Completed Reporting Back

[Inoadar]

Fall 53rd, 513

Inoadar's appearance would have been exactly the same in either event. Whether Miro's supposedly personal boatman had been his pilot or not. He had suspected the man from the start, this "Renzy". It had been odd, the day Inoadar first met Miro, that the boatman would ply the canals around The Spot, yet be entirely unknown to Inoadar, who frequented the area regularly.

Coupled with the fact that the boatman had known where Miro lived, and Miro had not expected him to. He had, at first, chalked it up to a very on-the-ball boatman. But he was now convinced otherwise. This was surveillance, nothing else. Inoadar was very familiar with the ranks of boatmen and where they ran their routes for their organization. He ought to be, he paid them a seasonal bribe to be kept aware of their observations.

When Miro and Inoadar had been dropped off at Miro's home in one of the NHC housing areas, Inoadar had marked Renzy's boat with a small smear of ink. A few days later, he asked one of the ravosalamen that plied the waters near his own home if any other boatmen had mentioned having to clean ink from the side of the boat. The pilot had given just the barest hunt of a double take and Inoadar had his answer. twenty mizas exchanged hands and Inoadar learned that Renzy was a new recruit put forward by the Lark family.

The only other detail the man gave up was that the Larks had wanted their own man to ply the waters by their estate. Inoadar nodded in satisfaction, but for a very different reason than what his current pilot thought. It was not the realization that there was a good, innocent reason for Renzy to be a ravosalaman despite being loyal to the Larks. It was the satisfaction that he'd found his first solid lead.

Over the next many days, he began to apply the "what-if" descriptor to every bit of information he gotten from every lead he'd either checked out himself or had a favor turned in in that capacity. Every lead had either "suggested" the Lark family very strongly, based on the nature of the obstacles that had arisen, or it had been indicative of them among others.

Inoadar's partnership with Valerius Nitrozian had been instrumental in cracking a few of these nuts, and each one had taken at least one step closer to clearly implicating the Larks alone. For a normal citizen, it still would not have been enough to take the next step. But Valerius wielded Nitrozian status as armor. No mere citizen could stand indignant, crying 'How dare you suggest such a thing! Do you know who I am?' and expect him to cringe in social scandal. They had gone to Alice Lark and "persuaded" her to talk. She did not have detailed information of her own. But with her confirmation, all the circumstantial information and hints filled in a number of blanks.

Inoadar still had his messenger suit. He'd almost discarded it after the big fight at the estate where his "sometimes" friend, Wrenmae, had been assigned to guard something Inoadar had been tasked to steal. He had thought that with his nemesis, Barton, knowing he used the messenger ploy to infiltrate, he'd never be able to use it again. But this situation was different. Barton was not involved this time, the Larks had not been involved that time, and he really was just going to deliver a message and go.

He'd employed an elaborate switch back route to clear a point to swap disguises, and then taken a round about series of boat rides to reach yet another re-disguise safe point, then re-entered the boat lanes, dressed as a messenger, from a direction where he could very well have been a messenger from the IHL. He was assuming Miro's home to be under surveillance by Lark agents, and needed a premise to get him out of there to what would be neutral ground as far as family influences would be concerned.

He approached the door, his hair color changed, his posture altered, the [i]"Bird's Tongue"[i] voice changer settled in the back of his throat, the soles of his shoes stripped to shorten his overall appearance, and knocked. He was prepared to offer a sunny "Good Morning", along with an offer to attend The Institute of Higher Learning as a guest speaker, and a note to whoever answered...as long as it was Miro.

The note read:

You are under surveillance. I have the answer you seek. Come and see 'Clark' at the Institute of Higher Learning. He will be waiting for you there, unless you say that you "decline this offer" right now.

[Miro]

It was fortuitous that Miro was in on this day. When a glance passed to the door, the wizard saw something he had been long since awaiting. Instructions had been given to a man recruited to gather information. This man, Clark, he was tasked to track Forus down. They were to not have any contact until then, and to meet only after a letter was left under the apartment door. It was serendipitous that it was not Alric or Lessomm to chance upon the note, but the undead himself. Reading it cause a rise of paranoia and distress.

The Reimancer was being watched? He cursed Forus, for obviously the Nuit had been underestimated. How the target even knew there was anyone after him was beyond the wizard. One thing was for sure, and that was that the deal was not off. Miro was not sure how long ago the note was delivered, but would do his best to operate as effectively as possible. He was alone in the room, but spoke as if he was not. "Yes Lessomm, I am going out. Lessons with Master Thadeus at the Institute. I will be gone all day, so don't wait up." He opened the door to reveal an empty hallway. He was too late.

The Chained One made haste out of the housing unit and to the docks. He yielded a Ravosala and gave directions to the Institute. Some time later he arrived and made his way toward the entrance. He reached into his sling for his badge and flashed it to identify himself, and continued on. At the front desk he inquired about Clark, and was given directions. It was an area of the building he was not familiar with. Perhaps one of the private labs or rooms. He was a bit nervous to enter, but just as well excited. There were so many things that could go wrong, so many scenarios that could play out, and all of them fun.

What if Clark went rogue, or was never aligned with Miro at all. What if there was a trap set, and he was walking in on an ambush. Or what if Forus was in there, and it was time they interrogated the man. No matter what the scenario, he could not wait. Sadly the best case scenario was the least exciting. The more that went wrong, the worse he could react, which meant the more fun it would be. Ender had only one bit of advice. "I have not noticed any surveillance on you in the past season. Either Clark is deceiving you or Forus has some talented men. Either way, we must show an increased level of caution from now on. It is all or nothing. Either we capture him soon or he slips away forever."

[Inoadar]

Inoadar waited with increasing impatience. 'How long had it been before the man had gotten home and found the damned thing? Has he even been home yet?' he stewed, pacing. He took a deep breath and ordered himself calmed. He would arrive when he arrived. It occurred to him that he should have added a note as to what Bell it was when he dropped the note off.

It had appeared that the clerk bought his story that the false name was a test of sorts. That he needed to gauge this "Miro's" attitude when he thought it was this "Clark" person. The Institute's personnel knew him as "Nolan Parnell", and when he'd told the clerk that the man would ask for him by the name "Clark" he had raised his eyebrows. The clerk seemed eager to be in on the deception now though. 'TOO eager...' Inoadar worried.

He told himself he was worrying needlessly. Miro was a hunter. He surely knew how important it could be to conceal one's identity. He would need to give up the charade now though, at least as far as "Nolan Parnell"...NO one got the name Inoadar from him anymore. No one that he allowed to live anyway. He was more worried that Miro would react adversely to the inclusion of Valerius in the group. He didn't even know the three or four others that MIRO had brought along. He supposed that Miro had not mentioned him in detail to them either. But having arbitrarily brought in a fifth, or possibly sixth, member to this circle may have pushed his authority, such as it was.

But he would explain the necessity of it when it came up. The fact that he had the information they needed to find Forus should offset any displeasure the man may have with him for recruiting a partner. It was not exact, but it narrowed it down tremendously and gave them a significant clue for narrowing it down further. He'd considered going ashore and searching on his own, but decided it was time now to bring in the ballistas.

A familiar silhouette dimmed the light from the doorway at the far end of the central hall. 'Here comes the main "ballista" now.'

[Miro]

Miro walked toward the designated room on his guard. If it were him, he would jump the target before they even got to their destination. As a precaution he had begun leaking a thin aura of Res in the air around him. "The way your eyes are darting about behind that mask, the nervous tension your presences gives off, it is beyond suspicious. As is the Res following you. Any who see you are going to react badly. You look tense, paranoid, and overall just crazy. If you are worried of a threat sneaking up on you, then do not. I am ever vigilant master. Nothing will get past me."

The Reimancer relaxed his tense posture and allowed his eyes to watch only what was before him, but continued to trail his Res along behind him. "Yes, why of course you are. This is partially why I am so eager to spot them first. It would be disappointing for you take all of the excitement from me. However I suppose I can share the fun, split the work. It is about time you get your hands dirty anyways." Ender sent an internal laugh to the wizard, always unsettling in his voice, one of a creature from another world. Even in all of their time together, an act such as laughing still was a foreign sound. "Damn right it is." A swear was even more unfamiliar.

It was not long until the duo reached the marked room, and for a moment Miro stood in the doorway. It was dim in the room, bordering on dark. Luckily the wizard had always had decent vision in the dark. All of his Res rushed into the room, and gathered near the ceiling. He gave a look in the room, saw it was mostly empty, all but one figure. Seemed there was either a well hidden ambush or no such thing. He still held onto a bit of hope, there was still a chance. But it would never come, for the wizard suspected Clark had brought good news.

The Chained One walked up to his contact ready to address him. He was eager to catch Forus and make his move. It would be a pleasure to take down a target with some ability for a change. There was always the chance that a foe now could turn to an ally at a later time. In the case of the rogue Nuit, it meant having a skilled Magecrafter to work alongside you. However a wizard was always unpredictable, and one must always be prepared. That was never an issue for Miro however, he was rarely unprepared. And if ever he was, he had the solution.

"Well Clark, I am here. I suppose you know something, at least that somebody is watching me. And if you know that somebody is watching me, I imagine you have been successful in determining who for. And hopefully along with that who comes a location where we might find Forus." The wizard scowled at the thought of how long it had been since he had come any closer to catching his quarry. If he did not catch a lead with Clark then it was likely he never would. "I sincerely hope you have done your part friend, I am counting on your assistance. If there is need for me to deal with anybody in our way, I am ready. Once Forus is located I will take him out immediately."

Though it did feel strange to jump into business so quickly. But with the scenario, it almost seemed necessary. The Reimancer did have a soft spot for this asset, and he hoped that his trust was not poorly placed. In honesty Miro was equally curious of everything that had happened in their time apart. "You will have to tell me all about our time apart. I have much to tell you, for it is finally time to get serious. I have lined up everything we may need to finish out our deal. And your compensation will be well earned for the service you have done me. That is another thing, I have thought long on such a compensation. Might you care to learn magic from a master?"

[Inoadar]

Inoadar smiled with satisfaction, "Indeed I do...And yes you are...and yes I do...and as for that, I wish I had more exacting coordinates, but I CAN tell you that Forus has been provided an underground chamber somewhere within the grounds of the Lilypad farms on the shore of the lake."

He looked around, "The Lark family is behind his "elusiveness". They had been watching for you before you even came to town. Even more than I was. Your boatman, "Renzy"? Would you find it strange to know that the Ravosalamen, the organized service he belongs to, got a specific request to have him transferred to your district? I found it suspicious, that first day that we met, that he already knew the location of your home. I observed that you were not expecting him to. I marked his boat during our little trip, and have observed that he has kept that boat every day since. And run the same route as well."

He made a point of making unrelated small talk as a group of enrollees passed by. He trusted that Miro would understand that this was in case of unwanted ears. Once they were gone, he continued, after allowing to Miro finish commenting on his hope that 'Clark' had done his part. "Oh I certainly have more details than this. I pay a..."courtesy" fee to these boatmen for details of importance to me, provided it does them no detriment. They saw no reason to deny me the fact that they normally rotate boats fairly routinely, routes as well. Yet Renzy had requested that he be allowed to continue with both his route and his boat. He gave his wooing a member of the Lark family as his reason."

He saw what he believed to be a statement of doubt regarding the conclusiveness of this in Miro's stance and held up his hand. "Now, now, I agree this is hardly conclusive in itself, but I followed his progress on more than one day. He never met with ANY woman, though the Larks still figure into it. He met with a man instead, the same man every day. I did not accost either of them, not wanting to tip them off. But I then followed this second man, and where did HE go, you ask? Why, the Lark estate, coincidentally enough."

It was hard to tell with the mask, but it seemed that perhaps Miro's sense of intrigue was now piqued. "So, he was pulled from his route, ostensibly to see a Lark woman. A woman in the employ of The House of Immortal Pleasures has verified that this is now an accepted social account. But this is just a fabrication being spread as gossip to lend it credibility. He's giving them messages instead. And was "assigned" to you. This boat probably has message compartments secreted within its construction. Or perhaps the contact only reveals himself when he sees a particular boat."

Another group of Institute personnel neared and Inoadar laughed as though Miro had just told a great joke. His laughter dwindled as they grew distant. "So, at any rate, this didn't so much prove anything, or provide details, but it was far too many coincidences, and set me on the tail of the Larks specifically. And that bore fruit, though I was first required to recruit a member of a high family, a Nitrozian, to enable me to bypass the status barrier."

He did not know if Miro was going to be angry that he had involved another individual in this dragnet, but hoped that Miro had encountered enough of the class arrogance in Ravok to realize it was not a minor concern. It also occurred to him that he should go ahead and bring forth the other presumption he had perpetrated. "And there's a great deal more, but first I should come clean with you on another matter. I hope, as a hunter of men, you can understand the need for certain precautions..." He took out his wallet with his citizenship papers, flipping them open to reveal..."I am actually named 'Nolan Parnell." He did not consider this a lie. It WAS the name he went by now. He did not say it was his parents that named him this. It was the name by which Rhysol himself accepted him. And there was no higher legitimacy than that.

[Miro]

Miro listened to all that Clark had to say. Or Nolan, as he should get used to calling him. Everything said made sense, and the wizard had little reason to doubt any of it. Though still, it was a lot to take in. A lot to try to process and turn into a plan of action. Though the Reimancer had his ways, and he could solve any problem presented to him. The information about Renzy was hardly startling, and the fool would be dealt with. He obviously did not know what he was risking angering someone so powerful. That would soon be remedied.

Though the best news was that of having a target, and at least a broad location to scour. If necessary he would use Reimancy to raze the land until Forus was found. Somebody was bound to know something. It was only a matter of asking and looking hard enough to find what they sought. Though most of what Nolan said was irrelevant, as long as it seemed that Miro was still clueless and his contact had kept his gain of knowledge secret. Though regardless, it was good that the man was so well informed. It made things simple.

"I understand everything Nolan, and I thank you for your service. I would be a fool to reward you now before any of this checks out, but rest assured once we have quarry in hand you will get yours. Discovering the connection to the Larks is a great upset. And Renzy, well, I shall not reveal that I know anything of his betrayal, but have grown rather tired of him harassing me for money. Though there is little doubt now, and soon enough things will be wrapped up. I am not sure if I am in need of your further assistance, but definitely will need to contact you. This time I do believe I will need a way to reach you. After the Forus business has concluded. You will be happy to know that I have taken your advice, and Forus will be handed over to the Ebonstryfe. Of course many thanks and great credit will be given to Nolan Parnell when this happens."

Ender scoffed internally at his master. "Still do not trust this man. He changes names like mortals change clothes. This one is even more slippery than Forus, and possibly just as dangerous. Possibly even more, with the network of connections and information he is working on. I imagine he could avoid you for the rest of his life with ease, if he so wished it." But Miro would not hear any of this. Nolan had done a great favor to the undead. "I do not care what Nolan calls himself, as long as his information is good and his intentions are true. Though I will admit, I am starting to question his true identity. If I were without magic and wanted by a city, I would not reveal my hunted name under any circumstances. But a man can not be faulted for this."

The Reimancer summoned his Res before him and shaped it into a black sun statue that he transmuted to a dark rock. "I will leave a spell like this outside of my window when I am ready to meet with you again. I am very eager to be done with this hunt and know that I have no reason to be watched. Rhysol will be rewarded by my delivery and praised by my betrayal of Sahova. And we shall be rewarded for our service. And you Nolan must be rewarded for your loyalty. You do remember the disciplines I showed you, right? Reimancy, which I have just shown you, and the Flux, the ability to redirect strength within my body. And I possess others you have yet to witness. If you would be interested in learning from a master, I would accept you as my apprentice. A fitting reward for your assistance."

[Inoadar]

Inoadar was a little surprised that Miro accepted his account after only really giving in-depth details about the first aspect of it. But most of the others, the slavers in town giving a pass to an unnamed non-citizen, as directed by the Larks; the businessmen in town extending an unusually large allotment of their conveyance services to the Larks; a sudden rise in the hiring of laborers by the Larks, and the fact that they were all directed to quarry stones for a half season; the contracting of a number of barges, by the Larks, to transport them from one side of the lake to the other; they were ALL ultimately going to collide with the same status obstacle that had arisen while investigating the boatman.

And there were other details as well. Inoadar actually marveled at how well the Larks had done to keep it as under-the-table as they had. So many potential loose tongues, all sworn to silence. And all undermined by a love-struck underling and a flirty tavern wench. Inoadar wished it hadn't been Alice Lark that had turned out to be the loose end. He liked her and he hoped that he would not be required to betray her disclosure.

But what he and Valerius had told her were NOT lies. They WERE doomed to be found out. In truth, they already WERE. And as a result, they WERE doomed to be scandalized and disgraced as traitors before Rhysol. And the results of THAT were not something anyone would wish to imagine. To save her family, she needed to give up the information. If they were smart, they would turn around and claim to have been simply "preparing him for presentation to the glory of Rhysol, and Ravok in general."

Inoadar had no idea if they would actually do that or not. They had their own spin doctors, and they were no doubt competent at their own twists of facts. But Inoadar was not concerned about this. Unless some unforeseen development arose, his job was basically finished. He had diverted a good deal of shop time to this endeavor and he needed to get back to training Ariella. Though she had done well in minding the store in his absence, he hoped to see her become more useful than a simple cashier.

But these thoughts retreated when Miro spoke of how determined he was to see that Inoadar got his share of credit and reward. Despite his surge of pride, he felt a twinge of concern that Miro seemed to have nothing to say about his use of false names. Either he truly DID understand the need, or he had already known his name was "Nolan Parnell". That thought was somewhat embarrassing. And he supposed that Miro quickly accepted the similar need to recruit a aristocratic "face" to get within certain circles. This was probably why he didn't feel it necessary to hear all the details leading up to the same obstacle, and all solved by the same interrogation of Alice Lark. Well...If he ever DID want to hear them, he would have them.

But these side issues were swept away in the offer of training. 'Training? In magic?' He very well remembered the demonstrations the masked man had given him and he already knew which of the two he would pursue. He felt that his craft already granted him the "variety" of afflictions, from a distance, that some battles needed. It was in up-close fighting that he felt himself wanting. And that meant the more melee-oriented "Flux".

He turned to look Miro directly in the "eyes" and said in an even tone. "Sir, I have many endeavors underway at this time. And they all, to some extent, stand to improve my self or my standing. But this is an offer beyond my highest hopes. Yet I can not withdraw my part of the efforts required in these other matters. I want nothing more than to learn this "Flux" you offer, but not at the cost of my reputation as reliable. If this is something that can be done in what would have to be called "spare time", I would be grateful beyond words."

He waited to see what the mage would say. But he knew that he had probably never been more honest in his life.

[Miro]

Miro was more than pleased to hear of Nolan's interest in the Flux. He had only been asked once before to give lesson on that magic. The particular individual was quite pompous towards an undead on Sahova as a Pulser, and was taught his lesson the hard way. Only a single line of advice was given, but attached was a lengthy demonstration not soon forgotten. But this was not Sahova, and Nolan was not interested in games, only business. It was something the man did well. He understood Ravok and served Rhysol's cause.

"You needn't worry Nolan. For what you have done for me, I will offer you lessons on Djed as a token of my appreciation. That is how this will start, understand? Lessons, comprised of lectures and demonstrations, all sorts of dense information. It is often very hard for the uninitiated to comprehend at first. But you must understand, I am not offering for free an initiation into the Flux for free. Without understanding the fundamentals of magic and the soul, you are not fit to be a wizard. Without knowledge of Djed you couldn't possibly grasp what it means to be a wizard."

So far a serious amount of trust had been put forward, and there was no more need for Hypnotism. The Chained One had already put his faith in this new ally. Despite what Miro appeared to be, Nolan looked him in the eyes and spoke with conviction. Indeed that same sincerity was given in return. "Nolan, I would very much like to teach you the Flux, truly I would. But I will not entrust my knowledge to a soul not fit to handle it. Nor will I to a mind too feeble to understand. And most of all, I will not see my own magic used against me. I will only offer my hard mastered knowledge to those I can trust. And I will only offer the time and patience it requires to someone I can call a friend."

There was a new theory of how to better teach the discipline long maturing in the wizard's mind. The only way he would even be able to perform the technique was with the trust of his apprentice. It would be up to Nolan to decide if he was willing to earn a chance at becoming an apprentice. "I will gladly teach you enough of Djed that you will be able to understand and learn any discipline of world or personal magic you wish. If after this you are ready to put your faith in me and offer loyalty, I shall show you more. Not only the Flux, but all of the magic I am capable of." Though it was not really a matter of the undead trusting Nolan. He did, though it hardly mattered. The apprenticeship ritual would be enough.

"When we finish with our lessons, if you truly wish to learn the Flux, I will give you a rare offer. You make perform a simple rite and become acknowledged as my kin in magic. The ritual is usually simple, a mere test of trust. I need only know two things. You must trust me primarily as your master, that is a given. The other thing is much more important, and that is that I can trust you. If you are a true friend, one dedicated to the arts of magic, then seek me out. You may contact me with a note, by knocking at my door, or by finding my personal servant Lessomm. Whether you can trust me enough to become an apprentice or not, for what you have done, the offer to learn magic stands indefinitely. Thank you Nolan."

Miro turned and began to walk away not long after. He was curious to see how the man would react, but did not want to ruin a chance to make a dramatic exit. Such chances rarely presented themselves, and so rarely with a shady character such as Nolan. After a few moments of lingering he turned toward the exit and heaved the slightest of sighs. "Approach me whenever the mood strikes you. Good day to you, Mr. Parnell." And as he made way to leave the Institution he grinned. He whispered a thought to his Familiar. "Describe the look on his face Ender. Isn't it just perfect? I am sure he is sold. And after he understands magic, what I am capable of, he will beg to be my apprentice."

[Abstract]

Grade Awarded!

Inoadar

Skills

~ Disguise - 1
~ Rhetoric - 1
~ Intelligence - 1
~ Planning - 1

Lores

~ Miro: Gives Djed Training as Payment

Other

N/A

Miro

Skills

~ Familiary - 1
~ Observation - 1
~ Planning - 1

Lores

~ Clark: Also Known as Nolan Parnell
~ Renzy: Ravosalaman Lark Spy
~ Larks: Traitors

Other

N/A

Notes

Short and to the point