OOC: This is a quick write up of an ic encounter between several characters, the main ones of which are Arli and I. I left the name of the shadowy figure out for now as I'm not sure if the person that owns the character would like it known what exactly happened in the room after the door closed. Sorry if it's a bit on the dry side but I was a bit tired when I wrote it up and didn't feel all that imaginative.
IC:
Iscario finished the last line of the report, than folded it carefully before finally sealing it with one of his “special” seals, a quick pass of his hand and a few muttered words activated the seal. Now if anyone other than the intended recipient tried to break the seal it would destroy the report instantly.
Placing the report under his armour he left his room and exited the inn into the street, glancing around he noticed Arli and two others having a conversation a little distance away. Purposely passing by them he headed to the bank, there depositing a small, nondescript package with instructions to hold it for a day and then post it to the address attached. Leaving enough gold to cover the cost and a generous tip for the clerk he left the bank and immediately head back to where he had seen Arli and the others.
As he approached he noted that Arli had left but decided this might be a good opportunity to gather a little more information on the Thorn Deathmaster. Seating himself on the bench nearest the two remaining elves he waited for one of them to quiz him as to his presence. The younger of the two, a female obliged with the expected question. After introductions, the female named herself Rynny, and the male, by far the more dangerous and intelligent of the two identified himself as Morlir. Iscarios noted that Morlir was a practitioner of shadow magic, and by the looks of it a relatively powerful one. The young female Rynny however revealed herself to be a new recruit for the Thorns, and Iscario proceeded to quiz her about her impression of Arli. Meanwhile a third elf arrived, she was obviously not a normal elf as her eyes glowed red even from a distance, and Morlir was suddenly interested only in this newcomer.
Keeping an eye on the exchange between Morlir and the new elf, Iscario continued his “chat” with Rynny, and almost had her answering his questions without thinking first when Arli returned. Naturally the young Thorn eyed him with thinly veiled suspicion but kept his tongue, instead making a greeting.
Asking Arli if he had any knowledge of the Lady of the Sorrow Guards location this evening, Isacrio also mentioned the report. Arli reacted as expected and demanded to be given the report and that he would deliver it. Smiling inwardly that the fool had taken the bait so easily, Iscario feigned reluctance in turning it over. Following Arli declaring himself Isacrios superior in rank, and after a pointed insult about his relationship with the Antel, Arli eventually resorted to threats of violence. Almost laughing in his face Iscario handed over the report, already knowing the contents and their lack of importance.
Turning his back to Arli and smiling smugly Iscario strode away, eventually veering back towards his rooms at the inn. A slight noise and a feeling of being watched just outside the inn caused him to pause for a few moments inside the entrance, just in case anyone was following. After a minute or so he decided that perhaps it was only his imagination and entered the in. Again he got the sense of being watched, so on the chance that it was Arli he ordered two glasses of wine having one left on a table near the door while taking his own to a table.
As soon as he sat down he was hit with a wave of pain again, and the resulting reaction caused the liquid in his glass to freeze solid before he could take a single sip. Glancing around again, he still could not shale the feeling of being watched, the second glass still sat untouched near the entrance. Deciding to try one last ruse he summoned a ghoul to his side from some corpse dust, giving it instructions to head to the base and deliver a message in a voice that could easily be overheard, but mentally sent a command to head for Deathholme and to watch for anyone following it.
As the ghoul left , Iscario headed to his room, only to hear what sounded suspiciously like a foot slipping on wood, leaning over the rail on the upper floor he carefully inspected the stack of barrels and wine casks beneath the stairs. Seeing nothing he made as if to enter his room turning around at the last moment and peering back over the rail. Just as he did another wave of pain caught him unawares, he immediately fell to the floor in agony, and with the air and floor around him suddenly freezing. After only a few moments he managed to climb to his feet, angry that he had yet again allowed the pain to overwhelm him. Forgetting for a few moments any thoughts of being followed Iscario strides to his room.
Unseen by Iscario, a shadow slips up over the rail onto the upper floor and quickly and quietly slips into his room behind him before the door swings shut. A few minutes pass, until suddenly there is a loud noise, as if there is suddenly a large number of people in the room. After a muffled but obviously tense conversation the door to the room opens and a figure walks hurriedly from the room, almost running. As Iscario closes the door he smiles to himself, now he has and advantage he hadn’t expected to have, and he intended to make full use of it. Arli was too much of a distraction, a weakness that neither the Sorrow Guard nor it’s Lady could afford. Now he had a means by which to expose that weakness and possibly without even getting his hands dirty.
