The Exception, The Guardian, and The Monster

Plat 

After his brief visit to the workshop, Esredes made his way back to the island headquarters, mentally preparing himself for the report he would give to Aclyone. He had a bit of time, as it was a bit of a flight, but eventually, he landed near his usual spot by her cavern. After taking a moment to shift to and back to retrieve his evidence, he made his way into the usual dark tunnel that signaled her cave.

Astroray

Aclyone senses him enter her den. She rumbles a few times before stepping forward into the light. "Your report?"

Plat

"Aclyone," Esredes begins, the files in one hand and dart in the other, "I have come to report that we have discovered a new threat. Not only to the faction itself, but to knochen in general. I went out on a small expedition to investigate rumors of where it may be located, and I have brought back with me the evidence of what we found."

Astroray

She leans down to Esredes level and sniffs at him. "You reek of blood again. However that device you have is...interesting. Explain yourself further if you want to launch a full investigation."

Plat 

"There's a human lady who has been kidnapping humans and knochen in order to perform experiments on them. Rather gruesome ones, I may add. She's trying to accomplish things that should never be accomplished... such as giving a human the ability to retain magic permanently. And she's been putting knochen body parts into humans to see if they work... even one's entire consciousness. The expedition was able to find an abandoned laboratory where evidence of her work was clear. Here with me are files she left behind detailing some of the things we saw the results of." With all that being said, Esredes carefully took the papers in one hand, careful not to pierce anything with his claws, and laid most of them out for Aclyone to see. The map, however, he kept under his hand. That would be next.

Astroray

Aclyone notices the map and expects him to present it later. She keeps her head close to the ground to look at the documents carefully. They all seem to pertain to individuals kept at her facilities and various procedures performed on them. She rumbles again in a more concerned tone. "These documents are rather concerning and same goes to your own account. If she were more successful in her future projects, then she could soon have a strong force of her own. We would have to worry about two opposing forces. A concerning thought indeed. The moral implications are dreadful as well. " She raises her head just a touch to look at Esredes in the face. "The threat she posses is great, yet I am curious as to what other documents you hold there."

Plat

"My thoughts as well," Esredes responded as Aclyone talked about the implications. He then lifted his hand off the map, carefully folding it back out for her. "This map was also left with the files. I believe investigating the trails marked on it could lead to more clues on her exact location."

Astroray 

"Hrmm" She looks it over quickly before looking back to Esredes. "This map was left without the woman nearby?"

Plat 

"I was told by a couple survivors she had left recently. However, she clearly didn't want us coming in." He then set the dart down near the files. "There were many of these wired to go off in the building. Fortunately, we disabled the traps beforehand."

Astroray 

"Were you able to find out the contents of the dart?" She wants to roll it over, but hesitates as she might accidentally crush it.

Plat 

"Not yet, but I intend to find out. I may have to take it to a potion maker, as much as I would hate having to. All I know is whatever is in it causes a human to immediately undergo mutations that turn them into an uncanny."

Astroray

*'Maybe we should have our own alchemist here.....that would be easier....' * She shifts a bit in place, looking over the files and the dart. "Well, what you have told me is damning enough already. I will grant you an investigation party, however, use extreme caution when traversing those trails, use expendables if you must."

Plat

"Caution will be taken, I assure you." Travel in groups. Esredes did not want anyone becoming a science experiment. "Hopefully this investigation will find and end this little menace before she tries anything else."

Astroray 

"Yes....I trust you can take care of this little hiccup swiftly." She begins to turn away, but hesitates for a moment. "You are dismissed....that is unless you had more to report?"

Plat

“No, that will be all, at least until this investigation yields results or I find out what’s in the dart. But for now, I will get to leading it.” He began to gather the papers and dart back up.

Astroray 

"Good, I'll let you pick out your team. I trust your instincts to lead you well in this task." And with that she slinks off to the back of her den.