Sightseeing for the New Recruit

[Murazar Dauthi]

The small stryker convoy was approaching the Ebon Citadel fairly quick by road as they bypassed the checkpoints with little more than an electronic identification pass and verbal passwords given by the drivers. Murazar looked over to Ayden and grinned for a moment before speaking and pointing at the empty and closed gunners hatch. He knew just how close they were to the immense and great citadel he had created.

” Go ahead and take a peek through the gunners hatch. The guns on lockdown so there’s no worry of setting it off. “ He paused waiting for Ayden to open it up and take a peek before saying ominously.” Welcome to the Ebon Citadel, Mr. Derocha.” He remembered the mans name now too from his previous intelligence summaries and reports.

And this is what he saw…

[Guest]

They'd made a stop at his 'home' to pick up a few essentials. It was surprising to see how the place had deteriorated into naught but a dingy warehouse. The bed had a fair few termites surrounding each legs, so in reality, he felt fairly happy to be leaving. He grabbed, mainly, a second gun for his second belt - engraved with transmutation circles - some clothes, and a collection of his research. Mura had told him he wouldn't need anything else.

Other than that, the ride wasn't particularly eventful. Ayden sat in awe at the level of technology Murazar's men possessed. Carbine rifles. Kevlar body armour. And the best of all, shiny black pistols. It was as if he had died and was on the way to gun nut heaven.

Upon his new boss' command, Ayden lifted the gunner hatch and peeked through. What he saw... was not just beauty. It was not just a castle. It wasn't even just a marvel of a building. It was the pinnacle of true modern architecture, yet blending with a style so ancient and so foreign to him it was both stunningly rich in cultural appearance and familiar at the same time... and it looked so evil. Tower upon tower upon tower, a dark sky setting over it... a perfect, beautiful scene. Ayden wanted to capture it somehow, frame it in the largest picture possible and use it to adorn the new room he had in this true beauty. The very level of everything colliding into place at once... this was where he was living. His new home.

It was incredible.

"Welcome to the Ebon Citadel, Mr. Derocha."

"..." No words came from his mouth. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Naught. He didn't speak, at all, which was rare for him. He was enthralled by the beauty of how everything just worked so well. He felt like... well, there was no way to describe it. It was an undefined feeling of ecstasy, as if both his head has spinning in its own world yet connected to its gut as butterflies fluttered around inside it. And Ayden loved it.

The Stryker lurched to a stop. Murazar's words echoed in his head once more, the unmistakable awe-striking gravity of them simply... insane. All personality had been shut out; only feeling was left.

And suddenly, as he turned his head back, his body only just moving of his own free will, both hands quivering, his knees almost bashing together in anticipation and he bore the appearance of a true fangirl meeting her wildest dreams... Ayden shut the gunner hatch and spoke, staring straight into Murazar's eyes.

"B-best business offer ever."

[Murazar Dauthi]

Murazar loved how he had built his Citadel as if it was an ancient castle he had just found and improved on. Instead it was completely from scratch, it was like seeing something so insanely enormous and old, but in a brand new kind of sense. As soon as he got a speechless remark of silence out of him he smiled to himself. Especially as Ayden crept down from the gunners hatch and shut it. He heard the stuttered offer and smiled, he motioned for the vehicle to stop for a moment and open the hatch.

”If you want we can walk the short way and let my men get your things to your room in a delicate and careful fashion. I can give you a tour of the Citadel, both in and out. If you want a picture or portrait feel free we have some inside, after all I like to remember what I built with my money and hands... Your choice.”

He guessed that the walking distance was only half a mile or so from where they were until they reached one of the many spider-webbed underground tunnels that would automatically take them to the center with a specific set of commands he knew. Most people only knew the select few commands. He had the master commands that only worked with him. He after all always had to hold all the cards, or else he would be at a disadvantage no?

[Guest]

A... tour? That sounded good. The man managed to regain his composure as the back hatch lowered, and the men began to file out. The short way? Ayden nodded, feeling the breeze fill the entire compartment from the very much different, foreign atmosphere. He'd never been to Briggs before. And it was August.

He nodded, shivering and trying his best to keep his cool. Heh. Cool. Either way, he didn't want to make an idiot out of himself in front of his new boss. The man had probably already gotten a huge ego-boost from seeing a new Field Commander totally enthralled with his base of operations. Either way, it was probably best to go along with it and help strengthen their relationship over him joining. The man appeared to see something in him others didn't... perhaps it was his level of skill. Perhaps his dedication. Perhaps he thought the craziness would, in time, become equivalent to suicidal loyalty.

Ayden shrugged. If it was the last of the three, Murazar was certainly wrong. He was loyal only to money and science, his only partners in this oddly pathetic game involving both his lives and those of numerous others. The Black Company would be just a fleeting acquaintance. Ayden promised himself that, until the terms changed, and he owed them something. He really owed Mura anyway for this offer... somewhere to stay, the pay, the armoury... it was... oddly generous... hm. Perhaps he'd stay longer than he initially thought he would.

Perhaps.

Anyway. An answer. Murazar needed one. Ayden got to his feet and cracked his neck from right to left, removing his left glove and triggering the transmutation circle on his palm - another new tattoo - before clamping it over his right hand. He felt his blood pressure crackle and slow... and slow... his heart rate, too... with a grin, he realised this was the first time he'd used it with reverse effects. Seemed it wasn't as fatal as he'd thought it could be.

The tiny hydrogen explosions had sent a surge of warmth through each arm, his torso, and even gave him a fuzzy hotness surrounding his throat. It was... strange. Foreign. But yet... welcome. Somehow. Slowly, he answered.

"Yeah. That sounds good. I need to get acquainted with this place, anyway."

[Murazar Dauthi]

He looked back over to Ayden, the man seemed to use his alchemy to warm himself. Murazar on the other hand was dressed the same as he was in central. He seemed immune to the cold, it wasn't that even though it seemed otherwise. Murazar blanked out his mind, threw everything in his mind into a fire and sucked it into a void which left him blank. He had perfect concentration that was rarely breakable. He called it Ko'Di, it was a old trick his father had taught him on how to keep working in a mine for so long with tiring out too soon.

He nodded to Ayden his expressionless face going slack as he left a hand lazily on his sword. It was the kind of lazy that got men killed or made you tired, it was a sort of laziness like he knew how to use his weapon, was unconcerned with death in its entirety, and it seemed lethal. Like he could easily revert into a killing mode and start hacking away if it was necessary. He replied to Ayden, his voice like the chilly winds of the Ebon Citadel and the Briggs mountain range.

" Very well, let us begin this way." He turned around and started to walk as if to fall off the mountain road and instead he seemed to be taking what looked like if you walked over and saw steps carved out of the very mountainside. He spoke to Ayden," As soon as we find the Annalist, your direct superior i'll hand you over to him so he can tell you whatever you need to know and get you settled in. Once you see what he is...Capable of, you may have curiositys or second-thoughts. Everyone has one or the other the first time."

The slightly none too subtle pause at "what he is" seemed to bespeak Chimera, however it was obvious from how Murazar spoke that was not the case...

[Guest]

Ayden blinked at the pause. The Annalist... hm... what was he? Murazar had so far been incredibly tactical in his diverging of information... but he had been none-too-subtle in his pauses in the last speech, and Ayden... well, Ayden had a knack for breaking down how people spoke, analysing it, and so far, he'd been impressed with his new boss... but... but...

Ah. Fuck it. Not worth dwelling on now.

The temporary warmth provided by his manipulation of his blood's chemical make-up vanished somewhat quickly, and continued along with Murazar up the stone-carved steps, still somewhat astounded by just how beautiful this thing was. How had he afforded to make it? If it wasn't made, how much did it cost? He couldn't believe this was a pre-made house, it suited the man too much.

He looked up at the snowflakes idly flailing through the breeze, and rubbed the back of his head once more. He pondered perhaps saying something but... no. He just admired the craftsmanship, shivered a little, and tried not to burst out with anything random. He did, however, gently ease the hammers of Fleshbane and Soulshredder back; not so much for Murazar and his men, but more for the threat of the assorted Briggs fauna...

[Guest]

{BUMP}

[Xan]

Of course, the one fact about finding a spymaster is this; unless he wants to be found first, he will make it a habit of finding you. And this one was no different, unless one were to count certain 'advantages' that he might have been able to claim beyond being an able intelligence operative and master of stealth. Soon after Murazar had finished speaking, a man made his presence clear to both of the two men who were currently traveling up the great steps that led to the Ebon Citadel proper.

Xanthus Icarus was relaxing upon a step only a few steps up from where Murazar and Ayden were when he was mentioned. How he had gotten there would more than likely be a mystery to one, and more likely than not a question already answered to the other. To the latter Xanthus nodded before rising slowly.

"Hello my brother!" The Ishvallan spoke first in his own native language to Murazar, this one being obviously the more personal of greetings that he used in his friends' presence. However, for the sake of solemnity, he afterwords switched to Amestrian and addressed Murazar again, more formerly this time.

"Greetings, Lord Captain Commander. I believe that my presence was subtly requested? And also greetings to you Shadar Shan, it is good to see that you made it to the Ebon Citadel."

The Ishvallan seemed to be in no hurry and waited for Murazar and Ayden to reach his step before continuing.

[Guest]

{BUMP}

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