Madness, Blood and Thunder in Ravens Bluff IC

[Sallera]

Ground Zero

Aya dutifully records the zone's irregularities as Alhruar points them out, although she switches to a separate sheet of parchment with scattered reference points once the nature of the shape, much more complex than expected, becomes apparent. Still, it looked as though she would be able to calculate the origin as expected once she had enough data - and committing some of the zone's more complex areas to memory would make it an excellent place to confront an unsuspecting magic user, should such a course of action happen to be necessary.

As they complete the first circuit of the edges, she glances at Alhruar. "A bit more complex than I expected, I'll admit. Have you got enough power left to finish today? I don't mind continuing tomorrow if you still need to talk to the bookworms."

[rypt]

Ground Zero

"You don't say?" Cael chuckles wryly, stretching his back as he rises from a crouch. "This thing's a mess. I could maybe map one or two of the branched segments today, but that's about all I've got left. If you want to map 'em all, that's fine, and I'd be happy to meet you back here tomorrow, but I think we may have to have another discussion about how much you're paying me." With a laugh and a nod towards the Raven's Glory, he adds, "especially if you're going to want me to go inside."

[Sallera]

Ground Zero

"Going inside should probably be avoided regardless," Aya replies with a slight smile. "I don't know how much damage a divination could do, but I doubt Khalabari would appreciate even a minor mishap in his restaurant. Looks like it's pretty solid at that point, anyway. Let's go around once more nearer the centre and get some solid definition along the lengths of the major paths; I should be able to tell whether I need more after that."

Half an hour later, Aya finishes a series of calculations with a frown, double-checking her results to ensure she hasn't missed anything. Somewhere midway between ground level and the first floor... about the height of an ill-fated workbench, presumably. Damn. Puts that idea in the ground. Still, apart from its practical uses, the Halls might appreciate a copy of this for their library, if they don't have one already.

Rising with a sigh, she caps the ink vial and tucks the parchment away. "Alright, I guess that's it for today. I don't like leaving a job half-finished, though, so perhaps we should continue tomorrow and get as much detail as we can. Raise you to one-fifty? I can keep you in mind for other work, as well, if you're eager for coin; is information gathering your focus, or do you have other talents to exercise?"

Spoiler

Show

Not sure where Mirielle's at right now, timeline-wise. Would she be around if Aya stopped by around the usual hour after sunset?

[Frog Dragon]

Mirielle's Apartment

"Yet we killed dozens of them. And that one goblin? Magnus cracked his skull when we had the information we needed. You were silent. Now what was the difference between those goblins that happened to live, and those that died? Whether they were holding a sword? Nothing that would convince a judge," Jorran speaks. He pauses. "The difference was luck. For those that lived, we happened to have the luxury to give mercy. Nothing more."

[rypt]

Ground Zero

Cael draws a tentative breath through his teeth. "I'd be happier with one-seventy-five, but if you're confident you can deliver more work, I can settle for one-fifty. Divination and abjuration magics are my primary specialties, certainly including the collection of information, but also counter-magic, private security and personal protection."

[Jeff the Green]

Being reminded of her complicity in the goblin's murder stings Mirielle. There are things she could say to justify herself—being outnumbered by her more bloodthirsty companions, for one—but she doesn't try to. She's aware that her desire to do good and at the same time to uphold the spirit of law and order conflict. And there is little doubt in her mind that showing that goblin mercy—or for that matter, perfect justice—could have ended with him returning to hurt other innocents. Were that all sentient beings resembled archons.

"Do you feel up to one more excursion tonight?" she asks, changing the subject. "Misti seems to have found another possible arson by Cybrarvain, and the faster I can investigate the more I can learn."

[Frog Dragon]

Mirielle's Apartment

Slightly surprised that Mirielle had decided to leave the issue at that, Jorran decides it would be best if he also pushed the issue out of his mind. If Mirielle had other ideas, he might as well go along.

"Sure, if I can be of any help," he says, standing up from the chair.

[Sallera]

Ground Zero

"Well, I'm about sixty percent sure, so we'll make it one-sixty," Aya replies with a grin. "I'd appreciate it if you keep me in mind as well, should you happen across anything that could use the attention of the Shooting Stars."

"Meet you back here after lunch tomorrow, then? I'll leave a message at the Lucky Coin, or check for one, if anything changes."

Mirielle's

A soft tap at the door heralds Aya's arrival. "Evening, Miri," she says, nodding to Jorran as she notices him behind. "I've acquired a new contact of sorts for us in town; I'll tell you about him later. What came of the meeting?"

[Jeff the Green]

Mirielle's Apartment

Mirielle blinks owlishly at Aya's arrival, but then smiles and greets her. "Hello, Aya. You mean the meeting with Alaister?" She relates their conversation, eliding the ethical debate as much as possible—she was fairly convinced that the elf would not take her side in the matter.

"So Jorran and I spent the afternoon on the docks trying to find out about this captain, with some little luck. She seems to have romantic connections to some of the Bluff's nobility, but other than that she mostly keeps the company of other captains. Oh, and she wields some odd weapon called a 'spinning sword,' which sounds like something to beware of if we do end up fighting her.

"Right now, though, I was about to perform my devotions and then return to the streets. Misti sent a message telling of another fire, and I'd like to poke around and see if anything points to the incendiary elf I've been chasing around."

[Sallera]

Mirielle's

"I don't have any objections to taking Larshon alive," Aya replies after considering the information. "We should do this while they're on their way to the meeting out of town, though, and eliminate Black Sorrow outright while we're at it. He strikes me as a very difficult person to keep captive, and he won't take kindly to the captain vanishing."

"I'll join you, then. Spent the afternoon mapping that wild magic zone with the new contact I mentioned; arcanist who goes by the name of Alhruar Elyrin. Doesn't look like my original plan for the place is going to work out, but he himself could be useful. Says he does 'security and personal protection' in addition to the divinations I had him doing, and he's pretty eager for work, so depending on how difficult an opponent Larshon looks to be, we might consider bringing him in on the job."

[Jeff the Green]

Mirielle's Apartment

Mirielle's right eyebrow rises at the word "divination."

"He's a diviner then?" she asks. "He could be very useful, even if not in a fight. Other than her sword, we know next to nothing about Larshon's abilities in battle. Since she doesn't wield a scourge, I doubt Loviatar has blessed her with the Power, but she may know the art, or follow the Sublime Way, or have any number of abilities that would make her more formidable a foe than we should attempt to attack."

"Do you know anything of his loyalties?"

[rypt]

Ground Zero --> Sages Guild

"Very well," Cael smiles, nodding his assent to Aya's somewhat unconventional, but not disagreeable math. "I'll be sure to check with the barkeep before I leave in the morning."

After bidding her a good evening, he heads back towards the Sages Guild to see if it isn't too late to speak with someone specializing in matters of the multiverse.

[Sallera]

Mirielle's

Aya shrugs, giving a vague wave of her hand. "I don't think he's got many. New in town, as far as I could tell, and none of my fishing produced anything worrisome. He's got some business in town he doesn't want to open up about, but it won't have any connection to this job."

"What was the offer for the Larshon job, again? If it's worth bringing him in, I'm meeting him again tomorrow to finish the mapping; I could raise the topic then."

[TheFallenOne]

Oldover House

Oldover House in the Holyhouses neighborhood is the headquarters of the Sages Guild. The fourstory mansion is constructed in the style of the stump of a miniature keep, massively built of stern stone. What seems to be giant purple tapestries covering the facade on first glance reveals itself as intricate mosaicwork on closer inspection. A deep archway leads to the steps of the entrance, and from the center of the archway protrudes the stone torso of a beared man, holding an open book in one hand and a glowing sphere in the other.

Inside is a carpeted entrance hall with a set of darkwood double doors at the end. A small reception is at the left side, occupied by a female halfelf. She looks up from the stack of parchments she's been studying, eyeing Cael with a bored expression. "What can I help you with then?"

[Jeff the Green]

Mirielle's Apartment

"Nearly a thousand gold pieces, Alaister said," Mirielle replies to Aya. "And depending on how we handle it, of course, we might reap other benefits, tangible or not.

"Even losing a fifth of our share as we would, I think bringing him aboard would be wise. If he practices the Art and bears arms, I would be surprised if he couldn't armor himself as effectively as Magnus did, and we could sore use the help of someone whose fighting style involves fewer wounds than Jorran's." She flashes said mercenary a small mocking smile.

[Sallera]

Mirielle's

"I'll see what he thinks of the idea, then. Oh, and on a tangentially related matter, are the two of you still interested in a potential expedition to Sarbreen? Alhruar's got a lead on an interesting find down there, and depending on whether he finds someone willing to pay more for it, I might be buying the information myself." The angle of the sun catches Aya's attention, and she takes a seat on the floor with a nonchalant tilt of her head.

"Well, we can get back to work after the evening hour, I suppose. See if we can get a lead on our assassin. Will you be at the library again tomorrow morning?"

[Frog Dragon]

Mirielle's Apartment

"It works." Jorran interjects as Mirielle mentions his method dealing with opposition.

"Sarbreen.. this city does get tiresome quite quickly. Maybe they won't have spellcaster registers down there," Jorran says.

[rypt]

Oldover House

"Yes, good evening," Cael nods to the receptionist. "I, um," her disinterested attitude gives him pause, and for a moment he wonders how much she might actually understand of the matters he is here to discuss. "Well, I have some questions regarding the city of Sigil, and I was hoping a member of your guild might help me with the answers -- a specialist in extraplanar happenings, perhaps?"

[TheFallenOne]

Oldover House

"We have some of those, I could look if one of them is present and available", she says with a noncommital shrug. "So, is that questions you're willing to pay for or do you just want a little chat? They're usually happy enough to discuss scholarly matters, but only with those reasonably educated in them."

[rypt]

Oldover House

"Given the choice, I think I'd prefer a little chat," Cael grins. "I admit that I am no planar scholar, but I am still confident they would find our discussion worthy of their time."

[TheFallenOne]

Oldover House

She frowns, clearly sceptical, but nevertheless motions to some chairs opposite the counter. "Wait here some minutes, I'll inquire inside." After about ten minutes of waiting she returns and wordlessly beckons him inside. The common room of the Sage's Guild is a crimson carpeted hall, the walls lined with walnut bookshelfs to the ceiling with a big fireplace opposite the door spreading pleasant warmth. Many comfortable looking armchairs are spread over the room, only about half of them occupied by guildmembers in casual conversation within small groups, many of them smoking or drinking.

Cael is led to one of the few women in attendance, and when she stands to greet him he can't fail to notice how strikingly tall she is. "Welcome to Oldover House. Nalia Terlon. Please, take a seat." Her hand is slightly cold to the touch and she offers choice from a case of cigars she's been using herself, the smoke dancing in curious patterns as she exhales. "Sigil is it, then? That's enough to pique my interest at least. What is it you wanted to talk about?" Something about this lithe woman in her late fourties seems off, not entirely human, though Cael can't put his finger on exactly what.

[Jeff the Green]

Mirielle's Apartment

Mirielle looks at Aya skeptically. "I don't have any particular opposition to an expedition to Sarbreen, but there are other things that ought to command our attention at the moment. Black Sorrow and your vision, Aya, among others."

[TheFallenOne]

onwards to Thread II