017: I fought the law

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> OOC: so folks were planning to split up now, yes? Tell me who is going where and we'll split one group into another room.
<Franceska> OOC: I'll go with Rosemund to see the temples?
<Franceska> OOC: Or not!
<Franceska> OOC: Let's check out the friends
<Steph> OOC: Yeah. We could start with the giant merchant?
<El-Cideon> OOC: Sure. Somebody do the GI thing to start us off, then?
<Franceska> roll 1d20+15
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+15 and gets 26."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> Asking around about Nalifa Hornfel provides the following as common knowledge: that she's not a native (so to speak), having taken up residence as part of the local administration's general encouragement of itinerant merchants. Generally she hauls away jewelry and other goods manufactured in Peridot and brings back food and water. She does most of her business out of the eastern gate--one gemcutter Franceska talks to thinks she was supposed to leave town today, though that may be in some doubt after recent events. Her usual haunt is The Queen's Crown on the edge of town.
<Steph> "That reminds me, I should buy some gems while we're here," muses Stephanie. "I think I got a good angle on offloading all of the cumin and pepper I brought with me."
<Franceska> "That gives us a nice pretext, I suppose. To the Queen's Crown, then?"
<Julia> "Yes, I rather need to stock up as well," Julia agrees. "If not there we can ask at the gate if she's been seen leaving."
<Steph> "You do? Watcha need shiny rocks for?" asks Stephanie. "Ah, are you the type who dresses fine on occasion?!"
<Franceska> "Is there anything wrong with that?"
<Julia> "Well, I generally keep things simple but elegant," Julia demurs, "But no, I actually need spell components."
<Steph> "No! But I know- oh."
<El-Cideon> The Queen's Crown is a respectable two-story establishment a block down from the eastern gate. There's a stable off to one side of the building, unusual for a city without much in the way of draft animals, suggesting the establishment caters to outsiders. A small crowd of gawkers obscures this wing of the building from sight when you arrive.
<Steph> Stephanie is drawn to curious mobs like a fly to honey. "What's going on?" she asks someone.
<El-Cideon> "Guard collared someone, I think," an old lady says, craning her head to see over the crowd herself. From here you can see the back of an exceptionally tall woman with black hair standing a head over everyone else, but not much more.
<Steph> She'll have to employ her secret technique to get to the front of the crowd! It involves strategic shoving.
<Julia> Julia is far too polite for that, but she can easily tail right behind Stephanie!
* Franceska wavers, but decides to follow suit!
<El-Cideon> Steph's elbows carve a path through the crowd in no time! The scene before you has two primary actors: the woman, who stands at least seven feet tall and must be Nalifa, is possessed of a generous figure, a waist-length mane of night-black hair, and features that would appear handsome, gentle and welcoming were they not presently twisted in obvious rage. She is loudly protesting her ignorance of some "substance" to a dwarven guardsmen who stands firm in the face of this diatribe despite being approximately half her height. Nearby, two humans in guard uniforms stand by a covered wagon that looks thoroughly ransacked.
<Franceska> "Is that your property?" Franceska asks Nalifa, approaching the woman and indicating the wagon. "Have you given them permission to search it?"
<El-Cideon> The guard turns and eyes Franceska. "Step back, Miss. This is an official investigation." Which doesn't stop Nalifa from protesting, in a voice that carries like a roll of thunder, "MY property is all properly manifested. I cannot speak as to where the rest of it came from."
<Franceska> "I'm afraid I cannot simply stand aside when I come across a scene like this," Franceska asserts, shaking her head. "You have a warrant to conduct your search, I trust?"
<Steph> "It's illegal for them to search things? I never knew that," mutters Stephanie, slipping out of the crowd and finding a place where she can change her disguise without being seen.
<El-Cideon> "Of course!" he says, bristling at the suggestion that he would act without official sanction. "And it has already been presented to the suspect, I'll have you know." He gives Franceska a long, searching look. "What business is this of yours, exactly?"
<El-Cideon> Steph can easily find a neighboring alleyway; all local eyes are on the inn at the moment.
<Franceska> "Why, I am her legal counsel, of course!" Franceska states. "May I see the warrant?"
<Julia> Julia just watches, but does ask one of her neighbours, "What sort of substance did they find anyway?"
<El-Cideon> "Oh, it's this weed what comes from the Abyss," a blonde woman with the look of a housewife says, tsking softly in disapproval. "Folk burn it up and have visions or somewhat, until it tears your mind up at least."
<El-Cideon> OOC: bluff, Franceska?
<Franceska> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+13 and gets 31."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 academic
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 academic and gets 21."12 [1d20=16]
<Steph> Steph transforms from her usual, somewhat-flashy self into an unusual, even-flashier man; the pointy hat shrinks into a black top hat, whilst a smiling harlequin mask covers most of her face. An orange scarf now hangs from her neck, and the rest of her body is covered in white-and-black-dyed leather. She peeks out from her corner, watching the proceeds with interest...
<Julia> Thing should be able to identify it. And with no evidence...  "Thing," she whispers to her familiar. "Go get rid of the weed." The bat doesn't reply, but vanishes from sight before detaching from her arm and flying onto the cart to look for the contraband.
* Franceska taps her foot impatiently.
<El-Cideon> The dwarf grunts with obvious dissatisfaction at this turn of events, but nonetheless hands the document over. It states that the guard is entitled to investigate the possessions of one Nalifa Hornfel on suspicion of transporting Abyssal narcotics, as attested to by an eyewitness informant.
<El-Cideon> OOC: stealth for Thing?
<Julia> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+14 and gets 33."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+5 more academic rollin'
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+5 more academic rollin' and gets 30."12 [2#1d20+5 = 9, 21]
<El-Cideon> Thing alights safely within the wagon, which he finds piled with boxes of jewelry as well as crates of gold and silver tableware.
<Franceska> "Were you present for the inspection of your wagon?" Franceska addresses Nalifa now, after going over the document twice.
<Julia> Turning into his natural demonic form while still invisible, Thing starts looking around for the precious weed!
<El-Cideon> "Yes," she says, through gritted teeth.
<El-Cideon> OOC: perception, Thing
<Julia> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+6 and gets 14."12 [1d20=8]
<Franceska> "Was anything missing from your belongings?" Franceska asks, as Darrin flies down to sit on her shoulder and look important overall.
<El-Cideon> Thing's efforts are aided by the fact that the guard has already expended some effort searching the wagon--there's an open crate of golden goblets stuffed with packets of a twisty red root that gleams slightly as if exuding oil. Being a flighty little creature, Thing satisfies himself with this find!
<Julia> Snatching up all the illicit loot, Thing starts to creep off the wagon, having to be careful because unlike him the drugs are visible. He'll then try and make his way to an alley or nook or something out of sight.
<El-Cideon> "It isn't a question of missing merchandise," Nalifa protests. "It's a matter of what *shouldn't* be there."
<El-Cideon> OOC: stealth mk 2, -5 for trying to sneak out something visible with him?
<Julia> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+9 and gets 12."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+5 Hatebot
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+5 Hatebot and gets 40."12 [2#1d20+5 = 23, 17]
<Franceska> "Oh, certainly," Franceska agrees. "Since we have established a theft was not involved, how are you going to treat this situation?" she asks, now addressing the dwarf.
<El-Cideon> "Plainly a case of possession and transport of illicit substances," the dwarf says. "More than one crippled miner down in the Bends lost his mind after trying to ease his pain with this stuff," he starts to lecture, "and that's not all, it only takes a little whiff of the smoke for a bystander to--" He cuts off at a startled gasp from his accompanying guardsmen, both watching gapemouthed as a bundle of red weeds floats away from the wagon seemingly of its own accord. "What in the--"
<Franceska> "What are you doing?" Franceska asks sternly. "You are letting the important evidence of a conspiracy against my client get away!"
<Julia> Seeing he's caught, Thing has to rely on another approach. Flickering into vision as he floats above the cart, he shows off his demonic splendour to all! "What is this?!" his unfortunately squeaky voice booms. "I had hidden my evil drugs in the tall mortal's cart while she was drinking and whoring and I performed other nefarious deeds, but she finished sooner than I thought considering her
<Julia> giant size! Fear, mortals! For you are interfering in the ways of Vyy'xxlourryx The Calamitous!" He glowers. "Be grateful I nor my dread master do not curse you unto the twelfth generation for your interference!" Cackling wildly, he turns to fly off over the rooftops. Oddly enough he's dressed rather like a dancing monkey, with a red and yellow waistcoat and a little red fez on his ugly
<Julia> head.
<Julia> Playing her own part, Julia gasps, "A demon! Oh no, we're all doomed!"
<El-Cideon> OOC: bluff for Thing, +2 because that was awesome.
<Julia> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+14 and gets 18."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> roll 3#1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#1d20+5 and gets 36."12 [3#1d20+5 = 12, 16, 8]
<El-Cideon> "What under the hill--" the dwarven guardsman manages after a moment, fingers running through his beard in amazement. "This uh...this case may have proven larger than we expected."
* Franceska is tapping her foot impatiently again. "You are letting the criminal get away!" she exclaims. "You-- what is your name, officer? I must warn you that unless the true perpetrators are not apprehended in a swift manner, we will be bringing charges against the city itself!"
<Julia> "The demons could be planting drugs anywhere to make us distrust each other!" Julia cries shrilly, looking around wildly while her familiar escapes and turns himself and his drugs invisible once out of sight.
<El-Cideon> The crowd in general shrinks back at the appearance of this infinitesimal yet dread apparition, fearful memories of the war perhaps driving the older locals to shelter. The guardsmen, alas, cannot fly, and are soon scurrying around the corner to try and track Thing's course, out of sight in moments. "Officer Flintfinger," the dwarf says, staying stolidly behind while his men hare off in vain pursuit. "And you've no charge for a countersuit," he insists, "we acted only on orders driven by intelligence. Says as much right in that warrant."
* Franceska looks quite dubious. "And I suppose this mysterious informant would be impossible to produce as well? How utterly convenient."
<Julia> "I bet that anonymous tip was a devil! They could be fighting their own hidden war among us!" Julia cries as the flap of her haversack is lifted up and Thing dumps all the drugs in there after having looped back, he then turns into a bat and clings onto her shoulder before reappearing. "Good boy," she whispers quietly. "I'll make your bug-cake later."
<Steph> Stephanie opts to rid herself of her disguise at this point, and saunters back into the crowd. "It's just like what happened in Solata! And it's always the innocent who take the fall!"
<El-Cideon> "We're not in the habit of bringing informants to crime scenes," Officer Flintfinger bristles. "It would've come out well enough at trial but that hardly matters now, does it? Look we, ah, we may wish to take a statement from you client later," he adds, wilting a little as more stalwart bystanders cheer on Julia and Stephanie's counterintelligence and shout for the guard to depart. "Just in case she has some thought who might be working with demons and bear a grudge against her, you understand."
<Franceska> "Certainly, she would be quite willing to cooperate in order to help you catch any demon lovers," Franceska agrees.
<Steph> Stephanie scoffs. "But it's obvious who it is, isn't it?" she retorts. "It's the same ones who are responsible for all the trouble, lately!"
* Julia gives thing a cute little scowl to affirm that she doesn't love demons despite her reward for him.
<El-Cideon> "Very good, very good," he says, seemingly satisfied with this concession. He shoulders his way through the remaining crowd, waving for the bystanders to disperse. "Alright, that's enough out of you lot!" he bellows as he walks off to find his cohorts. "Be on your way, before someone finds himself on call for Disturbing the Peace!"
<Julia> After the guard passes by Julia saunters up to Franceska and smiles, "Who knew things would get so exciting, hmm?"
<El-Cideon> Nalifa, for her part, looks simply shellshocked by the entire scene.
<Steph> Stephanie doesn't waste time starting to spread rumors through the crowd. "They just want to hide the truth. The authorities have always been complicit with the evil in this town, hasn't it?" she starts with.
<Franceska> "Yes. This was entirely unexpected," Franceska deadpans, before addressing Nalifa. "Those trumped up charges aside, is there anyone who wishes you ill that much?"
<El-Cideon> Stephanie gets a few furtive nods and calls of, "Yeah, that's right," and "We should run 'em right out of town!"
<El-Cideon> "I've added my voice to more than one protest," she says, running one deep blue hand through her hair as she composes herself again. "Somewhat in the same air as that rabble rouser over there--" she nods to Stephanie, "--though we like to think we have better manners about it."
<Franceska> "It would not be difficult to believe," Franceska readily agrees.
<Steph> "People can't let themselves be silenced by... by these threats! By intimidation!" insists Stephanie. "Granville's house was taken out.. what if it was the Dao? What if the leaders knew all about it? And that attack on the casino... they're just letting things happen, aren't they?!"
<El-Cideon> "That officer will be back if someone gets a riot going," Nalifa says. "I'm in no mood to talk to the guards twice in one day. Could we retire somewhere quieter? I can't help but think I owe you a round of drinks for trying to step in."
<Franceska> "How about you pick the place, then?" Franceska offers. "Darrin will watch over your things to make sure no one tries to sneak anything extra into them."
<El-Cideon> The fact that the casino was a prime source of fodder for the dao doesn't seem to deter the crowd around Stephanie from swelling to a couple dozen angry ne'erdowells with fists in the air.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund tugs at Franceska's sleeve. "Should...should we take Stephanie with us before she starts a revolution?"
<Franceska> "Pretend we don't know her," Franceska whispers to Rosemund.
<Julia> "Stephanie, do you want to come get drunk?" Julia calls over, trying to tempt her away from revolution with a depressant.
<Steph> "Yeah, just a sec!" She's forced to grab a number of people into a huddle, where she stresses the importance of proper timing. "We should protest at the mayor's house this evening," she insists. "So as not to disturb the ordinary working man!"
<El-Cideon> Nalifa busies herself with wheeling the wagon back into its stall--something that requires no more than her own exertion--and locking it up before sweeping inside the Queen's Crown.
<Franceska> Darrin settles upon the roof to do his part as Franceska follows Nalifa inside.
<El-Cideon> Stephanie's impromptu citizen militia all nod eagerly and disperse with vehement insistence that they will be there!
<Steph> Stephanie joins the rest of them, looking disappointed. "I reckon about a quarter of 'em will actually show," she admits to Julia. "But it's about... you know, keeping the atmosphere alive, right?"
<Julia> "If it can make the place less hospitable to the Dao it's all to the good."
<El-Cideon> The common room inside is deserted--if anyone was taking a meal beforehand, the noise outside scared them back to their rooms. Nalifa plants a pile of gold on the counter--"For your trouble, and for anything my friends care to drink,"--before pulling up a chair at a corner table. An unusually large chair which one may presume is her regular spot.
<El-Cideon> "Only water for me, thank you," Rosemund says, sitting down.
<Steph> "Yeah, 'swhat I'm thinking." admits Stephanie, grateful for vindication. "I'll have something fiery, thanks," she adds, before turning to their new friend. "So it's Nalifa, right? I'm Steph! Let's be partners."
<El-Cideon> "And what's your trade?" she asks.
<Julia> "Red wine please," Julia asks for herself, settling into a chair.
<Franceska> "Franceska," she introduces herself, taking a seat. "And wine sounds good indeed."
<El-Cideon> Nalifa opts for a mighty mug of ale; it and the other drinks are delivered soon enough. Stephanie gets something boiling red in a clay mug that one could almost swear is melting. Rosemund sets her glass of water nearby. Just in case.
<Steph> "Interplanar merchant," replies Stephanie, grinning. "I got some spices and long-term foodstuffs with me, and I was in the market for precious metals to bring home. Interested?"
<El-Cideon> "Well, that's a common enough trade around here," Nalifa acknowledges. "The mayor doesn't levy much in the way of tariffs and taxes on anyone who'll bring in sustenance of any sort. More commonly folk trade worked jewelry than raw ore--there's no corner of Earth that lacks the latter, so the locals made an effort to specialize in craftsmanship to stand out."
<Julia> "I'm in the market for jewels myself," Julia throws in.
<El-Cideon> "Then you'll certainly find no shortage of them here," she says, drawing a gulp of ale. "Anything specific you're seeking?"
<Julia> "I'm quite fond of onyx," she nods and smiles pleasantly.
<El-Cideon> "The nicest jewelers crowd Market Bridge," she says. "If it's just a piece or two you're aiming to buy, that's where you shop. For bulk purchases, you'd best do your business with the guild itself."
<Steph> "Know anyone who there who might cut us in on a good deal? On bulk," asks Stephanie.
<Julia> "I might visit the jewelers, then," Julia considers. She'll need expensive pieces after all.
<El-Cideon> "You could always talk to Mr. Sark," Nalifa says. "I can attest that he's a fair man, and shares certain obvious sympathies," she adds with a rueful nod to where Stephanie had nearly incited a riot outside. "Mostly produces unworked stone for the jewelers, though. For worked pieces, well, Melissa Bello runs a shop that turns out some excellent work. She drives a hard bargain, however. No interest in being your friend when there's a deal to be made."
* Franceska nods in approval.
<El-Cideon> "But I can tell you're all new here," she adds. "I regret that this morning hasn't made for the most sterling introduction to the city."
<Steph> "Oh, actually, your reputation precedes you," replies Stephanie, still all smiles. "It did the hard work of winning us over already!"
<El-Cideon> "Really?" she says, surprised. "How so?"
<Julia> "Thank you, that's helpful. I'll make sure to visit Mr Sark before we leave."
<Steph> "Well, we were looking into what happened to Miss Granville," explains Stephanie, leaning forward. "We were hoping to talk to her when we arrived in the city, so imagine our shock when her house just wasn't there? And in the course of our investigation..."
<El-Cideon> She nods to Julia. "You'll find his residence at the corner of Banfield Lane and Lime Street. It's near Narrow Bridge, at the north edge of town. Although, he's oft out for days at a stretch checking up on his mine."
<El-Cideon> "Oh, wasn't that just dreadful?" she says to Stephanie, openly mournful. "I do hope she's alright...it's a poorly kept secret the guard couldn't find a body sifting through the wreckage but, well, one wonders what there might even be to find when a ton of stone falls upon you."
<Franceska> "Surprisingly a lot," Franceska mutters. "Would you know if she had any reason to suspect an attack upon her person or her property was coming?"
<Steph> Stephanie fumbles in her pockets. "The guard don't seem very good at finding things," she notes, placing the note on the table.
<El-Cideon> "I cannot see why she would," Nalifa says, sounding surprised. "She made no secret about which parties she considered herself in opposition to, but I don't recall mention of personal threats. As long as all we do is talk, neither the mayor nor the dao do much to stop us," she adds, sounding a little frustrated. She picks up the note and reads it, evidently not finding the language an obstacle. "I feel I am missing a piece of the picture here," she says, looking around a little confused.
<Julia> "I think - and it's just a guess - that the Furies might be the group who knocked down the casino?" Julia suggests.
<Franceska> "Would it be too much to hope that you know of someone fitting those initials?"
<El-Cideon> "From what I have heard, it is the sort of name that would appeal to those brigands," she agrees. "A most violent and wrothsome lot. So you would suggest that they were...hired to do the job, by someone in the city?" She searches her memory for a moment and shakes her head to Franceska. "I cannot say that I do."
<Steph> "Are these the kind of people you'd have associated Granville with?" asks Stephanie. "I'm all for knocking over a casino like that, but it sounds like they were pretty indiscriminate, you know?"
<El-Cideon> "I know that her contacts ranged far afield," Nalifa says, running a finger along the rim of her mug. "She grew up on the plane of Air. It encourages something of an open mindset, you know? I've known her to associate with all manner of persons." She hesitates a moment. "She was not always the most...patient of women. But this note sounds as though she'd refused to participate in the attack, does it not?"
<Franceska> "It certainly helps explain why both places might have been attacked," Franceska voices, "despite seemingly being on opposite sides."
<Steph> "Yeah, looks like they might have wanted to shut up the only person who knew what was going on," muses Stephanie.
<Julia> "Or Miss Granville might have knocked her own house down to cover her tracks if she expected reprisals," Julia suggests.
<Steph> "Nah, she wouldn't have left evidence of her association behind if she did that," replies Stephanie. "If she has brains, and I think most mages do."
<Franceska> "Whatever happens, chances are she is hiding somewhere with those she trusts, and knows enough to unravel the mystery."
<El-Cideon> "Perhaps," she muses, considering possibilities. "One would hope," she nods to Franceska. "But then, one would also expect, as her friend, to be contacted for help if she had the means to do so."
<El-Cideon> "Maybe she simply does not wish to expose you to danger as well?" Rosemund suggests.
<Steph> "You mean she'd only go to someone she thinks is capable?"
<El-Cideon> She gives Stephanie a wry look. "Well, I am no warrior, that is true. My ancestors blessed me with a certain degree of strength, but I suppose one should not confuse that with ferocity."
<Steph> "Eheh." Stephanie muses on this for a moment. "Say, what portals are around here, 'sides the one to Solata?"
<El-Cideon> "Most of my business exploits a gate to the plane of Water," she says. "A short ways east, then a couple weeks' descent through the bowels of Earth. Elsewise...there is some gossip about a portal to Pandemonium some ways travel west." She wrinkles her nose at this. "Though I can't say I've ever felt the need to investigate this myself."
<El-Cideon> "Oh yes," something else occurs to her, "there's some speculation the drow camp has found their own gate back to the Prime. They did not arrive here though Solata or the plane of Water, I can say that much."
<Steph> "The drow camp?"
* Franceska blinks.
<Julia> "One of the group from the casino was a dark elf, we heard speculation they came from the drow camp because of it," Julia pipes in.
<El-Cideon> Another disapproving look. "I do not deal with them, so I offer only gossip. It's said they buy slaves from the dao and mine gems somewhere across the gorge. There's little cause for them to visit Peridot, and certainly no love for their sort here, so there's little else I can say for certain. Occasionally a band of scouts drops by for supplies. Curiously well-behaved--which of course just means they're planning something dreadful, is the talk."
<Steph> "They're always planning something dreadful," muses Stephanie. "So they're amongst those with a market for slavers, huh. Thing is, we came here in the first place 'cos we're looking to track down a couple people who ended up in the care of the Dao, so to speak," she states. "We heard Granville was kinda sympathetic about this sort of thing, so that's why we were looking her up. But if she's
<Steph> nowhere to be found... how can I put this..." She peers at Nalifa. "There was this aboltionist movement here, right. But does it have any teeth?"
<El-Cideon> She looks pained as she continues. "The mayor is always keen to point out that slavery is illegal within Peridot itself, and that is in fact perfectly true. The nit to pick is that the dao tradepost itself is not in any technical sense part of the city, so if someone just happens to fall into their care, through debt or some other legal detail...well, they are readily traded to any of the dao's many outside buyers. So the trouble is doing anything within the bounds of law itself. We have plenty of support amongst the miners--the core of which I myself personally liberated after purchasing the tradepost's entire stock in what was to be the first and last time they made the mistake of doing business with me. We *could*, possibly, make an attempt to bring city production to a halt as a protest. But you do understand that without anything to trade, Peridot largely starves?"
<Franceska> "Have you tried extending the city's jurisdiction to cover the land surrounding the tradepost?"
<Steph> "Come to think of it, is the city independent, or is it part of... I dunno, a coalition of some sort?"
<El-Cideon> "That would be within the mayor's purview," she points out. "And he has consistently refused to take any action that might anger them. He seems pleased enough to let us fume and rage, but otherwise..." She just sighs. "Perfectly independent," she says to Stephanie, with considerably more satisfaction. "So far."
<Franceska> "And I don't suppose the mayor ever had family or close friends in that sort of situation?"
<El-Cideon> "Why, of course not, how could you guess?" she says with a humorless laugh.
<Steph> "What's the population of Peridot, roughly?"
<Franceska> "And I suppose his attitude might change if that, too, changed?"
<El-Cideon> "Oh, some thousands by this point. Perhaps ten or so? It seems larger every time I return. One spark of light in the darkness, well, it has a way of drawing people to it." She gives Franceska an odd look. "Why, what precisely are you considering?"
<Franceska> "A simple demonstration," Franceska responds. "While making the right bet against someone like that would work, so might approaching them for their cooperation. Would you happen to know if anyone amongst the mayor's family and friends were sympathetic to your cause?"
<El-Cideon> "He has no surviving family that I know of. As for friends, well, he is better at making underlings than friends. Guard captain Montgomery perhaps, but I do not believe there is anything in that man's head that the mayor didn't plant there himself."
<Franceska> "How unfortunate."
<Steph> "D'ya think there's anyone here who'd make a better mayor?"
<El-Cideon> She nods, sets down her empty mug. "It is." To Stephanie: "Well, I wouldn't deny he has some talents. Keeping thousands of men and women fed in a cave is no mean feat. Someone with a grasp for the intricacies of trade that keep the city alive?"
<Franceska> "You are submitting your application?"
<El-Cideon> She emits a table-shaking laugh. "I do not know if that would be fitting. Most of the citizens here were once refugees, and I have some sense it'd be best for one of their own to be in charge."
<Steph> "It's not impossible. I mean, you say that keeping the city fed is pretty hard, but I reckon if you had more stable routes, instead of relying on itinerants, it wouldn't be quite so challenging," muses Stephanie. "Ten thousand people! I figure that's enough for some of the guilds that specializing in moving food around to take notice back home. And I bet a lot of the refugees would be keen
<Steph> to get strong links with their roots. There's a platform here, just waiting for the right person."
<El-Cideon> "Perhaps," she says, contemplating. "But you came here looking for Miss Granville and here we are talking about a revolution. How long do you mean to be in town? I can question my contacts about this P.K. and see if anyone seems a match? A round of drinks alone seems a paltry thanks for standing up to the guard for me."
<Julia> "Well, it may not have been our original purpose in coming, but who actually likes slavers?" Julia asks, crossing her legs and leaning back.
<Steph> "Well, we had our own business. But it's hard to just walk away when slavers are afoot," replies Stephanie. "I think we'll be here for at least another few days?"
<Franceska> "It might well be impossible for us to return without finding out," Franceska adds sadly.
<El-Cideon> She nods. "You could, if you're exceptionally brave, chase after these brigands and question them yourselves. It's no secret they fled into the western tunnels. Oh! And to think we have demons in the city as well. Truly these are fearful times."
<Steph> "They sounded kinda strong... and they outnumber us," mumbles Stephanie. "And it's on their turf! Only a crazy person would go after them."
<Julia> "Yes, I'm not actually sure about that," Julia says, "The Furies or whatever they're called are somewhat peripheral to our goals."
<Franceska> "If we end up doing something about the dao and the practice of slavery here, we may well handle the Furies that way," Franceska muses. "Either they have no more cause to act, or they reveal their true motives."
<El-Cideon> "So who is it that you're looking for?" she asks. "When were they here? There is always a chance that this person was sold elsewhere, or freed or escaped by now."
<Steph> "We're looking for a couple heroes from Solata who got snatched up by the Dao," replies Stephanie. "They got forced to work as miners for a while, and then they got sold... fuck, one was to the drow, wasn't it?" she says, alarmed. "And the other was to... a 'glittering beast'? That eats dreams?"
<Julia> "Oh, you're right. Dark sisters does sound like them, doesn't it?"
<El-Cideon> "Brijid and William Alcembron," Rosemund pipes in. "They were heroes back in the war. They were chasing war criminals and...I do not think we know precisely how they came to be caught here? But we are told that they were!"
<Franceska> "We might take a closer look at the drow camp?" Franceska offers. "Assuming we find a guide willing to lead us there, of course."
<El-Cideon> Nalifa just frowns and shaked her head at Stephanie's odd description. "I cannot say that I know who or what that could represent."
<Franceska> "Aside from a casino?"
<Steph> Stephanie snorts. "I never thought of them like that. It's very poetic."
<El-Cideon> "Hm, well put," she agrees with a sad smile.
<Steph> "We kinda figured we'd only be able to get answers out the Dao," says Stephanie. "I figured if we heaped the pressure on them, a chance to question them in, uh, proper conditions might appear."
<El-Cideon> "Well, if you must speak to them personally--" She considers this notion with some evident distaste. "Trademaster Pomerand's shut himself up behind the tradepost walls since the casino was attacked. You could talk your way in posing as someone pursuing his bounty, I suppose?"
<Steph> "Yeah. I guess the most direct way, really, is to ask for payment in information as well as gold," mutters Stephanie. "Then actually go do the job. Sucking up to them would just feel so wrong, though."
<El-Cideon> "I understand completely," she says. "I feel sullied just being in their presence."
<El-Cideon> ~