Liberty Beguiling

Azul not very eager to go back into the mansion says to the assembled group. "We know of  an Inn that has room, they probably could accommodate  the rest of you. I won't speak for the rest of you but I know have no desire to sleep in the manor after the events of tonight." He looks over at Petros and quietly says in his gravelly accented Hellenian  "I know this will set us behind, but it will help to build trust in the group. And Luthien certainly needs a respite before we set out."

Petros grins, shaking his head.  "You people need to learn to trust and to follow orders.  We aren't a team if we can't depend on each other.  And we will be a team.  It's the only way we get through this on top.  This isn't a democracy, but you are free to leave.  If you travel with us, we travel together.  If you can't learn to fall in line and do something you personally disagree with every once in a while, then you aren't welcome.  But this also is not a dictatorship. When we make plans, I will listen to advice.  And we will have roles...areas where you will be making the calls.  Linzi is going to be our navigator.  Sval here is our primary scout.  They and I will make plans every night for our travel the next day while others take care of other camp duties.  Azul, you will be in charge of camp security.  Put Sophia's night vision to work.  When she's not helping Sval during the day, let her get rest so she can watch out for us at night.  Aleixo. I'd like you to be our field commander.  During combat, your word is law.  If we plan any operations, you will be my top advisor.  But I will listen to everyone.  Others will take on other duties as we get underway and we get to know each other better." "As for tonight, you need to understand something. It is important to control information.  I'm sorry you don't like it, but sometimes I'll have reasons for things I say or do that you don't understand.  I will let you know when I can.  But if you are on the team, you will need to accept that.  Tartuccio is not only our competition, he is a traitor.  We are not safe here tonight, from him, or from those assassins.  Beyond that, if the general even lets him live tonight, I want him knowing we are ahead of him.  I want him feeling rushed.  I want him making mistakes.  We aren't traveling far tonight, but he doesn't need to know that.  I have a place we can rest safely.  It's about a half hour ride from here along our route, and Luthien and anyone else who's injured can ride in the cart. Now..." Petros looks around at everyone, meeting their eyes.  "Who wants to be part of a team, and who wants to do everything their own way?"  

Aleixo erupts into laughter. "Oh you are a fine fellow Petrakis. A good one for the jokes, I enjoyed that. You are right that rushing him could lead to mistakes, I will give you that." His lighthearted expression has returned as he sits on his horse, plumed helm back on his head and spear casually hooked on one arm, his shield starkly empty of emblem, but polished and shining at his other side. "But let's be clear, democracy or not, you are not calling the shots. I will do nothing I don't agree with or understand, I left those days behind me. You want me to do something, I know the full story, all the hidden implications and possible consequences to my actions. Call me welcome or not, I am riding into these lands with my friends to investigate, and *you* can decide whether or not *you* will join *us*."

"I would like to do everything my own way, boy, so thank you for clarifying your position." Xan calls back from horseback. "I dont follow, I ride with my friends and companions, I know Sval and Aleixo, those are men I trust, good men, men with values. Luthien and Azul have fought alongside me and I value their courage, and I would come when they call. You, I have seen act like a peacock, and although I am sure you can use your many talents to great effect I do not serve you. You have no power to order me around and I will not take your orders. I am tired, I need my sleep and I do not need a lecture." Turning to Aleixo he smiles and nods to the spearman "Well said, and don't let my words go to your head, true as they may be. Now shall we let the pretty boy make his plans while we find somewhere to sleep? Luthien I do not presume to command but I would like you where I can keep an eye on your wellbeing. Would you come with me? Once i have rested I will try to heal you further. We could probably use that cart, I'm sure Petros would have no objection."

"So be it."  Petros mounts his horse and begins his journey, keeping his eyes forward, appearing to give no regard to whether anyone follows him or not, but listening intently to hear if any hooves follow.

Azul bristles at Petros' speach, a large part of why he left his clan was he wanted the opportunity to determine his own destiny. He moves to speak but Xan and Aleixo, beat him to the draw. Seeing the team falling apart before it begins Azul speaks with a more diplomatic tone.  "Petros we are all very talented individuals, I think a more inclusive approach will fare much better with this group. Outside of being called a traitor and your dalliance with the general, we know nothing about you. I sided with you earlier, because I knew Tartuciou was clearly lying. But I won't follow you blindly or without an equal say. And it appears the others will not either. I think it will serve us best to come to decisions as a group,and if you like you can be considered the first among equals due to the faith the general placed in you."

Sval sighs. All this bickering was time-consuming, and in the end, it would matter very little who was "in charge." This had always been the way with him, and also with Aleixo, at least as long as Sval had known him. They would do what needed to be done and simply stop following orders if they orders came with malevolent intentions. As far as Sval could tell, there was no malevolent intentions with Petros. Sure, he was a bit pompous and promiscuous, but that wasn't a far cry from most of the Hellenians Sval had met.  "This is tiresome,"  Sval says. He looks at Xan and Aleixo. "What do you want to do? He says he has a place to hole up for the night. Why not just play along  so that we can move along ? There are monsters to be killed up north."

"That's fine. But the minute there are talks and plans hidden away, he's on his own." The Hellenian's tone has no anger or venom, his shoulders are relaxed and he states it as he would a comment on the weather. "And if he knows so much more, it's best he decides to share it before we reach the trading post."

"The cool heads of the Norscans, putting our Hellenic fire in its place. You are right Sval, it will be as you suggest." He looks over at Aleixo "And it will be as you say too."

"Excellent, then it is agreed. is this agreeable for you Petrakis?" Aleixo's eyes can be seen alive with mirth through the slit in his helm.

Petros stops his horse and turns to look at Xan and Aleixo, saying , "as a good leader should be a servant to his people, might I ask what inadequacy I might remedy that causes such big strong men as you two to feel the need to mock me?  I know a few companions that can be had for reasonable rates if you need someone to make you feel manly." With that, Petros continues his ride.

Sval nudges his horse to follow Petros. "Let's all just ride in silence for a while, yes?" He looks at Xan and Aleixo and shakes his head. Just don't engage. Please.

Aleixo laughs again, shaking his head at Sval "I will smooth things over, don't worry, I seek no fight with this one." With that he rides forward to Petros, calling out a little way away, "My appetite is quite satiated for tonight, I thank you for your concern. Simply the assumption that you lead is rather amusing. That is all. You must learn some respect if you want to earn it. Do not take us for your servants, if we wanted to follow a command we would be soldiers, we have chosen a life of freedom and so that is what we live." He takes an apple from his bag and eats it as they ride. He rides quietly for a moment. "I should apologise for the mockery though. I seek only to make our places clear in this, and you should be clear that we will not place you above us, as you said, it is important everyone understands that structure. Now share this information you have, that we might better understand why you see yourself needing to make the plans, then perhaps we can get along more easily eh?"

"To answer your question, I am...acquaintances with a merchant who should have space for us tonight.  I was not keeping information from you for any reason other than not giving it to that damn gnome.  Of course I would have preferred to have earned your trust before asking for it.  But I took you for a military man, and assumed you would be willing to take an order.  I didn't realize your relationship to authority was so... complicated.  For that, I apologise.  However, I think it best we follow Sval's advice for the rest of tonight.  We are both tired, and are, perhaps, not at our most congenial."

Aleixo nods. "That is quite alright, so long as now you respect that we are equals in this we will not have a problem." He falls back to ride with Sval and Xan again. "I think things are good now. I am sure he is a decent person, the general dividing the teams between him and the gnome just went to his head and made him assume he was in control. Now we can get back to enjoying ourselves." He beams.

"Well this has been me at my most congenial, so that's unfortunate. But I will try and behave a little better as well, seeing as you are being nice." Xan calls across to Aleixo from the other side of Sval. "And yes, Sval, I will hold my tongue too." 

It's close to midnight when the gathered adventurers set out across Appolis and the moon sits high overhead like a shining silver plate that takes up most of the heavens. The ride across town takes more than half an hour, but eventually they arrive outside the wrought iron gates of the Loukrezis property.

"Of course, I admit it is difficult for me to be in this condition, a tired hound could break it's heart through being denied the work that killed it. But I can not deny that I even I need help right now, I'll do my best to carry my own burdens as best as I can." with help Luthien will follow Xan. Luthien seemingly a bit amused by the men playing their power games chuckles,  "I don't really mind who's in charge as long as we do good, that is all that I care about. No point of arguing who's in charge we can not afford to be jealous or bicker about in moments when we need to rely on each other, the right person for the problem at hand will find their place when the time comes."  Before long Luthien finds respite in the back of the carriage.

As they arrive at Laina's residence, Petros peers around hoping a servant may still be up and around, able to let him in. "No one's up and we are not expected," he says loud enough to be heard by those close to him.  Raising his voice to be heard by the group he says "please stay here while I ask for permission to bring you all in.  I don't want them to think they are under attack or anything." Petros asks Amiri to hold his reins as he stands on his saddle and quickly clambers over the brick wall surrounding the property.  Making his way over to a point under Laina's window--he hoped it was still Laina's window--he starts to use the copper downspout, covered in verdigris, to help his climb, but quickly realizes the drain is not well connected to the wall.  Instead, he digs his hands into the cracks between the bricks in the wall, glad they didn't over-mortar the wall.  Reaching her window, Petros sees Laina asleep inside.  Now...how to do this in the least threatening and creepy way possible while not getting killed in the process.... Pulling out some thin, shaped, spring steel from his tool kit, he slides it through the window sill and across the latch, unlocking the window.  Quietly opening the window, he shimmies into the room and sits on the window ledge.  Peering over his shoulder at the fall to a hard-packed dirt and rock ground, he unties the curtain rope at his side and ties it around his left ankle, hiding the result behind the curtain.  Just in case she gets any ideas of shoving me right out. Using a voice a bit louder than a whisper, he tries to wake Laina while sitting nonchalantly at on the window ledge, a respectable distance from where Laina lays sleeping.  "Laina.  Wake up.  Your Petrakis is here."

Sval watches Petros scale the side of the building with a touch of amusement. He looks to Aleixo and Xan. "Is he just...breaking in? Why would he not use the front door?"

"I can only imagine, I suspect our charming friend is checking whether his welcome will in fact be a warm one or not, I'll wager you a silver he comes out of that window a bit quicker than he went in within the next minute or two". Xan then looks up expectantly whilst trying and failing to stifle a yawn. "I have to be honest, much as I would laugh at him failing spectacularly I really need the sleep. It's a dilemma." He goes back to watching the window quietly.

Sval nods. "I'll take that bet. I have a bit more faith in our illustrious leader  than you do, it seems." He lathers sarcasm on the words illustrious leader , but still hopes that Petros will pull through. He was as promiscuous and flighty as many of the Hellenians he had met, but seemed to have more substance to him. Sval didn't trust him full, not yet. But he couldn't help but like  the man. At least to the extend that his escapades so far had tended to be amusing.

Azul looks on with a bit of unease, feeling more like a bandit than a guest.Hearing Sval and Xan he says  "Ahh so this is unusual. The people of Hellinia have some unusual  customs and I wasn't sure if this was one of them. I wonder why he didn't want to stay at the Tavernia vs coming here? I do agree with Sval, he seems to be a smooth talker I don't think he will be spurned."

"Indeed, he seems to be. I cannot say this is representative of my people. Perhaps we would be best to distance ourselves, or warn the owner..." 

Laina stirs and her eyelids flutter, still half asleep. "Petrakis?" She smiles and rolls onto her side, as though having a pleasant dream.

Conjuring a spectral hand that he uses to gently place a firm pressure on her shoulder, he says a little louder "Laina, wake up, it's Petrakis."

Laina twists abruptly, pushing herself up against the headboard. Her eyes settle on Petros who stands a safe distance from the bed. "What are you doing here?" She whispers with a gasp and a frown.

Letting the spectral hand dissipate, Petros holds up his empty hands, palms facing Laina and says "I am so sorry to startle you, Laina, especially in the middle of the night.  I didn't want to wake your household.  I will explain the details to you, but I have a group of eight respectable men and women outside your gates and we need a place to rest for the night.  I will make it worth your while.  Will you help me?"

Laina's eyes narrow and she hurls a pillow at Petros with a pout. The padded bolster collides with his stomach with brutal accuracy. "Where. Have. You. Been?"

"Oof." Not ready for the pillow, Petros braces himself on the window to keep from falling out. "You deserve better than me, Laina.  Better than I could provide for you.  But I'm making a name for myself, now.  For us.  Making political connections.  Look at this." Petros pulls out the charter and unrolls it for her to see.  "I've been given command of these people outside by order of the Mayor and the General.  But I'll explain more after we get my people safe inside, OK?"

Xan sees Petros fall back into the window from below and winced, then smiles when he sees the young man hasn't fallen. "Damn it Sval, I think I nearly won that bet! Looks like he is going to keep us all on our toes that one." 

Laina's brow furrows, but when she sees the charter she gasps and brings her hand to her mouth. "Is that... is that the Lord Mayor's seal, Petrakis? " She asks, rising and moving to peer out the window towards the party. Turning in towards Petros, Laina nestles a shoulder against his chest and reaches up to tenderly brush her fingers against his jawline. "Look at you. Moving up in the world..."

Giving Laina a hug, and pushing a strand of hair behind an ear, Petros asks "And you?  You look more beautiful than ever, no surprise."  Gesturing to Laina's dressing gown across the room, he continues, "But why don't you tell me about how you and your business are doing while we go let them in from out of the night?" Petros quietly unties the rope from around his ankle when Laina turns to clothe herself in something more presentable to guests.

Before long, the butler and maid have been roused and candles flicker to life in the windows of the house. A short time later the staff come out to open the gates and the adventurers are shown inside, although the stable capacity is a little too modest to accommodate all nine horses. Nevertheless, space is made in the drawing room for Petros's 'soldiers'.

Still riding next to Sval, Xan whispers across, "This is yours I believe, clearly he has more talent than I gave him credit for, although after he managed to survive an encounter with the general maybe I shouldn't be surprised!" He holds out the coin to his companion with a smile on his face.

Sval takes the silver from Xan and places it into his coin pouch. "I'm sure you will win it back if we keep betting on Petros this way." Stabling his horse outside, he eventually beds down in the drawing room after removing his armor for the second time that day. He stretches and falls into his bedroll, keeping his sword close by. Before falling asleep however, he gets up and pours healing magic into Luthien as she rests. She looked rough. He hoped she would be well enough to travel. He would have to ask about that transformation when she woke up.

Aleixo rolls out his bedroll beside Sval's, the familiar routine for them at the end of the day unchanged despite the different surroundings and the additional people present. "Quite the day of surprises eh? Who would have expected when we rolled into town for the festival? We would eat too much, I would drink too much, such good food. An orgy in the woods, a bloody brawl in someone else's house, death, then trading drunken insults with a stranger and following them back to a strange house. Sleeping under someone else's roof." He slides beneath his blanket. "I take it back. Today went exactly as expected." He props his head on his shield with the padding of his back between. "Life is good and we should never forget it."

Sval lets out a short chuckle. "Only you, my friend, would take this day's events as expected. " He looked around the room at their new companions. Aside from Aleixo and Xan, he didn't know any of them very well, but they seemed like good enough people. That didn't mean his guard was down. He would keep his eyes on them until they proved that they were worthy of his trust. It wasn't an impossible thing to earn. But the only people on the face of this world that had earned it were Aleixo and Xan.  "But you are right," he says. "Life could certainly be worse."

Azul finds a quiet space in the room's corner and lays out his bedroll. He removes his helm and hears Sofia hoot enthusiastically at him, flying from his shoulder to perch on his helm. Staring intently at him with her amethyst eyes, Azul chuckles and says in draconic  "It has been a long day little one, but exciting nonetheless."   He then begins to remove and examine his armor, whistling a tune from his home land as he works. Seeing a knick on his armor he says   "Sofia this armor is worth its weight in gold, it more than held up against those honor less assassins." He smiles and rummages through his pack for cleaning supplies and begins to clean his weapons and armor working to buff out the scratch from the assassins sword.  Satisfied with his work he neatly stacks his armor inside his shield leaning his spear next to the pile. leaving his sword next to this bedroll. He then brings out out his calligraphers supplies and begins to do a rough illustration of the day's adventures. Drawing  it like a comic with one panel showing the original group meeting in the tavern, another depicting the mayors speech & the beginnings of their mission, and the next their unsuccessful attempts to rescue the orgy attendees. On the next page he uses the entire page to outline the courtyard fight with the assassins, showing Aleixo bashing a man with his shield and sending him flying, Xan throwing a fireball into the assassin's face burning out his eye, Luthien taking aim and loosing an arrow that tore through the assassins groin, Sval expertly swinging his blade and decapitating the assassin, and finally Azul running their leader through with his spear as Sofia's wings blind the man. Seeing that it was getting late he puts up his supplies, leaving depicting the rest of these evenings events for another time. He admires the rough draft and then stretches out on his bedroll letting sleep over take him. Looking up too see Sofia perched on a sconce watching over him as he rests. 

After filling her in on many of the details of the expedition and that night's happenings, Petros explains to Laina that, not being able to fully vouch for every member of the group, he thinks it would be safer for her and her household if he could keep an eye on the group that night.  "Plus," he says with a smirk, "I'm so dirty and smoky from the fire at the Mayor's mansion that I'd be surprised if you won't be able to smell me from downstairs.  But, as I said I'd make this worth your while, I thought perhaps you might have some commerce with the trading post we are going to.  Any shipments going north with us will obviously be well defended.  And, if there's anything I can do on the political front with your situation let me know.  I can mention the vigor and energy your father displays, and perhaps mention how well he is training you to take over the business in the future.  Whatever you want." Having already gotten some shut-eye earlier that night, Petros wakes early and goes over to where Luthien is sleeping.  Without waking her, he concentrates, feeling how she is still somewhat broken inside, and he channels energy into her.  He also slips the ring off his finger, and puts it on her thumb, which is just big enough to hold it on.  I'm not sure exactly how it protected me, but it did. Hopefully it can keep you safe, at least while you recover. He then spreads open the charter on a table in the next room and pulls out his forgery kit.  Thank you for this seal, Mr. Mayor.

Laina gladly accepts Petros's offer and asks that he and his followers escort a barrel of olive oil to trade with Orion Leventis. The next morning the group is provided with a simple, but filling breakfast. However, it is clear that the household staff are a little uncomfortable around the rugged band of adventurers and are keen to see them on their way.

Petros tips all of the household staff a silver coin that morning, and asks that the barrel be secured in the cart.  He puts his own bedding down next to it for Luthien.

Sval readies himself for travel and checks on Luthien. She still seemed quite sickly. He moves out to the garden and looks for a specific yellow bloom -- celandine. When prepared correctly, the healing properties of the flower were expansive. Taking the petals back inside, he breaks out his alchemical supplies and crushes up the flowers. He adds a few crushed seeds, some fine powder, a splash of alcohol, and a not-insignificant expenditure of magic. When Luthien awakes, he hands her the tincture. "Drink this," Sval says. "Slowly. It won't taste good, but it might make you feel better." He then left Luthien to check on his horse. Even though the beast had slept outside, it seemed in good spirits. He pats the horse's neck and begins the process of saddling it. Some of his companions had a closer relationship with their steeds. Azul seemed to have named his. Sval had named his first horse -- Alvis. He was an old draft horse that Sval had stolen from a farm when he was running from his brothers. Just as Sval had begun to grow attached to Alvis, the horse had died to a bear attack. Sval, heartbroken, never named another steed. The morning air was still cool, and he sat outside the house, rather than inside, under the watchful eyes of the household staff. Thinking for a moment, he sidles back to the garden and grabs a few more of the bright yellow celandine petals. Never know when it might come in handy.

Azul grabs his gear and straps into his armor, fastening his silvery blue cloak as Sofia lazily hoots at him. He smiles and tilts his shoulder up and says "Thank you my friend, but it is now your time to rest". Sofia then lazily flies from the rafter and perches on his shoulder quickly closing her eyes. He then moves to check on the Luthien, she was also an outsider here and he had grown fond of her after she stood up to the drunk on his behalf. He thinks on the last battle as he walks, " Being hit with that powerful of a spell  would be the end for most. It's a bless from Athena that she is doing as well as she is,  I wonder if she owes her survival to the form she took. I have never seen magic like that. It will be intriguing to learn more about the power when she is well." Seeing Sval administering aid to her he steps back and lets the human work, but as he does so notices the ring that caused such a controversy last night on her finger. Leaving Sval to his work he goes to find Petros and after finding the man says "Good morning Petros, I hope you slept well. I was visiting Luthien and saw that she wore the ring that sparked last nights conflict. Outside of bearing the symbol of  Irus, what does it do? I have a bit of fascination  with arcane objects, and have found it wise to learn an items properties before using it."

Whilst Azul speaks to Petros about the ring Xan makes his way over to Luthien, a smile on hid lips. "I see I had barely need to come, the group are queuing up to make sure you are better but I am not sure if they all realise how are are those injuries are. I will cast spells but you will only be superficially healed. Time is the real healer after all." He kneels down and gently places his hands on Luthien's stomach before channeling a significant portion of his energy into the healing magic. He can sense the improvement but also tha the work is not yet done. "I will return this evening when I am about to sleep and use the rest of my strength the  but I think I should keep some back in case there are troubles on the road. Now, I insist you take things easily while you can and call for me if anything feels worse." With that he leaves the elven woman to rest.

"Well, it protected me from that lightning, Azul.  I don't know what else it can do, but for now, Luthien needs protection."

Azul nods and says "I would feel much better having looked into it. It was given to you by a man who has proven himself your enemy. Who knows what other enchantments outside of the protection it could contain." He pauses and says looks a bit sheepish and says "would your new ahem ... lady friend have a pearl I could borrow. I known a ritual that could help but I ... haven't been able to gather the funds to acquire a pearl of the right requirements. If not I could examine it without the aid of magic but that is far less reliable. Either way with sigil and us not knowing what its properties are i would advise against using it."

"thank you all for you aid, I already feel a bit more renewed." smiling through the pain she tries to hide in vain her shivering as she wraps herself tightly in both hear cloaks, "I suppose an explanation is owed for the form I took during the fight, I'm glad you all took it so well. perhaps later tonight once I've rested a bit more I'll Happily answer your questions. Do be careful everyone." she turns over pretending to go back to sleep but frustration over her current condition makes it difficult.

At Petros's request, Laina agrees to lend Azul a pearl for a few minutes while he performs his ritual.

Azul bows gratefully and takes the pearl. He then goes outside and commandeers the mansion's fire pit. Azul almost reverently removes a black book with ornate draconic brass lettering on the front. He almost absentmindedly flicks his wrist at the fire pit,  letting loose a bolt of flame and creating a roaring fire. He then sits in a meditation pose and gently thumbs through the pages of his spell book until he finds the identification ritual. He takes a second to familiarize himself with the ritual. Silently praying to Athena as he prepares.  After a time he sets the book down leaving it open to the proper page. He then retrieves the ring and the pearl holding one on each hand next to the book. His amethyst eyes begin to glow as he chants in draconic. As his chanting intensifies the pearl begins to levitate and then almost appears to absorb the light of the fire and shines it down upon the ring in Azul's hand. Bathing it in arcane energy, he continues in this manner for sometime hoping his magics will provide clarity.