"Want to help me bring them downstairs?" Emund says to Cade and to Yorvalor. He reaches under the arms of one of the unconscious men and nods in the direction Keegan ran off. "I assume he'll be busy, but will be back soon, with our without his own catch. He hefts the man over his shoulder, moving slowly and walks to the entrance of the Nest. He looks down to the manacled man and says, "Won't put you down with them. Come on in, I'll take those off, get you something stiff and we can talk. This Masus business has become a frustration."

Emund will bind and gag the two unconscious men in the basement if the others help. He'll take the manacles off the conscious man and sit with him at the bar and buy him a drink of his choice.

Cade sighs. He sheaths his sword and enters the tavern. He sits at the counter. He ordered a cider and drinks it rather quickly.

"These guys are becoming a pain. We should do something about this. Criminals should be punished. Should I go down there and murder the ones down there," Cade says. 

The goon that surrendered sits at the bar with Emund, getting the house ale, quietly looking at his drink.  He notices the others being bound, gagged, and brought down into a cellar.  "They ain't bad men," he sorta says.  "Poor men, men that find family with Masus.  But, we ain't bad men." he takes a sip of the drink, still looking at the counter-top.

Nikoli, after getting Cade a cider and watching him down it gives a small bit of a nod.  "You know I don't want you going and getting yourself killed, Cade.  But if these guys are going to attack our home, we've got to do something.  Just don't do it alone.  Anyone who's got people willing to do this during their busiest hours has some kind of confidence, or fools willing to die for him."  His hand goes out on to Cade's shoulder.  "I can only keep you safe when you're in these walls."  He hears someone from across the room call for more roasted salted fish.  Nikoli gives one last pat, before heading over to grab some of the drying roast meats from the back.

Isabella has the faintest of smiles on her lips once Yorvalor returns.  She seems... oblivious to what actually just happened... her mind just on this piece of paper.  "Yes, well.  I..." her mouth twists a bit as she tries to figure out the right words for it all.  She hands over the piece of paper to Yorvalor, the small notecard on a fine paperstock with the utmost care.  Upon it, it's a invitation to a... ceremony? It's something written in celestial that isn't a wedding or a funeral.  The date is listed for a few weeks, within the Cathedral.  "I would love you to play.  I can't invite all that I want, but, this could be a workaround."  

Yorvalors is caught by surprise by what Isabella says. He blinks a couple of times while still kneeling in front of her. "Wow, I don't know what to say... YES!! Of course I would love to play for, errr... Whatever event this is. If it is something that means so much to you, it would be an honor for me to be part of it." He extends both his hands to receive the invitation, and he handles it with great care. He stands up. "I am indeed greatly honored by this invitation. We shall discuss this further at a more opportune time my dear. Unfortunately, I am afraid that I need to return to the stage and perform my duties in this establishment." He bows low and makes his way to the stage, still gently holding the invitation. When he gets to the stage, he gives it a last glance, even thought he does not understand what's in it. He looks at Isabella, folds the invitation, gently kisses it, and put it in his pocket. He winks at her and go back to performing his next set. Performance: 20

"I know it. We saw several others and the children at your warehouse when we came down when the first robbery had happened." Emund gestures for a brandy. "Is it normal for him to send people to retaliate like this? The Nest is like our home and we defended it." He pauses for a bit and looks at the man to try and notice any interesting characteristics or embellishments (Perception / Insight: 17). "Your mates downstairs will be fine, by the way. We're just expecting a tax collector–hence the gags–and would prefer they not attack the patrons–hence the bindings. We'll walk them out once everything is settled later.”

Cade smiles as Nikolai leaves. He turns to Emund, who was talking to that goon. Cade wondered what happened to his other sword. He wanted to know if it was a good idea to find it by himself. Cade sighed. He let go as Yorvalor. Yorvalor was playing really well today.

"How would you define 'fine', Emund? We literally captured some people and threw them into the cellar,"

Emund turns to Cade and says, “Sure, and once the tavern floor is cleared and we chat, we can walk them back to their warehouse. Maybe some rope burn and a headache, but no worse for the wear.”

He addresses the other man, saying, “If you’d like, you can come down when we talk to them.”

The man gives a few nods to Emund's discussion with him.  His body still remains a bit tense, but his tone is much more submissive than when he entered.  As Emund looks him over, he does find a small pin of a cloth and paper cut orchid.  It resting just on the inside of the lapel of his jacket.  

"Masus is a angry guy.  If someone cross him, he tries to put them down, or at least send a clear message to not bother him.  If anyone goes after or endangers the kids, he'll put 'em in the dirt himself."  The guy fidgets with his hands as sits at the table.  "That being said, I think he's gotten bold these past few weeks. Never gone out for taking territory. We got our grifts. But he got some kind of bug in his ear recently, and I've never really wanted to get on a orcs bad side. Let along a orog."

He gives a small nod when he says the men will be safe, and the mention of the tax collector.  There is a bit of a pause when Emund says he can be there when he talks.  "All the same, I'd rather just head out and back home than be down there.  If that's not on the table, I'd just say up here.  I know what happens when people need others to talk. Don't need to see people I know goin through that."

It's a few moments later that the familiar trio enters the bar.  The woman tax collector and her two bodyguards.  She seems more in a hurry tonight.  Heading straight over to the bar to intercept Nikoli.  Not even bothering to read the room.

Cade Rainmaker tried to avoid eye contact with the female tax collectors. He doesn't want another incident with the Noctii. He gathers himself and heads down to the cellar to avoid trouble. He gives a pleading look to Emund before going. 

At the sight of the Tax Collector's entrance. Yorvalor keeps performing until they get to Nikoli. Then he announces "Ladies AND gentleman. WE have some special guests in this humble establishment tonight. Please, allow me to properly accommodate them, and I shall resume our show in a moment."

He walks to the three Noctis, and put on his best charming smile. (OCC: hopefully the same one that charmed the tax collector last time ;-) "GREEEETINGS!! Tax Collector Sarah! Ohh, it is indeed wonderful to see YOU again! I hope that you are here for the invitation we discussed the last time you visited our lovely establishment." Yorvalor ignores their urgency. He flags a waiter and quietly tells her to setup a table for 3, like now. He then goes in front of the leader. "Please, please... I know that there are still many places that you must visit tonight. However, I must insist that you stay for a moment. I promise that I will not take much of your time, and I will definitely make your brief stay worth while." He gently grabs her hand and try to escort her to one of the tables. "Please take a seat, and I shall put on a special show for you and your companions. Obviously the drinks are on the house." (Persuasion: 18)

Yorvalor calls out the tax collection team, some of the audience members turn and look.  The two guards around Sarah seem to tense up.  Hands going to blades as grumbles are passed around.  

As Yorvalor goes to grab her hand, one of the guards nearly draws.  But, Sarah does pull her hand away from him and in one fluid motion places it on her bodyguard's sword arm.  She shakes her head 'no,' to both the guard and to him.  "While I am humbled and honored that you wish to give us such service, I'm afraid today must be business.  A one day extension was more than fair.  We all have jobs to do to maintain law and order in the city.  And we all have our superiors to report to."  

A few patrons overhear the conversation.  There's some mutters of "Law and Order from the servants of a Warlord who waged war for no reason."  Another voice from a table nearby can be heard saying "The Governor is being kept like a dog in a cage.  Going to take his head too while cleansing more nobility?"  The onlookers are careful to say things just loud enough to be heard, but generally speaking into their glasses rather than the open air.  The small signs of plausible deniability.  

"The new king made it harder for someone like me, the fool," someone says a bit more brash.  A noctis worker from the fishers, a local with a thick Dunnorian accent who didn't participate in the war.  

Beside Emund, the captive Orchid member lets a small smile tug at the corner of his face.  "Interesting crowd," he says as he looks over to Emund then to Yorvalor.  

Yorvalor discretely looks at the noctis worker. (Perception: 18). He wonders if that’s Tharii in disguise.

“Fair enough. Welcome to head out whenever you’re wanting. Though, an orog, you say?” Emund looks over to the tax collector and her enforcers when they arrive, and the tenseness with which they’re operating this night. His gaze then moves to Nikoli, hoping that the man is less anxious about paying this time (Insight: 18).

In response to the Orchid’s comment about the crowd, Emund nods and says, “Many of these folks felt the war and the change greatly. Funny how power affects laborers, craftspersons and laypeople, regardless of who holds it. No true order and no true justice in a world where one life is worth more than others.”

Yorvalor, the person who said it doesn't look like Tharii, just a familiar face in the bar.

The orchid member gives a bit of a nod.  "Orog.  Kind of a orc from what I understand.  Smarter than others. And pretty quick to anger."  He listens to Emund for a second.  "I don't disagree.  More orphans on the streets due to the war. More people willing to bet everything they got in order to escape it."

Nikolai comes out from behind the bar, counting a few coins before putting them in a small satchel.  He places it in the hands of one of the guards, while looking over at the tax collector.  "There.  Now if you don't mind, your bothering the customers.  Something about armed soldiers 'n all."  his voice trails off as he takes a few steps back, hands still staying above his waist to show that he's now going for anything.  His demeanor is much calmer than the other day.  Seems that the combination of having to pay off 'protection money' and pay taxes would've been too big of a hit for him to handle.  But now that it's turned into just one?  A blow he can absorb, assuming his adopted children of the Nest don't drink him out of a profit and home.  

Sarah turns and gives a small nod.  She shoots a look over to Yorvalor, a kind but stern look.  "Again, I appreciate your hospitality and attempt at civility.  It's nice in these trying times."  She turns on her heel, heading back out with that same air of authority she came in with.  Not turning around to look at the faces watching them.  One of her bodyguard's stays close to her, while the other waits a bit.  Making sure nobody begins to make a sudden motion, before turning to the exit as well.

Meanwhile, out on the city streets, Keegan continues to chase the one lone gang member that fled in the same direction.  Able to keep up during the chase with ease, as he's used to running the streets and knowing which fence to jump over to get a bit ahead.  As he's about to get in range of being able to tackle the poor fool, a figure is blown through a small fenced in garden.  A glowing mark burning on the figure's chest as it tumbles and drops a rapier that it was holding.  It's ragged clothing seemingly more torn.  Glancing up to where the person came from, two figures are engaged in some kind of fight on the roof of the home.  One, a figure wielding a shortsword and covered in some kind of cloak.  The other, a well dressed humanoid with a rapier.  

"Curious," Emund says upon learning about Masus's heritage. He pauses for a moment as the tax-collecting Noctii take their payment and make their way out, wondering about how common orogs might be among orcs in the city. Once things settle back in for the night, this most recent disturbance gone, Emund speaks again to the man. "I'm fearful that there will be more broken families and orphans soon–something is stirring in Dunnour." He stands and cracks his neck, pressing his chin with fat fingers. "You're welcome to stay as long as you'd like and can head home whenever you'd like. Don't worry about payment for the drink, I've got it covered." He motions to Cade and to Yorvalor and to Nikolai. "We'll send the others fairly soon after you. Enjoy the night."

Emund begins to walk to where the other two men are being kept. 

Yorvalor says to the departing Tax Collector. "Hopefully there will be time for a special show on your next visit!!"

After seen Sarah leave, Yorvalor turns to Emund. "I was hoping she would stay for a little while. Oh well..." He shrugs. "I guess it's time to take care of some friends in the basement?"

The lone gang member who decided to surrender gives a small nod to Emund, before turning and heading out after finishing the drink infront of him.

Downstairs, in the basement, reside the others.  Still knocked out cold from their fight.  One is beginning to stir, the other will still be out for a few hours.  The one who's beginning to stir makes some kind of sound under his breath.  Like a drunken slur, from being somewhat concussed after the skirmish.

Cade steps toward the man who is beginning to awaken. He smacks the man on the forehead. 

"Get up, don't vomit on me" Cade says. Cade seems to be in a bad mood since the Noctis came in. Cade walks over to the unconscious and smacks the other one.

"Easy there friend Cade. Let's see what they have to say first. If they are not in a mood to talk, then, perhaps, you are welcome to give them some 'convincing'."

Yorvalor goes to the one that's getting up (OCC: I am assuming that's the one that was stabbing Yorvalor). "Please tell me my good man, why were you trying to burn our nest? You could have killed a lot of innocent people tonight. And by the way, I would like you to note that I did not appreciate of you trying to destroy my stage costume." (Persuasion : 22)