*Sarial's POV*
We approached from their Northern gate, me riding atop Alexion's pegasus with him, while Plight rode with Sienna on hers. I can admit to being ill for a moment afterwards. Turns out, I do have a fear; heights.
We didn't need to show I.D or anything to enter East Haven. Guard's stalked up and down the main road that was lined with shops. I was primarily unconcerned by them, but the way they looked at the shops made me hesitant to ignore them. If anything, it made me pay closer attention to them. It was just past four in the evening.
Plight noticed my frown, and paid closer attention to our surroundings.
"How will you find them?" Sienna asked, looking around curiously. She seemed oblivious to any potential dangers. She had an oddly child-like innocence to her, unlike her stiff and quiet brother. Though, he'd rubbed my back while I'd been sick for a moment.
"I know the signs. If you three would handle Tibin's quests? I'll call Plight if I need you. Stay together." I tell them. Then I taught them the thieves of the Kingdom's hand gesture that meant 'don't steal from me.' I also directed the dogs to stay with the two. Fawn didn't like that, but accepted it.
That taken care of, I started snooping around until I found signs directing thieves to the hideout. They looked inconspicuous to those not in the know, and the extra ones put on to confuse intruders were excellent. Dean had taught me all those tricks, though. So, I was not fooled.
Eventually, I came to a building that looked a little worse for wear. Odd. The Desquins take care of their region. Unless someone is misappropriating the funds they allocate to maintaining the homes and such.
I perform a secret knock and wait. It was a general code, letting them know I was new, but of the life. Soon a slot opens and someone says "Wall's hear, what's wind blow?" in other words, talk while I'm listening.
"Grains, spoils and more upon royal visage." I replied, meaning, I have a proposal for your boss that's mutually beneficial.
"This wall hears." They said. Trying to pretend to be the boss.
I take out a handful of gold and pick up pieces, letting them drop back to my hand, before putting them away. "Matriarch or Patriach. Whichever runs you here. Now." I tell them, speaking plainly.
"I-I can't do that..." they said. I shoved a cookie through the slot to them, then walked away. This isn't their hideout. But it won't be far.
They sent out a silent alarm between their people. Didn't matter, I'd find their hidey hole. I happened around a corner and saw a small child slip down a well, the cover falling back into place.
As I started towards it, thieves came towards me to stop me. Unwilling to be waylaid, I ran to the well, lifted the cover barely enough, and jumped down. Which freaking hurt when I landed behind the small child, who cried out in alarm and took off towards the back.
Sure enough, jackpot. It was tidy, for an old abandoned and dried up well that had been carved deeper into a cavern type residence. There were injured people, cripples and children everywhere. I frowned as all eyes turned to me, and the thieves who'd tried to stop me were on their way down.
I didn't care. I saw one kid basically drowning in their own blood and rushed forward, "Stop!"
Someone shouted at me. I ignored them, pulling the kid up. I took out my alchemist kit and shoved a thin, hard tube through the kids chest. Blood burst out, but the important thing was the kid could breath now. A girl my age called the advancing thieves off, while observing me, pensively.
Once the pressure was off the kid's chest and they were breathing, I looked around the room again, "What's going on? Why are so many hurt this bad? I'd understand sick... But this..."
I looked through my kits again, waiting for an answer. With my alchemist kit, I began to brew high grade healing potions. A child's mouth dropped open. They announced the ingredients I put into the potion I was brewing, amazed, stating what good herbs they were.
It took a full ten anxious minutes before the first brew was ready. I made the dying child drink it, once they'd finished the drink, I ripped the tube from their chest as they healed. Then, I began passing out potions, telling the kids who should get it first.
They listened. "Why are you helping us?" The girl my age asked, tiredly.
"Because you need it." I replied. "I assume you are the Matriarch?" I looked at her. She was a beautiful half-elf girl with hazel eyes and wavy auburn hair.
"...I am." She said. "No one helps us."
"I am." I replied, working on more potions. "Incidentally, I was looking to talk to you, because I'd like to offer you all a safe home. However, I am going to need to change what I was going to say. I am building a town near Dueling Rivers, North and slightly West from here. It needs citizens, and you all need somewhere safe where you can thrive. I came to ask you and yours to become my citizens... I am an adventurer, the homes would be tax free for two to three years, longer, if I argue well in court." I saw she needed to say something, so I stopped speaking.
"Why us? Why would you do this? Most importantly... What would it cost us? What do YOU gain." She said.
"I gain your trust, hopefully, though not necessarily. I get the satisfaction of pissing off the Noble house Denoir, without them being able to do shit about it. And I get to see my dream of medicine being widespread and easily affordable to any who need it become achieved." I told her.
She looked incredulous.
"It would cost everyone here time. I would house everyone, in their own homes, feed them three meals a day, with the only expectation that they learn and grow as much as they can." I tell her. "More specifically, I would expect everyone here to eat breakfast, and vegetables with lunch and dinner. Learn to read and write, if they don't know already. Learn a trade skill, gardening, farming, crafting, cooking, fighting, or trading. I'd expect no stealing from my citizens. In a months time, I'd hope for crops to be underway, and garden beds filled with seeds. You sell something you own or made, you keep the money from that hard work. I'll be acquiring all the seeds and good possible to have that started."
"I don't think I understand your motivation." She replied.
"I fell in love with this idea when I was a small child. The man who was trying to achieve it was betrayed and couldn't carry it out. He was nearly killed." I shrugged. "My mother nearly died from illness in the slums in the Capital. My father sold me off to clear their debts and fled with my mother. I got lucky, despite being a worthless and sickly child.. My owner was a good man and he taught me anything my heart desired. I truly want to do for others what he did for me... You don't have to believe me."
"..It's admirable, if it's true." She said. She looked around at the eyes staring at us. Hesitating.
"What's caused everyone to be so injured here?" I asked again.
"It's our business." She said firmly.
"Look. I'll find out, one way or another." I told her.
After a short silence, she said, "It's the Bloody Hawk. They've been killing people and painting murals with their blood. Things've gotten worse since they've been here."
"The guards do nothing?" I asked. This was the second time hearing about these people. I frowned at the mentioning of them.
"The guards are in their pockets." She replied, angrily.
"Ok. So I kill the Bloody Hawkes, and the guards and you move your people to my town." I said and offered my hand for her to shake.
"If you can kill them... Then alright. We'll do as you want." She agreed slowly, taking my hand to shake.
"I'm Sarial Hearthry, you are?" I said.
"..Eluvian." She answered. "Bring me the guard captain's book that contains my people in it as proof."
"That should be doable." I agreed.
She looked uncertainly at me, then looked around at her people. They looked hungry. Scared. They weren't doing even half as good as the Capital's thieves guild.
I sighed. Packed up my things, passed out the rest of the brewed potions. Then I took out my pots and began using them to cook a mixture of deer and bear meat with wild vegetables and herbs. Stew is an excellent meal. I'd set the heat high, turning it medium after it boiled. It took only 30 minutes for it to cook well enough to be eaten.
"Distribute it evenly, and eat well. I'm sorry that it isn't more. In my town there is bread that will be supplied daily, and so long as I am close by I will hunt personally for the citizens. Otherwise, there is a Huntsman named Mills that shall be doing so." I told them.
"Th-thank you miss... for the food." One of the kids said.
"No thanks, child. Just grow up big." I smiled, before leaving.
I went directly to Plight, blood from that child on my shirt, went right to him as he exited a building with Sienna and Alexion, cuddled him and had a small cry. My sympathy for those kids overwhelming. The dogs watched with concern.
This, of course, concerned my friend. He cuddled me and stroked my hair, trying to soothe me. As I settled he said, "What happened?"
"I need to cull every guard here and the thugs." I sniffled. "Those kids were horrifically beaten, Plight. I used healing potions on them and cooked them a meal. Sorry for crying."
"The guards are beating the children?" He asked.
"Likely. They are in the pockets of the Bloody Hawkes." I told him. "They kill people here and paint murals with their blood. The guild here is starving. In terrible shape."
"Then it looks like we have work to do." Plight said.
"They must be punished." Alexion vehemently agreed.
Sienna said "Give the word, I'll do what I can. But, should we try asking around? Surely if they are all bad the people will say so?" Sienna explained to the dogs what was wrong.
"Maybe. I need to sell some things off, anyways. Lets start with the smithy." I said.
With them in agreement, we went and I sold all the weapons I'd gathered since the fight in the goblin den. Which turned out to one thousand sixty-five gold. He'd already signed the trade agreement, so we asked about the guards, got they were useless thugs, asked bout Bloody Hawke, we got asked to leave.
Next we went to the silk merchant and I sold the bolts of silk I'd fixed up. As they were so fine, we got four thousand gold for that. Plight was shocked by the amount, Sienna seemed oblivious, and Alexion didn't care. I simply smiled at them, then got them to sign the trade agreement, as they'd not reached them yet. Then came our questions. We were told those kinds of questions get people killed and they'd need to ask us to leave.
Next, we went to a general goods place, they'd signed already, so I sold them the rest of the repaired trade goods I'd procured from taking over the goblin den. This fetched us another six hundred gold altogether. We asked the questions and got the same results.
On it went, we made sure we got what we needed signatures and information from the sixteen other shops. I bought two magic carts from the odds and ends shop ran by an Etton, twenty loaves of bread from the baker and twenty pounds of dried and smoked meats from the butcher. There were twenty shops in this town, notably, one ran by a Kenku and one a Tabaxi. All that was left was the magic shop at this point.
We'd entered the shop and looked around, magic and mundane looking things lined the walls of the shop haphazardly. And at the counter was an elderly man.
We took out the package and papers while he greeted us, with Plight placing the package on the counter for him.
He looked over the package, "I will look into this later." And he placed it under the counter. "What do you think of our lovely little town here?"
"It was lovely. Now reeks of blood and bullshit." I smiled pleasantly.
"And how long have you been in East Haven?" He asked.
"I visited here once as a girl, we've been here two hours as of now." I replied.
"Oh, and did you stop in old Archimedes Shop as a child?" He smiled.
"No, sir. I'd been here accompanying the Desquins to run errands." I answered.
"Ah yes, the Desquins. Lovely people. Blind. But lively people. Blind in the metaphorical sense, not literal." He nodded to himself.
"They seem to be, yes. Which brings me to ask you.. Who has blinded them, in your opinion? Would it be those at the bureaucratic building who are supposed to report such matters? Or has someone put pressure there?" I ask.
"There are some new force or something within the castle." He replied.
My face darkened and I smirked. "An excellent time for my plans to take place then. To that end, sir, you wouldn't happen to be able to sell me a few interesting protective items, would you? I'm looking for runes that work to turn dark intents away that can be placed on an entryway."
"I have something that could be very interesting." He laughed and went to a shelf of scrolls and selected one. "This is a glyph, if you plaster it to the front of the door anyone who means the occupant harm will get me with a face full of fire. Or, if you don't feel like cleaning up the mess." He placed that one away and reached for another, "This particular scroll, again a glyph placed on a door, when touched by a hostile will drop them in an alternate dimension." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bubble filled with water and a fish that appeared to be a quipper. "Lovely little thing, isn't he? I named him Carl. He keeps pickpockets out." He took some meat out of his other pocket and placed it in the bubble. The fish-Carl- devoured it in seconds.
"Would that be the alternate dimension you mean? And is it a one time use?" I ask.
"Carl came from the alternate dimension. He is one of millions." He replied. "The fireball is effective at intimidation whereas the dimension hopper does take a bit of time to recharge. I believe it took about a week."
"That sounds exceedingly handy." I replied.
"I could alter the affect of Turn Undead to impact ill intended people the way you are looking for. But, either he has mentioned sounds like a good fail safe, should they resist the ward." Alexion commented.
"Oh, Mother may be able to help with that, too. Or Undine. Undine loves to torment people who are mean." Sienna said with a grin.
"If you're particular location you wish to protect has a water source, then yes." Archimedes agreed.
"It does. Inside and out. I'm building a Town in a cave thirty minutes East of Dueling Rivers." I explain.
"Well having a few spirits around are handy occasionally. Other times a hindrance." Archimedes commented.
"I would like both glyphs, please." I say. "Then I'd like to ask you some questions about the Bloody Hawkes."
"It'll be six hundred gold for the two scrolls." Archimedes says, "And what, pray tell, would you like to know about the Bloody Hawkes? the 'lovely' individuals that have invaded- I mean taken residence in our town?"
"Numbers. Location." I replied.
"Well, location wise, their in a warehouse on the West side. That is the base of their operations. As for their numbers they tend to fluctuated twenty to forty. Depends if they're hauling away slaves or not. I mean, indentured servants. Why do you want to know these things." He asked.
"We've taken it upon ourselves to despise their faces and intend to rearrange them in a less than pleasant manner. In fact, it shall be such an invasive manner... they may not live any longer." I say, eloquently.
"Well then, for such inspiring do gooders. I will give you a bit of an incentive to make sure you get as many as possible." He said. "For each insignia you bring to me, I will pay you 100 gold."
"Again, Plight, the world rewards for doing the WRONG thing. And I am ok with it." I grin. "I'll take your deal, sir. Might we get your agreement on a trade deal between yourself and Tibin?"
"I am not rewarding you for doing the wrong thing, young one. Just for expediting the judicial process. Or are you trying to tell me that slavery or the murder of children is the right thing?" He asked.
"Slavery is outlawed, but not punished in the Kingdom. I personally find it appalling. The murder of innocents I find to be a capital offense, though the laws view it on equal terms as culling your cattle without permission." I reply. "That is why after we murder the Hawkes and guards the orphans and cripples will be coming to my town to live. So they can be protected, helped to learn and, hopefully, prosper."
"She really likes to explain all of her plans to people she doesn't know, doesn't she?" He said to the others, then laughed.
"Call it a learned behavior. James Hearthry, my father, doesn't tolerate beating around the bush or half truths." I replied.
"So you're the adopted Hearthry. That explains so much. Don't tell your Uncle I work here." He said. "Last time I was at your home I installed a great door, your front door in fact, and I may have singed his hair a little."
"I won't tell if not asked. If I lie or hide information once asked that'll be my butt, and I won't risk a spanking." I cringe. "Anyways, my task after we complete the culling is to make the Desquins replace them with decent people. Or I could ask Father to install guards. Then this place would be protected."
"The Desquins have always done right by the town. Just have to go pull their blinders off." He said.
"I know they're decent folk." I reply, with a shrug. "I think we have what we need for now."
"Well then, I wish you luck. Good bye." Archimedes said.
With that, we headed outside. We made our plans then. I used a Soul Knife ability to Mind Link the four of us together, so we wouldn't be overheard. Really, it was a telepathic bond, but it was easier for me to acknowledge it as the Mind Link. I'd had that my whole life.
*How do we want to do this?*- Me
*As quietly as possibly, I'd think*- Plight.
*I agree. Quick and quiet would be most efficient*- Alexion.
*I can't really do quiet much.. but I can at least not fireball.*- Sienna.
*Try to not let anyone escape or call for help. Reinforcements would change things for their benefit too much. I will leave the Link so we may keep in touch. We should split up and attack them. Anyone with their insignia.*- Me.
*...I don't like the idea of splitting up.. I'm not very efficient on my own.*- Sienna.
*Stay with me then, it will be fine.*- Plight.
*That will work. Alexion take right, I'll take middle, Sienna and Plight take left.*- Me.
With that decided, I sent the dogs outside of town and started directly forward, and they split off in their own directions. I slipped past a guard before pulling my bow and stringing it.
He'd started with the typical shakedown spiel, then noticed I'd nocked and released an arrow. Unfortunately for him, this dawning did not keep him safe from my arrow. It found it's place within his shoulder.
He let out a surprised yelp, as I loosed another arrow into him. I hoped they were all having as easy of a time. I saw a spear jab just past my ear from behind me, then got sliced on my arm by a sword. I fired a Bursting Arrow into the same man, killing him.
The arrow then shattered, spraying the two that had came to help him. I heard the one behind me flee, turned towards the one who'd stayed, noting it was the guard I'd passed fleeing. I fired two more shots, one empowered with Speed Dart, and the second a Seeking Arrow. He dropped dead just barely around the corner.
"What the hell are you doing?!" An angry woman's voice said.
I turned to see a small Leonin woman, glaring at me. "Removing a problem." I answer.
"What problem is so important for you to endanger your baby?" She snapped.
I froze, "What?"
"You weren't aware?" She frowned. I noticed then that her eyes were multicolored. "You're pregnant."
"I-I what?" I was shocked. "That... No, you're serious."
"Extremely." She replied.
"I have to keep going, regardless. My friends are counting on me to clear these people on my-" I was cut off by someone from Sienna and Plight's side shouting for their people.
"Fine. Stay out of range, and I'll help." The Leonin said.
"Agreed." I nodded.
We set off in the direction of the call. She stayed ahead of me. I'd figure out what to do about my pregnancy later. For now, I needed to stay focused.
When we arrived six men had converged on an alleyway, not that Alexion seemed to care as he came up behind us. He lightning balled them. I fired an arrow and stupidly missed, I wasn't as together as I wished to be after hearing that.
Plight cast Inflict wounds on one. They died. The Leonin chopped one in half. Sienna fireballed the remainder. With those six dead, We started to head towards their hideout, but the Leonin stopped me.
"You must sit out. You can't do this." She said.
"And why is that?" Plight inquired.
"Your friend here is encumbered." She told them.
I paled a little. Plight didn't understand, "Huh?" He said.
"I am pregnant, apparently." I explained, looking at her. "You're probably right that I should sit this out."
"For how long?" Plight asked.
"Deerling, I will need context for that." I replied.
"I mean for how long have you been pregnant?" He asked.
"Not long. A few days." I answered. "I wouldn't have learned for another two weeks at soonest."
"You should, yes. Sit this out." Sienna nodded. "That explains why your walk was off that day."
"I'm going to stick around, though. I need to in case things get bad." I insisted, blushing slightly.
"Does that make me 'like' Uncle Plight? Or...?" Plight asked.
I looked at him for a moment. "If they make it you'll be their Uncle, too. Aside from that.. I-we'll discuss further later. We shouldn't give them more time to escape."
"Indeed." Plight agreed.
"I'll fight in your stead. Find a suitable place to be, in the mean time." the Leonin said. "Then perhaps, you can tell me why this fight has occurred."
"They have hostages that they plan to sell into slavery. The hostages belongings are in the building, too." Alexion said.
"Then let's finish this quickly." the Leonin suggested.
She gave me one more glance before following Alexion towards their base. Plight gave my arm a comforting squeeze as he and Sienna followed them.
I went as close as possible to the hideout, then climbed to the roof of a house and took position to watch. I'd gotten there just in time to see a massive twinned Lightening Ball blow up their door and part of their building. This also dropped seven Hawkes like flies.
Sienna was up next with a fireball, taking out another, but doing no where near the damage her brother had done. The Leonin and Plight entered, Plight did Inflict Wounds on one, ending him, and the Leonin slashed another. Alexion entered the building after them, and I couldn't see who he fought. But I could see Plight and the Leonin take out two more before Sienna burned the rest to death, though not before three of them seriously injured Plight.
Clearly, Alexion had finished off whoever he had been fighting. They told me it was safe for me to join, so I climbed down. As I was doing so, Plight spoke alarmedly in our Linked minds.
*She just healed me.*- Plight.
*I didn't see her use magic.*- Sienna.
*Nor did I. Maybe you weren't as injured as it appeared?*- Alexion.
*I keep track of my bodies condition quite seriously. She just healed me."- Plight insisted.
*How curious.*- me.
I joined them, collecting weapons and patches. by the time I was done, I had forty-eight weapons and thirty-one patches.
Everyone else had freed and woke everyone from their magicked slumber. There were people from all over, including people related to some of the bandits turned guards back at Hearthstone Town.
On the leader, who Alexion had killed, I'd found a letter. I offered to let all the victims come live in my town while I try and figure a way to send those who lived on the other continent home. The rest were going to make arrangements to return to their homes in villages or, for a few, Winter's Halt and Ymir's Town. The rest, about 15 men, I had go to the church for temporary sanctuary.
The letter states:
[A route has been secured to Scraver's Coast. Signal is two lit arrows arched to the ocean. Phrase 'To the table with them'.]
It was signed by a hand print that looked to be on fire.
I'd blanked out pretty badly with anxiety by this point. Plight laid a gentle hand on my shoulder, dragging me back to what was going on.
"Hm?" I asked.
"We should find somewhere to stay for the night ourselves..." He said, concerned.
"Oh, yes. Incidentally, we have a home here on the other side of town. If you'll come with us, miss Leonin?" I said.
"Uhh. Sure. I guess. Just call me Tyra." She said.
We crossed town quickly, not making any stops and not being stopped by guards, amazingly. I called the dogs back, mentally. We then reached my families safe house, one of many, and I used the secret code on the doorknob, a series of twisting the handle this way and that, and let us in.
After everyone and the dogs had entered, I did, too, and locked the door behind me. Tyra was looking around the house with a vague interest. Plight was looking at me, pensively. Alexion made himself comfy on the couch, and Sienna was looking between us three.