Lucius attempts to make the boy feel comfortable, but his rugged exterior, pale face, and dark eyes betray his sincerity.
"No, we're here to keep you safe from the Songbird. It's OK, you can trust us."
"But you killed my guardian angels..."
"We tried ta reason with them. They just wouldn't listen."
Tristan sighs, watching as the others try to set the boy at ease. In his work as a hexbroker, Tristan more people in various states of distress than he cared to recall. He was well-accustomed to settling other people's nerves when the situation called for it.
The witch leans down slightly to meet the boy's gaze at his level. "It's alright, we're not here to hurt you. As frightening as we appear, we're on your side. We won't let the Songbird lay a finger on you."
"We tried to talk to the angels, but they just wouldn't listen!" Aleixica says sadly, before giving way to Tristan's efforts.
Good to know there's more to at least one of these people than death and destruction, she thinks, impressed with the half-elf's mien.
Suddenly reminded of the Songbird, she looks around to see if there's any way he could get in or attack from afar while they talk.
A sudden thought startles her and she intones a quick prayer to Desna, looking around and at the boy for any signs of magic.
"We're sorry about your angels", Ember says.
"But we knew you were in danger and we couldn't let them keep us from you."
The young noble hesitates and then lowers his weapon.
"I... I believe you."
"Besides, if you were here to hurt me. You would have done it already."
"We need to get you to safety, young one. The Songbird is likely drawing near," says Tristan. "We must make haste."
The young man laughs, it's a warm infectious sound, and pushes the blonde locks out from the front of his face.
"You're not that much older than me, but I appreciate the thought. My mother used to say that guardian angels come in all forms. Maybe she's right."
David leans over and peers out of the corner of a boarded up window.
"What if the Songbird's threat was just a bluff? Maybe there was no danger at all-"
Suddenly a piercing note fills the air, both beautiful and filled with anguish. The sound is as tortured as it is enchanting.
Everyone except for Bishop and Tristan find themselves captivated as the song wraps their minds in fog.
"A voice, strong and clear, calls out. You're not Hellknights and you're not one of Eccardian's pawns. I don't know exactly who you are, but I will make this clear: Walk away, now, and you get to live another day. This sycophant and I have bloody business to attend to."
"Not happening. This ain't some devil-bred noble. He's just a scared kid. He ain't a threat to ya. Leave him be."
Bishop draws his pistol and readies to shoot the songbird if he makes an appearance.
Tristan readies himself to give the Songbird the evil eye when he gets sight of him.
Tristan can't pinpoint the voice's location but it's definitely within the room.
"Devil-borne or not him and his ilk are responsible for what's happened here in Westcrown. Shouldn't someone suffer what their kind have done? Shouldn't someone pay the price?"
"Sure thing. But he ain't it. He's just a kid, he hasn't had any time to screw up yet. Let him be, he can't even defend himself."
"It doesn't have to be this way. We know that this city has fallen even deeper into the mouth of Hell than any of us ever expected, but we can help you change that. Just give us a chance. My mother served you and your friends drinks once at the The Mermaid's Grotto, you owe us at least that much."
"Your mother? The Grotto?"
The voice falters.
"That was a lifetime ago. Who the hell are you?"
"My name's Tristan. This is Lucius, Ember, Bishop, and Aleixica. We were sent here by a friend of yours. A woman, she's worried about you. This..." he says, gesturing to the young nobleman, "...this isn't justice. I think you know that."
The voice softens even more.
"Amelia, she sent you?"
The singing stops and with it those that are fascinated snap back to their senses.
"Yea, she did. She wanted us to stop you from, makin' a big mistake." Bishop will holster his gun as a gesture of good faith.
"Wait, you know who this Songbird is?" Aleixica asks, confused.
Not trusting that a fight won't resume again, Aleixica activates her aura of freedom.
"Please, let us talk face to face," Tristan says to the open air. "We've sheathed our weapons, there's nothing more we can do to show our goodwill."
A tired sigh fills the air and a figure appears in the corner of the room, nearest David. The figure is a man, tall with broad shoulders that hint at what might have once been a powerful frame but what is now hollow and weedy. He wears a fine black doublet and breeches with tall black leather boots - all of which is worn and threadbare. Around the neck and wrists, a cream-colored chemise pokes out from under the heavy cloth and chain armor is visible beneath the worn gaps in his finery. A dark twisted piece of metal that could be called a sword is gripped in his hand. Scars matching the shape of his blade mar the man's features, features that might have once been strong and handsome.
"Well strangers, you have my attention... for now."
"Amelia told us what you've been doing," Tristan begins. "While there isn't a court in Andoran that would convict you, she's very worried about you. Maybe we can take you to her? We can figure out a plan, maybe identify who truly deserves to be run through with your..." Tristan's brow furrows in confusion as he eyes the man's blade skeptically, "...weapon."
The witch clears his throat, "Look, I've spent years listening to pleas of sad people desiring petty vengeance and I can tell that's not what you're after. I think I can safely speak for everyone here when I say you're not the only one who seeks a reckoning...who seeks justice."
The once handsome man's scarred features harden again as Tristan speaks.
"Justice? Yes, that's all I ever wanted. Gregorio deserved justice. The Children deserved justice..."
"Speaking of children, do you have a place away from here where we can discuss the state of Westcrown?"
Tristan looks sidelong to Lucius since it was his safehouse they found themselves in earlier when fleeing from the Hellknights.
Lucius nods to Tristan. We have got to trust him for now.
David, who has remained silent till now, speaks up as the dangerous men and women in his home prepare to depart.
"Wait", he says with trepidation. "Take me with you."
He looks around the room at the confused expressions.
"My parents died fighting for the belief that those in power have a responsibility to help others. It cost them everything but I've still done what I can to honor that belief. The Grullio name may not have much money to it anymore but it has power still. I want to help with whatever you have planned."
Aleixica looks around and shrugs.
"It's fine with me if you want to come with us, but ... why not stay here? No offense to Lucius, but your home in nicer than his and we're already all here. No sense in going out and risking a run-in with Hellknights or something worse."
No sooner does Aleixica utter that terrible word Hellknight than the damned tyrants make themselves known again, this time with a sound like a crack of thunder.
The whole manor shakes as something enormous smashes in its side.
"Damn!" the Songbird says as he peers out the window.
"I've stayed too long. They had time to bring a siege devil..."
"The what?!"
Curses...I'm running out of spells!
Thinking that fleeing may be the only available option, Tristan looks about the space wildly, searching for a place to escape from the Hellknights.
"And we're leavin'. What in the blue hell is a siege devil?"
Aleixica looks out the window to see what the Songbird is talking about.
Tristan's quick evaluation of the room shows few options. He recalls seeing a front door and a back door on the first floor but no doubt those are already covered by the Hellknights outside. Most of the windows on the second floor are boarded shut.
"A siege devil. A monstrous thing from hell strong enough to-"
Debris begins to fall from the ceiling as the thing outside slams into the building again.
Peering out the window, Aleixica spots the a terrifying sight - a monstrous humanoid shape standing nearly as tall as the Grulio manor. It has four arms as long and thick as sledgehammers ending in gnarled bony fists. The creature lumbers forward with a lurching gate and as it builds momentum its torso rotates becoming a kind of living flail with its four titanic limbs.
Tristan looks over Aleixica's shoulder at the devil below.
What the hell that thing?!!
"WE NEED A PLAN HERE, PEOPLE!" The witch's voice quavers slightly in fear.
It might be the growing fear overwhelming his thoughts but Tristan has no clue what the monster below is.
"There are too many for transport", the Songbird says as he quickly counts the men and women in the room. "I can get us to safety but we need to thin their ranks first. I'll tie up those armored fools if you lot think you can take out the living siege weapon."
"We can try," Aleixica says dubiously, "though it would help if we knew what that thing was!"
"Desna, smile on us," she murmurs in a quick prayer.