#lorstarter

“I’ll take my leave now, doctor.” With a friendly smile, Lass bid his fellow Simic scientist farewell, noting how he was only greeted with a wave, as per usual, and ensuring that he carefully closed the door behind him.

As soon as Lass finally frees himself of Zonot Seven’s stink, his demeanor changes. The smile on his lips quickly fade, immediately replaced by a frown, his hands easily making their way into his coat pockets, his eyes darting down to the ground, his steps quicker, his wits more carefully about him. Where he goes, he does not know, and no one else but one creature would know.

It didn’t take that aforementioned creature long before they rear their ugly head, which this time, was apparently less ugly and more beautiful. Lass only knows them by their name, which he knows isn’t even remotely close to their actual name: Doors. This creature is the shapeshifter from whom Lass gets his orders from. Because of their very efficient disguises, the half-elf operative only recognizes them only through a series of code phrases they exchange, which he was greeted by as soon as they lock eyes in one of the many, currently dangerous alleys of the Blistercoils. 

“I receive the missive.” Lass heaves a sigh, a smirk forming on his lips, after the buxom redheaded tiefling disguise of Doors simply offered him a nod and went back to wherever hole they crawled out of. To be honest, Lass is not actually looking forward to this...play, but the House hasn’t been faring well recently. Perhaps the Combine could help them fare better. It’s not like they could say no to any opportunity. “Lists have always been this popular this time of the year, anyway...”

Zero takes in the headline from today’s Tenth District Tribune, contemplating the recent turn of events from the sinking of a Simic laboratory to this very interesting phenomenon. Was the Combine’s fate finally heading in a more positive direction? “What is fate even?” He scoffs, shaking his head. He should know better, he knows he does know better, than to rely on something other than science. Maybe it’s time to collaborate with another...scientific genius? What is progress but the coming together of great minds?

Despite her internal protests to the Council's decision, Rin had calmly accepted her punishment, offering her superiors a respectful bow with no apparent attitude whatsoever. "If that is the Council's wish, then I will abide. I shall make the necessary reparations myself and return from this shame as soon as I can." 

As soon as she was granted her leave, she did so, nodding at everyone above her that she could see in order to acknowledge their supposed grace and mercy before walking out with narrowed eyes and a plan in mind. 

Rin had spent at most three weeks running errands for the Syndicate, her efforts allowing her to quickly rise through the ranks as a Syndic, still a low-ranking functionary but one that can now expect deference from borrowers who will perform small favors that require no significant risk, effort, or cost to them, and in turn, she has to do the same, performing favors for those above her. 

As a priest of this rank, Rin would be able to perform minor tasks in an Orzhov church: collecting tithes at the door, scheduling appointments for the senior priests, keeping ledgers, and the like. That would have been the case had she not intentionally botched her assignment to burn down the house of a female merchant who refused to pay protection money to the Syndicate. How could Rin? Especially after she found out that the reason why the merchant refused to, rather could not, pay the protection money was because her husband just recently passed away? Despite her best efforts, she could have done nothing else but to help the merchant. But what was her reward for an act of self-indulgence? Getting banned from the guild until she makes the necessary reparations. 

“Such ancient foolishness...” She finishes her glass of wine, as she contemplates her next step. “No matter. This was just a temporary setback. I shall return in time, and I shall repay this favor. I still have...friends in dark places, after all.”