Adoros stops at the change of events, lowering his sword as he sees Vancaskerkin distraught at his friends' lack of scruples. The arrow digging its painful point into his side makes him want to hurt this bastard on the stairs but a glimmer of reason wins through. The Chelish man shakes his head as he looks onto the scene, "It is not too late, Vancaskerkin. Come back with us to the Field Marshal of your own volition and perhaps she will find mercy for your dereliction of duty. A few weeks or even months in the brig aren't so hard compared with what awaits your murderous cohorts. I forsee a short rope and long drop for the lot of them."
Korriban's vial of acid conks the fleeing guard in the back of the head and he drops like a stone, acid splashing around him. This area appears to be a large cattle pen; it's fenced in by a wooden fence about ten feet high on the sides facing the street. The stink of cows and manure is thick in the air, though no livestock are actually around right now.
Vancaskerkin sighs as he sits on the stairs, gazing morosely into space. "Arrest me. Take me to Kroft. Do what you will. I care little, at this point. Everything I thought I was working for was a lie."
"Hey now, don't you be forgetting what I did," Malder whines. "I set the whole thing up for you! Let you take them down with no resistance, told you who was waiting...I don't want to get hanged for that!"
"Hmmm. Are we so sure the guard sent us here ...justly? I'd like a bit more information before turning in a man acting on his own conscience. What proof have we our erstwhile employer is to be trusted?"
Korriban sheathes his blade. Seeing the man is dying, he grabs him and drags him across the floor, trying to get to the others. As he does this, he yells out, "Teodor! Gadriel! This man's dying! Is there anything you can do to help me?"
Gadriel rushes to aid Korriban, Abu looking behind her and staring at Malder still. Once she sees the bleeding body, she looks at Abu. "Abu, we need to help him. Until we are told otherwise. We wouldn't like this one's eyes anyway." With what seems a reluctant shrug, Abu's eyes glow briefly before he hops off Gadriel's shoulder to scamper about the room.
Vancaskerkin just sits on the stairs, staring into space, but Malder latches on to Teodor's words.
"Oh, you know, it's just like that Kroft b#!!$ to send you out here without telling you the full story, that it is...Y'see, she probably told you we were deserters, but we ain't, not technically. We all of us resigned--and bad timing, sure, what with the king's death and all, but we was sick o' the Guard. She needs a man between her legs, is what that b#+@$ needs, and she had her eye on Verik here--ain't that right, Verik?!--and I bet his leaving the Guard put her off for days. She probably sent you lot out here just to teach 'im a lesson, and now ya have, eh?" It is transparently obvious that the man is babbling lies.
Vancaskerkin shoots the man a look of utter disgust. "Can it, Malder."
Korriban nods at Gadriel and Abu in thanks. He then heads and speaks to Vancaskerkin. "So, you didn't know what was going on? It must be rough. Your heart was in the right place. Very admirable. I personally hold nothing against you."
He then looks around and asks, "So, who wants to search the place for anything of worth? Lady Imperia, would you like to accompany me?" He turns to Vancaskerkin. "Is there anything we should know about around here?"
Turning to Malder, he smirks and says, "Stick to using your muscle, pal. You don't have the skill nor talent for using your tongue." He ends with a chuckle.
"I don't think we should be searching for anything of worth," Raina says firmly, limping towards where the main conversation is going on. "Why should we rob a charity?"
"Let's just get these idiots tied up and back to the Field Marshall," she shoots a look at Teodor, one brow raised as if to tempt his apparent eagerness to swap alliances at the drop of a coin, "who seems to have had the right idea in sending us here to investigate!"
Imperia's raises an eyebrow at Malder's crass tirade, her stern, and more than a little disgusted, expression making abundantly clear what she thinks of the man's actions.
When the former soldier is finished, she simply scoffs and averts her gaze, as if the whole deplorable episode was beneath her notice.
"Most certainly, Raina! We are here on behalf of the City Watch, not to act like common thieves" - Imperia smiles candidly at strong woman - "Now that we apprehended the culprits, we should head back to the Marshall."
"W-wait! Wait!" Malder squawks. "Don't take me in, folks, c'mon! Look--I, I can pay you well to let me go! We got paid handsomely for a couple of our merc jobs, it's all hidden just over there--lemme gie you a little somethin' and we can come to an agreement, huh?!" He clearly doesn't want to go. Wonder why.
Vancaskerkin shakes his head ruefully at Korriban. "There's not much here--we weren't really a charity, we didn't have funds or anything. It was a good idea, though, for all that...got a whole lot more appreciation doing this than being in the Guard, I'll tell you that much. Oh, that reminds me--I'd like to return to my room for a moment, if you don't mind. I'd like to grab something of uh...sentimental value." He looks at you carefully for approval.
Hearing Raina, Imperia, and Vancaskerkin, Korriban nods. "All right. We won't take anything. I apologize. Just a natural instinct from living in Bridgefront. 'Take anything you need to survive.' He nods at Vancaskerkin. 'Sure, go on ahead. I'll come with you. Not that I don't trust you. But, you know..."
At Malder's offer, Korriban strokes his chin in contemplation. "If you can provide this information, then tell us. And, maybe we'll consider an agreement when we find it."
Korriban smoothly lies through his teeth. He subtly winks to Imperia, showing that he's not serious about it. 'As if I'm letting you go, Malder. Any money we find will be donations. Maybe to an orphanage. Or to the Rosa. I've been meaning to repay mother back by paying for repairs and upgrades for the Rosa. Need to take care of it. I am going to inherit it, after all.'
"Look, Vancaskerkin," Raina says, slumping against the wall of the building with a light sigh. She manages to find a position that takes a lot of the strain off of her midsection, and enjoys the relative lack of pain for a few minutes. "I think you have a pretty good idea here. Feeding the poor's as good an idea as any. But I just think you got tangled up with the wrong people."
"Maybe if you talk to Kressida you can work somethin' out. She doesn't want rabble-raisers in such a time of stress, and I'm sure you'd like a bit of recognition too. Maybe she'd let you work as a liaison between the guard and your charity, so long as you get the right forms filled out and keep a close eye on the books..." She arches an eyebrow, glancing sidelong at Malder and jabbing her thumb at him, "so someone like this idiot doesn't start cooking them for their own purposes."
She waves Vancaskerkin off, not interested in pushing herself too much to follow after him.
"Under what charges would we be bringing in Mister V here? His untrustworthy false friends, I understand. But he has done nothing."
"Because we were bloody well asked to," Raina snaps back at Teodor, face flashing with irritation. Her side hurt too much to be dealing with this nutter right now... "But when someone shirks on their job to the extent that it results in an assassins-for-hire joint made up of former guards, I am preeeetty damn sure the Marshall will want get his testimony on this. At the very least."
Unlike all the other power groups in the city--the Hellknights, the crown, the nobles, the Academae--the Korvosan Guard and the Sable Marines were basically the only two organisations Raina had half an iota of respect for. And when this was the best opportunity she had yet to pull herself out of borderline poverty for good... well, like hell she was going to let some crazy priest talk the rest of them out of it. She scowls at Teodor, tapping her foot on the floor as she waits for Vancaskerkin to return from upstairs.
Gadriel skips over to Raina. "Abu is sorry. Abu could only help Adoros. We can help Raina walk though." The small girl offers her shoulder, slightly paler in color as her attempt to help clashes with her social awkwardness.
Though still annoyed with Teodor, Raina forces herself to take a deep breath and smile down at Gadriel. "Don't worry about it, kiddo," she says, ruffling Gadriel's hair with her left hand. "I'm used to limping around for a few days. Comes with my career." She'll nevertheless make use of Gadriel's shoulder as they move around--at least a little; Raina largely tries to keep her weight off the younger girl, not wanting to burden her too much.
"Because we were told to??? One if the worst excuses or explanations of extrications ...would ye kill your brother because you were told to? I thought you of sterner stuff ...I say if the man wishes to speak to his ex boss, then fine. But I'll not force him to take the blame for other men's evils."
Hearing Raina, Imperia, and Vancaskerkin, Korriban nods. "All right. We won't take anything. I apologize. Just a natural instinct from living in Bridgefront. 'Take anything you need to survive.' He nods at Vancaskerkin. 'Sure, go on ahead. I'll come with you. Not that I don't trust you. But, you know..."
Imperia smiles broadly at Korriban's words, clearly relieved the dashing rogue decided to set aside his instincts and listen to Raina's words and her own - "There is no need for an apology Korriban, I'm just glad you decided to follow our advice. You have my thanks."
When Gadriel offers her shoulder to Raina, Imperia comes to their side as well to give her help to the wounded woman - "Please, let me lend you my shoulder as well. Don't strain yourself... Uh, we should really have someone look at your wounds Raina..." - she states, looking over her friend with clear concern in her eyes.
'Gadriel looks like such a sweet child... Poor thing must've suffered so much... I'm so glad she's starting to open up a bit!'
"All right, no problem. You don't have to force him to do anything," Raina turns her back on Teodor, gritting her teeth to try and swallow the desire to do something more physical to the old man. "Luckily, I'm more than capable of dealing with this without you."
"The issue of him running a murder charity is just the icing on the cake. The Marshall told us he's been encouraging guards to defect. I for one do not want to see more chaos in the streets, because the only people that'll hurt are innocents who can't protect themselves. And maybe you and your f~%!ed-up religion are happy to see s*$~ fall to pieces all around you," Raina's lip curls in disgust--the worship of Groetus seemed little better than a demon cult to her at this point, "but I'd rather do my best to keep things afloat where I damn well can."
"So if you've got a problem," she finally looks around at Teodor, her anger unhidden from her face as she leans on both Imperia and Gadriel, "that's good for you. You can forfeit your reward from the guard, your good-will with the queen, and piss right off if that's what you prefer. But I'm going to do this whether you like it or not."
She waves off Imperia's concern, unable to muster up the energy for a smile this time. "I'll be fine. Just need a good night's rest."
At Imperia's smile and thanks, Korriban turns pink before smiling at her. "No thanks is necessary, my Lady."
Looking to Raina, his face shows concern. "You sure you're going to be all right, Rai-Rai?"
Turning to Teodor, he says, "I agree with Rai. I love this city, all things considered. And I don't want to see it burn to the ground. Besides, I can honestly say that I need the money. Not only for myself. But for my family. For the Rosa. To pay back for their years of kindness." His face is showing determination and a little sadness.
He sighs. He turns to Imperia, hoping to change the topic. "So, Imperia. You mentioned that you've studied at the Acadamae, right? That magic school. It has a library, right? I'm wondering if I could take a look around that library. Maybe learn a couple things. Do you think that there might be a way to... find out who my parents are or were?"
"Oh, my cantankerous pugilist, you misunderstand. Groetus is not a god of suffering, cruelty, or pain. Simply of the end ...and all things end, a teaching we'd all be wise toremember. While you may be motivated by money, it means little to me (I mean, look at my clothes). Either our boss was misinformed or she misinformed us. Action without knowledge can be ...costly. This man clearly had nothing to do with the vile acts here ...those that did we, of course, should bring in. It seems our supposed target is guilty only of quitting his job. Perhaps you think me callous ...but I want this city to heal. I don't make a habit of blindly following anyone, be they employer or incredibly suspicious queen. What I'd like is to her Mr. V's side of this."
Gadriel blinks at the back and forth between the cleric and brawler. Eventually, she just shrugs her shoulders and continues looking around the room. Abu finally returns to her, and begins to clean his fur while perched on her shoulder.
"Yeah! Yeah, see, I knew we could work something out," Malder babbles. "Our loot's stashed in the southern pen on the other side o' this wall...not the one with the pigs in it, the other one. It's under the water trough..."
Vancaskerkin, meanwhile, heads upstairs, closely followed by Korriban. The first room the two of you pass through was clearly a mess for the half-dozen ordinary guards who worked for Vancaskerkin; the second room, to the south, shows signs of being a private chamber. A large desk in the center of the room has been turned into a makeshift bed, which is in a state of immense disorder. On one end of the table lies a stack of papers, one of which is stuck to the desk with an ornate, beautifully wrought silver dagger. It is this that Vancaskerkin makes a beeline for and picks up and, turning back to Korriban, stands fondling the dagger, turning it over and open, and staring at it. Finally he tucks it into the back of his pants. Without a word, he nods at Korriban before descending into the main room again.
Teodor turns to Malder. "You might buy Rains or Korriban ...but not me. Your end is soon, butcher b@!!%er."
Raina spins around to face Teodor, her face flushed with anger. "Take that back," she growls, slamming her fist into the wall. "Like hell I would accept money from a murderer to look the other way! And I am pretty damn sure Korriban wouldn't either!" Not that she knew the young rogue very well just yet, but she trusted he had more of a spine than that. "You don't know s!+* about me, so don't f++*in' assume you do!"
"Oh, and your religion is STILL f!+$ed up! The end of all things? Why would you celebrate that?! You sing songs while you smash someone's face in! And yet you come back and try to lecture me about what I should or shouldn't do?! You're messed up!" Raina clenches her fist, scowling at Teodor as she resists the urge to slam it into his ugly mug.
Instead, Raina stomps over to the stairwell and thumps roughly on the wall. "Oi! You two! Hurry it up!" She then promptly makes her way out to the front of the meat store, stopping only to kick at the counter in frustration as she goes.
Meanwhile, as the others are discussing things, Adoros has made his way around the building, making sure that no other hidden enemies remain ready to pounce on them. Afterward, he'll look out in the yard of the slaughterhose to see if they have anything resembling a wagon or cart, something to carry the bodies of the unconscious guards on.
*Might I remind you that it was you who brought up money (and of course you can have my share) and just moments ago Korriban wanted to loot this place.
And I do not celebrate the end ...I merely acknowledge it comes. Everything dies, and that makes lives more precious. Perhaps your injuries are affecting your mood. Saying that this man should have his say as well is not some sacrilege."
Korriban nods at Vancaskerkin before heading downstairs. At Malder's information, Korriban heads to the water trough and collects the loot.
When the rogue returns, he smiles at Malder, eyes closed. "Thank you very much, Malder." However, his smile turns into a smirk. He opens his eyes, a glint within them. "I'm sure there's an orphanage who would appreciate your generous donation." He adds a chuckle at the end.
When Adoros pokes his head into the small courtyard south of the cattle paddock, he discovers a small but sturdy-looking hay wain; you could fit six people in it if need be. Two of the formerly unconscious guards are beginning to stir again, though, thanks to the wave of strangely soothing blue light that just flowed out of Teodor.
Korriban, entering the pens, sees two massive boars in the northernmost one. They look vicious, but their pen is securely shut, and they just glare at you with hateful red eyes as you search under the water trough. Finding a small hole there, Korriban pulls out four bulging sacks that jingle invitingly--there's a mix of coin and gems, to judge by the sound.
Malder, when you return, just looks at you nervously. "So w-what now? Gonna let me go?"
Vancaskerkin stands by the door, and has taken off his spear and his bow. "I imagine one of you will want to relieve me of these," he grumbles. "C'mon, let's get this over with."
"Sir ...humor me, if you would. Together, we stopper this from taking needless lives. I believe you a good man ...as close as is possible at least ...before we 'turn you in' might we hear your perspective on what brought us here."
Korriban takes the sacks with a smile on his face. When Malder asks for his freedom, Korriban strokes his chin. "Well, since you asked..." He smirks and looks at the thug. "...no freedom for you. You're going to the guard. So sorry." He shrugs, that smirk still on his face.
Malder lets out an oath and lunges at Korriban, eyes wild, but Vancaskerkin trips him and pins him down, kneeling with one knee on his back. Then he looks up at Teodor.
"Wouldn't say I'm 'good,' old man," he says with a sigh. "I saw an opportunity and I took it. Hells, I was getting sick o' the Guard. Wasn't getting as much respect as I wanted either. So, when Vimanda suggested I start gatherin' people under my wing here, I thought it seemed like a pretty good idea." He grins. "And her plan weren't bad, I guess--people need to eat, after all." He shakes his head. "Tell the truth, I don't think we expected the Guard--or the Crown--to last long enough to worry about, given how that first night went."
The guards in the hallway are starting to sit up and rub their heads...
"Vimanda?"
"My, er...my lover," Vancaskerkin says, blushing slightly. "Vimanda Arkona. She's quite something. This was her idea--she's really sharp."
At Malder's failed attack, Korriban only smirks.
Korriban's jaw drops at the revelation of Vancaskerkin's lover. "You're dating an Arkona?! Color me impressed!" Turning to the others, he says, "The Arkonas are a very wealthy family that make their home in Old Korvosa. The head is Glorio Arkona. Everyone knows that they have their hands in most of the crimes in the city. Got a pretty big empire, mainly from their trade with Vudra. However, Glorio has been reaching out to the poor of the city. Destroyed several of his own buildings to create some low-rent tenements. However, that doesn't explain who Vimanda is and what her and the Family's role is."
Hearing the guards stirring, Korriban looks and says, "Uh... should we be concerned about the guys waking up... and no doubt want to beat our faces in?"
Trying to stay out of her companions' little quarrel, and dearly hoping it won't degenerate in anything regrettable, Imperia turns her attention toward Korriban.
"I'm truly sorry Korriban" - Imperia shakes her head sadly - "The Acadamae indeed possesses a vast collection of tomes of knowledge and power, but they are locked away and jealously protected... Only the members of the faculty, and seldom the students, are allowed to consult them, and even then there are scores of rules and procedures to follow just to ask for a permit..."
The young wizard looks apologetically at Korriban for a moment, before assuming a thoughtfully expression - "Uhm... There could be some other form of assistance I might be able to offer, though. Well, not me personally, but an acquaintance of mine. A... Friend, shall we say?" - she chuckles lightly, as if there was some kind of hidden meaning to her words only she could understand - "One of my former teachers, Professor Quinsworth, may have access to some tome, or even a few spells, that may help you in your endeavor. I'll be happy to talk to him about this matter, if you would let me?"
Korriban frowns at the news of the library. However, Imperia's offer perks him right back up. He smiles and bows deeply. "Thank you, Imperia. I would... very much appreciate it." A few tears leak from his eyes. 'Finally. A lead.'
Seeing the guards, Korriban yells out, "Some of the guards are waking back up. Raina! Can you help us restrain them?"
Outside, Raina has been angrily taking out her frustrations by kicking around a pebble and glaring at random innocent bystanders. Hearing Korriban's shout from inside, she begrudgingly returns, pointedly storming past Teodor without a glance before heading out to the back room. She pauses only to request that Vancaskerkin point her to some rope she can borrow (there's gotta be some around somewhere, right?).
"Alright, alright, you lot, I'll have no complaints outta you," Raina grumbles, hoisting the groggy guards to their feet and roughly lashing their hands together with the rope in one long line. "Anyone who gives me trouble'll get to re-experience the wonders of my fist, y'hear?" Her foul mood is plain as day in her voice, and her every glaring glance screams 'don't piss me off'.
Gadriel perches on the corner of the desk, watching the goings on intently. She seems more interested in the odd interactions than any real sense of duty finish the task or desire to keep Korvosa from anarchy. She does glare at the roped guards who file by, attempting to remind them of who's in charge. Raina.
Adoros steps back inside after checking out the wain, "There is a wain outside we could use to load all the guards on for transport back to the Citadel. Better then trying to keep them all in line on a march or having to carry them the whole way."
Korriban grins and says, "Nice find, Adoros! Saves us a lot of trouble... and annoyance."
Working together, you manage to get all six of the renegade guards bound up and seated in the old hay wain--only to realize that while there's a wagon, there are no beasts of burden to pull it. Fortunately, it's large enough that you can all grab hold, and with everyone lending a hand you make slow, but steady, progress through the city. It's fully dark, though early evening, now, and you attract a substantial number of stares and mutters as you pull your cart full of guardsmen through the streets of Northgate, heading south. Vancaskerkin walks beside the cart, hands bound, head hanging.
By the time you arrive at Citadel Volshyenek, you're all sweaty, sore, and exhausted. The guards part the gates to let you in, and Field Marshall Kroft, when she emerges, raises a wry eyebrow. "Well, you lot certainly have...unusual methods," she says finally, watching as her men drag the renegade guards out and start stripping them of everything but their clothes. "I suppose I'm impressed by the fact that you managed to bring everyone back, and alive. I don't suppose Verik's said anything about why he deserted?" She steps forward and stares into Vancaskerkin's face; he lowers his gaze. "Well," she says at last, "I suppose it will all come out at the trial. These seven are to be charged with desertion and dereliction of duty," she adds to a scribe accompanying her. "As soon as possible--I think there's a spot open the day after tomorrow." She takes a heavy purse from the scribe and passes it to Korriban. "100 crowns, as promised. Go get some rest--I'll contact you when I've more work. You can stay at the Three Rings if you'd like, or stay wherever you please. But let me know, so I can send a runner to you if needed." She pauses. "Anything else I should know about this case before you're relieved?"
"These others were acting unbeknownst to Mr. V. He ...retired in order to feed the needy. As a man of the cloth ...his intentions were good ...righteous, even. Let this be a matter of justice, not politics."
Raina perversely enjoys the exertion on some level--after all, wearing herself out to the point of exhaustion has long been her way of coping with extreme emotions. Struggling against the limits of her mortal frame was the best way to bury anything she didn't want to deal with, instead focusing every bit of her psyche on the task at hand. As such, the young wrestler is in a much better mood by the time they arrive... although not so much to allow Teodor to give Vancaskerkin a clean sweep.
"He deserted," Raina adds with a sidelong glare to Teodor, "and convinced others to do the same, all because his girlfriend suggested it. No matter the good cause he wound up making from it, it's still abandoning his job!"
"Oh, and Marshall--his men were running some kind of messed up murder business. Vancaskerkin had nothing to do with it, it seems, but the rest were happy to take coin to kill someone. So... have some leniency on him, but not the others."
Raina heaves a heavy sigh. She was looking forward to going home... it had been quite a while. "I'd like to sleep in my own bed for a change. It's in High Bridge, on Derwent Street... the apartment above Bessa's Best." I hope Mrs Harvington is okay...
Gadriel speaks up as the group thinks towards resting. "We will go back to the roof of 3 Lancet Street. The wind is... right... there. Maybe we will see the ghost again." Gadriel then turns to Raina. "Should we meet for breakfast? Maybe more of those... Oligarch Ears?"
Korriban's too excited and distracted to take the time to count out the coin. He passes the bags to the next person.
When the meet back up with Kroft, Korriban smiles and says, "It was easy. Just doing what we can to help." When the purse is given to him, he smiles and say, "Thank you kindly, ma'am."
Korriban decides to stick up for Vancaskerkin as well, "Yeah. Van's heart was in the right place. It's just that it could have been handled in a different way. And these shmucks..." he jabs his thumb at the other six, "decided to use his noble intentions for their own purposes. By the way, if you're curious, his girlfriend is Vimanda Arkona. Raises some flags, don't it?"
At the request of home, Korriban says, "I've got to be heading home as well. Everyone's probably worried. My home is the Rosa in Fiore. It's in Bridgefront, on Jeggare Street." He turns to his allies. "I hope you guys can come over sometime. We do have things to take care of. Maybe tomorrow if things have settled down by then." The party knows he refers to the loot from Lamm's, as well as Gadriel's promised outing.
Turning to Gadriel, he says, "You said that you know of an orphanage? Well, here. Bring them this." He pulls out the bags of coin that the ill-tempered guards from the butcher's "gave" them. "Tell them it's a donation from some concerned citizens. And Gadriel? The roof of the Rosa is available to you. Anytime. Just make sure you stop by to say hi." He ends with a gentle smile
Turning to Imperia, his face turns pink and he becomes nervous. "So, Imperia, I want to ask you something. Uh... I was wondering if you would like to go out sometime. Just... the two of us. It doesn't have to be a date, if you don't want it to. It can be as friends just walking around town." He scratches the back of his head as he waits for an answer.
Gadriel nods her head. "We know a place. We will hand the coins to Father Baddage. We remember the Father being kind. We will also visit Rosa sometime, but for tonight the haunted house is good. We know that roof already."
"I will retire elsewhere, as well. Churchly duties and all that, yes? Vancaskerkin, I am deeply sorry your dreams turned into this; but remember, all things end. Move on."
Adoros counts out his portion of the reward money as he nods his thanks to Kroft, "Vancaskerkin seems to be clueless to the depths of depravity his comrades were willing to sink. He probably should at least have a month or two behind bars as punishment before his dishonorable discharge but his crimes amounted to little compared to the others. The rest, however, you would do well to prepare as many nooses as the gallows can handle and hang them as soon as the trial is over. They plotted and performed acts of brutality including up to murder, or least that is what they lead us to believe if we'd pay them a small fee to see a rival or enemy disappear. I would not be surprised, as they were operating out of a butcher shop, if they did not dispose of the evidence of their bloody deeds by carving up the deceased and mixing it amongst the other meats they were handing out to the hungry." Adoros looks at the stripped criminals as he scrunchs his face into a expression as if he'd tasted something foul.
He slips the coins into his coin pouch as he hefts his musket against his shoulder and turns to the others and the Field Marshal, "If you need to reach me, Marshal, I am currently residing at a small apartment near the Whitecaps in Northgate. My friends, it has been a long day but a rewarding one. I think I'm going to grab a tankard before heading to my bed. Any of you are welcome to join me."