Whispers Of The Night.

[Brahkula Hun'viir]

1st darkening of immanis

Brahkula had just recently awoken, and with what authority she did have in house hun'viir she had sent a message through the streets with the aid of some servents. It was a good offer for the elite band of assassins known only as the whisperers, the house needed to bolster its numbers and elize despised most forms of arcana. It was a house of assassins, though they lacked a major army they made up for it with numerous hitmen that could be dispatched at a moments notice. But if they were ever going to ascend the house into a higher position of power within the council, they needed to form alliances preferably with the second house whom enjoyed employing contract killers.

That is where the whisperers came in, if they formed an alliance they could work together and get contracts from the top competitors which meant top dollar for all of them. If they held a monoply on the contracts they would also be able to easily recruit eager professionals into there domain. Lady Of Angels offered them wealth, secrecy and above all else an oppurtunity to become nobles which had its own share of benefits.

She waited patiently in the greeting chamber, sitting in one of the chairs swirling a glass of wine and sipping it casually savoring its bold robust flavor. It was only a matter of time until one of there members came.

[Labyrinth]

The response was long in coming but eventually it emerged, two cloaked figures arriving at the doors of the House to be admitted entrance. Both of them were dressed entirely in black, complimenting the traditional Vyssititchi fetish for melodrama. Sex indeterminate beneath the cloaks, although the announcement of their intentions had been made by an eldery old man's voice, they walked with utter silence through the corridors until they were admitted to Brahkula's presence.

Once there one figure stayed back, the cloak entirely covering their visage and form whilst another, presumably the elderly man who had spoken to the guards to be admitted entrance, stepped forward. All that he had said was “The emissary from the Whispers has arrived.”. Now, all he did was gently fold his cloak back about his shoulders to reveal the fine, if somewhat unprotective clothing he wore beneath; a shimmering velvet coat, black tunic and gray hose embroidered in silver. He was decidedly elderly, his face showing lines of age as well as scars of life... with his hair falling white around his shoulders as his blue eyes shone towards Brahkula.

Whilst his companion stayed behind he stepped up to her and offered a low, formal bow.

“I am the messenger of the Whispers, a rumour was heard that the Mistress of this house wished to speak with us?”

It was a question but nothing more was said.

[Brahkula Hun'viir]

It had appeared as though Brahkulas call had been answered as the emissarys of the Whisperers had arrived. They were dressed in black, and as they approached it did not halt her from enjoying the last drop of wine that was in her goblet. As the older vysstichi had revealed himself it was a man. He was an older gentleman with scars, it spoke volumes about his prowess to reach such an age with his profession and when she thought about it in this manner she was honored to have him in her court. She was no vysstichi after all, so what mind have been an insult to some did not bother her in the slightest just so long as he kept his curtesy and respect in line.

As the Vysstichi bowed, she did so as well.

As he asked his question Lady Of Angels responded.

"Yes our Matron did request an audience with you, but just as you are an emissary of your order I am the emissary of this house. You must understand that your organizations reputation proceeds you"She smiled softly, as she gave him the compliment"And the last thing we want is to put our Matron in jeopordy until we understand that you also seek what our house wishes. I dont like to beat around the bush, we wish to have the Whisperers become part of our household we want to become unified in order to reap the benefits. You most of all should understand what im talking about, no longer will we be risking our lives for coppers on the crown. Instead we shall be risking ourselves for crowns on the copper. If we hold a monoply on the contracts those that seek our aid, will have no choice but to pay our price. And those that desire to become assassins will have no where else to turn except our guild if they desire real work."

When Brahkula finished she offered the vysstichi some wine.

Lady Of Angels, had decided it was best to cut right to the chase. It showed ambition and demonstrated that they were eager to have them in there ranks, she made no mention of expanding this guild outside of Herrozal but Harloth and Honelgg would be great new frontiers for them.

[Labyrinth]

The man remained submissive, eyes down-cast, listening. His features betrayed nothing of what he thought about what he was being told until the end when he looked back up at Brahkula. Now those same features were dispassionate with a trace of...was it contempt? Uncaring? Maybe, just maybe.

“I understand your Matron's concerns and rest assured we take no offense from the way things have been organized. It is only expedient.”

He paused, deciding on his words. “Prudent, yes, prudent as well.” He summarized before continuing on, holding a hand, palm outward to decline the wine.

“Just as my polite rejection to such sustenance is equally a matter of prudence rather than intended slight, emissary.” A smile, a calm one. “However in regard to what you say let me answer the following.”

The emissary's hand moved back behind his back, smoothly, resting there with his other as he spoke. Meanwhile his eyes keenly watched Brahkula.

“For now I would say that we desire more information on the specifics of your proposal before we discuss terms for such an offer. We are presently quite comfortable with our position as an independent family, joining you would require, if I am not mistake, a relinquishing of our independence.”

He man straightened slightly.

“That is not in our interest.”

[Brahkula Hun'viir]

Lady Of Angels stood there looking at his facial features, she did not mention the fact that it was not the Matrons desire to not show. It was her own, perhaps it was just fleeting paranoia but maybe just maybe he had been sent to assinate her matron. That was not going to happen under her watch, and should they even attempt such a bold feat they would be dead before they even reached that door. House Hun'viir was designed to be disorienting to those unacustomed to its lay out and with other assassins laying dorment in the shadows of there tabernacle of terror it was suicide.

"If it is more information that you desire, then allow me to continue. We know that you only operate in herrozal, however for the moment we are the same. Our house has a desire to bring our family business too each of our sister cities Harloth, and Hon'elgg I have already lain down the ground work to begin forming the guild in vortex under the guise of a brothel known as the House Of Hidden Dreams. In Imperia I am also collecting properties as well, there will be a great deal of work and our house just doesnt have the resources to be spread that thin. Another more local matter is that if we should form an alliance, we would be better suited to request an audience with house Malervs disbanded we would only be viewed as flunkies but united we would be more valuable better suited for there respect. Of course there is still the matter of Serions sister..."

It was a damn good proposal, they offered an almost empire wide assassins guild in those cities that had high demand for there services. They would attempt to gain a partnership with the second house, which was a huge deal. And the mention of knocking off serions sister in the tenth house to put there ally back in power giving them more voice in the council which was another big deal. It really looked promising, and should House Hun'viir rise in power and influence so too would the Whisperers.

"Perhaps if you prove yourself a loyal ally, we may see it favorable to place your mistress in a chair of the council. Is this not in your interest as well?"

It was about the boldest offer that could be made, should they prove themselves loyal and dedicated to serving there matron they may make there leader a matron as well. A voice in the council was not something that was easily cast aside to a female with political interest, of course House Hun'viir would see to it that they were cast at the very bottom and would need to rely souly on them to keep there power. But they didnt need to know that.

But there was an alterior motive behind this.

Lady of Angels would wait for the emissarys response, perhaps now they would be eager to negotiate.

[Labyrinth]

The emissary listened politely then, again, just shook his head. The submission was beginning to wane however before this woman, she was not Vysstitichi after all and was offering, for now...simply words. His hands were behind his back and he was now standing straight, looking directly at Brahkula without fear or concern.

“You speak of 'might' and maybe.” He said after a moment, frankly, then cocked his head to one side. “What proof do you offer? So far none... you speak of alliances and of using our resources but nothing of what we are to gain except vague suggestions and possibilities if you feel like it.”

The envoy smiled and looked at the floor and began to walk around the chamber, his hands still behind his back and feet tapping on the stone.

“You see, what makes you think we have not expanded? Are we to engage in a war of words over who has the best spies? We have come because we are interested as to what you wish to speak about but you assume too much, nameless emissary of the Matron. On the one hand you smother us with praise, on the other you remind us you think we are weak and useless.”

Slowly circling around he came to stand next to the second hooded figure and stared at Brahkula across the room.

“Make your mind up. Offer us something Adamantite-certain. Or we shall walk from here and never return except in shadows.”

At that he touched his heart, the last phrase clearly of some meaning to the Whisper's man.

[Brahkula Hun'viir]

((If I had exact numbers id give them, but I havent reached that point yet.))

It had seemed as though there negotiations were comming to a stand still, it was sad that they would not draw there blades for there matron to better there standing. They wanted something Adamantite-certain, and she got the jist of what the whispers emissary was saying. They wanted money, they wanted to be bought out but then Brahkula should have realized this. They were a spy organization, it seemed that gold was there area of expertise and comfort.

Taking a moment she fetched a crown from her pocket, and placed it on the table. The torch light made it shimmer gently, it was for that mellow drama that the vysstichi seemed to thrive upon.

Then I see you have left me no other choice, I can offer you two things of value my friend. I can offer you slaves that carry no taint of the spy network called the poison which have infiltrated just about every other vysstichi household. And I can also offer you gold, we will put you on our pay role. Payments will be monthly, and they will consist of half of what my three brothels earn and should I get more business's you shall earn more.

Brahkula owned three major business's, The Rasphody, The Palace Of Diversions and The House Of Hidden Dreams. She made no mention of the yacht that she wanted to build, but that looked like it was under way there fore she hinted about new business's. She was going to be making a substantial amount of money, and that was adamantite certain. She also had a good friendship with the Slaver Mistress Alara, they could offer them slaves without the taint of the poison which was another nice perk. It was pretty obvious that spies, did not want spies spying on them. And the poison was starting to become a problem in the city.

I do apologise, my name is Brahkula Hun'viir.

Lady of Angels wondered now, what the final verdict would be. It was starting to make her worry a bit, she did not want to see them walk away. She new everybody had a price, but what was the whispers? How strong were they? What where there numbers, were they worth what they would ask?? Was what Brahkula offered sufficient?

[Labyrinth]

“We have no need of either Brahkula Hun'viir.”

Was the reply, short, precise, brief. The man's eyes did not waver but equally there was no scorn in his words...so perhaps there was still hope.

“I will grant you that insult on the basis that you do not know us.”

He continued, without rancor or seeming venom... a businessman and a spy – in terms of his control over his emotions – through and through.

“Now let us continue on the grounds of respect. We do not view you as weak and would consider that you see us in return. Just because we have not chosen to serve a great house does not mean we yearn to obey and be part of high politics Brahkula Hun'viir.”

The emissary explained bluntly.

“We would seek a mutual exchange of information and services to be decided, to begin with, on a contractual basis of vis a vis trade. That is to say, we do something you wish, we ask for something in return that will not be beyond your means. Further evolution of such a relationship would occur over time. Is that acceptable?”

He asked simply.