Janiven Key's page

"It closes itself after a few seconds. I can't make it close any faster, I'm afraid."

"Well, let's not start cheering just yet." Janiven grimaces and pulls a slender rod from a pocket. With a good hard whack on the nearest wall, the rod begins to glow with a pale white light.

"We need to find someplace to bunker down--I doubt those Order of the Rack armigers will stop at the portal..."

Janiven pauses, letting the debate sparked by Whisper settle down before she begins to respond.

"...yes, Everett put it better than I could." She nods at the artist. "It's not a bloody revolution I seek for Westcrown--I know that sort of dream would never truly come to pass, at best. Such a thing would get lots of innocent people hurt, or Gods help me, killed."

"But look around!" She waves a hand around the room. "Thrune cares nothing for what happens to Westcrown's people--especially not those of infernal descent. We can't rely on the Dottari or Hellknights or anyone else to stand up and take action to help..."

"...especially if this 'Council of Thieves', as Everett says, is behind all of this." She blinks several times. "We can only rely on ourselves."

"What needs to be done, is Westcrown's criminal elements need to be brought down--and then the shadow-beasts need to be stopped."

She's about to say more when a loud BANG comes from outside the VIP Lounge.

Calseinica swallows, a guilty look in her eyes. "I..."

"...Miss Sanchia, I've seen the few times you've been up on stage." The understudy sighs. "Even in bit parts, you looked like you'd rather be anywhere else."

"I thought you might want to..." Calseinica trails off for a moment and she looks down at the table. "...I thought you might want to do something that had no relation to your family name."

Janiven's eyes turn to Sanchia, softening a little along with her tone. "The reason you're here... it's because I was in search of like-minded people."

"People who know what it's like to be looked down on..." Her eyes linger on Whisper and Cassynder.

"...people who know that Westcrown used to be something wonderful..." She looks at Nita and dear Waldorph.

"...people who dream of making this city better instead of letting things continue as they are." She glances at Everett before turning back to the actress.

"And I've noticed that such feelings come more naturally to those who don't quite fit in." She looks at Aidonis, Quirri and Calseinica again before settling on you. "To people who'd rather be remembered for something they were passionate about, and not something their family or colleagues or anyone else compelled them to do."

Janiven purses her lips. "...yes, that's another point of contention. Thank you, Whisper."

"I'll be direct--I'm someone who knows that Westcrown was once a much better place to live than it is now. As strange as it sounds, there was once a time when people didn't have to cower in their homes after dark, for fear of shadow beasts dragging them into oblivion. There was once a time where Westcrown didn't even pretend to need people like the Order of the Rack--people dressed in armour modelled after the Hells, marching in lockstep over people's bodies and rights alike."

"And I especially remember a time when the men in uniform who claimed to have sworn an oath to protect and serve the public were not, at very *best,* turning a blind eye to people's suffering--and, at worst..." Janiven's eyes narrow and her tone turns venomous. "...helped cause it."

"Westcrown used to be a place where people could be proud to call home--it used to be a place of storied, reverent history and not a hive of hateful shadows and meek, jackbooted compliance to infernal forces." She stands up and looms over the table. "Arael and I want it to be that way again."

As talk turns to the subject of Palaveen, Janiven clears her throat and takes a seat at the table.

"Yes. He's one of a whole myriad of problems facing Westcrown today, believe me." She starts with a wrinkle of her nose.

"Anyways, first of all let me thank you all for coming here. I wasn't sure how to make contact with most of you--but, fortunately..." She gives Aidonis, Quirri and Calseinica a smile. "...I knew people who could."

"...you do realize I was kidding, right?" Janiven puts her hand out to pause Whisper. "After the stunt you pulled this morning? Saving Marosino from a bunch of armigers? The least I can do is get you a proper beer."

"If you've the money to pay for them, my dear, then absolutely." The owner grins at Whisper. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced..."

"My name is Janiven--I'm one of the owners of this establishment." The leather-clad lady says with a smile.

Calseinica briefly stands up from the table she shares with Sanchia. "Janiven, may she--?" She starts, gesturing to the girl.

"--come along? Certainly." Janiven nods before starting to walk towards a particularly-finely made mahogany door in the back of the establishment. "VIP Lounge." She says with an over-the-shoulder grin.

Just as Whisper turns to leave, she runs face-first into a rather tall woman dressed in black midriff-baring leathers. Her dark hair falls about her face, slightly damp with sweat.

"Oh--excuse me, I was looking for someone here--" She starts when her eyes fall on Calseinica. "--ah! There you are." Her voice is eerily silky-smooth, but warm.

Quirri clears her throat. "And Quirri's here too. Wonderful."

"Now, I believe I heard the name Aidonis mentioned." She looks down at Nita. "He mentioned a lovely gnomish lady and her adorable pet would be visiting my establishment today."

She looks to the assembled group. "How about the lot of us take this to a quieter room, then? Can't really have much of a conversation out here, in all this noise."