"It seems we are not so different, you and I," Bosch said to Thousand Bones cryptically.
"My people and I will retrieve your son's remains. If it comes to violence, well, there is a reason the Marshall has trusted us so far. If you can think of anything else that would be helpful, stop by the old Fishery north of Westpier 17. If you'll excuse me, I promised my daughter I'd be back by dusk." When he stepped out of the Marshall's office he lingered for a second and breathed a sigh of relief before starting to leave.
Tessa hears Bosch's heavy-booted tread and swiftly ducks behind a desk.
Whoop! Don't want to cause a scene.
A few moments after Bosch leaves, Tessa pronounces her work done to nobody in particular and slips out the door into the night. She hurries in Bosch's wake, taking four little strides for each one of his. Not wanting to startle Bosch, she coughs politely as she catches up.
"Well, you've still got your head so it couldn't have gone too badly!"
When Ty sees Bosch leave the citadel, he exhales a sigh of relief. He will then Stand up straight, and wave.
"Hoi Bossman, so what's the verdict?" He asks, falling into step with Bosch as they start to walk away." Are we racing, burrowing or in the clear?"
" Ha! Looks like we had the same thoughts, eh Tessa?"
He addresses the gnome with a wink." Couldn't let the Boss get pinched without a backup plan could we?"
Once he was joined by Tessa and Typhon, Bosch reached out and put Typhon in a headlock and grabbed Tessa by the ear.
"If you pull this kind of stunt again, you'd better hope they do take my head 'cause otherwise, I'll tan your hides!" Bosch roared at Ty and Tessa. He let go of Typhon and pushed the half-elf ahead of him before sending Tessa to join him. Of course, it was easy to tell Bosch was not really angry. He got quiet when angry, not loud.
"Now go on, ya jokers, we've got more work to do."
" We just couldn't let ya go in there without some kinda back-up, Bossman. " Ty says with a shrug.
" So what's this work you speak of? And what did Croft say 'bout Trinia?"
Ty walks in and smiles at Trinia, then looks a little perplexed with Bandru's statement.
" You giving up the adventuring life? I mean, its cool that you wanna help the kids and maintain the place, just kinda sud.... Aggh moose attack! Geddown Roscoe, go bother Tessa." He doesn't finish his sentence, as he is distracted by a slobbery, playful dog. He will spend a few minutes frolicking with Roscoe on the floor, before looking up at everyone.
" So... Bossman says we got work. What're we doin' Bosch?"
"Saving the city, what else?" Bosch said when they were back at the Fishery.
"Shoanti and Korvosan relations are breaking down. The Marshall wants us to retrieve the stolen body of a Shoanti chief's son. The chief, Thousand Bones, is a seer of some kind and used supernatural aid to find the location of his boy's body, a place called the Dead Warrens. It's a place frequented by corpse traffickers by my understanding. The Shoanti are chomping at the bit to get the boy's body back so they can perform the appropriate rites and prevent his soul from becoming lost. It is a matter I doubt they will relent on. Of course, if a bunch of armed and angry Shoanti show up in the current political climate, things could get bad." He collected his sword from a rack near the door, idly picking lint off of the scabbard.
"I'm going to ask around about the Warrens this evening and see what I can find out. I'd like to move out by night fall at the latest. The longer we delay, the more likely it is that Gaekhen's body will not be in one piece when we find it. Trinia, Bandru, I'd like a word with each of you in private before I head out."
"Well, I for one applaud Bandru's decision. We need someone to mind the fort. And it certainly wouldn't hurt to have someone making certain that a daughter that I know actually practices her homework." he says with a long suffering sigh, pointedly ignoring the faces that Wren is making at him.
"It seems that we have more political challenges to deal with then. I think that after we deal with this dead child, we can see about getting our young artist safely out of the city." he says with a nod towards Trinia.
" A Necromancer? What's that? Besides some kind of wizard."
Ty will ask in confusion. "I Gotta say, I'm not to sure about mixin it up with casters. Good way to get burnt up. I mean look at Tessa, she's a regular dragon with her fire."
Tessa shrugs. "It's just coming to me naturally, I guess. You all see me not practicing at the books, and look at all the stuff I kin do. I've always had fair dealings with the Shoanti, It'd be rotten to see them attacking Korvosa. Way too much killing. I'm in - I always heard fire and the dead don't mix. I figure we're pretty able to handle some necromancer. Burn up the zombies and he won't have nothin' to throw at us. Right, Corwin?"
Corwin shrugs at Tessa's excited proclamation.
"I would tend to agree. Fire is an effective way of dealing with the undead for most situations, and as for the necromancer, I believe that once his robes are set alight, he will be too busy to cause much more trouble."
"In any regard, I must look at my spell selection carefully."
Corwin excuses himself and heads for his bedroom where he sits down to peruse his spellbook.
"I hope so, Trinia. The kids will probably be happy to keep you company, especially if their only other choice for entertainment is Bandru. He's a good guy but a but no one ever accused Ascetics of being fun. I'll see what I can salvage from you apartment tomorrow too."
--------------
When he was done talking to Bandru and Trinia, Bosch returned to the others.
"I'm going to head out and see what information I can dig up on the Dead Warrens, I'll be back in a few hours," Bosch said, grabbing his gear and snapping his fingers for Roscoe to join him. He walked out, moving slow enough for anyone that wanted to join him to catch up.
Ty will go with Bosch , tho his info gathering skills are limited, he feels he can help somewhat.
" So... Necromungers do the zombie, skellington thing? Not so good in those areas.."
Bosch returned with Typhon and Roscoe in tow, mildly frustrated by the lack of new information he could acquire. In the end, it would hopefully make little difference once he rallied his friends and raided the place.
"Everyone ready?" He called out once back in the Fishery.
Tessa looks up from the piece of wood she's been fire-etching and grabs her stuff. With Majenko perched on her arm, Tessa heads for the door. "No fun just sitting around here, of course I'm ready!"
"The Warrens have such an unsettled feel. I wish someone would come through and bless this whole place quiet. I always feel like something is going to crawl out of a grave at my feet every time I am here."
" Man, this place gives me the willies... NOT fond of walking dead types. Hey these tracks lead to that mausoleum, by that toppled statue.
Weird lookin'... oh! its a wheel in the middle."Ty seems to be rambling a bit as his nervousness shows through. He has had both of the MW daggers drawn since entering the Warrens, and keeps bouncing from foot to foot.
" Thanks Corwin, THATS what I needed to hear." He says sticking his tongue out at the scholar.
"Well, we know where the remains were likely taken," Bosch paused by the mausoleum.
"I regret to say I have not been entirely honest here. There may be a dwarf wrapped up in this affair, one by the name of Shadak Strifeminer. If we run across him, I would like to handle the situation," Bosch's careful and polite phrasing was somewhat undermined by the clear note of cold anger in his voice.
Tessa marvels at the variety of gravestones and mausoleums. "Wow! Think of all the famous people that must be buried here. I bet these graves have some fantastic stories to tell. If'n we get a spare moment I might look some of these names up. We should probably follow these tracks though. Typhon's right, that looks like a wheel. Probably a wheelbarrow - that's what gravediggers use to move earth and stuff. We kin kill this necromancer and lift that feel that's giving you all the willies."
"Regardless, we take it slow. Me and Roscoe are a bit on the loud side, we'll go first to draw attention," Bosch did not draw his sword just yet but did rest his hand on the hilt as he walked toward the mausoleum.
" No problem Boschman. I'd rather it be a dwarf than walkin' dead folk, anyhows."
As they near the entrance Ty calms down and slips quietly into stealth mode, the focus required causing him to momentarily forget his fears.
Looking over the situation, Bosch grumbles something under his breath and steps back outside to reexamine the tracks.
"The Shoanti graveyard is at the heart of the Dead Warrens. As subsequent migrations moved into the area, Thassilonion and Chelish primarily, the graveyard expanded outward and downward. So there are a great many dead heroes and commonfolk here. The problem is that the elements are not very kind to graves unless magic is involved, so distinguishing one tomb from another may be a challenge." Corwin says, professorially.
"Hmmmp. Coulda' swore they came in here. Guess not."
Ty will also go back outside and glance again at the tracks.
Wandering through the Warrens a lone girl dark hair done in a pony tail clad in bluish robes torn in couple places and stained with traces of blood. the robes seem made of a heavier leather than of cloth possibly doubling as armor.
beneath the dirt and blood stains can be seen, a faded image depicting the symbol of Sarenrae on the girl's clothing
she has a tight grip on a plain wooden staff no distinguishing markings nor head pieces on it.
she seems to be heading toward the mausoleum approaching in a cautious manner. apparently searching for something or perhaps someone.
the necromancer...best be ready
Trey quietly whispers to herself. her nervous grip tightens on her staff in one hand and her other reaches in and pulls out a small wooden carving of the holy symbol of her goddess.
she mumbles a quick prayer in celestial. and she tries to stealthily approach the mausoleum.
Roscoe's stubby ears perk up, and he noses the door open before the others can react. The big dog steps out into the graveyard again and sits, staring at the holy woman and cocking his blocky head.
It should be noted that Roscoe is nearly one hundred and seventy pounds of mastiff, wearing dull steel chain as armor, and with a mouth that could easily fit around a human head. A mouth that is also very full of teeth, teeth that the newcomer would get to see when Roscoe opened his mouth to start panting slightly.
Trey freezes in her tracks as the dog appears and stares at her.
great, doesn't look undead, never expected a dog though.
Nice doggie, good doggie, your not going to bark are you? she says in a soothing voice as she slowly backs away from the dog.
Roscoe's head turns to the other side as the holy woman tries to keep him calm.
Finally, after seeming to decide on something, the dog looks back to the mausoleum and says, "Woof."
Bosch finally emerges from the mausoleum as well, kneeling next to Roscoe and scratching the dog's broad head.
"Are you done terrifying passers-by? We've got work to do in there," Bosch asked his hound, only to be met with a grave stare and more panting.
"He won't bite unless I tell him to," the smith said to the stranger.
Crap
Trey touches her holy symbol to her staff and it gains a slight glow as she channels some of her divine energy into her weapon and gets ready for the potential necromancer attack
Once the other person that apparently owns the dog arrives,
you don't look like a necromancer, but you could be using a disguise she mutters to herself.
Trey then stands looking as menacing as she can.
Surrender vile Necromancer I bring the power of Sarenrae you don't stand a chance her staff glowing with divine energy. she looks ready were it not for her fighting stance looking a bit awkward.
Its pretty apparent she has never actually engaged in real combat before.
Bosch quirks an eyebrow at the glowing staff but does not draw his own sword.
"Roscoe, fetch the stick," he says, patting the dog's flank.
Roscoe bounds up to the stranger and fixes his powerful jaws around her quarterstaff, ignoring any attempt she makes to keep him from depriving her of her only weapon.
As the dog jumps at her to grab her staff trey attempts to bop it on the head
but instead she finds herself knocked over sitting on the ground and a dog holding her staff.
Trey looks thoroughly embarrassed i'll never make it to the priesthood now. she says as she pulls out her holy symbol.
You don't look undead, and you don't act like undead but I'll bet you necromancers are tricky and can hide your features.
she holds out her holy symbol I have Sarenrae's protection and you will find turning me into one of your minions won't be an easy task.
trey puts on a brave front as she looks for a means to escape.
"Roscoe," Bosch said, holding out his hand for the staff. He gave it a few experimental twirls, testing the weight with a professional eye.
"Honestly lady, will you stop going on like that? I thought you priestly types could smell evil or something. We're here on the same errand you are. Some rogue necromancer has the remains of a friend's son. Now, if I give you your stick back are you going to try and bop me with it?"
Trey stands there dumbfounded
you mean..and I ... Trey just slumps to the ground I'm never gonna pass my exams, I can't even complete the field work right
Trey looks up at Bosch I'm sorry, I'm not really a priestess, yet, I have to finish my field work then pass some exam before being ordained. of course at this rate I be an old woman before that ever happens.
can I have my staff back, i promise not to Bop you with it...unless you try something funny... she adds trying to be witty and still seem tough.
Following the trail back to the mausoleum, Ty enters the scene just as Trey says she wouldn't bop Bosch, if he would give her staff back.
" Hey Bosch, the trail definitely leads to this particular Maus...
Err, uh, what's up?" He 'll interrupt himself as he approaches.
" Hey! Did Croft send us some Priestly back-up to help with this Necro-thingy?"
"Er, no, as far as I can tell this is just a happy coincidence," Bosch said, tossing the staff back to the aspirant priestess.
"Having you along would make things easier," Bosch said to Trey as he opened the mausoleum's door to where Corwin and Tessa were, "I trust you're trained in the healing arts?"