Closed Joining the Shadows

[Avarice]

23rd Day of Fall, 514 AV

It was to be expected that the agents of shadow operate under the cover of darkness. 'Twas almost as if it were as nature itself had intended. In the moments following Syna's retreat beyond the horizon, all manner of cloaked men and women began their nocturnal prowls. From the shadows, they waltzed throughout the nooks and crannies of Sunberth; swiping, mugging, and even murdering all the way. However, as the Night Eyes continued their nocturnal advance, there was one who was assigned to remain stationary. In the very heart of Riverside, the territory that belonged to the organization, stood a very simple structure. 'Twas a cage filled to the brim with all manner of crow and raven. Each had been meticulously trained to ferry messages to the organization itself...

...And it was also notorious for being the opening chapter in any Night Eyes' story.

There was no way of knowing how exactly the hooded woman obtained the information that drew her to this location tonight. Perhaps it was simply a communal assignment that piqued her interest. Perhaps she had been directly assigned the task of testing the mettle of two potential members of the organization. Perhaps she had simply eavesdropped on their desires. Whatever the case may be, she was standing before the cage with her eyes plastered upon its occupants. Her identity was, of course, obscured by numerous measures. Her face was veiled by a hood and hidden behind a mask. Her features were obscured by the loose cloak which hung about her form. She could have been unarmed underneath it...or armed to the teeth.

One thing was certain, her guard was up. Very much so. To the two souls who had inquired of joining the Night Eyes, a raven had been sent to each with instructions. They were simple in nature; so simple that even a slow man could follow them. Come to the Cage. Come alone. If they complied, a new chapter of their tale would begin. Yet if they failed to follow the message to the letter...their stories of mediocrity would continue on, even to the present.
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[Lucian Hill]

The night was restless. The night made him restless. He paced his room, a small fire burning in the hearth and his bed looking awfully comfortable. Sleep wouldn't come he knew, and he didn't bother. Thoughts raced, not stopping on any one topic, not staying on anything that he could pick out. It was painful and uncomfortable and impossible to deal with. Perhaps the most pressing matter at the time was loneliness - five years in Sunberth, over one without his dead master, and he had yet to bond. No one sat with him well, no one felt right to him, and it was a horrible, awful mess in his mind.

He heard fighting on the streets, between what must be members of minor gangs. Or not, it could've been fighting between anyone from anywhere. Hai, they could've been Sun's Birth or Night Eyes or Daggerhand for all he knew. Lucian wasn't a fighter. He ran, ran from problems and dangerous situations simply because he knew that he could - he was slippery. He could be chased into an alley and they'd see him strip and shift and disappear in a flash, a raven taking his place and flying off.

There was a tap on the window. He ignored it, but the tapping was insistent. He thought it was rocks, at first, but that didn't make sense - there was no need for someone to throw rocks at his window. His feet found their way in front of the window, squinting and looking through it with one hand over his face so he could see through the dim. There, outside of his window, was a raven, much like himself. A piece of parchment was clutched in one of his feet. The window was opened and the raven flew in, dropping the parchment on the table and settling down, tilting its head and staring at him.

Raven. Night Eyes.

Lucian knew that much, picking up the parchment and reading it. The message was simple enough, even for his probably below-average education - the raven simply couldn't stand to sit still and read until he was at least three. As soon as he had read the message, however, it was snatched out of his hand and dropped into the fire, smoldering into ashes, never to be read again. With that, the real raven flew away, leaving this raven to contemplate his next move.

Come to the cage. Come alone.

He knew where the cage was, its location buried in the back of his memory. He remembered, as a child, seeing the cage and wondering if they were like him, too - but then being reassured that it would most likely be impossible. The ravens and crows were just that, ravens and crows. He had inquired about joining the Night Eyes once, commenting on it to a beggar in the street. How interesting it would be to join the Night Eyes. But words traveled fast, and now he was being summoned. He was thankful that he had decided not to sleep tonight.

Lucian grabbed his cloak, black and woollen and protecting him from the cold that was most definitely going to be snapping at him as he walked, and pulled on his boots. The fire was put out and he was out the door, probably before the raven had even made it halfway back to the cage. His hood was up, and he walked - in a spectacular effort to not seem suspicious, to the cage. It took much longer than it should've for him to get there, as he avoided fights and confrontations until he found himself standing in front of the cage. The ravens and crows weren't restless, as he'd have guessed. They were docile, calm, purposeful - something he wished he possessed on his own. They were very well trained.

It took him much too long to notice the person waiting there. He couldn't tell if it were a woman or a man, not in the dark and with their features so obscured by a cloak, and a veil, and what appeared to be a mask. It seemed overkill, in all honesty. Regardless, there was no telling why they were there, or why they were so hidden. It piqued his curiosity, if nothing else. He quietly walked up beside them, watching the birds as they did so intently.

"Was it you who sent for me?"

[Hamartia]

Hamartia had been perched on a ledge the only thing that moved were his eyes. He watched the people of sunberth scurry below him through the night, if anyone was to notice him they would only assume he was a strange statue. This is one of the things that Hamartia enjoyed most was the ability to hide in plane sight to an extent. Pycon's were known about throughout the world, few have ever seen them, and even fewer were able to notice them at first glance.

That's why when the black bird landed behind him, he jumped turning around and drew the Ivory Stiletto from his back brandishing the weapon toward the raven. It was then that he had noticed the roll of parchment tied to the birds leg. The raven was around the same height as Hamartia and would prove a worthy foe for the little pycon if it came to direct combat. He knew that wasn't the case in this situation it was a message and from who he couldn't help but wonder. He hadn't let many know of his presence here, though he had felt a eyes on him ever since he had entered this city.

The little pycon sheathed the ivory stiletto on the scabbard strapped to his back, the dagger could be considered a two handed sword to him. Hamartia scurried over towards the raven's leg and untied the small string and unrolled the parchment.

Come to the Cage, Come alone.

Hamartia felt a slight feeling of dread when he had read those words, he knew had sent the letter. He had heard there name whispered around the town, he had heard the rumors and stories. He knew were the cage was and knew it would be unwise to ignore there summons, if only he had kept his mouth shut and stopped asking questions.

A few days before he had heard a group of people talking about the night eyes and couldn't help himself. He had stalked the person that seemed to have some much information and when he was alone attempted to hypnotize and gain all the information he could.

He knew someone had to be watching and now felt as if they wanted to silence him, but if that was the case wouldn't he be dead already. Hamartia knew his petty thoughts and worries didn't matter, he knew he had to show up and knew that his life was going to change this night.

Hamartia ate the small piece of paper for disposal later storing it in his clay body, and walked onto the roof top. he gathered his black robe and garotte that he had stashed and slid the black robe over himself the handle of the stiletto poking out of the back of the robe and tucked the garotte in the right pocket.

It was time to depart and he knew he needed to hurry one did not keep the night eyes waiting. He climbed down a beam making sure that he had a firm grip before he moved down the beam. His trip was an uneventful one he had stuck to the shadows and dashed through ally ways. He had even manged to hitch a ride on the back of a drunks cloak without the man noticing the pycon clutching to the fabric.

It was not but a bell and a handful chimes after he had received the message before he had arrived at the cage. It appeared to be nothing special, but all knew better. He saw a man speak out to a figure in the shadows and knew he was in the right place and not alone. Hamartia scurried towards the man that had called out to the shadow placing his hand against the man's leg leaning his weight against it and spoke to the shadows as well.

"I've come" was all the imp like pycon said his voice sounded deep and song like one could familiarize his voice with a door to door merchant. In the fact his words though sweet have no truth or meaning behind them. Hamartia had an urge to climb up the man next to him he enjoyed being at the same eye level as the normal races it made him feel powerful.

[Avarice]

Patience.

Although a mistress of the shadows may come to wield a variety of skills, patience is one of the most valuable. Through this simple virtue, a risky heist can become a certain success. Moving too swiftly or putting too little thought into one's actions can and will result in failure...and for a Night Eye, this is not an option. With her hands casually placed upon her hips, the operative began to exhibit this virtue. Ticks turned into chimes as she awaited the arrival of those that were called...and after a small eternity, her patience was rewarded.

The first to arrive was...a touch more scrawny than her intel had described. Veiled mostly behind a woolen cloak, the young man's coming was rather unspectacular...and this was good. Unspectacular was something that would afford numerous advantages when working a heist; for this young man could simply disappear into a crowd. At first glance, he had an unremarkable visage...although his hair was a touch striking. Regardless, when posed with a question, the operative decided to provide some semblence of an answer.

"Perhaps..." she began, speaking at just above a whisper. "...Or was it you who sent for us?"

Veiled behind layers of black, a coy smile formed; yet there would be time to jest later. For now, a task was at hand: one that would determine whether or not this scrawny lad was befitting of the mantle of Night Eye. However, before they could begin, there was a second who needed to arrive...one who was much smaller and not even remotely humanoid. Allowing her gaze to wander momentarily, the operative was greeted with the sight of the Pycon upon his entrance. It came to a halt beside the leg of the scrawny one and announced its presence quite simply.

"Excellent...Now we can begin."

With no explanation or warning, the operative turned on her heel and faced the Cage. Her hand, swift and precise, then reached within and plucked forth a single raven. It wriggled slightly within her grasp, but did not struggle...nor was there any indication of her causing the animal any harm. Now placing her attention upon the applicants, the mistress of shadows sauntered forward. "The two of you dug where even the bold do not. Either that means your bravery is greater than mountains...or your stupidity dwarfs us all." she began, reaching into the folds of her cloak with her offhand.

"Whichever the case, you have a single opportunity...a test, if you will. Pass, and you will receive a chance to walk alongside the very shadows of Sunberth. Fail, and you will fade back into the mediocrity of daily life; never to receive such a chance again." With that said, the operative lowered herself to a crouch and extended the raven. Upon releasing it from her grasp, it hopped before the Pycon and stood; cocking its head to the side with a touch of apprehension. "The shadows speak of your...persuasive talents. Prove them true Pycon. Convince this raven to attack me."

With this challenge in place, the operative then placed her attention upon the bow. From within her cloak, she produced a very simple lock and a single pick. "For you, a task as well...Pick this lock. Nothing more, nothing less. You have but this one pick, so make it count." Having said this, the operative deposited the lock and pick within the young man's grasp before resting her hands upon her hips. "Good luck."
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[Lucian Hill]

The voice was feminine, and in turn, Lucian began to notice that the person itself seemed feminine - her movements, the way she stood - were all noticeably different. Her voice was quiet, though he simply nodded at her question, feeling it rhetorical. He, however, did not notice the tiny figure until it was directly next to him, speaking. The raven could not comprehend how someone could be so tiny and still be sentient. It didn't make sense. He had no idea what a Pycon was, let alone that this tiny horror was one of them. He wanted to know how this tiny creature worked, but he pushed it into the back of his mind for the time being. That would come later.

He stood silent as she spoke, though he forcefully exhaled air out of his nose when she suddenly pulled a raven out of the cage. It didn't struggle, as a wild raven might have, nor did it seem to care that it was being taken out. The creature seemed rather apathetic, if anything. The previously caged raven stood there, making no attempt to escape or do much, and Lucian felt a twinge of pity. The creature didn't even care that its freedom had been taken, let alone do anything but listen to whatever this woman said. That raven, however, was not this raven's concern for the moment.

His concern was the lock being held in front of him, along with the single, single!, lockpick, accompanied by a tension wrench. Lucian had picked a lock maybe once or twice before, and it had taken him much too long to be of any practical use. This was his one chance to prove himself to the Night Eyes, and he had to try his best. If he couldn't get it, he didn't deserve to be a part of the Night Eyes to begin with.

The raven took the lock in one hand, the lockpick and tension wrench in the other, and sat down. He was hunched over, staring at the lock and inspecting it. It was shiny, new, and he could vaguely see a white reflection of himself in the black metal, in the light of Leth. He was procrastinating, though now he shook the thing, and, not hearing any sound, gently stuck in the lock pick. He felt around, poking at the sides and trying to get an idea of what it was like inside of it. It seemed very easy to pick, but it would be difficult for someone as inexperienced as him regardless.

It was going to be a while.

He pushed against the different walls of the lock, incredibly slowly and gently, all in an effort to not break the petching lockpick. He pulled out the lockpick, inserting the tension wrench into the bottom and carefully turning it clockwise and counterclockwise. It gave a little when he turned it counterclockwise, so he assumed it naturally turned to the right. This was good. The raven pushed the wrench to the right, holding it there as he slowly put the lockpick into the hole. He was holding the lock still with his feet as he did this, trying his best to keep it still as he worked.

The raven felt around the keyhole again, this time finding three distinct pins. Not too difficult, he just had to do this without breaking the one lockpick he had. Lucian very carefully pressed against the furthest pin, pushing in ever so gently until he felt another slight give - it was unlocked. He tried again, the second one taking longer because of the rush of false confidence belying the actual difficulty. It wasn't out of the question for Lucian to be able to accomplish this, but damn was it being difficult.

After a few chimes of centering himself, he finally pushed the second pin into place. Adjusting his feet while still trying to hold it all together was difficult, though he managed. Slouching over again, he began to push against the third and final pin. He poked at it, ever so gently, for chimes again before he finally felt the slight click and it was in place. Pulling out the lock pick and turning in the tension wrench, it unlocked. The feeling of relief that washed over him made him realize how tense he had actually been the entire time - though what had felt like a few chimes turned out to be over half a bell.

Standing up, he strode over to the woman, a glint in his eyes. Tilting his head, he said simply: "I've finished."