Night has fallen in Astoria.
'What a great day it has been.'
A grin escapes his perfect lips as he strolls down the alleyway. The shadows cast by street lamps hiding some of his lowliest disciples paint a beautiful scene of Marius's ideal world. A world dictated only by personal choice.
'Those blasted Astorian nobles think they can control us, well WE have another thing coming for them.'
Another group approaches down the road, clearly drunk and probably heading home. There are 3 women and 1 man amongst them. Marius takes off his hood, he has always loved this social experiment. When he arrived within visible range of them he heard a few of the women gasp and murmur amongst themselves. As he had expected.
He must be quite a sight to behold; with his flowing, borderline elvish, shining black hair; his sharp and bright blue eyes, and his chiseled facial features he looks like a model specimen of a man.
Marius smiles more broadly with his satisfaction as he ignores the chatty women who will undoubtably spread even more favorable rumors about him regardless. That is, provided they remember him in the morning. Either way, they aren't his type; not worth killing the man for at least.
After walking for about 20 more minutes Marius finally reaches the door he was looking for. 1771 Salavus street. He raised his hand and gave the door two quick raps with his flawless, unblemished knuckles. He hears some panicked cursing and crashing from inside right before the door is busted wide open in front of him.
"Sorry father, I was not expecting your sudden presence." Gasped the man at the door.
"No matter Kaska, I am not here to lecture you on your vices. But it would be courteous of you to invite me in."
Kaska is quite an awful sight to behold. With his threadbare hair, misshapen teeth, and alcohol stained shirt and breath he could easily be called a part of the dregs of society. But he DOES have the Gift of divination so Marius has no choice but to at least treat him as a human being.
"Of course sir, come right in." He ushers Marius inside his house.
The house, contrary to one might expect from a common drunk is made up to what could be considered an acceptable standard. There are no bugs or mice (the latter probably thanks to the multitude of cats that reside here), his regulation wood-table, couch, and hearth show no signs of the beer stains and bottles that they did last time Marius was here. It seems he has cleaned up since Diabolus named him Revelator, what a surprise.
Marius walks calmly over to the couch and sits expectantly as Kaska makes his way over and pulls up a chair himself.
"What is your bidding my master?"
"First, You must answer a few of my questions, why is your house in such a comparatively good condition?" Marius demands with a straight, calm voice.
"I-I-it's nothing sir" Kaska stammers out.
"I just had a premonition that some guards are coming in 2 days sssso I thought that mayyybe it's a good idea to clean up?" He gives a look reminiscent of a 7 year old asking if their answer of 2+2=5 is right.
"Are you stupid?"
"A drunk living in a clean regulation house is MORE suspicious than if your place was trashed, now either get sober or make your abode look like someone with your addiction lives there!" Marius shouts.
"I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!" Squealed Kaska, cowering into his chair as if judgement of damnation has just been passed upon him.
Marius sighs and puts his hand on his forehead as if he has a headache and shakes it disapprovingly for one second just to get his point across.
"Either way, I come before you today to inquire as to events that took place earlier today, did you send one of our assimilates on a suicide mission in the Trials?" Asks Marius with an accusatory tone.
Surprisingly, Kaska sat upright (never before had Marius seen this before in this rat) to deliver his answer.
"Diabolus commanded me to share my vision with those involved." He states boldly, without any of his alcoholic slurring.
Now this is troubling.
"Are you aware that one of the initiates is now possessing the Mark of an assimilate?" Marius ventures.
The regular, mortal fear crept back into Alaska's demeanor and eyes when he responds, shivering. "Nnnno, I ddddidn't kkknnnnow."
This is a proper response to what Marius just stated, if one of the Goddess's minions possesses the Gift of Diabolus it's only a matter of time before the Axiarchy gains knowledge of in the very least, the extent of the Diact's power. All the Diact has worked for in the past 23 years to go underground and convert the nation from the shadows could be stomped out in a fortnight. As much as Marius hates to admit it, there is no way the Diact could survive another purge like the one conducted 25 years ago.
"You have willingly and purposefully sabotaged our great Diact and as the head I pass judgement upon you." Marius reaches out and extends a finger of shadow to Kaska.
Kaska squeals and cowers, but does not run or scream.
"I judge you guilty of gross negligence of your duties and as such I place this burden upon you."
The shadow coils around Kaska's throat, guided by Marius's will (you have to let your subordinates know just how much their life is in your hands you know.) and stabs through his right ear near the base.
"You shall not have use of your right ear until you have done something to please me. I will hunt the boy, but if you can convert him in 2 days I will turn my curse into a blessing upon your figure." Marius decreed.
Kaska falls to the ground on his knees and bows before Marius. "Thank you milord fffffor you m-m-m-mercy!" He groveled.
"Now, I have more important things to tend to tonight, do not let this boy become a problem." Marius states while standing up and walking toward the door.
"Yes sir." Kaska says quickly as he stumbles over himself to get the door for Marius.
"I bid you a good-evening master." Marius steps outside as Kaska closes the door behind him.
'Well that confirms the rumors I have been hearing, one more stop before I tend to Verial'
Marius walks a few alleys over and stops at the gap between houses 1818 and 1812 Salavus. As expected there was a beggar here with buck teeth and ugly-ass clothes sitting there.
Marius approaches him and whispers in his mind 'The moon rides high tonight.'
The beggar stands up and walks into the alley in an almost robotic fashion.
"Sir, I wasn't expecting you." Boomed a voice from the alley.
A man the size of an Orc of about 9 feet walks toward the edge of the shadows. He has muscles that are simply exploding from his shirt and on his back lay an axe that could split a brick wall in half, much less a man in a single swing.
"What a pleasure to see you Garakus." States Marius with a tongue that literally shimmers with silver.
"I have a job for you."