The day is still new, and people are starting their daily routines, carts and vendors picking out the prime spots, doors opening as the day's commerce gets under way. There is, however, a specific area that everyone seems to avoid. They do not look at it, none of the vendors vying for cart spots makes a play for the nine-square foot area. It is in all ways a void.

The traveling menagerie might cause a good amount of staring from the common folk, because nobles who wander around with guards are one thing, but also surrounded by animals? Aiden Rubino arrives alongside Lucita Saik, with a good amount of their animal companions too. Aiden's shoulders sport one white Sir Frances Flappington, an albino crow, while Baron Archibald Chirpington sports a seat on a forearm, while Severa, the guard Shepherd is pacing at Aiden's heels. It's excessive, sure, but it's the norm for the Duke of Rubino, ever since he was a child, at least one bird's been following him around! Namely Archibald. Even so, there are three guards behind him, par for the course of entering the more urban sprawls of Arx - no need to get robbed or you know, run across rampaging abyssal animals or something! Who knew really, what to expect.

Aiden is hoping to meet up with the few people who did reach out to him, about the birds. It becomes painfully clear... where some of those geese may have landed when he spots the void. "Oh Elysia.. please say they didn't leave the geese just lying there..." He bounces up on a heel to try to get a better look at the "void" he's suddenly steering towards, because voids are such good things to approach! "Excuse me.. coming through!" Wings of his raptor flapping help hustle the slowest person out of the way.

Thorn is here, bundled up in her warm white coat, hands tucked under her armpits, teeth chattering. She bounces lightly on her toes, looking up and down the street until she sees Aiden and then hurries that way. "Do you think it's possible they just.... froze mid flight?"

Mirk Halfshav arrives at Trader's Home, at the time indicated in correspondence with Duke Aiden, Aegis walking along at his side, though he's likely the more subtle and inconspicuous compared to the traveling menagerie. He doesn't seem to be feeling the cold, though perhaps that's the fireweave. He doesn't offer greetings, at least not right away, instead taking a moment to observe Traders Home and take it all in, his eyes drawn to the empty space there. "Hm." He quickens his step, then, and follows along after Aiden. "Duke Aiden," he says as he hurries along towards the gap that Aiden might leave in the crowd, hoping to catch up quickly. "Thorn. I doubt it, though I suppose all things are possible. We'll have to see."

Landroval, the Eagle arrives, following Graham.

Lucita walks into the area, her hand nestled in the crook of Aiden's arm that isn't holding Baron Archibald as she walks along with him, the crunch of snow or brush of boots keeping the same rhythm. "I can't heal, and don't know much about animals except the little bit seen when watching you, but that's not enough to really be useful, and I'm not good at fighting but I can help with recording your observations and ..." Her words break off as she spots the people, merchants and the spot toward which Aiden is headed. She removes her hand and gives him a little more room yet at the same time follows in his wake as he makes way through the area. Golden spots a littermate in Mirk's guard dog and drifts over toward Aegis while Gunther remains half way between Aiden and Lucita. Lucita raises a hand to wave toward the others who are nearby, a little smile given them.

Landroval, the Eagle leaves, following Graham.

Landroval, the Eagle arrives, following Graham.

Landroval, the Eagle leaves, following Graham.

There are no corpses left to rot in the street, though there are a few dark feathers that might be from the afflicted geese. The closest stand to the void appears to be a woman selling skewers of meat that are currently being cooked over a brazier. She eyes the potential customers and offers a faint smile, a respectful bob of her head, though as they approach she gets a worried look on her face, calling out to them, "Excuse me, m'lords and ladies, but you'll likely want to avoid that area. S'bad luck that is. Some sort of miasma lurking there, you ask me."

Aiden responds in a measured beat, his eyes taking in Thorn, but without recognition, "Unnaturally, if they did." He pauses to consider the woman who has approached him, "I don't think we've met before, or if we had, I have a sorry memory. I would remember that look you had, yes yes yes..." While her look might be more feline-esque, his own looks curiously birdlike, eyes always slightly wide, the way his mouth curls, the odd way he sometimes turns his head. When Mirk puts together the name for him, he nods, "Ahh hah, Thorn. Well met, well met. Timely too. Very timely." A look to Mirk, "Possible, if there has been a blizzard. Has there been? No. We would have all frozen, yes? Yes. There's a bad wind, I heard, that swept through here though. Bad wind, that had a little voice whispering with it. Nothing natural. I can guarantee you that!" He looks over to Lucita, quickly introducing, "This is Baroness Lucita Saik, wife of my dear departed friend, Baron Estaban. She's helped me with much before, so I can count on her confidence... and perhaps," he considers, "Maybe she can sing to the wind to make it talk again. But, maybe not. We should not want to release, whatever ..." He looks between everyone, blinks, and then smiles, "Well let's see what's going on. Yes?"

Aiden checked perception + investigation at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

Thorn pivits on a toe and considers the lady cooking meat curiously, her head canting to one side, though she doesn't say anything to the woman immediately. "I feel like we are all going to freeze," she half teases to Aiden, only half though.

"She's a dear friend," Mirk says, nodding his head to Aiden. "And a pleasure to have you with us, Lady Lucita." He raises an eyebrow at the warning, and says, "Bad luck, hm? It's cause for concern, but I'll keep an eye out." There's a slight smile at the woman that warned him, and he sets a couple of silver coins on her stall, before proceeding directly towards the area indicated. As he does, he pulls off one glove and holds out a hand, as if to feel for a breeze, his head canted thoughtfully. More of an intuitive approach, that, and less of a detailed catalogue of observations.

A warm, amicable smile is given Thorn as Lucita speaks. "A pleasure to meet you." A glance toward Mirk and Aiden is given as she murmurs. "I've never tried singing to the wind. To glass and moss and ...other things but not the wind. But gaining information is important though...a mention of releasing something is enough to make one uneasy. I trust in you and Mirk to discern if such an effort is worth the risk.

"That would be dreadful - I don't have Baron Whitehawk here to keep me warm this time. You know, I nearly froze once, going on an adventure to meet a Simurgh? An amazing journey that was. But I nearly froze." Maybe Aiden hasn't been out in the social spheres much recently, but he is acting a bit more eccentric than usual. All the same, he finds one of those dark feathers buffering up against a vendor's stall leg. He stoops to pick it up, with the ruffling feathers of his own birds to go along with it. "Hmm... I don't see any corpses--" and slowly his eyes glide toward the meat that's being cooked. His nose crinkles, he might turn slightly pale, murmuring, "I wouldn't doubt we've already missed them from being... feasted upon by the hungry..." When Mirk goes toward the void however, Aiden jumps with such alarm that Sir Frances squawks and flies off to settle well out of the way of humans. Archibald gives him a good warning peck - it's a special bond, that! "DO Be careful!-" Aiden's arm reaches out in a gesture of warning to Mirk.

When Mirk offers those silvers, the vendor picks them up and holds them to her forehead briefly, "Thank you my lord, that's very gener -- what are you doing!?" She seems startled that someone would put themselves in contact with a miasmatic area and shakes her head, making a sign of warding. "Oh dear, oh dear me..."

Thorn smiles a little to Mirk before she stretches up onto her toes and lifts her arms above her head getting a good vertical pull on all her muscles then rests back down on her heels, rolling right shoulder then left before she walks after Mirk. She stops a few feet behind where he does, and crouches down to look at the whole scene from a lower level curiously, pulling off one of her gloves to rest her hand against the ground.

Mirk remains near the fringes of the area, perhaps prudent about the potential for risk, and comments, "There's something amiss, that's certain. A chill that the rest of the city doesn't feel, like a lonely breeze from a bitter north wind." He eases back, drawing his cloak a little closer around him, as if to ward away any possible miasma. "Words hang in the air, with their own special weight, but singing here and now..." He trails off, shrugging one shoulder, clearly unsure how to finish that thought. Indecisive. "We could listen and see if the spirits are disturbed by it, but I'm afraid that I didn't come prepared for the kind of formal rite that might petition them for answers. But it's your decision how we proceed." He indicates Aiden with a nod of his head.

Mirk checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 9 higher.

Aiden regards his birds a little more closely. Both of them, although Frances flew to a higher spot, have ruffled out their feathers as any bird would do in the cold. Archibald seems opposed to flying just yet, tucking his head down and into those quaffed feathers of his. He seems relieved when something doesn't immediately leap up and gobble Mirk, tucking in his arm close to himself as he considers Lucita, then the spot that Mirk and Thorn are close to. "Sorrel did say it was a bad wind..." He glances to Lucita, "Do you... sense anything, of words being sung? Words that are hanging in the air?" He murmurs, "This may have something to do..." he trails off in his own thoughts, like a scholar might do when trying to puzzle out something. A moment later, "What would we need for a formal rite? Perhaps we can ..." he looks to the lady who was selling meat, her reaction turning his attention, "What happens to people? You said there was bad luck, what happens to the people who wander into that area...? Have you seen anything?"

Thorn looks up at Mirk and frowns a little, "Not colder here than I would have thought." She frowns a bit, staying where she is, her head craning to look back to the woman.

Lucita checked mana at difficulty 15, rolling 40 higher.

i "Well, Jim Tully parked his cart there day after it happened. Poor man went home and kilt himself. Sure he was in debt, but he was a good man." The woman scratches behind her ear as she watches Mirk with a mixture of wonder and concern. "Abby Whitwher crossed the void trying to chase down a messenger, she went stock still and started screaming, thrashing on the ground for almost a minute. She popped up after and said she couldn't remember doing anything odd. Got real sick with watery lungs."

Lucita stays back out of the way of Aiden and Mirk and Thorn. Her lower lip is caught between her teeth for a moment as she glances toward her dogs, a hand signal putting them on alert. The bloodhound's nostrils flare and Gunther, instead of sitting, stands stiffly at the side, Lucita's unease shows more in their positions than in her own expression. "Notes, notes. I mentioned I'd take notes... let me see.. Oh, yes. quill, parchment and ...ink" She turns to the side and fishes a little tiny jar of ink out of the top of her armor, kept where warm enough to not freeze. It only takes a moment to record an estimate of size.. and the coldness and the hue of the feather before she stops. Lucita stares at the area, then tips her head as if listening very hard, trying to discern anything that she can. She begins to shiver, growing shades paler and goosebumps popping up on her visible skin as intense and sudden cold sweeps over her. Her eyes dilate and she sways a little. Her head tilts as she seems to hear something that first she does not understand then an expression of horror shows. She gasps as her right hand clenches into a fist and and a smile, but not Lucita's smile forms on her lips, a twisted expression of pleasure, exultation.

Aiden checked perception + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Lucita checked willpower at difficulty 15, rolling 21 higher.

Thorn rises slowly with a bit of a frown looking over Lucita, "Oh that's not good..." The redhead tilts a glancne to Mirk and then back to the woman walking thhat way slowly, "Hey, cold thing wearing the lady's skin....?" She ventures.

Reigna GM Roll checked will(4) at difficulty 15, rolling 12 higher.

Aiden listens as if he were an Iron Guardsmen or an Inquisitor, nodding sedately at the woman as she tells of the poor misfortunes of those who have stepped into the void. "So... we certainly don't want anyone to go in it. Perhaps... the Inquisition should be made--" He side glances at Lucita because of the animals beside her that go on alert. The dogs, yes, his eyes take in how they're behaving. "Lucita?" he asks across to his friend, "Is everything alright?"

"I'm not sure. I'm not going to rule anything out, for now," Mirk replies to Aiden distractedly, looking down at his hand, rubbing his fingers together speculatively. His frown darkens, deepening the lines on his face. But once Aiden speaks Lucita's name, he looks up, studying the baroness. "Spirits. Lucita?" He gestures to Aegis, keeping the dog heeled, and then turns fully to face Lucita. He keeps his expression controlled and neutral, but the tension is visible in every line of his body.

Damien Pierce - A Charming Assistant, 1 Redreef Warden, Vagari The Cinder Cat, 1 Order of the Firebird, 4 Byrne Mountain Men, 2 House Crovane Guards arrive, following Mikani.

Damien Pierce - A Charming Assistant, 1 Redreef Warden, Vagari The Cinder Cat, 1 Order of the Firebird, 4 Byrne Mountain Men, 2 House Crovane Guards leave, following Mikani.

"Oh, not again!" The meat vendor mutters worriedly, wringing her hands as she looks over Lucita. "Next she'll be thrashing all over the ground...."

Thorn shakes her head at the vendor, waving a hand, "Just relax no one's thrashing yet. Maybe you could get us some warm tea or something?"

Lucita's eyes do not register the presence of others, dilating even further. Her lips continue to form that smile, that twisted smile and a harsh laugh rolls out. The right hand and arm lifted and clenched starts to tremble, then shake and despite the cold beads of sweat pop out on her brow, muscles throughout her body clench in an obvious struggle and finally with a desperate cry and one final effort she forces her hand open, tiny dots of blood showing in the palm where the nails cut into it. In a shaken voice she finally speaks, "It... It is gone. That... thing tried to take me over... but it is gone. I'm back in control of myself again."

Aiden is in a state of shock... as Lucita undergoes some sort of fight that he can't see other than for her physical features, though can certainly tell she has been battling somthing. "The ... Butcher?" He breathes out in a sudden release of air of his lungs, swaying forward, his face looking sick, "What happened...?" He looks back to the area where the void is, "Is... it gone or... did it just retreat from you?" A worried thrill in his voice, "Maybe we should just... call for the inquisition? Or the spiritwalkers? I..." he looks back at the void, thoughtful, then back at Lucita, worried.

Aiden checked mana at difficulty 15, rolling 7 higher.

Lucita says, "Something... made me feel urges.... shamful terrible ones... and a voice.. a language did not recognize... laughing... making me feel pleasure... ... and making me move my arm, make that fist... grimace.... I fought it off but.. it did not fight as hard as I think it could have... to stay. I think if it had really tried, I would have lost."

Thorn's eyes narrow a little at Lucita, moving closer. "Was it strangely peaceful? Like it would feel good to let it in?"

Mirk watches Lucita, skeptical, perhaps, though he nods his head once. "Rest." He hands her a hip flask, as a small gesture of comfort, and then returns to the fringes of that void. He sets out a small bowl, filled with loose, shredded herbs - incense. "Thorn, if you'd care to light the incense and push it further into the evil wind, perhaps we can see whether the spirits might have reacted to a lingering presence. Duke Aiden, I am one of the Spirit Walkers," he reminds the man. "So I'll see if there's anything that can be learned through such means. But I recommend not...opening ourselves, too much, to that presence. Cautiously, carefully, if at all." There's a frown, clearly thinking of something in particular as he voices his advice.

Aiden exhales, "It's not what I thought it could be... at least, but it still remains... problematic..." He squints his eyes, "I read an article recently in the Academy of Vellichor... about ghosts. It seems... malevolent enough for that, although I'm not aware if ghosts can...kill people like this." He side glances back at the group, "Certainly could be more demonic than ghostly..." When Lucita reveals what had occured, he flushes, with his own shame, "My goodness. Mayhaps it is best we vacate the area for now?" He nods at Mirk, "Yes. I know you are, but, perhaps this might be best accomplished with more than one of you here to handle it?" His eyes flick to Thorn, hopeful that perhaps she was one too. Then a frown, "It is your call then. Elsewise we call in the higher powers."

Lucita shakes her head to Thorn. "No... nothing peaceful at all!" She reaches out for the drink offered her. "Thank you Lord Mirk." She lowers her gaze and begins to pray, her voice lowered but clearly, if one listens hard, that is what she is doing. She takes another sip from the flask before handing it back. "I'll ask Legate Ailith to check me. She can tell if anything... wrong.. lingers in me."

Thorn looks notibly relieved at Lucita's answer and even smiles a bit. "Oh good." She nods to Mirk and goes to get the incense, lighting it and starting to waft it carefully towards the 'bad zone' so to speak.

"Listen," Mirk advises Thorn. "The incense isn't a sacrifice, it's there as a small offering of respect, and a symbol. Fire that purifies, smoke that fills the air. To heed spirits of the wind and sky."

Mirk checked mana + occult at difficulty 25, rolling 12 higher.

Thorn nods a bit to Mirk, slowing her movements, her steps becoming lighter. One hand holds the incense while the other steers the smoke with soft waves.

Aiden quiets now, as he watches Mirk and Thorn, as if learning from them in this moment too. His eyes follow the wafting of the incense, his mouth murmurs the words that Mirk said, "Fire that purifies, smoke that fills the air. To heed spirits of wind and sky..." as if to repeat them and remember them. Then out loud he asks Mirk, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Lucita looks toward Aiden and the others. "It.. was worth trying. We knew something was wrong to have the birds affected. We can't risk having something getting a hold to part of the city... and the Inquisition knew as much as we did about this but ... I don't see where they have blocked off the area or heard of any researching it, have you? At least now you have something that can be reported."

Mirk observes the space, and the incense, calm and patient. His gaze drift westwards, and he speaks a few quiet words, indicating something to Thorn. "There's a presence," he reports to Aiden. "A wind. It's being drawn west, there." He indicates an older townhouse. "But the spirits aren't speaking openly, or intervening on our behalf. That might be where a trained eye and a closer inspection is best applied, if you feel the risk justified. I cannot tell you what you will find." He dips his head, indicating that the ball is in Aiden's court - and Lucita's.

Thorn's gaze trails after the smoke, eying the townhouse curiously but at this juncture staying put where she is, listening to the conversation while she studies the place.

Aiden nods to Lucita's assessment of the area, "It is odd..." He looks at the void, then around at the people, then back to Mirk. He exhales a breath, "I left demon hunting to other people..." he advises with a faint grimace, "because when it comes down to it, I'm not trained to fight in any spiritual way. The ritual cleansing is one thing, but this, a demon that has the ability to cause sickness in people and potentially make them die... is beyond me at this point." He looks between them, "I'm at best, a bird handler with some insight on bigger sized birds... and other strange things," he nods to the void, "I'm not an expert at removing curses, or demons, or ... whatnot. I nearly died, a few times over, encountering malevolent spirits. I realized I didn't have the fortitude to block them, as Lucita just did..." He's quite honest, "I don't have a mentor of magic or rites or ... beseeching, casting, weaving or any of the things that could be useful. I read, I talk to my birds, I sometimes pick up a alaricite bow and lead armies into battles. Magical battles? Not quite there yet. Lady Khanne might be better equipped." He nods to Mirk, "Might you try to contact them? Or anyone else you would know with the strength of will to overcome such a thing?" A beat, "I just know, after all the strange adventures I've been on, I certainly don't want to end up possessed. That is my opinion. I have two beautiful daughters to think of, and the future of Arvum riding on .. other pursuits. This... spiritual menace, can wait for those more experienced than I."

"I'll advise my cousin, Prince Laric, of the situation... if there is none who can presently join us-" Aiden adds, gesturing to his guardsmen, "Did you happen to bring a pen? Ezio isn't here is he? Hmm. Perhaps you can fetch someone to send me a message? Yes. Now would be good..." Eyes turn back to the Lucita, "And you... I shouldn't risk or ask further of. You've frightened me half to death already once this day."

Santino arrives, delivering a message to Lucita before departing.

1 Inquisition Confessors, Scribble, a Delicate Social Butterfly, Pearl, a Maelstrom Forest Cat, 1 Graypeak Aerie Warden arrive, following Delilah.

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

Juana, a harried Lady's Maid arrives, delivering a message to Lucita before departing.

Thorn thinks a moment and shakes her head, taking a few steps closer to Mirk. She tilts her head to confur with him quietly.

Mirk frowns at the suggestion, and says, "None that are in the city and unencumbered by duties, I'm afraid. We're a small community, I'm afraid, and hard to assemble on short notice." He shakes his head. "I'm willing to step forwards. I merely wasn't sure if you'd prefer to take point."

Aiden raises a hand to Mirk, "I know when it's best to give lead to someone more accomplished. I will not perish for stupidity when I have a Spirit Walker present," he nods to Mirk, "I can back you up, however it be I can, if you guide me and tell me what needs to be done. I have enough knowledge in most things and have tried a few rituals myself, in the past, with mixed results." A note, "If you wish to proceed, Mirk, we can, at your lead."

Thorn nods to something that Mirk says before she looks back to the townhouse. "What if we don't need to breath it?"

Lucita says, "I sent a quick message to Lady Delilah, she is both Inquisition and more adept with matters of occult and rituals than I am by far... and I sent one to Lady Miranda. If .. anything... abyssal lingers in me, she can sense it."

2 House Mazetti Aspirants arrives, following Marzio.

2 Rubino and Zaffria guards, Juana, a harried Lady's Maid, Marzio arrive, following Miranda.

Aiden looks over to Lucita, brow lifted at one of the names mentioned. He moves to her and grumbles something in her ear.

Inquisitive though Lilah be, she still is only human. And a march through the winter-stricken city takes time, even when proceeding at a respectably quick pace. Something about snow not sticking to her soles helps, certainly. A cloak around her renders her next to anonymous as one can be, anyway, unless the fact she's chased by a frost-eyed Inquisitor and two very swift-moving guards flowing like shadows at a respectable pace is anything to go by. Well, at least Mirk and Lucita probably know Arabella of Graypeak and Confessor Octavian by sight, given they are never more than a few dozen paces from the duchess who survived a wall falling on her. (Damn pesky, walls!)

The sound of hooves can likely be heard before the Ostrian stallion comes into view bearing both Marzio Mazetti and Miranda Rubino upon it's back. Both passengers are armored and armed, and though Marzio is controlling the horse, his head turned slightly to the side so that he can hear Miranda behind him likely clues any observers in that he is simply heading where Miranda tells him to go. Once they reach the appointed area within the Uppers, Marzio pulls slightly on the reigns of his horse, urging the steed to slow and then stop as he glances behind him toward Miranda with an inquisitive look.

Lucita glances toward Delilah as she approaches and Miranda. "Duke Aiden wished to check on the geese that had suddenly dropped from the sky.. dead. They landed over there in that spot about nine feet square. It is colder than normal and there was mentin of whispering on the wind.. I.. listened and something reached out and tried to take me over... making my arm and hand move.. making me feel urges... shameful things ... horrible... things. I fought against it taking me over... and narrowly succeeded. Apparently according to some of the merchants... sometimes others are affected... Can one of you... speak of that?" She asks of Thorn and Mirk. "I was... trying to recover and check myself over after that happened to me."

Lucita says, "I could not understand what it said, the language unfamiliar to me."

Chase, a Silent Reflection in grey hooded robes, 1 Templar Knight guards arrive, following Vayne.

Chase, a Silent Reflection in grey hooded robes, 1 Templar Knight guards leave, following Vayne.

Thorn looks over those joining them and waves at the bad zone, "Don't go there there is evil air and it's coming from that house over there but we don't know how to get closer with out being possessed by ghost things that may make us feel things we don't want to and may even make us kill outselves if we're not careful." She looks to Mirk, good summery?

"It might be sensible to cover your mouth and nose. I can promise nothing," Mirk hedges, at Thorn's question. He acknowledges both Miranda and Delilah with a nod of his head, more than familiar, though there's a squint in Marzio's direction. "There's an ill wind. I am about to investigate what may be a source, or a trouble spot, or something of the kind. But others have fallen to the ground, thrashing, upon exposure. There is a space, here, where the merchants will not walk, that they believe is touched by a miasma. Do not enter those places touched by that wind, including there, unless you are willing to accept risk." He nods at Thorn. "A fw assumptions, but...Close enough."

Miranda's arms are around Marzio's waist, leaning into his back so that she can put her chin on his shoulder. Easier for him to hear her. Once they arrive in the area, she directions him to the Trader's Home. Once the horse has stopped, she slides off and looks around, spotting Lucita. There's a warm smile of greeting, though she waits for Marzio to join her before getting closer to Lucita. She listens and frowns at the tale of the geese, looking to the area she indicates. She makes a slight face, but then nods to the others, "Duke Aiden, Duchess Delilah, Lord Mirk.." This completes her list of who's who and she says, "This is Lord Mario Mazetti and I'm Lady Miranda Rubino." To those she doesn't know. Then a look to THorn before she glances to the house indicated by her.

"I advise being cautious about opening oneself to any such presences," Mirk adds offhandedly. "I won't order anyone not to attempt it. But keep risk in the forefront of your mind."

The townhouse in question is clearly an older one, gently worn, looking a bit untended, but not more than a few weeks. There is a certain gloom about the place, a dimness that might be darker than the typical winter day. The windows are all closed, the door open, and yet there is no light from within, no smoke rising from any of the chimneys. Perhaps the owner is simply not home.

The door is closed, not open. THat would be *weird*

"Lord Mirk, is the lead on this investigation-" Aiden advises, with an arched brow to anyone else, granted, he knows he has no authority to do that but as it is, "I should not want anyone running ahead and getting the rest of us killed or something silly like that." His fingers ruffle the feathers on his gyrfalcon, nodding to those who have come to join in on the fun.. er... spookiness.

Thorn pulls her scarf around her shoulder, knotting it on on the side so she can pull it up over her face if she needs to. "What do you think is more contradictory to air Lord Mirk? Water or earth?"

Throwing back her dark cowl slightly reveals more of that telltale golden-cream face, the faded imprint of a sunkissed glow identifying Lilah as surely as the rubescent hairpins flashing in her copper-fire braids. Practical, her, not wearing one of those heavily weighed gowns. She doesn't quite stop to give anyone a dipping greeting, though the nod serves in kind to say hello to the assembled company. Each person is measured and marked for position, though she extends her gloved hands to Lucita. "If you wanted me out for tea, you might have simply said so, my darling duke," she adds to Aiden, with a degree of bone-dry mirth applied for the moment. "I heard of the geese. How terrible a sight. And?" The blink is slow, careful, registering things that may or may not indicate a reaction. "Hello, Lady Miranda." Marzio, as a stranger, earns a quick nod. "You felt /urges/ brought on by the wind. Against your will, as it were? Mm. I know a few things that might cause such, and no one is going to like the possibility of either. Lord Mirk, has anything fallen more in your bailiwick as Elder?" It's something of a direct inquiry, but it is what it is. Her gaze turns to the townhouse in question. How dim and unremarkable it is. Yes, well, //it would//.l

Miranda tilts her head a bit, "Well ... there is -something- here-ish. I feel something." No faraway looks or looks of illness from her, for those that know her. SHe looks from Aiden to Mirk and says to him, "Your advice is well taken. HOwever, I was asked to come to help. To do that, I need to get a look. Do you mind?"

Aiden's mood swings up, as Delilah greets him, "We must really talk over tea sometime... There's plenty to talk about, when I'm not putting friends in position to be possessed by malevolent spirits..." His apologetic look tossed toward Lucita. He notes to Delilah, "It isn't a shardhaven." He confirms, with a grimace, "The geese are dead, the corpses gone before we got here. I suspect, they were taken for stews 'n the like. That lady over there-" the vendor cooking meat, "Explained how two individuals died after their exposure to that spot. One, killed himself, the other... fell ill." He considers Delilah, "If you have a notion of what we could be facing, better us know the consequences than not."

Lucita says, "I've no intent of opening myself up..." She says firmly and takes a handkerchief from a pocket. "Lady Miranda can tell if anything really 'bad' lingers in me... from one source in any case, but I believe it to be gone... it was such a relief to be myself again."

"I'd consider earth to be the air's mirror," Mirk suggests offhandedly to Thorn. He nods to Miranda and gestures towards the house, "I won't order anyone. I'm merely stating risks. Do as you feel is warranted." To Delilah, he answers, "There was a sign from the spirits, indicating this place. A wind that pulled the smoke of our incense," he indicates a bowl, "towards it." Now that everyone is up to speed and he's been singled out as the lead, he heads towards the townhouse. Slowly.

Miranda looks over to Lucita and focuses upon her. Her gaze seems to lose focus as if she were staring through the Baroness, rather than at her.

Thorn leans down, she pushes the snow aside until her fingers find some of the dirt under it and rubs it into her sharf, then she pulls said scarf up over her nose and mouth. She takes a deep breath before following after Mirk, keeping her eyes opened and attentive.

Marzio offers a nod to those others already present when Miranda offers introductions on his behalf. He listens to the others speak, trying to glean what he can from them rather than try to butt in on any of the conversation. As Mirk heads off toward the townhouse, he tracks the man for a moment before looking around toward the others.

Aiden checked perception + animal ken at difficulty 15, rolling 41 higher.

Miranda checked perception at difficulty 15, rolling 14 higher.

Aiden checked perception at difficulty 15, rolling 8 higher.

Mirk checked perception at difficulty 15, rolling 3 lower.

Marzio checked perception at difficulty 15, rolling 4 lower.

Delilah checked perception at difficulty 15, rolling 1 higher.

After a few moments, Miranda starts to turn to say something, then her head snaps back. She moves closer to Lucita and reaches for her wrist. However, at the last moment, she takes Lucita's hand and lifts it. "You are not clear, my lady." Her voice trembles, "I've seen this... something like this before." She gestures to Lucita's wrist, "This color and glow." She looks up at the Baroness, "You were nearly taken over? Shameful things, you said?" Her honey-brown eyes are... intense. Serious.

Thorn checked perception at difficulty 15, rolling 7 higher.

For a time, Lilah is silent and tilts her head at the house. It's simply a building of odd proportions, and she takes a considerable amount of time to give it a measured stare. "Mm. That would be curious they drew you here. The immediate suggestion would be an Abyssal influence, though not a certainty. Other manifestations can cause it, foremost an ugly thing." She glances back to Miranda with a curious blink, the narrowing of her pupils pronounced against the blue. "You have?"

Lucita checked perception at difficulty 15, rolling 18 higher. Lucita rolled a critical!

Aiden checked intellect + animal ken at difficulty 15, rolling 24 higher.

Miranda nods to Delilah, "Yes. On a note that said 'I see you'. I had a nightmare. I was frozen and there were insects everywhere in my wardrobe..." She pauses, then says, "My aide had been attacked. Insects ... boiled out of him, apparently. But he was holding a note that only I could read." She looks to Lucita, releasing her wrist, but says to her, "In my dream, Brenlin was blaming me for his death. It... wasn't a good dream." She then looks to the house indicated, and the spot others have indicated with the miasma, and stares at it.

Lucita looks sick as Miranda speaks. She turns to the side, stepping away from the others, very pale. "Not... clear... something wrong. I don't want to hurt anyone or do anything wrong... " And fright shows in her voice. "My children! I can't be around them... if something is wrong! I can't... be around anyone." She looks down at the knife at her side for a long long moment then back up at the others. "Any suggestions? I ... will not.. serve the dark. I won't if I can avoid it."

Thorn rubs her arms as she looks around over her scarf, frowning beneath it. "Bugs?" She mutters leaning down take a look at the ground with out touching the things.

Marzio looks around as Miranda takes Lucita's wrist and then his eyes widen a touch at what she says before watching as Lucita backs away from them. It is clear that the man is a bit at a loss for what to do but he hangs close to Miranda and when her eyes shift to the house his does momentarily as well, though he likely doesn't really know what the others are looking at.

Aiden is kneeling down by the townhouse as they proceed further toward it, although some conversation with Lucita and Miranda is noted because of Delilah's up take of interest, he nevertheless, gets down and starts picking through the bugs, with a gloved hand... "They shouldn't be here. Not at this time of winter. Wasps, worms, roaches... bees, pillbugs, beetles of all sorts... Spiders." He pushes that scholary researcher finger around, "The bodies are..." he mutters to himself as he scoops a pile up and curiously studies them in his hand, a few legs of the insects fall off, "I think... they're in a stasis." As Lucita starts panicking, his eyes lift sharply back to her, keeping the bugs momentarily in his hand. "What's happening?!"

"Let's not go borrowing problems on a wild guess," Mirk suggests, shooting a frown over in Miranda and Lucita's direction. "You're the one who said that you had regained control from it, Lady Lucita." His frown only deepens at Aiden's commentary, and suggests, "Stasis, hm? That'd explain the cold..." He walks around the front of the townhouse, attempting to peer inside the windows before finally coming to a stop in front of the door.

Looking to Lucita, Miranda says to her, "It'll be okay. Trust me, okay? We won't let anything happen to you." She ignores all the bugs she's seen too, moving a little closer to the townhouse. She stops after a few feet and puts a hand to her stomach. "That... is unpleasant." She purses her lips and takes a few deep breaths as if to stave off a panic of her own. She grits her teeth and then lifts her own hands to look at them, staring almost through them if you will. She takes a step closer to the townhome.

Lucita checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 7 higher.

It clicks with something Aiden's read, "There's an archfiend of Ice... whom serves a Queen of.. " He looks over to Mirk, then back to Lucita, then back down to his hand and quickly throws off the bugs. "Bugs... the bugs were used as a weapon of another... fiend... but now they are... like this. Could it be connected?" He looks toward the door of the townhouse then back to Lucita, over to Delilah, watching Miranda. "'Lilah... your thoughts?" His worry returns to Lucita...

Lucita slowly regains her composure, for the most part, fear still showing in her eyes though she says. "I'm not familiar with what may happen... and ..." She breaks off her words, not meeting anyone's eyes. " So all these bugs... what next Lord Mirk... and yes. I 'thought' I was. I really thought I was but... Lady Miranda ... will have to explain. I can't, I don't know."

Miranda hmms softly. "Where was the Baroness when she lost control of herself? When she began.." She has to close her eyes a moment, taking a few deep breaths. ".. to feel something take her over?" She points to the house, "There's a blue glow at her wrist and a blue glow over the house."

Mirk checked mana + occult at difficulty 30, rolling 35 higher.

As the others begin to walk closer to the house, so too does Marzio. One hand drifts up toward the strap that holds his trident across his shoulder in a cautious sort of gesture, but he doesn't pull the weapon from his shoulder. Looking down toward the bugs that Mirk and Aiden had pointed out, he frowns thoughtfully but doesn't move to pick them up or anything of the sort.

Thorn straughtens and looks to Mirk, "Burn it? Just to be careful?"

"It's a cold presence, I think. The cold clings to where its power has touched," Mirk suggests to Miranda. "It clung to me when I approached to close to its origin. That presence here in this house. It's watching us, I think." He nods his head, once, at Aiden's thoughts. "Such forces often move at cross purposes, Duke Aiden, but it could merely be a natural thing. A frozen moment in time; there's always more insects, crawling about, than we would be aware of. They move around us, avoiding our gaze, scurrying out of view when we disturb them. I cannot be certain. But..." He shakes his head. "Shall we go in, or shall we return with preparations? I can think of a few?" He shoots Thorn a look. "I'm not sure I have the authority to make that decision. And taking such drastic action...might disturb forces that we don't fully comprehend."

Thorn tugs up her scarf to make sure her mouth and nose are covered, before she looks over at Mirk and nods, "Okay, I'm going back out of the frozen zone here, I can't feel my feet. But let me know if there's anything else I can do?"

Miranda moves closer to the house, slowly it seems. She doesn't seem to be in a hurry to go inside, just testing the proverbial waters around it. One slow step at a time.

Lucita is subdued but managing to function more like herself. She stays with the group, listening to what they say but staying largely in the background and following their guidance.

Aiden drops the bugs off from his hand and proceeds to dust off the glove against his leg, standing up as he looks toward the house when it's declared there to be a presence watching them. He considers Mirk's suggestion that it could be natural forces, but Aiden's arched brown shows how skeptic he is of that. "What's natural anymore, when there are opposing forces in the world and that of the spirit we have forgotten..." he shakes his head, "I would suggest, returning with preparations, perhaps. A member of the inquisition has been notified..." He looks back at Lucita, "And we can't risk any more than we have." He starts moving away from the house, no longer willing to barge into the house unprepared. He approaches Lucita though, his hand going to her arm, "I did say you could wet my shoulder if you needed. If I thought this would be such a risk to you.. I wouldn't have asked you along.. I thought it was birds and an airborne illness..."

Miranda is already approaching the house!

"Preparations might be prudent. But first, to see what we have to prepare for..." Mirk steels himself for a moment, murmurs a quiet prayer to the spirits, and then reaches for the door, attempting to open it - or test whether it's even possible for him to do so. "Lady Lucita, you may remain behind me, if you wish. Lady Miranda, I'll rely on you should violence happen." He evidently doesn't know Marzio enough to have specific comments for him.

Miranda wields Kindling, an alaricite curved sword.

Marzio wields Elegant Diamondplate Trident.

Miranda nods to Mirk, "Aye, my Lord." She looks to Marzio and winks at him, then prepares to meet... whatever might come flying out of the house... if anything. Or at least look INTO the open door, if we can do that. She pulls Kindling out, the big gun.. er.. sword. It's alaricite blade gleams.

Marzio checked willpower at difficulty 10, rolling 1 higher.

Aiden checked willpower at difficulty 10, rolling 40 higher. Aiden rolled a critical!

Mirk checked willpower at difficulty 10, rolling 5 higher.

Miranda checked willpower at difficulty 10, rolling 2 lower.

Lucita nods to Mirk. A soft "Thank you." is said as she steps behind him, starting to lift her hand to rest on his back but after glancing at it as if it is something of which to be wary, lowers it and to her side.

Lucita checked willpower at difficulty 15, rolling 3 higher.

Aiden sighs as he notes the group going in.. and takes the rear guard, shifting his alaricite bow into his hand. "Well then.. as if this will be useful in tight quarters..." he says mostly to himself as he tells Archibald, "Find safety my friend. I will not risk you further." And... the Duke proceeds to follow everyone else. Good choices...

Aiden wields Starfall, an alaricite bow.

The house looms, moreso than an innocent home should. There is a sense of despair or hopelessness that clings to the space around this house. It is disturbing on a deep level, the feeling of just wrongness that clings to this place. It is silent, even the sounds of the market seem to fade as they linger near the home. The cold stings the nostrils with every inhale, eyelashes starting to stick together during blinks. This is miserable. For those of strong will, the emotional assault is bearable. But for Miranda? It is crushing. Fear is thick and weighty on her tongue, the sense of inevitable destruction is almost too much to bear. The door seems to bend forward, though blinking, it is as upright as any door.

That's right. She face abyssal bears in the wood! She can leap into dark places without a single thought. Fight against glass sharks! But go into THIS house?! For whatever reason, Miranda's breath catches, her eyes go wide and she. can't. move. She just... stands there like an idiot, cluthing her sword which begins to tremble in her shaking hands. She shakes her head and takes a step back.

Lucita falls back on what she knows best when things like this prey on her mind, she sings, softly, to herself, almost in a whisper. And the song she chooses is one of hope and joy, of spring and love, the things to turn her thoughts and worry away from despair, from Dirge. She keeps a tight grasp on her thoughts, trying to block anything from getting in and reaching her. Since something took control of her hand and arm before, she makes sure she does not hold a blade, not risking stabbing Mirk.

Aiden exhales a deep breath of cold air, feeling the condensation of that help clot up his eyelashes which he blinks a part a few times. His eyes look over toward Miranda, spotting her fear and the tremble. A faint noise of exasperation leaves him without barrier, "Lady Miranda, perhaps you should wait outside for us?" He moves in further to the house, as if nothing is amiss, even if the despair in the house is utterly creepy on a deep soulful level. "This is lovely..." a quip, "Thoughts on banishing this despair, Lord Mirk?"

There is so sound at all coming from within the house, no sign that anyone at all is home. The wind picks up, a whistle rattling the windows, a chill wind that swirls. The sound comes from nowhere, carried on the gust of air, "Get. Out." This is repeated in a dissonant chorus, hidden within the wind. Those traveling nearby pull up their hoods and hunch away, seeming not to hear the voice carried on the chill. "GET. OUT."

Marzio approaches the house with the rest, looking to meet Mirk's eyes as he relays orders and then smirking as he passes him over. Taking it upon himself, he pulls the trident from his back and readies it to poke whatever might come from that door when it opens, but as they approach the smirk slowly fades from his features. His eyes shift toward the others once they draw near, his eyes settling on Miranda as she freezes and then takes a step backward. Moving over toward her, he reaches out with the butt of his trident and pokes her calf to try and snap her out of whatever has gotten into her head.

Odie, a mixed breed hound arrives, following Laurel.

Odie, a mixed breed hound leaves, following Laurel.

With only that threat carried on the wind there is a sudden hammering on the door from the other side, a wild, angry pounding, the kind that tends to harald a gang of toughs about to burst through and attempt a beating.

Mirk draws deep breaths, letting them out to mist in the cold air. It seems to be a calming gesture, one of self-control. "Reminds me of the last days of the green snow," he says quietly, as if afraid of upsetting the hush with a more normal volume. "The feeling of it..." He paces, slowly, into the house, each step tentative. Not stealthy, at least not in a deliberate fashion, but cautious. At least until he hears that voice rattling the windows. He draws his cloak closer about him, almost unconscious in the gesture, and he steps back. "We're not ready for a confrontation," he says to the others. "But spirit of this place. We do not come here for one." His voice wavers, despite himself, a crack in the usual confidence - or at least stoicism. He half-turns towards the door, ready to flee, gesturing for the others to precede him out the door.

Lucita's barely audible song stumbles, falters for a moment then resumes. On hearing Mirk's words she turns, ready to exit the house, following his guidance.

That's it. Just thwack her calf and Miranda blinks and then jerks a moment, looking at her leg and then looking up at Marzio. "What? Oh.. right.." What's she doing here again?! The fear lingers on her face, or the memory of it, but she holds her ground, rather than taking another step back. She looks to Mirk, then to Aiden before glancing to Lucita and Marzio in turn. She shivers a bit and says, "We should go. Come back when we're ready." Yes, repeating someone's idea here.

Upon hearing the voice whispering to get out, Aiden fully agrees, "Right. I suspected as much and stated as much prior to walking in." He seems annoyed now, "Rushing head long into things we don't know about is usually not a tactic in any war manual I've read, let alone spiritual ones." He turns about the way they came and promptly grabs Lucita's hand, ensuring she leaves with him, before some more frozen ghostly things happen.

As the group backs down, the wind fades and the pounding stops. There is a slick sliding sound and a meaty thud from behind the door. None of the locals are looking that way, avoiding the house nearly as much as that vacant spot in the market.

Miranda steps back again, making sure Marzio is going, then she scurries out behind Aiden and Lucita.

Mirk hurries out after them, barely shy of a jog, revealing his fear in his pace more than his expression. "We gathered valuable intelligence, my lord. That's all I hoped to accomplish. Next time..." He trails off, rather than finishing the thought, casting a nervous glance over his shoulder.

Marzio backs away with all the rest, not seeming too keen to stick around and be the only one left in the house with the pounding and slick sliding sounds. He keeps his weapon in hand until they have gained some distance on the house.

Aiden nods curtly at Mirk, "Lucita, can I walk you home?" He's apparently not in a good mood anylonger and who would blame him! That despair was bad. Very bad. He spares one single look for Miranda and there's a lot of weight in that look, before he murmurs, "Thank you for assisting tonight. I'll leave it to you, Lord Mirk, to plan a way to resolve this."

Lucita glances down at her wrist and gasps. "It.. was numb and the further we get from the house.... it pulls at me.. and then... like someone's grip on my wrist, holding or clinging to it... or a suction... and then... it is gone and the numbness is fading."

Lucita says, "Lady Miranda... What is happening? What is going on? Can you see? Can you tell?""

The air gets warmer the further they get from the House. The woman at the meat stall surrepticiously looks their way, looking relieved that they are well enough and didn't enter the house. She shifts her attention away, and starts her busking calls. "Five pennies for a single stick, ten for a pair, pork from a farm south of Arx, five pennies for a stick!"

Miranda looks back at Aiden, her expression... uncertain. WEighty looks and all. She bows her head lightly to him, "Of course, my Lord." She does look back at Lucita, "So it's fading?" Another 'look' at Lucita's wrist to see if her 'glow' is gone.

Miranda moves to Lucita and hugs her, "It's fading. The further you are from the house, so go home, hmm?"

"By all means, my lord, though I must admit I'm not an expert in this particular matter," Mirk says with a dip of his head towards Aiden. "I'll...think of something. Lady Miranda, what do you make of the presence?"

Lucita says, "I can walk home with Duke Aiden but... I don't want to go near my children till it is gone! I .. can't risk them. Can you take one last look before I go into the tower please?""

Aiden considers Lord Marzio, then states, "Lord Mazetti, come by for tea... or whatever sort of drink you prefer. I should like to get to learn who you are, when my mind isn't distracted by friends being touched by ... abyssal things and a wind that whispers..." He spares the man at least a decent nod, before he gestures at Mirk, "Keep me advised. Farewell." He'll wait for Lucita to ensure she's cleansed or proceed without her, either way, he has little more to spare for the day's events.

As they move further away from the house and the impending sense of danger and dread fade, Marzio finally slips his trident back across his back. When Aiden makes his intentions to leave known, he offers a dip of his head to the other man and says, "Of course. I will try to find time in the near future to make it around the Palazzo to take you up on that." His eyes drift toward Lucita and then toward her wrist before he looks around to locate the hitching post where his horse was tied, and then to move to retrieve the beast.

Baron Archibald Chirpington, a Gyrfalcon have been dismissed.

Severa, the Guard Shepherd have been dismissed.

Sir Frances Flappington IV, an albino crow have been dismissed.

3 Rubino and Zaffria guards have been dismissed.

Miranda glances from Mirk to Lucita and to Marzio. "My head's clearing as we get further from the House. It is -very- familiar to me." She looks to Lucita, "Of course, my lady, but you will likely be fretting for no reason." She gestures back to the house, "It's already fading.."

1 Grayson House Guards, Rosalie, a lady in waiting, Peaches, a lovely white war filly with a peach saddle, Deliverance, an albino falcon, Stormy, a silvery gray hunting hound, Rascal, a hyper terrier arrive, following Reese.

1 Grayson House Guards, Rosalie, a lady in waiting, Peaches, a lovely white war filly with a peach saddle, Deliverance, an albino falcon, Stormy, a silvery gray hunting hound, Rascal, a hyper terrier leave, following Reese.

"I see..." Mirk says, frowning. "I suppose we'll have to discuss that, another time. Lady Lucita, until next time. My lord, a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I'll leave the niceties for another time." He lets out a slow breath, scoops up his bowl of herbal incense, left near the 'void' in the street, and blows out the flame.

Lucita says, "Perhaps so... but when you have children, you will understand the need for that caution." She says to Miranda and Marzio." And with that she manages a smile, a weak one but a smile."

2 Rubino and Zaffria guards, Juana, a harried Lady's Maid leave, following Miranda.

In the darkness an unseen presence lurks, watching. Waiting. Smirking.