Asheryn, a Gyrfalcon arrives, following Rickard.

It's a sweltering, miserable, hot day in the lower boroughs. The sun is bearing down hard and anyone with any sense at all has cleared out to hide inside if they can. Unless they're living or working on Crows Lane. Last night was quite the spectacle when a fire broke out at Lucio's Salted Fish Shop. A shop known for, you got it, selling preserved fish. While kind of an odd choice of consumer products, Lucio's was around for a long time. His shop was a staple in the lower boroughs. Owned and run by a solid citizen of Arx, he's been involved in the community for over 30 years. Gives jobs to young kids, helps out the elderly, donates what he can, when he can and has been known as a loyal neighbor. Tragically, the fire has utterly destroyed his business. It has been burnt down to the timbers, which stand like lonely, sad, charred skeletons reaching for the hot summer sky. There are several on-lookers, staring at the wreckage and commenting on the disgusting smell of burnt fish that's wafting through the air. The usual authorities have come and gone. Lucio himself is picking through the wreckage looking about as miserable as you'd expect him to be.


Arianna had been hanging out with Asher at the Salon when she heard the news. It was a sad day in the Lowers and the young woman excused herself early to go lend a helping hand. She might not have been able to do much about the fire, but she would definitely help find the perp. Once she was on scene, she tugged up the front of her hooded umbra tunic, pulling up the hood as well to hide from the sweltering suns rays. Sidestepping those onlookers and folks who might have a word to get in about the events that took place her keen perceptions go to work. First they sift over the base of the rubble, looking for any indication of how the fire was started.

In that odd twilight time between the end of an old job and the start of the next, when no one wants to give you anything to do because you're just leaving anyway, Thena has been on light Iron Guard duty and spending most of her time, when not studying, working at the Highway Robbery. She's emerged from the little shop, dressed atypically in dark pants and a linen shirt that hits her at the hip, smelling rather flowery and taking care of that by smoking a cigarette. She spends nearly the whole time she's smoking watching Lucio, then when she gets to the end of it tosses the butt in the gutter and makes her way over to the man. Awkwardly she asks, "Need some help?"

Arianna checked perception + investigation at difficulty 25, rolling 44 higher.

Asher's first job was working for Lucio. Years ago. Sure, being an errand boy is all that it was, but it was Asher's first bit of honest work, over a dozen years ago. Kept him and his mother fed, and everything needed. So when he hears of this tragedy, he's down there right behind Arianna. While she looks for signs of how it started, Asher pushes through the crowd to help sift through to find things that can be salvaged for the man who lost his livelihood. "Aye, old man, let the young ones do some work." A small smile, and he whistles out to the onlookers. "Get your arses in gear, we ain't Silks!" And while Asher looks a bit like an Everyman, he does have telltale golden rat earrings. And he's wearing leather armor, must be sweltering...

Asher checked command + streetwise at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

{87d75fPresently on-scene is Rickard Corsetina, local explorer and investigator extraordinaire. He eyeballs the crime scene, watching his step with care, trying to preserve things as much as possible. The heat doesn't bother him probably as much as it should, even though he, too, is wearing leather. Rickard glances to the others, looking to see where they are, what they're up to, so that he might complement the goings on.

While it was investigated earlier on in the day, no one really said much. Lucio kept his mouth tightly shut except to say that it was an 'accident'. Which is what people are whispering on the streets 'an accident' or was it? Certainly seems odd and unlikely that a man's fish salting shop would burn down to the nails. As people mill around, he stands and stares with a blank look on is face. Thena arrives and he sighs tiredly, "Don't know what you could help with. Nothing left here." He's older, old enough to be the father of someone Thena's age. Arianna and Asher are regarded when they arrive and nods at them. A few of the people standing around here Asher's suggestion and start to walk through wreckage. Doing... not entirely sure what, probably anything salvageable.





The young woman dressed in umbra and black leathers stands up. Pulling back her hood now that she was in the shadow of the ruins she rummaged through some of the debris. Silently looking for the next piece to the puzzle. Clearly, arson. That much was known but what did they use to start the fire and when did this happen? Arianna would be looking for striations in the stone and scorch marks. Running a finger over it and bringing it to her nose to smell it for any type of accelerant. Whatever could be said her senses were sharp and if their was anything amiss she would notice it. Standing after examining the smoldering wreckage of a fish shop she turns to look at the others. "I would recommend asking who the old man pissed off. This was done for a reason. A grudge, mayhaps a disgruntled customer or previous employee. If you give me some time to take a look about I can get an approximate time of when the fire started."

Arianna checked perception + investigation at difficulty 35, rolling 1 higher.

"Tsk. Cleaning up. Finding things what ain't burnt. Building it back up for you." Asher is adamant, but then he isn't one to be defeated easily. "Say old man, you heard I were adopted to the Grayhopes, aye? My luck is high lately." And with a grin, he takes a glove off to show Lucio his Iridescite ring before putting the glove back on. "Might be I spread the luck around." An eyebrow raised - he's saying that he'll help fund the rebuilding of the shop. "Nobody died, aye? What caused the accident? Smoking inside and a spark caught to flame?" Arianna gets an eye however, and Asher's smile sours to look to Lucio. "The Three Families don't take kindly to other people sending messages in the Boroughs... Tell me what happened."

Thena starts to pull out her cigarette case, then thinks better of it while talking to a man whose business just burned to the ground and just shoves her hands in her pockets. Her lips thin as Asher flashes his ring, but she doesn't say anything, merely offers the lightest touch on Lucio's elbow. "Perhaps we can get you some help, to rebuild." Questioning is left for others.

Rickard checked perception + investigation at difficulty 25, rolling 2 higher.

Asher checked charm + streetwise at difficulty 15, rolling 14 higher.

Rickard meanders through the charred building, being as careful as possible not to just haphazardly run through like a bull in a china shop. As he examines a handful of areas -- mainly the locations of what could have been support struts, and storage for goods -- he squats down for a real good lookie-loo, hmming to himself in an investigatory sort of way as his eyes wander over the burn marks.

The man swallows hard when Thena mentions rebuilding and his jaw twitches, clenches tightly. It takes him a moment but he shakes his head. "No, thank you. I don't know what I'm going to do next but I don't think I'll be rebuilding the boroughs." There's emotion caught up in his throat as his eyes flicker to Asher. "I heard, boy. Good for you. Grayhopes are a decent family in this part, they look after their people." His suggestion doesn't quite have him spilling his guts, but there's a definite /look/ that takes over his expression. "It's fine here, kid. Don't go sticking your nose into these kinds of things. It's how bad things happen to you." He's quite certain of that, very, very, very certain.


Now Arianna was many things, but a fool she was not. First, this fire was started on purpose. Second, this man is clearly hiding something out of fear. There were other points but for now she mentally stuck a pin in those and walked over to stand next to Asher. Crossing her arms she rolls her eyes and gestures around. "Listen, I don't know you like the others do but I sure as hell was a paying customer in your shop. I've lived down here for the last couple of months and this is my home now. When you withhold information because you think you're protecting someone, you are not." She clears her throat and steps forward, uttering a few words to him on the low before stepping back. "Now we know that this fire was started with the kind of grease one finds in the stove traps. Also, it was done after you closed up for the night. Interestingly enough. That's not all....so you sure you don't have anything else to say?"

Arianna checked charm + manipulation at difficulty 25, rolling 20 higher.

Asher glares at the old man. "Lucio, how long you been here? In the Boroughs. You sell salted fish. Near the docks. And you done well on that hope." A hand reached out to shake the man gently by the shoulders. "Ain't none more Lowers than you. You gonna let someone burn down your shop when you got the /Families/ on your side?" A thumb is pointed over in the direction of the Murder of Crows. "Most traveled spot down here. You think I won't find out, and gut the fuckers what done this to you?" A small, sad frown. "Good as family, you are. You tell me, or it takes a week for me to learn. I'm doing it." He then stands, and looks to Arianna. A nod, and he turns back to Lucio. "See? She done figured out already. Matter of time, old man."

Asher checked command + intimidation at difficulty 15, rolling 5 lower.

Thena arches her eyebrows at Arianna and then cuts a glance at Asher, and between to two of them there's not much for her to add.

"I'm tell you kid, you don't want any part of this! These fuckers are crazy." He's glancing to Asher, to Thena and then to Arianna. His eye contact eventually breaks as her words sweep over him and he's quiet for a long moment. "This is a terrible idea. I didn't say anything to those dirty Inquisitors because I didn't want any more problems than I already got." His shoulders slump and he admits, "Yeah, you got it. Okay? They burned down my shop. Couple of guys came by a few weeks back and wanted money to 'keep the place safe'. I turned them down. I haven't had trouble in this neighborhood in a long, long time. And I wasn't about to start shelling out silver to some upstart thugs now."


Asheryn, a Gyrfalcon have been dismissed.

Clapping the old man on the shoulder she shrugs,"You did the right thing, even if it set you back. We don't owe protection to anyone and you don't have to put up with that shit. This, this is something we can handle." Smiling malevolently to him, she gives him a knowing nod and steps back to look at Asher, Thena and Rickard. "Now, if I were a group of thugs looking for a place to celebrate my recent bout of fuckery. Where would I be?" Her eyes drift over to The Murder but she was sure Fortunato wouldn't have riff raff like that in his establishment. Then again, he might not have been too aware of the fact either. Turning back she looks at the old man. "Make sure the kids stay out of the rubble, some of it is still hot." Her expression was stoic and matter of fact when she said it, though she turned to leave.

There's a long pause as Asher takes this in. "Lucio, old man, you should have said something when they threatened you. But I know the feeling. Some young thugs." He shrugs as if it can't be helped. "But I was out and about during the Siege, been rumbling the streets for a while. Point me at 'em, I'll bring some of my family with, and we'll deal with them. And then work on your shop later." A bright smile. "Stop on by the Grayhope Manor tonight for dinner." He stands straight and looks to Thena, a half-salute there. To Arianna, he chuckles. "We think too much alike. Maybe they have a den somewhere about."

"You should've told us, Lucio," echoing Asher and the 'us' encompassing the Grayhope contingent. Then Thena looks over at the Murder as well, but just shrugs. "You think they're still down here? Only someone stupid would stick around. Then again, young thungs."

"Yes. I'll be sure to keep the kids out of the hot rubble of my life's work. You can get the /fuck/ off my lot." That's to Arianna, who he stares at with quite a great deal of annoyance just now. Apparently he's had a really rough 24 hours. And then to Asher and the condescending, 'you should have told us'. "And you too." A glance is cut to Thean, "You can come back later."



Asher frowns at Lucio's anger, but understands. He reaches out for Arianna, gesturing to leave. "Let's look around. Maybe someone drunk or high on Dust has loose lips."

The young woman turns around slowly to regard the old man. She smiles at him slowly and then laughs,"Oh man, this one has spirit. I love you too old man. Don't worry our deal stands, don't mope over your life's work. After all from the ashes of the old, new opportunities to be had. Or some shit like that." However she merrily skips away from the scene, heading to the nearest of shops to begin her new line of inquiry. She stops and takes in a deep breath, smelling the charred scent of wood and fish in the air. "Ahhhh wanton destruction. Lovely." Smoothing down the front of her silks however she reaches over and tugs at Asher and gesturing for the others to follow her lead if they so wished.

"I'll bring you a sandwich," Thena tells Lucio, rubbing at the back of her neck awkwardly and staying put while the others head off. Then with a rueful and almost apologetic flash of a smile, "Come find me in the shop if you need anything." She crosses the street and heads back into the Robbery.

A huge hideously ugly mastiff leaves, following Thena.

Asher frowns at Arianna some. "Destruction when it isn't deserved, though. And not Silks. Priorities, Aria." He does pat her on the back a bit. "I'll check the Murder and a few spots I know. You want to ask around at shops?"

Pouts a little bit when he chastises her albeit softly. Not willing to admit she was only maybe perhaps a little bit of an excitable type she simply sighs and nods. "Asher, I simply try and make the best of things. Besides no one else was hurt and I promised to lend my aid by helping the man get back on his feet." She raises her hands as if to say 'no shots fire'. "I will ask around at the shops indeed. If...someone took this deal then they will know when these thugs will be back to collect and we can plan around that."

Asking around at the shops is generally fruitless though Arianna and Asher will receive several 'looks'. It's clear that these people /know/ something, but they seem quite unwilling to roll over on whoever torched Lucio's shop. Whether they're already paying these people or are simply too afraid is unclear in most cases. But eventually, they'll come upon a guy leaning against a wall. He sneers at them, "Asking around, little birdies? Looking to find out about the Kozlovs, are you?" He laughs manically to himself.

When Asher - and perhaps Arianna too, of course - find the man against the wall, Asher eyes him up and down. Does he seem familiar? Maybe not. But the name makes Asher question things. "Kozlovs. Sounds like a family name, doesn't it, Aria?" A glance to his female companion. "And I thought the Three Families were the only big names around here. Learn something every day, don't we?"

"Learn new things every day indeed my dear." She eyes the man with a passive curiosity, taking in his attire and how he was holding himself. Before they might state their business the young woman smirks to him,"Where else would we be able to sign up? I mean after all we heard about what ya did and I for one, would very much like to know how deep this rabbit hole goes." Arianna winks at the man and leans on the wall next to him. Turning her head to keep him in her field of vision even though she looked relaxed.

The man gives a derisive snort in their direction. He looks like shit, he's definitely not a great guy to hang out with in your free time. He's probably into drugs, drinking and training sewer rats to run messages. "Just because they're the biggest doesn't mean they're the only ones." He digs around in his pockets and pulls out some substances and snorts it into his nose. "Siege brought in a bunch of new folks. Not all of 'em want to be relocated. Some of them plan on taking up shop right here in the lowers. About fucking time too. Place needs a good shake up!"

Asher keeps hands on his hips a bit. "Aye, if there's good coin to be made. Now that we got a name though... Well now don't that just sound right official?" He gives a leering, greedy smile over towards this laughing man. "What do you know about 'em, then, if'n you're so entitled as to know what they call themselves? Aside from them being new, aye?" A nudge to Arianna's shoulder using his own. "Oh, do they, now? Plan on burning the place down if'n it don't... Ah... Conform to their liking?" He gives a snort of amusement. "Well maybe something useful can be put in that shop's place. Salted fish... Damn stupid idea to put it right next to the ocean! Who would rather /not/ get fresh fish?" A light shrug, eyeing the man curiously. "So where can we find 'em, then? Buncha Shavs can't be hard to find, but be a right shame if I had to beat it out of you."

Asher checked charm + intimidation at difficulty 15, rolling 7 lower.

The man looks at Asher for a moment and then begins outright laughing. He tosses his head back and cackles like a loon. After he wipes the tears away, "I know you. You're a Grayhope now. Lost your perspective on the street, you have. The rest of us nobodies that aren't with a big /fancy/ family, we /like/ this bunch of shavs. Nice to work with people that aren't full up on themselves. Cullers, Grayhopes, Ulbrans." He spits on the ground. Granted, this man is high. So high. Also probably drunk. "You ain't welcome to join the Kosolovs!" Whoever they are.

Raising her hands up like she is offended, the young woman slaps the man on the chest - lightly. "Come on new friend you are counting the fellow out before he even finished his pitch. However...you never addressed my interest and I think that's why I'm getting a little miffed. I ain't a Culler, nor an Ulbran or a damn Grayhope. You sayin these Shavs got a place for the likes of you but they won't take me!" Arianna's eyebrows furrow as she slowly shakes her head, squaring off with the guy in a crossed arm staredown. "Listen mate. I speak Shav, hell I was raised around Shavs and Prodigals. Thems my peoples and you and me we ain't done over no misunderstandin'."

Arianna says in Northlands shav, "You even speak the language like I do mate? Or you just takin the piss?"

"What? Oh, that, aye. Saved a couple lives, Magpie and Fortunato, during the Siege. Think I was gonna let them just /not/ continue to be meatshields? Heard that if them Bringers got to the Pit, we all die." Asher shrugs a bit. "They gave me the name as a reward. I use it to make sure I get better treatment." A gesture to the man in front of him, after Arianna speaks Shav at the guy. "So fuck you too, buddy, I do what I gotta to get by. I hear someone's puttin' it to the Families and I'm not gonna try to get in on that?" He looks invariably pissed, crossing his arms.

The man looks utterly perplexed when Arianna begins talking to him in shav-something-or-other. "Look, crazy woman." Glass houses, people. "I don't speak any shav. It's not about being a shav and you look.. like a woman wearing some fancy clothes made out of umbra. I know a silk when I see one." She kind of makes him uncomfortable so he shifts away, eyeballing her curiously. "I... You're on the inside?" He stares at Asher, he's feeling what Asher is putting down. But he doesn't quite believe him. Is he really a double agent?!

Arianna laughs at the man,"I wear this cuz I fuckin stole it ya sap. Just like me redsteel dagga. Now really, you sayin I'm a Silk ain't quite wrong. Just like my lad here we're like wolves in sheeps clothin'. You know how bloody easy it is to funnel money for my illegal operations? You know how easy it is to push haze, and dust in the homeland back wherever the fuck it is? Come on mate you're not as daft as ya look. We're 'ere, for a bit o work. For some fun? He likes stealin shit, I like stabbin shit." Arianna pulls out her redsteel blade, spinning it expertly in her hands as a show of her prowess before pointing it at him with a smirk. "So don't go judgin a book by it's cova....or somefin like that."

"Yes, I'm on the inside." Asher narrows his eyes. "Dirty Rat don't do nothin' but dirt. I clean up good but that don't make me Grayhope. I'm more Lowers than you." He points a finger at the guy. "And just in case you think I'm not, you're pissing me off. I steal, she stabs, but that don't mean I'm not ready to pull out my blade and do some stabbing myself."

Arianna checked charm + manipulation at difficulty 15, rolling 30 higher.

A huge hideously ugly mastiff arrives, following Thena.

A huge hideously ugly mastiff leaves, following Thena.

The man looks between the two of them, baffled. Confused. "I-" He pats his pockets down, looking for something in there somewhere. "I don't want any trouble, I don't want to be stabbed by some crazy kids. You want to go joining the Koslovs, you go right ahead. Mmkay? They don't hang around here though." He mutters, glancing at the Crow. "They go that away." And he juts his chin in a direction towards the river, past where the Cullers lurk around. "Heard they hang out in a nice little area down under the bridge."

Arianna chuckles darkly before she slides her dagger back into the concealed sheathe. Shrugging a little she makes a small noise of disappointment before she flinches at him. "I ain't no crazy fukken kid neither. I'm a woman grown you asshole." She stares him down from head to toe before she shakes her head in a disapproving manner. "Now go hold up the wall elsewhere eh? This little nook is ours and we have some urgent business to attend to." Gesturing for him to shoo now. "Move along lad, keep it pushin."

The guy blinks at Arianna. Then you know what? He decides she's right. He should get away from these guys! So he does. Sending SEVERAL furtive looks over his shoulder.

"Thanks, brat." Even if the man is older than Asher - possible - brat works. "Now do as the woman says and scoot. Iron Guard walks over here and you end up in chains." He frowns, and nudges Arianna towards the bridge. "Let's get going too. Got work to do."

Arianna is overheard praising Calaudrin for: For providing bountiful entertainment!

Arianna is overheard praising Asher for: For his street savvy ways!