(The Cleansing Fire) Paying a Visit to the Market

[Lesingnon]

The direct approach was certainly something he could agree with, here at least. He doubted that the Fleshmarket guards would have much patience for dancing around a subject. Of course, he wasn't quite sure they'd have any more patience with someone trying to wind them up. But there wasn't much helping that now.

So he simply moved up along with Malory, holding his tongue for now until he could gauge the guards' response.

[Malcolm Green]

The slow moving mountain followed behind the Airtouched and the Grumpy Beast. He had lapsed into stoney silence (pun intended), looming high and broad behind the the pair. The crisp shock of his wintry mantle did little to dispel the reek that rolled off the place; instead it bought the stench into sharp relief.

Green remained aloof and watchful. Hiding his distaste. Keeping his cards very close to his chest. It would not pay to reveal what few oddments he had to trade for the information they sought. And who knew what price the vicious hobs of this fetid, insufferable hole, would demand?

[Jag]

One of the guards looked down at Mal, arching an eyebrow at her question. "No more than usual," he said in response, but it was clear that he was holding back. From up close, the group could see that the heavily armored guards had some fresh scars upon their bodies. Whatever they had been up to lately, it had not been a gentle affair.

"If you are looking for wares," the guard said to the Hunterheart and the others. "Go speak with the merchants."

[Lesingnon]

"Indeed, a group of cultists by all appearances...idiotic and pyromaniacal cultists at that. We've heard that they've caused trouble here." And with the way his gaze lingers a bit on the more recent fire damage it seems clear that he considers those rumors well-founded. "Now I don't doubt you gave them a pretty sound thrashing, but I also don't doubt that you've noticed they're probably dumb enough to come back here anyway to cause more trouble. Not that you couldn't handle it...but it sounds like it'd be a PITA."

"Of course, I'm sure it comes as no surprise to you that they've ruffled some feathers elsewhere as well. We're looking to deal with the bastards. And, of course, once we do that...they can't come here to mess with you anymore."

[Malcolm Green]

Green simply loomed. Carefully posturing, he made sure that he was standing behind Rick and Mal as they made their cases. He didn't exactly have a way with words, but in this case, he thought it helpful to add:

"So who do we talk to in regard to that?"

[Jag]

The guard that had spoken to Mal quirked one eyebrow, his facial expression being a mixture of frustration and curiosity all at once. "Well, that may change things," he finally said to the little Hunterheart, turning to the other guard standing beside him and exchanging a quick glance with him.

Once Rick was done speaking, the other guard piped up. "We've had some issues with this group, on more than one occasion now," he said to the group at large. "The first time we were caught somewhat unaware..." there's a look of shame in the guard's eyes as he said this. "They had a large force, and were better equipped than expected. However, during their last visit we managed to kill a few of the bastards." This time there was a hint of pride in his voice, as he offered the Lost a viciously toothy grin.

"We actually managed to capture one of 'em," said the other, nodding at his colleague's words. "But if you want to talk more about that, I suggest you all speak with Thanak." The guard expected them to know who that was of course, but after a moment of silence, he looked at the group again and added, "he's the new head of security around here. Sal put him in charge of the prisoner's interrogation."