Temple of the Divine Dwarf, part 2

[Porcelain Fish]

"Those look great," Jin-Liu said honestly as he entered the kitchen behind Ace and caught sight of Layla's handiwork. "I put the finishing touches on your cellar - I was just doing a few spot-checks and neatening up a little." He glanced at her. "Any more work likely soon?"

[Graybeard]

"Any more work likely soon?"

Depending on just what happens at the temple, quite possibly, yes, Layla thought, but it would be impolitic to say it. Instead she smiled and temporized. "I don't know for sure, but I certainly hope so. At the very least, I bet Galina can come up with something." She smiled at her friend, who smiled back. "There'll be some things around here that need doing, too, once --"

However, she didn't finish the sentence before a small bird came flying through the house door. (How had it come open?) Layla rolled her eyes and got up to look for a broom to chase it out with, but nothing like that was necessary. With a flash of magic, the bird disappeared, and where it had been, a scroll dropped to the floor, itself redolent of magic.

Layla and Galina looked at each other, and both voiced the same thought at the same time. "Uh, oh, this doesn't look good..."

[Porcelain Fish]

Jin-Liu frowned, and then pulled out a pair of tongs, the surface of the grips chiseled with tiny runes. He held it out towards the scroll, but didn't pick it up. The tongs flared a bright, momentary green, and faded to a slow blue.

"It's not destructive magic, but I think there's some compulsion tied to it," he said gingerly after a moment, closing the tongs carefullly around the scroll and lifting it, studying it carefully. He glanced at Layla. "I don't suppose you happen to have a thick sheet of clear glass?"

[Graybeard]

"I don't suppose you happen to have a thick sheet of clear glass?"

Layla's eyebrows went up -- looks like there's more to this kid than he's been letting on -- but she gave him a straight answer. "Probably. We've already had to replace one window here." Taking the cue, Joe and Ace jumped up and headed for the shed, returning shortly with a window pane.

"Will this do?" she asked, interested to see what Jin-Liu had in mind.

[Porcelain Fish]

"It's a little thin, but it'll do I suppose." Jin-Liu handed tongs and mystical missive off to Saiho, who held both securely in its grasp, pulled out what looked like a pen knife, and glanced around. "You uh . . . may want to cover your ears."

Glass let out a shrill keen as the pen-knife bit into it with obviously magical ease, a rune-scribed circle of protection quickly and efficiently etched in its surface. Jin-Liu held the glass over the table and glanced at Saiho. "Deposit and then drill roll, one-twentieth speed, one quarter of a turn."

Saiho clumped forward, depositing the scroll on the table, and with a little help from Ace, who was quick on the uptake, Jin-Liu held the pane of glass over the top of it, holding down one end of the scroll as Saiho slowly rotated its arm. The moment the paper was fully unrolled, pale green luminance swirled up against the glass, lingered there against the bottom of it for a moment, and then gradually dispersed. Jin-Liu studied the ornate script, brow furrowing, and then glanced over at Layla.

"Does this mean anything to you?"

[Graybeard]

"Does this mean anything to you?"

Layla's face went from puzzled as she started to read it, to horrified, then to angered, then to a red-faced rage that none of the Gewehr had ever seen on her before -- no surviving Gewehr, anyway. She pushed the message away as she tried to get her emotions under control. "It's a ransom note," she managed to get out between clenched teeth.

Ms. Sorensen:

As you have persisted in inserting yourself and your friends into matters in which you have no business interest, it has been found necessary to take countermeasures. Your beloved mother, Ms. Faye Sorensen, is now in our custody and will remain so for as long as you interfere in the activities of the Temple of the Divine Dwarf. Do not try to rescue her. A rescue attempt would turn out badly for you, and terminally badly for her.

Your mother will remain safe and unharmed for the time being. Her continuing safety, however, can only be guaranteed through three actions. First, we require a deposit of one hundred tsuis a week in the offering plates of the Temple of the Divine Dwarf. Identify this as a donation for the children of those harmed through misunderstanding of the sacred dwarven technology. Do not send the same person to make this donation to our coffers twice.

Second, you will ensure that no members of your organization pass within a hundred meters of the Temple of the Divine Dwarf for any purpose other than bringing that hundred-tsui donation. Compliance with this requirement is not optional. Failure to comply will have the most drastic and unfortunate consequences for Ms. Sorensen.

Third, you will immediately cease all investigations of enterprises of the Oshima family in Tsuiraku-town. The Oshima family are valued contributors to our holy work and have expressed outrage at your interference in their entirely legitimate business activities in the community. This must stop. Any visits by your personnel to enterprises managed by the Oshimas may be construed as a violation of the terms of this arrangement, with unfortunate consequences for Ms. Sorensen.

Needless to say, the civil authorities, whether those of Rinkaiel or the Tsuirakuan Department of Homeland Security, must never hear of this arrangement. Violation of these terms will lead to immediate cessation of the protection afforded Ms. Sorensen under the terms described above.

We pray that the Sacred Dwarves give you the wisdom to accommodate this requirements, for the well being of your mother. She is well at this time. Behave wisely and responsibly, and she will remain that way, until your actions have become civilized enough, for long enough, to have earned her release.

Reverend Orpiment
High Priest of the Temple of the Divine Dwarf

[Porcelain Fish]

"Is this a good time to be quiet?" Pai-pai whispered from where it was securely gripped in Saiho's massive digits, two sets of glowing eyes fixed on Layla.

[Graybeard]

Wordlessly, but with rage in her eyes, Layla showed the ransom note around. When everyone had seen it, she spoke, in a voice that sounded like death.

"Theyll pay for this ... and now we need a plan."

[Jack Rothwell]

Jade put her cutlery down at the reading of the note with an expression between distaste and sorrow. She hated, HATED, it when her bad feelings came true and she hated it almost as much that the trouble was preventing her from studying the facinating technology in the room which in other circumstances would've had her undivided attention. The issue of kidnapping made her feeling like gritting teeth herself. It was the action of a lower class of criminal which even the blacksmith at her most poverty stricken and desperate had never stooped to.

She got up, walked to Layla's side and tentatively put a hand on the younger woman's shoulder, wincing pre-emptively for a 'blind anger' swing which thankfully, didn't come.

"I'm with you on this." Jade said quietly. "Your mother's a good woman. We'll get her back, kill the bastards who kidnapped her and get to a bar before closing time, see if we don't."

[Graybeard]

"Thank you," Layla said, simply, to Jade ... and rage gave way to cold calculation. She turned to Jin-Liu. "I think we're going to need you to do some more tunneling..."

[OOC: Still in rather sketchy contact, more stuff tomorrow, then it gets sketchy again for a few days.]