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[NSFW] Of Snakes and Souls (Zazutobi & Red-Scarlet)

"Hrm," Callie let out. "I've got a few connections with people who traffic in potent items and ancient relics. I doubt any of them would've given that information away, but they might know someone who does. You at all familiar with Nadier? Or... Fuck, Mahadi."

Mahadi, Master of Mahadi's Emporium, is a well-known figure to just about everyone. To the common city folk, he's the man behind much of the goods they see in shops-a wealthy and somewhat eccentric individual who uses his money to make more money. But the more influential you are, the more you know that his businesses aren't his main ends. He relishes the money they make, but only so far as they can acquire him power, and the power he has acquired consists of massive stores of artifacts and information.

"You might be able to guess Mahadi and I rarely see eye-to-eye. He's a greedy, megalomaniac businessman who's only goals are for himself. But if anyone knows what happened... It'd be him."
 
Saresh sighed softly saying "Most of the relics in the ancestral vault are not as unique or potent. Most of them just sentimental or historically important to my family. Even the amulet that was stolen had been used practically in old times when my family had been noble servants to the Emperor. Interrogations can get lies from the living, but the artifact gave truth from the dead." That bit of family history adding a bit more darkness to her ancestral line though Saresh herself was already well aware of it.

"Mahadi is a familiar name. I know of a few who have used him to appraise artifacts before. I do not think he would have the knowledge of our vault's contents itself. But he might know who has been looking for an artifact similar to the amulet." Saresh replied. "However he will not help without proper remuneration. And I have little more than what I have on my person at the moment." Saresh said.
 
She nodded in agreement. "He's not the kind to let anything of value go easily. But who says we have to ask him directly? He doesn't do all his work on his own," Callie said. "We can track down some of his goons and get them to talk. That'd be a hell of a lot easier. Which does mean we either need to know a spot they frequent, and all my info on that end is out of date, or we need something to lure them in."
 
Saresh thought about it then looked to Callie. "My guess would be taverns or brothels. While he is a vulture and opportunist he does pay those beneath him quite well. So nothing too low scale but nothing nobility would frequent. The Star's Glass, or the Whistling Pony would be our best bet." she said before looking to the gnome expecting her to make mention of how a noble knows about those semi seedy places.

"Such institutions do not escape the attention of the upper class. We just ignore them since if we were to crack down on them they would simply be replaced. Better the dens of debauchery that know how to keep within their lane than those desperate for power."
 
"Then let's be off," Callie said. "The Whistling Pony first?"

With a plan in mind, the two left the tavern. The Whistling Pony was significantly farther than the Temple of Trinity, but at least no one was actively dying for this journey. Despite Saresh's much taller form, Callie is able to keep pace without any struggle.

The Whistling Pony's front is that of simple, if large, inn, which it technically could work as. "Been a while since I've been here," Callie commented. "Wonder if any of them remember me."

Inside, as usual, the Pony was full of patrons, most of which were men. "Ooh, she looks exotic," one of them said about Saresh as she came in. "Wonder how much she'd cost..."
 
Saresh had an imperious sneer as she walked inside The Whistling Pony. Such places were far beneath her station. It wasnt that nobles did not hire whores and the like. Simply even the prostitutes were of an upper class and visited the noble's home rather than the other way around. Rumors were weapons wielded in wars of words and Nobles dealt with those wars on a daily basis.

The remark about how much she would cost made Saresh growl low in her throat. Very much withholding the intense desire to correct these reprobates for daring to even think of her in such a light. Yet she kept her temper in check for now. Keeping her arms in her sleeves ready to cast a spell in a moment's notice if need be. 'See anyone you recognize?" Saresh said looking down to Callie.
 
"Not yet..." Callie said. "But, if she's still working here, Gwen might have some information she'd be willing to share. I helped her with a predicament a while back."

She moved over to where the "innkeeper" was, and got his attention. "I don't suppose you've got a menu, good sir?"

He eyed Callie with a bit of suspicion, but his tone was level. "Of course we do. Were the barracks not comfortable enough?"

Callie shrugged. "Wouldn't know. Not a guard-just a traveler looking to relax a bit."

Wordlessly, he handed over a bit of parchment. Callie took it and moved back to where Saresh was. "Gwen's special, Gwen's special... Damn, good for her-she's charging more now," she said, pointing out the hefty price tag. "Got enough to cover that for now, at least?"
 
Saresh followed after Callie as she approached the innkeeper. Seems there was a code phrase for the special services. Which made sense, brothels were tightly regulated. So anything going on under the table would need to have some ways to prevent casual visits from revealing the secret. The Yuan-ti herself had partaken of such things a few times. It was an open secret that her family had regular "attendants" to their needs. Even her sisters had personal guards that doubled for fun. Including her sister and their centaur archery teacher.

Callie holding up the parchment snapped Saresh out of her imagination daze for a moment and looked down at the price tag. "For that much she would be a middle class prostitute in a proper brothel." Saresh remarked before sighing and nodding. "Yes, though it will take most of my funds. I expect this to be worth it, or else you will be getting me back that coin one way or another." Saresh added. Fiddling inside her sleeves she produced a pouch with coins and set it into Callie's hands.
 
Callie went back and ordered. Then the wait began.

Saresh had to deal with a few people making passes at her, usually the more drunken patrons, but no one got too pushy. And then someone beckoned the two into the back rooms. The room they ended in was well-appointed, with a luxurious bed and various other amenities. The woman in the room, Gwen, was facing away, barely dressed in anything. "It's been a while since I've been with-" she started, turning to face her clients. But when she saw Callie, her face lit up in excitement and confusion. "Callie! And... Who?"

"This is Saresh. I'm helping her," Callie explained. "I'm not actually here for anything intimate. I'd love to! But we don't exactly have the time in the city for it."

Gwen looked a touch crestfallen. "I understand. I was just hoping..."

The gnome smiled. "Gwen, you are beautiful. You deserve nothing but happiness. And, when I get back, we can have a nice dinner. But I have a mission."

"What do you need to know?" she asked.
 
Saresh let any that attempted to make a pass at her know her immediate displeasure. Thankfully no one was foolish enough to try anything too pushy lest they would have a corpse to deal with. It wasnt something she would like to do, but it wouldnt stop Saresh from ensuring no one else was foolish enough to make a pass at someone far beyond their station in life. But eventually they were waved into a back room where this "Gwen" was. She was attractive to be sure. While not as debaucherous as some nobles, Saresh did quite enjoy a variety of lovers from time to time.

Saresh cut in when questioned saying "We need to know who would know about the total contents of the Longfang ancestral vault. Records are spotty and our investigation suggests someone would have had to know about the stolen artifact being there in the first place." Saresh said. "Mahadi was suggested to be aware of it."
 
Gwen grimaced at the mention of Mahadi. Callie winced, but Gwen spoke. "Gods, I hoped I'd never have to hear that name again... But I know where you can go. Mahadi's men have a contact point not far from here. The warehouse, the one for carpets and fabrics? That's a place they go for moving other goods, or bodies. The owner is one of his too-Nizben is his name. If there was anything going on that Mahadi would want to know, Nizben is your best bet for learning."

"Does he come here ever? Might be a good spot for an ambush," Callie asked.

"No. Not since you helped me with the Brand," Gwen replied. "The Pony's owner might not be perfect, but she's at least smart enough to not let him back."

Callie nodded. "Understood. I'm sorry to have brought up bad memories."

Gwen waved the paladin off. "It's alright. I've... Healed. Mostly."

"Any vices we can use against this Nizben?" Callie asked.

With a snort, Gwen said "He's a sucker for a pretty face. And he does psychedelics. Not sure how much that helps, but..."

"Thank you."
 
Saresh nodded saying "As good a place to start as other. Otherwise its looking through ledgers of bureaucrats for weeks while the heirloom gets further and further away and possibly used." The Yuan-ti looked over to Callie as the two seemed to have a shared past. Not something that particularly intrigued Saresh but they had a name at the very least and a place where to find him.

"Very well. Tell no one of what we have asked." Saresh declared. She did not need a loose lipped prostitute telling everyone of what they were talking about. The less people knew the better for them in the end. Motioning for Callie to follow, the Yuan-ti exited the room mumbling to herself. "Using my funds just to ask a question. Truly a waste of coin."
 
Callie doesn't deign to respond to the last bit. Outside, the sun was nearly finished moving its way through the sky. "You got any ideas for getting answers from Nizben? Any fancy truth serums or something that would compel him to be honest with us?" she asked, moving with Saresh towards the warehouse. "I should be able to get to him through whatever guards he has. Hopefully without too many broken limbs."
 
Saresh shook her head saying "Truth serums and the like are extremely rare and tightly controlled. It is illegal for most alchemists to even attempt to make one." Bluntly denying the easy way before she crossed her arms under her breasts. "I do have some magic to cause pain and the like. IT would work for torture." she added rather too casually. "That being said, are you sure you would be capable of breaking into the warehouse?" The Yuan-ti said looking to Callie.

"Stealth would probably suite us best rather than an assault. While what they may be doing is illegal inside, without proof we could be arrested for attacking them and I will be damned before I end up in irons with charges."
 
"No torture. It's one thing to fight-but once someone has surrendered or been taken captive, that's it," Callie said. "Stealth has never been my strong suit. So, I think the best course of action would be for me to be a distraction. Trust me, I can be very distracting to these kinds of people. I'll cause a commotion, get everyone's attention, and then you can sneak your way in. Find Nizben or his records, get the information, and if the shit hits the wall, scream loud enough for me to hear and I'll be the cavalry."
 
Saresh did not reply, but her scowl was very telling. The noblewoman would do whatever it took to get the information she needed. And woe betide anyone who got in her way. The Longfangs were a noblehouse and land owners now. But their origins were as bloody as soldiers, executioners, interrogators, and those that brought victory at any cost. And Saresh knew very well that a loss was unacceptable for her at the moment.

"Very well. But if things go south. I will not leave witnesses. So for the sake of their lives. I hope you are very distracting." Saresh warned with utmost sincerity before moving towards one of the side entrances to the warehouse. Keeping a distance ready to sneak inside from there once Callie was ready.
 
Callie nodded. "A fight's a fight. But I'll try to keep you from doing that. I might have to, though."

She strolled out in front of the warehouse and hefted her hammer. "Nizben!" she shouted. "Get your twinkle-toed pansy-ass out here!"

Of the two visibly posted guards, one laughed. The other one cut him off quick, though, and muttered something to him. "Come on, she's tiny! There's no way-" he started, before there was a crack of stone next to his head. One of Callie's smaller throwing hammers thudded to the ground from where it had impacted, inches from his face.

"I said what I said. Now, are you boys going to listen, or am I going to cause more trouble?" Callie added.

The guard who was nearly concussed, now quite nervous, replied, "We'll, um, go get him!" and vanished indoors, followed shortly by his companion. Callie waited patiently-she knew damn well they weren't going to actually bring Nizben out, and in fact, he was probably going to be sending every guard he had out to deal with her immediately. Exactly as planned.
 
There was one thing Nobles knew how to do with far more potency than any commoner. And that was ruthlessness, it was a mercy unto themselves. They saw the ramifications across generations of nothing but mercy and knew it to be a weakness people would exploit time and time again. Saresh hardened her heart and as the guards moved away from the side entrance and rushed inside to deal with Callie at the main entrance, Saresh walked inside and headed up a set of stairs.

As she did a guard noticed her coming from the office where Nizben was or kept his materials most likely. "Hey you!" The guard began before Saresh raised a hand. "Command:Sleep" The spell got to work and the guard unprepared for the magic dropped down to his knees then down onto his face on the ground below. Saresh stepped over the sleeping body and walked into the office.

There Nizben was, the human was older, disheveled yet wearing good clothes. A man who wore what we wanted to be but didnt act like it. "The fuck are you doing here toots? You the one that caused the commotion outside?" He said slowly drawing a sword before Saresh pointed at it. "Heat Metal" The sword glowing white hot within moments making him drop it. Before magic chains shot out of the ground wrapping around his wrists and neck pulling him down into a kneeling position. "Hold Person" The spell still fresh on her lips as she approached.

"We need to have conversation. Your answers will determine whether you come out of this without pain. Or begging for a death I will not allow." Saresh said coldly.
 
Inside, Nizben froze, completely stilled by the magic wrought upon him. He'll be easy to restrain with more mundane means while the spell lasts, though he won't be able to speak till it wears off.

Outside, Callie waited patiently. Her eyes scanned the area, observing the various nooks and crannies that the mooks were sneaking to. Too easy, she thought to herself, and just before they were ready to launch an attack, she let out a fearsome battlecry, and made her hammer flash with light bright enough to illuminate the entire alley. The goons, startled and blinded momentarily by the light, were almost entirely unprepared for Callie's attack.

She swept low, knocking one of them down and shoulder-checking his legs to push him back into one of his companions. The others, as they recovered, rushed to her and tried to batter her down. Her small frame made it hard to hit her without hitting each other, and her armor kept her largely safe from the blows that did strike home, and she struck back, cracking shins and knees.
 
Saresh took her him walking about the captive Nizben. Letting him know she was confident, cool, and felt like she had plenty of time to work. Saresh knew pageantry was just as effective a tool as real torture. If one acted like something was true with enough confidence, others would doubt their faith in the opposite. In this case, Saresh wanted Nizben to believe she was not worried in the slightest about his goons. Take away that feeling of security from them, that if he held out long enough that they could get to him.

Taking some strips of leather she tied his hands before allowing the spell to dispel. He coughed and began cussing at her." You fucking whore, who the fuck do you think you are? When my boys get in here they're gonna break you!" he began before Saresh casually put her hand to his desk. Green energy coated her hand and he watched as a smoke drifted from underneath. And parts of his desk began to drip down to the ground. "Corrosive touch. I have been told it is far more painful than fire. That you can feel your flesh still as it drips down. Much harder to heal as well."

Saresh dispelled the cantrip before placing her hand on his cheek making the gangster go wide eyed and try to pull away with no avail. "The sooner you answer my questions. The less pain there will be." she said with the cold detachment of a proper torturer. "Now then. Let us begin." she said before the questioning started.
 
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