Session logs

[skylarious]

Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Session 4
Session 5
Session 6
Session 7
Session 8

[skylarious]

Skylarious: Blades in the Dark: Restitution!



The city of Duskwall – or Doskvol, depending on who you ask – is one of the greatest in the world, and yet it’s a tiny thing in comparison to what surrounds it. Beyond the lightning barriers to the east and south lies the ghost-plagued expanse of the Deathlands, where only the foolhardy tread unless via the Imperium’s well-protected rail lines. To the north and west is the inky black Void Sea, speckled with distant lights like stars, and patrolled by demonic Leviathans, whose blood is the source of the city’s power. And above… above there is darkness too, except for the stars and the faint reddish embers of the sun at dawn and dusk, and always the great looming presence of the moon, which seems to get closer by the year. Beneath that sky is a city cloaked in constant shadow, except where electric lights bring a hollow imitation of daytime.

Skylarious: Shadow can mean danger, of course, but some can also thrive in it. Duskwall’s dark corners are places where one can hide from the prying eyes of the Lord Governor and City Council, the corrupt Bluecoats, the implacable Inspectors, or simply the man or woman who wants to cut your throat for the coin in your pocket. Our tale concerns a group of those who’ve found a place like that, a place from which to claw their way up the ladder of gangs and secret-keepers and opportunists who surround them. This crew of daring scoundrels wants to get what’s owed to them – perhaps what was lost, perhaps what the city never gave them the chance to earn by honest means. Seizing what’s theirs won’t be an easy task, not with a thousand others seeking the same things and watching out for anyone with dangerous ambition. So the question is, will their luck and their guile and their blades be enough to carve restitution out of the flesh of the great Leviathan called Duskwall?

Skylarious: Nightmarket is a place where the constant darkness of the sky, and the blustery cold in the air, seem almost to be assets, contrasting with the bustling energy all around. Colored electric lights in a riot of colors advertise vendors stalls. Our daring scoundrels move under multi-leveled walkways, and follow narrow stairs into a labyrinth of twisting underground streets, where members of the elite wearing masks slip into luxurious clubs. The scoundrels slip into a shop they well know, belonging to their friend Fitz.

Skylarious: The collector is an older man, but vigorous, dressed always in a pressed suit and fine cap, with prominent gray sideburns. He looks up from his crowded desk as you enter the front of the shop. Behind him are rows of rare books, and doors into other chambers of his collection.

Skylarious: “Well now,” he says. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen the Peculiars!”

Mahin: at the front of the trio is a willowy, amber-skinned woman. She has lustrous black hair, hanging down past her shoulders, and atop her head is a stylish black beret. Today her earrings are set with red gems like droplets of blood, and she has many rings on her skillful fingers.



Shaking droplets of rain from her umbrella, she put this down and began to peel off her long dark overcoat. Beneath this was a red blouse with a high cut, and a straight, mid-length black skirt across her narrow hips.



"We've been busy with this and that," Mahin says crisply, hanging up her coat and leaning her umbrella up against a wall. Spotting an almost impossibly small speck of dust on the breast of Fitz's suit, Mahin flicks it away with a deft movment of a long, dark-painted fingernail.

Milos: One of the three scoundrels entered the shop. A man removed only the top layer of his clothing as he went into a warm quarter. The man's name is Milos. He is a brown-skinned man with piercing dark eyes with black hair cut short to avoid any stray hair to go between his eyes and his weapon. His face bore some faint white scars, a reminder of the military that he served in the past. Meanwhile, his pet, a Raven named Sooty flies forward from his shoulder as he take his coat off. Sooty settles on one of the blookshelves and gives a caw as if Sooty is annoyed at having to get off.

Milos: As he speak, a slight accent was clear as he is from the lands outside Dusk although it does have a short military clip to it, potentially from having to give commands. "Fitz, it is always good to see you." He rubs his hands as if he want to warm them up as he came in from miserable dark cold outside.

Jackdaw: The last to enter is a lad, sallow faced and unhealthy looking, with spikes of prematurely greying hair sticking from under a greasy knitted cap. His scrawny body is swathed in a black greatcoat, below which skinny legs in tight worn trousers end with heavy work boots. He says nothing but makes a kind of head-bobbing motion towards Fitz, which might be a nod or might be just a twitch, then moves around restlessly, his strange orange eyes darting about the books.

Mahin: Mahin reaches into a pocket of her coat and pulls some kind of small nut from a packet. She spends a few moments trying to lure Sooty over to her but the raven fixed her with a dark glare and ignored her. Mahin sniffed and languidly popped the nut into her mouth. "Have you acquired any new sculptures Fitz? I was very intrigued by the last set you brought from Cloudspire." Not that she can afford to spend much at the moment, but Mahin is always making lists of new paintings, sculptures, rugs, or other beautiful items she wants, and could easily have filled the whole of the raven's temporary perch if she gathered her lists together.

Skylarious: Fitz chuckles appreciatively at Mahin's antics with Sooty. "Sculptures? Of course, my dear! Some most strange ones from Tycheros, even, though beautiful in their way." He glances at Jackdaw after that, looking momentarily worried he might have offended, before deciding he can never tell what Jack is thinking. "I've heard a few tales of the Peculiars, of late. Rather... amusing tales. I was about to say peculiar ones, but thought it a bit artless, eh? In any case, there's someone here who wants to meet with you. I don't know if you know her."

Skylarious: Fitz calls out behind him. “They’re here!” After a few moments, a woman glides out from one of the other rooms. She wears a simple ivory mask, and she’s dressed in the practical gray of the Wraiths. She gives a slight nod. Fitz speaks: “Have you met Dancer?”

Jackdaw: Jackdaw turns and stares at the woman, right into the eyes, then he shakes his head.

Mahin: "Hello again my dear," says Mahin with a smile. She apprises the woman critically. "Grey," she says disgustedly, "you Wraiths are good at your jobs but your sartorial sensibilities are shocking. I don't suppose you've been able to locate whoever it is who's temporarily keeping hold of Mihr Abbasi's 'Ghost in the Twilight Gardens' for me, have you? I need that painting back in my life."

Jackdaw: Jackdaw sighs and rolls his eyes, which makes them seem even more bizarre with their cat-like pupils, and returns to scanning the book titles.

Milos: Milos smiles wearily with a sense of circumspection as Mahin gives her informed judgement on the dress sense of the Dancer. "Yes, I believe we had." Sooty flutters over back to Milos' shoulder, looking closely at the Dancer. "There is always a colour to match any circumstance it seem." Wearing a plain black clothings, he may have a point in the sheer darkness outside. Nodding at the Dancer. "It is a pleasure to see you again."

Skylarious: Her mouth is hidden behind the mask, but Dancer’s honey-voice sounds distinctly as if she is grinning. “This man understands,” she says of Milos. Turning back to Mahin: “You dress to stand out when your job requires keeping the Bluecoats off you! I suppose you have your particular methods, though, and that is why I am here to speak with you. I’m afraid I have no news of the painting, but there are better targets. You know that there is war in Crow’s Foot, I’m sure, though perhaps not the details. The Lampblacks and the Red Sashes have hated each other for a long time, but they’d been brokered into peace by Roric of the Crows. Now that Roric’s been murdered, the Blacks and Sashes are killing each other on the street. This chaos provides… opportunities.”

Jackdaw: At this Jackdaw swivels around and he comes closer to Dancer, his eyes brightening.

Mahin: "I'll have time to look grey and boring when I'm dead dear," Mahin says with amusement. Noticing a small collection of rings on Fitz's counter, Mahin begins to sort idly through them while they speak. They ought to buy something, after all, as cover in case anyone wondered why they had gone inside. "What sort of opportunities did you have in mind?"

Milos: "Such opportunities can be beneficial and detrimental at the same time. Such a nature of the wars" Milos draw closer as he listens to what the Dancer may have to say, "Nevertheless, call me intrigued." Milos looks ready to hear what the Dancer have to say.

Skylarious: After glancing at the door, Dancer draws the crew back into another room, this one lined with paintings and lit by a series of flowerpots, the blossoms casting forth radiant light. “The Red Sashes are connected to the Iruvian elite here in Nightmarket. They have sons and daughters in the school of sword arts, and they’ll be worrying for their safety as the war intensifies. We have items of theirs we wish to obtain, now that they’re distracted. But they still have defenses that are more suited to your particular skill set.”

Jackdaw: Jackdaw gave a sharp laugh at this. "Something needs putting out of commission?"

Mahin: Mahin looks at the paintings, trying to decide which she most wants to steal. "Mmm-hmm, Iruvian elites, not more of those people," she says with heavy irony.

Milos: Milos nods solemnly, "Ah, I am sure that with enough efforts, any defences can be beaten into submission. What kind of defences do you have in mind that requires such attention?" He glanced around at the paintings as if they are only worth for kindling.

Skylarious: Dancer nods. “Beneath a particular manor house there’s a basement that holds its generators. We need someone to get down to that basement and destroy the generators, crippling the upper floors’ defenses so our people can get in.”

Mahin: "What kind of manor house is it? Who lives there? What are you planning to steal? Out of professional curiosity, you understand, and also because it's best that we know what it is so we don't inadvertently blow it up."

Jackdaw: Jackdaw was grinning widely now. "How to get in there?" he asked.

Skylarious: "The manor is a small one. It belongs to Ghassan Kardera, a diplomat from Kethrys. I can't tell you exactly what we're taking - out of professional obligation. But it's on the very top of five floors, so as long as you don't bring the whole house down it shouldn't be a problem. The ground floor is for entertaining, and it will certainly have some art pieces that might be to your liking, Mahin, if you can grab them without risking the operation. As far as getting in... Well, that's up to what you think you'll be able to pull off. We have maps of the grounds, and there are back entrances you could break or sneak into. Or you could try to con your way in - Kardera himself will be gone, so you might be lucky enough to deal with people who aren't as sharp as he is."

Jackdaw: "I'd say back entrances," Jackdaw says, then added with a sideways look at Mahin, "but she will want to prance in the front door and try charming them all."

Milos: Milos considered this over as he glanced at Mahin at the mention of conning them outright. "The maps would be extremely useful in planning our entrance and escape."

Skylarious: "They can be provided," replies Dancer.

Mahin: "The less I know about your preference for back entrances the happier I'll be Jack," Mahin replied. "But we should look at the maps regardless, as we can escape that way even if we enter through another."

Jackdaw: Jackdaw snorts at this, then wipes his nose on his sleeve.

Skylarious: Dancer pulls the folded maps out from beneath her tunic, and hands them over. "I'm going to go look at the radiant fish. Let me know if you're in, and we can coordinate our plans."

Mahin: "Mmm-hmm," Mahin replies. She's already decided to accept, but decides to stall so she can spend a few more moments examining Fitz's paintings. After a minute or so of this, she heads back to Fitz and, not having been able to decide which ring she wanted, buys three instead. "So are we in?" she asks Jack and Milos when she returns, sliding her new acquisitions onto her fingers. She already has at least one ring on every digit, but she's able to find space for the new ones with some difficulty.

Jackdaw: Jackdaw nods enthusiastically. "I'm working on some new stuff for blowing locks," he says. "It'll be a good first run."

Jackdaw: "And I promise this time I'll test it first," he adds, hands raised palms out to forestall the inevitable reaction from his companions.

Milos: Milos glances at Jackdaw and his passion rather endearing before glancing at Mahin's attempt to put her rings on the fingers. "It would be a good chance to learn some good coins as well. So yes, I am in."

Skylarious: After the crew informs Dancer, she shakes their hands - albeit after a bit of hestitation when it comes to Jackdaw. "I've got someone casing the place tonight. We meet tomorrow at dawn, at the place where we first arranged your tribute. Have some fun before your big day of mayhem."



With that she slips out, and Fitz putters in as if nothing unusual had occurred in his shop. "Now, who's for cap wine and wheat scones?"

Mahin: as ever, Mahin rejects the wine, but happily eats a scone and starts to make a list in her head of people she can contact for information.

[skylarious]

Mahin: Mahin exchanges a few more words with Fitz and then heads back to Hollowcrown. She knows some people in Nightmarket with loose lips, but she doesn't want to risk being spotted and linked back to the Peculiars. At Hollowcrown, Mahin retreats to what she rather grandiosely refers to as her salon, which is simply a few rooms stuffed with wardrobes rammed with the enormous quantity of clothes she's gathered in her year in Duskwall. She has an adjoining bath suite where there are walls fitted with mirrors and cabinets filled with various brushes, combs, razors, powders, curlers, and other such devices. In her own medium, Mahin was as inventive as Jack, though being a boorish and uncultured philistine he of course would not recognise it.

After about an hour, Mahin emerges from Hollowcrown in a light yellow dress with enough powder on her face to slightly alter its tone - her Iruvian heritage is still clear but only a person who was attentive or extremely knowledgeable about cosmetics might recognise her. This accomplished, she heads back towards Nightmarket to carefully attempt to pry into the affairs of the Kardera manor.
Skylarious: Mahin finds many loose-lipped folk in Nightmarket. A day ago, Kardera was seen moving quickly with a few other Iruvian notables away from their estates, and hasn't been seen in the area since. The manor, as Dancer had suggested, is likely to be quieter than usual and more poorly defended. People do mention the Guard-Captain there, though, who seems to have stayed behind. Ishtin is a sharp and wary woman, though people have heard her speak of her prowess with a rifle on the rare occasion she's in her cups. Mahin also finds out a little about the manor's Steward, Rasul, said to be a pompous man prone to flattery. He is the person most likely to greet visitors.
Mahin: Mahin hones her questions mostly upon Rasul, trying to learn if there are any particular pursuits that are close to his heart that she can feign an interest in. She tries to learn both of their schedules, hoping to discover if there's any particular time Ishtin is likely to be away from the manor.
Skylarious: Rasul considers himself generally highly cultured and learned, but in particular he often brags about his conservatory training in the piano. Although usually he can be seen enjoying himself in Nightmarket in the evenings (and Ishtin likewise on rarer occasions), neither of them appear to have been seen outside of the manor since Kardera left.
Mahin: with this information, Mahin decides to return to Hollowcrown so she and the other Peculiars can begin to plan
Jackdaw: Jackdaw is in his laboratory, working on lock opening chemicals.
Milos: Milos was maintaining his long rifle as he glances up from Mahin's return. "I hope your gallivanting was a success." He glances at Sooty digging into its meager feed and went into Jackdaw's smelly corner of the manor. Before Milos enters it, he covered his nose and mouth with a cluff of his clothing and alerted Jackdaw, "Mahin's back. She got some news on the place." His eyes starts watering from the various chemical smells as he retreated hastily.
Jackdaw: Jackdaw carefully releases a tiny drop of liquid on a piece of metal. A cloud of viciously acrid smoke rises into the already stinking air as it spits and fizzes. Eyes streaming, he hurries after Milos.
Mahin: Mahin invites the other two to meet her at the table outside her salon. As she waits for them, she fills a brass-handled mug with water, then heads into her chambers and returns with a small, round pill that she drops into her drink. Immediately the pill begins to dissolve and the water starts to hiss with steam, and an electric blue colour begins to spread through the liquid. She drinks this every day, and has alterately referred to it as a medicine and a beauty product while deftly deflecting any questions that are more specific than that.

"So the steward likes to be flattered and happens to be the one who'll probably greet me. If I can take up his attention then that's one danger dealt with. I'll need to improvise from there, if I can manage it I'll try to distract this Guard-Captain as well considering she sounds like the more dangerous of the two."
Mahin: *alternately
Milos: Milos listens to what Mahin mentions once she returned from her gallivanting. "Should be easy for you to wrap Rasul around your finger. Especially if he is that pompous." He considered this as he rubs his unshaven face. "We will have an access to the maps so we will know where to go and hopefully not to run into anyone."
Jackdaw: "If we're going in round the back," Jackdaw looks at Milos, "then we'll need to know which of them are out of the way. We don't want to run into this captain."
Skylarious: They examine the maps. It appears that the ground floor of the manor is built around a central indoor "courtyard". The front entrance has a hall with stairs leading to the upper floors and a gate to the courtyard, as well as doors to the left - an entertaining hall, the guard quarters - and to the right - the kitchen, supply closets. Attached to both the kitchen and the guard quarters, on the opposite side of the courtyard from the entrance, are the servants' quarters. There appear to be two entrances to the basement, one small one in the courtyard, and one main one in the servant's quarters, though this is likely to be more traveled. There are two back entrances, in the guard quarters and the servants quarters.
Mahin: "So if I can take them away from the basement entrances that'll be the trick," said Mahin. Her drink's hissing had begun to calm itself and the water had turned entirely blue, so she began to sip at it delicately.
Jackdaw: "I hope you've worked out how to warn us if it goes tits up," Jackdaw says to her, but he doesn't seem too worried. "Servants quarters would seem the most obvious."
Mahin: "You must allow a lady some secrets," Mahin said, fluttering her eyelashes.
Jackdaw: Jack rolls his eyes. "When do these nobs have dinner d'you reckon? So the skivvies are all running round and won't notice us."
Mahin: "Oh, aristocrats eat at the same times as the more common sort of person, though sometimes they take their time at it." Mahin stresses the word they - however wealthy they had been, her family had been of the nouveau riche and had not been of any great noble rank.
Skylarious: The Score

The outside grounds near the servants' quarters are nearly pitch black. Since separating from the Wraiths and Mahin, Milos and Jack have been creeping their way as silently as possible toward the door, which is framed by a faint hint of illumination from inside. Milos is peering about, Jackdaw preparing his tools, when suddenly another light appears nearby - the faint glow of a cigarette as somebody turns the corner from the other side of the manor. The figure halts suddenly upon noticing the pair of them, and the cigarette falls to the ground.

Meanwhile, Mahin has managed to get herself in the front entrance, where a servant has asked her to wait on a slightly faded but once luxurious couch. After a while, a huffy looking Steward Rasul, a balding man with a waxed mustache, appears. "Yes? Yes, what is it? Novei said you had some business with us?" He eyes Mahin warily.
Milos: Milos quickly gestured and sighed as he chases after the raven, "Stop that bird!" He calls out to the person before then as Sooty flaps ahead of them toward the person.
Mahin: Mahin is wearing a sharp orange-red dress, its colour inspired by the dead sun. "Oh hello my good man," she said, extending her hand to the steward daintily. "My name is Nousha, I've only just recently learned this but I think the Karderas may be cousins of mine. You see my aunt's cousin by marriage..." Mahin began to rattle off a list of, for the most part, entirely fictitious relations. She hopes to weave such a confusing and rapid set of words that Rasul won't be able to concentrate enough to actually focus on any specific fact long enough to detect that it's false. As she does she makes sure to occasionally touch the steward lightly on the arm and to suddenly break off partway through an explanation of the distant relations of a minor Iruvian house with such comments as, "But I'm sure a man as clever as you is already fully acquainted with that strange affair."
Skylarious: The individual in the shadows quickly scrambled for something, and Milos and Jackdaw worried it might be a weapon for a moment. However, it turned out to be a lantern. Once lit, they could see a confused looking serving man, now casting his light about for the raven. "Sh... shall I call the guards for help, sirs?"
Jackdaw: "We don't want to disturb anyone, just help us catch the raven," Jackdaw says quickly, moving up on the servant.
Skylarious: The servant nods earnestly hopping around with his lantern until the three of them have "recaptured" Sooty. "Sorry about the inconvenience, sirs. I assume you're... guests of Ishtin?"
Skylarious: Meanwhile, Rasul is quickly won over by Mahin's charms, happily agreeing with all of her compliments. "Now, it's unusual to allow guests in without prior arrangments, but I'm sure Master Kardera wouldn't mind a respected relative such as yourself staying in the manor awhile. Can I bring you anything? Tea? Cap wine?"
Mahin: "Oh tea would be absolutely wonderful," Mahin replies, glancing around. She hopes to lead Rasul away towards the entertaining room and as far away from the courtyard and the entrance to the basement as possible.
Skylarious: As luck would have it, the entertaining room is where Rasul leads her. "There are finer rooms upstairs, of course, miss, but they're not ready at the moment, with Master Kardera gone." The room itself is fine enough, lined with (mostly rather tacky) paintings, cabinets of china, and various instruments, including an ornate piano. Rasul gestures toward a series of couches and cushioned chairs. "Sit wherever you would be most comfortable, miss!" He turns to rattle off a list of commands to a flustered servant.
Mahin: Mahin resists the urge to begin rattling off the flaws in the extremely gauche and pedestrian offerings that passed for artwork and instead sits by the piano, making a fumbling attempt to play a popular Iruvian song. She let her graceful fingers slide awkwardly over the keys and the instrument produced several mournful noises. Mahin lets out a frustrated sound. "Oh, when I was young I used to be so good at this! But it's been a long time since I've practised properly," she says to Rasul
Jackdaw: Jack makes a face at Milos, to suggest he distract the servant for a moment.
Milos: Milos smiles at the servant and nods once, clasping the servant on a shoulder firmly, "Indeed. Thank you for helping out with the bird. You look that you had a long day today." As he keep on, trying to give Jack some time to use one of his many potions.
Skylarious: Rasul nods sympathetically, bearing a warm smile that might be fatherly, or something else. "It is one of those skills that requires maintenence. Here." He sits down beside her. "Like this." He shows the proper positioning of ones arms, and the placement of the fingers, before tapping out the tune quickly. "You see?" He leans over, bordering on uncomfortably close.
Mahin: "That's wonderful!" Mahin exclaimed with a warm smile. "Would you play a few more songs for me? I should like to drink my tea and I'd feel like such a brute if I spilled any." She looked around the room, making a note of any exits.
Jackdaw: As Milos draws the servant's attention, Jack slips behind him and throws a powder in the servant's face, but as he does so the man turns his head slightly. "Quick, get him tied and gagged!" he hisses at Milos, "it's not going to work for long."
Milos: Milos looked at the climbing gear and decided that a rope may be useful when breaking in.
Jackdaw: Jack pulls out a handkerchief for a gag.
Milos: Milos nods quickly, glad that they manage to resolve this issue slightly. "He ties up the sleeply servant with a rope he carries
Skylarious: The room has exits toward the entrance hall (where they'd come from) and into the courtyard. There is also a long wall that presumably contains the guard quarters on the other side. Rasul happily indulges Mahin in playing more songs, growing ever more enthusiastic about his skills, swaying back and forth with a look upon his face as if he's channeling the divine. After a few moments a servant arrives with tea and a plate of assorted snacks. "Sir... Ishtin is wondering about the visitor." Rasul shakes his head at her dismissively, focused on the piano, while the servant bites her lip.
Jackdaw: While Milos ties and hides the unfortunate servant, Jack slips forward to check out the door.
Skylarious: The door to the servants quarters is heavy and barred, though the lock appears to be old-fashioned and simple. While there is light coming from the cracks around the door, he can't hear anything inside.
Mahin: Mahin gives the servant a smile and sets about trying to charm her, inviting her to sit down and share a biscuit and hoping to make sure that whatever words she brought back to Ishtin reassured her that their guest was very ordinary and not at all worth her attention.
Skylarious: The servant seems relieved at how nice the stranger is being. "I'll let her know you're just hear to chat with the Steward." She hurries off. After finishing his next song, Rasul leans back as if spent from some great ecstasy. "It's a noble hobby, isn't it? Cleanses the soul. Tell me, how are you finding Duskwall, Miss Nousha?"
Skylarious: Meanwhile, Jackdaw goes to work on the lock to the servants quarters. Eventually there is a sudden click, and the door swings open more quickly than he'd expected, causing him to stumble and make a loud bump. The quarters seem largely deserted, however. They are in a large common area, lined with doors to bedrooms and washrooms. Ahead of them are stairs leading both up and down, and a door to the courtyard.
Jackdaw: With a quick glance behind to check that Milos was ready, Jackdaw moves to the top of the stairs leading down and listens for any sound.
Milos: Milos glance around warily as he follows Jackdaw into the the quarter
Skylarious: Jackdaw moves up to the stairs to listen for signs of movement. The footsteps that do approach are soft, however, and he only notices them when the guard (walking down from an upper floor) is nearly upon them. Thankfully the guard has been unobservant, and Jackdaw and Milos have a brief moment to act before he will spot them.
Mahin: "Oh Duskwall is a delightful place, there's so much to see here in Nightmarket," Mahin replies, finishing off her tea and setting the saucer down carefully. "Where is your ladies? No, don't get up, I'm sure I can find it on my own."
Skylarious: Rasul was beginning to rise, but Mahin manages to convince him to sit. "Just back into the entrance hall and up the stairs, and it'll be on your right," he says, turning back to the piano. "Do ask one of the servants if you can't find it."
Skylarious: Milos and Jackdaw manage to slip down the stairs quietly before the guard notices them. After a few moments they can hear him knocking on one of the servants' doors. "Kira! Kira! Where in devil's laughter are you?" The stairs to the basement are poorly lit by old, flickering bulbs. Finally they reach a large unadorned floor, crammed with barrels and boxes. Against the far wall they can hear a humming sound, and see a large metal tube with wires running up from it into the house - the generator.
Mahin: Mahin heads towards the ladies, continuing to look for more things that might be worth stealing - any small rings or jewellery, perhaps, or any small items a careless person might have left about. She also continues to keep an eye out for any artwork, however improbable it might be for her to sneak away from the scene with a new painting crammed into her bag.
Jackdaw: Jackdaw gives a quick thumbs up at the sight of their objective and moves carefully towards it, studying the set up.
Skylarious: Mahin has just gone up the carpeted stairs and is moving toward the door Rasul had indicated, when a hard-bitten looking woman turns the corner ahead, walking toward her. The woman is wearing an immaculate guard's uniform, and has pistol and sword at her side. She looks at Mahin with wary eyes as she approaches.
Skylarious: Jackdaw and Milos are able to skirt the obstacles on the floor and reach the generator. Its electroplasmic humming is even louder up close. Nearby are vats of refined Leviathan ichor, used to power the generator.
Jackdaw: Jackdaw starts work on disabling the generator.
Milos: Milos whispers to Jackdaw, "Any idea on how to turn it of?
Mahin: Mahin gives a quick curtsy and continues on toward the door.
Skylarious: The woman catches Mahin's eye with a rather unnerving stare, but just walks past her slowly as she enters the washroom. Inside there is a cabinet stocked with fine mirrors, perfumes, powders, and more.
Jackdaw: Jack walks round the generator, attaching explosive charges, and then tells Milos to get behind something.
Mahin: Mahin listens at the door for a moment to make sure the woman's gone, then stuffs the nicer of the items from the cabinet into her bag, wondering how Jack and Milos are getting on.
Milos: Milos hides behind the various vats looking at KJack with a measure of concern
Skylarious: Jack is just beginning to move away from the generator, when some of the electroplasmic energy sparks off of it and into the charges. His only warning is a sizzling sound, and he leaps forward to press himself against the ground. The charges go off, and the generators tears itself apart with a roar, followed by the crackle of electroplasmic energy being released into the air. Jack and Milos can feel heat rushing above them.

Mahin is just putting away some of her well earned loot, when she hears the blast and the house trembles. A moment later, the lights are out.
Jackdaw: Jack staggers to his feet, shaking his head as his ears ring. With a huge grin at Milos he starts to run towards the stairs.
Milos: Milos quickly follows Jack with pistol just in case.
Skylarious: Running toward the stairs, Milos and Jack can hear voices ahead of them. "What the hell was..." "Who fixed that damn generator." Feet are moving toward them.
Jackdaw: Jackdaw pulls a container from one of his deep pockets and prepares to throw it.
Mahin: Mahin quickly opens the window in the washroom. She considers climbing out of it for a moment, but this would be highly undignified. Instead she loudly, but carefully, flings herself at the wall of the bathroom with a loud cry of "HELP!"
Skylarious: Mahin can hear scrambling and shouting from outside the door. "Check on our 'guest'!" calls a woman's voice. A few moments later there's pounding on the washroom door. "Miss? You alright?" calls a man.
Mahin: Mahin gets up and pulls the door open. "There was a man who burst in!" she wails. "He climbed out through the window and started running, that way! If we're quick we can cut him off, hurry! Follow me!" Rather than giving the guards any time to think, she begins to dart towards the entrance.
Skylarious: Meanwhile, Jack and Milos prepare for those people rushing down the stairs. Milos points to a position behind a crate for Jackdaw to set up, and finds his own tactical spot. A guard and two servants hurry into the basement, the guard with a sword out and the servants with lanterns. Once they've moved hurriedly in far enough, Milos signals, and Jack throws his bomb, sending up acrid smoke. The three begin to cough and cover their eyes, and the guard turns around, wildly jabbing with his sword and nearly skewering Milos. The hound is ready though, and leaps over a nearby barrel to escape the blow. He and Jack slip past the confusion and hurry up the stairs.
Skylarious: "We've got men on it, miss," says the guard. "Captain Ishtin's given me strict orders to take you to her. For your own safety, of course."
Jackdaw: Their way now clear, Jackdaw races up the stairs.
Mahin: Mahin stamps her foot indignantly. "How dare you!" she cries. "You wait until I get a chance to tell Master Kardera how you treat his cousins! I'll have you out in the street!" Mahin continues to berate the guard.
Milos: Milos manages to run up and into the black cold air along with Jackdaw. As he did so, Sooty flies onto his shoulder giving an impatient caw. He eyes back at the black manor, frowning with concern
Jackdaw: Jack throws caution to the wind, running for the exit as fast as he can.
Milos: Milos looking at cowardly Jack's back and tuts for a moment before running after him with Sooty takes to air.
Mahin: Mahin heads back into the washroom and looks out the window. "'We've got men on it, miss,'" she mimics. "I don't see any of your men on it, look!" she gestures out the window.
Skylarious: The man moves forward with a hint of caution, but does go to look out the window.
Mahin: as the man moved forward, Mahin slipped a hand into her pocket and pulled out a small hat pin coated with one of Jack's fine solutions. It was a simple matter to jab it into the man, trying to get her free arm around him both to cover his mouth and to muffle any sound from his fall.
Jackdaw: Once out of the door, Jackdaw runs round to the front of the manor, looking to see if Mahin has come out yet or might need their assistance.
Milos: Milos ran around the side as well.
Skylarious: The guard manages to wrestle to face Mahin as he notices the pin prick, and his eyes widen as he stares into hers. Then he slumps down silently. Mahin quickly exits the washroom and heads down the stairs. There she sees Rasul looking worried, hurrying a servant carrying some wiring into the courtyard. He turns to her immediately. "Miss Nousha! You're alright!"

Even then Jack and Milos are reaching the front entrance, which is slightly ajar, and hear Rasul's words.
Jackdaw: Jack ducks down out of sight.
Mahin: Mahin resists the urge to drive her foot up into Rasul's groin. "Oh, I'm quite shaken! There was a horrible man and..." Mahin began to cry. "It was awful! Please, please I must go! There are friends I'm staying with nearby." She makes for the door. "Tell cousin Ghassan it would be good to meet with him, although as long as that harridan is still your Guard-Captain I think I'll meet him elsewhere." Her face hardens. "I would very much appreciate it if you gave her a stern word about how she treats family guests."
Milos: Milos smiles with grimness.
Skylarious: Rasul gawks at Mahin slightly, taken aback at her words. "I'll... I'll speak with him. I'm so sorry about all this, lovely Nousha! If there's any way I can make it up to you..." At that another servant comes up, grabbing his attention, and he turns away. Mahin is able to push her way out the door.

Even as she exits, Milos spots something. A movement in an upper floor window, the metal of a muzzle reflected off lantern light...
Skylarious: Jack sees Milos looking up at the window, and immediately knows what's going on. He signals to Mahin that it's time to go, and the three of them run as fast as they can from the front door of the manor. A crack rings out, and Jack senses a bullet whistle past his shoulder. Then they're off, charging into the darkness of Nightmarket, and to safety.

[skylarious]

Skylarious: The manor job is a windfall for our crew of daring scoundrels. The Wraiths reward them for their part with a few fat purses of coin, enough to let them eat well for weeks in addition to pursuing expensive plans. Word reaches them that the war between the Red Sashes and the Lampblacks is continuing to escalate, and people speculate about whether it will spill over into conflict among other gangs.
Jackdaw: Jack had immediately locked himself in his laboratory, having been struck by a brilliant idea for a hull-type servant; a kind of spirit-driven mechanical familiar. Then he went out searching the burial grounds for his contact Eckerd, a liberator of unwanted but useful body parts. Unfortunately his excitement and some ill-advised comments drew the attention of an informer, and the Bluecoats - not knowing who exactly they were after - grabbed a woman who sometimes worked with their crew. Jackdaw arrived back at their lair in a state of high anxiety and found Mahin. "We're in trouble!" he panted. "I... might have said something I shouldn't. Someone peached to the Blues and they've picked up Marta - I think she might talk."
Milos: Milos treated Sooty with few titbits from the coins earnt before meeting up in a small shrine to pay obedience. He then spent undertaking some training from his military task, especially in demolishing various furnitures which there are many covered with decaying ever present fungal growth. However, he is painfully aware that there are some fallout from their score so he spent some time having a extremely polite chat with various locals.
Mahin: when Jack finds Mahin she is sitting in her salon, drinking the steaming blue liquid she has every morning. She tsks. "You really must be more discreet," she says disapprovingly. Finishing her drink, she changes into a long blue dress and, with some judicious use of coin, is able to get Marta freed with only a few scrapes and bad memories for her trouble
Jackdaw: Relieved, Jackdaw thanked Mahin, then disappeared back into his laboratory. "Let Veldren in when he knocks," he told Milos. "He's lending me his special brand of expertise."
Mahin: other than helping to sort out Jack's indiscretions, Mahin spends the better part of a week alternating between luxuriating in long baths and spending time out and about, acquiring beautiful objects. She is often at a particular boutique in Silkshore, whose proprietor is her friend and occasional employer in her cover persona as an art critic. From her she acquires several small paintings, a new rug, and two large statues of Iruvian warriors. She spends a whole day finding precisely where in her salon the statues should be placed for maximum effect, considering the layout of the chamber and the lighting, fussing over every minor detail in a manner baffling to the other Peculiars.

As she begins to feel more adventurous again, she does some training with their crew, and also spends some time out in social clubs asking delicate questions about a particular group she is keen to locate, and not for any social reason. They have heard Mahin refer before to an organisation called the Syndicate of Embers - exactly who they are, even she doesn't seem entirely sure of - however from what they have been able to gather, they are responsible for the ruin of her legal practise, the loss of her family fortune, and the death of her brother.

Along with these questions, Mahin contacts the Dancer again and, somewhat more persistently than before, begins to pester her about acquiring a painting she has a particular longing for. The Wraiths have more time for her after their successful escapades at the Kardera estate, and, with some encouragement in the form of some of their pay from that job, she's able to obtain what she seeks.

They have seen Mahin cry many times before - she is actually able to do it on command. When the original 'Ghost of the Twilight Gardens', by a relatively obscure painter from Sunfall named Mihr Abbasi, is mounted in a golden frame over her doorway, it is the first time they are sure her tears are genuine. In the background of the painting is a large Iruvian manor of white marble, but a set of steps leads down to a great garden upon which the light of a full moon shines. There is a pool there, and the scene depicts a youth of about seven or eight, dressed in the manner of a gently born Iruvian boy, looking down into a clear pool, where a ghostly woman's face peers back up at him. When she recovers, Mahin explains that the painting is based on an Iruvian tale about the death of a beautiful young woman of common birth, caused by the actions of the patriarch of a powerful noble family. The scene depicted her appearance before the noble's grandson, who eventually brings his grandfather to justice and clears the stain on their family's honour.

"But a beautiful painting, or a song, or a story, can have meanings even the artist didn't intend," Mahin says when she's finished her explanation. She wipes a tear away. "That's why art is the truest form of magic."
Jackdaw: Jackdaw stares at the painting, trying to imagine what Mahin can see in it. He doesn't really get it, but he does understand passion.
Mahin: "My mother owned a copy of this painting and it always spoke to me," Mahin says. "It...well, there's no use dwelling on it. Maybe another time."
Jackdaw: "We had paintings..." Jackdaw frowns in memory. "Well they probably still have them..."
Milos: Milos also glanced at the painting, "Well, I can see why it is so valuable." He praised for a moment, "Priceless in some case."
Mahin: Mahin's eyes light up at Jack's words. "Oh, you have to tell me about them. Who is this who has them, your family?"
Jackdaw: Jackdaw turns away at this. "I have no family," he says, his voice filled with a cold finality.
Mahin: Mahin puts a hand on Jack's shoulder. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean..." she looks down. "I have no family either."
Jackdaw: Jack looks as if he has no idea what to do. He shifts uncomfortably, then precipitately leaves the room.
Milos: "Family are not necessary relatives." Milos mutters as he watchs Jack walking away.
Skylarious: After a couple of weeks of enjoying their newfound prosperity, the crew decides that it's time to consider their next move. Crow's Foot seems the obvious target, with the Red Sashes-Lampblacks conflict likely leaving many assets of the gangs undefended. It'll be dangerous, but every opportunity for advancement in Duskwall is dangerous.

The three of them find themelves on the western edge of Crow's Foot, having crossed the bridge from Silkshore. This is an older district, with classic-style pillared buildings, often expanded on or half-rebuilt with newer, shoddier materials. In the river that cuts through this side of the district is a great mass of small watercraft, all lashed together to the partially sunken wreckage of an old leviathan hunter ship. These watercraft are pressed together tightly enough to create a makeshift neighborhood - Tangletown, the neutral territory of Crow's Foot. Stepping on to the bobbing "street" of Tangletown, they're immediately called to by hawkers of every sort of vice - albeit of the cheap variety. Pushing through, they reach a small covered boat, inside of which Mahin's contact Bryl keeps her "office." A haggard looking man is just hurrying out the door, holding something under his jacket. He pushes past the trio wordlessly.

Bryl peers out, and sees Mahin and the others, gesturing them inside to the cramped confines.
Mahin: Bryl was one of the first people Mahin had met when she came to Duskwall a year ago. For the first six months she'd been in the city, Mahin had barely left the flat she had rented, save to go out occasionally with Bryl and some of the artists she served. Mahin avoided all drugs and alcohol herself, but the dealer could produce more than just recreational narcotics.

"My darling," Mahin said, giving Bryl a hug. "My pills are running a bit low, could you refill them for me?" Mahin pulled out a little tin from her bag. "And there was another business proposition we wanted to discuss as well."
Jackdaw: Jack is becoming twitchy in the confined space. He sits on one of the built-in benches, twisting round to look at everything.
Skylarious: Bryl grins, looking Mahin up and down. "Now don't you get more radiant by the month!" She rummages around in a chest and starts refilling the tin. "Nice to finally meet these compatriots you'd mentioned. Bit worried at you talking about business and bringin' them along into Crow's Foot though. Ha!"
Milos: Milos is always on guard, nodding at one of the very few friends that one of them have in this black city. Sooty on his shoulders takes a closer look. "Nice to meet you too. Well, there are always business going on!" He said shoftly.
Jackdaw: Jackdaw stares at her. He opens his mouth to say something, sees a look Mahin is giving him, and shuts it again.
Skylarious: The interior of the boat reflects Bryl herself. The woman has short hair dyed blue and wears garb more colorful than most in the city, and the walls of her boat are lined with both new abstract paintings and particularly vibrant prints and newspaper clippings.
Mahin: "Darling, meet the Peculiars - the silent one is Jack, this is Milos, and this very handsome fellow is called Sooty!" Mahin says. She reaches into her pocket, retrieves a peanut, and flings it up in the air above the bird for him to catch. Mahin begins to look at the paintings. "Are these new love? There's going to be an exhibit soon and..." Mahin laughed. "I suppose we should deal with the business first. We're always looking out for people who have their ears to the ground to hear about jobs that might require our especial talents, and with this dreadful fighting that's been going on I found myself wondering if there might be any such people who used to work for the Red Sashes or the Lampblacks who might now be getting cold feet. Do you know of any?"
Jackdaw: Jack gives a flash of dirty teeth as Mahin introduced him, then returns to studying the contents of the boat.
Skylarious: Bryl laughs at Sooty's trick, and immediately asks for a peanut to throw for him herself. Then they get down to business. "Informants, eh? Well, the real source of information here in Crow's Foot, the one that outsiders may be able to tap into at least, is the Strathmill House. The orphans there learn to keep their eyes and ears open and run messages for the gangs, in exchange for the coin that keeps the House operating. News can travel from across the city to them. But with the way the fighting's going, it ain't so easy for them to get work. You might be able to employ them yourselves - only problem is the Sashes and Blacks might catch on, and wouldn't like it. You'd either need support from one of them, or support from the Crows."
Jackdaw: "Don't think we should pal up with the Sashes or Blacks," Jack frowns. "Crows have a new leader now don't they?"
Skylarious: "Indeed. Roric got himself killed recently, and his second-in-command Lyssa's taken over. Thing is... most people 'round here think she did the killing. Her position's shaky, 'cause lots of people liked Roric. But that means she may have need of help."
Mahin: "A new leader in a precarious position sounds like the very sort we'd have an easy time approaching. While people still misunderstand us and think we're just a flash in the pan we'd have a harder time with the more established groups. We'll handle them in due course," says Mahin. "We should speak with Lyssa or her underlings then."
Milos: Milos narrowed his eyes, "Many officers can be like that as well. Especially if these who are stepping into a dead man's boots."
Skylarious: Bryl nods. She doesn't need to tell them that the Crows are headquarterd at Crow's Nest, an ancient pre-cataclysm tower in the center of the district. As the traditional leaders of the district, they have interests throughout it, and so Lyssa's followers might be met in other places as well. Bryl provides one other possibility: "There's the Leaky Bucket. The proprietor there, Mardin Gull, he used to run the Crows before Roric, but he's retired. Don't know what kind of connections he still might have. But if you approach the Nest without seeming aggressive, might be Lyssa's willing to talk to you regardless."
Mahin: "A Gull running the Crows? That must have been dreadfully confusing, it's no wonder he retired," Mahin says.
Skylarious: Bryl chuckles. "Well, he would have stood out at least."
Jackdaw: "A rare man if he got to retire," Jackdaw mutters
Mahin: "Who should we approach then? The mismatched bird, or the burdensome miss?"
Milos: Milos consider this for a moment, "Maybe it is worth sounding out the retired Gull. If that does not work, we can always approach directly." He watch Sooty enjoys his trick with the peanuts.
Jackdaw: "If Lyssa's position is rocky, she might be more dangerous," Jackdaw says, agreeing with Milos.
Mahin: "As you will. We shouldn't dawdle then - thank you for the refill darling, and I'll come speak to you soon about this exhibit." Mahin kissed Bryl on the cheek.
Skylarious: Bryl blushes a bit, and waves an enthusiastic farewell to the group. They make their way across Tangletown to the otherside of the river, and then head to the Leaky Bucket, a warm and raucous tavern not much more than a stone's throw from Crow's Nest itself. The interior is brightly lit by dozens of lamps, and people crowd both at the bar and around half a dozen round tables. Gull himself is walking from table to table, checking to make sure everyone's food and drink is adequate, and chiming in to their bawdy stories. He's a gray-haired man, gone slightly rotund but still with a warrior's grace. A small, ragged-looking child runs up to him and hands him a note, and he responds by handing the child a coin and a sweet. Then he notices the newcomers. "Oy! Welcome, friends. Looks like we're rather full at the moment, but I can have some more chairs brought out!"
Mahin: Mahin gives the innkeeper a smile. "Thank you, my good man. I'll have a glass of water, sweetened with honey, about so much..." Mahin makes a delicate motion with her fingers.
Milos: Milos smiles warmily, "Always ready for a drink." As he orders his favourite drink.
Jackdaw: Jack has been looking around at what the other patrons are eating and drinking. "Beer and some of those fried chicken things in bread," he requests.
Skylarious: Gull nods enthusiastically and calls for the orders, as well as chairs. Once they're all seated in a corner and their requests have been brought, he leans in. "So, just stopping in? Or has something brought you to this corner of Crow's Foot?" He doesn't sound suspicious exactly, but interested.
Mahin: "Actually we were hoping to have a word with you, Master Gull," Mahin replies. "But I have the advantage of you. My name is Mahin Naceri, and these are my colleagues Milos and Jackdaw. They call us the Peculiars."
Skylarious: Gull nods along as if this is not unexpected. "The Peculiars. I think I've heard whispers. I would not have expected a woman of refinement like yourself to be among them - no offense to you two, of course," he says, winking at Jack and Milos. "So," he continues in a low voice, unlikely to be overheard in the tavern's hubbub. "I imagine you're wanting some information or a contact with my old gang?"
Jackdaw: Jack shrugs, used to these sort of comments, then starts to gulp beer and stuff food into his mouth.
Mahin: "It's a vulgar name really, but we all have our own peculiarities," Mahin says. "And you're quite right. We understand the orphans at the Strathmill House can come across very useful tidbits of information at times and we want to be able to call on their services. The Sashes and the Blacks would object to this, I imagine, but they're somewhat preoccupied at the moment, and I understand the new chief Crow is also in a somewhat precarious position." Mahin wonders how Gull will react at the mention of Lyssa.
Skylarious: Gull shows only a slight furrow of the brow when Mahin brings up the new leader. "Right. Lyssa is likely to be seeking out help at the moment. And I hope she finds it, so we can end the bloodshed." He doesn't sound particularly happy, despite this response. "I can get you a meeting with her quite easily. I just have... one request."
Mahin: "I'm listening." Mahin took a delicate sip of her drink.
Jackdaw: Jack wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, looking up with interest.
Milos: Milos looks at Gull carefully and directs his full attention on this request
Skylarious: "You don't need to put yourself in danger. But if you hear anything about the circumstances surrounding Roric's death, or the location of his body, or any whispers of sightings of his ghost, please come to me. I'm trying to piece together what happened, but there are too many wild rumors."
Mahin: Mahin glanced at the others, though she saw no reason not to accept this condition.
Jackdaw: Jack shrugs. "Fine by me."
Milos: Milois agreed with Jack and Mahin, "That's understandable,"
Mahin: "You have my assurances then Master Gull. We only trade in reliable information, not conjecture," says Mahin.
Skylarious: Gull smiles. "Well then. I'll leave you to your refreshments, and you come to me when you're ready."

When they are done, Gull introduces them to a Crow lackey who was spending time in the tavern, and the man leads them through the streets to Crow's Nest. In the distance they can hear shouting and screaming, but no one pays any mind. The Nest itself is a wide and elegant building, of simpler construction than the opulent buildings of Duskwall's elite, but better preserved than much of Crow's Nest despite its ancient origin. The lackey tips his cap to a gate guard, and leads, the trio up flights of stairs, until finally they are brought to Lyssa.

She's a muscular and sharp-faced woman with a long-blonde braid, dressed in leather, steel, and fur. At her sides are a simple broad blade and a pistol. Her office is lined with more furs as well as taxidermied animals. She sits at a desk, scribbling at a letter with an angry look on her face. Two followers lounge nearby.

Lyssa looks up, peering at the newcomers with annoyance. "What?"
Jackdaw: Jack stares with open fascination at the stuffed animals.
Mahin: Mahin inclines her head to Lyssa. "My name is Mahin Naceri, these are my compatriots, Jackdaw and Milos. We're called the Peculiars. We want to do a deal with you. We want to be able to use the talents of the orphans at the Strathmill House. In exchange...well, I'm told you rather need a bit of help right at the moment."
Skylarious: Lyssa peers at Mahin warily. "You think you can help me? I've never heard of you."
Mahin: "Well we aren't the Crows, but when you're in the business of sabotage, anonymity is sometimes more useful than notoriety," Mahin replies.
Skylarious: Lyssa looks quite irritated by the appearance of the scoundrels, but after some time Mahin manages to convince her that it's in their best interests to work together. "Alright. I might have something for you." She pulls out a map of the district, and points to what looks like an unassuming apartment building. "There's a Lampblack by the name of Henner. He likes to dally with some ugly whore here. Unfortunately my people would be recognized in the area. I want you to place an object on his person - or in his clothes, or something, making sure he's unaware of it. The key is he needs to bring it back to the Lampblacks' base. Shouldn't be too hard, as he's stupid as a fucking goat. Though there'll be plenty of eyes around."
Mahin: "That sounds like a very simple task," says Mahin. "What's the object?"
Skylarious: Lyssa continues to eye Mahin as if that request were suspicious. She reaches into her desk and pulls out a small, irregularly shaped black stone, lined with strange etchings. A very faint hum seems to emanate from it. She hands it over, and as soon as Mahin touches it she feels her head start to throb.
Jackdaw: Jack moves up close to peer at the stone.
Skylarious: "Now if you can think of another way to get it into the base, that's fine. Henner's just our best lead. And they cannot fucking know about the stone."
Mahin: Mahin winces. "He'll need to be very drunk not to notice this. What on earth is it?"
Skylarious: "You don't need to know, you just need to do the damn job," replies Lyssa. "The more of a barrier there is between the stone and someone's skin, the less likely they are to feel anything. So keep that in mind."
Mahin: Mahin pulls out a scarf from her bag, winds the stone up in it, and then carefully places it back in her bag. "As you wish. We'll return in a few days."
Skylarious: Lyssa nods curtly. "And don't think of stealing that thing. It won't end well."
Jackdaw: Once they are out of the Crow's base, Jack turns to Mahin. "I want to check that thing out before we get rid of it."
Milos: Milos nods, "Of course, not. We are aware of the potential risk that theft of unusual goods can pose,"
Milos: Milos once they left, "I agreed. I don't like the thought of unknown unknown item!"
Mahin: "If I wanted to steal a headache, I'd put you in my bag, you irritable ruffian," Mahin mutters under her breath when they're escorted out of the Crow's base. "Of course we should. I have an idea for how to get it in Henner's hands, though we'll need to scout out the terrain first."
Milos: "And maybe consider alternative way to get it into the Lampblack's base. if he is not that stupid."
Skylarious: The crew brings the stone back to their base in Hollowcrown Manor, where Jackdaw sets about examining it with Mahin assisting him. To understand this arcane object, it is necessary that he attune himself to the ghost field.
Jackdaw: Jack prepares himself to enter the state that will enable him to attune. He sits down on an old chair, rests his hands on the arms and shut his eyes. As he breathes slowly and deeply, a change comes over him. He is silent, unmoving - Mahin had never seen him still like this. Gradually he feels the earthly world drift away, and an eerie green light appears before his eyes. Opening them, he sees the stone illuminated in the same strange glow, pulsing as he reaches out his hand to it.
Mahin: Mahin tries to memorise the scene in her mind, fascinated by the strange light
Milos: Milos was not surprised by this as he grew up in the land where such powers are needed to live in his tribes.
Skylarious: The connection Jack forges is strong and stable. He grasps the stone, and immediately a wave of psychic energy rushes to batter at his mind - but he's prepared, and he supresses the pain for long enough that it recedes. In the stone he can hear strange whispers, and visions float unbidden into his mind. He learns that this stone is designed to call forth a Horror, a dangerous creature of nightmares, very rare within the walls of the city. This Horror could wreak havoc wherever it appeared. Jack himself could call it forth if he wishes, but he senses that there is another object somewhere, connected to it, which could activate it from a distance. He also learns something of the object's origins. That it was constructed some years ago by a mysterious cult, one that believed that through study of the ghost field and of the strange beings within it, they could accomplish a mighty goal: to reforge the Embers of the Sun, and start the world anew..
Jackdaw: Jack places the stone very carefully back on the bench and describes to the others what he has learned. "I wonder how the Crows got hold of this? The plan must be to activate the stone and release the Horror on the Lampblacks."
Mahin: "Embers..." Mahin says, eyes narrowing. "Lyssa is either going to side with the Sashes against the Lampblacks, or she means to hit both sides."
Milos: Milos winced for a moment as he consider this, "Very impressive." He congrats Jackdaw, "I would not thought that such knowledges can be gleaned from a stone. As for a Horror, now that is a nasty one, very dangerous but can be slain if one is prepared and with special bullets. If the people are unprepared, well, they soon know what is the true meaning of horrrors." He shruged

[skylarious]

Skylarious: The attunement ritual has just given Jackdaw information about the stone which the group received from Lyssa: That it is designed to call forth a Horror, a dangerous creature of nightmares, very rare within the walls of the city. This Horror could wreak havoc wherever it appeared (in the case of Lyssa's plans, in the Lampblacks' base). Mahin points out that Horrors can be defeated, especially by those well-prepared, but without such preparation it could wreak havoc. Jack himself could call the Horror forth if he wishes, but he senses that there is another object somewhere, connected to it, which could activate it from a distance. He also learns something of the object's origins. That it was constructed some years ago by a mysterious cult, one that believed that through study of the ghost field and of the strange beings within it, they could accomplish a mighty goal: to reforge the Embers of the Sun, and start the world anew.
Skylarious: edit: Milos points out
Mahin: Mahin listens attentively to what Jack and Milos told her about the Horror. "I don't like this," she frets. "That thing is in our home. If that woman gets impatient she could trigger it on us! We should be rid of it as soon as possible."
Jackdaw: "I doubt if these are easy or cheap to get hold of, so she's not likely to waste it on us," Jackdaw said, staring at the thing. "And they'll expect us to check out the situation before we pass it over."
Mahin: "So has Lyssa decided to side with the Sashes against the Blacks? Or do you suppose she has another of these she's going to use on the Sashes?" Mahin wonders aloud. "This seems like a big job to take on just to speak to some orphans. That bloody woman is taking advantage of us."
Milos: Frowning for a moment, Milos says, "And potentially can direct the backlash onto us as well." He nods with agreement, "Let get rid of it as soon as possible. We can either do what the task that we agreed with her or change the plan ahead" He considers the possible alternative.
Jackdaw: "We could set the Horror on Lyssa herself of course," Jack says thoughtfully. "But I can't see any advantage to us in that."
Edivad is disconnected.
Milos: "Apart from making us very very happy." Milos smiles for a moment, "Beside, it seems very llikely that she have a way to keep track of it."
Jackdaw: "They would have to Attune to do so, and it would need to be someone very skilled to do that," Jack says, "but we might not want to take the chance."
Mahin: Mahin picks up a pen and scrap of paper for a moment, making notes. Her writing is very unlike her, an untidy and unkempt scrawl. "We have a number of ways forward here. We can just go ahead and do what Lyssa asked us to do. We could approach the Sashes and see if they'd pay us more for doing the same thing, or we could plant the thing on the Sashes and tell Lyssa it's with the Blacks. We could give the Blacks a warning, or we could plant the thing on another group entirely," she lists. "If Lyssa is capable of things like this, then I'm wary of betraying her until we're in a better position."
Edivad has connected.
Jackdaw: "We could do with finding out more," Jack frowns as he reads the list upside down. "And did she do away with her predecessor? If she did could her own people be encouraged to turn on her?"
Milos: "Well, we did promise that barkeeper to look into the murder by that Master Gull." Milos points out
Milos: EDIT: "Well, we did promise Master Gull to look into the murder." Milos points out
Mahin: Mahin's writing was so full of shorthand and abbreviations that Jack would have had difficulty reading it the right way up. She crumples up the paper and throws it into a basket nearby with a practised toss. "I'll go try to dig up some information. Do either of you want to keep a lady company?"
Jackdaw: Jack gives a short laugh. "We keeping the stone here? Or taking it with us?"
Mahin: "Keep it here, I think. The last thing we need is to lose it somehow." Mahin's face twists with distaste at the thought of leaving the stone in Hollowcrown, but there seems to be no help for it.
Jackdaw: Jack carefully wraps the stone and puts it away in his laboratory. "How long will that woman give us to get the job done?"
Milos: "Not too long, I don't think. Maybe a day or two?" Milos suggests darkly. "The sooner we get rid of this, the better."
Mahin: "I said we'd be back in a few days so she should give us at least that long." Mahin heads up to her salon to change quickly, and emerges in a yellow, floral patterned dress with a broad-brimmed yellow hat to match. She's switched several of her rings and wears a necklace in the shape of a crescent moon. "Let's go digging."
Jackdaw: Jack pulls on the long coat over his torn stained clothes, tucking a variety of things into the capacious pockets, and rams the knitted cap onto his head.
Mahin: "Would you like me to buy you another coat Jack? I know some very good tailors who could probably find you a better fit, and anyhow that one has a certain...fragrance."
Jackdaw: Jack gazes at her with a shocked look and a shake of his head. "No, no! This one is special."
Milos: Milos raises an eyebrow at Jack's shock answer, "Must be really special then."
Mahin: they head out to various places around Crow's Foot where Mahin schmoozes with the locals, trying to carefully pry into where the stone came from, whether Lyssa might have any others, and into the interesting tales about her involvement in Roric's death
Unresolved value "i".
Skylarious: While they ask around, they are aware of people watching them - gang members as well as the occasional orphan. This isn't all that unusual, but they're aware that Lyssa will likely know they're asking around about something. Mahin does, however, manage to find out some useful information about the situation. Roric and Lyssa had apparently been at odds for some time. They had been seen together heading to the southern edge of the district, near the river bordering Charhollow. No one credible witnessed Roric's death, and Lyssa told people they got separated before he disappeared, but people in that part of Crow's Foot have been whispering of an angry ghost fitting Roric's description appearing occasionally by the river. Mahin also learns some possibilities about the origin of the stone: Roric was apparently quite close (perhaps romantically involved) with Djera Maha, the leader of The Hive, a guild of legitimate merchants with some ties to more illicit dealings. She has access to many unusual goods, and it's quite possible that she provided Roric with the stones before he met his death.
Jackdaw: "We could try talking to the ghost," Jack suggests when they learn about this.
Mahin: "Once we're rid of the stone, perhaps," Mahin replies.
Jackdaw: "If it is Roric we can offer help in getting revenge on Lyssa," Jack says, his enthusiasm running ahead as usual. "And we should inform Gull."
Mahin: "I suspect Gull knows all this already, we should investigate a bit more thoroughly before involving him," says Mahin. "But we should focus on the task at hand. If we're going ahead with this job, we need to know Henner's route to his lady love. I have an idea for getting it into his hands but we need to know a place on the way where there's not many people around."
Milos: Milos nods as he reponds, "Time for a recon of the area I think. I am sure there is a place somewhere no doubt"
Mahin: although Mahin wants to just get on with the matter at hand, Jack is insistent that they try to find out more about the ghost. by which, of course, he means that Mahin should try to find out more about the ghost, since Jack himself was far from a wordsmith and his attempts to ingratiate himself with people tend to go rather badly awry. To placate him, Mahin asks a few follow-up questions about the reports on the ghost, trying to learn about its behaviour, if there are any credible people who've seen it, and a more specific location
Edivad is disconnected.
Edivad has connected.
Skylarious: It seems the ghost has been seen in many spots along the river, though the most recent was by an old tenement building called Number Fourteen. The inhabitants have an informal leader named Miss Clakkins, who welcomes Mahin warmly and says "Yes, it was Roric alright. At least that's what three of the kids what saw him in the alley say. 'Bring her braid to me,' he was saying, 'bring her braid to me.' That's gotta be Lyssa, with that distinctive braid of hers. The kids ran off right quick after that, but I ain't heard tell of the ghost attacking anyone, just putting the fright in them."
Mahin: "How dreadful," Mahin says. "Give the poor dears an extra squeeze, they must have had such a shock."
Jackdaw: Jack nudges Milos, his face alive with excitement. "See it wants revenge!" he whispers.
Milos: Milos eyes Jack for a moment, "Revenge is a dish best served cold." He agreed with Jackdaw, "Good to hear a ghost not causing any troubles for now" He comments.
Skylarious: Milos manages to tail Henner later that evening on his route to the apartment. The man cuts through a number of specific back alleys to get there. Once, when quickly following behind Henner, he notices someone watching him from a window - an young Iruvian woman it looks like - before moving out of sight.
Milos: Milos sighs with a slight irritation as he returns to his peers, "I manages to follow Henner so we are aware of his path in case we are going ahead with Lyssa's goal." Grimacing darkly, "I think I was spotted halfway through the path by a young Iruvian but hopefully, that shouldn't pose any issues.".
Skylarious: The crew manages to find a run down street that Henner tends to cross to go between two alleys on his way to the apartment. He's hustling forward through the first alley, eyes locked ahead of him, when Milos signals to Mahin that it's time for them to set their plan in motion. When he hears the cry for help, Henner stops for a moment, then reaches into his cloak to loosen what Milos sees is a sword from its scabbard. Then he rushes forward, entering the street to witness the scene Mahin and Jack have set up.
Mahin: "HELP!" Mahin screams the moment Milos gives the signal. She pulls out the wallet, with the stone sewn into a small, hidden compartment Jack had added, and began to run with Jack close on her heels. As Henner came into the street, he saw Jack leaping out to assault a pretty young Iruvian woman in a lacy, layered red dress. As Jack 'struck' her, Mahin gave a cry of pain, dropped the wallet in the oncoming Lampblack's path, and then awkwardly shoved Jack away, preparing to run and leave the wallet for Henner as his spoils.
Jackdaw: Jack looks over as Henner comes forward, and runs as fast as he can away from the scene.
Mahin: Mahin runs off in the opposite direction with a cry of terror, as though she is so frightened that she doesn't care for her lost wallet
Skylarious: Henner charges forward, hand still on the hilt of his sword. As he passes Mahin, he belts out "I've got him, miss!" His boots thud against the pavement as he goes after Jack.
Mahin: Mahin pretends to cry and waits by a wall, inwardly fuming that the idiot has simply left the wallet lying in the street. She would have to get a chivalrous moron to have to fool.
Mahin: As Jack would be in more danger than Mahin, she had planned ahead, convincing the owner of a local shop to leave his side door open for Jack to rapidly duck into
Mahin: "I have this boy who's obsessed with me, the silly fool," she'd told the shopkeeper. "He thinks I spend too much time with my friend here. Not that there's anything going on, of course, but the boy can get quite jealous." She'd given the shopkeeper a radiant smile.
Milos: Milos alarms at the risk of Jack getting hurt, gesture at his pet, Sooty to go after Henner to distract him while he shimmy down the some dark pipe ready to move in if needed.
Skylarious: Henner continues his charge after Jack, when suddenly Sooty flaps in front of his face, cawing. The man curses and swipes his hand at the bird, stumbling around it before turning the corner into the alley where Jack has disappeared. He is confronted only with a now-closed shop door to his right, and an unpopulated alley ahead. His momentum is such, however, that he stumbles on a raised cobblestone in front of the shop, tumbling to the ground. When he staggers out of the back alley he looks rather dazed. Having given up the chase, he looks to find Mahin or the wallet.
Mahin: Mahin snaps back into action, fleeing away with a screech
Jackdaw: Panting heavily, Jack grins at the shopkeeper as he wanders out of the front of the shop and into the crowds,
Skylarious: "Miss! Miss!" Henner calls out weakly as he goes after her. But his tumble seems to have taken the energy out of him, and he soon slows to a halt. He looks to the wallet on the ground, then picks it up with a shrug and puts it inside his jacket before continuing on his way.
Milos: Milos grins with a hint of victory and prowls after Henner very carefully, making sure that the stone went to the right place
Mahin: Mahin had brought a spare set of clothes - she wants to be able to help in the rest of the score, but not if it risks her getting recognised and having her wallet handed back to her. She finds a well sheltered spot, double checks to make sure no one is watching her, and expertly pulls her dress off and then replaces it with simple dark leggings and a blouse for the rest of the job. She then heads off to join with Milos as he hunts after Henner on his return to the headquarters
Jackdaw: Jack makes his way to where they had agreed to meet up after the job was completed.
Skylarious: edit for Henner following Jack: Before Sooty flaps into his face, Henner manages to get a good look at Jack, enough that he'll likely be able to identify him in the future.
Skylarious: Milos, aided by Mahin who's quickly changed into some fresh garb, manages to track Henner as he makes his way back toward the Lampblack base. As he's getting close, however, he diverts on his route, heading through an alley toward a nearby building. The place looks empty on its upper floors, but as they get close they can hear murmurs and laughter coming from a basement below - the telltale signs of a drug den.
Mahin: "You irritating person," Mahin says. "We need to follow him and make sure he doesn't hand the wallet over or some such idiocy. Come on. Hide the bird, he'll recognise it." Without waiting for Milos' response, Mahin heads towards the drug den. "Javed..." she mutters as the smell of the place strikes her.
Milos: Milos whispers some words and Sooty flutters off, minding its own business.
Skylarious: edit: Outside of the place a bedraggled woman leans against the wall, her head lolling back and forth.
Mahin: Milos had spotted this place when following Henner before, and before the job Mahin had made sure to speak with Bryl about it, finding out who ran the place and what kind of buttons she could push if she had to.
Mahin: Finding out the owner's name, Mahin had gone in the guise of one of Bryl's runners. "If you see this guy, throw him out on sight," she'd said to him, giving Henner's description. "He's a cheat. He tried to pay us in counterfeit coin. If he tries to offer you any coin, throw it back in his face."
Mahin: Mahin watches the bedraggled woman with distaste. "Places like this should be fucking burned to the ground," she mutters to Milos, who's startled to hear her swear for the first time since they met.
Skylarious: The owner, a thin Tycherosi man whose snake-like tongue darted from his mouth on occasion, nodded his agreement. "Tank you for the warniiing." By way of thanks, he offered her a small baggy of the stupor- and vision-inducing resin known as Black Lotus.
Mahin: Mahin took the drug outside and, as soon as she was safely away and in a place of safety, she dashed it violently against a wall.
Milos: Milos nods, "Drugs always destroy the minds. Many soldiers often have it as their vice, only to be dishonourable discharged."
Milos: He points with some understanding
Skylarious: The trio watch the door expectantly after Henner enters. After a few minutes, they hear him shouting curses. "Fucking liars! I've got good coin here!" Then he's pushed out of the door by two burly men. Now cursing to himself, he turns to the woman lying against the wall. "They take your coin, probably from sucking some dirty Iruvian cock, and toss me out. A damn Lampblack." Finally he turns and begins heading back toward the base.
Mahin: "I've seen it happen. They destroyed my brother," Mahin says bitterly to Milos. Before she can elaborate, they see Henner being thrown out, and she ducks away down an alleyway to avoid being spotted
Jackdaw: Jack, having caught up with the others, hides out of sight knowing that Henner had a good look at his face.
Milos: Milos eyes Mahin as he quickly hides away. "Good thing you got in touch with that drug den."
Skylarious: The crew follows Henner to the large warehouse where the Lampblacks make their base, a busy place where dealers and informants, move in and out all the time. Henner nods to the two men guarding the entrance, then enters.
Mahin: "Lets get back to Lyssa and get this business over with," Mahin says, setting off immediately.
Jackdaw: Jack follows, scuttling behind her to get away from the vicinity of the base.
Skylarious: They make their way through the dark streets of Crow's Foot, finally arriving at the Nest. They're escorted to Lyssa, who listens to their report and gives a curt nod, seemingly as close as she can get to thanks. One of her lieutenants hands over a sack of coin, and explains that word will be given to the proprieters of the Strathmill House that the Peculiars are trustworthy clients.

[skylarious]

Skylarious: The Peculiars hear word of the results of their collaboration with the Crows. The Horror had appeared the following dawn (as the embers of the sun glowed a bit brighter), a writhing blob composed of screaming, gnashing faces. It had rolled over Lampblacks, crushing and biting so that they were left near-unrecognizable. The base had been devastated by the time the thing disappeared, and although it seems the leader Bazso Baz has survived, the Blacks’ operations have been thrown into chaos.
Meanwhile, Lyssa had taken the opportunity to lead the Crows in surprise raids against multiple Red Sashes holdings. The Sashes had been primarily focused on fighting the Lampblacks, and the Crows got the better of the encounters, expanding their control over Crow’s Foot. Lyssa’s successes have secured her place at the top of the gang as well, and although she’s offered no personal thanks to the Peculiars for their part in it, the Crows have kept up their end of the bargain and given access to the informant-orphans of the Strathmill House.
After their defeats in Crow’s Foot, more Red Sash activity has moved into Nightmarket, and the Wraiths are finding themselves in high tension with them. Fitz says that some of their younger and rougher members have been snooping around and making veiled threats; one even asked about the Peculiars. They’ll either need to be bought off, or likely become a longer-term enemy.
More disturbingly still, there has been unusual spirit activity near Hollowcrown Manor, even for the one of the most frequently haunted districts in the city. A ghost has made his way through Six Towers, being spotted a few times, each time closer to the Peculiars’ base. He’s run toward people, calling out to them in a distorted voice: “Miss! Your wallet!”
Jackdaw: "You really screwed him up!" Jackdaw says to Mahin, when they hear this last piece of news. "We should keep out of his way and go to check on our other ghost - Roric."
Milos: Milos shrugs as Jackdaw speak to Mahin, "If need to, we should improve the defence around our home later. It is unable to keep the ghosts out at the moment."
Edivad has connected.
Milos: Milos shrugs as Jackdaw speak to Mahin, "If need to, we should improve the defence around our home later. It is unable to keep the ghosts out at the moment."
Milos: He feeds titbits to his little bird, Sooty.
Mahin: while recovering from their activities, Mahin continues to ask questions about the Syndicate of Embers, although this time she manages to obtain only a few leads. she also spends some time training in a rougher style of combat - she had learned a form of duelling when she was young, but she knew there might be a time she needed to defend herself in a wilder situation.

the majority of her time, however, she spends by taking Fitz and Bryl around various art exhibits. by the time of the fourth in as many days Mahin is clearly rather overexcited and getting on Bryl's nerves. She goes out to a fifth on her own, at which she ends up in a protracted and heated argument with an older woman about a series of paintings. After exchanging numerous insults Mahin leaves the exhibit, but unfortunately Bryl later tells her the woman she has insulted is in fact the mother of a senior Red Sash.

Between the Red Sashes and a ghost searching for her, Mahin's mood falls for a few days and she spends some time on her own. After a couple of days however she calls the others to her salon, where they find her popping her pill into a cup of water. As it dissolves, she hands Jack a piece of paper. It's a drawing of the moment when he was able to attune with the spirits of the stone containing the Horror. Mahin is more skilled at crticising art than creating it and her work is of only average quality, though she has put considerable effort into capturing the exact look Jack had had on his face as the green light had appeared in his eyes.
Jackdaw: Jack holds the paper in front of him in silence for a long time, with none of his usual tics and twitches. Eventually he takes a deep breath and looks up with a strange shine to his eyes. "Thank you!" he says, handing the picture back to Mahin.
Mahin: "Keep it! It's yours." Mahin says. "We need to plan our next move."
Jackdaw: Jack disappears into his room and returns having secreted the picture away somewhere. "We should ask Roric's ghost a few questions."
Milos: Milos spent some time going for a trips to meet up with various members of his faith and focused on honouring their ancestor. For some reason, he manage to restore the sense of peace of mine. Other than that, he spent some time patrolling six towers, making careful note of the surrounding and dangerous threats in the darkness.
Mahin: Mahin takes a sip of her steaming drink. "I agree that we should search out Roric's ghost, but we should see what old Gull will give us for doing it. We only promised to give him information, after all, not to actually go digging into the matter. Someone like Gull must have some connections that can be useful for us."
Jackdaw: "I'd like to see that Lyssa woman in the shit. She's a nasty piece of work!" Jackdaw spat.
Milos: "I agreed." Milos sighs for a moment, "We will deal with her one day." He frowns as he eyes Sooty, "I think we should deal with other ghost at some point as well. Considering that it is getting closer to us."
Mahin: "She's not a very pleasant person at all, no," said Mahin. "The Dimmer Sisters might know something about how to deal with Henner."
Milos: Milos find this agreeable, "Considering that we are partly a cause for his death, that is an excellent idea as we can deal with this indirectly."
Mahin: Mahin finishes her drink. "Shall we away to Dimmer Manor then?"
Skylarious: The crew makes their way northward and into the edges of Brightstone. This corner of the district still retains some of Six Towers' desolate feel, and particularly as they approach the Sisters' manor they see few people around. A latticed metal fence surrounds the grounds, and a high black gate sits before them. Behind it, up a long cobble road, they can see the ancient manor. Before the gate stands a metal mannequin. It is completely still until the Peculiars are within a half dozen yards, and then it suddenly turns its featureless head toward them.
Mahin: Mahin removes her broad-brimmed blue hat and fans herself with it. "We're looking to speak to Roslyn...Jack, can this thing actually hear me?" she turns and asks her companion, feeling rather ridiculous addressing a mannequin even if it can move
Milos: Milos grins for a moment, finding it amusing. "How peculiar..."
Jackdaw: Jack goes up to inspect the mannequin. "Interesting...," he says, somewhat incautiously touching the thing.
Skylarious: The mannequin ignores Jack's touch. There is a series of clicks and whirrs as some internal mechanism operates, then a scratch as a recording begins to play, a tinny recreation of Roslyn's voice. "Welcome to our home..." Click. Whirr. "Peculiars. Please, make your way to the front door." The mannequin raises its hand and gestures toward the gate, which swings open. The mannequin turns away and goes still once more.
Jackdaw: "I would like to take that to bits," Jack says with a backward look as they move through the gate.
Mahin: Mahin puts her hat back on and makes her way towards the front door
Milos: Milos glances at Jack warily, "I am sure they won't apperciate that, Still, you can ask how they do it..."
Skylarious: The front door is already open when they arrive, and Roslyn is standing there in her plain black garb, her round, smiling face framed by the dim light of a lantern in the foyer behind her. Faintly a simple piano tune can be heard in the background, repeating the melody over and over. "The Peculiars! My mistresses rarely let me have visitors approach their home, but they said to make an exception for you."
Mahin: Mahin greets Roslyn warmly and kisses her lightly on each cheek in greeting. "They're too kind. We're actually here about a visitor approaching our home, though in this case it's of the more unwelcome kind."
Milos: Milos smiles seeing one of very few people on a friendly term with us in this misery ridden city and nods, "Nice to meet you. Always good to hear some music."
Jackdaw: Jack was still looking back at the mannequin but now he spun round. "We're being haunted!" he said loudly, then cocked his head to one side. "Music? They don't seem to be getting far with it."
Skylarious: "Come in then, my dears, and we'll talk of this haunting." She ignores Milos and Jackdaw's comment about the music. She draws them through the foyer and into a smaller room with luxurious couches and lined with old-fashioned but expensive art pieces. One painting shows two women in black lace and veils dancing in the midst of a clapping crowd - but every time one looks away and back at the painting, the women have different hairstyles or are standing in slightly different positions. The piano is louder here, seemingly coming from the floor above. The scoundrels can feel the hair on the backs of their necks standing on end, a telltale sign of energy fields nearby, and there is a faint sickly-sweet taste in the backs of their throats, often denoting the presence of electroplasm.

"So," says Roslyn, not offering food or drink as was most usual in such a visit, "Tell me of this unwelcome guest."
Mahin: Mahin watches the shifting painting. "W...where did you get this?" she squeals excitedly. "Or how? I need one!"
Milos: Milos smiles gingerly as shifts ever so slightly.
Jackdaw: Jack comes up to look at it too. "How is it done?" he asks.
Skylarious: Roslyn smiles again, and for a moment the lamps in the room flare up brighter. "Lady Aesley is so happy to hear that you appreciate her work. Unfortunately I cannot speak to her methods." Now that Mahin and Jack are focusing on the painting, it no longer appears to shift at all. "They know you are a collector, Miss Naceri, and perhaps Lady Aesley will give you a piece, if this friendship continues to blossom."
Mahin: "That would be amazing!" Mahin smiles brightly. "But I suppose we should tell you about our ghost. The poor thing has been coming ever closer to our home, it seems to think we're responsible for its death somehow." Mahin quickly tells her the story of their encounter with Henner, although she evades conversation about precisely what the contents of the wallet were.
Skylarious: "The poor Spirit Wardens have had their hands full recently, with the war in Crow's Foot. Bodies cast aside like chaff, and spirits skittering like rats" says Roslyn, not sounding at all sorry for the Wardens. "My mistresses are of course happy to help you with your little problem, but this kind of thing does accrue expenses, which might be paid in coin or in work."
Mahin: "Well that would depend on how much of each you'd want, and what sort of work," Mahin says, looking at the others
Skylarious: "The price will be reasonable, I assure you. If you choose to do some work, there will even be compensation beyond aid with the ghost. My mistresses understand that you are good at... indelicate operations, and those skills might be useful in, well, making the Spirit Wardens' job a little harder than it already is."
Jackdaw: Jack smiles. "That sounds interesting."
Mahin: "I'd rather make coin than give it up," Mahin says. "Tell us more."
Milos: Milos nods his assent to hearing out the work
Skylarious: "Oh, wonderful!" The piano upstairs ends its tune with a sudden dissonant clank. And then a new tune starts up, this one much more intricate, but always with a note that sounds unplaceably off. "There is a cell of Wardens here in Brightstone, operating out of a 'restaurant' near Unity Park. They have some apparatuses there, disguised as storage drums for ingredients. My mistresses would like them removed and brought to them."
Mahin: "What kind of restaurant is it?" Mahin asks in curiosity. "How many of these drums are there and how large are they?"
Skylarious: "The place is called the Celestial. They serve traditional Akorosi food, but with twists that ruin the whole point. Can you imagine Islander spices on a fine cut of goat?" Roslyn sniffs in annoyance. "In any case, it is an establishment decently popular with the wealthy of the district. There are three drums, each heavy enough to require a strong man to lift for long, so you may require help. We can provide some coin for expenses."
Jackdaw: Jack made a face at the mention of goat. "Weird food anyway, don't know how you can tell it's ruined. What is the security like at this place?"
Skylarious: "There's likely to be little proper security beyond locks and bars at night - the City Watch are strong enough here that there isn't much need. The Spirit Wardens themselves, however, may pose some danger, and if you go during operating hours the restaurant will be quite populated. I recommend not being seen, at least not being seen as... yourselves." She glances at Milos and Jackdaw.
Mahin: "We'll need assistance to get the drums out, but that presents its own problems - the people helping us will need to be able to be discreet themselves or the whole plan will be spoilt."
Skylarious: "It might be you could get them out on your own if you have the right sort of cart. This is not my area of expertise," adds Roslyn.
Mahin: "We can see what information we can get and then we can always come back to you if we think we'll need help," says Mahin. "I'd rather keep the numbers down myself."
Skylarious: "Of course, dear. Just keep track of any reasonable necessities and you will be reimbursed. And your little visitor should be dealt with by the time this is all complete."
Milos: Milos kept listening to that very creepy music and nods, "Yes, that should suffice." He stroke Sooty for a moment as if he will himself to remains claim
Jackdaw: Jack has also been listening and now he points to the ceiling. "Is it a kind of Hull, that piano?"
Skylarious: Roslyn gives Jackdaw a friendly pat on the shoulder, and at the same time the piano plays a jaunty little tune, almost like laughter. "That's Lady Kaliss, silly. She always likes to play for guests."
Jackdaw: "And she's.... still alive?" Jack asks.
Skylarious: Roslyn just grins more widely. "She always likes to play for guests."
Mahin: "Artists should always share their talents, whether they're alive or not," says Mahin.
Jackdaw: Jack nods with a grin, certain now of the answer to his question. "If you need help with stuff like that, just ask." he says.
Skylarious: Roslyn nods and quietly escorts them back toward the door of the manor. "Good luck, Peculiars." Glancing back, some might see the ladies in the painting waving goodbye to them.
Jackdaw: "I like the Sisters," Jack says as they walk towards the gate. He makes another examination of the mannequin before they leave.
Skylarious: The mannequin remains perfectly still this time, not responding to Jack's prodding.
Milos: Milos shudders at that house, "Sound like a kindred spirit for you, Jack. Well, that was... creepy" Milos mutters
Mahin: "I need one of those moving paintings in my life," Mahin says enthusiastically as they leave. Once they can persuade her to stop breathlessly discussing the moving painting, she outlines her plan - every restaurant Mahin had ever come across had a long line of angry former members of staff willing to trade tales of abusive supervisors and terrible pay, and for a few coins she was sure some of these might be willing to trade information about the layout of the place, any nightly routines they might be able to exploit, and so forth.
Jackdaw: After agreeing with Mahin's plan, Jack continues the debate with Milos. "There's nothing wrong with utilising the spirits of the dead," he says. "Or any other bits. Look at this!" he rummages in one of the seemingly bottomless pockets of his greatcoat and draws out an object, keeping it hidden from passers by. "Good isn't it?" 'It' is some kind of automaton, in the shape of a rat, covered in a patchwork of hair and metal. As Jack pulls it out, a blue glow shines deep in its eyes.
Mahin: Mahin smiles at the mechanical rat. Curious, she pulls out one of the peanuts she usually gives to Sooty and offers it to the creature.
Jackdaw: The 'rat' sits up on Jack's hand and takes the nut in its front paws, which come together harder than expected. Bits of nut scatter in all directions. Jack shrugs. "He's not quite got it right yet."
Milos: Sooty flutters over onto Jack's shoulders and glares at it while Milos eyes the unnatural fusion of spirt, flesh and part and said, "That is impressive." Milos comes closer to look at it and glances at Sooty. "This prey is out of bound Sooty." Sooty caws if only in disappointment. Laughing lightly, "If we are going to have creepy things in our home, at least they can creep other people out."
Mahin: "I wonder if we can stick Henner's soul into one of those," says Mahin. "Why does his spirit have to come after us, is it because a Horror killed him? I hope not everyone who's ever died because of me starts to haunt us." A dark look passed across her face.
Jackdaw: Jack looks up from the rat and fixes her with his tawny cat eyes. "Even if they did, we could deal with them," he says, and for a moment they can see a determination and strength in him which rarely shows.
Mahin: "You might be able to deal with them, but I wouldn't," Mahin replies.
Milos: "One should place the responsibility with that woman that forced our hands." Milos comments "Do you really like that painting back there Mahin?" He asked with a hint of surprise
Mahin: "Oh yes," Mahin says, her face brightening. "I'm not sure about the painting itself - but the idea of one that can shift and change on its own, that's exciting."
Skylarious: Milos manages to find where many employees of the restaurant seem to live - a block of apartment complexes in the Docks district near Brightstone. Mahin subtly asks employees there about their friends, and manges to find a couple of ex-employees - a dishwasher and a member of the wait staff. They explain that the old management at the Celestial hadn't been too bad, at least in comparison to other places they'd worked, but that a couple of months ago new owners had come in and interrogated them about their backgrounds and personal beliefs. A number of employees had been quickly fired after that. They also provide Mahin with a relatively clear layout of the building - a large central dining hall with sets of private booths in each of the four corners, the kitchen in the back, storage to the left, and the washing and changing rooms to the right. In addition to the front entrance, both the storage and washing areas have entrances to alleyways, and each also has a door to the kitchen. Fresh ingredients are brought to the storage area by buyers who come from the nearby markets, and employees enter in the washing area. There is also a basement under the kitchen, used to store wines and other things requiring a cool dark environment.
Mahin: "Your backgrounds and beliefs? What do you mean?"
Skylarious: "If we'd had any run-ins with the law. Where we'd lived. What faiths or cults we have involvement with - they seemed quite interested in that one," says the waitress.
Mahin: "Were there particular faiths they were trying to avoid or encourage?"
Skylarious: "They didn't say, just asked us. Most of us weren't going to talk about anything unusual of course, even if we were involved. But I heard one line cook mentioned communing with spirits, and he was fired despite being one of the best workers."
Jackdaw: Jack looked particularly interested at this, but he took note of Mahin's instruction not to give anything away. "Have the new management acted in any other odd ways since taking over?
Skylarious: "I wouldn't really know," she replies. "From what I've heard they haven't changed too much about the operation of the place. I did hear they come and go quite often, and like to check on the wines."
Mahin: "That line cook who got fired, do you know his name and where we can find him?"
Skylarious: Mahin is soon put in touch with the line cook who lives in Crow's Foot.
Mahin: Mahin asked the man about communing with spirits, and what the new management had told him when he was fired
Skylarious: The line cook says he had only mentioned dabbling in communing with some friends - they didn't know what they were doing and made no contact, just thought it would be interesting to try. The managers nodded and made notes, and then at the end simply said "We won't be requiring your services any longer."
Mahin: Mahin asked the man about the drums and whether he'd seen them
Skylarious: None of the ex-employees seem to know anything about the drums.
Mahin: "Who used to own the place?"
Skylarious: Mahin is pointed to a Charterhall merchant who owns a couple of other restaurants. She'd told employees at the time that she wasn't originally planning to sell, but the new owners had come in and offered well above market value for a quick purchase.
Mahin: "The former workers there aren't going to know most of the useful information we need if management has changed," Mahin says to Jack and Milos. "We'll need to risk talking to people who still work there."
Skylarious: Mahin manages to delicately broach the subject of current operations with some employees - she notices some resistance, as they're apparently discouraged from talking about work, but she expertly deflects suspicion. Mahin learns that the owners often visit as the restaurant is closing for the night, and often leave when the staff arrive to set up for the next day, rarely talking much to the employees. Recently the employees did find that three mysterious drums had been brought in overnight. They were later moved to a locked crate in the storage area. They were told that they contained "rare spices" that would be used in the future.
Mahin: "How many of the new owners are there and what are their names?"
Skylarious: Mahin learns the names of four joint owners, two men and two women, who will arrive sometimes alone and sometimes together.
Milos: Milos frowns for a moment upon hearing this, "So there is no quiet time at all. We will need to plan this out carefully. If only we can just walk in and say that we bought these drums and we can walk out with them."

[skylarious]

Skylarious: The crew has learned some information about the restaurant called The Celestial where the Dimmer Sisters believe the Spirit Wardens are operating, and where they wanted three apparatuses disguised as storage drums to be taken from.

The place is crowded during the day. It likely has little security of its own, though the bluecloaks operate in the area. At night it closes up, and the mysterious new owners tend to arrive, leaving in the morning. There are four of them, two men – Grys and Yardley – and two women – Simma and Kay.

The Celestial has a large central dining hall with sets of private booths in each of the four corners, the kitchen in the back, storage to the left (with a locked crate that apparently contains the drums, at least when the employees are there), and the washing and changing rooms to the right. In addition to the front entrance, both the storage and washing areas have entrances to alleyways, and each also has a door to the kitchen. Fresh ingredients are brought to the storage area by buyers who come from the nearby markets, and employees enter in the washing area. There is also a basement under the kitchen, used to store wines and other things requiring a cool dark environment.
Mahin: "I wonder if we could somehow slip in around the time things lock up," Mahin mused. "If the four of them don't always arrive at once then being there right at the time would be an advantage. We should try to find out who they are."
Jackdaw: "There's a lot going on in that place most of the time," Jackdaw says thoughtfully. "I wonder what they do in there all night? Are they guarding the drums or performing some kind of activity using them?"
Jackdaw: "Might be a way to delay them arriving," he adds as it strikes him. "If we know what routes they use."
Milos: Looking at the rough plans of the layout, he agreed. "Something to do with how they process the ghosts maybe?" He frowned for a moment, "Most likely since they are Spirit Wardens." He smiled slightly at Jack, "Hope you might find something useful in that cellar."
Mahin: Mahin and Jack set out to ask around about the four mysterious new owners, taking great care to try not to attract suspicion.
Skylarious: Mahin manages to find some useful information on the owners; once, she notices someone getting suspicious, and manages to deflect his concern by pretending that she's merely supremely interested in The Celestial's cuisine.

The owners seem to have appeared in the area quite recently with no apparent ties to anyone, but Mahin manages to find a builder who gets ever more gossipy after some mild flattery. He overheard them speaking when they thought he wasn't around, and they referred clearly to the Spirit Wardens - as if they were in some dispute with that organization. The Wardens are famously opaque, with a membership of outsiders from Duskwall, but even they have leaks, and Mahin manages to learn that there's been some kind of internal conflict in the organization recently. The four owners seem to have been members who had a falling out with others over some plan of theirs involving the Celestial, and were expelled. The Wardens wanted to take further action, but the four have friends on the City Council who so far have been protecting them. There remains concern within the Wardens over what they're going to do in the Celestial (though Mahin can't determine their exact plan, beyond the involvement of devices which can interact with the Ghost Field), and that their nightly visits have been setup for some action which will take place soon. During the day the four spend their time in libraries and meeting with high-up friends in their manors - it's possible they are provided lodging there, or that they sleep at the Celestial. None seem to have any particular contacts our activities beyond those. Grys and Kay tend to arrive together at the Celestial and spend time during the day together, while Yardley and Simma seem to be more solitary in their activities. Simma in particular tends to spend long hours at libraries, and arrive at the restaurant an hour or two after the others.
Mahin: "We should go in shortly before Grys and Kay arrive," Mahin says. "Simma won't be there yet, and we can get the drop on the others."
Jackdaw: "You think we can attack them?" Jack asks frowning. "Is there no way we can stop them arriving on time? If we're organised it won't take long to get in and remove the drums."
Milos: "The fact they are expelled from Spirit Wardens gives me more confidence that we can act against them." Milos nods. "If worse come to worse, we can use force againsyt them if the threats arrives. I am hoping it is only four of them with no other people helping them."
Mahin: "If none of them arrive then the workers might not lock up and then we're back where we started," says Mahin. "I bet the Dimmer Sisters know they're expelled from the Wardens - they'd be more reticent to act directly against them."
Mahin: Mahin asks a few more questions about Yardley - what he looks like, where he might be on the day the Peculiars had set for recovering the drums, and so forth
Skylarious: Yardley manages to get a clear description of Yardley - a slightly plump Akorosi who nevertheless moves quickly and confidently, and dresses in muted but fashionable blues and blacks. On the day before the evening the Peculiars were hoping to engage in their plan, Yardley is apparently visiting the manor of Lady Ysla Penderyn, a relative of an important City Councilor famous for her tasteful parties. Her manor is relatively close to the Celestial, though in a quieter area of Brightstone.
Skylarious: *edit: Mahin manages
Mahin: Mahin hatches a scheme with Milos - pretending to be a respectable veteran and his more talkative wife, they find a corrupt Watchman and set out to convince him, with coin and flattery, that they were the victims of a recent attack by a man matching Yardley's description, and that they know of a particular place he'll be - on the way to the Celestial, on the night of the score.
Skylarious: After casing the restaurant further, it becomes clear to the Peculiars that their best route in is through the side door connected to the washing and changing rooms - the door to the storage area is more heavily used by employees putting away table settings and cooking equipment for the night. After watching the goings on for some time, the three of them stealthily approach the side door and wait for an opportunity to get in before the expelled Wardens arrive. One employee exits and steps aside to smoke for a while without having locked the door, and they manage to slip inside before he does so. Inside, they see to their left a row of small changing rooms separated by curtains. Nearby to the right they can hear scrubbing as someone finishes the last of the dishes at the wash station, currently obscured from their view by large counters. Ahead of them is a second door to the main restaurant floor, and past the wash station they know there is another door to the kitchen.
Skylarious: They can hear low chatter ahead of them on the main floor.
Jackdaw: As they wait Jack checks over two bandoliers of alchemical containers he wears underneath the greatcoat and feels around in his capacious pockets making sure he has all that may be needed.
Mahin: Mahin takes a quick glance at the changing rooms, checking if anyone is inside
Skylarious: Milos manages to hear slight movement in one of the changing rooms farther away, and realizes someone is in there. Moments later, he catches the footsteps of the employee they'd slipped past walking toward the door. After a quick signal, the Peculiars manage to slip underneath the nearest curtain. They hear the door open and the smoking employee call out "Mels, you coming?" "Just a moment," comes the reply, and then they hear footsteps hurry past them and out the door, which closes again. From every indication the only person remaining in this area of the restaurant is the single employee finishing dishwashing.
Mahin: "The way to the basement is through the kitchen, quick!" Mahin says.
Jackdaw: Jack lays his hand on the vial of Standstill poison, as if considering using it on the dishwasher, but decides otherwise.
Skylarious: Led by Milos, the trio, carefully slip past the dishwasher, moving just as the steam is producing a particularly loud hiss to open the door to the kitchen. They find this large room empty except for the cooking equipment and barrels of spices placed on the counters. Near the back they see the stairs leading down into the basement. To their left is another door to the main restaurant, and farther ahead is a door to the storage area.
Skylarious: *edit: the trio carefully
Mahin: Mahin begins moving towards the stairs down, ears peeled for any noise that would indicate someone was down there
Jackdaw: Jack follows, his hand in one pocket touching the strange rat.
Skylarious: The trio manage to make their way down to the basement without resistance. Rows and rows of expensive wines and liqueurs are stored here, with a single radiant rose bush placed at the center to provide dim light for those moving about. In one corner are a few large metal barrels, and they get the tingly sensation that comes with proximity to electroplasm.
Milos: Milos couldn't resisits a quick look at the expensive wines and smiled, his hands itching to sample some. Still, his mind is focuses on the task ahead. Sooty flutters on his should as if it was impaient to be underground.
Skylarious: The Peculiars spend some time waiting in the basement, hanging near the top of the stairs so they can get a sense of what's going on in the main rooms. They hear two new voices in the main restaurant, and the slamming of doors. The washing stops, and shortly they can only make out the sound of footsteps heading to the storage area.
Jackdaw: Jack nods to the others and removes one of his containers.
Mahin: "If they spot your rat it might lure them down here," Mahin suggests. "We can rig up a trap at the bottom of the stairs."
Jackdaw: Jack agrees and draws the rat from his pocket.
Milos: Milos glances at the strange device Jack developos
Mahin: after helping Jack for a moment with the rat, Mahin crouches in a corner out of sight of the door, throwing dagger coated with Standstill in her hand
Jackdaw: Jack holds the rat in his hands and looks into its eyes. The green glows and expands for a moment, then he puts the rat on the floor and it scuttles away up the steps.
Milos: Milos take out a fine pair of pistols already loaded, willing to use them on whomever come down the stairs,
Jackdaw: Jack draws out a grenade and prepares to fling it at the barrels of electroplasm.#
Skylarious: Jack attunes himself to the mechanical creature, sensing its general movements as it scuttles toward the storage area. The group hears a brief, alarmed exchange, and then the voices cease. Footsteps thud toward the basement and pause near the top for a moment. Then two figures dressed in sleek grays and blacks appear at the top of the stairs, each holding a pistol in one hand and a blade in the other. They rush down in unison, with determined faces and eyes scanning the basement. The woman - Kay, presumably - seems to spot Jack just as he's moving to fling the grenade, and she raises her pistol to fire.
Skylarious: Jack lurches back, the bullet grazing his hair, and lobs the grenade at the electroplasm barrels in front of Kay and Grys. On seeing this, Grys stumbles back up the stairs, while Kay dives off the stairs to the floor below. Their quick action manages to save each of their lives, but not protect them fully. The explosion rips apart the base of the stairs, sending marble and wood flying everywhere and knocking everyone in the room back. As the dust settles, Grys is groaning and trying to push himself to his feet, while Kay is already staggering toward the Peculiars position, her side covered in blood but her weapons raised.
Milos: Milos as unrespectable veteran steps forward and levels one of his fine pistol and shoots at wounded Kay without any pity.
Milos: He glances at Grys and whispers to Mahrain, "He is getting away. Stop him." He reacts quckly
Mahin: Mahin gave a quick flick of her wrist and sent her poisoned dagger flying towards Grys
Skylarious: Kay stumbles back and collapses to the ground; they can hear her groan, obviously still alive. Mahin's dagger hits Grys, and she can hear the clink of armor - but he cries out, indicating that at least the tip of her dagger made it through. Turning, Grys takes a quick shot at her, instead striking a couple of nearby wine bottles, which explode and shower her with glass - thankfully deflected by her own armor. Grys stumbles away from the entrance to the stairs, his movements slowing. Meanwhile, Kay, is already trying to push herself back up and readying her pistol again. "You fuckers!" she growls, words slurred by the blood in her mouth. "Do you know who we are?"
Milos: Milos just gives her a glance with particular lack of interest as he raises his second loaded pistol and shoot her again.
Skylarious: Seeing Milos's movement, Kay cries out and hurls her blade at him. He twists, and the shortsword scrapes off his armor, clattering to the floor. "Fuck..." Kay murmurs, then Milos pulls the trigger and the bullet goes through her head. Above, they can hear the scuffle of Grys moving sluggishly to escape.
Mahin: in the brief time earlier when Kay and Grys had not yet gone into the storage area, Mahin had looked around the kitchen - if they were going to lure the two down into the basement, one, or for that matter both might try to run. "If you have anything slippery, we should put it down," she said to Jack. "Anyone trying to flee would slide right over it, make them go headfirst into the wall."
Jackdaw: "Yeah, you're the dead guys," Jack giggles as he runs for the stairs.
Jackdaw: Jack had spread cooking oil where he thought they would run if fleeing.
Milos: Clearly confident that Kay is dead, Milos quickly went after Jack and Mahin to help take out Grys
Skylarious: They hear a thump and curse as Grys has clearly encountered grease.
Mahin: Mahin glances at Kay's body for a moment. Grimacing with distaste at this highly inelegant form of burglarly, she heads after the others
Milos: Milos
Milos: Milos quickly move up on the shattered remains of the stair, reloading his pistol with some ease from hus military background. Admist his haste up the stairs, he took some cuts which bleeds. Finally, he catch up with fallen Grys who lies facedown
Jackdaw: Seeing that Milos has the man in hand, Jack moves off to let their hired help in to collect the drums.
Skylarious: Milos quickly dispatches Grys, who is unable to mount further resistance. Now they are left in the empty restaurant, wondering about Yardley and the Watch.
Mahin: Mahin makes towards the storage room
Jackdaw: Jack scoops up his rat en route.
Skylarious: In the storage room, Jack and Mahin find the storage vessel containing the drums already open, and two of the three drums already placed on a flat cart with a metal handle. The cart would be clunky for moving the drums very long distances, but would make it easier to get them out of the room at least. Jack finds his rat near the storage room door, on its side, its mechanisms clearly not quite capable of the strain it had been placed under.
Milos: Milos sent out his bird, Sooty to alert their employees to come in and help out with the cart
Mahin: Mahin helps Jack get the last drum up onto the cart, then heads for the side door, thinking their hired help might need some convincing after all the commotion
Skylarious: Milos slowly opens the door, and peers about as best he can. He can hear low voices from off to his left. "We've gotta wait for the captain!" "To the bottom of the Void with that! We stop whoever's in there and it'll be promotion!" There are more murmurings - a group of Watchmen are clearly just around the corner of the restaurant. To the right, the hired help should be lying in wait to help - if they haven't been scared off. Milos sends Sooty out, but the men do not skulk up to the door as they were supposed to. They may still be hidden in the shadows, intimidated by the presence of the Watch.
Mahin: "I'm going to try to lead them away," Mahin says. She jumps quickly into a changing room, and emerges a few moments later having discarded her broken armour and the plain clothing she'd picked for the job.
Mahin: add - she now wears more standard clothes for her, a dark red dress.
Jackdaw: "We'll get the drums into the alley and let's hope the hired help is going to do the job they're paid for," Jack says.
Mahin: Mahin pulls a pistol out of her pocket, which she holds awkwardly. Fortunately, she'll only need to fire it into the air. She makes for where they had entered and opens the door quickly, praying there aren't more Watchmen out that way
Skylarious: Mahin finds that alley deserted.
Mahin: Mahin moves as quickly as she can around the building, heading towards an alley around on the other side so she can draw the Watch towards her and allow Jack and Milos time to get the barrels out. When she reaches a spot where she can faintly see the Watchmen at the front, she steadies herself and mutters a few words under her breath, as if trying to recall something. After a moment she steps back a few paces and calls out unexpectedly in a baritone voice. "You'll promote yourself right to the grave!"

Mahin fires a wild shot towards the Watchmen, hoping she doesn't inadverently hit someone with her inexpert aim. The moment the bullet is in the air she turns and runs the length of the alley, flinging the pistol into a gutter. At the end of the alley she deliberately flings herself into the wall, scuffing her face lightly, and kneels on the ground weeping hysterically.
Skylarious: The Bluecoats duck for cover after Mahin calls out and fires the gunshot, and everyone can hear them scrambling to ready themselves for a fight. Mahin turns to run into the alley - but as she turns the corner she slams into someone - a slightly plump man with slicked-back hair and cold eyes, dressed much like Kay and Grys, albeit with a bit more fashionable flair. He pushes her back, holding her by the shoulder. "What do we have here?"
Mahin: Mahin reaches desperately for a lie. "Sinna sent me, there's no time to explain! Those two bastards have double-crossed us, they've stolen the drums. Follow me!"
Skylarious: Yardley stares into Mahin's eyes, his mouth a thin line. "Perhaps. But I'm not rushing in blindly. You first, slowly." He pulls a pistol from his belt, then turns her around roughly by the shoulder to face away from him.
Skylarious: *edit: not rushing anywhere blindly
Jackdaw: Jack stands by the doorway, waiting for the Bluecoats to get out of the way so he can get the men to collect the drums.
Mahin: "Oh sure, we'll go slowly and they'll go straight back to the Wardens begging for a pardon, giving them the drums so they can buy their way back in! Sinna said you and her were the only ones with any nerve but it sounds like it's just her!" Mahin shook her head in disgust and began to lead Yardley away from the Celestial
Milos: Milos taking advantage of the Mahin's distraction went with Jack to get the men in to help carrying the carts out
Skylarious: "Fine. Faster then." Yardley begins to stride more quickly, the pistol now pressed against Mahin's back. "Where've they got to, if you're telling the truth?"
Skylarious: edit: "And what was going on in there?"
Jackdaw: Jack is getting more and more twitchy. "What the hell are they playing at? And where's Mahin gone with that bastard?"
Milos: Milos manages to convice the men to help them out with the carrying out the drums on the cart. "I don't know but I want to make sure that bastard is dead."
Skylarious: The men move in fearfully, glancing at the corner of the restaurant where they can still hear the Bluecoats. Milos gets them to quietly carry the drums out to the waiting cart, where it can then be moved to a secure location.
Jackdaw: "Let's get this stuff to the Sisters," Jack mutters as he scans the area looking for Mahin.
Mahin: "They've gone to hide with Barton Cleland while they beg the Wardens for a pardon," Mahin says, remembering the name of a noble who, from her earlier investigations, hadn't particularly been impressed with the four rogue Wardens. "Sinna got waylaid on the way here, and they arranged something similar for you too, I got away and went to stop them and things got a bit heated, ectoplasm explosion and all the rest."
Milos: "Mahin is gone too long." Milos frowns with concern, "I am going to look for her."
Jackdaw: Jack makes sure the workers knew where they were to go, and joins him.
Edivad is disconnected.
Mahin: In the brief instant of shock when Yardley ran into her, she had had one moment to act. As he pushed her up against the wall, she noticed the pistol hidden in his coat and she slipped out a small hairpin, reaching in quickly to slide it in to jam the gun's firing mechanism.
Milos: Milos reload his rifle and pistols beforehands to pay a kiss of death to anyone who dares to get into troubles with Mahin and the rest
Milos: He calls to Sooty and gestures to find Mahin.
Jackdaw: In one hand Jack has his blowgun, the dart loaded with standstill, and a smoke bomb in the other.
Mahin: Mahin tries to lead Yardley towards an area where there were more people, continuing throughout to talk about the perfidy of Grys and Kay, trying to leave the man no room to gather his thoughts.
Skylarious: Milos and Jack managed to sneak out of the restaurant just as more Bluecoats are arriving to help fan out around the building. Meanwhile, as they reach the more crowded streets around some nearby all-night cafes, Yardley follows Mahin, obscuring his weapon with his cloak and trying to make them appear like a couple strolling together.
Mahin: "This man is kidnapping me! Please help!" Mahin cries as soon as they're near a crowd.
Skylarious: Yardley hesitates only a moment after Mahin shouts for help. Moving the hand that had been on her shoulder to grab her by the hair and yank her head closer, he presses his pistol against her skull and pulls the trigger... only to hear a dull click. In anticipation of the shot that doesn't come, he briefly lets her go.
Mahin: in that brief moment, Mahin flung herself forward. "His gun's jammed, get him!" she screamed
Skylarious: Yardley curses and tosses the pistol aside, moving after her and reaching for the blade at his belt. There's are murmurs from the people nearby as they try to decide whether to intervene against the armed man.
Skylarious: A nearby man and woman sitting at an outdoor cafe table look to each other, and rush forward. The man pulls a dagger from his belt and tries to lunge at Yardley, but the Warden moves back fluidly, ripping the blade from his belt. The woman carries a wine bottle, trying to get around behind him.
Mahin: Mahin bolts from the scene as quickly as she can, hoping she can find Milos and Jack in this chaos
Skylarious: "That woman's a liar!" calls Yardley. "Stay back and you won't be killed."
Jackdaw: Seeing the confusion and a dangerous looking man with a blade, Jack decides to lob a smoke bomb into the crowd to cover Mahin's escape.
Milos: Milos quickly drew a dagger from his belt and charged into the fray attempting to kill him from seeing Mahin
Skylarious: The sudden burst of smoke leaves Yardley, the two bystanders attempting to stop him, and many others nearby coughing and stumbling about.
Mahin: Mahin rushes over to Jack. "Idiot, what's he doing!" she hisses. "Where's the cart?"
Jackdaw: "Gone somewhere safe," Jack says quietly. "He's making sure of that man."
Mahin: "That didn't work as well as I'd hoped," Mahin shakes her head and laughs. "I should have remembered, I learned it often enough before. It's never a good idea to pretend to be a man."
Jackdaw: Jack looks at her in puzzlement.
Milos: Among the smoke with his head clearly hidden and hard to see, Milos went among the smoles and using his military training to kill him most efficently way by slitting Yardley's throat. With this deed quickly done, he quickly move on and before long, he look like a chap just going around on his business. Milos eventually catch up with his friends, "Sorted."
Mahin: "Never mind," Mahin says, looking flustered. "Let's go. This business is very messy."
Milos: "Too messy. I agreed." Milos winces, "I did not expect to leave that many bodies behind us during this night to be fair."
Jackdaw: "Not as messy as it would have been if we'd not dealt with them."
Jackdaw: "The Sprit Wardens should be paying us for cleaning up their mess," Jack says with a laugh.
Skylarious: Our crew of daring scoundrels escapes into the night, meeting up with their hired help to make sure the Dimmer Sisters receive what they were asking for. The Sisters are grateful, and reward the Peculiars with a great deal of gold as well as a painting - although removed from their manor, the painting does not seem to move.

[skylarious]

Skylarious: The Peculiars are well rewarded by the Dimmer Sisters for their operation against the rogue Spirit Wardens. Whispers about the crew are beginning to spread about the city - both among the criminal element and among the authorities. Making their name means danger, but it also means opportunity. Perhaps soon they will claw their way out of the dregs of Duskwall, toward the success they deserve.
Mahin: with the tales spreading about their crew, Mahin finds that doors open more easily for her and it's not quite as difficult to convince people to give her some time. Seizing upon this, Mahin hurls herself into further investigations to uncover leads about the Syndicate of Embers. She knows she is getting close now, and she makes it clear to Jack and Milos that the moment she finds out more about the Syndicate, she will be moving against them, alone if need be. She enlists Fitz and Dancer in her search, and the Wraith in particular has some success. As she makes some enquiries, Mahin prepares herself. She spends several days in a whirlwind tour of galleries and salons, and acquires numerous new busts and sculptures to decorate her chambers. By the time Mahin has returned to her activities, she's alienated the owner of her favourite boutique with her endless pestering, but at the least she knows now that her head will be clear of any lingering stress. As the days pass, Mahin is out all day hunting the Syndicate, and at night she is restless, pacing the halls, feeling a breakthrough at hand.
Jackdaw: Before they return to the lair, Jack takes off somewhere, returning in the dead of night with a suspiciously stained sack hidden under his coat. He vanishes into his laboratory, only emerging for unhealthy food and drink. Strange sounds and disturbing smells emanate from the lab. Eventually he appears, pale and rather drained looking, but with a triumphant smile on his face as the Rat-hull skitters along behind him.
Milos: Milos whistles away his dark peaceful days by visiting some of his old comrades from his old unit and treated them to good drink outs. Other than that, he keeps an eye out for any dangers that may approach the Peculiars and other enemies he made in his distant past. He offers his assistance to Mahin and Jack in whatever the tasks they may undertake. "Good to see it is working" As he plays with Sooty, a dark bird. "Very handy as it turns out."
Milos: as he peers at Jack's trumphant apperance with his new pet
Skylarious: Mahin's search for the Syndicate of Embers finally finds a real breakthrough as she and Dancer investigate Djera Maha - the leader of the Hive, who had originally provided Roric of the Crows with the strange stone the crew had brought into the Lampblacks' base to release a Horror. Jack, attuning with that stone, had learned that it was created by a mysterious cult desiring to reforge the embers of the sun. It turns out that this cult is one that Djera Maha has shown a keen interest in, investigating their activities up until their sudden disappearance around five years ago. A few coins in the right pockets, and Mahin learns that Djera believes this cult to have gone into hiding and returned in the guise of a more traditional criminal organization - the Syndicate of Embers. She is unsure why exactly they're dealing in drugs and prostitution and smuggling - but based on some of their acquisitions and activities across the Empire she expects they continue to have occult goals. She is unsure if they have a single base, but she knows one place that she is relatively certain is a front for the organization: a brothel in Silkshore called the Honey Sky.
Mahin: while she waited for Dancer to get the final piece of information about the Honey Sky, Mahin set out to acquire some special items for this score. Firstly, she finds a forger who provides her with an exquisite set of counterfeit documents, sufficient to fool all but expert attention, allowing her to adopt a cover identity with great credibility. Secondly, with assistance from Fitz, she acquires a pearl-handled derringer, specially crafted so it can be easily concealed in the small of the back, the palm, or in other, more exotic locations. Mahin has Jack look over the pistol numerous times, asking if he can devise some kind of spring-loading mechanism - if it could be hidden within her sleeve and come straight into her hand, she would get an easy first shot. Mahin had disapproved of the killing of Yardley on the previous score, but this was not due to any unwillingness to shed blood - she only disliked unnecessary killings, and the deaths of the Syndicate of Embers were not only unnecessary for her goal, but was the whole of her aims.
Mahin: after receiving the information, Mahin invites the others to come and breakfast with her in her salon. They find her sitting and eating a bowl of mixed, juicy fruits, nibbling away while waiting for the steam to subside enough for her to drink her medicine. "This is what I've been working towards since I came to Duskwall," she tells them. "When I was in Mistport the Syndicate blackmailed me into defending their underlings, and when I got caught they threw me to the wolves. I lost my practice, my home, my reputation...none of these things really mattered to me. But they weren't sure if they could control me, so while I was under their thumb they also decided to involve my family. They concocted some drugs with very...unique...properties and made sure some found their way to my brother. As long as I was still a wealthy barrister he could afford to fund his habit, but when I was disbarred and we lost our home..." Mahin put her spoon down and took a sip of her steaming drink.
Jackdaw: Jack wrinkes his nose at the healthy breakfast. "Don't you have anything fried?" he asks. But when Mahin talks of her brother and the machinations of the Syndicate, he starts pacing up and down the room. "Fuckers need killing!"
Milos: Milos listens to what Mahin have to say about her past and nods with sympathy as he passes another titbit to Sooty. "My condolence for the loss of your bother." He said afterward, "I am happy to partake in any dishing out revenge," He pats one of the pistols he tend to carry around.
Mahin: Mahin has already planned for Jack's more unrefined culinary preferences, and their recently hired cook brings in something more to his liking shortly. "I'm glad to have friends I can rely on. I didn't have any before, but I was a very different person in Mistport. Which is all to the good, as it means we can be certain the Syndicate won't realise that I am who I am until it's too late."
Jackdaw: Jack gave a sharp toothed grin that was almost a snarl, narrowing his cat-like eyes. "When are we going to hunt them?"
Mahin: "When you've eaten your breakfast." Mahin smiles and takes another sip.
Milos: Milos grimances for a moment, "This should be interesting."As he watches Jack fall onto the breakfast, "I assume you want to leave a pile of bodies behind in this time around?" He asked Mahin with interest
Mahin: "This time I'll chastise you if you don't shoot someone. Just don't do it too quickly. I particularly want to find whoever was responsible for their Mistport operations so I can make sure they are appropriately rewarded for their efforts in my home city."
Jackdaw: Jackdaw snorts, spraying food onto the table. "I'll bring some good stuff with me."
Milos: "Fair enough." Milos nods as he carefully avoids the spattering of foods from Jack.
Skylarious: The Peculiars make their way across the city to Silkshore, the red lamp district of the city, filled with brothels, vice dens, stalls with food from across the Empire, and all manner of exotic shops. The place is criss-crossed with dozens of canals, and is most quickly navigated by gondola. Hawkers of wares and flesh hang from windows, waving to lure customers, and drunken laughter fills the air at all hours. The Honey Sky is in the north of the district, a gold-painted three story building, with its doors replaced by thick red curtains through which customers can slip. Unlike some of the cheaper establishments in the more crowded parts of the district, no one is outside advertising. The place must bring in its customers by reputation.
Mahin: Mahin fans herself with a broad-brimmed, wiry blue hat. "A direct approach will lead too quickly to a confrontation," she says. "But there must be some regular patrons we can learn from. Let's go and find them." She turns away from the Honey Sky and sets out for other dens of iniquity whence they might find loose morals and looser tongues.
Milos: Milos joins in with Mahin in consorting with the local folks
Skylarious: Mahin manages to find a number of people willing to talk about their experiences with the Honey Sky (despite a close call in which one patron realizes who they are and has to be bought off for his silence). The Honey Sky has a reputation for quality, and for catering to a wide variety of tastes. It's a clean and warm establishment, and visitors are greeted either by the elegant Mistress Fier or one of her discreet underlings, who then asks questions about the patron's preferences and matches them with one of the brothel's "professionals". Most of the top two floors are taken up by a series of halls with heavily sound-proofed rooms with red doors. The bottom floor has the entrance hall, a greeting office, a few bathing pools and changing rooms, and in the back the private quarters of Mistress Fier and her husband, Master Fier, who is more rarely seen and apparently handles administrative work.

Mahin also manages to talk to one of the Honey Sky's prostitutes. She says it's mostly a decent place to work for the profession. It's kept clean, dangerous clients are quickly expelled, and the pay is good. The Fiers do have a tough side, though. They are very strict about demanding their contracts be fulfilled, and employees who are late or uncooperative after agreeing to a job are sometimes brought back the private offices for a harsh lecture. "Once I said I couldn't do a job for a man because he wanted me to dress and act like his daughter," she says. "I was brought to the back to talk to Master Fier, and... Well the memory is all hazy. I remember him looking at me with cold eyes. And I remember shouting voices. And I remember feeling hot like I was right next to a fire. Then I was back outside and I never wanted to violate my contract again." She speaks of this in a low voice, trembling at the memory.
Mahin: Mahin makes sympathetic noises. "Is there anyone Master Fier often has problems with working for him, do you know? I suppose no one would want to cross him more than once."
Skylarious: The woman glances down. "I remember Gimha got in trouble a few times, even told Mistress Fier off in front of some of us once. The day after that she was gone - I assume she was fired, though I didn't see her around at the taverns after that. Never known anyone else to get in trouble more than once."
Mahin: "What do you know about Master and Mistress Fier? Where are they from? How long have they owned the Honey Sky?"
Skylarious: "I've only worked there a year. Mistress Fier has apparently been running the place for a long time now, fifteen years or so I think. But she only married Master Fier a couple of years ago, and he took over his part of the business after that. I hear things weren't quite so strict until he came along. I don't know much about him, except I think he has some rich friends. He goes off to Brightstone sometimes for noble parties."
Mahin: "Who are Mistress Fier's underlings? Have any of them been at the Honey Sky for long?"
Skylarious: She is able to direct Mahin to one of the front office employees of the Honey Sky. "It's easier work than the girls upstairs have," says this woman. "We wear some fine clothes she provides. She makes you go over the sorts of things you're supposed to say to clients very carefully, promising discretion and whatnot. Other than that there's not much to tell you. She's a rather private person."
Edivad has connected.
Mahin: "You said your memory is hazy about when Master Fier was angry with you? And there were shouting voices - I assume Master Fier was one of them, were there others you recognised?"
Skylarious: "I can't be sure even about his voice, it's all so hazy. I don't know... for some reason at the time I felt like I heard my parents shouting at me, but my father's been dead for years and my mother lives in Crow's Foot. I must have been in shock, my mind playing tricks."
Mahin: not wanting the prostitute to get too suspicious with further questions, Mahin makes small talk with her for a time, then moves on to some of the patrons of the Honey Sky who they'd found earlier. she asks them questions about whether anyone had ever made trouble in the place, trying to subtly steer them towards discussing the Sky's security, and wondering if anyone else might have fallen prey to Master Fier's strange ability
Skylarious: According to the patrons, the Honey Sky has two to four hired men around at any given time for security, all chosen for their ability to appear quiet and dignified as well as dangerous enough to intimidate possible troublemakers. One man describes hearing someone shouting as he was dragged out of a room by two of those men, before being tossed out onto the front step. Mahin finds no indication that troublesome clients are ever brought to Master Fier.
Milos: Milos notes, "It is intresting to see that they do not use this talent on the clinents. At least we now knows how many hired guards they got now."
Mahin: "We need to find out more about these parties Master Fier attends," says Mahin. "And more about him generally. We should head to Brightstone."
Jackdaw: "I want to know what power he's using," Jackdaw says.
Skylarious: Mahin manages to work her way into the very social circles of Master Fier, trading gossip with nobles who know of him. She soon learns that the nobles he tends to be the closest with are many of the very same whom the renegade Spirit Wardens had been spending time with. There are many rumors about them being involved with a mystery cult called the Path of Echoes, a group that rejects the laws of the city when it comes to treatment of spirits, and seeks to gain the great occult knowledge of the ancients. This cult may either be another name for the Syndicate of Embers, or somehow be tied to it - or perhaps Master Fier belongs to both groups. In any case, Master Fier is not a noble himself, but a member of a rich merchant family who has made many friends among the occult-interested elite. He's said to be very charming in person, even hypnotic in his ability to capture the attention of rooms full of people with speeches, or recitation of poems, or songs at the piano. "His voice is like... it's like radiant light," says one fourthborn noble son. "Warming and real, while everyone else's is like harsh electric light." Mahin also learns, however, that Master Fier hasn't been to Brightstone for some weeks. "He's been busy with his business, or so I've heard."
Mahin: "Is there anything particular that's keeping him busy at the moment? Presumably he always has business to attend to but can still find some time for diversion."
Skylarious: The nobles there only seem to have been told that he's dealing with a particularly busy period at work. One of them speculates it might have something to do with what happened at the Celestial. A lot of people - especially in the same circles frequented by Fier and the renegade Wardens - were scared by that event, and so might be prone to be more cautious about social engagements.
Mahin: "What sort of poetry does he like? Does he write his own?"
Skylarious: Master Fier most frequently recites poetry from old masters, and seems particularly fond of ones that mourn the cataclysm that tore apart the sun and turned the sea black, and celebrate the mythical world of before.
Mahin: "Do you see Mistress Fier often? I haven't heard her name so far."
Skylarious: "She's been seen once in a while," says the man, not sounding particularly impressed. "She's quieter. Dignified enough I suppose for someone from Silkshore. But mostly she just makes small talk. She seems as if she cares a great deal for Master Fier, however, and he for her."
Mahin: "What family is Master Fier from? Are they from Duskwall?"
Skylarious: Mahin is able to learn about the Fiers, a merchant family originally from the Imperial City, with Fier's grandparents having moved to Duskwall many decades ago. They specialize in textiles, and Fier himself appers to have worked in that business unremarkably for many years, before giving it up and spending his days socializing with the Brightstone elite before getting involved with the Honey Sky. The rest of the Fier family has seemingly lost touch with him - he had started sounding ambitious and distracted, losing his former interest in the textile business, before cutting ties with them.
Jackdaw: "Fier changed suddenly," Jack speculates when they hear about this. "Someone influenced him? When he got in with the Ember people?"
Milos: "Sound like it." Milos agrees with Jack, "Hopefully,this Fiers got some inner knowledge of the Syndicate of Embers to help us out here."
Mahin: "Was there anyone particularly who influenced Fier to leave the textile business, or was it something that came from him entirely?" Mahin asks.
Skylarious: It appears that Fier left independently - he had not had any unusual new friends that people noticed, but rather began acting differently on his own before leaving.
Mahin: "Has Master Fier always been in Duskwall, or has he travelled further afield at all?"
Skylarious: None of those Mahin speaks to have heard of him leaving Duskwall, except for occasional business trips years before he left the textile business.
Skylarious: Mahin also finds that the people who had met Master Fier before he left the business do not recall him having a particularly memorable or compelling voice - he was rather unremarkable, in fact.
Mahin: "Had Master Fier met his wife already when he decided to leave the textile business, or did that happen after?"
Skylarious: Mahin manages to ask around more about Mistress Fier back in Silkshore. She hadn't met Master Fier until after he left textiles, and apparently he appeared one day as a prospective patron, before saying that he was so stricken by her beauty that could have no one else. They married within a month, and she quickly changed some of her business operations, including shutting down the basement level of the Honey Sky and cutting down the number of employees, apparently to become more selective about quality.
Mahin: "What happened to the basement?"
Skylarious: Apparently the basement is no longer used for anything the patrons or employees are aware of. However, the only entrance was in what are now the Fiers private quarters, so it's possible they still make use of it.
Milos: "Sound like this basement could be a hideout". Milos considers,
Skylarious: Mahin had also learned some of why Djera Maha suggested the Honey Sky was a front for the Syndicate of Embers. Suspected members were seen lurking about in the area. They were never seen actually entering the building, but their locations were such that the Honey Sky seems likely to a central hub somehow, whether due to the Fiers sending out messages to those members from there or otherwise.
Mahin: "What happened to the people they fired?"
Skylarious: Nothing of note appears to have occurred with the firings - the employees went off to other jobs or left the district. They had been surprised, as Mistress Fier tended to be a loyal employer, but she had explained it was important for the business and wished them luck.
Mahin: Mahin asks around about the basement level, tyring to determine if there was really only a single entrance or if there might be some other way they could use to get in.
Mahin: unable to find anything this way, Mahin arranges the other Peculiars and they try to stake out the Honey Sky, watching it closely. Djera Maha suggested that suspected Syndicate of Embers members were lurking in the area - surely one of them might enter in some other way.
Skylarious: The crew attempts to case the area for Syndicate members attempting to enter the Honey Sky, but they have no luck, and soon they find that businesses nearby are getting suspicious of people lurking about, making it dangerous to continue with that tactic.
Mahin: they regroup at Hollowcrown and discuss their approach. "I have an idea to try to convince Master Fier to meet with us," she says. "It's risky, but I think he might bite. He's the key person here, the only one I'm sure is involved with the Syndicate. Alternately, we could simply go in under the guise of customers and then find a way to slip out. I have some notions on that although they're...somewhat indecent."
Jackdaw: Jack's eyes brighten at this. "Isn't that the point of a brothel?"
Mahin: "Well naturally," says Mahin, sounding slightly uncomfortable. She's never demonstrated even the slightest romantic or sexual interest in the whole time the other Peculiars have known her.
Mahin: after some consideration, Mahin decides that she will risk a direct meeting with Master Fier - it's the best way to determine if he, or someone else, in the Embers is responsible for what happened in Mistport.

She'd already made some contacts among Master Fier's circles, and she'd managed to create a cover identity for herself as the Iruvian cousin of one noble, who, conveniently, was out of Duskwall and couldn't be reached for questions. With the documents the forger had passed her, she sends Master Fier a letter through his noble contacts. She introduces herself, saying she was originally from Kethrys, but that several years ago she had been in Mistport at which point she had become closely involved with a solicitor there. She said she had broken it off with the man, but she had heard stories of him being in disguise in Duskwall now.

"He has, I have heard, reasons to wish you ill, and to hate you with the strength of the Embers of the sun," she wrote. "I know where he's hiding, and I'm sure we can come to some kind of arrangement. I will give you his original name now, and his new one later, once we've reached an agreement. The man I knew was named Dariush Qasemi."
Mahin: Mahin showed the letter to the others. "I hope this works," she mutters.
Jackdaw: Jack reads the letter, then looks up at Mahin, an expression of intense enquiry on his face.
Milos: "I am sure it will work. And if it doesn't. we will try other avenues," Milos says encouragely
Mahin: Mahin looks at Jack and smiles. "I...I've never told this to anyone in so many words. But there was no way you could do this with me without finding out anyhow. My parents were good people, but they made many mistakes. My father pressured me to go into law instead of art, for one, but that was a quite small problem really. The bigger issue was that they didn't understand who I am, because neither did I. They made a mistake, honestly, and reinforced it every day. When we met people they would point to me and say: 'This is Dariush, our son.'"
Jackdaw: "That was a... big mistake to make," Jack says, for once taking care with his words. "I can't imagine you any other way."
Milos: Milos frowns with a hint of confusion. "I see." He valiantly moved on with the subject on the hand, "Then that letter will certainly attract his attention then."
Mahin: "I looked rather different in Mistport. Even when I arrived in Duskwall, until I found someone who prepared a...particular sort of medicine for me," Mahin says. "If the Syndicate of Embers had left my family alone, I would honestly be grateful to them. But when Javed killed himself, he still believed he had a brother, not a sister, and I'll kill them for that. He deserved better. I wanted to tell him the truth."
Jackdaw: "The blue mixture you take every day ..." Jack says with understanding. His face darkens. "We will make sure your brother is avenged. These bastards will pay."
Mahin: Mahin smiles. "They will, and they'll know exactly what debt is being called. Let's go." Mahin picked up the letter and set out to send it

[skylarious]

Skylarious: The Peculiars have prepared for what appears to be their greatest challenge yet: Infiltrating the Honey Sky brothel and facing off with Master and Mistress Fier, apparently of the secretive Syndicate of Embers, responsible for the death of Mahin’s brother. Mahin’s letter to Master Fier received a terse response: “Come at dawn. You will be brought to my office. -Fier”

Now they are being walked down a long hall in the Honey Sky by a woman named Sheena, of Severosi descent, dressed in fine silks. Sheena had waved off the door guard from checking for weapons as soon as Mahin introduced herself. The building is luxurious, with fine etchings on the doors, small fountains placed at intervals, and the walls lined with tapestries (albeit some clearly in mediocre faux-Iruvian style, Mahin notes). The electric lights are set low enough to allow for proper ambiance. The crew passes wide sets of stairs leading to the upper floors where the clients are taken – they see a couple of employees chatting and heading up, also dressed well although in more revealing style than Sheena.

“Master Fier has instructed me to tell you to wait in the lobby of his office until he can meet you,” says Sheena as they approach the door at the end of the hall, labeled Private Offices of the Proprieters. “It shouldn’t take too long.”
Jackdaw: Jack was staring around as if awed at the luxury surrounding him, in reality checking to see if he could spot any kind of spying or other interesting device.
Mahin: Mahin wears a gold sequined dress, her small derringer concealed at her left hip. She sits, exuding an aura of calm, though her heart was beating fast. After giving the tapestries a contemptuous look, she begins to look around the room for any sign of surveillance.
Milos: Milos carries himself with care. His eyes glancing at all points of danger to their group. To his almost stunned surprise, the letter written by Mahin is so convicing that they didn't get frisked for weapons.
Skylarious: Sheena opens the door to the private offices, and they step into the lobby. It is a cramped room with unadorned benches on either side, and another closed door heading farther in. There is little to see in the lobby, but examining the walls more closely, Mahin notes a small spyhole above each bench. She is unable to determine if anyone is actually looking through at them without peering directly through herself.
Jackdaw: Unable to see the spyholes himself, Jackdaw slumps back on a bench and scratches his privates.
Mahin: Mahin quietly mentions the spyholes to Milos, but cautions him not to look around just yet. This said, she pulls out a bottle of perfume from her bag and sprays herself with it, angling it so that it will also fill the spyhole directly behind them, hoping any momentary confusion will allow one of the others to risk a quick look.
Milos: Milos quickly moved to take a peek where Mahin sprayed deftly into the spyhole.
Skylarious: Mahin glances through the spyhole quickly, trying to pick up as much information as possible. Lounging on the right side of the room is a guardsman with a baton strapped to his side. At the center an empty desk covered in papers, with chairs arranged in front, and behind it shelves of books and statuettes. Beside the shelves is a door. As Milos is looking, the door opens and a man steps through, dressed in an immaculate suit. He walks to the desk, opens one drawer, and draws out a pistol to check on it, before returning it to its place. He sits, and It becomes clear that he will shortly be ready to see the crew, so Milos ducks back down. Moments later, the door swings open of its own accord. Master Fier waits for them, a square-jawed man with carefully coiffed hair and an oiled mustache. He gestures to the seats in front of him.
Skylarious: *edit: Milos glances
Mahin: Mahin walks in and seats herself, taking a quick glance at the papers, though she imagines Master Fier has the sense not to leave anything particularly incriminating out in the open.
Jackdaw: Jack strolls in and takes a seat, again staring around the room as if dazzled.
Milos: Milos follows them in, taking a careful look around the office. In particularly any form of alerting the guards, He greets Master Fier with a nod.
Skylarious: The guard eyes them suspiciously as they approach, but Master Fier gives a slight smile. At a glance, his papers appear to be business accounts and ordinary correspondences with noble friends. Fier leans back in his chair, clasping his hands together. "Lady Najafi. What a pleasure. And you've brought friends." His voice is resonant, but the crew feels no unusual effects from it at the moment.
Skylarious: Edit: As they enter the room, the Peculiars note that the walls of the office are extremely thick - perhaps to minimize what sound could get through into the main part of the building.
Mahin: "When looking to make friends, it's always best to bring along some of those you have already," Mahin replies. Her letter was in the name Azar Najafi, so Master Fier could not link her back to things Mahin had done with the Peculiars. Jack and Milos were less well disguised, but she had not mentioned them and doubted the man would have tried investigating them.
Skylarious: "Friends? I hope so. Your letter had mentioned business, however. You gave me one name, and offered the possibility of a second."
Mahin: "Yes, the unhappy Master Qasemi. I was surprised to learn he was looking for you - do you often have business in Mistport?" Mahin felt a wrench within herself, but outwardly she simply examined her nails absently.
Edivad is disconnected.
Skylarious: Fier shrugged. "Never been. I have some business associates there of course. I imagine this Master Qasemi holds me responsible for some action of theirs. What do you know of this sorry story?"
Skylarious: *edit: shrugs
Edivad has connected.
Mahin: "He had a younger brother. Quite protective of him, Javed had been quite young when their parents died. Half a brother, half a father, that manner of thing. Shortly after I stopped seeing him in Mistport I heard tales that Master Qasemi was defending some unusual clients, not his typical clientele. Somewhat of the rougher sort, cases most barristers wouldn't want to take on unless there was either a very large fee or some kind of ulterior motive. There was a man called Drav, a rather shady character, who started appearing at Qasemi's manor, and Javed fell in with some of his underlings. Well the next thing you know Qasemi has been exposed as corrupt, Javed has committed suicide, and before he could be brought to trial Qasemi fled the city. And of course Drav turned up with his throat slit not long afterwards. I thought I should look into the matter and find out who Drav was associated with - he covered his tracks well but...well, some associations linger on like the last embers of the sun."
Skylarious: Fier listens to Mahin's story passively, though she notes his eyes narrowing at the mention of the "embers of the sun." He scoots his chair forward and places his elbows on the desk. "And so you've found Qasemi's Duskwall guise? If you want to make a deal, I'm listening."
Mahin: "Oh I've found it certainly, I'm sure that we can make a deal." Mahin pauses for a moment, then gives a mischevious smile. "Whose brilliant idea was it to involve Qasemi's brother anyway? The drugs they had him hooked on were custom made, it has to have been done specially. I'd really like to know who was behind that so I make sure I avoid them!" Mahin laughs aloud, while inwardly offering profuse apologies to Javed's ghost.
Jackdaw: Jackdaw is looking at the walls, pictures, anything to avoid reacting to what Mahin is saying, which is making him feel vastly uncomfortable and twitchy.
Skylarious: Fier's face is growing colder. "I barely know of this Qasemi or his brother Javed. We're not here to discuss my business, we're hear to discuss our deal. So name your price."
Mahin: Mahin's smile disappears. "As you wish. I suggest our deal should be a name for a name. Reforging the very embers of the sun sounds like a very ambitious goal, and I like people with ambition. Tell me who I should speak to - other than you, that is, sadly I don't think we'll become friends after all - to get involved with your syndicate, and I'll tell you Qasemi's name and where he is."
Skylarious: *edit: we're here
Skylarious: Fier stares at Mahin for a long moment, as if his eyes could bore into her. When he speaks, there's some new undercurrent to his voice. "Let's start with you. What's your real name and what's your relation to Qasemi?" The walls of the room seem to draw themselves in, and the light takes on a reddish cast...
Jackdaw: Remembering what the Sisters had told them about how to resist Fier's strange influence, Jack concentrates on Attuning to the ghost field. For a brief moment a light flares in his eyes, but Fier is staring fixedly at Mahin and he does not see.
Skylarious: The others' minds are able to tie themselves to Jack's. Even as they feel the world growing shaky and Fier's voice filling their ears like crashing waves, they pull themselves out of it. Now Fier is staring at Mahin intently, seemingly waiting for her induced response.
Milos: Milos looks at Fiers as in daze. Deep in his mind however is a grim desire to shoot Fier's head with his pistol with brains splattered all over the surface of the very thick walls
Milos: EDIT: Only the desire for Mahin to get her answers holds it in check
Mahin: Mahin doesn't know precisely how someone under the effect of Fier's power is meant to react, but she puts on a show of trying to resist, closing her eyes tightly and struggling in her chair, before she looks up at Fier again adoringly. "My name is Parvaneh Avesta," she says, using a name cobbled together from her mother's first name and the first girl she had kissed. "I'm Qasemi's lover, he sent me to try to lure you into an ambush. He knows that the Syndicate have had you working on something important." Mahin is starting to deeply resent having to continually refer to herself both as another person and, more insultingly, as a male, but she adds this to the list of things she means to destroy the Syndicate for.
Jackdaw: Jack fixes his eyes on Fier, nodding as if incapable of doing anything but agree with what Mahin is saying.
Skylarious: A small smile creeps on to Fier's face. "How cute. Children stumbling about, thinking that in their feeble investigations they understand the plans of adults. If I remember right, that Javed was the same - thinking he'd learned something before he died. You'll be luckier than he, Parvaneh, for you at least have a use. You will listen to my instructions. You will forget them, until the moment you see Qasemi with his back turned. And then you'll cut his throat."
Mahin: "Learned...something?" Mahin mumbles as if on the verge of falling asleep. Her mind is aflame with rage. The Syndicate had not simply let her brother die through callous negligence, it seemed. She desperately resists the urge to immediately kill the man. "Yes, master, as you command."
Jackdaw: It was terribly hard for Jack to keep staring and nodding, all the while wanting to fling a vial of poison in this vile man's face.
Skylarious: Fier's smile is wider now. Jack and Milos notice that the guard in the corner is no longer slouching or looking suspicious, and although he is watching them his eyes are curiously blank. Fier reaches out and pats Mahin's shoulder. "I've been alive now for centuries. Well, I've been dead for that long, to be more precise. And yet every decade or two some fools stumble onto my plans and think it wise to interfere. Sometimes they even delay me - the Spirit Wardens did when they killed my last host. But I always come back. Because I have a task. This cursed world needs to be reborn, for all the generations that will follow, and I am perfectly willing to squash the lives of ingrates who have problems with my methods. The spirits will be collected, the sites interlinked, the final rituals prepared for. I don't recall all the details of this Mistport affair. Some of my lackeys acquiring turf get into trouble, one of my underlings brings in a lawyer, the lawyer's brother gets a taste for the criminal lifestyle (perhaps aided by some useful alchemicals) but gets cold feet after seeing something about the spirit collection... Honestly, I think I read the letter I received about it once. Not even sure if the boy killed himself or one of my people took care of the problem. These are details, and details are the enemy of grand designs. You, my dear, and your lover who thinks himself a conduit of revenge, are also details. And in twenty years some relative of yours will probably walk into this office with a plan to kill me, and I'll search my mind for your name, not because it matters, but because it can be fun to remember moments like these. So, Parvaneh Avesta, I hope you will feel honored. Because you will get to be a footnote in the greatest story since the end of days.”
Edivad is disconnected.
Edivad has connected.
Edivad is disconnected.
Edivad has connected.
Edivad is disconnected.
Mahin: in response, Mahin suddenly tapped her leg with her left hand. Jack had built her a spring-loaded holster, and at a press, the derringer suddenly leapt into her hand. "One detail that's a particular problem for you," she said, speaking - she prayed for the last time - in the voice she'd used when she was still under the misapprehension she was a man, "is that Dariush Qasemi is a woman." She fired straight at Fier's throat.
Skylarious: Mahin sees Fier's eyes widen for just a moment before the bullet slams into his throat. He falls backward, his chair knocked to one side, and sprawls on the floor behind his desk, gurgling. The guard in the corner takes a step back, but then quickly recovers from his surprise, lunges toward the crew, baton at the ready.
Edivad has connected.
Edivad is disconnected.
Edivad has connected.
Edivad is disconnected.
Edivad has connected.
Milos: Milos drops his act and readies his pistol and fired at the charging guard. Milo's shot went through as the guard's mouth opens. The guard collasped with blood bleedng from the bullet wound.
Milos: Quickly reloading his pistols, he frowns with a concern, "Hopefully, the very thick wall will give us time."
Jackdaw: As soon as Mahin fires, Jack pulls out a cannister from his bandolier and runs around the desk. He drops the cannister directly on the fallen undead man's face, immediately turning away as a sheet of flame erupts from it.
Skylarious: Amidst the roar of the sudden flame, they can hear bubbling sounds, and it's unclear whether it is Fier's continued attempts to scream or the melting of his flesh. Moments later, however, from out of the fiery carcass, they see a ghostly figure emerge, warped and shimmering. It immediately moves away from them, toward the office's back door beside the shelves.
Milos: During the discussion with the Dimmer Sisters, it suggests that the power is most likely relating to a powerful ghost or something. With this warning in mind, he made sure that his second pistol have ammos more suitable for spirits rather than living bodies.
Milos: Milos manages to rush after the deadly spirit and shot it with a special ammo. The spirit wavered as the special bullets went through it., "Time to use your special talent," Milos asks Jack as he try to reload his pistol. The ghost unleashes some form of mental attack on Milos, Milos mutters some oath as he attempt to focus on the task
Skylarious: Milos finds himself reeling, visions swimming in front of his eyes: failures, dead comrades, the light going out of the eyes of people he'd killed... The spirit is wavering and half-dissolved after being struck, but its distant voice can be heard by them all. "You doom this world to eternal dark! You will be cursed!"
Jackdaw: "Damned dark thing!" Jack thinks then concentrates on Attuning himself to the fleeing spirit, looking for ways in which it can be finally destroyed.
Edivad is disconnected.
Edivad has connected.
Skylarious: Jack realizes that the spirit will be able to repair itself if given time. He tells Milos to concentrate and fire his electroplasmic bullets as rapidly as he can. Even as Milos begins to do this, the door bursts open, and there is an unfamiliar man, scruffy and armored, holding a rifle. Just behind him is a tall woman matching the description of Mistress Fier, her gray-streaked hair elaborately styled, clothed in purple silks. Their eyes both widen as the see the burning corpse of Master Fier, and Milos launching bullets into the moaning, dissolving spirit.
Skylarious: *edit: they see
Edivad is disconnected.
Edivad has connected.
Mahin: "You already doomed my world to darkness, demon!" Mahin cried. She flung herself between the newcomers and Milos. "Your husband is possessed! Put the gun down!"
Skylarious: Mistress Fier gapes momentarily, but her companion turns, snarling, toward Mahin. "Bitch!" He points his rifle straight at her midsection and fires, sending her tumbling back. Mistress Fier rushes toward the flames and drops to her knees, staring at the burning corpse of her husband. Meanwhile, Milos manages to shoot the spirit a final time, and it dissolves with some final malicious whispers, leaving a film of electroplasm on the floor in its place. The man with the rifle is now turning toward Milos, ready to fire again. "You've ruined everything!" he cries, voice cracking.
Jackdaw: Seeing the man about to fire, Jack knows it's time for desperate measures. He pulls a grenade out of his bandolier and rolls it beneath the man's feet.
Jackdaw: "Get down!" Jack shouts to Mahin.
Mahin: fortunately, Mahin had the foresight to have armour sewn into her dress, hidden by the sequins, though the impact was still like being hit by a train. She had no time to waste, however. As Jack rolled the grenade, she dove desperately away.
Milos: With such a threat to his friends, and dealing with that demon, he pulled out a loaded rifle from his heavy coat and aims it at the guard
Skylarious: The rifleman is too focused on Milos to even notice Jack's grenade. Just as he lifts his weapon to aim at Milos's head, the explosive goes off, ripping apart the door, a section of wall, and the man himself in a blast that surely can be heard throughout the brothel despite the thick walls. Mahin leaps away at just the right moment, and feels heat and fragments fly above her. Milos and Mistress Fier are knocked away from the force of the blast, and Mistress Fier brushes against the nearby fire, setting her dress alight. With a cry, she desperately starts battering at herself to put out the flames.
Mahin: Mahin moves quickly to Mistress Fier to help put out the flames.
Jackdaw: Taking off his heavy coat as he scrambles accross to the woman, Jack pulls her away from the burning remains of her husband and flings it over her, pushing her down and rolling it round her to smother the flames.
Milos: Milos quickly stands up and making sure that his rifle is doing fine. He aims at any approaching threats that will bound to come. "I wonder how many is on this awful scheme..." Milos mutter
Mahin: "Mistress Fier, I'm sorry for what's happened here, but if you didn't know about the Syndicate of Embers or the...thing...controlling your husband, then we don't mean you any harm," Mahin says, seeing the woman's reaction to her and Jack's approach. "I did this because these people used my family as a shield against me. If you're nothing to do with the Syndicate of Embers, then I swear on the grave of my brother, Javed Qasemi, I'll see you out of this safe and free."
Edivad is disconnected.
Skylarious: The woman turns to Mahin, gripped by panic, still battering at the fire and ready to run. But something about the tone of Mahin's voice seems to reach her, and she doesn't flee. Jackdaw leaps in and smothers the flames quickly. As Mistress Fier staggers to her feet, she reaches momentarily toward her sleeve, perhaps the location of a hidden weapon... but then she relents. "I... He was... I was part of it. The Syndicate. I thought he was wise, he told me of its necessity, but..." A tear rolls down her cheek. "Now that he's gone, it seems like madness. What have we done?" By the end, she is whispering.
Edivad has connected.
Jackdaw: Now the flames are out, Jack takes back his slightly charred coat and puts it back on, wandering away to look around the room.
Mahin: "We can start repairing what's been done right now. If there's anything here at the Sky that will help us truly put an end to the Syndicate, please give them to us. I swear, there'll be no Spirit Hunters involved in this, they're no friends of ours," says Mahin. "Your husband said things to me when he thought he had me under his power. Can you tell me what the spirit collection is, or the sites he meant to link together?"
Skylarious: As she speaks, Mahin can hear boots pounding toward the front door of the offices. "I... I'll meet with you. Right now my head is... foggy. Now go out the back. You'll find your way, and see things... Here." She presses a small brass key into Mahin's hand, and gestures toward the gaping hole where the door had been.
Edivad is disconnected.
Jackdaw: Jack scoops all the papers off the desk and into his capacious pockets.
Mahin: Mahin takes the key and quickly moves towards the gaping hole. Her ribs are in agony, her head throbbing from stress and fear and reverberating grenade blasts, but she can't stop now.
Milos: Milos looks up at the approaching sound with a hint of cold alarm. Ready to give some support if Mahin needs it.
Skylarious: The crew makes their way down to a series of basement rooms. Clearly these were once part of the brothel, still bearing the trappings of luxurious sin. But placed at intervals are large drums, much like the ones holding the arcane implements of the renegade Spirit Wardens. Markings are carved into the walls, and some have been scratched out with others hastily added. Quickly glancing about, they find more papers, these ones written in many hands, and discussing ritual preparations, counts of "collected spirits", and criminal operations across many Imperial cities. Sitting on a table near one of the drums is an old leatherbound book; opening it, the hand is the same as what they'd seen of Master Fier's. The earliest writings are faded from the passage of decades, while the later pages are fresher. Finally, in their search they find a large iron door built into the wall, clearly added after the construction of the rooms. It has a keyhole that fits the key provided by Mistress Fier.
Skylarious: Above them, they can hear shouts as employees struggle to put out the flames, but no one immediately follows them down the stairs.
Mahin: Mahin picks up the leatherbound book and rapidly scans the more recent entries for anything about Javed. Her face is etched with cold anger.
Milos: "Hmm..." Milos asks, "I wonder these renegade Spirit Wardens was in this scheme as well?" He looked closely at the drums
Skylarious: All Mahin finds in the book is were two short entries, dated shortly after Javed's death.

"Drav says an asset turned. Was going off the drugs and saying how the spirit collection was wrong. Pity. Need to find better ways to assure loyalty at a distance."

"Drav is dead. No matter, he was a detail. Find someone else to make sure the Qasemi loose end is tied up."
Skylarious: *edit: are two short entries
Mahin: Mahin puts the book in her bag and heads to the iron door.
Skylarious: Mistress Fier's key works, and the Peculiars make their way through long makeshift passages, finally emerging from a grate inside an old abandoned factory at the north end of the district. Heading outside, the sky is darker even than usual, the embers of the sun barely visible. But their task is done, and Mahin at least has seen her enemy die. Our crew of daring scoundrels has survived even against an ancient being of great power. Now, their skills tested, is Duskwall ripe for the picking?
Milos: Milos smiles, "Well, we didn't leave that many bodies as I thought we did." He said, "But at least we took down the enemy you want to see dead proper."
Mahin: Mahin gives a pained smile, ribs aching. "You know I prefer things that way," she says. "Now my brother can rest, and so can Dariush Qasemi. That name, that face, that voice, that life, they were never right for her."
Jackdaw: As they walk away fom the place where so many dark and evil plans had been made, Jack gives a surprisingly sweet smile. "You know we can never imagine you any other way, except as our friend Mahin."
Skylarious: After taking a few moments to breath, the crew remembers that Bryl has invited them later that night to have dinner aboard her craft - she blushed when she insisted to Mahin that she'd very much like her and her friends to be there. Outside Tangletown, Duskwall will be dark, and even as the spirit possessing Master Fier is forgotten, lives will be taken by the desperate and the mighty of the city. They will wake up in a rat-filled city caught between a blackened sky and an inky sea. But there, amidst the reverly of Tangletown on Bryl's little boat, they know that the evening holds warmth, and good food, and laughter. Blades will be set aside, and after restitution they will have a moment of respite.