The Truth in Dark Places
Sixth Day of the Second Month 294 AC
If Anya had been a different sort of inquisitor, more like Shara with her skill at masks and disguises, she would have tried sneaking into the Offices of House Pazduk to read their ledgers. Luckily, the local handlers were more than up to covering the basics, such as who was more likely to know useful information about the shipment and what hours they worked. After learning that the path was straight as a launcher bolt. Yunkai did not lack for dark streets and she knew a thing or three about what went on in those corners when the poor and desperate spotted a plump mark sauntering down an alley.
It was a great deal easier to impersonate a thug than the sort of person who might be ushered into the office and left unattended. Having two snake wizards and one of the new shadow dragons to help along made her feel a good bit more confident about her chances of a smash and grab... even if they did have to keep to the shadows and human form respectively, to avoid tipping their hand.
Alright, enough second and third guessing yourself, nice and clean.
The merchant had one guard, an Unsullied, his face was marked with scars or burns, while his tread marked his skill to Anya's eye. "Drop your coin pouch or I'll gut you like a fish, and the leashed eunuch, too," the former lawman ground out as she stepped to confront the two. Her voice was heavy and gravely to match the guise she was now wearing. The dragon beside her gave a chillingly amused smile that no amount of glamor would be able to hide.
"Stay behind me," the guard said to his master as he pulled the short sword loose of its scabbard and charged. There was more urgency and care than you would think to find, given their relationship.
Before Anya could ponder the thought for any length of time, the warrior was upon them. She dodged just enough to let her armor take the brunt of the blow while avoiding an angle that would make it clear the appearance of patchy leather she had glamored it as would have stood no chance. Down came the great sword glamored as a simple club, striking with the flat of the blade right for the head. Not that she was expecting it to work, but the sting of an
unseen mind dragon and a curse from her companion in brigandage sent the guard tumbling.
Only then did they notice the merchant pulling out a scroll and begin chanting words of translocation. Anya had no doubt that between everyone here they would be able to break the spell before it could take effect, but it would damage the conceit of a common mugging, likely beyond repair. Half sprinting half jumping forward, she made a grab for the scroll tearing it out of the merchant's hand. In the brief moment before the inquisitor had brought her 'club' around, the dragon in man's shape was upon the poor bastard, apparently keen to see if he could strangle a man into passing out out.
The answer as it turned out was 'yes'.
"Alright then," Anya sighed. "The Lord Justice will be here to read his mind in a few minutes and then we can just leave him here one coin pouch lighter, his ultimate masters none the wiser."
"Unless this one too is possessed," the dark dragon suggested, again with chilling good cheer. Luckily, he would have to be disappointment today.
"The bonemeal was delivered to one of the entrances to the old aquifer, alongside other arcane ingredients," The Lord Justice proclaimed, looking at the still unconscious merchant, his oiled hair already in disarray. "There is a word of passage to allow the trades to happen, though how much it will help us I cannot say."
"The old aquifer..." Anya couldn't help but grumble. "Why is it our enemies all dig like bloody mold?"
"Plots are rather difficult to achieve under the light of day," Lord Vanor replied with a twitch of his lips that might have been the briefest of smiles. "Do you require assistance delving into the aquifer?"
What decision is reached?
[] Wait to see the results of Melisandre's investigation before acting
[] Move on the aquifer
-[] Write in witch whom
[] Send in shadow spies
[] Write in
OOC: Malarys does have teleportation so it would have been silly for him not to be involved in the interrogation when he can make it so much simpler and more difficult to trace. Not yet edited.
