Evelina looks down at her hands and can't bring herself to look at Doumane. "I'm the reason. I'm the reason that Razvan knows Nemeia didn't drown."
"It started 'bout six months ago. A lot of things began goin' wrong fer the Red Swan. Delivered food was damaged an' unusable, my supplier of ale cut me off, my license to operate my tavern was suspended by Magnimar officials. It seemed like I was bleedin' money an' was goin' to lose everythin' I'd worked fer. I didn't know what I was goin' to do. An' then he walked in. He made it very clear that he could make all my troubles disappear an' all I had to do was provide him with some information and allow him to have one of his employees pose as my nephew. It didn't seem that bad so I agreed."
She began picking at her nails. "It never occurred to me that he would ask about Nemeia. She had been dead to everyone for almost three years. We had been close and she needed help so she could start a new life away from Magnimar so she asked for my help. So I knew she was still alive...not where she went...but that she never drowned."
Evelina pauses and her voice gets even quieter, "Razvan bluntly asked me if Nemeia was still alive. I was caught off guard and probably hesitated too long. I said 'no' but he knew I was lying." She lifted the sleeve of her shirt to reveal a jagged scar on her arm. "He gave me this for lying and told me the consequences of lying would be worse next time. He's controlled me by controllin' my business ever since then." Another tear escaped and she brushed it away, "I had hoped that Razvan wouldn't be able to find Nemeia but you suddenly appearin' tells me that that ain't true."
Doumane takes this all in with a heavy heart. It wasn't easy to sit here and listen to Evelina bear her soul so, but there was no time (and no way) to comfort her. In fact, he was about to make things much worse.
'She's dead." Doumane said simply, "Razvan found her, and killed her."
The halfling lets that hang in the air for a moment before adding, "She has a son. Razvan has him too. If you want to start to make up for the damage, I suggest you tell me everything you know about Razvan."
The color drains from Evelina's face and she just sits there blinking as she tries to process Doumane's words. She mutters to herself, "dead...she's dead...because of me...she's dead."
She meets the halfling's eyes and he can see that hers are brimming with tears again. He can tell that she's barely keeping it together. "A son? Nemeia had a son?" She gasps, "And now Razvan has him? We have to get him back! Wait..." she stops dead as something occurs to her, "how do you know all this? Is this a test?" She looks conflicted and a little suspicious, "Who sent you?"
Once she's appeased that this isn't some elaborate trap conducted by Razvan to torment her, she shares what she knows. "I don't know much about Razvan other than what others know. Razvan uses kids to do a lot of his street work. They often go unnoticed an' most adults don't like fightin' kids so they get away with more. I fear fer what Nemeia's son will be taught if he stays with him."
She pauses, lost in thought for a moment, "His brother is on the Council of Ushers which is how my business was squeezed so I'd have to cooperate. They both live in Naos, the Grand Arch district, I think. But I doubt that that's where he's keepin' the child. Razvan has properties throughout the Shore and even in the Shadow. Most appear as real businesses but rumors are he uses them to hide things like drugs or black market merchandise, and even people."
Doumane shakes his head, 'She is dead because of Razvan. Don't take his crimes onto yourself."
"As for a trap, does he seem the type to do this. Sure, Razvan may enjoy taunting you, but he'd do it while you are strapped to a table having your fingernails pulled out. Does he seem the type to employ halflings to give moral lessons? No, this is all real."
Doumane sighs to the information about corrupting kids but says, 'Hopefully we can help him before something bad happens to him, or his sense of morals."
"To that, I need your help. Does Razvan have any rivals? Either criminal or not. Anyone he is afraid of? if not, who would benefit most if something...unfortunate should happen to him? And if you don't know, who would?"
Evelina still looks doubtful. "He may have sent ya to test my loyalty...to see if I would turn on him. He may be looking fer a reason to have me hurt again. That's why I gotta ask. And I did notice ya ain't sayin' who sent ya."
Her brow wrinkles in thought at Doumane's last questions. "Rumor has it that there's a new operation steppin' on Razvan's toes. They ain't local so I guess ya could consider them rivals. An' he's afraid of his brother. Flavius is one of the few people who can give Razvan orders."
Doumane frowns, "You yourself just revealed the danger of letting too many people in on a secret. Should I not be wondering if I can trust you? What if Razvan comes knocking around again?"
"Got a name or a place for this new operation? Point of contact?"
Just as Evelina is about to answer Doumane, a bolt of energy streaks by his ear and singes his hair. He spins in his seat and sees an embarrassed server apologizing profusely to one of the patrons. "I'm so sorry, sir. I'm learning how to control it but sometimes I can't, especially when surprised." The man's shirt appears ruined and his cup has shattered, spilling his drink all over him. He refuses to listen to the waitress, choosing instead to berate her in front of everyone. When another customer comes to the defense of the server claiming it was them who startled the young woman, it only seems to make matters worse. Instead of calmer heads prevailing, fists begin to fly.
Ol' Mam Grottle's voice raises over the din but she's quickly ignored. Soon numerous patrons are involved and the fight is quickly sweeping towards Doumane and Evelina.
At his heart, deep down, Doumane considered himself a gentlemen, a man of integrity and a bit of class. Which is why he was pleased to find his first instinct at danger was to shout, "Get down!" to Evelina and push her to the floor, under the table where she would hopefully be a bit safer.
Evelina is already moving towards the floor as Doumane pushes her down. "i have to get outta here." A glass shatters on the floor inches from the halfling followed by a fellow looking quite stunned from whatever blow had caused him to fall prone. His one eye is swollen already but the other eye blinks a few times as if trying to focus. It then fixes on the two of them crouching under the table.
Doumane looks at the fallen man carefully, and then says, "You are up way past your bedtime friend. Now leave the lady and me alone, or you'll get worse then a black eye."
With a blur Doumane draws two of his knives, which glint in the firelight of the tavern. "Don't make me use these on you, mate."
Reason was not to be found in the man's eyes and Doumane's words fell on deaf ears. Fighting is the only thought in his mind and so he reaches for the halfling cowering under the table. He would teach him a lesson, he sure would.
Doumane lashes out as a meaty hand reaches for him. One of his daggers gets momentarily tangled in the man's clothing causing no damage but the other blade strikes true and causes significant bleeding. He reaches for Doumane again but his movements are slower laboured. His hand doesn't even come close to snagging its prey.
A squeal pierces the air and Doumane turns to see Evelina being dragged out from the other side of the table. "Hey, yer purty, How's 'bout a kiss?" She continues to struggle until she gets one hand free and soon two little balls of energy leave her hand and slam into his chest.
As Evelina lashes out with magic, the thought crosses Doumane's mind that maybe she should be protecting him. Then the halfling whirls, leaving the stabbed man alone for the moment, bounding up to climb onto the top of the table.
Now standing eye to eye with Evelina's new assailant, Doumane says, "Hands off, drunk."
Then he says to Evelina, "I think you had the right idea, we need to get out of here."
"Go find yer own. I got her first."
The first dagger opens up a gash in the man's arm causing him to yelp in pain. "Why you little..." he growls as he releases Evelina to fumble for his dagger to attack Doumane. But before he can launch his own attack, Doumane's second dagger skewers him in the side. He slumps back into one of the chairs, clearing the way for the two of them to escape.
Doumane looks around and sees two possible exits. The main door which has a maze of fighting bodies in the way and a door to the kitchens.
"Out the kitchens, come on! There should be a backdoor." The halfling says, jumping off the table, leading the way. At least he seemed to be making up for his spilled drink disaster from earlier and holding up his own in this fight.
Evelina quickly follows Doumane, grateful to be free once again.
The halfling pushes his way into the kitchens and is slightly surprised to see that the chaos of the tavern hadn't yet reached the kitchen. There are still cooks bustling about preparing food, seemingly oblivious to the fighting right outside the door. The smells are amazing but there's no time to enjoy them as Doumane looks for a backdoor.
One of the cooks spots the two newcomers. "Oi! You can't be in here!"
Doumane ignores the cook, and squints at the busy kitchen. Surely there would be aback door, a way for the workers and delivery men to bring in food. He needed to find it, and fast. The last thing he wanted was to be in a room full of hot, sharp things during a general melee.
He glances to Evelina, "See a way out?" Then he grins slightly, "Nice spellwork back there."
Evelina smiles shyly at the halfling's compliment, "It's somethin' I've always been able to do, can't really take credit."
Just as she gets the last word out, Doumane spots a door in the corner and heads for it with Evelina in tow. The cook continues to yell at them but can't follow because his food would burn.
Doumane flings the door open and is hit with the unmistakable smell of alley just as he runs into the legs of a Magnimar city guard. "Where you think you're going?"
Doumane has time for just one whiff of fresh Magnimar air (and by fresh, he meant the stench of rotten food, human waste and stale water) before running into the city guard.
The halfling looks up at the man carefully. Not every city guard was civic minded, with more then a few using the post as little more then a protection racket. Doumane loved his city, but it was nto a safe place to run around at night.
"There is a fight inside, sir."The rogue says pointing tot he tavern behind them, "Just trying to stay out of trouble, sir."
The rigid stance of the guard relaxes as he responds to Doumane's easy manner and assesses the halfling to be a non-threat. "We know there's a fight. Grottle sent an employee requesting enforcement. My sergeant told me to cover the back in case any trouble-makers tried to escape. That ain't you, is it?"
Doumane shakes his head, happy to tell the truth, "No, sir. We were just having a quiet drink in a corner when the drunken fighting broke out. Both of us just ran out, trying to get away."
"It was pretty rough in there, no place for honest citizens like us." Doumane adds virtuously.
The guard looks unsure and a little conflicted. "My sergeant did say to make sure no one escaped but you all don't look dangerous or like you were fighting. But...maybe I should take your names just in case he wants to speak with you."
Doumane frowns, pretending to consider this but really secertly pleased. Names are easy to make up.
"Um, fine, I guess. As long as it keeps us out of trouble. My name is Alf and this is Tessy, a friend of mine. We both live down on Gleam Street."
The halfling gets up and grabs Evelina's hand and says, "Good luck calming down that fight. It is crazy in there!" And they start to leave, quickly but not quite running.
The guard scrawls messily in a book, repeating what he hears. "Alf...Tessy...Gleam Street. Got it. I'll let my sergeant know. Make sure to stay out of trouble."
Doumane doesn't need to encourage Evelina to walk faster. He can tell that she's as eager to get away from the Old Fang as he is. Once they were out of ear shot she says hurriedly, "I gotta get back. There'll be too many questions if I'm away much longer. 'Specially if I return completely empty handed."
Douamne nods and releases her hand. The halfling says hurriedly, "This new operation that might be giving Razvan trouble. Got a name or a place? My night isn't over, not by a long shot. But hurry, get back and be safe. We both know the cost..."
Evelina rattles off what she knows. "The name is the Black, the Black...something." She deflates slightly, "Sorry, I can't remember. But rumor has it that they have a place right on the waterfront. An abandoned inn, I think."
Doumane nods then says, "Go, go! Last thing I want to do is put you in more danger." As the halfling watches the woman hurry off, he considers his own options.
Knowledge Local, some point of Contact for the Council of Ushers. Who might know Flavius's rivals there?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Doumane yawns, as he watches Evelina leave. Part of him wants to head down to the docks and dives and ask about the Black Cyphers. Clearly, even if he intended on working with Razvan at first, he would need intel. But it was late and he was tired. It would probably best to start early and fresh tomorrow.
Doumane was tired, but not tired enough to take risks. He takes the side streets back, and giving the marketplace a wide berth. He also takes pain to see if his house is being watched.
It takes Doumane a lot longer to get home than it normally would as he takes the necessary precautions to ensure he isn't followed. Thankfully the streets are starting to get more crowded. Between the people and the remaining shadows he easily remains undetected.
As he hides in the shadows of the building across the street from his home, he sees nothing out of the ordinary.
Hoping it isn't just exhaustion dulling his wits, Doumane judges the home safe. Carefully he crosses the street and goes inside, saying quietly, "Mihail, it is me. How goes it?"
Mihail materializes out of the shadows beside the door, resheathing his weapon. "I've been wearing a rut in your floor with all my pacing. I was about to come looking."
Not wasting any time he peppers Doumane with a barrage of questions. "What did you find out? Did you have any trouble? And most importantly, did you decide what we're going to do?"
Doumane sighs, giving Mihail a tired look. He holds up a hand, "Peace, Mihail. It has been along night."
Tiredly the halfling finds a chair and pours himself into it. He looks up at his clearly anxious friend.
"I have found a few things out." He gives the man a run down of the events of the night, or was it early morning?
'So, in conclusion we have the names of Razvan's rivals in the city, which happens to be the same group he wants us to attack and a contact for the Ushers. And of course, Evelina, a valuable person indeed."
'As for what to do...I have some plans. The best plan is to keep threading the needle, working for Razvan while bringing him down..." The halfling ponders this for a bit then shakes his head. "I need to get some sleep. I imagine you'll be too anxious. Keep watch, if you can't get any shut eye."
He rests his hand on the mans forearm, unable to reach his shoulder. "Stay steady."
Mihail opens his mouth as if to protest but then snaps it shut. He then takes a moment to collect his thoughts before speaking. "Sleep is necessary if one can. A few more hours won't change anything." He wasn't looking at Doumane for his last statement. Rather it seemed to be said more for his own sake, like he was trying to convince himself to wait.
Looking back at his friend, Mihail says, "I will watch over you while you sleep. It's the least I can do to repay you for your help. We can discuss more later about what you think I should do."
Doumane awakes in a much gentler way than before but Mihail's restlessness is almost palpable. He continues to move throughout the home checking windows and looking in on the halfling, pacing a loop throughout the space.
As soon as it is obvious that the halfling is no longer asleep, the man asks, "So what do we do now?"
Doumane opens an eye and watches the nervous man. He seems not much above a wreck. Then again, if a shadow out of my past found me, killed my wife and stole my child as blackmail...I'd be a bit up tight too.
The halfling rolls out of bed and points to Mihail, 'First, you eat. You might not feel it, but you need to."
Doumane waves a hand at a sparse pantry, "Eat, even if you have to force it down."
after that he adds, "I had an idea last night. Wile it is the safe option to keep you in here, it is not doable long term. Also, I'm afraid you'll started chewing my furniture soon." Doumane smiles at the joke before adding, "I want to buy you a Hat of Disguise so you can go out and about without Razvan's thugs spotting you."
"What do you think of that?"
Mihail grudgingly takes a small piece of hard cheese and nibbles on a corner of it. "I know you speak truth but my stomach is in knots and all I want to do is get my boy back."
The man's eyes widen in surprise at Doumane's suggestion which exaggerates the dark rings that have formed underneath. "Obviously your idea is a good one but such an item is not cheap. You have already done so much by helping me, it is asking too much to let you do this for me too."
Doumane grunts, "This isn't just about you. It is about Magnimar. I know our city has rough edges, more then I'd to admit. But kidnapping children to use as blackmail? No, that is too far, much too far. Someone has to do something about it."
Then he smiles, pulling on a change of clothes, "And it appears the gods have chosen me. An unlikely choice, but perhaps that means I'm up the challenge?"
Mihail nods wearily and gives a small smile, "You may see it as being about Magnimar but I still see it as a sacrifice of sorts on your part; therefore, you have my eternal gratitude. I think it's clear that I believe you're up to the challenge or I never would have knocked on your door. I guess it remains to be seen what the gods think. But hopefully we're on the right track."
The man digs out a small pouch and tosses it at Doumane. "It's not as much as I'd like but at least I can help pay for the hat."
Doumane weighs the pouch in his hand, it is a sizable amount of gold. "Is this everything you have? if so, save some of it, we might need it. Who knows where all of this is going to end up. "
He looks up at Mihail, "Since you are coming with me, what do you prefer? [b]"Investigating the Black Cyhpers or meeting a contact at the Ushers?'
Mihail's eyes flit around as if not wanting to meet Doumane's gaze, "Not everything...and I must insist you take it."
The halfling gets the feeling that Mihail is giving more than he could but that the man's pride needed Doumane to accept without argument. At the moment there isn't a lot that Mihail could control so what he could control becomes non-negotiable.
Mihail's face displays a thoughtful look for a longer time than Doumane expects. If steam could actually emanate from someone's ears for thinking too hard, the room would be filled by now. Finally he says, "They both have their pros and cons. Which way are you leaning?"
Doumane cracks his neck, feeling tired. He had only got a few hours of sleep after all. Finally he says, "I say we try the Usher's first, since they have office hours. Depending on whatever else happens, we can go trawling for Black Cypher information at any hour. First, though, we need to get that hat."
Mihail nods slowly, whether from tiredness or thoughtfulness it is hard for Doumane to tell. ”Makes sense. To the Hall of Ushers then, after obtaining my disguise of course. I guess it is possible that Razvan or his brother will have means for seeing through such magics but since they’d be expecting to see me eventually anyways, it may not matter. Let's just hope there isn't some sort of purging magic on the doors to Usher's Hall.”
With the decision made about their destination, the two set off to obtain their hat of disguise. With it being late morning, the city is now bustling with activity and the streets are quite crowded. Most of the people barely give any others a second look as they focus on getting to where they need to go. Those who do seem to watch the crowd are those looking for distracted citizens or naïve visitors who are easy marks, and neither Doumane nor Mihail fit the bill so they remain ignored.
Doumane is in his element moving throughout his city and he quickly maneuvers them through the streets, first to purchase the hat of disguise and then into the Capital District towards Usher’s Hall. Shortly after procuring the hat, the two step into an alley they make sure is deserted and quickly put the magic to use by putting it on Mihail. The man’s physique begins to morph as he appears to lose muscle mass making him much skinnier and less imposing. His distinctive amber eyes darken into a muddy-brown color. The hat now appears as a bandana holding back mousy brown hair. His nose lengthens, his chin weakens and seemingly disappears, and his features look pinched. If Doumane hadn’t been present for the transformation, he wouldn’t have believed that it was Mihail standing before him. The man looking back at him was truly forgettable. Mihail gives him a questioning look, "Did it work?"
When living in Magnimar, Mihail hadn’t spent much time in the Capital District and so he slows to admire the marble sculpture that is Indros cul Vydrarch as they pass by on the way to their destination. Even though the day is overcast, the statue still seems to glint majestically in the minimal light. But the halfling is on a mission and his steps do not slow. Being left behind, Mihail’s pace quickens again to catch up to Doumane. Soon they are approaching the massive and ornately carved doors of Usher’s Hall which are almost put to shame by the numerous intricate sculptures in alcoves that cover the building’s façade. Hundreds of soulless eyes gaze down upon them which is somewhat disconcerting. Mihail leans down and whispers, ”So, do we just saunter in?”
Doumane stares hard at the unimpressive, run of the mill man in front of him in the alley. "You look entirely beneath notice. Perfect. However, don't talk much. Your voice is the same and while I doubt many people will recognize it..it doesn't quite fit. Let me do the talking."
Soon they are both standing in front of the imposing Usher's Hall, a stone building that engenders more fear and a sense of awe. Despite the judgement air about the place, Doumane has always liked it for one reason. In other cities such buildings were usually run of the mill, stone or brick. Not Magnimar. Magnimar did it in style.
At Mihail's question, Doumane shrugs, "I assume plenty of people come in all day. We are looking for a Fara Cutton, maybe we can askt he doorman, if there is one."
To show his agreement for Doumane to do the talking, Mihail says nothing but only nods.
The pair approach the doors and step into the building. It doesn't take much for their eyes to adjust as it's brighter inside than expected due to numerous sconces on the walls. The use of statues had also been carried inside and the hallway almost looked crowded by the many plaster figures. In the midst of the frozen forms there is a man of Varisian heritage sitting at a desk just inside the door. Without looking up from whatever he was reading he says in a monotone, "State your business."
Doumane rolls his eyes when Mihail nods instead of answering.
The sight of the countless frozen statues is unsettling and Doumane thinks they went a bit too far with the motif. But that is the Magniamr way. Why do it, when you can over do it?
Doumane coughs and says to the reading man, "I am looking for the office of Fara Cutton, please? Which way is it?"
The man lifts his eyes and his gaze slides over the pair before returning downwards. This time he pulls over a different pile of papers and looks through it. It appears to be a list of names with numbers beside them.
When he finds Fara's name, the man snorts as if reading something funny before answering without any inflection, "Office...so that's what they're calling it. Very well. Go to the end of the hall and take the stairs all the way down. Then take your first left, then third right. You'll find her desk behind a stack of boxes. You may want to make sure you have a light source."
Light source? Doumane thinks then exchanges a look with Mihail. Who doesn't work in a lighted place? A dwarf or something? Doumane knows they can see in the dark...
Douamne ventures forth, and pulls a torch out of his pocket but doesn't light it unless he has to. "Surely he was kidding about the light...right?"
Before they leave the front desk the doorman stops them and taps a piece of paper sitting at the corner. "You need to sign in. Even if you can't write, mark an 'x' or something. It tells us how many visitors are in the building in case there's a problem."
Mihail follows Doumane down the hall towards the stairs and shrugs in response to his question.