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{I'll leave that up to you- I don't want to hold everyone up & I'm not positive how often I'll be on! & thank you She keeps my hands full, but she's entirely worth it}

Takurasho grimaced at Zaida's words, but did not reply. He knew she was right. Should the Butler wish to interact with her- or any of the others- the vetala was convinced that he would not be capable of stopping him. But despite this, he seemed determined to keep the enigmatic character away. What was he so intimidated by...?
Having not seen Aranel approach, what with his focus set on the Butler, he flinched as her hand brushed his arm. He was on edge. An abnormal expression- sheepishness?- overtook his generally placid demeanor. He had stressed secrecy when discussing this "payment" with the Gentleman & the Lady, insisting that he didn't wish to disturb his companions, but it was evidently too late for that. Their suspicion was aroused. A cold stare was turned on the Lady, locking on to her. The look was unwavering as he hesitantly began to explain.
"I... was not paid as the rest of you were for the mission at the Whittaker mansion. The Gentleman knew what I am, & purposely hired me for my... 'paranormal affinity'. I requested that as payment I be given the body of a telekinetic mage." Takurasho raised the addition, expression grim as he pulled down the sleeve some, exposing in full the stitching on his wrist. "By adding a piece of his body to this one, I have obtained a moderate portion of his abilities- or at least, I will once my base form has adapted to it." Takurasho spoke matter-of-factly, as though this explanation were more simplistic than its truly grisly nature. Perhaps he thought that by downplaying the situation he could somehow lessen the severity of it. Then his demeanor darkened again & his tone lowered. "But something is wrong. I am assaulted by... visions... reminiscent of memories, in which I am referred to as Yantume. I have no idea as to who this is, & I want to know why this is happening to me." It was then that the female figure draped in black became visible to him, but he did not react to it other than a small raising of the brows. He stiffened as the Butler addressed him, giving his dissipating figure an incredulous look. Was he suggesting Takurasho was obligated to look after the distraught Lady? The thought didn't seem to comfort him at the slightest. Nonetheless, he approached her as she screamed at him, going to one knee & seizing her by the shoulders with a stony stare. When she finally spoke his name he nodded slowly & released her & stood.

Takurasho folded his arms as he received her answer, questions clearly forming behind those pale eyes. As before, he went somewhat slack as he was drawn into the memory fragment.

Only one question...? A shame, but he was certain they would speak again regardless of the apparently ominous situation.
"Those markings, that... darkness... what is it you two conjured?"

{Phew, good to know... I was afraid our thread was dying!}

{Oh thank goodness! Well, not to his troubles, of course, but to the thread. I quite used to waiting, and I shall, if it means Crow will get to pick her bachelor..}

I'm back for a bit, ya'll! Typing up a post right now. Let's see what unfolds! This post will be edited))

REALLY SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT EVERYONE! ]

One question. So little to offer? Not so much. Yantume was doing all that was remained of him, all that he cherished to present the answer to Takurasho. What is it you two conjured? Conjured was hardly the word for it. Perhaps, Awakened? Released? The dark arts are never something to toy with as their origins are far darker than the immediate comprehension of normalized thought. There was a brief moment where everything was still. Takurasho asked and the answer will be shown. Behind The Lady and her precious Skull opened Six eyes, but with no correlation in position to a human skull; if anything much like how Jonathan had his free-roam 'eyes' however they did have a focal point around that accursed symbol. In the distance of prevailing blackness were more of the same optics, but opening by the hundreds, if not thousands. It was brief that Takurasho was privileged to see the unseen until they all finally bolted with incredible speed in his direction. Like a bad dream this premonition was yanked from around his enveloped consciousness almost slamming him and the Lady roughly into reality.

The Lady remained standing almost already having regained her countenance although the tears resumed with a placing of her hand on Aerion's forearm "I mustn't be taken by him. The Gentleman." A soft gaze cast his way in an almost apologetic plea.

In Crow's room it appeared one still entertained the presence of the other. From the skull's open holes of the jaw agape and the eye sockets barren began to pour free a black fluid. "This one is different from the others. She is pure, but also not." The playful glee the child once had twisted into a disappointed frown. The skull continued to pour free its black essence that pooled underneath him and the object of interest. As smooth of an entry did he rise, he also sank. "We must find the pure one.. this one will not do." Voices echoed in whispers from the blackness in which the boy sank into. When finally his entire visage had been consumed by this mysterious liquid did it then dart across the floor and out of Crow's room going back into the hall.

In a twisted, unseemly cross-network of black lines the walls were being wired with them and even the ceiling. Slowing their creep until converging just outside of the peripheral of the group above Zaida. [Zaida's removal] Almost any motion to adjust one's view can bring attention to these black lines, but just how attentive is each and every one of them with all focus appearing to be on the Lady. The Lady however, with her current positioning her gaze was able to be cast over the shoulders of each member to see the lines of dark etch their way above Zaida and begun to lower an ink-like tendril downward. About half way from the ceiling to the top of Zaida's head did the tendril snap to and land on Zaida's cowl to begin its consumption of her form; much like what happened on the Airship. Coming into contact with the substance was like reaching into an enlarging cocoon of jelly, only moving its primary target; Zaida, was near impossible. Zaida's screams were muffled as she were to be lifted from the ground and absorbed into the obsidian substance itself.

The Lady, although clearly having been capable of preventing this turn of events could only turn her head away and hold herself within her own embrace. She knew what this was about. She knew, what was about to happen shortly. In her fit of anguish she attempted to make an escape. She assumed it was too late to save...- - -

Up in the Higher Conference Room

The Head of the scout team, having fallen asleep on the table with the letter lain in front of his turned face was woken up by the abrupt shouts of his supreme, Gyosei. "Sleeping?!" He immediately snapped to, groggy, he turned to face Gyosei and lower himself into a submissive bow. "I'm sorry, Lord Gyosei! It's just this letter. The written style seems so familiar that I found myself comparing it to all of the scrolls written by those of high importance among our Keep. The only relevance is to the foreigner." Gyosei cast his eyes upon the papers that were not more apparent to him. Piles of scrolls and sheets of rice paper in disarray. "This is important to you?" Gyosei questioned. "Yes, Lord Gyosei. I do not trust that group on the word of m--" This apology spree was interrupted by the second Head of the scout team. "Sorry to intrude, but--" Raising up a thatched sac with a bloodied bottom. "That rogue thief that we found with the group. Did not give any information, but my gut tells me none of them are too be trusted. The man's arms were made of conjoined steel and flesh." The sac was tossed to Gyosei who snatched it out of the air with one swipe of the hand. "Hm.." Gyosei's eyes remained attracted to the sac. "Maybe..." Walking over to the window to gaze down upon the second landing upon the building where the group were given rooming for the night. "What was the thief's name?" The second head of the squad shook his head. "He was never spoken about by name." Gyosei pivoted in a growing fit. "Then we will find out, now won't we?" Storming out of the room back into the snowy haze. The moment the door was opened, he as met with a coffin carried by two of his subordinates. "Sire. This woman, found amid the crash also carried a letter. We believe she was held high in some ranks."

The snow came down unforgivably and the structure bore no cover from the glacial precipitation. Gyosei took the letter that was given and examined it. It read the same as the letter the head of his squads was looking over. In a rush of adrenaline he ripped off the coffin door and gazed upon the face of the woman. She had been long since dead and appeared to have not been afflicted by the crash for whatever reason.. almost as though something had repaired the damages done since her clothes still wore the scars of calamity. Gyosei could only stare. The head of his squads; after looking over the letter approached the coffin still held by the pair of men and immediately clenched the letter in a tight grip. The resemblance is almost irrefutable! "Lord Gyosei! We must see to our guests." He marched forward. Gyosei was somewhat bewildered, but clearly frustrated as he went on with both his heads of command and the pair of basic soldiers who heaved the coffin down the snowy slope to the second landing.

Off in the distance just a ways across the still river that has never frozen resonated a black and omnious mist. Something was in the works.. something was..evolving.

{No worries- welcome back!}

Crow’s dirtied hand-wraps clench together, her hands balling into a fist. Her pale gaze lingers upon the boy within her room, her breath escaping through her pale lips slowly. Crow’s right, coarse shoe takes a step, her right arm drawing near her form, before the arm is sent outward, to Crow’s side, “Be gone with you, then, spirit.” Her pale lips quirk upwards, then form a frown, as the form of the boy fades into the flooring. Her arms return to her side, until her pale gaze drifts towards the small, glowing crystal. Crow’s right hand lifts the crystal upwards, before her gaze snaps upward.

Crow’s form turns about and she marches, quickly, towards the room’s door. Her hands move to unlock it, and she steps into the hallway, her pale gaze drifting along the sides of the wall. Crow’s coarse shoes pick up speed, as her right hand reaches upward to grasp at her tri-cornered hat, removing it, but still holding it. She approaches the others, her chest lifting and dropping steadily, her breath escaping her lips audibly. “Its component has been collected?” Crow’s tri-cornered hat is placed back upon her hat. “This action can no longer be prevented, then.”

((That's alright. Good to have you back! And sorry about taking forever to post. Last weeks had been terribly busy))

Aearion listened closely to what Takurasho spoke. It was both interesting as well as disgusting to hear."I had no idea that one's body was the scource for magic. I always figured it came from the mind..." Aearion spoke neutral. What he said next was... less neutral."So what are you, exactly? A puppeteer who's collecting the right parts for his favorite puppet? What would you even do with that power?! You-"

Before he could keep on his rant, the Lady had taken his attention. "The Gentleman? I should have done more research before accepting to work with him. If he's got access to dead mages..." The more he realized, the more frightened he got. What was this wasp's nest he got himself into?"Look, I think this... Yantume person is tied to this place. Perhaps you've taken over more of him than just part of his powers." Aearion offered, feeling smart to suggest that."Maybe you're getting his memory back. What exactly are you seeing right now? Maybe it'll clarify more."

The Mer wanted to say more, but he suddenly noticed the tendrils on the ceiling as he rolled his eyes up. Right after he saw the black mass suck up Zaida. His eyes widened and he bolted for her."Zaida!" He yelled as he pushed anyone who was in his way aside in an attempt to rescue her. But just like last time he couldn't hold on. As soon as he touched the black coccoon, he felt a burning sensation running through his arms as the gooy coccoon seemed to slither through his arms with ease.

Aearion's chest was visibly moving up and down with his rapid breaths."Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT!" He smashed his fist onto the wall."Not again! Why can't I save her!?" He yelled in disraught as he leaned his arm and head against the wall, faced away from anyone. He had never felt this useless before. And that coming from a man who doesn't do much else than play music.

Aranel could only watch in confusion. None of this made sense to her. She felt just as useless as Aearion would here soon, glaring downward as it was revealed The Gentleman was not quite their friend (or so she assumed from what she'd been listening in on).

Her eyes flickered over to Crow as she approached, but was soon distracted by Zaida. She saw her too late, only managing to take a step toward her (as hurried as it may have been) before she was no longer there. Her heart broke. Each and every time this woman was stolen from them, she'd been near her. Or she was actively attempting to help.

Aranel only stood there in shock, staring at the area where the woman once stood moments ago. Eventually, she choked out a sob and cupped her mouth with her hands, squeezing her eyes shut. When Aearion yelled, she flinched and hunkered down just a little. When he stopped, she opened her eyes again and saw that blue-skinned blur. Shakily, she approached and would reach out to place a hand on his back. "Aearion," she muttered, voice cracking with strain. "No one can...," she finally added in a whisper. "Maybe if I had my glasses-- If I hadn't of been so careless and lost them, I could've seen...," she trailed off and shook her head. Finally she turned around and stormed up to The Lady.

"Could you explain to me what's going on? The gist of it? Who's doing what? Who's the Butler? The Gentleman? You?" she questioned, voice firm (albeit trembling). She brought a hand up to her eyes and wiped the tears away. Determined, she'd stand her ground next to the woman.

Crow’s coarse shoes slow to a stop, her pale gaze drifting towards the Mer. “Did you think you had the ability to do so? Now is not the time for foolish heroism.” Her head turns towards Aranel, as she did the same. Crow’s facial features remain neutral, as her head tilts upward, staring at the ceiling. “You should consider yourself fortunate. It is far beyond your control, but due to your own stupidity, you are marked with impurity. If you were not, you would have been consumed as well.”

Crow’s pale gaze lingers on the veiny darkness etched into the wall’s surface, her form taking a few steps towards it. Her head lowers its gaze to the dirtied and ripped robes she wore, her right hand sifting through them to draw her quilled pen. Lifting the pen upwards, Crow’s pale gaze drifts upward, her quill pen’s point being used to prod the veiny darkness, twice. “The Gentleman?” Crow’s pale gaze drifts towards Aranel and the other femme, her right hand slowly lowering, her thumb and pointer finger poised upon the quilled pen’s midsection. “If he is responsible for this entrapment, where is he?” Crow’s pale gaze drifts towards her dirtied robes, her right hand placing the quilled pen back within the ripped fabric, her coarse shoes moving across the floor rapidly. Crow’s left hand clasps the right hand of Aranel, her pale gaze bearing into the other’s, “Hold your questions.” Crow’s pale gaze snaps to the Lady, “Where is the Gentleman? If it is possible, how can he be slain?”

Aranel twitched a bit when she heard Crow speak to Aearion. And then to her. She grew very, very angry at the woman and was quick to turn to her. "Stupidity? I beg your pardon?" she squeaked, taking a step closer to her. "I've done nothing that renders me 'stupid!' I'm partially unsure what impure even means! Because I accepted the Butler's help in order to help save the rest of the group? Is that what that means?" Each word was laced with a trace of sarcasm but a cupful of anger. The small woman was now very close to Crow, practically on fire with irritation. "You've been nothing but unpleasant this entire time - although not in particular to me. I suppose I should have expected that, though. And maybe in that regard I was stupid. But stupidity for not being a...a psychic? For not knowing things that would occur in the future based off actions that actually helped people? Hah! Don't make me laugh."

With a deep breath, she steadied her angered breathing and wiped her crying eyes. She wasn't yelling, but boy oh boy was she livid. Her voice became quiet, almost like a whisper. "As far as that foolish heroism goes - at least he and I are both willing to help another person. You may be fine with letting her die, you may be able to shrug it off in some inhuman way, but I am not. I'd watch what you say, Miss Crow, if you prefer being able to function properly." OH SNAP.

And with that, she'd go to The Lady and badger her with questions. If she was still touched by the woman and told to hush, Aranel would whirl around and glare, withdrawing her hand in one quick jerk. "My questions are not unimportant. Hold your tongue!" she whispered, trying so hard not to act irrationally. She turned back to The Lady and let her gaze soften a little.

With Zaida having been absorbed into the umbra in the most ripe of form in both soul and mind, the strains of obsidian that absorbed her seemed to harden and crystallize. When Crow tapped at it with her quill it was already in the process of crystallizing causing a bit of vein to chip and fall from the suspended extension.

The Lady said nothing although cornered by Aranel's approach she'd raise her hands to her ears to hastily walk away. Shame though.. she did not make it far. A loud snap followed by the sound of glass breaking multiple times over rung through the air of the hallway and with it came down The Lady's body. Leaning on the wall with her shoulder hand, shards of obsidian strewn out momentarily from underneath her robes. She swallowed hard to steady her panic. Only leg clearly visible, although the other was.. not. The air held an eerie stillness. "The Umbra are here." She spoke in a weak whisper. Grabbing her robe to pull it up some to examine the effects herself, it was apparent that her entire right leg had been turned into the same material of black that absorbed Zaida just moments before and unfortunately shattered. Releasing her garbs to veil over any extra exposed flesh she could only hold herself.

In that same instance the door behind the group was broken in by Gyosei and his followers, casket and all. "So what is this I hear about you folks not being all of who you claim to be, huh?" Gyosei's voice roared through the still air. On either side of him stood his Squad captains. "Your friend here did not talk much. Fortunately, we did not need his help to discover your ploy." The blooded sac with Clint's severed head was hurled in the group's direction. The two who held the casket remained silent behind their superiors.

Crow’s left hand releases the other femme’s, her pale gaze snapping to Aranel’s. Crow’s pale lips form the slightest of frowns, her form turning to face the slightly shorter femme, and she stands still. Her yellow eyes stare into the other femme’s, her expression un-changing. Then, Crow’s yellow eyes look to her left, her eyes closing in the tiniest of amounts.

Crow’s yellow drift towards the smaller femme’s. Her head shakes slowly, and slightly, from side-to-side. “I do not blame you. My words were not meant for you. I am..” Crow’s right foot takes a step back, her back pressing into the wall, and her arms folding about her front, her hands cupping her elbows. Crow’s head tilts downward, the dirtied, tri-cornered hat obscuring most of her facial features from view, “Would you rather have her die, or be consumed by the darkness..”

{Part 1}

Crow’s form pushes off of the wall’s surface, her pale gaze drifting towards the form of the Lady. Her head tilts upward, the dirtied, tri-cornered hat revealing more of her highly neutral expression. However, the yellow eyes of Crow were open, her expression more awake than somber. Crow’s yellow gaze snaps towards Aranel, her right hand pointing its pointer finger directly towards the Lady’s leg. Crow’s words escape her lips rapidly, “If the darkness turns into a very brittle crystal that shatters with upon any pressure, and the darkness consumes the person entirely, then you will experience each and every bone, muscle, and tissue ripping itself from what remains intact, in time, should you not learn how to reverse the process of this Umbra.”

Crow’s pale gaze drifts towards the approaching men, her form turning to face them, her hands at her side. Her expression remains highly neutral, as her right hand lifts upward, her fingers clasping at the head sac’s fabric. Crow’s yellow gaze drifts towards the other femme, her right hand holding up the bag, then letting it fall upon the ground. “He is the first to die here. We are trapped, and without finding the Gentleman, this man’s life, and those under his protection, will surely perish. Go, and ask him, how many live in this settlement. You will learn of the number you have saved, for fetching the Gentleman’s source of power.”

{Posting Complete}

Alright. Tak had to also take a leave from our Adventure and I believe our Mer-friend has also picked up a busy schedule, so I will be explaining the remainder of the plot in a short summary in the next day or two. Depends on how much time I have tomorrow night.

{Don't worry, I'm not gone for good!}

Aearion seemed to be disconnected. He didn't even answer Crow's jab that hurt his pride. He didn't react to the fight Aranel and Crow had, although he would have certainly sided if with Aranel if he did, and he only seemed to return back to the land of the living when he heard glass shatter. He raised himself, suddenly noticing that the rest of the group was on the move and he quickly tailed behind, seemingly confused.

The Mer quickly noticed the shards of glass in the Lady's leg."Oh, by Melora..." He mumbled. Those were so many! He had no idea how to remove them. His medical skills were poor!"Okay... Okay, don't panic. We can help you out! We.. We just need..."

So much was happening. When Gyosei entered with his men, Aearion too faced towards them."On what grounds do you think we're plotting against you?!" Aearion hadn't met the man before, but it was clear he was a superior power. He walked closer to them until the sack with the head flew right past him. When Crow spoke of 'the first to die here' he realized what was in the bag."You KILLED him?! We are guests under your roof! Where is your evidence!?" He had a hard time staying calm, but he had to try lest he made the situation worse."You have made a dire mistake, sir! We're not plotting anything! Please, give us a chance to talk at least, to defend ourselves against your wild claim!"