Exiting the Quarrier's Guild, the Companions see a small, dirt covered urchin walk up to them. The urchin, they are fairly certain, is a little girl but it is difficult to tell gender with her baggy clothes and ratty hair. She pulls on Benaiah's cloak with one hand while calmly munching on a hunk of dawnflower bread that she is holding with her other hand.
"Priestess wants to see you. At the temple." comes the words in a spray of nut crumbs. "Sorry for spitting on your fancy dress." she tells Benaiah.
As the Companions approach the now familiar temple, the guards greet them in warm smiles. Passing clerics call out with an extend hand in an exaggerated wave, or even go so far as the familiar double-cheeked kiss. The Companions notice that Arimar gets more than a few glances and nods of approval.
The once again they file into a side room where Khania, Foreman Daceileum Surly, and Carpenter Branarm Om are seated.
Seeing the Companions enter, Khania tries to put on a friendly smile but worry lines cloud her normally sunny disposition. "Ah, friends, peace. Brother Eachaan has made the most wondrous dried fruit concoction." she hold up a strip that looks like cured leather. "Apparently he mashed up some overripe pluckberries, and added in something, he won't tell me what, but it comes out chewy. Would you care for some? It reminds me of the saying about ...."
As the priestess warmly greets the companions, Carpenter Branarm Om gives Gwen a mischievous smile and a wink. "Day is better already, right Daceileum?"
"Give it a rest, Branarm. We got problems boys." begins Foreman Daceileum Surly.
"And beautiful lady." adds in Carpenter Branarm Om.
"Right, sorry ma'am. Plans got rejected. Never seen that before. Gonna have to hit up that benefactor to see who we need to bribe."
Khania gives a loud, "Harump! Peoples' lives are at stake, don't they know this?" she almost pleads with the group.
"Oh they know it, but they care more about their gold lined pocket. How did you make out with the stone at the Quarriers' Guild at least?" queries Foreman Daceileum Surly.
"You look sad, Gwen. Anything I can do to cheer you up?" adds in Carpenter Branarm Om while munching on the dried fruit strip loudly.
Still uncomfortable with the warm welcome, Arimar makes his way to Khania's quarters and accepts the dried fruit snack with good grace. He listens to the contractors and their issues before speaking.
"Something deeper than a simple bribe required is going on here," Arimar asserts, swallowing the last of the tasty fruit before continuing, "We had a very strange experience with my contact at the miner's guild. It seems we are attracting some unwanted attention, and he refused to even acknowledge that he'd met us before - let alone give us a timeframe on the stone we require. I believe he'll try to contact us here later, but there was an altercation that may jeopardize our chances of that happening." Arimar gives an almost apologetic look to Malgrim for mentioning it, but Khania needed to be aware of their chances.
"Maybe he can shed some more light on the issue, but this cannot be a coincidence. Someone is deliberately hindering our efforts here, of that I am sure. As for who this could be or why they would stop us, I have no idea. Perhaps this is why the fountain has not worked for so long. Maybe some kind of force is stopping its restoration on purpose - perhaps the same force that caused it to fail in the first place."
"More than a bribe? That's over our pay grade for sure." comes Foreman Daceileum Surly response.
"But we do make quite a comfortable living. Able to provide all a woman needs, or wants for that matter." adds in Carpenter Branarm Om.
Foreman Daceileum Surly just rolls his eyes as Khania stifles a giggle.
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Benaiah rubs his temples, trying to shake out the strange, tingling sensations crawling all over his skin. Frequently he shakes his arms at his sides, hopping up and down in place, as if to burn off some extra source of energy that is keeping him from standing still for even a second. He paces behind the group as they speak with Khania, the foreman and the carpenter.
"I think Arimar is on to something. What that quarrier did back there..." He huffs and shakes off another bout of distracting energy, "Take away the assault, and it was just weird." He pauses for a moment, a strange sight indeed for all of his fidgeting since they left the guild, and gives a nod to Gwen, silent thanks for calming him down in the heat of the moment.
"Well there isn't anything we can do about the stone workers right now except wait and see if that bridge is burned. In the meantime, I'm thinking Arimar has the right idea. Let's start with Lanvi and here information gathering network and see what she might be able to find out. It's possible someone realizes there is some money flowing here, and wants to get their cut of the pie, but unlikely. As the foreman here suggested, we will either find someone to bribe, or someone who is standing in our way."
"But we do make quite a comfortable living. Able to provide all a woman needs, or wants for that matter." adds in Carpenter Branarm Om.
"In this case, we are very fortunate," Gwendolyn adds in respond to Carpenter Branarm Om, even going so far as to return his mischievous smile and a wink. "For what this lady both needs and wants, are one and the same..."
"This lady wishes to understand what forces have mustered against us."
The halfling takes a step closer to both the Foreman and the Carpenter, though her eyes remain locked on Branarm Om. "Our plans were rejected and someone put pressure upon the Quarriers' Guild to stop our working together."
"I don't wish to put either of you into any danger, Foreman Daceileum Surly or Carpenter Branarm Om, but I'm guessing you have some connections because of your line of work and dealing with such plans in the past, which we four do not possess. Perhaps you could help we four inquire who, or what organization applied the pressure to have our plans rejected. If we can first learn who is set against us, then we can decide how best to deal with them."
She pauses her speech long enough to take Branarm's hand. "Is this something you could help us look in to?"
Arimar turns to Khania also, "Do you have any idea who might oppose the Church of Sarenrae in such a way? It seems the Hellknights might be involved, which could suggest Cheliax or Korvosa in some way. Did Asmodeus have anything to do with the Fountain's destruction?"
The big paladin picks up another strip of dried fruit. "Then again, they may simply have been employed to track down the infiltrators to the Versades' party."
"Umm." stutters Foreman Daceileum Surly, as Carpenter Branarm Om interjects, "Yeah we know lots of important people. We will ask around. Quiet like. Right?" he winks at Gwen again. Foreman Daceileum Surly just shakes his head.
"Arimar, the fountain's destruction still remains a mystery. No one has shown any abnormal interest in us. It is possible." she ends with a worried look.
Turning to the workmen, "I thank you for your service, Foreman Daceileum Surly and Carpenter Branarm Om. We shall keep you posted on our progress in the days to come. Please partake of all the Temple has to offer as you make your way out. May the Dawnflower bless you." Once the men have left, Khania turns to you.
"Bribe? More than that? Peace. I never knew it would be like this. Please friends, make yourselves comfortable. We are just waiting on the other. Who I might add is running a bit late." Khania informs the group.
A few moments later Mistress Lanvi sweeps in. As resplendent as ever, as provocatively dressed as possible, she fluffs what she has of a dress before sitting and raising a hand palm forward facing to Khania. "No 'Peace', and no food. I care not what your staff wastes their time preparing, priestess. We have much and more to discuss, I fear much of it bad news."
"Wasn't going to offer you any." the priestess says to no one in particular.
"It has come to my attention that not only has the Versade Family hired Hellknights to sweep the city looking for the lost ledger and bookkeepers, but apparently some or all of you have been made. How in the world this could have happened I know not.
"I am going to need you to go back and think about who was at the party where you acquired this ledger for anyone you might have recognized but failed to mention to me." She gives Gwen a pointed stare.
For Benaiah and Gwen only a GM assist.
"In more bad news, it seems that the Versade Family has wind of this little project, and while they don't know what we are doing, they are trying to prevent it from happening. My sources tell me that they got to the Mindurian family and pulled in some favors. I am assuming that your follow up meeting fell flat?
"This leaves us in a precarious position. The bookkeeper hasn't cracked the code yet, I am too busy moving him from place to place, so we are still unaware of what we have, but we know that it is something valuable for the Versade Family to do everything but declare war on me. Which is not out of the realm of possibility. I don't even want to think about what would happen should they choose all out war. I fear that too few houses will step forward to help us and I don't have the resources to compete with them. Probably head back to Absalom."
"Good riddance." adds in the Seranrite.
"So what do you all think, wait to see if the bookkeeper can come up with some useful knowledge or should I make arrangements to meet with Old Filuvia Mindurian and see if we can't reach an agreement?"
"Thank you," the halfling says honestly, bowing slightly to Foreman Daceileum Surly and Carpenter Branarm Om. "Both of you."
"Any help would be greatly appreciated," she adds, raising her head to smile. "But yes, as you said, keep any inquiries quiet like. Do not put yourself in any danger or make it obvious why you are asking... You plans have been rejected, so you have a very good and plausible reason to ask why, and this is all I would ask for your help on. To simply inquire why your plans have been rejected."
Gwendolyn then listens to the explanations from Mistress Lanvi, and the snarky, but quiet, interjections from Khania. When asked to think back to the party and remember if there was anyone they may have failed to mention, the plucky halfling falls silent while replaying the night's events in her mind. Before her eyes, she can see bodyguards stationed at the front door, checking invitations, the stylish and well disguised captain outfit of Arimar, clustered duos of dancing partners twirling about to elegant music, and the seedy hive of drugs she and Benaiah found themselves in at the end of their time at the party.
As her eyes refocus on the room and those gathered around, the halfling takes a moment to explain who she recognized.
"We saw, Balastar et Mindurian, Zakon Vanderale, and Ioana Versade, among others."
"But also, I believe we saw Luma Derexhi. A half-elf, presumably of the Derexhi Family, though she may have been a..." Gwendolyn pauses, hesitant to even say the word. This was one of many terms she had grown to hate as an adult, knowing it defined nothing of a person's true character and was but a label used by small-minded people who liked to keep others down and in neat, tidy boxes. "I think she was a... bastard."
"Those of the Derexhi family are highly skilled mercenaries. Are they not?"
Thinking more on Mistress Lanvi's question of how to proceed, Gwendolyn takes a moment to tell the others what she knows of Old Filuvia Mindurian in order to help them make an informed decision.
The Mindurians made their fortune and name with their impressive skills at stonemasonry. Originally hired by the city founders to help design Magnimar's more important buildings, the Mindurians made the transition from hired help to aristocracy with ease and grace.
Old Filuvia Mindurian is a well known gossip among the nobility.
"Calm, Khania," Arimar puts a warm hand - when did my hands become warm? - on her shoulder, "Remember, much of this would be impossible or far more difficult without Mistress Lanvi's aid. She is not the ones who fouled things up with the Versades: we are." Honestly taking the blame for something that he didn't really feel any guilt for, what a novel thing to do.
"I have heard much and the same regarding the Mindurians and Filuvia in particular," Arimar agrees with Gwen's assessment, "It is likely that the Versades and Mindurians have a much stronger alliance than they let on, possibly also including the Vanderales. They seemed to find themselves in each other's company often. It is also possible that the documents we found are equally damaging to all those houses."
Arimar shrugs. "Let us wait a little while to see what the bookkeeper turns up, and to see if Balastar can produce an explanation. If all else fails, we could look elsewhere for masons to analyze the stone," he adds, "It likely doesn't come from Magnimar and there are other places that have used this special type of Thassilonian mineral for construction. Riddleport, for example. I believe the most famous Thassilonian structure there is called the Cyphergate. Maybe the Cyphermages could be of help." Arimar shudders at the thought of traveling back to Riddleport, but he finds himself willing to do so for the sake of Sarenrae and the good that this fountain could bring.
From the walk from the Quarriers to the temple and beyond, Malgrim has been even more reticent than normal (if that was possible), barely speaking a word even as he acknowledges his companion's words with a slight nod or monosyllabic word, lost inside his own head. He has replayed the interaction over and over, from the the previous visit to the explosive exit. It wasn't his fault, not really, he knows it. But still, his actions were what caused what would have been a simple brush off into violence. Mentally he sighs, before rejoining the conversation.
"I do not expect we'll hear from the Scion; if they had information it could have reached us. Even if they were bearing pressure from outside sources. I am far from a master in these matters, but his reactions seemed... off... not those of a man in full control of his faculties. Unless his honor truly has been impugned, and I struck a raw nerve and overreaction."
He spreads his hands. "I hate to remain motionless, but do not see a further path to follow at this time."
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"Honestly, since we failed to get the bookkeeper out of the city, it seems he never has enough time to work on deciphering the ledger before he is chased from one location to the next. And if what you say about Filuvia is correct, then trying to reach an agreement with her will only announce to the world what we are doing. I think I might have a better idea."
Benaiah begins to pace the room, rubbing his temples and his face vigorously to gather his thoughts. Finally he stops, and puts his hands, palms down, out in front of him.
"Ok, hear me out on this. We can't break the code on the ledger, and that ledger seems to be a pretty hot button item right now. If we can't get the information out of it, then let's at least direct the storm it has caused towards someone else. We might even be able to cement an ally in the process." Benaiah takes another deep breath.
"Let's plant the book in the Mindurian household. Hold on, I see your skeptical faces, but let me finish. If it appears on the surface that someone from the Mindurian house has stolen the book, it may take the heat off of us for a little while, and cause Filuvia to go on the defensive, while opening a rift between the two houses." Benaiah's hands begin to shake a little bit as the plan becomes more solid in his mind. If only he can make it sound convincing enough for the others to buy in. Or at least solid enough for them to offer some refinements...
"The real genius in the plan isn't making it look like the Mindurian household stole the book. It's making it look, after an investigation, that the Versades family planted it there. Mistress Lanvi, why you might even have a fantastic opportunity to express your support and alliance to the Mindurians in this complicated, tense time." Benaiah raises his eyebrows several times with a large grin on his face.
"Yea yea yea, so the plan could fall apart a hundred different ways. Maybe there is no investigation because the Versades are trying to keep it so hush hush. Maybe someone figures out it was us the whole time. But! If we can't get the information out of the book, we can at least try to use it to gain an ally and turn that new ally against our enemy at the same time."
After a few moments, Benaiah furrows his eyebrows and adds on with a mumble, "Unless of course, Arimar is right and the ledger implicates all three houses. Then the Mindurians would want to keep it a secret just as much as the Versades." Eventually he shrugs his shoulders and plops down in one of the comfortable chairs, munching on some of the fruit.
Mistress Lanvi's smile begins slowly as Arimar begins to talk, and it only widens as Gwen, Malgrim, and finally Benaiah begin to discuss options.
"You truly are an amazing group of individuals. Some brilliant plans and suggestions. I cannot say that a day goes by when I regret offering you all a position within my orginiat..." Mistress Lanvi never finishes the word as she begins another coughing fit. Doubled over, her body wracks in spams as she struggles to regain her breath. The Companions can see the handkerchief spotted with blood pressed to her mouth
Rushing to Mistress Lanvi's side, Khania begins to fervently pray. "By the Dawnflower, please ease this ones suffering, allow the disease to pass quickly and restore her strength."
Pushing the priestess away, Mistress Lanvi's eyes shoot daggers at Khania. "You think your worthless prayers, pointless platitudes, and absurd concoctions will do anything?!" she hacks a bloody, mucus glob into her kerchief.
"Yes I do. The Dawnflower will heal you. I have seen it."
Mistress Lanvi's eyes go wide in fear. "What did you say?"
"Yes." Khania begins with confidence. "My goddess has shown me a glimpse of the future. I have seen you, healthy and well. Completely cured. Whether it is do to these fine peoples' effort, or something else, she would not show me. But you will be cured. And you will owe her your gratitude."
Completely unnerved, Mistress Lanvi tries to bring her attention back to the problem at hand, the restoration of the fountain. Giving the priestess a sideways look, she turns back to the Companions.
She clears her throat before beginning, "Gwen, yes. The Derexhi family is supported by a very skilled band of family mercenaries. Luma Derexhi, the particular bastard that attended the party you were at, is rumored to have the ability to change her appearance at will. Some sort of 'power of the city' she has. Similar to what a druid can do by drawing upon the power of nature. I confess, it is a bit beyond me. She could have easily followed any of you without your knowing. We might want to come up with a word or phrase to make sure the person you are talking to is not an impostor.
"And Arimar, it is very unlikely that the Vanderale Family is involved in this. As the most influential family, they do not ally themselves with any Family, using each Family's skills as they need it. Families tend to come to them for favors. Usually.
"If I were to bet, I would guess the documents have something to do with the Vanderale Family, as they look like shipping records. Again, we would need the bookkeeper to really have time to break the codes, but you could convince any novice what they say, if you were convincing.
"Riddleport is a good backup plan. You could travel there if you wanted, but you have no allies. But you would be out of reach of our apparent enemies. Interesting thought.
"Malgrim, now is not the time to buy into despondency. You have just started your grand quest, and you must have known it would be a difficult journey. You never know what is going to happen. We need a healthy Malgrim, and one that is ready to give his all.
"And you, Benaiah. A daring plan, fraught with danger and unforeseen contingencies. Yet fortune favors the bold. I have placed my life in your hands on many occasions. I trust your judgement if that is what you want to do.
"So where do we go from here?"
"Benaiah, I had no idea you were so devious," Arimar favors the man with a wide grin, "I do not think it is time to give up on the ledger yet. All the bookkeeper needs is more time. I think we would benefit more from its contents than the potential for a disagreement - however harsh - between houses. For now, at least. When we either succeed or fail at translating the text, then we can look into it further." Arimar finds himself increasingly ill at ease talking about such underhanded methods.
"For now, we have many irons in the fire," Arimar notes, "The bookkeeper is one, and hopefully he will succeed in his endeavors soon. In the meantime, we also have this issue with the permit and our friends here are set to begin their enquiries. I would also like to wait to see if Balastar does indeed come to see us here at the Temple. We should allow him some time to show us his honor." The paladin gives Malgrim a pointed look at that last mention.
"Mistress Lanvi has yet to confront her handmaiden about our earlier issue," Arimar tries to remain circumspect, "In the meantime, surveilling Filuvia Mindurian and this Derexhi seems prudent as well. Since we've been made, perhaps our good Mistress might know some folk who could better help. Speaking of, to differentiate ourselves from that mercenary, how does 'when walking the streets of Absalom' sound as a passphrase to incorporate into a sentence? The response can be 'in Aroden's footsteps', or something like that. Maybe one of you three will have a better idea.
"I say we let all of that play out first. I know it means holing up for a while, but there is a lot of heat on us right now and letting all that blow over would be an end unto itself. Then, if all of that that fails to bear fruit, we can move on with our backups: planting the book, traveling to Riddleport and whatever else seems prudent."
Almost as an afterthought, Arimar adds, "If we really want to be more active, we could always make some initial contact with Doctor Ernst Landis at the Museum of Ages, and make some ground on our investigation into the Hoshen, though that seems a little premature if we can't even rebuild the fountain in the first place. Perhaps we should go to the School of the Four Winds first and ask about the aquifer. Personally, though, I'm happy to simply lay low."
"two days later"
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Benaiah smiles at the affirmation from both Mistress Lanvi and Arimar at his underhanded political idea, which gives him the confidence to shrug it off when it doesn't appear to be the best solution right now. It was fraught with ways to backfire...
"Yea, I definitely agree that finding out what is in the book would be far better than giving it up. Hopefully that is still an option. It seems like you are right, and the best option for now is to just lay low for a while. Let's see if Balastar makes contact, and if the bookkeeper turns anything up."
Now I just have to figure out what to do in the meantime...
The halfling stands silent for a long while as the conversation twists and plans hatch only to be crushed moments later by further realizations. As the others discuss back and forth, she waits patiently while a general consensus is reached and then at last adds her thoughts.
"I agree," she nods first to Arimar, smiling politely, then motioning likewise to Benaiah. "Even if it means we may be inactive for a few days, I think it best to give the bookkeeper a bit more time to work and also to see if Balastar makes contact."
"If Balastar does make contact, it will be here, at the church, more likely than not," Gwendolyn pauses for a moment. "But on the off chance he feels he cannot reach here and still keep the meeting a secret, I also made mention to him that I would be staying at the Frumpy Duchess, and so for my part, I will remain in my room at the inn just in case that is where our dwarf friend turns up."
"Also, if Foreman Daceileum Surly and Carpenter Branarm Om turn up any new information, I want to make sure I'm available to meet them."
Mistress Lanvi observes Malgrim's despondent mood, and Benaiah's unspent energy before a worried look clouds her face. "Friends, before this minor set back." she looks directly at Malgrim, "I had planned on you devoting all your available energy to restoring the fountain. If you plan on waiting a few days, for either the bookkeeper to crack the codes or a message back from the Mindurian dwarf, why not do something purposeful?
"We have the bookeeper in a safe house not too far from here. If you all took over guard duty, and keep him at a single location for a few days, handful at the most I would guess, that might give him enough time decipher these codes that are troubling us so much at the moment.
"It would also give you a bit of purpose and hopefully keep some of you out of trouble." she looks at Benaiah, "And snap you out of your apparent malaise." she looks at Malgrim.
"Both my estate, and I am sure Khania would agree, the Temple are poor choices."
Khania nods her assent.
"Not to impose, Gwen my dear, but you could use the Frumpy Duchess or another similar locale.
"Even if the dwarf sends a note here, I am sure that a day or two won't matter. What say you?"
"Guard duty seems more than appropriate," Arimar smiles, "And I'd be happy to help out. We could hook up a few alarm spells, too, if Gwen is willing to cast them - I'm sure we can find some scrolls. Khania can always get word to us if Balastar's note arrives."
Arimar finds himself touching the hilt of his newly acquired falchion. There is something incredibly comforting and familiar about its feel, despite it being new to him. Sweet Sarenrae, what have you done to me?
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Benaiah, his mind already on thoughts of beds and ladies of the night, turns around at the suggestion of guard duty.
I could always bring my entertainment with me... especially at the frumpy duchess...
"Sounds good to me. Doesn't sound like we would be doing anything different, just sitting around, but sitting with a purpose is better than not I guess."
Malgrim stands unflinching as his mood is described, barely acknowledging that he was being described and aparently lost in his own head. He snaps out of his reverie when the subject of Gaurd Duty is brought up, looking to Lavni. "An inn could be a discreet location to hold him, but hardly defensible given the strength that was displayed a few days ago. I would also be concerned about the threat of a fire." He looks to his companions. "I cannot think of an alternative, however."
A mischievous grin lifts the corners of Arimar's mouth. "I know it's technically on temple grounds," the former necromancer begins, "But how about the place where we were ambushed earlier? Plenty of line of sight all around, hard to get out from the outside... and should be quite difficult to locate us there. We should also consider casting nondetection on the ledger - just in case scrying is being used to sniff it out." Fragments of Arimar's arcane knowledge were still left in his mind, but they were fleeing fast.
Khania looks at Arimar. "You have been chosen to rebuild the fountain, one of the great wonders Sarenrae has placed upon Goralion. How could we refuse such a simple offer? The hut is yours, should you require it.
"Whatever you all feel is in the best interest of rebuilding the fountain, the Temple will support you fully."
Mistress Lanvi just rolls her eyes.
"Thank you, Khania," Arimar furrows his brow in further thought, "Well, friends, shall it be somewhere more defensible like one of those huts... or somewhere more comfortable like the Frumpy Duchess? I may have been reborn a paladin, but that was only a few days ago. It's not like I've forgotten what comfort is like." Arimar winks pointedly at Benaiah. The man needs to learn to hide his feelings better - his expression darkened the instant they mentioned holing up somewhere other than that near-brothel.
"There is also the potential that Balastar might try to contact us there..." Best to give a more reasonable out in front of members of the clergy. Gods, I'm a member of the clergy now.
Malgrim thinks for a moment. "The hut on the temple grounds would be ideal; it is far less likely that a contingent of Hell Knights would drop in unannounced or cause a potential disaster of a fire. This is perhaps one time that going down to the pub, having a pint, and waiting for it all to blow over will not be the best course."
The companions move back and forth between preferences for places, but in the end the Frumpy Duchess wins out. Arimar is quietly relieved that they will not be placing the Temple of Sarenrae in further danger, but remains concerned for the inhabitants of the 'Duchess.
"Let's see if we can't just get a scroll of nondetection for Gwendolyn to cast on the book while it's still at his current safe house," Arimar begins the tactical discussion once the location is decided, "Then we can move him under cover of invisibility. Benaiah, have you figured out how to share your extracts yet or do we need another scroll? Benaiah can also be invisible, and Malgrim seems good at melding into the shadows - or the stones. Then Gwen and I can just walk to the Frumpy Duchess, apparently just the two of us, and secure the invisible Bookkeeper in Gwendolyn's room there."
The paladin tries to think of what else they'll need to do, "We can take it in shifts to stay up while the bookkeeper studies. I say three of us stay up at night, and we split the day into two eight-hour blocks where half of us sleep and the other half stay awake."
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"Nondetection is a great idea." Benaiah raises his eyebrows and nods to Arimar.
At the mention of sharing his spells, Benaiah instinctively pulls his powder box closer to his hip. "No, unfortunately I haven't figured out how to cut them so they don't make people sick." he offers.
"Watch shifts are good too. I hadn't thought of staying up all night and sleeping during the day. Actually, it makes me wonder if I don't have something to just let me stay up all day and night..." Benaiah is suddenly lost in thought, and pulls out his formula book.
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"I can help with the scrolls of invisibility." Benaiah jingles his coin purse. "Between the invisibility and the non-detection, we shouldn't have any trouble getting into the rooms."
"Say, Arimar. You don't still know that bull's strength spell anymore, do you?" he asks, looking the armored and changed man up and down a few times.
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It is an hour or so before Benaiah emerges from one of the huts, covered in dust and smelling faintly of some unidentified chemical concoction. He subconciously pats on his pouch where his powder box is located, getting the reassurance that it is there for him when he needs it.
Two charms hang from his neck. One a small, stainless steel vial and another slightly larger version of the same thing. They bounce back and forth on his chest as he walks, clinking together occasionally.
"Mistress Lanvi. It might be best if we keep your couriers away from this operation for the few days. However, if you could post someone near the Frumpy Duchess so that if something breaks out they can bring word to you right away. I heard some church somewhere uses the color of smoke out a chimney to signal different things. If we get a room with a hearth, we can keep the fire going. If something happens, I can throw some chemicals in the fire to make the smoke coming out of the stack a dark green color. Your watcher sees green smoke, he brings word to you right away that we are under assault." Benaiah dusts off his breeches and rubs his nose. Some grains of powder fall from his ruffled hair as he does.
"Also, since it is such a minor, but useful spell, we should make it a point to keep message active the entire time we are guarding our frantic bookkeeper, even if we don't plan on splitting up."
"Anything else anyone can think of?" He asks, raising his eyebrows.