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Valka turns to Gravus and tells him: "Leave us and wait for me at the Laxium's forum where we met that patrol last night." When Gravus has left: "We can talk."
Valka asks Gravus to stay out of earshot for a little bit. When he is out of hearing, she tries to use a nice voice when she says this (and for people that kind of know her, one thing Valka ISNT good at is faking it, so ...): "Look Cassia. again: 2 things. First: I have ALWAYS used Gravus for advice before. This is NOT new. I value his advice. He isn't a slave made to shovel rocks in the mines: he is a slave of quality. The kind of slaves that should advise Governors, not a Barbarian Peregrina like myself. I am lucky to have him. Hades, I'm sure if fortunes would have been a bit different my situation and his could have been easily exchanged! You probably noticed I don't even have him do common work for me. It is below him and you know it. His potions are nothing short of a miracle from the Gods. You know this too. Second: I have asked everyone before, if you remember well, never to order Gravus around. He is not your slave he his mine. Bjarturius made that mistake before, I told him and he had the decency to respect me enough not to do it again." Deep breath ... and ... continuing: "Now about the Inn and the Vulpus. All this mess between us started because of Agneta and Gallus. If you want them present here I don't mind. They should probably hear directly from me what I think anyway. I'm surprised at all this. Maybe there are hidden secrets I do not know. And for a while that's what I thought and why I gave both the benefit of the doubt. But last night proved to me they had no clue about anything, and ... besides almost getting us ALL killed by acting without knowing ... from where I stand all I see now is opportunists I barely know that are trying to claim things they haven't fought for, or earned."
Valka sighs, she looks obviously disappointed by Cassia's reaction but not mad. Valka steps just inside the door so people from the street can't see/hear. "I want Gravus here. For 2 reasons: one I trust his advice and opinion. Two cuz part of what I need to discuss involves him. We need to talk and see how this Vulpus thing can work or not."
"Open the door, we need to talk"
Valka arrives at the Vulpes Inn late in the morning, almost at midday.
"Cassia Nigra" She says loud but not shouting "Are you there?"
Valka looks at Cassia who is sitting at the bar. She gives her a very small nod of the head without expression or feeling.
”I do. Carpe Noctem.” She leaves …
Valka is very much a tamed fury right now: cold but full of intensity. “I know what I am doing.” Valka starts taking off her breastplate armor when she speaks to Cassia (she will put armor and shield in a large sack to cover it). “I’m waiting for Gravus, Bjarturius and Veleda. Don’t feel you have to come. I don’t think anyone will attack the Inn. But I may need Bjarturius and can’t leave Veleda’s safety in the hands of people that don’t have the ... stomach …“
Valka remembers something, goes to the bar where Aratus left a coin. Valka takes it. When Gravus, Bjarturius and Veleda (and the baby) are ready to go, Valka leaves the Inn, leading them into the night.
Valka turns very quiet, very calm and very cold suddenly. She approach the 2 bound prisoners. For a second her gladius is VERY close to their throats. She cuts … their ropes. ”You want to live? ” Valka points the body of Placidius with her gladius. ”Take THIS body and GET OUT NOW!” Valka waits to see if they do so.
After they leave with Placidius, Valka turns to Cassia and says: ”Maybe you see the challenges ahead as a problem. Me I see them as an opportunity. This place was weak. The weakest link Aratus called it. I say its time to throw out the trash and build this place up all new.” Valka walks up to Bjarturius and whispers something to him in Feruz.
”Hang around if you want a job. New times, new leaders, new chances to rise.” After, she turns to Gravus and says: ”Pack your things. We’re going. Now.” She points Agneta with her gladius. ”Don’t assume your old job will still be here when I get back!” Valka walks to the door and, like Aratus did, she pause at the door to wait for a moment.
Valka goes from calmed down to wayyyy upset again, screaming at Gallus's back as he goes up the stairs: "I DID say you had a lot of potential!!! He even repeated that too!!!" Valka stomps her foot on the floor, adding something mumbling low in Feruz. Valka gets another wave of anger and shouts: "MEN!!! Always thinking with what's between your legs instead of your brains!!!" She storms off outside, mumbling something more in Feruz, this time a bit louder. Read this if you speak Feruz:
Valka mumbles how Gallus really deserves his name (cuz Gallus means rooster or C@CK in Suel) and how easy it was for a simple barmaid to use her cute lil charms and seduce the big idiot into marrying her to get a shot at the Inn When Valka is outside, she realizes she is armed and that she shouldn't be and those mourners are right there. She screams at them: "You can STOP your damned mourning! You were used by Placidius to distract us while he tried to kill us. GREAT job! We did get distracted! But it didn't work: I killed Placidius just like I killed Viusenius! I am Valka Spartaca Tisiphone and this is now MY Inn so GET LOST before you join Placidius's fate!" Valka turns around and returns inside, slamming the door behind her!
After he leaves, Valka feels her shoulders fall, like a huge weight was just taken off. She breathes out looong.
"Gravus: you heard everything. You're normally pretty smart about sizing things up. What do you think?" After that she looks at Cassia, Gallus and Agneta and says: "Now that he's gone, I want the truth. Who's idea was it for this marriage? And do you still plan to go through with this? And last but most important how do we deal with this Vulpus thing?"
Valka keeps on thinking ...
Valka returns the glare with something VERY cold of her own.
"You gotta forgive Gallus here. He just announced he had plans to marry Agneta so he is talking out of place. I don't know WHO gave him that idea to marry her to get a shot at the Inn but it gave him illusions of grandeur obviously. Gallus is a warrior I am training. He's got a lot of potential but obviously doesn't remember who right now is the DOMINA and who is the PUP. So let's just say it is LOVE talking and leave it at that." Valka tries REAL HARD not to get distracted by Gallus so she can focus on Aratus and the delicate situation, she adds: "My guess would be you're in a way ... ABOVE people like the Vulpus ... or you wouldn't KNOW so much so fast and ... and Agneta here wouldn't be terrified to death of you. Again: am I right?"
Valka, who is still in armor with scutum and gladius in hand, walks up and stands close to Gallus. She is of course very serious and very much tense (for those that can spot that!) when she answer Aratus: "My full name is Valka Spartaca Tisiphone. That last part I earned here in Loutharnium. And I plan to settle here, in Loutharnium, so I don't mind living by some rules if I have something CLEAR to gain in return."
After she has left, Valka realizes something Cassia just said, turns to Gallus, flabbergasted and says : "Betrothed!!!???""
Valka turns from self-mutilating Cassia to bloodshot-eyes Gravus to now delusions-of-grandeur Gallus thinking: “Has everybody gone crazy?!?!?!?”
”So your plan is to claim the Vulpes Inn for the barmaid? Tell me there is more! But I agree with you about not going into hiding. And I like the positive attitude! So ... why not? Let's try your crazy plan!“
Valka gets to work piling up the bodies downstairs close to the entrance door.
Valka is surprised to see her normally calm and wise Gravus a bit wild and out of control like that! It takes her a moment to get her thinking in order and answer: "Don't apologize. Nobody saw it coming. The question now is what do we do? First there are the bodies: I say we dump them in the sewers except for Placidius. Him I say we throw his body to the mourners outside. That way they can witness he is really dead. For Paesentius and the young man we should give them a funeral. Does anyone know who is the official owner of this Inn? Is it Viusenius?" Valka realizes there is someone new and turns to this Luco: "You. My name is Valka Spartaca Tisiphone, who are you and what are your ties to Paesentius? Are you just a hired sword in this or more? Do you plan to stick around?"
Valka, when she gets her shield from Gravus, will carefully check the hole in the wall to see if there is more danger there or in the house on the other side. Very slowly and carefully and ideally with Gravus and others. When that is done (Valka has the feeling the 3 that survive probably RAN for their lives and are FAR now), Valka will tell Gravus to help her put some large boxes or anything big we can find to cover the hole for now. When that is done, she finally turns to Cassia and says:
Valka has a small smile on her face but she is serious at the same time. "I think the lessons of this twisted Empire is: you want something, you have to take it for yourself." Valka gently takes away the pugio from Cassia (unless she resists of course) "And stop that. There has been enough blood shed, even for me."
Valka will go check out the door to that storage room but do it slowly and carefully! She says out loud:
Valka draws a pugio and steps up to finish off one of the retreating bandits (ideally one that's already wounded)
Valka is NOT letting Placidius escape!
Valka will push on and attack anyone still standing after Gravus deadly fire blast vial attack! Valka will focus on the man closest to her (G5) to finish him off (with both attacks if needed) but if Valka takes him down with one she will attack another, ideally one badly hurt by Gravus.
Valka will move out drawing my gladius (shield in other arm of course!).
Valka will go check Viusenius room and check all the windows after.
"If its some trickery let's be ready for anything. Maybe its a strategy to keep us awake so we don't sleep and get tired out. Is it possible to get rid of them?"
Valka is glad to see Cassia (and yes even Galuus) are well!
"Do we wait to see how Placidius will react? Do we do anything about this Priest of Nerull or about Placidius looking into our lives? So you know I don`t have any skeletons in my chest that he can easily use on me. All I care about is pretty much here." Valka admits maybe a bit too fast, realizing only after what it could (or can) mean.
Valka is first to cross the narrow ledge and does so easily , showing once again she is more about quickness and agility then brute strength (and showing too that she would HATE to get herself in filth!)! :) Valka rushes that older prole to REALLY scare him off. She will even climb up the ladder using her shield to protect her (gladius put away). Her idea is to get to the grating (but NOT go on the street) and close it back so Cassia and Gallus can cross with zero chance of be seen! When Cassia passes Valka says: "Fortuna fellow black vixen!" When they have pass safely Valka will return quick with Bjarturius and Gravus to the Inn to get back to Veleda.
Valka puts on all her weapons and her armor and gets ready to enter the sewers (yukk!). She tells Gravus to get ready too and get those disguise materials ready for Gallus in case. She ask Bjarturius to come along too. I know this means leaving Veleda alone for a little bit but we won't take long, just a quick trip in the sewers to clear the way for Cassia (and maybe Gallus if he wants to go). If Bjarturius feels uneasy Valka says Veleda could follow behind. If he is still uneasy Valka will of course understand and tell Bjarturius to stay, that I will take care of it alone (with Gravus). After that she asks Cassia if she is ready to go and if she needs anything special. If Cassia changes her mind and doesn't want to go, Valka will go with Gravus, asking everyone else to go first to clear the sewers for her (so noone sees her or Gravus).
Valka is sensing Cassia AND Gallus are impatient and don't exactly wanna wait this one out!
"Let's make our move then! It sounds like going in and out of the Inn without being spotted could be a problem, so I say Cassia should go in disguise with Gallus so he can protect her. We'll go through the sewers. Bjarturius, Gravus and me will make a diversion in case there is someone checking the sewers: we'll make sure the way is clear so you can pop out in disguise somewhere after. Gravus: use your materials on Gallus at the right time." Valka turns to Cassia and says: "From outside you can maybe do both Agneta and your Nerull idea. My suggestion is you stay on the outside as long as you need to and avoid doing in and outs from the Inn. Agreed?"
Valka does NOT look happy at all at the "could be moments or days ... up to a moon" part! She turns to Cassia: "Cassia, if you plan to go look for Agneta do you want me to come with you? Gravus can disguise me, maybe even give us herbs that would help us look the part of wonder-workers! Or maybe he could even come too in disguise" Valka looks at Gravus for that last part to see his reaction (like YES I can do that or a NO WAY kinda reaction)
Valka remembers the fight best she can. It went so fast! But she remembers seeing someone and says: "Oh the cute girl that was trying to sneak up and change her mind when things started to go bad for them!
Valka agrees with the idea of barricading everything except:
Valka doesn't get it at first but when she does she laughs! :) "Who is this Agneta?" When she checks out the Inn (with Gravus and maybe Gallus), she asks Gravus what we can do about:
Valka gives the OKAY nod to Gravus to uncover the weapons and armors and distribute them and says: "If we wait for this Placidius to make the first move let's at least be all armed and have this place well defended! Gallus and me will check the inn to see how we can defend it better. Gravus: maybe you can help too like you did at the Temple of Hextor with the door. Paesentius if you know ways in and out or things we should know it would be good to tell us." Valka starts to put on her armor and weapons. She says to Paesentius: "About our witchcraft if there is someone you would want to get to but can't because you fear to be seen and recognized maybe we can help you there!" If talks go on too long or Valka isn't needed she will go check out the inn to see how we can defend it from an attack. Valka will take Gravus along so he can check too and Gallus if he wants to come.
"We'll bundle our weapons and armors and bring everything. If we have NO plan except just showing up and trusting the man I AT LEAST wanna be at our best for fighting!" Valka starts to bundle everything she will put on Erkin the mule.
[b]"I hope you're right, that a show of force will be enough. But bring weapons and armor anyway."
Valka makes a gesture of her shoulders in sign she is giving up trying to find a more complex plan. "Alright. I'm not exactly happy with this but let's go. If we go like this we should ALL go and stick together. This is soooo not subtle!" Valka gets all her stuff ready. "That Paesentius does ONE wrong move and I'm sending him to join Viusenius in Hades!"
After this explanation Valka moves on to planning things: "For what to do now I still think Gravus is right when he say we should be careful. I don't trust Paesentius. Cassia you're the one who is more educated and skillful at talking to people. I think we should disguise you, maybe using Gravus's magic potions, and you should try to go to the OTHER SIDE to get something we can use on Paesentius. Maybe an edge or something we can have over HIS head so he doesn't betray us. I'm not sure what but maybe with the right disguise and money you can find out something good we can use. I would go myself but I'm NOT good at talking to people. Maybe some of you may have notice that before." That last thing she says with no irony or anything, as if its some new information! :)
Valka agrees and says: "You're probably right about Erythnul! Erythnul, Nerul, Hextor: from what I've lived I can't say I have had ANY reason to trust the Gods of the Empire! At least Korud is also a Coruskian God. But annnyyywaayyy...
Valka looks at Cassia, just in case she wants to say something there, like something she would have "FORGOT" to tell us! :) "And I want Veleda to settle down in peace. And I want to open a shop to sell Gravus's work. I'm NOT a patrician or a rich plebeian. I'm a peregrina with a bit of reputation. That's what I got to work with. So I figure if we can settle the Vulpus thing and make "friends" of them, then I can settle down in relative peace. If the option of leading the Vulpus comes up, I'm all for that but I won't get my hands into just anything. The Norns may have make me a gladiator but I am NOT some scumbag with no morals.
Valka makes a face like she is almost feeling bad about something and quickly says: "You are right Cassia. I don't want Paesentius to think I fear him! He should fear US. He told you to bring all you have including weapons, so let's do that, no need to hide anything just yet. But it would be nice to have some kind of edge they don't know about. Something that could be a surprise. The only thing I can think of is the Priest of Erythnul. We DID bring back a relic of his God."
Valka considers what Cassia and Gravus just said and adds: "I dont think he would have said something like "come without weapons all is safe", that would have been waayyyyy too suspicious! Plus making sure we are ALL there makes it easier to get rid of all of us in one shot. I think Gravus is right to say we should be careful here. I would say we use Gravus's potions to change our looks again to do something about it but I'm not sure WHAT. Also we must remember they DID see me change looks by magic, so they may be on the lookout for that!."
Valka consider what Gravus says very carefully: "So you think it could be a trap? Offering us like some sacrifice?"
Valka listens very closely when Cassia explains all this. Its CLEAR that she is not only VERY interested but also that she appreciate the way Cassia make things a LOT clearer to her! "We should help Paesentius. And you meant if we help him he will be beholden to US right?" Valka smiles at Cassia when she says that! This next part she is serious when she say it: "The only thing that bothers me about all this is are we putting Veleda in danger by having this Placidius our enemy? If he wants to get at us one way to do that will be using those that are close to us."
Valka hasn't gone anywhere yet today and makes sure Cassia plus everyone else knows what she learned about the 3 gangs in Loutharnium. She is okay with being with Cassia when she goes to the Vulpes Nigra but ask does that mean we all go? What about Veleda and the baby? Are we putting them at risk? Valka also wants to know what Bjarturius wants to do about all this, and Gallus too. Finally she asks Cassia: "What do you think is going on and what are you planning to do? You've been with them before right? Do you know anything that can help us understand what's happening here?"
Valka will ask Zag about this "Fregus Pugnus gang" and what's the link with the gangs in town (like the Vulpus!) if he knows anything about that.
Valka after will rejoin Cassia and the others and help with anything there!
"Is Igno the Fregus Pugnus? Like you are Zag the devious and he is Bosk the sickpuke?" Valka tries to work out ways with Zag that we can meet and he can teach her Goblin easily. For now maybe just outside the gate going to the Fremitum? Is that possible? Valka will pay for today and an advance for a second day to keep him interested. After Valka will return to the Inn and meet up with Cassia and Gallus and see what's going on with them. She will also check on Bjarturius and Veleda!
Valka does feel a bit abused about the deal for a second, but she thinks a bit and it all goes away. She gives Igno the 5 denarius, even giving Igno a small smile. "Pleasure dealing with you Igno. Valka Spartaca Tisiphone will not forget how useful you have been to me." Valka looks at Zag and says: "I'll pay you Zag the devious. First lesson starts right now, okay?" Valka wonders how good Gravus is at learning languages. If he is good at it, Valka will have him learn Goblin too.
Valka looks at Bosk and makes sure there is no sign of things going wrong there. Valka will take advantage of her deal with her new teacher to ask Zag: "Who is this Bosk? Anyone important here? He always tries to pick up fights with dwarf and elves?"
Valka steps up from behind Gravus and greet Igno with a short bow of her head. As soon as she saw him she prepares coins in both her hands. "Here is the rest of what I owe you!" Valka opens her right hand that has 10 denarius in it. "The information you give me was good and useful. Worth every coin." Valka gives Igno the 10 and opens her left hand, that has 5 more denarius in it. "I have another deal for you Igno. 5 Denarius to find me a Goblin that can teach me the Goblin language. I will pay him well but he has to be civilized enough to teach me in the city without causing problems." Valka says that part LOUD in case Zag the Goblin could be interested in the deal!
Valka stays behind Gravus all this time, hoping to look like the helpless tiny blonde who needs protection of her Dwarf guard (but of course the point is to stay close to her 2 gladius right at the back of Gravus!). "Well done!" Valka whisper in Gravus's ear. "We follow! See if this Zag speak our language!" she adds, still whispering.
Valka says: "Valerius was a good talker who tried to turn me into a gladiator slave with sweet words and by being all charming. So I killed him of course. See why I don't trust sweet talkers?" When Gallus thanks her, Valka says: "Just make sure you keep on watching out for Cassia. Without a good name now to protect her she will be easy pray. That's the only payment I expect for teaching you Gallus. You learn fast anyway, you may not need my training soon enough!"
Valka will ask Bjarturius how they hired Igno and all the details he can give (like where they meet, who was there and all that).
Valka's city look:
Not sure what my other looks are yet! I'm hoping when I have more cash and we go shopping with Cassia I will get a hotter fashion look going! :)
ONE MORE THING: If it makes sense (like the slums outside the city!) I'll have Gravus carry 2 gladius in a weapon belt! The idea is that he looks like my slave-guard so it makes sense to have weapons and me I'm the helpless tiny blonde! :)
Valka says to Cassia, liking the idea of a new name: "I like Cassia Nigra Alecto, or Cassia Alecto Nigra. Your talks about a new name made me decide to add Tisiphone to my own: Valka Spartaca Tisiphone. Dats why I like you picking Alecto. Let our enemies know what's in store for them if they mess with us!" Valka finishes in good spirits! "And if you don't come back I'll slaughter them all don't worry." She says that while eating, the same way she would have said "pass me the butter". She also says: "While you go on your mission, I'll go pay the debt I owe Igno. Let's meet back here."
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