(1868-04-25) Upon the roof
Upon the roof
Summary: Shirlyn, with some assistance from Mattias, deals with that final pesky assassin.
Date: 1868-04-25
Related: In a way, it started here A feast of Chaos
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Shirlyn  Mattias  

Julian  

A roof in Four Corners
A very nice roof. Don't mind the blood stain.
1868-04-25

The plan had been laid into motion, and the Minister of Blades quickly located "The Weasel" who told him EVERYTHING he knew of the Parthian Assassin, one Julian Rhadel. Once the man's location had been devised, the Minister, under orders from the Chancellor moves forces in to cover the area, and find the target. This in itself didn't take long, especially when the shooting started.

Either he had been expecting somebody to snitch, had bumbled on the information, or whatever, Julian was prepared. The first shot killed a guardsman with a head shot. The rest were blown up by an alchemical pot of Parthian Fire. Retreating to the rooftops, the man manages to avoid a barrage of crossbow bolts, rolling off the roof, grabbing the edge, nad then flipping back up. In mid air, he draws a Hand Cannon and shoots one of the Crossbowmen in the chest, knocking him off the room with a scream.

Mattias and SHirlyn have a window side seat of this.

Shirlyn has been anxious, hoping that her nightmare of a year and assassins will finally come to a close, or at the very least she can have a bit of a break. She wears her disguise for what she hopes is the last time for a little while. She watches their quarry take to the rooftops as she adjusts her riding skirts, taking a moment to scratch at the wig on her scalp, "shit," she breaths out. "Well, this didn't go as planned, hmm?"

Mattias watches the skilled assassin with some measure of appreciation for the skill shown, no doubt some part of Mattias' brain is also calculating just how much leverage a d'Kemp assassin murdering Four Corners guardsmen garners him. Each of the dead's families assured of good stipends. The grievous loss of good men and women. And even as he watches, Mattias does grimace everso slightly, "You have to admire your skill at evading this man my dear." The Chancellor intones, stepping forward and holding out his hand for his ornate long cannon, and indeed the ancient and milky-eyed Notary steps forward and hands the loaded weapona cross to Mattias, who for his part, gives the weapon a cursory once over, "I heard he was hired by Arthur d'Kemp, they are the ones who declared independence up north aren't they? Sided with the Kentairish fiends. Such loyalty." Taking stock, Mattias raises the fine weapon and takes a slow and careful aim, preferably a leg. But at this distance, who knows. And click. Boom! A poof of acrid smoke and Mattias fires toward the assassin, clear of his own pursuers, "Not quite as planned. But given that explosion we heard, I think we awere better off where we are."

The shot echoes over the plaza, and as the Assassin draws two more Hand Cannons one in each hand, and has them pointed at another group of Crossbowmen, he jerks to the side. One of the hand cannons falls and clatters to the rooftop. He staggers a few steps, and then falls to his knees. He looks South, and bows his head. Speaking softly, before he falls to his side.

"Perhaps I'm just happy my time on that blasted mountain didn't go to waste," Shirlyn grins, "though I'm not opposed to taking a complement. Thank you," she says rather smugly. "Oh?" Shirlyn says with a quirk of a brow before Mattias takes his shot. "Why would d'Kemp want me killed? Curiouser and curiouser the tangled web has been woven. Though yes, you are correct, they did. More questions, less answers." The shot is fired and Shirlyn nods in agreement. "That would be the correct assumption, dear friend," she says with a smirk, waiting for the powder to clear before trying to search for the assassin once more. "Well, it would seem he finds himself hit. No harm done, then."


"Well my dear, he is all yours. Lets see if you can't get the answers you require… we might as well go and join him, lest bringing him to us hastens his demise." Mattias offers easily enough, handing his smoking long cannon back across to his ancient and be-wigged Notary, who for a brief moment lifts said mop of off white bouffant hair to scratch the liver-spotted scalp beneath. A nod to the notary, who simply for his part, stares back somewhat blankly. And with a flourish, Mattias steps towards the building atop which the fallen assassin slumps. And all the while, Mattias' men continue to not only put out flames, but cleanse the rest of the area of the shadowy fiends who have spilt way too much blood under Frderick's rule, "Still, a bonus for us. A Kentaire puppet sanctioning murder in my city, one has to wonder what Rikton and Kentaire might offer for my continued desire for balance." Yes. A bonus.

Moving to the Assassin is fairly simple and minutes latter they are at his side. The Minister of Blades removes weapons from the fallen man and then steps aside, training his own hand cannon on the fallen man. The Assassin, Julian, turns his head to look at Shirlyn. "Phaw. My quarry, so close, and me unable to finish the job." He rolls his head to look at the sky. "You are here to ask me questions. Speak them. I doubt I have much time left. One of you is a very good shot." Pain laces the man's face, along with perspiration. The man is shot near the heart, and blood flows freely. He's bleeding to death, and from the color and amount of blood, there would be little even a skilled physician could do to stop his death.

Shirlyn looks at her boots and sighs, "I definitely didn't dress for this." She tosses her wig to the side, she'll get it later, and shakes out her hair. "Blessed One," she sighs as a breeze catches her locks. "I've been waiting to do that for a long time. Oh, and I do know he is the last. The fourth. Honestly, what I know… I never thought that it would warrant four assassins to make sure it isn't shared. They did well with that too," she follows Mattias to greet her would-be assassin, "I haven't had a moment to slow down, to think. I had a part to play and fish to sell." She sniffs distastefully, though it's clear she made good money off of it, so she's not all out complaining. "Oh, that's a mighty fine question, Mattias, and one I'd wish to know the answer to as well," she grins as she begins to climb to the rooftop.

"Bloody assassins, always running to roofs, why in the name of the One…" she grumbles as her head cautiously peeks over the edge, when she finds him down she smirks. "Well done, Mattias!" She points to her companion and grins. "He's the shot, I'm the mouth," she gets close, but not too close she's not dumb, and tosses him a cloth to compress his wounds. "Why?" That's all she says, one word but it is just as loaded as the hand cannons on Mattias' person.

Mattias for his part simply stands a pace behind and to the side of Shirlyn, trusting in Shawl's good aim to ensure the safety of Shirlyn. And indeed, being the 'Shot' to Shirlyn's 'Mouth' is no bad thing and the Parthian is offered a respectful nod all the same. And despite a recollection of some glorious summer, spent in Parthia, no doubt involving a peach or a orange tree, and some withered mystic, not to mention some glorious aspect of their culture. Mattias remains utterly silent. For time is of the essence, and no one needs to hear a story about a peach.

One of Mattias' men however does move to compress that wound, if only to buy them the moments they need.

"Knowledge." Julian says simply. "The Prophets speak that Knowledge not only brings us together, but it binds us in a dance with Summer Moon's domain. That of death. The One, knew this when he became mortal, but still he sought Knowledge, until that knowledge killed him." He takes a shuddering breath. "So too, Shirlyn Charing, did your accumalation of knowledge lead to this moment and the moments of my brothers and sister. We were paid yes. But we are from an order that looks to seal Knowledge. To keep mankind safe." He smiles to Shirlyn. "So. Keep that knowledge… Though our employer is dead, and no more of us shall come for you, the Order has no reason to find you. To end you. Your price has been paid."

There's a nod there, no quips or jibs, just simple understanding. "Knowledge is the root of all power, it is true. What knowledge of mine was it that needed to be sealed and locked away?" She asks clinically, no hatred or inflection of tone. "It would seem we seek the same end," Shirlyn says bluntly and slides a look to Mattias, raising a brow to ask if he has anything further to add.

"While your employer is anything but noble, it seems his aims merely coincided with your own, did he mention why he wanted you to kill Shirlyn, an honoured daughter of Galenthia? While his aim mirrored yours, he undoubtedly had his own reasons, and while your task it seems had merit, I doubt d'Kemp's did." Mattias offers, casting a glance towards Shirlyn, before looking back to the assassin upon the roof, and indeed taking a swift little peek over the edge, for nothing if not curiousity, "Your Order could do well to have this lady, if anyone knows the power of knowledge and the need to keep it from those who would abuse it, it is she. Where would you wish us to have your body sent? We'll honour your request."

Julian smiles, as blood begins to trickle out the corner of his mouth. Surprisingly he hasn't coughed or spasmed. He just lays there, bleeding to death and talking. "The knowledge of power of course. Whom you called the Powerful Man, my people called the One's Bastard. He had in his possession much power, both of mortal means, and that of Magic. We believed that he was trying to undo your Emperor Verelius' work, and undo his sealing of the Arcane. Afraid what would happen if a Galenthian got that power, the Order contacted the One's Bastard, I am sorry, I do not know how they knew who he was, but when contacted, he wanted you dead. The Order feared you were after that knowledge. On top of that, the Order believed you had found other arcane secrets." He shrugs. "True or not, this is the reason we came for you. To protect the whole of Tirth from unleashing Magic on the world again."

There is a nod given to Mattias' question, as it seems to elaborate on her own. Her hand slides up to her hip and rests there while she waits for the Assassin's reply. Though Mattias' words catcher her off guard and has her snapping her head round to give him a contemplative look before slowly bringing her eyes back to their captive. "Arcane… I know nothing of Magic, Abyss. I thought them fanciful stories to scare children until Rikton. That is when I started to believe and only then look into it lightly." Shirlyn sighs heavily and looks to Mattias, "He lied to them so they'd be more willing to kill me. My only knowledge was his undoing alone, not to unlock the secrets of the arcane. He knew exactly how to get them involved willingly."

Shirlyn nods to Julian. "I can see why you'd willingly do this bidding of your masters, I am only sorry that I couldn't tell them that they were so very wrong sooner and spare your brethren's lives." There is a furrow of her brow and what could be construed of anger on her face before her mien relaxes to normal. "So much as you've complied to our questioning, and you look in exceeding amounts of pain, when we're finished I will grant you a swift end. Your actions, although misguided, we no less admirable. I am sorry it needs be this way."

"Indeed, it is d'Kemp himself who seeks to undo all is it not. Or was. The One's bastard. Hmm." Mattias offers from behind, merely meeting Shirlyn's gaze all too briefly, "Let us know where you wish to be taken, so your funereal rites may be attended to. I would suggest that Lady Shirlyn go with you on this final journey, if only to see your body returned to Parthian soil. A journey of a few days there and back, it would show the Order some measure of respect that is due. Worry not though, Lady Shirlyn shall be at the forefront of seeing this great power remains locked away."

The man nods stiffly. "Sometimes the One moves in odd ways." He looks at Shirlyn. "There maybe a reason the One put me and my kin against you. To hone you. To prepare you for whatever it is that is coming." Julian nods to Mattias. "I do not need to return to Parthia. Lay me to rest in the Central Ocean under Summer Moon's light. That way her beauty will light my way to the Palace of the Sun, and my shade will find rest. It is the wish of all who serve the Prophets under the One's guidance." He takes a small shuddering breath. "I am… sorry … Lady … Charing… You should not have been … Brought … Into this." He holds out a hand. "Your mother … "

A solemn nod is given, "I will do this, gladly. Your brethren never said as much to me or I would've tried to put a stop to this ages ago. Knowledge is important, powerful, and in the wrong hands deadly. I will do my best." Killing people is nasty business, killing people that do not deserve it, nastier. "It will be done as you wish. I'll do it myself," she says of Julian's request as she takes his hand off the clay tiles. "My mother…" and the words die on his lips and she curses, "senseless waste of life." She puts his hand across his chest, and does the same with the other. "Walk with the One and dance in Summer Moon's light," she intones before getting to her feet and sending up a hail storm of verbal fire and brimstone.

Mattias turns to Gerrick and nods, "Continue with the purge of undesirables, I believe I have a letter or two to send to the High Priest in Rikton;" For indeed, there are now two, as if that even needed clarifying, "and our dear friend in Kentaire." The conversation about stipends to the guards families is as ever unsaid, given it remains almost automatic. On looks after their own after all. And to the Notary, who finally clambers up onto the roof with a wheezed breath of annoyance and near death, Mattias smiles brightly, "See to it a vessel is secured, Four Corners livery and flags. We have a body to offer to the central Ocean, ensure the body is respectfully carried to said vessel, and upon Lady Shirlyn's word, should she wish to attend to it herself, consign his soul to the deep."

Mattias does little to interrupt Shirlyn's verbal artillery.

"Yes, I shall," she says curtly. "After, we'll talk about my mother. Tonight, the docks, just before dusk," the Charing lady says her words sharply in with much bite, nodding to Mattias before looking for a way off the roof. "More questions, less answers."

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