Freia- you are being tailed again, though you can't tell whether it's Watch or Aspis.
Freia could feel small beads of sweat gathering at the base of her spine. They were being followed, she was sure of it. And Zayid didn't seem to notice so it was all on her.
Think fast Freia, think!
Suddenly, they were already at the door of the temple. And they were still being followed. And she still hadn't thought of a way to get rid of them - or inform Zayid.
"Uhhh..."
Quick! *Think!*
"We're *ahm* here for *ehm* Zayid's salve ..."
Freia forced out, a bit louder then needed, and gestured towards Zayid's nether regions. Good gods, did I say that ?! Luckily her mask covered most of her burning skin. Hopefully the priest would just let them in quickly...
_________________________________________
Once inside, Freia deflates and slumps against a wall. She looks a bit sick.
"Ehm ... I think someone followed us ... Sorry..."
The priestess nods. Be careful upon your departure then. Now, you came about some kind of salve?
Zayid's eyes narrow behind his mask at Freia's lie. He turns to study her, the mask hiding his puzzled expression. What is she... lying, to a priestess? Gods or no, no one can deny that priests have power of some kind. What is she playing at?
Once they're inside, he listens to her addendum and nods in comprehension, chuckling softly. Turning to the priestess, he shakes his head and then pauses, suddenly second-guessing their purpose here. Ariana said it's a curse... what if the priestess thinks so too? What if they try to... to... 'purge' it in some weird ritual or something? It's not wrong, or bad... it's just... it's just me.
After a moment, he regains his composure and speaks warily. "That was... a bluff, for the sake of those following us, I think." Zayid pauses for a few seconds. "I don't... Priestess, how does your order feel about... people who... who change? Under the moon, I mean."
Freia sinks a bit further down along the wall and inhales for the first time in what feels like hours.
"Yeah, just a bluff. Thought they wouldn't be interested that way."
Z/F- The priestess doesn't look especially happy that you lied your way in, but appears to understand. Her mind works for a moment after Zayid's little verbal dance to put some pieces together. Ohohohohhh. So that's what you're after. I always knew Absentia was a resourceful lady, but this is brilliant.
She means back on her chair and smiles as she fills you in.
A few weeks back the Watch reported a sudden shortage of both the "salve" in question and the reagents to make it. Even this temple's own stores were suddenly depleted. We had but a few vials left. Absentia hatched a plan to mark the vials with some of the Tear tracing magic and follow them to the problem. We did so. The last of our supply left just last night. I can give you the command words to track them.
How clever of her to provide an agent with such a vested interest in its retrieval!
Zayid frowns, suddenly very uncomfortable with the priestess' "guess"... and her evasion of his question. "Did she tell you that?" he asks, not realizing that the question has already been answered by the elderly woman's surprise.
Did she tell me what? That you are one of the Afflicted in this fair city? No. There has been an alarming jump in the lycanthrope population as of late. Convenient that the means of purging this condition has also disappeared.
In any case, you are not the only infected person I've seen in my day. Not even the only one this week, as a matter of fact. Let's just say that returning this salve to general circulation would help everyone in this city who doesn't mind a moonlit stroll.
Zayid sets his jaw, though the expression is hidden by his mask. "Who says it's an 'affliction'?" he counters. His posture takes on the likeness of a tense cat, poised to strike... or run. "Some people catch it, others don't. Who says it isn't something inside people that just... gets released? Maybe the people hiding the 'salve' are really doing everyone a favor."
The young man lapses into silence, but his mind is still active. Maybe their precious Nethys "told" them that it's bad... or maybe it's just another way for them to try to control people. Maybe they're right, though... maybe it's what makes me want to hurt people. It had to be already inside me, or else the others who got bitten would've changed, too. Maybe the salve doesn't even work, or does something else entirely.
Noro looks at Halsanna for a bit, No, what kind of shtupid queshtion ish that? Nevermind, jusht get resht, bushy day tomorrow.
Noro scopes out the bunk room looking to see who is not there most likely responsible for her bunk.
Heading to an empty Dry bed Noro plops down for a night rest
F/Z - The priestess fixes Zayid with the look of a professional. Calm, cool, in the know. I say it is an affliction. The laws of Magnimar say it is an affliction. Almost every country on Golarion with a sensible government says it's an affliction. Extra-governmental orders such as the Hellknights and the Knights of Ozem say it is an affliction. the laws of magic themselves say it is an affliction by spells required to produce a cure. That's who.
Very seldom is anyone born with lycanthropy. When they are, they are almost invariably feral. You are not that kind of person. And you can trust my word. I know. Withholding this salve is murder by proxy. Nothing more.
N/H -
You report early the next morning to the main hall. Breakfast of hearty gruel and bread with water is served and you have scant minutes to devour it. Everyone here exudes the harder side of life, a side that both Noro and Halsanna know well. However, neither of you had seen it this concentrated. The tattoos detailing each crime range from murder to rape to horrible gang crimes. Most of the Tears bear an obvious scar, or dozens. Many gangs are represented, though it appears the Sorrows have done their best to not let gang loyalties rule by splitting former members up. That doesn't man you can't feel that the loyalties are there.
Speaking of Sorrows, both Ministrant and Bloody Dismemberment are here, one at each side of the hall.
You grab your bowls and bread and sit where one of Bloody Dismemberment's ever loyal, and towering, toughs directs you. To your pleasant surprise, you sit at the small person table. Halsanna, you are directed to a seat between your men, Gimbal and Locke. They greet you with a smile and a synchronized wink. Noro, you sit across from them in between a disfigured halfling and a skinny, no, twig-like human. Seriously, this man seems like he'd snap if he encountered a stiff breeze.
Looking up, Freia noticed that stuff were getting uncomfortable again.
"About that command word ... And any news on the research* while we are here?"
Ah, yes, but it may not answer many questions. The symbols themselves remain a mystery. However, I have been able to uncover several stories of these kind of symbols. They act as a brand. A mark for certain enemies of Thessalon. The stores say that they informed those who pursued they who bore the mark of the bearer's weaknesses. I found one case of the marks giving the pursuers "difficulties", but the details are lost to history.
Zayid glowers at the priestess' words, but doesn't answer; the conversation has already shifted. And maybe they're all wrong. It's happened before. Who used to think all goblins, or giants, or orcs are all evil? Everyone did. Or the demon-born... is that an 'affliction' too? What's so bad about being feral? Aboki doesn't seem to mind it...
"Enemies of Thessalon? Makes sense, I guess..." Informing about our weaknesses? And 'difficulties'? I certainly hope so ...
And Zayid looks a bit uncomfortable with this cure bussiness. I wonder if it is druid related? Freia mused on, attributing more and more of his quirks to this 'druidery'. Maybe one day she should actually look into what all that business was, just to gain some clarity.
"Uhum. I guess that we better do as Absentia wants. You mentioned a command word?" Freia tries again, valiantly.
The priestess provides the words, three in all.
Good luck. Whoever is making all this disappear is probably very dangerous. I will say a prayer for you tonight.
"*Glup*. This sounds fun, right Zayid?" Freia replies with a worried look and a tone that suggest she is actually having a hard time seeing anything funny in the topic. "And we just say these three words - what happens then?"
(But I can totally just download chrome or something if you want to go that route : ) )
Now, the main problem with splitting our timelines is the uncertainty of Freia's and Zayid's fate. For all we know, we might end up biting the dust tonight! (Or more likely, perhaps get hurt or lost or something!) Which would make our 'extra' time stream a bit awkward :P
Also - It is actually highly unlikely that Freia would actually lie to Noro, should Noro ask. She'll probably struggle and be apologetic (since she asked Zayid to speak to Lou, thus by extension causing the incident).
You will see the path the marks vials took. It is illusory, and only visible to those with the words, so don't say them to loudly.
"All right." Freia nodded. Be careful with the words, got it. "Ready to do this Zayid?"
Assuming he is, Freia mumbles the word to herself and start looking.
As luck would have it, there is a back door, and the tail leads straight out it.
From there the trail end through back allys and shady back roads. It's convoluted and treacherous. By some luck you avoid the gangs that usually stalk those areas (Mostly. A couple thugs get intimidated. A couple others get clobbered).
Finally you arrive at the end of the trail, in Underbridge. It's a miracle you haven't been murdered for your masks.
To say this warehouse is shady is to do an injustice to shady things. It's on the water and radiates ominous energy. Guards are numerous and well armed.
You're going to need more than the two of you to crack this nut. So you head back and arrive just after the call to work. Halsanna and Noro are already gone from your room. You find assignment instructions on your beds ordering you to report to the main hall for duty Below.
Zayid gives a wide yawn. "Wish I could curl up for a nap first," he mutters, giving Aboki a fond scratch behind the ears.
Noro sits quietly eating her meal. she has had worse or that is what she wants the others to believe.
eventually she speaks, quietly she glances at those around her, The half-orc prishoner, The one that callsh himshelf, Reck. I need to find him
Gimbal (or was it Locke) nods to the disfigured halfling. This here is Sam. Best sneak we have.
The only sneak you 'ave Mutters Sam.
Locke (Gimbal?) continues, he can get you set up in a hole with him. We've been in contact with Reck once or twice. Enough to know that you're about the only person he responds to in here besides Bloody Dismemberment over there.
Feria and Zayid arrive at the table around now. They have just moments to eat what they can, should they choose to do so.
Zayid snags a few pieces of meat from the serving line as Aboki pokes his big head into the kitchen through the doors with a plaintive "meow" to Filior. The young man chuckles and heads for the table, sitting down and beginning to eat ravenously. Small growls and grunts can be heard from his direction as he scarfs down the meat.
With a hollow expression Freia sits down at the table, stuffing herself with as much food as she could between the yawns. After a while, she looks a little better and mental present. A quick look around spots Noro, whom looks very distraught, and Freia looks down into the table again. Maybe she couldn't sleep! Or maybe she thinks someone intentionally poured water in her bed! Aheh why did I have to ask Zayid to speak to Lou ...
A deep bell sounds scant minutes later. Everyone stands as Bloody Dismemberment strides across the room and unlocks a set of heavy doors. They open silently and everyone files in. Noone seems to want to. Some people even groan and make furtive gestures of loathing, but none protest.
You enter the door and notice that this area of the base is much less finished than the rest. The walls are rough hewn and the floor less smooth. You make your way several floors down, then are split into work groups. None of you are alone, but you are all in the same relative area. It is a maze down here. Torches burn at each intersection, but rarely in other places. The effect is depressing and claustrophobic.
Bloody's men patrol to keep trouble down, but they can't be everywhere at once.
You and Aboki are assigned to transport duty. You are both lashed to a rickshaw-like cart and you are given a map of this level. You deliver tools, beams, food, and just about everything else you can imagine. Soon you realize that you map is poor at best...
The people to whom you are delivering don't make it any easier. You are bottom of the crap pile here, and everyone seems to feel the need to make your life miserable.
Youall gather that the worst of the prisoners haven't arrived yet, like the one Noro wanted to speak to. They are due within the hour.
The work was exhausting, especially since she hadn't slept nor was totally sure exactly what to do. Sure, she figured it out after a while, but by then she had already accidentally glued to fingers together. And the rest of the crew didn't seem receptive to her suggestion of a workload re-distribution...
...but maybe, just maybe, a little bit of helpful magic could tip the scales?
With a small gesture and a hushed word the last bolt Freia pushed into its place took upon itself light glow, chasing away the gloom around the working crew. Eyes closed against the light, Freia dismissed the spell again.
"Sorry, bit hard to concentrate at the moment, with all these things. But I won't need it anyway ..."
Opening her eyes she looked around. She doubted they could see well in the darkness having just been exposes to light, so hopefully they would be susceptible to her suggestion. Maybe they didn't get it! Uhm ... What do I do now?
"... *Uhm*. What I meant was, if you stop being mean I could probably get it to work..."
There! They should get that. Wait! Did I call them 'mean' to their faces? Uh oh...
The workers near Freia are still sour near the light-giving demon girl, but at least they aren't really mad at her anymore...
As Zayid gets more and more exhausted by the hard work, the constant annoyances of the other Tears become all the more irksome. Finally, he stops in the middle of a tunnel when no one else is around, unhitches himself and Aboki from the cart, and sneaks off down the tunnel to bring about some well-deserved recriminations on the others.
I am a little confused at the post makes sense until the end.
"Anton meets a few spells beige picking the lock. The door creaks open..."
what are you trying to say here?
Zayid finds one of his main tormentors, a former bruiser from his Uncle's gang, standing alone taking measurements of a pillar...
She saviours the calm for a few minutes, before her curiosity starts to gnaw on her. It takes a few minutes more to gather courage to speak however.
"What's with the mood?" In an attempt to be somewhat funny she adds. "Except the cramped tunnels, darkness and gruelling labour and all ..."
Zayid backs up the passageway a bit and sets to work, a slight smile of anticipated retribution on his face. First he retrieves a bucket, some twine, and a thin board from the cart, then he looks around the passage for a place to construct his trap.
Finally finding a crack set high in the wall, Zayid ties the string to the board and wedges it in, but not too tight. He then carefully places the bucket atop the board, and runs the twine down the wall to a fastener and then across the hallway to act as a tripwire. Taking a deep breath, he tries to recall the words he yelled in anger the night before... and, finally remembering them, after a try or two he manages to fill the bucket with ice-cold water.
Zayid steps back and looks at his handiwork, but he's extremely tired and not in a good mood; it's not enough. Grabbing some mortar powder from the cart, along with another bucket, Zayid returns and adds the second bucket to the trap as well. Now all that's left is to lure his victim down the hall...
Leaning over to Aboki, Zayid whispers in the big cat's ear, then heads back to the cart and prepares to resume his duties.
Aboki circles around and starts making noises. The man doesn't move at first, but gets progressively more nervous until he finally losses his nerve and moves down the hall from the noise. A splash later and that while section is filed with a truly profound stream of curses. The guards should be along any second.