Scene #5232: Sign o' the Times

Owner	Pose
Laer	Laer's missions have gotten more and more opaque, and more and more lucritive. From last week's shopping expedition, the rewards have damn near doubled, as she seems to be having trouble convincing people to go on missions twice. Still, they've been innocent enough so far, even with the tendency to meet in odd places. This is probably the champion for the oddest, though. A former King's Forest, in a fallen kingdom that is now primarily populated by zombie humans, zombie dogs, and zombie zombies. Laer doesn't seem too worried about people getting there, even though the woods have a few zombie deer. They're hunting for graaaains. She's sitting next to a single solitary tombstone in a clearing, with no blade of grass or tree growing for a solid twenty feet around, having given very precise directions on the time and place to meet for the job as normal, as well as offering portals from Afterus for the more travel-weary.
Sanary Rondel	Sanary's not someone that's too hard to convince to go on a mission for Laer twice, especially with the rewards becoming more lucrative! Sure, they've been a little odd, and this one's no clearer than anything else, and it's all rather obtuse in general, but... ... Money. Sanary likes it. That's what she's arriving at the fallen kingdom's forest, carrying a large mechanical axe with her and pausing to stare at the zombies roaming about. They don't appear particularly threatening, but the sight still unnerves her somewhat. Not enough to stop her from battering any of the closer ones aside, of course, but she still tries to avoid them wherever possible. Spotting Laer in the clearing, the healer raises her hand in a likely familiar salute in her approach. "Hey, Laer. What's the job today? Clearing out.. Uh." She gestures at the zombies further away. "... All those? Ain't gonna complain about an easy paycheck, but... Is that it?"
Drustan Cynbel	One of new arrivals is little under five foot tall, and clad in armour black as the knight. People can feel the ground shake with every step he takes, in part because of Earth magic enhancing the impact of his steps. He reaches out for a zombie in passing, and the animating energy leaves the zombie a corpse, collapsing on the groond. It's one way to make an impression. "I am the Darkbringer." He introduces himself.
August Kohler	As spooky as the last mission turned out to be, it was relatively pretty safe, and paid well. When another one was set up that paid twice as well, August jumped on it. So he's here, in a t-shirt, jacket, and jeans, fully armed as he approaches the tombstone in the clearing. "Are we going to have to jump into a grave while doing a jig this time?" August has kept distance from the zombie beer, and is assuming that the zombies are definitely not the job. "I didn't bring the boots for it."
Staren	A mysterious mission is worth at least checking out, right? Staren's worked with Laer before on the Sburb and SAO cases. The distinctive beam of red energy shoots down from the sky and coalesces into Staren on the ground. He gives Laer a nod of friendly greeting. "So... What's the mission?"
Captain Flint	From the relative solitude of the clearing, there can be heard the distant cadence of hooves upon the earth. In the forest, a figure astride a black horse weaves in between trees, commanding the steed with expert ability. Trees whip by, one by one, with the occasional zombified creature shambling towards rider and steed in vain. The figure, wearing a determined frown and his usual longcoat, is none other than Captain Flint of the Walrus. When he hears the words 'nothing illegal' he's naturally suspicious, so, he's brought along a few members of his crew as well--just a small vanguard of 4 men. Flint and his men come to a halt just before the clearing. A zombie in the path causes Flint's horse to rear up on its hindlegs, but that problem is quickly solved by expedient application of pistol. With an unflattering 'blam' from Flint's... flintlock, the zombie is felled, and he and his men approch Laer, stepping off of their horses. Flint's men keep to themselves, but the Captain makes the effort to introduce himself--there are a few new faces here. "I'm Captain Flint, of the Walrus," he says, taking a cue from Drustan. "These are my men."
Laer	Laer will lift a hand up to greet Sanary, before glancing around. "Hmm? No. This place was kind of awful before everyone was a zombie, actually. This is just the closest door I could find enough keys to to where I need you all to go." She'll hop up to her feet, squinting at the Darkbringer. "Oh, you'll have fun." She'll declare, suddenly, smiling. She's interrupted from a polite, if somewhat chilly, greeting towards Staren by zombies v. pirates, which will get her to go into her usual pre-mission lecture mode. Though she seems very slightly hesitant, for once. "So, this one's a bit more.. sentimental for me, I have to admit, than the last one. I need you all to retrieve some of my belongings from where I left them within the city, if they're still there, or try to get a lead on where they've been moved to if not. They were left at the Hall of Speakers, in some of the private vaults for those who reside there... Oh, about five or ten years ago. This door should bring you to just outside the entrance, in fact, but you're going to have to ask around. They move the vaults now and then. The only piece I really care about is a flute, rather intricately made, but there were a number of gemstones that you can split amongst yourselves as a bonus as well." She'll drum a finger on her side, before continuing uncomfortably. "So. The thing about this is.. I would probably avoid mentioning that you know me, if you can. You'll likely need to mention my name to get it, and that might get their attention, but you probably want to make something up. Anyway. The door this time involve placing a rose cut at midnight on the grave. Don't let go of it, or you won't have a way to get back. Don't lose your rose, or you'll have to find another way out of the city. Press it back against where you come out to get back out." During this last, she's handing out white roses, one to each, including the four pirates. "Also, try to not stop existing, if you can."
Drustan Cynbel	"Can't I just kill 'em an' have 'em tell me where te find th'goods after? Seems less troublesome." Drustan suggests, seeming to be somewhat apprehensive about the whole 'making up a story thing.' He looks towards the others to see if there's any objections, while he doesn't comment on the 'you'll have fun' bit at all.
August Kohler	As Laer explains the mission, August just listens and nods, taking the rose and flicking it around in his fingers. "I can already think of some potential ways to handle the lying. So, gemstones are ours, get the flute to get paid, try to keep existing. That sounds simple enough. I assume you're not going to elaborate on the last part, so." And then, there's a weary sigh, as the redhead moves over to the grave. He's not actually confident about this, but he'll put up airs that he is. With a step towards the grave, August puts the rose down, waiting to be teleported.
Sanary Rondel	"... Really? Huh." Sanary blinks slowly in surprise, glancing around the unnaturally empty clearing before shrugging once and resting the axe against her shoulder. She steps back briefly at the sight of the Darkbringer announcing himself. Thankfully, she doesn't seem too unnerved after the initial surprise wears off. August's arrival actually seems to draw more of a surprised reaction from the healer, although it might be more from recognition than actual surprise. "Hope not. I just washed these pants. I don't wanna get 'em all... Grave dirty." It's clear from a glance that she has not actually washed those pants recently. Staren's and Flint's arrivals draw skeptical and approving stares respectively, and she finally raises her hand to her head in a lazy salute in greeting. "Sanary. Good meeting you all. Now... We get the flute, maybe the gems, don't say your name, and..." She squints slightly at the roses while she takes one. "... Is it safe for these to get a little crushed?" She gestures at the inside of her coat while following August's lead and tapping it on one of the graves. She's just gonna shove that in her pocket, isn't she?
Captain Flint	Flint listens intently to Laer's instructions. He's a visitor here, for the first time, and one never wants that to be apparent in unfamiliar places. Lying their way into private residences to retrieve something? He furrows his brow--it certainly doesn't sound legal, but he is one of the most infamous pirates of the West Indies, so it's not really a deal breaker. Drustan's idea gets murmurs of approval from Flint's men as the white roses are passed out, though the captain himself looks skeptical. "We're trying to avoid attention," he says. "Murder is usually counter to that aim." At least, it is in most worlds he's seen. Perhaps this Darkbringer has a way of doing so subtly? Watching August with interest, he turns and gives his men expectant looks, motioning with a nod of his head to nearby gravestones. He'd never admit to being a good liar out loud--and is glad August seems to have done so instead. Flint and his vanguard all press their white roses at the grave as they've seen the others do. His men clutch them tightly, still getting used to the whole Multiverse thing.
Staren	Staren listens. The strange conditions of the portal are intriguing, but perhaps more pressing is the other comment. "Did you leave these people on bad terms? Like, how bad? What did you do?"
Laer	"If you kill people and can still get answers from them, I suppose you could try. It's likely to end with an entire city trying to feed you to a dragon, though. There are some potent powers within there. Still, I'm not picky, you know." Is her response to the armor-clad man. Sanary'll get a glance, and a slightly confused smile. "Well. Probably? If you don't lose too much of the rose, that is." Staren will get an answer, at least. Of course. "These people? No, no. It's more other people. A lot of other people. And the less you know, the better off you are, really!" Laer will say, with a smile. "The other people might have put pressure on these people. I've been out of touch for a very long time, now, and the city still stands in the end." Which is what the first mission had really been about finding out, in fact. She'll try to evade any other questions in favor of hurrying people to dealing with the portal, and those who do will find themselves near quite the building - it's obvious that that's the one Laer had spoken of, as it is quite distinctive, almost a mound more than a building, with a spire growing out of the top of it. A gate is near the front of the mound, and crowds of strange people are hustling about. Where the group will come out is at a round stone in the middle of a garden, no more than five hundred feet from the entrance. They're getting quite a lot of interest. Tiefling children are pointing and whispering to each other, even. Probably plotting. That goes around.
Sanary Rondel	That's good enough for Sanary! Into the pocket the rose goes. It's a safe one with a zipper, too! Just... Probably some smushing going on in there. It'll probably be fine. The healer's not going to waste too much time questioning Laer in favor of heading towards today's pay day, seeking out the location of the vaults in question. Doing so isn't all that difficult, although the attention the group is getting has Sanary pausing to wave slowly at the pointing children. And whispering quietly to anyone in the group that's listening. "Alright. Let's finish that scavenger hunt, huh?" She starts towards the entrance of the building, looking for someone that looks like they might be a guide or information desk or something.
Staren	Staren's... suspicious of Laer now, but learning of this new world may lead to useful things anyway. Staren looks around after they arrive, smiling and nodding at the children. "Well. Let's go meet her old friends, huh?" He looks around at the group, and follows Sanary.
Captain Flint	The structure is impressive. The learned man in Flint, buried beneath the abuse from the sea and the life of a criminal, implores him to take a moment and admire it. His men do some whispering of their own as they note him taking in the scenery, but a hard glare from the captain has their rumors withering on the vine. When he turns back to get another look, he spots some children. Tiefling children. Most of the children in Nassau are thieving little urchins not to be trusted farther than they can be thrown. He presumes there's a good chance the children here are the same way, but, like the children in Nassau, that doesn't mean they can't be of use if incentivized. The captain approaches the children, takes a knee, and reveals a shiny gold coin. "One coin, and you never saw me," he offers. "Another five for whoever can get all this attention off of us."
August Kohler	"Alright, she didn't mention it this time, but also I assume it's still a rule, don't openly worship anything." August whispers to the group, hoping no one accidentally breaks one of the rules in this terrifying place, as he walks up to the gate and tries to find a way in, or if that fails, find someone who looks like they know something. He keeps his rose tucked into a jacket pocket all the while. "This place is weird and I'm pretty sure insanely magical, so, uh, let's not get killed?"
Drustan Cynbel	"That would be awkward." Lear gets as an answer to the kill thing, and then they're off. "I'll take point." Drustan offers, and unless someone stops him, will quickly take his spot at the front. One hand on the sword in its sheath, and his every step still the very opposite of stealthy. Whether this is by design or accident, well... August may know, the others likely won't. "Nobody dies on my watch, Kohler."
Laer	The building itself is not locked or closed, the gates and doors open leading into the building. Though it mostly just leads into a curving twine of multiple hallways, in all directions. There are guards, though, who stand there and mostly just frown severely at people as they walk in. They won't stop anyone, but they might be the most obvious people to ask questions of. Flint, on the other hand, will have made friends! "Five isn't near enough to risk drawing the attention on us, primer." The most bold, and obnoxious, of the tieflings will state, moving forward. "Three each and we'll make sure none of our friends saw you either, though. None of us want to go out THAT way, 'sides." She's going to try to take the coins, at least... Drustan will get VERY close attention, but surity of purpose will get a lot of respect from the guards. They'll make no immediate moves to stop him.
Captain Flint	Flint chuckles at the boldness of the children--though he's quick with his money as any pirate should be. Tossing a small coin pouch behind him to one of his men, he makes a joke at the tiefling's expense. "Three each. Give her a sword and she'd fit in with the rest of you." This draws a chorus of laughter and (for once) good natured insults thrown back at Flint. "I admire your boldness," he says to the girl after a hard, appraising glance. "Hold on to it and it'll serve you well." Rising, he looks to the pirate currently holding his coinpurse. "Pay them three a piece, then regroup with us." "Aye, captain." With that, Flint sets his sights on the building in the distance and his fellows approaching it, striding purposefully toward it. A little hush money goes a long way--even if they won't draw attention to themselves, he may have just prevented others from using the same tactic against the party, and for a pittance at that.
Staren	On his way to the building , Staren notices there's no spacesuits, power armor, laser guns, or robots around, so he activates Iianor's disguise bead -- He's now glamered to appear as a human in plate by the time he reaches the building, although his armor doesn't clink the same way.
Drustan Cynbel	Likewise, Drustan will make no moves at the guards or draw his blade as long as they do the same. He is wary and on his guard, but he is not planning to pick a fight. Since they're not doing his preferred information gathering strategy, he'll keep quiet, let them think he's a bodyguard or something along those lines. He looks enough like the part.
August Kohler	As they move in, August notices the glances Drustan gets, but also the seeming respect. He moves his hand to the machete on his hip, as he steps into the building. He looks at the guards, and walks around the immediate area briefly, trying to fake an air of 'confidence' and 'I know exactly what I'm goddamn doing'. Finally, he stops, staring straight at the guards, clearing his throat as he speaks in his natural German because he feels most confident doing so, and hopes it'll disguise the nervousness he's feeling. "So, we need some help. We're looking for the location of one of your personal vaults. We're willing to negotiate for it, but we need to get into that vault." "You wouldn't happen to know where Laer's is, would you?" As he /actually/ says the name, though, August's confidence can be probably noticed dropping with the sweat dripping off his forehead, even as he tries to keep up his bluster with all these scary people around. "Tell us who to talk to if you don't know. We have business in there."
Sanary Rondel	Sanary's expression perks up slightly as she draws closer to the building with all those neatly arranged hallways. Sure, it might be hard to find anything without knowing where to start or where she's going, but having it all so straightforward like this means she couldn't possibly get lost looking for it! She clearly hasn't went far enough in yet. The healer doesn't appear to be too suspicious of anyone in the group, at least, and she's more than willing to let Drustan take point as requested. She even gives him that very slight eyebrow raise of approval at his response to August! Flint, meanwhile, gets the slight grin of approval at his generosity! She's feeling very approving today, it seems. Sanary glances over at August, then gives him a light elbow nudge and gestures at the guards before approaching them with a firm salute and standing as the relatively-average looking backup with an axe draped over her back. "Need to do some studying." Sanary also seems to be going for concise appraoch today.
Laer	Staren's disguise will be quite effective, though noone seemed to be that bothered by him to begin with. At least, not obviously so. Noone will pay any attention to the lack of clinking with the travelling, though, especially because the party is going to be getting attention for other reasons momentarily. The urchins will happily be bribed, getting paid for their favorite activity of doing nothing. Nothing can be very profitable in the City of Doors. Sanary, Drustan, and particularly August are going to get the brunt of the attention as August speaks in German. The guards will look at each other, and then the oldest of the lot will move forward. "You had best speak with one of the Factors. Come with me." PRESUMING any or all of them follow - and all five are welcome, as are Flint's pirates if they catch up - they'll be led through winding hallways, to one of many, many rooms along the way. There's no indication of anything special about it, but eventually an elderly man will come to the door, his pure-white beard down past his waist. He's wearing a threadbare robe, and the guard will speak to him in whispers for a moment, before the man, presumably the factor, will speak in a creeky voice. "We knew that someone would come, eventually. What is it you're here for, and what do you know of our lost little birdy?" He'll demand, confidently.
Captain Flint	Flint and his men aren't long behind the others. The one straggler manages to catch up a little ways down, rejoining the others just as all the winding corridors begin. Good thing, too, as it's quite a trek. "Not as much as we need to," answers Flint, confidently stepping forward with a frown. He extends a hand to the old man, slowly, so as not to startle the guards. "Captain Flint, of the Walrus," he says. Nodding back to the other pirates, "My crew." He then gestures to the assembled Elites. "And my business associates." "We represent the New Providence Trade Concern," he says. "An independent coalition of merchantmen and sailors. The woman you call Laer made certain arrangements with us--always through intermediaries and proxies. It wasn't anything we weren't used to, of course. Some... clients of ours did prefer their privacy." He pauses, taking the measure of the man and his guards. "As I'm sure you do," he says. "She first came to us some ten years ago, to borrow a sum from us to begin her own venture. The time to see that sum repaid has come and gone--so with your permission, my associates and I would like to search her quarters for any evidence of her whereabouts."
Staren	Staren just stands there and doesn't comment on Flint's lie, waiting to see the man's response.
Drustan Cynbel	"Her debts will be repaid." Drustan adds to Flint's bluff in a dour and uncompromising tone, the eyes behind the helmet briefly glowing red, easy to mistake for a trick of the imagination, but nonetheless lasting long enough to add to his statement.
August Kohler	Flint steps forward to take control of the lie this time. August is actually a bit reassured, moving to his side. If he comes off as a second trying to look tough, it might smooth over his previous bluff. He just keeps his hand on the hilt of the machete, looking back and forth between the guards.
Laer	The man will reach up, stroking at his beard and looking at the visitors in turn. "I see. I see. Debts are important, of course, but debts to the self is far more important than the external. The bird owes the collected self here much, yes? Far more than whatever trinkets and trifles you might hope to find. She's got no quarters here. Quartered, maybe, were she to return. But if you were to promise to bring her back here, should you get a look around.. why, then I just might allow you access to her private belongings." The man's eyes will narrow. "After all, my own personal self has a great interest in seeing her once more. Briefly. As would many, less important others within the city."
Captain Flint	"I agree," says Flint with a smile. "A philosopher from our world, by the name of Socrates, once said that an unexamined life is a life not worth living. However, my ships won't sail on the winds of self discovery. It would seem we want the same thing, for different reasons." He makes a show of contemplating his options before the old man. He smiles knowingly. "A look around her... nonexistent quarters would certainly help us determine her location, but I'd be interested to know what you intend to do with her, provided we bring her back. For instance--supposing she's unable to pay her debts when we find her. In that instance, would we be allowed custody?"
August Kohler	August mutters something, but it's at such a low frequency that it can't probably be made out that he's cursing. Instead, he remains silent, allowing Flint to negotiate. He has a knack for it. He's /too good/ at it, almost. But he maintains his vigil at the Captain's side, now a bit suspicious of the man.
Drustan Cynbel	"There is only one outcome of this negotiation. We get what we came for. Your only influence is on what you get in return." Drustan says in that same tone, clearly not interested in dancing words and promises, he flexes slightly as his feet firm themselves to the ground, rooting himself in place through his magic, strengthening himself, becoming like the mountain. "If we knew where she was we would've beaten her bloody already for making us go through this to collect her debts, and our patience has thus long been worn thin."
Staren	"What did she do to you?" Staren asks. His voice probably doesn't match the heavily armored knight image, but whatever.
Sanary Rondel	The plan seems to be going well! Flint has a good hold on the conversation with Drustan adding his own level of seriousness to the whole thing, even if it's a ltitle more violent-sounding than Sanary would be willing to copy at the moment. Staren's inquisitiveness and August's string of curses, meanwhile, leave Sanary to... Continue gawking around at everyone else that might be passing by around them. It's a large place, and trying to get a better idea of who they might have to keep an eye out for if things go south does seem like the sort of thing that a smarter person would be doing. She does make sure to keep her axe out of the way, at least. "Less important others... Like who?"
Laer	"Hm. Well, if you begged the Lady, you might be allowed to have custody of the shit left over after the dragon finished digesting her?" The man will say, rather harshly. "But there is a reward on her head. I can't imagine it wouldn't be enough to not cover whatever debts you claim, and I can imagine more than you can imagine me imagining. I know My power, after all." He'll look over to Staren, surprised at that question. "You mean to say you don't know, and you go invoking that name in this city? To speak in detail of what she did here would be to amplify her crime, however. Know that it was the gravest of betrayals, putting the very foundations of reality at risk. I would offer to tell you in a place of less power, but I no longer go to such places myself. That would also put the foundations of reality at risk, after all." Sanary, on the other hand, will get a smile. "Oh, you know. Everyone else."
Laer	The man will make a soft little humming noise at Drustan's threat. "Well. Her beaten bloody would be a good start. I doubt it will do you much good, anyways; the Mercykillers looked at all of her belongings before they were locked in the vaults. But I'll grant you access to examine them, if you really think it might help. The will works in mysterious ways, even sometimes slightly rude Planer ones."
Staren	Staren folds his arms. "She tried to /destroy reality/? Come on, that's a bit much, isn't it? And how could telling us make it even worse? We're not even /from/ this world." He's sure she did /something/ but this dude sounds like he's exagerating.
Captain Flint	Flint's expression darkens slightly in the wake of Drustan's threats. For someone else that might be a misstep--but if August thought Flint could lie before, he hasn't seen him really work. "You'll have to forgive him," he says. "The... regrettable part of any organized agreement between multiple parties--from governments to trade agreements--is the need to enforce the terms. Authority. Whether that authority is a council, a king or a congress, the bottom line is always force. My associate's understanding of this truth is simply more... plain than most." "We meant no offense, you see. For us, commerce is reality. It may seem banal or even crass to you--but it has served us well." The mention of a bounty, though, apparently piques the interest of the 'merchant.' "Your terms are agreeable--if we can have access to this vault, my associates can use something of hers to track her. We will find her, return her to you, and collect the bounty, at which point our business will be concluded." Now it's Flint's turn to stroke his facial hair, a wry smile forming in the wake of the gesture. "Have we an accord?"
Sanary Rondel	We can smoke her out that way." Sanary tries to add a bit more to the covery story, closing her eye for a moment to look... PENSIVE. Thoughtful, even, considering that it's her and not someone that probably looks like they're more used to deep thinking. Eventually, though, she reopens her eye and glances over at Flint, eventually following up on his mention of tracking Laer with a light tap on her eyepatch. "Tracking magic." Yes, she's running with /that/ angle. It fits, at least, and it's not like anyone would be rude enough to actually lift the eyepatch, right?
Drustan Cynbel	"I'm a honest man. I do not believe in beating around the bush needlessly, is all there is to." Drustan grumbles in response to Flint, though it seems good natured enough. He keeps in place however, and as the offer is made he makes a mildly approving noise, "We do not ask much, and if you wish us to follow the bounty, we do need some way to track her." A pause, and then, "Would you prefer her bloody and broken but alive or dead as doornail?"
Laer	The old man will give Staren a withering look. "Reality is a far more tenuous thing than primers like you tend to believe. It's probably for your own good. If you'd like a further understanding, one can be gained from the world around you, and through looking for the Signs. That one, she had a tremendous understanding. It's a dangerous thing. One even you could achieve, if you would like to stay a while and study." Flint will get a better agreement, however. The man's hand will run through his beard, and this time it will come out with a long skeleton key, one the size of one of his middle fingers. He'll offer it over. "The guard will take you to her vault - or, rather, box. She didn't leave much behind. It was sealed by the Mercykillers, but we insisted on having access, should our will bring an opportunity for finding her to us. One such as you all." He'll incline his head towards Drustan. "I would take what I could get, at this point, but alive would by far be the preferable, and the bounty would be more in your favor as well. Sigil has special punishments for those like her." Has that key been in his beard for the last ten years, or did he just pull sleight of hand himself? There's no obvious signs there, either way. If that is the end of questions, the guard who brought them here will escort them to a room that is, in fact, lined with small deposit boxes, pointing them to one with a set of musical notes on the outside, and a keyhole. Once opened, revealed within... Is a single piece of paper, folded, and yellowed with time. Once unfolded, this is reveals as a note, reading as follows: "Dear Song, you manipulative bitch, Did you really think I'd leave any of your things with these people? Even if I trusted they had the desire to punish you as you deserve, they certainly don't have the moxie to do it. I know what some of this meant to you, or I thought I did. If you want it back, come and take it. You know the place. Be prepared, because I'll damned well make sure you or whatever witless agents you've sent get what's coming, or I'll die trying. -K.T. Postscript: They were able to regrow ONE of Kethial's eyes. I'm sure you'll be upset that you didn't even manage that right."
Staren	Staren files away a mental note that this world is weird and he should totally look into studying it more someday when he's retired from heroing or whatever. And then instead of the flute, there's a note. Staren's had enough. Laer's earned some good will with her deeds, but it doesn't justify him fighting old nemeses for her. Still he'll, you know, hang around with the group and exit together rather than storming out. If they want to continue the job, he won't sabotage them.
Sanary Rondel	Sanary's having some trouble hiding a grimace at the old man's beard trick, and she finally allows herself to shiver uncomfortably once the guard tags out to lead the group to the room. Once the guard leaves, meanwhile... "... Uch. I used to know someone that did that. 'cept he ate the stuff he pulled out." Another uncomfortable grunt, and then the healer lets out an oddly nostalgic sigh. A moment later, though, and she joins the group in reading that note. "Definitely ain't our flute. Well... Still, could be worth looking into."
Captain Flint	Flint's only visible reaction upon finding the note is a furrowed brow, gears turning in his mind as he observes it. It's not what he wanted, it's not what his men wanted--and they're even more pissed about it than August is. For their benefit, and for the benefit of anyone who might be listening in, he continues the charade. "Interesting," he says. "Not what we were looking for, but it might still be of use." His men pause in their saber-rattling. "What the fuck are we going to do with that?" asks one with barely enough teeth to articulate the question. "Our original plan was to use a tracking spell," he says with a nod towards Sanary. In so doing, he ropes his crew into the act--even though it was a lie to begin with, there's no reason they can't find someone who /can/ track it. "I believe that could still be of assistance. We find this... K.T., we find Laer." Flint gives them a conspiratorial nod, as if he's letting them in on the act rather than placating them. That seems to settle them--for now.