The ruse worked as well as it could have. If it weren't for the fact that folks were used to strange around Wistvale already, and the general apathy, they'd have stared longer at Neko than what was needed for the recon to work. These town folk have seen it all.
As Neko made like she was looking for a place to sit, the conversation had at the far table could just be heard.
"So, vampires?" "Aye, an entire coven hiding in a cave like the animals they are." "You realize that just because you have that getup doesn't mean you're a vampire hunter, right? I mean, you're no Van Helsing." "Nonsense, boy! The beasts won't see it coming."
The crazy person opened up his duster to reveal an assortment of wooden steaks hanging along the lining.
::She couldn't help but smile at the exchange. She had a very personal knowledge of vampires, Father having once been one, and she found the man's confidence in the wooden stakes amusing. Unless they were different on this plane, which was entirely possible she knew, then they would not do him much good. The stakes would not kill, but put them into a sort of deep sleep. Should someone come along later and remove them, well...
Was this the man she was looking for? Was there reason to believe that vampires were the cause of the raids? She wasn't sure. So she found a seat as near the conversation as she could to listen more.::
"You carved all those in one night, didn't you?" said the concerned citizen with a sigh.
His Van Helsing impersonator just laughed off the comment as he closed his coat and took a swig of drink.
"The little devils won't see it coming, that'll teach 'em to come on my land and suck my cattle dry."
As that conversation goes on, the tavern doors swing open to make way for a tall stranger in a similar getup as the vampire hunter; he wore an oversized duster with a wide brimmed hat. The main difference, however, is what he wore around his waist; a very long chain or chains. They were somewhat loose and rattled with every step the man took to the bar.
"Hello, Stanley." said the stranger to the barkeep. "They're waiting for you, Quick." Stan responded while pointing to the back room with his thumb. "Thank ya."
With that, the weirdo who was clearly into S&M went through the door behind the bar.
::She barely stiffled a laugh that would have sent her drink spewing across the table at the comments made by the self proclaimed "vampire hunter" before noting the arrival of the other man who was addressed as "Quick".
This must be the man she was looking for. The rest of his group seemed to be in the back room.
She rose from her seat and with a nod to the "hunter" that came with a barely hidden smile, she headed for the door that Quick had entered, slowing as she neared it to see if she could hear anything before entering.::
She thought to herself, wishing she could say it aloud as she thought of half a hundred ways she could try and force herself past him and into the room. But what good would that do? The man was just doing his job. It wasn't his fault she couldn't speak.
But how to communicate with him? She did not know him, and therefore did not trust him with the bracers she wore. So with a weary sigh she pointed to the entrance to the tavern. This was follwed by her placing her hand atop her head and fanning her fingers to simulate the crest atop Krissss's head before reaching to jingle her purse and point to the door Quick had gone through.
It was a long shot, she knew, but she hoped he would understand. Otherwise she would have to either find another way in, or just continue on her own.::
The weird show told the barkeep, with his brilliant skill of deduction, that Neko was mute. Otherwise she'd not make herself look silly in a tavern during the middle of the day. Unfortunately, that's where his deduction skill ended as he couldn't quite pick out what she was trying to mimic.
Though Neko didn't know it, the head crest on the Talissi was a sign of dominance and only appeared on those who made themselves the 'alpha' of the group, so to speak. Kriss had never bothered to visit Wistvale's lovely tavern.
"You following Grayson?" the barkeep asked. He noticed that Neko seemed content with drinking on her own on the floor before the stranger entered the room.
"Well, let's check you out then, come on."
The barkeep motioned for Neko to follow him into the back. They came into a short, narrow hallway that had a door to the kitchen, a closet, and another room at the end which is where Neko was being led. When they entered the room, they came upon four men sitting around a card table with green felt. Among them was Grayson whose seating made him face the entrance.
"Stanley? What's this?"
The voice under the hat was a little raspy, but had the tonal flare of a smooth talking gentleman. There was dirt colored stubble on his chin and jaw, matching the color of the mess of hair that creeped from under his hat. The most notable feature were his blue eyes which seemed to pierce over his unkempt appearance. That, and the thing about the chains wrapped around his waist, over a vest.
"She wanted to follow you in, Quick, but the girl either has a brain leak or's a mute. I figure you might know her seeing as she wanted to come in after ya."
::She gave a small bow in greeting and pointed to herself before making a gesture that took in those gathered at the table.
As she waited for a response from the man, she glanced about the room for anything of note, especially other doors or windows she might use, should she be turned away. Also anything the group of men might have layed out on the table.::
The door Neko came in through was the only one in and out of the room. A window was placed at the other end of the room, but was so small that even Neko would have a difficult time squeezing through.
Laid on the table was a deck of playing cards, some glasses with a golden brown liquid inside, and what appeared to be a geographical map.
"I think we're good here, Stanley." said Quick. "Let me know if you're opening a tab." the barkeep said before leaving Neko alone at the door.
The other three men stared at her with expressions that could be deemed confused, or perhaps annoyance. They wore simple clothing while carrying a dagger at the hip. You could tell right away these men were experienced in the art of cutthroat, even if they weren't exactly geared up for it. Yet.
"The 'el is all this then, Quick? You order a hooker?" said the merc to Quick's right.
The response was a quick smack to the back of the head, "Show some manners, I think we're looking at another partner. Isn't that right, sweetheart?"
Quick grinned as if he was glad Neko showed up at the right time, "Besides, I wouldn't be mocking a woman with a knife."
::She wasn't exactly sure what the man had called her, but judging from how Quick responded, it was probably not good. She placed a hand on the hilt of one of the Kopii as she considered showing a display of her skills. Perhaps one of her blades sprouting from the gap between the man's fingers on the table...
But doing such would be wreckless. And if they misjudge her, like so many others before, then the true advantage was hers in the long run. Just incase things go south. One could never be too cautious when working with cutthroats.
So she gave a lopsided smirk as she looked at Quick and touched the finger of her free hand to her nose with a tap before pointing to him.::
Quick simply chuckled at Neko's gesture, not entirely sure what it meant.
"Sorry about that lil miss, I don't know your language, but if you're here, looking for me even, I suspect you're in with Kriss? Am I right?"
The other mercs around the table looked at Quick like he just took one shot too many to the head.
"Are you nuts mate? You wan't 'er in on the plan?"
Another crack to the back of the head came so fast the poor sod couldn't brace himself for the impact and nearly slammed against the table. With a hiss, he glared at Quick.
"Telling you mate, don't underestimate that one. Besides, having one more won't hurt your pay. After all, some of us may die on this mission."
The room got quiet for a minute, as though the other mercenaries were just realizing that the quest at hand was deemed dangerous.
"So what say you lil miss, you want in with us? I hope our other associates hasn't erred you from joining us in this venture."
With a nod, she steps forward to the table. If there is an open chair, she will sit, otherwise she finds a place to stand close enough to take a better look at the map on the table and the people gathered about.::
All the seats were already taken, but as soon as Neko entered the room Quick got up from his and offered it to her.
"Go ahead miss, my legs won't tire from a lil standing."
As soon as she settled, Quick went ahead and hovered around the table before slamming his hands between Neko and a merc. His eyes scanned the map real quick before going into the situation thus far repeating some of the information that was made available on the want ad.
"The Tal call these miscreants, bandits, but the truth is worse than that. Simple bandits don't kill off trained mercs like they just walked out of their mother's womb. I think we're dealing with a varied and trained skill set."
"Meanin' what commander?" one of the mercs said sarcastically.
"Magic, and very powerful stuff at that. At least, that's one theory I got for how they can mysteriously vanish after they done the deed."
A merc who hadn't spoken up yet suddenly chipped in, "They attack this area here, right?" he said pointing to a spot on the map that was between Wistvale and Lorne which was also where the road ran between a forest. "There might be hidden tunnels with doors under the brush."
"Aye, there's a thought," replied Quick, "But the thing still is these sons of whores won't vanish until they know all the guards are dead, and we can't kill them because, well, then we won't know where they keep the stash."
::She nodded in agreement with Quick. It seemed likely to her as well that these were more than simple bandits. She wasn't sure if that meant Magick or not, but such a thought did not scare her. She had grown up around Magick all her life and it held none of the mystery and fear for her that it did for the typical person. Father had explained to her many times that Magick was but a tool, a weapon as much as a warrior's blade.
She had some questions tho, and unfortunatly there was no way for her to ask but to trust the man leading this party.
So with that in mind she reached down and pulled out the bracer that matched the one she wore and held it up to Quick, motioning for him to put it on.::
As he pondered the possible solutions to their problems, Quick noticed the bracer in Neko's hand.
"I believe the girl wants to give you something there, Quicky." "I have eyes," Quicky said before smacking the same sod.
With a wink, Grayson took the bracer from Neko as if he had an idea about what it was. As soon as he put the thing on, he could feel as if a field of vision opened before mind's eye.
Hello, Kitten. You know I never seen one of these as a bracer, it's usually rings or enchanted hoods. And I sure hope this is what I think it is otherwise I've been staring at you with an allure for nothing and these prats have been looking at me funny for a minute.