Fable - Ask Retaliation

[Charon]

Charon had obediently hunkered down in hiding with Jaxan, and by Jaxan's suggestion, he awaited the moment that he'd once again be needed to cause some mayhem. From their perch, the initiate watched intently as Liliana's plan unfolded. Veten's apparent solitude immediately set off some deep sense of something being...off. Ellis had said so many times how important this man was, how being in his position was liable to make him paranoid. There was no way he was actually alone, right?

Even still, Delaney's performance was enough to send tingles across Charon's skin. Wonderful, how simply wonderful! Trap or no, Lili had woven a prime opportunity to inflict some exquisite suffering. While Charon would've preferred to be the one inflicting that suffering, he was equally eager to watch others carry it out. Quietly, he looked on in wonder and hoped that Del would magnify those shadowy tendrils to rip the now captive official's skin from his flesh.

 

[Jaxan]

Man, this part was borin' and they didn't even have any snacks. Normally Jax was prepped for sittin' around and waitin' for his skillset to get called upon. This whole scheme had happen'd a bit too fast-paced-like for 'im. Didn't manage to grab a single chunk of jerky or cashews or even sprouts. What a bummer. And he knew ol' ChaCha well 'nough to know the other boy-o didn't have anythin' to munch on either.

"If they dun get him walkin' in two minutes we're carryin' him," he whispered to his compatriot.

They didn't have time to dawdle 'round while Lil worked her charm and Del plus Iggy had all the fun.

Or, maybe they did, but Jax wasn't a fan of waitin' and seein'. He was a doer and the only thing he wanted to do right now was get 'ack to their food-filled rutsacks.

 

[Liliana]

Liliana's fingers twitched. "Thank you, My Darling."

She said with a smile to Del, glancing a smug look at the Councilor who had now dawned a look of horror. He glanced briefly at Liliana, but his fear seemed to come almost entirely from Delaney. As Ignatius spoke his eyes darted, but only for a half second before finally he regarded the blonde once more.

It as as his eyes fell on her that she cast her weave.

Within an instant that fear in his eyes turned to utter terror, horror enough that it would make even the strongest man into a cowering child.

"Now, Councilor." She stepped up to the man, brushing her fingers over his cheek.

'I-NO NO-NO! GET AWAY FROM ME! STOP!​

"Shhh." Liliana whispered. "I want you to do something for me."

She purred. "Look up."

Liliana tilted the man's head, drawing his eyes directly up towards Charon and Jaxan.

"Do you see those two men up there?" The man was on the verge of tears, whimpering, taking a heavy breath as he nodded. "Good. One of them is named Charon, and unless you do every little thing I say, I'm going to let him tear you apart piece by piece. He's going to hurt you, flay you."

She glanced over to Ignatius. "And my other friend there is going to keep you alive through the whole process. Unless you do everything I say."

The man turned into a blubbering mess as he nodded his head. Shaking violently with utter terror as he glanced all around the room at all of the Initiates. The horror that sat in his heart half paralyzing until he finally spewed out.

"I-I-I'll do anything. P-please don't."​

Liliana practically beamed.

"Excellent." Her hand slipped away from his cheek, offering a single pat. "Now lets all take a trip to the palace, shall we?"

 

[Delaney Lennox]

"I do love when they come around to our ideas, Liliana. It is so beautiful," Delaney smiled at her blonde friend then looked at the other Initiates.

As the group started to walk, Delaney moved to walk behind Liliana and the Councilor. She looked at her friends one at a time. They really were a terrifying group. A beautiful, deadly, and terrifying group.

 

[Ignatius Voll]

Was this a new record? A shame that Ignatius hadn't been keeping track of these things. They always broke so quickly, especially the ones full of bluster. Ignatius had long since lost all respect for humans who weren't Dreadlords, and it was instances like this that sealed it. Pah, could worms like Veten even be considered human when they were all so clearly lesser?

Honestly, the next Revolution ought to do it right: bring in the rule of the Dreadlords, and subjugate all of the mundanes. Put them in their proper place: beneath the heels of their rightful masters, or in the dirt.

"Mind the door on the way out," Ignatius said smugly to Veten. "Wouldn't want it to hit your bum, little peach."

Off to the palace then. Perhaps to practice a little dry run of the kind of Revolution Ignatius fancied, right here in cozy Vel Innis.

Charon Jaxan Liliana Delaney Lennox

 

[Charon]

Wow. This guy really was that stupid. No guards, no ambush, just...alone. Defenseless. Ripe for the torturing. A promise which Liliana made the man if he didn't cooperate. Charon wondered to himself if a noble's screams would be more or less satisfactory than that of a common man. Perhaps he would get to test that theory, very soon. Lily did seem to like throwing her scraps to Charon once they had served their purpose.

Astride Jaxan, Charon hopped down from their perch. Palace, seedy back alley, beach, what have you. Charon didn't much care what the scenery was like, so long as he got to his next fix. Like a good attack dog should, he slinked off after the rest of the group, ready for whatever came next.

 

[Jaxan]

"Damn," Jaxan muttered in a sulkin' tone. Veten was more spineless than those itty-bitty prawns they used-ta nibble on back in Vel Luin. Hopefully they got to crack skulls or 'least eat somethin' tasty once they got to this 'palace' of sorts.

Did a dump like Vel Innis even have a palace? Knowin' these yokels it was probably just some snazzed-up hotel the city council used for whatever.

He hopped down right after ChaCha and moved up his steppin' to come alongside the front runners.

Jax wanted to make sure he was real close by if Veten tried to make a run for it or expressed some other such form of non-compliance.

 

[Liliana]

Liliana didn't waste any time.

She herded her companions onto the street like a Shepard did sheep. There wasn't any hesitation as they formed up, the good Councilor Veten had their head. A nervous sweat still clung to his skin and his eyes darted to the Initiates.

Fear still lingered within his heart, an emotion that Liliana pressed and continued. "Go on."

Liliana pressed as they arrived at the gates of the Palace.

It was an ostentatious thing, built of marble and gold. Taller than most buildings around it and protected by a fence of beautiful wrought iron design. Two guards stood at the entrance, both of them dressed in the garb of that silly little rebellion.

"Get us inside." Liliana purred, urging the man forward with a gentle press of her hand. At the same time she motioned for the others to follow her.

"Councilor, didn't expect to see you back today...who are these...people?"​

One of the guards spoke, eying Liliana and the others.

"They are m-m-my A-a-ssociates. L-let us through, immediately."​

The Guards looked at the Councilor, then to the Five Initiates. A frown pulled at his lips, hand slowly falling to the sword at his side.

"Councilor? Are these...people threatening you?"​

 

[Delaney Lennox]

Delaney walked quietly with the others. She was not needed at the moment and she had nothing to add to the conversation. They would make their way to the Palace and Councilor Veten would get them in. Part of her hoped it would be nice and quiet but the other part of her wanted chaos and bloodshed. She couldn't help it. Her darkness thrived on it.

The group stopped in front of the Guards and she felt a tendril weave up her arm, ready for trouble.

 

[Ignatius Voll]

Why was Veten nervous? It was his fault that he was in this position, anyway. Hubris was a dangerous toy for a little peach like him to play with. Such a thing was best left to those who could handle themselves.

So Veten was making a fool himself up there--perhaps he was just shy of soiling himself. This nervousness was, aughha, clearly sending an inconvenient message to the guards. Not one that the five of them couldn't deal with, no. But minutes spent with inconveniences were so tawdry.

What did they have to lose? If this didn't work, they'd just remove the guards like they were going to anyway, if their suspicions grew to the point of open hostility.

Ignatius spoke with a high-pitched, squealy voice that perhaps not all of his present company had heard him use before. "We're...we're looking for our P-Proctor! We've l-lost him and we don't know where he's gone! The Councilor is helping us!"

Maybe that matched the nervousness of Veten. Probably not. The man was laughably exquisite at it, but Ignatius thought the tone of his ruse to be good enough.

Charon Liliana Jaxan Delaney Lennox

 

[Jaxan]

Jax thought that palace looked mighty nice. Maybe one day Lil or Trix could set ‘im up with digs like that too. Crack a few skulls in the mornin’ and then relax on plushy cushions and drink sparklin’ wines by night.

As the guards started yammerin’ on and got all suspicious it finally came to a moment where Big J could offer a real helpin’ hand. He weren’t great at book smarts but when it came to people? Well, Jax was a true people person.

Buildin’ on what Iggy had already set up he added, ”we’re so lucky to ‘ave a good friend to help us,” he flung an arm over Veten’s shoulder and stared at the guards with glassy eyes.

A single, manly, tear streaked down ol’ Jaxan’s cheek. It was an orchestrated gesture he’d perfected a few times and apparently made him look like a lost pupper dog. ”I’m just so worried ‘bout our dear teacher,” his voice cracked as he pulled the councilor closer, ”so is Mr. V here, thanks you again sir.”

 

[Liliana]

Liliana looked back towards her little gang, honestly sort of impressed that they had managed to concoct such a story on their own.

Iggy was smart of course, in his own way, but Jaxtan? Well he'd always been as thick as a brick wall. She would have expected the boy to just lash out and kill both of the guards for simply asking the question in the first place.

Perhaps he was learning, getting smarter.

Though that seemed doubtful. "Yes."

Liliana voiced, her tone meek an quiet. Her fingers flickered at her sides, casting forward a weave for each of the two men. Their faces seemed to contort for a moment, features flickering as though their didn't quite understand the sudden sympathy they were feeling.

"C-could you help us?" She asked softly. "The Councilor said he last saw him in the m-main hall?"

Liliana glanced at Veten, the man looking back before he gave a shaking nod.

"Ye-yes of course, Ma'am."​

One of the Guards said, bowing his head almost instantly.

"Please, come this way."​

Liliana shot the others a smug grin, and then swept onto the marbled pathway as the two guards abandoned and their post and began to lead the group directly into the massive palace. As they walked, Liliana leaned in towards her companions. "Seal the doors behind us."

She told them her voice stern. The Initiate didn't care who, or how, just that the Palace was closed off.

 

[Delaney Lennox]

Delaney immediately sent a few dark tendrils towards the doors that needed to be closed and barricaded. The darkness split and crawled up the massive doors before the slowly swung shut. Once the doors were closed, she watched as they burrowed into the locking mechanism and made it so no one would be able to get in without a battering ram.

Delaney appreciated the amount of shadows around this place because it allowed her to be stronger. More light meant less power for her. She did not like less power.

She caught up with the group and stayed silent with the boys as they follow Liliana and the procession.

 

[Charon]

This was not Charon's forte. He didn't do the acting thing, and he certainly was not one to play the part of innocent, doe-eyed child. Neither were his powers well suited to aiding any of his comrades in their present endeavors.

What Charon was capable of, however, was recognizing that fact. He visibly shrank as the events progressed around him, doing his best to shut up and avoid attention. That was as much 'playing the part' as he thought himself capable of. It was also the best thing he could do to bide his time until his next violent outburst.

"Seal the doors behind us."

That wasn't his strong suit either, but he did extract some deviant joy from turning his head to watch Delaney work her magic. Thus far, Liliana's pulling of strings had gone on without a hitch, and that, too, was distinctly satisfying. He only hoped he could stave off his building itch long enough for all of this to come to fruition.

 

[Ignatius Voll]

Normally, the chances of the guards buying that would have been crushingly small. Crushingly small. They would have been terribly inconvenienced by these men who would've clung to their duty beyond clear reason and logic. But this was where the scion of House Lorel shined. In matters like these, where paths forked depending upon the frailty and whimsy of human emotion, she took what was unlikely and subtly brought it up to the realm of possible.

In the case of the guards, possible meant certain, as weak and unable to resist as they were.

So entry into the Palace was purchased without alarm.

Delaney had a weaving of her own, one of shadow instead of emotional strings, shutting the door and trapping all inside with them. Cornered rats became vicious, yes, but they had something meaner: Charon and Jax, both starving to slice and to punch, Ignatius was sure.

As they usually did when he was getting excited, Ignatius's fingers danced along his belt, tapping his vials.

"We have a meeting with your fellow Councilors," Ignatius said to Veten as they walked. "Let's not keep our little peaches waiting."

Liliana Jaxan Charon Delaney Lennox

 

[Jaxan]

If they ever handed out awards for puttin' on a performance Jax was convinced he'd be a shoe-in. Or maybes Iggy, that big guy was mighty convincin' too. Wasn't meant to be though and instead the initiate dropped his shoulders and exhaled soon as they were inside. Only after Del had barricaded the door behind 'im did he relinquish his 'old on Veten.

With a broad smirk he belted, "dun worry V, just stick real close and you'll get less bloodied up than your pals," Jax assured him and didn't much care if it was truth or fiction. Ultimately if Lil asked for the councilors 'ead he'd oblige. Or ChaCha would. Whatever.

"Yer lucky day though friendo, ya get to be our favorite councilor, our ally in these awfully dark times. Jus lead us to the rest of yer posse, right?" He looked towards Lil who didn't seem to make much a fuss 'bout it.

Old V didn't say much of a word, just nodded his little 'ead and marched the group of dreadkids down the hall.

After boots crunched into a fluffy and ornate red carpet they got to a large door which Veten was amiable enough to press open for 'em. Inside there was this huge ol' table, illustrious gentlemen sittin' around it and squabblin' until the doors fully opened, and walls adorned with fanciful art that Jaxan thought looked like a bunch of scribblin' he coulda done in his free time.

"Ahem, a group of... delegates... from Vel Anir have requested an audience," he said to the room of ten or twelve councilors whose faces turned varyin' shades of red at the sudden interruption of whatever it was they was all up to.

"I'm ambassador first class," a title he made up on the spot, he was quick like that, "Jaxan Weaselhead and this here's my associate, yer gonna listen to what she's gotta say." Jax gave a helpful nod towards Lil and wrapped a broad arm 'round Veten's shoulder once more.

 

[Liliana]

Liliana smiled as Jaxan introduced her.

He was a simpleton, really, but the sort that she found very easy to deal with. She took in a deep breath as she stepped forward, looking around the Council chambers. The men in front of her were confused. Some of them angry, others simply utterly bewildered.

Liliana looked at each of them in turn, then slowly glanced at her own companions. A wide, devious grin spread on her lips. The Republic wanted this city. They wanted it in back in the fold. This Council was standing in the way of that.

They had tried to negotiate. Had to talk things over.

Well, the time for that was over. "Kill them."

The command tumbled from her lips, directed at each of her companions. She had never been the best nor most powerful of them, but she was their leader. She made the decisions, the calls, and this was one that she utterly relished.

This city would belong to the Republic, yes, but more importantly. She intended for it to belong to her.

 

[Delaney Lennox]

Liliana's words were music to her ears. Her shadows were greedy bitches that needed to be fed and the Academy now made it more difficult to satisfy them. They didn't want you to murder the weak Initiates anymore. Bleh Bleh Bleh. She hated that shit.

Delaney smiled wickedly at an older man who was among the outraged. She walked forward as her darkness began to pool at her feet and travel up her body until her arms were encircled with the writhing shadows.

With a silent command the tendrils shot forward and wrapped around the man's throat. She just smiled as they tightened around his throat and he scrambled to try and loosen them.

The sad sap would be dead in a matter of a minute or so.