Quest: The Vengeful Shadows (open)

[Kalinda]

The wind carried the sound of weeping and despair. People screamed in agony. Their voices echoed through the streets. Children that went outside after dusk in the area around the Southern quarter were never seen again. Nobody could say how many children had disappeared during the past few cycles. The numbers varied between five, ten and a few dozen. Some of the corpses had never been found. In some cases people that had been missing for cycles suddenly showed up in bits and pieces. Sometimes the corpses were so horribly mutilated that it was impossible to identify them. Sometimes corpses without a head were found. Some people claimed to have seen ghosts and horribly disfigured monsters that were trying to grab them. Some claimed that the shadows themselves had reached out to them and tried to kill them.

The reports of those strange and frightening occurences had been growing steadily, but passed off as faerie tales, as horror stories for the better part. The people of Vortex refused to believe that there was something wrong in their city. And the authorities? They just turned their backs on the whole issue and did not do anything about it – until the Thane’s daughter went missing.

The girl had been missing for a few brightenings, and already the city – or at least a part of the city - was in an uproar. The guards had been unable to find the child. In fact nobody had been able to discover the source of those happenings yet. None of the citizens had as much as a clue as to what could have caused all those intimidating things.

In his despair Duke Vigo Wladisyaw, the Thane of Vortex had turned to the Herald for help. He was convinced that the disappearance of his only daughter was connected with those strange occurences and had promised the one that brought her back alive a reward of 10.000 crowns. He had asked those that wanted to help him to come to his estate.

Said estate was situated in one of the wealthier parts of the city. It had once belonged to the proud family of Louise that had owned a great deal of property in the city. But the fortune of the family had come to an end when the only daughter of Sir Frodun died in an accident. Sir Frodun had only survived her by a few patterns and then passed away silently. In his last will he had given the house to the city as a gift. In its better days it had served as the Governor’s mansion. But then the capital had been moved to Nexus Prime.

The Thane’s estate was a huge house with three stories, made of shimmering white marble. The walls almost seemed to glow in the sunlight. The houses’s front was decorated with statues of sprites that were holding garlands of flowers and leaves and slender, graceful columns. Those columns were decorated with leaves as well.

A black fence surrounded the whole property. It gave the people that passed the elegant building by a chance to look into the small garden behind, a garden that was filled with a variety of flowers and small bushes. The main gates that led into said garden and to the path that eventually took one to the door were not closed so that whoever wanted to visit the Thane could enter the property. Strangely enough none of the thieves, murderers and urchins that roamed the streets of the city ever took advantage of the circumstances and lingered somewhere in the Duke’s garden.

Two guards were standing in front of the door. They were humans with dark hair and dark eyes, muscular men that had just reached their prime. They were not dressed in the colours of Arium as one might expect, but wore black uniforms that stood in contrast to the shimmering walls behind them. Every one of them was holding a pike in his hands, a deadly weapon in the hands of the right man. They did not look gruff, not indifferent as one might expect from the people guarding such an estate, but rather sad. They seemed to be worried about something. The knew what had transpired. They had heard those stories too, they had seen the Thane after he had realized that it was quite possibly that he would never see his child again. The Duke had not slept properly since the girl had disappeared.


OOC:To all PCs that are currently studying necromancy at the Collegium: There is a separate thread that is connected with this quest for you. It is located here.

[Malkaer Andares]

With disgust the elven warrior read the article in the Herald. The swordsman had experienced many horrors- the fear that one is punished for a crime he did not commit; many people would not care about it, would fear the prison, but the lawful moriquendi feared the simple word 'guilty'. The sight of an army of zombies; the stench of death climbing up your nose, making you vomit and giving you a hopeless feeling, combined ofcourse with their master necromancer, leading the vast horde. The fear of death, very natural for any humanoid. Although the swordfighter had experienced danger many a time, only once had he almost seen Jalat in the face and had he feared for his life. The loss of his hand; Malkaer's right hand had been chopped off by a sword, driven by necromantic arcana. Begging for healing, the moriquendi had recieved that healing, necromantic healing. His right hand was now a skeleton claw, black coloured and gruesome looking. However, even with all these horrors, the article gave the noble elf the shudders.

This was evil. This was necromancy. Malkaer loathed necromancy. The moriquendi was not good persé, but there were things that even he, being an elf and a soldier, could not stand, that only the darkest of souls could withstand; and that was the kidnap, maim and killing of little children. His apprentice, Silwyth, was compared to human age, a little older than the victims, and also a little more versed in defending himself, but still, the danger was present, and the moriquendi had grown fond of the kid; he did not regard him as a son, mostly because the age difference was too small, but Malkaer had a faint idea of the troubles of the thane. He would help the desperate man, to drive some of the evils in Vortext away. It was not, however, that the 10,000 crowns reward ment nothing to Malkaer. There an almost infinite amount of evil in the Allerian Empire, and the moriquendi had but limited time; he could choose between the evils he could fight, and why not choose for the most profitable then?

Thus, master and apprentice set out on a morning, some brightenings after their grand adventure in the basement of mister Moonstar, heading for the thane's estate. Malkaer passed the gates of the grand manor and crossed the garden. He addressed one of the guards, speaking low, as if embarassed to speak, making sound being inappropriate. "I would like to see the Thane, in persuance of the article in the Herald of today."

[Vittorio]

OOC: is this the big, evil, super quest that Dark was talking about there for a while? Glad to see you didn't wait for Roland to finish his ST thing...

IC:

With a short step and a quick glance, Vittorio paused, checking over his shoulder. He shuddered, his long, pretty hair waving gently with his somewhat erratic movements. The upper class district was no foreign land to Vittorio, though; he had to admit...he hadn't been around those parts in quite a long while.

With good reason. Things lurked, and though he was hardly afraid of the dark, he'd simply not had time to visit, if one can consider such 'good reasoning'. And besides, why should he? What good ever came from it, other than the soothing tranquility of knowing that, in fact, you've been here before? You know where you are. You feel comfortable.

He didn't feel that anymore.

That was all right, though. He was getting that feeling less and less as the eras wore on, his life slowly degenerating, sinking, into bleak nothingness. He'd done nothing for so long, it was hard to remember the Upper City. His home in Har'Oloth had become a sanctuary, or, rather...a trap. A battleground. For hours, you see, he'd sit alone and ramble on and on to self. Alone, in his little wooden chair, he'd babble incoherently to Id.

How he loved that chair. How he loved Id, his one and only friend. Thanatos and Eros where liars and bigots. Id would never lie to him. Id was kind and sweet and gentle...he told and did everything Vittorio demanded of him. Super be damned! Come to think of it, he hadn't seen Super in quite a long time. Strange. Id and Super used to quarrel almost non-stop during their chats. The elf couldn't help but ponder where he'd gotten off to...

Regardless, Vittorio found himself out and about that day. Not without reason, of course. Oh no. There where important matters that needed tending to. For example...a very certain, lost little girl. The premise intrigued him. Something was happening in Vortex. Something big. Something was...stirring. He felt it, even as he stepped out of his house. Certainly, this was not the usually feeling of dread. Oh no. This was different. More sinister than even he himself.

That's why; perhaps without realizing it, he'd grabbed his rapier. Strange. He almost never brought that beast, that monster, Thanatos, with him. Thanatos almost never spoke. He, unlike the others, allowed his actions to speak for him. That's what made him a liar and a bastard. Id had done it. He knew it. Id had made him do it...tricked him. Id liked Thanatos. Vittorio knew it. Vittorio could tell, they where attracted to each other...and they hated Eros. That, he also knew.

Continuing with a quick step, the elf no longer looked back over his shoulder. The sunshine lessened his disposition, but still...something seemed...ever out of place. Ever nagging. Not the usual nagging. No. This nagging brought his concept of nagging to a whole new level. To a whole new level...

The clanking of the extremely light chains on his boots echoed out over the garden as he came to an abrupt stop before the guards, his head tilted down, a wide brimmed, black hat obscuring his face from view. Eros. He liked her. She kept the sun off his alabaster skin.

His voice seemed soft. Feminine.

"I'm here to see the Duke."

[Kalinda]

OOC: No, this is not Dark's quest, but another that I'll be running together with my AGMs. It should be just as big and interesting.


It took the guard a bit to notice Malkaer’s presence. It seemed as if he had been occupied with something else, thinking about something, worrying, wondering if the same that had happened to the Thane’s little daughter would happen to their own children too, wondering what had caused all those strange happenings in the southern quarter.

As the guard finally turned to the moriquendi, a smile began to flicker across his face for a moment, before he adressed the elf. As he did so, he spoke in a cool, polite tone. “You are here to see the Duke?” He raised an eyebrow and looked at Malkaer questioningly. “Please follow me. I will take you to him right away. His Excellency will be delighted to find out that somebody has decided to help him.”

With that the human turned around and opened the door of the mansion, a door that looked like a miracle in itself. It was made of dark oaken wood and covered with intricate carvings that depicted parts of the battle that had taken place in the city only a few eras before. In the upper right corner Malkar could see a dragon in flight, a dragon that did not seem to be made of much more than shimmering bones, a dracolich, a powerful undead creature. The beast was fighting a flying ship. Mages fought under the two, at their side he could see knights on horseback racing against each other, and in another corner a couple of soldiers were battling a horde of undead monsters that looked like they would fall apart anytime.

The guard led Malkaer through a wide hallway. The white marble walls of said hallway were richly decorated, they were filled with paintings of exotic places, of beaches, snow covered mountains, jungles and swamps, people of vysstichi, humans and moriquendi. Chairs where the people that were waiting for the Duke could sit lined the walls.

Another door was located at the end of the hallway. Two more guards were standing in front of it, unlike the guards at the entrance they were vysstichi, two regal looking men with fiery eyes and long snow white hair. They were dressed in elegant black uniforms. They did not even as much as look as the moriquendi that was led into the Duke’s study. If the presence of their pale skinned cousin had any kind of effect on them, they did not show it.

The human pushed the door open, wide enough that Malkar could take a look into the room behind. A thick red carpet, Arakmatan in style, lay on the floor. A huge desk made of reddish brown wood stood in the middle of the room. Stacks of paper and a variety of books lay on the desk. Two huge, ornately decorated broadswords were hanging on the wall behind it, swords with hilts that were filled with a multitude of gems. A small table and two cosy looking chairs were standing in a corner. A couple of bookshelves and a fireplace completed the furnishing of the room.

There was a man sitting behind the desk in the middle of the room, a human. He was tall, well over 6’, and slender. His hair was long and black in colour. His nose was thin and long and eyes that shone dark and intelligent. The human was dressed completely in black, a richly made black waistcoat and what looked like velvet breeches were sett off with a pair of knee high black leather boots. The man did not look healthy, his face was unnaturally pale. His black eyes lay in deep holes, as if he had not slept properly for a while. As his gaze fell on Malkaer, he rose from his chair and looked ahead curiously.

“Your Excellency”, the guard that had brought the moriquendi into the room spoke and bowed, gently nudging Malkaer so that he would do the same. “This elf here is here because of the article in the Herald.” The Thane nodded and then waved the guard away. As soon as the man had left the room, the Duke turned to Malkaer and gestured for him to sit down in one of the two chairs that were standing in front of the desk. “So you are here because of my article?” he asked and arched an eyebrow questioningly. The Duke’s voice was deep and somewhat harsh, but not entirely unpleasant. “Please tell me why you want to help me. Because of the money? Or do you want to rid Vortex of the evil that is responsible for all those murders? How do you expect to be able to help me, Mr ...” He stopped and looked at Malkaer, expecting the moriquendi to tell him his name. “Would you search the streets of Vortex at night together with others that are here for the same reason?”

Just as Malkaer was being led to the Thane’s study, the remaining guard saw another person approach – an elven woman by the sound of her voice and her looks. He did a touble take as his gaze fell on her, then shrugged and flashed her a cool smile. He was not sure if the Duke had beautiful young women in mind when he had turned to the Herald for help, but a woman was better than nobody at all. Trying to peek under her black hat, he adressed her, “Serale ...” he murmurred. “I take it you are here because you want to help the Duke find his daughter and resolve those murders?” Not bothering to wait for the black haired elf’s answer, he opened the door again. As it turned out his colleague had just returned from the Duke’s study. “This young woman wants to see the Duke, Sergej.” Sergej nodded, then beckoned Vittorio to follow him.

“Here is another one, your Excellency”, he said as they entered the study. “This woman has come here because of the article in the Herald.” With this the guard retreated to the door again, waiting if more adventurers would come.

“Ahh ... yes”, the Duke murmurred and flashed Vittorio a smile. “Please sit down.” He gestured at Malkaer. “This moriquendi here has come for the same reason as you. I have just asked him what made him seek me out, if it was pity, curiousity about who or what is responsible for those ... incidents ... Furthermore I have been wondering what he would do to help me ...” As if on cue, the Duke suddenly took one of the pictures that decorated the walls, a painting of a little human girl and placed it in front of the two elves. “This is Irina, my daughter”, he stated and sighed deeply, before he beckoned the two to look closer. The child on the picture was beautiful. The artist – whoever he was – had managed to make the picture look almost lifelike. Soft, jet black curles fell over the girl’s shoulders, framed an almost delicate pale face with two huge black eyes. The girl’s ruby lips were curved into a smile. She was wearing a red dress and holding a doll with blonde hair in her arms ...

[Talvarin]

After having emerged from the Undercity, weary and, he had to say, slightly disgruntled, the first thing he saw was the herald. An edition was in the gutter, he picked it up and flicked to the front cover, which had been turned by the wind... As he reached the front page, he saw the bold headlines. He had heard rumours, but the Thane's Daughter?! He made a snap decision there and then, and set off towards the Thane's residence.

************************************************** **

As Talvarin walked up to the guards, he could tell that something was troubling them, could this business have affected them too? As he approached, they seemed to know what he was there for... Talvarin Inclined his head at them, in respect, and summoned a small tendril of his Vis to carry his message to the mind of both of the guards:

I am here to help find the Daughter of the Thane. Tell me where I must go and there I shall be

[Malkaer Andares]

Noting the guard's off mind state, Malkaer frowned. Even though unspeakable things had happened, the man had a duty to furfill, had to watch. As former soldier, the moriquendi despised the man, but as person, he could understand. The swordsman nodded at the man's retoric question and followed the guard inside. It was indeed a splendid mansion, it's owner would barely the loss of his crowns if a bold adventurer solved the case. The walk through the estate continued, until they finally arrived at the what Malkaer assumed to be working office of the Thane. Vysstichi guards seemed awkward to the moriquendi, considering the Thane was human- no government would allow vysstichi or moriquendi in a high governmental position.

The moriquendi noble needed not the reminder to bow, and did so according to formality. Then he took place at the offered chair and was just about as a newcomer entered the office. Although the person did not show face, it was undoubtly an elf, considering the slender figure and quick movement. The elven warrior was doubtful though on the gender of the said newcomer; the human guard had obviously never observed an elven woman very carefully, because otherwise he would have been in doubt as well. Nevertheless, Malkaer was not very curious, and figured that any curiosity would be stilled soon when the elf had to take off his or her hat in front of the Thane.

Then the Duke showed a picture of his daughter, a most beautiful little thing for a human, and Malkaer's heart was as if grasped by a frozen hand, immediatly followed by a searing heath. He wished to look somewhere else, but forced himself to continue to look at the girl, to memorize her features. When the picture was burned in his mind, the elven warrior looked at the Thane again, with an obvious stirred face. Malkaer doubted on what to say; the human behind the desk was very emotional still, who wouldn't be, rambling on like that and the moriquendi had trouble finding the right words.

"A most beautiful girl, my Imperial Grace," the moriquendi said, emphasizing more on the man's noble title than political proffession; Malkaer was a scion of House Andares, and thus a noble himself. After a painful silence he continued: "But allow me to introduce myself. I am Malkaer Andares, of House Andares. I am here because of your article and I wish to help you." Another painful silence, as the moriquendi thought of how to phrase his reasons for helping the thane. "My reasons for helping you..." Malkaer came to a conclusion and ungloved his right hand, showing the vile, black skeleton hand. "Please, do not be frightened", he said hastily. "This is the result of a battle between me and three necromancers. Since that day, I hate necromancy and everything that has to do with it. I strongly believe that these horrible crimes are commited by necromancers or those affiliated by the dark arts." He paused, letting them awe his foul hand. "Secondly, the nature of the crime." That needed no explanation, and Malkaer quickly continued to his reason for helping out the poor man. "Lastly, I will not deny that the reward means nothing. It seems that, as of late, many horrors happen, that qualify both my first and second reason. My time is limited however, and when I have to make a choice, I choose that which grants me the largest material reward." Although he had helped out people before for money, the swordsman did not see himself as a mercenary- there were many jobs that offered good money which the lawful moriquendi would not take.

After stating his name and reasons, the experienced warrior thought of his qualities that could be used during a search as this. "I consider myself a decent swordsman; if there will be fighting involved, I am sure I can be an asset. Furthermore, this," the moriquendi lifted up his skeleton claw, "can sense necromancy up to medium proximity; it might be of use. For the rest, I have had my share of adventures; I'm not sure if these experiences will help much, but coming out of some alive proves some intelligence or willpower." He had been lucky, in most cases, but where does luck end and skill begins? Malkaer remained silent now, awaiting the Duke's response, or perhaps the story of the elf situated next to him.

[Iseril Kitrye'veresi]

The half-elf was alone and it was best for he was focused on the task at hand and that was the hunt. There was something with in the city and the fact it had targeted the mans daughter meant little. It thought itself invincible or did not think at all and thing be it man or something more targeted the weak and vulnerable and so the half-elf felt it time to educate into the nature of the mutliverse. There was always someone stronger, someone smarter or faster something that was gifted with the ability to end the existence of a being.

The hedgemage was a killer. He had done it before and would do it again, that was just why he was here on the property of the lord thane, to glean what he could about the even and perhaps more importantly those who were putting themselves in harm's way to see to the child's return. Best not to let others get in your way...

So it was that a winged shape moved over the streets towards the house masked in a self concealing field of divining mana. He could have been a perfect assassin but today’s ends were more honorable then a knife in the back. The house could not have been difficult to gain entry to for where there was a crack to allow the passage of light so then could the shadows and necromancer creep.

Iseril hoped to move past guard and door's alike as he moved ever forward to the thanes inner sanctum. So that in time a man would take form draped in an armor of shadow hiding his features but not build and coating the more long lasting mail of the strong elven steel and stronger elven magic.


ooc hope the bunny's arn't too bad if so poke me and I'll edit quickly

[Vittorio]

OOC: I'll wait for Kalinda before responding to Iseril.

IC:

As the human began inside, Vittorio paused, unmoving. Raising his head for a moment, the elf took in the door panel for a moment, looking it over, admiring it, perhaps. A delightful work. Obviously done around or during the time of the battle, which he had, in fact, been around during. Strange. Had all of the events that this beautiful door depicted...really happened? The flying ship. The dragon. The necromantic invisionments. Perhaps...he reasoned...the Louise family was more than it had let on. The weight in his stomach grew, again, in a leap. The foreboding sense of distrust again slammed into his thoughts.

For a moment longer, he stood, looking up and down the door frame. Why didn't he trust the house? The door? What was it about the place that made him want to burn it to the ground and rid the world of it forever? Vittorio was a killer himself, though he often found that an irrelevently trivial factoid about himself. The thing was, Vittorio wasn't a warrior killer. The implications, I leave there.

Eventually, Vittorio shook his head and continued on, his steps and movements a myriad mix of haste and sluggishness as he followed along behind. Everywhere he went, he took note of everything. Beyong the fact that the things where 'nice', he took notes of where everything was and what they where. Weapons, lights, doors and anything else of a suspicious nature. Almost immediately, he found himself hating this house. This place. But it was more than hate, almost immediately. Loathing...repulsion, malice, disgust, odium, abbhorence...a cascade of less than amiable words flood into his mind.

The tapping of his boots came to an abrupt stop as Vittorio found himself ushered into the Duke Vigo's apparently private chambers, or office, or whatever. The tapping of his footsteps resumed, but only for a moment as he quietly seated himself upon command, placing his slender gloved hands loosely in his lap, one folded gently over the other in rather proper manner. His rapier, he'd lain against the right arm of the chair, vertically, it's simple black scabbard pointed downward, into the floor.

Vittorio remained silent as they spoke. Neither did he raise his hat or acknowledge the moriquendi. He did, however, catch a glimpse of the cousin-kin elf's mired hand in periphery, from where he sat. Interesting. Very interesting. So this fellow had reasons different from his own. But, at the same time, Vittorio found it odd. If he abhorred his wretched lich hand so greatly, why would he so flagrantly show it off? Whatever. Vittorio didn't care. Quietly, his own somewhat sleeplessly baggy eyes turned from this anomoly to the Duke himself, then to the picture. His fascination with Jorel could go unmentioned, for the moment.

The melancholy level must have been astounding. Such a pretty little girl amongst such wicked things. It seemed something out of a story book, and, perhaps...unbeknownst to all involved...it was. She seemed so familiar. So eerie. The stones in his stomach grew heavier.

In the intermission after Malkaer had introduced himself, Vittorio decided it best to speak, for the first time.

"My name is Vittorio. The reasons behind my interest, though perhaps interesting and mildly thought provoking...are irrelevent. Perhaps it would do to say..." he looked up then, somewhat, so that his eyes could be seen by the Duke, and Malkaer...

"...I know what happens to little girls who disapear into the darkness of Vortex..."

[Kalinda]

Iseril Al’lende

Among all those hopeful adventurers that wanted to help the Thane because they were nice, friendly people, among those that had come because of the sizeable reward the Duke had promised, among those that had hidden agendas, a shadow moved, a winged shadow, a killer who had already socialized with thieves, murderers and a vampire whose lair was hidden deep within Primus Gaudeo.

The two humans whose duty it was to guard the Thane’s estate and make sure that nobody who was not allowed to enter got in, never saw him coming. The only thing that they felt was a momentary cold as he passed them by, further into the impressive manor, past the door that depicted scenes of a battle that had taken place eras ago, but whose traces were still visible everywhere.

And on he moved, past the two vysstichi who were standing in front of the Thane’s office, impassively, not knowing what moved next to them, through the door that led to their master. A man draped in an armor of shadows, a man whose features were hidden under a layer of darkness, a winged creature took form in the Thane’s luxurious study, right beside Malkaer and Vittorio, the first two that had followed the Duke’s call, moriquendi and elf.

Malkaer Andares, Vittorio

The Duke leaned back in his chair slightly as Malkaer began to speak, taking in every detail about the moriquendi’s appearance, studying him, trying to find out if the man was indeed capable. As Malkaer removed the glove only to reveal a horrid black claw he gasped slightly, but forced his face back into a polite, neutral expression soon enough. There was certainly nothing to fear from this man. Malkaer’s statement that he hated necromancy was noted, but not replied to. Unlike in many other places necromancers were tolerated inside Vortex’ wall. He, the Thane himself, had promised that he would integreate the practitioners of the dark arts into the city, that he would put their abilities to use when he had first moved into this estate. It was unfortunate that a necromancer of all people had likely been responsible for those crimes.

“Very well, Mister Andares”, the Duke began and glanced at the claw again. “I’m certain that your claw will be of use during the search as a necromancer is most likely responsible for all those crimes judging by the way they have been committed. I won’t condemn you because money seems to be another reason for you to help me. You would be a fool if you did not take that into account.”

“I think I have already mentioned something about the way my daughter ...” He stopped, had to compose himself before he continued. “... about the way she disappeared in the Herald. She was on her way to a friend. We did not deem in necessary to have a guard accompagny her since her friend did not live far away. It was a little less than a cycle ago, at dusk. Most of the other people disappeared in the Southern Quarter. That’s where I would you and your fellow adventurers to start looking, at the edges of that quarter. Tatyana, my daughter’s friend, lived in the house right next to the library ...”

He then turned to Vittorio. As the elf introduced himself the Thane’s eyes widened, before he stated, “My apologies for the guard, sir”, in reference to the fact that the man had taken Vittorio for a woman. It was quite obvious that Vittorio was not a woman’s name – unless the elf’s parents had a rather strange sense of humour. “If you do not want to tell me your reasons for coming here, so be it. Ultimately the fact that you are here is the only thing of importance anyway ...”

He folded his hands and leaned a bit over his desk as he heard Vittorio’s next statement. “What happens to little girls that disappear into the darkness of Vortex?” he asked. “And how come you know about it, Mister Vittorio?” There was no accusation, no hidden question whether the elf know more than he admitted in the Thane’s voice, he spoke with a mixture of curiosity, amusement, cold and uneasiness.

Iseril Al’lende, Malkaer Andares, Vittorio

One, maybe two minutes after the Thane had ended, something appeared next to Vittorio and Malkaer, a creature that was garbed in shadows, a half elven necromancer. The Thane gasped slightly. His right hand immediately went into a drawer where a dagger was hidden. “Guards!” he called out. The two vysstichi that had been standing in front of the door, came in, looking at the people that were gathered in the Thane’s office. Seeing that they were there, the Thane relaxed visibly.

“Who are you?” he wanted to know in a calm voice that betrayed nothing of the uneasiness he had felt for a moment. “And why did you enter my office in such an unusual way?” He took a closer look at Iseril. “What do you want from me? Are you here to help me find my daughter like those two?” He gestured towards Vittorio and Malkaer, then leaned back in his chair slightly, and looked ahead, as if there had been nothing unusual about the hedgewizard’s entrance. During his many dealings with the darker inhabitants of the city he had found out that calm was usually the best way to go.

[Iseril Kitrye'veresi]

The half-elf had little interest in the other men. The would be hunters and even the guards didn't draw the enshrouded half-elf's cold gaze from the thane. He didn't seem to carry any weapons, at least none which were evident but a thought of what could be hidden or summoned could chill the soul.

"You need better guards." The half-elf said allowing a hint of humor pass through his voice. "Who I am doesn't matter and am I here to return your daughter, no. I hope to kill what it is that might have taken her and if she lives then I will see her home. As for what I want from you sir; all I want from you is what information you have collected on its nature. Any patterns in it's hunting grounds, it's most common targets and the like. Give me that and I'll be on my way."

"I don't work alone but neither do I have an interest in this pair."

[Malkaer Andares]

Finished with his story, Malkaer turned to face the elf next to him, and heard his words. The man made the experienced swordsman chuckle inwardly, Vittorio's attempt to come over 'tough' or 'menacing' failed; the elf had obviously no manners, a punk attracted to the large reward. The thane must be really desperate if he would count on these men to help him out.

The half-elf was even ruder, be it much more impressive, the moriquendi warrior had to admit. Before the mage had made his appearance, but when he was already in the proximity, standing between Malkaer and Vittorio, the moriquendi's skeleton claw had changed colours from black to white. Warned by necromancy presence, the elven warrior laid his hand on his sword's hilt, disturbed by the fact that he did not see any form of the dark arts, although his claw did. When the mage finally laid off his invisibility spells, Malkaer was naturally shocked to see the source of the necromancy appear so close to him, but his soldier's instincts reacted immediatly and the swordmaster drew his elven longsword, pointing it's tip at the newcomer's throat. He was only stopped from attacking by the Thane's surprisingly calm voice, as if the man dealt with wizards popping up in his office every day; the duke's was obviously blinded by grief, accepting 'help' from anyone and the moriquendi noble realized that the human was an easy subject for fraud and extortion.

The half-elf replied the thane in an arrogant fashion. Looking up to the nameless wizard more carefully, Malkaer wondered if he had seen the abomination somewhere else, as the face of the insolent creature seemed somewhat familiar. Still with his blade point aimed at the stranger's throat, Malkaer said with obvious disgust: "Bold words for a necromancer, who's 'colleagues' are responsible for these vicious crimes. You had better state your name, lest I cut your throat."

[Iseril Kitrye'veresi]

Nothing of the half-elf's face was presented to the elf. His entire body was covered by a black material which seemed to flow if watched closely. Then in time it might feel that the abyss that he wore was staring back. The interloper however showed little fear of the elf and its mood swings, in truth he showed little of any response to the man's violent threat. He was however not at all pleased with the man's bold and rather foolish move.

"You are a foolish child to draw a weapon so on one who might be an ally or could strip the flesh from the remainder of your bones. Besides, remember that necromancy is legal with in the city of Vortex, you kill me and you commit murder with witnesses to speak of your foul deeds and if you fail then you justify any response I make against you. I could kill you in self defense.... "

Iseril only turned to face the elf daring him to take his best swing and under the arcane armors he couldn't help but to smile inwardly as a spell began weaving itself. The man so hated the dark art but still wore it as an extension of himself the claw was not part of him but a dark graft. The noble elf should have been rid of it and so making use of his first gifts the hedgemage tried to touch and take root in his mind. He tried to draw out the self loathing and disgust as Beguile might take place. If it did then the elf would turn to himself as his target and remove the claw which haunted him to the half-elf's amusement and advantage.

[Vittorio]

Vittorio, tough? Ha. Menacing? Maybe. Sadistic volatile sociopath? You bet, lil billy! He paused, then smiled. Likely, the half elf had made his appearance, just as planned. A looming shadow. His smile seemed strange somehow, lopsided, his right canine somewhat longer than most, flashing through in his toothy mirth. Even more interesting! So many interesting people...all gathering at once...

Perhaps...this would be more fun than he had first suspected. As the hald elf cocked his blade, the elf could almost almost feel the swoosh of air, the tension had become so suffocating. He didn't look up again, however...he simply removed his hat, laying it in his lap before placing his arms on the, rather comfortable and well named, arm rests.

"Now...children..." his smile grew for a moment, then lapsed back into a smallish curving of the lips. His voice still seemed somewhat soft, though it was wholly understandable. Whether he'd be acknowledged or not, as the crowd he found himself adhering with seemed a rather unreasonable lot. Most unnattractive, he reasoned. Running a finger through his long, jet black hair, the elf pulled the entirety of his hair of his slender shoulders, allowing it to spill forward.

He seemed complacent enough, his eyes half shut in a relaxed manner as he peered down at what he was doing, then back up at the Duke.

"...Regardless...if I may pose a...somewhat more reasonable question, dear Duke...do you know of anyone who might hold, perhaps, a grudge against you or your family? Or perhaps the nobility in general...? It's entirely possible you are dealing with more than run of the mill necromancers here. Terrorism cannot be ruled out..."

Apparently, Vittorio also didn't mind being called a woman. Perhaps he enjoyed it, playing the trickster and all. Perhaps he didn't care. Whatever the reason, he didn't respond to that particular statement, nor did it seem as though he would even acknowledge it.

And, even if Iseril didn't want to work with him, Vittorio did not bother to fret. Why not help him? Though, the elf had something of a hard time discerning whether he was truly intelligent...or merely an ignorant with some power. Whatever the circumstance, if his words didn't ring through, he might likely find out...

[Kalinda]

Malkaer, Vittorio, Iseril

„Unfortunately those men that you have seen outside are not arcanically inclined“, the Thane replied in a cool voice. „Although there are some on my estate that know how to deal with people such as you. If you had not made yourself invisible, you would never have made it past them ...”

“Now as to the thing that has taken my daughter”, he said and waved Iseril closer, refusing to be intimidated by the necromancer any longer. “I’m afraid that I don’t know much about its nature, about its race, about what he, she or it looks like. I believe it is a necromancer however as I have told the other two before. All those crimes have happened in the Southern Quarter and mostly at night. The targets seem to be children, although a few adults and old people have been killed too. All of them were in decent health ...”

As Malkaer drew his sword, aimed it at Iseril’s throat and threw insults at the half elf, the Thane abruptly rose from his chair and waved his two vysstichi guards closer lest the two would begin a fight in the middle of his office. “He is right”, he stated in a firm voice, gesturing towards Iseril. His pale face began to take on a rather interesting red undertone. “I will not tolerate a murder here! The fact that he is a necromancer is not reason enough to kill him. Even if … even if one of his kind has been responsible for those crimes, I will not allow you to attack him. Unlike most cities Vortex tolerates and values the dark arts …”

“Now, gentlemen,” he continued in a much calmer tone. “…would you please stop this? You can solve your problems outside my estate after we are finished discussing the disappearence of my daughter …”

As if to enforce the Duke’s words, the two vysstichi guards had positioned themselves next to Malkaer and Iseril – too late, too late to intervene as the half elf cast his spell. It did not turn out as strong as it