A Knife In The Ribs (Wrenmae)

[Ignotus Everto]

21st of Fall, 512AV
Four bells before dawn

The divine were curious beings. Just a brush with them could turn the cautious foolhardy and the lethargic hasty. So it was with Ignotus Everto, a Nuit given a most curious task from a most curious God. Find Anar DuFarro, and take his box. Ignotus was certain he would be able to steal the man's little trinket if he could only find him. It was the finding that was the difficult part.

Sunberth was a large city, and it had no public records, or any sort of order to speak of. A man could live in Sunberth all his life, and never have the slightest trace about him in writing. So he needed to enlist some local color. He needed, in short, to find someone he could confide in, who knew the wretched hive and its denizens like the back of his hand.

A straightforward problem with a straightforward solution. Finding Wrenmae wasn't too difficult. Human beings had certain needs, and alcohol was one of them. Finding a quiet corner, in this case a small, worn wooden bench covered in splinters and lit by a half-melted candle, wasn't much trickier. Trying to explain what he needed, that was harder. Still shaken from nearly being murdered by a God, Ignotus decided to go with the blunt truth.
"I need you to help me find a man who may or may not be in this city for Sagallius."

[Wrenmae]

The Pig's Foot Tavern held a familiar appeal to the former lieutenant of the Crimson Edge. The locals called this place their home and for two seasons time, he had as well. Now he took a seat near the back, careful to keep his cloak low over his face. The Daggerhands would be looking from him now, especially after he'd treated the men who'd come to claim him.

Soured hopes, blood, sweat, and the tinge of poison on the open air was enough to bring back the rush of living in the town of anarchy. Drunk in the violence of it all it was any wonder the mage had lived to escape.

Now back, he didn't know why he'd ever left.

Ignotus found him in memory, lost to an extent that it took him speaking to bring the hypnotist out of his silent reverie. The sentence was a simple one, its request equally so, but the ramifications of dropping the name of such a god without so much as a pretense to deception brought Wrenmae sharply back to reality.

His eyes narrowed and he leaned over the table, as if limiting their distance would cut any unwanted ears from their conversation.

"Dropping the name of a God here? You best have a more convincing explanation to back up your intro. Sunberth may not be Syliras in size, but it has enough hidey holes to keep even a clumsy fugitive anonymous for the rest of their life...not to say that your man can't be found....but I require two things before we even continue. First is a more thorough explanation...an easy enough request, I'd think, and the second is your commitment that you follow my lead. The city is rough and I know some folk...but they don't take kindly to non humans and if they sniff you out a nuit, no telling what they're like to do. So. Agree to those terms and we'll see what I can do."

He offered only a grim smile, holding out his hand.

"Picked a shyke kinda place to look for a man, that's for gods sure."

[Ignotus Everto]

"What do you want me to do, come back with a lock of hair?" Ignotus snapped with a snarl, "I just need someone who knows the city."

Of course, then it was time to explain, and anger was not particularly conducive to such an act. Ignotus spoke of the shadows that shredded mice, the voice that questioned and laughed at him, and the blazing forest that gained him his mark, and his life. "And then he said I needed to find someone named Anar DuFarro and steal a box from under his nose without his knowledge. I'm sure I can manage the latter, but the only clue I have to his location is that he lives in Sylira. So I have no idea where he is. Might as well search Sunberth while we're here, though. You're the expert, so I'll just keep quiet and unobtrusive, aye? Aye."

[Wrenmae]

Wrenmae sat back to listen to Ignotus, crossing his arms behind his head and angling his feet back to balance on the back two legs of his chair. He absorbed the story in pieces, watching his partner for any detection of a lie or an untruth. So, he'd been marked by the god then, had he? No doubt some form of power came with it, but Wrenmae was not eager to grill his partner too much. If he seemed to eager and persistant, the nuit would lie to him and he'd be none the wiser for a divine surprise down the line. He let the matter drop, nodding thoughtfully as Ignotus finished his tale.

"I know a few," he said at last, "But they won't lead you to where you want...they'll only point the way to the people that can show you what you want...and even then, there may be another level to sink to as well."

He came forward with a sway and a crack, draining the rest of his water and sliding the mug to the side of the table. "I lived in Sunberth two seasons, not my whole life...there are things about the city I'm still not familiar with, and certainly I'm a wanted man here. We'll need to be careful...and after I start asking questions, be ready to face some interested parties."

Standing, he dropped a copper miza on the table for the water and strode from the bar out to the street.

He'd start at Tall Johnny's Casino, a place where information hounds gathered to place bets and trade gossip. If this fellow wasn't hiding deep, they'd hear about him there.

[Ignotus Everto]

They were not. Of course, that wasn't to say that their man was sitting right there, playing poker and smoking. However, people who wanted him were. Amidst talk of Nykan Core salesmen, crooked card dealers, and some weirdo named Timothy, a regularly occurring coincidence was three or four men at a poker table, making pleas and demands to one man for the location of something called "the Dark." Invariably, the desire of the pressers were of an illicit sort.

Whatever this place was, it sounded promising to Ignotus. Unfortunately, he could do little more than hope Wrenmae either also picked up on it, or knew something better. The vast majority of the Nuit's attention was still focused on being unobtrusive. His cloak served to hide his greying skin and emaciated frame, and a much less mundane hypnotic shroud about him kept the vast majority of patrons from paying any attention to him. It wasn't that he was invisible, more that he just wasn't very important. Like a servant.

One particularly animated table had become a small-scale auction house in regards to The Dark's location, and it seemed the most promising to Ignotus. Of course, the bidding was already entering the triple digits, so it also seemed the most expensive.

[Wrenmae]

On their walk over to the casino, Wrenmae subtly changed. He walked with a strut, more swagger to his stance than before. He drew eyes but kept a hand on his dagger. By the time they'd stepped through the double doors, there was almost an air of performance about the mage. He drifted in and out of the audience, relishing the old smell of Sunberth anarchy, the familiar dance of suspicious eyes and quick-to-anger fists.

A cage fight had begun and two muscled men beat at each other with sledgehammer fists to the roar of an eagerly betting crowd. Mizas sung their clink-clink song of fortune, but Wren had his eyes for those who watched on with stoic indifference...absorbing all and giving none.

It was to one of these men that he stepped to.

He was met with a cool glance, one that measured him in an instant.

"You're a wanted man."

"What do you call the wanted that wants?"

"A customer. Sing me your song."

"It's a two word ditty, tell me if you know the tune, Anar DuFarro."

"Not familiar with that one."

"But you may know one who is."

"I don't recommend musicians for free."

"I don't expect a free performance."

The informer cracked his neck and nodded, holding out a weathered hand. Wren looked over his shoulder at Ignotus. "Nothing goes free here. You want this man, you will reimburse me."

"Can the dead not speak?"

Wrenmae turned to him sharply, a hiss dying in his mouth, "How?"

The informer shrugged, "A nuit's eyes don't glisten. Dry eye is a big problem with their kind. You want to blend in better, keep your eyes dusted with moisture, helps the act."

"That information cost as well?"

"You showed me your face, I was only trading."

"Not a price I would have wanted."

"You never named a price."

Wrenmae nodded, reaching into his coins and dropping twenty gold mizas into the informer's hand. After thinking it over, he dropped five more. The weathered hand closed over the gold coins and vanished.

"The man you want is Knife, he operates out of a shanty near Stumble ally. Look for the blade-shape scratched on the door."

Wrenmae nodded again, "Thank you."

"Best move fast," the informer said, his face stretching into a gap-toothed grin, "Daggerhands pay well for their enemies, and I'm not known for my tight lips."

The hyponotist briefly considered stabbing him, repeatedly, but withdrew instead.

"Come on," he said to Ignotus, striding from the casino with new purpose, "We're off to see a man who can help."

[Ignotus Everto]

Ignotus was not amused by the man's observational powers. Altgough, he'd have to remember to moisturize his eyes from now on. In that way, he had been useful. The lad would still have to die... But later. For now, as Wrenmae said, it was time to see this "Knife" character. The wizard nodded to his companion as he turned to leave the casino. Yes, later...

Knife's place of operation was quite spartan. Or rather, quite nonexistent. There was just a single gloved, masked figure of an almost comically average height and build. A thick, baggy black cloak and drooping sleeves hid all skin and curves, and when the figure spoke, its voice possessed a muffled, androgynous tone. "Welcome to the Dark. How may I be of service?"

[Wrenmae]

Wrenmae paused at the door. His first impression was that the place was too clean. For an abandoned hovel, stripped of bed, tables, and left with only a chair...this place was almost painstakingly free of dust an errant litter. The single figure waited for them, staring up with bottomless pit eyes.

The informant had sent word ahead of them, no doubt.

Wrenmae tapped a finger along the side of his face and grimaced, "Here to see a man named Knife."

"Who says it's a man?" The figured asked immediately, tilting its head, "You assume much for first impressions."

"You are Knife then?"

The figure seemed to ponder this, cocking its head to the other side, listening...waiting. Wrenmae ground his teeth together and shrugged, looking back at Ignotus.

"My friend wants a box in the possession of Anar DuFarro."

"Your friend is mute?"

"My friend does not know Sunberth."

"Neither do you."

Wrenmae bit back a response, reminding himself that the eyes of a god were likely upon him. He'd angered one before, he could not afford to earn the ill attention of another. "Very well. How much will it cost?"

Knife was silence, cocking its head to another side as if to query the question itself.

For a moment, Wrenmae didn't have an answer. All he could do was stare at the figure before revelation finally settled on his shoulders, a cold understanding of the truth.

"Friend," Wrenmae said without looking away from Knife, "Pay the merchant."

[Ignotus Everto]

Ignotus was more than a little off-put by Knife’s appearance and mannerisms- He didn’t like speaking to someone he couldn’t read, and, by extension, couldn’t influence.- But he or she seemed competent enough. Very competent, if he was any judge. So he would try his luck. “Understand,” he said to Knife, “I need this box taken without DuFarro’s knowledge. I don’t know if he lives in Sunberth, or where in Sunberth he lives if he he does. But if he is here, I can’t have him know his box is missing. So with that in mind… Fifty gold-rimmed mizas.”

Knife surveyed Ignotus with a steely (albeit hidden) eye, tilting his head back as if appraising the wizard. “Without his knowledge?” she remarked dryly, “Three hundred.”

This displeased Ignotus. He was not used to being dictated to, and it was not a sensation he enjoyed. Not. One. Bit. Indeed, the Nuit had to take a moment to compose himself before replying, “Three hundred? That’s ridiculous. You’re far too talented for such a condition to make things that difficult.”

A faint flush of Djed accompanied his words. Just to put Knife in a good mood. Just to make him a little more pliable. “One hundred.”
“Two fifty.” Came the immediate retort.
Ignotus’ eyes narrowed. “One eighty.”
“Two hundred.”
“One eighty seven.”
Knife paused for a moment, looking down at the floor. After three ticks, she looked back at Ignotus and said, “One ninety.”
“Deal.”
Knife clapped his hands together, ”Excellent. You’ll have your box in three days.”
“What if he’s not in Sunberth?”
“Then I’ll deliver your gold back. Staying anywhere?”
“No.”
A nod and an open palm.

It pained Ignotus to part with so much gold, but it was for a worthy cause, and though his coin purse was much lighter after his visit with Knife, he still felt a great deal of satisfaction knowing that, one way or another, he would get every last cent of it back.

[Valkyrie]

OOCWell boys, here you are. Let me know if you need anything further from me.

As Ignotus handed over the payment the shadows around Knife’s body began to move and swirl. A rough growl of laughter came from within the shadows, or perhaps it came from the shadows themselves. The sound of the laugh would be all too familiar for Ignotus. Knife gave no hint that he or she had heard the laugh but then again Knife wasn’t particularly talkative. The shadows began to swirl in a more intentional pattern and soon Ignotus and Wrenmae would be able to make out the general outline of a face in the shadows. The face had the ephemeral qualities of the shadows themselves, constantly changing shape and location. The face started in the center of the shadows, round and piggish, then moved to the bottom left corner, gaunt and ghoulish. Constantly changing, the face was difficult to keep track of even as sound began to emit from its shifting mouth.

“Ignotus, Ignotus. Do you really think you are so clever that you do not have to do your own work? Perhaps my challenge has not been difficult enough for you, perhaps you need a harder item to retrieve. I think I have a challenge that will motivate you.” The mouth smiled and let a moment of silence pass, still shifting shape and location within the shadows.

“Here is a new task for you, one that should challenge a fine nuit like yourself.” The mocking tone in the voice was obvious and a chuckle followed the announcement. “There is a merchant in Alvadas named Andyn Issadia. Andyn keeps a small trinket on his person at all times to remind him of the home he left in Zeltiva. Discover what this trinket is and take it without his knowledge. Perform this task yourself or you will find yourself most displeased with the results.”

“And think not that you can get your money back.” The face in the shadows began to dissolve, first with the eyes, then the nose, and last a sagging mouth. The shadows started to swirl faster and faster until suddenly they ceased their movement. The tumble done store was calm and quiet, exactly as it had been prior to the arrival of the god. If Ignotus or Wrenmae explored the shadows where Knife had stood they would find that Sagallius had been right about one thing. Knife had disappeared so Ignotus would not be able to ask for his money back.