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All is quiet in East Leg. The township has already begun drifting itself into the sleep and the only real source of humanity is in the Clanging Gong Tavern, where people continue to party and enjoy themselves in a true Lomasa fashion.
Lorana Lomasa is on duty, patroling the township on her usual route. She's on foot today, and occasionally glances at the tavern with an air of longing. Still, job's a job, and she remains vigilant. If a little bored.
Duhnen stands in an alley between two buildings, talking with someone about...something. The Seamel passes a small pouch to the other man, before they seperate, the noble walking back into the street to wander down the road, humming to himself.
Renkek Kahar walks in not on duty, that'd be odd, wouldn't it, mostly anyway a Kahar on duty in Lomasa lands. He nods and looks about the area. He does have a sword and bow with him it seems, likely for safety only or just in case, who knows when one might be surprised right?
Along the barely illuminated streets of East Leg skips a solitary figure, the long grey cloak floating out behind in a muted banner. A husky voice, easily identified as female, sings a bawdy tavern song, the notes drifting across the open air toward those standing outside. She could perhaps be taken for a late night wanderer but for the flickering in and out of sight as she moves down the road.
The eagle-eyed Lomasa sees all! Well no, not really, but she does notice Duhnen's exchange, with the quirk of an eyebrow. Lorana passes a glance about, before approaching the Seamel with a bright smile. "Evening, Lord Duhnen," the guardswoman greets lightly, before gesturing down the alley from whence he came, "What was that about, if I might ask? My job to know these thi-"
And then emerald eyes settle on the skipping figure and her jaw clenches. "Get someplace safe," she orders the man, abandoning that conversation before it even started, "/Now/." The Lomasa lets off a sharp signal whistle for the other Guards in the area, before drawing two of her throwing hatchets and stalking towards the figure. "Lomasa House Guard," she announces in her best projective voice, "Halt there, and make no threatening moves. Cooperate and there is mercy to be had. Attempt anything and I will not hesitate to put you down. /Painfully/."
Stride atop her mare is one armored little woman. The Kahar has a lance across her lap and a horse bow in her hands. "I suppose I am a bit late?" Trinsa asks as she stares over at the hooded woman. "Well now..."
Duhnen looks at the House Guard greeting him, flashing a smile to Lorana. "Evening, my Lady. Was just discussing some services rendered. You know, the sort of..." Well, he trails off when she looks forward, the Seamel likewise following her look to that flickering woman, his eyebrows lifting. "Never seen something like that before," he muses, doing exactly the opposite of what he was told and walking with Lorana.
Renkek Kahar looks about he didn't hear anything, but he at least tries to look in the same direction the rest are. He doesn't see who or whatever either. He Shrugs but does at least unloosen his bow from his back and hold it, but no arrows are knocked and his sword stays sheathed as well. He doesn't even know which exact way to aim at the moment but is being cautious with the others facing the same way as well. He keeps the bow held downward however, in a non-threatening manor.
The figure doesn't even slow as Lorana makes her proclamation, but does flicker completely out of sight. "Come along, little chickies," says the disembodied voice before the singing picks up again. This time it is a far more sedate and solemn. The melody could play at the edges of memory, a song that could almost be recognized, but slips away from a person's grasp before sticking fulling in their head.
When the figure slips out of sight, Lorana does as promised. She doesn't hesitate a moment, hefting one of those axes at the space the disappeared woman was just occupying and praying to the Light that it finds lucky purchase. "I told you to flee, fool," she growls at Duhnen, the edge in her voice bearing more nervous energy than anger even as she raises her voice to fill in details that whistles can't convey, "MAGE! WE NEED SCOURGES!"
Two troops of the Imperial General Staff, both very junior to be on such staff, walk along the road in East Leg. It appears they've both been on some kind of offical business, as they're kitted up and have backpacks on, but their helmets swing from their belt loops and they don't wear any other sort of headgear. Their pace was slow.. until the recent strangeness happened. Corporal Lucius Nepos is one of them. He squints and makes a confused face. "Eh? What was that?" Lorana's voice comes clear. "Ah, bloody Shades." The two soldiers swing on their helmets and run towards the ruckus, drawing steel.
Duhnen licks his lips, picking up the chase to follow that call, not listening to Lorana for the moment. "What is it /doing/?" he asks himself, eyes fixed on that flickering figure as he follows along, leaning on his staff a bit as he keeps pace with Lorana.
The air around Lorana and Duhnen seems to chill ever so slightly, the Seamel shivering slightly.
Up comes the bow and off goes a shot in the blink of an eye. Trinsa frowns deeply and urges her mare forward. "Mages.. shit yeah.. what I need on a Saturday night. Not a nice date with someone awesome... Yeah.." The woman rants to herself. Lorana gets glanced at. "Heya Molly Hatchet." She adds absently as she tries to tuck her bow away and ready her lance.
Renkek Kahar considers as he hears Trinsa's words and blinks a bit but has no real time to think about the statements made either, he follows along still not seeing or hearing the figure but at least he sees the way the others he knows somewhat are going. He considers and blinks too bad in some ways he wasn't a scourge but then he'd likely be in another family if that were so....
Duhnen's eyes are still fixed on the mage in something that approaches fascination, the man's staff thumping lightly on the cobble street with each step. "Getting cold," he comments absently, watching the arrow and axe fly.
The hatchet whips through thin air, Lorana letting out a rather vulgar curse as it skitters across the ground. She transfers the other to her throwing hand and pulls up the next with her offhand, scanning the area for any sign of the figure's invisible passage. The Lomasa notes the chill, and it doesn't help her mood, tension building visibly as she's faced with yet another foe that isn't so straightforward to take down as she'd like. "Craven!" She doesn't even seem to notice other people anymore.
"Fuckin aye!" Trinsa calls out as she watches her arrow go wide. The woman peers about for a moment trying to spot the mage once again then slides down her faceguard. The woman pats her horse's mane and readies her lance. "Being a sneaky little cuntface again.." Trinsa grumbles as she tries to keep her cool.
Well, the two sprinting Blades are fast approaching the scene, though neither of them really know what is going on. Nepos skids to a halt about twenty metres away from the gang, his buddy keying off from him and stopping as well. "What's going on here?" He asks, his voice loud and as commanding as he can make it.
The voice rolls through everyone's head loud and clear. ~That's not very nice,~ says the mage, tsking with delight. ~I came to offer my gracious assistance in uncovering some nasty little secrets, but if you don't want to play, then I'll just wander off for now.~ There is a long pause, as if considering the options. ~Anyone who would like to see what I have to offer is guaranteed safe passage to the location and back to East Leg, but your mean old nasty pay-per-hacks stay here.~
There is another pause before the power rolls over Lorana and Trinsa. ~The two of you intrigue me. You may come along, if you leave your weapons behind.~ Hesitation before addressing Duhnen. ~Your power pales in comparison to mine, but you may come along as well. Truce, Lightfollower.~ Renkek and Lucius also get addressed. ~Weapons left behind, or do not think to follow.~
Lorana's eyes narrow, but she seems to make her decision before before even that motion is completed. She pulls aside one of the other guards and starts stripping off her weapons. "If /anything/ happens to my battle axe, I will snap your bloody head off," she warns him dangerously. Once divested of 4 hatchets (the fifth still in the road), a gothic axe, the Bull's Horn, and a boot dagger, the woman steps forward. "If you'll please be so kind as to keep out of my mind, I'll see what you have."
Trinsa Kahar lifts up her faceplate and blinks a few times and lets out a long sigh. The woman slips off her horse and straps the lance back into place. Her sabre and dagger follow suit. The small buckler on her left arm is kept strapped into place. "Oh... this is going to suck. This is going to suck something big long and hard..." The Kahar sighs as she looks up and down the road. "I am one dumb little tramp..." She sighs. Not looking forward to events to come without her weapons it would seem.
Without much thinking, Lucius unbuckles his sword belt and hands both that and his spear to the other Blade. He whispers quietly to him. "Make sure the area is cordoned. Tell the Inspector and see if you can't find some Scourges, mate." The other Blade nods gruffly, taking the weapons and heading off. Nepos does not remove his shield - this he keeps.
"It called us chickie," Duhnen mutters to himself, moving forward towards the flickering figure. He casts a look to the others gathering, offering a wan smile, eyes fixing on Trinsa. "You were saying you were bored, weren't you?"
Renkek Kahar leaves his bow, quiver, and sword near the area of Trinsa's horse, but out of reach for the horse in case it gets inquistive and thinks about eating the taller grass or some such. He looks to Trinsa "You're not a tramp at least M'lady." he says "And if you're dumb we all are as well." he nods and begins to follow the others as well. He listens to the others for now as they all follow.
~Follow,~ is the last word that enters into the selected few's minds before the power withdraws. From nowhere comes a flame which is attached to a candle. Though the figure does not come back into view, that same, semi-familiar song starts up again and by the amount of bounce on the flame, it appears the mage is skipping down the road again.
"Weapons don't do much good against a target one can't see anyway," Lorana remarks, though by now she's so tense that one could almost hear her teeth grinding as she hisses, "I said stay out of my head, woman, and I damn well mean it."
"Oh but don't ya know how to make a woman blush." Trinsa says to Renkek. It is fairly obvious that she isn't though. "Yeah.. well careful what you wish for and all that." She adds towards Duhnen. "Chickie? Not the worse nickname. Sure we can get the dress for ya we chatted about if we live." She adds absently.
Duhnen hums something ever so faintly under his breath - it almost sounds like a hymn of some sort. Sure enough, he's following. Glancing to Trinsa, he quirks her a smile. "Why do half of our conversations involve me in a dress?"
"Don't be daft, Lady Lorana. If you think the mage will honour your request, you're going to be dissapointed. The more you do that, the more it'll continue, I think." Nepos asides to Lorana as he follows the flame, clutching his shield with his left hand and balling his right hand into a fist.
Renkek Kahar chuckles "Well, maybe it'll help for now." he considers and follows the flame along, wondering just where they're going. He looks about "Seems at least no one's screaming this time around, /yet/." he emphasizes of course, bringing up the Lomasa dinner.
Shoreline Along Fastheld River
Just outside of East Leg, along a long abandoned patch of shoreline by Fastheld River sits a copse of trees, surrounded by open barrenness. The trees are old, perhaps even hundreds of years old, the thick branches reaching high into the air with glossy dark green leaves. These trees provide a bit of protection from the elements and also cast dark shadows, no matter the time of day.
The bouncing flame and eerie song lead the small group to a location just outside of East Leg, along its shoreline of Fastheld River. After the group comes to a halt, the shrouded figure of the mage flickers into view, a good fifteen feet away from them, staying out of range of wayward hands. She nods in the direction of the copse of trees. "Watch," she says.
"Forgive me, Corporal Nepos, but the mood that I'm in does not bode well for you if you should call me daft again," Lorana warns evenly, "I've had my mind invaded twice now and I am already very much on edge without that voice reminding me that she can likely do it again." She follows along stiffly, and then lets out a very soft sigh as they stop and the mage becomes visible again. Without another word, emerald eyes turn to the indicated direction.
"Hmmmmm..? Probably because you give off a ladyman vibe." Trinsa says absently to Duhnen. The woman follows along until she comes up to the trees. The woman lets out a small huff and lifts her shield slightly. She takes a sidestep to use one of the menfolk as part of a shield as well. "Gonna make them dance and sing? .... That might be actually sort of badass.. but ya just gonna burn them down aye? Cliche as hell.." The woman says absently.
Lucius Nepos rolls his eyes at Lorana's threat, but is not stupid enough to tempt the noble's wrath any further. He's also got bigger fish to fry and remembers that, what with the whole fact that they're following a flame which was once a mage, or something like that. He is not as on edge as he culd be, simply keeping his eyes and ears peeled.
Duhnen sighs as he recieves yet more instruction, though his attention is more on the mage than any trees. He sees trees all the time, after all. He rests his staff over his shoulders, arms folded over it as he stretches and waits. "You could have always written a letter, ma'am," he comments.
Renkek Kahar continues following till they stop and looks in said direction, and wonders what's going to happen now "Going to make the trees leaves have a message for us or something?" he's not sure how that could be accomplished but then he's not the one that's a mage either.
"I would get down," the mage comments lightly before she herself kneels down, drawing her cloak more carefully about her body to help blend into the muted surroundings of night.
Whether or not the group lowers themselves to the ground is left up in the air, but very shortly, a small group of leather armor clad men emerge from the trees, deep in discussion. They are armed and wear the tabard of House Zahir.
The voice resonates directly into Lucius' head. ~These men are mercenaries under the employ of House Zahir,~ the voice says. ~They were sent to survey the land and plot the best course of action against Lomasa.~"
Lorana drops into a crouch, adjusting her cloak to hide the gleam of her steel plate before dropping her offhand to the ground to assist her balance. Her right hand lowers as well, very slowly tracing over the ground for any decent throwing rocks as she watches the speaking Zahirs.
Trinsa Kahar lowers herself to a crouch and tilts her shield slightly. Her head slowly tilts as she eyes the Zahirs. "Well..." The woman murmurs to herself. She then falls silent and watches.
Lucius Nepos bares his teeth at this latest burst of speaking in his head, though he follows the verbal instructions delivered a moment before and flattens himself on the ground in the ditch, laying his shield under him and hoping his brown leather cape will mask his presence. "Shadow's deceit. Not true." He mutters.
Sure, Duhnen drops down, joining the rest in trying to hide his presence, and otherwise remaining quiet and watching.
Renkek Kahar crouches as directed as well out of sight of any house Zahir guards and when appropriate follows along again as well. He's not about to do anything out of line....
The group of men don't seem to notice the group, and walk down the shoreline together, in the general direction of East Leg. The group comes dangerously close to where everyone crouches, but further down, Seventeen mutters something under her breath and power glides over her guests, but it isn't invasive, instead, as if something were settling atop them. The Zahir Thugs look right past everyone without any indication of having seen anyone.
"Ridiculous we're tramping out here like this," one growls.
"It's steady money. Don't complain," another replies.
"Seems mite weird to be helping plan an attack though. Don't sit right with me," the last contributes.
The voice seems a bit hollowed out, almost strained. ~Like it or not, there is a plot afoot within Zahir. People are not as good you may want them to be. Don't you wonder why the Zahir Duchess has been putting stricter restraints on her people, or mobilizing her Guard to her townships? A House War could be coming...~"
Finding a halfway decent river stone, Lorana wraps a gauntleted hand around it and settles the arm on her knee. She seems to relax a little as she does so, but remains alertly listening and watching. Her jaw tightens again as that power settles over them all, and moreso when the men mention an attack.
Trinsa Kahar tries to make herself into an ever smaller little armored ball.
"Planting ideas. Clever." Nepos smirks after losing his previous naked anger, widening his eyes to take the scene in front of him in, with full focus. He is practiced at staying absolutely still for prolonged periods of time, having done so on patrols and ambushes in the Shadow District, early on in his career. Despite his whispering to himself, he makes no more motion.
A faint expression of distaste crosses Duhnen's face at the feel of that wrongness covering him. He mostly remains quiet and listens, however.
The men soon move out of earshot and the power dissipates. At the same time, the figure of Seventeen flickers out of sight and disappears into the night.
Lorana rises as the men move on and Seventeen disappears. Momentarily torn between the urge to learn more and to search out the Mage, the Lomasa reaches to Trinsa. "Please tell me you're sneakier than I could ever possibly be," she murmurs urgently, "I need to know more of that conversation, but a big ball of steel is going to be heard coming miles away."
"Well... I think I got a good idea.. Fellows headin to East Leg in Zahir gear right?" Trinsa asks as she uncurles herself. "Where'd cuntface go?" She asks of nobody in particular.
"I wouldn't put too much stock in what you just heard, m'lady. Remember who brought us here." Lucius reminds Lorana, not getting up from the ground quite yet.
Duhnen seems more interested in wherever the mage went, but as that's not readily apparent, he looks in the direction the thugs went. The Seamel remains down, idly tapping at the earth with a finger.