"Wow Ingoe! Long time no see. Are you still dockmaster?" Jerax questions the newcomer.
"Certainly, we have time to chat. It is good that you are here, our resources have been spread thin."
The moment Ameliya saw the dockmaster a wide smile formed on her lips. Though the man was obviously below her, that did not change the fact that he had proven useful in the past when it came to accidentally losing the cargo of her business rivals in town. As such, the madame embraced him in a hug when he approached the group and planted two quick kisses on both of his cheeks.
"Darling Ingoe. Don't you know by now that when it comes to you that I'm always available for a chat?"
Ingoe smiles broadly at Ameliya and returns the greeting but with an appropriate amount of restraint, not overly salacious despite his somewhat oily appearance. "It's good to see you all, and hard at work for the powers that be, I gather. I have a proposal of sorts, if you're interested."
He leans up against the railing between the main area and the "office," casual and comfortable, then continues, "It's nice to see some order coming about and, as a proper and loyal citizen, I'd be glad to do my part. I hear things from time to time, probably because I'm so trusting, people just confide in me." He grins slightly at the obvious lie, putting it in a context that is at once self-deprecating and self-aggrandizing.
"Anyway, I'd be happy to reach out to my friends and contacts, maybe let on I wasn't quite so happy with you, and see what comes back, then pass it along to you."
He pauses, chews on his toothpick, then finishes, "If you're interested, that is..."
Cimri smirks slightly and can't quite help a laugh-turned-cough.
Slenk nods at the idea.
"That does seem like a viable use of counter-intelligence. Yes, a very good plan."
Folding his massive arms, Jerax questions the dockmaster further. "And what type of compensation would an honest citizen of the Empire request for his assistance in such manners?"
Cimri's grin threatens to split her face so instead she just puts her weapons on the desk and hides her expression behind her hands.
Ingoe doesn't break his stride, expecting and having practically invited the query. "Ah, a man of the world, I see," he says to Jerax's question. "Nothing much, I assure you, just enough to grease some palms and loosen some lips. Say, ten gold per week. A modest sum. Modest. In fact, if you're interested, I may already have some information for you... A very quick return on your investment."
Jerax pulls out his coin purse and retrieves 10 gp, walking to the dockmaster and placing it in his outstretched hand. "Now what information do you offer today, Ingoe?"
"Mister Zoags. It is good to meet you. If only all citizens of this town were as accomodating as you."
He pauses before he continues, "I must say, however, that bribery is a crime. Now, certain fines and taxes must be levied in transfer of information, of course. 5 gold a week, and we will overlook this matter."
Jerax held up his hand. "Reverend, really, it's alright. Ingoe might actually have brought us some 'good news' for a change."
Slenk nods between the advocate and teifling saying, "There is a difference between bribery and payment for services rendered, oft the difference is one of point-of-view. Which it is may depend on the value of the services rendered. Let us hear what he has to say before passing judgment."
Ameliya smiled coyly as Injoe tried to play his little game. She could hardly fault the man for trying to make some coin in such a one-horse town, but he was way over his head if believed he could over-charge them.
The madame said as much she addressed him again. "I must agree with my colleagues, darling. While we would love to make use of such services it would be scandalous on our part to do so without first a trial run."
Ingoe looks appropriately shocked and mortified at the suggestion of 'bribery'. "'Bribery!?' Why, no, my good lord, simple payment to cover expenses and ah, what would one call it... 'retainer for services to be rendered'? Yes, that sounds appropriate. But," he sighs, "I suppose I could see what I can do for just five gold a week."
He accepts only five from Jerax and returns the rest, then pulls out a folded piece of parchment from his breast pocket and hands it over.
"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?" The tookpick in his mouth wobbles a bit as he moves it with his tongue, then a big smile returns to his face, "Anyway! There you have it. I'll certainly let you know if anything more comes to my attention. Should you need anything from me in the meantime, you know where to find me!" He bows in a grand -- and overdone -- sweeping motion, then turns and departs, whistling a merry tune to himself.
The letter itself appears to be from Gerya Rohalendi and is addressed to Nivianne Giatanno in Remesiana. Rohalendi laments that she just learned she owes 300 gold in backtaxes, a sum she claims she is unable to pay. She continues she has a little money to keep things running at the hospice for a few more weeks, she'll have to close up unless she can come up with another means of paying the debt.
Slenk reviews the paper and says, "Interesting... there is a public interest in supporting a place such as the Hospice which provides needed care. However back taxes cannot be tolerated."
"Indeed", Jerax nodded. "But how to use this information will be key. Do we arrest Gerya and inflame the rebels to show their colors? Or do we offer Ms. Rohalendi a job as an informant to keep the taxman away?" The towering tiefling looks to the others for any inoput.
Cimri sheathes her blades and tucks away the whetstone. "Both are options, maybe good ones. Another is to let it, uh, what's the word... percerlate? See what she does next."
Slenk nods at Jerax. "A visit from one she may trust to aid her in such a situation to set the hook and gain her cooperation in our efforts may be just the thing. Ameliya, I think your skills and position may be best suited for such an effort?"
”If this is a hospice, then I may have some interests in bringing it closer to the fold of the Master of Hell. I can lead this endeavor if Lady Ameliya does not wish to.”
With Lily and Veda having left to pursue their own goals, Cimri decides to come along, just in case. With her blades already sheathed and the whetstone stored, she casts a cocky smile at Jerax and says, "Alright then, let's get to it." The last thing she does before leaving is grab her official sash and put it on, still chuckling a bit to herself at the change in role.
The hospice is on the west side of town . It appears to have once been a private house. A large porch wraps around the home, with a few rocking chairs, one of which is occupied by an old gentleman with a shawl over his lap.
The once bright white paint has faded and begun to flake and peel, showing the graying wood beneath. The front door has some beveled glass, a reminder of the home's grander days. The door is closed and next to it is a hand-painted sign:
Longacre Hospice
G. Rohalendi
The man on the porch seems to hear your approach but as he squints through rheumy eyes you can tell he has trouble seeing. He calls out in a cheerful enough tone, "Afternoon to you... or is it morning? I'm not quite sure, but good day to you. You, uh, looking for the doctor?"
Slenk takes on the role of majordomo and gestures to Alixus and says, "Magister Vade is here to see Gerya Rohalendi about a private matter, no medical service required."
"Ah? Magister? Huh. Never heard o' 'im, no offense, but yeah... the doctor's inside, I think. Have a nice day," the old man smiles benignly and stares back into the distance, rocking in his chair.
You ascend the steps and enter the house easily enough, and hear a conversation in a parlor off to the side of the central hall. "Now, Palvor, you know you've got to eat. Please, just have some of this stew, I made it with some fresh herbs..."
Stepping around the door and into the hall comes Gerya Rohalendi, who you recall from all her questions regarding the proclamations the archbaron had you recently post. She looks surprised to see you though not overly alarmed. "Oh! Guests, of a sort... What brings you here? I don't imagine its convalescence you're needing."
The halfling nods a quick bow and gestures to Alixus before stating, "Yes the Magister does have some business to speak about. It is of a somewhat sensitive matter. Is there somewhere we can speak privately?"
As Slenk and Reverend Vade leave to speak privately with Ms. Rohalendi, Jerax walks around the hospice, observing the care the patients are receiving; trying not to get in the way of the caregivers.
Rohalendi now begins to look somewhat uncomfortable, glancing furtively between Slenk, Vade and the hulking tiefling. Cimri is goes entirely unnoticed by the doctor as the young rogue unobtrusively slips into a side room.
"A sensitive matter? Well... I guess we can go to the kitchen, nobody is in there."
Jerax finds no other caregivers but a few other patients. It seems Rohalendi cares for them entirely on her own.
Alixus bows slightly to the doctor, before he starts to talk, "Mistress Rohalendi, it is good to meet you. I am Alixus Vade, servant of our lord Asmodeus, representative of the Archbaron, and Magistrate of this town. I am to understand you owe a sizeable sum of back taxes, a sum you are unable to pay, is that correct?"
The woman stares at Vade for a moment as if not comprehending the man's words. Then she blanches and stammers, "No, no, that's not right at all. I mean, yes, I owe some taxes, but I'll pay them. I will. I'm not trying to evade anything."
Elsewhere in the house, Cimri continues to snoop and comes across a small pouch of coins in the drawer of a desk. She catches Jerax's eye and jingles the pouch with a brow arched in a question: Take it, or leave it?
Jerax looked around his surroundings, then met Cimri's eye again. A simple non-verbal shake of his head was his response. Despite this, the towering tiefling gave the thief a small smile, indicating no judgement. Jerax then offers his hand to Cimri. "You're so canny, the antipaladin whispered. "Note it's location, if you want to come back for it later."
Cimri shrugged and returned the pouch, then winked at Jerax as she went back into the center hall. "Being a well-paid government employee, I find I no longer need to pad my pockets, but I thought, if we really wanted to squeeze her on these taxes..." She slapped Jerax on the rear as she walked by, laughing a little. "But honesty is good. Weird, but good."
Jerax bent down to raise Cimri's hand to his lips. "My thinking was the pouch could disappear long after we were here. Nothing wrong with keeping your skills sharp", the tiefling whispered to his lover.
"To put it succinctly, as I am sure your time is as valuable as mine, is a proposal of a partnership of sorts. I am willing to waive this debt in the name of charity. In return, you shall work for us. I am sure you are connected to many people in this town. Supply us with information and remain loyal to the cause of Cheliax."
Rohalendi looks at Alixus and Slenk for a moment as though confused about the terms. But eventually it begins to make sense as she nearly collapses into a chair and sighs. She closes her eyes, taking a moment to collect herself, then looks back at Alixus once more and says, "I feel I have no choice but to accept. I can't even keep up with my own expenses, much less my taxes, but I have to be honest, I really don't know anything. Not now, anyway. If I..."
She pauses, glancing past Alixus and Slenk into the house, then speaks more quietly, "If I do learn of something, I'll tell you. But right now, it's just the same rumors everyone heard in the church square."
The halfling nods formally as the terms are reached. ”Very well, you can expect me to return later with the formal agreement. Standard terms. It will remain sealed and confidential as long as you cooperate fully with the terms. If not, the agreement becomes public and the payment will be due immediately... Magister, I believe you had another pressing matter to attend to?”
Wrapping things up at the hospice, you step back outside where the old man continues to rock in his chair. Cimri says, "Not to be bossy, but I'm thinking we should check back at the jail real quick, see how Caggan is doing and the archbaron's guards are getting along."
Arriving at the jail, one of the Fex's guards is outside, watching the pillories to ensure no shenanigans happens. When he sees your approach, he tips his head respectfully and says, "Afternoon, to you. You, uh... have a 'visitor' inside." The word 'visitor' is said almost as if it were a question. "She had a letter of introduction from Archbaron Fex and a sash like you, so we figured we ought to let her in. I hope that's okay."
"No problem, gentlemen, and thank you", Jerax's deep voice carries as he walks past the guards with a quick salute. The antipaladin opens the jail front door and enters.
Um...M' Lady, I think they've, um, arrived.
The woman at the far end of the jail stood with her back to the front door as the group entered, apparently looking into the cells holding the former town deputies. One of the Archbaron's men, leaning up against the wall, looked warily at the woman as he announced the group's appearance. Thin but shapely, and standing a bit under six foot tall, the woman's shoulder-length auburn hair hung down just below the tall collar of her dark red cloak. Though clearly meant for travel, her clothes reflected a noble's refinement, also red with black trim. Crossed short swords adorned her back behind a well-made backpack, strapped to which was an oilskin holding some other long, narrow objects. Slightly rolled-up sleeves revealed both the glint of light chain-metal armor, as well as substantial scarring on her arms.
The prisoners stared at the woman in a look of stark terror. Ashel, one of the former deputies, took his eyes off of her long enough to catch Jerax coming in the door, and gave him a pleading look. A long moment later, the woman pivoted quickly and turned towards the group.
Ah yes, it is good to make your acquaintances. Jerax, right? My, you are a tall one, the Archbaron did not lie! I am Demibaroness Alyczandra DeLaise of House DeLaise, in Egorian. Pale skin and oddly colored eyes, almost silver, gave the woman an exotic look. Very attractive, with angular features, her expression was both inviting and, perhaps, amused. Her appearance combined both clearly Chelaxian features as well as...something else? On her right hand, extended in greeting was a large signet ring indicative of a noble house, yellow and black in color. If she was lying about her noble status, the ring must have been stolen. As the Archbaron's guard mentioned outside the jail, the woman wore the red sash each of the group possessed, indicating her allegiance.
Examining the rest of the group as they entered the jail, she greeted each. House DeLaise has been honored to support House Thrune and Cheliax, and has been blessed to be tasked with supporting the suppression of the Glorious Restoration. My father, Celquin DeLaise, has seen fit to send me at Archbaron Fex's request to assist in this endeavor. I have therefore traveled to this...town to aid in your endeavors. I have sworn the same Oath each of you have, here she raised her palm to show where she held the device in Fex's manor, and will remain loyal to you as you, I. A pause for a moment, then she continued. If you would, I would like to know a bit about each of you, and more detail on the purpose of our mission here. The Archbaron was...brief, on these matters.
The towering tiefling took a moment to gather himself. For some reason, the appearance of Demibaroness Alyczandra DeLaise knocked the wind out of Jerax's mentally.
"Um..yeah. I am Jerax Hellfire, knight of Asmodeus." The antipaladin followed with a courtly bow. "I am one of three agents who have lived in Longacre, but not for the last 10 years."
"It sounds like you were given the main gist of our mission. Archbaron Fex wants up to shake the local population and investigate any treasonous actions by those Longacrites who have a connection to the Glorious Restoration. As you can around you, we've made some arrests on that front. All await trial for their actions here in Longacre."
Cimri followed the others back into the jail and seems equally surprised by Alyczandra's appearance, but less inclined to observe the niceties as Jerax. As Jerax bowed, the rogue looked at him, then back at the tall woman and frowned.
"Not gonna blow over in a stiff wind, are ya? You look half-dead." After a brief pause, Cimri quickly added, "...m'lady," though it was a halfhearted formality.
Jerax took a long step over toward the party's thief. "Um, this is Cimri Staelish, another local contract, former handler, now agent of The Crown."
Alixus gives a slight bow before introducing himself. He maintains his cool demeanor, as befits a priest in the presence of nobility, ”I am Alixus Vade, advocate of the church of our lord Asmodeus and to my great privilege, acting Magistrate of the town. Having a member of the nobility on this team could certainly prove useful. We may yet make something of this two-bit town.”
Alyczandra listened carefully as Jerax described the group's mission, but cocked her head to the side with a perplexed look at the end. Awaiting trial? She mouthed the last part as if confused and appeared about to say something more when Cimri entered and spoke.
The auburn-haired woman locked gazes with rogue for a long moment, an almost feral, hungry look in the newcomer's eyes. Gradually a slow smile appeared, revealing a bicuspid tooth decidedly longer than most Chelaxians. No need for formalities, we are to work together, yes? Just call me Alyczandra. It has been a long journey from Egorian, but I assure you that it will take more than a stiff wind to stop me. The brief animalistic look vanished just as quickly as it arrived.
Glancing back over at Jerax and Alixus as the latter introduced himself, Alyczandra nodded approvingly. Followers of the Prince of Darkness are always welcome company. That gives me hope that despite the connection some have to this, as you say 'two-bit town', we will do what is necessary to crush all opposition.
The Archbaron mentioned rumors of some "angel" appearing recently to boost the spirits of the rabble. Do we know anything more there? Peering back over her shoulder at the imprisoned ex-deputies she added, perhaps I spend a little quality time with them to find out more, or is there another plan?
Cimri looked like she was about to snap at Jerax for speaking on her behalf, but when Alixus and Alyczandra continued, she defaulted to a simple scowl. "Humph," she muttered. As the others continued to speak, Cimri glanced back into the cells with the terrified deputies, it seemed she was about to make some deprecating quip, but thought better of it, instead crossing over to the old sheriff's desk and tossing herself into the chair.
Do we know anything more there? Peering back over her shoulder at the imprisoned ex-deputies she added, perhaps I spend a little quality time with them to find out more, or is there another plan?
And then came the suggestion that the hungry-looking noblewoman spend some quality time with the deputies, and Asher quite nearly wailed from his cell, "No! Please, we have nothing more to tell you. You want to sentence us to a lashing, fine, but I swear... you didn't see her, I think she means to eat us!"
Cimri yelled, "Shut up, fool! Nobody told you to speak," then looked anew at Alyczandra, clearly wondering just what this noblewoman was about.
Meanwhile, Asher and the others may have quieted but looked plaintively at Jerax, Slenk and Alixus.
Slenk politely addresses the general question, "M'Lady we have been following leads, resulting in the arrest of these men and the two in the stocks. Thus far we have found mostly rumor and little else to firmly establish the existence of this so-called Angel. At least some of the resistance seems to relate more to overdeveloped senses of individual worth than any complex conspiracy. As to next steps, disposing of some of the prisoners one way or the other is likely overdue. Then continuing to maintain order in the face of potential rebellion. Nothing more specific."
Alyczandra ignored both Cimri and the anxious prisoners. Instead, the pale, thin woman eyed Slenk with curiosity as the halfling spoke. She paused for a moment after he finished, her odd, silver-ish eyes taking on a distant look. She then looked back up at Jerax and Alixius.
The Archbaron mentioned you traveled with a well-spoken slip who somehow was both "free", she spoke the word as if it was suspect enough, and yet still knows his place. Quite the oddity, yes?
Turning her slightly feral, disconcerting gaze to the halfling, she went on. Very well, slip, that was quite succinct and to the point. I would know your name, and how we have come to suspect this "angel", derision was rife in her voice as she spoke the word, was ever here at all. Or the so-called Restoration. I do hope I haven't been sent out to the back-end of nowhere for nothing.
Looking a bit perturbed, she shot the prisoners a withering glance that sent them again moving towards the back of the cells, then paced a few steps. Glancing back up at Alixius she went on, Reverend Vade, was there not some sort of ceremony with a helmet or some such that occurred recently? Fex mentioned something of the sort. Should we pay those involved a visit to see what they know?
Slenk bows and states, "I am called Slenk. As to the veracity of the rebellion, there is smoke enough to believe there is a fire. And our employer believes in the threat, so we act upon it."
Cimri pulls out a dagger and whetstone, falling into one of routines. She isn't truly paying attention to the conversation and seems to miss Aluczandra's question is directed towards the priest-turned-magister. She absently chimes in, "We ne'er did question the Sword Knight. Maybe not a bad idea? Check on her brat twins, too, while we're at it."
"Ah yes... Fifth Sword Knight Tileavia Allamar, the local priestess of Iomedae. If I recall one of her sons claimed to have met an angel. Considering the boy's faith I had considered that more smoke than fire."
Addressing Demibaroness DeLaise he adds, "Our patron had us monitor the Sword Knight when she made speach citing a letter from a Lencia Visserene, so called Knight-Inheritor of the Glorious Reclamation. There is little doubt this 'Glorious Reclamation' is group of genuine individuals, however whether they have angelic assistance is not truly known. Perhaps it may be time to confront this Allamar. Cimri, any idea where she may be found?"
"Ah, yes, we did not question the Sword Knight. I would agree with your judgement, Cimri. She is certainly a person of interest."