Merchant Of Death?

[*Taurus Daggerknight]

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Scene: The Siren's Song

Dace and Sasha having met up return to The Siren's song. After a few hours there is a knock at the door. They would answer it to find a tall Efreet dressed in mourning black a very expensive looking suitcase in her hand. She seems much more composed than when Sasha last saw her.

"Thank you"

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Dace looks over the woman, checking for any active illusionary spells or unwanted company ((see the Unseen invocation)). Once satisfied that she is who she seems, he nods to her. "It's no trouble miss. Come on inside."

After they all enter, he introduces himself as Sasha's husband, and offers to take her bag to what will be her room for her stay. Whether she hands it to him or not, he soon leaves her to Sasha's company while he and fellow crew member Aeon Atere make the rounds, setting up wards and alarms at the entrances, and double checking for any trouble that might have wormed its way on board.

"Brynn should be back in a bit." He tells her. "And I've asked Rozalina to join us as well, help keep any trouble out the door." He pauses. "And Aeon? If a Mercykiller shows up demanding Aliya be handed over and I'm not here, do not comply. Well, unless its Brynn or Rozalina of course."

Once satisfied that all is in order, he'd go back to join his wife and new guest.

[*Ambiguous Ruin]

"Iffen ye were hopin' fer t'compliance of a timorous maiden in need of protection, ye've barked up the wrong tree."

[Snippety snip snip]

"Oh, an' Corny?" comes the addendum from the bardess with a wry grin, and a flash of asperity in her aquamarine eyes. "Dun ever grab me like that again."

"Pfft, ddinae think ya were a maiden, I jest reckon ya look like one. Too fancy fer this kind o' shite, an' then goin' ta temple o' Abyss? Nae, donnae look a plausible story." snickering a little and rolling his eyes as he replied casually to her request "Nae promises, it's jest yar wrist an' makes less noise than shoutin' afta' ya. Nae intendin' ta grab attention, so I ratha' grab yar wrist ta jest grab yar attention." he waved it off casually, not the least put off by it.

Finally he made his way into the temple, as his usual insufferable self. Pointing at people while winking and blatantly not hiding his intents as he simply asked around. "Oi, lookin' fer a certain turkey face. Abóot this height..." indicated the height of the vrock with his hand "... smells like shite, an' indicates happiness with scoffs o' disdain." flashing a wry smirk, pocketing his hands once more shrugging nonchalantly. "Saw 'em headin' this way, so I reckon tha' they oughta be somewhere in 'ere. I jest wanted ta rattle with 'em aboot a couple o' thin's, loike givin' me thanks an' art... did ya know tha' he was inta arts?"

Nodding in deadpan a few times after which he continued, being extremely open and speculative in purpose. "Nae nae, fer real, it an' its buddy bald guy were inta buyin' somethin' I reckoned was shite, a gratified papa' weight, ya know? An' when they lost biddin', they went all "ya know wha' we'll jest kill 'em an' take it", would ya believe tha'? An' 'ere I was..." a theatrical appreciative expression as he pointed at the poor victim of his choosing "Tha's style..." another shrug and lifted his right hand out of his pocket and rolled the wrist around "So if'n'ya asked 'em, would they be willin' ta meet me? We have plenty ta discuss an' all." flashing one last wry grin.

[*MimiFearthegn]

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Scene: The Siren's Song

Dace and Sasha having met up return to The Siren's song.  After a few hours there is a knock at the door.  They would answer it to find a tall Efreet dressed in mourning black a very expensive looking suitcase in her hand.  She seems much more composed than when Sasha last saw her.

"Thank you"

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Sasha makes her guest comfortable, and offers her some tea. She then tries to tactfully inquired as to what Aliah thinks about the whole situation, and why anyone thought she had the statue. . .

[*Knolden]

Jade the umber hulk sorceress who regularly cooks for the poor sods at the Gatehouse comes up to the gatehouses desk clerk. As he looks at her blearily She asks in her usual bubbly tone if anyone by the last name of Sarch is currently being treated here?

[*Iggwilv]

Scene: The Temple of the Abyss.

After their prolonged discussion Corny and Odette both enter. The temple is filled with the sound of ringing bells that cover the sound of distant screams. A surprisingly pleasant smell of incense meets them but as they head deeper inside they realise it masks the scent of old dried blood. The first person they see has his back to them. But the mechanical arm and the suit of dark armour that he wears coupled with his station with in The Doomguard would make him identifiable as Mauric Ashterot. A prelate approaches the three of them, or more likely the two of them as he sees it, Odette having slunk off into the shadows.

"Welcome. What brings you to gaze into The Abyss."

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Scene: The Mortuary

As the Mercykillers slowly come to a decision they are reminded of the rows of tomes on shelves at The Morturay's entrance should they check them they would find records of dead dating back three years stored alphabetically. There are seventeen volumes for X. Rooting through them is a lengthy process. Eventually they come to Xef. His entry is there. Admitted with a singular stab wound piercing the right lung. Everything else noted confirms what they have learned so far. It is noted that the man was made ready for his funeral by an Initiate IV listed simply as Dorsan and then stored in The Deep Crypts. As they are concluding their search the doors open and a winged half fiend wearing the Faction's Robes enters. He carries a large urn. Typically of one of The Dead he pays them no heed.

Meanwhile down in the crypts a conversation takes place. ((Which will be done in game at the request of the player. I'll PM you to arrange a time.))

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Scene: The Guild Ward

As Jall walks from The Clerks Ward to the Guild Ward she would come across a trail of tipped over carts angry people and a very angry man standing next to an upturned cart with a number of pies splattered on the floor shouting at a hapless Harmonium patrol man. She would realise the address she has is not for a residents but a place of business. The gates are open and people are going in and out apparently buying and selling things.

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Scene: The Siren's song.

The Efreet sits down. As far as Dace can tell she has brought no invisible guests with her whether knowingly or not.

"Thank you again."

She answers the questions with a remarkable amount of stoic composure.

"Please don't misunderstand me. I loved Shamarch he was always very good to me, but he could be ruthless, and a lot of people where I am from are angry that the statue is being sold here. He could have arranged that merchants murder. He has the means and the will. He didn't, but for anyone who did not know that he'd seem like the probable candidate."

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Scene: The Golden Bariur.

Rhistel arrives to find a crowd outside. Some still in their night clothes. Among them the Trumpet Archon Rhistel recognises from the Auction. It would appear that the Harmonium with their usual tact have turfed everyone out onto the street while they search the inn. Before he can make his way to speak to anyone a woman picks her way through the crowd. A slender Drow who Rhistel would recognises as a Fated Factotum.

"It is good I found you Factor. Something has happened at The Hall and I was told to find either you or Factor Ziphorarth."

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Scene: The Gatehouse.

As the pink umber hulk enters the Bleaker in the lobby watches stoned faced. Her friendly tone is matched by the lack of any such warmth or emotion in the monotone monosyllabic response she gets.

"No."

[*Serena]

Scene: The Golden Bariur.

Rhistel arrives to find a crowd outside. Some still in their night clothes.  Among them the Trumpet Archon Rhistel recognises from the Auction.  It would appear that the Harmonium with their usual tact have turfed everyone out onto the street while they search the inn.  Before he can make his way to speak to anyone a woman picks her way through the crowd.  A slender Drow who Rhistel would recognises as a Fated Factotum.

"It is good I found you Factor.  Something has happened at The Hall and I was told to find either you or Factor Ziphorarth."

With a last look to the people gathered outside the inn, he turns around to give his full attention to the the Drow who just approached him, a slightly worried if not just annoyed expression on his face, as if he somehow expected something bad to happen.
Placing a hand behind the woman's shoulder, he drives her away from the crowd quietly, moving toward the Lower Ward.

"Let me guess... some of our records have been compromised?" He asks dryly in Undercommon, lowering his voice as he keeps walking, his gaze in front of him rather than on his companion.

[*Nimiane]

Scene: The Temple of the Abyss.

After their prolonged discussion Corny and Odette both enter. The temple is filled with the sound of ringing bells that cover the sound of distant screams. A surprisingly pleasant smell of incense meets them but as they head deeper inside they realise it masks the scent of old dried blood.  The first person they see has his back to them.  But the mechanical arm and the suit of dark armour that he wears coupled with his station with in The Doomguard would make him identifiable as Mauric Ashterot.  A prelate approaches the three of them, or more likely the two of them as he sees it, Odette having slunk off into the shadows.

"Welcome.  What brings you to gaze into The Abyss."

Odette moves to slink through the halls of the temple of the Abyss, footsteps near-silent on the tiles underfoot as she begins her search for the Vrock and the companion Belkas had described. As she proceeds deeper into the temple, the screams - though difficult to discern - pause her in her step long enough for her to listen. Wiith no better idea of a direction to go in, Odette attempts to focus on those sounds to get a better idea of where the cries are coming from. With a soft exhale of breath, back pressed against the wall, the bardess then scurries in whatever direction seems the most likely according to her senses; hoping she will come across the demon on her way.

For a brief moment her lips thin in preparation to hum the warding melodies for both Amplify and Clairaudience, though the woman quickly changes her mind in lieu of keeping her cover.

[*Krayt]

His back turned to Corny his prothese unconcealed there was no doubt of whom it was. His long jet black hair falling to his ankles covering most of his mantle of skins and flesh. Maggots had fallen in his wake and the stench blended in well with the temples own. He spoke before noticing either of the pair. "I seek Gruul of the rot. The forces of decay is to be championed. He is oone as are his mistress Zuggtmoy. As it woud seem a dogai have gone to lenghts unbeseeming for the baatezu. If some player of thos game had made it look as such however he or she is worthy of laud an praise. Myself i am here first to serve entropy by letting this confict expand secondly and more importantly for you I im here to acertain a victory over your baatorian advisary."

[*Knolden]

Scene: The Gatehouse.

As the pink umber hulk enters the Bleaker in the lobby watches stoned faced. Her friendly tone is matched by the lack of any such warmth or emotion in the monotone monosyllabic response she gets.

"No."

Jade slightly disappointed but not exactly surprised thanks the clerk for his time and lumbers back to the marketplace where she informs Jall of her findings.

[*Krayt]

((This is assuming Corny was not masked or opted to hide as he spot Mauric)) He whipped his head towards Belkas as he was unaware of his appraoch until now, his armour squelled at evry joint that moved. He lowered his masked head to the familiar figure while at the same time he moved his hand behond his back trying to get a angle that were obscured to Belkas while visible to the abyssal acolyte. His thumb trembled horisontally as if undecided whether to go up or down. The message: i am uncertain about this one. But it was improvised and could easily had been missunderstood. "belkas or should I say Corny as the rest of the good people at Khazeets. Here for a keek at murderous matter as well i trust?" Of course the exessive info ginen was a murders mark would he do the templw a disfavour too openly. "Let us be shown this Malbius unless you had other plans Corny?"