First Inquisition

[zacharius]

A small hooded figure walked into the tavern slowly, yet very confident in himself. At first his head was down, watching his feet as he made his way a few steps in. His shoulder length brown hair falling out of the cowl of his hood. He smelled the ale and dirt and heard all the conversations in the room as he looked up, and pulled back his hood.

He began to walk again, towards the bar then as the hood fell and he reached into a side pocket and pulled out a strip of leather to tie back his hair once again. His blue eyes taking in the room, even now patrons still there filling most of half the empty seats throughout the room this late in the morning. The sun was making itself known now to the world. Zach reached back and adjusted his cloak on his back checked his sword in its scabbard as he walked closer to the bar. His soft shoes he allowed to echo slightly on the floor as he walked.

This small man sat at the bar and waited for the tender to make his way over. As he waited he scanned all the conversations in the room. A nice trick to having overly sensitive senses, you can focus in on certain things and block unwanted things out. Normallly Zach would have let all the voices spill at once into his head so he could better hear ppl coming near him. But that was not the job at hand, he was here to find out information. He spoke as the bartender ask him what he wanted, ordering just a mug of ale and asking if he might see the owner.

"The owner sir, is out on business, what can I do for you?" The barman asked rather intently and trying to be intimidating at the same time.

"That's fine I WILL(emphasis on this word) wait here then. When she Mistress Maul returns please let her know I am here." Zach lifted his ale and began drinking.

The barman just laughed. "If it's her your looking for you just gotta wait til she shows up. Man you had me going for a minute there. That girl's about as alive and able to own the joint as I am able to fly." He stopped laughing then as he noticed the look on Zach's face.
"You didn't know she was dead, youre not from here are you? No I spose not. YOu just wait here she'll be around eventuallly."

Zach nodded and continued to listen to the people's conversations around him and drink slowly on his ale. Waiting on the dead princess.

[Kiara Karador]

He wouldn’t have to wait long Kiara had been watching from her usual perch upon the rafters on the tavern, she always liked it best up there, out of site. She could usually pull off some of her best work from up there, especially when the new people of the realm had no idea that ghosts existed here. She frowned when the barkeep told him of her ghostly problem. She had wanted so badly to make herself known to this new one in her usual startling way but now, now he would know what to expect and so, she simply sat for a few more moments regarding this small male that had asked about her, though he seemed to have asked for her in her past name, how was it he knew who she had once been? This question was quite busy in her mind but, again, after a few moments more, she let it pass too.

Kiara moved then, her form quite unseen by all, invisible to the eye and it wasn’t until she was seated next to the new arrival that she began to allow herself to take shape. A silvery mist began to form next to the small man, at first it took no actual form, but it rapidly began to shape itself until sitting on the stool next to him was Kiara Karador. She wore the uniform of Karador, complete to the symbol that tagged her general. She looked at him through a pair of dark onyx orbs that were made even more so dark by the silvery mist-like substance she’d decided to allow herself to be seen in. She looked like Kalista, very much like her safe fro the fact that she was a misty silver color and perhaps a little taller and more defined in strength, obviously from her position in the Karadorian armies. Her eyes seemed to glow though, as if more alive than any one of the drunks in her tavern. Her long locks of what would be near black, safe for the silvery mist that created them now, were left down and hung over her shoulders to reach to the middle of her strong arms. She had a kind yet serious look about her, like she knew how to have fun but also would know how to handle most any situation if need be.

“Welcome to the Phantom, stranger, want me to buy you a drink?” She asked then, her voice sounding every bit the same as Kalista’s had, but with a bit more harshness to it. “I am, though you must have figures that out already, Kiara Karador and am more fit to run this place than the rest of these beggars, despite what someone else tells you.” She then spat, looking over her shoulder to glare at her barkeep. “At least I don’t’ drink the profits.” She added with a note of warning to the man behind her as he quickly set down a glass he had been sipping out of. “So, how might I be of assistance to you?” She then asked.

[zacharius]

As he sat listening to the people in the bar. He took his time looking over the wares behind the counter and also glancing every few moments at the barkeep for sign of anyone sneaking up on him. Surely not even he would be used to the entrance of a ghost. Zach had never actually seen one, although he was rather certain that it wasn't something even people who see it everyday got used to.

He took one more sip as he noticed the ethereal mists gather next to him he was rather surprised to see not a tick of difference in the barkeep. Maybe you can get used to it. At least like this. The small male continued to drink his beer slowly, taking another sip and setting his mug down silently on the table. He pretended not to notice her until she spoke. For surely she would speak. And sure as the sun will rise, she did speak. So he responded, after she finished passing threats to the barkeep.

He turned then and took in the moving mists that made up her body and the intricate swirling dance that was her. Wondering how exactly she held that together or if maybe....he let the thought go. He needed to talk to this person not wonder about the nature of supernatural body. He would do that later. He looked up finally away from her feet and into her eyes. Still swirling slowly as he saw her move first as shadow then really move. That made an interesting shadow as well but not confusing at all. He began, "I have two reasons for coming really. One is to tell you that your sister misses you. And two because I need to ask you a few questions somewhere with less ears perhaps?"

[Kiara Karador]

Kiara watched him move as he began to notice her arrival at his side. She wasn’t surprised that he didn’t start, he was told of her existence to so therefore why would he have, though this still disappointed the ghost somewhat for she always did like to see others start at her appearance.

She tilted her head slightly to the side after he had finished speaking and then righted it again as she assessed his question and statement of fact. She knew it had been far too long since she had gone to visit her sister and perhaps now or rather in the state of things she should.

“Well, I shall then go talk to her, soon I think.” She started. “Kalista never was one for long distance relationships, her upbringing tended to make her a bit needy at times.” She chuckled slightly. “As far as your questions go, certainly, we could use the back room here, there wouldn’t be ears to hear us there, it is seldom even used any longer, since this whole war started up again thieves and assassins have their hands so full of work that they just simply don’t have the time to private meetings with their employers anymore.” She then stated sounding a little bit disappointed that the room was not being rented out quite as much as old.

Kiara then stood form the stool and with a smile his way, inclined her head to Zach and motioned for him to follow her into the back room. ON her way past the bar, the barkeep cringed as he watched her, he had been caught drinking form her wears and he knew there would at some point be some sort of repercussions for his actions though didn’t know when or what they would be. Kiara was quite unpredictable and shrewd. As her feet touched the ground just before the door there was a started scream form the barkeep and then sudden laughter from the tavern’s occupants. Kiara turned and winked at the man behind the bar, his thoroughly drenched head and now ruined garb was obviously the result of the hovering keg above his head that was almost done draining onto him.

“Consider that as punishment, don’t worry the keg come out of your check, not the peoples.” She said as she then turned back around and the door opened up before her so that she could cross over the threshold and into the lighting room.

Candles and torches ignited as she moved through the business-like room. There was a large oaken table in the center with eight chairs lining its sides. There seemed to be no other entrance than that which they came in from and the walls were made of a substance not known to most, but it seemed to buzz to life when they entered. Kiara smiled as she took the head seat of the table and sat, her feet upon the top of the table and crossed her arms to look up at Zach. “Close the door would you, no one can hear us now, take a seat, explain.” She got to the point.

[zacharius]

He stood as soon as she did. And began walking for the door. His foot steps making hardly a sound, but a sound he allowed them to make, a small grin appeared on his face as he heard the scream from the barkeep. He heard the keg rise from where it was resting, and had took one glance to see it moving in the air above his head. He deserved it, pity it didn't last longer than it did.

He shut the door behind him as he was asked. And then took a seat opposite the misty filled spectral form, crossed folded his arms over his chest, and began. From the beginning.

"You know of this war that is going n better than I. It is true that I am new here. In light of that, your sister has askedme to look for the necromancer and the wizard Kaldryn. I have sworn myself to her and this city. For now I am tasked to track these two down and watch them. But I have no idea where to look. I have been listening to the people since I sat down. Not a single one of them has mentioned anything I thought worthwhile. But being that you are Kalista's sister, and you own this place. I did hope you would have something of a clue for me to put my nose to so to speak."

[Kiara Karador]

Kiara removed her feet from the top of the table and then raised one hand up and then set it on the table, the other followed though slower than the first. She leaned forward and regarded him for a moment, or perhaps not him, but his question.

“Well, being what I am I do indeed hear and see things other might not and I have indeed found that Kaldryn…” She snarled the name. ‘Has been about in the city itself, he seems to take to the alleys often and avoids my place like the plague.” Her lips twitched as if holding back a sneer. “He is an arrogant man and will not hide from our eyes but reside under our noses instead. He has changed greatly since our last meeting.” She then growled. Her obvious dislike for this Mage was great and she had her reasons, he was after all the very man who killed her in the end. “As far as the Necromancer is concerned, I heard tell that he spends a great amount of time underground, where I do not know, though he can be found inside the walls often, wrecking havoc on the streets with his undead hordes.” She told him, her eyes never leaving his as she spoke.

She was silent for a few moments, her form seemingly beginning to become solid but moved back to its ethereal state in a matter of moments. “IF you go against Kaldryn please take care not to take your eye off him for any reason, he will wait for it.” She then told him. “He is patient very patient.” She finished her form coming to full solid state as if she was alive again and stayed. Her words were soft now, passionate about the man she spoke of, and she looked into the man’s eyes with what could not be mistaken for anything less that pure hatred of the mage.

[zacharius]

The transition from semi solid to a totally solid form was an amazing thing to watch. As the mist that held her body visible coalesced into something much more dense due to her heated state of emotion. He would really have to look into this one when he got the chance. But for now he had other things to worry about.

He now knew that the wizard did just what Zach had thought any arrogant man would. He would reside as close to his enemies as he could. And as for the necromancer being underground unless he dug the place himself there are only a few places he could be. His mind thinking now of what places were underground. There is no way he dig something himself and go unnoticed. Things would cave in. People would notice the magic being used. And the dead walking. Bad necromancer where are you hiding.

"Kiara, my thoughts right now are this. Kaldryn hides in plain sight. He will not be hard to find. He will come to me, I just hope when he does he will do like everyone else and not notice me. The necromancer being underground proves a problem. He could not possibly have built a place for himself that would make too much noise. So where around here would have some kind of subterranean access?? The sewers, the church maybe. An underground crypt? Anything like that at all???"

He stood then and began to pace. He did this alot as his mind worked. Now and again looking to Kiara to see if she would speak. In his pacing he would sometimes walk part way up a wall and not notice it. He would come back down and continue as if nothing had happened. Sometimes he would slow or stop and bring his hand to his chin as he thought.

[Kiara Karador]

“You should never underestimate you enemies friend.” Kiara then spoke. “Kaldryn hides among us because he can and for no other reason.” She stated quite frankly. “This Necromancer however, indeed is very hard to find. I myself reside in the graveyard often to speak with its keeper and he has not mentioned him so I do not think the graveyard is the place though it is a possibility, then there is always my tomb, god forbid, though I am certain he’d have risen my corpse just to taunt the rest of the Keep if he was accessing through there. The alleys do have passages that would lead underground as well the Keep itself, though they have been out of use for centuries and would be hard to manage I would assume without notice.” She went on, her solid state standing now and pacing as well, her right hand moved behind her, the back of her wrist resting on the small of her back her other hand moving to her chin from time to time as well as she thought, She hadn’t noticed but she wasn’t even really walking on the floor but hovering just slightly above as she paced too and fro.

Kiara turned around, her cloak swinging around behind her and she stopped all movement for a bit. “To find a needle in a haystack is what mine sitter hath bestowed upon I fear.” She stated with frustration her solid form now dissipating back into the wraith-like figure of before as she laughed a cold and mirthless sound.

[zacharius]

He stopped and looked at her when she finished speaking. Honestly wondering why people assume under estimation, when they can't see the logic. His pacing continued as he continued to think. For quite some time. Minutes, hours, he couldn't tell. He stopped for a bit as he spoke.

"Its not me under estimating him. He is arrogant. Simply because he does hide in plain sight makes him arrogant, its not always a bad quality. In this case it is also logical. It works well to his advantage. However, if the needle is small it will fall to the bottom of the hay stack." Smiling now as he finished and began to walk again.

He paced the room in circles up and down the walls like normal floors. His mind moving around the idea of plain sight and the necromancer's hiding spot. Then he stopped very suddenly. "Is the gravekeeper dead? I saw a ghost there when I was walking to the castle yesterday. If he is and his body is somewhere that the necromancer can kepp hold of it. He may be holding that against your friend there. Is that possible?" He fell silently to the floor sitting indian style with his legs crossed as he pondered more.

[Kiara Karador]

Kiara sighed. “Yes Ash is dead but this body is not buried in Karador, he died before he came here a very long time ago.” She told him and then sat, legs crossed as she hovered in the air. “Look, I wasn’t trying to say that you are underestimating Kaldryn because I feel you lack knowledge, it is just that I know him, perhaps better than any.” She told the man. Her tone apologetic but then she simply fell silent, her eyes closing and she thought, hard on what she knew of Karador. It had been a very long time since she’ d had to muster up her knowledge of the Realm; she’d been dead for a couple centuries now and simply had moved on with her, ‘life’.

“I once recalled several tunnels that lead out of town starting at the library, perhaps if one searched those they might come across something.” She told him then, her eyes remaining closed her tone much less harsh than before.

She was growing tired, taking physical form of any kind became draining on any ghost after a while and they had been in this room for several hours, the first of which she was in solid form, something that only happened when she was very passionate about something. She seemed to waver slightly now, her ethereal form shimmered sharply once but then stabilized as she sat there, contemplating ideas for finding those proverbial needles.

“Yes perhaps a start in the libra…” Her words cut short and her eyes snapped open suddenly as her head turned to Zach. “It is a very dangerous course but, if you could sneak into the vampires lair, that old playhouse has open tunnels leading under it, though you’d have to actually gain access inside the place..” She then suggested, knowing it was a long shot but perhaps it would help to find the Necromancer.

[zacharius]

As he walked around the room, now and then his eyes on the ghost with him. He pondered not only his problem but also what a day it had been. Already befriending the queen and the her dead sister. He stopped for a moment and waved off her sentiments. He took them but he knew what she meant when she said what she said. He had, only been there for just a day.

He hopped up and rotated halfway over his horizontal axis so he stand on the ceiling. Sometimes seeing things in a different perspective was what was needed. So now he paced the cieling, thinking just like before. He stopped just above the floating form of the mist woman, and let his arms dangle above his head.

He watched her walk and talk about the library. Felt the moment. Knew there was a break. And then it came, the one place that Kalista had asked him not to go. He wouldn't risk going in there, not one bit. Simply because of what she told him. "I cannot go in there. Your sister warned me that there was an evil there beyond reason. But I may go out close and dig a quick hole." He grinned then, and just as soon as he did he heard it. Screaming and pounding on the gates. Then people screaming and running by. Almost instantly he caught the scent of reaking death emmanating from everywhere.

He let himself fall from the roof and land on his feet. "Perhaps we won't have to go looking for the necromancer after all." He smiled broadly as he turned for the door. "I do believe it's time we pay him a visit. Sounds like hes out to play in town. I just hope that his Unchained will be occupied by Diala. I caannot get to him with out her being occupied." He looked at the wavering form of Kiara. Feeling sorry that she may not be able to participate in this. "I am sorry, I was looking forward to fighting by your side. Although, I am sure you will come."

With that he headed out the door and towards the exit of the bar. Each footstep in quick succession making no sound whatsoever as he moved. His long brown hair trailing behind him with the speed of his movements, his hands digging through his pouches and pockets to be sure small weapons and tricks were at his disposal. At the door he turned and looked back with a grim smile, just in case she wanted to say anything more.

[Kiara Karador]

Kiara nodded at his comment about not going into the dean of the vampires, she knew it was a risk that not many living souls would take, but she had to provide her knowledge, even if she knew he wouldn’t take the news to be all that great. “Yes, perhaps it is best to stay away from there, for the moment.” She told him and then went silent again, her mind drifting to other things.

The moment he started, she did as well, her mind listening to the peace of the streets and then the chaos hit her like a ton of bricks, she shimmered once, twice and then hopped onto her feet just as his hit the floor. “Indeed, it would seem we will not have to look for our little needle just now.” She said with a menacing grin on her face and then that grin faded and her eyes grew wider. “Cassius…” she said the name in a whisper. “I am coming.” She said then a she turned to look at her from the doorway, she passed through him, her icy form certainly sending chills through his spine as she made her way quickly from the Phantom.

“Coming?” She turned her ghostly face towards Zach as her body began to disappear through the tavern door.

[zacharius]

"Cheater," he said as she passed through the door. "Lucky you don't have to open doors..." He picked up a full sprint now and headed straight for the front door of the tavern and exited moving in simply a blur of reflected colors towards the commotion, zig zagging through people running away.