Slippery Slope

"Shut up," Seldan answers irritatedly before he can gather his wits, picking himself up carefully off of the ice. Who that is directed at may or may not be clear, although it seems more likely to be directed at the voices, which have not stopped snickering and seem to have no intention of doing anything of the kind.

Once he is stable, he reaches for the papers getting soggy on the ice, collecting them quickly even as they get soggy. A single arcane sigil drawn over the ones he has collected, and an arcane word, and the dampness melts away from the papers with a gesture. "Forgive me, Mourner. I was ... overly confident. Are you all right?"

"Oh, I'm fine. Acleese will never believe this though, I'm afraid. 'Hrm,' he'll say, and ask if it was a dog." the priest says, and looks warmly sheepish. He pushes the glasses back into place with a thumb. "And it's as much my fault as yours, I would say. I was blocking traffic."

Glasses reapplied, he looks to Seldan and smiles, and then over the area. The corner of his mouth twitches, again. "...you have no idea how the loss of paperwork generates paperwork," he says to Seldan, companionably. "Well...well. It's a pleasure to meet you again. It has been some time though, I think?" he says. After a hesitation, he bends, carefully, and peels up one of the papers.

It drips and sways-flops in a rather sad manner.

It looks as though the two recently had a collision--there is ice, ice everywhere on this chill day. There's some paperwork, three or four pieces, that apparently suffered. These pieces are soaking into the ice, becoming translucent and soggy.

Nearby there is a chuckle, a laugh, a cut-off sound of mirth that clearly comes from a woman who reveals herself in this way. She was off the beaten path somewhat into the flowers, but she joins the pair now by stepping carefully off of it. She's got her hood pulled up - perhaps against the cold - and it does well to hide her features, and her leather armor hides much of her form. There's a bow strung across her back and a quiver attached to her thigh (oddly enough).

"Sorry, I shouldn't laugh, but that was..." She coughs and bends down to pick up a piece of sopping wet paper and offer it up. "Are you alright?" She looks up and the hood falls back, revealing beautiful elvish features and a shock of red hair.

Seldan peers at the soggy papers, looking equally sheepish. He's sitting on an ice patch to which both of them seem to have fallen victim, and adjusts the thin silver headband holding his hair in place, that seems to have slipped askew in the process. It has not come completely off, but he fixes it most quickly nonetheless. "Perhaps I can help," he says, offering the paper he's managed to fix.

The snickers from his left hip have not stopped, and when they're joined by a real one, he looks down, flushing pink. "I ...." Which of course only serves to make the snickers from his hip louder still. "I ... A pleasure to see you again." Yup, completely flustered now. The priest looks around as he straightens with the bit of sog in hand. And then there's someone there with another piece, and! Well. His eyes show uncertainty, of course.

"Ah! I'm sorry for running into you, there," he says to Rhyn. Well, there had been other voices earlier, hadn't there? "I seem to have become a roadblock for a number of people, I'm afraid. Is there any way I might be of service?" Kerbasi asks. Then, places the one soggy paper next to the other, on his arm. He wears the workman's version of a priest's robe, and there's mud on its edges. "...other than the obvious, I mean. I've repaired a limb or twenty in my time."

Rhyn flushes also, embarrassed to have embarrassed Seldan in the way she has. It doesn't help that there's the sound of laughter rising up around them. It seems to be coming from her hip and she eyes the sword there suspiciously. "I'm really sorry." She says it again, and really it's not something she says often though she seems to be saying it a lot today. She buisies herself picking up the last few papers and offers them up at last. "Do we know one another? You look familiar, but I don't remember running... I mean." She coughs around the words that she almost said and looks at Kerbasi as if he might help her. "You didn't run into me."

"No, the fault is mine." Still flushed and look at neither of them, Seldan offers the papers he has collected - and seems to have dried with that spell of his - back to Kerbasi. "I was in excessive haste, I had hoped to make it to Mithralla ere sundown. I am in need of a scroll from him, and the sooner I get it, the better."

"I warned you." The grandmotherly voice is definitely coming from the sword at Seldan's hip, but it's definitely also not the only voice involved. In fact, there are at least six to be readily picked out, and likely more.

"So you did," Seldan tells it with a look, "but if you do not wish Kol Demontry to escape the next time he shows his face, then I must be quick."

"Ah, thank you. I'm afraid m'clerk will have to find something else to tease me for, it seems. Did you say...ah. Well, that makes sense, then." The priest sounds warm, amused until he gets to the last part. Kerbasi still is, though there's seriousness there that wasn't there, before. "I'd be rushing about, myself, sword in hand if I was one of the temple's guards."

"And it's quite alright," he says to Rhyn. "Or...whatever it is we're apologizing for, now. I--"

And he cuts through the apology circle, with a more abrupt, "Did you say scroll?"

The elvish woman shakes her head, but her ears perk at the name that is uttered from Seldan's lips. "Kol Demontry? Isn't that the name of the vampire that's been rampaging around killing and abducting people?" Her hand falls almost instinctively to the warhammer hanging from her side, the weapon acting like a touchstone. She stilled herself and awaited the reply to both her question and Kerbasi's as well.

"The same." Carefully, Seldan gets to his feet, dusting himself off. The snickers from the weapon at his hip have subsided, to be replaced with an older, irascible man's voice. "You bet I don't." That is quickly followed by the same grandmotherly voice. "Well, of course not, but that does not mean you should be colliding with people in your haste."

Seldan simply shakes his head and ignores the chatter. From the look he wears, this is something he does, and deals with, often. "I am indeed in such need. He showed himself a scant few days ago, again. With the help of those around, I was able to deny him his target, but he escaped before he could be dealt with properly. I mean to see that he does not so escape again, but I have not yet mastered the fourth circle theories."

"Well, that may be something I can help with. I've served the Lady for a number of years. The...hrm. I like you, so I'll be direct. I discount anything to do with the undead; always have, always will. The Lady put me here t'serve. And undeath, well..."

"...well. Let's just say they're one of those things that ought not t'." To Rhyn, "I've heard of him. The whole Temple has. ...a vampire on steroids, from th' sounds of it."

The young priest runs a hand through his hair. It's messy. They'll be on him to comb it, again. Use those fancy styling products. "You'd want an anchor of some type, if he's doin' what he might be. And that is somethin' I can help with. When you've grown in faith a little more, I can teach you how to prevent their hopping about, as well." His eyes spark, some. Somewhere between a priest's warmth and support and, oh. That certain Death-to-Thul that many a Vardaman might possess. He smiles to Rhyn, as well. "Either of y', of course. Y'can bring a whole class, if y'like, if they're of a mind."

Rhyn mouths 'fourth circle theories' to herself, but clearly has no idea what Seldan is talking about when he says it, but it's clear that he was talking about the infamous vampire. She shakes her head and then her gray eyes widen at Kerbasi's offer. Rhyn lifts her hands and offers an awkward smile. "Sorry, I'll kill them when I can. I loathe the undead, but... I don't know anything about magic at all. Clerical or otherwise." She flashes her teeth. "Wouldn't know a fourth circle if it bit me in the ass."

Seldan, on the other hand, chuckles. "Even so? My service to Eluna is more of the martial sort, even as I study the arcane arts as well, but ... the anchor is indeed what I seek. If that is known to you ... I would indeed recompense you for the scribing of such a scroll, to prevent him from teleporting away." He nods his understanding to Rhyn. "Many say the same, but it is difficult to destroy one that cannot be pinned down and flees when you gain the upper hand. He is not a foe to be taken lightly."

"A body is composed of many parts, as th' Daeusites are fond of sayin'. That my part happens to be in the finger-wagglin part of things, well. It's just a different part, and I'm glad t'be of service to you both," Kerbasi says warmly to Rhyn. To Seldan, though not excluding Rhyn, "I'll begin work on it...say by tonight. I'm sure we can move a few things around."

What was that? Undeath is stinkypants? That might be a motivator.

Could be. Could just might be.

"He runs?" Querries Rhyn, looking at Seldan in surprise. "Most undead have no sense of fear for their lives. So... that's weird." She rubs the handle of her warhammer and offers Kerbasi a half-smile. "I appreciate your help... I haven't caught your name sorry. But it's nice that we can all work together isn't it? Here. I'm Rhyn." She offers her hand to Kerbasi and then to Seldan.

"He does indeed flee when pressured. He is no mindless, shambling hulk, as many undead are," Seldan points out, taking the offered hand. "Seldan Padaryn, of Eluna's Silver Guard. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Rhyn." To Kerbasi, he adds, "Very well, then. Will you be at the Grey Lady's Temple this evening, then? I shall bring your payment there after evensong, and I am grateful for your help. You have saved me not a small journey."

Mourner Kerbasi d'Bahjat," Kerbasi says. He looks out at the ice, and braces. Carefully, extends a hand. "I came t' Alexandria from th' Vast. ...and it is unusual, isn't it? 'Vanishes without a trace,' is what I hear over an' over. Somethin' like a ghost story we used t'read to kids at the cookside."

To Seldan, "I will be. Just ask for Acleese, if you don't see me immediately. He knows where things're found. Tall arvek, clerk's outfit. Bit of some glasses on his nose," he says, and gives a quick, better description of the man, before looking back. "Well. Well, then. It's been a good meeting, I'd say. But, I need to get these--" he says, and lifts the now-dried sheaf of papers. "--over to the clerk I'd just mentioned, before he accuses m' of a dog."

As the two conclude their buisness, Rhyn stands somewhat aside, trying not to interupt. Such magic was beyond her, she didn't even know how to use it. It seemed though that against the undead it would be wise to learn. One did not one's quarry to escape so easily after all. She smiles grimly to herself and when their buisness is concluded she nods to them both. "A pleasure to meet you Kerbasi, I'll keep you in mind if ever I have need of your skills. As for you Seldan, I have some questions about your quarry if you can spare a few minutes? I have a personal interest in hunting the undead myself. If not, perhaps we could meet sometime and I could buy you a drink?"

"Since the Mourner has spared me a good walk, I have the time indeed." Seldan turns more fully to Rhyn in the ice-covered gardens as Kerbasi takes his leave, standing carefully and looking somewhat rumpled, with careful footing. "Although ... the tale of Kol Demontry is much more than simply undead. What would you know?"

Mikilos humms absently to himself as he strolls the Garden's, peering around in an idle search. Though wrapped in a simple Grey robe, the elf doesn't seem bothered by the chill. Though it's hard to say if that's an elven thing or a wizard thing. Maybe a bit of both. Spying Seldan from the paths, the magus raises a hand in greeting, heading closer with a polite nods to those present.

"Mmmm I'm not sure where to start." Rhyn motions toward a bench, trying to encourage the uncomfortable-looking man to sit down. She'll join him if he does. "How does he move? What kind of fighter is he? What weapons does he use? That sort of thing." She wears a grim expression, and is focused enough on her questions that she doesn't notice Mikilos quite yet.

A bench seems like a good idea, and Seldan pushes an unruly lock of hair out of his face, a lock of hair freed by the shift of that headband, and sits down on the indicated bench, leaving room for Rhyn to seat herself. "I would not have you seek to take him on your own, Rhyn. He is impossibly fast, and while he has but his own hands, those hands may become razor-sharp claws. Ware his gaze, for he possesses the ability to control minds with but a look. The defenses I threw down held against it, but still did I find myself in the care of the Hearthguards after." He raises a hand, spotting Mikilos. "It is well that I did not climb to the shop, that is the wizard I had intended to seek."

Mikilos says, "Kol?" the elf frowns, guessing the topic. "He moves like a demonic marionette, swift as lightning. I've not see him carry a blade, nor have need of it. His magics are more than powerful enough. He's quite mad, but very singular of purpose, ignoring everything but his chosen target, even as those beating him with swords." He nods to Seldan. "Glad to save you the trip. Was looking for a senior Mourner, was told he might be in the Garden. What can I do for you?"

Rhyn grimaces at the warning to not hunt the creature known as Kol by herself, seeming to bristle at the implication that she can't handle herself. Even with the dire warning that Seldan had come out the other side of the fight well bloodied she doesn't quite seem to back down. Instead she considers his description and the one that Mikilos gives as he approaches. "We were just discussing him. It's interesting that he fights with his hands. That's... a dangerous prospect for the touch of a vampires flesh is well known to drain the life out of people. But perhaps more interesting that he fights with his hands and uses magic." She looks between the two men. "Does he use magic items, or is he a spell-caster?"

"I have not seen him use items, and must think him a spellcaster in his own right." Seldan nods his agreement with Mikilos. "I was able, with the help of others, to deny him his target, this time, but would ensure that the next time he dares this city is his last. If it was Mourner Kerbasi you sought, he only just left," he adds, nodding to the path leading to the streets of Alexandria. "I had thought to see if you knew the spell of anchoring, that prevents teleportation. I yet work to master the fourth circle, and I have need of such spells as quickly as I may, but the Mourner knows it and will scribe it for me."

Mikilos sighs, and shakes his head. "I'd actaully come to discuss Kol. We've beaten him several times, driven him away... though far too often he got what he wanted and just left. And then returns again. I'd hoped for some discussion on how to destroy him forver. Mere weapons aren't going to cut it." He looks to Rhyn, and shrugs. "Hard to say. His Mistress is a powerful magic user, or at least has some under her control. I'd be surprised if Kol doesn't have a few lasting enchantments placed upon him, and likely a couple magical tools. I'm sure he also has his own magics, beyond the 'normal' vampiric powers. But how much of what, I can only guess." Turning to Seldan, he shakes his head again. "I know the spell you mean, but it's not one I've added to my collection. It's recently become a bit more of a priority, though Kol has shown a bad habit of shrugging off magics."

"If he has shown a penchant for using magic or magic devices then using antimagic against him is an important tool. I've noticed that wizardly sorts tend to be far less powerful if you part them from the magic that makes them tick." Rhyn is considering though. "He sounds like an elder vampire at the very least from how you describe him. Long past having a master or mistress vampire to control him. Which means that he's serving this other person by choice. Gods only know why."

The red-haired elvish woman tilts her head up, thinking. "The easiest way to kill a vampire is to destroy their coffin, but that means getting inside their lair which... I'm guessing is a bit difficult? There's a couple of other methods for making it difficult for them to get away, and for otherwise destroying them. I'd try antimagic cuffs for one."

Seldan grows thoughtful, leaning back a little on the bench. "A spell might prove difficult, but an item with the spell? A costly proposition, but perhaps worth it. Does it fail, She will gain control of the item. I had meant to speak with you on this, Mikilos, for I have come to learn some things of her plans and intentions, and a measure of Her wiles. I think he does indeed serve Her willingly, claiming that she gives and gives to him. What she gives, I know not." A shudder ripples through him.

Mikilos says, "Demon lord. Or Lady, I suppose. At least, we think she's a demon, there's a great deal about her we don't know. She, and he, lair in a magical tower that jumps though both space and time. Finding it is difficult. Getting to it is a quest unto itself, and exploring the interior has proven highly dangerous. And in all of it we've never found Kol's lair inside. I had planned to use Anti-magic the last time we met, as being engulfed in a water elemental apparently didn't count as running water. Instead my guard slipped, and I spent a couple days trying to kill my best friend."

Rhyn winces at that. "I'm sorry. The gaze of even a weak vampire is a powerful thing, and an elder vampire... That's terrible though." She shakes her head and leans back against the bench in thought. "I would definitely treat him like a magic user. Magic cuffs to keep him from using anything magical... You know you might ask the Arcanist's Guild. They keep some on hand for capturing evil spellcasters and transporting them to their dungeons. Might be worth a try."

"A good notion." Seldan stands, although he winces himself at the tale. "I have more to tell, but I fear it must wait. For now, though, I should return to the Temple. You both have my thanks for the insight." With that and a wave of farewell, he turns to take himself away from the gardens.

A buckboard style wagon is making its way in, pulled not by a horse but a riding drake of draft-horse size. Instead of being steered by a driver riding on the wagon though, the rider is on the drake? Nooo? There's no drake on the head, instead it's a red-headed elf woman attached to the drake at her hips, well blended to said drake at the veeery front, like some kind of Drake taur... Ok so it's just Kaelyn!

She's unique enough (in a lot of ways some times). The goofy elf-drake taur is plodding along, making her way over in front of Soldier's Defense, before she stops, then starts unbuckling her self from the wagon, dropping the two lead bars... Once those are down. Kae pivots around and starts unlatching the canvas she had over the contents of said wagon, the girl happily whistling a tune to her self whilst that long and probably dangerous tail of hers lashes slowly behind her...

Mikilos nods, waving farewell to Seldan. "I've talked to a few senior members of the Hunters of the Dead. They tend to agree the best way to hunt a vampire is with a dedicated group, into it's lair. In this specific case, however, the best bet might be a stake though the heart. That was what I'd hoped to ask Kerbasi about. I've never put a wooden stake in someone's heart before, I have no idea how easily it comes back out."

Spying Kaelyn (she's a bit hard to miss) the wizard waits until she glances his direction, then raises a hand in greeting.

"I've hunted vampire before. Weak things unlike the one that is plaguing the city at the moment, but vampires nonetheless." Rhyn considers her next words and then nods. "I'd say that it comes out rather easily - the stake. And you have to be careful because I've heard that truly powerful vampires - it only sends them into a sort of topour during which they're totally vulnerable, but still capable of coming back to life if the stake is removed." She shudders.

Kae is soon tugging barrels off the back of her wagon, after chocking it of course. She then rolls them up to the Soldier's Defense and turns them upright, leaving 4 of the things, before she knocks on the door. When someone comes out she smiles and nods to them, giving them a wave. "Okie it's delivered!" She is heard and nope, Kae's not going inside... She turns about as the two folks maneuver the barrel, and begins making her way toward her wagon, when she sees Miki wave... She tilts her head and grins, picking up her pace to a bit of a lope or trot as she makes her way to them, soon slowing back down and grinning as she sits on her haunches "Hallo!" She greets.

Kae then blinks and looks to Rhyn and back to Miki and blinks again "Whyfore not just make a bunch of stakes, stake the vampire, draw another stake it, or make something that fires the stakes, like a biiiig diametered crossbow!" she says cheerfully. She then tilts her head and ooohs "then you can chop their heads off when yer done staking them!"

Mikilos nods. "That's my concern, the stake falling out while trying to hack off his head or whatever ends up being done with him. Loath to even think of getting him helpless, only to have it all fall apart because I wasn't careful enough." Grinning to Kae, he shakes his head. "Because a heart is a very small, well protected target. It's VERY difficult to hit, even when you don't have a powerful vampire trying to kill you."

Rhyn nods to Mikilos. "Once you've got the stake in there, stuff the hole with holly. Even cloth will do the trick in a pinch. Once he's senseless though you should have all the time in the world to deal with him. The trick is usually getting them there." The woman's gray eyes flicker to Kaelyn and her eyes narrow subtly. "If killing a vampire were that easy, everyone would do it. No, your focus should be on minimizing the danger he is when he's up and about."

Kae tilts her head and waggles her arms.. "You means a biiiiig crossbow won't like shoot a big enough stake? What if it's barbed?" She asks curiously... She then tilts her head to the right now and shrugs "I don't know muuuuch about this kinda thingie... don't magic weapons work on em? Fire? Lightning?" She asks curiously, tail wagging back and forth. "Ummmmmm never said it was easy? I saw that one dude, he was like really really faaast, anyhoo was just thinking of a delivery method for stakes that would be a bit easier.." She says and rubs at the back of her neck....

Mikilos nods. "Kol is.... something else. I've a spell that's made to obeliterate undead. I've used it to wipe out entire groups of wights in one blast. 'Undeath to Death' is the common name. I've hit Kol with it... three, four times? I don't think he noticed." he shakes his head to Kae. "Killing a vampire with fire and lighting is... well, not -easy-. But the -hard- part is KEEPING them dead. Once you kill them, they just turn into mist and run away, then come back again later. And again, and again."

Rhyn nods in agreement with Mikilos on the diffiuculty of killing vampires. "Nearly as hard as killing a lich, or so I've heard. I've never hunted one of those before." She sighs. "I don't know that much about magic so I couldn't say why your spell didn't work except that you need powerful magic indeed to kill an elder vampire in such a fashion. There really ought to be a way to trap the mist that they turn into, or at least track it. But then tracking mist is pretty damned difficult."

Kae blinks and shrugs "Well just coming up wif ideas and stuffs...." She says as she rubs at the back of her neck... "Would say a sunlight grenade or some such do damage to em?" She asks curiously, and rubs at the back of her neck... "Aaanyhooo I can come up with alll manors of gadgets to help and stuff!" She says 'Least if'n I know a bit more about what I'm facing!"

Mikilos nods. "Many powerful beings can turn aside spells. I do it myself. But usually anything with more force than a cantrip has at least a chance of getting through. Kol's defenses are... powerful, to say the least." He nods to Kae. "Sunlight is good, but most things I've run across are just -like- sunlight. Good, but not good enough."

"Likely your spell could have, and would have worked - given enough time. Enough ah... castings?" Rhyn seems uncertain if that's the right word for it and she shrugs. "I really don't know. Sounds like a spell that should have had a chance, but if he's being helped by someone with powerful magics they may be warding him in some way against things that normally kill vampires. I mean if I was a really strong spell-casting sort with a pet vampire that I wanted to run amok, I'd probably do something similar. I've heard that he can walk around in sunlight so that's a strong indication that either he's a lot more powerful than any vampire I've ever heard of, or there's that magic at work helping him."

Kae tilts her head and shrugs "Soooo like, I can make a shooter thingie that could fire a spear if need be, it's wood, if is what? Rosewood it'd do more? I dunno, can then esplode it with energy later too if need be." She adds and umms "Yeah it's artifice trickery, buuuut, it might works? Specially if'n I can makes it so others can use it?" She says and rubs at the back of her neck "I've had one runin with the vampire yer talking about, he told me something it sounded like a good idea, and after he left I had a biiiiig headache... cause well it didn't seem like a good idea!"

Mikilos nods. "I'm confidant that, given enough chances, the spell would destory Kol forever. But, each chance typically comes at the cost of at least one innocent. I hope to come up with a plan where only one more chance is needed." He frowns mildly at Kae. "...to the best of my knowledge, any type of wood will work. I vaguely recall something about oak, but I think that's just because it's a nice hard wood that isn't going to break easily."

Rhyn nods seriously. "Each time he comes here I hear of someone else gone missing, or some attack that cost lives. The attack on the temple of Vardama in particular was a vicious thing. I heard that they lost several people though thankfully he wasn't in the mood to make more of his own kind and none of them became undead." She shudders. "I think that's my least favorite thing about vampires; their ability to create more of their own in such a simple fashion. And most of them feel at least somewhat compelled to make more of themselves."

Kae waves her arms about in the air and flails "Soo, from what I heard he's helping whoever caused this big plague that's affecting folks?" She asks curiously. Then she places both hands at the small of her back and arches her back as she pushes... Poooop!

Kae yawns and looks between Miki and Rhyn now curiously "Aaanyhoooo, if you guys can come up with something and stuff, I can mebbe come up with a distanced stake-er, something that can stake a vampire out at say ummm 30 or 40 feet or so?" she says and hmmmmmmms, tapping her chin as those little gears rumble around in her noggin.

Mikilos shrugs. "Well, nearly everything has a drive to reproduce, no particular reason vampires should be left out. Though I agree having more around is bad for... pretty much everyone." He nods to Kae. "Kol's Mistress run the Shard Tower, which is the source of the ooze that creates the Plague. It's unclear if she made the ooze, or just turned it loose."

Rhyn snorts at Kaelyn and pats her quiver which is attached to her thigh. "I would just as soon stick with these dipped in holy water and thrust into the foul things heart." She meets Mikilos' gaze. "Bad enough a vampire without one that is controlled by some kind of plague-causing... demon did you say? That seems weird to me. I've never heard of a demon acting so... intelligently."

Kae blinks again "Dun that depend on the type of demon? I mean lets look at dragons, and their relatives." She says and waggles her arms. "How many draconic creatures are sentient and how many aren't?" She says and then umms "So what about demons? Why couldn't there be different kinds of demons, and some intelligent, some not intelligent?" She says and rubs at the back of her neck again... "Aaanyhooo... ummm.." She lets the rest lay and tilts her head.

Mikilos winces slightly. "I call her a demon. I'm not sure she is. There is a different Duke of Hell mixed up in the whole mess, but I'm pretty sure he's just acting as an opportunist and doesn't have much by way of a larger plan." The magus sighs. "Though I do still owe him a favor..."

Rhyn shrugs slightly. "You've gotta watch calling your quarry before you're certain what you're after. Doe and buck look alike, but if you find yourself being chased later by something later that isn't either because the tracks /looked/ the same you'll have regret." Her cautious words don't really suit her, but she can give advice she finds hard to take. "You owe a demon a FAVOR?"

Kae blinks a bit and tilts her head, now looking from Mikilos to Rhyn and back and forth then blinks. "Well it's not tooo terribly uncommon for wizards to call up folks from other planes?" She says and rubs at the back of her neck. "I don't do the same... I dunno how." She says and tilts her head now the other way, before straightening up... She then grins and tugs a small cotton sack of something from one of her saddle ags... She grins cheerfully and pulls what looks like a meat pastie out of said pouch and begins nibbling on it happily. Finally a pause, and she offers the pouch to the other two hanging around…

Mikilos shrugs. "He had information we needed. The favor has to be something not directly harmful to me or mine... but its still to a demon. An annoyingly clever one at that. The oath was made in the Endless Lands, and as such is enforced by the Wild Hunt. Much as I'd like to meet my ancestral cousins, that's not the circumstances I'd prefer." He smiles at the pastie, but declines.

The redheaded ranger doesn't accept the offer of food either, shaking her head at Mikilos instead. "Dangerous business that. Trading favors for information. I've heard cautionary bedtime stories about that sort of thing." She offers him a small tight smile. "Whatever you learned I hope that it's worth it."

The red-head drake-taur is happily munching away at savory meat pasties, she then pushes the bag closer to Miki... "Have some?" She asks curiously, and looks to the Ranger now "I figgered out how to makes them, they're sooo tasty!" She says cheerfully... "Really really good travel food too!"

Mikilos sighs, and shrugs. "In retrospect, no, it wasn't. But, if we knew then what we knew now, we wouldn't have needed the information in the first place. Might work out in the long run, but rather depends on what favor he ends up asking." He declines the pasties a second time. "Thank you, but no. I don't usually eat."

"Mmmm." Rhyn hums noncommittally, keeping her thoughts to herself for a long moment. "So, tell me, knowing everything you know about the vampire, and knowing how to kill it, what keeps us from forming a hunting party for the beast right now and killing the blasted thing? Or at least incapacitating it so that it can't hurt anyone else."

Kae looks betwen the folk curiously, and then lays her forequarters down, now getting her head more on level with everyone else. She then wraps her tail around and traps it with a forepaw... "Sooo anyhoo, if'n there's aaaanything I can does to help! I'mma here! I can halps!"

Mikilos smiles sadly. "Hunt him where? Kol's home is a magical tower that jumps though space and time. The last time I tried to explore it, I wound up 1000 years in the past... give or take a century. The Tower itself is protected from scrying by wards cast by one of the most powerful magi in history. When he's outside the Tower, doing whatever it is he does, we MIGHT be able to scry him. Otherwise, it's just waiting until he shows up."

Rhyn grins. "Grab the bait and set the hook of course. Seldan said ‘I denied him his quarry this time’. That means that the vampire was after something. Something that we could use to hunt him /now/. On our terms rather than his. I'd find out what the vampire was hunting and set a trap for the damned thing." She glances toward Kaelyn, half including her in the concept that /they/ could hunt this thing.

Kae noms on another pasty, hey, she eats a lot and looks between each person curiously.. "I can possibly try and build stuffs that could maybe hold mist in place... like mebbe a pop up cage that's magically electrified or something?" She says and rubs at the back of her neck. "Or has light walls made of intense magical sunlight or something? Mebbe?" She says and shrugs.... "I dunno, never actually tried to try and tackle a problem like a vampire!"

Mikilos nods, and shrugs. "I don't know who Kol's latest quarry was. He might still hunt them, or might have forgotten they exist. I believe I mentioned he's quite insane."

"Then I suppose that it depends on who was actually after whatever-it-was. Him, or his mistress. Surely she isn't as crazy as he is. Not if she's planning all this out." Rhyn stretches slightly. "All we need do is track down Seldan and find out what that vampire was after and bam! Trap can be set!"

Kae waggles her arms... "He was with this dude in this circle, Seldan was, I dunno who the dude Seldan was trying to protect and alll... Least that's what I remember, I was kinda made to go away with this last thingie with the vampire!"

Mikilos nods. "Even if it was for Her, the moment may have passed. Was needed at that time on that day, but now for whatever reason is no longer needed. Certainly keep the individual under watch, but using them as bait is questionable, at best. If only from a moral standpoint. If they agree to be vampire bait, that's one thing, but few ar so willing."

Rhyn crossed her arms. "Couldn't hurt to ask them if they're willing. I mean you're right and maybe the average person wouldn't be, but you never know if you don't try, and someone's gotta do /something/ about this blasted vampire." She frowns seriously and looks at Kaelyn. "What about this person that Seldan was with. Can you describe them at all?"

Kae's tail wags some while she tries to remember things, no doubt almost slamming into someone or tripping others. Again, Kae's good at either crashing or causing crashes... She does just that as a poor fellow carrying bags of potatoes gets tripped by the appendage and goes flying, the bag ends up landing on a board acting as a table which then ends up toppling over and launching contents over the street, hitting another tent, this falls over, the rope lets go, snapping and hitting a horse in the butt, which then kicks and sends a basket of apples flying over the street another way....

While this is happening Kae taps her chin, oblivious to the mayhem. "Okie soo he had white hair.. Complexion was darker, taaaan, ummm He was about this tall?" She says, holding her hand a bit over 6 feet... Umm Ooh Ooh I think he was a swordsman in leather armor!" At this point the apples land, pelting the drake-taur and she flails "Gah Apples!" before blinking and shrugging and then picking one up... Bite...

Rhyn stretches and finally stands up. "I'm going to see if I can find this mystery man. Find out if he's willing to play the part of bait so that we can catch this vampire. Sounds like the adventuring sort so I'm going to start at the guild and work my way outward from there." She nods to Kaelyn. "You, should get yourself a cure for whatever did that to you by the way." With that as a farewell she moves off through the gardens and away.

-End