The Doctor steps aside to let Eris say her part. Her rambling reasons for why the group needed to speak with the Sword Knight seemed like they would hardly be convincing, so he adds "Is ze Sword Knight so occupied that she cannot guide her flock? Even those that would be troubled, like this girl?" He gestures toward Eris.
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Brogol stands stunned as the worshippers announce their intention to get help. Who helps those they don't know?
"Oh, bless you, but I've just spoken with Loran. He's with a few others in the main church, said to wait here for a minute." A bit of doubt crosses Brogol's face, which he covers with another coughing fit. Holding his hand up to stay the churchgoers - and hopefully draw their attention from the Kyton, whose presence would certainly raise more questions - Brogol continues. "You don't think he just wanted to get me away from the others, do you? No... not Loran, he wouldn't do that. Anyways, the boy said to wait here, so no need to fetch him. I'm sure he'll come soon as he's able. I do have a request to make of you kind souls though. Go home, hug yer loved ones. Everything is so temporary, you know? And perhaps you can leave me a few minutes alone with the Goddess, just in case I have to make my peace with... well, everything."
While talking, Brogol shambles forward slowly, trying to funnel the churchgoers towards, and then out the side door.
The two locals who had been concerned about Brogol seem to accept his explanation that Loran already knew of his need for healing, so instead focused on staying away from the plague-infected man. After they depart, he finds he is alone in the narthex.
Raziya begins asking for information about the movements of potential dissidents and rumor mills, but it was going to take a few hours.
Loran glowers at Franz and gestures dismissively towards Eris, "As an agent of the Archbaron's, who is himself sworn to the Thrice-Damned Thrunes and Infernal Cheliax -- I do hope I got the formal titles correct -- and the vigor with which she is reported to have enforced his edicts at the gate, I seriously doubt she is interested in confessing anything. Don't confuse me with some naive Sarenrite, looking to save and redeem every wayward soul. Some have made their choices, and will be judged for them.
"Now..." he half-growled, "what is it you want with my mother, or are you just here to drive me to madness and pester those who truly seek Iomedae's blessing?"
As he finishes, another man glad in armor with flowing brown locks enters the sanctuary through one of the curtains at the back of the room. As a near perfect copy of Loran, you safely deduce this is Lacall, the other twin. He pauses at the dais, looks over the scene unfolding, and his own expression quickly matches his brother's.
”Can ye just get her already? So far we’ve done naught but been polite while ye insult us up and down. Isn’t yer faith about kindness and whatnot?” Ingrid said, in a manner that she was certain would get the man moving.
Seeing the efforts of Eris and now Ingrid are amounting to very little in the face of these two loyal hounds, the Doctor sniffs in annoyance. "I see. We are here to ask her a few innocent questions and no more. Think of zis as a social call, hmm? You can certainly refuse to allow us to speak with her, but it is... mmm rude, yes?"
"We come here bearing no ill will. Simply curiosity that yearns to be sated." He adjusts his glasses. Despite his diplomatic words, he's on the verge on giving up on this hag and her thugs.
The churchgoers gone, Brogol straightens and brushes some spittle from his cloak sleeve. Giving the double doors to the south, Brogol locks them if there's an obvious way to do so (bar, etc.), and then strides towards the single north door. Pausing for a second, Brogol holds his breath and tries opening the door a crack, as quietly as possible, and then sees what he can spy.
Brogol slides his new lockpicks from their case, marveling at the tools that Razelagro was able to procure - tempered steel, thin, flexible, and strong. Kneeling by the door, Brogol slides two picks through the lock, waiting for a click...
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Eris, given the layers to your character, I can't quite recall if you are openly displaying a symbol of Asmodeus at the moment or not, so writing this next part a little loosely.
Eris maintains an unbreakable smile. "Why do you have to be so harsh? I think we can all come to understand each other. Maybe even get along splendidly. But if you don't want to be friends, that's not on us. Can you just tell us whether you're going to fetch her? I have to pee."
Karik and Vaelor stand watch for Brogol, keeping an eye out for any witnesses.
Ingrid's efforts at diplomacy were as tactful as a bull stung by a hornet, and Loran was thoroughly unmoved. While the doctor's words were infused with more honey than vinegar, it still wasn't enough.
Loran sighed and his hard features softened slightly, "Look, sir, maybe you really are trying to help -- I appreciate what you're trying to do for the Ramseys -- but Asmodeus has well earned His title as the Prince of Lies, and unless you have good reason to be disturbing my mother, no... I'm not going to let you see her. You call it being rude, and I understand why... But I think it's just pragmatic and honest."
"...Can you just tell us whether you're going to fetch her? I have to pee."
Then, to Eris, more coldly, "That is a 'no'."
==In the Narthex==
Brogol's boots seem a bit heavier than usual, but he is able to very deftly pick the lock.
On the other side of the door, Brogol hears the sound of wood scraping against wood, like that of a desk drawer, followed by a soft sigh. The room is clearly occupied by someone.
In the sanctuary, Loran looks like he's about to snap something very indecorous at Eris but his twin steps down from the dais, boots rapping on the stone floor, and echoes the earlier statement, "He said 'no'... ma'am." The last is added in a way that almost makes it a backhanded honorific, a desultory afterthought. "Now, I think it's time you all be leaving. Surely you've other matters to attend to. Perhaps a citizen has passed wind without paying his taxes?"
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Eris smiles in the face of the angry brothers as they refuse her the use of the privy.
"That's okay. I don't really need to go anymore," she says, stepping back to reveal a puddle under her feet. She shakes one of her legs, revealing that one of her light boots is also wet.
"Did you know where the tax-dodging citizen is? We could start there."
Franz peers searchingly into Eris' face, then pulls out his notepad to make a couple more insistent jottings. He carefully folds the notes back into his satchel and sighs. "Yes, ze mysteries we sought answers to vill have to remain unsolved. It is a shame. Ze Sword Knight could have solved them so easily. Saved so much... trouble, for you all." He nods. "Remember, when ze time comes, that small rudenesses may reap great... rewards."
He turns for the door, fed up with the two brothers and their nonsense.
Drawing his stilleto from his boot, Brogol draws it along his tongue. The tongue, according to the 5-pencer Criminal Minds: Horrors in Leipstadt, was an organ particularly given to bleeding - profusely - at the tiniest cut. Coppery-tasting blood fills the driver's mouth as Brogol slides the stilleto back into his boot.
Slipping the door open just a smidge, the rogue peers through the crack, taking in every detail he can about the room beyond.
Brogol opens the door just a crack and sees an office. A desk, simple chairs, and a shelf full of liturgical writings fill most of this room. He also sees an section of wall amid sewn hangings featuring Iomedaean prayers; three hooks in the wall hold a finely crafted longsword inscribed with Iomedaen runes. Sitting at the desk is Tileavira Allamar. On the desk in front of her are several tomes and she is currently rubbing her temples as if exhausted. She does not seem to notice Brogol.
In the Sanctuary, Loran quips to Eris, "Try Hell Hound Hill." He is clearly a bit disgusted by her public urination and petty desecration of the sanctuary, but is trying mightily to not take the bait.
Lacall merely grunts at Franz's implications, unmoved.
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Eris shrugs, unperturbed by the brother's attitude.
"Well, I suppose we'll be going. Sometimes, people call me 'addled,' but you may want to have yourself checked out by my doctor, too. Not allowing people to use the privy isn't a good idea. You should probably have your mom come clean up now."
Hehe.
She smiles. "Well--let's go find this Hell Hound Hill place."
Slipping the door back closed, Brogol swallows the blood in his mouth and frowns. Back by Karik, he whispers. "Allamar's office. Occupied. Sword hanging on the wall, lots of books and writings and stuff." he says, pausing to pinch his tongue in discomfort. "Not gonna get by her."
"Unless we have a big distraction. Draw her out of the office and all that."
Franz places a hand on Eris' shoulder. "I regret to inform you that these two vere pulling your leg. Ze Hell Hound Hill is all the way in Egorian."
With no knowledge of Brogol's daring maneuvers, Franz simply exits.
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[dice=KN Local]d20+9
Franz places a hand on Eris' shoulder. "I regret to inform you that these two vere pulling your leg. Ze Hell Hound Hill is all the way in Egorian."
With no knowledge of Brogol's daring maneuvers, Franz simply exits.
Eris walks out with Franz and her smile finally flags as he explains the brothers were messing with her.
"Doc--what should I do? What would a 'normal' person do? Graffiti?
Burn the church down? Kidnap their mom? Kill their dog? Please, please tell me they would pee on their floor! Baby steps, Doc. Just tell me what the baby steps are to be normal!"
Suddenly, Eris stops cold and slaps her forehead.
Hearing nothing from the adjacent chamber, Brogol walks out the Narthex doors, seeing the others already on their way in the distance.
Catching up to the others, Brogol reports what he's found. "Big room with glass windows on the other side, seems to be a place for quiet reflection and all that. Beyond that, the priestess' office. Door was locked. Was. Lots of holy texts, a longsword hanging on the wall. Room about 20' x 20'. Door on the east wall, probably leads to where the brothers navel gaze or whatnot. Allamar wasn't budging, so I left it at that."
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Seeing Eris' panic, the Doctor attempts to exude a reassuring calm "Zer is no need to exert yourself so violently in an attempt to be 'normal'. Once you are clearer and calmer of mind, ze normal action vill become obvious to you. But you cannot force it. Relax. Today zer is no pressure. You may act as you like." He sniffs, a sour grimace crossing his face. "Though, ze urination was perhaps overkill."
At Brogol's description, Franz nods, fingers already stroking his chin. "Hmm. Vell, let us keep that in mind. Perhaps there vill be time to pay her a visit later. A slightly less friendly visit, seeing zat her thugs have so rudely turned us away."
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Eris nods solemnly as Franz provides his diagnoses and recommendations.
"I knew it. I knew I shouldn't have peed. But I did have to go--I thought I'd get a bladder infection if I kept holding it! I just wasn't relaxed enough and went for it! I'll relax. Baby steps," she says, reproving herself.
She sets the skull down in some grass, then she starts stripping off her greaves, padding, and everything but her small clothes in the middle of the street, then casts create water to spray herself, her clothing, and her armor until it is clean.
This doctor is going to be so helpful, Dad! I can feel it! The skull watches her passively.
"Relax. Relax. Relax," she chants as a mantra. Grabbing her armor, she carries it while it dries, unconcerned with her bizarre state of dress.
"To be clear--a relaxed person wouldn't light fire to their front door right now, would she?" she asks.
Raziya keeps a discrete distance from Eris, both for practical and olfactory reasons. There's a very real risk she's going to make this position untenable, but at least no one will assume we're associated without proof.
"Pay her visit..." Brogol muses, his thought trailing off, as he finds himself dropping back by Raziya, watching the addled girl with a resigned curiosity. "I'd like to steal the sword. It was important enough to hang on the wall, then its disappearance will hurt."
The driver's musing seems more wishful than a statement of intent, an opportunity for another time.
You return to the jail that afternoon and, as you enter, Caggan calls out from his cell back. "Oy! There you are, you no good offspring of an otyugh and catoblepas. When you gonna let me out of this?"
Cimri looks up from the sheriff's desk where she has whittled a nasty set of wooden pins that look perfect for shoving under someones nails. "He's been going on like this for the last fifteen minutes... I'm thinking the pillory might not be a bad idea, but it's your call."
The Doctor shakes his head in disappointment. "Responds very poorly to mild disciplinary action. Ze pillory is extreme for what he has done, but it would serve a good example. Hmmm."
Brogol shrugs. "He broke the law. Boss wants him in the pillory."
Turning to Caggin, Brogol walks to the cell, making sure to keep a couple of feet back from the bars. Standing, he watches Caggin rage, until the bar owner quiets. "You did this to yerself, dummy. Broke curfew. And you didn't just break it - you flaunted it. How stupid are you, think you can just flaunt the will of Fex? Reckon you'll be out whenever the curfew's lifted, because you and I both know that bar will be open first night yer free, yeah?"
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Eris puts her armor back on once it's dried. As Caggan complains about his incarceration, she simply laughs.
"You should stop complaining! This is a luxury inn compared to spending the night in the pillory. Though, if we do put you in there, maybe I'll stay up and talk to you all night. I'd really like to pick your brain about a couple of things."
"Seems to me that the best thing to do now would be to let Eris talk to him. See if he rethinks his attitude then. If that doesn't work, he goes in the pillory. Not for breaking curfew, but for treasonous words towards the State. And if he breaks curfew again...oh, our country has such *fun* punishments. And so many legal ways to punish him."
Ingrid's face lit up. Using her knowledge of the legal system, she began listing all of the laws which he could be charged for breaking, and the different punishments that went along with them. Starting small, she worked her way up to more and more serious charges, her fanged smile turning into a grin as she locked eyes with the man, her clawed fingers twitching in anticipation.
"The pillory should be sufficient for his misdeeds. Humiliation and discomfort? Yes, but nothing permanently debilitating that might make him a martyr."
A gleam enters Raziya's eye as she continues, "We should make certain that he is visibly disrespected by other members of the community though - tomatoes and the like should suffice. That will keep any other would-be revolutionaries from believing that they are some sort of silent majority."
"The only thing that likes to hear itself talk more than a sphinx is a Westcrani dandy," Caggan growled as his future was debated. Cimri lifted one of the needle-sharp reeds she'd whittled, "I was thinking fingernails, but there are other places these could go..." From his spot in one of the back cells, Caggan didn't have a particularly good view of what Cimri held in her hand, but he still caught the gist of it. "I'd like to see you try, lil Staelish!"
At that time, there is a rap on the open door behind you and there stands a mustachioed man chewing on a toothpick with a slight grin tugging at his lips. "Ah, uh, hello. Did I come at a bad time?"
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Eris perks up as the man enters. She doesn't know the locals, but waves for him to stop.
"Now is actually a fabulous time, but you'll have to leave your toothpick outside. There are quite a few different infectious diseases that could be on that toothpick, and I don't want to pick any of them up," she says, quite seriously. "For example, I've heard that Brain Worms and Rupture Pox are spread primarily via toothpick," she adds.
"Now--who are you, and what kind of help are you here to offer us?" she asks.
Having left the handling of Caggan to the rest of the team, the Doctor is busy inspecting his notes covering the last day's exertions. He intersperses thoughtful hmms with tsks of mild irritation. He's in the middle of adding a couple of supplemental observations in the margins when the mustachioed man arrives.
He looks up from his notes "Not at all. Ah, but I regret to inform you that Caggan has been breaking ze law recently. Ze Last Stand vill be inaccessible, at least for a short while. Perhaps it vill return with new management, should our friend continue to be unnecessarily belligerent." The words aren't said with any degree of menace or aggression, just with a calm degree of deduction.
"What brings you here Mister Zoags? Zer is little reason for a personage of your type and stature to loiter around jails." He adamantly ignores the irony of his statement with regards to how it might apply to himself.
Zoags steps a bit further into the jail as nobody orders him out and, on the contrary, seem to welcome him. The grin grows into a full-blown smile and even a laugh. He winks at Eris as she cautions him about the dangers of toothpick usage. "Well, those do sound dangerous, miss, and I appreciate the warning, though I'm a bit more worried about mass hysteria and similar, uh, "moral maladies"..."
He chews on his toothpick a bit more, smiling at Eris (perhaps even a bit inappropriately?), then looks at the doctor, turning a bit more serious. "Ah, well, it... Hold on now, Master Zeiber? I hadn't expected to find you here, but... ah, you seem to be working for the archbaron, so..."
"Well, actually... I have a proposal of sorts, if you're interested, but it's probably of a sort of official-type business the likes of which a man who has found himself in the archbaron's disfavor probably ought not overhear, if you take my meaning?"
From the back of the jail, "Ingoe, you useless puddle of eel-slime! Pull those levers of yours and get me out of here."
Ingoe just rolls his eyes at the ranting.
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Eris draws her sickle and raises it menacingly.
"You may think I'm joking around about that toothpick, but I've never been more serious about anything in my life. Now leave it outside, or I'll show you how serious a cleric of Asmodeus can be when you're in violation of Asmodean Laws and Code Annotated, Criminal Code section seven, Infectious Diseases and the Intentional Spread Thereof, sub B, Spread via Small, Pointed Thin Sticks to Remove Detritus!"
She catches the man's emotion upon seeing Zeiber here.
"Now, I don't know why you're confused or, dare I say, angry that my personal physician is here in the employ of the Archbaron, but I suggest you don't get on my bad side or I'll make something more of it!"
Lowering her sickle slightly, she says "However, on the other hand, I understand that I am a somewhat attractive young woman, and I've been told I have absolutely no taste in men, or a sense of smell. Or etiquette, and I don't care about bad teeth, receding hair, or substantial paunches. In other words, you still have a chance with me. Now leave it outside and we can talk about your proposals, indecent or otherwise."
The Doctor eyes the dockmaster as he speaks, raises another eyebrow at Eris' response and adds "I believe vot Miss Eris is attempting to convey is zat we vill be happy to hear you out outside. Any earnest proposal is worth considering." He leads the way outside. On the way he crooks a finger towards the rest of the group to see if they're interested in joining.
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Eris nods as the doctor speaks, but her hesitation shows she isn't so sure.
She whispers loudly to Franz. "No, I really am bothered by that tooth pic, indoors or out. I think it's already giving me cold sweats and blurred vision. Let's go hear what he has to say, but make it go away!"
She follows Franz out the door.
Raziya was quite intrigued and followed along. Eyes and ears are always welcome...
"Very well, what is your proposal?"
Ingoe’s smile flickered a bit as Eris began to threaten him. It wasn’t clear if he actually felt threatened, or the change in expression was in response to a different emotion.
He followed the doctor outside and lifted a hand to his toothpick. Gripped between a finger and thumb, he whittled it a bit between some teeth, massaging the gum, then flicked t into the street with another wink at Eris. ”I hope Asmodeus is satisfied.”
Then to the doctor and Raziya, ”So... in my capacity as the dockmaster for Longacre, a fair amount of commerce comes through my hands — well, my employees‘, but you take my meaning, I’m sure — along with various bits of correspondence. And there is chatter and loose lips and, well, sometimes people like to talk. As it happens, I have a bit of information that may be helpful to you in your endeavors to keep us all safe from seditious thoughts and activities. However....” he paused for effect, looking about the street.
”Sometimes these services come at a cost, and if we could come to some sort of arrangement, a retainer, perhaps, of ten gold a week, I can make certain anything I happen to learn about is promptly brought to your attention.”
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Eris bats her eyes at Ingoe and clasps her hands over her chest after he tosses the toothpick.
"Thank you, my love. Asmodeus is indeed satisfied and won't strike you down for code violations."
As he explains his proposal, Eris strokes her chin. "Hmmm. I had thought, once we were dating, that I'd get a discount of some kind. I may need to rethink this arrangement."
She puts her hands on her hips. "Now, it seems to me that, if we were going to enter into an agreement like this, you would have to show us it's worth it. Good faith--that kind of thing. Since we would have to be spending gold now, you had better take the lead and show us it's worth it. So why don't you give us something of value up front? Like, could we roll around in a warehouse full of sugar? I'm asking for a friend."
Brogol keeps quiet as the dockmaster appears, but follows the others outside, giving Cimri a nod. "Stay with the barman. Be back in a bit. We've still got some chatting to do, yeah?"
Outside, Brogol keeps a studious eye on the new arrival. The dockmaster had a less than savory reputation in town, and that was as well and good, though Brogol supposed that if he knew, so would others. Regardless of Ingoe's poor reputation, the man was obviously a good card player, as Brogol couldn't read him worth a damn.
Drawing a platinum coin from his pocket, Brogol holds it to the moonlight. "Aye, yer future wife has a point - and you wouldn't be coming to us unless you had something to offer. So out with it then, and earn your ten guilders."
"And, perhaps you can tell us as well, what you've heard about us down on the docks?"
The Doctor nods at Eris and Brogol's suggestions "I agree. And you're clearly a clever fellow Mister Zoags. If you've come to find us, you must have some item of merit to share, no? Something ve vill be impressed by?" He steeples his hands expectantly.
"'Ze first hit is always free' is a popular saying in your line of work, I have heard." He smiles mildly.
Nodding sagely, Ingrid said ”Aye. Our gold shows our worth. It’d be good faith to show the quality of yer goods before we agree to the price.”
Ingoe laughs, "A roll in the sugar? Future wife? My, I had no idea you all moved so quickly. And wanting a taste of what I've to offer for free as well." He seems to mull it over, "Of course, I could go directly to the archbaron with this proposal; I'm sure he would be happy to reward leal service..."
Then, "Alright... Consider it a good faith demonstration of my value, as the stout tiefling lass suggests." He reaches into his jacket and withdraws an envelope.
"I came across this letter when it slipped out of a parcel of correspondence for one of the river boats... sloppy packaging, I spoke with the responsible parties... but as I was trying to figure out where it was supposed to be sent, the content struct me as... curious?" He holds it out towards Franz and Brogol.
Raziya examines the letter with an expert's eye, looking for the signs that someone like her might leave behind if they were writing in a hand not their own.
...the content struct me...
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Eris raises an eyebrow at the letter.
Addressing Ingoe, she says "Sweetie, you have given us a letter saying the good doctor is going to shut down her hospice if she cant get some funds together. But we would have found this out in a few weeks when she didn't pay her taxes. Now, I do think this is good information, and it did bring us together into each other's loving arms, but is it worth ten gold a week? I'm not so sure. I do think you can do better next time. "
She gives the dockmaster an awkward hug.
"I wish I could quit you. But I can't. And I forgot to tell you--once I'm committed, I need to know everything you are doing, at all times. Oh, and it's pretty hard to get rid of me. Just so you know."
The Doctor plucks the letter out of Eris' hands to see if she's invented some crazed story. "Hmm." He scans it a second time. "Certainly interesting." He sounds a little disappointed.
"Regardless of romantic entanglements, I must agree that for 10 gold zis is a meager tidbit." He frowns "However, I would be remiss not to recognize ze value of initiative, and reward ze behavior I would like to see again." After a moment, he retrieves 10 gold from his pouch and places it in a neat stack in Ingoe's hand. "Consider zis to be an investment. You have not impressed us yet, but if you do in the future, more gold vill find itself into your hands."
Ingoe wiggles his brows at Eris, "Now now, dear, if we're to have a future together, we must revisit the topic of toothpicks. I couldn't possibly share my future with someone who doesn't like a good 'pick."
He then looks at Franz with a confident smile. "If you think you can't do anything with it, then perhaps I misjudged your intentions and I do apologize. Nonetheless, I appreciate the retainer. If I come across more, I'll let you know." A slight shrug, "And if you find no value in it, we can cancel the arrangement and I'll go directly to the archbaron to see if he feels differently."