"I lived in a mages tower everything was kept clean by spells, elementals and animated objects we barely had dust never mind rodents." Seph responds with a slight shrug
So gentlemen, where shall we set up shop while we wait?" He asks, briskly rubbing his hands together while glancing around and trying to place exactly where he is. As for some reason, he doesn't actually remember the path he took to get here, or actually walking here for that matter,...
Justin has been mulling over all that has happened in the last few days, and let his feet propel him from the dingy ghettos of the Hive all the way to the fiendish millscape of the Lower Ward. Caritas beckons, and it's a watering hole he has drained a drink or two at. Last time he met Marconi the kobold mafia don there. Hopefully he's not there again.
Justin and Ekuur head down the stairs to the underground tavern. The big tiefling bouncer Polorus smirks with his canid-style head and lets them in. His secondary snake head tastes the air with a forked tongue.
Inside the scene is busy, as befits a Lower Ward tavern during the antipeak hours. Two Fensir Trolls dressed in black Bleaker garb are onstage belting out a dismal tune. The occasional bit of garbage sails up towards them onstage. Lorne, the tavern's owner, is ensconced at his table, dressed in a natty burgundy suit with a river of gold jewelry. He chats with several fiendish-looking patrons while sipping a neon-colored drink.
The crowd is a weird mix. Gear District arcane magewrights rub elbows with fiends from Hellgate, Godsmen, Doomguard, Xaosmen and even a scattering of Bleakers and Dustmen. Besides the factions there are several more exotic guests not usually seen in a tavern, even in the Cage. A dour beholder holds a conversation with a Neogi crouched upon an Umber Hulk in a dark corner with a large-sized booth. A group of Thri-Kreen mantisfolk chitter at another.
Ekuur spots what looks to be a fire giant drinking at the bar. On second glance, perhaps a giantkin, as the woman is only about six feet tall. She has the coal-colored skin and flaming red hair of a fire giant, and sits drinking with a big axe at her feet.
Justin spots a smaller female at a table alone. It's his Hardhead pal Murphy from the Special Villains Unit. He hasn't seen her in weeks. Last time he had chatted with her she had been investigating a possible unregistered nest of vampires operating out of the Temple District. Murphy isn't in Hardhead gear tonight, rather her shapely halfling form is sheathed in a black dress. She moodily sips a drink and watches the Fensir Trolls butcher their tune.
Isaac will head back to the Rose to drop off the book, stopping to show Bethany where she can get a coat made.
Issac, Drazek and Bethany all make their way back towards the Silver Rose. They head down through the Gear District, trying not to let its many interesting sights distract them. They cut across the Great Foundry and take a walk down Alehouse Row to Swordhold.
Alehouse Row is alive with evening revelers. The three keep close, as the crowd is boisterous and drunk. Eventually they come out by Meatmarket Square at the Temple District.
Most of the animal sellers have gone home for the antipeak. Other, less salubrious, vendors have taken their place. One merchant attempts to whip up some enthusiasm for his shuffling necromantic wares.
"Ever tire of yer back-talking maid or butler? Wondering where yer silver cutlery has disappeared to? Worry no more with Gorramek's Undomestics! All clean, all whole, and all legal to own in Sigil! An Undomestic servant will do whatever you command, and when not in use can be stored in a spare closet! No muss, no fuss! We have all kinds from the popular Dockworker line of Orcish-origin Undomestics to specialty items like our gorgeous maid here, Sleeping Beauty!"
The black-clad necromancer points to a pale-skinned, milky-eyed woman tricked out in a frilly maid's dress. Shuddering, the group moves on.
The Temple District is not a very happy place in the antipeak hours. Most evil deitites revere the night, as do their parishoners. The group hurries past the various darkened temples. Several black-robed congregants yell at them from a darkened church's portico.
"Come join our service! We bring power to the ones with the desire to grab it!"
The streets get a little less scary as they head deeper into the Lady's Ward. The temples here are mostly for creator deities, and for the most part, they are relatively benevolent. Issac angles for the Court District, figuring the area would be still quiet.
The Court District is quiet, and they rapidly traverse its echoing plazas. The Nobles' District is anything but quiet. During Peaklight, the roads here are crowded with servants and door-to-door salesmen. Now the streets are awash with carraiges and laughing groups of jewel-bedecked partygoers. Squads of frowning Hardheads sit at every road junction, controlling traffic and keeping a peery eye out for knights of the post.
At the border of the Lady's Ward and the Market Ward is the beginning of Copperman's Way. Issac points out Jessamyn's Tailoring to Bethany as a high-end dressmaker. Several of the female partymembers have gotten dresses there before, at least that was what Issac was told.
Copperman's Way is busy, as usual, and the thick fog doesn't impede the flow of traffic in the slightest. When they arrive at Copper Court, Issac points out Mrs. Feddlewick's laundry service as an alternative to Jessamyn. He recalls she had a relative who did tailoring, most likely far cheaper than Jessamyn would.
The three head to theSilver Rose. The door is unlocked, and they find Renkar, Hanali and Eliath in discussion with the short burly form of Gedramak Ironfist. Renkar looks up:
"Ah! Here are some of my employees now. Did you find the tome at the bookstore?"
Isaac pulls out the copy of the Grey Realm, unwrapping it from his spare kerchief.
"Aye aye, boss. Even managed to save yeh a handful o' crowns."
He hands back the remaining coin from Brimstone's.
"I lived in a mages tower everything was kept clean by spells, elementals and animated objects we barely had dust never mind rodents." Seph responds with a slight shrug
"Ah hahaha," Karrin laughs rather nervously, "I thought it might be because you were catfolk and they're like really big rats or mice, and so it would be like a big game of cat and mouse. But that probably sort of racist. Sorry."
Isaac pulls out the copy of the Grey Realm, unwrapping it from his spare kerchief.
"Aye aye, boss. Even managed to save yeh a handful o' crowns."
He hands back the remaining coin from Brimstone's.
Renkar eyes the couple of mithril coins and sighs
"The cost of doing business."
He hands the book over to Gedramak.
"I believe this is what you desire Ser Ironfist. Have a puissant arcanist remove the curse from it before you look inside, lest you suffer as Eliath did."
The dwarf nods, stowing the book in a satchel
"I will! And here's your reward."
He hands Renkar a large sack of coins
"A little extra for your group. They did very well."
The dwarf exits, stage left, and Eliath sighs
"Well, I guess I will hit the pillow upstairs. Ser Sha'Hagmid, are yeh sure the Sinkers will let me be?"
Renkar nods
"They should once I talk to my contacts. Until then you are welcome to sleep here in the spare room upstairs and you can eat on my tab at the Copper Cauldron."
Eliath says his goodnights and heads upstairs.
"I lived in a mages tower everything was kept clean by spells, elementals and animated objects we barely had dust never mind rodents." Seph responds with a slight shrug"Ah hahaha," Karrin laughs rather nervously, "I thought it might be because you were catfolk and they're like really big rats or mice, and so it would be like a big game of cat and mouse. But that probably sort of racist. Sorry."
"What you mean like eating them? Blegh." Seph makes a slight face he suddenly looks thoughtful "Well Merle might."
Isaac pulls out the copy of the Grey Realm, unwrapping it from his spare kerchief.
"Aye aye, boss. Even managed to save yeh a handful o' crowns."
He hands back the remaining coin from Brimstone's.Renkar eyes the couple of mithril coins and sighs
"The cost of doing business."
He hands the book over to Gedramak.
"I believe this is what you desire Ser Ironfist. Have a puissant arcanist remove the curse from it before you look inside, lest you suffer as Eliath did."
The dwarf nods, stowing the book in a satchel
"I will! And here's your reward."
He hands Renkar a large sack of coins
"A little extra for your group. They did very well."
The dwarf exits, stage left, and Eliath sighs
"Well, I guess I will hit the pillow upstairs. Ser Sha'Hagmid, are yeh sure the Sinkers will let me be?"
Renkar nods
"They should once I talk to my contacts. Until then you are welcome to sleep here in the spare room upstairs and you can eat on my tab at the Copper Cauldron."
Eliath says his goodnights and heads upstairs.
Once Eliath has run off to bed.
"I came on somethin' odd in the Hive this Peak, Renkar: thought you might want to hear the Dark of it. Three Dusties and a company o' walkin', talkin' deaders in full kit were out scanning for shapechangers. From what I heard they were part o' some larger operation throughout the Wards. I know it ain't our business, boss, but it's best to stay lanned to the Chant, eh?"
"I came on somethin' odd in the Hive this Peak, Renkar: thought you might want to hear the Dark of it. Three Dusties and a company o' walkin', talkin' deaders in full kit were out scanning for shapechangers. From what I heard they were part o' some larger operation throughout the Wards. I know it ain't our business, boss, but it's best to stay lanned to the Chant, eh?"
Renkar's brow furrows as Issac speaks
"It sounds like you caught sight of a squad of their Catacomb force, the Unliving. I'm surprised they were on the surface, they are usually more discreet."
Renkar looks steadily at Issac
"I've tangled with them below the streets, Issac, and they are a hende bunch. Liches, vampires, ghosts, ghouls, mohrgs, and whatnot. They look after the Dead's interests in UnderSigil."
Renkar frowns deeper
"Hopefully it is not tangled up in our recent unpleasantness with the Dustmen and their Mortuary. I shall have to contact Werrena and check on what's afoot at the Spider*."
*
He claps Issac on the back
"Good eye lad! Remember that often times in life it's the small details that are important."
Hanali smiles at Issac. She is dressed in a nice ensemble of blue satin and a constellation of jewelry. She smiles wider when Renkar compliments him.
"Good job Issac. It's stuff like that that'll make our mark."
A sound of clattering hooves echoes from outside. Hanali's bodyguard Noresh opens the door.
"Lady Hal'Oight the carraige is here."
Hanali waves at the party
"Well, I'm off to scavenge rumors and tidbits from the Nobles' District. Wish me luck!"
She heads out to a waiting coach-and-four.
Isaac blushes a little at the praise.
"Sure, cutter, that's what yer payin' me for and all. Ah, good luck Hanali. Sure yeh won't need it. A fine Antipeak."
"Well, I'm off fer a pint, celebrate a job well done. A fair Anitpeak to yeh, boss."
The half-elf heads back to the common room of the Cauldron. He waves to the other mercs.
"Mission accomplished, cutters. We're through with this job. I'm off to hoist some bub if any o' you feel like celebratin'."
He runs upstairs and drops off his pack and his larger weapons, taking only his shortsword. He sniffs his shirt, thinks about it for a moment and elects to change into another that doesn't smell like the Hive. He pulls it over his mithril armor, tucks it in and grabs the Tout's Guide from his bag before returning to the common room. He jauntily places the battered guidebook on Karrin, Nari and Seph's table.
"A little welcome gift, cutters. Best place to start familarizin' yerself with the Cage. Can't rely on me and Swire to play tout all the time, right? So: anyone up fer another trip to Caritas? Spirits, song and companionship in the Lower Ward: a perfect look at Sigil's Antipeak life."
Drazek and Bethany head up to her room after ordering food sent up and leaving quite clear instructions not to be disturbed otherwise.
Nari shakes her head. "Thank you for the book. I think I've had about as much out as I can take for one day. Perhaps if it's quieter tomorrow I can go visit the Gatehouse. It's oddly less crazy in there," she added with a grimace.
She picks up the book and starts to read it.
She carefully commits each page to memory as she reads so that she will not forget any of the useful details she might need later.
"Cutter, I'm always up for a bit of merry-making."
"ZZZZZzzzzzz Mrreoow Turkey ZZZzzzzzz" Merle mutters from her room
Karrin grabs the book and looks it over.
"Sure I'll give it a read Isaac," Karrin says, "I learned a lot about the world through books actually. I didn't get to see much of the world in the monastery but the brothers had a lot of books . . . and I think they figured that if I was reading I couldn't get into mischief."
Karrin's mouth curls into a sneaky little smile as if to say "but the brothers thought wrong", and Karrin quickly opens the book and begins looking through it. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing and one shudders to think what Karrin might get up to with that knowledge.
"ZZZZZzzzzzz Mrreoow Turkey ZZZzzzzzz" Merle mutters from her room
Justin nods politely, if smirkily, to both the bouncer's heads, and enters the main room proper, hastily glancing about and relaxing when he doesn't catch sight of a particular kobold and his hulking bodyguard. He heads to the bar with the others and scans the room while he waits for his turn. He manages not to grimace too much at the mangling that's being performed on stage, as the rooms' other commotion drowns out the worst of it, at least to his non-sensitive human ears. He shakes his head in bemusement at the the sight of the bar's owner, Lorne, his bright neon drink and equally mis-matched partners in apparently pleasant conversation.
Justin spots a smaller female at a table alone. It's his Hardhead pal Murphy from the Special Villains Unit. He hasn't seen her in weeks. Last time he had chatted with her she had been investigating a possible unregistered nest of vampires operating out of the Temple District. Murphy isn't in Hardhead gear tonight, rather her shapely halfling form is sheathed in a black dress. She moodily sips a drink and watches the Fensir Trolls butcher their tune.
Justin frowns slightly, his eyebrows furrowing as he takes in the sight. "That can't be good. Not only out, off the clock, but in a dress?" He mutters. The mage glances to Ekuur as the large warrior priest looks at him in puzzlement.
"Nuthin'." He waves aside Ekuur's puzzlement with a small smile. "Hey, save me a seat, alright guys? There's someone I need to say 'Hi' too." He says loud enough to actually be heard over the dull roar of the room as he snags his drink and dumps a handful of small coins on the bartop. The skinny mage makes his way through the crowd with relative ease until he comes up to the table with the cute, black-clad halfling. Snagging a chair with one foot, he lowers himself into the seat and plunks his drink onto the table solidly.
"Hello Murph! Hey, you look great, but I told you that you didn't have to dress up just for me! I like the way you look in Hardhead gear, brings out the steel in your eyes!" Justin rambles, ducking his head slightly as if preparing to dodge daggers flying from the afore-mentioned eyes. He grins and takes a large swig of his drink, counting on his usual combination of compliment and smart-aleckness, both designed to annoy Murphy in different ways, to do their job and hopefully get her out of whatever line of funk her thoughts were currently pursuing.
"Seriously, first Marconi and company, and now you. Lorne's is quickly becoming the favorite hangout of all my close friends and associates! And I didn't even know you had a hangout." He continues merrily. "I haven't heard from you in a while. I can only hope that means that business has been quiet lately. I know mine was until recently. How's the SVU treating you?" He asks, his eyes gleaming merrily, but his voice earnest.
Seph looks over Karrins shoulder at the book for a moment his face is crunched up as if trying to remember something until he suddenly sits down with a sigh a very depressed look on his face.
Hello Murph! Hey, you look great, but I told you that you didn't have to dress up just for me! I like the way you look in Hardhead gear, brings out the steel in your eyes!" Justin rambles, ducking his head slightly as if preparing to dodge daggers flying from the afore-mentioned eyes. He grins and takes a large swig of his drink, counting on his usual combination of compliment and smart-aleckness, both designed to annoy Murphy in different ways, to do their job and hopefully get her out of whatever line of funk her thoughts were currently pursuing.
"Seriously, first Marconi and company, and now you. Lorne's is quickly becoming the favorite hangout of all my close friends and associates! And I didn't even know you had a hangout." He continues merrily. "I haven't heard from you in a while. I can only hope that means that business has been quiet lately. I know mine was until recently. How's the SVU treating you?" He asks, his eyes gleaming merrily, but his voice earnest.
Murphy looks up from her drink and frowns.
"I thought it was amateur singing night, not amateur comedy night."
She looks back down at her drink
"The SVU is currently reforming after we came across some bad mojo. I have been put on leave and demoted from Measure Three to Measure Two. I came here because this place has a lot of good chant. I hoped to learn the darks of what happened to my squad."
She looks back up, her cornflower-blue eyes shading to steel.
"I appreciate the hello, but I'm really not fit company tonight."
So: anyone up fer another trip to Caritas? Spirits, song and companionship in the Lower Ward: a perfect look at Sigil's Antipeak life."
Issac and Swire head out into the foggy gloom of the Cage once again, headed to Caritas with a pocket full of new-minted Hammers.
Heading out Copperman's Way, the two make their way to the Lady's Ward. The busy boulevard is still jam-packed with pedestrians and conveyances of all shapes and sizes. Swire sees plenty of opportunities to lift a coin purse or two, but keeps his hands at his side. A passing Hardhead squad reminds him that there is always a danger in helping yourself on a whim.
The Nobles' District is still in party mode, although it seems the streets are a bit quieter as the parties get into full swing. The two make it to Plague Victim's Court and make a detour around the Hardhead hangout fronting the large memorial fountain, the Square Bar.
Entering the Court District, the two make quick passage into the Temple District. They walk quickly, dodging processions of Bullywugs and Derro as they go. The temples get smaller and meaner as they travel towards the Lower Ward. Several of them have sacred prostitutes on their porticos looking to augment their donations for the night.
The Temple District fades into the Lower Ward and Swordhold. The two catch Alehouse Row and follow it towards the cyclopean smokestacks of the Great Foundry. Skirting the maze of manufacturies the Godsmen call home, the two walk quickly into the Gear District and down the stairs to Caritas.
Polorus, the tiefling doorman allows them in.
Seph looks over Karrins shoulder at the book for a moment his face is crunched up as if trying to remember something until he suddenly sits down with a sigh a very depressed look on his face.
Without looking up from her book, Nari speaks softly. "It's alright, Seph. I know that it's difficult now, not being able to do all the things you once could, but you are at least farther along the path than you were. Eventually you'll be back to your old self again." She looks up. "I don't claim to understand. But I am always here to listen if you want to talk about it. And I promise I will do everything in my power to help restore you to what you were."
She smiled gently. "Tell you what. For now anyways, I will read the book out loud to you, and you can start teaching me how to speak feline. Is it a deal?"
"Sure thing." Seph replies eagerly
"Sure thing." Seph replies eagerly
Nari goes back and starts at the beginning of the book, reading each entry out loud, making sure to point out any relevant illustrations. She continues her efforts to memorize the book as she reads it, pausing slightly to do that when she gets to a new page before reading it aloud.
Seph happily follows along with Nari's reading often looking over a page after Nari has read it to give him a rough idea of what each word sounded like.
"I appreciate the hello, but I'm really not fit company tonight."
Justin grins easily, drains his drink, and motions to a nearby near-human waitress for another refill for both of them.
"That's ok Murph, You always said I'm not fit company either, so we'll get along great!" He says cheerfully. He slides Murphy's refill in front of her when it arrives, his concern for his friend overriding his usual paranoid reflex, so he doesn't seem bothered by the protruding horns or large tusks of the otherwise attractive waitress. He even returns the servers wink and slides an extra coin into the payment. He then gets down to the serious business of drinking with a friend, and spends the next little while drinking, watching Murphy's face, and making odd comments about the bar's patrons, but otherwise drinking in companionable silence. At least as silent as the noisy bar will allow.
While no lightweight, Justin is no wino either, and he knows his limits. His original intention of having one or two quick ones now flown, he nurses his carefully, and using his cantrips to lessen the worst of the effects. His head will feel that much worse in the morning, but what are friends for? After listening to the third unidentifiable, multi-headed other-planar denizen butcher the same tune for the evening, Justin decides that the 'companionable silence' has lasted long enough, and leans forward.
"What happened Murph? Last I heard, you were investigating the possibility of an unregistered vamp clan. Not a picnic, but not something that you haven't done before. What went wrong? And why blame you? Last I checked, giving someone a demotion was pretty much the same as saying 'I messed up, but it's ok as long as I can blame you for it!' And reorganizing to the extent that you don't even know where your squad is? Spill. What's going on? Maybe I can help."
A group of Thri-Kreen mantisfolk chitter at another.
Ekuur spots what looks to be a fire giant drinking at the bar. On second glance, perhaps a giantkin, as the woman is only about six feet tall. She has the coal-colored skin and flaming red hair of a fire giant, and sits drinking with a big axe at her feet.
Ekuur will at first look over the thri-kreen; is there any way he can tell if they are Athasian or not? He always likes the familiar, and that's one race that he's found is nearly identical whatever world he's on.
After that, while he's not overly good at small-talk, the fire-giantkin does intrigue him a bit. He'll step to the bar next to her, and order a drink, preferably something along the lines of a dark stout. He'll hoist it up, and give a brief prayer to the Sacred Flame in Ignan, loud enough for the woman to hear (if she so chooses) and take a long drink.
... "What happened Murph? Last I heard, you were investigating the possibility of an unregistered vamp clan. Not a picnic, but not something that you haven't done before. What went wrong? And why blame you? Last I checked, giving someone a demotion was pretty much the same as saying 'I messed up, but it's ok as long as I can blame you for it!' And reorganizing to the extent that you don't even know where...
Murphy sighs, resigned to the fact that Justin isn't going to go away. She accepts the drink he offers, and belts half of it down. Justin spots four or five empties at her elbow.
"Well, we went in, and it seemed textbook. Prime vampire lands in Sigil and doesn't twig to how the Cage does business. Clueless undead, got to love it, right?"
Murphy sighs
"We got c0cky. No, I got c0cky. I figured this would be a stake and bake, nothing fancy, me and my squad had done it a dozen times. But the master vamp was something new."
She slurps her drink
"He had some sort of shield against divine energy. I called on Yondalla and ..."
She shudders
"Nothing happened. His nest took four Notaries down before we could make it back topside. "
Murphy finishes her drink
"So now I'm on leave for a tenth cycle, the SVU is disbanded pending investigation and the vampire nest is still out there in the Temple District."
After that, while he's not overly good at small-talk, the fire-giantkin does intrigue him a bit. He'll step to the bar next to her, and order a drink, preferably something along the lines of a dark stout. He'll hoist it up, and give a brief prayer to the Sacred Flame in Ignan, loud enough for the woman to hear (if she so chooses) and take a long drink.
The Thri-Kreen do not look the same as the Athasian breed he is accustomed to. Instead of dun sandy colored carapaces, these mantis folk sport vibrant green shells tigerstriped vermillion.
He orders a stout, and gets a foaming mug of dark ale. When he says his short prayer the giantkin female looks up and smiles. She says 'Amen' in Ignan and makes an odd hand geture, possibly a blessing of some sort.
Swire smiles as Seph hands him the money. "Well, her debt's paid now. Try not to owe me again."
Murphy and Justin chat for a bit, but she is awfully depressed about the vampire business. Ekuur chats a bit with the giantkin, she identifies herself as Sigrid, and mentions she is a member of a nobles' retuine from the City of Brass on a trading mission.
The two see Issac and Swire enter. Issac's Godsmen chums hail them over to a table by the stage.
"Sure thing." Seph replies eagerlyNari goes back and starts at the beginning of the book, reading each entry out loud, making sure to point out any relevant illustrations. She continues her efforts to memorize the book as she reads it, pausing slightly to do that when she gets to a new page before reading it aloud.
Nari reads a lot of interesting items about the city. She recognizes some of the places, and there are many entries on taverns and inns she remembers passing by. There's even a small entry about Allesha's Pantry, but the language is slightly mocking.
Seeing that Ekuur and Justin are speaking to some lady-types, Isaac checks in with his faction mates, horsing around and exchanging gossip. He'll introduce Swire about if the Taker is inclined then head to the bar for his drink.
He puts down a stinger.
"Stout, if yeh please cutter. Smashing Todd's if yeh got it. What's yer bub, Swire? This round's on me."
Ekuur listens to Sigrid intently, asking many questions about her home plane, especially the City of Brass. He mentions how he himself is recently returned from the Plane of Fire, and even details how he was tasked directly by the Sacred Flame itself to destroy the ice-portal abomination. He doesn't go into a huge amount detail of why he was there, since he's not the type to wag his tongue and spill all of his new employer's business (and to be honest, he's still not entirely clear about what's going on since he's only been with the group a few days).
Justin nods at Isaac when he and Swire enter, but he leans in towards Murphy, his voice low but earnest.
"Alright, I admit I'm no undead expert, although I've learned a lot in the last day or so, But 'Something New' obviously means something different to you than it would to me. Are we talking 'something you've heard of, but never had the pleasure of meeting' new, or 'What the H@!! was that?!?' new? And why the draconian discipline for something obviously out of the ordinary? Or is that just Standard Hardhead procedure that I've been blessed to miss so far? I mean, since you've been calling the shots, the SVU's track record has seriously improved, and had a lot less dea,... er, turnover, to boot!" Justin inquires, his drink apparently forgotten at his elbow.
The mage's brow furrows, and he leans back, stroking his stubbled chin. He scratches his cheek, his mid-peak shadow looking more like afterpeak, obviously mentally pursuing a possibility.
"I've got a 'dark' for you Murph, possibly unrelated. Today one of my coworkers noticed a group of intelligent undead out and about in the Hive during the day, er, 'peak' hours. He said they were armed, armored, and magicked, and looking for someone, or,... thing. That didn't sound 'normal' to me. Even for this place." Justin mutters at the end, reclaiming his forgotten drink and taking a healthy swig.
"Alright Murph, what can I do to help? Don't look at me like that!" He mockingly chastises the cute halfling at her look, which managed to combine hope, shock and fear all in one.
"As much as I hate to admit it, I DO owe you a favor,... or three. Not that I'm keeping track. Although I'm still waiting for SVU to pay for that last little 'consultation' with the ice witch from Stygia. She was really steamed by the time the interview was over,..." He delivers straight-faced, somehow managing to keep his eyes on her face as he did so. (He hadn't seen her in a dress before, and it made all of his previous jokes about her usual macho attitude pale before the unusually displayed femininity.)
"So, at the risk of sounding like yet another repeat of 'How Badly Can We Butcher A formally Enjoyable Tune Yet Again' this evening,..." He gives an enthusiastic fake upper-crust clap to the latest off-key performer as he/she/it left the stage. "What can I do to help?"
He puts down a stinger.
"Stout, if yeh please cutter. Smashing Todd's if yeh got it. What's yer bub, Swire? This round's on me."
Swire greets the Godsmen with the usual amount of disdain. However, he perks up as Isaac offers to buy the first round. "You know what? Surprise me." He then turns to look at the other patrons of the bar.
Karrin Yawns.
"I'm board," she moans, "I'm gonna go back to the silver rose and get my work out in. Anyone want to come?"
Seph trying to hide a grin pipes up "You could go and take Merle along. After all no time like the present to start her training right?"
"I've got a 'dark' for you Murph, possibly unrelated. Today one of my coworkers noticed a group of intelligent undead out and about in the Hive during the day, er, 'peak' hours. He said they were armed, armored, and magicked, and looking for someone, or,... thing. That didn't sound 'normal' to me. Even for this place." Justin mutters at the end, reclaiming his forgotten drink and taking a healthy swig.
Murphy shrugs
"A lot of folks don't realize how much of the Catacombs the Dead holds sway over. It sounds like one of their elite squads searching for some ... thing. I'd go to the Dead for help with the vampire, but They'd most like pin a medal on his chest and call him brother. Not quite the fate I want for him .."
"So, at the risk of sounding like yet another repeat of 'How Badly Can We Butcher A formally Enjoyable Tune Yet Again' this evening,..." He gives an enthusiastic fake upper-crust clap to the latest off-key performer as he/she/it left the stage. "What can I do to help?"
Murphy sighs
"I'm not sure how you can. I appreciate the effort, and such, but .."
She pauses
"Well, perhaps there is something. I have been at odds with some freelance demon hunters over the cycles, they operate for commissions and they often tread on our toes. I've been thinking lately that if I want to get this master vampire, I might have to call for outside help. Have you ever run across a tiefling bint named Annabel? Or her crew the Black Tears?"
He puts down a stinger.
"Stout, if yeh please cutter. Smashing Todd's if yeh got it. What's yer bub, Swire? This round's on me."Swire greets the Godsmen with the usual amount of disdain. However, he perks up as Isaac offers to buy the first round. "You know what? Surprise me." He then turns to look at the other patrons of the bar.
1d20+8
Swire gives the bar his professional once over. There are a lot of interesting cutters drinking, including several that look well-heeled. Swire also spots a couple of rough-looking cutters that seem to be part of the staff standing in the shadowed corners of the common room. Lorne obviously doesn't leave security to chance.
Justin shrugs. "I want to say that the name sounds familiar, but,..." He shrugs again. Then looks thoughtful. The kind of thoughtful look Murph has seen before. Right before he does something either insanely brilliant, or just plain insane.
"Murph, I can ask my new cowork,... friends, if they've heard of this teifling." He offers, nodding towards Isaac, Swire, and Ekuur at the bar. "But if your looking to outsource, or just plain hire someone to help you find out what happened to your guys,... You've heard of the Silver Rose? Business was slow, and they were hiring, so as lately as tonite, I'm on the payroll. The boss seems to have friends, or at least contacts, everywhere. Maybe he can find out what happened to your buddies. We can probably help with your vamp problem too, although that would probably require a contract." He smiles apologetically. "You know I'D do it in a heartbeat Murph, And Renkar seems like a mostly understanding sort, I doubt he'd mind. BUT he's in business, and I don't think that he's gonna let me drag the rest of the group into anything, especially involving an Uber-Vamp, without being compensated." He shrugs again, then motions to her near-empty mug.
"Need a refill? Half the crew is here for a nightcap. I could ask Isaac what he thinks, he's been with the Rose longer than me. Be right back." He says, snagging one of Murph's empties along with his own and rising. After one brief moment of (mostly) pretend dizziness, he grins at Murph and heads to the bar.
"Hey guys." Justin says to Isaac, Swire and the Godsmen as he indicates two refills to the barkeep. He nods to Ekuur, but leaves him to his conversation with the flame haired giant-kin.
"Isaac, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. She ran into some trouble and I'm trying to help her out. But it sounds like she might need more help than just I can provide. I'd like to see what you think and your opinion on bringing it to Renkar." Justin raises an eyebrow at Swire.
"Mr. Swire, would you like to come along? You seem like the kind of person who hears more than two ears should be capable of. Maybe you can answer some her questions. If you don't mind? Next rounds on me!" He adds with a smile.
"Sure thing, cutter. Wha'dye need?"
Seph trying to hide a grin pipes up "You could go and take Merle along. After all no time like the present to start her training right?"
"Ya, sure," Karrin says thoughtfully, "she's trying to sleep off that poison but if she sleeps too long it'll throw off her usual sleeping patterns right? So getting her up now would be doing her a favor. That could work. I mean we'd really just be helping her out."
Karrin smiles at the ingeniousness of her reasoning.
"You comming Nari?" Karrin asks, "I mean I'm just going up to grab Merle, but I mean over to the practice room of the Silver Rose. I'm gonna do some training but I thought we could also have a discussion on the business and tactics. The better we understand each other the more effective we get to be. Plus I find smashing combat dummies really helps let off pent up emotions."