That's a....sticky question. If you ask Gray, the people govern themselves. We're just the stewards, the gardeners, only looking out for weeds, maybe guiding the beds, but leaving them mostly on their own.
As they passed the burned building, she chuckled wryly.
But sometimes that doesn't work. For the most part people look after themselves, but there needs to be an armored hand there sometimes. Guarding, yeah, but making sure everyone gets along. So I guess the Sentinels do a lot of it. Gray's little party, too, I guess.
"Ah, that's wonderful, I'm glad it's worked out well so far."
The concept of a people ruling over themselves was something admirable, at least a worthy achievement for a place like Highever where there was a distinct divide between wealthy and poor.
Serenity was eager to see the rest of Wistvale, but her weariness was beginning to move course through her body. It had been a long ride.
"Perhaps we could have dinner later, Captain? I'd love to see how else Wistvale has grown, but I'd like to rest now I think. Is there a place my men and I can stay?"
Sure, the Tavern's still here. About the only thing we couldn't touch, really-- She was interrupted by a soldier running up to her, panting and trying to get his breath.
Ma'am! Captain....we've found--
The Major can't handle this?
N-no, forgive me. We've found another...soul trader. Margrett gave Serenity a sidelong look and let go of her, stepping forward.
Serenity suddenly forgot her exhaustion and became intrigued when one of Margrett's men came to share the news. Though it was none of her business, she couldn't resist the opportunity to lend a hand.
"If it's alright with you, Captain, I'd like to come along."
It had been a long time since Serenity used her powers seriously, as Highever was as safe as it could be from dark magic. The charges involved are severe, and any caught attempting to practice the black arts were almost always sentenced to death. The wrath of the city's mage-guard is compared with the ferocity of nature itself.
All the same, this was not Highever, and the lady Howle would not insist on this matter if Margrett denied her request. She was here as a guest after all, nothing more.
Margrett paused, looking back at her uncertainly, remembering the times she'd seen the mage defend herself. She called Serenity "china doll" but she was really anything but. Maybe her time in the noble halls of Highever had dulled her skills, but Margrett had a sneaking suspicion that wasn't the case. She smiled, nodded, and pulled her cape around her as she turned on her heel to follow the soldier.
Let's see how well you can still sling those spells, Ambassador Howle. The steel trap closed a little then.
We cleared out the last den. They were processing the gems and selling them off the street, and we thought we got them all. You know anything about this sort of black magic, Ambassdor?
Serenity followed the Captain, "I'm afraid I only know how to put down dark magic users. Scrolls and tomes for dark magic are locked up tight back home, and only brought in the event we don't know what we're dealing with when investigating the black arts."
The lady Howle took a moment to make sure her gauntlets were fastened, "But no need to worry about me, I will use all my power if I must."
A gust of wind suddenly blew past them, carrying Serenity's long hair for a moment before settling.
"And, I would appreciate it if you didn't mention my being a part of this to my escort. They would worry," she finished with a mischievous grin.
Last Edit: Jun 9, 2012 22:33:11 GMT -5 by Serenity
The wind was refreshing, in more than one way. Blowing away the hot, muggy air and reminding her of Serenity's powers. The soldier led them into an alley, cordoned off by other soldiers. They saluted as Margrett passed and she gave them a curt nod.
At ease. Where there's one there's more of them. Like cockroaches. One soldier stood above a crumpled form, a young man dressed in black. He was emaciated, hollow, sunken cheeks and vacant eyes, trying to breathe as he watched them approach. She shook her head and whispered back to Serenity.
One product of soul traders....they put the souls in gems and then grind it up, snuff it like tobacco. Addictive. You forget to eat, sleep. Damages your mind. Poor bastard probably got his first hit free, never looked back.
"Oh how I missed this place," Serenity exclaimed to Margrett with a smile on her face, after learning a bit more on the situation.
"I've been in an office for to long, it's about time I do something dirty for a change."
Her new duties back home came with many restrictions, especially on her ability to walk out freely about her own city. A personal punishment from her family no doubt. She wasn't even allowed to exercise her magic freely, not that she found a reasonable excuse to. There was a time Serenity attempted to go down to the arena as a contestant. Her subtlety failed her then.
Lady Howle tried to suppress her eagerness to help in light of the severity of the scene before them.
Last Edit: Jun 10, 2012 19:08:26 GMT -5 by Serenity
Margrett get on one knee by the man, snapping her figners in front of his face.
He's lucid. Sir? Sir?
Her voice softened a bit, but still had the strong, steely edge. But this seemed a supportive sort of strength, not an intimidating one.
We're going to get you help, sir. Bowl of food, warm bed. But-- sir, look at me. You have to tell me where the others are. The man gaped, barely there. He looked down the alley, then back up to the people around him.
D-docks...under the docks.
Margrett nodded, pulling him to his feet.
Get him something to eat and get him locked up. Going to take a while before it works out of his system. She suppressed a sigh as she walked past Serenity, looking distracted.
It dawned on her then just how bad this new narcotic could be when Margrett attempted to communicate with the man.
The idea of soul gems was still processing through her mind, how one could contain a soul and then grind it down to a powder. It was insane, beyond the logic of any learned mage. The memory of the blood stone crept up once more, and recalled vaguely on the method of forging such a relic.
"Of course," she exclaimed, "Lead on, Captain."
She paused for a moment, "Captain, have you ever seen the process in action, the making of these soul gems I mean."
The Captain walked quickly, towards the docks, motioning for some of the soldiers to follow her, and other to spread out.
Not personally. We've seen the labs they leave behind. Have to clean that shit up ourselves. Nasty stuff, leaves a weird aura on everything if you leave it sit long enough. We're thinking about getting a cleric or something to clean it out, but we can't afford that on our budget. The sun was rather low in the sky now. The sun would set in a few hours, fittingly.
All I know is that they have big killing pits where they just toss animals and people into, catch the souls as they drift out to gods-know-where, and somehow put it in a gem. They kill people going in and coming out.
"With growth comes new pests I suppose," Serenity said idly as she listened to Margrett's explantion.
It was getting late, and lady Howle knew that whether she liked it or not, her guard would come looking for her. The Commander could only follow so many orders before he made decisions on his own.
"Captain, would it be alright to send a man to the tavern? I'd like my escort to know that I'll be a while longer. If there are lodgings they could wait at, I'd appreciate them knowing so they could get comfortable."
She pulled a man aside with a snap of her fingers and a wave and held his shoulder as she walked.
Get to the Tavern and find the Highever guards, tell them and Jim they can have two rooms, let them figure out arrangements for themselves. And remind Jim that I'm coming in tomorrow to pay for the damage to that one room.
She gave Serenity a sidelong look as the man nodded and followed orders, but her stern expression didn't change.
Broke the bed. Long story. She was silent for a moment as she motioned for one of the guards to follow her.
Already have the exits closed off? Good. Don't go too far in, you know what's lurking in the sewers. Miss Howle, we tore up the dock you may remember to put in the sewer system. There's a way into the cisterns from there, but I'll warn you, it's dark as a midnight death and twice as dirty. She stepped quickly down the wooden steps to the echoing, yawning entrance to the sewers.
"I see...well so long as it's not to much trouble."
Serenity trapped a chuckle in her throat and continued onward to the mouth of the sewer system. Several ideas as to how the bed broke came to mind, knowing her old friend's indulgences; Serenity decided to inquire later when it became appropriate.
"I remember, good to see it finished, though I suppose it was destined for other uses, unfortunately."
The lady was not fond of dark, cramped spaces, especially after her adventure in some caverns under Wistvale where she nearly brought the ceiling down on her head due to misuse of her powers.
She stopped at the top of the steps, "Shouldn't we get some lanterns first then? Or would you prefer I stay out here with the rest of your men?"
Serenity appeared indifferent on the matter, hand on her hip, yet she had an anxious look when she asked the latter question.
Last Edit: Jun 12, 2012 20:02:10 GMT -5 by Serenity
Margrett looked back, giving the Lady a smirk and a raised eyebrow.
I am sorry, I didn't realize your time in the posh towers made you soft, Serenity. She tipped her hat, and started into the sewer tunnel, along the path on one side of the water.
You can wait out there. I'll just be having the fun.