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Message: <blockquote data-quote="SolidSnake" data-source="post: 1999623" data-attributes="member: 102">October 25, 747- “I have seen the universe yawning; Where the black planets roll without aim; Where they roll in their horror unheeded, without knowledge or luster or name.” –Cthulu MythosImpressive.The Goldfinger; in Monsette’s opinion, was the only thing of substance Karina had to offer.  It was a tower over 60 feet high, hewn from polished yellow granite that could reflect the sun’s rays like a beacon of light in the darkness.  Atop this marvel of stonemasonry stood a white clock face, whose hands and numbers were painted lustrous black.  The endless rhythmic churning of gears could barely be heard from the foot of the clock tower; its sound only punctuated every hour by the chimes.  To Monsette the courtyard housing the tower was the last bastion of hope against the chaos that had threatened to engulf he and his colleges during the past few days.11:30. Do we have enough time?  I guess we shall find out.Monsette led the party down Tower Road, across Bog Street and onto East Front Street to find the Black Swan.  It was not as difficult as the investigator might have anticipated.  With all the fog that had now covered the docks and the streets a few blocks up, Monsette believed that it would be like finding a needle in a haystack.  He couldn’t have been more wrong.  Confirmation of the correct establishment came in the form of a drunken sailor hurtling out the front window, followed promptly with a roar of laughter from within.  Monsette gingerly stepped over the bloodied man and made his way to the tavern’s barkeep.“Excuse me good sir,” Monsette called with diplomatic trepidation.The barkeep, engaged in an arrangement of sorts, turned away from the charming woman of “easy virtue” and rounded upon Monsette.”Wadda ya want?”“I was hoping you could help me,” Monsette said with a little more force.  These brutes only respect strength.  “I am looking for Captain Timothy.”“So,” the barkeep snorted.Monsette produced a handful of silver from his robes.“It’s a simple question with ample rewards,” Monsette with an irritated look on his face.  “Do-you-know-where-he-is,” he said with slow deliberation.The barkeep was about to say something and visibly stopped himself before completing the translation of thought into speech.“Ya, I heard of him.  Captain Tim be enjoying some late night sport if ye catch my meanin’.  You can find him where such things occur I’m guessin’.”“Thank you,” Mosette said as he dropped the silver on the bar and exited the Black Swan.Having missed their objective, the group hurried towards the Falkovian Quarter by cutting down Bog Street.“Stay close,” Monsette warned as the group hurried onwards.It was obvious to everyone but Shinlaiden that group had entered the right area.  Despite the fact that the Festival was almost over and the dense fog obstructing everyone’s vision, it was clear that this was the Falkovian Quarter.  Infrequent pedestrians ran quickly down the clean cobblestone streets, their eyes transfixed upon the road.  The clank of armored divisions marching was a disturbing backdrop to this somber place.  Iron bars and shutters were on every window.  No scrap of the Festival’s merriment had ever made it here.Monsette was ripped from his musings on the varied definitions of tyranny by the sudden appearance of a shadowy figure standing on the street corner.  The investigator must have stopped for; he felt Shinlaiden’s form colliding with him.“What’s wrong,” the large man asked.Monsette’s stare was enough to silence him.  The warrior turned slowly to follow the priest of Viminau’s gaze.The slender man was leaning up against a building near a street lamp.  He wore a wide-brimmed hat and a billowing cloak of dark fabric that seemed to drink up the night.  A dark scarf covered the lower half of his face.  Abruptly he stepped out of the light and was instantly swallowed up by the darkness.  Where he was standing, Monsette saw a crumpled piece of parchment lying on the sidewalk.Shinlaiden instantly drew his sword and interposed himself between his companions and the parchment.  Monsette drew his sword as well and the group advanced upon the parchment slowly.  Upon reaching the illuminated area containing the parchment, Monsette immediately scanned the region for any signs of the man.  Nothing moved.  His attention focused on the parchment.“Shinlaiden, Vanyel keep a lookout while I check this out,” he said absentmindedly while his mind raced to absorb every detail of the paper.He slowly reached down and grabbed the crumpled piece of paper.  He could see that it was wrapped around something and stained through.  As he loosened it, his eyes went wide with terror.“What is it,” Vanyel demanded.Monsette moved the paper closer so that all could see.  A gasp came from Vanyel as the light more thoroughly illuminated the object.  Sitting atop the paper was a freshly severed human finger, still wearing an iron signet carved with a resplendent hawk’s head.  On the paper itself, a message was scrawled in blood:The darkness is mine.The anger is mine.The vengeance is mine.Monsette cringed as his thumb accidentally brushed against the last verse, smearing the fresh blood across the page.  The investigator neatly folded the note and tucked it into his pouch for analysis at a later time.“Let’s go.”Everyone nodded at that suggestion, but no one wanted to sheath their weapons as they made their way down the street.  This fog may be a blessing.  Perhaps we won’t run across any of the Infantrymen I keep hearing about.  No doubt that with our weapons drawn like this, they will not hesitate to use force.A few blocks later, Monsette called a halt.  He could barely see the warehouse a block up, but his attention wasn’t on the structure in question, but rather on the man directly in their path that seemingly emerged from the mists.  Matton Blanchard was tall and would have been handsome save for the nasty scar that ran down the side of his right cheek.  He was dressed even more elegantly than usual.“Normally I would have you flogged for the offense you caused me, but luck is on your side it would appear,” the nobleman said with a sneer.Monsette recovered quickly from the advantage Matton had gained.“I’m sorry we could not make the appointment, but our group was indisposed.  That incident by the Maiden’s Kiss…have you heard of it,” Monsette asked.“Yes, the supposed monster that attack revelers.”“The rumors don’t even hold a candle to the truth.  We were attack and are down a man because of it.”“Don’t feed your excuses to me, as I am uninterested.”The last phrase made Shinlaiden’s knuckles go white on the hilt of his brandished sword, a low growl escaping his lips.  If Matton noticed, he gave no sign and continued on unabated.“Be thankful that my contact is as punctual as you.  It was fortuitous that you chose this night to arrive, because I have…assurances that he will show this time.  Your job will be simple: ensure my protection.  We are to locate the contact inside and at that time I will negotiate for some information.  You will not be privy to that conversation but don’t stray too far and try to keep a low profile.  If the information is accurate and we succeed in our task, you will all be rich men.”Matton gave the group a long stare before rounding on his heel and walking towards the warehouse.  The warehouse’s most obvious entrance was a pair of sturdy wooden double doors over ten feet wide; large enough for a horse-drawn cart to pass unimpeded.  The noble; however, did not fancy this entrance for he walked straight past it to a smaller side door and rapped his knuckled upon it three times in rapid succession.  Monsette took in his surroundings.  All the portals to gain entry to this building were heavily fortified and the windows had reinforced shudders.  The whole building seemed to scream “go away.”A slide window opened in the door and man’s voice called out.“Vat do you vant,” the man asked in a thick ascent.“Arkendale Lives,” Matton Blanchard replied smoothly.Monsette heard the numerous locks unlocking and thought he may have heard a wooden bar being slide of its holsters.  The door swung open revealing a small side room decorated with a few crates and another door in the back.  Four heavily armed Falkovian guards stood at the ready, their shortswords plainly brandished and in defensive stances.  Monsette’s eyes immediately noted that their swords had been silvered.  I guess they believe the rumors after all.  One of the men had a salivating war dog on a chain leash.  It howled and yelped as it tugged against its master.  What was unnerving to the investigator were the symbols branded upon each man’s forehead: the same hawk’s head that he saw on the ring they had just recently discovered.“Kara smells fear,” the man with the dog said.  The other soldiers chuckled and cautiously lowered their weapons.  One of the men immediately went to re-secure the door after the last of Matton’s escort entered.“Sheath you veapons, the fight is in the pit,” the soldier said with a smile as he moved to open the back door.Monsette thought he could hear howls in the distance.</blockquote>

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