[center][color=red]Behind the Shadow & Storm Pub, Tale's End Slums, Magnagrad[/color][/center][hr]



The alley behind the Shadow & Storm stank of garbage and piss, which, Dragonov supposed, was par for the course for most alleys in the slums of Magnagrad. From the other side of the backdoor he could hear the roaring of the music and feel the vibrations of the crowd as they dance and stepped along. [i]Good, he won't hear us coming.[/i]

The alleyway was a thin crook of space wedged between the converted bunker and the building next door, barely allowing the small congregation of priests and SA soldiers enough room to gather together. Lev stared at Father Stamenkovikj's massive frame drunkenly swaying there in the middle of the pack, his head and shoulders towering above all the others while Father Qureshi, who was also deep in his cups but managing better than his companion, tried to steady his companion by holding his arm. Dragonov wondered if this would really work. The unexpected arrival of the inquisitors had thrown an ark-sized wrench into the logistics of the sting, but in truth, Lev considered it a blessing in disguise. Kadenza's gang were ruthless and the chance of there being casualties among his men was high, but if these two inquisitors agreed to aid them, perhaps he didn't need to lose any of his own people at all.

Joining Lycaon, himself and the two inquisitors were six SA soldiers doing their best to stand at attention in the cramped alleyway. Most of them were young and freshly out of the academy, too inexperienced to be ordered to El, but Lev didn't mind one bit. He liked his followers young and uncalloused, thus these dregs would serve him nicely. If they survived tonight, he would mold them into fine soldiers.

Lev stepped toward the two inquisitors and saluted. It was strange how swift and practiced a movement it was, a motion as clockwork as the hour hand striking midnight. It was a true soldier's salute if the two inquisitors had ever seen one.

"Your Reverences. Please pardon me for interrupting your leisure time. I understand that the two of you, along with Father Hjálmgrímr, are due in Cero City in six days and that this is your final night before beginning the long journey to T'sarae. Had we known that you would choose this specific establishment to enjoy your night off, we would have reached out beforehand to inform you of the operation we had planned here--"

Stina's eyes began to droop. At that point, Lycaon stepped in.

"Allow me to cut to the chase. What Lieutenant Dragonov is trying to say is, we would appreciate your help in apprehending a criminal-- one who possesses vital information concerning a certain apostate priest. Father Dara Valtyr, the summoner..." 

Behind Lycaon the group of SA soldiers could be seen stealing nervous glances at each other. [i]Father Dara[/i]. It was a name that had spread throughout the empire like wildfire. The renegade summoner, as he was known, was currently the most sought-after criminal in all of Varya. For the past twenty-six months his young, emotionless face had been plastered on wanted posters all over the empire, and for good reason. Dara was one of only three summoners in all the continent and was said to have been stricken with madness just days before his Culmination. Power and insanity melding together was a recipe for destruction, as Dara demonstrated when hunters from a town in the southern outskirts of Lanostre were massacred by what witnesses claimed to be a shadowy dragon-like creature, the same demon that Dara had been known to summon during his time within the Red Seminary. The boy was a murderer with untold power at his fingertips, and the empire needed him dead.

"As you know, for the past two years both the Church and army have been scouring the empire for any trace of him, but there have been no leads. Until now."

Lev pulled out his sword, a thin-bladed saber gleaming black in the shadowed alleyway. He walked ten paces down the alley, the soldiers parting to let him through, where he touched the tip of his sword to the bunker wall. 

"We've learned that he and a group of mercenaries obtained a coffin ship with the help of the smuggler Kadenza Rami, who at this very moment is gambling in the backroom of this pub, right here on the other side of this wall. He is being protected by a gang of ice pirates-- Raw, faithless men who know nothing but killing for money. Your strength and skill would be invaluable in our fight against them." Dragonov told the inquisitors, his tone remaining neutral. If what he had read about these two inquisitors proved true, Father Qureshi and Father Stamenkovikj would be ideal for this sort of operation.

"If he's smart, there will be civilians in there with him. We'd like to keep the casualties to a minimum," Lev said, turning his face to shoot a glance at Stina.

One of the SA soldiers approached Lycaon and handed him a massive gunlance, which the Lanostran cocked and hefted over his shoulder. 

"Will you fight with us?"