Cold Hearts IC Thread

[Count michael]

As he saw all the ordnance Shevael stood in stunned shock before a mad grin took over
"Jackpot"
Making his way to the nearest barrel Shevael opened it before pouring its contents over the floor making a large trail leading around the entire building to the outside emptying five full barrels of explosives.
After the trail was complete he slowly dragged out three loaded cannons out side readying them to fire aiming them each at a separate building.

Slowly lighting both the cannons and gunpowder trail Shevael promptly legged it making his way to where January was climbing on the building overlooking her calling out down to her

"Ah there you are ready to watch my stunning performance lets see in 5...4...3....2....1... Kablooie.......

However their was no explosion getting a confused look from Shevael

"Strange it should of blew up lets try again 5...4...3....2..,.1... What bugger umm don't worry it's coming just building the suspense, now look her you stupid building I rigged so many explosives its not bloody funny Now why won't you just bl-"

Suddenly a massive explosion lit the night with multiple detonations setting off a massive inferno which engulfed the building and those close by as secondary explosions lit up the sky creating a massive shock wave knocking over Shevael on the roof releasing a loud thunderclap sound which could be heard over the city

Rising from the ground Shevael turned to face January laughing madly

"oops did I do that my bad, so am I in now or what oh yeah we might want to move before the flames spread over here being burnt alive would be annoying"

 

[The Archivist]

January watched impassively as the warehouse blew into smithereens.
"You missed two of the smugglers. Otherwise, satisfactory performance, if a little literal."
She slapped a form on the least flamable wall of the building, turned and began walking briskly towards the docks.
"Follow me, Shavael."

 

[Count michael]

Just wait a moment"pulling out some red paint he found near the docks writing on the wall

Shevael Redmane blew this area up be afraid!!!

Shevael stood a few monents admiring gis handie work thinking should of made it a bigger explosionefore quickly running of after January

"Lead on then, wait hang on you killed those smugglers they were meant to survive so they could spread word of my greatness, there always has to be a witness otherwise no one knows it was you...... But I believe I can overlook it this time"

 

[The Archivist]

January looked hard at the graffiti before continuing.
"It depends on the situation. In this instance, I needed to curry favour with a superior officer as one of my personas. Letting any smugglers escape would not be wise."

She turned up her hood and began rapping out a rythmn on the stones as they arrived at the docks.
Breaking the silence, she turned to Shavael.
"I think that, despite our radically different approaches, you would be a valuable member of the Cold Hearts. Others always despised using methods they were unfamiliar with, or felt that the target had to be taken down in a certain way, but though I have a need to lace puns into my work I have no compunction to doing something seriously."
"I am waxing eloquent for one reason only: that you understand that if you betray me, or the other Cold Hearts, you would be completely unable to predict the manner of your inevitable demise."
She paused, and then continued in her usual fashion.
"On the upside, there's a lot of money to be made this way."

January led Shavael onto the dock, before quickly perusing the waterfront. Unless someone was deliberately staking out the docks from further inland, the warehouses and ships were silent.
She lifted the plank from the timber, and slipped down the hole.

 

[Count michael]

Happily following January Shevael casually sing a song about his own greatness in a soft whisper stopping once they reached the docks listening to what January said

"That does seem reasonable I especially like money alot so no worries besides "

Following her down the down the hole looking around

So..... Is it just is or are more cold hearts going to be joining us until a few hours ago I thought you were all dead which is why I pretended to be you"

 

[The Archivist]

January smirked slightly.
"Dead? Only some of us. I was undercover waiting to kill my target for several months before spending a lot of time keeping my head down."
She closed the hole and walked slowly into the small cavern nearest the entrance.
"It seems Mythas isn't back yet."

 

[Mello]

Mythas made his strangled calling noise, and Sylvia leapt back on to his shoulder, morsel in hand. She cocked her head, looking back at her new companion and cawed softly, before lifting up her large wing, and started picking out a nasty pest.

"Well looks like you have your first companion, sir knight. But to the.. ah, secret hiding place? Sounds a little immature." he gave the newcomer a cursory glance.

"You're not the reckless type like me, so I guess we'll take the streets"

---

The plank slid away smoothly as Mythas quietly ushered the new recruit. He himself dropped in with a hollow thud, trying to keep the echo to a minimum.

"Welcome to paradise." Mythas commented sardonically, leading the way.

 

[The Archivist]

January nodded as they entered.
"Mythas. Looks like we both found some new blood."
She guestured at the gun-toting elf.
"Shavael is responsible for the burning visage you might have seen on the way down here. Slightly inefficient but certainly effective killer and showman. I think he could do Kelarith level stunts."

 

[Mello]

Mythas over dramatically sighed.

"I had hoped since we had were starting afresh that we could maintain a vestige of subtlety about our actions, but obvious Kelarith has returned to haunt us again, may his Khainite soul forever burn.

My companion here, ehhhh, I forgot his name, apologies. Either way, he's a brilliant swordsman, and has seceral tricks up his sleeve. Quite literally.

Sadly our old.... friend Indoril has returned, and that brings us up to five, perfectly serviceable."

Mythas clapped his hands loudly.

"So.. Who's up for some killing"?

 

[Get of W'soran]

"Lovely place." he muttered giving the place a cursory glance before giving the two new Druchii a look.

The woman didn't look much, somewhat plain...but she was a Cold Heart
This one is more than she seems I think...but this other one

Arkeith transferred his gaze to the man and felt a frown crease his face at the elf's extravagant clothing, the coat in particular was an eye sore and then there was his ridiculous hair.
The swordsman's eyes drifted to his guns.
The Cold Hearts are desperate indeed

That thought robbed Arkeith of much of the pride he felt from being selected.

Forcing an unconvincing smile on his face he give a stiff formal bow.
"Sir Arkeith of house Uvirith, at your service." he sneered.

Turning to Mythas he nodded.
"I'm ready whenever you are."

 

[Count michael]

At first Shevael was vaguely uninterested until he realised that Mythas must be the leader, giving an extravagent bow at January's introduction slightly dissapointing when called inefficient yet extremely happy when praised being a effective killer and showman
"Greetings my good sir, Shevael Redmane killer extrordiner at your service you may of heard of me, I don't know who this Kerlaith is but there is no who can equal me in my performances besides being subtle can be ok but nothing is better than the thrill that comes by kicking down the front door charging through guns blazing"

Gazing at the Arkeith hmmm looks average enough typical highborn I suppose , no where as great as me of course

Killing you say, I like the sound of that count me in

 

[The Archivist]

January smiled a predatory grin.
"Indoril... he owes me. He owes me a lot..."
She looked at Arkeith briefly before turning a corner and refitting her guard's armour.
"I need to finish my shift. I'll be back shortly."
She exited the den.

 

[Malochai]

Indoril rose not long before dawn, when blood-red light started to bleed through the window. He cracked an eye open and espied the three women who slept with him in a tangle of limbs, and then - with a gentleness rarely found in him - peeled them away from himself so that he could retrieve his clothes and weapons from where they had been discarded. Finding quill, ink and vellum, he quickly scribed a note:-

Madame Ilira;
You have been paid for the women. Keep them well.
I will return. Our arrangement stands.
I leave a token of my esteem. To use as you wish.
-I.N
C.H

After searching uselessly for something to pin the note to the door with, he sighed and took two bolts from the quiver at his hip and used one to secure the note. The second he plunged straight into the door, and hung about it a silken purse filled with golden coins. Once done, he descended the stairs, distantly detecting a desire to remain in the building, and he felt loath to return to the Sanctuary. When he reached the main room, the background noise of people became too distracting for him to concentrate on such foolish ideas - Mythas knew he was alive; if he failed to return to the rest of the Cold Hearts, they might take it into their soft, foolish heads that they should attempt to kill him. 'Hell,' he thought, 'they still might. January has no reason to wish for my return, and the newblood will do as commanded ...'

He reached the door and pulled it inwards easily, the heavy metal yielding to the strength which came easily to all elves, and concentrated on the task ahead. Walking across the quay-side, he pulled his hood up to cover his head and thrust his face into darkness, before choosing the pier which would lead him to his meeting with the other Druchii of the Cold Hearts. Reaching the planks which would take him into the caverns which had once been Markus' domain, he carefully scanned the docks for watchers and then quickly prised the planks up, lowered himself through them and replaced them from below.

Knowing the way didn't make Indoril feel any easier; despite being confident in his abilities, he knew Mythas and January at the least should be here, and he knew they harboured some petty, irrational grudge against him due to his highborn nature. 'As if that were my fault' he thought sourly, repeater crossbow at the ready, scanning the tunnel ahead of him. 'The damned fools will like as not have set up a pathetic trap.' Surprised to find none existed, Indoril made his way through the passage until he saw the four elves ahead of him. His left eyebrow rose. 'Four. So the spider caught another in her net. For some reason, he enjoyed the idea of January as an arachnid, and decided to use that as her moniker. The Lord cleared his throat loudly, weapon still at the ready, and spoke.

"I hated to keep you waiting, but it is only right you should wait on me. My women will agree with me." He flashed a white-toothed grin and wink at January, and then his usual sour expression returned to his face as he assessed the other newcomer questioningly.

 

[The Archivist]

January had only just returned when Indoril arrived.
"Hello Indoril. Guess you heard how I got your sister for you."
A smug grin settled on her face.
"The manse couldn't be infiltrated, you said. Turns out I only needed four months and she was a goner. So now I'm back, you owe me payment."
Her face returned to a more professional state.
"Nonetheless, I might ask for a different style of payment. I've solved your family problems, and I need you to help me with some of my own. Perhaps once we've re-established the fear of the Cold Hearts into the city."

 

[Malochai]

Indoril flashed another grin at January and bowed mockingly, sweeping his right arm before him. "Yes, I had heard of my sister's ... Untimely demise. It must have been well done, and a long time in the planning; I had deemed the manse impenetrable." The Druchii's violet eyes narrowed suspiciously, and his tongue poked out from his pearlescent teeth.
"You will be paid, woman, in a manner I find fitting. The Cold Hearts would have been paid handsomely for the death of my sister; I nearly died myself before she was killed and her hounds called off. That was not part of the deal, and will have to be considered.
"That said, she is dead, and I am now Lord. Remember this - I now have the resources to repay any harm done to my tenfold." He raised an eyebrow at her, and then nodded abruptly. Turning to Mythas, he pursed his lips.

"You have contacts, I understand. Just remember this - you are not our leader. Markus took on that role. He failed. He was killed. By your hand, yes ... But we could do the same to you.
"I also have specific payments in mind for my services; more difficult to acquire than what these two may require. Asur. As many as can be taken, Mythas, I want them. Yes, they are expensive. Yes, one will pay for numerous contracts. But they are my price.
"Now, to business. What do we have first? Who are we killing?"

 

[Mello]

Mythas looked at Indoril simply, lip trembling, before bursting into hysterical, high pitched laughter, sinking to his knees and crying in hilarity. He looked like some possessed monk praying to an anonymous god.

"Me, leader??" he gasped in between breaths, "You must be more paranoid than even me, such is your desire for power."

He sobered up slightly and stood up again, still wiping away the tears of laughter, and grinning like an idiot.

"I killed Markus because he was leader, and as such I had hoped that no-one would want to replace him, as a group of killers we'd rather not be led after all.". He spread his hands melodramatically "If you would like to take role as our leader to further your power gain, by all means go ahead, but don't expect to live as long as Markus if you fail like him."

He held up a piece of paper, badly eaten by Sylvia. "I merely have the first contract, and the best means of collecting them. By all means bring your own along, but I will always have plenty for us to go along with."

Mythas' eyes narrow suspiciously. "Asur... god knows why you want them, I believe I already have.. he paused calculating how to proceed "an unspecified amount of them owed to me from previous contracts. I find it easier to horde favours than physical goods, they can't be stolen after all." a wicked glint of insight flashed in his eye.

"Seeing as you've now just told me just how valuable they are to you, I'll be sure to pay you one slave per three contracts."

 

[Malochai]

Indoril's eyes narrowed once more. The Druchii must be wealthy beyond his looks. 'Raiding the coasts of Ulthuan is a fools mission, but lucrative if done well...'

"That will suffice. They will each give much me so much joy," his tone was sickening, and his smile fake. 'I will learn his secrets ...'
"So, what is this first contract?"

 

[Mello]

Mythas allowed himself a rare smirk, he had the druchii by the gallows this time. He held the contract in between his thumb and forefinger, hanging down from under his hand, and squinted at it.

"Well let's see....

'Dear C.H'" Mythas paused and smiled "C.H? People are scared of our real name?" he sighed melodramatically "Some people..." shaking his head to bring himself back to reality, he continued.

"'Dear C.H,

I have a problem in the form of something you have most likely never encountered before. I have unofficially obtained a Hydra, the kind usually reserved for large pirate raids. Through some miracle the beast escaped. My own men can't know of the existence of such a rare animal, and as such I don't want it killed. Would it be possible for you to enter my abode un-noticed, subdue the creature, and leave similarly un-noticed. I can't have any enemies of mine notice anything unusual after all. Payment will be made in the regular fashion.'"

Mythas grinned boyishly, "Sounds like a challenge"

 

[Malochai]

The corner of Indoril's mouth quirked up in a smirk, and disappeared just as quickly. "it could be fear, though I doubt it. From what I have seen, we are but a legend that some people try to capitalise on." As he said that, he shot a glance at Shevael, recognising where he had seen the fool before.

"Regardless, we have a contract. Where's this idiots abode?"

 

[Count michael]

Shevael seemed to be lost in thought as Indoril kept glancing at him, he could remember something but couldn't fully remember

"Ha, I knew it!!!! He exclaimed loudly interrupting everyone

I knew I remembered you from somewhere you were at that tavern watching my preformance before I got attacked. You must be loyal fan come to get my autograph of course , I am honoured though if you just wait till after the contract then I shall have plenty of time to give as much autographs as you want

Hmmm this does sound challenging not being noticed isn't my style though I can always be a distractions if you need one, how would one subdue a hydra though??? blowing off a few heads might work or blinding it before wrapping it up in chains trailing off again lost in thought

 

[Malochai]

Indoril stared coldly at Shevael as he spoke, his eyes like chunks of amethyst in an ivory setting. Feeling completely confident, he pulled up a chair from nearby and sat on the edge of it, leaning forward, elbows on his knees and fingers interlocked.

"You are speaking to Lord Indoril, of House Nerefteen, the Black Bolt," he murmured quietly, calmly and clearly. Suddenly, his right arm jerked out and his stilletto blade was in his hand, hilt protruding from the top of his fist and blade toward the floor. "I am a shadow in the night, a wraith beneath the moon and a whisper on the wind." He stood and returned the blade to it's position up his sleeve smoothly, and then looked the loud-mouthed fool in the eyes once more.
"You are the braggard son of a Druchii who couldn't possibly be more ashamed with the whelp he sired. He is not worthy the name Druchii if you are the best his seed could create!" Indoril spat on the floor at Shevael's feet and glared at him, tongue flicking out to moisten his lips. "Stay silent until your opinion is asked!"

 

[Get of W'soran]

Arkeith smirked at Indoril's melodrama.

Did he just fetch a chair to sit on it so he could do his little speech? What is this a stage performance? the knight thought feeling amused I never thought a Highborne could be so lacking in dignity...perhaps he's from lesser a bloodline.

"I'm sure you're very very scary and important Lord of the shadowy whispering wraith." he mocked before turning towards Mythas, dismissing the loud-mouthed Lord from his mind.

"I can do quiet, sounds like fun." Arkeith said with a grin. "Can't say I know how to subdue a Hydra though."

A Hydra? That will be challenging...and what's the point in taking a job if it doesn't test you?

 

[Mello]

Mythas was inwardly gleeful at the others' equal distaste of the highborn. He certainly won this miniature battle.

"Well I'm off to examine the location, who's going to look as well?"

-------

Mythas huddled up a little as Sylvia took shelter inside his hood. The weather was particularly vicious and the wind had an even greater bone chilling effect than usual today. Merely making his way via the roof tops he had noticed many numerous frozen corpses on the street level, no doubt some lowly slave with not enough clothing.

Crouching lower as to maintain his foothold on the normally slippery, now treacherous roofs of the damned city, Mythas peered through the obscurity of the torrents of rain. All he could make out was a low, gothic styled building with a standard set of walls around it. He sighed inwardly.. the weather was going to cause a huge problem entering, but he guessed it would help them stay out of sight at least.

 

[Malochai]

"I'll do so independently. From what I saw, this one isn't as swift on the roofs as he could be. He'll slow me down; and I wouldn't want to be weighed down by your ... Protégé ..." he said the word slowly, with a look of distaste on his face.

"Where is it?"

Once the dark elf had learned the location of the employers abode, Indoril left the Sanctuary by one of the ways other than the pier, which would bring him out closer to the manse.

 

[The Archivist]

"Shavael, you'll probably be best suited to be the distraction. Subtlety doesn't seem to rest in your skillset."
She shrugged and looked around.
"I'm off to check out the address. See you back here later."



January knocked on the door to the large abode. She was dressed in the robes of a package handler, and in her hands she held a large package she kept carefully shielded from the elements. The intensified rain was soaking her hair, and she couldn't help think of how irritating it would be if one of her many packages got damp. She hoped she had waterproofed them enough.
Waiting for even longer, she thumped on the door.
"Package for the head of the house!" she hollered.