RP:Valen, Super Spy, Lycidas Snitch, Royal Dream

Part of the Law and Oreder Arc

Part of the Larketian Fault Lines Arc

Summary: Josleen and Muzo meet with Valen to discuss witches, and, unexpectedly, so much more. Topics covered, please don't assume ic knowledge without proper reason to do so:

• Valrae and Talyara are witches. Maybe they can volunteer with Muzo's witch magic research?
• Artia may also be a witch, maybe.
• Hudson continues to be a dog [lycan and otherwise].
• Jarith is now free of his Corruption. Larewen has his Corruption stored in an undead body.
• Larewen and Lycidas are friendly.
• Lycidas is a likely suspect behind the caravan raids.
• Naga reproduction.
• Xzavior and Valen once dated?!

Muzo, unable to handle the Full Valen Experience (TM), hides in a closet.

Valen's Office, Academy of Magic

Josleen decides to meet Valen at the Academy. In recent weeks she has engaged the naga scientists Muzo to also study witches, albeit from a different angle than Valen. Still, both vampire and naga are working towards to same goal, to better understand witches, and so Josleen decides to invite Muzo to her meeting with Valen. Muzo is summoned to meet Josleen at the Academy's entrance at a specific hour. Together they venture inside to Valen's office, the queen whispering to Muzo updates about how things fair after a recent, secret treatment. She uses her bardic magic to ensure only Muzo hears her whispers, the sound perfectly delivered to him and leaking to no one else. The general message: So far so good. Outside Valen's office, she hesitates before knocking. Are Queen's supposed to knock, or always be announced? Knocking is fine, right? She needs a manual.

Upon hearing the knock at his door, Valen would quickly look up from his desk with a sudden grin. Knowing who it must be, he gets up out of the seat and quickly goes to the door and opens it. Granted it is not who he thought it was, but it was still someone whom he had hoped to see nonetheless. "Your highness! It is such a pleasure to see you. I see you finally must have gotten my let-" It was then that Valen noticed a most unusual sight for himself, a naga...but with the head -and- tail of a snake, and the torso of a humanoid. This was only the third naga he has seen up close, and curious eyes gaze up and down for a moment before he suddenly realizes he is staring with a soft flush to his face. "Forgive me your majesty." He directs to Josleen once more "I was...not aware you would be bringing anyone. But please" He opens the door wider to allow both to enter "Come in come in!" Holding a hand out to the Queen, should she take it, he would kiss the top of hers once before offering a normal handshake to Muzo. "It is a pleasure to meet you as well Sir."

Muzo slithers along in smooth undulations, his body seeming to hover along over his long, long tail. Knowing he's slithering to meet a fellow academic, the creature has decided to leave his usual retinue of instrumentation home and, instead, bothered to don a simple robe bearing an intricately knotted ouroboros. Formulae, his trusty spellbook, sits clutched in his grasp. Muzo reciprocates whispered conversation, but it is dubious how much of his mad babbling Josleen might pick up. Introductions are soon upon them anyway. "Muzo, no surname," he blurts out, taking the hand that Valen offers and shaking it cordially if hurriedly, "Alithrya, royal academy, applied biotic alchemy. Pleased to meet you. Understand you study witches." Releasing Valen's hand, he finishes slithering inside, all twenty-two feet of himself, and does his best not to take up too much of the room, coils folding upon coils as necessary.

Josleen takes Valen’s hand as expected and nods at the kiss. Muzo introduces himself and explains his purpose here in his usual straight-forward, to the point way, which saves her the hassle of grand introductions and small talk. “Muzo has been researching the physiological basis for witch magic. The theory is that the root of witch magic, in the body, is different than the arcane magic that mage’s employ in their spellcasting. It’s just a hypothesis, but preliminary research is promising. Did I get that right, Muzo?” She smiles at the naga then regards Valen again. “I thought you could complement each other’s areas of expertise. But now, the letter. What is this all about?”

Valen received the Naga's greeting and simply gave off a smile and a tilt of his head, "Muzo." He would muse to himself, making sure that he pronounced it the same way. He would have to remember this one. "the pleasure is all mine Sir Muzo. As for the claim that I -study- witches, that may be a bit of an overstatement. As it is more of a recent endeavour than one might call a hobby. That, and they generally make me curious." Now, regarding Josleen's explanation of Muzo's theory, he had to say that made sense, from what he had seen. "Well I would have to agree with him on that point but I am afraid I have not seen very much in -that- regard. But the letter was simply sent as you had been asking about Witches, it seemed to be...an interesting topic for you. The fact that I know at least three now certainly makes it even better, and easier to do this. Im surprised Josleen, that you havent met at least one of them yet..."

Muzo nods and nods and nods to each in turn. "Yes, curious leads. Promising observations." "Curious likewise. Excited by the opportunity. Eager to shed light." "Believe collaboration would be mutually beneficial." "A witch? Three witches?" His eyes light up, and laughs a tittering laugh though wide grin of needle teeth. "Right to have come here, then." Muzo hasn't even know this Valen fellow three minutes, and he already managed to acquire three specimens.

Josleen shrugs at Valen’s final comment. “I know of some witches, but not well or personally. Also… ethically speaking…” She glances between Valen and Muzo, “How do you go about testing them? But!” She shakes her head and backtracks. “Names first, then we can figure out the approach. Who are these witches?”

Valen was thrilled at Muzo's enthusiasm, and even found the laugh to be somewhat infectious as he would give off a slight giggle, hand going behind his own head to rub at the back of it, face flushing slightly once more as he started to be embarrassed at the giggle that had escaped his lips. "I agree, collaboration is almost too much of an understatement really, but for now it will have to do." "Maybe if they are willing I could set up a meeting? I am sure that Valrae would -love- to get a chance to be away from that avian of hers." He had been talking so quick and so caught up in the moment, that Josleen's request of names was just now coming to his head. "Oh..Uh...There is Talyara, the wife of Jarith, there is Valrae...a witch that Irenic, the avian I told you about that I was...*ahem* in love with? Yeah those two are a thing now, and....Lets see...I believe Miss Artia is also a witch." Blinking, and thinking, wanting to make sure that everything was said and done, he would nod and finally say "Yep, that's it I am afraid. Now as far as testing them? Not sure. If I had one of Larewen's eyes I could see the type of magic they use but I don’t trust that woman. Not one bit. Her and lycidas, the man I am certain is behind the caravan attacks, are friends. -Irenic- has one of her eyes though, but no one has seen him for awhile apparently, and quite frankly I will have nothing to do with him as of now." He honestly didnt mean to give a full dissertation, but once you got him going, goodness he never knew when to stop. "I wish things were back to being simple like when I was dating Xzavior. He'd know how to do this, I’m sure of it."

Muzo listens intently and fidgets, brushing the back of his knuckles along the underside of his jaw, then opening Formulae and leafing from one page to another as Valen speaks. "Great discoveries often driven by fresh means of observation." The naga's tongue flicks as his wide, glossy black eyes scan the spellbook's pages, looking for anything of relevance. "Could work on developing our own methods. Caravan attacks? Xzavior? Worked with him under Artia on the well," Muzo blinks and briskly shakes his head, "tangential information. Had not realized Artia was a witch when we crossed paths." The revelation prompts him to throw Josleen a curious glance. Of the names, it's the only one he's recognized. Maybe she can do better.

Josleen‘s expression darkens at the mention of Valrae. Indeed, Josleen has heard much of that witch, often called another word that rhymes by Alvina, and the Queen has recently met Valrae, ‘former’ mistress of Hudson, currently employed at Hudson’s new place of business. Josleen is livid about the entire situation but does her best to keep her expression neutral now. The effort is obvious. “Irenic is with Valrae? Really?” Irenic is also Josleen’s knight, sworn to her. “I know Talyara. She lives in Frostmaw, correct? She’s married to Jarith?” She gasps. “Jarith has been exiled from Larket. I don’t believe she’ll be cooperative given that wrinkle.” She looks confused when Valen mentions Artia as well. “Is she? Are you sure? I thought she was an alchemist and druid and nothing more. Interesting.” Then Valen shifts quickly to crime and Josleen’s eyes widen. “Why do you believe Sir Lycidas and Lady Larewen are behind the caravan attacks?” The Queen’s head is swimming. Too much too fast. The final bit of gossip is that Valen once dated Xzavior. She makes no comment, but tucks away that gem for Macon later. Oh, he’ll love this.

Valen would eye Formulae, giving a glance over at a shelf to a rather old and bound looking leather book. Isolde, his pride and joy, had not even opened her eye in three days. Pity, she had the most beautiful Iris. "I am not entirely sure Artia -is- a witch, but at Jarith's childrens birthday party, she did a few things that I cant put my finger on that made me think she may have been one." That was to Muzo, to Josleen now he would clear his throat, take a drink of water, swallow it, and begin. "Sir Lycidas told me to deliver a letter to the prisoner that had been captured, and that I wa sto not open it. He also claimed Mythayus -kidnapped- said prisoner, not arrested him, and asked me to break the prisoner out of prison. He and Larewen are friends, though I do not think she had anything to do with the Caravans. I just do not trust her. At all. She ran off with the Corruption that was forced from Jarith's body, and -that- is why I do not trust her." Blinking, he would say "Exiled...? But...But Lady Josleen he is free from what plagued him, the true monster that was lurking beneath was purged from him! I witnessed it myself and would gladly stake my life that he is no longer a threat to Larket...But, It is yours and the King's word alone, your majesty. I can assure you though that Irenic and Valrae are in love. Though, given how Valrae acted towards Hudson at your wedding...See, I know how to recognize love. One might say I am the closest to an Avatar of it that you could ever be. Unfortunately, Love....is also a promise. Irenic may not give up Valrae to allow us to study."

Muzo nods, eyes scanning charts, theorems, and forms with ever deepening focus. "Should still follow up on the lead. Any information useful." When he turns the page again, it's an anatomical sketch of Artia with pop-up flaps. Muzo quickly closes the book and looks up. "Love," his voice breaks, and Muzo clears his throat, "though a fascinating phenomenon, has little to do with the business at hand. Field of expertise duly noted, though, Valen. Expect inquiries on the matter as they arise." The researcher straightens up a bit, and he has an "aha" moment. "Perhaps it could be used as a tool for acquiring complicit witches for study. Valen, would love suffice as a research lure?"

Jarith’s. Children’s. Birthday. Party. Artia and Valen were in attendance. What the hell is real anymore, Josleen wonders. Corruption. Kidnapping. Arrests. Larewen. What. “Slow down, Valen, slow down.” The Queen is suddenly embarrassed she brought Muzo. This has turned into a discourse on Larketian gossip, which the Queen LOVES and eats up heartily. However, she presumes Muzo is less interested in this. Once Muzo and Valen finish their dialogue of love (ship name: Valzo), Josleen turns to the naga and says. “Muzo, if we’re keeping you, don’t let us. I’ll be in touch with the witches Valen has mentioned and ask them to meet with you to partake in the research study.” Of course Muzo is free to stay if he suddenly thirsts for this gossip. I mean, it is juicy. Thirst-quenching indeed. Turning back to Valen, she starts with Valrae and works backwards. One thing at a time, you brilliant gossip vamp. “First of all, Irenic has no say in whether or not Valrae cooperates with Muzo. I shall ask her myself.” Read: bully her into it, because Josleen is Team Alvina. “Second, you mentioned you saw Hudson with Valrae at -my- wedding? Doing what? How so?” Her temper reveals itself here. How dare Hudson interact with Valrae, ever, and especially when Alvina is in the same room!  

Valen looked up at Muzo's last statement, eyes wide and a quick shake of his head "No! I...I mean yes? Muzo...Oh sweet Naga there is so much with that question that you do not understand." It was hilarious, horrific, and altogether insane at the same time. That break in Muzo's voice. Had he known love before? Certain signs may be there, but only when he was in the presence of one person, and another, could he tell if love truly touched someone. "You and I will need to talk and theorize about how this lure would be utilized, Muzo..." It would be said slow, soft, calculating. "I would certainly not mind, giving you a crash course in courtship." Back on Josleen now, he felt himself like a revolving door. He should really get one of those... "I saw Hudson and Valrae talking by the booze. I mean I -was- there too and Hudson wasnt even distracted by me in drag!" Here he would shake his head. While he and Valrae were friends, he could understand Josleen's anger. "As far as I know just talking though he had said she looked good. I could smell his sweat from a mile away though." Offering an apologetic look to the Naga, he would then ask "Do Naga's typically have a concept of dating? Courtship? Romantic pursuit beyond the physical aspect?"

Muzo balks, both at Josleen's offered escape route and at Valen's offer at a "crash course", dipping his head and waving a hand palm outward. "Glad to stay, enjoy theory, but will pass on any sort of practical instruction. Prefer to stick close to my own field." Gossip blazes and sears around him. It's all Muzo can do to sift, scour, filter, pick, and polish any applicable information from the sordid heaps. "Hmm? Naga courtship? Protocol." Muzo briskly, swiftly shakes his head. "And formality." The creature squirms, and he opens Formulae to a series of diagrams, which he turns to show Valen and Josleen, pointing and explaining as he goes. "Utilize both r and K reproductive strategies, depending on strata and circumstance, resource scarcity..."

Josleen has no idea what she is looking at when Muzo shows her diagrams of naga genitalia, but she’s no stranger to anatomy books and doesn’t blush. Also, it’s snake bits. It hardly makes her blush at all. “I see,” she says to Valen’s account of Hudson flirtation with Valrae at -her- wedding with -Alvina- in attendance. That dog! [Get it? Cause lycan.] “And you mentioned Jarith as well. What’s this about the Corruption and his being free of it? Why does Larewen Dragana have it?”

Valen was completely unsurprised at how methodical Muzo circumvented his offer, though he had to admit he found this Naga endearing. However when Muzo brought out the full monty of diagrams and at that whole fiasco, Valen would simply blush and sip more on the water he had laid out on the table, now in his hands. However, perhaps to Muzo's surprise, and most certainly to Josleen's ears of gossip sifting, Valen would simply say with a smug smile "K was actually really fun. R though...Well you just can't get over that for a few days." Well...after that whole thing, Valen would answer Josleen as if nothing awkward had been said. "Aye, I did. The attack on the throne room after the earthquake? That was Corruption, not Jarith. I managed to get everyone out, well, except for Krice who ran out of the safe zone, but he is fine. BUT! That was Corruption, Not Jarith. As I said a ritual was done, with Larewen's involvement. she procured a corpse for the entity to be put into, and -my- understanding as was told to me by Jarith, was that the corpse was to then be destroyed. But Larewen ran off with it instead. Hauled her ass out of there. She is in possession of perhaps the most dangerous magic I have ever seen because of that....But Jarith is completely his own man now, and no longer a danger to anyone...is my personal opinion."

Muzo turns the page. "Would direct your attention to figure four, where you can clearly begin to... hmm?" He looks up just in time to catch Valen's commentary, and if scales could turn colors (Muzo only has the ordinary static chromatophores, unlike some of his chameleonic kin) he would be white as a sheet. "Ah yes. That's, ahm," he flips a few more pages, "I think you're thinking about figure 38?”

Josleen has noticed Valen’s burgeoning crush on Muzo and will report this back to the King in her daily gossip brief. She nearly chokes when Valen brags about his sexual exploits with nagas, at least one naga: Xzavior. What the heck, Valen? Best to follow Valen’s lead and move on as if nothing happened. She ignores figure 38 out of fear Valen will say he’s done that naga act too. “So it was Jarith, under the influence of this Corruption, who attacked the throne room? I suspected, but did not know the identity for sure. Thank you for this information about Jarith and Larewen. And you have more about Larewen and Lycidas? What exactly is that? You believe he attacked the caravans? Did you read the letter he wanted you to deliver to the prisoner?”

Valen 's smirk would have remained, eyes on Muzo's own, actually before looking down at the book to glimpse this...38, business. His curiosity would have to wait however, as Josleen got to perhaps the most important information yet. "Thank you for the clarification Muzo. That was very kind of you." Normally Valen was not one to brag or boast, and he wasn't sure why he had done so, but he was leaving that bit now and turning to Josleen's question. "The only information I have about Larewen and Lycidas is that I believe he frequents her house in Vailkrin. He has also been seen with a small undead child named Latulepi, who is apparently Larewen's own. As for Lycidas, I would stake my life that he either attacked them himself, or he orchestrated it, because he described Mythayus perfectly while telling me of the dragon that 'kidnapped' his 'associate', aka the prisoner. He -must- have been behind it otherwise why would he want to break the prisoner out of jail? Mythayus assured me they had never met before, and upon inspection....the letter was blank."

Muzo closes Formulae and clears his throat. "Glad to be of service." There's a pause where he adjusts the collar of his robe. "Well, would you look at the time." Muzo points at a cabinet. "Well past my tea." He hates tea. "Pleased to have met you, Valen. Always delighted, your majesty." Muzo turns to take the door, but opens it to discover he has opened a closet instead. "Must be going." Wholly committed, he slithers into it, shuts the door, and does not come out.

Josleen‘s eyes widen as Valen’s circumstantial evidence against Lycidas proves strong. Wow. That blank letter says everything and nothing (literally and figuratively). “Do you have a copy of the letter? I’d like to take it to run tests on it. See if there isn’t a secret hidden message.” Or perhaps have the guard confront the prisoner with it and see if he talks. Muzo makes to leave and Josleen says goodbye graciously as always. She watches him slither into a closet, knows it is a closet, but says nothing. She blushes. Poor Muzo, he wasn’t ready for the full Valen experience. “I’ll be sure to let Sir Reinhardt know about this. He may come ask you for additional details. I should get going too. I have an appointment.” She rises and air kisses Valen’s cheek good bye. As if there is nothing strange at all about Muzo being in the closet, she opens the closet door and does her best to spare the naga embarrassment. She says, “Ah! Glad I caught you before you left, Muzo. Perhaps we can walk together back to the fort?”

Valen would give a friendly nod to the Naga, "In all seriousness, we need to put our heads together sometime soon on how to-"...And then the closet door was opened. "S-Sir Muzo! That's not teh way out thats...thats the-" And then the door is closed. Well then, that just happened, and now Valen was unsure what to do with a Naga in his closet. Unfortunately he would shake his head to Josleen "No your highness I do not. Mythayus has it, so by extension Reinhardt should already know about it." There was something else he thought he was forgetting, but at the moment he was sure it could wait for another time. As he watched the two 'leave' he could only muse over how strange royalty was, and how odd people were when flustered around him. Still, he was glad to have helped.

Muzo slithers out with his hood up, speaks in riddles, and keeps a hunch in his back until he is outside the Academy.