Shadow Contracts (for Ixis Naugus)

[conjuredskies]

Deep in the Parkland woods, twilight holds sway despite the early hour. The crumbling grey walls rise high and forbidding from the outside, but the heavy door stands ajar and swings open noiselessly when pushed – there’s fresh oil on the hinges.

Inside lies a great courtyard surrounded by a columned portico, with narrow doorways leading off into more dark corners. In the center, however, is a wide well with a low stone edge. Off to one side, its hooded summoner waits. Felix has spread a mat over the cracked paving stones, and now sits cross-legged beside his knapsack, picking over a few implements and books, checking the edge of a steel dagger. Aside from his hood, the conjurer has abandoned the legionary uniform for plainer leather armor, worn and mended from long use.

It’s been very quiet for some time. Just the skittering of breeze-blown leaves and birdsong drifting over the walls. Felix is quick to look up at a new presence.

Comments

[ixis]

Naugus flits with ease through the hustle and bustle, many forms lending a great deal of shadow for him to scurry through. He may impishly reach his claw to tweak a leg or tail here and there, Felix likely hearing surprised yelps from passerby, followed by that usual wheezing giggle.

Once in the bookstore, Naugus peers from his hiding place at the collection of tomes, peeking at titles, skimming the selection. Should Felix be watching, a hand sneaks out from the darkness to filch a book on the Daedric Princes, a few silver coins soon tossed out to replace it. This is all done behind the Orsimer's back, of course, and conducted in silence.

New conversation topic: Ghostly mudcrabs

[conjuredskies]

Felix tries not to smirk at the mischief he can hear in his wake. The good people of Anvil can surely survive the horror. And maybe some restraint would technically be better, but it does distract everyone's attention from one extra adventurer in the crowd.

He notices Naugus making a surreptitious purchase, too. Outside again, he leans under the lantern beside the shop door, casting a long dark shadow as he flips open the guidebook. The map inside the front pages may be a few years old but nothing significant is likely to have changed since then.

"Come across anything interesting?" he asks curiously.

Saw a ghostcrab the other day, dreadful creatures.

[ixis]

He pops up like a ghastly jack-in-the-box from that shadow, just up to his waist, already thumbing through his sneaky purchase. "Might as well get some material on these Princes of yours, I figured. The fact there are more and equally powerful as the one we're currently running errands for, well! Seems like some knowledge one such as myself can put to good use. May ask you to fact check it, though."

He tucks the book into his belt to surge upwards, creeping onto the wall behind Felix to look over his shoulder, peering at the other mage's purchase.

"And you and your map? Acceptable for the task?"

I try to avoid them. ):

[conjuredskies]

"That would be best - common knowledge about daedra tends to be just common, in my experience. I've had to become rather practiced in hunting out information of real use."

He traces the main streets and the important buildings on the page - customs houses, gate guards, chapel of Dibella... and of course, the Thalmor Consulate and local Hall of the Vigilant.

"Yes, I think this shows the local hazards well enough. We should find ourselves a tavern. One closer to the docks, perhaps."

[ixis]

"Onwards! To the seediest tavern available!" He declares that way too loud for someone who's supposed to be lurking and keeping an eye out. He even points with his one normal hand as if leading the charge. For god's sake, Naugus.

[conjuredskies]

Felix shuffles sideways and drops the hand holding his book in alarm, trying to both cover Naugus and push him back into the shadow. The noise draws more than a few looks with varying levels of interest, nonetheless. Felix is obliged to adopt a silly grin as he stuffs away the map, hissing "Shhh!" through his teeth. Yup, just a silly tourist, probably fresh out of some college or other. Don't mind him!

There is that one poor fellow doing a double-take before he feels his forehead anxiously. Better move on fast.

He hastens into the crowd, but he's caught the attention of a cutpurse; there's a pretty young Imperial woman shadowing him in her own way, and moving closer as he heads for the docks.

[ixis]

Naugus sputters as he's shoved back into the shadows, which he goes back into with minimal resistance. He also wasn't expecting to be pushed around, so. "Rude," is the only response from the darkness before he follows along, keeping himself proper covered now.

The figurative shadow that Felix has gained hasn't escaped his notice, however. Naugus hangs back a few paces, observing the woman, watching as she clearly is tailing his young companion. And getting closer.

That is until a hand and claw dart up from the darkness under her boots, both grabbing hold of her ankles and yanking her into the shadows with him. The sound of it (not including any cry the pickpocket might have managed before vanishing) is like a dark sigh before silence smothers it.

Then he's back to following Felix in his own way.

[conjuredskies]

He'll apologize and shamelessly flatter Naugus to make it up when he has the chance. For now, he's focused on getting them to a tavern.

He thinks he hears a half-squeal from behind him, but with the shouts and laughter and general hubbub it could be anything. A few kids are out and about trying to sell off the last food of the day, and Felix skirts a couple before he spots a likely place within sight of the gate to the docks.

It's actually not that seedy-looking: busy, yes, but the building's newer than the others around it and when Felix steps inside, it's fairly clean and comfortable. The seats have unstained cushions! There are latticed windows and clean pewter! And even so, there's an abundance of view-blocking pillars and closed-off booths and shadowy spots, especially on the upper level where people gather to talk business with a good view of the other patrons.

Felix's stance has shifted inside the door: there's a quiet ease of motion as he heads for the counter. He reaches up to tug his hood down and give the innkeeper a charming smile, but the used armor and confident bearing give observers some pointed clues about his profession. He'll interrogate the bartender and trust Naugus to sift through the whispered gossip, scheming and grumbling about various perceived injustices from the local authorities. The guards are holding up every shipment to Skyrim, the Thalmor consul's trying to dip his fingers in the local smuggling game, bloody Domitianus Lex won't shut up bragging about his thief-catching...

[ixis]

He follows dutifully into the tavern, grinning secretly to himself at the setting, the banter, the smells and sounds. There's something familiar and welcoming about this. The sort of places he used to travel to in Mercia abroad, to speak with other magi, to council with other sneaks. He slithers from the shadows on the floor up onto the wall, the glint of red eyes muted in the flickering candlelight. Naugus peers over shoulders, lurks beneath tables, impishly tips over a cup to splash onto papers that were probably important.

The moment someone mentions thievery, he pauses and lingers, keen ears tilted to catch the gossip. Trophies are much the same; anyone who looks to be bragging about a haul is going to have a hidden observer soaking up the banter.

Enter Left: A gange of scoundreles.

[conjuredskies]

More than a few squeaks, paranoid double-takes and sharp oaths follow in Ixis Naugus' passing. Civilized airs notwithstanding this is the kind of place where nobody wants to be caught jumping at (aha) shadows, so the few victims who think they saw something swiftly pretend otherwise. One could wreak all manner of havoc in a place like this. But in the meantime (while Felix is making his own discoveries) the shadowbound sorcerer may catch a trio of low-voiced individuals mentioning the name of Lex in downright predatory tones.

"...can't we take it?" asks a well-dressed Bosmer man.

"Silencing such a braggart, surely that’s a- what you call it, a public service?” This suggestion comes from a raspy-voiced Argonian woman. "Who would care?"

The male Argonian with them shakes his head. “No, no, think about the risk. He gave it to the Vigilants for safekeeping. Do you know the kind of protection they have in there? And that’s if he even found the thing. Does anyone believe he caught the Grey Fox? Has anyone seen this cursed cowl?”

“For that prize, it’s worth gambling,” the Bosmer says. “Besides - if nobody believes he had it, who’ll believe we took it?”

The woman nods. “Yes, yes. The Vigilants won’t admit anything was ever taken from their Vaults, I expect. If no-one will say a thing has been taken, and none can be sure it was ever there, has there truly been a theft?” The more cautious Argonian beside her sighs, knowing he's going to lose this argument.

[ixis]

Oh look! Shade-Seekers! He's already crept closer to look curiously at the pair of Argonians before realizing their conversation might be of some interest. He listens with rapt interest, only spiriting away again when he's sure he's gotten the gist of it all. An Argonian tail gets a tug before he goes, though.

Felix is going to have to brace himself for the hissing whisper that comes from a shadow close to his ear. "The Vigilants. Who are they?"

[conjuredskies]

Felix has ordered himself a nice local ale and settled into a corner so that he won't draw attention by muttering into the shadows.

Instead he nearly draws it by jumping suddenly and splashing ale down his cuirass. Great.

He grabs a cloth napkin from the next table and answers under the cover of drying himself down. "Militant religious order. They hunt down 'unholy creatures' in the name of the god Stendarr. Vampires, daedra, werewolves..." He sniffs. "I try to avoid them. Why?"

[ixis]

"The Mobian lizards yonder speak of a fox's cowl and a braggart who took something and left it with these Vigilants for safekeeping. Could that be our target? And if so, do we head for the vaults or do we hunt down the man before the trio over there do it first?"

[conjuredskies]

"Ah! It has to be," he murmurs. "I've been hearing a similar story, but the Vigil part is new..." Felix casts a glance toward the trio (currently arguing over who pulled whose tail).

He pulls out the guidebook and opens it to the map, pointing out the Hall of the Vigilant where it faces the Great Chapel. "The man sounds about as stubborn as an ogre- and as smart. Tough to persuade. And we have Ixis Naugus on our side. I say we go straight for the prize."

[ixis]

He giggles at the blatant flattery, the sound seeming to go in circles around Felix's own shadow at his feet. Like he's swimming in excited circles in that darkness like an eager fish.

"Let us be on our way, then! We can speak more on these Vigilants as we go. Do they employ magicks? Weaponry? Wards?" He just expects Felix to know this right off the top of his head, of course. It's HIS world, after all.

[conjuredskies]

Felix sighs at having to move along so soon. He wonders if they could slow the other thieves down, but can’t think of any means on the fly save a quick prayer to Nocturnal. “Suppose most of them would have to be at evening prayers now...”

Time to act responsibly. He finishes off the bit of ale in his mug and stoppers the bottle to take along with him. It might be useful, but mostly it just looks less suspicious than abandoning a good drink. He wedges it in with the guide-book and checks everything’s too padded to clink before he heads out the door again. The crowds have started to thin, and he ducks into the backstreets so he and Naugus can talk in relative peace.

“To answer your question, they'll have all three – healing and protective magic, a fondness for swinging maces… and given how much they like confiscating even slightly daedric artifacts, I have to assume they’ve invested in some formidable wards.” For avoiding their company, he’s certainly made some study of their abilities. Felix hums thoughtfully as they walk. “They’re not exceptionally good mages, though. Not in my opinion.”

[ixis]

"What...sort of magic? Nothing tied to holy or light works, I hope?" Not that he's worried! Why would he ever be worried? He's the amazing Ixis Naugus, what could ever ruffle his feathers or stand as a threat!

[conjuredskies]

"...Hmm. Well, they're devout in their way. They may have blessed amulets or even weapons, or know spells meant to drive away the undead. But their spells aren't meant for offense - they're ordinary shield or regeneration spells. Usually self-directed."

It would be untrue to say he isn't glancing at the shadows, trying to get some sense of how concerned the sorcerer within might be. Because that's... interesting.

[ixis]

Naugus has sunk deeper into the shadows, no hint of his form or even the usual glint of teeth and eyes visible. "Bah. Just as well. All the more reason to remain unseen, right? We slip in, we take the item, we slip back out. Are you familiar with undoing wards? I can break them, certainly, but it might cause a bit of flash and panic in doing so." Breaking things is never quiet business, after all.

Oh, and almost as an afterthought, because he only just remembered it, Naugus adds, "Also, you had what seemed to be a thief sneaking after you a bit ago. She's dealt with, though."

[conjuredskies]

"I've taken down a few before, but I'll need your advice if it comes to that." He likes to think he's quite good at finding the weak and malleable points in wards - but he's much better with summoning and binding set-ups. If the Vigilants are really worried about daedric intrusion, he hopes the principles will be similar...

"But surely it won't matter much if you can simply slip past them through the shadows...?" He has no real idea about the geography of the shadow-realm, or if that's how it works.

"Dealt with?" He probably shouldn't ask. "Ah. Thank you. And I apologize if I was rude earlier. I was just, ah, startled. And worried that someone might take note of your, um, exuberance."

[ixis]

He just grunts in regard to the apology. "I'm sure she's having a great deal of fun wandering the shadows." Wait, is he saying he just snatched the thief and left her there? That's sure what it sounds like. Maybe he'll get back around to escorting her back out when their adventure is through? Maybe.

"And I suppose I can certainly try to slip right past them, but if they're the sort made to keep out things like your Princes and their ilk, I'd prefer to not take chances. And some are just made to alert to magical going-ons that aren't of their persuasion. I'm not keen on caution, but I suppose this might call for it here and there." OR we can just charge in and let things blow up like an action movie! But that's assuming Felix wants to ever step foot in Anvil again.

[conjuredskies]

"Should she be left in there?" he wonders aloud. But that will have to wait until their mission is through, if they've time. The thief has at least a degree of pity and concern from him, but he doubts he wants to couch it in those terms to Naugus.

"All right, so then we need to get in without brute force. The farther we can go without using magic, the better. If we had another artifact they'd want to add to their vaults... hmm. Just how shadowy is your magic?" He pulls one of the soul gems from his satchel. "These gems are used to store magical energies - life energies. Could you taint one to make it seem... corrupted? Dark?"

[ixis]

"She's not my concern and certainly not yours anymore. Job well done, I say." Yeah, he's not worried in the least with that thief anymore. For her sake OR theirs. Enjoy the shadow zone, thief.

At the offering of the soul gem, he takes it and carefully turns it over in hand and claw. "I can certainly try. There's traces of darkness in everything I do." And crystals are always of keen interest to him either way. A concentrated burst of magicks fed from his claw and into the gemstone makes it glow a sickly green before fading to just a shock of light now and again from within its cloudy depths. Naugus then hands it back over to Felix. "And there we have it."

[conjuredskies]

Well, that seems to be that for the thief. At least for now. Felix looks troubled a moment, but he has more immediate concerns than fighting the cause of a woman who thought of him as prey.

Say, the distinctly awful thing in his hand.

“…That’s… even better than I hoped.” Really. It’s almost too good – he feels the urge to hurl the gem away, preferably into a sewer. Instead he clears his mind, trying to think of this as an academic exercise. It’s just a particularly unpleasant specimen. Yes. “Perfect. So now I’m just a distressed apprentice handing in a gruesome discovery from my explorations – some terrible new kind of black soul gem. With any luck they’ll be desperate to get this shut away.”

[ixis]

"And shall I keep to your shadow then? Easiest way to keep together, after all." He seems pleased that the gem is distinctly offensive; he'd put his best effort into making it thus! Just a great deal of foul feelings and energy infused into the unassuming soul gem. Because if there's one thing that Naugus has his finger on the pulse of, it's bad feels.

"And if they think to pull you away and interrogate you on how you came across such an artifact?"