Never thought I'd hear her refer to the Order as a 'crutch', thinks Zayid with mild amusement. He frowns. "I could..." he begins, then stops. I've been in enough trouble that whoever's behind this probably thinks I'd make a good recruit anyway... I know how these things work... I can't say any of that in front of them... she knows, but... I don't know what they'd think.
"How do you know it wasn't one or more of us?" he asks instead.
Did you forget? She taps her mask. I can keep tabs on you. Well, most of you. Who's this? She points at Z.
Z tries give his friendliest smile, but only manages to look scared.
Noro gets up, He'sh with me, an informant of shortsh. helpsh me...Ush out with informatshion
"So there'd have to be a Sorrow involved, or else the others have found a way to overcome the masks," muses the tanned young man. Does such a way exist? It has to... but without the monitor even knowing?
Ariana grapples with Freia's question. Intellectually, she knows interrogating the rat is the best course. After a few growls and shoving parts of a broken silver arrow of Halsanna into the creature, she helps tie him up.
"I'll research some spells to help interrogate it later."
Listening to the Sorrow, she furrows her brow. "A sorrow, definitely. We gathered some information, but only via Zayid's quick thinking. Nothing that will help find who employed these monstrosities. Are we to subtly seek out evil within the heart of the Order, then?"
Absentia nods. It is necessary. Vital. Unfortunately, there is no warded place like this one where we can confer without suspicion, therefore, you must see me as I am.
Absentia's hands slide up her neck as if tracing an invisible seam in her robes, circle under her mask, then tug. Her masks pops off and her hood falls away to reveal a beauty that is almost too perfect, and yet slightly alien. Her flame red hair shimmers in the light and frames an oval face with piercing silver eyes that make your blood run cold.
She is an Elan, a species of highly psionic beings created using a secret psionic process. Rumors have it that they are immortal, even out living the elves as long as they avoid violence.
Your own masks tingle, then fall off, probably as a response to Absentia's being removed.
My true name is Ann. It's is wonderful to finally meet youall face to face. She smiles and the room lights up with her.
Zayid lets out a low whistle. "You're supposed to be..." he cuts himself off. A myth... the rest of the Sorrows can't be like her, though... can they? How old is she? What crime did she commit, and how long ago? She could've been here since the Aboleths, for all we know.
"How long do we have? And do you have any suspects?" he asks, putting aside the what of who she is for the time being.
Her grin widens at Zayid's reaction, but it's straight down to business.
I suspect three, all of whom you've met, coincidently. Abraxas, Bloody Dismemberment, and Ministrant. As for how long, this one could take months. Expect lots of little jobs both inside the construction area at the base and in the community.
--Earlier, to rat or not to rat---
"*whew*" Freia let out a sign of relief. Ariana's eyes had conveyed a grisly intent, and she was glad she didn't have to witness that!
--Reveal! Dun DUN --
When the Sorrow took of her mask, Freia couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. Why did she hide behind such a mask when she was so dang pretty? When her own mask falls off she catches it in her hands and look up to meet the Sorrows eyes for the first time. With a shiver she immediately regretted her earlier thoughts, desperately hopeing that the Sorrow couldn't read her thoughts somehow! Those eyes could certainly pierce the soul ... Is this what an angel looks like? A sense of wonder overcame her and she couldn't help but continue to stare at the heavenly woman. Ann. Nervously her fingers played with her mask and she slowly gathered courage to speak again. After awkwardly clearing her throat a few times she finally spits something out.
"T-the Temple of Nethys! It is warded - is it not? Since we commissioned the priestess, wouldn't the research into our runes be a good excuse to go there?"
Good thought, Freia. Yes, when you are in the field that will be an acceptable place, but you will be spending more time in the facility now and may discover something that I need to know. If that happens, just find me and ask to speak privately. I will come to you as myself to hear the information.
No one else can be trusted. Is that clear. She looks pointedly at Z.
Z throws up his hands and starts nodding rapidly. I be no trouble, Ma'am. Criss cross my heart!
Zayid glances over at the boy before returning his attention to Absen— to Ann. If you can read my thoughts, we need to talk about the boy. He frowns thoughtfully. "Won't whoever's behind it suspect something, if you take off your mask in the compound? Can they watch you like you can watch us?"
As long as the mask is in place, yes. But we Sorrows don't wear our masks constantly, just as you don't. I will find you. It may not be immediately, but I will.
I do caution you, though, that the more absent I become, the more likely they will notice. Please refrain from calling upon me unless it is truly important.
Ann catches your glances and nods almost imperceptibly.
"O-okay" Freia nods and continue to look star-struck.
She nods to Freia and looks to each of you for some confirmation of your assent to her instructions.
Zayid gives a slow nod of acknowledgment, trying to gauge Ann's feelings about all this.
You don't get much. She obviously isn't bothered by revealing herself to youall, and doesn't seem overly concerned by Z's presence, but her face takes on much more serious expressions when talking about what she is asking you to do.
Noro was silent doing everything. she nods her acceptance of the orders.
she was relived to be free of the mask for a bit. Not much for subtleties, Noro simply accepts what must be done.
...Despite being the smartest person in the room, Ariana is too distracted by the monstrosity laying on the ground to recognize Ann's race.
"The corruption is a serious problem..we will see what we can find out for you. I agree with Freia's suggestion that the temple would be an ideal meeting location."
"It is possible..that we can obtain some information from the creature we've captured. What is the best method for restraining him without allowing others to kill it before we have a chance to interrogate it?"
Seeing that the others nodded and agreed - Freia realized that this unique meeting would soon end. With a blink she tore her eyes away from Ann for a moment, the question she wanted to ask burning in her mind. Scraping her boots together she stammered for a moment before managing to cough up another sentence. With childlike wonder she looked up again.
"A-are you an Angel Ann?"
Ann giggles, a sound here to fore unimaginable in a Sorrow. Goodness, no, Freia. I'm an Elan. I'm sure your companions can fill you in. Now, it is time.
She places her mask back on her face and her hood flips up on its own. In seconds Absentia is back.
Remember, not a word of this outside the safety of your quarters. Zayid, a word. The rest of you may retire.
Freia blushes, her cheeks turning purple-red. "Oh ..."
With a groan, Ariana glances at Freia. "An angel wouldn't need people like us to seek out corruption!"
The wizard frowns, tugging on her robes as he walks small circles around the wererat. "We may take this back to the headquarters with us? Noro, could you carry..drag..it? I doubt I could pull it a foot."
With a look at Z, Ariana abruptly steps toward the rogue. "Not a word of this should leave the room. You're dangerous with knowledge. And you keep showing up at unexpected turns. But so far, you've done nothing but turn your hand to assistance."
Fishing in her pockets, Ariana pulls out a few gold coins and tosses them, one at a time, to Z. "I'm..not rich. But I do like to reward those who assist the correct side."
"Of course ..." Freia mumbled. What Ariana said made sense, as usual. Eager to redeem herself she retrieves a pair of scrolls from her pack. "If we can only get him outside, these might help - they'll summon a pack-horse each! So we can bring the ones we arrested at the top level of the building too."
Z nods to Ariana. I'll keep that in mind, Wiz. The coins disappear and he looks once more at the Sorrow before departing before anyone can tell him to give the money back.
Not killing civilians is preferred. We are police, not gangsters.
Now, masks up.
She re-attaches all of your masks before you leave, doing Zayid's last so he can have that word he wanted.
Zayid frowns, trying to express himself in a way the Sorrow will receive. "I don't think he realizes where he's going... or how much it matters what he chooses now. And talking to him about it probably won't help."
The young man shakes his head. "Any chance we can get him a job in the compound? Have him sweep, or run paperwork around, or wash clothes, or... something. And then... then let me teach him to fight."
He continues looking away, one hand idly stroking Aboki's head.
With the mask replaced, Absentia has once again become almost impossible to read. She responds, And why would you care, Zayid Tumaini? Dozens of children just like him passed you on the street last week and you didn't bat an eye. Why this one?
Freia puts her mask on and start to help Noro haul the locked down wererat upstairs. The scrolls she handed to Ariana for safekeeping. For Halsanna she gave a brief summary of her view on the subject. Probably should have done that first!
"Usually we don't try to kill anyone - but if they try to kill us we might kill them right back. They made their choice..."
Instead of answering, he shrugs. His mask provides a comfortable veil for his expression, covering up his momentary vulnerability. "I didn't say I cared," he replies, turning away.
"No."
Noro finally gets her mask back on, she definitely is not very happy about it, but also knows there is nothing she can do about it.
As she does so, the request made of her to bring the prisoner came to her mind. she seemed to have a bit of a chuckle at some funny thought or joke Bloody Dismemberment she whispers as she grabs the prisoner and slings him over her shoulder.
Noro goes back to her same ole job she was accustomed to, "the hired muscle" it was a job she was used to, it was easy, her kind of work.
Zayid catches up with the rest of the group shortly after they've left the building. He walks along near the back in silence, keeping an eye out for trouble.
You soon arrive through the quiet, controlled streets at the main gates of the as yet unnamed compound that the Order calls home. Tears come forward to collect your "guests" and lead them toward the lower levels. From here you have a rare few hours to yourself. Will you retreat to your dorm, grab some food, or work out some frustrations in the Crucible?
The Sorrow named Abrasax is there to receive your masks. The facility is generally empty, but not completely so. No doubt the place will fill up with Tears come evening.
Zayid hands over his weapons and allows his mask to be removed without a word, then turns and heads for the Crucible. At the turn-off leading to the kitchens, Aboki whines and gives his master a firm head-bump to the right. Zayid sighs and continues on, but then reconsiders and turns to head down the hallway. Arriving at the doorway to the kitchen, he peeks in and calls, not too loudly, "Filior?"
One of the serving staff looks up and points you to the root cellar.
Ariana will head to the library in the rare hope it has a few spellbooks she can copy from.
The library is lacking when it comes to spells. It's mostly criminal records and law books, but with persistence you are rewarded. Late in the day, just before lights out, you manage to piece together a Detect Thoughts spell from fragments found in over a dozen case files and reports.
Freia follows Ariana to the library - for while she hadn't the faintest idea how to work the magic Ariana was trying to do, there was something else she wanted to try. This 'Seaborse' company kept showing up over and over - and whomever allied themselves with the wererats seemed to have some sort of interest in them. It couldn't hurt to find out more! Perhaps the records in the library could shed some more light on the company itself.
She also kept an eye open for any Tear admittance records. If there were, she'd give them a proper look trough and see if there seemed to be any patterns to the recruiting lately. Perhaps a disproportionate number of Tears came from one place, organization or crime? That might hint on some sort of infiltration! And - on the off chance - to see if any Tear had any plausible connection to the 'Seaborse' company.
The Elan question still burned in the back of her mind. She wasn't sure if Ann's identity was supposed to be a secret from them or not, so she didn't dare to ask anyone while inside the base. Maybe tonight or if we go outside...
Spending a few hours in the library was very nice, a welcome change from the hectic day. It was quiet and there wasn't much people around. Just herself, some other tears, a librarian and Ariana. The later was caught up in some sort of magical scheme - rapidly piecing things together from reports and books. Freia didn't understand half of the things she did - but perhaps she could learn something from a glance now and then.
Zayid nods and heads down to the root cellar, while Aboki pokes around in the kitchens, knocks mugs off the counter, and generally makes a nuisance of himself for the cooks present.
"Filior?" calls Zayid again, as he heads down the stairs. "Do you have any scraps of meat I could have? I want to try to start teaching Aboki some things, and he claims to be hungry..."