The WS&L..Open for business

[Una]

Curin takes up the glass of whiskey, not caring how good it was--it -was- whisky after all--and eyes the woman barkeep. She takes a slow sip as she considers this, then lowers the glass and leans over, bringingher scarred face closer to Daphne's. "I understand there might be some work for me around here." The hilt of her bastard sword was plainly visible over her shoulder, so if the woman suggested she could be hired as a serving girl or a maid, the gimp would find herself with a few problems. That said, she eases back and sips again, dark eyes focused on the shorter woman behind the bar.

[Vivid-Dawn]

She’s absolutely elated! She hadn’t even asked how much the job pays, glad she could have something earned at all. It’s only been a few days, but she shows promise. Arriving about an hour after sunrise, and staying until told that her duties are done for the day. While she’s not very strong (she can barely lift 20 pounds, anything heavier she asks - sort of timidly - for help with), and not very quick with going to and fro about the place. But certainly dedicated...once a chore is given to her, she sticks with it until it’s complete.

Her personality is friendly, if a bit reserved. Usually only speaking when spoken to, or if it’s important and related to work. It’s rare to see her not smiling, and if her expression changes to a dreary one, it doesn’t last long. Not thinking twice, or even once for that matter, about anybody else’s physical oddities...she has her own to pamper. A weak heart and twisted spine - but her purely bright spirit makes up for it.

[Jirai]

One day during the cloaked woman's brief visit, she would leave with Daphne a sealed letter for the gypsy woman who employed them both. Its contents were brief and to the point.

As per our discussion, the wall seems to me to be simply a response to the invasion of monsters in the surrounding woodlands. I'd think the Council behind it, those who are left, at any rate.

There was no signature, and the handwriting carefully precise. The only thing to betray the note's author would be the contents, and that only to Khalika.

[Khalika]

The Wall....It had been one of a number of things on her mind as of late, as she read one of the many corrispondances from her informant...The drowess was already proving herself to be well worth the money's she paying her...But this wall was possiblly proving to be a furture problem...Keep the monsters in indeed....It was keeping the money out that concerned her...she went to great length to arrange a not so well known road through Myrken for those who didn't exactly want people to see where they were going or what they were carring..and if this wall ended up dropping itself right in the middle of that it would not make her happy...Then there was the thought of who was running the wall and how carfully they were guarding it, both possiblly very large problems.

Setting the notes back on her desk...her hands lifted to her brow...When she found out whose ever bright idea it was to shine a nice big light on Mryken, He, she, it..it didn't matter...they were going to pay dearly...She liked the status Quo....and she was not looking forward to making changes to the way she did business....

Another Potential problem was a man named Kerrak, One of Burrels from what she's heard...which meant nothing good....He'd have to be watched carefully....Though on the bright side...there was a sudden open seat on the council....which placed a few interesting thoughts in her head...a few very interesting thoughts indeed....

[Jirai]

Only a few days later, another message would be left in a similar fashion.

Last night I witnessed an interesting little occurance. You may have noticed the stage-like set-up at the lake. This was rigged by a pair of half elves, who proceeded to preach to a crowd of Myrken-people, telling them that they were the chosen of the gods, and so forth. Then a raving dwarf came onto the scene - raving and ill. The crowd was muttering about plague and such, when the priest went and healed the creature. Complete with beams of light. I wasn't close enough to get a good view of the dwarf either before or after, but the crowd seemed convinced. A lady took the dwarf off to rest.

I don't yet have any more information on the priests, but as you well know religious fervor is a powerful weapon, and I do not yet know who is wielding this weapon.

[Khalika]

Khalika rushed through into the office, a "to-do" list from Daphne in hand...It wasn't so much things she herself had to do...more things she had to tell people in very harsh tones to do...It seems orders coming from her held more validity then from her friend...She would make it apprently clear this time around that Daphne-Kyle's words were to be followed as her own or else..She couldn't very well pull of the thought that it was only her money involved in this little endevour, to help out an old friend...and not her herself who was running the place if she had to continually be around to run the place...

Which was what she was in the middle of when she was rummaging through the mess that passed for the desk she and Daphne shared in the office. looking for a work order of somesort...She noted the note right off...the familuarity had her dropping everything to lean against an edge and read it...

A puzzled look, it explained the stage set-up she saw earlier when she dropped by the broken Dagger...She had passed it off originally as a traveling act of some kind...possible a Romany Caravan, but most likly artistic in nature...they were an act for sure..but not what she had presumed..

A smirk as she scrummaged for a clean piece of parchment...scribbling quickly a return thought for the Drowess...

"Was the heal true?....Or a mere ruse?...What do we know of the Dwarf and his possible link to the priest?...For such acts have been used before to push a religious thought...

God she hated evangilist almost as much as she hated Guards....but the note was folded..a messed shaped "Q" was scribbled on the front, it had become the mark so that the Drow would know who the note was from..but made in a way that unless there was previous knowledge, errant eyes would think it nothing but poor penmenship...

Heading back out she placed the note in the hands of a young red-headed boy, her own personal courier...a whisper had him know it was to be delivered to the Tailors...She knew Jirai spent enough time there that it would find its way into her hand sooner then later...

And then it was back to business...but not hers of course..cuss she doesn't have any offcial ties to the Waystation...she just helping out a old friend who is new in town...

[Jirai]

Again, a sealed note left for Khalika.

I couldn't get close enough to get many details without revealing myself. The crowd was talking about how the lesions on the dwarf's face had dissapeared, and so forth. I don't know yet if this man is a charlatan or not, but it doesn't matter, as long as he's convincing, and he is that.

I will try to find out more about that woman and who her master is, if you'd like.

[Jirai]

Less than a day later, Khalika's informant was penning yet another missive. She had had quite a busy day, experimenting with disguises that allowed her to travel through town with impunity. And the disguises had worked well.

"Suede has sent a letter to Treadwell, in addition to the flyers he has posted around town. I was making sure that it was delivered when I noticed a commotion - Captain Daniels being carried on a stretcher out towards the Edificium. He had a crossbow bolt embedded rather firmly into his chest, but from the way the Straka was moving, he wasn't quite out of the picture. No further word on that, yet.

Rumor on the streets has it that Kerrak's men may be joining the Straka in constructing the wall. Pritchard has been reluctant to tell me who that woman was working for. Perhaps I need to grease his pockets a little more.

There's been lots of talk about the religion I mentioned earlier, but no further hard information, unfortunately.

I hear that the Wall is almost finished, and checkpoints have been set up. Have you been having issues with that, yet?"

[Khalika]

Khalika Was staring at the latest message left for her...It was a hard stare. A thinkers stare..Her mind was racing, with thoughts and possibilities...Since this Kerrak has arrived a councilor and a captain have fallen. The councilor she doubts was any of his doing..But the Captain's injures had her mind a churning. for if this man was setting up shop in Myrken she can think of no other position he would deem himself worthy then Captain. and She wouldn't put it past anyone to take-out ones competion, hell its what she would have done.

The walls was almost done, though she looking into a few ways to delay that. First and for most she is checking into its path, for there is a possiblity it may have to cross over certain fields, that she owns...if she's that lucky...Well it'll be a cold day in hell before she lets them build on her land...pastuer or no pastuer....If not or if they simple redirect it to go around...well the redirect will take a bit of time she suppose. Also she has a few eyes keeping an eye on the construction...and doing a bit of low grade scare tactics..

But all this is only delaying the end...She know's that...something big is going to have to happen and soon..she is just not sure how open she wants to make her part in this fight. For that will bring eyes looking back square on her, she definatly doesn't want that sort of attention...she happens to like that most the offical around here pretty much ignore the rude angry Gypsy. Its made business for her quite easy over the years....Damn she has to get Suede on that Concil and fast...

Quill goes to paper quickly..

Do they know who did in the Captain?...and what his chances are?...Is Kerrak eyeing his position in anyway?....
As for the wall there may soon be rumors of dark spirits and ghost hauntings it....Do what you can to push that belief...For if there is one thing Myrken loves to hate...and that's a curse...

Its folded and marked...and sent off to the Tailors the same way the past have...as for the letter in her possesion....it is burned as all the past ones...nothing to tie her to anything..

[Jirai]

For variation, the response to Khalika's note was written on a clearly expensive sheet of paper, the handwriting full of extra flourishes. Apparently the writer was in one of her more playfull moods - unfortunately her idea of "play" did not often match other people's.

I don't know yet who did it, nor do I know the Captain's condition. As for Kerrak, rumor has him eyeing something, but I don't know about the Captain's place in particular - the Order has its own established chain of command, and if the Captain is incapacitated, I believe command devolves to Kilborn. This would make it a more...difficult position to attain, although not impossible, of course. However, the Marquis has been missing for some time, and I believe is presumed to be dead. Perhaps the post of Councillor of Defense is of interest to the man.

And just what do you have up your sleeve with this haunting business? I could be of assisstance, if I have not yet reached the bottom of your most ample purse.

[Khalika]

There was the hint of humor, somewhere in the Gypsy cagey features. The most recent note was a bit more fancy then the last...a shake of her head as she skimmed it over again before writing out her responce. in the same simple penmenship, nothing out of the ordinary.

You were right about Kerrak, I heard his announcement myself, when i was taking a pass by the wall...He's eyeing the brass ring alright, that much one-mindedness in a man like him could prove more problematic then anyone in our business needs...Before we know it..he'll be re-writing laws..

As for the wall...it has visitors....they are working seperate from me..they have a personal issue with its construction..I'll leave it at that for now..but if you hear of tales of hauntings from restless spirits..and deem to push such a belief it will be in your benifit...

She wasn't sure why she didn't tell her of the Vertex..perhaps because she is not quite ready to be writing about them...in such a way...for if the letter was discovered and the words Vertex was whispered upon the lips of an unknown...no...that will never happen

[Jirai]

The latest message was not as flamboyant as the others, as it appeared one morning on Daphne-Kyle's desk.

I presume that you've heard of Pritchard's death. Looks like the 'Dagger will be needing a new bartender.

And you missed quite a party, last eve. Kerrak's men, and Kerrak himself, for that matter, had a rollicking good time outside of the tavern. Mostly with no shirts on. You'd've enjoyed it.

Brief, this note was, but that was no matter. If Khalika did not catch her implications, that could be settled at a later date.

[Khalika]

her own return message was a few days in coming, though it held some curious thoughts...

Kerrak is an interesting subject...I think he garnishes more close inspection, he's hiding something behind all his good intentions i'mjust not sure what he's hiding is all bad....I'll looking in the open....you in the dark....between the two of use I'm sure we'll discover all his secrets....

If you need me...I'll be around the dagger...Helping out....it seems right...The fat man deserves that much....

signed sealed and delivered to the Tailors....

[Jirai]

The next note was scribbled on a scrap of paper, then tightly folded.

What do you know about Ariane?

Brief, and to the point. Perhaps not precisely on the subject, but neither was it far off of it.

[Khalika]

It was actually a few days later when she finally sat down to respond to the Drowess's note...not that she wanted her to wait with bated breath...cuss well..She knows better. She just needed the time to go over all that she knew about the one known as Ariane Carnath-Emory. So after searching her memory and asking around to a few of her contacts. She felt she had enough to make this letter worth while.

"Interesting Querry to say the least...She has always seemed to be on the side of good. Or at least her own idea of it...One time trainer of Straka, she has been in the empoly of everyone from The tavern's owner Raegan Darkblayde to the Duke himself.. Which explains why she knows Kerrak. She has skills with a blade, which is obvious. and had a hand in the take down of Audmathus, which is clear to see as she is one of the one-eyed wounder gang. Also claims more then a close relationship to Quincy, at least she did at one time. Presently she's working on the wall. though may not exactly agree with its construction..

Anything else?

The parchment was sealed and signed...one of her "runners" standing by to take it to the tailors...