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Melodia · **06-19-2014, 02:03 PM**

He saw her from a distance, standing aloft, a symbol of the rot this city had grown over the years.

A Sultansworn in the flesh.

He forced his mouth from rolling into a scowl as she came closer into view and allowed himself a false smile, as he raised his hands in a peaceful manner. He limped closer and up the steps to where she was in earshot.

"See? No tricks and unarmed. A simple weaver wouldn't really be able to arm himself so well I think."

As he neared, he bowed, hands still showing.

"I assume you must be Sergeant Crofte. I am Krell. Thank you for seeing me on this matter."

Coatleque · **06-19-2014, 02:24 PM**

(( picture for context ))

The Knight heard his uneven steps before he even spoke. She tilted her head but did not turn until he addressed her directly. Looking down in his direction, the Lalafel was not what she had expected from so stern a warning message. Her expression belied her astonishment as she turned to face him and bowed in return.

"Aye, I am Lady Crofte. Pleased to see you unharmed after the warning you expressed."

She scanned the area to be sure they were not being overheard out in the open. Her arms were crossed while her sword hand remained at the tip of the hilt ready to draw.

"I understand you are privy to some information regarding the security of our citizenry."

Melodia · **06-19-2014, 02:55 PM**

He lowered his hands slowly and smiled at the woman. "I didn't know they had women that looked like you in the Sultansworn....if I'd have known that I'd have changed professions years ago." He giggled, and shook his head. "Forgive me. I shouldn't talk that way to someone of your status."

He grew serious and scowled a bit. "Ruru...the man I mentioned. He's an old friend of mine. And he's gotten himself into trouble. I was over in Pearl Lane and had overheard a Hyur woman...highlander type and a female Roe discussing something about 'hitting the city' and that their man in the city would take care of things. That's when I heard Ruru's name. I worry he's gotten himself involved in something over his head."

He paused then shook his head a bit. "Tried to tell one of the Brass Blades yesterday and he told me it'd be a waste of his time without payment. That...that's just wrong."

Coatleque · **06-19-2014, 03:16 PM**

She was almost taken aback by his shameless attempt to butter her up. Or at least she would have been if it wasn't so common place these days. Still, the Knight swept her bangs back with a finger and listened to him as they quickly fell forward again. She did seem to relax though, placing her hands on her hips. Her demeanor turns sour slightly at the mention of the Blades.

"Aye, I wouldn't much count on them for charity. I, however, am thankful you were brave enough to come forward quickly as you did. Pearl Lane, you say? I sadly know the area well. How long ago was this overhearing of words? I should probably start any investigation there. Is there anything else you could tell me about this friend of yours?"

Melodia · **06-20-2014, 08:04 AM**

He watched her relax and mimicked his own posture, showing her that he was not any danger at all.

"Yes...Pearl Lane, I'm confident of that. Was in the evening hours if I recall, two suns ago." He shook his head. "Ruru....I worry about him. He always talked about Ul'dah....loved the city guard...even you Sultansworn. I surely hope he hasn't brought any of those fine people over to his misguided delusions."

He leaned closer and stared into her eyes.

"I'm not telling you how to do your job.....but I'd watch your people. If anyone had any contact with Ruru....well...you never know." He shrugged and tilted his head a bit, as if puzzled by some unknown mystery that he knew he couldn't solve.

"If we can find Ruru....then we might be able to root out any conspirators....or maybe the reverse is true..." He let the words hang in the air, as he wanted them to dig deep into her thoughts.

Coatleque · **06-20-2014, 09:11 AM**

Coatleque narrowed her eyes and peered at him, not sure how to take his accusations at first. She decided to let it pass. These rumors were sadly becoming a daily nuisance around the plazas.

"Do not worry about the Sultansworn, and pay such rumors no mind. I assure you we are each a stronghold, fiercely loyal to her Grace, and fully capable of weathering any storm. I will find what I can about this friend of yours, and spread word to the others to be on guard."

She stood back to attention and bowed low breifly.

"Now, lest there was something else..."

Melodia · **06-20-2014, 09:18 AM**

He bowed himself, and smiled at her.

"Nothing else at this time, Sergeant. I'd not keep such lovely woman from her duties. I appreciate the time and do hope you get the information to keep the city safe. If you find anything out about Ruru....please let me know. I miss my old friend....and I just want to help him get back on the right path."

He straightened and turned to leave.

Melodia · **06-20-2014, 10:06 AM**

-The following day-

Nonotano looked at the dead man at his feet, the scorched armor and skin an indicator that he'd been killed in a vicious way. He knelt down and smiled. The Blade had been wandering alone in the wrong area at the wrong time when he'd run into Nono.

Nono had been skilled at making himself look more helpless and childlike than he really was and the Blade had fallen for it and had paid for it with his life.

"Ah but fear not....your sacrifice will reap a bounty for this game I'm playing."

He limped to his satchel and pulled out a fine sword, admiring it. He'd purchased it at the market the night before. It was a Paladin's weapon...sized for a Lalafell but the make and markings made it easily identifiable.Â Unsheathing the blade he looked down at the dead man and then back to the blade.

He swung the blade down hard, and it struck into the dead man's flesh, cleaving deeply, still fresh blood slowly pooling out. He swung again three more times, ensuring the blade was covered in blood before stabbing it into the corpse's stomach and leaving it.

"Sorry friend....but dead men don't need to look all that pretty."

Breathing a bit hard from the sword swings he gathered the satchel and looked back toward the gates of the city and began walking toward themÂ and paused. His hand rose, and he summoned a blast of fire not at the man but at the ground surround the corpse. The ground erupted and the dust settled. He was confident that would disturb any footprints enough.

Walking back to the city he was quite pleased with himself. Not only was Ruru in trouble, he was also entertaining himself in the meantime, hoping two institutions tore themselves to pieces.

Warren Castille · **06-20-2014, 12:49 PM**

Warren sat and considered the facts, trying to push the troublesome letter out of his mind. His initial searches had proven useless and the information had come to him second-hand on account of his status as a Free Paladin, but there was something that unsettled him about the incident. His seat on the stone bench of the fountain near the center of the city had him reluctantly sitting with his back away from a wall, but he shrugged off the unease and focused. Warren considered what he had been told.

The ground was charred. The victim was nearly unrecognizable and his armor was nearly melted. He had been skewered with a weapon matching that of a paladin's common design and had suffered multiple gashes. The attack had happened with no witnesses but not on Ul'dah's doorstep.

Content with the basics, he began to run down the list of question marks.

There were no hard rules against it, but a paladin would have no use, or time, for black arts. The sort of dedication required to cause a blast of that size was something that would have been difficult to keep up with on top of the patrols and drills and duties.

The sword. He knew better than to doubt the battle abilities of a lalafell, but this wasn't a random victim. This was a Brass Blade, and the wounds that had felled him were wild, splitting open chest and arms, and not the sort of practiced strikes that a free paladin was supposed to have drilled into them. It also stood that the weapon had been left standing like an ill omen in the gut of the corpse, a warning that matched that of the letters spread throughout the city.

Warren visualized the scene as well as he could and began to run arrows into his train of thought. The blast was simple enough to explain; The free paladin hadn't acted alone. The blows to the chest were most curious to him, however. A lalafell's strikes would have been lower on the body than the chest. This could still be explained that an accomplice had reeled the man down before the knight finished him off.

A reasonable explanation, but it didn't stick. Something didn't fit. Warren growled to himself, realizing he had zoned out of his surroundings. He shook his head and tried to collect his thoughts once again.

The ground was charred. The victim was nearly unrecognizable and his armor was nearly melted...

Melodia · **06-23-2014, 08:28 AM**

Things weren't going along as he'd hoped, and Nono was fuming in his room. There was no pushback against the Paladins, something fun he'd hoped for. NoÂ mass revolt against the Blades. He kicked the bed, a move an insolent child would and sat down on the mattress, cupping his hand in his chin as he pondered his next move.

He was no closer to finding Ruru and it irritated him. He held his hand out in front of him and popped small bursts of flameÂ above his palm. The dancing fire was small, just a tease of what he typically unleashed. The dark arts had always tempted him, and he enjoyed the flames.

Snapping his palm closed, he extinguished the flame and nodded. He needed to get back to it, and that meant heading back to the Quicksand.

Melodia · **06-25-2014, 07:15 AM**

The mail made him chuckle. This Sultansworn was proving to be more entertainment than his brother ever could be, nor the drones at the Quicksand. If they knew how he loathed them they'd have his head just for that alone. He muttered to himself as he drafted his own reply. "'Has born fruit....' Ha! Fruit of a poisoned tree my dear Sergeant."

Wrapping up he note, he walked and delivered it, looking sidelong down the street past the ridiculous dancers that seemed to thrive outside the Quicksand and to the large walls of the city. Perhaps he would find something to keep his mind occupied soon.

Nono walked back toward the Steps of Thal, wanting some solitude prior to meeting with the lovely Sergeant. He was truly curious what she'd found.

His note read:

Sergeant Crofte,
I am receipt of your letter. Perhaps we should meet at the same location as before in one sun. I pray we still have time to save the city.

Krell

Coatleque · **06-25-2014, 09:31 AM**

As was her habit, the Knight was early once again. Dressed in her full blue regalia, she stood vigilant at the foot of the fountain, watching the shadows grow longer. Master Krell had best be prepared to present a speech tonight. She did not appreciate being played as a fool.

Melodia · **06-25-2014, 09:46 AM**

Approaching the fountain, his footsteps wereÂ a steady rhythm of alternating weights against the brick street. He saw the woman standing, waiting as she'd done before. He decided to wear a simple set of pants and a back tunic top, his crimson hair toussled by a slight breeze. As he ascended the steps with a slight groan he lookad at her with slightly narrowed eyes.

"A pleasure to see you again, Sergeant. So you have news I assume?"

Coatleque · **06-25-2014, 09:59 AM**

She turned toward the man and clicked her heels together at attention, but did not bow. "Master Krell.", she replied as her arms crossed. Her sword hand resting upon her hilt.

"Indeed, I do have news regarding the man you seek. But before I divulge any information I must administer a test. You see, it has been implied that I am conversing with spirits. Now, I am no fool, Ser, as I can see you plainly before me. What I propose is that you explain yourself now before I decide to run you through to test the theory."

Melodia · **06-25-2014, 10:10 AM**

He didn't move. He merely grinned at the woman, watching her dangle the threat before him as others had done. This woman was no monster....no Melodia. She was a sworn officer of the blah blah blah. He shook his head crossed his arms before and tilted his head a bit, still grinning.

"Well, now. Guess I'm in bigÂ trouble then."

His face suddenly went serious and he glared at Coatleque with a stare that cried a level of malevolence that was a complete switch from the pleasant grin before.

"Now listen to me, Sergeant..." The word was layered in heavy sarcasm. "....I relayed information to you. You told me to come here. And now you threaten me in such a manner? I ought to report you to your superiors."

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RPC has moved! These pages have been kept for historical purposes