Act 3: The Ball - Afterparty

"Hello again, Smirk. Can you take us to Angelica?"

Fluffle reluctantly looks at all the mercenaries gathered here, some of whom are screaming in pain. Although there aren't many torches here, the blood covering them is clearly visible even in the moonlight, and it has stained the cobblestones across the whole plaza.The fairy hesitates for a few seconds and says, "Maybe I'd just get in the way? I can't heal serious injuries like these..."

Something unwinds within Konrad, a desire to go and help, but he tamps it down. "I think we can only get in her way right now. Let her know that we wish to talk again. We'll just head back to the Vulcan. I'm feeling anxious about our crew and the ship itself."

Just like Fluffle, Amber looks around uncomfortably in silence.

"That will work just fine. Don't get caught out there."

Amber keeps staring at the men suffering from their wounds and the paladins tending to them. "Yeah, it can be," she says, putting Florolf back on the ground.

The adventurers and their Myrzen retinue say goodbye to the Aspect and continue on their way, leaving the injured mercenaries. They're intercepted by a company of Coins soldiers and platoon of Hortensia's forces—who can be identified by their white armbands they're wearing—but are promptly let through once Kaja exchanges a few words with them. It's almost one o'clock in the morning when they finally arrive at their ship, which appears completely deserted at the moment.

The duchess' ships have now sunk below the waves, leaving no traces that they once blockaded the entire port. Coins patrols roam the waterfront, weapons at the ready. They must have been warned of the party's arrival, because they don't pay attention to them and keep their eyes on the waters.

OOC:

Steve peers at the ship, trying to see if he can spot the crew or anyone else on board.

Awareness 23

Théo does the same.

Awareness 11

Konrad looks for a gap in the patrols that they can use to carry their captives onto the ship without being noticed, with the Myrzen warriors providing cover.

Awareness 10

Steve briefly catches sight of a fairy hiding at the top of the mast before they disappear again.

As for Amber, her gaze is drawn instead to the disparate heaps of dark shapes that have mysteriously appeared along the waterfront since the last time they were here. Although several of the Coins mercenaries are carrying torches, they're too far away for her to make out what these piles actually are made out of.

"Hey, what are these?" Fluffle asks, pointing at them.

Konrad and Théo don't even notice the heaps, but Steve and Mihai do.

These are the bloody remains of Vigilate soldiers and sailors.

Steve has a sour expression on his face when he says, "Yeah, let's go." Steve starts heading for the ship, where he calls out, "Hail the ship! We're home!"

Théo carefully pulls the former duchess out of the carriage and easily picks her up in his arms, before following after everyone.

When they are pointed out, Konrad stares a while at the piles of the dead. "Pity."

He easily lifts Caetronia. "We have some spare rooms that will do."

"We'll stay here and guard the ship," Kaja announces while she gestures for her men to take position around the gangplank.

Meanwhile, Amber and Fluffle keep staring at the piles of bodies for a few more seconds before they finally avert their gaze and follow the others onto the ship. Even in this darkness, the unease on their face is clear.

The moment Steve hails the crew, Segel flies down from the mast to greet them.

"You're all safe!" he exclaims, relieved. He then notices the two unconscious women."And you've brought... guests with you?"

Then, out of the blue, mercenaries farther down the dock begin to shout to each other.

"There! Hiding under the boat!"

"Catch him!"

A ruckus soon follows as several Coins soldiers rush towards the same point. Amber and Fluffle exchange a glance.

Konrad shakes his head. "No, they're prisoners. Do not get attached. I will explain once we get them to their own rooms."

Steve nods in understanding at Mihai and turns to the conversation between Segel and Konrad, "We'll take them to the cells for now, until we can secure some better rooms for them."

"Understood, Captain," Segel replies, then turns to Steve. "I'll stay here and keep watch. You'll find Waffle right by the door in the hallway."

He then flies back to the mast. Fluffle opens the door to the forecastle for his friends, and just like the first mate said, Waffle is waiting on the other side, alongside a dozen or so of her siblings.

"Hello, everyone," she says, morose. "We heard everything. Do you need help?"
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Meanwhile, in response to Mihai's request, Kaja signals two of her men and says, "I'll also come with you."

"Me too," Amber says nervously.

The five of them hurry towards the source of the shouting, and they arrive just in time to see the Coins mercenaries pull a young man out of the water.

"Please!" he screams in Chromium. "I surrender! I surrender! I don't—"

One of the soldiers kicks him in the gut before he can finish his sentence.

"This time, bring him closer to the pile before you slit his throat," the officer says.

"Yes, sir."

Two of the mercenaries hold up the sailor by his arms and drag him towards the corpses while the other three keep their swords pointed at him, just in case he tries something. Their officer watches with his arms crossed.

"Could you get the door for us?"

"Of course," Waffle replies.

She guides the group into the hold and towards the stern of the ship, where the two small cells are located. There, the two Venator women are carefully placed onto their cots before the fairy closes the doors on them.

"Should someone keep watch?" Waffle asks.
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The Coins mercenaries stop when they see Mihai and the rest of his companions with him

"Ah. You must be the elite squad," the officer says. "We're just finishing cleaning up around here. Did you want to interrogate this one?"

He points at the sailor who's crying and moaning in pain.