Declan/Skylar - Field Ward - Evening
As she always did, she stretched out her awareness-- not keenly listening, as such, not focussing, but much in the way that some stars became visible when looking at the darkness in between points of light, so it was with conversation for her.
Skylar caught a few people looking at her and Declan. Maybe Declan's cloak and gaiter were just too nice, maybe she was too clean to be from around the way- nothing obvious, and nobody approached them, but she caught the looks. They were out of the Trollyard in a matter of minutes. The big square in between the Trolltower and the Troll Gate was overlooked by five separate towers, two blocky gatehouses that were practically independent forts in their own right, and supported by a pair of armories that were their own minor fortifications- no gang dared operate in the Yard.
The Guild of Butchers controlled the little neighborhood in the corner of the wall, and unlike the other abbatoirs in Field Ward this one did not reek of blood and mud and echo with the noise of frightened animals. It was too close to the beautiful manors in Sea Ward, and the rich and powerful old money folk who lived on the other side of the wall had prevailed upon the Guild to magically treat the air so the stink and the sound didn't carry.
But just minutes away from the watchful eye of the Guild and the Guard, the only real authority was invested in the gangs. Boltspring Alley, Trollwall Way, Flipcoin Alley, Twelvedog Court- they were all someone's territory. Around the fringes of the Yard, Skylar saw heavy Cyran influence- it was the same near all the gates, where the boatloads of refugees from Cyre had gathered and the Church, charitable foundations, and philanthropists had build real, solid buildings for the poor people fleeing the devastation of Cyre. So it was no surprise Boltspring Alley was held down by a crew wearing Cyran cloaks and gloves. They called themselves the Forgotten, youngsters (and not-so-youngsters) bitter about being locked out of Throneport and shoved into the lawless Ward outside the walls.
The Brands weren't so fashionable. They didn't have the benefit of philanthropic charity galas, Sovereign Host food banks, Path of Inspiration help groups, or any of the myriad other services provided for the refugees. They wore cast off clothes, carried knives with handles wrapped in rope or recycled leather, ate what they could scrounge or the little they could afford to buy from the market or food stalls. Skylar first noticed them when she spotted an emaciated middle aged man approach a knot of boys at the mouth of an alley. The boys weren't selling anything obvious- no food or goods to be seen- but the man handed over something, one of the other boys turned south and flashed some hand signals, and the man walked off in the direction the signaler had signed.
They didn't try to hide what they were doing, it was just that in the general crush of people on the street and the general noise and confusion of the Ward it was hard to see unless you were looking for it. Which Skylar was.
Ash/Jixel/Illendur/Zander, Dock Ward - Evening
With a final glance at the others to make sure they didn't run off without him, Ash hopped down off the wall to cast about and see if he could pick up that weird smell again, maybe stronger this time.
Following the intriguing smell of... something, Ash the cat made its way down the alley. Under the smell of... whatever it was, cat-Ash realized he was walking blithely down another cat's spot. More than one. And food. More than Ash expected to smell just sitting out in the open in one place.
Oh, whatever that smell was liked to feed cats! It wasn't a colony- the cats scents were too disparate for that; they didn't share a common sleeping space- so they just all happened to regularly eat here. Ash saw them before they saw him. At the far end of the alley half a dozen cats were visible, looking in the direction of a young woman whose skin strobed with ultraviolet stripes. She was cutting up a fish and tossing chunks of it to the other cats, even toward cats cat-Ash couldn't see around the corner.
She looked up as Ash the cat approached, her eyes slit just like his. "Oh, are you new? I don't know you, sir. Oooo you're a pretty boy. Where'd you come from?" Cat-Ash heard her in his ears but also heard her on another level. The girl's words twigged the parts of the cat's brain that read body language and scent, too. Even if he'd been a regular cat, Ash was sure he would have understood.
Well. That was interesting, and unexpected.
Ash paused, eyeing the young woman carefully. Were tieflings able to speak with cats? Or just this one? How wondrous, if so! Was this who he'd been looking for? Could she understand him, too?
It wasn't hard to decide to test that theory. What was there to lose?
Ash sat, staring at her with half-lidded eyes, and tailtip curling. Who are you? he thought, enunciating each word clearly in his inner voice - just in case.
Whether that worked or not, he fully intended to go see where she lived, if he could have a look - or sniff - about.
Great. Now Jixel was stuck in a conversation with a... you know. How did this woman correctly assume that the ratfolk wasn't "interested"? Mmm, maybe she was good at reading people. Better at reading people than Jixel was right now. What good was a rat that couldn't find one beggar! A vagrant of easily identifiable race, too!
She tried to smile, but found this whole situation a bit tense and foreign. It felt intimidating.
"I'm sorry I bothered you. Ya know how it is? Some friends have good luck. Others, less so."
There, that was alright wasn't it? She answered both questions in one hit!
"What time does it usually quieten down around here? Sure is pumping tonight, eh?"
Yes, bore her with small talk and plan a retreat... actually, where was Zander when you needed him? And Ash too? Where had the shifty shifter shifted to this time? Jixel was pretty sure she could get him enlisted... given that he was doing all her work for her. This thought actually made the ratfolk wonder, what else was Ash good at that she was unawares of? Cooking? Men who could cook were kind of desirable... unless they liked cooking poultry.
"What in Khyber do we do now?" Declan complained to Skylar in a low voice. "I can't get anything out of this crowd."
He wasn't used to this. The press of unwashed masses, the general din of the crowd. At least at those fancy Lyrandar galas, one could actually hear oneself think. But those also came with added... baggage.
Yes, bore her with small talk and plan a retreat... actually, where was Zander when you needed him? And Ash too? Where had the shifty shifter shifted to this time? Jixel was pretty sure she could get him enlisted... given that he was doing all her work for her. This thought actually made the ratfolk wonder, what else was Ash good at that she was unawares of? Cooking? Men who could cook were kind of desirable... unless they liked cooking poultry.
Zander happened to be standing just a few feet away, with Illendur, but he did not appear to consider himself close enough to be engaged in the conversation. From what Jixel could tell - assuming Jixel were to actually look over at the big warforged - Zander was simply [i]watching[/g] the street around them.
Declan/Skylar - Field Ward - Evening
She had lost her touch. No, she'd grown up. Carved a living that was, after a fashion, as honest as it could be. She had been told that disguises and blending in wasn't for them, and she agreed. She could lurk in a shadow, but she had made a name on her honesty and straightforwardness. She had neither time nor energy to be something that she was not.
The gangs. Oh, the gangs. What her life might have been, had Theon not found her. The filth was sometimes a choice. Too clean, and you were suspect. There was a strange unity and fraternal pride in different shades of dirt, in wearing it, in existing in it. It scored a hard line of separation between the cutters and the toffs. Finding one's sense of security oftentimes lay in punching up, or in some cases, devising a creative contraption that could blast a ball of fire up instead.
A shiver scurried the length of her spine when when her gaze caught the remnants of Cyre. Traveler's Bones, there was a terrible thing. The Forgotten. She felt a pang of sympathy for any of the youth who had joined a gang for survival's sake, but the people of Cyre had won a particular place in her hard heart. There was damned, and there was forsaken. Or, in their case, Forgotten.
Then there were the Brands.
She knew that hungry look. Hunger from empty stomachs, and from something else.
"We follow them," Skylar murmured to Declan. "Carefully. Keep your eyes on that man. Kids like them, they'll cut you thrice before you even blink. And they know where it'll hurt most."
Jixel/Illendur/Zander - Dock Ward - Evening
"I'm sorry I bothered you. Ya know how it is? Some friends have good luck. Others, less so."
There, that was alright wasn't it? She answered both questions in one hit!
"What time does it usually quieten down around here? Sure is pumping tonight, eh?"
Yes, bore her with small talk and plan a retreat... actually, where was Zander when you needed him? And Ash too? Where had the shifty shifter shifted to this time? Jixel was pretty sure she could get him enlisted... given that he was doing all her work for her. This thought actually made the ratfolk wonder, what else was Ash good at that she was unawares of? Cooking? Men who could cook were kind of desirable... unless they liked cooking poultry.
The scantily clad woman smiled. "Oh cutie, you're not botherin' me." She had glanced at Ash as the big cat stalked past but no one in Throneport could pay attention to every cat they saw throughout the day, there were just too many. "What time does it quiet down?" She shrugged. "Two? Three? A lot of these guys have to report back to their ship for morning watch at the fourth bell." She laughed. "Party all night then have a b*&@% of a morning standing watch. Sounds like Khyber itself to me, but then I'm not a sailor."
"Not from around here, then? Where you from, hon?"
Ash - Dock Ward alley - Evening
Well. That was interesting, and unexpected.
Ash paused, eyeing the young woman carefully. Were tieflings able to speak with cats? Or just this one? How wondrous, if so! Was this who he'd been looking for? Could she understand him, too?
It wasn't hard to decide to test that theory. What was there to lose?
Ash sat, staring at her with half-lidded eyes, and tailtip curling. Who are you? he thought, enunciating each word clearly in his inner voice - just in case.
Whether that worked or not, he fully intended to go see where she lived, if he could have a look - or sniff - about.
"You're a big, curious boy, aren't you?" The girl grinned at him and tossed a chunk of fish in his direction. Ash was big enough none of the other cats went for it but he could tell the additional competition was unwelcome. "I am a friend. No one here's gonna hurt you or try to catch you."
She watched as cat-Ash didn't pounce immediately on the fish. "You're definitely well fed, though. Are you someone's pet out for a stroll?"
Declan/Skylar - Field Ward Flipcoin Alley- Evening
The kids didn't follow the man down the Flipcoin Alley. Skylar didn't catch the exact meaning of all the hand signals but she knew in general what some of them meant. The rail-thin man had paid for 3 of something; now he was going to where he would get it.
It wasn't hard to follow him- he wasn't making any effort at stealth and moved about as well you'd expect of a malnourished middle aged man.
The kids didn't take much notice of the pair as they entered Flipcoin Alley. Even here there was enough activity that they might have a reason to be going deeper into Brands territory.
The buyer walked to a house built right up against the city wall that had another knot of young men sitting outside it. Skylar saw them exchange some words and they clasped hands, likely handing over the 3 of whatever it was he had purchased. He tottered back toward Declan and Sky for a few seconds before veering off to the west down another crooked alley.
Ash - Dock Ward alley - Evening
"You're a big, curious boy, aren't you?" The girl grinned at him and tossed a chunk of fish in his direction. Ash was big enough none of the other cats went for it but he could tell the additional competition was unwelcome. "I am a friend. No one here's gonna hurt you or try to catch you."
She watched as cat-Ash didn't pounce immediately on the fish. "You're definitely well fed, though. Are you someone's pet out for a stroll?"
Ash's ears pricked forward. Why are you feeding cats? he wondered, a tiny bit wary. There were a lot of odd folk in the city, and some took their meat where they could get it.
Wouldn't that be a fine mess to get into!
But it didn't make sense to be chunking up perfectly good fish for cats if you were hungry yourself.
He ventured closer on soft paws, looking curiously around. Was there a crate here?
Is this where you live? Are you a tiefling?
"We follow them," Skylar murmured to Declan. "Carefully. Keep your eyes on that man. Kids like them, they'll cut you thrice before you even blink. And they know where it'll hurt most."
Declan nodded as they continued deeper into Brand territory. He still wasn't entirely sure what they were looking for. Something to take advantage of? A weak point to exploit?
"This narcotics exchange seems like it could be a pressure point," he whispered to Sky, "Particularly if it is their only source of income."
"This narcotics exchange seems like it could be a pressure point," he whispered to Sky, "Particularly if it is their only source of income."
Ash - Dock Ward alley - Evening
Ash's ears pricked forward. Why are you feeding cats? he wondered, a tiny bit wary. There were a lot of odd folk in the city, and some took their meat where they could get it.
Wouldn't that be a fine mess to get into!
But it didn't make sense to be chunking up perfectly good fish for cats if you were hungry yourself.
She smiled at him. "I like to make friends. I love curious kitties. You go everywhere and nobody ever sees you. And maybe one day I'll ask you if you've seen something somewhere. If you haven't, that's okay. But if you have, that's even better." The girl seemed to be telling him the truth. Why would she lie to a cat? It's not like they would be able to tell anyone what she told them.
He ventured closer on soft paws, looking curiously around. Was there a crate here?
Is this where you live? Are you a tiefling?
There was, in fact, a large wooden crate tucked back in the shadow of the building, covered by a sheltering corner of scrap sailcloth. From the strong smell of her all around, she had been living in it for at least a few days.
The girl cocked her head at cat-Ash. "Oh you are somebody's pet, aren't you?" She looked around, wiping off her knife as she rose to a crouch looking ready to run or fight. "Pet's not the right word, though, is it? Who's your master, big boy? What does she want with me?"
Picturing Jixel as his master made Ash sneeze - partly with mirth, and partly with indignation. The ratfolk is not my master, he began to lecture mentally, before realizing that she'd implied he was a familiar.
Oh! You don't need to run, we're not here to hurt you. I'm not a familiar. Jixel has a handkerchief for you. If you follow me, I'll take you to her. She's the ratfolk with the pet chicken. You can take a look at her and m-... and her friends from the alley if you want. She's with an elf and a warforged.
He paused, considering. Why are you living like this, out here, instead of at a children's home? Do you need help? And why do you want a handkerchief? And who is the lady you're so afraid of?
A bit of feline curiosity had rubbed off on him after all, it seemed.
[quote=Declan nodded as they continued deeper into Brand territory. He still wasn't entirely sure what they were looking for. Something to take advantage of? A weak point to exploit?
"This narcotics exchange seems like it could be a pressure point," he whispered to Sky, "Particularly if it is their only source of income."
"Perhaps," Skylar murmured. "We need to know more. Something about the supply chain, where it comes from. See what rivals they have. We have to find something that will scare the Brands away, or put them off the charity clinic. Could be divisions within. I want to learn more about that house."
Jixel seemed to be stuck in a conversation now, and actually it wasn't as unpleasant as she'd expected! Quite the opposite, and the nice lady had been very open with her information too. It wasn't like there was a big rush on finding the tiefling girl, so why not make a new friend out here? You never knew when you needed an ally on these streets, right?
The real question, was whether she should lie?
"Oh, I'm from Estaby! Still getting used to Throneport to be honest. I've made some good friends here though, so that's been good. You born and bred ere?"
Actually, the ratfolk could feel some pretty serious questions brewing, but decided not to just hop right on in...
Ash - Dock Ward alley - Evening
Picturing Jixel as his master made Ash sneeze - partly with mirth, and partly with indignation. The ratfolk is not my master, he began to lecture mentally, before realizing that she'd implied he was a familiar.
Oh! You don't need to run, we're not here to hurt you. I'm not a familiar. Jixel has a handkerchief for you. If you follow me, I'll take you to her. She's the ratfolk with the pet chicken. You can take a look at her and m-... and her friends from the alley if you want. She's with an elf and a warforged.
The tiefling girl's attitude totally changed as she relaxed. She smiled at cat-Ash again and tucked her knife into a simple work sheath on her hip- it looked like something that would be more at home on a carpenter's belt, and given the situation it probably had been at one point. "Oh! You should have said so before! I've been waiting for your your little friend for days! Is she nearby? Yes, take me to her please, Mr. Cat. We didn't realize Jixel could talk to animals like this. Interesting."
She tossed the rest of the fish into the shadows, where the other cats mobbed it now that they didn't have to be polite. The tiefling scrubbed her fish-smelling hands off on the sailcloth scrap rigged to keep rain off her crate-house and turned to follow cat-Ash away from her little fort.
He paused, considering. Why are you living like this, out here, instead of at a children's home? Do you need help? And why do you want a handkerchief? And who is the lady you're so afraid of?
A bit of feline curiosity had rubbed off on him after all, it seemed.
"What a little gentleman you are, Mr. Cat. I appreciate it, but you don't need to worry about me. As for the handkerchief, just say it's for a little game." The tiefling girl grinned at Ash the cat, looking like she'd just told a funny joke.
She gestured back down the alley. "Lead on, Mr. Cat. I look forward to meeting Jixel and her friends. I've heard so much about them!"
Jixel/Illendur/Zander - Dock Ward - Evening
Jixel seemed to be stuck in a conversation now, and actually it wasn't as unpleasant as she'd expected! Quite the opposite, and the nice lady had been very open with her information too. It wasn't like there was a big rush on finding the tiefling girl, so why not make a new friend out here? You never knew when you needed an ally on these streets, right?
The real question, was whether she should lie?
"Oh, I'm from Estaby! Still getting used to Throneport to be honest. I've made some good friends here though, so that's been good. You born and bred ere?"
Actually, the ratfolk could feel some pretty serious questions brewing, but decided not to just hop right on in...
The woman laughed. "Bred AND born right here!" She looked at her neighbor leaning against a nearby doorframe, pointing at Jixel. "Didja hear that, Taris? Bred and born! Right here!" The neighbor chuckled, smiling at Jixel's new friend, but didn't seem to find the joke as funny as she did.
Jixel's friend shook her head at the apparent disinterest of her coworker. "Nobody appreciates me," she laughed. "Anyway, you're from Estaby. I knew a boy from Estaby. Gave me a pearl necklace that turned out to be worth less than he even was." She beamed at Jixel. "Why'd you come to Throneport? I hear there's good money to be made in Estaby."
Declan/Skylar - Field Ward Flipcoin Alley- Evening
"Perhaps," Skylar murmured. "We need to know more. Something about the supply chain, where it comes from. See what rivals they have. We have to find something that will scare the Brands away, or put them off the charity clinic. Could be divisions within. I want to learn more about that house."
Skylar knew a little about the house and a little more about the neighborhood. In between the areas around the gates where the Butchers had their stockyards and slaughterhouses and Cyran refugees had been put up in blocks of solidly built buildings, Field Ward was a mishmash of building types, qualities, and materials. Buildings fashioned from hand out of scrap wood leaned up against ones designed by engineers and made of stone. There were even neighborhoods built around tree houses where the area outside Throneport's gates had once been shaded by the leaves of trees too old and stout to give way to a refugee's hungry axe.
Flipcoin Alley was one of the older neighborhoods in between the Cyran enclaves, with the very first buildings built right up against the city's high stone spellclad walls. The buildings were mostly made of wood, from planks made from trees felled within sight of the watchtowers. That made them some of the most permanent and well built structures in the Ward, but without regular maintenance time had taken its toll. Most of the buildings in Flipcoin Alley were habitable but that was about the best that could be said of them. And many weren't even that. These abandoned old homes were frequently used as flophouses and drug dens, and the one at the end of the dead end where the man had gone was a well known place to get high and be relatively safe since you were in the middle of gang territory. As long as you bought from the Brands you could mostly count on being left alone and chances were good you'd wake up with whatever you'd had in your pockets when you passed out.
You basically just confirm what Idrassa's dossier said. It works like this:
1) someone approaches the spot and is usually spotted by a lookout before getting to the first corner boy
2) the buyer gives the corner boy their money and the kid signals up the street that they've paid and what they paid for- there's usually at least 1 other kid here hanging out and making sure the money is protected
3) the buyer heads up the street to a second person who's holding the drugs- usually a small amount of drugs are hidden near this second corner boy, so there's usually at least 1 or 2 older kids at this second location to protect the small stash
4) the corner stashes are restocked at least once a night from a central stash house in the middle of Flipcoin Alley
If you set up in a good location you can observe 2 separate corners and a couple of clusters of flophouses where people go to get high as described above this spoiler.
With your Perception checks you can follow/spy/notice where the corner resupply comes from- it's a house covered by the "lle" of "Flipcoin Alley" on the interactive map. The house is guarded by a handful of Brands hanging out on the front stoop.
Let me know if that's not enough to go on or if you want more specifics.
Declan leaned back on his haunches. The night was waning and he thought they had seen all the could see. Their little perch on the disused balcony had served them well. It was out of the way enough to not draw attention, but had a line of sight to what they needed.
"Smart setup," he said, "For the kids. Easy to protect their income, but also easy to rob the unwary." There were, of course, benefits of not robbing people. Word of mouth and such. But if they wanted to, it would be trivial to send someone on a wild goose chase for their next fix.
He sighed and looked over to his partner. "I want to see what other security they have at that warehouse," he commented. "If they've neglected the back or their patrols are light it could be an option."
He considered their options as he looked into the smoggy night. "I could be barking up the wrong tree, too. We need to get them off the clinic, so maybe just giving them a better offer would work?" This wasn't his wheelhouse, so he would lean on Skylar's opinion.
Jixel/Illendur/Zander - Dock Ward - Evening
Jixel seemed to be stuck in a conversation now, and actually it wasn't as unpleasant as she'd expected! Quite the opposite, and the nice lady had been very open with her information too. It wasn't like there was a big rush on finding the tiefling girl, so why not make a new friend out here? You never knew when you needed an ally on these streets, right?
The real question, was whether she should lie?
"Oh, I'm from Estaby! Still getting used to Throneport to be honest. I've made some good friends here though, so that's been good. You born and bred ere?"
Actually, the ratfolk could feel some pretty serious questions brewing, but decided not to just hop right on in...
The woman laughed. "Bred AND born right here!" She looked at her neighbor leaning against a nearby doorframe, pointing at Jixel. "Didja hear that, Taris? Bred and born! Right here!" The neighbor chuckled, smiling at Jixel's new friend, but didn't seem to find the joke as funny as she did.
Jixel's friend shook her head at the apparent disinterest of her coworker. "Nobody appreciates me," she laughed. "Anyway, you're from Estaby. I knew a boy from Estaby. Gave me a pearl necklace that turned out to be worth less than he even was." She beamed at Jixel. "Why'd you come to Throneport? I hear there's good money to be made in Estaby."
Illendur, glad the focus was off him for a moment, appraised the situation, and watched Jixel work on the professionals, trying to prise the information they sought from them. If only my damn coin hadn't gone missing, I'd be able to pay them easily for answers, but maybe she'll have better luck. He silently scanned the street, keeping his eyes open for anything happening around them, and idly wondering where Ash'd gotten off to. Actually, where is Ash? Haven't seen him in twenty minutes or more, maybe he's having better luck than we are. He scanned to check on Zander's position in the square, seeing the warforged, he knew they'd be okay for this simple information gathering, and obviously too well-armed for any small shenanigans which may ensue.
Zander did, indeed, give off something of a "the crowd flows around this one" vibe as he stood nearby. Not close enough to be crowding the conversation, but near enough that the parting of the streams of traffic around him left his companions "in the eddies," and mostly undisturbed by passersby.
Ash - Dock Ward alley - Evening
"What a little gentleman you are, Mr. Cat. I appreciate it, but you don't need to worry about me. As for the handkerchief, just say it's for a little game." The tiefling girl grinned at Ash the cat, looking like she'd just told a funny joke.
She gestured back down the alley. "Lead on, Mr. Cat. I look forward to meeting Jixel and her friends. I've heard so much about them!"
That was an odd thing to say. Why would this child be keeping tabs on a few adventurers?
Deciding that he'd said enough, and his questions were more telling than her non-answers, he led the girl back to the alley abutting the area where Jixel and the others were, then hopped a fence and made himself scarce. What he really wanted was a bird's eye view... or rather, a cat's eye view, from a nearby rooftop.
Ash - Dock Ward alley - Evening
Deciding that he'd said enough, and his questions were more telling than her non-answers, he led the girl back to the alley abutting the area where Jixel and the others were, then hopped a fence and made himself scarce. What he really wanted was a bird's eye view... or rather, a cat's eye view, from a nearby rooftop.
The tiefling waved as Ash the cat escaped. "Bye, Mr. Cat! Come see me if you ever want to talk!" She looked out at the milling crowd, easily spotting Zander as the stream of drunks and varied entrepreneurs split around him like water around a stone.
Jixel/Illendur/Zander (and Ash?)- Dock Ward - Evening
A tiefling girl walked out of a nearby alley and right up to Zander, like a dinghy floating up to a lighthouse. From his experience with nascent humanoids, she looked like she could be anywhere from late childhood to early adolescence. She certainly didn't look like the kind of humanoid generally expected to care for themselves or be out this late into the evening. She smiled up at the golden skinned warforged, though, seemingly comfortable with her surroundings.
"Hi! Your friend Mr. Cat said you and," she looked around, quickly spotting Illendur and Jixel nearby, "Jixel and Illendur were looking for me. I've been wanting to meet you. There aren't many warforged as pretty as you. What were you made for, I wonder? Or is it rude to ask that? Most of the warforged I've met have been pretty obviously designed for one task or another but you... whoever made you was an artist."
"Your name is no clue. 'Child daredevil.' You named yourself in dwarvish? Or did someone give you that name? So strange." Whoever the tiefling girl was, she definitely knew who Zander was. As well as his friends. And she certainly had her share of questions.
Illendur looked startled as the young teifling approached Zander directly and called them all out by name, but his training and upbringing helped him to quickly recover and push past the surprise. Greetings, not often we're tasked with a small delivery to someone who knows us, but we don't. What do you prefer to be called? As you know, I'm Illendur. WHo is this child, wait, are they what they appear to be? Well-informed and confident- maybe not what they appear. he smiled at the apparent girl, calm and confident in the evening square.
Zander did another of those head tilts of his. Not the one that usually accompanied questions, but the rarer one that seemed to replace what a humanoid with eyelids would call "blinking." Based on context, those very few who knew Zander well enough might suspect that that particular motion indicated that the Warforged was taken aback.
"Wurzander," he said, after a moment "yes. My friend gave me this name. He seemed to think it appropriate, and I have come to find it..." Zander paused, and his head straightened again, "feels correct." He gave the young humanoid a nod.
"I do not know what I was 'built for,'" he added, "but one day, I will fly."
It was at that moment that Illendur entered the conversation, which prevented Zander from asking the questions he had about the humanoid female, and so he waited to see what would happen next.
Jixel/Illendur/Zander (and Ash?)- Dock Ward - Evening
Zander did another of those head tilts of his. Not the one that usually accompanied questions, but the rarer one that seemed to replace what a humanoid with eyelids would call "blinking." Based on context, those very few who knew Zander well enough might suspect that that particular motion indicated that the Warforged was taken aback.
"Wurzander," he said, after a moment "yes. My friend gave me this name. He seemed to think it appropriate, and I have come to find it..." Zander paused, and his head straightened again, "feels correct." He gave the young humanoid a nod.
"I do not know what I was 'built for,'" he added, "but one day, I will fly."
The tiefling girl cocked her head like a curious bird. "You'll fly?" She took a step to the side and craned her neck to look around at Zander's back. "Do you have wings? Or... those crystals. Are they magic?" The girl looked up at Zander's faceplate, delight plain on her face, at least to those who could easily read humanoid facial expressions. "So cool," she breathed.
It was at that moment that Illendur entered the conversation, which prevented Zander from asking the questions he had about the humanoid female, and so he waited to see what would happen next.
Illendur looked startled as the young teifling approached Zander directly and called them all out by name, but his training and upbringing helped him to quickly recover and push past the surprise. Greetings, not often we're tasked with a small delivery to someone who knows us, but we don't. What do you prefer to be called? As you know, I'm Illendur. WHo is this child, wait, are they what they appear to be? Well-informed and confident- maybe not what they appear. he smiled at the apparent girl, calm and confident in the evening square.
The girl- at about five feet tall and scrawny as a fawn under her scavenged clothes, she definitely looked like a girl and not a woman to Illendur and Jixel- ripped her adoring look away from Zander to turn to Illendur. She smiled at his question. "Most people just call me Rosie." Her skin was pale pink, making it easy to see where the nickname had come from. She nodded at Illendur, glancing over at Jixel. "We definitely appreciate you doing a favor for us. Do you have the trinket with you?"
Jixel understood this chatty woman's joke, but it took a moment to figure out how exactly to react! Openly admitting a... well... somewhat sordid past, wasn't a familiar way of going about things for her. Indeed, the ratfolk's past wasn't squeaky clean either, but in Jixel's case, it was no joke. She chuckled though, trying to fit in as best she could.
"Oh you know, I kind of wanted a change. This place has kind of felt more lucky, actually! Anyway..."
She turned to quickly check that Zander and Illendur hadn't done a disappearing act too, and was quite surprised to see them chatting with a young girl! Was that... her? It must be!
Looking back to the nice street-lady, Jixel then nodded.
"Oh, my friends, it looks like I'd better go, before they get into any trouble hehe. It was nice talking to you! Hope to meet you again some time!"
Jixel then attempted a gracious retreat, and hopped over to the warforged's side.
"Hello, hello! Are you the nice Miss that we were sent to meet? It has been quite an experience finding you."
She summoned a ratty smile, having heard the tail end of their conversation. A favor? Was that what this was? Hopefully one of the paid variety!
"I'm Jixel, and oh yes, I do believe we have the thing, the delivery."
The ratfolk hesitated a moment, awaiting the girl's reaction, before moving to retract the little piece of cloth.
The ingenuity of the people of Throneport would have surprised a newcomer, but not Skylar. Her reaction was, of course. Pressure made diamonds, or so the saying went, except here, the diamonds were honed into shanks. Every scrap of available space would be consumed as needs arose, which they oftentimes did. There was much making do.
Skylar had observed thusly:
One lad, whom she had nicknamed Bones for his gangly figure, was the lookout. Might have been for his height. His hat was altogether too big for him, but settled about his ears. He had a few years’ growth yet. He would espy a potential buyer before they reached the corner boy.
Corner boy was a girl. Skylar knew; if anyone asked how she knew, she would have given them a pointed look. Her straw-coloured hair, hidden largely under her cap, was shorn short. Hayfield had a smattering of freckles that spilled over her cheekbones and the bridge of her nose. She took the coin and signalled another gang member further up the street that they’d paid.
The collector was a hard-nosed lad. Literally, perhaps. Someone had landed a blow there, enough that Nails had a subtle bulge where the break had been, but oh, you should have seen the other bugger. Tough as nails, if nails were adamantine. Nails lurked along with Joints, who gave the impression of moving with his elbows and knees before everything else. Hard eyes on the both of them. Joints had weight to him.
Then there was the other corner boy. This one, Skylar named Knuckles. He was always pressing on them, cracking them, pulling his fingers to stretch them out. This was to the annoyance of the lad accompanying him, Thorns. There wasn’t anything to him that had screamed Thorns, except that he seemed prickly in a lie-in-wait sort of way. His annoyance was expressed by the flash of his eyes every time Knuckles popped his joints, not to be confused with Joints. His mouth would twitch. There was a fuse there, yes, but…it was a long one. And Thorns didn’t seem the type to let the others know what crept under his skin.
Knuckles and Thorns were standing by the stash.
She hadn’t named the kids that were resupplying aforementioned stash. Nor the Brands lingering by the building entrance.
She had supplied Declan with a much briefer version of her observations. Ironically, her moniker had been Sky for the colour of her hair, not because other gangs had known her name up front.
“We would need to intercept their supply chain long enough that they’d panic,” she said softly. “By the comings and goings…we could slip in there for an hour. Two at most." She rocked back, staring off, as though the plan were assembling in the air before her. "We would have to interrupt the supply, first. Follow their delivery lad back to the source. Might be impressionable enough to scare. We'll see. Then we clear the warehouse of as much product as we can reasonably take. Enough to make them hurt. Make buyers angry. Addicts like that get stroppy when denied."
She met his gaze again. "We'll have to watch a bit longer. Figure out the supplier. Then report back."
She had supplied Declan with a much briefer version of her observations. Ironically, her moniker had been Sky for the colour of her hair, not because other gangs had known her name up front.
“We would need to intercept their supply chain long enough that they’d panic,” she said softly. “By the comings and goings…we could slip in there for an hour. Two at most." She rocked back, staring off, as though the plan were assembling in the air before her. "We would have to interrupt the supply, first. Follow their delivery lad back to the source. Might be impressionable enough to scare. We'll see. Then we clear the warehouse of as much product as we can reasonably take. Enough to make them hurt. Make buyers angry. Addicts like that get stroppy when denied."
She met his gaze again. "We'll have to watch a bit longer. Figure out the supplier. Then report back."
Declan sucked his teeth in thought as he watched the young gang in their little hustle. "I'd rather not get directly involved, if I can help it. If there is a window on the back side of the building we can get in, there's no need to assault someone who would likely have backup nearby." He looked to Skylar, "We are unlikely to intimidate any runner they have, and he would probably be supported. Else some junkie could do the same for a free fix."[/b]
His gaze drifted to the warehouse, "No, there must be a more subtle way to access that building. All we need to do is cause a little chaos. An inconvenient tipped lantern, for example."
He stood then, extending a hand to Skylar, "Come on, I want to see the rest of that building."
Jixel/Illendur/Zander (and Ash?)- Dock Ward - Evening
"Oh, my friends, it looks like I'd better go, before they get into any trouble hehe. It was nice talking to you! Hope to meet you again some time!"
Jixel then attempted a gracious retreat, and hopped over to the warforged's side.
"Come back anytime, hon." She glanced at Illendur. "We'll have more fun without your boyfriend."
"Hello, hello! Are you the nice Miss that we were sent to meet? It has been quite an experience finding you."
She summoned a ratty smile, having heard the tail end of their conversation. A favor? Was that what this was? Hopefully one of the paid variety!
"I'm Jixel, and oh yes, I do believe we have the thing, the delivery."
The ratfolk hesitated a moment, awaiting the girl's reaction, before moving to retract the little piece of cloth.
Rosie looked at Jixel and took a few steps back and to the side to keep all three of the Trollskullers in her line of sight. It seemed more like habit than calculation but told a sad story about a girl's life on the street. She smiled at Jixel when the ratfolk took a second to pull out the handkerchief, cocking her head like a bird. "Oh, were you..."
The tiefling girl stopped grinned at Jixel when the hankie came out. "Oh excellent!" She took a pair of quick steps up to Jixel, angling so that the ratfolk was in between herself and Illendur, and put out her hand.
Now about as curious about the mysterious "us" the girl kept referencing as a cat could survive, Ash crouched on his perch, getting ready to follow the girl when she left. Circumspectly!
Jixel wasn't about to try anything suspect, not with such a cute young thing! The prospect of asking about payment had dwindled away too. Was that why they used the tiefling? Who could ask such a poor little soul who lived on the streets... presumably, to pay up right away? Then she remembered the Tabaxi, the one who'd initiated this job. The handkerchief collector was only going to be here for a short while. Hopefully that meant that young Rosie had a better home, somewhere.
The ratfolk smiled, and from her pocket pulled out the gift. Before handing it over, she folded it as neatly as she could.
"Please don't worry, it has been freshly laundered, and hasn't been used. I hope it turns out to be all that you had hoped."
Mmm, Jixel had questions... but would hand it over first. Get the business out of the way.
Jixel/Illendur/Zander/Ash- Dock Ward - Evening
The girl smiled at Jixel, about eye to eye with the diminutive ratfolk. "It just needs to be identifiable." Rosie glanced down at the handkerchief and her smile turned into a mischievous grin as she looked back up and squirreled the hankie away into a pocket. Rosie cocked her head at Jixel in that same bird-like manner. "I'm supposed to tell you to take a second look at the cheese order you're getting in the morning."
"It was so nice to meet you! Good luck with your tavern!" Rosie looked over at Zander. "I'll see you around!" With that, the tiefling girl started turning to walk away.
Illendur watched the girl walk away, Okay, I'm confused, what just happened there? I guess we go back to Trollskull?
"Cheese order... oh thank you! Be well my friend!
Jixel smiled as Rosie made her retreat, and although the ratfolk was curious and wanted to know more about the little project manager, she let her go. This was business after all, and with a bit of luck maybe they'd be meeting again one day.
Exhaling, Jixel then bobbed her head up and down a few times, a gesture of understanding and general contentedness.
"That went rather well I think. She's nice, yes? Umm, Illendur, I think that Rosie is quite possibly more than she appears to be. Definitely a good employee of my mutual... umm...work-agent in Throneport. So, did someone order cheese, and there is going to be some kind of treat in the package? What treat could be greater than cheese haha! I hope I can sleep tonight... hard and tasty, yellow or orange, soft with a crust? Mmm, exciting times! Trollskull? Yes, I'm ready. Is Ash about? Congratulations are in order, given that he obtained the hanky after all, hehe."
Zander had many questions of his own, but the Rosie-humanoid had said that she would "see him around." That phrase also drew its share of questions, but Zander had come to understand that it implied further interactions would be forthcoming at some later point.
For now, that would be satisfactory.
"It would seem inadvisable to remain standing here," Zander said, in answer to Illendur's questions. "Unless we wished to re-engage in conversation with the female humanoids standing over there." Zander indicated the ladies Jixel had been speaking with previously. "It may, in fact, be tactically prudent to engage in some form of interaction or business transaction prior to leaving the area, as the interaction we just engaged in with the Rosie-humanoid seems to have been plainly visible, and leaving now would indicate quite strongly to any observer that the purpose of our visit was solely to engage with the Rosie-humanoid."
Illendur ponders what Zander's said, nodding slowly, before he turns back to the two women, Ladies, I'm wondering if you can tell me something, I'm looking for sailor's taverns around here? Can you point me in that direction? My damn coin purse sure would help here...Annoying, but we succeeded
Ash- Dock Ward alley - Evening
Rosie slipped through the much taller and larger adults in the square, many of whom prudently put their hands on their coin pouch if they noticed the out of place child moving swiftly through the crowd. The tiefling girl darted back into the alley where Ash had first found her and was soon settled back in the crate under her makeshift rain fly.
Jixel/Illendur/Zander - Dock Ward - Evening
Illendur ponders what Zander's said, nodding slowly, before he turns back to the two women, Ladies, I'm wondering if you can tell me something, I'm looking for sailor's taverns around here? Can you point me in that direction? My damn coin purse sure would help here...Annoying, but we succeeded
The second woman currently had her arms draped around a young sailor's neck while she whispered something in his ear but Jixel's new friend frowned, sighed, and leaned back against the building, displaying a gratuitous expanse of skin. "I could tell you lots of things, my lord. Show you some, too. Are you sure you want to go to some smelly tavern with a bunch of drunk, stinking sailors?" She gestured at the front door of her own establishment. "We have any kind of drink you could name. Better quality than the swill you'd get at the Blushing Mermaid or the Full Sails, too."
Illendur shakes his head ruefully, Trust me, I'd much rather come in for a ... drink here. But duty calls... he looks ruefully at the interior of the place, Perhaps tomorrow I'll be back? He looks to the others, Anyone have a few coins for our new friends here? I seem to have misplaced mine at the moment...
Ash- Dock Ward alley - Evening
Idrassa - North Ward - Trollskull Manor
Idrassa sat at one of the main hall's tables, sheets of what appeared to be recently-scribed foolscap spread out across the table to dry. She had set aside her scholar's robe for a tunic and breeches, with a cloak hung over the back of the chair. She was busily copying over something from parchment onto a fresh sheet of foolscap.
But what grabbed any viewer's attention was the enormous snake that lay in heaping coils on the floor beside her. The body was covered with bright blue and red feathers, though a few plumes of yellow poked out where the edge of its underbelly was visible. The serpent body was adorned with a pair of wings set some distance behind the head. The latter rested in Idrassa's lap, eyes slitted contentedly.
Illendur shakes his head ruefully, Trust me, I'd much rather come in for a ... drink here. But duty calls... he looks ruefully at the interior of the place, Perhaps tomorrow I'll be back? He looks to the others, Anyone have a few coins for our new friends here? I seem to have misplaced mine at the moment...
Zander didn't have many needs that required money, and most of those were met by simply having somewhere to call home, which had become Trollskull Manor.
He held out a small belt pouch to Illendur. It clinked, softly.