That Thursday had started out ordinarily enough....after morning prayers and her usual practice bout with the armsmaster, Karen returned to her office/apartment and began looking through the latest reports....

The Watch Captain was unhappy that Dimitri Locherin was still on the loose. There was no real evidence to indicate he was guilty of the initial cases of arson for which he was arrested....indeed, much of the eyewitness reports and other evidence suggested it was Vanion who was the guilty party. But still, there was no denying the fact that he had broken out of the jail and killed a number of Guards while doing so.

Karen, for her own part, wanted Dimitri to remain free for now. Vanion seemed obsessed with Dimitri for some reason, making the half-elf a lightning rod for Vanion's attention....and a possible way to draw the vampire out, if needs be.

Monterre reported that his initial meeting with Lily had gone favorably....and that he never wanted to set foot in that place again. Mary May was sensitive to magicks, and she had sensed quite a bit of it in there. That, combined with the Temple's policy of neutrality regarding the Myr'Khul, made the spymaster exceedingly distrustful of the leadership in the Temple of Divine Light.

Karen agreed with his sentiment....but she had other obligations to consider.

Lastly was a letter written by a hand she did not recognize....It detailed an expected attack on the Temple of Divine Light that very evening. The name was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time, but the words had the ring of truth about them.

Karen quickly drafted a copy of the letter....it wouldn't do for the original to be floating about the city....and finished it off with specific instructions.

Monterre.

Investigate the details contained here-in. I require a report on both groups mentioned in this letter, as well as the person who sent it. All haste in this matter.

KW.

She sealed the letter and cast it out her window....certain that one of the spymaster's people would retrive it and take it to him.

Friday had dawned particularly lovely, and Karen was in a rare good mood as she went about her daily routine. Even the newer recruits noticed the Commander's mood, and thanked The Lord for it....for when the Commander's mood was black, the recruits lives could be very rough.

After mid-day prayers, Karen went out into the city. The unusually mild summer's day brought out throngs of people, and the mood of the city seemed to reflect Karen's own. She rode slowly through the districts, nodded occassionally to those who recognized her, called her name or offered the Templars their thanks for helping to keep the city safe.

As she crossed the bridge to the Northern half of the city, a pretty girl carrying a basket of flowers offered her one....the stem wrapped in paper. "For the heart of so fair a Lady" she said with a smile. Karen could not help but blush. She never considered herself attractive, and compliments always embarrased her. The paper itself was surely a note from Lucien, and the messenger was a friendly poke at her ego. Karen took the flower with a mumbled thanks and spurred her horse across the bridge and along the road to the Seaside Manor.

Once inside, she scanned the note.

Commander.

The subject spends most of his time in the Old Temple District, just as his letters would indicate. My people see no signs that he is being tailed, nor signs of a trap. I suggest meeting him late in the evening, as he frequents the Stars End area at that time.

The Red Man and his Companions arrived this morning upon a ship that showed extensive damage and was run by a skeleton crew. After the ship was docked, the Youth distributed a hefty payment to the crew and everyone disembarked. The Youth then appeared to Ward the ship in some manner....none of the mages in my network were able to discover the nature of the Ward he used, and I will not risk any of my people in attempting to test it. A rat was observed running up one of the lines to the ship only to, according to the witness, "turn inside out and vanish".

It is clear that the Red Man and his Companions have gained in power....but their motivations remain unclear. Only the trust that the Bard and the Cat appear to put in them gives my mind any peace on the subject.

There has been no overt signs from the Black House. You know of my personal aversion to working with Night Creatures, so getting a spy within those walls would be difficult at best.

By the way, you should stop by some time. I have obtained a few new pieces of Derradan artwork that I would like your opinion on.

Monterre.

Karen set the note aside and went about the minimal duties required of her as Baroness of Seaside. The taxes collected in Seaside were quite possibly the lowest in the city, for Karen only collected enough to maintain the Manor and pay Seaside's share in maintaining the Watch and the various Public Works. She'd also received permission from Cardinal Shoc to use members of the Order who were on Penitence Duty to keep the streets and walls of the district clean and in good repair.

As evening wore on, Karen rode for the Arena....she'd spend some time watching the duels, and perhaps even duel a little herself, before she went to meet this new informant.

The bar was....well, saying it was a dive would have been giving it too much credit in Karen's opinion. Still, the place was secure from prying eyes. Her people gave her the signal that the place was, at least temporarily, shielded from magical observation. Karen herself couldn't be seen by magic, but if someone had been watching her contact, they could've gotten plenty without that shielding in place.

The man looked like he hadn't shaved in more than a week....and from the state of his clothing, he might not have bathed in at least that long either. Karen couldn't decide if that was part of his cover....or if he was just letting the stress get to him. If it was the latter, Karen was sure that either he'd have to make a move very soon or he would get found out.

He gave him his name....just like he'd signed the letters. Karen's people had discovered that it wasn't an alias, it was the name he went by....and he even had family in the city now. For her own part, Karen didn't bother to introduce herself. She was sure he'd recognize her....she was a bit of a public figure, after all.

The conversation started well enough....he wanted allies in taking down a shadowy organization, and wanted the Templars to help him do it, publicly. A raid, he said....directly on their headquarters. As well as a defence for the Temple of Divine Light.

"Right now," she replied, "th' Order does nae have any treaties or arrangements wit' th' Temple o' Divine Light. Plus, our recent scizm wit' th' Catholic Church makes it risky tae put too many troops out in th' same area....it might provoke a response from th' Hospitalatiers."

He nodded. "I'm not asking for an army. I'm asking for a couple of dozen soldiers."

She nodded, then lay her hand on the table. "Th' only problem is....we are defenders here. It would look poorly for us ifin we were tae strike without an obvious reason tae do so." She paused for a moment, considering news she had received earlier, then continued. "I do know where ye can get soldiers though."

His frown eased slowly....and gave a slight tilt of his head, curious. "Where?"

"There's a rickity ol' tavern on th' Docks called th' Crooked Hook. There be a willow tree out front." She drew abstract symbols with the spilt ale on the table as she spoke. "There be a very....unusual person who guards th' place. A cat-person called Maetel." He nodded, and she continued. "There's also a few others....a tall man wit grey hair, dressed all in red. A young mage, a chinaman & a Bard who seems tae know quite a bit about what?s goin' on in th' world. I kin also provide a few street fighters....men who be loyal tae me, but nae part o' th' Order."

He reached into his back pocket, pulling out a small notepad, a pen....scribbling this down, should his tired brain forget. "Can you have them meet me out back of the Horsehead in the West End on Sunday night?"

She nodded. "I'll pass th' word tae Andre....th' man in red. I'll also arrange fer an extra patrol 'er two near th' Temple o' Divine Light. It may prove a deterent, an' could prove 'elpful in me comin' negotiations wit' th' Temple."

He nodded slowly. "I appreciate this, commander. If they require any payment....well..."

She brushed her hand across the table. "Th' Mage'd prolly be th' only one tae ask fer payment....th' others do it tae protect th' city."

He gave another nod. "...Noble thing to do." Not that he could talk. He was getting paid the equivalent of a good $10k for this whole thing. "If you need me to give any at the Temple any information about thier plans, let me know."

She nodded. "T'would be best if th' warning came from someone a'sides me. Ye should think 'bout nae signin' th' note though, I don' completely trust th' Temple."

He smirked. "Who should I letter the warning to, specifically?"

"Th' man I think is in charge o' there defences is Vincent Smith" she told him. "I dinnae know their full hirearcy though."

He nodded "A letter to this Smith guy should suffice."

The conversation finished, Karen said her goodnights and left....she knew that Monterre already had someone on the way to alert Andre and the others. She also knew that he'd have a list of possibles to assist on the raid.