The Shattered City: Chapter Four

[NeoTiamat]

2 Days, 13 Hours, 58 Minutes
Chateau Malchance, Quartier Marchand, Port-a-Lucine, Mid-Morning on April 22nd, 770
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"Before we begin any adventures, I wouid be very glad of a moment with you, monsieur Blackwood, mademoiselle," he says.  "Given your recent exertions, I would like to satisfy myself that there will be no long-term effects resulting from your unfortunate experience of last night."

    
    "Of, of course." Richard set the spoon down, looking up from the bowl at his new housemate - and now physician - with his misty gray eyes. "Thank, thank you."
    
    "I suppose it must be done," Alice sighed, with just a hint of discontent. She had looked quite keen on the suggestion when Richard had been involved, but as soon as she was also named her support for the idea had rapidly cooled. Richard gave a strong, hearty laugh, which at least spoke well as far as his health was concerned.
    
    "To, to hear her speak of it, you would, would think I was the only one injured last night," he grinned, chuckling as his sister folded her arms and looked pert. "I'm, I'm afraid the tables have turned this time, Sis. Our new housemate does, does not so easily forget."

"You know our protective White Knight is not going to be happy with that pronouncement don't you? We don't know where we are going or what we will find there, although I'm guessing it won't be tea and cakes. I'd get your best arguing hat on before he joins us" he says with a conspiratorial wink.

Lia shoots Nicholas a look as sudden as it is baleful. For a moment, she just glares at him, then speaks, her voice still so carefully even: "A bit of respect for Tomas' position might behoove you, poet. Leading people into danger is not something to do with a carefree heart and a song on one's lips."

“You're being grouchy.” Cerise commented cheerfully. “Want me to get you some more coffee?”

“Morale is important.” Katja said, glancing at Nicolas. “Though I am not certain if he is bringing it up or keeping it down.”

"Does any of you know where we might find the Midnight Market, or know anyone who has ever been there?"

“I fear that name has not crossed my hearing, no.” Alice Blackwood said after a moment's thought. “Richard?”

“I, I, don't recall such a Market, no.” Richard said, spreading his hands.

“Me neither.” Cerise chirped. Katja merely shook her head and returned to sharpening that very large knife.

“Very well.” Prof. Lessard said, after the fourth negative had been given up. He put down his knife and fork and steepled his fingers together. “The next question, I think, is do we know anyone anyone else 'strange' enough to know of this Midnight Market?”

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Besides the kind of 'people' one encounters after ten minutes of chanting in a ritual circle, you mean?" Lia replies. "The Vistani might know, if we could find any. Possibly some clerics of Hala or Ezra might be aware. And then, of course, some members of University staff, I'd wager."

[Nathan of the FoS]

Mercator gives Lia an odd look at her sardonic remark about the possibility of learning more about the Midnight Market by demonic conjuration, but declines to comment. "If you would care to contribute your expertise to a consultation, monsieur Prescott, it would be all to the good," he replies. "You are quite right that I do not forget an incident like last night's, monsieur Blackwood. If you have finished your repast, perhaps we might perform the examination now, while the others deliberate on our course of action?"

[Nerit]

Nerit sat on the other side of Alice, taking small bites of early spring berries and toast. Her light ashy hair was held up in a bun, and though it was tight some locks refused to stay put and hung by her temples. It seemed she had gotten enough rest for there were no circles around her eyes, yet she didn't look the least bit joyful.

Lia's comments spurred A Look from Nerit. While feeling humorless herself at the moment, she would attest, were she asked in private, that she had at least one funny bone in her body while the wizardess had none. And in that matter, Nicolas was rather harmless despite his stint in prison; Tomas could, Nerit was sure, defend himself against a bard's acerbic jokes.

All of this is irrelevant, of course, because of the following:

She turned to Mercator and said, "Mercators, Regem est regem mercatus cogitas?"

Rex would likely understand it as well, and thus the nun offered a triad through mutual language (and puns). She smiled, though it was weary.


Don't tell a nun she isn't funny. She might blabber a prayer instead.

[lostboy]

Nicolas continues his coffee seemingly oblivious to the critiscsm levelled at him, the moment had passed and the poet was staring hard at the smoldering end of his cigarette depp in thought.

"Well there's Bastion Pineau, although I wouldn't advocate that course of action, or perhaps the bookseller may know something or had a client who does, and talking of strange, there was that nun at the cathedral signore Agale and I conversed with. Of course if he deems to talk Captain Cedolin might be an option. Beyond that..." He trails off lapsing back into thought.

OOC: Streetwise 28 for any other leads

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Lia grants the nun a wry smile for her Look... and then looks down in thought. "That eerie girlchild we met at the cemetery," she says. "The one who claimed to speak for Ezra. How about that one? Urchins frequently know more than people give them credit for, if only to survive in a hostile environment."

[Kaitou Kage]

"I shall come along for a time, then," Rex nodded briefly to Mercator.

"Afterward," the pharmacist continued, "I must go to my shop and check on a few things. I will keep my ears open when I go."

He raised his brow at Nerit, indicating something -- perhaps amusement or acknowledgement -- of her comment.

[yalenusveler]

"Not to bring up an unpleasant topic.." this was in fact, a blatant lie as it was exactly what Kerrian was doing. "But did anyone else get the suggestion that the market wasn't just something Gauvain was unwilling to interfere with, but quite simply something he couldn't? I mean, he rather seems like the sort who would damn the pleasantries and go in if he thought it would work." Kerrian looked around to the group.

"I think he's about as lost as we are sometimes, and doesn't like working through us. Potentially having us work as his agents at the market..can't be doing well for his temper, but he was probably right about not mentioning him there, if we want to get any sort of help."

[Nathan of the FoS]

Mercator looks slightly puzzled at Nerit's witticism, then seems to realize what she's asking is intended humorously. "Si esset regem mercatus, mercator sit," he replies, with a careful smile indicating that he's doing his best to play along.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"You are right, of course, Monsieur Mauganson," Lia says with a nod to the Shaman. "Clandestine locales are usually poor places to mention links with the law... and the law rarely enjoys working through what passes for free agents in this day and age."

[Kaitou Kage]

"A treatise on Rajian theories of energy flows in the body," Rex said to Kerrian, and then quirked a small smile at Mercator's reply.

"Written by some healer from that land."

[lostboy]

"So it seems once again we are all the Marquis' madmen, being sent to go where he cannot, dare not or would not risk to venture, I wonder what holds him back, as you are most certainly right my dear Kerrian, he is not one to refuse at the first hurdle, at least not easily."

"Regardless we are commited to this path that the Marquis fears to tred, but which leaves us with the question of where we first place our feet upon it. Of all the suggestions so far Im most inclined to our little barefooted friend as suggested by the lovely Mlle. Mouneswaithe" here he pauses to flash Lia another grin, obviously her chastising was water off a ducks back to the poet. "Yet I feel we are scrabbling in the dark here mes amis, unless anyone has a better idea to light this path forward?"

Stubbing out his cigarette, Nicolas watches the exchange between the darkonians with a fairly non-plussed expression before leaning
over Rex's shoulder "Rajian eh? I was there some years ago, fascinating place, nearly got eaten by a man-tiger thing, still the standard of the cuisine made up for it though."

[DocBeard]

Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.

Tomas Eisenwald finishes descending the stairs, having apparently slept in. He looks around the room with those horrible eyes that can see straight into your fibbing, filthy soul.

[Kaitou Kage]

Rex looked up briefly at the racket. Then he took another bite of egg and resumed reading, completely unperturbed by the noise or the stormy arrival.

"A few of my pets come from Sri Raji," he said to Nicolas as he read, "I have made trips on occasion to procure ingredients for my business. I find the climate quite agreeable and as you say, the cuisine is well worth the trip. A shame there is not so much of it here. It is very satisfying."

"Whereabouts did you go?" he asked without lifting his eyes from the page.

[lostboy]

"Oh here and there, I took what you might call a grand tour of the cities; Muladi, Pakat, Tvashtri and not to mention the jungles, in fact I think I still have the scars from the bloody leeches and mosquitos. Still I was fortunate enough to have a guide with in-depth local knowledge, and unfortunate enough that said guide was the one who later decided I looked particularly appetising."