Vantine continues wreaking havoc on the minds of the mercenaries, revealing to them ancient, unfathomable truths that send their minds into a whirl of absent thoughts. Once more, however, the mercenary shrugs off her magic, however, fighting off the dizziness she would inflict upon him.
The Raven's implicit threat causes the mercenary to look around at his fallen comrades, going slightly pale, but he grips his mace more firmly. "I'm under contract!" He manages. "I won't break it for the likes of you!"
This distraction allows Jessi to slip up to the mercenary and crack him across the jaw with her sap. He squeaks comically, staggering back from the blow.
In the barracks, Kossrani steps carefully away from Aisling, leveling his bow at her and putting what he can into another shot at her. However, his critical injuries allow her to easily deflect the arrow with her shield.
The Raven bows to the doomed man. "I admire your conviction, sir."
Nyxra steps into a flanking position with Jessibel and swings the flat of her blade again.
Aislig mves to follow Kossrani, tring to pin him against a wall into the corner. She swtings again with her sword
Aisling slashes down, cleaving Kossrani's skull in two and dropping him to the ground with a hollow thud. The leader of the mercenary band is dead.
Meanwhile, Nyxra swats the last conscious mercenary over the head with her sword, knocking him to the floor in a heap.
A few moments later, the women of the Scarlet Rose exit their room, their aasimar leader helping them pick up a sack each. She looks up at the Ravens, silver eyes sorrowful. "Thank you for your help. We're ready to leave now."
Aisiling wipes the blood off her sword, trying not to look at Kossrani's body. He may ahve been an evil man who enjoyed hurjting pepole, but he fought bravely and didn't give up even when it swas hopeless. Killing someoene who was unarmoued doesn't feel good.
She's also not sure that he was wrong to keep the Scarlet Rose as prisonsers. She gives their leader a glare of the if-looks-coulcd-kill varirety, before walking off into the night. She has a strong urge to get away. A minute or so later, she feels the taste of bile in her mouth a moment or two before she doubles over, retcing and cuoughing. She uses some of the fallen snow to clean her face and hands, before moving forward again.
She doesnt' look back to see if the otherws are following. She just wants to be alone rightn now.
Jessibel's not sure why there's sorrow in Iratea's eyes, but she doesn't quite dare ask. Instead, she starts handing out boots and cloaks to her and her company.
"Not sure how long you ladies have been locked up in here, but we got three feet of snow a few days back! Some of it has melted and some has been shoveled, but there are still some pretty deep drifts in the back alleys."
As she drops off the boots she steps back, away from the scary women before delivering the last piece of news. "Because of the snow and the curfew, we'll be using the city sewers as part of our escape route."
The bard casts a quick detect magic spell and scans the mercenaries for goodies, stepping behind the Raven as she does so. "Think we have time to scan and loot Kossrani?" she asks her mentor, glancing at Aisling with some of the same fear and timidity she has toward the former Gray Maidens.
Jessibel's quick scan of the mercenaries reveals that the mercenaries don't have any actual magical items. They do have some spare change , and the stylized symbols of Asmodeus that is the icon of their band.
"We've been in worse places." A dark-haired woman says when Jessibel mentions the sewers. "Just hope that the dottari aren't poking around down there."
The aasimar pats her shoulder. "We'll get through this, together."
"Mm."
Vantine helps with securing the still living and checking to make sure they stay that way. The amount of blood about the room is horrid, but they need to get moving to ensure a clean getaway.
Rather than looking for valuables Vantines quickly screens the building for paperwork, written orders, letters from superiors and the like. They could be very useful for understanding how the Lord Mayor's apparatus functions and how the people within it communicate and think. With any luck there may even be official seals or other tidbits that could help if they ever need to make some documents of their own. She casts Guidance before she begins for a slight edge on the search.
Nyxra looks back as she hears Kossrani's skull being split in twain, and sees Aisling walking away. After a quick look at the others to ensure they have everything well in hand, the elf moves to follow the Iomedaean.
"Aisling?" She asks. "Aisling, we can't linger here--reinforcements are bound to be here soon."
Vantine stuffs all the documents, papers, and letters into her pockets and pouches and lifts up the lockbox to carry it in both arms, resting against her chest. She walks back into the back room unsteadily under its weight.
"Jackpot! Literally. This box has money in it."
Nyxra's worries are unffouneded - Aisling is leaving, headed straight for the sewer grate (pasuing only to be breifly sick). If she heasr the elf, she doesn't reply.
Nyxra watches Aisling leave before returning to the others.
"We need to move. Reinforcements are bound to be here soon, and we're better off not being here when they arrive."
Jessibel looks at Nyxra rather blankly; the bard seems calm and collected...maybe too much so. Nyxra's probably wise to instill a sense of urgency into the young noblewoman. Jessi notes Aisling's absence but assumes (Wrongly, again!) that the Iomedaean is keeping watch for the dottari or other reinforcements.
While the former Gray Maidens tie the laces of their new (used) boots, Jessi decides to quickly scan the barracks for any magical goodies (or any other items of value that might be in plain sight).
Jessi does notice a pair of magical auras - she quickly notices they're potions in a chest at the foot of one of the beds.
Jessibel checks the dwarf's grisly corpse for any key that might open the chest, figuring a pair of decent healing potions are worth snagging.
After grabbing the potions, Jessi returns to the others and reports her find. Grinning, young Magpie asks her fellow rebels, "Are we ready to fly this coop and join with the Eagle?"
"Let's go."
Vantine puts down/drops the box she's carrying and sees if it will open. She's not going to be able to carry the thing all the way back through the sewers. If she can take the contents minus the box it might help.
"Living up to your name, I see." The Raven says to lady Falcon as the final mercenary falls to her blade. "Not too bad. Not tooo bad." The vigilante looks around at the destruction. "Quite the deadly ladies, you lot are. Are you quite unharmed, lady Magpie?" He asks her in a casual tone, trying to hide notes of genuine concern in his voice.
The Raven manages to get the box open easily, revealing a pile of gold and silver .
The Ravens swiftly make their way to the manhole that they had discovered the previous day - with some effort, they manage to lift it off and get down into the sewers along with the Scarlet Rose warriors. With a thunk, the sewer cover falls back into place. They are safe, for now.
The aasimar woman looks around the sewers. "I hope you folks brought lights, because while I can see fine, my sisters aren't so fortunate as me."
"No probelem. Let there be light." There's a pale glow and Aisling's more pale than usual face appears from where she's been waiting for the rest of the group.
Her expression is slighly more sour than usual as she holds up her glowing sword. "See? Light enoufh for all of us." From one point of veiew, Asiling's showing it to the aasimar woman for inspection. From anotehr point of view, Aisling's holding a very sharp blade mere inches from the woman's throat.
"After you, please. I insist." Again, from one point of view this is polite. From another point of view, not so much.
Vantine is finding Aisling's turn both dismaying and hard to comprehend.
Maybe it's something to be addressed, but not at the moment, while they're still fleeing. She settles for correcting Aisling's errors in the present.
"Light in the rear isn't of much use to those who are in the lead."
She takes a coin from her purse and places a Light on it before handing it to the aasimar Maiden who asked for it.
"Here take one to use as you best see the need."
The aasimar woman hands the lit coin to one of the other maidens, before gesturing sharply. "Alright, loves. Let's form up and move out." She looks to the Ravens. "Well, once our rescuers lead us wherever they're going..."
She pauses. "While I'm grateful you saved us, and I don't want to push things at the moment, I would like to know who you are and why you helped us. I'm Iratea Verspex, lieutenant of the Order of the Scarlet Rose. These are my sisters."
Vantine doesn't know precisely how to answer Lieutenant Iratea because there are two problems. She has to decide if their code names apply to everyone, even rescued people. Then she has to fumble to remember hers. There's also the problem of answering the 'why' of all this in a way that doesn't sound half-baked to such a serious person.
"We're glad to be able to make your acquaintance Lieutenant Iratea, and that of your sisters as well."
Vantine takes the woman's hand into hers as she greets her.
"We are the Silver Ravens."
Oh, I hope that's right! Did we come to a decision?
"I am, um, Hummingbird."
Vantine shifts her eyes to The Raven. Saying it out loud herself, it sounds a bit foolish, which makes her want to squirm.
"We broke you and your sisters out because we exist to oppose the House of Thrune's takeover of Kintargo. We fight for Kintargo's independence. Since you were so closely guarded, including the special location and attention Barzillai Thrune ordered for you, we wondered if our respective groups may share some sentiments. Even if not, rescuing you is a strike against Thrune. We take our opportunities wherever we can find them."
"And I am called the Magpie," Jessibel speaks up, giving the band's leader a quick half-curtsy. "It is my apartment flat that we'll be heading for and staying at for a short period...assuming we can make it through the sewers without major incident."
"...Falcon." Nyxra says before turning back to finding a path through the sewers.
Jessibel does her part to help light the way, casting a light cantrip upon the blade of her rapier. If anyone or anything confronts the group in the sewers, she'll be fighting them without mercy.
Iratea obviously doesn't recognize the name of the Silver Ravens, though she does nod at Vantine's explanation. "We came here to gather information about the sisters who left Korvosa - who remained loyal to the memory of the tyrant queen. The Erinyes Company, they call themselves, and they serve House Thrune."
She looks at the Ravens, one by one, before looking to her sisters. "We would like some time to recover, but I believe we can work together if you would have us."
Aisling looks them over, clearly still not sure whether thyve done the right thing or not in freeing them. "Let's at least get you fed first." Whatever their crimes, they have been starved and overworekd. The least she can do is work to cure that.
Iratea obviously doesn't recognize the name of the Silver Ravens, though she does nod at Vantine's explanation. "We came here to gather information about the sisters who left Korvosa - who remained loyal to the memory of the tyrant queen. The Erinyes Company, they call themselves, and they serve House Thrune."
Ailing nods. "That sounds more like I'd expect from the Grey Maidns." She looks at Iratea. "Once you've had some food and drink, I have soem questions for you. If I'm willing to stiplate that you aren't evil, I'm going to want to know how you manged to do what you did and then stick with the path of good after so many of you went bad and stayed that way." She gives her a warning look. "I will be taking notes. You can confer with each ohter, but don't even think about lying, please."
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Vantine, who has taken a step back to give Aisling room, makes eye contact with Iratea when the cleric begins her inquisition.
Using her eyes to convey what she means, Vantine glances to the side to indicate Aisling, then rolls them to indicate something like "yes, it's irritating but something we just have to put up with". Then she shrugs and smiles meaning meaning roughly "it will be alright, she won't do this for very long. She's okay once you get to know her".
Jessibel is wide-eyed, but otherwise her facial features seem unusually neutral.
I wasn't exactly what you'd call 'good' until I fell under Aisling's influence when the Silver Ravens formed...and 'til I started having those weird nightly dreams. Of course, I wasn't evil either--more of a mischief-maker. I wonder what dark deeds these ladies have in their pasts....
Another thought creeps into her mind.
If Aisling DOES let them join the rebellion...who would be put in charge of them...their manager as it were? I wanted nothing to do with the sisters at first...doubted they'd respect someone as young and, well--pretty as me. Any one of them could kick my butt...imagine if I pissed them all off at once! But still...having them under my command.... Such intriguing possibilities! Maybe they saw me whap those mercenaries with my sap and think I'm tough as they are! I could always try faking it....
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Aisling catches - adn interprets - Vantine's galnce, but decides not to make an issue of it. Beseides, even her bad mood has its limits. Taking it out at Vantine would be like kicking a puppy. Into another puppy. And then watching both puupies fall into the water to be eaten by a giant albino sewer gator.
One corner of her mouth twtiches upwards slightly, but she decides nto to share the joke. Not everyone appreciates her odd sense of humour.
The Raven smirks from his place in the line through the sewers. "You know, lady Eagle, they are wanted criminals. We could always throw them back to Thrune if they prove to be black-blooded."
"We've been reintegrating into Korvosa for the past seven years, miss." Iratea says after greeting everyone. "It's been hard, but most of us have become more accepted." She sighs. "Some of us have turned to religion and faith in various gods. Others devote ourselves to helping people. My sisters and I wanted to keep an eye out for any movements of the Erinyes Company, but..." She shrugs. "It went about as well as you saw."
Suddenly, when the Raven speaks, she casts a sharp glance at him, her already twisted features hardening into a scowl. "What are one of you doing here?! Didn't you do enough damage to Korvosa? Plotting to make another plague to wipe out the people of Kintargo now?"
At the mention of a plague, Nyxra's eyes sharpen and she leans forward.
"...not that I'm aware of." The elf looks at the Raven. "As far as we're aware, he's been nothing but helpful to us..."
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Vantine digs deeply to find some adulthood within her. She's surprising stern when roused.
"This needs to stop. Everyone is getting to distracted with external appearances. Neither these women nor The Raven are agents for the former Queen in Korvosa or the present one in Egorian. We don't have time for suspicious accusations or bickering. We all need some rest. Let's finish our trip quickly and in peace."
"Eh. I get around." The Raven shrugs in response to scarred woman's accusation. Truth be told, he had no idea what she was talking about. He had been so wrapped up in the Raven's affairs while simultaneously maintaining Alexius Vashnarstill's public persona that he had not looked beyond the end of his own beak - metaphorically speaking - in years.
Vantine's sterness does not surprise him. She could stand up to lord Vashnarstill, after all. "Lady Hummingbird, let it be known that I am the victim here, not the perpetrator."
"He and his were responsible for a plague that killed a good portion of Korvosa's population..." Iratea growls, before shaking her head. "I'll trust that for now, miss 'Hummingbird,' but..." She sighs. "How did you know where we were?"
Aisling gives a small smile as Vantine shows some steel. This puppy has teeth, it seems.
Aloound, she only says "I will vouch for the Raven. He is a little odd, to be sure, but I will give an oath he is nto guility of what you say." She holds her holy sybmol. "I don't give those oaths lightly."
Go on, question my word as a priesetess of Iomedae. I dare you.
Jessibel has no idea what the latest problem is, so she keeps out of the fray. In answer to Iratea's question, she merely says, "We have an associate who knows all the comings and goings in the city. She suggested that we rescue you and your sisters, both as a glancing blow to the new lord-mayor and as an opportunity to find allies to help oppose him further. You'll meet this person soon enough if you join up!"
Clearly unwanted in current company, the Raven retreats to Jessibel. "Thank you, darling Magpie, for healing me back in the melee. Tragically, as intimidating as this mask is, I cannot see anything whilst wearing it! But you handle yourself well for an unassuming young woman... Are you sure you are just an unassuming young woman? You seem awfully well versed in combat..." He leans closer to Jessibel, as if suspicious of her.
Jessibel is confused by the Raven's words. "Why do you assume that I'm unassuming?" she asks, sounding equally suspicious. When she realizes the masked man also complimented her combat ability, she blushes a bit before replying, "I've taken a few lessons...." Then she notices her mentor is still injured from the battle, so she sings another quick ditty and heals him further.
"Enough talk," she states to everyone afterward. "Let's get to safety before Thrune and his bootlickers realize what's happened and form a party to pursue us."
When she gets the chance, the bard quietly lets Aisling and Vantine know that she's burned through all her spells; any further healing will have to come from them.
"Took the words right out of my mouth." Nyxra gets back to blazing the trail.
The Ravens progress through the sewers with their newly rescued ex-convicts, and the Scarlet Rose keep their mouths shut for the most part, still somewhat weak and tired from their ordeal at the Salt Works.
Within an hour, the heroes and their wards lift the manhole cover nearby to Jessibel's apartment, and slowly help the former Grey Maidens up to the streets, before escorting them somewhere safe(r).
"So... what next?" Iratea asks. "You freed us, fed us, and so on, but what would you like us to do?"
Asiling shakes her head. "This isn't one of those ogbligation things wehere we rescue you and in return you do what we say. We rescued you becauase it was the right thing to do." I hope. "But, it sounds like we have the same enmenies. If some of your kind have allied with House Thrune that sounds like a bad thing to me. Maybe we can help you in tracking them down and brigning them to justice."
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"You ladies do stand out, though. And our - ahem - rescue of you was somewhat more high-profile and bloody than we intended. You may want to consider that you may have to keep to the shadows for an extended period of time, should you choose to stay in the city." The Raven points out before negotiations get too far along. No point discussing alliances if the sisters decide to leave the city.
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"Yeah, and our hideout is in the half of the city across the river...the river that only has one well-guarded bridge across it," Jessibel adds. "How are you ladies with disguises?"