As Lope and the rest move away to hold a more private conversation Cyrene smiles brightly at Sir Guisarne and lingers nearby. She doesn't do anything obviously threatening but he seems to have her whole attention (or at least the vast majority of it) and her sword hasn't been put away yet...
After a quick huddled conference, Sir Guisarne is brought to you and Lope's offer is explained to him.
He listens in stony silence although when the part about exile comes up he sorts before laughing out loud, "By Abadar you're a rare one Bentony! Let me see if I've got this straight, you are proposing to send me into exile in Oppara?!"
With a wry look he says, "I thought traditionally exiled folk got sent far away to some irrelevant corner of the empire, not offered what is effectively a promotion in the capital!"
Suddenly serious he tells you, "Look if you're trying to get me killed, can you spare the pantomime and get it over with? As much as I like Oppara, going there won't stop that damnable Night Swan or any number of merchants I've had to lean on to pay Bartleby's debts. No if you're serious I'd have to go up north to Yamass, perhaps Vigil's Rest or Braulieg's Hollow."
Triphylla returns with a tray of porcelain cups. She sets it down on an entryway table and pours coffee into the cups and passes them around.
"Do you imagine you're so important, your crimes so vile, that in this time of chaos, when the Empire is literally descending into civil war, that someone with a grudge would bother to employ assassins to find and kill you?"
She sets her cup down. "What matters is that you leave quietly, and soon. If you have a preference as to where you go, now is the time to voice it." The halfling is quickly losing patience but she does her best to keep an even tone.
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Lope pauses, letting all of Triphylla's word sink in on Sir Guisarne "You have admitted your guilt and surrendered. This is nothing personal against you, and the empire certainly needs people able to put things in order in a moment of chaos. I don't want you to keep straining Merrat to cover up for Bartleby's issues, and you sure are fed up of serving the Lotheeds for all your trouble and no gratitude" the Aldori stretches his eyes as Sir Guisarne talks about destinations, Yamass calling his attention for being his uncle's business center "I have strong contacts in Yamass, and I can obtain a position for you there. I am not as naïve to think you will play on my favor, but it might come the day you have the chance to give back the gratitude that is being served for you here."
"So that is, Yamass to keep safe that ass."
Sir Gusairne's emotions ranged from flickers of anger to puzzled and introspective as he replied, [b]"I suppose you expect me to be thankful. Obviously I'd glad you didn't just gut me, but I don't know what to think of all this. One question is why? It would be so much easier for you to just kill me and be done with it... Whatever your reasoning, it's clear you're playing for a bigger prize than some backward village in the sticks. I wonder if you're foolish or daring enough to think yourself a player in the grand game that
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Sensing that the old Knight has succumbed to the group's collective persuasion, Tripylla nods to Lope and Diana.
"Lord Betony is not a vengeful killer, Sir Knight. That's not how he deals with things. Perhaps you'll give that some thought. In the meantime I'll ready a room for you and I encourage you to sequester yourself to the house and immediate grounds. We're very busy and will not be able to tend to you constantly, but if we can depend on your honor you will not be forcibly detained. Also, you may notice a pair of cats roaming about. Do not disturb them in any way."
Having said her peace to Guisarme, Triphylla begins to make arrangements for the group to pay a visit to the Barroness, given her immediate security needs.
Lope's mustache tilts as he smiles "A perceptive one you are Sir Guisarme. You would understand I am not to reveal the long game plan right now though."
The Aldori nods to Triphylla as she arranges the location. Then, once the group has time to recompose from the visit, Lope thanks everyone for their help "This has been an unexpected turn, thanks a lot for being so persuasive. I would have just dueled him otherwise, resulting in a much worse situation"
"Now, it is time to pay a visit to the Baroness and do something about those assassins"
Triphylla continues about her business.
Diana lets Lope and Triphylla do most of the talking regarding Guisarne's fate, focusing more on reading the man and his reaction. As Lope mentions the assassins, however, Diana presses the man responsible.
"You are a smart man, Sir Guisarne, and can probably guess that if we know of the assassins, we also know who gave the order to hire them. And yet, Lope gave you a chance at starting over, all the same. The least you could do is tell us what you can about them."
When the group gets a moment alone again to plan, Diana looks to Cyrene.
"Assassinations fall a bit outside my usual areas of expertise. Cyrene, you're by far the most knowledgeable of us in that field. How should we prepare? Anything we should be on the lookout for?"
Lope frowns worriedly as Diana makes Sir Guisarme to speak up "It seems we're entangled in a web of intrigue that stretches beyond Merratt County. We must tread carefully and gather as much intelligence as possible before taking action."
The Aldori joins on the talk with Cyrene "Dealing with the assassins requires urgency and discretion. While I trust in our capabilities, we must proceed cautiously. Cyrene, is there anyway we can recognize or at least find where or who are?"
"For a start, maybe we should find a pretext to visit the Baroness, be observant, maybe find a way to inform her about what is going on while we protect her"
"Well the squire who came along earlier was a professional." Cyrene says, gesturing upstairs with a flick of her tail. Now that its just 'the family' she's relaxed her usual shapeshifting and appears as her natural self, long dark hair, horns, tail and all. She's sitting in Valeria's lap and practically petting the oracle as she does so. "He's cut a hole into the skylight over your room Lope. If I was him I'd be back soon. Not immediately because I nearly caught him so he'll want our alertness to die down. Two nights time probably. Maybe three. That way we'll be tired and easy to deal with."
She pauses, nuzzles Val's cheek and then continues with a thoughtful look.
"Someone really good would come alone, but I imagine he'll come with some friends. I don't think you're a high priority target Lope, no offense. They won't send their best people. Probably. If we have a quiet word in the Whisker about keeping an eye out for new people and Lope moves somewhere else for a few nights that should be enough we could probably set a pretty good trap for them." She stretches languidly, holding onto Val 'for balance'.
"The hardest thing is probably taking them alive. If we want to do that?"
Turning to Cyrene, Lope nodded in agreement "Your insights are invaluable, Cyrene. Sounds like you know a thing or two on the business" the Aldori smiled warily.
"Setting up an ambush seems like our best course of action. We'll need to coordinate our efforts and prepare the estate accordingly" he glances around the room, considering their options "We'll divide into watches, ensuring we maintain constant vigilance. Trap placement will be crucial, especially if we aim to capture them alive. Ideas?"
Lope looked to the others, determination burning in his eyes "Let's move quickly. Time is of the essence, and we must be ready for whatever comes our way."
While they spoke with Guisarme, Valeria let those who had done the swaying finish dealing with him. When they had, and they were in private with just "the family" she took a seat in one of the armchairs only to see Cyrene change to her true for and suddenly plop down in her lap! Valeria didn't mind, not really, she just hadn't expected it, at least not in front of the others.
Valeria quickly adjusted, her left hand sliding to cup the tiefling's butt to help support Cyrene's weight so she wouldn't slide off while her right slid up along the other woman's leg to her thigh where it began to idly stroke gently even as Cyrene petted her. When Cyrene paused in her speaking to nuzzle at Valeria's neck the oracle began to say, "A trap is cetainah," she cut off with a slight gasp at the rush of pleasure that swept through her at Cyrene's actions but managed to get back to what she had to say, "a good idea. I agree that changing your room is smart and we need to make it look like you are in your bed each night if we can. We can jam the door to the roof so they can't easily get out, that way if they come down making it easier to trap them there. We just need to be able to catch them there and make sure they all come down." Her breath skipped a beat again at Cyrene's behavior on her current perch and then continued, "Since it seems the one who shuck in was invisible we need a way to negate that if they try using it again."
Valeria looked to Diana and asked, "Do you have a way to cancel out invisibility? I know there are arcane magics that can do it and I lack the means since my goddess is more about obfuscation and darkness, not revealing things." She hesitated and giggled at something Cyrene did and then added, "Also, do we have a way to rig an alarm of some kind?"
"There are... mundane methods if need be." Cyrene says, curling into Val's side (or maybe front) as her tail curls around Val's other side. "We could probably rig the fake body to spurt a load of powder into his eyes or something. We should probably make sure a few of us are up every night, just in case. I'll stay up with Val tonight."
If anyone remembers that she said the assassin almost certainly wouldn't be back tonight, Cyrene's glare prompts them to forget again.
A little confused by the plan, Triphylla asks,"Are we not going to see to the safety of the Baronness?"
Not quite willing to admit to herself, much lest the group, that she is somewhat fond of the old battleaxe, Triphylla presses the issue about protecting the Baroness.
"Someone at least needs to warn Voinum," she says. "I'll go."
For pretty much the entire morning Triphylla was wondering where the "cats" disappeared to. Surely the domovoi could have provided some assistance with the intruder, perhaps helping to spot it, or having done so, told them about it. Here again the fey creatures could provide a service in defense of the house and those within.
While the tall folk deliberate, the halfling prepares a treat and calls for her kitties.
"I happen to know, through some education by my mother and grandmother, a little about you. You will protect this house, and those of us who care for it. We need your eyes and ears in the nights ahead. Assassins are coming, and if we don't spot them first there will be trouble."
She sets down two bowls of milk.
On returning to the group she offers, "The roof shake can be loosened around the area of the skylights to give way under foot, if that's a likely entry point. Or the tiles could be cracked so that you would hear an approach. Nail fast the windows and close the curtains; force them to break in or steer them to the entrance of your ambush. Watch out for smoke pellets and shriek bombs and the like. I believe Valeria's magic hat allows for a very good disguise, and I have one potion of Disguise Self that anyone can use. Perhaps Cyrene could take the form of Lope, err, Betony."
Before departing, Triphylla assembles several trip wire traps and instructs the group how to install them where needed.
"These are excellent ideas. I do not have alarm magic, but I know how to create an invisible servant that might ring a bell or even trigger a trap if it spots anyone alien to the house." Lope explains while also patting his black blade "And my blade can also call me out if she spots anyone approaching during my sleep"
"I will provide you with one of my silk pijamas so you can prepare a sleeping dummy" the Aldori elaborates while already asking the domovoi to find for the better placement for his fake bed "We can pass the night in the adjacent room, and if the alarm triggers, we jump on the room. At least a couple of us shall remain asleep at any moment."
So for the next two days, as suggested by Cyrene, he will follow that procedure, casting an unseen servant before going to sleep, setting up a fake sleeping Lope with his clothes and some help from others, and telling the black blade to remain vigilant.
During the day, Lope will try to remain at least around three people, and no one new will be allowed in the manor. Will try to contract the local Abadar temple to scan the food and drinks with detect poison every day until the assassins do their show up.
When Triphylla calls for the Domovoi, she is momentarially startled when from behind her she hears a strange meow behind her. Turning around she sees the one she recognizes as Wink behind her clear as day. The strange creature laps up the milk before saying, "We felt one with murder in his heart approach the roof. He will bring more of his kind, we will be watching..."
You then discuss various potential traps and Triphylla sets some cunning snares and trip wires on the roof and other likely entrances. Meanwhile Lope's silk pijamas get stuffed with straw and turned into a facsimile of the Bentony 'heir'.
Triphylla gives Wink a thorough scratch behind the ear. "Good."
Valeria's left arm around Cyrene slid up a bit as the tiefling snuggled into her front more even as the tail wrapped around her. This was a really nice feeling for Valeria and she was greatly enjoying herself. It was Triphylla mentioning the Baroness again that made Valeria catch up with what was happening and their prior agreement to go see the Baroness and that they needed to go see her quickly as assassins were targeting her too and said, after Triphylla had left, "We shouldn't let her go alone and it might be best if we all go with her. If the assassins come here to kill you and we are not here they will try again another time, and if we go to see the Baroness we can protect her and maybe deal with both assassinations at teh same time." That Cyrene was trying to get into Valeria's bed that night with the "pairing up" ploy was lost on Valeria as she just didn't quite catch the nuance.
Cyrene spends a long time working on the dummy and by the time she is done her work is really rather good. Tucked up in bed and during the middle of the night it should be more than effective.
"I agree with Triphylla and Valeria - The Baroness should be our priority." She nods to Cyrene. "You said Lope wasn't a priority target for them - I'm guessing they're sending their more experienced assassins over to Voinum at the same time. The sooner we get there, the better. If the ones after Lope are more likely to lay low for a bit after their failed attempt, they probably won't try something on the road and would rather wait until we get back, right?"
She smiles at the Domovoi. "Would you be able to watch them if they come back, see what preparations they take? It would be helpful to know that when we get back - either to foil their plans, or help set our trap."
She looks back to Valeria. "As for magic that could help, nothing much aside from my Glitterdust spell I, think. It should help make them visible, assuming I have an idea where to aim. Don't think I'll have much time to research any more spells."
"I do have my illusions, though, which can help in setting up a trap. I could conjure up a fake Lope or Voinum to serve as a dummy. It would mean staying up all night concentrating on it, unfortunately."
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With everyone inside the carriage Martella leant you felt a bit cramped especially after the best part of three days non-stop travel. Still spirits were high after your bloodless victory over Sir Gusairne, the man himself was being watched closely by Onara Piscum but you didn't expect him to try anything because he seemed mentally defeated.
It was late autumn and the weather had take a turn for the worse during your journey. It was raining hard when your carriage passed the small town of Moost and turned down the lane that leads towards the three miles or so to The Voinum Estate. Despite the rain, the pungent scent of wine and vinegar the town’s two main industries scented the air for miles in every direction.
Word of your arrival must have spread fast because the Baroness along with her groundskeeper and a small retinue of servants were waiting for you in the large sheltered porch area of the main house. Once you were inside from the rain she said, "Welcome to my ancestral home. I gather you've traveled here in some haste, please do come in a sit by the fire and tell me what is on your minds?"
As you sit down, searants bring canapes and glasses of rich dark velvety red wine with a hit of plum and floral notes that reminds you of lazy summer days.
With the decision made to travel to check on the Baroness, Lope joined the others inside the carriage. Despite the cramped quarters and the rain outside, he is still in good spirits and smiling when the Baroness receives the group "Thank you for welcoming us, Baroness" Lope said graciously as they settled by the fire "We've come with urgent news and concerns for your safety. But first, perhaps a glass of your renowned wine to warm us from the rain?"
The Aldori looked around trying to discern if something is out of the ordinary.
The cramped conditions in the carriage do not bother Triphylla in the slightest. Being smaller, her space is quite comfortable, and as the weather turns, the heat from the larger folk in the company keeps her warm and cozy for the duration of the trip. And as usual, Lope's pleasant demeanor keeps spirits from dampening.
While the halfling is interested to learn of the Voinum estate cellars from the aristocrats in the group, she puts her mind into character upon arrival, organizing for the luggage to be properly offloaded and escorted, and then greeting her counterpart at the estate.
She assists the house staff in the preparation of the wine, noting the excellent vintage and mentioning it to the assembled Lords and Ladies as it is poured. Once she has achieved some measure of anonymity, she begins casually noting the locations of entryways, windows, and stairwells on the main level. She further makes a count of the staff and makes a special effort to meet and ingratiate herself with the seneschal.
Cyrene meanwhile disembarks the carriage as a thoroughly non-descript serving woman and disappears into the house with her usual easy stealth. She blends more by being uninteresting than unseen and does an excellent job of it.
Over the next four hours she does her best to number the entire household and trying to establish if anyone is new.
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"Thank you for your warm welcome, Baroness. It is not often one gets a chance to drink such an excellent wine. I wish our reasons for coming were as pleasant as the nice summer days it evokes, but unfortunately, as Lord Betony aluded to when we arrived, we have an urgent and sensitive matter to talk to you about." Diana casually takes a look around the staff gathered around the room, looking for any reaction to her words, before continuing.
"We should exercise some caution before discussing it, however, for reasons that will become clear when we tell exactly what is going on. If you would let me, perhaps writing and passing you a note detailing the situation might be best, letting you know and take whatever measures you deem appropriate before talking about it further."
We have learned from reliable sources that someone hired assassins to take out both you and Lord Betony, and that you were intended as the primary target. We have found evidence at the Betony estate that they were already aiming for Lord Betony, and believe the same could be happening here as well.
The Baroness's eyes twinkle when Lope mentions the wine, "Ahh I see you recognise the Chateau Grizmont, a glass of that is a fine way to warm up from the cold of the road."
Lope doesn't notice anything unusual, the manor and its grounds are tidy and well cared for.
Triphylla smoothly inserts herself into the household, making herself useful and marvelling at the extensive cellars. Having selected a bottle she walks through the kitchen, counting the staff - noting there's about ten on duty. The chef seems to be having a bad day, he's cursing and looking stressed, you note the sickly sweet smell of burnt sugar on the air.
He started pulling his hair, "What? Her name. Viridia-uh, we just call her Vi. She's been here only a few days. Where is she? I don't know, but if you find her, tell her to get her arse here right now or she's fired!"
Meanwhile Cyrene independently discovered that an oster by the name of Simmons was newly hired a week ago, as was Maria a cleaner. Most of the others are are long standing employees. Both Maria and Simmons are earning a reputation as hard workers who keep themselves to themselves.
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"There should be some advantages at being a noble, isn't it? To enjoy such pleasantries" Lope appreciates the wine when presented, and looks with serious expression when Diana passes her note.
"Of course, I am sure we can solve this if we work together" the Aldori offers his arm and looks for a private place to have a talk.
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"What's up?" Triphylla asks the frustrated master chef.
When the chef describes the troubles with the dessert chef, the halfling quickly finds a stool, rolls up her sleeves, and cleans her hands. She is well-versed in applying heat in the preparation of elixirs and though she has no training with confections per se, the underlying chemistry is not too different. With a keen eye out for the troublesome staff person, she gathers the sugar and a skillet and sets the flame low.
She guesses that the key to not burning it is to start at a low temperature and increase as necessary, and then immediately work the paste. This takes some trial and error, but she is patient and attentive.
While she brews she attempts a subtle interview of the Master chef regarding the bad baker: "If you don't mind me asking, sir, who offered the references of which you speak?"
And what else can you tell me about her, what does she look like, and so forth.
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"A note? My that sounds mysterious..." replied the baroness to Diana, "Be my guest of course."
Diana quickly jotted her note down, neatly folded it and passed it to the Baroness. Voignum quickly scanned it and a series of emotions played across her face, surprise, puzzlement, dawning comprehension and finally anger.
Softly she murmured, "It's starting isn't it... The opening salvos of a war that will turn brother against sister."
She peered outside and suggested, "It appears to have stopped raining. There's an hour or two of sunlight left, perhaps we could go for a walk through the grounds."
The chef looked skeptical at first with Triphylla's unconventional approach, which was as much mad science as it was cookery. Still the results were undeniable and he looked at her with new eyes, "My goodness! Lord Betony's struck gold with you lass."
"If you don't mind me asking, sir, who offered the references of which you speak?"
The chef sighed, "She had letters of recommendation from a well known lawyer in Cassomir by the name of Archibald Remington. He spoke highly of her skills, quite the disappointment really. She's fairly average looking, plain face, neither fat nor thin with shoulder length brown hair. It's easy not to notice her to be honest, gave me quite the start the other day..."
Triphylla smiles at the praise. "Well, never trust a lawyer. Lesson number one."
When her work in the kitchen is done she moves quickly to find Cyrene.
Quietly she relays the information from the head chef to the vigilante. "Know the name Archibald Remington?" She fills the rest of the group in on the previous appearance of the missing dessert chef, though that may have been a disguise.
Valeria was more than a little disappointed that the preparations to leave for Lady Voinam's estate prevented Cyrene from having the time to continue their fun that night. It was very frustrating for Valeria, who hadn't been touched that way in quite some time, and she had been looking forward to it. There was nothing to be done for it at the moment though, so Valeria did her best to finish her packing without dwelling on the disappointment. It helped she knew that when they did get the chance to make up for it the frustration would make it far more enjoyable.
On their journey to Lady Voinam's estate Valeria let Cyrene use her lap as a seat if she wished given the cramped confines of the interior and was both relieved and frustrated that they reached their destination and Cyrene slipped away in her servant disguise. While Lope and Dianna met with Lady Voinam and Triphylla and Cyrene deal with the servants, Valeria went to talk to any other nobles that might be in resident be they family of the Lady or simply visitors.
Quietly she relays the information from the head chef to the vigilante. "Know the name Archibald Remington?"
"No, but there are two other new hires recently." Cyrene replies softly. "I'm going to find their living quarters."
So she sets off to do just that, bed linens piled in her arms. After a little friendly gossiping with the servants to get directions she sets to work on as thorough a search as she can arrange - targeting Maria and Viridia first. If that doesn't turn up something she'll have to head to the stables.
"Our quarry is likely the newly hired kitchen help," Triphylla concludes. "Although that doesn't help us much. Our arrival forces the assassin to make her play. If we're lucky she'll be brazen."
She returns to the kitchen and cellars looking for evidence of poison or a stash of clothes that could have belonged to the dessert chef, and she makes sure to get her name this time. She also makes note of any discrete (secret) doorways used by staff to move around the manor.
Diana nods gravely at the Baroness' words, in part because she doesn't want to speak too much about the matter, and in part because she's been trying her best not to show how much Guisarne's words got to her.
Brother against sister... Cousin against cousin... Granddaughter against grandfather? Guisarne said the assassination requests came from Panivar himself. If he calls upon the family to support him, will I end up having to stand against them all? Can I even keep going if it comes to that?
Distracted as she is by her thoughts, she can't quite read the Baroness' intentions when she suggests they take a walk outside. But her previous words seemed to imply she was taking the matter seriously. Probably best to follow her lead.
"A walk sounds lovely." Diana replies with a practiced smile. "Let us make the most of the time before the sun sets. Exquisite as these drinks are, we can still enjoy them afterwards."
Lope takes note of Triphylla and Cyrene crossing the name of the lawyer who is working with Sir Guisarme. The Aldori nods in recognition "It seems we have an initial suspect. We shall find out where to find him right now."
"Let's walk then" Lope offers his arm to the Baroness and invites her to move on "My... servant, informed me about a recent hire in the kitchen. Someone recommended by a lawyer from Cassomir. Have you noticed anything strange about it?"
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You try the stables next and after looking the place over, you come to suspect the hay loft would be a good place to hide something. You clamber up and start rummaging around and after five minutes you find a satchel stuffed under several bale of hay. Inside the satchel you find two stoppered vials containing some sort of dark viscous liquid.
You also find a piece of paper which has sketches of the Baroness, Lope, Diana, Triphylla and Valeria. The sketches are really very good. Lope's and The Baroness's pictures have a curious sigil draw underneath them.
Inside the bag is a most peculiar knife, called a Sanpkhang. Its elaborately carved with special barbs and grooves, meant to channel toxins into the bloodstream.
Lope and Diana follow the Baronness out into the grounds which are really quite lovely in an understated way. Once you were out of earshot she said softly, "I suppose I knew things would likely get out of hand once word of Stavian's death arrived. There's no love lost for Eutropia in Meratt County, at least not while the Lotheeds are the stewards, or at least that's the story everyone will tell you... My opinions on the succession are fairly well known, which is no doubt why I've been marked. What's less well known is quite how unpopular Maxillar is with the grass roots - at least in this county."
Then she heads out of the hayloft and pours out one vial into the dirt in a secluded corner. Next is mixing dirt with water and a pinch or two from her small cosmetics kit to try and replicate the colour in the second vial as best she can. It isn't great but if the assassins come for it in the dark then hopefully they won't realise until it's too late. She deals with the other vial the same way and then returns them to their hiding place.
Note to self, stake this place out. She decides, before slipping away again. The rest of the group need to know before she sets her watch for the night.
Cyrene soon finds Valeria and, as a good ladies maid should, slips in behind her to whisper quietly in her ear.
"I'll be in the stables. There's a stash there. Will that be all, my lady?" She adds in a normal tone.
Cyrene stops by Trip and passes along the same message before showing herself out and returning to the stables. She checks on the stash quickly and then finds herself a good hiding place to wait in. Patience is the hallmark of a good assassin but she does slowly let her features revert back to their normal form. It feels so good to just be herself again.