eastbound | un: unlikely friend

[ Stealing a second pendant wasn’t easy, exactly, but not was it particularly difficult. As shrewd as merchants were, they were simultaneously arrogant when they thought they were going in for the kill - so using Kahl as a distraction (deliberately looking both well meaning and slow with too much coin weighing him down) made it easy to slip the device away and make his own exit long before the man noticed. He and Kahl met up again in a dank little corner, dark and damp, and crouched down over it as they changed the username and prepared their post.

They needed to get the word out - and quickly - but doing so as themselves would only paint a target on their back. So. Burner device, pretend to be a native from the city, get the word out, then ditch the device as soon as they were done.

Time to go. ]

To our foreign guests:

You’ve been promised to Rakkathu as bodies for his horde. Our King plays your host but has already cut a deal - your lives for ours. Or at least some of them.

A dozen plus a tax - this is what he has been promised.

My conscience won’t abide for it. You’ve done nothing but help where and when we’ve asked, only to get this in return. Don’t let him sacrifice you. Murder won’t buy us freedom, whatever our masters believe.

Please. If you’re anywhere near as strong as I think you are: help free us from him once and for all.

-L

[ ooc: comments with this icon and the un “unlikely friend” are from kahl and cass’s ~~burner phone~~ stolen pendant. Any replies from Kahl or from Cassian’s un “bee” are from their personal pendants. ]

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As safe as we can be.

[ Wrathion is waiting with Strange, a dark cloak hiding some of his clothing but... Well, as Kahl has observed. Wrathion is, indeed, The Red-Eye Man.

At least he trusts Kahl, in all of this. If he's the one here to lead them onward, that's a good sign. ]

[ It's difficult not to recognise their guide-to-be, even though they haven't already been personally acquainted. One of their number. Hm. ]

And all yours.

Good. [He approaches so they can speak directly, but doesn't break stride.] Follow Kahl. [He has a route to take them back, which will make it easier to see if anybody's following.

And give him a few minutes to check in. He's only talked to Red-eye Man once since back at the inn.] This city not good. Hold for now, but not too long. You stay safe?

Well, I've been doing well but I have you for company now. I have every confidence in my safety as long as you are with us.

[ He can lay on a little charm, as a treat, while he follows Kahl. ]

[ They're about the least subtle group they could possibly be while actively trying to maintain any modicum of subtlety, but given the bustle all around them it's neither here nor there. Everyone has more pressing issues than three strange fellows minding their own business.

Stephen follows along quietly, allowing the two who are clearly familiar with one another to catch up. ]

Heh. Pretty words. But Kahl take it. [And he'll give a compliment back in return.]

Wing magic good. [He gestures to the small metal thing that he's magnetically attached to his chest plate. He'd immediately started testing it out as soon as Red-eye Man gave it to him, but he's had more time to play with it now.]

Kahl try big jump off tall building last night. Scare locals a bit. But work great. [He'd been laughing the whole way down. Flying was fun. He'd missed it.]

[ ... Well.

Not his intended use, but at least Kahl is in one piece. ]

Hopefully nobody was frightened enough to fire at you.

[ Truly the last thing they need, when their reputation is already on the rocks. he glances at Strange briefly, then frowns ahead. ]

How far away is this 'friend'?

It fine. Kahl there with guards from tower. They think it funny. [There were still some of them that didn't like him, but that was okay. Even if you wanted to, you couldn't be friends with everybody.]

Not far. Make sure no one follow first, then take to friend. [They weren't very sneaky, but Kahl's leading them down streets that have fewer people on them, easier to watch for someone following. Cassian was careful about this stuff.]

[ Funny? Wrathion supposes funny is better than frightening, but the mental image of Kahl descending abruptly from a height certainly straddles the line between the two. Still, he nods in acceptance -- eyes idly flitting around their surroundings to try and memorise the path. ]

Well, I'm certainly curious to meet your friend.

[ As is Strange, of course. He glances back at the man, then frowns critically ahead -- trying to mentally guess what kind of person specifically Kahl might be friends with. ]

[ Cassian had been waiting and watching from a point a little closer than he had left Kahl, for exactly this purpose. After the three of them passed where he was hidden, he slipped out of the shadows behind them and caught up quickly. ]

And so you meet him.

Keep walking.

[Kahl glances back to look, giving Cassian a smile made lopsided by all the scars on his face. He hadn't seen his brother there. Cassian's good at sneaking.]

You talk. Kahl keep watch. [He turns back to the path ahead of them, following a route that will keep them off the main streets.]

[ ... Huh. He doesn't know all of their number well, but he's pretty sure he recognises this guy from more than just their time in Alem.

With Kahl taking charge of their route, Stephen continues an easy follow, for now not sparing their party's new addition another glance as they continue to wind their way through the Crossing. Though he casts a look at Wrathion for his reaction.

'Unlikely' indeed. All that pretence for... what? There's only one reason he can think of. ]

You carried a message?

[ Like Wanda had. Another of Deimar's missives. ]

[ Intriguing. Wrathion is quite certain he's seen this man before, in their little entourage. He recognises his voice, he's sure, from the communication pendants. The dragon lofts an eyebrow, glancing sideways at Strange, but says nothing for now.

Quite the build up, and now he's wondering how much the deception will be worth it. He simply nods in understanding, waits curiously for Cassian to answer. Presumably he did -- the question is what exactly it said. ]

un: unlikely friend

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