Midnight Intrigues

A03: Steel von IronBrew's

It's Ceriday, Hattanani 26 02:48:32 1020. The full moon isn't up. The tide is high and rising. The world is dark and foggy. Everything is half-hidden, nothing clearly seen. It almost feels as if you walk through some otherworld. It's cool and the air feels damp and still.

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Late at night, or early in the morning, there's really not much difference. The elf Ga'Elian had gotten a message through the Adventurer's Guild to meet Latenat here at Von Ironbrew's. So the elf is here, standing against the wall beside the fireplace, watching.

Latenat of Alexandria is not a well known name... he maintains a low profile although he makes himself known in the right circles. However matters of import are in the offing and the rumourmonger begins to make his moves.

'Tis not til late in the even indeed that the Dawn's Child makes himself known, and the entrance is anticlimatic indeed. Slipping inside the portal to the outside world, the half-sil moves and acts for all the world like he belongs there and is intimately familiar with the interior of the taven, indeed he doesn't really stand out other than the lustrous green cloak he wears, brusquely giving the diehard patrons of the establishment the once over before meandering towards the fireplace as that were his intent all along.

Ga'Elian watches the half-sil approach and quietly says in Sildanyari, "We'd better blend in if we had drinks. Let's sit. I'll buy the drinks, and you let me know what this is all about, eh?"

Latenat inclines his head in deference to your words, glancing askance briefly as he reaches to scratch his chin with a hand distractedly,"That would be the plan goodfolk." His voice is a high baritone yet melliflous for all of that, and turns to casually gesture to a server before making his way to a free table to take his place there,"Thank you for answering so swiftly to my inquiry, it is a bit premature to send feelers along such channels, but I am a strong believer in being prepared and having all your ducks in a row." <sildanyari>

Ga'Elian accompanies Lat to the table and says, "Well, your note didn't say much, but the mystery just makes it all more curious, more intriguing." He tells the server, "Just mead for me, please, and start a tab." He shows her a small coinpurse.

A thin smile passes across Latenat's lips as he makes himself comfortable, the timbers in the chair creaking slightly as he leans back,"Likewise mead, thank you goodwoman." he seems sincere as he makes his order, only continuing after the half sil begins making her way back to the bar. "I'm not sure how aware you are of the goings on behind the scenes when it comes to the daemonic infiltration of Alexandria in the last couple of seasons." He keeps his voice casual but making sure it doesn't travel very far across the common room,"I've been busy trying to contain that, and I think I have a mark staked out. Early stages mind... but I'm planning on excising this particular infection before it can spread its influence." His upper lip curls slightly as he says that, his only consession to letting his inner feelings show upon the whole matter.

Ga'Elian responds, "I hear different things, but I'll readily admit that what you seem to be hinting at sounds new to me. Still, if it has to do with stemming an influx of daemons, I'm all ears."

"Well..." Latenat replies with a dry chuckle, seemingly distracted with rubbing the fingertips of his right hand togeather before him the half-sil's equilibrium regained, "In part I've been working to limit their influence in my own small way whilst remaining out of their attentions." He pauses thoughtfully, the motions of his fingers ceasing before returning to the timbers of the table you are seated at with a sigh, "It is decidedly dangerous for even information brokers at times, but enough skirting around the core of the matter. I have information that a ranked servant in one of the noble houses has been posessed. And the last time I came across such the victim was under the domination of a pit fiend." The scoundrel's grey almond-shaped eyes lift to meet yours first the first time, calm and steeled at this utterance.

Ga'Elian raises his eyebrows in fascination and asks, "Your source is credible? Have you any concrete evidence?"

"Source? Like only one?" an archly raised eyebrow matches your own accompanied with a single quick drum of fingertips across the tabletop. For a moment however your discussion is interrupted as your drinks return, the proprietress placing the drinks in front of you with the ease of much, if tired practice. Waiting a moment after delivering his thanks and he retreat the rumourmonger continues, "Initial suspicions were confirmed a year ago. I've been trailing his daily itinerary, shadowing his interactions and actions against known personality qualites and changes in behavior." The rogues mouth quirks somewhat, "But never fear, I do have access to clergy assistance to make the final determination. And that's where it gets complicated."

Ga'Elian drinks from his stein, listening, then says, "Okay. It sounds like there is definite substance to the rumour. Where can I assist?"

Taking the opportunity to sample his own mead, Latenat mulls the question over, reaching into a jerkin pocket to retrieve a pair of glasses which he begins to buff idly. "We have to take him out, and if at all possible, not kill him. Although, if that is nessesary I will not cry tears." Looking up from his task the scoundrel is deadly serious, "Like I said, I have come across such before. And I died, so I dont know how it all fell out. A subdual was tried and a fiend burst from the body. Still, I drew blood for all that, so it cost it, but I know when I'm out of my league."

Ga'Elian nods. He says, "Well, I'm pretty skilled at tracking demons. As for breaking a possession without killing the host, my face is known to several members of a local body that calls itself 'the Iron Book.' They're a group led chiefly by Daeusites that focus on combatting demonkind. If I manage to capture this poor wretch, my contacts may be able to liberate him without taking his life in the process."

"Agreed." Latenat responds, returning the glasses to his pocket and taking a firmer quaff of his drink by way of punctuation. "The reason for such isn't wholly altruistic, mind. The... summoner gains in power if the possessee is killed as it uses the host's soul to fuel its power. I do have a contact or two with the Iron Book myself, and have brokered a kind of a... treaty of alliance between The Guild and the Daeusites unto this end." The slender shoulders of the rogue lift in self-deprecating apology for this indulgence in name dropping before forging onward.

"From what I understand they've been driven down into the sewers of late. I'm familiar with the tunnel systems down there and have passing skill in tracking myself, especially the home range of the stones of Alexandria." A wry chuckle escapes Lat again followed by a sniff, "Still, help proffered won't be turned away. My main goal at the juncture is to find an appropriate ambush place from which there is no escape and then strike. I won't even pretend to play fair."

Ga'Elian drains his stein then says, "I'd be only too eager to help. How about you show me where your trail runs cold, and I'll see what I can do?"

"Certaintly. I usually keep what I know close to my chest, but felt I needed a hunter's perspective on the quarry." Latenat nods soberly, and drains the stein in his left hand leaving naught but the dregs before he slowly stands, pushing the wooden chair hindward with the back of his legs. "Now if you'll escuse me, I have business to tend to tonight: people to speak with and things to learn. I'll keep in touch." he says with a short informal bow before he begins making his way toward the tavern door.