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es0terika.livejournal.com in dark_rpSession Four:
Necropolitan Shadows.
With that the mysterious agent Elizarov disappeared into the dark night of shadowlands Berlin, and the desperate circle of wraiths that crewed the relic A7V were left to ponder his proposal, a proposal of espionage.
Now alone with the unhearing living family they briefly discussed matters, and what they may mean, before deciding that they would indeed go along with the Masquer, before going their own separate ways into the gloom.
Some days later while outside the Necropolis patroling wider Berlin for Spectre activity they spotted the majestic shadow and then form of the ghostly LZ-4 relic airship of the Nightmail, heading in from the west to the Citadel, and flying with an escort of 2 biplanes as a unit of winged Legionnaires fly up to meet it using Argos.
In this time Eckhart Von Dekker was also Called up to fly several scout flights for Colonel Haveland of the local branch of the Office of Maelstrom Preparedness.
Shortly after this, during a foot patrol one night, on the very edge of the Necropolis inhabited by most local wraiths, on a dark and disused Skinlands industrial roadway in a quiet area frequented mainly by insignificant freewraiths out to gain Pathos from haunting whatever living workers or homeless remained in the area, they come across a wraith stood atop a skinlands plinth from which the statue had seemingly been toppled or stolen during the troubles at the end or the War.
He was tall and crudely swathed in heavy dark rags though with neat greased down side-parted hair and wide, dark eyes.
Around him is gathered a small crowd of 10 or so other Wraiths.
Gesticulating as he spoke, he shouted Brothers, Sisters, we should not be here! Our time has passed! And yet we remain, between the world of the living and what comes after.
We must move on from this place! Inside us all is a a part of us, a voice that can guide us down to eternal rest, we must listen to that voice!
They each felt, as the dark preacher ranted on from the pedestal,the strength of their Shadows stir within them and increase dangerously at his words. Recognising that his words must also be affecting the gathered crowd in the same way, not to mention the seditious Heresy he was preaching, they moved in to stop him.
The circle moved forward through the small crowd, some turning back to them telling them to disperse in the name of the Empire, while others moved on the preacher. The preacher, upon closer inspection clearly a Spectre long fallen to his Shadow, immediately moved to defend himself, and admonishing them for their presumption drew a worn and notched sword from inside his black rags.
The fight was swift and deadly, as Hughcastle and Stringer help back and distracted the crowd, Legionnaires Von fenrig and Von Dekker fought with the corrupted soul. The Speactral preacher fought with ferocity, using his sword to slash and parry while raining down blows fortified by Outrage. But soon enough Von Fenrig's sword of Stygian Steel and Von Dekker's relic riffle tore open his corpus and a black nihil opened beneath his feet sucking him down into the Labyrinth and what lies beneath.
After little more encouragement the crowd of bewildered and now more angst-ridden ghosts dispersed back into the shadowed alleys of the city.
Not long after the incident and their subsequent reports, their respective commanders and superiors paid them their monthly oboloi and granted them 2 days leave in the city of Berlin, during which time they would be entirely free to do as they wished, seek any of their passions, or the services of any Guild.
At Hughcastle's instegation they decided to meet up at the House of The Last Goodbye, a potent Haunt and popular hangout of freewraiths, Guildsmen, and Legionnaires in the Necropolis, and also a beer hall in the skinlands called the Good Welcome. A dilapidated place in the skinlands frequented only by a few drunks used by the wraithy patrons as pathos fodder. Through the shroud the wood and brick structure is owned by a freewraith by the name of Hanz Von Bitter, and takes on odder angles seeming even more tumbledown, but also reinforced by relic materials and soulsteel against the storm, and filled with a myriad of relic objects both practical and aesthetic accumulated by its owners. The place is lit both by small flickering soulfire torches in brackets on the walls and the dim warm glow coming through the shroud from the lanterns in the skinlands. It consisted of a bar against one wall, a seating area with alcoves, and a small stage at one end. The walls were also disturbingly littered with pin-prick nihils in various places.
On the door is a big burly wraith of the Spooks Guild with very corpse looking blueish-green skin and dark sunken eyes with a throat slit ear to ear, Gustav, he collects one quarter Oboloi from each of them for entry.
The interior is filled with wraithly patrons both in uniform and out, some sullen as all ghosts are wont to be at times but most loudly jovial, seizing on the opportunity for pleasure and comfort. There were various Guildsmen there plying their wares among the patrons, including Chanteurs on the stage, both singers and musicians, whose songs bring feelings of joy and hope to those that hear them.
After they have been there a short while a group of 3 American Grim Legionnaires take the stage with Chanteur musicians to the rapturous calls of all the patrons, introducing themselves as the Men of Constant Sorrow. They sing a rowdly but tunefull song together which has all present clapping along them.
The circle of Stringer, Hughcastle, Von Dekker, & Von Fenrig, after blowing a significant portion of the wages on expensive "imported" relic brandy, returned to their respective barracks or guildhouses, resting, then spending the majority of the next day on personal business.
Back on duty once again helping to keep the Hierarchy's grip strong on the Necropolis area of Berlin, and having just done a foot patrol with the others outside of the Necropolis into wider Berlin in search of spectral activity, Von Fenrig finds a note hidden in her bunk, it simply says "Tomorrow night, at the house. Tell the others. Make ready."
Legionnaire Fenrig passes the word along as soon as she is able and the next night they set off for the same family home in which Elizarov met them the first time.
The front room was as they saw it last, but the hour was later and the daughters of the living family had gone to bed as the parents pottered about their businesses in the dim gas-light.
In the corner stood over 6 prone ghostly forms is agent Elizarov of the Masquers Guild, appearing exactly as he did when last they saw him. "Gentleman, it is good to see you again. Shall we begin?"
They noticed that the 6 Figures on the floor appeared in military uniform, had the corpus of their hands, feet, eyes, ears, and mouths melded together, and appeared to be in slumber.
Amid their questions Elizarov explained that they are a group Of Grim Legion officers privy to the concpiracy, Centurions, just in from Stygia serving under one Chancellor Amistead possibly in the Iron Hills, and are due to be briefed at the Grim Legion's Berlin HQ on the situation by one Overlord Schwarzenberg, a senior figure in the Legion's local military apparatus.
Their he said names are Heidleberg, Jones, Dietrich, Fisher, Entaire, and Stuccini.
After explaining that they will be temporarily replacing the officers for the purpose of the briefing, Elizarov begins to use his arts of Moliate to craft and change their appearances to perfect replicas of prone Centurions, and instructs them to each change their attire accordingly.
He warns them that is possible to those with the right knowledge to see the signs of moliation, and so they should give no one there any reason to suspect them or examine them in that way, merely act the part, go to the briefing, listen, and ask any pertinent questions. Then he will meet them again again outside the gates.
The masqued Elizarov told them little more than that, but says that he does know that the Centurions in question are not known personally by any in Berlin, and reiterates the list of things they should learn if they can, asking them if they have any further questions before they leave, he then changed his own appearance and removing his mask and now appearing as a Russian infantryman of the period, with nondescript features and slicked back dark hair.
They then steeped back through the skinlands wall into the quiet narrow winding German street and head back to the Necropolis area in their new personas, travelling in a relic military jeep with the Grim symbol on its sides that Elizarov had seemingly acquired.
The Grim Legion's Headquarters was a large tall square heavily fortified building of relic stone and soulsteel with only arrow-slit windows, surrounded by a manned wall pierced by a double gate of blackened soulsteel.
At the gates there are 2 armoured gas masked guards, Elizarov identifies himself as Legionnaire Petrov, escorting an expected party of Centurions just in from Stygia. They were allowed to pass through a smaller door in the gates and into the courtyard, which was bustling with both troops at ease and those practising drill to the beat of a snare drum. Relic armoured cars and tanks were parked against one side of the courtyard, while on the other was the entrance to the subterranean Soulforges, flickering with a bright blue light and emanating wails and moans along with the rythmic metalic clang of regular hammer strikes.
Elizarov turns to them and says, "Wait here, I will inform the relevant parties inside that the Stygian Centurions have arrived, after that you're on your own until we meet outside."
Without eve a glance over his shoulder he then walks of into the Grim edifice. A short while later a ghostly German soldier in Prussian combat fatigues approaches them and says they are to be led directly to the briefing and afterward shown to their quarters in the barracks. He then led them away, asking them how things were in Stygia as they invented answers for him.
They were led deep into the plain relic stone corridors of the barracks, and then straight into an equally plain meeting room in which was a wooden table with 6 seats on one side and one grander chain on the other, in which already sat Overlord Schwarzenberg. He was a large deathly looking ghostappearing in an archaic ceremonial officers uniform complete with faded brocade and medals, wavey dark hair parted to one side and mutton-chop side-burns. Behind him hung banner with the symbol of the Grim Legion emblazoned upon it.
He stood slowly as they entered and the Prussian Legionnaire took up position outside the door. "All hail to the new Emperor, I trust your journey from the capitol has been as good as can be expected in these dark times?"
After the initial formal pleasantries he bade them sit down, and asked after the situation and conditions in the Iron Hills, they replied simply saying that all was well there and all proceeded according to plan.
He then briskly proceeded with the briefing, saying "Things do not proceed acording to plan Gentleman, nevertheles they remian on track."
He went on to say that "The Empire of Jade it seems has so far been eager to accept our own offer over that of the Loyalists. In return for the Loyalist's negotiating agent, one Marshall Drescher, and certain other valuable Hierarchy prisoners, belonging to both the Grim and other Legions, and a treaty of support for our new Emperor, The Imperator will begin to turn over the large number of Eastern souls technically belonging to the Empire of Jade currently housed in the towers of the Iron Hills off Stygia. This will enable us to re-position many of our troops stationed on the Eastern Frontier and use them against the Loyalist forces.
Out contact, Minister Xian Tsung, will be signing on behalf of Yu-Huang himself the treaty and agreement at one final meeting when the exchange for the loyalist commander Marshall Drescher will also take place.
Due to an interruption by a Loyalist unit after the initial ambush at Outpost 9 the time and place of the meeting will now have to be changed from our initial plan.
The original plan to fool the Loyalist pick up party into believing their meeting at Outpost 9 had been interrupted by spectres was foiled by an unexpected event, a survivor of the Jade ambush, an Indian who managed to hide himself in some fashion, then tell the tale of what had happened to the Loyalist unit that arrived onbored a relic tank.
It is believed they searched the compound and gave chase with air support in the hopes of rescuing their Marshall, and then came upon the temporary Jade encampment situated in the nearby Tempest.
Reports indicate their subsequent attack was somewhat haphazard and uncoordinated, and easily foiled by the Immortal Guardsmen the Easterners have with them. However, taken by surprise and not knowing that this was simply one rogue unit operating without army support of any kind, Minister Xian Tsung called on his men to withdraw deeper into the Tempest on their ship, where they now await.
A new meeting has been preliminarily scheduled in Paris in an area that one Centurion Von Fenrig, currently overseeing the area, now assures us is securely in our hands with very little resistance activity.
The Black Mask in their midst assures us that the Loyalists know very little, only that the Jade emissaries appear to have turned against them for some reason and kidnapped Drescher for thir own ends. They will no doubt attempt to hunt down the Minister and his party for their treachery, but in the shifting and dangerous Tempest they have no idea where to look and stand very little chance of being able to to find them.
While the Countess shifted uncomfortably at the mention that her late husband was in the Shadowlands and working for the Grim Legion, Hucastle, under the guise of Dietrich, asked Schwarzenberg what the true current location of the Jade party actually was, and the Overlord replied that they are believed to be be slowly making their way toward Paris through the Tempest.
Stringer, as Entaire, then asked When the exchange will be taking place, and the Overlord told them in approximately one week within the Paris suburbs.
Von Fenrig, as Stuccini, asked ater the identity of the Black Mask operative within the Loyalist camp and Schwarzenberg told them that it was one of the two highest ranking members of the Silent Legion in Berlin, more than that he could not say.
Schwarzenberg then told them that they would be receiving their initial assignments the next day, and the fake group of Grim officers saluted, and filed out of the room.
The Prussian Legionnaire then showed them to some quarters in the compound and told they must report for duty tomorrow at dawn and then left them in their new quarters. There was a brief debate as to whether they should attempt some other act of espionage or sabotage in the compound, or make straight for the exit. The later argument prevailed they attempted to walk unassumingly out of the building and toward the gate of the compound.
As promised Elizarov awaited them round the corner as the Russian infantryman, and with but a nod he swiftly lead them away, and after they had tirned a few darkened corners asked them what they had learned, every detail.
Seemingly disturbed by the news that the Black Mask agent is of high rank, he led them quickly through more twists and turns to make sure they were not being followed.
They came directly to a backstreet square where a another wraith awaited them, she appeared in a long bodiced blue dress under a long heavy grey cloak with the hood up, on her face she wore a plain silver mask with a third eye etched into the forehead and cut away at the mouth revealing pale ghostly skin and ruby lips.
"This is Eva, she will merely look at you for a moment", said Elizarov' and upon then being questioned by his suddenly hesitant compatriots, he explained that it is so the slumbering Legionnaires will be able to correctly remember the meeting that they did not attend. Seemingly placated by the mysterious answer, "Eva" then regarded them each in turn for but a moment before enshrouding and walking away without a word. Elizarov says he is going to clean up at the family's house, before telling them that though he may be on hand, what they do now with what they have learned is up to them, as he promised.
He too then enshrouds, disappearing before their eyes.
(previous chapter)
Necropolitan Shadows.
With that the mysterious agent Elizarov disappeared into the dark night of shadowlands Berlin, and the desperate circle of wraiths that crewed the relic A7V were left to ponder his proposal, a proposal of espionage.
Now alone with the unhearing living family they briefly discussed matters, and what they may mean, before deciding that they would indeed go along with the Masquer, before going their own separate ways into the gloom.
Some days later while outside the Necropolis patroling wider Berlin for Spectre activity they spotted the majestic shadow and then form of the ghostly LZ-4 relic airship of the Nightmail, heading in from the west to the Citadel, and flying with an escort of 2 biplanes as a unit of winged Legionnaires fly up to meet it using Argos.
In this time Eckhart Von Dekker was also Called up to fly several scout flights for Colonel Haveland of the local branch of the Office of Maelstrom Preparedness.
Shortly after this, during a foot patrol one night, on the very edge of the Necropolis inhabited by most local wraiths, on a dark and disused Skinlands industrial roadway in a quiet area frequented mainly by insignificant freewraiths out to gain Pathos from haunting whatever living workers or homeless remained in the area, they come across a wraith stood atop a skinlands plinth from which the statue had seemingly been toppled or stolen during the troubles at the end or the War.
He was tall and crudely swathed in heavy dark rags though with neat greased down side-parted hair and wide, dark eyes.
Around him is gathered a small crowd of 10 or so other Wraiths.
Gesticulating as he spoke, he shouted Brothers, Sisters, we should not be here! Our time has passed! And yet we remain, between the world of the living and what comes after.
We must move on from this place! Inside us all is a a part of us, a voice that can guide us down to eternal rest, we must listen to that voice!
They each felt, as the dark preacher ranted on from the pedestal,the strength of their Shadows stir within them and increase dangerously at his words. Recognising that his words must also be affecting the gathered crowd in the same way, not to mention the seditious Heresy he was preaching, they moved in to stop him.
The circle moved forward through the small crowd, some turning back to them telling them to disperse in the name of the Empire, while others moved on the preacher. The preacher, upon closer inspection clearly a Spectre long fallen to his Shadow, immediately moved to defend himself, and admonishing them for their presumption drew a worn and notched sword from inside his black rags.
The fight was swift and deadly, as Hughcastle and Stringer help back and distracted the crowd, Legionnaires Von fenrig and Von Dekker fought with the corrupted soul. The Speactral preacher fought with ferocity, using his sword to slash and parry while raining down blows fortified by Outrage. But soon enough Von Fenrig's sword of Stygian Steel and Von Dekker's relic riffle tore open his corpus and a black nihil opened beneath his feet sucking him down into the Labyrinth and what lies beneath.
After little more encouragement the crowd of bewildered and now more angst-ridden ghosts dispersed back into the shadowed alleys of the city.
Not long after the incident and their subsequent reports, their respective commanders and superiors paid them their monthly oboloi and granted them 2 days leave in the city of Berlin, during which time they would be entirely free to do as they wished, seek any of their passions, or the services of any Guild.
At Hughcastle's instegation they decided to meet up at the House of The Last Goodbye, a potent Haunt and popular hangout of freewraiths, Guildsmen, and Legionnaires in the Necropolis, and also a beer hall in the skinlands called the Good Welcome. A dilapidated place in the skinlands frequented only by a few drunks used by the wraithy patrons as pathos fodder. Through the shroud the wood and brick structure is owned by a freewraith by the name of Hanz Von Bitter, and takes on odder angles seeming even more tumbledown, but also reinforced by relic materials and soulsteel against the storm, and filled with a myriad of relic objects both practical and aesthetic accumulated by its owners. The place is lit both by small flickering soulfire torches in brackets on the walls and the dim warm glow coming through the shroud from the lanterns in the skinlands. It consisted of a bar against one wall, a seating area with alcoves, and a small stage at one end. The walls were also disturbingly littered with pin-prick nihils in various places.
On the door is a big burly wraith of the Spooks Guild with very corpse looking blueish-green skin and dark sunken eyes with a throat slit ear to ear, Gustav, he collects one quarter Oboloi from each of them for entry.
The interior is filled with wraithly patrons both in uniform and out, some sullen as all ghosts are wont to be at times but most loudly jovial, seizing on the opportunity for pleasure and comfort. There were various Guildsmen there plying their wares among the patrons, including Chanteurs on the stage, both singers and musicians, whose songs bring feelings of joy and hope to those that hear them.
After they have been there a short while a group of 3 American Grim Legionnaires take the stage with Chanteur musicians to the rapturous calls of all the patrons, introducing themselves as the Men of Constant Sorrow. They sing a rowdly but tunefull song together which has all present clapping along them.
The circle of Stringer, Hughcastle, Von Dekker, & Von Fenrig, after blowing a significant portion of the wages on expensive "imported" relic brandy, returned to their respective barracks or guildhouses, resting, then spending the majority of the next day on personal business.
Back on duty once again helping to keep the Hierarchy's grip strong on the Necropolis area of Berlin, and having just done a foot patrol with the others outside of the Necropolis into wider Berlin in search of spectral activity, Von Fenrig finds a note hidden in her bunk, it simply says "Tomorrow night, at the house. Tell the others. Make ready."
Legionnaire Fenrig passes the word along as soon as she is able and the next night they set off for the same family home in which Elizarov met them the first time.
The front room was as they saw it last, but the hour was later and the daughters of the living family had gone to bed as the parents pottered about their businesses in the dim gas-light.
In the corner stood over 6 prone ghostly forms is agent Elizarov of the Masquers Guild, appearing exactly as he did when last they saw him. "Gentleman, it is good to see you again. Shall we begin?"
They noticed that the 6 Figures on the floor appeared in military uniform, had the corpus of their hands, feet, eyes, ears, and mouths melded together, and appeared to be in slumber.
Amid their questions Elizarov explained that they are a group Of Grim Legion officers privy to the concpiracy, Centurions, just in from Stygia serving under one Chancellor Amistead possibly in the Iron Hills, and are due to be briefed at the Grim Legion's Berlin HQ on the situation by one Overlord Schwarzenberg, a senior figure in the Legion's local military apparatus.
Their he said names are Heidleberg, Jones, Dietrich, Fisher, Entaire, and Stuccini.
After explaining that they will be temporarily replacing the officers for the purpose of the briefing, Elizarov begins to use his arts of Moliate to craft and change their appearances to perfect replicas of prone Centurions, and instructs them to each change their attire accordingly.
He warns them that is possible to those with the right knowledge to see the signs of moliation, and so they should give no one there any reason to suspect them or examine them in that way, merely act the part, go to the briefing, listen, and ask any pertinent questions. Then he will meet them again again outside the gates.
The masqued Elizarov told them little more than that, but says that he does know that the Centurions in question are not known personally by any in Berlin, and reiterates the list of things they should learn if they can, asking them if they have any further questions before they leave, he then changed his own appearance and removing his mask and now appearing as a Russian infantryman of the period, with nondescript features and slicked back dark hair.
They then steeped back through the skinlands wall into the quiet narrow winding German street and head back to the Necropolis area in their new personas, travelling in a relic military jeep with the Grim symbol on its sides that Elizarov had seemingly acquired.
The Grim Legion's Headquarters was a large tall square heavily fortified building of relic stone and soulsteel with only arrow-slit windows, surrounded by a manned wall pierced by a double gate of blackened soulsteel.
At the gates there are 2 armoured gas masked guards, Elizarov identifies himself as Legionnaire Petrov, escorting an expected party of Centurions just in from Stygia. They were allowed to pass through a smaller door in the gates and into the courtyard, which was bustling with both troops at ease and those practising drill to the beat of a snare drum. Relic armoured cars and tanks were parked against one side of the courtyard, while on the other was the entrance to the subterranean Soulforges, flickering with a bright blue light and emanating wails and moans along with the rythmic metalic clang of regular hammer strikes.
Elizarov turns to them and says, "Wait here, I will inform the relevant parties inside that the Stygian Centurions have arrived, after that you're on your own until we meet outside."
Without eve a glance over his shoulder he then walks of into the Grim edifice. A short while later a ghostly German soldier in Prussian combat fatigues approaches them and says they are to be led directly to the briefing and afterward shown to their quarters in the barracks. He then led them away, asking them how things were in Stygia as they invented answers for him.
They were led deep into the plain relic stone corridors of the barracks, and then straight into an equally plain meeting room in which was a wooden table with 6 seats on one side and one grander chain on the other, in which already sat Overlord Schwarzenberg. He was a large deathly looking ghostappearing in an archaic ceremonial officers uniform complete with faded brocade and medals, wavey dark hair parted to one side and mutton-chop side-burns. Behind him hung banner with the symbol of the Grim Legion emblazoned upon it.
He stood slowly as they entered and the Prussian Legionnaire took up position outside the door. "All hail to the new Emperor, I trust your journey from the capitol has been as good as can be expected in these dark times?"
After the initial formal pleasantries he bade them sit down, and asked after the situation and conditions in the Iron Hills, they replied simply saying that all was well there and all proceeded according to plan.
He then briskly proceeded with the briefing, saying "Things do not proceed acording to plan Gentleman, nevertheles they remian on track."
He went on to say that "The Empire of Jade it seems has so far been eager to accept our own offer over that of the Loyalists. In return for the Loyalist's negotiating agent, one Marshall Drescher, and certain other valuable Hierarchy prisoners, belonging to both the Grim and other Legions, and a treaty of support for our new Emperor, The Imperator will begin to turn over the large number of Eastern souls technically belonging to the Empire of Jade currently housed in the towers of the Iron Hills off Stygia. This will enable us to re-position many of our troops stationed on the Eastern Frontier and use them against the Loyalist forces.
Out contact, Minister Xian Tsung, will be signing on behalf of Yu-Huang himself the treaty and agreement at one final meeting when the exchange for the loyalist commander Marshall Drescher will also take place.
Due to an interruption by a Loyalist unit after the initial ambush at Outpost 9 the time and place of the meeting will now have to be changed from our initial plan.
The original plan to fool the Loyalist pick up party into believing their meeting at Outpost 9 had been interrupted by spectres was foiled by an unexpected event, a survivor of the Jade ambush, an Indian who managed to hide himself in some fashion, then tell the tale of what had happened to the Loyalist unit that arrived onbored a relic tank.
It is believed they searched the compound and gave chase with air support in the hopes of rescuing their Marshall, and then came upon the temporary Jade encampment situated in the nearby Tempest.
Reports indicate their subsequent attack was somewhat haphazard and uncoordinated, and easily foiled by the Immortal Guardsmen the Easterners have with them. However, taken by surprise and not knowing that this was simply one rogue unit operating without army support of any kind, Minister Xian Tsung called on his men to withdraw deeper into the Tempest on their ship, where they now await.
A new meeting has been preliminarily scheduled in Paris in an area that one Centurion Von Fenrig, currently overseeing the area, now assures us is securely in our hands with very little resistance activity.
The Black Mask in their midst assures us that the Loyalists know very little, only that the Jade emissaries appear to have turned against them for some reason and kidnapped Drescher for thir own ends. They will no doubt attempt to hunt down the Minister and his party for their treachery, but in the shifting and dangerous Tempest they have no idea where to look and stand very little chance of being able to to find them.
While the Countess shifted uncomfortably at the mention that her late husband was in the Shadowlands and working for the Grim Legion, Hucastle, under the guise of Dietrich, asked Schwarzenberg what the true current location of the Jade party actually was, and the Overlord replied that they are believed to be be slowly making their way toward Paris through the Tempest.
Stringer, as Entaire, then asked When the exchange will be taking place, and the Overlord told them in approximately one week within the Paris suburbs.
Von Fenrig, as Stuccini, asked ater the identity of the Black Mask operative within the Loyalist camp and Schwarzenberg told them that it was one of the two highest ranking members of the Silent Legion in Berlin, more than that he could not say.
Schwarzenberg then told them that they would be receiving their initial assignments the next day, and the fake group of Grim officers saluted, and filed out of the room.
The Prussian Legionnaire then showed them to some quarters in the compound and told they must report for duty tomorrow at dawn and then left them in their new quarters. There was a brief debate as to whether they should attempt some other act of espionage or sabotage in the compound, or make straight for the exit. The later argument prevailed they attempted to walk unassumingly out of the building and toward the gate of the compound.
As promised Elizarov awaited them round the corner as the Russian infantryman, and with but a nod he swiftly lead them away, and after they had tirned a few darkened corners asked them what they had learned, every detail.
Seemingly disturbed by the news that the Black Mask agent is of high rank, he led them quickly through more twists and turns to make sure they were not being followed.
They came directly to a backstreet square where a another wraith awaited them, she appeared in a long bodiced blue dress under a long heavy grey cloak with the hood up, on her face she wore a plain silver mask with a third eye etched into the forehead and cut away at the mouth revealing pale ghostly skin and ruby lips.
"This is Eva, she will merely look at you for a moment", said Elizarov' and upon then being questioned by his suddenly hesitant compatriots, he explained that it is so the slumbering Legionnaires will be able to correctly remember the meeting that they did not attend. Seemingly placated by the mysterious answer, "Eva" then regarded them each in turn for but a moment before enshrouding and walking away without a word. Elizarov says he is going to clean up at the family's house, before telling them that though he may be on hand, what they do now with what they have learned is up to them, as he promised.
He too then enshrouds, disappearing before their eyes.
(previous chapter)
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