Alexander sat still on the pulsing stone underneath him, engrossed in his thoughts. Escape was inevitable, but when? This place was seemingly hopeless. Near him lay a recording device he had managed to smuggle into the prison, despite the fact he was searched.

Alexander turned on the device, slowly moving his head towards the voice input area. "Day 16. Once again, this is Alexander Caltamir, son of Nydelarin Caltamir, and heir to the noble Caltamir position. It seems as if there is no escape, as if this prison is flawless. But everything has a flaw. Regards, Alexander." He pressed the stop button gently, the slight pressure on his finger seemingly harsh. Alexander's hands were bruised and callused, and so was his body. But those who had fought with him suffered much worse.

A guard came to the cell door. "There's someone to see you." he said, unlocking the door. A tall man shrouded in black entered the room with a suitcase. The door behind him was locked by the guard. "Enjoy," the guard said, uttering a cruel, heartless laugh as he walked away.

The man sat down at the metal table in the room. "I need information," he said in a deep, gravel-ly voice. "Information I believe only you can procure for me."
"What makes you think I will tell you anything?" Alexander replied, spitting onto the man's jacket. The man simply rubbed it off, and smeared it onto the chair.
"Many things," The man set down his briefcase, opened it, and unfolded a roll of knives and various tools. "Such as a chance to escape."

Taking the paper Skotino looked it over, his mind reading it before his body had a fit and ripped it to shreads.

What, why did I do that...What ever at least I read it.

"Well? You didn't come all this way to give a letter, what do you want?" Its' what Skotino would have said, but Daud said it first having not read the letter.

(As a heads up what did it say?)

Waving Daud off the man stood up and walked to the exit. They where dealing with the higher order of the Spiral Order here. The smart thing to do would be to go to the Top Brass and say something but he knew that would only lead to him getting taken to some gravel pit and killed, at least they could try. Walking back and forth if nothing else but to amuse himself Skotino started to think with what little sanity moved around in his mind.

So its a personal request from another Guild Master. I can't look over this one lightly considering I really don't know who this Queen of Spades is. On the same note I am suppose to take capture of some one from up high, intergate them, then send them back to a normal setting. No that would be stupid considering the Order has everything wired. Thankfully I had them scrable my signal so I am safe, but no one else would be.

Turning to Daud he pointed to the computer room before saying the only word his mouth would aloud. "Rotlass."

With a Nod Daud turned and went to work. Anyone who had been in the base before would have known Daud was heading into the computer room to get information on said name. As for Skotino he turned back to the man and looked him over.

"Get out." It was bland, as if his voice was disconnected. NO! I wanted him to stay...what ever.

Walking back to his seat Skotino sat down as he went over his mind how best to get at some one from the top brass. The only logical plan coming to mind was a midnight kidnapping. Make it look like one of the Order's enemies had taken the man in his sleep. From there he was free to do what he wanted since any kind of tracking or computing devices would not be on the person in question.

Watching him leave Skotino felt powerless for a moment, yet he looked as if he was expecting the man to leave. If not for the fact Daud walked up to the man and stopped him he would have indeed left.

"Sorry about him. He is currently not in his right mind, if you would be as so kind as to follow me I have some questions that need to be answered."

Daud said leading him to a side room which had a couple of chair's lights and a water dispencer. In the corner was an old CE well which was currently out of use since the well was more for the medical department then it was for the normal daily use.

Watching them Skotino had a screen on infront of him so he could at least listen to what they where saying. Alright body, sit tight and we can hear something good for our mission.

Daud pulled out some paper's as he put down a profile collected on the first target, the Rotlass. "This is everything we have on the person in question. Knowing very little about your Guild we did some digging and found all this. I have not yet read it so I want it to be a surprise. So, please tell me everything you can, about the target and the guild as well as who else Skotino is going after."

Skotino grumbled something to himself as Daud and the rest of his intel officers worked. Every now and again something would pop up on the names submitted for the search. Yet nothing importen like current locations or offical tags. One thing did come to his mind as a suspect for one of the men or women he was after.

Takamura, why does that name ring a bell.

Opening a second window for his viewing Skotino started to look over them before his muscles started to lock up. Ignoring it the man looked over the screen at the mans current standings.

Morai, he looks good for some one of his age and having been in a military career for such a long time. Best guess is he has had enough fighting but can't stand to see weak people...Of course this is just simple profiling. If I had to make a guess he is currently some where in the clockworks, perhaps just getting his mind off his task. I don't know I would have to go there myself.

As the first screen went on showing more information about the politician who he was suppose to be getting he ignored it. First off there was not set price for the jobs but then again most people payed when the job was done.

I can have a team watch the politician for a while, once I get the green light for the funds I will have them take him in. By that point they will have had enough time to study his actions and take him down with little trouble. as for this man I will find him myself.

Closing the screens Skotino stood as a Medic came over to him. On the side of the medic's pouchs was a box with a Bio-hazard symble on it's side. If any one would ask why he had such a thing he would simply say 'its medication' and be done with it. Taking off Skotino's helm the Medic reached up and removed a shard of Dark Matter from Skotino's mouth placing it in the Bio-hazard box. "Sir, you should really stay here till after the mental effects fade."

Ignoring him Skotino just waited as a needle with a glowing dark liquid was injected into his neck. Showing no sign of pain aside from a wince of his eye the Dread Skelly man just slipped his helm back on walking to the exit.

--- [It's three minute walk to the Arcade]

Looking around threw the new eye piece Skotino was given a read out on all the knights currently connected to the SK network. Alright, last know location was in the clockworks. I just need to get there and watch, collect information. Sanity don't fail me now.

Getting on an elevator Skotino waited, heading down into the depth below to an unknown fate.

Midway through the elevator ride, Takamura fastened the rope to himself and the Isoran, and vaulted over the elevator's railings. His aim was careful, and his body surely knew what would happen next.

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/search/1440763/ Attempt was a 3; Response was a 1.

Not a second into his descent did he grab a handle, one of many that comprised the old service ladders when the Stratum was still being built, and he placed his other arm around the support beam where the ladder was built upon. With a grunt, he swung around, and set his feet upon the vertical truss beams. He heard whirring below, and a rhythmic pulsation of lights told him a supply elevator was coming up.

~~~

Takamura, along with the unconscious Isoran on his back, as well as the odd Drakon-class Sprite, came up the supply shaft (located a ways from the Garrison) roughly about the same time as Skotino had departed from the Arcade down the main transport elevator. With his Nameless Hat tucked close over his eyes, and the bandanna covering his nose and mouth, identification would be difficult. He had already cut off the rope around their waists, and instead tied the coil besides his pack. This, with his rugged Ash Tail Coat, would give him an appearance of some veteran Knight on a bad day with a rookie.

Not that the facade was a total lie, of course. Today, he had been unluckier than usual, whatnot with encountering a chatterbox Sprite and getting a few nicks and cuts here and there. He doubted if today would be the end of his unlucky streak, but who would know?

Instead of moving towards the Garrison, Takamura silently turns about-face from it and begins to trudge away into the brush beyond. Not by the detectable systems did he rely on getting to location; it was his own memory that would guide him through the brambles.

The Squire had some time, but if he spent it talking to the Drakon, she'd be dead and very useless.

And that would be a shame.

Lance was in the library section of the lab. Although the library itself was quite big with many subject matters, they are mostly revolved around fiction or Isora, with maddeningly little about cradle's history, and the few books that were actually of use were either based on common knowledge or speculation.
"Ugh, nothing new here. When will we go on another research expedition? At least then we might get enough data so someone might write a history book that's actually INTERESTING."
He then noticed a note left by someone on the table. He could see it addressed to him. Lance hoped it wasn't left there too long, though he knew it was probably there for hours.

"Dear Lance,
You were reading again, and I know how you act when I interrupt you, so here's a note.
Two uncommon levels in the clockworks have appeared, but won't be accessible long enough for us to get to both of them together. However, I have a strange feeling something important will be at one of them, so we'll have to split up to reach both of them. Below is a map showing these levels, and I'll be taking the one that has an "x" over it, and you'll be taking the one that has been circled. Before you set out, you'll obviously want to form a party, I have a feeling that there will be some hardships on the way there.
...Yep, still reading. You really ought to be a bit more aware when reading.
Michael."

Upon finishing, Lance said to himself, "well I guess that's my answer," check out a few books for the journey and went to prepare.

Alexander looked incredulously at the stranger. "Out?" he repeated. "You can't possibly...." Alexander pondered. "Or maybe you can. What do you want to know?" The stranger unsheathed a long, white bladed sword with runes covering the edges.
"I wish for THIS blade to corrupt."
"What?"
"I wish for this blade to corrupt."
"How can I possibly corrupt a blade?" Alexander asked. "Wait..... no..... you know..... about my past?"
"I know everything about you, Alexander." The stranger said. There was a prolonged silence.

"I can corrupt it. But I need ingredients. If you break me free, I shall tell you those and help you retrieve them." Alexander said, breaking the quietness.

"Fine." The stranger placed the sword on the table, and unsheathed a small, bronze knife. He spun it in the air, and the firmly fitted it into his hand. He walked over to the cell door. "Guard! You there! My meeting is over, let me out!"

The guard stepped closer, unlocking the door. "I hope you had a pleasant sta-"
(The guard rolled a 1 in defending himself, no modifier, and the stranger rolled 4. Using http://www.wizards.com/dnd/dice/dice.htm )

The brown-gold colored blade slipped in-between the guard's ribs, and he fell to the floor, blood cascading out in massive amounts from the fatal wound. "Alexander!" The stranger called to him quietly. "Over here! And take my briefcase with you......"

Getting to the Hall Daud dropped off the paper work he had been handed, of course in his mind he was running over the very situation which had unfolded before him. The Blood dry, it had coagulated, and from the looks of it the time was roughtly three hours ago at most to be that dark of a color. Walking to a corner of the Hall Daud turned on his Comm. getting ahold of his guilds director.

"Patch me threw to Skotino on a secured line, I don't want any traces."

As soon as the link was astablished Skotino just stood there, his hand's empty as he looked over what looked like a strugle of some sorts. Perhaps it was just knights having a scuffle but he didn't know so he didn't investigate much.

"Skotino, come back top side real quick. I have some information on the first target as well as some other strange sightings today. I am sure the Orders MP's will pick up on it soon but other then that things have been moving smoothly."

"Alright."

Turning around Skotino headed back to the elevator. Not sure if things should have been right or wrong in the floor but if Daud had something useful he was not going to let it go.

"Also, get me a Drakon...I want a pet."

"Sir we went over this, you can't have one."

Before exiting, Lance noticed that a knight who seemed like he might be skilled, though a bit old, was over in the history section. "Worth a shot, I'll be needing some people to party with, might as well ask around. Plus, he seems interested in history, that's a plus." he thought to himself.

Walking over to him, he confronted him with the offer, trying not to sound as experienced with conversation as he was, "Um, hey, you look skilled. Do you currently have plans to go on a mission of any sort? If not, would you mind coming with me on a research expedition? You see, I'm a researcher-in-training, and my teacher had noticed two places of interest and sent me off to investigate one. However, this mission is time sensitive, and I'm pretty slow when travelling on my own. So, yeah." He waited for a response.

Alexander picked up the briefcase (-1 to speed) and sneaked around the corner to the stranger.

(Attempt to not get noticed: 6+2=8 Response=4. Not noticed)

"Mind telling me where the exit is?" Alexander asked the stranger.
"Right around that corner, guarded by two men," the stranger responded.
Alexander and he sneaked to the corner again.

(Attempt to not get noticed: 1+2=3 Response=3 Matched, reroll 2+2=4 response 5. NOTICED!)

Alexander accidentally banged his arm against a sword attached to the wall, and was instantly heard. The two guards became suspicious, and took a peek......

(Ready level= 2 Attempt to sneak attack= 6-2=4 Response 2. Sneak attack confirmed!)

Alexander grabbed the weapon from the wall and spun around the corner, slashing into one of the guard's necks. The guard crumpled to the floor, dead.

(Guard attack! Attempt force bonus= 2 Attempt 6+2=8 Response 1. Guard attack successful)

The guard, though temporarily stunned, hit Alexander with his sword in the gut. (Alexander's health=6-1=5 Alexander is stunned)
The stranger, seeing this, lunges for the guard with his knife.

(Stranger's attack! Attempt speed bonus=2 Attempt 4+2=6 Response 5. Stranger attack successful)

The dagger plunged itself quickly into the area slightly above the guard's sternum. As a follow up, the Stranger slashed his throat.

(Slash Throat! Guard has -3 response. Attempt 3+1=4 Response 6-3=3. Throat slashed)

The guard could no longer call out in pain, and fell to the ground, blood streaming from his lifeless body. The stranger checked his body for keys, and Alexander checked the other body as he put down his weapon.

(Check body= Stranger Attempt 3 Response 5. No keys!)
(Check body= Alexander Attempt 3 Response 2. Keys found!)

"I have the keys!" Alexander said, in a little bit of a hushed shout.
"Great! Now let's get out of here!" The stranger replied.

(Attempt to escape. Noticed? Attempt 6 Response 2. Escape successful!)

The two men finally had escaped the Morai compound. "So, what do I need to corrupt this blade?" Asked the stranger, talking directly to Alexander. "The corruption of anything is diffucult. But I will tell you. You need to mix the heart of a Wurm and a dragon's tooth or claw together in the blood of an Orc."

Looking around the depth Skotino reached up and started slapping his helm as if he was trying to hurt himself.

Come on brain thing for two seconds; the scene here was a struggle, from the looks of it one knight was knocked out by a heavier set indivual. The foot print's give me the understanding the heavier set one had more combat training for he took fewer steps.

Walking further down the road he spotted what looked like broken parts of armor as well as a body imprint in the ground. Reaching down he picked up one of the bits and started to pace around the imprint.

The lighter person was knocked down flat. Maybe this was the knock out hit...Male from the size of the feet and imprint. The person in question was not killed, but it suggest's there was a cut on the victom...

Looking around his goal was to try and find some more blood, maybe a trail but nothing was there. Placing his finger's on his helm he grumbled first.

"I don't care, I want one. Look I have been able to keep my fingers out of my mouth for a while week alright."

"No sir, you know better then me you can't have one...Your looking over a battle scene arn't you?"

"I'm I that easy to read?"

"Yes, I have known you for a long time sir."

"Ya, thanks Daud."

((Going to take some libirties here with the armor on the ground))

"Hay Daud, it looks like there was a fight here...Big fight."

"Okay call central command and have them in investigate it. We are not he Military Police."

Looking up and around Skotino saw the signs of battle, it was much larger now that he had a better idea of what had happened in this small battle. Walking to some of the machinery which littered the depth like the plague he saw it was heavily damaged and looked to be beyond repair. Along the walls and ground outside of the first battle spot seemed to be signs of Scotrch marks.

Okay this paints a bigger picture. I don't know if that battle is related to this one but it looks like this place was raided. Based on the fact everything was smashed up and the only things of value are from the wildlife. Most everything has been re-calmed by the environment at this point. Then there is the walls, scorch marks tell me that this battle involved a lot more then just two people but it all looks so old.

Walking along the road Skotino felt his foot hit something hard making a matalic ring. Lifting up his foot giving a howling about how much it hurt, after all he was walking full force and it kinda hurts to have your toe crunched in armor boots. Once he stopped yelling he looked down and picked up the object. It looked like it was Cobalt armor, not the old kind new stuff, maybe a couple of months old.

"Skotino! What happened!?"

"I don't know, but I am going to get to the bottom of it."

OOC: Theta? **** that. Is everyone using greek letters as Squad names? Delta Epsilon Alpha Theta to those names. (If you know what I just spelled.)

"And unfortunately," Alexander said, slowly drawing a knife from his back, "I might not be able to help you find those." The knife cut through the air at the stranger.

(Sneak Attack! Stranger has -2 but +2 from speed. 0 bonus. Attempt 2 Response 2. Reroll. Attempt 6 Response 6. Reroll. Attempt 4 Response 1. Success!)

It flew straight into the stranger's body, and he fell to the ground. (-1 of 2 of the Stranger's health. 1 left.) With that, Alexander dashed away.

(Attempt 3+3 Response 6. Reroll. Attempt 4+3=7 Response 5. Success!)

Takamura continued trudging along in the dark depths of a natural cavern system far below the Rescue Camp. It was in the atrium of this network would he find his fellow cohorts, and less hopefully the Captain. While they didn't really have in any proper base, as each camp set up doubly acted as a permanent base on its own, with well-trained Morai to defend and maintain it. The Cavern was just really a central hub for torture and basic training for a few unfortunate Isorans, and a few bunks here and there was all that was needed to really call the Cavern a base.

This time, though, he relied on his HUD waypoint system (contrast with the minimap system Isorans use) to guide him through the long and complex tunnels. In darkness, not even his eyes could make out silhouettes beyond a 20-meter radius, and the forks were often separated by walls far wider.

~~~

Upon arriving to the Cavern, Takamura found it empty, or at least how it was set up to be. The dripping noise in the distance was not natural water running through the cavity, but a leaked pipe being siphoned into a bucket. The occasional breeze was more likely to be caused by a low-powered fan, and most importantly...

One of the new Morai had broken all the stalactites and stalagmites. There couldn't be a clearer sign than that.

With his signature identification sign, he clapped his heels together and struck the rocky floor with his foot, and placed the knuckles of a closed palm onto his heart.

Now there was the matter of waiting, and time was running slightly lower and lower for the still-bleeding Squire.

Immediately, Takamura sets down the injured Squire at a corner, and draws his Red Saber. While not deadly, the overly sharp blade could easily make light, shallow cuts; a good chastisement for incompetence would be in order.

OOC : Difficulty is...?

"No." Skotino stated blunty, he was currently not in the mood for any kind off pass time partakings. The only think on his mind was his work and what the hell happned here.

Still I could use him as a source of information. If I play my cards right.

"I don't smoke, and the only think I drink is what ever is in my own flask."

With that said Skotino reached behind himself pulling out a flask, taking off the top the smell of heavy alcalohal could have been smelled. "We use it to clean off grease, also works well for a buzz."

"If you insist on leaving, your information will just go to waste."

Skotino said as he crossed his arms. Maybe his sanity was breaking or coming back, who knew.

"How about you just come back here, wait for my team to get her and we talk when they are around that way they can have more information to do their study of this battle field and get better results."

Straios nodded sagely. "Undoubtedly, we shall convene at the promised place," he answered, before adding, "I too have preparations to oversee."

Collecting a smattering of papers off a table adjoining the bookshelf, Stratios nodded as he swept out the musty library.