Thistle feels a twinge of regret as she sees their foes drop.
She advances through the muck and strikes out at another.
"I'm sorry it came to this for you. May Cladissa forgive you for your life of crime."
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Thistle swings, but finds that the color spray has effected her vision too. Cladissa, your lessons in failure are always welcome...but please help me NOT drop my scimitar in this swamp.
Thistle almost yelps aloud when she sees the sea serpent arise...and then she chuckles when she realizes what Lana had done. "Good one, Constantine." When the orc wades over, Thistle manages to dodge her blow, and then steps to the side and stabs at her, feeling Cladissa's patient aid guiding her hand.
Thistle prays aloud, "Persistent Weaver, help me teach these thugs that they are on the wrong path.", and a shimmering spiderweb swirls around her, causing dewey motes to glisten around her in the moonlight. Then she steps forward, trusty scimitar in hand, and eyes up the nearest thug.
Thistle follows behind Arc, scimitar in hand, staying low.
Thistle frowns. "I agree with Lana. What if they see you before you see them, and gang up on you? I'd rather we just try to hide you as best we can. "You make a racket when you walk, but surely standing still will help, at least a bit."
Thistle follows along, listening and feeling vaguely uncomfortable.
As they walk back from the boat, Thistle sighs. "OK, I think that went alright, but I hate even being on the edge of scheming. You're not really thinking of edging Saul out of his own place, are you?" She turns to look at Lana in particular.
Thistle updates Saul on the arrangement (though not on Avery's desire to see Saul cut out) and passes the question on to him about where to put the goods.
Thistle frowns a bit. This is what Saul and the Golden Goblin needs--someone else on our side--but it all makes me nervous. Is Lana for real about maybe shouldering Saul out, or is she just saying what Avery wants to hear? "My only other question is this: Do you have any interest in helping us to teach Croat or Zincher a lesson? If so, if you have information that would help us do so--now, or in the future--you can help us with the tip...and of course serve your own goal of seeing them frustrated, possibly without even risking your own people."
Thistle nods. "OK then. I'll pray to Cladissa that she watches over us. "Do you three have thoughts about what exactly to offer or suggest? What's our angle?"
Thistle gives Arc a sympathetic shrug. "If he's inviting us onto a boat of his, off shore, surrounded by people loyal to him...not being able to swim may be the least of our concerns. He'll have us in a position where our lives are in his hands. "Saul, how much do you think we can trust him? I know I worship the Goddess of Failure, but I think if we go along we'd better be VERY sure we can interest him in a deal...or else none of us may be making it back home. After all, I'm sure he knows he can get a tidy sum of money for turning us over to one of the others."
To Lana, "I suppose you're right. This wouldn't ever stand in Sandpoint...but I think we're on our own here." To Reben, "Lana and Arc have let you know what happens if you betray our trust. "I'll add that if you earn our trust, you'll be rewarded. We pay fairly, and treat people with kindness. I serve the Mother of Failures, The Voider of Vengeance, Cladissa Velorryan Herself! In her name, I stand ready to help you make any changes you need, to help you to start afresh."
After all of that is done and she's alone with Saul, Lana, Arc, and Nemo, Thistle says, "I think we need to make those two crime bosses regret their actions. What do you say? "Saul--or any of you--do you have ideas about how to push back against Zincher and or Croat?"
Thistle nods. "I appreciate your honest answers, and I hope that this failure can be an occasion to reflect and change your ways. "Arc is right that you should face a trial for what you've done, but I hope--with good behavior and honest reflection--this can be a turning point for you."
"Jasker?" Thistle raises an eyebrow. "Someone else who just died? If not, where do we find them?"
"Zincher and Croat both teaming up, eh? Who was your contact? Where would we find them?"
Thistle listens as Lana and Saul start to get heated up. "Easy, both of you. This scared as all--and in part we were scared for you, Saul. That's why Arc went charging up those stairs; we thought you were up there." "How about this? We figure out who was behind this, and ensure we're successfully open tomorrow, and then we can discuss if it's time to increase our stakes."
Then she turns to the surrendered thug, at whose throat she still held her blade. "Speaking of which, who do you work for? Remember, I'm known for my ability to detect bull$#!t."
Thistle gives a gasping squeek as she takes a cut across her thigh. She's about to strike back when Lana drops him with fire. "Thanks for having my back, girl!...Though be careful where you aim those blasts of yours. Fire and I don't mix!" (In fact, Thistle seems almost as rattled by the blasts of fire as by being injured.) Thistle then circles wide around a brasier to stand over one of the remaining thugs, with her scimitar at his throat. "OK, buddy. Don't do anything dumb when your sight comes back. You've lost, but you might still live if you're ready to be honest."
Thistle isn't able to take advantage of Braddikar bending to pick up his sword, but after dodging his clumsy slash she nicks him again. "You can't win this, you know...but you might still escape with your life, like your smarter comrades are."
While the man in with the shield is disoriented by Lana's spell, Thistle steps up and slashes at him. "I offered a new path at the docks. If you will only learn through failure then let me give you that gift."
Seeing the carnage in the room, Thistle hollers, "We could use a little backup down here!" and then prays to Cladissa for her divine favor. As wisps of silvery webbing seem to spin around her, and the sound of a faint purrrr echoes around her, the goblin hustles up beside Lana, holding Zoli's old training scimitar in front of her.
Thistle groans. "Alright Arc, you going back down too, or shall I?"
Thistle nimbly avoids both punches, and then slashes across the thug's chest again. As she does, she says to him, "There's no shame in failing, you know...and doubly so given that you're failing at evil deeds. Cladissa showed us that failure can be a path to divinity. Take this as a sign that it is time to change your ways, and you can live another day."
Thistle takes a moment to study the thug she's fighting, hoping to get an edge on him...but when he sends others off to search for Saul she is distracted and nearly loses her grip on her scimitar.
Thistle rushes into the kitchen, turns to the bare-chested half-orc, and says "Stand down! If you don't drop your weapon and walk out the front door, you're going to regret it."
Readied action, if he does anything other than drop his weapon:
At the scream, Thistle runs straight for the kitchen.
Thistle flinches briefly when she sees Lana summon a demon, and then is disgusted to see one mercenary shove another into it. She hustles over to flank with Arc, and takes advantage of her position to slash at him. As she does, she turns to the fellow who was shoved into the illusion, and says, "Hey, if this scumball is going to treat you like that, maybe you want to join us and show him what you think of him trying to sacrifice you?"
Thistle runs right alongside Arc, drawing her scimitar as she does so.
"Good eye, Arc!" Thistle breaks into a run as well.
"There's plenty of chaos that could use taming here, alright!" Thistle grins, flashing her yellow needle-like teeth. "But that reminds me...you're such a decent guy. A bit of weirdo, but we all are, right?" "You've said you were a hellknight before, and I've been meaning to ask: I know that some hellknights work for the common good...but they also enforce evil laws, right? I mean, I've never been to Cheliax but I hear it's full of devils and slavers. My mom Zoli--adopted of course--is a halfling. If she'd been born in Cheliax, she'd probably have ended up as a slave, instead of saving all of Varisia from an evil runelord. "Why be part of an organization that enforces such evils?"
Thistle nods to Arc's statement. I guess we're all weirdos, in one way or another... To Nemo, she asks, "How's your dish?" Then looking at them both, "So, we all came to this town to learn about that blot, yeah? I'll be honest, I don't really see what else to do about it but bide my time, and pray to Cladissa for guidance. At least I already worship The Forgiving Failure. I know she wants me to persevere when things aren't working out...and I'll admit, it's nice to get a big pay day, and get to check out this restaurant I heard one of our patrons talking about. "What about you two? You still thinking about the blot? Or is there something else keeping you here now?"
Thistle nods, and swishes a big gulp of Galtan Red around in her mouth, noisily. "Sure, of course, only..." "If you don't mind my asking, why not eat here while it's hot?"
Thistle thoroughly enjoys the eggplant parmiggiana arrabiata, which is spicier than she'd realized. With a bit of cheese and sauce on her lip, she exclaims, "Mmmm, delicious! Cheliax may be a miserable nation, but Uncle Ayruzi was right, they make some good food. "You SURE you don't want to try some, Arc? You can have some of mine. Or I'll order you one myself. My treat!"
Seeing Nemo admire her new cash, Thistle gives her old (but forgettable) friend a playful shove. "Not a bad payday, eh? What do yall think? Want to go out for a nice dinner? I heard about this place that serves a delicious eggplant parmiggiana arrabiata, served with the black bread and a nice selection of Galtan and Chelish wines."
I know we're in a bit of a sandbox right now, but I'm not sure what to do. Thistle's motivation is perhaps to help grow Padrich's temple to Cladissa--she might be interested in preaching there a bit herself--but I'm not sure that moves the plot forward. I'm personally stumped as to how to learn more about the Blot. I think we've followed all the leads we could about our murdered bean counter...though if someone sees another, Thistle would be motivated to follow it. Otherwise, I'm fine to FF until the next time the plot pokes us.
Thistle scratches her head, thinking of other things to ask...but comes up empty. When they get back to town, she sets herself up again, keeping the house orderly. Seeing the crowds, Thistle decides to put in a longer day...and finds herself really getting into the groove of maintaining harmony on the floors.
Thistle adds, "We'd really appreciate a minute of your time."
Thistle shudders as she watches the birds. "Horrific indeed. And quite odd. Has anything like that ever happened before here? They may not be wise, but every bird I've seen before was wise enough to at least avoid flying straight into massive objects. Perhaps this was some twisted magic?" When Arc knocks, Thistle waits, fidgeting. What is at play in this city, that would disturb those birds so?
Thistle picks a stalk of grass on the walk up, and sits on the edge admiring the view while Lana and Samaritha cast their spells. "Sweet view indeed!" she notes, and then gets up to follow the path to the lighthouse.
"Well, you're the scholar, Lana. Do you have a preference? If not, I might head toward the gate first."
"And I'll come along to make sure there's someone who remembers to look up!" Thistle grins at Lana. "I still can't believe you couldn't tell when the purple mist started to float toward the blot."
Thistle grimmaces inside, but calls on the Wisdom of Cladissa to steady her and then flashes a threatening (yellow, needle-toothed) smile, while patting the hilt of her scimitar. "Oh child, you have no idea. Now step along and keep out of things you don't understand."
"Oh we will, as soon as we collect our cargo. From the sound of it, that might be it, in which case we'll be out of here in no time." Thistle goes to look at the label on the crate, while also keeping an eye on the fella with the shield.
Thistle signs as she and Arc walk back. "Well, we tried, right? I wonder if we'll ever know what happened to Lalur..."
When she sees the shield with the bright red symbol, Thistle raises an eyebrow to Lana. "Any idea what that might be?"
Thistle grins, a bit of bread stuck between her sharp yellow teeth. "That's the spirit! Let's go!"
Later that day, Thistle asks Saul if he has any lock picks, or knows a good place to buy them. "Mama Zoli taught me to play with locks as a kid. She always said it's a useful thing to know, but I kind of fell out of practice. I'm hoping if I play around again, it'll come back to me."
Thistle frowns when Saul points out that the only caster in town who could cast the spell they want is not to be trusted. "Well, even if that spell Lana suggested doesn't make sense, I don't just want to give up. Saul, where did Larur live? Did he have any family?" Thistle shrugs when Lana offers to keep the books and manage the floor. "Works for me."
"Most importantly, I've got heart. If there's a chance it wasn't you who murdered Larur, then your life is spared, and we owe you our apologies. "If you have any leads as to who did this, or come across any, let us know, but we'll begin investigating immediately...and if it turns out you were involved in any way, you can expect to hear about it!"
Once back outside, Thistle take a look where the cloak was found, hoping to find tell-tale tracks, or maybe signs of a scuffle that could help them out. "Hey, let's look together for any clues...just be careful not to get our own prints mixed up in it yet."
OOC thought: Can the old Cladissan priest cast L3 Cleric spells? If so, maybe we could ask him to cast Blood Biography for us? It was one I almost picked for Abasi (though I eventually settled on Residual Tracking instead, which could also help right now). Either way, when we're done talking I can go out and look for tracks...
Thistle starts. Could he be telling the truth? "If you're really clean then someone seems to be setting you up. Why else would Larur's bloody cloak be in your trash? "When did you last look out behind those barrels? Do you have any idea who might have done this, or when?"
"Larur's Saul's bean counter; or was. He came here to pay you, and never returned. Think carefully, and then tell us everything you know about what happened to him." Thistle narrows her yellow eyes, listening to Smeed's answer and trying to gage if he knows more than he's letting on.
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