RP:Severed Heads and Secret Letters
Part of the Rest in Pieces: Vailkrin! Arc
Summary: Elioyahazer sends a letter in secret to Lady Dragana, informing her of his continued loyalty. She responds by severing the messenger's head and sending it back to him.
OOC Note: NPC played by Elioyahazer.
House Dragana
Larewen sits within her library, a tome opened before her. She's not paying it any mind though; rather, she reclines in her chair, a glass of vodka held in one hand. The bottle sits opened on the dark wood of her desk. Her other hand holds a clove cigarette, its aroma filling the air around her. The elf's mind lays elsewhere, contemplating her next course of action. Here, alone, the woman allows sorrow to grace her pale features. There's no need to appear tough, when one is by themselves. And in reality, the necromancer is weak in several ways. Too trusting, too hopeful, too lenient. The proper response to the events of the last week would be to go nuclear, to unleash Corruption and pick up the pieces afterwards--but she'd made Kasyr a promise. One she had no intentions of breaking. Vailkrin would suffer, but the city would stand tall through it all. She lifts her glass to her mouth and drains it before refilling it. Outside the estate, minions of all shapes and sizes wander. Wolves with heads split into quadrants that bloom like a flower and razorwhip tails. Sentries, to alert her to potential dangers. Ghouls, some of which are freshly dug out of the ground, gravedirt lines their fingernails and tattered clothes adorn their bodies: no doubt, the corpses missing from Vailkrin.
Searie was uncomfortable walking through these forests. No because of the ghouls that lurked within, but for her failure and subsequent abandoning of house Dragana. Her doe brown eyes are filled with worry while clutching this letter. After making an enemy of Larewen and claiming three of her guards, why send them back into the labyrinth that is the madwomans territory. “Come on,” her anxious voice calls out to the other two gaurds following behind her. They continue their excursion for a while, until a fellow former member speaks. Searie, you know she's going to kill us.” The Necromancer stops and responds without looking back. “Silence.” Facing Larewen would not be on her bucket list right now. “I understand your worry. But I ask you this now, who's more vicious. Jalal or Dragana? We don't have a choice. Move out.” After a while longer, Searie can start to sense the presence of magic. Those doe eyes spot a sentry creature not far off, that's meant to warn Larewen. Searie puts a hand up, “We wait here, on the outskirts. She knows we are here now.”
Larewen feels the magic within the house shift, feels it move to the offensive, sensing a direct threat. Her eyes close briefly and she exhales. Emptying her glass again, the necromancer rises to her feet and crosses the library to an ornate mirror that hangs upon the wall. With the passing of her hand, its solid facade shifts to something more malleable. Rapidly, the mirror shifts from sentry to sentry, until finally it lands on the three traitors. A low growl echoes the depths of her throat. She leaves the office, making her way toward the foyer and the great ornate doors that block passage in and out of the house. As if anticipating her intention, the doors swing open and she maneauvers her way through the forest until she's got eyes on the trio. A pulse of magic leaves the necromancer's form, flowing throughout the rest of the woods to be sure that the arrival of the traitors is not a trap waiting to be sprung. When she's certain that's not the case, and only then, she approaches. "Fools," she hisses, her voice icy. "You really dare tread here? After what you've done?" The shadows around them all twist, riled by the woman's anger and the air thickens, made stuffy by the sheer presence of magic.
The two foolish guards cower at ma mere glance of Larewen. Their courage couldn't hold as long as Searie’s, though hers almost failed as well. With an audible gulp, she swallows back the dry lump in her throat. “We..” She can barely speak. She is a traitor, following Larewens enemy, even if she was forced to. Her brown eyes shift to the letter in her hand and then extends it. We were asked by Jalal to deliver this to you. Please read it before you decide what to do.” Her gaze doesn't return to Larewen, but stays on the ground. She has no clue what's in that letter, but it's seal remains intact and unbroken. “I believe he seeks a response… Whatever that is.” Searie and the others fall silent.
Larewen scans the letter for any signs of tampering, even the vaguest hints of magical ill will. When she's certain there is none, she reaches a gloved hand forward and takes the letter from Searie. It takes the necromancer a moment, but she hooks a finger under its seal and separates the paper so that she can read it.
Larewen, These three guards were sure surprised at my intent to send you this letter. I've asked them to scout the “area” and bring back any information they find. Feel free to deliver any response through them. Firstly, I must tell you, my plan has worked. Perfectly. Using our fight, I've gathered some recent fame in the city, along with the help of one of your enemies -- Collette Nasar herself. She doesn't realize that I'm still quite loyal to you, and this whole thing is a ruse. Forcing your guards out of the city earned her trust. And with the discovery of a robbed graveyard, wonderfully done I might add, she's grown fearful and eats from my hand. House Nasar is about to fall by my own abilities and for you. There's only one problem that I currently have. Collette is arranging a dinner party soon, where I will spring the trap. All of her allies and followers will be there, and will fall with her as well. Would you be a dear friend and march your new troops during that dinner and deal with her guards? All your presents will be waiting within. -Elioyahazer P.s. I wonder what your face looks like right now?
As she does, her features twist between several emotions. First, there's anger. Anger that he'd dare contact her after his deeds. Then amusement when she sees it is not a threat. Even a brief look of longing crosses her expression, but it is only there for second. Finally, she laughs. Her gaze sweeps the area a second time, as if expecting the letter to be a joke. Surely he's hacking away at her with an axe, no? Ready to cut her down? Madness glitters in her gaze as it returns to Searie and the two guards. "Wonders what my face looks like right now... And I suppose that's a question he'll ask you then, if I send you back alive."
There is worry written upon Searie's features. Larewen laughed! What did Jalal put in that letter? “I understand you might end us, but he does expect a response.” She's stuck between a rock and a hard place. Larewen could easily kill her. Hell, Eli would do so while smiling down at her with eyes filled with depravity. She is a mere blade of grass in the wind right now. “What did Jalal say in the letter?” He gave rather odd orders to the other groups. To patrol but ignore Dragana troops and only report irregularities. What is going on? Regardless she huffs once, “I made a choice Lady Dragana, and I won't go back on it. If you kill me for it, so be it.” The other two guards look at Searie horrified. What did she just say to the madwoman? Idiot, they both want to shout - fear plastered over their features.
Larewen looks down at the letter once more, then back at Searie when she speaks. It's the impertinent tone that seems to set the necromancer alight. With a flick of her wrist, the sentry that spotted the trio shifts. As it shambles nearer, it becomes clear that it's a flesh golem. And it's being pulled by it's master's strings. "First," the necromancer says, staring down the woman coldly. "I'm going to do just that. I wouldn't have placed you in Vailkrin if I had reason not to trust you." As soon as those words leave her mouth, the golem lunges forward toward Searie, one massive hand seeking her shoulders and the other her head. The creature intends to literally twist the necromancer's head off.
Searie's gaze moves to the sentry as Larewen beckons it to slither forward. Without twisting her facial features see only mutters three words. “So be it.” The necromancer stands there, much like she did against Eli'st thrown axe and takes whatever comes her way like a champ. The two soldiers behind her however, cower. Is that piss, dribbling down one man's legs?
Larewen watches with relish as the necromancer's head is torn from her body and tilts her head toward the two remaining guards. Whatever she intends, it does not include their death; inf act, the golem tosses the severed head toward the remaining two, as if it's a hot potato. Inhaling, Larewen smells the stench of urine and a wicked grin curls her lips. Dipping forward, she closes what little distance remains between her and the men. Her mouth tilts upward toward one of their ears as she says, "Tell him I'll be there." She raises a single finger and places it against the male's chest and pushes. "Run along now."
The two men don't need anymore encouragement. So they snatch that severed head and run away to deliver Larewens message. Hopefully Eli would be okay with this report