@Aerandir@ERode@Guilty Spark@Asuras

---

A last minute team change, eh. Couldn't say she was a fan of that. More hands didn't always mean better, but what was done was done. The new girl seemed capable enough, and she was happy enough to work with someone else so long as they did pull their weight. As Nyrien explained the situation again, Sera simply stayed quiet and made her her blades were ready to go. No doubt she'd have need of them soon enough.

Sera spent her time traveling mostly quietly. Conversation and banter was fun, of course, and she made a special note to try and heckle Finn slightly whenever she got a chance, but she kept it to light teasing and maybe one or two harsher jabs if the opportunity presented itself. More interesting though, was the glances Vera was giving her. Sera made a mental note to be wary of her. She wasn't interested in revealing any of her hand that she didn't have too.

Finally, they arrived at their destination. The Cliffs. She had only seen it a few times, being only a recent arrival in Arskel, yet such slums always made her slightly despondent.

Well, such problems were no longer hers.

"Qantz-Farron suggested we simply head to the sewers and flush them out." Sera replied to Vera's question. "Not a bad plan, though I'd prefer a bit more...interrogation and a cleaner approach. As long as we get the job done, and done well, and I get to have a bit fun, I don't care so much about what approach we take."

"Let's."

There was no point in waiting or delaying their job any further. Sheri was of the sort that only introduced themselves once. If Mathias missed her introduction, then she wouldn't say it until the situation called for it.

---

The wealth of the Gold Quarter was no shock to Sheri. Infrastructure and designs made by book elves were often just as flashy. Magic made it easy to glamour a building to any specification. They still had utilitarian cores made out of stone and wood. The same could be said of the Gold Quarter. They were still just rocks, wood, and everything betwixt. The only difference was that the aesthetics were physical rather than magical. It made her think why they would even try to dress their buildings using such archaic means. Magic was simply easier.

The inside of Aelrod's mansion gave the same amount of confusion for her. Why was it so spacious? There was so much room for nothing. He could have filled each room with books. People really only needed enough room to walk in a straight line. Oh well, she thought to herself, the earthen folks were strange people with strange customs. Perhaps he was welcoming to giants. Well, if that was the case, maybe he should have invested in bigger doors.

The general briefing that they gave didn't give too many clues. Helmlenfell and the disappearance of Andar were their only leads. It was probably good to start with one of them. However, that was what a regular investigator would say! Sheri was a mage. She excelled at magic! And she had just the magic for this situation!

Probably...?

"Would you mind if I take some of these parchments? They are a helpful reagent for many of my tracking magics. Oh, and anything that this Andar may have worn."

She began to search through the silver tome she kept with her. She would turn to a page, pull out a book, then scan the book to see if she had the right magic in a strange and awkward to watch process. Apparently she didn't, considering how she repeated pulling out a new book multiple times.

"If only I had another set of arms..."

She paused her search to pull out a notepad from the silver tome. With her quill in hand, she jotted down some words.

"To research," she mumbled to herself, "extra appendages."

She paused as she looked at the dark elf, squinting as she did so.

"And... hair... growth."

---

---

As they left the hustle and bustle of Arskel's busy streets the dwarf Kothrias conversed for the majority of their journey with his fellow companions...

---

---

"Aye," laughing deeply as he walked along the beaten road following Logrim as he stopped frequently to mention every danger even if it was minor, yet after a time of walking in silence he spoke up and began telling the group about his capabilities and origins in more detail "Aye ye could say I'm a clerical blacksmith." chuckling the dwarf explained as he walked alongside Tati'yana and Khol.

As he finished his tale their Handler told them to stay put while he went ahead, and minutes passed with growing tension as the atmosphere changed. Something was coming and it wasn't friendly, pulling out his axe the dwarf glanced at his fellow companions "Ye feel that?" Koth shuddered "Whatever it is ye should prepare yer' selves." Kothrias told his companions.

---

---

Qantz-Farron started going on about how roaches will scurry to their groups. If he was trying to say follow one to the group, they would have to find one first, then follow them. But then he went on to say that interrogation and interview were the watch's job. That our work doesn’t rely on words. Finn’s face contorted as if he witnessed something painful. But he said nothing at the moment.

From what he gathered, Qantz basically wanted to just go in without intel. Following some random scum into the sewers. Finn sighed and rubbed his temples with his right hand thumb and middle finger. That’s a sure way to get killed, or not even find the group. And HE was called a BOY? He wondered how long Qantz had been really adventuring.

They seemed to ignore the fact that they have one of the customers in custody, if they find out where they got the drug from, they can be sure they are following the right drug dealer. Who would lead them to their supplier. Instead of just hoping for the chance to run into said drug dealer/ supplier.

He heard the door open and looked up to see Suran walking in. Who quickly introduced a new member for their group, since their mission fell through. Finn was surprised at another human female who joined them, Though she was at least eight inches taller than he. Not that he had not seen it before, as his parents were about that high.

Not much more was said besides intros. Then quickly moving onto The Cliff. Finn quickly picked up his bow and quiver from his room, easily catching up with the group a few minutes later. He kept mostly quiet, despite wanting to be chatting up Sera and now Vela. He decided to walk at the rear of the group, to keep his eyes open and watch their backs..

Upon reaching The Cliff, Nyrien handed over ‘the reins’ to the initiates. Vela quickly speaks up, asking if they had a plan already, looking towards them. Despite having a cloth over her eyes she had the uncanny ability to look directly at them. Finn wondered if she really was blind. But it wasn’t the time for that.

Sera mentioned Qantz-Farron’s plan. But was pleased to hear she wanted some more info as well. He then spoke up “The Sewers are a maze here in The Cliff. As sure to be as ruined as the city above. It would be super easy to get lost down there I'm sure without any maps. ” Finn had traveled a lot within the city and the cliff, for jobs, personal training, and to familiarize himself with the cityscape. But he never entered the sewers.

Rasing a finger he then said. “ Nyrien did say the watch had one of the customers in custody. Perhaps we can convince them to give up their dealer for freedom?” He put his forefinger on his mouth, as if having a thought. “There is also a...well tavern of sorts called ‘The Needle.’ It is a hangout for thugs, mostly. Perhaps we can find some info there? “

A fourth member, a few more minutes for introductions, and now there they were, standing within the transient quarters of the Cliffs. If Arskel was the deadend of the High Road, then this was the final manifestation of such reputation. Back alleys filled with trash and framed by hobbled-together sheds. Artwork slathered upon ruined walls and piles of stone too worthless to be cleaned up or repurposed. A whole city’s worth of inhabitants, squeezed into this small, sad place, to scrap together what remnants of a living the Age of Dreams offered them. Under the beating sun, Qantz-Farron felt for the flintstone in his pocket. The sharp edges of the rock scraped against his fingers, running the length of his ring, but he did not remove it. There would be another time to partake in such pleasures.

“Sera’s summary is sufficient,” he said, turning his gaze towards Vela. “But, if you’d rather uncover the answers you seek from the accounts of others, feel free to do so.” The man paused briefly, as if there was more to say, more to explain. But he did not continue talking. He smiled instead, smiled at the blindfolded woman who saw the world without her eyes.

And, under the beating sun, Qantz-Farron strode through the makeshift streets of the Cliff, his goal the shadows of the sewers.

---

Petragar gave a nod to the orc knight, offering her name as a brief introduction while they made their way to the high-end Gold Quarter. Another tall one, how fun, she thought to herself as they travelled. At least this one looked like he could handle himself in a fight. The Gold Quarter was not an unfamiliar place to her, though to walk the streets freely was. It had been a few decades since last she had been brought to these parts of the city on work of a drastically different kind. She swallowed a breath and pushed away the memories threatening to rise at the back of her mind. She wasn't that dwarf anymore.

Moving through Aelrod's estate, the dark dwarf kept her eyes peeled for ease of access, any side paths or routes one such as herself might be able to take to get around without detection. More information would surely help, though her best input would come when they got to the actual location of the kidnapping. Here, where there would be no tracks to trace or physical leads to follow, she would be of less use. Thus, she stayed back and observed.

The presence of a dark elf did not escape her and it took much control not to flinch as the other dark skinned being neared. Some past traumas were not as easy to get over as others. Once more shaking her head to chase away such thoughts, she arched a heavy brow at the mention of Helmlenfall. What little she knew of the dwarven fortress was that they were no strangers to trading outside their own walls. Perhaps it was the content of what Aelrod was trading? Textiles were not too rare a trade so why would anyone in Helmlenfall care so greatly? Her curiosity had been perked.

Petra had remained further back, leaning against the wall beside the entry of the room. Her eyes tried to keep up with the fluttering pages of the pink-haired elf's magical books and quickly decided this was a bad idea. Her head ached a little after only a few seconds and she took the time rather to case the room. "Could we see the contract? It may provide further insight as to whom would take such issue with textile trades, or at least to why."

Aelrod's Mansion,
@Guilty Spark@Moonshadow@OwO@Psyker Landshark

---

Former knight. Vera automatically gave a solemn nod back as Mathias introduced himself. There was no time to stand around and offer the usual mixer of histories and qualifications, even the members of the group that weren't here by emergency had forgone that much, but knowing even a little about a partner was comforting.
"Vera. Nice working with you." And then they'd departed.

Coming upon the manor grounds, Vera pulled her thoughts from the past and set them upon her surroundings. She to say that this was for tempering her nerves and dispelling the dread that came with the possibility of challenge. More cynically, she figured that it was best to try hard even if she had nothing to offer. Behind her anxious glare she studied the first perimeter they passed through. What boundary existed between the manor and the streets? Flower gardens and grass up to the fences, soft terrains that welcomed the imprint of those trespassing upon them. If they didn't have the barest ability in magic to cover their tracks, at least. She sighed, instead looking to the guards. A pair to mind the doors. As it should be, professional seeming, working in tandem, not a word passed between the two as the lot of them were processed and taken into the grounds.

Vera gave a short bow as the master of the house introduced himself, and fell in while Aelrod finished his explanation. One by one the other members of the group stepped up. For her part, Vera only nodded along at the back. Magical tracking made mundane deduction utterly worthless, any target that could veil themselves from a mage could damn sure cover their tracks if they wanted to, and anyone that could be found was going to be found faster by the intuitive power of the mystic arts. If their mage ever pulled out the right book. Vera tried not to watch, if only to give an air of confidence in her colleague's abilities. She cleared her throat.

"While we... prepare to conduct magical inquisition, there are a couple of things that I would like to ask you and your guardsmen, Mr. Aelrod. You said that you are among a handful of those who bring textiles to Helmlenfell. While indeed," She nodded towards her dwarven counterpart, "Knowledge of the terms of your contract would provide some clues, I would first consult your knowledge of the market. Who else competes for the textile trade in Helmlenfell? The person sending you these letters wants you out of Arskel, if any of your colleagues have property here it would give us a basis to begin our search."

"Second. Where could Andar have been when he disappeared? What was his route? And more importantly, how did he come to be alone while standing watch? Whoever was his watch partner that evening, or the squadron on grounds, even if they did not hear anything, their accounts should give us a clearer picture of where our culprit was not. May we meet with them?"

---

---

”Trees here feel - sick?"

”Ssssska! Daj'chaaa!" She didnt respond to Lemflenflal, or whatever his strange dwarvish name was.

The further they got from the city the more uneasy Hawks began to feel. He listened intently to the story that their dwarven ally was telling them. A cleric huh. He wondered if his abilities came from something similar to his or something else. "My abilities are somewhat the same, more spiritual in nature." His voice was still quiet, but at least loud enough his boisterous companion could hear. He'd have to talk more in depth with Koth when they got a free moment. At this point they were beginning to delve into the blight and his clawed hands tightened around his staff. They'd need to be cautious of they were to make it out in one piece.

He followed Logrim in silence after Koth finished his tale, carefully taking in each and every detail of the dangerous things in the forest as their handler pointed them out, filing them away for later use. Each time they paused he pulled his journal free and made quick sketches and notes of the things Logrim told them about. He had a fair amount of practice walking and drawing. It also proved to sooth his somewhat fraying nerves the deeper they delved into the blight.

As they drew to a complete stop, and Logrim left them, he could hear both dead silence and yet see an eerie sort of motion coming from the trees. It was unnerving to say the least and not something he'd ever experienced even living on the edges of The Cliff which was positioned closer to the forested outskirts of the city.

He nodded in agreement with Koth, whatever was coming made his stomach turn in an unpleasant way. Tati'yana scrambled into a tree nearby, but thankfully still close enough to them that when he waved a hand and muttered a quick request for protection to his angelic companion they were all covered in a faint shimmer of white-gold light.

He tossed his staff into one hand and, with another gesture, formed a small, burning mote of spiritual energy in the other. Gold eyes narrowed, and he waited.

If Astor was overwhelmed by the flurry of questions, it didn't show. With a practiced gesture, he signaled an attendant to step forward from the fringes of the room.

"Unfortunately, we don't have anything that belonged to Andar, but you are welcome to these parchments," the attendant gathered them up and presented them to Sheri with a short bow. "Tracking magic? An impressive skill, not possessed by those I retain," he turned to Petragar.

"As for the contract, it's fairly mundane," he opened a drawer and withdrew a scroll case which he offered to Petra. "I don't mean to bore you with the economics, but the rarity of the materials Helmlenfell has access to grants them considerable leverage in dictating trades. They only accept the highest quality, and it can take years to finish a contract with them." Upon examining the contract, Petra would find that it was indeed a standard agreement, requiring Astor to supply a regular quantity of fabrics in exchange for mineral resources. Finally, he turned to Vera.

"Yes, I considered that, but unfortunately my list of rivals isn't so narrow," he smiled warmly, tapping his fingers on his desk. "You see, in the eyes of Arskel's elite your guild is considered something of an upstart, and it's location in the Road district where it can be freely accessed by the lower class is threatening to the 'social order'. I am part of a small faction that believes that this is good for the city, even if this redistributes power away from the plutocrats on the city council, and so there are many who wish for my time in Arskel to end."

"As for the guards," Orga began. "They move in overlapping rotations during their watch, Andar's route was through the west side garden, essentially the perimeter, and his absence was reported immediately after he failed to check in at his regular interval. I can have the others gathered for your questions, of course."




"Three questions and a riddle, actually," Nyrien retorted, clearly no stranger to banter. Turning to Finn, "The Watch has already questioned the customers, if they couldn't get anything else it's doubtful we could."



The Cliff district was already an assault on the senses for a mere human, but for a being with senses as finely honed as Qantz-Farron's it was doubly so. The cloying scents of spoiled food, bile and filth swirled through the air before being swept away by the winds that raced over the rooftops in brief gouts. Fortunately, he had a sample of what he was hoping to trace.

As he moved through the streets, he would be able to pick up faint traces of the drugs scent on some of those denizens of the cliff moving around him, nothing as potent as the flask he carried. He would also be likely to note that some of the piles of ruined stone that were interspersed through the district had the stagnant air of a cave rising from them, but no sign of his target as of yet.

Finally, after a few minutes of tracking a stronger scent crossed his palate. The drug, in a larger quantity, coming from a door just inside the mouth of an alleyway.



As the initiates readied themselves, unsure of what was to come, the deepening gloom of the forest brought a sickening energy with it which could be felt by all of the would-be adventurers. However, when Hawks reached out to the source of his magic he found it to be easily within his grasp, and the faint aura that bathed the group became a sanctuary in that darkness.

Beneath Tati'yana's feet, she could feel the arrival of the blight before it was visible to the others. It was a squirming sensation within the wood, as if the spirits of the forest recoiled at its presence. Then, from her vantage point in the tree she could see the corrupted forms of the blight skulking towards their position. Some were vaguely humanoid with sap dripping like pus from the holes where their eyes would be, others were masses of roots pulling themselves along.

Those were just the small ones, in the distance a tree creature dragged itself forward with two trunk-like legs, a mass of needle sharp branches reaching upwards to snap the branches from still living trees with a childish malice.

Koth, standing below on solid ground, could feel the thundering footsteps of the blighted oak creature as it emerged from the shadows. It stood perhaps fifteen feet tall, towering over even Khol. Lifting a gnarled wooden arm, the creature hurled a mass of stone and earth directly at the giant-blooded human. Khol moved to side-step the clumsy projectile, but stumbled as the roots that had been twisting at their feet seized his legs and held him in place. The stone glanced off his chest, shattering on impact and sending him sprawling to the ground, unconscious with blood seeping from his wound.

As he strode through the streets, following a trail only he could feel, Qantz-Farron removed his lantern from the folds of his clothing. With a jerk of motion, the collapsible lantern popped out into its box like form, and the man lifted one of the glass panes to slot in a candle, then ignite it with a flick of his fingers. It was still daytime, no one’s eyes so weak as to require illumination, but this act was done regardless. He held it in his left hand, and with a confident stride, continued through the streets of the Cliff, lips parting at the darkly curious sights that were abound.

Makeshift obstructions for sinkholes that went deep into the earth. Potholes filled with mudwater, the most accessible toilets around. The squalor of the sentient, desperate yet dignified, brought low by the civilization they still tried to grasp. His eyes slid over the diverse crowd, but he offered no coin.

The trail grew stronger, the taste thick against his tongue. Qantz-Farron stopped at the mouth of the alleyway, turning to see who had followed. His gaze settled on Sera. “First door in,” he spoke. “There’s a stockpile.”

Things would be more difficult if the gang produced or stored their drugs away from their base in the sewers, but this wasn't an unwelcome surprise, regardless of what happened next. His lantern flickered aimlessly as Qantz-Farron stepped back, allowing the woman with many knives to do her own work.

@Aerandir@ERode@Guilty Spark@Asuras

---

Sera listened to the others. Vela hadn't said much yet, aside from asking if they had a plan, though it wasn't like Qantz or even herself gave her much time to say anything. By the time Qantz had even finished speaking, he was already off walking away from the group. Well, that might as well have made her decision for her. As much as she wanted to treat this as a serious mission...she was also intensely curious about Qantz's abilities.

They may prove useful elsewhere, if she was clever enough.

"Sorry, boy." She smirked, glancing over to Finn. "I'll be going with Qantz-farron on this one. It is our assessment job, after all. Would be a poor showing not to show some initiative, now wouldn't it?" Sera turned on her heels, following the enigmatic, dark man through the cliffs regardless of if the others followed or not.

She followed him silently, the squalor of the slums doing little to phase her, instead focusing on Qantz, curiously watching him light the lamp. Ceremony or something else? Could be either or, knowing his type, though she didn't pose the question, anticipating either a uselessly cryptic answer, or him not answering at all. Eventually whatever he was doing to track the substance led them to what seemed to be an alleyway. A scant few words later, Qantz confirmed. A stockpile of the drug.

Wordlessly, Sera nodded.

Time to do her job.

No other obvious ways in aside from the front door. Hm. Quietly, Sera approached the door. People inside. Few, from the sounds of it, but more than she could probably handle in a direct fight without things getting...frosty. Mix that with the fact the building didn't appear to be too big, and this might be difficult if she were spotted. Too much to wish that they were all by themselves, so she could take them quietly, but such was the cold grip of fate.

No other way forward than to take the plunge.

With a deft, skilled hand Sera opened the door, just wide enough to slip through quietly and quietly close it behind her. Once inside, she'd keep a low profile, quickly taking stock of her surroundings.

The radiant light released from his hand the second that these eyeless creatures got within range of him, incinerating several of the small ones as they shambled forward. More simply flooded forward to take their place and he took a step back, away from the encroaching blight, but kept close enough that he could keep eyes on the rest of his team. "Make sure to call out if you need help. I can only watch so many things at once." The writhing of the trees themselves was bad enough, but these things sent waves of wrongness through his entire body from horn to tail. Hopefully Logrim made it past all of this to join with the adept team. They needed that blight-lord destroyed as quickly as possible.

As he launched another spell at the creatures, sending several of the humanoid shaped figures scattering back with hisses of burning wood, he fully registered the shaking of the ground beneath his feet. He bared his teeth in frustration, if this tide just kept coming they'd be overwhelmed before too long, but their job was just to stop them from getting any further than they already were. Though, if the mass of small ones wasn't bad enough now they had to deal with a giant one too. Fantastic. The tree towered above any of them and he winced with each massive step it took closer to them. At least it was slow, that'd be the best advantage against it.

The four of them should be able to hold the blight off, but it'd probably be up to their front liners to take out the big guy. The movement of the boulder caught his eye at that moment, and then knocked Khol clean to the ground. He brought up an arm to keep the shattered bits of stone from landing in his eyes and he felt several larger shards pockmark his armor. Shit, make that three of them. If this thing could take out the biggest member of their party in a single blow they may be way out of their league here.

With a sweep of his staff he sent a wave of radiant fire over Koth's head into the thick center masses of these creatures, hopefully keeping them at bay long enough that he could at least stabilize their giant companion. "Cover me!" he called out towards the other two, quickly rushing over to Khol and dropping to a knee. He kept one eye trained on the blight as his hands glowed with a gentle silver-white light; it'd keep him alive but unfortunately out of the fight. It would take him a moment to make sure Khol was stable and out of harms way, hopefully the others could keep up.

---

---

Kothrias grunted as he stumbled backwards barely avoiding the branch of the giant tree that struck Khol sending the large man to fly backwards, but Kothrias and his other two companions were already prepared to strike back at the blightspawn shambling from the woods.

Hovering a hand along the sharpened edge of his war-axe the dwarf created enough heat to turn the axe blade a glowing orange color "Aye ye don't have te tell me twice." he shouted in response to Hawks as he sent bolts of holy flames towards their enemy, and at an instant Koth began swinging his superheated axe cleaveing through the smaller blights to create a path for Hawks to get to their giant friend Khol.

He stayed away from the larger blight trying to look at it in hopes of seeing some sort of weakness but was currently unsuccessful in his search. However the dwarf did call out to Tati'yana hoping to get the Yanaski to help cover Hawks and himself as they rushed to their fallen comrades aid.

---

---

Sighing at Nyriens answer after the quip. Yes they would have questioned them of course. But the watch was not the elite group of men for sure. Many of whom were incompetent lazy bastards who just did it to collect the meager pay the spot offered.

He didn’t push it though, he only threw it out there for the others… he personally felt the ‘tavern’ would have been the best step though. Full of thugs and criminals, they wouldn’t have to ask around too much to find at least one supplier. Either scare him or entice him with an offer to take the drugs off their hands.

Finn blinked when he was ignored by Qantz-Farron, then just decided to up and walk away with no explanation of why or where he planned on going.

Sera then apologized, saying she’s going with qantz-farron on this one. explaining that they should take the initiative. On what exactly? Walk around aimlessly? He didn’t even offer much of a plan in the first place. Let alone what he was even thinking of trying.

He didn’t even get a chance to retort as she spun on her heels and walked away. Finn couldn’t help but feel like the last kid ignored/left out once again. Scratching the back of his head with a bit of an irritated sigh escaping his lips as he tried to push the stupid feeling from his head.

She was right about one thing though, it was their mission. As much as he didn’t like the situation he would feel worse just letting them go alone. Splitting up without a plan would surely just make everything fall apart. Sighing, he looked to Vela, who hadn’t said anything after all that and said while scratching his temple. ”I guess we should follow…? ”

Gods this is awkward... Finn thought to himself as he started after them before they got too far away. Talk about a well mesh group. Guy who speaks in riddles, a lady who likes to antagonize everyone, and another lady who just kept to herself it seemed.

Finn walked in silence as he followed the others, slightly back from the group so that he arrived just after Sera decided to go into a building by herself. One that Qantz- Farron decided to stop at for some reason. He then looked at the man who now carried a lit lantern and asked quietly.
“Mind filling us in on how you ‘know’ this is a stockpile? Could have told us in the first place. Instead of having us walk around blindly...
With a clear hint of irritation in his voice. As well as a clear cut off.

He glanced at Vela, “Excuse the poor choice of words…” he said with a wince in his voice.

He moved towards the door that Sera just snuck into when Qantz-Farron would answer or not. Standing with his back to the wall on the left side of the door, his eyes darted from left to right as he checked farther into the ally and stood ready to storm in if he heard a struggle. However he stood with his back to the wall, to. Not look suspicious as much as one could in an ally from those passed the mouth of it.

As he waited he drew three arrows from his quiver and held them in his draw hand, one arrow in between each of his fingers. He then held them casually, tips pointed to the ground,

As Khol laid there, his consciousness fading, countless thoughts raced through his head. How he was useless, weak, nothing but a tool to be utilized... Such thoughts ached at the brigand's very being, gnawing him from the inside. As his vision shifted darker and darker, the many voices taunting him also began to fade one-by-one until there was one remaining. A deep, guttural voice, one that spoke in a low growl.

Weakling... Don't you remember what tonight is?

Recalling the restlessness he suffered from the prior night, Khol had realized something vital, something he would normally scorn if not for this very moment. Last night was the full moon, and if Khol remembered the movement of the heavens correctly, tonight would be one as well.

As Khol was being mended on by Hawks, something most peculiar had occurred on the half-giant's body. The tattoo on his chest also glowed with a silver flame, more intensely so as the dragonborn worked his magic. It seemed as if the healing Khol was receiving was far more effective than Hawks had anticipated. The healing magic seemed to cause the burning sigil engraved upon Khol's chest to flare mightily, a blaze of blue and silver flames exploding forth. While it was indeed quite warm, the flames themselves did not seem to harm Hawks or anyone else nearby, but instead it accomplished the opposite.

Everyone would feel their magical reserves increased by Khol's presence, although such a thing would likely matter little to a troupe of spirit-casters. What followed, however, was something much more peculiar, much more frightening. As if brought forth by the flame, a strange spirit floated above Khol's unconscious body. It appeared to be the upper half of a dire wolf upright like a man, its silvery fur about as metallic as the bits of armor it was encased in. It bared its fangs at the blight-spawn, its clawed fingertips jutting outwards, almost as if they tore through the very air. And at instant just like how it appeared, it charged forward, unleashing a tornado of tooth and nail as it zipped directly at the large blight's center mass, cutting down every lesser blight in its path.

As the beast tore through the enemy ranks, it bellowed out a harrowing howl, one that was quite familiar to those who have ever traveled to the Hallowood. Indeed, while it sounded like the howl of a mighty wolf, there was something off about it. It's as if the howl was uttered by some sort of madman as it carried a hint of lunacy.

The voice spoke in Khol's head once more, chuckling softly as if satisfied. As it did, its voice sounded less distorted, less beastlike, and more... familiar? In other words, it sounded like he was speaking to himself, but with its own autonomy separate from his thoughts. In a mocking tone, the voice uttered a taunting phase.

What a wonderful night to have a curse...

"To say nothing of the slowness inherent in questioning. Shall we double back to the Guild, having wasted our time walking here in the first place?" Vela hummed, tilting her head. She was against it; by her biting tone, and flimsy posture. Without her own suggestion, and following Finn when he decided to continue after the other two, Vela clearly only wished to go through with the suggested plan, though -to herself- she had her qualms.

By Qantz-Farron's single step, the cloistered and dank nature of the alley, Vela could surmise what was happening. Even more certainly when Sera slunk like a snake through a crack in the door. She needn't ask what Sera was planning. Taking the cue, Vela stepped a stride deeper into the alley and kept watch over the other length beside Qantz. She purposefully avoided a puddle, even in the darkness, careful to avoid sinking even the tip of her heels into its grime-slick shallowness.

At Finn's apology, her lips stretched into a crooked smile.

"No offense taken. As for how Mister Qantz-Farron knows, perhaps it is... a special sense," she said, turning her shadowed smile to Finn. She hoped dearly that the quip was not lost on the Adept. "Am I correct?" she asked Qantz.

Mathias had been content to simply stand back and listen for some time, allowing the others to get their questions in first. After all, this was never his area of expertise, though he'd raised an eyebrow beneath his helmet as their client mentioned a missing guard. Well. It seemed there was something in this investigation he could contribute to, after all.

"If I may," Mathias finally stepped forward, giving Astor a brief nod. "I'd appreciate it if you did gather your guards up for questioning. Speaking with fighting men is more in my wheelhouse than magical assensing or local politics. Based on their answers, I could at least see where the hole in your security was that allowed for your man Andar to be taken like that."

Though it was good to know that even the guild he'd joined for protection here had something of an uphill battle in terms of legitimacy within its own city walls. That would be something to look into after this job was done, for keeping his own neck safe, if nothing else.

In any case, Mathias silently folded his hands behind his back, standing at ease as he waited for Astor to do as he'd offered.

After Sheri noted her sudden inspiration, she tossed the notepad back into the silver tome. She took the papers from the guard, giving a short bow in response.

"Thank you thank you."

After fumbling around some more, she finally pulled out a small book bound in an aged blue leather.

"Here we are, Magical Peer Review. If I remember right, the spell should be about... here. Find Author."

After placing both books on the ground, she placed one of the threatening notes on the open pages of Magical Peer Review. Though, this magic did have some prerequisites. Fold after fold, she turned the threatening notes into a much less threatening form; a mixture of folds, crumples, and bends contorted the paper into the form of a dog. Once in said form, the symbols on the tome began to spread onto the paper dog. It seemed to give the paper life, albeit a simpler form that consisted of disjointed movements and slides. Soon, it began to slide towards whomever the author was.

Very slowly.