An Exchange of Information

by **Brandon Blackwing** on September 3rd, 2014, 3:30 pm

The 1st of Fall 514AV, 2nd Bell
Cosmos Center

Darkness clung to the city like a baby bat to its mother, unwilling to let go even when the glow of skyglass did its utmost best to push it away. Leth’s one eye stared down as pale as ever, a beacon in the semi-darkness outshining even the steady blue and green glow of the skyglass with its pale silver light. Of course, it was nothing compared to Syna’s dazzling golden rays, but Brandon appreciated Leth more, for one or other reason he deemed the Moon God to be quite the gentleman.

Perhaps it was due the fact that He did not hurt one’s eyes when they looked up, that He was the gentle light that watches over all creatures of the night. Silent, gentle and calm was how He came across. Leth was probably one of the nicer gods, now that he thought about it, unlike Ssena or Rhysol… Perhaps.

One thing was certain though, and that’s that gods and mortals were not equals and not alike. Both were different breeds, and often Brandon wondered if the gods were not quite the protectors and guardians some claimed them to be. It was possible that what happened on the surface of Mizahar was just one big entertainment show, a toy box with endless possibilities. Help one mortal to set a string of disasters in motion, mark another to see how they react, what they’d do with the power. Mayhap it was all just a huge game to them… but that couldn’t be right, if all gods were players, then Dira and Kihala had very little pawns to use…. No, it wasn’t a game to all the gods, but only to a few of them, probably the likes of Rhysol and Krysus. That sounded about right. Oh, and don’t forget Sagallius!

Well, if that was the case the bat supposed he should stay away from those villains. Don’t do anything to please them, lest they want him to bear their mark, and don’t do anything to displease them, lest he wanted to give birth to powerful enemies. Killing him wouldn’t suffice, oh no, he’d suffer, that was for sure. If what his mother had said was true, of course, which wasn’t necessarily the case. While the bear-woman worshipped Orianna and had done so for whole her life, she still had experienced painful complications during childbirth, Brandon wondered what was up with that.

T

Soon, the elaborate gates of Lhavit came into vision, blocking the sight of the horizon and entrance to the City of Stars. Stopping right in his tracks, the bat took a short break to try and spot the Shinya stationed there, greeting the new arrivals and opening the huge portal when needed. While his mind told him there had to be at least four of them, he could see only two of them standing somewhere up there, keeping an eye out, while the other two were positioned just outside of the city, just outside the gates.

A shrug and he continued walking, strolling down the path that would lead him to the glowing building before him, the central hub of information which shone even brighter than all other Skyglass buildings combined. Not only that, but it was even more decorated and magnificent than most other buildings, only second to the Radiant Tower …. And maybe Elysium Hall too…. But well, all three of them were too pompous to Brandon’s taste, showing off how magnificent Lhavitian buildings could be. Yes, it was too much of a cry for attention, too … eye-catching.

As per usual, the doors providing entrance were opened, inviting any individual, resident or tourist alike inside. One single step was all it took to cross the border between inside and outside, and while the air freely flowed in and out, the air inside was somehow different to the air outside. It didn’t make sense, like many things humans had thought up. If one was inside and the air was fresh, the window open, why should they go outside to ‘get some fresh air’? It was the same no matter if there was a roof above their head or not. Only if inside happened to be a smithy he could understand.

Not that that any relevance as to why he had actually come to the Cosmos Center for the second time since his arrival a year ago. He had changed a lot since then, grown more adult-like, if that made sense.

The circular room offered him an excellent view on the entire room, allowing him to scan the multitude of desks for the one person he was looking for. Salamander. It did not take long before he had been discovered, the tall man seemed too large for both his chair and desk, his features displaying a bored expression. A very, very bored expression. Well, Brandon could understand, being chained to a desk wouldn’t be his favorite job either, and especially so with a pile of paperwork stacked on one corner of it. Not to mention the woman standing in front of his workplace rambling about something the bat did not think was worth focusing on. Sal on the other hand would have to listen and reply, the poor fellow.

It took a while, but then the lady finally left and the bat approached the investigator with a grin on his face. As he had somehow felt like he could trust Sal, Bran had refused help from other people, of those who came over and asked whether they could help him and others who just beckoned him with a gesture without as much as a glance in his direction. Placing both hands on the desktop, the Kelvic winked playfully.

“It’s been a while, Sal, you look extremely bored! I thought I’d pay you a visit and bring some thrill in your life again!” he joked, grinning widely before assuming a more serious expression.

OOCWell, here you go! Gave you a nice old nagging lady to help too! Thought it'd be weird to be the only one to come and stop by.

Credit goes to Nyxie Nadira Draer

by **Sal Mander** on September 11th, 2014, 11:21 pm

Day 1, Fall of 514 A.V.

Sal's eyes scanned the gnarly desk before him, a battlefield where on one side an incursion of papers had begun, stacked regiments looming threateningly as they waited for the order to charge, while on the other it was parchments, old and grizzled veterans, stalwarts of the desk that were not about to concede an inch of territory. Caught in the middle - war always had its innocents - a solitary quill lay wounded, bleeding ink from its head while a decorative vial stood guard over its fallen comrade. Apparently neither side had dared to venture forwards, though there was a sense of impending doom that hung in the air like fog.

"You see, it is not simply a case of decorum, but just plain good manners. I will not stand for it!" The old hag before Sal's desk waved her arms about as if swatting away a fly, her beady eyes narrowed in on him like an over-zealous school teacher berating a pupil. She had been prattling on about one neighbor in particular, who apparently had taken to hanging his laundry off the balcony where anyone could see. Furthermore, she had explained in great and tedious detail, this was in breach of the rules as set and enforced by the building's superintendent and owner. Only, said superintendent had done little enforcing of late, due to falling foul of a nasty flu that had swept through that part of town.

Quite what she expected him or the Cosmos Center to do about it was a mystery. They held no authority over building owners, nor did they set any rules regarding decorum across the city. In truth, Sal could not care less if a man, woman, beast or bat wanted to hang their unmentionables out of the window. He cared even less for the hag who was ranting at him like he had masterminded the whole affair. Attempts to diffuse the situation had proved impotent, the woman simply speaking loudly over him every time he dared to interject a word. The solution then was simply to let the fire burn out so to speak. After several minutes, she ran out of steam, departing the building in such a huff that it would not have surprised Sal if vapors had emitted from her ears.

There was little time to rally, before the familiar figure of Brandon Blackwing swooped into view. Brandon, or Djas as he was known to Sal, was an acquaintance dating back several seasons now. The pair had developed a knack for bumping into each other, affording a sense of familiarity that went some way to offering the foundations of a friendship. That was something that would have had to have been cultivated with more attention, but it was still nice to feel that the young man could have been a good friend if only both parties put in the leg work. As it was though, their current situation was just as welcome, the two trading a story or bit of info here and there on the occasions they did cross paths. This appearance though was different. Brandon had come to find Sal specifically. That was new. That was interesting.

"And let me guess. By thrill you mean a card game? A robbery perhaps?" Sal asked with fake enthusiasm while offering a devious grin. The card game was reference to their first real work together, though that was a whole other story worthy of its own telling. The robbery had in fact been the last time they bumped into one another, having joined forces with a handful of other misfits to solve the case of the Starry Chalice. But the Bat was in a jovial mood, leading Sal to the conclusion that perhaps his visit did not come with a life threatening investigation. In any case, when the two got to talking, usually it was never a topic for curious ears.

Sal pushed back the chair, grabbed his coat and turned back to Djas. "Shall we"? he asked, motioning to the door. "I need to get some fresh air anyway." He did not wait for Brandon to explain the look on his face, making for the exit with the promise of freedom only a few feet away.

by **Brandon Blackwing** on September 12th, 2014, 12:55 pm

Sal seemed rather happy to lay eyes on him again, his face lit up and twisted into a mischievous grin as his lips parted to let a flow of words depart into the air. Witty comments, as to be expected from the investigator, the bat liked his sense of humor. His grin momentarily returned while the memories of good times played in his mind. It was short-lived though, the seriousness of the mess in which he had found himself in was enough to give the usually cheerful Kelvic a rather grim look. Sal did not ask anything, probably already feeling, sensing what was to come, what the subject of their discussion would be. The tall man stood up and grabbed his coat, suggesting they'd go outside.

Fresh air, huh?

Well, it was a good plan, the Cosmos Center was a bit too enclosed to feel safe in, bored clerks eavesdropping and overhearing what wasn't meant for their ears was not what the bat wanted. The fact that he already had a bit of a reputation as Incognito made him all the more anxious for discovery. Shinya were everywhere, literally, and only one of them had to hear something suspicious and he would be staring at the dark sky like he did now, but with thick steel bars in the foreground. Freedom was not what he'd let them take away from him, he'd rather die, or flee the city, however the latter was quite impossible in his current situation.

Not that he actually believed that there was a need to run, no, but it was always better to proceed with caution, especially so if you were a notorious thief who gave the Shinya headaches. A smug grin appeared, as it always did when he thought about the subject, and as always it disappeared as fast when he remembered how exactly this had come to be. Sure, they were thrilling, the jobs Kriegsfelt gave him, but they weren't exactly profitable, not when talking about coin. If they meant fame and fear, then it was, oh yes, but having gained the status of a person at the top of the Shinya's wanting list, having scared the Councilor and such, he couldn't really walk around as if nothing had happened. It was always stressful to walk past guards, the bat expected to be grabbed and arrested, though it hadn't happened yet. Fortunately.

While Sal and he walked alongside each other, rounding various corners, crossing streets and plazas, the bat did his best to start up a conversation, exchanging pleasantries and chatting about things that did not matter at all. It was highly possible that Sal knew that this wasn't the purpose of Bran's visit, but the bat was quite sure he'd understand; they had to find a place where they could speak freely first. Or at least, a location without too much of a crowd marching past and through.

Eventually, their feet led them into the Alheas Park, where there wouldn't be as many individuals around. Of course, it was a spot popular with the tourists, but those usually didn't stick to the Lhavitian hours, so they should be all asleep. Still, the rare exception might come wandering by, but the quiet of the Park was the perfect setting for Brandon to hear them coming. Fallen leaves and twigs made quite a bit of noise, not to mention that the usual citizen or tourist wasn't versed in the ways of moving silently. Alheas Park was a strange location, Brandon had always found it was, but it was peaceful and soothing... If the tourists were not present with their loud voices and movements, disturbing the scene with their sheer presence.

But still, the blue glow that clung to the place at night was mesmerizing, a mist of indigo and turquoise snaking through the forest, cloaking the whole in an aura of mystery and ethereal beauty. It was evident what was so appealing about it, what exactly drove the visitors to stampede into the oasis of tranquility. It was rather ironic that it was here that the bat decided to return to the grim world of his thoughts about Kriegsfelt, the other part of his reality that he could not escape from. He stopped by the pond, leaning against a nearby tree and settling between its generous roots.

His fingers found a stone and after having launched it upwards and having caught it again on its way back down, he hurled it into the water with a flick of his wrist. Much to his annoyance it didn't skid even once. He sighed, defeated. It was time to voice his fears, to tell someone about his situation, to ask for help. He didn't want to, he'd rather solve everything himself, there was no need to involve another person. Still, he couldn't do anything, he was powerless, his hands were tied. If it wasn't for Engghaen the bat would have rid himself of this problem already, he wouldn't have needed to hesitate before finally deciding to ask Sal for help. Hell, he wouldn't even have needed his aid, he would have done everything by himself.

But he couldn't do that now, not with Eng's life on the line. Death might not be so bad, but life, Kihala's gift was something he wanted her to enjoy a bit longer. It mattered not to Dira anyway, sooner or later, Brandon, Enggy, Sal and Kriegsfelt - everyone would be visited by her and then she would be adamant. The problem however, was born from the fact that Brandon did not want to cause unnecessary deaths, not out of selfishness nor out of anger or a need for freedom. He needed a good reason to kill, or to bring about the end of a life, his own wellbeing was not enough of a purpose to send the person who was like a sister to him plummeting into her grave.

Following that line of thought, the Kelvic decided that Sal did not need to know his reasons, that he didn't have to know exactly what was going on. The less he knew the better, Kriegsfelt had contacts everywhere. No, Sal would only have to gather the information he needed in the bat's stead and deliver. No need for pity, worry or an explanation of motives. The less he knew the better, if Kriegsfelt were to notice him snooping about it would be a lot less dangerous for Bran and Enggy than if the thief would have done it himself and was caught. An act like that might have been labeled betrayal in Mr. Black's eyes, and Brandon knew all too well what the reward would be, what his actions would get him.

Death, and not just one.

“Truth is, Sal,” the bat began with his voice a silent whisper, “I'm in need of your help.”

Credit goes to Nyxie Nadira Draer

by **Sal Mander** on September 18th, 2014, 2:49 am

Technically, if one chose to look at it that way, Sal and Brandon's relationship had to date been a working one. The technicality was based on whether infiltrating, robbing, and surviving a notorious gangster in Lhavit could be regarded as work. Certainly it was no walk in the park. In any case, if it was work, play, or just a dubious hobby, there could be little denying that such situations tended to bring people a little closer together. In having both come out of that event with their lives intact, there now lived an unspoken pact, one that carried with it a degree of mutual respect that would have been hard pressed to undo.

Despite the troubles they had shared, there was none the less a vast abyss between them when it came to personal terms. Sal did not even know the bat's real name, though the human was not without his own secrets. But perhaps it was this lack of a more personal level that led to the two men getting along so well. They had that ability exhibited by age old friends of being able to pick up where they left off, regardless of the time that had passed. It served to present Sal as an even more ideal candidate in Brandon's search for aid, reluctant as he had been to turn to anyone for help.

Still, there could be no accounting for curiosity that seemed a most common trait for humans in particular. As they walked through the slinking streets, with all its turns and deviations, Sal noted the way Bran picked his path, in a way that spoke of experience and knowing. He knew little of the bat, but he could take an educated guess that the lad was well versed in the streets of Lhavit. There was also an air of distrust about him, in the way he tensed up whenever the Shinya came into view, or just in the manner that he regarded passing strangers in general, as if they might at any time try to pounce on him. Sal did not think to ask though, keeping his curiosities to himself and their arrangement intact.

Soon enough they had discarded streets for the more serene surroundings of the park. City life gave way to a calmer scene, the remarkable ultramarine hue giving an almost ethereal tone to things. Traffic here was almost non-existent, save for the occasional passerby taking in the scenery. Otherwise it was the perfect spot for two men to talk business, since that was ultimately what they had come to do. Sal did not require his Azenth senses to figure that much out. Though if he tried to listen to that inner voice of the Azenth hard enough, there were very slight mutterings of something that he could not quite pinpoint.

Had it been a strong enough current of thought, such as utter hate or terror for example, he would have known it. He would even have known if Brandon had recently fallen in love, if the feelings were genuine of course. But no, whatever it was lingered around an invisible corner, refusing to poke its head out where Sal could see. The feeling of knowing something was there but not being able to muster up hard evidence to prove it was unsettling. It only served to fuel his earlier curiosity, though in a much different manner.

With their talk of trivial things complete, it was time to switch to more important matters. Brandon began with a straightforward declaration of truth. Straight to the point. Sal liked that. He might have laughed too when Brandon suggested his words were the truth. It must have been hard for the thieving little bat to have admitted such a thing. Even so, Sal liked to think of himself as a relatively good judge of character. While he no doubt had his suspicions that Brandon's line of work was far from ethical - they had first met with the bat trying to rob a man - he none the less regarded Bran as a good sort of fellow. That was Sal's take on life in general. Doing bad things did not always make a bad person. Furthermore, if one wanted to really get down to brass tacks, it was only bad because that particular law had been incorporated into everyday life by that particular institution or governing body that happened to be in charge at the time. What was to say that the next lot who took the reigns of Lhavit decided to abolish the law that said stealing was illegal? Did all those bad thieves magically become good hard working folk?

Well, perhaps stealing was the poorest of examples. There was a generally shared consensus that it was wrong, at least the concept of it. But the underlying matter at hand, at least from Sal's perspective, was just as he had already surmised, that it did not make Brandon a bad person. In that case, he was only happy to offer his help, assuming he was able to do so of course. Forgetting everything else, there was also the fact that he felt like he owed the bat a favor. After all, was it not Sal who had been the one asking for help last time around?

"Of course Djas. Just let me know what you need."

by **Brandon Blackwing** on September 22nd, 2014, 6:21 pm

A slight smile emerged as he watched the taller man from the side, a certain sense of gratitude was what he felt towards the investigator. While the bat did see the two of them as some sort of friends -or at least friendly acquaintances, if nothing else- he somehow had feared Sal turning him down, refusing just then and there without hearing him out. The fact that it hadn't happened was a good sign in Brandon's eyes, it meant Sal seemed to trust him to a degree, maybe even think better of their relationship than just acquaintances. Or maybe he just felt curious to what the thief could possibly ask of him.

Right now though, truth and lie would have to mixed in a perfect cocktail, a blend that was not either, but both at the same time. The Kelvic couldn't let Sal in on his secrets, for safety reasons, both for Sal, Engghaen and himself. There wasn't a single thing that the bat could tell the investigator about his situation, not about the blackmail, not about his fears, nor about Incognito. He would have liked to though, he really would... even if it brought lots of problems with it. “There is this guy... a merchant... Solomon Kriegsfelt,” he started hesitantly, not quite knowing how to continue from there. What was there to say?

“I am trying to get information about him, but it's rather impossible for me. He's wary of me... I'm sure... I attempted to follow him inconspicuously to his house, but he has two giant bodyguards with him... Every time they see me coming, I find their gaze burning on my body...” The bat spoke softly, hesitantly. He sounded like a coward, he found himself, as if he was scared of them. As if Dragha and Bragha were the dreaded monsters of his nightmares. Are they not, then? questioned his mind with a mocking tone.

“No matter how hard I try to be one with the crowd, they never fail to catch my form, as if they can feel when I'm near. I cannot get close, I cannot sneak after them and I cannot find the place he stays at. So, Sal, I'd ask you to find out a couple of things for me,” the Kelvic paused briefly, to capture his breath and Sal's undivided attention. “I need to know where he lives, I need to know the truth about him. Who is Solomon Kriegsfelt, what is he trying to accomplish in Lhavit... if anything at all. But the most important thing is to find out whether the rumors are true, whether he really has contacts with assassins. Also, see if you can find out Kriegsfelt's relation to the Lhavitian government and the current Councilor Radiant.”

That was about all the bat could ask right now without revealing anything or actually stabbing Kriegsfelt in the back -that was something he'd do later, when he was fully prepared to face the consequences. Scheming was what he was doing now, pushing Sal a bit, being vague because he had to, but the bat hoped it would help to evoke the investigator's curiosity. Once Sal had taken the bait, he wouldn't back down, that the bat knew well enough. The man hadn't canceled the operation when they were about to enter Tally's lair, the tall investigator had shown determination, and Sal's colleagues said the same thing; Sal Mander was the bloodhound among the investigators. Once you could interest him, you could be certain he'd do what had to be done.

Backstabbing Mr. Black would indeed have to wait for a later time, but that didn't mean that an investigator couldn't accidentally find out some worrying things about Kriegsfelt, harbor suspicions when it came to the various acts of 'business' the merchant partook in. Sal may have been lead towards that path by Brandon's request, but the man would have to find out everything by himself. Not that Brandon expected to be presented with answers for all his questions, not at all. There were things that were hidden too well for even the bloodhound to find, buried too deep for him to dig up. However, it would be a start, a first something the bat could use against the obnoxious merchant when the time had come. The first weapon in the war against the blackmailing trader. The first of the blades that would be used to plunge into the man's back, the first of many to tear it apart and rip it to pieces.

In time, the bat would have his vengeance.

In time, Kriegsfelt would reap what he had sowed.

Credit goes to Nyxie Nadira Draer

by **Sal Mander** on October 12th, 2014, 4:50 am

The offer to help was made, leaving Sal in the position of listener as he waited expectantly for what the bat had to ask of him. That moment, just before the curtain was pulled back and the truth revealed, that moment was filled with both excitement and concern. The first was born of curiosity, the mind as yet unknowing of what was to come, and therefore needing to fill in the blanks from its own reserves of past experiences, expectations and knowledge. But on the other hand, that method worked for concern too, pulling up a hundred different shades of caution that each fueled the warning that something bad was about to rear its ugly head.

But it was just a moment. Before long, he would be swallowing a concoction of facts and information that would keep his mind occupied, trying to piece together and make sense of the forthcoming puzzle. Like a hungry beast about to descend on its prey, Sal stood alert and eager, the final few moments creeping by at a tedious pace. Then it began.

Brandon introduced the protagonist of his woes, a certain Solomon Kriegsfelt, a name which did not ring any bells initially. He was a merchant, one of importance it seemed if he required a pair of bodyguards. Those bodyguards were no slouches either if they were adept at keeping Brandon at bay. Curious. Sal's mind was already on the hunt for solutions though, pulling to the forefront of his thinking a multitude of lists and documents that might present the information he would need. With a name and a profession already garnered from the kelvic, there was already a good chance Sal could fish out a locale for the man. Of course, that outcome was steered by several factors, such as whether Kriegsfelt was a registered name or an alias. Furthermore, the role of merchant was by no means a rare occupation, even in a city of the size of Lhavit. Not that Lhavit was small of course, but certainly not the largest either.

In any case, he could refer to merchant licenses, cross checking with residential occupancy permits or rental agreements. If Kriegsfelt was legit and he took up Lhavit as a home, he would be listed somewhere. That was merely stage one though. Sal's attention and curiosity were drawn in closer, like snakes swirling to and fro to the tune of a charmer. There was talk of ambitions in Lhavit; of assassins and liaisons to the government, in particular the Councilor Radiant. That was perhaps more info than a simple Cosmos Investigator could salvage from the records and files kept at the Center. But then, not every Investigator was Azenth. No every one of them was content to perform the standard tasks and duties of a city employed custodian. There were those that went beyond their remit, to venture into areas of interest that were off the books and shielded from prying eyes. In fact, there was only one. Sal.

"That's quite the request," Sal observed, regarding the younger man with searching eyes. Yet he knew that to poke and prod further now would be of little worth. He had been in the game long enough to know when a spring had dried up. Brandon had parted with all he was willing to and Sal knew it. The lad wants to keep me in the dark, he thought, regarding the bat's own personal involvement in the matters concerning Kriegsfelt. That was fine of course. Let the river run its course, and soon enough it would follow its destined path, carrying everyone and everything on it to the end, where it would spill out and join a vast ocean of knowledge, where all was one.

"I'll see what I can dig up for you. How soon do you need it?"

by **Brandon Blackwing** on October 14th, 2014, 7:40 pm

x

Fortunately, the investigator listened closely, paying attention to his words and request. When the bat locked eyes with the man briefly, he could already see the gears of his mind working, processing the information and searching for ways to find out what Brandon wanted to know. A shallow smile was all the bat could muster at the sight, glad Sal had chosen to lend his aid, even though it was more than obvious he hadn’t spilled everything. There was no way the investigator didn’t realize the bat was holding other information back, but he didn’t seem to mind. He didn’t ask about it, nor did his body language reveal any hints or clues that he wanted the Kelvic to tell him more, to tell him everything he knew.

Oh, Brandon would have loved to do so, if only there weren’t any lives on the line, if only he wasn’t so afraid of losing, of the possible consequences of such careless actions. Kriegsfelt wasn’t one to bluff, so Dimitri had stated when coughing up blood and regretting the path his life had chosen. No, in order not to end like that, Brandon had no choice but to keep a secret or two, besides how would Sal react if he told him everything? About Incognito, about the way things were progressing, about his suspicions? He couldn’t tell, the man was something of a friend, but who knew what he could and couldn’t deal with –in regards to morals and ethics.

So the bat guarded his tongue and could only stare into the pond, fingers clawing in the grass and dirt, frustrated, angry and sadden. He hated this whole situation. He’d rather deal with it himself, do things his way, no need for help, no need for treading carefully and pondering what to reveal and what to keep hidden. Be it Sal or someone else, help was not something he desired to ask of anyone. Not now, not ever. He could take care of himself, or that was what he had believed anyway. Now he wasn’t so sure anymore.

Sal spoke up, his tone observant and analytic, but not in a cold way. Bran could only shrug the words off, the investigator had no idea. Brandon’s sorrows were only the tip of the iceberg, more secrets and hidden truths were to be discovered, that was something the thief was sure of. With every single thing Sal would find, he would find more questions. If Sal wanted to get to the very bottom of it, he’d have to dig long and deep. The thief was not even sure if it was possible to actually unveil everything about Kriegsfelt.

“How soon?” the bat echoed, “I’m not sure. I’d rather give you enough time so you can work at your own pace and without hurry. It’s not like I’ll be needing the information right away. I can do whatever I want whenever I want, but you know that I’m sure.” He pondered a while before naming an actual date, though it wasn’t like he’d give Sal a deadline or something the like. “How about you just check with me every so often? Say, by the end of the season or so? Or if you’d rather report your findings within briefer intervals you just have to say so. We’ll run into each other again anyway, Lhavit’s not that big after all. ”

He stood up slowly, brushing off his clothes briefly, stopping when suddenly remembering another important thing. “Oh, and Sal,” he called “you might want to have a look at this too.” The hand that had fished a scroll out of his pocket threw it into the investigator’s lap. “It’s the only thing I managed to obtain before Kriegsfelt’s guards started keeping an eye on me.” He grinned. What Sal would read when opening the scroll was Lhavit’s new third law, a draft written by Alses’s own hand. The notorious edict of the third law she had forced through without waiting for anyone’s approval. Everyone in the city, no matter if they’d read or heard what exactly had changed, knew about that, and about the event that happened next. There were enough rumors circulating after all.

x

credit goes to Euthisa

by **Sal Mander** on October 21st, 2014, 2:22 am

Until the end of the season? Sal thought incredulously when Brandon offered up a time frame. He did not know whether to be offended, having already proved his investigative knack for sifting out info with their last project together, namely the Burton Tally situation. Still, there was little use for wounded pride and, in truth, he did not really desire praise or recognition from his acquaintance. Besides, he was already too preoccupied with the thought of this Kriegsfelt, or rather the question that clung to Brandon and had now buried its talons in Sal.

Who was Solomon Kriegsfelt?

Brandon was perhaps being kind when he offered Sal the entirety of the season to carry out his investigation. But Sal was ready to begin right away, his own curiosity sparked, as was always the case when taking on a new challenge. That his friend was at a lose for the back story of this fellow was cause enough to be excited. But it went beyond that. Perhaps in the course of his quest for knowledge, he might uncover a little more about Brandon himself. After all, the kelvic had been elusive when it came to personal details. In truth, Sal had not exactly been a shining example of getting to know someone himself, but certainly he had been a tad more liberal than the bat.

"Why don't we meet here again, same time in seven days?" Sal proposed. A week's worth of rummaging around would be enough to shake up a few leads at least. Who knew, perhaps he would get lucky and have something a little more concrete before their next meeting. Certainly he would put all his efforts into it, something he was able to do during the course of his regular work day. He was out on the streets anyway, so in fact he would be able to carry out his investigation unhindered.

To further add to the night already comprised of mystery and such, Brandon then handed Sal a scroll, wrapped in a single red ribbon. He took the scroll while holding Brandon's gaze, trying to find clues there in his eyes but seeing only indifference. It was the lad's words that were more compelling, his talk of Kriegsfelt's guards and such. Just what trouble had his friend got himself into? Untying the ribbon, Sal let his gaze scan over the document, written in an intrinsic and fancy hand, and stamped at the bottom with an official looking seal. He looked at the signature under the seal, his attention well and truly grabbed by the mystery in his hands. Counselor Radiant? he noted, before going back over the text in full to understand exactly what it was.

The Third Law. This was a contentious document indeed, one that had riled the Towers and met with much in the way of criticism. Alses. That was her name, one Sal had heard mention of in several taverns and inns, and usually not in such complimentary fashion. While a lot of people were unaffected and unconcerned by the passing of the law, there were plenty of others that were. From what he had garnered, it was the manner in which it was introduced, rather than the law itself. Principle, a word that held much weight when it came to the higher ups of Lhavit. But more interestingly, this was labeled as a draft of the law, written some time before it would have been passed. The question then, why was Kriegsfelt in possession of it?

Very interesting.

It was all Sal could do not to ask Brandon the obvious questions, since he suspected that it was something the bat would not be able to answer sufficiently. No, for now it would be just one more piece of the puzzle, the puzzle that he was determined to get to the bottom of, whether for Brandon's sake, or now his own. The Blood Hound was it? That was a nickname he had heard some of his colleagues call him at the Cosmos Center. Rather an apt nickname he thought now, for Sal had certainly caught the scent, and there was not much or many who would get in his way.

by **Mirage** on November 15th, 2014, 8:15 pm

Brandon

Lores :

Sal

Lores :

Truth Hidden by a Mirage :

Closed An Exchange of Information