Vantine takes the lead up the stairs and gives the special knock as she had arranged with Narcelia to signal it is her at the door.
She lets the two in, retreating into what appears to be the corner where she's made herself a little nest. "Um... so how can I help you?"
The Ravens remaining outside leave the alleyway, lest they get more serious attention than the prying eyes of Vantine's neighbors. The three begin making a slow circle around the block, trying to remain inconspicuous. About halfway around, they chance on a pair of familiar-looking CCG thugs harassing a shopkeeper even as two more keep a lookout.
"These are some of the goons who attacked Rexus in the alley!" Jessi whispers to the Raven and Nyxra as she tries to sneak closer, drawing her sap as she moves.
Vantine smiles back and replies "Good, I'm glad you've had some peace to recover in" as she walks into the flat.
"We looked into the scream you heard from the alley. It looks like there was a scuffle, but no there was no sign of anyone being hurt or killed, nothing to worry about."
"How are you feeling now?"
Vantine puts a kettle of water on to heat for tea.
"We were close by so I thought we should stop by and check on you, how you're doing. Let's have some tea and chat a little. It must be very dull sitting around here by yourself all day."
She continues to make small talk as she prepares the tea, trying to put the young woman at ease.
"I see..." The young woman replies, taking a seat in her little nest. "I guess it's significant in a different way than I felt... it's already fading, I think." Narcelia looks out the window.
"I'm warm and full for the first time I remember. That's not saying much, of course, but it's true nevertheless." She adds after a moment, brightening. "I don't mind being alone, though. It gives me time to think, and it means that no one could report me to Thrune."
Vantine serves out the cups of tea to Aisling and Narcelia, then takes a seat on the floor by Narcelia. It's slightly less comfortable perhaps, but She wants to create a feeling of greater intimacy rather than towering over her in a chair.
After a quick sip of her tea, Vantine uses Narcelia's comment as a lead in to her first question.
"That is one of the more worrying things. The kind of hound menacing you when we happened by wasn't the kind of beast to be wandering about just looking for any prey. They are intelligent. It doesn't seem unreasonable to assume it was acting on instructions. Do you know why the Lord-Mayor's people would want to find you so urgently?"
Aisling lets Vantine take the lead, it is her flat after all. She gladly accepts a hot drink, it's benn a while since she last felt warm after all the time thye've had outside today. She listens carefully to Narcelia, trying to get a hunch about the stranger.
Both Aisling and Vantine can tell that Narcelia's not hiding anything malicious - if anything, she seems more distraught than she's revealing about the idea of being captured by the government.
"I don't know if it was acting on instructions or even if it knew me. It might have just been hunting down homeless for some reason." She shrugs. "But I won't be captured by them. I won't."
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Jessibel gives the Raven an exasperated scowl--Didn't you see how well I was sneaking just then?--but then nods. After all, the Raven is the master, and she is but a student.
Ducking down behind a snowbank, Jessi watches the Raven in action, ready to swoop in and save him at a moment's notice.
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"Oh I understand. I know I wouldn't want to be grabbed and trapped at their mercy. I don't believe they have any."
Vantine pauses to have another sip of tea before changing course.
"Now that your've had some rest, do you remember anything more? Have you always lived in Kintargo, or did you come here at some point? Is there anyone, maybe family or friends of yours, here in the city who might be looking for you? Who would be worried because they don't know where you are?"
The Raven, eyes on the ground, shuffles along the sidewalk, just a cold old man on his way to one more day of menial work - but then: Disaster! He slips on the ice, stumbling in to the CCG woman! He tries to slip the pearl-tipped dagger from its sheath, but completely fumbles the attempt! He quickly backs away from the woman, bowing and bobbing his head submissivly. "A thousand pardons, lady dottari! A thousand pardons! These old legs aren't so steady on this ice!"
There's something more there, but neither Vantine nor Aisling believe that even Narcelia knows what it is.
"I think I was born elsewhere. Maybe. Kintargo doesn't seem 'familiar,' familiar, you know? Just normally familiar." She huddles a little into her makeshift sanctuary. "I don't know why I came, though."
The woman growls, shoving the Raven away. "Little s+!$, do you think I didn't see you grabbing for my dagger! I'll carve you to-"
Before she can continue, her fellow lookout swats her. "Don't bother the dottari with this, moron." He looks at the Raven, looming closer. "The only reason I'm not breaking your skull right now is 'cause Aspex over there is busy and said he didn't want to be disturbed." He bares his teeth. "Run."
Jessi's waiting for the Raven (or Nyxra) to let her know what to do now (aka Plan B).
Aislilng gives Narcelia a sympathetic look. "It must be idfficult. But if it's any consolation, why you're here is less importatnt than what you will do now you are here. It seems that Thrune has little love for you, and you have no reason to like them."
She leaves it there for now, unwilling to recruit the woman into the Silver Ravens without running it by the others first. But at least she can plant a seed or two.
"It is hard. I wander around trying to remember things, but sometimes emotions erupt from me without me knowing why, and I can't control them. I become furious, or terrified, or am driven to tears, without any inkling of what caused it. I live on edge, always afraid that I might swing into violence or something that will get me killed or arrested."
Vantine scootches over so she so she can put an arm around Narcelia's shoulders to comfort her.
"Poor sweetheart. It must be frustrating, and frightening. Even so, you should keep trying to remember anything you can. Also, we can look into magics to see if there is anything that could help restore your memories, or reveal something of your past. If we did find something of that sort, would you be willing to give it a try?"
"I don't know. Maybe it would work, maybe it wouldn't. Who would you consult for such a thing?" Her eyes narrow at the mention of using magic to restore her memories.
Vantine shrugs lightly at the question.
"We don't have many options I admit. I could do some research to see what I can find."
She also looks to Aisling.
"My guess is divine magic may be more useful though. Aisling, do you think your church, someone there, could help?"
Despite the fact that the Raven leaves himself wide open for a beating in doing so, he snatches the dagger before any of the CCG can react, and flees as swiftly as he can. It takes the other two a moment to rush after him, but chase him they do.
With his keen new pearl-handled knife clutched in his talons, the Raven takes flight!
While the Raven easily shakes off the woman, the man takes much longer to get away from, and he only just manages to throw himself up the walls of one of the nearby buildings to escape his pursuers.
Aisling gives it some thought. "I don't think there's anyone in my church sho has such powers, but it's possible that Father Zachrin Vhast, the Shelynite high priest in Kintargo, would have a better sense of what to do. Alternatively, a Sarenite, Milanite, or Pharasmin might have more access to healing prowess." She shurgs. "I'm sorry. That's about all I can do. But I'm happy to go ask people."
"Yeah, but he got rid of half of them for us. Now we've only got to take out one apiece!"
Sap in hand, Jessi again starts creeping toward the two remaining CCG troublemakers.
With that, he and his comrade stalk after the fleeing vigilante.
The Raven hoists himself over the eves of the apartment building, sprawling onto his back on the roof. Taking ragged gulps of cool winter air, he squints up at the overcast sky and laughs. Nicking something valuable and making an escape across the roof. Just like the good old days. I don't remember getting tired so quickly in the good old days... He pushes himself into a sitting position and stares out across the rooftops of Kintargo. He always felt safer on the rooftops. Most of him wanted to stay and reminisce, but the boring adult part of him says he should make sure Jessi and Nyxra had not followed him into trouble. He takes the pearl dagger from his belt, flipping and catching it by the blade to examine the handle. "Not bad. She will not forget this soon. Hopefully some people saw the CCG humiliated by a common pickpocket." He slides the dagger into a more secure position in his belt and plots his return journey.
Vantine leaves the conversation where it's at.
"It's something to think about Narcelia. If you decide you would like to try a remedy of that sort, we can look into it."
She gives the young woman a reassuring hug.
"We'll figure something out. I don't think you want to spend the rest of your life hiding out in this room. Better days will come."
Vantine stands.
"Well, we should be on our way now. I'll come by again in a day or two. Is there anything you want me to bring you? Anything you need? Feel free to use the clothes here."
"If... if I think the healer's trustworthy, I'll do it. Otherwise, I'm not willing to risk someone else in my head." Narcelia rises and returns Vantine's embrace (the witch notes that she remains alarmingly thin).
"At least I remember how to make myself comfortable in the cold." The young woman offers with a faint smile as she waves off Vantine's offers. "Only food and water, but there's plenty of that here. Besides, uh, I don't think your clothes will fit me." She eyes Vantine's figure before looking at her own.
"Perfectly sensible Narcelia. We'll see what we can find out with some research and keep you in the know about what we discover. In the meantime keeping resting and eating to restore your health."
Vantine evades any direct reply to Narcelia about her clothing and the fit problem. She knows perfectly well that hardly anyone can match her figure, so anything she might say would probably ring hollow or sound condescending.
"I'll bring you some clothes of your own next time. Being able to put on fresh, clean clothes is a luxury you can enjoy even in here."
Vantine waits until they are clear of the building and back out on the street to consult Aisling. Even then she keeps her voice low so as not to be overheard.
"Well, what do you think?"
Jessibel looks over to Nyxra, uncertain of how to proceed. She doesn't want to start trouble with the CCG, but she doesn't want all four of them to possible catch up to the Raven.
The bard also looks toward the doorway where Aspex was apparently shaking down a local; she'd also like to get to the bottom of that.
Aisling shakes her head. "I'm not sure. I think it's godo of you to lend her your flat, and I think she could be a hleplful ally in what we're doing. That, or betray us to her advantage. I can't get a read of her at all."
"Uh, hello," Jessibel says with a slight smile. "My friend and I were passing by when we noticed you seemingly being harassed by those four members of the Chelish Citizens Group. I regognized at least one of their number; the last time I saw him, he and his goons were beating an innocent man in the street, so I figured I'd check in with you to make sure he wasn't up to his old tricks again. What did they want with you?"
"Hmph! They're more than mere pests, if you ask me," Jessi states, her tone perturbed. Suddenly her eyes widen. "You say you know the father of one of those thugs? What's his name?"
Vantine considers for a moment before replying.
"I trust what she has told us to be the truth, which is why I wanted a second opinion. I've reasoned through what we know a few times and I always come to the same conclusion. We're simply not important enough, if we're even known to be considered, by anyone working on Thrune's behalf. I doubt she's a spy, the work involved to place her with a cover story that holds up would be too much, and too time consuming, for her to have appeared so quickly."
"It could be a confidence job, but we're poor targets. No significant wealth, nor are we a good link to connect her on to anyone who's a richer target. If she's experienced enough to try a long con, she'd be experienced enough to know how to choose her targets. It's also very hard to imagine her as a more mundane criminal who's just looking for a place to hide because she's wanted."
"There are some esoteric possibilities, such as possession by an infernal, or other, entity that can't be ruled out. Those could be dangerous of course. But my feeling is if she was being guided by such an entity, it would explain her current circumstances in a way that is easier to accept, something more comfortable to us."
"I need to do some research. I don't know enough about memory, or her kind of magic to understand her yet."
Jessibel grumbles, "The city's gone to Hell under Thrune!" before thanking the gnome woman for her time. Turning to Nyxra, the young bard adds, "Let's find the Raven--he may need us!"
Aisling nods. "That sounds sensible and well thought out." Tjs is the highest possible praise she is able to offer. "I agree there's not much mroe to be done right now - what do you want to do next?" She looks around to ssee where the others have got to.
The gnome woman waves Jessibel away, returning to whatever it is she does for a living, just in time for Vantine and Aisling to return, spot them, and join up. There is nevertheless one person missing - the Raven.
Vantine adds one more thought before she and Aisling join the others.
"At a certain point it may be better to bring her to the Wasp's Nest rather than keeping her alone in my flat. The extra stimulation might be beneficial to her, and we wouldn't need to make special trips to resupply her. It would also free up my flat for other things."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Raven's absence is impossible to miss.
"Where has our beaked friend gotten off to?"
Jessibel fills in Vantine and Aisling on what transpired at the gnome alchemist's shop. "I think the Raven intended to lead some of the CCG goons off. We didn't hear any sounds of fighting or screams for help, so that's a good sign...right?"
It's obvious the bard is starting to worry that perhaps she's lost her mentor, and she suggests following the route the CCG took after the Raven's theatrics.
When the Raven materializes before the reassembled party, a relieved Jessibel throws her arms around him and hugs him. Realizing belatedly her reaction might be seen as inappropriate, she pulls back, frowns, and lightly punches the masked man in the arm.
"What was that all about?" she demands. "You left Nyxra and I alone with no idea what your plan was!"