Alderich was the first one up in the morning. He went around the hideout, gathered up everyone's weapons and armor, and took them to his workshop to make improvements. The clashing of metal to metal gradually woke the others.
The next awake was Makenna, who went around the sleeping area and put a glowing white hand on the foreheads of his sleeping comrades, sparing them the worst of their hangovers. Makenna then walked over to his brother's furnace and took a pouch out of his pocket. He emptied some of the contents into his hand. The red powder issued a small amount of light and heat, he threw it into the furnace quickly to avoid burning his hand. The fire salts caused the flame to burst from a meek orange flame into a powerful white hot inferno.
"Thanks Makenna," Alderich said to his brother. The armaments Alderich was working were now much more easily molded after being in the furnace. The blades he worked on were now sharper, the axes and warhammers denser, the armor harder. This temporarily enchanted furnace helped this journeyman armorer turn out expert quality equipment.
Makenna though, was not in the mood for work. Play however, sounded very appealing. He reached into his pocket yet again and pulled out yet another small pouch. This was filled with a fine purple powder that made the Dunmer's hair stand on end when he held it in his hand. Makenna poured a small amount of the void salts into each of Thurod's shoes. He then went outside for a few moments and promptly returned, apparently having done the same to Alfonso's shoes. Alderich chuckled from his forge.
Soon after Makenna finished setting up his prank, the victims woke up. They met at a small table with a chair on either side. The Nord and Orc sat in the chairs and placed their elbows on the table. No sooner had the two slammed their palms together in an attempt to arm wrestle then the resulting explosion of static electricity sent them flying backwards to opposite sides of the room.
This resounding boom woke Isaiah and Ra'Meth, Andlaen however still lay sideways in a puddle of his own drool. As the Imperial and Khajiit regained consciousness, two angry warriors approached the younger Dunmer.
"Think of it as a consequence of predictability," Makenna said to the pair, who have been arm wrestling first thing in the morning for years. Fons pulled back his fist.
Isaiah quickly pieced together what had happened and grabbed Furey's fist, preventing him from sending the Dark Elf to Vaermina's nightmarish realm. "It is a good lesson," Isaiah said, and added, glaring at Makenna, "although I doubt the intent."
Makenna walked away, apparently not concerned for the turbulence he caused, and beckoned Ra'Meth to follow him. Makenna led the Khajiit to his alchemy lab. He opened a cabinet filled with shelf after shelf of potions and poisons and began scanning the labels. The alchemist found an orange potion he had worked on the night before labeled 'SPEED & DAMAGE HEALTH'. He took the five of them that were there off the shelves and gave them to the runner.
"These potions will fortify your running speed," the Dunmer explained. "They will taste like pears, but the other ingredient, wisp stalk caps, will burn your throat pretty badly. It will be overwhelming if you are hurt."
Ra'Meth, who had been nodding at every word Makenna said, took the potions eagerly. "Thank you friend," he said in his Khajiit hiss, "these will be handy."
Meanwhile, Alfonso decided Andlaen had had enough sleep. The huge Nord shook the Bosmer awake, then picked him up and stood him on his feet. "Time to wake up little Wood Elf," Fons rumbled to the confused Bosmer.
"Come on Andlaen, our turn for guard duty," Isaiah said, waving him towards the door.
Reality suddenly struck and the elf found his armor, bow, and arrows, then ran for the door after Isaiah.
While Isaiah and Andlaen stood guard outside (Isaiah probably filling in Andlaen about the upcoming mission), the others passed time. Fons and Thurod took turns practicing with Alderich; because the Dunmer was equally specialized in the combat, magic, and stealth classes, he made an excellent sparring partner. Over in the alchemy lab a few steps away, Makenna gave Meth novice level training in the art of mixing, the Khajiit showed an interest in, if not skill at, brewing potions.
During the hours that passed, Alderich learned quite a bit about using his sword and shield against powerful opponents armed with two-handed blunt weapons. Furey and gro-Monk likewise learned about using their heavy weapons against well-rounded enemies equipped with longswords and shields. Makenna however, made little progress training Ra'Meth. It was expected, as Meth only showed a passing interest, not any real promise.
The five Cards in the hideout heard a knock on the door. Isaiah or Andlaen would have just entered, so this must be someone else. Mercenaries have a habit of not trusting anyone but their own, so they took up defensive positions around the door, Meth approached to open it.
Ra'Meth swung it open. On the other side stood a Breton wearing chainmail armor and a blue mage's hood. Attached to his belt were a sheathed silver shortsword and a silver mace. "I am Mages Guild Battlemage Ryan Pryde," he said, "I have been sent to assist you Wild Cards."
"Greetings then," Ra'Meth replied. The Khajiit used his left hand to give the signal for the others in the base to come outside. His other hand was held up in the signal to hold fire to some of the standing ruins to the southeast. Pryde handed Ra'Meth a message sealed with a Mages Guild seal. Meth broke the seal and read the message while Makenna and Alderich checked the standing ruins of Sercen for any additional company.
Meth finished reading the message and gave the signal to approach to the southeast. Two arrows struck the ground at the Battlemage's feet, one on either side, inches from nailing him in place, slightly startling him. Isaiah and Andlaen dropped from the top of the ruins, a twenty foot fall, and crisply walked over.
"I apologize if we seem... untrusting," Isaiah said as he and Andlaen approached. "We are constantly being raided by bandits you see, we cannot afford to not be cautious."
"I agree that there are some risks that should not be taken," Pryde responded understandingly.
Ra'Meth handed the Guild's message to his leader, who quickly read it over. "So, you have some of our pay up-front?" Isaiah asked the Battlemage.
"7500 septims," he replied holding out a sack of gold. "That is a quarter of it. You will receive the rest from Jeanne Frasoric when you return Apotheosis to the Bruma Hall."
"Wait," Makenna interrupted, "the Apotheosis."
"Here we go," Alderich sighed.
"Yes," Pryde began to elaborate, "Apotheosis, the only mage's staff to be enchanted with three soul gems, one of each atronach: flame, frost, and storm."
"No staff more powerful," Makenna continued, "if this vampire is actually going to be using Apotheosis," he said addressing all present, "we have to be careful. One shot of that staff will kill you."
"Good to know," Thurod broke in.
"Well," Isaiah said commandingly, preventing the conversation from progressing any farther, "I would offer to give you a tour of Sercen, but we have a policy of not allowing those outside of the Cards entry."
"So I see," Ryan replied, his attention on the Redguard, cleaved in two and skull crushed.
"Since you seem to understand," Isaiah continued, "we will just press on to Bruma." Osis turned to face Ra'Meth and Andlaen, "You two are guarding the hideout while we are gone. We should be back in three to four days. Oh, and get rid of that," he said pointing to the mutilated bandit.