Aula smiles slightly. "Once, the Redeemer Queen was called Our Lady in Shadow by her worshippers. Her name now, as it was then, is Nocticula. Perhaps you know the name, or the reputation of our goddess."
She smiles a little. "The Redeemer Queen ascended, casting off the nature that she once had, and demonstrates to all of us that whatever we are naturally inclined to do, we hold the power to choose our fates. Even those who seem bound to their vileness by their simple existence."
Vylas speaks. "Nocticula no longer answers the prayers of those who once worshipped her as a demon lord. Those who have abandoned the paths to the Abyss for the Redeemer Queen have been granted the powers we once held. The others... look to other demon lords in hopes of regaining their might."
Jessibel starts visibly at the name of Nocticula. Her narrowed eyes turn toward her sexually-active friend, Vantine, whose proclivities put her in mortal danger from such a cult!
Nyxra draws a complete blank.
...dammit, I never really paid attention to other faiths than Sarenrae. I need to study more.
Vantine hasn't the slightest idea who a 'Nocticula' might be. She figures she'll ask someone like Ausling later, but also tries to fish for a bit more within the bounds of politeness.
"I'm sorry. My family has never been particularly religious. My deficiencies in knowledge of the subject mean I can only partially follow you. But hers is certainly an inspiring story."
"Mm. Just so." Aula's eyes light up with what might be passion, or, perhaps worse, fanaticism. After a moment, though, her expression falls slightly. "We lack the capacity to fully reveal her, even to the outcast. Were the dottari to find out about our existence, I rather doubt we'd be made welcome. We lack the influence to look over the whole of the city, and our power is even less."
Vylas speaks up once more. "The Lady is humble. We've grown threefold over the past six months, thanks to her." He rolls his shoulders. "It's taken enough pressure off of me that I have been able to start trying to take back the night from the Kuthonites."
Aisling listens with interest, taking notes in her head. The metnion of Nociticula makes her blink, but she doesn't know that much about the demon lord. She shakes her head at Vylas mentions Kuthonisete. Her desire to draw sword and stamp out any followers of the twisted god is in conflict with her ordinry good sense, so she talks a bit more shaprly thatn she might otherwise. "Teh last thing we need is some sort of religcious fight going on. If that's all this is seen as, a bunch of priest arguing about which goddess to follow, none of the ordinry citzens will side with us. They'll just leave us to fight it out."
"Oh, I don't argue with them..." Vylas says, voice dark. "No, I simply show them they're not the only ones to lurk in the dark. Sometimes they need be afraid of that which hides in the shadows, too." He shrugs. "I've not been very successful yet. But time is something I have plenty of."
"What have the Kuthonites been up to recently, besides their celebration of the Eternal Kiss?" the Magpie asks Vylas. In addition to hopefully learning if the church and its dark adherents might have to be dealt with to bring Kintargo back to freedom, Jessi secretly hopes to sound more knowledgeable--and perhaps a bit more dangerous--than her relative youth might suggest.
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Aside from her lack of understanding of the religion, Vantine can't quite grasp what Aula and Vylas want out of the meeting. Maybe it's just to assess a potential threat, probably that at least. But they have neither expressed territoriality or a desire for some sort of alliance. Maybe she's being impatient for them to get to their point, but Vantine is wondering about their future coexistence, and they my well be also. She nudges to meeting toward practical matters in that vein.
"What do you need from us so we can be good neighbors?"
"Being frustrated." Vylas says, a smirk in his voice. "Their little festival was rather pathetic and unimaginative, and they weren't watching their... sacrifice... well enough. I'm not visiting their temple, though. I've heard that they may have some... darker things than I."
Aula smiles. "You've done us a great service already, Vantine. We don't need anything else right now, but we do want to offer what little support we can. I am willing to use some of my sway to try to get word out about your endeavors - a sort of counter-propaganda, if you will. Our followers are not numerous, but some may have some small talents that could aid you, as well."
Vatine returns Aula's smile.
"We would appreciate exactly what you propose very much. We have no choice but to remain secretive. But it is difficult to clearly articulate our cause and purpose under such circumstances. Any help defending ourselves against the government's slander is welcome."
"We are both only newly present in Kintargo. I hope as we both mature and grow, we can find other ways to support each other."
"Oh, I don't argue with them..." Vylas says, voice dark. "No, I simply show them they're not the only ones to lurk in the dark. Sometimes they need be afraid of that which hides in the shadows, too."
The nocturnal Raven's feathery ears perk up at this. The Raven swoops down upon Aula, taking her paintbrush-laden hand in his and pecking it in his usual fashion. "If your whole organization shares your companion's philosophy, I am sure we will be good friends." He says, a smile in his voice. Freeing Kintargo from its devilish oppressors was a fine ideal, but unrealistic. The Raven's sights were set primarily on the Nursery and the tieflings therein, leaving him eager to ally with those of similar goals. "We should exchange notes on these Kuthonians. With all that will be going on in the Devil's Nursery in the near future, it would be best for us to oust these demon-worshipers - or whatever they are - before they can dig their roots deep. The trodden on are oft easily radicalized, not realizing they are working against their own interests, and these cultists will no doubt take advantage of their desperation."
"I am interested in your origins, lady Aula. How does a new deity go about gathering new followers?"
Aula giggles softly, before retrieving her hand from the Raven's somewhat enthusiastic grip. "Yes, I imagine. Ours is not exactly a public faith, and even if it were, we tend to focus on those society forgets more than the greater whole. Nevertheless, amongst those people, we shall surely spread what word we can to keep your name... clean. Unlike the Red Jills, it seems as though you seek to improve the lot of we oppressed and impoverished."
Turning her attentions to the vigilante, the tiefling priestess shrugs. "The night is not something that should be feared - rather, it is a time of sacred solitude and beauty. Humans tend to forget that, especially since the Kuthonites are eager to encourage the idea that darkness holds only terrors." She looks to Vylas. "Our protector has, of necessity and from his background, taken to using their own fears against them."
Vylas chuckles again. "Amateurish children, these Kuthonites - perhaps not all of them, but many." Somehow, the Ravens get the sense that he's not speaking solely of their ability to inflict terror.
The Lady coughs. "Quite. Anyways, to answer your questions... the Kuthonites are a threat, yes, but they are one that has long-established roots - and alliances in the Asmodeans. Vylas alone can only do so much. Perhaps in time, we'll be able to tear them out or burn them away, but until then, we harass and harry."
She turns back to the others before continuing. "My father was a priest of the Redeemer Queen in the time when her other followers hunted us as heretics. We do now as he did then - recruit from the outcast, the lost, the lonely. Those who are isolated by virtue of what they are, who they are, or their choices. We do not knowingly bring villains into our fold, especially since the ascension of our goddess."
As Aula speaks further of Nocticula's transition into the Redeemer Queen, Jessibel's fear for Vantine (and the rest of the party) lessens substantially. She frowns when her foppish mentor kisses Aula's hand, fearing that his flirtatiousness might threaten to derail the budding alliance the Silver Ravens seem to have reached with the Redeemer Queen's followers, but the frown doesn't fade when Aula giggles and takes no offense.
Well, we've made some allies in the Devil's Nursery. But what about the other parts of the city? Where do our efforts turn next?
The teen bard realizes she's till a bit sore about being told not to tell her grandmother, Archbaroness Eldonna, about the Silver Ravens and her part in the rebel organization. The nobility will be instrumental if we're to ever to overthrow Thrune! The gears in her mind start turning as she considers building support in the nearest district of the city: Redroof. House Solstine is very influential there. Jessi realizes how badly she misses her friend Carlissa; she decides to drop by the Solstine compound again when the Ravens next cross the Bleakbridge to return to Laria's coffeehouse. In addition to asking about her noble friend, she also silently vows to try to get an audience with the Solstines' matron to try to get some idea how much Thrune's rule is affecting their businesses and if the house might be willing to join the rebellion in the near future.
Nyxra feels a deep sense of exhaustion by the time Aula's exposition on Nocticula's redemption continues, but the mention of Kuthonites having alliances with the Asmodeans causes her to start thinking of ways to sabotage them.
"The more you speak of these Kuthonites, the more I grow to like them." The Raven begins to think of the fun he could have with the cultists simply by stealing a set of their garments and pretending to be one of them. How difficult could it be to sow mistrust between the Kuthonites and the Asmodeans? But that is just what I need, is it not? Yet another mask.
"At any rate, at least we now have two divines on our side." The Raven nods towards lady Talbot. "I can feel the tide of battle already turning in our favor!" The 'gods' were indisputably real, but the Raven doubted their claimed divinity. Who is to say they are anything more than powerful wizards? If the devout believed it was their holy calling to aid the Raven's, he would not turn away the help.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, lady Aula." The Raven says, taking a step back and bowing low. "We tried to get the Jill's on our side; it will do our cause well to have someone more engrained in tiefling society working towards the same goal as we do. Most of the tieflings we have met so far have either tried to kill us or been offended by us. I look forward to working with you."
Vantine is beginning to find the Raven's behavior both slavering and sardonic, which is most distasteful.
"You mean 'we offended' I believe, not 'been offended by us'. Have the backbone to admit we mishandled things."
Vantine's voice is tart with annoyance.
The Raven shrugs, continuing to face their hostess. "I am innocent of any such crimes; twas my companions who caused offense." Humbleness was not a trait expressed by birds and the Raven, ever the consummate professional, was loathe to act out of character. He again bows deeply to Aula. "I can assure you, dear lady, my companions are but young humans. They mean no harm and they will learn to interact with the tieflings of the Nursery without offending them." He did not care if Aula found his response childish or innapropriate - if she strove for the same ends as the Raven's, she had no choice but to work with them and this was too good of an opportunity to irritate the delicious witch to pass up.
Nyxra clears her throat and gives the Raven an offended look as he mentions his companions being young humans.
Jessibel finds her glare bouncing between Vantine and her mentor. When Nyxra speaks up, Jessi finds herself nodding in solidarity...until she realizes the elf apparently thinks herself above "young humans," even a noblewoman like herself.
She keeps her mouth shut for now, knowing that anything she says in her defense will merely add fuel to the fire.
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Nyxra doesn't seem to have noticed Jessibel's discomfort--if the emotions swirling around in her own eyes is any indication, she may be wrapped up too much in her own to do so.
"You don't have to open your mouth. Your mask is off-putting."
Vantine crosses her arms, signaling she will discuss the subject no further, and pointedly ignores the Raven thereafter.
"Please excuse us Lady Aula, Mister Vylas. We should be on our way now."
"Ah, yes." Aula nods at the mention of offending a tiefling. "Zea did mention you to us. She suspected you might be involved with the dottari, and your prying did little to make her comfortable sharing anything of our cult. To say nothing of the fact that you were yet in public at the time."
For his part, Vylas shifts slightly, hooded gaze fixed on the Raven for a few moments before he turns his eyes elsewhere. "Impulsivity is not a folly solely of the young." He observes, seemingly to himself.
Aula sets her palette and paintbrush aside on a nearby table. "Before you leave," she says, politely choosing to disregard the interparty discussions, "how might we get into contact with you in the future? Or would you rather seek us out? You can leave us messages with Ravius, who own the Dignified Scales, should you seek to do so."
Aisling closes her eyes and pinches the bit of her forehead that gets a migraine. usually it's from too much reading of bad legal argument, but aparently it can also come from other causes. She wiats for the bickering to end, and is grateufl that Aula seems to overlook it. "If you see Zea again soon, please apologies to her from us. We are cterainly not the dottari! I am sorry if we upset her."
"As for how to get hold of us." She thinks about it. She trusts Aula, but telling her a secret is to let it go forever. She decides not to say anything of their hideout. "Laria Longroad at the pastry shop will always take a message, as will my superior at the church of Iomedae." That seems to be a good compromosise.
"You could always." "Send a raven."
"Hm... very well." Aula says after a moment, before looking at the Raven. "Yes, I'll... keep that under advisement."
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The Raven bows as the Silver Ravens take their leave.
"Ladies!" He announces once free of the apartment, throwing an arm each over Vantine and Jessibel's shoulders. "I suggest we retire to the coffee house to discuss our next move before turning in for the night. What say you all?"
The Raven leans back in his chair, balancing on its back legs. He begins to stretch, raising his arms over his head, but stops when his crossbolted arm twinges with pain. "What an eventful week!" He exclaims, rubbing his shoulder. "Exterminated a herd of murderous pixies, scared a poor tiefling girl, eliminated a pack of murderers and thieves, and made contact with a potential ally." Long had he strove to aid the tieflings of the Devil's Nursery and long had he failed to make a measurable impact. Finally, things were starting to look up. "I do not know about you ladies, but I am quite pleased with the way this week went." He snaps his fingers, as best as one can when wearing thick leather gloves, and points at Jessibel. "You were very impressive today, dearest Magpie. You do not look like the kind of person that would assault a fortified position, yet you fearlessly took the fight to the enemy for a righteous cause. I am not your father, but if I was, I would be proud to call you my daughter."
"Yes, not a bad week all." Vantine agrees with clear satisfaction.
"I could use a few days for my own purposes. I have mirror work to do."
And I should visit my mother.
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For just a moment, Jessi feels tears threaten to form in her eyes when the Raven mentions her departed father. As always seems to be the case, however, any compliments or words of encouragement from her flighty mentor make the vigilante teen absurdly giddy. She beams unabashedly at his praise.
He's right--father would be so proud if he could see me now! I miss him!
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Aisling nods, enjoying the warmth of hot cohocolate as it spreads its glow across her. "Yes, a good week although we have made ourselves more visble than I would have lieked. I think we should plan our next move carefully." She looks slicgtly cynically at the Raven as he praises Jessibel - the talk of fatehrly pride doesn't quite match the looks he's giveing her. On the other hand, it's none of her business. Jessibel is a grown up and perfeclty capable of making her own choices.
Well, almost none of her business. Lawful types find it awful hard to keep their opnions to themselves. When Jessi gets up and leaves teh group for a moment or two, Aisling leans in to whisper a quiet warning to the maksked vigliante. "if you break that girl's heart, I will bury you six feet deep in the churchyard." She doesn't specify whehter he'll be alive or dead at the time. Seeing Jessi return, she leans back, and gives the Raven a warm smile as she takes another sip of her cocao. "A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend."
Vantine maintains a poker face, but her heart sings with amusement.
Nyxra feels... exhausted. That's really the only accurate descriptor she can think of at the moment.
"...dunno what to do with myself now. Just... keep on keepin' on, I guess."
What the hell did I do this time? The Raven thinks, bewildered as he draws Aisling's ire...
Alexius Vashnarstill shouts in a commanding voice fitting for a man of his social stature as he stumbles through the front door of the Vashnarstill manor, one arm wrapped around the waist of a giggly half-elf woman with wine-colored hair, a rolled up parchment tucked under the other. "Mother! I need... expansion!" Alexius raises the parchment containing the draft for an addon to his cottage over his head, his companion struggling to keep the wobbly nobleman from pulling both of them to the ground. "Mother!"
The next few days pass swiftly, as each of the Ravens split off to investigate and prepare their own needs for the forthcoming events. Laria, ever keen to the needs of the rebellion, recommends that they lie low for a time, and let the other members do their work.
Jessibel practices her fighting with the Fushi sisters and the Scarlet Rose sisters, while Vantine visits her mother and tries to study the scrolls that she had obtained from the ruins of the Silver Star. Unfortunately, when she burns them and daubs the ritual ash on her mirror, nothing comes of it - no new spells emerge from within the depths of her reflection. What little she does see are fragments of incomprehensible thoughts.
On Starday, a donation arrives at the Wasp's Nest, in the form of a tiefling woman overpaying Laria for some pastries and coffee, and Rexus reports that he's made significant progress on decoding the documents.
"Well, I've found out more about our predecessors - other than the Jackdaw, there were a few highly prominent members of the Ravens at the time. Amyreid, a half-elven priestess of the Everbloom, Ba, a halfling wizard, Kyda, a human bard, and Brakisi, a Mwangi scout and ranger. Apparently, we have big shoes to fill..." He grins. "They fought off five attacks from various minor factions in the civil war, four from Thrune agents, one from skum, one from Nidalese vampires, and once, most surprisingly, from a blue dragon named Rivozair."
He pauses. "Finally, I found out where the old Ravens' main headquarters were." He lifts a hand, precluding any celebration. "Unfortunately, it's out of our reach. It's somewhere under the Opera House - where Barzillai is currently working from. Any infiltration there's beyond us at the moment. Unfortunately, there's no other information about other safehouses or caches about the city."
The following days see the Ravens investing in their merchants' businesses, which helps the small group earn a significant profit and to begin to expand their businesses. To the Fushi sisters' delight, they manage to procure the ingredients and medicines that Aisling needs to fully cure Korva's injuries, and she manages to hold a coherent conversation for the first time since she was so badly injured by the imp's sabotage.
Finally, the Ravens - all of them - spread word about their deeds subtly and through various channels - unfortunately, people seem less than interested in what they've done, and no sudden upswelling of support is forthcoming.
Each morning, Jessibel casts detect magic and tries to puzzle out the powers of the strix's amulet. The bard ends up frustrated for the most part.
Jessibel shows some rare restraint, avoiding Laria's luscious pastries to watch her figure, but she develops a coffee habit. The caffeine makes her hyper-chatty, but it also increases her productivity: She makes a couple of trips to the Newt Market to sell some of the party's ill-gotten gains.
Vantine has a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day with her mirror. So terrible in fact that she decides her mirror is impossibly stupid, though she would never dare say anything of the sort out loud for fear of offending it. Who knows what it's capable of if its feelings are hurt?
Instead she vents by dyeing the white streak in her hair black to match the rest of it.
The next day Vantine avoids all things magical except for her morning meditation with her mirror, which must never be skipped. She spends the rest of the day with her mother. Mostly this involves work, inventory and updating the books along with uncrating new shipped items. This is good, she and her mother haven't been types for chatting heart to heart over tea or cooking for a long time now. It feels normal to Vantine, spending time working in proximity to her mother with fairly sparse conversation aside from the business. It also means she has to lie to her mother less, just a few things thrown out about working with some others on a couple of theatrical performances so they are ready when things in the city get back to normal are enough.
The next day, Nyxra opts to walk among the people and shadows of Kintargo, sticking to the alleys and side streets. It's ostensibly a form of training for reconnaissance, but the truth is somewhat more complicated than that.
Walking about gives the elf time to clear her head, and her efforts at remaining unseen give her something else to focus on than her memories of combat. The rebellion of the Silver Ravens is proving to be more dangerous than she expected--if nothing else, she never killed a person before yesterday.
The Raven spent most of the next few days as Alexius. Taking some of his tax-free earnings as the Raven, he drafts plans to have his cottage on the Vashnarstill estate expanded. The 'haunted' barn, Vantine's apartment, the Nest; these were fine enough places to lie low when the Ravens were in that part of town, but they hadn't anywhere on the northeastern corner of the city to run to if they had need. Digging out the wine cellar of his cottage was hardly out of character for Alexius and his small home was (intentionally) squirreled away in a discrete corner of the estate. The Raven had no idea how he would introduce Alexius to the Silver Ravens - likely some social event the Ravens would take part in that precluded the attendance of a drab bird would prompt the inclusion of the duelist.
====================
"Well that is an easy enough problem to solve." The Raven says casually when he is informed of the unfortunate location of the old Ravens' base. As usual, the Raven is leaning back in his chair, far enough to fall over if he did not have one foot extended to catch the underside of the table and prevent such an embarrassing fate. He tosses his silvered dagger directly above his head, just high enough for the tip of the blade to brush the ceiling overhead with a dull tickt, catching it as it surrenders to gravity. "We need only burn down the cathedral." Toss and catch. "Then we buy the land for cheap." Toss and catch. "And have free access to the treasures hidden below!" Toss.
Rexus looks at the Raven, horrified. "No, that's a terrible idea. Some people go to the cathedral only out of fear of Asmodeus, not because they worship him. What if we harm them?"
"Besides," says the nearby one-eyed Scarlet Rose warrior, "it'd really ruin our reputation as a group for the people - we'd be easy to paint as anarchic monsters."
Vantine takes the 3rd day to visit Narcelia. She brings provisions to restock her pantry, brings up plenty of fresh water, and sets about cleaning for a while. Narcelia seems to let things slide in he apartment more than Vantine appreciates.
After the fundamentals have been taken care of, Vantines prepares a nice warm meal for them to share so they can sit and chat for a while. If the young woman's lethargy seems no better presently than it has been in the past, Vantine will probably need to see that by the end of her visit Narcelia is bathed, her clothes are washed, and some food is prepared for the coming days as well. Vantine also alludes to Narcelia that if she needs physical comforting, she can provide it.
Normally Vantine would not be doing so many of these things, few who know her very well would really describe her as 'helpful'. But Vantine remains concerned Narcelia's state of mind and isolation will turn her into some sort of apartment morlock eventually, and wants to stem her slide as well as she can.
Vantine will spend the entire day. Even if there isn't a day's worth of things to take care of, some company by itself is probably helpful for the young woman's state of mind.
Vantine does her best to get some feeling for Narcelia's state of mind and activities while nobody else is around between her visits. She also mentions her own (very normal and mundane) habits and activities to Narcelia during conversations to see if anything ignites a spark of interest from her.
Vantine doesn't press any of these things. Instead she spaces out these questions and subjects throughout the day so Narcelia doesn't feeling interrogated or pressured.
As the Silver Ravens' downtime continues, Jessibel decides to do some rumor hunting. First, she visits her family at the Aulamaxa estate. As is her standard operating procedure, she brings a box of Laria's pastries as a bribe. (And this time, she doesn't devour most of the goodies herself.) Her grandmother's pet poodle, Harcule, is atypically silent (Is he napping? Or could he de dead??!! Oh please, oh pleeeease!), so the young noblewoman actually spends several hours catching up.
On her way back to the coffeehouse, the bard stops by the Newt Market to see what's new there...and listen for any juicy gossip.
Nyxra spends the following day in the Wasp's Nest, plotting out an escape route for the Ravens in case the worst happens.
...or, TRYING to at least.
Overall, she seems... alright. Not healthy, per se, but functional. She very clearly still has intense fear - perhaps even paranoia - about the government's potential to hurt her, though even she's not wholly sure why. Maybe, she suggests, she should leave the city... but she's not exactly able to take care of herself these days.
Her brother, Caeleb, is home, and mentions that he'd been "slumming" down in the Clenchjaw's - a tavern over by the northern edge of Bleakbridge. "It's the oddest thing - I've been there half a dozen times in the past year, if not more, but this is the first time I've seen a brawl break out. Normally Clenchjaw's firmer with that sort of thing." He shrugs. "Perhaps it's that the Thrashing Badger burned down, and now all the malcontents in the Yolubilis Harbor have nowhere else to go and complain. Doesn't help that the city's got some fanatics supporting the Lord-Mayor." He looks at her abruptly, seeming alarmed. "Don't tell anyone I said that, little sister. It wouldn't do for me to be known to be saying that sort of thing."
He pauses, considering. "Oh, by the way, I heard that your friend's back in town again. What was her name... Carlissa, yes, that was it."
The New Market doesn't have much for her, by contrast, though she does hear that the Red Jills' absence is noted and welcomed - she even hears a patrol of dottari mention that they're glad to see the last of them, though they are scornful of the strix woman their compatriots found at Humbright House.
"Don't tell anyone I said that, little sister. It wouldn't do for me to be known to be saying that sort of thing."
Jessibel gives her brother a smile that's more of a smirk when he says those words. "No problem. You know me--I'm not much of a talker."
When Caeleb adds that Carlissa'a back in Kintargo, Jessi's excitement spikes but she tries hard not to show it. "Wonderful!" she says, trying to hit the note of someone who's bored out of her skull and welcomes anything that might shake her our of the doldrums. "Maybe we can braid each other's hair or something to pass the time. Lord-Mayor Thrune's curfew is cramping my nightlife."
What a wonderful little actress--and liar--you've become! the junior revolutionary thinks to herself as her brother seems to take no notice of the excitement and joy that she's feeling at the great news. Exploring the ruins of the Thrashing Badger is already on the Silver Ravens' To-Do List; though the bard's not 100% certain where the tavern was located, she knows it was along the docks in the Yolubilis district, mainly because Carlissa had mentioned it before as a place she visited occasionally. And Clenchjaw's? She passed that place every time she crossed the Bleakbridge. Maybe Carli and I can go there for a bite to eat and a drink or two while we catch up on things.
Her mother's warning about 'criminals' attacking Kintargo's 'authorities' at Sallix Salt Works and the whispers about the disappearance of the Red Jills in the marketplace warms Jessi's heart and make it swell with pride. We're making a real difference!
Back at the Wasp Nest, the bard relates what she heard to the other Ravens present. She adds that her friend Carli is back in town and that she plans on visiting her as soon as possible. Toward that end, she asks if anyone would be interested in visiting the ruins of the Thrashing Badger soon, as it's on the list of places hit on the Night of Ashes that Rexus suggested exploring.
As Vantine realizes Narcelia isn't as badly off as she feared she might be and, more importantly, does venture out of the apartment on occasion, she begins to think again about possibly transferring her to the Wasp's Nest.
Vantine sits down across from Narcelia and takes her hands in her own.
"If you do go out some, what would you think about making a trip out with me soon? We could do something a little more decadent than survival shopping. How about going to a place with good coffee and tea, and lovely pastries that melt in your mouth? We can sit and stuff ourselves until we can't eat another bite."
Narcelia purses her lips at the suggestion, considering for a moment, her stare oddly intense. "Alright, I guess. If you think it's a good idea to go out that far. How close is it?" She adds, almost as an afterthought, her eyes still fixed on Vantine's.
At the Wasp's Nest, Jessi finds that the other officers of the rebellion are present, save Vantine, as are three of the Fushi sisters and a handful of the Scarlet Rose maidens. Of these, Laria seems to approve of the investigation, but mentions that it was literally on the dockside - it might not be salvageable. "We got lucky with the Silver Star - I don't expect the Milanites hid anything in the Badger itself. Maybe Desna's blessed us, though."
"It is some distance away" Vantine admits. "But it isn't hard to avoid notice if we take a little care. I doubt any powerful magic is being used to look for you..."
Vantine certainly does doubt this. As far as she can discern, Nalcelia had attracted abnormal attention on the day they found her. But without knowing why, there was no reason to think it was sustained attention. However, given Narcelia's probable paranoia she would explain this in a way accommodating to her fears.
...There are no wards placed on this flat or building to prevent your detection. If you were being hunted for in that way, you would have been found here by now. These walls might as well not be here as far as such things are concerned. This means we must simply avoid being seen by the wrong people when we are out."
"We will have to cross a bridge, paying the dottari there the crossing fee. They are bored and inattentive though. I can change my appearance in such a way to be beneath their notice. You will be my mute granddaughter. I will do any talking needed, and you would simply need to do nothing but stand there forgettably while I do."
"If for some odd reason we needed to remain on the other side longer than our brunch requires, there is a safe place on the other side where we can stay as long as overnight if needed. It will be fine to go."
"There is one thing that would be helpful though. What do you know of what you can do? What can you remember of your magic?"
Jessibel prepares herself for yet another cross-city jaunt. She hasn't been out and about this much during winter in her entire life. While she doesn't like the cold when it gets down into her very bones, the additional exercise has helped to burn off all of the wonderful added calories that comes with hanging out at a coffeehouse and pastry shop. And when she's not freezing to death, the cold air makes her feel so alive!
The bard goes back-and-forth in her mind over what disguise/alias to use, but in the end she opts to go as herself. I want Carli to recognize me, after all! she reasons. And if I need to hide my face, I can pull up my cloak's hood.
As she waits for the others to prepare, Jessi gives some more thought to the Night of Ashes and the other sites the group has yet to investigate. Hmm...just the ruins of the Victocora estate, unless I'm forgetting something. Jessibel had been tempted to explore the ruins after visiting her own family in the Greens, but it would seem suspicious should she be spotted. While the Aulamaxas and Victocoras weren't enemies, neither did they chum around much. That will be a job for...the Magpie!