RP:Shady Ways To Save The World

Alice's Seaside Cottage

Alice stood in the center of the living room, slowly wrapping black cloth around her left forearm. It appeared that the right arm had already been taken care of. She wasn't wearing any of her usual armor, or even her boots, surprisingly. No, today was all about stealth. Draped over the couch was a second black outfit, presumably waiting for her guest, who would hopefully arrive at any moment. Tonight was a big night- tonight was the night where she would officially uncover the dark secrets she just knew that the enemy was hiding. It was just too unfortunate that that enemy just so happened to be the very church that she'd attempted to help when she'd first come to the city. If only she had seen it sooner... maybe she could have talked some sense into those who worked and lived there. It was too late, though, she imagined. Though she herself didn't really have much faith in the gods, she thought it was a shame that the church themselves may have very well lost their faiths too... unless, of course, she pondered, it was quite the opposite. Perhaps she was right about the whole idea of worship, that it leads to fanaticism and to panic. Maybe those people of the church had finally lost their minds with their worship, or maybe they had been tricked by a corrupt leader. Don't get ahead of yourself, girl, Al thought to herself, shaking her head. To tell the truth, as it was, though her gut told her it must have been true, that all the evidence pointed this way, she didn't have the proof yet. She couldn't know for sure. That wouldn't stop her from trying, though. That's what tonight was about. Tonight... that very truth would be revealed, whether it left her in the dust, or whether it helped her, Vailkrin, and the Cenrilian people in the long run.

Ranok had no time, nor will, for subtlety. The letter hadn't really much requested it, so he didn't go out of his way. Living as he did in Rynale had rather numbed him to secrecy. His business being his own was all well and good, but there were too many poking their noses into things. Frankly, it both exhausted his already limited reserves of damn to give and it bored him. Plus, subtle wasn't really ever his style. So with that in mind, the arrival was swift and to the point. A shadow swiftly descending on towards the ground with a thud of metalled boots hitting the ground, the flap of leather closing around, and his undeniable large frame. A fist to pound on the door, and he awaits his entry.

Alice had been pulling on a glove just as the door was knocked upon. A grimace formed on her lips for a moment, but the moment was quick, and the expression faded from her face as quickly as it had appeared there. Al was careful, and peeked through the peephole in the door before opening it. So he'd answered her summons. Good. Hopefully this would go just as easily as she needed it to. The now-gloved hand pried open the door, and she motioned for him to come inside, before closing the door behind him, once he'd entered. "Thank ye fer makin' it." Her voice was serious as she bolted the door shut. There was a hint of urgency in the way she moved, as if she expected something to go wrong at any moment. "I need yer help with somethin', if it weren't clear enough through the letter. I won' dillydally on the details either. I need ter get into the Church, find some documents, and get out. I need someone to watch my back while I sneak in there. Are ye in fer a bit of troublemakin?" She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the door now, not offering details just yet as to how or why she needed to get into the church so badly.

Ranok glances around the house, trying to remember if he'd ever been in the house before. He think he had. Regardless, he takes off his hat, "Normally, when a woman invites me into her house in the dead of the night, acting furtively...well, actually, no, this seems fairly normal. But that doesn't answer the question, you want me to help you sneak around? Couldn't find a pickpocket for hire around rather then have me tromp around?" Under normal circumstances, his tone would be more teasing then anything. Right now, he just seemed tired. Somehow, the worn man was even more worn around the edges. But instead of breaking, it just showed the steel underneath, cold and hard.

Alice let out a small snort of amusement. Not much had changed with this fellow, but she could sense his tiredness. In seeing it, she suddenly realized that she too had grown tired, from all the work she had put in here in Cenril. Hopefully tonight would be the night that would make things a little easier to handle... hopefully. "Can't just be takin' any random pickpocket with me on this mission. Let me give you some background. Few weeks ago, I attended a ball in Vailkrin. We were attacked by a group of cultists, many were slaughtered. I've got intel that there is evidence inside the church that'll give me enough reason to issue warrants for the arrest of those responsible. Can't get caught doin' it neither, or else all sorts of trouble will come up." She ran a hand through her hair, and reminded herself silently that she ought to tie it up before they left. "What we're lookin' at here is overthrowin' who's runnin' this joint currently. When I get my hands on those documents, and on the other evidence I'm told is there, we'll be spittin' on their faces and takin' over their business affairs. I can keep yer involvement quiet, if'n that's what yer wantin', an' I can pay ye too. As long as you help. Yer the only one I trust with this." She furrowed her brow. "Well. You an' Raph, but I ain't seen her in a dog's age."

Ranok takes off his hat, running fingers through his hair, "Cultists attacking Vailkrin? Must be a death cult. Why else pick a fight with those overpowered rulers? Honestly now. A...whatever Satoshi is these days, plus whatever Kasyr is. I never really bothered to define them in a word. Hm. Regardless." On the hat goes again, "I need no payment. A chance to cut the knot? Be that I could a hundred times. I'd have more time on my hands. Very well. If this is the headquarters, we might as well burn it too. Give us a pretense to having the documents, perhaps. Miraculous survival after an investigation of the building. Or we'll just take it."

Alice put up a hand and waved it, as if wiping away an unpleasant thought. "As much as I'd like ter burn it down, tha' just ain't somethin' that can be done. The people o' Cenril will be wantin' a place to worship an' a place to respect their dead.... unless I just build 'em a new one..." She rubbed her chin for a moment. "...Think we could make it look like an accident? Like we were never there? Fact, I think that might be what we need ter be doin'... get the evidence, burn it down, show up and pretend we're the response team... 'discover' the evidence." She snapped, eyes glittering now. "Yer a genius. Knew ye'd be the right person to call on it."

Ranok rubs his chin, "Cenril is made of stone. The churchs more so. I doubt some fire will bring down the place. If I know my architecture, and I do, it won't really be much of an issue. And they're filled with candles. Some poor worshipper or careless priest knocks a candle. It's easy." A shrug follows, and a simple statement, "This was my life long ago. These skills don't exactly go away. Well, let's get to it. I have everything we'll need. The night is burning."

Alice grinned, and gave a nod, reaching to a nearby counter to grab a spare piece of string, which she used to tie her hair up in a simple bun. "Ye have my thanks. This is going to be..." She hesitated, searching for the proper sort of word to describe what she was thinking, before settling on one syllable, which was uttered with a mischievous grin. "...Fun." The redhead then pointed to the back door of the house, and gave a nod. "We'll go this way, shorter, less seen." With that, she slinked past him and outside, already making her way to the church itself.

Ranok follows Alice, this time bothering to keep his head down. It didn't help all that much, but still, he did what he could.