Zayid (the tanned young man you saw earlier, Halsanna) reaches down and scratches his big feline friend behind the ear absently as he looks around. "Where are we? What's she... huh?" he asks quietly.
Freia looked up from the mirror and sat up straight as the new person entered. It took a moment, but then recognition lighted up her eyes. She's the archer from the Runewell! With a smile on her pale blue lips she greeted Halsanna.
"Hi! Welcome! I'm Freia. How nice to see you -"
She bit her tongue and halted herself with a blush, shifting the tone of her skin to a dark purple. Ow. She is probably not too happy about being here ... With a quick apologetic look at Halsanna she lowered her gaze into the mirror again.
Ariana looks toward the door at Absentia's words and arches an eyebrow. This being the first time Halsanna has seen any of them maskless. The elf frowns and looks to the Sorrow again.
"Truly? She was helpful in the wizard's den, however..." She trails off, realizing any complaint is likely to go ignored. "I don't agree with this decision due to past complications with that individual and her former companions. However, I shall abide by the decisions of the Sorrows.."
Inclining her head toward Halsanna, and making particular note of the mark on the archer's forehead, Ariana introduces herself. "And I am Ariana. Welcome to the..team. I bear no particular ill-will and hope past occurrences do not interfere with our working conditions."
"With her arriving..will you tell us more about these markings, Absentia?"
Ariana is right about Absentia. She does ignore her protests. The runes are Thassalonian in design, but even the most learned experts have been able to glean nothing.
Something sticks in her voice. Is a Sorrow actually uncomfortable?
I waited for all of you to arrive because I only plan on saying this once, and you likely won't hear it again. The Order has no idea what has happened to you. It was very hard to convince the top Sorrows, the ones above even Sorrow Caligrific, to tell you this, but I believe you can handle it.
Whatever they are, they seem to pose no direct threat, they are not dispellable, and they seem to be woven into your life-forces.
Instead of keeping you in here and testing on you until you die, it has been decided that you will conduct precision raids against key targets in the Docklands. That way, if you happen to explode, there will be minimal risk of collateral damage to the Order.
After a short pause she continues. The Bazaar of Sails is in shambles. The riots were short, but intense thanks to the Well. Many businesses were looted or destroyed, most were at least damaged somehow. The Gaurd has lost almost all of the people's confidence. I'm not sure how the Order maintained its standing, but we have. The Watch has remanded almost all policing duties to us. It was an unexpected decision that came down to a deciding vote by the Lord Mayor himself. We are only now getting decent patrols running. Gangs run rampant. The Tooth and Claw boys have themselves a new leader and have carved out, literally, the largest stake followed by the Howlers and the Crowfoots. These are the Devils we know. We can deal with them. The Howlers and Crowfoots have actually helped us maintain order in some areas. Tooth and Claw, not so much.
We need you all to take out the small, stubborn, dug in gangs that think they're something just because they control a block or two.
Do you think you're up to it?
Noro sat in her bed listening, she felt like crap but it didn't show much.
the newcomer arrived and Noro at least took the effort to nod a greeting.
The mission was laid out before the group. Noro looked over to Absentia, What about Reck, the former leader, can i shee him? Noro asked.
there is definitely an old connection between them that Noro is hoping to find closure with.
Absentia nods. He is currently being held in one of our most secure cells, but I can arrange that, yes. His trial has been put on hold while the courts sort through the charged from the riots.
E-explode?"
Freia sighed. She certainly didn't like the sound of that! Well, we haven't exploded yet, so what are the odds ...? Then again, she could still see the strange brand in her borrowed mirror. With another soft sigh she pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, resting her chin on her knees. With a faint smile on her lips she made her decision.
"Well, no use in worrying about it. And tackling some gangs should be a piece of cake compared to the Well - right?"
Zayid sits up in the bed and frowns, his darkly-tanned face showing an unusual displeasure. He listens as the others speak, his eyes flitting from face to face, but ultimately returning to Absentia. "For how long?" he asks quietly, his dark eyes fixed on the mysterious Sorrow.
They want to use me... and Freia, and the others. They can't let us go, not looking like this... and they have no idea how to fix it. They don't even know if we'll survive the year, or if the runes are all set to explode on Ascension Day. At least they aren't just locking us away. Maybe Aboki and I could get by looking like one of those odd pairs of bonded magicians, but... then again, maybe they were never intending to release us in the first place. Maybe Tears don't leave... ever.
Absentia responds, Until we get a good grip on the situation and get the Bazaar up and prosperous again. Hopefully you won't be going after small fries the whole time.
Noro stretches and goes to the new girl, jusht don't hit me with thoshe arrows.
looking to Absentia, when can I shee him. ash a former leader of the Tooth and Claw, he might have shome usheful information.
Noro is trying to be tough and uncareing, but it is evident that deep down she still has feelings for the troubled half-orc
Halsanna - Forgot to post this, sorry. Your tattoos are two coins on the back of your hands. Each display the word Aspis. The crimes for which the kangaroo court convicted you are conspicuously absent.
Your gear was confiscated, yes, but it will be returned when you depart for your first target. Because you will be operating in unpatrolled territory your equipment allowance has also been raised to 4000 gold each. Please keep the lack of support in mind when equipping yourselves.
Zayid's dark eyes rest on Absentia a few moments longer, then dart around the room as the others seem to pay little attention to her 'answer'. His brows furrow slightly as he looks back at the Sorrow, but he holds his tongue and softly strokes Aboki's head.
That is possible this time. Your first target has seized a fairly important building, the former Trade Tax and Tariff Bureau. It lies on the edge of our eastern control zone and we need it cleared before we can think of proceeding. Normally Sorrow Bloody Dismemberment would deal with this, but he is otherwise engaged. I will provide a building schematic when you are finished at the quartermaster's office.
She doesn't know ... Freia sighed. No, I have to have faith. We will get trough this! Again she reaffirmed to herself that there was no sense in worrying about it - since they could to little anyhow. Better focus on what they could do now.
"I would need my spellbook before I am ready. Can we return to our old quarters?"
"Presumably. I have stored a number of items as well that may prove useful. Do we have any time before you are sending us out? I'd like to pen a few scrolls."
Your strike is scheduled for tomorrow at dawn. Meet me in the atrium ready to embark just before sunrise.
Oh, and I had someone looking in on your cat. It is well. I managed to get it cleared as your team mascot, though I suspect Caligrific only agreed because he couldn't stop laughing at the thought of a strike group being called the Kittens.
Tomorrow then. She looked around, but quickly realized that the room lacked mirrors - and that she had no idea what time it was.
"*Ahem* When is that? If possible, I would like to run past the Temple of Nethys. They deserve to know we caught the killer ..."
And perhaps they know something about these brands. Or can find out! While the last was silent, one look at her hopeful face was all it took to read it.
---
At the news that Lou was okay, Freia beamed happiness. It was the first really good news she hear since she woke up. She grinned at Noro
"We better take a look at him! He has probably missed you so much."
Zayid raises an eyebrow in clear disbelief. Caligrific, laughing? What is she trying to do, make us believe they're more 'human'? Sorrows don't laugh... least of all him.
It is currently early evening. The sun should set in an hour or two.
She stands and asks, Anything else?
a somewhat smile is diirected at Freia, in a bit,
Noro gets up at the offer from Absentia, I would like to shee the prishoner now, she pauses a moment before adding Pleashe.
Absentia nods. The others can lead you to your dormitory. The map will be there when you arrive. Noro, with me, please.
Noro -
Absentia leads you through areas of the base that continually wind downward. The design of the base must be intentionally designed to confuse because you never seem to be traveling the same direction and everything looks the same with the grey stone and white mortar.
Five layers of heavy security later you arrive at a heavily reinforced cell. Inside is the former leader of the Tooth and Claw. He is chained to the wall with just enough slack to lay down and reach the chamber pot. The room is the perpetual cool of underground and the air feels like dew could drop at any time. He hasn't shaved or been bathed since his capture.
Zayid rolls off the cot and moves toward the door, the cat rising to pad silently behind him. Returning to the group's bunkroom, he sits down on his corner bed and begins working with the big cat on commands.
Noro looks at the man that she once fought beside,m she once respected his stregth, and anjoyed his company. what had become of him.
Reck? she says hoping to get his attention, Noro was without her mask this time, he could see her eyes, the memories reflected in them.
Noro goes to him sitting in front of him. Why, why did you get yourself involved in that mess.
Returning to the rooms behind Zayid, Ariana stretches and pulls her spellbook out of her trunk, talking to Halsanna without bothering to look in her direction. "We are generally confined to the building. I can take you to the quartermaster later to make requests. Even my more...peculiar requests have been granted so I doubt there's much you can ask for they won't find for you. When we leave, we wear those masks you saw. They cannot be removed and, from what we understand, allow the Sorrows to track our location. They likely make scrying much easier as well. They tell us what to do and where to do it, and like nice little dogs we go out and obey."
Despite the deadpan voice, there is a hint of disgust in the last part.
A few hours ... And she didn't say no?
----Back in our room----
As they returned to their bunkroom Freia made a beeline for the fluffy creature currently climbing around in Noros bed. With her hands trembling she scooped up the kitten and gave Lou a long hug and snuggle. When Halsanna asks the air for their procedures, Freia finally looks up again.
"Well... At this time of the day, the door to this room is usually open. That means you can go outside to the rest of the quarters. There is a gauntlet if you want to train or practice, then there is a mess-hall and then there is a ..." The tiefling continues to list various mundane things for about a minute, still clutching the small cat to her chest. "...and that is it. Have you been given a mask? You can't leave this building without a mask. It lets the Sorrows keep track of us. And they can't be removed by anyone else either! Now, have you meet Lou? She is Noros cat - and our mascot now it seems!"
With a friendly smile Freia holds up the kitten for Halsanna to greet. They small cat takes a playful swipe at the archers nose as she does, but the large paws are attached to oh-so-short legs and he doesn't quite reach.
"Now, anyone up for a walk? I haven't seen the sunlight since I don't know when - and the Priests at the Temple might know something about our brands ..."
She left the question hanging in the air for a few moments, hoping to catch someones interest. She wasn't sure she would like to walk the streets alone just yet ...
Zayid looks up, letting out a long breath. "A walk would be good," he replies softly, glancing down at the massive feline head on his lap. "Aboki would like it as well... he's restless."
Getting up, he pauses a moment to stretch before making his way to the door. Aboki stands and follows, yawning widely and headbutting his master as if to hurry him along.
"Splendid!" She beamed and put down the kitten - either on Noros bed or Halsannas, if she required further introduction with their mascot. "Anyone else? Else we better be off so that we are back before sundown!"
You proceed down to the atrium where Sorrow Abraxas, whom you have seen only once before, retrieves your required masks from a black velvet sack. He walks up to each of you, fits a mask to your face, places his forehead on yours, and invokes a shocking jolt of power that travels from your forehead to your eyes, then around your temples to your ears, and finally down your spine. It tingles in your brain for a moment before subsiding, leaving only another moment of disorientation, like you're seeing double. Your vision clears after a second, and the experience is over. You find that your face is covered in steel, yet you don't feel encumbered or hindered in the slightest. You have full range vision and motion.
Outside is pleasantly cool with a warm draft coming from the sun-baked cobblestone. The trip sees a remarkable number of Tears out and about on various tasks. Not much has changed physically about the district you cross, but the feel of the place has definitely changed. Where before the district marched to the beat of the markets and tides, it now marched to the polite but firm control of the Order.
You pass by the outskirts of the Bazaar on you way and see a heavy order presence there. Smoke still rises over some of the buildings, though it isn't nearly as bad as it was two weeks ago. Still, the change here is drastic. It is eerily quiet for dusk, and people move about in a hurried way like frightened mice.
The temple in nowhere near the Bazaar, however. It is located in the far northeastern corner of the District. You are met not by an acolyte as last time, but by the very person you wish to see, the elderly priestess.
Yes, may I help you? She asks. She doesn't seem to recognize you.
"Priestess."
Freia nods her head respectfully. This is the hardest part. Reminding people of the dead... She closed her eyes and concentrated, summoning up resolve from deep wells within herself even she didn't know she had.
"As promised, we have returned to inform you that the killer of Taldi has been brought to justice. The Lady of the Graves has her soul now to judge and it will be a harsh judgement indeed."
Freia looked up again, hoping to see a glimmer of recognition or something on the priestess. After waiting and letting her absorb her words for a moment, Freia continued in a slower and more uncertain pace.
"There is more to say, but ..."
She trailed off and looked towards the warded room.
Zayid raises an eyebrow. "Is that wise?" he whispers softly.
"Absentia knows we are heading here..." Freia whispered back and shuddered. I hope she understands!! The tiefling gave a silent prayer to whomever the God of smooth communication was. With a nervous laughter she continued. "You think she'd blow us up?"
Shaking her head at Freia, Ariana gathers up her spellbook, several quills, a sheet of parchment and a bottle of ink. "No, I'll use the time to create a scroll or two."
The priestess puts a hand to heart and bows her head for a moment. Thank you, Tears. I only hope my assistance was meaningful.
Her eyes are curious at your exchange, but not intrusively so.
Hesitation filters through into Zayid's voice. "I... she might." There is no jocularity in his tone. "It'd be easier..." ... than keeping us around and having to eventually deal with us one way or another.