Fruitful Pursuits

[Faith Augustin]

2nd Ymiden, 719t

"Do you ever think," Faith asked, her voice muffled deep beneath her thick scarf. Of course, she didn't feel the cold but, that notwithstanding she also didn't like it. "That we should retire and set up a knitted goods and strange gadget shop somewhere where no one knows us?" No crazy necromancers, no difficult decisions or moral quandaries. No responsibilities, she said with a smile, except for each other and their babies. But then, that wasn't them, either of them. It simply wasn't their way. So, she put her hand in his. Not that she could feel his skin, no. She was wearing fingerless gloves under her mittens, because it made her feel snug.

With a glance to Padraig, Faith gave a slight grin as she pulled her hood closer. "I blame my childhood," she said, wickedly. They had a full trial here and so the first stop was to the Prime Athenium. This afternoon, they were going to the Academy to speak to the Seeker cell here, to try and gauge the usefulness of their existing anti-magic plans and to see if anyone there could help them refine things more. They had spent the Rebirth Cycle doing their best to plan, to prepare and Faith's brain was full. There was not really another way to say it - she felt entirely overwhelmed. But still, there were miles to go, still, before they could rest because everything was not dealt with. Everything was not taken care of and, therefore, no one was safe. So, they made their way to the Prime Athenium. They were going to collect up all the information they could - but on possibly strange things, all things considered.

Physics, lightning, obscure and random theories. Types of energy, the nature of ether, legends of Lichdom, obscure, bizarre and downright wild theories on how to detect and disrupt magic. They were here to discover the obscure, to research the almost-unknown.

Because, fundamentally, they were researching how to get an edge. They needed one, they needed every advantage they could build up and so, they were here. As they arrived at the Prime Athenium, they got themselves over to speak to the librarian. They'd written ahead and were expected, so hopefully things were arranged for them. It helped, of course, that they were both incredibly well respected academics and both Professors.That, coupled with the assurance from the highest levels of Viden government that they were being offered all help.

Thankfully, that had all been taken care of and so they were shown to a room where there were a lot of book. The librarian was clear, they'd done their best to meet the (obviously, by her demeanour, very vague) criteria the two professors had sent. Faith smiled and nodded. "Thank you. So much." Then, when the librarian exited, she turned to her husband. "Alright. So this is the strange and obscure. Tell me what I'm looking for, because it all sounds suspiciously like science to me."

They both knew, after all, how she felt about that - or so her smile seemed to say. However, one thing that she wanted to do was to go and peruse the shelves herself. Faith loved books and libraries and always had, but more than that, she knew that she had something of a talent for finding just the right bit of information quickly. "I have a feeling," she said, solemnly.

[Padraig]

"That would be the life for sure," Padraig agreed when Faith suggested an alternate life for them, smiling as she took his hand on the way to their destination. It might certainly be a welcome departure from all the madness of late. "You could be the beautiful, all knowing face at the front, and I could be the mad scientist who secrets himself away in the backroom, just him and his creations. What shall we call it?" He grinned and then added, "Yarns and Charms? It has a nice ring to it I think."

Viden was cold. Damnably cold. Always had been, though there'd been a time he used to amuse himself by watching out frosted windows as a distraction from his studies, chuckling as otherwise dignified passersby slipped and slid on patches of ice. More innocent trials, those were. Now, they were looking for anyone who could lend a hand against Ellasin. Including the Seekers. But they'd come for other reasons as well. Or at least there was other business they'd tend to before leaving. The Prime Athenium was a good place to start.

Research. They'd look into things that might not ordinarily occur to more reasonable scholars and scientists. Or if those things did, they'd probably dismiss them as wild whims born in the pre-dawn breaks, three trials into a cramming session for an upcoming exam. But again, all the help they could get, and they weren't facing any ordinary challenge. Conventional measures wouldn't be enough. So Padraig thanked the librarian once they were shown the way to the best place to look, then turned to Faith with a smile. "There's certainly no lack of material here. We just have to find the right thing."

So she had a feeling? It was a science all on it's own, Padraig thought. If an obscure one. The senses, feelings and thoughts of women. The great mystery that oughtn't be questioned. "Good enough for me," he teased and then turned to a section of shelves to browse through the titles. "You know, I've been doing a lot of thinking about traps lately. But it's not enough is it? Just to trap her. Then you have to either destroy her. Or...." he frowned and paused while trying to find a way to word it. "Store her. Keep her locked away. And I've wondered what her defenses might be against particular types of energy."

Like static...but a constant, controlled stream of it, he tried to explain. The type that lightening produced, or..."The tower we visited. The long carriage ride?" he reminded Faith. "Something that could generate and store it's own source of energy. And emit it too. Some sort of gadget, combined with alchemy maybe. Either it might produce and store energy by mechanical means, or alchemical, or both?" He realized that what he was saying might be hard to follow. So he paused again and retried it. "What if we had a box. Like a beacon. Something that with the use of energy attuned to Ellasin or what she wants, we could draw her in and trap her before she realized what was happening. You could either destroy her then, or store everything that is her, indefinitely."

And what did she want? Well, she wanted Faith. Or something to do with Faith. But that didn't mean that they needed, or would used Faith as bait. He'd never consider or agree to it. But some of her essence? Enough to trick Ellasin and make her believe that her quarry was there for the taking? That might just work.

[Linika]

Conspicuous or not, Linika was all for making use of any special items she received in the course of her operations for the Intelligence Authority. In this case it was a "Y"-shaped branch of some oddly pale, white wood. It was very similar to the sort of backwood medicine-man sort of dowsing rod used to locate water beneath the surface of the ground.

In Linika's case though, it sought a source of knowledge, not water. And in true keeping with the City of Knowledge, and its Immortal of intelligence, the rod shimmered with light blue veins as it directed the wielder toward something that could help them find the knowledge they sought. It was part of the numerous rewards she had received for helping to locate a pair of escaped orphans some time ago.

The blue streaks were all-too reminiscent of the mark Linika bore; the mark of Yvithia, the Xypha blessing. In Linika's case, though, it needed to be kept hidden, though the lit marks on the rod did help reduce the odds of anyone noticing the effect on her face.That detail was now in addition to a slight, but overall blue tint to her otherwise naerikk complexion. She had died and been resurrected to an even greater degree of loyalty now than the on-again-off-again attitude she had struggled with.

The mark had originally been considerably less than welcome to the naerikk. But the appeal of being such a singularly unique individual had eventually worn away her resistance. The additional motivation of her original Matron Immortal, Audrae, trying to kill her as a traitor without having ever tried to hear her side; coupled with the remarkable abilities Yvithia's mark had granted her, had made the Ice Queen's risky decision to resurrect her bring genuine loyalty to the heart of her very first naerikk devotee.

Linika had seen up close the lines of stress that had formed on the flesh of her new queen, and had realized what it had cost Yvithia to do her this miracle. Still, she had to maintain a facade of animosity, because the greatest purpose of her condition was as a spy for Yvithia. None would ever believe a naerikk could be a servant of Yvithia! It was absurd! So those of an insurrectionist leaning would often seek an ally in the hated resident naer. Most were now in custody, or being used as bait for bigger fish. Linika took genuine pride in her effectiveness in this capacity. And it largely hinged on playing the part of a provocative, belligerent,trouble-maker, something that admittedly came quite easy to her.

But now, in the Viden library, she had used what she knew of cosmetics to add some gray to her hair, before coiffing it, and actually emphasize the blue tint to make her look like a fairly elderly eidisi. She had darkened it more than what she wanted initially, to get the Xypha mark to blend in with the epidermal background; then lightened it consistently, even going so far as to adjust her legs and arms as well. It was fine to play the part of an eidisi, but she really did not want her mark to show.it would draw attention. And even if she fooled people with her disguise, attention was never desirable to a spy.

Surprisingly, the "dowsing rod" was not pulling toward any shelved books. There were enough on the many study tables for the rod to be pulling toward one of them though. But as she drew near, she saw an almost unanimous labelling of the books that appeared to be the target of the rod, and none of them looked to be of interest to what she was looking for. They were all bizarre theoretical science and domain studies and reference materials. Linika was here to study insights into animal studies, particularly bird behavior and the means to affect it.

There was a couple seated at the table, the man facing her direction, but not looking at her. The woman facing him had an oddly familiar...something...about her. Rather than go right up to her, Linika opened herself up to the Telesthetic Boon, an ability granted by Xypha to hear the thoughts of those around you. She had experimented in the library before, and had found it one of the places where she could endure it the longest. She'd assumed it was the temperament of those in the library that made the surge of thought streams less emotional and aggressive; a bunch of book worms memorizing the findings of those book worms that came before them. 'Real manic stuff, that' she snickered inwardly.

Ironically, it was her own emotions that surged with the stream emanating from the man at the table. Several references to 'Faith', along with hints of Scalvoris and home and wife and protection; and her echoes of similar feelings, adjusted only by the insertions of 'Padraig' and 'husband'. In the surprise of the moment, she did not notice that the rod no longer showed any blue streaks, something which meant the source of information had been found.

Linika was almost giddy! She knew who these people were. Faith had returned to Viden! She rushed to join them, but noted the sudden lock of Padraig's gaze on what was surely her excited approach. 'Fool' she scolded herself, 'Hadn't he just been concerned about her protection, and here you go, charging in like an attacker!' She skidded to a stop, raising her hands in as disarming a fashion as she could.

"I'm sorry. Forgive me. But Faith, is that you? I can hardly believe it." She adjusted her approach more toward the other end of the table, to accommodate any sense of hazard that her husband may still be harboring, 'What are you doing in Viden? May I sit down? You must be Padraig." There were times she wished her face a had a more naturally friendly lean to it.

[Faith Augustin]

2nd Ymiden, 719t

Yarns and Charms? Faith looked at him and a sudden smile lit her face. "Oh, that's a good name. That's a good name! I'll bring the yarn, you bring the charm." Briefly resting her head against his shoulder she considered how, even in the midst of all this chaos, he made her happy. They made their way into the Prime Athenium and they continued their consideration of the alternative lifestyle offered by a shop. Faith couldn't resist a smile at him as they thought about it. Would they grow bored, she wondered, the two of them in a small space, just pottering around together? She already knew the answer, of course. They were where they were (in a general sense, not in terms of the crazy Lich trying to kill them) because of their choices, but wherever they ended up together, her and him, they would be content. So long as he had gadgets to gaze at the stars with, and she had people to fuss over, they'd be fine.

She asked him about what they were actually looking for and Padraig told her. Or, more specifically, he used words and she was quite sure that they were real words, proper ones. Faith looked at him and nodded where she thought she was supposed to, shook her head where that seemed most appropriate. After all, she was working on mostly guesswork here because he certainly wasn't making any sense, as far as she could see. But, as he always would, he tried again and Faith frowned slightly. "Alright. I think I understand. Like.. a magnet which attracts her and traps her all in one? Like a .. phylactory trap?" Faith wished that she could begin to understand his mind, but his particular branch of science was always going to be well beyond her, she knew. Still, that's what they had him for. She grinned slightly, "Really, I'm just a cook, you know. In my heart, I just bake pies." Faith knew what he was thinking when it came to her being bait - they didn't need to have the discussion because they literally knew each other's thoughts. He was wrong, of course, but if things had been the other way around she'd have felt just the same, so she couldn't criticise him.

She was about to tell him that, but then a familiar ~ although changed ~ face appeared and Faith's own expression lit in a smile. "Linika!" There was no doubting her delight at seeing the Naerrick ~ Faith's emotions were as easily accessible to Padraig as her thoughts were and the delight was genuine. Glancing at Padraig, she smiled. "I told you about Linika, you recall?" She had indeed told him how Linika had helped her when he was lost on the first expedition. Faith had been frantic, and she had come here to Viden to find out what she could; Linika had been inordinately helpful, had introduced Faith to an old pirate who had told her some of the tales of how people had literally seemed to move across the world when sailing in certain places.

"It's so good to see you. I'm a bit thinner than last time," Faith grinned. "Twins. Please, join us. We're.. well." Faith rolled her eyes slightly. "We're tracking down a lich and her world-wide organisation of necromancers. She attacked our home." With a gesture to the books, she spoke softly. "They prepared all this for us in advance. Padraig is a physicist, and has some very clever ideas which I only half understand," It was entirely true that. "So I was going to go and ... Linika, why are you holding a pointy stick?"

She had to admit it, it rather stole her attention. But she grinned at the woman. "How are you? You're looking well." Of course, Padraig and Linika both bore the Xypha mark, so they had that in common. But she genuinely thought that her husband would like the Naerrik woman. She was interesting and Padraig did enjoy interesting people. "How are you?"

[Padraig]

He might as well have been talking nonsense. Padraig knew it and grinned a little when Faith nodded in the appropriate places. She was very good at it. She'd gotten a lot of practice since they'd first met, when he talked of physics and tended to forget that it wasn't her area of focus. But then he did something very similar, he knew, when she spoke of the ins and outs of medicine. They got along famously that way, he thought.

"Yes," he responded when she ventured a guess. "Sort of like a flytrap but with a lot more magnetism than the plant." Electromagnetism, that was, in reference to the static that either came from the sky in great bolts, up from the carpet when you dragged your feet across it in winter...Or even the kind that could be produced, focused and or stored by some engineered mechanism. Even weaponized, he thought. A stray bolt of lightening was certainly deadly. One much smaller but more focused, controlled and in the right hands could be equally so.

Then he glanced over Faith's shoulder and raised a brow. "Head's up. There's a blue woman behind you with what looks like a divining rod," he whispered, but dryly. Something told him that the strange woman wasn't necessarily a threat. Still, "but a blue arcing divining rod." Naturally, he'd think just a trill later. Faith knew the woman. "It's nice to meet you Linika." Once Faith told Linika why they were there, he nodded and added, "In particular, I'm looking for references to energy...Lightening, or the static you feel in the air during a storm. Ways in which it might be recreated, manipulated and stored," he said.

"Also, other types of energy. Ether. Legends about Lichdom, or any sort of theories, no matter how bizarre, on how to detect and disrupt magic," Padraig added at the last.

[Linika]

"Twins!? Fates' Focus, that's marvelous, Faith." for a moment, she thought of asking if having the hardship of a single baby doubled was actually something she was delighted about. But there was no hint of displeasure in any aspect of either parent's behavior. She alternated, for a few conversational exchanges, between bubbly girl talk of everything cute and sweet about babies, and grimacing comically in confused response to Padraig's scientific contributions.

The train of interests he mentioned rolled across a couple of dark tracks at just about the same time that Faith relayed what had happened with the attack on their home. All giggly demeanor was cast aside now as Linika's brow furrowed angrily in response to anything so obviously a threat to someone she considered one of her few friends in this world.

She was near to asking exactly what a "physicist" was, thinking at first that it must have to do with physical training, and feeling that to be the way to deal with an attacker. But the mental echo of a few more of the man's terms brought back a far more sinister realization to her understanding of why they were in Viden's extensive library. She was looking over some of the titles of the books arrayed before them when Faith asked her about the dowsing rod.

It did not register immediately in the face of the darker subject matter being bandied about, and Linika was actually rather embarrassed to have the rod with her. She was about to dismiss it as nothing, but as Faith asked her how she was, it struck the naer that the rod was no longer sparkling with the silver veins. It had stopped the moment she'd sat with them.

Not quite answering the small talk question posed, she held it up. "Well now, that's curious..." She realized she'd gotten a bit self absorbed and offered up an explanation. "I'm sorry, I am fine, if a bit distracted...No, this is something I picked up for services rendered here a few seasons ago. In a sense, it's a divining rod, a dowsing rod. But it does not track the location of water." She smiled crookedly, "...with all this ice around..." she didn't bother finishing.

"No, in fact, you hold it like a dowsing rod - those two ends, one in each hand - and ask it where you can find whatever it is you need, and then when you get within, oh, probably ten yards or so of a source of information that can help, it will tug and direct you to that source."

A painfully embarrassed look crossed her face now. "Uhh...I had asked for some information about something and had come into the library figuring to find a book. But..uhh...I don't know if you noticed, but it was sparkling with silver markings right up until I sat down. When it stops, it means you have located the source."

She couldn't tell if either of them were putting two and two together yet or not, so she dropped the other shoe. "It seems as if one or both of you have the information I was looking for. Otherwise, It would be still be sparkling and tugging my hand somewhere else. Uhh....I was looking for information on how to learn to ride a flying mount...without...well...killing myself in the process. Do you actually have such information?"

Another bout of embarrassment surged across her face and she offered her disclaimer rapidly, "It's nothing I need right now or anything. It certainly doesn't compare to what you guys are here for. In fact, maybe I can help. Now that it's cleared it's last task, I can assign a new one." She picked the rod back up again, holding it in both hands as she'd shown, "Lead me to information on how to defeat a lich."

She looked back at them as the rod immediately sparked to silvery life and began twitching. "It seems as if it's already accounting for the books you have here. I think that's because I knew about them already. I'll take a quick look around with the rod to see if there's any you missed."

[Faith Augustin]

2nd Ymiden, 719

When Linika said what the rod was, Faith raised an eyebrow. "That's a useful little trinket," she said with a smile. But then, it transpired that Linika was looking for information on how to fly, and Faith smiled. "I have a pegasus, who is both kind and gentle and I'd be happy to help you," she offered immediately and without hesitation. She'd have to admit to a moment of 'maybe not right now', but she figured that Linika probably knew that. Especially after they'd had a conversation about what was going on - but the fundamental was definitely there - Faith would help and happily so. Linika acknowledged the time problem and Faith smiled. "It will be my pleasure, really." It would be a good chance to practice more herself, too. Certainly, it would be nice to do so with a friend.

When Linika said that she'd assign the rod a new task and did so, Faith smiled in pleasure. "Thank you, Linika, that's great!" She glanced at Padraig and smiled. "We'll find our flytrap yet, eh?" She smiled softly and slipped her hand into his as Lineka went off with the rod. She was quiet for a moment, and then she spoke softly to her husband. "I know you worry," she said, silver eyes lifting to him. "And I know that I shouldn't have done what I did with Nir'wei yestertrial. I know that." She looked down for a brief few trill and then added, "and we both know that, in the same circumstances, I'd do it again if I was living yesterday over again. But since I'm not doing that, I have learned, and I will not behave in such a reckless fashion again." Once more, she lifted her head and was about to say something when there was a sound from where Linika had gone. It was obviously the sound of a struggle, and Faith didn't say any more, simply stood.

But, perhaps she had learned something, as she'd said. Although she stood, and her hand dropped to the sword which was always there, Faith didn't charge forward to Lineka - instead she waited until Padraig moved and she stayed close to him as she did.

The man who had been spying on them, meanwhile, was caught short when Lineka rounded the corner. With a curse, he realised that he had to get out of here and quickly if the Augustins weren't going to be warned or, worse still, if he wasn't going to get caught. He was a tall and well-built man - observing, noting, everything, even tiny details were written in his small notebook. But there, he was cornered and caught off guard and his low growling curse was the only moment of inaction he allowed himself as he assessed his situation.

His response was clear. He toppled over the shelves he was standing next to - hiding behind - and they began to fall, books spilling out of them. Of course, they'd be landing on Lineka if she didn't do something about it, and quickly. It was that scene which first Padraig, then Faith saw unfolding.

[Linika]

The "dowsing rod" she carried seemed at first to mislead her. But many discoveries come entirely by accident and luck. Cramped somewhat for space, the aisles were thin and the shelves had no centerboard; the books meeting each other at the middle from both sides when returned to their spaces.

The naer turned down an aisle, feeling a soft tug to the left and taking the first available turn. She realized quickly that she should have gone one aisle further when the rod tugged sharply to her right at a point where there was just an empty space on the shelf. She could see that the books were removed from both sides at that point, leaving an opening completely through both sides.

Chalking it up to coincidence, she went to the end of the aisle and turned to the right, expecting to see another shelf where the rod would direct her to a spot corresponding to the tug it had given a moment ago. But instead, there were a few tables and chairs set up for research or study. She let the rod lead and felt the pull now to her left, as expected.

Beyond the sitting area were more shelves and she assumed this would be where the rod would direct her. But as she started to pass by the tables the rod centered its pull on one of them, not on any shelves. She looked in the general direction and saw a man avert his eyes quickly. The rod suddenly released its pull and went slack. This told her that she had found what she was looking for. Yet she had not focused on any particular book. 'Could it have been the man?'

Trying to be nonchalant, she eased her way in his direction and marked the number system from the spot where the books were missing. She looked over at the books stacked in front of the suspicious man. They were not only the appropriate numbers for that spot, but there were numerous copies of the same volumes. She frowned, wondering why he would take multiple copies of the same book.

She checked closer and it all hit her at once. He had taken them not for any reading concerns, he simply needed to remove all the books from that spot, and on both sides. This would naturally result in him surely ending up with some duplicates stacked before him. And she could see the reason as well. As she crouched slightly, she could see that angle from where he sat, through the gap he'd created in the shelved books, allowed him a spying access to where Faith and her husband sat. The man was spying on Faith!

She shot a mental Xypha alert in their direction and then turned to verify the visual trajectory, and saw that he was a step ahead of her. Several steps actually, and had a knife in his hand already beginning its slash toward her. All she could do was grab one of the books and try to parry the incoming strike. Whether by his own bad luck, her good luck, or some divine intervention, the caught the blade as it sank into the pages of the book.

She had grabbed it by the spine and swung it as if to grab the blade with her hand, resulting in the knife being caught in the center of the mass of pages, but not cutting through to injure her hand. Surprise mirrored itself on both faces. Then inspiration and training took over and Linika was just that half trill faster to respond. Dropping the rod, she leaned toward the man to negate his attempt to pull the blade free, and at the same time clutched the other side of the book with her other hand.

With the knife blade lodged firmly inside, she was able to overpower his one arm with her two, and threw the book and knife into the shelf behind her. But he was no fool. He knew that the gig was up and he also knew enough about using your environment against your enemy. He slammed Linika into the shelf hard enough to rock it slightly backwards. But the real goal was on the rock back forward. The momentum added just the slight bit of inertia he needed to tumble the entire thing forward on top on his enemy.

Linika knew it was too heavy to stop, so she did the only thing she could; she dove forward under a table, which took the bulk of the impact. One or two of the legs broke, allowing the shelving unit to fall a bit further where the seats of a pair of chairs then took up the support. In the meantime, Linika was buried under numerous studies of comparative estimates of the value of irrigation systems and other agricultural concerns, as well as editorials regarding their costs when subsidized by foreign governments in exchange for various trade rate reductions on materials unavailable in their own regions, all of which were listed in alphabetical order.

With so much weighty material piled on top of her, and the shelving unit itself holding the chairs in place, it was some time before she snaked her way through the legs and pulled herself out from under it.

[Padraig]

The blue woman was right, even though she didn't so much as say it out loud. Probably not much need for a witching wand when there was water in abundance all around them. Be it in it's frozen state or not. "Well that's infinitely more interesting," Padraig remarked when told what the thing actually did. "More useful too." But what she said next...Were Faith and himself the sources of something? Interesting to say the least and he smiled curiously.

Ah. Information then. "I'm not sure how much knowledge I have to offer on the topic," he said when Linika mentioned the owls. "There seems to be an awful lot that relies on the connection between owl and rider," he supposed. A mental link, that was. "But for the most part, my riding expertise is limited to...hang on for your life, don't look down." Liches however, were definitely a part of Faith's wheelhouse, and not his. "I worry for good reason," he reminded Faith when Linika wandered off briefly, and they were left on their own. But if he scolded her, he did it lovingly.

"I know how important Nir'wei was to you. I know you would have done anything to save him. I love you for it. But I think you'd do the same for anyone, any time, and I worry. Again, for good reason." For all the good that it did him. Faith was who she was. Which was why he loved her so madly. He wouldn't change her. Which meant that at some point in the future near or far, he'd have to run after her again. The sounds of struggle however cut the interaction short, and putting himself between Faith, and it, he let a hand hover round his sword, but didn't draw it as the moved to investigate.

They'd been watched, spied on, and the guilty party was cornered. "I don't think you want to do that," he warned quietly when he sensed the man might try and rush past them in a bid to escape. Padraig might be a scholar by trade and by nature. But on the other hand, he was no slouch with a blade and his confidence seemed to be enough to slow the man down. Or so Padraig had thought before the shelves started to topple. Reaching out, he took hold of Faith's shoulder to move her out of harm's way, and then he closed in on the would be escapee.

Linika was in harm's way, but thankfully saved by the unbendable nature of shelves, tables and chairs, and Padraig made use of the mess, and the distraction, but leaping in and grabbing hold of whatever he could. First the man's foot, then his trouser cuff, then his leg. And then he used his own weight as leverage, to hold down and subdue the man. If necessary, a blow to the jaw might be in order. "What are you doing here," he demanded. "Why were you watching us and who sent you?" The way things had been going lately, only one culprit immediately sprung to mind.

Then he stood and yanked the man to his feet, who at that point seemed more interested in talking, than not. Padraig wasn't arrogant enough to think that it was only him that the man was intimidated by. Though he might like to think it was so. But there it was. There was a Coven base in Viden. "That's not much of a surprise," he said, knowing that Faith would have heard as well. "Something more useful?" and he twisted the collar of the man's shirt tighter in his fist. Then sniffed the air curiously.

With one hand he kept hold, and he raised the other hand to his nose. "Brine," he said, more to Faith than anyone. "Not just salt." But the sort of thing that fishermen and their wives near the docks used to keep and preserve their catch. "This one's been hanging round the docks, or a fishmonger's market row or stall. Quite a lot, in fact," he said.

[Pig Boy]

Thus a melee broke out in the middle of the Prime Athenium. Linika managed to dodge the falling bookcase, as it topped over and proceeded to dominio against each and every bookcase in it's path. Luckily or not, this exact predicament had seemed to be preempted by the positioning of pillars along the aisles of bookcases, and with a resounding thud the large case crashed against that pillar. The large structures held up well all things considered. But now Linika was covered in study materials.

Yet the man had given her the slip in the chaos, and thus was on his way to leave when Padraig intercepted him, jumping over the fallen piles of books and various study materials to collar the bastard.

They tumbled end over end between the two of him, but it wasn't long before Padraig got the upper hand, busting his jaw and twisting his neck to get a few choice words out of the spy.

The man twisted in Padraig's hold, but was unable to remove himself.

As he interrogated the man, a library attendant happened by, and scowled in their direction, "Shh! No running in the Athenium - and - what in Yvithia's gaze has gone on here!? Out! Out all of you!"

The man smirked at Padraig, until another twist of his neck swept all mirthful thought from his mind.

"You filth." He spat at Padraig, "You'll never find the coven. We..." He began to say, then he noticed faith approaching from the side, and gulped.

!	Message from: Pig Boy
	Faith's turn. I'll modnote your post where you finish the interrogation, Faith, and then you all can proceed to follow the lead in turns. At which point I may intercede once more.