MERC XVII: You Can't Take the Pay From Me

[Deathkeeper]

Lobby

”I was there on a job with the client. There were traps, some sort of ancient seal on a magic being based on something or other, and a lot of dead people who hadn’t gotten the memo about their afterlives. We got some loot and left. It was dwarves, though. I don’t remember hearing about the Staff disaster being dwarven. Sounded more like demon stuff.” Krayger says, not quite following Arlem’s story.

[Recaiden]

"Ancient seal? That sounds possibly related. And the staff is connected to demons, but it wasn't made by demons. Honestly, for that sort of important craftsmanship, you almost expect dwarven work."
Arlem shrugs.
"You were there with a partner, right?" And just how did you feel about them?

[Deathkeeper]

[Lobby]

”I was with someone yes.”
Someone who consistently treated him like a hired meathead and withheld critical information which put him in life threatening danger seemingly on a whim.
He hadn’t enjoyed himself, but she had worked things out in the end. Arlem might get a few flashes of the glimpse he had with her illusions down.

[Recaiden]

"Do you mind telling me a bit about them? I didn't want to bias you, but that's actually how we discovered the tomb as a point of interest in the first place. She stole two things, I traced one of them to that tomb, and the other one is the danger. We have strong suspicions that she's an infiltrator for the demons, running a very complicated game..."
Arlem changes shape to, well, not quite a cloud of marbles. There are thin rods and cables connecting the spheres as they whirl about. But the resemblance should be there, plain to see.

[Deathkeeper]

[Lobby]

”She had a habit of withholding information from me. I don’t remember what we took from it so you’d have to convince the boss to give you the report. I haven’t heard a single word about her since then.” Krayger says, determined not to jeopardize his superiors instantly with his talk.
But he isn’t lying. He doesn’t remember and he hasn’t heard of her since.

[Recaiden]

The marbles coalesce and take on the shape of a goblin. No one in particular, definitely not Dipsnig.
"Of course. She wouldn't want to risk giving too much away and make this easy for me. But do you happen to recall the name she used?"
Surely he'll think of it, even if he doesn't want to tell.
"Other than that, thank you for your time."

[Deathkeeper]

Lobby

”I don’t think I’m authorized to give out company information.” Krayger says apologetically, but Arlem might get Grace’s name from the memories.

[Recaiden]

"Understandable. Good luck, sir."
Arlem strolls away, walking until he's past the dimensional wards, at which point he teleports back to base.
On towards the tomb to search for scraps of evidence!

[Nova_Eclipse]

[Lobby]

"The boss did, huh? Which do you find you like using the most?" Electra asks, still smiling gently. She hasn't had much chance to interact with Koshal, so this is a good chance to get to know him a little more.

[Artemis97]

[Outside Astrana's Office]

"Somewhere we can wrecked," says Cassandra. "We need to spend tonight not thinking about... well, not thinking about being you."

Her eyes have a slightly haunted cast to them for a moment, staring off into nothingness. She looks as if she aged about a hundred years in an hour. Which is pretty much exactly true.

[Outside Astrana's Office]

"How about the Den? I can hang around without being too suspicious, plus we can get drunk for free, well, on my tab anyways." Raril suggests.

[Astrana's Office]

Sszinyon peels himself away from the doorway and approaches Astrana. "We should go back to planning the defenses for my home."

[Halae]

[Dipsnig's Office]

Dipsnig gives an understanding nod.

"I know it's pretty pedestrian, but we all have to start somewhere. Do you know that my first job involved rats? Someone had to keep giant rats from getting into a granary. They did it at night, so a goblin was a perfect choice. A week of sitting there, watching traps and shooting a crossbow at those that got caught."

[Dipsnig's Office - Rilla]

"Reminds me of my time as a krewe apprentice," Rilla says with a slightly wistful smile, "It was terrible, but it gave me the skills I have now - which is why I'm not about to complain about getting a crappy job now. I don't have to like it, but I completely understand why this is the best choice for my first actual mission."

[Morty]

[Dipsnig's Office - Rilla]

"You'll get there," Dipsnig assures her, before leaning forward to pull her closer and nibble on her ear affectionately. "And you'll always be this place's top member in my book."

[Halae]

[Dipsnig's Office - Rilla]

Rilla's ear twitches and she giggles when Dispnig comes in for a nibble, and she moves to give him a kiss, "I suppose I should go and find this Sam, then?" She's known the Cook's name for a while now, but has never actually spoken to the man.

[Morty]

[Dipsnig's Office - Rilla]

"Suppose so," Dipsnig says after they pull away. "He's a rather large fellow. Four arms, too. You can find him in the kitchen. Just make sure no pups get in. They keep trying to sneak in there."

[Ashen Lilies]

[Outside Astrana's Office]

"How about the Den? I can hang around without being too suspicious, plus we can get drunk for free, well, on my tab anyways." Raril suggests.

[Astrana's Office]

Sszinyon peels himself away from the doorway and approaches Astrana. "We should go back to planning the defenses for my home."

[Astrana's Office]

"A compelling offer. Isn't it counter-productive to be seen with your spy in public, in your own bar, though?"

[Artemis97]

[Outside Astrana's Office]

"Probably." Raril agrees. "Where would you want to go, then? Trog's?"

[Zefir]

[Kirk's Office]

"I can let you know if we hear anything." Kirk says. There's no harm in it, that's for sure. "As for work, there's not much I can tell you. As far as I know, nothing new has come in recently."

[Kirk's Office]

Fade nods to the first thing.
"I see. I thought this other member who is walking in and out of Dipsnig's office might have something to work on."

[Gullara]

[Kirk's Office]

"I hadn't heard. Maybe you're right. If you are, you might be able to get first dibs on the job if you hurry." Kirk chuckles.

[Shadowcaller]

[Astrana's Office]

Sszinyon peels himself away from the doorway and approaches Astrana. "We should go back to planning the defenses for my home."

[Astrana's Office]

"Of course, did you have any more requests regarding it, lord Sszinyon?" Astrana asks.

[Zefir]

[Kirk's Office]

"I hadn't heard. Maybe you're right. If you are, you might be able to get first dibs on the job if you hurry." Kirk chuckles.

[Kirk's Office]

"I don't think so." Fade replies. "My last jobs left a bad impression of me, even if someone betrayed me during this."

"May I ask what are you doing if there is no work?"
Fade doesn't seem to react to the chuckle, whatever this means.

[Gullara]

[Kirk's Office]

"I have things to keep me occupied." He replies vaguely. Though it's not all that hard to believe, given his position.

"If you feel that way, sitting her and moaning about it isn't going to do you any favours." Kirk says, more seriously. "If you feel a need to prove yourself, action is the only way to resolve it. Take some initiative."

[Ashen Lilies]

[Outside Astrana's Office]

"Probably." Raril agrees. "Where would you want to go, then? Trog's?"

[Outside Astrana's Office]

"What about Bloodsong's? We might grab a bite to eat too. Your memories of drow food are..." Cass frowns, not finishing that thought. "I'll pay." She offers.

[Zefir]

[Kirk's Office]

"I have things to keep me occupied." He replies vaguely. Though it's not all that hard to believe, given his position.

"If you feel that way, sitting her and moaning about it isn't going to do you any favours." Kirk says, more seriously. "If you feel a need to prove yourself, action is the only way to resolve it. Take some initiative."

[Kirk's Office]

"Easier said then done." Fade replies. "Without jobs to do there is less to proove. I tried the taverns, but nothing happened so far. I would hunt doen my shadows, but I can't."

[Gullara]

[Kirk's Office]

"Listen, Fade. I'm not here to handhold you, alright? Buck up and find some way to keep busy. Right now you'll need to do that elsewhere. I need to speak to this Liadi." Kirk's a busy man, or so he claims. Fade has used up his chatting time.

If Fade does leave, Kirk will try to find some sort of contact information for Liadi. If she's in the base, he'll ask her to come to his office. If she's elsewhere, perhaps they can chat long distance.

[Ashen Lilies]

[Dipsnig's Office]

While the invasion stuff is just starting to go down, Dipsnig will find his office being approached by Cass. The "drow" is walking while watching her phone, an expression of mild concern on her face.

[Morty]

[Dipsnig's Office]

Cassandra will be allowed into Dipsnig's office, although she'll find the goblin absorbed by several blank screens. The fact that they're blank is causing him a lot of grief, by the looks of it. His ears are pointing downwards and his lips reveal more of his teeth than usual when he speaks. Still, he trusts that Cassandra has something important to tell him.

"What is it, Cassandra? I've got a bit of a situation here."

[Ashen Lilies]

[Dipsnig's Office]

"I'm assuming the situation you have is all of your feeds in Riverside going dead?" Cass asks, her pale eyes flicking to the blank screens as she raises her phone, wiggling it for emphasis.

"Every connection there has been cut off. Phone lines, internet. Anything that was hosted in a server in Riverside can't be accessed. I tried scrying, too. That's when I came over here."

[Morty]

[Dipsnig's Office]

"...yes, basically," Dipsnig says. "Everything went dark. My communication with our security forces in Westside, my people on the inside of that party, not to mention Kirk and Dena. We need to send someone there, fast. Could you try scrying near Riverside, to see how far the effect extends?"

[Ashen Lilies]

[Dipsnig's Office]

Cassandra nods, giving Dipsnig a small, vaguely satisfied looking smile. She pockets her phone and pulls out a half-filled vial of water which she unstoppers and flicks from left-to-right in one smooth motion. Rather than making a big wet mess all over Dipsnig's desk, however, the water flows out smoothly, forming a shimmering paper-thin circle that hangs vertically in between then. As soon as the water stops flowing, it freezes over, making a glassy pane of ice that floats in the air. Projected on that pane of ice will be... Riverside. As seen from the north road leading into the city, a little under a mile from city limits.

It probably looks a little grim.

[Morty]

[Dipsnig's Office]

Dipsnig lets out a sound that resembles several tap-dancing cockroaches. Or, if Cass happens to speak the language of Dragonbone Colony goblins, some very foul swearwords involving the sexual habits of giant beetles.

"We need to get someone there, right now. Try to re-establish contact. Hopefully Kirk and Dena haven't been hit by whatever's happening down there."