[OOC
![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
Ok, I think we're going to basically move into Thirday shortly, if no one has any objections. Torr and Ralam, you guys can finish your discussion, Wode will finish discussing things with Roach, and Aekir will be able to talk with Wode. I'm moving Loviana ahead a day (unless you need for her to do things during Thirday morning Bro).
*Roach, you go the back door of the Blind Woman a bit later that evening. It's not a place you have much reason to frequent, but at least the girl who answers your knock doesn't shrink away like the one at the Shattered sister did. Then again, given the blank look in her eyes, you could probably have looked like a dragon or a demon for all the notice she gives you. Wordlessly she lazily beckons you in and takes you to a small back room, far away from the common room. You can smell the thick vapors of a dozen types of drugs, and even get a tad dizzy before she leads you to the right room. The halfling is inside, dressed no longer in beggar's rags but in elegant, if utterly concealing blue and gray robes. It lounges on some cushions, smoking something from a water pipe that leaves a thick vapor in the air. The fumes would be enough to fell a lesser man, which you are not. Wode looks at you bleakly and speaks, its bland voice belaying its cruel words.*
"A rather nice piece of work you did, scaring off the priest. Though you were enough of an idiot to allow the man a good look at your face. Word has it that the church will be putting weight on the guards to start sweeping the Hollow to look for you, now that they know you're real. Now, you aren't any good to us dead, so you think you can keep your pretty face out of the way for a while? Good.
"There's some rather important personages in town, large players in half a dozen faiths. Word is they leave in a day or two, so don't get your hopes up. But its their employer that the Butterfly wants dealt with. The church of Heironeous has overstepped its bounds..." Wode trails off as it inhales on the pipe again. Picking up its narritive it breathes out smoke with every word.
"They are putting some of their laymen on the watch for the Butterfly's agents, and taking
far too active an interest in the Hollow. We have our eye on more than one of these fine fellows, and would like them to find employment elsewhere. The Butterfly wants you to watch these watchers, and find out what they're watching for and who they're reporting to. Try to 'persuade' them that they need to keep their noses in their own business. No death... not yet, just get them to leave off reporting to their superiors."
*It hands you a scrap of parchment with three names on it along with a brief description and a place of residence and work.*
"Commit those to memory and burn that before you leave this room," Wode commands, inhaling again. "As for payment... the Butterfly has considered 'sponsoring' some of your little charges as Guild apprentices. Get them off the streets, train them up as loyal thieves and assassins... Or an equivalent amount in cash or even magic if you wish."
*Later that evening, Aekir goes to the Hydra's Glass after most have cleared out. Wode still holds forth at its court, though you heard enough while waiting to know that it was later coming in than usual.*
*When you gain entrance, Wode gives you a small smile.*
"Well and neatly done. Kissaken was rather devistated by his wife's death, and the Watch rather baffled. Though he's hiring priests to talk to her spirit... so you can take your purse and lay low for a bit. There is someone who wishes to speak to you however. Tomorrow night, come here as usual. It will be worth your while," Wode says, pushing over a purse. Inside are fifty pieces of platinum and two trade-rubies marked with 250gp standard marks.
*Loviana, after spending the rest of the evening and morning of Thirday as you wish, you head over to the House of Scarlet Joys. Entering into the red-swathed room, full of the smell of purfume and sex, giggles and groans echoing around, you're met by a red-skinned buxom woman. Tiny horns protrude from her forehead; you realize she's a tiefling, a demon-touched.*
"Ah yes dear, you're expected," she says, revealing a smiling mouth filled with pointed teeth. She leads you up to the top of the House, knocking in a specific pattern on a large, iron-bound door. It opens and she waves you inside, taking herself back downstairs.
*Inside you see you've come in during the end of a ceremony. Eloma is there, garbed as Loviatar Herself, in an outfit of strips of skin-tight black leather, cutting cruelly into her flesh. Rings that pierce into her skin and muscle all over her body are threaded through with chains that hold her upright and spread-eagled in the center of the room. Two priestess finish the last of the requisite hundred lashes with the scourge and Eloma gasps. Obviously these must be senior priestess to get such a reaction from the High Painmistress. Raising her head Eloma smiles at you. After a few moments the priestesses release her, allowing her feet to touch the floor again.*
*Beckoning you forward, Eloma gives you a brief kiss, drawing blood before bidding you to sit. The other two priestesses take themselves out, bowing to you briefly.*
"I finally have your assignment ready for you my dear. And I chose you because you work best in subtlety, even over long term. Also you have been ours for so long I feel your faith will never be shaken. The task you were called here for is... so tremendous that it will test you in ways that perhaps you have never been. On a purely mental and spiritual level this will be perhaps the greatest test any of our faith have ever had to undergo," she says, dropping to her knees in front of you. She grabs both of your hands in hers, her nails cutting into your palms in an old Lovian technique to focus concentration
"There are major moves being made, and the players are being too bold. You are to bring down one of the most pure of priests, or our own faith and others allied will be in jepordy. I must set you against Orshallan, the high priest of Heironeous. His mind must be turned away from his current concerns, as he marshals far too much favor and power.
"My daughter, I know this is frightfully hard, and I would not blame you if you had to refuse. There are other ways of getting to him that you could do, and if you think him too hard a target to go after directly, then there are others you could go after in an effort to weaken him. You were brought here for a duty, and it must be done in one way or another," she says, the glitter of pain in her eyes from her recent ceremony adding power to her words.
