Jaune let out a small hum as he and Pyrrha walked doen the streets of Vale. Tony and Tompson leading the way as Jaune reread the day list for the third time. "So, who's first on the list? A Preacher Cult? Some maddened researcher? Weird Creature Sighting?" Pyrrha inquired as she glanced over his shoulder. Jaune glanced back at her, giving her a small smile before shaking his head. "Nothing like that yet, When I was double checking my sister's list I found an interesting group that she didn't tell me were operating in Vale." he said calmly. Pyrrha's eyes turned from curious to calm before she adjusted the fake glasses of her disguise.
"What exactly are we talking about then?" she asked with a stern face. "A Group of Pseudos. Not enough influence from any Major or Minor Cult to corrupt them, but still a small bit of awareness." Jaune answered before taightening the grip on his Goldies' leashes. "How eccentric are they?" Pyrrha asked as she ran a slow hand over her bag. "Its a small group of private collectors and literature enthusiasts. Nothing crazy but they do have a statue or two that may contain some unsettling information." Jaune answered.
Pyrrha just shook her head at his answer. "A quick side trip, are we doing Acquisition or Disposal?" She inquired. "Acquisition if possible, preferably by purchase. One of the statues might have containment wards edged onto its surface." Jaune explained. "Low bidding price?" Pyrrha asked. "Mid too Low bidding price, it is still a rare statue and these guys are private collectors." Jaune stated while gesturing to the large bag in his hand.
The two of them continued walking down the streets of Vale before they stopped in front of a sort of club. "Here we are." Jaune stated. "Jaune... This is a club and bar." Pyrrha said. "Yeah, the owner of the two statues is currently using them to as decorations behind the bartending shelf." Jaune replied. "So, these "Private Collectors" probably stole them from someone else." Pyrrha stated. "Oh yeah. The boss of this place may not be as big as criminals like Junior or Roman Torchwich, but she's been smuggling relics and artifacts since her teens." Jaune explained.
Pyrrha took a moment before she turned to Jaune and flashed him a smile. Jaune returned it before holding out the bag. Pyrrha took it as Jaune began tying Tony and Tompson to a nearby light post. The two Goldies gave him a pleading look before Jaune scratched both of them over the ear. "We'll only be a few minutes, just stay." he instructed before standing up. "Be good for momma boys." Pyrrha commented before she handed the bag back to Jaune. The two of them calmly walking into the club with little fear.
Ren would be lying if he said that he didn't feel anything right now. He and Nora were currently sat in a private booth in Junior's Club with one of the fee table that wasn't a pile of splinters. Outside of the room, members of Junior's gang were hard at work rebuilding the place. The only exceptions being a pair of twins dressed in red and white respectively, they were busy staring down the two of them.
Nora wasn't all that concerned, clearly confident in their ability to fight off the whole of Junior's gang if push came to shove. He would rather keep a firm hand on the case full of lien for barter, no need to lose precious lien that doesn't need to be lost. His other hand was resting on the table, holding with a grip firm enough to dig into it if he wasn't careful.
Finally Junior himself entered, his suit tattered and his face radiating annoyance. Yet that face turned professional in less than a second, a skill likely coming from years of being in the business. "So, what can I do for the two of you?" he asked with a stern gaze. "We are looking for information. Recent disappearances, usually in less "active" areas of Vale?" Ren started calmly. "Payment?" Junior inquired. To answer him, Nora pulled the case full of lien from his hand and placed it on the table, making sure to open it in such a manner so that its contents were visible.
Junior just nodded before he shifted a gaze too the two girls. The two of them nodded before leaving, one of them winking at Ren while the other gave a mock kiss. Junior just shook his head before giving them a serious look over. "Before I give you that information I have something to ask, Arcadians?" Junior asked. Ren almost grit his teeth as Nora's gaze turned sharp. "What kind of big menace waltzed into Vale that it requires a full team?" Junior inquired. Ren took a moment to collect his thoughts before giving Junior a stern look. "An unknown, though if you have any information on any such... undesirables we will be willing to pay." Ren stated. Junior instead slid a decently sized folder onto the table. "I have an offer for you. You take out the groups detailed here and I'll let you have the information for free." Junior explained.
"Feeling generous?" Nora quipped with a small smile. "Hardly, they've been busier in these last few months than they've been for the last two years." Junior answeres as Ren raised an eyebrow. "They've been killing your business, haven't they?" he inquired. Junior just gave them a stern look before his lips twisted into a snarl. "Any specific symbols in their territories? Any unnatural feeling that comes from them? How many men have you lost to them?" Nora rattled off the questions as Ren gave him a confident smirk. Junior toom a short breath before sliding the folder over to them. "Any weird symbols are listed in the folder, two of them make you queasy too the point of vomitting, another can cause horrible hallucinations if you look at it for too long, and one of them just... feels wrong." Junior stated with surprising honesty.
Ren nodded before looking Junior over. "My condolences for your lost men." he said with respect, a brief memory stung at him as he said it. "If we take care of these specific groups for you then we would like a favor in return." Ren added as Junior just lowered his head. "Fine, just do it quickly, I'm worried that they may be targetting my men specifically." Junior explained. "They do that from time too time, best keep what you have left at home." Ren advised as he took the folder and handed it too Nora.
"Now, back to our "official business", you have information on trafficking and unreported murders?" Ren inquired. Junior just pulled out another file and left it on the table. "I'll reduce the price to just three quarters the usual, but I need them gone, quick." Junior stated as The file and the briefcase were exchanged. With quick hands Junior sorted through the case, taking a small stack of lien out of it and sliding it back to them.
Ren calmly took the stack back and stuffed it into his bag as Nora took the other file. "Its been a pleasure doing business with you." Ren said as the two of them stood up. The duo began to walk away before Junior cleared his throat. "Just know, that there is someone else in Vale who is experienced with these things... they aren't aligned with you Arcadians if you're wondering." Junior stated.
Ren looked back at him, he could feel Nora giving him a polite smile. "Understood, enjoy your day." he said as Nora began chuckling. The two walked out of the booth, walking past the henchmen still hard at work repairing the bar. "Should we tell our fearless leader about this deal?" Nora inquired as they walked out the door.
Ren took a glance back at the bar, before he walked a bit farther away from the bar. "I'll send him a text. If the targets that Junior sent us align with any of the targets from Charlie's list then we just make them the priority." Ren replied. "Would they really be ok with that?" Nora countered. "I doubt they'll mind. If these groups are killing people in Vale then we'll have to step in and stop them anyway." Ren answered as he pulled out his scroll.
"I'll tell Charlie." Nora said as she pulled out her own scroll. The Ren dialed Jaune's number as Nora sent a quick text to Charlie. After a brief wait Ren heard Jaune pick up. "Hey Ren, a bit of a bad time."- The sound of glass shattering could be heard in the background. "Jaune, do you need backup?" Ren asked with concern. "Nah, just a couple thugs-" he stopped as Ren heard someone get punched in the face. "-A couple of thugs who were mad at us for buying something." Jaune answered before Ren heard stone break. "I'll call you back in a few minutes, see yah." Jaune said as something's horrid screech was cut off by Jaune ending the call.
Ren stared down at his scroll while Nora shook her head. "That a new record?" She asked. "No, The record is still thirty seven minutes. It's been over two hours." Ren replied as Nora just frowned. "Bah, every mission those two get jumped by something. What do you think it was this time? I think it was a bear, or maybe a big sloth." Nora rattled on as Ren just smiled. He wasn't worried about Jaune and Pyrrha, if anything he was almost sorry for whoever was dumb enough to fight them.
Soon Ren's scroll rang again with Jaune's caller I.D. on display. He accepted and brought the scroll to his ear, the first thing he noticed was the sound of several people groaning in the background. "Sorry about that, so what did you guys find?" Jaune asked. "Junior is somewhat aware of the undesirables. He gave us the information on some Cult activity in exchange for three targets. We still got the info from our cover but our alternative is rather valuable." Ren answered. "How's it on your end." Nora interjected, leaning into Ren's ear as she did so. "Good, we managed to get a pair of statues, one was just a calm idol, but the other made people in its vicinity more suggestible." Jaune answered.
Ren paused as Nora shook her head. "Where did you find them?" he asked with concern. "Just some bar owned by an artifact smuggler. She got real annoyed when we resisted statue B, probably didn't realise that it worked both ways." Jaune trailed off. "You break any legs?" Nora asked. "Uh... I don't think we did... Oh, how's it going on your end?" Jaune asked. "Good, Junior's been having trouble with some of the Cults. Gave us a folder full of info and a list of targets to deal with." Ren said. "By targets I assume Cults that are affecting his business." Jaune replied. "He's been losing men to them and wants them gone." Ren stated.
There was a short moment of silence as he heard whispering on the other end. "Have you told Charlie yet?" Jaune inquired. "Nora sent her a message." Ren replied. "She's given the green light." Nora commented. "Good, then we have some targets. Though, considering the time we should head back to the house. Have some lunch and prepare some quick disposal and sealing." Jaune instructed. Ren looked at the time, 11:13 am, enough time to be back for lunch. "Understood, see you there." Ren said. "See ya there." Jaune replied as the call ended.
Jaune pocketed his scroll before he turned back to the scene behind him. Five thugs hired to rough them up and take back the statue, plus a Lesser Abhorrent trailing behind them in the back alley. Pyrrha was cleaning off her sword, a calm smile on her face as the Lesser Abhorrent's largest head stood alone next to her feet. Tony and Tompson were keeping an eye on the thugs, growling whenever either of them so much a moved. Jaune took a glance at the corpse of the Lesser Abhorrent and sighed.
He looked the corpse over as he approached it. It had numerous thin limbs and heads arrayed in a wild and frayed manner across a large blob that made up its centre mass. The thing's "Skin" was dark purple and appeared more akin to a mixture of water and oil, two different layers that seemed to float off of one another. Jaune covered his mouth as its wounds leaked a sickly green puss that smelt of sulfur, the material creating a large slurry of made him fight off a gag.
Jaune unsheathed Cocrea Mors and let his aura flow into it, a brilliant gold quickly turning into a blinding white flame that bathed the sword's blade. He stabbed the corpse, letting the bright white flames consume its entire being in less than a minute. He could hear the thugs whimpering as they watched the Lesser Abhorrent fade away, not even ash remaining.
The moment it was done Jaune stopped flowing his aura, letting the blaze fade away. He sheathed his blade and turned to the thugs with a glare as Pyrrha stood up. "Now... Here's what you guys are going to do." He said with a stern voice. "First, You're going to tell me how you're boss got that." Jaune instructed while pointing towards the burn mark that was once the Lesser Abhorrent. The thugs began blubbering out excuses, their words overlapped. "One at a time." Jaune interjected. The thugs quieted down as Jaune pointed to the one farthest to the left. "You first." he stated. The thug in question tried to make himself as small as possible before looking Jaune in the eye. "I don't know nothing, the only one who does is him." The thug stated while gesturing to the thug just right from the centre.
Jaune turned to him and leaned down so they were level. "I... I... She bought it from some weirdo, wore a suit and solid black sunglasses and shit like that. They traded that thing for a stack of books, weird books that hurt your head too look at." The thug trailed out. Jaune nodded before glancing over at Pyrrha. She responded by gesturing to the bag holding both statues. "Good, any symbols or notable features on his suit?" Jaune asked. "No idea... No Idea..." The same thug trailed out as tears began to glow down his face. Jaune took a breath in before looking over them.
"Good, now for your next instruction, you are all going to stand up, walk back to your boss, and tell them that if they try that again then we will come after them." Jaune instructed. The thugs felt their legs stand straight up and begin walking out of the alley. Pyrrha approached him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Your arm ok?" She asked while looking at his side. "Its fine, I didn't have it out for very long." Jaune replied. Pyrrha just gave him a questioning look before running her hand along his arm. He flinched for a second before looking down at said arm.
There was a small burn mark that ran from just above his elbow to the palm of his hand. Jaune grit his teeth, knowing his aura wouldn't help with the wound. "I'll get your burn cream." Pyrrha offered as she returned to their bags. "Thank you, how are you feeling?" Jaune asked as he turned to look at her. "I'm... good, it didn't come out and I got another trophy to appease it for a bit longer." Pyrrha responded as she pulled the burn cream out from one of their bags. She quickly applied the burn cream to his arm as Jaune grit his teeth for a second before it was soothed.
"So, back home now?" Pyrrha asked. "Yep, come on boys." Jaune called out to his goldies as they ran up to him. The two dogs quickly began offering comfort as they collected their bags. he watched as Pyrrha quickly sealed the head of the Lesser Abhorrent in a large plastic bag before she shoved it the bottom of her bag, hiding it under everything else in it. Jaune just ran a hand over Tony's head as Tompson began nuzzling Pyrrha.
It didn't take long for them to have everything packed up and start walking back too base.
Charlie set her plate in the dishwasher before she looked over at the Statue her younger brother and his partner had brought in. Resting on her new table, the ancient sand stone clashed against the dark brown wood of the table. The statue itself was of a simple figure, appearing like a humanoid with a hooded robe covering its feature while two malformed hands were held out in the open. Small pearls linged the spine and arms of the statue itself.
According to Jaune it made people in its vicinity more suggestible. In the hands of a Cult it would be disastrous, allowing them to convert the masses with little issue. Not that it was any less horrid what they may have been using it for in the bar, but anything was better than it in the hands of those Cultist.
The others had already left, taking her van and some of the weapons from the armory so that they could strike against a Cult hideout that Junior had informed them about.
A meow took her from her thoughts. Charlie looked over, finding Melon splayed out on the table, glaring at the statue. "Yeah, I know you old brat. That thing doesn't feel right." Charlie commented as she pulled out some chalk from a nearby drawer. She scoured the drawers before she found a solid metal case under the sink. Pulling out a flashlight, she turned it on and grabbed some chalk. She delicately drew Wards on the inside of the case, taking time to ensure they wouldn't fade away so easily.
When she was finished she turned to the Statue. In a flash she had slammed the case overtop the statue, sealing it within. She could hear a short scream from within before it grew quiet. "You won't be causing us or anyone else any more trouble." Charlie muttered as she grabbed a metal sheet and slid it underneath the case.
She picked the now sealed case up and began walking towards the basement. "You'll be waiting down there for a long while." She whispered to it as she decended down the stairs. Aura leaked from her eyes as she made her way through the pitch black of the basement. She passed by shelves filled with metal cases just like what she was carrying. When she reached an empty shelf she put the case on it and strapped it in with some nearby chains.
"To bad these damn things don't burn, might let me turn this place into something else." Charlie muttered as she began walking back to the stairs.
Hey, glad people are liking the story. If you have anything you want to say, have a question, or even a suggestion just comment.
Now for something else.
Arcadian Beastiary: Entry !@#
Horrors.
-Horrors are humanoid creatures created by either Cult Alchemists or rituals by unknown means. They are extremely ravenous yet they can never feel full, eith large segments of their bodies being used for the sole purpose of ensnaring and devouring prey. They will serve only those who either created them or those who are connected with said person. It is unclear if Horrors were once human, are just made from pieces of humans, or are an entirely different species. Horrors will often be codenamed by exhibited behavior (e.g. Stalking Horrors will spend a long time tracking and preparing to strike their prey from the most opportune position). Horrors also possess a limited form of regeneration so the only way to properly kill them is with large amount of fire (be it Dust based, semblance based, or through other such means).
-Horrors have one of the lowest ratings of cognitive damage of entities unknown to most of the world. When seen by common people, most will dismiss them as mere hallucinations or figments of their imagination. Horrors also possess a potent form of bacteria on their tongues which will numb limbs and lead to slow atrophy of the muscles. This bacteria can be removed through daily application of Cleanser on any wound or limb that came into contact with the Horror's Tongues.