Re: Burova, the Capital in Darkness
"Excellent." Cristoph seemed genuinely pleased that the group was amenable to accompanying his rag tag team. "I hope you don't mind taking a few more back alley ways. The city is not as friendly as it once was and now the dark places that would normally be feared for cutpurses and murderers are safe havens now that their ilk walk the streets in the guise of soldiers. Come, let's make haste."
There didn't seem to be much to say other than that so Cristoph turned and headed towards the back of the grove of trees where two old pines pushed up against the masonry, hiding a small breakthrough that the leader of this group nimbly dodged through. Just as it was the group's turn to follow, a noise from behind causes them to turn towards the shuffling in the bush...when snorking can begin to be heard. Shortly after, Kilgur's head pops out of a bush and his features brighten at the sight of his master whom he had been forced to leave behind at The Guest House during the trial. The boar's return marked the now noticeable absence of Cho'Kobo. Temnir could tell Solomon's gears had begun turning with thoughts toward his mount. "Don't you have the power to bring that big bird to you? Like you did while we were stuck in that mine last week? I'm sure he's fine. If anything, I'd worry about any guards who get in his way," Temnir chuckled as he ducked through the hole after the rest.
The Dancing Dervish. It had taken them the better part of an hour to reach their destination but what stood before them hardly looked like the headquarters of whatever group this woman and Cristoph belonged to. While it was indeed a three storied building, possibly serving as an inn or some similar function, those currently present could probably fill a large majority of the rooms it would have inside, and that assumed that these were all of the members. Luckily, the building seemed to be in much better shape than Daruin's Last Resort had and upon entering, it seemed the interior seemed to be better off as well. Surprisingly, the smell of hot cider and apple pie wafted throughout the place, causing more than one stomach in the group to break down into rumbling.
"Charlene, I see you're making good use of those apples we got you from the orchard. You'll have to send some down with whoever comes in after us." A soft chuckle and a soft noise of assent drifted out of the kitchen with the smells as a woman with thick brown curls and blue almond eyes stuck her head out of the kitchen access window. Seeing that Cristoph had other with him other than those of his original company, she refrained from conversing further and just nodded before leaning back into the kitchen. "Out caretaker, Charlene. She runs the half-way house we have set up here for those who have fallen on hard times or have had them fall on them," he explained over his shoulder as he led the group down a hallway and into the room at the end.
"If you'd be so kind to stand on the rug." The rug in question took up a good portion of the center of the room, an ornate wooden dining table in the center, devoid of setting currently with the exclusion of a tablecloth and two burnished iron candelabra. Once everyone was in place, Cristoph leans over to one of the candles and lifts it out of its holder to reveal a small chain attached to the bottom which extends as he pull it out. As he replaces the candle, the room seems to jerk while gears, pulleys, and chains can be heard beneath the floor as the center of the room begins to descend into the ground. Cristoph, the mystery woman, and their members, as well as even Temnir didn't seem to be surprised by the vertical movement though the sorcerer did seem to be taking careful note of something.
As the lift comes to a sudden stop about twenty feet below, a stone hallway lies before them and the party disembarks the moving floor just as it begins to raise up again and take its place as a simple table once again. Rounding a corner, the hallway opens up into a large room with a cistern in the middle. Lounging around in uncomfortable looking chairs, practicing swordplay and archery on wooden and hay dummies and targets, and examining maps on a large table, are a small handful of people, primarily humans though a few gnomes, halflings, even a pair of dwarves. All but the woman and Cristoph move into the room to greet their friends and leave the party to speak with Cristoph.
"I'm sure you have many questions of Avianna and myself and we'll be sure to see them all answered if we can. First of all, welcome to one of the safehouses of Der Leichentuchschutz. You may call it The Shroud Guard or just The Guard for short if you wish. Most everyone does anyway. The other name is more a formality than anything." Leading the group to the table with the maps on it, Cristoph dismisses a rather ragged man with a bow strapped to his back with a soft word. He doesn't look thrilled but takes the order without hesitation. Taking a seat and motioning for the others to do so as well, he folds his hands in front of him with a quick glance at what documents are currently on display; a blueprint of what looks like a dock-side warehouse and its interior. "While I could talk you death about what I believe your questions to be, I think it would be best if I let you choose what is important for you to know."