Kee, of Cormyr

and leaves her room to see what the day might bring.

The morning after their fateful meeting still found her footsore and bleary-eyed, but she was sure she would be needed today, to lead the way to the cave's entrance if nothing else. It's nearly two hours after dawn when she finally wins the battle out of bed, carefully dons her novice gear,

Years ago....

[Starter for @honorbound.sunder.my]

For the first time since her arrival some days prior, those around her laugh and cheer, rather than whisper their worries over meager dinners. The town's sole inn was loud that night.

Yet she sleeps deeper than she ever has before, retiring early.

It's one of few places in the city Sybella and Knox might recognize, in fact, and practically underfoot from where she had met the latter in the first place.

"Well," she offered quietly, a hand held out to the very door the pair had left on their way to seek her out, "welcome to Dwoemerheart."

and though the odd member of the market crowd stared, the sight of a man with another slung over his shoulder wasn't enough to stir a commotion in Waterdeep. She leaves it to Aro to lead them as his memory serves, with only occasional directions from her as needed.

It's not far at all.

and when they reach the market, the attentions of the crowd.

If asked, she couldn't say why she trusted that oath so soon after meeting. But as fate would have it, he would not need to fulfill it just yet; their travel through the alley passes without further incident,

I guess we'll have to hope it's open."

With the knowledge of help at hand, should they be attacked, she felt secure enough in her immediate surroundings to focus on all those distant little hidden places a city held, the shadows that might jump in an instant,

"With this lot?" she answered, referring to those her organization had allied with - & its leader's well-known paranoia. "I think you could throw a dart at a map and hit a safe house, but you remember right. I haven't had time to see that it's free for us to use, of course.

She won't question the silence they find, but she must wonder - do their adversaries retreat to lick their wounds, or merely lie in wait, watching for a prime opportunity?

She falls naturally to the group's rear, thanks to her diminutive stature and short stride, but that allows her to better watch their backs, anyway.

No threat finds them, even as they approach the heart of the shopping district after a fair hike spent watching for another ambush.

When the others are ready, she's quick to follow suit. When they set off, she directs them towards the nearest thoroughfare, where crowds will provide safety and streetlamps will soon ward off the growing shadows of late afternoon.

"They will take far more than a life, if they can find greater use for it.

Keep an extra-sharp eye on our new friends, Stryke, and tell us if you spy trouble ahead. We shouldn't linger." She pays her mount with a familiar scratch, satisfying the nudge he gives her before soaring again.

unaware of the pink hue that's painted her from brow to chin.

"Yes, but remember well what they have already done, and know that this is what they can manage with little preparation and resources," she gestures to Morris as Stryke lands among them.

and feels a kindred thrill answer, rushing over her like a gale across an open field. It's his friend's focused tension that draws her back down to Toril and her mind to their responsibilities. She clears her throat and wills the daring grin from her face,

the chained manacles emit a faint indigo glow and a dead, dull hum that seems to deaden the air around them.

When she looks to the others again, she saw a rather stoic pair, at least at first. At least until she saw that spark in Knox's eyes as he smiles,

Without a word of coordination, Kee neatly hands Morris off to her mentor, sighing with relief when the weight's off her shoulders. She follows close behind Aro, and as he blindfolds the mage, she binds the caster's hands with cuffs she removes from her hip pouch;

Of Cor-ushed!

[...crushed, maybe?]

[flattened]

To the others, she grunts an explanation, "Some form of mind control, I'd bet anything on it. I hold no rank; calling me Captain was a signal.

We should –uff– we should leave soon. Stryke doesn't see anything else, and I [really] don't care to learn if there's a plan B in their pocket."

and then under the force of Aro's blow. 'I am sorry, who are— ugnh!'

As if on cue, Kee hustles forward to catch his weight over her shoulders, Morris's head from thumping against the ground. She manages a quick nod of gratitude towards Aro.

She always could trust him to know where her mind was.

'W-well, sir, I–'
Morris's gaze darts between Kee and the two strangers, his expression one of pleading confusion. He doesn't notice Aronion's readied strike until his lips begin to form what was dure to be a weak lie; the young wizard crumpled first under Knox's piercing gaze,

||someone is gonna log on for the first time today and be like wtf is going on

Death just can't seem to keep up with us, eh, Stryke?

Her negligible skill or interest in falsehoods hold her from something more daring. She'll have to hope the others catch her meaning.

The light underneath the shop's door darkens and vanishes as footsteps approach.

The door opens, and the young, terrified man they had seen taken enters, smiling.

Hestor almost jumps forward, but she holds her hand up, shaking her head rapidly to the others. A brief moment of focus is spared to bring Stryke to land near the door.

"Well, a little [subdued] in here, but not [hurt too bad.] Why don't you come in while we recover?"

She doesn't often rely on the dart in her hand, but again it's ready. Silence stretches on as five await action. Silence - until a voice outside breaks it.

"Captain? Cap...tain Kee?" A man's voice calls out, then grunts in pain before continuing. "Is it over? Are you two safe?"

the cleric relents, finding a clear view of the door from behind cover. As he shuffles, Kee answers the debate ahead of her.

"I never said he couldn't tell, but Stryke and I [don't] speak. I feel what he feels. Right now... he's not so sure. Knox's instincts are good."

and keep an eye on the shadows. If it's a friend we'll know soon enough."

Hestor glances first to to his leader, then to the hulking warrior with gloom hung over his shoulders. Perhaps he hears them; perhaps he just sees his own pain reflected in the man's posture. Whatever his reasoning,

As the others prepare, the Halfling's hand catches Morris just above his waist - before he can continue his hasty approach to the door. He stops in his tracks, but looks to her almost pleadingly. Her answer is empathetic, but unrelenting.

"The man speaks sense, Rath. Hold the back line for us,