(1868-05-07) Goldeneye
Log Title
Summary: Log Summary
Date: IC Date
Related: Related Logs (If there aren't any, use None. Don't this entry leave blank. If there is a log, use full URLs, like http://eternalcrusade.wikidot.com/logtitle)
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Altair  Zahara  Lysette  


Four Corners - Docks

There isn't a ship afloat that hasn't been through the logbooks of the dock-master of the Free City of Four Corners… at least, if you listen to the dock-master.

Ships of every description, from private yachts and slender fishing knars to big-bellied merchant cogs and bristling naval brigantines. Dockworkers and sailors with tattoos and tattered breeches, errand-boys running underfoot and over crate, fishermen fixing nets, wealthy merchants attended by slaves and bookkeepers and travelers, sightseers and more, all of them here where the ships are loaded and unloaded beneath the wheeling gulls. Businesses catering to the sailors and men who work her crowd the dock front, with restaurants, taverns, whorehouses, bonesaws, pitch-vats, money-changers, bounty-offices and shipwrights all fighting for space. This too is where the fishing boats unload their daily catches. There is a fishmarket right on one of the more rickety quays where one can find bright silver tuna, swordfish, cod, bass, anglerfish, grouper, mussels, abalone, huge prawns and tiny shrimp and anchovies, squid, enormous mottled lobsters, crabs, spiky urchins eel, salmon, even monster tuna. Waterbirds of various types are here as well, such as tern, cormorant, swan and heron.

7th of Mai, 1868

Lysette has arrived.

Four Corners has surprisingly cleaned up a little since Mattias Thyne had taken over. Though far from what one might call a clean, or perfect city. The Second Shadow War is still in full swing, with bodies being found in allies, or floating in the canals. Or found when fishing nets snag on a floating body tied down by rocks in the harbor. But, the shadey dealings have lessened, and one can usually expect fair trade. Though Four Corners Guards have been added to the bodies showing up.

Altair was given a letter to bring to Four Corners by Myrana d'Armaz to her Father, Adriono d'Armaz who is managing both the Kingdom's Four Corner's affairs, as well as the families interests there, while his sone, Nicolo goes off to make a name for himself in the war.

Mercenaries are everywhere on the docks. Both boarding ships, or tracking down nobles to offer services in the War of the West. The weather is hot, as it usually is in Four Corners in Mai, where along this section of the world Summer Alignment appears to come early. The Docks, none the less are busy, and people almost need to shout to be heard over the din of the docks.

Four Corners in the summer months is enough to be unbearable for even the most hearty sorts of person. Attired in full skirts rather than trous and shirt as some women would do, the acknowledgement of the weather is easier seen by the copper strands of hair. Held up and away from her face with heavy pins, Zahara has the look of a determined woman. Not that it keeps the copper curls from settling about her face with some disarray. That, is handled by the light headscarf that covers the top of her head and held about her shoulders with a rather elaborate copperwork pin. It's good enough for a merchant's daughter. One who carries a bundle under one arm as she leaves one of the ships on errand for her father, steps short but quick as she passes one sailor and then another.

For several months now the Lady Lysette March has been staying in a guest room in the Sokar Manse and exploring the city of Four Corners. She has taken it upon herself to explore every nook and cranny she can get away with exploring and while her guards have kept her out of the slums everywhere else seems to be fair game for the lady's curious nature. Currently the beautiful blonde is strolling down the docks with her two guards and her handmaiden. Wearing a gown of lavish and airy sapphire blue silk, matching shoes and a pearl necklace the ladies elegance and beauty makes her stand out. Her guards are both armored and armed with longswords while the two women both carry daggers concealed in discrete places on thier person. Lysette wanders the docks with a thoughtful expression flitting from place to place with grace but little patience while her guards struggle to keep up with her.

The sailors are probably glad that the white-haired mercenary has left the ship. Very glad. Last time was bad enough, carrying that pale bad luck demon along with a ship full of wounded. This time, the man seemed determined to make them miserable, even if all he did was seem to keep walking the deck. His more visible presence this trip just seemed to unsettle those that didn't know him. STepping off onto the docks, the pale warrior wipes the back of his arm across his brow, the sweat from the heat definitely hitting him. "Home… Always a hot one in May," he notes knowlingly as he starts off to find Adriono D'Armaz, a determined speed to his step, a message in hand, his head more than a bit higher than the rest of the general crowd.

The Docks are busy, and loud, but that doesn't stop one form hearing the sound of shrieking as a woman cries out in terror and somebody calls out asking if there was a healer nearby! People mill about watching and trying to catch a look at what is causing the shouts …

Some people start whispering, fearful sounds, as well as frightened looks in that direction.

One moment, Zahara is moving towards the most expedient way out of the docks and in the next? The sound of a scream catches the woman off guard. Halting suddenly, she looks about in the direction from where the call for a healer is made. Left, right, it doesn't take long before she's taking off in the direction of the calls. Quick steps just short of a flurry of scarf and skirts, she lifts her free hand before lifting her voice high enough to be heard. "Someone called for a healer?"

Lysette is drawn over more by curiousity than a desire to help. The noble woman swiftly moves through the crowd heading over in that direction until she has a view of whatever is going on. She doesn't get in the way but she does watch her eyes taking in the scene with a look of faint curiousity. Crossing her arms over her chest she watches as Zahara rushes over to help her gaze unreadable save for faint curiousity.

His steps are slow to turn at first but he does pick up momentum with all deliberate speed, the pale warrior known as Altair rushing towards the scene of the scream as quickly as he can once he hears the sound. It's the kind of scream that just demands attention and, to Altair's ears, screams of the need of someone to defend. Unsure whether he's going to get there in time to do anything, he rushes in anyways, a fool going where angels fear to tread.

As Zahara makes herself known, somebody calls out, "Make way for her!" And the people slowly, but surely do. A path is cleared for Zahara, and there lies a man on the docks. He lays there a hand pressed to his neck, and bleeding. To Zahara's trained eyes, the bleeding has slowed, and there isn't much leaking between the fingers. The man's eyes are fully dialated, and he stares up unknowing into Four Corner's summer sky. His mouth moves, very slowly, and his breath comes in slow shuddering gasps. Both Altair and Lysette are able to follow behind Zahara and see what she is seeing.

The things which Zahara begins looking with a glance left and right include any weapon but that falls second to the fact that the bleeding is slowing and that may bode ill for the injured man. "Hello," she begins, her voice seeming calm and hopefully not too detached for providing comfort. All the while, she kneels down beside him with care to the presence of blood - potential or currently around the body. "Let's take a look at the wound," comes the murmur, even as she begins to unfasten the copper broach. A shame, she did not want to be without one head scarf but it's plain enough that it won't be missed much. As she leans closer, she does try to listen to what the man might be trying to say. As for people following her? She hadn't even taken note, setting the package beside her - a brown bundle leaning against one knee and ground.

Lysette watches the woman as she kneels before the bleeding man to check his wounds. She tilts her head and looks curiously at the scene while beside her her guards are tense and her handmaiden is pale faced at the sight of the blood. Lysette notices her maids expression and smirks. "Oh come on Bianca. Its not that bad. That fox I killed and stuffed bled more. He probably won't die…probably." The March lady doesn't exactly sound like she cares one way or the other and her impassive and clinically curious gaze doesn't help matters.

The pale warrior rushes towards the scene, brushing briefly past Lysette or one of her entourage as he closes in, moving to kneel down aside the man, opposite Zahara. He doesn't question whether it was her who screamed, and he keeps just enough distance from the man so as not to draw his fresh air from him or get in Zahara's way. "I am here if you need anything, Zahara." Altair is always trying to be helpful, if there is anything he can do. Looking back down at the man, he shakes his head slowly, his expression one of a touch of shock the man is still alove at all with such a wound.

The Man on the ground, removes his hand from his neck and clutches at Zahara. "M-m-Mon … ster…." He whispers softly, his voice becoming a death rattle as the last of the words are breathed out. His breth gone, the man passes, the light in his eyes dimming as they stare into Zahara's own. THe look on his face is full of terror, and surprise.

Something isn't right. That could be discerned from Zahara's expression as she begins to move the man's hand away to be replaced by the folds of her headscarf in a makeshift wrapping. Or was until he reaches for her, uttering words that give her pause. "By the One.." There's no hope for the man. That much is true as he isn't much longer for this world but rather preparing to enter the one beyond. "Be that as it may, miss…" Meaning Lysette. "He should have bled more but there is little blood. Is this related to the other odd occurrences throughout the world?" Magic. "There have been many people who have died lately here in the city. Unexplained." With the initial shock wearing off, she falls back into earlier reserves while processing what happened. Looking over to Altair, it might be the first time that she's recognized the pale haired man. "I need to know who called for a healer. If they know this man or what happened."

As she hears those words Lysette's eyes widen in surprise and open curiousity. "Monster? What kind?" She looks curious but then the man just…dies and the lady pouts in an adorable expression of frustration. Her maid looks like she is about to faint but Lysette just looks to Zahara as she explains the surprising lack of blood. "Well I know of one monster which supposedly drinks blood. All the legends say Vampires drink blood but vampires cannot walk in sunlight according to those same legends. So either its something else entirely or some of our information on such things is only false speculation. But do you really think such things even exist?" Her eyes glimmer with facination.

Well, the first thing one does when looking for information in situations like this is put out a call for it. Altair nods once to Zahara before he stands slowly, his deep voice calling out commandingly, carrying at least enough distance over the din of the docks to catch the ears of those most immediate. "Does anyone here know this gentleman, or be or happen to know the woman who called out for a healer for him?" he asks aloud, his eyes scanning the visible crowd slowly from his elevated height. He glances back to Zahara a moment, shaking his head a little. "If fear is high, there is no guarantee of information forthcoming. I will canvas the area, if need be." He then arches a brow at Lysette, hearing her words, the man standing two feet taller than she and as pale as icy death. "There is much in this world we know naught about, miss. Only time and experience will tell those tales."

Across the docks, Four Corners guards, men in black tabards, armed and armored begin to make their way toward the scene. It will take them some time yet to reach the scene, as they have to move people out of the way, and fight the crowds. The crowd around the trio and the body begins to move back to their business, as the excitement, that of the man attacked, has gone and died. A dead body isn't really all that exciting when you see one all the time.

The large man with the white hair, can easily see over the crowds of people milling about. However, with his height, and training, he spies the odd duck. A man holding his hands tight to his chest, and looking around nervously. Everyonce in awhie he looks over his shoulder 0ot the guards and steps a little faster.

"I think…" Begun slowly, Zahara folds her hair scarf slowly between her hands while removing the blood as well taking the time to consider this possibility. "There have been odd occurrences as of late. Things like monsters from old tales and children's stories may not be as far fetched as one would have thought mere months ago. If those vampires truly exist, then we may be dealing with such a creature. By the One, I hope not." Softly spoken, she gives her head a firm shake while taking up the package that had been entrusted to her. Something tangible to wrap her arms around as she looks towards Altair's attempt in finding the truth. "How would one defend against such things, if they really exist?"

Lysette frowns at Zahara's question. "Well the books on monsters of legend I have says sunlight, holy symbols and a wooden stake through the heart kill them. But the sunlight is obviously false so it could be that the other methods are too…I don't know." Lysette studies the mans corpse curiously for a moment before she glances away again. "I would burn the body though. The tales say that the bitten rise three days later as a vampire. But then again…that could also be wrong." She doesn't seem bothered at all by the body or the blood or the spookiness of the matter at all. She turns away and begins to start to wander further down the docks exploring and paying close attention to her surroundings acting out of curiousity and a desire to see if she can find any clues about what happened to the man. Not because she cares but simply because Lysette March loves a good mystery. Her maid and guards follow but fall behind after a moment the guards having to pause to steady the maid who looks like she is about to puke or faint. Lysette doesn't pay them any mind though she is aware of them, she merely continues looking around.

Altair says, "If you separate a beast's head from its body, at te very least it should have a harder time getting around…" he notes dryly as he continues to scan the crowd. His eyes narrow, first on the cadre of black garbed guards approaching, then even more so on a suspicious looking man that seems to be tring to flee without drawing attention. "Zahara…" he says, motioning towards the man. "I'll be spotted a mile away, but perhaps you might be able to approach while I head him off at the pass and deny him the ability to escape…" he notes, before giving her a knowing look and just a little bit of a trusting smile. He then starts off to see if he cannot come around and meet the man from the other side…

"The tales say a number of things… but there is still a lot to be determined." Zahara would say more but once Lysette and her entrouge depart, there's Altair making such a request that finds her blinking once, then twice as she looks further towards the black garbed guards making their way towards them. "What?" Turning her gaze towards the direction that the mercenary intends to go, she begins to gather herself and her skirts up to move towards the figure who looks a little less than comfortable. "And if he manages to speak to me? Shall I not let him get close enough to do so," she asks, moving off as if not expecting a response.

Lysette spots Zahara and Altair trying to corner the shifty looking man. It only takes a minute until she gives her guards the slip as they are still fussing over her poor maid and slips quietly through the crowd trying to approch the man to prevent him from running off. She glides up towards him with a slight rustle of her skirts and flashes him a gentle and oh so charming smile. Its a smile ment to relax and disarm men and she tilts her head as she studies him carefully. "Hello there…are you okay?" She looks at him with a look of perfectly arranged gentle concern, trying to use her ability at presenting herself as nothing more than a very charming young lady to her advantage.

Once Altair bumps into the man he squeeks in terror at the larger armed and armored man suddenly blocking his path. Which is when Zahara and Lysette catch up to him as well and Lysette asks her question. The man spins and squeeks in fear once more. "I-I-I-I am fine mistress … " He says, eyes darting left and right in fear. "Why did you sick the Sell Sword on me? I did nothing! I jsut … I jsut called for help! I didn't do anything!"

You know, the atmosphete is supposed to be thinner higher up, not closer to ground level… As Altair sees Lysette rushing in where angels fear to tread at a pace fater than that of the warrior, he picks up the pace in order to sandwich the man before he has a chance to do anything to either of the ladies. Effectively surriounding him, Altair's expression is rather gentle, despite his icy eyes. "Sir, please relax," that deep voice of his taking on a soothing tone, his arms raised and his empty palms open in a gesture of peace, hand away from his sword. "We mean you no harm. We only desire to ask whether or not you might have known the man, if you might have seen or known his attacker, or if you might have seen *anything* at all that might help in investigating his untimely death. Please, anything that you might offer, no matter how small, might be of some use. You were there before we arrived, closer to the actual time of the incident."

Lysette gives the man a look that appears to be sympathic. She is so focused on figuring out this mystery she doesn't even take offense that she wasn't called by her proper title. "Its alright mister. You did the right thing calling for help. We just want to know if you saw anything before you called out? Its okay if you did not though, but if you did we would really appreciate the information." She pauses and then adds in a softer voice. "Its okay…the sell sword will not harm you. You have my word." Lysette's voice remains soft and sweet as she attempts to sooth him and calm him with her words of reassurance.

How Lysette got ahead of them both is something of a surprise to Zahara who brings up the rear of the trio. With Altair directly ahead and then the blonde woman speaking to the now frightened man, the package is shuffled further against arm and side as the scarf is folded and held in her left hand as she regards the situation. Calm without attempting to soothe the man, she briefly dips her head in conformation of the words spoken by both.

Nicolo says, "One, I saw, I s-saw, aman … " The nervous man stammers clutching his hands to his chest in a look of frightened and unrelented terror. "He … He took Servi by the shoulder and spun him, I thought it was one of the Syndicate debt collectors, he owns a family some stars … " He swallows. "But the man … I thought he was kissing Servi's neck. But he looked at me, dead in my eyes, broght his finger to his lips in a shushing motion, and they was red I tell you! RED!" he shudders. "Man licked his lips and walked away. Then I screamed. I gotta go. He'll find me. He'll kill me …. "

Altair arches a brow first at Lysette, losing some of that smile right when she talks about the 'sell sword.' He looks like he might want to say something, but now is not the time. Looking back to the man, he nods slowly in listening, drinkng the information in and filing it away for later. "Is there anything else you noticed about the man? The manner in which he was dressed, the weapons he might have carried or any other belongings on his person, his height or build or any other physical characteristics?" He glances back to Zahara, a brief expression of worry crossing his face.

The man shakes in fear. "He had… Dark clothing. Not black. But. Dark. Browns and blues." He shudders. "The man also had brown hair tinged with silver." He pants in fear. "But the eyes …. The eyes were gold. Not of Crowns, but more like the gold of the sun." He shudders. Then he whispers, "They weren't human I tell yas!"

Lysette sends Altair an arched brow in return and a look that seems to suggest there was nothing personal to her comment. She was just trying to calm the man down as best she could. She looks to the frightened man and gives him a gentle reassuring look. "Its okay, I doubt he will attack again so soon. Did you see which way he went by any chance?" Her tone remains soft and gentle, trying to carefully coax any useful information she can from the man.

Zahara may share that bit of concern with Altair, though she remains silent with her lips pressed together. The stories may be true, indeed. What else can she say to that? "And your name, sir? In case we wish to find you later to ensure that you are still in good health," she ultimately asks, having gotten the name of the now deceased.

Altair hmmms to the man's words, nodding slowly as he listens carefully. "You said that they were gold, like the sun… Was there anything else about them that made them otherworldly?" he asks, wondering if he's keying in on something or if he's just reading between lines.

The man's eyes look crazed. "I said, he'll kill me! You want to chase him down that's on your own! I'm getting the hell out of here!" With that he turns to flee and run. He slams into one person who oofs, and curses, and then another who shoves him. The man, stumbles and then goes over by a moored ship. He slams his head against the side of the Sloop with a wet and meaty THUNK before he hits the water with a slash. The ship shifts and the tides cause the ship to move against the stone pier of the dock. It bumps gently, but it weighs several hundred pounds, anything between the ship and the dock would be crushed to pulp ….

People whisper and the guards finally arrive, one of the grabbing the man who shoved the nervous man overboard. He looks rather unassuming, except he has brown hair, tinged with white, and his dark brown clothes, while finely made, are strangely enough trimmed in a deep dark blue. He smiles toward the group of people who witnessed this strange event as a Guard approaches them. "Son of a vitch. You spooked the only witness to the attack. Now, all we have is a person who killed somebody by accident. He'll be out by morning most like." He shakes his head. "Damn shame. Rialdi was a damn fine informant to the Watch." Several otehr guards approach the trio. "Can you people tell us what he said?"

The man, being hauled off looks at Altair and the group. His eyes flash gold, and he puts a finger to his lips in shushing gesture.

Lysette sighs in faint irritation as the man runs off. She watches the frightened man get shoved to his death and arches an eyebrow studying the man who shoved him with a calculating gaze. She notices the watch approching them but her gaze remains focused on the man as he is escorted away. She catches the gold flash in his eyes and tilts her head her calculating eyes watching him with curiousity. She looks to the watchmen and makes a show of looking around. "I'm sorry my good men but I seem to have lost my escorts, excuse me I should get back to them before my guards panic. These two can likely tell you everything you need." She smiles charmingly and sweeps away out of sight in the crowds. Once she is out of view she makes no move to find her guards instead she tries to slowly and steathily tail the guards and the man they arrested.

"It really made little sense, sirs. I would consider it to be merely words of a man shaken by seeing his friend killed and wanting to get away," Zahara states to the guard, taking something of a half step closer to Altair as they seem to be the two left to speak with the black clad guard. The flash of gold eyes is more of a warning, but one that could be construed many ways. Silence can be for many reasons.

The guard closest to Lysette lays a hand on the noble woman's arm, restraining her. "I'm sorry mistress. This is a double murder. I wouldn't care if you were the flaming Chancelor Mattias himself." His steel grey eyes lock onto Lysette's with narrowed ease. "You bloody well stay here until we're done with questions." He eyes the woman carefully. "Noble? Galenthian? Well. At least you're not a stuck up the ass Aequoran. Well, in Four Corners we don't care what your blood looks like. We're all just fuck'n people here little noble. So. Stay. Put. Answer questions. Got it?"

The Guard nods to Zahara, but keeps a hand on Lysette's arm. When he looks away that grip tightens. "What did he say miss?"

Altair blinks several times in succession as he watches the events unfold so quickly, not really having a lot of time to react before he looks back to the guard before them. He lowers his head with respect to the guard, taking a deep breath. "He described the murderer to us, sir. He was frightened, but he described the man as otherworldly, with eyes that were once gold and red." He then continues to describe the man and even makes motion that the gentleman they have in custody does fit the description, but then he turns to move and take Zahara out of the siotuation and to safety.

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License