Merchant Of Death?

[*Nimiane]

Scene: The Guild Ward

His attention is shifted at the vrock making their appearance. Familiar looking and just the one he had been looking for, as such his charade could be dropped. The tiefling receiving bare minimum of his attention as his usual accent returns "Sorry ta waste yar time, got shite ta do." he casually threw whatever he had just stolen from the man in an easily catchable loop, then with his improved reactions [using his duelist level granted ability] he went after the vulture headed demon. To Odette he quickly mentioned as he started to jog and dash after the fiend "Tha's the one we're lookin' fer, well one o' the two."

He'd use whatever necessary, be it parkouring, or gently assisting things out of his way by squeezing through gaps between people smaller than his size, to not lose his sight of the thing, and it didn't matter too much to him if the said Vrock would spot him, odds are it already had.

Odette stares as the man takes off, gaze flicking momentarily to the tiefling as she pinched the bridge of her nose and quietly groaned. Odette wasn't the subtlest of bards, but compared to Belkas she certainly felt the more diplomatic of the two - and that was saying something. With a briefly apologetic smile, she takes off after duelist with sprinted steps of leather soles on cobblestone.

"Can we nae jus' pop him outta the sky?" she pants, doing her best to keep up as she followed his lead and tossed various things (and people) out of her way. Despite her swashbuckler's nimbleness, the woman is evidently lacking in any kind of grace as she barrels after him.

[*Iggwilv]

Scene: From The Guild Ward to The Lady's Ward.

The tiefling stares dumbfounded as the two of them race off. The Wards fly past them with blurring speed Cornwell barging into a man pushing a cart selling pies knocking it, the owner and the content to the ground. There is a cry of:

"Oi!"

As Odette jumps clear of it. The streets get wider and the surface more even as they follow the Vrock into The Lady's ward. They rush past a patrol of Harmonium in The Lady's Ward and they hear the screech of a whistle. If it is for them or the squad of dazed troopers they have no time to tell. Their air born quarry steers away from The Barracks and The Armoury and then seems to descend and they lose sight of it. There is only one large building around there though, and one place in the lawful Lady's Ward that it would make sense for a Demon to go. The Temple of the Abyss.

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Scene: The Mortuary

The investigations are straight forward. Leona would find information on Bel easy to come by. He is Duke of Avernus the first layer of Hell. Commander of the Dark Eight and responsible for overseeing Baator's efforts in the Blood War. Likewise she finds information on Hex'ares easily enough. The Erinyes has donated a lot wealth in the form of souls to The Red Death. And Mercykiller troops have been sent to Baator for training by Blood War Veterans. It is here that things stop running so smoothly however. The Mortuary is full but only of mindless undead. It is Namer Kent who speaks.

"This doesn't seem right Ma'am they know we are coming but there is no one there to greet us."

Indeed their welcoming party is below. Standing dazed in The Deep Crypts. He watches blankly as Neepheris pouring blood into the corpse. Nothing happens however as she tries other means ((as per pm)) a scroll of resurection fails the soul passed on, but a scroll of create undead sees the body twist, the bones crunch and hunch up. The merchants round bell seems to waist away his hair falls out and a gaunt red eyed ghast sits up. The only wound visible on it being the single stab wound it had carried in life. A puncture mark made by a curved blade in the middle of its back. It seethes with rage and hunger.

"What!?"

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Scene: The Siren's Song

Dace and Sasha having met up return to The Siren's song. After a few hours there is a knock at the door. They would answer it to find a tall Efreet dressed in mourning black a very expensive looking suitcase in her hand. She seems much more composed than when Sasha last saw her.

"Thank you"

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Scene: The Hall of Records.

The Clerk smiles.

"He is canny and ruthless don't let his posh and proper act fool you. He'd chiv you for the greens in your pocket and use the same chiv to pry out your gold teeth."

[*LadyLightning]

Brynn shakes her head and considers for a moment. She casts her gaze about the nigh-empty halls of the Mortuary. Zombies and skeletons going about their mindless tasks, but no~one with sentience manning the entry hall. Namer Kent is right -- this feels wrong.

"You said i'. Oi could... maybe, gain us access, if you fink the Dustmen are in trouble down in the Deep Cryp's. Alterna'ively, 'ere's no~one to stop us from seein' wot the deadbooks say. Could foind somefin' useful on 'ose pages."

[*HamsterHyde]

Scene: The Mortuary

Indeed their welcoming party is below. Standing dazed in The Deep Crypts. He watches blankly as Neepheris pouring blood into the corpse. Nothing happens however as she tries other means ((as per pm)) a scroll of resurection fails the soul passed on, but a scroll of create undead sees the body twist, the bones crunch and hunch up. The merchants round bell seems to waist away his hair falls out and a gaunt red eyed ghast sits up. The only wound visible on it being the single stab wound it had carried in life. A puncture mark made by a curved blade in the middle of its back. It seethes with rage and hunger.

"What!?"

A deep voice hollowed by the echoes of a past life reverberate in the room:

"Welcome..." She say dressed with shadows and her features half hidden by them. "...back, Dorlan Xef."
With impossible and sharp smile drawn in her face, malicious and filled with arrogant satisfaction.

"It is time to talk."

[*Serena]

The last news caught Rhistel slightly off guard.
He had decided to stop worrying about the genasi (or at least pretend at his best), since she clearly didn't like his behaviour, but between Namers of the Sign of One being murdered in the streets and this auction thing, he still felt he had all the rights to worry.

And now this.
The S.I.G.I.S. was renown to be mostly... inaccurate, at best, but still, he couldn't ignore the fact that there could be indeed a connection between the bidders at the auction and the choices of victims of this "killer".
Was he willing to take the risk and ignore this whole issue?
Not really.

First, he went about reinforcing the wards protecting the private floors of his property. Dimensional Locks first, which he'd imbue on two crafted items strategically placed inside the house as to cover the whole building, and then, in contingency on his usual Alarm, he started working on some additional arcane traps. He opted for a Banishment effect this time, and since the talks were about Dogai and devils, he decided that a silver object focus was in order for that task.
This was going to take some time anyway, so, in-between, he decided to pay a visit to the Golden Bariaur where the last murder had taken place, in the vain hope to be able to understand what the Hardheads were about at that time.

[*Ambiguous Ruin]

"Can we nae jus' pop him outta the sky?" she pants, doing her best to keep up as she followed his lead and tossed various things (and people) out of her way. Despite her swashbuckler's nimbleness, the woman is evidently lacking in any kind of grace as she barrels after him.

Seemingly in surprisingly good fit for someone of his looks, barely panting during the chase, shaking his head "Nae, we need tha' thin' alive an' ideally conscious." he objected to popping it outta the sky. After all, he had no tangible evidence of its involvement, merely a suspicion.

Scene: From The Guild Ward to The Lady's Ward.

The tiefling stares dumbfounded as the two of them race off. The Wards fly past them with blurring speed Cornwell barging into a man pushing a cart selling pies knocking it, the owner and the content to the ground.  There is a cry of:

"Oi!"

As Odette jumps clear of it.  The streets get wider and the surface more even as they follow the Vrock into The Lady's ward.  They rush past a patrol of Harmonium in The Lady's Ward and they hear the screech of a whistle.  If it is for them or the squad of dazed troopers they have no time to tell.  Their air born quarry steers away from The Barracks and The Armoury and then seems to descend and they lose sight of it.  There is only one large building around there though, and one place in the lawful Lady's Ward that it would make sense for a Demon to go.  The Temple of the Abyss.

Odette staggers to a halt as the demon flies out of sight, cussing audibly though not without accompanied pants of exertion. Her gaze follows the silhouette through the fog until it disappears entirely, a single click of her tongue against her teeth sounding as she contemplates their options. Brushing her thumb against her nose with a slight flick, she turns her gaze on Corny, and shakes her head.

"Fokkin' winged sod. . ." she mutters, thumbing in the approximate direction of the The Temple of the Abyss. "Nae leaves us with a lot of options though. . . eh, lets go pay some fanatics a visit."

Without waiting for any kind of confirmation, the bardess simply turns and heads in that direction - fully expecting Corny to follow. Regardless, she awaits him at the door with lazily folded arms and a smirked query. "Ye want t'brazenly stroll in the front, or should we try an' find another way in?"

He too gradually slowed down, waving his hands up and down over his torso few times quickly in an exaggerated breathing technique training motion. The demeanor earning a few weirded quirks from those passing by, and he seemed not to indulge their curiosities, his attire alone earning the looks within the Lady's Ward. The hand motion soon halted as he looked around the Lady's Ward to ensure there wasn't additional people chasing them or anything like such. "Naethin' beats a good warm-up before propa' action." he then smirked wryly and rolled his shoulders, following her steps.

"Reckon ya've got a plan? I ain't got one, but tha' didnae 'xactly stop me from gettin' 'ere eitha'." and he'd also note while away from the listening range of the residents of the Temple of Abyss "Got a couple o' options. Sneakin' in or walkin' in. We could jest tell 'em tha' we have a reason ta believe tha' certain turkey face's been double crossin' 'em fer baatezu jink... but tha' mightnae have the wanted effect." rubbing his chin thoughtfully "Me instinct tells me ta hide in plain sight... but tha's ta avoid 'em kickin' us out fer spyin' if found out. Or one o' us hides while the otha' keeps 'em busy... Tell ya wha'... I'll let ya decide, been draggin' ya around fer a while, so lets see wha' ya've got planned." he smirked lobsidedly. "Ain't like there's mighty advantage out o' any approach 'ere, so any'll do."

[*Leona]

Brynn shakes her head and considers for a moment. She casts her gaze about the nigh-empty halls of the Mortuary. Zombies and skeletons going about their mindless tasks, but no~one with sentience manning the entry hall. Namer Kent is right -- this feels wrong.

"You said i'. Oi could... maybe, gain us access, if you fink the Dustmen are in trouble down in the Deep Cryp's. Alterna'ively, 'ere's no~one to stop us from seein' wot the deadbooks say. Could foind somefin' useful on 'ose pages."

Leona thinks for just a moment, "Lets see what the dead books say then we can head down to the crypts." She agrees something is definitely going on here and considering her record with the dustmen she figures the corpse is already gone or damaged beyond making use of any investigation of it worthwhile.

[*Nimiane]

He too gradually slowed down, waving his hands up and down over his torso few times quickly in an exaggerated breathing technique training motion. The demeanor earning a few weirded quirks from those passing by, and he seemed not to indulge their curiosities, his attire alone earning the looks within the Lady's Ward. The hand motion soon halted as he looked around the Lady's Ward to ensure there wasn't additional people chasing them or anything like such. "Naethin' beats a good warm-up before propa' action." he then smirked wryly and rolled his shoulders, following her steps.

"Reckon ya've got a plan? I ain't got one, but tha' didnae 'xactly stop me from gettin' 'ere eitha'." and he'd also note while away from the listening range of the residents of the Temple of Abyss "Got a couple o' options. Sneakin' in or walkin' in. We could jest tell 'em tha' we have a reason ta believe tha' certain turkey face's been double crossin' 'em fer baatezu jink... but tha' mightnae have the wanted effect." rubbing his chin thoughtfully "Me instinct tells me ta hide in plain sight... but tha's ta avoid 'em kickin' us out fer spyin' if found out. Or one o' us hides while the otha' keeps 'em busy... Tell ya wha'... I'll let ya decide, been draggin' ya around fer a while, so lets see wha' ya've got planned." he smirked lobsidedly. "Ain't like there's mighty advantage out o' any approach 'ere, so any'll do."

"Though I've heard a number of outstandin' reviews about t'wonders of bein' a human sacrifice, I'm nae exactly keen t'end up as one at this point in time." the woman states with matter-of-fact amusement as her gaze lifts from her companion to pan over the architecture of the temple. Lifting her hand, Odette pulls a few fingers through her hair from root to tip; a common habit when thoughtful or stressed. "I would be inclined t'use one of us as a distraction, but that in itself also requires he or she t'actually share what information they find." she smirks wryly, appraising the man with a glance up and down.

Odette knew the most surefire way to get answers would be to do it herself, yet for whatever reason she decided to place her trust in Cornwell and nodded. "Stick t'the shadows an' find out what ye can. Iffen things get hairy, find somewhere to hide an' then fly the fok outta there." Reaching into a pouch on her hip, Odette withdraws a small, carved figure in the shape of a bat and tosses the wooden totem in his direction.

With that, the bardess turns and steps into the temple in search of someone to talk to.


///

[*Ambiguous Ruin]

"Though I've heard a number of outstandin' reviews about t'wonders of bein' a human sacrifice, I'm nae exactly keen t'end up as one at this point in time." the woman states with matter-of-fact amusement as her gaze lifts from her companion to pan over the architecture of the temple. Lifting her hand, Odette pulls a few fingers through her hair from root to tip; a common habit when thoughtful or stressed. "I would be inclined t'use one of us as a distraction, but that in itself also requires he or she t'actually share what information they find." she smirks wryly, appraising the man with a glance up and down.

Odette knew the most surefire way to get answers would be to do it herself, yet for whatever reason she decided to place her trust in Cornwell and nodded. "Stick t'the shadows an' find out what ye can. Iffen things get hairy, find somewhere to hide an' then fly the fok outta there." Reaching into a pouch on her hip, Odette withdraws a small, carved figure in the shape of a bat and tosses the wooden totem in his direction.

With that, the bardess turns and steps into the temple in search of someone to talk to.


///

Corny didn't look like much, but his actions have been deceiving in more than few occasions. "Ya sure aboot tha'? Sounds dangerous an' ya donnae 'xactly look like a sod tha'd be interested in fiendish affairs." catching the thrown figure with ease. Twisting and turning it on his palms then catches her wrist as she turns around, handing the totem back. "Tha's a decent plan... but... a slight change o' plans. Ya'll do the hidin' an' skulkin' around... I reckon tha' Phantom taught ya a thin' or two aboot tha' sort o' thin's? Jest stick ta basics, he was shite at the spy game."

Lifted his right hand with three fingers pointed out "Three thin's... ferst, I hate shapechangin'. Second, ya've got someone waitin' fer ya, so ya take the safa' route. Third, I can get out o' a head-on situation way betta' than ya can, nae offense." he rationalized. Pocketing his hands soon after and shrugged nonchalantly "Besides the sod likely saw me chasin' 'im. Best tha' he knows me location. Wha' ya need ta know is tha' the vrock seemed ta be a guard ta an olda' pale-ish bald fellow in a dark robe... ya know the type? Creepy senile man tha' been livin' in his parents cellar fer last seven decades-sort o' fella'." cracking his knuckles "They were murmurin' within me hearin' distance aboot gettin' the art piece in "otha' ways"... tha's implicit, nae explicit... so donnae do anythin' barmy unless ya can find somethin' tha' proves me theory true. Wha' ya want ta find out is whetha' they've proofs tha' they ain't been the ones ta do it."

He then in turn moved toward the main entrace of the temple, tipping his hat and smirked wryly again. "Besides, I prefa' the hidin' in plainsight game."

[*Nimiane]

Corny didn't look like much, but his actions have been deceiving in more than few occasions. "Ya sure aboot tha'? Sounds dangerous an' ya donnae 'xactly look like a sod tha'd be interested in fiendish affairs." catching the thrown figure with ease. Twisting and turning it on his palms then catches her wrist as she turns around, handing the totem back. "Tha's a decent plan... but... a slight change o' plans. Ya'll do the hidin' an' skulkin' around... I reckon tha' Phantom taught ya a thin' or two aboot tha' sort o' thin's? Jest stick ta basics, he was shite at the spy game."

Lifted his right hand with three fingers pointed out "Three thin's... ferst, I hate shapechangin'. Second, ya've got someone waitin' fer ya, so ya take the safa' route. Third, I can get out o' a head-on situation way betta' than ya can, nae offense." he rationalized. Pocketing his hands soon after and shrugged nonchalantly "Besides the sod likely saw me chasin' 'im. Best tha' he knows me location. Wha' ya need ta know is tha' the vrock seemed ta be a guard ta an olda' pale-ish bald fellow in a dark robe... ya know the type? Creepy senile man tha' been livin' in his parents cellar fer last seven decades-sort o' fella'." cracking his knuckles "They were murmurin' within me hearin' distance aboot gettin' the art piece in "otha' ways"... tha's implicit, nae explicit... so donnae do anythin' barmy unless ya can find somethin' tha' proves me theory true. Wha' ya want ta find out is whetha' they've proofs tha' they ain't been the ones ta do it."

He then in turn moved toward the main entrance of the temple, tipping his hat and smirked wryly again. "Besides, I prefa' the hidin' in plainsight game."

Odette's gaze dips to her wrist as it's grasped, the fingers of her opposite hand lingering in the space directly infront of the large door's handle. Slowly the fingers of her halted appendage curl into a fist around the totem, the bardess billowing a heated exhale of air from pursed lips. Her gaze lifts to the man a moment later.

"Iffen ye were hopin' fer t'compliance of a timorous maiden in need of protection, ye've barked up the wrong tree." she states firmly to his rationalising, shrugging her hand free to deposit the totem back into it's pouch. The woman offers no further comment to his speculations of her person and capabilities, dismissing them with a wave of bare fingers and a slight smirk of her lips. He could think what he wanted.

"Fine. We'll do it yer way, then." she concedes with a limbering roll of her shoulder as Belkas reaches for the door. Some progress was better than none, and time was better spent choosing victories than engaging in argument over a plan she had already considered herself. "Oh, an' Corny?" comes the addendum from the bardess with a wry grin, and a flash of asperity in her aquamarine eyes. "Dun ever grab me like that again."

Once the man steps into the building, Odette shakes her head slowly and hums a quiet sonata of undetectable wards. With a cautious gaze over the surrounding area, she slowly eases into the nearest shadow; ensuring it was indeed large enough to accommodate her. Such actions she always kept to expedient situations; the consequences not lost on her. This, however, seemed to be one of those very times and thus she beckoned for the concealment of shadows.

As her form is veiled with the faint chill of darkness, the bardess likewise moves for the door and slinks down the darkened patches of the hallway in search of the demonic Vrock and his charge.