Steamworks and Magicka

High above the clouds the Zephyr flew, Giving it's passengers a magnificent view of the mountain landscape below. In the lounge The half orc servants carried some of the finest dishes around for the passengers to sample. The politicians and nobles all gathered and mingled about. With one half elf merchant watching from a window seat. He had been invited along by a senator who had taken a liking to his inventions and wanted to use him as a way of positioning himself higher in the bureaucratic ladder, The Half elf known as Ellis Fenix knew this all too well. But he didn't mind. As long as he was getting payed he was happy. Sometimes you had to be the puppet before your given strings of your own to pull. He took a sip of the wine in front of him. He was never much of a wine drinker but he took what he could get. He needed all the alcohol he could get to keep his nerves about him in this crowd of pure bloods. All waving around their pedigrees. He knew he shouldn't be ashamed of his parents. They were a loving couple and anyone that saw them together that objected to human and elven unions were quickly silenced by their obvious love for one another. But out alone was a different matter. Among the pampered blue bloods the only thing that mattered was heritage. And Ellis's was worthless to them.

A shadow moved across the wall in a flash of movement as a strey passerby peered round the corner, shrugging slightly when nothing was found, carrying on its way. Above the hall a figure with a scar across his eye and two blades strapped to his sides as he moved about on the upper railings.

"Get in, get your target, then get out at the destination. Use whatever means nessisarry to remain unseen, when you leave ship new orders will be waiting. Don't fail Bladde"

The words ecchoed through his head like some distant memory remembered crystal clear. He let out a silent sigh to himself, the run wasn't going well and they'd only just started. His target was seemingly nowhere to be found and he already had to silence one member of the ship that seemed to know exactly where he had been, having to throw the body overboard. "This better not be a set up" he growled to himself as he slinked along the upper levels out of sight

Ellis sat near a window taking the occasional sip of the wine set in front of him. He rather enjoyed the fact that he was being left alone. That was cut soon however as his benefactor approached. "Ellis my boy, There you are." Said Senator Akford, A portly man with little hair on his head but a long enough mustache to make up for it. "Do come out here would you? Got a few people that are VERY interested in meeting you." He said in his usual jolly tone. Feeling it would be rude to refuse Ellis nodded and took one last gulp of the wine before getting up and following him out to the lounge. Akford then took him over and introduced him to several important looking people whom Ellis would never be able to remember their names. A woman with a rather ridiculous looking hair style spoke to him first. "Winston here has been telling us all about your design. I am simply amazed that you were able to come up with something so complex despite your obvious disadvantage." She said with a tone that sickening Ellis to the core.
"Well ma'am, Despite what you may -think- you know, i do not find my heritage as a disadvantage. If anything it gives me an edge." He said with just the right amount of coldness in his voice.
The Woman and a few others scoffed. "And what advantage could you possibly have that us pure bloods don't?" A man said in a mocking tone.
This was the part that Ellis loved the most. "Simple really." He said with his emotions in check. "Elves are notoriously crafty, Their nak for making things simple and easy to use has been a constant thorn in the human developers side for ages. The Elven bow and swords have always been far superior to the humans, with little to no way for you to catch up. Now.. Imagine if you will that same ingenuity blended in together with the human technology. The result." He pulled out his own personal revolver from inside his coat pocket. "Is the finest firearm this world has ever seen!" He said with as much flair as he could muster. "Made to both outshoot, outclass, and outlast the competition. The Fenix Model 1 is the most comfortable, and easy to use revolver known to man, I guarantee it, It's design helps limit the recoil to the point where even a child could fire it without injury. If fact if the lady would like to take a shot with it she'd find it to fit her hand better than that tacky thing you have covering your hand." He said with a smirk. knowing exactly how this would play out, She'd take it out, shoot it, And then order ten of them, easy money.

Roland silvermane grinned as he looked out the window, his lean and lanky figure adorned with silks and heavy jewelarry marking him easily as one of the members of the higher nobility, his longer black hair coming down to grace his jawline as emerald eyes stared forward. After a moment he turned and looked to the side to an elder figure, another noble with a slightly malicious look in his eye. "I'll have you know he's the perfect weapon, guard,weapon and pet" he said with a proud smirk and a boasting tone.
"He is rather.... Unnerving though." The elder figure said looking back to a darker corner in the room.
"Oh he's -harmless-! Well" he chortled with a proud edge "at least to me." He said with a grin before leading the other out of the room, patting him on the back as he left, glancing back a moment. "Acurio. Have some...... Fun with that one will you?" He said with a sadistic grin before leaving.

Off in the darkned corner stood a man with his arms lightly wrapped round the form of a woman with lighter features, one of the more attractive nobles on the ship. 'Whatever did he mean acurio?" She asked sweetly, moving her head to the side to look at the man behind her as he rested his head casually on her shoulder.
He remained silent for quite some time before opening his eyes halfway in a blank expression, moving his eyes over to look at her, she responded with a sweet smile before he would close his eyes again.
He moved his hands down from her shoulders, wrapping them around her midsection. Without warning his arms would tense and lock on to one another, the grip tight, practically pinning the womans arms to her sides as she struggled slightly. "A...acurio?? What are you doing??" She asked as he moved his head over, resting his lips on the nape of her neck, parting them to show longer vampiric fangs. Upon seeing this the woman would start to panick. "N-no acurio stop it!" Her cries fell upon deaf ears as he lightly trailed his fangs across her neck, slightly pinching the skin between his teeth, not breaking the skin.
Not loosing his hold on her with the one arm he moved the other out and under her arm, keeping her pinned easily as he rested his hand to the side of her face. The the clawed fingers to his intrucate metal gloves resting upon her cheek. As he would keep it there small metal strings would move out from the fingertips, five in all, wrapped about her face. After a moment he'd whisper sweetly, unphazed. "Goodbye delilah." The wires coiled and tightned in an instant, cutting the womans head right through into five sections, blood splattering about the room as he dropped the body, bringing his hand up to lick it after.

The plan did not go as expected. The woman refused to touch the gun and instead settled on insulting him further for even thinking that his creation could stand against the human made guns, more specifically the ones that her father made. After withstanding a string of insults from her about his heritage he politely excused himself to another room. Taking in a deep breath he surveyed the room to take his mind off the woman's insults, He had found himself in the dining hall and was immediately bombarded by the smell coming from the buffet. He had to admit it.. The food almost made the stares worth it.

After a short while the young noble returned, pausing at the doorway to look at the scene. Shaking his head slightly with a sickening grin. "Oh acurio. So adorable. I never -told- you to kill madamme Rothchild."

Acurio looked over to the noble slowly, first peering over with his eyes, eventually moving his head slowly to face him.
Roland laughed, "and now you've gotten yourself all full of blood" he said with a playful grin, moving over to look down at the woman "and you diddn't even bite her" he shook his head a moment before looking up to acurio "what's the matter pet? Not hungry?" He waved a hand dismissavely "anywho. Go get yourself cleaned up. Can't have you walking about like this on the ship even if you did it a lot back on the grounds. When you're done meet me in the dining hall. There is a bit of a meet and greet going on in there" he chortled before shufling off again

Acurio nodded before looking back to his hand, which he still held up a small while from his face, the clawed metal glove having been licked clean. He lowered it and moved off to clean himself off.

He returned a small while later, walking down the halls at his slower yet obviously relaxed pace, the few nobles that did dare take a glance at him as he passed took note of an odd mock 'collar' recognising the silvermane emblem they went back about their business. Most not having much to do with them as they were noturiously 'strange'.
Acurio walked in to the dining hall, staying by the door a moment, blankly looking across to try spot his master

Ellis had taken yet another window seat and had filled his place with enough buns glazed with honey, sugar, and cinnamon to feed an ogre. Despite his ability to control his emotions, his stomach was another issue. He honestly could not get enough of these. And so he sat there eating them as he watched the people mingle, with the occasional woman catching his eye, but even though he prided himself on being a decent businessman, talking to attractive women was a social skill that he seriously lacked.

After not seeing a single sign of his master Silvermane Acurio walked past the horde of nobles to stand by the windows, looking out upon the sky for a time in a somewhat lazy stance, hands in his pockets, leaning on one leg whilst resting the other to the side. Despite being a noble's 'pet' he still somewhow managed to hold his own air of nobility around him.
"Acurio!" Called a sweeter voice from behind as a woman almost identical to the one acurio had killed before walked up to him. "Have you perhaps managed to see my sister?" She smiled sweetly with a little giggle, holding up a fan to her face so only her eyes showed, hiding back a blush.
"Hello Delilah." He said cooly, glancing down to her with his eyes, a slight air of arrogance about him shown to most but his master.
The woman laughed. "Oh Acurio! We've told you a hundred times, our names arn't delilah. I'm magdeline and my sister is cathrine. Anyway, have you seen her... Acurio?" She paused and snapped her fingers by his face as he looked up and away, seeningly focussed on something else.
Acurio meanwhile had actually spotted his master who was staring him dead on and gave a nod with a smirk, descreatly placing a hand to the side of his neck. This was all the signal acurio ever needed as he looked back down to the woman. "I have actually." He said taking a slight step back.
"You have! Oh that's wonderful, where Acurio?"
"This way Delilah." He said as he slowly turned, walking towards the door, the woman short in tow. If one were to watch acurio as he walked past the crowds of nobles, even if he walked directly hrough the centre of one, most of the nobles would step aside slightly. Peculiar behavior for nobles. Even more so since acurio was so obviously someone's pet. In truth however the silvermanes had made enough of a name for themselves that most aside from the brave or stupid would normally leave them well enough alone. The Rothchilds having been their long standing ally in trade, or so it seemed until a few moments ago.

Acurio walked the woman out into the hallway and slightly off to the side to another window as she would look around. "I don't see her?"
Acurio responded cooly "ah, such a shame. She was here a while ago."
A shame indeed." She said before walking over to the window, placing a hand on the glass, looking out with a solumn expression.
Acurio moved up behind her and wrapped his arms lightly around her weist, resting his head on her shoulder. "Something bothers you delilah."
The woman chuckled slightly, moving her free hand back to run it through acurio's white hair with a smile. "I thought you fancied Cathrine dear Acurio?"
There was a pause in speech as a grin started to slowly, creep, across his face, from her angle it would have been impossible to see the slight tips of his pointed fangs from his parted lips

Senator Akford, made his way into the dinning hall and over to Roland Silvermane. "Evening Silvermane, Quite surprised to see you here." He said in a friendly manner. "though i do suppose that everyone needs some time to relax here and there hmm?"

Roland turned to glance to Akford with his usual grin. "Ahhhh.... Akford." He said as his grin widned slightly as he excused himself from the current conversation taking place, stepping to the side slightly to face him. "Quite, and after all I just had to see who all was attending this party" he chuckled, "Typical curiosity as you understand, though." He said with a pause as he casually brushed the hair from his face, letting it rest back in its usual position as he lightly folded his arms, "As you understand I'm sure, the Silvermanes always have an eye out for.... Hmn. Oppertunity. As it were"

Acurio smirked for quite some time before he would whisper lightly in her ear. "Sleep Delilah." His words seemed to eccho through her mind as her eyes started to close and she grew limp in his arms, quite obviously sleeping. His expression turned to one of surprise as he looked about quickly, waving over a passing guard for assistance, "madamme Rothchild just fainted, take her to her quarters at once." He said to the guard who quickly nodded and ran off to fetch another. The two of them escorted the lady back to her room. At this point, once they were out of sight Acurio leaned forward on the glass with one hand, placing the other to his forehead, fingers through his hair as he started to softly, yet uncontrollably start to laugh to himself with a maniacle grin on his face

"I see." Said Akford. "Well perhaps you'd be interested in hearing a little offer of mine then. I happen to have recently gotten my hands on this wondrous inventor. The boy's designs on firearms will revolutionize the industry. And given the Silvermane's standing within the republic i would be more than willing to discuss something of a business partnership with you and the Boy.. If you're interested." Akford said with a sly grin.

"Is that so?" Roland chuckled. "Well then I'd like to meet this, 'boy' and see for myself." He said with just the right air of arrogance for it to seem acceptable within the noble ranks as he brushed the hair from his face again. He glanced about a slight moment, not seeing his father in the room he grinned to himself, if this offer was any good, he'd be the one to snag it, only to rub it in his fathers face later. He rested his hand on the hilt of his katana casually. The blade itself was more of a decoration on most, however with ths usual goings on Roland kept it more as a 'precaution' as he would usually be found saying.

Bladde looked down from his viewpoint up above the dining hall, gritting his teeth slightly. "Damn noble is never alone." He grumbled and sat on his haunches, watching Roland like a hawk would watch its prey, shifting slightly as he saw roland move his hand down, wondering if he hadn't been spotted

Akford led Roland over to Eliis. "Ellis my boy, This is Roland Silvermane. A potential business partner of ours." Said Akford as Ellis wiped his mouth with a napkin before standing up to Shake Roland's hand. "Afternoon sir."

Roland shook his hand with his usual smirk before folding his arms, canting his head to the side slightly. "So I hear you're an inventor of revolutionary firearms hmn?" He chuckled slightly, keeping his air of arrogance about him before looking to the side slightly a moment then back to Elis. "Care to give a demonstration? After all, what is a pretty gun if it can't shoot well" he lifted his head slightly, peering down to Elis, despite being of an average height he had the uncanny ability to make others feel far smaller in his presance. After a moment he brought his hands up and clapped twice. "Acurio." He called out slightly, however his tone never exceeding that used for normal speech.
Not even a moment had passed before Acurio appeared from the door and walked over to them, standing next to his master, towering over the man's stature by at least a head.
"As for that demonstration" Roland added with a smirk, "I want you to shoot, or" he laughed a bit, "try to shoot, my pet here."

Ellis looked at Roland like he was crazy. "Sir. I would hardly call shooting your obviously magical assistant a proper demonstration. Besides, The model that i carry around is for personal defense only. The Rifle models are what i've sold to Senator Akford here."
"For now at least." Akford laughed. "The lad won't let me see the design but i took a shot with one of his rifles, It was a thing of beauty i tell you. I'm not the best shooter in the world i will admit that, But even so i was able to hit the target from over three hundred yards. three hundred!" He repeated excitably. "Sure it wasn't dead on. But that sort of range is nearly unheard of! Just think of it. A weapon like that mass produced, couuld get the attention of the military, They would be willing to pay a pretty penny for them I'd wager." He added in a whisper

Roland grinned, letting off a maniacle chuckle a moment, "well for one I'm curious as to wheather you'll even be able to hit him" he raised his hand slightly as he spoke "thereby testing the speed the bullet left the barrel." He shrugged slightly "and I was bored simply." He said in a nonchelant manner before glancing to Akford "three hundred yards you say? Interesting.

Bladde was getting impatient, forcing the urge to pace about on the spot as he watched the scene below. His attention spread to the room as he looked about, blinking a moment as he realised there was a pause, no one seemed to be completely for a second, a second he planned on taking. In an instant he clenched his hand, a small explosion sounding on the lower levels as the power dropped like a stone, bathing the area in a complete darkness. In an instant he jumped down from his spot right in the midst of the group, ignoring ths surprised yelps of nobles as he brought his blades up to roland's throat. There was a clang as metal met metal as Roland had drawn his katanas in the midst of the confusion fast enough to deflect the blades, in an instant he whipped round, spinning the katana's round, slamming the hilt into the side of bladde's face. He grinned to himself as the sound of a satisfying thunk reached his ears as bladde hit the ground. Not wasting a second he hopped up to his feet, jumping back before scissoring his blades, sending a wild ring of flame towards Roland, illuminating the area for a moment as it flared. Roland stood there with a maniacle grin as acurio appeared in front of him, taking the flame without even wincing. In nothing but a blurr of movement acurio appeared right by bladde, his fist connecting with his abdomen, sending him flying into the far wall with a crack. Bladde coughed and scrambled off before security rushed in and restored power.

Roland chuckled and sheathed his katanas. "Well! That was refreshing. Nothing like an assassin to lift the spirits. Not so Acurio?"
He said as he glanced over to his pet who righted himself from his stance before turning back to the others, walking over to take his place next to Roland. The burns about his face and body quickly and visibly righting themselves.
"Tsk. Now you're all in tatters, go clean yourself up" roland said before waving Acurio off, glancing to the others after, speaking as if nothing had just occured, "so. Where were we?"

"What the hell was that?!" Exclaimed Ellis, Pistol out and ready to be fired.
"Settle down my boy settle down." said Akford, himself bristled up like an angry cat. "But as he said. What was all that about Roland?"

Roland laughed at the scene a moment before looking to the two, "what was what? Oh that?" He chuckled slightly, "oh please, nothing but a short spot of fun is all" he said waving his hand dismissavely. "At any rate I'll set Acurio on the issue." He flicked a strey strand of hair from his face casually. "That petty little hound will be thrown off the ship in no time have no worry." He said before nodding to Acurio who had returned only to overhear his orders, making off again.
Roland clapped his hands together once eagerly. "So then. I have yet to explore the full extent of the ship, would there be a range where we can truly test your weapons, elis was it?"

Ellis was still a little shaken but managed to holster his gun. "Not particularly. But out on the deck they have skeet shooting. We can try it there if you would like." He said trying his best to keep his nerves about him.

Roland kept his usual grin, "sounds like a plan then." He said as he rested his hand on the hilt of his katana casually before motioning with his hand, "shall we?"

"Feels like I was hit by a train" Bladde grumbled to himself as he coughed up a small wad of blood as he leaned with his back up against the inner wall, having crawled back up into a solid hiding spot to make his escape. He moved his blades back and placed them in their sheathes before shifting slightly with a wince, grumbling silently to himself about his own stupidity.
Acurio on the other hand was on his own mission, despite his orders he'd moved off to the Rothchild's room, or at least Magdeline's. He placed a hand on the door, sliding it open before stepping in. Closing it behind him. He walked up casually to the woman's bedside and traced her jawline with his finger, eerily standing there in silence, simply looking down to her

"Yeah.. Right." Said Ellis as he led him and Akford out to the deck. He handed Roland a spare revolver he kept in his jacket. "You'll notice that when you fire the recoil is considerably weakened. Had more than a few people that barely flinched." He said with great pride as he took a step back to let Roland shoot it.

Roland weighted it in his hand for a moment, looking the revolver over before holding it forward In his one hand, arm steady and still as a statue. Roland motioned for them to fire the skeet. it hadn't flown very far before roland fired, hitting it dead centre before pulling the gun back to look at it. "Well, I say you may have just outdone yourself. Its a fine weapon."

"Delilah." Acurio spoke quietly, a short while later magdaline moved her head over, opening her eyes, blinking up at him. "Acurio?? What. What happned we were ju-" she was cut off as Acurio placed a finger to her lips.
"You fainted. You should rest." He said as he fought desperately to hold back a smirk for some unknown reason

Akford watched with great amusement. "It i indeed it is indeed. now for the question Mister Silvermane... What are you willing to give to have the Silvermane crest put on every single gun that this boy produces?" He asked with his eyebrows arched

Rolan chuckled and handed the gun back to Elis before turning to Akford with his usual grin. "Oh that depends mister Akford. What is it you desire" he said, the edge of the chuckle still in his voice as he canted his head slightly to the side in interest.

Magdeline frowned slightly as acurio removed his finger. "But I feel fine, we still need to find catherine." She said before acurio moved his hand over, brushing the hair from her face, "she"ll be fine" he said cooly.
"Still i-" she was cut off again as Acurio lent down, kissing her on the lips. The noble diddn't even so much as resist as after a moment she just seemed to zone out. Acurio paused a moment before biting her lip slightly, drawing blood before kissing her again, drinking up the small ammout that flowed freely from it

Akford thought for a moment. "Well lets see. I heard that you've done some digging around for some dwarven weaponry, more specifically. Moving quite a bit into their Mobile fortresses. A cut of that for a cut of this seems rather fair, wouldn't you agree?" He said with a smile, Akford was known as a gambler, and this was a rather large one. But in all honesty, regardless of how it plays out he had very little to loose.