Bonds of Kinship

It is not unknown to see Seldan within Daeus' halls, but usually he isn't in the back halls where temporary rooms are offered for those healing or seeking shelter. Today, though, he is, and is attired in full glory, full plate mail with its opalescent sheen, Reunion at his hip, pack on his back, deep blue and silver robe atop it with its depictions of celestial beings, the gemstone headband holding most of his hair out of his face. An imposing figure, so dressed, and yet not one that he customarily favors. Usually he tones down armor and magical gear to a more ordinary look, at the very least.

Those who know him well will know that when he does not bother to tone his panoply down, it means that he is on the warpath, and so now he strides purposefully down the halls towards the exit to the main temple.

It might have surprised Seldan then to know, that it was not his admittedly resplendent attire that drew Zeke's attention to him. But rather the scent of his kin fresh in his domain which drew Zeke out of one of those temporary rooms with warm platitudes to the one within before he closed the door and turned toward the smell. Seldan's purposeful stride, and his gear did draw Zeke all the faster however, curiosity and concern lending speed to the sith's movement as he strode to the other man's side. "Peasssce on your nessst kin." He offered, but did not stop moving so that Seldan did not have to stop moving. "Isss there sssome-thing the matter?"

GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (14)+7: 21

The ginger-blonde man wears purposeful focus like a cloak, and so set is he that when Zeke addresses him, he blinks, starts, and turns towards him, a warm smile finding its way to his features. "Peace upon your nest kin," he offers, bowing a little. "Forgive me, is it so plain to read? I hunt a devil who seeks a foothold in one of the public houses of the city. Has taken an interest in Sabina. What of yourself?"

"Thisss one isss at work healing. Thisss one wondersss if thisss one can be of any asssissstance to you?" Zeke keeps his pace to Seldan's with ease, slowing when he slows. He knows his kin well it seems. "Isss Sssabina well? Issss in need of healing or cleansssing?"

The smile Seldan wore on seeing Zeke fades. "That, I cannot say. It is in my mind that she has not yet been touched, but the devil was asking nosy questions about how the business was run, asking permission to come inside, asking permission to use the baths ... most strange, and put me in mind of how vampires behave."

Zeke nodded slowly. "Devilssss are not unlike the undead." He seemed thoughtful. "It might be bessst to sssee if thisss woman wasss controlled by the devil for any length of time. It may have sssome usse for her beyond what can be ssseen immediately."

"That may well be so," Seldan nods his agreement, having slowed his pace to match the sith, almost automatically. "I have not yet spoken with her. The devils take the form of ordinary folk, but shy from me on sight. Even so was I prompted to look more deeply. Evil indeed, but I dared not start a confrontation or expose her, lest the innocent be caught in the crossfire. I must speak with Sabina as soon as may be. It is in my mind that these devils desire control of the establishment itself, the better to stake out a place for their machinations."

"There be wisssdom in that asss a plan, and wisssdom in you to be wary of sssuch. It troubless thisss one to think that evil ssshould wear a human guise, but even Eclavdran did ssso. Wearing a human body to walk the sstreetsss without being waylaid." Zeke sighed. "Thisss one will not keep you, but warnsss you to ussse your magic upon thisss woman, be sssure ssshe isss with-out a devil's mind-control before you trussst her wordss."

"Even so. Well am I familiar with the breaking of mental controls, and what one in the grip of such may do." Seldan wears a very, very small smile, one that ripples with charged memories and deep understanding. "Oft does lesser and greater evil alike wear human guise, for it is as you say, even Eclavdran did so. I ... am wary, and at times of late do I find myself being chided for it."

Zeke shakes his head. "Do not allow yoursself to be sso kin. For it isss wissdom to be wary. For one might be a devil - a demon, or merely under the command of one. And how are we to be the wisser? No, better to be cautiousss and ussse the ssskillss and ssspellss which the godss give usss with reasson."

Seldan's eyes lower, and he studies the floor. "For in my vigilance may those imprisoned find freedom," he murmurs. "This is known to me - the devils that seek the Shards have a lookout where they watch the doors to the Seeress' Temple."

The blue-scaled sith made a displeased sound. "Looking for you? Ssso that they can track your comingsss and goingsss?" He seemed horrified by the thought.

A quick shake of the head accompanies Seldan's look up, back at Zeke. "I believe that it is the Seer that they track, although it may be myself as well. They actively shy from me and avoid me, do I walk openly as myself. We found their notes, we believe them to desire control of one of the Shards." His flat tone fairly screams _unsurprised_. "There are two more haunts within the city walls that fit the description I sought, but other duties have called me, and I think it unwise to go alone."

Again Zeke looks thoughtful, but in the end he sighs. "Then do not go alone. If you feel sssomething in your gut which sssaysss that it isss unwisse, it iss the voisce of the godss yesss?" He flashed his teeth at the other man. "Thessse demonsss and devilsss can not avoid you for-ever, and thisss one would very much like to be there to sssee it. Thisss one issss ever at your ssside at your requessst kin."

"Gladly would I have you, for not lightly do I take this group. I know something of their aims, but little of their leader, for it is in my mind that a group of devils working together is seldom not fractious. Guile, then, is our method, that they may show themselves in error, and banishment from the plate is their goal."

A nod here. "Then you have thisss one." Zeke holds his claw out to his kin. Ready to shake the hand given. "Though guile isss not thisss one'sss sstrong ssuit, thisss one will do what thisss one can."

"That is much. I ... would have those who know the stakes, at my back." Seldan's smile returns now, a ghost of what it was, but still present and real enough for that, and he reaches to take the offered claw, marveling for a moment at the free and easy gesture that would have been so difficult for him a year ago. "I shall seek you."

-End