The Shattered City: Chapter Two

[yalenusveler]

Kerrian had decided that since he was in a bookshop, it wouldn't be entirely out of place if he did a bit of shopping at the moment. That and the proprietor might be more willing to volunteer information on a customer to a customer, rather than some random person off the street, which really..was pretty much what they were at the moment.

That and the fact that said prior customer restored books might mean he was doing work for the proprietor on the side, so right now it was a matter of finding something interesting to come up with while Mr.Agale began the engagement.

OOC:Perception 20

[lostboy]

Nicholas maintained a carefully composed face over the explanation of Tomas' new occular accessory, despite the smirk that threatened to creep out at several points. Not that the poet was any stranger to eccentricities of dress, but monocles and Eisenwald brough Nicholas' sense of the absurd to the fore. Covering a chuckle with a cough he ditches his cigarette and stomps the snow from his boots.

Inside the store he really should be backing Agale up in investigating the case at hand, but then two of Nicholas' greatest distractions turn up at once, and he's torn between looking on the shelves under C (or perhaps D as some philistines take De as the start of the surname) or greeting the young lady with the lovely eyes. "Pleasure's a sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure" he mutters, making up his mind, throwing Kerrian a shrug and a wink before heading after Tomas.

"Herr Eisenwald, it would seem you are well acquainted with this young lady perhaps you would be kind enough to effect an introduction?"

[NeoTiamat]

Courtyard, University of Dementlieu, Port-a-Lucine; Evening of March 24th, 770
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"We would like to enter the Guignol Museum for some more research into the whole ... situation," she says. "And ... perhaps I should speak to the President of the University." She considers, then nods. "Yes. I should speak with the reigning De Casteele."

"No.... Bad idea. Very bad idea." Andre said, finally reaching you just in time to hear this. "Also, hello everyone, nice to see you, so on and so forth."

The theology professor looked harassed. Normally neat and downright dapper, right now Prof. Theroux's scholarly clothing was askew, and his hair was disheveled. Quite apparently, there had been better days in Andre's recent past.

"Simon is right now not in the best mood he's ever been in." Prof. Theroux explained. He wrung his hands, absently twisting a black ring on one finger as he did so. "The arrests have not made Simon a happy-happy man just now. Lord de Casteele is patently convinced that someone sold his brother out. You do not want to come to his attention just now."

"Museum, now the museum is a good idea. Safer, calmer, fewer angry wizards or masses of militia there." Andre paused, then asked in a somewhat more suspicious tone (of the 'I'm not going to like the answer' kind of suspicious, to be precise). "Why exactly do you want to go to the Guignol Museum right now?"

Rue des Epices, Quartier Marchand, Port-a-Lucine; Evening of March 24th, 770
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Across the street, some of the workmen began to return to their labor, though others continued to eat. The shifter was one of them, though he cast Kerrian a friendly wave through the book-store window before returning to his brick-laying.

"I most certainly hope that you can Sir, I have a keen interest in 'Les Chroniques des Comtés Belligérantes'. I had heard from a reputable source that you might have one stocked?"

"Hrm... let me check." Marks said, opening a drawer in the counter behind which he stood and took out a catalog book. The gnarled man flipped through it then nodded. "Afraid not. Last one I had I sold about six months ago, and I don't think they're printing them any more. I can ask around, see if I can't find you a copy though."

"Mary?!" Tomas exclaims towards the redhead, looking as though he had seen a ghost. "Mary Collins?!"

Mary Collins's face was a picture as she looked up at Tomas. Specifically, the kind of picture that is usually subtitled "Shock and Horror in Bookstore." The red-haired girl's eyes went round as she looked at the Lamordian, and her mouth formed a soundless "Oh..." The book she had been holding, the latest iteration of the interminable The Dead Travel Fast romance, fell to the ground with a dull clatter.

Mary turned around and took two steps back, before apparently realizing that the bookstore had exactly one entrance and Tomas was standing in front of it. She swiveled on her heels again and quickly crouched to pick up the dropped book.

"Herr Eisenwald, it would seem you are well acquainted with this young lady perhaps you would be kind enough to effect an introduction?"

"Uh...hello Mr. Eisenwald." Mary said, her voice hesitant and wavering. Upon closer inspection, it would've been hard to call her any great beauty. She was just a little too big. She was of a height with Tomas, and had a somewhat muscular, well-fed look to her. Not unusually so, by no means, but the red haired girl would never be the kind of pale, fainting beauty that appeared in the Darkonian romances. "Ye-es... why don't you introduce us, Tomas!"

She stood up and dusted off the little book, ignoring the disgruntled glare from Randall Marks at the front of the store.

[yalenusveler]

Finding nothing particularly interesting amongst the stacks, and noting that Mr.Agale seemed to have things in hand, and Tomas was busy reconnecting with an old accquaintance, Kerrian made a temporary exit, heading across to where the brickwork was being done.

A polite nod of the head to his fellow Shifter, and the other workers, before a question was posed. Low Mordentish"I don't mean to trouble you, but would it be alright if I asked you some questions about the bookshop across the way? I know it seems strange, but it's kind of important. Also..after what happened on that night, it's good to see another one of us well." Kerrian's friendly tone combining with a good bit of relief. After seeing three of your kind likely skinned alive...seeing more that made it through the night alive was always a good thing.

[DocBeard]

Tomas sort of moves his mouth a few times, and is about to say, 'Oh, gosh, I'm sorry, I must be mistaken' when Mary, well, reacts. Fairy curse? Vampire? Blood pact with a dragon? Really good skin cream? "Oh, uh, this is Mary Collins. We traveled together briefly in Phariza." Tomas motions sort of blankly, motioning at her, "And this is Mssr Nicolas de Castaigne, famed of the banned section in better bookstores."

"I, uh." Tomas rubs the back of his head, not willing to accuse Mary of anything when it could be something as innocent as a bit of elf...well, dwarf blood in her background, but still wanting a subtle way to address the whole 'hasn't aged in ten years' thing. "You look good! I mean." Tomas gestures at his own weather beaten face as if that explained everything. He will realize he is giving 'old girlfriend' vibes to a very dangerous person(i.e. Nicolas) later. "With that sunburn cleared up and all..."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"We have been investigating matters connected with the recent upheaval," Lia replies. "Including the outright disappearance of three Ezrites from la Ste. Mêre des Larmes. One of them seemed to have some strong fascination with the exhibits at the Guignol Museum. We need to go over it again, Andre, you know we must." Lia gives Andre a piercing look. "And at some future time, when Simon has calmed down, I must ask you to have him contact me. I do not wish there to be trouble between us and the De Casteeles."

[lostboy]

"Come now Tomas, not quite all my work has been added to the burning list, why at least two are required reading at the university, but I do conceed I court the controversy rather well." He finsihes with a wink and smile at Mary.

True she wasn't the most radiant creature in the city, but Nicholas was in a manner of speaking, less than fussy, and he also had a reputation to uphold.

"Charmed madamoiselle, Im very pleased to make your acquaintance." He says running a hand artfully through his hair and offering a short bow, all the time keeping that slight mischievieous grin in place. "Long and hard are the roads from the Amber Wastes, you have my sympathies for a trfiling yet such an utterly painful malady such as sunburn, I suffered much myself under the endless Pharazian skies. But what pray tell brings you to the City of lights, surely not just the latest installment of banality you hold in your hand?"

[Kaitou Kage]

As his half of the group walked toward the university, Cyrus made several stops to continue his devoted charity work. A coin here and a blessing there went a long way toward keeping order and stability -- or so the dommer claimed. He seemed to firmly believe that a stable institution of law required a strong foundation to support it. Governance went up and down, and the Hazlani nobleman took it upon himself to personally see to the well-being of Port-a-Lucine's downtrodden.

"This is why the Lawgiver is needed her," Cyrus replied to Darius with barely-concealed contempt, "These people have fallen for Ezra's weak ideology -- or subscribe to no ireligion at all. They care only for themselves and will disrupt the establishment and cause Mytteri without hesitation to achieve their ends. Even in Falkovnia, where they have a strong institution they still suffer rebellion and disarray. We do not have this in Hazlan because we follow the true -- no, the only way."

By the time they met with the wet professor, Cyrus had recovered from his moment of disdain and was smiling his polite serpent-smile again.

"I must ask, Professor," Cyrus said to Andre, "Why do you suppose this de Casteele is so intent on shutting out those he should welcome? I have my own ideas, but you are much closer to him than I. If anyone is to solve the matters, it may help to understand the motives of major players. It seems that only a madman would refuse to support the institution built to create stability and protection in this nation."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Lia snorts at Cyrus' words in a most unladylike fashion. "Create stability and protection? Ridiculous," she says. "Even if it was that way at the very start, it is not now. For years now, the ruling powers have laboured not to create stability, but stasis: an unchanging state of their rule and the suppression of the supposedly lower classes so they will not be swept away. Obviously, it hasn't worked."

[Kaitou Kage]

"I did not mean the nobility in particular, Professor," Cyrus said, still using that ironic emphasis on Lia's title. "I am referring to the gendarmerie. They are the true enforcers of law, are they not? There may be corruption but if Cedolin is any indication, there are many that are truly intent on doing the right thing. I do not understand why a man would shut them out unless he had something to fear from them."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Possibly that is because it is not duty and honour that corrupt the souls of men - aye, and of women, too," Lia replies, "but power. Those who have power are the easiest targets for corruption. And those who have power are the ones who rule. Or, in the case of the gendarmerie, command.

And the other risk of power is paranoia. In this case, the one in power is the president of the university. His position is under threat. His family is under threat. He must fear the corruption of those who have arrayed themselves against him."

[Nathan of the FoS]

Privately, Darius thinks the witchwoman is rather getting the better of this conversation. The gendarmerie are a potent force for law, if they get their instructions from someone who is himself just, and follow them strictly. If not...

"He does have something to fear from them," Darius points out, and continues, quietly, "Imprisonment, and perhaps execution. Does he deserve such a thing? He would say he does not, of course, and the Council of Brilliance would say he does. It would seem the University at large agrees with Lord de Casteelle. Professor Mourneswaith, what fraction of this country's mages do you suppose would put their allegiance to the University above their allegiance to the Council of Brilliance?"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"The ones who live here," Lia bluntly replies to Darius' question. "The teachers and the dedicated scholars who base themselves here. Not to mention any number of graduates who have elected not to live or work at the University, but still cherish it above the rest of this land because they favour learning and scholarly effort over politics and what passes for patriottism here, and are not enmeshed too deeply in the games of power and politics. Add to that the many contacts forged with other institutes of learning across the Core, and that is a lot of spellcasters to call on. I would not be surprised if the University could call on a few friends from the Red Academy, if push came to shove."

[Kaitou Kage]

"Mm," Cyrus said noncommittally. It seemed to him that this was half the problem. The University's place in Dementlieuse society was unclear -- or else it grossly overstepped its proper place. Its very existence brought it into conflict with the official harbingers of law, and that helped make the Mytteri even worse. Two entities with this much influence simply cannot coexist in a peaceful, ordered state. Not without very explicit guidelines separating the two.

"Were you forced to choose between the two where would you stand , Professor?" Cyrus asked of Lia.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Not at all," Lia replies, sounding slightly surprised, if anything. "I am not a member of the University's ruling council, and I am definitely not a politician. Apart from my publications and my role in events of the past, I am not well-known. And the past is soon forgotten in Dementlieu, unless it it somehow becomes fashionable.

No, I am free to follow my own will, as I have always done. I stand where my own honour dictates." The smile behind Lia's veil is slightly twisted. "In other words, those who wish my support should be honourable. Or at least in the right."