C1E18 — The Price May Be Right

## Sirenixia's Account

I awoke that morning still frustrated that the Tome of Golemancy
was allowed into the hands of the Nicto Kurasis. I know not what came over me
to allow such a thing. It felt almost as if I was in another place, entirely apart
and absent from the goings on around me. But I suppose it is still better for
it to be available in the hands of a known evil than hidden away with a madman.

The routine maintenance of my equipment helped settle my
mind, and by the time I had made it down to breakfast, I felt more myself
again. Then a note was delivered by strangely colored guard at the door. I didn’t
know what to expect from such a delivery, written on some leftover paper scraps.
I was surprised to find a note from Price. She claimed to have more information
about Bakrimanthis and would only tell us if we could save her from the death
sentence which would be handed down tomorrow.

I was of course skeptical of such of request, and I am loath
to help a criminal escape punishment. But I felt a great and dark power in the presence
of Bakrimanthis, as brief as the moment was, and I know that if She Who Dreams
Beneath comes to power, it will cause far more harm than a single escaped
pirate.

We traveled to the jail at the city wall, where some passed
between Agate and one of the guards allowed us in to speak with Price. Little
good it did. She said barely more than to reiterate the information in the
note.

Agate, Orentha, Milady, Trindak, and I met in a small bar
near the jail to discuss our options, and after some debate, we had a plan.
Milady and I would try to speak to the Lieutenant in charge of the jail and
find a legal mean to ensure Price’s temporary release. The others would hunt
down Captain Jenny Harken to see if they could find Red Barton and discover if
he had any information which would make Price’s irrelevant.

The guard at the entrance to the jail initially refused our
entrance to speak with the Lieutenant, despite the great importance of the
matter. Milady’s loose relationship to the truth did however convince them to
let us pass. The Lieutenant herself was formerly a member of the exterior force
of the tranquil guard, demoted to jail duty for some failed act of bravery. It
was a shame that such a fate should befall someone like them. After speaking at
length, she seemed inclined to help us, but her past experiences has left her
unwilling to risk herself more for the sake of others. Despite that, her
commitment to her duty was admirable, and she did give us the opportunity to try
and fake a rescue, as long as we did not allow her to leave the jail. She also
gave us the name of the magistrate with whom we should speak if we wished to
inquire further. This failure, for neither of us believed we could convince
Price to tell us anything before we were well away from the city, forced to appeal
the Magistrate Purcell for assistance.

Will the frustration never end, this inefficient, ignorant bureaucracy?
To crush the will of a valiant soldier. When we finally found the magistrate,
his secretary could barely be convinced to let us see him, even after the
importance of our action were made clear. And the final straw, Magistrate himself.
So full of self-importance that he wouldn’t even consider the danger I warned
him of, brushing me off like some crazed fools with a head full of fantasies. Me!
One of the Argentax. And that familiar voice pushed me on. “This fool does not
know what is good for him. If he will not listen of his own accord, make him
give you what you need.” Purcell was quick enough to acknowledge our need when
my sword was pointed at his neck. Once Milady confirmed that the document, he wrote
for us was what we needed to release Price, I grabbed it and left. Any time we
waste to in hunting Bakrimanthis is time she has to grow more powerful and
dangerous.

It was wonderfully, showing that magistrate the error of his
ways. “What is better than fear to motivate someone to do what is right.” There
is truth in the Tarnished’s words.

As we were leaving the compound, I heard shouts of the
cowardly Magistrate, and the sound of guards coming for us. They refuse to
understand the importance of what I am trying to do for them. No matter. A few
guards are of little concern.