Getting Down To Business

JP with Omni, Jaxx, Winteroak, and Zeeke

“Looks like the noble kid is here as well. Should we ask him for information?”

Voah followed Hunter’s eyes to Wim Riese. She smiled and nodded from atop Litany’s saddle, leading her over to the young lord. She stopped just short of him and stepped down from the horse.

“Well met, my Lord. It’s good to see a welcome face so far out. I see Master Sadir wastes no time in his business affairs.”

Before he had a chance to speak, she cut him off, “That’s a good practice and I shall not waste any of our time getting down to business of my own. We seek the local authority, as it is my duty to establish the presence of the Pillars and the Inquisition in Aquilo. I am here foremost to find the remainder of the cult of Slivikhi and I would ask you to keep and eye out for any suspicious activity.”

Wim was a bit surprised he said to her,"You mean some of the assassins are here?" That was something he had not expected.

Hunter looked around to see if anyone reacted to Voah's presence. She did stick out and one or two Creed might panic and run to warn the other Creed members by chance. If he did see any he would consult with Voah first in case his actions might make her job harder.

Wim almost drank the ale in his right hand but remembered his manors and handed it off to Voah, then Hunter.

“No time for that, I’m afraid.” she politely refused the ale. And yes, I have strong reason to believe that some of the creed might have made their way here. My journey may even take me to Fang. There is a pearl in it for anyone who can help me successfully locate a creed member.”

Having been warned of the Arbiters' arrival, Markus made his way out of the forge and came to meet her.

"Arbiter Voah. Welcome to Aquilo. I'm Markus Norixius. At your service." He said welcoming.

Hunter saw the muscular man introduce himself to Voah and sized him up. Then he quietly watched his surroundings as Voah spoke up. So far he saw no extreme reactions from the others around them.

“Greetings, Master Norixius.” she smiled. “I am here on business as you might have guessed. I was just informing Lord Riese. It’s good you’re here and available as I would prefer to take care of these matters at once. As swiftly as possible, without troubling your settlement any further than I need. You will have to forgive me for being so prompt, you see, there may be a few fugitive cultists living among you. I need a registry of all new arrivals from the last month.”

Wim watched the exchange with interest.

Markus scratched his head. "We don't have a registry of who arrives to work here. We have a payroll that might help." He said truthfully. "Not many new arrival in the last month, if any that I can recall. We had a big group arriving with the soldiers yesterday." He said looking at Wim.

Hunter expected this to happen. In the past he too blended in with the masses after killing his targets. The larger the population the harder it was to find someone in a crowd, especially if they were an unknown face. All they could do now was narrow down the suspects starting with what was available.

No new arrivals… That was disconcerting. The Arbiter had a list of cultists. Four men and one woman.

“Anyone passing through from Ostiarium into the mountains?” she asked.

Markus shook his head. "Not really." he replied not recalling anyone that had gone into the mountains. "Anyone mad enough to go into Fang without the blessing of the clans, is likely running away and would not make themselves known. But you are free to ask around." he said and started to lead the Arbiter into his small office near the main forge leaving Hunter and Wim to catch up with each other.