Mordren seems too focused on Rileng to notice your approach.
Studies the situation and Rileng, She looks at dark fey and the boy now looking at him. She stands, folds her stool up and puts it away into a magic bag of holding. She pulls her clothing into place then looks at Rileng with a smile.
"Mr Alchemy Shop owner, Debates aside, could we ask, are you now 'NOT' seeking to join the ruthlessly evil and heartlessly unforgiving criminal organisation we seven have just joined, A simple 'yes' or 'no' as a replay will suffice."
Her request is said in a nice and pleasant tone, all good manners and interest in what his replay may be. She also gives the dark fay and boy close to him a look.
::"Hello there, please do not be alarmed, from my mind voice I think you can tell who is talking to you. You can if you wish shut me out and do not worry I am NOT reading your mind, that would be rude of me. Now still here? good, then a formal introduction, I am Lady Zamean, nice to meet you. now we have that out of the way. I just wanted a word before this shop keeper says if he is in or out. If he is out I think it may show willing if we can police our own ranks. Would you be so kind as to kill him if its a no. I think the boy next to you may also lend a hand in this. What do you think?"::
Mordren's ire doesn't falter from Rileng, yet her focus seems to decline.
Vïrgle Closes his eyes in consentration sending out a mental pulse to his construct
Alexi rises from his meditation on the kill. Walking over to one of the other dead, he rips a piece of their shirt off to wipe clean his hand.
"Darkheart. Let us leave to meet our new employers. Those of us who've shown our loyalty at least."
He steps forward over the bodies to leave with Jorran.
Virgil keeps his eyes closed as he corrects the other human in my personal case I killed because if I did not, doubtlessly i would have been killed or had some other unpleasentry be placed on me
Perhaps he thinks he's above such things, and would prefer a target that could defend themselves.
Her gaze turns to the Darkheart, an inquisitive look on her face.
She turned her gaze back to Rileng, her form tense, ready to spring should the order be given. There she waited, so deep was her focus that she did not even notice when the shadows began to weave about her body, obscuring her form to a mere silhouette, shifting in the dim light like a reflection in water. There was no pin-pointing exactly where she stood, even to the most discerning eye. The one constant in the shadowy mass was the bright blue of her intense eyes, narrowed in concentration.
Then, in barely a whisper she spoke. "Give the order, Darkheart and I will kill thousands for you."
::Now that is quit some skill you have there Mordren, I am impressed. Yes I think if our Darkheart gives the command this one my be ended. he dos not seem to want to be in our little company willingly. I fear we must keep an eye on him even if he dos as ordered now::
It seems she's found her center, for the moment. Should this man become her prey, nothing short of death or divine intervention will stay her blade. After all, once a hunt begins, its only result can be found in death.
After asking nicely she waits to see what the shop keeper says.
A polite smile on her face. Nothing she has done so far seems threatening or intimidating. Just a polite Noble Elf surrounding by thugs, ruthless kills, terrifying monsters, and the kinds of individuals our mother warned you about. All in all she seems very out of place yet quite comfortable here. As if at a Garden party or promenading in the park.
::"You seem to enjoy the act of killing very much, I am... envious of that. I have always find estimations... difficult and.. distracting. It must be interesting to lose oneself in them. Now about our shopkeeper, He seems to be thinking, they would have chosen him for some skill or talent, he seems to know chemicals and has a shop for such so he says. That must indicate some level of skill, He also states he has never been implemented in a crime. Humm Poisoner or seller of them? Analysing... Scholar clothing, Top hat, some small magic items under his clothing, with his little speech he's a thinker over a fighter. So we shall see if he acts to be with us or not, he may have skills we could use."::
She does not turn, but her eyes shift to focus on you briefly before returning to Rileng.
::"I do not deny that he could be of use, else he would not be here. Still, the fool still thinks he has a choice in the matter. And perhaps he does.":: You sense amusement from her now, followed by anger. ::"Serve or die."::
::"Fascinating, you wish to have a relationship with the beings you kill, to get close. I once entered into the mind of one I ended. I was trying to find a means of killing that would affectively brake the mind and reveal some information I was after. As I pulled its mind apart, taking away every memory, every part of its identity, I found all that was left was fear, pain then darkness. I got now useful information, It was a failed technique. I never used it again."::
This is all said in a matter of fact voice.
Joran strokes his goatee.
"Mr. Sulfach. Please remember the tenet. My word to you at this time is the word of the Dark Ones. And you have my word and there's that we do not betray our own. But failure to comply is death, and the reason for this showing is to prevent what is happening now from happening in the field. Sometimes you will only be given a physical description, no name no context and ordered to kill said individual. Your insightful mind is what attracted TSS to you in the first place, but I ask that you put it use for us not against us. The Shadow Syndicate does not oft kill without cause. In fact," he chuckles, "Once you enter the assassin training path, you can apply for a license to kill without cause." he chortles as if he made some grand joke, you all suspect it is inside humor regarding the internal politics of the Syndicate.
"Lady Zanra, payment is only withheld for the absolute botchery of missions, adaptation is an important quality in our agents and making decisions with information not previously accessible to the Syndicate while on assignment and acting accordingly is encouraged. We play the long game here."
He seems to smile at some of the more eager group members pressure Rileng, but he holds up a hand indicating that they should back off. "Please, this is a rare moment where questioning what we do is allowed. I am sure Mr. Sulfach will make the right decision."
At once Mordren relaxes into a more casual and comfortable stance, though her blade remains unsheathed. She looks rather disappointed, and as Joran directs, takes a step back. The shadowy obscurity about her form settles but does not completely disappear.
"As you command."
She turns to regard Pain, conveniently much closer than he was before and hums in delight as she takes in the sight. Her free hand rising, as she places her fingers over her mouth in an obvious attempt at humor as it fails to hide her parted lips. Her expression clearly appreciative though with a touch of malice.
His trained eyes picked up a tell from Joran and he moves in a blur. His wakizashi freeing itself from it's hiding place in his wrist sheath, his robes disorienting those observing. He was not the fastest but he was faster then most and he made clever use of surprise and distraction. Something that even the most trained warriors and killers could not easily remove from their natures was hesitation. Those tiny moments that all took for granted were what he prized and strove for, they were the differences that made up life and death. Fate and destiny were all moments and he would rid himself of them while taking them from others. That moment of speed was the doom of the unlucky victim he had been presented with, his blade was not of these lands. His blade was of tian, where sharpness was an all consuming art. Skin, muscle, and even bone did not hold his blade. Something that the less refined blades of these lands could not know.
To those that bothered to look, it had seemed as if he had fallen forward and caught himself half way towards the ground. His leading leg slightly bent. He straightened, his blade already hidden once more, and took a step back in place, for a step had been all that was needed. His victim had not felt the cut much less seen it, if their ears were sharp they may have heard a whisper as the very air parted before it. But even then they would not know, they were gone from this world. Their was no mark, no blood, no decapitation. Not until someone touched the body or some small disturbance like a forceful wind came. Then the skull would split in two and blood would flow freely. He would be sure to keep out of the path, if others could not. Then they had none but themselves to blame.
"It seems I nearly tripped."
He lets the deception linger for a moment.
"I hope I am not holding things up. My victim is dead, I think that has made my choice clear. Do continue."
He had collected from everyone present and some more hidden ones as well. Not bad for a first encounter, he wondered how much more he could collect from them before the night was over.
As Mr Sulfach dos what is needed, Lady Zamean looks back at Joran.
"That is what I was hoping to hear, yes adaptiveness is something I specialise in. I am glad to hear it is respected so."
She looks into the gloom where he looked then says to him while still looking into the gloom.
"So Blackheart Joran, now the house keeping is done, what comes next for our little band of killers."
Its is said politicly and with respect.
Froth just grumbles in an offhand tone while waiting for Rileng to come to his decision, "Whatever...
He moves from his position long enough to size the bodies of those already culled. Though it is unclear what he is looking for, he moves from one body to the next, occasionally prodding one in the thigh. He seems to be spending the most time on the fittest of the victims.
Finally selecting the body of a youngish woman, fit like the others he spent the most time examining. He pulls out a large knife, more like a small sword than a dagger, truely, and uses it to slice away the remains of the dress surrounding her lower limbs.
He crosses back over to a spot near where he stood moments ago and sits upon a large wooden crate. In his hands, the meaty, bloody, skinless thigh looks like any other common haunch of meat, and he holds it as such, a bit of femur in each hand. Settling in, he first raises the meat a touch, as if in a mock gesture of thanks or blessing, and then starts to eat.
Blood running down his face, and a large gobbet of flesh in his mouth, he works it down, his tongue protruding, overly long, as he does so. Keen observers note that it is actually a suckered tentacle, similar to his tail.
Seeing Pain looking at him, Froth struggles to speak through a full mouth, "How rude of me, would you like some? I can cut you a slice if you want? Or perhaps you'd prefer a fresh piece of your own?"
He offers the half eaten haunch in the man's direction.
Mordren would take a moment away from her admiration of Pain to stalk over to Froth. She at first says nothing, and waves a hand in dismissal should he offer her any part of his meal.
"Thank you.
*Shrugs*
*Returns to eating*
Virgil mutters to himself the health concerns alone... he then speaks up if and when your dietary habits turn your brain into a sponge, can I have a look at it?
Feeling an explanation was necessary, as she would not want everyone to think she was insane, though the underestimation would not harm her.
"I am glad she was not completely wasted."
With that, she would turn away and leave him to his food.
Virgil mutters to himself the health concerns alone... he then speaks up if and when your dietary habits turn your brain into a sponge, can I have a look at it?
"Sure; as long as you don't mind having been chewed up into microscopic pieces, and looking at it from inside my blood vessels. If that's the case, just let me know when you're ready!"
Virgil rolls his eyes "it would merely be after you're dead, likely from eating raw humans, which as I mentioned, would run your brain into a sponge, which, and I'm not sure you realize, isn't exactly conductive to being alive and whatnot
"I've been eating raw humans since your grandfather was a pup, human. Delicious and nutritious!"
Having finished the meat on the bone, Froth finishes up his statement by snapping the femur in two, and then begins sucking marrow out of one of the jagged ends. The sound is all at once disturbing, obnoxious, and annoying.
Virgil mutters to himself well then that certainly explains a lot
pays no heed to the munching or banter she is still looking at the place the DarkHeart had looked.
::"So it would seem you are the master here, I hope we meet you expectations. There seems to be an undertone of in jokes, I would hate to be the butt of one. I want you to know I have planes for this group, with some work they could be an affective unite I expect a power struggle with some, they are use to actin into alone, some my find working with others hard but I think they will get used to the idea when they see the benefits it offers. I am well aware that I will be judged to a higher. Standded than the others. I expected nothing less Than"::
Darkheart Joran smiles, nodding at Rileng. "Well done Mr. Sulfach. Well done to you all. Every member of the Syndicate has passed this test, even if they went on to non violent posts. We are all killers here."
He claps his hands and makes a motion at Froth indicating that the monster should drop the hewn leg.
"Right, now follow me then." he moves towards the back of the small room, when you all follow, drawing close to the back wall passes you through and illusion. There is now a nondescript door there. Joran opens it and the following room is a vast change of scenery.
Here the warehouse opens up and a large room is in view. It is nicely adorned and well lit. There are heavy wooden tables and a fully operational bar, long benches are at the tables and the far wall is lined with padded booths. There are about twenty other people in this room, lounged about, reading, talking quietly amongst themselves, eating a meal. Toward the back you notice a dirt ring that seems to be for fighting.
Joran gestures around. "This is one of our safe houses. You have a lounge with food and drink, betting on fights should a crowd gather to compete. Downstairs is barracks and facilities. This is one of many, and where most of our operatives spend their down time. You of course are not required to live here, but it may be preferable to some of our more monstrous members like ol' Froth here." he says with a smile.
"Hey! Who are you calling monstrous?" Froth says with feigned indignation, picking human out of his teeth with one claw.
So his name is Froth...
At Darkheart Joran's indication, Mordren follows without hesitation. She passes through the illusion undeterred. As they enter the safe house, she shields her eyes against the light with her hand, rather than pulling her hood up over her head and impairing her peripheral vision. She takes a leisurely look around, her eyes and more pausing over the ring. Another time, perhaps.
"Where, prey tell, does one such as I go to recover should it be required?"
Follows 1st and takes in the space and scene, Sh then takes about a some tinted glasses and puts them on. she then looks over to see if there is any waiting staff, waving to one if there is one.
"If we are to get a tour then how would a drink and the end of it, how dos that sound to everyone. If not then how about a drink now."
If there is she points at a large booth and indicates drinks with payment form her.
"It may be nice to have a sit down and get to know a little about each other. Darkheart Joran's will you join us, if so what's your preferred for drink?"
Alex lets out a breath he didn't realise he was holding as he is told he has passed. Nervousness began to give way to excitement and he had almost forgotten about the old one he had killed.
He stops to examine the illusion as they pass through it wondering if it was a small trick or something more complicated.
"I could do with a drink. Are we to await our first mission now?"
Alexi follows to the safehouse, allowing himself to be "Impressed" at Joran's words. He quickly browsed the building, taking notice of all the people there.
"This place is dead of any feeling. Perhaps we could change this. I would like to take a basement room for myself. A place to keep my wares and studies. I trust the wiser members would know that I am not to be disturbed. Truth be told, I am not impressed with what I've seen so far. I hope that as my bond with TSS grows, this will change."
She smiles at Alexander.
"good man, a nice drink always makes one feel better."
As the inn staff comes over she asks
"Just a light white wine please, a Talbot if you have one."
She then looks at the others.
"So what will everyone have?"
::"Report"::
::"20 subject, none a direct threat, 4 exits, two Direct to not Direct. 17 light sources. Location passive, Class G1 risk"::
Rileng surveyed the place, taking in everything and everyone. He would check out the facilities later in greater detail and get a feel for how the place was run and everything it had to offer. He had his own shop and home, it would not do well to give up his business much less disappear. He let the others ask the questions as he remained silent and observed, when asked about a drink he declined.
"No thanks on the drink."
He made a point of picking up any other conversations or reading lips with in view. One of his specialties was language, both the written and spoken form. To many relied on magic and the like rather then skill that granted far more for the effort.
She waits to see what the others say, as she dos she slides a sash and a crystal decoration that was on her breast in now on her shoulder.
::"Seems our Shopkeeper is all less talk and eyes in here, and the mage is well, a mage so the love of dusty books is calling him. What would you like to drink, I hope at least you are staying, why not ask the boy he seem quite taken with you. A bit like a butterfly and a snapdragon. I think he really dos not understand the kind of crush he is getting into."::
::Back view::
For a moment she is silent. ::"As for the young man, I am sure he is more cautious than smitten. If it were any other way, he would be worth less than the dirt beneath my boot. Time will tell if he shall be worth the investment. Your comparison is, quite apt."::
Her gaze would then turn sidelong on Pain, a light blush showing on her cheeks as her demeanor changes drastically to almost a youthful innocence. Knowing full well that such a thing would not fool anyone in this place, and if it did, pity on them. When she speaks next, her voice adapts to her sudden change.
"Care for a drink, on me?" She then winks, a hope to fit the innocent guise clear in her expression as she awaits his reply.