The Lady’s Hand (A Dickings & Dalliances Adventure) - (Closed Except By Invitation)

[Nouh_Bdee]

“Oh no, no no no, not again,” Wylo mumbled, curling up against the bars as Arx climbed off of him. “What a bag of troll bollocks this is.” He would eventually sleep as well, seemingly uninterested in conversation with the two adventurers.

The wagon rolls on, unlikely to stop until time to make camp for the night

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The first night was the most exciting, simply because it was the only one where anything happened.

The wizard walked up to the cage, attempting to start a conversation about Sprite and Arx’s accusations against the captain, but the man in question quickly marched up, and what followed was a heated argument about jurisdiction and interrogation methods. The content was mind-numbingly dull, especially since the wizard wasn’t yet convinced enough of any misconduct on the captain’s part to bring it up, but the yelling was more entertaining than watching Wylo eat beetles, which was all that there was to do for the next four nights. The wizard had apparently given up on the hope of having a private conversation with the three adventurers.

At one point the company must’ve passed the forest where Button and the other Hind worshippers were hiding, but their camp was hidden well enough that it might as well have been invisible.

Finally, on the evening of the sixth day, the carriage entered Rionne. The city was still locked down, with guards patrolling the empty streets and inspecting the gates. The carriage was waved through by the captain’s order, after sheets of cloth had been lowered to shield the prisoners from view.

The adventurers lose their view of the city, and all that can be heard for some time is the clop of hooves on stone. After a right turn, a left turn, then two rights, the flap lifts slightly to reveal “Verigge” smirking at the three of them.

“Finally gave those troublemakers the slip, and I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you all for your work. I don’t know who the elf is, but all three of you performed wonderfully. You’ll have your reward in the morning.”

 

[Poprockz]

“I’ll have your reward someday when I fuck you in the ass with your own cock.” Arx crossed her arms and squinted at him in a petulant manner.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The captain laughs. “Your seductive wiles won’t work on me.” He winks, his grin even bigger. “I’m soon to be married!”

He lowers the cloth, and pats the side of the cage. The carriage rolls to a stop, and several new guards lift another pane of the cloth and open the door. They’re armed, and they begin walking the prisoners into a nearby building and down a hallway to a small row of cells. Arx, Sprite, and Wylo are shoved into the center cell, while in the far cell stands a half-elf man in traveling clothes. The guards lock the three of them in and leave, and soon the captain walks in and stands just out of reach through the bars. He doesn’t say anything, but the insufferable grin remains on his face.

 

[justspitballing]

So this was some kind of power grab. Either the phallus had some kind of magical charms on it that helped "Verigge" marry into power, or it could be sold for wealth and then that wealth could do the same. And now they were likely to be executed the next day for knowing to much. On the bright side the man stayed watching them, which meant he wanted to gloat, which meant he was over estimating himself. Before they could come up with any plan though they had to figure out if the new person in the cell with them was a friend or foe.

"I take it our loving captain here wants you dead as well?" Sprite asked the half-elf simply, feeling like she could feel him out from his answers.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The captain looks surprised. “Dead?” He taps his chin. “Of course not! I mean, it’s not like he’s heard anything that I would need to kill to keep quiet.” He glares at the man. “Right?”

 

[ICM8781]

As new prisoners enter and the typical welcoming ritual of offensive hooting and catcalls commences, I join along. I notice that the it's the same guard that took me in. The keys rattle for the cell next to me and I quiet down really quickly. Interested to know the fresh meat. Hearing tuned to eaves drop on them and what they are about.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Captain DeGaulier jerked his thumb toward the half-elf. “See?” He smiled again at Arx and Sprite. “Truthfully, though, I’m just here to make sure you get settled in.” Then, he spread his arms out toward the cells around them. “Well, and to make sure I’m seen at such a fancy soirée as this.” He winks at Sprite.

 

[Poprockz]

“Oh wow. I feel sorry for your bride. And the priest. And the wedding guests. Anyone who has to hear that news, come to think of it.” Arx smirked slightly. “Arranged marriages are unfortunate, but it’s even more unfortunate when you’re married off to a cunt like yourself.”

Though she didn’t look it, she had sized up the half-elf, wondering what his involvement was in all this. She supposed it didn’t matter, but curiosity never slept.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Captain DeGaulier pointed at Arx. “You’re a fun one. I’ll miss you.”

Just then another guard walked in, standing next to the door and maming eye contact with the captain, only to give him a small nod.

The captain’s smile got wider. “Wonderful!” He turns to the cell, speaking louder than he’d been before. “The three of you are doing the right thing. What you’ve just told me, assuming it’s the truth, will help me find and rescue The Lady from those foul associates of yours.” He pauses, glancing at the door before continuing. “Please keep what you’ve said between us for now, until I can verify it. I wouldn’t want anyone to move prematurely and send them to ground. But, the inportant thing is that now I know where to find her and I w—“

The door suddenly flew open in a gust of wind, and Amie marched in in a rage. “I DON’T KNOW HOW YOU PULLED THAT THREE-CARRIAGE MONTE, DEGAULIER, BUT THESE PRISONERS TO WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AT THE GARRISON.”

“You don’t have the authority t—“

“YOU DON’T HAVE THE AUTHORITY!” she bellowed. “If they know anything about where she is, then it’s a matter of the security of Rionne! I’m taking them into my custody.”

The smug look on the captain’s face only intensified. “Be my guest. I have an errand to run, anyway.” He stepped closer, right in her face. “Enjoy being the one in favor, Baroness. Perhaps things will change when I’m the one to find and rescue The Lady…”

With that the captain left, shutting the door behind him.

The wizard raised her hand, wreathed in flame, but then clenched her fist and the fire dissipated. She narrowed her eyes at the three adventurers. “What did you tell him?”

 

[Poprockz]

“I told him that he’s a cunt,” Arx replied picking at one of her teeth with a pinky nail. Watching someone eat beetles for a week was bound to make anyone want to try it. Unfortunately, it had not suited her taste and was promptly ejected. The damn legs got stuck in her teeth though.

Clearly, the mage was no match for the captain’s weaselly ways and thus lost a lot of power in Arx’s eyes. There was no trusting her to keep them safe if she had allowed them to fall right into the captain’s lap.

She dawned a more serious expression and walked to the bars, tilting her head to the side. “If I wasn’t growing a small human inside me, I would shift into your lovely captain, being that I’ve seen him naked, but I can’t. As such, we have no proof of what we might tell you. Even if you believe us, he obviously knows how to pull the wool over your eyes. Why should we waste our breath? For your lady? I’m sorry, but the thought of you saving her after we get our throats slit doesn’t make me feel better.”

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

A heavy sigh from the wizard. “I don’t know what games you’re playing. I just want to find my friend. Please.” She walked up and put her hands on the bars. “Last chance, or I’m just going to take my chances and try to follow him.”

Wylo found a half-rotted blanket and pulled it over his shoulders, still leaving his lower body exposed.

 

[justspitballing]

"Last chance? DeGaulier had us redirected under your nose and has been trying to kill us for days now. I think our case that we were betrayed is made well enough by that alone. And it's not a game if all we do is tell you the truth over and over again. Listen, you can believe us as little as you want, but he is calling the shots around here and if you fallow him alone he's just going to have some of his men kill you. You want to actually investigate him? You'll need speed," Sprite said and then pointed to herself.

"Cunning," she then pointed towards Arx.

"And disguise," her finger then went towards the Wylo.

"Well, if you can get his belt back that is," she concluded.

She then walked up to the bars and pushed her body against them; locking eyes with the wizard.

"You are strong enough to admit you were wrong in this one case. Just let us help you and actually prove ourselves"

Sprite then spun around, looking once more at their new cell mate.

"And yourself, any skills or trade you can help with?" she asks him.

 

[ICM8781]

"I'm sorry? Help to do what exactly?" I laugh as if I know something. "You seem to be quite forward to a person you've never met. Hell, you haven't even said 'hi."

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The wizard steps back and crosses her arms. “Even if I did believe you, what’s your plan?”

She scoffs, and shrugs. “Hells, what’s Step One?”

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Then she looks over at the half-elf. “Wait. I know you. We hired you as a scout! How did you end up in here?”

 

[ICM8781]

"Betrayed by a client. Didn't know I was hitting Rionne until it was too late. Fucker ran away and let all the mercs get captured."

 

[Poprockz]

"Woah, woah, woah." Arx would have held her hands up were they not shackled. She could easily unshackle herself, but now was not the right moment.

"First off..." She turned to Sprite, "We don't even know that fuck in the other cell- he could be a psychopath that kicks puppies for fun. I say we leave him behind." Her eyes went to the half-elf and she shrugged apologetically. "No offense."

"Second!" her body turned toward the mage once more, "you guys keep saying 'the lady' this and 'the lady' that. Do you mean the Lady of Rionne? If that's the case, then Sprite and I have never met her, but I bet it has something to do with Captain Cunt's wedding. We would need to find more information about that to see what he's scheming."

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The wizard nods, grief blossoming on her face that she does her best to tamp down. “That’s who I mean. The Lady of Rionne has been missing for weeks.”

Then, she shakes her head in confusion. “Wait. What wedding? What are you talking about?”

 

[justspitballing]

"The captain was bragging about it. We know nothing of it though. We have been very much kicked out of the loop on a lot going on," Sprite huffed.

"As for a plan, fallowing the captain will be what we need to do. Arx is good at sneaking around and I can fly in to deal with the situation if things get out of hand. You can of course come with us. You don't like us, but you should get your answers. I'm just saying we work together a lot better then against one another. And yes, the scout is a wild card, no offence," Sprite states and then looks at the half-elf.

"But if we leave him behind then everyone will know where we went. We are kind of stuck with him."

"The name is Sprite by the way, and good day to you," she then smiled at the half-elf.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The wizard’s expression softened. “Amie Buonnice. If you all are to be believed, then I’ll owe you quite an apology after all this. Doesn’t mean you’re getting one yet, though.”

She tapped her chin and frowned. “Still, that ass is up to something. I’ll readily believe that much.” She pauses, then turns to leave. “I have an idea. I’ll be right back.” With that, she’s gone.

 

[ICM8781]

"So, are you worried that I'll tattle on you, or are you worried that I'm going to kick your puppies? It's been a good long while since I've participated in a good puppy punting." Chasen says with obvious sarcasm behind his voice. "Might be fun, who knows. As far as tattling on you, If you have a plan to escape and I'm not in it? Yeah, probably. I'm not too keen on what happens to us when an attempted escape happens. If I'm going to get the shit beat out of me, I'd rather it be because of something I did, and not because I'm keeping your secrets."

 

[ICM8781]

"The name is Sprite by the way, and good day to you," she then smiled at the half-elf.

"Good to meet you, Sprite, Arx"

 

[Poprockz]

Arx shrugged, "Good to meet you too, and fair enough. Snitching on someone you have no loyalty to is the right way to go, honestly. I wouldn't blame you if you did. I still think you don't yet have enough information to be much of a threat at the moment, but what the hell? A lot of people in jail cells don't deserve to be there. No harm in helping you out, I suppose."

Her eyes slid over to the vedger and she contemplated his role in all this. It would probably be kinder to put the belt back on him and release him into the wild, what with how addled his brain was. There was no telling if he would fit into the plan the way they wanted him to- he didn't seem to have any motivations other than eating bugs and roots, which made for poor dedication.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Wylo lay sprawled against the bars, eyes half-closed. "Ah, yes, introductions...ghastly things...wish we could just sniff each other's asshole and be done with it, but I suppose I shall have to re-adjust." He stood up, seemingly unaware of or unconcerned by his nudity, and bowed low. "Wylonithain Silvergleam, at your service." He did the same to Sprite and Arx. "You two were certainly the most interesting travelers I'd happened upon in decades, and that was quite the romp in those ruins, wasn't it? If I must be among people again, I'm confident I wouldn't willingly choose any others."

Once his stilted, formal bows were done, he collapsed, though it seemed to be intentional, and sprawled again against the bars, like being close to the ground comforted him.