Lindenberg, a Steampunk tale (Closed for siobhancan99)

[Shadowlace]

Outside the cozy cafe off the turbulent river, she sat with a wonderful aromatic tea infront of her. Dressed in a gown as black as the night skin. The silken fabric kisses the alabaster skin, the silver filigree a sign to others that she was no mere commoner. The tall broad shouldered lady wore a hat on the dismal hat, a veil covering her face obscuring all but her bright red lips.

“Madam, your patisseries’ are almost done.” Said a young female baker. Emilia tilts her head and smiles.

“ Thank you Debra, Tell your parents I do love their cafe above all others” Emilia states as she lifts the tea in her gloved hand and takes a sip. This lets the others see her rustic satchel bag hanging off a belt. Though silver and black tourmaline decorate her dress and top, this was a practical bag. Inside rested a variety of ingredients and vials for quick mixing as well as a small journal, pen and ink and more. It was her work bag. As was the umbrella she had hanging off the knob of her chair. It was black as her dress and seemed to have bats on them.

Emilia absently as she waited at the bay window seat, when not drinking her tea, ran her left pointer finger over the jet brooch anchored in silver, that is shaped as a bat. The woman seemingly was subtly observed by the more middle class patrons of the cafe. Clearly a woman of her stature and means would send a servant to get such items, but no this woman with black wool trimmed in silver fur cape was clearly out of the ordinary. What they didn’t know was that Lady Emilia Vosk patronized this place not only for its exquisite cakes and cookies but to meet the applicant for her personal valet and bodyguard.

Oh the woman had already met with the Robotic Butler Mr.Eddington and Muriel Emilia’s Maid. this was the final interview. One that would start here and move it to something interesting. Even here in this magical city things still required leg work and investigation to discover and unravel. It was in the second test that this applicant would be tested and see if they measured up to the real heart of the job. So she took up the saucer and cup and sipped. Enjoying the gloomy mist of Lindenbergs’ streets.

 

[siobhancan99]

Penelope P. Pevensie arrived at the appointed hour at the small cafe. It was a strange place to meet a prospective employer, she thought, but this was only her second job for the well heeled of Lindenberg, and her introduction to the first had been a rather routine referral. Still, the rich were entitled to be eccentric, and the rich were the only ones in need of services like hers. She scanned the small cafe, settling on the obvious fish out of water, dressed in Jet and Tourmaline, face half veiled. The employer, finally. She'd had a few interviews with the mechanical abominations that served as the lady's personal servants. She'd managed, apparently, to quell her distaste for the soulless contraptions enough to make it this far. Truth be told she needed the job. Her severance from her last position, while generous, was not enough to keep her in the manner to which she had become accustomed.

She was dressed nattily, in a men's suit cunningly tailored to allow more freedom of movement than the current fashions allowed. Her thick, dark, curly hair was pinned up under a bowler, the brown of the hat matching the brown of her pinstriped suit. Her skin held an olive tone and her eyes were a rich brown, almond shaped and hinting at an exotic background. A discerning eye might note the tiny hole in her left nostril, which would indicate the ordinary presence of a bit of jewelry, absent at least today. In her gloved left hand she held a brass knobbed walking stick. Those who knew would recognize it as a weapon, marketed as delivering a jolt of voltaic power enough to "fell a black rhino at 20 paces." She was sure that it wasn't powerful enough for all that, but it had in a pinch dropped a stout man intent on shooting her with a rather conventional shotgun.

When she addressed the woman, her words had the elocution of a woman raised in the very best private schools, but with a hint of something strongly suggesting foreign shores. "Lady Emlia I presume?" She took off her bowler, looking down at the woman, though she couldn't really see her face as it was obscured by the hat and the veil. "Ms. Pevensie, at your service."

 

[Shadowlace]

Emilia stands her broad shoulders clear now as she stood regal and ladylike. However she stood over 6 feet in hieght. Her hair too was tucked under her hat though it was pitch back like her dress. The dress falls neatly with a bustle in the back. She gestures for the woman to sit."Please just Emilia right now. Formalities not needed"

The tall elegant woman with fingerless gloves sported black fingernails that were short, very unlike the style. Though so too was her belt satchel and on the other hip a black oak handled dagger, the colonists had dubbed a Toothpick. Not only that her height seemed to take the air out of the room, many of the other patrons having frozen in object awe for the woman should not have stood, nor are noble ladies so tall and broad.

When the Ms. Pevensie sat so then did Emilia follow. Once more comfortable the woman lifted her arm and the young maid who worked the cafe and counter came over. "Ms. Pevensie, please this is Debra, Debra Ms. Pevensie, an associate of time." Emilia paused as she smiled." I see the ladyfingers are ready, first though Ms. Pevensie please feel free to order tea, my treat"

Debra stood a girl of about 15 with a bonnet cap and wooden shoes pulled out a small paper pad and pen. "Miss, it would be my pleasure to take your order"

Once that was done Emilia smiled. A toothless one that was warm and soft. "So I here for my staff that you are proficient in mystical arts, as well as martial arts" this was followed by the woman with feminine yet large hands holding the delicate porcelain tea cup and saucer up to her lips and sipped very lady like. Beneath the viel Emilia noted the patrons gawking, as she was quite a strange sight, but thus was the life of Lady Emilia Vosk.

 

[siobhancan99]

Penelope sat and pulled off her gloves, the motion revealing the edge of a spring-loaded device that would propel a small pistol from her sleeve to her hand, should she twist just so. She put the gloves on her hat and ordered black tea, no cream or sugar. She sat back and regarded the woman for a moment, wondering how someone who seemed so physically powerful needed a bodyguard at all. She shrugged, however, then crossed her legs and waited on her tea. "One and the same, really. The body has energy flows, they can be smoothed and aided to assist with healing, or they can be frustrated and harmed to temporarily or sometimes permanently cripple." She shifted in her seat a bit, considering. She wasn't quite sure how much of her sordid and colorful past the woman was aware of. They both ran in certain circles, after her return to the city of Lindenberg, and as Dame Jessica's secretary and bodyguard, she'd met some fellow explorers and dabblers in the mystic arts. There were, of course, the rumors about how and why she left her last employment. Dame Jessica had been kind enough to give her a glowing reference at least. Still, the others dismissed from the household at the same time had let out some inkling as to what had gone on. She took her tea when it arrived, blessedly swiftly, and used it as a crutch to not speak for a moment. "Ive had extensive training at a monastery in the east." She wrapped her hands around the cup, then lifted it. She inhaled, letting herself enjoy the aroma of the tea and also testing it to see if anything untoward was in it. Satisfied that there was not, she took a small sip.

"I do wonder, Lady Amelia, how much you are aware of, and how much you wish to be aware of."

 

[Shadowlace]

Emilia smiled this time showing her her perfectly white teeth. " Well my dear I am aware of your talents. I do know much about why your former employer purged you and others form the house. There are rumors, but I assume you being near the world of nobles probably haven't heard much about my Ancient and Noble house, nor me specifically"

Debra brings the ladyfingers and Emilia offers some to her guest. After that she takes one and begins to eat one. " I assure you, I interest in you is purely your recommendations and skills as a bodyguard's and valet. What made you rise to the top is your skill with this 'Chi'" She paused after the word her lips twitching at the word, truly a foreign one to her. "From what I read seems something that could benefit my research and profession quite well."

Emilia leans forward her voice softer, the sweet alto in her voice breathy from the confines of her bodice. " Can your Chi be used to calm a savage beast? Or incapacitate one?"

She stays in the position waiting for Ms.Pevensies' reply. The Noble though did not care that her ample bosum risked spilling out onto the food and drinks before her. Emilia was far more hovering hanging there for an answer to her inquiry.

 

[siobhancan99]

Penelope relaxed as it didn't seem that her prospective employer would but her in the awkward position of having to refuse to discuss Dame Jessica's business. The truth had been, of course, that her brother Bertrand had certain notions that he could take liberties. She chuckled to herself when the question came down about her abilities, as in a certain sense Bertrand had been a savage beast. She demurred on a lady finger. She found eating in an interview was a good way to get a crumb on herself and spoil the effect of her impeccable appearance. She sipped at her tea, doing her best not to stare at Amelia's impressive decolletage.

"I can incapacitate a savage beast, indeed. Calming them was not my talent.' She sat forward a bit. Her history might anticipate a number of the lady's questions. "When I was fourteen I had to leave the Van Eyck finishing school for girls due to a downturn in the family fortunes. My father's shipping company was reduced to a single ship. He took Pietr Rynsberger's expedition to the Raj in search of the ancient temple of Kolkat. Though I was not in my majority, the plan was to marry me to Rynsberger as the laws in the Raj are rather looser about those sorts of things. Fortunately for me, Rynsberger and his men were set upon by the thuggee." While Rynsberger's expedition was famously lost, the details had not been public. She was, probably, the only one in the west who even knew them. "My mother and I, passing for natives, were taken in by the cult. For two years I learned silence, and the use of the garotte."

She eyed a lady finger, but again chose not to eat just yet. Perhaps if she secured the position. "That continued until Helmut Langer's expedition came through Vrajnipura, where we were living at the time. My mother felt joining the expedition was our best chance of returning to the west. Langer was looking for a valley of immortal monks, and he had the queer notion he could bypass the mountains by balloon. The expedition failed. The air near the top of the mountains there is too thin and we suffered from the altitude. I was the lone survivor, found by a monastery. They took me in, and taught me the use of Chi to heal my otherwise ruined hands and feet. Perhaps because of some queer flaw in my character, or because of my prior devotion to the Lady of Destruction worshipped by the thuggee, they found I was never going to be a healer. Rather than risk the purity of their valley, they cast me out." She shrugged "One of them took pity on me, and arranged for me to meet a member of the Black Tiger Temple in southern Shu-Chun. There, I learned to use the Chi in others to incapacitate or kill. So I can heal myself or enhance my own physical abilities, but not others. My ability to work on others is purely offensive."

The Black Tiger temple had, rather famously, been destroyed by a group of Lindenberg Lancers headed up by the adventurer Jan Van Der Meer in conjunction with the T'ang Emperor. They had, in the years prior, engaged in a series of terrorist attacks to disrupt the flow of western opium into Shu-Chun and to resist the westernization of the T'ang government. The events had been serialized and sensationalized in the west. She was nervous about admitting to her part, but it was technically not illegal to be a Black Tiger in Lindenberg.

"As for you Ma'am, Lady Jessica was a member of The Society, and so I have heard the occasional rumor, but I give no stock to rumors. Servants are terrible gossips."

 

[Shadowlace]

"I see, that is quite the life. I have seen a few of those places personally and read about them extensively" Emilia informed. Though unlike Penelope across from her, Emilia's personal tragedy was different. She would not divulge it to someone she hadn't fully decided to hire. The woman though would at least assuage some of the rumors. Their were many floating about. Be them house or personal.

"Thank you for indulging me with your personal history. I can't quite give you mine, as I have yet to formally hire you. Instead I will gladly give clarity to a few" She takes another sip of her tea. As she does she thinks over the woman before her. Properly dressed as a man. Though tailored for ease of movement. Truly this woman was skilled. Skilled in martial arts she herself did not possess. To her refined combat was fine and all, but underneath the fancy dress and breeding was the beast. A savage cauldron of primal energy and power that made her into a deadly creature to face.

"As you know I am Duchess Emilia Maria Antonia Vosk, Daughter of the late Heward Daniel Anthoy Vosk. House Vosk is a old, and abstained from many of the succession wars over the years. Instead our duty was always preservation of the kingdoms knowledge, as well as its treasures and occult knowledge. This has lead many of my family to have tragic endings or mysterious disappearances. "She took another sip to wet her throat as she giggled.

" Which is why the Vosk family seal is a Black Bat in Flight on a Silver disk. We are the kingdoms little Creatures of the Night. Vigilant and observing from the shadows and when the rest of the kingdom sleeps. Needless to say such a weight gains our family considerable wealth and privilege's, though not with out its fair share of scheming rivals and enemies. Worse than that my brother Duke Atticus Adronicus Anthony Vosk married the 8th Princess Olivia Elizabeth Blackthrone. It has made my brother more prolific and thus has made many of the other houses seeking to hitch themselves to our family. Olivia will eventually move in to Vosk manor in the north, over the Mossmire where my families estate truly lies. I reside here in the capitol, At the manor house here. I do so to keep up the motto and edict of our family Investigate the Occult."[/b] The woman lets that hang for a while hoping the woman realizes what sorts of things this adds to a regular noble valet detail. Almost as an after thought she reaches down her cleavage and pulls out a silver chain that is attached to her watch. She flips it open. Its cap had a engraved and scultped jet bat in the inlaid silver. Emilia just nods and shuts the cap before slipping it back into her cleavage.

" I will also let you see my face. Just do not inform others of what you see" the regal woman says leaning in to then lift her veil. Beneath the silk a alabaster face with a thing nose and angular cheeks can be seen. It was smooth and with out blemish, her eye brows beautifully maintained . What was disconcerting was her eyes. Her lashes long and perfect, but the eyes two golden orbs of an animal, not a human. They sat though in the skull of a noble woman who literally could sit on the throne should her family choose. Quickly Emilia dropped the veil and sat backup to sip more tea.

"Questions so far, If Not I do have business you could help me with?" She left it at that. Waiting for any questions before she reveals the pressing business.
ouse or personal.

"Thank you for indulging me with your personal history. I can't quite give you mine, as I have yet to formally hire you. Instead I will gladly give clarity to a few" She takes another sip of her tea. As she does she thinks over the woman before her. Properly dressed as a man. Though tailored for ease of movement. Truly this woman was skilled. Skilled in martial arts she herself did not possess. To her refined combat was fine and all, but underneath the fancy dress and breeding was the beast. A savage cauldron of primal energy and power that made her into a deadly creature to face.

"As you know I am Duchess Emilia Maria Antonia Vosk, Daughter of the late Heward Daniel Anthoy Vosk. House Vosk is a old, and abstained from many of the succession wars over the years. Instead our duty was always preservation of the kingdoms knowledge, as well as its treasures and occult knowledge. This has lead many of my family to have tragic endings or mysterious disappearances. "She took another sip to wet her throat as she giggled.

" Which is why the Vosk family seal is a Black Bat in Flight on a Silver disk. We are the kingdoms little Creatures of the Night. Vigilant and observing from the shadows and when the rest of the kingdom sleeps. Needless to say such a weight gains our family considerable wealth and privilege's, though not with out its fair share of scheming rivals and enemies. Worse than that my brother Duke Atticus Adronicus Anthony Vosk married the 8th Princess Olivia Elizabeth Blackthrone. It has made my brother more prolific and thus has made many of the other houses seeking to hitch themselves to our family. Olivia will eventually move in to Vosk manor in the north, over the Mossmire where my families estate truly lies. I reside here in the capitol, At the manor house here. I do so to keep up the motto and edict of our family Investigate the Occult."[/b] The woman lets that hang for a while hoping the woman realizes what sorts of things this adds to a regular noble valet detail. Almost as an after thought she reaches down her cleavage and pulls out a silver chain that is attached to her watch. She flips it open. Its cap had a engraved and scultped jet bat in the inlaid silver. Emilia just nods and shuts the cap before slipping it back into her cleavage.

"

 

[siobhancan99]

Taking in the bestial eyes, she merely sipped her tea. She'd seen terrible and wondrous things in the East. It was not that she was jaded, in fact she was insanely curious. It was merely that she had some experience schooling her face to placidity. "Your business is your own Ma'am and not for me to repeat." She shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant about it, as if a lady's secretary saw such things on a regular basis. She supposed all in all it was less of a shock than finding Bernard trying to take her virtue when he was in his cups.

Penelope felt that with that particular reveal, the decision had been made to hire. Accordingly, she asked a number of mundane questions regarding the secretarial portion of her job. How to keep her lady's calendar, what social engagements she was to look out for. The particulars of the lady's house and the division of labor between her and the automatons. The life of an attache was not likely to be all mysterious secrets and mummy's tombs. The ordinary business done, she finally took a lady finger. "Now, Milady, what is this business that you have for me?" She assumed it was one final test, before she was to move her belongings into the mansion. That was fair enough. A bodyguard who crippled her last charge's brother was not able to stand on propriety. "And when should we be about it?"

 

[Shadowlace]

"Yes lets be off" Emilia agreed as she stood she strode over to the counter and smiled. On her left hand was her signet, but also strangely a few pounds. Elegant motion flowed as she placed the bill on the counter and Debra took them.

"Pleasure as always, M'lady" She answered and curtsied.

"Feel free to help yourself to the remains. Or let the less fortunate have some. Oh and don't forget my standing order for Thursdays. I will send Mr.Eddington, Until then" She curtsied to the young woman, then strode back over to grab the umbrella. She stands offering her arm to see if her Valet would take it.

After that test Emilia strode out into the street. There Emilia paused to open her umbrella and placed it on her shoulder. "We shall take a stroll down this path"

She indicated to head down, to the river level boardwalk. The home of fisherman, and many other unsavory types. Homeless, Orphans, Thugs, Prostitutes and the like romanced and lived down there. She strode down a smorgasbord of riches for any unsavory theft to covet. As she head down you see several ramshackle buildings stuffed under the bridges. Several heads came up and stared.

"I believe it was the third alley..." She let it drift of as she briefly paused over a sprawled man. His breath was shallow and phlegmy. Retracting her umbrella she sets it on the ground as she then reaches into her satchel and pulls out three vials. One held green powder another silver liquid and the other a small bit of white shavings. Dexterous fingers shift and mix the powder and liquid into the shavings and then quickly caps it. the other two are put back into the satchel. She shakes the vail and then lifts the mans head up. Once she opens it she slowly feeds the contents to him then stands back up.

"Seems I am right" She says as the man's lips and veins turned dark black before livening back up. Emilia leaves her Umbrella down and looks to Penelope.

"Tell me Ms.Pevensie what do you know about soul eaters?" She says pulling out two small vials a glowing green liquid is in side and she hands one to Penelope.

"Drink it, it should last 24 hours and it will make you feel incredibly excited almost as if you a bursting at the seems." Emilia keeps hers in hand hesitant. As she does she sighs.

"Once again you know how to stop someone should the need arise. Or a beast. Because if something should happen do not hesitate to stop them." She says as she pops the cork and takes it.

"Th...th...this way" Emilia uttered as she stood and began to stride down the darkening third alley. Here the ramshackle buildings hung lamps most were red a few were yellow and one was a faint blue. Emilia pulls another trinket form her Satchel. This was a lantern. One made of paper with eastern ward script on the lantern.

"H..H..Here" She growled her face flushed and teeth clenched." Light...i..i..it" came out.

Emilia shivers as she then draws the thin blade form her umbrella. The blade shimmered a myriad of colors as she then cut he finger and uttered a word. Green flames blazed to life and she smiled, a bit more calm as the flames danced.

"Better, Now hopefully this flame will draw the Soul Eater out."

 

[siobhancan99]

Penelope arched a brow. Either what was in the vial was macha and this was some farcical test of bravery, in which case it behooved her to down the vial and charge after her employer, or it was genuine. In that case there was something called a Soul Eater and her employer was intent on fighting such a thing. Again, it behooved her to comply. She downed the vial, then followed the woman into the darkness. She fumbled some matches from her pocket as the lantern was withdrawn, and in a moment a rosy glow lit the interior of the paper lantern, highlighting the kanji and making them more readable. SHe had no time for that, however.

Two things occupied her attention. One, the strange green flames, and two the feeling inside her like she was riding a tiger. Whatever was in this potion was real and she very much did not care for it. She felt like screaming, her every fiber of her being crying out with an unholy energy. It was interfering with her chi. She needed a calm contemplative place internally with which to alter the flows of her own body and make herself stronger, faster. At least the potion already seemed to be doing that at the expense of her composure. She felt like she was only tenously in grip of herself. "I don't know a bloody thing about Soul Eaters. Lady Vosk, so if there's something I ought know before we do this... well you had best tell me." Her eyes scanned the gloom, glad for the light of the lantern at least.

 

[Shadowlace]

The lanterns in the little alley began to flicker. There candles fighting something. Debris began to swirl into a tatterdemalion about while the temperature began to steadily decline. Emilia stood sword ready and held aloft. "Well a Soul Eater is an ethereal creature that feeds off the life energy of humans. Often a manifestation of ones yearn for life, buy taking it from others. Some are summoned and break free, others a formed form a persons regrets and seek a second chance. " came a more bestial sounding voice.

Emilia did not look at Penelope as she was fighting the raging inferno within. Unlike the smaller woman's, Emilia's' was against the very beast in her. The Bat wanted out. Wanted to stalk this creature and rip it to shreds. She doubted the bestial form could, but the potential of the Soul Eaters minions or victims. " Speaking of which, its victims don't always die, some remain undead servants, some are even made into vessels allowing them something to prey upon say Johns"

On cue a few women with a stiff unnatural gait began to enter the alley, A blonde, a brunette and a red head, this also began a parade of 15 or more bodies in various stages of decay. Emilia growled and began to take a few practice swings. As she does the undead heads follow the flames. "They want the flames of my sword. The manifestation of my soul"

"What I need you to do is watch for the ball of silvery light and present the lantern. When you do say 'Spiritu Felgalieo' which should entrap the Soul Eater and see if it has a master" She says as she lashes out the flames touching a pox marked corpse and it fell lifeless. Then hits another and another as soon a Slivery Ball Appears Above them.

 

[siobhancan99]

"I'm going to be honest i'm a little confused as to who is bodyguarding who here, exactly." She kept the lamp held high, watching the other woman and considering that her skill set is probably wasted 'guarding' someone who appears intent on doing all the fighting, Still, a job was a job and she could certainly hold a lamp and say some words. "because ordinarily I would expect to be fighting while you waited to say the appropriate words with the right diction." She kept her eyes on the area around though, and when the ball appeared she shouted, with as much conviction as was possible "Spiritu Felgalieo" waiting to see what, if anything, would come of it.

 

[Shadowlace]

The Silvery Orb flashes wildly as it is sucked into the lantern. As it does the bodies begin to convulse and fall. Emilia stumbles and sheaths her hidden blade . As she does she slumps, then stumbles and then falls. As she pants on the ground she growls. "D...D..Do y..y..you R..R..R..Re..mem..mem..member your Promise" She states.

Almost as she does her skin begins to shift and bulge in places. Muscles, hair and flesh shifting. She growls and groans as she shifts. The dress not ripping or tearing as she looks to Penelope. Her face twisted as it begins to contort and shift. "STOP ME" she groans. Feet begin to shift form human to more animal. Her back begins ot sprout two huge leathery wings and thick coarse black hair begins to sprout as more changes begin to happen.Emilia was changing her curse getting ahold of her now. Stupid potion,but it had to be done.

 

[siobhancan99]

Well, this was a horse, or a lycanthrope of a different color. Unfortunately her chi was all crazy from the potion. She stepped back as the transformation began, taking a moment to order her energy. She directed the terrible wonderful energy of the potion into her abdomen, walling it off so she could concentrate. She inhaled, then exhaled. She adopted a fighting stance, then grabbed for the energy stored in her core and hurled it at Emila. Distance attacking was normally not Chi-efficient, but she had energy to spare now from whatever it was she consumed. A ball of force hurtled towards the woman, enough that it should knock her onto her back and give Penelope a moment to analyze the shifting flows that resulted from the new form, all the better to attack and incapacitate her new employer.

 

[Shadowlace]

Emilia takes the blast and roars. She convulses and begins to revert back to her regular form. She pants as she takes her umbrella and uses it to get to her full hieght. Standing she smiles, her dress and hat disheveled as she looks at Penelope." So Ms.Pevensie do you want the job"

Emilia says as she lets her self stand and her body smoke. She reaches in and takes another vial out. This one was red, and the woman took a good draw, before offering the rest to Penelope." To help with the pain"

 

[siobhancan99]

Penelope waived off the offered vial. "I think I've had quite enough concoctions and potions for the day." She shrugged "if you are hiring, then I want the job." She was curious, and incredibly concerned about whatever was inside the woman. Perhaps she could prevail upon her employer to eventually find a cure for her condition. More importantly, she needed a job and some distance between her and the rumors that would inevitably come out about leaving her last position. "I assume that I should make arrangements to have my things delivered to the house?" She picked up the lantern off the ground, feeling no additional weight from whatever it was trapped inside it. "The most pressing question, I guess, is whatever do we do with this thing?"

 

[Shadowlace]

"Good to here. Always good to have a beautiful woman in my employ" She says brushing herself off as she giggled.

"My brother will hate you. Fair warning. though he gets no say in the matters anymore. As for your stuff. I will send Mr.Eddington. Many a currier avoids the manor." She paused and then tapped her chin."Though Heriot may be available. Stout fellow, smells like garlic, lazy eye. Former Stevedore. Though you need something shipped or hauled he is your man, asks no questions asked."

She finally came forward and took the lantern."They will eventually lead us to there summoner. Or origin point. Then I can banish them. I will though if you wish to get any affairs in order let you take your leave, just come to this address' She says handing over a monogrammed parchment with her sigil and the address.

 

[siobhancan99]

A day later she was ensconced in her rooms at the lady's mansion. The rooms were spartan, as befitted her station, and near full with her trunks of clothes. She was an unabashed clothes-horse and had spent the entirety of her salary over the past year with Lady Jessica in making new acquisitions. In addition, as she and her former mistress were of a size, Lady Jessica had generously bequeathed a large selection of outdated but well constructed and expensive clothes to her bodyguard. She did her best to array the things she would wear most often in the wardrobe, while arranging her trunks for ease of retrieval if she needed something special. In addition, she had her rifles on a gun rack in the room, with the ammunition close at hand. her Kukri hung off the gun rack and her Jian sword in the umbrella rack near the door, with her stun cane and her umbrella.

She looked over the small box of gold jewelry she'd been bequeathed by her mother, and tucked the box away in one of the trunks. While she trusted the lady, it was all she had of her past before leaving Lindberg as a child. Some things were best kept secret, safe. In stark contrast to her mannish look of the day before she dressed in a Lehenga-choli with a tight, form fitting crimson top and a white flowing skirt embroidered with gold. She'd placed her nose ring back into her nostril, the gold offsetting her olive tone fairly well. She regarded herself in the mirror, hearing the words of the lady "always good to have a beautiful woman in my employ" and wondered if perhaps the woman's taste ran towards the sapphic. She was, herself, inexperienced in such things. The Black Tiger had largely been celibate, and she had come of age in that monastery. She told herself she wasn't dressing to impress, even as she made sure her lustrous thick black hair was immaculately coifed. She decided to make a good impression, Kohling her eyes and adding rouge to her lips. Finally satisfied she looked a proper lady's secretary she made her way quietly down to the library, where the abomination automatons told her the lady was waiting for her.

Clearing her throat she announced her presence. "so, have you learned anything from the lamp then?"

 

[Shadowlace]

The Dark manor, made of gray and black wood, stones of ash grey and black, with black and grey shingles. The very house groans and creaks, fires seem to struggle against the thickness in the air. Small bookshelves dot areas here and there with a variety of books, scrolls, and curios. Other objects dot the house. Some were the normal staples of noble houses, Armors, Weapons, Paintings, but a Strange Owl faced and for pawed bear stuffed, A small serpent with leather wings, A Horned human skull and more. On her way to the library blue lights flared to life giving off coolness and light.

Past the archway she notes the two well cared for and elaborately carved grand doors with a scene of a woman meeting a Humaniod bat surrounded with dozens of smaller bats. On the other side a huge library three stories tall and books all over the place. Emilia sat at a table with tea on a tray and several tomes on Bookstands. She wore a nice white button up blouse, a simple tight knee length skirt of black hugged her legs which were covered in grey hosiery. Satchel sting hangs on her hip as she whistles and a page turns,seemingly from a puffball. Looking up from the cascade of curls that was her rich raven black hair two golden orbs bore holes into Penelope.

"It wasn't summoned. However some tragedy spurred it as children's sorrowful deaths birthed it into existence. So I moved on to who moved it to the slums to get my attention." Emilia says with a smile.

"So Do you like your room? Is it enough. If Not I have others. Also have a bed should you need it. I tend to make sure my employees are well taken care of, especially ones as intriguing as you!" She giggles reaching over to the Tea cart and pulling out some buttered scones.

"Tea or scones?" She offers as well as a seat near her in a high backed padded chair.

"So tell me Penelope, what is it you seek? Like future goals and plans?" She says casually as she grabs round black frames with glass to aid in reading the text before her.

 

[siobhancan99]

Penelope poured herself a cup of the tea, taking it without cream or sugar. She inhaled the scent, arching an eyebrow "you have exquisite taste in tea, Lady Vosk." She took a sip, confirming her suspicion as to the quality and rarity of the blend. "I haven't had this since I was in Shou-Chun."

She sat, crossing her legs primly "My room is more than adequate. Thank you. It's certainly larger than my cell in the Temple." she kept her hands wrapped around the teacup, feeling the warmth of the tea. She took another sip, luxuriating in the quality and familiarity of the tea. "I'm not sure I'm as intriguing as all that, but I suppose that's in the eye of the beholder." She kept her voice even, trying not to be inordinately pleased at Amelia's interest. It was a hell of a time to figure out she might be romantically inclined towards other women, when that other woman was your employer and some sort of ultra-dangerous bat demon or something of the sort.

Asked about her future she paused. "I... can't say I've given it a great deal of thought Lady Vosk." She sipped at her tea to give herself a moment to frame a better response. "When I was a girl, I was training to be a wife. I learned accountancy and languages and was being groomed to be the companion of some upper middle or lower upper class merchant. It wasn't my own design. It's what life has in store for girls of a certain station here. Then, in the Raj I just wanted to live and not be married to an old man. Then in Shou-Chun I let my goals be taken over by the goals of the Black Tiger. Push the west out. Destroy the opium trade. Restore the old ways of the empire. But they were never really my goals. Then, when Van Der Meer mistook me for a captive, my goal was to return to the west with my head." She laughed at that "and that was genuinely my own personal goal. It feels like the first thing I was able to want for myself in so long." She drank more of her tea, then set the cup aside, watching Lady Vosk read "Perhaps my goal should be to figure out who I am, now that there is only me to care about it."

 

[Shadowlace]

"Oh, I see. The Wife training." Emilia laughed. Laughed hard as she let her self enjoy the feeling.

"I took those. Though my father found out I wasn't one to be wed off. My brother thinks differently. Despite the fact he found me rutting his Fiancé's' Lady in Waiting" She giggled and sipped more tea. As she did she calmed and set down the tea and scone. She grabbed a pen and underlined something. Emilia took powder and sprinkled before moving on. Physically turning the page this time.

"So A new goal." Emilia thought about it as she looked directly at Penelope." Also unless in public Emilia is fine, Intriguing as I do owe my employees and hopefully friends the freedom to achieve there goals and if I can, well I will help" She genuinely says as she puts the pen back in the holder. She eats the scone enjoying the buttery sweet and savory taste to the flaky pastry.

"What about hobbies? Do you like to read. i have plenty of books, various subjects, language's ect. Do you like maybe bats. I have a Bat habitat on the roof." Added Emilia as if it were natural.

 

[siobhancan99]

"Every day I exercise and meditate. Reading is an important part of my routine." She relaxed in the chair a bit, "So I would love access to your library Lady Amelia" She wasn't sure she could muster up just "Amelia" as there was a definite divide in class, money and power. Still, the woman's demeanor and sort of crass bawdiness did blur those lines a bit. She smiled and brushed her fingers through her thick black hair. "I like anything historical, informational. I want to know all about the world. I want to see it all, at some point as well. I would not be sad if our work took us to many different places." She looked around the library "I can't say I've ever truly considered bats either way." She looked over at whatever it was her employer was looking over "Might I inquire as to what you're doing at the moment?"

 

[Shadowlace]

"Well I do get to go to many different places. I will be able to do so more with you hired. The King and my Brother insisted if I ever went out of country without a proper escort, one that can defend me."She said looking up once more her eyes bigger in the round glasses. She pushed on the center and giggled.

"I am looking at records of the noble house lineages." She points to the book infront of her."This is the grand annointed history of Lindbergs Nobility by Ser Trenton Moss. It holds the basic notes of the kingdoms best Archivists of King Ferric the 3rd or Ferric the Fraud as many called him. His wife Cordella truly ruled the kingdom while he enjoyed...Anything and Everything that walked."

"The book on the right is Duke Herbert Vosk's complete account of the various items of occult as well as grimoires and occult bloodlines of the Nobility" She says as she then points to the third. "Last but not least Eliza Van Murrens' Love Diabolik, The adventures of the Sexy maidens journey through the Forbidden Jungles of the Savage South, for fun. Eliza just got captured by a tribe of giants and well hieght isn't the only thing they have going." She says giggling.

"Basically cross-referencing the two works to see who has the most to gain with such a release. Or if any families currently with issues have devulged themselves from the artifacts"

 

[siobhancan99]

Penelope cocked her head "and why can't it be someone of the lower classes? Are there none among the poor that have reason to hate the current order?" She was not mocking, but genuinely curious. Amelia knew a great deal more about what was going on and so there was an opportunity to learn here. "IS there something about what happened that indicates it is a person of a certain status? Like access to materials or something?"

She moved over, looking over one of the books, just sort of scanning it while she waited for a response from the lady. "I assume you're ruling out the giant dongs."

 

[Shadowlace]

"Good point nobles are a pesky lot, often making enemies of common folk. Honest shame as they do necessary work. House Vosk tends to support a variety of common folk. Employ, several. Like Sewer, Garbage, Street cleaner and maintenance, much more. They are necessary and profitable." Emilia says with a smile.

"Plus we have one of the best businesses in the nation as we help keep cities clean and have access to everywhere. Makes things easier when investigating the supernatural, though back at the idea of Commoners against the Nobles. Often an intermediary is causing the friction. Either another Noble or a powerful Guild. Otherwise it is a Rogue Caster, and those are not good." She states sipping her tea.

"Though you could be on to the Massive Dongs. I here the Southlands have a infestation of them" She laughs again as she looks to Penelope.

"So if it is a faction seeking disruption or destruction of Noble Houses, any idea who profits the most?" She says standing up to stretch her tall frame. as she does she sits down her tea and grabs a simple pair of sticks to do up her hair. It goes into a simple bun and with a quick twist then slide the other in her wavy mass of hair is secured in a bun.