Soulfire: Knightfall

Chapter 5

The Waterfront District of Kalsimor always leaves me feeling off. On its surface, it seems like any river port. Smell of fish permeates the air, small riverboats cluster along the docks, along with the occasional ocean vessels that travel down the river to offload cargo and resupply, market stalls selling fresh wares from all over. Despite being the second poorest district of the city, the people here are pretty well-off, given the heavy amount of trading being done here.
However, a portion of the residents here are peddling less-than-legal wares here. Smugglers and fences. Thieves also prowl this portion of the city looking for easy money. The guard presence in this portion of Kalsimor is double that of the others- even the Merchant's Corner. But even then I don't feel quite right about this place. I always feel like someone is sizing me up as a mark. Good thing I never carry much money on me- and it's under an armored plate on my leg armor.

The Mate's Galley is a little tavern on the East end of the district that caters to sailors. I arrive around noon, the traditional time of day to meet with a comrade for information exchanges- over a meal and drink. Also, I'm feeling a bit peckish.

Vyris most likely picked the place due to how out-of-the-way it is. But why? Why do I feel like some sort of pawn in an upcoming battle that I have no clue as to what I'm fighting for. So far, I know very little about what is going on. I know that Sema, Jak, and Skye are all involved in some way. According to a little research inspired by Colin, I also discovered that the Knights had employed an Aylarsi agent as an informant in a local crime syndicate. This went on for years until I was tasked with investigating her possible betrayal almost two years ago, when I found her guilty of treason and, apparently, I missed something in my investigation, and she was connected to Sema somehow.
This whole thing has happened because of some artifact that may or may not have some sort of demonic power. Finally, no one knows why this is going down. We have no idea what is happening, and what Jak might still do with the artifact, as he is currently the only one in his group that I know of that might still have plans for it all.

Thieves and murderers. Wizardry. Artifact. Conspiracy. Too many Aylarsi for my Alena to handle. That sums it all up nicely.
Sounds about right. Hopefully I'll find out more once I make contact with my "good friend" Vyris.

I enter the tavern, met by the smell of sex, booze, tobacco pipes, and sweaty sailors. Most of the patrons ignore me, but a few eye me with unease and distain. Vyris sure knows how to pick a bar. Speaking of which, there she is in the corner sitting next to a angry-looking man in his mid-twenties wearing a black leather garb. I make my way to the corner table where they relax, then take a seat across from them

The girl is smiling proudly, tail thumping against the chair and floor to remove any doubt that her mood was anything but thrilled, while the man seems battered, bruised, and really pissed off. What the hell is up with this scene? "Vyris, mind explaining what's going on here?"

She looks over and chuckles. "Oh, you must mean Jak?" Her grin gets bigger and she pokes his cheek vexingly with one of her sharp claws. "I found little-rat here a couple days ago. I chained him up in the sewers and tried to get him to retrace his and his sister's steps over the past couple of years. That's right. All by myself."

Ignoring Vyris boasting, I cock an eyebrow, then look the man in the eyes. "You're Jak?" I ask in disbelief. He rolls his eyes. "I thought you couldn't find him?" I ask, turning back to her.

Vyris tilts her head, pointed canine ears tilting back. "I don't recall saying that."

"Never mind. How'd you catch him?"