It seems that whenever the Lowers get the most attention is when bodies start piling up. Yet there's something particular to the deaths this time, enough to warrant the interest of various individuals. They gather, coming individually or in groups, before what has been described as the source, or at the very least the first place a body was found. A run-down stone building, rather large for the Lowers with its multiple floors, yet hidden from sight by the peculiar nature of the Lowers' layout. One can see one main door of wood, currently closed, and multiple windows, most of them boarded up. The building itself is separated from the sea of shacks and other constructions by a small empty space, almost a courtyard, were this in the noble wards. The area is oddly quiet, with no passer-by to be seen, though the piles of refuse and the lines upon which clothes have been left to dry clearly indicate that this is no abandoned area. Odd... but no dead bodies left in the street to be found by our would-be investigators. Yet.

The Mercies have been receiving troubling reports. At first, it looks like a plague, the dead being found in more and more neighborhoods. When the bodies have been brought in and autopsies made, though, they've revealed not disease, but traces of Abyssal taint similar to those found upon individuals who had consumed tainted Dust. With the risk of another outbreak, and the bad Dust having already spread beyond the Lower Boroughs, the Mother Mercy of Arx has decided to investigate to see what, if anything, may be done. So it is that Princess Sophie Valardin and her armed escort make their way to what seems to be the origin point of it all: a stone building among a sea of shacks in the midst of the Lowers.

New city, new things, new people, new problems....Enyo might be one of those that probably should not stick her nose into everything she can, however...that just wouldn't be her. So she has made her way down to this stone building, looking perhaps a little too excited to be on the hunt for causes and things for most people's comfort.

Calista will claim she learned about the strange occurrence first and maybe it was truly Inigo who told her about the bodies in the Lowers. She will never admit that he came up with the idea to go and investigate. That is her domain, isn't it? They both have a love of the macabre about them and so it is a no brainer they are here, together. A successful conversation with Mae solidified their plans and they are ready to follow the trail that will hopefully uncover some important information. It has nothing to do with the fact that the Lyceum would care about whether Dust was tainted or not. Nothing at all. Then again, it might as the substance is not technically illegal in the Southern-City states and the welfare and well-being of their people is paramount.

Mae's here. Cause Mae keeps track of her Borough. Cause Mae knows there's /no more tainted dust/! None! Dang it! Even if that is the rumor. Suffice to say, she's looking a little annoyed. And she's surely looking more business-like than normal. No rainbow clothes, no jingle boots, just a shimmery, shadowy-dark cloak, hood up. There's also the fact that she's got word that /nobles/ are supposed to be here. It's lead to a particularly /grim/ Mae. "Sophie?!" she hisses out, as she spots the woman. "Oh, geez..." she murmurs, before she looks around once more. And then Calista and Inigo. It's not until she sees Enyo arriving that she looks a touch relieved. "Thank the gods..."

Inigo raises a wary eyebrow at the stone structure as they approach, his hand tensing almost imperceptibly on the hilt of the longs word belted at his side. Regardless of who?s idea it was, his primary goal is her safety and he is grimly determined to see that through. A faint hint at his usual humor is seen when he spies Mae, Sophie, and his sister gathered about. ?Nice day for a bit of a mystery, eh?? a small grin cracking his lips.

"Beautiful." comes the sarcastic drawl of Freja, appearing in the vexing custom that scouts all seem to have - out of nowhere. In the scouting leathers of Northern influence, a nudge given to the Queen of Endings amid its runes, she towers over a good many of the throng gathered. What had brought her here isn't explicitly shared, but a hint is given perhaps in the shamanistic woads in deep crimson that cover her visible skin. The bear headdress should be indicative also of what capacity she is here this evening.

Yes, Sophie. Let it not be said that the Mother Mercy of Arx is afraid to go to the front lines, whether on the battlefield to retrieve the wounded, or deep into the Lower Borough (thanks, Knights of Solace!) to tend to the sick and infirm. Perhaps because THIS is Mae's Borough (it's during one of her trips to heal the poor that Sophie first met the messenger years ago), the Princess is unsurprised to see her now. "Mae!" she brightly greets, so happy to see her pal that she doesn't immediately catch the hiss or the grimness. Give her a moment. "Are you okay?" Leave it to the Mercy to be showing concern. A moment more, and her eyes are following Mae's to spot the other arrivals. Indeed, she seems a bit perplexed to see so much nobility, but she's nonetheless cordial. "Hello."

Spotting her brother and sister-in-law causes Enyo to lift her hand up, finger-wiggling towards them in a quick greeting before she then shares that finger-wiggle with Mae. She then glances around, then towards the building, then back around before she takes a step towards it, "Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm dying to figure it all out, so..."

The building is met with a wary eye. Despite the Fidante's composure, the place is eerie. Calista wrinkles her nose while her eyes sweep around the vicinity just to see if she spots anything peculiar...well, more peculiar. "Princess Sophie, it has been quite some time since we've run into one another. I believe that may be my fault." It's certainly not fancy meeting anyone here but Calista seems relieved to see the Sister of Mercy in the fold. "This is my husband, Duke Inigo Fidante and.." out of the corner of her eye she spots Enyo and Freja. "his sister, Lady Enyo." A curious look has the Duchess giving her sister-in-law a look over. "It is good to see you again, Lady Enyo. Marquessa Freja, you, too. This has certainly become a party then?" It's rhetorical.

Mae flashes a tight smile to Sophie, and then she's eyeing the building. It only takes a moment before she's chewing at her lower lip. Something is /wrong/. Something more than just the presence of nobles in the Lowers. "S'wrong..." Mae whispers, seemingly to herself. "It's all wrong. This..." She looks left, then right, up and down and around the building. "Wasn't here... I've never seen this building before," she mutters, obviously troubled. Mae starts forward, towards Enyo, stepping right beside the other woman. "Hopefully you got your word...?" she asks. And then Mae's reaching into her own bag, looking for... well. Soemthing!

Freja looks warily at the building, tightening her jaw as her eyes rove between each of them. "They're loud. Have been for a few days now, but keep whispering." She shifts her weight from hip to hip, so normally poised for those that know her but now restless. Fidgeting. "Right, Marquessa Freja Nightgold, nee Redrain." Propriety is suddenly remember, albeit succintly as her attention shifts back to the door and then any windows. Mae's comment has the Northerner's head snapping in her direction, "...what?"

is suddenly remembered, albeit succinctly

The Fidante Duke sighs and nods, deep sapphire eyes flashing to his wife’s face before falling in a step or two behind Enyo. Inigo can’t say he blames her for her haste, his curiosity is stoked at the strange bodies that have been appearing about the Lowers. “The Princess and I met briefly a few times before, in my early days of being in Arx.” He smiles at Sophie and gives a nod to Freja, lips pulling into a thin line at Mae’s claim. “Well that’s unsettling.”

Mae gets A foot-long stiletto in rosy-hued rubicund with a hilt in woven green silk and capped with a pommel of desireous coral in the shape of a blooming rose from a bright blue messenger bag.

Mae wields A foot-long stiletto in rosy-hued rubicund with a hilt in woven green silk and capped with a pommel of desireous coral in the shape of a blooming rose.

Freja wields Wheelspinner - the Blade of Souls.

Enyo wields Trailblazer, a rubicund rapier.

"I fear that I am equally remiss, Duchess. Let us see about remedying that in the future." A polite nod and smile to Inigo, then. "Well met, again. Congratulations to you both on your nuptials." Ah, and there is Freja. "You, as well." And now that she thinks of it, "And you," is offered to Mae. So many marriages. How lovely! With the niceties out of the way, Sophie's attention turns to the building. "It certainly seems out of place, and I likewise do not recall it." Then, another look to Freja, the talk of whispers drawing curiosity but not surprise. "What do they say, Marquessa?"

It is boldly that Enyo steps forth and takes hold of the door's bronze handle. While it is heavy, it doesn't take much effort from the young noblewoman to pull open. Past the main door lies a single corridor, with a number of doors on each side, no doubt separated in apartments. All doors are closed, though some appear more damaged than others. Probably not a site of violence, merely the effects of time and lack of maintenance one should expect from the Lowers. Even the paint has been allowed to fade, though some valiant novice seems to have tried to paint over some places with a peculiar dark copper hue. Maybe on the reddish side. It wasn't a good job.

A cant of the head to the side, eyes narrowing and then widening in a flash as Freja is drawing her sword. It is a fluid motion, from sheathe to being held at level with her hip. Stepping in behind Enyo, Freja turns her attention first and foremost to the dark copper hue with the pale hand unharmed brushing fingertips against it. "The Dead and the Spirits warn both, restless and just...a cacophony. I can't let them all in at once. They speak of a growing darkness and corruption spreading here. That is, until they were abruptly cut off -just- now." she answers Sophie.

Calista checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 14 higher.

"My sword? Oh, always." Enyo replies to Mae, flashing her a quick grin as she pulls the door open, then she peeks in through it before she starts to take a step inside. Clearly, she's willing to thrust herself into danger without a second thought for her own safety. At least if someone gets poisoned, eaten, or some other sort of terrible something, she's throwing herself onto that with glee. Once inside she looks around, half-listening to what Freja and Mae are saying, "So...."

Inigo drags his own sword from its sheathe, the diamond plate singing as it slides from the leather. He has no idea what they’ll face but it pays to be prepared.

From Mae's bag comes a stiletto dagger, all flowers and roses and pretty in a way that would be more suited for, say, a Fidante, rather than Lowers riff-raff. She steps in, as Enyo opens the door, and heads inside. There's a careful glance this way and that. "Are there really that many ghosts?" Mae asks, ever so quietly. "Shouldn't be..." she says, with a faint frown. Then Mae is eyeing those doors, squinting in the darkness. She even makes herself a bit smaller, haunched down, moving at a prowl.

Once they cross the threshold of the creepy building, Calista cautiously but curiously moves about to check out if she spots any strange markings on the doors or nearby walls. "If there's one thing I've come to learn about strange places, it's that there is usually something left behind, some sort of clue, a hint that is in plain sight. You just have to look for them." As she moves from door to door, she points out the markings. "Here, and here..." She gestures. "Carved with a knife it seems because it's deep into the grain but it seems crude, maybe?" She looks perplexed. "They seem familiar, almost divine but different. I've never seen these markings before." She points them out to the others to see if maybe they have seen them in their travels. "Anyone else see this?"

Nah. That's not the least bit ominous, Freja. Well, okay, it is, but Sophie also takes the information in stride in the manner of someone who has SEEN SOME SHIT and more than a few times. Even so, she seems vaguely disconcerted when she examines the peculiar dark copper hued paint. And she examines it for no small amount of time, engrossed enough to not even hear Calista's remark about the carvings. "It's not paint. It's dried blood. Human mixed with something else. Something paler, but I am unable to pinpoint just what."

Freja's fingers draw back from the wall and she simply shakes her head. "Blood, dried and old. All of this copper. Odd though..something's off about it. No wonder the Spirits are fleeing this place. They abhor blood, cannibalism to them..." Yes, even now she manages to fit in a minor lesson of her faith. To Mae she nods. "Yes. There -are- that many. Too many, but not here." Leave it to the Deathspeaker to be ominous.

The keen eyed former Malvici peers about them, scanning the darkened corners, constantly on the watch for anything out of the ordinary... well, anything out of the ordinary that moves at them in an aggressive manner. Inigo spares a moment to drop his blue gaze to the grisly markings. “Safe to say they’re not the friendliest of sorts, those that made them.”

Mae checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 3 lower.

"Hmm." Enyo moves over to look at what Calista is pointing at, then she nods, "I've seen that one before." She reaches out, pointing towards one that is a tree of faces, "Found it...amulet sort of thing."

Inigo checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 7 lower.

Enyo checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 8 lower.

"Would you normally be able to tell human blood apart from... Pigs blood?" Mae asks, sounding a touch puzzled, though she doesn't look up. She's walking, door to door, eyeing knobs and handles and locks. "So... this is... not abandoned. People have been coming and going," Mae murmurs out. "And some of these are unlocked... some locked... but like this one?" she's still not looking up. "Someone kicked it in," she says, with confidence. "So... so might be worth looking in. I guess."

"A tree of faces on an Amulet?" Calista turns to look at Enyo now. There's someone I know who wears an amulet of a tree. I think..." She gives her temple a little scratch as if hoping that would make her memories clearer. As the others discuss the paint that's not pain but blood, the woman wrinkles her nose again. "Wonderful." A shiver dances down her spine as if recalling something to memory. "Yes, can you tell if it's human blood versus something else?" Though Sophie said something paler. "What did you mean by 'paler', Princess? The hue or something spiritual?"

Sophie checked intellect + occult at difficulty 60, rolling 9 lower.

"This is human's blood." Freja confirms. "They're staying away from this more than they would a battlefield, so the fact -this- blood is making them so upset as opposed to that bloodshe.." She is starting to pale herself though and falls silent at the mention of the amulet, her energy shifting to focus on the door Mae points out.

Enyo checked perception at difficulty 15, rolling 2 higher.

Calista has rolled a critical success!
Calista checked perception at difficulty 15, rolling 7 higher.

Inigo checked perception at difficulty 15, rolling 4 lower.

Mae checked perception at difficulty 15, rolling 1 lower.

Bless her heart, Sophie's still preoccupied with the wall. And just what is she doing with that small vial of clear liquid? Okay, she's splashing it at the wall, scrutinizing, as if looking for something. There is no sizzling or hissing from the dried blood, which prompts a twist of consternation to the Mother Mercy's features. And then those summer sky eyes widen. "Th-there's something shielding the blood. Some sort of thin sheen that is pushing away the holy water. I have heard of blessings not working, but this-- I am uncertain what could be causing this."

Yes, yes. She's totes behind on the door and the amulet stuff and only seems to somewhat realize that when she notices the others have started to move on.

Inigo steps to the side of the kicked in door Mae indicated, his regard flitting from one person to the next before he gives a resolute nod to the group and prepares to move through to the room beyond.

Sophie has rolled a critical success!
Sophie checked perception at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

"After you, sir Duke," Mae says, with a sweet smile, and she steps aside to let the armored man go first. Because, well, Mae doesn't go first. Not when there's Malvici to stand behind.

"Wait, wait up a second..." Calista holds her hand up as if to ask for silence. "Do you hear that?" I couldn't have been just her own ears. "I hear a voice, someone asking for help." Her attention snaps to Inigo. "I'm not sure if it's ominous or not, but oh so very faint.. Should we follow you in?" She asks of her husband.

"Yeah, an amulet." Enyo replies, pulling out the amulet to offer towards Calista, and really anyone else, if they want to look at it. She's not ignoring Mae, as she starts to edge in the direction of the door that she mentions, "So, kicked open, you said?" There's a moment where she pauses, brows furrowing just a bit before she moves towards the door with a little bit more speed, her hand dropping to the hilt of her sword as she moves. With her brother heading for the door she doesn't fight him for the right to go through first, but she's right there, hot on his heels, and maybe Mae's if she tries to go through first as well, "I hear something as well."

Whoever is in front of Sophie, Damn Rosario has her charge's rear. Protect your healer, yo. "Sounds like an old man." And the state of his voice has the Mother Mercy concerned. This she steels, though, preparing herself for the worst. After all, the walls didn't paint themselves with blood.

Freja takes up stance behind Inigo, the entirety of her focus now drawn to the direction of that voice. The blood on the walls has already been shed, but this may be a life still to be saved - or a trap. The grip on her sword turns her knuckles white, her feet now standing shoulder's width apart in a defensive stance.

The door is opened, and what is revealed is a relatively small room. It's been ransacked, the furniture turned over, shattered. Dirty clothes are strewn about, and blood... Oh someone's been painting here all right. There's not any lack of it, on the table broken in half, upon the walls, and a trail that leads to the one untouched piece. A cheap bed, upon which an old man dressed in rags lays, his back to the door. "Help... me..." he is heard whispering, weak...

Inigo double takes at the figure on the bed sitting in the midst of the gore decorated room. his regard doesn’t stray long from the figure as he steps through the portal and immediately turns left, sweeping the room for any hidden assailant. His eyes are narrowed in concentration, the very picture of grim determination.

No one else stands in the room. No one, for it is a small enough room, occupied only by a man laying on his side, back to the entrance of his room, and our intrepid group of investigators. Wait. Is that-- No. Just more blood.

Enyo's following up her brother, and Freja, letting them go in before her, and if there is still room to follow...she follows. Otherwise she seems fairly content to stay outside with the others and wait.

Once satisfied that no other being resides within the room, a Inigo shifts back into the hallway, giving room for the healer to enter and attend to the man.

Calista peeks in and notices first the room is much smaller than anticipated and then of course, there's so much blood. The smell hits her like a smack to the face and she has to step back. It's a myriad of things really. Her hand comes to her mouth and she lightly fans at her face. Between memories and what she is witnessing, the woman looks a touch grey. "There's so much blood." She keeps saying softly.

Guy asking for help? Nope, still not lowering that rickety old sword. Freja's expression is cold iron, nary a word nor worry escaping from her at the moment. If anyone is approaching the man, she is standing guard and at the ready and off to the side now if others wish to enter.

As the door gets crowded, and there's suddenly a Freja /and/ an Enyo in front of her, Mae just gives a sigh. Used to this! Very much so. Instead, she looks around again, shifting from 'thief brain' to, well... Another part of her brain. And she's staring at the blood in the wall, in the hallway. Then she's eyeing the marks Calista had pointed out. "Enyo... what... uh... Is that amulet?" she asks. "Cause..." she squints. "That's what /this/ is..." She gestures, for anyone still outside of the room to see. "Someone is /literally/ painting in blood. That's part of that ... Face tree thing..."

"I'm... cold..." whispers the forgotten, probably dying old man.

"Not sure." Enyo replies to Mae, holding the amulet out for her in case she wants to see it, or even pick it up and hold it. "I found it uh..." She pauses a moment, considering her words before she forges on, "I found it with the body of some commoner woman that was dead, nice enough clothes, so maybe someone from the Uppers?" Rushing in to actually save someone? Well, she is about as helpful as a gnat when it comes to any sort of healing thing, so she remains out of the way for anyone that is more suited to that sort of business.

Sophie checked perception + medicine at difficulty 30, rolling 25 higher.

Inigo shakes his head while he places a soft hand on Calista’s shoulder, the nature of the medium used to create the scene recalling a brutal and suddenly appearing similar circumstance within the Fidante Villa walls. His eyes wrinkle with concern, lips pulled tighter as he offers quiet reassurances to his beloved.

"He's not alive. Dead. Dead.Speaks like them." Freja mutters concerning the old man, driving that point home with emphasis of repetition. The Shaman's eyes have gone a little distant, unfocusing and glazed until she shakes it off.

Mae does take that amulet, and holds it up, eyeing a chunk of the bloodied painting. She then tracks it for a ways, into the room. She squints. "Geez... this is a mess..." she whispers. "It's... see, it starts here, and then there's branches, they continue in here," she says, gesturing. "Like... the guy ran out of space, didn't have a big enough canvas..." And now, with the doorway open, Mae finally walks inside the room. "So, guy's dead?" she asks, eyeing him for a moment. "Anyone got a mirror...?"

"Where is the Mother? They spoke of her... Where is she?" mutters the old man. "I'm... cold. Mothers shouldn't... leave their children... in the cold." The old man doesn't move.

Enyo checked perception at difficulty 40, rolling 24 lower.

Mae checked perception at difficulty 40, rolling 30 lower.

Sophie checked perception at difficulty 40, rolling 36 lower.

Inigo checked perception at difficulty 40, rolling 35 lower.

Those Mercies must get some helluva training in Blancbier because Sophie is unfazed by the sight and smell of what is inside of the room. If anything, she looks oddly serene the way one shielded in devout faith would be. That, and a touch sympathetic to Calista's reaction.

Even so, Dame Rosario is not about to let the holy healer get straight to work under such nefarious circumstances. Which is all well and good because even Sophie pauses long enough to notice something is not quite right, even from behind. Part and parcel of copious trauma medicine experience. Which also is all well and good when Freja pipes up, which prompts Dame Rosario to cast a look of 'when stab and slash it now?' and the Northerner.

Still, Sophie's not one to be useless. "I have a mirror," she softly says, a bit distractedly, not yet fishing it out. Why? Because she finds herself compelled to pray for the well-being of the (lost?) soul. And it's not the Queen on Endings she's asking for mercy. All about Team Lagoma.

Enyo peers at the amulet, then the painting, then she shrugs her shoulders a little bit at Mae. She seems willing to take the woman at her word, it seems. When she begins to ask for a mirror there is a moment spent patting herself down before she shakes her head, "Not on me, no." There's a little unease that creeps into her expression when the man's latest words sink in, shivering, "Uh...so, if he's dead, how is he still talking?"

In his constant scanning, Inigo’s sight slides by the row of closed doors, and the opened one... wait, the opened one? He looks at his wife, the question written on f

"That lousy mirrormask never got me my mirror," Mae mutters out, before her attention eventually drifts from the artwork back to the man. "Um... That's a really good question!" Mae says. "Could we... get that mirror?" A pause. "Freja, is... is his soul still here...?"

...his face as he nods to the opened door with a raised eyebrow. His sword shifts to the ready, held between them and the offending doorway as he cautiously takes a few steps forward to investigate.

Sophie is quite fervently praying, mostly for the redemption and rest of the soul of this whatever it is. Once satisfied, she tugs at a chain around her neck, pulling out a small mirror embedded in silver that was concealed underneath her mantle.

Sophie drops a small mirror set into a sterling silver pendant and hung on a silver chain.

Inigo checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 6 lower.

Sophie checked mana + theology at difficulty 70, rolling 4 lower.

Calista comes around to clearing her head or at least for shaking other thoughts out of her head. She looks up and notices that other door. Eyes narrow upon it and she looks to the others, starting with Inigo.

"Thank you, sweets!" Mae says, to Sophie, seeming to totally ignore the woman's praying. She just steps over and takes the necklace, with the mirror. Then Mae is eyeing it. Eyeing the man, first, through the mirror.

Mae checked willpower at difficulty 20, rolling 8 lower.

Mae is given a look of reluctance before Freja is nodding once, wordlessly volunteering to check. Her hold on that sword does not lesson even as Freja slips into what one could only describe as a dazed detachment. Yes, she may stare forward and at the form of the man but her eyes aren't focusing. Her expression is wholly distant as she listens, unresponsive for a long and unsettling moment. A gasp suddenly fills her lungs, as though she had been suffocating and only -just- now remembered to breath. Leaning over, she presses a hand against the blood painted wall to regain composure as the room spins for her. "His soul is there, the voice is fading in and out. He is dead, but trapped in that corpse..he should have been back to the Wheel, ages ago. Fear and confusion, and cold. He is not there willingly." she manages to inform them with raspy syllables.

Mae checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 22 higher.

Inigo shakes his head in confusion, the door now ajar but no one about who could have opened it, save the group. He quietly calls over his shoulder, “Did anyone check this other room or open the door for any reason?” The ebony haired Fidante shifts his attention from the doorway to the ominous stairs, a frown slowly taking his already dark expression.

remembered to breathe.*

A tight but genuine smile is offered to Mae -- that tightness possibly having to do with the sudden involuntary shudder that rattles Sophie. Indeed, the way the Mother Mercy starts to peer about hints at something troubling her. After a moment, her shoulders fill with resolve, and her summer sky eyes cut to Freja, concerned for the shaman's well-being. Beyond that, there is a wealth of compassion for the poor man. "How do we help him?" Oh, she so very much wants to help him.

Calista checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 0 higher.

For her part, Dame Rosario might be thinking that decapitation is the answer.

Inigo checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 12 lower.

Mae holds that little mirror, peering at the reflections in it. As Freja does her thing, Mae is eyeing the man, through the mirror. "Mmmmm..." she murmurs. "That is... definitely not good," Mae murmurs, to Freja. "But I'm sure you know that..." she says, distracted, concentrating. It's the size of a silver coin, so it requires close attention. She slowly turns, dragging it over the room. And then, "Aiiieeeee!" she yelps, eyes wide, fear written across her features. The scare is render her otherwise frozen for a moment, and that means dropping the mirror out of her hands. Skald's luck, the thing lands on to the toe of her boot, instead of shattering against the stone floor.

"How does that even happen?" Calista asks. Her brows furrow as she tips her head to the side as if to look back into the room at the man. "A ritual?" It's the only possible solution. -Possible- being the key thought here. Fingers rake through her hair again until she catches something in the periphery. She grabs Inigo's arm and tugs him back as if to hide him from plain sight. She whispers to the others. "There's someone coming!"

Calista's warning coupled with Mae's scream is enough to bring Freja's attention back to the forefront, even if her lungs protest in one final wheeze before her stubborn nature wins out. Sword is lifted again, looking to Mae to try and follow the direction to the source of her startle.

Sophie checked wits at difficulty 10, rolling 1 lower.

Sophie is still in the doorway, flanked by the Oathland's knight. Between Freja's state, Mae's yelp, and Calista's whispered warning, she is something akin to a deer caught in lamplights. Good thing Dame Rosario doesn't suffer that problem, looking ready and determine to hack and slash anyone (or anything) who might harm her charge.

Fezzik the Hawk have been dismissed.

Mae checked wits at difficulty 10, rolling 12 higher.

"It's-... It's..." And Mae is starting to back away, out of the room, towards Sophie. The pale woman is, somehow, paler. "All the faces, they're staring at us, they're watching us," she whispers. And then with the faint sound of a metal chain dragging on the floor, Mae snaps out of it enough to realize she did just drop Sophie's mirror. So she squats down, quick, to grab it. "There, Freja," she points. A splatter of blood on the wall, connected to the rest of the blood via a smear. "And there... and there... the faces. They're all faces. They're watching us! Just... just kill him! And let's go!"

"Whispers? Here? Come now, there's no need to hide. All are welcome on the Ascending Path." says a voice. Voices? Multiple people? Whoever it is steps down further from the stairs, and is revealed fully. Perhaps it was a man once, but now, his head bears not one, but three faces. The central one is a man in his forties, the one to the left a young woman in her late teens, and the one on the right a boyish face, not quite a child, but certainly no mature adult either. He is clad in robes of... parchments? An odd choice to be sure, and stands tall, well over six feet. Very thin, with elongated limbs that defy any scale of proportions that might ever call them suitable for human appeal. "Screams, however, are more the norm." The three faces speak as one, each with a different voice. "Now who comes seeking the Ascending Path? I sense one bears the amulet of the prospects. While others..." A disdainful sniff from three noses. "Well, I suppose we can see your worth. Shall we step up to the shrine, and see if He will take you? Or would you like a moment to collect yourselves?" Very polite for an ungodly abomination.

Inigo blinks and raises his sword higher in defense at his wife's hushed warning. The blademaster quiets his breathing and tries to hear beyond the group, listening for any sound of the approaching intruder. His lips are parted, teeth slightly bared as he waits for the... who or whatever to make themselves known. One arm is held behind him, gloved hand lightly touching Calista's arm, making sure he is well aware of her position in regards to whatever attack he need deliever.

Sophie picks up a small mirror set into a sterling silver pendant and hung on a silver chain.

"Gladly." Freja remarks to Mae, a sneer twisting her lips as a cold fire finds her dark gaze. Protective of the smaller woman, and seeing that Inigo has his wive covered, the Shaman bodily stands in front of the Harlequin as a proper meatshield is wont to do with her archaic sword pointed at the anomaly.

Sophie checked composure at difficulty 25, rolling 4 lower.

Calista checked composure at difficulty 25, rolling 1 higher.

When he arrived at Arx, Inigo had no clue to what was in store. He had only heard that nasty business was gathering and his presence and blade would be welcome additions in dealing with whatever troubled the family. Since then he's seen any manner of horrible things, fairy tales coming true, and just sheer grisly, gruesome, horrible, foul, and other nasty adjective things that have forced their way into this reality. One would think he'd be used to such creatures popping up in front of him... the answer would be no. The Malvici has a moment to look startled before steeling his resolve and steadying the sword that wobbled in a second of shock. "Who the hell? are you?"

As has already been mentioned, Sophie has seen SOME SHIT. Some pretty damn heinous and horrific shit. This, however, is new, and it causes her to pause for a moment, her eyes widening /just so/ as her brain catches up to go 'yup' before filing it away as something to research later. By that point, Dame Rosario is already meat shielding her, which means she might be able to reach into her satchel, unnoticed, to get a hold on more holy water. Just in case. Once she realizes that might be a good idea, that is. It helps that Inigo is being distracting.

Inigo checked composure at difficulty 25, rolling 3 lower.

Not as bold as she might consider herself to be in -all- situations but she's also not running for the hills. The vision of the abomination set before the group affects Calista, shakes her to her very core, but she can put on a brave face for now. Inigo speaks out first, rather than bombard this thing with questions, she falls back for now, and lets her attention settle on the parchment robe. Is there writing on the robe? Her eyes narrow a touch, searching the triple faced being.

Mae hears that voice and she shivers. Can't see it yet, but wholly knows it's wrong. She steps closer to Freja, and whispers out quickly, as she clutches that mirror tight in one hand, and her Fidante-pretty stilleto in the other.

The creature looks at each assembled individual in turn, still calmly stepping down the stairs, offering a closer look to those who might see it. At Inigo's question, it sighs, all three faces. "Where are you from? Which Way? You surely can't know /nothing/? This is not a place for novices." All three faces frown. "No... Intruders, aren't you?" The faces grow grim, their eyes dimming... into utter darkness. "Get. Out." It steps forward.

Meanwhile, in the room occupied by Freja and Mae, the old man sighs. "Free... Me..." And it is so moved that Freja strengthens her grip on the blade and... plunges it right through the man's back, the point coming out the other side through the man's chest. The dead corpse's eyes widen... and then the soul is gone, and no more is heard from the body.

Calista checked willpower at difficulty 40, rolling 27 lower.

Inigo checked willpower at difficulty 40, rolling 23 lower.

Sophie checked willpower at difficulty 40, rolling 8 lower.

Calista grips Inigo's arm and she turns to Sophie. "The robe, it's human skin." Her words are low enough for them to hear but who know well the creature's hearing truly is. Thought it really doesn't matter, she wants to get the fuck out, now.

Inigo's initial reaction in any situation is generally 'stab first, ask questions later'... except at dinner parties, but it occurs to him that this isn't necessarily the moment in which that attitude would warrant the best outcome. He pushes backward, pressing himself against his wife as the color drains from his face in terror. Though all alarms in his mind ring out 'FLEE' It is against everything in his person to abandon family and friends, and it is through sheer training alone and the dogged determination to protect his love that he stands his ground, teeth grit against the horror that grows.

Mae has rolled a critical success!
Mae checked willpower at difficulty 25, rolling 7 higher.

Mae sucks in a breath, as Freja does exactly what she's asked. She whispers out a few words in a language that's almost surely not Arvani, then she shoves Sophie's mirror into a pocket, and reaches out to lightly wrap her hand around Freja's elbow. "C'mon, duchess, time to go..." she whispers quickly. Then Mae turns, and is heading out the door. She glances back and over, at the creature. Big eyes go big, and Mae stares just long enough to get a good /look/ at the thing. Then she's on her way out, down the hall, back out into the streets. "Out, out, out!"

Mae says in Nox'alfar, "Queen of Endings, Mother of Beginnings, see this poor tortured soul back to you, and know we've done as you wish us..."

There's no time to think. Just react. Reacting is getting the fuck out of here as fast as possible. Her legs start to move her and her fingers are digging into Inigo's arm. She looks over to Sophie, ready to do the same to the Valardin Princess. "We need to go, now." Panic shrills in her voice and her next move is heading right out that mother-f...ing door! She quickly runs until she's just outside the creepy building, doing her best to catch her breath.

Oathlanders love bacon. That includes saving their own proverbial bacon when gallantry is not required. (And, let's face it, gallantry is usually required of a Valardin.) Is Sophie hauling tail? Yes. Does that have to with the fury of voices that overwhelmingly fills her mind, shouting GET OUT? More yes. Does it have to do with supernaturally imposed terror? Also, yes. Does Dame Rosario bodily hauling her out while the others are rushing behind in GTFO factor into it? The answer should be obvious.

And so it is, before she even seems to realize what is happening, Princess Sophie soon enough finds herself outside, some distance from the building, a bit dazed as her brain plays catch-up.

As the sword is drawn free from the old man, the deathrattle turning into a sigh of relief, Freja is then being grabbed at the elbow. At first she looks in annoyance, feral in the moment, but then the words and sound of that voice finally hit her. Well not voice, -voices-. The problem with letting them in, in listening for the souls? It lets them all in. With the sword now sheathed Freja's expression twists in pain, hands raises to pressed her palms against her temples. With tears in her eyes she barely manages to be led out by Mae, shouting at whatever she hears, "SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT THE FUCK UP. I'LL SEND YOU ALL BACK, EVERY SINGLE LAST FUCKING ONE OF YOU!"

hands raise to press her palms against her temples*

A soundless scream parts the Duke's lips and with Calista's tug Inigo turns tail and bolts down the hallway, only sparing a moment or two for panicked glances behind him to check on the 'Thing's' location. Among the chorus of choas in his head, his thudding heart sounds the loudest, drowning out the slam of his boots as they rush across the floor to follow the rest of the party spilling through the doorway to the main courtyard beyond. He spins and holds Recompense between the group and the horror, willing the creature to stay inside with wide, terror stricken eyes.

The three-faced-inspired terror that sees the group flee for their lives takes them all the way outside of the stone building, where they stop, comforted perhaps by the day's light. Yet when they look back to see if they've been followed out... Nothing. There's no building anymore, just rubble from a collapse of long ago that no one ever bothered to clear. As they look around, panic fading, replaced with confusion, they meet the eyes of numerous others. Lowers citizens, going through their lives... and rather perplexed at seeing so many silks in their midst. Where the Abyss did they come from? Why do they still have the clothes on their backs, so far in the Lower Boroughs?

In Sophie's case it is because those who harm Mercies of Lagoma aren't long for this world.

Mae is nothing if not /fast/, though in this situation, with Freja screaming? She doesn't just bolt, but instead keeps hold of the baroness' arm, making sure they both make it out. "We're okay!" she insists. "Just keep moving! Keep running!" she says. Not that it's even that far. Soon as she's out, she whirls to make sure the others have mad eit as well, only to find... a very familiar setting. "Ooooh thank the Gods..." she whispers.

The Princess, turned Marquess, called Duchess, is now in the street and on her knees. Freja's face is hidden in her hands and she is muttering to herself incoherently. At least with her woads and furs she looks like a raving heathen lunatic and not much like a silk. Still, the only place she should be heading is home and soon.

The pure madness that rings through Calista's mind shows itself on the pale tone of her face. She hangs onto Inigo's arm for a moment to steady herself before doing an assessment of all who is present. She counts in her head. All are here and accounted for. Then, she turns to look at the building or what is left of it. "That is not possible. That is -not- possible." It's all she can muster to say.

Inigo looks about in shock, sword still held at the ready with darting eyes searching for any sign of the supernatural building and the being they found within. His lips work at words, only one finding voice. "Wha....what?" The confused Duke's blinking and uncertain eyes find Calista's and he slowly sheathes his sword, a small measure of comfort found in the pressure of her grip on his arm. He affixes himself in what he would think is a normal pose for when one find themselves randomly in the Lowers after running from something that isn't there and looks to his companions for any answer, any. answer.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Freja before departing.

A building once there now rubble? It would seem to be possible. That clocktower seemingly spontaneously appeared in Heroes Home. And there was that one Abandoned village that was entirely wiped out as though it never existed at all mere weeks after it was found. Even so, Sophie has no idea as to the hows and why, and so she kind of just stares and the ruins, her eyes slightly wide and a bit glassy and she mentally works overtime, trying to figure it out.

Mae sees an actual Duchess, a Duke, and her breath remains held until she spots a Princess. Whew! No Lady, but Enyo had been watching the door so surely she made it out. With everyone alive and well, Mae turns, and steps over next to Freja, and without a word, she just drops to her knees and wraps her arms around the other woman, squeezing her tight. "Deep breaths, okay? Just... keep breathing, sweets. Deep breath, and let's get you back to your feet..."