Book II - Chapter VIII: Powers That Be

[Ancelas]

Alan shook their head. "Would be the first time a tavern brawl ended in death. The oddity of it will only add to the appeal of this place, though. Elfsong tavern, home of the Elfsong and bane of cultists - I expect to have more patrons than ever!"

The innkeeper winced. "Although now isn't the best time for it. I've run out of eggs this morning. We still have some fresh-baked bread and some jam from our reserves, and I think we have a little more bacon, but we're starting to feel the lockdown more than ever."

[CautionCat]

Vincent nodded to Alan, glancing around the room. "Coffee was great, I'm used to having fresh milk in it, but it was mild enough to handle without something to lighten it. I understand not everywhere has the same easy access to that, but anywhere else, the coffee has been pretty bitter."

He listened about the breakfast troubles, and waved his hand. "Cerys can make us something, you can hold onto your food for those who need it more than we do." Smiling, he looked to Cerys. "You're able to make those berries, yeah?"

[redcoat]

Cerys blinked, arching an eyebrow at her question before attention moved elsewhere. The moment passed and soon their gracious host was asking them about the coffee, mentioning the shortages.

Cerys frowned- it didn't bode well, if even the Elfsong was feeling shortages.

"Berries? Yes, of course." She opened her hand, closed it again, and then opened it once more- revealing the handful of 'blueberries'.

"Blueberry flavored this morning. It's not a muffin, but it will hold us."

[Deleted]

Jinn cocked a brow at the presentation of berries. "Eh, I'll take a berry if it means someone else gets to eat. Once this whole mess is sorted, though, we're gonna feast. Even you, Vinny." He plucked a berry from Cerys hand- elf willing- and popped it into his mouth.

"Yo Al, you remember the folks from the other night? That nice dark skinned woman and the drunken dwarf complainin' about silver. They mentioned somethin' about the Hellriders pickin' fights with randos. We're fixin' to follow up on the rumors. You got any gossip? Or maybe know where that particular rumor mill went off to?"

[Kyt]

What little perkiness there was on Rey's face fell at the reminder of the supply situation in Wachovia. She sighed, taking a berry. At least she was still getting to eat.

As Jinn mentioned the Hellriers, she blinked and watched around them for any reactions to the fact they were looking for them.

[uberwulfx]

Crystal sighed. As much as she wanted to be a bit of a brat and complain about eating a berry rather than half an actual breakfast, she knew the situation in the city was too serious for it. She accepted and chewed a berry, sticking near Cerys, but paying attention to Jinn and Al.

[CautionCat]

"Thank you, blueberries are delightful." Vincent smiled, taking a berry.

"Even me?" He raised a brow to Jinn. "You think I'm not a fan of food?"

[Ancelas]

Alan leaned forward onto the bar counter, arms folded. "The Hellriders... there was a bit of a stir when the refugees were first making their way into the city. Most of the Elturians had settled in Brampton, and the Hellriders were trying to keep things orderly. The guard didn't always get along with them, so there were a few... arguments. Altercations. Nothing too bad, by Wachovian standards, and they were just looking after their people, from what I hear."

There were a couple snorts from nearby that Rey could pick up, some mutters as the morning rumor mill began to grind.

"Then there was the outbreak in Brampton," Alan continued, "and everyone scattered to the four winds. The neighborhood was quarantined, no one in or out. Now the refugees are scattered across most of the lower city - mostly by the docks, and around Eastway. Every now and then someone comes in talking about the refugees stirring up trouble, which always seems to involve a Hellrider or two. It's hard to tell which ones are legitimate sightings and which are just unhappy Wachovians looking for someone to complain about."

One of the men seated at the bar began to protest but Alan dismissed him with a wave of his hand and a smile. "Oh, no need to cause a fuss, Johann. We all know you don't need someone to complain about, you're perfectly willing to complain for no reason at all."

The gentle rebuke earned a round of chuckles from those nearby. Including Johann.

[Kyt]

((Perception 9))

[redcoat]

A feast sounded excellent, honestly, and Cerys had to resist the urge to start planning it in her head.

No, work first. Then more work, and then she could cook.

"Okay- that gives us a good place to start." She was... aware... of the eyes on them, and wasn't about to give more specifics. After all, the last thing unhappy Wachovians needed was a target.


Gods this city was a mess.

[Deleted]

Jinn grinned at Vincent. "You'd look good with a little more meat on your bones. Sides, ya can't drive a piton with a ball pin hammer, know what I mean?" He jostled the aegien priest with a wink before glancing back at Alan. He nodded. "We been to the docks. Eastway, though. Maybe we can try around there. Maybe we find some refugees and we'll run into one of the hellriders." He shrugged and looked back at the rest of his party.

"What do you guys think? Day's young."

[Kyt]

Rey grumbled towards Jinn. "We got plans, but maybe we ain't gotta let everyone else in on those plans." She gave a side eye at the crowd. They'd already been tracked down once before.

[uberwulfx]

(pass)

[CautionCat]

That made Vincent blush just a tad, and he laughed. "I grew up on a farm, I'm a little stronger than you think I am."

He nodded, listening to Rey, and looked to Jinn. "Yeah, we should... maybe go somewhere else for a bit. Talk plans in private, figure out what our next step is."

[Ancelas]

After finishing their breakfast in the Elfsong Tavern, the Lucky Hand ventured out to face a hot, humid, grey-sky day with drizzles of rain falling sporadically across the dingy streets of Wachovia. Tensions seemed high, as even a casual brush against a stranger on the street was enough to provoke a shouting match that threatened to get out of hand at a moment's notice.

Their first stop was Trollskull Alley. While the kids were not out and about, calling out for them near the abandoned building they were known to retreat to at night brought Squiddy and Ren to the window, and the two urchins climbed down to chat with the group, in exchange for some breakfast scraps.

The Lucky Hand wanted to know more about the Elturians and the Hellriders. The urchins confirmed some information that they already knew - there had been a lot of refugees gathering on the docks and in Brampton, but with Brampton locked down, they had been pushed into Eastway, largely gathering in the park in front of Our Martyred Lady, where the Hand had first encounter Ren and Mouse. Elturians tended to gather wherever they could, but the docks and the church seemed to be focal points.

The Hellriders, meanwhile, were a source of interest for the kids, although they had no eyewitness accounts of them. It seemed the Hellriders had first entered Wachovia in their armor, announcing who they were, but they had quickly begun to butt heads with the Wachovian Guard. After the events in Brampton, the Hellriders had all but vanished, helping their people without drawing attention to themselves.

As far as other rumors went, they had little to add, given how limited their runs into the city had been the last few days. Tensions were rising and the urchins wanted to keep their heads down, which was easier with Victor and the Hand watching out for them. Ren mentioned seeing a strange cart in the alley late the previous night in front of Victor's house, but that was the only interesting bit of news they had to share. They promised to keep an ear out, though, and promised to avoid the more dangerous areas of the city.

The conversation left the Lucky Hand with little more information than they already had. The Hellriders were underground and difficult to locate. There were Elturians communities in Eastway and the docks, and the docks were already tied to the strange late night smuggling ships they had previously learned about, as well the false papers some Elturians supposedly carried with them. The Poisoned Poseidon was suspicious and the Low Lantern seemed to be involved somehow, but they had yet to discover any additional information as of yet.