The King took Arx’s list, scrutinizing it closely.
Amie saw her preoccupation and stood. “Yeah, I can take you to Vindra. She’s the best blacksmith in the city.” She thought for a moment. “I’m sure you’d be welcome to anything in the armory, but if you’re trying not to look like Rhounen agents…”
“Well, I’ve heard of most of these places,” Ailette finally said. “But Father Branch is the only person here I think I’ve heard of, and even with him I don’t know anything about him off the top of my head, other than that he’s important to the Overboughs.”
"I don't think the armory is going to like the killers of their capitan rummaging through their stuff. Besides, I'm not about to owe anyone anything. I'll head to the smith.
Wouldn't mind to see if there's a place that would sell spell books. I've forgotten all mine in prison, could use a refresher."
Weren't Kings supposed to know people? That response wasn't helpful at all. Arx mustered up a half-ways grateful, "thanks anyway," before shoving the notebook back in her pocket and going back over toward Sprite to stand with the rest of them. It seemed as though she might have to hire a scryer or go to an information guild in order to get more info on the people she was supposed to fuck.
"I think I might go to the temple and maybe swing by a shop or two myself before we head out. I'm down to go to the other country if that's the general consensus. Doesn't much matter to me." She shrugged.
"Vindra for me then. I thank you for the proper payment and you will see us again when we return from Gratigne, unless of course you have a way to contact us after we leave. I realize such things may not be possible," Sprite said back in response.
She would pause for a moment if anything was suggested on the communication front, if not she would be on her way, picking back up the bag of treasure. Being well rested she was pumped to get properly back into the fighting habit, it was all she knew after all. She was sure she could find Vindra well enough, not so sure she could afford what was needed, but time would tell.
“Ah!” Amie said with a start. “Getting back! Let me get something!” With that, she dashed from the room.
“I’ll come,” Maritia offered. I can show you to the Disgraced Displacer. They’ll have spell books.”
The King looked chagrined at Arx’s reaction, and held out a hand to slow her down. “Maybe it would help if you told me what this is for? Oh, and if you’re going to Gratigne you should definitely ask around at the World’s Eye Vault.”
Her head turned to Sprite and Chasen, ignoring Wylo who was picking at a bit of moulding. “But before you all leave, what do you call your little band?” She chuckled a bit to herself. “If we mark it in the ledger as going to The Mercenaries Who Killed Captain DeGaulier, it’d make me smile, but it would cause more trouble than it’s worth.”
“I’m on a mission from the Gods. I can’t say too much more than that,” Arx commented, feeling just a little bit bad for the King for her luke-warm thanks. “But that’s a good lead.”
“As far as our group name:.. what about Missionary?” She tried to keep the shit-eating grin off her face from the earlier suggestion and her own. “I mean, we’re on a mission, aren’t we?”
Then, the wizard held up a collection of what was clearly four solid gold buttplugs. “These will get you back here, after you have more information, or if you become exposed and endangered.”
Ailette looked surprised that she was giving them out, but quickly nodded in approval.
Sprite picked up the buttplug closest to her and smiled with a devilish grin. She did not think twice, parting the back of her skirt and slowly and gladly inserting the toy into herself. She grunted out and then moaned softly as she got it just perfectly inside of herself. Of course she had no idea how to trigger the thing, but most magical items oddly made you aware of how to use them so she wasn't to worried.
"Knowledge can always be a helpful weapon, but I want to see about getting the best this world has to give," she then said, once again making reference to the blacksmith.
She couldn't really hide it, she was excited about getting better gear. The chance to become stronger in anyway always filled her mind with possibilities. Also her having a buttplug inside of her while she stood before everyone was intoxicating.
Arx also grabbed a butt-plug, examining it with interest. A solid-gold plug. That was probably worth a bit. She popped it in her bag and thanked the Wizard. "Alright. I'll check out the cult when we get there, but for now I gotta go." Arx Grinned and headed out, making her way to the temple.
No one bothered her when she came in, namely on account of none of them recognizing her current form. That was just as well, as she had some praying to do. This was probably the first time she had prayed in a temple, but she had something she wanted to ask.
How did one... pray? Arx awkwardly got on her knees in one of the prayer rooms that wasn't demolished, closing her eyes and trying to focus on the idea of Yenda and Laritz.
"Dear Yenda and Laritz... No, that's too fucking formal and weird. Eyyy, Yenda? Laritz? No, that's too fucking familiar. Your Holy Cumdumpiness and Big-Balls Joke-maker!" Arx threw her hands up in frustration and stood up, deciding that this was stupid, and that she would just sleep in their temple in a month's time and that would be good enough. Wait. Why didn't she just fall asleep now? Wouldn't that be the same thing?
After a moment of hesitation, she shrugged and pulled up a prayer mat. Hey, if it didn't work then at least she would have a good nap. It took a bit of time, but eventually she was able to fall into a light slumber.
“You don’t…you don’t want to hear how it works?” Amie called after Arx, but the changeling was already gone. She shrugged and handed the other two to Chasen and Wylo. Wylo immediately reach around, pulling down some traveling pants he’d borrowed from the Captain, and started twisting the gold plug into his asshole. It did not look like it was going in easily, but the elf seemed unbothered and persistent.
“Just wear it and will yourself here. It’s a Teleportation Charm.” She gestured towards the door. “Maybe let her know?”
Maritia snickered under her hand, winking at Chasen. “Let me know if you want some help with that.”
Amie laughed, too, and started walking toward the door. “To Vindra’s, then?”
“What do you think she wants?”
“I don’t care. If I can do it, I’m fucking doing it. Fucking LEGEND.”
“Yeah, she did pretty well for a start, didn’t she?”
“She did. Should we go ahead and let her knock out that other task while she’s here?”
a pause.
“Oh, right.”
“Yeah. I have to actually give birth before I can get pregnant again.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“I’m a goddess, not a paradox.”
“Okay, okay…”
Arx would hear those two familiar voices as her eyes opened near another mysterious fire, warm and comforting. A stone floor was now under the fire, a bit of craftsmanship in this divine plane. Yenda and Laritz would look much the same, but it would appear that a bit less of the prankster god’s shoulders remained fused with the fertility goddess’s back.
"Oh shit, it actually worked," she remarked, impressed that her theory had borne fruit. Her eyes looked around until she found them; there they were, the two Gods she wanted to speak with. They seemed a bit... different though.
It was weird waking up while standing up, but she got her bearings and walked over to them, "is it my imagination, or are you two looking slightly less glued to one another?"
"Yes, to Vindra," Sprite said, fallowing after Amie, picking up the bag of treasure, and flashing her butt with the plug now placed firmly inside as she left.
Once they got out of the building Sprite did the best she could to put the bag away in her traveling backpack. It was awkward getting it all in there, but she managed, and then they were off properly. This time Sprite didn't fly about, the added weight would have just made it to much effort, but hopefully there would be a lot less when they were done. She told herself though she couldn't spend everything. She would have to check with Arx and Chasen if she saw anything worth their time. Chasen was still new to the group so cutting him out on rewards wouldn't go to well at all.
Sprite stayed close to Amiee, letting her lead the way. She was never skilled at finding her way in the city so why would she start trying to be now?
Chasen took the buttplug and eyed Amie still suspicious of what the Devil told him, but trusted enough to take it and listen to the instructions. As Maritia teased him about it, he smiled in appreciation. He nodded and told her she would be able to help whenever she felt the need. Still his paranoia forced him to make an excuse not to wear the butt plug yet.
"Well, Being in prison for some time, I don't want the butt plug to to force me into a constant, uncomfortable erection. I do appreciate it, Amie. It's good to have a safe haven whenever the need arises."
Chasen saw Arx run off on her own again. He thought about going after her realizing the people running off on their own have gotten in trouble almost every time. He thought twice about questioning her autonomy though. New to the group he didn't want to make any demands on anyone. He wasn't the leader. He wouldn't follow his leader, why would he ask others to follow him. He said goodbye to Arx and pleaded her to be careful.
He continued to listen to the banter between the others and after Sprite expressed he also also announced his excitement, "TO VINDRA."
The five of them, Amie, Maritia, Chasen, Sprite, and Wylo, had barely left the front door of the palace before their walk was interrupted.
"YOU!"
A well-dressed man with short, brown hair stomped toward them, abandoning a heated discussion with one of the palace attendants. His light brown face was reddened with rage, and he pointed a finger in Sprite and Chasen's faces, looking back at the palace attendant. "These two are the ones responsible! Maybe all five of them, I don't know! Arrest them and figure it out later!"
The palace attendant looked frustrated and weary. "I've told you, Lord Fligeure, there is currently no investigation into the event last night, and no intent to press charges."
"Event!?" the man scoffed. "I'm sure you meant to say 'murder'." He whirled around to shout in the adventurers' faces. "I died in that chaos you monsters caused!" Seeming to recognize Amie, he turned to her. "I demand recompense!"
Yenda smiled at Arx, turning her body to both of the deities could crane their necks to face her. "A bit, thanks to you."
"You've done well," Laritz agreed. "And that bit about me as her doting cuck was so good I'd call it divinely inspired if I'd, you know, inspired it."
"You're a bit earlier than we expected you," Yenda added, eyebrow cocked. "Anything we can do for you?"
"Sorry, sir, I have no idea what you are talking about. I was released from prison just yesterday, I don't think murder would be the first thing on my mind. You can direct your accusations to the King if you'd like. I was with her last night. If you'll excuse us, we have to go."
The man turned back to the attendant, his attention diverted for a moment. "That's another thing I want explained! Why is everyone talking like we have a woman for a king!?"
Chasen's love of small community villages was at odds with him currently defending kingdom politics and a king, but the ignorance and closed minded-ness of such a douche required him to respond.
The man lets out a grim chuckle. "Nice try, fiend, but you won't find me agreeing with a scoundrel like you about anything!"
Just then, a wealthy woman tugging on the arm of an exasperated guardsman turns the corner and sticks out a finger toward Sprite. "There they are! Those are the villains who murdered the good captain."