#kc_necropolis

OOC three shall be the number of the answers... four is right out.

OOC: heh

IC: "Why have Thallain risen again to walk the earth and threaten the Fae?"

IC: "Great numbers have they, as sorrow clings to humanity's dreams...no moon is trod upon, but towers crumble, division rises...and black not silver be the paths opened."

He commits this to memory, then asks "Why was Firnost Freehold here attacked the dark steel?"

"Chaos for the yuks, Revenge for denial, fear of purging well deserved."

He remembers this too. "How can the Thallain threat be defeated?"

"however you defeat a legion of hate! But one by one, hammers wielded by shining ones seem to work huh?" And it stops.

Quietly frustrated, he ensures the place is picked clean, leaves no trace of his presence, and stalks out to head home.

Home has a satyress waiting for him, "Hi honey, how are... "She picks up on his mood, "whats wrong?"

"A less than successful day, so far." Tartly, as he pours a glass of wine.

"I guessed," She says and begins to rub his shoulders, "What did you learn?"

"First of all, as luck would have it, your Gwydion found me in Firnost." Sip. "Thought he recognized my description. How in the HELL did anyone find out about that ???"

"Darling, Firnost is hardly overflowing with boggans. You're rare there."

"Callidora, there was no one else -there-!! The Goblin didn't tell!!"

"Assuming the sluagh didn't, I suppose. Oh, there'll be a bill for that if he did...." Muttering.

"Chronos" SHe says after a moment

"Hm. Possible. But why?"

"Darling, the device blew up in the basement. NOckers slacked? You don't have to be an Eiluned to be curious about that. "

"the one thing I've heard over and over is 'it's not Liz' 'it's not liz' that means that a friend of Liz may have checked the scene with their own cantrips to make sure. In proving her innocence as the goblin in question, it's possible details about the boggan hero also got out."

He winces "-Must- you use that description, Dearest?" Plaintive. "Yes. I suppose that makes sense; there are certainly enough supporters of -that- goblin who might have the Art. And, I have not seen or heard from the suspect sluagh in... months. He might even have moved elsewhere, although one can never be sure."

"I think if you chase after the slaugh, you will instead tip him off and involve him. This is... clumsy slap dash in a lot of ways...like a dog spreading dirt in it's eagerness to get at a bone. The Gwydion isn't a genius, he just notices the dirt that's been thrown out while others were hunting."

"I beg your pardon, I am being very methodical and careful, as well as thinking closely about my actions and next steps." Almost insulted.

"Not you" She says with a sigh "Whoever went proving Liz's innocence above all else"

A kiss on his forehead, "And I'm sorry. I would never consider you slap dash. Obsessive maybe, but not slap dash."

An offense instantly gone. "Ah. Well. Yes. -That- description, I would wholeheartedly agree with." He reaches up to kiss her lips. "My apologies."

"If you've met him, I assume you saw his hammer?"

She returns the kiss warmly and rubs at his shoulders, "How could a girl not notice that? I wonder what he calls it? The Compensater?" A smirk

He chuckles, then sighs at her touch. "I found the Goblin nest. Picked clean. Oh, except for these." He scoops the bullets out of his pocket and puts them on the table. "And the bodies of two of them."

"Hmm so he's actually gathered up evidence. Okay, he's not an idiot. " A bite of her lip, hesitant to say something.

"The goblins were bludgeoned to death, so a hammer could have been the weapon, and it was wielded by 'a dream.'"

"well... I'm torn. On one hand, I'm glad I don't have to worry about those things..." Nose wrinkle, then "On the other. I'm sure you were looking forward to 'talking' to them."

"Oh, I was." He breathes. "I did, but not as satisfyingly." He relates the answers to his questions.

More rubs of shoulders, "Well, is this it then? Over for us? Seems like others are willing to play the target for them."

He exhales, dissatisfied. "I suppose."

"All this has.... prompted a bit of thought, perhaps a revelation." He looks at her. "I'm not going back to the network, to my Work, am I?"

"Ever."

There's a long pause.

Then... "I dont know, but I hope not." She admits.

"Then I have a last job to do. One last mission."

"And that is?" Cautious

"No one is forced into the network, nor held if they wish to leave. No oaths. But to leave.... there is a final mission, a price, to ensure that no secrets are spilled voluntarily. I don't know specifics yet, won't, until I am in motion."

"I think I'm worried already." SHe says "And dont' forget the of your sibling?"

"Oh, he's part of this, yes."

"Okay," She admits, "I'm vain enough you like that part of the idea."

He laughs softly, leaning into her touch. "If 'tis to be done, best it is done quickly." He murmurs.

She kisses him softly "The one thing that worries me about this 'won't know until it's in motion' is that's kind of hard to stop." She admits, "No time for me to try to change your mind."

"Exactly. It was a clever fiend who came up with the system and process." Smugly.

A light swat,"Yes, too clever." A kiss

He returns it. "-You- will be careful while I am gone." A statement; a demand? An order?