The towering tiefling laughs to himself, admiring the beautifully hand-crafted spike chain. "So beautiful!"
The halfling sees the food and nods at Cimri saying, "I have no where specific to be..." Slenk begins preparing a small plate.
"Me neither", Jerax chuckled, as he began to butter one of the loaves of bread.
"Nope nothing else on my calandar."
Veda collects the ash wood cross bow, some food and drink, and finds a place to sit.
Alixus pours himself a glass of wine and takes a seat, swirling the wine as he talks, ”Well, the church of Asmodeus is always eager to ensure that the...unenlightened convert to the correct faith. I am part of the first wave of evangelists. I seek to open the eyes of the faithless, to get them to convert of their own accord.”
He pauses to sip his wine and he thinks for a moment, ”Full-bodied and dry. Slight notes of tobacco and oak, with a bit of cinnamon in the finish. Hmm, perhaps southern Cheliax?”
Setting down his glass he motions towards Jerax and says, ”In any case, in the unlikely event that my mission fails, individuals like Jerax here will be dispatched to show them the error of their ways more...forcefully.”
Cimri relaxes again when the Asmodean doesn't take her head off for the slip of protocol and takes a long swig from her bottle of wine. "You may have your work cut out for you, right Veda? This town's about as interested in following Her Infernal Majesty and the Father of Lies as they are in putting their collective head into a noose." She giggles a little at that, "That might be what they're doing!"
She gazes at the antipaladin a moment, her eyes briefly drifting to -- and pausing on -- his kilt, before raising her bottle, "A toast! To profitable ventures in service to the crown!"
Lily regarded the finely made falchion, ”A fine blade.” She strapped the blade around her waist stowing her old sword with just a hint of sadness. She was forging a new life for herself and changing out her weapon symbolized this.
She gathered a large plate of food and began eating it. She abstained from the wine as her head was still swimming and she wasn’t entirely convinced that there wouldn’t be any reprisals. When Alixus started describing the wine she stared in disbelief, ”Surely you cannot tell that much from a sip.”
"Nah Cimri, I'm planning on getting out of the family business. It's dull stuff. When I have what I need to get step up right, I figure I'll be on my way to Westcrown. At least there's a real library there. Anyway, I'm tired of seeing the same old faces day after day here."
Ameliya looked at the various weapons placed before them with an appreciative eye. She may not have been in need of a second crossbow but she could at least admire the craftsmanship of the weapon by tracing an ungloved finger along its ashwood surface.
"Our patron must be quite well-funded if he was able to gather such fine weapons," she says in a half-whisper to no one in particular.
Of course, while she may have had no need for extra weapons she did find bottles of Wiscrani barbera to be something quite worthwhile. Delicately taking a bottle, she poured herself a cup of the red wine and promptly took a sip. Almost immediately, the strong, delicious taste summoned forth the memory of the last she had drank Wiscrani wine. Her wedding. Her very, very deadly wedding...
Ameliya smiled at the recollection as she lazily swirled her wine with her hand as she listened to everyone else's conversation.
" I will have to leave soon to relieve my second of her supervising duties at Sweet Caress, but I can linger a bit longer."
With that said, Ameliya continued to drink and remember. Stopping her reverie every so once in awhile to make a toast or join in some conversation.
Slenk answers Cimri, "When I last saw him, my former Master was quite well. We still talk on occasion. As for my freedom, I must say I find myself looking for things to fill the time." He shakes the new purse of platinum before adding. "If you can find equally profitable task to fill said time, I would be most appreciative."
Seeing others taking the weapons, Slenk takes the beautiful dagger and slips it into his sleeve. No slip would have such a weapon shown openly, that simply wouldn't do.
He then loosens the string on a large pouch at his waist, and a white rabbit peaks out, grabbing bread from the halfling's fingers greedily.
Jerax sits down among the revelers next to Reverend Vade, but one shoulder length behind him, as Asmodean sitting custom among the clergy.
Setting down his glass he motions towards Jerax and says, ”In any case, in the unlikely event that my mission fails, individuals like Jerax here will be dispatched to show them the error of their ways more...forcefully.”
The tiefling nods respectfully at the senior cleric. "This rumor of a 'Glorious Reclamation' is turning the common folk against the Crown. Whether it's true or false, such talk needs to be squashed as soon as possible. Like Cimri, here", the antipaladin nods at the handler, noticing her drifting eye, "I am also local. Longacre wasn't much before, but at least it was tolerable. Last thing Cheliax needs are those Iomedean idiots getting uppity!"
Jerax casually lifts his prehensive tail a few inches. Not a traditional pointed tail, like in so many works of art in Egorian, but deft enough to act as an assisting appendage. For example, Jerax began to make the tip of his tail vibrate at an accelerated rate, for Cimri's roaming eyes only; knowing that at least one person at the gathering appreciated the little 'party trick' the tail could do.
When Jerax literally shakes his tail at her, Cimri doesn't blush at being caught but rather barks a throaty but not unpleasant chuckle. She winks at Jerax, takes another pull from her bottle of wine, stands and walks over to the serving table.
As she does, she says, "Ah, Lily, the priests got refined tastes; I don't doubt anything they say. But, Veda, I might not leave just yet. I want out of this rathole town as much as the next gal but if things are changing... I mean, we got Miss Ameliya here, bringing all this high class and finery to town, then Razelago and whoever he works for, and now the Dark Prince has a priest and infernal warrior coming into town... I'm not the smartest girl in the world, but I smell opportunity. You could grow to be a big fish in a small pond before you head to the sea that is Westcrown."
She looks over the table, considers the fish, and opts for more bread and boar's meat. She hears Ameliya mentioned their benefactor being well-funding and chuckles, "I sure hope so. Before the job, Razelago said this was just a test. If he's tellin' the truth... I mean, you're fancy, ma'am, an' you worked hard for it, I know it. But... heck, he only said 100 gold a piece. There's no way there was enough tax money in that chest for what he paid us and then those weapons. Him or his boss, someone's got the Crowns to spare."
She turns, the wine clearly loosening her tongue and bringing a light flush to her cheeks.
She does not notice Slenk's rabbit but says to him (or of him), "Why, even Slenk here as a free halfling could make something respectable out of himself, no offense little buddy."
She makes her way over to Jerax, "Why, get rid of the hypocrites and entitled prigs in this town, and it's all enough to make a common scofflaw and ne'er-do-well consider turning a new leaf and getting all respectable." A salacious grin on her face, she half-whispers, "You're shivering... want some company?" Without waiting for an answer, she sits next to him, takes a bite of the meat she took, then offers him the rest.
The tiefling smiles his razor smile back at Cimri, and takes the the meat offered. "Thank you, Cimri", Jerax responds in a deeper, seductive tone. The antipaladin takes a ravenous bite while keeping eye contact with the rogue.
Getting back to more dinner tale-worthy topics, Jerax cleared his throat and asked, "So, Cimri, how did you get into contact with Mr. Razelago?"
Slink nods at Cimiri, "Those of low standing only have more opportunity to rise. I for one am interested in what your patron has to offer, and this group seems to have a good interweaving of skills and abilities. Hopefully, we can all prosper together."
It's not hard to tell Cimri is a little drunk or, at least, just enjoying being buzzed.
She grins at Slenk and raises the bottle, "Mmm. Yes, prospering together." She takes another drink.
When Jerax asks her about Rezelago, she presses even more into him, practically purring like the giant cat upstairs, and with a deep sigh says, "So, funny story..." She takes another drink from the bottle.
"I couldn't stand being with my aunt any more, so I came out here about three or four weeks ago. Then, a week ago, I come home to find a lantern glowing in the upstairs window. Ain't nobody living here but ghosts, but it's my place now, much as it is anyone's. So I get ready to gut whatever chowder-headed half-wit was squatting in my squat... I goes upstairs, and there he is, just like he was tonight... that giant cat in the corner, screen, shadow..."
She takes another drink, "The cat had caught me, dead to rights, held me there, but just looked at me. Claws pressing here and there..." She vaguely gestures towards a breast and her neck. "...until Razelago told her to let me up. Then he made me the offer, I could stay here, a homeless rat dreaming of getting out of town, or help him make it better... an' get rich doing it."
Razor-sharp teeth. Unhinged jaw. Whatever you could say about Jerax that defies conventional concepts of 'handsomeness', Cimri is practically melting in his arms.
"But... seriously...," she half-sighs. "If you need to crash here, you can. The spot by the fireplace is mine, but there're two rooms in back. No bedrolls, but plenty of open, dry space."
Jerax listens as the inebriated drunk rogue explains her current situation while lounging in the towering tiefling's arms.
"I shall take you..up on your kind offer for shelter this evening. Thank you."
The antipaladin's tail slowly wraps around Cimri's waist, to draw her closer and stop her from falling from her chair.
Veda watches Cimri with the tiefling while she lounges and eats. It's amusing, but she can't figure out why Cimri is putting on a show. She's definitely up to something...
Cimri sure does go hot and cold in a flash. Wonder how long until he does something to set her off?
She's also been rolling something around in her head the tiefling had said. She think maybe he had mentioned something of the same sort back before too, but she had more important things to think of then. Now, after the heist, it caught and stuck.
"Hey Jerax, Jerax right? You said you're from here? Do you mean a long time ago or something? I don't recall seeing you around before and I think I would..."
Ameliya watches and listens attentively as Cimri drunkenly tells them all about her first meeting with Razelago. The psychic had hoped that the tale would be more informative when it came to their strange patron, but in lue of that, Cimri's blatant attempts at seducing Jerax was a decent consolation prize. The tiefling may have had a weakness for a pretty face, but could Ameliya still privately respect Cimri's technique. The inebriated drunk girl tended work more often that not on the tough-and-tumble sort.
Eventually, though, Ameliya goes fishing for more information. "The sheriff is your aunt, yes?" She asks causally despite already knowing the answer. "Though I do hope that you can avoid engaging with the local law, there may come a time when Rhona's hands off approach to anti-Thrune rabble-rousers like Louslik turns into outright support for the rebels. If that happens, it would be good to know of the women's weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Care to share anything you know, darling?"
"Hey Jerax, Jerax right? You said you're from here? Do you mean a long time ago or something? I don't recall seeing you around before and I think I would..."
Jerax turns his head to address the changeling. "Let's see.., I spend most of my life here in Longacre, living out of The Helpful Hand. Can't believe that place is still standing. Then ten years, I was sent down to Egorian to live and learn at the Asmodean temple there. Such a beautiful city."
Alixus sighs somewhat wistfully, ”Ah, Egorian. The grand cathedral of Asmodeus truly takes the breath away every time I enter it. A monument to our master’s strength and providence.”
Eventually, though, Ameliya goes fishing for more information. "The sheriff is your aunt, yes?" She asks causally despite already knowing the answer. "Though I do hope that you can avoid engaging with the local law, there may come a time when Rhona's hands off approach to anti-Thrune rabble-rousers like Louslik turns into outright support for the rebels. If that happens, it would be good to know of the women's weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Care to share anything you know, darling?"
With half-lidded eyes, Cimri stares at Ameliya for a moment. It's a look more thoughtful than cold as if she herself is trying to figure out the answer.
"Yeah, she is." Cimri glances at the others, particularly those from out of town, "But there's nothing to worry about there. I know how to handle my aunt, and -- if you can't -- Razelago says his superiors can get us out of any problems with her as long as we don't talk about him. But..." She sighs then takes another drink, finishing off the bottle.
"I think you're right. She'll wind up supporting the rebels... eventually. But she's too by the book to do it yet. Right now, she's the law, the rebels are outside of it, even if she might agree with them."
She shakes the bottle a bit, confirming it's empty. "Sun's starting to come up. I need some sleep. You can stay here if you like, just stay out of his office, that's his rule."
With a caress of the tail wrapped around her waist, she looks at Jerax, one corner of her lip twitching into a grin. "Mind if I get up?"
"Yes, rest would be good... I have quarters that I will stay at. Cimri knows where to find me should there be need. Fare well all. It has been a pleasure."
With that Slenk slinks out of the room.
Lily eyed Cimri suspiciously but didn't comment on the way she was acting. Having eaten her fill Lily excused herself, "This room right here?" She tried to find two anchor points for her hammock. Failing that she uses the fine tapestries as a makeshift bed.
[Dice=Sense motive]1d20+1
Lily eyed Cimri suspiciously but didn't comment on the way she was acting. Having eaten her fill Lily excused herself, "This room right here?" She tried to find two anchor points for her hammock. Failing that she uses the fine tapestries as a makeshift bed.
"Yeah, Lily, any place back there. Just make sure the wall doesn't fall on you if you're hanging that thing."
The tiefling shakes his head 'no', and uses his tail to give Cimri a little boost out of her chair. "I'll stay to help clean up once we all done with the feast." Looking to the rogue, Jerax asks, "Where do you want the refuge to go?"
Having eaten her fill Lily excused herself, "This room right here?" She tried to find two anchor points for her hammock.
"Yeah, Lily, any place back there. Just make sure the wall doesn't fall on you if you're hanging that thing," Cimri says. Lily thinks the walls are actually sturdy enough, the lumber hasn't rotted, and she's able to find some points from which to hang the hammock.
When Jerax actually uses his tail to help her up, Cimri finally does blush a little and laughs in surprise. "Oh! You can do a lot with that, hmm?" She wiggles a brow suggestively, then looks about the room a bit more seriously at his question.
"I... honestly don't know. Razelago hasn't done this before so it hasn't been an issue. We can dig a pit behind the house and bury it in the morning... or afternoon... whatever." She blinks a couple times, then heads over towards a straw mattress by the fireplace, removes her kukri, daggers, and other gear, lays down, and rolls over to face the fireplace. Within a minute, she's passed out.
Jerax looks over to the rogue and sighs. "Hmm. Looks like my 'morning exercises' will have to wait. Oh well."
Looking at the remaining people at the table, the tiefling asks, "So? Anyone have any big plans today?"
Alixus surveys the surroundings before sighing slightly and saying, ”Well, the deacon would be displeased if I came back at such an ungodly hour. It seems I’ll be sleeping here then. Could be worse. Barely.”
He takes off his armor, revealing a slim but well-toned frame under a simple red and black cassock. Kneeling, he begins his nightly prayer to Asmodeus. It goes on for some
time.
With several members of their party either asleep already or calling it a night, Ameliya makes her own departure. "It's time for me to leave, I'm afraid," she says to those that remain. "It has been a pleasure working with you all this night. May the gods continue to favor us all in our future exploits."
And with that, Ameliya left the Ash House for the Sweet Caress.
With only the tiefling and the changeling at the table, Jerax takes out his playing cards and begins to shuffle. "Fancy a game, Veda, wasn't it?"
Veda lets the subject drop at the time since Jerax is sort of otherwise occupied. But when Cimri is gone and he offers a game of cards she takes him up on the offer.
"Alright, maybe one round. I need some sleep."
As they play (Veda won't bet: "chance is for suckers, optimists, and the unprepared"), but she does renew the conversation started earlier.
"So ten years back huh? I was really young then. Can't say I remember much of anything that far back. What was The Helpful Hand like?"
Jerax huffs to himself. "It was about as good as any place in Cheliax for a orphaned tiefling. The human boys, despite being in the same situation as me, teased and picked on me. Until my little growth spurt, and I started breaking noses and fingers. But that got..what was her name..Unbago, that's it, Miss Unbago, who ran the place, up in a tiff, because of the medical expenses those stupid enough to cross me produced. So more acting out, more punishments, until I became a menace to good ol' Longacre and the baron sent me away to Egorian.
Did you stay at The Helpful Hand or did you have a family here?"
In House
Cimri
Alixus
Jerax
Lily
Not at House
Ameliya
Slenk
Veda
As the sun begins to rise on a new day in Longacre, our band of nascent villains alternatively settles down for some rest at the Ash House or begin the walk back to their respective abodes around town. For those staying at the ruined manor, there is no sign of the ghosts to which Cimri had referred and they find sleep is peaceful and uninterrupted.
When midday arrives, those in town find themselves or their places of residence approached by a teenaged boy. He's one of the locals, brown hair and dirt on his cheeks from running through the streets all day, with worn clothing. He has in hand a few pieces of parchment, each folded and sealed with unmarked black wax.
When opened, the parchment reads, Return to the manor with haste. I have another task for you.
Jerax finds himself woken by a (likely) pleasant sensation. There is an arm wrapped over his chest, fingertips playing with one of his exposed nipples, and lips pressed against his neck. When he begins to stir, Cimri's voice whispers, "No rest for the wicked, stud. He's got more work for us." Cimri stays to flirt with him for a minute, but then goes about waking Lily and Alixus.
Cimri knocks on the doorframe of Lily's room and is considerably more abrupt than she was in waking Jerax, "Hey, time to wake up. More work."
With Alixus, she's more hesitant and circumspect, wrapping lightly on the wall and saying, "Um... Master Alixus, sir. I'm sorry to wake you, but Razelago wants to see us soon. He's already called for the others."
She then returns to the parlor and goes about starting a fire for coffee and anything others will want to heat for a late breakfast.
Alixus was awake and dressed, though deeply engaged in his morning prayers. He concludes his litanies with, ”And may my actions in your service bring me everlasting reward.”
He opens his eyes and nods at Cimri, ”Yes, I will be right down.” He puts his pentagram on, smiling at the familiar weight of the fine silver chain on his neck.
Downstairs he takes a seat, waiting for what comes next.
As soon as Lily hears the voices she starts to pack up her gear strapping her weapons to her hip and back, folding her hammock, and quickly running her fingers through her hair. She answers the door ready to go and follows Cimri to Alixus's door.
Jerax finds himself woken by a (likely) pleasant sensation. There is an arm wrapped over his chest, fingertips playing with one of his exposed nipples, and lips pressed against his neck. When he begins to stir, Cimri's voice whispers, "No rest for the wicked, stud. He's got more work for us." Cimri stays to flirt with him for a minute, but then goes about waking Lily and Alixus.
"Good morning", the sleepy-eyed tiefling muttered, "and a great way to start the day." Jerax's tail wraps around Cimri's waist for a gentle hug. "Do we have time for a quick breakfast? And by breakfast, I mean an actually breaking of the fast?" The antipaladin noticed the raised eyebrow the rogue gave him. When she indicates the affirmative, he slowly rises, slipping his tail away from Cimri, and begins to put his gear and armor back on, to eventually join the rogue in the parlor, assisting with breakfast.
When she comes back into the parlor and sees Jerax getting ready, she chuckles, "Don't get dressed on my account." She has an utterly salacious grin on her face, then casts a furtive glance over her shoulder and turns more serious, "But, uh, yeah, the priest is coming soon. I don't know how all that stuff works for you like, if he's your boss or something."
Once the fire is going, Cimri pulls a bag of grounds from her stash in the corner and pours them into a pot of water then sets the whole thing to boil, "There's some left over bread there, and Razelago gave me some sausages and eggs for us. I'll get those going as soon as the coffee's done. Hopefully you've got cups and plates in your kits... And don't expect this going forward. I'm not anyone's servant." While it's cooking, she exchanges small talk while checking her weapons and getting ready for whatever is in store. When Jerax helps get everything prepared, she seems a little shocked but then bumps him playfully with her hip. "Thanks," she says softly.
Before she puts all the sausage in the skillet, she looks at Lily and asks, "You want it cooked or you eat it raw?" The question is delivered in a matter-of-fact, flat tone. If the question is insulting, it doesn't seem she means it that way.
With just the one flame and it not being a proper kitchen, breakfast takes a half-hour to put together, enough time that shortly after that those coming from town begin to arrive. The eggs are cooked in the grease from the sausages and the coffee is strong; there's nothing subtle about the breakfast, but it fills the stomach and wakes you up.
Veda doesn't go into great detail but she tells Jerax "Orphan I guess, I was raised by Dennet the undertaker. The place isn't exactly downtown as I'm sure you'd guess. I still live there, always have."
After the round of cards is finished, Veda leaves for home. She'd originally planned to stay, but she's not drunk enough to need to and there seems no good reason to pass on a bed in favor of a floor.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The boy with the message wakes Veda up he next morning, or rather her father does to deliver the message. She hurries to get moving out of the house, concerned Dennet might get around to asking about the message if she gives him a long enough time. With a piece of bread in hand, she leaves for the Ash House again, not sorry to make the walk again in return for a decent stretch of sleep.
At the house she finds a chair and sits watching the others as they get themselves ready.
Before she puts all the sausage in the skillet, she looks at Lily and asks, "You want it cooked or you eat it raw?" The question is delivered in a matter-of-fact, flat tone. If the question is insulting, it doesn't seem she means it that way.
Lily's heard worse about her heritage so she took no insult. In fact her mother probably would have eaten the meat raw and drank the eggs, assuming she didn't behead Cimri first. "Cooked sausage, eggs runny." She took a single lime from her rations and flavored the eggs and sausage with it and afterwards sucked on the fruit's flesh.
When an very nervous looking teenager comes to the front door of the Sweet Caress he is greeted with the sight of a very mean-looking bouncer who roughly grabs the letter from the boy's hands before slamming the door in his face. He quickly takes it to his mistress in the upper apartments of the brothel.
There, Ameliya was enjoying her morning meal with her partner Joana when the bouncer gently knocks on their door and slips the letter through the portal's bottom crack. As the madame reads the rather short message her mouth begins to form a frown.
Joana reads the letter as well from behind Ameliya's shoulder, her chin actually resting on it. She is more amused by it that anything. "What a shame, I had hoped that you would stay a while. You were gone most of the night after all. The girls missed you. I missed you," she says playfully into Ameliya's neck. "Same," Ameliya replies crumbing up the note and giving Joana a brief kiss. "But no there is no rest for the wicked, I suppose."
The idea of being randomly summoned by Razelago in the early hours of the day did not sit well with her at all, but Ameliya told herself that sometimes one had to stomach such work if they wished to see their plans come into fruition. Swallowing her pride, Ameliya finishes her meal with Joana and meticulously readies herself to meet the day and her compatriots at the Ash House. Before she leaves the Sweet Caress, she gives Joana another brief parting kiss and activities the magic of her Sleeves of Many Garments to transform her clothing and better disguise herself.
When she finally arrives at the ruined manor, she takes a seat beside Veda. "So," she starts, causally in her tone, "What new task does darling Razelago have for us?"
When she comes back into the parlor and sees Jerax getting ready, she chuckles, "Don't get dressed on my account." She has an utterly salacious grin on her face, then casts a furtive glance over her shoulder and turns more serious, "But, uh, yeah, the priest is coming soon. I don't know how all that stuff works for you like, if he's your boss or something."
Jerax smiles to himself. "As It Is In Hell, So Must It Be On Golarion." A quote from The Asmodean Disciplines, the antipaladin paused. "Simply put, as the traditonal rank-and-file devils must heed the word of an archdevil, so must knights of Asmodeus and lower rank clergy heed the word of a senior cleric, or suffer the consequences."
"From the lowliest of acolytes to High Priest Jarvaxus Garestic and beyond; all must know their place, yet navigate when to ascend in station and who must fall to take your place."
Cimri stares at Jerax while he quotes liturgy and dogma to her. It’s not that she’s not paying attention but rather she’s listening very intently.
She glances briefly at Lily, checking to see if the half-orc has any reaction to this, then continues with the breakfast.
As Ameliya and Veda arrive, she says, ”Coffee is next to the fireplace if you want it. Uh, if you want any, pour slow, Miss Ameliya, it ain’t filtered, sorry.”
She looks about for Slenk, doesn’t see him yet, and says, ”We’ll go up soon. I want to give the ex-slip a chance to get here. An’ I got no more idea than you about what he wants. Just said he has more work and will pay.”
Slenk walks in the door just as Cimri is speaking. "Sorry to be late, I was studying my magics. If things are to be this busy I will plan to bunk here as well. I'm glad to hear there is more work to be done."
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Lily notices Cimri glance at her perhaps mistaking her glance as confusion and she offers plainly, "He's tryin'to make a peckin' order and justifyin' it with our faith. The way I see it Razelago is on top givin' orders. If he's not defined our ranks, its to us to make it. Jerax sees himself as under Alixus and over everyone else."
Cimri listens to Lily's explanation, glances furtively towards Alixus, then at Jerax. As Lily comes over and whispers something to her, Cimri's eyes first go wide, she blushes slightly, then barks out a very loud laugh. She quickly collects herself, looks at Lily again in a renewed light, and says, "You're alright. Sorry if I was a bit of a cow to you." Brushing some hair out of her eyes, she grins at Jerax and winks mischievously.
Later, after Slenk arrives and everyone is ready, her affect switches to all business. With a quick double-check of her weapons and armor, she announces, "Now's probably a good time to go up." She leads you back upstairs to the office and, as before, the panther-creature is curled in the corner but watches you all through lidded eyes. Though the daylight through the window mutes Razelago's silhouette slightly, it is still visible due to whatever source of backlighting he has. The only difference is that now a small, black lacquered box sits on the table before the paper screens.
After everyone is in the room, he explains the situation. “With the number of veterans who live in town, it’s not surprising that there’s a church of Iomedae in Longacre. But there might not be one much longer if Tileavia Allamar, its priestess, does what she has in mind.”
Razelago’s silhouette clasps shadowy hands. “There’s growing unrest in the empire, and not just in Pezzack and along the Hellcoast. Many of Iomedae’s faithful have begun speaking more boldly of the monarchy’s vices and the rights of citizens. They seem to believe this is Andoran and that the people have only to reach out to seize power. But they are wrong. This is Cheliax, not Andoran, and we know where true power lies.
“Fifth Sword Knight Allamar is gathering all who will listen for a sermon in front of her church this afternoon—only two short hours from now. I don’t know what she has in mind, but I suspect some revolutionary claptrap that can only sow the seeds of confusion and frustration among Longacre’s citizens. That is contrary to my wishes. So I’d like you to attend the rally. In the box are sashes marked with the insignia of Archbaron Fex. Wear them, remind people that the lord of this town is not without supporters, and see what transpires. Afterward, Cimri will report back to me. In return, you will all receive double what you did last night."
Jerax reaches into the box and grabs his sash. "Gladly", the antipaladin said with firm determination.
Cimri takes her own sash, examining it briefly before putting it on. It's a piece of crimson cloth emblazoned with the symbol of Cheliax and the arms of House Fex: a pair of fighting stags with bloody antlers. She glances at all of you with an arched brow, wondering if you have any questions before departing Razelago's makeshift office.
Alixus smiles, not the thin and devious smile but one filled with genuine excitement. ”This seems a perfect place for some sort of counter sermon. I am glad that my assignment to this place has lead me here. The word of our lord must be spread.”
He puts on a sash and gives a nod and a knowing glance to Jerax, ” I am glad we share a purpose. Verse 18, book 4 of the Asmodean Monograph; the heathen revels in their ignorance, and the faithful must correct them.”
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Veda takes the sash and puts it on after giving it a good look.
It's all fine. Whatever. she tells herself. She has to tell herself because it's not how she feels. This setup is weird, and not in a way she's having an easy time squaring. Too much money for not so much effort or risk. The shadow screen thing. The odd gang involved, some of whom just don't seem to fit the scene. The priest especially, and the rich brothel owner too.
What are they getting out of this? The money can't matter much to them...
Veda's still around and putting on the sash because she trusts her friend Cimri's judgement about this sort of stuff. But the whole thing she and the tiefling have going on is really starting to grate on her patience.
She's not even leaving off with him long enough to talk to me. She's being such a b*!!$!
Veda resolves to finish this task and assess again. Maybe the alarm going off in the back of her mind telling her that jobs this good are this good because you're gonna get screwed in the end will go away. If it doesn't maybe it's time to bolt to the city with what she has, regardless of what Cimri claims is on offer.