[DireRadiant]

[Yukika Karasu - Sunday July 5th, 2076; Somewhere Below, London] #39

We wander Below, seeking the Courts of the Holy. It is simple, their crosses are everywhere, and they seek supplicants. There are arrows pointing the way to their place of worship. Stone carved from decayed remnants of the city. The Dirty Old Cheat is quiet, no doubt considering what we have said to him.

On the way there I seek to learn more of these Houses, wayward clans formed for mutual protection, like the Bakuto.

"What do you know of these Houses and how they work?"

We are making our way to Earl's Court Cathedral, the place that is the heart of Below. If the Polite Oni and The Dirty Old Cheat have no answers it may be worth asking some of the people there about the House of Flowers, and The Iron Company. And the other Powers here.

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn and Iris approach a good spot to observe the fortress that is the house of the Iron Company and sit.  They both have the picture of the girl on their internal 'links and hope to spot her if she leaves the building.  Time passes and the guards at the entrance change once before Tamsyn leaves in the company of fifteen others of the training company.  They are in formation and it would be impossible to get closer without setting off all sorts of personal alarms, so Robyn and Iris just watch.  The small group is led by a corporal of the Company, who keeps his charges in formation and calls out the march cadence.  Robyn does not do anything at this point except watch.

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint answered:
"I'm by no means an expert on those things, but the houses appear to work pretty much like the rich families of Italy during the Renaissance. All in all, Below is like a city state. They have a ruling house, alliances and plots to undermine each other's influence. Unlike gangs they aren't explicitly interested in destroying one-another. With their specialties they are filling niches in regard to governance and services in this underground economy.
They all have to maintain an aura of strength or the other houses pounce and move against them.
The Old One seems to be part of the current "primus inter pares" house and doesn't want the other houses gaining power at the expense of the Flowers - probably because that would give them enough power to topple his house from the prime spot. At least that's my current hypotheses.

Now, how they work: They have foot soldiers and champions. There seem to have evolved rituals to deal with conflicts - although that doesn't stop them from sending knives in the night.
The Flowers like to use drugs or mind magic to soften up their targets before they strike - that much I've learned by empiric study. What I heard about the Iron Company tells me that they are more of a disciplined fighting force. I'd imagine they employ small unit tactics and other highly coordinated attacks.
But all will try to trip you up with their unwritten laws so they have an excuse for violating what passes for public peace down here."

[DireRadiant]

[Yukika Karasu - Sunday July 5th, 2076; Somewhere Below, London] #40

We make our way to Earl's Court, past the displays of power. The Polite Oni speaks of tactics which are revealing of the nature of the Houses. I must also learn what the people who are not of the Houses think.

I approach a functionary of the Courts of the Holy. She is a minor functionary. She lectures us. Poorly. I listen and lead her through all the steps of the ceremonies. The six months before there is an opening in the chapel. 3 months for a Holy one to be available to educate the Dirty Old Cheat in the ways of the Court. He will need more than 3 months training I am sure. She tells us of the posting of Banns.

I give up when she starts speaking of the special hats the Holies can wear depending on the station of the participants. The Dirty Old Cheat will merit hatless Holies. I get us free of the Holies clutches. We have learned enough.

As we break clear I give my opinion to my companions, "We have much work to do. It will take many favors or a lot money, or a lot fun."

I clear up the confusion. "Blackmail, extortion, confidence games."

I laugh, "This will be fun!... though Priests are often too easy as targets."

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint had always considered himself as a good christian - despite his chosen profession. But dealing with the Holies was more akin to a visit at the dentist that sorely tempted him to indulge in the deathly sin of wrath. But he kept his mouth shut and let Yukika deal with it as he had promised.
At least the drones had arrived safely at Robyn's home. Small mercies.

When they were in private again, he listened to her and nodded: "You may be right, but don't forget this is a major player down here - if we don't get this right the first time, there probably won't be a second chance."

#434

[Aria]

[Sunday July 5th, 2076; Somewhere Below, London]

With the Holies being rather uncooperative you are rather hoping that the girls are having more success…and indeed their chance to make an approach comes quickly enough as Tamsyn and one of her compatriots are clearly singled out for following point duty on whatever training exercise they are undertaking…it wouldn’t take much to use a drone or similar discrete method to make an approach…

***

#52

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn and Iris watch as the two Iron Company cadets walk separately from the rest.  Robyn sends two of her spy drones winging after the pair, landing them on Tamsyn's clothing.  She directs one to burrow into the collar of the coat and go silent as it watches to the front.  The other she sends to the shoulder, close to the Ork girl's ear.  This one is one of the Noizquitos and is equipped with a small but powerful speaker.  The two soldiers are separated by a few feet and Robyn commands her drone to use a very, very low power on the speaker and cranks it up a tiny bit at a time until the girl can hear it and sends a message to her.  >>Tamsyn.  I am a friend.  I am trying to help you make your dream of being with the woman you love a reality.  If you are willing to talk to me, just nod your head twice.<<

[adamu]

As they moved through the streets and Isaint discussed strategy with Yukika, Al stayed quiet and watched the crowds...and their six.

The people they'd just met with had called themselves Christians, but it had sounded like they were slaves to hollow ritual to him. Hell, there hadn't been a snake in sight. He didn't know what to make of their so-called religion but he knew he didn't trust them. He also knew that even though they'd been told there was currently no longer any hit out on them down here, now that they'd taken the meeting they'd upped their exposure a notch, and he was keeping a close eye out for tails.

[Jack_Spade]

"Alright, now that we know about this lot, it's time to shop for another offer. The holies can't be the only ones with access to holy places. Maybe the House of Musicians would be more open to us hosting a concert at one of their sacred sites."
Isaint didn't feel to enthusiastic about this suggestion, but he had promised that they would look for alternatives, so the lovebirds would have a modicum of choice. Not to mention that he suspected the Holies might make more problems if they knew of the nature of bride and bride.

[Aria]

[Sunday July 5th, 2076; Somewhere Below, London]

At the whispering in her ear Tamsyn smiles, but doesn’t break stride or do anything to alert her companion to the new arrival… subvocalizing she says

“He said he would do it, I just wasn’t sure if he could…can you meet me in the Gardens of Dis this evening?  It’s near Earl’s Court…”

***

#53

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn whispers back, >>I know it well.  I will be there.  What time?  And do you wish to meet alone?<<

[DireRadiant]

[Yukika Karasu - Sunday July 5th, 2076; Somewhere Below, London] #41

The Night Symphony might work on a practical level, but adding another House would be far more challenging. Almost impossible.

Yet there are possibilities.

"The musicians will know how to engage a venue, neh? Also the performance of the ceremonies."

I look to my companions. "Better we not ask all our questions in one House."

[Aria]

[Sunday July 5th, 2076; Somewhere Below, London]

"I won't be alone, I am not that naïve!  Meet me at twenty one hundred or thereabouts, I take it you know what I look like?  I don't want to say more now, my Sergeant will be calling us in a moment..."

***

#54

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn sends a quick reply.  >>2100.  Yes, I know what you look like.<<  When she finishes, Robyn directs the drones to fly back to her.  She turns to Iris.  "Alright, one down.  The meet is at the Gardens of Dis at 2100.  I will report in and see if we want to try for girl number two."

She sends a quick note to the others.  >>Team.  Robyn.  Made contact with one of the girls.  She wants to meet me at 2100 in the Gardens of Dis.  Do we still try to contact girl number two and how do we want to handle this meeting?<<

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint replied as soon as he got the message:
<<Good work. If you can manage, do try to make contact, but I suspect that the company girl will be able to tell us how she is contacting her lover.
For the meeting I suggest a split: One half in the open, the others in reserve to watch our backs.
Robyn, since you made contact you are in group one. Al and Mrs. Karasu you'll probably want to ask about the procedures directly. And I'm personally just curious.
Our heavy hitters stay in cover and ensure we get out of this meet in one piece.
Are you all ok with that?

... Great.>>

#436