Not immediately understanding the significance of the structure, Jessibel--in her guise of Amanda Juliac--approaches the nearest dottari and humbly asks what the structure is for.
Asisling has let her legal practice slide a bit recently in all the exciemtent so she has missed the latest adition to Kintargo's criminal punishment statutes. She lets Jessi handle the talking to the dottari, although shes' not sure how helpful they will be.
Lemma makes the journey to the Tooth and Nail keeping on the low down, hood fully up over her head, and speaking only if necessary. She walks quickly, not dawdling to look around much.
"Well. Well. Well!" The Raven clucks as they walk past the strange stage. His strides slow, then halt altogether."Are my goggles fogging over, or does a tempting pile of tinder lie helpless before mine own eyes? Surely any bit of wood valuable enough to post guards at is worth..." He is not speaking to anyone in particular, but any within earshot would not miss the overt tones of mischievous intent in his muffled voice. He claps the new girl on the shoulder and starts to walk away. "Hold down the fort for me. May as well get my weekly shopping done while I am here."
The dottari, an older and distinguished-looking man, looks at "Amanda," smiling tiredly. "Excruciations, young miss. The Lord-Mayor has heard tell of criminals getting out of control in some parts of the city, especially on Argo Isle, so he's preparing to ensure that folks know that they can't go breaking the law."
Excruciations are a Thrune invention, created from the idea that a dead criminal teaches less than a publicly tortured criminal. How this construct is intended to be used isn't immediately clear, but it is doubtless vile.
He shifts slightly. "I believe there'll be one soon, if you want to come to watch."
Jessi/Amanda purses her lips while widening her eyes, hoping to strike the perfect balance between frightened and morbidly intrigued. "One of the local thugs making it dangerous to walk the city streets or someone even more wicked?" she inquires.
Lemma keeps herself busy with other things in order to avoid proximity to the dottari.
The Raven finds himself a quaint alchemist's shop just off the main throughfare. He approaches the front desk and leans casually against it, knocking on the countertop with a metal fist. "Good morning to you, good proprietor. I find myself with a need to set something alight but alas! It is slightly too far away for my arms to reach. Might you have something to treat this horrible, distance-related affliction of mine?"
Aisling narrows her eyes as she realises what's happening but does her best to kep her cool. This public troture has to be stopped, there are limits to what she will put up with . At the same time, rushing in will do more harm than good.
She watches teh Raven as he makes his purchase. "Do you have a plan? Or were you just goin to mark it up as you go along?"
The dottari chuckles. "Just your average ruffians making noise. Lord-Mayor Thrune feels it best to put a stop to that sort of thing with tremendous efficiency."
The Raven and Aisling go to a small shop nearby, allowing Jessibel to handle things with the dottari. The owner of the shop, a half-elf woman, looks suspiciously at the Raven, before sighing. "Fine. Let me go get them."
"Keep up the good work!"
Amanada/Jessibel looks around surreptitiously until she spots Lemma and Nyxra loitering nearby. Once the tiefling and elf have led her to the others--and the reunited Ravens are again headed west toward the Tooth and Nail--the bard makes her report about the few details the dottari guard divulged.
"Maybe I'll report this development to Carli before we cross the Bleakbridge on our way back," she tells the others. "My friend has a few sets of eyes in this half of the city."
The young lady continues to lead the party toward where she believes Setrona Sabinus's tavern is located.
"Stay away from me, strange lady!" The Raven declares overly loudly when Aisling accosts him, then mumbles "Do the words 'plausible deniability' mean anything to you, councilor?" as he slides past her and out of the shop with his purchases. Aisling is a fierce warrior, but he would not bet on her being able to ditch Thrune's lapdogs in the backstreets of Kintargo.
The Raven walks around the edge of the plaza for a while, casing the scene. He watches the guards posted around the stage, watches for a pattern in their movements. Cowed as the population was, the guards were probably not expecting any trouble and they doubtless resent being posted out in the cold. Cold made people stupid. He only needed a few moments of the guards not focusing. After watching the guards for a while, he smoothly integrates himself into the foot traffic and approaches the stage...
The Raven moves around the stage, but finds that the dottari are being fairly rigorous in their observation - certainly, these are no CCG thugs, and as he goes, he feels their eyes upon him. Fortunately, they don't seem to pay him much mind - they are just rather alert.
Nyxra waits with one hand on her bow in case things go south.
At some point, Jessibel realizes that not everyone is following her. She stops and looks around, trying to figure out what's happening.
Let it not be said that the Raven ever quit, no matter how terrible the idea! After distancing himself from the stage and the other Ravens, The Raven retreats as far as he thinks he can throw the firebombs and lights two of them with the tindertwig, turning his back on the Dottari and using his ample elven cloak - as well as his own not-insubstantial mass - to obfuscate his actions and buy him a few seconds. Then he turns towards the stage, a burning ball of tar and rope in each hand... His target is the raised floor of the stage. With any luck, the dottari won't even see them land, giving the fire the precious few seconds it needs to spread. If their attentions turn too quickly to the yet-unkindled blaze, he may have to take drastic action to distract the dottari.
Use Sleight of Hand (I guess? Maybe Stealth) to just kinda turn away from the Dottari and light two of the bombs with a Tindertwig. The firebombs have a range of 10'. The Raven will stand 50' away (max range increment) and two-weapon throw the bombs to land on the stage. "A square" only has an AC of 5, so it shouldn't be that hard to hit... right?
Nyxra watches in sheer bafflement.
...what in the Nine Hells is he DOING?
Lemma is unsure exactly what that Raven character is up to, but she's fairly certain it will be some sort of impetuous, foolish stunt. She moves as far away from the scene as she can while still being able to observe what happens. She resolves that if things go south she will get away from the area as fast as she can. She's not going to take risks to save someone who doesn't seem to understand what risk is.
Far be it from her to tell the others what to do or not do, but she does begin to wonder if she's made a sound decision by throwing her lot in with the Silver Ravens. She also wonders how the Raven has been tolerated for so long by the others; he's clearly unstable and dangerous to all around him. And a creeper.
Realizing just what the Raven is planning to do, Nyxra also realizes her feet are storming forward--the rest of her soon follows, her eyes blazing with fury and incredulity.
She grabs the Raven by his 'wing' and yanks him aside. "What in the Nine Hells are you THINKING?!"
Blessedly, the dottari seem largely oblivious - or perhaps simply disinterested - to the interplay of the Ravens' current affairs.
Not entirely sure what's going on, Jessibel turns away from the dottari and casts a quick cantrip--message. To the Raven and Nyxra, she whispers, "What's happening? Did something go wrong? Do you need my help?"
"No, it's fine. This idiot's trying to do something that'll get us all killed." Nyxra replies. "We're coming back and coming up with a better plan."
With that, she starts dragging the Raven back towards the others. "We need to move. NOW." She growls in a tone that clearly indicates that she'll not hear any answers to the contrary.
Lemma keeps an eye on things, from a distance and with her exit plan in place.
Lemma doesn't think that anyone else has noticed what is going on - if the dottari have, they're not giving any sign of it.
With escape on the mind, the Ravens get back on the road to the Tooth and Nail. The building's facade is very clearly run-down, and it doesn't seem terribly busy at this hour of the day. It also appears to share its building with some sort of confectionary - "Sweet Tooth" is painted above one of the entrances.
Upon entering the Tooth and Nail, the Ravens are struck with a powerful stench - stale ale, tobacco smoke, and other, less identifiable odors equally pungent. As it appeared outside, the common room is empty. Only two people are inside - a woman that Jessi recognizes as Setrona Sabinus, and a lumpish man with close-cropped blond hair who is sweeping the floor.
Setrona is already looking at them when they enter. "I'm afraid we're not open at the moment, good folk."
Lemma, answers in a way that she hopes will explain their presence without alarming the woman.
"We haven't come for food or drink Ma'am. My friend here would like to ask for your help as we are trying to locate someone you know. Someone who may be in need of help."
"Yes, and the subject is somewhat sensitive, so we'd prefer to speak with you in private," Jessi/Amanda adds after a quick, surreptitious look in the blonde fellow's direction.
Setrona nods. "Alright, that's fine. Insome, go take a break."
The man lumbers out of the building, Setrona following him. She shuts the door behind him, locking it. "So, who are you and who're you looking for?" She asks as she turns back to the Ravens.
"We're a group of concerned citizens, unhappy with how our city has changed over the past couple of months," Jessibel replies in a quiet but firm tone. "The latest proclamation is merely the latest outrage to us, as the Order of the Torrent has always done good work...and done so with honor."
Lowering her voice even more, the teen adds, "We'd like to see if the order has any interest in continuing its mission and rescuing the people of Kintargo from the madman who's stolen their beloved city from them."
"Do you know where your cousin is currently? We'd like to see if he'd be interested in helping us to liberate Kintargo."
Setrona tilts her head, pursing her lips. "Ah, so you must be the Ravens I've heard some tell of." She looks at the group before waving a hand. "Don't worry though, I've only heard the name once or twice, and would have no idea who you are had you not mentioned it. I doubt Thrune's agents know any more than me."
"That tells me much of you, but not who you are." She eyes each of them carefully. "I always prefer doing business with those who're willing to share their names with me."
"I'm Lemma."
The tiefling thrusts out her hand to offer for a handshake.
"Good to meet you, Lemma." Setrona shakes the woman's hand, grinning. "Have I seen you in my tavern before?"
Once Setrona has finished interacting with Lemma, 'Amanda' steps forward, her hand held out.
"We've met before," the bard says with a smile right before dispelling the prestidigitation effect that colors her hair and armor. "Jessibel Aulamaxa, at your service."
"Name's Nyxra." The elf holds out her hand to shake.
Lemma gives Setrona a vague affirmative answer.
"Oh, I'd be surprised if I haven't been by here before, but not in the recent past. This part of town isn't very friendly if you're my kind."
Setrona shakes the heroes' hands as they introduce themselves, Aisling included. "Alright then." She casts a look briefly at the Raven, but turns her gaze back to Jessibel. "Wouldn't have thought it of you. Guess we all can be surprised by how people grow up."
She turns beckons them over to a table, sitting down. "My cousin, as I'm sure you're aware, is Lictor Octavio of the Order of the Torrent. He's stubborn, difficult, and obstinate, but he's also a very honorable man, and he would not stand for the mockery that Thrune is making of our city."
Drumming her fingers on the table, she continues. "He's led the Order for a decade, and they've rescued dozens of abductees." She quirks her lips. "Oddly, never seemed able to rescue slaves, despite them often being abducted. Sorry, I'm not here to be cynical about their work - the Order does do good work, and it's important. It's fortunate, I suppose that most of their twenty-odd members are currently out, given Barzillai's sudden disbandment of the Order."
Setrona sighs. "If we can find my cousin - and I think I know where he is, if he's not in Thrune's clutches already - I think we can convince him to support the Ravens. Oh, he'd grouse about your methods, but he's no supporter of Thrune - hates them as much as the next Kintargan."
"I think he'll be upset that I'm telling you this, but members of the Order sometimes use a small shrine south of the city - in the Argo swamps - as a safe house. It's warded against scrying and such - called the Shrine of Saint Senex."
Senex herself was an oracle who is known for diving into the waters of Nisroch Bay or the deeper parts of the Yolubilis to recover such sailors' bodies, and was acknowledged by the Church of Aroden as a Saint after her death. Since the Civil War, her prominence has faded significantly, but the shrine's still supposedly maintained by a small group of mystics.
"Wouldn't have thought it of you. Guess we all can be surprised by how people grow up."
I wish my own family would see that....
"That old proverb's been proven true: 'You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.' I want the old Kintargo back, and Thrune's not just going to give it back to us--we need to take it back!"
The fire drains out of the teen bard's expression as Setrona speaks on, however. Her face goes blank as Setrona mentions the Shrine of Saint Senex and then shows a hint of distaste, like she didn't realize there were any swamplands within 100 leagues of her fair city.
"A shrine in the swamplands?" Nyxra tilts her head. "...huh. Must've been pretty well hidden if I've never heard of it."
"I know the place" Lemma mentions. "It's old, not so well known anymore. That's what makes it a good place to lay low."
"Yeah." Setrona nods. "Just be careful. If Octavio has told the overseers that he doesn't want to be found - which he certainly has - they are remarkably adept fighters, and won't hesitate to resort to violence."
She looks at the Ravens carefully. "Now, I hope I don't need to warn you that hurting, or gods forbid, killing the shrine tenders would be a terrible idea, do I? I will anyways, but if it was necessary, I'm going to start feeling a lot more dubious about how this partnership will go."
Jessibel nods to Setrona and gives a brief glance to everyone else to make sure they're on board. "I think that's the plan," she informs Setrona. "We had some doubts about allying with any Hellknights in the first place--even the Order of the Torrent--so if your cousin or the shrine attendants are reticent, we'll let the matter slide."
After asking Lemma how long of a walk it is to the hidden shrine, Jessibel asks Setrona what time the attached sweets shop opens, offering to buy a few goodies for the journey.
Lemma agrees to Setrona's condition of leaving the shrine tenders in peace.
The Ravens make their way out of the city, heading into the swamps and towards the Shrine of St. Senex. It takes them less than an hour to get into sight of a two-foot wide path rising slightly above the swampy earth leading to what seems to be a mere heap of stones and driftwood. The mound is open on one side, the opening flanked by two poles atop which gouts of fire dance erratically.
"Looks like someone is home," Jessibel comments quietly. She casts detect magic from a distance, checking to see if the flame spouts are mystical in nature...and also scanning for potential magical traps.
"Want me to do the talking again or does someone else want to take the lead?" the teen asks her comrades.
"I doubt I'm the face of the rebellion we want in this case, guy's still a Hellknight at the end of the day. Go ahead Jessibel."
The Ravens enter into the small mound, where they are greeted by a pair of middle-aged humans. One, a man has shells woven into his greying beard, while the other, a woman, has the same with her hair. They both wear tattered rags, and look curiously at the party.
"Welcome to the Shrine of Saint Senex. It has been quite some time since we had visitors." The man says, tilting his head. "What is it we can do for you?"
Jessi acknowledges Lemma's comment with a quick nod. She thinks she catches a nod of approval from Aisling as well. The Raven's mask makes it tough to tell if he wants the teen bard to handle negotiations as well. Jessi figures if Nyxra didn't want her to handle things, the tall elf would've physically silenced her by now.
All right...a little responsibility--but I can handle this!
If Setrona's information is correct and her cousin IS hiding out at the shrine, then the male priest has just fibbed. Jessibel examines his mannerisms to see if she can detect a lie in his words.
Then she gives the shrine's protectors her best curtsy.
"A thousand pardons for this interruption," she begins. "I'm not sure if word of the recent upheaval in the city has reached you out here, but the new lord-mayor and his proclamations have been making life difficult for most of her citizens. We're here looking for someone recently outlawed in the city proper--Octavio Sabinus, lictor of the Hellknight Order of the Torrent. His cousin, Setrona pointed us in this direction. We'd like to speak with the lictor about the current state of affairs in Kintargo...and perhaps forge some sort of alliance with him. Is he here?"
The pair look at one another. "You know that we have had good relations with the Order of the Torrent. Surprising. But I'm afraid that we do not know where the Lictor is." The woman says. "He last visited us months ago."
Jessibel is certain that that's a lie - the seer's not a good liar, and she glances away as she speaks.
The man continues. "Why do you oppose the Lord Mayor?"
"I can speak for myself at least. Kintargo used to be a place where differences were appreciated, or at least tolerated. My kind had a place here even if it was not always a comfortable one."
"That ended with the new Lord Mayor's arrival. His philosophy of governance is one in which being like him, or falling in line and pretending for your life's sake, is the only option. He's remaking Kintargo for him and his, without space for any others."
"This is not his desire though, only his habit. His desire is to vest total power here in his own hands, absolute rule without opposition, or consent. Crushing anything or anyone who might place priorities in anything other than obedience and service to him is only his first step. The rest is coming after there is nobody left to say 'no'. That is why I act now, while a 'no' to him is still possible."
Lemma remains non-specific as she speaks. While she mostly means what she says in relation to the Cult of Nocticula, if that is left out she believes the seers will assume she means tieflings, which will leave the cult protected.