038: I am leaving while the fire still remains

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> The Foundry is a district principally composed of stately manors and secure private dwellings; the residence of Belinda Haverbrook in particular is an austere townhouse overlooking one of the city's many magma canals. The heat and the glow from the canal shines off a heavy oak door inset with a black dragon's head crest.
<Julia> "Wait outside here, Esgara," Julia instructs her skeleton, knowing it's gauche to make a social call with undead in tow. "And don't kill anyone," she adds.
<Steph> Stephanie sweeps towards the intimidating door, then promptly knocks on it.
<El-Cideon> After a long moment's wait, you hear the sound of a bar being drawn aside within, then the door is cracked open just wide enough for someone to peer out at you. A pretty young blonde in a maid's uniform, she watches you cautiously and waits for an introduction.
<Steph> "Hello! I'm Stephanie Sundown, and I'd like to discuss some business with Ms. Haverbrook," explains Stephanie. "Would it be possible to see her?"
<El-Cideon> "We weren't expecting visitors," she says, looking over your group. "What is the nature of your business here?"
<Julia> "We're potentially in the market for weapons, or getting enchantments put on our current ones if that's an option," Julia volunteers with a pleasant smile.
<El-Cideon> "Milady's shop is on the Street of Steel," she answers. "Haverbrook Arms. You couldn't miss it. If you're making individual purchases, please pay us a visit at our place of business."
<Julia> "I see, what hours does Ms Haverbrook have at the shop, then? There's potentially quite a lot of coin involved, and we'd like to get a feel for the person we're dealing with before committing to any deal." That sounds plausible!
<El-Cideon> "I'm afraid milady has taken ill," she says, "and cannot attend to the shop in person at this time. I must apologize for the inconvenience. Head smith Beaumont is more than qualified to take any orders you may wish to make, however."
<Julia> "Oh, I see. Do pass on our best wishes for her speedy recovery," Julia says, bowing out unless someone else has a brilliant verbal strategy for bypassing this evil employer poisoning maid.
<El-Cideon> "Ah, that does mean that she is home, does it not?" Rosemund concludes. Standing next to Julia, she adds: "You know, the two of us share quite a lot of medical experience. Perhaps we could be of assistance?"
<Steph> "That's unfortunate!" says Stephanie, but she doesn't quite run away. "As it happens, however, we have some expertise in dealing with illnesses? Well, it comes with the adventuring profession," she says, laughing. "Perhaps we could be of some assistance?"
<El-Cideon> She frowns and looks over your group uncertainly. "Milady didn't send for a doctor..."
<Julia> "Obviously it's a lucky happenstance that we're here," Julia pipes up, glad for the support but doubting it'll get them past the evil maid. "But yes, myself and Rosemund here are both quite capable healers, and would be happy to try our hands at seeing Ms Haverbrook back to health."
<El-Cideon> OOC: someone involved make a diplo check? Can be Rosey if neither of you two have it
<Julia> OOC: I've been bluffing my ass off, so Rosie or Steph can do the diplo thing
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+16-2 Rosey! Steph can aid if she likes?
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+16-2 1,0Rosey! Steph can aid if she likes? --> 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{31}
<Steph> roll 1d20+10
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+10 --> 6,0[ 1d20=4 ]4,0{14}
<El-Cideon> She eyes you all for a long moment, then hauls the door open and gestures inside. "Very well...but I am sure it is nothing serious."
<Steph> Stephanie bows politely, and then heads on inside.
* Franceska feels somewhat incredulous, and wonders how to weed out such gullible maids when she finally hires a few.
<Julia> Maybe the maid really isn't evil? Or this is a ruse to get their guards down and they'll wake up tied up in the basement and missing a few vital organs... Julia resolves to stay alert as she heads inside.
<Steph> A maid is just a maid, after all; either a simpleton or a sneak! Anyone else would aim higher in life, after all.
<El-Cideon> The interior of the house is somber and dim, somewhat with the air of a mausoleum. Fabulous suits of armor line the walls inside the foyer, some bearing the same dragon's head seal as the front door. The maid leads you upstairs to the second floor. "How did you come to hear of our enterprise?" she asks on the way up. "Were you referred by another client?"
<Julia> "The bartender of the red scale lodge mentioned her when we were discussing where best to buy weapons," Julia says, glad she doesn't have to turn her back on the maid.
<El-Cideon> "Ah," she says simply. Cheery black wood paneling dominates the second floor. The maid raps on a door at the end of a corridor, opens it and pokes her head in at a word from inside. "Milady, we have visitors..." she starts. "And you let them in *why*?" a woman's voice snaps back.
<Julia> Oh. Maybe Ms Haverbrook is just a sick recluse after all? Julia is forced to reappraise her initial suspicions of the unfortunate maid.
<El-Cideon> "They were talking about placing an order," the maid manages before her employer relents and has you all ushered in. Within is an obsessively tidy office. There's a desk and cabinets and writing materials and not a pin is out of place. There are windows here, but curtains are drawn against the glare of the canal outside and a candelabra lights up the desk where Miss Haverbrook appears to be at work on sums. The woman herself is gaunt, approaching middle-age, well-dressed, with dull black hair and a shrewd look about her. She's awfully pale as well, moreso than a casual observer would guess should be healthy.
<Julia> "Yes, we were redirected to your shop but when your maid mentioned you were ill we offered our expertise," Julia says, "I'm Julia Astin and my friend Rosemund Whitefall and I are both fairly skilled healers."
<El-Cideon> She gives each of you a long, appraising look. "I am touched by her concern," she says drily. "And yes, as I'm sure she should've pointed out, mundane customers may buy from my shopkeeprs. It is what I employ them for, after all." She raises her chin proudly. "But I do coordinate bulk orders personally, should you happen to represent some greater concern."
<Franceska> "We do have another reason for our visit," Franceska speaks up, seeing no reason for more subterfuge now that they are in the presence of Belinda Haverbrook. "Due to circumstances, we ended up taking on the request to deliver this letter to you, Ms Haverbrook," she continues, taking it out and offering it to their hostess. "It was requested that it be handed directly to you."
<El-Cideon> "Requested by who?" she asks before making any move.
* Franceska now retrieves a signet ring that came with the corpse at the time, saying, "As it happens, we know none of the details, and the letter remained sealed throughout, Ms Haverbrook."
<El-Cideon> "I should hope so," she says, now taking ring and letter both. She examines the ring for a long moment before opening the letter and reading it in silence. There is no change in her expression throughout; upon completion, she looks up and asks, "Where did you find her?"
<Julia> "The deserts of Mithardir," Julia answers, "Within a ruined and long buried tower."
<El-Cideon> "You came a very long way to deliver a letter," she observes.
<Franceska> "We take our responsibilities seriously, regardless of how we came by them."
<Steph> And this is just one of the happier moments where they coincide, muses Stephanie. "But don't think we don't have a professional interest in your work as well!"
<El-Cideon> This prompts a respectful nod. "You range far in your travels," she assumes with some apparent curiosity. "No doubt you expect compensation for your services? I cannot say it would be unwarranted."
<Julia> "We received compensation in advance," Julia says honestly.
<Franceska> "Julia is correct, and before we discuss placing any orders might my companions offer you their medical expertise? It is quite top notch, I assure you."
<El-Cideon> With a short, humorless laugh: "Of course, I have no doubt she remained a professional to the very end," she replies to Julia. "I am sure it is nothing," she says stiffly in response to Franceska. "A disagreeable lunch. No doubt it will pass."
<Julia> "Well, we can't treat you against your will," Julia accepts that.
<El-Cideon> "A leading cause of death among those of advancing age is a refusal to see a doctor!" Rosemund insists with as much delicacy as this statement could possibly be delivered.
<El-Cideon> Belinda offers Rosemund a disapproving glare but admits, "I suppose it would only be prudent."
<Steph> Maybe the maid takes after her master, and caves under the slightest pressure? "Should we give you some room?" asks Stephanie, glancing at Julia and Rosemund.
<Julia> "If you like," Julia says, asking afterwards, "Could you describe how you're feeling unwell, first?"
<El-Cideon> She nods to her maid to show Franceska and Stephanie the parlor, and provide refreshment if desired, before attending to Julia's inquiry.
* Franceska gets out of the way, trusting in Julia to keep Rosemund safe.
<El-Cideon> "It was simply an uncharacteristic fatigue at first, which I dismissed as of no consequence, until it brought with it an ache in my head and a kind of mental fog," she explains. "Today, I've not been able to retain a meal. Some great fist has itself clenched about my stomach, it seems."
<El-Cideon> The maid leads Franceska and Stephanie to a comfortable sitting room downstairs. "Is there anything I can provide for you?" she asks.
<Julia> roll 1d20+12 heal to diagnose
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+12 1,0heal to diagnose --> 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{17}
<Franceska> "Something to drink," Franceska muses, before amending with, "Something that wouldn't be fatal to me like most local drinks."
<Steph> "I'm disturbed at how many drinks there are like that," notes Stephanie. "Oh, the same for me, please."
<El-Cideon> "Milady prefers tea," the maid says. "Will that be satisfactory?"
<Franceska> "Tea would be fine."
<El-Cideon> She bows and scuttles off.
* Julia frowns slightly and decides a second opinion would be good before she goes back to her 'evil maid' hypothesis. "Rosemund, a word please?" she gestures to her companion and whispers out of earshot from Belinda, "Did you notice the tremor? Along with the other symptoms, it sounds like arsenic poisoning. Does that sound right to you? Can you test for it magically?"
<Steph> "Geez, I don't like this city. Feels like it's gnawing at my head," mutters Stephanie, leaning back in the chair. "How 'bout you?"
<Franceska> "Are you quite certain it's not just your head? As for this city, I suppose I dislike it on principle."
<Steph> "I haven't had a concussion in weeks, you know!"
<El-Cideon> "There is a spell for that," Rosemund acknowledges.
<El-Cideon> The maid returns to the parlor with a pair of porcelain teacups on a plate, steaming merrily.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund turns back to her patient. "If you will permit me to cast a simple spell for the purpose of diagnosis?" Belinda hesitates, but nods. Rosemund chants a brief prayer for divine insight and then focuses her gaze on the ailing woman.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20-1
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20-1 --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{17}
* Franceska checks for poison when the cup is placed before her, being in a foreign house. "Why is it you think that every city we visit has slavery?" she wonders out loud, glancing at Stephanie. "And inevitably compels young women, at that?"
<El-Cideon> "She is most certainly poisoned!" Rosemund blurts out with wide eyes.
<El-Cideon> Franceska detects no foul contaminants in her drink, unless sugar cubes count.
* Julia nods at that confirmation. "You're not ill, someone is poisoning you. With arsenic, I believe."
* Franceska thanks the nice maid, taking a sip.
<El-Cideon> Belinda narrows her eyes. "So it's come to that, has it?" She doesn't sound awfully surprised, though she does draw a shawl about herself as if suddenly cold. "Is it curable?" she queries. "Or shall I only deteriorate further?"
<El-Cideon> Franceska finds her drink quite satisfactorily prepared! The maid withdraws upon serving her guests.
<Steph> Stephanie grimaces, and takes the cup as well. "A whole lotta people accept that if you're rich, or if you're powerful, you can do whatever you like to people," she says. "And a lotta people want to do things they like to young women. Never mind that having more women means you get to have more little slaves and bastards around, long term. But you get the picture."
<Julia> "Oh, it's easily curable with magic. And even without so long as you stop being exposed to the poison and don't inflict any other sort of stress on your body you'll recover in time," Julia nods. "Even without a cure, a restoration spell should perk you up immediately. Rosemund, can you do something for her?"
<Franceska> "Which just makes me wonder why someone would want to live here," Franceska insists. "Is it really as simple as being stuck here with no means to leave?"
<El-Cideon> "Of course!" Rosemund is only happy to oblige, and on chanting a prayer to the lord of sunlight to purge the stricken woman from her infirmities, Belinda soon looks much healthier. Though she retains the essential look of a gaunt, calculating spinster, color returns to her complexion and she's notably more composed.
<Steph> Stephanie shrugs. "Magical research or something?" she replies, uncertainly. "I'm sure the commoners have little choice. Planar travel is expensive..."
<Julia> "So, do you have any suspicions as to who's been poisoning you?" Julia asks, certain it's the maid.
<El-Cideon> She fiddles with the letter on her desk. "Most like one of my business partners arranged it, if my sister's to be believed," she says. "And a dying woman has little reason to lie."
<Franceska> "Maybe Air will be nicer? I was considering recruiting some help for my houses here, but if people really might do anything to leave, it would be difficult to trust in their motives for accepting."
<Julia> Arranged it with the help of a maid? Anyway, since they're not being asked to help Julia considers her part in this over. "Well, with that done I suppose all that's left is the business of weapons? I think our friend Stephanie was most interested in that, if you feel ready to see her again?" she asks, not having much use for weapons herself, magical or otherwise.
<Steph> Stephanie shrugs. "How many people can we shift at once, anyway?"
<El-Cideon> "Perhaps so," she says, standing up and adopting a more confident posture. "You've been...helpful," she acknowledges carefully. "Are you prepared to be moreso?"
<Franceska> "It doesn't really matter, actually. If Rosemund just sends me away with a few, I can teleport over to our destination. Then we'll all meet up."
<Steph> "Well, there you go. Just find a few candidates who'd be interested in both moving and the work," replies Stephanie. "I mean, geez, how many people do you even need?"
<Franceska> "A very good point. How many maids do you need for two mansions?"
<Julia> "Possibly, assuming Stephanie and Franceska are interested," Julia says, not having to ask to know Rosemund will leap at the chance to thwart poisoners.
<Steph> "Four, I guess? You don't have any family that needs taking care of, right? So you just need two per house to keep them tidy, and to keep themselves company."
* Franceska nods slowly. "We can manage that. How about wages? It would be nice to compare our thoughts on that."
<El-Cideon> "I begin to suspect I have overstayed my welcome in Brass," Belinda admits. "I may require safe escort in the near future. If that does not impinge upon your own business..." She waves the letter again. "My sister directs me to Arcadia."
<El-Cideon> "Well, we do have, ah, other meetings to make before we can leave the city," Rosemund admits.
<Julia> "We may also have to leave in a hurry. Assuming not though I'm sure we can oblige a small side trip to Arcadia with you."
<El-Cideon> She nods. "I'll pack what I require. Could we confirm our plans on the morrow at the latest? I am loathe to tempt further assaults on my health."
<Julia> "Of course. Shall we see ourselves out, then?" Julia asks.
<Steph> "I'd say a good maid is about as important as a good guard... especially since you need them on retainer, ready whenever you want to throw some big party or whatever, right?" muses Stephanie. "I guess... I don't know. If you're just keeping a small household, you can afford to be generous with your first hires. Ten gold a week, four maids, that's... a couple thousand gold a year. Good service
<Steph> would be worth that. Especially if you want to keep your business confidential."
<El-Cideon> "You had an inquiry about armaments, did you not?" she recalls, adopting a businesslike tone once again.
<Julia> "Ah yes, well lets go get Stephanie and Franceska back for that?" she asks.
<El-Cideon> "Of course." She sits at her desk and rifles through the drawers.
* Julia goes to find and recover the duo. Assuming they haven't been poisoned.
<El-Cideon> The maid is waiting patiently at the top of the stairs. "Shall I see you out now?" she offers.
<Julia> "No, could you get my two friends? Ms Haverbrook is ready to discuss business with us now and I'm not equipped for that conversation," Julia tells her.
<El-Cideon> "Yes, of course." The young woman disappears downstairs to retrieve Franceska and Stephanie before ushering the whole group back into the office. "Now," Belinda says in a professional air with the group reassembled. "Weapons, is it?"
<Steph> Stephanie nods. "Always looking to improve those! So what's your speciality?" she asks, curiously.
<El-Cideon> "My family has always had an eye for quality steel," she says proudly. "Whatever form you require it in, we may capably shape. Magical enhancements may be provided if desired and, though I admit to no great stock of adamantine, we can otherwise provide most exotic materials you might desire."
<Steph> "Do you provide the enhancements yourself?" asks Stephanie, still curious. "When we're talking about weapons for my personal use, that is the key factor that differentiates them."
<El-Cideon> "Myself personally?" She sounds surprised. "Of course not. But we do retain skilled artificers on staff for this purpose. What manner of enhancements are you seeking?"
<Steph> "Oh, definitely a vampire sword! Can they make those? A sword that heals your wounds is the best possible sword that could ever exist- that isn't a holy sword, of course."
<Franceska> "A fitting sword for you."
<Julia> "Hurting your foes and healing yourself is always productive," Julia agrees.
<El-Cideon> "Expensive," she acknowledges. She starts to scribble something on a sheet of parchment, then looks up. "But possible. Which manner of sword do you favor?"
<Steph> "Rapiers, daggers, short swords... I've got some magical ones with me, you think they can be improved?" muses Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> "If you wish," she says, "or we could provide any of those implements new. Here--" She rolls up the parchment, seals it with her sister's ring, then hands it over. "Convey this to the clerk at Haverbrook Arms and they'll provide you with what you wish. A new weapon with one enchantment, or one such enhancement added to an existing weapon of your choice. Half price, in recognition of services rendered--" she nods to Julia, "--and yet to come."
* Julia nods, but will save explanations for when they're away from evil maids.
<Steph> Stephanie looks curious, but shrugs her shoulders. "Pleasure!" The real reason, of course, is that the tingly feeling when you get healed feels so nice, and now she'll get to feel it with every blow...
<El-Cideon> "Very good. And before we part--where might I find you all should your services prove of more immediate importance than anticipated?"
<Julia> "We're staying at the red scale lodge," Julia says.
<El-Cideon> She nods, and, the audience at an end, the maid is shortly ushering you out.
<Steph> "What's this about, Julia?" asks Stephanie, curiously, after they're outside.
<El-Cideon> "She was poisoned!" Rosemund utters in a scandalous whisper.
<Julia> Once safely outside and reunited with her skeleton, she's happy to speak up! "She thinks one of her business rivals has been poisoning her. If we're able after our other errand here, she'd like transport to Arcadia. Apparently the letter was from her sister and recommended such."
<Franceska> "Ah. Does she have any idea how?"
<Julia> "She didn't offer any suspicions. Personally I think the maid's in on it. She seems awfully shifty if you ask me."
<Steph> "See? That's why you have to pay your maids well!"
<Franceska> "She didn't try to poison us, at least."
<Julia> "Clearly she wasn't paid to do so."
<Steph> "Clearly if she did, she'd know that two healers would be right there- and we'd know she did it."
<Franceska> "If her current employer fires her over this, do you think she would like to come work for me?"
<Steph> "Would you really want a maid who might be poisoning her boss?"
<El-Cideon> Rosemund blinks. "You would want her to?"
<Franceska> "Yes."
<Julia> "Why?" Julia asks, baffled.
<Franceska> "Because I know how to test for poison, of course."
<El-Cideon> "Franceska," Rosemund says carefully, "there are many other ways for someone who wishes to kill you to do so, you know?"
<Steph> "Oh, it doesn't just stop at poison," chimes in Stephanie. "I mean, a maid has access to everything. I heard about a maid who hid a venomous snake in her master's privy!"
<Franceska> "Why would a maid have access to that?!"
<Steph> "Because they clean it!"
<Julia> "Would you clean it yourself?"
<Franceska> "Yes!"
<Steph> Stephanie stares at Franceska. "Why do you even need a maid, then?"
<Franceska> "To turn people away. Did we not go over this already?"
<Steph> "That's not a maid. That's a bouncer," replies Stephanie, shaking her head slowly. "You need burly, intimidating people for that. Like that gith monk."
<Franceska> "And she is doing an admirable job, but some people still get through," Franceska laments.
<Steph> "Yeah, you really need proper guards or anyone might just sneak in and sleep in your guestroom," agrees Stephanie.
<Franceska> "The way you say it suggests you dismiss my very valid concerns."
<Steph> "I'm not even really pretending to understand them. To begin with, why do you even need two mansions?"
<Julia> "How many times has it happened before?"
<Franceska> "I wouldn't know, considering how here I am in this city of slaves instead of home," Franceska says sadly.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund walks off along the canal back towards the direction of the Red Scale Lodge. "Shall we head back to the inn and see if Anton's returned yet?" she suggests.
<Steph> Stephanie grimaces. "It does make you feel a bit powerless," she admits, before she nods. "Let's."
* Franceska nods her agreement.
<El-Cideon> Anton's staked out a corner table in the common room upon your return, legs propped up on the table but with a cautious eye on the door with what must be habitual wariness. Occupying yet not precisely sitting on a chair nearby is a restless cloud composed of small spheres of light.
<Steph> "Hey, lantern archons?" asks Stephanie, walking towards the table and pulling up a chair.
<El-Cideon> A chorus of "Yes!" ripples out from the cloud in saintly harmony.
<El-Cideon> "Found these little guys hanging out all forlorn down the street from the Captain's house," Anton explains. "Bit pitiful, really."
<Julia> "Hello," Julia says to the archon, asking Anton after, "Made a new friend already?" as she takes a nearby seat, her skeleton looming nearby.
<El-Cideon> There's a nervous ripple in the cloud at Esgara's proximity.
<El-Cideon> "I'm led to believe they're more than one entity," Anton observes, "though sometimes it's hard to tell."
<Steph> "They've got this trick where they all join up into a big ball of holy doom! I heard that in a sermon once," says Stephanie, glancing at Rosemund for confirmation.
<El-Cideon> "They can be very fearsome in large numbers," Rosemund asserts.
<Julia> "They're very cute," Julia agrees, otherwise having little interest in creatures without skeletal systems.
<Franceska> "How horrifying," Franceska mutters quietly, taking her seat. "I don't suppose they have any useful information to share?"
<El-Cideon> "Not fearsome enough," the cloud despairs. "Not without help. Anton said you might help."
<Steph> "I'm down for good causes. What's the go, Anty?"
<El-Cideon> "The gang was supposed to be minding a girl named Vigilia. She's gone and they think she got herself inside the Captain's manor somehow."
<Steph> "On purpose?"
<Franceska> "Who is she, in any case?"
<El-Cideon> "She disappeared!" the archons chorus. "Right in front of us!" one chimes in. "Someone magicked her away. She was our responsibility and now she's gone!" The despairing tone is soon replaced by hopeful vengeance. "We have to find her and punish the one responsible!"
<Steph> Stephanie looks rather dubious, now. "Yeah, if you don't gut the mage who did it, nothing stopping them doing it again," she mutters. "You sure she'd be in the captain's place?"
<Julia> "We're good at punishing responsible parties," Julia says agreeably.
<El-Cideon> "She went there to ask questions," the mob explains. "We told her not to, but she doesn't always do what we tell her to do." "Only most of the time!" "We convinced her not to go inside...but the soldier's patron, she was VERY interested in Vigilia!" "She did it, the devil!"
<Steph> "Where's she?"
<El-Cideon> "In the house. They won't let us in!" "And when we talked to the city authorities, they didn't help at ALL!" "They said we didn't have any proof." "We don't, but we know evil when we see it!"
<Julia> "Okay, so have you learned much about the Captain's security arrangements?" Julia asks Anton, filing away that there's at least one devil in residence.
<Steph> "Yeah, and who goes in and out normally?"
<El-Cideon> "Yeah, I saw that much," Anton says. "He's not taking much in the way of chances. He's got goons on the roof with bows--they're these kind of winged dogs things, I dunno what they are, he didn't keep anything like that around Ashpile. The gang here says a nightmare's flown in once or twice. And I promise you he does have a mage in service somewhere. Fool named Tolliver, the Captain used him to keep in touch with Ashpile and 'port him around when he needed to check on his men in the field. Mean little bastard, got fire in his blood."
<El-Cideon> "Other than that," he adds, "got some servants coming and going. Stocking up for some party, I gather."
<Franceska> "Can we secure an invitation to said party?"
<Steph> "And who's catering?"
<El-Cideon> He shrugs. "Track down his friends--or clients I guess, doubt he has much in the way of friends, wouldn't know what the word means, would he? Someone around the city's probably got one. Could try making more, but--" he frowns, "--forging's not much of a personal forte. You could follow one of his servants maybe, see where they go. Need some way to get in--there's a moat around the house, so unless you can swim molten fire you find an excuse to walk through the front door or take the servant's entrance. Though I guess alternately, more than one castle's fallen 'cause of no one minding the basement for sappers."
<Steph> "Yeah, I don't want to try digging on this plane. On Earth, you know you'll run into rock- here, who fucking knows?" muses Stephanie. "But if we get us an invitation, I could probably scribble us a few more."
<Franceska> "Would it be difficult to find out if Haverbrook Arms had any dealings with him at all?"
<El-Cideon> "Well, it's not so much digging I figure as it is...Brass is a big city, and all big cities have got their undercity to channel all the filth away."
<El-Cideon> Another shrug. "He's a big company, they're a big company. Could be?"
<Franceska> "It would be my first choice of seeking out an invitation. What sort of timetable does it seem like we are on?"
<El-Cideon> He shakes his head. "I just don't know. I couldn't chance talking to anyone directly. The Captain knows me, right? Just had to hide and watch."
<Steph> "You should get a hat like mine! I really wish I hadn't left it with that woman," mutters Stephanie. "Um, do we have a spell that would let us swim through molten fire?"
<El-Cideon> Rosemund looks at Franceska. "Do we? It does stop us from burning up outside the city..."
<Franceska> "Why not just buy a new hat?"
<Franceska> "I could manage it, but it would be only one way."
<Steph> "When you buy them, you usually get put on a list of untrustworthy people. That's why I stole mine."
<Julia> "There's a list?" Julia perks up. "Why not steal it and scribble your name out? And mine too if you see it there."
<Franceska> "How ridiculous. If it bothers you that much, I can buy one for you for a mere ten percent fee."
<Steph> "I bet you'll even lie about your name to the black market mage you buy it off!"
<El-Cideon> "Franceska is fine with being considered untrustworthy?" Rosemund concludes from this conversation.
<Franceska> "I don't need a hat to change my looks."
<Steph> "She's a lawyer, she's on all the lists already."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund nods!
<El-Cideon> ~