Jessi's so caught up in testing out the new buckler that she doesn't notice the cloaked stranger until she speaks to Chuko. The bard unconsciously adapts a defensive posture, rapier and buckler both at the ready, as she asks, "Who are you and what do you want from me?"
Lemma look up at Jessi and smiles. It's a genuinely friendly, disarming smile.
"I didn't mean to disturb you. My apologies." Lemma walks out to meet Jessi. Her hands are down my her side but held out from her body a little more than is naturally relaxed, showing she isn't reaching for any weapon.
Lemma's skin is a deep, rich red, while her eyes are somewhere between yellow and amber. A pair of dark gray horns, similar to those of a goat or sheep, curve back against her warm black hair. As Lemma comes closer, Jessi can see the tiefling has several inches on her in height, with a more robust, muscular build than her own.
"Peace sister. We're acquainted, through business at least. But I suppose you'd be unaware of this right now. My name is Lemma." Lemma turns her hand over so Jessi can see the holy symbol Lemma has palmed. Holy Symbol
"I'd like to have a conversation with you, Jessibel Aulamaxa." Lemma drops her voice to whisper the last part.
Jessibel sizes up the stranger. If things were to come to blows between the women, she was fairly sure Lemma would prove to be the Alpha Female...rather emphatically. Yet, there was something polite and honest about the tiefling's tone and mannerisms that brought down Jessi's guard a bit. Until Lemma used her true name, that is. Trying to keep her eyes from narrowing in suspicion, Jessibel offered her hand to shake.
"I'm Amanda. Glad to meet you. Where did you want to have our little talk?"
Before talking further with the tiefling, Jessi pays Chuko for the new masterwork buckler.
Ha! Now if she tries to rob me, she won't get much coin off me! Dang! But now she knows how much my new buckler's worth....
Lemma's smile broadens in amusement at the name correction. She shakes 'Amanda's' hand.
"Of course Amanda, my mistake. You can choose where we chat. Somewhere cloe by here perhaps. I'll buy you a drink. Coffee, tea, whisky, wine, whatever you prefer."
Jessibel gets the feeling the tiefling is being direct and forthcoming. There is an easiness about her of the sort that often comes with considerable self-assuredness.
Jessibel wracks her brain for bars she knows in Yolubilis District and comes up dry. "Let's find a place in Villegre, perhaps not too far from Alabaster Academy. Better yet, some place between Alabaster Academy and Lady Docur's School for Girls. We won't stand out so much there--just a pair of young women enjoying a social drink together."
'Amanda' heads for the academics section of Villegre, eventually spying what appears to be a clean, well-frequented pub. "The Burnt Witch--that sounds...rather horrible, actually. But I'm game if you've had enough aimless wandering!"
Glad I stumbled upon this place with someone other than Vantine....
Chuko serves Jessibel quickly and efficiently, letting her address her new friend. The tengu doesn't seem terribly interested in what they're talking about, himself.
Lemma flips her hood back up before going back out into the street.
"Lead the way."
Lemma doesn't chat during their walk, and is agreeable to Jessi's choice of places. Selecting an out of the way place to sit, Lemma orders whatever Jessi wants and a beer for herself. When the drinks arrive and they are left alone, Lemma doesn't waste time.
"So, I'll make this fast and then you can ask your questions. You know now how I know about your group, the same way you know about mine. As you know there's been a mutual agreement for us to help you around the edges where we can, no direct involvement."
"I've been keeping tabs on your work. Understand we need to know what's happening, to stay current, to help at all. I know that you went into a certain place, and left that place sometime later. I went in afterward and took a look around. I was impressed with your work. That, along with what I've heard, swayed me. I, alone you must understand, want to be part of what you're doing. I'm a fan of being proactive you see. This would not alter the original arrangement between your group and my group as a whole."
Jessibel orders a coffee--she needs to think straight. Though she feels she can trust Lemma, she asks a few more questions about the followers of Nocticula and the tieflings of the Devil's Nursery in general to corroborate as much info as she can. Lemma answers the questions quickly and accurately. The young bard sooo wants to invite Lemma to join the Silver Ravens, but....
"I like you, and I'll put in a good word for you, but...I'm afraid the other Silver Ravens think of me as sort of a junior member. If I just show up with you in tow...."
Jessibel falls silent, considering the various implications of taking just such a track. Would the others kick me out? Kill Lemma to keep secret the location of the hideout? Vantine got to bring Narcelia there, and she's waaaay creepier and mysterious than Lemma. Maybe bringing Lemma to the Wasp Nest would instead be the sort of bold action that would make the others see her as a full and equal member of the rebel faction!
Jessi suddenly looks down at Lemma's boots. "You're not adverse to a quick jaunt through part of the sewers, are you?" Assuming she's not, Jessi leads Lemma to the sewer grate the Ravens use to enter and leave the Wasp Nest. Once they're inside, she leads the tiefling before the other officers and introduces her, ready to accept their acclaim or condemnation for bringing the Nocticula worshipper into the hideout.
Lemma thinks Jessibel doesn't know much about how life works in the Devil's Nursery if she's asking whether it's okay or not to travel by sewer. Of course Lemma is fine with it.
Once at the Wasp's Nest, Lemma makes her case for joining the Silver Ravens again, but in more detail given the secure location.
She does finally remove her cloak, which reveals she also has a long sinuous tail.
Jessibel's eyes widen a bit when she gets a glimpse of Lemma's tail.
We're going to have to invest in a couple of stools if she becomes part of the rebellion, Jessi thinks. Leaving the tiefling briefly with the other Silver Ravens, the bard says that she's going to find Laria and Rexus so they can meet the new prospective rebel as well.
Laria is easy to find, as she's just upstairs overseeing her shop. She comes down fairly quickly, joining the group easily. "Please don't bother Rexus. He's trying to deal with his losses. I think it'll probably take him a few more days before he's ready to rejoin the land of the living." The halfling woman's expression is grave as she speaks to Jessibel on their way back into the Wasp's Nest. "He's down in his room, but I don't think he wants to be disturbed."
Upon her arrival, she listens to Lemma's explanation, her brow furrowed. "While I'm none too fond of the idea that someone knows where to find us - " she looks quickly at the tiefling, "No offense intended, miss. But as I was saying, we could use any help." She looks to Jessi, her lips quirking in a faint smile. "Maybe next time someone wants to join us, send a letter here. You've got the figurine of the silver raven. You can do that without bringing them to the Nest, or even my shop. That way, we can confer and decide whether to bring them in."
Laria turns her attention back to Lemma, giving her a measuring glance. "Name's Laria, Laria Longroad. Pleased to meet you, Lemma." She extends a hand upwards for the tiefling to shake. "I've heard some about your cult, and I didn't think your leader was willing to invest quite so much support in us, but I'm more than happy to welcome you in."
"Maybe next time someone wants to join us, send a letter here. You've got the figurine of the silver raven. You can do that without bringing them to the Nest, or even my shop. That way, we can confer and decide whether to bring them in."
"Oh--that thing!" Jessibel replies rather airily. "I don't carry that around with me. Talk about a 'go-straight-to-jail, off-with-her-head sort of thing to have found in your possession by a dottari or CCG patrol! When we head out, I make sure to leave that behind here...."
Jessi's jaw stops flapping suddenly and her eyes widen momentarily before going all shifty. She realizes she's talked too much and her words are bordering on what her mother terms 'sass.'
"Uh...yes, ma'am," she concludes rather glumly. Her eyes meet Lemma's briefly and she tries to telepathically send a message with her chastised expression: See--junior member!
Laria sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. "They aren't going to strip you down, Jessibel. Just keep it in a belt pouch or something."
Lemma shakes the halfling woman's hand.
"My full name is Lemma Vodice."
"As I explained to Jessibel, Aula is still taking the path she has chosen, and I have decided to take a different one. The Redeemer Queen is the greatest example of finding one's own way forward. Aula and I both agree Nocticila's followers must be protected, we believe differently about how it best done."
"In deference to her concerns, which are valid, I have disassociated from the Cult of the Redeemer Queen, acting as a free agent outside the cult's fellowship until such time when I can do so freely and openly in the future."
Nyxra waits as Jessibel introduces the newest arrival.
"...so what's her callsign?"
Although assigning nicknames is normally the Raven's domain, Jessibel is struck with a sudden inspiration: "How about 'Red-Tailed Hawk'?"
Laria looks at the other leaders of the Ravens. "Alright. Welcome aboard, Lemma, and if you see Aula any time soon, tell her I said hi. We've been exchanging notes." She adds for the Ravens' benefit. "Though she didn't mention anything about you, I'm afraid." The woman runs a hand through her hair.
"What do you all think our next moves should be?" She asks after a moment. "Given that you seem to have figured out the fate of the Sacred Order. I think we ought to get a few more recruits proper, and keep an ear out for any potential allies."
"The Fushi sisters haven't gotten in contact since three days ago, and haven't been back since before that." A new voice interjects and Laria jumps, startled. The pale face of Narcelia peers at the heroes from the corner of the room. Had she been there the whole time? "I know the others are trying to find them, but you should remember it."
"Erm, yes. We can't do much to find them except ask around for now. Once we have a better idea of where to look, we'll focus our efforts there."
Aisling hasn't said much as she was trying to take teh newcomer's measure. As Lemma finishes her story, she gives a nod. "WElcome. We need as much help as we can get, honsestly. What can you offer us?"
As Narcelia pipes up, she turns round in surprise. She still iisn't sure what to make of her. "I would like to add Nox to tteh list. I don't like the fact she has seen us and I don't like the fact she's still out there. Trakcing her down and taking her down would send a good message."
"Dearest Magpie!" The Raven leaps to his feet and sweeps over to Jessi, taking the young woman's arm. "What have I told you about bringing home strays? Just because they are cute does not mean they are safe!" His tone is insincere, as usual, but his grip on Jessibel's arm is tight.
The Raven is concerned that Jessibel could get into trouble talking to strangers about their rebellion but, naturally, he does not want anyone to think he actually cares about her or anything.
Jessibel/Amanda fails to pick up on any hidden meaning in her mentor's words and actions. Her reaction is, perhaps, unexpected: The teen seems to be on the verge of tears.
"I didn't know what else to do! I never know what to do! Remember when we intervened and saved Narcelia when she was being chased by a hell hound? But then when I stand to fight the next hell hound we encounter chasing someone through the streets, I'm the only one who does so and get spoken to about being foolish. And when I'm suspicious about Zea and the meaning of her secret symbol during our murder investigation, I'm accused of being insensitive, but when Lemma shows me hers and I'm friendly I still get scolded!"
The teen bard looks like she's either about to scream or break down and cry. "And she knows my real name!" she whispers to the Raven.
"Nox worries me, too." Laria agrees. "But does she know your names? I've never heard she's especially smart, so it might be that she won't be able to give good descriptions to Thrune."
Laria eyes the Raven, but nods slightly in agreement. "I agree. But there's a difference between hostility and caution, Jessibel." She pats the small of the bard's back, reaching up to do so. "I think we can trust Lemma. She's an ally, and I'd say that you're justified in bringing her here."
She turns to offer a smile at Lemma. "Sorry to talk about you as though you're not here."
Laria's words and simple pat do a lot to calm Jessibel's nerves.
"Thanks," she tells the halfling. "I worry about Nox, too. And I worry for poor Rexus as well. I'm not sure telling him the whole truth about what Thrune had done to his parents was wise, but I just couldn't lie to him in case he somehow learned the truth later. We just have to make the time to be there for him going forward."
Aisling gives Jessi's shoulder a sympatetic squeeze. "It's not awlays easy to know what to do at teh time, and it's easy to look back afterward and see how ot do it diferently. If you want to aks advice in future, let me know."
Nyxra scuffs her foot against the floor.
Jessibel nods at Aisling's words and soon seems to be back to her old generally happy self...briefly. It soon becomes apparent that Jessibel and 'down time' do not go well together, especially when there are no Fushi siblings around to spar against and no pressing mission or mystery to occupy her mind. Soon the young bard is pacing throughout the Wasp Nest like a caged panther.
Lemma simply shrugs at Laria's apology with a wry comment.
"I'm a tiefling. It happens all the time, so I'm used to it. It can even be useful."
Nothing passes between Jessi and the Raven that Lemma doesn't notice.
"In Jessibel's defense, if she needs one, I selected and approached her rather than the other way around. I had physical descriptions of you all to start with of course. It wasn't too hard to figure out who exactly I was looking for. I just had to put in the time and footwork."
"I doubt anyone else is going to do the same, for some time at least. I was highly motivated after all, and it's more or less what I do, occupationally I guess you could say."
Lemma shrugs at Jessibel this time.
"So yeah, I know your name. To really keep the secret, you'd have to be as paranoid and crazy as him." Lemma thrusts a thumb in the Raven's direction. "And that's no kind of life anyone sane wants to live."
"And while we're on the subject of names... Mine is Lemma. If you want my attention, call me Lemma. Call me most anything else and you'll get no response. Call my a few things though, and I'll smack the shit out of you."
For the next couple days, the Ravens spend time getting adjusted to Lemma's presence, helping her figure out how the organization works, and introducing her to the members as they come in.
Throughout it all, the Fushi sisters' absence grows more and more obvious. On Fireday, the search seems to have been largely fruitless, but on Starday, Crispin and Aspexia mention that they heard news of tengu over by Temple Hill. Most of them stay near Bleakbridge, so this is unusual, and gives the rest of the Ravens a lead to follow up on.
After a few conversations - and far too much of Hercule - Caeleb speaks. "I've heard that the killings have stopped in the Devil's Nursery, at least. So things might be looking up for them... though without Strea Vestori, I doubt the Lord-Mayor will listen to anything they have to say."
Lenora looks uncomfortable, but Eldonna simply waves for him to continue.
"Well, not only does he not seem to care much what his citizens want, he also is a member of the Church. Of course, the Asmodeans aren't necessarily prey to the same faults as diabolists, but most partake in the disdain for tieflings anyways."
The Archbaroness scratches under Hercule's chin, which somehow causes him to start barking at Jessibel "True enough. However, I suspect that the former is of more concern than the latter."
Jessibel weighs her options. The world seems to be working against her at the moment: Every time she zigs, everyone else zags. She wants to tell her family the truth of the matter, mainly so they'll see she's making strides as a person...and making a difference for her city.
"Would it surprise you all to hear that my new friends and I are responsible for ending the murders in the Devil's Nursery?" she blurts out. "Or that the tooth fairies responsible for the murders were apparently summoned there to wreak havoc?"
Lenora laughs, the sound managing to cut through the yapping dog. "Oh? I didn't realize you'd expanded your repertoire to comedy, Jessi."
Eldonna arches a brow. "I didn't realize that you were spending time in the Nursery." She says mildly, though there's a hint of displeasure in her voice. "If you're caught breaking curfew, young woman, I will be most put out with you. We have enough troubles with our new Lord-Mayor that I don't need you adding to them."
Lenora grows mildly alarmed, looking to her mother-in-law.
Caeleb looks more thoughtful than their mother. "Huh. I didn't realize that it was commonly known that tooth fairies were responsible." He chuckles harshly. "Something out of a child's tale, only these were clearly far too real."
Jessi falls silent, weighing her family's reaction to her words. Her mother, not surprisingly, thought Jessi's story to be a total fabrication, another call for attention or the limelight; her grandmother was awfully dismissive of the tieflings' plight, yet she seemed to believe that it was at least possible that her grandchild might've had some slight hand in the murderers' elimination...yet she still felt the need to scold her, apparently believing it more likely Jessi would become a liability to the family rather than a valuable asset; Caeleb didn't seem to think Jessibel could be a hero or rebel either, but at least he was nice about it.
And Harcule...I still want to smash you with a bar stool!
With nothing better to do, the Raven disguises himself as a half-elf and follows Jessibel's new find. Adding a Tiefling to their group would help with the Silver Ravens public relations, but it was all a bit too perfect that this Lemma would show up the day after Nox barely escaped the Fantasmagorium with her life. He knew many of the tieflings in the nursery -or at least Alexius did; he could try asking around about her when he gets a chance.
Elsewise, he goes searching for Jessibel.
Jessi eventually takes leave of her family. Once she's outside the gate to the Greens, she steps into the mouth of an isolated nearby alley and casts Prestidigitation, coloring her hair blonde and her armor caramel brown. Slipping on the signet ring, she becomes Amanda Juliac.
The Newt Market lies between the Greens and Laria's coffeehouse, so the disguised bard makes a stop there to pick up a disguise kit. When she finds the opportunity to speak with the Newt himself, she politely asks him how business has been recently, and if the new curfew is cutting into business badly. She tries to sound relatively neutral politically--just genuinely curious to find out if market shortages or higher prices seem to be in the market's future.
He also claims that he's not one to speculate on the market's ups and downs, though there's definitely more than a hint that he's putting on a facade there - purely for plausible deniability.
Unable to get much out of the shifty Newt, Jessibel simply buys the disguise kit she came for before heading back (in a slightly roundabout way) to the hideout, keeping an eye open for anyone following her.
Back at the Wasp Nest, she chats a bit more with Lemma before letting it be known that she--as Jessibel Aulamaxa--is planning on singing at a local tavern one of these nights...just in case anyone would like to tag along.
"Just to earn a few coins, keep in practice, and let the city know that its next big star is still around!" she says with a big smile. "And I'll also try to keep my ears open for any juicy rumors."
His background check on Lemma complete, the Raven traipses through the market, contemplating whether he should purchase a mithral gauntlet with which to fight the devils now or wait until he has enough silver to buy a magically fortified weapon. Until he spies a little bird in the crowd. The social thing to do would be to say hello -'birds of a feather' and all that - but the Raven has something more interesting in mind. He quietly swoops up behind his flockmate...
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Much like Raven's outside snooping on Lemma leads to little of interest, Lemma is a decidedly dull target to shadow. She doesn't leave the Wasp's Nest at all, seemingly as content as any Fushi sister to just move in permanently.
When she's not learning about the rebellion's in and outs, she mostly devotes her energy to figuring out ways to finagle pastries and other home cooked foods out of Laria.
She does bite, without either any apparent reluctance or enthusiasm, at the invitation to attend Jessi's show.
"Oh, hello!" Amanda/Jessibel chirps when the Raven sidles up next to her. It belatedly dawns on the disguised bard that maybe Amanda Juliac shouldn't be seen cavorting with a masked man in a public market...or maybe she should??!!
An awkward silence follows.
The Raven stumbles to a halt, almost falling over as the young bard turns to 'confront' him. How had she seen him? "Ah. Hello, dearest." He grumbles, shuffling his feet awkwardly and ruffling his feathers, pulling his fine elven cloak closed around his body. Even with his shoulders drooping and his head bowed in indignant defeat, he is imposingly large. "Well. I had been losing sleep worrying about the assassins of Hell sneaking up on you, but if you could see me coming in a crowded square then I clearly have nothing to worry about." She may have ruined the brilliant prank he had planned, but he could not stay angry forever.
The Raven stares down at the bard through his smoked goggles, studying her. She seemed far too young to partake in all the murder and espionage of a rebellion and things were escalating. "How do you feel about the last few days? Seems like Nox may have been a tipping point for us. If Thrune didn't know about up before, they do now."
Jessibel/Amanda looks up at her mentor and a smile starts to spread across her face. "It's the mask," she says silently. "Good for maintaining your anonymity at night on the city streets...but has the opposite effect when you visit the market to do some shopping."
The bard finishes her transaction and starts the short stroll back to the Wasp Nest before answering the Raven's other question--less ears around to overhear.
"I've had nightmares about Nox ever since we first saw her at the Aria Park Protest," Jessi confesses to her mentor. "I'm worried more about Aisling, Nyxra, and Vantine. I wish Aisling would take a bit more care to hide which goddess she serves. And Nyxra is so exotic-looking...and Vantine so damned beautiful...it makes them memorable. I'm scared that Nox ran right back to Thrune and now our descriptions are being given to every dottari and CCG patrol in the city."
"Think we could get them all to wear masks?" she asks her mentor, her tone not particularly hopeful.
The following days pass fairly swiftly, as the Ravens slowly acclimate to their new member and continue their daily business. Unfortunately, the lead on the Fushi sisters' location turned up a bust, as it was just a group of the River Talons.
However, the various merchants associated with the Ravens begin to make more and more connections to the wealthy elite of the city, growing their businesses stronger and wider - and helping to fund the rebellion's ongoing efforts to rally support. Unfortunately, the response is lackluster thus far.
Early in the week, however, Rexus calls a meeting at the Wasp's Nest. Once everyone has assembled, he emerges from his self-imposed isolation. The nobleman looks haggard, but determined, and he has the soul tomes of his parents in his hands. Most of the Scarlet Rose is present as well, and the ratfolk merchant Sisi.
"First off," he says, "thank you all for your condolences. And thanks to you, our bold heroes, for getting my parents' tomes." He places them down on the table. "But I have some bad news. I've been reading, you see, and I've learned some things about the Sacred Order... and what it was keeping down there beneath the Fantasmagorium."
Iratea shifts, her brows furrowed, and Sisi leans forwards in her chair.
"Namely, one of the books they had stored was a copy of the diabolic chapters of the Book of the Damned."
"And they didn't destroy the thing?" Iretea bursts out. "Surely if it's just a copy, it shouldn't be harder than any other book to destroy!"
Rexus shakes his head. "I'm not sure, but I don't doubt that they tried. What's important is that I'm almost positive that it would've been among the first things taken during the raid." He pauses. "Mother mentions that only one person read from the book in recent years. A traveling scholar who called himself 'Trailblazer Huni.' He wasn't a part of the Order, but he managed to convince the higher-ranking scribes to let him have an hour with the book. I don't know who he is, but he may have something to do with what happened down there in the monastery."
"So..." Zenobia, one warriors of the Scarlet Rose, muses. "The Asmodeans - and probably Thrune - have the devil-focused parts of the Book of the Damned. Is, uh, this a problem? I mean, more than we already had. Surely they already had access to stuff like that."
Rexus shakes his head. "I would agree with you, Miss Valthus, but the fact that the Asmodeans might already have the book is not a problem for us - if they do, they probably keep it locked away in Egorian. The problem for us is that now Kintargo's Asmodeans have it, and presumably Barzillai does as well."
"'Trailblazer Huni'--rhymes with 'Thrunie,'" Jessibel comments off-handedly. "The Trailblazers sounds like they might be an offshoot of the Pathfinder Society...but I've never heard of such a sect. And if there are any Pathfinders in Kintargo, they're keeping a very low profile. If they keep a lodge in the city, it's secret."
"I'm really not looking forward to raiding the Temple of Asmodeus," the teen admits nervously. "Especially when we're not at full strength. Maybe we should invest all our resources into finding out what happened to the Fushi Sisters."
"Investigating what happened to the Fushi sisters is definitely a top priority." Iratea agrees. "Especially since we've only found dead ends... I'm not sure where they could be. Kintargo's not that large a city, is it?"
"I have considered masks for all, but lady Eagle and lady Falcon do not seem the type to appreciate showmanship." The Raven says. "I expect lady Eagle would object, saying that masks remove legitimacy, that good should not hide. Maybe. But a mask can be stronger than a person. I could die today, but that would not necessarily mean the Raven would die. Another could take up the mask. Of course there are other benefits to a mask." Is she too young to understand the gravity of what the Silver Raven's are trying to accomplish and how much more dangerous things will get? "You can always remove a mask. You could take off the Magpie mask and go back to a life of safety. No one knows Jessibel is involved in all of this but as you say, it may be too late for our unmasked friends do to the same should they wish to." He watches her to judge her reaction to the idea of leaving the Ravens for a safer life.
"What harm can a book do? I hardly think Thrune's lackeys can read. As for the Fushi sisters, I can ask the tengu if they know anything. Otherwise we could try and find information on any new prisoners of Thrune's like we did with the Scarlet Rose."
Jessibel considers the Raven's words. "I've thought about that," she admits. "But looking back on it, my old life really wasn't that great. And Thrune's utterly ruined the fun parts by seizing the opera house and imposing his stupid curfew and ruining the city's nightlife. Plus, I've learned what my family truly thinks of me...and it isn't much. If I were to go back home, they'd assign me the most menial boring tasks imaginable. No--as the Magpie, I can accomplish more in a day than I could in a whole month back home."
"Do you want some back-up when you visit these tengu?" Jessibel asks the Raven. To the others she adds, "Maybe we could split up into two teams of three--if we got Iratea or another member of the Scarlet Rose to tag along. Cast a wider net and all that...."
"I believe also that Aisling wanted to ask after Nox." Rexus says, drumming his fingers on the table - a new anxious tic? "But that's... risky. Getting the wrong sort of attention there is much more likely than asking after a few friends."