Mommy always said Cults were for crazies...

Jira had mostly been wandering in this world for a little while now. He was adorned in the same black trench-coat and the ragged jeans and boots. His steps that jingle of the well kept links that almost danced about as he walked was becoming almost a sign. Some form of evil or abomination will be ..nevermore. This was not a form of purpose as it was an act of entertainment.
Jira did not know what it was that drew him to such evil but the thought of breaking the chain of dark intent was somehow..pleasing to him. One may find doing a hard day of work and getting paid as something normal, a given purpose but to Jira, that was dull. No. What he wanted was the enjoyment of watching some sort of over ambitious necromancer slice himself open in the attempt of trying to summon some huuuge being, or ..in this case..a cult, he had never tried to break apart an entire organization before normally some dark sorcerer or serial killing sociopath who's mind were set on per-ordained sexual fantasy or the want of blood running through their fingers.
As he walked a little further into the town he started his very own ritual. After finding a secluded spot in town he began to wrap these chains around his arms, making him appear much more buff and stronger than he actually was. He was strong yes but he had no where near the physical prowess to kill some gargantuan ogre or troll who was rampaging through the city. He had his ways of dealing with creatures such as this.
He walked out slowly examining the various buildings around him. ...Okay..I need to find information... He thought to himself as he walked toward the tavern. Gossip would spring from here very rapidly he figured he could at least get a foundation where he could work his way up to getting closer to this secret cult. Little did he know, there was someone else here with the same mindset as he however their methods would be totally bipolar if one tried to compare them..
He took his seat looking at the barkeep. His eye color changed slightly to a gentle red..Give him a drink. Freeeeee. Would slowly echo through the bar-tenders mind. Using his powers to get free stuff was child's play, no it was getting to someone's core to cause them to strike down their companions or themselves which was the real challenge. He'd have to gain their trust..put them in an environment of comfort learn how they tick..almost learn more about themselves than they knew and then and only then would he be able to perform such an act.
He'd hear whispers circulating the room of general rumors
"..oh did you see what he was wearing!?"
"She's a slut!"
"There was another murder yesterday..that makes the second this month!"
Bingo..
He turned toward where he heard the sound examining the parties of spoke of such..indiscretions..

Karrick sat by a well. He had walked the countryside, searching for the taint that the masters had sensed.
"You will find it in Rhae'l, north beyond Brance." Is all they had told him. SO off he went, his bent body covered in his overlong robe. He had his staff, and his whits, and after almost a week of walking he had homed in on the source of the taint. Here In this small town.

But now he was beholden to secrecy. Most of the Common folk only knew of his Order by reputation, but any cult would see the mask and the Robe, and then they'd go to ground, and He'd be here for a month. So here he sat, a pilgrim to the townspeople's eyes, apparently resting as he stretched forth his sight, what little good it did in the bright sun.

Suddenly his staff grew warm, the Aether Crystal resonating slightly. But this was not the Dark art, no foul stain on the fabric or reality. No this was something sharper, more precise, a burst of power.

Beneath his mask, Karrick frowned. Something moved against the order, and he needed to seek it out. Standing up, he held his staff ahead, like a converse blind mans cane, almost sniffing the air with its tip. The hunt was on.

Fuuurther.. the whisper in this person's mind. Jira did not need to look at them to use this ability merely know they were there.

"Yeah..they say she was tied down skinned alive like some virgin ritual.." Jira knew from her speech, he was on the right track, either a sociopath or something larger..oh how he hoped for the ladder, he wanted to truly test his abilities out here and now. Something that would require more than physical prowess. It was almost as if Jira had a tad of a suicidal death wish.

"Really..eww." The man said as he spoke to the woman.

"Where'd it happen?" He asked now curious perhaps due to Jira's influence. "It happened a few houses down..that place has been abandoned ever since." Jira's influence ended there. More child's play, a useful tool for information that was for sure.

Jira stood then after a final swig from the half empty glass. His eyes returned to their normal shade assuming no one was watching he suddenly moved out through the door had fast as he came. he had no need to pay for the drink as the lady said it was on the house. He made his way toward the house then it was clear which one..the one that almost vibrated an aura of death..hopelessness..he looked to the left..then to the right..no one around..and the house was dark as night, it meant that no one was probably inside that was fine to him. Darkness was like a home to him, and he'd investigate in his own way from here.

The town was not large, and though the streets were winding he made good time to the tavern. Despite his blindness, he could 'see' the building, its faded exterior, and every year in its history, laid before his spirit sight like a book. The many times the sign had been repainted, the boarding and un-boarding of broken windows, even the impressions of people.

The Tingle of power had stopped minuets before, but its residue led the Monk-mage like a line. He was unused to such establishments, a life of abstinence will do that, but he knew enough. lowering his staff he entered through the swig-door, into the gloom which he did not see. There were the people, most of the town if he guessed right. He could see them, bright auras of people like a technicolor. Collecting himself he concentrated, trying to find the source of the power he had felt, bu seeing nothing at glance.

Stepping from the door he walked the room, the eyes of the Bartender on the newcomer with the staff. But it was no good, there were too many here. With a sigh he walked towards the bar, hoping the landlord had noticed something.

Then He walked into it.

It was like a curtain dropped, just before the bar, and all his senses went numb. A gold feeling washed over him, and his stomach almost rebelled at the feeling. It had stood here, for it was certainly an 'it'. It had stood here and used its powers, a manipulation that defied flow of spirit. Glancing around as if in slow motion Karrick saw one of the patrons, a thin stream leading from this spot to his head, a subtle manipulation invisible to all but the few who could really 'See'.

Then it was gone, the curtain pulled back as the Mage stepped beyond it, a physical effort to move before the feeling swept him away. Looking again the man who had been effected had gone, left long ago, but his impression remained, hidden in that curtain.

Turning to the barman, who looked suspiciously under his hood at the mask. "Did you see a anyone standing here," Karrick gestured to the unseen curtain, "About 10 minuets ago."

"Look Buddy..." the barman replied, then stopped as the Mage pulled a silver piece from beneath his robe and placed it on the Bar.

"I need to know." Karrick said, his voice hard beneath his mask, brooking no nonsense, but hinting at more wealth for the Barman.

"Well, when you put it like that." Said the Barman, picking put the silver and grinning through broken teeth.

Jira's eyes almost flashed red once more. He reveled almost..re-living this horror, the people were not here to manipulate but it was almost like a movie..the screams..became real..the scene..there was one..no two..three..four..five..standing around a pentagon..each in an individual spot. His eyes ran through the information and he could not help but frown and leave his mouth a gap..the darkness..it was just so..intoxicating..No! No..He re-collected himself..it was so odd..like something inside him saw this scene..wait..was that real..or his own mind playing tricks on him..he'd certainly not done this before. He did not even know how he did it..he dismissed this train of thought and began looking around the dark room.

"Nothing broken..he muttered to himself. Brought in unconscious..probably." He said muttering to himself dismissing the past clairvoyant moment..perhaps he had overused his ability a little, perhaps it was trying to evolve, either way he had to keep his composure his head, who knew if this house was really empty or if there was some sort of trap door or something here. He began to walk through the area muttering to himself and suddenly stopped..he crouched down suddenly..as if the smell of blood was still there. he groaned..he couldn't turn on a light or people would know he was here. Instead he moved toward one of the window gathering objects with his fingertips.."Rope fibers.." He said to himself once more..well this was definitely not a sociopath. The window also revealed a small half erased outline of chalk..and it was clear the murder was certainly here..well he was one step further..but now at a bit of a wall. What would he do with this information..he could attempt to go to the guard seed out a little more information but precise hearing wouldn't be enough something would have to bring the guard here..or ..the door..it opened.

He suddenly planted his back to the darkened wall and shut his eyes to listen to the footsteps against the hard wood floor. Who was here..was he followed..shit he was already sloppy, he was leading people to his trail but HOW! He hadn't even said more than a few words did..someone track what he did..was someone following him for longer than this place.

Karrick entered the house quietly, but after a sweep with his staff, he couldn't sense anyone there. Not that he could sense much of anything in this house, it dripped with dark magic like Ichor. it was such an affront to nature that even rodents and insects had avoided the house, and as he entered he could tell it was not the first time this building had seen evil.

How was the strange manacled man from the bar been involved with the cultists, especially since they were no longer here now. The mage pondered as he entered the house's front room, feeling out the black center of this home. The shadows were deep , unnatural, and the smell of decay seemed to come and go, as if not really anchored to this world.

And In the center of the room a pentacle glowed, its calk form erased but the scar on reality remaining, a sickly purple-red to Karrick's sight. He had found a locus, a place of ritual, and what troubled him was that he had followed the other one, the unnatural man, to this place. How were they linked, and what was his interest. Could he be a member? And where had he gone?

Putting these thoughts on hold Karrick walked into the room proper, placing his staff squarely in the pentacles center. He flinched as he felt the staff pass through where they had sacrificed a man, the shards of his soul leaving rifts of anguish in its wake. The monk began to chant softly under his breath, concentrating on the staff and focusing its power through the Aether crystals. as he chanted, he started to hear things, other chanting, discordant and stilted, a hideous parody of his own words. He hard the cultists, he Heard their ritual, their foul words searing his mind as his spirit journeyed back through time to the locus of power, to the event.

It was a battle, and after moments Karrick was soaked in sweat, pouring down behind his mask in small rivulets. but he strove on, his breath becoming ragged as he fought the lingering dark power. Finally He caught one new word, only one, a twist of phrase uttered at the height of the ritual, when the sacrifice's life had ended.

"Mal'akorphosor"

Karrick broke contact, his soul snapping back to the present and sending him back as step, almost stumbling on his injured foot. He lent, wheezing slightly through his copper colored mask, its totally smooth surface revealing nothing as he grimaced. He had a bad taste in his mouth, and his ears still rang with the utterance of that word, that blasphemous name.

"They're summoning a demon." He said to himself, just to confirm what his subconscious already knew, "Shit."
He had to report this. Turning as easily as his broken body would allow, he walked from the house, with only the nagging feeling that he missed something.

Jira heard the footsteps pass him. He could leave if he wished but he had a feeling the man was more occupied with other matters at present. He hid int he shadows thankful he was very good at being invisible, even his breathing slowed so it was simply small bursts of practically silent noise. He looked to his left and his right, he needed an escape before he'd see his face just in case he'd see him. Then suddenly he looked forward seeing the man twitch.

He cocked his head curiously as the man seemed to be going through what Jira did for a moment, he already knew this man was different at that. He was almost looking into the eyes of one of the cultists something Jira could not do, that would mean he had more information than him already..however Jira did not risk using his ability on him, he has a feeling that this man could sense it since he had followed him this far.

He'd hear him speak almost stutter and rush outside..interesting..perhaps this was getting deeper than what he had thought, he wanted dibs though, he'd need to start acting fast. He followed the man out and then turned to walk the opposite direction as if they had left together. He began to almost scan the crowd listening carefully for more information about the murders. Then someone said something relevant.

"Guard Richards was in charge of the investigation."

Where!.. This was less of a influence..almost like a command with a start the man who had mentioned it almost twitched..much less subtle than before. Jira couldn't contain himself he wanted to get to this cult and he wasn't going to let anyone come in his way.

"H-he's at the guard barracks.."
"What? I didn't ask that."
"Wait..what?"

Jira was already gone walking toward the barracks..

Karrick strode (as much as he was able) back through the streets, barely glancing at the multitudes around him, until he reached the small, secluded well that he had been sitting at earlier. There, besdide the well itself ran a small stream, not deep enough to wet your knees, and thin enough to leap across.

Planting his staff in the gently flowing water, he channeled his will through the staff and into the stream, using it a s conduit. The stream would lead to a river, from a river to a sea, from the sea to the greater ocean, and from there, to the Jade Isle, Home of the Order.

"Master". He called with his mind down into the conduit.

After a moment he felt a relpy ripple back to him.

"Have you found them Child?"

"No, only traces, but I have found a locus, and discovered much."

"What have you found?"

"That they are indeed working dark forces, and intend to summon one from the night realm" It was deliberately vague, as you could not know who was listening, and there was much in the Night realm to fear, but the master would know what Karrick meant.

There was another pause, almost for a minuet, before a reply came "Are you certain?"

"There can be no doubt. I request aid from the Order."

"We have none to give, most are in the south, hunting a Sect of Karuth worshipers. We will send 3 neophytes, all we can spare."

"Three will not be enough, especially if they succeed."

"It is all we can give. They will arrive in three days. If you need more, go to the temple, we have the high priest as an ally, he may be able to help you. Go with the Goddess my child." There was a sudden release of tension as the conduit was cut at the masters end. Karrick sighed, then retrieved his staff. It was still some time until the late mass, so he set about back to the boarding house where he had left his belongings, maybe his tome could shed some light on matters.

Jira meanwhile was getting information, he slowly found his way inside he had to get to the files and remain unseen..easier said than done..however that wasn't if you could tempt everyone to look away. He grinned stretching a bit and allowing his scars and eyes to shine, purple mist almost left his hand and rather than being stopped it was as if he was no longer there..no one even turned to him as if he was invisible in the sense that no one happened to see him. He continued walking knowing this spell wouldn't last long. He found his way to the bathroom, thankfully private here and now he could relax for moments..he had seen Richard's office where he could easily tempt him to help. Then came the matter of dealing with these people.

He had..a feeling however this Richards wasn't as noble as trustworthy a guard perhaps he was more apart of all of this than he believed. Jira sighed after about ten minutes and found his way to the man's office. Now that he was this far inside he did not need to mask himself, he could have been a visitor perhaps someone looking for help. He put his hear close to the door waiting to hear something that may have happened something that could impact his goal.

"Mal'akorphosor, one of the servants of Karuth, was cast into the abyss with his master at his downfall. However, whilst he roamed Valice he was known as the Lord of Riddles and dark Beasts, for neither his words nor his actions ever carried the full truth of a command. Consigned to the Night realm, Mal'akorphosor has made several attempts for re-summoning into Valice, but his nature has denied many of his cultists the true nature of his plans, and always lead to them un-raveling at the last moment. However, his cults tend to be trickier then most, attracting the brightest among the depraved to worship him in the name of his master. A quick mind will be needed if ever confronting this foe.

Karrick dropped his hand away from his Tome and lent back against the chair in which he sat. He could read the letters if he focused hard enough, but he could work just as well feeling the shape of the letters with his hands, a common skill among the blind who had need of books, although it took many years to realm.

So, the demon they wanted was a creature of riddles. That could be a problem, he thought to himself. Their cults were more complex, many cells in one body, all working to further their masters goals, nowhere near as direct as a common death cult.
Also, the last part o the title worried him. It could mean that there were more then humans here to deal with, which could be problematic to say the least. Maybe the Maniacalled man... He pondered for a moment, It was more then coincidence, he was sure of that.

There was a sudden dull tone as the Mass bell sounded nearby and Karrick stood, replacing his tome as he did so. It was time to meet the priest.

Jira left twenty minutes after entering his office, the man inside blinked..wait what just happened? Again it was too late Jira had done his homework. He had a few homes of the cult goers, his assumptions were right this strung larger than he may have though but by far it wasn't over yet. He had a decision. He could send a message to the other cult goers to attempt to expose more of them. That would be faster than going slightly just revealing each one till the master was revealed too much work he believed..no he'd send them a message. It was apparently a loner inside..his first real victim since he'd come here. Just outside the house he could sense the very evil, the emotion which powered this entire clan like people.

He put his finger up to his lip thinking now gently tapping his chin. How would he do it how would this help his goal. He could just kill him but that wouldn't be enough no..he had to tell them he knew. But how..he wasn't so deranged to perform the same killing that he thought he had saw. But something perhaps a little less behind it all that said he knew.

He walked inside then loudly, the person would certainly hear him come in. Jira grinned then as he shut the door...