Shi goes up to Magda with a sly grin as she corrects her, wrapping her arm around the younger half-orc "Yes, are all still employed. You know, you made it all out to be a lot worse than it was. She was glad we were back and actually was very complementary of you and Vera. Maybe you should give Kroft a second chance I think the two of you possibly just got your wires crossed a bit in the heat of the moment. In any case, she wants us to meet with her in a couple days."
"Mhmm, seems handling it instead of paying a ransom changed her tune." Marcus adds.
Vera finishes her time with the cards and returns to the group. "Really, it was your good idea to get all the help we got, Mags! We're doing the right thing and the pay is good. No sense in turning down whatever Miss Cressida wants to give us, right?"
As people begin to leave, Kaliyah stands still and waits until everyone has left the room. "Thank you. I intend to continue fulfilling my duties until I am the last marine standing. I have not forgotten my training and I like to think that I use this experience to perform better in the future. Thank you for keeping me around, I aim to prove to you that you made the right choice."
She salutes, turns and departs to join the others. Once there, she walks up beside them silently and listen to their conversation. Turning towards Vera, she said "Vera, Magda, the rest of us owe you our lives. If you ever need anything from me, name it and it is yours."
Turning towards the rest of them she says "I owe you all an apology that I have not given. I will not let that happen again." she says defiantly.
Magda just grins at the others, happy they are happy. Once they've all had a say or two, other than the silent wall, she speaks...
"Kroft isn't bad, just... stuck. Right is about doing right, not thinking about doing right when you are allowed to." she tilts her head listening for a moment "Yes..." she sighed like a sullen child, her focus back on them "If guard lady wants me back, I'll be there."
At Kaliyah's thanks "You... all of you... took down a monster who tortured and killed kids. My friends! Yeah you all had your own reasons, but who cares, you still did it. You owe me nothing. I'd sooner wear a dress than seeyou rot with the spiders a second more than sense called for."
Marcus shakes his head to Magda. "Law enforcement has to follow rules, even stupid ones. Somebody in charge of them has to do politicking. It's why I can't stand being in that kind of organization."
He levels a heavy frown at the others. "We've had a bad f+#* up but a good recovery. Not sure if that means we're shit and got lucky, or good and got unlucky." He folds his arms. "Not sure if I'm willing to bet my life on another round." Despite hit words, this doesn't seem a sweeping condemnation or a storming off speech. This seems more along the lines of a "What do you guys think?" kind of thing.
Magda kneels down in the alley to fiddle with a rock wedged between a cobblestone. "yes, good shape, AND color" she seems in her own world again but she is listening and answers "We didn't listen to each other, it's as simple as that. Or one of the simple's as that. In the ship, we listened. Planned. Did. On the ship, we were doing all sorts just badly." she looks up again at Marcus "Cause we weren't listening" she brings the rock up to look at it and him. Grinning wider (at what? who the f&~& knows), she throws him the stone.
"If you ask me, Mister Marcus, it's fate. Destiny. You can call it luck if you want. But it seems to me that we did a bunch of awfully not smart things and somehow nobody died. And then Magpie did something really clever, and it worked perfectly." She lets the harrow cards shuffle from one hand to the other. "There's a finger on the scale. A purpose in all the randomness that calls us together."
Shi smiles as Magda agrees to continue helping and as Marcus chimes in she adds to the others replies "Honestly, at first I think we were all just doing our own thing which lead us into going in multiple directions, being disorganized and inevitably failing. Down below, we had laser focus on escaping and dealing with Devargo and we followed each others leads. I think moving into the future we should maybe establish some ground rules like 'Unless someone is knowingly doing something evil and wrong, we don't start a fight with them or more importantly try to kill them especially if they aren't trying to kill us.' Yes Devargo had to go, but what got us into the mess in the first place was fighting the guards when we should have run and then actually trying to kill them."
She pauses a moment before continuing "I also think it is pretty clear that unless there is an absolute necessity we should do our best at staying behind Marcus and Krovax in fights since they are well suited at defending themselves and the rest of us."
"Yes!" Magda agrees "Like in the sewer, if you try to sleep in a hole with more than one hole, you can't keep the rats out. Our walls are like our boots. Keeping the rats out." she nods sagely and grins.
Marcus only snorts in response to Vera; clearly he was not one who believed in all this "destiny" talk. But what Shi says resonates with him. Just recklessness, overconfidence. He's seen it happened to highly trained men, so happening to a new ragtag team is to be expected.
"Fine. But we need rules going forward. We have to be on the same page, moving towards the same goal. Can't be scrambling around like panicked whelps." He folds his arms. "Making strategies will be a group effort, but in battle when snap judgments need to be made, I should be in charge." He says flatly. This doesn't seem like a grab for power or a "[i]I[/] should be in charge!" moment. Marcus knows he keeps a tactical mindset during battle, and thinks if they get into a situation again where they need to change tactics on the fly, he's the best man for the job.
Kaliyah stirs at the 'I should be in charge' comment.
Folding her arms, Kali asked "No offense Marcus, but why should it be you?"
Marcus nods in response to the skepticism; he was asking for a leadership position, if they are to put their trust in him they should have good reason. "Years of combat training and the ability to focus on tactics while clashing with an enemy. More importantly, I keep my head calm and focus on keeping everybody alive, even when shit is hitting the fan." He points to Kali. "When you went down my first focus was on getting you out." He indicates Krovax. "When he lost it and fought to the death, I was ready at his side." He jerks a thumb towards Vera. "When she broke and ran, I distracted the ones that would have given chase." And finally he points to Magda. "And even when I knew I was done for, I had the presence of mind to inform Magda, who couldn't see the situation or know what she should be doing, that we had lost and that she should retreat."
"I've shown where my priorities lie, and as someone on the front line I'm the first into the fire on any tactical decisions that are made." He folds his arms. "I'm not asking to lead the group, I'm just asking that my judgement be trusted when the blades are out and something goes wrong, and we need to change strategies. I think that's fair."
Marcus reacts quickly, grabbing the rock out of the air. He frowns at Magda for a moment, then looks at the rock in his hand, then looks back at her with a questioning stare.
She grins wider than she was before. But doesn't answer his stare.
Later when he gives his reasons, she rises from her knees in the alleyway "I don't know many things, but I do listen to the city. Normal folk sees that as being touched in the head, but you lot have seen the stuff that comes from it. And It has kept me alive if nothing else. Alls that to say, I listen and It is whispering about this wall. He kept his head when we weren't together and listened as well as he spoke when we were."
"I vote for Wall, I mean Mar-Cus." she works her mouth around the name with a slight frown, she prefers nicknames "Only when we are in the smell of it though."
Krovax has remained silent through all of the bickering.
Until now.
”I agree,” he says loudly, cutting through the back and forth.
”In combat situations when things are frantic and chaos, I say Marcus should act the role of Battle Sergeant and make adjustments to combat plans,” he says sternly and folds his arms across his chest.
The ranger hears him out and then turns to listen to Magda and then Krovax before thinking it over in her head. After a silent moment, she nods "Alright. As long as it is limited to engagements of combat, I will do my best to listen and comply."
Vera nods. "I'm not exactly a fighter, but I know who is. I'll definitely listen to your guidance in battle, Mister Marcus."
Shi wiggles her nose at the back and forth of who should be in charge and just as it seems to be settled she chimes in "I would like to amend that a bit, I don't have a problem with you taking over once a fight begins, but can we agree that maybe before we actually get in fights give me a chance to try and talk to people?"
She glances over at Kali very specifically as she says the next part "And follow my lead rather than going off the cuff with your own bluffs..." It's obvious Shi is still sore about Kali being a horrible liar which she feels is what started the whole mess they were in whether accurate or not.
Marcus nods to the others, his frown becoming...slightly less frowny. "I will not let you down. And yes, this will only be for heat of the moment tactical decisions. I expect no other leadership burdens, plans and decisions and pre-fight tactics will be a group effort. I just want to establish this to avoid making the same mistake we made before." Marcus's concerns are alleviated. Any serious decisions he would have time to think about and process, while heat of the moment situations would be in his hands, so he had enough control over his employment to not feel as if it was needlessly reckless.
"Done then? Meet in the morning to deal with the bags of stuff we have?"
Shi gives Magda a nod but adds "Yes, though, since we have the day, I was going to go do some more research on that family if you all don't mind handling selling off the loot. Of course, anyone is welcome to join me as well." She pauses as another thing crosses her mind "Oh... we should also probably figure out what we are going to do with Devargo's boat, just leave it be and let the city claim it. Sounded like burning it down wasn't a good idea, but might be able to sink it." She shrugs not having an opinion one way or the other.
Marcus grunts, grabbing his gear. "The Sable Company requested my presence, I'm going to go see what they want."
Kaliyah looks up at the mention of Sable Company requesting his presence, so she says "I shall accompany you then." and walks with him regardless of his answer.
"See you tomorrow!" she waves at them that are departing. To the others she'll fidget a bit, then say "Okay, I guess I'm headed home too. Back here in the morning?"
Marcus shrugs; if Kali wanted to come, so be it. She was among their ranks anyways, and nothing about the note said "come alone" or anything mysterious like that.
The party returns to the citadel from Vera's house, and spends the evening resting in rough beds that are far better than the beds of the brig on the Eel's End. Everyone except for Magda, that is, who returns to one of her resting places.
The party wakes up early and splits to do their separate activities.
--------------------------------------------------------------
After walking for a good amount of time, Marcus returns to a place that Kaliyah knows well - Fort Korvosa, and the Endrin Military Academy. The gate to the academy is closed, and the guards tense when they see Marcus approach, though they relax slightly at the sight of Kaliyah and Falcor. The gates are broad, to allow large creatures to walk through, and the academy has high walls. The building is a broad 80' tall tower, with openings on the upper levels to allow egress of the most famous members of the Sable Company, the hippogriffs. Above the tower, crenellation extends around the rim, and a spire above that, tapering to a point where flies the flag of the sable company.
The guards here each wields a fine-looking bardiche, holding them in one hand at attention, though they both have composite bows on their backs with a quiver full of well-fletched arrows. They wear parade armor, emblazoned with the insignia standard of the Sable Company Marines. They do not open the gates when you approach, but they do not appear apprehensive. The guards, one man, and one woman, appear to be rough but battle-trained warriors, though with a bearing similiar to Kaliyah's, equally comfortable with blade and bow, and both appear to be comfortable in the city.
As Marcus approaches, the guards put their hands on their bardiches and watch him. One extends a hand, "state your business, citizen. The academy is not open to the public at this time." Marcus looks up and sees hippogriff riders flying in and out of the rookery, and it looks as if there is some significant activity. The other guard glances at Kaliyah, and says "good day marine - you may pass if you are still training to fly - once we deal with him."
Marcus takes out the note the received, wordlessly handing it to the guards for them to read.
The guard takes the note, and says "one moment." He whistles, and a young hippogriff trundles out of a nearby hut, and stands at attention. The guard ties the note to a pouch around the hippogriff's neck, who can't help itself but squawk amiably at the guard, nuzzling his hand. The guard blushes slightly, and removes a strip of dried beef from a pouch, petting the beast on the nose. The young hippogriff gobbles it up then chirps happily, before trundling towards the entrance, about 50' from the gate, and disappearing inside
After a moment, the hippogriff returns, flapping its wings clumsily as it tries to gain a little altitude on the way back, but it appears that it doesn't know how to fly very well, yet. It stands at attention again, watching Marcus, Kaliyah, and Falcor, and the guard removes another slip of paper from his pouch. He reads the paper, and then nods at Marcus, "you may enter. Speak to the desk sergeant - do not venture into any rooms that you are not explicitly permitted to enter. The sergeant will direct you to Marcus Endrin."
He hands the original note back to Marcus, and pushes the gate open to allow all to enter. The young hippogriff trundles back to its hut, and crouches inside. Marcus approaches the door. The compound smells earthy, of iron and grain. Sawdust covers much of the floor of the yard, and the broad doors are tall enough to allow a giant to enter. He pushes through the doors which open soundlessly on carefully calibrated hinges, and finds himself in a broad cloak-room, with another marine standing at attention just on the left. This one is older, with flinty grey eyes that match her hair. She stands in a alcove with a steel door behind her, and a high desk in front. The woman gestures towards the broad door in front of Marcus. "First stairway to your left, past the door. Take it to the top. There will be a door - knock before going in. Marcus is expecting you." She gestures for him to pass, and when Kaliyah follows, she smiles slightly, "good to see you marine, it's been a spell. What brings you back?" She leans forward on the desk. It's clear that despite her age, she's powerfully built, lithe, and tough, evidence of which is apparent when you see the scar near her hairline and puckered scar on her neck.
This is Margaret "Ma" Shelbyrn, a desk sergeant in the marines. She has this job because she refuses to retire, and nobody has the guts to try and make her. She's a crack shot at 1000' with a bow, having lost little of her accuracy and power with age, but she serves as matronly sort for the garrison. Everyone likes her, and though she's never advanced past Sergeant level (she was never able to bond with a hippogriff), she commands respect from everyone in the company.
Marcus nods in response to the rules and the directions, simply following along. He takes in the interior of the building; it's always good to know escape routes and layouts.
He makes his way up to Endrin's office, knocking on the door.
Marcus sees a ladder on his left before he opens the door, presumably leading to the roof. A gravelly voice says, "enter." Marcus opens the door, and sees an expansive, utilitarian office which takes up the better part of this top level. Broad windows provide an expansive view of the city and the environs, across the river and into the bay. Standing at the window facing the city is Marcus Thalassinus Endrin. He glances towards Marcus and nods, looking back at the city, "good. You're here early." The man looks tired, but he carries himself with a significant amount of power, expertise and skill. He is armed even in the tower, and dressed in the black armor of the marines.
He glances towards Marcus, "you may have guessed something of why I asked you to come." Then he turns, his arms held at attention behind his back. "It is good to meet you, nevertheless." He smiles slightly at Marcus.
Endrin relaxes slightly. ”Indeed. I expect he wouldn’t have said much. Clyde is notoriously taciturn. I’m surprised that he even let you move here. Marcus, I am your godfather. You were named after me - before... the falling out.” He shifts uncomfortably, ”these matters are... they bring dishonor to everyone involved. But I feel obliged to you, at least. If you wish my perspective on the details, I will provide it. If you wish to let the past remain in the past - so be it. I bailed you out, and expect nothing from you. If you wish to part now, it will be enough to have seen your face.” He looks worn down, but his training and straight-laced demeanor allow him to hold Marcus’ gaze carefully.
Then he looks down, processing what he has just been told. So...both of his suspicions had been right. And even more than that, he discovered his namesake, and apparently his godfather, who he had never been told about.
After a moment he looks back up. Clearly this was a lot that was thrown on him, and he hadn't processed the entirety of it yet. But he knows one thing: "Ignorance is a weakness that lesser men are too cowardly to shed. I came to this city to learn the truth of my father's past, I will not shy away when it is offered to me." Marcus gazes back at Eldrin, ready to be hit with the truth, however ugly it may be.
Endrin nods, then exhales slowly as if he is holding his breath, "good. First, your father and mother and I were very good friends. Best friends, in fact. And more. I will not go into detail, but, I cared very deeply for both. Your father and I grew up together; I was to inherit my family's holdings in this city. He was born a commoner, and I met him in the Sable Company when we were very young. I met your mother at the same time. She was a daughter of Jeggare. You may not be familiar with them..."
He pauses, "they are very wealthy. She and I were to wed, at some point. But Clyde complicated things for both of us. He... wanted all of us to run away together. Live a life of freedom away from Korvosa, together." He looks pained, then looks out the window, "I wanted to - part of me wishes I had, but my duty to the city and to my family... it would have been unacceptable. I turned him down, and they left... not long after you were born." He gestures while looking out at Korvosa. "he betrayed his vows to the Sable Company. And I betrayed him, in turn."
He turns back to Marcus, "that is the story." He inclines his head.
In the morning, Vera decides to go to the most official-seeming Temple of Abadar she can think of, and approaches whoever seems like they might be taking requests.
"Hello, sir. I heard you might be able to prepare a notarized document to officially say who my family is, with the help of magic. Is that right?"
The next day a horde of people have things they need to do so Magda grabs whoever is left to sell their goods.
Endrin straightens up, "his friendship. I did not follow him, my duty and honor took precedent. His name was removed from the ranks of the Marines, and he was exiled from Korvosa. I did not speak up to defend him when this happened... I may have been angry at his ultimatum." He looks sadly down, then snaps back up. "You may make of all this what you will, and are free to go if you'd like."
He adds quietly, "Kroft says you equip yourself well. Good. Stay alive, there is something rotten in Korvosa." He looks out the window again, "I expect the rot will spread, and soon, unless it is burned away."
Ma replies, "oh, could be better. A few marines were killed during the anarchy. Magical effects discharged "accidentally" from the the Acadamae and such." She waves her hand dismissively, "a lucky shot from a bow, never found who fired it. Things like that. Our numbers are a bit depleteded - I expect they'll call me out of reserve." She laughs loudly, "things are gettin' desperate if they need Ma again." She shakes her head, "you doing well with uh, Falcor, right? I hope you take good care of that one, he's a sweetie."
"It sounds like he betrayed his word for selfish gain, and you were not tempted to join him. For personal reasons he could have sought to leave the Marines with an honorable discharge, but to flee in the manner he did..." Marcus shakes his head with a tinge of disgust. "It is no wonder he keeps so quiet about his past. The shame requires it."
Marcus exhales softly at Kroft's report. "Well, our first outfit had mixed results, but we pulled it together at the end." He stares out the large window, gazing over the city. "Yes, I've felt it as well. A lot of work to be done." He stays silent for another measurable stretch. "I could use some advice. I'm unsure if I should shoulder this burden. I do not balk at the scale or weight of it, but I recognize it will take a significant amount of time. I'm unsure if I should leave this damned place behind me, or work to turn it into something to be proud of."
A smile warms her face "Falcor is amazing and he is a sweetie. Things have been a bit chaotic these last few days, but I am hoping to be able to spend some more time with him in the next few. I am quite lucky to have him, that's for sure!"
With Kiley and Marcus and Vera already off on their own tasks she left Krovax and Magda to hopefully get their loot sold off while Shi heads back to the library to continue her research where she left off. There was still something fishy about this Arkona woman and she wanted to get to the bottom of it.
In the morning, Vera decides to go to the most official-seeming Temple of Abadar she can think of, and approaches whoever seems like they might be taking requests.
"Hello, sir. I heard you might be able to prepare a notarized document to officially say who my family is, with the help of magic. Is that right?"
The resplendent and well-ordered temple of Abadar is open with golden-armored, imposing guards standing outside as imposing figures that scream "do not mess with this place".
As befits the god of cities, there is a queue. The queue leads towards a harried, inkstained clerk who has a sheet of paper and a clipboard with writing on it. He takes people's needs in order, writing down what seems to be their problem, and handing them a slip of paper with a number and a letter. The queue moves relatively quickly, and soon Vera is at the front of the line. The clerk asks, distractedly, "Name, purpose, and will the fees be paid?" Vera is slightly confused by the last question, and the clerk sighs. He points at chalkboard list of services that the temple provides on a wall nearby. Services are listed, such as "healing" (with subcategories of "diseases", "poison", and "general"), notary services, general legal services (contracts, marriage licenses, wills, etc. are their own subcatogries.). The services of notary seem appropriate - and the cost is 50-300 gp. Vera notices that the prices seem to have changed as she waited in line - every time someone requested a service, the cost went up slightly, the chalk being erased and written with a new number, as if by magic. If the service wasn't required for some time, the cost decreased by a smaller amount.
There is a note below everything else that states, "Indigent Petitioners Will Be Granted Services on a First-Come, First-Served Basis - the Available Indigent Services for Today are: 0". It appears that free services are no longer available at this temple today. The clerk appears to be waiting for a response.
Endrin nods, "you owe the city little, it's true. But we could use your help, if your swordarm is anything like your father's. It will take time, but it's something you may find yourself proud of. Moreso than simply being a sellsword." He cocks his head, "you may find it valuable to have an organization backing you, and I expect your rewards can be extensive. The criminals of this city are rich - you may be able to make a fair amount of money and start your own company if you find yourself too constrained." He gestures, "and you could leave the guard on better terms than your father left the marines, at least. Kroft could certainly use your help. I think many of the others in your company are quite green, including the Marine I sent over to help. She... had trouble graduating, but her bond with the hippogriff is remarkably strong. As strong as mine was. She's a hell of a shot too, by my estimation." Endrin stares at Marcus, sadly "and, personally as I said, you owe me nothing... but if you would stay, I would like to get to know you. To mentor you. It would make up for lost time."
Ma cackles, "I'm always safe marine, never let 'em get close enough to hurt me. They've only ever gotten lucky shots. Cheap ones!" She tilts her head, "you learned to fly with Falcor yet? That's a hell of a thing... if you haven't, learn as quick as you can. My patrol flights!" She sighs wistfully, a far-off look in her eyes.
"Uh . . . why is there such a big range for notary services? I mean, how is a poor Varisian supposed to afford that?"
She sees the busy clerk glaring at her, so she gives up on the question. "Vera Esmeranda. I'm here to prove that I'm the daughter of Zellara Esmeranda and get a notarized document saying so."
Sometime during their day, Magda who had been abnormally quiet, finally stops, turns toward the wall, and says "I am sorry... about what I said that time... I don't understand Why it hurt... but I am still sorry." then she turns back and continues to find a merchant to barter shout with.
She'll ask people, anyone really, "What do house drakes like to eat?" and "Where can I find the biggest cinny bun?"
He clasps arms, and then his eyes narrow slightly in amusement. "I hope you have some good experience to go with those wrinkles, else I won't be learning much from you." His frown does not vanish...but it almost comes to a neutral expression.
Then she had to go and address him directly.
”Something you will learn as you mature: think before you speak,” he says sternly. ”Words can have ramifications beyond their meaning or intent. Especially when someone who doesn’t know better throws such accusations around without any context or understanding.”