Two emotional Greetings: XXIX
Riu didn't know what the point of being in a house like this was, when there was nothing to do. The empty tavern was a sore sight but it was made worse when you explored the manor. The den on the second floor was bare even though it had a nice round table for the group's various meetings. She walked through the halls doing mild cleaning of her own. "A balcony but nothing to look at." Riu said to herself. The balcony of her room located on the second floor faced the backyard where there were only weeds, a headstone for Lif and the sights of that cultist's rituals. Though Riu was appreciative to have such a vast lot, where her house fell short in size the yard offered a space of opportunity. She hung her scale mail in the right hand side corner of her small room. As she left she pursued into the side that was Asher's bedroom, looking into the open door Riu couldn't see anything of intrigue. She sighed out of boredom and descended the stairs into the closed tavern, to see Adleth sitting at a table with her feet on its surface.
"What's up?" Adleth looked as if she too was bored, though that seemed to be a regular expression on her face Riu believed.
"Nothing really.." Riu began as she sat down at the table. "I'm mostly bored. I just got a letter from Renaer, apparently he and.. Whatever friends he had have cleared the town for us. So we can breathe a little." Riu added with a silent chuckle. Adleth nodded as if the information did not concern her in any way.
"So.." Adleth began before the door opened. The pair turned to see Herod and Markos carrying Asher along with Alekzandr behind them.
"Sorry!" Markos started. "We thought we'd stop by before we headed to the House of Inspired Hands, one of the smithing non-believers mentioned it to us, and Alekzandr really wants to check it out!" the half-elf exclaimed. Riu could almost feel Adleth and herself sync in rolling their eyes.
"What he's trying to say." Herod quickly corrected. "Is.. We stopped by because someone needed to refill their damned vodka flask." Herod shot Alekzandr a dirty look, exciting a soft chuckle from Riu.
"My comrade. You can never have enough vodka." Alekzandr corrected as he strode over to the bar. "It is like having too much money, impossible." Alekzandr added as he pulled out a large bottle to fill his own pocket flask. Riu wanted to laugh more but she seldom saw the soldier not throwing back gallons of the brew, she wondered why he loved being drunk so much.
"Well.. inflation is a thing." Adleth interjected. "So too much money can, and also cannot happen." Adleth pulled the remaining bottle of vodka from Alekzandr and took a drink. Her face seemed to light up for a brief moment before she shook it, setting the bottle back down.
"Excuse me?" Riu turned to the open door standing in its frame was a tall blonde eleven man. Riu watched him step lightly into the tavern, green pants and a bardic tunic, his long blonde hair descending past the lute on his back. He had mischievous features with an upturned nose and narrow eyelids.
"I'm sorry, can we help you?" Riu asked at the door. The Elven man welcomed himself into the tavern.
"Sorry we ain't open yet." Adleth said as she leaned back in a chair. Riu looked over at Adleth sighing.
"Apologies, I am not here to purchase alcohol. I have.. My own locations to gather such needs. No-" The elf was cut off by the cultist.
"Hello Non-believer!" Markos shouted "how are you? Can I interest you in a pamphlet?" The elf looked over to Markos with an expression of disgust.
"No. I will not be in need of that." The elf continued. His voice was deep and foreboding in a manner of almost distaste for what he was doing. Though simultaneously he held about him a charm that was difficult for Riu to place. "However by that comment I can tell I have arrived at the right place." The elf pulled a sack from his side, setting it on a nearby table. "I.. represent a group of interest to you all." The elf slowly rolled up his sleeve. Riu's eyes bulged as he revealed a Zhentarium guild insignia, the winged serpent on a black field. Her stomach turned in anger. "My name is Davil Starsong. And I am with the Zhentarim." Her body began to shake as she looked around for her mace. Shit she thought, she wasn't wearing her scale mail. It was stupid of her to avoid putting it on without need.
"Yeah? So what brings you here?" Herod asked, standing by the bar, Riu silently thanked him for being so close, despite his misgivings she knew just how much power resided in his hands. Davil pursed his lip as he reserved himself.
"Well, you see we.. learned of the little incident that unfolded in the sewers.. Our spies are numerous." Davil spoke the line as if something savored bitterly in his mouth at the word spy. "We know you're not a friend to the Xanathar guild. And by your.. Ungracious actions-"
"Was it the tattoo's? Because honestly I thought it was an improvement." Asher interjected. She shot Asher an angry look, her body still trembling with an inability to speak, what could she say? What could she do? Riu bit her lip longing for a moment to strike the elf down, that's what she wanted. No. it's what they would've wanted! Riu tried her best to hide her disdain for the man.
"Yes.. that incident was.. Unfavorable. But no matter, we could see it demonstrated no loyalty to either faction. And because you clearly have no love for the Xanathar's I thought why not recruit you for ourselves?" The more Davil spoke the more Riu thought of just how many ways her mace could cleave through his skull. Perhaps his brains would match the new floor.. She looked over to Adleth whose expression was lightly deadly, yeah.. Riu thought she would help me beat this fucker.
"Yeah you see, we don't really do recruitment." Asher remarked. "Though I wouldn't mind; head supervisor if you could amend the hours." Asher infused, while he reached out, taking a floating glass from Lif. Selune bless that specter's soul Riu told herself.
"I have to agree with my quick witted idiot here." Adleth stated. "We're more like.. Mercenaries more than anything else." Adleth gave the man a side eye, winning her favor from Riu on the spot.
"It's so good you say that." Davil started again, every word out of his mouth sounding like that of a creaking shit hole! Ok the insult made more sense in Riu's head but regardless she only knew a mace to the mouth would fix it for him. "I'm here to offer you a job, one of our members has betrayed the guild, we know him to be spying for the Xanathar. If you do the task, I can offer you four hundred gold pieces." Riu watched as Adleth practically leapt forward.
"Where's the fucker, how dead do ya need him and show us the coin dick weed." Adleth rattled off.
"Who is.. This traitor?" Riu asked slowly, her confidence slowly returning to her. "And where can we find him?" Riu studied her compatriots' faces closely as far as she could tell, none of them truly understood the Zhentarim.. At least not like she did. Davil made eye contact for the first time smiling.
"His name is Skeemo Weirdbottle, he's a.. Tricky spellcasting gnome. Lives upper town in the Trades ward.. You can find his shop there Weirdbottle's concoctions." Riu's body stopped, as her eyes grew wide and her heart heavy, Skeemo.. That.. that fucking rat Skeemo? A member of the Doom raiders, a vile disgusting.. she clenched her fist and stared in every other direction besides the damned elf. Her mind racing with millions of thoughts, Riu choked back the tears that threatened to spill forth.
"Alright. Let's kick his ass." Adleth announced. Riu tried to laugh, the absurd notion of just rolling up there and beating him up was nice.. But..
"Well, hold on." Davil continued, while Riu wished he would just shut up. At that moment she felt a small squeeze of her hand, to her left Herod's green eyes met hers staring. His face told it all.
*"Are you ok?"* Riu was taken aback, his mind whispered into her's, Message. Riu realized it was a cantrip capable of speaking with another.
*"It's nothing. We can talk about it later."* Riu responded by sending the two way message back at him. The look in his eyes was that of not just concern.. But genuine sympathy, Riu was unsure if she was too quick to judge the chastity enthused warlock.
"I can't have you all going after him right now." Davil asserted. "He has announced plans on leaving town, and while we just want him out of here. We would most appreciate it if he were to meet some.. Unfortunate end, quietly." Davil added. "He leaves in three days, by then I ask you to.. Dispose of him silently." Davil leveled his eyes to the party and Riu could almost feel her skin crawl.
"What do you want to confirm the kill?" Asher asked abrasively. "His tattoo? We can get ya the Tattoo." He added smugly. Davil seemed to stifle up at that, an expression Riu rather enjoyed.
"No.. I would rather you refrain from doing that again.. The first time.. We let it go since it was to both parties, but I doubt we would be so forgiving again." Davil said with an edge of arrogant pomp in his voice. "A thumb will suffice. Now.. do we have a deal?" Riu grit her teeth slowly Skeemo, a chance to kill the man who...
"Done." Riu said the confidence finally returned to her voice. "We'll kill your worm." Riu said, her voice sounding more broken and upset then she intended.
"Well then.. It was a pleasure doing business with you." Davil responded as he waved his hand heading for the door. Riu held in the urge to curse him out.
"Hold on!" Herod stopped the filth at the door. "I gotta ask, just cause your organization is pretty big.. Have you ever heard of someone called.. The Innocent Murderer?" Herod inquired. The elf stopped and frowned, shaking his head.
"Apologies. If I'm being honest I've only ever heard that name be applied to a dagger.. Why do you ask?" Davil looked at Herod tiredly.
"We were just.. Told we pissed 'him' off so I was curious if you knew anything." Davil nodded at Herod's response.
"You all should be a bit more careful, you seem to be angering powerful people at an alarming rate.. Take care." Davil stepped out the door. As the elf exited and left the place in what seemed like a hurry. Riu sighed a breath of relief as he left, finally rid of the Zhentarim. A few awkward minutes passed as the returning group put together their belongings ready to leave for the House of inspired hands. Honestly she wasn't sure what to make of the previous situation, it was.. Insane, she had been so close to one of the members.. Of that cursed guild.
"I'll see you all later." She exclaimed, Adleth motioned to the door as she stepped out. "Where are you going?" she asked the woman.
"I don't know, maybe rob some fat cat, maybe I'll go find a cute brunette. Worlds really full of adventure." Adleth jereed condescendingly as she left,
"Well.. don't need to be a bitch about it." Riu grumbled to herself. Everyone had left the tavern and she.. Was too wrapped up in what had just happened to care. "This can't get worse right Lif?" Lif spirited a drink over to Riu, a kind offering in the calm quiet Manor. Everything that damned elf represented, everything that slimy gnome provoked. Riu held back memories that threatened to spill from her, a past she considered already in the ground. When her family had fought.. When her parents made that choice.. Did they even know what they were leaving behind? The torment she would have to feel and deal with everyday- she slammed her fist on the table. Anger didn't suit her, this was not a matter to get angry over. Her parents made the right decision, Riu told herself, and she would follow their example.
Behind Riu a soft clacking noise could be heard as there was a knock on the door. She turned, did one of them forget a house key? Riu strolled to the door, looking out the side window. Standing outside was a man who looked sheepish and panicked. He was dressed in a large grey cloak over his fair skinned complexion. She opened the door slightly.
"Um.. Hello?" Riu could see the man seemed offly timid, or downright frightened.
"H-hello please I.. I need to get inside, I need somewhere.. To hide, I think someone is.. Trying to kill me-" Riu swung the door open and grabbed the man by his arm swinging him inside.
"It's alright." Riu directed. "What's wrong, who do you think is trying to kill you?" She shut the door and turned around to face the man, his face was slightly pudgy with a small beard and brown eyes under his cloak.
"I.. I don't know it was just-" in less than a second the man stopped talking as he seemed to take a deep breath, his whole body stiffening up straight. "My.. I didn't think it would be that easy.." She took a step back, the voice coming from the man was no longer the same it was.. Raspier, higher pitched and resembles that of an eleven singer. "I mean, I thought I could convince you to let me in but just like that?" The man started laughing as Riu felt more and more unnerved. His mouth was open, and only open as his words seemed to pour out without any movement. She couldn't see anything move in his throat, as his entire expression was only that of a wide grin.
"Who.. What.. are you?" Riu looked at the man as he spun around looking around the room. He turned his expression back to her and felt her whole body quiver her front portion threatening to fall over.
"Oh.. you haven't figured it out?" The man asked sadistically, "You've heard the title.. But.. I wished to come and give you a proper greeting Riu." She felt her eyes flare up at his use of her name. "Yes, I know your name, Riu Astrial. My I say, you really are quite lovely" She nearly choked at that, the man looked less like he was complimenting her and more as if he was thinking of how to gut her. "I know all of your compatriots.. Herod Cervos Westwood.. The lovely warlock. Alekzandr Ikorov an.. Intelligent wizard. There is the blank spot of the masked soldier.. But I'm sure I'll learn." Each word felt like a knife against a granite boulder ear piercing and irritating to the mind. Riu looked over to her mace on the bar counter even without it; she had a few tricks and spells up her sleeves. "Where are my manors?" The man continued. "You may only know the title, but you can call me.. Ant'tran Auvryrret Nailo." the syllables rolled off his tongue elegantly, well.. Not his tongue Riu thought after all his mouth still had yet to move.
"What the hell do you want?" Riu asked furiously, the names of her friends? His odd movements and veiled threats.
"Entertainment." Ant'tran's words were slow.. Despite anything he said they always came from the infinitely grinning expression on his face. Icey chills ran down Riu's back at the simple response. "I wish to be entertained by squabbling children, you do not drink a freshly brewed wine.. You let it ferment, settle.. But only under strict care. I intend to do the same with all of you. I will enjoy the hunt and the slow draw as the predator seizes its prey." She felt her body tremble he spoke so confidently of his plans she had no hope but to believe them, playing with their food as they put it, cats do that Riu thought, they catch a mouse continually releasing it, as to watch it run and run before clutching it between their claws delighted by the sick game.
"You.. won't find any entertainment here you.. What the fuck are you?" Riu took a step forward in anger. Ant'tran as he called himself smiled even more.
"Oh you'll find out soon enough." His left hand descended past his cloak as he pulled free a dagger. Riu was barely able to catch a glimpse of it before black smoke enveloped the man and he disappeared. She fell on her ass, hitting the hardwood below. Her whole being trembled, Riu pulled her knees difficulty against her chest. Shaking in a mixture of confusion and fear.