Inside the perfume shops back rooms, an apothecary is wailing, being consoled with liberal applications of alcohol over the newly discovered fact that indeed, the perfume cannot be replicated. Clarisse has the bottles they have been given, 10 in all, and tasked with seeing them safely back to the estate. Guards in tow to ensure no one tries to take them. It would seem, the perfume is all the rage.

But that leaves still blank spaces in the mind and a bar still to find. So onward further into the heart of Tor they go, looking for, hoping to see something familiar.

Or so that's what was going to happen. But a guard so kindly offers to take over the ferrying of wine duty for Clarisse so that she doesn't miss out on the answers they might find.

Sydney extends her hand to Clarisse, her other hand pressed primly to her hip. "Mind if I take a whiff? Empty or no, I might recall a thing or two if I smell what we had before... well. Before everything went all perfume and punches."

Clarisse checks wits at hard. Clarisse is successful.

Sydney checks wits at hard. Sydney is successful.

Valerian checks wits at hard. Valerian is successful.

Graziella clomps along with her cane, the Princess is pulling up the rear of the procession with a mild scowl of pain on her face but an otherwise sunny disposition - all things considered. "That went far better than I had hoped, I can't say I'm fond of blackouts... I barely trust myself when I'm awake and now to figure out who I was while I was elsewhere. Bah!" She shakes her head and cuts her curious eyes around the street as they move along, looking for anything familiar and remarking, "Madness." She mutters that last bit and the scowl deepens into the corners of her cheeks deep enough to cause dimples as she watches Sydney sniff the perfume and sardonically intones, "You didn't get enough of it last night when you bathed in it?"

Graziella checks wits at hard. Graziella is successful.

Sydney intones, "No, no. The wine bottle."

Valerian takes up the back with Graziella, the Kennex Lord moving along at the same pace as the cane wielding Princess. A little look is given between Graziella hearing the Princess ask Sidney the question, the exchange between the two with a soft chuckle that soon is stiffled by his right hand as it settles over his liips for a moment hiding that smile that takes shape.

Clarisse gingerly offers the wine bottle to Sydney, "Of coure my friend, I hope it can help. It is pretty dry though, the scent really is the only thing that lingers. But maybe there is something along the way that we can recall from our own memories." She offers reassuringly as she looks among her friends and Valerian as well. She is careful though of her arm as it is still healing.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Clarisse before departing.

The bottle is key. Sydney and group pause and the bottle is sniffed by the pugilist, and while no drops remain, the scent of the bottle and it's former contents does just enough. Sydney can see it in her minds eye. It's not far and when she starts to direct the group, it comes back to everyone. Of the questionable bar, with it's questionable patrons. The further they get from the perfumer's shop, the less crowded it becomes and as they come around the one corner that will lead them to their destination, they all come to a grinding halt.

There's a reason that the posters didn't look completely like them.

The posters look like the guys outside the bar.

Currently being arrested.

Sydney, Valerian, Graziella, Clarisse and Zyxthylum has dopplegangers in Tor...

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Alarissa before departing.

Sydney takes a strong sniff of the wine and cradles it close to her breast, "Ah. Fond memories. Truly, the best that money can buy."

Scent memory is a powerful motivator. She snaps her fingers, and flashes the group a smile, "I think I remember where we went next. It was round 'this way, down a few alleys, and... right?" She sees the recognition in the group's eyes, seeming to confirm her story, and she leads on, her gait growing more confident with every step. She pauses upon seeing the fuss that's occurring outside of the bar, and then... well, what can one do but gawp? "Shards. I know redheads are a common breed and all, but it's like lookin' in a... mirror..."

The bottle tumbles from her hand and crashes on the street. She strides swiftly /towards/ the ruckus rather than watch it play out. "Excuse me! Pardon me!" Elbowing her way through the other onlookers.

"Ah." Graziella politely remarks at the correction and then she softly adds, more for her own benefit, "Practically bathed in the wine too, we all did." The stifled amusement from Valerian draws her gaze with an appreciative little smirk but it wilts in short order as she finds herself suddenly distracted by the appearance of her doppleganger getting arrested. This causes the Princess to stop abruptly and narrow her eyes at the person with her face, "What /is/ that?" Not who, but what, and the why of it all is momentarily forgotten as she looks to her travel companions for some sort of input or explanation. "We've- uh.." Her mouth hangs open a few seconds longer than it should and she snaps it closed with an audible sound before shaking her head and moving to walk away with a, "Nope."

The cane, the curiosity and her sense of adventure don't allow her to get very far though and with a put upon roll of her eyes and a DEEP sigh she turns back around as Sydney call out to them. This she /has/ to see.

Valerian looks to Clarisse offering the woman a reassuring smile before that focus of his turns to Sydney watching as the woman sniffs the bottle. When she begins to guide them along through the streets distancing them from the chaos and frenzy of the perfume shop the young man relaxes. At least until they round the corner and spot their look alikes. Valerian's dark eyes going wide with surprise as he murmurs, "Well..this.. this makes more sense." The young man seeming to be pleased with them sorting out the wanted posters.

Valerian's own curiousity gets the better hof him, the Kennex Lord following along in the wake of Graziella.

Clarisse is genuinely floored, "Where.. How?" She is at a loss for words, disappointed by the broken bottle, and she takes in a deep breath trying not to loose it, in the middle of the street, seeing a double of herself. How can any one replicate her hair?! SHe just stops still and watches the scene unfold, without anything left to say at the moment. Maybe the answers will reveal themselves.

Sydney may be striding forward, the others hanging back. Probably wise given that the moment Sydney's calling out draws the attention of the city guards - again - and the group that's being shackled. Who suddenly light up as if their savior has come.

"That's the one!" The Graziella look alike states. "It was her and her group! Not us!" Desperation it seems. But there's just one, the rest of the group stays just out of sight thanks to people milling about and watching. The dopplegangers look seedy as fuck though, and seeing the similarity between Sydney and her doppleganger and the protestations, they're moving forward to meet her, a pair of shackles in their hand.

"WAIT!" Calls out a womans voice. And a young woman, no older than mid twenties is drawing attention to herself. "It's that group." She gestures to the already shackled group. She's dressed scraggly a little herself, dirt on her chin. "I heard them in the bar. They were planning on robbing the Morecci estate."

The guard looks to Sydney. 'Where were you last night?" He challenges. The shackled group look a little pissed.

Sydney checks wits at normal. Sydney is successful.

Clarisse checks wits at normal. Clarisse is successful.

Graziella checks wits at normal. Graziella marginally fails.

Valerian checks wits at normal. Valerian fails.

Sydney's nostrils flare as the accusations are levied against her, but she seems more intent on approaching rather than being overly concerned about the charges. Her lip curls in a commoners' mask of defiance at the guard approaching her, and she starts to brush past him until she gets a closer look at the group. Vague recognition dawns. "Wait. I remember this. Graz-but -prettier, shut your face." She points an accusing finger at them, "...They assaulted us last night, and tried to strong-arm us into robbin' some estate!" She looks back to the group as if trying to get her facts straight. She only mostly remembers this, and needs backup, clearly.

She extends a finger clearly pointed at her own 'lookalike' and loudly intones, "Your name. What's your name?"

Graziella has made her way over upon being called out and she throws her title around to make herself feel safer, "Princesses of House Pravus have no need to steal anything... we're certainly not the thieves you're looking for-" A soft scoff escapes her and she laughs at the guards as they try to approach, giving a gentle toss of her blonde head and the muttering with clear distaste as she looks pointedly back over at her doppleganger, "Don't think we won't figure them out.. your names."

When accusations are leveled against them by the group Valerian blinks a few times before his head quickly shakes, The man pointing out in that softer tone of his. "House Kennex are pirate hunters and has enough money none of us need steal for a meal. And enough to keep busy with to not need such endeavors to pass the time." That said though Valerian does give a nervous look to the others of the group, the young man clearly not remembering the place himself

Clarisse gently steps forward and offers what she remembers, "It was the Morecci estate. I remember now.. They cornered outside the Apothecary last night, they were hired by someone to rob the estate, but we got mistaken for them Sir, and they lost out on the job, so they threatened us. They threatened to be the crap out of us, and kills us for them loosing out on the job, they wanted compensation from us, so.. we went back to our hosts estate, Fidante estate to offer the jewelry we had been gifted with, to try to pacify them, but we only made it as far as the garrden before we passed out. I am Lady Clarisse Charon, and guests of M'Lady Princess Pravus, here. I promise I have never stolen a thing in my life. And I would appreciate knowing your name as well." Staring at her own look alike, "It is the least you owe me for breaking my arm."

One by one as the nobles stride forward, there's a look of anger that rises in the Sydney look-a-like's face. Nobles. The problem with nobles is that they tend to be believed more than commoners. Especially ones that are accused of thievery. The guards look between the nobles and the shackled group who to a man and woman, are refusing to say a single thing. Just scowls from the lot of them. "Do you vouch for this one?" A guard asks, gesturing to Sydney. At which point the woman who spoke up steps forward further. "I do. She was not with the ones who you have in custody. She is with the Princess and the Lord and Lady. I'll vouch for her. And they. It is as they said. Assaulted by the group here."

Sydney's fingers are curled in forming tight fists, the pugilist openly displaying true and honest-to-gods tension since this trip began. Her eyes are fixed not on the guards or saving her own skin, but staring /hard/ at the redhead. A glance at her arms might, to the perceptive, indicate that she's slightly trembling. "Don't bother. I remember now."

Her fists ease and she spits to the side, "...Fucked with the wrong people, 'Honey'."

"Yes, of course we vouch for her as well.. she's with our traveling group out of Arx." Graziella nods, lofting her chin and not seeming even the least bit apologetic to the dopplegangers. Nor is she afraid as she watches them and the guards curiously from down the end of her aristocratic nose. "Did they ever." Her cold intonation is just dripping with somber stygian malice as she agrees with Sydney.

As the pieces begin to fall into place with the words from Clarisse and those spoken by the group and then the woman who spoke up for Sydney there is a look of realization from the Kennex Lord. A small subtle nod given more to himself than anyone else before he adds after Graziella, "Oh yes, She has been the most interesting traveling companion. And the most helpful as well." The young man speaking in Sydney's defense as well before he falls silent once more. Watching his own doppleganger in silent study before he asks, "Why would you do this to us..All for what? A bit of silver to fill your coffers and glasses?"

Sydney is vouched for. The guards draw back from her. "Well then." Hearing Clarisse's charges. "Sounds like there's quite a bit they got into last night. If you'll excuse us, we'll see to taking them in and we'll send someone around to take your testimony." Honey is livid. She looks ready to BURST when it seems that indeed, they're being hauled in. "I'll find you!" She yells out to Sydney. "I'll find you and I'll kill you! Mark my words!" She spits at the feet of the pugilist. "You better not fucking sleep! I'll find you all!"

And they start to be frog marched off, some of them resisting, others not. Leaving just the woman who vouched and onlookers as well as their own small group. Valerian will get no answer as to the why it seems.

It's the slightly dirty woman who approaches though, once guards are gone and looks to the group. "Meet me" She looks to Clarisse, valerian and nods. "All of you. I hope you got it. I'm sorry I dragged you into this, it wasn't my intent. Meet me by Mangata's shrine." They know exactly where, the shrine by the water, away from the docks. A peaceful place of water worn stone and sea greasses. Maybe... maybe Valerian WILL get an answer. "This evening, after the sun sets."

Sydney stares hard at Honey, bottle-green eyes impassive and still as the threats her lobbed. Her fingers clench at the leather of her glove again, fingernails clasping hard enough to leave small divots in the palm. She holds her tongue and waits until the group is dragged away. She turns with a swish of her aggressively-long hair, and regards the woman who vouched for them instead, her breathing slowly beginning to ease. She's silent, now, the pugilist.

Seemingly a first.

Graziella is still watching her lookalike with a scrutiny that would be unbecoming in another setting, sneering softly as she mentions, "I don't see any similarity, she's missing my beautymark." The one just southeast of her nose, to the right of her mouth. Asiding to Syd as the screaming red head is being dragged off, "Aw, you made a friend." Sweetly, to kindly to be fake, "Isn't that nice."

Graziella pulls her face back in shock and the dirty woman gets a silent stare the entire time she speaks even, at the end, abesently and unsure, Grazi nods a few times and then looks to her group once the woman as departed. "I was hoping we'd get a beach day in."

Clarisse looks truly unsettled by the doppleganger, "That hair has to be fake. There is no way. It is so hard to keep my hair this perfect truly. It takes a lot of time." She gently offers a reassuring smile to the lady who speaks to her and Valerian. "It is not entirely your fault. They took advantage of the situation." She offers reassuringly, " looks at the lady and nods to her, understanding her meaning without it being said aloud. "Of course. We will." She doesn't seem overly concerned about the threats though.



Valerian listens closely as mention is made of meeting at Mangata's Shrine, The Kennex Lord though remaining silent. The only acknowledgement or answer given coming in the form of a nod before he is making his awy over to stand beside Clarisse, Moments later he looks to Graziella offering up. "Well we are going to be near the beach at least.. And who knows, we might get to squeeze one in before returning to Arx."

Time passes between then and the present. The group splitting up to tend to things that need tending or of importance. Sydney chases off what remains of the hangover she has, Zyxthylum has had some things catch his eyes. Graziella's was waiting on hand and foot by staff of Fidante, as if horrified that harm came to the Princess under their watch. Clarisse herself tends to a little shopping for some more Torean fashions than would be found in Arx. Valerian locating that dolphin statue and learning that it was, or at least is, a statue that's in the Morreci estate. Still, supposedly, in the Morreci estate. Seems the burglery wasn't successful, despite that... clearly it was.

But at the appointed time and having rested that splinted leg and arm and everyone feeling a bit better, the group makes their way to the shrine or at least, just to outside of it where a woman in long hair left down and shining like gold in the sunset and wearing a surplice with Mangata's sigils embroidered on it, is waiting. One glance and the group realizes that this woman is the same one from the bar. She looks to the group and seems to be searching for something before she lights up at the sight of the Dolphin. "You did it. Gods be praised, you succeeded. I wasn't sure you see. They said that no one had broken in and stolen anything and yet, and yet I just knew..." She suddenly looks overjoyed. 'Can I see it?" Hands trembling.

Their dirty waif, is a godsworn. Or is the Godsworn a dirty waif?

Sydney has nothing left of that dark, brooding expression that she wore when she departed from the group to kill time. She's back to having pep in her step and a sauntering sashay to her swagger, among other words beginning with S. The long and short of it is that she seems quite over whatever that altercation with the one she called 'Honey' was about. The downside of being tipsy is that she looks a touch lost by what the woman is talking about.

"Anyone... ah, catchin' any of this?" She flashes her teeth in a winning grin, "I'm not followin'."

"I suspected as much.." Graziella mutters from the side of her mouth to the others when it looks like their waif is Godsworn member of the Faith. "Guards don't usually listen that well.." She trails off while they are still some distance from the shrine, fixing her face to form a friendly smile before they get closer enough to hear words.

Princess Graziella picks up the implication rather swiftly, as she listens to the Godsworm waif and once prompted by Sydney she politely explains, "It seems as though the rightful home of this dolly-fin is here at the Shrine? We're happy to have been able to right a wrong against the Faith." Grazi inclines her head to the Godsworn and then after a polite pause she raises it to ask, "Would you tells us the story of the statue?" And then a gamble, "Again."

Valerian carefully carries the statue making his way closer to the shrine and the dirty godsworn waif. The Kennex Lord not handing it over just yet. A little look is given to Graziella and hearing her words and the question for the waif he finally moves to set the statue down beside the shrine.

Clarisse is defintely looking more content that she was able to get some shopping for a few small things while here, but she is definitely surprised by the lady in front of them and the change of outfit to mark her has godsworn, though she for some reason knew she could be trusted, should be, when she invited them here to meet. She is content to listen and watch, her friends questions, mirroring her own, as she waits for Valerian to find a place, and steps closer to him, smiling at him.

"yes and no." The woman states to the group. "I didn't tell you last night." She doesn't reach for the dolphin. "I'm the one that hired you though. Or well, I hired them. I thought that you were them. It's easy enough to see why, you really do look remarkably similar. But then, there's enough of us in the world that it would make sense that there are those out there who resemble us that we never meet" But she waves a hand, getting derailed. "Yes, the statue is... important to the shrine. Yes, you've righted a wrong against the faith. A wrong that's gone unpunished for years. Can I? I need to hold the statue. Everything will be answered if I can just have the statue?" She asks.

Graziella takes a half step back to watch the handing off the statue in a silence riddled with insatiable curiosity.

Sydney checks perception at easy. Sydney is successful.

Valerian checks perception and empathy at normal. Valerian is successful.

Clarisse checks perception and empathy at normal. Clarisse is successful.

Graziella checks perception and empathy at normal. Graziella is successful.

When the woman makes mention of needing the statue Valerian stops just short of setting it down, The Kennex Lord watchng the waif closesly as he approaches only to finally hand over that statue before stepping back waiting for that answer.

Sydney clearly sees no reason to intercede, and merely folds her arms, watching intently, stating with the certainty of the buzzed, "We do damn fine work."

'You certainly do" The Godsworn states.

before taking the statue and deliberately smashing it against the rocks.

It shatters. Pieces scattering across the water worn stones. She seems pleased and starts moving pieces around.

"Was there something inside of it.." Princess Graziella wonders softly, even MORE curious, her brows draw in and she cranes her neck to watch the Godsworn dig through the rubble of the statue.

Clarisse looks at the godsworn completely stunned at her breaking the statue, that she did not expect at all. She just expected her to place it on the shrine, so now she is startled.. "Why? Would you break it?" She tries to look closer to see what it is about the statue that might make her do that.

Sydney laughs in spite of herself as the statue smashes to pieces. Why? Because she's tipsy and because it's fun to watch things break, presumably. Does one need an altogether better reason? When she realizes no one else is laughing, she clears her throat and looks serious again. Minus a quite titter underneath her breath that she coughs again to suppress.

Valerian checks composure at normal. Valerian is successful.

There is a look of surprise from Valerian when the godsworn smashes the beautiful statue, The man though keeping his calm and tongue. Instead of saying anything over it he watches curiously as she shifs the pieces around watching what she does and looking over those broken pieces in silent study.

There was. Most certainly there was as she straightens up after a cry of joy and in her hands is a fist sized blue gems the shade of water. Ripples of creamy imperfections within it give a sense of waves crashing through the mostly egg shaped gem though the trextures upon it soon become evident that it's carved, carefully. Mangata in benediction, arms outstretched and all manner of sea creatures and aquatic flora upon the surface as she turns it this way and that, tears starting to fall.

"My father made it. When I took my vows. He gave it to the church as a thank you for accepting me. Inspired by my choice to join the gods and take up service to mangata. It rested in the shrine till one day I came in and saw a fake in it's place." She offers it up for the group to hold, to take into their hand. "Just good enough to pass. But I knew it was fake. No one believed me. The Baron Morecci though, he had often tried to come and buy it. He stopped offering the day it was switched. I put two and two together." She looks to the group. "But no one believed me. I was told to be quiet. It was still there. why would a noble steal from the church. So I spent my nights looking." She follows the stone as it's passed around for all to look at it.

"I found someone who said that they had been hired to put it in a statue. They wouldn't go to the authorities so..." She looks to the group. "I hired some catburglars. I had them make another statue. I was going to steal it back." She looks guilty at that. "It was my fathers work, it was for the gods. Not for some... crotchety old hermit baron to steal!"

Snapping her fingers, Sydney's eyes gleam, "And you hired the best damned burglars in town without even knowin' it." She smiles gamely at the waifsworn, and props her hands on her hips, "...So. What was to be their pay, should they succeed? Merely curious, you understand."

Graziella's hard exterior never fully softens but she does listen to the story with a gentle expression of sympathy and at the ened she asks for nothing, offering only, "No greater feeling than validation and justice, I'll leave the matter of negotiating payment to Sydney here-" Nodding once to the red headed women and advising, "See that she's given my share, I won't accept it."

Clarisse takes a careful look at the stone as it is handed to them, so they can appreciate what they just did. Though it doesn't settle well with the young Lady, stealing, but returning property where it rightfully belongs, is another story. So she is resigned to handing it on to the next person who wishes to appreciate the stone, they risked their freedom for.

Valerian looks almost mortified that someone of the peerage would stoop so low as to steal from the faith and a shrine, His head giving a shake before he is offering up an apologetic look to the woman. "I..I am sorry you had to endure such, At least now.. you have it back..the token within back where it belongs." The man offering to the young woman before he is looking to Sydney as she asks over teh cost.

"That I wasn't going to turn them into the authorities..." Here the godsworn looks a little sheepish. As the stone is returned to her, she holds it close. "He's dead now. My father. So I needed to make it right. Sentinel will judge me for what I've done, but... I needed to see it returned. And if that group faces justice for their crimes then... so be it." She looks to the group. 'I won't breathe a word of what you have done for me. For this."

Graziella frowns at the mention of their lookalikes taking the heat for the after and she inhales through her nose as mention, "I'll speak to House Fidante and a few of my cousins in Pravus to see if there isn't something we can do for them? Once we have the whole story from you? I don't want to see them persecuted if their only crime was comedy of errors. And one which we aided them in." Graziella leans on her cane and casts a look out into the distance, "Secrets weigh so very much though... if it isn't too bold of me to say? Mind how many you keep." The Godsworn gets a spidery enigmatic smile from the Princess and she looks as though she's ready to depart, glancing off again and politely waiting for the conversation to end.

Tipsy though she may be, Sydney can read a room, and she clasps a hand over her heart, "And that's every bit the payment I would hope for. Knowing that you're able to come to peace with your father is more than enough for me."

Sydney mutters, "I ... ... silver would have ... nice, but there's no ... ... to be had for ... to ... sure."

Clarisse shakes her head, "We have to clear them, there has to be a way, despite their threats, perhaps they will find it in their own hearts to forgive us." She offers hopefully, as she smiles at Sydney change of heart. She looks between to the others to think if they care or think that they might after what happened. "Though I am very skeptical after their threats before they were arrested."

And so, the Godsworn has the relic, soon to be replaced where it should be and the false one removed, no one the wiser to what has happened. When the group tries to inquire as to the burglars, well, they soon find out that were it not for their little escapade, a group of very prolific and successful cat burglars wouldn't have been caught and they're facing many charges stemming back from many burglaries. Sentinel provides indeed.

And as they return to the Fidante estate, it's with the knowledge that perhaps, just maybe, one shouldn't have more than a single solitary sip of Cardian Wine and they have a few more days to enjoy in the warm embrace and kind hospitality of House Fidante on the love shores of Tor.

Clarisse is overheard praising Graziella.

Clarisse is overheard praising Alarissa.

Clarisse is overheard praising Sydney.

Clarisse is overheard praising Valerian.