Private Tales The Raven Club Gathering

[Charity Briarthorne]

The Raven Club - Outer Alliria
​

"SHIT!" Charity cursed loudly, slamming her fist down on the table as the dice rolled to a halt. Throwing back what was left of her drink she sighed. This wasn't good. Nearly out of money, and worse - out of booze, Charity sat back in her chair contemplating her next move.

Looking around the room, she mused to herself about how busy the club was today. It was the middle of the day and wouldn't normally get this busy until sometime in the evening. She glanced at the men who shared her table. They didn't seem like the sharpest swords in the armory and were more than content to while away their day with a pretty girl. Although truthfully, nobody in the place appeared too bright. Except for that tall dark haired man she knew to be the owner. He could be trouble if she wasn't careful.

Charity sighed again. She had to do something. The men were staring at her expectantly, almost hungrily as they eyed her up and down. Normally she might be tempted to sneak off with one of them, but taking a man to a private room and knocking him out to steal his valuables was pretty low on her list of priorities right now. By the way they looked, the men probably didn't have anything of value on them beside the money they had been betting with anyway. Besides, there were more pressing matters at hand. Namely reclaiming all of the money she had lost.

Closing her eyes, she focused and imagined a pair of doves sitting underneath a nearby table. Charity slowly breathed out as she opened her eyes. There they were - two white doves sitting lifelessly, motionless under the table. There was no time to hesitate, she could already feel the draw of the magic wearing her down. Suddenly the birds took off in two different directions, flying all around the room. Most of the other patrons jumped up and ran around avoiding the birds as others started trying to shoo the birds towards the door.

As soon as her tablemates were distracted, Charity quickly scooped up as many coins off the table as she could and stuffed them in her pockets. She wrapped her arms around the closest man's waist and peeked around his body fearfully, all the while directing the birds towards an open door. Flying out the door and high into the sky, the two doves faded out of existence. The panicked patrons looked around making sure the birds were really gone before slowly making their way back to their seats.

Exhausted, Charity slumped against the man attempting to catch her breath without drawing too much attention to herself. "A-Are they gone?" She looked up at the man innocently, trying her best to appear frightened. Uh-oh. She knew that look on his face. He thought she was a weak, vulnerable woman and he was going to try to take advantage of that. "If its not one thing, its another." Charity grumbled under her breath.

Hastily releasing the man she exclaimed "Hey! Where did all the money go?!" The men looked at each other in confusion. "I bet he took it!" she said pointing at random. "Hey... Yeah..." a small weaselly said slowly. "I thought I saw him cheating earlier, and now he's trying to steal our money! Let's get 'im!"

Charity rolled her eyes and sauntered towards the bar as the men began to brawl. She couldn't believe how stupid these men were. Well... honestly, she could. After spending years in her line of work, she had come across so many dumb ignorant, and gullible people that it ceased to surprise her. She would be more surprised if she crossed paths with someone who didn't fall for at least one of her tricks.

"Hey. You." Charity called to the man behind the bar. "Gimme a drink." she said tiredly, pulling a coin out of her pocket and tossing it onto the counter. As he delivered her drink, she reached into her shirt and pulled out a small white card with a blood red sigil stamped on one side and a brief encoded message on the other. "Some friends told me to meet them here. Ya seen 'em?"

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Numbers. Accounts, profits and debt, they all mounted together in a few pages across the office's table, as if such things could really be that simple.

Isak had requested a full rundown of the Raven Club's numbers of the last few months, having decided to take a look at his investment by himself, instead of delegating to his associates. In truth, he was relieved to see that business had finally started to prosper, after spending his last coin on renovations for that place - a costly yet profitable endeavor.

He had taken an odd job here or there, going as far as dealing with some strange business in the elven forests down south, raising whatever money he could to invest in his business, so he could take the next steps necessary to fully announce himself to the dark world of very illegal deals beneath the city of Alliria.

Isak had a clear path - get rich and powerful and feared, take down as many of those fat and lazy merchants that are involved with nobility, crime and corruption in the city, and finally build his own empire over the ruins of the last one.

Quite a ambitious plan, but Isak Lavelle was nothing if not ambitious.

Amongst the papers, he saw a letter. He remembered it now. It arrived a few days ago, a simple blood red sigil stamped on it, along with encrypted messages about a job - big enough to change people's lives.

It didn't take much to change one's life in a place like Alliria, especially in the scrapings of the Outer City, while the rich and powerful grew comfortable behind their palaces' walls far from there. But Isak was very interested in whatever leverage he could gain, he lived for that.

Plan A, B, C, all the way to Z, his brain was a machinery constantly oiled by greed and scheming, always looking for that bright spot that passes unnoticed by the common eye, the small openings in the ground that he could take advantage of.

He put the letter back into one of the pockets of his dark and nicely tailored cloak, before walking towards the nearby wall of his office. The wall had a false spot that could be opened, used by Isak to eavesdrop on the lobby of his club downstairs, and he had found something to peak his interest.

Isak saw a girl, a familiar one, using some tricks to con the rest of the gamblers out of their money. A short smirk formed on his lips, Isak had always appreciated intelligence, especially when used against the dumb and stupid. And he enjoyed watching Charity rob some patrons of their money with her illusions.

A fight had broken out now, but he didn't care. He knew Ogden would eventually call security to kick them out and rob them of whatever coin they had left, after he had enjoyed a bit of that mess himself. Isak took advantage of the brawl to sneak by the patrons, quickly reaching the bar.

Charity was there too, but he knew that she hadn't felt his looming presence yet.

"Impressive party tricks" Isak finally announced himself, his voice rasp and calm. "Expecting company? Or simply waiting for the next pockets to pick?"

 

[Eilerias]

Needle in. Needle out. Needle in. Needle- "dammit"

A drop of blood rolled down her thumb and she sighed, putting the garment she was sewing onto the table. Eilerias received a strange letter with a blood red sigil days ago and it had been on her mind since it's arrival. She tried to work on her tailoring to distract herself, but it wasn't working.

Since her dismissal from the church, she'd been feeling quite unlike her usual self. She felt sad that she had to practice in private now, but at least she was getting paid for the first time in her life. The money was decent, but the work...unusual. People in and out of her small home during all hours of the night needing treatments for stab wounds, arrow injuries, and plenty more. She never pried into how they got injured, she knew that asking was dangerous.

Eilerias picked up a cloth and wiped the blood. She knew better than to waste her magic on herself. She was only here in Alliria to help the people who came in and out of The Raven Club.

Mustering up courage, she picked up the letter and glanced over the encrypted message, eyes going wide. Why would someone want her? No one knew what she was doing or who she was helping surely... Did they?

Eilerias paced back and forth trying to make sense of the letter, but she had no clue. From her window, she heard panicking from The Raven Club. Doves? That was the last thing she expected to see flying from that place. Curiously, she made her way to her own door and watched them fade away from existance. Maybe it was a sign that she should do what the letter said.

Eilerias' nearly all white attire was not the typical look for someone in Alliria, but even though she was exiled from the church, she still felt as though she needed to prove her purity and loyalty. She made her way to The Raven Club and pushed through the people brawling on her way up to the bar. She was pretty short, so it was fairly easy to maneuver her way through.

She sat down near Isak and Charity silently and pulled out her card with the blood red sigil. Isak would know what to do. She thought.

 

[Gwendolyn Vollmund]

Gwendolyn rarely left her precious archives. The world was far too dirty and stupid for her to to trouble herself with on most occasions, but duty called inevitably and so she was drawn from her crypt below Alliria and made her way to her office.

When she entered the club a detail led her to the office. She spied Charity at her usual tricks, but it seemed she was simply eyeing up people attempting to figure out her next move.

Isak was no doubt in his offices or the girl would be far more cautious.

Gwendolyn gave her a slight nod of acknowledgment she did not wait for a reply to. The often soft spoken woman not one to speak too loudly or make a scene to get another’s attention.

Unlike her youg crafty fri..Annoyance.

A very lavish space with a large desk and comfortable chairs and couches for lounging and drinking. Liquors sat in crystal decanters around the space. She rarely drank but found her clients often did copiously.

One of her subordinates came in quietly carrying with her a light meal and the days letters. She sorted through them dismissively as she sat on her desk. Useless requests. She rifled through them like a card shuffler. Her eye found one that halted her. The red sigil. She had heard rumors but it seemed they were finally showing themselves. It was a very simple request.

A group was being formed and they were to meet with Isak. The rest was the information she would need to obtain on the place, building, personnel, and the item. This as well as helping organize and plan.

For a very generous sum. It wasn’t an uncommon request. Gwen often led endeavors like this along side Isak and others.

The uniqueness came from who was asking. Many came to Gwen to lead and help put operations together.

It was half of her living. The other half being simple information to down right blackmail. It helped keep true masterminds, or people so close they could be easily found out in the shadows allowing everyone to profit and anonymously slip away. This client however..

Very strange.. She had agreed from sheer curiosity. In all reality she had all the money she could want.

Information was always in demand both for good and ill. But if the list of names was correct she would have more than a few of her acquaintances to watch out for.

It wasn’t their fault they didn’t know how to not get themselves killed.

She wrote out a few memos and handed them to her assistant before taking her leave. Heading back to the archives for the information that had been requested and the inevitable meeting. Isak was involved after all.

She had faith things would go smoothly until the meeting began, and by then she would have everything they needed. As she passed through the club her usual security detail followed her. Isak was such a sweet heart.

Knowing Gwendolyn feelings on crowds in general he had a detail that both watched her office entrance and escorted her through the entire club keeping a healthy circle for her were ever she went all without ever asking for it. Her investment in this man had indeed been well placed. People that knew how to keep their allies happy was not one to be crippled easily.

While missing the doves she did not miss the brawl. Security was dealing with and adding to the chaos as her detail tightened and helped hurry her to the door. She cared as much for goodbyes as she did for greetings.

It did not bother her that she had not spoken to her fri..Colleagues.. There had been no business to discuss at the time anyway..

She told herself as the detail returned to the club and she returned down the street to her archives. There was work to begin. Her mind already whirring to life as the doors creaked shut behind her.

 

[Charity Briarthorne]

Charity jumped slightly at the sound of Isak's voice, before quickly recomposing herself. "Well would ya look at that. The big man has finally seen fit to grace us with his presence. Was worried I would have to go the whole day without seeing your lovely face." Charity chirped without a shred of sincerity. She put a hand under her chin and leaned against the counter. "Anyway... I don't suppose you know anything about this?" she asked, not bothering to look at him and waving the card in his general direction.

Before Isak could respond, Charity continued. "Oh... Right...There's this too." Charity sat up and rummaged around in her pockets. She produced a small handful of high value coins and placed them on the counter beside her. "That should be more than enough to cover any damage and inconvenience I might have caused." she said as she went back to leaning against the bar. The Raven Club was her favorite place in all of Alliria, but she hated having to pay dues and cover damages. It wasn't her fault so many things in the club were breakable. Isak should know by now that his patrons couldn't be trusted around fragile objects.

Charity lifted her free hand off the counter and gave a small wave as Eilerias sat close by. She didn't really know the healer that well, even though she visited her frequently for various scrapes and bruises.

She thought she caught a glimpse of Gwendolyn out of the corner of her eye, but as she looked around the woman was nowhere to be found.

After a few short minutes of sitting there idly, Charity was starting to get bored. She leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms and legs. "Alright Lavelle. Out with it. There's no way in hell that this note just happened to tell me to meet here out of pure coincidence. I know you have your hand in this somehow, and if you don't start talking soon, I'm leaving. Got better things to do with my time than sitting around waiting for you to fill me in." Charity huffed.

 

[Sirius]

Sirius was less than thrilled. But hey, if he could get a job he'd take it. After all, a tiefling's options are so very limited. Banditry, murder, arson, forbidden magics are usually the things pursued by most tieflings, the luckier ones might get to be a bard or maybe an extra hand for various work. Sirius was more interested in something a little more dignified.

He was called to this establishment, somehow a letter, addressed to him, found its way into his bag. How it got there and who sent it, he had no clue, but it piqued his interest.

So he walked into the establishment and took in his surroundings, looking for someone who was a little less "normal gambler" and more "shady death dealer". He didn't know This Lavelle, but he assumed that he'd either be a hooded old guy crouched in the corner mumbling incoherently to himself, or some slimy looking aristocrat, maybe a merchant but that seemed to be twenty percent as opposed to the other fourth percents.

He approached the counter, a short ways from Charity to patiently wait for the bartender to come over, at which point he'd ask for Lavelle. Lucky for him, the barkeep pointed towards the black haired man not even ten feet away.

So, with a thank you he came up basically beside Charity and ask, after there was a break in the conversation of course, "you are Isak Lavelle yes?"

 

[Isak Lavelle]

It was one of those days. The Raven Club was full to bursting, even with the brawls due to patrons being horrible at cheating and gambling, but it didn't seemed to stop movement coming in and out. And more than that, everyone seemed to have business with Isak.

He sighed for a short moment, gloved hand resting on his jaw as his eyes went towards the letter given to him by Charity. By the look on her face, Isak figured that Eilerias had the same card in her possession, which was also the same one that Isak had in his pocket.

He suspected what it was all about - another job. But not just any job, or their client wouldn't go through all that trouble of conveniently putting all of them together, after the same information.

What was the true nature of that job? Who would pay them? What kind of risks would they face?

Isak supposed that death was always a risk on his line of work, that didn't bother him. But he hated the feeling of the unknown, all that mystery and secrecy... If he had the time, he'd be going after the root of that secret himself, but Gwendolyn seemed to be on its tail already. And he could always trust her information.

He saw her from the corner of his eye, quickly leaving the club with her security detail, a small gift of gratitude given by Isak. Of course, he knew that she was skilled enough in her own abilities to protect herself, but one never knew what kind of dagger could strike you from the dark in Alliria.

"Keep it" He broke his thoughts about the job for a moment, his face slowly turning to Charity. He had seen the small coin pouch on her hand. "I enjoy your little games, from time to time."

Isak knew he was intimidating, it was his own way of self preservation, putting enough fear into people that they'd think twice before coming after him. And just by standing there, he could feel that Charity was probably expecting to be scolded for her antics at the club.

His gaze switched to Eilerias next, the pale girl probably wondering what those cards meant. In some other time, Isak would've joked about her faith in her light god, he enjoyed riling her up like that. But now was not the time. All eyes were on him, everyone expecting him to have some kind of answer to that mystery.

Then, it was time for a stranger with a deeply rough voice to approach them, asking for Isak. The young man turned towards him, almost annoyed by the fact that it seemed like the whole of Alliria sought answers from him that night.

"You are all here, then."

Isak pulled the card from inside his coat and placed it at the table, next to Charity's. He knew that strange looking man had the same questions as the rest of them, and even Isak himself barely had any idea about the job, yet.

"It's a job, though I'm sure you all know about that already" A glass of water was placed next to Isak as he finished, and he quickly picked it up and had a small sip. "A big one, but don't get too thrilled, Charity."

Isak now inspected the card as if it was the single most interesting thing at the place, and it probably was, given the circumstances. His lips turned into a short smirk before he emptied his glass of water.

"Gwendolyn already left for her archives. I'm sure she'll have more information on our target once she returns."

 

[Eilerias]

Eilerias shot a nervous smile as Charity waved to her and waved back. She always looked so charming, it almost made Eilerias jealous. She seemed so fun and easygoing, but she had been the one to see her and heal her on the occasion something did go wrong. She slid her card over to Isak, not saying a word.

Was she going to be involved in something? What could someone possibly need her for that warranted sketchy cards? She began biting at her fingernails absentmindedly. Anything to distract herself for the time being.

She asked the bartender for a glass of water while she waited. She had never tasted alcohol. She wasn't explicitly against it or anything, but she often dealt with those who had overindulged in the strange smelling drinks and gotten themselves in trouble. Cleaning up after them wasn't the most enjoyable job. Still, she wondered what it was like.

Her eyes met Isak's as his gaze moved to her. She squinted, trying to read his expression, but she got nothing. She was terrible at reading people. That's probably why she trusted everyone too well. She could never tell true intentions despite Charity lecturing her when they did meet.

After breaking eye contact, she noticed a particularly red man and couldn't help but stare. Growing up, she really never met anyone that wasn't a human or an elf of some sort. She looked down after staring for a little bit too long.

A big job? Her ears perked up. Maybe my card was a mistake. She looked back up at Isak as he spoke. A target?

"What do you mean target?" She asked softly with her eyebrows raised. She never participated in anything they did aside from healing their 'mysteriously acquired' wounds. Did she have to help kill someone? That was the opposite of what she did!

 

[Gwendolyn Vollmund]

Gwendolyn left her archives after a short visit.

She had all the info they needed. Then when, the where, and the what. The why still alluded her as well as the who.

The two things that irked her the most. Her brain was working so hard one could almost see the smoke coming from her ears. Her usual calm, almost sleepy expression held the look of someone very peeved about something.

One did not make moves in Arethil that she didn’t know about. She had her rumors but that was not what she liked to go on. She was a dealer of hard fact. Not gossip like some school girl.

As she approached the club for the second time her detail came forward before she waved them away dismissively. She did not want to be surrounded right now, and she pitied anyone who would get in her way at the moment.

She needed space to figure this out. She had thought by getting the job together that the person putting this together would reveal themselves.

They had not, and this job was ambitious. It made her feel strange risking herself and her...work allies..For some faceless person.

She got to the bar and walked up behind Isak.

“Everything is together.” She huffed herself. She ignored everyone else. It wasn’t rude. Her mind was too focused.

“We can meet in my office to discuss further.” She had in her hands a few papers and scrolls. Her hazy grey eyes traveled across the group appraisingly.

Charity, Eilerias, Isak, and some tiefling muscle. They could do much worse. Without waiting for anyone to respond she would make way for her office immediately.

The sooner they got this started the sooner she would find out who was pulling all of these strings.

 

[Sirius]

"You are all here, then."

Isak pulled the card from inside his coat and placed it at the table, next to Charity's. He knew that strange looking man had the same questions as the rest of them, and even Isak himself barely had any idea about the job, yet.

"It's a job, though I'm sure you all know about that already" A glass of water was placed next to Isak as he finished, and he quickly picked it up and had a small sip. "A big one, but don't get too thrilled, Charity."

Isak now inspected the card as if it was the single most interesting thing at the place, and it probably was, given the circumstances. His lips turned into a short smirk before he emptied his glass of water.

"Gwendolyn already left for her archives. I'm sure she'll have more information on our target once she returns."

So details were en route, perfect. So he simply sat down patiently, and set the card on the countertop to make sure they knew he was there to be involved, and had actually been invited to this little game. He usually didn't speak that much, as his mouth would easily get him in trouble, normally he'd just burn the trouble away but he didn't want the ire of a crime syndicate on top of the usual ire of human society.

He took a moment to look the others over. The blonde, scrawny-looking and light, most likely a pickpocket or some other form of sneakthief, he made sure to keep a hand on his coinpurse in case she decided to see an opportunity. An elf in white, either a magic user or maybe a planner of some kind, maybe an inside eye? Or another sneakthief, it would make sense to have more than one for the aforementioned big job.

After breaking eye contact, she noticed a particularly red man and couldn't help but stare. Growing up, she really never met anyone that wasn't a human or an elf of some sort. She looked down after staring for a little bit too long.

Staring didn't bother him anymore, it was normal by now, but he made it a point to glance her way. Not necessarily in a hostile way, not really friendly either, just to let her know he was sizing her up, trying to determine what kind of threat she might be if this group decided they didn't like him.

Then a newcomer came along.

Gwendolyn left her archives after a short visit.

She had all the info they needed. Then when, the where, and the what. The why still alluded her as well as the who.

The two things that irked her the most. Her brain was working so hard one could almost see the smoke coming from her ears. Her usual calm, almost sleepy expression held the look of someone very peeved about something.

One did not make moves in Arethil that she didn’t know about. She had her rumors but that was not what she liked to go on. She was a dealer of hard fact. Not gossip like some school girl.

As she approached the club for the second time her detail came forward before she waved them away dismissively. She did not want to be surrounded right now, and she pitied anyone who would get in her way at the moment.

She needed space to figure this out. She had thought by getting the job together that the person putting this together would reveal themselves.

They had not, and this job was ambitious. It made her feel strange risking herself and her...work allies..For some faceless person.

She got to the bar and walked up behind Isak.

“Everything is together.” She huffed herself. She ignored everyone else. It wasn’t rude. Her mind was too focused.

“We can meet in my office to discuss further.” She had in her hands a few papers and scrolls. Her hazy grey eyes traveled across the group appraisingly.

Charity, Eilerias, Isak, and some tiefling muscle. They could do much worse. Without waiting for anyone to respond she would make way for her office immediately.

The sooner they got this started the sooner she would find out who was pulling all of these strings.

He sighed, grabbed the card/letter, slid it into his pocket and stood up to follow, but he made sure to keep behind the blonde, he didn't really trust anyone here yet, no honour among thieves after all.

 

[Eilerias]

Eilerias watched as Gwendolyn entered the club and made her way towards the group. She worked so hard and, though she didn't look like she was stressed out, Eilerias still worried that she was overdoing it.

She set her nearly full glass of water on the bar and wiped the edge with her white sleeve. Even though she had no longer been a part of the church, she still held onto her practices dearly and vowed to maintain both her purity and devotion. She knew some people, Isak, thought it was stupid and often poked fun at her devotion, but it was for the God of Light and He would provide her with power.

Eilerias hopped off her barstool and motioned for the others. "Gwendolyn, is everything alright?" She asked, following Gwen to the office like a little pet dog. In all honesty, Eilerias felt like she owed everything to Gwen. She was the only one to offer her a space to stay after she was exiled from her church for aiding criminals and though it wasn't without conditions, it was one of the only kind things someone has ever done for her. "What good are my services for a 'target'?"

 

[Charity Briarthorne]

"Keep it" He broke his thoughts about the job for a moment, his face slowly turning to Charity. He had seen the small coin pouch on her hand. "I enjoy your little games, from time to time."

Charity was taken aback. Was the man before her really Isak Lavelle? Any other day he would have snatched the money out of her hand and demanded more while scolding her for causing trouble. But she wasn't going to complain about having more coins jingling around in her pockets.

She eyed the strange newcomer suspiciously, having never seen a creature of his type before. His appearance was frightening, and the way he carried the giant mace made sure everyone knew that he meant business.

"You are all here, then."

Isak pulled the card from inside his coat and placed it at the table, next to Charity's. He knew that strange looking man had the same questions as the rest of them, and even Isak himself barely had any idea about the job, yet.

"It's a job, though I'm sure you all know about that already" A glass of water was placed next to Isak as he finished, and he quickly picked it up and had a small sip. "A big one, but don't get too thrilled, Charity."

A dark scowl crossed Charity's face at Isak's comment. Still, she threw her arms up into the air as if praising the gods for this sudden stroke of luck. "Fucking... FIIINNNALLYYY!!" she said in relief. The past few jobs from Gwen had been child's play, and even though she had been compensated more than fairly, they were no fun. Swindling idiots out of their money at The Raven Club was beginning to lose its luster as well.

"What do you mean target?"

The sound of Eilerias' soft voice caused Charity to glance over to her with her arms still up in the air. "Let us worry about the targets, Angel." She said with a large grin, bringing her arms down and punching her fist into her palm. "Just need you to make sure we come out of this alive."

“Everything is together.” She huffed herself. She ignored everyone else. It wasn’t rude. Her mind was too focused.

“We can meet in my office to discuss further.” She had in her hands a few papers and scrolls. Her hazy grey eyes traveled across the group appraisingly.

Charity's eyes opened wide as Gwendolyn joined them. She followed the rest of the group into Gwen's office and excitedly stood as close to Gwen as she could without being too obvious about it.

Now things were starting to get exciting!

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Of course, Charity would be the one to shout in excitement over the possibility of a job so intricate and dangerous that could get all of them dead by the end of the week.

Isak inspected the rest of his crew. The stranger, armed and intimidating, he had the makings of a warrior. A valuable asset for what was to come. Eilerias, forever innocent and faithful to her beliefs, as naive as they were. Still, her gentle nature always seemed to poke at Isak's more darkened and stoic edges, as much as having him worry about her wellbeing more than he should.

She was valuable as a healer, but after all the time they spent working together, he felt like she was that one anchoring point between that band of misfits and criminals, keeping them down to earth with her speeches about pleasing the gods and showing kindness to each other.

Still, there was no time for kindness now. Only for planning.

He felt Gwendolyn's presence as she walked towards him, seemingly ignoring everyone else to relay her status. If everything had been going according to their plans, the crew could start the job as soon as possible, and Isak hated delaying.

Eilerias' questioning threw him off his thoughts for a moment, but Isak didn't feel as bothered as he should. Before he had the chance to say something, Charity went out of her way to provide some 'comfort' for the kind healer.

This job would surely be met with violence in some part or another, but his head was already filled with schemes and plans to get them by as peacefully as possible. A monumental task, given the ones involved. He looked at Charity, clearing his throat.

"Lead the way" He said, just as Gwendolyn bolted towards the stairs, with the rest of the group quickly following her. Isak stood behind, waiting for someone.

"What business, boss? Do you need me for something?" A dwarf appeared from the bar, calling for him. Isak tilted his head towards him.

"Keep the place in good health, Ogden. I fear we'll be gone for a while."

Now he went towards Gwendolyn's office, with the rest of the group already waiting inside. It was a cozy and well organized place, much like his own offices. He knew that the information broker was much like him, always sticking to her plans and missions, and that's why Isak enjoyed working with her. And also, the knowledge she provided had been pivotal in securing many deals over the rest of the crime lords and merchants in Alliria.

Isak started pacing around for a bit, eventually resting his gloved hands on top of her desk, watching carefully each person in the room as they waited in silence for whatever plan Isak had come up with.

"Gwendolyn, what have you discovered? Give me everything."

His firm and focused gaze denounced that his sharp mind was already hard at work, concoting several plans for what was to come next.

 

[Milo]

Finnegan Argon, notorious for his role in his uncles mafia, rolled out of his bed and made his way over to the Raven Club. By now they should all be together he thought to himself.

The lady of the night he had entertained last evening was still sound asleep. Finnegan dressed and headed out.

His brown leather skin jacket covered up a scar on his left arm, reaching from his wrist to shoulder. It was that healer Eilerias that helped him with that one a couple years back when she was still accepted by her church.

Upon entering the club, founded by an old friend of his Isak Lavelle, the security told him where to find his uncles little band of misfits.

To his displease Gwendolyn Vullmond was part of that band, Finn new she was necessary to almost any of the Mafias operations yet, they never quite saw eye to eye...

"Alrighty then," Finnegan walked through the door. Didnt acknowledge the rest if the group before heading over to Isak, shaking hands and exchanging a knowing look, Finn then turned to the rest. "Hiya doll," he winked at Eilerias. A stoic expression now rested on his face. "Well get on with it then Gwen." Finnegan placed his hands in his pockets, lent against Gwendolyns desk as if it were apart of him and waited.

 

[Gwendolyn Vollmund]

Gwendolyn placed a hand one Eilerias shoulder saw they walked. “Child. You are an anchor. I would have asked for your help if this person had not.” She explained with a short smile. She let charity stay close as well. The girl was trying to look like she wasn’t but Gwen could hear her behind but had yet to acknowledge her. She would once the meeting was complete.

Gwen sat at her desk and gestured everyone to do the same Isak proffered to stay standing and being a pacer herself Gwen felt the urge to join him, but the large desk was what she needed right now so she spread out her work.

One scroll was particularly old. A building layout. The other papers held more written information she would get to later. She waited for Isak to give her approval. Even if she was well respected as a leader in her own right Isak was her boss. He spoke and she jumped to explaining.

“Black. Forge. Keep.” She said rolling out the scroll first. “No ones ever gotten away with so much as a copper and lived to tell about it.” She said firing off the information. “I’d tell you further but you all already know the stories.”

She continued.

“Three levels of security doors, well trained mercenaries, and of course.. The target.” She said pulling out an old hand drawn photo. “Is that..Mrs Gwendolyn you-.” Her assistant gasped from her corner where she usually sat quietly until needed. Gwen shot her a look with an eyebrow raised and she quickly fell silent with a blush of embarrassment.

“his is the sword of one of the first kings of Elbion before later on when the council started running things of course.” Gwen pulled out another paper.

“Elbion had a very fine, but very short list of kings when the city was founded. This sword belonged to the first. It’s old, impossibly rare, possibly enchanted and built with so much gold and jewels it would be worth it without all the other factors adding even more value.” She laid out each page as she read it.

“It normally resides in the councils vault. If it was still there that would be a whole different story and the job would be over right now.” She said crossing her arms before holding up a single slender finger.

“But according to our collectively mutual friend. Black rock Keep is where it is now. For cleaning and re-enchanting no doubt.” She said before pulling out a final paper.

“It’s no mages high council vault, but this in and of its self will be a legendary feat if we can pull this off.” She handed Isak the final paper.

“Here are the guard rotations. What guards will be on shift. When they normally take breaks, eat, piss, shit, and sleep. My agents risked much to get such accurate information over a period of two moths. I suggest we use it.” She said ending her portion.

The meeting was far from over.
Poor charity was already looking bored. Gwen would give the floor to Isak so he could process this new information, and come up with one of his devious schemes. She loved him for his wit, but she respected him for his cunning.

She would roll something over to Charity while she continued to look desperately bored. It was a mould ball. A ball of liquid metal that was firm, but could turn into a liquid and whatever shape or thing you wanted within reason using illusion magic.

The girl loved fiddling with it during these long meetings. Helped keep her racing mind focused. She gave her a small wink as the hall reached her and discreetly pointed to Isak reminding her to pay attention. Her hazy grey eyes still casting about the room occasionally.

 

[Eilerias]

A small smile broke over Eilerias' face as Gwen reassured her, like she always managed to do. She continued to follow at her heels until they had reached the office. She took a seat in front of the desk. She was the smallest one there and assumed no one would mind as she wouldn't block anyone's view.

She bit at her nails and watched as the elven woman spread out her work and unrolled a tattered old scroll. Eilerias eyed it, confused, as Gwen spoke about security, mercenaries and targets. It was a lot to take in and Eilerias didn't really know how to feel about it.

Gwendolyn's assistant broke Eilerias' concentration with her questions and she shot Gwen a concerned look. Kings? Enchanted swords? If we pull it off? What do you mean if? Eilerias thought, not having the courage to ask questions the rest would probably think pointless. They were all familiar with contracts, fighting, and scheming.

She stared down at her hands. Would they take a life? She wondered. The closest she had ever been to harming another was when she moved someone a little too much while assessing their condition. Would she feel the pain of someone she hurt? Maybe Gwen would know. She knew everything there was to know about anything.

She looked over at Charity who didn't seem to have a single worry about this mission. Was she ever worried? She wondered briefly before paying attention to Isak as he took over the meeting.

 

[Charity Briarthorne]

Charity groaned tiredly as Gwen begain to lay out the deatails. She put her hands behind her head and leaned against the wall, closing her eyes. This was her least favorite part of any job. No matter what the plan was her role was always the same. Sneak in, acquire the item, get out.

“Black. Forge. Keep.” She said rolling out the scroll first. “No ones ever gotten away with so much as a copper and lived to tell about it.” She said firing off the information. “I’d tell you further but you all already know the stories.”

She continued.

“Three levels of security doors, well trained mercenaries, and of course.. The target.” She said pulling out an old hand drawn photo.

"Tch!" Charity scoffed. That level of security sounded like child's play. Stories of people not living to tell about it be damned.

“Elbion had a very fine, but very short list of kings when the city was founded. This sword belonged to the first. It’s old, impossibly rare, possibly enchanted and built with so much gold and jewels it would be worth it without all the other factors adding even more value.”

One eye slowly opened as Gwen metioned the sword. Now this was something Charity could get behind.

“Here are the guard rotations. What guards will be on shift. When they normally take breaks, eat, piss, shit, and sleep. My agents risked much to get such accurate information over a period of two moths. I suggest we use it.” She said ending her portion.

Charity yawned and stretched her arms as Gwendolyn wrapped up. "Doesn't really sound that dangerous or challenging if ya ask me. I could probably pull off this job all by myself blindfolded with one hand tied behind my back." she commented lazily.

Something silver rolled past Charity, and she instinctively snatched it up thinking it was something valuable. It wasn't but it was certainly the next best thing - a malleable ball of metallic liquid. She quickly transformed it into a duck pretending to fly it through the air. After a moment Charity realized she was making quiet quacking sounds and the others were staring at her. "What you looking at?!" she snapped her face turning a bright red.

"Uh...So anyway... Where do the rest of these chumps fit into the plan Lavelle?" Charity asked giving Isak a sideways glance.

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Expanding his business from robbing mercenaries of their cargo in the docks to well planned heists had been quite the challenge over the years, one that Isak welcomed with open arms. He knew that a fair and legal fight would never work against the crooked rich men that ruled over cities like Alliria, masquerading as honest merchants while dealing with many grotesque schemes underneath it.

Isak wasn't in that business just to get rich, he wanted to take more. Take all their power, make them kneel and recognize the people that they hurt during their rise to their pretty and comfortable seats. If he were to acquire a fortune while at it, only the better.

As dangerous as the job before him seemed to be, with Gwendolyn tracking down the smallest of details to explain, Isak's mind was focused on that larger scheme, unknown to the people in that room. He couldn't back down from it, he never would.

Black Forge Keep. He knew the stories, the truths and lies. Barging their way into any keep would prove to be a hard task, and as a wise man once told him - Any place with reputation is worthy of consideration.

They barely had the time for consideration, and no kind of reputation would stop Isak from getting that job done.

His eyes went quickly through the scrolls as Gwendolyn talked. He knew he could count on her to deliver the necessary information, but they still needed a plan. To gather all that knowledge and put it to good use, to land in a scenario where they wouldn't get killed or thrown in jail, to rot away in oblivion at the end of it.

Isak swiftly glanced over each person there, pondering their reactions as Gwendolyn told them what was at stake. The weight of responsibility was great, but he knew they were the crew to get things done.

The young man took the piece of paper handed to him by Gwendolyn, reading over its contents fairly quick. She really managed to have it all down to the minor, yet most important, details. Ogden, his dwarven associate, could surely help them in dealing with those guards, if discretion happened to fail them. Isak would give him the information later.

Suddenly, the room was filled with silence again. Isak's gaze was once again fixed upon the scrolls, thinking of a million ways to get in and out of a place like that while carrying a legendary sword.

It certainly looked easier on his head.

Charity was the one to break the tension of that meeting, throwing her jokes around as means to get them all to feel less fearful about the mission. It was also the first time in a while that Isak had laughed out loud, as quickly as that was. A rare sound.

Where would we fit in all this, Lavelle? He thought of many answers to Charity's question, and only a few of them were pleasing to his own ears.

"Ogden can get us inside, we can use some of his contacts in the region." Isak said, looking over at Charity with somewhat of a smug. "You will be joining the fray a bit differently, though. Our master thief deserves her own grand entrance, after all."

Isak glanced over at Eilerias now, grasping at how nervous she felt. No doubt she was worried for all of them, and also that she would somehow anger her god in these criminal efforts. Unfortunately, he had no time to worry about his soul, let alone others.

"Your god may yet favor us after all, Eilerias." Isak said while walking away from the desk, standing just a couple steps away from her, a rather genuine smile on his face. "I'm sure the Black Forge Keep could use the talents of a healer to help those poor guards in their most important jobs."

Isak's plan was starting to take form and make sense in his mind. Infiltrate and conquer from the inside, a simple yet effective plan when dealing with a situation like that. They would have to blend in perfectly, use Gwendolyn's knowledge of the guards activities to their advantage and finally carve a path for Charity to grab their prize.

And if they were to fight for their lives, Isak felt that the tall stranger who recently joined them could most certainly handle any kind of battle. And Isak himself wouldn't be far behind.

Only, there was something off about all that, and Isak knew just what.

"The guards and locks aren't the real issue." His mind had been thinking about the enchantment bit of Gwendolyn's information for a while now.

A sword so old and rare, enchanted with unknown magic, laying around in a keep, locked behind keys and guarded by a few guards who thought only about what their next meal would be like.

It was far too simple. There had to be a catch somewhere.

"The trap is the sword's enchantment. And if that's the case, I'll have to call in a favor from a old contact."

 

[Sirius]

"The trap is the sword's enchantment. And if that's the case, I'll have to call in a favor from a old contact."

"Or, if the sword is meant as a trap to capture whomever takes the sword, and this is just an off the top of the head thought, I could reanimate a dead guard to trigger the trap for us, unless it's an alarm, in which case my necromancy is useless." He put out.

It was mostly just a suggestion. He didn't expect it to be accepted, but if they knew he could, through his Warlock Pact, raise some dead, maybe they could use that.

He kept glancing at the others. The elf, who now seemed far too nervous to be a sneakthief as he'd originally thought, was now revealed to him to be a healer. An odd choice for a heist but that also meant she'd be less suspicious. Smart.

"Actually, that begs the question, do we know what this enchantment is?" He asked.

He wasn't the sharpest sword in the armoury, that's true, but he was no idiot either, not by a long shot. So he wanted to know exactly what they were getting into, and maybe even contribute to the planning of this heist.

Doubtless he'd either be the distraction, the stormtrooper meant to kill everyone that they didn't like as quickly as possible, or the guy prying doors open. But those fit his portfolio rather well, so who was he to complain?

 

[Gwendolyn Vollmund]

Gwendolyn huffed slightly. “The enchantment? I’m sure if it was some sort of trap my sources would..” She began somewhat irritated but a look from Isak silenced her.

She straightened her papers grumbling.

He was more than likely right.

“It’s not my fault anyway. The buyer didn’t ask for that information. I only provide what I’m paid to.” She grumbled defensively somehow making pouting look somewhat gracefully dignified. Small tendrils of lightening began to crackle through her hair as her gears began to turn as well. A tic that flared when she was particularly annoyed or frustrated. Ironically a fusion of her lightening and illusion magic. Some of the arcs were illusions.

Some..Not so much.

This whole job was pushing her dangerously out of her comfort zone.

Then Isak mentioned one of his other contacts. One Gwendolyn did not particularly care for.

“I’m being contracted by whoever’s leading this to help you. If you want to go to that slutty hag I’ll consider my part of this job complete and collect my fee from our employer and be on my way.” She said with a prideful sniff.

“Pardon my language.” She added with a small cough recomposing herself.

 

[Eilerias]

Eilerias gave Isak a light punch on the arm as he made the comment about her healing. She laughed for the first time since the meeting had started. "Please don't send me in like a lamb to the slaughter." She squinted at him "I'm here to protect you. Not those pigs."

She turned her attention toward Sirius and nodded as he asked the question and listened as Gwendolyn responded. She stood from her chair and looked closely at the map of Black Forge Keep. "Where is this place anyway Gwen?" She looked up at her sensing that she wasn't extremely comfortable with this job. "And when would we leave? I need to grab some things before we go." She mentioned. "I doubt I would fit in well while wearing all white...well... unless we are going to a tundra I suppose." She sat back down.

She had been thinking about the wardrobe change for a while. She worried she would anger her god, but she knew that she was an asset and a very large white target if she was caught helping this group. It bothered her deeply, but she would put in extra effort to appease the Light God.

 

[Charity Briarthorne]

"You will be joining the fray a bit differently, though. Our master thief deserves her own grand entrance, after all."

"Hell yeah!" Charity cheered punching her fist in the air over her head. She didn't know exactly what he had planned, but her "entrances" were a highlight of any job for her.

"The guards and locks aren't the real issue." His mind had been thinking about the enchantment bit of Gwendolyn's information for a while now.

A sword so old and rare, enchanted with unknown magic, laying around in a keep, locked behind keys and guarded by a few guards who thought only about what their next meal would be like.

It was far too simple. There had to be a catch somewhere.

"The trap is the sword's enchantment. And if that's the case, I'll have to call in a favor from a old contact."

"So what if the swords enchanted?" Charity muttered to herself. She had stolen her fair share of enchanted items before without any real issue. Unless the enchantment instantly summoned defenders around it, she was sure she could escape in time.

Nodding in agreement as Eilerias asked about the time frame, Charity raised her hand. "I'll need a bit of time to prepare too." A completely separate plan from Isak's was beginning to form in Charity's mind. Of course she was going to steal the sword, but if there was something like that in the keep, what other treasures might it contain? If she was going to divert from Isak's plan, she knew she would be on her own.

There was a certain elf who ran a certain alchemy shop in inner Alliria who could provide her with everything she needed. Smoke bombs... flash bombs... blinding powder.... This was going to be expensive but likely well worth it.

A sly grin appeared on her face as she thought about all the possible treasure that she would be able to obtain. These suckers had no idea what she was planning.

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Isak hesitated for a moment after hearing Eilerias' words, his mind going blank for half a second.

Like a lamb to the slaughter... He knew what that feeling was, he witnessed it before. Glimpses of a past life, long buried in the dark corners of Alliria, longing to be forgotten.

He knew that silence was a better option that moment, but Isak just couldn't hold the words back as he gazed upon her eyes, as if he desperately tried to make sure she believed him. "You won't."

He was many things, many of them bad, Isak would never sacrifice the lives of any of those people there just for the sake of it. He was a better man than those crooks that wither away in seats of power and comfort above them, their feet holding down the unfortunate at their throats. His old master had been a constant reminder of that in the past...

Before Isak cut his throat, fast and clean. He wished he could relive that day a thousand times over, to feel the blade cutting that man's flesh and watch as his blood stained the dirty ground.

His hands had started trembling, and Isak quickly sought to recollect himself, taking a few steps away from Eilerias to glance over the scrolls at Gwendolyn's desk again, before Sirius spoke.

Isak could think of only a few enchantments upon rare artifacts that could serve as a trap to whoever tried to steal it, but Sirius had a interesting point. Dark magics could be a powerful ally in that ordeal, and he knew that much for possessing bits of that himself. He would prefer a more discreet way of taking the sword from the keep, but he also had to think of several other outcomes, and Sirius could prove to be a very valuable asset now, if discretion were to fail them.

"We don't know what the enchantment is... yet. But I know a way to discover it."

But between Charity's remarks and Gwendolyn being awfully bothered by the worsening intrications of the job, Isak had a moment for his own thoughts again. Even he felt displeased with the idea he would have to put forward now, but they had to cover every ground in order to finish that job and come away from it alive.

"I'm afraid this is one contact you wouldn't have heard about, Gwendolyn. A person that was supposed to stay buried in a long distant past of mine." His voice was rasp and somewhat pained, Isak wouldn't even look at any of them, too focused on the scrolls and his plans to try and think of any other way to avoid what he was trying to do, but he couldn't.

He would keep the details about that to himself for now. They would know about it all soon enough, after they were set for the Black Forge Keep, after everyone had the time to prepare themselves for the life changing journey ahead of them, to study the plans and get ready.

But there was one question that was still hanging on his mind in that meeting.

"Gwendolyn, and what about our mysterious client?"

 

[Eilerias]

Eilerias looked at Isak with concern following his hesitation. She stared into his eyes as he told her she wouldn't be a lamb going to the slaughter. He wanted her to believe that she, and the rest would be okay and she did. She sighed in relief, putting all her trust in those words.

She noticed a slight trembling in his hands as he walked away from her and tilted her head, concerned. Was he hungry? Scared? She wondered as she analyzed him while he continued talking. She zoned out of the entire conversation about this weapon and it's enchantment, getting lost in her worrisome thoughts.

After a few minutes she snapped out of her daze and noticed Charity was smiling. She always had such a mischievous look about her, it was hard not to wonder if she was up to something. Eilerias brushed off the thoughts, she just always had that aura about her and it was nothing new to see.

"Can I go prepare?" She began walking towards the door, hiding her face with her long hair as millions of worries began to claw their way out of her. She didn't want to annoy the group with her concerns. They were the professionals and she was there in case something went wrong. That was her job, and she would accept that.

 

[Gwendolyn Vollmund]

“Go ask your contact. They must know more than me.” She huffed. It seemed there was even more she didn’t know. Isak was keeping things close to his chest.

She noticed a massive change in his composure and it even further pushed her towards cashing out on this job as fast as possible.

She was always in complete control. She usually knew everything when handling a job, and this one was producing nothing but one question mark after another.

“I only know rumors and I don’t deal in such information. I don’t know if it’s a ring of thieves, a single mastermind, a full on criminal syndicate..Nothing.” She snapped the last word off like a dying branch with an angry edge entering her normally casual, somewhat soft spoken tone.

She tented her fingers and stared at her information. So precise. So accurate. And useless in telling her who the hell this was.

“But I believe now that you have the information you need I can be on my way and meet our employer later for my payment.” She stood to leave as well before Eilerias made it to the door and left. The elf made a beeline for Charity pinning her to the wall by her throat.

She had been noticing that glint in Charity’s eye and it hadn’t gone away after relaying the seriousness of this job.

“You are here because I vouched for you. Because Isak was shown by me that he could trust you.” She drew close until they were almost nose to nose.

“Do not let your greed get you all killed.” She hissed in a tone that could have frozen a glass of water solid outright. Her hazy grey eyes never leaving Charity’s. Once she was shown her point had come across she would release her and ruffle her hair.

“Good. Now be a good little thief and go get yourself filthy rich won’t you?” She tossed her a bag of coin as well. “Oh and here. For your bag of tricks. Tell that little pyro I said hello.” She then would take her Leave after a respectful nod to Isak.

“I’ll let you know what I learn.” She said before taking her leave as well.