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Post by Lylyss on Aug 5, 2015 8:37:22 GMT
((Yay! New bad guys!))
Tiberius didn't wrangle with the hazekillers any longer. Instead, he edged toward the door, careful not to expose his back, and darted out into the street. Let's get lost.
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 6, 2015 4:55:58 GMT
((Awesome, Gamey! Looking forward to seeing him in action! …oh, wait. He's going to be in action against my characters. :S ))
The elder hazekiller halted once Tiberius left and scanned the room. "Is anyone hurt?" Replies in the negative. He spotted an obligator on the top of the stairwell and approached him. "Sir! The Coinshot made a break for it. Shall I pursue?"
Chazan took the quickest way home—hiring a covered rickshaw to take him back to the Governor's mansion. He watched the populace carefully, though he kept his face forward. Although he'd never have admitted it, the Coinshot's parting statement worried him. Something had slipped out. Somehow, the Coinshot had discovered something connecting him to the Terris Resistance. How much did he know? The Coinshot had successfully identified him even after he'd assumed a quick disguise. He'd have to work on that disguise. More to the point, he'd have to employ his contacts again. The Coinshot had a distinct hair colour and style. It shouldn't be too hard for someone to hunt him down and remove him from the picture. Chazan leaned back in the rickshaw and closed his eyes. He knew what his goals were. And no spider-haired Coinshot was going to stop him.
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 6, 2015 8:28:09 GMT
"If you can." August narrowed his eyes. Surely it wasn't a coincidence that he had arrived just minutes before the Coinshot. "I'll send some of my men along for good measure." ________
Crisis averted. Ollin breathed a sigh of relief. Ironically, this burst of violence provided the perfect opportunity to retrieve the note Chazan had left in his room. She began the long trek upstairs. Every step was murder to her arthritic joints, but by flaring Pewter she was able to make it up to the Terrisman's suite. ________
Tiberius ducked down an alley, glancing over his shoulder for pursuers.
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 6, 2015 9:14:33 GMT
The hazekiller saluted and moved towards the door, followed by his younger counterpart. "Yes, sir. Kill or capture?"
Unfortunately, due to the Coinshot's interference, Chazan had not managed to slip the note into his suite. The room lay in perfect tidiness, the lone bed made and unruffled, the chest of drawers collecting a few motes of dust. No note.
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 6, 2015 9:37:18 GMT
August snapped at his acolytes, and they moved to join the hazekillers. "Capture. Preferably. But if that proves to be too difficult..." He paused significantly. "You know what to do." __________
Ollin searched everywhere--under the bed, in the bureau, even between cracks in the floorboards. Nothing. "Well, Master Terrisman, you've certainly left me a right fine mess to clean up." She didn't mean it. Not really. Ollin was just frustrated that her journey upstairs had been in vain. "Oh, don't worry, I'll find you anyhow. Chazan is quite an unusual name..." __________
Tiberius rounded one corner. Then another. And another. After several more sharp turns he paused, leaning against a squalid skaa shack, and tried to catch his breath.
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 7, 2015 22:17:32 GMT
The hazekillers saluted and dashed out of the door Tiberius had escaped through. They searched the area for half an hour, finding no one, and eventually returned empty-handed to the obligator at the Linwhistle Hotel. The elder cleared his throat. "Coinshots aren't easy to track, sir. I mean, they can just drop a coin and sail off into the sky. Shall we remain in the vicinity in case he tries again, sir?"
Outside the courtyard of the Governor's mansion, Chazan wrote a coded note stating where he wanted Ollin to meet him. He raised his head and looked around, fixing on a young Terris boy watching him from the edge of the street. "You, boy." The Terris boy glanced over his shoulder. "Yes, you. Come here." Chazan produced a silver boxing from his money pouch. "Would you like to earn a few coins?" The boy nodded eagerly. "Yes, sir!" Chazan returned the boxing to his pouch and extended the note. "Take this to the Linwhistle Hotel on the street called the Crook. Slip it under the door of suite number 10. If anyone questions you, say you're a messenger from the Governor." The boy took the note and nodded. "How much am I getting?" "I will pay you the boxing you saw, plus another one like it." A high amount for anyone on the streets. "Agreed?" "Agreed, sir!" The boy darted off into the crowd, carrying the note. Chazan sighed as he watched the boy go. At least there was nothing incriminating in the note, so even if someone besides Ollin managed to decode it, they'd find only a location—the western corner of Tathingdwen's Market Square—and they wouldn't know who to look for. He turned and headed into the courtyard, up the stairs, and into the Governor's mansion. The Governor was having a meeting in just a few minutes, and he would want his steward in attendance. The charade got old after a while. But Chazan could cope. The information he collected from these talks went to good use with the Synod and his own rebellion. Yes, he could keep doing this for a long time.
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 8, 2015 2:50:32 GMT
The hazekillers saluted and dashed out of the door Tiberius had escaped through. They searched the area for half an hour, finding no one, and eventually returned empty-handed to the obligator at the Linwhistle Hotel. The elder cleared his throat. "Coinshots aren't easy to track, sir. I mean, they can just drop a coin and sail off into the sky. Shall we remain in the vicinity in case he tries again, sir?"
Outside the courtyard of the Governor's mansion, Chazan wrote a coded note stating where he wanted Ollin to meet him. He raised his head and looked around, fixing on a young Terris boy watching him from the edge of the street. "You, boy." The Terris boy glanced over his shoulder. "Yes, you. Come here." Chazan produced a silver boxing from his money pouch. "Would you like to earn a few coins?" The boy nodded eagerly. "Yes, sir!" Chazan returned the boxing to his pouch and extended the note. "Take this to the Linwhistle Hotel on the street called the Crook. Slip it under the door of suite number 10. If anyone questions you, say you're a messenger from the Governor." The boy took the note and nodded. "How much am I getting?" "I will pay you the boxing you saw, plus another one like it." A high amount for anyone on the streets. "Agreed?" "Agreed, sir!" The boy darted off into the crowd, carrying the note. Chazan sighed as he watched the boy go. At least there was nothing incriminating in the note, so even if someone besides Ollin managed to decode it, they'd find only a location—the western corner of Tathingdwen's Market Square—and they wouldn't know who to look for. He turned and headed into the courtyard, up the stairs, and into the Governor's mansion. The Governor was having a meeting in just a few minutes, and he would want his steward in attendance. The charade got old after a while. But Chazan could cope. The information he collected from these talks went to good use with the Synod and his own rebellion. Yes, he could keep doing this for a long time. August scowled, but in truth, he had expected as much. "No. There's not enough time. If you wish to work with me further, search for the other man, the one who was attacked by the Coinshot." He turned to his assistants. "We will focus our investigation on him as well. Jiska, interview the servants. Iphus, check guest list. Mandible… I have a special job for you." He handed him an officious envelope. "This goes directly to the governor. No one else. Understand?" The acolytes nodded, and dispersed to their separate tasks. _________ Ollin adopted a two-pronged plan: First, she would keep her job at the Linwhistle, just in case the Terrisman tried to reestablish contact. Second, she would try to find Chazan by herself. Jove would help with that. He had already been put on the alert and could be seen prowling the marketplace in search of a certain Terris steward. In the meanwhile, however, Ollin was dusting the lobby again.
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 8, 2015 3:01:24 GMT
The hazekiller tilted his head. "Sir? The other man?"
Two silver boxings… Tashek slipped into the back door of the Linwhistle Hotel and peeked out into the lobby. He was about to take a step inside when a hand caught his collar and spun him to face a young man with a hall boy's apron. "Wipe the ash off your feet before you go in there." Tashek scowled, but did as the hall boy said. When he straightened again, the hall boy was eying him strangely. "What?" Tashek shrugged off the look. "I'm a messenger. Gonna be paid, too." He produced the note for proof. "There. See?" The hall boy frowned at him and went back to his work. With feet now cleaned of ash, Tashek chose a path around the edges of the lobby, too shy to go further in. He spotted the stairs and headed for them. Guessing the rooms are up there. Room 10, I think.
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 8, 2015 3:17:41 GMT
Poor child. Ollin frowned at the young Terrisman. There was no reason for the hall boy to treat him so harshly. "What room are you looking for, son?" _______
"Yes. The other man. I distinctly remember the Coinshot shouting something about a Feruchemist?"
((Brb. Dinner.))
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 8, 2015 3:33:03 GMT
((Dinner at 3:30? Haven't you adapted to NZ time yet?))
Tashek perked up at a kinder voice. "Room 10, ma'am. Got a note for someone there."
The hazekiller's eyebrows arched high. "I'm sorry, sir, I wasn't there at that point. But many people in this Dominance know about Feruchemists. There's the chance that the Coinshot was only saying that to distract attention from him." He coughed. "What with our Lord Ruler's systems and all. I can search, sir, but my attention was more on the Coinshot, since he was the more obvious threat. I don't recall any details about the potential Feruchemist except that he wore an eyepatch and looked rather brutal."
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 8, 2015 4:17:13 GMT
"Room 10?" Ollin blinked, suddenly understanding. "I'm afraid he's not home at the moment, child. Why don't you leave it with me? I'll make sure it gets to the right person." ________ "Perhaps you're right." August stroked the bridge of his nose. "Nevertheless, I shall proceed with my investigation, regardless of whether or not the one-eyed man is a true Feruchemist. Leave no stone unturned, right?" (( Dmitri Pendragon: Lol. Well, maybe it's more of a late lunch? We're just eating irregularly today. Usually we're better.))
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 8, 2015 4:26:32 GMT
Tashek shrugged. "Okay. You won't be able to read it, though. He wrote it in some weird bird letters." He extended the note. "Here. Can you give me a note saying that you're going to deliver it? Just like a voucher or something like that?"
The hazekiller nodded and sheathed his duelling cane. "Yes, sir. I will remain in the region and report back if I find this potential Feruchemist." He signalled his younger companion, and the two hazekillers left the hotel.
((Ah, I see. Heh. Well, eating irregularly isn't something I'm used to—except when it's breakfast. I have breakfast sometime between 8 and 10.))
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 8, 2015 4:49:58 GMT
"Of course." Ollin glanced around, then tore a page from the guestbook and marked it with an X. She could have signed properly, of course, but most skaa washerwomen wouldn't be as capable. "There you are. Now run along, before the concierge interferes." _______
August nodded his farewell, then retired to his room to wait for the return of his acolytes. _______
Mandible rapped smartly on the Governor's front door, his master's letter clasped tightly in one hand.
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 8, 2015 4:53:04 GMT
Tashek nodded vigorously, took the note, and hurried off.
A servant opened the door a crack, then opened it fully at realising that it was an acolyte of the Steel Ministry standing before him. "Come in, sir. To whom shall I take your message?" He reached for the letter.
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 8, 2015 5:27:38 GMT
Mandible stepped back, holding the letter out of reach. "I'll deliver it myself, thank you very much. It's for the Governor." ______
Ollin slipped back into the kitchen. This had better be good, Chazan. She found a secluded place behind a stack of beer barrels and ripped open the letter.
((Letter, Dmitri? ;) By the way, I find it ironic that both of our characters are getting mail at the same time.))
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 8, 2015 5:36:32 GMT
The servant pulled his hand back, hi brow lifting. "Very well, sir. Allow me to show you the way." He stepped aside, providing room for Mandible to enter. "The Governor is in a meeting right now, which is scheduled to end in less than a quarter hour. What is the urgency of your message?"
In the unique birdlike characters Chazan had designed and shared with Ollin, the letter spelt out only seven words. Market Square. Southwest corner. Old man disguise.
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 8, 2015 5:54:58 GMT
Mandible bit his lip. He wasn't used to making decisions apart from August. "I… guess I can wait fifteen minutes." _______
Old man disguise? Really? Ollin smirked at the page. I can't wait to see this. She stood, flaring Pewter, and set off for the Market Square.
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 8, 2015 5:58:57 GMT
The servant bowed and led the way through the atrium to the main hall. "When the Governor is finished, I will notify you."
((It's tomorrow's meeting point. I'd go with it, but Zalwen and his servant are occupied at the moment. Still, we could timeskip to the next morning for the Chazan/Ollin plot.))
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 8, 2015 6:29:34 GMT
The acolyte nodded, settling himself on a bench in the main hall. ______
((Hmm. I'm not sure. Let's wait on the Chazan/Ollin plot for a bit--I don't expect the acolyte to take long. If things turn out different, however, we can always timeskip later. I just don't like the idea of separating characters into the past and future. :P))
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 8, 2015 6:51:15 GMT
Sixteen minutes later, the servant returned. "The Governor will see you now, sir."
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 8, 2015 7:21:29 GMT
"It's about time." The acolyte rose, running his finger over the envelope's rigged wax seal. "Where is he?"
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 8, 2015 7:26:37 GMT
"This way, sir." The servant led Mandible around the corner, through a door lying slightly open, and into a small room where a distinguished middle-aged man with a prominent mustache sat. The Governor nodded to Mandible and steepled his fingers. When the servant closed the door, he spoke. "I hear you have a message for me."
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 8, 2015 7:35:56 GMT
Mandible inclined his head slightly. As an obligator-to-be, bowing was beneath him. "From August Breighton." He slid the envelope across the table. "I don't know what it says."
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 8, 2015 7:40:28 GMT
The Governor merely watched the envelope for a few seconds before reaching for it and pinching it delicately between two fingers. "August Breighton. Ah, yes. Tell him I have received his letter." A paperknife flipped into the Governor's hand, and he slit the envelope, extracted the letter, and began to read.
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 8, 2015 8:08:36 GMT
Mandible half-bowed again, backing out of the room. _________
To the Estimable Governor Fosca, August had written in gothic script. Salutations. I'm a busy man, so I'll make this short. Rumors have reached Luthadel. Rumors of violence, dissension, desecration and rebellion. I am here as a result. Fear not. I want to work with you. Give you a chance to redeem yourself before the Steel Ministry. All I require is support of your Allomancers, which shall be sent to Tathingdwen post haste to aid my investigation into the movements of a certain Keeper. One whom, I hope, will shortly be removed from the equation. Hastily, A. S. D. Breighton
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 8, 2015 8:14:35 GMT
((Zalwen is a Keeper of the Synod, not the Governor. The Governor's name (which I just made up) is Warden Fosca.))
The Governor's eyebrows raised halfway through the letter and continued to travel upwards until he finished it. He raised a finger. "Chazan." Chazan appeared at his side from a concealed niche in the room. "Yes, my lord?" The Governor pointed out the door. "Find the acolyte who just left. Ask him where this August Breighton is staying." He folded August's letter. "I will be sending a return message in a few hours." With that, he selected a pen from an inkwell, pulled a sheet of paper in front of him, and began to write.
Chazan bowed to the Governor and exited the room, scanning the passage to check if the acolyte had left. "Master Obligator?"
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 8, 2015 8:31:40 GMT
((Oh. Heheh. That's a rather humorous misunderstanding. :P))
Master Obligator? Mandible puffed up at being addressed so respectfully. "Yes?"
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 8, 2015 8:35:52 GMT
Chazan stored the acolyte's image in his coppermind. "I am Governor Fosca's steward. He intends to send a return message back to August Breighton in a few hours' time. Where is Master Breighton staying?"
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 8, 2015 9:00:04 GMT
"The Linwhistle, of course."
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 8, 2015 9:07:41 GMT
Chazan bowed. "Thank you, Master Obligator. That is all the information the Governor requested. You may tell Master Breighton to expect a return letter in a few hours' time."
Several hours later, August Breighton received a message hand-delivered by a Coinshot and a Pewterarm. The message read as such:
To August Breighton, obligator of the Steel Ministry:
I pray your investigation goes well, for my sake and yours. My Allomancers are at your service. Expect Captain Saldon, a Pewterarm, before evening. Still, please use my Mistborn wisely. They aren’t easy to come by in the Terris Dominance. Please indulge me by forwarding to me your investigation’s results. I am eager to hear of your eventual success, one reason being for my own peace of mind. May the Steel Ministry look favourably upon me for my support.
Sincerely, W. Fosca Governor of the Terris Dominance
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