RP:Rather Convenient Options

From HollowWiki

Part of the Agitation Arc


Summary: After waiting through some Vailkrin politics, Linn manages to acquire the attention of Larewen for a project of his own. Once they cleared up a misunderstanding of who broke into her study with Pilar, the two discussed the Order of the Shade and the potential of using one of their artifacts to track down the Shade Nightmare. Current knowledge of existing artifacts has led them to settle on contacting a current owner as a first attempt to do what they need to.

Great Hall of Vailkrin

Hildegarde nodded as Larewen spoke of Laezila’s discomfort, “Yes, she seemed skittish,” she knew the former matron would never be at ease really. The Silver glanced to her companions, her eye drifting from Linn’s face to his tapping foot before looking to Larewen again. “It would appear that important matters bore our companions. Let’s put this issue to bed for now, so as not to terribly bore them. They might revolt.”


Linn managed to suppress his boredom as Hildegarde and Larewen continued speaking until the former steward cracked her joke about their relative exclusion. Visibly he jolted a little bit, barely keeping an amused snort from escaping him with it and completely ruining the mood. “I’m sorry.” The enchanter apologized with his first words of the conversation before scratching the side of his head. “I haven’t really introduced myself quite yet with everything else going on, but I’m Linn. It’s good to meet you, Daermon and Larewen.” Offering a nod to the two he wasn’t familiar with he turned his gaze to Larewen before speaking again. “I’ve been meaning to see you Larewen. I visited House Dragana a few times but I was unable to find you there. I have a few matters of my own that I would like to talk about.”


Pilar raised an eyebrow. Daath was 'upon' her, huh? That probably wasn't as dirty as it sounded to her. Naughty Pilar, thinking such thoughts. While she didn't want to say she hoped Laezila could go back to Frostmaw soon, the truth was she did, but it was purely for Laezila's comfort and peace of mind, not because Pilar didn't like her. Far from it! She felt a tad embarrassed by proxy when Hilde noticed Linn and Daermon's boredom, but it was obviously unwarranted.


Larewen allowed a soft, amused chuckle to fall from pale lips at Hildegarde's observation and lifted her chin slightly in agreement. Her mouth opened for words, but they were not spoken as Linn finally introduced himself. Again, her dark stare turned toward the enchanter and her head tilted slightly. He had gone to House Dragana to seek her? Was he her culprit? Her jaw tensed slightly, and with those suspicions left unspoken, replied with, "I am listening."


Linn gave a single nod as Larewen announced her attention, glancing around the castle briefly before he finally spoke. “I’ve been told you know about something called the Order of the Shade. There have been events in Xalious that seem to tie back to them which you may have heard about. I’m looking to know more about them.” A brief pause before probably one of the more important and relevant questions hit him. “Do you happen to know anything about something they call the Shade Nightmare?” It certainly –gave- nightmares, that was for certain…


Pilar 's breath would have hitched in her throat. Order of the Shade? Xzavior had been looking for a book on some mysterious Order. He'd said it was something about cryomancy, but... Oh, that liar! Pilar let out a little disappointed sigh and hung her head. If there had been any doubt in her mind, it was gone now. Xzavior had used her, plain and simple.


Larewen stared hard at Linn, his words a bit too convenient. Her researching regarding the Order of the Shade was, after all, in her study. Poor Linn. "I am quite aware of what's going on in Xalious; I am also aware that someone else also completed the dots, and successfully summoned the Shade Nightmare. Word travels quick, and I was hoping that incident could have been avoided. Erlan and Molotroi were clearly a bit too eager." Her chin lifted slightly. "What do you need to know?"


Linn was thoroughly oblivious to the events that had taken place at Larewen’s study, (un)fortunately for him (depending how it turns out in the end…) As she spoke about the summoning he released a sigh with a nod, freezing the moment he heard two more unfamiliar names thrown out. His brows furrowed as his head dipped inwards towards her, “You know the other necromancers?” he evenly inquired. About what he needed to know… he sighed again. “Possibly anything. That thing was driven off, but it’s not dead for what I know. I want to find a way to track it down. As far as how… that’s going to take a bit of work. I’d like to discuss the details more privately, if that is okay with you.” He sent his gaze around the whole room of the castle as if to indicate any prying eyes and ears.


Larewen continued to stare at Linn, perhaps unaware of exactly how cold the look she was giving him was. His query about the necromancers was met with a tensing of her jaw. She hadn't meant to disclose that. Just as the fact that it was actually supposed to be Larewen that released the creature wasn't exactly something she wanted -everyone- to know. Hildegarde was aware, perhaps. Emrith had an idea. It was them that had deterred her. "It still roams?" she asked, and there was perhaps a little too much excitement in her voice. Like a child promised sweets. She didn't follow his gaze. "We can go elsewhere. Do you have a preference, or would you prefer we return to House Dragana?" Her tone was a bit chilly.


Linn’s brows furrowed at the oddly cold look he was getting for his inquiries. Was she hiding something? Her tensing at the disclosed relations and… enthusiasm regarding the Shade Nightmare was even more offsetting. Her request for clarification went unanswered. “Let’s return to House Dragana. I’m sure we could sort something out more effectively there.” A small note of confused suspicion rested on his voice, as if he was mentally taking a step back to get a better idea of what was going on.


Pilar was oblivious as to what was going on in the minds of her two companions. Perhaps if she had mind-reading powers, she could have nipped this brewing problem in the bud. But, alas, she was just a normal fledgling vampire. And besides, she wouldn't have read anyone's mind, anyway. That would have been rude. She merely nodded as the decision to return to House Dragana was made.


Larewen nodded quietly, noting his lack of reply to her query. If the Shade Nightmare had not yet been defeated, then it was possible that she could still complete her studies; possible that she could both aid in stopping it, and find the information she sought. "Very well." And with those words, she turned to head toward House Dragana.


House Dragana

Linn made his way out of Vailkrin with Larewen and Pilar, remaining rather silent until they had left the city limits into the forest. While it may have been less safe out there for most people, it wasn’t bad for a secure conversation. The whole… strangeness of her mood regarding this topic was hard to put out of his mind, leading him to ask as they traveled the road back to House Dragana, “So… what kind of interest do you have in this order if you don’t mind me asking? From what I’ve heard it’s been dead for years, and these necromancers seem to be trying for some kind of revival of it.” He did his best to pose it casually in an attempt to maybe give it a bit of surprise to throw off any prepared answers.


Larewen allowed the magic to guide her, and that was far easier when they reached the forest, for her own littered it. She could see a clear path to Dragana. His query only helped convince her that he was, in fact, the one who had broken into her study, wrong though it was. "You seem to know more than most about the Order of the Shade, Linn. It was Josleen that first came to me to ask about them. My interest in the cult is purely academic; I am a necromancer after all. Years is an understatement; it's been forgotten for a very long time."


Pilar looked between the two of them as they walked through the forest. She had nothing to add to the conversation She looked down at the forest floor, feeling useless. Worse than useless... she'd brought a sneak thief into the house. Even if he hadn't stolen anything, why else would he break into Larewen's study and go rummaging through her stuff?


Linn released a halfhearted chuckle as Larewen commented on his own questions about the order along with Josleen’s. “I actually came to her first to ask about it. She sent me to you.” A long silence followed as he thought on her spoken interest in such a thing, on the shade nightmare, on its dangers, on her enthusiasm… on his own when looking at something –big-. “I see. I’ve just about had it with necromancers as of late if you know what I mean. Between everything they’ve done to Xalious, Frostmaw, and a few others targeting people I know… It’s hard to properly know what’s going on. If it’s only academic though, that means you’re not looking to end the world with this Shade Nightmare are you?” Another chuckle, rather morbid this time. The answer was a probable, hopeful ‘no.’ Hopefully.


There was a time when she would have answered yes to his query. Part of her wanted to see darkness return to the world, but that part had been growing smaller and smaller. "My lover and Hildegarde would be among the first to sever my head from my shoulders, if I thought to do something of that nature," she said, and hoped that would be adequate enough an answer for Linn. "I would prefer to contain it, for further study on behalf of necromancy. There is much to be learned, and much of it is dangerous. Amateurs will bring ruin. Those that seek the end will, too. I... I would not do that." But she had been the one that was supposed to summon it!


Pilar could hardly believe Linn would talk smack about necromancers ~to a necromancer's face.~ Talk about bold. At least Larewen was taking it in stride. As the elder vampire spoke, Pilar remembered their moment, when Larewen had a crisis of morality. Was this Order of the Shade business what she had been talking about? From the sounds of it, Larewen hadn't gone through with whatever dark dealings she'd been involved with. Pilar was proud of her.


Linn nodded with a continued morbid amusement at Larewen’s statement. “I’d be among them too.” He returned casually almost. On her will to contain it he was silent for some time as they walked, the house looming ahead as they went. “I would rather see it destroyed. But… I understand what you want.” A beat, “Right now, I’m willing to make a deal. If we can find out a way to track it down, I’d be willing to help you imprison it for study, so long as I am allowed those notes as well, to find a way to end it if things go very wrongly.” As far as he knew he was playing with fire making a deal like this, but it was better to play with a fire than to ignorantly sit on it as it burned. And right now? This necromancer was his only way to do that.


Larewen had, more or less, dismissed the quip. She'd grown used to the disdain with which her craft and kind were often regarded. Her own morbid amusement followed suit, when Linn so casually claimed to be among those that would end her. "Emrith has justified the need to kill me, should it ever arise. He says that should I return to that path of darkness, I would have killed his lover and he would seek revenge upon me for it," she said. Perhaps those words were more of interest to Pilar, though. As Linn continued, her chin lifted slightly and her lips pursed. "If you wanted to see the notes, you only needed to ask. There was no need to break into my study," she said. Her voice was surprisingly soft, for something that had upset her as much as it had. As far as she was concerned, Linn was, coincidentally, asking all the right things, and held magic. Of course, she hadn't the chance to compare his to that which lingered upon the door handle, but the evidence, though circumstantial, was enough. "I will help you, so long as I am given the chance to study it."


Pilar would grieve Larewen's death, return to darkness or no. She loved the woman, truly, and it was hard for Pilar to let go of the love she had for others. The accusation came as quite a shock to Pilar. Whyever would she think Linn had something to do with the break-in? Just because he'd shown up out of nowhere and had an interest in this thing she'd been studying and-- oh. "Larewen... it was not him." She finally spoke, for the first time since they arrived at the castle. "I think it was... a different friend of mine. I... I would have told you sooner, but I wanted to talk to him, first. Make sure I was right, before accusing him. I'm... I'm sorry, Larewen."


Linn tilted his head slightly in thought on Larewen’s statement of killing Emrith’s lover before nodding. It made sense if one broke away from the literal world enough. As they made it to the entrance of House Dragana and she mentioned him breaking into her study he froze in his tracks, his brows immediately furrowing in confusion, “Uh… what?” He had to take a few seconds to process what was just said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He hadn’t even left the foyer of the grand manor while he waited there… and then Pilar spoke, her own admission bringing him to scratch at his forehead. What had he just walked into? “I can guarantee it wasn’t me. I never went far in the house and I would have asked you first before copying any of your books.” A sigh, “Come on. If you want to discuss this break-in or the Shade Nightmare some more let’s do it inside where we have a bit more to work with.”


Larewen blinked, puzzled at Pilar and turning her head in the other's direction. "What?" she said, her surprise evident in the shrill note of that syllable. In her mind, that was worse than a stranger such as Linn; it was someone Pilar had trusted. Someone she considered a friend. This darkened the necromancer's features. "It seems you need better judgment in friends and lovers, dear heart," she said quietly. Her attention turned back toward Linn and the building's doors seemed to open of their own accord. Undoubtedly, it was Larewen's magic. "In that case, apologies. Someone broke into my study, but nothing was taken. I fear there might be a repeat, but come. I will let you see the notes."


Pilar hung her head. She had become too trusting since coming to Hollow. She needed to reevaluate all of her friendships, and be more guarded in the future. Larewen wasn't pressing her for more details, and Pilar didn't want to keep talking about it, but she felt it was important for her benefactor to know. "He was looking for something on an Order, he told me... He didn't tell me the full name, but I think it might have been this Order of the Shade. If it is, I don't know why he'd be interested, he's not a necromancer... I think..."


Linn breathed a slow, tense sigh as Larewen chided Pilar. “It’s amazing how much better things would be if some people just –asked-…” was all he could add on to the general situation, not really holding any grudges for the accusation. “Thank you. I will want to copy what might be relevant as well, if you are okay with that.” Again as he entered the house the magic permeating his body shifted, forming itself to the arcane light of the house and bringing his mithril plating to a positive glow. With a slightly annoyed huff from the enchanter it began to reshape itself again, forming around itself defensively to shut out outside effects and with that the excess light faded just as quickly as it came. As they went and Pilar explained the likely interests of the trespasser his brow furrowed again. Man, how far did these coincidences go? “What was his name?” Whoever it was he might make an ally, or an enemy, but definitely someone to be questioned.


Larewen dipped her head slightly. There was no use in keeping the knowledge to herself, with what was at stake. She allowed Linn to question Pilar, though she winced visibly and turned away from him when his armor lit up. Her enchanted sight made it far more brighter than it should be, and it left stars in its wake. In silence, she would lead both of them to the study, where a new lock had been installed, as ordered.


Pilar hesitated to give her friend's name. Even now, she didn't want to bring down undue trouble on him. But, if he really was the culprit... "It was Xzavior," she said at last. "Please, don't hurt him..." This was addressed to Larewen, but perhaps Linn was the one she should have worried about. "I'm not even entirely sure it was him, it's just... he wanted to come over when he heard I was a member of House Dragana, and he was out of sight when we heard the lock break, and he had an explanation ready for the noise... And he was looking for information on an Order... it all fits." She shook her head. "I just want to talk to him, first. I want to be wrong."


Linn, again, furrowed his brows at the news that it was… Xzavior? “What in the world… Xzavior?” he asked incredulously. “I just want to know what he’s looking for regarding the order at this point. Well… we’ll just have to make sure this doesn’t happen again.” He looked much more annoyed than angry. Getting angry was just too exhausting to be worth the effort most of the time. As they finally entered the study he looked around to take in the details, closing the door (If it didn’t do so behind them) before he spoke. “As far as what I’m looking to do regarding this Order of the Shade… I think some of those artifacts they made could give us a good place to start. Something substantial related to them to work with that might help us track down and better understand everything they’re about and what they are doing.”


Larewen did not know who this Xzavior is, so she simply noted the name. "I will let you speak to him first," she conceded, but her voice was soured. "And should he try again, the charms I will be placing upon this room will not be as passive as they were before." It was a warning. Then, Linn mentioned the artifacts and again, Larewen tensed. "I have been seeking them as well," she admitted. She had located one of them, and though she longed for posession of it, had not so acted upon that desire. Her features darkened with the thought.


Pilar knew she would no longer be of use and stayed by the door to the study while Linn and Larewen entered. "I will... retire for the night, I think. I have a lot to think about. Good night, Larewen. Good night, Linn."


Linn nodded towards Pilar as she gave her farewells. “Good night Pilar. See you later!” he offered in return before entering the study to speak of plans. Larewen’s statement of seeking the artifacts brought him to nod with a slight smile. She was looking to study one of the nastiest things he had seen… an artifact was well within reason. “I’m looking to find one of those artifacts. Study it a bit, see if we can use the magic that makes it up to connect a few more dots, trace our way to something more central. Because right now we have no way of knowing where the Shade Nightmare might be, unless you do. I just… think that having a direct sample of something from this order can be used to figure it out. Maybe your notes can give us some kind of start to things.”


Larewen inhaled slowly and opening the study, crossed the threshold to sit at the chair behind her desk. A few others were in the room. Then, she sighed heavily. Would she come clean with a stranger? She wasn't sure. She didn't trust him, didn't know him. "I can trace it," the elf said quietly. She had filled in the missing spots for the necromancers, after all. "And I know the location of one of the artifacts."


Linn slowly made his way over to one of the chairs before unshouldering his pack, setting it down before pulling some of the plates off of the back of his armor to not damage the furniture before sitting. To both her statements he nodded, slowing to a stop as she admitted knowing the location of one artifact. “It might be what we need. Any of them might be what we need to find that creature if you can find a way to trace their magic around the world. But… this one you already know. Has someone else already found it? Or is it just lost, waiting for someone to come along and pick it up?” In his mind a good old fashioned treasure hunt was preferable to dealing with someone who –knew- what the artifact meant. Unless they proved particularly agreeable in the venture, but that would just be too easy now wouldn’t it?


Larewen watched Linn carefully as he made himself comfortable. When his query had been posed, Larewen's chin lifted slightly. "It is in someone's possession, and they are not eager to part with it," the elf said softly. "The other four, I have not yet located." A pause followed, and the elf's gloved hand lifted to summon a shimmering rift that hovered before her. Reaching into it, she withdrew a vial of that same substance that had been found in Xalious. "This was a result of failed summonings, I used it to trace the necromancers responsible before. I might be able to augment it so that it can be used to trace the Shade Nightmare."


Linn nodded weakly at the news that someone else already had the known artifact. “That would complicate things. Fortunately it’s not the only one. There might still be one out in the world if we can’t convince any of the people to let us use theirs. If we want to effectively bring another one of those artifacts back into this world that is.” When Larewen retrieved the vial his gaze fixed on the black substance before he released a sigh. “Burns people it touches after repeated exposure…” he idly muttered, recalling the one trait he really remembered about it. “If it was part of the summoning then it may possess some relation to it, and with that a way to trace it.” His gaze remained nervously fixed on the inky substance, as if he expected something bad to come of it right here and now.


Larewen rolled a shoulder upward in lieu of his words. "The best we can do, in that case, is seek the remaining four. The owner of the one that has been found has no ill wishes, and can be trusted. He knows its value, and what it is. You might have better luck than I would, in seeing if he would relinquish it." A thin-lipped smile followed. She knew who held that one artifact, and was also fully aware that its keeper did not trust her with it. When he commented upon the black ooze, she nodded. "It was, in a way. I am willing to try, at the very least."


Linn nodded at the potential of finding whoever owned the current artifact. “Maybe I could see him, though I understand if you don’t want to tell me who he is. Right now I still may as well be nobody to you. I would return it once it’s served our purposes, if it’s something he wants returned.” The enchanter shrugged, waving away the subject as he caught himself beginning to ramble. “If you have any idea of a way to use this to track the shade nightmare, I’m willing to help in any way I can.”


Larewen mused quietly to herself for an extended period, and then an idea struck her. "Perhaps we do not need to borrow the item from him; I think that maybe if I ask him to accompany us, and explain to him what it is I intend to do, that he might be more obliging. As for his identity... I would rather keep it to myself, for the time-being. I doubt that all who seek the relics do so with good intentions." Again, that thin smile. "With the vial and at least one of the artifacts, it is possible. The same magicks that created those relics created the Shade Nightmare, and the ooze is built of the same magic that was used to summon it. There should be remnants of both clinging to it."


Linn nodded quickly as Larewen proposed bringing this figure with them. “That sounds like it could work. With some of the people working with this order trying to summon that thing in the first place… there’s good reason for all the paranoia regarding these artifacts. If it doesn’t work out, maybe we could look to find another for ourselves. It’s fortunate there are five in existence that we know of… or unfortunate maybe.” A long pause followed as he thought on what would be done with all of the materials they had and how they could be used to trace the creature. “I suppose I should explain some of what I believe I could contribute. I travel a lot and generally have an interest in artifacts. I’d be more than willing to go on a hunt for one if we need. I’ve also come to deal very often with enchantments and enchanted items. While I’m no master in this particular brand of magic the order is using, I know enough to be able to compare it and find similar patterns.”


Larewen nodded quietly. "Fortunate, depending on how many have been found. There are only five artifacts, one created by each member of the Order of the Shade; they consisted of five drow nobles, all of which were men. I fear fortune might not be on our side, if interest has truly grown as much as it has in so short of a time, Linn," the elf said, her tone weighed with a distinct disappointment. She listened as he explained his magic. "Magic certainly does have its unique qualities between different casters," she agreed, taking note of how he compared it. "I am blind, and I am unable to see the world the same way you do. What I do see, however, is magic. Before, I could probe into different sorts, identify it, and trace it with some difficulty. Now, I am able to see it clear as day. Each individual thread of mana has its own unique imprint."


Linn sighed slowly, his foot beginning to tap as he listened to Larewen’s statement on the artifacts. “Perhaps. Still, if there’s one still out there, I’d be more comfortable knowing who has it when it is found. It’s worth a shot I think, given how few people still seem to know much about the order itself.” When Larewen explained her blindness everything suddenly clicked, who she was from the few times he had seen her. A quick nod. “I’ve been given a similar ability, though I haven’t spent much time adapting to it. Old habits maybe, I’ve always been able to…feel? It. Almost like it was something solid in my hands. I find it to be much more… intimate, than sight. I’ve felt like I was able to learn more feeling my way through an enchantment than seeing it. Regardless…” He sighed, shaking it away. “If you want me to take another look at anything I can try…” A shrug and a light chuckle, “I wouldn’t mind helping with reinforcing that door after all this as well if you’d allow me.” Catching himself going a bit off-topic he sighed again, “Well, if you think we can see this person who already has an artifact it’s probably the best place to start. We can met again with him later to sort this out? And if you want to start some kind of hunt for any of the remaining artifacts… I’m willing to help.”


Larewen was not so optimistic, but that was also her nature. Things rarely turned out so easily. "Interacting with magic, when our other senses are lesser, is certainly intimate," she agreed. As for the brief turn to the door, Larewen offered him another faint smile. "No offense, but I would rather it be my own magic at work within my House. The thought counts, however. And as for the individual posessing the artifact, I will send you word when next he arrives."


Linn nodded politely at Larewen’s refusal of his offer. “It is your study after all. I understand.” Another brief pause as he thought on the plans from here on. “Very well. If it doesn’t work… then I guess we have to hunt. But for now that is our best option. I’ll pay attention to know when I’m needed, is there any place you could leave messages? I stay around Xalious which is fairly far away, though I can receive messages in Kelay, though if I have to travel here I’m willing to do so. A bit of travel is tolerable if it means getting to the bottom of all of this.”


"I will send word by Courier, to wherever it is necessary," the elf said. It would suffice, for the time-being. "While I wait for his arrival, I will work on creating another set of enchanted skulls, like the one I gave Kahn. It allows for magical communication over distance. I will also send word when that is ready."


Linn nodded, freezing for a second when Orikahn was mentioned before relaxing. He had his own method of communication, though it was jury-rigged and had its own issues that made it rather impractical. “That sounds reasonable. I should probably be going now if I’m no longer needed with what we are doing. Thank you for your help on all of this. Xalious and Kelay are both places that will hold messages for me, so until then.” With a nod he rose from his chair before turning to depart, ready to begin his own search for someone else he knew who had one of these artifacts.


Larewen lifted a hand in silent farewell, watching as the male took his leave before returning to her studies.