Vilus smirks back as Ashley offers Miter some nightmares. Once his things are gathered, daggers stowed away up his sleeves once more, Vilus lays down, back on his bedroll arms behind his head in the relaxation pose. "you're asking whether a secret organisation that pulls strings in politics, commits assassinations, and worships the watcher, can be trusted? Hmmm... I'll tell you one thing, there's varied opinion within the higher ranks but they all want the same thing, and that's to maintain the status quo, any thing that threatens that, is threat to the order and must be quashed, including me if you'd ask some of them.
But they'll do something about it to protect their own greedy asses, and anything is a help at this point." Vilus spends all of 10 minutes on the floor before getting up and becoming frustrated, he rolls up his bedroll and offers those near him the floor space to spread out, he will not be sleeping again tonight, "I'll keep a watch over the room if you all want to sleep eh? No point in more than one of us being awake when we're not facing down glozeworms or whatever they're called."
As Miter leaves, Joren, sympathizing with the man just trying to do his job, gives him an quick salute, though he does grin at Ashley's teasing.
He does wonder at Malachi's questions. Why were they trusting us so quickly? Being so good at interrogation that they were recognizing truth-telling without magic to do so? How is it that we are even trusting ourselves? Spending how many nights together, we six? One over the shield pass, two at or below the inn, one just past the chasm and spire... so only four nights together, three for Vilus. And now resting here tonight, more comfortably I hope.
Not normally a fastidious self-cleaner, Joren is nonetheless well aware of his current filthy condition and honors Marshal Lanya's offer to use her bed by excusing himself and washing off thoroughly (though he would first offer to allow anyone else to go before him if they wish).
Finally letting his guard down, he loses himself in thought and meditates a bit, emptying his mind and leaving the politics to the others for the nonce.
Sleep begins to settle over the adventurers one by one until only Vilus remains awake in silent vigil. His eyes itch and his head feels a little fuzzy. He hasn't slept in days now, and it sometimes feels like there is something crawling across his skin.
The hours trickle by one by one. The wooden floor, though stiff, is a big improvement over the stone everyone had been sleeping on the night before. Finally, the sun begins to creep up beyond the horizon. The smog over the town lights up a brilliant pink and orange as Ashley, Joren, Malachi, Samir, and Marion begin to rise. The 7th bell rings. A little while later, there is a knock on the door.
Joren has already been up for nearly an hour, silently going through sword forms in Marshal Lanya's room so as not to disturb his companions. He makes sure that everything is squared away, leaving a minimum of disturbance or mess, then dons his somewhat mangled chain mail.
Maybe if today is going well, I can be convincing someone to let me use some Splint armor or something similar, he thinks wistfully. Perhaps Marion too. Though affording it, we surely cannot. Certainly needing better equipment, if the fighting thus far is indicating the way of things.
Summoning his echo and hiding it back in the Marshal's room, Joren makes sure everyone else is ready, then opens the door, hands ready to grab the greatsword at his back if this is something other than the visit that is expected at the seventh bell.
Joren is greeted by the sight of Miter standing outside, holding 2 loafs of bread. "Sorry I'm running a bit late. Grab Lanya and let's go," he says, unaware that she has not returned.
"Lanya ain't here my man, didn't show last night, I was up all night I would have known, where was she going after she handed us off to you? If she caused a stir with the wrong person she could be in trouble." Vilus casts a slightly worried glance around the group and then quickly gets himself out through the door to look around.
Samir takes full advantage of the opportunity to clean up, both his person and his possessions. The relief of being out of the tunnels and being able to feel more or less a person once more gives him a renewed sense of invigoration, and he is up early and reading over notes in his book when Miter arrives. His expression becomes concerned as Miter asks for the Marshall, and he quickly puts his book away and climbs to his feet. "Do you think that Lanya might have gone to speak with one of the officials last night on her own?"
Ashley jumps her way over to the door when she hears Miter asking about Lanya, "What do you mean you don't know where she is?" She looks to her friends with a bit of panic in her eyes, "She took that medallion with her, I wonder if that got her in trouble?" She looks back to Miter, "Where do we go first to look for her?"
At this point, people dot the streets, setting up shop, heading out for their shift, or just getting back. A horse drawn cart laden with supplies rumbles by. Then from the other direction, hurried footsteps. Lanya rushes down the street in a brusque walk, now wearing a dusty navy blue uniform instead of her yellow one from earlier. Strands of damp hair cling to her face. Her skin is a bit pale, and she looks like she hasn't slept all night.
"Sorry, sorry. I'll explain inside, just give me a second."She slips through the door and gestures to Miter to close it behind her. She pushes past everyone at the doorway and on the stairs and heads for her bedroom as she starts to unbutton her shirt. She closes her bedroom door behind her and starts getting changed into fresh clothes by the sound of it. "I finalized the paperwork and went out on a patrol route like I said, but didn't pick up anything by the residences." However, on my way home I passed through the warehouse district and thought I saw some yellow appear on the medallion,"she calls through the door. There is a clatter as a belt falls to the floor. "So I skulked around for a bit to see if I could narrow down the source, but there were a fair number of warehouses still active, and a lot of people working the night shift, which limited my movements. It would have been... complicated to explain my presence had I been spotted in that area. I didn't see any more activity from the medallion, but as morning approached I found myself pinned in my hiding spot for a bit while the shifts started to change over. I just managed now to slip away."
The bedroom door opens and Lanya stands there in a fresh navy uniform that has a more ceremonial appearance than the others. Her face still looks a bit clammy, but she had clearly run a comb through her hair. "Okay, I don't want to tarry any longer, but before we head out to request an audience, do you have any questions about what's going to happen?"
"Questions?" Joren looks around wondering if everyone else is somehow already up to speed.
"Maybe taking it from the top? Ah... that is, if there is being sufficient time for that of course, Marshal Lanya. Rolling the dice and telling the whole truth then, as we told you? Should we be having a code word if one of us is spotting anyone that is looking ah... yellowish?"
"Sorry, yes, that's fair. I suppose things have been moving a bit fast. We will be going to the city hall to seek an audience with the Mayor Berg. There, we will present our plea for him to take action. As I mentioned before, he is also part-owner of the mine, so he is particularly important to win over. I am not sure who else will be in attendance, but there are sure to be other representatives of the Hardrock-Berg Smiths present. If we can get them to open up that tunnel again to locate evidence of the cult of which you speak, they will have to take action."Lanya begins to walk toward the stairs again, but stops part way.
"And if I am to be completely honest before we walk into that situation, there is a reason I was so quick to believe you weren't spies. I myself have been harboring doubts about the threat of spies and thieves. When the head of logistics, Andra, made the initial report of suspicious activity in the shipping logs that prompted the council to lock down Tensmith, my suspicions were that Andra was covering for his own incompetence. In the few years he has held his current position, his work has been consistently sloppy. So when you showed up, and the circumstances of your arrival did not match up with what one would expect from foreign professional infiltrators, I was quick to seek an alternate explanation."
The relief of seeing Lanya run into the room is plain as day on Ashleys face. To stop herself from pacing as Lanya talks through the door, she finds a chair and wills herself to sit down, listening to the woman.
As Lanya explains herself after Joren’s questions, Ashley looks up, “You mean it wasn’t my amazing persuasion skills to get you to believe us??” She looks aghast, but then smiles hoping her small joke wasn’t in too much bad taste. “We have told you everything that we have run into, are we to do the same if questioned with the mayor or should we hold parts back? Also, are there people that might be in attendance that will change how we approach this? Such as if Andra is there?”
As Lanya speaks Vilus listens, but as he does he studies her face, looking over every detail, every tiny scar, every wrinkle, he smiles to himself a little as she tells of who will be at the meeting, "I think the best course of action is to remain truthful about the cult, and especially about the worms and their glassy insectoid counterparts, they can't root out the members within their ranks without the proper information to do so... Um, just so we know, will you be giving the medallion back to Samir or holding onto it for now? I only ask because right now it is our best means of working out who is under the cult's influence and so it's existence and whereabouts will be important going forward, wouldn't want cult members to catch wind of it and try to steal it away eh?"
Lanya thinks for a moment. "I think Sila- Vilus is right. We should lay everything out. Even with everything you've told me, there's no guarantee it will move the mayor to act, so holding anything back can only hurt or cause. And I wouldn't be worried about Andra. He's not likely to be present, and I donn't think it's a big deal even if he is."
Miter pipes up, "Yeah, by my assessment that man utterly lacks wiles. Half the time only even seems half there."
"At any rate,"Lanya resumes, "I think if anyone is seen with this medallion, it would do the least harm for it to be me. Strange people with a strange glow might draw some attention, But not many around these parts would have the gumption to question the Marshal on her activities. Though if you would rather hold onto it yourselves, I leave that judgement to you. Either way, we should be off! Lanya begins to head down the stairs with Miter right behind.
Malachi breathes a sigh of relief as the Marshal arrives and he listens carefully to her story while watching her closely for any sign of deception. Could she really have been delayed in the warehouse district? Insight: 12.
Malachi cleans his clothes with a word and a quick flick of his hand, straightens his jacket, and prepares to meet with the leaders of these Smiths. He looks to his companions “Yes, the truth about the cultists, the creatures and the threat to the mines. If we talk them into reopening the tunnel where we appeared, we can show them the tracks and evidence of mining. We can keep quiet about the ships from across the sea, that may make our tale less believable.”
He pauses and looks at the others. “It is concerning we did not run into any other cultists in the tunnel. We know there were more, Lancet was running to warn someone. Where are they?”
Malachi discreetly eyes Lanya up and down. So far, she has been fairly forthcoming, at least since the interrogation, and Malachi knows all too well what it is like to be pinned down in a hiding spot for longer than anticipated. Her disheveled appearance and cold sweat when she came in certainly matched up with being in that state of tension and anxiety for hours. Probably no reason for Malachi to start doubting her now. Then there is a tickle in the back of his mind:
Does she seem a little eager to hang onto that medallion?
As they follow the Marshal out, Malachi hangs back and whispers to the group “I think we can trust her story, but is it wise to let her hold onto the medallion? Doesn’t she seem a little too..eager to hold on to it?”
Ashley eagerly follows Lanya back down the stairs happy she is safe and that there was a direction to what they were going to do. And if she was honest with herself, she was glad they weren't trying to hide things anymore. As Malachi's question is spoken aloud though, the little worry about it needles itself into her brain and she looks back to him, a little concerned, but no answer.
"the medallion is important, but it also shines for you, so it's not as fool proof as we'd like. But I do agree, the only hands we know it can be protected in is our own... I'll uh, ask." With a large handed pat on Malachi's shoulder, Vilus turns to catch up with Lanya.
"We'd rather hang on to that medallion for now, if it's all the same to you, a group of people will be able to protect it better than one, y'know?" He holds out a hand expectantly as they walk.
Vilus smirks back as Ashley offers Miter some nightmares. Once his things are gathered, daggers stowed away up his sleeves once more, Vilus lays down, back on his bedroll arms behind his head in the relaxation pose. "you're asking whether a secret organisation that pulls strings in politics, commits assassinations, and worships the watcher, can be trusted? Hmmm... I'll tell you one thing, there's varied opinion within the higher ranks but they all want the same thing, and that's to maintain the status quo, any thing that threatens that, is threat to the order and must be quashed, including me if you'd ask some of them.
But they'll do something about it to protect their own greedy asses, and anything is a help at this point." Vilus spends all of 10 minutes on the floor before getting up and becoming frustrated, he rolls up his bedroll and offers those near him the floor space to spread out, he will not be sleeping again tonight, "I'll keep a watch over the room if you all want to sleep eh? No point in more than one of us being awake when we're not facing down glozeworms or whatever they're called."
As Miter leaves, Joren, sympathizing with the man just trying to do his job, gives him an quick salute, though he does grin at Ashley's teasing.
He does wonder at Malachi's questions. Why were they trusting us so quickly? Being so good at interrogation that they were recognizing truth-telling without magic to do so? How is it that we are even trusting ourselves? Spending how many nights together, we six? One over the shield pass, two at or below the inn, one just past the chasm and spire... so only four nights together, three for Vilus. And now resting here tonight, more comfortably I hope.
Not normally a fastidious self-cleaner, Joren is nonetheless well aware of his current filthy condition and honors Marshal Lanya's offer to use her bed by excusing himself and washing off thoroughly (though he would first offer to allow anyone else to go before him if they wish).
Finally letting his guard down, he loses himself in thought and meditates a bit, emptying his mind and leaving the politics to the others for the nonce.
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
Sleep begins to settle over the adventurers one by one until only Vilus remains awake in silent vigil. His eyes itch and his head feels a little fuzzy. He hasn't slept in days now, and it sometimes feels like there is something crawling across his skin.
The hours trickle by one by one. The wooden floor, though stiff, is a big improvement over the stone everyone had been sleeping on the night before. Finally, the sun begins to creep up beyond the horizon. The smog over the town lights up a brilliant pink and orange as Ashley, Joren, Malachi, Samir, and Marion begin to rise. The 7th bell rings. A little while later, there is a knock on the door.
Joren has already been up for nearly an hour, silently going through sword forms in Marshal Lanya's room so as not to disturb his companions. He makes sure that everything is squared away, leaving a minimum of disturbance or mess, then dons his somewhat mangled chain mail.
Maybe if today is going well, I can be convincing someone to let me use some Splint armor or something similar, he thinks wistfully. Perhaps Marion too. Though affording it, we surely cannot. Certainly needing better equipment, if the fighting thus far is indicating the way of things.
Summoning his echo and hiding it back in the Marshal's room, Joren makes sure everyone else is ready, then opens the door, hands ready to grab the greatsword at his back if this is something other than the visit that is expected at the seventh bell.
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
Joren is greeted by the sight of Miter standing outside, holding 2 loafs of bread. "Sorry I'm running a bit late. Grab Lanya and let's go," he says, unaware that she has not returned.
"Lanya ain't here my man, didn't show last night, I was up all night I would have known, where was she going after she handed us off to you? If she caused a stir with the wrong person she could be in trouble." Vilus casts a slightly worried glance around the group and then quickly gets himself out through the door to look around.
Samir takes full advantage of the opportunity to clean up, both his person and his possessions. The relief of being out of the tunnels and being able to feel more or less a person once more gives him a renewed sense of invigoration, and he is up early and reading over notes in his book when Miter arrives. His expression becomes concerned as Miter asks for the Marshall, and he quickly puts his book away and climbs to his feet. "Do you think that Lanya might have gone to speak with one of the officials last night on her own?"
Joren touches the pommel of his greatsword behind his back for good luck.
Zrada, he thinks with growing unease, the serenity of the fresh morning start darkened now.
"Seeming unlikely to be a coincidence after the revelations of last night that she is going suddenly missing."
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
Ashley jumps her way over to the door when she hears Miter asking about Lanya, "What do you mean you don't know where she is?" She looks to her friends with a bit of panic in her eyes, "She took that medallion with her, I wonder if that got her in trouble?" She looks back to Miter, "Where do we go first to look for her?"
At this point, people dot the streets, setting up shop, heading out for their shift, or just getting back. A horse drawn cart laden with supplies rumbles by. Then from the other direction, hurried footsteps. Lanya rushes down the street in a brusque walk, now wearing a dusty navy blue uniform instead of her yellow one from earlier. Strands of damp hair cling to her face. Her skin is a bit pale, and she looks like she hasn't slept all night.
"Sorry, sorry. I'll explain inside, just give me a second." She slips through the door and gestures to Miter to close it behind her. She pushes past everyone at the doorway and on the stairs and heads for her bedroom as she starts to unbutton her shirt. She closes her bedroom door behind her and starts getting changed into fresh clothes by the sound of it. "I finalized the paperwork and went out on a patrol route like I said, but didn't pick up anything by the residences." However, on my way home I passed through the warehouse district and thought I saw some yellow appear on the medallion," she calls through the door. There is a clatter as a belt falls to the floor. "So I skulked around for a bit to see if I could narrow down the source, but there were a fair number of warehouses still active, and a lot of people working the night shift, which limited my movements. It would have been... complicated to explain my presence had I been spotted in that area. I didn't see any more activity from the medallion, but as morning approached I found myself pinned in my hiding spot for a bit while the shifts started to change over. I just managed now to slip away."
The bedroom door opens and Lanya stands there in a fresh navy uniform that has a more ceremonial appearance than the others. Her face still looks a bit clammy, but she had clearly run a comb through her hair. "Okay, I don't want to tarry any longer, but before we head out to request an audience, do you have any questions about what's going to happen?"
"Questions?" Joren looks around wondering if everyone else is somehow already up to speed.
"Maybe taking it from the top? Ah... that is, if there is being sufficient time for that of course, Marshal Lanya. Rolling the dice and telling the whole truth then, as we told you? Should we be having a code word if one of us is spotting anyone that is looking ah... yellowish?"
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
"Sorry, yes, that's fair. I suppose things have been moving a bit fast. We will be going to the city hall to seek an audience with the Mayor Berg. There, we will present our plea for him to take action. As I mentioned before, he is also part-owner of the mine, so he is particularly important to win over. I am not sure who else will be in attendance, but there are sure to be other representatives of the Hardrock-Berg Smiths present. If we can get them to open up that tunnel again to locate evidence of the cult of which you speak, they will have to take action." Lanya begins to walk toward the stairs again, but stops part way.
"And if I am to be completely honest before we walk into that situation, there is a reason I was so quick to believe you weren't spies. I myself have been harboring doubts about the threat of spies and thieves. When the head of logistics, Andra, made the initial report of suspicious activity in the shipping logs that prompted the council to lock down Tensmith, my suspicions were that Andra was covering for his own incompetence. In the few years he has held his current position, his work has been consistently sloppy. So when you showed up, and the circumstances of your arrival did not match up with what one would expect from foreign professional infiltrators, I was quick to seek an alternate explanation."
The relief of seeing Lanya run into the room is plain as day on Ashleys face. To stop herself from pacing as Lanya talks through the door, she finds a chair and wills herself to sit down, listening to the woman.
As Lanya explains herself after Joren’s questions, Ashley looks up, “You mean it wasn’t my amazing persuasion skills to get you to believe us??” She looks aghast, but then smiles hoping her small joke wasn’t in too much bad taste. “We have told you everything that we have run into, are we to do the same if questioned with the mayor or should we hold parts back? Also, are there people that might be in attendance that will change how we approach this? Such as if Andra is there?”
As Lanya speaks Vilus listens, but as he does he studies her face, looking over every detail, every tiny scar, every wrinkle, he smiles to himself a little as she tells of who will be at the meeting, "I think the best course of action is to remain truthful about the cult, and especially about the worms and their glassy insectoid counterparts, they can't root out the members within their ranks without the proper information to do so... Um, just so we know, will you be giving the medallion back to Samir or holding onto it for now? I only ask because right now it is our best means of working out who is under the cult's influence and so it's existence and whereabouts will be important going forward, wouldn't want cult members to catch wind of it and try to steal it away eh?"
Lanya thinks for a moment. "I think Sila- Vilus is right. We should lay everything out. Even with everything you've told me, there's no guarantee it will move the mayor to act, so holding anything back can only hurt or cause. And I wouldn't be worried about Andra. He's not likely to be present, and I donn't think it's a big deal even if he is."
Miter pipes up, "Yeah, by my assessment that man utterly lacks wiles. Half the time only even seems half there."
"At any rate," Lanya resumes, "I think if anyone is seen with this medallion, it would do the least harm for it to be me. Strange people with a strange glow might draw some attention, But not many around these parts would have the gumption to question the Marshal on her activities. Though if you would rather hold onto it yourselves, I leave that judgement to you. Either way, we should be off! Lanya begins to head down the stairs with Miter right behind.
Malachi breathes a sigh of relief as the Marshal arrives and he listens carefully to her story while watching her closely for any sign of deception. Could she really have been delayed in the warehouse district? Insight: 12.
Malachi cleans his clothes with a word and a quick flick of his hand, straightens his jacket, and prepares to meet with the leaders of these Smiths. He looks to his companions “Yes, the truth about the cultists, the creatures and the threat to the mines. If we talk them into reopening the tunnel where we appeared, we can show them the tracks and evidence of mining. We can keep quiet about the ships from across the sea, that may make our tale less believable.”
He pauses and looks at the others. “It is concerning we did not run into any other cultists in the tunnel. We know there were more, Lancet was running to warn someone. Where are they?”
Malachi discreetly eyes Lanya up and down. So far, she has been fairly forthcoming, at least since the interrogation, and Malachi knows all too well what it is like to be pinned down in a hiding spot for longer than anticipated. Her disheveled appearance and cold sweat when she came in certainly matched up with being in that state of tension and anxiety for hours. Probably no reason for Malachi to start doubting her now. Then there is a tickle in the back of his mind:
Does she seem a little eager to hang onto that medallion?
As they follow the Marshal out, Malachi hangs back and whispers to the group “I think we can trust her story, but is it wise to let her hold onto the medallion? Doesn’t she seem a little too..eager to hold on to it?”
Ashley eagerly follows Lanya back down the stairs happy she is safe and that there was a direction to what they were going to do. And if she was honest with herself, she was glad they weren't trying to hide things anymore. As Malachi's question is spoken aloud though, the little worry about it needles itself into her brain and she looks back to him, a little concerned, but no answer.
"the medallion is important, but it also shines for you, so it's not as fool proof as we'd like. But I do agree, the only hands we know it can be protected in is our own... I'll uh, ask." With a large handed pat on Malachi's shoulder, Vilus turns to catch up with Lanya.
"We'd rather hang on to that medallion for now, if it's all the same to you, a group of people will be able to protect it better than one, y'know?" He holds out a hand expectantly as they walk.