On the Trail of the Bloodsucker [Aurin]

[Talisman]

8 Frost, Year 124

[Closed - Aurin]

It was early in the change of the seasons, and the chill was in the air. The denizens of the Jewel of the Northlands were out and about, despite the fact that the sun had gone down and it had taken the residual warmth of the day with it. There would be frost over most of the city tonight, but for those that were used to it, these temperatures were still balmy compared to what was coming and what they had experienced during the Eclipse. The Golden Peacock was as busy as ever with the latest production on the stage. There was plenty of activity going on, customers and tourists coming in to enjoy the show and the atmosphere, before the show and after it ended.

A rather outlandish stranger was making his way in, though. Dressed a bit unusually from the regular style of the region (considering the time of year) in leather trousers, boots, and a vest that exposed muscled arms, a heavily tattooed Orkhan man approached the bar in the Salon. In heavily accentuated Common, that was almost a rumble, he inquired, "Is Aurin Kavafis in?" Quite tall, the Orkhan was built like a tank, tall and thick. His tusks were prominent, his skin a mottled green. His hair had been shorn off, leaving him bald and more skin available for ink. There were patches of scaly skin visible from what one could see, and eyes glinted in the light of the theatre as he looked around, looking for the Fox. This was no shaman or spiritual leader - this was a hardened warrior, and he clearly meant business.

What that business was was anyone's guess, but he knew that Aurin was a man who had a tendency towards information, and what he didn't know... he could find out. Looking for one pale blond bloodsucking parasite on another continent was like searching for a needle in a couple of haystacks, and he intended to cut the time down to accomplish the goal. To do that, the Ork was looking for information, and he knew the way the game worked. One provided payment... the other could find things out.

[Aurin]

Aurin wished he didn't have to spend the winter in Kalzasi. Winters in northern Karnor were disgustingly cold for one with southern river blood running through his veins. But the world-traveler needed to put his time in when he could in the office; the Golden Peacock Theater gave him some cultural and business clout in Kalzasi. His interests were global, and he was considering removing his anchor from Kalzasi, but for the time being... He was not on a beach in Solunarium eating tropical fruits and banging Hilana. He was not in Silfanore where the weather was naturally better and what wasn't natural was improved through their omnipresent magic.

But he was ensuring that his face was seen. Elric Hansom was an artiste and Lord Yserloo was a socialite, so it was good for the artists, designers, workers, administration, and all to see the one who ensured the lights stayed on and wages were paid. Aurin followed the money, so people followed him.

His secretary—low-key the accountant who kept things going in his frequent absences—found him glad-handing a vendor while an actress pretended to go through her blocking while instead admiring him.

"An Orkhan warrior...? Hm." He bowed shallowly to the vendor. "Forgive me, Venkatesan. We are being invaded. I will check back with you before the end of the week to ensure everything is copacetic for all of us. Good day."

His secretary filled him in as he strode purposefully toward the salon of the grand theater. Not currently in operation, a bartender was working behind the bar in preparation for the evening's crowds. A few musicians were on the small stage working through some difficult passages. And there was a tall Ork, standing out like a sore thumb. He was clearly Ecithian, not one of the more cosmopolitan of his cousins from Kalzasi.

Aurin offered the warrior a bow.

"Welcome to the Golden Peacock Theater. I am Aurin Kavafis. How may I help you?"

He didn't seem like a performer, but Aurin didn't rightly know what an Ecithian sword-swallower looked like. His secretary remained nearby in case Aurin needed him to run an errand.

Alas, it was not Imogen.

[Talisman]

The tall greenskin offered a bow of his own in kind, though it seemed a bit strange to see such a large figure offering it. But respect was offered, respect would be returned. He wasn't here to start a fight, and certainly not with one whose aid he intended to purchase. It might have been wiser to send one of the other band members who looked less... unnerving... than he did, but he was the leader of this group, and he was the one who had the wherewithal to negotiate.

"Thank you. You can call me Voreth. You have acquired a reputation, Mr. Kavafis - I am given to understand that you are a man that knows how to find things... especially on this continent," the Orkhan told him. His accent was strong, but his Common was at least understandable to someone who was used to dealing with different nationalities. "I am looking for someone, and I have been given liberty from my chieftain to reward those that can put me on his trail." Back in Ecith, they would have hunted the white worm down themselves, but Ailizane was a different row to hoe, and Skarner was waiting for one special delivery to be dragged before him for his failures.

"Do you have any qualms if I put up a listening ward? I prefer to keep this between us. One never knows who is listening," he wanted to know. Whoever the target was, Voreth apparently didn't want to risk any chances of word getting out, and sending their prey into hiding. Though even if he was in hiding... there was likely a good chance that Aurin would know just how to get to them. Even if it was simply pointing the greenskinned warrior and letting him crash his way through things.

[Aurin]

"Master Voreth," he said, imprinting the name into his memory. It was a mnemonic trick an actress had taught him while he taught her what cunnilingus meant.

"I have contacts and business across Ailizane," he agreed. "And some in Solunarium, though I haven't ventured yet into the Ecithian commonwealth." He would really have to get Imogen to set him up with contacts there if he was going to be a spider whose web spanned the world.

"I don't mind wards, but why don't we repair to my office, which is already warded, though you may certainly set up your own if you prefer."

He led the warrior upstairs to the administrative wing. His secretary had rushed ahead, stood by the door to let them in. When Aurin scanned the room, he saw the young man had placed something from the main bar downstairs to the already rather impressively curated wet bar he kept in his office. Ah, something new from Drathera. He hadn't had an opportunity to try it.

With the door shut behind them, his own wards sealed themselves. Talon Novalys had scrived the Rune of Initiation onto his skin and into his soul, but hadn't taught him anything. The ebberite key was heavily warded and somewhere else. His wards were rather expert now, he liked to think. Mostly, he had learned from observation, though there were a few warders among the covens who had answered his questions when he had them.

As there were Avialae, Orkhan, and even Mortallen in Kalzasi, the chairs facing his desk were of a size to be comfortable for anyone. There was also a sofa and armchair around a coffee table for more informal confabulation. He spread his hand.

"Please, make yourself comfortable. May I offer you a drink?"

He would pour himself some of the Ecithian spirit, anyway, and see to his guest's needs. Once they were ready to get down to business, he took a sip.

"Now, Master Voreth, who are you looking for?"

[Talisman]

"That would be preferable. Thank you for understanding," the greenskin nodded at the invitation to make their way to Aurin's office. This needed to be kept quiet, for obvious reasons - they may well have to put up with Zaichaer, and if they did, they would need to be polite about it. But the redheaded human might be able to smooth things there, too, and that was assuming he would be willing to involve himself here. Someone who had recommended him had said that he would sell his own eyeteeth for the right pay, so he might not have any scruples about the target...

He followed along, and looked around it. He could feel the wards here, and Semblance found them sufficient, so he was less concerned about producing his own once he had the opportunity to inspect his. He did take a seat in one considerable chair. "I will take one. Strong, please." He'd leave that up to Aurin to decide what 'strong' was going to be here, and once he had the drink, he raised it to the Fox and took a swallow, exhaling. "Thank you." He held the cup in a large, callused hand that had its share of scars mixed in with the tattoos.

"In our home, we would have found him easily. There is nowhere on that continent he could hide... except perhaps in the desert cities. He'd die in the sands, the rats don't trust them. They do not take kindly to bloodsuckers either. Here, though... this is your playground." He studied Aurin across the desk. "I'm looking for a Dreyfus Monteliyet. I was told he was known between Kalzasi and Zaichaer, but he might be lurking around that place... with a death wish. He's about your height. Pale. Blond hair, likes to make a show of his crimson eyes and waste himself with stupid tricks... but he's a weakling, and fairly sickly for a parasite. At least, he was last time my chieftain saw him." He might well have made an attempt to go to the Geleran Imperium, but if such was the case... so be it. He'd just have to take his hunting party that way.

No matter where he was, he couldn't hide from them.

[Aurin]

Aurin had a heavy hand when pouring drinks, and wouldn't let the Ork's glass go empty unless he begged off a refill.

He drank, and he listened. He thought, Ah, I had wondered what else he might have gotten mixed up with. No news from Valencia, but then she could be tight-lipped about coven matters, even with her prize pupil.

"Dreyfus Monteliyet is known to me," he admitted. "The last time I saw him was, hm, just over a year ago. He was at a Zaichaeri inn. He did not see me."

Aurin wasn't about to give up his alias, Ernst Klein, even if the name didn't mean anything to Voreth. In some ways, Aurin Kavafis was an alias, albeit one not too far from who he had been as an idiot youth with a deathwish.

"I know who he was speaking to, and I could ask when and where they last saw him if that would be helpful." He imagined Valencia and Eshar would be willing to update him if he asked, though the information might not come free and, of course, Aurin would have to upcharge to make it worth his time and effort. But he could get quick and accurate information for the Orkhan hunter; quick and accurate did not come cheap.

Voreth had wanted to be put on the Vampir's trail. If he wanted Aurin to actually track the Order's oathbreaker down, that would require more time and, of course, remuneration.

Not knowing Ecithian Orkhan culture well, Aurin's back remained straight. Whereas he might sprawl and play the rake in Kalzasern circles, he knew that wouldn't read the same in every realm. If his reputation had reached Ecith, he did want to keep it sterling. One never knew when that might come in handy.

[Talisman]

Voreth listened, taking a hard drink from his glass and made a grunt of what had to be approval from the toothy smirk he gave the cup. But he was all business as he listened to Aurin's words. He appreciated the fact that the redhead didn't seem like he was going to be a clocksucker - a hunter had to be patient, true, but there was a difference between biding one's time and wasting it, and he preferred the former over the latter.

"A year ago," he repeated, his drink lowered. "Wonder how far he's gone since then. Not far enough, any road." One thick finger tapped the glass as he considered. The target could have gotten some distance in a year, especially if he had gone and hired someone to make him a portal somewhere. But he was in and around Zaichaer, it seemed, so that was a good start. It would be harder due to how those humans were, but they weren't interested in a fight with them or the new government. They might be willing to see the vampyre removed from their vicinity, and who knew? Perhaps it would lead to something mutually beneficial down the road.

There was also the fact that this human in front of him would have an easier time getting in and out of there, and likely had contacts within the place that could provide information rather than his crew and how they looked... which would definitely be enough to cause problems with the fanatics. "What sort of coin are you looking for to look into that?" Voreth wanted to know. Money might not be much to them, favours could be more expensive, and strange goods might be valuable, too. But trades could be worked out depending on what price Aurin wanted to ask for.

He had something they wanted, and they weren't going to play coy.

[Aurin]

Aurin considered, stroking at the dark red stubble on his chin.

"Coin is nice," he allowed. "Secrets and favors are preferable. However, you have piqued my interest, so I am going to look into this anyway. I'll look into this tonight, and if you return here on the morrow, we can discuss what solid intelligence I can gather and how much it might be worth to you."

His vulpine smile wasn't evil, but it was certainly crafty.

After seeing Voreth out, he buckled down to ensure everything that needed doing was done. Sometimes his jaunts took him out of Kalzasi longer than expected and he didn't want anyone to miss their wages or payments on his account. Unless they were cunts; then all bets were off.

He checked in with his various agents in Kalzasi: Ashoka, Elwes, Dhruv, et cetera.

Then he rode the 'rails' to the covens' market in Zaichaer to drink and follow up on the Monteliyet question with Eshar and Valencia. He even had Ernst Klein check in on the apostate's family estate whose people look much improved with supplies from the Brass City. On the morrow, Voreth returned and Aurin greeted him in much the same manner: with Orkhan spirits in his office behind a screen of silence to obfuscate any who might seek to eavesdrop.

The Ork didn't need to know he was a Railrunner. When Aurin's intelligence proved accurate, its speed could add to his mystique.

"On the 18th of Searing last, he was actually in Kalzasi seeking relief from spiritual possession at the Tranquil Gardens. He left still afflicted by a Spirit of Betrayal that he apparently collected while in Ecith. In the meantime, he has been going on forays into uninhabited parts of Zaichaeri territory. His people aren't sure what he is looking for exactly."

The intelligence might seem slim, but Aurin felt it was enough to go on, at least if he were the one investigating. Either Ernst Klein could spend time at the little village that had grown up around the Monteliyet estate until the Vampir returned and then track him toward wherever he was going, or he might glean more details from more time spent among the people's minds, and then narrow down areas where he was searching.

What Voreth could do on his own, Aurin didn't know.

If nothing else, he could take Voreth to the Market to meet with the powers of the covens or even to the estate, shroud him in human-seeming glamours, and set him on the path. Aurin could get a nominal finder's fee and plenty of goodwill from the covens. It didn't seem as though Dreyfus Monteliyet was actually doing for the covens what he claimed he would and could, so he doubted they would care terribly if the Orkhan hunter had his way with him.

To Aurin's mind, one less ticking time bomb near his interests in Zaichaer, though he didn't bear the man any particular ill will. He was going to have to start asking Lady Kala more pointed questions, though. He had been let into some of her secrets by signing a magically binding non-disclosure agreement because he didn't want to stand in the way of Torin's advancement and Torin had no secrets from him. But he would have liked to have known that she had examined a spirit-cursed Vampir in Kalzasi proper.

He liked to think he hadn't put down roots, but Kalzasi had been his base of operations for years now. He had people here. Some had moved on or moved away, some had other options, but he wanted to know when things were aimed at this place that might require a sudden migration.

Aurin took a sip of his Orkhan spirit, observing his Orkhan guest and awaiting his decision.

[Talisman]

Voreth expected nothing less from a man with this one's reputation. It was nice to see that for once it might very well be earned and not idle talk with big words meant to obfuscate. That secrets and favours were his preference didn't surprise him, and it might well work out that way. He wouldn't betray his homeland and his people, but there was plenty of room in between here and there. He would finish his drink and shake the man's hand before leaving, strolling off to wherever he was going. He would be tricky to follow, if one tried, eventually vanishing into the night.

When Voreth returned the next night, he looked largely as he had before he had taken his leave. Aside from greetings, he had been quiet until they were inside Aurin's office. There was no point in bullshitting with small talk, and he appreciated the Fox's getting down to business attitude. It was refreshing, especially as focused on the hunt as he and his party were. He took the drink, raising it to the redhead in a toast before having a good swallow and lowering it to listen. While he was sitting in the chair, he was sitting forward, and he rested his elbows on his knees. They may have been two very different people, but that drive was strong in both of them.

"He would," the Orkhan said at the end of it. "Unstable fool that he is... Too much of a showboat. Drains himself, and then thinks he is above feeding, and loses control and ravages everyone around him. It's how he got himself possessed. Betrayed his manservant and murdered him... bastard's spirit didn't take that well. I wonder how many of his villagers he's eaten... they count as Zaichaeri?" It was more of a rhetorical question than one he expected an answer out of, but he had no problem sharing that tidbit. Who knew, it might tip things one way or another. The hunter had another drink. "But I thank you for all of that. Thought he would be lurking between here and there, it was just a matter of narrowing it down. Forays into the Zaichaer wildness... that sounds about right. Away from people, which he needs to eat in order to not collapse. Or maybe he wants to start it that way... Gods only know."

Some things never changed, and that included Dreyfus Monteliyet.

"This is helpful to me, and you said you liked coin, secrets, and favours. I'll trade you a secret for what you've given me so far. He came to Zaichaer intending to start a war between his home and the Imperium." Voreth told him. "My kind would not be well-received around Zaichaer... but I wouldn't mind visiting that estate of his. Get his scent and hit the wilderness from there."

[Aurin]

"Did he now?"

Aurin rubbed fair fingers over the hint of ginger scruff along his jaw. A keen-eyed Orkhan hunter might notice all the barely visible scars on his hands, signs of a knife fighter. The fact that a knife fighter survived long enough to claw his way into a situation like this likely meant he was a good knife fighter, too.

"Well, the Imperium did float a ship over toward Zaichaer while it was reeling from the rift in the sky. They didn't take kindly to that. Nor would any call him a hero for betraying his homeland to the Imperium. He already betrayed the Order of Reconciliation from what I understand. They aren't my favorite people, mind. But if one's word is meant to be taken as bond... Well." He didn't know much about Ecithian Orkhan, but he assumed they had a strong sense of honor. Aurin had one, but it was murky and convoluted and he had never been able to articulate it to himself, let alone anyone else. Then again, to most people, he offered a sort of 'honor among thieves' if anything.

"Only so many betrayals before a spirit of betrayal comes stalking you as a prey or... kindred, eh?"

He took another sip and set his drink down, leaning forward slightly.

"I can take you there now, if you like. To his family's estate. Glamour you to seem human so they don't turn on you. Help you catch the scent."

Aurin had already done a fair amount for a bit of knowledge about Dreyfus Monteliyet, and he would do this as well. If nothing else, he might have an ally should he find himself in Ecith and in need.