Metropolis (Slaves to the City) - Chapter Two

[Phoenix]

Unable to hear their covert conversation Jovik, finds another listening post. He knew this building better than the kids ever could. They knew some of the secret ways in and out, but you never tell'em all. As he crept along to a new spot, he thought of his options. "Well,", he thought "a jackal is only as strong as his pack, but on the other hand, I can get a new pack..., But they're already trained and it''s a pain to find good ones..... Alright, I will try to snap them out of it, once I find out what's going on, and if that doesn't work I may have to cut my losses" and he rubs the pommel of his blade almost subconciously. His internal debate resolved he crept closer to his new vanatge point.

[sblock]Listen check (DC 12) +13 - Success[/sblock]

Creeping around the building, Jovik slid up into the roofing overhang and let himself into the building through a hidden escape hatch that he had found only last week. Crawling through a space inside the roof, it takes little to move into a position to hear the children through a crack in the ceiling.

Frantic Whipers:
[sblock]"...soon. I'm starting to...forget things, important things."
"I know, I can't remember what happens now."
"I'm starting to remember what happened yesterday, even though I don't really know."
"It's the yellow robes, they must being doing it."
"Either that or she's started to die already, and that's why there's nothing to remember."
"I can't remember, I told you that."
"Then what do we do?"
"I'm forgetting too, I'm starting to feel more...childish?"
"Is that a bad thing? We never had one you know."
"What about the Jackal? Does he suspect yet?"
"Maybe, probably, I don't remember anymore..."
[/sblock]

The roof begins to creak against Jovik's weight, seems as though the old building could use more supports in the roof. The noise doesn't attract the children, not yet anyway, Jovik would have to make a move soon.

 

[jkason]

For a little less than an hour Ru watched until the merchants walked away smiling, somewhat richer, but in debt for amounts that could not be measured in coin alone. Ari had spotted Ru for some time, and once the merchants had left he gestured forward to allow Ru to speak.

Ru decides to start light. He raises an eyebrow and gives an affable smile.

"You couldn't have warned me the dwarf pimp was a troll? Surely the sneeze powder last Xiao Hua Festa* wasn't that awful?"

Ru takes his regular seat and continues. "Lucky for me, your reputation saved me from a thorough trouncing by the Trobbing Vein's ... unexpected owner. He's pretty agreeable to our protection rates, except for something of a local snag."

Here Ru leans forward, dropping his levity to lay out the facts. "Namely, the Killi-kelli-hek's decided they like the same territory. Since I don't expect maniac canibal dwarves are like to respond to bribes or a few broken tables, it looks like this time--if we want protection money--we're going to have to put out a lot more manpower for actual protection, as it were."

*[OOC: The Kanji district's local version of April Fool's day.]

 

[Phoenix]

Ru decides to start light. He raises an eyebrow and gives an affable smile.

"You couldn't have warned me the dwarf pimp was a troll? Surely the sneeze powder last Xiao Hua Festa* wasn't that awful?"

Ru takes his regular seat and continues. "Lucky for me, your reputation saved me from a thorough trouncing by the Trobbing Vein's ... unexpected owner. He's pretty agreeable to our protection rates, except for something of a local snag."

Here Ru leans forward, dropping his levity to lay out the facts. "Namely, the Killi-kelli-hek's decided they like the same territory. Since I don't expect maniac canibal dwarves are like to respond to bribes or a few broken tables, it looks like this time--if we want protection money--we're going to have to put out a lot more manpower for actual protection, as it were."

*[OOC: The Kanji district's local version of April Fool's day.]

Ari doesn't smile, though he rarely does when it comes to business. "That 'Troll' you so delicately put it, is actually one of the more well educated men in the district, I had no doubt what-so-ever that you would be able to handle him."

Drawing upon the pipe of a large hooka that rests next to him on the floor, Ari blows out a large could of purple smoke and sighs in relaxation.

"Killi-kelli-hek you say?" Aru stops to think for a moment, staring off into nothingness as if trying to pierce the veil of reality to find the answers that he needs in another dimension. "I think that we can rule out open warfare then, little point in that, bad for business."

"Personally I'm tempted to leave this in your hands Ru, after all your good work with that Gis gentleman. Ha! I thought that I'd have to have him killed to serve as an example to the others, but you astounded me by making him fold somehow. I wonder whether you would have the same effect on these cannabalistic dwarves?"

 

[jkason]

Drawing upon the pipe of a large hooka that rests next to him on the floor, Ari blows out a large could of purple smoke and sighs in relaxation.

"Killi-kelli-hek you say?" Aru stops to think for a moment, staring off into nothingness as if trying to pierce the veil of reality to find the answers that he needs in another dimension. "I think that we can rule out open warfare then, little point in that, bad for business."

"Personally I'm tempted to leave this in your hands Ru, after all your good work with that Gis gentleman. Ha! I thought that I'd have to have him killed to serve as an example to the others, but you astounded me by making him fold somehow. I wonder whether you would have the same effect on these cannabalistic dwarves?"

Ari and that damnable hooka. Ever since Sy Tenny started supplying him with the ainam to fill it, Ari used it for every decision. Gods help Sy (and possibly no end of others) should he ever lose his supply source. Sure, the ainam seemed to make Ari more suceptible to Ru's particular deciept, but... well, that wasn't exactly working in his favor at the moment, now was it?

Ru could all but hear Master Gis' voice in his head, chiding Little Brike, lies are like fire. A moment's distraction in tending them, and suddenly they've burned your home down around you. Oh, by the way, how do you like the new snack cakes? Ru tried not to groan. He drew a steadying breath before responding.

"If you want me to troubleshoot this, Ari, I'm as always your man. Of course, it's a tricky situation, and I don't expect there's a quick fix to be had. Can I feel free to secure freelance specialists if I need them, or do you want me to draw solely from the organization?"

 

[Fenris]

[sblock]Listen check (DC 12) +13 - Success[/sblock]

Creeping around the building, Jovik slid up into the roofing overhang and let himself into the building through a hidden escape hatch that he had found only last week. Crawling through a space inside the roof, it takes little to move into a position to hear the children through a crack in the ceiling.

Frantic Whipers:
[sblock]"...soon. I'm starting to...forget things, important things."
"I know, I can't remember what happens now."
"I'm starting to remember what happened yesterday, even though I don't really know."
"It's the yellow robes, they must being doing it."
"Either that or she's started to die already, and that's why there's nothing to remember."
"I can't remember, I told you that."
"Then what do we do?"
"I'm forgetting too, I'm starting to feel more...childish?"
"Is that a bad thing? We never had one you know."
"What about the Jackal? Does he suspect yet?"
"Maybe, probably, I don't remember anymore..."
[/sblock]

The roof begins to creak against Jovik's weight, seems as though the old building could use more supports in the roof. The noise doesn't attract the children, not yet anyway, Jovik would have to make a move soon.

Puzzled by this conversation, Jovik quietly slips back down the building. "Time to see what's up" he thought to himself. And he approaches his regular entrance with extra caution and opens the door quietly, listening as he can but entering the building.

 

[hafrogman]

Nikolai blinks blearily in the dim candle light of his chambers. He rubs at his eyes in a vain attempt to make the room stop spinning for a moment. He swings his head from side to side for a moment, searching the room for the damnable bird. When he catches a patch of darkness he stares for a moment as Quoth resolves himself out of the blur.

"You know, I really should learn to pace myself more when stuff like this comes along. . . but I'll be damned if it isn't fascinating. I wonder if I should just go tell Thialon what I know. . . or wait until I have more. Hmm. . . what time is it anyways?"

Before Quoth has a chance to answer, Nikolai struggles off his workstool and over to a window, throwing open the shutters and sticking his head outside to attempt to discern the answer to the question himself.

[sblock]Is there any equivalent of a public library around (or at least a private one that Nikolai might gain access to)? Basically looking for anywhere he might continue research on his own before going back to the society with what he has.[/sblock]

 

[Phoenix]

Ari and that damnable hooka. Ever since Sy Tenny started supplying him with the ainam to fill it, Ari used it for every decision. Gods help Sy (and possibly no end of others) should he ever lose his supply source. Sure, the ainam seemed to make Ari more suceptible to Ru's particular deciept, but... well, that wasn't exactly working in his favor at the moment, now was it?

Ru could all but hear Master Gis' voice in his head, chiding Little Brike, lies are like fire. A moment's distraction in tending them, and suddenly they've burned your home down around you. Oh, by the way, how do you like the new snack cakes? Ru tried not to groan. He drew a steadying breath before responding.

"If you want me to troubleshoot this, Ari, I'm as always your man. Of course, it's a tricky situation, and I don't expect there's a quick fix to be had. Can I feel free to secure freelance specialists if I need them, or do you want me to draw solely from the organization?"

Ari thinks for a moment before drawing again from the hooka. "I think an operation like this will require, innovitive decisions." He pulls a large pouch from beneath his heavy robes and throws it at Ru's feet. "Take this, whatever you don't spend think as a...bonus. I know that you'll be able to deal with this situation in a formidable manner."

[sblock]The pouch is heavy and contains 50 silver nobles, 100 golden crowns and 20 platinum orbs.[/sblock]

 

[Phoenix]

Puzzled by this conversation, Jovik quietly slips back down the building. "Time to see what's up" he thought to himself. And he approaches his regular entrance with extra caution and opens the door quietly, listening as he can but entering the building.

Ru's stealth in entering the building is adequate, but within the room as he enters all of the children stand facing him, quiet as the grave. At the head of the pack stand Wasp, Mouse and Kuni stare at him with an unsettling gaze.

Wasp peers at Ru before asking: "And who are you?"

 

[Phoenix]

"You know, I really should learn to pace myself more when stuff like this comes along. . . but I'll be damned if it isn't fascinating. I wonder if I should just go tell Thialon what I know. . . or wait until I have more. Hmm. . . what time is it anyways?"

Before Quoth has a chance to answer, Nikolai struggles off his workstool and over to a window, throwing open the shutters and sticking his head outside to attempt to discern the answer to the question himself.

[sblock]Is there any equivalent of a public library around (or at least a private one that Nikolai might gain access to)? Basically looking for anywhere he might continue research on his own before going back to the society with what he has.[/sblock]

[sblock]Due to the lack of central government there are no 'public' libraries, however private collectors often allow people to view their tomes for a small fee.
Knowledge-local check (DC 12) +26 - Success!
Assassin attack roll (Flat-footed AC 12) +7 - Failure
[/sblock]

Nikoli knows the answer to his question before it even crosses his mind. In the Xylin-po spire lives a herbalist and surgeon that collects books relating to biological studies, a Phylin-tarrn his name was. If anyone knew anything about this kind of liquid it would be him, or his books.

The shutters open and dirty daylight pours into the room, dazzling Nikoli for a moment, a moment too long. There is a heavy thudding on the window frame next to the gnome, and looking at it in surprise Nikoli notices a three-foot crossbow bolt buried deeply into the wood. From behind him the voice of Quoth calls out: "Look out!"

 

[hafrogman]

"By the gods!"

Nikolai slams the shutters closed again and springs back from the window, all thoughts of weariness temporarily forgotten. He scrambles around looking for the wand he bought for self defence after he discovered his powers. Seeing it lying on the workbench bearby he snatches up the slender runed stick and grips it tightly in his hand. He breathes heavily now, wheezing and coughing slightly.

"Gee, 'look out'? Really? I NEVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED!"

[sblock] I don't know if we're in combat rounds or not yet, so Nikolai does as much of the above as possible.[/sblock]