"I'd be delighted to host a pre-gala cocktail party for all of you to attend." Izalco says at Cecilia's suggestion.
"And if you're all headed to the tailor now, than I might as well attend and give you all my considerable insight on the latest fashions. Lady Licinia I accept your invitation of the family carriage. I've an old injury and it will be good to rest my leg."
Izalco offers his elbow to his new found companion and tips a hat to the rest as they walk on toward the tailor.
Once seated comfortable and on their way, Izalco turns a mischievous eye on Kyralina and Cecilia with a smile.
"Would you believe I overheard a rumor about Qadirans kidnapping the Princess for murder at the Gala? Could you imagine? Eutropia would have them beaten bloody before they so much as touched a hair on her head."
Olnaris nods to Izalco, ”Sounds delightful! I’m sure your expertise will prove invaluable. ”
In the carriage, again in response to the same fashionable gentleman Olnaris says with barely restrained contempt, ”Well, it’s a shame she’s engaged to that bastard Pythareus. I must admit I am a biased source, but if he’s to be emperor, well, I fear that Taldor shall fall to a decline we can never recover from.”
With a conclusion to the discussion, everyone piles into the carriage and heads off to Thread Rare, with the exception of Tabar who is choosing to travel on foot.
Odd... why would they be following Lady Licinia?
Tabar follows the strange men as quietly as he can, staying back a little bit in order to (hopefully) prevent raising suspicion.
Olnaris shoots a sideways glance to Cecilia before saying to the group, ”Two men in the alley were paying little enough attention as to seem deliberately uninterested. We may have a less than warm reception on the other end.”
Kyralina looks shocked at Olnaris's revelation. "You think they mean to try and rob us? They would dare? I thought this was a respectable part of the city!"
She opens the sliding door used to communicate with the driver, instructing "Keep to the busy thoroughfares, if you will." Surely whoever was following them wouldn't dare anything in a crowded place.
"I'm sure Lady Lotheed has a number of adversaries, within her house and without. Perhaps they had been sent to discern the nature of our meeting."
Izalco seems unbothered by the news.
"I am sure they're harmless."
"This is a respectable part of the city, albeit a bit off the main thoroughfare." Cecilia doesn't look particularly concerned, but her eyebrows do knit together as she thinks through the most likely possibilities. "If they were going to rob us, they would have done it there, and had more people. If they were thinking of robbing us and changed their minds, they wouldn't have been lingering. I believe Izalco has the right of it, and they were spies interested in Lady Lotheed's activities."
"We plan to research our targets, I suspect her enemies would like to do the same." She leans back against the seat. "I would not go so far as to call them harmless, but I doubt they will interact with us directly. Still, we should keep an eye out for them. Or for anyone else conspicuously not looking at us."
Now that the spies have been pointed out, it's relatively easy for anyone to spot them during the journey to Thread Rare. They may slip out of sight here and there, but they always reappear at a respectable distance, and keep to themselves.
As you reach Thread Rare and exit the carriage, the two men take a position up on a corner and begin offering shoe shines for a silver, pulling out rags and brushes.
Tabar acts like he is nonchalantly looking at the services of the vendors nearby as he gets closer to the two... "shoe shiners"... keeping his ears pointed toward them as much as possible as he does to pick up any stray bits of conversation.
"This is the place, yeah?" the first one asks.
"Should be. They all got in the carriage and went over to Thread Rare. You got the flasks?"
"Oh yeah, yeah, in the kit box. Little bit of fire in a bottle, as they say. We just huck'em and run, as it were, soon as they're out of the carriage."
"We huck'em at the store?" the second one asks in confusion.
"No, you moron, we don't huck'em at the store, that's bloody Thread Rare there." The brains of the operation points at the carriage. "We huck'em at the carriage, then we scarper. We run off to our gold, and this lot walks home, right?"
"Right, right."
With this conversation ended, they get back to trying to get customers for their shoeshine business, though you notice they are very careful to never jostle the box they keep their 'supplies' in. At one point they actually get a customer, and you see them open the kit box to retrieve some polish. Though the box is only open for a moment, you catch sight of two very carefully packed vials of liquid that your studies help you identify, even at this distance, as alchemist's fire.
Cecilia notes the position of the two 'shoe shiners,' eyes narrowing slightly. She hadn't expected the men to actually follow them. If all they wanted to know was who Lady Lotheed's agents were, they already had that information. Were they waiting to see if the group went somewhere else after Thread Rare? Or perhaps hoping to ambush someone who went somewhere alone?
Like Tabar, for instance.
"We should stick together until we've lost those two," she murmurs as she enters the shop. "And go looking for Lord Ballast, if he doesn't arrive within a reasonable timeframe."
So... not just spies... but arsons... it seems someone does not want us to make the Gala... that said, it sounds like they did not notice me leaving and don't know I am associated. Tabar smiles, pulls the pin from his lapel and taps it. Warn the rest... folks following us are planning on burning the tailors. Get out. Once finished, he places it in his pocket, scuffing his shoes as he does so. Let me see if I can do something to prevent this.
Sitting down in their chair, he points to his boots. "Shine'em up good, boys. I'm feeling lucky..."
He gives the shiners a grin, tapping the box with his cane. "Come come, the polish won't pop out of the box by itself!"
Turning toward the tailors, he yawns and enunciates loudly, hoping that his companions might hear, "What is the matter, why haven't you started already! DO I HAVE TO LIGHT A FIRE TO GET SERVICE OR SOMETHING?" As he says this, he taps the box again with his cane as if to say hurry up.
"Yes, m'lord, that's what happens when you want to have the best oils and polishes for your clientele, you have to trade in delicate materials, but I should warn you, tis pricey stuff, that oil."
Despite their best efforts, these two are clearly lying through their teeth.
The interior of Thread Rare is busy, but a tailor will immediately come over to whoever enters. Once presented with the card and Lady Lotheed's introduction, they will immediately act as though they have been expecting you and begin taking anyone who is interested through various styles of formal wear.
Olnaris narrows his eyes. The charming air drops from his voice and his formerly refined vocabulary drops into something more like the gutter Taldan of Oppara as he says, "Now listen. They're gonna be waitin' for us when we come outta here. If they make a move, we strike fast, and we strike hard. Don't give 'em time to run. Got it?"
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Giving a huff, Tabar nods. "Very well, very well. I expect you to use some of those more expensive oils on my boots. I have an audience with my fiance's parents for dinner soon to discuss... well, I suppose the sordid affairs of the nobility would bore you at best. Suffice to say, between your shine and the new suit waiting for me at the tailor over yonder," he gestures to the Thread Rare idly with his cane, "I should be set to be a rather wealth man."
He gives them both a smile. "Wealthy enough to afford those 'pricey oils' you two are so worried over. So don't skimp. Show me what you have and what it can do."
They were planning to burn the store? And instead of calling the constabulary, Lady Lotheed expected them to 'handle' this? Not for the first time, Kyralina questions the wisdom of getting involved in this, but what could she do now? Lord Valkavian did not seemed concerned in the least, and his abrupt change of demeanor denoted at least some familiarity with the rougher aspects of life in the capital. Equally frightened and reassured, she grits her teeth and calls up memories of childhood squabbles with her sisters. She was quite ferocious at that age, before education and training polished those edges smooth, but she can easily recall her anger bubbling up to the surface over real or imagined grievances.
"Then let us deal with this right now, so we can shop in peace."
Upon receiving Tabar's message, Cecilia nearly stumbles over her own feet as she tries to process it. Burn down the shop?! Her mind whirls as she tries to figure out what they could possibly hope to accomplish. Do they want to scare the group out of attending the Gala? It seems an extremely inefficient way of going about it.
Then again, considering that the two supposed spies had no idea Tabar was one of them, 'inefficient' combined with 'grossly incompetent' might well be the answer.
Questions for later.
Greeting the tailor who walks over, she hands him Lady Lotheed's card. "As you can see, we're shopping for new outfits to wear to the Gala, and I am very much looking forward to perusing your wares. However, a...situation...has just come up. Would this shop happen to have a back door by any chance?" As an aside to the rest of the group, she adds, "If we can slip out the back, one or two of us could fetch the guards while the rest remain close enough to act should the ruffians make a move."
The tailor stops pointing out various fabrics, dresses and styles to answer Cecilia's question. "A back door? Why yes, madam, over there behind the cravats. We don't use it for much, though it is helpful when receiving shipments on occasion, and is kept cleaner than most for just such an occasion. Now, these dresses are Taldor interpretations on the latest Qadiran fashions, for those who would like a more exotic look..."
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The two "shoe shiners" look at each other as Tabar insists on the "pricey oils". "We'll get to you in just a minute, m'lord, allow me to confer with my business partner here." The two turn their back and have a hurried whispered conversation.
"You idiot, you had to sell up that stuff, and now 'e wants it!"
"So what if we use one bottle, we ain't gonna use all of it, are we?"
"Yeah, but what if it's ruined?"
"How can we ruin it, the stuff only works when the bottle breaks, right, coz of somethin' in the glass."
"Fine, fine, but you're the one what's gonna do the polishing, and then we get this job done and get our money."
Turning back to Tabar, shiner who had talked up the "oils" reaches into the box and carefully retrieves a bottle of Alchemist's fire. "Alright, m'lord, we'll get those boots all polished up for you and you can be off to your lady."
The "shiner" grabs a rag and opens the bottle of Alchemist's fire. As he does, a gout of flame shoots up approximately 20 feet into the sky, scorching the "shiner" and anyone immediately around him.
Wait... they aren't that stupid, are they... no... they can't be...
Trying his best to keep his face looking like an expectant entitled noble as opposed to the look of abject horror, Tabar smiles at the idiot, keeping still.
As the flames wash over him, Tabar cries out in shock and pain. "What in the devil!"
Olnaris had been hanging around near the entrance, keeping an eye on the situation outside. If anything was a sign that something was going down, it was a big jet of fire.
Olnaris says quietly but insistently to the group, "I'm goin' out there. Goons are makin' their move. If you're with me, let's go. If not, keep yourself safe."
With that, he opens the door and steps out onto the street, grabbing a handful of whatever debris and rocks he can find.
Kyralina follows Lord Valkavian, raising her voice to be heard above the noise of the street. "Oh, what shameless reprobates! To assault someone in broad daylight like this! You could start a fire, you rogues, cause damage to property beyond your ability to repay if you worked for a thousand lifetimes! Quick, good citizens, seize the villains! Help maintain order in the city!"
Izalco has been quietly listening to the rest of the nobles, taking in how they conduct themselves in this tense situation, while quietly looking over the previously pointed out cravats trying trying to find one in a suitable color.
When the gout of flame catches everyone's attention he follows out the door with a quick word for all of his colleagues.
"Remember the optics here my friends. Though we may easily cast them off as goons we don't know their intentions or their allegiances and a host of nobility flexing their privilege on the small folk may not look good, regardless the nature of the situation and should do our best to be diplomatic." He limps behind Olnaris hoping to find Tabar in good health.
Having much experience with the common folk he prepares to negotiate with them by Kyralina is quicker.
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Cecilia is in the middle of extricating herself from the tailor when things literally go up in flames.
"What the-" She bites back the rest of that sentence. A lady does not curse, no matter how much the situation might call for it.
She rushes out with the others, thinking quickly. Kyralina and Izalco could handle the public. Olnaris might well go after the goons, but that would probably be fine. People of their social standing didn't brawl in the streets, but then people of their social standing weren't often set on fire in the streets. A little panic would be forgiven.
Speaking of which, Tabar did appear to have been set ablaze. That was a problem.
Kyralina's driver is still there, gaping at the scene. "A carriage blanket! Now!" Not waiting for him to get his wits together, she practically flings herself into the carriage to grab one before rushing over to Tabar.
Ignoring the goons for now, (if the public didn't stop them Olnaris probably would), she swings it around Tabar's shoulders to help smother the flames. "Get on the ground and start rolling!"
As the flames shoot up, Tabar is singed, while the 'shoe shiner' holding the bottle is briefly engulfed in the flames with a scream. Some parts of Tabar's outfit do catch fire, but what fire there is is quickly extinguished by Cecilia's quick actions.
Larin stays behind to help the carriage driver calm the horses as the flames shoot up as the remainder of the party heads over to the 'shoe shiners.'
"Blow this for a game of soldiers," the uninjured goon mutters as he hears Kyralina and sees everyone else advancing. The crowd around him begins to surge, having also heard Kyralina, and he grabs up the box. "Yeah, them what threaten the good lordships of this fair city oughta be locked up right quick!" After yelling and pointing at his unfortunate companion, he turns and attempts to slip away in the growing crowd.
The burned shoe shiner drops to the ground, screaming in pain and fear as blisters begin to appear on his skin.
Geography: The Senate building is located on Senate's Hill, one of the wealthier districts of Oppara. Coffee shops, villas, inns, shops and apartments surround the Senate building, providing all a member of the senatorial class could ever want, and is in close proximity with the Imperial Square.
Engineering: It's relatively common knowledge that the Senate building has been rebuilt and remodeled several times over the years due to a combination of wars and catastrophes. What many don't realize is that the current Senate building is mostly built on top of all of the older Senate buildings. It's implied in some texts that many of the older ruins have been refurbished as safe-rooms for the Senate and other elite, providing a haven in case of natural disaster or war, potentially for weeks at a time.
Tabar takes the advice of Cecilia and does a quick roll, putting out the remaining flames. "Stop him! Guards!" He calls out loudly, throwing the blanket over the other thug. "As for you, roll and put out the flames! I will not have you dying before I can charge you for the damage you and your friend caused me. 'Fancy special oils' indeed!"
Turning back to Cecilia he nods his thanks and leans in close.
"Careful, the other one still has an unopened vial in that box. I'll keep an eye on this one... neither are exactly bright, but the running one was marginally smarter."
He nods and turns his attention back to the burned man.
Izalco hurries to Tabar and, seeing that he is singed but otherwise unharmed begins muttering a spell underneath his breath, the hat on his head glows ever so slightly as he does and as he finishes his incantation he takes it off and places it on the ground, eyes firmly on the escaping saboteur.
The flames are easily extinguished by Tabar, though the man is still crying in pain from his burns.
As the other continues to try and escape, he takes a step forward and is seemingly caught and tangled around his feet. Swearing, he begins looking down to determine what could have grabbed him.
Olnaris books it for the downed thug, drawing his dagger as he does. He was nearly useless in a brawl, but it seemed amazing that these goons had even managed to get this far.
He kneels by the man, dagger poised as he says, ”Now listen, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll come along nice and easy, got it?”
At first Cecilia is uncertain what exactly to do once the fire has been extinguished. She could try to chase the would-be escapee, but that would look extremely strange. Catching fleeing criminals was a task for the guard.
Upon hearing Tabar's quiet comment though, she doesn't feel she has much of a choice. At any moment the thug might have the bright idea that the other flask was his best chance of escape. If he threw it into the middle of the crowd...
It probably wouldn't kill anyone. Probably. Cecilia would prefer not to take that risk.
She takes a few quick steps back, merging into the crowd of people as best as she can, and tries to unobtrusively circle around behind the thug. (He seems to be distracted by his own feet, which helps.) Once out of his line of sight, she moves forward and tries to grap the box away from him before he has the chance to react.
In his distracted state, the box is easily slipped from the goon's grasp by Cecilia.
The others seemed to have things well in hand, so Kyralina starts studying their tactics and strengths as she hangs back by the entrance to Thread Rare. It always paid to know what your allies could do, and where their blind spots may be. As she does so, she surveys the area, in case the miscreants had more accomplices - or worse, this had been only a distraction.
As Kyralina looks around to see if there were more accomplices, she spots a man on the edge of the crowd. For a moment, she almost missed him, but his movements seemed out of place. A frustrated look is on his face, and he seems to be paying special attention to Tabar.
He turns to leave, and as he does, he makes eye contact with Kyralina. Smiling genially, he touches his forelock and bows a little before turning and leaving the growing commotion.
Kyralina pretends not to notice the man's salute, but she does approach the nearest of her current companions, snapping her fan open and whispering behind it, "There was a third on the edge there, watching us foil their plans. He's gone now."
She flicks some invisible dirt off her dress as she begins to move back into the Thread Rare. "What an awful commotion! I hope the guards get here quickly. Now, I believe we were discussing the current trend in formal wear..."
She begins to converse animatedly with one of the tailors, pointing out fabrics and comparing cuts. In the end she settles on an emerald green silk and lace gown with short sleeves and a low neckline, adorned with gold chains and gems studs that form a pair of epaulets connected to a choker.
"I am unaccustomed to working in a group it seems." Izalco says to no one in particular while holding his hat to the ground. "I should mention that the gentleman I've ensnared will not remain so long, if one of you could perhaps apprehend him so we have someone to corroborate any information we glean from our shoe shiner here, I'd be most appreciative."
"I, ah, cannot hold him for long. Anyone with a bit more brawn able to subdue him?"
Larin advances, sword and board at hands, and violently attacks the man with the back of her blade.
She is basically trying to knock him out, but might be clearly not strong enough to do so; yet, she positions herself in front of him, shield up, to attract his attention.
As Larin swings her sword, the goon turns to reach for his box. Realizing it's gone and seeing it with Cecilia, he starts to turn and lunge for her, but ends up stumbling right into the flat of Cecilia's blade. The breath is knocked out of him, and he swears under his breath.
"I dunno why you're attackin' me, I didn't do nuthin to you lot!" Despite his protests, there is some fear in his voice as he hears the sound of the constables coming.
Meanwhile, the man who was under Olnaris begins to calm down. Also hearing the sound of the constables and realizing he's pinned, he begins to stand up but the combination of his burns and Olnaris' weight keep him on the ground.
"Gerroff, gerroff!" The muffled cries come from the burned goon as he struggles and thrashes but stays pinned under Olnaris.
It isn't long before the local constable appears. A tall military style man with a greying mustache, he pushes through the crowd to get in between everyone, his partner trailing behind. "What's all this here now, speak up, and why, young lady, are you holding a sword to that man?"
Tabar speaks up as the law finally arrives. "Thank all that is holy you have arrived so quickly, good sir. These two men attempted to cook me alive is what happened! I just wanted a pair of shiny shoes and they tried to convince me that they had 'special, expensive oils' to make them shinier. Then the next thing I know, this lout," he points at the burned man, "is swimming in a gout of fire that, were it not for the quick actions of these other bystanders," he indicates his fellow party members, "would have turned me into a cinder as well. His fellow," he points to the thug that is now at sword point, "attempted to flee the scene, but this brave young woman prevented him from doing so. I demand justice from these two!"
"I see, I see," the senior officer mutters as he listens to Tabar. "The burns on this one," he says, nudging the one that had been under Olnaris (and was still on the ground), "support your story to a point. Clearly are of some of the rougher element of our fair city, wandering from their dark corners and blinking in the bright sun of these streets." As his partner begins putting manacles on the two, he turns to the rest of the party. "I suppose you can all verify this gentleman's tale?"
Cecilia nods, corroborating Tabar's story. "My companions and I were in the shop when we saw the flames. I took this box off the man who tried to run." She walks over to the constable and offers him the box. "Be careful, I am sure there are more of those combustible 'oils' inside."
The constable opens up the box and pulls out the flask. "Clearly alchemist's fire in here. Either these two were idiots or arsonists. Well, which was it two?" The two goons hang their heads, not answering. The constable replaces the flask of alchemist's fire and closes the box. "We'll be taking this as evidence, though I can't promise much of a trial as they don't seem malicious. Unless you want something to do in the next few days, milord," the constable adds, nodding deferentially to Tabar. "Of course, we'd need you to come and deliver a statement."
Nodding to his companions, the constable hefts the box under one arm. "Very well, I believe we have everything we need. Gentlemen, ladies, I wish you a fair evening in our fair city."
With that, the constables and their new apprehensions head off into the growing twilight. Lamps are beginning to be lit, and Thread Rare still beckons for those that wish to continue their shopping.
Before the constable leaves, Tabar nods back.
"Of course, of course, just let me know where and when. As long as it does not conflict with the Gala I will be more than happy to provide whatever statement you require. That being said, I do expect these two to be forced to repay me for my ruined outfit. It might not be my most fancy set of clothes, but that is no justification for not having to pay for its damages."
With a final nod, Tabar brushes some of the char off of his outfit and heads into the Thread Rare.
"My Lord Ballast, allow me to pay for your clothing. It is of course appalling that your clothes were ruined, trust me few people appreciate a fine set of clothing the way I do, but those gentlemen are unlikely to afford even an unremarkable set of clothes without significant detriment to themselves. It is likely that desperation that lead them into whatever this scheme they were intended to accomplish. Clearly it was a pursuit well above their capabilities and they were taken advantage of." Izalco is smiling just as much as always but there is a hint of judgement in his tone.
"Regardless, now that the excitement is over, let us pick out our gala outfits!" He dusts his hat off, placing it back on his head and limps into the shop, picking up with the cravats where he left off.
"Well done cousin, might I add." He says nodding approvingly at Larin.
"Indeed sir, we'll make sure these miscreants are dealt with and you are recompensed," the constable says to Tabar.
Upon returning to Thread Rare, the tailor who had been pointing out fabrics had been watching from the doorway. "What an odd display," he mutters as you walk back in. "And I believe we have an acolyte of Princess Eutropia's here with us," he adds with a sniff, looking pointedly at Larin's sword. "Do be careful with that while in here, young lady. The only pointed objects that should be handled are the needles." Obviously not accustomed to rough displays or particularly in favor of them, and despite his comment, the tailor delivers the best service possible to everyone, recommending colors and styles that he feels will best suit everyone.
The head seamstress fusses over Tabar for a moment, brushing his clothes and offering him a new shirt once it is understood that he is also there as part of the Lotheed group. A gentleman who had been outside during the excitement follows Tabar in the store, and, once his attention is free, hands him a card. "In case you wish to pursue further actions. There are multiple ways to teach such ingrates not to interfere with their betters." Before leaving, the man tips his hat to Cecilia. "You are lucky to have a fiancee so bold as to engage with such brutes, sirrah," he adds before leaving.
Larin spins her longsword back, then sheathes it as quickly as she can. Delicately, she reattaches her shield and turns her head towards the constable, smiling in a shy manner and swiftly bending her knees as both hands hold her long dress skirt.
As her cousin compliments her, she turns around and blinks, again shy. Finally, however, the facade seems to drop for moments as she whispers to him.
I actually wanted to get him out for some questions. Regardless, I'm glad with the manner our companions operated.
Later, as the man hands Tabar a card, she steps sideways and again whispers to her companions.
I will try to gather some information for the event. I'll be back soon. - she completes, get herself ready to leave.
Despite all this, you do run across a man with a woman with a foot that had been broken and badly set. "He did this when I slipped and spilled some wine on him. Tossed me out on the streets without a penny to my name and said to go back to the scum that birthed me."