Slow Death IC

[Rigel Cyrosea]

An address, and the promise of good pay. That's all you were given. No explanation, no name, no real guarantees. But what else is there? There's no work in Luxerat. Or, more accurately, there's no pay in Luxerat. Nothing to do but take a chance.

One-oh-five Hull. A fancy street in an Aion neighborhood. As much as anything in Luxerat can be called fancy, anyway. But like any street, people pass through it as quickly as they can. Most are wearing cloth masks over their mouths, whatever good it may do them.

The heat is oppressive. This part of the city is a long way from the docks, and the ocean breeze is nowhere to be found. The sky is a pleasant blue and perfectly cloudless.

Many of the once-impressive mansions dotting Hull street have started falling apart. Few are still occupied. One hundred and five is the last number on the street.

It's a big one, and looks like it's not too run-down. Pillars in the front are still standing, though it's now become obvious they weren't ever actually made of marble, just metal with an illusion on it. There's an iron fence running around the property. The gate is closed for now.

As you're looking around, you notice there are several others here too. Four of you in total.

OOC note: When I need to give out knowledge to specific characters only, I prefer to just put it in spoilers, rather than use PMs- much simpler that way. However, that does mean I need you guys to be honorable and not open spoilers that are not for you. You'll find out what's in it when and if the person it's for decides to tell you.

Olga:(knowledge: local)
You know that this is the home of Lord Fidel, a rich Aion noble known for his quest to find a cure for the plauge- by any means necessary. There are rumors that he has attempted some rather strange and unethical cures.

Astrid:The job offer was quite a convenient way to get closer to Lord Fidel, the Aion you've come to investigate. You know that this is his home.

[FirebirdFlying]

Rafael

Rafael leans casually against the gate pillars, glancing dismissively over the humans near him. Not in any particular hurry to meet his employer - having had a few less-than fruitful offers earlier in the week - he stares up at the sky, tapping his fingers against his leg.

After a few minutes, he sighs and speaks. "Do you know anything about the job?"

[Fetus]

Sebastian

Appearance- Wearing what appears to be cold weather gear. (To the effects of a parka with the head cover pulled up. Also He is wearing some exceptionallly baggy pants that are tucked away in some nice boots.)

Sebastian, leaning forward on his horse, speaks to what appears to be slightly irritated man. "Hmm i see word has caught the eyes and ears of others... no matter.' *Sebastian leans back up and looks at the address on the piece of parchment then at the rest of the members that have gathered in front of the gate. 'Lets just hope for all of your sakes that there is enough work for all of us and if there is not, pray that our mysterious employer doesn't pick us by our looks." Sebastian chuckles as he dismounts from his horse then pulls the hooded part of his coat back to reveal his face. He then grabs the reins to his horse and guides it to the side of the gate to wait.

[FirebirdFlying]

Rafael

"I'm sure the rate of employment here can't be worse than the rest of town, and I've heard at least three have gotten work in the past week burying plague victims. Each in a row, in fact. There you might go if we are picked on looks - I hear after a few days on the job there all applicants look much the same.

"…So, are you from Cyrosea or Cartheon? Or merely paranoid?"

[Faulty]

Astrid

A tall woman, almost Sebastian's height, stands with the group. Her posture is excellent and her blonde hair is tied behind her head in a tight bun. She has broad shoulders and a strong jaw line, and her eyes are a deep blue. She wears a breast plate comfortably over neat and simple white clothing. At her side is a finely crafted scimitar and on her back is a backpack and a well worn wooden shield. Something about her air is serious and disciplined. Winter clothing is bundled up and strapped to her bag, and she fans herself with her right hand. On its palm is a visible scar.

She watches impassively as Sebastian cracks a joke and dismounts. She waits a second or two as Rafael speaks again, before responding to Rafael's earlier question. "I don't know anything about the job, but work is tough to find, as you've said," the woman says in a Cyro accent. "I just hope it pays well." She finishes, "May I ask your names?"

[Fetus]

Sebastian

Sebastian takes of his cold weather gear. After which he wipes the sweat from his brow. "Whew! Damn there is a hell of a difference in climate between cities." He says exhaustedly. Sebastian then puts his gear into his horses saddlebags and then takes off his undershirt and rings out the sweat that had built up in it. "It would be nice if there were some ladies in town. I didn't see much on my way in." He grins at the two others. "Or we could even luck out and this person that is giving out jobs is a temptress and wants us as her personal slaves." He puts his shirt back on and looks up at the sky with the same funny looking grin. "Do i dare to dream the dream?"

Sebastian looks at the Cyro girl after she asked for their names. "My dear, if would be much more proper to introduce yourself before asking the names of strange company, no?" He says this with a smile as he approaches her and makes a gesture leaning over to kiss her hand. "But with formalities aside I am Sebastian from Cartheon. And you are?"

[Faulty]

Astrid

Astrid extends her hand and grabs Sebastian's as he goes to pull it towards him for the kiss. She gives his hand a firm shake, her grip strong, before he can get the kiss in. "Astrid, from Cyrosea."

[FirebirdFlying]

Rafael

Rafael raises a hand in greeting, giving a short nod to Astrid. "Rafael A -" he caught himself " - Azulai." It is a common enough name, and he doesn't particularly want anyone getting wind of his disgrace so soon.

[Faulty]

Astrid

"Well met, Rafael," Astrid says.

[Fetus]

Sebastian

After Astrid shakes my hand and greets both of us I stood up am scratched the back of my head with my other hand and say with a comical smile of rejection. "Well met indeed." I chuckle to myself a little.

I Stand some what between Astrid and Rafael as if to make a triangle and lean against my horse. I try to look up at the sky but i kept feeling my eyes wonder towards Astrid. I began to speak to myself. "Lle naa vanima... but also Lle naa belegohtar..."

There is a brief amount of time that passes where there is no talking and just standing around. "Soooo, does anyone know if we are supposed to go in? Because if in fact we are' I look at Astrid and step to the side of the gate and open up my arm as if to lead someone in a direction. 'ladies first."

[Rigel Cyrosea]

As Sebastian waves his hand towards the gate, the door of the mansion behind opens. A small human man- likely a servant, by his his dress- steps out. He walks over to the gate, stopping just beyond the length of an arm away from the bars. He speaks with a rough accent that marks him as a foreigner to Luxerat.

""You're the one's who're here for work, then? Just three, I see. I'll ask that you drop your weapons through the gate before I let you in. I'll be giving them back to you when you leave. Not that it matters... three of you and one of me, you wouldn't exactly need em to get up to any mischief."

The servant sighs, glancing down at his feet momentarily. Seeing that no one has yet moved, he shakes his head.

"Get moving then, you lot. Pointless or no, I'm not lettin' you in with you still holding those blades."

[FirebirdFlying]

Rafael

Rafael smiles politely. "But of course." He draws the narrow knife at his side, handing it hilt first to the gatekeeper. "A good day to you." The magebow still sits slung partway across his back.

[Fetus]

Sebastian

Sebastian grumbles to himself and rolls down his sleeves as he go to his horse and opens his saddle bags. He unsheathes his long sword and dagger placing both inside the saddle back.

Sebastian thinks to himself No way im going to be caught off guard.

Sebastian trys to slip his dagger up his sleeve.

Sleight of hand bonus: +10

[roll0]

[Rigel Cyrosea]

The servant carefully takes Rafael's knife and places it in a box behind the gate.
"You'll be handin' in that Magebow there too, mister, but you can can keep it till you come through, as a guarantee that I won't simply be stealing."

That said, the man accepts Sebastian's sword with a nod, but fails to notice the dagger being slipped away. The sword is placed in the box with Rafael's knife.

[Faulty]

Astrid

Astrid removes the sword and sheath from her side and hands it over the gate to the man on the other side.

[Rigel Cyrosea]

The servant takes Astrid's weapon and places it with the others. He removes a large iron key from one of his many pockets and uses it to unlock the gate.

"Welcome to the estate, such as it is. Lord Fidel will see you inside."

From this side of the gate, you can see more of the area. The grounds are fairly small, though generous enough for city living. The grass is yellowed, most of it long dead. The path from the gate to the door is made of gravel, rather than paved.
The servant turns to Rafael and gestures towards the magebow.

"In the box with the rest, if you would."

He then turns around and leads the way to the door.

[Fetus]

Sebastian

Sebastian waits by the box to watch what everyone else is doing.

[FirebirdFlying]

Rafael

"Ah, yes. I apologize, I sometimes forget that I have it." Rafael places the magebow carefully in the box and follows the servant.

[Fetus]

Sebastian

Sebastian sees everyone begin to take off towards the door. "I'm behind you guys and girl." Sebastian looking into the box at the mage bow That will catch a pretty penny. He reaches for the magebow.

Sleight of hand: +12 (forgot to add the synergies last time)

[roll0]

[Rigel Cyrosea]

Sebastian quickly realizes that the Magebow is simply too large to hide on his person.

At this point the servant has reached the door and unlocked it with another key, drawn out of a different pocket. He turns around and waits for the group to follow him, tapping his foot impatiently.

[Fetus]

Sebastian

Sebastian holds the magebow and then begins to move quietly towards his horse.

Move silently check roll : [roll0]

[Rigel Cyrosea]

The servant notices Sebastian, having already turned around at this point, and crosses his arms.

"What do you think you're doing, eh? I said no weapons inside. Put that back and get over here."
After a pausing a second, he adds "and don't you try anything funny when we get inside, or you'll regret it!"

[Faulty]

Astrid

Astrid follows closely, glancing back at Sebastian.

[Rigel Cyrosea]

Sebastian drops the Magebow and leaves through the gates, apparently upset at having been chastised.

The servant shrugs his shoulders, rolls his eyes, and turns back to the door, opening it for the remaining two.

Inside, you can see a long hallway and a set of stairs to the right. The hallway is dimly lit from a few small windows. The walls are stained wood, flaking in many places. There is a velvet carpet on the floor, surprisingly quite intact.
The stairs are old wood, with a beautifully carved banister. They go up for what seems to be two stories. On the wall along the side of the stairs, there is a portrait of a middle aged Aion- handsome, blonde, with a stern expression.

The servant leads the way up the stairs.

"Name's Vonn, by the way. Mr. Vonn. I work for the owner of this house, Lord Fidel. He's the one you'll be seeing."

[Rigel Cyrosea]

Vonn leads Astrid and Rafael down the hall at the top of the stairs. This hall is much like the one downstairs- small windows, velvet carpet, peeling wooden walls. There are more portraits spaced along the hallway, likely previous Lords of the house.

Vonn opens the doorway at the end of the hall and steps in. Inside the room is dim and quiet. It appears to be the master bedroom of the house. The windows- much larger than those in the hallway- are covered by blinds. The centre of the room is dominated by a massive poster bed. The curtains around the bed are tightly drawn. One wall is taken up by a large desk and a wardrobe, both stained wood. On the other wall there is fireplace and a small armchair. The fire is not lit, but there is a man sitting in the armchair. You can't see much of him, as the chair is turned the other way.

A raspy voice floats from the poster bed.

"Vonn? Have our potential employees arrived?

"Yes indeed, my Lord, though one left and one didn't show," Vonn replies.

"What a pity." You hear some shifting from the bed, and then Lord Fidel continues, "Mr. Azulai, why don't you introduce yourself, to start."

[FirebirdFlying]

Rafael

Rafael blinked. He must have scrying up outside. "My lord." He bows, and continues, "My name is Rafael Azulai, but you know that already. I was a merchant, but I've recently fallen on hard times - like most - and am in need of work. But I'm sure you knew that already, considering as I'm here."

[Rigel Cyrosea]

"What? I wasn't speaking to you, actually. Though thank you for introducing yourself. Now, if the other Mr. Azulai could continue?"

Lord Fidel starts to chuckle as he is speaking, but then begins to cough, and stops himself.

[theterran]

Chuckling is heard from the chair.

"It's fine. I have no qualms about letting him introduce himself. I would say that this sort of things happens often to me...but this is actually a first for me..."

The man in the chair stretches with a groan, as a tan arm extends over the chair, and the other to the left of the chair. He leans forward and two dark gray feathery wings extend from behind the chair, seemingly stretching as well.

As he stands, he folds his wings back and turns to face everyone else. His hair is a mess of curls atop his head, mostly dark brown, though streaks of grays run through it, ranging from almost silver to the darker color of his wings. His face has a few wrinkles, and has a slight "worn" look to it, but his green eyes seem bright with life. His clothes look somewhat dirty from travel, but no worse for wear.

"Not bad Lord Fidel, I was hoping for more 'help', but these two will do nicely."

He mutters in Celestial:
"At least there aren't any goblins..."

"I guess a more formal introduction is in order. I am Mr. Azulai, Azreal I am called, and I am a ... traveler of sorts."

A smirk appears on his face, as if he's enjoying a private joke, before he continues.

"Pardon me for not being more...'forthcoming'...but knowledge is a very powerful thing, and as we just met, I would rather not convey more than necessary until I know if you're trustworthy."

He crosses his arms, staring at the Human, still with the smirk on his face.

[Rigel Cyrosea]

Lord Fidel's tone becomes curt and businesslike as he explains the job.

"Thank you, Mr. Azulai. You two who've just arrived- you'll be working under Mr. Azulai to retrieve some very valuable goods for me. Your job is to ensure the protection of Mr. Azulai and my goods.

"Be in the alley behind the Church of the Five in the Mallories in two hours time. A man will meet you there. He has the item in question. If all goes well he will simply deliver the item to you, but if not, you will take it from him. Vonn will provide you with a seal to prove you're working for me. The pay is a six hundred apiece, but you won't see a penny of it until I have the cup in my hand.

Any questions?"

OOC: Common knowledge: the Mallories are a particularly run-down area of Luxerat. They were slums even before the Slow Death began.

[Faulty]

Astrid

"No questions, sir," Astrid says curtly. "I'll see you in the alley," she says to Rafael and Azreal, before turning to Vonn, "Will you escort us out, or should I find my own way to the door?"

[Rigel Cyrosea]

"I'll be escorting you out," Vonn replies. "You ready to go too?" he asks, looking at Rafael.

[FirebirdFlying]

Rafael

"Yes, thank you." He gives a shallow bow to Lord Fidel and Azrael, and follows Vonn out the door.

[Rigel Cyrosea]

The Mallories were never a nice neighborhood, and things have only gotten worse in the last few years. Most of the houses are falling apart. Half dressed urchins run along the alleys and side streets. Most of the people here are of the Underaces. Many have tied their shirts around their mouths in an attempt to escape both the heat and the plague.

The Church of the Five is one of the few buildings which doesn't look like it's about to fall apart. It's simply made, wooden and undecorated, but looks sturdy enough. The door is open, but you can't see much inside- it's too dark, at least in comparison to the brightness outside.

An old human man in a white cloth robe sits on the step, surrounded by children of several different races. The sleeves of his robe are rolled up to the shoulders, and he has his hands out in front. He seems to be doing coin tricks for the children- dancing a silver piece along his fingers, making it disappear and then pulling it from the ear of a young dwarf. He smiles warmly as the children's mouths hang open.

The alley you are looking for is just on the other side of the building. There's ten minutes or so to go before you need to be there.