Nagotiations - Osiris & Tugarabog

[Ekaterina]

Beside Osiris' bed was a note that simply bade him to meet at the Bloody Bore. It wasn't in the Norse's scrolled hand the words written upon the parchment, and she hadn't waited around to inform him of her nightly visitor either. After tending to a few things she'd then head to that very tavern. Unsure if she would arrive before or after Osiris. Soon the door would be pushed open and inwards she'd step. Form encased within the warm confines of a cloak formed from pelts of dark haired silver backed timber wolves, hinted through motion was the midnight hue of that leather armor adorned beneath. About her throat was that peculiar stone that seemed to hold a slight glow that pulsated as if with the beat of a heart, the rose coloration of the blood colored stone glinted from beneath the cloak covering. Once through the door, and moving aside from its path those icy shards of blue would scan the interior and any within.


Zahkar was still badly shaken up by the events of the prior night. It had begun with the spectacle of a crucified man, and ended an attack on him and the very inn he now resided. Needless to say, he didn't sleep much that night, which was bad for him, as he had another busy day ahead. Predictably, he was dragging. His shackles jingled their cruel reminder of his lot with each step as he came down the stairs from the second floor, a rag in his hand and a bewildered look on his face. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand as he made his way to the bar, where he slipped behind while trying to ignore the dirty looks one of the nearby men gave him, and began counting bottle to make sure they matched the inventory list.


Lo and behold, she'd quickly make mark of her ire sitting pleasantly within a table by a window, lavishing in the bright morning sunlight that shone through the opened provided by the opened shutter doors. He made no effort to hide himself through illusions, disguise or trickery, despite knowing that he may well be the most hated person in the city. The fact remained though, that he was a paying customer and would not be denied his service. On the table in front of him was a mass of meals, so large another table had to be slid over to make room for it all. He wore simple heavy cotton robes of a Franciscan monk, his hood left down to expose the fleshless skull that consumed food and drink in such great quantity. The cloth had been bunched about his neck, hiding it from view and leaving wonder to just be the food went. Just a few inches from his left hand was a sack the size of a man’s guts, left open to show it brimming with coins of gold, silver and platinum. A pair of deeply set lights of red glowed from his skull, which were focused on the food he consumed more than anything else.


What day was it? How long has he been slumbering? The time between his encasing were growing. The disturbances within the manor did not go unnoticed, however. Upon awakening he had taken his time to make his daily preparations. While Osiris's strength and power grew by the minute there was also the decay of his own body over such phenomenal gifts. Certain aspects of his form were becoming much more difficult to maintain and he had begun to keep himself nearly fully covered to prevent the light of day to breech the truth of what he was. Not so much for civilians but for other reasons. Vampire? No. Devil? Not even close. The Tsol Raa knew where he had to go and upon finishing his meditation the arctic wake of his footfalls spoke of his forthcoming. Each step radiated a frost upon the ground skimming nearly a full foot from every foot fall. No weapon to be seen upon his form for he was, indeed, unarmed. However, at this point in time there weren't many creatures who dared challenge him. He could sense Ekaterina's presence near the Bloody Bore along with several others. Entrance made. Hand upon her shoulder knowing that the trinket she wore kept her from feeling the full effect of the frozen wonderland in the physical. Light, cerulean gaze drifted toward shackled man before finding the other. Many things he could say to the woman beside him but silence prevailed. There was business to attend to. Why keep it waiting. Forward, he went.


Icy shards would befall upon the lich, surrounded by food? That caused a brow to rise, wasn't food pointless for one like himself? The amount of patrons were thin, perhaps due to his presence, even if he felt that he had a right to service. Many remembered his last visit, he shouldn't expect too friendly of a reception. It wasn't respect to which all left the Lich to his own, but fear in most and animosity from others much like her. Motion would have her glance towards the indentured thief, and usually she would have taken the time to enjoy mentally torturing the man, but not today. Looking back towards the Lich, she was about to step forward when she felt the tell-tale chill of Osiris' presence, then his hand upon her shoulder. Head turned and icy blues would rise to meet his eyes, then caress over features that were beginning to transform slightly. When he stepped around her to head towards the Dracolichs' table, he'd have the shadow of the Norse in his wake. Upon reaching the food laden tables, she'd stand off to the side to watch and listen for the moment, of what was to transpire between a man of fire and one of ice.


He was sitting in a corner nearest the door of the inn's exit. The same man from last evening He was wearing a layer of white kimono with a matching outer robe and hakama of an iridescent dark blue green with a gold moth looking patterns with gray tassel cord robe as decoration tied in a ritualistic knot just above the chest. If the man were dead as the woman of last evening suspected he had better grooming habits then any corpse would and ever shall have, poor Zahkar though.. One might have thought they saw the veiled one in his spot until another glance revealed it was just someone in a similar but not quite the same style of garb as the veiled priest who gave him and several others a scare last night.


Zahkar, upon noting the arrivals as well as those who had been present while he was upstairs, began to become acutely aware of just how... terrifying the company at the tavern was. This was not simply the realization of a coward, but one of striking objectivity. He was out of his league but unable to leave. Swallowing nervously, he dabbed at his forehead again and then made the very smart decision to stay the hell out of everyone's way. Once the bottle count was competed he quietly and without fuss slipped back into the kitchen, where he'd find something to keep him busy for the rest of the evening, until these folks had departed.


It was no voice, nor noise that called his attention from his food, it was more of a simple presence. Head slowly lifted from his meal as he looked towards the man and women who approached him. Though a sweep of his head quickly took into account the others in the area, noting the man who dressed of a different nature than everyone else. He knew who it was immediately, after all no one else dressed in such a fashion. Yet it was not he that garnered the most attention, but the man slipping away into the kitchen. It was he which he called upon, raising up his massive stein the size of a man’s thigh with a skeletal hand of bone. "Server! More drink if you will!" Setting it down with a loud thunk, he let his gaze fall upon Osiris. The chair in front of him pushed out and turned to face the man. "Have a seat, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!"


Osiris kept a peaked awareness of those nearby. The server whose very spirit riddling and the other whom was adorned in the white kimono had also been noted. Tabs on Ekaterina kept while Osiris did claim a seat across from skeletal being. Not a glimmer of fear to cross his facade. He wasn't like the others who were burdened with such terror. Osiris locked eyes with the being before lifting a hand to politely decline the offer of food and drink. " It would go right through me. Thank you, anyhow. " He was not without his manners. A subtle glance passed along to Ekaterina and then toward Tugarabog. " Did you think your presence would go unnoticed, my old friend? " Osiris was positive that the Dracolich has counted on it. " Neither of us are beyond civilities. You know what I seek. Perhaps we can negotiate before matters grow beyond the control of either of us. " That statement may have drawn some questions from those listening in. Did the Dead One know? Osiris wasn't certain. While Immortality may have been their ally Time was an element all itself and it wasn't favoring either one of them.


A glance towards Zahkar when the Lich called out for a refill of his tankard. That was when she espied the man who looked like a walking dead. Well groomed perhaps, but that pallor of features and darkened eyes gave him that deathly appearance. She remembered him as the one she had followed after into the alley, who then disappeared. The night the body of the battered and tortured man appeared upon the docks, nailed to a cross formation. She had thought there to be a connection between him and the Lich, perhaps she was correct in that assessment. Keeping him in peripheral, though most of her focus was upon the conversation taking place.


He was quietly enjoying the drink he was had his eyes looked up noticing the woman looking at him and offered a polite nod in greeting before returning to his drink. despite a foul smell in the kitchen everything looked normal an old haggy woman was stirring a pot of some stew or soup her long grayish white hair hanging all over her like a veil while focusing on stirring the soup other than the smell all was well. He set the empty glass down and looked toward the server boy. A refill here... when available server boy"


Zahkar cringed in the back when he heard the lich bellow for him. Sighing miserably, he walked out onto the main floor and approached the table, doing his best to ignore the Norse woman. "Certainly, sir..." he began, doing his best not to stare. "Would you like some more food as well?" This was said as he poured more of the man's preferred drink into his goblet. Once it was filled up he took a step back and glanced at Osiris, sensing some kind of confrontation was going on between the two. It was almost enough to make him forget about how utterly ridiculous it was that he had to serve any of them in the first place! Thankfully Carly was not around to see how he'd been half-assing it. Just then he heard another call for his service. He nodded, somewhat apprehensively in the direction of the man, before turning his attention back to the task at hand.


"Nay, I've enough for now. Thank you good sir, add it to my bill." Hand slipped into the sack, pulling forth a large silver coin and pressing it into the man’s palm. His own hand was not but bone, no rotten flesh, ligaments or anything else to bind them. His attention was then turned to Osiris, to whom he offered a soft shake of his head. "No, if I wanted to hide my self, I've had gone to more lengths to do so." He gave a roll of one shoulder as he lifted the stein, pressing on the lever to pull the cap open and drink greedily from it, the thick mead falling down his jaw and vanishing under the robes. "Indeed, I know what you seek, and I am here to discuss a path that will leave neither of us wanting. I sit before you without anger or wrath, so fear no attack from me upon yourself," His gaze turned from him and to the Nord, his terrible fleshless face devoid of any expression, for he lacked the ability to make one. "or your people."


" Carelessness is not your forte. " A side glance toward Zahkar upon feeling the look from him. Cold; as if polar caps had fused with the Tsol Raa's eyes. However, not intentionally meant to discourage or invoke animosity. Osiris had directed the statement toward the Dracolich. Ears picked up the request from the other. But, his focus landed upon Port Kiel's primary adversary. There was a perk at the corner of his mouth. It seemed they were aligned in their objective thus far. Yet, Osiris couldn't help but wonder at what price. " As you know the code prevents me from acting hostile unless you do so. " A light chill from his chords but he kept his visuals locked onto the other. " By all means proceed. I'm rather anxious to listen to what you feel must be done in order to consider this arrangement concluded. " There was a look to Ekaterina. She'd know what it stood for since she'd had seen it many nights prior. Concentration returned to Tugarabog. Keenly intrigued.

[Ekaterina]

Icy shards of blue would at that moment shift to meet that fiery gaze dead on. As his features were unable to form emotions, hers were quite capable but were stoic in nature at the moment. Osiris may physically create a chilling atmosphere, crystalline blues emanated hers. Arms lifted to cross over chest, a lean taken against the wall beside where she stood. A glance given then to Osiris as their eyes met and then continued on to settle upon Zahkar. She noticed Carly had yet to remove his shackle and chains, seems the man had yet to gain the Irish woman's trust. Then the man who looked like death warmed over, was again given a moment of her attention before looking back upon the two whom sat in conversation. Interest piqued as to what the Dracolich would deem a workable arrangement.


He'd wait and when the man came over he extended his arm out holding his glass so he could fill the glass up with his beverage he would bring it to lips and sip while he listened to the others speak from his spot.

The smell in the kitchen would reach a horrible potency for a matter of seconds before dying down. The woman was busy stirring up the stew adding items into it . It took a quick look but it looked as if she added a finger into the pot followed by an eye but it was hard to tell since it was added quiet fast.


He was clumsy and awkward in his shackles and wore his angst about them right out there on his sleeve for everyone to see. Then he hurried over to the man across the room. There was something odd about this man, familiar and unnerving....But he had too much on his plate right now to speculate. He filled the man's drink and then murmuring an apology and dismissing himself back to the relative safety of the bar, where he would pretend to wipe down the counter while really listening in on all the drama going down.


The stench caught him for a brief moment, how he could smell was any ones guess, for only he knew, but he made a soft noise of displeasure. "Someone must be making cabbage stew..." He helped put the smell down by lifting up a helping of sausage to his maw which he ravaged quickly, juices dribbling from his chin and teeth which he cleared away with the aid of a cloth. "I need to know to what end you desire it for, and if what you will do with it shall destroy it, as well as how long you shall need it. After all, I will need to reclaim it once you are finished with it."


It was hard to continue to negate the way the aroma stung his olfactory sensory but it was rather necessary. The directive of inquires came and Osiris was debating if he wanted to answer them. " It's not so much a desire as it is a need, anymore. " With more answers came more questions. " I'll only need it but two days. It's the last component to exact the full measure of Matsugo's power. " At what cost, though? " Your book will be as powerful as it has ever been once I've reversed my transcendence and released myself from the duty of the aspects. " What all did that entail? " Your business with the mortal realm is your own. As long as no threat is ushered to the people of Kiel you can consider me retired. " There was a subtle smirk. " Otherwise, we'll continue to dance in this stalemate until either one of us bends. Given what we are that can be quite a long time, Tugarabog. " Logic. Plain and simple. Osiris was no stranger to the strength of powerful artifacts and the potential devastation it all could cause. The risk of it not working tingling in the back of his mind. He was about eight five percent certain it would work. But, by the way he spoke one would never know the doubt that trickled like a drop of rain into a vast sea.


The smell was easily ignored, simply by breathing out her mouth and not her nose. A method she had learned long ago to evade the smell of stench. Though she was curious as to why Carly would hire someone who cooked anything that emitted a smell that equaled to that of game when gut shot. It was easy to ignore several things, due to the interest she held upon the conversation taking place. What thoughts toiled in her mind never was indicated upon features. Although the pulsation of that stone had quickened slightly and the glow intensified a bit more.


This was interesting now as the men continued his drink and listened to the conversation at the other table. Those eyes looked toward the kitchen did he pick up the smell too who knew. The man examined his nearly emptied glass setting it down now to watch the other three.


As the hag finished stirring she would take the lid and set it on top of the pot and all that was left was to wait.. The smell soon died out for the moment and the air became fresh once again.

"When you say reversed your transcendence, I assume you mean the reversal of your immortality." He gave a slight shrug to the statement, bringing the stein in front of him, one hand around the handle and the other around the mug its self. "And when doing so, will you remain as potent a thing as you are now until your death, or will you lose such powers? That being said, will you die immediately, or live out the rest of your days?" Head canted to the side as he played with the lever, the top of the stein flapping about slightly. "As far as this 'dance'... there really isn't much of one. Neither of us have tried to attack the other, no one really knows where I am or how to hurt me in the long term. The shell may die but the spirit will go on, so to speak." He paused for a moment, shaking his head and even giving a slight laugh. "I'm sure your well aware of how it works, but at any rate... I have no desire to have a long lasting conflict with you I'm busy with other things and time.... well, Time is not on my side. Believe it or not, even Liches can die from old age. I'm a long way off, thankfully, but still... I don't want to die again."


Yes, Tugarabog was even as thorough in undeath as he had been when he was alive. Osiris couldn't help but smile. The Tsol Raa's hood was pulled back reveal the bluish tint to his facade with darker streaks of sapphire in lines like veins. Lines of gray and white mixed within the strands of onyx that came to rest along the length of his neck. " In theory, yes. " The next question had Osiris tilting his head faintly with a considerate expression. " I assume I'd not be near as strong. However, I'm certain I'll have some residual of power left. I would more than likely die otherwise. " Osiris comprehended very well what Tugarabog was saying. " Very aware of how it works. In essence beyond the deities I may be the only true threat you had left. " What happens when you reassure a predator they were back on top of the food chain? " Time is always counting. But, considering what I am. I'm going to speculate that the gifts I'm relinquishing to rid myself of such a curse could benefit you greatly in that aspect. At least slowing the process of your aging. " Again, theory. Osiris had conducted a great deal of research and was almost completely positive what he had said would come to light if he had the Ledger of Rituals. " I'd seek death over conflict for I've worn such a badge for so long. If you do me this favor and grant me access to your book I can ensure your lair and yourself will go undisturbed. An urban legend on the tongues of children. " Fixated on the Dracolich. But, his hand extended toward Ekaterina.


When the Dracolich spoke the hint of a smirk would form upon her lips as eyes would shift for a moment to glance out the window near where she stood. When focus turned back, the smirk was gone and features had returned to their stoic nature. Focus first upon the bony figure, then to shift to settle upon Osiris as he explained more to the Draco than he had even admitted to herself. When his hand extended out towards her, that lean against the wall would be abandoned and arms to uncross. The few steps taken to place her at his side, as a leather encased hand moved to settle upon his extended to her. For a long moment she gazed upon him, then attention shifted to the Lich. Still, she remained silent, as hard as that was for her to do at this moment. She had almost literally been biting her tongue all night, so that she wouldn't create waves in the negotiation by spitting forth her verbal ire.


It wasn't hard to tell that she was doing such, one didn't need any magical powers or special skill sets to see that she was holding back, one only needed eye, and while he technically didn't have them, he could still see. He was tempted to press her, but did not, at least not yet. Instead he gazed upon the hand he offered, unsure of the meaning of the gesture. In fact he was expecting her to say something at any moment. Yet when she did not, he gave a slight shrug and let his attention fall back upon Osiris. "Very well, you will have access to it, but under my terms. They are simple, but strict." He lifted the stein up to drink from it once more before he dragged the cloth over his jaws again. "You will be permitted to use the Tome only under my eye and in my presence."


Kat's hand was held while he maintained his gaze on the creature across from him. He was basically between two vipers capable of striking at any given moment. Osiris very aware of his predicament. Terms. He figured there would be some. " Fair enough. " Osiris simply said. A slow look in Ekaterina's direction before returning his attention onto Tugarabog. " In a few days you will need to bring the book to the coastline. You'll have no problem finding me. " A deep breath taken as he then shuffled to his feet and pulled the hood back over his facade. " The other relics will call to your book. Pieces to a whole urging to be reunited. " He needed to be getting back. " Word of the wise, Dead One. Foul play with such elements can bring even worse things than you and I. " Despite the definition of his statement there was a smooth smirk. A respectful bow to follow. " No more late night visits either. Cold enough in manor as it is. " Okay, so there was some laughter to follow as he began to guide Ekaterina and himself out of the tavern's walls.


She didn't agree with Osiris agreeing to include the Dracolich in this, and it would be known by the way she looked at him when he accepted the terms. Yet, not a word did she speak, though that didn't mean Osiris wouldn't be getting an earful enroute home, or even once they got there. But, Osiris had to know what he was doing, and it was her trust in him that would keep her from being a total pain in his backside about the situation; though she would complain and argue some, so be prepared. When Osiris spoke about a late night visit, attention turned back upon the Lich. "And stay out of my sleeping quarters!" Icy shards of blue would meet his fiery orbs when she spoke. It was then Osiris would lead her out of the tavern and into the streets. It would be here that she'd finally speak up to him. "I sure hope you know what you're doing." Words spoken only loud enough for him to hear. It wasn't that she doubted him, she didn't trust the Lich!


The man rose up from his seat then he watched the door waiting a few moments and then proceeded over toward the dead man. Now he remained silent but his expression showed amusement and curiosity. “How amusing is this your method of ridding a rival?" Very new in thinking, but the tactic sounds old fashion. The smell would soon return as the soul began to boil over.


"When I make peace with a rival, does he continue to be my foe?" His head turned to face the man, though his body stayed in place. "When I turn my enemy into my ally, he no longer becomes a threat, and instead becomes an asset." He gave a soft shrug, leaving the food for others to clean up, leaving a fist full of coins behind when he vanished.


This was the part where he looked at Ekaterina with a bemused expression. " Me too. " He tugged her a bit closer and guided them back home.