The Artifact Job

Bayhorse Port, Vorland, 1439 ATC

The darkness of the forest lapped at her heels, clung to her pale flesh, and dripped from her wings. The trees here were ancient and towering, their canopies forming an impenetrable shield from the sun. This is what made it possible for her to travel during the daylight hours. Her long, ebony hair framing her hollow face and haunting eyes. They were her most profound feature, she thought. The thing people noticed first. Some humans even experienced their deaths when staring into those swirling orbs. Her shoulders began to shake slightly as she chuckled, the images from the previous night returning to her mind.

The four armed, winged demoness had painted the road with his blood.

A human did not speak to one such as herself in the perverse way that he had, thinking she was some tavern wench. Her lips curled into a smirk as she remembered how she had made an example out of him. He hadn't been much of a meal, not much meat on him, but his heart was strong. The port city's pathetic excuses for guardsmen didn't even dare to pursue her. Not that they could have, anyhow. The trees began to thin, and a road became visible ahead. Scowling, Desdara drew her hood low to shield her pale flesh from the last rays of todays sun. Luckily, it was nearing evening, and the promise of darkness hung heavy in the air around her.

Desdara shifted her tightly-folded wings beneath the black cloak she wore; it was uncomfortable keeping them tucked so close to her body for so long along with her two lower arms, but for the sake of entering the city she now saw on the horizon, she endured. As she neared the city's wall, the two guards on either side of the oaken gates exchanged glances as she came to stand before them.

The left guard stepped forwards and raised a hand.

"What's yer business?" As he spoke, the greasy mustache on his lip wiggled like an ugly caterpillar. She couldn't stop looking at it, and it disgusted her. She kept her hood low, its shadow hiding her face.

"I am merely passing through, messere. I am but a wanderer." Her words flowed like liquid silver, laced with a melodic accent that gave her voice a... Hypnotic tone.

The guardsman blinked several times, a confused expression crossing his face.

''Ah.. yes.. I'll have the gates opened.. At once..'' He stepped back and waved to the guards on the wall, and they hastened to open the heavy wooden gates. Bowing her head in thanks, Desdara stepped into the town, her smirk hidden by her hood. Instead of dipping into an inn or tavern, she glances over her shoulder and disappears into the shadows of an alleyway. Maybe she will catch a drunkard or a beggar alone, and make a meal of them before finding a room at an inn. Dark thoughts filled her head as she wandered through the alleyways, her pale blue eyes searching.

''Moo!'' A sound echoed through the air, it came from the roofs above the woman. Near her, in fact. The roofs were usually a nice place to be, safe, more or less. A hooded figure popped out from one of the roofs in the alleyway, the shadoes hiding his face.

"Moo!'' The figure made a hand gesture asking Desdara to join him.

She snarled, her blade in her hand in an instant as she leapt at the man, dragging him down to her level and pressing him up against the wall with force.

"Who..?!.." Recognition flashed across her face, and she stepped back, her eyes narrowed as she sheathes her blade.

"Venser. You should know better that surprising the likes of me." She was practically snarling at him, her arms crossed beneath her breasts now.

"I almost sliced you in half. What are you doing? Trying to draw attention with such an inappropriate sound?"

''Ah!'' Venser yelped being dragged from the roof several feet below, and slammed into the wall. He looked around up and down the alley to see if anyone saw or heard his yelp.

''Apologies. I thought moo was the signal. Or was it cacaw?'' He asked keeping his tone quiet.

''I'm just looking for the residence of this Galldrian Arias. Casing the place, ya know? Looking for the right way to get in without...''

He paused and gestured to Desdara's form. ''Ya know, you turning the place into a blood orgy. As a merchant myself, I wouldn't want people killing my workers but... I can't stop you, if you do."

The four armed demoness now relaxed slightly, she shook her head.

"Honestly, I don't know how you got here before me, but I had planned on checking the place out myself and then sending for you."

She studied him for a moment, before leaping high onto the nearest wall, scaling it with ease and pulling herself up onto the roof.

"This way!" She called down to Venser, without checking to see if he followed. Arias' mansion was in the Southern district, where the wealthy laid their claims.

Her hunt would have to wait, now, unless she can pick off a few security guards without raising alarms.

''I teleported.'' He said simply brushing himself off. '

''I've been here before... Can never recall the name of the city.'' He disappeared in a puff of thick red smoke and reappeared on the roof beside Desdara, staring down the many roofs they would have to travel across to the Southern district.

''Rooftops, also known as the thieve's highway...'' He said cracking his neck, stretching his legs a bit.

''Is it wise to do this in-'' Ven cut himself off. ''Course it is. Heh, this is like a dumb downed version of Capital De Seraphim...''

She lept the gaps between roofs with ease, before stopping and talking over her shoulder to Venser once he caught up.

"Right now, I just want to see what we're dealing with. Entrances into the building, where his treasury is, what kind of security we're dealing with. I hear he has constantly has... talented women in and out of his home, so we might be able to use that along with my plan for you."

''Gotta love talented women...'' Venser muttered to himself running towards the gaps, leaping off one building and running along another, his black cloak trailing behind him. He moved swiftly, and much like a runner as he ran along the path of the roofs. He merely nodded his head at her plan, not wanting to yell and draw attention to themselves to the ordinary citizens who went about their day below them.

Desdara rolled her eyes, slowing her run to a walk and peering out across the street below them. They across the way from a grand manor, two story, with massive glass windows on the top floor, as if it was a gallery. There were two armed guards, looking lazy, milling about the front entrance, and and one on each side of the manor, in the alleys. Desdara still scowled, looking through the massive windows on the top floor.

"It seems as though messere Arias is rather lax in his security. Though, I'd bet he has more inside." As she spoke, four giggling, scantily dressed women exited through the front door, and the guards snapped to attention. The women climbed into a waiting carriage and were off. A tall man stood at the door and watched them leave. He had a broad grin on his face as he closed the door and disappeared inside.

"I believe that would be our man. What do you think, Venser?" She eyed him curiously.

''Oh lovely...'' He said commenting on the scantily clad women that entered the door, looking through a slightly rusted spyglass.

''Thought he'd be fatter.''

He commented as well looking at the roof. Not that many guards to handle on the roof either.

''Glad I came prepared. Kinda...'' He sighed and grabbed part of his cloak, tearing off a long piece to wrap around his lower face.

''I also admire the house, and I feel the urge ti snatch a painting or two...''

The four armed demoness chuckled, looking up at the sky. The sun was setting, and once full dark, they would strike.

"Now, how well can you play the part of a dignified, wealthy, merchant?"

She grinned, stepping around a raised wall on the roof that divided two buildings. It was several moments before she returned.

A pale skinned, ebony haired woman emerged, dressed in a cream colored silk gown with a silver-worked belt and circlet. Horns, wings, long ears, and claws were gone. Even her teeth were normal, beside two sharp canines. The spike collar still sat around her neck, though, and her sword lay across her arms, wrapped in black cloth.

"Now, what we will do, is pretend to be merchants, with an extremely valuable weapon that we wish to sell or trade for something of equal value." She waves the cloth-covered sword around. "Messere Galldrian will invite us inside, we will trade him my sword for the artifact, and be on our merry way." She had a mischevious glint in her eyes. "Croix will meet up with me once we are clear of the mansion."

''I am one. Remember? Though... Small time sort of. I have a stand I run when I can and sometimes I have others run it for me. Or...'' He put on another fake, aristocratic accent.

''Tylar Perreira, merchant of the Slender Sea. I sell everything for all of your common needs!'' He nodded and grinned at her new appearence.

''You sure you wanna do that? Rather than sneak in and steal it? I mean, now is the time to strike while he's distracted with his whores. Or...'' A low watt bulb went off inside his head.

''You can distract him and I can go in and steal it.''

"We could do that." Grimacing, she thought of what she would have to do to keep him busy.

"If you can get inside without raising alarm, then I'll handle the rest." She lept down from the roof, landing hard in the alleyway. With a scowl on her face, she summons forth Mandarb from the buildings shadow. He was decorated with a silver-worked side saddle, and silver bridle.

The massive beast knelt at Desdara command, and she settled into the saddle, strapping the sword behind her.

"Venser, wait for me to get inside before you make your move." Heeling Mandarbs side, the stallion trots forwards, back down the alley and out onto the street. He adopts a high-stepping walk, and Desdara sat proud in the saddle, looking every bit like a noblewoman.

She apprached the front of the house, and a guard stepped forwards to grab Mandarbs bridle. The stallion bared his teeth at the man, and Desdara waved him away.

"I wish to speak with Galldrian Arias. I have something that may be of interest to him." The guards looked at each other, before one ran inside to fetch Galldrian. Desdara dismounted gracefully and retrieved the cloth bundle from the back of the saddle. The guards attempted to lead Mandarb off to the stables, but the stallion snorted and bared his teeth at any who came near. Galldrian came outside with a scowl on his face, but his eyes widened when he saw Desdara, and ushered her inside with smiles and flattery, questioning her about what she had brought him. As she stepped through the door, she looked over her shoulder at Venser and winked.

The handsome bearded man's hand ran along his utility belt, opening one pouch and loading a knockout dark into his wristbow, aiming at one of the guards that patroled the roof. Who had his back turned to Venser to drink from a flask.

Kapwap.

He looked down and sat the door close on Desdara. And just what the doctor ordered. The guard finished drinking from his flask and turned to walk the other way, not noticing where Venser was. He looked through a small spyglass taken from his belt and counted four guards total.

''Must be expecting one from the roof.''

Vsn muttered to himself taking aim. Striking a single guard in the arm with a knockout bolt. He guard fell over on his side, thankfully not falling over the building.

He proceaded to carefully take out the other two, before teleporting to the rooftop and choking out the final one. He looked around for a point of entry. Only a chimney from where he saw. He would have to find a balcony. He sighed and activated his dark vision, his mark flashed greenish white and glowed while he observed every living thing nearby in a yellow aura. Then he made his way to the other side of the roof and teleported down. Landing without a noise. He pushed the doors open to an empty bedroom, letting himself inside.

She followed Galldrian deeper into the manor, the sword wrapped in cloth in her arms. He talked about his private collection, and the excavations he's managed, and led her up stairs to the gallery. It took up almost the entire second floor of the building, with valuable piece of artowrk, statues, and other miscelaneous items.

One particualry stood out.

A white cube covered with neon blue inlay. The cube was small enough to fit in her hand, and sat in a glass case, with a guard standing against the wall behind it.

She smiled and nodded as Galldrian spoke, but her eyes were on the cube.

"Now, let's see what you've brought me." He said, gesturing to a wide, low table.

Slowly, Desdara laid down the sword and unwrapped it. The sheath was unremarkable, but the hilt was elaborate, with a bronze serpent curling around it. Galldrian eyed the blade with interest, but seemed unconvinced.

"What is it? Cursed? Enchanted?" Desdara smiled sweetly at him, and shook her head.

"No, messere, it is one of a set of seven powerful demon weapons. This is Croix, the calamity bringing serpent."

Galldriean's eyes widened, and he ran his fingers over the ebony sheath.

"What do you want in exchange? You can have your pick of anything here. something like this..." he trailed off as he followed her gaze to the glass cabinet, where the cube lay. "No! Not that!" He said hastily, eyes darting around. "Anything but that one." Desdara browsed the gallery, silently urging Venser on. She was ready to kill this man and be done with it, though they would have to be quick and silent to avoid raising an alarm.

The only people in the gallery were Desdara, Galldrian, and the lone guard watching over the porcelain white cube of ancient, and yet advanced origins.

And oddly, not Coldwroughtian in nature.

In the bedroom, Venser's eye was caught by an erotic painting that showed a woman descending naked into a bath, the painting showing mostly the curve of back and neck and the elegance of her arms rising up to unpin her hair.

''Oh wow...'' He said licking his lips, sliding his hand down his pants. ''I need this for my room... Right across from my bed... Or do I already have something like this?"

Ven shook his head and mumblef gibberish, his mind quickly snapped back to the mission at hand. He then opened the front door just a crack, peering into the large gallery like room just filled with a wide variety of artifacts from the lands and histories.

Venser's iris's widened and every artifact became a green aura for him, while his surroundings became blue, and every living creature became yellow.

''Only one guard? Really?"' He blinked and peered up at a chandelier made from crystals and a few green gems.

Venser never did think white and green went well together. He cracked the door open further and then disappeared in a puff of thick red smoke, reappearing on top of the chandelier.

He aimed a knockout dart at the lone guards head, and then fired it, hitting him in the neck and quickly teleporting over to him.

No deaths on his watch. Everyone here was only out to make some coin.

Desdara tried her damnedest to not look at Venser atop the chandelier, and maintain eye contact wit Galldrian as her talked to her about various artifacts.

"Yes, well, Croix is extremely valuable, more valuable than anything in your collection, I presume. This cube is so beautiful though, I just must have it." She smiled sweetly at Galldrian, who got flustered under her gaze.

"Ah, y-yes, well, my Lady Desdara, I'm afraid I cannot... As you know, any artifact that has anything to do with Old Kundaland..."

He froze as the guard slumped to the ground, a dart sticking out of the middle of his forehead like a unicorns horn. On the table, the sword shimmered and glowed red-hot, before shifting and elongating into a twenty foot ebony serpent.

The snake reared its head, before striking out and coiling itself around Galldrian. The mans eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head as Croix slowly suffocated him. Desdara smiled, dark fog pouring from her skin. In a moment, her appearance was back to normal.

"Get the cube! Before guards come!"

Behind her, the massive serpent was slowly swallowing Galldrian whole as Venser jumped down and gawked at the scene.

"Oh yeah, meet Croix." She gestured absentmindedly as she examines artifacts in the room, looking for anything particularly valuable.

''Right. Uh, relax.'' Venser said waving her off, walking towards the cube in the glass case, nodding his head to the snake suffocating the man.

''Charmed. We got in quietly, I neutralized all the guards, so we can do whatever the void we want on this floor.'' The handsome bearded man rubbed his hands together and held out his left hand.

"I got this."

"Going ti do something spectacular, Venser?

The mark on the back of his left hand flashed greenish white as he channeled magical green lightning into a blade on his wrist, pulling his arm back and aiming the point st the glass to cut a near circle in it, popping the glass circle out.

Ven smiled and grabbed the cube from the case.

''Got it!''

Shouts rang out from downstairs and feet pounded on the stairwell. Desdara cursed, reaching for Croix. The massive serpent returned to his blade form in a scorching wave of heat, and she drew the blade with a snarl.

She leapt onto the first guards through the door, tearing into him as his blood splattered her face.

Flesh so fine, so fine to tear..

Unlike Desdara, Venser decided to go back the way he came. But before he did, he quickly patted down Galldrian for his purse and then slid a few jewled rings off his fingers.

"Gifts for the wives. Sorry about it."

He ran through the gallery and into his room, slamming the door behind him. He grabbed the painting of the nude woman descending into the bath and then disappeared in a puff of thick red smoke away from the house.

Desdara snarled and flared her wings, making the remaining guards pause. Four mangled corpses lay around her. Deciding it was time to go, now that the cube was safe, she turned and leapt through one of the massive windows, sending glass shattering everywhere. Snapping out her wings she rises into the air swiftly, away from the house.

People in the street below screamed and ran, and Desdara rolls her eyes. She scans the rooftops for Venser.

In the distance she heard...

"Cawcaw! Cawcaw!"

The handsome bearded man waved the suave above his head as the four armed demoness flew over to him and touched down.

"Give it here."

Ven shrugged and placed it into one of her hands, and Desdara held it up and examined it closely.

"Good work... Companion of mine." She said closing the distance between them.

"So how about we get out of here? The city is on high alert and we should go back to my place and celebrate with a few drinks, what do you say, my lovely demoness?"

"I would say that sounds like a good plan, Venser."