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As the man starts with his shenanigans and their guide has to tie him up, Aru approaches the man and whispers to him. "Here me out, mate. There are spirits around us and I'm specially attuned to them. My hand is, in fact, possessed by one such entity. Some spirits are murderous and vengeful. Others are just plain weird, you know? And we are heading for the City of Strangers. So should you not shut up and follow the rules, it will be my utter pleasure to strike a bargain to a particularly nasty spirit and ask them to lick and tickle your b~+#&~*~ everytime you are to take a dump."
In a list of the most undignified and ridiculous things, fighting against your own hand is probably on the top ten. "F%+& of Goro!" He says as he finally tucks his hand under his left armpit.
Later, when Shale asks them to run, Aru adds. "With haste!"
When they arrive and the Adrian guy is freed, Aru makes a tight circle with left hand, licks it discreetly, and winks at him. A~+!@$%.
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The duskwarden nods their thanks at the donation, and puts it into the lockbox, and they return to the task of ferrying people along the route.
From the exit of the Halflight Path, the most obvious entrance to Kaer Maga is through the Gap, a massive break in the ring of Kaer Maga’s walls where an ancient explosion tore away thousands of pounds of stone. This carnage has been mostly filled in by the district called the Warren, a many-storied shantytown of rickety scaffolding and makeshift shacks, yet a wide corridor still runs through the center and plays host to a constant stream of traffic in and out of the city.
This is also the best place in the city to find local guides. As soon as the PCs enter the Gap, they’re swarmed by mobs of local children offering themselves as guides. It doesn't take long before they've successfully hired one, but the party easily catches a few trying to pick their pockets in the 'scrum' of trying to help.
Map of Kaer Maga[/ooc]
With sufficient financial incentive, one kid, an excitable youth of about 11 years leads the party southeast from the Warren, which may be the first district visitors see but is likely not the main destination for most. As one of the largest trading districts in Korvosa, and a city that famously has become wealthy through trade, the crowded stalls and wagons of Downmarket are invariably the destination of most. The primary commercial center for foreign trade, this is where caravans off load their goods and purchase new cargo, cutting deals both large and small. Though prices tend to be slightly higher here, as merchants catering
primarily to foreigners trust the dizzying crowds of the market to discourage newcomers from doing a lot of comparison shopping, even native Kaer Magans are forced to shop in Downmarket on a regular basis, as the selection is simply too good to ignore. The belief that
anything can be bought or sold in Kaer Maga stems in large part from the merchants of Downmarket, and no good or service is off limits here, no matter how taboo.
Unlike most of the other districts in Kaer Maga, Downmarket contains very few permanent structures, instead consisting of a constant shuff le of carts, tents, wagons, and awnings. This is primarily to accommodate
the steady stream of traders who, rather than simply selling their goods to local merchants, are equally likely to set up small shops of their own for as long as their stock holds out, reaping greater profits by selling directly to consumers. Most business is conducted during the
day, when the swirling crowds of shoppers and hawkers are shot through with pickpockets, palanquins, solemn Augurs, and gawking foreigners, but the carts that don’t pack up at sundown often do business long into the night, catering to those souls drawn by shows at the amphitheater or restless merchant guards eager for entertainment.
The kid gives the party a short tour, pointing out various districts they pass but don't enter, and takes a roundabout way through the downmarket to show a few landmarks. The party passes by one of the few permanent structures in the district, a vast and columned affair of stone with wide steps too tall for human comfort climbing up to a covered walkway that extends all around the building. The party easily spies a handful of large trolls watching passersby and a few welcoming visitors into the accessible areas of the temple.
They also spy a lakeside amphitheater and see for the first time the large lake nestled into the center of the small city, and a few patches of green park space that is being enjoyed by lounging merchants or nobility.
Perhaps more unsettling is the slave market - true to its word as a city of unlimited commerce, there are slaves of various stripes up for auction. As they pass by, a few well-meaning folks seem to be actively discouraging the sale - or even buying some of the beings where they can - a small comfort in city that seems indifferent to this indignity. Heavily armed guards seem to dissuade most of the freedom fighters from starting anything more, and the kid seems to think nothing of it, seeing it as just another normal behavior.
It doesn't take long to leave the bustle of the Downmarket and enter the Hospice. They pass a temple of Calistra, and more than a few obviously 'red light' facilities, but the majority of the district is composed of inns, taverns, hotels, and spas (as well as homes for the workers). The kid is surprised, somehow, that the party would be going to Canary House, but it takes but a few minutes to arrive at the door of the opulent, five-story building that seems to take up half of a block. An elegant sign showing a gilded canary in flight makes it apparent. This is Canary House. The kid waits for payment and bows thankfully, rushing off to ply their wares for a new set of tourists.
Upon entering Canary House, the party is assaulted by luxury. Other than Korvosa Palace, the party has likely not experienced opulence at this level before. Inside Canary House, the walls are elegantly decorated in avian themes representing the birds of A’kaan’s native Garund, yet these are seem not to be what gives the inn its name. Rather, the moniker comes from his famed Songbirds—slave girls chosen for their talent and trained from the time they could speak to sing in unbelievable harmonies, each word a chord with a dozen voices spanning several octaves. These girls, while carefully cared for as the investment they are, swing from trapeze perches in gilded cages, and lest the audience be fooled by their elegance, thin chains around their ankles provide a constant reminder that the golden bars are still very real.
The proprietor, a half-elven man who looks at his ledger, stands nearby in a small nook, and calls the party over. He introduces himself to the party as Alaeh A’kaan. . He notes, "I'm sorry, but Canary House has no vacancies, please check in - it appears that we may have some openings in two weeks." He gestures towards the dining area, replete with obvious, incredible wealth, "as you can see, the dining area is also booked for some time. Please enjoy the harmonies for a moment before seeing yourselves out." He inclines his head.
The party briefly explains that they're here to see a guest, and the pleasant demeanor of Alaeh breaks slightly, and he asks for the guests' name. When the party tells them Laori, he looks at his book and shrugs, "nobody by that name seems to be here." The party looks around briefly, and describes what she looks like, and Alaeh responds with a curt, "oh. Yes. She's in the grackle suite, with two other men." He coughs briefly and excuses himself after asking for their names, Marcus pings her to let her know they're here, and gives her a pseudonym to expect. Giving Alaeh the pseudonym, he gestures to a porter to run along and ask if the guests would wish to entertain visitors.
The porter runs off, and comes back in a few minutes, nodding, "yes sir, they're expected." Alaeh inhales and exhales slowly, very well, please take them to grackle, but remind our guests that any damage comes out of an already expensive bill."[/b] He shoos the porter away, and the party follows, entering a small box the size of a room set into the side of the inn that has a few buttons showing various floors. The porter presses three, and the box seems to magically levitate, slowly, with the party inside, up to the third floor. The porter swiftly moves to the suite, and the party finds themselves in front of a door with a vibrant-looking black bird with purple and blue rainbow highlights painted elegantly onto the front. The porter knocks for a moment, and the door opens immediately.
Laori Vaus, the irrepressible elf, springs out giddily from the room. "I'm so glad you guys came!" she exclaims, looking over everyone, and seeing someone new, she notes, "and you brought a new friend! Hi! I'm Laori, it's nice to meet you!" Trinia is taken aback slightly, but smiles broadly, "heya, Laori, I'm um... I'm a friend of theirs," she looks warily around the hall, "can we come inside?"
Laori nods, but not before hugging everyone she's already met before, despite their protestations, and despite still wearing her viciously spiked chainmail. She lingers a moment when hugging Marcus and pats him on the shoulder, "you look better. I'm so happy Marcus." She smiles beatifically at him, and, she seems very happy to see that some of the permanent lines in his face are less etched into a frown these days. "Come in, come in, Marcus said you were coming. I just made tea." Trinia's eyes widen and her eyebrows raise, "ooh, I love tea." Laori responds, giggling, "well, I hope you like mine, it's my secret weapon for making new friends," and the elf winks at Trinia, who chuckles to herself. Laori turns and enters in, gesturing for the others to follow, but stops in the foyer.
She grows a little more serious and says, "so, I have... two more people from my church here. One, you haven't met before, but... weirdly, I think you may have met the other? Lots of coincidences... but I don't want to spoil the surprise. I will say - just, you know..." she's searching for the right words, "so, not everyone in my church is... well, like me! Don't hold it against them, if you can, please? As a favor?" She seems somehow to steel herself, and the party enters sort of a shared living room in the suite.
Standing at attention is a chelaxian man with a disdainful expression and his chin held high. He wears black-and-red clothing, including a spotless hakama. At his side, her arm on her shoulder, is a beautiful, dark-skinned humanoid with, bloody chains wrapped around her body, serving as a sort of armor, obviously some sort of velstrac outsider. She seems to have a mischievous smirk on her face. Respecfully, the man inclines his head.
Standing next to him is a familiar face for some. Wearing his own set of spiked black armor, though this being much heavier and more ornate, but unhelmeted, is their former companion Krovax. He is as pale as he was before, but his hair is cut close to his head. Dark circles surround his eyes, and he has something of a haunted look about him, as well as plenty of scars on his face. He looks down when he sees everyone, and then looks back up, and there's a fleeting expression... shame, fear? Whatever it is, Krovax seems uncomfortable, somehow. In particular, he seems adverse to meeting Kaliyah's eyes.
Laori points first at the unknown man, "this is Shadowcount Sial, of Nidal, and his eidolon companion Asyra." Pointing at Krovax, she says, "and I think you know Krovax, right?" She smiles, and says, "let me start the tea while you introduce yourselves and get caught up." She moves to the small kitchen area, and starts making some tea and a snack, though she whispers to Magda first,
Shadowcount Sial steps forward and bows slightly, extending his hand. Speaking slowly and carefully, the man says, in a nidalese accent, "good afternoon. Laori has said many glowing things about you, including some... perhaps, useful things about your endeavor, yes?" He pauses, "useful to ours, at least." He gestures towards the comfortable looking seating and asks for everyone to sit, "please, sit. Nidal is not paying for these rooms for us to stand uncomfortably. Our space is yours, as long as you are here."
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Marcus was preemptively ready to defend himself against underage pickpockets, a solution easily fixed by putting his coinage in a strap under his upper arm. They would have to jump down from the roofs to reach it.
Marcus continues to shepherd from the rear of the group, ensuring all are within his line of sight and that he keeps a wary eye for pickpockets, or anything worse. He seems unhappy about the dense crowd and lack of any regulations on some of the more...unsettling goods and services being offered.
As the kid leads them around Marcus starts building his mental map of the city, using landmark and vendors and businesses and streets so that when the time comes, he can navigate it with more self reliance. But even he is surprised when he has to look up to make eye contact at the trolls guarding a temple.
Marcus's frown sharpens and his nose twitches at the open slave trade, but he has other obligations in the city.
As they land at the Canary House, Marcus grips the boys shoulder for a moment. Enough to make their separation of strength clear, but not enough to cause pain. After a long stare, making it clear he is studying the boy's features, Marcus fishes out a few extra coins. "Never saw us. Got it?"
After some sort of affirmation, Marcus nods and pats the boy's shoulder, handing over the coins and sending him on his way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once inside the Canary House, Marcus practically gags on the onslaught of his senses. He had been on high alert in the city and wasn't prepared for the sudden opulence of the building. He quickly adjusts, putting the luxury into the background of his mind, and works with Alaeh on locating Laori. The corners of his lips twitch in the faintest hint of amusement at the man's facade slipping. He was surprised Laori hadn't been kicked out, money or no. Means this place is still run by coin, not reputation. He tucks away that nugget of information for later use.
In the levitating box, Marcus suddenly drops a solid six inches, widening his stance. Once it's apparent how slow it's moving she shrugs off any looks of alarm or annoyance from the others. "Just...wasn't expecting it." He wasn't used to being off balance, and this was a new sensation, not dissimilar to getting used to a boat for the first time.
Marcus doesn't mind the spikes as Laori embraces him, returning it all the fiercer. His frown eases into something of a...neutral expression, the hard lines relaxing. "I am better." He had long ago given up on trying to read her subtleties. If she wanted him to know something, she would be intentional about it, and if she did not want him to know something, it was beyond his capabilities to deduce.
Marcus appraises the chelaxian coldly, takes a moment to size up outsider who he quickly ascertains would be the deadliest hand-to-hand threat if it came to it and gives her the expected respectful dead eye assessment, but his brows shoot up when he sees Krovax. "Been a while." He lets the silence stretch after that. He had a short but complicated history with the man.
He nods respectfully to Shadowcount Sial, and makes a mental note that the oustider is an eidolon, meaning Sial would be a formidable arcane caster in all likelihood. He gives a respectful shake of his head at the offered seats, not wanting to crowd the others, and taking a spot leaned against the wall where he can see all the exits and the full sweep of people, settling into a guard dog routine as the others begin.
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Whispers, words, forgotten raindrops from old gutters, a dark thing into side it's guts, this city was alive. It wasn't hers, but it was still alive, and talking to her.
"Hmmm..." she looks at the gaggle of kids at the opening, spotting their eagerness pushed on by fear and hunger. "Why just one" she asks, and hires one after another, giving them a task to do, a get me a smooth pebble, a sliver of wood from an trash fire, a torn hunk of sock, three rats teeth, so on and so on until they all have a job, and two coppers to go do it.
"Hey!" she shouts to each before they go "If you can't find me, give them to the lady with the kind eyes." she doesn't clarify Yazi, but there aren't much kinder in these lands she thinks or any.
She gets a look from the Wall, but shrugs, soft and sad "They'd be beaten if they come back with nothing, you know it for truth in the puddle, as you do."
----
One of the last times she saw this man, who was like a saw into his own pain, he had slammed her against the wall, screaming his own self hate at her, and she was kicking him as hard as she could shouting she'd never care anymore about him ever again.
But he is here, and life has moved on. So she goes up to him, leans her forehead on his shoulder and says "Hey" with no judgement, just familiar greeting.
Krovek looks a little oddly at Magda, and says, ”good day, Madga,” referring to the girl using her formal name instead of ‘Magpie’ or ‘Mags’. He doesn’t move to embrace her, which maybe fortunate for her own safety, as the man is wearing the same spiked, black full plate that he was wearing when they saw him last.
Shadowcount Sial looks nonplussed and continues, ”indeed…”, accepting the introductions as they are provided, extending a dry hand in greeting to each person and then sits down himself. His eilodon moves behind him, leaning forward on the couch and resting her hands on his shoulders. The elven woman in the kitchen is humming to herself, and Trinia excuses herself to assist Laori. Krovax doesn’t do more than stand nearby, though his cold eyes seem to be appraising the party with an air of detachment.
The nidalese man says, ”onto important matters.” He raises a chin towards Marcus, acknowledging him, ”young man - my …” and he searches for a word, slightly longer than seems to make sense, ”friend Laori says you’ve found some important clues. Clues to a shared mission.”
From the kitchen the humming and chatting is briefly interrupted as the pale face peeks around the corner and says, ”yep!” with an irrepressible grin, before immediately disappearing.
Sial does not particularly find Laori to be an endearing personality. It isn’t quite as strong as disgust, but from what the party has seen, he’s a very professional person, and obviously not particularly exuberant.
Sial doesn’t miss much of a beat, and his eyes flick back to Marcus, ”she - and I will speak freely, now that we are in this room - says you believe that Queen Illeosa has the Fangs of Kazavon?” His words are a part question, part statement, and he continues, ”pieced together from what you saw at the erstwhile painter’s studio, right?”
He waits for a pause of acknowledgment, then continues, ”we seek the very same. We are members of a Nidalese order that has been charged by divine decree to seek these items out.” His voice quavers slightly, as if reverently reciting some oath, ”Kazavon was, of course, a warlord and one of the most powerful Kuthites to have ever graced the skin of Golarion. He also happened to be a profoundly old blue dragon.” The man leans forward, ”now - you may wonder, why would we trust Kuthites? Don’t they have a … reputation?” He smirks slightly, ”a deserved one, I think. But, sadly, this invitation was not a ruse to get you in the door so that we can all discover new, exquisite things about ourselves. It may surprise you to know that we seek the fangs, and all the parts of Kazavon, to ultimately destroy them.” He leans back and lets the revelation pour over the party.
”Our reasons for wanting that are our own, but we would aid you, at some point, in retrieving the fangs for that purpose.” He folds his arms and leans all the way back.
Krovax shifts slightly and in his deep voice, adds ”our interests align perfectly, and I know you all are… trustworthy.”
Laori emerges with Trinia, and they set down the snacks and tea, and the elven woman collapses into the chair with a whumph. ”of course they are. They’re my friends. You’d trust my friends, right, Sial?” The Shadowcount nods, ”as always, Laori, your judgement of people is impeccable,” and while everyone gets the sense that he definitely believes this, there’s a bare hint of annoyance or.. sarcasm, or even bitterness.
Laori doesn’t seem to notice, and continues, ”but, you know, we have to talk about it in person. Now, getting the crown off her head will be a challenge. She’s.. hmmm, invulnerable? Mostly. There are stories about things which can be used for such an endeavor, but that’s all we know.” She smiles impishly, ”we know. Our church destroyed many records, a long time ago, on the matter. Pretty silly, right? How can we figure out what to do - if we don’t know what to do!” She sighs, ”but it can’t be helped. But -“ and she gestures vaguely, ”you can figure it out. Especially because… you’re going to the Shoanti, right?” She smiles, ”they seem to be the only ones with reliable records but they won’t talk to us. And their records are largely aural, and it’s not like we can just… get those records with magic.”
Sial continues, ”at the moment we are somewhat… stuck here. This inn isn’t exactly our taste, but the alternatives within Kaer Maga are much the same, or, if I’m being frank, squalorous.” He sniffs, ”so, we stay here. There are some things we can do from here, and we will. There are ancient libraries and other… resources we can draw from. Contacts here, and in the undercity and below.” He gestures at Krovek and Laori, ”between us, we can take care of ourselves. Of course, any information we find we would share, and expect the same. I suppose we are proposing something… of an alliance. Shared goals, I think, all the way to the end.”
Laori looks a little bored as Sial pontificates, and doesn’t bother hiding it, ”yeah, and because we’re friends, we shouldn’t need to go through any of this negotiation, right?” She takes a sip, ”of course we’ll tell you what we know as long as we’re in a safe area. I couldn’t talk about it before, you know? Lots of ears in Korvosa, even in the walls, plus, my church has kind of commanded our discretion in general, you know?” She looks apologetic, ”otherwise I would have said something before… though I guess hmm, I guess none of us really knew what we were truly up to at the time, right? You just found out, right?”
Sial interjects, ”yes, that seems to have been implied, from what you told me.” Laori smiles at him, ”so I did, but, you know, it’s better to talk to people directly, right? Magic isn’t perfect.” Sial frowns, ”I didn’t say it was, though, I caution you not to be so flippant about the gifts our god has graced you with.” She keeps smiling, and replies, ”hmm? I suppose it must be a little hard for you to understand, I mean… the fact that you don’t know Zon Kuthon’s divine gift. I’ve told you, we can always talk about how you’re feeling,” Laori extends a hand as if to pat him on the hand with her own, but his eilodon glares at her. Sial’s composure breaks slightly, ”Laori, this is neither the time - nor the place for your ministry.” His nostrils flair and he seems to be trying to avoid snapping at the cleric, ”it is nothing of the sort. And you know this.”
Laori is about to respond when Krovax, frowning deeply says, ”enough. That’s enough. We have a job to do.”
This seems to break the escalating spell of verbal jabs between his companions, and Laori sighs and nods. Sial says, ”thank you, Krovax. I am glad to have your support in these matters.” Krovax’s mouth is a thin line, and he doesn’t respond. Sial finishes, ”so, do you accept, I think this will be beneficial for both of our groups. I apologize we cannot give you more information now, but we know only a little more than you, I think.”
"So we share" she doesn't sit, but wanders the room, head cocked as is listening to something (many things), until she reaches a desk that is practically sings PICK ME. She smiles then sits on the polished wood.
"My city liked to gossip like the old crones at the fish market.[/b]" she agrees about the ears. "This one... loves..." she breathed in "Smells" from baking to blood it seemed.
As the two bicker, Mags nods to Laori "She's our friend. She's why we're here. And we have to do what we have to do, so do you, meaning working together just makes sense." but her face scrunches in distaste at what the saw (Krovax) says. "You know a little more, so why not tell us now?"
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Yaziyah is tense as they move through the crowds of the Warrens and deeper into the city; she barely pays attention to the landmarks that their guide points out, watching the people instead. Everything is unfamiliar and strange, almost overwhelming, but the worst part is the open slave trade. The Shoanti grits her teeth at seeing sentient people on the auction block, and although the sight of the freedom fighters is encouraging, she knows from experience that the effect of such resistance is limited at best.
The opulence and the enslaved women of the Canary House elicit another frown of disgust and disapproval; if any of Magda's urchins would be looking for the lady with the kind eyes to make their deliveries they would be hard-pressed to find that in Yaziyah's current cold glare.
Seeing Laori's cheerfulness lifts her mood a sliver, and the shaman moves to carefully hug the elven woman. "It is good to see you, Laori, but I mislike this place." Whether she is referring to the Canary House, Kaer Maga, or both - is unclear. She listens in silence to the introductions, greeting Shadowcount Sial and his companion with a nod and noting with interest the familiarity between the fourth member of Laori's group and a couple of her own companions. She lowers herself in one of the ornate armchairs when invited, stretching her long legs in front of her with a sigh.
"Yes, we are going to the Shoanti. Do you happen to know which of the quahs holds the information we all seek?" They did have an in with the Skoan-Quah through Thousand Bones, but regrettably there had been no time to reach out to the elderly shaman before they had to leave Korvosa. Yaziyah herself was descended from the same clan, although she very much doubts that they would recognize or accept her as one of their own.
Laori responds to Magda, and then to Yazi, ”we’re not hiding anything important, but I have lots of friends - it wouldn’t be fair to share secrets about one friend to another, right?”
Sial adds, ”it took a great deal of convincing on Laori’s part to meet with you at all. As you can imagine, it is hard to find allies who wouldn’t seek the power for themselves.”
Laori shrugs, ”but as for who has information, maybe one of the more insular ones? Like the Lyrune-Quah or Sklar-Quah? I admit, I don’t know much about it what those names mean, I just read a book on the Shoanti history. It was long and pretty boring, and if I’m going to guess, mostly lies. It was written by someone from Cheliax a long time ago.”
Sial sighs, and says, ”yes, indeed. The problem is that it’s not possible to draw inferences from these written histories. Barely anything about Kazavon remains written, and the most reliable source of Shoanti history is aural. Laori said that you were Shoanti,” he gestures to Yaziyah, ”and you appear to be at least somewhat Shoanti,” he gestures at Aru, ”so - would not you know better than us?” He looks a little annoyed, and glances at Laori, ”that was what you said, right? ‘These adventurers may be able to gather information where we’ve failed.’?”
Laori scrunches up her face, ”yes - and was I wrong?” Sial frowns, ”so - why are they asking us about the quahs?”
Laori takes a deep breath and turns back to the party, ”as you can see, I’ve only made a little progress on my own, so my church sent others of my order to help. Partners.” .
Krovax looks like he’s about to lose his shit, and the party remembers clearly how anger looks on his face, ”had you not run into trouble, we would not be here Laori. But your failure was not a disaster, as Sial is implying. These are people who share our goals and they can help us. It was a good decision.” Sial opens his mouth to reply, and then thinks better of it.
Krovax continues, ”there are libraries below the city. The libraries have records that predate Earthfall. The guardians of those libraries… are likely willing to talk to us, with the right incentives, but there are other, worse things, below Kaer Maga, according to lore.” He has a blank look on his face, ”so that is our task.”
Sial says, ”on top of everything else, our internal church records did indicate that the Shoanti do not care much for Zon-Kuthon. Do you now understand the situation we find ourselves in?”
Laori has a cookie, after dipping it in her tea, ”so, then it’s a deal, you’ll go out into the Cinderlands, do your best to figure out what’s going on, then come back here and we’ll share notes. Right?” She smiles toothily, ”I promise I won’t let either of these stick-in-the-muds hold anything relevant back, okay?” Sial composes himself and his eilodon leans down and whispers something to him. He relaxes and seems to take the statement in stride.
Sial doesn’t miss much of a beat, and his eyes flick back to Marcus, ”she - and I will speak freely, now that we are in this room - says you believe that Queen Illeosa has the Fangs of Kazavon?”
Marcus nods silently to their question about the Fangs.
”Our reasons for wanting that are our own, but we would aid you, at some point, in retrieving the fangs for that purpose.” He folds his arms and leans all the way back.
Marcus snorts derisively, making his displeasure with their secrecy obvious. As if they expect them to just hand over a relic that could be part of reviving an ancient evil to the very religious zealots that said evil was an avatar of without explaining themselves.
As Krovax starts into the others, Marcus huffs through his nose. Hasn't changed much.
As they end Marcus takes a deep inhale.
What a disorganized shitshow.
He pinches the bridge of his nose, tempering his own emotions, and focuses on Laori. "We need more. Asking the Shoanti to divulge secrets under false pretenses so we can bring them to the religious they won't talk to for reasons we can't explain because you won't divulge them?" He shakes his head at the ridiculousness of it. "I won't be an ignorant pawn. And allowing the Kuthanites to gather these relics? Based on what I know now I would expect to be betrayed. No, we either need an explanation, or some guarantees."
Yaziyah looks away at Sial's admonishment, mouth twisting. "I am a city-born Shoanti. I have done my best to learn those aural histories you mention, and the traditions of my people, but-" She lifts her hands, palms up. "They are incomplete, potentially distorted. And each qu- clan has their secret, sacred stories that they do not share. Perhaps it would be best to start with the clan of my parents, the Skoan-Quah." She touches the tip of a finger under one eye, highlighting the white lines that sketch a skull shape on her face. She then tips her head towards Laori. "And no, don't trust anything that Chelaxians write about my people."
Laori looks like she’s going to say something and Shadowcount Sial glares at her, interrupting, ”no. We tried to be honest with you, against my better judgement. Our church does not want Illeosa to have the fangs, and they do not want Kazavon to return in any form. That should be enough. The fact that it isn’t is proof that I was right, and that you all are just as unreasonable as I expected adventurers to be. This meeting is over, please leave.” Krovax opens his mouth and closes it.
Sial stands up, and gesture for everyone to leave. Laori’s happy demeanor breaks slightly and she smiles sadly, ”I’m sorry, I’ll let you know what we find out - at least.” Sial hisses, ”Laori, you miserable… shut your mouth, for once in your life. You will do nothing of the sort.” Laori smiles cheerfully, beaming back at him, ”how are you going to stop me? I’d like to see you try. It might be fun.” Her eyes widen and she grins.
Krovax raises a hand, ”please leave, if you change your mind, just let Laori know, okay?” He gestures towards the door.
Marcus scoffs at Sial's instant dismissal. "That's all it takes for you Kuthanites to give up? You must have had your backbone removed in one of your rituals." He shakes his head and makes no move to leave. "If you're being honest, than our causes do align and you're being a stubborn a!!~!$@." He steps closer to Sial, towering over him with a sneer. "Your pride is not as important as your mission. Get it together."
Marcus steps away before Krovax can get any more bristly than he already is, grabbing a chair and making it groan in protestation at his weight as he settles himself into it. "I said explanation or guarantees. You have some reason to uphold secrecy. We can respect that. But we can't just hand over such a relic and have no idea what's done with it afterwards. You say you want to destroy them. You were very specific." He lets that hang in the air for a moment, tapping his finger on the table. "Than make us a guarantee the relic will not leave our sight and that we will be witness to it's destruction. That should be hardly a compromise at all for you. In exchange we have mutual cooperation, and we take the queen down."
Yaziyah rises as they are being dismissed, but seeing Marcus stand his ground she steps behind his chair. "One step at a time, Marcus. We are still a ways from having those fangs, and we may never get them if we don't explore all possibilities." She pauses, looking Shadowcount Sial in the eyes.
See how reasonable I am
"That being said, a guarantee that they will be destroyed is not unreasonable. We have seen first hand the kind of power this relic bestows."
Shadowcount Sial barely breaks composure, though - when the threat comes close to him, Marcus sees chains he hadn’t seen before slither out from behind nooks and crannies around the room. They appear to be ready to strike to restrain him, when he backs off. The chains disappear as quickly as they appear.
He doesn’t respond, instead bowing his head and with a flourish, leaving the common area to go to another room with his eilodon, as the door closes.
Krovax frowns deeply.
Laori hesitantly says, ”well, that could’ve gone better. Marcus - you are letting your own pride get the better of you. Both you and Sial seem to want to prove something. I hope you can see that.” She takes a moment, and says ”of us gathered in this room, I think perhaps your friend Aru is the only one who truly understands magic items, relics, and artifacts, right?” She inclines her head respectfully, ”but - you know, they’re not easy to destroy. What we’re talking about now is just finding some tool to temporarily disable the thing. Destroy is our goal but… from what I know about artifacts, we have no idea how to destroy any of his relics. Even if we found one.” She scootches over and taps her hand reassuringly on his knee, ”I don’t want to lie to you, so I can’t say we’ll destroy it immediately because… nobody knows how. That would be a lie. Maybe it can’t be destroyed on, you know, this plane. Maybe it can’t be destroyed unless all the pieces are brought together and destroyed at the same time. This is the first one our… group has been able to track down in I think 800 years?” She reflects quizzically.
She looks back at Marcus and searches his face, and replies, and saying unblinkingly, her shining black eyes staring into Marcus’, ”I vow I will try to destroy it, if I can, as long as you make the same vow. Okay?”
She whispers something under her breath, and looks at Marcus with beatific understanding.
Marcus weighs Laori's words. "Mhmm, maybe." He admits, rapping his fingers on the table. He mumbles quietly for a moment. "But a man that unwilling to bend? Don't see getting involved with him going well. I've worked with those kinds before. End up drawing steel over nothing." He gestures around the room. "Like those chains of his. Krovax knew it wasn't a threat, you see him move at all? Dangerous man with a fragile ego. I say good riddance." Although Krovax was not high on Marcus's list, he still respected him for the man of violence that he is; a quiet burden shared by those who have their flesh mangled for the sake of others.
Marcus shakes his head, clearing his mind of Sial. "The honest assessment was all I wanted. The vow is even better." He stands, looking out the window with a thoughtful frown. "I'm cautious about the idea of bringing them all together, since that sounds similar to what would be done to resurrect the old bastard. But yeah, your interests and ours are aligned." He turns, offering his mailed hand to her. "I vow to do everything in my power to bring about the destruction of the Fangs of Kazavon." He says with a heavy air of finality. He seals the vow and nods approvingly.
Mags had been silent, but then nodded "Said we would, knew we would, just you all needed to circle a bit before we could." the half orc girl shrugged, reaching down to run a finger along the curved edge of the desk and smiled as it crooned a bit.
She looks the pincushion (Laori, both soft and sharp), "You going to be here when we get back?"
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Marcus gets close to what could almost be considered a smirk at Mags' jab. Might be the first time somebody's made a joke at my expense for talking too much.
Walking around Kaer Maga, Aru remains quiet and wary for some reason. He takes in the colourful and strange places and people, but doesn't comment, and the same can be said about Goro. He pays no mind to the slaves being sold in the market, but looks between the buildings and the alleys as if looking for something else. He is annoyed but the owner of the Canary House, as he is always presentable no matter what.
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Throughout most of the meeting, Aru seems distant and lost. He doesn't know this Laori as the others and doesn't particularly like this Shadowcount. Once a deal has been struck, however, he shares a couple words. "I indeed am part Shoanti and I've travelled the Plateau and the Cinderlands many times. I've broke horah with the Sklar-Quah and I've danced with the Lyrune-Quah." He shares and boasts, slightly. "I'm confident in my ability to guide you in my people's harsh lands."
He has more to say, but not in the presence of the Kuthites. "If our dealings here are concluded, I'd rather leave Kaer Maga sooner rather than later."
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Laori considers Marcus' words carefully, "maybe! But you'd be advised not to cross the Shadowcount. Kuthites have long memories." She grins, and winks at Marcus. Trinia seems a little shaken by the experience, and she turns to Laori, "so... I'm a bard, which means we pick up a lot of little bits of information, you know. I know something about Zon Kuthon, but I guess I've never met a worshipper..." Her eyes flick to Krovax, "I guess, I have before, but maybe I didn't know it." She smiles meekly, "what's your take on things?"
Laori inhales, and looks at everyone else, "a little different from others, but you know - I still get all my spells, so I must be doing something right. Here - " She gets up, and rummages through her magical satchel, humming the melody of a popular tune quietly, and grabs one of her pamphlets, "-yes, here you go." She hands it to Trinia, adding "Krovax is a bit more of a traditionalist. And the Shadowcount is much more of one."
Krovax coughs, interrupting, "Laori, please." His dark-rimmed eyes turn to Trinia, "much was taken from me, which I have now accepted. Zon Kuthon granted me the power to destroy those who harmed me." He pats the scabbard on his hip. "he granted me freedom as well. Free from foolish boundaries."
Laori looks at the party, her face obscured from Krovax, and she smiles sadly, obviously out of pity in some way. She sighs, "anyway, good luck, I'll check in when I can." She moves to hug everyone, even Trinia. Krovax also shakes Marcus', Yazi's, and Aru's hand, but still avoids Magda.
She also goes to the kitchen and grabs a small box of loose tea, offering it to Magda, "this is the best one with the cookies, I think." She grins, "remember, it has to be hot or it doesn't steep correctly."
With the parting words, the party packs up their things and heads out of the gilded cage, and soon finds themselves on the streets of Kaer Maga again. It's easy enough to find a path that will lead the party north, to a gate out of the city. There seem to be few holdings just outside the gate, but there is a road stretching off to the northeast for some distance, which Aru points out leads to a larger road that follow the Yondabakari river, as well as a crossing, about 10 miles to the north. From there, the party will have to traverse the trackless wastes to get to the Kallow Mounds, where they determined they're most likely to find Thousand Bones.
Setting out towards the Kallow Mounds, the party leaves the relatively verdant area next to the river and starts to travel across the dry, ashen soil. Hardy plants spring up here and there, but the environment is quite arid, and while the sky is clear, occasionally far in the distance to the north, black plumes of smoke seem to belch from the ground. These sulfurous eruptions lead to the Cinderlands' namesake, and are the source of the ash and the frequent cinderstorms that the party tried to prepare for. At the moment, the path ahead seems clear, and relatively flat, though very, very far in the distance, the distant foothills of the Mindspin mountains loom.
From the perspective of fauna, the party sees lizards, arthropods such as beetles, scorpions, and spiders, and the occasional mouse or mouse-like creature. Far above, the party occasionally spies vultures and hawks soaring, and the occasional thorny bush seems to house sparrows and wrens, as well as a few trees with weaver nests, but the party doesn't see too much from warm-blooded creatures as they travel - and the reason soon becomes apparent. The heat. As the party leaves the cool waters of the Yondabakari, the heat begins to become apparent.
As they leave Kaer Maga behind, Yaziyah grows more and more pensive and distracted, watching the landscape and the increasingly sparse life that inhabits it. She often matches her long-legged stride to Aru's, asking in low tones about this or that. She carefully avoids the topic of the Shoanti clans, but seems to nevertheless be fishing for information about them.
With the heat increasing in intensity, she deploys the wide-brimmed hat bought at one of the market stalls in Kaer Maga; it has a thick veil that covers the back of the neck and shelters the face from the merciless sun. When they stop to rest, she exchanges her dress for a loose, long-sleeved robe that allows for plenty of airflow. When anyone gets thirsty, she fills their canteen with water conjured from nothing, or cleanses any natural water source they come across.