Webs of Rumors

The Rumormongers in TroubleWesser Romaru
Ruma Sereny Aliquami


The man shakes his head and sighs.
"Trespassing on private property, attempted theft and property damage. He was identified by the victim, an orderly citizen, master Whisper-Of-Boundless-Sky."

It takes a moment for Wesser to put together the name of the Incarnadine's leader in Ghorryn. If the rumours he'd heard had any grain of truth, falling into the aelfir's bad graces would be an unwise decision. This Maddox tried to break into the temple? He raises an eyebrow at Quiller, seeing if the human gave any sign of recognition as to why his associate might have cause to do so.

Before Song says another word, his ears picked up the noise. By quick movement, he stands at the door, gesturing to Crystal to stay out of sight. He hopes to see who enters the room, and will act quick to gag the stranger.

---

The Rumormongers in TroubleWesser Romaru
Ruma Sereny Aliquami

As Wesser raises his eyebrow at Quiller, he sees the fat man raise not one, but two eyebrows back at him.

There is absolute shock on the man's face from the fact that his close associate did something that would probably be very much expected from him in this line of work.

Song keeps his eyes and nerves ready. Whatever that comes through the door better not alarm the place yet.

Nonplussed by the human's reaction, Wesser turns back to the lieutenant. "Ah, well, l just came from the temple of Incarne. He is not presently there, so he might be attending the Red Markets at the moment."

Hall of Forgotten RitesSong-From-Heart

Silence reigns as furtive steps approach the spy's room. Carefully listening in, Song springs forward just as the intruder leans into the door to take a look. Aelfir hands wrap around a man's head as he is dragged into the room, letting out a muffled squeal.
It is a human in his mid 20s, currently with eyes wide from shock and arms weakly trying to free their owner from Song's iron grasp.

---

The Rumormongers in TroubleWesser Romaru
Ruma Sereny Aliquami


Idris raises his eyebrows at Wesser's remark.
"Oh five minutes ago he was downstairs with me and your friend, so unless he is REALLY fast, I doubt that."

A memory flashed back into Song as his wrestles with the young human. He saw himself in darkness, in his hands is one of his victims of his kidnapping days. Their identities blur into each other, but he finds that this familiar scene requires a quick dance to make his target compliant...

Ruma, who had tried her best not to look lost in thought, sparked back to attentiveness.

"Wait, the Incarnadine priest was here, right now? You are certain?"

Hall of Forgotten RitesSong-From-Heart


The young man was an apprentice of knowledge, not fighting. His background left him unprepared for Song's battle dance and his arms soon went limp.

---

The Rumormongers in TroubleWesser Romaru
Ruma Sereny Aliquami


The lieutenant raises his eyebrows at Ruma's question.
"Are you hard of hearing? That's what I just said."

"Well, then, perhaps we can have a word with him and sort things out," Wesser says. "No harm in that."

Song gives the young man a near-lethal concussion with his ferocious waltz. As he lay his unconscious dance partner down, he also checks his breath. It is shallow, but present. The fellow probably could wake up by the time he is out of this Haven.

The ex-kidnapper then goes over to his still living and frightened victim. He gives the monk a slap on the shoulder as he leans in to give frantic whisper.

"Your life remains in my hands,
So move upon my demands.
To the library we will go,
Quietly, and don't be slow."

With that, he tugs the poor gnoll towards the door out, giving a quick glance to Crystal.

The Rumormongers in TroubleWesser Romaru
Ruma Sereny Aliquami


With his arms still crossed, the lieutenant gives Wesser a long stare.
"Probably easier to do it here than have you wait for the man and have to deal with another assault report. Wait here."

Idris then leaves the trio in the company of the remaining Hounds. Once he comes back a few minutes later, he seems somewhat disgusted.
"Master Whisper will see to you soon."

---

It takes almost half an hour before the aelfir emerges. Whisper-Of-Boundles-Sky is tall even for aelfir standards and stands with impeccable posture. His dark, slick hair is brushed backwards, revealing a pair of eyes glowing in deep red. A tattoo with an Incarnadine marking adorns his forehead.
His attire is minimalist, but extremely well fitting, consisting of a sleek leather jacket with a high collar and pants of the same material, both hiding most of the man's pale skin. There doesn't seem to be a weapon on him, but Ruma notices that his gloves were made of shadow silk - an extremely luxurious material, obtainable only from the dread spiders of Aliquam.
"Hello. I believe you asked to see me."
His voice is like velvet, measured and with perfect intonation, softly whispering of luxuries one could attain by working for this man.

---

Hall of Forgotten RitesSong-From-Heart


The gnoll nods vehemently and moves towards the corridor and then back through the stairs.
Mere moments later, the two aelfir and the monk stand in front of a double door back on the ground floor. Here, the hostage stops and whispers.

"The library is behind the door - there will probably be more of us there."

The thought of handling groups of monks who knows various self defence techniques flew into Song's head, and he quietly cursed to himself for letting his recklessness brought him to this barrier.

That is when he recalled a tactic he had earlier...

Hall of Forgotten RitesSong-From-HeartWith their features hidden in monk cowls, the aelfir enter the library behind the hostage monk.



The immediate realization is that this room seems much bigger than it should. In fact, it feels like the library is bigger than the whole building.
There are a few monks and nuns around, usually sitting next to a book or working on some type of a scripture. They give the newcomers a disgusted look for disrupting their work, but otherwise nobody pays the aelfir much attention, unless they approach closer. Thus, the library is Song's for the taking.

"Yes, I'm sorry to intrude on your time. I'm sure you're quite busy."

She does her usual greeting with a slight bow and the sweep of a hat.

"But we do have a rather urgent need to discuss our mutual acquaintance, I'm afraid."

The Rumormongers in TroubleWesser Romaru
Ruma Sereny Aliquami


Whisper-Of-Boundless-Sky nods in response to the greeting.

"Then introduce both yourself and your agenda, so that we can see what can be done about your acquaintance."

Song grew giddy with excitement at all these secret tomes that he will get to steal away for himself. However, he keeps himself focused on identifying through. There are a few of the books that caught his eye, ones that should help him with the delirious vision he has. With his head down and eyes and ears on alert, he began to clutch three of the books he have chosen close to his chest, and redirect the Gnoll out of the library. His plan now is to walk back to the secret basement entrance. If there are anyone that is around, he will try to take another route to not look suspicious.

Hall of Forgotten RitesSong-From-Heart


Seeing Song taking the books towards the door, the monk closes in to whisper into the aelfir's ears.
"My lord... It is forbidden to bring books out of the library."

"Straight to the point, then - as the primary witness in this case, we'd like to come to a mutual understanding regarding Mister Quiller, whom I'd very much like to see a free man."