HP 42/93
AC 23
Fort +13, Ref +13, Will +11 (bravery)
Hero points: 3
Ammo: 48 rounds
Effects: stupefied 2 for 1 hour
Royken growls, shaking his head, which feels like it's full of fog.
"You're gonna regret that," he growls at the ghost, turning his attention back to it.
"Good you are back to being sensible. Please do not attack Eva again." Lora says even though she knows if it not his fault, while she pours healing into him and inspires.
Inspired by Lora and Royken to make a last stand against the relentless ghost, Bleach calls upon the arcana and launches a ray of frost at his spectral head.
Royken strikes the specter once, but misses with his follow-up attacks. Bleach scores a critical hit, the icy beam eroding some of the undead's ghostly form. Lora heals Royken--just in time for Eva to clobber him with her metal arm!
The specter tries to finish off the dwarf, but only manages to land one hit.
Bleach tries to hit the possessing bastard in the face again.
HP 6/93
AC 23
Fort +13, Ref +13, Will +11 (bravery)
Hero points: 3
Ammo: 48 rounds
Effects: stupefied 2 for 1 hour
Royken growls at Eva, but keeps his focus on the real threat. Bloody and bruised, he continues to try to kill the thing for good, only to realize he's almost too hurt to even swing his gun.
"F!%*, sorry!" She says to Royken, realising she had lost control of herself in the same way as the dwarf did a couple seconds before. Not willing t let that happen again, she turns to the specter and punches it as hard as she can.
While Royken and Bleach miss the specter, Eva delivers a solid punch, then follows up with a critical blow, driving her metal arm clear through the undead's incorporeal body! Droxolos let out a final wail as his spirit dissipates, the ancient evil put to rest at long last.
Kosowana remains comatose on the ground.
"Hells, I hated that thing." Lora says as she kneels down next to Kosowana, cradling the inventor's head and breathing healing words into him.
Kosowana stabilizes, his eyes fluttering open. But his expression remains one of despair. ”Lies... They were all lies...”
Lora pets his head, reassuring him "What were lies?"
"The 13th Ordinal. The Concurrent Heresy. Everything I had based my belief system on. I walked away from the church of Brigh for a splinter faith that never even truly existed! What do I do now? I don't even know who I am anymore!"
"Do you still have faith in Brigh?" the bard asks kindly "The amazing whisper that has inspired creative minds to engage in every insane dream that wheedles its way into a brilliant brain? From everything I've read, she doesn't care about worship, just invention. The church is one thing, your fiath is another." she stops softly stroking his hair and taps his chest. "Do you believe?"
HP 6/93
AC 23
Fort +13, Ref +13, Will +11 (bravery)
Hero points: 3
Ammo: 48 rounds
Effects: stupefied 2 for 1 hour
Royken shakes his head. His brain isn't quite feeling right -- may be why Lora's words seem to make sense.
He gives a nod to Eva, appreciating that she was able to destroy the ghost, and acknowledging -- and dismissing responsibility for -- the blow he suffered at her hand.
Bleach hands Royken a set of vials containing a minor elixir of life. It won't be enough to return him to good health, but it will undo the worst of the damage he has suffered. If anything, it should keep infections at bay. "Here, drink up."
"I don't think I believe in Brigh, or in anything, any more," Kosowana says wearily. "Let's just get the hell out of this place."
The final room in this complex is the home to a colony of nykteras, cousins of those living in the Ulfen funeral ship in the Spellscar Desert. You make some friendly small talk with the sprites, but having already defeated all the dangers of this place, there's not much further aid they can lend to you.
You make your way back across the desert to the Second Kiss. Palzu escorts you there safely before nodding brusquely and departing back into the desert. When you arrive at the crash site, you see a huge array of furniture sitting in the middle of the desert next to the airship. The engineers patched the gas bags as much as possible and stripped out any unnecessary weight.
Kosowana shows a rare spark of enthusiasm upon seeing the broken-down airship, and he lends his aid to repair the clockwork engines. Kosowana and Captain Wyndslow hit it off as repairs progress. The two have much in common, and both need a reason to get up in the morning. After 2 days, the Second Kiss is repaired enough to lift off and limp back to Pilot’s Square over the course of 4 days. Luckily, no wandering monsters attack during this journey.
You feel stronger for having survived the recent challenges...
When you finally return to Alkenstar, Foebe Dunsmith calls upon you for a full report at the Barrel & Bullet Saloon. After giving your report, the dwarf paces back in forth in the saloon's back room. "Good work. I've already got another task for you. Based on the intel you collected at Kosowana’s workshop, I managed to dig up dirt on our old friend Mugland while you were rescuing Kosowana,” she says. “I’ll be blunt: the situation’s gone down the latrine.” She sits down and steeples her hands, peering over them grimly.
“It turns out Mugland and the Gilded Gunners figured out enough of Kosowana’s pyronite formula to make a working prototype. They’re planning to test it out on the vault of an establishment owned by one of Mugland’s business rivals, a speakeasy in Skyside called the Steaming Kingdom, tomorrow night. Needless to say, we don’t want them to succeed. You don’t want them to succeed, and here’s why:
“Mugland is counting on this payday to settle his debts with the Gilded Gunners. It seems he ran up quite a tab with that gang. The Gunners’ boss, a deadly assassin named Sabora Sharkosa, is holding Mugland as collateral till he pays off what he owes her. If the Gunners can’t get into the vault at the Steaming Kingdom, then they don’t get paid, and Mugland stays in the Gilded Gunners’ hideout. As long as he’s there, we know where he is, which means you can finally get your sweet revenge.”
Dunsmith stands and begins pacing again as she continues, “I pulled a few strings and got your names on the Steaming Kingdom’s guest list—you can thank me later. Anyway, I suggest you go there and meet with the place’s owner, Vivielle Ramslay. She’s not going to shut down her establishment for even a single night, so you’ll have to figure out how to get on her good side so you can save her club from becoming the next Ironside Quarter.
“Once you’ve foiled the Gilded Gunners’ attack, tail them back to their hideout or pry the directions from them some other way—it doesn’t matter to me. What matters is that you find the gang’s lair. Find Mugland, get your revenge, and stop the secret of pyronite from getting out and ending the world. Deal?”
Royken's groan as Foebe announces more plans for them cuts off, turning into a smile as he hears he may finally get his revenge on Mugland. And even if he can't do it personally, if they can stop this explosion, Sharkosa might deal with him herself.
"I'm going to need to do some shopping first," he growls. "Anything else you can tell us about these Gilded Gunners?"
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"... until, I don't know, a racoon and a stray cat discover the formula as well, based on the Gunners' work!" She vents, tired.
She then turns to Kosowana. "Hold on... so you feared that someone could replicate Gatlebee's formula, right? So you've decided to do the thing yourself, and upon realising how easy it was you came up with this crazy plan about going back into time to prevent its discovery... but you LEFT YOUR NOTES BEHIND?"
Lora has been jotting down all sorts of notes about a story she is planning, "words that rhyme with tentacle... hmmm, pentacle? spectacle?" she catches all their taskmaster tells them, but only breaks out of her focus when the Steaming Kingdom is mentioned. "OH! I love that place and it has been Ages!" the secret broker had once been a regular before her name was tarnished with lies... well, truths in truth, but inconvenient ones.
At Royken's question, the bard opened her lips to respond, either with knowledge, a quip, or a promise to find out. Those lips close when she noticed Eva chewing on her own, an obvious sign her brilliant mind is working on that very question.
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When Eva chastises Kosowana, Bleach can't help but feel bad for the man. The fool clearly had good intentions at heart. Sadly, Kosowana's intentions were the only good thing about his plan to stop the pyronite from falling into the wrong hands. Would Bleach have made a desperate play as well? Maybe. I'd probably have run, were I all by myself. There's no shame in admitting defeat when you've already lost.
"Manacle," Bleach suggests to Lora. While not a perfect rhyme, it will do when some leeway is given to the pronunciation.
After a moment of thought, Lora beams up at Bleach. "That Perfect!" the bard gets back to scribbling away again.
Eva knows the Gilded Gunners are one of the more prominent gangs in Alkenstar. They are known more for their ruthless efficiency than their wanton violence. Their leader, a half-elf named Sabora Sharkosa, primarily concerned about the strength and honor of her gang. She loans her group’s skills to high-paying clients, mainly for assassinations or robberies, though Sharkosa rarely takes part in the jobs herself anymore.
Kosowana gives Eva a regretful look. "I was planning on destroying my research before I left for the Cradle of Quartz. But the Gilded Gunners got to me before I had the chance to do so."
"Probably need to get some disguises before we head in," Royken grouses.
Kosowana's explanation doesn't really convince Eva, but there was nothing she could do anyways.
To Royken's concern, she adds. "We do have our hats of disguise."
According to Dunsmith’s information, the Gilded Gunners will attempt to test their pyronite formula at the Steaming Kingdom tomorrow night, giving you just over 24 hours to prepare for the assault. You can spend your time however they wish, though Dunsmith suggests you visit the speakeasy to study its layout and meet its proprietor.
The Steaming Kingdom occupies what was once a half-dozen disparate cellars of buildings long-since demolished, but few would notice its modest heritage. Its owner, Vivielle Ramslay, oversaw the excavation and renovation of the subterrane into a large common space for her new bar. As they dug, the work crew broke into a natural hot spring near the back of one of the cellars. Never one to see an obstacle as anything other than a new business opportunity, the imaginative Ramslay added steam baths and saunas to her business plan, and the Steaming Kingdom took shape.
Accessible only by members and their escorted guests, the steam baths are often used as a safe territory for complex negotiations between powerful rivals and allies alike. The club’s no-weapon policy is often violated in the common rooms, but even concealed weapons don’t make it into the baths, where clients enter only in the flesh in which they were born.
Despite its rickety appearance, the door to the Steaming Kingdom is made of reinforced wood with two narrow sliding panels—one at 3 feet from the bottom and the other at 5 feet. The door guard opens both panels when you knock, and after checking your names against a list, allows you to enter.
The Steaming Kingdom lives up to its name: the common areas are thick with sweet-smelling steam that accumulates like thunderheads near the ceilings. The walls are well-maintained stone with various niches and shelves containing interesting sculptures or artifacts. Oil-fueled lamps cast the rooms in dim light.
You make it known with the bartender that you intend to meet with Vivielle Ramsay. After a few minutes, word comes that she has agreed to spare a few minutes to meet with you in one of the private saunas. The bath attendant explains the rules for using the baths—all patrons are required to disrobe completely in the changing rooms before entering the baths with nothing but a towel, and guests are asked to refrain from speaking loudly while in this section of the Steaming Kingdom.
Once you are appropriately attired, the attendant leads you into a steamy room. A large-stepped pool of steaming water fills the western end of the steamy rooms, with steps leading down into it. Hot water pours into the pool from a waterfall fountain on the west wall, while steam bubbles from vents in the floor. Lush towels and sponges are on shelves and tables placed around the perimeter of the bath, and a velvet rope hanging by the door can be used to summon the attendant.
Vivielle lounges in the pool, eyeing you curiously as you enter. The attractive dwarven woman seems unperturbed by her state of undress. "I was told you have business you wish to discuss with me?" she asks, arching an eyebrow.
Royken growls as he gets undressed -- and leaves his gun behind -- before making his way into the baths.
"Yeah, we've heard there's a gang that may have it out for you. We've got it out for them, so we're here to make sure you stay open," Royken growls.
Lora's eyes dance in desire for the steaming baths, so since Royken was partaking, the bard undressed as well. She slipped into the waters with a long sigh. "An interested party has asked us to assist, Vivielle. Though for access to these bathes and the occasional invite to your famous parties, we'd practically be your minions." she jests, almost.
"Minions, hmm? I do like the sound of that," Vivielle says with a sly smile. "Normally I would say that my security could handle any petty goons that would dare move against me. Of course, I cannot shutter my establishment on the basis of rumors, but if you'd like to stay and keep an eye out, please, be my guest. You'll have full run of the place, save for a few restricted areas.
"You know when their attack is planned for, so that's good. However, you'd do well not to draw any attention to yourselves until that time. If you make a scene or spook these thugs, they might call off the assault, and then there would be no telling when they would deign to strike again."
Discomfort is written all over Bleach's face when they're told that they ought to disrobe. He's not ashamed of his body, for why should he be ashamed of it, but the raised eyebrows, curious stares, and the questions raised when seen in a state of undresses are all things he could live without. Let alone the stigma of the implications. You're a necromancer, at least that much is true.
An Urgathoan might view Bleach's flesh as an ode to their Goddess, a morbid tapestry of sadistic promises and desires painted by cruel licks of knife and alchemical acid. The scars are tied together with monochromatic tattoos portraying necromantic revelations, both arcane and divine. The wizard has but two hands and they're not enough to cover up even half of it, so he does what he can: (attempt to) stay calm and hope this ordeal won't take too long.
As the conversation unfolds, Bleach is aching to tell the woman the thugs intend to attack her establishment with faux pyronite. Not the real thing, sure, but its effects will nonetheless be terrifyingly fatal.
"Her words, not mine", Bleach eagerly points out in reaction to Lora's jest. "We're professionals at disrupting the wicked plans of others. We got this."
After they have discussed their plans and decided to go to their rooms, Eva whispers to Lora while massaging her shoulders. "So... how about we invite three to four strong fellows to entertain us this night?" She also slightly kiss her earlobe and gives a small bite. "Out of curiosity, if we overdo and can't walk properly tomorrow, your healing words, could fix us, correct?"
Modesty is not one of Eva's characteristics at all, so she has no problems undressing herself. She frowns to the assistant when he hands her her towel, wondering if they were all just too small or if he was messing with her... she tried to wrap her breasts (needing to use the towel sideways), but then her lower areas were barely covered, while if she used the towel up, it would not properly tie around the girls. In the end, she used the towel as a skirt and walked towards the pool topless, flipping the bird at the assistant.
Sitting on the edge of the pool, Eva deactivates her arm, causing it to go limp by her side. She then takes off her towel-skirt, folds it somewhat enters the water, resting her metallic arm outside and an top of the water. Noticing how Bleach was embarrassed and feeling a bit evil this morning, Eva bends a couple times just to mess up with him.
"Yeah, we'll try not to draw too much attention, but it will be easier for me when I'm with my clothes..." Eva says, but then adds when she sees where Vivielle is looking. "...because of my arm."
It's not so much the flesh, but the insinuation that causes Bleach to avert his eyes from Eva and to anywhere but her. No, the flesh has been ruined for him by the years spent inside the Ebon Mausoleum, Geb's most prestigious necromantic academic institution. Like a doctor who has seen too much trauma to ever again be truly captivated by the naked body, Bleach has simply seen too much to ever like it 'that way' again.
But mostly, it's the idea of intimacy that revolts him. It brings back some bad, very very bad, memories. Why did that stupid girl insist on kissing him after he had saved her embalming assignment by showing her how to extract the brains from a corpse as per the Urgathoan rules?! The burning sensation he had felt when those lifeless lips kissed him, oh the memory still manages to set his heart aflame. And how her vampiric fangs tormented his tongue no matter where it went, its natural sedative turning parts of his body numb in a most pleasing manner. And then the nasty squishy sound of a spongy pink cake hitting the floor as he had dropped the brain in his excitement ... She laughed. He did not.
Did Eva see Bleach's cheeks turning red? It's hard to tell what with all the steam. "That arm does knock on one's mind for attention, yes, hehe."
Vivielle smirks and makes a broad gesture with her hand. "Well, then. I'll leave you to it."
E2. Southeast Common Area: The Steaming Kingdom lives up to its name: the common areas are thick with sweet-smelling steam that accumulates like thunderheads near the ceilings. The walls are well-maintained stone with various niches and shelves containing interesting sculptures or artifacts. Each common area is dimly lit by candles and oil lamps throughout, though the entry is flanked by a pair of magical torches to better examine newcomers’ faces.
Over the bar hang several menu boards for food and drink, as well as listings of the cost to access the baths. Access to the public room is only 5 sp per 15 minutes, but a private room is 2 gp for the same amount of time. Customers can leave the names of those they wish to join them with the bartender, who provides each such person with an invitation card hand-lettered in gold script.
E3. Stage Seating: This is where entertainers perform, often drawing a raucous crowd. If the player characters inquire about performing, they’re directed to the bard in charge, Kepiki (female goblin troubadour). A character who improves Kepiki’s attitude from indifferent to helpful (her Will DC is 18) can snag a spot on the evening’s lineup. Performers are given the run of the place except during their performances.
E4. Northwest Common Area: Crowds spilling over from the stage area fill this area most nights. Two simple doors in the north wall lead to commodes—simple benches with holes over a 10-foot-deep stone pit, which is cleaned out nightly by the speakeasy’s clockwork disposers.
E5. Communal Table: Serving staff flit about this area more frequently than the other common rooms, owing to its proximity to the kitchen (area E8).
E6. Baths Anteroom: Candles and incense line the edges of this antechamber, which connects to the baths and changing rooms. An attendant and a security guard occupy this room at all times. A rope behind the attendant’s counter triggers an alarm in the kitchen should trouble arise.
E7. Baths: A large-stepped pool of steaming water fills the western end of these steamy rooms. Racks of towels line the wall near the doors, and steps lead into each pool.
Royken ponders their best option.
Lora wraps her arm around the dwarf's shoulder and ponders with him.
"Well, given the layout, I'd assume they will at least have someone in the main bar area keeping an eye on the guards and doos back toward the areas Ms Viv won't let us see." the bard ponders as she gets back into her clothes. "I can mingle with the other degenerates (since I am one myself) and rather good at sussing out Ne'er-do-wells. Since once again, I am one." she smiles happily at her own self deprecation.
As the others look around, Lora finds herself on the stage. Looking out with a keen eye and an interest that draws attention from the bard in charge, Kepiki. After the initial impression, the two talk in depth about stories and songs, and soon the two are laughing and singing, and even a bit of dancing.
Once fully clothes again and able to walk around the place, Eva tries to study everything she can see before returning to the others.
"So, the security isn't bad at all and before the Gunners can explode anything, they'll first need to enter the place with their pyronite, and they can do so in a couple ways..." The inventor starts.
"Since the guards only allow patrons they recognize or that are on the list, this means that for the Gunners to sneak their members inside they would need to either be on the list or be a patron already. If Vivielle knows some of the patrons to be Gunners, it is obvious she'll not allow them to enter and if they are secret members we won't be able to know... I believe the most obvious way inside would be to be on the list so the guards will have to double their efforts on checking new people as they enter." She says.
"They could also just fight their way in, but the entrance is a bottleneck and overall it is a bad choice. Other options would be magic or another entrance... perhaps the sewers? All this water needs to go somewhere. We should ask Vivielle about them."
"Another good thing for us to do is to check every crate of food, booze or whatever that arrived the last couple days and today, because this is a good way to get the pyronite inside and circumvent the frisking guards."
Her thoughts in order, Eva seeks Vivielle. "So Miss, could you tell us about the sewers and other means of entrance that are not the main door? I assume you already instructed your guards to be extra careful about checking people on the list, but I'd also ask you to let us check all the crates that arrived lately and, if possible, I'd advise you to switch your employer's jobs for the night... let the serving girl make the drinks, send the bartender to help in the kitchen and so on. If one of your employees are part of a plan to help the gunners, this simple thing could screw their plans."
Royken grunts, appreciating Eva's tactics.
"And is there any other way into that vault, or is it just through those two doors?" "Could someone slip through the pool drain?"
If she says the doors are the only way to the vault, he thinks for a moment.
"Are you expecting anyone to be going into there in the next day or two? If not, I could rig up a surprise for anyone going that way. Has anyone put anything into the vault in the last week?"
"No one sane." Lora quips, at the sewer question, before resuming her discussion with the goblin. She does throw in a wink to the inventor in appreciation for her mind.
Lora makes quite a strong impression on Kepiki! The goblin invites her to join the evening's lineup of performers and allows her to use the kitchen, which is normally off-limits, as a place to get ready and relax before the show. This large kitchen features wide counters for food preparation, several ovens, and a massive stove set into the northwestern alcove. Crates and barrels are piled near a large dumbwaiter in the center of the south wall.
Besides the three kitchen staff working here, a team of three quick-response guards occupy this room in case of emergency. They stay in the kitchen, out of sight of customers, playing cards and eating until summoned by the alarm bell or other staff. A door in the back of the kitchen leads to a storage room.
"There are no other means of getting in and out of the Steaming Kingdom, I assure you," Vivielle says matter-of-factly as Eva questions her. "Though shuffling around the employees is a good idea." She looks at Royken. "Unless somebody is very small, they wouldn't be able to get in through the drain. I haven't moved anything in our out of the vault in the last week, no. Those doors lead to the kitchen, but I can show you a good place to put that surprise of yours where there shouldn't be anybody accessing it except for me."
Vivielle takes Royken to the storage room behind the kitchen, where she indicates a secret door that leads to her private suite and office.
Lora links her arm in with Eva to tell her the news "You are walking with the newest sensation that will grace this Kingdom's stage." she gushes in amused excitement. "One would think I've done something like that before, given that I tell stories and break out into song so often around you, especially in times of thrilling activity" the red headed bard gave the inventor a coy smile since she was only partially talking about while creatures were trying to hack them apart. "But no. I have never actually performed on stage. I may be a bit nervous." Lora's tone changed to honest surprise, as if her banter made her realize its truth. "Damanation" since that realization deserved some kind of curse.
Once she's done dealing with a sudden onset of stage fright, she goes back into the kitchens, to familiarize herself with the layout and to talk to the guards and staff.
None of the staff members admit to any suspicious activity or new faces. When Vivielle tells them they will be rotating positions tonight, several of them grumble. Lora notes, though, that the dwarven barkeep seems particularly vexed by this announcement. He glances around furtively and wipes some sweat off of his brow. Lora gets the sense that he has likely been bought by the Gilded Gunners...
"So what's our play here then? We can shake him down and let him know we know what's happening and he can save his bloody skin by telling us every-f%!#ing-thing, then spend the night all safe and secure here; or not let the Gunners get a possible hint we're on to them and just keep our eye on him all night."
Royken grunts and checks out the storage room, looking for a place to leave his trap.
"Really?" Eva asks, amused to discover Lora had never performed on a stage. "I've heard more than once about a trick to make ourselves more comfortable on a stage... it is to imagine everyone naked in front of you." She says, shrugging. "Not sure if this works or not, but I feel that, at least for me, it would not... it would just make me horny as hell."
[...]
Once Lora tells them about the suspicious bartender and Royken gives some options, Eva frowns, trying to think about them. "Hum...let's see... we do not know what is his role in the breaking in. If we confront him, we'll have to choose between still letting him do his thing or take him out of the equation, which has its own ramifications... like, if we let him play along, he could tip the Gunners or spook them by accident, while if we take him out of the picture and his role is vital, the result would be the same: the Gunners would call back their attack. This could be a good thing or not, depending on how patience they still have with Mugland." She says, trying to make some sense of everything. "Now, if we do not confront him, there is the chance that he'll be able to do his thing without us realizing it, which is pretty bad."
She paces, then stops and smiles, looking at Lora. "Now, perhaps there is a third option, which would be Lora tricking him, making him believe Lora also works for the Gunners. If she can pull this off, we could discover his role without showing our hand. Worst case scenario he becomes suspicious and we confront him. How does that sound?"
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"Better to try and fail, then fail without trying." Lora repeated nonsense she once read on a cookie.
Lora finds the agitated dwarf, slipping behind him she whispers in his ear "Sabora is going to be livid, ain't she?" whatever his reaction, she quickly holds up her hands in a placating, I have nothing in them don't kill me, kind of way. "Shhh... stop, clam, you didn't think you were the only they slipped a bit to, did you? And she's a canny one, so she had me watching you, and I bet there is at least one more watching me, and hells you are probably watching them. So calm down, please." Lora feigns as much agitation as she can "I don't want gutted by the gunners any more than you do, and especially for something I had no control over. All my job was to distract people with my 'goods', but now they have me serving at the bar as eye candy, which was supposed to be yours, but that's all I know, so I got NO IDEA what you were supposed to do. Tell me so we both don't get torn to pieces. Please!" Lora does a combination of begging, flirting, mutual help, and inducing fear.
The bartender quickly leads Lora to a private room and closes the door. "This is all going to shit before it even gets started! Of course they didn't tell you the whole plan. They didn't tell me, either. They promised me a piece of the prize in exchange of a map of the Steaming Kingdom and a promise to fight alongside them when the time comes. They're gonna send two advance scouts disguised as regular customers to scope out the security tonight. They'll call the whole thing off if things look like it might go sideways!"
Bleach has Hadi stalking Lora. While the cat can't share what it sees with its master, it can tell Bleach what it is hearing and seeing telepathically.
If either Eva or Royken is near Bleach, he'll tell them what's being said.
"Rotten stupid stupid balls!" the bard swears in mock irritation. "Listen, I didn't cozy up to a plethora of Petes and Mollies only to lose out on the payday on the last day. I'm going to show these kingdom folk how crap I can be at Your job, but while doing it cutely enough that I don't get sacked. Hopefully. Then maybe you'll get your job back,and as long as I'm on the floor wagging and leaning, everything will look shiny to them lot."
If the dwarf agrees, she delay long enough for Bleach set up a meeting with Lora and Vivielle, with any of her own group in attendance, so Lora can 'fail' at being a bartender, if the dwarf bartender is watching out to make sure there is an audition.
"We need him back in place before the scouts arrive or the whole thing might get called off. Which I understand sounds great, Ms Vivielle, but that doesn't mean they go away just that they come again, when you don't know who the plants are and you don't have the help of the city's finest... whatever we ares."
Vivielle nods. "I understand. He'll be back at the bar tonight, but I'll make sure the guards watch him and are ready to take him down when he makes his move," the dwarf says coldly.
"Excellent" Lora smiles brightly, happy the plan is coming together, in part at least. She doesn't seem concerned at all that she just sentenced her 'coconspirator' to death.
"So what else do we have? We know they have a map of the place and will have scouts. I'll be out in the common area attempting to identify who they are while mingling. Bleach, could Hadi stay with me so I can convey who I might think are the ones?"