S02 A Plan for Liberation

Far off, a bell could be heard. Keemes let it ring six times before he stepped towards the door and, upon opening it, walked inside. He moved off to the side immediately to allow the mage to enter behind him. Arpentus followed, and as he entered, he was surprised to see that the tavern was completely empty. All of the tables and chairs were stacked up and moved to the side except for one table which was already laid out with a platter of bread and cheese, and a large pitcher of water. Four chairs were set around the table, and a single candle was lit in the center.

The light from outside was still bright enough to dimly light the interior, but it was clear that all the attention was to be drawn toward the centre table.

"Well, it appears that we are expected, and that this is going to be quite a private affair," Arpentus said. "Looking at the number of chairs as well, I should think we are to be joined by at least one more guest, unless the host has intended to stand."

Keemes simply nodded along with the mage's words, and made the first move to take a seat at the table, opting for the chair with its back to the wall. Arpentus took a seat beside him, facing the bar. The two sat in silence for a few moments, the only sound being that of the mage as he cut himself some cheese and bread.

After a few moments, the two men heard the scraping of a chair coming from the floor above them, followed by the sound of footsteps making their way across the second floor towards a wall that, from where they sat, showed no sign of a staircase. As the footsteps descended the stairs and reached the bottom, there was a pause and then a loud click, and the wall itself swung away to reveal the same woman who had invited these two men to the tavern this evening.

"Ah, you are both here already," she said, "I thought I heard voices. My apologies that I wasn't down sooner to greet you, I was just finishing up some paperwork. I'm glad to see that you two have already made yourselves comfortable and are enjoying the spread I put out. Do not worry, though, if you are looking for something a bit more hearty, we had the kitchen prepare the house stew. The bar is also open if either of you would like a drink."

At the mention of stew, Arpentus' eyes lit up, "Oh, that sounds wonderful. I do love a good stew, especially one that has been simmering all day. Would it trouble you at all for a mug of hot tea as well?"

"Of course not, we keep a kettle on the stove at all times, so it won't be long before I have a fresh pot ready for you," Janiven replied. "And for you, Keemes, can I get you anything to drink? Some ale perhaps, or a glass of wine to go along with your stew?"

Keemes thought for a moment, "Red wine would be very much appreciated, thank you. If you have one, would you mind using a larger bowl for the stew. I didn't want to offend my host by not having an appetite, so I went without lunch today."

"Yes, that's quite doable," Janiven said as she walked towards the door behind the bar, "I'll be back in just a moment with your drinks and the stew."

After Janiven was out of sight, Arpentus turned to Keemes and said, "Well, who do you think our now late arrival will be? I am a wielder of magic after all, and you are clearly a man of arms, so I would hazard a guess that if we are meant to be working together, then to round out our trio we would need someone with some 'soft skills', as it were. A light touch and a silver tongue, perhaps? I mean I certainly can hold my own in a conversation, but it's often been said that I'm about as charming as a history book."

Keemes chuckled, "Well, whoever said that was being a prick. Granted, I'm sure you really can go off with that mouth of yours, but I'm not really much of a talker myself. So if you plan to fill the silence that's alright by me, just don't repeat yourself and we shouldn't have any problems."

"Well, I will certainly take that as a great challenge," Arpentus replied, "Though I don't think it will be too difficult seeing as how much I've read over the years, hopefully you will enjoy a few lectures on the history of the Kobold wars, or the rise of the Chelish Empire. I can also tell you quite a lot of facts about the Tselian culture, though I'm sure you don't need to hear about that from me. What I would find most interesting, however, is to learn from you what I've read that is true and what is not."

"Well, just ask and I'll see if I can answer," Keemes said, "I haven't lived in Tselia in over a decade, and even before that I wasn't really that interested in history or culture. I grew up on the streets, and when I came of age–really, when I looked of age–I joined the military. I was a soldier long enough to learn how to fight before being discharged for disobeying a direct order. After that… some stuff happened which led me to the Church of Iomedae, which is when I swore to uphold a code of honor and justice."

"Fascinating," Arpentus replied, "and you said that you don't talk much; here I was thinking you were going to be such a dull companion."

Keemes thought for a moment, "Well, I like to think I have an open book policy, and I suppose when I have something to say, I'll say it with as many words as I need to. But don't get too excited. It's not often I have something that needs saying."

"Oh certainly, certainly. I only meant it as a jest," Arpentus quickly offered, "I just appreciate you being 'an open book' as you say. I mostly ascribe such a policy to thinking types like myself, just from experience of course. Which… I do try to not make a habit of judging people by their appearance, but in many ways, we are all guilty of it–at some point or another: falling prey to our subconscious preconceptions."

"I'm not offended," Keemes said, "I thought you'd be quite a bit more uppity, what with your robes and all, but so far you've been quite reasonable to talk to."

Arpentus smiled at this, "Oh yes, robes do give off that impression, don't they? I suppose that's on purpose, but I promise you it's actually quite comfortable, and practical as well. The inside of the robe is lined with pockets which I have filled with all manner of necessary catalysts and reagents for my spells. Really, it's quite a marvel of tailoring; heavy to wear as well.

"Hmm, maybe you'll let me try it on sometime," Keemes said.

"Perhaps," Arpentus said thoughtfully, "but I'd have to like you very much in order for that to happen. So far I only like you much."

Just as the two men were about to continue their conversation, Janiven returned through the push door to the kitchen carrying a tray with four bowls of stew, one larger than the others. Also on the tray were two mugs of hot tea and a flagon of wine.

"I thought tea sounded like a nice comfort at this time of evening," she said as she came over to the table, "and I hope this bowl is large enough for you, Keemes. It is the largest we have, but if anyone needs more, don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you, this will do just fine," Keemes said as he took the bowl and set it down in front of him, "I appreciate the hospitality."

"Of course. We might be talking serious business tonight, but I want the atmosphere to be a bit more relaxed as we all get to know one another," Janiven said as she set the tray down on the table.

"And what of the third invitee?" Arpentus asked, "Keemes and I were just talking of how swimmingly we were getting along, but I feel as though we are missing some key bonding moments to have with our final companion."

At this, Janiven looked a bit uneasy, "Ah yes, well… The both of you actually gave me quite a strong confirmation that you would be coming, but the last fellow I had tracked down was a bit less favorable to my invitation."

In that moment, just as Janiven finished her words, the three of them were all slightly startled to hear a match strike, and hear the flame burn the contents of a smoking pipe's bowl. Just before the match was extinguished with a flick of the wrist, the flame illuminated a slender figure shrouded in smoke and darkness, wearing a long duster coat and a wide-brimmed hat that obscured their face.

"I wasn't favorable to being followed, miss," the figure said in a low grumbly drawl. "However, the words you spoke, if they're true, brought me here because they seem to matter to you. And I'm ready to do something that matters."

Janiven looked a bit surprised, but also relieved, "Keemes, Arpentus, this is Ronaldos Esmaren. He is a skilled sharpshooter, and as you can tell, also very good at getting around unnoticed. Ronaldos, this is Keemes Alistarde, a Tselian warrior-priest; and Arpentus Worshal, our resident mage and scholar."

"Pleasure to meet your acquaintance, I'm sure," Ronaldos said as he tipped his hat to the two. "My apologies for the theatrics, but I thought I'd listen in for a while to get a measure of the two of you. From what I gather, you're honest and capable, which is so far the reason I haven't left."

"Most assuredly," Arpentus said, "I pay you no ill will for your theatrics. In fact I think it was quite clever to reveal the quality of your skills in such an efficient manner, one that I believe we are long to remember."

"Agreed," Keemes said.

"I went ahead and brought a bowl of stew, for you, Ronaldos," Janiven said, gesturing to the fourth bowl still on the tray. "If you'd like to come sit with us, pick any chair you like, I have no preference." Janiven made her way to go behind the bar and said, "What can I get you to drink?"

"I'll take a strong whiskey, if you have it," Ronaldos said, getting up from his chair amongst the others turned up on top of one another in the corner of the room. As he walked over to the table, he chose the seat opposite Keemes, next to Arpentus. "I hope you don't mind me sitting here. I ain't trying to play favorites, but if things went south I'd prefer to be sitting as far from you as possible."

"Not at all," Keemes said, "I'm not offended. You can sit wherever you like. You seem like the type that's always ready to move, and is prepared for any eventuality."

"That's the idea," Ronaldos said, "I don't like being caught off guard, and I prefer to expose myself to vulnerabilities as little as possible. This whole evening here is one big vulnerability, but I've given my trust to Janiven, in the hopes that she's got a mighty good plan for fixing the problems in this city."

Janiven returned to the table with a glass of whiskey, setting it down in front of Ronaldos. She stood there for a moment, looking at the three men around the table and then said, "Well, I would get straight to business, but I think it would be better if we all satisfied our appetites first, and got to know one another as well."

"I agree," Keemes said, "I've gotten a bit of a read on our mage friend here, but as for the two of you, I'd like a chance to know I can trust you. Also, I think it would be rude if you heard me slurping my stew while you were giving your presentation."

"Precisely my thoughts," Janiven said. "I've had a long day as well. This place doesn't quite look it, but it takes a lot of work to keep it running smoothly."

"Oh, are you the manager here?" Arpentus asked, "I thought you were just a good friend of the owners. I was actually expecting the place to be full of patrons, but I suppose that makes sense now."

Ronaldos chuckled, "If you don't mind me saying, and you can correct me for whatever I get wrong, but I think Janiven is the owner of this place. It went out of business a few months ago when the previous owner passed away, and the family decided to sell it and move out of the city. Only recently it's been said that it was purchased by a couple, a man and a woman. Janiven fits the description of the woman I was given, but that leaves the question of who her business partner, the half-elf, is."

Janiven smiled all through his telling, "Well, Ronaldos, it appears that you are also quite the investigator. Yes, I am the co-owner of this tavern. My partner and I thought it would be the perfect place to use as a base of operations, as it has a few interesting features that I think will be useful to us in the future." She paused for a moment before continuing, "But I'm curious, if you already knew all of this, what else might you have learned about me?"

"I believe I can answer that," Arpentus chimed in, "from asking around I was able to discern that you are quite well known in certain circles of the city, particularly when it comes to the different guilds and merchant organizations. It seems that you have often found work as a guard for caravans, or armed escorts for visiting individuals of the mercantile class. Did I get that right?"

"Yes, that's right," Janiven said, "I have a bit of a reputation for being able to handle myself in a fight, and I know this city well."

Ronaldos nodded, "I've also heard you're quite impulsive, and can often act quickly without thinking things through. Though it also seems that you are capable of getting yourself out of trouble when you do get into it."

Janiven laughed, "Yes, you may have heard that I recently had to drag one of my charges out of a whorehouse before it would have been too dark for him to leave. I did lose my temper a bit with him when he refused to leave. I don't think it's a walk home he'll soon forget, though, seeing as how he was still half-dressed."

Ronaldos and Arpentus nodded along, clearly having both heard this story. Keemes, only so far listening to the chatter while bearing down on his bowl of stew, stopped for a moment to add his piece. "Well, the one thing I heard was that you're definitely one to trust. Heard it plenty, and that's all I needed to know."

Arpentus added, "Definitively so, it seems. Yes I heard that quite a lot as well. You've always been honest in your dealings, it seems, and the people you've worked with and for sing your high praises."

Janiven stifled the rising feeling to blush at the praise being delivered by her new acquaintances. "You all are being too kind. I am grateful that my reputation precedes me, but I have worked hard to earn it." She continued, "To be fair to my history, I wasn't always this way. The city was always such an oppressive force that I avoided making any big moves socially. At least until I met my business partner, who really brought me out of my shell and helped me see that I can make a difference in the lives of those around me, one day at a time."

"A most admirable sentiment," Arpentus said after taking a sip of his tea, "I have also tried to do my part to help those who most need my services as a potion-maker. Tinctures and salves for the sick, and all manner of other remedies of the body and mind. I have also been known to dabble in the creation of magical items, though I have not yet had the opportunity to create anything of great significance. I do hope that one day I will be able to craft something which will truly be a marvel that will be passed down through the ages."

"That would be quite the accomplishment," Janiven said, "I have no doubt that you will achieve it one day. And perhaps we can all work to help you gather the resources that you would need to do so."

"And what of you, Keemes?" Ronaldos asked, "What is it that you hope to achieve, that perhaps we can all help you with?"

Keemes, who had been deeply involved in his stew, paused for a moment and looked up at the three of them, "I don't know. I suppose I'd like to see the Church of Iomedae grow its influence in the city, and perhaps even help to bring about a new age of enlightenment and justice. But I don't know how to do that yet. My skills are more of a martial nature, and I only recently took to the cloth. It changed my direction in life, that's for sure, but it doesn't seem to pay very well. Most people expect charity from the church, and I don't think that's completely fair. I mean, we have to eat too, right?", he finished, looking back down at his bowl of stew.

"I think you've got a good heart, Keemes," Janiven said, "and I think that your financial struggles are something that we can definitely help with. Charity certainly must be paid for somehow, and so long as there's no greed in your pursuit of it, then your goddess will surely bless you with the means to obtain it. Perhaps that is even why she has brought you to us."

"Perhaps," Keemes said thoughtfully.

"And what of our rifleman here?" Arpentus directed at Ronaldos. "You must have some goal in mind that we can help you with, or are you truly an altruist who has no desire for personal gain?"

Ronaldos chuckled, "Well, I suppose I do have a few goals in mind. I want to leave every place I come to better than I found it. I also want to be remembered for doing something that matters to a whole lot of people. Maybe even a few times."

"Ah, so fame is what you seek," Arpentus said, "I can understand that. I myself have often dreamed of being a great scholar, and having my name written in the historical records of the world's universities. I suppose that is truly a great driving force for me as well."

Keemes grunted in approval, swallowing the last of his stew, then sat up straight before saying, "I wouldn't mind being remembered for something great either. I think the world needs more champions of justice to look up to, so that they might realize they too can rise up and make a difference in their own lives."

Seeing that most of her guests had finished their meals–either completely like Keemes, or with a little remaining like Arpentus and Ronaldos–Janiven stood up. After taking a pause to let the tone of the evening shift, she said, "Now that we're all well acquainted, I'd like to thank you all for gathering here. I've chosen each of you for a distinct purpose – every person in this room, myself included, has known hardship, whether we fully acknowledge it or not."

"I've spent my entire life in this city," she continued, "and while I cherish it deeply, we must all concede that beneath our veneer of peace and prosperity, our struggles persist. Fear shouldn't be an expected part of daily life, yet with each sundown, it shadows our thresholds. It's true, our city has been spared from major conflict and famine for nearly seven decades, and our enterprises have flourished. But this security and affluence, I contend, have been purchased with the currency of dread and pleas to darker powers."

"Other lands know true liberty. Other cities do not cower after dusk. Other governments do not surrender their streets to creatures of the infernal night. Our city once stood as such a place, and she yearns to be so again. This city isn't merely its structures, waterways, and history–-it is its people. It's our friends and neighbors, our parents, our siblings, our children."

"With a dedicated few, a united front of like-minded individuals, we can earn the faith and respect of these people. In doing so, we can free our city from the monstrous shadows that prowl our streets. A feat we must achieve without doing unecessary harm to this place we call home. That is the crucial part of the path towards a liberated city, released from the oppressive grip that has long held us in its thrall! We will strike at the heart of corruption and injustice, and eliminate the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune from our city once and for all!"

Janiven paused, her breathing heavy, her emotions running higher than she had expected. She looked around the table and saw the three of them looking back at her, each of them with a different emotion on their face. Keemes was looking at her with a stern expression, her words clearly resonating with him. Arpentus looked at her thoughtfully, as if he were considering the implications of her words. Ronaldos, however, was looking at her with an acknowledgement in his eyes, as though he had first hand experience with the kind of oppression she was speaking of.

Ronaldos was the first to speak, after taking a moment to stretch his arms and lean back in his chair, he said, "If you're true to your word about what you say, then I'll see to it that you've got my rifle covering your back. And that goes for anyone of y'all who's there with us."

"Err, um yes, of course," said Arpentus, bumping the table to stand up. "May I be the first to stand and give my oath of support to this cause. Ronaldos' remarks notwithstanding, I too will do my part to help this city become a better place. And I will do my best to do so without blasting any holes in the walls."

Keemes waited a moment before standing as well, "Seeing as we haven't yet settled on what kind of profits this venture will be paying my fee with, I think that I will hold off from making any binding promises. However, just as with the others, you can rely on my talents to assist you in this endeavor. I'll just put it on your tab for now, and we'll go from there."

Janiven's face brightened with each of their proclomations to service, and she stood up as well, leaving only Ronaldos still seated back in his chair. "Thank you all for your support. I know that this is a big ask, and I do believe there will be spoils enough to be had for all of you. Enough to satisfy your needs. We will take what we can from those corrupt individuals who would have used such bounties to further oppress the people of this city, and instead use it to liberate them out from under the darkness that has settled over us for so long."

The three standing individuals all nodded in agreement, and each followed the others in retaking their seats at the table. Then, just minutes after they began to chatter lightly about their hopes for the future, and sop up the remains of their stew with the bread and cheese, the large grandfather clock upstairs in the second floor study chimed seven times, signaling the beginning of a new hour.

It was this sound which caused Janiven's face to briefly show a look of concern – a look that none of the others missed.