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Thrax · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:21 pm Post subject: Back on the Hunt

"I know where she is," Thrax told Scar when they met at a tavern in Trinsic. "She is under guard, of course, and the way in to her location is long and quite open; it's a large cavern. There is every chance that a full-fledged assault with lots of troops will be observed in time for them to whisk her away again. You will need to plan things very carefully."

"How did you come by this, if I may ask?"

Thrax smiled coyly. "That is not important, but it is reliable information. Let's just say I had help from a good friend and leave it at that."

Scar nodded, accepting the mild rebuke.

Thrax gave him a rune. "I had this marked. Go to the abbattoir and stand on it, and speak a password," he said, and he then divulged the word to him in a whisper.

"I owe you for this," Scar remarked as he took the rune and stood up, preparing to leave. "How may I repay you?"

Thrax shook his head and waved his hand, pursing his lips. "She is very dear to my wife and children. I should be thanking you. But, if you would please me, remain with my friend Magnate Isk. See that he and his family remain safe during these most troubled times. That will be enough."

Scar smiled. "Easy enough, for I have every intention of doing just that."

"Good! Then I am happy."

Scar bade Thrax farewell, bowed slightly, and went to find Lord Malic so they could make plans to rescue Lady Temptation.

Ishtar · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:23 pm Post subject:

From her office in Papua, the paperwork never seemed to be at an end. Finally after signing the last docket a young girl was escorted in by some of her guards. She looked up to regard the group, "Is there something amiss?"

One of the guards came forward, "My Lady Archon, this girl was in the inn and showed myself and the other guard here something you should see.", he said to her and placed the wood pieces and the scarab on her desk.

Ishtar looked at them, the man and then the young woman, "Where did you get these?", she asked her.

The young woman stepped a bit closer and shakily replied, "I...I...have been tending to a woman. She asked me to find someone who knew the beetle.", her eyes barely stayed on Ishtar's.

"Is she well? Was she alive when you last saw her? Do you know where she is?", Ishtar started asking.

The girl looked back at her, "She is fine, but does not remember who she is or why she is in the caves."

Ishtar sunk in her chair, "No memory.", her expression went blank a moment and she turned to the group, taking out some gold she paid the young woman for the information. "No harm comes to that woman. One of you will go back with her to find out where Lady Temptation is being held. The other will go find Lord Scaramandine and Lord Malic and advise them of this information. May the light of Ra guide you, go with haste!"

On her orders all of them left abruptly. Her eyes went back to the effects that were brought to her, with care she picked up the scarab and held it with hope. With a deep "sigh", she gathered up everything and went back to Whitehall.
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Ceinwyn ab'Arawn · Transcendent Spammer Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 5017

So Thrax had finally taken Ceinwyn's words seriously. He came seeking her out at the Sepulcher, asking her more about what she had said at the Regency meeting.

"Yes, I can show you where the elven prisoner is. But, there is no guarantee that it will be Temptation. Also, You will leave my name out of this rescue. I will deny all knowledge of it to this clan of drow, for it would ruin any future undertakings with them. I am sure you will understand."

Thrax agreed. He would go with her to see anyway, as it very well could have been her. Thrax provided a boot for Zeth to get the scent of their quarry. Ceinwyn laid the plan out before them.

"Thrax, you will dress and act like the demon Thrax, do you understand?" At his nod, she continued. "Warlord Zeth, you will go with us and stay in the shadows at all times. If you smell this scent, wait until we are out of the caves to tell us. At no time do we break this charade, else we will lose the advantage."

They travelled to Buc's Den, to make use of the magic doorway to Vesper. Ceinwyn groaned inwardly when they were approached by a local of Buc's Den. Thankfully, he did not stop them with idle chatter. They quickly stepped into the portal and appeared in Vesper.

"Follow me.." Ceinwyn said.

Through the woods towards Cove they travelled, Zeth shadowing their trail. When at last they came to the ruins, Ceinwyn informed them of the password.

Speaking the password brought them into the secret caves and they wasted no time beginning their search.

Ceinwyn strode calmly and confidently through the tunnels as if she belonged there. Usually, if you give the impression that you belong someplace, she knew, none would question your presence. It was all a matter of sending the proper body signals. So often it was easy to pick out one whom did not belong simply bu their shaking shoulders or sagging posture.

As they came to the private bedroom toward the back of the cave, they could hear voices. Ceinwyn stepped through the doorway and into the room. The matron drow's male was there. So was Temptation Waits. Ceinwyn ignored the fact that they had achieved success, for their charade was not over, yet. To avoid suspicion, she began to speak with the drow, ignoring his hostage.

"Is your Matron about? Well, just tell her that I wish to meet with her when she is able. I have some old news about a racist elven clan... "

At his agreement, she took the time to introduce Thrax as her demon. This gave him a chance to enter the room more fully and see Temptation, as well. They made their leave calmly, and headed back to the Sepulcher.

Zeth related to them that the girl's scent was strong in the cave.

Thrax expressed gratitude at Ceinwyn's assistance, but she deferred.

"Tis Malic who owes me, not yourself. Now, you should be on your way before I realize that you are not really our demon Thrax." She winked.

Temptation Waits · Adventurer Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Posts: 61

The dark surroundings were beginning to wear on Tempt. She longed for light, that much she was sure was something that she needed. Her drow captors, seemed to thrive on her discomfort and misery and taunt her whenever they had the chance. His gaze and body movements were still unsettling, though she attempted to hide it. Was she truly condemned to some sordid fate? Those words echoed, there are some fates worse than death.

No one came down here with a few rare exceptions, some matriarch, the workers and then the two that held her now. The young woman that aided her had yet to return and perhaps she never will. Tempt had to hope in spite of the feeling that it was to no end. What would become of her here? kept alive for what purpose, sacrifice to the goddess that these people say guide their very being.

She pulled her knees close to her chest, she was cold and every few minutes she would be hit with fits of coughing now. Deep down, she felt like she was running out of time. The conditions here were not good for one meant to be kept alive. Was that the intention, to have her wither away and die, forgotten and alone? She closed her eyes and then saw the spider on the pendant the man wore. She had seen it before, but where?

At times, she would have flashes of what she thought was memory. Perhaps they were, unless she could find a person who knew her, how was she to be sure? Always more questions then answers, that was what filled her days now. Even she was unsure if she had many left. Scuffling of the earth and rock roused her from her thoughts. A bit startled she looked up to see her male drow caretaker, wearing his typical grin and his red eyes bearing down upon her...
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Scar · Adventurer Joined: 11 Dec 2007 Posts: 64

As distasteful as it was to him to do it, Scar nevertheless enlisted the aid of the lycan, Malikai, to scout the cavern wherein Lady Temptation was being held.

"There is a small, one-room wooden structure in the north-northeast corner. She is kept there under guard by at least one drow male at all times. To get to her, you would have to make a long trek more than halfway around the mere in full view of everyone on the other side. Although it is quite dark inside, a drow's keen eyes would not fail to observe a mass of soldiery approaching," Malikai explained.

"Then a direct assault is out of the question," Scar replied, stating the obvious.

"I *could* do it myself," Malikai offered. "One drow doesn't stand a chance against me," he boasted.

Scar shook his head. "No. Tempt would never trust you. She's the one who finally tracked you down, remember? And to be honest, I would not blame her."

Malikai looked down. "You forget this," he said, taking hold of a gold Scarab brooch that was pinned to the soft flesh in the hollow of his throat. "Lady Ishtar put that here to keep me in line. She said I must obey her or she could use it to slay me."

Scar scrutinized the Scarab, a perfect likeness of the beetle it portrayed. It would fit with room to spare on the flat of a gold coin. "Why don't you just remove it?"

Malikai smiled. "I tried. It nearly killed me."

Scar remained unconvinced. "I must think of how Tempt would react to seeing you. Every second would count. One moment's hesitation on her part could be the difference between success and failure, or life and death."

"As you wish."

"I do appreciate your services, however. I will make certain that Ishtar knows what you've done for us."

Malikai's expression remained impassive. "There is no undoing all I have done to the Baron, and many others. I do not want, much less hope for, forgiveness. What I do want is my freedom restored. Whatever I must do to get it, I will do."

"Well, if that ever happens, know this: you must never go back to Delucia or Papua. You know that, don't you?"

"Yes, I know, but that doesn't matter. Umbra is my home now anyway. At least I am welcome there."

Scar nodded, pushing a bag of gold into his hand. "Take this. You will return there wealthier at least."

The lycan took the gold and bowed slightly before leaving. "If you need me again, you know where I will be."

After his departure, Scar immediately set out to find Malic.

Orgollree'rean · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject:

Orgollree'rean thought to himself as he kept watch over the prisoner, "it is unlike the matron to keep a prisoner alive for so long, this one must be have an important purpose. If she were meant for sacrifice, surely she would be dead by now." He noticed the surface elf was starting to feel the effects of her incarceration. "Her health is fading," he thought to himself, he flashed her a evil grin as he examined her. "It would appear your captor wishes a slow agonizing death for you," he spoke to her as he turned and walked back out to the main hall of the cave.

As he stepped into the main hall, he reflected on the Caves defences. "I could easily secure this section, in the event of an invasion, long enough for an escape anyway," he thought, "and their approach could not go unnoticed, a few shadow walkers perhaps, but no sizeable force." "Perhaps, I should speak with our Sirah allies, I know they have some trackers in their ranks. It would be of some benefit to have someone who can watch the shadows." He had not seen or heard from any of the Northland Militia since the invasion of Minoc, but he thought he may be able to find at least one. "I will talk to the matron about that when I see her again." he thought, "she may know where they are hiding."