Eftil keeps his spear trained on the prisoner.
THE CATACOMBS GROUP
"Control yourself, Rodrik!" Jobe stands, still near the children, but his voice is that of battlefield command, loud as clear despite the poor acoustics of the catacombs. "We will save the interrogation for when we have magic to force him to tell the truth. Though I think this will tell us more than we need to know." All this is said as Jobe strides towards the man held up to the wall. He tears the mask from the man's face. The skin tone and high cheek bones clearly indicate Khallan descent. Tattooed on his forehead is the symbol of the Khallan Inquisitors: A flaming greatsword held in two hands and pointed downwards.
"I believe it's clear that the Khallans are behind this attack. This explains why they chose a temple of Sehlash as a distraction for us." Jobe turns to the delegates. "They do not wish us to ally, for they fear our combined strength." Jobe throws the man's mask aside, and moves back to Tesla. "Let us get the injured to the clerics outside. Eftil, Rodrick. Please ensure that man does not escape. Bring him with us." Jobe picks up Tesla, cradling her in his arms, and begins up the stairs.
When Jobe removes the mask and Vandrake sees the symbol on the man's forehead, his eyes take on a feverish intensity. His shaking hand grasps Jobe's shoulder with as much firmness as his weak hand can manage. His voice is quavering with excitement bordering on frenzy, "Jobe...Jobe, I want to interrogate this one. I have the means you speak of to make him talk. I shall extract for you the information you require. I have dealt with these Khallan Inquisitors. I know them well. If we are to be friends, you will allow me to be the one that loosens this one's tongue and makes it beg to tell us what it knows. Oh Jobe, I will make his tongue wag like a Khallan priest on the Sabbath. I certainly will."
Vandrake's eyes look into the other man's eyes. The meeting is not pleasant. Pain for pain. Pain for truth. Truth what the pain tells you it is. Make them tell you what you accused them off. The truth of the accusation irrelevent. Make them say what you want them to say. The teachings of The Khallan Inquisition for only the word of Razgriz is truth. All else is shaped by his word. Oh I shall make you speak, you Khallan sycophant.
Khallans...why? Why would they chose such a cowardly and wretched...this makes no sense, this must be a setup by Jobe to get the agreement that he wants...possibly. Except the diplomats would have been dead if I hadn't chosen to go with them. What is going on?
Evengi trails behind the diplomats as they move upstairs and out of the temple.
Eftil looks at Vandrake, then back at the prisoner.
Rodrik blushes, embarrassed by his outburst. He takes a step back, hammer still drawn.
Jobe turns to Vandrake's hand on his shoulder, as he's about to leave. He pauses for a moment to consider Vandrake's request. "That request leaves me in a difficult position, Vandrake, but I will do my best to accomodate. I want to be present as well." Jobe turns to face Rodrik. "He will meet justice, I promise you. But let us not discuss these matters while there are wounded to tend to. Can you handle the prisoner?" He asks Rodrick before once again starting for the stairs, still carrying Tesla.
Rutilia is helping the Cardinal to her feet. The Cardinal has a deep gash in her thigh, though no longer bleeding due to Vandrake's healing magic. The pair begin move to the other casualties in the room, either helping them to their feet or directing Eftil, Milena or Evengi to assist them.
Rodrik nods and goes about securing the prisoner and prepping him for transport.
The Cardinal, Caedicia, nods in response to the Sister's quesiton. "Of course. Nethys will grant me the ability to heal the gash by tomorrow, and we will have our visit just as promised. The actions of wicked people should never drive a spike between the just."
As the group manages to pull themselves out of the Catacombs, out into the street, their prisoner being dragged behind them, they find it has turned from a clear, sunny day to a literal downpour. This has had the added effect of stifling the fire, which is now contained and rapidly shrinking. The temple of Sehlash, however, is almost completely destroyed. Jobe sighs with relief, but doesn't slow as he approaches the now-drenched grouping of clerics of Corail. He speaks briefly to the leader - the man who seems to be the High Priest. The rest of the group files in behind Jobe and the High Priest allows his healing energies to flow over everyone.
Finally, Jobe hugs Tesla and sets her down, turning to face the unlikely group he called together. The rain is making quite the noise and so Jobe raises his voice to speak over it. "Though I did not call you together for this purpose, you have all performed admirably today. I cannot think of the disaster this day would've been were it not for you. I will try to reward you in some way. I have a little business to attend to with you, but after that I must see to getting this mess cleaned up and the prisoner jailed."
Jobe moves over to the children first, kneels down next to them. "You were both extremely brave today. You helped very much. If you want, I can arrange for more than a hot meal for you. I could set you up in an orphanage here, so that you'll be taken care of."
Jobe also glances at Evengi with a look that says Don't go anywhere.
Eftil hangs around Evengi, though he does seem interested in the prospect of a reward.
Lysi wrinkled her nose in disgust at the word orphanage. "I know you mean well, Mister Jobe, but schools and other organized stuff...they don't like us much. And by much I mean at all. If they couldn't handle us at school in Nethys, I doubt they can deal with us at some orphanage."
"Besides, we want to help too!" Arry proclaims. "They hurt Lysi and Diri and I won't let them get away with it!"
"I..."
Eftil stops. The noctal stares at the ground.
Evengi stands in the rain, water pouring down his face.
He had considered slipping away, but only for a moment. It wasn't honorable, nor was it appropriate for a man of his lineage. Hunters knew when the time was to turn and make a stand.
For all he knew Jobe was the man that had ordered his family slaughtered...or allowed it to happen. At the very least, he had connections, connections that he could not afford to dismiss if he was going to proceed in his quest.
His hands clenched and unclenched in quiet anger, waiting for Jobe, rain soaking him to the skin.
"I apologize, Jobe. If you have others you wish to conduct the interrogation, I will defer to them. I will stay until this business is complete." Vandrake stands quietly in the area.
Jobe looks... frankly appalled at what Arry said. "But you are just children! I... I can't let you risk yourselves like that. I..." Jobe looks horrified. "You're supposed to have a childhood, not seeking vengeance at such a young age."
Jobe is clearly distraught by what Arry said, and only puts a hand up to Milena and Vandrake, clearly asking them to wait a moment.
Vandrake moves near Lysi giving her shoulder a light squeeze, "Young Miss, do you require further healing? At the very least before we all go our separate ways, I shall see you restored to health."
"I'm fine now, Mister," Lysi says in response to Vandrake. "You know, you seemed pretty mean at first, kinda like our old teacher, but actually you're pretty nice. Thanks."
She turns back to Jobe and looks at him very seriously. "Arry and I take care of ourselves and earn our own living. That's not very childish, is it? But it's a lot more peaceful than having adults constantly blame us for everything that goes wrong just because of our abilities. And no matter what you think about our age, well, the men in masks didn't care that we were children, now, did they?"
"Wise children, Jobe. They are young, but able. Better to cultivate young ones with talent than allow someone with less pure intentions to harvest them or cut them down too young. If you have work for us, I shall help the young ones look after themselves. Few are they that do not appreicate the gift of healing provided by servants of a benevolent power." Vandrake smiles at Jobe.
Then looks to Lysi, "Mean? Please forgive my earlier irritation. I do not like uncouth people. I felt provoked by the wine merchant's vulgarity. Please, you and your brother may always call for assistance should you need it. I would not turn away hungry or injured children, especially a young lady with fine manners."
Jobe's shoulders slouch, his face frowns, looking grim. He suddenly looks very old for a man in his forties. "You're right, Vandrake. As much as I am loathe to let children risk themselves, we need all the help we can get." He stands and takes a deep breath. "Once I determine our next step, I will contact you. Milena, I have no problem if you want to be in attendance, and you as well, Vandrake."
He sighs and turns to Evengi, smiling at the man. "I wanted to thank you personally, Mr. Fasseti. Tesla tells me it was your actions in the catacombs that not only saved her own life, but likely was key in the victory and therefore the deliverance of every member of the delegation. I am in your debt." Jobe bows to Evengi.
Eftil clears his throat. "I lost my longspear in the fire."
Expecting denunciation, or accusations, Evengi is put off for a moment.
"Ah, I, uh. You are welcome. I did only what a man of honor would have done."
Evengi grimaces, getting colder in the rain.
"If you don't mind, I am going home. This day has been exciting enough for me and I don't want any part of an interrogation. I have to get some rest (and a beer) before going back to work tomorrow."
Rodrik pipes up, "I have an apartment here in the city, I could provide accommodation to any who need it." He turns to Jobe, "I'd like to help with this matter in any way I can. The success of Corail is something I'm highly invested in, I'd also like to see the men behind these assassins brought to justice."
Rodrik pipes up, "I have an apartment here in the city, I could provide accommodation to any who need it." He turns to Jobe, "I'd like to help with this matter in any way I can. The success of Corail is something I'm highly invested in, I'd also like to see the men behind these assassins brought to justice."
Jobe couldn't resist a smile at Eftil. "I'm sure Corail could replace your spear. Perhaps we can even find one of better craftsmanship."
Jobe looks around at the group. "Of course, Evengi, go rest. The interrogation will likely not happen until tomorrow evening, but when I shall see to it that all who wish to be present will be so. Children, if you do not wish to stay at an orphanage, perhaps you might wish to stay with Rodrik or... I could take you into my own home. If none of those appeal to you, I will give you enough gold to stay in an inn in the city." Jobe looks at each of you in turn. "You are all capable people, in your own ways. Once the assailant has been interrogated, I may have... work for you, if you're interested. Of course, I will not force you."
"Sis, where do you want to stay?" Arry asks. It didn't really matter to him, but he thought she might.
Eftil nods warily and heads off.
"Sis, where do you want to stay?" Arry asks. It didn't really matter to him, but he thought she might.
"Well, our room at the boardinghouse is paid through the end of the week, but I don't really feel safe staying there after today. If those guys figure out who we are and where we live then we wouldn't be safe at all and there'd be nobody to help us. But we don't know Mr. Rodrik very well at all and it seems weird staying with someone we don't really know. No offense, Mr. Rodrik, I'm sure you're nice and all. So I guess we should go stay with Mr. Jobe for a little bit. It's not like it's permanant or anything. Once this blows over we can go back to the boardinghouse if we want. The landlady is nice and I'm sure she'd let us come back whenever we wanted to, so yeah, I think that will work out just fine. But wherever we're staying we really should go back to the boardinghouse first and get our stuff. I'd really like to change into some clothes that aren't torn and blood-stained."
Vandrake would like to participate in the interrogation. That is how he wishes to spend his evening and day before meeting again with Jobe. He will make this known again to Jobe. He has time and some charms to make quick friends.
"Okay, that makes sense. Looks like we're staying with you, Mr Jobe. Lysi, you've got that spell that can clean, don't you? I know it won't fixe the cut, but the stain will go away."
"Oh, yeah, you're right! It still leaves a tear, but at least I won't be getting crazy suspicious looks walking through the city. Thanks, Arry, I can't believe I didn't think of that myself," she said, quickly casting the spell to remove the bloodstains from her clothes.
"I wish I could cast it. It's got all kinds of uses."
She grinned, clearly doing better from an emotional perspective and acting more like her usual self. "It is my favorite spell...even brussel sprouts are edible when you can make them taste like licorice," she said with a wink. "Hey, Mr. Jobe, if you tell us where you live we can go get our stuff and meet you there. I mean, you've obviously got a lot of important people to deal with so we don't want to hold things up any."
Seeing noone interested in his offer, Rodrik bows courteously before making his way off for the night.
Jobe follows the children as the begin to walk back, and Tesla falls into step next to him. Their fingers lace together once they are out of sight of the rest of the delegates. When Lysi asks for Jobe's address, he provides it and makes sure the children know how to get there. The address is for a house in a decent neighbourhood, though not a rich one. The pair leaves the children to their business.
"So we're really going to do this?" Arry asks as he and Lysi go to get their things. "I know the real stories of wars aren't as amazing as the stories Diri's told us."
"Well, it's not like we got involved on purpose," she said, skipping across the cobbles in her own strange version of hopscotch. "It'll probably mostly be waiting around and other boring adult stuff. But it's better to know what's going on instead of getting caught unawares. After all, if it comes to that we'd be caught in it somehow anyways. I'd rather be a participant than an innocent bystander....bad things tend to happen to the innocent bystanders."
She skipped and jumped up the rickety stairs to their small apartment.
"Unless you don't want to do this? If you'd rather be quit of it, we can just skip town, no harm done."
"I just thought you might not want to, since you got, well, you know." He replies, gesturing to the cut in Elysia's outfit. "But if you want to do it, then I'm going to stick to what we told Mister Jobe! Besides, we used to think of things our teachers hadn't thought of, so why can't we do the same for him?"
Once inside their apartment, Arry casts a spell and starts floating things over to where he stands, the mark on his forehead becoming shiny as the spell works.
"At least between the two of us we can keep a place clean, huh?" :)
"That's why the landlady likes us," she said with a grin as she changed into her unripped clothes, stuffing all of her other possessions into a battered old backpack.
"Let me know when you're done packing."
As soon as Arry has all of his things gathered, Lysi casts prestidigitation to clean the room thoroughly, leaving no traces of their occupancy.