Narcelia is what might be best described as "alarmingly bony" underneath her rags, and she clutches the cloak around her as though she never intends to let it go.
The gnome bobs her head, vanishing once more from view.
Narcelia lifts her dark eyes up to meet Vantine's. "Why did you fight that..." She hesitates, looking around. "Thing?" Though she is looking at Vantine, the question is addressed to all of them.
Nyxra shrugs. "You needed help."
"O-oh." Narcelia lowers her head. "Well, thank you for saving me, then. I don't think I could've avoided it for much longer. I hope you're ready to be hunted, though... I don't think they," the word positively oozes venom, "like having their pets killed."
Jessibel isn't sure what to make of Narcelia. When Aisling literally gives the woman the cloak off her back, Jessi feels an unexpected surge of admiration for her new friend. Now, however, it was time to find out if Narcelia was friend, foe, or something in between.
"Who is this 'they' you keep referring to?" she asks the beggar not unkindly. "Unless it's a noble family with connections or the Church of Asmodeus itself, I'm not sure they can get away with endangering the citizenry of Kintargo by loosing such a savage beast in the city streets." Jessi looks to Aisling the barrister for confirmation of her guess.
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Vantine seconds Nyxra's answer.
"You needed help. We had to do something."
Vantine hesitates for a moment, wondering if the question she wants to ask should wait until there's more privacy. She's doesn't want to put the young woman on the spot. But such a time may never come, and the question needs to be asked.
"Why did you attack the hound Narcelia? You are aware that you did, right?"
Aisling raises an eyebrow and puts one hand on the holy symbol of Iomedae that hangs around her neck. "Why did I fight that thing? Because it was there. Those creatures are evil, and they serve evil purposes. Of course, they're not stupid. There's a legal legend aobut a hellhound that turned its summoner in for not having the proper contracts and signatures of appropriate authorities. It might be apocryphal, but hell hounds are far smarter than they look. As for endangering the citizens," she shrugs and doesn't finish the sentecne.
Cheliax is not big on giving rights to its citizens. The main law is don't get caught, and if you're rich or powerful enough, you can get away with almost anything.
”Thrune, devils, Asmodeans… I don’t know why, but I know I have to avoid them. They can’t find me. If they do…” Narcela’s expression darkens. "Something really bad would happen to me.”
She looks at Vantine, hunching her shoulders. ”I… I realized that if it died, it wouldn’t be able to hunt me down. Besides, you were fighting, and it was… a good chance to hurt it.”
Firi Razzledhair reappears next to the Ravens’ table, a tray of steaming cups of tea and warm bowls of soup in one hand. With expert care, she places one of each in front of each of her customers. ”Enjoy!” She says with a grin before vanishing again. How does she keep doing that?
”Hell hounds can’t talk. They do understand Infernal, though, and they can read it, too.” Narcelia says almost immediately in response to Aisling’s story, before suddenly frowning. ”Why do I know that?”
Why don't I know that??!!
Jessibel's so put out about Narcelia knowing more about hell hounds than she does that she takes no notice of the gnome tavern keeper's antics. She whispers her thoughts to her friends.
"So...what are we going to do about our new friend here? We saw at the protest that Thrune's goons aren't above taking the law into their own hands when it serves their master's interests. Maybe we could pitch in and get Narcelia a small flat on the other side of the Bleakbridge where she could hide from whomever's after her."
"That is all well and good, but you still have not told us why they are after you or who they are." The Raven leans towards the woman, resting one arm on the table. "You must know something."
"I did tell you who they are!" Narcelia looks up from her hands. "I told you. Thrune, devils, Asmodeans!" After a moment, her shoulders sag. "But I don't know if they're after me, really. Only that I can't be caught by them."
"I don't know!" Her eyes flare angrily when the Raven pushes her and one of the forks on the table lifts up and flies at him, narrowly missing him and slamming hard into the wall behind him. "Oh gods, I'm sorry! I... I don't have as much control as I should... I think."
She shrinks back in her chair, trying to get as small as possible. "I only remember waking up six months ago... nothing before that. Even some things after that I can't remember."
Aisling shrugs. "Oh well. It was only a story. Interesting that you know-" whatever was about to say is lost when the fork does its thing. "You are certainly an interesting person to bea aroudn. Maybe we should focus on keeping you calm. We can ask more questions later, perhaps. But I certianly won't hand you to the Asmodeans. I promise you that, by the Inheritor."
She puts her hand on her holy symbol, but it's clear that the priestess isn't given the conversation her full attention. She looks at the gnome as Firi disappears agian. The next time she appears, Aisling tries to get her attention.
"Excuse me if this is a silly question, but what is it that's amusing you?"
"A missing memory, mysterious magical powers, hunted by devils? Aren't you just fascinating?"
"You don't have to live in my head." Narcelia says, before falling silent. She looks down at her hands as her lips form words silently. Not even the food in front of her seems to distract her attention from whatever she’s thinking about.
Meanwhile, Firi grins and winks at Aisling. "Just have a taste of your food. Or wait until someone else does!" With that she wafts off once more.
The Raven scratches his bearded chin. "What have you been doing these past six months?"
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Jessibel's surprised to find herself slightly jealous of the Raven's attention toward the stranger. Before the masked vigilante can consider moving on from the Magpie to a Cuckoo Bird, Jessi whispers something in his ear.
"Maybe she's possessed!"
That should do the trick! No one in their right mind wants to have anything to do with someone who's possessed.
Nyxra quietly drinks her hot chocolate as the rest of the party interviews Narcelia.
Vantine clarifies for Narcelia.
"Oh I don't fault you at all. You were threatened, and as you say we were doing the same thing as well. It was the other part, about whether you were aware you had done so that I wondered about. Your use of magic is extremely... subtle. Most people would not know it had happened. I barely recognized it myself. Since you were also talking to us at the same time, I had to wonder if you had noticed it happening, or if was more like a reflex, an unconscious reaction."
The truth be told, Vantine is a bit envious. If she could be as innocuous while doing so, she might use her magic more often. Clearly the young woman can both organize the magic she possess to effect, while also directing her attention and participating in the flow of events around her, as evidenced a second time by the flying fork. It is extremely impressive.
As questions flying about at Narcelia intensify, Vantine begins to feel uncomfortable, sympathetic for the confused young woman. She had felt similarly to Narcelia before. Not the loss of memory, but the feeling of knowing things without knowing quite how or where the knowledge had come from. Vantine's mirror could make her feel that way. It often had early on. Time with it could leave her almost dazed, unaware of how much time had passed, and what precisely had happened during its passing.
A protective urge rises in Vantine toward Narcelia.
"That's enough for right now, no more questions. Let her eat."
She asks Narcelia "when is the last time you slept?", and she makes a decision.
"There is a place where we can shelter her. She can stay at my apartment. I'm not staying there at this time, so we can escort her there and let her get some rest. It may help her remember more if she she's warm and not exhausted."
Narcelia blinks, her attention coming back to the present. ”Surviving.” She says bluntly, but doesn’t go into any more detail than that.
”I don’t know how I know to use my magic.” Narcelia says after a moment, looking down at her dirty hands once more. ”I forget how to cast some spells some days, remember how to cast others… it’s hard.”
In response to Vantine’s question about her sleep, she considers for a moment. ”Last night, I think I slept in the sewers. Well, I woke up there, so I probably fell asleep there.” She shrugs again, uncomfortably. ”It wasn’t very pleasant… but I think I remembered how to keep warm with a spell yesterday.”
At Vantine’s offer, Narcelia brightens briefly. ”You’d do that? Thank you.”
Following the gnomes' advice, Aisling tries the food to see what happens. She doesn't have any more qeustions to add to those the others are asking Bsides, cross examination works best when it's just you and them. Too many cooks in the kitchen just make for a mess.
Jessibel sips daintily at her soup, occasionally using the bowl as a hand-warmer. She still doesn't know what to make of Narcelia. If this is all sort some of act, she ought to be in theater!
When Vantine generously (foolishly?) offers the waif the use of her apartment, Jessi comes up with a new plan.
"My place isn't too far from Vantine's," she tells the others. "How about some of us help get Narcelia settled while the others escort me to my place? Then we can hit the other stops on my To-Do List on the way back?"
"Hup! Hot!!!!" Aisling splutters for a few moments as she grabs for a glass of water and tries to stop her mouth from burning up. Her eyes water, but she eventually manages to speak again, although her voice is a bit hoarse. "That sounds like a good idea. We shuould stick together as much as possible. Oh, and - watch out for the food. I think the gnome cook has a weird sense of humour."
The Raven places a hand on top of Jessibel's and gives it a squeeze. "I wear a mask in the middle of the day. Queer companions are not always bad news."
Nyxra pauses as the spicy hot chocolate fills her mouth. Good thing I've got good spice tolerance.
...thanks for that, Mom.
She blinks back a couple of tears and swallows the beverage.
Jessi manages a weak smile at the Raven's gesture. True, but you proved your mettle and loyalty to the cause when you helped rescue Rexus. So far, this Narcelia has only used us to rescue herself....
The bard then uses a prestidigitation spell to turn down the spicy heat in her soup and drink to an acceptably sane level, offering to do the same for the others.
With the fair warning coming first, Vantine doesn't have a problem with the soup. Varisian cooking, which she mostly grew up on, tends to be much spicier than Chelaxian fare.
"I think Jessibel's idea is a fine one. If one of you would like to come along with me when we split up, we'll get Narcelia settled in at my place and give her some peace so she can rest."
The Ravens wrap up their meal, pay their gnome hostess (who giggles as she takes their money, apparently satisfied with her prank), and take to the bitterly cold streets once more.
It doesn't take Vantine and her companion long to escort Narcelia to Vantine's apartment, and the young woman remains mostly quiet for the duration of the journey - though she does shy away from the one group of dottari that the group sees.
Meanwhile, Jessibel's group find their way to her destination in Redroof, where they are greeted by a closed door and darkened windows - apparently, her friend isn't in at the moment...
Jessibel's flat is a modest apartment on the second floor of a two-story tenement. "I paid my rent over a month in advance--mostly to make sure I couldn't get evicted in the dead of winter if I wasted my gold on other things," she informs those who accompanied her. A quick look around tells her that her friend Carli hasn't been by--not a surprise, really, as the self-reliant young Solstine had never felt the need to stay at Jessi's place. Though the bard didn't know exactly what her friend did throughout the Argo Isle sections of the city, she suspected it could be dangerous, and the Solstines lived near the far northeastern part of the island, just southwest of the Bleakbridge. Thus far, Carli had had no problems--even during the newly-imposed curfew--of making it home every night on her own.
Jessi gathered her gear--mostly clothes, but also some basics like her mirror, journal, and secret stash of night tea (Just in case!)--and offered what remained of her meager food stash to her friends before it spoiled. Then it was back to Vantine's place; after that, visits to get her fake Juliac ring and Magpie masks commissioned, and finally a quick stop at the Solstine compound to see if Carli was done with whatever family business had kept her from attending the Aria Park protest.
Aisling has no real tolerance for teh spice and gladly accepts Jessibel's spell to tone it down some. She gives a weak smile at the giggling gnome, it's good manners to accept the prank without getting cross, but she isn't sure if she'll go back. She values her taste buds. Once she has escorted Narcelia to a safe place, she turns to the others. "If we don't have anything else to do as a group, there's some things I probably need to do. Where should we meet next?"
Once that's arranged, she heads off through the snowy streets, keepign herself out the wind as much as she can. It's been several days now since she paid a visit to the other priests of Iomedae. She should go by the shrine, say some prayers. See how the ohthers are doing. Of course, that probably means telling them what she's been up to. Hpefully they won't disapprove too much. Of all the, you know, lawbreaking, she's been doing. Oh well. They say confessiosn is good for the soul.
Darisca’s home is, unsurprisingly, one of the few on Temple Hill, though Aisling always gets the sense that it is something of a financial strain for Darisca. Not that Darisca cares, of course, as she lives a fairly spartan lifestyle, with little need for fripperies save those demanded by ritual.
When she arrives outside her superior’s home, she knocks and is welcomed in. ”Third Sword Knight Talbot. Be welcome.” Darisca says formally, before beckoning her in and embracing her warmly after the door is closed. ”Aisling, it is good to see you again. Vols is here, as well, though Dea is out working on one of her charitable projects."
As she speaks, she brings Aisling into a smaller room, where a tiefling kneels before a small shrine to the Inheritor, his sword drawn and laying flat on the floor before him. He does not look up from his prayers as Darisca returns with the noble priestess in tow.
Aisling retruns the embrace. "Thank you, Darisca. I am glad to be here and I'm sorry for not coming by sooner." She hesitats. "I - we should probly have a talk, once I have prayed." She follws her superiour to the shrine room in silence. She gives the tiefling a small nod, but doesn't want to distract him. Instead she too draws her sword and puts it in front of her as she starts to pray in silence.
Her thoughts are distracted though and she keeps opening her eyes to look at the blade of her sword. Until two days ago, she had only ever seen it as one more symbol of Iomedae, something associated with the Inheritor, a metaphor for the truth and vaolour that her folloeers are supposed to show. She had never really seen it for what it is - a weapon. And yet now she has used it, to injure and kill. The blade is scratehed and dulled from its recent use, and there are a couple of nicks on the edge that she will need to have ground away.
And what of her? What tarnishes has she picked up in the last few days? Some new scars, mostly from that crocodiele, but deeper than that - what has she got herself into? Seh uudnerstands now why she was so focuesd on trying to call it a "resistance" rather than a "revolution". Resistance can be done within the law, but revolution cannot. Her anguish is not that at some point soon she will have to make a choice between the law and what is right. It's that she has already made that choice. Now she has to justify it, and live with it.
The Solstine compound, inasmuch as it can be called that, lies in Redroof near Temple Hill. Jessibel and her companions are greeted by a (free) halfling who Jessibel knows as Aldas Ringer, one of the servants of the Solstine. ”Oh, Lady Jessibel. I’m afraid Miss Carlissa is still away on business. Shall I relay a message to her when she returns?” He asks.
Jessibel’s sale of, and commission for, the Juliac Signet ring goes without trouble. The smith from whom she commissions it, a woman of mature years with the unfortunate name Abrogail, tells Jessi to return in a few days to pick up her order. Likewise, the clothier from whom she commissions her masks tells her to come back in a week or so - they’re somewhat overworked trying to get all the warm clothing out they can make, given the unusual chill this winter.
A minute or so later, Vols rises and walks to Darisca, with whom he exchanges a few quiet words before he leaves. When she’s finished, Darisca looks to her protege. ”So, what is troubling you?”
The news that her friend is still unavailable troubles Jessi. Not because she's worried about Carli, though. No--it's that the silver raven statuette, Thrune pendant, and CCG armband are burning a hole in her pack! The young noblewoman wants so badly to report on the Aria Park protest and let Carli know that she's actually making a difference and taking an active role against the Thrune takeover of the city. Plus, she wants to introduce her new friends to Carli...but now that will have to wait.
"Do you know when she might be back, Aldas?" Jessibel asks the halfling. Not knowing where Silver Ravens business will take her within the city (and maybe outside of it), Jessibel asks Aldas to have Carli leave a brief note for her in her flat, and that Jessi will then get in touch with her.
"I'm afraid not, Lady Jessibel. I shall, of course, relay your message to Miss Carlissa when she returns, however." The halfling says regretfully.
Aisling sighs. "Oh, how about - everything? I went to the protest and-" everything comes tubmling out. Aisling doesn't lie to anyone, but Darisca gets the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The fight at the protest, the conforntation and saving of Rexus straight after, the trip to the old stables, the rats, the grimples, Laria, the Wasp Nest, the croc, the bird-women, the hell-hound, the stragne beggar-woman - everythign.
"So, i think I have sort of agreed to, I think, take part in a rebellion. Teh worst part isn't that there's only five of us and a few associates. It's not even that as a barrister, i know EXACTLY how many laws I've broken and what the punishements are. The worst part is knowing that I wold do it all again, because anything is better than the slow death of standing by and watching the Thrunes choke the life out of my city."
Would-be revolutonaries aren't supposed to have tears brimming int their eyes. They're made of stern stuff. But Aisling's new at this.
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Darisca listens carefully, her expression becoming more and more grave as Aisling goes on. Once she finishes, Darisca pinches the bridge of her nose. ”First, thank you for sharing this with me. Second, you’ve done your fellows a grave insult by betraying their confidence to me, and you should make reparations to them as soon as you can.” She says, disappointed in Aisling, but there is some understanding to her tone.
”With that said, let us discuss what you have done. You have taken up arms against a group of militiamen who have the official approval of House Thrune, but no legal authority to do what they’ve been doing - not yet anyways. This is not only justified, but admirable. You have broken into an abandoned building, owned by Kintargo’s government. Worthy of a mild reprimand under normal circumstances, but nothing sinful.” The senior priestess rises and begins to pace - a habit that Aisling knows she does whenever she’s thinking hard.
”You have cleared out a nascent threat to a woman’s livelihood, which is admirable. You have saved an innocent from the forces of evil, as Iomedae commands us to do. Overall, you have done nothing wrong yet. Yet you fear that you may be straying because you wish to oppose the devils of House Thrune more openly - as the Glorious Reclamation is doing?”
Darisca sighs thoughtfully. ”Many of the Inheritors worshippers focus on matters of obvious evil - whether it is the Mendevian Crusaders who destroyed the Worldwound two years ago, or the Knights of Ozem in Lastwall, protecting the people against threats of orcs and undead. But not all threats are obvious, and not all can be easily fought with a crusade. In Cheliax, we know that better than most. ”
”Let me tell you a story. Six years ago, in Westcrown, the people were tormented nightly by shadowy beasts from beyond the world. An associate of mine, Arael, worked to form a group known as the Children of Westcrown, and fought valiantly against tyranny and oppression in hopes of restoring Westcrown to its former glory. They were a resistance against the overlords put in power by House Thrune.” Darisca continues pacing. ”Ultimately, they freed Westcrown of its shadowy threats, and prevented a fiendish child of Mammon from seizing control of that ancient city.”
”I believe that you now face a similar difficulty - not identical, but similar. It is greater in scope. I believe that you will find the right path, Aisling, but also that you are already walking in the right direction - we have tolerated the hand of Thrune on Kintargo for generations, and they have not done wholly wrong by the people. This Barzillai Thrune, however, is pushing matters too far. That said, I think you should take the Glorious Reclamation as a negative example - they have not prepared, and are using sheer numbers to fight back against Thrune. You should be more… cautious, I think.” The Second Sword Knight of Iomedae looks at her protege. ”None of this leaves this room. If anyone asks, we did not have this conversation - save your comrades in the Silver Ravens. Do not tell even your brethren among the Sword Knights. Understood?”
Used to running his errands late at night, the Raven has little in the way of pressing matters to attend to at the moment. He opts to accompany the excitable bard on her rounds. Speaking of missing friends, Alexius should probably make an appearance at home some time soon. Wouldn't want mother to worry. He had not been back to the Vashnarstill estate since before the day of the riot, not that it was unusual for Alexius to disappear for days at a time.
====================
On return to the Nest, he asks "Did lord Rexus not have something he wished us to do? Anyone figured out what that was?"
Aisling looks stung as Darisca accuses her of insulting her companions. She opens her mouth to argue the point furiously but, in a display of wisdom, shuts it again. The Priestess is trying to ehlp her, after all. Getting into a fight with your superiour is a bad idea, in any hierarchy. Instead she nods meeklly as her brain fizzes. "Yes, ma'am. I understand. And thank you. I think."
She's not suer what she was hoping for, but this wasn't it. Which probably means it was exactly what she needed to hear. Darisca isn't in the business of bieng nice. "If you dont mind Id like to spend soem more time in prayer, alone."
She has a lot to think about.
Darisca smiles gently at Aisling, patting her shoulder. ”You’re a worthy priestess of Iomedae, Aisling. I suspect you’ll end up far more powerful than I am, in time. You doubt your path, as is good - certainty is best found after doubt, not before, lest it fall into zealotry.”
With that she returns to her duties, allowing Aisling her chance to pray for guidance.
After all of the Ravens have completed their tasks and interests for the day, they return to the Wasp’s Nest, where they find Laria, Rexus, and the Fushi sisters working hard to make it neater. Torches line the walls in sconces, brightening the base considerably, and they have already moved chairs and the table from the storage room to the living area.
Rexus confirms that he does have something to request of the Ravens, but at the moment, other tasks take precedence - perhaps he’ll get to asking them to do it on the morrow.
The heroes drop off some funds into the unofficial “coffers” of the Silver Ravens (currently just one of the smaller crates repurposed for holding the treasures of the organization.
The next few hours pass in discussion with the whole of the tiny rebellion, where the heroes and their advisors decide what they will be doing as a group for the week. Ultimately, it is decided that the Fushi sisters and Laria, when she’s available, will continue to repair the Wasp’s Nest and prepare it to serve as the headquarters of the burgeoning rebellion. Rexus will continue to translate and decode the documents found in the Livery, while the heroes go out to spread word (quietly) of the Ravens and gather support. Finally, Vantine is volunteered volunteers to get into contact with a handful of the poorer merchants in Old Kintargo and Redroof who might be interested in supporting Kintargo by donating more funds to the Ravens.
Wealday, the 13th of Abadius 4715
Wealday is somewhat warmer than the previous day, and is spent both pursuing the Ravens’ goals and maintaining their day-to-day identities.
Vantine hears from her mother about a married couple - Crispin and Aspexia Doria, whose son was beaten to the point of being crippled for life by a CCG thug the week before. Hunting them down in Old Kintargo isn’t easy, but her mirror and spells help her find them. After a few hours of discussion, she finds them incredibly willing to join any resistance movement that is reliable.
The others subtly begin spreading the word about resistance groups to the tyranny of Thrune, though they do not name any names yet. Time will tell how much support they can gather doing this.
Jessibel considers hibernating 'til spring (3 feet of snow!!) but merely sleeps in the next morning. After giving herself a prestidigitation self-cleaning, the bard decides to accompany Vantine across the Bleakbridge.
"While Vantine's looking for merchants who might support our cause, I'll continue on to Villegre and talk up some old friends from my theater days," she informs the others. "They're a creative, anti-establishment sort to begin with; the fact that the new lord-mayor seized the Kintargo Opera House and imposed a curfew should predispose them to our cause. Plus, I have to tell Master Henge that I have to quit my new job."
As soon as these last words slip between the talkative bard's lips, she regrets them, blushes, and wanders off to 'check for more alligators.'
Aisling realises that she and the Fushi sisters didn't make a good start on their relatationship. If they're going to be allies they should at least be able to work together. Seh voulnteers to spend Wealday morning helping them finish tidying up the Wasp Nest, lending her strenght as it's needed.
"Plus, I have to tell Master Henge that I have to quit my new job."
As soon as these last words slip between the talkative bard's lips, she regrets them, blushes, and wanders off to 'check for more alligators.'
She takes a few minutes off the lifting and carrying when shhe sees Jessibel's blush, and hurries after her.
"Is everything ok? If it's not my business you can tell me to shoev it. I won't be offended, Im not your lawyer any more, you don't have to talk to me. But I do care."
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After leaving Narcelia with a little food to get her through until her return, Vantine decamps with Nyxra to Long Roads Cafe through the tunnel Treep showed them.
After she is guiding along into volunteering to solicit merchants for support, a thing Vantine doesn't really mind, she gets down to figuring out how to do it. It seems to her the best approach would be to start with those merchants who have been harmed in some way by the various proclamations recently issued.
Doing so should cut down on random wandering, and cull out some rejections. Vantine doesn't have any talent for business, but she does understand from growing up under the roof of a merchant that the pocketbook can guide politics. Her list of potential future friends includes:
-Tavern and Bar owners along with other business that keep late hours (Curfew)
-Herbalists and apothecaries (Mint Ban)
-Clothiers and dress makers (clothing restrictions)
-Millers and purveyors of groceries and dry goods (Grain spilling)
-Midwives and medical practitioners (Night tea)
-Shipping and receiving (Ship captain restrictions)
-Those who she knows or suspects may have anti- House Thrune or Asmodean sympathies (Abrogail portaits)
Having such a list will also help her avoid the inconvenient fact she will need to avoid certain merchants who she is familiar with. She is only familiar with any merchants through her mother. Any of them friendly enough to chat with her might mention Vantine's visit and its purpose. Gossip kills.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As she walks with Jessibel on her way to do the righteous work of the Rebellion, she brings up one thing Jessi had said earlier that gave her pause.
"Are you so sure about quitting the Three-Legged Devil? It's a really good place to be if you want to gather information. Almost like having your finger on the pulse of what certain types of Kintargo's people are thinking and doing. I'm guessing types who may often be valuable to us."
"Or maybe if you must quit, I could take your place in the job? I really think it could matter to keep those kinds of channels open."
"Anyway, your group of people to see today sounds much more fun than mine."
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Jessibel squirms a bit when Aisling tracks her down. Since Vantine already knows her secret, she decides to confide in Aisling as well.
"Giveni Henge owns and operates the Three-Legged Devil 'dance hall' in Jarvis End," Jessi explains. My friend Carli knows him, and she got me a job there strictly as a 'front room girl,' a dancer and entertainer whose job it is to both entertain the patrons in the main tavern so they'll stay longer and spend more coin and to...well, whet their appetites so they might visit the 'back room girls' who work the brothel upstairs. I'm no prude--a little burlesque and suggestive dancing doesn't bother me. It might, however, bother members of my family, even though I've already earned a reputation as something of a wild child."
Realizing that this is one of those rare occasions where she actually should say more, the bard adds, "Master Henge's been a perfect gentleman and kept to our agreement--he didn't pressure me to do anything more than perform in the main tavern. I needed some sort of income to keep me going until the theater community could recover from the seizure of the Opera House and the effect the curfew had on all the lesser performance venues in the city. Carli told me that Giveni could be trusted, and she was right."
"I thought about that," Jessi admits, "but Laria's coffeehouse and the Three-Legged Devil are about as far apart as is possible in the city...plus paying the bridge toll twice is a killer!"
Lowering her voice, she adds, "Also, I figure this whole rebellion thing is probably a full-time job, and even if it's not, it'll likely be difficult to work a consistent schedule between Thrune's stupid proclamations, riots, and random hell hound encounters. Maybe Henge would help us--I think he knows more about what Carli really does around town than I do--but it's probably safer to wait 'til Carli's back and ask for her opinion."
"Well, The Three-Legged Devil isn't far from my place in Jarvis End. When Narcelia is figured out, I'll have it back. It would be an easy walk for me at least. If you changed your mind you could stay there as well if you wanted. If you want to wait until you can talk to Carli, you should of course. But maybe we could work something out with Henge? That's the owner? to make it fit with other things? Maybe we share the job and each work it half the time? I don't know, something...
Vantine trails off as if her attention as turned to something else. When she speaks again she has moved on to a different subject.
"I'm sure the rest of you think I'm foolish for giving my place over to Narcelia. But I have a sense about her. What she says seems... Right. I don't think she's running a con or anything like that."
"It's different from learning magic like you did. You decided to learn to work it, and you did. You got the thing you were looking for. I didn't go looking, it found me. And yes, I agreed. But the path isn't as clear, the control isn't completely mine. With Narcelia, I don't know if she ever even agreed to anything. I feel sorry for her."
"Besides there's nothing to steal, and if she's some sort of spy or a creep or whatever I can just never go back. My place is a convenience, not a necessity."
Aisling isn't sure how to reply to Jessibel, but she realiseses she has to say something. "I see. That sounds - interesting." Come on, you can do better than that. "I appreciate you confiding in me and I'm sorry if you've lost your job. I can see you wouldn't want your family to know about it, but I don't see it's anything to be ashamed of. I know that us followers of the Inheritor have a - reputation for being against that sort of thing, but actually it doens't bother me."
A thought striks her. "I imagine the women in the brothel hear a lot of what's going on. Do you think they'd be a useful source or information for us?"
"I didn't work there long enough to make any acquaintances among the working girls, but what you say makes a lot of sense," Jessi tells Aisling. "Maybe we can get news and insights from the girls second- or third-hand, either from Giveni himself or through him from my friend, Carli...once she's back in town."
"Maybe we could split shifts," Jessibel concedes. "The Devil's got a pretty wide base of clientele--I'm sure we could turn it into a hotbed of information...if we were careful. I just thought we were all going to operate out of the Wasp Nest...maybe even live there, once the Fushis clean up Chough's destruction. If I were to save up enough for a carriage, maybe going back and forth between Villegre and Jarvis End wouldn't be so taxing."