With Valleria currently surrounded, though holding her own, Wilhelm continues inspiring his allies, but moves forward to flank the one that's flanking Valleria, attacking with his spear.
- Inspire Courage: +1 competence on attack/damage rolls, +1 morale vs fear
- Banner: +2 morale vs fear, +1 morale on attacks when charging
- Combat Reflexes: 3 AOO/round
- Longspear: 10' reach
- Bless: +1 morale vs fear and on attack rolls
Round 2 - Init 19
Corian steps forward and attacks a thug; bolstered by his Judgment of Sacred Destruction, the mace swings as if somewhat heavier.
"Perhaps you'd better run before we slay you all," he says somewhat politely.
Round 2 Init 16
Ignati moves in and flanks with Voreni, stabbing quick with his rapier.
Moving with clockwork precision, the Silver Ravens dismantle the Chelish Citizens' Group. Wilhelm cuts down the man who nearly struck Valleria, while Corian moves forward and finishes what Valleria started on the leader of the group. Ignati moves to flank with Voreni and finishes off the last man, leaving the Ravens free to investigate the home.
Sadly, even after a thorough investigation of the ruins, you can find nothing more than ashes.
Moving onward to the Thrashing Badger, you find even less: the fire burned though the boardwalk and collapsed into the water below. Finally, however, when you arrive at the ruins of the Silver Star you find a sinkhole filled with scorched rubble, but perhaps something lies within?
You may each make a Perception check and spend one hour searching, but because of the unstable nature of the area you are searching, I will also need a Reflex Save.
Corian taps himself for Guidance, but may have walked off a plank...
Wilhelm will search methodically, carefully poking around with the butt of his spear before stepping.
Valleria took care to look everywhere, not resting until she was able to find everything that would help them.
Ignati will take a minute to prepare his detect secret doors extract and will drink it to enhance his perceptions as they search through the rubble.
Working together, Corian, Wilhelm, Valleria, and Ignati manage to find and excavate a coffer that appears to have survived the fire. Unfortunately, by disturbing the rubble to free the coffer, a minor collapse occurs. While Wilhelm and Ignati manage to roll away to safety with the coffer, Valleria and Corian are struck by rubble.
Inside the coffer, you find: a scroll of cure moderate wounds, a scroll of daylight, a scroll of remove blindness/deafness, a scroll of remove disease, three potions of lesser restoration and four potions of cure light wounds.
"Well that was sadly disappointing. The supplies will definitely further our cause, but we're no closer to finding any more information on the fires."
"Oh don't be so disappointed Morrigan, you knew you were in for a little rubble rousing when you joined our sordid group." Ignati raises his eyebrows at the Half-Orc while laughing at his own terrible pun. "Perhaps I shouldn't criticize Voreni any more, say who has that new wand we picked up, it looks like we may need it."
The Firebrand looks over Valleria and Corian with concern, "Are you two alright? That was quite the blow, lucky that we happened to find some curatives in this coffer, no?"
Valleria stands up from the rubble, her hands in her abdomen, covered in blood, a piece of wood completely trespassing her.
Her face white because of the new injury, she stumbles forward.
"Y-Yeah, I think I'll need some h-help here." She said, after grabbing the piece of wood from her back and removing it, followed by a small profusion of blood.
"I can provide a little magical first aid," says Wilhelm, wincing at the result of the collapse, but a little glad he made it out in time himself.
"Unfortunately, I think that leaves us without any further leads. They were pretty thorough when they burned these places."
"Well we could still try Clenchjaws for survivors of the Thrashing Badger. Or we could try the Opera House for any leads on Shensen."
"I'm afraid Barzilai Thrune has taken the Opera House for his own." Rexus says grimly. "But I have heard that Clenchjaws has become a bit more lively of late. Perhaps we'll find some eager recruits there."
"Yes, I know the Barzilai Thrune has taken over the Opera House. That's where we were all protesting. I just figured, maybe not all of the performers are Thrune supporters and some probably are not too happy that a fellow opera singer's shop and home was burned down. The other singers I'm sure don't live in the Opera House. Do you know where they might socialize, Rexus?"
"...ouch..." Corian rubs his head, his elbow, and his knee--he's rather bruised and bloody.
He gingerly takes the wand of CLW and touches himself again.
Feeling better, he taps Valeria.
"It's a good thing we had one of these around," he says, twirling the wand and stowing it away. "They probably have pointy things facing outward at the Opera House. Perhaps Clenchjaws would be less brutal," finishes the false Asmodean, trying to get blood off of his leg cuff. "I need constant wardrobe changes in this group, hellfire blast it."
Rexus strokes his chin thoughtfully. "I haven't seen many opera singers out and about, to be honest. After Shensen disappeared, I think most of them went into hiding, or are performing privately for Barzilai. I suppose we could ask around at the cafe, or Clenchjaws...I suppose if they really wanted to hide out they could go to the Devil's Nursery, but one would have to be truly desperate to seek shelter there."
"The slums?" Corian looks at his robes mournfully. "We'll get splashed with the most amazing things in the Devil's Nursery. Still, it's a good place to disappear. Oftentimes involuntarily..."
"The slums are dangerous, to be sure, but there would be a number of places to hide."
As the group talks Ignati considers what he knows of the Devil's Nursery, mentally sorting all of the shelters he knows trying to decide with would be the best shelter for someone on the run.
"These are desperate times Rex, it wouldn't hurt to head there, I think."
Valleria feels the warmth of the healing washing over her. Wilhelm's spell was enough to close the wounds but afraid of any internal danger, she also accepted the help from Corian's wand, but just one charge.
"Thanks for your assistance Wilhelm and only one is enough, Corian, I can already move myself without pain and any further damage will heal with time... save this charges for a more dire hour."
Having this said, Valleria moves towards the stash and collects it.
"So... we are going to the Devil's Nursery?"
I just hope we don't run into Arishaa... A couple months back, Valleria had a fiery relationship with a tiefling girl from Devil's Nursery and it didn't ended pretty well. ...I'm not sure how they would react to know about my... preferences...
"We should, I think so anyway." Ignati answers Valleria. "I know of a woman who may be able to help us. Strea Vestori, she's a kind heart that looks after tieflings who need help, a woman I respect very much. I'll lead the way!"
Ignati starts walking off and then turns back to the group and smiles. "If we're all in agreement of course!"
Wilhelm absentmindedly uses prestidigitation to clean the blood and dirt off his banner and the others while they discuss how to proceed. He always had a preference for cleanliness and a good appearance, but never before had such an efficient solution with which to maintain it.
"That seems to be the consensus, and I have no objection. Everyone make sure to keep your eyes open and stick close together."
The Devil's Nursery lies within the Redroof district of Kintargo, The buildings in Redroof are all made of brick and red tile made of clay dredged up from the river, giving the area a distinctive look from the rest of Kintargo. It also borders the river, so the smell of salt water is present as you travel.
It becomes abundantly clear that you are entering the Devil's Nursery as the modest middle-class homes give way to similar, but dilapidated structures. The Cloven Hoof Society occupies its own modestly-sized building, but while there is usually regular traffic around the building, the area is quiet and the building itself has been recently boarded up.
A slender Tiefling woman with straight horns and goat-like eyes approaches, giving each of you an appraising look. Her eyes linger for a moment on Corian, and she bows her head politely.
"Good day, priest. Might I beg your indulgence for Asmodeus' blessing?" she asks.
If this is that Strea Ignati mentioned, perhaps she would react favorably to one of her own kind? Voreni muses.
"Miss? I was hoping you could direct me to the Cloven Hoof Society? It appears that the old headquarters is not currently in service," Voreni asks as he pulls down his hood and mask and causing his small horns to be visible.
"It's been shut down ever since Strea disappeared. Must've poked her nose in the wrong person's business." she says with a fatalistic shrug. "Damned shame, she was one of the good ones, and we're losing those too fast as it is. I'd get off the streets before dark if I was you, sirs." she says, with another polite bow.
"A shame indeed. Thank you, miss."
"The infernal blessings of Our Father Below upon you, good lady. He shall require payment upon your demise, of course," says Corian with a kindly smile, ever the Asmodean (apparently). He gestures about her mystically.
"Nice meeting both of you. I should be on my way..." she says, palming the coinpurse and sliding it into her jacket pocket.
Voreni moves slowly in the girl's direction, "Oh, miss? One more thing, please? If it isn't too much to bother? Would you mind returning that stolen property to my associate? It generally is not a good idea to anger those with divine influence, you see," he says amiably.
Valleria moved after Voreni. She did not drew her sword or readied her shield... her eyes and voice were her only weapon. Perhaps she did not forgot everything she learned with the Grey Maidens after all...
"You'll return what you stole girl. Now."
Ignati moves closer to his two companions to see what the hold up is when he hears Voreni's request.
"A pickpocket eh? We might have use for that!" He smiles at the young tiefling. "Have you asked for my friend yet Voreni?"
Hearing that she's missing Ignati frowns. "Just like Fausta." He mutters waiting for the woman to return what she stole.
The tiefling girl freezes up, her hands coming up defensively to protect her face. After a moment she realizes that you aren't going to immediately attack her, and then she simply looks confused. Sheepishly, she pulls the coinpurse out of her pocket and tosses it to Corian.
"I-is that really it? You Asmodean types are usually a bit more...well, you know."
"Bold of you to try that, against a man of the cloth," says Corian with an arched eyebrow. "No, there's more. Who do you work for, my brazen young friend?"
The young tiefling shakily backs away from the group, moving to draw a small dagger with shaking hands.
"I-I don't work for anybody! Just leave me alone!"
Ignati throws up his hands, free of weapons, and one holding a couple gold coins.
"I know life out here isn't easy. Sometimes stealing is all you have, but we're not going to hurt you. Here, you can take this money in my hand, as a gift."
He extends the hand with the money, smiling at the young woman. "We want to stop the growing tarnish taking over our dear Silver City, and maybe you can help us. If you ever hear anything interesting, or see something suspicious, come by the Longroad Coffee house and leave a message with Laria, the proprietor. We'll make sure you're rewarded."
"Of course if there's anything you think we might like to know right now, I'm all ears."
Her fingers relax a little, leaving the dagger in its scabbard, but she keeps her distance. She definitely looks confused now.
"Giving away money and talking about 'improving' the city? And hanging around Longroads? Well, you can't be Thrunies then, and I don't steal from regular folks. Keep your money, mister. I was serious about not staying out at night; there's someone on the streets killing us after dark. Seems like it's only us Tieflings, and only here in the Nursery. I found one of the bodies this morning. What they did to that poor man...his face was a mess..."
"Petty theft to stay fed in times like this? I do not consider that criminal behavior. Murdering a specific species of intelligent beings? That is a crime worth my time. Before you go to seek safety, is there anything else you can tell us about this nighttime stalker?"
"Well if we're going to be looking for allies in the Nursery, we can't have a murderous monster lurking the streets at night. It's worth the diversion to take care of it. Can you show us this body that you found? We can start tracking it from there. And don't worry. The darkness is my ally. I fear nothing that lurks within it."
"Wow. You really are serious about this. Huh. Alright then, I can show you where I found the body, and then take you to the morgue...well, it's not a real morgue, but it's where they keep the bodies until we can burn them. I'm Zea, by the way." she says, starting to relax a little around the group, though she still seems a bit intimidated by Valleria and Morrigan.
She leads you to an alley near the southern wall of the city. Decaying bricks line the walls, and the cobblestones on the ground are covered in generations of filth. The bloodstains on the ground and wall are still relatively fresh. Zea keeps her distance, standing at the mouth of the alley.
"Looks like a good place for this monster to lay a trap. Has anyone seen what the creature looks like?"
Morrigan will put down Bacon and begin searching the area.
"Come on Bacon. Let's see if we can find anything useful."
Voreni thanks Zea absentmindedly as he begins to examine the scene of the crime.
Bacon springs from Morrigan's grasp and begins sniffing around the alley, carefully avoiding most of the blood. After a couple of minutes, he bounds over to one of the walls and squeals, pointing his snout at a small, white object lying on the ground. Closer examination reveals that it is a humanoid tooth.
Ignati helps his companions search hoping to find something that may lead to the killer.
Wilhelm is finding himself a bit uncomfortable with the conflict between his natural tendencies toward justice and his current situation. Things like confronting criminal behavior bring his change in role into greater focus in his mind. As such he's been brooding a bit since the confrontation with Zea. It helps to have a greater problem to worry about, and it also helps to remind himself that the policies of disproportionate retribution against people like Zea are why he's changed in the first place.
He silently keeps watch at the entrance to the alleyway while his allies investigate the scene of the most recent murder, watching as much to make sure that nothing comes to disturb them as he is to make sure that Zea doesn't decide to bolt or otherwise try some funny business while they're distracted. He holds his spear tight with white knuckles.