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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Mar 12, 2023 17:19:13 GMT -5
All of Charon really seemed to be going crazy lately. There were a lot of groups popping up and subsequently getting snuffed out. Doomsday cults seemed to come and go as quickly as the shifting winds. It was strange, strange times indeed.
Hard for Gerhart to really focus on much of that though, his mind torn in a lot of different directions. New jobs, keeping Moonglade safe, maintaining a relationship as and adventurer. It was tough.
This week's journey found him in Zeinav City which seemed to be in the grips of one of those cults. He sighed softly as he arrive at the city on Halcyon's back, perching the kestrel on a wall as usual. Nice thing about giant hawks is cities rarely have stables for them, so free parking.
He jogged down the wall steps and to the guard station to get caught up on the details. Local vandalism seemed a bit low on the priority list for an adventurer, but apparently they Scorched ones had them spooked just enough to call in help.
"Don't worry guys, I think I can handle a few weird guys in silly robes." He grins and gives a little laugh as he heads towards the docks to start the investigation.
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Post by Veliky on Mar 13, 2023 17:56:56 GMT -5
"In a fight? I have no doubt." The voice - a distantly familiar voice, by its calm and coldness - comes from a similarly familiar figure that walks through from amidst the guards. As always, she's flanked by her metal minions that seem to give the guards some discomfort. "But this is an investigation. We'll see if your detective work is as adept as your proclivity for killing owlbears."
Having been here for some time already, Veliky's been briefed on the situation. Vandalism, apparently organized; religious fanatical group known as the Scorched Ones suspected. Fairly simple, all things considered. Should be easy. She's more interested in her apparent partner for this mission.
"Gerhart Stanislav." she says, eying him up and down. He looks to have changed somewhat since their last meeting. He looks more experienced; no surprise, seeing as he's apparently been up to just about everything under the sun. "I hear you've been busier than the cleanup crew after an Ashlands birthday party."
Then, her eyes trail upward and westward. The guard post is largely located outdoors, under tarps and tents. And so, even from here, she can see the sky and the city wall where a giant bird has perched itself - a bird that Veliky happened to see being ridden in from the distance.
"New pet, I presume?"
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Mar 17, 2023 22:45:45 GMT -5
"Hm?" Gerhart spins on a heel to see Veliky, his smile breaking into a much wider grin. "Oh hel Vel! I don't know about investigating, but tracking is more my specialty. I can at least get us in the right direction."
The ranger gives a little laugh as she mentions Halcyon and all the work he had been doing as of late. Busy was an understatement of sorts, it was sometimes hard to forget just how much he had progressed between meetings with some people.
"I guess pet, Halcyon is more of a partner. Probably smarter than I am, thought not a high bar to clear there." He motions for her to follow as he turns to start heading in the direction he was going originally, quickly catching Veliky up on the few extra notes he got from the guard.
There wasn't much for the pair to go on other than the expected from a cult and their modus operandi. The biggest note was soot stained markings on fingers or faces, a sort of war paint they used. An obvious marker, but more importantly, something Gerhart could sniff out if they got closer.
"You haven't been slacking either it seems. Are these the same ones from the owlbear attack or these new?.....Is it still the same guy after repairs? Like if you have to eventually replace every part, at what point is it a different guy?"
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Post by Veliky on Mar 18, 2023 23:35:56 GMT -5
Veliky raises an eyebrow at Gerhart's... philosophical question? But then she merely shakes her head.
"As long as they do the same thing, with the same efficiency, I couldn't care less."
She returns her attention to the file in her hand. It details every location that's been defaced, in comprehensive chronological order. As she reads, one can almost see the processes behind her ice-blue eyes, connecting the dots into a map that she can see as easily as she does the world in front of her. By the time she's finished her calculations, she's already handed the file off. She doesn't need it any longer.
"Alright," she begins after a long silence, "I've got a plan."
With a crick of her neck, she beckons Gerhart to follow her as she steps out of the outpost.
"We'll wait until nightfall. That's when most of the attacks have been happening. I'll dispatch some units to several areas of the city that are likely targets for vandalism. But until then, I need you to get your bird prepped, because you'll be in the sky. Once we've located a suspect, we'll give you a signal that you can follow to join the chase. We catch them, question them, and get our answers."
She looks over her shoulder, giving Gerhart a blank, sidelong stare. "You'll know the signal when you see it. You'd need to be blind to miss it."
And with that, she's gone, marching off with a miniature legion of Blixtbots™ in tow.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Mar 19, 2023 0:48:25 GMT -5
"Well you're no fun." He grins, only faking a pout for a moment as he follows after the woman. Gerhart was no push over when it came to willpower, but it was always nice to have a good and confident person that could actually make plans in the lead. Lightened the load significantly after all.
Before he can answer in agreement, she's already gone and he can't help but give a little laugh. She certainly is efficient all right. "You get all that Hal?" He looks over to the kestrel, the telepathic link they share let him keep his mount abreast of what was happening.
Looks like there are a few hours to waste around town then...might as well see if there is anything else to be gathered from people. The ranger hits up a few of the different market stalls around the docks, reconnecting with a few folks he's connected with in the past. All things told, there isn't much more information for them other than this should be taken care of quickly.
The Scorched Ones already had a bad reputation, this only made things worse.....He couldn't help, but wonder if this was related to what happened with the Sol Stone thing. Everything bad lately seems to connect back to that....It seems an easy explanation, but also like it's not exactly the full story.
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Post by Veliky on Mar 19, 2023 4:56:06 GMT -5
Night has fallen over Zeinav. The sweltering heat has relented, but only to be replaced by a frigid cold. As much as the sand scorches unclad feet, it doesn't retain this fire for long; abandoned by the sun, it's now cold to the touch, reflecting the dull-blue moonlight that paints the city in such melancholy. The alleyways hold a deep and impenetrable darkness, providing adequate cover for those that wish to remain unseen.
She breathes mist into her gloves, holding them to her face for precious warmth. Hidden away in a dingy alley, on a frozen night, isn't exactly what one would call 'comfortable,' but such luxuries aren't to be expected on the job. The only blessings to be counted are those of effectiveness, of which she has many as she watches the Pantheon United Cathedral -- and waits. It's one of several potential locations she'd noted. Fittingly, she's only one of several units that've spread throughout the city, each assigned to a landmark. She has no clue if she'll be the one to catch them -- if *any* of them will catch them.
But, regardless, she's come prepared. With a bit of magic, she's rendered herself totally undetectable[1]. If anyone comes this way, they'll be oblivious to her surveillance.
She just hopes that happens soo-
There. There's someone walking down the road, little more than a silhouette against the cathedral wall. There's the possibility that it's merely someone out for a midnight stroll. But no; seeing the way this person looks around in caution, Veliky knows that they're up to nothing lawful. And, certain as the moon, they reach down and place something on the ground... It's a bucket.
She's seen enough. Time to bring in the cavalry.
Balling her right hand into a fist, she raises it in front of her mouth and speaks a simple phrase: "North Star." As her body begins to become visible again, on the back of her glow azure sigils, a pictograph of a six-pointed star. She raises that arm to the sky; and, from extended fingertips, a mote of otherworldly light emerges and rises high into the sky[2]. Its light bathes the city, shining nearly as bright as the moon itself. It's an eerie sight -- and very, very visible.
That shadowy figure stares up in bewilderment. Looking around frantically, they're quick to spot Veliky, who's abandoned any care of remaining undetected. And then, of course, they flee, stumbling and kicking over the bucket as they do. But Veliky doesn't give chase; she just stands back and watches.
"Go on." she says quietly, certainly too quietly for the vandal to hear. "See how far you get."
1. Invisibility 2. North Star
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Mar 19, 2023 19:11:31 GMT -5
Having nothing else to do for the day until it was time to go on patrol, Gerhart spends some time with Halcyon rechecking his gear and saddle. It was surprisingly infrequent they actually worked in tandem during a job. Most of the time he found himself in damp caves or small places where the bird wouldn't be of much use. Here, on a hunt through the city though? That was about the best they would get.
As they casually float through the sky, catching the occasional updraft, Gerhart tries to keep an eye on the city below. The details are much harder to pick up on from above, but the flow of the people is much easier to see. What's even easier to see is the flash of light behind them, the rays of light well bright enough to illuminate them a moment. He smiles and banks Halcyon ot the right to turn around.
"I imagine that's our cue or a poorly timed coincidence." Once they've turned around, Gerhart sends the kestrel into a gentle descent. It wasn't hard to pick out the one person running on a mostly quiet street.
"All right...let's do this." The ranger grins as he starts to stand from the saddle as the dive dips more and increases the speed. When they reach the tops of the first buildings, Gerhart jumps back and Halcyon quickly pulls up and away to clear out from under the rider.
Gerhart drops his knee to the runner's back as he falls[1], knocking the man over, as he tucks and rolls to cut off his escape forward. His greaves are a bit buckled from absorbing the shock, but the man is down for now.
"I'd stay down if I were you, might've broken something other than my fall."
1. Guillotine Drop 2. Greaves hit prevention spent
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Post by Veliky on Mar 22, 2023 20:50:21 GMT -5
The crumpled rag-heap of a man groans in the pain that Gerhart so generously gave him. He rises to his hands and knees, but the act takes every ounce of his strength; he collapses down again, shortly after, a writhing mound on the sandstone curb. He won't be going anywhere on his own.
Squeaky footfalls eventually harbinge the approach of a more determinative mind. Veliky steps into the moonlight, icy eyes gleaming, face coldly indifferent. She looks down at the crumpled man, noting the efficiency of his downfall; and then to his attacker, whose grin is evidence of destined triumph.
"Well done." Her congratulation is a simple thing with little warmth to speak of, but its earnedness amidst her otherwise intolerant demeanour is like a melody of platinum.
Then, heeding no warning, she treads to stand by the man's head, face planted firmly in the stone. Clutching the fabric of his hood in a tiny hand, she lifts it, and rolls his head over to reveal the face of a Zeinavian man with surprisingly elegant features and impeccably-maintained facial hair. His expression is twisted in pain, and he lets out another groan.
Veliky's eyes narrow at the sight. "T'Vayren Khaom." she notes. "A bureaucrat, of all people. Explains why his house went untouched while nearly all of his peers' have had their windows busted. If he is a member of the Scorched Ones, that doesn't bode well for Zeinav's government."
The man shifts, raising his head ever so slightly, before spitting out a shattered tooth. He speaks, but his words are difficult to catch through a combination of a thick accent and a broken jaw. "Aw'll ne'er tell you anyting...!"
As if only now noticing the man, Veliky looks down with a hint of disdain. "I don't care what clubs you join, Khaom. But you were breaking the law, and the law doesn't take shit. So save it for whatever they call a Zeinavian judge."
But then there's another sound, interrupting her reprimand. It's quite similar to the squeaking bootfalls that signalled Veliky's arrival. In fact, they sound practically identical. And then, as if a memory were returning, another Veliky[1] steps into the moonlight. T'Vayren looks up in confusion.
Just as Veliky had before, this one looks to the crumpled man, and then to Gerhart. Then, she looks to Veliky.
"Did I miss anything?" the apparent doppelgänger asks.
But the true Veliky seems totally unsurprised. "The perp's a bureaucrat. Seems like the Scorched Ones have some big-wigs in their ranks." ...Then again, there isn't necessarily any evidence that this Veliky *is* the true one, is there?
Velitwo narrows her eyes in an identical manner to how Oneliky had before. "Wonderful. Another cult with prissy rich kids to fund it."
The man makes a sound of vague offendedness. But, not long after, there's another set of squeaks, and another Veliky[3] enters the scene. This one is running a hand through her hair. "Sorry I'm late. Some guards stopped us to ask what we were doing."
Before Oneliky or Velitwo can answer Velithree, Fourliky enters the scene, wearing an expression that speaks to a miserable journey. She's followed soon after by Fiveliky and Sixliky. Sevenliky also arrived at some point, though it's unclear whether that was before or after Fourliky, making her title debatable at best. Eightly, Nineliky and Tenliky arrive as a trio, bringing a heated conversation about the societal degradation of Darkveil. They also inform the others that Veleven won't be coming, as she's currently arguing with law-enforcement.
Before long, there is a veritable Veliarmy gathered on the street, chattering in a combination of Common and Halfling. It's complete and utter Velimania.
And then, suddenly, all their eyes are on Gerhart -- twenty-odd orbs of piercing rime, looking at him with blank expressions. One of them -- either Sixliky or Velitwo, track was lost a while ago -- speaks up. "You can go now; we'll take it from here.. Brass should have your payment in the morning."
1. Replicant
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Mar 23, 2023 10:30:12 GMT -5
"Hey Astrid can do that trick....though...not that many." He chuckles softly as the Velimany's begin to arrive. He was unsure of just how many Veliky's the world could actually handle, but the world could do a lot worse for itself.
The scene itself is a bit strange to watch, the cacophony of voices all eminating from the same place, but different places was disorienting. Gerhart quickly gave up on trying to focus in on who is talking and just listen to the words, that would be easier.
As they are talking and catching each other up, he does kneel down and take out some rope to begin tying the man up. "Might be easier if I help at least take this guy to the guards. I think seeing a horde of you dragging this guy down the streets is gonna cause a lot more issues than if we just carried him in."
The ranger gives another gentle laugh as he grabs the ropes and lifts the man off the ground holding him like a dog in a carrier.
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