"You want info?" Alask asked, leaning against the gate. He ran a hand through his hair, then sighed. He hadn't put up those posters up so they could all sit around discussing. Behind him, the the two men who had been gambling carried the woman away, red staining their clothes. With them gone, it was only Alask and the four newcomers left.
He stood up straighter and addressed them all.
"You may be wondering what just happened, or why I put those 'help wanted' posters up," he said. He turned to gesture to where the woman had been carried off to. "She is why we need help. She is a victim, and not the first we've had."
Alask tried his best to sound impassioned. His left arm still remained hidden beneath the cloak.
"A week ago," he said. "We started experiencing attacks in the Forge area. Vandalism. Theft. Murder. We believe it's some sort of new gang, and that they've made a hideout in an abandoned warehouse deeper in the slums. we don't know their numbers or their Investiture, but we know they're deadly."
He paused for a moment, sighed, then met the eyes of each of the four.
"The Forge is a brilliancy," he said. "What I've – we've – been able to do for the first time is give these homeless people reliable, shelter, food and electricity. We've cleaned the water supply, provided them safety. These attacks threaten to undo all of that. Dealing with them will be dangerous. That being said..."
He turned to look at Sam.
"If you choose to help us, you will be saving innocent lives."
He turned towards Darien.
"If you choose to help, I will tell you what I know about my... friend."
He turned to Deckh, the calm-as-ice assassin who seemed to be smarter than he appeared. Then he looked to the latest arrival, a woman who knew Darien and stared at Alask in a way that made him uncomfortable. She, too, was more than what met the eye.
"And for the rest of you," he said. "If you choose to remove this threat for me, as a reward, I'll allow you to keep anything you raid off of the hideout. The Forge has no need for tools of destruction."
Alask stilled, having said his plea. He looked to each of the four again, tried to gauge their reactions. This was the critical moment.
"So," he said, shrugging with his right shoulder. "What do you say?"
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