Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Feb 8, 2021 2:31:35 GMT -8
Ivory, however, bore a dual purpose here. She had come for Kai, but the Pale Dragon would admit that she was also feeling significant pull to assist the paragon of her Season. Thus, after a glance back to the study, Ivory merely granted the Polychromatic a shrug and a smirk before turning around to move to the satyr's study.
She'd stay by door, not daring to enter uninvited at the sounds of distress.
"My apologies, Mr. Chasseur. Lancelot is currently retrieving something for Kai," she explained, "Perhaps I might be of assistance?"
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Post by Agrippa on Feb 9, 2021 5:23:23 GMT -8
Agrippa made a slight sound of distress as they were pulled silmontaniously in two very separate directions. Linden went one way, Ivory another, and Agrippa made their mind up that the only reasonable response was to go through what Kai needed to know as quickly as humanly possible before booking it back in Lancelot's direction. Thus it was some moments well after Ivory's arrival that the unicorn bolted in behind her, nearly skidding to a stop and holding their breath so that they wouldn't suffer the indignity of catching it in full view of the Paragon.
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Post by Krakenbox on Feb 10, 2021 23:24:54 GMT -8
Buck was busying himself with his phone, thumb twitching as he texted someone with a vein popping from the temple. He was clearly distressed — flushed and pacing as he wrapped his teeth around the edge of a whiskey glass. The study held an odd portrait on the mantle that did not match the rest of the décor, of a veiled woman wreathed in glittering blue with a sword through the heart of a golden stag. A self satisfied smirk was painted on her lips. The artist's signature simply read Dei gratia Regina, cheekily written in the same red as the smile. The Joyeux blinked at Ivory, as if her question was word salad. "Do you know what it is? He isn't answer-"His own phone flashed with a call, and he immediately held it to his ear, "Did you feel it necessary to add to the pictures I already have?" he asked, a hard chuckle forcing its way free out of habit. The tone was odd; halfway between desperate, careful, and angry. The woman's voice on the other end was deep, sounding confused, and expressing concern for his health. Buck looked back to the pair, then the door as if Lancelot would manifest if he glared hard enough. "Yes...where did you hear that? Nevermind. I'll return eventually, but you have to agree that the court there is a cesspit. I fear Winter's grip on everyone's hope might be a little too suffocating."
The line was silent, before the screen blinked to indicate she had hung on him. Rather than looking relieved, he actually looked like she had been here to slap him in the face. He took another shot of whiskey before turning his full attention to Ivory and Agrippa. "What did you find?" he asked, more serious than they had ever heard him before.
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Feb 11, 2021 4:46:22 GMT -8
Ivory's eyes flitted to the painting, looking to it quizzically and with some concern at Buck's first question.
She remained silent as the satyr spoke to someone on the other line, presumably one who might have added the foreboding painting to his study. She committed the reaction to memory though, someone prompting this sort of reaction could be suspect, but it was important to glean that Buck had offered more in his conversation without even knowing it. The figure on the phone was potentially from another Freehold that Buck had been to before, one in which he considered the local Verdant Court to be... less than ideal, and he further evidenced a want to return. Eventually, though there was still time to convince him otherwise. The Freehold Oath here made travel elsewhere dangerous if one needed to use their contracts.
At his question, Ivory offered a cordial smile.
"A haunting of a sort," Ivory answered, "I know scant little else, but have arranged for the services of a local Gravewight, Noir, for further investigation. The debt for this service rests solely with me. He will be along shortly and Lancelot has been informed of his impending arrival to the estate."
A glance to Agrippa.
"Did you discover anything in your dive?" she asked, granting the Beast the floor.
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Post by Agrippa on Feb 12, 2021 5:39:27 GMT -8
Agrippa nodded as Ivory expressed her success- it was a silent gesture of congratulations, as the beast thought it gauche to interrupt her for the purpose. Her handing over the proverbial microphone caused them to straighten up and meet the eyes of the Sunset Prince with a small polite smile. Buck's tone was all the hint that Agrippa needed to curtail their own excitement about the dive down to wide eyes and quick words
"Yes! Lancelot granted me the liberty to survey the local environs around the far side of the veil. There is quite an unusually large population of ghosts around here. Most of them appear to have been servants of some description, however I can't be certain. What I do know is that they have all mostly lost their minds. In a literal sense. Unfortunately that means I couldn't speak to them, but it also means they are unlikely to do much in terms of haunting other than make unsettling noises. Anything more actively malevolent would have likely tried to stab me after the third or fifth attempt to say hello. If whatever is causing this is a spirit, it should be trivial to differentiate between them."
They paused a moment, still smiling, just to make sure the information had the time to sink in before moving on.
"There is also a gate in the garden. I don't know where it leads, and have no way of figuring out safely. I could attempt, but I figured I should tell you what I found first before I potentially disappear into a void never to return. There is intriguing evidence that the gate was actually set up from this side. Some faint markings that may indicate a sort of ritual..."
Agrippa's voice trailed off, as their brain caught up to their mouth and they realized they had nothing more to say. Fingers clasped almost nervously behind them as they prayed Buck's frustration with whatever he was dealing with wouldn't be deflected onto the duo of lower mantle Lost.
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Post by Buck Chasseur on Feb 14, 2021 0:38:29 GMT -8
Buck tilted his head at Ivory explaining that she had hired someone, "On my behalf? I can compensate, that seems unfair to the situation, given this is exclusively to my benefit." His tone was even and without demand: he wasn't looking to offend the Fariest or press his nose into her business, and merely offer what he thought was polite.
He looked surprised as Agrippa explained Lancelot had given him free reign of the property. "Were you everywhere?" The question wasn't accusatory, but the annoyance wasn't nipped from the probe. The Beast had a few vaults here and there, and then the panic room. Having a strange Helldiver map the mansion and violate his privacy wasn't an exciting prospect.
"Ah! The ghosts! Right, I was warned that might happen," he said with a sardonic laugh. "Too bad... There's Rites here and there I will not uphold until I understand them better. It will take a bit more than some glorified bed sheets to get me to jump the gun. They didn't need me before, did they? Sometimes Las Vegas gives me pause."
He flashed a genuine smile, realizing how he sounded in his frustration for the situation. "Love the people, though."
The hand with the whiskey glass ran the gold drink along his temple as he smoothed an errant curl. "I should hope the gate was set up. If there was enough murder and mayhem to open a portal to hell itself, I paid way too much for this ridiculous mansion."
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Feb 15, 2021 9:05:37 GMT -8
A soft smile hits the Pale Dragon's lips at the satyr's offer.
"How about dinner?" she offered, "It would be an honor to further our acquaintance and I would like the opportunity to see if our interests might align."
Certainly Ivory would not dip into such talk in the middle of an investigation, but she would be foolish to let the opportunity to ingratiate herself with a paragon and not take it. Ivory had her reasons for seeing if Buck intended to stick around and, if he did, it would be helpful to learn if he was a figure she could support.
At the mention of his hesitance with the Rites, Ivory offered a chuckle.
"I understand, Mr. Chasseur. Agrippa and I are not here to attempt to recruit you, though I will admit to being hopeful," she offered. Sometimes honesty was a good policy.
Then mention of ritual markings and an intentional gate caused a mark of concern as she shared a look with Agrippa.
"If you would, Agrippa, I would like you to speak with Noir once he arrives," she said, her tone gentle, "That sounds like information he could use and I'd rather not send him in blind."
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Post by Agrippa on Feb 16, 2021 7:44:39 GMT -8
Buck's question regarding where they had gone gave Agrippa pause- the thought that Lancelot would have been the more relaxed of the two about the privacy of the manor hadn't even crossed their mind. It seemed implausible, with the way the two had interacted earlier. They shook their head, taking advantage of their surprise by channeling it into the picture of innocence
"Oh! No, only the places relevant."
It wasn't technically a lie- there were a few closets they didn't get to after all, and they considered everywhere they did look as a potential spectral hiding spot. The further comments on the ghosts and the gate only pulled more concern out of the unicorn. They bottled the urge to question the 'murder and mayhem' in plain and horrified words.
"Might you have an idea why they may be here? Either of them? They may not be relevant but both the number of ghosts and the presence of the gate are unusual. It would be convenient to rule them out as relevant issues if possible."
Ivory's request was granted with a glance, a nod and a quiet
"It was my intention- I figure he could use the information better than anyone."
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Post by Buck Chasseur on Feb 18, 2021 21:07:50 GMT -8
Buck grinned widely, "Dinner sounds fantastic. How are you for Hedge diving?"
Agrippa pulled the other Beast back to the present, rather than musing on future adventures. He seemed to search his memory, looking off for a moment, "I was warned that because of my favour with the spirit of Spring, I would be expected to fulfill certain expectations and practices. I said, sure, but I'd need some time to integrate and learn more about it. Simple, right?" He growled into the whiskey glass,
"Seems the Seasons aren't patient with your Freehold. Well, if I'm to blame, at least it's isolated to my property. I can probably ask this Archivist about it, and see if exorcism is all that's required." He shrugged a single shoulder, ready for anything, really.
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Post by Noir on Feb 18, 2021 21:28:44 GMT -8
The smell of clover wafts through the garden as a tall, lanky man strolls into the clearing. He tipped a deep maroon trilby on a finger, as he took in the company, "Good afternoon! I believe someone named Ivory requested my services in this investigation. Quite the haunting we find ourselves in. I am Noir, Archivist of the Verdant Crown, at your service."He relayed the information he knew to the group, so they could expand on it.
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Feb 19, 2021 5:26:23 GMT -8
Agrippa was granted a nod and a soft smile.
"Thank you, Agrippa," she offered, her tone easily relaying her gratitude. They had provided a service that Ivory simply could not and the Pale Dragon was very pleased they also understood the need to relay their findings to the Gravewight when he arrived.
At Buck's suggestion for their outing, Ivory's smile grew more broad.
"I'll admit it's been some time since I engaged in that sort of venture," she said of the Hedge, "Consider me receptive, shall we confirm the date later?"
Ivory listened as Buck relayed his feelings on the nature of the haunting, seemingly musing that those in the Spring Court who were less patient may be to blame and have been harassing him by way of the spirits. Ivory was beginning to suspect the same, albeit with bias. It was a devious little scheme, if true, reliant as it was on fear and force to get Buck to submit to the way of things in Vegas. Frankly, none of it sat right with her at all.
Then came the scent of clover and the arrival of Noir.
"Your arrival is well-timed, Noir," she offered as she approached, holding her hand out to him, "I am Ivory. A pleasure. I assume that, due to their provision of your details, that you are already familiar with Agrippa."
Then a glance to Buck.
"Mr. Chasseur, allow me to introduce, Noir, our resident Archivist," she said, "And Noir, please allow me to introduce Mr. Chasseur. As you are already aware, we are currently investigating the nature of his attempted assassination."
As Noir explained his current findings Ivory listened.
At his forthrightness in believing Martinez to be crazy, Ivory chuckled.
"If that is so then, by the end of this investigation, you will have earned an easy favor, given our discussion," she offered, "but I appreciate your willingness to humor us during its course and contribute."
Ivory had not recruited him for his opinions. She expected him to contribute more than his feelings, but he had signaled he was willing to do so. Thus, the Pale Dragon proved to be quite cordial and polite.
As the Gravewight began to muse on the nature of the haunting, including the presence of numerous ghosts, Ivory simply nodded. Even Noir was admitting the nature of the haunt was beyond the norm. Perhaps then he was beginning to see the group's want for his input. The haunting was beyond the norm and Martinez expressed the belief that he was being haunted and spoken to by spirits. It could be coincidence, but somehow the Pale Dragon doubted it.
Nonetheless, Ivory stayed silent, looking to Agrippa to grant the Beast their time to discuss their findings. Ivory had merely secured Noir's service, but it was Agrippa's findings that would propel the need for them.
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Post by Agrippa on Feb 20, 2021 9:38:19 GMT -8
Agrippa had their mouth part-way open, just about to formulate some kind of answer to Buck's theories, when Noir walked in. The mere presence of the Gravewright was already distracting to the beast's professional composure, and the launch directly into the talk of twilight and hauntings severed the act at its very roots- they just simply forgot that they weren't supposed to be excited about all of this.
"Noir, I am so glad to see you!"
It had taken them every single ounce of willpower they had to wait until Ivory had said her piece- they were practically vibrating with excitement by the time they offered Noir a hand and a smile ten miles wide.
"I take it you have had the chance to meet the lovely residents on the other side- didn't manage to find anyone who could be coaxed into a conversation, did you? I really did try my hardest, but none of them seemed to be the chatty type. On the upside they weren't nearly as persistent about bludgeoning me as I was about speaking to them. Almost pleasant company by restless dead standards! Really, honestly, its almost a mild haunting if you ignore the sheer number of them."
Words spilled out like water from a broken pipe. Agrippa's tone radiated exactly as much cheer as someone who was talking about a haunted mansion shouldn't have.
"Oh, and the gate! Do you recognize it? You were shown the markings? The evidence that it was set up on this side? I could go through it myself, but sticking my head into unknown voids is a step that comes after everyone knows about the void in question, not before. I'd have to guess that the ghosts and the gate are connected, but of course that's without knowing where it goes to. Certainly you aren't going to get this many dead fellows packed together like sardines by a completely natural occurrence, are you? At least its not a thing I've personally encountered.
And with our suspect! Is there reason to rule out specters completely, aside from the mindlessness of the ones currently accessible? We couldn't have a smart one playing hide-and-seek with us, could we? Or is that too absurd, and occam's razor would suggest we chase some other possibility?"
Their eyes glimmered as they leaned slightly forward, ready to hang on Noir's words like a rock climber on a sheer cliff face.
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Post by Kai Rose on Feb 20, 2021 17:27:22 GMT -8
Kai re-entered quietly, letting introductions and Agrippa's excited explanations unfold. "Noir's doing great. The haunting isn't the explanation for who tried to kill you. Neither is the gate, I think, but it's all very interesting. You've got quite the interesting life, Buck Chasseur." She flashed the Runnerswift a smile. How could she not? Being near him was just so exciting. "Rather, I think we're dealing with a Lost who can bounce people forward in time, appear in unexpected places... and maybe even change their face." The math was rapidly adding up to a professional having been involved. "Someone who knows a lot about you or has a lot of access. That trap took skill and planning, and you died in the other timeline from it. Who's that good at infiltration and assassination who has a reason to want you dead?"
Two plus two made four. Winter was sus.
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Feb 21, 2021 12:39:57 GMT -8
Settling into the background while information was relayed, the corners of Linden's eyes crinkled fondly at Agrippa's manner. They were psyched about ghosts in a way the Ogre couldn't relate to, but there was charm in someone else's excitement. Or there was, until they recalled how close the Beast had come to the gate. Would warning Agrippa about the consequences of opening the gate do anything beyond annoy and, unfortunately, encourage? Linden had already admitted that their own experience and understanding was limited, it would probably sound like a rando telling the bouncer fights were dangerous.
Maybe a warning wouldn't be necessary, the Spring clearly knew enough not to engage in the first place. But Linden couldn't tell yet if they were someone to go back and pick at something until their curiosity was satisfied. In either case, they'd keep a weather eye out.
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Post by Noir on Feb 21, 2021 20:59:52 GMT -8
Noir exchanges the usual pleasantries. "Coaxed? No. You..." he squinted at Agrippa, "Can you change your Kith? Even so, that doesn't mean you actually have the knowledge required to safely deal with ghosts. There's a lot of complicated rules in place. I would treat diving into Twilight with the same level of caution as the Hedge."
A small smile is offered at the joke about 'mild haunting'; he was aware Agrippa was joking, but there was an edge of gentle chiding as he spoke. "You're correct in your assessment. Someone placed the gate there for a season, along with the ghosts. And exercising caution when one is presented with mysterious doors and pathways is something fairytales have taught us for a while."
He didn't exactly point out that they were all stolen by some method or another of Forbidden Trespassing, and the Helldiver's enthusiasm didn't speak to a mind that had their Desires under control. The fact that Agrippa wasn't bothered in the slightest that the ghosts were tortured to the point of a shattered sanity, and saw it more as a game told him as much as he needed to know.
As Kai spoke, he steepled his fingers, daydreaming before she was finished in her assistance. She had answered the Unicorn's question for him. Rather, he looked to Buck Chasseur.
"Who hates you?"
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