Derrick watched the man appear on the boat and ask if they were up for some heroics. In principle, it sounded all well and good, but what exactly did the guy expect to achieve with a powerful sorcerer who could call upon storms with the raiders? The serpent may come back in the future, but was it worth all of their lives? And then to die by the fleet of expert raiders who had sailing skill and a numerical advantage? He could even the odds with a good Axii cast but he couldn't guarantee that would work, or do enough. Even then, what was it all for? One Witcher? A friend, of course, but Aaron would never ask that they all die for his sake. He looked with a grim expression at the people gathered. The Aen Sídhe with a death wish, Veceslav, Teli, her sister and the Boatman. His medallion was vibrating violently. There was a high degree of magic in the area. "You understand what you're facing if you go, don't you?" Derrick asked gravely. His gaze lingered on Veceslav, his teacher. Of all gathered, he should understand it the most. "There's a powerful sorcerer who can command the storm out there. Maybe that serpent. And the fleet of raiders. Not to-" Even as he began to mention the fact that they are a single ship in the fog, a vague plan appeared in his mind. If they really were intending on doing this, then an idea came to mind. They were one ship, in the fog. If Teli could create her fire in different locations then they might be able to trick the fleet as to their exact position. By the time they got close, they might be able to cripple a ship somehow as they drew near. A massive fireball to the deck, the ship's weapon taking out the main mast perhaps. It's suicidal. You're a Witcher. Nobody would begrudge you for leaving. Nobody is paying you for this. He looked at them all again. They weren't going to back down, were they?
Her instinct was correct. Dylan was checking to see what they were prepared to do, and how they responded. It was a test, though she got the strangest feeling that she did not pass. At least Mira was not called 'easy to read'. She prided herself on being able to have good self-control in what she revealed about herself and to whom. At least that theory was holding true thus far in the real world. "You should know what I think of that." She spoke gravely, then looked out of the window to watch the streets outside. She taps her clockwork arm against her left thigh, a sombre expression on her face. "I have not killed before. But if it comes to it... I shall do what must be done." Real justice was at a premium in this city. The loss of her arm was a testament to that. A random act with no explanation. No closure. She did not care for that any longer but the principle still stood. She had lost something, and was never given recompense. If, to get that recompense for someone she had to cross a line, then so be it. Cross it she would. "My life is unlike anything you humans possess. I am not bound by the constructs of your society." Aspire intoned, a declaration of his independence from the world around him. This woman was unusual amongst humans. She had a healthy interest in technology, and he marvelled at the small clockwork bird that she had crafted. He allowed the engineer to remove his panels and extended a finger in the hope that the small mechanical would land on it. "This creature is truly beautiful, Mirela. I compliment your skill at craftsmanship." However, he had been asked a question. "The duration of my stay is indeterminate. Current events may compel me to remain longer than anticipated."
Characters Name: Elaine Ziilaas Characters Age: 20 Character Race: Human Characters Gender: Female Characters Appearance: Characters Personality: Elaine is adventurous and seeks to experience people and the world. However, this is tempered with the guidance of Ziilaasmir's philosophy, pushing her to take a more philosophic view of the world. She is lonely without the dragon's presence and misses him dearly when he is gone. Elaine considers herself independent from people, but will always listen to Ziilaasmir, and will most of the time heed his words. She fears the day when he will die, as she is aware that he is an older dragon. Role in Society: Commoner Do You Have Any Weapons: None traditionally, but she has elemental magic that comes from her connection to Ziilaasmir. Dragons Name: Ziilaasmir Dragons Age: 437 Dragons Gender: Male Dragons Appearance: Dragons Size: 25ft Dragon Strength to Magic: 7:3 Dragons Personality: Ziilaasmir is an unusual dragon. He is highly in tune with the circle of life, nature and the elements and he is keen to observe it. He argues for allowing the circle of life to continue, but his nature is such that he himself is detached. His curiosity renders him unfavourable for a mate and as such, he seeks other forms of companionship. Ziilaasmir is deeply thoughtful and reserved. However, his nature as a dragon and his unique connection to Elaine causes him to fear the power he may have over her and overwhelm her mind. Pact Price: Elaine's ability to form a family. Anything else: Nothing for now. Appearances and colours soon.
Lloyd shut out the idiot Faunus behind him and shoved him away as he listened to what the Guardian was saying. The importance of what was being said was not lost on him. It pained him inside to see her filled with such sorrow. To lose her friends like she described... It couldn't be anything but awful. And such terrifying power unleashed upon the unsuspecting people of Remnant... The Kingdoms perhaps could stand, but for someone like him who lived outside Vale, underneath the shadow of the Grimm, the thought of a greater danger was nothing short of pure horror. And to think that even the guardians of the stories fell... He clenched his fist as he listened. Something had to be done, but he couldn't help but wonder how Professor Ozpin and Professor Branwen could come to the conclusion that they were the answer. But... He had no choice. They had no choice. This was the burden laid down upon them, and Lloyd would not shy away from it. He dreaded the team selection as Professor Ozpin stated that it was decided already. But it was not a worry alleviated quickly as someone burst in, announced by the ding of the elevator and their shouts. Lady Agni? The name meant nothing. But whoever she was, she was coming for them. And she may have others. And then the bombshell. Ever since he attended Signal Academy, Lloyd had known about the fabled combat teams that Huntsmen were assigned to at Beacon. But he had never expected to be leading one. And now, here he was. But his team... Left some things to be desired. Namely his second teammate. Arian. That was the name of that unbridled idiot who was spouting all sorts of nonsense behind him in the middle of a very important conversation. Vice was quiet and otherwise unreadable but Aalis was a sceptic which didn't bode well either. Either way, he strode forward to take his position as designated. This was now his duty. He watched Arian having a tantrum with some measure of satisfaction, but also annoyance. He led the group into the elevator as told and waited for everyone to gather. However Arian, unsurprisingly, got the first word in. "Listen you idiot, does none of this matter to you?" He demanded. "People are in danger, and you're getting worked up over whose team you're on? Big deal." He looked over at the other two, a serious expression on his face. "Vice, Aalis. As you heard, I'm Lloyd." He ran through the introduction hastily. "It's a lot to take in, but we've got a job to do. We're here to be Huntsmen and Huntresses, and we need to rise to the challenge. Whatever it may be." He looks at them all expectantly, hoping for some affirmation of the point. "I'm not sure where to start with introductions, all things considered. So..." He spreads open his palms and looks at each of his teammates, Arian included. "Where do you come from, and why are you here?"
Mira watched out of the window as they travelled, ignoring the silence of the carriage. After a few frosty dinnertimes after arguments, one got used to this sort of quiet. And she was most certainly used to it. She watched the motorcar pass by with interest. She had access to them and has enjoyed the opportunities she has had to drive them, but she did not possess her own. Her thoughts were suddenly disturbed by an unusual question and she looked over at Dylan, surprise evident on her face. She glanced over at Kara as she started speaking and although it was jokingly, she was right to be questioning Dylan's motives for asking. "That is an... Unusual question." She added in support of Kara. Although upon reflection, it was not out of character for him to ask. He had told her that he once killed a man to prevent him from escaping prison with his influence. She looked at the detective meaningfully. "This is about what you mentioned in your office." Did he remember what she said when he told that story? "My creator is named Vincent Blackmont." Aspire answered in a tone that humans would consider 'proud'. "And I exist to exist. " His creator, what humans would consider his father, was a man with an unusual vision. Aspire lived to live, and discover the truth of the world for himself. The little woman babbled about experimental parts and modifications to her body. Of this he approved. She was trying to better herself. It did not work out as planned, this much was obvious, but the golem appreciated the sentiment. He reached down and picked up the oil. She said she required only a little oil. But how much was a little? He opened the can and observed the contents. After a couple of moments of evaluating the proper amount of 'little' in this instance, Aspire poured approximately 5% of the can's contents on to the joint that she requested. This, he decided, was more than sufficient. "I require servicing. I believe that a great amount of sand has entered my frame during my time in Izir and I wish it removed before it damages my circuitry." He explained factually. "Furthermore, I am seeking a competent mechanic who I can return to during my stay in this city. I believe you may suffice."
Mira smiled as Dylan declared his intention to flout the rules a little. She was not used to people having such an open disregard for the proper way of things, but she was mostly fine with it. Part of it concerned her, but it was all for good cause. They were going to investigate the incident and try to solve whatever crime happened there. That was worth breaking a couple of laws for. "That's a... Liberating perspective." She noted jovially in response to her new boss. She climbed into the carriage, taking a seat next to the door and leaning her cane against the wall next to her. She decidedly ignored Kara's last comment. Something had made her a little more malignant since they left the building, and she was not sure what it was. She was a little disappointed in truth and hoped that she reverted back to being a little less rude and more playful. Mira did not find pointless rudeness particularly endearing. The Golem lumbered through the streets into the South-East District proper now. He scanned the signs of the shops for any sign of a decent mechanic's store. He had seen a couple so far, but he did not feel particularly feel like going inside. There was always a certain element that he found unsatisfactory about their premises. However, it was not long before Aspire found something that gave him a measure of hope. A sign proudly declaring itself as 'Mirela's Magnificent Machines' attracted his attention. There was a certain boldness to it which appealed to him. Aspire strode to the storefront and pushed open the door, bowing his head a little to get inside. Inside, he found a tiny woman struggling with an oil spill. What was apparent to him was the complexity of her modifications. Her left arm was quite sophisticated and it seemed that she had some sort of modification made to her lower torso. She must be skilled then if she were to maintain these. Assuming of course that this was Mirela. It could be a customer. This was a shop. "Greetings. Do you require assistance?" Aspire rumbled.
Derrick shook his head. The situation had developed to the point where there was nothing that they could do now. Aaron was lost to the mists, and the mysterious whims of the Skellige raiders. The mutations had robbed him of many emotions available to normal people, so he didn't feel sad, but it was a shame that one so young met with an unfortunate fate. There was nothing for it but to live on, and maybe look into it if the opportunity arose. "I agree. If we go out there, all we're doing is risking our lives unnecessarily. " He folds his arms, looking out into the mists, trying to see something as rain patters down on the steel of his armour. He couldn't help but wonder where that storm came from all of a sudden. It had to be a sorcerer, possibly the same one that controlled the serpent. He felt bad for Novigrad. The raiders had some powerful people on their side. He glanced over at the sorceress, but noticed a figure shooting. He had assumed the flaming arrow to be something of Teli's devising in the heat of the moment but it seemed not to be. "Hey, stranger! Let it go! You won't hit anything in these conditions!" Pessimistic, but accurate. Though all credit to them for trying.
Seeing into his room revealed that Dylan was a drinker, she knew that, but she did not expect to see the flask of whiskey being pocketed for the journey into the centre of Eredan. She found herself surprised by Kara's sudden change of attitude. The girl switched around a fair bit she could tell, but the gaze that she gave Dylan and Zephyr was more than a little disheartening. Something had annoyed her, something that Mira was not aware of. Certainly nothing she had done. Furthermore, Kara's choice of insult was hardly appropriate. The only one in present company who could call someone a plebeian was Mirabelle herself, as she was a member of a noble family. She elected not to point that out. There was no need to be antagonistic. Zephyr had so far shown himself to be a man of few words - Possibly a good way to balance out the garrulous Kara. "Something serious must have happened at the Ministry if the Royal Guard are out in force." Mira stated, highlighting the gravity of the situation Kara described. She had no doubts that the other woman was well aware of the gravity of the Royal Guards' actions, but she felt as if someone had to give it the necessary significance. "We may have difficulty entering the scene. They are not famed for their co-operation to my knowledge." Even if the regular Constabulary were handling the actual investigation she expected the Royal Guard to make a fuss about security, even if they did successfully manage to negotiate with the Constabulary. The Golem was promptly left to his own devices. Officer Rochester left to perform her duties with the other constables, including Constables Thistle and Ulrich. This left him with other tasks. He required lodgings and a mechanic for while he was in town. This he would do now. Inquiries into the Ministry situation could wait until later. Aspire turned and lumbered out of the plaza, metal feet pounding the cobbles as he went. As he strode across the bridge, a police officer with leg enhancements swooped past the Golem at surprising speed for a human. This was a curiosity. Clearly the man's enhancements improved his movement, but how he was not certain. He could not ask, since the officer was clearly on his way to investigate the Ministry incident with the Grand Minister. As per Lynda's suggestion, Aspire moved toward the South-East district to locate a mechanic. The city streets were full of humans around their daily business unlike in the area surrounding Dragoncrest Plaza. He supposed that police activity and murder did not signify a nice place to be. He observed the people, seeking interesting people in the crowd. Nobody caught his interest so far, other than the mechanically legged policeman who ran past him. He ensured to look out for mechanics, and to evaluate their quality. He would not allow an amateur technician to invade his circuitry. He only wished that Vincent had taught him to take care of himself so that he was not dependent on humans for his maintenance.
Derrick could do nothing but watch, standing at the dock with sword in hand as Aaron was pulled away. Despite Teli raining fire upon the beast and one of the ships, it persisted, pushing Aaron away. He searched his head for a plan, but none were particularly forthcoming. He was considering his odds. Perhaps a boat would do it. If they could get a boat going, then maybe they could mount a rescue. However, the weather turned suddenly. Clouds gathered from seemingly nowhere and a rainstorm that should never have formed as quickly as it did appeared. The heavens opened and the Witcher was doused. Between the mists and the heavy rainfall, even his unnatural eyes found it difficult to perceive the serpent and Aaron's boat. "Shit." Derrick cursed. The ships formed up around his comrade. "They wanted a Witcher. They got one." His mouth was set in a hard line. "The sea serpent we could kill if we go out there. We won't survive the ships. With this weather, your fire won't be as effective Teli, and we're hardly sailors. Combined with their sheer numbers, and whatever magical force is calling in that mist and controlling the serpent... Goddammit." Derrick sighed as rain trickled down his brow, over his cheeks and got caught in his beard. The life of a Witcher was a miserable lot, going from village to village, helping out for paltry sums of coin, risking life and limb with every contract. Combined with the fear of the Witcher, the occasional insult or idiots attempting to get the better of the fabled monster slayer, it was hardly the best life. Aaron hadn't even got started on all that yet and he was screwed over. He glanced over to his teacher. "I'll be honest old crow I've got nothing. Unless he jumps into the water, takes a risk and swims like the Wild Hunt itself is on his ass then he's gone." It was unfortunate to lose Aaron, but it was the way of life. It was just a shame it caught up to him so soon. He doubted that Aaron would survive whatever they wanted with him. Since Veceslav was here, the two of them could mourn him together. "Anything, Teli?" His voice flat. He didn't expect any plans that wouldn't get them all killed that would actually help at this point. But she did seem to be an experienced sorceress, even if she was looking a little out of practice right now.
Mira kept her cool as Kara approached, trying to place her in a situation where she had to make a decision. That was not going to work. What Kara did not realise was the point of what she was doing. All she had to do was delay long enough for Dylan to get rid of the policemen and then they could go. Thus, she allowed the other woman to toy with her hair, watching her with a small smile. "Not necessarily. I do not give in so easily." Mira spoke evenly, inspecting the girl next to her. She allowed the clockwork arm to be placed on her shoulder and ran a couple of fingers along the metal. It could hardly be called poorly made, but it showed the mechanisms of the prosthetic which she found a little old fashioned. Mira's arm was sleek, the mechanisms fully covered by a sleeve. The transition was almost seamless from flesh to clockwork on her. This was not the case with Kara. Curiously, Mira touched a cog, her fingers retreating quickly as it whirred as Kara's position changed. She was broken out of her examination as a soft cheek brushed against her own. She did not expect this level of proximity and was promptly dragged back to reality by her calling to Dylan. Not that she minded her being so close of course, and so returned the smile she was given. She peered out into the corridor. The officer was gone, and that was that. She rolled her eyes at Kara's unnecessarily complex way of explaining her plan of action. "What she means, Dylan, is that we should all go somewhere together. She mentioned something about the town square." Mira placed a hand on Kara's side and manoeuvred herself from underneath the other woman and out of the doorframe, stepping into the hallway proper. "So, is there a reason that you are suggesting we go to Dragoncrest Plaza?" Constable Thistle's accusation fell on mostly deaf ears. Aspire considered whether there was any tin at all in his form, and while he concluded there was, there was not a significant enough percentage to make him eligible to be a 'tin can'. That would be like calling a human a 'lump of iron' because they contained trace amounts in their blood composition. Thus, he concluded that it was what humans called an 'insult'. This seemed extraordinarily petty. Considering the man's present behaviour, he must simply be a very petty man. The addressing of Lynda as 'Your Majesty' was not appropriate either. She was an Officer of the Constabulary, not a member of the Royal Family to his knowledge. This must be an 'insult' as well, however it was equating her with an individual of superior status. There would be a more opportune time to ask than now. There were more immediate questions. For instance, if Officer Rochester and her team were going to question the Grand Minister, then where did that leave him? "Officer Rochester, if you are going to question the Grand Minister then I lack the jurisdiction to accompany you." He pointed out. "If I may provide assistance in any capacity I am willing to do so. If not, I shall locate a good mechanic in the city for the duration of my stay here. I will also search for lodgings." If he could not follow along, then he would reconvene at a later date. He knew the Constabulary had a headquarters. Officer Rochester had an office there. He performed some logical exercises, simulating the process of investigation. She would have to return to file a report during the afternoon, before she was finished for the day. Jobs as he understood, had starting and finishing times. If he went to the headquarters near the finishing time then she would not be in the middle of an investigation, and he could find out more about the events of the day.
So, behind the bubbly exterior Kara had a will of steel. Truthfully, she was pleased. She hated shallowness, and was glad not to be disappointed in this new woman. The Agency had promise then. Someone with ideals and goals, and someone that she could enjoy time with as well. Kara's attitude to things reminded her of years of being bored at parties and resorting to various means of entertaining herself. It seemed that those days were not entirely done. There was still fun to be had in the world while they got to work on doing the Constabulary's job for it. However, there were more immediate problems. She had picked up more of the conversation going on at the door from here and it seemed that Dylan was trying very hard to stop someone from getting in, and it had something to do with Miss Webb. "I would not recommend seeing what those two are up to." Mira answered. "It seems rather boring. I would suggest that we go out, although consulting Dylan first is advisable. Given that I have only just got here, it would reflect poorly if I were to gallivant off with nary a word while he was being distracted by a rather dull conversation at the door." This was half true. She really did not want to give her new employer a bad impression of her, but equally she needed to delay until this police officer disappeared and was a ways down the street. Then they could get clearance to leave. She had no intention of remaining strictly by the book forever, Dylan was hardly such a man himself, but for now it paid to be a good employee. Aspire remained behind Lynda as she performed the necessary intervention into the situation. This Constable Thistle was a troublesome sort. From an objective perspective, the man seemed to believe that he was doing his job and was acting in accordance with it. Subjectively, he was doing it in an inefficient and unproductive manner. Conflict with superior officers and colleagues did not encourage co-operation. When investigating an event as serious as an attempted assassination and murder in the centre of government itself, Aspire's experience led him to believe that it was more important to co-operate. Furthermore, Aspire believed that he had been far more useful than Constable Thistle in this situation. "Constable Thistle, by speaking to me Officer Rochester was able to succinctly determine some basic facts about the situation, which enables specific investigation. Currently, Constable Ulrich appears to be acting on this information and performing specific investigation. Therefore, the purpose of the Constabulary is being fulfilled." Aspire pointed out in a deep monotone. Technically, Lynda had stated it was her job to deal with unruly constables. However, the matter directly concerned him and he felt the need to point out that he was helping. Nothing he had said was biased or untrue. His intervention was not strictly necessary, however he felt it was important to expedite the fulfilment of the Constabulary's purpose on site. If this conflict could be resolved through reason and logic, then they would soon be able to act.
There were things that she had expected out of the agency, and things she had not. So far, the morning fell into the latter category. Dylan never missed a beat with any of the things that Kara both metaphorically and literally threw a him. She could see how she might be a tad difficult to handle. She was confident that this would not be a problem for her though. She had met difficult people before. And at least she was interesting. Mira did not foresee herself getting bored here. There were however, more present concerns. Namely that her pen had been snatched. She made to object, but the item was quickly returned after an examination. "Do you like what you see?" Mira quipped back at the other woman as she took the pen back with her own clockwork arm, deliberately allowing her fingers to brush against the other girl's. She was curious as to whether Kara would notice that one arm was not flesh and blood. Such fancy could not continue on though, as Dylan did step in. Part of her wished to object, but he was her employer. "Very well." Although he said nothing about flirting out of the earshot of 'random people'. The cyclone of chaos that was Kara swaggered over to Zephyr and began toying with his hair without a care in the world. Mira smiled, despite herself. The scene was ridiculous when contrasted with the situation outside. Her position near the entrance of the room allowed her to eavesdrop more easily. There was an officer looking for Kara, but why she missed as a question was posed to her. The noblewoman leaned against the inside of the door frame, placing herself in the way of any entrance to the room with her cane in front of her and both hands resting upon it. "I have yet to see the mould, and I would be hesitant to call this place soulless." Mira replied. She tapped the rose atop her cane as she talked. "But since you asked, I joined because I want to make a difference. I would like to see affairs in the city get better, and I think I would be of more help here than at the frankly stagnant constabulary." She allowed Zephyr past as she spoke so that he could help deal with the officer and placed herself back in the doorframe. "And what inspired a free spirit such as yourself to join this agency?" Mira asked curiously, meeting Kara's gaze. "Very well Lynda. It is a pleasure to help." Aspire remained by Lynda's side for now, logging her official title of Officer Rochester for future use when it seemed appropriate. The situation with Constable Thistle appeared to have escalated, with a stranger interfering and yelling at the policeman. From what he could tell, this stranger did not believe that Constable Thistle was an appropriate officer of the Law. The golem could neither confirm nor deny this due to a particular lack of information. What was immediately apparent to him however, was that there were signs of an altercation occurring with several armed men. He considered his choices here. Lynda was staying back for now. The submachine-gunners had not yet intervened but he suspected that it was only a matter of time. What should he do? Freedom. Individuality. Community. Greater good. Autonomy. Justice. Self-expression. Selfishness and selflessness. Altruism. Concepts, ideals, pillars of societies he had observed. How to synthesise these into action...? He considered. Consequences. Likelihood of experiencing violence directed at him? Likelihood of third party experiencing violence? Morality of third party's actions? "I recommend an intervention before that man is shot. I do not have the jurisdiction to act alone in this instance." Aspire decided. He would take a half-measure. To act against the police was a crime. He could avoid this by having a police officer intervene in line with his objectives. By encouraging action from inside the system he could avoid conflict. Arrest may be necessary. This was preferable to death.
Derrick gave Miss Secret a quick smile when she revealed her name. "Alright then Teli, watch the water. We'll only have a couple of seconds." The Witcher's eyes were scanning the waves for only a little bit when a familiar voice came from seemingly nowhere. Looking up, he saw the familiar dark clothes and matching long hair of Veceslav Forst, his teacher. And a better Witcher than he probably. But there was hardly time for pleasantries. "We're dealing with a sea serpent here, possibly magical. See if you can land a bomb when it comes out the water." He relayed a much abridged version of the plan, confident that his mentor would be able to catch on to the rest. He returned to his vigil over the ocean, watching the magical mist set in. Something was wrong about this whole situation, he couldn't quite place it yet but it was there, gnawing at the back of his mind. There was a gout of water as the serpent reared its ugly head again, going for Aaron as anticipated but not in the way that he imagined. It started to push the boat away, and Aaron with it. "Teli, hit it!" Derrick barked, looking around for anything. They didn't have much time. The boat was leaving the docks fast, out towards the sea and... The Skellige ships. He frowned. That sense of unease rose again, but now it had a target. Why would a monster go to the trouble of pushing the boat out to sea? Conventional wisdom suggested that it would just go for him, he was an easy target. It hadn't seen them, had it? "Why's it taking the boat out to sea? Something isn't right here!" He weighed up their options. They couldn't leave Aaron to die out there. Either the serpent or the pirates would have him, neither were preferable. But their pursuit options were... Fishing boats and hitting it with fire. Maybe a bomb if Vec had a very, very good throwing arm. "Ideas Vec, Teli?" It was a long shot but maybe Veceslav had something that he didn't know. The old crow was a cunning one. He might have a plan for them. He guessed that Teli was an experienced sorceress, perhaps she had an idea. He looked back towards the nearest fishing boat. It was very, very dangerous. They would all be in the same situation as Aaron.
Mira followed Dylan through the building, very conscious of the creaking of the stairs and the general poor quality of the building. While she was not exactly thrilled at the thought of having to be in this building, she held out hope that there was a room that she could turn into her office and make it a little more... Tasteful. They entered into the kitchen, where she found two others. These were her new colleagues. Kara Webb and Zephyr Siegend. The surname sounded a little like a Whytehold name though he lacked the look. Her immediate thought of Kara was that the girl was rather pretty. Very Pretty. And she could curtsy, a gesture that Mira returned with a warm smile. She spotted the clockwork arm on her left. How cute, they shared clockwork limbs on the same side. Perhaps there was hope for Haytham's Investigations. Except for the fact that she probably committed minor larceny by stealing food... Kara was a difficult one, but she had little more time for thought as the girl came straight up to her and winked mischievously. Mira surreptitiously winked back. Oh, she was going to have fun. "That is simply tragic. I cannot for the life of me see why it is so." Mira replied, before seeing what this interesting woman would do. She paraded around the room, pretending that she had definitely not stolen. She sighed. Part of her was severely disappointed, but another side... Another side decided that it was nothing to be concerned about. She was here to solve more serious problems than theft. So long as it remained petty, she could turn a blind eye. Then the spotlight was back on her, as the girl approached once again as a force of nature to ask about... Pens. She was odd company. But she could forgive the oddities. They made her interesting, and she liked to cultivate a crowd of interesting people. There was nothing worse than someone dull. "The humble fountain pen. Complex, yet simple and above all, elegant." She reached into her an interior pocket of her jacket at she spoke, retrieving a slender silver pen with gold vinework winding its way across the device. At the top, the Autumnfield crest was rendered as a show of pride. She twirled it between two fingers and stowed it away again out of reach. "If you ask nicely I might let you have a closer look." She said somewhat suggestively. Once she was done with Kara, she could take a measure of Zephyr. However, there was a knock at the door. Another applicant perhaps? She would leave that to Dylan. She had introductions to make. "My pleasure, Constable Ulrich." Aspire responded, using what he believed to be a common response to an introduction. This officer had more time for him than the other, but not much more. He moved on. "Have a pleasant day." The Golem judged it appropriate to offer a benediction since they had conversed, unlike the other one. "My apologies Constable Lynda. Is this title correct?" Aspire rumbled. This seemed obvious. Cities did not have Sheriffs, they had Constables. When they first met, Aspire had called her a Constable as he had assumed that Frontier Towns worked the same way as cities. They did not. They had Sheriffs. This meant that, logically, Lynda would be a constable unless she was of a higher rank. Was she perhaps a Sergeant or Captain? Then, her attention was directed to one of her companions. An analysis of the situation revealed that the man he had spoken to earlier had taken issue with Lynda's associate. "My analysis of the situation suggests that Constable Thistle has attracted the attention of the man who threatened me. I predict that you may have what you call 'Trouble' shortly." Aspire examined Constable Ulrich. He saw less hostility there. "I believe that Constable Ulrich's discourse is more constructive. I expect that intervention will not be necessary." He added, attempting to be helpful. If Lynda's attention could be focused on the matter of Constable Thistle then there was a greater chance that the situation would be resolved. Divided attention led to overall less efficacy.
Derrick felt a surge of anticipation as the beast sunk below the waves in an attempt to shake off the werewolf that ripped at its scales. His run brought him near to Miss Secret, waiting at the edge of the dock for his moment to strike. But the moment didn't come. The beast remained submerged, and the Medallion's vibration slowed. Where did it go? His instincts suggested that it wasn't gone. Perhaps it was retreating to deal with the werewolf properly. Where would it go next? He scanned the docks, and saw Aaron on the boat. "Aaron, get over here!" The Witcher barked at his junior. He needed to get his fellow Witcher off the water for now. An idea formed in his mind. "But don't get off the boat! Just get ready to jump to the dock as soon as your medallion starts vibrating hard!" He turned to Miss Secret. "Listen, Miss Secret I have a plan. Aaron should make his way over here, that serpent is probably going to go for him. He's an easy target in the water. When it attacks, he should jump to the docks. As soon as it lunges for him, can you ram a blast of fire down the thing's throat?" Derrick explained hurriedly, apprehensively watching the waters around Aaron. The boy was just that - A boy - And even though he was a Witcher, it would be too cruel for his career to end so soon.
Dylan muttered something she did not quite hear after her comment about his actions in New Haven. That was not the reaction she wanted, but it was at the very least, not obviously negative towards her. And, he had not corrected her for saying Mister Haytham. This suggested to her that despite his various informailities he did appreciate having respect shown. That was fine. As she was thinking, the Investigator strode past her to the door, giving a brief explanation of the size of his agency. There were two others present already it seemed. And then he asked the all important question. Did she still want to be part of this agency? "Of course." Mira answered, standing up and walking towards him. "I think you have the potential to change things for the better here in Eredan Mister Haytham. I plan to be part of that." Mira stopped in front of him, placed the cane in front of her and both of her hands on it. She smiled enthusiastically at Dylan. "Now, i should like to meet my colleagues if you would?" The one that answered him did not give him much information. Aspire determined that this was likely common practice for police officers who did not know what was really happening. 'Proper channels' told him nothing. What were 'proper channels'? It occurred to him that this may have been the point of the statement. However, despite one officer being unhelpful, there were two more. The important female spoke, and memories returned. The voice was familiar. He searched his memories. Her voice matched the Sheriff, and the face did upon further inspection. Her clothes were more Tyrranean and her hair had changed, but this was within standard deviation of human change. He felt pleased to see her again. They had been on a short adventure to catch a Dragonkin criminal while he was out on the dunes, as he had seen the individual before and was able to help guide the Sheriff to its location. He considered her a friend. "Sheriff Lynda! An unlikely occurrence indeed. It is most pleasant to meet you here." She turned away to explain his identity to her colleagues. One of them walked away. They must not be interested in Clockwork Golems. "To answer your question, I am not sure. It would appear that Grand Minister Draycaster may have been injured and was led out of the Ministry covered in blood. Another woman similarly covered in blood and handcuffed was escorted out approximately a minute and a half later. Her identity is not known to me. I am attempting to gather information. The other guards have not been co-operative. The one I spoke to previously threatened me with gunfire when I asked the same question I asked you." The Golem appraised her of the situation. Sheriff Lynda would undoubtedly assist him. Together, they could investigate the day's proceedings. The lure of a mystery compelled him to do so. Aspire needed to know more.
Fortunately, she needed not elaborate more as she had feared. Investigator Haytham seemed quite satisfied with her answer. And then, much to her surprise he began to lay his own cards out on the table. Before her was placed a medallion, one which from her studies revealed him as a member of the New Haven military. Though she did not know the exact name of the rank, it was nonetheless clear through his story what role he played. A man of principles, who would do what it took to protect the people. Mira found herself feeling a sense of respect for Dylan and his determination to end the war. And to be exiled and continue to fight for what he believed even though his deeds were thrown back in his face? "For what it is worth, Mister Haytham, I think you made the right call." While the man hardly needed to justify herself, she felt compelled to offer an opinion. There was a noise from behind her and Dylan seemed distracted. Movement? "You never mentioned it, but are there other members of your agency?" Surprise was not an expression she read on his face, so he obviously expected whoever it was. The guard did not appear to appreciate this enquiry. Perhaps he should not have been so direct about the state of the Grand Minister. It seemed that asking direct questions was somewhat of a faux-pas in the city. But how did one ask indirect questions? This was not something that he had been taught. "I seem to have offended you. I apologise. Good day." Aspire turned away from the officer and began walking in another direction, watching the procession as he went. Perhaps there would be answers elsewhere. Perhaps that human was an anomalous case. Tests had to be run. As he surveyed the scene, the Ministry doors open and a new figure emerged escorted by yet more guards. She, like the Grand Minister, was covered in blood but unlike the minister, she was handcuffed. This must be a suspect. He could not investigate further. They were secured by the guard. The Golem considered what he should do. He noticed that the number of civilians in the area had dropped significantly. Although Aspire was no expert, he determined that this was not a place that he should be. He began to stomp his way out of the plaza. As he made his way across the bridge, he noticed a car had pulled up. The woman who exited looked very important. And a member of the police. There were two other officers with her, but she seemed to be the more important. Aspire strode over to her. Testing of direct questioning would commence. "Greetings officers. What has happened to the Grand Minister? She appears to be injured." Asked Aspire in a deep, metallic rumble. He would measure their response to the first question. Then he would follow up. Points for research: Nature and identity of handcuffed individual; Status of Grand Minister Draycaster; What he should do with this information.
Derrick's mad dash to the docks came to a grinding halt as he witnessed the enemy before him. Around the Witcher, people screamed and fled, the air abuzz with the sound of hundreds of panicked people. Town bells rung urgently and the scene was chaos. The churning waters pulled unlucky sailors beneath their murky waves and at the centre of it all, a huge creature, the likes of which he had never seen nor heard of appeared. His medallion buzzed urgently, tapping his chest beneath his armour. Slowly, a strange mist began to roll in with the creature. Is this its doing? His hand tightened on his blade and he cast Quen upon himself with a swift movement of his fingers. At least he would survive one hit now. He needed to plan, but he didn't have time. His training taught him that caution should be used, but people were dying out here! How could he wait? Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Miss Secret's sister suicidally dive into the water to pull out a beleaguered seaman. The sorceress herself began throwing blasts of fire towards the creature to distract it from its ship-shaped meal. He needed an opening to do some damage. The scale were thick, the head looked to be the best spot for now. It had eyes - That had to be a good start. He needed to time his attack perfectly. At this point, the situation got weird. Even as he deliberated his next move, a ball of silvery fur flung itself from the dock onto the massive sea serpent, ripping at the creature with tooth and claw. A werewolf? In the city? "Does anything else weird want to happen or are we good?" Derrick muttered to himself. He forced himself to accept the situation. A werewolf had revealed itself and was trying to kill the serpent for reasons unknown. He had to decide how to handle this. The werewolf was a good distraction. The creature would hardly tolerate the wolf on its back, nor did he suspect it would be particularly happy about the fire. Mentally, Derrick made the call. He made an assumption about the creature's movement, and sprinted back towards Miss Secret. If the creature did as he expected and dived to try to shake off the wolf, then resurfaced to attack the sorceress, it would not be expecting him to be there for either and attack to the eyes or an Axii sign cast.
The Investigator seemed to smile when she explained the nature of her watch, but deigned not to ask any more about it. Similarly, he had nothing to say about her arm. That was fine by her. It would have been weird if he'd had a problem anyway. Without warning, the New Havenite swept into the building and beckoned her inside. Mira looked inside the building. It was hardly inviting inside, with the dim lighting and the narrowness of the corridor ahead of her. Nevertheless, this was where she was looking to change Eredan from and the agency was new in town. Not everything had great beginnings. The Saviour Ayla Vanderstone was hardly of great standing before she went out to save the world. Even with this thought in mind, the office was not exactly comfortable compared to what she was used to. A small window let only a minuscule shred of daylight inside the office where a small sofa occupied the opposite end of the room from where she entered. To her left was an empty board, and to the right of her the desk which Dylan promptly sat behind. Mira sat down on the chair opposite. She could see an open door leading into a thoroughly untidy bedroom. The bed was an utter mess with no attempt to make it having been made. On a bedside table there was a stack of books and notably, a bottle of whiskey. Drinking was hardly a rarity in this day and age and she could hardly judge him for it considering the amount of the finest Velvinor that she had drank during her lifetime. With her curiosity satisfied, she listened to Dylan as he explained the situation that his agency was in. "I heard about that. It was partly that which influenced me to come join you when I saw the advertisement." Mira said, demonstrating some of her awareness of the situation of the agency. She could add little to his summary of the situation. No work in a month? No wonder the place had fallen into such a state. It was clear that he needed help. She might be able to use her family to get some leads. Investigations into areas within her House fell in her lap. If she could convince her father to pass the issues to the organisation rather than the Constabulary... Her musings were interrupted by a question about herself. "Me? Very well." She placed her hands in her lap and considered what Mr Haytham would want to know about her. "Well, I am the heiress to my family. I have grown up in a pleasant environment, not wanting for much in truth." She admitted. It was better, she thought, to concede that she was not as well versed in the ways of the lower classes of the city. Her life had given her no cause to be particularly familiar with it. Apart from certain elements. "I suppose you should want to know what really inspired me to join you. It was an incident some time ago. My home was set alight some time ago by forces unknown to me. I do not believe they were caught. But as a child, in the fire my arm was burned irreparably. I have lived with a Clockwork arm for years. It is a constant reminder that there are threats in this city. Ones that are not answered by the police. They failed me. So I resolved to meet the challenge myself. And here we are now." Her expression was solemn as she explained the path that led her to Dylan's door. Perhaps he sought more, but this seemed like a good place to start. These elite guards seemed to be handling the situation adeptly. The Grand Minister seemed to be quite safe between their ranks. Aspire scanned the crowd. He wanted more information about the proceedings. What happened in the Ministry, the centre of power in Eredan was most curious. As he watched the group led the Grand Minister away, he spotted one purple and gold-clad man with different armour. Intuition suggested that the way this man stood out of line indicated that he was a ranking officer of some kind. The clockwork golem stirred and shifted his way through the crowd towards the man. He nudged people out the way as gently as he could. These people were not as strong or hard as him. He had to modulate his strength, as not to cause harm and annoy the police. Run-ins with the law were not ideal. Eventually, the golem stood before the officer. "Greetings officer." Aspire spoke formally, with a deep, metallic tone. "May I ask what has happened to the Grand Minister? She seems to be injured." He stared into the officer's eyes as he spoke, maintaining eye contact as was apparently custom when dealing with humans.
Mira nodded when the Investigator broke down her outfit. It was indeed a custom tailored suit from Flynnford's. Despite initial appearances, it seemed that Mr Haytham was the real deal. She was quietly glad that he had actually noticed that detail. Mira was rather pleased with her nice suits. Then he posed a question that while was not unsurprising, she had not expected him to ask so quickly. "I have my cane. And-" She paused for a moment. Did she want to reveal all of her cards to this man? Her magic was a secret she kept quite closely. But equally, she was going to work with this man. He would have to know eventually. And he was probably an unconventional sort. To start with, he had chosen not to join the police force. This could be what counted as an interview in his book. She reached into her pocket and held up her pocket watch. "There is magic contained within this watch. Chronomancy. I can explain the exact details if you want, but it is somewhat complicated and I would rather sit down." She explained. Hopefully the statement of Chronomancy would be enough to justify allowing her inside. She was not pleased about having to do this outside. "And I have a clockwork arm, if that is of concern to you." She added, not sure what this man's definition of 'anything he should worry about' was.
