Post by The Sorcerer on Dec 19, 2013 2:21:54 GMT -5
It had been three months now, three people found dead in Minoc. Stories of a masked man in a smiling mask began to circulate across the globe. Slade sat in the ruins of the old tower silently, looking over the mask in his hands. What had he done, was all of this worth it? He knew what his folly was, ever since he put on that damn necklace. The sense of freedom and power that filled him whenever he put that mask on, As if someone else took the reins of his own body. He could hear the voice inside of his head constantly, urging him to put it on.
"You've completed all the tasks, Why haven't you made your request yet?" Shadow spoke as he sat across from him.
"I need time first, As I am right now I fear I may endanger my own cause.." Slade replied. Shadow smirked a bit as he did.
"Well then, you'll have no issue doing something for me then?" Shadow inquired.
"...Something to do with the crystal and my wife..?" Slade turned to the dark clad man and asked.
"Indeed, Someone who works for me has acquired a piece of it. However for safety reasons he cannot deliver it to me. You are to meet with him and arrange the pickup" Shadow informed him.
"...if I am to meet with him, why can he not just give it to me then..?" Slade asked flatly.
"It does not technically belong to him... yet. He will explain when you meet with him, trust me my friend." Shadow returned with a smile.
Slade nodded absently, slowly putting on the mask. He breathed in deeply as if suddenly refreshed. a small chuckle came from beneath the mask and he rose.
"Where am I to meet your little errand boy then? somewhere dark and scary?" Slade chortled a bit.
"Yes.... You will meet him in Magincia on the docks. His name is Keiran Vane, he's a pirate with water on the brain so.. be patient" Shadow responded.
"...a little mad? How wonderful, I've always wondered what a crazy person was like...." Slade replied laughing to himself as he made his exit.
Magincia was as scary as Slade remembered it... seriously the architecture these days. Wasting no time he headed for the docks. Upon his arrival he saw a delightfully ill dressed man in a tricorne hat standing upon the docks, appearing to have a conversation with the message board. Slade slowly strolled up and tapped him on the shoulder. The pirate spun around seeming less shocked than most would be by a man in a mask...
"Who're you en eh? an what're yeh smilin about?" Vane asked.
"A common friend of ours has asked me to speak to you about the delivery of a small object, a certain shiny object." Slade spoke with a giggle.
"Oh right, yer on bout the crystal en? Well et ain gonna be easy, Ahm spose to be transportin it en a week er so." Vane replied, seeming to wobble on his feet.
"So, what is the problem? Surely you can just deliver it?" Slade tilted his head curiously.
"S'gonna be eyes on me, Gonna have some passengers on that day. Spose to help em deliver some weapons teh Jhelom. After thas done aym expected to deliver that crystal teh Britain along with em." Vane countered.
"Oh, I have a simply wonderful plan! What if... now stay with me on this. What if your ship is unable to make it past Jhelom?" Slade spoke clapping his hands excitedly.
"How do yeh mean mate?" Vane tilted his head confused.
"When you arrive there to make your delivery... use the north docks on the main island. Make sure all of your passengers accompany you on your delivery, I will have two men dressed as guards meet you at the docks. Once you are all a good distance into the city, your ship will be "Stolen". No connecting you to it, you'd only be reprimanded for losing cargo." Slade giggled to himself as he finished.
"Spose that'd work, My boss ain too worried bout et anyways. She's got er own plans." Vane replied with a nod.
The night of the delivery soon arrived. Shadow was kind enough to supply two of his men for the job. The fact his associate had henchmen bothered Slade a little bit, Shadow had not shown himself to have such resources before. He waited in the shadows as the ship arrived. He watched as the group on the ship slowly got off and began speaking with the two "guards" that awaited them. He giggled in amusement as they attempted to bribe the two men and even flirt with them. Not knowing that the two were going to allow them entry anyways. Then he heard something from one of the men amongst them that annoyed him.
"You all go along, I'll stay and watch the ship"
Slade groaned a bit at that, the man didn't appear to be a warrior of any kind. A lute hung at his side and a bow was on his back. Vane seeming to have forgotten the plan let him stay, taking the others along with him.
".....Oh joy, Well it's no fun if it's predictable I suppose..." Slade chuckled, signalling the two men with what could only be described as a "Hit the guy over the head so we can steal the boat" motion.
The two disguised henchmen waited as the man on the ship turned to watch the horizon. Slipping on board stealthily one of the men drew their sword and clubbed him over the back of the head with the hilt. Slade casually strolled from his hiding place and made his way onto the ship.
"Spose we should kill this one, don't want him remembering anything" The first henchman spoke.
"Oh no no no, Come now I don't need him dead. that's silly Henchman Number One!" Slade replied.
"errr... my name's Jackson sir...." Henchman Number One replied.
"I'll never remember that. Henchman number three, toss him onto the docks and let us be on our way!" Slade spoke as he jumped to the bow trying to look as sailorish as possible.
"....Wait, why am I not henchman number two?" Henchman number three replied.
"..You kind of feel like a three... now less chatty more tossy!" Slade waved dismissively at number three.
The two henchmen grabbed the unconcious man and tossed him onto the docks unceremoniously. Number one took the wheel and they slowly pulled away from the docks. This had been much easier than Slade had imagined, but why did he let that man live? He glanced back to the unconcious form on the docks.
"You have friends, don't you? a choice in life.... I envy you. You haven't realized how much of a joke life is yet.... For that I also pity you." Slade spoke to himself absently, looking away from the docks.
The voyage to Vesper was an uneventful one, short of discovering that henchman number one could get REALLY seasick. Going through all the clutter below deck Slade finally found the crystal fragment. To think, within the shard somewhere was part of his wife's own soul. Below deck he also found something fairly interesting, a ledger written by the pirate. Vane had likely left the book down there by mistake, within it were a few names though none of them meant anything to him...
"Judas, Alisiea, Jolicia, Lucas, Shelley.... he mentions them all in here but who the heck are they? Seems to just be those involved in the weapon's deal, suppose there are no more crystal leads to be found in this." Slade spoke as he began to toss the book away but stopped.
He looked upon one of the lines, reading what the pirate had written.
"I am not sure what Shelley wishes to accomplish in delivering these weapons, but she is the boss"
Slade blinked a bit before he actually realized what he was reading, this wasn't a ledger....or any kind of important document.
"...He left his diary here?..... wait he keeps a diary....about his illegal activities..... I am so relieved..." Slade spoke laughing to himself.
"Here I was worried that I was the crazy one...."
Through the rest of the trip he sat and read through the diary. He did not learn much, just names and the many fool hearty adventures the pirate had been through. he became slightly interested in this "Shelley" character he kept speaking of, she seemed to be a smart one. For a woman to be in charge of something like this these days, it certainly meant she must be formidable. He tucked the diary away with a small smile.
"For a rainy day..." he spoke to himself happily.
He delivered the crystal to Shadow, the dark clad man smiled upon receiving it. Slade was still not sure what to make of this deal, Or if Shadow was being honest.
"Good work, the next one is going to be a bit tricky.....But we need to get it out of the way..." Shadow spoke with a sigh.
"Already....? we didn't even have tea yet" Slade chuckled to himself.
"It's nowhere easy. In fact it might be in one of the most secure places yet." Shadow spoke rubbing his temples.
"....You are a man of suspense, I do love that about you!" Slade giggled as he crosses his legs in his seat.
"...It resides in the hilt of a sword..... unfortunately this sword is an heirloom of sorts. It belongs to the royal family in Tokuno. More specifically it's locked away within The Empress' home" Shadow spoke, looking to Slade seriously
"Well... that's not going to be easy. Oh! but I love when it isn't easy!..... Oh crazy idea coming on." Slade spoke jumping out of his chair.
"Oho! I think I've got it! I think I rea- oops lost it. Wait there it is!" Slade roared, leaving Shadow tilting his head.
"What is your plan?" Shadow asked.
"It is simple my good man, we kill the- wait no that's been done" Slade sighed and sat back in his chair.
"Give me one week... I'll figure it out. I do however need some traders that you won't mind getting into trouble.... Know anyone?" Slade asked leaning forward like a curious child.
"I may at that..... One week. Go to Trinsic, Find The Southshore trading company. Their owner Thomas Liam knows me by an alias of "Franklin Carter". Just tell him I am who sent you, that will give you some credit." Shadow spoke with a grin.
Slade clapped his hands gleefully and hopped out of the chair. Without any words he rushed from the tower and made his way to Vesper.
"...I've always wanted to touch royalty...."
"You've completed all the tasks, Why haven't you made your request yet?" Shadow spoke as he sat across from him.
"I need time first, As I am right now I fear I may endanger my own cause.." Slade replied. Shadow smirked a bit as he did.
"Well then, you'll have no issue doing something for me then?" Shadow inquired.
"...Something to do with the crystal and my wife..?" Slade turned to the dark clad man and asked.
"Indeed, Someone who works for me has acquired a piece of it. However for safety reasons he cannot deliver it to me. You are to meet with him and arrange the pickup" Shadow informed him.
"...if I am to meet with him, why can he not just give it to me then..?" Slade asked flatly.
"It does not technically belong to him... yet. He will explain when you meet with him, trust me my friend." Shadow returned with a smile.
Slade nodded absently, slowly putting on the mask. He breathed in deeply as if suddenly refreshed. a small chuckle came from beneath the mask and he rose.
"Where am I to meet your little errand boy then? somewhere dark and scary?" Slade chortled a bit.
"Yes.... You will meet him in Magincia on the docks. His name is Keiran Vane, he's a pirate with water on the brain so.. be patient" Shadow responded.
"...a little mad? How wonderful, I've always wondered what a crazy person was like...." Slade replied laughing to himself as he made his exit.
Magincia was as scary as Slade remembered it... seriously the architecture these days. Wasting no time he headed for the docks. Upon his arrival he saw a delightfully ill dressed man in a tricorne hat standing upon the docks, appearing to have a conversation with the message board. Slade slowly strolled up and tapped him on the shoulder. The pirate spun around seeming less shocked than most would be by a man in a mask...
"Who're you en eh? an what're yeh smilin about?" Vane asked.
"A common friend of ours has asked me to speak to you about the delivery of a small object, a certain shiny object." Slade spoke with a giggle.
"Oh right, yer on bout the crystal en? Well et ain gonna be easy, Ahm spose to be transportin it en a week er so." Vane replied, seeming to wobble on his feet.
"So, what is the problem? Surely you can just deliver it?" Slade tilted his head curiously.
"S'gonna be eyes on me, Gonna have some passengers on that day. Spose to help em deliver some weapons teh Jhelom. After thas done aym expected to deliver that crystal teh Britain along with em." Vane countered.
"Oh, I have a simply wonderful plan! What if... now stay with me on this. What if your ship is unable to make it past Jhelom?" Slade spoke clapping his hands excitedly.
"How do yeh mean mate?" Vane tilted his head confused.
"When you arrive there to make your delivery... use the north docks on the main island. Make sure all of your passengers accompany you on your delivery, I will have two men dressed as guards meet you at the docks. Once you are all a good distance into the city, your ship will be "Stolen". No connecting you to it, you'd only be reprimanded for losing cargo." Slade giggled to himself as he finished.
"Spose that'd work, My boss ain too worried bout et anyways. She's got er own plans." Vane replied with a nod.
The night of the delivery soon arrived. Shadow was kind enough to supply two of his men for the job. The fact his associate had henchmen bothered Slade a little bit, Shadow had not shown himself to have such resources before. He waited in the shadows as the ship arrived. He watched as the group on the ship slowly got off and began speaking with the two "guards" that awaited them. He giggled in amusement as they attempted to bribe the two men and even flirt with them. Not knowing that the two were going to allow them entry anyways. Then he heard something from one of the men amongst them that annoyed him.
"You all go along, I'll stay and watch the ship"
Slade groaned a bit at that, the man didn't appear to be a warrior of any kind. A lute hung at his side and a bow was on his back. Vane seeming to have forgotten the plan let him stay, taking the others along with him.
".....Oh joy, Well it's no fun if it's predictable I suppose..." Slade chuckled, signalling the two men with what could only be described as a "Hit the guy over the head so we can steal the boat" motion.
The two disguised henchmen waited as the man on the ship turned to watch the horizon. Slipping on board stealthily one of the men drew their sword and clubbed him over the back of the head with the hilt. Slade casually strolled from his hiding place and made his way onto the ship.
"Spose we should kill this one, don't want him remembering anything" The first henchman spoke.
"Oh no no no, Come now I don't need him dead. that's silly Henchman Number One!" Slade replied.
"errr... my name's Jackson sir...." Henchman Number One replied.
"I'll never remember that. Henchman number three, toss him onto the docks and let us be on our way!" Slade spoke as he jumped to the bow trying to look as sailorish as possible.
"....Wait, why am I not henchman number two?" Henchman number three replied.
"..You kind of feel like a three... now less chatty more tossy!" Slade waved dismissively at number three.
The two henchmen grabbed the unconcious man and tossed him onto the docks unceremoniously. Number one took the wheel and they slowly pulled away from the docks. This had been much easier than Slade had imagined, but why did he let that man live? He glanced back to the unconcious form on the docks.
"You have friends, don't you? a choice in life.... I envy you. You haven't realized how much of a joke life is yet.... For that I also pity you." Slade spoke to himself absently, looking away from the docks.
The voyage to Vesper was an uneventful one, short of discovering that henchman number one could get REALLY seasick. Going through all the clutter below deck Slade finally found the crystal fragment. To think, within the shard somewhere was part of his wife's own soul. Below deck he also found something fairly interesting, a ledger written by the pirate. Vane had likely left the book down there by mistake, within it were a few names though none of them meant anything to him...
"Judas, Alisiea, Jolicia, Lucas, Shelley.... he mentions them all in here but who the heck are they? Seems to just be those involved in the weapon's deal, suppose there are no more crystal leads to be found in this." Slade spoke as he began to toss the book away but stopped.
He looked upon one of the lines, reading what the pirate had written.
"I am not sure what Shelley wishes to accomplish in delivering these weapons, but she is the boss"
Slade blinked a bit before he actually realized what he was reading, this wasn't a ledger....or any kind of important document.
"...He left his diary here?..... wait he keeps a diary....about his illegal activities..... I am so relieved..." Slade spoke laughing to himself.
"Here I was worried that I was the crazy one...."
Through the rest of the trip he sat and read through the diary. He did not learn much, just names and the many fool hearty adventures the pirate had been through. he became slightly interested in this "Shelley" character he kept speaking of, she seemed to be a smart one. For a woman to be in charge of something like this these days, it certainly meant she must be formidable. He tucked the diary away with a small smile.
"For a rainy day..." he spoke to himself happily.
He delivered the crystal to Shadow, the dark clad man smiled upon receiving it. Slade was still not sure what to make of this deal, Or if Shadow was being honest.
"Good work, the next one is going to be a bit tricky.....But we need to get it out of the way..." Shadow spoke with a sigh.
"Already....? we didn't even have tea yet" Slade chuckled to himself.
"It's nowhere easy. In fact it might be in one of the most secure places yet." Shadow spoke rubbing his temples.
"....You are a man of suspense, I do love that about you!" Slade giggled as he crosses his legs in his seat.
"...It resides in the hilt of a sword..... unfortunately this sword is an heirloom of sorts. It belongs to the royal family in Tokuno. More specifically it's locked away within The Empress' home" Shadow spoke, looking to Slade seriously
"Well... that's not going to be easy. Oh! but I love when it isn't easy!..... Oh crazy idea coming on." Slade spoke jumping out of his chair.
"Oho! I think I've got it! I think I rea- oops lost it. Wait there it is!" Slade roared, leaving Shadow tilting his head.
"What is your plan?" Shadow asked.
"It is simple my good man, we kill the- wait no that's been done" Slade sighed and sat back in his chair.
"Give me one week... I'll figure it out. I do however need some traders that you won't mind getting into trouble.... Know anyone?" Slade asked leaning forward like a curious child.
"I may at that..... One week. Go to Trinsic, Find The Southshore trading company. Their owner Thomas Liam knows me by an alias of "Franklin Carter". Just tell him I am who sent you, that will give you some credit." Shadow spoke with a grin.
Slade clapped his hands gleefully and hopped out of the chair. Without any words he rushed from the tower and made his way to Vesper.
"...I've always wanted to touch royalty...."