RP:Half Truths
Part of the A Line Drawn in the Sand Arc
Summary: After spying on and meeting with Mcracken, Xzavior reports to Gevurah, though he doesn’t reveal everything he knows. He tells the drow that Mcracken and Kelovath have met, lies about Mcracken recruiting Artia to help him rescue Emilia, and shares little else. Tangentially related, the noble and her spy briefly discuss Deriin.
The Grand Temple of Vakmatharas, Vailkrin
Gevurah had received word from Xzavior through their obscure communication channel, and in a code only the two of them could decipher with ease. Another meeting, he had written, claiming he had information to report. However, frequent travel to Trist’oth proved a great risk for the spy, and so Gevurah suggested she travel to Vailkrin where both of them could visit without drawing too much suspicion. She waited for the naga in a private worship booth reserved for high ranking members of the clergy. In the main room, one of her drow rogues waited in non-descript clothing. He did not bear the colors nor symbols of D’Artes. As soon as the naga appeared, he would be led to private room that was empty. A few minutes later one of the walls rippled like gelatin, and from the ripples the high priestess emerged. Any spies on her tail would have seen her and Xzavior enter separate, but adjacent rooms. Such anti-spy craft was as natural to Gevurah as breathing. Attire formed another important part of her subterfuge. The noble wore a high corseted, black and deep purple dress with a wide full skirt and bustle. Jewelry, beading, the D’Artes insignia on a choker at the hollow of her throat, she wore all of her noble regalia, because when she dressed down she aroused suspicion. “You have news for me.” She took a seat.
Xzavior had remained as inconspicuous as possible as he headed to the temple. It was easier than thought as almost no one remembered the religion the naga practiced. It could be seen as natural but he was only here to see the priestess. He wasn't surprised at the disguised guard but the way she entered the room was a bit amusing. When she jumped straight to business again he chuckled and offered her a slight bow, "Looking fine as always. In fact I do. The kraken was an easier task to tail then I had thought. I have enough old connections where he doesn't really see me as that much of a threat and we have some nice little chats about him. Firstly, the kraken has made connections with Kelovath of Larket. Seems to hold a high rank seeing as he had an entourage of guards with him." He mused a bit on the thought. He wondered a bit of what ever happened to an old friend and her plans about larket.
Gevurah never did learn the art of small talk. His compliment earned him a sardonic, flash-in-the-pan smile. “Mhm.” She nodded at Xzavior’s news of Kelovath ascending the ranks in Larket. “Yes, I have heard from my ears in Larket.” Meaning the low grade spies that feed generally public news into the D’Artes network of information. “What does the kraken want with Kelovath, and vice versa.”
Xzavior wasn't too put off by that. It wasn't the important bit anyways. Just some side knowledge he thought to include. "By the sounds of it, Mcracken isn't just trying to cleanse the curse and regain his form, he is getting himself as many allies he can to wage a holy war against the dark hearts of the land or what have him. He doesn't have many allies at the moment. Quite a few supporters, but none strong enough or willing to fight with him. Along with that, he is trying to find Emilia's home. I'm not sure if it is just to inform them of what has happened to her, or to try and get X to join him. Either way, he plans on rescuing her." Though Xzavior chuckled before adding, "Though I don't believe it's out of the kindness of his heart, rather reputation and a good face."
Gevurah‘s glowing stare narrowed on Xzavior ashe divulged the information surrounding Emilia. (Side note: Gevurah just re-learned Emilia’s name as she had forgotten it all this time.) How did the information go from Kelovath and Larket to Xersom’s wife? “How did you come by this information? Is Kelovath joining the rescue?” Her nose wrinkled in distaste as if she finds that unlikely. Kelovath allying himself with Sacrilus? No surely the drow had guessed wrong.
Xzavior shook his head, "Kelovath came earlier. I don't think if he even knows of it. But in regards of how I got the info? The kracken handed it to me. Most literally. He is talking to everyone who knew her and I was with one of those people while he was." Actually, he was that person. Xzavior was a very close friend of Emilia and it took a lot of effort not to do anything stupid to try and get her back. Xzavior knew he would be dead in moments. A good thing his poker face game was so strong right?
Gevurah did not doubt Xzavior’s poker face now. He was indeed a very good liar, but her question followed naturally, and perhaps a bit irritably because getting this information from Xzavior is beginning to feel like pulling teeth. Why wasn’t her mercenary just laying it all out for her, every detail? “I see. And who was the kraken speaking with at that time.”
Xzavior wasn't too keen on throwing anyone he liked under the bus. He was actually telling the truth. He was there with someone else during that conversation, but just not going to add those other details. However, he always had a fallback. "Artia. Regrettably I still have need for her in certain situations. Mainly, when I need someone to patch me up after a bit of fun." He didn't like her all to much anymore. He was sure she knew Emilia anyhow. "Speaking of, do you happen to know a necromancer named Deriin? Very racist, has some wargs, an annoying affinity to summoning necromentals." His good humor returning as he started talking of him. Their fights were fun. But the reason they ended was annoying at best.
As soon as Xzavior changed the subject to Deriin, Gevurah barked, “Do not change the subject on me. We are not done with this kraken, and your manner is beginning to arouse my suspicion. Speak plainly about everything you know. You say Artia spoke with the kraken, but without Kelovath. I understand they are both on the Larketian council.” Again, this is public information fed into the Trist’oth power politics dossier. “Is Larket planning on rescuing Emilia or not? If so, why?” She held up a hand to cut him off then added, “Also, you say the kraken is not planning a rescue out of the goodness of his hearts. Do you know his motive? Because I do, and I do not need to tell you what happens if I discover you are withholding information from me. Perhaps you have confused my casual and pleasant manner with stupidity.” She spat the final words like an accusation he may want to defend himself from.
Xzavior raised his own hand with a shake of his head, "Calm down. I had already said that Kelo doesn't know anything about it as far as far as I know, that and the motives were for getting the good favor from saving someone like Emilia. I do not come to you to make you out a fool. I bring up Deriin because he seems like he can be a useful resource for you." He had a knack for getting him in this situation. But at least he knew how to get himself out. "Larket doesn't plan on rescuing her. If anything it's going to be a personal agenda. If Mcracken decides to bring others with him, that will be the largest group against you."
Gevurah snarled when told to calm down, but let Xzavior speak. A drow would have been whipped for that, but Gevurah knew surfacers to be casual and less hierarchical. She chose to let it slide, but the slight was noted. “What else do you know about the kraken’s personal agenda. Have you heard anything about a stone.”
Xzavior hardly followed hierarchy in the first place. He did what he does for her out of respect. "Other than the guy has no clue what almost anything is on land, nothing yet." That were important enough to recall anyhow. "But the stone is news to me. I can try to delve in that. Shouldn't be all to hard for me." Which is true for how he is dealling with the kracken.
Gevurah arched a brow at Xzavior’s boast. “You say it’s easy for you to extract information from the kraken. Why? What’s your connection.” The naga was under greater scrutiny now, after the strange way his information was reported.
Xzavior shrugged to her question, "The man doesn't think much of me other then I'm a poor choice in company. We've met and talked on many occurrences and he seems to place trust in me. Might not be a lot, but enough to get him to talk. That and he is oblivious to his surroundings when on land. I could follow him for days and he wouldn't knownit." What can he say. He isn't exactly normal.
Gevurah nodded at the information, seemingly satisfied with it. “Find out what you can about the stone. Xersom’s wife claims it has healing properties and is dear to the seafolk. She stole it from them and the kraken was looking to arrest her when I escorted her to a safe place. I suspect that stone is what the kraken is really after. Find out what you can about it.” She took a deep breath then added, “As for Deriin, I know of him in vague detail. He is a drow who covers his tracks. You have encountered him?”
Xzavior nodded idly when she said that. So much for helping ac along huh. Well, it should be quite alright as long as Gevurah spoke true. "Twice now. Fought him both times. For someone who seems to cover his tracks he is very reckless. Killed an entire crew of miners to summon a creature to try and kill me. Little to say, I'm alive and in one piece so..." he gave another shrug before lifting a hand, "Right, you might be finding two rather annoying women running around trying to topple the slave market. A lycan whom I haven't gotten a name from, and Rusilan. Like I said, rather an annoyance then an actual issue."
Gevurah nodded at the information regarding Rusilan. Another spy, Emerus, had beaten Xzavior to the punch and already reported this. The priestess’s spy network was vast. “I have heard of this Rusilan. I doubt she will prove a threat. See if you can find the name of the other lycan. I have not heard a second name. Why did Deriin attack you?”
Xzavior gave a more lively nod at the order and with the question he had to think about it for a second before chuckling and saying, "From what I've seen, he hates anything that isn't drow. And on careful speculations, elves at the highest degree. Though I may have made it to the top of his list. I wasn't exactly playing nice." He added with a smirk
Gevurah chuckled darkly, but ultimately doesn’t care if Deriin and Xzavior play cat an mouse--not yet anyway. She had yet to discover who Deriin served these days. That would have changed her level of interest. “Just don’t get yourself killed before finding for me the information and book I require. If that is all…” She fetched her coinpurse from a fold in her skirt to pay him for what he had told her so far. Loyalty can be bought, she believed.
Xzavior had already been coming to a stand laughing, "Glad to know you hold so much value in me." Though when she started to pull out the coinpurse he waved her down, "Don't worry about the pay. I don't think I should really get rewarded before the challenge is even complete, that and it wasn't that important, the news I gave." Really, he didn't really think of the gold much anymore. Personal vendettas and challenges were his drive at the moment. The fact that he nearly got tricked into handing a close friend over to really have herself in trouble never did any good on their part.
Gevurah insisted on paying him half, at least, lest he begin to believe they are peers, even (shudder) friends. Payment kept the lines clear, and Gevurah would never want to lose control and leverage. “Goodbye, then. May Vakmatharas guide your blade.” She left the way she came in.
Xzavior couldn't really keep arguing it. While she left he offered a slight nod, waiting a bit before finally leaving.