HMS Equalizer – The Brig

In the belly of the ship, near the bilge and away from anything sensitive, the brig is a dank and windowless place sectioned off with stout wooden grids. Each cell has a post and tether to confine rowdier prisoners, or ones that might need extra restraining… judging from the wicked-looking implements arrayed on a table, along with a small stone fire pit with an iron rod heated to glowing, it looks like those restraints may see more use than one might have originally surmised. A thick and thuggish lizard holds court here, barrel shaped and with a face that looks like it might have spent some time being tortured itself. An ugly and crooked smile seems to be a constant presence on the wrinkly reptile's face, the sign of a man who takes considerable satisfaction in his work.

"Which cell contains Crushcoil?" Umeko asks the large reptile. It's taking every ounce of her will to not simply run out of this room, though. Umeko is a warrior, she does not delight in the suffering of others. "I understand that the General has already questioned him; but I have some other, not necessarily purely military questions, to put to him."

Anisa follows closely behind Kin – the smell of blood and anguish sapping her resolve as she enter the chamber. She fights to keep a stoic demeanor, but anyone paying close attention can tell she's unnerved.

To Anisa, Umeko whispers very quietly, "We will not linger here. I just wish to learn what he knows specifically of the Cinders and which ones he has met with personally."

The Lapi nods to Kin, forcing a small grimace to show she hasn't yet lost her nerve.

Xander loiters near the ladder, somewhere behind Anisa. For him, this place isn't as bad as the hospital, but he's not eager to intrude on Kin and Anisa's privacy unless called on.

Gibson follows close behind Anisa, laying a reassuring hand on his sister's shoulder. Dragonfly brings up the rear, though she doesn't look especially perturbed. The leering 'warden' motions to follow, and trundles down a hallway separating rows of cells. The crossed wooden bars of each are thick, so much so that it's a little difficult to see into each cell, but weathered with scratches from prisoners that have occupied each. Various dark stains streak the hallway up and down and to each cell. The smell here is unpleasant at best. Eventually, the brig keeper reaches the cell he was looking for, and throws the bar back, swinging the door open. "In 'ere. You want I should get some tools?"

"Tools are unnecessary," Umeko says with a dismissive wave of her hand. Head held high, the Kiriga enters the now open jail cell. "Crushcoil," she says in standard, "This is the only chance at some leniency you will have from me. Answer my questions satisfactorily and your fate will not involve suffering. Refuse to answer and well, I will leave you to the whims of the brig keeper."

Anisa slips into the cell after Kin. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she calms herself down, and opens her eyes to glare at the snake. "And he's a big fellah too – I think he enjoys his work."

Inside the cell, Crushcoil is bound by the hands to a stout rope tied to a ring on the ceiling. One of his arms looks to have received some splints and bandaging, but the dressing looks disturbed, as though the wound might have been exploited some. The constrictor's coils are thick, his body long and filling the whole small cell, but they too are bound, myriad cords suspending his thicker coils from the cell walls, leaving only his tail free to move. It's hard to tell what wounds he received from battle, and what he may have gained after. "I know the treatment to expect from the Empire, loyalists. Speak your piece, lay out your bargain."

"My questions are simple. I am certain the General has already asked you about military matters and I will learn from him your answers. I want to know about other things … such as who of Beshret's outside allies you have directly worked with, their names, and locations. I know about the Cinders and their involvement," Umeko says calmly and not unkindly, even. "You may think ill of the Empire, but be certain those who aid Beshret would do far worse to you than the Empire ever could. Helping us ultimately helps you."

There's a low thump noise from the hallway outside the chamber, near the entrance to the brig. Shortly after, the sound of light footsteps echo as someone nears. "Wow, this is creepy," a familiar voice can be heard to murmur. "I wonder where everyone went? And why does everywhere have to smell like blood?"

"Peh." The constrictor turns his head, and spits, not a common gesture for a Naga… the dribble of blood on his chin may be part of the reason. "Helps me, ah? Tell me more about that… if it helps me back out to the Savan with some water, food, and a couple Dromodon, maybe some things I could tell you, eh? You know more than the General does, seems like."

"You are not in the position to barter. Your answers will define what happens to you," Umeko says calmly. "Do you know what the Cinders are, truly? What they want to do to the world? Your petty designs on these lands are nothing to them. You are their tool to buy them time and nothing more. Anisa, tell him what the Cinders do to people, please."

"For all that," Anisa says, perking her ears backwards at the approaching footsteps, "you must have some very valuable information – or at least you think you do. What's it like, being a footstool to the Cinders?" The doe rests her chin in her paw with mock interest.

"I don't think he's ready for that information, Lady Umeko," Anisa says with a shrug. "I doubt his precious little heart could take it."

"Hello? Gibson? Ummy? Anisa? … zombies?" Lilac stops to peek inside a cell, frowning. She then leans back, shaking her head before sniffing the air. "Ugh," she complains. "But definitely that way." Soon, the woman can be heard approaching again, and soon she pops her head in the doorway of the cell the others are occupying.

The boa's eyes flick back and forth between Anisa and Umeko, and briefly at Gibson, who stands quietly at the back, looking on. "Cinders? You're talking gibberish. I pledged my warbands to Beshret, he dealt with the nobles, whatever it was they wanted." He hisses, gaping his mouth threateningly, a trickle of blood on his chin. "But I know you want something. Something with the ruins, ah? If by some fluke your armies could push Beshret's warbands out of the ruins, no doubt they will destroy or escape with what you want. Or do something else. Terrible stuff down there. I don't know your Cinders, but I heard stuff, yah."

"I don't want the ruins, I simply want to keep the Cinder's from taking anything from it," Umeko notes. Her head tilts and she spies Lilac. "Ah, Lilac, good. I have a request to make of you. You know both Hakuu's and Vandringar's scents since you've met them. You also can recognize species scents, if I remember right. So … can you tell if this Naga has been with Hakuu, Vandringar, or other non-reptiles?" she asks.

Gibson turns away from the talks, peering down the hallway and spying Lilac. His voice is low, as though he doesn't want to interrupt anything. "We're over here. Are you… sure you want to be here? You don't look well."

"You don't look afraid enough," Lilac tells the bound boa from the door. She glances at Umeko, looking at her a long moment before bowing her head. "Very well," she answers, quietly. She doesn't enter immediately, instead telling Gibson, "I'll be alright. I got some air before coming down here. The blood … isn't bothering me as much as it used to." Given she looked green at the thought of coming down here earlier, one might suspect the 'air' she got involved a parting from her lunch.

"If they destroy whatever's down there, they'll be doing us a favor," Anisa says, standing aside to let Lilac inside. "So you've been a Cinders' stooge all this time and never knew it," the doe says somewhat under her breath, but still loud enough to be heard. "Funny. I'd be mad if it were me."

Something in Crushcoil's face twitches, and he raises himself up a little in his shackles. "And you aren't lapdogs yourselves? What's the Empire giving you, eh? Tsssh, Lapi, even Jingai look down on you."

Lilac steps inside, proceeding towards the boa, arms wrapped around her chest. When Anisa says "they'll be doing us a favor," she frowns at the Lapi, but keeps walking until she's standing beside Umeko. There, her nose switches as she tries to catch a scent. "More blood," she whispers very quietly, sounding unsettled.

Umeko rests her hand on Lilac's shoulder. "Easy," she tells the human, "Relax and go as fast as you can. Do not force it."

Crushcoil stops in his angry tirade to give Lilac a strange look. "What is this?"

"Oh, just a bard," Lilac whispers in reply, not looking at Crushcoil's face. "Umeko, I'll need a moment – this place, it's full of … fear smells. And blood. New and old." A bit more sniffing, and she adds to the golden Kiriga, "He can speak about the Temple. I'll know if he's lying."

Anisa notes Crushcoil's irritation at her words, and can't help but grin. "What's the Empire giving me? Well, a nice little vacation so far. The only downside is some of the unpleasant people I have to deal with now and then." The doe buffs her nails on her arm-fur. "And I wouldn't worry about looking down on people. When the Cinders are done with you, you'll be looking up to me – as well as pretty much everyone else."

Kin nods. "Take the time you need," she tells Lilac. To Crushcoil, re reinforces Anisa's statement, by adding, "Indeed. You truly don't know their plans? That's … almost comical. You have been assisting in your own degradation and enslavement."

"I was paid and paid well!" hisses Crushcoil, his coils shifting in agitation against the cords binding him down. "I have nothing to prove to the likes of you."

Lilac's nose continues to wiggle, not unlike a Lapi's. "Well," she says after some time has passed, "I smell something. Over all this time, I've begun to think that scents fade into gray. A bit like how colors fade on garments." She cocks her head to the side, and bites her lip. "It's very jumbled, but I think I smell … herbs. Not medical herbs, but something else, which is odd because … Naga don't usually smell like herbs."

"You really mean you sold your body and life to them," Umeko remarks and lets out a hissing 'chuckle'. "What the Cinders want is to devolve everyone into nothing but animals. So, whatever money they gave you, well, was them buying your body so they could return you to your 'pure' form. Did you really think it was for your skill?"

"Even a beasthound gets a bone now and then." Anisa says with a shrug, "doesn't mean someone doesn't still own him." The doe covers her mouth in exaggerated shock. "Gasp! Umeko, you told him! And here he thought he was master of his own fate. Sad, really."

The heavyset Naga snorts and looks away moodily, the ridges over his eyes knotted. "Mmh. So, what then? You're saying you're different somehow, is that it? Your stories are stupid. Why should I believe you?"

Umeko taps Lilac's shoulder and motions for her to step back for a moment.

More sniffing, and Lilac nods slowly. "It's rare – that's … Oh?" Lilac blinks at Umeko, then quietly turns and slinks after her, still avoiding the boa's gaze. "What is it Ummy?" she inquires, ducking her head, "Did you know the herb smells is rare? It wasn't that I recognized it, and I've smelled a lot of plants, but that I didn't. Maybe it's from a far off place, or uncommon, or … illegal."

Umeko leans in and whispers to Lilac, "Would you be willing to risk a gambit here? I may ask you to shift. He may believe us if he sees someone 'devolve'. We could explain that you escaped their experiments and were only half done. The choice is yours on whether to pursue that route."

The snow white Lapi steps aside to allow Lilac access to the rear part of the room, then walks closer to Crushcoil. Leaning down to look the boa eye to eye, her expression goes plain. "It doesn't matter if you believe us or not – it's what they'll do to you if you go back to them. Imagine, nothing more than a harmless little sandsnake, sitting in a glass bowl on some Cervani's nightstand. Maybe he'll feed you some crickets today, or maybe he'll forget and you'll go hungry. Maybe, he'll tire of you completely, and toss you back into his garden for the Creens to play with." She stands back up straight. "I bet the memory of this cell will be like paradise in comparison. You'll have to let us know."

"Are you sure that's enough? I don't think he believes us, and he's too manly to bow to physical threats. The whole truth is too absurd to scare him. But, maybe if I do shift, he'll see the world that's hidden from most peoples' eyes? That there are terrors and stranger things lurking in the corners of the world?" Lilac pauses, scratching at an ear before shrugging. "I guess it's the same gesture, but the meaning is different. Let me pull the curtain back for him, and maybe he'll believe."

Umeko pats Lilac's shoulder and whispers, "That is your choice. Thank you, Lilac." She then walks back towards the Naga and says, "And if you still do not believe us, well … you would not be the first person the Cinders have tried to harm. Would you like to perhaps see what they do to people?"

Crushcoil glowers, almost nose to nose with Anisa. "I don't have to go back to Beshret! I made my living in the Savan, and I still can. You want what I know, you let me go. Otherwise, best I'm nice and safe in here and away from your big bad Sanders! Whatever they are." He almost corrects himself when he hears Umeko use the right name, but curiosity gets the better of him. "Eh? Do what, then?"

Lilac steps forward, and glances at Umeko a moment before finally looking Crushcoil in the face. "There are things in this world I never believed existed, and there are things I heard about but never met. I think we've all heard the stories, in one form or another: cursed places, ancient terrors in the dark, sorcerers and wizards and relics. All meant to frighten us, don't you think? My mother told me a lot of these, and this was in a land where the dead walk. But you know … they're true?" She cocks her head to the side, staring at the boa. "When you look into the darkness, sometimes it really does look back. It doesn't seem to smile, though." Her head cocks the other way. "Would you like me to show you the sort of power Beshret and Hakuu seek? I'll show you. All for free. And you know why?" Her eyebrows raise. "Because it'll cost a little piece of you, anyway."

The warlord looks confused, but looks on with an expectant, if guarded, expression.

"But I'm sure you've seen worse," Lilac adds, giving the snake a little shrug. "I know I have." She takes a step back, then kicks off her boots, which clunk to the floor. Next she loosens her blouse, but doesn't bother removing it or her skirt. After taking a deep breath, she drops on her her haunches and begins to change …

It starts with a twitch of muscle, Lilac's cheek jerking. But, quickly, it spreads like a ripple. Her face begins to elongate, her bones crack as they rearrange themselves, and her hands turn into stubby talons, then padded, viciously equipped paws. It takes all of fifteen seconds, and Lilac is no longer human, but a shadowy monster with too many teeth. The beast cocks its head to the side, and stares up at the warlord.

Anisa suppresses a shudder herself at Lilac's transformation, but turns back to Crushcoil. "And she's one of the lucky ones. She got to keep her mind."

"That is what the Cinders do to people. That is what fate you have been helping bring to the world with your ignorance. And my friend is right, she is one of the lucky ones," Umeko adds.

The constrictor recoils, hissing like water on red hot metal and struggling in his bonds. "What foul sorcery is this?! It's impossible! You're… you're bewitching me!" Still, he stares at Lilac, not finding any hint of the woman that was standing there before.

"No. You asked earlier what we wanted and what we want is to stop this from happening again," Umeko comments and slips her hands into her sleeves. "You, Beshret, his men, your men … in your blind grab for power … this is where you are taking the world. If the Cinders win; this is everyone's fate, including yours."

"Actually, Lady Umeko here is wrong," Anisa adds, walking over beside Lilac. "As I said, Lilac here is one of the lucky ones – she got a new, powerful form, and got to keep her mind. The Cinders have no such designs for their victims. You'll just be some mindless little scaly – not even so much as a snack for one like her."

Crushcoil sits there in sullen silence for a moment, gritting his teeth and looking disgusted. He looks from woman to woman, and after a point, he hisses, "Fine! Fine, you win. You say this as if I have a future, so… "

"You tell us what we want to know," the doe continues, "and we'll protect you from that fate. Toy with us… and maybe we will let you go, back into the Savan… all alone… a failure in the Cinders' eyes."

Lilac stares up at the warlord, her expression that vaguely sinister mask that is her beast form's default. When Anisa nears her, she gives the Lapi a pitiful whine, shifting to lean her head against the woman's leg. The motion requires her to move a paw, the black killing instrument drumming all four talons against the wooden floor as it rests, creating a few scratches.

Keeping her eyes locked on Crushcoil, Anisa runs her fingers through Lilac's thick fur. "We're listening… "

The beast's eyes half close, and her tongue lolls out, somewhat dampening her intimidating appearance. On the other hand, the appearance is perhaps more frightening: lolling, pressing her head to a sentient form, Lilac doesn't look to have much of a mind at all. She looks like someone's nightmare pet, lost in a little gesture of affection.

The boa lifts his head back, still recoiling slightly, an odd sight for such a large snake, but it doesn't keep him from speaking. "Alright… I don't know anything about these Cinders, but I know the nobles want something in the ruins. They've got a high-born there, named Hakuu. Beshret wants him to hurry up and finish, right? He means for his war bands to spread and take over Viper's Hold completely. The main town was going to be the first part… didn't expect a force this big, but we figured the Imperials might get involved sometime. If you go north, there's reprisal raids ready to raze whatever you leave behind. But for what the nobles are doing… "

"Hakuu is one of the Cinders," Umeko notes to the boa. "But very well, I believe you. It is a good thing they haven't found anything there yet … and pray that they don't. After all, they are chasing rumors and there may not be anything there to find."

"So you have no information on the Nobles?" Anisa asks.

Crushcoil sets his jaw, hesitating a moment, but continues. "Not so sure they didn't. When they brung the last payment, they came with something else." He nods at Anisa. "Yeah. They brought yorspice. Had us move it to the ruins 'cause they didn't trust the rank and file to do it."

Lilac pulls her head away, reaching with a back leg to scratch at her ear a moment before dropping down on all fours. The light from her eyes winks out as she closes them, and soon the process begins in reverse. Fur retracts, bone reforms, and her face is once again human. She drops from all fours on to her butt, rubbing at her face as her hair cascades down in front of her eyes.

"I've heard of that … but I have no idea what it is for," Umeko admits and looks around those gathered, "Do any of you know?"

"I … I know it's nothing I've smelled before," Lilac stammers out, sounding a little disoriented.

Anisa merely shrugs at Umeko. "I think I heard Royce talk about it before, but I tuned out halfway."

Having been quiet all this time, Gibson finally speaks up. "It's rare stuff, worth a shiny shekel that's for sure. They say it affects the mind… some mages use it, oracles, that sort. Makes people see stuff, but not everyone agrees it works as claimed."

Lilac shakes her head rapidly, as if trying to clear it. "If it's for oracles … or seers … then does that mean Hakuu is planning a big magic ritual? Maybe to scry the Temple? If he does … " The woman looks up, eyes wide. "We can't allow that ritual to succeed! Maybe he'll even be dazed by it, but we have to prevent him from looking!"

"Scry?" Umeko says and snaps her fingers, "Hakuu is a mage of the sphere of light! He is a scryer. That's how he's going to seek the answer to his quest."

"But what will he scry, exactly?" Anisa says. "Don't you scry on people, not concepts?"

Crushcoil seems to mull this over, then hisses, "Dunno what they mean to do with the yorspice. The fellow who brung it went with us. Beshret's with us, he's impatient, but the noble says they'll be done soon, says they learned enough. He says he wants Beshret to keep a watch to the north, the Beast Lands. I thought they might be going into it, but he says they need to be watching for something coming out of it."

"Maybe he is trying to find the Mother," Umeko comments.

Anisa's fur frazzles at the mention of the Beast Lands. "It's the Cinders, so there's no telling what they're waiting for. All I know is that it'd bad news." Turning back to Crushcoil, the doe regains her composure. "Tell me," she asks, fishing around her shirt collar, "did you ever see any of the Nobles have something like this?" She fishes out the crystal pendant, and holds it for the snake to see.

"People are concepts, Anisa. And concepts can be people," Lilac answers, looking back. "They're born from the mind, but they can be stone, and metal, and … flesh." Rising to her feet, Lilac frowns, head shaking as she looks at the floor. "Out of the Beast Lands?" Her gaze snaps toward Umeko, eyes wide. "But, The … you know who said Mother went as small ones went, or i- … 'he' thinks so. I think he … he knows when people are close. Wait, maybe … ," her eyes wide even more, so that her brows are at an arch, " … maybe he isn't there for the Temple at all! Maybe he's there to destroy it, or … harm it, until Mother comes? To use it to find something else, or … "

The big snake cranes his neck down to look at what Anisa's presented, peering for a moment, then looking momentarily surprised. "Yeah! The one that brung the yorspice."

"Describe the one that brought the yorspice," Umeko says after Crushcoil answers Anisa's question.

Anisa looks to Lilac and Umeko with a grimace. "Vandringar, most likely. Did you see any crystals like this in the ruins, on their own?"

"Cervani. Big guy, for one of their kind," says the warlord. "Looked important, but not fat or weak like most of their kind." He shakes his head at Anisa. "Had the only one of those I saw. Thought it was something fancy, nothing more. What is it?"

"Vandringar," Umeko says and nods to Anisa, confirming her earlier suggestion.

The doe replaces the pendant back into her shirt. "Nothing you need to worry your pretty little head over." She pats the pendant once its safely in place. "How long did the Cervani stay at the site? Was he still there last time you were there, or did he go elsewhere?"

"No, but the whole area is made up of unusual crystal-like structures – you saw them. The Temple itself is an unnatural cave, and it smells of … life and death," Lilac answers Anisa.

Anisa swivels an ear to Lilac, and nods. "It makes sense, then. I wonder… " The doe scratches an ear in thought.

The big snake frowns, but bites back a remark, and instead merely hisses, "Dunno. Left him down there with the yorspice and went back up. Had fighting to get ready for."

"Lilac, did you notice any sign of a Cervani when you were there," Anisa asks the human.

Lilac shakes her head, moving off to find her boots. "No, I would have told you if I did. I avoided Hakuu and most of the soldiers," she answers. "I didn't see the entirety of the caves, though, and definitely not much of the camp."

"He may or may not still be there. But, it is good to know he was there at one point," Umeko says with a small nod. "Anisa … is there any way you can try to spy on Vandringar and learn where he is?" she asks and nods towards the doe's chest.

Anisa frowns slightly at the suggestion, but nods. "I think I can, but only if we're in that… place at the same time. Or so I think. He seems to-" The doe cuts herself short, glancing back at Crushcoil. "Maybe we should talk about this elsewhere?"

Sitting down, Lilac begins to pull on her boots on by one. "Crushcoil?" She pauses to look up at the snake, ears perked. "How long ago did they deliver all of this? "

Kin nods, "Agreed. Crushcoil has told us as much as I believe he may know. I will remember that when it comes time to decide is fate. For now … he will be given medical treatment." She heads towards the door.

"Not long before we rode for Viper's Hold," the warlord replies. "Several days."

Anisa nods, and follows behind Kin. "If I were you, Crushcoil," she says over her shoulder, "I think I'd stick around the Imperials for a bit, even if I gained my freedom. You may think we were fooling you about the Cinders, but for your sake, know that we're not." With that, she exits the cell.

"Thank you," says Lilac, who rises after her boots are on. She takes a moment to refasten her blouse, tucking it in and making her skirt is straight, then she adds, "Please, if you're released, don't interfere any further. Go, oh, go enjoy life if you can, and stop this. If you continue, well, you've seen me." She takes a step, then adds, "And I can always find you." She then taps her nose, before heading for the door.

Crushcoil says nothing further, just staring from his bonds as the brig keeper closes his cell.

"Have a medic attend to him," Umeko tells the keeper as they pass by. She doesn't linger in the brig; she makes for cleaner air. "This becomes yet more complicated. They are ready for a Southern assault," she comments.

"So where does that leave us," Anisa asks. "We know for certain that Vandringar's a part of this now, and that's bad news. We can't keep running around, playing foot soldier if he has bigger plans."

"We make a wide loop and strike from the north down, or from the side, then down, I think," Umeko says.

Catching up with Umeko, Lilac nods. "He said they'll attack the town when we leave, and that they're 'almost done' – and that was days ago! Umeko," she reaches and touches the woman's arm, frowning, "I know we can't let the people here suffer an attack, but … I can't do anything about that. Do, do you want me to return … to … um," she bites her lip, her hand tensing such that her tails momentarily dig into Umeko's arm, " … do something?"

"Yes'm," says the keeper. If he's disappointed, he hides it fairly well. Gibson and Dragonfly follow along, and after taking a ramp up from the brig, the group emerges in one of the Equalizer's many halls, considerably brighter with the portholes, and certainly better-smelling.

"One person cannot fight an army, Lilac," Umeko reminds the human, "We must speak with the General and arrange a satisfactory military solution to their army, then deal with the Cinders as best we can manage."

"As for spying on Vandringar," Anisa says, continuing her comment from earlier. "I don't know whether I can or not. We've ran into each other while using the crystals, but he seems to know how to use them better than I do, and I think it only works if we use them at the same time."

"Are you willing to try to spy on him?" Umeko asks next as the group makes their way towards the meeting room.

The doe doesn't look too thrilled about the idea, but she nods. "I can try. Of course, if that's possible, it opens up a very big question." Anisa looks to the dragon. "What's keeping Vandringar from doing the same to us?"

"Spying! You know, I might be good at spying," Lilac informs Umeko. "I, um, well … I'd rather not fight if it can be avoided. I think I've … ," she glances back at Dragonfly, " … lost my taste for it, if I ever even had it. But, spying I don't mind. Maybe if we fight again, you could send the military spies with me."

"Who is to say he has not already, Anisa," Umeko points out. To Lilac, she nods, "That is a good thought."

"That's what I mean," Anisa says, holding a paw to her chest with a grimace.

"It'd be best if they could fly," Lilac adds, sounding thoughtful. "It's hard for people to keep up with me. Sometimes I forget that I'm not what I was, or that people aren't what I am. Is it bad that I'm so used to it I forget?" She tilts her head, frowning in introspection.

"Life is change. You are not the same person today you were yesterday. Things flow," Umeko notes with a small shrug of her think shoulders. "It does not matter who you used to be, only who you are and what you are doing."