duskshine749

[Widersia] Big Dom’s Champion

The club landed and Elora could feel her armour doing its job, though it didn't stop the pain entirely. Quickly glancing around the room she saw that only her current opponent and Bell remained. "Gears, go help the others. Detaining Bell is our top priority, I can handle this ruffian." She moved swiftly, making three strikes, the third being infused with Lunaciel's magic. Fighting one opponent meant she didn't have to swirl the magic around her, she could channel it more precisely.

Actions
1, 2. Basic attack
3. Borrowed Breath - Still Moon Style E, Blight-Ice F, Vampiric F, Cooldown 1. Elora strikes at her foe, chilling them and stealing some of their life for herself.

[Widersia] Big Dom’s Champion

Everyone else being replaceable didn't sound promising coming from Bell, but Elora had other things to worry about, like the man trying to club her. She quickly turned to face him, flourishing Lunaciel again, keeping the vortex of ice swirling around her. She then moved to parry his blow, attempting a counterattack in the process. The inelegance of his club may prove more of a hindrance than she thought, as she was used to dueling with swords.

Actions
1. Crimson Winter (flux) - Still Moon Style (F), Blight-Ice F, Aura (ice) F, Vampiric F, Selective F, (Area F), Cooldown (0). Elora channels the ice from her blade around herself as she strikes, damaging nearby enemies and healing herself.
2, 3. Counterattack

[Widersia] Big Dom’s Champion

Elora was considering a plan where they hid and had one of Marcus' friends tell them when Bell arrived. But now it seemed Bell was here with friends of his own, so that plan was out the window. At least now they wouldn't have to try and find him. Marcus tried to start a parlay without much enthusiasm, Elora appreciated the effort, but Bell seemed like he would rather the group just be out of his way, by whatever means necessary. So Elora took up a combat stance, she'd be lying if she claimed to not be a bit excited.

There were four men plus Bell, and they had the group a bit surrounded. Two of them were near her and Gears, "you take the left I take the right?" Elora asked Gears, then she jumped into action. She dashed to the man on the right and unleashed the power of Lunaciel, creating a small icy vortex that was tinted red with vampiric energy. She had trained long and hard to be able to keep the vortex from harming her allies, and in such a cramped space that training would pay off.

Actions:
1, 2. Move to melee with one of the goons
3. Crimson Winter (flux) - Still Moon Style (F), Blight-Ice F, Aura (ice) F, Vampiric F, Selective F, (Area F), Cooldown (0). Elora channels the ice from her blade around herself as she strikes, damaging nearby enemies and healing herself.

[Widersia] Big Dom’s Champion

Elora went around back with Gears, and when Marcus initiated the confrontation, the two women made sure that Milo couldn't escape out the back. What she saw in the room though was not what she expected. What she saw was very clearly a girl, not a horse. Sure she had some horse-like features, but Elora had seen much more beast-like people in her day. At any rate, it seemed they found their captive, and Milo was even willing to disarm himself.

Marcus asked Miss Bellaflora what happened, so Elora figured she should put some pressure on Milo, to make sure he knew who he should side with. "I believe Big Dom said, in regards to the person who kidnapped his dear comet, that he wanted the son of a bitch so full of lead it will take the crows a week to sort them out." She looked pointedly at Milo, "is Mr. Bell worth protecting with your life on the line?"

[Ryke] Adventure Guild Posting: Bom Bom Farm Escort

Silas was quite enjoying the walk, compared to the dungeon he had just left this job was much more up his alley. He looked at the woman who had joined him up front, she had what looked to be a katana. He knew other swords were generally considered better, but there was just something about the look of a katana that he enjoyed, so he was glad to see someone using one. "So, you have much experience transporting cargo?" Silas figured he should get to know her a bit if they'd be working together. She was also one of the few people who wasn't also on the dungeon expedition, so it worked out that she had chosen to join him in keeping watch.
@IAmTheIsland

[Widersia] Big Dom’s Champion

"Your friends seem quite useful," Elora noted when Marcus was finished relaying their information, "when this job is done you'll have to tell me how you found them." Elora was used to having others around to assist her, but to have a cohort of invisible lackeys would be very useful in many situations.

As they made their way to Cinder Arch it was clear this was an area intended for workers and not the people the city made their money off of. Marcus had a good plan, Elora just wanted to add a small tweak to it. "Perhaps I should join miss Gears? Not that I doubt your abilities, I'm just thinking we shouldn't concentrate all our numbers in one place. Having three approach them and two flank seems better to me than a four-one split."

[Widersia] Big Dom’s Champion

Elora had a slight smile at Marcus complimenting her question, "thank you, it was the only lead we had to go on. I'm more happy she let us see his room." As they got to the room the first thing Elora noticed was that this did not look like the room of someone who was taken against his will, it was too tidy, no signs of a struggle.

"I would say quite high," Elora said in reply to Marcus' comment. The bag of coins was strange, "well I don't think he was planning on leaving if he left this coin pouch." Elora grabbed the bag and checked it, seeing how much was inside. Not that the amount would tell them much, more for her own curiosity. Marcus had identified the key item, the pad with the previous note indented.

Elora made her way to the stove to see the not completely burned paper on it, checking how much was left of it for anything useful. "If you can't find a writing implement the charcoal from this paper could work."

[Widersia] Big Dom’s Champion

Elora stayed silent as her companions asked the first two questions. The answers were less than satisfactory, but if this Madam Cask was willing to be forthcoming with what they needed they wouldn't be playing this game. It seemed they had all the physical details they'd be getting, as much as she'd like to know more about Mr. Bell she doubted another question about him would prove fruitful. What they needed now was a new angle to investigate. And at that thought, the question came to her, "Who inspected and signed off on the carriage when it returned. Mr. Orven implied he didn't know, but I'm sure a woman such as yourself is already aware of who would have been working that late."

This line of questioning would force Madam Cask to give them something actionable. Either that, or she would hide the answer, which was an answer in its own way.

[Widersia] Big Dom’s Champion

Elora didn't have a visible reaction to the raised voice, but it was certainly something that could work in their favour. "If someone wishes to discuss the situation so loudly, perhaps we should oblige them. Clearly they have some investment in the matter, which seems strange if the only thing that happened was a bit of damage." Elora eyed the clerk knowingly, this was one part of noble society she did grow tired of on occasion. Everyone knew there was more to the story, and everyone knew that everyone knew as well. But you can't just come out and say it, as that would be improper. You had to coax it out, like a small child who knew they did something wrong but wasn't willing to admit it.

[Widersia] Big Dom’s Champion

Elora agreed with Gears' assessment, the clerk may as well have said the name Mr. E for all the help it gave them. But she kept her composure, calling him out directly would get them nowhere. "And this Mr. Bell gave no identification? No references? Just cash and a request for privacy?" She kept her tone level, not explicitly accusatory, but the implication was there. "Without a company rider then this Mr. Bell would have had to do all the work himself to release the carriage when he returned. Unless, of course, someone here helped him and simply didn't thoroughly inspect the vehicle for damage afterward?"

She let the question hang for just a moment too long, not enough for someone else to begin, but enough to be felt. She then continued, "We don't wish to cause embarrassment for Brass Lantern, but if someone is being reckless in your carriages during midnight joy rides..." She trailed off, hopefully her meaning was obvious.