Topic: Files of a Liar

Morana · Date: 2009-03-28 18:44 EST

A door slammed. Heels rapped against a wooden floor. A red glow flashed, scanned the room, vanished. Fingers tipped with graceful oval clear-polished nails wove through patterns that should have required more joints, accompanied by a guttural stream of syllables. There was another flash of black-edged red before the more mundane sounds of paper rustling and a pen scratching in the dark.

Corlanthis Wystansayr. Candidate for RhyDin Governor. Cross-dresser and drunkard. Passed out in the Red Dragon Inn and molested by a blonde woman in a sailor outfit. Not hard to get her name ? Samilee Burke, alcoholic, ex-drug abuser. How ?ex?? Photographic evidence. Title ? Do You Want More of the Same?

Sinjin Fai. Candidate for RhyDin Governor. Homosexual. But who was ?she? that he got out? From where? Is he playing both sides of the fence? Ashamed of his sexuality. Reckless, possibly violent, meeting with mysterious strangers. Campaign funded by D. E. Political Action Group (ref. House DeMuer Holdings). Title ? What?s He Hiding?

The big meeting. Baron Alain DeMuer (ref. complete file House DeMuer, cross-ref. Barony of Sainte-Ouen). Heroic impulses weren?t exaggerated; how strange. Right hand nerve-damaged. Mixes a mean Tom Collins, I have to give him that. I told him I was an investigative journalist, and he offered a tour of his properties. ?I?ve got nothing to hide.? Guided, of course. He?s too wary to let a wild card roam without supervision. Monday afternoon. Let?s see how much Illiastri left out of her ?Profiles of Success? series. Have to cross-reference some of the files ? Maranya Valkanon, Maeve Malone. Who the hell is Mr. Hichi?

The pen continued for close to an hour before there was another shuffling rustle of papers. Guttural syllables filled the room, rolling in a tongue not human. Black-edged red light appeared, vanished. Heels rapped against a wooden floor. A door slammed.

Morana · Date: 2009-04-02 23:15 EST

Taunts from outside a window. ?Hey pretty lady! Ya look lost ? bet I could show ya around, take care?a ya.? ?Yeah, she wants ta be taken care?a, ya know it. Why else a pretty lady like that comin? round here?? ?Don?t be so cold, pretty lady, I can warm ya up real nice.? Rich, throaty laughter echoed off close walls of a brick alleyway. Whoosh of flame cut off screams before they could begin. A door slammed; heels rapped against wood. A red glow flashed, scanned the room, vanished.

Addition to file Corlanthis Wystansayr. Terrible fashion sense (red Elvis?), some interesting points on home defense. Doesn?t do his research, proposed high-cost measures, vague on source of funding. Vulnerable to manipulation via misinformation, bribery? Note ? Samilee Burke smarter than she looks, or coached for debate question. Think it?s the first. You have to be smart to look like such an airhead.

Addition to file Sinjin Fai. Anarchist. ?Supports local business? ? as long as they support him. Proposes to banish the governor position and trust current systems to run without guidance. Na?ve. Have to run cost/benefit analysis of maintaining stability under government we can control v. freedom of movement when social systems break down. Inclined to support latter option and throw support to this campaign anonymously.

Addition to file Matt Simon, current Governor. Large focus on space systems and increasing security for interstellar travel; has neglected ground security. Wife, child ? vulnerabilities. Our best option if we choose to maintain status quo. Gaping holes in sea patrols, sense of ?if it isn?t broken, don?t fix it.? Let the Watch have their pretty new uniforms. Note ? article, title ? ?Give our Guards the Best!?

Addition to file Darkmere Alcar. Candidate for RhyDin Governor. General statements, no specific plans. Good politician that way ? find out his price. Should be easy to ignore if elected; talking head.

Addition to file Maranya Valkanon. Doctor, Riverview Clinic. License currently suspended due to a pending lawsuit. Do we want to buy the presiding judge? The Clinic? Cost/benefit analysis. Connected to both Antonio Falconne (ref. complete file) and one Alper Elgin II, businessman (recent return to RhyDin, file pending). Not directly powerful, but well-connected at high and low levels. Concern for healthcare (specifically her Clinic and patients) is a weak point, as evidence her debate question.

Tour of House DeMuer properties. Illiastri hit the high points; time to do some digging. She left out how exactly all that coffee gets imported. ?Reformed? smugglers never really change, they just get someone else to do the dirty work. Export & import tax evasion to begin with. What else comes in with that coffee? Tap into the financial avenues. Note ? article, title ? ?Playboy business ? who really runs House DeMuer?? Still no luck on information re: Mr. Hichi ? seems to be a close acquaintance based on conversation. Imaged a document (coded), send a breaker.

In a narrow alley, brickwork turned to ceramic cracked and crazed with the cold night air. Molten metal under the slick surface wept frozen silver tears. In a room, red light flashed and vanished.

Morana · Date: 2009-04-20 18:26 EST

High heels rapped against wood, paused. Guttural words never meant for human shaping crept around the room. Two small *cracks* accompanied by blue sparks marked the destruction of cleverly placed spying equipment. A red glow flashed, scanned the room, paused in one corner. More of those guttural syllables ? another sharp *crack*. Red glow scanned again, vanished. Flash of black-edged red was followed by sounds of paper and pen.

Addition to file Riverview Clinic. Supported by donations and ?private investors?. Funds likely skimmed (by previous Director? Maranya Valkanon despises the man). Article in work ? title The Dark Side of RhyDin?s Bright Hope. Notes: Run by a suspended doctor in possession of unexplained wealth. Administration ?loses? at least a quarter of a million gold. Examples of overbilling, double-billing. Doctors tend to leave with short or no notice ? what drives them away? Find patient(s) who suffered through rapid change of care, esp. outpatient neglect.

Damn Illiastri to the ninth level! Tricked me into covering that damned soybean exposition. Scooped the peace negotiations hosted by House DeMuer. Have to do something about her. She?s seeing Roland Gravois (ref. Knights of Sainte-Ouen, House DeMuer esp. covert actions). Mutual Achilles? Heel ? consider whether more effective to strike at Illiastri or Gravois? Recommend Gravois for greatest impact to multiple targets; Illiastri just to be rid of the annoyance.

Recommend reactivation of Moretti?s establishment. Cost/benefit analysis re: child-slaving and drug-running vice weapons and spice smuggling; initial take indicates first option. Certainly enough street rats running around; weakens Governor?s position on security. Three birds with one stone?

Addition to files Alain DeMuer, House DeMuer. Striving to become a player on political levels esp. in ranks of the ?nobility?, as indicated by hosting of so-called ?Peace of Sainte-Ouen?. Desires respect and recognition for House if not self; potential vulnerability for exploitation. Something building in the House re: Noirmont Gate expedition. Crystal golem visit; who?

Code on paper lifted during tour indicated drop point run by Mr. Hichi, New Haven District. Send runner to Haven Delights pastry shop, ask for 2 ?clairs and one cinnamon roll with pecans.

Papers rustled, black-edged red lit the room briefly. Red glow flashed, scanned the room, vanished. Eventually, sharp heels rapped on the wood floor, and a door slammed.

Morana · Date: 2009-06-06 01:32 EST

Rap of sharp heels echoed across wood floor. Guttural syllables wove into still air, twisted into shape by gestures human fingers shouldn?t form. Black-edged red light crawled over and through the room, flashed outwards in an expanding sphere, then vanished with a snap of ozone. Papers shifted, rustled.

Addition to file Riverview Clinic. Must send a letter to Marc Franco; the man is a genius. Follow-up article, ?Throwing Good Money After Bad?? Correction to timeline of Mr. Amat?s employment (departed abruptly and shortly after audit of files). No statement of total proceeds from charity auction, list of donors and winners, etc. No announcement of plans for funds. Let?s have a field day.

Addition to file Matt Simon. Governor. Mysterious statement about unspecified disturbances, request for citizens to report ?unusual occurrences?. Couldn?t have a better setup for panic/riots. This is RhyDin ? there?s always ?unusual occurrences.? Don?t forget christening of Black Baron (ref. DeMuer Exports). Support to House DeMuer both implied and actual; why? Governor?s office paid Alain DeMuer sizable amounts at one point, funding which directly enabled establishment of current DeMuer ?empire? (ref. Kitty O Helston). Current and past DeMuer personnel constitute sizable portion of Watch and Auxiliary. Who?s supporting who?

Addition to file Barony of Saint Aldwin (formerly Sainte-Ouen). Hiring large numbers of contractors; send one of our geomancers and a good mason and/or engineer. Noirmont Gate traffic increasing; new settlement established on the coast. Get in on the ground floor.

Addition to file Serena Stevenson. Off and on relationship with Alain DeMuer, accomplished con artist, surfer, mermaid. Window of opportunity: acquaintance Savannah arrested for a long con, implicated Serena as mastermind in exchange for reduced sentence. We can exploit this; see attached proposal. Need swift approval for effective use.

New file?

Pen scratched over paper, eventually halted. Fingers contorted, twisted and shaped guttural syllables. Black-edged red light swept through the room, flashed, vanished. Rap of sharp heels echoed across wood floor. A door slammed.

Morana · Date: 2010-03-02 17:23 EST

High heels click-clacked over cobbles. A rumble of wagon-wheels passed, overrode the sharp impact of brisk steps. Conversations soared overhead, tossed between open windows of tall apartment buildings in a variety of languages. A street vendor repeated himself in Common, Armenian, and Gaelic; his call was followed by a rich, warm laugh and a swift response in honeyed tones. ?Sh?norhakal em, che.?* A door opened, shut, locked. Heels rapped on a wood floor, another door opened, shut. Tick-tock down brick steps, then the sound was muffled ? hard-packed dirt surface.

Guttural words dropped into the room, crackled with black-edged red light that seared out, scoured the room, faded with a flash of blue. A whisper landed in the silence, afterward. ?Damn you, DeMeur.? Then a chair moved back, papers rustled, and a pen started moving.

Scouting new locations; two ready possibilities. New Haven residence is centrally located, well-equipped and stocked ? more importantly, it?s a townhouse. Attic connections take it to the Lashkar Embassy without touching the street. Need to lean on Lashkar Ambassador (ref. Lashkar-Taral Economic Treaty, Appendix A, Disruption/Target). Approval for purchase required ? the residents are too well-known in the neighborhood, can?t dispose of them without notice. Dragon?s Gate storefront. Keep the business in place; the owner is weak, susceptible. Discreet pawnshop ? and fence. Started moving weapons through there two months ago, let?s make it ours.

New file. Reap. Didn?t get another name, will continue research as able. Surface ? drunkard, troublemaker. Eye for the ladies. Can?t mix drinks (Whiskey Sour was a whiskey with a slice of lemon ? should have made myself a Tom Collins). Some of his questions, comments were a little too sharp. More than meets the eye. Seems well-connected.

New file. John Benandanti. Wheelchair, paralyzed from mid-thigh down following vehicle accident. Works in the medical examiner's office; push Lt. Strauss re: correct disposition of our bodies. Also an eye for the ladies. Angered two of them (blonde with glasses, name and file pending; brunette shape-shifter, Riley, ref. Lawyers) by speaking with me. Makes a decent Whiskey Sour, handles himself competently behind the bar. Alcohol use? Worked dinner out of the deal. Holy-touched, makes my skin crawl to be near for too long. Charming, flirtatious ? think he knows something about my nature. Maybe just subconscious reaction, maybe not. Absolutely would not allow skin-to-skin contact. This one will take watching.

Research update. Require two ounces carolmagnium, one dragon scale, two vials dragon blood (pain-begotten preferred), and tome in files: ?On Instability in Trans-Nexial Vortex Points & Gate Uncertainty?. Also tome: ?Infected Warriors: God?s Bane?. Send soonest.

Current enterprises. Started pushing Dreams (ref. Pharmaceuticals; Dealers; Runners) onto the street. Relaxant, hallucinogen, rage symptoms manifest in withdrawal only. Side effects potentially useful. So far a success, watch for income through usual channels. Weapons dealing picking up again, slowly. Runners in this city are a dime a dozen, reliable ones less so. Network essentially re-established after absence. Maintain strict punishments for failure, unreliability; reward the best well. Routing them through Scar and Rue for now (ref. Ravens; Makos; Runners) ? you know what to do.

The hiss of an ink-laden pen trailing across paper continued.

*Armenian transliteration: Thank you, no.

Morana · Date: 2010-07-06 02:28 EST

Slots jangled out cheery, addictive tunes. Dealers called bets and closed tables, and dice rattled over green felt. High heels tick-tapped over tile and carpet toward a restricted elevator. Copper-painted nails punched in a six-digit code, the silver doors slid silently open. She entered, turned to face the entrance, smiled as the doors clicked shut. Silence filled the space ? no soothing, bland music in this elevator.

When the doors whispered open again, it was onto more silence and a greeting area decorated with cream and splashes of violent red. The receptionist behind the desk looked up, smiled politely ? went wide-eyed when copper pumps carried Morana straight past her desk toward the office door behind it. ?But ? you can?t ? that?s ??

?My office now, darling.? With no further explanation, Morana pushed open the heavy door and sailed into the room. The oak shut with a smooth and quiet *click* behind her.

Addition to personal file - it?s my office now. Wonderful view. You can see everything from up here.

Addition to file John Benandanti. The name was the clue (ref. Vatican file: Ben1235A & book, ?Night Battles? by Ginzburg). Mugar Library, Boston contains nearly complete transcript of 1692 trial. ?Hounds of God.? Werewolves ? chosen by the Christian God to kill witches and other evil. Born to the role ? family calling. Caul over the head at birth marks the chosen. Extraordinary healing, magical abilities only accessible while hunting. The wheelchair ? probably necessary between kills. Dangerous; Lt Strauss?s orders re: our bodies have been reinforced. Keep Benandanti isolated.

Addition to files Roland Gravois, Vidya Jasmyn Illiastri. New file, Professor Michael Shaughnessy, PhD. Encounter at Mugar Library. They were researching Teobern lore on Vidya?s plane. (ref. files: Travelling, Teobern, Gates). Michael Shaughnessy is a friend of Illiastri. The old man could be a valuable asset; explore obtaining him. Otherwise terminate. Roland?s magical skills are progressing, or he has better shielding. Does this carry over to other members of House DeMuer? Determine soonest. Note ? clean-up crew dispatched following encounter.

Addition to file Dalibad, Vrashne. Simmering; the dam is in place & the Pass of Ja?ir is controlled by Dalibad?s prince. Pushing it to boil will require active presence in-region; will depart in the morning.

Access to Lashkar Embassy secure. Agents in place. Pursue murder charges.

Terminate file Ked Phelarr.

Current enterprises. Dreams sales decreasing; push follow-on, Fairy Dust (ref. files: Pharmaceuticals; Dealers; Runners) no sooner than next week. Species-targeted effects as follows: Human ? depressant, hallucinogen; Elf ? stimulant, anesthetic; Draconic ? stimulant, anesthetic, hallucinogen.

Expand runner network; reacquire Jamie (spectral), Vine (elemental), Parker (null), Drix (network) for targeted runs. Reacquire Parker?s final delivery soonest. Magic ineffective on null; consider alternative binding methods. Personal leverage?

Explore planar weapons trans-shipment via Lashkar, Taral, Enkid.

Pen flowed smoothly over parchment in the light through full-length and sunlit windows in a prominent West End casino.

Morana · Date: 2010-07-24 04:12 EST

No sharp click-clack of heels on the plush carpet. The secretary looked up when elevator doors hissed open, put on a professional smile. The bubble-headed blonde Marius preferred was long gone. This young man was intelligent and very ambitious. He half-rose when Morana approached his desk.

?Chai, darling, hot and sweet ? and then do take a half-day for yourself. You?ve been working so hard.? Her voice was honey-sweet, still clearly commanding. The young man?s expression fell slightly before he murmured assent, went to fetch the chai. Morana entered her office, powered on the slim laptop on the desk. She was logging in when her secretary returned with the drink in a clear glass mug. A wave dismissed him; the door clicked shut.

Scarlet-black wards flared to life with an accompanying shower of blue sparks and ozone. A guttural string of Abyssal tore reality into splinters. Paper rustled, a laptop shifted. Pen started to scratch across paper.

Addition to file Benjamin Taiz (ref. file Bounty Hunters). Contract accepted. Initial expenses attached, waiting first progress report.

Addition to file Sheridan Driscoll (ref. files Governor, City Politics). He?s surprisingly apt, so far. I?m astonished there hasn?t been more than one serious assassination attempt. Perhaps I should arrange one? In the meantime ? he?s an idealist. It?s a weakness. Exploit inconsistencies, favoritism? Article? Title, ?For better?.?? Or play off the campaign slogan. Must consider.

Addition to file Riley O?Rourke (ref. files Lawyers, Ministry of Justice). I?d had more for this entry. She resigned her post. How disappointing. Article, ?Land of the Just? needs re-write, new spin.

New file ? Silver Starblade (ref. file Ministry of Trade). Arrange a meeting soonest. Throne of Saturn landmark for West End business revitalization. Construction & operation has generated jobs, ancillary businesses. Suggest a (monthly?) business brochure featuring successful or popular local businesses. Get in on production ? make it ours.

Addition to file John Benandanti (ref. files Benandanti, Hounds of God, Vatican file: Ben1235A & book, ?Night Battles? by Ginzburg). Annie is a definite weakness. I?ll leave that for later; there's an easier way to his heart. Met darling Eva (Evangeline) at the PTA meeting. I?m a substitute teacher, new in town. So eager to learn. Eva?s a wonderful teacher. Antonia is sweet, too.

Addition to file Dalibad, Vrashne (ref. files assoc. w/ DeMuer). There?s more there than I thought. Cracked His code and accessed His files; I need to know what?s in the Uplands. I need to have it. Contacted Shade. He?s starting a war for me. Delightful man, I quite like him.

Current enterprises. Fairy Dust (ref. files Pharmaceuticals; Dealers; Runners) on the streets, limited distribution. Word is spreading slowly ? word-of-mouth always gives the best sales long term. The White Queen can keep her Snow; the money is in the exotics. Side effect we didn?t expect ? lust. Amusing.

Runner retrieval in progress (ref. files Benjamin Taiz, Bounty Hunters).

Weapons trans-shipment via Enkid possible, need contacts. Need to lean on Lashkar Embassy. They have other loose ends to tie up for me.

Glass mug lifted from wood and settled back with a click. Pen crawled across paper and left black trails in its wake.

Morana · Date: 2010-12-12 16:31 EST

The office hadn?t been touched since her departure. Wards broke and she reabsorbed them effortlessly. A fine mist of dust hung in the air, particles caught on sunlight, dimmed by shadow when she walked past the window. High heels were a whisper on the thick carpet. Shame about the dust, but between Vrashne and cultivating darling Eva, there simply hadn?t been time for her office work.

Then again, that was Mr. Grey?s purpose. She sat in her chair, rested her hands along the armrests, and closed her eyes. One Mr. Grey after another, she ransacked their ?memories? and riffled through the information, adding it all to her mental files.

The process took hours. The sun hung near the rooftops when she opened her eyes again. She had dissolved the Vrashne construct; that area would take further attention, but all of it personal. The one who dealt with her bounty hunters had to be redirected. One finger tapped on the armrest, eyes shimmering through red and black, while she considered whether it would be worth the effort to build another Mr. Grey to attend to the casino.

Eventually she uttered a harsh series of syllables, fingers twisting through unnatural shapes, and sliced open the access to her personal records. Paper rustled, ink flowed while she meticulously added to her notes.

Addition to file Benjamin Taiz (ref. file Bounty Hunters). Still no progress report. Mr. Grey given further guidance. If non-compliance continues I will pay the man a personal visit. Property and personnel retrieval growing time-critical.

Addition to file Sheridan Driscoll (ref. files Governor, City Politics). Vanished for months, through invasion and the destruction of the Public Works building. Two articles, ?What Need for Government?? and ?The Absentee Administrator?. Consider marketing one through subsidiaries.

Addition to file ? Silver Starblade (ref. file Ministry of Trade). Have not had time to arrange meeting. Pursue as able.

Addition to file John Benandanti (ref. files Benandanti, Hounds of God, Vatican file: Ben1235A & book, ?Night Battles? by Ginzburg). Superb work in the research department to date; reports have clear and coherent documentation of symptoms and effects on deceased non-human subjects. Present a human subject in next lot (ref. file Serenity). Contact with Eva developed; invitation to Christmas dinner. Emmy is to bring apple pie. Consider addiction, adulteration, corruption? Maybe corruption. Their myth is of Eve and the apple, after all.

Addition to file Dalibad, Vrashne (ref. files assoc. w/ DeMuer). Shade?s work was productive but ultimately disappointing. Order is being restored to Vrashne & the Uplands; I still have not found it yet. If His records are accurate, I need what lies there to continue my containment of Sarva. Consider the Empire in Vrashne, possible opportunities for exploitation there.

Addition to file Lashkar Embassy. Suitable property acquired. Apply our leverage on Lashkar Ambassador; trade routes must open soonest. Weapons trans-shipment through Enkid has stalled without Lashkar support. Aggravated assault, murder in the first, mutilation and soul-death: press charges after the New Year. Illiastri has not pursued legal defense, vulnerable.

Addition to file Michael Shaughnessy. Acquire the possessions abandoned on Illiastri?s plane. Acquire Shaughnessy.

New file, GrangerGuild Conglomerate. Addition to files Anubis Karos, Slaves, Politics. Keep tabs on developing situation. Conglomerate distracted by Karos? enslavement of Caroline Granger, may present opportunities. Identify key players soonest, make contact. Article, ?Where is the RhyDin Watch?? link to above articles re: Driscoll.

Current enterprises. Fairy Dust returns still high. Research department has nearly perfected Serenity (legal psychotropic, anti-depressant), still producing unacceptable percentage of high-risk side effects. Parallel development of Bliss for street release should be available for distribution within two weeks?

The scratch of ink on paper continued, leaving stains of black against the pristine white. Leaving trails of a web that stretched farther than anyone else realized.