Walking the Black Rose

Morsereg Dindaedel · Post by **Morsereg Dindaedel** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:06 am

"My name?" Morsereg looked at the guard before him, taking a seat. "Morsereg." He spoke softly, barely a whisper hidden underneath the roar of the room around him. He was fairly calm, showing no signs of the precautions he was taking at the very moment, senses completely aware of all around him. He would not let his guard down for the slightest fraction of a second, trouble could rise from anywhere at any time.

He shuffled through the information in his mind, wondering where to begin. Over his years he had gathered quite the amount of knowledge about this town, and others in adjacent areas. He had watched from the shadows for many nights in this very same Inn, opening his ears to everything, absorbing the conversations of others. Morsereg did that very same thing now as he thought of where to begin, he focused on the others in the room and began listening to multiple conversations at once.

All too soon he found that he must not give into habits at the moment, and come back to the topic. Tuning out the rest of the room, now it was only himself and the guard. "I have given my name, may I ask the same of you?" His green eyes never left the man's, he had seen that he was armed and would not let his guard down until he knew he could trust him.

"I know quite a bit about this town, and others. In most cases, what you seek, I can provide. Delve a bit more into specifics, and I shall deliver what I know." He gave a short smile to give off the illusion of warmth, and then addressed the other issue he had been pressed with, "Alalia Morrigan..." His head slowly shook, "I can not say I know anything about her besides what you just announced to all of the barroom."

Shadowsong · Post by **Shadowsong** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 6:30 pm

Here was the awkward part, it would be really better not to advertise his intentions. Maybe more information was needed to pinpoint the right tomb to invade but there was no clear way to avoid revealing his hand if he was to gain more information on the matter.

'The name is Darkheart, cheerily enough.' a hand was offered. Offered to shake; the warrior intended to keep it.

Eye contact rarely bothered Darkheart. In his military and mercenary career he was noted for his presence, and more than capable of staring down hardened troops. Having those green eyes fixed on his own were starting to give him a headache.

The best counter he could think of was to avoid that gaze by glancing around the room to see who was listening. It was the same game being played. Again.

Had he been looking, he would have noticed that smile was not the least bit natural. Something more about the situation did not seem right.

'Which organisations keep track of this tavern? Which one are you part of? I know by the delay you didn't hear this directly, and you came here looking for me. Someone must have contacted you about the subject.'

Morsereg's way of speaking seemed too deliberate and considered. Espescially when denying knowledge of Alalia. With the buzz in Darkheart's head, it would be a time before he thought to press that.

'How about we start with why people seem to avoid the cemetary and the manor so much? Although I seek your knowledge, I have yet to learn how much I am at liberty to say.'

Morsereg Dindaedel · Post by **Morsereg Dindaedel** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:43 pm

"Darkheart? How...nice," Morsereg noticed the hand offered, and took it, shaking slowly. He had been out to feed before the messenger arrived, so his body was still warm with the fresh blood.

He noticed Darkheart avoiding his gaze, and cast a look around the room himself. "I do not believe I am at liberty to inform you of who watches the Red Chalice, for I am member of none such organization. I only have associates throughout the city. My information came from a messenger. He may have heard it from associates within an organization, he may be in one himself, I don't know."

"Why do people avoid the cemetery and the manor?" He repeated the question, mulling it over in his mind for a few moments. "The people of Shim, they are full of their superstitions. They fear the man who lives in the manor...he calls himself Belatucadrus. They fear he is a vampire, of all things. As far as the cemetery," He paused, "They say it is filled with ancient magics Ancient magics that could do a great many things...reanimate the dead, control minds, contort memories, even destroy the very fragments of ones soul." He let out a short laugh, "But, you know superstitious people. It only has to be suggested for them to believe it."

Shadowsong · Post by **Shadowsong** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 9:01 pm

Wondering aloud, 'So why would they contact you?'

Fed or not, there was no way to notice the temperature of Morsereg's flesh through the mailed gauntlets. There are some secrets steel does not tell.

Not wishing to be direct, Darkheart used what Morsereg had told him. 'Ancient magics? Would this be any relation to the tombs of the battlemages? Have you ever been there?'

Looking introspective, and briefly looking up to test if it really was the gaze giving him the headache. Ow. It was. Something was messing with his head.

'It would seem your associate believes you have something to gain from this situation, that or intend to manipulate us both. Any guesses? Perhaps we should cover what you would wish of me in exchange for the assistance you can bring?'

Fishing through some of the notes copied from Alalia's journal...he would not hand over the originals are you mad? A couple of sheets were laid out on the table. 'Alalia mentioned that her creator did a lot of work involving the cemetary, perhaps she could be hiding there?'

Morsereg Dindaedel · Post by **Morsereg Dindaedel** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 12:24 am

"I have not been to the cemetery myself, but your proposition does not seem far off. Where else would the magic come from, save from the tombs of the Battlemages?" He vaguely noticed that Darkheart came up to glance at him, and then turned down once again. A smirk was visible upon his face for a moment before it faded again.

"What do I wish from this encounter?" He thought for a moment, "Part of whatever it is you're after." Morsereg leaned forward slightly, barely whispering, yet the voice carried to Darkheart all the same. "There is little to no chance that you are looking for information about the cemetery for no purpose. I'm not that ignorant. Whatever it is you're after, I want part of it. Whether you're after ancient magics, relics, or anything of the sort."

He watched as the sheets were placed before him, eyes glancing over them quickly. "Are you sure you wish to display these in public?" His eyes glanced back up at Darkheart, "Would it not be safer within the confines of a room? You can never tell who is watching us. Who is listening to us even as we speak now. I will not harm you, as you see I am not armed. That sword of yours is quite formidable as well, it would kill me without a second thought no doubt. I have no reason to kill you."

Shadowsong · Post by **Shadowsong** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 7:02 pm

'Deal. We will go over this upstairs. Thank you and welcome aboard.'

That was simple enough. At least now Darkheart could speak freely about the subject. Since if Morsereg had plans to involve himself on the situation he would be in a poor position to gain from exposing him.

'We both know you don't need to be armed.' The voice quiet, respecting that Morsereg did not advertise his talents, 'You have already proven to me that you have ways of defending yourself, so you could be very useful. And I doubt it would be as easy as you pretend to kill you with a sword, otherwise you wouldn't suggest it.'

With that, the mercenary rose from his chair and made his way up to his room, shield ready as the door opened. There was a dark cloak vastly too small for Darkheart on the bed and a small hole cut in the glass.

'Wait one moment, Morsereg.'

The shield was pushed against a few places, places that would be suited for traps. The chair and the bed were tested.

'Safe. Come in.'

Morsereg Dindaedel · Post by **Morsereg Dindaedel** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:17 pm

Morsereg nodded slowly, waiting for Darkheart to rise before he did. He followed him to the room. He stood patiently as he was told to wait, and he entered the room, on edge until he was sure there were nothing that would make a claim on his un-life the moment he walked in. His eyes fell on the hole in the glass, as well as the cloak. He didn't have to examine it closely to know it was too small for Darkheart. The smell on the cloak was also not the same that lingered on Darkheart. This one was familiar...

It did not take him long for it to click who the most likely suspect was.

He looked again at Darkheart before he began to speak, "Back there you said Alalia mentioned something about her creator. When did Alalia mention anything to you? Have a run in with this Cat-Human hybrid?" A grin flashed on his face for a moment before he continued, "Well, you're still alive, so it was not a run in in which she attempted to kill you. What is it that you are looking for, exactly, Darkheart? Your only concern is not finding Alalia, if that were it you would either be dead or have her already and not be bothering with me, for she was obviously in your presence before now. So, what is it you are after?"

Shadowsong · Post by **Shadowsong** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 10:27 pm

Closing the door, Darkheart returned the grin. As if pleased to hear this response from Morsereg.

'Alalia was never really my concern. We had a run in, she attempted to prove herself a threat and not an inconvenience. That,' nodding down in reference to his earlier speech, 'was a countermeasure.'

'My interest is what we have already established. The tombs of the ancient battlemages. I know that four battlemages were known for their power. But one Arkton Sarvil's tomb has yet to be determined. I suspect measures have been taken to conceal it. Maybe one of the other tombs can lead to his?'

'Among the things we can discuss is what talents you bring. In part because spoils can be divided based on usefulness. If all goes well, I'll make sure to involve you in future tasks.'

Little regard was given to the fact that Morsereg had lied about Alalia. Lies, well, just happened in Darkheart's mind.

Morsereg Dindaedel · Post by **Morsereg Dindaedel** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 1:40 am

Morsereg nodded, "Mayhaps one of the tombs does lead to his. We will find it." His eyes glanced to the ceiling idly as he fell momentarily into thought.

Then Darkheart asked what talents he brought. "You wish to know, do you?" Then it was as if a cloak had slid from his shoulders, merging so secretly into the air around them. The pale tone of his skin was brought into light, as was the unnatural glassy state of his fingernails.

"Is this enough of an answer or must I elaborate farther?" As he spoke, sharpened teeth were revealed briefly. "I learned a bit of magic from the one who made me, I can mask what I am while in public. I am not like Belatucadrus, I do not let people believe that it was I really am." He slowly walked through the room, gazing out the window at the night sky.

He traveled back to where Darkheart was, sitting down and gazing up at him, green eyes speckled with red telling the tale of time. "Are you looking for the power within all four tombs, or just the one, Arkton Savil's? What is it you exactly are expecting to find in there?"

Shadowsong · Post by **Shadowsong** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:08 pm

One had to wonder why Darkheart was suddenly attracting all these unnatural creatures. Most of which made by someone. Allying with a vampire did not bother him in the slightest, he was professional mercenary, he lived up to his contracts and worked with whoever was appropriate.

The mention of Belatucradrus was interesting. If he really was a vampire, this would be a credable source.

There was not so much as a flicker of surprise on his face at this, not reacting gave him so many more options in the future. 'Each of the four rose to power swiftly, with a similar pattern and similar methods. There is the possibility they all were aided by a common source. I want the source of their power. If it can go to only one of us, it's mine, and you will gain a stronger ally for the experience.' Waiting a moment to see how this was recieved, he continued, 'Anything bearing a crest or a symbol will be shown to me. They are in part what I am looking for.' Wanting to have that established, but not willing to announce his interest in a blood-drop symbol...and thgus reveal it's worth to the others. 'Anything else we find, in any of the tombs, goes to whoever benefits the most from it.'

'Deal? And if so shall we get started?'

Morsereg Dindaedel · Post by **Morsereg Dindaedel** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:09 pm

Morsereg rethought the deal in his head over a few times, examining it to make sure there was any way at all in which he could profit from this. A stronger ally he could have, yes, but that could also be his downfall should Darkheart decide to turn on him. Must tackle hurdles as they come, however, so he put that problem off to the side.

He rose, nodding again, "We have a deal," He looked at the door, figuring it was now that he would be passing through the barroom. It could almost be felt in the air as a presence settled around Morsereg, making his features unnoticable to the eyes of others. Darkheart would notice, however, that he was exempt from this now, having knowledge of what he was.

"Getting started would be an excellent plan."