Shattered Star

Ali growls lowly. "You say your name but all I hear is a future backstabber. Fool me once and all that..."They're obviously wary of the newcomer. They look to Sheila. "Are you sure she is to be trusted?"

”I have known her since she was a child,” Sheila says. ”She is an earnest young woman who just wants an adventure.”

Ali remains unconvinced of the archer's intentions. They'll take up a space in the corner and await the others to pass judgement.

Meliora is a bit taken aback by Ali's reaction. "I promise, I'm no backstabber," she offers, already feeling her words will follow on deaf ears. "I'm just wanting to help out how I can while we explore whatever Shelia has in mind for us."

Anastasia enters here and narrows her eyes slightly at the sight in front of her. She glances at Sheila. "Who's the new girl?"

"I'm Meliora Sumner," Meliora says, her enthusiasm a bit deflated by Ali's reaction. "Miss Heidmarch asked me to come here for my first assignment, I'm looking forwards to working together," she says again, mustering up a hopeful smile at Anastasia and offering her hand.

Anastasia stares at the hand for a moment before looking back at Sheila. "This one's trustworthy, right?"

”No history of crime, recent graduate, I’ve known her since she was a child,” Sheila replies. ”Honestly I trust her more than I trust the rest of you at this point.”

A still-groggy yet immaculately groomed Naomi enters, one black hand rubbing the last of the sleep from her eyes. As her eyes drift around the room, the settle on the new girl, and she blinks a couple times. "Oh I do so hope you're better than the last one. That one was nothing but trouble, making off at first opportunity like that. And so rudely too," She says, before noticing Anastasia's condition. "Anastasia, are you alright? You look horrible, didn't you sleep at all last night?"

"You'll excuse me if your third point gives me no confidence," Anastasia deadpans before turning back to Meliora. "Our former party member just stabbed us in the back. We're all a little on edge, especially with someone new dropping in our laps. Can't say there's anything you can do other than bear with it for a while."

Meliora lets her hand fall. "Oh my gosh, that's so horrible!" she says sympathetically. "I'm sorry that happened to you, but I promise, all I want to do is help while we explore and find treasure!"

Minutes later, an out-of-breath Cade is escorted into the study, his glasses askew and his new set of robes showing clear signs of a hurry.  "Apologies," the mage says while trying to steady his haggard breathing, "I left as quickly as I was able.  With respect, Lady Heidmarch, I assume Miss Genovese gave--" Cade abruptly stops speaking as he notices Meliora and freezes in his tracks.  Adjusting his glasses, the wizard blinks at her inquisitively.  "Ah, hello.  And you are...?"

"Meliora Sumner, it's a pleasure to make your aquaintance," she says, having recovered a bit from the coldness of the others. "Miss Heidmarch asked me here to work with you on my first assignment, I hope we'll have a good time working together. I'm so sorry that the last person you all were working with betrayed you like that too, but I can promise, it won't be like that at all with me," she says, offering a hand to Cade as she finishes talking.

"Ah, I see you've been informed about yesterday's... incident," Cade replies, glancing at Sheila for confirmation.  With a quick nod of approval, Cade gives Meliora a slight smile and accepts her hand with a friendly shake.  "Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Sumner.  I apologize for any less-than-welcoming behavior on our parts, but I'm sure you can understand our position, given the circumstances."

"It's completely understandable!" Meliora reassures. "I'm just looking forwards to working together and showing you that you can trust me to help."

"Yes, I hope so as well," Cade agrees with a nod.  "Now, if I may, Lady Heidmarch," he continues, returning to his original train of thought as his tone becomes more serious.  "I hope that Miss Genovese was able to enlighten you on matters regarding the Crow?"

”Indeed she has. The most important bit would be the wererats present in the Tower Girls leadership,” Sheila responds. ”Additionally she told me that the Crow has 4 main floors that the gang has claimed, possibly many more beneath. The first has a small docking area set up and connects all the way up to the fourth without connecting to the floors in between. She found the shard in a secret treasure room on the 2nd floor. As it happens, Ayala Javeski, the leader of the Tower Girls, has set herself up in the connected room. The entry to the Crow is watched at all hours and an alarm will be raised should they spot a boat approaching. The best chance you’ll have is to approach under the cover of night.”

"I wouldn't be surprised if our foe still had an in with the Tower Girls, any other ways in?" Ali suggests

”Not without flight or very good climbing equipment, and even then you’d still be in danger of being noticed by the watch as every possible entrance is on one side of the piling,” Sheila explains. ”They chose the location partially because of how difficult it is to approach.”

"Ideally," Cade ponders aloud, "we'd wish to avoid confrontation and find the Shard as soon as possible.  However, as long as the Tower Girls control the Crow, investigating the ruin for the whereabouts of the Shard would prove difficult, if not impossible.  Plus, judging from the altercation yesterday with one of their members, I doubt they would be amenable to discussion."  Turning towards the group, Cade continues, "Regrettably, we may have to force our way in through the ruins to ensure the gang does not find the Shard before we do."

The door to Sheila's office slams open as a worried looking servant runs in. "Miss Heidmarch, the prisoner has awoken... and she's decidedly violent. She's already managed to headbutt Arnold and slam the chair into Delia, and she's still tied up. This requires attention immediately."

Anastasia sighs. "Yeah, that sounds about right. Let's go attend to our guest."

The party heads down to the lower floor of the manor. In an unused bedroom on the lower floor, the sound of scraping can be heard. When the party enters the room they see that two pathfinders have been brought in and are holding weapons toward the captured Tower Girl as she scrapes the chair she's tied to across the floor. "You bastards don't have the guts to come and get me up. I'll take you all down!"

Ali sighs and approaches the prisoner. "They may not, but I do. Or do you already forget who gave you that cut across your torso?"

The woman attempts to spit at Ali but it just hits the floor. ”I don’t care if you did beat me. You’re not getting anything from me. I’m not a snitch.”