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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Dec 11, 2022 23:52:54 GMT -5
The sun is just touching the surface of the horizon as music rises from the interior of The Brass Dragon. As usual, the wildly popular tavern and inn is lively with those sharing in meals and conversation as the sound of the three piece string band plays on the stage. This place is rarely devoid of interesting folk and this early evening is no different.
Zarius sits in the corner at a table by himself, having secured it early enough to avoid being left to wait outside with many other late arrivals who did not get there before the main room filled up. He is supposed to be meeting a contact to discuss some business, though he found out earlier at the docks that their ship was delayed getting into port by a storm raging across the coast of Frost Gale.
Typical.
Nothing ever could be simple could it? The charcoal-skinned tiefling had hoped to make his visit to Sol City brief. The longer he stayed in the capital, the larger a chance someone would recognize him and start a fight he would have a harder time winning given that this was not his home turf. An unfortunate conundrum brought on by his growing notoriety across Charon.
He thumbs through his notes and makes a few amendments to some other ongoing projects he is working on. So much to do, so little time, and not enough hands to get the jobs done. His minions were almost constantly off doing jobs which meant he often didn't have backup on his own missions. Caedes, Cyran, and Iryla were also off pursuing their own adventures. He taps his quill against the page and sighs. Maybe it was time to find some more new allies.
Glancing about the space, there's no one here that strikes him as a prospective ally. Most seem to be the run-of-the-mill Sol City folk. Law-abiding, simple folk. They wouldn't do. Easily manipulated sure, but they hardly had any skills he could make use of in the grander scheme of things.
Then someone new enters the building. A curious looking young human man searching for a seat. There certainly were seats at the table the tiefling occupied, but few people had dared approach either do to their own mistrust of his kind, or being too intimidated by his sharp golden glances.
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Post by Vail on Dec 13, 2022 11:09:00 GMT -5
Vail entered The Brass Dragon with low expectations as usual. He observed the patrons of the bar hoping for any tourists who might have work outside of the city. Capitol Landing was one of the few places he stayed out of trouble, word spread quickly here and the last thing he needed was more eyes on him.
Unfortunately for him, the crowd was rather milquetoast, honest city folk earning an honest living. With a sigh he took a seat at the bar and ordered a glass of whatever happened to be on tap. This tavern reminded him of his childhood, albeit a lot less rowdy compared to The Dancer’s Den. “The crowd here would faint if a bar fight broke out.” he thought to himself with a chuckle. He stared into the ale in his glass, tracing his gloved finger around the rim. The past few weeks had been... difficult, shall we say. A job in the Marshflats went south, the fixer skimped out on the payment. The job sounded too good to be true, a simple information gathering operation on Mud Worm activities. They were a simple bunch, reminiscent of the more violent gangs of Darkveil. Slipping into their hideout was easy, he just had to wait until one of their higher-ups was scheduled for the Fight Pits. The entire pecking order wouldn’t dare miss out on their superior's glorious victory. When the fixer didn’t have the promised amount, he simply made up a portion of it by selling out the fixer to the Mud Worms. He didn’t like selling out a client, it’s bad for one’s reputation, and in this line of work, reliability is what keeps you from going hungry. He regretted not going with his gut instinct and avoiding the contract to begin with. He ordered another round as he threw down the last of his glass. The feeling of someone’s lingering eyes washed over him, not unusual, as he didn’t exactly match the culture of your average Capitol-goer. Tilting his head back, he slowly scans the room until he locks eyes with a lonesome tiefling at the corner table. “Well, that’s an Ash Lander if I’ve ever seen one. So much for a peaceful drink.” he mutters to himself.
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Dec 13, 2022 12:03:38 GMT -5
Watching this new stranger closely, there are a few things of note. He's quite tall and thin, with some distinct scars along the right side of his face. None of that is staggeringly uncommon, though what is fairly unique is the color of the eyes. Red eyes in humans were not normal.
Besides physical appearance, the way the man carried himself, the manner in which he walked and dressed, those things all made it clear he was not just some average civilian. The young man certainly stood out, though the tiefling could hardly criticize. Neither of them seemed to fit in with this crowd with their keen eyes for detail.
He flashes a toothy grin at the man and gestures to the empty seat across from him. An open invitation, should the human dare to take it. At the very least they might have a more interesting conversation between the two of them than with any of the mundane working folk currently present.
Corking his inkwell, the tiefling goes about finishing up what he was writing and stowing away his journal. No need to share its contents with a stranger. Not that anyone would be able to actually make out what he has written there. He always made sure to encode his own writing on the slim chance someone did manage to steal the journal from him. It was a necessary precaution given the nature of his work.
After the book is away in his satchel, he rummages around before setting a glass vial on the table filled with some sort of green tinged liquid. He carefully dips the dirtied metal nib of the quill he's writing with into the glass vial. The liquid inside it is more like a jelly, and it hungrily grasps at the metal, dissolving the ink until the nib is clean. Withdrawing the quill, he tucks it away before sprinkling a few crumbs of bread into the vial as a treat for the tiny captive ooze contained within it.[1]
[1] Oozeling
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Post by Vail on Dec 13, 2022 18:10:52 GMT -5
“Maybe if I pretend I didn’t notice him, he’ll leave me alone.” Vail thinks to himself. He does another quick glance around the room, making sure to not stop on the tiefling. As his eyes scan by, he catches a glimpse of the tiefling’s smile and gesture. “So much for that.” He thinks as the barkeep hands him a fresh drink. Reaching underneath his coat, he tightens the wrappings around his right arm, before making sure his glove was equally snug. It was important that this stranger knew as little as possible about his condition and history. Rising to his feet, glass in hand, he turns and notices for the first time how well-dressed the tiefling is. He has Darkveil money written all over him. “The city had to catch up to me inevitably. At least it’s here at the Capitol rather than some backwater village.” he thought to himself. Continuing to look him over, he estimated that the tiefling was at least a few inches shorter than him. He also had a couple inches in advantage when it came to arm reach, a few extra milliseconds in his favor should things get ugly. As Vail approaches, he catches a glimpse of the tiefling putting away a journal. Information broker by the looks of it. He thought he was a bit too clean for the dirtier parts of Darkveil. The situation had changed, now he had to be more careful with his words rather than his fists. Sitting down at the chair closest to the exit, Vail meets the tiefling’s golden gaze. “You’re rather cheery for an Ash Lander.” He opens, taking a drink from his glass.
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Dec 13, 2022 23:37:54 GMT -5
Things had been kind of uneventful while he has been in town and the people always bore him. The political drama of the monarchy and the surrounding noble class was just that, dramatic. It lacked the substance and nuance that other regions had. A scandal in Sol City was often just gossip fodder than something actually worth taking note of.
Well, with the exception of one recent failed assassination attempt on the Marrowvines by a member of the Lunar Rebels. That was certainly a Black Harvest Festival Ball to remember.
Still, while his own notoriety has been building, he hasn't really been able to put into motion his plans for Darkveil and the ruling Ashen Fathers yet. Soon though. Very soon. He just needed a few more allies to help him, and in order to gain those allies, he needed to give them something worthwhile in return. Perhaps through some friendly conversation he could figure out if this person would be worth investing in too.
The tiefling's grin widens, the prominent canines glinting in the low lantern light.
"And you are rather dour for being so far from those smoke filled skies. It can be difficult to escape that long shadow."
He folds his hands and props his elbows up on the table, eyeing down the 'human' man before him.
"What brings you to the city of the sun? Judging by your complexion, you have not been here that long. Or perhaps you are adverse to sunshine?"
Having spent a fair amount of time with a few other pale individuals who were sun adverse, he had his suspicions of what the person before him was. Though he could not be certain without more evidence. Not that he would expose their secret or anything. That would be rude, and a waste of leverage.
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Post by Vail on Dec 14, 2022 18:24:54 GMT -5
The ale had started to spread its warmth throughout Vails body; the aches that inhabited his unaltered parts had dulled. Feeling looser than usual, he decided he’d have some fun with this conversation. He had the urge to just lean back and prop his legs up on the table, but he liked the barkeep too much to be that rude. He knew how these conversations went and wanted to pierce through the shroud that hung over this interaction as quickly as possible. Taking a swig from his glass, he threw on a matching grin and tilted his head, his eyes meeting the tiefling’s at an angle. “Aw you know, sometimes you just got to get away from it all. All that violence and criminality is so unbecoming.” He says sarcastically. “A vacation here can work wonders for one’s complexion.” he adds, rubbing the dull, unresponsive, gray flesh below his eye. Throwing down the last of his drink, he signals the bartender for two more glasses before shifting his gaze back to the tiefling. With an unyielding stare, he shifts his entire poise, dropping the carefree attitude and leaning forward. “Look, we both know how this goes, we can sit here and play a facade all night if need be. I’m going to do us both a favor and I expect recompensed with the same information in turn, deal?” he says, never breaking his gaze. The bartender approaches with two pristine glasses of ale. Vail happily takes both glasses, shifting his composure back to a laid-back state. “Thank you, barkeep, you run a wonderful establishment.” he says with a smile. As the barkeep walks off, Vail slides the second glass to the tiefling.
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Dec 14, 2022 20:00:30 GMT -5
The tiefling couldn't help but laugh. He wasn't sure what he was expecting from the man, but such a direct approach was certainly not it. Part of the tiefling wondered how much the man knew, and who all he was associated with. The other part of him was just curious as to what kind of person had just sat down across from him and what their goals were.
He carefully slides the drink back over to Vail.
"I appreciate your generosity, but I do not drink."[1]
A small lie, he does sometimes indulge in alcohol, but that was only from establishments he could trust the drinks had been cleared for poisoning. He preferred to play it safe considering how many rival families in Darkveil would surely want to see him dead in the gutter, unable to inherit his father's business and interfere in their own illicit activities. Safe to say that he was a pain in the neck for a lot of shady folk, but he was a stubborn thorn that refused to be removed so easily.
"Very well, I am fine with cutting to the chase. Though really, you should mind your manners. You have not even introduced yourself." He gives the man a teasing smirk as he leans back in his chair with his arms casually folded. "My name is Zarius, it is a pleasure to meet you Mister...?"
He waits expectantly for a response. Whoever this man was, he certainly seemed to have things to say.
[1] Smooth Talking
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Post by Vail on Dec 15, 2022 12:30:28 GMT -5
“My manners? It’s impolite to stare. I could feel your eyes burning a hole in my back since my first drink here.” Vail replies with a smile. “Vail. That’s the name you’re looking for. Creative, I know, for someone from Darkveil.” He stares in Zarius’s eyes, knowing that he was analyzing every word for meaning. Grabbing hold of the second glass, he extends his smile even larger. “More for me then.” he states, leaning back in his chair. He places his foot on the leg of the table and begins to slowly rock back and forth, his whole body shifting, with the exception of his eyes, which stare unwavering. “Are you planning on taking advantage of me? Of a poor human drowning his sorrows on this lonely night? That doesn’t seem fair. Then again, when does our kind ever play fair?” He teases. He drops his foot from the table leg, causing his chair to fall forward with a loud thud that draws the eyes of the patrons. “Sorry everyone, I’m a little tipsy.” He says, giving the room a beaming smile. He looks back to Zarius with a stern expression. “We’d best blend in here. The two most dubious people sitting in a dark corner are bound to draw eyes. Especially when they are not drinking. Be a dear and play the straight edge friend.” He says, taking another drink. He leans forward and rests his right elbow on the table, his fist clenched in front of him. “Now that we got that out of the way. Let us begin.” He whispers, as he lifts his gloved index finger. “One: Family? None.”
His middle finger rises.
“Two: Yes, I’m here on vacation, I’m not dumb enough to cause trouble here of all places.”
With an air of finality, he raises his ring finger.
“Three: Yes, I am open to work, and looking at you I don’t expect to be skimped out on when it comes to payment.” “Okay, you’re up.” He states as he leans back and takes another swig.
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Dec 15, 2022 14:49:13 GMT -5
The tiefling eyes the man. He had confidence, he’d give him that much. The question was if that confidence was all just talk or not. Vail didn't appear to be armed at all, but that didn't mean he was defenseless. He could be a caster or someone skilled fist fighting, much like himself. The scar on his face at least suggested he had gotten into a scrap or two. He chuckles a bit.
"Take advantage of you? That is a rude accusation. I have not even asked anything of you more than just some pleasant conversation."
His tail twitches a bit at the loud noise of the chair thudding against the floorboards. The eyes on them now were less than desirable. Was it intentional? It was hard to say. He doubts Vail’s as drunk as he claims to be. he may be on his third drink, but nothing here was particularly strong judging by the menu.
"For someone not wanting to draw attention, you sure are doing a good job of doing exactly that." He keeps his voice low and there's a slight hiss to his words. "For the record, I am no one’s ‘dear’."
As the rest of the patrons go back to minding their own business, he relaxes his shoulders and sighs. As far as he was aware, no one in Sol City was actively hunting him, authorities or otherwise. Still, it was best not to stir up too much trouble so close to the highest seat of power in the land. Last thing he needed was to be on the radar of the King's army.
The man rapid fires answers to questions the tiefling hadn’t even voiced. A bit presumptuous, but it did make things easier. He tilts his head in curiosity. Vail certainly was one to take initiative despite acting like it was all a chore to him. Fine by him, he would play along as the human desired. Though he would keep his answers just as guarded. It was only fair.
"Hmph, I have family. I am here to meet with a client who evidently is not present yet. I have many jobs for people who are capable and have the experience and skills to pull off those jobs without creating any complications. I can assure you I pay very well, though I do not extend contracts to just anyone."
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Post by Vail on Dec 15, 2022 21:17:35 GMT -5
Vail laughs as he returns to a laid-back posture.
“Loosen up a bit, if the client doesn’t show that means you have the night off. You information types are always so uptight. What good is living dangerously if you don’t have some fun every now and then?”
He knew how people in Zarius’s field operated. He thought back to his childhood at The Dancer’s Den. The info brokers and fixers were always the ones sitting in a corner, silently observing. He always looked towards them with unease... or was it curiosity? He couldn’t remember, either way it didn’t matter now.
He knew Zarius understood what he meant we he said family, the vagueness of his answer was annoying but understandable. He didn’t expect to get answers so easily anyway, he mostly wanted to see how the tiefling would react. After all what information broker gives free samples?
He leans forward, resting both elbows on the table, his head in his hands. “We both know our kind doesn’t live to our age without having some manner of experience. As you can plainly see, I am unarmed, I don’t have any magical background either. My expertise is thievery. All I ask for is a place and some time. No assassination work, I don’t like getting my hands dirty. I can throw a punch, if need be, the streets taught me well. I'd prefer if it didn’t come to that however.” His eyes wander for the first time in the conversation.
“Just keep me away from the darker side of things. Sometimes I surprise even myself.”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Dec 16, 2022 0:29:54 GMT -5
"I think our definitions of fun are quiet different."
He considers Vail's point. It was true that criminals were much shorter lived than most common folk and retirement was often an unobtainable dream for most in their line of work. He had accepted that each day of his life had him standing with one foot in a grave and another in a cell. It was an inevitability, all that was left in uncertainty was when exactly either of those things would happen. Not 'if', 'when'.
Eyeing the man again, he considers what use he was. He was eager, but he came off as possibly too confident for his own good. He certainly was demanding if nothing else. No assassination work. That was fine by him, but that did limit who he could pair he man up with to test his skills. Caedes and Cyran were both assassins after all. He was older than Iryla, so he likely wouldn't show her the proper respect she deserved. He could possibly have his own staff keep an eye on him, but they often were unavailable due to other commitments.
He sighs. Guess if he wanted to really put this man to the test he would have to do it himself.
"Thievery, huh? What about covert sabotage?" Lowering his voice, he continues. "The client I am waiting on has more information, but there is a situation involving the Arid Mesa that was brought to my attention recently. It is not a small task, so assistance would be appreciated and fairly compensated for."
He shifts his weight to the side and crosses one leg over the other. "Prove yourself an asset and we can talk more about accommodations and steady pay. Earn my trust and I will consider letting you into my network."
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Post by Vail on Dec 16, 2022 14:35:20 GMT -5
Vail chuckles at the tiefling’s exasperated sigh. His efforts were clearly not in vain, the tiefling wasn’t expecting this much hassle when he invited the solemn human to his table. "Accommodations you say? Usually, I just break into any lodge with an empty room and a window. You know those are free right? Why else would they go through all that trouble of making a bed in an empty room if someone wasn’t supposed to sleep in it?” Vail says, leaning back with a beaming smile. “Sabotage works, bad things can happen to people, I just need to not be around to see their ‘conclusion’ shall we say. Out of sight, out of mind as the saying goes. As for the Arid Mesa, I can’t say I’ve been there. If I had to venture a guess, we’d be sabotaging a pirate or smuggler crew. Can’t think of anything else of interest out there. Sounds fun.” He takes a second to weigh his options. An opportunity like this doesn’t come around often and while he’d rather avoid Darkveil, his curiosity did eat away at him. He still had questions, what happened to his father and his former family? Did they know of his return to the land of the living? This network may offer conclusions to his past trauma. Leaning forward, he merges his hands together, fingers interlocking, and rests his chin on his thumbs. “I’d like to apologize. Honestly, I expected this encounter to go a lot differently. It’s been a while since I met anyone from Darkveil and I wasn’t expecting any sort of warm reception. It’s nice to meet a kindred spirit.” He stretches out his gloved hand for a shake.
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Dec 16, 2022 17:42:31 GMT -5
Surely this man was kidding. He shakes his head at just how unapologetic he was about such a thing. A true thief of Darkveil, no regrets, no shame, and a twisted moral fiber.
"Sounds like you act as brashly as you speak."
Breaking into empty inn rooms was a small offense, but it could quickly lead to more severe criminal acts. Everyone started small, and the more successful they were with the small things, the more emboldened they were to try bigger and bigger feats. It was easy to get addicted to the adrenaline rush and even easier to get an inflated ego about it.
"That is fine, we might not even have to set foot on those shores. Of course any details about this job are to be kept confidential between us and the client. And just so we are completely clear, if I suspect you may stab me in the back, I will not hesitate to cut ties," his eyes narrow, "or whatever else I deem necessary."
This was a gamble. They both knew that. Zarius wasn't opposed to showing his hand to a degree, but that tentative trust came with consequences should Vail prove to be a liability or a detriment to his work.
"Honest souls are few and far between I am afraid. I think it would be a stretch to say either of us fit into that category."
He certainly was not an honest person. Honeyed words, false smiles, feigned interest, it all came naturally to the tiefling even in casual conversation with people he trusted. Very few saw the genuine version of himself. Sometimes he even wondered if it still existed at all.
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Post by Vail on Dec 17, 2022 16:54:40 GMT -5
“Brash? Would you rather I sleep in the cold? I don’t know what cushy background you have but some of us have to do what’s necessary to survive. People will withhold life-saving resources even when it costs them nothing, it’s the nature of mortals. Sometimes you must take in order to justify your own existence.” Vail responds, with a seriousness he had previously not shown. Thoughts wandered in his mind. Those words felt genuine but there was something off about them. Somehow, they felt... detached... almost vicarious... He was more surprised by his words than he expected Zarius to be. This was different then before, he didn’t black out, he was fully conscious. The words just blended in, flowing as if they were his own...
Releasing a light sigh, he regained his composure, leaning back in his chair.
“Of course, I expect you to take all the necessary precautions. What kind of employer in our line of work wouldn’t? Loyalty is the most vital component of our business. Those who think they can take shortcuts to success often live the shortest of lives. I’ve had to do away with a few disloyal men myself. Never liked it though...” He trails off.
Those men, or rather those kids, were members of his former gang. They had nothing, so taking such heavy risks was not a concern to them. They would do anything to escape their situation. If they could trade in their loyalty for any sense of well-being, they would gladly do so. Vail understood them. As leader of the gang, he knew the hardships of his underlings. Most were not born into his position and of those, some looked at him with envy. They saw the privilege of being related to even the most minor seat of power. What they didn’t see was the shadows cast by that privilege; the judging eyes that watched the gang leader’s every action, including how he dealt with betrayal.
Focusing once more, he stared into the tiefling’s golden eyes.
“And for the record, I have yet to lie to you. Can you say the same to me?”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Dec 17, 2022 18:21:00 GMT -5
He scoffs a bit.
"If you are as skilled as you claim, breaking and entering empty rooms in inns and sleeping outside in the cold should not the only two options available to you. For what reason do you have for not getting an honest profession?"
It was a rhetorical question. They were not the kind of people to be satisfied with simple lives and mundane jobs. It was their own ambition and greed that drove them forward while also backing themselves into corners. For every lock picked and door forced open, several more gently closed behind them. For many, it was a one way trip with no room to turn around, and if they were moving with too much momentum it was near impossible to slow down and back up.
The tiefling's tail twitches at Vail's comment about loyalty. Loyalty was a luxury in Darkveil, and one few actually could maintain regardless of the investment they put into it. It was almost a mythical thing, even amongst families. How many rumors floated around those streets of jealous siblings murdering one another to claim their inheritance? How many partners murdered one another over the smallest disagreement? How many best friends stabbed in the back, their bodies left to rot in a river?
He closes his eyes for a moment before taking a breath and looking at Vail once more.
"Loyalty is not something etched in stone, and even if it were, stone erodes with time."
His own loyalty was very limited. He could only say there were a few individuals he would even considering offering his loyalty to and even fewer who already have it. As far as those who were loyal to him? He could not say for certain. While he certainly had many allies, their trust in him could only be pushed so far and he had to be very careful about what he asked of them.
"Would you be surprised if I had?"
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