Background noise
- Graybeard
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Re: Background noise
Every time Bauti had seen that dark smile on a non-elven face, someone had been about to die, usually without expecting it. Another quick glance around left her with no illusions as to who that "someone" might be in this situation.
For the first time in almost two millennia, Peregin Bauti felt fear.
She tried her best to keep the emotion out of her face and demeanor as she answered. "Well, then, let us consult. Your people and mine are on good terms." (At least that was what the member of the last diplomatic party into Tsuirakushiti had said when Bauti slept with her afterward. One could do a lot of good intelligence work in bed.) "An enemy of ours is therefore an enemy of yours. My intelligence source who said the Errant passed through the castle was impeccable." [OOC: Remember, Bauti isn't the brightest light globe in Praenubilus Astu... /OOC:] "So you have an enemy around here somewhere too."
A vulpine smile crossed her own face, not entirely an act any more. "A collaboration to find and dispose of that enemy might be ... pleasurable."
For the first time in almost two millennia, Peregin Bauti felt fear.
She tried her best to keep the emotion out of her face and demeanor as she answered. "Well, then, let us consult. Your people and mine are on good terms." (At least that was what the member of the last diplomatic party into Tsuirakushiti had said when Bauti slept with her afterward. One could do a lot of good intelligence work in bed.) "An enemy of ours is therefore an enemy of yours. My intelligence source who said the Errant passed through the castle was impeccable." [OOC: Remember, Bauti isn't the brightest light globe in Praenubilus Astu... /OOC:] "So you have an enemy around here somewhere too."
A vulpine smile crossed her own face, not entirely an act any more. "A collaboration to find and dispose of that enemy might be ... pleasurable."
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- Drannin
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Re: Background noise
Goto's smile was equally dangerous. She had seen the fear flicker in the elf's eyes, and knew that she was in control of the situation. However, why hold that over a possible ally? Diplomacy was always far more effective at getting what you wanted. "Incredible. Apparently you elves DO have mind-reading ability." Not that any probe would penetrate her defenses, but never explain the joke, after all. "As it happens, professor Kurou and I have been tracking a rather... unusual... party." At this, Kurou gave her a curious glance. He hadn't had a chance to be briefed yet.
"A most curious party, indeed... containing people of interest to all of us. One of them, I would like to add... is one of your own." And Bauti's look of surprise, she added, "As well as more than one half-elf. Interesting, isn't it? It almost looks as if your colleague is escorting them some where..." Goto had to smile at Bauti's expression. "Tell me... what is your thought on THAT matter?"
Kurou couldn't help but marvel at how masterfully this elf was being played.
"A most curious party, indeed... containing people of interest to all of us. One of them, I would like to add... is one of your own." And Bauti's look of surprise, she added, "As well as more than one half-elf. Interesting, isn't it? It almost looks as if your colleague is escorting them some where..." Goto had to smile at Bauti's expression. "Tell me... what is your thought on THAT matter?"
Kurou couldn't help but marvel at how masterfully this elf was being played.
- Graybeard
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Re: Background noise
Now that was interesting. Peregin Bauti started to put two and two together ...
... And got five.
"Now I know where the bitch was going," she thought out loud. "I should have seen it before."
The looks on the two Tsuirakuans' faces made it quite clear that they weren't in on Bauti's deductions, so she spelled it out for them. "For a long time we've wondered where the Errants come from, and where they go if we don't deal with them. There must be a colony out there somewhere. It can't be in Veracia, we've locked the whole damn country down, crisscrossed it rooting out Errants. It certainly isn't in your country. Farrel? Maybe, but we've got people there too. Up north is nothing but a wasteland. So that leaves ..."
Yes, it all fit together. Why else would that band be heading into the wild south of Veracia? So they could make an unobserved sea voyage, of course. They'd probably tried to find passage in Lorenzel, and couldn't find anyone to take someone as -- contaminated as an Errant. But there were small ports down south that could get them all passage ... It had to be.
"The Southern Continent."
... And got five.
"Now I know where the bitch was going," she thought out loud. "I should have seen it before."
The looks on the two Tsuirakuans' faces made it quite clear that they weren't in on Bauti's deductions, so she spelled it out for them. "For a long time we've wondered where the Errants come from, and where they go if we don't deal with them. There must be a colony out there somewhere. It can't be in Veracia, we've locked the whole damn country down, crisscrossed it rooting out Errants. It certainly isn't in your country. Farrel? Maybe, but we've got people there too. Up north is nothing but a wasteland. So that leaves ..."
Yes, it all fit together. Why else would that band be heading into the wild south of Veracia? So they could make an unobserved sea voyage, of course. They'd probably tried to find passage in Lorenzel, and couldn't find anyone to take someone as -- contaminated as an Errant. But there were small ports down south that could get them all passage ... It had to be.
"The Southern Continent."
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- Drannin
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Re: Background noise
Kurou and Goto stared at the elf for a long time. A very long time. Bauti was almost starting to feel uncertain, when Kurou was the first to break the silence.
"What."
"It's not impossible," Goto said, uncertainty tainting her voice. We don't know where this group is headed, and they have made use of warp gates before. It's entirely possible that the elf traveling with them is leading them to some sort of long-range warp gate." She seemed to steady herself. "It's certainly worth investigating. I intend to observe the targets for a bit longer, but if at all possible, scouting where they're going can't hurt at all."
"Following your targets from the front," Kurou noted, still uncertain as to this sudden revelation.
"Indeed. So..." he she returned her attention to the elf in front of her. "As I was saying, we each have an interest. Would you care to lend us your assistance. There's no sense in letting a chance like this slip by you."
Was Haniko Goto willing to toss a colony of half-elves into the flames just to achieve her goals? Hells, yes. It was something all three had in common.
"What."
"It's not impossible," Goto said, uncertainty tainting her voice. We don't know where this group is headed, and they have made use of warp gates before. It's entirely possible that the elf traveling with them is leading them to some sort of long-range warp gate." She seemed to steady herself. "It's certainly worth investigating. I intend to observe the targets for a bit longer, but if at all possible, scouting where they're going can't hurt at all."
"Following your targets from the front," Kurou noted, still uncertain as to this sudden revelation.
"Indeed. So..." he she returned her attention to the elf in front of her. "As I was saying, we each have an interest. Would you care to lend us your assistance. There's no sense in letting a chance like this slip by you."
Was Haniko Goto willing to toss a colony of half-elves into the flames just to achieve her goals? Hells, yes. It was something all three had in common.
- Graybeard
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Re: Background noise
It took a lot to get two upper-crust Tsuirakuans to cringe, but Bauti managed, as her face lit up in a veritable parody of an evil leer.
An Errant village, all tucked away where they think they're safe, she thought. They probably won't even have any defense set up down there ... unless that damn bitch Drusia tips them off. I'll just have to stop her. The leer widened. Then it's on to the slaughter. I'll probably get a medal for this, and who knows, they might even let me sleep with Councilor Skena! I'll have to find my cuffs, clamps and ball gag...
The expression on the Tsuirakuans' faces brought her back to the here and now. "Oh, sorry, I was just -- thinking about tactics," she said. "You're right, we can work backward. I bet I even know where they're going to land, and you know what? We can get there before they do."
The elves had never fooled around much with the Southern Continent; the parts of it that they could easily reach reminded them too much of the stinking swamps of the Anuban Archipelago, and there were far more interesting parts of the world to expand into (until the Errant War, at least). However, there'd been at least one expedition to the northern coast that Bauti was aware of, and they'd have left a travel platform there for emergency use. A travel platform that the bitch would probably know about, at that. Yes, this could all work out very nicely...
"I believe we have a collaboration, then," she said, her smile softening just slightly, but staying of a nature to curdle milk and cause fruit to rot. "If we can get to Farrel or Veracia, I can take care of logistics from there."
An Errant village, all tucked away where they think they're safe, she thought. They probably won't even have any defense set up down there ... unless that damn bitch Drusia tips them off. I'll just have to stop her. The leer widened. Then it's on to the slaughter. I'll probably get a medal for this, and who knows, they might even let me sleep with Councilor Skena! I'll have to find my cuffs, clamps and ball gag...
The expression on the Tsuirakuans' faces brought her back to the here and now. "Oh, sorry, I was just -- thinking about tactics," she said. "You're right, we can work backward. I bet I even know where they're going to land, and you know what? We can get there before they do."
The elves had never fooled around much with the Southern Continent; the parts of it that they could easily reach reminded them too much of the stinking swamps of the Anuban Archipelago, and there were far more interesting parts of the world to expand into (until the Errant War, at least). However, there'd been at least one expedition to the northern coast that Bauti was aware of, and they'd have left a travel platform there for emergency use. A travel platform that the bitch would probably know about, at that. Yes, this could all work out very nicely...
"I believe we have a collaboration, then," she said, her smile softening just slightly, but staying of a nature to curdle milk and cause fruit to rot. "If we can get to Farrel or Veracia, I can take care of logistics from there."
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- Drannin
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Re: Background noise
(OOC: Skipping ahead a little while after this event)
Revyl Dirienzal was feeling a little nervous. Anyone would, really when faced with a Tsuirakuan Security officer with a fearsome reputation, a professor with an equally fearsome reputation, and a strange woman in a black cloak who basically screamed 'DEATH.' He did wonder if the bloodthirsty smile on the latter's face was truly necessary. It wasn't much better then the dead look in the professor's eyes, or the aura of doom that surrounded the officer like a shroud.
"Um, may I help you three?" he asked, somewhat nervously.
"Professor Dirienzal, I am Haniko Goto of the Tsuiraku Homeland Security Department. I'd like to ask your assistance in locating certain individuals of interest."
"Oh...yes?" he asked, somewhat stupidly. It was hard for the man to put on any airs when he was basically confronting three of the most terrifying people he had ever encountered in this life.
"Recently, you were in contact with one of them. Argus Cleiviein." At this, the Professor- Arsoro Kurou- looked thoughtful. Dirienzal thought that he actually seemed rather surprised and intrigued. In fact, Kurou was still somewhat astonished that his attacker was associated in some way with Dr. Cleiviein, but Dirienzal had no way of knowing that. But that was rather beside the point at the moment.
"The exile?" Dirienzal scoffed. "I had the misfortune of talking to him briefly. Fortunately our conversation didn't last long. Really, I'd rather not bother with the man..." Ah, there. It was good being able to feel contempt for someone. Even if that encounter had ended in a horribly embarrassing way. "If I may ask, why are you bothering with him at all?"
Kurou spoke up at his. "Because it would seem that the good Doctor and his associates are heading to the southern continent. We would like to know why, and how they plan to get there."
Dirienzal was confused. Why would they be coming to him to ask about the exile? Unless...
"The southern continent," he mused out loud. "Could it have something to do with that artifact? The one that was in the table?"
He had the satisfaction of seeing the three of them looking shocked.
Revyl Dirienzal was feeling a little nervous. Anyone would, really when faced with a Tsuirakuan Security officer with a fearsome reputation, a professor with an equally fearsome reputation, and a strange woman in a black cloak who basically screamed 'DEATH.' He did wonder if the bloodthirsty smile on the latter's face was truly necessary. It wasn't much better then the dead look in the professor's eyes, or the aura of doom that surrounded the officer like a shroud.
"Um, may I help you three?" he asked, somewhat nervously.
"Professor Dirienzal, I am Haniko Goto of the Tsuiraku Homeland Security Department. I'd like to ask your assistance in locating certain individuals of interest."
"Oh...yes?" he asked, somewhat stupidly. It was hard for the man to put on any airs when he was basically confronting three of the most terrifying people he had ever encountered in this life.
"Recently, you were in contact with one of them. Argus Cleiviein." At this, the Professor- Arsoro Kurou- looked thoughtful. Dirienzal thought that he actually seemed rather surprised and intrigued. In fact, Kurou was still somewhat astonished that his attacker was associated in some way with Dr. Cleiviein, but Dirienzal had no way of knowing that. But that was rather beside the point at the moment.
"The exile?" Dirienzal scoffed. "I had the misfortune of talking to him briefly. Fortunately our conversation didn't last long. Really, I'd rather not bother with the man..." Ah, there. It was good being able to feel contempt for someone. Even if that encounter had ended in a horribly embarrassing way. "If I may ask, why are you bothering with him at all?"
Kurou spoke up at his. "Because it would seem that the good Doctor and his associates are heading to the southern continent. We would like to know why, and how they plan to get there."
Dirienzal was confused. Why would they be coming to him to ask about the exile? Unless...
"The southern continent," he mused out loud. "Could it have something to do with that artifact? The one that was in the table?"
He had the satisfaction of seeing the three of them looking shocked.
- Graybeard
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Re: Background noise
[OOC: In case anybody is wondering what's going on up in the mountains in the Snamish thread, as of the end of November. This culminates a couple of hours before Rose, Argus, etc., get there, and SPOILERIFIC...]
Spoiler: show
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- Drannin
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Re: Background noise
"I'm not buying this. It feels like a wild goose chase."
This was said by Arsoro Kurou in the depths of Haniko Goto's personal sanctum. Hell, lair; might as well be honest about it. He stared at representations of the southern continent on a variety of monitors and maps and shook his head. "It's just too out of nowhere. It doesn't feel 'right,' do you understand me?"
Goto, from her large chair in the center of the room, frowned. "I understand what you're saying, but Bauti is an elf who apparently has been hunting enemies of her people for centuries." Kurou just sneered at this. He couldn't care less about what happened to half-elves, but hunting down random innocents just because they had funny ears didn't exactly demand respect in his eyes. "Regardless of our doubts, she commands respect. Any leads she gives us are probably worth looking in to."
Kurou just sighed in resignation. "I suppose we don't have any other option." Not since Goto's tracking had mysteriously failed. "Do we have any contingencies?"
"A few," Goto began, when Bauti entered the room. "Ah, Madame Bauti. Did you find the shower acceptable?"
"It was fine," Bauti said dismissively, "I needed to scrub up after a long haul. Now what was this about contingencies?"
Goto pressed her fingertips together. "I have been following our quarry for some time via conjuration magic. Summoned creatures serving as natural relays to my command center." Lair, Kurou corrected mentally, but he nodded. It had been impressive work on her part. Indeed, Goto gestured and brought a series of images up around the dark room. Images that included a couple of familiar faces. "Unfortunately, at some point, I ran into some interference and completely lost the signal. Since then I've been trying to regain our group both magically and with operatives. I haven't had much luck." What Goto didn't say was that this felt a little off to her as well, so she was keeping an eye on Veracia in case the crew turned up there again.
Kurou sighed, forced to admit it. "A powerful teleportation spell might have caused such interference." Bauti smiled at this, triumphant. She was absolutely convinced that she had the answer, and damned if Kurou could refute her. Bauti walked up to one of the images of the party and regarded it for a moment.
"I'm closing in on you and your little commune, Drusia. Do you hear me?" Drusia. Kurou was at least grateful that he had a name to give to his foe. Drusia glanced over at Goto. "Who did you say the others were?"
Goto rattle off details matter-of-factly. "The nun is Rose Nuria-Lucas. Former military, according to my sources. Special ops, in fact, and may be following their orders in this instance. I'm not sure what the overall objective is, though. The young man is Maduin Lochlear, scion of a well-off family. He was sent to keep an eye on Argus Cleiviein." And it was here that a slight change came over Haniko Goto. Her eyes became like hollow pits burning with black flame. Her voice took on a darker quality, as though pure malice was rising up in her. For a moment, her hands gripped the seat-rests hard enough for the knuckles to show white. It was a momentary slip, however, and she was quickly back under control. Bauti missed the incident entirely. Kurou didn't.
"I don't know how dedicated he is to his task, however. As for Cleiviein, he's a Tsuirakuan exile, thrown out for excessively dangerous experimentation." Kurou almost snorted, but held back. There was much more to the story there, he dared say. Especially as pertained to Goto. He would definitely have to look into this angle some more...
"I don't know who the others are, but I'm looking into it even now. We might get some answers as we continue our primary investigation." Her part said, Goto looked at some other readout.
Investigation. You mean 'wild goose chase,' Arsoro Kurou thought miserably.
This was said by Arsoro Kurou in the depths of Haniko Goto's personal sanctum. Hell, lair; might as well be honest about it. He stared at representations of the southern continent on a variety of monitors and maps and shook his head. "It's just too out of nowhere. It doesn't feel 'right,' do you understand me?"
Goto, from her large chair in the center of the room, frowned. "I understand what you're saying, but Bauti is an elf who apparently has been hunting enemies of her people for centuries." Kurou just sneered at this. He couldn't care less about what happened to half-elves, but hunting down random innocents just because they had funny ears didn't exactly demand respect in his eyes. "Regardless of our doubts, she commands respect. Any leads she gives us are probably worth looking in to."
Kurou just sighed in resignation. "I suppose we don't have any other option." Not since Goto's tracking had mysteriously failed. "Do we have any contingencies?"
"A few," Goto began, when Bauti entered the room. "Ah, Madame Bauti. Did you find the shower acceptable?"
"It was fine," Bauti said dismissively, "I needed to scrub up after a long haul. Now what was this about contingencies?"
Goto pressed her fingertips together. "I have been following our quarry for some time via conjuration magic. Summoned creatures serving as natural relays to my command center." Lair, Kurou corrected mentally, but he nodded. It had been impressive work on her part. Indeed, Goto gestured and brought a series of images up around the dark room. Images that included a couple of familiar faces. "Unfortunately, at some point, I ran into some interference and completely lost the signal. Since then I've been trying to regain our group both magically and with operatives. I haven't had much luck." What Goto didn't say was that this felt a little off to her as well, so she was keeping an eye on Veracia in case the crew turned up there again.
Kurou sighed, forced to admit it. "A powerful teleportation spell might have caused such interference." Bauti smiled at this, triumphant. She was absolutely convinced that she had the answer, and damned if Kurou could refute her. Bauti walked up to one of the images of the party and regarded it for a moment.
"I'm closing in on you and your little commune, Drusia. Do you hear me?" Drusia. Kurou was at least grateful that he had a name to give to his foe. Drusia glanced over at Goto. "Who did you say the others were?"
Goto rattle off details matter-of-factly. "The nun is Rose Nuria-Lucas. Former military, according to my sources. Special ops, in fact, and may be following their orders in this instance. I'm not sure what the overall objective is, though. The young man is Maduin Lochlear, scion of a well-off family. He was sent to keep an eye on Argus Cleiviein." And it was here that a slight change came over Haniko Goto. Her eyes became like hollow pits burning with black flame. Her voice took on a darker quality, as though pure malice was rising up in her. For a moment, her hands gripped the seat-rests hard enough for the knuckles to show white. It was a momentary slip, however, and she was quickly back under control. Bauti missed the incident entirely. Kurou didn't.
"I don't know how dedicated he is to his task, however. As for Cleiviein, he's a Tsuirakuan exile, thrown out for excessively dangerous experimentation." Kurou almost snorted, but held back. There was much more to the story there, he dared say. Especially as pertained to Goto. He would definitely have to look into this angle some more...
"I don't know who the others are, but I'm looking into it even now. We might get some answers as we continue our primary investigation." Her part said, Goto looked at some other readout.
Investigation. You mean 'wild goose chase,' Arsoro Kurou thought miserably.
- Graybeard
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Re: Background noise
To Kurou's and Goto's surprise, Bauti chose this moment to pipe up.
"I know another one," she said. "There's an elf traveling with them. Our people know her as Drusia, but when she's traveling among humans, she uses a double name. I never bothered learning what it was, though." She snickered. "It didn't seem worth the effort. She's part of our security forces, but unreliable. She's also a stuck-up bitch, and sneaky as hell. She'd rather back-stab you that meet you in open combat -- what?" Now why was Kurou turning that peculiar shade of purple?
"I know another one," she said. "There's an elf traveling with them. Our people know her as Drusia, but when she's traveling among humans, she uses a double name. I never bothered learning what it was, though." She snickered. "It didn't seem worth the effort. She's part of our security forces, but unreliable. She's also a stuck-up bitch, and sneaky as hell. She'd rather back-stab you that meet you in open combat -- what?" Now why was Kurou turning that peculiar shade of purple?
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- Drannin
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Re: Background noise
(OOC: Sorry for neglecting this thread for so long. Life been busy and all that.)
"Drusia, you say?" Kurou said with a strange, sick smile. "Thank you, Bauti. I truly appreciate that revelation." Now he had a name for the elf he was going to slowly murder. "Now, then, if we're going to do this, shall we get underway?"
Goto, who had been watching Kurou with vague interest, nodded and stood. "Agreed. Let's begin our investigation."
"Drusia, you say?" Kurou said with a strange, sick smile. "Thank you, Bauti. I truly appreciate that revelation." Now he had a name for the elf he was going to slowly murder. "Now, then, if we're going to do this, shall we get underway?"
Goto, who had been watching Kurou with vague interest, nodded and stood. "Agreed. Let's begin our investigation."