Lureene sends a mental command to locate Captain Stallings, and Lady Yvonne. Grak dutifully flies off to find the rest of the company. Not long afterwards, her eagle returns to the planar realms from whence it came.
She approaches the elvish assassin Chivane, noting the efficiency she has been disarmed, and smothers a feeling of trepidation on leaving her alive. She thinks, This one reeks of Mother's influence, beautiful but deadly. Though I suspect Mother would gladly slaughter and torture her for following the devil's path."
She says quietly to Alis:
In short order, Felmor is returned to full health by Priyya who also treats them for their poison. Alis gives Mal her approval to direct securing the square. First, the injured are stripped of their weapons and armor and gathered in a rough circle with space between them. Next, the bodies of the dead are heaped up in the side streets to make the locals think twice about forming another mob.
Those crowds who watched the fight from down the streets quickly disband filtering back down alleyways and behind locked doors — anything to get away from the five men and women who wrecked so much carnage upon the Tar Dogs and their leaders.
Finally finished with helping to stabilize the dying while Lureene walks beside her checking for magical auras, Alis casts an uncommonly stern look at her friend upon hearing her words.
Priyya keeps an eye out for trouble and sweeps the area for signs of Eeeevil... while half-heartedly attempting to eavesdrop on the conversation between the two women, only catching a snippet of the discussion.
Fie on your SM 30 with no bluff roll!
Alis puts her hand on Lureene's arm reassuringly.
She reaches down and plucks a ring off of Chivane's finger that Lureene indicates is magical. She looks at it thoughtfully for a moment before continuing.
Alis looks Lureene in the eye and gives her a hug.
Heading back towards Priyya, and the others, she says, "Looks like Princess Alis is the target after all." She looks over to the unconscious Chivane, "I am sure she has many answers for us."
"Hopefully, she will be inclined to share them. Personally, I'm interested in finding out why there is such a strong diabolic interest in Alis and/or her mission."
Priyya gives a worried glance in Alis' direction, reflecting on her last comments to Lureene. She strolls over to Alis and says with a smile, "Hey A! Thanks for having me along on this adventure! I'll say this - your company is never dull... I'd be upset if I'd had to miss tangling with all these hell-spawned folks. This is the kind of fight I was born for. So, thanks." Priyya is about to walk away and then thinks better of it, adding, "Despite Mal's grumbling... I think he likes this kind of fight, too. So, you don't need to worry so much. Just something to consider." She shrugs and moves off.
After looking over the items, Mal is able to identify two main types of poison the assailants were employing. "Chivane and the gang leaders all had blue whinnis coating their blades. It doesn't do much damage, but it will knock your ass out for a good long while. Judging by the fact that Chivane never actually attacked Fel or I with her offhand, I'm guessing she was saving that poison for Alis to knock her out. From the sensation I felt after getting shot, I think the reinforcements who showed up at the end of the fight had the same stuff on their crossbow bolts."
He shakes a nearly empty flask found amongst the assassin's equipment. "This stuff is fairly expensive and most of it's used up. I guess she must have supplied the others with it."
"As for the other poison," he picks up a quiver taken from Chivane's belt currently holding 10 bolts, "Shadow Essence. It's even more expensive, but actually saps your strength — in some cases permanently. Only reason I can figure why she wouldn't have used this on Fel or I is because we ran thru her mooks too fast. I get the impression these guys didn't know that all five of us could fight until it was too late."
OoC: Loot List
Priyya frowns at the equipment. "I would suggest that perhaps Felmor or Mal could best use the magical leather armor. As for the poison, I realise it is valuable but personally I find it deplorable. I would suggest destroying it... but mine is not the only voice here. If you decide to sell it, I would like to NOT receive any portion of those profits."
Felmor blanches at the thought of the poison found on the assassin. "Oy, I be wit' me Desert Rose on this, best ta destroy all th' poison, 'n not even sell it. B'sides, who be buyin'it 'cept fer more o' th' assassins."
He chuckles grimly, "If'n I wanted ta deal wit' poison, I be joinin' th' guild afer anyt'ing else!" He shrugs, "I be likin' th' armor though, mebbe it protect me better."
Alis listens to Lureene and gives her a squeeze before wiping away on of her friend's tears with her thumb. She pointedly looks at the pile of weaponry and armor on the ground for a moment.
"Don't worry about," she says loudly, "I'm sure Captain Monroe and the city guard can put all the equipment we seized to good use."
Upon hearing Priyya's more cheerful thanks, Alis can't help but grin. "If you think this is exciting, we should go clothes shopping more often! right El?"
In a quieter tone she says, "Thanks, Priyya. I'm glad to have you here with me. I have to say, it's– really gotten me thinking about what the gods have in mind for us."
"As for Chivane's form-fitting armor," she grins wickedly, "I don't think it will fit Mal, but I'm sure Sir Traker would make quite the statement by wearing a shapely woman's molded breastplate into battle..."
"As for Chivane's form-fitting armor," she grins wickedly, "I don't think it will fit Mal, but I'm sure Sir Traker would make quite the statement by wearing a shapely woman's molded breastplate into battle..."
Priyya smiles, non-plussed, and says loftily. "I think the red would be quite fetching on my good Captain. But I'd pay to see you or Lureene squeeze into that get-up."
A slight smile creeps across Alis' features and her gaze shifts to Lureene. "Is that a challenge from the Surya-ka-Vahaak?"
Oh, this could be fun!
Priyya regards her nails casually, "I'd say that the red leather gauntlet has been thrown down... and I'm sure watching you ladies trying to stuff yourselves in that outfit would vastly improve the morale of our gentlemen protectors."
Priyya smiles, non-plussed, and says loftily. "I think the red would be quite fetching on my good Captain. But I'd pay to see you or Lureene squeeze into that get-up."
Priyya regards her nails casually, "I'd say that the red leather gauntlet has been thrown down... and I'm sure watching you ladies trying to stuff yourselves in that outfit would vastly improve the morale of our gentlemen protectors."
Lureene gives Priyya a smile, a wicked gleam in her eyes, "I know a certain someone who would love that as well!"
She turns back to Alis, and responds, "Maybe I should hang on to the armor for now..."
A few minutes pass while you stand around alternately keeping your eyes on the prisoners and imagining attempts to squeeze the blondes into Chivane's armor. From the west, you can see a reddish light in the distance and the sound of bells and shouting. Every now and then, from over the buildings you can see tall flames lick the darkening sky. Evidently, the blaze started when Alis shot one of the bombardier's hands has yet to be contained.
Perception Checks
You watch the rising smoke and distant flames with some anxiety until Priyya points to the west and you see three figures approaching from the same direction you did. Squinting thru the darkness, Lureene is able to make out Yvonne and Captain Stalling supporting a third figure, badly burned and limping — Captain Monroe.
All three of them bear numerous cuts and bruises, Yvonne and Stallings still clenching their swords in their hands. With expectation, you watch them approach, looking beyond to see who else is coming, yet the street behind them is empty.
"Yvonne, Stallings!" Alis calls out, "We were flushed into a trap. It seems this lot meant to abduct me, but we routed them. Where are the rest of your men?"
"Good that your highness is safe," Yvonne says quietly. She and Stallings grunt with effort as they set Monroe down on the pavement near Priyya.
You can see that Monroe is not only badly burned but his plate armor has been pierced by several crossbow bolts. Stallings himself still has an arrow lodged in his shoulder, and blood trickles to the pavement from a nasty laceration on Yvonne's left side.
Stallings looks up at Alis' question and replies, "Monroe was about taken out by the fire, but the three of us cut a path thru the mob. I think a few of the Drakes were able to escape into the city. As for my men... let's just say they didn't go down without putting up a good fight."
"If you've got any healing left, we need to get to the castle and fast. It looks like we've got the makings of a gods-be-damned civil war on our hands!"
He casts a glance at your prisoners and whispers, "I don't see us being able to take all of them with us. The fire's got a lot of the locals distracted, but it wasn't exactly easy for us to shake the mob chasing us. Monroe blocked most of the marksmen himself, but there's more out there looking for us. Pick you you absolutely have to and either put the rest to the sword or leave 'em to the gods to look after."
He points to the pile of weapons and armor and says, "That's about the last thing we need the mob getting their hands on!"
Priyya channels her last shreds of divine energy to the three...
Eyes wide at Stalling's words, Alis crouches down, back to the prisoners, and uses her 'fireball' wand to deliver some emergency healing to the three.
With a groan, Monroe opens his eyes and says, "Well crap, guess I'm dead after all. I'm still seeing angels. Didn't figure I'd see you here though Stallings..."
Priyya converts her remaining second level spell towards healing:
"I'd suggest we put those two healing potions to good use then..."
Priyya converts her first level spells to healing as well.
In the distance, Alis is able to make out the sound of a low din growing closer. "I would say we are going to have company within another minute or two. Let's grab Chivane, one of the gang leaders, throw them over Saija and Khaitan, grab the expensive gear and set fire to the rest. As for that lot, maybe if the mob comes across them they'll be given pause..."
"Tsk!" Monroe clucks looking at all the good equipment. "I could outfit a couple guard towers with all that, but you're right, we don't have time."
Seeing one of the two surviving gang leaders sneering at him, Monroe picks up one of the longswords and the shortsword, walks over and cleaves the man's head from him shoulders. Checking the bloody edge of the longsword, he swings it sending a trail of blood across the faces of some nearby marksmen. "Yeah, definitely don't need these getting in a mob's hands." Pointing to the rest of the prisoners looking on him in fright, he shouts, ""
Stallings simply frowns even as he nods to Priyya in appreciation for her healing efforts. "Grab the blades, they won't burn. Those bats, crossbows, and the gambesons should go up with some oil though."
He looks at two palm-sized, faceted white rocks and comments, "These thunderstones might come in handy if we need to clear a path. Hang on to 'em."
Lureene looks away from the scene of carnage, and fights a feeling of nausea at the casual execution of the gang leader. Even though she knows these men meant to do all of them harm, ever since her atonement, the thought of wanton killing sickened her.
She moves over to the body of the elf Chivane, and struggles to lift her to her feet. Fortunately, Felmor lends a hand and soon they have her secured on the back of Khaitin.
"I think it is time to leave..."
Mal glares at Khaitan as he fidgets and growls, "Deal with it, or deal with me!"
The demon-tempered horse snorts and begrudgingly allows Felmor and Lureene to continue while Stallings and Priyya get the unconscious gang leader onto Saija's back. In short order, you are on your way leaving behind a small bonfire of burning armaments and frightened miscreants in your wake. Monroe leads you down twisting secondary streets as much as possible to constrain and throw off any pursuit.
- front
- Monroe & Stallings
- Priyya the Perceptive
- Saija
- Alis & Lureene
- Yvonne
- Khaitan
- Felmor
- Mal & Tal
- back
Making room for all the useful equipment, Priyya digs into her bags to see what can go. She finds the bulkiest and least important items to drop - her clothing. She can't look at Felmor as she dumps her 'harem' outfit and buccaneer boots. She dumps her desert robes and clerical vestments without a second thought. She hesitates, holding onto the ball gown Alis bought for her - her one 'girly' outfit. With regret, she drops it as well.
"I've made space for as much equipment as possible. I agree that we should keep the thunderstones out. I'll take one. Also, someone should wear that Ring of Protection. Mal, can you use it? I think you and I will be running defense."
She hands the assassin's two potions to the injured folks, "Drink these. They'll do more in your system than out here."
Looking at Priyya tossing all the things on the street, Alis points to the man draped across the saddle and says, "Just toss them over him!"
While the cleric hesitates for a moment, Alis frantically begins picking up Priyya's things and mounding them atop the unconscious gang leader until he's practically buried in robes. Looking at her handiwork, she steps back for a moment and then looks at Khaitan.
"You know..."
Without another word, she take Priyya's priestly vestments and covers Chivane with them. "If nothing else, it will conceal the fact that we're carrying prisoners instead of cargo." She picks up the boots, stuffs a half-dozen daggers into each one, and loops the calf-strap of one thru the matching strap on the other. So conjoined, she carries them over one shoulder carrying the extra rapier in her other hand.
"Honestly Priyya," she chides, "what will I ever do with you?"
"Honestly Priyya," she chides, "what will I ever do with you?"
Priyya can only reply earnestly with a hint of wit, "I truly don't know, Alis... Clearly I am a fashion trial you must bear."
"Well, I suppose that's better than the alternative." When Priyya looks back with a raised eyebrow, Alis quips, "If left to your own devices you'd be the one experiencing a trial for baring."
Priyya laughs. "If it'll get us to the Keep safely and slow down the mob, I'll be happy to strip down and walk there naked!"
Felmor, continuously looking behind the group making sure they are not being followed or moving into an ambush, still finds Priyya's comment amusing. Chuckling quietly, he adds, "Aye, but ye be slowing me down as well as the rabble, me Beloved!"
For nearly 30 minutes, Captain Monroe leads you thru back streets, and down alleyways with Priyya helping to check out intersections for signs of danger. At long last you emerge near the edge of the section of the city that burned down just the other day, the shore of the lake only a few hundred feet to the north. Monroe points across the blackened wasteland at the immense 5-towered castle that anchors Dunwaar's northeastern corner, half of it built upon a natural outcropping of rock that extends into the lake.
"There was a causeway that led up to the entryway on the west wall, but the damn thing got torched in the fire. We'll have to use the postern on the east side of the south west tower. The horses aren't clydesdales, so they might just fit thru the opening..."
Perception Checks
The cinder-strew streets are completely devoid of people and it sends a chill down your spine passing by the burnt-out hulks of so many buildings. A few stray dogs, flee at your approach, but the only other signs of life in this area are the lighted windows of the castle. Within a few minutes, Monroe has led you right up to where the eastern city wall intersects the south wall of the castle. Abutting the castle wall, you see a steep and narrow stone staircase rising from street level to a sturdy-looking iron door about 30 feet up.
Picking up a few rocks about the size of his palm, he starts lobbing them at the door resulting in a loud *thunk* each time one hits. After about a minute, a guard peers over the castle wall and shouts out, "Quit being a nuisance or you're going to get shot!"
Monroe laughs and says to you, "I bet you never thought a guy like me could teach grown men to be so polite, did you?"
Turning back he shouts in reply, "Private Turney, open the damn postern, it's your Captain you greenback!"
"Captain?!" The man tips a bullseye lantern to shine it down at you. "Sir, yes sir, Captain Monroe!"
Private Turney disappears from the wall and a short time later, a light appears in the side of the tower as the sally port swings open. With a bit of awkwardness at touching such expensive finery, Monroe moves the dresses off the gang leader and then hefts the man up onto his shoulders.
"Big guy," he says to Mal, "go ahead and grab that elf woman. We don't want your captives sliding off the horses and breaking their necks."
He looks up at the steep steps, glances at the horses and shakes his head as he starts his ascent. "This I gotta see..."
After Alis and Lureene have safely followed Malandraenas into the tower, arms full of clothes, Yvonne turns to Priyya. "We will keep their eyes covered so that they do not fear the height. Walk slowly and let them follow your voice, but do not grip Saija's reigns so tightly that she will pull you down if she slips..."
With that Yvonne blindfolds Khaitan and begins to lead him up the narrow stairway...
The gypsy leader has little trouble leading Mal's horse up the ramp, but is chagrined when you have to grease the doorjambs with cooking lard from the kitchen in order to squeeze the powerfully-built stallion thru.
Priyya follows shortly thereafter. Saija stumbles once, and it takes about a minute for Priyya to calm her back down. After that, they ascend the rest of the way. It's then just a short walk down a hallway before you exit thru a door into the courtyard emerging near the south side of the gatehouse.
Monroe looks at the two olive-skinned women with respect in his eyes. "I gotta admit, I wasn't sure that would work. Color me impressed! Now then, the stable are right here." He indicates the building abutting the south wall just behind him. "Let's get your horses stabled and get these jokers under lock and key. Scrub all that grease off the postern, I don't want the tower full of ants in the morning."
After stabling Saija and Khaitan and setting the stableboy to work, he leads you out the east end of the stables and into the southeast tower and down a spiral stair to the basement. He grabs a pair of keys from inside a locked strongbox bolted to the wall and motions for Mal to follow him into the prison. There he selects two cells on opposite sides of the tower, securing Chivane in one and the gang-leader in the other.
"Princess, didn't you say the elf woman was a caster?"
When Alis nods in confirmation, Monroe goes back to the closet near the prison entrance and removes crate full of odd objects. He fits pair of heavy, leather gauntlets reinforced with strips of cold iron over Chivane's hands. He locks them in place with a small key before using manacles to bind her wrists together. A stiff leather straight jacket goes on next followed by leather headgear with a muffled mouthguard. While not tight enough to hurt her, you can see that she won't be able to open her mouth or speak unless it is removed. The mouthguard pressing her lips shut.
Lastly, he makes certain to attach chained cuffs to her ankles and another to her manacles. He turns to Mal and Alis and says, "Just up that hallway to the north is the torture chamber. Now, if you want to get this woman out of here, you can pull on these chains by the door to draw up all the slack on the ones securing her. Draw up all of the slack and she'll be held up against the back wall for you to secure her. The headgear and mitts should prevent her from casting anything that requires speaking or making small gestures."
After having Priyya check both prisoners to make certain they won't expire if left unattended, Monroe locks their cell doors and hands the key to Alis. "That's the only copy I've got for the elf's cell, your highness, so please hang on to it. Be a real pain in the ass to have to find a good locksmith the way things are right now..."
"Phew! Well, let's get some grub in us and go find the Count. I can hardly wait to tell Quailworthy we started another fire..."
The captain lead you upward thru three stories of the tower before walking you north along a long hallway lined with arrowloops. You pass by a section or reinforced wall on your wall of a square tower on your way and he comments, "Mill tower."
From the end of the hallway you can hear the growing sound of voices and men eating. You hang a left at the end of the corridor to find yourselves in the castle's great hall where soldiers, the chaplain, and the Lord of Dunwaar, Count Quailworthy, and his son are taking their supper. In the center of each wall, great stone fireplaces keep the room pleasantly warm. Along the walls are numerous hunting trophies, mounted weapons, and coats of arms. In the corners of the room near where you enter a taxidermist has stuffed an owlbear and what looks like an an extraordinarily large wolf with bony protrusions on its body.
When you enter, the count looks up in surprise and asks, "Captain, what are you doing here? I thought I instructed you to look after the situation outside."
Monroe nods and says, "That you did, your lordship. However, a matter of some importance arose." He indicates Alis with a motion of his hand and says, "Count Quailworthy, I would like to present Princess Alis Kirmoon from Ilmarond. The Golden Drake and Captain Stallings were escorting her down to Malatesta when they had to stop here to reprovision before the trip south. I'm sad to say, but it looks like both the Stallings' and d'Calla's men got wiped out when we were ambushed on our way here. Oh, and there might also be another fire or two that got started when the assassins tried to sack the Princess. Looks like somebody knew they were coming..."
Stunned to silence at his guard captain's words, the Count collapses back into his chair, a dumb-founded look on his face. After an uncomfortable pause, his son, a man perhaps a little younger than Felmor, nudges him and stands saying. "Please forgive the Count your Highness. Between the Captain's news and your beauty I am afraid that my father is at a loss for words. Please, won't you and your companions come break bread with us?"
Alis nods her head at the young Lord's manners and replies, "At the moment, my friends and I should first like to wash ourselves of the blood that has been spilled this evening. We should not want to dishonor your father's table in our current state."
Nodding in understanding, the Count's son turns to the castellan beside him instructing to have the bedding in the family chambers changed for their newly arrived guests and for the family to be temporarily relocated to the rooms by the library downstairs. In short order, the castellan leads your group up the lord's stairs into the Count's den. Thru the bedroom next to it, he shows you a short interior hallway that adjoins to both his chamber and to a well-appointed guest chamber. No time is wasted in having hot baths prepared and within the hour, you have all scrubbed yourselves clean and are finally ready for something to eat.
Upon returning to the great hall, you find the Count, his son, and the two captains engaged in a rather heated conversation over everything that has been taking place in Valehaven and Dunwaar.
The soldiers and everyone else have cleared out and cooks are bringing forth fresh platters of steaming hot food for you to sup on. When he notices you, Count Quailworthy waves off any further discussion with Stallings and Monroe and turns his attention to your group. "Please forgive my earlier rudeness, your Highness. As my son, Alex, said I was quite stunned by your charms. Now then, let us dine together and discuss how we might set the wrong things right..."
Once both Chivane and the gang leader have been secured in their respective cells, Lureene approaches Captain Monroe, and asks quietly, "Would it be ok if I have my familiar Grak stay here and keep an eye on the corridor leading to their cells. I have reason to believe this would be wise.". She then looks at Grak, who nods at her and he proceeds to climb up the ceiling and takes a spot there in order to keep an eye on the corridor.
Once she has setled down and started to eat, she smiles warmly at the Count and his son and says, Well, other than a good meal, which you have already covered, I believe we could use some information about the events leading up to our arrival here."
At his father's introduction, Lord Alex bows and offers a seat to Alis sitting next to her after she is comfortable. The Princess smiles at his polite doting before responding. "Lord Alex bears a fine name, Count Quailworthy. My twin sister is known as Alexis in the human tongue."
With that, Alis sets about introducing the rest of you and you quickly get down to discussing matters and quieting the hunger in your bellies, though not without Alis first leading everyone in a mealtime blessing.
Priyya turns to Monroe, mischief and amusement registering on her face.
She teases, "So, Captain, want to re-think our offer of assistance, now?"
When she gets a moment to speak with the winged woman, Priyya says, "Lureene, I'm familiar enough to know Infernal when I hear it... What did our would-be assassin say? Does anything she said provide us with a clue to her allegiances or why she'd be involved in this presumably mortal matter?"
Lureene ponders for a moment, before replying quietly, "Priyya, this is what she said just before Mal was able to break her summoning:
"Mistress Charelle, servant of Homeku, bring forth wrath against those marked by your loyal agent!" I recognized the same devil Lucia was beseeching aid from earlier. Mistress Charelle, i am not familiar with, however. It seems clear to me the Ruby Coil is behind these assassination attempts, however why they are is unclear. Perhaps our guests have further information."
Lureene ponders for a moment, before replying quietly, "Mistress Charelle... servant of Homeku... It seems clear to me the Ruby Coil is behind these assassination attempts, however why they are is unclear."
"True enough. But I think we need to know more about Charelle and Homeku. I see two possibilities: One, the Ruby Coil is a Diabolic cult. In that case, we'd do well to learn about the motivations of their 'patron' as a way to figure them out. OR two, the Ruby Coil is a mundane group. In that case, WHY are these Diabolic types teaming up with them? What interest could Alis pose for a Devil? In either case, knowing more about the Devils they revere may be useful information." Priyya's gives her a huge gallows smile, "This really puts paid to the adage - better the Devil you know than the one you don't." Priyya chortles at her own witticism.
Felmor chimes in after his Beloved attempts to lighten the mood. He gives Priyya a big hug, unable to control hhimself. Once he has released her, he says "Aye, if this cult be workin' here in Dunwaar, they may have left some clues in the mansion that burned down. Arson be a good way ta hide evidence, but they may 'ave missed somethin'."
"So, Captain, want to re-think our offer of assistance, now?"
Monroe frowns a bit at Priyya's mirth. "Not to be disrespectful, ma'am, or unappreciative of you putting me back together earlier, but you seem like the sort who prefers straight answers."
He takes a long pull from his tankard to wash down his venison. "Stallings and d'Calla lost a lot of good men today. Those were folks who were sent along to protect the Princess. It's all well and good to go offering assistance, and I could sure as hell use some, but I think you need to consider the cost involved with such offers. Seems to me it gets paid out in other people's blood."
He finishes his ale and notices Count Quailworthy glaring at him while Alis and Alex are lost in conversation. "Right, well if you'll all excuse me, I've got a long night head of me..."
With that, he picks up his battered helmet, grabs another piece of venison for-the-road, and takes his leave. On his way out, Stallings notes him leaving and turns to Yvonne, one white eyebrow raised. The gypsy leader smiles, pats his hand, and nods.
He puts his hand on her shoulder before standing and bowing towards Alis and the Count. "Lucius, your Highness, you should be in good hands here in the castle. Yvonne will remain behind, but I'm going to go help Monroe with coordinating a response. I don't know why exactly the locals think that the Princess is here to annex Elsmyr Dale into Estoria, but we've got a real problem on our hands if enough of the populace believes this bunk and realizes she's enjoying the Count's hospitality right now."
He gives a single nod of his head to Malandraenas, as if entrusting him with matters here, before clapping Monroe on the back. The two head out, the discussion of their planning soon fading away down the dimly lit hallway to the south.
Priyya follows Monroe out... hoping to catch him a little more privately.
"Captain, a moment!" She politely waits for him to acknowledge her before continuing or dogs his steps if he won't and speaks anyway. "I am VERY aware of the price paid today. My hope is that some of those folks are still live. You clearly don't know my order so let me explain a few things. Mine is a warrior order charged with hunting down and destroying evil. We don't live to see retirement. Every one of us expects to die in the field. That is the way of things. You don't know me and you have no idea of the blood I've shed in my cause or that I will shed. But I didn't offer my assistance earlier lightly or without consideration nor did I just repeat that offer lightly. I will go out into the city right NOW with any soldiers you care to send to look for survivors, curb fires, or what have you. If my light TONE bothers you... that's fair enough. But as a leader, I'm sure you understand that sometimes, to help morale, you have to appear more chipper than you feel."
Monroe gives Priyya an appreciative grin. "Judging by the number of prisoners you took, I have to admit that you guys are tougher than I thought. Other than taking the gods' names in vain though, you're right — I don't really know much about religious orders... Well, besides that clerics are damn good at saving lives!"
"As for right now, I'm guess that the job you did earlier patch all of us up wasn't without cost, was it? Just because I don't go to church doesn't mean I don't realize that priests and mages need down time to recoup their energy. If you were just a warrior, and not a warrior-priestess I'd really be tempted to take you up on that offer right now. But when my ass, or those of my men, or your friends gets dragged back here because we're beat to hell... well it would be good to know that you'd had that down-time you needed."
"As for fighting the good fight," he gives a heavy sigh. "The problem in this case is that these aren't necessarily bad folks we're dealing with right now. Misled and pissed-as-hell yeah, but most of 'em are just regular Joes. That guy I relieved of his head earlier? Yeah, that guy had been a pain in my ass for years. Can't tell you how many time the son-of-a-b1tch was brought in but always had some convenient alibi or someone with enough coin to bail his ass out."
"Most of the rest of those folks though? Most of 'em were practically kids! Punks a lot of 'em but some kids end up in gangs for other reasons. I'd like to think that maybe I scared a few straight tonight but who knows."
"Anyway, guess I'm rambling. Thanks for being willing to help, ma'am. Sorry if I busted your chops in front of your friends. You're right, morale is important, but even us 'tough guys' sometimes need a break from that act when it's just friends around. Keep fighting the good fight, and keep that girl of yours safe."
He leans in closer and whispers so that no one but you, and Stallings can overhear.
"Basic strategy of warfare is divide and conquer. That Lorenzo and Lucia you guys mentioned tried it on Stallings' watch, now that Chivane is suddenly leading some sort of a liberation front? Really? An honest-to-god elf heading up a gang that's decided to quit lurking in the shadows to fight imperialism? Bullsh1t! Money and power are the only things they care about! I think someone's trying to set us up for a damn fall! Oh, and between you and me, I'd a lot sooner ally with Estoria before I'd trust those giant-loving sycophants down in Malatesta. Anyway, I'd be very careful about who I trust right now and keep an eye out for that girl of yours."
Monroe takes Priyya's hand and gives it a strong shake. Resuming his normal tone of voice, he says, "Don't go 'retiring' before I do, alright?"