Ramla listened to them speak and come up with a plan to further investigate. She cringed briefly when Paradox used their real names, well…there goes our cover she thought to herself. But she agreed to the plan, "Before we go…" She said as she walked over to Nihr, holding him still to keep him from fidgeting so she could fish something out of his pocket. ~"Easy girl…"~ She rolled her eyes at his comment and pulled out a handkerchief and tore it in two. She then crouched down by the body and dipped the fabric into the leftovers curry splotches and handed one half of the stained handkerchief to Nihr. "Here, take it with you when you ask around for it." 

With that she turned around and grabbed Paradox' hand and climbed on, draping her gown across the centaur's back. "Just like old times." She giggled. The two immediately departed and visited every stall and shop that sold curries on the northern side of the market, or the ingredients that could be used for curries. Most curry vendors weren't of any help to them as they all said the same thing. The unnatural 'blue' color of the curry stains indicate that whoever sold this curry wasn't holding to the regulations of Abed. But they did meet an older gentleman who was willing to educate them a bit more about Curry. 

The old man wiped his hands on his apron and directed the foreign woman and the centaur to a table in the corner of his shop where he could further explain the requirements needed for making - and being allowed to make - Abedian Curry. "You see curry used to be sold throughout the year in Abed. Vendors would create their own variations to make their curry more unique. It was very competitive." he chuckled. "Some had their own signature color, others a distinct flavor, and others yet focused less on the taste and smell but more on its effects. But of course it got out of hand when some people decided to up the ante with the effects and it  proved to be more damaging and addicting then entertaining. A particular type of curry was called 'Hypnotic Curry'. So the Sultan banned its production." 

He paused to take a sip from his drink before he continued. "But then the nobles started to complain, and you know how that goes… Even the Sultan missed his curry. So he brought it back, but only once a year and with rules in order to protect the health of the public." The man carefully took the rag and inspected the color of the curry. "A man's curry may only contain up to three effects; harmless effects that are temporarily. Like changing ones hair color, or shrinking someone to the size of a pixie. The ingredients to create these must be acquired by a certified maker of enchanted spices and every curry vendor must be able to show proof of said purchase." 

He turned around in his chair and pointed at the small cooking fire in the middle of his shop. A waitress was stirring in the cauldron that sat atop the fire, busy making a new batch of curry. "The curry must also be made in the presence of witnesses, not related to the vendor or biased. Meaning, cook the curry in front of the customers so they can see for themselves which ingredients we use and feel assured. And then there's the extra guard patrols who can enter a curry shop at any moment without notice. Now, some of the …ehm.. risky effects that vendors tend to add," The man whispered the last part, "It's the effect to bring forth hallucinations. Those are absolutely not allowed." 

He cleared his throat and looked around the room before continuing. "So you see, whoever made this works very carefully. And judging by the color I would say that you are looking for someone who uses 'Butterfly Blue Peas' in their curry. It's a vine that sprouts blue flowers that are edible and can color your food blue. Ataiyo cooks use the flower in their rice dishes." He chuckled. "Now the flower itself is quite harmless and very tasty, but combine it with certain enchanted spices and you can easily create that Hypnotic Curry. I hope this helped you ladies?"

Ramla looked at Paradox, it was clear now why the blue curry was used as a lure. The victims were probably buying Hypnotic Curry from some shady dealer and then kidnapped to be killed elsewhere. But the question was, why were they killed? Was it to steal their possessions? Were they simply victims of being at the wrong place at the wrong time? Perhaps there was more going on than they thought? She thanked the old man for the information and got up to leave the shop. "Let's go find the others, perhaps they know more?" The two made their way to the temple to meet up with Aspect and Nihr.

His eyes widened with excitement when Paradox grouped him up with Aspect. The smirk on his face couldn't be erased even when his gaze turned eerily towards the shapeshifter. He was about to stand by the redhead's side when Ramla stopped him and stuffed her hand in his pocket. "Easy girl." He teased, following her movements as she ruined his handkerchief with spilled curry. He took the torn piece of fabric and nodded, that was a good idea he thought. Perhaps the shapeshifter and he could 'sniff' out its origins. He wondered though if her sense of smell was as good as the animals she shifted into.

As the two women left he turned towards Aspect, now in her horse form. His perverted self emerged, relishing in the fact that the woman was getting goose bumps from his hungry stares. Inwards he sounded like a mad scientist cackling over a successful evil experiment. Mhuahahahahaha! To Aspect it would sound  more like a low growl in his throat with eyes glowing. He was about to climb on her back… but not before she gave him a set of rules. 

He took a step back when she turned to him, face to face. Hot air blowing in his face menacingly. He arched a brow still smirking though, and listened to her warnings. When she ended her speech he nodded and even gave her a small bow of his head, "Your way or the highway, got it." then watched her position herself next to a crate. How considerate, he thought. He strutted towards her in silence. Using the crate as a booster he climbed on top of her. Making sure he distributed his weight for her comfort and carefully hanging on her soft manes. As she turned to leave the alleyway he smiled to himself, he leaned down by her ears and whispered in a sultry voice, "Deep down there's a dominatrix aching to come out…isn't there?"

Aspect and Nihr had their own fair share of struggles in trying to get the vendors to talk. They either didn't know anything about blue curry, or were either too afraid to speak. But after some persuasion Nihr managed to get one to talk. Eventhough the young man couldn't say what was special about the blue curry but he did say that lately there have been suspicious individuals that visited a shop somewhere east of the market. Figures in dark attires regularly ordering Butterfly Blue Peas, the last time the boy spotted such a person was near the palace. Nihr nodded and then proceeded with tossing the kid aside then stepped out of the alleyway. He met up with Aspect who was kind enough to keep a lookout for him. He brushed off his sleeves and ran a hand through his white hair, smoothing it back as he redid the ribbon to tie it again.

"The palace is where the victims meet to buy the blue curry. A bunch of hooded people are selling it, and most likely are the ones that killed them." Looking around he then suggested that they met up with the others at the temple. Nihr however did not ride Aspect, he wasn't allowed… "Oh.." He said to her as he walked beside her. "Since Paradox blurted out our real names, I would appreciate it if you could keep it to yourself. We've made a bit of a name for ourselves in the underworld. But to the public we are the Counts of Koschei isle." 

He was sincere with this request, he and Ramla have quite a reputation among mercenaries and assassins. It appears that if an Eldritch creature is given free reign with picking off targets they tend to go overboard. So they've made quite some enemies both who fear and who wish to see them dead. But now as nobles of Parvpora they had to make sure to keep those identities separate from each other. They were lucky that most never got to see their faces, but one must be careful in the underworld. 

Once at the Temple the teams got together again and compared notes. Paradox and Ramla explaining about the ingredients of the blue curry they found, and Aspect and Nihr discovering potential suspects. Their next step was to visit the palace to find out where exactly these people meet and see if they can find more clues. "Does any of you have any theories as to why these customers end up dead?" he asked the group as they made their way to the palace.
 

Aspect wasn't necessarily pleased with this arrangement, and she was sure to let the man know it. It was clever for his wife to give them a small sample of the curry to ask the vendors about. She watched the centaur and the woman leave and waited patiently for the man to board her back so that they too could be off. She pinned her ears at his rude comment  and flicked her tail impatiently. "Deep down is where you will end up if you keep talking," she snapped at him. "And by deep, I mean six feet under."

The vendors they visited were very uncooperative and gave them more than their share of an attitude. She didn't like much of them at all, but didn't say a word. She'd let Solomon do all the talking for this one. She perked her ears forward when they found a young man explained to them about a special ingredient, Butterfly Blue Peas, and that he'd had several customers in black cloaks come and buy it. That was rather odd, and she was careful to make a note of the hooded figures on the outskirts of the market. She waited for the man to come to her before they started walking toward the temple where they would meet the other pair. 

She eyed him, unimpressed, as he tamed his white hair and put it back with the ribbon. "Did you find out anything or not?" He nodded and told her what had occurred in the market. The killers were likely drifting around the temple. Lovely, exactly where they were going. She walked next to him as they made their way back, he'd gotten on her nerves and didn't really care to have him ride her again. She slipped behind a large stack of curry behind a vendor and slipped silently back into her dog form. She trotted next to his heels, much more content with this form. At least she could bite him now without drawing too much unwanted attention.

He started speaking to her again, this time about a more personal matter. She looked up at him and cocked her ears. "Names do not mean much to me," she grumbled to him. "Just like I have many forms, I have many names. None of them are that special to me, and neither are yours or anyone else's." She glanced over at a hooded figure ordering curry from a vendor on the far side of the street. She went with him for a few more strides before saying, "Your secret's safe with me."

The pair walked up the steps of the temple and met with Paradox and Sybille. Each pair talked about what they had discovered searching amongst the markets and compared their observations. She had a better understanding of the strange curry and its powerful properties. She sat on the floor, turning her head at each individual as they talked in turn. It didn't take her long to become bored with their talk and got up to walk around the temple, keeping an eye on the hooded figures nearby.

Casually, she dropped her head to the ground and sniffed the steps near the entrance. A man with a small child yelled up at Solomon,  something about telling him to watch his dog. She looked at him and gave a low growl. The pair quickly moved away and she turned her investigations to the back of the large pillars, framing the front of the building. She spotted one with an interesting symbol on the back of one, she didn't recognize the shape from any organizations or cults she'd run into in her travels. She slipped back to the group, shifting into human form behind another pillar. She walked down to them, still talking amongst themselves. "I think you guys should come see this," she said quietly before leading them back to the hidden symbol. 

Nihr thought it was odd at first when Aspect shifted into her dog form. Did she not like her human self, he wondered? But then he looked into himself, he much preferred this form than his true one. Somehow this form of his felt…easier. He asked her to keep their names a secret and he appreciated that she was willing to do just that. He guessed he got lucky with not pissing her off too much. He really should restrain himself more around women, but he just couldn't help himself. Fun little creatures they were…

Like Aspect he had spotted the shady figures creeping along the temple, and a little ways ahead by the palace. But he pretended not to see it, not wanting to alarm them. For all they knew he was just a man walking his dog and looking for his wife. When they met the others Nihr greeted Ramla and Paradox, giving them a small bow. Nihr gently grabbed Ramla's hand, quickly glancing over her body to make sure she was not hiding any injuries. Then they caught up on their findings.





It was a long day for everyone, the sun was already starting to set. The group figured out that Hypnotic Curry was used as a lure to attract victims. Ingredients to make the effects were often bought from local shops by shady folk. And those shady folk were ballsy enough to sell it around the Palace. Nihr wondered if guards were involved, perhaps some turned a blind eye for a price? Or perhaps they were in on it?

When a man started to yell and complain about a dog Nihr turned to look at the empty spot beside him. "Where's Aspect?" He walked around the Temple to find her growling at a pair as they -intelligently- backed off. He looked down at Aspect then as she called for them. Following her behind the pillars of the palace in a secluded place. Looking around Nihr saw that spot would be perfect indeed to meet in secret, especially with bribed guards. He let Ramla inspect the insignia while he and Paradox stood guard. The woman's horse frame would be troublesome if they grouped up in that small spot. But a dog and a woman should be fine. 

Paradox wandered the streets with Ramla and it wasn't long before they had gathered some information about the strange blue curry. They met up with Nihr and Aspect at the temple as promised and they shared the information they had gathered as well. She listened as the couple talked, paying very slight attention as the dog slunk away to the back part of the entrance. She was slightly surprised that she hadn't injured or killed Nihr while they were out patrolling together. She definitely seemed like more the hit first-ask later, kind of sorts, and she knew very well that Nihr could push the limits of some folks easily, particularly women. 

She cast an eye about them, her height giving her an advantage. She stood several steps below the pair and only then was she almost the same height as the man. She noticed a group of folks gathering around a small vendor nearby. She perked her ears and caught the scent of the Blue Peas that were used in the Hypnotic Curry found near the dead bodies. She turned her ears toward Ramla as Aspect beckoned the group over to the pillars. She wouldn't go, she'd attract too much attention. She kept one eye on the man purchasing the blue powder.

She watched him slip quietly away from the stand, ducking down low among the crowd. She grabbed Nihr's sleeve and pointed in his direction. "That man over there just purchased some Blue Peas," she said in a hushed tone. When he asked how she knew and she explained how she could smell them. "They have a rather strange odor. I picked it out of the curry right away when we first got it, but I didn't know what the fruit was." She side stepped off the steps and glanced back at him. "Let's follow that man and see where he goes. I can track the smell and I have no doubt Aspect can as well. Come, they can catch up to us when they're ready. The shapeshifter will take good care of her." She trotted after the man, staying to the edges of the crowd.

Ramla listened to everyone's findings. Surprised that Aspect reverted back in her dog form. What did he do this time, she wondered quietly. Like the others she didn't pay attention when Aspect slipped away. But it seems that everyone agreed to the same theory. Someone was selling Hypnotic Curry as lure to then draw in victims. She looked over her shoulder when Aspect called for them. Walking around the building to follow her. She briefly glanced at Nihr, noticing how he and Paradox discovered something else. No matter, she would catch up to them.

"What is it?" She leaned down to the dog's height and then she saw it. A strange symbol carved in the stone. She carefully rubbed her hand over it. "I'm not familiar with popular symbols in this world. But this looks almost cultish, no? For it to be hidden like that?" She asked the dog. 

It was time that they caught up with the others now, "Come on, I think the others found a new clue." When they found Paradox and Nihr, they found them sneaking around by a wall. Observing something from afar. "Nihr?" She was shushed first before they updated her. Nihr explained that he and the Centaur had found another victim. Or 'Soon-to-be' victim. A man that was sneaking around a metal door that lead to the underground facility of Abed. The sewers. She nodded and a plan formed in her mind. "Okay, here's what we're going to do. Nihr and I will follow him and pretend to be interested in Curry. Once inside we'll leave the door unlocked for you and we'll see from there." 

Nihr and Ramla walked towards the metal door. Her arm looped around his and pulling her hood over her head. Knocking on the door they waited for someone to respond. A small window opened and asked them what they wanted. "Is this the place for curry?" She asked softly. The man behind the door closed the window again. He wasn't fooled. No one just walked up to the door and asked for curry without him expecting them. 

Ramla stepped aside when Nihr approached the door. While he forced it open with his sheer strength, Ramla motioned for the others to follow. "A slight change in plans but nothing we can't handle." She told them. Careful they entered the sewer entrance, all of them could smell the foul odor coming from it. And it wasn't your typical sewer smell, it was the scent of blood and decay.

Aspect stared down at the strange figure on the back of the pillar, moving over slightly when Sybille came over to have a look herself. She watched her touch it and cocked an ear towards her as she began to talk. She nodded to the woman's suspicion of it being cult related. "I haven't seen a symbol like this before," she said quietly, trying not to reveal her true form through her voice to any passersby. "And I've been around these parts for a while." She looked up as she stood and gestured for her to follow Paradox and Solomon. 

She glanced at the symbol for an extra minute, memorizing the shape, before trotting behind her. Sybille stopped so suddenly that she accidentally smacked into the back of her legs. She gave a brief grumble as Solomon shushed them, before explaining what was going on. She listened to the plan and nodded in agreement. She was content to wait outside the sewers and then come in with them. She and the centaur stood a good ways away from the pair as they walked up to the metal door.

The woman knocked and she saw a man look out at them from a small window. He didn't let them in and she saw the man put his weight against the door to open it instead. She loped over to the pair and slipped inside after them. It was rather dark and dreary and she could feel the wetness on her paws. Something brown and sticky clung to her fur when she accidentally brushed against the wall. She cringed and tried not to imagine what it could be. 

She shrugged her shoulders and felt herself melt into a different form. Caiman. The fur on her body flattened down and pressed itself into hard, dark red scales. She stretched and widened, as she turned herself into the small crocodilian. She was twice as long as a man and as wide as half of one. She crawled across the damp floor of the sewer and slid through the rank water on the edges of the tunnel. She was invisible in the dark, except for her grey eyes that hovered just above the water. She kept an eye on the couple as they made their way down the dark tunnel. 

Down they went into the sewers, looking for more clues on what was going on. Paradox had decided to stay behind to guard the entrance and most likely warn the guards about this place. The sewers were no place for a Centaur anyway, she may not have been able to fit in here. Nihr arched his brows when Aspect shifted into her Caiman form. Ramla paused and made sure she could keep up after she shifted.

So far the trio choose to follow their nose. There was a hint of blood in the air amongst the foul odors and as they followed the trail they came across a hole in the wall. Stepping through it, it seemed to lead to the Abedian catacombs. Eventually they stumbled upon a room that held an alter of sorts. The stone slabs were stained in blood and the statue behind it looked like…Aegir?

"Isn't that a dead god?" Ramla asked the group. "It almost looks like…ehm, what's his name? Aegir the Deathsinger?" Nihr concluded. Well, this doesn't bode well they both thought. A rival Cult? And a sloppy one at that. Looking around they found a set  of stairs going deeper into the catacombs. "Well, no other way but down…" Nihr said as he looked at both women before going down first. 

But the further they went, the darker it got. Even Ramla and Nihr were struggling and they were gifted with the ability to see in the dark. "They shrouded the place." Ramla whispered before she yelped when a man suddenly jumped out and began to mutter something about magic darkness and a lantern called the Light of Lucina. Nihr took the lamp with disdain, sure it helped fight off this darkness but in turn it also bothered the Eldritch with their eyesight. This Light of Lucina was a type of Holy Magic which they were….ehm…allergic to. Yes, let's go with allergic.

After a few grunts and fumbling around he turned to Aspect, "Would you mind?" He asked as he motioned the lamp towards her. Aspect might have better use for it than they did. After handing over the lantern they kept her in the back of the line. To keep the light out of their sight but they still made sure to stick close to her. But apparently this wasn't enough as a Crazed Cultist suddenly crept up from behind them and attacks!

Ramla ducked just in time to avoid a blade being swung her way, as the cultist stumbled forward Nihr grabbed him by the throat and tossed him against the wall. He took away his blade, throwing it away and out of the cultist' reach. "well, look what we have here." He said, "What do we do with him?" Ramla bend down and inspected the emblem, "It's the same as the one Aspect and me found outside." It was confirmed now that they were on the right trail, there was no turning back now. 

Paradox watched Nihr and Ramla approach the door and remained hidden behind a nearby wall. They were denied entry into the dark catacombs and Nihr had to press his shoulder into the metal door in order for it to move. Cautiously she walked behind the shape-shifter and looked around the inside of the tunnel.  The sewers themselves were quite large for human standards, big enough for the tallest of men to walk through easily. She had a good foot in height above even them, however and the ceiling was so low, she would be forced to duck the whole way underground.

This would severely hinder her movement if she needed to fight or escape. Judging by the close walls, she wouldn't even be able to turn around if she needed to. She could only go forward or back. If anything, she would be a greater danger for the others down there in the dark. She could very easily step on someone on accident or slid someone up against the wall with her bulk. "I don't believe I will be amongst your company for this part of the adventure," she said, glancing down at Ramla as she watched Nihr and Aspect go deeper into the tunnel.

"I will stay up top and rally the guards to be posted at all possible exits of the tunnel. That way if anyone comes out, or tries to go in, they will be stopped by them. We might be able to prevent a few more killings up top." She took a step back and watched Aspect transform into a creature that resembled a small crocodile. Her friends would be in very capable hands with this one, that and she didn't doubt that they could take care of themselves. As the woman started to enter the cave, she called down to her before taking off to find the guardsmen. "Be careful down there Sybille. I will be waiting eagerly for you all's return." 

Neither one of them had any need for the Cultist clutched in Nihr's hand. Any information that they would get now would simply be a bonus for them. It was quite clear now that people were sacrificing humans to the old gods, seeing as the blood that stained Aegir's altar was sticky fresh. So as the ladies went on ahead, Nihr sank his teeth into the cultist and drained the man of all life and evil until he was but a empty husk in rags. The boost that his feeding brought him made his teeth chatter in excitement. Nihr rubbed a thumb along the corner of his mouth to wipe the blood of him. Not that it helped…

Ramla briefly closed her eyes as she walked down the dark corridors, picking up a most wonderful sensation. Darkness. And not just the shroud that clung on the walls but dark energy that took root in the hearts of men and women. When she opened her eyes again she slowed her pace and staring to the side as she pointed Aspect where another Cultist was hiding.

A young woman curled in a corner, she cowered before the group. Covering her face with her arms and begging not to be killed, "Please! Please don't kill me!? I'll do anything you say but please spare me!" Ramla chuckled, crouching before the girl with a devious smile. "What makes you think you have anything of value to us?" The girl panicked, "They are trying to resurrect the old gods."

"We know…" Ramla said as she made a move to reach out for the girl, obviously not interested in hearing info she already knew. The girl crawled away, escaping Ramla's grasp. "That's not all! They are resurrecting the worst of the worst; Aegir, Malach and Concordia. They were the most vile of the Parvporan gods." Not knowing what else to say and not wanting to end up like her comrade she suddenly turned around and fled, disappearing into the darkness.

When Ramla heard 'worst of the worst' it made her smile even broader. The worst gods that ever walked these grounds, coming back? Even Nihr who had caught up to them in time to hear about the three deities was getting giddy. It was almost as if they had forgotten Aspect, thinking about the feast that they would get their hands on. The Eldritch were often mistaken for being vampiric. But it was never blood they were after, it's the evil that resides within people. The darkness, seeds of the Void that drove people to do things like this. And the Eldritch were starving, it's what drew them to Abed in the first place. 

Hunger.

Ramla stood up and immediately continued their journey. Nihr following suit and hopefully Aspect as well. Nihr winked at her, "You're about to see a show like never before, my sweet shifter." Along the way Nihr explained vaguely that he and Ramla were essentially going to cannibalize people soon, and hopes that Aspect had a strong stomach. They arrived in a large chamber with 3 large pits that were being filled with blood. One body tossed aside after the other while cultists spread about the room worshiped and chanted ancient words for, what appears to be mummified remains that were resting on 3 altars.

The group slowly and quietly crept through the room along the edges, the cultists not noticing them for they were so wrapped up in their ritual. "It's almost too easy." Ramla whispered disappointingly. Nihr noticed the remains and wondered if these were the deities that the girl spoke of? Dried up dolls…not very impressive for a god. He thought of himself. The Eldritch turned to Aspect speaking in turns, "Paradox is already gathering the guards to flank the catacombs should any try to escape. If these corpses are indeed the reincarnations of the gods then it should be best to burn them down." Nihr said the latter as he took a torch from the wall and handed it to Aspect. "Now we can either wait for the guards to show up, or we finish them off ourselves?" Ramla asked the shapeshifter.

Personally the Eldritch were dying to sink their teeth into these cultists, they were merely giving Aspect the choice to stay or leave.