TSW - Chapter 6: The Past (3) - The Pond

Moments after Raneaux was left trying to explain to Coe about what abilities Umbra had and in turn tried to calm his fears about having potentially been under constant watch as Danton had taken Xera aside. She had made sure that she had renewed her mental link with both of them before they left but was a little angry that they had abruptly left her. Danton had taken Xera to the back of his lab and walked down the path towards the pond. It was a crisp and clear day but the stench of booze hung in the air and refused to leave, even with the light breeze that was ruffling the trees. Danton was about to discuss his necklace when they both spotted three monks by the water. Two were nestled nearer the tree line while the third was lying face down with his hand floating in the water.

Danton rushed over the monk by the water while Xera went to see how the other two were fairing. Danton lifted the man's arm up and let it go. It splashed into the water but he did not move. He tried to gently turn him over making sure his head was supported and felt a sticky residue on his fingers through the man's hair. He knew what it was but he needed to see it for himself and as he did so Xera had managed to wake the other two up. Without paying any attention to Xera they saw Danton and his hand covered in blood and shouted at the top of their lungs accusing him of assault and murder of their fellow monk and friend, Beron. Danton immediately jumped back, resign his hands away from the body and himself in a gesture of innocence. They were adamant he was guilty but his silver tongue thankfully managed to convince them otherwise.

They both stumbled to their feet in hopes going to the aid of their friend but found their belongings missing. Accusations were then thrown at Xera to which again Danton had to step into to convince them of his innocence. Both Oraea monks were feeling the effects of the night before and visibly found each other's shouting voices  painful. They demanded that Danton and Xera stay away from the water and Beron  while they went to get help and stumbled away from the pond  through the trees towards the centre of the village and the Oraea. The request to stay away from the water's edge guaranteed that both would investigate. He and Xera tired to find out what had happened but the only things left were either the leftovers from the festivities or small discarded synth and metal. Xera called over for a piece of the metal over to him. It disappeared from the other bank of the pond and materialised in his hand. His satisfied smile only lasted a few seconds before he was nipped by what looked like a claw protruding from the metalwork. He instinctively threw it into the water and as the ripples calmed, a looming figure rose to just under the surface. It was a twelve foot long monstrosity of red hexagonal scales, two spiked front flippers and a beak like jaw vertically flattened and meshed together wish spiny teeth. It circled under the water like a beast trapped in a cage. They both decided that whatever had nipped Xera could be left until much later and called over for Coe and Raneaux to help.

Raneaux re-laid the request and he immediately turned it down. Coe's reply seemed more laboured this time but was far more curt. He stated that he was employed for a limited set of duties and then returned back to his work, removing the fangs from the Moma clone's upper jaw. Raneaux shuddered as he tore one of them out and quickly left, thankful that she wouldn't have to witness his experimentations any more. She arrived just as Jethra did, along with a few others of the monks. She kept to the back of Danton and Xera, not wanting to be noticed. There was a half hearted apology from Jethra before he demanded to know why both of them had defied the Oraea's orders and had gone near the pond. Xera mentioned the beast and threw a shard of metal into pond to try and stir it. Jethra peered over the bank's edge, flanked by his monks but he couldn't see anything. Xera muttered under his breath that perhaps his monks should go into the pond but was quickly hushed by Danton before they could hear

.

Jethra grunted. He did not want to be disturbed any longer and after noticing Raneaux, realised this whole thing could be settled quickly. He demanded that she act as arbiter, in her bound duty as  a Guldspar. She outright refused. Jethra grunted louder this time and told all three of them to stay away from the pond. He stationed two of the monks close by to keep an eye out but shook his head when he realised that none of them were in a fit state to do anything he asked. With a sigh, he ordered that Beron's body to be taken back to the Oraea and told the three of them  that he would need to speak to them later.

As soon as they had passed onto the road Raneaux looked up at the two and asked what they had really seen. They tried to convince her of the red scaled creature hidden in its depths to which she laughed. She asked how much they had had to drink the night before but was met with stern faces. She too peered over the pond  but lobbed a glowglobe into the water. As sceptical as her mind was at the thought of something so large residing in such a small body of water, the globe sank to the bottom and illuminated the rocks on the bed which seemed to scuttle away from it. She bit her lip confused and not wanting to prove herself wrong, asked if this was where they were going to dispose of the bodies they had left in shack. Danton's serpentine eyes widened to the point she was confined they going to fall out and his mouth gaped open. The thought of the bodies had not even crossed his mind. 

TSW - Chapter 6: The Past (2) - The Morning After

The morning started with another pill for Danton. After witnessing what had happened to the clone of Moma he decided that he would stop taking chances and stick to a regime. This was followed by another new part to his morning routine, stretches. He didn't feel like a new man nor did the night's sleep reinvigorate him. In truth, it partially felt like a way to prove to himself he was a better person than the blood-soaked viper he had been last night. The thoughts of what had happened started to prevail and so he stretched harder, flexing beyond what was comfortable in hopes that the pain would help. There was a gentle rasp at the door which knocked his concentration. Jarvan announced the arrival of well dressed gentleman who had enquired about him. There was concern on his face which Danton try to disperse but what was left  underneath was disapproval.

Downstairs Mavis was nursing one of the worst hangovers she had experienced. She hadn't given much credence to the Oraea but one or two of them had certainly come close to drinking her under the table. It was due to this state that Coe had received hospitality from Jarvan, who had now taken on most of Mavis' duties. In front of Coe was a half finished breakfast which Danton recognised and gave a quick glance over to Jarvan, who now trying to convince Mavis to eat herself. Coe mentioned the promise Danton had made the night before and soon the necklace and the amulet were revealed. He draped it across his hand, although he did not remove it from his neck. Coe brought out a pair of spectacles and closely examined it, noting the design from last night along with the dark wood and contrasting and almost luminescent blue substance that filled in cracks.

Without hesitation Danton explained in part what he knew of it. The necklace was almost forced upon  him by a old woman, a vagrant peddler. She was practically giving it away, owing to its supposed cursed status. She was working in his part of Qi and felt sorry for her. There were scars marking her skin to which he attributed to her working on the Marish Clan side of the city. He put it on for her to pass judgement but she had gone when he raised his head. The necklace itself gave him confidence, bravado; a belief within himself to take control like he hadn't before.  His words felt weighty even if he was whispering. His men reacted without much grumbling or objection from then on and with that, the amulet never left his side. The tale had intrigued Coe and pressed him further on what he knew about the design and Xera. An uncomfortable silence was left unchecked for only a second or two before Danton replied he would be explaining it in time to him. With a wry smile he mentioned that Xera had a slight distaste for him for whatever reason and would keep a close eye on him just to make sure nothing escalated. A little taken aback, he gladly accepted the help.

Xera's morning had blurred into the previous night. He had found himself trying to distract his wandering thoughts with the books he had been given from the Oraea while simultaneously trying to ignore Umbra's constant card shuffling and solo plays. It was a relief when Raneaux turned up. She seemed well rested but certainly hadn't cleaned herself up as much as she could have, leading him to suspect that she had declined to stay at the Drunken Tallon in preference to her own place. She instantly made a clearing for her to sit next to Umbra and started to play against him, with a few giggles and laughter as she managed to beat him at his own game. Xera sighed and slammed the book shut without Umbra or Raneaux even turning to look at him.

Danton arrived at the lab about an hour after Raneaux, fully fed and properly bathed. Coe pushed past him as they entered and he took up his perch by his bench and drowned the world out with his own thoughts and experimentations. Danton called Xera over and in the space of around half an hour, both had managed to divulge the information they knew about the Neave clones, this history of the Oraea in conjunction with Chloe the Vessel and the vanguard they were seeking to destroy. They also lamented that they couldn't help any further, the expert on the matter had been abducted by one of the clones but they were too late to stop her and her tracks had gone cold before they had even stepped foot into Darkperch. They did however offer something of a consolation. Valma. The immediacy at which it responded to its name surprised Umbra, especially from where she had come from. It asked it's never ending and perpetual question to which Umbra laughed and told it that he had a lot to teach it if it was willing. Valma spun around the room, knocking  over what Xera had at least tried to put back in some order.  Umbra was surprisingly unphased  by her unnatural existence and was quickly given a warning not to lose a game to it, otherwise it  would inflict a lot of pain. He tilted his head  and his smile widened which unnerved Danton and Xera.

He thanked them for the gift and thanked Valma for its willingness in accompanying him. He patted the flat metal top. The intricate designs on its surfaces turned a misty shade of grey and its aura faded into  muted smoke. He told the three of them  that he or one of his associates would be in contact in the future. He knelt down to Raneaux and thanked her as well, looking directly into her eyes. He passed her something heavy, metallic but away from the eyes of Xera Danton and initially even her. He whispered in her ear that he and his fellow Hawks may call upon her sooner than those she kept company with and told her to keep a watchful eye on the three men. Umbra stood back up nodded his head, Valma attached itself to his belt and they both melded into the shadows of the lab.

TSW - Chapter 6: The Past (1) - Questions

With Danton and Raneaux of the way, Xera let Coe into his lab. He had been a little self conscious about the state  it was in after it had been ransacked but Coe didn't seem to mind. In fact ,the way he was eyeing everything over made it more like he was studying rather than glancing. After a few minutes of perusing the chaos, Coe found a spot on a side bench to settle down. With both arms he swept everything off, papers, vials, instruments and all to the floor. Xera presumed that Coe had through this was how he naturally kept his lab and the extra mess he had just made was now just another thing he had to clean up and tidy away. After the day Xera had, all he wanted to do was rest but his bed sheet and lumpy pillows were buried under a mountain of papers and books and found the idea of clearing up more of a hassle. He thought this might be the best time to question Coe while Coe set up his own equipment from his apothecary bag, while he would have to tidy up around him.

The first question was a fishing question of sorts, trying to lure out any underlying information. He asked him what he knew about the word Acardaeum, which he professed to know little. He knew that from just hearing the word made him feel giddy at the prospect of experimenting with unlimited resources, time and away from prying eyes to perfect his craft. To Xera the word had a similar meaning, although far less about experimenting on people, but understanding the true nature of reality. It was curious thing, that the world meant different things to both of them, but he kept his idea of the Acardaeum to himself. He then brought up the next question, which was on the symbol he had found on a scrap of paper in his room after the ransacking.

Coe half looked over at the design before carrying on with setting up his workspace. He candidly said to Xera that he had seen the design on Danton's necklace but Danton had not explained why he was so secretive about possessing it. Xera cursed to the air. A little taken aback, Coe asked him what was the matter with him. Xera tried to explain that the design was personal, something key to his history lost in fragments of blotted memories and sighed. If Danton knew more than he was telling, then there had to be a reason and possibly it could be to manipulate him into doing what Danton wanted him to do. Another curse left his lips directed at Danton before he settled down. Coe told him that any information he learned from Danton in the morning would be relayed as quickly as he could.  Xera smiled, he had no idea why Coe believed in him or followed his pursuits but he was comforted by the support. He thought to himself that even though Danton had brought him into the fold, Xera knew that perhaps one day, Coe would on his side.

An hour or two later Coe had managed to create a nest for himself under the desk and had fallen soundly asleep. Xera, on the other hand, was kept up by his racing mind. The image of his mother's ring, the scrap of parchment on the floor and Danton's necklace could not be separate instances to him. There had to be some connection he wasn't seeing or just couldn't remember. He grunted in frustration. From the shadows near the door, Umbra stepped out and startled Xera. He told him that he had been there for most of the night and thought it was only appropriate that he came to talk to Xera now, before Coe awoke. He made small talk about what had happened in the ranch, how Coe hated mutants and how he had told Raneaux to drug him.

Xera nodded along only half listening. Umbra was playing with a deck of cards, practicing sleight of hand and tricks to keep his dexterity sharpened. Umbra could see that Xera wasn't interested in how dangerous Coe could prove to be to the Steadfast and pulled out an embroidered pouch to put his cards away in. It was a small black cloth, far too small for the cards with dark purple embroidery. He slipped the cards entirely into the pouch amazing Xera. He asked what it was, to which Umbra shrugged his shoulders. He explained he had been given it by a fellow Hawk who had explained they had got it from a old woman who said it was cursed. This intrigued Xera and that only deepened when Umbra explained that the design on it; the same design from the ring, the paper and the necklace, was the reason why.

 Xera nearly sprang to his feet. He didn't believe in the natural confluence of events. Something must be here and he could not grasp at it, no matter how much his mind desperately tried. It felt as if the world was teasing him, mocking him for near blank past. He desperately asked Umbra where the old woman had found it. There was a  few moments pause before Umbra remembered a detail. He said that the woman may have said it from a lost temple although he wasn't sure. The details on the exact place were a little hazy but he remembered that one detail had stuck in his fellow Hawk's mind, it was place like a mirage, out of step with the universe, an unchanging sentinel. The last word had stuck in Xera's mind, it was odd to him that the place had been described as both a temple and a sentinel, a building ever watchful, ever observing.  He asked one last question, if Umbra knew what the Acardaeum was. He said he had never heard of the world before tonight, but he somehow knew it was a place of safety, tranquillity, a place where he was understood and accepted. He knew now that he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, he was far too frustrated and now even more confused. There were no real answers and the responses he got were more confounding that the question. There was one thing for certain, Danton was hiding something from him which meant he couldn't be trusted.

TSW - Chapter 5: The Live Drop (8) - Calm Seas

Danton quickly cut short Coe's admirations, time was ticking and now he had the poisoner in his pocket, it was about time for a plan to right. He told Umbra to stay outside and keep a watch for the arrival of Dehart's courier and to relay to Raneaux. Danton had asked Coe if he would take the role of an intermediate for the live drop but he refused. He did not consider himself working for Danton, rather than working with him and his previous arrangements with Moma were now void, and so was his role in the transaction. He looked around the room and saw Coe had now wandered off with Xera while Raneaux was idly twiddling her thumbs. He told her he needed her hep but first they needed to clean their robes as so not to raise any more suspicion. Raneaux with full abandon shrugged the robes off of her and dipped them into the a pale of water near the hearth while Danton carefully removed his. One of Coe's eyes was on the conversation while the other was drawn to Danton. His overly careful behaviour meant one thing to Coe, he was hiding something. Although he wasn't sure, the glimpse of a necklace that was hastily shoved back under his clothes was most likley the cause.

Both of the robes were left to dry by the fire but the only problem was that although the blood washed out of Danton's robes, the stains were too stubborn for Raneaux's. A little disgruntled, Danton pressed forward with the new plan. He looked up to the rafters of the room to see if he could get a clear shot down to the door. He saw a possible way up, but faulted after the first attempt. Raneaux on the other hand clambered up with ease and smiled back as his surprised face. He shook his head. He realised now that he would have take the role of Coe and of Moma's lackey's while Raneaux provided back up. He knew he risked getting recognised but he knew he wasn't as agile as her. Fate had again forced his hand. He shook his body down and ran his hands across his face. He thought back to the shack and how Moma's guards spoke and then to the way Coe carried himself. He practised the movements and the voice much to Coe's amusement. He was interrupted by Raneaux telling him that Umbra had  had spotted a guard with a large flat object and a strong box, both carried on a floating plate.

Danton stood next to the door awaiting the knock. It turned into a odd pattern of knocks that he presumed we some sort of code. He looked at Coe for advice but he had hidden himself away with Xera. He made sure the hood of his robe covered his eyes and slowly opened the door. Xera had a flash of inspiration and threw the cacophony shoes out to the corner of the room away from view. The light and sounds they created gave a convincing teleportation effect which he hoped would buy Danton a little more credence to his story. The man outside was dressed in a similar robe to that he had seen on Dehart, although much less ornate and badly maintained. Danton could see the man was tired and form the way he was slightly stooping, had obviously walked from Auspar. He let the man speak first in hopes to gain a clue as to what he should reply with. He asked for a password which Danton assumed might be the case but he didn't know the answer. For a second Danton concentrated on the currier and he was somehow able to skim a thought from his mind. Acardaeum.

Dehart's lackey  handed both items to Danton, although he seemed not to care much for what was the items were or how valuable they would be. Danton tried to gain a little more information but the man held his hand up to stop him and stormed off, struggling to pulling floating plate behind him in the dark. Somehow the transaction had gone off without a hitch which stunned Danton. Raneaux leapt down from the rafters and cuddled up to her new windrider. Coe placed his hand on Danton's shoulder, waking him from his daze. He said he and Xera were headed for his lab and presumed he, the girl and the mutant would follow suit. He nodded but before they left Danton wanted to hide their trail. He took the pot of green paint and called over Raneaux. He lightly scratched into the surface of the door the symbol of a long standing rival of House Ethis from another part of the Steadfast, Velthos and smiled. He let Raneaux to cover the markings with pain with her finger as the brush. She wiped the paint off on her bloodstained robe and they quickly left.

Just before they entered Xera's lab, Coe pulled Danton to one side and questioned him on the necklace he had spotted. Danton shifted uncomfortably and deflected the question. He said he would tell him everything he needed to know in the morning but all he wanted to do now was rest. Suspicion was now rife in Coe's mind and he questioned if he had made the right decision. He turned back to the creator of the Blue Famine and sighed. He thought to himself this would probably be the only chance he would get to question one of the greatest prisoner he had ever known and knew he had to accept the baggage that came with it. Danton ruffled Raneaux hair a little praising her for how valuable she had been to him. She looked at him a little confused but smiled all the same. He then offered Umbra a room at the Drunken Tallon but he politely turned it down. There was something more pressing on his mind and told Danton they needed to talk about what he had promised to deliver to him in the Oraea in the morning.

TSW - Chapter 5: The Live Drop (7) - Coe

To Raneaux's understanding, as she passed over the darts, the man she had been conversing with was now most likely a master poisoner. The reason he had not reacted violently to her and Umbra was possibly due to the fact, she believed, that he could kill them all quickly, quietly and efficiently without much effort on his part. She tried to communicate her fear to Danton but she had never mentally linked with him and her desperate gaze never met his eyes. Instead, Danton was solely focused on the poisoner. He introduced himself as a colleague of Raneaux's but was corrected by the gentleman. He told Danton he was not her co-worker. In fact he knew exactly who he was, Danton Scalar of House Ethis. He mentioned that  Isadora had told him many things about Danton, although she had not mentioned his visit to Thaemor. Danton was taken aback by his immediate recognition and sternly looked down at Raneaux, who avoided his looks of disapproval. The man thanked Raneaux for her honesty and told Danton that she had used up the excuse of operating on a patient to explain his bloodstained robes. Raneaux shrunk into her chair.

Danton was indeed going to use the excuse but realised that Raneaux had not had his upbringing and did not fully comprehend the delicate nature of the truth. He presumed since she had told the poisoner of certain details, she had told him of Moma. He said to man that she worked for him although not in the capacity she may or may not have mentioned. She had been found in Darkperch as a vagrant and employed as a sentry of sorts to guard his own interests. Danton had business with Moma and it had worked in his favour. She had  fallen for a trap he had set and had managed to kill her. The poisoner bit his lip and opened his eyes a little, raising his brow. He was impressed that Danton had managed to even get close to her, let alone kill her.  He explained that had tried many times to gather samples to create some sort of protection against her, but he had never even gotten close to her. He considered this fact for a moment or two before needing evidence. If he had killed Moma and not her clone, then the scythe she had wielded would be functional, rather than a mere copy. Danton swallowed uncomfortably, trying to carefully hide his deception. The poisoner wanted Danton to go collect the scythe himself as proof of Moma's death but instead Danton told Raneaux to go. In his mind, if things were turn against them, it would be better that she and Xera remained safe outside, while he and Umbra fought off the poisoner.

Danton looked down at the table next to the poisoner and noticed the alchemy equipment on the and said that he may have something of interest.  He apologised profusely if Raneaux had been rude and asked for his name while he brought out a vial of blood. He replied that he was known as Coe and that he had not expected someone from House Ethis to show civility and decorum. Danton said that he was not like his sister and without hesitation threw the vial of Cursed Qui blood at Coe in hopes to poison him. To his dismay he saw Coe wipe the blood off his face with a handkerchief from his breast pocket while he tutted. He told him that Danton and whoever he was working with, now only had one chance left. Danton was about to freefall back into a panicked state but there was something recognisable within Coe. A similar desire to live without restriction, to live a lifestyle suitable to his interests and intrinsically valuing all forms of drugs. A few minutes passed as Coe observed Umbra and turned back towards analysing the Khatt-Nipp. From pursed lips and narrow eyes a compliment was given. The quality of the drug was better than Isadora's and Coe wanted the recipe. Danton said that he knew he was better than Isadora although, as he showed Coe his eyes, he needed a more potent form of Nastrond.

A slow understanding between the two had developed and Danton needed to tip the scales in his favour. His heart was now set on employing Coe as his own. The poisoner said that he was a mercenary of sorts who followed the trail of money and not empty promises. He had worked for Isadora, but that was due to her wealth which he assumed had come from her brother and siphoned from the royal treasury. He also said that he was not here under her orders, in fact Moma had employed him as a third party to make sure the transaction was to take place without a hitch. If he was to abandon his post Danton needed something substantial. He released that Raneaux had not returned and told Coe that he needed to send the mutant out to retrieve something far greater than the Scythe, the head of Moma.  Coe was now intrigued, he wasn't interested in the scythe she wielded but her flesh to experiment on and even though Danton maybe only offering a clone, it may be close enough to create something that could kill the original.

Within a couple of minutes of Umbra leaving he had returned stained with blood with Moma's head wrapped in layers of strips of bed sheet. He had not protested to decapitating her, in fact the summers breeze he heard in his mind made him care far less about anything he was doing. A blissful smile had never left his face from the moment he left, to the moment he returned. Within moments of the head being unveiled, Coe set to work taking samples almost oblivious to Danton and Umbra's existence. He did however mutter under his breath that the subject had been tainted, but it was something he could work with, pleased with the fact that Nastrond had affected her so violently. The fangs that had Danton had grown now protruded out of him gum line and his eyes narrowed and flickered with a second set of clear eyelids. He had captured his prey.

After the samples had been taken Coe agreed to work with Danton although he needed protection from her, her followers, and those that were part of her group. He offered a device that separated into three distinct modules that created an alarm field, or so he had been told but he had more to offer.  He shouted for Xera to come in and after a few awkward seconds Xera shuffled in keeping his eyes close to the ground. However as he turned the corner into the main hall he was rushed upon by Coe. He shook his hand vigorously and was almost out of breath as he talked. Streams of compliments of brilliance, ingenuity and the numbers of dead now because of him poured out. Xera looked up confused and dazed, he had been expecting for the man to have killed him, not idolizing him. Danton noticed that Coe had seemed to have turned a child idolising a Hawk-Eye from Auspar. Coe wanted to know how Xera had come up with such an ingenious, untraceable and deadly toxin as the Blue Famine. 

TSW - Chapter 5: The Live Drop (6) - Resistance

The bloodstains on her robes left little to the imagination. The man's well spoken tones were calm and collected, while highlighting that a girl of her age should perhaps take better care of her clothes. He asked politely what she was doing there and why she had woke him up. Raneaux fumbled over her words. He had not made a single move to attack and neither had he changed his relaxed posture, save for switching feet on the table he was now resting them on.  She called out in her mind to Xera, who replied that he had heard Danton mention something about surgery to the Oraea in explaining the blood. After the lie left her lips, the man sleepily rubbed his eyes and told her to try again. Taken aback she panicked and called for Umbra to help.

He wasn't as concealed as he liked and the light made it difficult for him to blend in. Regardless, he fired off a Khatt-Nipp laced dart which became lodged in ruffles of the man's clothing. He prayed it had pierced his target's skin. He plucked it out from his shirt, dismissed the design as crude and tossed it to the floor beside him. Raneaux took two steps back. He didn't mention that he had just been attacked but instead turned to Raneaux's intrusion. She decided that perhaps a little honesty would buy her some time. She told him that she was investigating a woman named Moma for an employer in Auspar. He cocked his head and tutted. He told her that as a Guldspar, they were not allowed to be influenced by external factors, such as private employment that could cloud their judgement. She had known some of the ways of monks but she hated them and in the past refused to learn anything more of them, which was now possibly a mistake. She said to him that her colleague in the investigation would soon arrive and he would perhaps settle the matter. The man shifted a little into a more comfortable position and faintly smiled.

Xera by now had made it across the festivities in the centre of the village with little effort. He had in fact on the way been offered sweet treats and a glass or two of wine to which both he resentfully declined . While Eryn was around he had felt freer but now with Danton in charge, the world felt as if it was closing in with each mistake Danton was making.  Raneaux's communications were brief. The situation hadn't spiralled out of control like it had in the shack but Raneaux's lies were tying her in knots and she needed someone to talk in her stead. Her description of the man, a broad shouldered merchant or noble with intimidating logic and an apparent resistance to Khatt-Nipp made one thing clear to Xera, he was not going inside.

Seemingly tired of Raneaux's excuses, he told his assailant to step out from the behind the corner. He was disgusted to find that the dart had come from a mutant. He complimented Umbra on his aim through gritted teeth. The man however was intrigued by what the dart had been laced with. With a yawn he picked up it up and placed the tip on his tongue and sucked the poison off. He complimented Raneaux on the taste but he couldn't quite place what it was. She now had absolute confirmation that the Khatt-Nipp had had no effect regardless of how it had got into his system. She knew the only way she would ever leave the room alive would be near utter honesty. She told him the name of the drug ,which he confirmed after a second taste and that she did work for a family in Auspar, Ethis. The man's eyes lit up for a second saying that he too was employed by House Ethis, although Isadora had never mentioned employing a Guldspar. Umbra started to panic, he now realised this encounter was swiftly plummeting at a rate he could not control. He shook his head for a second and closed his eyes trying to regain focus. As he opened them, he saw Raneaux dead on the floor, her body punctured with a thousand darts. He looked over the man who was now smoking a pipe, his eyes glaring at him in golden tones.

The gentleman sighed to Raneaux and told her this was why mutants should never be given the same rights as humans. He said that in the past, the mutants he had experimented on had provided some unique feedback against his own toxins but regardless if they survived the encounter they were all added to the foul pit at the bottom of the city where they belonged. Umbra was now ranting to himself and according to the man, he was now an unpleasant distraction. He handed over Raneaux the dart  and in a soft tone he told her to shut the mutant up. He went on further and said   that that if the dosing wasn't sufficient anymore, then she should use one of her mutant's own. She hesitated, saying sorry to Umbra in her mind over and over again before puncturing his neck with the dart. The horrific vision of Raneaux's death was soon given the sound of a summers breeze rustling through trees. The fact that she had died now seemed make him feel at peace.

The man now seemed pleased with Raneaux, even though her sudden appearance had yet to be substantially explained. He asked her to pass over a few of the darts from the mutant while removing equipment from the leather bag beneath him. He took his feet off the table and now laid out an alembic, a calcinator, a mortar & pestle and a retort. In addition he brought out a few vials of liquids, while some contained insects both living and dead. As Raneaux handed over the darts there was a knock at the door. Raneaux sighed in relief as she told her 'college' to come in.  As she turned her head it wasn't who she was expecting. Xera had stayed outside, just like he said and now in his place Danton walked in. 

TSW - Chapter 5: The Live Drop (5) - Uninvited

Danton was greeted by three Oraea monks, carrying a gift size bottle of what he presume to be some kind of alcohol and a small selection from the buffet from earlier. His bloodstained clothes and smeared face made them recoil and hesitant to even continue talking. Two of the monks were standing at the front, with one behind obviously meeker than the rest. It was he who was pulled forward by the other two to talk to Danton as they quickly stepped back.  His words stammered as he offered help for the injured if needed but Danton tried to convince them of another scenario. He told them that he was medical practitioner assisting an operation being overseen by an Aeon Priest from the Papal Spire. Due to the conditions in Auspar, those that needed medical attention outside the caldera were no longer allowed help from the Aeon Priests inside the city. He was here on a mission of mercy, helping the sick and injured of Thaemor and if the Oraea was any further of a distraction, the patient may lose her life.  The monks looked at each other and realised it was probably best if they left well alone and gingerly handed over the basket of gifts, offering more at the Oraea for after the surgery.  He nodded and thanked them then snatched the basket of goods out of the monk's hand and closed the door behind him. He let out a sigh, leaning against the door to make sure they had gone and wouldn't force their way in.

His eyes drifted towards Moma, whose convulsions were now becoming violent. Her skin was erupting in scales and through the flickering of her eyelids, he could see a familiar mutation.  Xera had had difficulty keeping her still while the Oraea was outside the door but with Danton's return he let go of her, now only realising how much her body was fighting against him. The table that supported her started to rock with her movements, showing signs of giving way. Danton had never seen this type of reaction in his men but it had haunted his dreams. The total conversion of his body and mind stalked him, a serpentine creature of guilt, hatred and fear. It was the embodiment of losing own his identity and becoming a true son of House Ethis. He knew what Nastrond could do to a person and if Moma was receiving these mutations all at once, she would become a monster. There was no other outcome but to end another life by his hands. He justified his actions in his mind over and over again. His secrecy was too important, his investment in Xera was too important and ultimately, he himself, was too important to die.

In the ranch across the village, Raneaux had slumped against the wall by the door in hopes of resting before the drop. She glanced up at Umbra who was unable to blend into the dark due to the lit candles and a roaring fireplace.  It took her a few moments before this fact sunk in. It was the middle of the night, Dehart's guards had not made it to the drop point but the candles and fire meant that somebody had been here or perhaps still was. She told Umbra to search the room, while massaging her head. The pain felt as if a pick was trying to gain purchase in her skull. Her concerns to their seclusion were quickly confirmed as Umbra peeked around the corner that framed what seemed to be a small kitchen and noticed a sleeping man. He was surprising well groomed, his beard had been shaped and trimmed and his hair had been styled. The garments he was wearing seemed to Umbra to be deemed fashionable, or at the very least owned by a person with money but there were the tale-tale signs of armor underneath. His wrists were covered in thick hide and his neck was collared by metal plates on his jacket.  He seemed not much older than someone in his mid-thirties but the leather case he had between his feet was much older. It was made from an exotic hide, a scaly hue of dark purple tarnished by time and heavy use all held togehter by faded brass.  The top was almost a peak with a fraying handle in the same leather spaning its width. The two as a whole did not seem to fit.

Umbra knew that even from the man's sleeping figure, he was most likely dangerous. The only way to turn the tables was to snuff out the candles and provide himself shadows for him to work in. He asked if Raneaux would be able to help but she soon realised she was far too drained to provide assistance. She panicked a little, knowing that the rest she so deeply needed would have to wait and whatever was to happen next, she didn't have the strength to  get into a fight. Her mind reached out across Darkperch to Xera and pleaded for his help. He asked Danton if it would be better suited if Danton went in his stead but Danton shook his head and told him to go as requested, covering up the fact that he wasn't sure if Moma was truly dead. Xera grumbled under his breath again and wiped the specks of blood that he had accidently let slip past his precautions and careful eye. He left the room and slammed the door, not really knowing how he was going to help with someone that seemed to cause concern for even the Hawk-Eye. The last candles from Raneaux and Umbra's side of the room were snuffed out. This now left the fireplace casting light. Umbra approached the sleeping man's side of the room with caution, his eyes constantly trained on the figure. As he  passed the kitchen servery to snuff out the candle upon it, he had forgotten to wet his fingers in his overly concerned state. His slight reaction to the pain was enough to wake the gentleman up and in the few seconds it took for him to become fully alert, Umbra  had hid back around the corner near the door and Raneaux was shoved into the spotlight.