Voidus

You can pitch something specific if you'd like but we don't typically permit anything non-Brandon.

If you'd really like to be evil add a Kobold warlock with either repelling blast or grasp of Hadar (The latter if you want them to pop up from behind the party once they're in the hallway) to push/pull one of them 10 feet every round. One of my personal favourite Kobold traps is an oil slick that's difficult terrain and a save against falling prone each round, then pair that with some well timed Alchemists fire once all the party are in it and covered with grease.

Laurelai, Lita's apartment, the Alleys "Not a problem. Drink your tea and be off.” Laurelai flinched, though there was no harsh edge to the words. But in their wake it felt as if she heard a dozen echoes. Voices masculine and feminine repeating the phrase with a far more bitter, even angry and hateful tone. Quickly she tried to tamp them down again, shifting herself a little to hide her immediate defensive reaction. She didn't mean it. Not like that. Just a joke. She reminded herself with a voice that never quite seemed absolutely certain. "I apologize for pulling you out of there so early." She said aloud, speaking more to distract herself than anything. "That bartender seemed quite enamoured of you, a shame really I'd rather thought I caught her eye myself." She tried once more to force a smile, it came with more difficulty than usual, shaking for a moment as she pulled it into position and covered it with her usual collected poise. She had spent years practicing this, why was it so hard just to smile at a friend now? Absently under her breath she hummed a few notes, an old song that always helped to calm her. @ZincAboutIt Laurelai, Mistkeep 17 years ago "I said be off with you!" A low voice growled, pushing a suitcase roughly into Laurelai's arms. Laurelai stumbled back a step, catching her foot on the lip of the doorway and falling onto her back on the sodden cobblestones of Goldstreet. She clutched at the suitcase, her small arms trembling as they held it close, trying to gain some sense of security from them. Watery blue eyes looked up to regard Mister Vennit, looming over her from the shadow of his house. Behind him stood his wife, grey eyes wide and terrified as she looked down at the bedraggled young girl. "I- I'm sorry." Laurelai said, looking down at the rivulets of water streaming through the cracks in the stone, unable to meet either of their eyes any longer. "Sorry, I didn't mean to. It just happens. Please don't- please father can-" "No." The low voice interrupted, she saw the booted foot of the owner step closer in menacing fashion. "No I can't. And I am not your father girl. Be off, away from here. And if I ever see you near our son again..." His other foot joined the first, and his shadow now encompassed Laurelai's balled up form. Once again without looking up she nodded, tears beginning to flow to join the droplets of rain in trails down her cheek. For just a moment she stayed, eyes drifting into the house where her adopted brother was now laid out, covered in bandages. She wanted to apologize, to wait for him to wake up so that she could explain... Another growl from the man standing over her scattered those thoughts and set her to scampering back, arms still clutched around the case that held all of her possessions. With a final nod, a muttered apology and a terrified squeak, Laurelai fled from the Vennit's house. She ran until she found a dry section of street between two buildings, it was darker there but she wouldn't even have noticed had there been light, her face was pressed into the blue fabric of her Havah as she wept. Slowly, after some minutes, she calmed enough to start humming to herself. It was a song she had been taught by her first friend, a lullaby Laurelai thought, though she wasn't sure of the words.

"Can we hide?" the girl asked, a little uncertainly before rewording her question "Is it beneficial to hide from senses based on investiture?" Copper? Whisper wondered to herself. Very useful, particularly with this company. Not enough information about these creatures to say for sure if they use such senses or not but overall more beneficial than detrimental. "If you can." She said, voice grating painfully enough to cause her to wince once again. Still looking forward she heard the woman who had lost her chair actually speak to the creature. Which meant it was either significantly more inviting than Whisper had assumed or else Malsam was possibly mad. Either case would be useful, but if it was the latter then their lives were still in danger. Can't be helped, miracle that the Seeker hasn't noticed and pointed it out already. She concluded, resignation and determination warring in her mental tone. Drawing in a deep breath she drew on the small gemstones hidden in a pocket of her shirt, Light leapt eagerly to her lips, pulsed inside her lungs and drove her to utilize it further. For a moment everything felt sharper, and then she breathed out again, tapping her foot onto the ground and pushing a wave of the Light out behind them, blanketing the hallway wall-to-wall in luminescence before it suddenly inverted into darkness. A wall of shadows concealing the path that they had taken, as close to their group as Whisper could make it without catching any of them inside of it. With any luck they will be content to linger in the shadows, unseen once again. Almost as soon as she had finished the thought that hope was dashed as she turned to assess her work and saw a pale hand emerging from the shadows, darkness rippling around it as elongated fingers with wickedly sharp nails reaches out. Too late. She mentally cursed. Too slow. Turning immediately to the front again she sought out the steward and raised a brow, a final puff of light streamed from her lips to form glowing letters in the air. Run? She silently asked. Not waiting for an answer she readied a dagger in her left hand as her right reached for Vivi to pull her along as Whisper broke into another, more natural sprint down the hallway and towards one of the nearby doors. If fortune favoured them they may at the least be able to gather into a more defensible formation than their current state strung out along the hallway.

SeKaan, SeKaan's safehouse, the Bindpoint SeKaan gave little reaction to the physical outburst of the Inquisitor, despite the fact that it involved punching a hole clean through their safehouse wall. But this place was already barely livable, there were plenty of gaps and leaks, plenty of places to eavesdrop on neighbours. Though usually SeKaan was doing the eavesdropping. "It seems your experience with Harmony has been even less palatable than my own." They said, though not elaborating any further. "Well you can be assured at the least that I have no direct motive to either bring you back or change your habits. You may leave whenever you wish, but if you wish to stay there is more space here than I need just for myself. It's not all that comfortable but it is a roof, while waiting to build up something more reliable." Their attention flickered for a moment to the other Kandra, regarding them with curiosity and no small amount of pity. To not even be able to fulfill a Kandra's most basic functions of mimicry, how could one live such a life? They wondered if perhaps the other Kandra had the same Blessing as them, to at least be able to see and feel the world around them as others could not, to pull secrets from scraps that others thought meant nothing. Would that be better or worse? SeKaan wondered. "And you as well." They said aloud. "Both of you are welcome to what you wish from this place. I will need to leave shortly to... attend to business in the city. But I can try to provide a little further assistance if needed. We are after all, all family of a sort. Bound by blood, if not in the same manner that most are." Voidus, the Cauldron "You’re perfect, Nox. I trust you.” Were there any sweeter sounds that had been uttered in all of his years of life? Voidus doubted it. The unexpectedly reassuring words seemed to cut right to his core, soothing age old doubts that he'd barely even recognized. Many people trusted Voidus, or at least he assumed they did. They trusted him to run the Alleys, to keep the world stable, to know the answers, to have power. He was trusted to protect, destroy, teach and study. But when had anyone ever said the words? Let alone with such sincerity, such appreciation. When Vivica spoke he was transported again to that moment of shared awareness, the instant when she had laid every corner of her mind bare to him. A refreshing openness that could never provoke any doubts. She did trust him, and she did think he was perfect. Truly and without any influence or manipulation or any hope to receive power or favour. She would think exactly the same if he declined her request or fulfilled it. "Thank you." He said simply, voice steady and unwavering. He hoped she could hear some echo of the same sincerity from the simple words. When he thanked her it was no mere pleasantry, it was a genuine thanks. From the core of his being he was grateful to her, for her words and her very self. The rest of the world faded from awareness, the street may as well have been empty for all the care he gave to those around them now. He looked only at her, focusing on the side of her face, the long healed scars and the missing ear. Too long healed now for her to easily believe that it was anything but her normal state of being. There were numerous ways to resolve that problem however. Forgery would be easiest, but as had been proven all to recently she was strangely resistant to that, it would not last long enough for her Identity to restabilize. Feruchemy would be the next easiest, storing and retrieving carefully prepared identities. But that would take too long to prepare. What he needed was something precise, something that did not rely so heavily on Identity when determining how to heal. Voidus raised a hand, one long index finger extended out and moving suddenly forward to stab at the air. Dimly he was aware from the reflection in Vivica's eyes that his hair had become more silver than blonde, and faintly luminous. But that information was blocked out along with the gasps of others passing them by as he began to draw. Aon Ien formed the center, though in a matter of moments it was so heavily modified as to be unrecognizable. Specifics were needed here, not just what to heal but how, the entire form of it had to be dictated through Aonic formula with none at all left to interpretation. It was one of the longer sequences that one might need to write, but compared to the enormous sequence that enclosed the worldspike it was trivial. Perhaps a minute later he lowered his hand, now glowing so brightly it was difficult to look directly at, and willed the formula to completion. It sank happily into Vivica's skin, illuminating her momentarily with a matching glow as time seemed to reverse itself. Skin pushed out scar tissue, cartilage reformed below that into a shape the mirror of her other ear. In seconds it pushed itself out from her head, form complete and skin flawless once again. "Is it alright?" He asked, a slight hint of concern in his voice. "Any issues?" Laurelai, Lita's apartment, the Alleys Laurelai gave one last parting glance to Valeria as Lita towed her from club. The woman had blonde hair, it didn't hang as straight as Laurelai's but was it familiar in some way? The lingering adrenaline and fear from her sudden recollection hindered her thoughts, wanting to speed along when she needed instead to simply take a moment to think. But before she could do so they were out in the open air once again. She was about to turn to speak to Lita when the redhead continued immediately into an Alley. Laurelai rolled her eyes slightly at her friends protectiveness but followed along meekly enough until at last the two were greeted by a familiar blue door. Lita helped her to lean against the wall as she unlocked and opened the door, something Laurelai was just about to chide her on when one of her knees buckled for a moment beneath her weight, the wall the only thing that kept her from tumbling to the ground in an unsightly manner. ”Sit,” Lita said, pointing to the little table in the front room. “I’ll put on some tea.” Laurelai's nod held a hint of resignation to it as she reluctantly moved towards the offered seat, thankfully not needing to brace herself again during the motion, and took a seated position with a straight back and as much lingering dignity as she could manage while still being very clearly fussed over. "I am fine now." She said a little stiffly. "Just a momentary lapse, it barely ever happens anymore." For the briefest of moments the scent returned to her, smoke and floral soap intertwined and then followed immediately by ash and burned flesh. She pushed the memory back into a distant corner of her mind, suppressing a traitorous shiver before it worried Lita anymore than she already had. Foolish Laurelai. Tried to make the evening better and you only made it worse. But then that's just the usual isn't it? She shoved that voice into the same distant corner of the memory, focusing her attention purely on the here and now as Lita began setting a kettle to boil. Her eye was drawn quickly to the dress that the redhead wore, and which Laurelai immediately welcomed as a perfect distraction. Her fingers twitched in reflexive desire to touch the teal fabric, a near impulsive desire for her whenever seeing velvet. @ZincAboutIt

Honestly rather poorly, this was back when we were using a points based system and things didn't work out all that well. That being said it's not too different from a Kandra in a lot of ways other than a heightened immortality and lacking the Hemalurgic weakness. That being said they haven't had centuries to adapt to Alleyverse flora so hordelings would likely be more noticeable, their camouflage as humans is nowhere near as convincing as a Kandra or a Lightweaver. Absolutely I would say that a Major merit would be needed to play one at all and probably further to indicate any specific specialties with imitating humans (IIRC most are actually not at all capable of it), creating a particularly convincing form of spy-Hordeling, etc. Probably more a case of 'see what you can pitch and mods will discuss' rather than me being able to give a concrete ruling ahead of time.

Collaborative short-form post on the Discord, posting here for clarity but spoilered for length.

Here's a meme to help

We've had a few but yes nobody currently active.

There are two kinds of enbies...

Whisper was not entirely sure which headache to deal with first, the reprieve from being in a cadmium bubble had been nice right up until it had expanded again at the absolute soonest possibility, slowing their effective progress and ensuring that she had to keep a part of her attention focused once again on the perimeter to estimate how much time they were losing. The young blind man it seemed had basically tried to locate everything in the house simultaneously, which might have been a helpful forewarning if they weren't specifically dealing with creatures that were enraged upon being observed. Whisper wasn't sure how whatever senses he had used might have interacted with the creatures but it was unlikely they would be able to avoid angering them at the least. While many in the Alleys were told that it was unwise to look up, into the dark endless skies and maddening void above, there was another piece of advice that was not told to nearly so many. "It's best not to hear up either." She whispered in a voice so cracked it was doubtful it would be heard even if the corridor were silent. Which led her to her final irritant. Whisper was also annoyed with herself, none of these had any experience with the Alleys. She should have expected that lack of true understanding to result in a series of mishaps. Should have headed them off much sooner. But she had been curious about the house, wondering if there was perhaps something useful here, some shred that she could pull that would not make this a wasted trip. A chair spun past her, wheels sliding against the floor and slipping behind their group. Whisper pulled herself to the side, just next to the young girl as it passed. But a chair was not a danger, not in itself at least. So long as nobody- A pair of gray eyes greeted her. They were just faintly bluer than her own, and lacking some of their cold edge. They were also looking past Whisper right now, to the chair. And to the entire hallway behind them and whatever creatures lurked there. Whisper twisted, small legs folding down before springing up with unnatural force, carrying her away from both the chair and its owner. Some instinct brought her arms around the nearby form of Vivi and warded her back a step. Not calculation or guile but some more instinctual motion that she had no time to consider right now. Her legs bent a little further than a typical combative stance, ready to spring back at a moment. She kept the two of them facing the other way down the corridor, ears straining for any sign of the creatures that might be approaching. "Look forward." She whispered, voice cracking to a point of near inaudibility. She frowned and put a little more force into it, just enough to be audible but straining her throat and causing a lancing pain to shoot through. "Look forward. Not at it, not until it is right upon us. Hear. Wait. Patience."

Laurelai, Hathsin, Mistkeep Laurelai's gaze lingered on Lita as she left, there was no sign of it to her but just an ever so faint sense of something... off. A discomfort that wasn't normally there when the two were together. And it still remained even after Laurelai had done what she could to be rid of it. She had thought she had fixed the problem, was there another? She continued to move, alone now on the dance floor. Moving by herself was a little easier, there were well-practiced motions she could go through if she simply adjusted the rhythm, not so difficult as also having to take into account the movements of a partner. But that also meant she had more mental space to think, and that was just leading her right back into a circle and worrying further. Had Lita noticed that Laurelai had changed herself? Very rare for someone to notice that, but Lita knew what she was capable of, and knew better than most what to look for. The thought provoked a pang of pained discomfort in her, an aching in her chest and memories that she quickly pressed back down. She tried to draw a deep breath, focus on the dancing around her. But what step had she been up to? Something felt... was something wrong with her? No, I can manage this. She reminded herself, lips moving very slightly in an uncharacteristically discomposed tell. I am Laurelai Esserethel, a Forger. Denizen of the Dark Alleys. Her lips continued to move in a near-soundless whisper. She repeated a small litany to herself until eventually she felt calm return. Her smile shifted from false to genuine as her blue eyes gleamed with a renewed sparkle. She slipped effortlessly back into the music, slowly shifting herself across the floor until she eventually slid into a seat at an empty table to await Lita's return. @ZincAboutIt SeKaan, SeKaan's safehouse, the Bindpoint The other Kandra's story provoked a shudder of discomfort from SeKaan, along with a pang of unintentional sympathy. All too easily SeKaan could recall being a prisoner, trapped in their own body as a mind that was not theirs forced them to obey. A horrific, claustrophobic and existential terror squirmed in those memories, but SeKaan let it loose along with the recollection. It was not something they needed to think about right now. Though it did bring a sour aftertaste to that moment of sympathy. They gave a small nod, thinking the matter over only for a moment before coming to a decision. This was precisely why SeKaan had brought them here instead of the Safehouse they actually intended to stay in this evening. And it was little loss truly, there were no doubt dozens that could replace it if this other Kandra wished to use it for now. It was as much of a familial act of kindness as SeKaan could give to a Kandra of lower generation. "I have only heard a few things of this group." They said, keeping a neutral tone. "I had thought perhaps they would be a little more... accepting of a Kandra than others in the city. I was, perhaps, mistaken." Their ears, now reformed, began to listen keenly to both the story and the sounds from outside. If even half the rumors SeKaan had picked up about this group were true then it was entirely possible that even now some shadowy and powerful figure was approaching. Best to be vigilant, prepared and forewarned. Their musculature shifted very slightly, moving away from larger muscles and more towards tighter tendons and faster motion. In the Homeland the change would be as good as announcing their fears, practically radiating an energy of flight reflex. But in the city, watched only by an Inquisitor and newborn Kandra it might even go unnoticed entirely. SeKaan's attention shifted with that thought to the Inquisitor, reminded again that there was every possibility that she had both the ability and the knowledge required to exploit the Weakness. Was that why they had accompanied two Kandra here, seemingly unconcerned of an ambush despite her earlier suspicions? "Your kind I had thought nearly extinct." SeKaan remarked. "I have heard that this city sometimes connects to the past, are you from earlier days of the Empire? No, you mentioned Harmony. Hmm... curious." @AonEne @NerdyAarakocra

Whisper gave an unsurprised nod, more agreement than acceptance, at the Stewards reply. An uncontrolled merging of the Alleys into a building would produce chaos, at least on first glance. There would be a pattern, but one that would be beyond most to even recognize. Whisper doubted even she herself would be able to pick it up in its entirety, not without years with which to study. Keeping a wary eye out around her, and then very quickly focusing her attention only forwards as she felt unseen eyes watching from behind them. A disquieting sensation, even sensitive to such things as she was Whisper could not even tell how many were watching or if they even had eyes at all. She bent her focus on looking ahead, ignoring instincts and years of training that taught her to be wary of being attacked from behind. Partially to distract herself, and partially because now there was something to add to it, Whisper peered further down the corridor, looking to each door in particular and quickly began adding to her earlier sketch. She made a few basic motions of drawing to dismiss the Lightweaving she'd made over the top, as if simply redrawing the same structure. But each stroke seemed to add more detail than it should, allowing her to quickly move on to the new hallway which she began annotating with doors. Her feet shifted slightly, stepping forwards down the corridor, craning her neck, crouching down, and then standing frustrated on the tips of her toes to analyze each of the doors. It was not graceful, or mysterious, or in any way flattering. But it was cautious. And when exploring somewhere in the Alleys you had never been, caution should always be at the forefront of your mind, caution to temper the ever-burning curiosity, if only a little. Absently she realized that a small part of her mind that had been steadily counting had reached its conclusion. A small sound of squeaking floorboards would be emerging from the staircase behind them now, too faint to be heard by any but a tineye but she payed careful attention to the sensation of being watched, of any awareness she had of the observer. Had there been a hesitation just now? A slight pause or redirecting of attention? It was frustratingly difficult to tell with such limited ability to perceive them.

Ooh fun, I did a Mistborn and Feruchemist class years and years ago, didn't get to all the metals for either but feel free to take a look for inspiration if you'd like. Mistborn: https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/SyteFG3Rf Feruchemist: https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/rkKhlEaAf

Whisper was beginning to wonder if some of the muscles in her cheeks were injured. She could not recall the last time a single individual had brought forth so many smiles from her in a single day. It was perhaps fortunate that Vivi had not mentioned holding an abiding appreciation for the gods of the Dark Alleys or Whisper may have found her so endearing that she allowed the girl to actually slide a blade into her organs. She gave a short approving nod in response, using the motion to remove the expression from her appearance. Vivi's quick step back earned her a second, quicker nod, and a slight reposition of Whisper's own stance. Even if she liked the girl it was worth remembering that there was a chance she might need to ensure that nobody returned from this little quest alive. If they saw too much, or even just a little of the wrong sort, then it was the fastest way to contain the information. But perhaps if there was a grey area Whisper would take Vivi back to the Alleys instead and ask if she might simply be inducted to close the information gap that way. Frowning at herself for thinking such things, Whisper payed extra attention to the Stewards next debriefing, nodding along to show her understanding though that seemed blessedly unneeded in this group. Her eyes drifted along the corridor, and then to the blueprint, eyes flickering back and forth for a moment as she mentally compared them both to the exterior of the house and arriving at the expected conclusion that the dimensions did not add up. Would be more surprised if they did. She noted to herself. Some things try too hard to fit in to expectations, always dangerous. "Also if we're just going to wait here until sunset, I can make that go by a bit faster. Unless there's something else we should be doing in the meantime." The Pulser said, breaking into her mental musings. She gave a silent scowl at that, along with a hasty step away from him just in case he tried to do any such thing. If he wished to while away his own time pointlessly then let him do it alone, not drag others into it.

SeKaan, SeKaan's safehouse, the Bindpoint "You've never met Harmony?" SeKaan repeated, their tone exaggerated in its incredulity to make up for their lack of a face with which to express it. They slid translucent muscle fibers over a skull to rectify that problem as quickly as possible, sliding it into place atop the vertebrae and twisting it slightly back and forth as tendons formed. They moved a little faster than normal, preferring speed and an immediate resolution to their problems rather than perfect accuracy. "That seems to have the most interesting story behind it of all." SeKaan continued, forming lips just in time to pull them into a wry smile. "I am not familiar with any others of our kind who survived but did not meet Harmony. Or at least talk to them." Him. SeKaan reminded themself, though it seemed strange for a god to ascribe to only one gender. Easier to remember when I am wearing someone else, but best to remember now as well. For politeness if nothing else. They tilted their head, examining this strange member of their species who seemed to lack some of their most distinguishing abilities. Almost SeKaan would be tempted to think this was something else entirely, some human with translucent flesh. But the similarities were too great, the placement of spikes to specific. "I think you have a story to tell, Kandra of unknown generation. And I would appreciate hearing it, in particular who this 'them' is." @Ookla the Archivist @Ookla the Nerdy Voidus, The Cauldron "It is a terrible thing not to enjoy the fullness of your gift to me.” vivica said, polite as ever and with a smile that eased all his irritation away in a heartbeat. "It is no impoliteness to wish to be as you are." Voidus replied, wearing a faint grin touched with lingering sadness. "I do hope that is clear, I certainly can heal these for you. Though you're unusually resistant to that. Or, not healing precisely but any further alterations." He gave a gentle shake of his head, dismissing the thought with the motion to better concentrate on enjoying her presence. He lifted his arm slowly before placing his hand against hers that had been touching it, letting their fingers push softly against each other in a mirrored tender sentiment. His smile became a little warmer and wider as he beheld it, such a simple thing, but when was the last time he had taken a moment to enjoy it? "Well, as I say if it is what you actually wish for then I can certainly do so. It would be easiest in the Alleys, mostly just due to the lack of prying eyes. But I can do so here if you would prefer, eyes or no." His dark eyes met the dancing joyous blues of hers with an intensity to show that his words were not empty. If he needed to simply remove every pair of eyes that could behold them from their surroundings then he would do so. It was simple courtesy and practicality that kept him from doing so the moment she made her request. @ZincAboutIt

Not at all! It is, in fact, encouraged. Try to include what details you can in the character profile.

Hello! Welcome to the Alleyverse, I've been hesitant to put specific abilities to each of the merit levels just because they're intended to be more flexible than that. Someone very skilled with an ability would have it as a higher merit than someone who was brand new to it. Heightenings are also difficult because they come with Awakening in addition to the passive abilities and there is variance in how many Breaths one has, how skilled at using them they are, etc. Generally I would suggest making an attempt to place them yourself, and if we need to the mods can discuss. Also please try to keep discussions of characters to this thread, the other one is mostly just for the actual sheet submission and mod responses.

Lost mines is great, though sadly I've never actually had a chance to run it. But it's very well written and I've heard good things from DM friends who have run it, one of the best 5e releases I think.

SeKaan, SeKaan's safehouse, the Bindpoint "SeKaan." The Kandra offered, after only a moment to demure. "As for whether or not I am with Harmony... that is a difficult question to answer." Pulling a bag from underneath a loose floorboard, SeKaan began to shuck the form of Lord Valiert. Carefully storing hair and fingernails before spitting out bones one after the other into a disorganized pile. The stone pieces of one of their True Bodies were sucked in just as quickly, replacing as they went. It would take some time to get through them all, but SeKaan was after all a proud member of the Sixth Generation. They did not need nearly so much time as the younger and less experienced of the Faceless Immortals. "As I'm sure you could imagine I am not entirely willing to give all the details." They said, speaking truthfully as their body slowly became translucent. "I am here because I was asked to be, though I was told nothing about a surviving Inquisitor. But..." They hesitated, wondering if they should actually share this sort of information. True, Harmony already knew and there was nobody else who would be greatly affected by that, but giving out personal information mere moments after meeting someone felt uncomfortable. "We are not precisely on the best of terms right now." They said finally with a shrug. "I agreed as much to get away from Scadrial as I did because of who was asking. It seems you may have had a similar experience yourself?" @Ookla the Archivist @Ookla the Nerdy Laurelai, Hathsin, Mistkeep Laurelai's feet moved automatically as her mind searched for a distraction, tempted for a moment by bright patterns of light. Instead, she watched the bartender across the room as she poured a row of drinks for a group of what looked like Elendel nobles, Lordlings out carousing. The practiced stream of liquid from bottle to cup captivated her until Laurelai was spun in place by Lita's hand. She kept perfect posture and balance through the spin, maintaining her smile and feeling the difficulty of maintaining it lessen as she slowly calmed. Laurelai continued flowing with the movement, holding Lita's hand but pulling back until their arms were both stretched out, then pulling back in. Looking past Lita to the bar, Laurelai gave an easy smile to the bartender who happened to be glancing over in that moment, returning the smile with one of her own before moving to the next set of drinks. She was also, Laurelai recalled, one of several who had stared at her as she entered. Laurelai glanced for a lingering moment, wondering if perhaps she should go order some drinks for the both of them, have a casual conversation. It was always useful to know another bartender. And it's such a nice night, shame for her to have to only entertain dull Scadrian lords. She considered with a smile. But no need for a drink yet, already feeling nice enough without. She pulled away from Lita again, extending her arm overhead and twisting to encourage the redhead into a spin of her own when a furrow creased her brow. Just for an instant before she wiped it away, but quickly her eyes began scanning the crowd, marking out each person who was paying attention to her. Trying to pick which of them were just looking and which were... focused. Can I not simply go out dancing for one night without some Misting trying to soothe me? She wondered as she ticked people off one by one. At the least it's subtle enough not to be insulting. A little too sudden though, not a build. Someone a little less experienced perhaps? She rode the wave of calm, allowing it to drive her smile rather than forcing one of her own as her eyes met Lita's again. She added a little extra warmth for the redhead, glad that they both finally had an opportunity to go out together, that Laurelai had finally had a chance to give Lita the gift that she'd... Her eyes tried to widen but she slid instead to Lita's back, hands still grasped and causing her to wrap an arm partly around her waist. The motion was enough distraction and time to pull her control back tightly, let the calm wash away the sudden surprise of realization that her friend had soothed her. A slight smile showed as she got past her initial shock, pleased that Lita had taken her up on her offer of practice. But it was soon wiped clean as she mentally cataloged what exactly she was feeling right now. Why had Lita chosen to make Laurelai calm? Because she can see that you keep tensing up and it's annoying her. A voice sneered at the back of her mind. You're slipping Laurelai, letting someone pick up on what you're trying to hide so easily. This is what you get for trying to manage things this way instead of the easiest way, the way you're best at. She faltered a half step in the rhythm, mind whirling and considering before coming to a rapid and resigned agreement. A moment of concentration, carefully stepping back into the rhythm of music quickly enough that it could hopefully just be mistaken as a momentary mis-step. Her body moved automatically again as her mind shifted its focus, drawing glowing lines of invisible energy. Not even a shudder ran through her as the stamp took hold, the only evidence of its usage a more relaxed and easy demeanor and a ring of flowers that now circled her little finger. Not an intentional part of the Forgery but innocent enough that she simply gave a small smile as she noticed it. @ZincAboutIt

Large parts of the DA tend more towards moral ambiguity than downright evil, Lita and Laurelai for example are two of the most active DA characters and I'm not sure that either one of them has ever actually killed anyone on screen. The DA also isn't particularly limited for resources so a basic allomantic spike is not really out of reach even for a minor member. Perses would probably tend pretty well to the Counterintelligence department actually given that a lot of what they do is just spying really, which he seems quite suited for.

“Come,” the Sterward said, leading them all towards a staircase up. “Let us be about our business. The sooner we return, the sooner you all get paid, eh?” It was with difficulty that Whisper avoided rolling her eyes. Thankfully she was not expecting too much experienced scrutiny here, she wasn't quite sure that she would have been able to convincingly fake the eager stare of an actual mercenary and thief. Perhaps if she thought of it in different terms though, not about the money and more about what it might represent. She settled for a nod with fractionally more enthusiasm than normal, shouldering her pack easily and beginning to follow the others. They seemed to all naturally fall into position, Byron moving to the middle as he stated. A fact that annoyed Whisper even further as it meant she couldn't simply move outside of his bubble of influence. She kept half an eye on their surroundings as they ascended, taking note of anything that moved. Best to keep that wariness up over the next few days, just in case the Pulser tried to delay them all by more than just a few moments. And then there's the girl. She considered, eyes flicking to her other side where Vivi had positioned herself. Coincidence? Or deliberate positioning? And if deliberate because she sees a potentially useful ally? Or an enemy to be wary of? Clever girl, either way. The tiniest of amused smiles curled her lips upwards as she set foot on the staircase. One hand held her writing board, the other slid along the polished surface of the banister, remarkably still seeming free of dust in spite of the fact that the servants of the house would likely have greater concerns than cleanliness these days. Finally pulling her hand free as they reached the landing, she scrawled something quickly on her board, tilting it to the young girl next to her. Is that your only weapon? She accompanied the written words with a nod to Vivi's rapier. It is a fine blade, well sized, but it is wise to keep a smaller as backup as well. Her free hand gave a slight flourish, nothing too elaborate, and spun one of the small daggers she had brought, simple steel for this one. She offered it hilt first, expressionless but for a small shrug as if to dismiss the possibility that she might feel actual concern. @Sorana

They are quite nice.

Well Whisper is from the DA and something of a corruption specialist so this is definitely possible. Getting a spike would need some RP and justification behind it but I think certainly is a possibility.