Dreadlords On The Trail!

[Mieri]

Vel Acan

Mieri stood in front of the door to retired Dreadlord Algus Senn, a third level of some small renown though, though not apparently one whose disappearance warranted more than the attentions of a handful of children.

Rough luck, really.

Not that the plucky young redhead standing in front of the door thought that way. No, for Mieri this was just another chance to go down the path of one of the novels she so loved to read. The disappearance of a Dreadlord, even one who had retired, was a big deal. So much so that the powers-that be had intervened. Snapping away the investigation from the Guard, and instead handing it over to one of the vanished man's own.

Of course, said person had quickly handed it off to someone else, and then that person had thrown it once more. Eventually the task had landed with Proctor Alforth, and he in his diligence had chosen Mieri and her fellows to look into where the man had gone.

As she always did, Mieri took to the assignment with no small amount of glee. Breaking out the Anirian Marshall badge she had earned(stolen) in the Savannah and pinning it on her pack before they'd set out. The journey to Vel Acan had not taken long, and within two days they had spoken to the local garrison and then Governor's office. An administrator there had helpfully provided a key to Algus' apartment, and that was what Mieri now threw into the lock.

There was a loud click, and the door was pushed open to reveal a modest sized abode. Two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a large living room. The air was stale, and the curtains were drawn. "I'll take the Kitchen!"

Mieri declared as she stepped inside, figuring it would be a good hiding place.

 

[Livia Quinnick]

A missing person has always been Livia's dream mission.

Of course, how unfortunate for family and friends that this person was unaccounted for, but it was a test to prove her compass magic was not something to laugh at.

Mieri called for the kitchen, and so Livia wordlessly wandered to the larger of the two bedrooms.

It was obviously a well kept room, not overly neat, but the intentions were there as the sheets indeed were made and the clothes set aside on a chair had been folded neatly. Nothing seemed to be out of place, and so Livia turned to her magic. Holding out her hand in front of her, she could sense her magic searching for direction, an unseen feeling in her hand guiding her to the bookshelves.

"Hm..." She hummed, going over the clothed and leather spines of books that were a collection of book about Anirian history. Livia swore she owned a copy of The Territories and Their Histories for class.

There seemed to be nothing to note in this room, and so Quinnick turned towards the door.

 

[Thraah]

"Dibs bedr... awww. Fine."
Thraah was uncharacteristically slow to call dibs but she chalked that up to it smelling like old person in the musty apartment. With Mieri and Liv she was in solid company so let her guard down a bit.
"I'll check the bathroom."
... and especially the medicine cubby.
Old folk had the best elixers and drugs. Everyone knew that so she was eager to maybe grab a stash to resell at the Academy.
Z had left a bit of a power vacuum when he decided to go cold turkey and stopped selling. Thraah was admittedly a poor sub for him but she was damned if she was not gonna line her pockets with a good opportunity.

It stunk, the window was closed and the tub was full of water so ranc she could not see the bottom of it.
"Ugh, gross..."
It was rough but after she opened the window the smell got a bit better, only a bit though.
Time to check the cubby.
The small cabinet with a chair was locked.
It was time to improvise.

Livia Quinnick
Mieri

 

[Mieri]

As it turned out, the Kitchen didn't really have that many clues in it.

There were a few crumbs, some biscuits that the Dreadlord had left behind, but other than that...there seemed to be a severe failing of anything that might be worthwhile. A long sigh dragged from Mieri's lips, and she hung her head as another cabinet was tossed closed.

"Well..." She declared loudly. "I think this place might be a bust."

Her boots tromped loudly through the apartment, the young Initiate never having quite learned how to step quietly. "There's shit in the kitchen and unless you guys fou-"

As her foot stepped down, the sole of her boot made an odd hollow noise. The sound reverberated slightly, and a frown touched her lips as she looked down. Almost immediately she noticed the floorboard beneath her was loose, and a broad smile drew on her lips.

"Ey!" She called to her companions. "Got somethin!"

Mieri declared as she reached down, tearing at the wood below with reckless abandon.

Thraah | Livia Quinnick

 

[Livia Quinnick]

Liv had been running her magic in the the second, smaller bedroom when the call came from Mieri. Closing her hand into a fist, she turned towards the door and ventured out to find where Mieri was tearing up the wooden slats. She wished she could be surprised by such a sight, but she had been around Thraah too often to be concerned.

Instead, the silver haired Initiate crouched down opposite the Initite, quirking her brows. "What is it?" She did not need to call on her magic to feel it directing her to something beneath the boards. "Where is Thraah and her fire? Thraah! We need you to light up over here."

Thraah Mieri

 

[Thraah]

There was a crash, a breaking noise of wood from the bathroom and Thraah appeared a moment later with two small bottles in her fist.
"What? you call me?"
It was impossible not to notice Mieri ripping up the floor.
"Oh, we found his stash yeah. Okay fire time."
She pocketed the bottles, there would be time to take a look later and knelt to the floor lighting up her hand in fire. At first so they could have a good look. If she needed to burn away the boards then that might damage whatever was under them.

Mieri
Livia Quinnick

 

[Mieri]

Tearing the board away, Thraah's light flickered into the dark cubby beneath. Mieri's excited face almost instantly dropping as she saw what lay inside was nothing more than a small bag and what appeared to be a journal. "Ugh."

The pugilist said with a roll of her eyes, glancing up at Thraah. Knowing that her fellow initiate would feel the same way.

"It's never anything fun." Mieri said with a disappointed sigh, plucking the journal free and immediately throwing it over towards Liv whom she simply assumed was the reader of the three of them.

Upon cracking it upon, Liv would find that the Dreadlord who lived here was an exceptionally boring person. Apparently involved with the research of anti-magical collars and other such devices. The only exciting part, were the last few pages where the man began to rant about apparently being followed. Feeling as though every time he moved around the city eyes were moving with him.

Especially near his work.

 

[Livia Quinnick]

Liv rolled her eyes but took the journal. It reminded her of her father's meticulous scrawlings, but as Livia settled onto the floor and crossed her legs to get comfortable, she scanned each page with furrowed brows.

"Great detailing on the collars..." She had worn one once, when she first came to the Academy. It had made her feel sick to the stomach, her corruption magic's way of fighting it off. "Other artifacts and... designs..."

Livia fanned the pages under her thumb, stopping once she saw the changes upon the pages where it became personal accounts. "Paranoid. The last time I read a journal of someone thinking they were followed... it ended up true." Liv glanced up, blinking. Herself and Silas read Joel Schmidt's journal where he spoke of someone following him, and although she had not investigated further, she began to piece together an understanding.

"It is also the best lead we have right now." She opened the book and offered it to Thraah or Mieri to take and see for themselves.

 

[Thraah]

Quick as a whip Thraah snatched the book and flicked through it only giving a disappointed noise as she let her grip on it fall limp.
"Not even a dirty dream."
She gave offered it up to the group.
"There's some stinky water in the tub. Maybe he hid something there too if he was paranoid."
Standing Thraah cast her gaze around the room. It wasn't much of an idea but if they were going to search they had to look everywhere.

Mieri
Livia Quinnick

 

[Mieri]

"I am not touching someones dirty bath water." Mieri immediately chimed in, deciding there were limits to what she would do to find someones kidnapper.

There were quite a lot of unseemly things she wouldn't mind doing, but that seemed just a step too far even for her. Besides, it took her FOREVER to wrap her hands properly, and she didn't want to soil the wraps with whatever filth was in that bath.

"Should probably just retrace his steps, right?" Mieri asked, glancing at the other two. "Maybe if we do his routine, whoever followed him will follow us."

The Initiate said with a shrug. "Couldn't hurt."

Probably. Unless they also got kidnapped.

 

[Livia Quinnick]

"I would refrain any of us from touching that water." She made a face, but stood up either way, moving to peer inside the bathroom to see of her magic gravitated to anything significant. Nothing... the air was as stale as the rest ofbthe home upon entry. The water still standing would be rank if it had been used.

Liv peered over to the other two. "Alright... let us go over the routine we know: Algus Senn was an early riser. They consistently checked in with the garrison by half past six in the morning. A light intensive workout."

She looked to Thraah, testing her friend and fellow Initiate's ability to recall the information they got out of the garrison and Governer's office.

Thraah Mieri

 

[Thraah]

"I don't know, breakfast then or something?"
Thraah shrugged as she answered. She was pretty awful when put on the spot if she was honest. Information just tended to, fall away.
Besides she was confident Liv knew already. She had a mind like a vault.
"Didn't he go out for it?"
She looked at Mieri, passing the buck and hoping she would remember the place.

Livia Quinnick
Mieri

 

[Mieri]

”Oh yeah.” Mieri said with a nod of her head at her two compatriots. She knew she wasn't exactly the brightest fork in the silverware drawer, but there was some polish on her still.

”He frequented the Doughy Dragon.” The report the Initiate's had received detailed a few bits of the missing Dreadlord’s life. Mostly testimonials from his coworkers that had been gathered by the Guard before the case has been given to them. ”They have those croissants.”

Mieri pointed out with a happy chirp.

She may not have been as good a foodie as Houri, but the Pugilist was hardly one to let a good meal float by. ”The one shaped like…ya know, dragons.”

Which given the name made sense.

”Let's go there next.” She suggested to her two compatriots with absolutely no ulterior motive. Reaching down to quickly pluck the heavy leather sack from the cubby hole. Her suspicions immediately proven correct as it clinked with the unmistakable sound of moving coin. ”The trail probably starts there.”

She said with a grin.

 

[Livia Quinnick]

Breakfast certainly was the next item on the agenda, but the Initiate pursed her lips either way.

"Agreed. We start there." She took back the journal from Thraah and wound the leather strap back around it before tucking it into the crook of her arm. "This daily routine does not do Senn any favours. If we could have gotten this information so easily, then anyone else with a brain and patience could too."

Livia pointed a finger to the leather sack. "You should leave that. It is not part of the investigation."

Especially since Livia was walking money bags anyway. She knew Thraah would insist on eating, and Liv did not know Mieri well, but the sound of dragons shaped in pastry was a good excuse to sit down and go over information.

 

[Thraah]

"I want a butter filled one, no wait chocolate!"
Thraah loved those little things, how they looked all curled up and sleepy. They were tasty too so yeah. No better reason really.
Hearing Liv ask Mieri to leave the sack though, the sack of money.
"Heh, well if it's not part of the investigation then who's gonna miss it?"
Her grin widened as she looked from Liv to Mieri.
"And since Liv offered. Lunch is on her!"

Mieri
Livia Quinnick

 

[Mieri]

Mieri pointed a finger at Thraah. "Point."

Besides, they weren't all traipsing around with full coin purses. Mieri was more than glad to beg whatever croissant she was feasting on off Liv, but the books she wanted to read hardly paid for themselves. Besides, Thraah was right, no one would miss it.

Unless they found the guy they were supposed to be looking for...but that was something they could think about later.

"Come on, slowpokes!" Mieri said as she stashed the pouch within her belt satchel and began to skip out the door. Entirely intent on following up on their investigation as she shoved a croissant or two in her mouth.

A scene which unfolded not too soon after as the trio of Initiate's found themselves standing in line at the Doughy Dragon. "So we know the guy was working in anti-magic stuff."

Mieri said to the others, showing no regard for anyone else overhearing. "What else?"

 

[Livia Quinnick]

Livia never knew what it felt like to have sisters, but if they were anything like Thraah and Mieri, then she was glad to not have known such nuisance... except this was a mission that called for the three to work together.

Arms crossed, face staring straight ahead, she idly listened to Mieri recap all they knew so far.

"How about you and Thraah go find us a table, somewhere we can talk quietly. I will purchase us an assortment, with two dragon croissants." Liv quirked a brow, looking between her classmates."And a pot of tea to share." She said decidedly, turning back around and stepping slowly forward as the queue moved.

It seemed someone needed to keep things in order...

 

[Thraah]

"And he hides stuff in his floorboards."
Thraah offered, taking Mieri's lead to not give a hoot about who heard what.
She liked Mieri.
"Oh, I'll get the table."
Thraah slipped out of line, because lines are lame and sitting is easier.
"Remember the jam."
She called back to Liv as she selected a table in the corner that gave decent coverage of the bakery.

Mieri
Livia Quinnick

 

[Mieri]

"Roger, Liv." Mieri answered immediately, figuring that while the other girl was basically offering to pay the least she could do was find them a table. A task that was sufficiently seen to in a matter of moments as she and Thraah once again stepped outside.

Turns out, during work ours the cafe wasn't as busy.

"Shheeesh." The Pugilist said as she shifted in the uncomfortable mental chair. "For a Dreadlord retirement village this city ain't so bad."

It was certainly better than a few she could name.

Especially that one with all the Wolves.

 

[Livia Quinnick]

Liv sighed and allowed herself a moment of peace as the other two went to sit outside. By the time she reached to counter to place the obscene order (and the jam), the woman raised a brow at her.

"Children poking around in the business of the Dreadlords?"

Liv's brows furrowed, "We are Initiates of the Academy. Just a simple task of gathering information for higher ups." She lied. She was good at lying, but the woman seemed to know more. They did not speak anymore on it, and Liv placed the order and paid, turning to go join her classmates outside.

"I think the lady behind the counter is suspicious... asked about Dreadlord business. You two need to keep your voices down. This is not how we conduct getting intel." She lounged in her chair, something they were taught not to do in Proctor Urahil's etiquette class.

 

[Thraah]

"Oh."
Thraah looked about.
"Nah I suppose it's okay, food, baths, Own space. Pretty swish. I just didn't know we retired!"
She threw a glance over at the serving lady whom Liv mentioned, a glance that became a stare.
"Do you think she knew the old guy?"
She saw no danger in this.
Part of that was deliberately to get on Liv's heels.

Mieri
Livia Quinnick

 

[Mieri]

Mieri's head immediately whipped towards the counter.'

"Do you think she's in on it?" The Initiate asked, her voice almost immediately dropping. Her expression and tone of voice making it clear that she was absolutely not mocking Liv, but was instead posing a completely serious question. "I guess it would kind of explain..."

A frown touched her lips. "I'm going to be honest, I didn't think this place actually had anything to do with it."

Her gaze flickered back towards Liv.

"I just wanted a croissant." A frown touched her lips. Mieri had been pretty certain that the anti-magic angle was probably their most important clue, in fact she was pretty certain it was the only one that mattered.

Aside from that other detail's of the man's life hardly seemed to matter. "But maybe the guy was being watched..."

A frown touched Mieri's face, then leading herself to the question of why. His work surely had to be the answer, right?

 

[Livia Quinnick]

Liv cleared her throat and smiled as theor croissants and tea arrived. She let the other two take their pick of sweet dragon shaped pastries before she reached for the closest one and tore it into pieces before eating it.

"In a city where Dreadlords retire to, I inagine there is quite a few that would take interest on someone dealing with nullifiers. It is rare for our magic to wane with age, so... I would be wary too." Livia looked to them both. "He was in contact with the Guard and Dreadlords daily... with an established pattern. We need to not follow it so closely lest they are still watching."

 

[Thraah]

"Cool!"
Thraah said, not listening to either of them but instead crunching messily on her dragon pastry.
"Yeah, cool!"
She had turned back to them and drank some tea noisily.
"So like, we ask around or something? See if anyone saw him leave, or anyone enter?"
Crumbs fell from her mouth as she spoke.
"Wow, these are amazing."
Her mouth bit into the pastry again.

Mieri
Livia Quinnick

 

[Mieri]

Mieri, for once, wasn't thinking about the meal that was in front of her. Her own summations, along with what Liv had offered had made her pause for a moment. She thought about this not as herself, but as a character from one of the books she loved to read.

Lips pressed to a thin line. "Right."

Coming here had of course been an excuse for the pastries of course, but now that Liv had pointed their way, it was obvious to see she was completely right. They had to follow the mans tracks.

"We can ask at his work." Mieri said, knowing that was next on the list. "From his journal we know that was where he spent most of his time, the people there might be able to give of some clues."

Finally she allowed herself to pick up the croissant, chomping down on the dragons spine and continuing to speak with her mouth now full of food. "We should be watching our trail though."

Mieri pointed out, never having learned manners. "See if anyone is following us."