RP:Following a Cold Trail of Corpses

This is a Necromancer's Guild RP.

Summary: Hot on the trail of the newly transformed ghoul, Kanna, the necromancer Quintessa uses the Syndicate of Shadows to track her down. Following a path of death, Quintessa soon finds the latest victim of the restless undead and recruits him into her army. Back in Kelay Quintessa discovers things have complicated, and she speaks with Magik to get a better grasp of the situation.

FeeFighFeauxFum Alley

Reaching the end of the ally, you see a wooden sign that simply reads "FeeFighFaeuxFum Alley". The sign seems made of old rope, chalk, and a wooden post to a no longer existing shop. Upon examining more of the area, you notice a large whole in the northern wall, and from what, is unknown. However, in your grace is piled old carts, debris, and junk of all kinds. You as well also notice something written on the western wall in chalk, which reads, "Sanmichel and Valkor were here.". The only paths to go from this location is to the south.

Like a wraith she glides through a lesser-known tavern in Frostmaw, ignoring the meddling eyes drawn to her due to her mere presence here. It wasn't like this hole-in-the-wall to receive so many strangers in such short amount of time, especially guests like the Baroness Quintessa Dragana. Flanked on either side of her were her informants from the Syndicate of Shadows, passing the new information to her via whispers as she heads for the room where they had discovered the body. They had gone to great lengths to hide this from the authorities and the young hex blade was grateful.

"This is the room," one of the men said, unlocking the door and pushing it open.

"Thank you. Now... would you mind giving me some privacy?" Quintessa said, her mismatched eyes locking onto the pair with a grim seriousness.

The Unseen Hand looked at each other knowingly before they nodded to her and closed the door behind them to stand guard. The necromancer turned slowly to face the room proper, noting the potent scent of death that filled the air. "Okay, let's see if I've found the trail of our little Kanna again." Quintessa slowly steps around new victim, her heeled boots carefully avoiding the pool of blood that had coagulated on the wooden floor. "Hmm..." The necromancer knelt down close to inspect the wounds, nodding her head slowly. "Just as I suspected; This is her handiwork." Quintessa stood slowly, her sylphlike hand outstretching over the corpse on the floor as her aura began to tug at him. "Codwch i ateb eich pwrpas," she uttered, her necromantic magic speeding up the ghoulification process. "Codwch i'm gwasanaethu." And with the completion of her spell the body pulled itself to his feet, green fires burning in the pit of his eyes as the hunger began to set in. But Quintessa's ghoul would not move to feed. Not yet. He was completely under her control. "Excellent," cooed the changeling, her mouth twisting into a grin. "Time to proceed with the next phase..."

Kelay Tavern

Built and rebuilt, torn apart and set like stubborn bone, this tavern is the pinnacle of Hollow's entirety, wrought around the premise of peace, equality, and consummate amity. And of course, the old place had seen all of the three, but so much more. Dire markings of claw and steel cut deep into wall panels and floorboards. Set against the land's usual motif of destruction are signs of comfort. Twisting shadows and smoothing out a careful blanket of light with soft, quaint fires, a candelabra dangles down by thick cords, gripping the circular holder. Each twists up, converging upon the center, where they snake about one another and form a thick, secure anchor to Kelay Tavern's high, accommodating ceiling. The candelabra rattle now and again from the inn patrons overhead, pouring down globs of wax to the center of the room, which is wide and unobstructed. Cheaply carpentered tables and chairs grow outward around the bare dancing area, keeping to the rounded theme, and also keeping to a dwarven barkeep's avariciously born taste for 'economical' furniture. Hardly any expense has been wasted on the actual upkeep of the public center, as can be garnered from the smell of deep pine, rich tobacco, and even richer spirits. Stairs twist away dimly near the high bar. And atop that side rests the inn logs, quill, and ink. This establishment's fine keeper, Mesthak, can be seen smiling out from his post at the bar, straight across to the room's always crackling stone-wrought hearth. Behind him, atop lofty shelves, sits an array of dark, amber, and clear liquids. Food smells waft from somewhere near at hand. A carefully printed and hung sign details the purchasable items here in the place of merriment, loss, laughter, and life. Also, tucked into a corner near one of two windows closest to the tavern doorway is a thickly papered bulletin board. A sign has been added next to the board that reads, 'The management requires patrons be fully inebriated at all times and that no curing spells be performed in this tavern-Thank you'.

Quintessa Dragana glared at the Kelay Tavern message board with scorn, her mismatched eyes darting across the description of the newest bounty posted. "...a young female, brown hair and blue eyes, calls herself a bard- Kanna?!" The changeling ground her sharp teeth together in agitation as her long, pale fingers ripped a piece of paper out of her notebook. "...anyone wishing to collect this bounty will have to go through me first..." Quintessa muttered as she wrote her message with a charcoal pencil, and with that the young spellcaster had posted her warning for those wishing to go after her friend, though she couldn't let it look personal. The Syndicate wouldn't accept that...

Magik whispered to you, "We need to share some words later. I'll reach out."

The Syndicate Grand Council Hall

Upon entering, you find yourself in a room that can be described simply as: Splendid. A magnificent cherry wood table, perfectly round in shape, with the finest white-gold inlay running along its edges, depicts the various races of Hollow traveling in a constant circle together. This commanding centerpiece was most assuredly a master carpenter's finest work. Surrounding the table are a series of high-backed chairs, each composed of the same adept wood-working and carved with uniquely elegant curves and patterns; yet none stands out as the superior to the rest, each artful piece as significant as the others. The only truly dividing factor of the chairs, are the colors of their plush velvet cushions--ranging from emerald to regal violet, crimson to onyx black; sets of four or five chairs arranged beside one another based on matching colors, as if to signify a gathering of varied officials. As regal and dominating as the meeting table is, the rest of the room is still rich in elegance. The smooth rock walls are colored a soft muted-coffee hue, visible between sections of velveteen curtains. Each curtain is of a matching hue to the chairs' upholstery, all bearing a painstakingly woven insignia, one for each of the prominent territories within Hollow: Enchantment, Larket, Venturil, Vailkrin, and Trist'oth. The floor is not outcast to the elegance of the room, constructed of gray marble so soft in color you are tempted to stoop down to touch it, if only to determine if appearances match texture. The veins coursing through the marble are, upon closer inspection, the same white-gold as found in the table, and they run from tile to tile without any semblance of seams immediately apparent. The occasional writing desk or side table--again of that same flawless cherry wood, graces gaps between curtains and provides further function to the room. Satin cushions are gathered in careful piles at random intervals, comfortable seating for those gathered but not members attending the table. Those sensitive to magic might sense the faint aura of protective enchantments coming from the walls, nothing interfering, but enough to ward off intrusive spells. If one is not left simply in awe at this room's perfect splendor, it could well be assumed they were a troll of little taste.

Magik appears at the head of the table. Not that it symbolizes anything. He just hates bumping elbows.

Quintessa finds herself sitting somewhere in the middle, her fingers drumming softly on the cherry wood as her other hand props up her face. A slight sigh blows away the bit of hair that hangs between her mismatched eyes before she looks over at Magik. "So," Quintessa begins, clearly bothered by something, "19 thousand?"

Magik's not in a foul mood or anything. He's just curious, "Yeah. Why the sudden care for the stranger? Who is she? I met her once at the Bardic Lodge and had an episode there, but I didn't think there was any ill-will."

Quintessa stops drumming. "Kanna isn't a stranger," she confesses. "I've known her as long as I've known you. Additionally-" Quintessa tacks this next part on, as if she assumes she be judged for caring about somebody else. "She's cursed. Someone or something transformed her into an undead variant and thusly she is an asset to me and the Necromancer's Guild."

Magik props his elbows on the table, rubbing his temples, "Ah crap. Mesthak said something about her trying to get me to rest in her room upstairs. Her music got me dozing in and out of consciousness. " The elf sighs, "Are you and the guild going to, cure her, I guess? Or what are your intentions? I need a reason to pull this bounty, Tess. Help me out."

Quintessa breaks eye-contact to look down at the table, her hands fumbling for the silver case in her cloak to buy herself more time to think of an answer. "This isn't the kind of thing you cure, I'm afraid..." She begins, placing a cigarette between her lips before mismatched eyes gaze up at him from under black lashes. "My intentions are scientific, despite my personal connection with her... I know what she's been doing- I just got back from Frostmaw. Found a man half-eaten, his neck snapped like a twig..." Quintessa snaps her fingers to light her cigarette before continuing, the smoke lingering around her head. "Her hunger is growing and my guild must contain it. We can help her find answers but she can't wander from tavern to tavern eating people as she goes along. If we have to we'll forcibly relocate her to Vailkrin for her own good."

Magik blinks, "So she's the one we have been looking out for? Her eyes weren't glowing or anything. I guess her plan was foiled..Ah, she probably would have gotten sick trying to eat me." He shakes his head, "If you believe you and your guild can handle it, I'll pull the bounty. It'll piss Rinn off, but I'll deal with it." After a small moment of silence he asks, "Anything else?"

Quintessa nods her head, taking a drag from her smoke as she does so, "Yes, yes, we can handle it." The changeling pauses for a moment, thinking carefully about how she should proceed. "Y-yes..." She says slowly, watching Magik carefully to judge his expression. "Was Karasu hanging around Kanna?" Quintessa seems to expect them to be together, "I think Karasu has been shadowing her- trying to cover her tracks for her as they go on this tour of death." The hex blade flicks her ashes into the stone ashtray before her. "I'm not entirely sure why, but I've got a hypothesis."

Magik slowly shakes his head, keeping his eyes fixed on Tessa's trying to get a read off of her as well, "I passed out, bonked my head," Magik poses with the small knot just above his hairline, "and Rinn appeared. Ended up getting sick out of the window Kanna escaped from. Anything after that was a blur."

Magik said to Quintessa, "Why would Karasu cover for her? Why not stop her from killing people?"

Quintessa shakes her head. "I don't know, maybe she has tried and failed so this is a compromise. Most of the men targeted are drunks and lechers- people nobody are gonna miss, so maybe she feels justified in letting these men die." The changeling shrugs before snuffing out her cigarette. "But I'm almost certain that they are sisters. Perhaps Kaaname is behind all of this..."

Magik gets a bit concerned, "If she was trying to feed off me she must be getting, I don't know, maybe weaker or more desperate? I mean, she started her antics in the middle of a crowded room. The tavern was full while she was performing her song to make everyone pass out. Which, would have worked, but people come and go through there all day."

Quintessa said to Magik, "That's honestly my concern... Kanna doesn't understand her own nature- neither does Karasu. They weren't educated in necromancy like I've been- they don't understand that this is only making the problem worse. Kanna must come to Vailkrin to be monitored one way or another, but I'd rather this go smoothly."

Magik said to Quintessa, "Have you seen or heard from Karasu lately? Perhaps we can get more eyes out there and pass a message on?"

Quintessa sighs dejectedly. "No," she admits, a sadness showing in her eyes that she fails to hide before looking away, "I've been searching for months and all I have to show for it are a handful of corpses they left behind."

Magik bites at his bottom lip with an exposed fang for a brief moment, "More eyes it is then. Maybe we can get a note to Kara if you suspect she is only a few steps behind Kanna. Less focus on Kanna and more on who follows up after Kanna has had her fill?" Sighing again he adds, "We'll continue with observe and report for the Unseen unless Karasu can be confirmed to be with or behind her. What type of message should we -carefully- slip into Karasu's possession?"

Quintessa has a million things she wants to say to Karasu but doesn't know where to start. Why did she leave? Why didn't she say goodbye? They were supposed to be in this thing together. Together Karasu and Quintessa were going to change the guild. And now? "I'm certain Karasu will show herself to me if I apprehend Kanna." The changeling says flatly, "But if we were to slip her a note?" Quintessa shrugs, "I just want to know what motivates her. I mean, she flees the Mage Tower to help Kanna kill a bunch of lechers and creeps? It doesn't make sense to me. I'm missing an important piece of the puzzle I just don't know how to ask her for it."

Magik scoots his chair back, pressing his forehead against the table for a moment. He eventually fixes his posture, sitting straight in his chair, "IF you must apprehend Kanna, try to drive her into Cenril first. It's a big city and we have a strong presence there. If you are seen in the streets the Unseen will know what's about to go down. Let's try to confirm if Karasu is involved first. But if push comes to shove, be careful. I would prefer we get confirmation on Karasu and a word or two with her."

Quintessa nods in understanding. "I'll continue to bide my time, then, but the Necromancer's Guild will want to see action soon. Each day she is left to feast is another day someone else might damage her and I cannot allow that."

Magik stands and pushes his chair in. He walks to Tessa, gently smacking his hand on her shoulder, "Let's get to work then. I'm going to remove the bounty from the board along with your note and check with the Mage's Tower to see if Karasu has been spotted. Kanna was in Kelay early so maybe take a stroll through Vailkrin or Enchantment to see if the streets are talking, yeah?"

Quintessa nods again, also rising to her feet. "No time to waste," she says before scooping up her cigarettes from the table and returning them to her cloak. "I'm not going to let her slip through my fingers again..."

Magik heads back to the tavern but suggests Tessa pour herself a double shot of something strong for the road.