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Post by Virianus Devinian on Jul 2, 2017 12:56:07 GMT -5
Alpha likely would never admit it, but he was only half-listening to Søren and Callixta as they spoke. Their revelations were important, of course, but the Magistrate was also busy trying to make sense of the situation a decide the most appropriate course of action. To a certain extent, Alpha would need Zenethrakarna's report in order to be more sure of anything, but the situation itself certainly prompted more questions than even the Nightmare could hope to discover answers to.
Alpha first spoke to Raife, unintentionally segueing his own related instructions into her thoughts regarding Drænník.
"Perhaps we should endeavor to recruit Mr. Foravian in our tracking efforts, as details permit."
Raife would, naturally, understand Alpha's reasoning: there was a chance, however small, that Drænník would have some way to track his creation, even across planar boundaries. Finding Rivea might clue them in to where the remainder of those they sought had been transported. Additionally, his ire was likely to be less if he were involved proactively in the recovery of his beloved Rivea. As to Raife's question of Søren's appearance, Alpha said nothing - surely the Councilor would explain herself well enough without further input.
Alpha turned back to Callixta and Søren to speak, but sopped when Zenethrakarna slinked from the shadows at his back.
"She's right - at least about the temporal well. There's a disturbance there so large even I can't enter - and its still going on. The daddy's boy and his chaperone aren't there, though: for certain. Neither is the Alchemists Playtoy."
The Magistrate nodded thoughtfully before responding.
"Good. I have been informed of another suspect group of individuals that our dear Councilors detected, this time in the heart of Tamryn. Check near the center of the city, and see if you can ascertain anything, or identify anything that may be related to our strange anomaly of a situation."
Zenethrakarna smiled, showing rows of uneven, razor-sharp teeth before slipping back in to the shadows, and Alpha then did address his two Councilors, his tone measured, but not accusatory - seemingly, any suspicions Alpha may have had concerning the women's report had been cleared.
"It seems there was clearly no other course you could have taken in this situation, Councilors. Therefore, I move now to release you from this assignment, for the time being. I will coordinate with my own resources and attempt to gain insight as to what occurred. For now, however, I am certain that you both have other, vital duties to which you must attend, and you are therefore dismissed unless you have further need of me."
Virianus bowed his head just-so to signal that he had finished speaking, and carefully stepped away from the women, moving to stand again behind his desk and then take a seat. Before the two women were out of earshot, however, Alpha did follow up with a single addendum as he sat.
"Ah, and Callixta - I'm afraid other matters have called my attention in to service, and I shall have to postpone our meeting this evening. Raife or myself will reach out to you to reschedule."
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Post by Callixta Trëguere on Jul 4, 2017 13:36:45 GMT -5
Callixta Trëguere slowly nodded along as Søren went on to explain, letting her thoughts center on the idea that the Wicked Mage wasn't responsible. What did that mean then? That there was a third party involved? One that would have interest in removing players from both sides? The Magisterium had lost Rivea, but― assuming Kauvrian and Syrkhan didn't just show up again in the near future― that meant the Mage had lost two of his heavy hitters. From the intelligence they had on the Mage and his so-called Marked that meant his presence in Vascxious Sigma had been drastically compromised. Oh, to be a fly on the wall wherever Achréiøs was when he found out. . .
Callixta checked in briefly when Raife asked Søren about her visible transformation. Not that she wasn't curious about it but she'd figured she'd ask the other Councilor about it later. Possibly over drinks.
The return of the Nightmare interrupted her thoughts and Callixta eyed the Magistrate for any reaction to the confirmation of their report. Everything seemed to be going much better than expected thus far. Would it really be that the two of them would be held blameless under the circumstances? The mage had to remind herself that Alpha wasn't unreasonable. And there it was: the dismissal. The Fifth District Councilor's posture stiffened before another short, formal bow was extended.
"By your leave, Magistrate."
Callixta turned to Søren, her expression still carefully neutral in the view of others. When Alpha spoke again. Callixta dipped her chin. "Of course, Magistrate. I'll await the summons."
"Shall we?" Amber eyes met red as the petite mage extended a hand to allow the other woman to lead the way. Callixta was quite interested to know just how Raife and Alpha expected to handle Drænník under the circumstances, but she wouldn't risk dallying too long. Instead she made a mental note to seek the master of the Obscurity herself.
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Post by Søren Kiirkegré on Jul 4, 2017 14:00:52 GMT -5
Søren didn't breathe an audible sigh of relief at Zenethrakarna's report, but she did internally relax somewhat. She hadn't been overly worried, but the Councilor made a point never to underestimate the Nightmare's penchant for making others suffer. Knowing that their findings had been corroborated by Alpha's watchdog meant that, more than likely, she and Callixta were off the hook with Alpha for this particular failure, which would mean that they could go back to their own individual concerns, and that Søren's position wasn't any more tenuous than it had been earlier.
Søren blinked at Raife's question, before she looked down and remembered just how much she had physically changed - if the blackened armor didn't give away the change, the fact that the Councilor had grown, both in height and muscle density, was likely somewhat startling, despite that her facial features had changed very little. Søren smirked as she responded.
"Oh. This? Side effect of essentially dying while I was fighting that musclebound bitch the first time. In rebuilding myself, it seemed like a good time for a change."
She gestured down to her armored form with a sweeping gesture, and before their eyes, heavy black fabrics would seem to stitch themselves together over the gleaming surfaces, leaving the Councilor standing in an ankle-length black skirt with silver detailing and a high slit and a black, long-sleeved blouse with a high neckline. The clothing was an illusion, but it suddenly downplayed many of the Councilor's differences and made her look far more ordinary for Vascxious Sigma elite style sensibilities.
"The outfit is a throwback to my old days - it's very functional, but I'll keep it covered while I'm out and about. Wouldn't want to attract attention."
Søren left out where the armor, and the power she had called on, had come from - the woman wasn't in the habit of talking about her Guardian days to most, so she would leave it to the imagination just what part of her history the Armor was a throwback to.
Turning to Alpha, Søren too bowed her head a tich at the dismissal, and responded in her customary way.
"Many thanks, Alpha - it is getting late, and I have an important date with Aeorex early on."
Søren turned curtly and walked past Callixta at the other woman's insistence. She would make a beeline for the lift before turning around, and once Callixta was inside and they were on their way down, she breathed a very heavy sigh and fished her communikay out of her pocket to check her messages.
"I honestly don't think that could have gone any better than it did."
Søren frowned at what she saw on her communikay, and immediately described the message that she had received to her comrade.
"I just received a message indicating that Alpha's Seventh District pick for the Council wants a meeting ASAP. It's tagged from Alpha's office, but he didn't mention anything - which means it was probably that cunt Dorya."
Søren gritted her teeth.
"We still have to investigate what we can get out of your new houseguest. Do you think I should go ahead and see what they want, or come with you back to your place?
The last bit of Søren's sentence was accompanied by a suggestive smile - the Councilor definitely had a need to blow off some steam . . .
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Raife Vaughn
Initiated
Posts: 15
Title: Administrative Assistant to the Office of the Magistrate
Quote: "Will that be all, Sir?"
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Post by Raife Vaughn on Jul 6, 2017 8:29:22 GMT -5
Raife Vaughn would have given the Magistrate a smile were they alone: he always did have a way of picking up on her thoughts and answering them. It had led her more than once to believe Alpha possessed some measure of telepathic ability although if that were truly the case they wouldn't have to spend so much time reigning in the Councilors the way they did. Still, it spoke to how well he knew her and while many clamored for the Magistrate's affections this was the reason it did not leave her discontent when his focus shifted onto his new plaything here and there.
"I'll look to what can be arranged for Mr. Foravían, Magistrate."
As for what Sixth's Councilor supplied about her transformation: Raife filed the information away, nodding in acknowledgment in the other woman's direction.
Raife pulled out her communikay and scrolled while Alpha concluded his de-briefing with Fifth and Sixth. The Aide was unhappy with the outcome: if they'd been able to acquire Dragos Syrkhan that certainly would have given them an advantage in their dealings with Marru'Khyr as well as create a very large dent in the Mage's powerbase. As it stood, only the latter may have been achieved. . .
When the two departed and Alpha claimed his seat Raife snapped her communikay shut and took a few steps to be closer to him.
"I apologize for not answering sooner, Magistrate. When the Councilors arrived I thought it best to wait. I'm not certain who delivered the summons. . . It was here on your desk when I entered." Raife's expression shifted some as she spoke.
"Is it genuine?"
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Post by Virianus Devinian on Jul 6, 2017 19:53:28 GMT -5
Virianus Devinian sat carefully behind his desk, and once the two Councilors were in the lift, the Magistrate moved carefully to once again remove his mask of office, setting it down again near him on the desk. Alpha carefully picked up the summons and inspected it, before handing it to Raife as she stepped closer.
"It appears to be entirely genuine; and, what's more, rather urgent, I'm afraid. There is nothing about it specifically that cases me to doubt its authenticity."
Alpha caught his aide's eye to ensure his meaning was communicated.
"Except its arrival, and timing. That such a message would appear, nearly in perfect sync with the events that have unfolded in Tamryn, is quite convenient."
Alpha paused before saying more, yet before he could continue, the Nightmare stepped again from the shadows, an ugly look darkening her already-disturbing features.
"There's a similar, if much smaller, anomaly near the center of town, as indicated. A tavern - patrons there remember seeing women at a table, talking - one with red hair and especially tall, and two with white hair. All three disappeared suddenly. A few mentioned that they might have been talking to another person, but they couldn't remembering anything about them."
Zenethrakarna curled herself up at the front of Alpha's desk, setting her hip on its edge and splaying the long, white, spidery fingers of one hand across the wooden surface as she leaned in.
"I only obtained this information after jogging their memories.[i/]. They wouldn't have remembered naturally."
Alpha stayed silent for a long moment as he processed what the Nightmare was telling him. When he finally did speak, the Magistrate chose his words very carefully.
"Is there any trace of a similar anomaly in this office?"
Zenethrakarna smirked, her features elongating and distorting horrifically as her body seemed to vaporize into tendrils of black, smoky shadow. Her voice echoed through the room in a dull thrum.
That would be telling.
Alpha touched a finger to his bottom lip as he thought, though his other hand, seemingly absently, reached out to carefully gain purchase at and tug on Raife's belt, drawing her closer. The Magistrate would twist in his chair, and oh-so-carefully draw his aide in until she heated herself on his lap.
"This summons is not one I can ignore, genuine or not. However, it calls me away from the Tower at a very critical time, and that fact is of significant concern. Tell me, my dearest Raife - what do you believe is the best course of action?"
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Post by Callixta Trëguere on Jul 6, 2017 22:23:30 GMT -5
Callixta Trëguere relaxed only once they'd entered the lift, but even then "relaxed" was a strong word. She nodded agreement to the other woman's assessment, her arms crossing as her upper body leaned back against the cold metal of the lift's interior. She should probably check her own communikay but five more minutes to collect herself couldn't hurt.
"I think you should go see what they want, limit the time you're willing to offer, and then return to my place the moment you're able." Fifth District's Councilor offered a small, mildly uncharacteristic smirk as she answered. And sure, if Søren wanted to blow off some steam, they could lock Viers in a closet and proceed to blow off all the steam she desired.
When the lift opened, Callixta hung back for a moment to allow her dark-haired companion to go first. Falling in step behind her, the mage reached out to allow her hand to brush against the black fabric now covering her waist.
"Until then."
She'd wait for a moment or two to ensure Søren was finished before melting away, choosing the shortcut instead of the train system.
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Post by Søren Kiirkegré on Jul 7, 2017 18:12:29 GMT -5
Søren nodded along with Callixta as she spoke, and rather than responding directly to the silver-haired Councilor opposite her, the Guardian instead typed quickly and furiously into her communikay, responding to 'Tahliya Carystian,' who she could only assume was actually Dorya. For the meantime, Søren resolved to head back towards her office in Sixth, but would detour as needed to deal with Alpha's little Seventh District opportunist.
The Councilor snapped the device shut and secured it in her pocket just as Callixta stepped from her lift, and managed to reach out and catch her comrade's hand before she disappeared giving it a light squeeze. Søren grinned.
"I'll see you soon then."
Søren herself would move the old fashioned way - at least, that is, until she got a read on her new destination. Then she would transmit herself by quicker means - she didn't want to dally when there were more important things for her to do.
Like Callixta.
{ Location Change: Seventh District, Tower 67 - 1st Floor Lobby }
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