Blood from Stone [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"Ten ye-" Aveline shakes her head. "Okay, that's far longer than I expected." And truth be told, longer than any vigilante I can recall hearing about in Nyra. Adventurers, sure, but none that don't at work at least minimally with the guard. "Would you be willing to speak on them while undering a Truthing? One to prevent lies, not compel speech."

[Coquette Blacquin]

She blanches, but nods, just a little. "If it would make you feel safer. I just... I can't let the Guard stop me doing my work."

[Tethras Clan]

A flicker of a smile. "Truth be told- and in fairness, I am being more forthcoming than I would otherwise be- if I were fired or retired from the guard, I would keep on with my duty regardless." She takes a breath. "As I said, I will only ask about the deaths. And I will focus mostly on the ones that occured in Nyra. I will also ask if you have done anything that... you think Jai would judge worse than causing those deaths. Finally, I would like to ask, in short, what your motivation for doing this is. Is that acceptable?" Before Coquette can answer, she adds, "in exchange, you may ask me something. Obviously I'll not answer anything classified but..."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"May I... bank that question?" she asks, hesitantly. "Only, I've not thought of anything I want to know from you that you wouldn't normally answer. My mind feels gelatinous lately."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline pauses, then nods slowly. "I suppose that's fair, yes. And I was thinking to give you more than just a single question, should you wish it."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Alright. Then, yes, to the best of my ability I'll answer you about the deaths. Only... I feel... I should perhaps speak more on the, ah, highlights of my career in Glaley."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline raises an eyebrow. "I see..." Taking a sip of her tea, she focuses a moment before casting the Truthing.  "Alright. First question. How many deaths have you caused in Nyra?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

She frowns, thinking hard before she answers. "Three," she says finally. "Unless there are others I am unaware of." Possibly four, soon, if Liz-- no, don't dwell. "And not counting Delves."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline nods slowly. "Actual, true deaths, of mortals I should have clarified. Alright. Expand on the circumstances. Who were they, how did they die, why did you do it or allow it to happen and how did you handle the aftermath?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"One was a guardsman," she admits. "I found out later, at the funeral. Anthony Cellars. I broke up a drug deal, and he was the seller. I thought I had downed him, but he was feigning; when he grabbed my partner, I accidentally killed him trying to get them apart. I let the misunderstanding of his death stand, but I found his partner and let the guard take him down. I don't know if you ever found out. It seemed cruel to his wife, you see." 

She takes a deep breath, lets it out. "I spoke earlier of the thug in cattown. I don't know his name. He wasn't a cat, he was a gnome. Had no business using their shortcuts, but he got too cocky. I matched him easily and my partner followed from the ground. We left the cats to clean that up. I don't know what they chose to do about it."

"The final was a tiefling. He tried some fancy magic I didn't understand, and died summoning a beast I had to fight. I don't know what happened to his body. Some magical... something. I saw blood pouring from his mouth and nose, and then he fell over, and when the battle was done he was gone. Maybe a demon took him. I don't know. But I have to assume he died."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline had stiffen, coming very close to rising at the first, but had forced herself to let Cindy finish. "I... If- I will say right now. That. That regardless of how the rest of our talk goes, you will report, immediately, the death of a guard. Corrupt, honest, accident, anything. I cannot-" She pauses, taking a deep breath. "I... can accept the incident in question. I recall the case you are speaking of. Private Cellars had two demerits for drug use. It was... well. As he died, no investigation occured but... it would have I suspect. The other two..." She waves a little. "From the sound of it, that wouldn't even rate negligence."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"The first, the summoner, I... if I had been... My partner was, ah, incapacitated. I should have seen what he was trying to do, been able to stop him before the beast got loose. It set fire to several bazaar stalls, it was very poorly done of me. I feel more directly responsible than you have named me. Regardless, it was not... I did not feel any of them were worth reporting, not at the risk of the end of my career. I can agree to letting you know if guards are involved in the future, now that you are aware of my activities."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline takes a slow breath. "Thank you. That is... entirely acceptable. How about deaths in Glaley? Or places other than Nyra?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I... I don't know that I recall them all," she whispers. "None at the Oak. In Glaley... I killed Theodmon Olocaryn. Catalian Selenis. Odris Kismat. Tencopper died in front of me, though I didn't kill him." She shakes her head. "I know there's more but that's what comes to mind immediately."

[Tethras Clan]

"I know that first name..." Aveline murmurs. "Slaver, wasn't he? Out of Jalzaid? With some very... unsavory habits and tastes."