Explainations... are too short

Nightfall. Evening of Dockside Altercation.

Still the mist that had rolled in from the day earlier had yet to abate, though instead of clouding all around, it crawls along the ground across the surface of the Tornmawr and its banks. People were scarce here, from the recent attack that took place in this very spot, and the ill fitting weather.

Two that was of the scarcity was that of a scarred mul'neissa, and a silver scaled sith-makar. Though this time the shadow elf held a cloak over her shoulder to stave off the chill, and her hands were adorned in small metal plates. A weapon of some sort. They got here early. And waited for everyone to clear out. Aryia rests against a wall, looking around slowly for the man and his bird.

With the mist and the darkness it was forgivable to miss Karasu. He came up from behind the pair, his raven companion nowhere in sight. His dark clothes made it all the more difficult to see him, save for the occasional flash of red from his coat when the breeze from the Tornmawr drifts up to where he is. It's his voice which draws attention to him, that quiet voice just slightly accented. "Goodeven."

It was not like Seyardu had anything better to be doing at the time, though the nights events would likely have taken priority regardless. She did not trust the man enough to leave Aryia alone with them, nor did she not wish to be their in case any of their bones were broken, which was a very distinct possibility. Whether Aryia's fault, or her own.

So, she waited at the river, occasionally glancing to a a patch of ground on the riverbank that still had not grown back quite right. She turns to the man as she approaches, offering the slightest dip of her head to them.

The elf was glad her friend went with her, not trusting any of this, but having some thread of what happened to present, she could not pass this up.

She steps off the wall, head whipping towards the voice before her stance relaxes. "Hello," she gestures evenly with a low wave. <Handspeech>

Karasu hesitates at the even response, eyes flickering to the weapon in the mul'niessa woman's hands before he focuses on the motion of her hands. "Are you certain that you wish to know what was happening on the docks?" Right to the point then. "Knowing could well place your lives in danger."

"I'm not going to be concerned by that." The silver sith-makar notes. "If you are trying to intimidate myself into not hearing what transpired, it will not work. So yes, continue. I would hear what you have to share, and if you would be more open with your information, then that would be appreciated."

The weapon that the mul'neissa possesses is strapped to her hands like gloves. A pair of cestus, affixed with cold iron plates. Meant to break the face of creatures beyond the Material Plane. She glances to the bank itself, then to the sky before continuing her non-verbal speaking. "My life is in danger constantly. And what I overheard involves me one way or another." <Handspeech>

Karasu holds his words a moment, but then spreads his hands in a gesture that is not hand-speech but rather an expression of surrender. "What you saw, was a conversation between myself and one of my contacts. He has recently decided to expand his trade into slaves and I was trying to gather information on the source of his merchandise." Karasu's words are cold and unfeeling. "I do not trade in slaves myself, but it is unusual for my contact to either."

"Then I am sorry, but I am not willing to take your words at face value." The silver sith-makar replies. "Your contact is willing to deal in slaves." They continue, looking down to Karasu. "And even if it is recent, where does that put you, if you are associating with people who would even begin to think, let alone act upon a willingness to deal in such a market?"

At that admittance, the shadow elf's posture lessens, a hidden tension leaving. She nudges Seyardu. "He's trying to find out where they're coming from. Which is what I'm trying to do. If he cut ties, then it would be suspicious and might get him in trouble." <Handspeech>

She turns to the Xian man. "Your contact must have been offered something really good to dip into such business in a place that strongly opposes it." The once aggressive mul seems to be going along with it for now. <Handspeech>

"Your friend has the right of it." Karasu murmurs to the sith-makar. "I do not know yet what he was offered, or why he would go into such a dangerous trade in a city that boasts of adventurers, but it must be something worth that risk." His eyes slip back to the sith.

"As for myself. I really do not care what people think of me. I would have rather let you both think of me as one that would deal in slaves myself - but she threatened to go after my contact and that... would have ended badly." He motioned to Aryia

"And it seems she threatened your contact with good reason. And you miss the point of what I am saying." The sith-makar sighs. "I don't understand if there is some good ulterior motive here or not, but I have heard nothing to indicate otherwise. But if there is information about slaves being sold here, then I would hear of it. Especially depending on the source. But still, if Aryia thought of you as one who dealt in slaves, you likely would not be standing here right now. So I will defer to her judgement."

The scarred elf shrugs at the potential outcome, but doesn't comment further on it. "If it wasn't for the fact that he gave me something to go off of, faces would be broken." <Handspeech>

"Look," she focuses on the man. "If you're looking into this, and I'm looking into why I'm getting targeted for recapturing, I think our interests are the same." <Handspeech>

The elf pauses. Then flinches, frowning at Seyardu as if she made a mistake. "Can you NOT use my name?" <Handspeech>

Karasu's eyes flicker for a moment. "Worry not Aryia, it would not have been difficult for me to learn it myself. There are not many mul'niessa in the city and fewer still that can not speak, or whom bear your description. Just as there are not many silver-scaled sith-makar." He pauses here and looks between the two. "As for your concern, I really have no reason to share my information with you. If my knowledge were to get out, it would only hinder my efforts."

It seemed that he really did not trust THEM.

"I am sorry. I will not make excuses for my actions, I should have been more mindful." The sith-makar notes with a sigh. "I know I stand out unfortunately." 

"Now, this matter is relevant to the one here with me." And herself. "Perhaps if you were more amicable, we would be more willing to leave you to your secrets. But I still have very little reason to trust you. And leaving it here will have amounted for very little in this conversation. We were already willing to assume there was some dealings with slaves from the previous encounter."

Aryia puffs her cheeks out and pouts. "I hate that you have a point." <Handspeech>

She shakes her head. "It doesn't matter. He owes us nothing. But he also gave me a lot to work off of.I will give you something, human." <Handspeech>

"I think the slave sources are working with a thieve's guild of sort." <Handspeech>

Karasu seems to agree with Ayria, at least in that he doesn't owe them an explanation - or information. "I will tell you this much - The cult of Taara is on the move in the belly of this city. Likely thanks to their priestess in this town, but for reasons of their own as well. That is all." Karasu turns, clearly meaning to take his leave.

"Well, that is something at least." Seyardu sighs again. "Perhaps that is why they feel okay dealing with slaves, if Taara followers are free enough to work within the city. Thank you for what you were able to share at least." 

"You know, for someone who was happy to be known as a slave trader, you were fairly confident being brought into the guards. Too much confidence can be a flaw, you know."

The shadow elf spits on the ground and kicks her heel against the dirt. "F-ck-g T-r-" she hisses in a grumble. "I will keep that in mind. Thanks for working with us, I guess." <HAndspeech>

"The guards, again, do. Not. Care. About hearsay. We've been over this," she mentions to the sith-makar before waving off to the Xian man.

"Later." <Handspeech>

Karasu doesn't react to the words of warning about his 'false' confidence. Instead he keeps walking until the darkness of the night swallows him whole once again. In the distance, a crow cries out, sounding terribly like a voice calling, calling, calling.

"Are the guards truly so untrustworthy here? I am used to them fighting off massive beasts and saving tribes from invaders and creatures on the regular. And any problems are dealt with promptly, and as harshly as warranted." 

Then again, it was not something one did for selfish reasons, either. I have met more than a few guards that are a bit less than ideal."

-End