Topic: Veterum Acquisitionem

Issy

Date: 2012-03-29 00:18 EST
(Cross-posted in Spit and Scales.)

Ta-tap, tap, tap.

The rhythmic knock rang out, echoing from the door of Barrister Lucien Mallorek's townhouse off of the Marketplace. Its simple, clipped nonchalance signified the informal turn that the Scathachian's and the Barrister's relationship had taken. Lucien and Isuelt had known each other for a number of years and had been through a few sticky situations together. What was more, Isuelt trusted Lucien as more than her attorney, but as a friend.

The Judge looked over her shoulder to see her fellow Sisters, Valkyrie and Mirage. She planned on formally introducing the two women to the barrister as what they were: her seconds, for all intensive purposes. After the meeting at the Scathachian Sanctuary, Isuelt and her Sisters had shared some very private and indeed some very vulnerable information with their most trusted allies. As the small group that was gathered began to aide the Sisters in their quests for their missing relics, she was hoping that a few more of their friends would also be able to help them. But first, was the trip to Lucien's home. Lucien Mallorek, Barrister Extraordinaire. Lucien Mallorek, collector of antiquities. Any information (or actual relics) he might have would be an auspicious start.

"Barrister Mallorek is an old friend, and I'm almost sure that he can help us," as Isuelt looked up at the facade of the entrance way to the townhouse, her vision flashed a series of scenes before her eyes in almost lightning quick succession: A dark rain-soaked night, thunder shattering her ears, undead fingers clawing at her clothing, pulsing red lights glowing from under a shut door, the screams of her friends, allies and enemies all around her. She ran a gloved hand quickly over her face and knocked once more, almost with an urgency. Lucien's home had become the beckon that night, and while the Scathachians and all of their allies entered his home, Lucien was nowhere to be found. And then everything had gone black. Isuelt's memory had lost what happened just after they were running through this very house, searching for the barrister.

Tap, tap-tap, tap-tap.

She took a deep breath as she worked to shove that night from her fuzzy memory, she turned to look to her Sisters once more as she heard footsteps on the other side of the door.

MissKate

Date: 2012-04-05 01:53 EST
She'd been out working in the Marketplace, a slight misstep had called for her to quickly disappear, luckily, Lucien's townhouse had been close so she'd stopped off there. Clothes were dumped in the bathroom and she was washing up, being careful of the scrapes and bruises she'd acquired, when she heard the knocking. With a sigh she scurried into the bedroom and pulled on a pair of jeans and a tank top. A quick glance in the mirror made her frown again and she went into the closet and pulled out one of Lucky's shirts, slipping that on as well.

After another stop in the bathroom to grab her knife and shove it into the back of her pants, pick up her PDA, and pull an object from the pile, she all but bounded for the door. The orb in her hand was tossed up, caught, then shoved into her front pocket when she heard the knocking again. Before she took those final few steps she alerted Lucky to her presence in the Townhouse and that there might be trouble, then the PDA was dropped on a nearby table.

With a smile plastered on her face and one hand at her back she unlocked the door and pulled it open, "Salve!" Seeing Issy and her companions there made her pause. "Salve" as she repeated herself she leaned out a little and looked up and down the street. "What can I do for you?"

Issy

Date: 2012-04-06 13:09 EST
"Uhm...Kate!" Isuelt was surprised to see the woman who opened the door. Though after a breath, she didn't know why she needed to be. Kate and Lucien, after all, were a couple. And if the rumors around were true, they had recently made it official. "I'm sorry, I....I was expecting..." The Scathachian quickly curbed her line of thought so as not to offend Kate. She turned to gesture quickly over her shoulder, "These are two of my Sisters, Valkyrie and Mirage. We have an appointment of sorts to meet with Lucien." She bowed to the woman, as would befit a Scathachian greeting.

She wondered if Kate knew anything of the missing Scathachian relics and their renewed struggle with Temple Bhaal. She figured that if Lucien and Kate had a relationship like she did with her own Scorpion Wraitharan all the way back in Metro, odds are Kate knew pretty much everything. Isuelt let her smile take her hardened features, nodding then to the two women behind her to let them know Kate's presence was not a deterrent, but a boon.

Valkyrie

Date: 2012-04-09 17:41 EST
Valkyrie studied the woman who answered Lucian's door with a sense of worry. It was a known fact at this point that the woman hardly trusted anyone. Granted, she found that she could hardly trust her own sisterhood these days. Her only trusted friend at this point was Issy, and she could trust her judgment to a point. She drew back behind Mirage and Issy for a moment to weigh the situation. She, like Isuelt, had been expecting a male by the name of Lucian to answer and given recent events she was hardly trusting of other woman.

Boon or not, Valkyrie found herself doubting her presence at this man's house. Both her lips pursed and she glanced to Mirage, if the other sister showed faith then she'd resolve to find an ounce of trust where there was so little. She clenched her fists ever so slightly, suddenly feeling the urge of nakedness. The regret of not wearing her silver plate armor on such a routine mission blossomed in her gut.

MissKate

Date: 2012-04-11 02:16 EST
The surprise on Issy's face made her smile. At the introduction she nodded to the two other women, noticing how Valkyrie was all but hiding behind Mirage, "Salve Valkyrie and Mirage, it's a pleasure. I'm Kate the shocking surprise behind Bear's door." She pulled the door open farther, "Uh, come in. He should be here soon, I sent him a message."

Once the women were through the door and behind her, she leaned out again, glancing up and down the street with a smile before she closed it behind them. She was all smiles and politeness but she was also watching the three women, taking in their movements, the clenched fists, the unease. Something was going on under the surface. She gestured to the front hall room as she brushed past them to open the door, the knife she'd stuck in the back of her pants had caught the edge of her shirt and was visible at the small of her back, still she smiled as she gestured to the room, "We can wait in here. Can I get you anything to drink? I'm not sure when he keeps on hand here anymore but I'm guessing we could find some Scotch or something."

The surprise of finding Issy and her sisters at the door distracted her enough that she didn't realize she'd left the PDA in the hallway and she didn't remember or think to send Lucky another message after the two she'd already sent. So the last two things he'd heard from here were: "Got into some trouble, at your townhouse now to clean up and wait for the dust to settle."

Then: "Someones at the door. You might want to come here."

Lucky Duck

Date: 2012-04-15 19:05 EST
He had been expecting the Sisters' visit. The barrister and Judge had spoken about meeting to discuss the matter of the relics. Lucien was in the back room going through some of his notes and books in preparation for the meeting when the Sisters' arrived. He hadn't heard the knocking on the door, but he did see the message buzz through from Kate. First: Got into some trouble, at your townhouse now to clean up and wait for the dust to settle. He shook his head wondering what manner of trouble the dust needed to settle for. Nevertheless a grin crooked wry at the corner of his mouth.

Next: Someone's at the door. You might want to come here.

The barrister muttered under his breath at the second message. He scrambled, grabbing his notes and books and rushed out of the back room, to join the Sisters and Kate.

Issy

Date: 2012-05-02 17:43 EST
She could feel the uneasiness seeping from Valkyrie, and Isuelt felt that perhaps her Sister's fears might stand a better chance of being assuaged once they were inside. With a grateful nod of her espresso-hued head to Kate, she stepped into the foyer of Lucien's town home, along with Mirage and Valkyrie.

"Thank you, Kate. It is good to see you. You are looking well, indeed." The careful tones of the priestess were not a stranger within these walls. Isuelt's fellowship with Lucien was one of mutual respect and admiration, and their conversations, while utilizing many of the social constraints of the day, were no less cordial or difficult. In fact, this was one of the places where Isuelt felt the ease of speaking and simply being herself. That, in large part, was one of the reasons they were here. That and the fact that Lucien had amassed quite a collection as well as a knowledge of antiques, both sacred and mundane.

"Some water would be fine, I would think." She nodded toward Valkyrie for a moment, figuring that a cool drink would do her well. Just as she did, she watched Lucien emerge over her smaller Sister's shoulder. Isuelt's reaction was immediate: a low bow of her head and her chocolate gaze swept to the floor. "Thank you for seeing us, Lucien. We are eager to discuss our theories with you. I'm hoping that you can help us in the search for our relics."

There was so much at stake, and Isuelt knew that if they could just keep a few steps ahead of their enemies, a few strides before the Bhaalites, they just may succeed in bringing Scathach her just due as well as her full strength, not to mention saving the life of Valkyrie.

MissKate

Date: 2012-05-08 10:51 EST
She was still smiling at the women, keeping her observations to herself. Lucien appeared in the doorway just as she was turning to leave to get the water.

She moved closer to him, still listening. The word relics made her tilt her head to the side a little and lift an eyebrow, a pointed gesture at Lucien.

Once she was face to face with him she set her hand on his chest, leaned up and brushed her lips against his cheek then smiled, "Salve Bear, I'm just going to get water. Can I get you anything?"

She didn't really wait for a response, instead she turned to smile at the sisters as she moved through the doorway.

Lucky Duck

Date: 2012-05-28 17:52 EST
"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting," he remarked as he walked into the from hall where the Sister's were waiting with Kate. He shifted the books in his arms and returned a kiss to Kate's cheek, a grin ghosting at the corner of his mouth. Lucien then moved to join the Sisters.

The barrister gave a bow of his head to Issy, then Mirage and Valkyrie in turn. Isuelt and Mirage he knew best. Valkyrie less so. The Sister's unease was understandable. She didn't know Lucien. And she bore the heavy burden of their Goddess.

"Whatever I can do, whatever resources I have are at your disposal," he offered as he took a seat. He pushed aside the chess board and set the books down on the table. "So. Where would you like to begin?"

Issy

Date: 2012-06-07 07:22 EST
Isuelt licked her lips and nodded slightly to her old friend, the barrister. While this subject was delicate, she had trusted him with other matters of equal importance, namely her freedom and her life.

"Lucien," she dropped all formality as it really was a moot point at this late hour of the game. "We're looking for any information you have on those relics that we'll be looking for. I want to be able to pass along as much direction to those helping to search for them." Her dark eyes ticked behind her for a moment, she gauged Valkyire's hesitation and Mirage's stoic silence. Valkyire, of course, had the most at stake on a sheer personal level, but she would have to trust Isuelt's allies if they were to make headway. She knew that Valkyire would have to be with those she trusted the most and therefore, had paired Lucien with Valkyire on their search for the Scathachian idol.

Now, she didn't know the entire layout of Lucien Mallorek's home, but she knew as much to continue down the hall as she was speaking and veer to the left to enter the parlor where she took a seat. "The idol. That is the first item. You and Valkyire will be looking for this, along with Athena and Daniel DeAuster." She nodded for her Sisters to follow her lead and sit down. While she wasn't the hostess here, by any stretch of the imagination, she knew that her Scathachian Sisters would feel more at ease if they saw that she was at ease. She hoped that Lucien and Kate would forgive her. "We have reports of this item through history and it's...well, it's really something of a mythological relic. It was the first of the likenesses of Scathach. It was carried by her first students as they traveled to spread word of her deeds and teachings. In time, it became the sacred relic of the order and her students were eventually labeled 'Scathachians.' It's made from a rare wood, which is now extinct. And...it, like the rest of the relics, is said to house a part of Scathach herself. She has been spread too thin." Those dark eyes looked to Valkyire, where her gaze rested for a moment. "The other items we need your expertise with are the Quiver of Scathach, the Gavel of Scathach...which we had in our possession until the murderous agents of Bhaal stripped it from us, and the Compass." Her lips were tight on the last object. At least for now. She looked from her Sisters to Kate and lastly to Lucien. With his collection of old manuscripts and his vast love for antiquities, she prayed that he might have record, knowledge or theories as to the whereabouts of their sacred relics.

MissKate

Date: 2012-06-15 04:13 EST
She had left the room, then quietly reentered with a tray full of empty classes and a pitcher of water that was set on the table. There were also a few cinnamon scones and some s'mores cookies near some napkins on it.

After she set it all down she moved to stand next to Lucien's chair, leaning her hip against it and listening. She figured they'd ask her to leave if they didn't want her there.

Lucky Duck

Date: 2012-06-18 00:30 EST
Cool blue gaze moved from his friend to her sisters. The barrister was glad for Issy's ease and he took her cue and followed suit. He nodded as the Judge recounted the relics that the Sisters had entrusted their allies to help recover. Lucien had spent many hours going through his own archives and library to find whatever information he might glean about the missing relics over the past weeks. He had also made numerous inquiries with his contacts and underground resources in that time. He picked up a note pad from the stack of books and offered it to Issy. "This is what I have been able to find out so far. I am expecting additional reports in the next couple days." The barrister sat back in his seat just as Kate returned with some refreshments. He reached up to brush his hand over Kate's back lightly when she leaned against the chair as he watched Issy. "There is some good information in there, but I've found nothing on the compass. It is almost as if it never existed," he paused, letting his attention move from one Sister to the other.

Issy

Date: 2012-07-29 15:03 EST
"Thank you, Lucien." She looked over the notepad, flipping through it briefly. "I see that there is indeed information out there, we just need to bring it all together and tie it to what?s around us." Her gaze lifted as Kate reentered the room and she inclined her head to the two of them as she stood up.

Isuelt nodded to Lucien, "I'm going to leave you with a liaison. Her name is Rhiannon, but she goes by Sheryl. She is the most learned of us and..." She paused to make sure she painted an adequate portrait of the scribe, "...she truly enjoys her work of unearthing stories and knowledge from corners of the realm that most people didn't know existed. Sheryl is the go to for any mythology quirks as well as any nearly lost information on whereabouts of trinkets." Her dark hair was pushed behind an ear as she glanced to Val and to Mirage. "I've told her to meet you here later today, and I'm sure she'll be bringing what she can carry with her." Isuelt went on to describe her Sister, Sheryl to both Kate and Lucien so they would be on the lookout for her.

Isuelt was pleased that Sheryl was in Rhydin instead of back on the Island, holed up in the Archives Building. Here, she would be put to use. Treasure hunting, as it were, is more than just looking around. Sheryl would be instrumental, as would Lucien be, in seeking clues to the whereabouts of these items in history and tracking them down in their modern day surroundings. "I'm thinking that with her mind and your resources, we should have some solid leads in no time." Hope was a valuable trait in these times.

Issy

Date: 2012-09-20 14:46 EST
(This thread has been crossposted in Spit and Scales here.)





"Thank you, Lucien. Kate." The Scathachian Judge stood and bowed deeply to the couple; a ritual gesture that was usually reserved for higher ranking Scathachians or victorious allies upon the field of battle. "Sheryl will be by on the morrow. And we shall send with her all of the intelligence we've gathered on all of the relics up to this point."

The tall brunette turned to take her leave, glancing over her shoulder as her seconds, Mirage and Valkyrie, followed in perfect form. They were impressive to say the least, and even in this small moment was Isuelt proud of her Sisters and proud of what they stood for. As they made their way from the parlor into the entrance hall, Isuelt took a moment to privately offer Lucien her words, "As ever, I am in your debt, Barrister Mallorek. It seems that you are once more standing between myself and certain doom." Her lips paused as she lifted her gaze to look at him. "You will always have my undying loyalty. You and your bride. Always." Her right hand, which at one point sported the flawless image of the Scales of Justice, and now showcased only the scarred remnants of such a tattoo, was closed into a fist and placed upon her breast. Her head full of espresso waves bowed, letting her hair spill over her shoulders as her chin touched her sternum.

It was a gesture of a vow, a promise. And she thought it was long overdue.