Fate - First Reply Detective Work [Elbion]

[Kara Orin]

Two weeks ago, a murder occurred within Elbion’s Merchant District. Guards discovered a man’s body with the ribs separated from his spine. Organs were ripped out and stretched along the open back. One guard described the sight as if the man had bloody wings.

And while murder happened as regularly in Elbion as any other city, it was rare to have such a case include a mutilated body. It became a common topic of discussion around the town.

---

Evening drew close. People began to trickle into the taverns. Kara sat down at a small table in the Lady Day Tavern by herself. She wore a gray cloak and hood with no emblems. Her sword was strapped to her belt.

Despite being in a tavern, Kara ordered a cup of barley tea. When she received her drink, she pulled out a letter from her mother and read it. As she did, she would glance up to take notice of anyone entering the tavern.

The contents of her mother’s letter were typical. An update on what her and her father were doing as well as her four siblings. Asta, the eldest sister, was pregnant. Viggo, the youngest son, began his preparations to apply to the College of Elbion. A congratulations on Kara being another year older. And then, questions on if Kara found a rich suitor, when she would be married, when a grandchild would come, et cetera.

Kara gave a single snort. Yet at that moment, someone entering the tavern caught her attention. A man several inches taller than Kara. Thin yet fit build. Light brown hair and eyes. He too sported a cloak that obscured what he wore and what weapons may be at his side.

Vaii, a Dreadlord incognito.

The man approached the bar and took a seat at the stool, yet he attempted to be alert of his surroundings. Kara kept her eye on him as she pretended to perpetually read her mother’s letter. Hoping for no distractions...

 

[Francisco Alarcón]

Isco was not a frequent patron of the Lady Day Tavern. Rather, his patronage was quite infrequent. So infrequent that he ventured in for the first time as the sun had began to set over the horizon. Several decades ago, Isco learned the hard way that it was not wise to commit acts of a more illicit nature in establishments that one would visit habitually.

Yes, he had been exceptionally young.

Eyes like cocoa flickered about the tavern-goers, scouting for a potential score, preferably one that would keep him fed and under a roof for several nights. His eyes passed over those close to his age without a second thought. There was nobody that looked to be particularly wealthy in the tavern. A pang of regret washed over Isco as he resolved himself to steal from some hard-working individual. The disappointment was rapidly fleeting.

The old Cortosi veteran lifted a simple silver goblet from the wooden table where he sat and swirled the wine in it for ten or so counts as dark eyes scanned the several patrons. His eyes settled on a young girl reading a letter. Curious that, coming to a tavern to read. His attention fell to a cloaked individual, a man slightly taller than Isco himself, that carried himself in a soldierly manner. It was hidden well, but the old man knew how a killer looked. He wouldn't think of stealing from a man like that.

Lifting the goblet to his mouth, he swallowed what remained in a few large gulps. Isco set the goblet on the table, the sound of it drowned out from the racket within the tavern. He placed himself by the counter, quite close to the back of a man. When the man moved, it bumped Isco. The old man feigned imbalance and clattered into another bystander. The first man turned and uttered some apology, while Isco deftly grasped the light coin purse of the man he was "pushed" into. In a swift motion, he grasped a thin folding knife by its blade, doing well to hide it as he did so, and cut the purse away from the man's belt. He exaggerated his clumsiness as he stowed the pouch and knife away.

"Oi!" The man exclaimed as some of his drink sloshed and spilled onto the counter, "Mind ye'self, yeah?"

The sudden outcry drew a few heads, though the attention wasn't held long as Isco began to apologize.

"Ah, si, si, I'm terribly sorry, friend," The old man responded with a deep accent, one smooth like silk linens, "Terribly sorry."

With a forcefully uncomfortable chuckle, he backed away from the man and turned to make his exit from the tavern. About midway between the bar and the exit, a sudden shriek halted him.

"STOP!" The same man called out. Isco did not turn to face him. The man was patting all over his belt, feeling the absence of his coin, "Thieving old man!"

Now many heads turned to the man. Some glanced between him and Isco.

I'm getting old, Francisco mused, and sloppy.

 

[Kara Orin]

Vaii ordered a beer as Isco began to work his pickpocket magic.

“Heard of the rumors?” a woman sitting to Vaii asked of the tall, dark, and brooding young man.

The raven-haired woman next to Vaii also sported a cloak. She sipped on a cup of cider.

Isco just finished his goblet the moment that Vaii got his beer.

“No,” Vaii replied with a low voice, “Something about the murder?”

Kara kept glancing over toward Vaii several times.

“Not that,” the woman continued. With an even lower whisper, she told Vaii, “But apparently there’s a big rat problem in thi-“

“Oi!” the man exclaimed just as Isco clumsily bumped into him.

Vaii, the woman, and Kara all glanced over to see Isco apologize to his mark.

After the situation seemed to have been defused, Vaii looked to the woman. She just shrugged. Kara’s attention shifted back to the pair.

Yet, the situation grew tense again as Isco’s victim realized he had been roobed and openly accused him.

Kara blinked a couple times as she looked back and forth between Isco and his victim.

After seeing the situation flare up again, Vaii simply said, “A rat problem in this bar?”

The woman nodded. And with that, Vaii left a silver zoldo on the counter and downed his beer. The coin was enough for both his drink, the woman’s, and some more. The woman took the coin and replaced it with the bronze tolaro for the beer.

Vaii then got up and sought to exit the tavern. He would have to walk near Isco to do so. He would quickly leave if Isco did not confront him.

And if Vaii managed to leave, Kara would also quickly gather her things, leave some coin, and try to exit. Though, she too would have to pass near Isco to get out…

Francisco Alarcón

 

[Francisco Alarcón]

Kara Orin

Isco finally turned to face the bargoer after a moment of silence following the accusation. The man stood quite tall, with incredibly broad shoulders. He was much larger than the lithe old man, most likely spending more time lifting barrels than books. Isco considered turning and fleeing, though he wouldn't outrun such a fit young man for long.

"Thieving?" He echoed, eyes darting around the bar. He made brief eye contact with that tall, brooding type and let him pass without any struggle. A single shared glance was enough to send goosebumps running up his arms. Isco knew all about Dreadlords from the Quatreville Wars, though he didn't have a single clue about the young man's station as one.

His attention snapped back onto the bargoer who was stomping his way.

"That's right! You thieving. Old. Man!"

Isco let out a low chuckle and began to stroke his white beard, "If you've lost something, I'd be more than happy to help."

He did not notice the young girl, the one that was reading the letter before, as she began to gather her belongings. Even as she stood and made her way to leave with considerable haste, he did not mind her. The old man's focus was solely on the oncoming bear of a man, who began to reach out with both arms to seize Isco as he got closer. There was some hollering from the group he was drinking with at the bar, though Isco didn't pay attention to the words.

Suddenly, as the man attempted to grab Isco, he began to uncontrollably stumble. It was always a strange thing, to suddenly lose all control over your motoric capabilities. That was clear from the man's expression and sudden apparently drunken stagger. There was no making sense of the way his limbs flailed about, or how his body wobbled in a futile attempt to remain upright.

It all happened in mere moments, but a few breaths was all Isco needed. As the man careened towards Isco, the old man took a single step to the side and gave the man a shove as he came close enough. The sudden push coupled with his dazed senses sent the man helplessly falling backward right towards that young girl who was attempting to leave the bar.

Isco hadn't even noticed, and when he did, he could only hope that she would be able to avoid the large man.

 

[Kara Orin]

Vaii left, so Kara attempted to follow. The raven-haired woman Vaii had spoke to paid more attention to the growing confrontation between the giant meathead and Isco. Yet, she shot a look toward Kara a couple times.

In reality, the raven-haired woman was a merchant just like many others within the city. Yet instead of physical goods such as gold, fish, or clothes, she traded information with anyone that had coin. So, she stayed in her seat.

Compared to the woman, Kara stayed focused on trying to exit the tavern. She gave only a brief look toward the bulky man’s apparently drunken walk. She was almost to the exit.

Then, Isco gave a push. The victim stumbled and fell toward Kara. A few people gasped – expecting a nasty collision. The shadow of the man’s body began to craw up Kara’s face.

Turning her head, Kara muttered, “What?”

Reacting as quick as she could, Kara attempted to lunge back. She had to bring up an arm and push against the falling man. The sheathed sword beneath her robe and several pouches on her belt could be briefly seen. She managed to barley stumble a few feet away. The man then landed with a THUD on the floor.

Now, this large man blocked Kara from the tavern’s exit. Kara blankly looked at him. She glanced toward Isco. Then, her eyes looked back to the man as she gave a sneer.

Francisco Alarcón

 

[Francisco Alarcón]

Kara Orin

The man's head snapped against the wooden floor as he fell. The front of Isco's head throbbed as he released the magic. It was a familiar sensation. He let out a sigh of relief as the man groaned and slowly rolled on the floor but did not rise.

His focus had been on the girl as she avoided the falling oaf, though he only caught a brief glimpse at the sword on her waist.

He glanced at the girl, an apologetic expression painting his face. It was fortunate for him that she was not crushed under the man, though he was unaware of the inconvenience that his brief quarrel caused her. His mouth opened to offer an apology, but the rising clamor caused by the now incapacitated man's party created a valid reason for Isco to exit the Lady Day Tavern with some haste. Knowing that sooner was preferable to later, he did exit.

Isco stepped out and waited several paces from the tavern's entrance. He did wish to offer some apology to the young girl. The older man figured he would not have to wait long for her since she appeared to have been leaving as well.