Co-GM IC:

The Keep - Second Floor, 10 PM

---

As Balthazar walked through the halls of the keep, he could not help but feel a little worried. Normally, when the Sending Stones are used, the recipient of the message can send a reply if they so wish. Without a reply of acknowledgement, the old man could only assume the worst, and that the assassins were at least somewhat successful. This worried the man; how could he return to his Emperor-- his friend-- knowing that he had failed to uphold his promise?

Still, the man took a deep breath. If Leonidas had even a fraction of his father's resilience, a bit of poison wouldn't be the end of him. It was, of course, exceedingly problematic that the Orc Warband not only had a non-orc advisor, but a group of assassins, too. The fact that they were willing to go as far as to attempt to take the life of such high-profile individuals showed how dangerous this group could truly be.

...even if the assassins in question were not as competent as their master would like.

The spymaster spotted an unassuming man walking down the corridors-- presumably in search of him. Their eyes met, and the servant called out to him. Balthazar remembered this man from before: he was one of Duke Manuel's attendants... 'Morgan', the old man believed his name was. The butler was first to speak, politely bowing before the noble in question, before speaking.

"My lord, the Duke has fallen victim to assassins!"

"So I've heard. Where is he now?"

"In his bedroom, my lord. The doctor is treating him as best as she can."

"Good. I need you to locate one of our companions-- a cleric of the Sacred Order known as Lady Turash. See if she has recovered from her fatigue enough to wake. Her healing skills may prove essential soon."

"As you wish, my lord."

The two parted ways soon after, walking splitting off at an intersection. Morgan went to find Drana, while Balthazar moved towards the master bedroom to check on the Duke's condition. The old man found the correct door soon enough, took a sigh, and knocked twice before entering the room. The man nodded to the healer in the room, before slowly approaching the incapacitated man in bed.

"Duke Karstilli." Balthazar said quietly. "How does he fare?" He asked the healer, though the pause in the air gave the Duke in question enough time to respond, if he so wished.

The Keep - Courtyard, 10 PM

---

Manald easily disabled the assassin that he had grabbed. A few broken bones, and a massive kick to the groin is all that was needed to truly put the man down. Still, although the dagger stung more than a little bit, and the poison felt somewhat painful... a poison that was potentially fatal to a regular humanoid could not even hope to overpower the hardiness that a lycanthrope provided. Still, it was more than a little annoying. If they had the ability to use more poison, or perhaps a stronger one, then perhaps he'd truly be in trouble.

Merik's quick action also helped prevent his friend from becoming injured. The crossbow-wielding assassin couldn't help but let out panicked screams as the eight-foot-tall lizardman pounced on him. At this range, he had no hope. With a few strikes to vital areas, the man was quickly subdued.

The pair of beastmen didn't know what these assassins were here for, but it was certainly nothing good. Now all they needed to do is haul them off to the dungeons, or hand them off to the guards.

The Keep - Stables, 10 PM

---

Zatana's initial approach was quite successful-- even with the man having freed his cloak from that wicked mare, the enemy assassin was not able to anticipate the feint. As her blades opened up the man's inner thigh, and cut a slash across his dagger hand, her attacks only compounded his injuries. With his injuries from the previous battles, and his exhaustion, this fight was as good as finished. It was clear that these assassins were not anticipating such resistance.

But the Drow was nothing if not thorough. She easily disrupted the man's footwork with a sweep of the leg, causing him to collapse onto his (comparatively) better knee. This is all it takes, and Zatana's ruthless, calculated barrage of fists to the man's various vital points easily incapacitated the man. He let out a long groan of pain as he quietly curled up in a ball to avoid any further damage to his nethers (and the rest of his body).

It was clear that the assassin wasn't going to be able to move for a while, even if he wanted to. A quick survey of the area reveals that it is relatively safe-- though the mare seemed to want in on the action herself. Regardless, one thing was for certain: Zatana had the man at her mercy.

The Trade Square, 10:30 PM

---

The Crown Prince now thoroughly unconscious, Acrius hefted the man onto his shoulders and called for help. Thankfully, Petyr, who was nearby enjoying the festivities, was nearby to help. Together, they carried the Crown Prince to the barracks. Many guards gave the trio strange looks, but once they realize that the Crown Prince needed assistance, moved aside to let them through.

A healer was dispatched to help assist the Prince, and although the doctor was not able to cleanse the body of the poison, he was able to stabilize Leonidas and prevent his condition from deteriorating further. Soon enough, a carriage and an armed escort of guards would come to bring the Crown Prince (and any other members of the Crown Guard) back to the Keep, where it is safer for him to recover.

Naturally, after word of the Prince's poisoning had gone around, the festivities were put on hold. The party was dispersed, and an impromptu curfew was imposed. Everyone was to return to their homes.

City Streets, 11:00 PM

---

Rudolph, Fullar, and Gordon quickly neutralized the saboteurs walking the streets before looking amongst themselves. Were there more? With one dead, and another unconscious, they had little recourse. The guards would bring Clarisse to the Keep for questioning, while Captain Helt had ordered the remainder of the guard to sweep the city streets for assassins and saboteurs.

They would not find any more.

...but at least, they have managed to prevent further damage to the city's infrastructure. The amount of damage truly done would not be evident until the next day, when the people of the city would go out to draw water from the well. In the end, it was only a single well, so it wasn't that bad, but the fact that these opponents would go so far as to attack infrastructure was... troubling.

Forcing her heavy breathing to slow, Zatana took a moment to survey the stables then bent to the task at hand. The man would not be moving for a while and while the drow would be happy enough with that, it would be sloppy to not properly process him as would be expected per her training. It was that professionalism that kept her moving when she wanted to sit down. Snatching one of her smaller daggers, the assassin sliced the lesser's shirt and tunic along the seams carefully watching for any hidden items. Which she was does not disappointed with a set of lock picks, setting them aside upon the cloth that had been the man's cloak. The boots and socks followed. Ruthlessly Zatana checked his hair, behind his ears, and the seams and hem of his trousers. It was commonplace for a strangler's cord, poison, or some charm to be hidden away in cases such as these. Jerking his mouth open, she poked out and pulled out a cord nearly choking the man as she pulled out a small packet and flicked it onto the cloak as well. Finally satisfied that he would not be pulling a suicide attempt by her neglect, the drow gave a snarl as she ruthlessly bound his wrists together and hobbled his feet with leads from the stable.

The mare within her stall gave a snort of disgust that matched her mistress's mood as the drow gathered the cloak. "Yes, I agree." Zatana spat her irritation, though she did approach the mare much to the terror of the man as he slowly began coming out of his pain-induced stun. "I should give him to you, perhaps if we do not need him the Lord will agree." She stroked the mare and offered a handful of hay. The mare took it and nearly took her fingers as well though Zatana was an old hand at the devil creature's tricks. Turning away, the drow gripped the man's scalp, hauled him to his feet, and shoved him before her. "Move and make another foolish move?" Her voice was a velvet croon as if begging the man to do something stupid. "And we shall see what body parts you do not need before your questioning even begins. Just imagine the pain I could deal you if I had a dagger to your..." She laughed a cruel sound that echoed in the night. There were some benefits to the image the drow had and this was one of those times that Zatana would abandon her silence to shamelessly intimidate the enemy.

Guiding the man back into the keep, looking for the Spymaster and mage. Zatana was fingering her dagger and considering how best to butcher the man before her. Something was going on this night and if anything happened out of hand with the Prince? She was going to destroy this man as a sacrifice to her rage. Though she had left the Dread Coast behind the woman was still a drow and worse? If something had happened, it might well mean her own head or something else unpleasant. Unsatisfied with how slow the man was walking, from a mixture of pain and trying to buy time, Zatana finally gripped his neck and hauled him along. Her nails digging furrows into his skin that dripped red blood in tiny trails down his neck. "Cowardly bastard." She sneered in disgust. Spying a servant she snapped at the woman, her accent rolling harsh off her tongue. "Where is Balthazar, and the Prince?"

The kitchen maid who had been awaken by the noise of people running about and now was hauling a kettle to the Duke's room with which to boul water, nearly dropped the brass kettle from the terror of a drow woman appearing out of the darkness hauling a man. Of course, everyone knew there was a drow in the Prince's Royal Guard since the seige, but this was- "Woman, where is the mage?" The maid pointed, her hand shaking as the drow strode pass hauling a shirtless and brutally beaten young man with her. "The Prince?" The question made the younger woman jump and shake her head mutely, unable to answer a question she did not know the answer to. The curse that followed would have turned a cow's milk sour. Zatana herself was past the point of caring. Spies were expected. Spies who were being such idiots as to try and steal her own horse of all horses?

"Did everyone lose their senses this night?!" She demanded of the young man and jerked him along as he stumbled over the stones. She had taken a bit of time to recover and chaos had opened a door and dropped incompetents upon the castle. It only proved her point right that being on alert all the time was a good idea. The one time you relaxed even slightly the enemy would slip in and decide to cause problems. Growling Zatana snapped at a few more servants for directions, and decided if she didn't find the spymaster shortly she would butcher this particular man herself and be damned what the humans, elves, orcs, werewolves, lizardmen, priestesses, or any other being she could possibly give a single damn about thought! Then she could be rid of him in hands he would not escape from and she could go check on the Prince and stay with the Prince until this entire matter was settled!

Merik Roak

---

The man that smelled of orc was subdued quickly with a strong bite across the right shoulder and several hits to his abdomen. His jaw was still firmly clamped over the man’s shoulder and he yelped every time either of them moved. Merik knew the man would not die with how he held him but it would be painful. With the sudden ferocity leaving his eyes and the content nature of having caught his prey, the lizard looked at his were wolf prey and pointed at the keep. With a shrug he began to make his way back to the keep, his prey doing his best to move as little as possible while trapped in the beast’s jaws.

The man struggled but the slight clamp of Merik’s jaws dissuaded any attempts at further rebellion from his fate. It was either that or the drool pouring over their shoulder. Perhaps it was even the rough reptilian tongue that seemed to casually taste the man’s blood. Although people did stare or were attracted to the cries of pain from the man Merik was carrying. Not a single citizen or guard tried to stop him as he entered the grounds of the keep with the sometimes sobbing man.

Upon entering the grounds to the keep the towering hulk stopped in front of a small gathering of guards. They were discussing something serious but all turned toward the whimpers of the man still clutched in his jaw. Merik let the man drop from his mouth to the ground several trails of drool following him. “This one go to jail.” He spoke sternly and to the point then crouched down to the injured man and ran his tongue over the wounds and across the assassins face. “If you run I eat you.” And with that Merik waited for the man to be restrained then headed off back towards the keep and the stash of food he left in the war room.

Manald could feel a weird sensation crawling up first along the lines of his lower arm, then through his upper arm and shoulder before it started to disperse along his body and, to his fortune, became less and less noticeable. The lycanthrope hoped for it to be nothing but an imagined side effect of the poison, but it could very well be otherwise and now that stuff would be floating around in his blood for who knew how long! What would it cause ? He could not know. Manald could only hope and pay attention to the signals of his own body for the next hours and maybe even days to come.

After all, at this point, the beastman was still completely oblivious to the fact that the prince himself had fallen victim to the assassins and thus had no reference for their poison's effects. He did have a reference for one of the assassins themselves though and knew what he wanted to do with the nasty, hideous man.

And that definitely was not to bite into his body and having to maintain a delicate act of balance between enough force to drag him along and enough gentleness not to eat right through him! Manald was a lycanthrope, not a cat! And this wannabe killer was not his kitten that needed to be carried along in a very cat-like way! Aside from that Manald's jaws were quite a tad smaller than Merik's, at least while not in his true werewolf shape. The latter on the other hand would not have been appropriate for a task like this... there was no need to frighten the cities inhabitants in the middle of the night.

So the assassin whose name Manald never felt the need to ask for was inspected thoroughly. He had little hesitation to not only look through the man's pockets and let his hands pat along his clothes, but to also use his nose and sniff along his skin. No more poison to be smelled, just the clear signs of growing anxiety. But anxious for what reason ? Manald's infernal vice grip was probably harmless compared to what could come in the castle they were now headed for!

And, to Manald's slight surprise, they did not encounter the broken apart remains of Merik's cargo because the latter had failed to control his jaws with enough delicacy. Dragging the assassin along behind him, the beastman walked towards one of the guards.

"Would you mind taking care of his individual ? He's tried to killed me and has poisoned me. Don't worry... the only weapon he has left is his piss!"

The doctor looked up to see Balthazar as he asked of the Duke's condition, she stood before she spoke "I have done all I can, but he remains unconscious. From what I can tell he is stable for a moment, but I do not know what this poison is." she then turned toward the duke in thought. "If we can acquire some that these assassins used, then perhaps I can provide a cure, or at least a way to ease the symptoms.".

"I see." Balthazar says with a nod. "I’ll see about procuring some of the poison they have, then." He adds. “I doubt they used up all of it, after all.”
The lord gave the doctor a polite nod. "I’ll leave you to your work, and the Duke to his rest-- and I’ll have some guards stationed here to watch him, just in case.” With that, he exited the room, heading down the corridor towards the dungeon. "Thank you sir." the doctor nodded gratefully.

------------

Rudolph and Fullar were given access to the keep as they brought in their captive.De-equipped and bound, Clarisse was brought into the main hall, with eyes wide she quickly noticed her colleague battered and bloodied next to Zatana. 
"I see you've been hunting too." waved Rudolph. Fullar guided the two soldiers who carried the body of Donovan, placing him on an unoccupied table.

Zatana was eyeing Clarisse with a smile that would not be out of place on a woman spying a man she wished to seduce. "The rabbit ran for my mare, I rescued him from a most grizzly end." She gave the man a shake as if to underline her statement. His moan of agony went unheard as Zatana’s dark eyes watched the woman. "Oh, another interloper? I do so hope you and I get to know each other better. You will be more fun than this pathetic boy." There was a dark chuckle as Zatana reached up and allowed her pale braid to swing free. It had already loosened during the chase and the tugging at her scalp from the many pins was an irritation. One too many to bear this night. "Shame that one is dead. Still, at least I could use him for a few experiments." The drowess muttered speculatively.

Rudolph rolled his eyes at Zatana's exchange with Clarisse and sat down next to a table covered in books and notes.
Fullar walked over and joined Rudolph briefly glancing at Zatana as he did so, "Hmm.." he smirked.
"She's pretty." Fullar whispered tapping Rudolph's shoulder, who in turn just sighed. "I've always had an affinity for elven women." Fullar continued as he leant on a free spot on the table.
Rudolph just sat there with head on hand, visibly tired and miserable, whereas Fullar seemed comfortable and curious.

Clarisse stood there with concern in her eyes as she looked at her fellow assassin, "I hope the others fared better." she muttered to herself.
The drowess eyed the failure of an assassin with amusement. Her fingers dancing along the hilt of a knife. "Well, we have two… Why don't you sing about your partner? I promise, I'll be gentle." Zatana sashayed over to Clarisse and tilted the woman’s jaw up as she dragged the dagger along the pale skinned neck a thin line of blood following in a quick motion before Zatana jerked the weapon away. It wouldn't do for the human to think spearing herself on the blade was a good idea after all. "Or.. salt and insect larva are an interesting thing to sew into the human body. Would you prefer that?" The quicker they got more information, the better in her mind and if she mentally scarred a few people… Everything had a price.
"Curse you." muttered Clarisse as she spat in the Drows direction. I hope you all suffer. she thought to herself.

The young swordsman peeked his head into the room. "Ah, I’ve finally found you two."A quick glance at Zatana told him she was busy and as such he decided to approach Rudolph and Fullar. He had business with Rudolph and the other captain anyway. "Rudolph and uhh..." Acrius said, not knowing the others name, and deciding to just breeze past it,"Er- Rudolph, would you happen to know another captain? I didn’t glance his name. He took one of the assailants from me as I helped His Highness back to the keep."

"Aye, Helt. We'd heard there was another." nodded Rudolph. 

"... I am certain you three know but,” Acrius glanced at the royal guard and Fullar, "The Prince was poisoned, he’s in the infirmary at the moment. As such, I need to know where Captain Helt took my assailant. I believe they were directly responsible for the poisoning."

The two soldiers looked at each other in surprise, "The Prince too? So both the Duke and the Crown Prince." Fullar shook his head in disbelief. Rudolph continued as he then stood up, "How did the Prince become poisoned?" 

There was a choked gasp from Clarisse as Zatana squeezed her jaw painfully. Her face turning to Acrius as she let the prisoner go. "What-?" Her voice was faint as the color drained from her dark face. "The Crown Prince? Poisoned?" Stunned disbelief was written across her face along with an agonized fear. "How-? Who was protecting him? Did no one check his food? His drink? The dart? How in the name of-" Her words were cut off as she whirled, backhanded Clarisse hard and knocked the woman sideways. Assassins, They worked in groups usually. For all this to happen the night the Prince was poisoned… "What was the poison? Whom among us was guarding his Highness's back?!" Whose spine would she be removing.

"I believe Naysein was at His Highness’ side, but I was watching from afar,” Acrius replied, a bit of pause in his words, "I saw a suspicious sort poisoning the food and I decided to follow while warning another servant to stop Prince Leonidas from eating before pursuing.”

Acrius let out a long, drawn sigh, as if disappointed with his choice, ”... Turned out to be a mistake as that servant was likely also another assassin. By the time I’ve dealt with one of the two assassins I was tailing, the Prince was already poisoned when I returned.” Acrius sat down and interlocked his fingers, making sure to commit that ‘servant’ into memory.
"Rudolph and...” Acrius still doesn’t know Fullar’s name, ”Rudolph’s fellow Sergeant, do you know if the assassin is being questioned?”
"Maybe, but we had only arrived ourselves." shrugged Fullar, "Call me Fullar by the way." he waved. Acrius nodded at Fullar in acknowledgement of his introduction.

"If they are not. I will pry the answers from them myself." Zatana snarled and glared at Acrius. "You relied on a servant to warn the Crown Prince rather than do it yourself!? You-! I should skin you alongside these sorry bastards." Her temper was a deadly thing of fear. They could not afford to lose the Prince. She could not.  All because of one slip up! She should have been there herself! It was the one task, over any other, that was key!

"... It was truly my mistake.” Acrius' grip between his fingers tightened and the back of his palms began drawing blood. He showed little fear from Zatana's rage and had half-expected it coming into the room. "A bad decision on my end.”

"Well at least he isn't dead yet.” said Rudolph flatly and walked over to Clarisse who just stood there with a mixture of fear and exhaustion. She looked up as the man stood before her, "Who sent you? and why in the hells are you helping orcs?!” he yelled at her, the woman flinched as he did so, "Speak now and do yourself a favour, so you don't end up looked in a room with her.” Rudolph gestured toward Zatana.

"And I am not the worst the Prince has to offer." The drow added with a delightful smile. "I just happen to be the worst one that is closest. Just think of what the real spymaster would do. They have a special touch to make people talk. We dark elves just find the torment a very amusing game."

Co-GM IC:

The Keep - Courtyard

---

Merik and Manald were easily able to drop off the men they've captured to the nearby guards, and while some were a little suspicious at first, they were quickly convinced once they noted the various tools of the trade that a normal peasant wouldn't have. Moreover, as members of the Royal Guard, they held greater authority than those of the city guard, beastman or otherwise. Thus, it didn't take long before someone claps the assassins in irons and hauls them off to the dungeon.

Most of the guards, however, avoid disturbing you both unless you have questions. A younger guardsman, apparently undeterred by your appearances, stepped up and spoke. "Good work out there-- the Captain and some of the Royal Guard are down in the dungeon, I believe." He says. "You're welcome to join them if you like." Though as members of the Royal Guard, you had the jurisdiction to do whatever you pleased at this point.

Perhaps it would be prudent to meet with the Prince, the Spymaster, or the Duke, if you so pleased. Though if you went off to do your own business, you're certain people wouldn't mind much.

The Keep - Dungeons

---

Clarisse let out a dry laugh, even as she bled from the corners of her mouth. She still reeled from the backhand from earlier. "It doesn't matter. Our job's done, and our lives are forfeit anyway." The assassin said in defiance. "I'm not telling you anything." The two guardsmen, the guard captain, and the two members of the Royal Guard present were speaking amongst themselves, and to the prisoner, but before anyone can get in a word edgewise, the doors to the room opened.

Stepping through the oak doors was the wizened old spymaster, and while he looked unharmed, his countenance was even more dour than usual. He gave the prisoner on the table a single, disdainful glance, before shaking his head.

"Throw her in the cells with the rest of her ilk." He commanded. Naturally, there were enough cells for each one of them.

"...the rest of us?" Clarisse replied.

It's then that the old man took a bit of a grim satisfaction as he made his response. "Yes. Of the... nine members of your team of assassins, it seems six were captured alive."

He didn't need to speak-- his expression said it all.

I wonder which ones will break first..?

The woman fell silent. She knew it was only a matter of time before she and her five companions would be interrogated. Even if she could hold out... what about the rest of them? As Clarisse despaired, the guards moved to put her in the holding cells. Balthazar turned to his subordinates once the prisoners were out of earshot.

"We have much to discuss, but we do not have the luxury of time on our side." He started. "First thing's first..." The old man turned to the guardsmen present. "You lot are dismissed. Have a watchman posted at the Duke's bedroom, and bring the healer a sample of the poison they used. I doubt they will strike a second time tonight, but I'd rather not take any chances." The Spymaster strode towards the nearby desk, where items had been confiscated, before handing the man a vial of clear liquid and sending him on his way.

Once they were gone, Balthazar then turned his gaze to the two members of the Royal Guard in the room, before focusing it towards Acrius. "And you... I expect a full report. What in the Nine Hells happened out there?" His eyes were like daggers, and his voice was cold... but expectant. He was frustrated and angry at the turn of events, but he knew better than to take it out on his subordinates.

Acrius felt a stiff cold breeze enter the room as the door opened to reveal Balthazar. If he was being honest, being under the strict and cold eyes of Balthazar was magnitudes worse than receiving (an albeit loud and shouting) reprimand from Siegfried. From the two 'figures', he much preferred the scoldings of the latter over the former. When Balthazar was furious, the cold air seeped into every vestibule. It was a rare occurence, although that fact alone made it more terrifying when it did occur.

"Of course." Acrius stood up and stared back at the spymaster's unfeeling gaze. The boy wasn't one to cower and hide behind excuses. He readjusted his stance and folded his arms behind his back before he continued.

"... I'll report the pertinent sections." He said, "As you are aware, it was only myself and Naysein with the Prince. Naysein was by His Highness while I 'sampled' the food nearby."

"I felt eyes observing me but I thought it to be nothing but nerves and a trick of the city," Acrius paused before continued, "... My suspicions proved true when I spied one of the 'citizens' drop clear liquid onto a buffet meant to be served to the Prince."

"I thrashed the food myself and warned a servant to tell the Prince to not eat any of the food." He grimaced at his words, "That proved to be a mistake. Instead I should have secured the Prince myself... because the Servant also seemed to be an accomplice."

"On my side I chased and then managed to fend off two of them but one slipped my grasp." He said, "I personally captured the other and applied... ahem, emergency medical 'procedures' via cauterization. I believe he is in the cells."

"Another bit of information is that they coated their weapons with the same liquid." Acrius let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding, "They seemed to think it paralyzed me when they thought it scratched me."

"That concludes my report." Acrius said, "I'll accept my punishment for failing to protect Prince Leonidas."

Balthazar was silent, not speaking a word until the young swordsman was finished speaking. The old man mentally catalogued every pertinent bit of information and filed away everything else. Thankfully, Acrius was at the very least thorough in his report, and by the end of it, the spymaster simply scoffed.

"I will not mince words. It was foolish of you to leave that job to a bystander like that. You had no way of trusting them, and his Majesty paid the price." He said plainly. "In that situation, you should have put the Prince's safety above all else."

"In any normal instance, you would be tried for failing to protect the Prince, however..."

The old man then sighed. "...The fault does not lie squarely upon your shoulders. If it is as you say, Naysein should have done something, and the other members of the Royal Guard should have been there to assist. Even the Prince was careless." He explained. "And moreover, despite my informants telling me otherwise, it seems this 'advisor' to the Orc Chief is able to field his own team of assassins." They weren't exactly good assassins (in a team of nine, six captured in a single mission is an impressively bad track record)... but as far as unexpected weapons went, they certainly were able to accomplish their goals, even if at least partially.

Balthazar pondered this. He cannot afford to waste resources on punishment, and despite Acrius' shortcomings, it would be foolish to put aside such an asset merely to assuage his bruised ego.

"...I will speak to Naysein and Faira. In the meantime, you are to stand guard over the Prince as he recovers." It was a boring job, but a necessary one. "His oath to the gods and his paladin training will protect him from the worst of the poison, but in his weakened state, he is still vulnerable."

The old man's steely-grey eyes were focused with intent. An implicit threat was hanging in the air.

Do not fail me again.

With that, the man turned to the Drow. "...as for you, Zatana..." He looked to her, and then to the prison cells down the hall. Balthazar's grin was nearly sadistic.

"...I believe it's best if you get to work quickly."

Zatana glared at Clarisse as the woman laughed, so assured that she would not break under the torture that would come. She had the right mind for the work, the dark elf would credit her that. After all, it was only the job that mattered, and if you failed to get away? Well, that was hardly the problem of your employer or whomever your loyalty lay with under the condition of course that you would not break under torture or had something stashed away as to hasten your demise. Had it been her in Clarisse's situation? Zatana would have bit off her own tongue seeing so many of her fellows captured. If it had been her alone? She would hold out, endure and wait and see if escape would be viable later. If that proved too much? She knew death would be merciful by then if she at first lacked the resolve. Restraining herself from throttling the woman, Zatana gave a mental sigh of relief as the doors opened to admit Balthazar. In this matter, it was better for the spymaster to make the call. Her own fear of her grandfather's potential recall of her and declaring her task a failure was pushing her far too deep into the realm that her torture without restraint might kill a few of them.

Balthazar's words to Clarisse relieved some of that tension however and the dark elven woman nearly crowed in delight at the expressions on the faces of the incompetent assassin and the 'old' wizard. Watching with a malicious smile as Clarisse and her company were dragged off to cells, Zatana spared an ear for Acrius's tale and winced at the many flaws and mistakes. Her own were quite clear and she doubtlessly hear about them in length at some point. Of course, it would match most closely to the own tear she was taking out of her spirit. How could she have joined the siege at the cost of the Prince's protection throughout it? She could have and should have refused the order and her own want to wander and observe the town to remain near Prince Leonidas. It was not a mistake she would repeat. But there was some relief in the fact that the prince would not be dying of the poison. Looking away from the cells to focus on the others and shield her obvious relief of that fact from the prisoners, Zatana felt her spine stiffen as Balthazar turned to her.

And ordered her to get to work.

While the wizard looked nearly as sadistic as a drow could hope, Zatana's fist curled over her heart in a salute. Her black eyes flashing with delight and fury and her smile a hungry grin. "It will be my pleasure, My Lord Balthazar. Would you care to assist or observe at your leisure?" She would not necessarily ask or offer, but Zatana had a measure of respect for the man. It was nothing she would not given her own commander. Looking to several of the guards, she considered them. They were from Bergkoff and she debated using them to assist them. Her lips thinned as she realized they would be of use. If only to help manage the prisoners while she kept herself fresh. Six prisoners to break was no small number and despite herself, Zatana found herself a bit skeptical about the order to be 'quick' about it. As it was, those guards would walk away with tales of drowish torture and that was something Bergkoff would not welcome.

Not waiting for Balthazar's reply but allowing him to stay or go as well as the others, Zatana stalked down the row of cells like some hunting cat. Fingering each door until she came to the man she had captured in the stables. "Perhaps I should have my mare brought down..." She crooned. "She did want a piece of your flesh." The man shuddered as Zatana nodded to the guards as they seized him and dragged him from his cell to tie him to a chair. Zatana paused in front of Clarisse's cell and gave the woman a cruel smile as she followed them. "Gag her and the others, I would not want them to get any rude ideas. Her..." She gestured at the stubborn woman. "You, I shall save for last. It will be most delightful." Continuing to the chair she studied the man in it who looked up at her in terror and Zatana selected a knife from a set that one of the stony face guards brought. "It is not drowish make, but... It shall suffice to make them sing the tunes they know. You." She gestured at one of the guards who was helping to gag the prisoners per her order. "Bring me-" She rattled over several items, some of which seemed nonsensical but with others, there was no mistaking what they were for. Satisfied that her tools would be gathered she turned back the man who was regretting everything in his life that brought him to this point, the dark elven woman gave a throaty laugh. She would start with the weakest and work towards Clarisse then back through the others in reverse order. They would live the first time, but the second time? They had a choice and there was only one way to end Zatana's questioning. To answer her questions.

Rudolph raised a brow as he withdrew the knife that 'Donovan' threw at 'Clarisse', "Poison eh?" Fullar stood up straight as things proceeded, and turned to Balthazar, "My lord..", he gave a brief salute, "...I and my fellow Sergeant here intercepted the woman and her comrade at a well. If these assassins were all equipped with poison, then who knows who or what else they may have already poisoned."

Rudolph got up from his chair and walked over to the seasoned man as Fullar spoke, "If its any use to you." he gestured as he offered the knife that he obtained, "The woman's partner tried throwing it at her before he died. My guess is thats its poisoned too."

------------

Captain Helt was struggling with the situation at hand, many of the cities guards and soldiers had been amongst those getting merry, and a good few of them too much so. So with that, Helt had only a small portion to work with in scouring the city and keeping things in lockdown. The civilian populace had been sent back to their homes for the night, and the festival decor left to be dealt with in the morning following. Only occasional armoured footsteps and the rare barking of orders could be heard in the narrow streets of Bergkoff, otherwise though it could be considered quiet.

-----------

As the doctor was about to leave and go tend to Prince Leonidas, the door to the Duke's chambers opened as Morgan had come again with news about the capturing of more assassins. He also informed her of more poison being obtained.
Shortly after this, the Duke gave a pained moan, and his eyes crept open for but a moment, "Mor..gan..." The man surprised by his lords awakening quickly went the bed side, "I am here my lord. How are you feeling?" he asked with concern in his tone. The Duke's eyes opened once again and were fixated onto Morgan as though he were trying to recognise the man before him, but after a brief second or two the Duke fell unconscious again. Morgan sighed and looked toward the Doctor, "He needs rest, but the fact he awoke is a good sign. Please keep an eye on him. I must now go check on the Prince." she said before she left the Duke's chambers.

Merik Roak

---

Merik once again found his way back to the war room, after a quick check to see if his food was still safe the beast curled back up in the middle of the room and attempted to return to his slumber. Alas he would not find it, tossing and turning for a few minutes he let out a monstrous sigh and stood. Something still didn’t feel right, something still felt like he needed to be on alert. The hunt and although successful was not filling. Merik found a piece of meat he had obtained from his stash and stepped out into the halls. His large frame patrolling the dark and seldom lit halls with ease.

He passed several people and doors before ultimately finding himself outside of the duke’s chambers. A few guards were posted outside and they seemed uneasy about his presence. The large reptile sat far enough away that others could get passed but otherwise just listened and ate the rest of his food. A few more people came and went some barely noticing him sitting quietly others giving him a wide birth.

After a few more minutes he stood and approached the door, the guards watched him but did not stop him as he opened the door and stepped inside. A few more guards where near the door and the window with another by the Duke’s bedside. Merik could feel a bit guilty for not being able to stop the assassins, his senses should have picked up on them but it seems that even he had a lot to learn. Obviously everyone was tired and on edge in that room by the way the guards fingered their weapons as he approached the bed.

Sitting down at the foot of it and starring at the duke he did not pay any attention to the one watching the duke or the guards that stood quietly in the room. Using his hearing the lizard directed his attention to the duke, he could hear his labored breathing and the fast rhythm of his heart beat. Merik could tell that the man was fighting it, his body was fighting it and yet he felt that he may still be able to help.

Waling on all fours to the side of the bed opposite the healer Merik again flared his nostrils and took several deep breaths over the duke. The others in the room were watching him closely. Either through his royal seal or just his intimidating size none of the others made a move until he attempted to pull the blanket off the duke’s chest with one of his large claws. Merik stopped and looked at the guards who were now gripping their weapons, “it okay. Merik Help.” He pulled the blanket down further and exposed the duke’s chest by pushing his bed ware out of the way.

The healer was watching him closely while he placed his large reptilian hand on the duke’s chest. His hand easily encompassed his chest. With a deep breath Merik closed his eyes and just felt the duke’s chest rise, his heart beat, and his blood surge through his body. Merik remembered what the elder had told him about magic some big words made sense while others he could not translate properly. He began to feel it, his own heart rate and breathing compared to the dukes, his own blood and energy flow through him.

Merik felt the surge of magic throughout his body, his natural primal magic of a dragon touched. A beast long forgotten waiting to free itself and the natural way of things keeping order in the chaos of life. He felt the magic in him flow down his arm, he willed it from him and into the duke. The energy of life, of growth, the magic that has always been inside him shaping his strong muscles and bone. Building him into what he was. Merik pushed this energy into his palm and into the duke. The same energy that gave him his prowess, the energy gifted to him to be strong and mighty, a gift from the dragon.

The dragon touched was giving a portion of his power, his magic to the duke. Not to mend wounds or send him into a rage but give his body enough energy to fix its own issues. Enough power to speed up its own recovery time and possibly make him powerful.

For a moment Merik felt the different energy of himself and the duke touch, twist around each other, absorb into one another, and become one. A luminous green glow cast from his hand and then it stopped. His moment of bliss and serenity cut in an instant as he fell onto his back with a heavy thud. Merik grimaced with a sharp pain in his head accompanied with a dizzy feeling that left him unable to stand or move. The barbarian was unsure of what he just did or the repercussions that would come with it, if he did anything at all.

Down in the dungeons ?

It took a mere moment for the lycanthrope to understand that this could only mean that not everything had gone according to plan this night. There simply was no reason the beastman could imagine that would make any of the persons mentioned spend his or her good night's sleep in the dungeons instead of some more comfortable place, unless something serious had happened. His own departure from the dormatory had only been caused by special circumstances as well after all.

What could that special reason be ? Another open attack at night would have resulted in general alarm, but such was nowhere to be heard. Also any issues in the city not related to any attackers would probably be delegated towards the mayor and his subordinates instead of bothering the military presence here. So all that was left to think of were more assassins. It would make sense to gather in the dungeon then, a more controllable position than being spread thin throughout the entire building. A development he might have missed in the meantime!

Manald hurried down the stone staircases, the claws on his feet preventing him from slipping more than once as he paid little attention to the placement of his huge feet on the steps. If the whole affair had been a big waterslide instead of a staircase... he'd have used it happily anyway. Unfortunately 'dungeons' only gave a rough indication that his destination had to be somewhere 'downstairs', but the exact path to the Captain remained unclear until he started asking the guards. Those however did not seem to be very fond of his appearance and it took a rather annoying number of presentations of his insignia to get some definite information. At least that meant that security was working here, or was it ? What if assassins had indeed managed to enter the castle as well ?

Manald could not spot any more dubious persons with suspicious demeanor, clothes or behavior down there however, albeit he spared himself from looking into each and every cell. He walked through as many hallways as he could before coming to the firm belief that he had seen everything at least once. The overall situation seemed calm enough to Manald that he deemed his further presence down here unncessary. Also the whole affair had taken so long that entirely continuing on his own would have been quite inefficient. Maybe others already had more of a general idea what was going on, or at least they would be able to tell him that they had no clue so he'd be able to tell them to be careful!

Also... would turning into full wolf have made the whole process a lot faster ? Just releasing an infernal howl straight from hell and scare off any intruders even if they're two levels above because they don't know that there's a 'friendly' lycanthrope around ? And many others would have gathered to investigate, so he'd have had an easy time getting an initial head count! The idea sounded tempting, but the imagination of just how disgruntled many of the castle's legitimate inhabitants could be after such a course of action did not.

So, an uncomforting bunch of both minutes and guards later, Manald found himself in the spymaster's quarters on a mere two feet, as usual. Firmly believing that more had happened than just himself encountering two assassins on the open street, the beastman addressed the other person:

"I want a full report! Have 'my' two assassins been the only ones ?"