"If we can, we'll get that belt back to you. Are you staying here for awhile or moving on as soon as your wagon is ready?"
"You know where it is and how to get it off," the man asks before shaking his head. "Bah, don't bother. We'll be here a while yet. Our wagon was gutted and we still haven't checked all that needs checking. If you are looking for those Blood Kiss boys, be careful. They may lack brains but they are vicious and mean when they put their minds to it."
Normally Senna would be more cagey in her response, but these were her people. "We know where it is and we think we'll be able to get it off with some help... but it's going to take a few days."
Asking around for a couple of hours leads you towards a small shrine to Charult, the Garden Keeper, a minor god of the green places in cities, a few blocks from the docks. The dockworkers you managed to talk the information out of said that the old priest that maintained it had been harrassed by the Blood Kiss Boys several times in the past few weeks. You arrive to find what must have been a beautiful garden and nursery that has been demolished. Broken pottery litters the ground and dead plants are scattered about and withering away. Someone in dirty and tattered robes scrubbing something that looks like blood off of the stones in the inner courtyard of this small, quiet place. The sun is setting and the sounds of taverns doing swift business begins to pick up.
Jeram glances to his friends before cautiously approaching the robed figure, "Ummm, excuse me? Do you have a moment to talk to us? We, uhhh, wish to ask you about what happened to your shrine here."
The figure spins around, showing a battered and very scared woman. After a brief moment of shock, her fear melts away under the blazing heat of anger.
"Why? Do you want to get in with the Blood Kiss Boys? Come to finish the job? Just want to laugh at me," she asks in a bitterly caustic tone that borders on shrill.
"Oh no, I can assure you, we're not with the bloodkiss boys. Quite the opposite,in fact. We have been tasked with investigating some of their recent activities and I can say for certain, we are not here to finish their work. My name is Durok, and my companions are Jeram and Senna. If you have a few moments to talk with us, I'm sure we can help clean up a bit while we do."
The young woman's face softens at Durok's words and look of heart-rending grief crosses her face as she turns away and tries not to weep.
"I-I am sorry Master Durok. The past couple of days have been... It's been hard," she apologizes, her voice cracking and her breathing shaky as she speaks. It takes a few moments for her to compose herself. he turns back and motions to a bench and table made of stone, which is likely the only reason they are still intact given the rather thorough demolition is looks to have received.
"Please, have a seat. It's... It's what Father Giovonni would have wanted," she says in a more controlled voice. "I'm afraid that I have no hospitality to offer. I will try to answer your questions though. If you are looking to bring them to justice, then I'll do whatever I can to help."
"Young Miss, I have hospitality enough for both of us." Durok says as he produces two tin cups and a flask, filling each with a mild melon wine and sitting as he passes one of the cups to the woman.
Before he begins his questions, he takes a long sip and a deep breath.
"Please, take your time and tell us what happened, and what you know of these brigands, and also what happened to your friend."
As Durok converses with the young woman, the party is able to learn several things.
The Blood Kiss Brothers had been demanding potions from the old priest that had been the caretaker of this place for months. The priest did not know how, but that hardly seemed to matter to them. A few days ago, three of them came back, now lead by a woman and demanded that the priest lift a curse from the woman. The priest could not and they trashed the place after killing him. The young woman, a petitioner looking to join the clergy of Charult, had also been beaten senseless during the episode.
While she would love to see them brought to justice, she has little knowledge of the gang's whereabouts. She avoids the kinds of establishments that they are likely to frequent, though she has heard that those looking for muscle could do worse than going to the Blackfish Pub. She also has no knowledge of their numbers, though she does know that the leaders, the eponymous brothers, number four. She doesn't know how the woman connects to all of that, though.
She has heard of Jassi, and knows that she looks after some of the orphans at her home near a shop of oddities and trinkets called Onrinar's Knicks and Knacks. She gives directions to the place which isn't far from the wrecked shrine.
"I don't know if you can help me. I'm not sure what I should do," she admits when asked how the party can help her. "It sounds like you have more important things to deal with than a small shrine like this."
"Once we have found and dealt with the Brothers then we can return here and help you cleanup your shrine. I think that is the least we can do." Jeram replies, "No need to worry about payment. Helping you is good enough for us," glancing at his companions.
"If I have learned one thing, it is that there are no 'small things'. The important things are all made up of smaller things. Your help today is one of those pieces." Durok says, trying his best to sound encouraging.
Turning back to the others, he continues to think out loud, "We should see if Jassi has any more information, but my desire to help our captive in any way is quickly waning."
The evening grows deeper as more and more lights appear in windows and the people of the day give way to the people of the night. Down an alley, you see a soft red glow and the smell of perfume washes over you. A tavern throws its doors wide and a bawdy tune sung by lusty men with deep voices rumbles out into the air. Following the young woman's directions, you eventually find a stone house where laughter and the sounds of children at play drown out the other night noises.
Approaching the door and using the bottom of his wooden mug to knock loudly, Durok turns to the others and says "This seems like the place."
Jeram nods following close behind Durok, "I hope Jassie is more...friendly than that other woman."
"More encouraging still, this seems like the only place we've been lately that hasn't been trashed by the bloodkiss cowards."
The door opens revealing a young boy and girl of about five or six. They look at the three of you. The hollers back into the house as the girl grins and reveals a missing tooth in the front.
"Jassi! There's someone at the door!"
The voice of a young woman hollers back, sounding exasperated.
"Then ask them what they want instead of hollering like a half-wit!"
The boy turns around and takes a couple steps back from the door and begins arguing with whoever this Jassi is while the girl rolls her eyes then laughs.
"Lionel is awways gettin' inta twouble," she explains as more voices join in the shouting match happening behind the girl. "Whacha want mistahs and pretty lady!"
"Well we wanted to see Miss Jassi, just to talk to her for a moment. Is she busy?" Jeram asks, a little uncomfortable around the young tykes.
The girl nods and giggles.
"Aye, mistah! She's makin' supper and scoldin' Lionel," she answers. Another youngster, this one close to their teens with a slender frame and androgynous features comes padding barefoot to the door.
"Go wash up Misty Belle," they say to the girl before looking at all of you.
"Sorry, sirs and ma'am," they begin, "it's a bit of a madhouse right now. I heard you needed to talk to Jassi? What about?"
"Hello, child. No need to apologize, we understand how time consuming this kind of service can be. We are looking into some recent unpleasantness and thought this might be a good place to get a few questions answered." Durok says with a broad smile.