Re: Svarik and the company II

[Mirach]

"You got it wrong," Lorenzo shook his head. "It's not what she did. It's what they will do to her..."

(OOC: do we want a big plot or a small plot? I have both alternatives, but it seems to me that a big plot might be too much if we want to get to other things...)

[VisAnastasis]

" Who is they? " Erdel just asked simply, as if he wanted to get on bottom of this, without any meaningless delays. " Did somebody, perchance, blackmail the blackmailer? "

( OOC: Which do you think is more in character? I guess complex one would work best, as if would make more sense for something more intricate to happen, with all the dark history of sea cost and empire considered, but to be honest, bigger plot would probably spent all remaining time of Svarik's holiday and we wouldn't get them to enjoy doing all the things we looked forward to them doing, so maybe smaller one would be more enjoyable to roleplay - plus, I wouldn't really want the newforming friendships to end up torn with this, as severing ties with Sea would make all characters involved miserable, from Sage, Hans and Tide, to Conrad, Xia and Melody, so something unforgivable would perhaps be hard for characters to just brush off, while something smaller would be easier. )

[Mirach]

"They is someone who will kill her if I reveal them," Lorenzo said.

(OOC: I feel the same about it, so less complex)

[VisAnastasis]

Erdel was quiet for a moment, thinking about implications of that. Tide seemed enraged by such a vile act, while Sage was just quiet, seeming ashamed and tense, as if fearing saying anything would make situation even worse.
" Alright then. " vampire cleared his throat. " Are those people ones that asked you to do this? " he asked then, more calmly. " And when did this happen? What were exact conditions? "

[Mirach]

"They met me in the morning, at the market. Brought a strand of her hair and her ring, and told me what to do if I want to see her again. I had to bring either a signed declaration of souverenity, or a proof that he king is dead by dawn, at the third pier."

[VisAnastasis]

" And you don't recognize them or know nothing else of them? " vampire questioned him. " You don't know where they hold her, and where do they live? Are they Spirit, Demon, or just human? Do you have any guesses? "

[Mirach]

"They seemed human, but that's all I know," Lorenzo said.

[VisAnastasis]

" Giving you a fresh strand human hair and ring human wore for long, when you're having a vampire as a guest... What foolishness... Like I wasn't able to find dozen weeks old feathers from a bird in couple hours, just by smelling the glove it used to land on few times... " he sneered, appearing to be talking to himself. He took a deep breath, and extended his hand seriously to the captured man, then. " Alright, prove it. " he said. " Hand me the lock of hair and ring they gave you. In best case, we can hope they made a mistake, and cut it off from her head once they already captured her and restrained her in her prison... In worst case, if they handed you this on the market, I will be able to confirm your story of the kidnapping by going to market again now and smelling it. Had you been smarter, you'd try to brush of of them and hope to pick up a strand or two of hair or their cloak fiber, or maybe push them to gain some of their skin under your fingernails that I could really pick up scent of, but since you didn't try out that endeavor, her hair will have to do... "

[Mirach]

"I didn't say they gave it to me..." Lorenzo said gloomily. "They just brought it and took it back after I saw it's really hers..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Well, that is smart... But hopefully, not smart enough. " Erdel murmured, and retreated his hand, thinking, stroking his chin absently. " Object is gone, but it's not like scent has disappeared, if object has. Even better, if it's still with them. It's still her scent... " he said slowly, but little more calmly now, and some of miasma seemed to withdraw a little bit as he was thinking, this not seeming to be first time he was doing something like this, maybe for Falcon. " I will need something of her that she wears a lot. Like, a shirt, tunic, skirt, scarf - something like that. Even shoe would do. Then I just go to the market, and compare her scent from clothes, to the lingering scent of the hair and ring that had passed through the market. Ring is precious. They wouldn't toss it out lightly. They had to have taken it with them for at least part of the way, maybe whole way back if we're lucky, though anything's good for a start. I should be able to track their way, no problem... At least, normally, I should... " he corrected himself darkly, trying to breathe in through his nose with visible annoyance, as if someone who's having a cold. " If certain someone didn't, I don't know, give me a poison that weakened my senses. " he glared at the man wearily, almost as if wondering if lad knew how much he sabotaged himself with that. " I feel better already... But I am not well enough yet... damn... Not yet. I need more time... "

[Mirach]

"Like, longer than until dawn?" Lorenzo asked fearfully.

[VisAnastasis]

" I don't even know how long is until dawn. That much you messed up my senses. " Vampire replied gloomily, but hearing fear in man's voice seemed to be what he wanted to hear, to make his decision. " If it takes until dawn... It will be thanks to your act of aggression toward me instead of just approaching me for help, of course... " he couldn't help but to add grumpily, but then he continued. " If it takes longer than dawn, there is another way, though I'd prefer first one. " he only then, slowly, looked at Svarik, glancing into king's eyes, as if to inquire his through about this.
" Sir... Document of sovereignty. It means nothing, before it's reinforced. It is just paper that we can deny. We could even say, as it was, that it was signed by force later, and arrest whoever is responsible as traitors. Emperors did that. It's not even shady - act of treason is clear. As long as you are alive to deny it, we can fight against its validity through law. But if... family member of ser Falcon's friend dies.. Nothing will be able to take that back. It is a man, after all, that welcomed you to him home. It is a man who lead you to Sea Heart. " he told Svarik quietly. " Do you think we could sign the document, and see what happens, sir? I will just need little edge of the paper to keep for reference. Document will be too valuable for them, and they will keep it. And then - I can track them by following scent of the document. Easy. I'd rather try to track the lady through her smell, of course, sir, but I fear if time we have will be enough for it... We can perhaps destroy the document before anyone of authority tries to validate it, too, if we're lucky, but finding the girl should come first. if... If only I could smell clearly... "

[Mirach]

"They may even let her go if they get it, and you can trace it then..." Svarik said, agreeing with the plan. "Alright then, that may work..."

[VisAnastasis]

" We must be careful... " Melody was one who spoke up quietly. " With giving them what they want. If they have it, they may have no need any longer for the girl. They may decide it will be cleaner to kill - I am not saying they will, I just know there was a reason Birdie did not try to negotiate your life over with Demian, but tried to save you right away instead, my Sun.. "

[Mirach]

"Should we then give them something else that Erdel could trace?" Svarik asked. "Do you have some idea about what could work?"

[VisAnastasis]

" I have, but I don't like it. " Melody whispered." We have you, Sun." She said. " A person that could sign thousands of desirable others, if caught and imprisoned.. You are far more valuable prisoner, than wide of some nobleman. It is just a thought.. but organising exchange of prisoners, where we can see she is alive and well, instead of counting on the honor of malicious strangers, may be wiser..."

[Mirach]

"I think that's a bad idea," Lorenzo said critically. "They wanted the document or the king dead. The king alive is just a risk to them, they would know that you wouldn't just leave it and will come after them to rescue him. I fear they would kill him right away if he got into their hands. It should be either the document... or a proof that he is dead. Can you think of such a proof that does not require his death, just cooperatiob?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Head would be best, but nothing short of cutting of a signet finger would be effective, I think. " Melody murmured sadly. " What else is there, like, bloody clothes?"
" Maybe if we don't do it with finger, just a bit of lose skin? " Erdel said hopefully. " I could heal it later, sir..."
" Little skin would not be enough..." it was Tide that voiced his opinions quietly. He kept looking at king mutely for a moment, as if gathering courage, before he bid hoarsely. " Sir Nightingale... I have no right to bid you this... But I still must, because life of people dear to me are on line, and I understand your peril, too - I as well, don't want you to sign anything, or land to crumble... you are dear to me too. " he gulped. " But... if you would be willing... Would you please consider a trade?Would you give me your one hand? " He asked seriously."  I have enough extra body parts... I could give you another one, just right for you... or I could give you two new ones instead, if you 's prefer a pair... Please... " he teared up, looking engulfed with shame and pain of what was happening. " They will be better than those delicate human hands, so prone to tiredness and injury..  they will be hands of Demon fiber... faster, tireless, strong... fit for songs faster than the speed of sound...  "

[Mirach]

Svarik gulped. "If... If it's needed to save a life..." he stuttered. "If there is no other option..."

"I still think that the document is a best option," Lorenzo shook his head. "Even if I would succeed, I would not give it to them before I have my Amelia back, whether it's the document or something else."

[VisAnastasis]

" What do you think, sire?" Erdel looked at king quietly too. " We have little to lose compared to someone's life, by trying to help, wheather with dokument or something else..." he said quietly, more tamely. " I will do as you bid me.. I am your loyal servant.."

[Mirach]

"If I can choose between document and hand, I would say document..." Svarik said, feeling a bit cowardly with that, but not liking the idea of having someone else's hand at all. 

[VisAnastasis]

Erdel nodded.
" Your wish is my command. " he told him, and then he turned toward Lorenzo. " I don't know if we can trust you. For all I know, you perhaps are just conspiring with your friends, trying to trick us, to get that document. But Sage has been a kind host to us. For his sake, for now, I'll go along, and chose to believe he did not raise a scum, even if he did raise quite a skilled liar.  " he said simply. " We will cooperate, and help you out, this once. We will see what will we do about your punishment later, after your wife is safe. If you cooperate fully, we will be merciful - but if you dare try anything, I'll punch you through the wall, thousand feet to the ocean, till you hit into some island and turn into a dead pancake, understood? As long as you don't do anything to threaten life of my king of my friends, and stay obedient, I will behave the same, until this is sorted out. "

[Mirach]

"Then what exactly I should do tomorrow?" Lorenzo asked.

[VisAnastasis]

" You mean at dawn?" Erdel asked. " Well, of course, you should carry the document king signs for you to the docks, to that meeting place. I should be alright by then, I hope, so I will follow you, in a different layer of the world. While you negotiate for life of your wife, I will instead search around for her from invisibility of second or third layer, through her smell and aura. There's bound to be either fresh scent of your wife on the people send to meet you, or fresh scent of their bosses - and if I'm alright by dawn, I should be able to track that scent, and move quickly through the layers to get to her, if she's not at the meeting spot. "

[Mirach]

"So I should give you as much time as I can and then give them what they want?" Lorenzo asked.