<El-Cideon> It's mid-afternoon by the time everyone meets up again--or so the clocks standing at Peridot's major intersections tell you, the natural environment of Earth giving no worldly clue otherwise to what time of day it might be elsewhere. Stephanie and Franceska lead Julia and Rosemund (fresh from playing medic across town) to lodgings they found at a modest inn called The Broken Rudder. It's set up on the eastern edge of the town and seems to cater to travelers. The proprietor, a jowly stub of a man who names himself Hager, loiters behind the bar while a petite blonde serving girl far too comely to bear any relation to him delivers food and drinks to those who might wish any.
<Julia> Julia all too gladly sinks into a seat, her legs killing her after the journey here and then traipsing around town. "Ohhh... I don't suppose there's a bath or a masseuse here is there?" she asks hopefully.
<El-Cideon> "Oh, it was a terrible mess!" Rosemund announces to the others as she sits down, more concerned about wanton violence than her own fatigue (obvious enough after trucking about town in armor). "Someone wrought quite a devastation upon the gambling house, that is for certain. And quite heedless of life. There were so many injuries!"
<El-Cideon> "Not on staff," the serving girl pipes in. "I could direct you to one?" she starts, despite a disapproving eye from her employer at this attempt to steer customers elsewhere.
<Franceska> "That would be perfect," Franceska tells her, quite content to discuss that rather than casualties.
<Julia> "No dao, though. They have their own place," Julia begins before smiling widely at the serving girl. "Oh, you are a dear!" she gives the blonde a couple of gold coins. "Can you get me a glass of wine first, though?" She's quite thirsty too.
<Stephanie> "Beer here," requests Stephanie, propping her feet up on the table. "So, what're we gonna do? We got any idea who knocked these places over?"
<El-Cideon> "Of course," she says with a polite nod, retrieving that and a glass of cool water for Rosemund. "There is a public bath house near the government center," she continues. "The mayor maintains it from our taxes. Owing to the scarcity of water, the supply must be monitored carefully. As for a masseuse, well--" She blushes prettily. "The Red Rose mostly deals in...other services...but I am sure any of the girls would be glad to administer something as simple as a massage."
<Julia> "We have descriptions," Julia provides. "A demon woman with spiky hands, an orc, a bird woman, a woman with white hair, and a dark elf. We know the dark elf favoured flame, the white-haired woman favoured frost, and the demon woman seemed to be the leader." Taking her drink now she smiles gratefully after a sip, "And I think I could manage walking a little further to reach that bath, thank
<Julia> you dear."
<Stephanie> "A bird woman? Down here? For real?"
<Franceska> "It does seem to be the place you would least expect one," Franceska agrees.
<El-Cideon> "They kept calling the demonic lady 'Your Grace,'" Rosemund recalls. "The employee we spoke to thought that this was a very inappropriate title! Apparently the lot of them took all the money, killed anyone trying to stop them, then tore the roof down and ran."
<Julia> "And because of the dark elf they thought the group might have come from the nearby drow camp," Julia adds.
<El-Cideon> "What awful neighbors these poor people have," Rosemund sympathizes.
<Franceska> "Would they serve some demon woman?" Fraceska wonders. "Drow as a whole, I mean."
<Stephanie> "Sounds like the place they knocked over was pretty awful, too," notes Stephanie.
<Stephanie> "Why not? Maybe they do! It'd explain why they're all such bitches!"
<El-Cideon> "Oh, there was a house that was smashed in as well, although the guardsman on duty did not have much to say about it," Rosemund adds. "It is the house of the lady sorcerer we heard about? And there were more of those boxy people standing around the street for some reason. I think that is all we saw?"
<Julia> "The modron wasn't very informative," Julia adds in a put upon tone.
<Stephanie> "I bet you weren't talking to it right," replies Stephanie, before leaning forward. "Hang on. The same lady sorcerer who pulled a fast one on the casino? That sorceress?"
<El-Cideon> "But he was very dapper," Rosemund adds. "He had a monocle and everything."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund nods to Stephanie. "I think that this is very suspicious, is it not?"
<Franceska> "I--" Franceska shakes her head. "Never mind about that right now. How about having a chat with that sorceress first thing, then?"
<Stephanie> "If she's still alive. Is she still alive?"
<El-Cideon> "I...do not know," Rosemund says, looking to Julia. "There was not much left of the house, was there?"
* Julia nods. "Unless she escaped beforehand she must be dead, but if she did escape we don't know where to look."
<Franceska> "Starting with her neighbours might give us a lead."
<Stephanie> "Where do you go? A bunch of lunatics comes around to kill you? You usually go hide with your friends. And if you don't have any friends, you go where people ain't gonna find you. Like a house you know's unoccupied or something," muses Stephanie. "Actually, if you got the crap beaten out of you, the first place you go is a cleric," she adds.
<El-Cideon> "Oh yes, that is very true," Rosemund adds from personal experience.
<El-Cideon> "Sometimes I wonder if that only encourages some people to go out and get hurt even more," she adds on reflection.
<Stephanie> "Not if you're billing them!"
<Franceska> "Yes."
<Franceska> "No, even then."
<Stephanie> "It makes sure they're getting hurt in a productive way."
<Franceska> "I suppose I can agree with that."
<El-Cideon> "Well, where shall we go first?" Rosemund asks. "Sometime we must find out what happened to those two heroes, the ones that the twins said were here with the Dao? But...but maybe we can talk to nicer people first and see if that is more helpful."
<Stephanie> "Think about it," says Stephanie. "We're gonna have to go through the Dao to get these people, right?" she points out. "Might help to make a few powerful friends around here before we tangle with a group as tough as them. You know?"
<Julia> "I'd like to go for a bath or at least sleep first," Julia says, finishing off her wine.
<Stephanie> "Tell you what, I'll do the hard work tonight, and we'll meet up in the mornin'?"
<El-Cideon> "Are you not at all tired?" Rosemund asks Stephanie with some amazement. "I for one cannot wait to rid myself of this armor!"
<Stephanie> "Yeah, see, that's why I don't wear it," replies Stephanie. "Anyway, this won't be but a couple hours, I'm hoping."
<Stephanie> roll 1d20+10 let's roll! and hopefully reconvene.
* Hatbot --> "Stephanie rolls 1d20+10 let's roll! and hopefully reconvene. and gets 28."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> Rosemund sheds her armor and deposits it in her room before accompanying Julia to the public bath house. Bathing turns out to be communal here, somewhat to Rosemund's embarrassment and discomfort. Meanwhile, Stephanie buys drinks and greases palms and no doubt has something to show for it the next morning...
<Stephanie> "This chick's awesome! I'd buy her a drink. Maybe more than one," Stephanie says, on her first beer of the day when everyone gathers for breakfast. "Sounds like she kept pushing to evict all the Dao 'cos they were slavers. Said bad shit about the mayor for letting them kick around," she explains. "A real rabble-rouser. There was this tavern she used to hang out at, where she'd chat up people
<Stephanie> like herself. You know?"
<Julia> "Did you ask after her there?" Julia asks.
<Stephanie> "Well, no. I got tired," replies Stephanie. She leans forward. "I bet it's the mayor. Or someone in the mayor's office. He's the big winner here, right?"
<Franceska> "How about visiting the tavern before we accuse the authorities of anything?"
<Stephanie> "Yeah, we wouldn't want to do that without getting properly sloshed," agrees Stephanie.
<Franceska> "That is not quite what I meant, but far be it for me to stop you."
<El-Cideon> "I do not believe it would help your case," Rosemund adds in a chiding tone.
<Stephanie> "Yeah, that was sarcasm. Who accuses the authorities of things? That doesn't ever work, they're the authorities!"
<Franceska> "It depends on the venue you use to accuse them of misbehaving, of course!"
<Stephanie> "Oh. Yes, when you put it that way..."
<El-Cideon> The Storm's Eye turns out to be just a couple blocks down from the destroyed house Julia and Rosemund visited yesterday. You can actually see the wreckage from the front stoop. The tavern is fronted in white marble, and on the interior the bare stone walls are livened up with tapestries of far-off wild lands, full of natural greens and blues not otherwise seen around Earth. In the morning at least it seems a quiet place with aspirations of class. Black-uniformed waitresses serve patrons, there's a barman in a suit, and a harpist playing quietly in one corner. The breakfast crowd is somewhat thin, seeming mostly local professionals and merchants getting a hearty start to their day, but is not without some striking specimens:
<El-Cideon> Sharing a table near the musician are two well-dressed women: one wears a glossy black dress, cut low but without much in the way of feminine charms to display--her figure and face are almost androgynous in appearance, her hair short, slicked back, and violently red; her companion wears an austere white gown and boasts a face and figure that would be the envy of any fashionable courtier were it not for the diminutive horns thrusting out through her mane of buttery blonde hair and the scaly patches around her eyes. Elsewhere is an impassive monolith of a man dressed in old leathers, working at a mighty slab of beef.
<Julia> Having eaten at the broken rudder, Julia isn't that tempted by the pleasing breakfast smells, and looks to just follow Stephanie's lead in dealing with the patrons here for now.
<El-Cideon> "How does this work?" Rosemund whispers quietly to Stephanie. "Do we just...walk up to strangers and ask them questions?"
<Franceska> As people dither, Franceska walks up to the bar and takes a seat.
<Stephanie> "How do you meet people if you don't do that?" asks Stephanie, walking towards the table where the horned woman sits. "Yo! Mind if we join you?"
<El-Cideon> The bartender is a slender man with graying hair and an admirably unobtrusive manner. "Good morning, Miss. How may we serve you?"
<Julia> Be nice if it was that easy! Still, maybe she can learn something so Julia follows Stephanie and smiles at the presumed tiefling. "If it's not any imposition?" she suggests more demurely. Thing meanwhile perks up on her arm and sniffs around curiously.
<El-Cideon> "It'd be a shame to waste an empty chair when it might better entertain us occupied," she allows in a voice like velvet, motioning to the two seats across from the pair.
<Franceska> "Something local," Franceska requests, taking off her hat and placing it on the counter next to her.
<El-Cideon> "Local products are rocks and gems, which are notoriously difficult to distill into potable form," the bartender replies with a slight smile. "But that is not to say we have not tried." He retrieves a bottle from beneath the bar and fills a narrow glass with something translucent, silver, and glittering. It flows almost like molasses. "This was once crystal, liquefied through arcane means. Not to everyone's appetite, one must admit."
<Stephanie> "Yeah, I mean, it looks just like you're waiting for someone," muses Stephanie, grabbing a seat. "Name's Steph, and you?" she asks, doffing her hat, and revealing jutting horns from her forehead.
<Franceska> "What does not finish you off only makes you stronger," Franceska says, nodding to herself. "I would like to have a glass."
<Julia> "Thank you, I'm Julia," Julia provides and slides into a seat, ignoring her familiar for now. "We're actually trying to track down someone we believe was a regular here. Don't take this the wrong way, but do you come here often?"
<El-Cideon> Rosemund dithers awkwardly for a moment before pulling a chair over from another table. No one seems to mind. "Often enough to know anyone worth knowing," the redhead says. Despite her mannish appearance, her voice is richly feminine, knowing and amused. "Oh, well met," the blond perks up. "Is this a long lost cousin come to claim me, I wonder?"
<El-Cideon> The barman sets the glass before Franceska. "One may advise breathing deeply beforehand."
<Stephanie> "Now wouldn't that be a grand coincidence! You're into your family history?" asks Stephanie.
* Franceska gives him a measuring look, before nodding and taking a breath. Then, it's time to try an exotic drink!
<Julia> "Ah, good," Julia smiles at the redhead while Stephanie chats up her potential kin. "It's a Miss Granville we're looking for. Her house is just down the street but hopefully she wasn't inside of it when it fell down."
<El-Cideon> "Ah, well, perhaps if I had the slightest inkling who they were it would be a more fruitful endeavor. But I do entertain myself with conjecture over precisely what they were? Which one cannot help but suspect should prove much more entertaining than the truth, should it somehow find me."
<El-Cideon> The redhead clicks her tongue. "Ah, that is the popular question, isn't it? No one's seen a hair of her since the night before last, but the word is the watch hasn't found a body from digging through the rubble. Save her cats, the poor dears. I am Charlotte, by the way, and my companion far too in love with herself to make an introduction is Lady Mercedes."
<Stephanie> "Yeah, I'm with you there! Half the reason I figured out swords was so I'd have a great way to greet them in case they ever did. But I figure nobody'll chase down a bastard like me." replies Stephanie. "What's ya name- oh, there it is. Lady Mercedes? A proper lady, landed and titled?" she asks. "You did pretty well!"
<El-Cideon> Franceska finds it cold, but not unpleasantly so--it's more like the cool relief of stepping into a pool at the end of a hot day, spreading throughout her throat as the drink oozes its way down. It's a nice sensation, though oddly without a distinct flavor?
<Franceska> "Feels more like something you might want to drink while visiting Fire," she muses. "Unless you were a native, of course."
<El-Cideon> "Don't tease them," Mercedes chides her companion. "The proper title is 'Madam.' So what business do you have with Aria?"
<El-Cideon> "An experiment I am pleased to allow you to make on my behalf," the barman says with a respectful nod.
<Franceska> "Is it that rare to get travelers from other planes over here?" Franceska asks curiously.
<Stephanie> "I guess you could say we've got common interests?" muses Stephanie. "We might have a bit of a beef with the Dao," she adds. "So, you know... I heard this was the bar to be at?"
<Julia> "It's a pleasure to meet you," Julia greets the freshly named duo. "We're just arrived in town, trying to track down certain people that have left the prime behind. During our last excursion we actually rescued a lady resident of Peridot, and she spoke very highly of Miss Granville, but was also worried for her. We thought it prudent to meet her in that case."
<El-Cideon> "Oh, not at all," the barman says. "In point of fact, Peridot could not survive without trade. There is little enough to sustain a person in these caverns, let alone a town. Without outside relations, I simply do not know where we would be."
* Franceska nods slowly. "My guide told me it was dangerous for some caravans, though. Raiders, was it? And to forget solitary travel altogether."
<El-Cideon> "Oh yes," Mercedes says. "Quite the regular meeting place for the most strident abolitionists, though whether they will continue to do so in light of an open assault upon their ringleader shall be interesting to see."
<Stephanie> "But they did attack the casino as well," notes Stephanie. "Quite a notable place for creating so-called indentured servants, no? I think there's a mixed message, don't you?"
<El-Cideon> "There are some," the barman allows after stepping aside to deliver a glass of wine to another customer. "But less than one might expect. Back home, bandits may scavenge from the wilds in between their raids. Here, survival is a more tenuous thing. There are predatory hazards, to be sure, and no caravan should disembark without its squad of protectors, but the true risk is often the world itself. Tunnel collapses and the like, yes?"
* Franceska glances up in surprise, before nodding again. "Ah yes. That is a thing here. Does it happen naturally, then? I would have suspected sabotage in some way."
<Julia> "That's what I'm unsure about. The casino was very blatantly robbed and pulled down by a group of five, but I can't find out exactly what happened to Miss Granville's house."
<Stephanie> "D'ya know which order it happened in?" muses Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> "Not the same band?" Mercedes asks, exchanging looks with her companion. "We'd not heard of anyone seeing who it was sacked poor Aria's house," Charlotte clarifies. "One evening it was there, the next morning it was not. There was the noise of some great disaster overnight and that is all any witness seems able to recount. There ARE those who think it was just some magical experiment gone awry, but mostly that's the lot who thinks she was frankly a bit of a pill to begin with."
<El-Cideon> "No doubt whatsoever about what happened to Ol' Breck's," Mercedes agrees. "They were not shy in going about their work. And do you know Trademaster Pomerand's posted a bounty on anyone can bring back their heads?" She laughs delightfully. "I do not imagine he shall be losing any coin on that venture, from what we hear of that lot."
<El-Cideon> Charlotte nods to Stephanie's query. "I wasn't about to witness either, but all I hear points to the casino hit occurring first."
<Julia> "They did sound quite formidable according to the workers who were there," Julia agrees.
<Stephanie> "I heard one of them was a demon woman," adds Stephanie. "
<Stephanie> "They're the ones who give the rest of us a bad name, you know?"
<El-Cideon> The barman busies himself wiping a glass clean as he continues. "Naturally often enough, yes. The world itself shifts of its own accord. It is an act of constant vigilance on behalf of our civil employees that keeps the tunnels around us stable."
* Franceska snorts. "I did not expect to hear praise for the civil service here, I must admit," she voices, before ordering herself another drink.
<Julia> "That was the leader I think. Got called your grace, had big claws for hands," Julia chimes in.
<El-Cideon> "I was working that night," Mercedes says, mock defensively, adding with a laugh, "though I could not possibly divulge who with. This mystery woman HAS made the business of being me somewhat more complicated, however. I receive markedly more disparaging looks than I am accustomed to, I should have you know. Perhaps we should launch a suit for defamation of character?"
<Stephanie> roll 1d20+11 let's sense that motive
* Hatbot --> "Stephanie rolls 1d20+11 let's sense that motive and gets 28."12 [1d20=17]
<Julia> "I happen to know a very good lawyer," Julia smiles widely, glancing over at Franceska.
<El-Cideon> "There's enough chatter now to gather a picture of what the group looked like," Charlotte confirms. "More than five, it sounds like, but when the boss looks something like the offspring of a lava flow and rosebush, well, you can forgive someone for forgetting to note the precise number of plain old humans in her gang."
<Stephanie> "It's a bit sad that the town couldn't do anything in the face of something so brazen! The guard must be understaffed," muses Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> "And why would that be, may I ask?" the bartender says, raising the bottle to inquire whether Franceska wants more of the same or something new.
<Julia> "An orc, a bird-woman, and a dark elf," Julia supplies. "I think the woman with white hair was possibly the only human, but she seemed notedly formidable."
* Franceska nods in response. "It cannot be any real secret that the disaffected gather here," she muses, "if I heard about it my first day here."
<El-Cideon> "Oh, we have an ample supply of guardsmen, believe me," Charlotte says with a put-upon laugh that Mercedes shares. "But they're rarely present at the casino. Algus keeps his own security staff and thanks the mayor for keeping his nose out. Served him well this time, didn't it just?"
<El-Cideon> "A wizard, is the word," Mercedes says to Julia. "The story is that she demolished the building herself before they left."
<Stephanie> "What spell do you even use to do that?" asks Stephanie, glancing at Julia.
<Julia> "I don't know, but I treated lots of very bad frostbite cases that were attributed to her."
<El-Cideon> "That is so," the bartender says. "But you must understand that despite our disagreements, all of us--especially those of us present for the exodus--understand that Peridot survives because of our cooperation. Dissatisfaction with our...neighbors," he adds with a disdainful sniff, "should not be taken as a mark of rebellion."
<Franceska> Oh! So this is disagreement on matters of policy? The way the mayor might be dealing with your neighbours rather than any truly internal matters?"
<El-Cideon> "But an odd group all round, you have to admit," Charlotte says. "Off-world, I think, and they moved so fast I'd call them professionals. Strange to come all the way here just to knock over a casino, don't you think?"
<Stephanie> "Not if it's a wealthy casino," replies Stephanie, grinning. "Besides, you never know what kind of interesting stuff you'll find in a casino, right? Or maybe they knew exactly what."
<El-Cideon> "I would not say there are no other disagreements, but that is the principal sticking point," he says, pouring Franceska another glass. "Mayor Nomos maintains that he has ample reason for his policies. Some of us are disinclined to be too vociferous in our complaints, in light of past service."
<El-Cideon> "Maybe they did, sure," Charlotte agrees.
<Julia> "Especially a casino that collects people as well as money," Julia says thoughtfully.
<Stephanie> "This Algus guy still kicking?" asks Stephanie, curiously.
<Franceska> "I suppose that the only real way to change things around here properly is to support your own candidate who sees things your way," Franceska muses, picking up her refilled glass. "Is there one?"
<El-Cideon> Charlotte laughs. "Well, now, you talk to Algus and he'll insist all he's collecting is debts. If he should happen to pass those along to some of his other business partners, well, *that's* hardly illegal, is it? Not on his account what his partners do with debtors, right? And sure enough, he is, fuming up a storm."
<El-Cideon> "Better that way," Mercedes adds with quiet insistence. "Better he see it all in ruins."
<Julia> "Yes, I don't think I'd have cared to heal him if he'd been in the casino at the time," Julia agrees, recalling the unfortunate girl given over to mind flayers.
<El-Cideon> The barman chuckles. "Well, as to that, 'Mayor' is something of an honorary title, inherited from his father, who led us here decades past. Mr. Nomos himself has not deigned to have any offspring, however, so no doubt our little dynasty will give way to elections in due time."
<Franceska> "Sometimes, a little pressure could be brought to bear, properly within the limits of the law, of course, to hurry that along."
<Stephanie> "I'd buy you a drink, Madam, if it wasn't so early in the morning," agrees Stephanie. "A pity that, wealthy as he no-doubt is, he'll have a new operation going soon, won't he?"
<El-Cideon> "Oh, I wouldn't hold it against you," Mercedes says, leaning forward to get an obvious whiff of Stephanie's breath. "And the hour hardly stopped you, now did it?" she adds with a playful grin.
<Stephanie> "My profession demand inerbiration," replies Stephanie, crossing her arms.
<El-Cideon> "He may have," Charlotte allows. "Confidence isn't a thing you rebuild easily as a building, though. They're all mad with fright over the gorge these past couple days. I hear none of the Dao will even leave their compound."
<El-Cideon> "Then you are doing fine work," Mercedes agrees.
<El-Cideon> The barman chuckles. "'Within the limits of the law,' yes. A popular phrase in official circles."
<Franceska> "No one can navigate those murky depths as well as lawyers do," Franceska asserts, taking a sip of her drink. She breathes in before it, of course.
<Stephanie> "I am, I am! Everyone's still alive, so I am. Am I, Rosie?"
<El-Cideon> "So far!' Rosemund affirms helpfully.
<El-Cideon> "Quite so," the barman agrees. "Our intrepid mayor *does* possess a lawyer's mind, now that one thinks upon it."
<Stephanie> "There we go!" She beams at Mercedes. "I want to ask, mind," she adds. "In lieu of Granville, who among the abolitionists might be, ah, a leader to pick up her burden?"
<Franceska> "And he is not the only one, from what I heard," Franceska muses. "I happened to come across an older woman who ran into a spot of trouble with the casino, on account of their lawyers. And a thought occurred to me. Surely, she must have had some legal help of her own on her side? But such was not the case, I found out. And you know what they say. Whenever there is a void, nature strives to
<Franceska> fill it."
<El-Cideon> Mercedes counts off on three delicate fingers (which are, one may note, capped off with dainty little claws): "There's Nalifa Hornfel, sort of an itinerant merchant of the sort the mayor encourages to set up shop here, hauls off local jewelry to sell elsewhere, brings back food and water? You couldn't possibly miss her, she's seven feet tall. And blue. There's Allart Riggs, he's a mine foreman or some such thing, lives down in the Bends--which I would not encourage you to visit. Those two and Aria are the noisiest of the lot. And there's Ben Sark. Quiet fellow, wizard of some sort, makes a living keeping the city lit like most of his kind do in Peridot. And I believe he owns a mine somewhere? He mostly contributes funds when they need to, say, purchase someone's freedom surreptitiously."
<El-Cideon> The barman chuckles lightly. "So, do you propose to be our bold new public defender?"
<Stephanie> Stephanie giggles. "I never heard of an abolitionist owning a mine before," she admits.
<El-Cideon> "Queer sort, mostly keeps to himself when not associating with his fellow rabble rousers," she replies, using the term with some affection.
<Stephanie> "D'ya know if Hornfel is in town at the moment?"
<Julia> Julia just shrugs. "It means you can take it as read that he treats his workers well, yes?"
<Franceska> "Since I happen to be in the area, and since I happen to frown on the practice of slavery, the thought did cross my mind that my interests might intersect with those of likeminded people. Assuming I could discuss our options properly with someone who intends to follow up on this after I am gone, of course."
<El-Cideon> "One would think so?" Mercedes agrees. "As for Nalifa, she has definitely been in town recently. I saw her here within the past week. You could inquire with the guards at the eastern gate and see if she's left? As I said, no one could possibly fail to notice her."
<El-Cideon> "Most in the legal profession are firmly under the mayor's sway, of course," the barman says. "Opposition to the practice comes mostly from outside official channels. You may wish to speak to one or another of the temples? They have been known to agree with abolitionists, albeit more politely."
<Stephanie> "Perhaps we'll get in touch with her?" muses Stephanie, glancing at Julia. "And we should stay in touch!" she adds, grinning at Mercedes and Charlotte.
<Franceska> "That sort of behavior tends to encourage groupthink, so I rather like my chances," Franceska voices confidently. "Is there anyone particularly receptive, you think?"
<Julia> "Yes, this has been a pleasure," Julia smiles at the pair. "We'll stop by again as long as we're in town."
<El-Cideon> "Oh yes," Mercedes agrees. "And how long shall Peridot have the pleasure of your company? I should like to take advantage of it while it lasts. It's rare enough to meet another with our unique heritage, after all? So many parents have a tendency to...misplace us."
<Stephanie> "Well, I'm not sure," muses Stephanie. "Perhaps a short while, perhaps a long while? We're looking for people, and tracking them down will certainly take some time."
<Julia> "Yes, whether we find a lead that takes us elsewhere on Earth or we find them here and go home, it won't be an indefinite stay."
<El-Cideon> "Well, you may leave word here if you wish to find me again," Mercedes says. "Or visit the Red Rose," Charlotte says, eyes on the ceiling, "and ask for the manager."
<El-Cideon> "Please, I am attempting to make friends, not customers," Mercedes chides her companion.
<Stephanie> "Oh, but Julia here was very interested in your services!"
<Julia> Ah, they could have met yesterday then, were hot water not more tempting than warm hands. "We'll try not to disturb you at your workplace unless it's particularly..." she trails off and pouts. "For a massage only. Walking around here is hell on the legs!" she insists, decorum somewhat trampled.
<El-Cideon> The barman takes Franceska's empty glass and puts it in line for cleaning. "Primarch Arwin at the temple of Moradin, perhaps. You may have to weave your way through some protocol before obtaining an audience, however. Maybe Kardanus at the temple of Ehlonna? They've each their own interests to attend to, but I've known them to be decent sorts receptive to the idea."
<El-Cideon> "Oh, it takes a great deal of adjustment," Mercedes says with sympathy. "But I would be pleased to work those knots out should the mood strike you."
* Franceska retrieves her purse to pay for her drinks. "Protocol? It should not pose a problem, I think."
<Julia> "We'll see how much walking today requires," Julia says, still amenable regardless if it means relaxing those abused muscles. "I console myself with thinking I'll end up much stronger for it by the time we leave."
<El-Cideon> The drinks come to the price of two gold pieces each, Franceska is told.
* Franceska leaves five of them altogether, and after a curt nod at the bartender stands up to leave the tavern.
<El-Cideon> "It's worst on the elderly," Mercedes says seriously. "But for the rest of us, living on Earth does do wondrous things to your muscle tone."
* Julia smiles brightly, that being exactly what she wanted to hear to encourage continued activity around here.
<Stephanie> "Well, do have a good day!" says Stephanie, standing up.
<El-Cideon> "Of course, you as well," Mercedes says, standing and offering a polite curtsey. Charlotte manages with just a lazy wave.
<Julia> Taking her cue, Julia does likewise and gives them a wave, "Goodbye, it was nice meeting both of you," before starting her way back outside.
<El-Cideon> "Was that...was that flirting that was going on around me near the end?" Rosemund says out on the street, bewildered as though some strange beast she'd only read of in a book had just sauntered by.
<Franceska> "Who was flirting?" Franceska asks, waiting for them out there.
<Stephanie> "Yes, Rosie, who was flirting?!"
<Franceska> "Ah, so it was you," Franceska deadpans.
<Julia> "I don't know. They seemed nice, but I wasn't sure if anyone was actually flirting," Julia volunteers. "Though both Charlotte and Mercedes did have very sensual voices that perhaps made it sound that way?"
<Franceska> "I suppose our best move now is to pool our information together?" Franceska muses. "As we walk away, of course?"
<El-Cideon> "Oh, the ruined house is close by, if you wish to stop there?" Rosemund offers.
<Franceska> "Yes."
<Stephanie> "Yes, let's dig around the ruined house like vultures," says Stephanie, walking to do just that.
<Franceska> "I suppose I can start, while Stephanie acts like a vulture," Franceska voices, after a brief pause. "The temples here seem to oppose the practice of slavery and are sympathetic to our sorceress's cause. There should be no trouble securing an audience within either of them, and they certainly have an established network to provide us with any information we might still need."
<El-Cideon> The market plaza is much the way it was last time Julia and Rosemund saw it, bustling with activity despite the nearby devastation. There's still a guard on hand near the wreckage to discourage looting. Different dwarf, glossy blond beard that is obviously a point of personal pride, but same bored expression. Lord Boxworthy and his cronies are still here mindlessly scanning passersby.
<Julia> Julia fills in their end, "No one's seen Miss Granville - Aria's her first name. There are a few other potential leaders of the abolitionist movement that might step up in her absence though. A merchant, a mine foreman, and a wizard."
<Julia> "Oh, and there's that annoying modron," she frowns and points him out.
<Franceska> "Given the availability of magic in that assault on the casino," Franceska muses, "how certain are we that the attackers all looked as themselves?"
<El-Cideon> Lord Boxworthy's charcoal mustache is as bushy and manly as ever, though he hardly deigns to notice Julia.
<El-Cideon> "Well, magic to alter one's personal appearance is a fairly common talent," Rosemund agrees.
<Franceska> "Some establishments would have precautions in place to prevent cheating. Would it be possible to find out whether the casino had them as well?"
<Julia> "Darla cheated, remember?"
<Stephanie> "Yeah, we could go ask the dude who runs it," replies Stephanie, stretching her arms. "We should probably go talk to him anyway, try getting on his good side, 'cos he's Dao, and we need an in to find our, erm, heroes. You know, eyes on the prize, here."
<Franceska> "I do remember," Franceska agrees. "They would be utter fools not to beef up security after that."
<Stephanie> "Security's expensive! Taking a loss to cheaters every now and then might be cheap."
<El-Cideon> "Not if they cheat on a very grand scale and rob the entire building?" Rosemund points out.
<Stephanie> "Well, no, but those require a different kind of defences to what they'd have need for Darla."
<Franceska> "I wonder if anyone tried to use magic to locate Miss Granville...."
<Stephanie> "Yeah, maybe. One of her colleagues was a wizard, seems like?"
<Julia> "The owner's a dwarf called Breck," Julia supplies. "The dao connection seems to be kept below the surface."
<El-Cideon> "That is very possible," Rosemund agrees. "It sounds like the city has a number of wizards to keep the lights on? I am sure one of them must have magic of that sort as well."
<Julia> "Wait, no, his name's Algus. Breck was the name of his father and the casino..."
<Franceska> "Since we have so much to look into, perhaps we should split up?" Franceska suggests. "At least until we have talked to the owner, that wizard and, perhaps, made a visit to one of the temples?"
<Stephanie> "Fine with me. I'll go chat up Granville's friends?" suggests Stephanie.
<Julia> "I'll go as well," Julia volunteers. "I don't want to chat up the owner of that casino and..." she trails off, not really wanting to say she dislikes temples in front of Rosemund. "Well, I think I'm best off with the wizard."
<El-Cideon> "I suppose I will accompany Franceska to the temples," Rosemund concludes. "Oh, I can do so as an official representative of my own! Perhaps that will facilitate talks between us?"
* Franceska nods curtly. "In fact, I will accompany you, since it is like that. And we can decide what to do about the casino's owner afterwards."
<Stephanie> "I'd advise against that," says Stephanie, hurriedly. "I mean, it means anything we do here will reflect on your temple, right?"
<Franceska> "And?"
<El-Cideon> "But Stephanie, do you plan on doing anything disreputable?" Rosemund says, all wide-eyed innocence.
<Franceska> "Yes, Stephanie. Are you planning on doing anything like that?"
<Julia> "You never know what could happen, it's always best to be cautious," Julia says sagely. Not guiltily, sagely.
<Stephanie> "Yeah, actually, maybe I am," replies Stephanie, picking her ears. "To the Dao, mostly. But it might end up looking bad on us, back here in this town, 'specially if the mayor takes a disliking. Might cause problems..."
<El-Cideon> "Well, as long as it is for a good cause, I do not see what can be held against us for doing a thing," Rosemund affirms. "But still, let us be very sure before doing this mysterious thing?"
<Franceska> "And if it comes to that, you should just disavow Stephanie," Franceska advices. "Stephanie's actions, I mean."
<Stephanie> "Hey, I'm not gonna run off and do something stupid on my own," says Stephanie. "I just mean... ah, heck, we're pretty far from Solata anyhow," she mutters. "C'mon, let's go be productive."
<El-Cideon> OOC: seems like we're winding down, so one last thing before closing out for the day--roll perception, anyone interested in doing so?
<Franceska> roll 1d20+29 Darrin lives for this thing
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+29 Darrin lives for this thing and gets 35."12 [1d20=6]
<Julia> roll 1d20+6 Thing likes looking around at stuff
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+6 Thing likes looking around at stuff and gets 24."12 [1d20=18]
<Stephanie> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Stephanie rolls 1d20+10 and gets 23."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> Darrin directs Franceska's attention with a subtle hoot, Thing his mistress's with a tiny squeak, and Stephanie of course is always on the lookout for notable things to steal: pinned beneath a brick amidst the rubble, not far from the bored-looking guardsman, is a scrap of paper. You can barely make out a flowing cursive script inked in green, but not read it from here. It does not look torn from a book, more like a single sheet meant for personal correspondence.
<Franceska> "Could you distract that guard?" Franceska asks Stephanie, pointing him out without being obvious about it. "I could have Darrin swoop by and take a glance at the paper, if so."
<Stephanie> "Feels like I'm the accessory," grumbles Stephanie, before wandering over to the guard. "Ho there!" she calls, now speaking broken dwarven. "I have spice! You want buy spice?"
<El-Cideon> OOC: bluff?
<Franceska> Ignoring the complaints she was certain would be coming, Franceska has Darrin use his incredible skill of hiding from the busybodies and observers as he makes his way to take a glance at the piece of paper he just spotted and then liberate it.
<Franceska> roll 1d20+28 stealth
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+28 stealth and gets 44."12 [1d20=16]
<Stephanie> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Stephanie rolls 1d20+12 and gets 29."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 this is why guards are only guards
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 this is why guards are only guards and gets 17."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 Lord Boxworthy somewhat more observant
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+14 Lord Boxworthy somewhat more observant and gets 18."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> "I'm on duty, and if you were selling any decent spices you'd be able to pay someone to teach you to speak dwarven proper," the guard rumbles, waving away Stephanie irritably. "Go on, you beggar, off with you!" The distraction proves sufficient for Darrin to retrieve the note and bring it back unnoticed, however.
* Franceska takes a look as she starts to walk away.
<El-Cideon> OOC: what languages do you know?
<Stephanie> "No, no! Spices very good!" replies Stephanie, reaching into her bag and pulling out a small jar. "See, smell! Smell this! Get old hearts going, eh, eh?"
<Franceska> OOC: Common, Druidic, Elven, Infernal
<El-Cideon> "What are you implying?" he grunts in a heated tone.
<El-Cideon> Franceska finds it an incomprehensible scrawl. Admirably elegant handwriting, though!
* Franceska draws closer to Rosemund so she might take a look as well.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund glances at it, frowns, shakes her head.
* Julia takes a glance as well. (abyssal and celestial)
<Franceska> Well, then! Franceska shows it to Julia, hoping it wouldn't take Stephanie to make sense of it.
<El-Cideon> No doubt to Franceska's dismay, it seems as though it will.
<Stephanie> "Imply nothing! I tell you truth!" suggests Stephanie. "This spice, called Greyhair's Dream, from the plane of Higarigamoth! Plant is grown only with water sprayed from the trunk of holy elephants! The one who breathes the smouldering ash of it will, too, be like the trunk of an elephant AND the trunk of a tree!"
<El-Cideon> He scans the street quickly, eyes flitting from side to side. "Look, I mean it, I'm on duty, I don't carry cash when I'm on duty." Under his breath: "Maybe if you were selling around the Beryl Street guardhouse this afternoon though."
<Stephanie> "Ok, ok. I respect valued customer's need for privacy," insists Stephanie. "We meet. We be quiet. I give you discount. Ok? You will thank me," she insists, before tucking away the box and hustling away.
<El-Cideon> "Stephanie, what did you just tell that man?" Rosemund asks quietly, sounding as though she dreads the answer.
<Stephanie> "I told him he's a wonderful person, and he's going to make his wife very happy," replies Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> "Oh!" she brightens up. "Well that's alright then. Could you see if you know this language? None of us can read it."
<Franceska> "Moving past that," Franceska says briskly. "Can you read what this says?" She winces as Rosemund gives it away.
<Stephanie> "Maybe, lemme see..."
<Stephanie> OOC: Langauges: English, Infernal, Abyssal, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Orc, Celestial, Goblin, Sylvan, Halfling, Gnomish, Terran
<Stephanie> OOC: I can also decipher stuff, to a point.
<El-Cideon> Stephanie recognizes it as draconic, and the writer has an admirable feel for the beauty of that sinuous script. It is a short message, however: "A.G., I regret that you will not be assisting us in person. However, I respect the need to maintain a serene public profile. In lieu of direct assistance, please refer me to your acquaintances. I believe the Furies are a band whose talents would be of benefit to my situation. -P.K."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund looks expectantly at Stephanie.
<Stephanie> "Hey, it's in dragon. Someone wanted to looked classy," mutters Stephanie, before repeating the message out loud.
<Julia> "Hmm. So Miss Granville directed this PK to the Furies then? Perhaps the Furies are the band who attacked the casino?" Julia wonders softly.
<Franceska> "Did you hear about any of her friends who fit those initials?"
<El-Cideon> "Maybe?" Rosemund wonders. "They sounded like very angry people!"
<Julia> "No," Julia shakes her head. "None match up."
<Franceska> "A priest at the temple of Ehlonna went by Kardanus," Franceska muses. "We can look into his first name, I suppose."
<El-Cideon> ~