Ave'ras was hurt that Aerith hadnt spoken to him, , had he forgotten the great fun they'd had ? Perhaps he'd forgotten the raid on the exodite world ? How could Aerith forget it was far too much joyous an occasion for Ave'ras to forget at least. He sighed disappointedly and he thought to put the kabalite out of his mind as he entered the fortress, the map was quite helpful as he looked around the courtyards and buildings as the "baroness" entered behind him.

The lack of guards piqued the kabalite's interest greatly although they manned the walls and the guns could turn inward they werent under escort nor were they being too heavily watched . He furrowed his brow slightly as he looked about the buildings and courtyards . He looked down to his map and decided on his next destination while the pleasure bar was oh so very tempting , infact he has ti remind himself of the value of first impressions before he made his way to the crew quarters to introduce himself to other kabalites

Entering the gates Aesra took in all the sights within before looking through the device he was given. Perhaps this wouldn't be a bad gig, it seemed like they had no beastmasters here, or atleast very few. Looking through the limited information they were provided he could not locate a holding area for the beasts of war. A grin formed under the mask he wore, this would do very nicely in deed if he was the only one.

Looking to his 'map' he located the slave pit, what better way to find out how strong this Archon was then to see his stock of slaves. Perhaps he would be allowed one for his own if he impressed the Archon enough. He gave a brief glance at the others who had entered before him, not bothering to introduce himself until he knew who was staying and who was going. Without a second thought he zoomed away towards the slave pits. Time for a short visit to the 'zoo' then back to wait for the Archon's summons.

Feeling the device in her hand, Surion opened her eyes and returned the Dracon's grin."My work does not disappoint. Have some faith, Kabalite! I'll make sure one of my pieces finds its way into your possession."
Her smile not ceasing, the artist bowed curtly, and then went to follow Ave'ras, though not before waving the Incubus goodbye. He was apparently respectful of her skill. Alas, she had little impact upon the legendary Klaives of the Incubi, and so she resumed her self-assured stride, not yet sure she was not slated for death but one step closer to becoming Vaul's avatar in Commorragh.

@bossaroo
The half-born did not look at her map, and instead followed the interesting Warrior before her. "Another drifting soul?", she asked him casually, maybe a bit too snidely. "You walk before Surion, warrior." Her stride grew swifter as to catch up with him. "I would like to pretend eavesdropping is not one of my pastimes - and ask your name."

<Thû>

Pausing atop the walls for a moment to eavesdrop on the conversations at the gates, Thû laughs silently to himself as he realises his amateur's mistake. Of course the Archon would not be at the gates functioning as his own welcoming committee. This was one of his chief underlings - a Dracon, unless he was much mistaken - vetting newcomers before sending them to meet his lord.

Casting a critical eye across the gap in the defences that let him in, Thû finds himself thinking that it was too easy to get in, even by this seemingly incidental route. None but the most foolish of Archons did anything by accident, and no one that foolish lasted as long as this Zar'uil was reputed to have done.

No, this was not one to be taken lightly.

Perhaps, however, he could be impressed. It did pay to make a favourable first impression, after all.

With the central spire undoubtedly the most secure part of the complex, Thû decides to first make a complete circuit of the outbuildings to get a better feel of the place. In particular, he first decides to investigate the source of the growl. If there was some form of hunting beast at the beck and call of the defenders, he wanted to know about it, and the sooner the better. A successful hunter never left a threat at his back. It certainly didn't sound like an ur-ghul, but there was no shortage of unnatural things that could be put to a similar purpose.

@Casavay
Ave'ras as he continued towards the corridor stopped as the so called 'baroness' was speaking to him. He turned to her and offered a soft one might say friendly smile to the woman though her voice was snide "Wandering soul indeed" he laughed lightly before turning to her again "I am Ave'ras and yourself baroness ?" He bowed lightly his smiled growing slightly wider . Though he spoke with her he continued his course to the crew quarters though he slowed as to allow her to walk with him at a more comfortable pace

<Aesra - Slave Pens> @kanila

And indeed, by the information he received on the slate, it would seem that there were no special pits designed for holding large animals but not only that there was no information on it, because it was blatantly obvious that the info provided on the slate was scarce at best, but the whole place lacked that specific animal scent only a Beastmaster could sense. Although there was something, something hidden in the background, a low-pitched growl his enhanced hearing caught on the wind somewhere among the ramparts, but it was not ordinary and henceforth it could mean anything. What it also meant is that Aesra was almost completely sure there were no other Beastmasters around, a fact he definitely needed to double-check but if it proved to be correct, he might've just hit a gold mine. Possibly anyway.

He also found slave pens close by, the building itself only partially visible as most of it seemed to be underground. It was guarded by a number of Kabalite warriors who shot him dangerous looks even from afar, but held their ground and were content on letting him observe. A score of slaves were moving in and out, mostly members of the lesser race of humans but he spotted couple of those blue-skinned aliens usually inhabiting the Eastern Fringe.

Those that were going out of the pens were being herded towards the outer wall, where Aesra saw that they were used for manual labor - some parts of the fortification were still lacking while others required even more defensive upgrades and thus the slaves were put to work. Those slaves that were going back into the pens were nothing better than simple husks (although for the most part, the overall looks the slaves had was not that great - many of them were nearing the end of their usage and were in a dire need of replacement), probably going back for small rest before getting back out there again.

All of this was organized by a dangerous-looking Slave-mistress, a Dark Eldar female of some would say rugged looks - although most of the kin working this "job" looked similar. Red hair made into a mohawk, leather clothing and a long barbed whip used both on the insubordinate and regular slaves alike, with a wicked grin forming whenever her whip's crack drew blood and painful grunt.

"Hurry up maggots, the wall won't build itself!" she screamed at the slaves, who despite her speaking in Commorragh's version of Eldarin seemed to understand her perfectly. But as for Aesra, she didn't even look at his way, seemingly paying the Beastmaster no attention whatsoever.

<Thû> @Draconion

Indeed, entering fortress seemed too easy because it was. Due to the fact the low growl came from somewhere on the ramparts further away from him, the Mandrake turned around and understood his folly immediately. The hole in the defensive warding through which he passed the wall's defense simply wasn't there anymore. Instead, the warding in front of him was complete, stepping onto the walls now would mean suicide for the way the warding was made it would render the infiltrator in stasis and then signal for the nearest turret to get a lock on and shower him in deadly shards.

The responsive warding was something Thû wasn't that much familiar with for rarely did the fortresses in this middle tier had such proactive defenses which only meant that this place was indeed something else in the past and this Archon Zar'uil managed to unlock some of its potency. Question is, what else did the elusive Archon had in store for them?

If anything, Thû didn't hear any more growling or anything similar to it for that matter, but he was also sure of one thing - whatever he heard wasn't an ur-ghul. Thankfully, there was no warding (that he saw) riddling the actual courtyard so he was able to scan the buildings and people moving around, but he hadn't seen anything way more special than he did so already. Well, that was not completely correct for, from his place atop the food storage chamber, he saw that the newcomers he spotted at the gates couple of moments before were now inside the courtyard as well - a male Kabalite warrior, a female artisan of some kind as well as a skyboard-riding Beastmaster with a flock of razorwings at his command, who at the moment was moving towards what it seemed were slave pens where another batch of guards were standing.

OOC you can't go back but you can definitely go forward

Aesra soaked in the agony caused by the slave-mistress with one hand on his own whip. He shook his head dismissing the urge to assist with driving the lesser races in their labor. Besides it would be foolish to interrupt as he was merely a 'guest' until the Archon made his decision on whether he would require his services or not. But once things were settled down he would make it a point to visit here again.

Leaving the slave pit area, he decided to seek out the source of the growl. Perhaps even question a few of the kabalites about it as well as holding cells for beasts. Going by assumptions alone could easily get one killed, and he HAD to be certain if there was competition for the Archon's beastmaster position.

(Searching for potential clues about the growling and hints if another beastmaster is amongst the kabal.)

When Heltherith Mertrixa received one of the mass invites to the occasion, she had just finished one of her bouts as a combatant, the final one she was meant to do today. Needless to say, it had been a rather easy match between herself and some Mon'Keigh that dared to think it could best her, one that she drew out if only for the entertainment of the crowd, who bayed for more as she both gave entertainment and meat for them as her glaive whirled around to slice and maim her foe, making her victim beg for death as her weapon laid wound upon wound, and swiftly batted away any attempts to retaliate.

As her foe laid sprawled on the floor of small area, a weak groan emanating from their mouth in what could only be a cry to end their suffering. Needless to say, that mercy was in store for them today as the Wych plunged her dagger into their head soon after their cry for death, leaving them understandably rather dead. A mercy by Commorrite standards, when one considered what would have happened to the poor fool afterwards.

After that display, Heltherith was about to finish up for the day when she got her invite for this new Kabal. It took her only moments to decide that it was worth checking out, considering that anything had to be better than what she was doing at the moment, and what she was capable of doing (Even if that hadn't gone so well for her in the past). So she left to see what that was all about, gear and all.

Granted, that was after a short detour to pick up her medical supplies and tools from the hovel she had to call home given her lack of funds for any better places to live. As she packed up the drugs and tools that were part of the medical trade, there was a degree of hope by Mertrixa that presenting her medical tools would make her more than just a pretty face for a bedroom warmer, or a slightly more skilled fighter that happened to focus in stabbing rather than shooting her foes.

Naturally, seeing the five figures above the gate didn't trouble the Trueborn too much, considering that it was reasonable to have some level of protection when opening the doors to recruits. So she carefully walked towards the gates, obviously bearing the mass-invitation as she said "So, you wanted warriors? You might as well have me." She then presented one of her medical tools and then said "And well, I do happen to be in the trade of patching up wounds as well as making them."

Kaesar strolled inside and consulted the slate he was given. If he was to wait he wouldn't do it with a dry mouth. He picked the location of the pleasure bar and headed on over.
"Crimson Moon."
He whispered silently to himself while he walked. Tasting the words as if it were a sweet wine, how it rolled off the tongue and how it the enemy or rivals would shiver when the words were spoken. Hopefully this opportunity proved worthy of his time. Kaesar thought of all the possibilities and pleasures that could open to him now that he was at last a full Incubus. He fondled his little decorative scars under he's eye with he's finger in fond memory.
Like always, he was smiling slightly.