The Science of Murder, The Art of Theft

A general forum for all in-character posts as they relate to Act VI: Absolution, the characters that inhabit the world at large, and the events that help shape both.
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Liquid
Posts: 11
Character: Luka - Jack Tylon (dead)

The Science of Murder, The Art of Theft

Post by Liquid » December 16th, 2021, 7:47 pm

'You know it's really dark in here, right?' Luka said to the man as he walked, the air was chilled in the basement.

Metal hooks swing, bits and pieces of fresh meat hang in the cellar with a small table in the middle of the room where two men sit. Playing a dice game to pass the time. One looks older, eye missing, wrinkles and smells like pomegranate liqueur. Obviously the rich one - the other was a larger but less threatening one. Seemed to be studying the dice and the cup a little to intently.

The larger one spoke a little suddenly as Luka came into light. 'Alright Mr. Stroud sit down, let me know what you want and I'll let you know the cost.' Luka stopped, a little stunned for a moment - 'I guess it's like that?' 'Sure, is Kid - let's talk options, deal?' Luka holds out some cards and slides a few his way as the dice gets knocked to the floor. The older man leans back, not expecting to be delt in. 'You know what I want, I need a ticket - I need magebane. I need my brother released' The eyes lock as a little tension between the two. 'Luka there isn't enough gold in the world to release a diabolist from the VIC, and even if there was do you think the thief's guild can afford it?'

Luka folds his cards to his direction. 'I mean we aren't poor mate - what costs what? Two please' Luka throws the cards in the center and looks back to the man 'Brother can't be released, dead - not gonna happen kid. Might as well strike it off. Ticket and magebane...get you a ticket but you'll have to steal it. We all know you can't steal for shit and if it's locked you are rubbish.' A brief pause 'Here's the deal, go into the first and...'

Luka stands up 'The bloody fucking first? For what?!' The man taps the table indicating for him to sit back down. 'For starters, that's where magebane is. For second, that's the price - you get knowledge of where the good stuff is, I get what I want'. Luka sits back down and folds his arms, takes a peek at the cards and then back at the man 'Ok...We have gold, you didn't ask for gold. You want me in the first for...what?'

The man holds his hand up and leans back 'Mr. Stroud are you so eager to end the game early?' Luka nods looking around, once at the man, then to the older man, and then to the escort 'Uh, yeah - I mean you know gotta feed the kids and wife and what the fuck do you think?' Luka says quickly, and very sarcastically about his family 'I have to prepare, I am essentially leaving the guild at the least or bringing the guild with me and to work for you? I don't even know your name...'

The man puts his cards on the table face down. 'Call me Jax, Luka...there are plenty of factions there. You can work for the VIC, the Collar, the Pagans - fuck you can work for the bloody diabolists collecting bodies and mutilating them for necro-fuckery for all I care...just get the job done, the choice is your own kid.' Luka rubs the bridge of his nose 'Ok...what's the job, lay it on me.' The man pulls out a small book and slides it over 'Find out who's trying to stop the torment, puttem to rest. If you can't...write the names down and send it back this way. Factions, descriptions, all of it - let me know...all...of...it.'

Luka looks shocked 'Wha...what do you mean put them to rest? You wan't me to kill the people trying to stop the torment which is killing everyone?! How...honestly, I'm shocked...how is that even possible. That is -everyone-.' The man closes his eyes and shakes his head with that...no you're stupid smile on his face.

'Luka...There isn't a single organization here who wants to 'stop' the torment. Everyone profits off it -EVERYONE-. The VIC have power, torment goes away and people might just not need them anymore. Peddlers sell their cures and potions - fuck, the only people who really benefit from the torment being gone are Mages. Not a mage is you boy?' The man laughs and leans in smiling with gnarled teeth 'Think of every major group, what does anyone get if the torment is gone? Safety? Sanity? OH...Oh they...they won't die now?! Oh, if we cure the torment everyone lives forever?! No... Everyone dies, everyone goes away.' The man sits back down as Luka nods and takes the small book. 'Alright, I see you have thought this logic through uh...Jacks...I'm not saying I agree. Wait...you know I'm after magebane, why would you send me...why would you agree?'

The man laughs and leans back 'Dumbass, you're trying to cure the torment not stop it. Cures are worth money, money is profit - I like profit, stopping the torment stops profit. You can't mass produce the cure, and the cure will be worth a lot of money to the rich. Also, when...or if, you ever find a cure your head is going to be top of the chain to be cut off and proper fucked by one of those googly eyed necromancers. Magebane doesn't cure shit either, it'll just make mages sick - hence, magebane, not mage-curse-be-gone.'

Luka stuffs the book in his pocket and flips his cards off and then points 'You know, you're a really mean person - I had something...really good to say, but I fucking forgot. Now I'm off to go kill people who want to stop the torment or something.' Luka's escort grabs his shoulder and leans down 'Time to go kid, can't miss that train - let's go get your things hmm?' Luka is shuffled quickly out the door as the old man looks over at the younger one 'Jax?' the young man throws the cards down and 3 jacks' hit the table. 'Gotta think fast old man...'

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