Idrig grins. "Mass theft and a royal abduction," the dwarf murmurs to himself, enjoying the sound of that. "Now that's the sort of work I was hoping for."
He loses the smirk, now curious of the logistics. "As for the shipment of weapons — are we stealing off the boat, or when it's en route? Or perhaps, even earlier in the supply chain?"
"Very interesting," Ciraco says, his face lighting up.
"Talguta is a... colourful place," he says after a brief pause to chose his wording. "Surely you could pay off one of the gangs there to steal the shipment and send it back, with the Ferreros being none the wiser. You've got the money I assume," he says extending his arms, gesturing to the lavish surroundings.
She wants us to kidnap royalty? Nyx thinks, in shock as she fills her plate with some of the various foodstuffs they'd been present with. What happened to starting small?
As the men begin to question the first, and clearly easier of the two jobs, Nyx decides to butt in with her own concerns. "Uh, excuse me but how exactly are we meant to abduct a prince? Won't there be royal guards or something around him at all times?"
Narciso takes his seat and takes a bit of food, putting it on his plate. He quietly starts to eat as he listens to Gina talk. He nods as his allies put forth their two cents on the idea, and for the first time he agrees with Idrig. "Thievery? Abduction? Hm... certainty of death, small chance of success... Living life on the edge. What're we waiting for?" He laughed a bit as if it was partially a joke. At least, he hoped the certainty of death was a joke. He looks around at his party with a childlike smirk on his face.
Gina grins as the party's faces light up with excitement at the job prospects. As the dwarven man questions the logistics, she explains, "That is ultimately up to your team, and how quickly you move. The first shipment is to leave Fyrus tonight, a bell past seven. Though I should warn: the Ironworks and surrounding turf will be fiercely guarded. Ah, but before I forget." With this, she gestures to the servant to her side, who hands Idrig a rolled map of some sort. Unrolling it uncovers a familiar tourist map of Teiros, albeit annotated for the city's underworld. "In a city like this, you'll want to know whose house you're walking into.
As Ciraco speaks up, Gina listens intently. "Oh, my dear. Your plan forgets one key detail. The Ferreros still get their coin should their shipment arrive."
Finally, she turns to the ever-nervous Nyx. Eager to clarify the plan, she explains, "The prince has a habit of avoiding his guards at such events, having a rebellious streak of sorts. However, his own protection will be the mask he wears, and his guards know this."
"Aye, everyone wears a mask for the Carnival. We can hide ourselves that way too," Luca chimes in, growing excited for the upcoming festival.
"Exactly. Though he will wear his royal mask for the parade, he will no doubt change afterwards. We simply need to learn what his new mask will be prior to the festivities." Looking towards the eager Narciso, she remarks, "I am glad you are all so eager to start. Though you've time til tonight. Perhaps you might put your new coin to use in the mean time. You're free to visit the markets, the casinos, the racetrack. Whatever you wish!"
The only coin I'm spending is to pay my debts, Idrig considers, idly rubbing two coins together in his coinpurse. Or to gear up for our next tasks. There is a tincture I had in mind...
His thoughts drift for a moment before he regains attention. "I think I will stay and prepare. If that is alright with you," the dwarf says, looking toward the woman for her approval.
"This is the first time in a while I've had this much gold to my name, I don't plan on losing it on a horse or in a casino. Not just yet anyway." Ciraco says in response to Gina's suggestions.
"I'll stay and prepare too, it's been a while since I've actually been in a sword fight, I could use the practice. Cyclops and his men didn't put up much of a fight but the Ferreros might. I could use a sparring partner," he adds looking to the other weapon users of the group.
"I'd offer my talents, but I don't suppose these would be quite easy to parry." Brannik parts his heavy coat and taps a small quiver of bolts at his thigh with a smirk.
"You think we will have to fight someone?" Nyx asks nervously. I've had to use my magic to escape sticky situations, and to spar at the Academy, but never in a real fight. I hope the skills are actually useful. "I don't suppose any of the rest of you has a hidden talent for magic that you'd be able to use to practice with me?"
"I can swing a sword but... I think I would like to visit the markets first before I do anything else." He nods at the others, tapping the table with his fingers.
"Aye, you may stay if you wish," Gina remarks to the dwarven man's query. "You have the run of the house as you please. You might find the library to your liking. Or the garden. Both are quite relaxing."
"Care to cross blades with a former Colosseum fighter?" Luca chimes in with a smirk at Ciraco's words. "The patio outside looks large enough."
Though Nyx's nervous words mostly fall on deaf ears, a quiet woman sitting across from her leans over the table. "I can help you if you need. I know more healing magicks than harming, but I can try." She flashes Nyx a meek smile.
As Narciso makes his plans known, Gina replies, "If you've no need for directions, you're free to head to the markets then."
"Ciao," Luca mutters, offering a simple wave to the man before he departs.
"Sure. I'll make sure to go easy on you," Ciraco replies to Luca with a smirk of his own. He stands up from his seat and begins to make his way towards the patio, waiting for Luca to follow.
"So Colosseum fighter? You ever been in a real fight?" He asks the man with another grin. "Not that I don't mind a bit of showmanship myself."
With nothing remaining for his interest, Idrig makes his way to the garden to investigate. Perhaps there are some materials that may be of use for my concoctions, he muses, mostly seeking the solitude.
Nysx returns the woman's smile, feeling no small amount of excitement both to meet a new, friendly person, and to have someone to practice her magic with. "Any amount of practice would be welcome," she responds. "Where should we go? I still don't know this place very well." What a large family, and so diverse.
Idrig wanders the garden for a few minutes, taking in the smells and smiling. Growing up in the fungal pits of Bal, he'd grown to appreciate the level of variety and complexity offered by superterranean agriculture.
Popping a few ripe cherries off of one of the trees, a small plot catches his eye. He kneels down, sifting through the flowers and herbs, hoping to find something that might warrant further experimentation.
"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you," Ciraco says with a smirk, as he too draws his sword. He assumes a stance and begins circling Luca slowly, his guard raised. Seeing an opening he lunges forwards striking from the left.
Idrig grunts, unable to distinguish this particular strain of herb. Maybe one of the gardeners'll know.
He steps back inside, finding the nearest servant. "Who's in charge of the gardens here?" the dwarf demands.
At her response Narciso politely removes himself from the table and offers a bow, before heading down to the markets.
Nyx is caught off guard as the woman rushes to her and starts pulling her along. Her initial instinct is to resist, but she finds the woman's excitement charming and gives and lets her lead the way.
"Oh, well nice to meet you, Catia," she responds to the woman's introduction, gazing at the estate's ornate scenery as they move through rooms she'd only seen before in the dimly lit evening candlelight, before entering into the completely unknown Ballroom. "I am Nyx," she continues.
As the enter the large chamber she gazes in awe at its beauty and craftsmanship. For a moment she forgets that she was brought here to practice her magic, and simply marvels at the architecture. When the woman speaks up again she quickly snaps back to reality, however, and turns back to face her. "Uh, sure, this should work." Not wasting a moment, she decides to launch her most basic of spells towards the woman, curious to gauge her skill level.
Narciso cleared his throat. For some reason it seemed like he wasn't expecting to be spoken to. After a moment he responds; "Ah, greetings. I'm here looking to buy a broadsword, or perhaps contract you to make one for me." He smiled brightly at the man.
Nyx winces as the blast hits her, but then lets out a chuckle at the woman's reaction. "Good one. And sure," she says, before launching another attack at her new partner.
Ahh, Idrig thinks, offering a sanguine smile. What an unbearably miserable hag. It's no wonder that her position requires a studied approach to plants, and not people.
"On the contrary, I was offering my praise," the dwarf says. "I'm somewhat of an herbalist myself, I suppose, and I recognize a knack for the art when I see it." He holds a hand to his chest, fingers wide — a dwarven gesture for deference. "I would wondering if you had a moment to enlighten me on which herbs grow in your garden? It wasn't a strain I had seen before."
"I didn't take you for a pious man," Ciraco replies, smiling after a successful dodge. He counter attacks, although this time his swing is slower and easier to dodge to parry aside.
Narciso's eyes light up at the sight of the last blade and he has to force himself away. "The one on the far left." He said clearly. "How much will that be?"
"Careful, yes," Idrig replies, nodding along as she rattles off the poisonous plants. "Of course. Specimens such as these need careful attention, and it is clear that you've given them that."
He looks back at the woman, then to the plants once more. "Might I help myself to your stock of these? From time to time? As an associate of your employer, her interests are my interests. And likely your interests, if indirectly." He smiles cordially. "And in case I have to assure you... I will leave your beauties better than when I found them. You can trust me on that."
Nyx sighs initially as her previous spell goes wide, but is excited when her opponent's does too. All tied up. This reminds me of being back at the Academy. As her mind turns towards thoughts of her previous life, the woman's question catches her by surprise. "Oh," she responds, as she begins to prepare her next spell. "The Aetherial Academy, in Cru'un. Do you know it?" she continues, as she fires another blast towards her new partner.
"Luck is the one thing I feel like I can count on, Ciraco says as he attacks again, the attempt falling short. "And I'd rather it run thin here than in a proper battle he says, he says unphased by his poor attack.
Nyx pants a bit as their mock battle winds down, neither of them besting the other. "That was fun," the woman says with a slight smile. The people here are so friendly, you'd hardly expect they aim to be big names in organized crime.
She takes a seat on the floor to rest, before responding, "Yes, it is quite literally very magical." She gives a small laugh at the joke, before continuing, "I am not sure what to tell. I attended the Academy there with my friends and it was a mix of fun and difficult, stressful at times and very rewarding at others. Then I came here to celebrate graduation and got caught up in the cities darker aspects," she adds, now with a frown.
With Luca off guard from his failed attack, Ciraco pushes the advantage taking enough swing. He stops his blade just a couple of inches from the man's neck. "Just like that," he says with a smile, before lowering his sword and taking a few steps back.
"Somehow I can't see the pizza working quite as well as that again," he adds.
"The shed, aye," Idrig replies with a nod. Why would she think it strange? Her master clearly wants someone or someones murdered. The dwarf sighs, heading toward the shed to inspect it. I have a feeling this 'family' will prove amateur and find themselves offed. Though I hope that I've been paid in full long before that happens.
Narciso nods and pulls out his coins, counting out 30 and handing them over for the man to inspect it. "There you go." He says.
"Oh! You too," Nyx replies, a bit shocked at her new acquaintances sudden departure. Shoot, I was going to ask her where to buy ritual components, if this city even has those. I guess I will have to make do. With that she ventures towards the estate exit, intent to head to the markets.
"I'm a sellsword. You tend to at least pick up the basics, if you don't get killed first," Ciraco replies, as he parries Luca's blade aside and lands a blow on the man's side using the flat of his blade.
Nyx's eyes widen as she is bombarded by the woman's sales pitch. She glances around the small shop as the woman gives her spiel, eventually responding when an opportunity presents itself. "Uh, no thanks," she says, shaking her head but trying to maintain a friendly face. "I am just looking for any spare alchemical reagents you might be willing to sell. For my own purposes. Do you have any?" This woman sure does come on strong. I wonder if she ever makes any sales like that.
Too fragile to safely move, Idrig notes, deciding to claim the ill-used shed as a workstation for his near-future endeavors.
Over the next hour, the dwarf brings down his portable collection of plantlife and powders as well as forages in the garden for more.
Upon the table, Idrig sets out a pinch of caustic salts (once-precipitated from soaking animal hides in vinegar), a fossilized twigs (from a bundle he bought in Talguta, but collected from the southern swamplands of Imardin), and a thick oil extracted from a few handfuls of olives growing in the gardens.
Mixing the ingredients in a ratio he had perfected in his youth, Idrig smiles as he places a cork stopper on the finished vial, slipping it into a belt at his hip. Perfect.
He takes a bucket of well-water, rinsing down the alchemical gear well before drying it with a clean cloth. Closing the shed once again, he heads back toward the villa to await for his colleagues to return from their own preparations.
Narciso takes the blade, sheathes it, and nods at the man before heading back to the manor.
"With every complication, an evolution in the strategies employed," Idrig replies nonchalantly to Gina's announcement. "What is it?"
Narciso tilts his head and listens.
"You're probably right," Ciraco agrees, sheathing his sword and moving back towards the villa with the gladiator. "And there's always time for a drink," he smirks. "We just have to make sure not to end up like Cyclops and company,"
Or the Bastards, he thinks, the smirk fading from his face as he reminds himself of his former mercenary company.
Nyx is taken aback by the strange woman's change in behavior after her request. She watches in confusion as she presents her sales pitch, looking over the goods as she presents them. After a brief moment of observation she notices the prices, specifically that they do not go down in price but rather increase as the kits become larger. What sort of scam is she running here?
A thought crosses her mind as she wonders about it more, and she decides to attempt something she'd not done in earnest since she came over from Cru'un - a prank. The woman frowns as she peruses the wares, and looks to the shopkeeper with faux-concern.
"Well... it sounds promising," she responds, trying her best to sound hopeful and hopeless at the same time. "But I really can't afford all that much right now. I'd like to buy your regular kit, to be my own boss, but I've only got one jewel to trade in exchange. It is from Bal and I am told it is worth around the same amount, but I don't know for sure," she pleads, once more trying to act desperate, "do you think you could spare it for that? I'll be sure to pay you back once I make it big like you!"
Narciso sighs. "That certainly makes things more complicated... but we will do our best to retrieve the target." Narciso thinks about it for a moment. "If the unfortunate does happen, and they are killed, is the weapons still our main priority?" He asks.
