructure with his own goons. Or to scare the people into his bidding."
"Thus someone needs to accomplish threefold objectives:
"That metal box is full of papers that need to be decoded. We pulled them from the Silver Ravens stash tonight. I need a quiet place to work on decoding them and thought you might be able to help. I, er, may have given them the impression you are a criminal of sorts... maybe a smuggler?" Rexus reddens. "Mother never actually said that, but I received that impression from her. Deepest apologies if I'm wrong."
Laria bursts into laughter, then lowers her voice to reply to Rexus. "I am, of a sort, though my cargo is the oppressed and enslaved of my kind. I do have connections - ears and eyes - though Barzillai's crackdown has sent everyone to ground. I am currently "blind", which handicaps me for your purposes. You seem to have things well thought-out, though why you are focusing on a bunch of old papers when this young lady has such a good plan is beyond me." She gestures at Dee. "But then, you always were more scholar than anything else, Rexus."
She rises and paces, weighing their needs against her resources. "You are welcome to use the upstairs bunkhouse - a half-dozen beds, nothing fancy and no private quarters. Nobody's there right now. My last shipment went out four days ago, just before everything went to hell."
She grimaces at the box. "I wouldn't say the upstairs is very secure, though. I do have a much more private "downstairs", but can't use it right now."
After a pause, she whirls on them. "Tell me what you did tonight - what was the old place like, and what dangers did you face?"
'Grandma always said I end up "consorting with criminals".' she thinks, the last phrase hangs in her thoughts in her grans rasping dry tones, when the halfling is introduced as a smuggler.
"Petted some hounds and had a swim.... just the usual." she says wryly waiting for the others to give a brief explanation of their excursion at the stables and beneath it to the old Silver Raven headquarters.
"Do you think you might become 'less-blind' over time, or is there anything we can do? Anyone whom, we might be able to subtly influence to allow your connections to resume giving information." Dee carefully sips her beverage, it's bitter flavour reflective upon the towns situation.
"For information, is second only to secrecy in import during this tumultuous times."
"Petted some hounds and had a swim.... just the usual." she says wryly waiting for the others to give a brief explanation of their excursion at the stables and beneath it to the old Silver Raven headquarters.
"Yes. Pest control mostly. Although the pests were of the Fae kind. And the hounds were more interested in playing fetch with our arms than with sticks." Ben says drolly. His good humor and wits restored thanks to Val magic cleanings and the good sweet pastries and bitter coffee.
"Although, someone really should have taken out the trash years ago. I don't know who moved in after,... you know, but they trashed the lower level with devil-influenced arcane scribblings. Opened the way for an influx of demon-kind. Clearly the work of a madman." Ben sniffs.
"Instead of dealing with the creatures, they had simply sealed the lower level with them inside. Along with Master Rexus' 'Stash'. Made for a very,... exciting, retrieval I assure you."
Ben of course answers the expected barrage of questions, What kind of Fae, What kind of Demons?!? etc to the best of his ability, deferring to the others who may remember details of a portion of the adventure clearer than he. (He WAS under the influence of his mutagen for most of the exploration. Some of his memories of the brief time are, spotty. Almost as if he is trying to recall 2 different thoughts at the same time,...)
Laria:
"Well, sounds like you lot can handle yourselves well enough. Here's the deal: I have a storeroom and some tunnels under this place. They're not in the architect's drawings, if you get my drift. I let a friend use them - nothing unusual. He gets his cargo stowed and is ready to sell part here and get the rest on a ship for Westcrown when everything goes to hells. The buyers go to ground, ships are stranded, and he bolts back to his cargo in a big hurry. I ain't seen him since."
She leans forward and lowers her voice. "I thought he'd come back, but he hasn't. The first evening, I leave him supper at the top of the stairs. That night, I hear laughing from downstairs - but it ain't him. And it ain't human. Kinda hoarse, strange. I peek in the next morning and the food's gone. So I keep putting it there and it keeps vanishing."
She shakes her head, face pale and taut now that her smile is gone. "I can't go to the guard. My associates have all vanished. I've got no one to look down there, and I'm sure as hells not going down myself. I'm a thinker, not a fighter. I put a lot of food out and it goes, but how many are eating? I don't know! What if they run out of food? What if they break down the door? I keep it bolted at night, but I can barely sleep for the worry."
She nods decidedly. "So we're in a position to help each other. You clear out - chop to bits or make friends with or set free or fry with magic, I don't care - whatever is down there, and you have use of the place for as long as you need. I've a feeling my usual associates are going to keep their heads down as long as Barzillai is around. If you have plans to get rid of him, that's fine by me."
She takes a deep breath and rolls her eyes to the ceiling. "And now I've said enough that if you yell for the guards, it's excruciation or the stake for me. But I've known Rexus' mother forever, and he's always had a good heart, just like her. What say you? Partners in this? My business is just the coffee shop until this place is put right. May as well throw in with you."
Ensis chuckles, "I just admitted to following Milani, and the rest of us to seeking to remove the Lord-Mayor. There's more than enough capital offense to go around, really, is anyone were to fetch a Hellknight... Hells, we'd probably dull the headman's axe."
He rises, draining the cup, " And, I'm thinking, there'll be even more soon enough... At least, there will be for me... if the rest of you are serious about this, then it's a given, if we're to win over the populace."
He offers his hand, his tone the most serious you've ever heard it, "I won't speak for the others, in fact, I'd counsel them against this.. but you have a partner in me."
Laria rises and wrings Ensis' hand, a delighted smile on her face.
"I knew you folks wouldn't let me down. Well, I didn't, not really. If this was your first foray, it's the time a lot of folks quit. I hoped you'd help, though. But if you're not in, please keep quiet, at the very least."
Ben looks thoughtful.
"So, exactly how deep is this 'undocumented cellar'? My best solutions to unfriendly problems tend to make a lot of noise." He asks Laria.
Ben looks at the others. "What? I'm in, I'm in. With MY luck Barz will make drinking illegal next. Where would I be then?" He asks in mock fear.
Dee nods along at Ben's explanation of the events, however Laria's revelation of her 'friends' disappearance draws a raised eyebrow and a slow sip of her coffee.
"You'd be in even more trouble than usual, Ben." Dee adds wryly. "Sounds like we should speak to the new tenant? Right, Val?"
"Another thing Laria, I know it's not in your nature to pry into your friends business. But do you have any idea to the nature of his cargo?"
Laria:
"The cellar is not terribly deep. It connects to the storm sewers, which are a ways underground in this part of the city. I can hear noises from there in the night, so loud noises might attract some attention. I'd be careful dong that."
The halfling shakes her head slowly in response to Dee. "I know the shipment came in from Riddleport. Part was to be sold here and part was to move on the next ship to Westcrown. Because the port was closed, everything is still down there, including Nan himself - if he still lives. I'm glad you three are willing to help," she says, apparently taking Dee's question as an affirmation of her interest and involvement.
Moving to stand before Valexia and Bertom, the smuggler tells them, "I understand if you don't want to be involved. My offer to stay here if need be still stands. After all, you may change your mind later. Still, I think the more that tackle the downstairs, the better."
Ensis says, "Given the excitement earlier, we may want to give Dee a chance to rest today and head into the cellar tomorrow -- especially if what lives down there prefers the night."
Ben nods in agreement. Though his mind is clearly elsewhere.
"Yes. Very good. That will give me some time to mix a few,... um, may I borrow your kitchen? I only need a few pots. Maybe a pan. A pestle and mortar,..."
"I'm fine." Dee sighs picking up a biscuit; "Or nothing that couldn't be improved by one of these. But if you need time to make a brew, Ben?"
"You're fine!" says Valexia to Deanna, "Well, that might be so, now, but I need some rest if I'm to get that magical pep back. Magical pep which can sometimes be used to save your lives!" She shakes her head and says, "Magic is just something I picked up as a hobby and to improve my performances, I did not expect anyone's life to depend on it."
To Laria, she sniffs and says, "I will get involved in pretty well anything my friends get involved in, I'm afraid. My mother asked me once, 'if your friends were to jump off of a cliff, would you do so too'? Naturally, I said yes."
"I'm fine." Dee sighs picking up a biscuit; "Or nothing that couldn't be improved by one of these. But if you need time to make a brew, Ben?"
"Yes. Just a little time. I just need to mix,... uh-huh,... and separate some,... um,... yes. Tomorrow morning should be good." Ben (sort of) answers the question while scribbling in his leather formulae book in neat, tight handwriting. He checks the contents of his leather satchel with one hand, without looking, as he writes.
"Kitchen is this way, yes?" Ben asks absently as he stands up and wanders towards the door, nose still in his book.
Ben stops, goes back and picks up several more sweets from the plate, and munches absentmindedly as he starts towards the door again.
Dee sighs softly; "Well couldn't we do it this evening when Ms. Laria is meant to deliver his next meal. That'd give you time to rest."
"How does that sound? We stay here or go home and return tonight refreshed & persuasive to the voice. Dee asks.
"Hm? Oh. Yes. Right. Of course." Ben nods absentmindedly in agreement. He then proceeds to unpack and set out several very small but serviceable items for mixing alchemy ingredients,...
:)
Ensis suggests, "Unless there's a reason to expect someone will miss us, staying together might be the safer approach."
Laria:
"My... my kitchen!?," Laria sputters, "Where I make coffee and tea for my customers? You're going to poison them with your chymist tricks? I think not! Drag that upstairs. There's a spare room - with a window - so do your sorcery there."
!I'm sure you do, Ensis. Next you'll suggest 'saving body heat'" Dee says with an arched tone. "But since Laria has been kind enough to offer & it might be best to keep this subtle. Staying upstairs would be good."
Ensis throws his head back and laughs, then says with a mock-wounded tone, "Surely you don't think I would stoop to such a ruse? I'm far too gentlemanly, not to mention handsome, to resort to trickery of that sort.". He winks, then adds, "My trickery wood be much more clever."
Laria:
"My... my kitchen!?," Laria sputters, "Where I make coffee and tea for my customers? You're going to poison them with your chymist tricks? I think not! Drag that upstairs. There's a spare room - with a window - so do your sorcery there."
"Hm? Oh. Ok,..." Ben says, possibly pouting just a little. He hastily packs up his items and lugs his pack out the door. Grabbing another pastry on his way out.
"I think staying together would be a fine idea. The gods know that my family does not expect me home at any time of the night," says Valexia, crossing her arms. [b]"And I'm happy to stay upstairs, thank you for your generosity, Laria."
"It has been quite a day for all of us." Bertom says with a slight sigh "I'm most grateful for the offer Ms. Laria I really have nowhere else to go."
The young rogue starts loosening the straps of his armour "It'll be nice to get out of this leather... And I'm glad we're staying together... I'm not really used to having friends to share a room with."
Ensis chuckles, "I'll be honest with you, Bertom, sharing a room with several attractive strangers is more fun -- especially when there's only one bed and even less clothing. Still, I'm sure there's something to be said for platonic companionship.... Even I'm not sure what that is..."
Laria:
The halfling can't suppress a burst of laughter at the last remark. She turns to Dee and Valexia.
"There's a second room with beds if you feel safer..." she eyes Ensis "... sleeping separately from the gents. I'm used to all my transient friends taking beds as needed, sometimes in family groups. One room is easier to clean, but use the second as well if you prefer."
A smile still tugs the corners of her lips.
"And now I need to get back to the customers. Rest up, shop if you need to, and let me know when you're ready to go downstairs. I keep the door locked unless I'm delivering meals. Shall I put the food there this evening as usual, before you venture down? See if they're still there? Or skip it for the evening, though they might suspect something's wrong if I do that." She cocks her head at the group, waiting for an answer.