Down in the common room, Tolenn looks aghast at the hat box containing Zellara's severed head. "I can't believe we....I forgot to deal with this. I'm so sorry Zellara...." Tolenn says, anguish evident in her voice.
Aha! Found your own dead body I see. Ours wasn't good enough to share so you had to go and find your own. So selfish. Jarrin looks at the man, rolled up like a pig-in-a-blanket. So, what was this guy doing in here? Oh, and umm, would you mind unrolling him? I'd like to see if he has any markings or such on his body. I assumed you searched his pockets?
Cedric unrolls him so Jarrin can look him over. The Rogue has a tattoo of a mermaid on his left bicep and the name Joanna tattooed on his right forearm.
but no skullcracker tattoo
Oh i know why he was here and who sent him. He and i had a little conversation and even tough the was faster i still got the best of him. Orim Menach hired him to get the brooch back and he tracked Ashimar then followed here to this house. On other news it seems that the King of Spiders ran out our friend Lamm out of Old Korosva very recently and therefore had to fall back on that old fishery. Conclusion someone got careless and now the house is burned and so are some of this groups name.
sitting in the chair again
So how did it go at the guard station? Mind telling me that before i leave?
Eh, didn't go as well as I hoped. We weren't arrested though. Jarrin says as he looks the body over. The family reunion wasn't all rainbows either, her father pretty much told us point blank to keep our noses out of it. Of course, that means we can't back down now. Jarrin will show him the drawing of the tattoo. The mark of the Skullcrackers, a group that Ash's father formed, like an elite unit of something I think. Know anything about them?
After briefing Cedric, the bard kicks their dead guest gently and says, So what were you planning on doing with the body and our rug?
Wouldn't matter now to remind you : I told you so replied cedric with a grin. As for him i plan to dump him somewhere that i know won't leave a trace. My advice tough would be for all of you to never come back to this house until Menach is dealt with. Ashimar is in for some pain until then
"Let's just get that damned brooch back to it's owner," Ellismus says joining the two upstairs. "If we're lucky, the Queen'll be happy, we'll get a reward, and that other fellow can try to steal it back from her again. At least he might get off of our backs. How did he even hear about it, anyhow? What sort of inquiries did we make about it?"
Nodding to Cedric, Jarrin agrees. That you did. I'll leave body disposal chores to you also. Addressing Ell, Bah. Where's the fun in that? Aren't you the least bit curious as to why some brooch is important enough to send someone after it? Maybe we should visit this jeweler again. Perhaps he told someone about Ashimar's visit.
Jarrin perhaps you didn't no hear me well the first time. Going to the jeweler is exactly how Orim Menach found out about the brooch and then when to hire someone to recover it. He know who Ashimar is and that she is currently residing in this house. You can go to other front to dispose of it but he has those under surveillance also. And i was told also that the King of Spiders might come knocking also. And Elismus those people are also in the business of revenge. But with luck we can avoid this. Where is she by the way?
Ashimar walks up the stairs a few moments after Jarrin. What's this about the brooch? I didn't mention it to the jeweler. We only discussed the queen and her adornments in passing. Although, he did say he recognized that the other piece he wanted to buy was stolen. Perhaps he knew it was stolen by Lamm and added two and two together.
"Jewelers don't make money by being stupid." the Shoanti nods slowly. "We're gonna have to get rid of this piece or we'll be dead before the year is out."
i just know i love to repeat myself said cedric with a smile
Orim Menach had all the possible jeweler that are known fence under surveillance. So the only thing the jeweler had to do was give a signal and you were made and followed. And he isn't the only one interested in it.
I heard you just fine, this is exactly why we need to go visit this fella. I'd like to know what palm is being greased. That way we just might have some idea of what is going on. Also, we have some fairly persuasive folks living in this house. Jarrin gives a quick look to each of his new friends.
A lot has happened and even more we do not know. We have the brooch thing as well as the guard thing. They do not seem related but considering the events that ol' Ced here had to deal with I can't say that for certain. We may to take steps to secure the house if we plan on staying here.
I will take the brooch to "my desk" and examine it very carefully, looking for anything that might make it unusual outside of who once owned it and how we came to have it.
After I do that I will take out the harrow deck and examine it the same way. Once that is done I will use it as a harrower, as if I was practicing my now former, or inactive, trade. I will use Identify via the deck if I do find something about the brooch that might be magical. I'll even do the same thing on the deck itself to see if I discover anything else.
Jarrin looks for the Brooch and cannot find it. .
As Jarrin skims through the deck looking for anything and calling uupon his powers of divination, he starts trying to define information about the deck and suddenly a card falls from the deck face up....a card that doesnt belong in a Harrow Deck. A New Card....The Card has a face on it...Its Zellara.
Jarrin looks at the card of Zellara and stops what he was doing. Putting the rest of the deck down, he will pick this new card up and examine it.
The Card looks identical to the others he cannot tell anything other than its a totally unique card. He pauses and starts to put it away and freezes. He could swear he saw the card Zellara wink at him, but when he studies it again it looks just like a portrait....
Jarrin just smiles as he looks at the card one more time before returning it to the deck. For the fun of it, he will start a harrowing, just to see what happens with the unique card being included. This could prove interesting.
As he's shuffling the deck he tries to think what he wants to figure out....
Jarrin considers what the basis of his impromptu reading should be about. Pausing for a few minutes, he thinks back on the events of the last two days. So much has changed, both in what has occured and also in how I perceive life itself. The bard nearly puts the deck away after reflecting back on both his past and what the future might hold. I am no longer a man that looks to play the confidence games or take advantage of the desperate or the foolish. I saw where that led me.
However, he also understands that, perhaps, this deck might actually be more than just printed cardboard like his own deck. What if I actually could get answers instead of merely reading the faces of my mark? What if... Jarrin closes his eyes and calms himself as he considers the question he wishes to ask. Opening them and taking a slow, deep breath, the bard makes the decision.
Is my daughter alive and well? With that, he continues.
Ellismus curses, "Visit the jeweler all you like. We don't need the damn jewel to continue looking into things. We know what it looks like and how much it's worth. And who knows if the jeweler was the one who passed along the information? People talk about the queen's regalia all the time. I'd bet the underworld knew that Lamm had the bloody thing, and it's not hard to figure out who brought him to 'justice'. A quick sweep of his hideout would tell them the thing wasn't there... Makes sense to look for us. Presumably they found one of us and trailed us back here."
He takes a breath. "All we need to do, for now, is figure out how we can get to the right people to return it. Then we can focus on other things than trying to protect it from thieves. You know, like the Skullcracker fellow who was murdered after asking Tolenn for help. Forget about the Spider King. I'm not about to try to bring down the entire criminal underground in this city."
Looking at Cedric, "Sure they're in the business of revenge, but Lamm was on the outs. So our taking him down wouldn't warrant such a move. Removing the brooch from play, also removes much of his interest in us. Now don't get me wrong, he'll probably be a little annoyed at not getting his hands on the thing right away, and maybe he'll keep an eye on us for a bit, just in case, but we won't have to worry about future unwanted ingress related to this."
Jarrin throws his hands up at Ellismus after he speaks. Yes, yes, I understand all that. I never said we had to take the brooch to the man. We can return the brooch first thing tomorrow if you want. I'd love to have a look at it one last time before we do though.
Jarrin shrugs and continues. So, what's the first step in getting this thing returned? Do we waltz up to the queen? I'm not much for royalty. I'll let you nobler folk figure that out.
Jarrin lays out the cards, with the topic his daughter, in the traditional Varisian Cross method. When hes done he eyes the cards with both curiosity and knowledge before coming to realization...yes she is. The image of the blonde haired girl in the fishery dances before his eyes as memory is dredged up. He can almost hear Zellara's whisper in his mind
Whether it was his own mind playing tricks on him with his most fervent desires or whether it truly was Zellara's spirit speaking to hm from the beyond......
Ashimar nods thoughtfully listening to Ellismus and Jarrin It's not ours to keep and if we didn't know who the rightful owner was and happened to come by it, I wouldn't be opposed to selling it. But the right thing to do is return it - she looks to Tolenn for confirmation - we can examine it to our heart's content before we give it back and carry on our inquiries as to why and how it came to be with Lamm after it is returned to its rightful owner.
She pauses pondering Jarrin's question, toying with Shelyn's amulet about her neck. Royalty and nobility... returning the Queen's property might help put us in their favour - and especially with the changes going on in the city over the past bit - wouldn't hurt to be in their good graces... as to the steps in getting it returned... She trails off thoughtfully, her fingers still around the amulet.
I could trust Tolenn if I told her about getting us in touch with Madame Zenderholm... but these others - how would they react? I don't know them well and they appear shady enough as it is - a con man, someone accused of murder... they may have good hearts but their pasts may betray them... and I wouldn't expect Tolenn to lie about how we came about the brooch, just as I wouldn't... oh, what a quandary... think Ashi!
Well i wouldn't mind some help with the gaping wound in my body replied cedric to those around him
Tolenn says "I agree with Ashimar, we should return the brooch, it may that there are those that know that Lamm had it in his possession, but they probably already know that it was us that removed Lamm from the equation."
As the group converses, Ashimar sidles up to the paladin and quietly whispers Can we talk for a minute sister? She glances at the rest of the group engaged in lively conversation - ...away from other ears...
She walks away to another room.
She pauses for a few moments, unsure how to broach the subject - she's... she's a rather strong-willed woman. And I would never deem to lie to her as I'm sure you wouldn't either... and I'm not sure how the others would react to the suggesting of going to see the Hanging Judge herself... but perhaps one of them could talk to her with a convincing story of how we came about this brooch if she starts asking questions...
I will cast Cure Light Wounds on Cedric. and my last one today .
Hope that's better, Ced. Anyway, we can figure all this out in the morning. Time for a little rest.
Jarrin doesn't really sleep much anymore but he will get enough to recover his spells and such.
yes it does much thanks jarrin he replied
The Shoanti nods slowly, this whole thing quite confusing, compared to the relatively simple life he had held before.
"Maybe my friend Eddie can help us find out who ratted us out. Heck, could even be that Sczarni I know." The big guy seems to be idly thinking out loud.
"Need to get that skin turned into boots at some point... he trails off, looking to the others. "We've sure got ourselves into an odd situation this time."
At Ashimar's request, Tolenn accompanies her into the other room
"I was wondering how we might return the brooch to the Queen...this Hanging Judge you speak of does seem to have a fearsome reputation. But, I take it she makes her judgments with the law in mind and not out of cruelty?"
"She sounds like a good woman. I'd like to avoid having her tainted by knowledge of exactly where the brooch was found; she needs to maintain her impartiality, and she's not a member of the investigative branch of the law. Hopefully, she will see it the same way. "
Healed Cedric takes the thief rolled in a blanket and heads towards the fishery.
Tolenn smiles at her friend and places her hands on her shoulders, holding her firmly "Ashimar, we are as you say sisters, in action and in spirit. In this task and any other we shall stand together, let us go and face Lady Zenobia , Sarenae and Shelyn bless us both!"
Her brow then furrows, "But we must firstly take care to properly inter our benefactress's remains. Come the morn, we must be off to the Grey Ward."
Jarrin has retreated to his quarters, again looking through the papers that the woman had left behind more out of curiosity than anything. He will then lay on his new bed/cot/bedroll, looking at the cards of the harrow deck one-by-one. If he finds Zellara's card, he'll take particular care when examining that one. He'll do this until sleep finds him, unless something else occurs in the meantime.
Ashmimar retires for the night in what used to be the son's room - now Ashimar and Tolenn's room.
Ashimar goes into her room after talking to Tolenn and pulls the cap off her bad post and the brooch is gone.
About an hour later, Cedric returns without the body in the carpet. The hour is late and he moves to the cot by the stoive on the first floor and begins to make his bed.
Ashimar wakes Tolenn up and points to the moved cap off the bed post. We appear to have a problem sister... the brooch is no longer here! We had best go rouse the others before morn.That rat-catcher! It has to be... he was the only one here by himself before the rest of us showed up...
Ashimar knocks on the main bedroom to wake the others up and brings them up to speed on the situation. The brooch is not where I hid it! Tolenn and I were going to speak to someone in the morning to see if we could gain audience with someone with enough influence so we could return it as we all... as most of us -she corrects herself - wanted... have any of you seen it? The only one alone in the house before we returned from the Watchhouse was Cedric! She looks about the room. Is he still downstairs?? I think we all need to go have a talk with him... I'm not sure what he's thinking...
Well that unpleasantness has been taken for. I do try to take out the trash when its called for. he says to House upon the door as he is about to enter.
Jarrin looks at Ashimar as she makes her speech and smiles gently. Well, when you get the brooch from him, let me look at it one more time, will ya? I'm sure you can persuade him to do so without me. I'm not sure I'll be much help in this case. Jarrin will then go back to whatever he was doing (sleeping or reading).
Ashimar blinks watching the bard yawn and go back to sleep. Someone tries to abscond with a valuable that they do not own and he doesn't even care to try and do the right thing?! Ashi, what kind of people have you surrounded yourself with...
She marches downstairs to Cedric's cot and wakes him. The brooch Cedric - it's missing... you were here before the rest of us came back. Do you have it?
That brooch does not belong to us - neither did the rest of the things we sold off but we did not know who their owners were. With the brooch, we do - and it needs to be returned to she who owned it in the first place. It's the right thing to do. I'm not sure what your intentions are but the rest of us waving to either the people behind her or upstairs intend to see it back to where it belongs.
You may not agree with the decision but we can't always get what we want in life. I did not wish to see Lamm die and yet you b- she stops herself from saying butchers -...you people hacked him down in cold blood for your vengeance.
Life isn't always fair Cedric and things don't always go the way one wishes... the sooner you learn that, the better off you will be. Fate has brought the six of us together for some purpose and you can choose to be part of it... or... She points to the door. Noone's holding you here against your will. Go in peace should you wish... but not before relinquishing what's not yours. Now please hand it over so we can return it tomorrow. She holds a hand out for the brooch.
Cedric give a long look to Ashimar's extended hand You know i am amazed by you. I am hoping that you do realise that there is still a brooch to be dealt with it is because I managed to pry it out from someone who was payed to retrieve it and put a knife in you're back at the same time.
taking it out an placing it in her hand.
i would rather we keep it as i am curious as to why it got into Lamm possession. I can logically say that it wasn't stolen from the palace and it might mean more than is actual gold value. going toward the stairs
Oh and since you are so quick to judge other i can inform you that i have access to the proper channel to return it and i might have done so where you not so quick to claim what isn't yours either. And as a word of friendly advice you were made and followed when you came out of the Jeweler.