Janiven's eyes widen at the display, and she takes a quick step back as he stomps towards her. Her hand goes for her sword, but she resists drawing it. She looks like she's just about to speak when a voice from the stairs interrupts her.
"Raz...what's going on?"
Leanna stands on the stairs, gripping the railing as she attempts to feel her way down it. She stares down towards Raz, but it's obvious she can't actually see him or the woman he was yelling at. "Raz?" she calls out softly, a hint of fear creeping into her already worried voice.
Janiven looks to the girl, and then back to the tiefling, a look of grim understanding on her face.
Jynerva gathers Cyn up in her arms and strokes his head behind the ears. "Well, looks as if we have something to do today after all... So, what do you think, shall I dress to play... or to hunt?" She lets the question hang in the air, awaiting a response.
Cyn looks up at her with a clearly questioning look and makes a small querying meow. Jynerva laughs heartily, "You're right, I guess they are the same thing tonight." She sets him down and prepares for the day, eating a light breakfast and gathering what items might be necessary, but remaining in her pale yellow clothing. She takes only her dagger as a weapon, not wanting to alarm the meeting's attendees... or anyone she might meet on the street.
When she feels adequately girded for this likely adventure, she grabs the still lazy Cyn and places him in his pouch where he suddenly seems more alert as if this is what he had been waiting for. She addresses him happily, "Well, ready to see what Calistria has waiting for us today?" At the mention of the goddess, she says a silent prayer for guidance, and leaves her small apartment.
She and Cyn spend the day idly wandering the streets gathering what information they can find, and making their way towards Vizio's Tavern. They are a bit disappointed to not learn more about their mysterious visitor, but they do learn a bit more about the situation at the tavern by the time they arrive early for the meeting, having little else to do. She enters the tavern, not quite knowing what to expect.
"Jobs? Actually, I was going to discuss things that could be done around the city at the meeting I'm holding today," Janiven says, tilting her head to one side as she regards Adina. "Particularly finding out what's causing the shadow beasts to appear at night. I'm sure you've been warned about them, haven't you? Ah, no, I'm not thirsty, but thanks for the offer."
Tito stared at the woman for a moment, carefully wording his reply. For all he knew, this could be a Drovenge agent trying to lure him into a trap of open rebellion.
"The dottari will catch my mother's killer," he said, trying to hold back tears, "When they do, I will make sure the Hellknightshave them. " Nothing in his tone said he believed his words.
"Well, I'm definitely interested as this place isn't going to pay for itself. I like the sound of helping out around the city and wouldn't mind adventure work that can cover my accommodation fees for as long as I reside here."
Adina looks away, thinking to herself for a moment.
"I'd really like a working role with solid hours, so I'd be very interested in hearing more about your meeting if you'd be so kind as to share more information with me, such as where it will be held, what your ideal goals are and what would be expected of me."
Adina tries to remember any information on local myths and tales of bizarre creatures, but simply just shrugs.
"In regard to Shadow Beasts, I've only been living here a month so far, so can't really say I know much about them other than the fact merchants in the Rego Pena district have told me to keep a watchful eye out and to avoid travelling alone at night. Shopkeepers have mentioned Shadow Beasts to me, but I can't really say I know that much about them."
Razik's expression would fade from anger to worry as he whisked passed the woman, leaped halfway up the railway and onto the stairs as fast as he could, quickly coming to embrace Leanna, stroking her hair with a shaking hand and whispering in her ear with a now-coarse voice.
"I'm here, Lea... Nothing's going on. I just... Found a rat I tried to scare off. I know how much you hate those..."
The human emotion of shame crept up on him. He hated having to lie to Leanna, but he knew this was for her own good. She deserved justice. Weather she knew it or not.
"Go back to bed, love... Jace will be back soon, and I'll have to go back to work to save up for that medicine. They say if I keep scaring the rowdies off, I'll actually start getting paid."
There was no job. No one would hire a tiefling here, not even as a bouncer at the seediest tavern. At least none he'd ever heard of.
There there certainly was no medicine he knew of either.
He had kept this up for some time now though.
Maybe she wanted to believe that part. Maybe she wanted to believe all of it than admit to herself that her lover was planning to be a killer.
He would look back towards Janiven with an expression that seemed to be a mixture of anxiety, fear, and vulnerability.
It told her all his secrets were out, and it would be her decision if she still wanted him or not.
Janiven barely fails at concealing her smile with a hand over her mouth, but perhaps her blush is enough to distract from that. "I...I suppose I'll see you there then. I'm sorry that I can't stay longer, but I'm afraid I have others to visit today." She only just manages to revert to a more business like demeanor. "Thank you, truly, for taking the time to listen to me," she says as she stands up and gives Dracius a nod. She stays to listen to his farewells, and then leaves if not otherwise impeded.
Janiven looks at the man with an expression of pity for just a moment before she attempts to conceal it. "I am truly sorry for your loss, but you must understand by now that the dottari investigate murders only when it is convenient for them to do so. I don't know much about the circumstances surrounding your mother's death, I admit, but I do have my suspicions. Attacks against nobles are usually met with heavy investigation in the noble's favor, but your mother's case was different, wasn't it? Am I incorrect in my assumptions?" She pauses, taking a moment to gather her thoughts.
"This is exactly the kind of thing we want to help with. If the dottari won't do their job, then it's up to the people of Westcrown to right these wrongs."
"It wouldn't be so much a set job as...yes, paid adventure work, I guess. I won't be able to offer much starting out, to be honest, but I'm willing to..." she stops, glancing to the side suddenly. "Do you mind me asking if you're from Cheliax? The shadow beasts prey on the unwary at night, yes, and neither the dottari nor the Hellknights seem to be doing anything about them. One of my goals is to get to the bottom of what's causing such creatures to stalk our streets."
Leanna frowns, biting her lip before simply nodding and turning away from Razik, keeping a hold of him until she was safely able to feel her way back to her room. She's been asking fewer questions lately, but she's also been quieter in other situations as well. There are times when Razik talks to her, she'll simply stare off and nod, that same sad look on her face. Those times have been more and more frequent as of late.
Janiven, for her part, keeps her expression blank throughout this exchange. It isn't until Leanna is back in her bed that she speaks again, her voice quiet yet firm. "You don't have to live like this, you know. You can get help." She looks back towards the door, and then to Razik. "I can offer that help. If you promise to help me in return, I can offer you a place to stay, and a possible means of finding justice."
Dracius watches Janiven leave with appreciation, and apprehension as to what he's getting himself into..
If this is a grand story, and she is the siren or nyphn that draws me into danger.... well, I'll just have to try to ensure she doesn't lead me to doom...
He gathers together the gear he bought with his mother's coin, As fine an inheritence as many, and far more than I ever expected.
That thought makes him smile and sustains him as he sinks down to the floor to stare up at the frescoed wall, entering quiet contemplation and prayers to The Eternal Rose, hearing glimpses of the music of the universe and weeping at its beauty.
Finally, he rises from his prayers, I'd best go learn what I can about all of this... while Janvien might not be leading me into a trap, she could be a pawn herself.
He washes himself, dresses and then straps his breastplate over his clothing, taking extra care with the straps. He adds a backpack filled with a few useful items, and then his mother's cloak, imagining that the lingering smell is of her, and clasps it with a bright-painted symbol of Shelyn, taking a moment to admire the beauty of the work and whisper a small prayer. Finally, he places the chain holding his mother's signet over his head, giving it almost as much reverence as the symbol moments before.
Well, I'm as ready as I'll ever be...
Dracius heads out, drawing up his hood to try to avoid attracting too much attention from his mother's fans, and wanders in a long circuit trying to lose any of them before beginning his business of the day.
Maybe one of my fellow artists can tell me what's going on.... , he thinks, and heads toward a few taverns that open early to deal with a more... creative.. clientelle.
As the time for the meet approaches, he sets out in an attempt to arrive half-an-hour early. He then walks the circuit of the block, looking for anything too out of place , and then tries to take up a position where he can watch the door for a time.
Finally, he will enter the tavern 10 minutes early to get a feel for the people within, and take up a seat.
"And how would you right these wrongs? What could you do that would not draw the ire of the Hellknights? You bring me empty promises and for what? Sponsorship? Look around, I'm a noble in name alone. No servants, barely enough funds to keep our warehouses operating and weekly payments to keep disease out of my father's twisted legs. If you came seeking aid, then I'm afraid I can do little to help your... cause," the young noble spat, his situation obviously wearing on him. He turned from the woman, his anger rising at what he perceived to be her insolence. However a part of him yearned to be free of the obligations he had to his family, to turn his back on what was expected of him and live life once again. In the past, he would have called out the man he suspected of ordering his mother's death and duelled him to the death. Now, though, he was the only one who could keep his family alive, or at least what was left of it.
"I admire your boldness, I do. Nothing you can do will break the hold that Thrune has over this city though. What could you possibly hope to achieve?"
Adina looks to the side then looks straight into Janiven's face
"Well, something is better than nothing and things sound interesting enough to me. As for being from Cheliax, I actually originated in Taldor but have recently moved here so am not as familiar with the local threats or political issues as say everyone else who's lived here for a long period of time.
I don't plan on moving away from Cheliax any time soon, so if I can help out in some way to make Westcrown a safer place, I'm more than happy to do so."
Adina notices a look of doubt in Janiven's face
"What seems to be troubling you? I can tell something's up as you don't entirely seem up front with me right now. You can talk to me about it. I'm pretty easygoing."
As Janiven spoke, Razik would have his back turned to her, simply listening while mentally recovering from the shame of being a liar, yet paying attention to Janiven's words at the same time.
He would pause for some time, and for a moment, reconsider his path of death and revenge.
But only for a moment.
With a steely conviction and adamant resolve in his decision, he would swiftly turn to Janiven.
"Just tell me what I need to do."
His hair would stand on end. Things felt just that much colder now. For some reason that he didn't want to dwell on, this felt right. Almost exciting.
Some side of him was perfectly fine with this. Perhaps a side he loathed, but one he is tragically becoming accustomed to.