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[ R O W A N ]

Rowan gave Artemis another sidelong glance that went on a bit longer than normal eye contact would before sliding her gaze to the other half of the room she had managed to ignore quite completely. With some rummaging she located some simple tunics and pants in a container with leather armor as well. They seemed somewhat close to the captain anyway so she set them aside and pulled out some chainmaille vests and other pieces of seemingly useful armor. She had no intention of wearing any herself, it would get in the way more than anything. She looked at the pile of weapons and decided the captain would have to arm herself. She had only wielded a blade but once, and that had been an exception during her training. She gave a rather unimpressed hm at her current work. She proceeded to sit at the table in the room and put her head down to rest until someone told her otherwise. As far as she could tell she was still sort of a prisoner of the thieves whims, now Lucia may be too.

Ash couldn't believe she was talking to him. Had kissed him. "Oh ah, Ash, they call me Ash, it isn't my real name, we never use those back home but I really can not say it here, but maybe I could in your chambers, oh would you like me to go there? I can do that, this way? I can go this way I will wait for you there, please do not hurry, I can wait!"

((feel free to puppet him or just assume he's in your room when you get there.He'll just magic himself there even if you don't give him directions XD))

[ A S H ]

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"Well, Arcanist Ash, why don't we head back to my chambers for a nice chat?" Sophie took ahold of his arm, acting the proper lady being escorted by a lord.

They had barelt made it to the edge of the gardens, however, when a pageboy ran up breathless to Sophie. "The Lady Dormer has left her rooms, heading towards the water lily pavilion, your grace," he gasped out, winded. "She did nothing 'cept write some letters all morning, and she gave them to Landon to deliever, not me, so I didn't get a chance to go through them like you asked."

Ricks was one of the pageboys Sophie had charmed to keep an eye on the other power players in the palace. Anything to keep her edge. Luckily, Ricks was still young enough that the siren call manifested itself as a motherly image to him, and he'd do anything to win her approval.

"Oh Ricks, that's quite alright. You've done splendidly. Just keep your head down and make sure she doesn't suspect a thing!" Turning to her enamored mage, Sophie put a hand against his chest. "Listen, can you make your way to my chambers ahead of me? Ricks here can guide you back. Perhaps while you wait you could place some warding magics about my chambers? To foil eavesdroppers, snoopers, or thieves? I can't wait to hear your secrets my love." Pausing for effect, Sophie melodramaticly bit her lip and brushed back a strand of hair that had slipped perfectly from her headdress, subtly pushing out her breasts as she did so. "I... I must confess something to you as well, but only later when we are sure of our privacy." Wrly, Sophie wondered if she'd overdone it, but judging by the sudden blushing of Ash's cheeks and the way he awkwardly adjusted his stance, she would bet she'd acted perfectly.

Parting ways with her two fans, she hurried back to the pavilion where she as greeted with resounding pleasure that the lovely Duchess had returned. Quickly, she took a seat at the table and arranged herself to look as far from flustered as possible. The purposefully imperfect hair was quickly pinned back in, and her hands fastidiously smoothed out any improper crease in her gown. Sophie ensured that the seat across from her down the table remained empty. Glancing around, she made sure everything was in place. The nobles were gathered loosely on either side, an audience ready to adore her and the scandals she could cause at will. The sun, rising over the wall behind Sophie, sure to be brightly shining directly at Dormer by the time she sat down, causing unflattering lighting and perhaps even a squint as she spoke with Sophie.

Sophie was still in the middle of her mental checklist as Dormer entered. Gone was the petty, petulant girlish woman from the trial. Lady Dormer may have gotten lazy at playing the game, but now that a real threat had appeared to her power in court, she'd regained much of her old wiles.

Sophie mentally assessed Dormer's position as she sat and began to address Sophie. Dormer had suffered an embarrassment in the trial, to be sure, and although that had struck quite the blow to the Dormer's influence at court, the true root of Lady Dormer's influence lay with her husband. The Lord Dormer had half the middle and petty houses indebted to him in some way. Be it gambling debts or loans taken out after a bad harvest, gold owed was gold owed. Lady Dormer knew how to capitalize on that, and collect not just interest in gold, but also in favors.

"Of course, Lady Dormer, I felt as though we really did start off so well. You were kind to give me your handmaiden. Anything that happened after that is just water under the bridge as far as I'm concerned! We must all strive to get along here. Besides, I do so want us to like one another. You remind me of my Aunt, in fact! Might I call you Auntie Dormer?" Sophie laced her words with a childish innocence, but to those playing the game, her strike was a clear as a foil in a fencing match. Her jibe was meant to point out to Dormer, and all present, that no one stayed young forever.

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When Rowan had finished picking out armor that would fit the captain, and put her head down on the table; Artemis took the clothes and armor to the captain's room, lucky for him she was still asleep for the moment. Afterwards Artemis also retired to a room to take a nap, they were all going to be pretty busy soon, and who knew when their next opportunity to rest would come?

Fast forward three hours ====>

Gereth was still in the dark of the black room, it was almost time to gather the others and plan how to get into the castle. He had come up with some ideas, but required some information from the others first. There had been some strange noises coming from the room Gereth was in near the end of the three hours, if anyone was awake to hear them. Gereth wrote a few notes in his pocket notebook, placed it back in his pocket, and left the room. I've made some progress, but the results I require still elude me... Gereth went around and knocked on each door to get everyone up. He sat at the table and waited for the others. Ivory and Artemis were awake and at the table first, then they were just waiting for the others.

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        Odeir began a letter, addressed to no one, "For all we know, she could be fleeing back up North, but we should be able to find her." He attached went over to the window, the highest in the tower his office was in, and whistled lightly. A bird, resembling a small hawk but with abnormally long tail feathers, and entirely a dark, grey-blue, landed on the window sill. It hopped around to turn its back, and the message tube harnessed to it, towards Odeir. As the old man secured it inside, it cooed here and there, occasionally nipping at the underside of its wings. Odeir gave a sharp whistle and it took off to find it's owner. "Now then, would you like some tea? Perhaps observe the training from here? I have the best view of it from this office."

        --->

        Lucia discovered a neatly folded stack of clothes and even some light armor on top of the table in the corner of the room, but before she could change, she slipped into the bathroom to clean up. With a cleaning cloth, she scrubbed herself down, her skin feeling relief of the crusted blood, and changed before peeking out into the main room. The band of thieves sat around looking...like thieves, and Lucia couldn't help but feel the urge to just arrest all of them. After all, it was because of the short one Bartholomew found an opportunity to frame her. She quietly slipped out from her room and took the furthest seat from them, setting the armor on the table since she didn't want to feel restricted just yet.

        ---

        Bartholomew led Alex to the captain's office where most of Lucia's things had been tossed in wooden crates by the guards. He waved them out of the room and took a seat behind the large mahogany desk, gesturing for Alex to take a seat as well across from him. Before he could start their talk, a familiar messenger ran in, dropped off some letters, and scurried out behind the guards. Bartholomew noted the top one addressed from Lady Dormer and slid it to the side to read later. "I'm glad you weren't caught in the explosion down in the cells, Alexandra, how unfortunate it would have been to have to tell Lord Tinel his daughter was injured in a raging inferno under my watch. Of course, I never thought I would have to make sure of your safety down there, since nobles rarely go down there, and certainly not after that ordeal the other day. Had I been in charge then, you definitely would have at least gotten a better meal than the filth we feed those peasants."

        || Written to: Give It To Me ||

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Ranimadrix picked up the cup, inspecting it curiously. He'd never seen the substance known as 'Tea' before. He cautiously sniffed it, and took a sip. He shuddered. "Well... It's certainly better than the ale that my father and I make. But we're not very good at it." He chuckled, looking out the window, down at the training grounds, observing the troops below. Somehow, the feeling of watching over the warriors below gave him a sense of accomplishment, but he so desperately wished to be down there, among them. He would spend the following three hours with Odeir in this tower.

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Rowan did not deign to raise her head from the position she had taken at the table until Lucia entered and set the armor she had set out down. "Captain," she nodded to her, "I apologize for your situation, though it appears to be somewhat better than the one you were in previously. G, I presume you have a plan of some sort to access the castle without getting caught and incapacitated? I need to reach those catacombs." Even over the last few hours the scales had creeped across her face in an intricate pattern on her forehead and over the bridge of her nose and was beginning the descent and reach across her neck and collar bone from where it had begun on her left arm. She scratched aimlessly at them as she awaited further information from the vagabonds.

Ash obediently followed Ricks back to Sophonisba's chambers where he eagerly began to enchant the space. He selected a rather lovely bauble from his bag and as he spoke the enchantments and set the limits of the barriers he keyed them to the flawless sphere of crystal in his palm. In the end the space was as safe as a room could be, once she returned he would set the spells to her touch or voice. At her will and command she would be able to prevent anyone from entering without correct permissions, even if they opened the lock, with a word she would be able to stop sound from entering or exiting the space, and if the orb glowed red it meant someone was attempting to use magic against the area, whether from near or far, in which case an appropriate counter spell could be activated or not at her discretion, a scrying foil and several counter attacks that could cause some magical backlash on the caster. He was sweating and panting from the magical exertion in such a compact and powerful spell casting but he was incredibly satisfied with his work and could not wait for Sophonisba to return so he could explain how it all worked!

[ A S H ]

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"Before we start planning, there's something that needs to be said: Rowan, Lucia, neither of you are prisoners here. You can leave at any time, no one will stop you, just make sure that you close the door on your way out. But for anyone who decides to remain, I have a few ideas on how to enter the castle without drawing attention. One way is to attempt to sneak in at night, dodge the guards and get into the lower levels on our own. However for this to work we wouldn't be able to bring everyone, five people are too likely to draw attention. Three people at best with that plan, and Rowan and I would both need to be part of said trio. Another way in would be through the daily deliveries tomorrow, however that too has a low chance of success, since the guards know both Rowan's, and Lucia's faces. The last, and probably highest chance of success plan, involves using the Astarte woman to open a way for all of us to get in. Someone of her power would have no problem getting us to the castle's basement. The only tricky part would be convincing her to do it... at least it would if I hadn't finished my research. I'm almost certain that the Astarte woman who wants to hire us has Siren blood. And since her family is widely known to despise magical creatures, this knowledge would be the perfect blackmail. She'd have no choice but to do as we say, or risk her own as well as her family's political power."
"Okay, so we have the information. But who do we threaten to sell it to? Leaking it to commoners wouldn't have the immediate effect we need to blackmail effectively."
"We would threaten to sell it to a member of a different noble house, someone who dislikes the Astarte, or better, this Astarte in particular. I believe that there is currently a woman from the Dormer family who would be interested in this kind of information."
"How do you know all of these people?"
"I do my research, although I wouldn't expect any of you to know these kinds of details, I've gathered them over a long period of time. Naturally any plan we choose will have a higher chance of success if Lucia is willing to tell us when and where the guards patrol, that way we can avoid them and take the most direct rout to the catacombs. I should also mention that we should expect a lot of traps along the way, a secret this old doesn't stay secret by coincidence. Which reminds me..." Gereth stood up and entered the kitchen/store room. He emerged a minute later holding an excellently made sword. He placed it on the table in front of Lucia. "It's not perfect, but it's the highest quality blade I have at this location, it's yours, whether you chose to help us or go off on your own." Gereth sat down once more. "So, what are your thoughts?"

(((I don't really know what I'm doing right now, I only have vague ideas)))

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"I have not got much choice, I cannot exist normally as I am, I have to reach that shrine, leaving here would get me no closer to that end goal. Lucia, if you aid us, and this madness is resolved, I will pledge my service as a mage to you, and return the favor in any way possible and within my power. G I think we should sneak in and meet with this Astarte, she's the one who knocked me out in the original scuffle with Hood over there, if I remember correctly. She is powerful and would likely be willing given the correct...persuasion. Captain, if you can get us past the guards, I can guide us to the shrine. If you would care to?" Rowan hefted her own bag and looked at their equipment, she didn't need any really and her instincts told her they would not be spending more than a day in the catacombs, food would be inconvenient. Previously she had hated the hunches she had been having, the visions, the whole transformation taking place, but somehow she almost felt excited about reaching this shrine, it felt almost like an exit, an end. After this maybe she would be free.

[ A S H ]

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Alex daintily sat herself down on the chair, remembering her mother's teachings on how to sit like a Lady. She had normally been careless with these social nuances ever since she had started at the castle, and luckily as a handmaiden it had gone mostly unpunished. In this situation however, Alex felt a tad uncomfortable. She felt that she was in trouble, but nothing had happened to her yet. The motives of the man before her were unclear, and Sophie wasn't around this time to save her.

"The Tinel's...appreciate your...thoughtfulness." she answered uncertainly, the formal words sounding strange in her throat. Alex gave a glance around the room, and a thought had suddenly stricken her. He had named himself Captain earlier...is there normally more than one Captain in the castle? Is this possible?

"It must be hard on you that your fellow Captain Lucia is no longer with us." she asked, trying to make conversation, really.

-------

Lady Dormer gave the slightest pause at Sophie's words, it lasted only half-a-heartbeat so it would have been barely noticeable. She then resumed her careless demeanor with ease, her words sweet as honey.
"Oh, but I do like you dear..." she answered with a laugh, "...You do so remind me of myself when I was young and feebleminded." There was a small glint in her eye while she continued her heartfelt laugh, a private joke. Those gathered around the table appeared uncomfortable, glancing back and forth between the two. Some gave nervous laughs in response, but everyone knew who were the ones commanding the attention.

Dormer opened her fan, giving a sigh as she continued to glance about in thought, oblivious. The game had a history of snuffing out the young who came in with a blaze. Those with the brightest fire burned half as long as they said. Sophie was a new challenge to her, but she still felt comfortable, for now.

"Speaking of your handmaiden, where is she now, may I ask? Surely you would have kept her close after her previous.." she let the question trail off, allowing everyone else to finish off the sentence as she raised her brow, "I would have so liked to ask how she was doing now."

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        Lucia eyed the blade set before her and gave a sigh. They did help her escape and provide shelter, and she did agree to his deal, but breaking back into the castle right after making it out? It felt counterproductive. Then again, she did leave behind that mage and she wanted to confront Bartholomew..."We can probably get inside from the gate I escape through earlier. The guards are always occupied with the front more than the back and I doubt they think I would use the same route to get back inside."

        ---

        Bartholomew poked around the desk as Alex spoke, tossing random things he deemed garbage into the various crates placed around the room. At the young girl's question, he couldn't help but laugh, "Fellow captain? Please, she was barely a captain. With her being a traitorous thief and now escaped convict, that job goes to me. You are now sitting in my office. Well, it will be once all this trash is thrown out." He pulled a tied bundle of letters from the desk drawer and simply tossed it with the rest of Lucia's things.

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"The Lady Alexandra is doing quite well. And seeing as the charge against her was declared a baseless accusation by the Head Magistrate after he reviewed the case, I trust her enough to not keep tabs on her wherever she goes." Although, if Sophie had to guess, she'd bet that her handmaiden was in the dungeon visiting the guard captain. Really, she'd have to pin down just exactly what their connection was. But currently, she had other information to gather, and social warfare to wage. "It is rather uncomfortable, but I do believe a document of reparations will be arrive for you from the parliamentary bureaucrats within the week. The standard fine of slander against a house in good standing with the crown. But at least with that last courtesy observed the matter will be fully behind us." A murmur swept through the gathering. Fines of slander were almost impossible to obtain from the court, and usually were used to show off the amount of influence one had in the court. It was quite likely Dormer wouldn't have to pay a single coin or tract of land and would simply call in favors of her own, but it showed those assembled that Sophie hadn't yet forgotten the attempt on her consequence.

Sophie met the other woman's eyes. With her first barrage launched, Sophie gave her no pause to retaliate.

"You know, Lady Dormer, I find it most odd I haven't had the pleasure of meeting the good Lord Dormer yet. Is he not in court for the season?"

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Alex winced as Bartholomew threw some papers roughly into the waste basket. She immediately regret her question as the information presented to her created a knot in her stomach. So that was how far they had gone...
Alexandra gave a small frown, the man's motives becoming a tad more clear to her now. She had gone from confusion to apprehension.

"Forgive me, Captain." Alex asked, trying her best to keep her voice pleasant, "...Have you been able to track her down then?"

A long pause while Alex held her breath for a response. She could see Bartholomew's brow furrow as he stared back at her.
"...my,my, so many questions about our dear Lucia." he answered suddenly, his tone level.
"You aren't...worried about our traitorous convict, are you?"

The girl stared back defiantly, already becoming more and more repulsed by the man before her. Her mouth opened in retort...when suddenly...

Knock Knock Knock

"A message! A royal message for Alexandra Tinel? I was told she would be in here."

Bartholomew gave a small smile, nodding his head at the girl, before lazily reaching a hand out toward the door. "Come on in."

A small, lanky young boy entered the room, and silently held out a note to Alexandra. The girl took it gently, and as she read it, began to stand up. "Thank-you," she bowed her head at the messenger, who smiled and began to leave.
Alex began to take a few more steps to follow after him, and then paused "Was that all?" she asked, turning her head to the side.

-----

Lady Dormer gave a small sigh. She would have to deal with the repercussions of her actions sooner or later. Her father would not be happy. Yet she wasn't worried, a family at their current position would not be swept aside so easily.

Yet her trail of thought was interrupted at the mention of her husband, "Lord Dormer? Oh, he's fine, he's off on business with our dear son," she let out a hearty laugh, shaking her head as though reminded of a humorous memory. "The Dormer trading business did not end up the way it is with our family staying in one place, you know."
A few of the others present murmured and nodded their heads. The woman felt instantly relieved.

"And how about you, my dear Sophie," Dormer said, changing the topic, "A woman of your age, how come we have never heard of any suitors?" there was a hint of genuine curiosity in her question.


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(((Just a heads up for Q, some dates were changed so that vinegar asked to meet with the thieves at sunset asap, instead of dawn of the next day.)))

"Sounds like everyone is on board. Alright, we'll try to get assistance from the Astarte woman, when Fang meets with her tonight. Remember: it's a card game."
"So don't show my hand, I know. You're forgetting who won the card championship at the Tavern last year. I'm the best liar in the room."
"So how are you sneaking into the castle this time?"
"Very. Carefully."
"You always do that don't you?"
"Everyone else rest up, we break in tonight, with or without the Astarte woman... While your there Fang, try to get a first name, or something simpler than "Silver Maiden" or "The Astarte Woman". It's becoming a hassle in conversation."
"Will do, Mr. Impatient."
"Go." Ivory headed out the door, ensuring it was closed behind her. "We won't get a chance to rest until we leave the castle, or end up in it's dungeons. So sleep now while you have the chance, we have a little time before we start, so use it well." Gereth entered the room Ivory had used earlier, he wanted to meditate now, while he had the chance. He sat on the bed, folded his hands, and focused his mind as he had trained himself to do.
Artemis decided that sleeping would be the best thing to do, if he was going to be running around all night, he needed all of his strength.

Ivory made her way to the castle, it didn't take too long with her vampire speed, the sun was just beginning to set when she reached the outer wall. For a moment, she considered changing back into her dress, but in the end she decided against it. Rather than walk in, as an nonthreatening little girl, she decided to stealth in unseen. She closed her black umbrella and tucked it into her bag. She snuck in past the guards, and made her way to the trophy hall. The large room was completely empty, so she used the opportunity to take a solid vantage point. Ivory leaped up and off of a wall until she hit the ceiling, where she hung upside down like a bat. She was hidden in the shadow of a corner, no one below her would be able to see her if they didn't already know she was there. Ivory even made sure to emit no sound, or bloodlust, not even a mage could find this vampire once she concealed herself completely.
And now I wait...

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        Lucia nodded once and watched as the thieves left, leaving her and Rowan at the table. She didn't feel like sleeping again, though she still felt a little tired, but with the plan now set, she was beginning to feel nervous. Her mind was screaming how bad of an idea this was but she also didn't know why they were doing it and thus it didn't feel worth it to break in. She looked over at Rowan, "Why do you need to go under the castle?"

        ---

        Bartholomew narrowed his eyes slightly at Alex's closing question, "Lady Alexandra, I hope you work with me to remove criminals from our beautiful city. I wouldn't want to arrest you again for assisting a thief, especially after you were just cleared of that crime." He waited for her to leave before ripping open the letter sent by his daughter, reading,

        "Our esteemed Lady Astarte is making a lot of friends around the castle. I am afraid she has rubbed some people the wrong way."
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