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"Stop!" Adolina commands as Rose starts to move and her voice is the firmest any of the group have ever heard it. "You aren't going anywhere."
She places one hand on Rose's arm Goodness me, that muscle! and pulls the wand she purchased from the sheathe on her hip.
"H-hold still." She murmurs, before tapping the woman's other arm gently with the wand.
"Now you can go adventuring." She says firmly, once Rose's wounds are closed.
"Is it dead dead, or only mostly dead? Because mostly dead is slightly alive." Celi eyes the lemure distrustfully. She loads another crossbow bolt just in case.
Her smirk at Adolina's commands dropping, Ghorza glanced back at the devil. "Don't rightfully know." She said. So she walked over with pick in hand and obliterated its' head. "That should do it, aye?"
Ghorza brings down her pick on the lemure, and it shudders, nearly dead... but when Rose attempts to pull out her potion, she leaves herself just open enough for the devil to lash out and claw at her. Fortunately, it misses, and then falls back to a slowly draining pile of infernal slime.
Ghorza finishes off the lemure with a pick to its "head", and it splats into full death.
Rexus emerges, coughing at the powerful stench striking. "Gods, that was... surprising." He shakes his head. "We should be careful. That could've ended badly." He looks around the room, frowning. "This is... hm. This almost certainly wasn't here when the Ravens were." Glancing at Celi, he continues. "Can you figure out anything about this place? I think I know why it's shaped like this, but nothing else."
"Now you can go adventuring." She says firmly, once Rose's wounds are closed.
Rose's eyes crinkle with a smile and she gives the lady another bow.
"Your wish is my command, My Lady,"
She turns to Ghorza. "Assuming the slimy beastie is dead dead, we should continue our explorations and let Miss Wordsmith determine what she may determine."
"That we should." Ghorza said, silently hoping that there were not any more devils or demons around. Especially any more powerful than what they had just faced.
Rexus emerges, coughing at the powerful stench striking. "Gods, that was... surprising." He shakes his head. "We should be careful. That could've ended badly." He looks around the room, frowning. "This is... hm. This almost certainly wasn't here when the Ravens were." Glancing at Celi, he continues. "Can you figure out anything about this place? I think I know why it's shaped like this, but nothing else."
Celi beams up at their... patron? Rebel leader? Whatever Rexus is. At last, she can be useful! "Of course! These are merely my preliminary findings, I may be able to discern more with further examination. This area appears to date from before the city council raised the street level to reduce flooding on Argos Isle. They turned many of the old streets into sewers and the ground floors of buildings into basements. If I had to guess, I would say that this was a plaza with a fountain."
She pauses for a moment to see if anyone has questions, then continues. "Now, the runes and carvings on the walls! Those were part of an attempt to open a portal to Hell, most likely using the pool as a focus. It may have functioned once, but if it did, the effect was temporary. Some of the key symbols are missing, so it certainly won't work now."
"Well, the fountain has certainly seen better days," Rose comments, eyeing the foul water with distaste. "But I am thankful that the runes won't be summoning any more devils in the near future."
"Onward into the unknown," the vigilant gestures towards the northeast. "Who knows what else we'll find, eh?"
Moving out of the fountain chamber, she leads the group towards the eastern branch of the northeast exit.
"I'd guessed at the historical period of this," Rexus nods, "but I wouldn't have been certain about these runes. Especially whether or not they were at all... active." He looks warily at the walls.
He chuckles at Rose's comment. "Yes, it has. Gods alone know why it hasn't flooded or drained away entirely."
The search of the stinking cistern proves fruitless - there's nothing there of note - at least, not outside the vile pool, which no one is eager to enter.
The rooms to the northeast, the Ravens discover, have fallen mostly into disrepair. Chunks of plaster hang from the walls, exposing rough stonework beyond. Scattered furnishings that once outfitted bunkrooms, a kitchen, and even an armory lie scattered about in states of complete disrepair, and doors hang from hinges in the crumbling archways that lie between the chambers.
A search of those rooms, however, does result in everyone save Rose noticing something strange - a small nest in the northeasternmost corner that was probably used by a humanoid creature the size of those monsters from the room upstairs. However, it's impossible to say for certain - there's not enough material evidence to determine anything else.
"Strange..." Rexus looks warily around the area. "I hope we're not going to need to fight another one of those things."
Nearby, however, is a more interesting find - three small crates.
In the first crate, the Ravens discover a finely crafted suit of leather armor, a composite shortbow , an master-crafted hand crossbow, a simple grey cloak with a hood, stitched with the finest craftsmanship, a masterwork morningstar made from silver, a pouch with eleven pearls, and a bomb of some sort that shimmers with silver dust
The second crate seems to have been dedicated solely to a firmly locked iron coffer, which Rexus, Celi, and Adolina all agree has something magical in it - six auras in total. Unfortunately, there's no sign of any keys.
The final crate, at first glance, is the most disappointing - it looks like it is filled with ancient straw. However, a more thorough investigation reveals that it holds six silver figurines carved in the shape of ravens.
Unfortunately, without vision on whatever is in the iron coffer, none of the three mages can identify what is causing those magical auras.
Rexus sighs. "I fear that what we were seeking - the documents - lie within this box." He taps the iron container. "And I equally fear that I don't know of anyone who could possibly unlock it - certainly not anyone who could be trusted... But I do know someone who might know someone." He looks to the women. "How would you feel about taking a sojourn over to the Long Roads Coffee House?"
"I'm not one for an appearance in such a public place," Rose replies. "How about I take a rain check? I'll appraise Miss Cicerdos of what we found here. I'm sure she would be inclined to join you there."
"Ah, look at these beauties."[/b Ghorza said. [b]"I think that each of these pearls could go for a hundred gold, each. Give or take." With a smile she stashed them away.
When Rexus suggested meeting his contact, Ghorza nodded. "Makes sense to find the expert. I'll go, but we shouldn't move as a large group. Too easy to be spotted. I'll see to getting these stones sold, and will arrive at the location with Miss Cicerdos."
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"The armour is e-enchanted." Adolina says. She starts to say more and then finds her voice fading away again. To answer Rexus's question she simply nods. It's a fine coffee house and she wouldn't look terribly out of place there - although she'll need to tidy up first.
"T-thank you." She says to Rose. "It was nice to work with you. Try to st-stay out of trouble?"
"T-thank you." She says to Rose. "It was nice to work with you. Try to st-stay out of trouble?"
"Ah, but where's the fun in that?" Rose replies, giving the young woman a broad wink.
"Ooh, a cloak of elvenkind! It'll make a sneaky person even sneakier." Celi holds the cloak up, admiring the workmanship. "Anyone else want this? And if that armor is enchanted, one of you should take it."
"How would you feel about taking a sojourn over to the Long Roads Coffee House?"
Celi nods to the human. "Sure, that's pretty close to my apartment. I could go for a pastry." She has enough coin on hand for that. Hopefully Ghorza will be able to sell the pearls for a decent price. "Anyone here an expert in haggling? If not, I can probably sell the equipment we won't use at the Newt Market."
Celi recognizes that all six of the figurines are silver raven figurines of wondrous power, able to transform into ravens and be sent to others to relay messages.
Rexus looks at Rose, stroking his beard. "Hm... I suppose. I would much prefer that Laria meet you in person, and Miss Cicerdos is... hm. Well, I suppose it will do." He doesn't seem pleased by the notion, but is willing to accept it for now.
Glancing at Celi, he shakes his head. "If you'd excuse the unseemly modesty, I'm rather good at speaking with others, but I can't really risk being seen in public at the moment."
Celi picks up one of the silver raven figurines, examining it. "Ooh, figurines of wondrous power! We can use these to send messages to each other! Or other people, if we manage to recruit more rebels."
”Sounds invaluable. That will help us avoid the guards.” Ghorza said, eyeing the figurines approvingly.
"If no one has any objections," Rose says as she examines the discovered leather armor, "I could make good use of this." She picks up one of the raven figurines. "As well as one of these."
She moves to make her exit, but pauses next to Adolina. Taking the noblewoman's hand she lifts it to her lips. "Until we meet again m'Lady." Her lips softly touch the back of Adolina's hand, but her eyes never leave Adolina's.
Without another word she makes her exit.
"Very well, Miss Rose. But pray tell Miss Cicerdos to visit the Long Roads Coffeehouse as soon as she is able!" Rexus nods at the half-elf. "I hope we shall meet again." After she's gone, his brow furrows. "I know that Miss Cicerdos recommended her, but I am troubled by her unwillingness to meet with Laria."
He sighs heavily. "Well. This place has little enough to recommend it. Let us be off and onwards towards the Coffee House... Unless any of you have business to attend to elsewhere?" When no one does, he leads them off and out of the foul-smelling Livery. Kintargo's streets. The chill breeze whispers past them as they take the back road northwards, passing by a bevy of brick houses and citizens going about their day.
Soon, they arrive near the main road northwards, and spot a group of children playing in a park under the careful eyes of several adults. Rexus shivers at a particularly strong wind, but smiles. "This," he says softly, "is why we do what we do."
Still, he doesn't allow the Ravens to tarry long, drawing up his hood as he leads them to Bleakbridge. The marketplace-bridge has a squad of dottari at checkpoints on either end, collecting the Lord-Mayor's new fee. "Morning, citizens." The lieutenant says as she collects their coins. She makes no comment on Rexus' hood - it's cold enough to not be noteworthy.
Crossing over Bleakbridge reveals that the people here aren't as relaxed as they normally are - there's a fear overlaying the normal businesslike cheeriness. Perhaps the bridge tax is already causing business problems... or maybe they're just anticipating that it will.
After crossing over the Argo, they meander along the main streets, looking for all the world like folks on business, and almost half an hour after they left the Livery, they smell the first hints of the warm baked goods that wafts from the Long Roads Coffeehouse.
"Come on in." Rexus ascends the stairs leading up to the door and pushes it open. After they file in, the women have the chance to take in the warm glow of the Coffee House - possibly for the first time.
Nine large tables are spread neatly throughout the open dining area. Most are empty at this time of the morning, but there are a handful of humans scattered across them. Two halflings and a human (a man, a woman, and a woman, respectively) are busy cleaning and baking in the vast oven that is attached to the western side of the room - a bakery area, no doubt. Above the bar that sits between the dining hall and the bakery there's the newly mandated portrait of Queen Abrogail II.
The halfling woman glances up at their arrival, and smiles broadly. "Ah! Valentina, go grab some coffee for my friends." She herself picks up a platter of pastries and moves quickly to greet them. "Come in, come in. Let's go back to my office, we need to catch up on old times."
As the halfla arrives with pastries, Ginetta bustles through the door in a swirl of her cloak. Slightly out of breath, she sees the group and quickly joins them.
"I was hoping that I found the right place and that I wasn't too late," she says. Her cheeks are flushed as she lowers the hood of her winter cloak and her auburn hair spills down loose upon her shoulders. Adjusting the long bag she carries, she attempts to calm her breathing.
"Rose gave me an abridged version of what you discovered, but I hope you can relay the story with more details later," her question is directed at the group, but her green eyes seek out Adolina's. "It sounds like it would make an epic tale."
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She moves to make her exit, but pauses next to Adolina. Taking the noblewoman's hand she lifts it to her lips. "Until we meet again m'Lady." Her lips softly touch the back of Adolina's hand, but her eyes never leave Adolina's.
Adolina's hand hangs in the air after the vigilante leaves and Adolina feels her skin sing with pleasurable warmth after the gentle imprint of soft lips. That was... nice? Is she flirting? She must be flirting? But she and Ginetta? Aren't they together? Maybe she wants... no, don't be silly. She just wanted to thank you for the healing. That's all. It's not like that. No-one wants you like that. Not when she has a pretty woman like Ginetta. But that was a kiss...
This jumble of thoughts rolls round and round inside Adolina's mind, carrying her across the Bleakbridge and through the tolls without making the least conscious imprint on her mind as she walks arm in arm without Rexus. It's a blessing else she'd have likely ended up in a ditch or the Yolubilis itself, such is her distraction until they reach the Cafe and Laria's famous cinnamon rolls tantalize her nostrils.
"G-good to see you Laria." Adolina says, a genuine smile creeping onto her lips. The halfling woman has always been kind to her, never looking askance when she stutters so badly that she can barely order and deflecting more than one overly keen student with banter or (on one memorable occasion) a rolling pin.
Then Ginetta comes bursting in just as Adolina was about to say something about her and she turns to see gorgeous (Wait, when did they become gor-) green eyes and several things just click into place. Whatever else might be said about her Adolina has a spectacular mind and half a dozen small, barely comprehended things and one big comprehended-but-not-realised thing all come together with a flash of perfect insight.
Her breath hitches and her voice betrays her for a long moment, but that is a normal enough thing that no-one pays it much mind. "Y-y-yes." She manages eventually and then turns to follow Laria into her office, unable to say anything else.
The others made pleasantries, but Ghorza just felt tired. The walk to the coffee house showed her how normal the rest of the city was, with people going about their daily lives as if though there hadn’t been a massacre in the streets. As if there weren’t rodents of unusual size, and literal devils, lurking within the city. As if though….she pushed the thoughts away, as they were not helpful in the slightest. But as she wasn’t feeling up to being friendly, it was some comfort that her comrades were able to take that burden.
If their rebel group has a choice of headquarters, Celi is definitely going to push for one on the mainland. She has short legs compared to everyone else in the group! All this walking back and forth over the bridge- in winter, no less- is for the birds.
At least she knows her destination will be warm, comfortable, and have hot food and drink available. The gnome follows Rexus into Long Roads, knitted hat pulled low and scarf pulled up so that all one can see of her is a pair of enormous turquoise eyes. The heat envelops her the moment she closes the door, driving the chill of the streets away. "Ahhh. Hi, Laria!" Celi pulls her scarf down to smile at the halfling woman.
Celia, Lady Jhaltero, so good to see you again. It's been too long!" Laria bobs her head cheerily as the human woman arrives with another plate, this one full of steaming cups of coffee. The halfling easily takes it off her hands, winking. "I'll handle these, Valentina. You keep an eye on this lot out here." She waves a hand at the customers. "They're a rowdy bunch sometimes, so make sure to lay down the law if you have to." Valentina looks at her boss, a faint smile tugging at the ends of her lips, but nods solemnly nonetheless.
The halfling leads the women and Rexus into one of the two doors on the northern side of the coffeehouse, behind the bar. As the door swings shut behind them, she swiftly turns and locks it. "Alright." She says, her tone growing more serious. "Rexus, I'm glad you're safe. Lady Jhaltero, Celi, it's good to see you both." She smiles, but this one is far wearier than the one she'd donned outside. Her eyes go to the other two women. "You must be the others that Rexus recruited. I'm Laria Longroad, pleased to meet you both."
Rexus clears his throat. "Laria, this is Miss Ghroza Thursisdottir, a smith and skilled hand with a war pick, and that is Miss Ginetta Cicerdos, whose skills with a rapier are not insignificant. I believe she was also involved with the Opera House before its unfortunate seizure." He looks to the half-elf for confirmation. "Not among us is the woman that Miss Cicerdos recommended to us - one Rose Nightfall. She is as skilled a fighter as I have seen."
Laria frowns. "Do you trust this Rose?"
Rexus hesitates. "Somewhat. She certainly fought valiantly beside us. But..." He shakes his head.
"Rexus..." Laria sighs heavily. "You should've brought her here with you. Someone who knows that we're looking to reform the Silver Ravens is too dangerous to let loose without at least discussing it with me." The nobleman flushes, ashamed, and Laria relents, patting him on his hip. "No use worrying at this moment." She turns her gaze back to the women. "So. Rexus convinced you to join in our attempt to free this city. Tell me, why did you agree?"
Feeling exhausted, Ghorza gave a weary shrug. She didn't quite want to think about the grudge she had against Thrune, as anger was tiring, and she was already tired. Especially when there was no outlet to let it loose on. "We've all been wronged, one way or another." She answered, meeting Laria's gaze evenly. "If nothing else, each and every one of us have already raised arms against Thrune and shed the blood of their enforcers. Even if any of us could possibly forgive those bastards for their crimes, they would never forgive us for ours. While we all have our own reasons for joining, we are well past the point of turning back."
"While Rose may be somewhat showy and have a tendency toward the dramatic, I believe she can be trusted as much as any one of us here," Ginetta offers. "She's always fought for the downtrodden in the Silver City. She just prefers to avoid public appearances."
She glances around at the others. "And while I may not have her flair for showmanship, I feel that the city has reached a point where the people must rise up to reclaim what's rightfully theirs - the soul of the city."
She looks down at the cup warming her hands.
"The diabolists would claim that the city's soul is alive and well in the temples to the Dark Prince, I believe that its proper place is on every stage in this city, expounding upon and reveling in the struggles we all face. Not just the heroic deeds, but in the daily victories we all achieve against the trials that life places before us. That's something that we need to share and the stage is the ideal place for that. By denying us that, Thrune has denied us an irreplaceable means to connect with each other. If for no other reason than this, he must be deposed and replaced with someone that holds the people's needs above their own."
She looks up to meet Laria's eyes.
"I also have a selfish motivation," she adds. "I'm looking for Vivia Covan. She claimed to have joined the Silver Ravens, but I haven't heard from her in some time."
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Adolina gazes vacantly as the others speak, her mind far away and turning over the events of the last couple of days in obsessive detail. She barely registers the silence until it has become heavy enough that even she can't ignore it.
"It's the right thing to do." She says simply when the question is repeated to her. Even that is somewhat absent. She isn't looking at Ginetta, but every few moments her eyes keep sliding in the direction, following her thoughts as inevitably as the tide.
No. Stop. Worry about this later - they're talking about important things! But it's no good. The questions just keep flooding out of the recesses of her mind. Who is she? Why does she hide herself? Why did she protect me like that? Why did she kiss me? What does it mean?
"I am also looking for people. My three best friends in this city are all members of the Sacred Order of Archivists. Professor Kirenna Palamindi, Ayrlin Manar, and Lukas Vidoc." Celi takes a deep breath. "I don't have many friends, Laria. I'm going to find out what happened to them come hell or high water. If they're alive, I will rescue them, and if they're not, I will make the parties responsible suffer." She clenches a tiny fist. "Barzillai Thrune was ultimately responsible for this, I'm sure of it. I want him dead. That's the only way Kintargo will be safe again."
Laria looks from one woman to the next, carefully weighing their words. Before she addresses any of them, she nudges the plate of coffee and pastries towards them. "Eat. Drink. You look like you need it, whatever else we decide."
"You're right , Ghorza - can I call you that? - but Thrune is often happy to pay off informants who can net them bigger fish." She offers the dwarf a tired smile. "But you're more than welcome in my shop and in the Ravens by my mark."
The halfling looks slightly thoughtful at Ginetta's words. "We'll see, I suppose. It's not like I can track her down for the moment." Laria sighs bitterly, then turns her gaze back to the half-elf. [b]"You are doubly motivated, then. I can't exactly criticize your selfishness, either - I've more than had my own in the past."
Her lips quirk upwards at Adolina. "Lady Jhaltero, you and Rexus have a great deal in common, I think. Idealists, the both of you. Well, far be it from me to deny that it's the right thing to do. You're absolutely right."
Finally, she looks at Celi, meeting her eyes from a roughly equal height. "I understand. I never met any of the Order other than Porcia, and even then it was more a personal friendship than a professional relationship. Nevertheless, I've lost too many friends to Thrune myself to blame you for that."
"For what it's worth, I think that they all can be trusted. Miss Izbasa was... effusive in her recommendation of Miss Cicerdos, and Adolina's been my friend for years." Rexus says. "With Miss Wordsmith and Miss Thursisdottir, I believe they both have quite enough reason to join the reborn Ravens."
She looks between each of the women, sipping the coffee she has claimed for herself. "Alright. How did your little excursion into the Livery go, then?"
Rexus helps the women summarize , but he is the one who concludes. "Unfortunately, the box is thoroughly locked, and none of us have the expertise necessary to open it."
Laria smiles. "Well, your skills certainly aren't in question, but I suspect that you, Celi, will do better against foes that you can use your spells on. Beyond that, I think I can unofficially welcome you to the founding meeting of our newborn Silver Ravens!"
She takes a breath, straightening her shoulders. "So, to explain my qualifications. I've worked for the Bellflower Network here in Kintargo for the past eleven years, and I've been able to get slaves, fugitives, and more out of Cheliax and even Nidal - mostly to Varisia, but occasionally further south. I've worked with a whole lot of other folks in Kintargo's... less than legal sectors, and most of them are good people." A note of pain enters her voice. "Unfortunately, since the Night of Ashes, I've been basically blind - all of my contacts are either gone to ground, fled, imprisoned, or dead. I pray to Desna that it's the first two and not the second.
"This does mean I know a fair amount about those other groups - more than some of them would like me to know, in some cases. I can tell you a bit about them later, but right now I have a couple of favors to offer you - and one to ask of you." Laria looks to each of the women. "First, I can offer you the bunkroom upstairs as a place to lie low and sleep, if you need it. Rexus is already doing so, so one or two more big'uns won't throw things off. Not that I expect you need it, Adolina."
"More importantly, I have a base that our newborn movement can use for the foreseeable future down below - beneath my basement... but there's a problem. One of my friends and contacts, Nam Comerivos, has been using it to smuggle Varisian textiles through the tunnels that attach to it. He's a good man, and a close friend - he won't object if I use it for our purposes. But he went down there to check on things a few days ago, and didn't come back up!" There's a note of desperation in her voice. "I've been too busy managing things up here to check, and I'm really worried about him. Could I ask you to go down there and check things?"
As Ginetta processes Laria's introduction and request, she frowns.
"I'm sure we'd be happy to ensure the safety of your friend Nam, but my friends here have just managed a fair ordeal. I'm sure it would behoove them to rest first before tackling another spelunking effort into the cellars and sewers of the city." She glances at the others seeking confirmation. "While they're taking care of that, I'll seek out and inform Miss Nightfall of the impending expedition."
Ghorza shifted uneasily. Part of her wanted to immediately go down to see what was going on. But the contact had been missing for days already. It wasn’t as if though the seconds were being counted. Gods She thought. What a day!
Ginetta looks up to meet Adolina's eyes "If you're intending to descend as soon as possible, at least give me an hour to contact Rose. I would feel better if she was accompanying you."
She rises from her chair, grabs a pastry, and shoulders her bag onto her shoulder.
"Don't head out until she arrives, please."
Rexus frowns slightly at Ginetta. "Miss Nightfall is a capable combatant, but a man's life is at stake here. I don't see why we should risk taking any longer than we already have-"
Laria waves a hand at Rexus, then rubs her face. "As far as I know, there's nothing dangerous down there. 'course, that was before Nam went down on Fireday and didn't come back since. I'd like for you to go down as soon as possible." She takes a deep breath. "I don't know that another hour would hurt him any more than he already is hurt, but it might." There's a definite edge of anguish to her words.
Rexus takes a breath, thinking deeply. "We could go down and scout while Miss Cicerdos retrieves Miss Nightfall. If we find anything threatening, we could retreat back up to the basement..."
Laria shakes her head slightly. "Pulling back to the basement isn't going to end well. If my customers hear fighting down there, it could cause us trouble." She hesitates, clearly torn.
"Fifteen minutes." Ghorza said. "If she can bring Nightfall back by then, well, she can join us. Otherwise, we head down and she can come after us when she arrives. How's that sound?"
Clutching her cloak tightly around herself, Ginetta slips out of the room, through the common area and out the front door of the coffee house. Reaching the street, she looks around and quickly spies a narrow alley between two of the nearby buildings.
Backstage costume changes are nothing new to the talented performer and in just moments she's pulling on her second boot and checking the fit of the new leather armor. It seems serviceable, but, she notes, she'll need to get it dyed if it's to play a permanent part in the role. She takes a moment to settle herself and anoint herself with the non-physical trappings of Rose Nightfall.
Slipping into character had the feeling of donning an old, well-used garment. Subtly different than when she and Vivia had played at being heroes in their youth. One could make the comparison of performing Elga and the Elephant in the dining room in front of Mother and Father and singing the love aria from Roman and Rebecca in front of a packed house. And while Father would critique each with the same level of expectation, there was a different weight to the role - a higher bar she placed for herself. Her audience, in this case, might be staking their very lives on how well she could fill these very dashing boots.
She looks at the crude, painted wood mask in her hands.
I'm probably going to have to have something nicer made up if I want to impress her ... them.
She shakes her head, clearing the thought from her mind.
No distractions. Focus!
She slips the mask on.
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Entering the coffee house, Rose keep her cloak close around her and the hood pulled low as she strides across the room to the door leading to the private meeting room. Another focusing breath before she knocks twice and opens the door without waiting for a response. Her boots click on the wooden floor as she enters the room.
"Miss Longroad," she says, bowing low before the woman. "Your reputation for provender and beauty in such an elegant package proceeds you. I consider it a day blessed by the gods to make your acquaintance. Rose Nightfall at your service."
She turns to the others only lingering for a moment on Adolina. "I hear that we have a fellow rebel to rescue from amidst the cups, casks, and kegs below. Let us tarry no longer."
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Adolina avoids making eye contact with Rose. She's been counting silently, tracking every second since Ginetta left and the other woman appeared.
Not long, but it wouldn't take long. And not long enough unless Rose was following her around.
Then Rose speaks and Adolina has to stop a shiver running down her spine. Someone brave would meet her gorgeous eyes, would match the denial with her own knowledge, would tell her 'I know' and accept the result - but Adolina isn't brave so she just nods.
"R-ready."
Celi nods to the masked woman. Wow, that was awfully fast. Does she just follow Ginetta around? That's kind of creepy. "I have about half an hour left on my mage armor. Hopefully we can wrap it up by then, because I don't have another one prepared."
The group hear some muffled not-quite-shouts from the other side of the door, and Laria sighs, getting up to throw open the door. "And you must be Rose." She says. "It's fine Valentina. I appreciate your help."
She waves Rose in, her brows furrowed, but she smiles after a moment. "Alright. Setting aside all the suspicions you've raised for the moment, I think it's best if you get moving as soon as you're ready." The halfling considers the vigilante for a few heartbeats. "But I think we'll have much to talk about later."
Rexus rubs his face. "Well then, I suppose we should move -"
"Not you, Rexus. The fewer people I have tromping through my storage, the better. And you know you're no fighter." Laria intervenes, then looks at the other Ravens. "I'm hoping that Nam's just laying low. Someone's eating the food and drinking the wine I've been leaving downstairs, but sometimes I hear... well, laughter down there. It isn't Nam's. I hope." She shivers.
Rexus opens his mouth to object, then sighs heavily. "Alright. I just wish I could read whatever's inside this thing." He hefts the box.
Laria nods. "I'll look into finding someone trustworthy who can open up a lock soon." She looks back at the Ravens. "Follow me."
As she opens the door, she speaks in a louder voice. "No, no, I promise our stores are quite sufficient. But since you insist, I can show you what we've got in stock." The women follow her to the next room over, and find themselves in a pantry.
"Alright." Laria says after shutting the door. "There's a trapdoor down there." She gestures at a cleverly concealed bit of flooring that does indeed seem to be a trapdoor. "It leads down to the dry goods cellar. In the cellar, there's another secret door that leads to an old shrine to Calistria - I call it the Wasp's Nest. It opens into an old reservoir, which leads out into the old storm drains. Please, find Nam, and help him if he needs it."
Ghorza nodded in affirmation as she walked forward. "Ye weren't kidding!" She said, in a loud and clear voice. "A bloody lot ye got back here. It'll take us some time to find it." She announced, even as she opened the trap door and began descending. As much as she wanted to talk to Rose to finally get some closure as towards exactly what was going on with her, that would be a question for later. There was the very real possibility that a potential ally was in danger, and that required immediate action.
She waves Rose in, her brows furrowed, but she smiles after a moment. "Alright. Setting aside all the suspicions you've raised for the moment, I think it's best if you get moving as soon as you're ready." The halfling considers the vigilante for a few heartbeats. "But I think we'll have much to talk about later."
"As we're clearly engaged in rebellion, suspicions should be our constant companion," Rose replies. "And I look forward to engaging you in verbal intercourse."
----
"Into the Wasp's nest we venture, then," Rose declares, following after Ghorza. "A shrine to the Savored Sting should offer an interesting afternoon." She slips a buckler onto her right arm and checks her blade in its scabbard before descending.
"Desna's luck go with you all." Laria says with a sigh. "And if the Savored Sting looks favorably on you, so much the better." She frowns. "There's a lantern around here somewhere, if you need anything to light it up down there. I don't keep things lit in the cellar... but there should be torches lit in the walls of the Wasp's Nest."
The four women descend through the trap door into the cellar beneath the coffeehouse. The basement contains numerous crates of cooking ingredients, sacks of coffee beans, and other supplies needed to maintain a thriving business, but there's no obvious signs of the secret door that Laria mentioned.
It only takes a few moments for the women to discover it at the northwestern end of the room, however, and the way to open it is quite clear.
"I think we can assume that Nam isn't hiding in any of the sacks or bins here, so onward and downward," Rose declares as she opens the secret door.
"Aye. That would be too easy, wouldn't it?" Ghorza replied, as she walked to the secret door to follow Rose.
Celi follows closely behind Rose, crossbow loaded and ready. For all the good it did last time. ...Well, maybe she can count this as practicing her aim.
The smell of damp air greets the Ravens as they open the secret door, as does the unpleasant fact that, contrary to Laria's expectations (or perhaps hopes), the Wasp Nest is entirely unlit. The light from Adolina's spell reveals that there are a few sconces for torches along the far wall, but all are empty. The steady magical light casts strange shadows on the roof, ten feet above the floor.
"Okay. If Nam is still active down here then he can see in the dark," Rose comments without much hope in her voice that the possibility exists. She shifts the buckler on her right wrist and draws her rapier with her left hand.
"Lady d'Jhaltera? If you would be so kind as to keep that light close at hand I would be extremely appreciative."
The masked woman then moves slowly forward.