The four women retreat through the crowd, dodging and evading as they get further and further from the Opera House. It swiftly becomes clear that they needn't worry any more - the dottari have found other prey.
The women manage to escape into the streets surrounding Aria Park, taking shelter in a small corner a block or two away from the Opera House, and finally have a chance to stop and take a breather. It does not seem that anyone has followed them from the protest, whether a protester, a thug, or a member of the dottari. In the distance, they still hear faint cries, but even those soon fade.
The chill of the air is contrasted sharply by the steam swirling up from their mouths, and the clouds briefly break to allow a shaft of pale sunlight to shine down on the city. The four women are left with a question - what do they do now?
Celi takes a few seconds to catch her breath after their flight from Thrune's thugs. She's not cold anymore, at least. Nothing like running for your life to warm a gnome up!
"Well, that went... more or less as I expected. Unfortunately." She tilts her head up to get a good look at her new companions and gasps. "Oh my gods, Adolina! Does anyone here have healing magic? Your poor shoulder!"
”Did it?” Ghorza asked, as she tried to wipe away the gore from her pick, lest the patrolling dottari see cause to stop her for questioning. The full gravity of the situation hadn’t truly sunk in yet. Looking at Adolina she shuddered. Her shoulder really didn’t look good, and that was a problem that she did not have a solution for. It would be fortuitous indeed if someone here could help, either with magic or coin.
"Oh yes. House Thrune simply hates any form of opposition, and what else is a protest but opposition? And their usual response to things they hate is brute force." Celi sniffs disdainfully. "Really, one would think that they would learn better by now. A well-organized propaganda campaign is far more effective at silencing one's opponents. Perhaps they simply enjoy the bloodshed and suffering. I wouldn't put it past them."
After glancing back the way they came and finding no pursuit, Ginetta only then allows herself to relax. She stows her blade under her cloak with a nervous glance at both Ghorza and Adolina. It's only then that Celi's words sink in and she Ginetta truly sees the state that the young noblewoman is in.
"Lady Jhaltera!" she exclaims, fumbling for her bag, "Why didn't you say something?" A clay vial that's drawn from the simple leather backpack is thrust into Adolina's hand. "Drink this!" Ginetta commands.
Looking at the others, she considers their situation for a moment before pulling her hood closer around her face and making sure that her scarf is still in place. "We need to find somewhere warm to hole up until the dotarri have dispersed the crowd."
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Adolina drinks without actually thinking about it as the combination of shock and pain has effectively shut off her higher brain functions. Fortunately Ginetta's healing potion is extremely effective and the pain radiating from her shoulder dulls to a painful, but not debilitating ache.
The moment that's done Adolina turns and vomits into the drain. She heaves over and over until her stomach is empty and her hands have stopped shaking.
"I killed him." She whispers. "I just... I didn't mean to! He... I..."
It is quite apparent that she's never killed anyone before or seemingly faced any real violence of any sort.
Ginetta pulls the shocked woman back up to her feet and with hands on each of her shoulders forces her to meet the singer's eyes.
"Look at me," she commands, forcing the issue. She sees the horror in Adolina's eyes and her grip tightens. "Now breathe. In. Out. Again. In. Out." She demonstrates between words. Once she sees that she's got Adolina's attention, she looses one hand just long enough to pull her own scarf down.
"Focus on me. Now those people took up weapons against simple unarmed townsfolk. It was only poetic justice that some of us could fight back. And just because we did, doesn't mean we did anything wrong." She waits a beat to see how her words are received before continuing. "Was Nala wrong when she defended her love against the Count's soldiers in Love Over Life? Was Princess Green Feather wrong when she fought against the evil priest's fanatics in Red Moon? No! And we weren't wrong here. We only did what we needed to do to survive."
She hopes framing the events as stage drama lets Adolina put them into perspective. "We didn't do anything wrong," she repeats. "You didn't do anything wrong."
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The simple instructions help and Adolina breathes, focusing on the rich green eyes in front of her. The sight helps and her heartbeat slows from frantic to merely elevated.
"I d-d-did-d-dn't?" She asks, hating how the stutter comes crawling back into her speech. Even worse she's asking a question, she's being weak. Again.
One deep breath. Two. Then she straightens a little, drawing on everything she's ever learned about poise, manners and decorum. "I didn't. They - they attacked us. The people. It w- was Thrune's fault. No ours. Not mine?" Vulnerability creeps back into her tone on the final words.
"Not yours, no," Ginetta echoes back with conviction. "Not any of ours." She turns, bringing Celi and Ghorza into the conversation.
"And since we haven't been properly introduced ..." She releases Adolina's shoulders and after slipping a glove off one hand, she holds it out towards Ghorza. "Ginetta Cicerdos - mezzo-soprano with the Kintargo Moonlight Players." Her lips curl up into a smile. "Although, I can do soprano on really good days."
”Ghorza.” The dwarf said, as she stowed her pick away. She appreciated the full introduction, but her mind wasn’t there and as such couldn’t bring herself to reciprocate. The gravity of the situation had dawned on her. Ironically, Adolina’s panic attack had served to not only highlight the trouble they were in, but it was oddly calming. It gave her time to pull herself together and to think. Think about how much trouble they were in, and how good it had felt to actually do something. ”And aye, it was on those fookers. Nah different than if someone pulls a knife when ye be walking home and ye cave their head in. If they didn’t want to get clobbered then they shouldn’t have pulled a weapon. And these bastards? They went into a group of people just talking and started swinging maces. Bloody fooking maces! Think about your shoulder and how many innocent people would have that, or worse, if we didn’t defend ourselves.” Talking to herself as much as anyone else she finished by saying ”If more people did this then our city would be free of those vermin. But…we should talk more someplace safer…”
"Celi Wordsmith, novelist! Pleasure to meet you, although I wish it was under different circumstances." She reaches up to shake Ginetta's hand, and then Ghorza's. "Ginetta Cicerdos... oh, I remember now! Excellent job on the Flower Duet in Nefertari. It was beautiful, just beautiful." The gnome beams up at her, huge turquoise eyes sparkling, then turns to the group as a whole. "And yes, we should definitely get indoors. The streets have ears, you know. I would offer my house, but I live up in Villegre. Might be dottari watching the bridge."
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"You will all come with me." Adolina says, pulling herself together with an effort of will. "My family home is not far from here." And I can keep it together that far.
She looks around for her rapier, fallen in the street but thankfully not in her vomit, and retrieves the weapon. Her pelisse is somewhat the worse for wear but the dark fur doesn't show any major stains so it will pass muster for now.
With her belongings gathered Adolina takes another deep breath and looks around to get her bearings. "This way. We should st-tay off the larger streets."
As Adolina is about to lead the group towards her home, she hears something strange - the sound of steel clashing against steel in a nearby alleyway followed by a cry of pain, and catches a glimpse of a group of Chelish Citizens' Group thugs with weapons ready.
There are five militia upright, maces at the ready, while four more are scattered across the alleyway, and a tenth figure lies on his back, clearly badly hurt. One of the thugs - a Varisian woman in her thirties - has her mace raised overhead and is prepared to strike down at the man.
One of the CCG, a Chelaxian man, notices the four women. "Move along." He growls. "And forget what you saw here. We're administering a punishment to a traitor."
Damn. There he is.
Ginetta considers her options for a moment. None of them are desirable, but she knows that if she wants to find out what happened to Vivia then she needs to talk to this man. And the Chelish thugs are going to be nothing but hindrances to furthering that goal.
She leans over to Adolina and whispers, "Stay back and behind Ghorza," before stepping forward and drawing her rapier.
"Nay, villain," she says in a deeper, more throaty voice. "I will not forget what I see here. Five traitors to the heart of the Silver City waylaying one of its innocent citizens. Know that injustice like this will not pass without facing consequences."
Ginetta bows dramatically.
"Today you may call me Consequences."
Her eyes smile behind her scarf.
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"Re-" Adolina starts and then cuts herself off, her mind racing. Rexus? Alive? But if his house burned down then...
Ginetta cuts her off with whispered instructions and a theatrical opening that strikes a familiar chord. There's no way a fight doesn't break out now so Adolina holds her ground and draws her rapier, trying desperately not to think about a man like these in front of her bleeding out in the snow.
This is going to be hard, but Rexus needs her.
Pulling her pick out, Ghorza stood in front of the group. She didn’t know who the man being attacked was, but her new companions seemed to. And if they wanted to fight for his safety then she was willing to help, especially as it was against the thugs who had taken their city. Still, it was different drawing a weapon in the throes of anger and with a clear head. Eyeing their weapons, it certainly felt more dangerous this time around.
Celi moves forward to get a better view of the alley. Oh, there's the man I was supposed to meet! His hand must be freezing. She would have wanted to drive the thugs off regardless, but now she has a personal reason for doing so.
Time to see if Celi's practice at being weird and uncanny has paid off. The gnome shifts her stance, widens her already large eyes, and slowly smiles- much wider than she usually allows herself around non-gnomes. They tend to find the proportions of her face disturbing when she exaggerates them like this. "Ooh, would you look at this? Playthings!" She giggles, shrill and unhinged. "You look strong and healthy. Maybe you'll make better toys than the last batch. They broke so quickly, it wasn't much fun at all."
”Wha-? Uh, I…” He hesitates, glancing between the half-elf and gnome, and then forces out his words. ”Looks like we’ve got some revolutionaries looking for a fight!” The man takes a few panicked steps back as he shouts to his friends. Lifting his mace, he continues. ”Let’s see how well they face up to real Chelish fighters!” Despite the brazen reply, there’s a fairly obvious element of braggadocio - he’s probably trying to reassure himself as much as he’s trying intimidate the four heroes.
The rest of the thugs whirl to face the women, maces ready for combat - some of them already faintly stained with blood. A Chelaxian woman gestures at them. ”Get ‘em! Damned Iomedaeans!”
”Forgetather guide my hand!” Ghorza said, venom dripping from her voice. She didn’t yell, but her tone spoke volumes. Seeing weapons drawn brought back unpleasant memories of when men in the same uniforms found her shrine to Torag. With her anger rising she took the initiative and rushed the ‘real Cheslish fighter.’ Aiming for his throat with her pick, she was not looking for any plausible deniability when it came to questioning who caused their deaths.
Ghorza rushes forwards, her pick blurring out and catching the hapless "fighter" in the throat. He gurgles, staggering for a few moments before he stumbles against the wall and collapses slowly down onto the ground, bleeding profusely.
"Damn it, man, couldn't you last at least three seconds?" A third woman with an oft-broken nose growls, glaring at Ghorza. "He was an idiot, but he's still one of us, dwarf!"
Adolina unleashes a silent scream, empowered by her own magic, at the Varisian woman. She staggers, hands leaping up to her ears, and struggles to keep hold of her mace. She's in no condition to do anything at the moment.
"Alika, what the Hell are you doing?" The woman growls, gripping her mace harder and glaring past Ghorza at Adolina. "Focus!"
"We're going to crush you dead, b%%*&." The broken-nosed woman says sharply to Ghorza, her eyes glittering with bloodlust. "I'll offer your skull to the Temple of Asmodeus in Aspex's honor!"
The woman who seems to be in charge steps closer to her compatriots. "Guards! We've got some rebels over here!" She shouts at the top of her lungs.
The final CCG thug - a Nidalese man - takes a few steps back, disappearing out of view temporarily.
Celi, despite her small size, threatens the leader of the gang, and her raw presence and fierce demeanor causes the woman to hesitate, looking at the tiny gnome with alarm.
With what looks like a sashay followed by a twirl, Ginetta steps past Ghorza to strike at the injured thug.
Ginetta advances, slipping past Ghorza. Perhaps because of this, when she launches a thrust with her rapier at the Varisian, the other woman doesn't even need to dodge - the blade's point slips past her head without meeting flesh.
As soon as she steps out into the alleyway, however, the Nidalese man takes a hasty step forwards and swings his mace at her. She takes a heavy crack to the skull, dropping to the ground as unconsciousness overtakes her.
As her rapier rings on the cold ground, the thug who struck her down laughs. "Take that, fool!" The man gloats.
Seeing her comrade go down and the horde of enemies, Ghorza hesitated. It suddenly seemed like a *very* bad idea to blindly charge in. Already one of the thugs was bleeding out on the ground as well, and it was clear that anyone could share that fate.
”Ye said that ye have magic, aye Celi?” She called out as she dug her heels in. ”Fooking spray them all!”
The injured Varisian woman takes a hesitant step back, but her counterpart snarls. "Don't just wait for them!" She rushes forwards, stepping heedlessly over Ginetta's bleeding body and easily deflecting Ghorza's slightly shaken strike with her pick.
"Adella, don't-" The leader starts, but she can't finish the sentence before her follower speaks again.
"What the Hell are you all so scared of?!" She demands, swinging her mace in a brutal arc. The dwarf, despite her concern, doesn't even need to dodge, as it goes fairly wide, ringing off the wall instead of her body. Adella curses, glaring down at the dwarf. "Should've stayed out of it! Now you're down one and we're coming for the rest of you!"
"She said spell, moron!" The injured woman says. "Get out of its way!"
The leader, Asmodea, takes the chance to retreat out of line of sight, just to avoid any oncoming spells.
Inwardly, Ghorza cursed herself for being a fool. By yelling out the plan she alerted the enemy, which robbed Celi of her chance. Even as she missed with her own attack, she promised herself to not make the same mistake again.
"Well, I can't hit them now!" Celi scowls at the dwarf's back. She really must work on her Dwarven so this doesn't happen again. And maybe learn some medicine, because she has no idea what to do for someone who is unconscious and bleeding from a head wound. Oh, I should have taken that Basics of First Aid elective!
Too late for that. The gnome raises her loaded crossbow and takes aim at the nearest thug.
Ginetta continues bleeding slowly out onto the cold cobblestones of the alleyway as Celi attempts to fire over Ghorza's head at the thug before her. However, Adella dodges just enough behind the dwarf that it misses her.
Adolina advances, and quickly thrusts a feint over Ghorza to distract the woman threatening her. Despite the distance between the two of them, Adella lifts her mace, bringing her just out of position for the smith's next strike.
In the background, the heroes see that the fallen man isn't quite so defeated yet, as he thrusts desperately at the Varisian woman standing above him with a short, thin blade. Although it only pierces her thigh and the arm topples, collapsing onto the ground as the last of his strength leaves him, Alika shrieks in agony, grabbing her injury with one hand.
Feeling buoyed, both by Adolina‘s aid, and the sting of her own failure on ruining an otherwise good plan, the dwarf raised her pick with determination. The least that she could do was carry her own weight, regardless of the very real risk of being laid low by a mace to the head. Taking advantage of the opening Adolina had made, her pick lashed out, biting deep into the leg of her assailant.
Ghorza brings her pick down on the militiawoman's leg, catching a particularly vital artery and sending her crashing to the ground to bleed out.
Alika takes a moment to weigh the new odds, and hastily turns tail, fleeing into one of the alleyways away from the site of the ambush.
"Dammit, woman!" The leader hesitates for a moment, then shakes her head. "We'll remember you and your faces, girls! The CCG's putting together a list!" She looks at her remaining counterpart. "Move!" Together, the two flee from the fight as hastily as they can.
The three women still standing are left with the sounds of distant shouting and closer work, chatter, and pedestrians. The fight is over. Now all that's left is to pick up the pieces.
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Adolina pushes past Ghorza, kneels next to Ginetta and tries desperately to remember how that spell is supposed to work.
As Ginetta groans and opens her eyes Adolina shots her a quick, nervous smile and moves on to Rexus, trying her best to staunch the bleeding.
Fortunately she remembers enough of the basics Pressure above the wound. Elevate extremities to get blood to the core. that Rexus is soon out of the woods. She hopes.
Oh thank the gods, Adolina has healing magic! And she looks like she knows what she's doing as far as first aid goes. Celi reloads her crossbow (just in case), puts the safety on and slings it over her back. "Well, that certainly could have gone better. For future reference, color spray creates a cone-shaped area of approximately fifteen feet, and I cannot exclude allies or bystanders from its effects." It would have been far better to eliminate all of the pro-Thrune thugs, distasteful as the thought may be, because now they know the group's faces. Adolina and Ginetta will probably be all right, but there aren't a lot of gnomes or dwarves in Kintargo. Blast it all. Well... I knew this would happen sooner or later. Can't rescue my friends from the Villainous Overlord and his minions without gaining a certain reputation.
Still, it would have been nice to keep her anonymity intact until she had some idea of where to go and what exactly she needs to do. And allies. Allies would be great.
Speaking of which... Celi looks at Ginetta and Ghorza. "Do either of you have healing potions on you, perchance? We really should get One-Glove Man over there up and moving, and I'm afraid that I had some recent unforeseen expenses. Haven't got any potions of my own." The components for her ritual of beckoning were not cheap. Celi is kind of broke until her next royalty payment comes in, and who knows when that will be? She's not sure if her Kintargo publisher is even still alive. And the Drumans will most likely steer clear of Cheliax in general and Kintargo in particular until the unrest dies down.
Ghorza stood still, staring at the pair of enforcers who were bleeding out at her feet, both of whom had been laid low by her hands. She listened as one made a death rattle, her face as impassive as stone. Already the survivors were gone, bringing word back to their masters. She had some experience with the “legal system” and the injustices within. Now, as a wanted murderer, she knew that there would be no mercy. Either the entire ruling class had to fall or she would.
”Aye.” She said to Celi, snapped out of her thoughts. ”I will keep that in mind. And we’ll need our own battle tongue to ensure that this doesn’t happen again. Also, I’ve nothing on me that can heal a person. But if anyone needs carrying, I’m your lass.”
Deciding that being a murderer was as bad as it got, she began to rummage through the dead enforcers’ pockets. Any coin or valuables would come in handy.
To Ghorza's surprise, none of the thugs are dead - the pair that the women had fought are badly hurt, but they're not even bleeding out any more. The other four that were unconscious when they arrived are virtually unharmed.
Each of the thugs has a set of leather armor of unusual uniformity, a single lightweight mace, a pair of manacles, a bronze pendant with the mark of House Thrune of unclear value to any of the women, and a handful of coin.
Sitting up and trying to think clearly through the sound of the hammer-on-anvil that's still pounding in her head, Ginetta starts to rise. Her movement is interrupted by a wave of nausea as the world swims around her.
"Ow," she says with another groan, putting a hand to her head. "Did someone catch the mule that kicked me?"
Once the spinning stops, she's quick to join Adolina in examining the man with a single glove.
"Oh good, you're awake! We really must get out of here before the dottari arrive." Celi looks over at the Mystery Man. "Unfortunately, our friend over there is still unconscious. Ghorza, you may have to carry him. Those thugs injured him quite badly." She frowns, crouching down to examine one of said thugs. "Normally it's illegal for civilians to arrest people in this country. Either this group has a powerful patron, or they think they have one. Given these pendants they're wearing with the crest of House Thrune... it seems Barzillai has made his very own brute squad."
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"Put them in the m-m-manancles and lets get out of here." Adolina says, glancing over her shoulder at Ghorza pulling all the unconscious people's gear out. "They called the d-dottari. We need to go."
Ginetta producing another healing potion makes Adolina sigh with relief and she tilts Rexus's head up so that the singer can pour it slowly down his throat
”Manacle them?” Ooooh. Now that she thinks about it, that gives Celi ideas. ”It would be my pleasure!” Alas, they don’t have nearly enough time for most of those ideas. She’ll have to satisfy herself with what she can manage while Adolina and Ginetta get Mystery Man on his feet.
The gnome frisks each thug for their manacles; fortunately, most of them just keep their set on the back of their belt. Then she sets to work manacling adjacent thugs to one another. One pair gets locked back to back and hand to foot- Thug A’s hand to Thug B’s foot, and vice versa. A trio gets all of their hands locked together, in an interlacing arrangement that will take some effort to untangle. And a lone thug gets manacled with his hands behind him, around the base of a street lamp.
Celi steps back, surveying her work. ”It’ll have to do. Stupid dottari, I could be so much more creative with a little more time.”
Rexus twitches, awakening from his stupor. "Ah. Lady Jhaltero." He says hoarsely, if courteously. "It's good to see you, lamentable though these circumstances are." He reaches down, picking up the blade he'd dropped when he fell unconscious. Wiping it on the sleeve of one of the nearby thugs, he sheathes it in a hollow cane, which he uses to leverage himself up to his feet.
He brushes himself off, then examines each of the women in turn. "Well, I must extend my gratitude to you all for your help." The nobleman bows gracefully, taking a small vial out of his pocket and downing it with a sigh. More of his wounds heal as he continues. "I would like to speak with you in more detail, but we don't have much time, I think, before these others awaken." He gestures at the unconscious thugs.
"I know of a safe place we could talk, and where I could catch my breath. Would you care to follow me there?"
The dwarf remained quiet as she looked down at the enforcers being manacled. Part of her wanted to finish them off, lest they just take up arms again. That they were further witnesses was a factor as well. But at the same time, at least now they would be less likely to be guilty of murder…and that alone gave her pause. Given her internal conflict it was quite easy to just go with the flow.
”Let’s move.” She said, eyeing the streets that the enforcers had fled down warily.
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"Adolina, Rexus. We're friends. No formalities." Relief lets her get the words out without mangling them and Adolina stows her rapier beneath her coat once more, brushes off what she can from the abused garment and then offers Rexus her arm. Walking together they appear as a perfectly respectable couple (as long as one doesn't look too closely!) and Adolina keeps a close eye on the surroundings while letting Rexus lead the way to his 'safe place'.
Rexus nods. "Of course, Adolina. My apologies, it's been.. a trying week." He begins leading the four women through the streets. As they go, he begins speaking in a quiet voice. "We'll be heading to Crissali's Fine Tomes. It's a relatively safe place, at least for a single visit, and it has quite a generous - and discreet - back-room policy."
Rexus leads them down several back alleys and narrow streets before they emerge into Jarvis End - northeast of Aria Park. The cries have faded - though whether from distance or time is unclear. After about half an hour of walking through the bitter cold of the winter air, the women arrive outside of Cressali's Fine Tomes.
"Please, allow me to speak with her." Rexus says, nudging the door open and revealing a vast array of bookshelves in a well-lit and blessedly warm room. A portrait of Abrogail Thrune II hangs on a prominent display over one of the bookshelves, and a tired-looking human woman with greying black hair and wearing thick clothing appears from within the stacks.
"Ah, Miss Crissali..." Rexus approaches her, beginning to talk quietly and leaving the women to their own devices for the moment.
Since some of her secret is out of the bag, as it were, Ginetta decides that she should try to mend a fence.
As they wait inside the door, the singer turns to Ghorza. Opening her coat enough to reveal the hilt of her rapier, she shrugs and reaches up to pull her scarf down.
"I'm sorry about earlier," she says with a shrug. "In the square, I mean. You mentioned my rapier and I panicked just a bit." Her lips curl up into a grin. "My life would be a lot simpler if no one knew that I carried it. By that, I mean my father primarily. And I really can't be associated with the name 'Rose'. Rose is ... someone else."
Her grin fades and a look of concern replaces it.
"You said that you recognized the blade, though. Where did you see it before?"
Giving a weary smile, Ghorza turned to Ginetta as they walked. ”Don’t worry about it, I understand.” Family honor was something that humans tended to not worry about enough, in her estimation. ”But I fear that none of us will be having simple lives anymore. Even so, ye can go by any name ye want. We’re in this together now. As for the blade?” Some of the weariness dropped from her at the topic. ”T’was the first rapier I ever made. Put so much into making it. It’s like…ye composed a song for someone, aye? And then ye hear it being sung. Can’t help but feel alive when that happens. I’m glad that ye have it.” She said, adding ”Never know where a blade will end up, but it seems like it’s in good hands. If we ever get the chance, and some funds, I can fix that hilt right up for ye. Balance it and make it fit your grip, really make it sing.”