Quest Nightshade

[Echelon]

512, Summer 38th The night held a darkness that buzzed with secret energy, that all could feel, but only the equally secretive could identify. Warmth blew from the bay, carrying the pure Zeltivan scent of ocean life. But ashore something foreign gathered, powers from every corner Akajia reached to. Invisible and anonymous it seemed appropriate that the gathering was to occur in a moonless night, directly between the waning and waxing of Leth's watch. Great and unpredictable things would be set in motion if the denizens of darkness had their way. And with it great prosperity would be shared between those that held influence over Mizahar. The orchestrator's had prepared quite the stage for their nefarious business. Nightshade reached upward along an otherwise nondescript warehouse building, the faint yet outstanding light of a single lantern brightening the scene from just above the antique doorway, blocked by a ragged and unlocked wooden door, haphazardly reset after the storm. Past its threshold lie an area where a masked guard with handsome body and dangerous secrets of his own (Wrenmae) stood post, accepting a glimmering trinket in exchange for admittance. Surrounding him in a modest area, of only several feet, stood stacked crates of varying weight, stretched with wide lengths of canvas. With stoic and impersonal ambiance Wrenmae, or another faceless guide, lead those admitted back into the building, through a short set of mazed pathways comprised of these canvas and crate walls. All before being brought to another exit, effectively identical to the entrance, though leading to the opposite side of the building. Leaving the building again, and lead through a narrow ally, blocked on both ends by short walls and locked gates, the masked guests are discretely delivered to the next building. Equally adorned with canvas walkways, the guides stride with memorized precision to the center of the maze, which opens to house enough standing space for little more than a dozen observers, all to gather loosely about a shallow dais. Behind this platform a thick green drape of velvet concealing a clearing of equal size, but only one threshold, containing scattered boxes of invaluable contents, set a safe distance from one another. Each item containing undeniable power. Each item prepared for purchase, and discrete transportation to the near by docks. Perched just within these green drapes stood the vivid contrast of fiery red hair and golden mask (Lucas), lending watchful eyes to the motionless merchandise. Just opposite the drapes of him, upon the dais stood another masked man (Trente,) reviewing a set of notes in keen dress, and casually studying the crowd as they enter through a mask of blue and silver wings of a butterfly leaving his pale lips exposed. However, a more keen observer (Hadrian) with vivid hair, and revealed features lended his ever altering eyes to each masked member as they pass into the space, exuding without effort an air of authority. The last of the guards stood above all, where his eyes observed the nameless patrol walking the streets around the complex, making sure to divert any misshapen and ignorant passer byes with discrete acting to deter them from witnessing that new patrons entrance into the building of nightshade. Very faintly after observing the sun sink down below the hills about Zeltiva, he could make out, through the gloom and darkness, the dozen or two cloaked figures move with silence along the streets pooled with apparent pitch, and enter the door, marked with light and the deadly plant. As time passed and the last of these figures, most quite prompt found their way into the staged area, Wrenmae was allowed to break from the other guides, who could depart, and stand guard over the exit of the area. Faval would station himself as he wished, and freshly masked Nai'shee could be found delivering the last precious crate, straight through the gathering area, and into the domain veiled by green drapes. The crate secured with thick rope across her back, wrapped in a protective cloth, and weighing her down considerably. And, unexpectedly, a sealed letter tucked into her pocket, addressed to Hadrian, which she had gathered from the heavily cloaked women who she retrieved the crate from at the pick up site. There would be time for the groups to whisper amongst themselves in the flickering candle light, and admire the minimalistic yet elegantly organized auction space, before the event would begin in ernest. Though each construct of the space was constructed with little more than crates canvas and bolts, quality adornments of fine drapes, and ornately crafted standing sconces lay responsibly around the area allowing for shadows to fill the guest area, leaving even Hadrian otherwise exposed nearly utterly cloaked within it, and the stage, holding Trente comparably alight. Still flickering in darkness, beckoning the eye to struggle, the area could be observed with relative ease. The night was warm, the energy was high, and the potential was unlimited. Especially as the intruders of two approached, and Wrenmae took station at front once more as he returned from showing another cloaked and masked couple to the center. oocPM with any question you may have. First round has no posting order, but will determine posting order in the future. You may all arrive, or act in whatever order you wish. Though I request Wrenmae remain posted at the front as we start. My goal for the round is to get us all in establish how we are feeling, the garb of our characters, and the aesthetics of the scene. As well as logistics of where we all are, and to state explicitly the tone of this thread. I'm thinking dark, and occult. Enjoy!

[Hadrian]

Hadrian thought, perhaps, his parents would have been proud: his father, the Syliran merchant prince who thought his son hadn't a mind for commerce; his mother, the very mistress of arranging a fête to support her husbands work, who was dead. The nightshade was a nice touch, he thought, and he had to thank Trente again for it. There were many varieties, from belladonna to datura, most with purported poisonous or other interesting qualities. He was going to have to start paying more attention to herbs and flowers, if only to know what he was getting himself into when first he opened a portal to Kseyden to harvest the virulent vilemoss... But that was a plan for another day. Today he was dressed in shadows, the better to fade out of people's attention and observe the goings on. He wore his a version of his Ravokian uniform modified for the heat: thin layers of black, well cut but breathing. Thus he wasn't sweating, and it was a striking effect. His long limbs all black-clad, stark against his pale skin, his too bright eyes, and dark hair that hinted at the strange blues of the aurora borealis one never saw so far south. He was a vespertine thing, like these night-blooming flowers. Everything seemed in order. Faval was on lookout, Wrenmae and the other guides and guards worked like clockwork, Nai'shee had things well set up, and Trente and Lucas were prepared to carry the show. The pieces were put together, and now Hadrian could sit back and do what he did best: observe. Of course, each relic sang to him on the auric plane, and of anyone present, he was best aware of the powers of each. If only he could take them all down into his ancestor's laboratory and observe them at length, but that would come eventually.

[Anselm]

Anselm took his time dressing himself in his new clothes: high black boots, dark blue velvet pants with a black leather belt, a light blue velvet vest over a dark blue silk shirt with a light green silk scarf tossed casually around his neck and over one shoulder, finished off with black silk gloves, a light green velvet jacket and a green broad-brimmed hat. He examined himself in the reflection of the small steel mirror he had propped up on the lone table in his cottage. “Well,” he said to no one in particular. “Don't you look dashing.” He had already applied makeup to his face, covering as best he could the various blemishes that would stand out even more than his somewhat garish outfit. A touch of apricot-scented perfume to hide the smell of death and a black face mask to hide his face completed the disguise. He studied himself again in the mirror. He could do nothing about his limp. Nor could he do anything about his distinctive gravelly voice except avoid using it. But apart from that, he thought it unlikely that anyone would identify him with the black-robed fortune teller. He made his way through the dark to the warehouse entrance marked by deadly nightshade, faint lantern and battered wooden door. There he was confronted by a masked man who said nothing but held out his hand to receive proof that the man with the broad-brimmed hat should be allowed to enter. Without a word, Anselm handed him the tiny glass dolphin and soon found himself standing with a group of a dozen or so similarly masked people waiting for events to unfold. The room was full of silence.

[Leigo]

Earlier in the day, Leigo went shopping. oocLeather belt – 2 SM Fancy buckle – 1 GM Cotton pants – 1 SM Silk shirt – 10 GM Leather shoes – 3 SM Mask – 3 SM 12 GM, 8 SM – rounded up to 13 GM Here’s the receipt – was too lazy to make up another thread just for that. ooc2Post edited to reflect the prequest that led Leigo here. A figure of non imposing build, Leigo hid his weaknesses well below the garments. All clothes tinted black, grey, or both – they refused light as if it was their purpose. Boy’s feet felt comfortable resting in the new shoes. Legs fashioned with black cotton trousers, the boy was at ease about people recognizing him. A simple belt was held by an exquisite buckle (as far as Leigo’s taste was concerned anyway), but it held the trousers fitting tightly in turn. A grey silk, long sleeved shirt wrapped around the torso – not even Leigo could’ve recognized himself. And there were those finishing touches. A beautifully deformed, white leather mask tied off at the back of his head left the mouth, chin and nostrils uncovered. The boy was ready. It didn’t take long for Leigo to find the warehouse. What really got on his nerves was the tension that grew exponentially as he was led into the auction room. There were people there already. Upon figuring out he was at his destination, the boy bowed from the entrance lightly and took up residence next to one of the cornered crates. There was no need for words – not yet anyway. While not knowing about the others, Leigo was certain of one thing. He was to be the thief here, no Lion putting himself in danger, but Leigo doing his bidding. Still, how would that ever be possible? The only way for him to steal something with so many guards and buyers alike around was to either ally with other potential thieves inside the warehouse or to wait for people to start leaving and pick someone off then. Latter sounded much more attractive. The first option left no room for error and as much as Leigo enjoyed certain risks, he was much too green to take that attitude here. Hopefully he would get his chance before long. And hopefully he would succeed - gods knew it was the only way. Only Akajia’s starry daughter knew what madness this adventure brought, and she was a minx that did not share her secrets well.

[Faval]

Faval was feeling rather decidedly like an afterthought for all of this and he wasn’t sure how much his pride was willing to accept this. However, it did make his job considerably easier which was always a benefit to him. He took his job seriously; he needed to in order to make sure he succeeded so he supposed the more freedom he was granted, the better. By the same token, being given so much freedom would make it very easy to steal the very things that he was supposed to be protecting, which in turn made Faval very paranoid about the job he was supposed to be doing. If he could see the several different scenarios in which he of all people could walk off with the priceless merchandise, a saying he never understood since people kept giving them prices, then a professional thief probably saw them too.

Faval had a pretty decent view of the floor as well, his perch being on the ground floor itself past the green velvet drapes and off in to a corner, in a position where he could keep watch of the floor and the merchandise without being in the way of any of the prospective masked buyers. He would be shocked if any of them actually noticed him tucked away back there, especially not with all the shiny toys they had to play look at and fawn over. Faval slowly replayed everything he had learned for this job in his mind as he stood guard in his little corner, he had memorized the mazes, he had memorized the guard positions, and he had committed every face and mask of those guards to memory. For most of them though, that was all he had, faces and the faux identities they would be carrying tonight. Outside of Hadrian and Nai’shee, he did not know anyone there which left him at a sort of disadvantage when it came to being prepared for whatever shenanigans they might get in to.

The latter half of that thought interrupted it as Faval watched the masked girl he recognized as Nai’shee, carried in a crate strapped to her back as if she were a pack mule. Faval had to struggle to stifle the unsightly giggle that boiled up inside him and had to turn his head away from the scene to fully accomplish it. He remembered the fiery little person he was teaching basic stealth theory and techniques to and couldn’t imagine that she in any way enjoyed the work they had her doing. The giggle might have helped alleviate some of the tension however, as Faval felt incredibly uneasy about the situation he found himself in and he had constant creeping feelings that something was very wrong here and that he was on the wrong side of things. He had a contract and he would stick it out and see it through, that was his job, but he had trouble shaking that anxiety.

[Lucas Arias]

Lucas knew little of nightshade and other poisonous plants. He was not and had never been interested in such things. He was an adventurer, a trickster, an artist (and a failed squire) and not some kind of herbalist or doctor. He just glanced at the flowers that marked the warehouse for a moment, decided that they looked kind of interesting and then went inside and towards the platform.

His clothes were quite a deviation from what he normally wore. He would often dress in mismatched clothes and appear a little disheveled on purpose, but that night he actually looked kind of good. He was still too short (there was nothing that could change that apart from dangerous magic), but he was wearing fine black leather boots, clean pants without any holes in them and an elegant shirt. The fiery hair that was visible atop his mask had been combed until it lay flat against his head. He also had a sword at his belt (although he hoped that he wouldn’t need it).

While he stood there, waiting for the auction to begin, he occasionally glanced at the boxes, but no matter how valuable and potentially magical (and dangerous) their contents were, they weren’t going anywhere. They just lay on the floor motionlessly, and thus Lucas risked pulling the drapes aside just a fraction to see what was going on outside before he returned to his work (which wasn’t a lot of work at all and mostly boring so far).

[Nai'shee]

FavalCould you just edit your post to say Faval knew Nai was the figure? Recognizing girl he knew for around 20 days by size and shape would make whole disguise thing useless, since half of Zeltiva knows her (and not only her) by size and shape.XD Ledger-7GM for Pocket Robe and -2sm for Mask Carrying unknown burden to the warehouse Nai'shee couldn't notice poisonous plants that decorated it, neither their beauty nor danger they held. She took this task seriously. She could imagine people wishing to have expensive magical relics she carried. She wanted to peek and see what secrets laid behind the robes she carried, but she didn't have time or will to risk. Before she departed for the task she bought plain black robe full of pockets which would help her carry small items, or, in this case, letter, more secretly. Her mask would work noticeably well, since she usually wore nothing but sailor clothes and people probably didn't imagine the girl in black. She was also carrying dark mask which allowed only her lips to be seen. Her knife was in it's scabbard fixated to her belt and she was wearing finger razors on her right hand, while she decided longsword would bring unwanted attention. Luckily, she didn't have to take any actions in protecting her carriage but avoiding some boring bandits or whatever they called themselves. She didn't want to fight, so she used her knowledge of her home city to avoid any shady figures that would might attack her, along with main streets that would draw attention to auction facing Nai'shee like that. Finally arriving with the last delivery, Nai'shee entered the warehouse, discretely exposing her face to the guard, Wrenmae. He already knew her robes and mask, but if she was attacked it was possible that someone would take over her identity and sneak in here for more of magical pray. If he would nod with approval she would continue trough the maze by herself, ultimately arriving to auction space. She was following the wall, without any wish to go trough the crowd, probably looking silly with weight on her back. Approaching Lucas she carefully slid the rope that fixated package down one of her arms and repeated with others, allowing him to position package by his will. "This is the las one", she whispered. She didn't know why audience shouldn't know this, but the whole business was secret and she didn't feel like yelling out any detail. She observed the place once again noticing that they gathered fairly many peoples. Hadrian didn't move from the last time she was here, around fifteen or twenty chimes ago, with another item. He observed the crowd, possibly looking for dangerous figures or just out of boredom. In any case she approached him, caring enough not to call out by his name. He would eventually notice her. "Everything is done, relics are safe, there was no problems", she shortly reported. Lowering her voice she added: "I have a letter from Ms. I retrieved the crate from". She reached out for inner pocket in her right sleeve by her unarmed left hand, without rush, in case Hadrian says it should be left for later, since they were in public.

[Echelon]

And, the secret intruders would not appear a bit out of place in the modest crowd which filed in, each more cloaked in darkness and obscurity than the last. Even the laymen could tell the event had netted more than just a human clientele. None present knew how the attendees were picked, but race gender, and apparently hygiene were not factors, considering the wide variety in each area between those present. Some arrived completely alone, but most entered with a representative or personal body guard. None of the stranger's guards carried overt weapons, though their bodies suggested in several cases a sufficient level of training to cause quite the trouble is desired. Still, all that flashed trinkets were lead through the maze work, and delivered to Master Hadrian's watchful eyes, within his shadowed sanctuary. Hadrian had been told to expect just shy of twenty guests, and the number had approached near fifteen by the time the last relic was put in it's place, and the letter deliver to him. When read the letter would read, in dyed red ink, in flawless yet somehow nefarious penmanship. "Dear Organizer, We have reason to believe that an attendee has been compromised, and with it her pass. Her accompaniment have been detained for questioning, and will find themselves rather disposed for the night. Expect three less, and expect surprised. I want this to be dealt with professionally, without corpses. with fondness, Your Watcher P.S. Nightshade, nice touch." oocMake sure the two that are not present arrive and are shone in some time this round. Wren you may post as you will. For the rest of you. Hadrian Anselm Leigo Faval Lucie Nai'shee, did you say Hadrian name?

[Hadrian]

The information given him about the clientele had been limited; this seemed prudent to him as he himself was not a known quantity. Sure, he had been Stonemiller's protege, now his replacement for the time being, but everything had moved so quickly. His aura sense was too keen for the disguises; first, a Nuit masquerading as a live one. The rest, well, he would recognize them again based on their auras no matter what they wore today to obfuscate their identities. Lucas seemed to have things well in hand up there, and he had no doubt Trente would carry out his assignment as well. His eyes ticked up to Faval with the bird's eye view, then down to Nai'shee, who approached with a letter. "Thank you," he said, without revealing her name. His was the only identity not hidden, and there was a strength in that boldness. "Please see if they need anything else. We will likely begin soon." The letter was tucked away in an interior pocket after reading, his reaction entirely internal. He was scanning the entire room, both with his auristic sense and the gift from Eyris writ upon the back of his hand and within his soul, searching for contributions to the local chavi that might best prepare him for what was to come. He could sink Shield energy into the ground, ward them all within until things were sorted out. He could do that, but that would take a deal of energy and then he might not be able to take care of the rest of things on his own. Well, this had always been a possibility. Now he would just have to stay on heightened alert and hope he had assembled a capable team.

OOCEdited because he won't meet Leigo in the library until awhile after this thread.

[Anselm]

Anselm located himself against a wall in the most dimly lit place he could find, keeping as much distance as he could between himself and everyone else. There were between fifteen and twenty people in the relatively small space. He did not like crowds. Crowds were dangerous, especially for a Nuit. And unpredictable. Anselm preferred predictable. He grew increasingly uncomfortable as time passed and nothing happened. Old man, he thought. This was a mistake. But as was so often the case, his curiosity had overtaken his caution. There were treasures here. Someone scanned his aura. It was subtle and was gone as quickly as it appeared. Whoever it was, he was good. Best not to use your auristics on anyone here, he thought. Instead, he turned his attention to the scattered boxes of varying size lying behind the green curtain and began focusing on their contents one by one.