Chapter 80: False Authority

Subject: Inis Location: Arlcada - Blightbane Guild - Guild Hall This was an unfortunate situation. Inis was about to commit a crime, and there was a Hexaline Knight who knew everything. Not just any Hexknight... a Hexknight of Judgement! I have to make this quick. Then, I'll get out of the city as fast as I can. She said she would help, but she can't fault me if I felt the guild and city's enforcers were on to me and I needed to escape immediately. She couldn't take a pass on the wealth of information waiting in the archives, either. Even if meant this was the trap that would end her. Inis deactivated most of the defenses in her camp when she returned, but she left the concealment spells active. Then, she left for Arlcada with her disguise tucked securely in an unassuming handbag. She wore a cloak to replace her clothes that had been destroyed in the spinner battle, but it hadn't been much of a loss. There were many replacements for most things. Little couldn't be discarded and required elsewhere. At her waist was a pair of small, flashy red and gold daggers. They were relatively inexpensive, meant to disguise her presence as a mage. Everything had to be perfect, or as close to it as she could make it. Inis arrived at the city and made her way to the Arlcada Guild Headquarters just as the sun was going down. She stole her way into the main hall when there were enough stragglers from the day shift, still finishing up the day's business. Inis walked to the restroom and waited in a stall she'd picked out over a week ago. Surprisingly, the room was a marvel of engineering and sanitation, and the time passed in waiting was not as grueling as expected. Perhaps the Guild considered it to be a good investment, unwilling to put too much stock in the hygiene habits of the average seeker. When she was done straightening up, she unclasped her bag and discarded an outer layer of cloth to reveal a second bag hidden just within. She had purchased the same style carried by many employees of the Guild and altered it to look just like the real thing, complete with the Guild insignia and everything. Personally making the small alteration was painstaking work for someone who was not trained as an artisan. Inside the inner bag was a change of clothes. These were far different from the ones she had worn into the Guild the last time she came. Inis didn’t want to raise suspicion, which would certainly happen if someone identified her as the same woman who was making such a scene trying to bribe her way into the archives. Of note, her eye color was magically altered. The effect wouldn't last long, barely longer than a day, but it had the benefit that the spell did not need to be maintained. The minor downside was she didn't know exactly how long the effect would last and she could not prematurely reverse it herself. Spell Grouping: Chromaticast Branch: Commutation Category: Utility Description: This group of spells deals with the temporary or even permanent altering of color for certain materials. Certain materials cannot be altered in this way, and some are much easier or harder to alter. Spell: Tinged Eye Difficulty: Intermediate Cast Type: One-off Cost: Moderate Description: This spell colors a person's eye by distorting light around the iris. The effect cannot be easily removed, but it gradually wears off over a short period. Some actions can hasten the process. Here in the chamber, with the curtain drawn, she donned a brown wig and changed into an imitation Intelligence Division uniform, which looked almost identical to an Administration Division clerk, and carefully affixed the dazzling jewel of the forgery, a replica employee badge. This had been even more arduous work. Through her virasenses, Inis planned the optimal time to leave shelter of her stall, and casually swept her fingers across a table on the way to the back counter. She pretended to inspect the level of grime left behind by the day's activities, and the Defender standing silent vigil by the counter didn't pay her any mind. One glance at her badge was all it took. At the door lead into the restricted halls of the Guild building, Inis was scrutinized more heavily by the higher-ranking Defender Sentinels. Their eyes widened when they see her badge. Inistra had done her research and discovered beforehand that there were magitech devices present at most Guild checkpoints for scanning badges. Her badge was not capable of generating a so-called "handshake signal". Instead, one of the new spells in her repertoire filled that need, and another allowed her to determine just what signal to generate. Spell Grouping: Virasignal Processing Branch: Veracity Category: Utility Description: Vira signaling is a new field of study, and the application of that research has allowed for a small number of messaging systems to be developed. A mage can replicate the process with a little sol and a lot of practice. Spell: Virasignal Detection Difficulty: Intermediate Cast Type: Full Sustain Cost: Moderate initial cost, low sustain cost Description: Detect vira signals in the immediate area. Mastery allows a mage to more ably differentiate between similar signals. Spell: Virasignal Replication Difficulty: Advanced Cast Type: One-off Cost: High Description: Replicate certain vira signal patterns. This spell requires an immense amount of concentration and practice Problem was exactly that, she didn't know what signal a badge like her fashioned forgery would produce. It was something she'd have to mimic on the fly. Not only that, she needed to, at the very least, suppress her cast assistance. "Cast assistance behaviors" were gestures, phrases, and rituals a mage used to help form a spell's logic matrix in their mind. It helped in situations where the mage had the freedom to do those kinds of things, but that didn't apply in this situation. Because cast assistance accelerated the learning of a spell, she was forced to learn the spell with the gesture and then re-learn the spell without it. Inis prepared to unclip her badge beside the strange metal contraption. The device noisily whirred to life, breaking out into a low hum as it awaited a signal. Spell Grouping: Spell Cloaking Branch: Synergy Category: Utility Description: These spells suppress the visual and/or auditory signs that an individual has cast a spell. Some advanced forms even suppress other detection methods. They add energy expenditure to whatever spell they are applied to. They belong to the “Synergy” Branch, but most mages do not use sol to fuel their casts. Spell: Virasignal Detection Difficulty: Advanced Cast Type: Irregular Cost: Variable Description: A perfect mastery of this spell eliminates the visual indicators of another spell, allowing a mage to cast discreetly. Further eliminating signs of the spell were also necessary. These guards couldn't be allowed see her eyes glow. Inis didn't see a magic detection device here, but she couldn't take the risk. Not when she was so close. But, things didn't always go as planned. One of the Sentinels at the checkpoint saluted, while the other hastily unlocked the door. "As you were," Inis commanded, thinking quickly. A few steps past the threshold, and her mind still hadn't fully caught up with what had just happened. I didn't even need to use it! All that effort and I-- It doesn't matter. She kept walking, the soles of her boots resounding off the tile floor at a confident pace. "I-Is something wrong with my uniform?" a mere Defender inside the checkpoint asked, noticing her unsatisfied expression. "I understand that a uniform is a reflection on the Guild. I will make any change necessary to meet the standard of excellence the Administration Division sets." His eagerness really bled through in his voice. It was almost sickening. If all employees were like this, maybe the Guild wouldn't be in such a sorry state. This man wouldn't go far in a corrupt system. Inis allowed herself to feel a moment of pity for the poor Defender, who might also have gotten himself chewed out for something beyond his control at some time or another. Then, she shook her head. "You are fine. My troubles are my own. But while I have you, could I trouble you for information on the restricted archives?" The Defender swallowed nervously. "Is this a test? They are busy working on it right now. I don't know the details. Need to know." What were they working on? "Well I'm need to know. Lead me to someone who can give me an update." The Defender saluted and proceeded to lead Inis through the maze of twisting, immaculate hallways. They passed dozens of Defenders and other employees. Fortunately for Inis, the role she was impersonating did not need to pay heed to most. With her head held high and eyelids ever-so-slightly dropping in comfortable disinterest, she marched on, exploiting the borrowed authority of her companion Defender all that she could. "What is your name, brother?" "It is Marcolle, sister," he answered quickly. Marcolle didn't ask for Inis's name. She could tell he was thinking about it, but in the end, caution won out. "Sentinel Kronilis, Sir!" Marcolle addressed a Sentinel at an intersection of hallways. "Why are you away from your post-" the Sentinel began, before catching sight of Inis's badge. "Is it about the reports in Maliscade?" the Sentinel immediately asked Inis, who froze. Huh? Maliscade was a backwater template city to the West. What was happening there that demanded the attention of a significantly more established Guild? "Forgive and forget the question. Your business is your own. We have been scrambling to get control of this situation." Inis tried to imagine what an Intelligence Division employee might say in this kind of situation. She guessed they wouldn't talk as much as her anxious mind felt compelled to in this stressful moment, that was for sure. She shut her mouth after blurting out an expression she often heard but never understood. "As with the hunters of the badlands, we grow with adversity. For all life's beauty, death's viraburst strikes us with sufficient awe." He mind reached in the dark and found this curious phrase, one she'd never been motivated enough to ask anyone about. Effectively, she didn't exactly know what it meant. As she understood it, it was an expression that could be said in many situations. Something related to managing difficult situations. The Sentinel misinterpreted her utter cluelessness for something meaningful and broke out into a nervous grin. He nodded respectfully. "Forgive my question, sister, but could you explain what you meant just now? Is it something only 'Blanks' and Sentinels know?" Marcolle asked. The Sentinel stepped in. "Don't say her title aloud, Marcolle!" he ordered in a hushed voiced. "Do you mind if I explain your statement to my underling here? I'm sure he'll be briefed on the recent developments eventually." Was it forbidden to describe what she was? Maybe it was more accurate to say it was discouraged. "By all means, but explain on the way to the restricted archives," Inis replied with a nod. You better. I didn't mean to say anything smart, so please explain to me how you warped that nonsense into something meaningfully related to whatever you've got going on here. But she wouldn't let that curiosity get in the way of her goal. And now she had a Defender and a Sentinel to use as cover. She followed behind while the Sentinel talked. "Our Intelligence Division ally here meant that this situation should remind us of our roots. If you remember the history of The Blightbane Guild, you remember it was one rife with death. Those times were bloody in general, not just where the Blight concerned." They turned the corner. As she listened, Inis fingered the potions in her pocket. She would need them when she began casting spells left and right. The question was, how would the others react to that?