Against the Night

[tangletail]

Neshar’s eyes regarded the bottle of brandy with a hint of curiosity. A little odd for something so young to be devouring such large quantities of alcohol needlessly. Was it for pleasure, or driven by pain? Well at any rate, the feline’s anu companion seemed relatively stable. But he’ll just have to wait for future developments.

The thief took a light sip of his wine, and held it lazily in his hands. He lounged quite comfortably in the chair. His hand tilting about to swirl his drink in it’s glass. His head canted to the left a bit as his mind began to wonder over the other’s words. A clever tongue, well least the group isn’t full of twits and ditzs.

But seeing as it was his turn to speak, the feline gave a smile and a light chuckle. His head now tilting to the other side. “Ah! But I must forever hide from the light. But the light will always find me. And with the light, assassins, paladins, thugs, and hunters. I fear the light, and lament in the caress of the shades. Listening to the sweet words it whispers in my ears.”

The feline… may have been quite literal with what he is saying. His life aura is in a ridiculously volatile state. With some small sparks pouring out of it that represented the curse he was under. The effects of the curse had been weak initially. But eventually his aura stabilized and grew stronger as the feline leaned back, slipping out of the setting sun’s limelight, and into the shade. With the only window facing the north, the room was surprisingly dark even with what sunlight that remained.  A hint of the effects were also visible as his eyes became lightly illuminated in a purple-esque aura.

The feline offered a shrug. Then hummed softly as he placed his drink down and sat up. “And for what I am doing here? Well, you’re certainly no fun. Couldn’t hazard a wild guess in a bedroom with one bed, a lone male, and a bottle of wine?” The feline nodded to the bed. And paused, giving the male a serious look. Before finally letting his lips curl into a smile, hinting at the joke.

“My goals are simple. I’ve been sent here to investigate something. I would have just ignored your group. But… your wolf…. Otter… friend had unintentionally hinted a secondary motive. High quality coats with colors are usually seen only on nobles, aristocrats, and merchants in these lands. So… a foreigner is most likely the answer. But a foreigner coming from distant lands to slay a monster only worth four-hundred silver coins? Mmm… you might want to sharpen your critical thinking skills when you preach trust to a shadow fiend. But even I would still hold trust for him, he does have a smile that can warm the coldest creature’s heart. Nothing a bastard could accomplish.”

The feline then chuckled, and pulled the locked bronze sphere he had pilfered from the lord’s house, and tossed it to the Anu. “And your employer, the lord? Well, a dangerous man.”

[Eden-H]

Nemael tilted his head curiously as he watched Xavier from the corner of his eye, noting the unusually delicate way he went about his meal. "Unhappy? Not the word I would have chosen." He flashed the hybrid a thin grin and fully returned his attention to him. Idly he waved at the apothecary who seemed to have become drunk off the air itself, boisterously motioning to those who joined him at his table. "I am actually quite thrilled. Is it that hard to tell?"

The question was born of genuine curiosity, but he shrugged it away when he noted the otters careful demeanor and the topic on which he spoke. Although it went against every fiber of his being, he drew his hood down and shifted position, reclining on the arm that once held his chin. For all intents and purposes he looked as though he were participating in an airy conversation with an old friend, something he hoped would make newcomers shy away or, at the very least, not give them a second look. As it was, a hooded figure talking to a flamboyant creature of unknown origin was more likely to draw an unwanted crowd, especially in such a small village where everyone seemed to know the others entire history.

"Convenient to your cause and worthy of praise, given how the Ere--our world can be." Nemael did what he could to mask his brief stutter, muzzle quirking. "You are also correct in that notion. However, while what brings me here has nothing to do with such endeavors, I would be glad to aid you in your search. If such an object exists here, I can easily imagine the ramifications."

For a moment, the easy-going facade shattered to reveal one of deep sorrow. As much as he may have tried to control whatever feel he gave off to any person he may meet, there were some things that were simply unrestrained and that went completely unnoticed even to him. Yet as quickly as it appeared, it was gone within a moments notice, likely obvious to the hybrid even when it was not to himself. "I wish to find answers on how a spirit may completely leave the Shift, either to return to the living or to whatever is beyond, if such a thing exists. And before it is even considered, my reasons are not what most would associate with such a venture."

Shifting his weight so he leaned more against the bar, his eyes finally met Xavier's. "I was misled into believing the Hound was such a creature, having been capable of leaving it and coming to exist fully within this reality; returned to flesh and blood without the normal downside, if you will. Hence why I came to this village in the first place."

Nibbling on his lower lip and glancing away, his eyes suddenly narrowed as something occurred to him. "Or perhaps I was not. If what you believe resides here actually does, is it not awfully convenient that so many capable adventurers came upon this place within the same day? Perhaps the idea is born of paranoia, but..." Nemael rolled his shoulders, knowing the hybrid could easily complete his thought.

[Xavier Akafur]

The hybrid just smiled back at the man, and this time the expression did wrinkle the edges of his eyes. He did not respond immediately, but rather looked down at his drink and slowly shook his head. He could detect the honesty in Nemael's anwer and subsequent question, which he guessed meant that the strange male had no idea he had just been frowning so deeply just seconds before.

"Perhaps it is." Came the delayed reply. The otter-wolf's ears perked slightly as the other related his reason for being here. Xavier gave a nod once he was finished speaking. "An interesting notion, likely more interesting for anyone who has more knowledge of this...Shift? It sounds like some type of alternate dimension or afterlife from what I have seen thus far." He paused another moment in thought, his head canting ever so slightly to one side.

"I had considered the notion, but unless we are being drawn here by magical means... it would take a very crafty and very organized group to so subtly bring us all together in the same place on the same day without any of us realizing we were being herded." He replied, rubbing gently at his chin with his webbed paw. "I had thought it simply the act of a Nexus-" He smiled slightly, sheepishly. "A type of natural node that attracts magic and people of skill at certain intervals of time." Xavier explained, shrugging. "But that is as unlikely a thing as anything else. They are so rare that most people dismiss them as a fantasy."

Xavier let that information hang for a moment as he looked over his shoulder, noticing the apothecary almost immediately. He picked out several details of the man, then turned back to Nemael with a knowing look. "The man you spoke of earlier, I presume? He seems in good spirits... I wonder if he ran into Mort and Drake on his way here and heard the good news."

[Cyril]

"Employer? That isn't quite the relation, nor the person.. My real employer.. Yes, we may call him King, though the truth?" He chuckled and toyed with the orb before his cloak shortened and the missing parts reformed to hold the orb between the pair in luminescence. "To say that he is my employer is true on a surface level. But to run a bit more deeper, and look at the line.. Kings come and go."

He took another elongated sip of his brandy while toying with the orb; the light material magnificent and white. Although resembling a glowing quartz in its current state from its previous silken form. He had carefully ignored the lewd reference, ears twitching and eyes narrowing slightly before he turned his gaze back elsewhere.


"The Aelius always reside. Some may call it disloyalty, but.. Loyalty itself isn't something valued in politics. Rest assured, though.. All of us are very dangerous men. Some of us more than others, but to an extent, of course. And with this, I can become a bit more dangerous." The orb was gestured in a light swing at the feline; tapping upon his head lightly. The jackal chuckled. "The lord who possessed this is a very minor fellow in terms of power. All the more to strive for, of course.. But at the moment of my leaving, his word didn't carry anything. Though, in your world, that may be a bit different.." His words were getting a bit more slurred as the alcohol took affect; although the jackal retained lucidity.

"The orb may mean nothing to a thief of your sort, but with the right magic. It may. But speaking of mages.. Our friend, Xavier." He sat up and brought the orb between his hands once more. "He is not recognizable to me. I would normally say he could be a child of someone, hidden.. Regardless of his age, but.. He's artificial. Now it's careful to note what I mean, because he is not undead, based on his energy.. More a creation. Healing him took much more than it would something organic."

His piercing gaze turned to look at the window's position and then to eye the thief before him. "I'm assuming you know which side the moon will be this night, don't you?"

[tangletail]

The feline held still as the Jackal bopped him in the noggin with the orb. His head tilting back lightly as his eyes winced a bit. Even if it was just a light tap… it was still a metal object, and it’d still hurt just a bit if it was dropped on someone’s toe.
 
The feline hummed softly as he now pulled out the encrypted letters, and began to read through them. Seeing if he could spot any particular pattern to the words that might help him decipher them. That… or if the language was just another language. That also seems to be pretty common lately, especially with rebelling parties. Not so much with thieves.
 
 “Thieves of my sort? Oh come now, you’ve seen what I can do handsome. Well… the surface anyways… still was iffy about helping the lot of you,” Neshar hummed as his eyes continued to scroll through the text, closely watching every bit of detail he had before him. He smiled as he reached the end, and picked up the next document, and began to compare a few parts.
 
 “I’m a thief whom can dive between worlds, hide myself in the darnest of places, steal something invaluable to a mage in broad daylight, and carry explosive arrows.” The feline’s lips curled into a broader smile.
 
He didn’t mind stating the truth. There was little to hide, and any information he had, could be easily learned if the Jackal was smart enough. Which… he seemed to be proving to be quite competent. Not that the feline had to test his ability, but it was just the way the other’s tongue worked.
 
 Then the that final line. The feline paused for a moment, and allowed his eyes to shift upwards to the Jackal with a hint of curiosity. As the sun continued to dip away, the room got progressively darker.. with the feline’s eyes beeming with more energy. Though he did feel a bit suspicious to the question. Maybe it was instincts telling him to be ready for an unpredictable assault.
 
 “A question of Astronomy? Well gorgeous, less you wish to delve into the deeper nuances featuring philosophical thinking, matters beyond mortal comprehensions, with logical fallacies, a smidge of terrible reasoning, a terrible argument, -OR- things of a metaphysical nature... then the answer true and tested is always the same side as each night… within this plane anyways.”

[Xavier Akafur]

[Are we waiting on somebody?]

[Eden-H]

Nemael was readying to question Xavier about the nature of Nexus' and why he suspected they played a role in what was occurring when his attention suddenly shifted to the taverns doors. As he watched them swing inward and noted the figure pushing through, he rose from his seat so quickly that the chair noisily rattled. He gave the hybrid and apothecary a quick glance before he strode toward the entrance, maneuvering around those who got in his way with a deft ease. The closer he got, the more his expression softened and he reached out with an arm, clasping the persons forearm and pulling them in close.

"I finally got your message from the spirit you sent," Silverwing responded as they parted. The stars currently making up her eyes shifted ever so slightly as her gaze briefly slid across the man Nemael had been conversing with. Her ears perked curiously while an ever widening grin marked the corners of her beak, the sheer joy being experienced in the room as well as meeting her closest friend immediately changing her mood. "I must say, though, they were quite unclear! Something about a bounty on a hound and you needing my assistance?"

Nemael gave a disgruntled snort and shook his head. "That is done with. The hound is long dead." Waving for her to follow him as he turned, he strode back to the bar and sat in the same spot he had been in to begin with. Silverwing eyed the bar stools with some suspicion and opted to remain standing instead, her attention constantly moving from Nemael to Xavier.

"Xavier, meet Silverwing. H--she is part of the reason I needed to leave." He inclined his head toward the towering creature, a wide grin masking his lips, though irritation also clearly read through his closed-off posture. Fortunately it was not directed toward either of them and instead at the spirit who had somehow been severely delayed. "Although this is entirely abrupt, she will do everything she can to aid your endeavors; even though she knows nothing about it."

Silverwing's smirk grew wider and she extended a hand to the hybrid, watching as Nemael gathered himself back up before suddenly spinning out of the chair and exiting the building. She gave a soft and airy laugh, moving slightly closer. "I must apologize for his behavior," she said. "He can be a bit brusque, though he seems to have taken a liking to you. You must have made quite the impression on him, Ser Xavier."

Once the hybrid either chose to shake her hand or leave it awkwardly hanging, she would eventually lower it and cock her head at the curious man. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, yet she continued to retain the unusually buoyant personality she had displayed earlier. While it was outside of how she typically treated those she knew nothing of, the sheer swell of the emotions running rampant throughout the building was beyond what she could control. "The people in here are incredibly joyous," she continued. Turning slightly away from him, she looked across the people that had gathered. "It is almost overwhelming. It is because of the Hound?"

Turning back to him, she continued to ignore the seat while staring down at the hybrid. It was hard for her to get a feeling for him and his current stance on what went on in the building, given the sheer number of people who were slowly sliding into a drunken stupor. Quickly she changed tact as the joyous celebrations were becoming too much. "May we continue to talk outside?"

[Drakeyboy]

Drake huffed as he turned the corner the inn just in sight now. That whole fiasco with the issuer of the job took a lot longer that he planned and left him in a bad mood. It's almost as if he didn't expect that anyone was going to complete the job. But nonetheless he got paid and the coin was in a pouch that was given with the reward plus a bonus with some... enticing with the help of Mort. Too bad he couldn't come along though he seemed like a great party member.

Drake came to the doors of the in and came into the building. Looking over the grouping of assorted members inside and looked for one specific thing. The hybrid in bright clothing. After spotting him he made his way over.

[Xavier Akafur]

Xavier remained seated as Nemael stood and walked over to the door, seemingly un-bothered by the sudden interruption of conversation. His expression displayed an open and casual curiosity as to what was going on, but he was sure that he would be clued in as soon as the introductions were over. He couldn't make out much of their conversation given the noise of the room, but was relatively sure that the two were close. Maybe even related in some way, despite their varied appearances.

As the large avian approached the table he simply offered a warm smile, having allowed his head to rest gently on an upraised paw, his muzzle hovering just some inches over his mug of ale. Anyone less observant might have thought the man a slouching drunk, but to Nemael and his friend it was clear he was simply assuming that posture out of comfort... and possibly to throw a false impression to the rest of the room. To what end it was unclear.

After she had been introduced, the hybrid gave her a once over, his gaze lingering on her peculiar eyes. "He might just like me because I'm not pushing his buttons like some of our comrades." He remarked, giving Nemael a playful wink. "You scoundrel, bringing a woman around. Figured out my weakness, hmm?" He remarked, his smile turning to a grin. He reached out and grasped her hand when it was offered, even coming out of his seat halfway to do so, but not fully standing. "Charmed." He said with an ice-melting smirk. His handshake was firm, but not aggressively so. As his paw clasped hers, however, the full extent of his duplicitous nature would spark in her mind like a chill wind blowing through.

The hybrid's charm was a front, not entirely falsified, but he was definitely pouring it on in full. His attention was actually on her outline, his hungry gaze actually picking out the places where the woman might be hiding weapons. Obviously, trust did not come easy to the hybrid. There was something else, but the brevity of the contact only revealed that he was keeping careful track of something behind himself.

"Silverwing is quite a pretty name." He remarked, sitting back down and smiling at her just the same. He listed with careful attentiveness, then nodded, standing up. "Let's. The crowd has gotten a bit rowdy." He agreed, then smirked. "It seems our reward money has arrived." He chimed, seeing Drake making his way across the room. The fox-coon would get scooped under an arm as Xavier made his way around the table, shoving his mug of ale into the mage's paws before he could question the action. "We're going outside!" He remarked jovially, dragging Drake with him as he made his way towards the door.


Watchful eyes would see the barmaid he had ordered from earlier with a sour expression on her face, staring at his back.

[Cyril]

"Were you really helping us, or were we helping you? Yes you appeared from nowhere, however.. It was more a service to the area." He returned the smirk; piercing gaze locked upon the letters as they were being decoded.


His grin turned slightly sinister as he heard the thief's abilities; sharp tongue responding promptly. "I'm a healer and a restrainer.. I can return the life to others', but I must pry it from something else, first. Of course, I can also shield one from.. Certain acidic attacks."

He chucked as his ears perked with every slight compliment and romantic implication. Rolling his eyes quite promptly before finishing his brandy, he gazed out the window before back to the thief as he responded to his final question. The jackal leaned back and relaxed slightly, the bronze still floating before him in its temporary crystal.

"The moon shifts on an axis; some nights it leans to the north, others to the south.. Depending on the season. Given, such factors don't seem to matter too much to your sort, as most darkness is still darkness; even underneath a silver veil. However, it can make an essential difference to many people. If utilized correctly, as any weapon should be.."

He sighed contently before sitting back up, leaning slightly over his chair and bringing his crystal near the letters via a slow motion of his hand; shining upon them in the silver light. "As my brandy sets in more, I can't help but think I should be the one making the compliments spit from my mouth.." His eyes peered at the papers that had been placed down; scrambling to properly see past the haze of inebriation. "But with your quantity, it would seem unnecessary as a fellow such as I should." He grinned sharply again, still eyeing the papers.

[tangletail]

The feline’s dipped back down to the letters. But he pursed his lips after running across an interesting sheet within the stack. It appears that this encryption wasn’t down to memory, so the lord and his companion had had a key. The feline’s eyes scanned over the list memorizing the translations before quickly going back over the letters once more.
 
 “It’s good to see that I’m not the only one with unfavorable magic in these lands,” The feline hummed. He took a mental note of the other’s sinister grin when he glanced up. Though the feline’s eyes showed a mock sense of insecurity. Hinted by his smirk and his uncaring glance back down to the letters. He’s been part of the underworld for a long time, why would he be scared of a threat now?
 
 Besides, if the claim of him being able to pry life from a creature is true… there would have been more use of that in the previous fight.
“But… I’ll need to correct you. The conditions of the moon does matter to me. But not in the way of the moon’s tilt on its axis. No… phases are more important to the shadow fiend. The less light, the better. New moon and cloudy sky. Nearly impossible to see at night.”
He slowly moved a letter onto the table, starting the next. “Now… was I helping you,” the feline leaned back with a thoughtful look. That was actually a hard question to answer now. He really wasn’t sure what his actions classified as.
 
“Technically, yes. I was really helping you. It’d be unwise to leave such a thing thrashing about…” he trailed off as his eyes narrowed down on one specific conversation in the letters. His lips flattened some, before he finally laid the last letter down. He rose to his feet in a streatch.
 
 “Sides, couldn’t leave a handsome anu for dead” the feline looked to the other with a grin. “And that was before I realized exactly what my purpose here was. And for that, I thank you! Not just with parting words. But it seems that there was an unfortunate party before yours. They carried some stellar equipment it seems. Join me, and you can have your pick from them with no back stabs. My word on that. Or I could give you a kiss~ Or both.”

[Eden-H]

The only outward response she gave to Xavier from both his idle commentary and the brief contact they shared was an almost imperceptible narrowing of the eyes, moving only a fraction of an inch as she felt that he was not truly being upfront with her. Fortunately she would wait until one of his companions, a man of distinctly chimeric origins, had been dragged outside to join them in their conversation before saying a word.

Carefully examining the unusual fox-coon, she offered her hand as a polite gesture; although the true reasoning behind it was the same as for when she touched Xavier. After all, she had learned from her past mistakes, quickly discovering that it was better to offer a civilized greeting and signal of camaraderie than to randomly snag a persons shoulder or a few strands of fur. "Thank you for the kind remark on my name," she started. "We all must bear reminders of our past, no matter the form, yes?"

Her gaze briefly shifted to Drake as she spoke. The almost manic grin she bore when first entering the tavern had finally shifted down a few levels, turning into a pleasant smirk. "Before we continue the prior conversation, I must ask. Why are you putting on such a facade? Do you not trust your companions? Or, at the very least, those you are currently travelling with?" She waved to Drake to punctuate what she was saying, the feathers on her arm folding back and away from her hand as she did so.

The crease of a grin turned into one of contemplation as she stared at both men. "I will understand if you do not wish to speak of this in front of others or even admit it directly to me. I am still learning about how your world works and I am unsure if this line of questioning would be considered... rude."

[Drakeyboy]

Drake raised a hand in hello as Xavier approached surprised by the sudden act of being dragged outside in the fashion he was. He definitely didn't act like this on the way to the fight or back from it so something must be up. He grabbed the mug with a stammered sound of confusion and walked out with Xavier.

When the newcomer raised a hand Drake shook it. This new person was definitely at least interesting to look at for sure but he wouldn't say anything till she finished questioning Xavier. Come to think of it he seemed to be leading the ground inadvertently. Getting everyone together and everything seemed all his doing. "Yeah... it does seem that way." He said giving him a sideways glance to Xavier.

[Xavier Akafur]

The mage seemed genuinely caught off-guard for once, his gaze shifting towards the other mage under his arm, a dangerous glimmer flickering for a moment as he contemplated the ramifications of being outed in front of the fox-coon. If a fight was to happen, now would be likely his only opportunity to down the boy, he was quite strong. However, Drake was young, and possibly the least likely of the bunch to react violently. The flicker of thought passed and Xavier just stepped away from his companion, giving him some room to react if things did go south.

"Well that is certainly a surprise. You figured me out that quickly?" He inquired, though the way he was looking at the avian female hinted that he knew something more was at play than sharp wits. He made a placating gesture at Drake. "Sorry, I've been putting on an act since you and the others met me. I've got more reason to be here than that meager bounty. No doubt a few of the others have guessed as much." He cast a glance at Silverwing, trying to make out what her game was. "Something I had only confided with Nemael just a few minutes ago." He added, his ears swiveling slightly as a rowdy cheer came from inside of the tavern.


"The Hound was most likely a simple byproduct of the real issue here. There is rumored to be an item of immeasurable power hidden in this country. The information I've managed to gather hints that it is a weapon of some kind, with enough destructive force to make the wizards of old construct a magical containment system to keep it out of the wrong hands. The containment must be starting to fail, however, as recently this area has been plagued by monsters and magical phenomena with a startling regularity. I'm here to make sure nobody else gets their hands on it." He looked pointedly at Drake. "Including you lot. I'm sure that most of you don't have any ill intentions, but power of that magnitude can corrupt even noble souls." He shrugged, as if it was some form of apology. "Couldn't risk any of you knowing and trying to go after it. I can't fight all of you at once if you decided to come against me. Hell, I couldn't even kill the guard dog."

His gaze returned to the avian, and he looked her over with a slightly troubled expression. "You had no way of knowing, Empath, but your lack of foresight concerns me. If I were a more heartless man you may well have provoked a fight, calling me out like that." He paused to let that sink in a moment. "As it stands... I suppose it now comes down to what each of you feels we should do from here."

 He had indeed noticed the polarity of her expressions from the moment she walked into the bar till just now. It did not take a genius to figure out some outside force was playing on her mood. Xavier also had some experience with those who could mind-meld. He traveled with one for a year or so not so long ago. He did have some sympathy for the woman, Empaths lived a hard life.

[Cyril]

"All magic is unfavorable when used against you." He spoke as he watched Neshar standing; he followed with a grunt, slightly stumbling upon his rise and leaning onto the chair with a similar stretch. The orb was rested on the table with the letters as the crystal then returned to the jackal's cloak. His ears tilted slightly as he was called handsome; his lips curled slightly.

"Don't call me that." He lashed with his tongue, "I don't need anyone to keep me alive." He grunted softly as he was leaning against the chair and then the wall near the doorway to the room. The tavern was a bit more quiet, although the bustle in the outside longue wasn't hard to hear. He looked back at Neshar; the room mostly dark as his gaze found the thief's outline. He leaned off the wall, and it was clear the alcohol had set in. Although standing without the support of the wall, he was swaying slightly. Alcohol gave his emotions a euphoric mix; while anger was all that seemed to be in, he actually felt extremely pleasant for the most part. And although not completely coherent, he understood that Neshar was implying he go somewhere, and tailing seemed like a pleasant idea.

"No materials, I don't need them..." He grumbled as he waited.