Ah, as for what you do with any loot you find...that’s entirely your call. I’ll have a couple of suggestions...but that’s all they’ll be.
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Oh the ones I’m thinking of wouldn’t be doing the same sort of work as you, one’s an armourer, one’s a fence (though she’ll likely say otherwise) and one’s an absolute perfectionist when it comes to organisation and storage. But if you’d like to try for Topaz tonight that’s absolutely fine. She smiles whimsically. Birchy went and called in everyone for this big push of his, so just for tonight the Pillars won’t be guarded on the bottom - and the likelihood of Second Walker caring enough to post some up top is...not high. As for the specifics... She crosses to the map alongside Karva and taps the house in question, closely examining the golden glow. I’d say you’ll find oh...maybe 5000gp’s worth of stuff there. That’s in material goods mind, the map doesn’t give much of a damn about personal importance. Plus it can’t specify what the valuable things are. Could be jewellery, could be a massive ivory statue you have no hope of shifting or anything in between. It’s a Topaz house but it isn’t all that big so it’s unlikely he’s got the favour of any member of Walkers “council,” and judging by the whole drug thing he’s probably clawing for funds. It’s about the only way to get ahead up there. Be wealthy, show that you’re wealthy and be damn willing to spend said wealth on whatever the people in charge say you should buy. Oh. And don’t be stupid enough to lose said wealth. You guys trash this place and I doubt he’ll recover from it. She doesn’t turn around, but the air temperature seems to drop to the same as the sudden chill in her voice. None of you can see her expression, but a horrible sense of pressure pervades the room as she says... Or, you know, kill him. That would work too. Standing back up she turns to everyone. Warmth and a smile suffusing her voice once more. The pressure vanishes as if it had never been. Plus that lovely child already gave you an in. If Garth’s a former Rat then I can almost guarantee he’ll want to help out a current Rat. Probably wouldn’t be too happy working for a drug pusher either. Use that. She puts a hand behind her head, clearly embarrassed but trying to laugh it off. Also I kinda...can’t leave the building. Not for very long anyway, maybe 3 minutes if I push it. Casting that spell and... She reddens. ...catching Birchy pretty much blew through my daily limit. I’d prefer to not come that close again. You really only have to explode once for it to lose all charm. Plus there was a lot of collateral damage. Her Ladyship was not pleased. I wasn’t either once I got put back together. Leave it a couple of hours and we (by which I mean you) should be good to go.
But you were having such a touching moment... I didn’t want to interrupt. Anyways, yes, I do have a plan. Several actually. Sash? Go join the others in the bathroom would you? I promise we’ll see everyone home safe in a few hours, need to let the guard finish mopping up out there first... She waits for the young Strix to leave the room before turning back to the group. As I was saying before, this right here is my Map of Desires, it’ll get you where you need to go to get what you want, very useful little present from her ladyship. Oh right... She turns to Galayen. Her ladyship would be my boss, lovely girl, bit of a tendency to overthink things, got herself caught up in some manner of a mess over in City 7 - don’t know if you’d recognise the name of the Jackdaw? That’s her. Made this pub, made that lovely spell I used earlier, got a bit of a...reputation... She gives a cheeky little grin and bob, somehow managing to make it seem as if she has not just admitted to being in the direct employ of someone that every City the world over is absolutely desperate for information on. The Jackdaw, widely regarded as being the one responsible for the insane corruption that hit City 7 not long after it’s growth started and the 7th Archaeomancer disappearing. If I told you about the Jackdaw before now or a Knowledge Local or Arcana check DC 15:
A bit too widely regarded to be honest, the overwhelming amount of exposure the whole deal gets has the distinct whiff of a propaganda machine. But that’s a little beside the point right now. Just about the only instruction I got is “find good people, rob the bastards blind.” And so far I’ve finished step 1 of that assignment. She looks suddenly thoughtful. Although...we could maybe do with a few more people before we try anything major. Still, I can’t imagine that at least 2 of you don’t want to go track down a drug lord as soon as possible, and that glow around his house (since nobody guessed) shows there’s a decent amount of wealth to be found there. She throws the question to the room at large. What do all of you think? There’s a profit to be made from the link Sash gave us, but there’s safety in numbers as well. We’ll get both done eventually, I’m just asking what you want to do first. There are 3 people off the top of my head that we could definitely use and I’m sure more will pop up. They all live in Quartz and I’d suggest leaving it at least a day before you go traipsing around there to let things settle down...but Topaz should be fairly quiet tonight. We’d just have to get you up there first...
My, my, my... and here I thought I’d have to show you all how to use that... This here is my Map of Desires, got an item you want? A person you need? A goal in mind? Hell even a confusing mess of emotions punctured by an unknown but overwhelming desire to do the right thing causing you to take actions you yourself don’t understand... She nods to Sash. Then this thing can help. Don’t misunderstand though, it can’t target specific things. What it does do is show you the location you need to go to in order to have the best chance of fulfilling that desire or resolving that issue. In this case I’d lay odds it’s this drug-peddling bastards home. Has to be a decently strong desire as well, won’t be showing you the nearest market stall if you feel a bit hungry for example. Oh, and it can do this too. She snaps her fingers and the map - which had been a pale glowing blue - switches colour palettes, becoming a lovely burnished gold. A colour that seems to grow thinner in the centre of streets or around the pillars, but brightens considerably over each and every house. Two locations become almost too bright to look at, their presence on the map obscuring everything around them like two burning suns... City locals know this, otherwise Knowledge Local DC 5:
Those two locations correspond to Topaz museum and the mansion house of Second Walker. The target house is not one of those two, still though, it’s golden glow far outshines its neighbours. Anyone want to guess what this part shows? The colour’s a pretty big clue.
The floor is yours young lady, don't worry, nobody here will hurt you.
Madeline claps her hands at Galayen’s statement of not working for free, a wicked smile dancing across her lips. A man after my own heart. Rest assured my good sir, I would never ask someone to follow one of her ladyships schemes for free - although I should probably stress that you won’t exactly be getting an hourly wage either... The smile becomes a grin. More like...engaging in wealth redistribution. I promise it will be fun, and if you aren’t rich by next week then I am not doing my job very well. Her gaze turns to Rini. The smile softens slightly. There is a huge conspirital wink. I like it too my absolutely 100% human friend who was in the bathroom before everyone else got here and whose name I have yet to know. I like it very much indeed. Though I probably should point out that it isn’t my bar. Her ladyship built this place quite some time ago. I’m merely looking after it. Next, the Claw. There is no smile for this, rather an intense curiosity, tinged with perhaps a hint of sadness... The dreams whispered about you, Mr. Dreaded Obsidian Claw. I had a feeling about what you might be...but I couldn’t be sure until I saw you in the flesh. It takes a special kind of person to tear themselves in two like you have. More special still to survive the experience. Don’t worry, I won’t ask too many questions about it, I know how your kind works. Finally to Karva. The cocky grin back to full force. Was it a good show dear? I’d hate to prove your cards wrong. You didn’t give me much to work with in our previous conversation, but you outright swam in the magic out there and you aren’t a screaming mess on the floor so...well. I can only promise that no matter what happens, things will not be boring. She flicks her eyes over to the children, all of whom are still gleefully munching away, and claps her hands to get their attention, the food they had been enjoying vanishing at the sound. Now sweetlings, you can have more food later but the nice human girl is finally out of the bathrooms so it’s time to go get washed and changed into some fresh clothes. Don’t worry, the walls will help. Oh, not you Sash, the others will be fine for a bit. Mr. Claw asked you a question...and I’d be interested in knowing the answer.
And Madeline catches him. A very strange expression on her face... You are...easily one of the most infuriating people I have ever met. She rants to a currently snoring Birch. You knew it was coming, you could have just shut your eyes, let the dreams in and gone to sleep with nary a worry...but no...no you tank walking barefoot through a field of needles and naked in the burning woods so you can stand there with that bloody grin in front of me and prove a damned point. Well...fine. She hefts the man onto a waiting Thunder, pulling a silk handkerchief out of nowhere to wipe the worst of the blood off of his face. Not gently. Point well made you bloody shining bloody thrice damned hell-blasted idioticly suicidal example of a good man. Point well f+*&ing made. We’ll discuss this once you manage to pull your no doubt scrambled brains back together. Until then I have my own jobs to do. She nods respectfully to the horse. Take him home please Thunder, no need to be that gentle, it’s only his brain. As the horse trots away she turns back to you guys, apparently oblivious to the way tears are streaming from both her mismatched eyes, heaves a big sigh of frustration and... WELL!! That...did not go entirely as planned. Still, riot’s over, you’re all here, I believe I promised at least one of you a drink, we have some time and I’d rather not fill the kids heads with business talk so...let’s have us a chat. She leaps over the bar and thumps her fist down onto it, there’s a little twinge in the air and the other bar door swings shut as an example of everybodies currently most desired beverage pops into existence in front of them. I’m Madeline Blaise. Lovely to meet all of you. You all saw the dreams, which means this cranky old thing likes you, which means you’re people I want on my side. So... How about we start with introductions? I’ve met the lovely Karva already...hey, how about you Kitsune girl? What’s your name? Or you tall dark and masked? What’s your game? Or how about you Mr. Blue and Blood? What’s your...pain?
The bar handles the drinks dear, I’m more of a...showmanship type myself. Speaking of, now the gangs all here... She takes her hand off of the roiling wood, there is a moment of utter silence, anticipation, and the empty air around the pub is suddenly full of birds of every shape and size, swooping and diving, calling and cawing, the racket they raise speaks of utter chaos and yet they move with a chilling singularity of purpose, rising above the mob (all of whom can most certainly see this by the way) until it almost brushes against the 50m high ceiling, the shade of the massive edifice casting all their forms into shadow. At least...it should be that, right? The cloud of birds is getting darker anyway. Darker and less...divided, it becomes harder and harder to see an individual bird in the raucous mess above everyone’s heads, what had been a formless mass of bodies contorts and stretches, forming massive wings of black, a great beak and evil looking talons. The wings sweep downwards, a blackness follows in their wake, a blossoming of darkness sweeps over the burning building and snuffs it as easily as a child would a candle, retribution for the crime of daring to shed light into this world. Atop the apparitions head appear two mad staring eyes of deepest crimson. The transformation complete the monstrously huge Jackdaw opens its gigantic beak and... Nothing. You hear nothing. All sound has quite literally ceased to be. Clearly this is not the case for those outside the bar entrance, to a man they have clapped their hands to their ears, many have already collapsed to the ground where they writhe in (to you) silent agony. The torture is blessedly short at least, nobody in the crowd is moving after the first few seconds. Almost nobody anyway... Well I’ll be...
Well of course they can come in Karva dear, anyone who can see what's really going on is absolutely welcome, and children shouldn't be wandering around outside in this anyway. Was the strange red-haired woman always leaning against that doorway like that? Who knows? She seems friendly enough anyway, a dapper crimson suit, a fantastic hat and a welcoming smile playing across her lips, the appearance seemingly at odds with the chaos breaking loose in the square.
She kneels in front of the gaggle of kids. Come on in sweetlings, there's cocoa, bacon and clean clothes awaiting you, as well as a warm bath if you'd like. She gestures, and the pitch darkness inside the doorway clears as if it were never there, to reveal a comfortable wood-paneled interior, a decent fireplace, some doors marked with various symbols, a bar upon which already stand some steaming mugs and bowls as well as several comfortable looking chairs and large cushions strewn across the floor. The kids cannot get in there fast enough - and only once they are safely inside does the strange lady turn to Karva. Dramatic enough for you honey? I'm thinking we save the crescendo for when everybody interesting is inside yes? I promise it'll be worth the wait... She frowns. Though they probably should hurry...dear Birchy won't like that I've already put it off this long...and he's so tiresome to deal with when he gets all pissy and righteous. As she looks up from her kneeling position her eyes seem to smoke with a faint trace of the power currently swarming around the changeling woman, her grin somehow managing to put Sash's fanged mess to shame. Rising up from the ground she lightly brushes against the wood of the door frame - and the movement of the birds trapped inside the wood reaches fever-pitch, you can hear it now, the roar of the beat of thousands of wings. She staggers slightly, leaning against the wood for support, her forehead suddenly caked in sweat. Also...I probably can't hold this much longer anyway...so maybe get them inside real soon or we pick their unconscious bodies off of the floor. She turns outward and yells, OI, HEROES, GET YOUR SORRY BEHINDS IN HERE!! IN 20 SECONDS I'M PUTTING EVERY MOTHERLESS BASTARD IN THIS SQUARE TO SLEEP! INCLUDING ANY OF YOU LOT LEFT OUTSIDE!! |