The man had looked increasingly confused as Zander went on but nodded at that question. "Oh, yes, thank you. Yes, if we could all go inside that would be excellent. Do you have a place to park the carriage?" The Manor did not have a carriage house but there was room enough by the steps or tucked in near the long porch to get the carriage out of most traffic along the alleyway.
Zander nodded his head.
"If you and your party will enter the building, I will lead your horse and carriage to a position which is out of the majority of traffic." He reached a hand out for the horse's lead.
"Are you the being known as Maxeene?"
The merchant nodded at Zander and went to help his wife and daughter down out of the carriage. Zander noticed that the older human female had the yellowish colored hair they called 'blonde' and blue eyes, the man had brown hair and brown eyes, yet the smaller female had that orangish color of hair humans called 'red' (even though it was not red) along with blue eyes. Yet while their phenotypes were not similar, the three humans all acted in concert and with the sort of easy familiarity Zander had come to recognize as 'family.'
The smaller female was holding a yellow-eyed orange tabby cat and she looked curiously at Zander as the male led her inside. Zander had noted the abnormal number of wild felines in this city- one could barely walk half a block without spotting a cat sitting somewhere or perched on a fence, and the people of Throneport seemed to take pride in accommodating the partially domesticated animals. This one seemed fully domesticated, though, as it wore a ribbon around its neck in the same color as the young female's dress.
Zander adroitly arranged the horse and carriage out of the flow of traffic alongside the Manor. The horse just eyed the warforged at the question, remaining silent for several seconds before finally responding quietly "Finally. I've been waiting for someone to come looking for me for days." She looked back in the direction of the feed bag hanging from the front of the carriage. "Strap on my feed bag so I can talk without worrying about people seeing my lips move."
At the eastern end of Burnt Inn Street, just south of hard-packed dirt of the big open patch of ground where it and Saltpork Street fed into the Fieldway and allowed for a crowded, chaotic temporary marketplace, was a large, ramshackle residential building that looked like it had grown up organically around a dirt courtyard. The building's materials and style were different from one place to another, like they had been added on one by one or section by section as someone moved in.
The courtyard was a jumble of people going about their day. Laundry hung from railings and lines criss-crossed everywhere, there was a small crowd waiting to pump water from the Court's well (and apparently sole water source), and the smell of baking bread wafted out of one ground-floor while there were several people cooking over open fires around the fringes of the courtyard.
A rusty metal arch marked the entrance to the courtyard, the posts set straight into the ground- there was no wall keeping anyone from just walking around it. The group could almost feel the looks they were getting as they walked in, though, and the handful of extremely large, hairy men lounging on upturned crates near the street were almost certainly guards.
Lots of shifters here, Ash, we'll follow your lead? Illendur says, making note of the children playing at stalking the party, and the growing number of eyes on them as they approach the courtyard. He settles into a calm resting stance, casually smiling as he waits for Ash to step up.
Jixel had no issue of course, with trying a visit of these Twelvedogs first. Probably because she had no idea what to expect. As they closed in on their district, and later the courtyard, she was actually rather happy with what she saw. Animalistic and mix-matched folks around, doing their thing. This was a lot more comfortable than places she'd been in recent days.
A gentle nudge to Ash with an elbow.
"I'm looking forward to meeting your friends. Are ratfolk welcome here?"
For now, Peekee the chicken would be kept out of sight... just in case poultry was a little toooo welcome.
Zander adroitly arranged the horse and carriage out of the flow of traffic alongside the Manor. The horse just eyed the warforged at the question, remaining silent for several seconds before finally responding quietly "Finally. I've been waiting for someone to come looking for me for days." She looked back in the direction of the feed bag hanging from the front of the carriage. "Strap on my feed bag so I can talk without worrying about people seeing my lips move."
Zander looked about until he found the feed bag, and then did his best to strap it into place.
"I am not sure how long the merchant and his family will remain inside without becoming unsettled and curious. Do they present a danger to you? Would it be tactically advantageous for me to go inside and calm or neutralize them before you and I continue conversing?"
At the eastern end of Burnt Inn Street, just south of hard-packed dirt of the big open patch of ground where it and Saltpork Street fed into the Fieldway and allowed for a crowded, chaotic temporary marketplace, was a large, ramshackle residential building that looked like it had grown up organically around a dirt courtyard. The building's materials and style were different from one place to another, like they had been added on one by one or section by section as someone moved in.
The courtyard was a jumble of people going about their day. Laundry hung from railings and lines criss-crossed everywhere, there was a small crowd waiting to pump water from the Court's well (and apparently sole water source), and the smell of baking bread wafted out of one ground-floor while there were several people cooking over open fires around the fringes of the courtyard.
A rusty metal arch marked the entrance to the courtyard, the posts set straight into the ground- there was no wall keeping anyone from just walking around it. The group could almost feel the looks they were getting as they walked in, though, and the handful of extremely large, hairy men lounging on upturned crates near the street were almost certainly guards.
Ash nodded to Illendur, and smiled at Jixel. "I don't think anyone here will judge, though they might chase you a bit, if you run."
Ash had spent enough time here that he knew not to come empty-handed. He'd spent a bit of coin at the market, thinking that money spent here would go to people that needed it more than at fancier markets outside the ward - and it didn't hurt to make positive connections with the locals.
He recognized just such a connection with the guards, and raised a hand in greeting. "Good to see you, Rock, Oak. How's Flow's little one doing? Not still sick, I hope?" As he spoke, he reached into his new sack of groceries and pulled out a ham. "Got a little gift for her, just to help make ends meet while she's tending Toof."
After chatting a bit, a bit of playful growling and verbal nimbleness that Ash seemed oddly stilted at, Ash got to the point of their visit. "Is Blaze around, Rock? I've brought these friends of mine to talk to [him/her] about something."
Once the shifters let them pass(?), Ash fished out a couple of bottles to give them, a decent enough beer. "Stay sharp, and good hunting."
Zander looked about until he found the feed bag, and then did his best to strap it into place.
"I am not sure how long the merchant and his family will remain inside without becoming unsettled and curious. Do they present a danger to you? Would it be tactically advantageous for me to go inside and calm or neutralize them before you and I continue conversing?"
Maxeene shook her head like she was trying to shoo away a fly. "No, no danger but the little girl stole my familiar! She saw Ginger one night in my stall and just grabbed her! Hasn't let her out of arm's reach for days. I was supposed to meet with my handler but I can't get away and leave Ginger. You've got to get her back for me. Discreetly. You can't let anyone know the cat's mine or anything special."
Ash nodded to Illendur, and smiled at Jixel. "I don't think anyone here will judge, though they might chase you a bit, if you run."
Ash had spent enough time here that he knew not to come empty-handed. He'd spent a bit of coin at the market, thinking that money spent here would go to people that needed it more than at fancier markets outside the ward - and it didn't hurt to make positive connections with the locals.
He recognized just such a connection with the guards, and raised a hand in greeting. "Good to see you, Rock, Oak. How's Flow's little one doing? Not still sick, I hope?" As he spoke, he reached into his new sack of groceries and pulled out a ham. "Got a little gift for her, just to help make ends meet while she's tending Toof."
The big shifter was built like a bull. Smelled like one, too, though it was hard to be impressed by a gorebrute when you'd been running the streets with an honest-to-Host minotaur just a couple of days ago. Rock smiled at Ash's gift. "That's nice of you, Ash. Didn't have to do that." Which was true, since Ash wasn't part of the community, and was almost a bit of clever double entendre if you weren't as dumb as a Rock. The big man was tough and impressive, both of which made him a good shifter to sit by the gate and encourage trouble seekers to look elsewhere, but did not make him a clever conversationalist. So it probably wasn't meant as the dig it might have been from a different shifter. Blaze, for example. "Dive's doing better. She's just gonna have to learn how to judge how deep the water is before she jumps in. I've had my leg broke but never both ankles at once."
After chatting a bit, a bit of playful growling and verbal nimbleness that Ash seemed oddly stilted at, Ash got to the point of their visit. "Is Blaze around, Rock? I've brought these friends of mine to talk to [him/her] about something."
Once the shifters let them pass(?), Ash fished out a couple of bottles to give them, a decent enough beer. "Stay sharp, and good hunting."[/b]
Rock nodded up at the third floor windows where Ash knew Blaze lived. "Yeah, she should be up there. I don't think she's gone out?" He looked over at his hirsute, ursine companion, who shook his head silently while keeping his eyes on Ash's friends. Rock nodded, smiling as Ash pulled out the bottles of beer. "Heeeeeey, there you go! You're always welcome here, that's what I say, little buddy. Go ahead on in, Ash and friends."
Maxeene shook her head like she was trying to shoo away a fly. "No, no danger but the little girl stole my familiar! She saw Ginger one night in my stall and just grabbed her! Hasn't let her out of arm's reach for days. I was supposed to meet with my handler but I can't get away and leave Ginger. You've got to get her back for me. Discreetly. You can't let anyone know the cat's mine or anything special."
If Zander's face were capable of expression, he would have looked nonplussed. There were most definitely nuances of humanoid - and equinoid? - social interaction here that were beyond his knowledge or experience. He would happily help with the task, but he wasn't entirely sure he understood what it truly entailed.
"Secure the feline, without arousing suspicion or revealing it to be anything other than a mundane example of its species."
J'r-V'zz's summary didn't do much to help Zander work through the finer details that he was quite sure were present, though he could not define or fully identify them.
"What is the nature of your relationship with the humanoids," he finally asked, "and to what extent is protecting that relationship an operational requirement?" There was a brief pause.
"And under what time frame does the mission need to be completed?"
Ash led the other Trollskullers into Twelvedog Court, greeting shifters here and there. The place was crowded and busy but it didn't have the same frantic, dangerous energy as Southern Ward. Everyone here knew each other and there was a sense that all the activity was routine, from the people grilling around the edges of the Courtyard to those washing clothes in the troughs by the well pump, even the shifters coming down from their apartments or heading out into the Ward. Ash was known but not a part of the community- he got greetings, not suspicious looks.
Jixel got some curious glances, particularly from the smaller, younger shifters- a trio of whom actually ran up, giggling and talking over each other. "Is that your chicken?" "What breed are you?" "Wanna hear a chicken joke?"
Illendur and Dok got suspicious looks, with some adults moving to put themselves in between the two humans and their children, and it was clear they were only being tolerated because they were there with Ash.
"Secure the feline, without arousing suspicion or revealing it to be anything other than a mundane example of its species."
J'r-V'zz's summary didn't do much to help Zander work through the finer details that he was quite sure were present, though he could not define or fully identify them.
"What is the nature of your relationship with the humanoids," he finally asked, "and to what extent is protecting that relationship an operational requirement?" There was a brief pause.
"And under what time frame does the mission need to be completed?"
"They don't know I'm anything but a normal horse, and that's how we'd all prefer to keep it. If word gets out about a talking horse in the city along with a description of me then my value as an investigator is going to be shot." Maxeene shook her head again, making her mane jump.
"I'd prefer to get my cat back as soon as possible, but it's more important to keep my cover. She doesn't seem to be hurting Ginger," she added grudgingly.
"Are you investigating the humanoid family?" Zander was trying to determine whether it would be acceptable to simply take the feline and leave the humanoid family without explanation, or if some degree of subterfuge would be necessary.
Ash led the other Trollskullers into Twelvedog Court, greeting shifters here and there. The place was crowded and busy but it didn't have the same frantic, dangerous energy as Southern Ward. Everyone here knew each other and there was a sense that all the activity was routine, from the people grilling around the edges of the Courtyard to those washing clothes in the troughs by the well pump, even the shifters coming down from their apartments or heading out into the Ward. Ash was known but not a part of the community- he got greetings, not suspicious looks.
Jixel got some curious glances, particularly from the smaller, younger shifters- a trio of whom actually ran up, giggling and talking over each other. "Is that your chicken?" "What breed are you?" "Wanna hear a chicken joke?"
Illendur and Dok got suspicious looks, with some adults moving to put themselves in between the two humans and their children, and it was clear they were only being tolerated because they were there with Ash.
"Are you investigating the humanoid family?" Zander was trying to determine whether it would be acceptable to simply take the feline and leave the humanoid family without explanation, or if some degree of subterfuge would be necessary.
Maxeene made an annoyed sound, somewhere in between a whinny and a snort. "No, and that's the worst of it. I was looking into what was supposed to be a stock of weapons smuggled into Southern Ward by the Boromars but then those idiots at the rental agency hired me out to this sight-seeing looky-loo and I haven't been able to do anything for a week."
Maxeene made an annoyed sound, somewhere in between a whinny and a snort. "No, and that's the worst of it. I was looking into what was supposed to be a stock of weapons smuggled into Southern Ward by the Boromars but then those idiots at the rental agency hired me out to this sight-seeing looky-loo and I haven't been able to do anything for a week."
Ah! Now they were making progress, Zander thought. Mission parameters were falling into place. Just a few more details were needed. The beginnings of an additional plan might also be forming, but that could wait.
"It seems to me that you have outlined the situation as follows: You have an important surveillance mission to complete, but your cover as an animal for hire has created a series of complications that are putting the mission in jeopardy. To return the mission to profile, you require being freed of your obligations to the humanoid family, while also recovering your fellow operative, 'Ginger.' The recovery of operative 'Ginger' must be accomplished without compromising the operative's cover as an unremarkable feline. Additionally, it would seem that retaining your cover with the rental agency would also be preferred. Is my understanding of the situation accurate?"
He paused once more, then added, "And can you clarify whether preserving your relationship with the rental agency is a mandatory mission constraint, or merely preferred?"
Jixel quite liked children, especially ones who weren't trying to mug her friends in alleyways! She smiled to the three younglings, happy to have someone to speak to who was at eye-level for a change.
"Hello there, friends! A chicken? Indeed!"
She gave Peekee's head a little pat and let the bird suspiciously eye the newcomers, offering them an occasional "cluck".
"This is Peekee, my companion and closest friend in the whole world. A chicken joke did you say? Of course we'd like to hear it, as long as it is tasteful of course. It won't hurt her feelings, right?"
Damn. Using references to "taste" when talking about poultry probably wasn't a good idea around here...
"It seems to me that you have outlined the situation as follows: You have an important surveillance mission to complete, but your cover as an animal for hire has created a series of complications that are putting the mission in jeopardy. To return the mission to profile, you require being freed of your obligations to the humanoid family, while also recovering your fellow operative, 'Ginger.' The recovery of operative 'Ginger' must be accomplished without compromising the operative's cover as an unremarkable feline. Additionally, it would seem that retaining your cover with the rental agency would also be preferred. Is my understanding of the situation accurate?"
He paused once more, then added, "And can you clarify whether preserving your relationship with the rental agency is a mandatory mission constraint, or merely preferred?"
Maxeene gave Zander a look that was most un-horselike, and if she had been human he would have filed it under a very common expression he had come to label 'human expression expressing mild exasperation in the face of unwanted or unexpected clear communication.' Humans and other humanoids frequently gave Zander that look when he was simply communicating clearly and efficiently.
"Yeah, that's accurate. We don't care about the relationship with that rental agency in particular, no, it's just that we want to make sure people keep thinking I'm nothing but a regular horse." Maxeene glanced up across the porch at the mostly empty Trollskull Manor. "Look, is there anyone here who's, uh, better with people? Are you running this place yourself?"
She gave Peekee's head a little pat and let the bird suspiciously eye the newcomers, offering them an occasional "cluck".
"This is Peekee, my companion and closest friend in the whole world. A chicken joke did you say? Of course we'd like to hear it, as long as it is tasteful of course. It won't hurt her feelings, right?"
Damn. Using references to "taste" when talking about poultry probably wasn't a good idea around here...
The kids looked very excited when Jixel called Peekee her companion. "Does she talk?" "Can she do magic?" The joker pushed past her friends to head off the questions though, a grin on her face.
"Where do chickens grow?"
"On an eggplant!" The joker cracked up and the other two giggled, more at the fact she'd just told the joke to a stranger than at the joke itself. Jixel noticed that she was being watched, not suspiciously like Illendur and Dok but more likely to see how she reacted to the friendly children.
Ash led the group up to a second floor apartment, stepping over shallow puddles, ignoring extraneous trash and debris that could either be trash or might be salvage waiting to be recycled or sold, all while saying hello to people going about their day in the crowded tenement. Here a man was peeling a bucket full of potatoes, there two women chatting while they hung laundry, then another man who might have been a guard or a gangster leaning against a railing, smoking as he watched the courtyard below.
Eventually they got to a door decorated with childish chalk drawings, with more drawings smudged by many feet on the floor outside. Ash knocked and after a moment a tired woman's voice answered "Hello?"
Jixel could only laugh, as was the way with terrible jokes. Had it come from anyone other than a child, it would have been a travesty really. But through the lips of a friendly youngling? Well, it was just such a wonderful change of pace from the constant stress of recent days.
The ratfolk chuckled cheesily yet honestly, and smiled to the joker in a rodent's warm and almost... cute... kind of way.
"An eggplant! Haha, you know, I haven't heard that one before. Did you learn it from your father? Hehe."
Something else was different about this exchange too. Peekee was very much the focus of attention, which was kind of something neither the familiar or its Witch were used to... excluding the hungry looks of Ash from time to time.
"Oh yea, Peekee can talk," Jixel confessed, "but not in the way that people assume, you know, by voice. If I ask her very nicely, she will answer questions and give advice, not through words, but through actions.
I guess that, in itself, is magic."
Yea, it was magic alright. No point telling the kids the whole truth though, unless it was "horror story telling night" or something. "Hey my chicken has the soul of a mad witch inside," would be too much information.
It was time to swing this all around.
"How about you and your friends? Do you have any favourite animals or plants?"
Ash chuckled, at first reflexively covering his canines, then relaxing and smiling openly at the children. Once they'd answered Jixel, he added,
"Hey, I've got one. What kind of bush does a fox sit under in a rainstorm?" He paused for dramatic effect, knowing it was a terrible joke that needed the drama.
"A wet one!" He mugged awfully, hoping to make the kids laugh, before he admitted to them that it wasn't as good a joke as theirs. "But collect enough of them, and you might just have something," he grinned.
"Hello, Flow," Ash called, adding entirely unnecessarily, "it's Ash. I thought I'd drop by and hear how you and the kids are doing. I, uh... we brought a neighborly bit of goods to help you out. My friends and I, I mean. Uh... this is Illendur, and Jixel. We were just passing by on our way to see Blaze."
The ratfolk chuckled cheesily yet honestly, and smiled to the joker in a rodent's warm and almost... cute... kind of way.
"An eggplant! Haha, you know, I haven't heard that one before. Did you learn it from your father? Hehe."
The joker shook her head, grinning from ear to ear. She was faintly feline, with long, slender limbs that reminded one of those slender, fast-running cats they had down in the Talenta Plains, though that might also be from her youth and a lack of food.
Something else was different about this exchange too. Peekee was very much the focus of attention, which was kind of something neither the familiar or its Witch were used to... excluding the hungry looks of Ash from time to time.
"Oh yea, Peekee can talk," Jixel confessed, "but not in the way that people assume, you know, by voice. If I ask her very nicely, she will answer questions and give advice, not through words, but through actions.
I guess that, in itself, is magic."Yea, it was magic alright. No point telling the kids the whole truth though, unless it was "horror story telling night" or something. "Hey my chicken has the soul of a mad witch inside," would be too much information.
It was time to swing this all around.
"How about you and your friends? Do you have any favourite animals or plants?"
The children looked extremely impressed at Jixel's explanation, gazing at the chicken as if they expected Peekee to start drawing magical formulae on the ground.
"Cheetah," said the joker immediately. "Dogs!" said another, while "Falcon!" said the third. The dog-lover said "There's a tree over by the Upper Towers," the impressively tall gates the Trollskullers had walked through earlier today, "but the Cyran kids don't really let us climb it." Looking back on their walk through Field Ward, Jixel observed there probably wasn't much opportunity for a child growing up in this cramped urban neighborhood to develop a plant preference.
Ash chuckled, at first reflexively covering his canines, then relaxing and smiling openly at the children. Once they'd answered Jixel, he added,
"Hey, I've got one. What kind of bush does a fox sit under in a rainstorm?" He paused for dramatic effect, knowing it was a terrible joke that needed the drama.
"A wet one!" He mugged awfully, hoping to make the kids laugh, before he admitted to them that it wasn't as good a joke as theirs. "But collect enough of them, and you might just have something," he grinned.
The kids loved the joke and Ash could see they would be repeating it soon, and probably over and over. Especially since it was even funnier that redheaded Blaze took after the animal in the joke.
"Hello, Flow," Ash called, adding entirely unnecessarily, "it's Ash. I thought I'd drop by and hear how you and the kids are doing. I, uh... we brought a neighborly bit of goods to help you out. My friends and I, I mean. Uh... this is Illendur, and Jixel. We were just passing by on our way to see Blaze."
The door opened as soon as Ash identified himself, revealing a woman who looked as tired as her voice sounded. "Ash! Where have you been?" Her skin was smooth and greyish, her hair white and pulled back into a loose ponytail- truedive shifters weren't as common as others, though not truly rare like the mystical dreamsight shifters, and the vaguely aquatic breed always stood out among their more furry brethren.
She looked curiously at Illendur and Jixel, naturally dark eyes even darker from stress and lack of sleep. Flow hastily dropped a short bow to Illendur. "My lord," she said, then she stepped closer to Ash and hissed "You brought a nobleman to my house without warning me!?"
"Please, come in, come in." Flow took a few steps out of the way and waved them into her small apartment. It was neatly organized and well kept but it looked like she had been in the middle of cleaning up the small common room when she'd been interrupted. "Can I get you anything? Tea? I have water on, and we just got some that's supposed to be all the way from Xen'drik."
Maxeene gave Zander a look that was most un-horselike, and if she had been human he would have filed it under a very common expression he had come to label 'human expression expressing mild exasperation in the face of unwanted or unexpected clear communication.' Humans and other humanoids frequently gave Zander that look when he was simply communicating clearly and efficiently.
"Yeah, that's accurate. We don't care about the relationship with that rental agency in particular, no, it's just that we want to make sure people keep thinking I'm nothing but a regular horse." Maxeene glanced up across the porch at the mostly empty Trollskull Manor. "Look, is there anyone here who's, uh, better with people? Are you running this place yourself?"
Zander's head tilted to one side again, a clear sign to those who knew him that more questions were about to be forthcoming.
"We?" Zander made the single word a question. But before Maxeene could answer, his head straightened, and he held up a hand.
"Your point is well taken. I have left the humanoid family alone for too great a period of time. They likely have questions, and are uncomfortable. I should address them now, before they come out to investigate the delay, and put your covers at further risk." He nodded to Maxeene.
"I will return shortly."
Then, true to his word, Zander turned on one heel and made his way into the main doors of Trollskull mannor.
"Thank you for your patience," Zander said as he passed through the doors and spotted the family, "perhaps we may engage in conversation and assuage your concerns, while also determining the best next steps regarding the current situation."
The door opened as soon as Ash identified himself, revealing a woman who looked as tired as her voice sounded. "Ash! Where have you been?" Her skin was smooth and greyish, her hair white and pulled back into a loose ponytail- truedive shifters weren't as common as others, though not truly rare like the mystical dreamsight shifters, and the vaguely aquatic breed always stood out among their more furry brethren.
She looked curiously at Illendur and Jixel, naturally dark eyes even darker from stress and lack of sleep. Flow hastily dropped a short bow to Illendur. "My lord," she said, then she stepped closer to Ash and hissed "You brought a nobleman to my house without warning me!?"
"He's not- well, he is but I mean, he's just... sorry, Flow," Ash muttered, properly contrite and definitely not at all amused and trying to hide a grin.
"Please, come in, come in." Flow took a few steps out of the way and waved them into her small apartment. It was neatly organized and well kept but it looked like she had been in the middle of cleaning up the small common room when she'd been interrupted. "Can I get you anything? Tea? I have water on, and we just got some that's supposed to be all the way from Xen'drik."
"Er, that would be lovely, but we're just... yes ma'am, that'd be nice," Ash corrected himself after a stern look from Flow. Clearing his throat, he passed the sack with the ham and a few other victuals over to her. "Just a little gift to make ends meet. How are the kids? There's a bag with a few sweets in there for them."
"Illendur is actually quite a hero, and Jixel too! Saved another noble's life! Oh, with Peekee's help, of course. Tell her, won't you? We'd love the story." He smiled at the elf and ratfolk with great innocence. "Got a whole tavern out of it, too."
She looked curiously at Illendur and Jixel, naturally dark eyes even darker from stress and lack of sleep. Flow hastily dropped a short bow to Illendur. "My lord," she said, then she stepped closer to Ash and hissed "You brought a nobleman to my house without warning me!?""He's not- well, he is but I mean, he's just... sorry, Flow," Ash muttered, properly contrite and definitely not at all amused and trying to hide a grin.
Flow hit him in the stomach, down low where Illendur wouldn't be able to see. She wasn't a fighter, it wasn't hard enough to do any damage, but it hurt enough to show that she didn't think the situation was funny. At least not at the moment.
"Er, that would be lovely, but we're just... yes ma'am, that'd be nice," Ash corrected himself after a stern look from Flow. Clearing his throat, he passed the sack with the ham and a few other victuals over to her. "Just a little gift to make ends meet. How are the kids? There's a bag with a few sweets in there for them."
"Illendur is actually quite a hero, and Jixel too! Saved another noble's life! Oh, with Peekee's help, of course. Tell her, won't you? We'd love the story." He smiled at the elf and ratfolk with great innocence. "Got a whole tavern out of it, too."
The truedive shifter looked up from where she was gathering things onto a tray- a few mismatched cups, a small teapot that looked like it had come from a much nicer set, a plate of biscuits- and peered at Ash. "What do you mean 'got a whole tavern out of it'?"
Then, true to his word, Zander turned on one heel and made his way into the main doors of Trollskull mannor.
"Thank you for your patience," Zander said as he passed through the doors and spotted the family, "perhaps we may engage in conversation and assuage your concerns, while also determining the best next steps regarding the current situation."
The man, woman, and girl were sitting on some of the new furniture the Trollskullers had recently received, in front of a cold fireplace. The man was saying something in a low tone to the two females but broke off as soon as Zander came in.
He turned toward warforged, expression a mix of anger and fear. "Assuage my concerns? The note said my life was possibly in danger. Who are you people and what is going on?"
Illendur laughs, Technically yes, but Ash is a good friend, and we collectively got to be heroes... Ash too. We've got a place that we're opening called the Trollskull Tavern over in north ward. he accepts the cup of tea graciously. I'm far more used to the practice halls and taverns of the city than the gracious halls of my family. I manage talent at the opera houses and burlesque halls, which involves splitting more heads with my fists than pretty words and riches. Ash hopes you can help, we've got some charitable causes for the folk in this ward. And there's been problems... he glances over at Ash, encouraging him to share what he knows, The tea is perfect, thank you for the hospitality. he smiles, trying his best to reassure her.
Flow seemed reluctant to sit down with Illendur but eventually seemed to realize there was nothing left for her to gather or serve and she finally sat across from the well dressed Phiarlan scion. "That's so interesting! I've never been to the opera but I've heard about it. One of the Cyran taverns over by the Upper Towers has one of those echoer things and they play music so you can hear it in the street as you're passing by. They let people listen outside as long as there aren't too many people blocking the street. They echo the opera on some nights. The women sound like angels, even over the noise of the street as you're walking past. And you know them?"
"And you're running a charity here, my lord? For music? I don't know how I could help with that," she said as she shot a worried frown at Ash.
Ash cleared his throat. "Actually, we're here for another reason. But maybe we can help you. Not with charity!" he added hurriedly, not wanting another punch. "But we'll need help running the tavern, right?" He gazed at the others, trying to let his eyes do the talking. They would need the employees, eventually, and a lot of the shifters here would be happy to work a decent-paying job.
"But anyway, we're here about the hospital. We're heading up to talk to Blaze about it. I just wanted to drop off the sack here."
With Illendur having the teacup in hand and Ash having mentioned it again, Flow finally opened up the bag Ash had given her. Her face brightened considerably seeing the food inside. "Oh! Thank you, Ash! That's so nice of you! You didn't have to do that!" A brief glance in the kitchen told anyone who cared to look that Ash had brought Flow, Dive, and Toof at least as much food as they had on hand.
Flow's head came up and she cocked her head at him as she heard what Ash had said. "You're looking for workers?" Ash knew how desperately the people here- all over Field Ward, but he knew the shifters here best- needed legitimate, steady work.
"Oh, right. The hospital." Everyone in the Court knew their gang territory. They might not know the Brands were shaking down the clinic but Flow definitely knew that if Ash was here to talk to Blaze about it then this was about gang business. And she also knew it was none of her business.
Their host stood back up, smiling at Ash and giving Illendur another short bow. "Thank you for stopping by, and for the groceries. My lord, it was an honor having you. If you have business,"- gang business- "with Blaze, please don't let me keep you."
Jixel had remained quiet and respectful in this supposed "friend" of Ash's home. It was also kind of nice for a change, not to be the odd one out. In fact, it seemed that apart from the children's interest, a ratfolk with a chicken in a backpack could kind of blend right on in. A noble half-elf though? Not so much.
She resisted the urge to chuckle quite a few times. Sure, Illendur was fancy and all that, but in truth he'd been as willing to get dirty and do as much dangerous work as anyone else. Jixel realised in this moment, how much she appreciated the half-elf's companionship, down-to-earth attitude, and ability to direct people who liked to punch friends, attention away.
With a smile Jixel had accepted a small cup of tea, and then just sipped at it.
"This is really good! Sure is nice to share a drink with someone new!"
She wanted to tell Flow that Illendur had... well... low standards when it came to friends, but she couldn't think of a socially acceptable way to make it known. Anyway, soon enough, it looked they were off to meet this Blaze person, another step in Ash's grand tour?
With Illendur having the teacup in hand and Ash having mentioned it again, Flow finally opened up the bag Ash had given her. Her face brightened considerably seeing the food inside. "Oh! Thank you, Ash! That's so nice of you! You didn't have to do that!" A brief glance in the kitchen told anyone who cared to look that Ash had brought Flow, Dive, and Toof at least as much food as they had on hand.
Flow's head came up and she cocked her head at him as she heard what Ash had said. "You're looking for workers?" Ash knew how desperately the people here- all over Field Ward, but he knew the shifters here best- needed legitimate, steady work.
"Not just yet," Ash cautioned, giving another questioning glance to his friends, "but we will, I think." The look was almost pleading, though Flow's wasn't.
With a smile Jixel had accepted a small cup of tea, and then just sipped at it.
"This is really good! Sure is nice to share a drink with someone new!"
"Yes, thanks for the tea, Flow. It's really good," Ash said, and actually meant it. "But we'd better get going."
"Oh, right. The hospital." Everyone in the Court knew their gang territory. They might not know the Brands were shaking down the clinic but Flow definitely knew that if Ash was here to talk to Blaze about it then this was about gang business. And she also knew it was none of her business.
Their host stood back up, smiling at Ash and giving Illendur another short bow. "Thank you for stopping by, and for the groceries. My lord, it was an honor having you. If you have business,"- gang business- "with Blaze, please don't let me keep you."
"Give my best wishes for quick recovery to Toof and Dive," Ash nodded, stiltedly formal again as he rose.
Once outside again, he rushed his companions on to where they might find Blaze. He knew better than to bring a gift - it'd just seem like he was trying to buy her off - and he whispered to Jixel, "Better keep Peekee under wraps."
The man, woman, and girl were sitting on some of the new furniture the Trollskullers had recently received, in front of a cold fireplace. The man was saying something in a low tone to the two females but broke off as soon as Zander came in.
He turned toward warforged, expression a mix of anger and fear. "Assuage my concerns? The note said my life was possibly in danger. Who are you people and what is going on?"
"I believe," Zander said calmly, "That you were given something to say that would verify your identity, were you not?"
"Huh?"
Jixel blinked and then looked to Ash quite worriedly.
"But everyone here is so nice? Oh no... is Blaze..."
It was always hard to know how to describe people of Ash's "kind". It must be difficult really, to be neither this nor that... at least for Jixel it was a simple case of being a ratfolk, and that was that. And although Peekee wasn't just a chicken...
"You know... a bit... foxy... or something?"
Anyway, she'd take his advice, and gently pat her familiar's head and whisper.
"Time to be quiet feathery friend. Take a nap, those children were quite exhausting, yes?"
She let the chicken snuggle down into her pack, and then she carefully pulled on the drawstring.
Ash's neck turned red, and he didn't meet Jixel's eyes - mainly because he did find Blaze to be rather foxy - likely not what Jixel had meant, but he couldn't stop the slow creep of red up into his face.
"Just keep her quiet," he warned. Shooting a glance at Illendur, then nodding minutely, he caught himself almost knocking on the door to where he expected to find Blaze and her crew, and instead just pushed it open and went in.
"I believe," Zander said calmly, "That you were given something to say that would verify your identity, were you not?"
The man pulled Zander's note out of his pocket and quickly scanned down the page. "Uh... J'rr V'zz? He looked back up at the warforged's expressionless face. "What is that?"
"Just keep her quiet," he warned. Shooting a glance at Illendur, then nodding minutely, he caught himself almost knocking on the door to where he expected to find Blaze and her crew, and instead just pushed it open and went in.
The building was five stories tall and crowded with hundreds of shifters of all breeds and all walks of life (well, not all walks of life- no one here was rich) going about their day, doing all sorts of things- cooking, cleaning, crafting, chatting, eating. But as the group approached the north side of the fifth floor there was a clear shift in the types of people they started passing.
There were more large or dangerous looking shifters just sitting around or leaning against the railing, smoking or talking to each other quietly, looking like they were waiting for something or just passing time. Ash got some pointed looks from these obvious gang members, the group clearly only being allowed past based on Ash's reputation with the Twelvedogs.
Eventually the Trollskullers got to the last apartment on the north end of the building, with windows facing out in three directions. A pair of grey-furred shifters lounged outside the apartment's door. One of them sat relaxed on the floor idly throwing a notched set of flat bones that Jixel recognized as a fortune telling device, though from the way he was tossing them, scooping them back up, and tossing them again he probably wasn't trying to divine anything in particular.
The one sitting in the chair- Ash recognized her as Cloud, sister to Dapple, who was entertaining himself casting sticks on the floor- sat forward as the group walked up. "Been a while, Ash. I didn't hear anything about you coming by." Which was, of course, another way of asking what the hell he wanted with Blaze.
"Hey, Cloud, Dapple. Yeah, it's been crazy out there." Outside the ward. It wasn't that shifters couldn't go out there, it was just... they often weren't so welcome. "Got called a baby-eater just today. First time." He chuckled ruefully at the memory, then cleared his throat.
"Listen, is Blaze around?" Blaze was very clearly around, since the Twelvedogs were out here guarding. But manners were manners. "We have a kind of... business proposition. I think it could help a lot of folks around here." If Ash had any kind of rep, it was definitely for his weird habit of trying to help out shifters. Sometimes he even helped other people, as collateral aid.
That was why he was usually semi-scruffy, despite his efforts not to be. Penniless would have been a kind way to put it. But now his clothes were mended and he was well-fed, a fact they could probably smell on his breath. He hadn't been ostentatious about what he'd bought with his cut, but for someone with an eye for it, there was a difference.
He glanced at his friends. "This is Jixel and Illendur. They're in on this too."
"So, have you seen her?"
Cloud looked skeptical, especially as she eyed Illendur. "This some kind of charity thing? You know she doesn't like taking charity, Ash." Dapple, meanwhile, cast his sticks one last time, giving them a more thoughtful look.
'Great Exceeding, the ridgepole warps.
Fruitful to have a direction to go.
Creating success.'
The second cast was 'Gradual Progress,' meaning to continue on one's path. The lines from the went:
'Gradual progress. The woman marries.
Good fortune.
Constancy bears fruit.'
Altogether a positive fortune, though Jixel didn't know who Dapple was casting the sticks for or even the question he had asked.
Ash had to grin at that, though he made sure to keep the expression friendly. "Taking, no. How about giving?" He chuckled, and shook his head. "But I meant it - it's good business. Or at least, it could be."
Jixel was transfixed. Ash's words and those of Cloud's too were like distant mumbling when the sticks fell not once, but twice. If Dapple noticed the hairy bystander kind of staring, she'd smile.
"Incredible..."
The ratfolk crouched low, blinked, and then looked up warmly to this fellow teller of futures.
"Oh, I'm sorry, it is just rare for me to see someone at work with an art that I too, adore. I'm Jixel, and very pleased to meet you. Very pleased to see success, fortune, and perseverance in there too!"
Sure, Jixel had come across other folks in the past who used material tools to access the wisdom beyond. Some seemed half decent at it. Others were just plain scammers and showmen. Others were truly talented. Was Jixel of the latter kind? Not really. It was Peekee who did the hard work. It was her familiar that powered the rules of her throws and their interpretations. In many ways, the ratfolk was just a conduit for the chicken's soul, but every day, she felt just that little bit stronger for their bond.
Damn. She kind of wanted to share her way of doing readings... but Peekee was off-limits. So infuriating!
Ash had to grin at that, though he made sure to keep the expression friendly. "Taking, no. How about giving?" He chuckled, and shook his head. "But I meant it - it's good business. Or at least, it could be."
Cloud cocked her head, clearly interested if still skeptical. "Well, she'd kill me if she heard I turned away a good deal." She stood up and poked her head in the door, indicating that Blaze was home as Ash had suspected.
Jixel was transfixed. Ash's words and those of Cloud's too were like distant mumbling when the sticks fell not once, but twice. If Dapple noticed the hairy bystander kind of staring, she'd smile.
"Incredible..."
The ratfolk crouched low, blinked, and then looked up warmly to this fellow teller of futures.
"Oh, I'm sorry, it is just rare for me to see someone at work with an art that I too, adore. I'm Jixel, and very pleased to meet you. Very pleased to see success, fortune, and perseverance in there too!"
Sure, Jixel had come across other folks in the past who used material tools to access the wisdom beyond. Some seemed half decent at it. Others were just plain scammers and showmen. Others were truly talented. Was Jixel of the latter kind? Not really. It was Peekee who did the hard work. It was her familiar that powered the rules of her throws and their interpretations. In many ways, the ratfolk was just a conduit for the chicken's soul, but every day, she felt just that little bit stronger for their bond.
Damn. She kind of wanted to share her way of doing readings... but Peekee was off-limits. So infuriating!
Dapple grinned up at Jixel, a wolf's smile in a man's face even though he was clearly pleased to meet the ratkin. "Oh, you know how to read the change sticks? It's more of a hobby for me but our grandma was a real seer. She had real magic in her fortunes." He nodded, looking briefly back down at the sticks. "Yeah, it's good luck for someone." Dapple laughed good naturedly as he looked back up at Jixel. "Too bad I wasn't casting them for myself, right?"
After a few seconds of conversation, Cloud opened the door all the way and gestured for Ash, Jixel, and Illendur to go on in. "You're lucky, seems like she's having a good day," she murmured to Ash as he passed her.
Unlike Flow's place, Blaze's apartment was spare if well appointed. Her furniture matched, for one thing, and while it had seen better days it looked like the sort of set that might have once graced a Sea Ward mansion. Her decorating style might be called minimalist or it might have just been that she didn't care much for collecting stuff, but what she did have looked expensive.
The first room was a combination living room and office, a public space for someone who had frequent visitors. Her private quarters were no doubt in the rooms beyond and also no doubt off limits to all but a very few select individuals. Blaze herself was sitting behind a stout desk positioned so that if someone kicked down the door there would still be something large and heavy in between whoever was behind it and the outside. She was a shifter of early middle age, maybe a decade older than Ash, with a brush of vibrant red hair and fading scars on her face that hinted at old battles long since won.
She smiled at Ash as he came in, standing up to come around the desk to clasp hands with the group. "Ash! Long time no see! I hear you have a proposition for me. And you've brought new friends! I always love to meet new people." Unlike everyone else they'd met in Field Ward, she didn't give Illendur a second glance, either not caring he was a nobleman or pretending not to care.
Illendur, who remained uncharacteristically silent while Ash navigated his way with his people, nodded politely at Cloud and Dapple. Following Ash into the lair of Blaze, careful to let his friend take the lead. Meeting Blaze's grip and gaze, Illendur bowed his head in an honest gesture of respect, Thank you for taking the time to meet with us, Ash has something of a proposal which we think may interest you. Illendur, by the way, pleasure to make your acquaintance.
The man pulled Zander's note out of his pocket and quickly scanned down the page. "Uh... J'rr V'zz? He looked back up at the warforged's expressionless face. "What is that?"
"For now, it is sufficient to say that it is a way to build rapport." Zander's answer was true enough.
"I understand that you are experiencing both fear and anger. That is typical when one believes their life - and that of their mate and offspring - to be in danger. I do not take offense. I may be able to assist with your situation, if you are able to answer some questions accurately. Would that suffice?"
Zander's head quirked to one side.
"What is the nature of your business here in Throneport? Are you in any way connected to either the Daask or Tarkanan organizations, or involved in the smuggling of weapons into the Southern Ward of the city?"
She smiled at Ash as he came in, standing up to come around the desk to clasp hands with the group. "Ash! Long time no see! I hear you have a proposition for me. And you've brought new friends! I always love to meet new people." Unlike everyone else they'd met in Field Ward, she didn't give Illendur a second glance, either not caring he was a nobleman or pretending not to care.
"Always have an ear to the ground, right?" Ash smiled, clasping her hand firmly. "It's good to see you, Blaze. You probably already know I've been out and about with these folks. This is Jixel, and that's Illendur. We've come to see if you'd be willing to expand your territory to all of Burnt Inn Street... where the clinic is. We'd be willing to help you... relocate the Brands to less contentious territory, if you can figure out a way to do it that keeps them from retaliating against the clinic."
"For the clinic to survive, it needs to be neutral territory at best, or if not, under someone's protection. The Brands have been harassing the staff. They're just there to patch people up, people like... us. Shifters like Dive could really get some help there. And the Twelvedogs have the willpower and the strength to get it done, and the smarts to do it right. A little more territory to stretch your legs never hurts, right?"