Fantasy The Order of Seven - accepting

[MrBossMan]

"Don't play with knives if you kannae keep them out of your skin, daft sausage."

He heard Iona's voice say behind him in a humorous manner. Immediately Jon felt embarrassed knowing that his superior caught him make such a simple mistake. The blood from his finger now dripped down his silver sword. Gliding all the way down to the point then dripped off onto the ground. He then saw Iona take out a handkerchief and offer it to him. Letting out a quiet sigh he walked closer to let her wrap his thumb.

Jon seemed to dwarf the woman when he got closer to her. The size difference between them was very obvious. He stood tall and strong where as she was smaller and more graceful looking. She wore a blue dress which only deceived men into thinking she was some helpless lady. Jon knew better than to think that of women within the Order.

"Go in after a werewolf alone and don't get a scratch but ye draw blood sharpening your sword. Its a strange sort of luck you have." She said to him after bandaging his thumb.

"Well ma'am, I've always felt out of place in a garden." He said back to her with some semblance of a smile on his face. It was a rarity for Jon to smile at all but he couldn't help himself. Iona's playful teasing seemed to bring out a more casual side of Jonathan.

"Will you come sit with us then?" She asked, Jon looked at both women now. He looked at Luna first, trying to read her face to see what she was thinking. Sadly that got nowhere, Jon was not a people person and lacked in social situations. Plus he did not care much for tea. That being said he also saw a plate of biscuits and the two ladies seemed fine with his presence.

"I don't see no harm in it." He said to the both of them. "Let me just put away my blade first." With that he slide the blade in its sheath and placed it on the opposite table. He then sat down beside Luna and across from Iona. The smell of warm biscuits lingering in the air. However he made no move for the food as he had to at least try to keep up appearances. Iona was his boss after all.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you both. I know our first encounter could have went better," he eyed Iona, remembering what she called him during the fight with Irwin. "Now though we have a bit of peace." He then reached for a biscuit and slowly chewed away at it. His hunger getting the best of him in the end.

"I do like the biscuits." He said not really knowing where to take the conversation.

 

[SilverFlight]

Thaddeus was not in the best of dispositions as he left the room and the stout man within to his own devices. Prenkus was not the first to react to him in that way, he wouldn't be the last, and as Thaddeus made his way down the corridor he wondered how many battles the man had fought in his life...and how many of those he was still fighting.
He almost hadn't seen the young woman, standing at the door to the chapel, so engrossed was he in his own wandering thoughts. She looked to be in conflict with herself, then she turned briskly in the same direction he was headed.
"If you were waiting to be invited in...I don't think he does that."
Thaddeus had a smile playing faintly about his lips, amused with his own line.
"Are you headed for the library?"
PeanutLemur


Iona returned his smile with a look of amusement, "Careful, your face might crack if you smile that wide," another playful jab.
They returned to the table and Iona drew up a chair for him. He mentioned their first encounter and suddenly Iona looked a little sheepish.
"Ah, yes, sorry for snappin' at you, with everythin' going on it was a bit of a test of my patience."
She watched him reach for the biscuits and brought the plate closer to him. "You should try and sandwiches," she said helpfully.
"I don't think I quite caught your name. I was a bit focused on the werewolf just then. My name is Iona Grey, and this is my associate Luna Lockhart. We're part of the task force being put together. I assume your story is similar?"
MrBossMan BloodThunder27

 

[PeanutLemur]

Norelle Haugen
London, England
SilverFlight​

When Norelle spent time adrift in the recesses of her mind, she did so with the knowledge that the world around her continued moving. Time passed, things changed: such was the nature of life. Just because she decided to draw away from reality for a while didn't mean the Earth stopped turning; indeed, it almost seemed to go faster, for when she left her inner musings, situations were rarely the same. Thus it was that, although unexpected, the appearance of company did not come as much of a surprise to the woman. The quickness with which it found her, however, did.

"If you were waiting to be invited in...I don't think He does that."

Norelle blinked. Her company was an interesting man, lean in stature but thick in beard, with the sort of finery that rolled off the tongue. He seemed to mean well enough, for a smile played about his lips in an expression leaning towards amusement. Light, easy; his words were made to jest, not pick. A part of the woman was tempted to buy into it. Unfortunately, the heavy thoughts from a few minutes earlier had yet to vacate her head. Those that remained were annoyances, and Norelle would later blame their presence on the bite of sarcasm - and arched brow - that laced her reply.

"It wasn't His invitation I was waiting for." The woman's lips quirked. "But yes, the library was where I was headed. Yourself?"

 

[BloodThunder27]

"I've been doing alright I suppose." Luna answered as she took another sip. "Its just nice to finally have tea with you again." In between sentences, she enjoyed her snacks and tea, since she never really got to do this, let alone spend time with Iona. Very kind girl, a Fierce Huntress like herself. Then there was that werewolf that she seemed to be connected to. She was going to ask about Thaddeus and the current task at hand, but refrained from doing so when Iona voiced that she didn't want to speak about any of that, preferring to enjoy the scenery and peace that were currently in front of them. It wasn't long until they were joined by Prenkus. Luna didn't have very much to say, but still said hello when Iona introduced her as an associate. "Always a pleasure to meet a fellow hunter. Luna Lockhart, at your service." She smiled curtly before continuing to enjoy her tea.

On another note, she couldn't help but wonder the fate of the Werewolf they had captured. What will happen to him after he is interrogated? Will he be put down? Locking him up or setting him free didn't sound like such great ideas.
SilverFlight MrBossMan

 

[SirGrey]

Jason sat at his library table books upon books piled onto his table. Jason had been there since they got back to base, after a quick look over by the medical officer and a deep briefing by Iona. After that Jason had head to his current dwelling. The books he had gathered were of various states of upkeep and thickness. Jason had taken them to a small study desk in the library, with the head librarian given him a few strange looks, but if you work with people who fight monsters, you get used to odd ways of working.

Whiling pouring over the books, Jason's mind heads back to the fight. He remembers kneeling down, having used the chalk from bag to make symbols, symbols used in the art of bidding. After having knelt down Jason focused his mind, blocked out everything letting his emotions fuel him with an odd sort of energy. He moulded it with his will, uses the power that the circles gave off to read it to entrap their lycanthrope opponent. Brair had never used binding to ensnare a living being able it one with an inhuman aura to it. Focusing on the creature, Jason waits for the first trap to be sprung. With the success of that, Jasons calms his mind, letting the energy flow, yet as he does he feels something a presences almost something inhuman and indescribable.

That indescribable presence is what had captured the American's brain. though he had poured over many books on psionic energy and creature and what their presence in an astral state can be like. Still part of him thinks all this is a futile effort, after all, it's rather difficult to get a grasp on what something feels like through just reading. Still, even if it is in vain, Jason was never one to give up and so continue to take note of various things which may lead to him to the asnwers he seeks.

 

[SilverFlight]

Thaddeus tilted his head, trying to read into the meaning of the young woman's reply. Her general disposition however told him he shouldn't pry so he answered her frankly:
"The same, let me escort you?" He stepped over to her and, as per his training offered his arm for her to take. Inside the order was not often a place for chivalric etiquette, the women were just as capable as the men and this was well-known and accepted inside the walls of their organization. Still, old habits died hard, and the woman struck him a someone who was new to the London HQ.
They made their way to the library, on the second floor, where wide wooden tables were set in the lantern-lit room, surrounded by ceiling-to-floor shelves of books. A spiral iron staircase lead up to a balcony where still more shelves could be seen. The high windows were stained with a diamond checkerboard pattern of red and gold, keeping the harsh sunlight from harrying aging covers and frayed pages.
Thaddeus took a look around the room and found who he had come for.
"I don't believe we have been formally introduced," Thaddeus said in a pleasant tone to the American as he stepped up to the man's busy desk.
"Thaddeus Grey, cousin to Iona Grey, and this is...um, actually I didn't get your name," Thaddeus remembered the fact sheepishly and stood silent so the woman could make her own introduction.
"I er, wanted to thank you for helping me earlier, and for supporting my decision to save Irwin." The genuine gratitude was evident. "Not many people would have done that, and, well, I appreciate it."
PeanutLemur SirGrey

Iona, with Jon sorted turned back to her neglected guest with an apologetic tilt of her head. "'Alright you suppose'?" Iona parroted questioningly,
"You're going to make me worry with that reply." She sat down again and picked up her cup delicately.
"Bad enough we have a beast in the infirmary," she muttered absently. "Let's hope he has some useful information. I'm willing to bet information about the deaths of those order werewolves was leaked to that community specifically to cause a panic. I wonder if it was the work of our wily murderer."
BloodThunder27

 

[BloodThunder27]

Luna, by now, was still drinking casually. When Iona voiced her concern, Luna simply frowned. Currently, what was bothering her was how she and Thaddeus were at each other's throats. She had always been rather unkind and didn't really play nice with the Order's Tainted Members, especially the blood suckers. However, if he were to get in between her and her targets, she wouldn't hesitate to hurt him. No doubt Iona would try to talk her down. No rest, or mercy, for the wicked. The hatred in her heart was still growing strong. "I apologize, my Lady. I don't want to worry you like that. Its just... I am concerned with butting heads with Thaddeus again." She admitted. "I hope so too. The more information we have, the sooner we can put this behind us. I'm sure the Order has better things for us to do then simple Police and Detective Work." She added, her voice cold.

When it came to capturing the beast, Luna completely disagreed with the decision, but went along with because she wasn't able to argue. Still, at least when it came to the werewolves, Thaddeus was going to be an issue if a child of the moon has to be put down. No matter, if he interferes, surely there will be consequences.
SilverFlight

 

[ImABloodyFrickinPirate]

Aniya carried her suitcase up the front steps. She'd never bought clothes before but to blend in and be invisible to the public eye she supposed she had to. She was wearing one of her new dresses. It was a dreadful heavy thing and the colors were so bright she wanted to vomit, just looking at them. The shoes weren't so bad but they made an awful clacking noise on the cobblestones. Click, clack, click, clack, everywhere she went. It was terrible. But her least favorite part was the hat. Why on earth is it necessary to wear something that large on your head to be more invisible. Thankfully it wasn't deemed necessary for her to pin up her hair with flowers, ribbons and the like. That would have been truly unbearable.
In spite of all the new changes in her wardrobe, Aniya was just happy to finally belong somewhere. Taking a deep breath Aniya reached for the door knob with a lace gloved hand and opened the large door. Once inside she went to the room assigned to her and set down her things. She peered around the room, it was much more lavishly furnished than the room she stayed in at the small inn on the outskirts of the city. She took it all in. This was her new reality and she welcomed it with open arms. When her things were unpacked and she was more comfortably dressed in her two piece ensemble and rough leather boots, she walked down the stairs looking for someone to talk to.
She went to the garden where she saw two women taking tea. She approached them nervously. "Hello," she said meekly. "May I join you?" she asked waiting for the women to respond.

 

[SirGrey]

The continued scribbling of rough notes and the brief mutter of spiritual residues and the detecting of such was broken by a familiar voice. Finish off his current note, Jason turns to see Thaddeus and a woman, someone new perhaps. "Briar Jason Churrliaa, and as you can tell I get called by my middle name for a reason," he says in his normal warm tone. "Your thanks are appreciated though I'm not much in the habit of letting men lay on the ground, bleeding out of their shoulder," he says with a sardonic tone. "Besides I am sure many people would hunt me down if I let that face get hurt," he says keeping his flirting light with the guest present. "As for the decision much simpler answer, it was the right one, in my humble opinion of course," he says with a direct but not harsh tone. Looking to Thaddeus companion he says "Sorry my dear don't believe we have met" while marking and closing his current book.

SilverFlight PeanutLemur

 

[SilverFlight]

Iona stared into her cup thoughtfully. "I admit this isn't one of our more usual cases...but if lives are in danger, even if they are tainted lives, then we're tied to it."
Just then a new face appeared, dressed in a very odd fashion. Iona caught herself staring and cleared her throat.
"O-of course dear, let me get you a chair. My name is Iona Grey, this is Luna Lockhart, and you are?"
They didn't have more time for banter because a runner came to them to tell them their prisoner was awake.
Iona exchanged a grim look with Luna before looking back to their new acquaintance.
"You're new here, which must mean you are part of our team. You had better come with us."
Iona explained what they had been up to that morning as they walked, how they had been trailing a murderer whose latest victims were three members of the order, all werewolves. She told her of how they had been called to the docks to calm an excited crowd and how Irwin had transformed and attacked them.
"This Irwin character may have valuable information on our culprit. It's imperative we question him."

Thaddeus smiled at Briar's initial reply, happy he finally heard the gentleman's full name, but what he said next made Thaddeus turn red.
"Well, no, I..er.." He stammered uselessly, very much unused to the treatment. Relief welled up as Briar kept talking, saving Thaddeus from himself.
He nodded in admiring approval of his morality and candor.
It was then they were summoned to the infirmary, Thaddeus' face went serious and he lead the hurried way out of the library and towards the werewolf that had just that morning attacked them.

The room was small, and sparsely furnished. A small table with a vase of fresh flowers, a window by the door, displaying the second story open hallway and the garden beyond it, and a bed, fitted with thick, leather straps which restrained its occupant tightly. Irwin sat up, eyes tired but alert and watched the two parties enter with passive interest. The doctors had removed the silver shot from his chest and bandaged his wounds as best they could, but they would take as long to heal as if he were just a man, silver-made wounds always did.
Thaddeus shot the restraints a critical look.
"Necessary I'm afraid. We aren't taking any more chances."
It was then Thaddeus noticed Sir Amberdale, straight-backed and hawk-nosed int he corner of the room. He had his pipe lit in one hand, though he made no move to smoke it.
"He wouldn't speak a word until you all came," Amberdale told them, giving Irwin an impatient look.
Irwin ignored him and turned to the people that now filled the room.
"I want to thank you, first of all...for sparing my life. I was...scared. We were all scared. But I figure the best chance we got is with you so...I'll tell you what I can."
Iona, brow furrowed spoke up first.
"Who told you about the death of the order member?"
"The Hound of God?" Irwin clarified, using their formal title. "Don't rightly know. Never saw him properly, but his accent was highborn".
"So not your average slum murderer...or at least he's connected with well-offs." Thaddeus observed quietly.
"There's more though," Irwin suddenly looked uncomfortable, "I know...I know there was a witness to one of the murders."

Thaddeus and Iona both straightened. "A witness?" Iona asked, hopeful. "Who is it? Where can we find them?"
Irwin paused fr a long moment before coming to a decision in his mind, "His name's Charlie, he's a workhouse boy. He's ten."
Thaddeus understood then why Irwin was so reluctant to speak up. The witness was only a child.

The Gunrunner BloodThunder27 SirGrey PeanutLemur ImABloodyFrickinPirate Cinderlily Elekta Kount

 

[ImABloodyFrickinPirate]

Aniya looked to Iona and whispered into her ear. "You can't really believe that the witness is a child, can you?" Aniya paused for a moment and whispered again into the Huntress's ear. "I think you're being played for a fool. No one would give information this willingly. Besides they could be using the child as a pawn for sympathy. Many crime boss's use this technique and many ignorant people fall for it. This could very well be a trap to get you right where they want you. I think he's skirting around the truth. If you want I will get every truth out of him with just the wave of my finger. You see when one is denied oxygen it does make it quite difficult to tell lies. My mother had me read many ancient tomes concerning torture and let's just say if you want answers I can get them for you. You see all I need to do is get close enough to his face to deplete the oxygen levels near him. You, however, will be perfectly safe. Unfortunately, that will also leave me without much air as well, but I've had much practice on this specific type of torture." Aniya watched Iona's expression. She smirked before replying. "I had a very questionable upbringing. My mother detested liars and I've developed a keen sense of knowing when someone isn't telling the whole truth."

 

[SirGrey]

Before he could learn of the young woman's name, a summons came down to head to the infirmary at once. As the others head off, Jason grabs his notes, placing them back inside his satchel. As he heads off, Jason sees the librarian shoot his cluttered work place and him a perturbed look. Giving an apologetic smile, he makes his way over to the infirmary. Leaving his satchel with the receptionist the American makes his way up to Irwin's room, anticipation clawing at his mind.

Entering, Jason hears the voice of Amberdale a senior member of the order. His tisane for waiting was clear from his face and tone, yet his presence hinted at how serious this situation really was. Taking his position he looks over the people in the room. The one that caught his attention was Aniya, not just because of her fashion, he got the impression she might vote against trusting the werewolf. Just a hunch, but when you work with examine the abnormal, you do get good at examining more normal things such as the tells in posture and the like. His thinking was cut short by the revelation of the witness. His mind came up with multiple ways things could go very very wrong. Jason hated when his mind did that.

Going to Thaddeus side, the American before facing smile mutters "I'm just going to ask a few questions" before going to Irwin's bed without a trademark warm smile.
"Do you know if the killer is aware of this witness at all? How many people know this witness?" he asks in a surprisingly stern voice with brief pauses between questions before asking his final question, "What is your relationship with this witness?".

 

[SilverFlight]

Irwin stared at the young woman who obviously didn't believe him.
"If it helps you catch the killer who's killing my people then yeah, why wouldn't I help you?"
Iona considered what Aniya had to say seriously, but Thaddeus had had enough when she got to torture.
"No one is depriving anyone of oxygen today," he said angrily, glaring at the young witch.
"She does have a point though. We have a man here who was involved in inciting a riot, we've no reason to believe he isn't part of this nefarious business."
"He's a werewolf!" Thaddeus exclaimed, "In case you haven't noticed all the victims have been werewolves."
"That doesn't mean anything Thaddeus, you can't say werewolves aren't willing to kill each other." Thaddeus threw his arms up in frustration.
"Fine, he could be lying. I can't deny that. But it still doesn't mean we can ignore a potential lead."

Irwin had had enough of the two women and turned instead to Briar
"My guess is, if the killer knew about the boy he wouldn't've lived much past the day. So no, I don't reckon the killer saw him. Boy's small, fairly inconspicuous when he wants to be. I'm the only one who knows that he saw anything. He came to me frightened as a rabbit when the killin' started regularly, but he was too scared to say anythin'." Irwin answered plainly and clearly, there was no pause in his answers. When Briar asked about how he knew the boy his eyes softened.
"Most o' the workhouse boys are orphans. Given up or had their folks die. Charlie's got no one. They don't given 'em half enough food at those places. I started feedin' him when my own kids went out te work. Been looking out for him for a few months now...look, I'm telling you this because I want whoever is responsible to pay...but if anything happens to that boy..."
Thaddeus didn't let him finish. "We will take him into protective custody as soon as we find him."
"There's one more thing." Irwin added, shifting against his restraints uncomfortably.
"Charlie..he's a rat speaker."
Iona blinked, "What is a rat speaker?"
"You wouldn't know unless you worked in a large city for a while," Thaddeus explained. "A rat speaker is just that, someone who can speak to rats, instruct them. It is a rare talent, though the individuals that use it aren't often tainted, they are...different. We will have to do this carefully to avoid spooking the boy, or bad things could happen."
Amberdale stepped forward from his place in the corner. "I will have a team collect the boy immediately."
"No," Thaddeus said, "We'll go ourselves."
"Now see here," Amberdale snapped irritably, "I am the superior here, you aren't even officially part of the Order."

"Something that will be rectified tonight." The new voice that came into the room was aged and placid but commanding. An elderly woman stepped through the door, hands folder in the center of her burgundy dress, her grey hair tied back in an elegant bun. Her face was weathered but still held whispers of a youthful beauty. The most striking feature the young hunters would notice however, was that she carried the sense of a tainted. Her gaze held authority, and even Amberdale turned his head in deference.
"Lady Chancellor, you shouldn't be out in the open." He said quietly.
"I will not be cowed by a savage with a knife." The lady said simply. "Even if I am the last Hound of God in London." She looked to Thaddeus and smiled, "But..hopefully that state will not last beyond tonight. I have reviewed your application, and accepted your membership Thaddeus Grey, you will be sworn in at ten o'clock. I hope, given your duties, that is not inconvenient."
Thaddeus stared at her, flabbergasted. "N-no, of course not my lady." He bowed awkwardly. "Thank you!"
Amberdale looked sour. "You can't tell me you came out of protection just to invite him in person."
"No, actually, as of this point I am attributing full authority of this investigation to your task force. Amberdale. Call it an initiation."
She turned to the members with a soft smile. "Hunters, this is a very unusual situation, but it is imperative you catch this murderer. If the werewolves of London to not believe we can protect them some may take matters into their own hands. There will be carnage, and I believe enough of us have died already. Please...solve this."

Thaddeus felt a twinge of worry creep into his heart. He found himself trying to catch Briar's gaze. It wasn't just about murders anymore, it was about the stability of the entire Order in London.
"We should prepare to go. Irwin, where is the workhouse Charlie is in?"
Irwin gave up the location, even now glancing about him as if expecting someone to be listening at the window. Amberdale, now relieved of his part, left the room with a scowl on his weathered face.


((I'll do a time skip to the next scene after this next round))

The Gunrunner BloodThunder27 SirGrey PeanutLemur ImABloodyFrickinPirate Cinderlily Elekta Kount Rain Drop Epiphany

 

[The Gunrunner]

Prenkus Lohmeyer

Prenkus Lohmeyer's little hijacked training room is breached by a man, panting lightly from his running about the cathedral; as Prenkus wasn't with the others, he had to look around for the man. Expediency demanded he be light in the feet, though it was making his legs and lungs sore now. "Irwin is awake, Mr. Lohmeyer." The prussian glances back, chuckling a little at the sight of the lad. He puffs another cloud of smoke, nodding as he gets up from his chair. As the runner exits the room, Lohmeyer opens his suitcase and rummages through its contents; judging from the scent, musk, and the wetness of the neck and arms of his shirt he was in desperate need of a change.

Prenkus is later than the others to the interrogation, much to his continuing embarassment. Through the door he hears their back-and-forth: "Who told you about the death of the order member?"
"The hound of God? Don't rightly know. Never saw him properly, but his accent was highborn."
Ah, he wasn't too late. He hoped, anyway. Quietly, he opens the door and slips inside - The care he puts into shutting the door as if he were a father of small, sleeping harpies. He turns on his heels and holds his wrist behind him, merely watching over the interrogation at first. "So not your average slum murderer...or at least he's connected with well-offs," Thaddeus notes quietly. Irwin takes on a look of discomfort, causing Prenkus to furrow his brows in expectation - "There's more though. I know... I know there was a witness to one of the murders."
Prenkus is just able to suppress the happiness daring him to grin. At first. Irwin comes to explain that the witness is a workhouse boy - A child. In his experience he'd learned that above all they were the hardest witnesses to learn from, and - strangely, to his mind - some of the most stubborn. He can't help but exhale a long, deep sigh.

In his absence, it seems a new character joined them... and in his attempt to decipher the effects of her first impression he can't get past the simple description of "Scantily clad prostitute." He slowly looks away from her, wondering what in god's name else the Order was going to introduce to the task force. But appearances aren't everything; he certainly didn't expect her immediate suggestion of torture. To add to his surprises, Iona agrees with her... While Thaddeus, predictably, is against it. Prenkus rolls his tired eyes, adding his own points in the assured tone his thoughts were always presented in: "Children are already difficult to question. I believe he will be much harder to learn from if he hears how we have both taken his guardian under custody and begun torturing the man. I say we avoid destroying this lead."

What comes next was, perhaps, the cherry of today's surprises: Thaddeus' place is asserted by Amerdale, emphasis put on his lack of position, until a new voice comes from the entrance to the room - "Something that will be rectified tonight." He turns his head, curious to the owner of such an aged voice. Prenkus took a step back in some immediate surprise, something Amberdale seemed to share. She clearly holds the authority in this room, however, and Amberdale turns his head from her dominating gaze.
"Lady Chancellor, you shouldn't be out in the open." He says quietly. "I will not be cowed by a savage with a knife." The lady says simply. "Even if I am the last Hound of God in London." She looks to Thaddeus and smiles, "But..hopefully that state will not last beyond tonight. I have reviewed your application, and accepted your membership Thaddeus Grey, you will be sworn in at ten o'clock. I hope, given your duties, that is not inconvenient."

The declaration gives Prenkus a faint twitch to the corner of his mouth. Thaddeus is made an equal, then and there. But his frustration is pacified with the same immediacy; "No, actually, as of this point I am attributing full authority of this investigation to your task force, Amberdale. Call it an initiation." She turns to the members with a soft smile. "Hunters, this is a very unusual situation, but it is imperative you catch this murderer. If the werewolves of London do not believe we can protect then some may take matters into their own hands. There will be carnage, and I believe enough of us have died already. Please...solve this."

Prenkus nods, speaking in an attempt to do something other than stand and observe: "Of course. It is what the Order is to do." As Thaddeus tries to get the workhouse's location from Irwin, Prenkus steps forward to ask his own question as well: "And give us something to tell the boy, so he knows we /are/ here for the wolves of this city; I doubt your capture did our reputation well for the lad."

 

[BloodThunder27]

When the newcomer had come by, Luna smiled before greeting her. "A pleasure to meet you." She said before finishing off her tea and dusting off her lap. A Messenger had come to notify them that Irwin has awoke. She couldn't help but wonder if it was good or bad. Needless to say, she followed both Iona and the newcomer to the room where the werewolf was being held. She didn't really speak during the interrogation. The amount of restraints on Irwin was definitely a little much, not that Luna objected. When Irwin was being questioned, she didn't say much, but her eyes went wide when she heard that there was a witness, namely a little worker boy. Poor child, she thought. Luna then frowned at the thought of what the boy saw. Must have been traumatizing. One thing was for sure, she was definitely learning something new. Never had Luna thought that Rat Speaking was a thing. Her whole life, she thought only the insane did it; talk to rats and all. She rolled her eyes when Thaddeus attempted to defy a superior, then smirked when he was put in his place, at least in her eyes. To be honest, she wasn't really too fond of him, even if they are to be working together. However, it wasn't long until another superior came in. A Chancellor? Luna quietly bowed in respect.

The current investigation was now an initiation for Thaddeus. While she wasn't happy with it, Luna fully respected the decision. Even she knew better then to question a Chancellor, or anyone high ranking in the order. She was outranked, out-skilled, she had no place to question anything that came from them. Of course, the Chancellor herself, asked that the Investigation is solved immediately. Luna agreed, of course. The last thing they needed was a Werewolf Riot...At least another one. When Irwin gave up the location of where the boy was at, Luna folded her arms. "Very well. We should find him immediately. If anyone is to speak with the lad, I volunteer. He's going to be scared if we all approach him at once." She said, speaking up for the first time since capturing Irwin.

 

[SirGrey]

Taking a black notepad from one of his pockets, Briar made sure to take note of everything Irwin had said. He made particular note of whenever the child was mentioned. He didn't pay much attention to little argument brewing behind him. He doubted his voice would do little, besides he was sure Thaddeus could handle it. Even if he did get a little hot-headed. He did raise an eyebrow at the rat speaker claim. He had very briefly read up on it when studying supernatural skills that can manifest in even 'normal' people. It could make things more difficult than they already were and they already were looking pretty dicey.

As another argument kicked off, this one over Thaddeus and Amberdale, the latter brings up the former's lack of position in the order, some Briar was until this point unaware. Then Lady Chancellor entered the room. Even though he barely knew her, he knew enough to keep his head down, the respect from the other equally obvious. Thaddeus got an actual position in the order, something Briar supported, even with his small-time knowing the man. Lifting his head up as he was spoken to by the Chancellor, Briar nodded with agreement. Noting down the location he sees Thaddeus trying to catch his eyesight. Going over to the man he mutters, "Welcome to order, hope you survive the experience, I'll be outside if you need me". Going down the stairs of the medical ward, Brair goes out the door, indulging a pipe while checking over his note.

 

[Drunkle Qrow]

Madison couldn't exactly say he was pleased when they dragged him from his holding cell in the prison. While the regular cells were cold and damp, the holding cells stayed fairly well lit, warm and dry and even had a bit of straw on the stone floors. The prison officials and a peculiar man had approached him just several days before, offering him a deal he couldn't refuse. So now, as a large brute of a man roughly grabbed his arm, Madison rolled his eyes. Any man could have done, he wasn't intending to cause a scene, but after nearly a century of committing crimes, the youthful looking halfblood tended to put people on edge. He was quickly cuffed by a scrawnier man, who shortly after also put a sack over Madison’s head, much to his displeasure. He wasn’t particularly keen on being blinded, though he assumed it was all steeped in confidentiality. Both for him and the mysterious Order. As the two men guided him through halls, Madison felt a cooler breeze kiss his skin, informing him they were likely moving up towards the surface from the underground prison. Moments later his suspicions were confirmed, a door opened, and the familiar sound of busy streets hummed in his ears. Beneath the sack, Madison couldn’t help but smile. Even blinded, he could navigate the streets far better than either man holding him, and as such, was annoyed when they took him on the longest route possible to…. Somewhere unfamiliar?
While Madison was sure he knew the whole city like the back of his hand, this was one place he wasn’t familiar with, perhaps due to the fact there was naught to steal that he knew of. Another creaking door hinge, and Madison was shoved forward, stumbling slightly before the hood was ripped off his face and shackles removed from his wrists. He rubbed them gently, a look of indignation crossing his face as he turned around expectantly.
“I’m takin ya.” The broad man announced, the slimmer man nodding in agreeance, a terrified look flashing in his eyes as he glanced sideways at Madison.
Of course the big guy is taking me. Madison nearly snorted. Nothing like making me look suspicious with a large man escorting me to the Order.
He knew, of course, that it was less of an escort and more of a delivery, but he was glad they’d made a half-assed attempt to make sure it wasn’t painfully obvious that he wasn’t there because he wanted to be. As the big man took the lead, Madison followed sullenly behind, ignoring the street rat in him that wanted to note every possible escape route from the building. Going down a small set of stairs following several turns, Madison found himself in an infirmary of sorts, with fairly large amount of people gathered. His attention immediately snapped to the focal point in the room, a man restrained to a chair, and many of the assembled people surrounding him. It gave him great relief that he slipped in more or less unnoticed, though he might have been more inconspicuous had the large man not accompanied him. Having expected his escort to leave, Madison found himself a little annoyed when the man stayed, clearly looking for more instruction. Shaking off his annoyance, he caught the tail end of a conversation from some of those assembled, something pertaining to a young boy who, Madison assumed, had something to do with the werewolf who was undoubtedly being questioned. He’d sensed it before, but at the mention of a “wolf”, everything had clicked. He needed more experience with the supernatural, no doubt, as aside from demons, his ability to recognize other supernatural entities was pretty pathetic. Rocking back on his heels, Madison glanced up at the man beside him. While he was usually content to stand by idly, he was anxious to get this initial meeting over with, knowing he couldn’t remain anonymous to everyone forever.

 

[Epiphany]

"You understand what's expected of you?"

"I do, my Lord."

Bryony sat in the carriage outside Westminster Abbey, legs drawn together with her palms folded over her knees, back straight, every inch the proper lady expected. Across the seat sat John Byng, the 2nd Earl of Strafford, General in her Majesty's Army, Knight Commander of the Order of Bath...and her father-in-law. The Earl was an elderly man, for even her dear George was no longer young. But the fire of the Napoleonic Wars thirty five years ago had refined this man into steel. There was certainly the coldness of steel in his eyes as he examined her, unafraid as most men might be to meet her eyes.

"I'll admit, I'm surprised at you."

"My Lord?"

"That you agreed." He coughed into a handkerchief, cleared his throat and gave her a level look. "Quarter of a century now, you've been playing at being a wife. A mother," he added, a faint curl of the lip showing his unfading distaste in knowing his grandchildren carried her lineage as well as his. "I thought my son bewitched by you all those years ago, when he came and asked...no, demanded he marry you. And yet you've been content to live quietly until now."

"I love your son," Bryony replied. "Enough to give him my name. You sons of Adam have names, have the power of naming, but you are not your names. I am my name, my word, and I gave my word to my dear George. When he agreed to lend me to you and your Order, of course I agreed. He is my husband and that means even more to me than it does to a daughter of Eve."

"Go on then," Earl Strafford instructed, gesturing towards an unassuming stone structure bordering Westminster Abbey. "Remember your oaths."

Bryony departed the carriage then, conscious of her father-in-law's slights but overlooking as always. It was intolerable to what she'd been but while George lived she was something else. And given the age of the elder Byng, it wouldn't be many years before he'd trouble her no longer. Patience was a virtue for a mortal but a simple fact for her kind.

She walked briskly towards the Order's headquarters, boots clicking on plaza thankfully kept clean of the mud and manure all too common in London. The beauty of the cathedral itself was largely lost on her as the chill stone warded humanity from nature, from her and those like her. Bryony stepped inside the entrance, gave a curt nod to one of the clergy in waiting and, as she was expected, found herself admitted to the Order's headquarters proper. She'd been here before, in the Earl's company, but this was her first time alone.

The iron railing on the stairwell seemed an omen and Bryony's lips tightened as she ascended it without touching the offered support. When she found the council room, however, it was empty and only a passing servant provided the necessary instruction of where her team had gone and how to get there. Accepting the servant's proffered escort, Bryony followed the man's lead until they reached the interrogation room shared by so many.

She lingered at the threshold, examining each member of the team in turn. A group interrogating a prisoner then. With perhaps a second still to talk to, if Madison's large escort implied anything about the man he seemed to guard.

"And give us something to tell the boy, so he knows we /are/ here for the wolves of this city; I doubt your capture did our reputation well for the lad."

"Very well. We should find him immediately. If anyone is to speak with the lad, I volunteer. He's going to be scared if we all approach him at once."

Bryony's eyes shifted from speaker to speaker. Then, with a brief glance at the Chancellor who seemed the authority in the room, she spoke up. "Perhaps I can help you with that," she said to the young woman in the black dress. "I'm the Viscountess Enfield, Bryony Byng. And having six children myself, I'm rather good with young boys. Shall we?"

 

[SilverFlight]

Irwin considered Prenkus seriously for a moment before jerking his head to a side table where all of his possessions had been laid out neatly.
There was a wood token fastened to a leather cord. The token depicted a snarling wolf's head.
"Take that and show it to him. He'll know it came from me, and he'll do ask you ask."

Thaddeus turned from the bed, the address obtained, he showed it to the other members, still not able to hide the joy he felt at being approved. Not even Briar's cryptic comment could throw him off.
"I definitely see some things here worth surviving for." He shot back slyly before the other man stepped out.

The two new faces gave Both Thaddeus and Iona cause to turn.
"Ah, very good timing." The chancellor said smoothly. "Ladies, gentlemen, I would like you to welcome two additions to your team: the lady Bryony is quite an accomplished glamour mage, and this, is Madison Bradley. One of the best known demon specialists in Europe." She waved at the burly man escorting Madison dismissively, indicating that his captor could operate as he wished while under the employ of the order.

"Iona Grey, and this is my cousin, Thaddeus." Iona introduced herself and her relative politely.
"So then, we shouldn't tarry. Gather what you need from the herbalist and the armoury. We should go prepared this time, in case our murderous quarry has somehow found out about the boy."
"Luna brings up a good point, we should have her and Bryony try talking to him first, they might be less...intimidating."
"What intimidating? Me?" Thaddeus gave her an innocent puppy smile and she swatted at him for not being serious.
"Yes dear cousin." He relented, though as he followed her from the room, the smile was still firmly planted on his face.

~~~

An hour had yet to pass by the time the Order's carriages had taken them to one of the most filthy parts of London. The factory district was coated top to bottom in a thick layer of soot, the acrid powder even in the air to plague noses and lungs. The reek of burning coal fires and tallow lamps drowned out all other scents, though Thaddeus could certainly detect the stale urine, rust and rotting cloth underneath. Not far from their destination the roads became much to narrow and uneven for a carriage to pass and they were forced to get out and walk, single file to the drab, crumbling building that served as the boy's work house in this district. Iona could not help but realize how much the building looked like a prison. Puddles of mysterious brown liquid steamed in putrid collections about the broken road.
Iona had decided to change from her highborn dress to her hunter gear, trousers and high boots and a cloak that hid those and her silver weapons. Even out of her nice dress, she avoided these puddles as best she could.
The gaunt, pale faces of the factory workers peered at them, from ragged, torn and stained clothing. Some looked utterly frightened, most just kept their heads down and avoided them, their eyes dead from exhaustion, hunger or both.
Thaddeus' heart tightened at the sight, but Iona's disgust for the conditions in which these people were living was apparent on her delicate face.
"This place is horrid." She said softly. "How can the owners of these buildings allow their workers to live like this?" She had not seen the extend of what the industrial revolution was doing to her country, growing up away from large city centers in fairly decent comfort. Thaddeus on the other hand had seen this all too often and smiled ruefully at his cousin's naivete.
"There is a price for England's success." He began grimly. "As our empire grows it needs cheaper labour, so wages are low and conditions are poor. You haven't even seen the children yet."
Iona looked shocked, "The workhouse is full of children?"
Thaddeus nodded, his lips a tight line. "They're cheapest to employ, often they're only fed and kept, small and nimble-fingered. They are sold to the work houses by poor families, or they are orphans picked up off the streets. The work is intense and dangerous. Many of them don't live to their teens...come on."
He didn't like this place, and something had put up the hairs on the back of his neck. From a second story window, a pair of eyes watched them carefully.

The outer gates opened into a stone courtyard, where the boys would be let out once a day to exercise. The dorms where they were kept at night had bars on each window. Across the courtyard the hum of machines could be heard through a set of aging wood doors.
Thaddeus opened these for his companions and Iona lead the way in.
The room was large, lined with two conveyors and gathered around them on both sides were boys in dirty brown coats and trousers. Each pair along a belt was responsible for one specific task in the production of the items being made. At the back of the room several large machines hissed, spewing out the parts the boys were using. Some were working dangerously close to the heavy metal plates, slamming against each other with great rapidity. On a catwalk above the machines, one Boy hung off the rail, dripping oil into the grinding gears below him.
The work master looked up, glaring through a scraggly beard bushy eyebrows.
"Here! What's this now?! I told the last lot I paid the taxes due already! Now shove off!"
While he was shouting at them a tiny figure slipped from his place, the ten-year old boy's eyes were wide with terror and he fled the room, heading toward a back door that lead up to the dormitories.
Thaddeus pointed at him. "That's the one!"

The Gunrunner BloodThunder27 SirGrey PeanutLemur ImABloodyFrickinPirate Cinderlily Elekta Kount Rain Drop Epiphany Stickdom
Drunkle Qrow

 

[MrBossMan]

Jonathan Reyes said little to nothing during the entire interrogation. He decided if you didn't have something good to say it was best to leave it unspoken. At first he was hesitant to trust Irwin, granted that's how he was with most people. Especially monsters. However as the conversation continued Jon couldn't help but believe the wolfmans story. Eventhough both he and Jon had nearly killed eachother hours before.

What the independent hunter found most intriguing was the surprise from the Lady Chancellor. Whatever skepticism he had of Irwin this felt far worse. A rogue assassin on the loose and hunting werewolves and the Lady has the audacity to walk freely alone. It appeared Thaddeus would be crowned a Hound of God which was, in Jon's mind, not a good title to have here recently.

However he kept his thoughts to himself. Still, they wandered like always.

~°~

​

He was now in his classic Hunter gear. A large, thick, black cloak was tugged against him. The outfit held his simple yet effective weapons. Two flintlock pistols loaded with silver bullets tucked on the inside of his belt. His long silver sword hung on his back, the hilt tucked within his low reaching hood. Again Jon felt alone even though he was within this taskforce. The only two he had taken the time to meet was Iona and Luna Lockhart, both of which seemed decent enough. Right now his mind was focused at the task at hand though and nothing else. Find the rat speaker, speak with the boy, locate the killer and end this. Then he could hunt at will independently. Following the Orders precious commandants of course.

Jonathan was third in the single file line the taskforce walked in. Thaddeus was in the lead, Iona directly in front of Jon. He too could see nothing but poverty in these nasty streets of London. Filth lingered everywhere, the air, the roads, the cheaply made buildings that hovered high above them. He even saw a woman throw out her waste bucket from a high window landing in an alley directly to Jons right. Being an American drifter Jon never really had a place he called home. But he's seen this kind of tough in American cities as well, such as New York and Boston. However it seemed London was worse in it's own damned way.

Apparently Iona was new to this and Jon was forced to listen to her shock and awe. Thaddeus explained as best he could but it was all in vain. A filth ridden city was the least of their concerns, aswell as the people forced to live and work here.

"Pity the poor later, we have more important things to address for now." Was all he said, his words were simple but they held sway in their own right. As if Jon truly was unfazed or maybe even unmoved by the commonality of despair.

Not long after his words they reached the courtyard square. Thaddeus, gentleman wolf he is, held the factory door open for them all. Jon walked now side by side Iona. His eyes scanning every youngster in turn, looking for the rat speaker boy. Instead they were met with a watch master who seemed none to happy to see them.

"Calm, we're here for a boy not taxes." Jon said to him in return.

Then as if on queue he heard Thaddeus shout and saw where he pointed. Sure enough there was the boy and as if to prove the claim the boy turned tail and ran. Immediately Jon sprang into action and leapt for the boy, accidently barrling into the watch master and knocking him to the ground forcefully.

The impact slowed his sprinting momentum so the boy had a better lead to start off. Jon could tell he was heading for the back however and up some stairs to the dorms. Cursing under his breath Jon continued his pursuit for the boy. Barreling through the back doors and climbed the steps three at a time in an effort to reach him. The whole while he was trying to avoid the awfully young and abundant child labor force.

@everybody

 

[BloodThunder27]

When Bryony said that she was a Mother of Six, Luna's face went blank. Must be hard to be away from all her children, trying to keep them safe. Luna has always wanted children of her own, but didn't know if it was possible since she is focused on hunting and keeping the world safe, which would leave her almost no time to spend with her kids. Six is a lot of kids, and Luna thought that four was already a lot. No matter, this will be helpful if they're going to be speaking to children. Luna would need help, especially if she's going to be a mother herself one day. However, that wasn't going to happen anytime soon, especially since she doesn't have a betrothed...At least not now. Maybe in a few years? "Luna Lockhart." She finally introduced herself to the noblewoman and demon expert after breaking her unhealthy train of thought.
Epiphany Drunkle Qrow

-----

An hour passed and Luna found herself, and her team, headed for the darker corner of London. Needless to say, she was rather mortified. Good thing she had made the decision to change into her Huntress Gear, made up of Studded Leather and Dark Clothing, particularly trousers and boots. The only feminine thing she had was the blouse, but even then it was covered up by her leather armor. Using a cloak, she concealed her bow, arrows and dagger. This place was horrid and Luna dreaded the fact that they had to travel on-foot after a while. Whatever that liquid was on the ground, Luna didn't even want to know. Seeing the child workers around made her rather saddened. Did poor families become this desperate? Orphans too? Luna was never one for child labor. If it were up to her, she'd end it. Perhaps she could appeal to her Brother about this? No...Now is not the time to meddling in mortal politics. She had a job to do...

So this is the price for the British Empire's growth...No wonder her Father took the Family out into the countryside...To avoid this monstrosity...Still, seeing it left Luna very uneasy.

Upon arriving at their destination, Luna was on the verge of tears. To know that young children were being worked to death everyday...The thought of it was terrifying! Just when she thought things were getting easy, their progress was halted by a work master, who believed they were...Tax Collectors!? Finally, a terrified boy, most likely the one they were all looking for, tried to run. Before she could react, Jon sprang into action. When he knocked over the Work Master, Luna sighed. "As if this was going to be hard enough..." She scowled as Jon got back up and started running after the boy. Well, looks like there was going to have to be a new plan... "Stop it Jon, you're going to scare him!" She shouted and ran after them, making sure to avoid the other children and machinery. Shoving her way through the back doors and catching up to Jon and the young boy after much dodging and running, now climbing up steps. "Young one, you're not in trouble. I only wish to talk..." She said pleadingly while trying to catch up to him. Hopefully Lady Bryony would come soon.
MrBossMan SilverFlight The Gunrunner SirGrey PeanutLemur ImABloodyFrickinPirate Cinderlily Elekta Kount Rain Drop Stickdom

 

[Epiphany]

At the chancellor's introduction, the Viscountess Enfield gave a slight tilt of her head, a respectful acknowledgement of being acknowledged. A somewhat strange, sly smile graced her lips however at being termed a 'glamour mage'.

"Miss Grey, Miss Lockhart" she said as introductions were made. "Mister Grey I presume?" she inquired of Thaddeus. "I don't expect I'll need anything from the herbalist or the armoury but thank you. Hopefully we'll speak with the lad and learn what we need. If there are complications..." Her emerald eyes glittered with flecks of firelight as she surveyed the team. "I imagine there's one or two here who can sort it, whatever it might be."

BloodThunder27 SilverFlight

~~~

Bryony Byng bore the carriage ride to the factories with a quiet solemnity that didn't exactly encourage idle conversation. Surrounded by blocks after city blocks of brick and mortar, of paving stone and muddied wooden streets and the filth of humanity, she seemed to draw in on herself. Emerging from the carriage, she coughed once at the thickness of the air and promptly spent the entirety of the walk to their destination with a silk handkerchief covering her mouth. Thankfully she'd worn boots which made navigating the puddles of questionable substances a bit more feasible but Bryony took care not to let the hems of her dress touch anything.

Behind her carefully constructed aristocratic reserve, Bryony withered under the baleful wasteland of humanity here. These masters of the world had destroyed what they wished to rule. No trees, no grass, no animals save for scavengers, only this numbing stone and an ocean's worth of unhealthy, sick humans packed into a landscape that was killing them. Even here, her powers surrounded her with the promise of remaking this place into something better, until it became something better. But no fairy could walk this place and prosper.

Once inside, Bryony briefly looked about the courtyard and marked its stone, its iron bars and the everpresent noise of the factory's machines. She shuddered again. Experience had made her familiar with modernity but it couldn't change the way this world repelled her very nature. The factory proper was even worse, with dirty children working methodically, endlessly, their faces full of fear.

"And they call us the monsters," she muttered to herself, her words not likely to travel far over the din of the busy environment but making no effort to conceal them either. "Nothing in nature treats its young like this. Only humans do this to themselves."

Then the ten year old boy was spotted, frightened and she sighed as she watched the child flee, followed by Jonathan and Luna giving chase. To the others, particularly SirGrey 's Briar and ImABloodyFrickinPirate 's Aniya, Bryony tilted her head across the factory floor towards its alleys. "The boy sees adults like us and runs upstairs, to a place with bars on the windows and no exit." She chuckled and shook her head. "He has an exit. Young boys always do. Possibly by alley, possibly by rooftop. Let's catch him there, shall we?"

 

[The Gunrunner]

Prenkus Lohmeyer

Irwin watches Prenkus for a moment, considered seriously. The old hunter didn't feel offended; the feeling was mutual. The wolf finally gestures to a side-table, where a wolf trinket lies. He reaches out to take the necklace, running a thumb over the wooden engraving. "Take that and show it to him. He'll know it came from me, and he'll do ask you ask." Prenkus merely nods, shoving it away into an interior coat pocket. He looks to the other two, merely noting the additional faces. As they gave introductions and made their final talks, Prenkus maneuvers around the bodies to step out of the room - "Prenkus" is the extent of his introductions before his leave.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------​

He could smell it before the carriage stopped - Hell, before it was officially in the factory district. It was a thick scent of acrid powder, mixing perfectly with the smells of piss and poverty native to the filthier sections. His nose crinkles, and he speaks to no one in particular: "When one from the city asks why I choose to live in the wilds, I tend to remember places like these." He chuckles to himself, trying to cover his nose and mouth with his shirt. It was a joke, but he truly wished in that moment he was back with the trees. The wheels rattle against cobblestones for a while longer, until the streets become too narrow for them to continue. Prenkus steps down from the carriage and continues with the others on foot. He is careful to avoid the mysterious puddles and piles, though its smells surrounded him such that it was hard to know what was to be avoided and what could be ignored.

The workers are gaunt and pale, watching them from either confused or frightened. He tries to look past them, but the soot-stained faces stain his peripheral vision. The sight of malnourishment and exhaustion is visually discomforting, but he does his best to keep the expression stiff. Iona was far less reserved, and made her feelings on the matter quite clear. Thaddeus felt the need to educate his cousin, and it was clear that the truth was less than soling. He'd almost chuckled at her shock of the usage of children; it wasn't a common practice, but he'd seen them used even in the military. Families and states all did what they could in desperate times, and little things remained 'sacred' in such conditions. Ignorance of such a rule was a naivety that he didn't admire, but found weirdly comforting at times. It was like he could pretend it didn't exist. Mr. Reys evidently has little patience for this to continue: "Pity the poor later, we have more important things to address for now."
Prenkus clears his throat, suppressing the thoughts and nodding. "He is right. Best we do not distract ourselves." Bryony's comment he barely picks up, but in enough of its pieces to know the intent. His expression cracks, though only slightly.

Prenkus and the others move through a coming stone courtyard. He looks around the area, to the barred dorm-room windows which peer down on them. It reminds him of a rumour he'd heard about these places, where the higher levels use bars less to keep intruders out but keep the hopeless in. Grim. It truly did seem very much like a prison, though as that thought crossed his mind he wondered how much worse a London prison would have to be. Thaddeus had said this was the cost of England's accomplishments, but was this worth it? He had not seen such a metal hell in Prussia, and surely they were still accomplished. But then again, they were not the British Empire.

He steps through cracked, aging wooden doors under the rumbling hum of machinery. Boys and workers working in, predictably from what he had seen so far, terrible conditions - Near plates able to crush bones, on high platforms, manually applying toxics to slick and manage the cold machines. "Here! What's this now?! I told the last lot I paid the taxes due already! Now shove off!" Prenkus looks down to the work-master, but as he's about to speak Thaddues draws his attention: "That's the one!" Prenkus swings to the side, just in time to see one of the boys run out of the room for the dorms. He didn't call out; he had enough experience with the 'little bastards' to know that if they run, they run. Byony says something behind him, but as the adrenaline starts coursing the words fall on deaf ears - He slaps away his tophat away and breaks into a sprint - Luna shoves her way through the back door, clearing the way for the elder behind her. While the woman dodges and slips through the obstacles and workers, Prenkus shoves and thunders. "Move! Out of the way!" he yells, taking no issue with using a little shoulder to clear some room. "We're just here to talk! I've something from Irwin!" he tries to yell after him, huffing and puffing as he continues his run up the stairs. "Damn it, boy! We're here to help!"

 

[SirGrey]

As everyone readied them for the coming journey, Briar made a quick to the herbalist supplies. Besides grabbing the usual assortment, he also made sure to pick up a small box, which he hoped would prove invaluable. Grabbing his medical bag. As he jumped into one the carriages he took stock over the new arrivals. One was a Viscountess, ( Epiphany ) someone good with children could prove invaluable for this kind of mission. A prisoner ( Drunkle Qrow )@the of some sort was there as well, though Brair couldn't tell if he was with or merely another person in their custody.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------​

As the team quickly filled out of into the workhouse, Brair took stock. He heard of such places, they even things know as poorhouses back home. Neither of them sat well with Briar, especially about how powerless he was to stop such industry. Still, he would save his more authoritarian battles for later, right now they had a child to save. As the leaders went to talk with the owner of the place, Brair looked around. The children were grimy and broken, some in spirit, some in more literal ways. He felt awful even more so when he had to turn his attention away from them.

Brair had changed into more appropriate gear, wearing a waistcoat, each pouch filled with various herbs and the like, a small staff underestimate the use of a small staff especially in the hands of one versed in magic, simple plan trousers and shirt and a belt again with various herbs and the like. Brair elected to keep his bag and weapon in the carriage they were here to help not hurt this child.

Before he could say anything someone new caught his attention. In response, he said "Bryony isn't it, I do believe you are correct, young boys always seem to be able to find their way around anything" in agreement before looking around seeing another finally seeing another flight of stairs.

Seeing Prenkus ( The Gunrunner ) running after the boy with his usual subtlety, as well as the other two ( BloodThunder27 , MrBossMan ) on the young man's trail, Brair made up his mind. Pulling a small box out of his pocket. "These people fight monsters on an almost daily basis and yet they can't calm down a child," he says to the Viscountess a small rat exits the box.

"Before you ask the boy can talk to rats, ergo rats may like ergo use a rat to find and maybe even calm the child, especially because Imagine before long he will find a place to hide, young boys are always good at that as well," he says as the rat heads off up the stairs. "Right now you can either join the terrific trio following the lad or help me follow this rat," Brair says as he runs off, staff in hand. "Brair by the way"

 

[SilverFlight]

The factory master went flying with a yelp as Jon barreled past him. The boys saw what was happening and scattered, making a clear path, none wanting to be caught underfoot.
Iona gave a huff and shot an exasperated look at Luna as if to say: 'Men!'
"Come on, we had better make sure we catch him."
She set off following closely behind her friend.

The boy scrambled up the stairs as fast as he could, faintly hearing shouts behind him. He heard Irwin's name and slowed, turning back around to see, but the sight of Jon bearing down on him made his eyes go wide with panic and he fled further down the corridor.
His fear was rising steadily as he ran, desperate to get away. Outside the workhouse, scurrying from crevices and holes, help began to gather...

Thaddeus didn't follow the group, instead he stayed back and listened to Briar.
"Slaying monsters is a very far cry from dealing with children." He defended quietly, "Most in the order are probably not used to dealing with anything that doesn't want to take their heads off."
He broke into a smile as the American produced a rat from a small box. "Briar, you are a genius!"
As the rat began its own journey Thaddeus tailed behind it. When he was out of sight from the boys he changed shape, applying his glamour until the lanky, course-haired wolfhound was standing in his place. As a wolf he could track the rat much better, and glamoured as a dog, he wouldn't draw attention.
Once he had taken his beast form however the scents that came to his nose made him look back at the others with worry. He lead the way outside just in time to see the courtyard become a seething mass of sharp-nosed black rats. They scampered across the stones in a hiss of clicking claws, running up drainpipes and scrabbling up the lose and broken stones of the building.

The boy ran to the end of a corridor and flung open a door at the end, in full view of his pursuers. This lead to an abandoned room where the roof had partially fallen in, allowing the weak, smog-soaked sunlight to pour through. He clambered up one of the fallen beams and out onto the roof.
From there he began to tug at a ladder propped against one of the chimneys, pulling it up and lying it across the space of the narrow street, to the adjacent building, a run down series of apartments.

It was then the rats came through. They cascaded into the upstairs corridors from broken windows and vents, squeaking and gnashing their yellow teeth. There were hundreds of them, scattering across the floor, leaping at legs and nipping at shoes, trying to savage any flesh that came within range.

Back on the roof, the young boy balanced across the ladder, trying to to look down. Once he had made it across he dashed for the door on the roof, tearing down the rickety steps into a room and then into the room's dark closet, tossing a blanket over his thin frame and trying to make himself as invisible as he could.

Outside the front doors Thaddeus growled in his dog form as some of the torrent of black bodies veered from their path to his group. He looked back and gave Briar and the others an urgent bark. They should go on without him, he would do his best to slow the rats so they could.

MrBossMan Epiphany The Gunrunner BloodThunder27 SirGrey Drunkle Qrow ImABloodyFrickinPirate

((You guys can control as many rats as you like, free reign. SirGrey the rat Briar brought will lead them straight to the boy. Good thinking.))