"Fine then. But I doubt the knife will be precisely left in the spot we originally saw it. You fine going out alone or should I accompany you just in case? I highly doubt that the streets would've simmered down at this point in time."

Jorm nods in agreement "I agree but I suppose it's worth a shot compared to waiting around....If you would like to accompany me, I can play an old feeble man quite well." With that Jorm takes out his walking stick pull up his cloak and hunches over using the stick "You could be my escort if you'd like"

As you make your way outside, the city seems a little more hectic than before.  People don't seem to have realized about the death of the noble families, from what you can tell, but someone bumps into you in the crowded street  "Oh, sorry," she mutters. "I'd get inside if I were you.  I heard that a group of twenty-out-of-towners killed an elf wearing black in the marketplace.  I think it's an invasion!  Good luck." she darts off, leaving you in the middle of the cobbled pathway between the houses, their green roofs curving upwards to peaks.  A light rain has started falling, each of its myriad droplets illuminated for a second by the paper lanterns as they fall, and you smell moisture mixing in with the aromas of food and perfume.

Raiden's fox ears twitched as he forced himself to eat those words. "Damn it, so Aya was right all this time... Jorm!" He whispers under his cloak. "We gotta hurry and find this knife if it's still there. Before the rain gets heavier and wash off the evidence we need to bounce back." Hasty perception check: 10

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"Yes, well..." the queen chuckles hollowly. "I don't think it's the best of tourist destinations right now." She seems genuinely devastated at the loss of so much life. "There are... were... twenty-one clans.  The Nakagore were one of the more ambitious, but I thought they were all loyal.  This scheming and power-grabbing never happens in the Forest.  Never.  How they even achieved such a feat is beyond me.  Moreover, it doesn't make sense that their army is gathering.  Even without the support of the other clans' armies, the Hataruki Clan's - my clan's - military is still the Imperial Army. It's strong enough to repel any attack on the city, and hold most of the small villages.  So I assume they have some other trick up their sleeves we don;t know about."

 Pearlin scratches her head and attempts to put the pieces together. "Ahh. I get it now. So those idiots... whoever they are, deliberately tried to provoke those poor boys that I'm with... alongside every noble they've previously killed. And I believe if they couldn't kill them, they twist it so that it looked like they died under their hands as if they actually did it even thought they are not, am I right? It's like framing an innocent for something they didn't commit. Also, why attack other people like this handsome boy and your daughter? What are they even intending to achieve right now? The total domination of this entire world? Aren't you able to make a tempoary ceasefire with their leader, your highness? Or can you not because of the volatile situation right now?"

Jorm nods his head as he walks gingerly around using his walking stick "Indeed perhaps they dropped a throwing star like the librarian said. Did they happen to throw any at you or your companions....just in case the knife isn't there"

The queen stands up, her bearing once again strong.  She has an angry, determined fire in her eyes as she sets her sights eastward, seeming to look through the throne room walls. "There will be no parley.  They have attacked and destroyed the very fabric of elvish society.  This is to the death now.  And their objective?  An ancient law prevents each clan's army from mobilizing in force without a direct command from that clan's leader.  The law is magically binding; it goes back to a disastrous war with the drow nearly nine hundred years ago.  Because the armies tried to march after the deaths of many of their leaders, the war was nearly lost.  If the Nakagore manage to assassinate all the nobles and their heirs, their forces will be powerless to stop them from marching into the city and taking the throne for themselves."

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Jorm nods his head as he walks gingerly around using his walking stick "Indeed perhaps they dropped a throwing star like the librarian said. Did they happen to throw any at you or your companions....just in case the knife isn't there"

 "They did it at everyone minus you and that... bold lady whose name I don't know. But we all pulled ours out immediately after being attacked. If neither of us can find the knife, I can lead you back to the inn I stayed in... provided that there's no one on patrol over there."

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The queen stands up, her bearing once again strong.  She has an angry, determined fire in her eyes as she sets her sights eastward, seeming to look through the throne room walls. "There will be no parley.  They have attacked and destroyed the very fabric of elvish society.  This is to the death now.  And their objective?  An ancient law prevents each clan's army from mobilizing in force without a direct command from that clan's leader.  The law is magically binding; it goes back to a disastrous war with the drow nearly nine hundred years ago.  Because the armies tried to march after the deaths of many of their leaders, the war was nearly lost.  If the Nakagore manage to assassinate all the nobles and their heirs, their forces will be powerless to stop them from marching into the city and taking the throne for themselves."

"Which means that we need to form some alliance of some sort, right? It wouldn't make sense for us survivors to keep running and hiding. Someone needs to restore balance and order eventually!" She then refocuses on Aya. "You ok? Hang in there love. We're going to save you, no matter what the personal cost."

"I'm fine.  Just a little faint." Aya sits up.  "If we could find out more about the ninja and the poison they used, maybe you could prepare to better defend the city.  Maybe it'd also allow these people to help do something outside of the army to sabotage their efforts... and possibly me too?  I could help them," she adds hopefully. "Mom... I know that it's important I stay safe, especially now.  But I need to help my future subjects in a way beyond hiding behind walls until it's my turn to rule.  Please?" the queen appears hesitant.

Aya's Persuasion: 4

"Speaking of which... Haven't seen bunny boy and foxy boy for a while... I wonder how they're doing?"

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Raiden's fox ears twitched as he forced himself to eat those words. "Damn it, so Aya was right all this time... Jorm!" He whispers under his cloak. "We gotta hurry and find this knife if it's still there. Before the rain gets heavier and wash off the evidence we need to bounce back." Hasty perception check: 10

Perc for knife:25 

The street is eerily quiet.  In most settlements, you'd expect to see a large crowd around a body lying in full display... but the elves seem to be deliberately avoiding it.  As you approach, you see that the larger katana is missing.  A feeling of unease settles over you, but you check the body.  No knives... but placed delicately on top of the corpse is a paper, slightly damp in the rain.  It is an origami flower, in the shape of an orchid - the Imperial crest.

"Looks like we'll head to the inn I stayed in. I don't see anything either. The knives must have been recovered since we just-" His ears twitched when he saw the paper placed on the corpse. And quivered. "Umm, you recognise that... origami paper?"

Jorm bends over and looks "It appears to be the sigil of the imperials....Why would that be here while we are out looking for the blade....does this mean they have it or is this a message to those who tried to kill us? More questions......Should we backtrack and see if we can find a different weapon?"

"I don't know, honestly, about that. Could be both." Raiden replies with an extremely broken tone, a sign of extreme fear that he will never see his team in the Storm Coast again. "No matter. I'll guide you to the inn I stayed inn. The knives that struck me and my Shadar...umm... whatever Tama and Trey-chan are could still be there and we could avoid the chaos that has already enveloped this entire place." He then sourly turns his head towards the disguised harengon and gives him a sour look. "But... at some point, we might need a plan c. In case that doesn't work either."

Inside his head: Please guys. I know I said I left to get stronger but, I've already started to eat my words without your support. I'm sorry for being so selfish! I will return once this is resolved. I promise!

Jorm nods and holds onto Raiden's arm as he hobbles along and asks absentmindedly  "Tell me again how you got caught up in this mess? Was it same as me? Accosted by an elf who set out to kill one of the others?"

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Jorm nods and holds onto Raiden's arm as he hobbles along and asks absentmindedly  "Tell me again how you got caught up in this mess? Was it same as me? Accosted by an elf who set out to kill one of the others?"

 "Pretty much" Raiden scowls as he bares his teeth at no on in particular before gesturing Jorm to follow him to the inn he stayed with the Shadar Kai. "It was the same bugger that attacked you. He assumed I was one of these petty nobles as well. In fact I never knew Tama-chan and Trey-chan were two of them. I only started hanging out with them because they rescued me after I travelled here and got attacked by similar beings located in this... place. What was the name of it again? Either way... we better press on... Jorm? You with me?"

Jorm nods "Indeed I am , Indeed I am....Quite a way to get messed up in this business...Are you from these parts?"