Shayna investigates a massive murder (all ranks)

[melodysangel]

I should be clear to bring another Sphinx in since I completed everything with one of my active sphinxes (Aeion).

Looks like Shayna is updated to the correct class now and is ready to go. I've been wanting to use her since much has happened this heb to her in particular, and much can be improved. She is not an OC but I want to develop her character because of the things that are happening.

There will be much dust in the air as I will be editing and saving bits and pieces very often. I will try to put 'wip' under the active prompt im working on. If there is no note visible there is a good chance its complete (Or I just forgot). I... lost a whole prompt on my last story and would like to avoid that happening again

It will take a bit but together we should be able to unravel the history and personality of this sphinx.


NB: Ive decided to try to practice on poses a bit. The images are not traditionally lined so there are some anatomy issues when colouring and shading is involved. This is intentional--to me, as long as the initial sketch was ok im improving.

I do not plan to full on line anything for this (it would look much better but switching styles mid way = bad idea). Soo...yeah.


This also means im doing ranks out of order. If you do not wish to be confused, do not look until its done <3

Lets see where this goes^^

[melodysangel]

A brief history on what has happened soo far:




~Shayna was born out of a semi custom with a picture of sand dunes and blue sky as a reference. While I adore her, her pelt colour turned out darker then intended so she did not click and develop a personality for a few years. Shayna was just a lowly (living) peasant struggling to get by. She called the dunes just outside the city home and would live off the land.

~When the portal opened to Lamoria opened up, she curiously went inside. She was gathering for food at the time. Quickly she found herself in the hissing forest foraging and finding information for some local in the process (hoping it would provide some coin)

~She did not find much more then a friendly wolf but she ended up getting a bit more then what she bargained for when she stumbled into a cave and got bitten by a minion. She survived the attack but got turned into a minion herself in the process.

~This is where it gets interesting. She never mentally completely got turned. She could hear her master in her head and she was always fighting to resist that charm or to hurt anyone else. She found that she could feed on the animals around her and make due. She could also eat normally without much in the way of ill side effects.

She is not interested in hurting others.

She was a minion with the lamorian background at this point.

Shayna is still to this day fighting her masters influence in her head.

~She began to hear and see things and thought she was going crazy. The dead was coming to her and she did not know how to interpret it. If it was real or if she was going out of her mind...perhaps as consequence from trying to resist the charm.

~She saw and approached a white fox while clenching her head in the market. shayna felt she had to speak with her. It was then where she learnt that this was not in her head. The spirits were TRYING to contact her. She just did not know how to handle it and so the fox took her under her tail, so to speak.

~During the focus, Shayna became highly emotional. She could feel the feeling of those that passed by. For a very brief time she mourned the loss as it overtook everything else around her (I saw the slip up yesterday I think? Was going to send a PM about it but saw it had been fixed. She was briefly a mourner. And I WILL make that cannon >D)

~Eventually she learnt to handle her emotions and while she is still green she can now communicate without going crazy. This is when her minion title dropped and her cert returned to normal.

~~~~~~~~

[melodysangel]

Rank prompts--this is just for my reference.

Rank 1:

1. You are called on or otherwise needed to investigate a murder. Are you a member of the city guard/guard hired medium/fortune teller? asked by a friend or family member? Dreamed about the murder but don't yet know why or how you are tied to it? Got home from work to find your house surrounded by guards or onlookers?

2. Develop you reasons for investing and/or your ties to the victim or crime. Just another day on the job for the Guard/Nightwatch/Gargoyle? You had been on one date with the victim and felt a connection only to find him dead the next day? You are (or are hiding the fact) suspect yourself and the victim is a business partner/ex-lover/friend who you publicly argued with yesterday? You've seen this type of murder before?

3. Expand on your investigation of the crime. Do you use old fashioned sleuthing? Hire a Fortune Teller? Canvas anyone who may have saw something? Try and speak to the dead with your Medium powers?

4. Narrow your investigation to a short list of suspects or perhaps even feel you know who did it. How do you start to prove your findings? Can you directly accuse your suspect? Are there obstacles such as the murderer is wealthy/supposed to be in prison/a fellow city guard/intimidating powerful/well connected/ extremely hard to find?

5. You receive a mysterious note! Is it a threat to you or those you love? Is it an anonymous clue that seems truthful or suspicious? Is it a bribe to back off? Is it a complete red herring?

Rank 2

1. Your suspect vanishes or does something incriminating!

2. You use the above as a premise to search their home/lair. Is it a wealthy/guarded (or suspiciously not) mansion, a filthy tenement? An apartment above a popular shop or bar? An ornate wooden wagon parked outside the city watched by Rani suspicious of strangers?

3. You find some horrible evidence. Describe this (at your comfort level!). Is it a collection of horrible trophies? a detailed journal? a shrine to a murderous dark god? the murder weapon?

4. Before you have to long to complete your search of the lair or perhaps on your way out, you are attacked by a monster or lackey or well meaning house guardian. Do you run away? Fight? Explain yourself to the guard? Get yourself arrested?

5. You make your accusation public (tell your boss at the guard, inform the family who hired you, rant on a street corner about how a well loved noble is really a murder cult member, tell anyone who will listen to you from your cell/stocks.)


Rank 3

1. You get/find a major lead to where your suspect has gone or is hiding! How do you get this info? scrying magic? mysterious informant again? prophetic dreams? a direct challenge from your suspect?

2. Figure out a way to get to your suspect. Is there a journey involved? hire a wizard to break past magical wards or thief to break in? make a plan to circumvent your suspects guards or protectors?

3. You have a showdown with the suspect! Does it involved a dozen guards? A one on one fight on a castle balcony/ship deck/murder cult temple? goes off like clockwork with you sneaking in and simply knocking them out in their sleep? your clues lead you to a mirror and you realized that you are the actual murderer and have a split personality/are a werewolf/have been mind controlled by a vampire?

4. Are you victorious or a failure? Does the murderer get away or prove you were wrong the whole time? you defeat the murderer and give the victims family closure/get rewarded/promoted? get captured by a murder cult and barely escape? fallen into a trap by the murderer? have your guard captain swoop in and take all the credit for your hard work?

5. Describe the very next day after the showdown. do you just take a day off? get hired for another mysterious job? hide all the evidence for your alt personality/undead master?


Conclusion!

Describe the lasting repercussions of this whole mystery. Do you have scars (mental/physical/both)? A medal or promotion or reward or wedding proposal? Move to another city where the whole thing starts over again the exact same way? Keep visiting the person who got put in the dungeon for the crime who you know is innocent? Spend every day looking over your shoulder for murder cult members? Leave town to get away from the negative/positive exposure?

[melodysangel]

Ranks 1.1 and 1.2: It was not me!

It was another mild evening. The hazy glow of the burning sunset was just past the horizon. On the side opposite the sun, one could just look up to see the first of many stars peeking through the gradient of the deep blue sky. The sand and sea coloured female stretched as she slowly got up from her haunches and turned to thank the white and red fox behind her before silently leaving the complex of the inn the other was standing by.

It had been a few weeks since her initial encounter with the female fox, but it was a fateful one that was meant to happen. To say that Shayna had an eventful month was a complete and utter understatement. From being drawn into the deep dark portal leading to another world, to getting turned and having a male 'master' continuously yell inside of her head, her world was completely torn and flipped upside down and inside out. Everything that she had known over the course of her entire life was gone. Changed forever. If she did not believe it could happen, the dreams and nightmares that recently began after the bite would pull her right back into reality.

Through the encounter with the white fox, Shayna learnt that she was particularly sensitive to the afterlife. Those that did not reach the Duat. Being a target or conduit to interpret the thoughts, memories, actions and wishes of the dead. She learnt that she was not going crazy. Nor was she going out of her mind. She just did not know how to deal with the sudden gift that had apparently been given to her.

Needless to say, the past few weeks of training were rocky at best. But through determination Shayna was finally able to get a hold of her emotions and her head to pull her mind in tune with her surroundings. The conduit process to bond as one was complete. The female could see and communicate with those that had passed on.

It was nice to have some kind of reason for being where one was. It was better then having nothing better to do then survive in the shadows of the sand dunes. It even counteracted the reality of no longer technically being alive herself, or the harsh male that continuously insisted that she had to do all of these awful things on his behalf. Who on earth did he think she was? She hadn't even met the guy.


Shayna shook her head to clear it and slowly began to walk. A stiff breeze played with the strands of loose hair and Shayna briefly looked over her shoulder. The spirits were active this evening. It startled the young female and she placed her paw over a paw of a spirit rushing past her. The male paused, distraught, but did not wish to speak. Not at all willing to calm, he waited for Shayna to let go before he swirled off into the distance.

'Strange', she murmured. 'Something must be very wrong if they are upset but do not wish to speak. I feel that I must see what it is that is causing that distress. I hate seeing soo many rattled at once!'

Concerned and worried, the female began to pick up her speed, running opposite the direction the spirits were heading in. It seemed as though something had happened on the other side of the portal. Past Ahket and to the strange world of Lamoria.

Through the other side it was clear that the center of attention was in the middle of the main city. She had been here a few times, though it was after the turning. Shayna spent that time trying to adjust, and seek guidance. This was not her home, but many creatures seemed to sympathize, opening their arms and guiding her with their experience. She had allies and eyes to look out for her. That thought alone reassured her as she approached the center square inside of Crux.

A wide gathering of creatures from all walks of both life and unlife were huddled close together. Past enemies stood side by side, their differences temporarily unimportant. Shayna found it difficult to push her way through to where the commotion was. Where the many spirits that did not leave were hovering around.

Much of the guards issued to protect the city were unceremoniously bashing, pushing and hitting the denizens and visitors out of the direct center. She had watched this go on for a few minutes before she felt and big cold hard paw land square on her shoulder. The grip was tight and firm, and the owner of the paw did not seem to want to let go.

Before Shayna could turn around, the other paw belonging to the same sphinx took hold of her opposite wrist. She could not move.

Fear struck her heart. What was this madness? Why were the guards soo harsh? And who was behind her?

She did not have to wait to find out the answer. The sphinx behind her, a big oversized male began to drag the female up and into the center where some of the guards were knocking citizens back. He had much more strength then her, and while she tried to brace for the impact and let go, his hold was solid and she winced in pain as the scale on her tail wore clean off from the bashing and dragging on the rough concrete tiles. The male was dressed in city watch gear but his uniform was that of a different colour from the rest. Perhaps he was from a different city? Shayna did not care at that moment. She was in pain, confused, and just wanted to be let go!

'I have her!' The male roared triumphantly. His voice rang clear through those gathered and it continued for a ways past them into the side streets covering all cardinal directions. 'I have the murderer! The evil witch that killed the great five!'

'Rip her!' One male by them yelled.

'Tear her!' Another across the circumference of the open circle chanted.

'Burn her to the ground!' The few male recruits of the watch within the circled voiced out loudly in unision.

Shaynas eyes went wide. Murderer? Her?

'Wait,' she yelled innocently and with fear, trying to wiggle her petit frame free with no success. 'What is going on? What are you talking about?! I just arrived not five minutes ago from Ahket, and was nowhere near here for a good week! I did not do anything!'

'Lies,' the male that had a grip on her roared in a loud despicable scowl. 'She pathetically tries to escape for her undead life. No more!!!'

The group of guards and recruits began to close in on her. The circle became soo close that she could not see any of the now cheering citizens that were a part of the crowd. Try as she might, she could not relinquish the hold that was on her. Her shoulder cracked from the pressure that the male unforgivingly put onto it. Her wrist was also weak and red from strain. There were at least a small platoon of military personnel, and they all had their swords drawn and aimed right towards her.

What could she do?! She had zero idea that there had been a mass murder. The spirits did not even give her a shred of warning! Not an audible one, anyway. She wished she could see just one of them right now. To perhaps gather some information. But by now the circle was closed off completely. Not even the spirits could weave their way in.

The drawn swords moved in swift unison. Shayna squirmed and shut her eyes, unable to do anything. She could hear the subtle wind coming from the upward motion of each of the swords, and then a hard clash of metal.

Every single hair and strand of fur on the female stood on end. She thought that at that point in time she would become a spirit herself. But she felt no incoming pain. No cool and hardened steel ripping through her. No blood. Her conscious was still here.

Very slowly the female began to open one pale green eye, and then the other. She gasped as she saw a helpful ally of hers dressed in what looked like a fancy version of the city guard uniform with his sword drawn out in a parry to every other sword that was meant to make contact with her helpless self. He was the first one to listen to her and take her in after her fateful encounter in the hissing forest. He was calm, and unafraid of what she had become. Even though he was not undead himself. He was level headed and thought with reason. He was also knowledgeable and able to help her with what she believed in. What she needed to deal with inside of her. And how she can win the fight with what was trying to take over her.

She would never trade that trust for anything. It had only been a few weeks, but it felt like she had known him for eternity. It was strange. She did not realize exactly what it was he did for a living; he had always welcomed her into his home after hours. He was never not there--perhaps that was coincidence, too.

'Z-zaiden?' her voice was nearly non existent. A breath of a ghost of a voice on the wind. It was barely audible but the one silky ear of the male closest to her twitched she she spoke. It WAS him, and he did hear her. He merely made a slow controlled nod and did not move his head away from the other soldiers that had tried to attack her. She had never known or seen him to be angry or upset. It scared her to think of what his face..his eyes must look like right about now. All she could see was a startled reaction from the ones he had stopped. There was no fight. Only respect.

'Stand down.'

His voice was calm, controlled and had an heir of high authority. At his command all of the guards he had parried drew back their blades. It took a few seconds, but one of the apparent newer recruits seemed to nervously pull him self up in front of the other male, fighting to let him know what he believed to be right.

'But sir! She is the culprit!'

The male just turned his head calmly towards the one that had stepped out of line. His voice was still full of authority and calm but there was a slight touch of..Shayna could not pinpoint what. Disbelief? Shock? Anger? Whatever it was, the male holding her down at that time still did not let go. All she could do was watch as her friend spoke.

'Back in line, soldier. You will not speak until spoken to.'

He paused.

'What evidence is concrete. Did ANY of you pull up a positive print id?'

He seemingly glared at the group and there was silence. Shayna could see a few of the guards pull one step back in fear. She saw another wait in line for permission to speak. Her ally waited for the civilian group to disperse completely before granting it.

'Sir! This females belongings and fur were present at each of the five scenes of the crime.'

The male nodded slightly and waited a second before replying.

'Yes. Any idiot can slip their paws around a simple mirror or brush a commoner possesses. One does not need to be a thief to act like one. And you know just as well as I that fur sheds and is easily obtained should one want it bad enough. '

Shayna could tell that he had briefly shut his eyes because the tense body signs on the guards in front of him loosened for the duration of it.

'I have returned from each of the five murder scenes. There are crucial elements on each that link this case to someone else. Elements that it appears the lot of you missed!'

The tone of his voice shifted to definite anger at the last word was spoken and Shayna could clearly see most of the troops in front of her ally cower. He must really be important. She only wished she knew what his position was beforehand. Not that it mattered in the past. But at least she could have given him a bit more respect.

Zaiden shifted to look at each of the males that were standing in front of him. He then turned to the female who was still pathetically being held by the would be capturer. He gave one cold hard glance and Shayna swore in her head that she felt her insides freeze. She never wanted to make her friend mad and this stare drove that point right home! She could feel the grip on the male shift and then lighten as her friend motioned for him to release her.

Weakened from the grip and torment of being dragged along the hard floor, Shayna collapsed in a rough pained heap. She could not move her wrist and she knew that her shoulder was at the least fractured. One of the spirits above the circle glided down and put his paw on her other shoulder. 'I know you are innocent', he whispered, 'But that man needs you to stay strong and pursue those deaths. Trust him. He trusts you.' Her eyes twinkled in understanding and the male spirit took off.

She was able to look up just in time for her friend to come over to check on her. He frowned as he noted her injuries and glared at the now sorry male behind her.

'Does this look like a master killer to you? Were you soo confident that this tiny medium was soo dangerous that it would take this amount of fracture causing brute force to detain her? Where was your head, soldier?'

The male shuffled his feet. He had thought he would be in this city's commander's good graces for sure, but that promotion did not look like it was coming tonight.

'S-sir. The girl is a vampire a-and the evidence--'

Zaiden shut his eyes. It was clear he was annoyed.

'Our city is dominated by the undead. They are not dumb enough to try murder high profile personnel as their hierarchy are politicians. Last I checked this one isn't far enough up the ladder to have reason to take specific people out--or be commanded to do so.'

He opened his eyes to note her injuries, then eyed the one that had caused them.

'And if she tried she would not have gotten far given how she reacted with you.'

The male that had 'caught' Shayna backed off and Zaiden made a motion to semi-dismiss the guards. They would give him room but still be close enough if they were needed.

'Shayna,' he whispered concerned, 'Remember the bracelet I gave you? It lets me track where you are. I know you have an alibi. I know you are innocent. But you need to prove that to everyone else.'

He closed his eyes for a split second, condensing his thoughts.

'Someone is obviously after you. Set you up. Wants you permanently dead. Find out who you've upset recently. Track them down. Bring them to me so I can ID their prints. Be brave and do this so I can let you go.'

'H-how?' Shayna was in pain and still in shock from the entire ordeal.

'Conceder it an opportunity to work by me. This is serious. More so then you may ever realize. The sphinxes that were the victims each were high profile political figures. The entire city's government system is in shambles as the system tries to reorganize the delicate balance it once had. There will be an intense amount of fighting as well as an abundance of days lost to determine who will replace these figures.'

'Because of the nature of the situation, I can't let you go. My word is not strong enough to grant your freedom. Not without you working for it. What I can do is buy you time to investigate this and clear your own name up. Do it, Shayna. Be strong, so you can be released.'

'I can't let you go,' he slowly repeated, 'Even though I know you are innocent. If you don't do this, protocol demands a public execution on the spot. Do not let a sixth innocent victim die tonight.'

Shayna could hear the compassion in his voice. He was like an older brother to her and it meant soo much to see that he cared. While it was reassuring to know that he knew she did not do anything, Shayna was still scared out of her mind and was beside herself in what she could do.

'I..ill help but I don't know what or where or who or..or..' She looked around. 'No one would listen. Why would they let me go? I don't even know who would go after me.'

He put his paw on her uninjured shoulder and she tried to wipe a tear from her eye.

'Think. You may get a few inklings after visiting each scene of the crime. That is where I would suggest you start. Perhaps...your new ability will come in handy, if the victims have yet to cross to what your city calls the duat. For now though, conceder it house arrest. You are not allowed to leave the limits of this area. My brother will act as your personal chaperone. He will make sure things stay..politically correct. If you need to tell me something, go to him and he will redirect it.'

'Your brother?' Shayna had known Zaiden had a brother but she never did meet him. He just smiled. 'Do not worry about him. He has a knack of getting into the smallest spaces and will stick to the shadows..you may forget he is there. He is what we call a master shadow stalker.'

'Its not that it scares me. Im dumbfounded. I feel like ive been fighting for soo long. I don't want to hurt anyone. I never wanted to hurt anyone. I don't think I did hurt anyone..even when I was still transitioning. You helped me with that. Where do I even start? I don't know their people..where they are. I don't even know the main political figures within Ahket, except for Pharaoh Adjo.'

Zaiden calmly nodded. 'I think it will be best if I personaly escort you to each of the scenes to investigate. It will be less stressful for everyone, including you.'

She looked up at him and nodded gratefully, and then tilted her head.

'You said that there were links there that had nothing to do with me. What did you find?'

'Someone with bigger bite marks. Their jaw is much wider then yours. They could also drain all 5 adults to 100% within a ten minute span. Last time I checked, you could not finish a tiny rabbit in one sitting, or run fast enough to reach certain points across the city within ten minutes.'

Shayna made a face and then nodded. He was right. She was one failure as far as a vampire was concerned. Then again, she fought for her own mind and vision--and won. He had helped her become the original her. She could not hide that. If she tried he would just see right through it.

He continued. 'Ive seen my fair share of victim bites. These looked like something was intended then covered up. There were also lupine tracks found at each scene, for what it is worth.'

'Lupines....shape shifters?

He shrugged. 'Unless there is a hybrid out there it does not match how each one died. But you will know more when you see it for yourself. I will help you out. My brother will be waiting by the closest crime scene. You will be further briefed there.

Shayna closed her eyes and allowed her friend to help her up. She could barely move her side and she was not going to use her wrist any time soon.

It was clear now that the female was in soo much pain that she was not a treat. And if she turned, the commander was constantly watching. He could react faster then any other solder in the city's service. Once she was up, Zaiden motioned for the guards to either return to their positions or provide an escort to the first murder scene.

Promptly, he and the female were surrounded by a total of eight guards--two on each side. They then made the quick journey to just outside the center of the city.

[melodysangel]

Rank 1.3: The haunting visits

Shayna stayed very close to Zaiden. Not only was she in a massive amount of pain (from three separate areas and of varying intensities), she was also afraid of nearly everything around her. Was some arrow or dart going to whiz past her as they were walking by? Are the guards that were walking with them going to suddenly turn? She felt she could no longer trust anything. Because it felt like everything was out specifically to get her.

The male she was walking by turned his head towards her. He stopped (the escort stopped right after he did) and put his paw on her uninjured shoulder. It kind of felt like she could feel a bit of his calm trying to go through her. It was a strange feeling. It took a few seconds for it to register that he was looking at her. Startled, she looked up. Her eyes were filled with fear and pain. They also held innocence. Something that felt like the female should not be involved. But she had no choice and they had to move on.

After checking to make sure Shayna was as stable as she was going to get, Zaiden made the motion to continue the escort and he stayed slightly closer to her in the hopes that she could find it within her to calm. While she was still physically nervous and afraid, the group did make it to their first destination within a reasonable time.

Zaiden had taken her to the streets of a side alley near the center of the city. Shops lined the streets and one store in particular showed signs of distress. Large pains of clear and see through material lay smashed in many sizes and pieces. Glass windows were not common where she was from, though she often saw the glass itself being used for display or for trinkets. Then again, open stalls were not common here. Perhaps it was just something specific to the area.

Inside of the building with the shattered glass, two upset and crying females sat by something that was covered in a white and bloodied cloth. The merchandise in the store lay untouched though there were signs of prints or shuffling on the ground, as well as a clear sign of distress.

From the back corner, the pitch black shadows were deep. As Zaiden moved towards the corner dragging Shayna beside him, the shadows began to move, and then solidify into a male sphinx.

Still wrapped in dark wisps of the surrounding shadows, the male smiled and nodded towards Zaiden. His voice was almost dead silent. Too soft for the mourning females to hear. 'Trouble out in front? That took awhile.' The male by Shayna just nodded very slightly. His voice was similar to the one in the shadows. 'I was late. Had to initiate some damage control. But I believe things are now sorted out outside. You are finished here?' The male that seemed to just appear from the shadows nodded and briefly took out a small piece of papyrus with the map of the city scribed on top. He then marked out where they were currently before putting it away..seemingly in the shadows.

'Look everything over and gather as much information as you can. When you are ready, we can head to the next location' he simply said while looking at Shayna. She did not know his name but he really reminded her of Zaiden. He was far from mean or hurtful. While it looked like he could very well do something, she got the feeling that it was the last thing on his mind.

'I will be here to make sure you see the other cases.' Zaidens voice was still too soft for anyone else in the room to hear. Even though it was solid. 'After you piece things together with my brother, you are on your own.'

'I....' Shayna took a nervous gulp. Her voice withered and even Zaiden had a hard time hearing her. 'Ok.' She looked up at the unnamed shadow male and then slowly went over to the scene, being very careful to not disturb anything.

She closed her eyes and focused. There was no one here. No spirits had gathered. And it would be difficult to call a séance with someone that had apparently just died. Its spirit would still be emotionally scattered and it would not have the energy to come back right now.

Shayna frowned. Her ability as a medium was not going to get her any information, and the spirits that were distressed were nowhere near this location. It took her a good minute to take that in before looking at the space in front of her. Bother Zaiden and his brother were still off to the side at the back corner, and it felt like they were both a world a part. Like they would not be able to assist her if she needed help. She felt like she was on her own. Her..tiny Shayna..and two weeping females she assumed were related to the one under the white cloth.

Taking one big long breath, the medium slowly took a look around. She could clearly see scattered prints in the soft sand inside the shop. Some were typical pawed out like a big sphinx, and some had a different shape to them..kind of canine in feeling. She gently hovered her uninjured paw over one of the sphinx prints. It was much smaller then any of the ones on the floor. She looked over her shoulder towards the brother, and he nodded slightly, noticing what she was doing..noting it down as evidence. She then saw something silver and shiny coiled just under the cloth. It did not need to be fully revealed to realize what it was. 'That..I lost that in the cave..two weeks ago.' she muttered, stunned. Her hair tie. She thought she had lost it! Why was it here of all places?

Finally, Shayna took a step back and tried to confront the two mourning females. The older of the two had a big ring on her left paw, with a decent sized stone. The person under the sheet must have been well to do, and she guessed that the woman may be a wife. 'I..im sorry.'

The woman looked up with tears rolling down her face. She braced against the other smaller female.

'Too soon. Too soon!' She noticed Shaynas costume and her eyes sparkled with a bit of hope. Her voice was demanding and desperate. 'You! You can bring him back. Bring him ba-a-a-ack!'

Blinking, Shayna slowly shook her head. 'I---his spirit is not here right now. I can try a séance..but this soon..it might not work..'

She turned to look over at the corner. If she could talk to the male they could figure out who killed him. But she was afraid of the possible consequences of summoning the spirit this early. She didn't want him to go astray.

The bigger female shook and burst out into tears once more. It was clear that she..or the other female were not capable of talking.

With the last of the evidence unable to be taken, Shayna slowly headed back to the two males.

'I..I tried. Maybe...when it is a bit more stable I can see if he would be willing to talk?' She looked up at Zhaiden. She was still in shock and unable to really process things. Her voice was also barely audible.

He merely just turned to his brother who nodded. If it was easier to gather evidence later it would be easier to clear up her name and gather the real murderer. As long as it was not too much later. With the red tape.

Zaiden and his brother were beside Shayna when they slowly walked out--making sure nothing was disturbed. They then went to all the other locations--Zaidens brother marking each location down and all other evidence being very similar to the first. Prints that were much bigger then hers and some object Shayna had lost weeks ago.

At the last location, the medium practically stumbled when she saw the scene before her. It was an alleyway outside, and the spirit of the victim was still there, hovering above his body. The scene was otherwise identical from the first four--aside from the lack of apparent family that did not wish to speak to her.

'He-hes still here!' she whispered surprised. Blinking in disbelief, she looked towards Zaidens brother, and then Zaiden himself. They both gave a nod in understanding, but it was clear from the way they were standing that neither male could see the spirit in question. She waited a few seconds to attempt to stabilize herself before slowly approaching the covered body--being careful not to touch or interfere with the evidence.

As she got within a few feet, the spirit caught sight of her and scowled. 'Not another one' it rang, 'dirty undead things. I didn't even bother him!'

'Wait', Shayna insisted, 'I only wish to speak with you. To bring closure to what happened. Please! Grant me your audience so you may rest peacefully.'

The male was still hovering but paused, and bore a cold stare straight through her. It was like ice. She could feel the others hatred..anger..confusion.

'Rat', he finally mumbled, 'To hell that will help ME out! I do not wish to join the ranks of the likes of you!.' He humphed and shayna silently wondered if the male before her was once a dwarf. Or had dwarven blood. She was hurt internally by the cruel words but it sounded like he was at least willing to somewhat talk.

'My name is Shayna,' she started, 'and I do want to help. Help me help you. You will just burn yourself out if you hold all that anger inside!'

The male snarled. 'What do YOU want? Youre just like the last one I saw before I was killed!'

'I am not like that sphinx--I insist. But I need to know who it was you saw. Please help me.'

'To hell *I* know! Look. I was walking home and some hairy mongrel passed by. Before I knew it I have some idiot male tearing at my throat and now I am here. You happy now?!'

She looked towards the brothers, then to the spirit in distress. So, it was male, someone like her...a vampire? But they are not furry mongrels. She shook her head in confusion then looked back up.

'Im sorry, I do not understand. Did you see his face?'

Like a true dwarf, the spirit grumped stubbornly. 'No. Some long grey fur covered my face. 'Fore that though I noticed one thing. That thing had great big red eyes.'

He mumbled then looked at Shayna square in the eyes.

'Yers definitely are not it. Bigger. Glowing. Can I go now?! Get me out of here!'

'I...It can take time, it will happen, I promise.'

The male puffed out, irritable and then left the female alone. She did not have to go closer. The scene was identical to the others--she could tall from where she was.

Distraught, she slowly turned back towards the two males. she was shaking slightly and Zaiden put his paw around her uninjured shoulder.

'Tell me..that you heard and saw that. Im not the one that took his life.'

Zaiden looked at his brother then back towards the female. 'We heard whispers but I saw you talking to nothingness. Mark down what you learnt. Do you know where to start?'

'I...' She paused. 'The killer had big red eyes and was a vampire. Maybe. He said there was a grey furry mongrel that covered his eyes just after. The lupine tracks? Can a lupine become a vampire?'

Zaidens brother looked over and shrugged. 'Hybrids do exist though its rare. If you have a lead my brother will take his leave. Show me the way.'

'I.....' She looked up towards Zaiden but he was gone. His brother seemed to dematerialize in the shadows and it felt as if she was alone. 'The prints...' She slowly began. 'They must lead somewhere.'

With that, Shayna slowly tracked down one of the cleaner marks that lead off and out of the city.

[melodysangel]

1.4: the false lead.





The lupine trail was somewhat easy to follow. The tracks were deep and the dirt soggy. It lead Shayna into a forest...with other vampires? What was going on? She watched the others surround a building, crying out 'he will join us!' and 'He is one of us!' before running inside. She sat on her rump then darted inside after them.

It took minutes before another vampire had found the lupine. But it was not a lupine at all! It was some kind of hybrid...and the marks that he left were much different then the ones at the crime.

Someone had clearly set him up. The lupines didn't kill those sphinxes. What did?

Shayna made a face and approached the hybrid. Perhaps he knew a bit more then she did.

[melodysangel]

1.5: the tie in



Shayna slowly approached the tired hybrid, stopping at a broken down log to keep some distance. 'Do you know anything about someone killing others tonight?'

The hybrid paused and looked over, sniffing the air. 'Where have YOU been? Your type and my other have been at each others necks!'

She cringed. Zaiden said something about there being a sort of undead day of fighting. She didn't know the details though.

'No, ' she began, 'In the main city. Something purposely killed 5 very important non undead figures.'

It was hard getting the details out. It felt like there was a knot in her throat.

The hybrid head tilted and eyed the medium again. 'They are not a part of our war. Haven't been there!'

He paused and looked her over.

'Found this though. Its aura matches yours...must be for you.'

The hybrid carefully handed Shayna a piece of paper. All it had written on it was the same symbol she had seen in the cave the day she was turned.

The shadow behind her began to move. Two lithe paws came forth along with a second piece of paper. The one of the city with the notes of where the sphinxes were killed.

The dots lined up. It was the same image.


'W-where did you get this from?!' Shayna was in shock. The hybrid merely just shook his head. 'Found it. Was under this log. Wasn't there before though.'

'I...thank you.' She paused and looked over to the now fully concealed chaperone. 'The one that turned me. He has to be linked to this. Maybe its that voice in my head?'

'The master? That looks like his symbol.' the shadow whispered. If the voice was the thing controlling everything else..well everything was lining up quite well for sure.

'At least...now I have a solid lead. Sort of. I..have no idea where he is. Never saw or met the guy.'

She pondered this while slowly walking out. She had no idea where this thing was or what he looked like..but she could somehow FEEL it.

[melodysangel]

2.1: A mocking display







Shayna had just gotten out of the building and into the woods when her head began to hurt. Looking up, a big pair of red glowing eyes appeared. From the shadows movement, Zaidens brother must have seen it too. The eyes glowed and hovered high above. They glared evilly down below. 'You think you can find me? Come if you dare, weakling!'

The eyes then vanished and she looked back. Well, that confirmed this WAS the one they were looking for. He just challenged her...well. Challenge accepted.

[melodysangel]

2.2: the enchanted den



'I don't know where this thing lives!" Shayna exclaimed after the mocking eyes vanished. Frustrated, she began to look at the shadow behind her. 'I only ever hear it in my head sometimes. Except now. I know you heard that too!'

'Think,' the shadow hissed unhindered, 'if he is trying to keep you, you should have some recollection of his base or hideout.'

'Well...' The medium sighed. She still didn't know but had a hunch of..something. she did not know what but she did feel like something was pulling her. She had just ignored it for the time that she had been reborn.

'I....I don't want anything else to happen. Theres one path that's pulling me....but it feels like a trap.'

She turned around and shuffled her feet. Slowly she began the walk, being extra cautious and paranoid that anything could jump at her.


It did not take long to reach the border of Crux. She was on top of the hillside high above the rest of the city. Many trees were grounded and there was an enormous brown hill in the distance.

Waves of Shayna did not know what emanated from the top. This had to be the place. It continued to pull her in.

'How..do I get up there?!' she pouted.

'Hope you know how to climb' was all she heard from behind. The shadow remained silent as the poor medium tried to wrap her head around the circumstance she had gotten herself into.

[melodysangel]

2.3: The overwhelming proof



After eventually finding the entrance and exploring the vast underground and seemingly empty den, Shayna delves deeper and runs across the one that turned her, chained up onto the wall. A piece of lupine fur covers his eyes and flies munch on the remains of the dead body. The patch is identical to each of the patches used in the five murders. By him a deceased lupine--its lower half of the pelt completely stripped. It looks to be decomposing faster then the one chained to the wall and has many more feasting on it, though the front half strangely remains intact. The front paws are dusty--more so then the rest of the corpse. It looks as if this sphinx was in some sticky sand when its life ended.

Pools of blood continue to slowly drip from the male vampire on the wall, his fangs loosely out. A bite mark much bigger then Shayna could ever pull off scabs over his neck.

Scribe marks on the wall overtop look to be counters, but one mark in particular catches Shaynas attention. The lowset mark is the same symbol that has been repeated on their investigation time and time again. It just further links the master of this den with the crime scenes.

The mediums stomach begins to turn as she takes in the sight before her. She turns to her chaperone in the shadows, who brings out a crystal and fans it over the area, and then he melds back into the shadows. If this doesn't prove shes innocent, nothing will!

[melodysangel]

2.4--run for it!



All of the silence was too good to be true. The medium was nearly to the entrance when her luck ran out. A low rumble stirred the ground and moist heated air made the hair at the back of her neck stand on end. One red eye became visable, and then another. The eyes then began to move.

'Im a pacifist!' Though Shayna, as she scrambled for her own life after running into..she did not know what. And she did not care! She could not fight! The red spider goat horse thing was quick on its eight spindly eggs, but Shayna had new found adrenaline. With no turning more back, the medium followed the streaking shadow the rest of the way out of the den and into the light of the moon. She continued to run until she could no longer hear the low rumble or grunt.

Collapsing into a tree, Shayna took a moment to gather her second wind while staying alert. That..thing was not in sight anymore. Hopefully she was as safe as she was going to get. But she knew that Zaiden would be waiting and she was eager to inform him of what she found to clear up her name.

[melodysangel]

2.5: The won battle and the raging war



Shayna ran as fast as she could back to the center of the city. The guards gave her one fierce scowl but the shadow of her chaperone prevented anything more serious.

She found Zaiden near the center doing paperwork. He paused and turned around, his one brow raised. 'You look like you've been hunted down. What did you find?'

'Well..' Shayna started. She began to recollect the events that had happened as the rest of the watch started to gather. Many faces of disapproval were present but Zaidens brother had been there too. He brought out a purple crystal that began to glow. Instantly the recording device began to play back the happenings of this nights events. And everything that the crystal had captured was true to Shaynas tale.

When it ended its playback, Zaiden looked towards the others and then nodded. 'This clears your name up. But we still need the true murderer. Since he seems interested in you, it would be best if you stayed on to help.'

'Im no fighter!' Shayna started but Zaiden shook his head. 'Help us locate him, Shayna. You are not required to fight.

'I..ok. I just..stay close?'

He nodded and came up by her to sit down and finish his paperwork. They would leave with a platoon the second he was done.

[melodysangel]

3.1 and 3.2: The taunt and backfire




Shayna used her medium ability to try to gether information. A spirit began to approach her when the culprit's big red eyes appeared infront of her. Everyone can see these eye--incliding Zaiden and the rest of the troops, who are right by her, and the spirit vanishes, terrified. Only shayna can hear him talk, his voice billowing and commanding. 'Very good, minion. You make for a half decent gumshoe. But you are just a rat. What are you going to do if you find me? AHAHAHAHAh!'

The eyes vanish and Shayna is shaken.

The spirit takes a bit to come back, but goes up to Shayna when it does. 'I-its gone, right? That evil vampire needs to get what he deserves! By the way, I was meaning to tell you--hes on Kimalau Island. Theres a scribing tower there but he may or may not be alone. I will not join you--he is too scary for me! Goodluck!'

Shayna, still shaken, relays that info to those surrounding her since they cannot hear the spirit talk. The platoon get geared for travel, some members biting at the chomp for a piece of this vampire. Its an easy warp and Zaiden is able to use an amulet to get everyone there.

[melodysangel]

3.3 and 3.4--Just rewards.



Read that as 1 (left--shayna leading the others up the tower) 2(up--Zaiden knocking the vampire lord into a wall and grabbing ahold of Shayna before she falls) 3(right--the coup de grace on the edge of the top of the stairs) 4(down---the dead lord being pushed out of a window and into the sea)


Shayna cannot fight but she bravely leads the platoon to where the vampire is hiding since he is close and she can feel it. The vampire hones in on her and her alone, he nearly takes her out on the stairs since she does not know how to fight. Zaiden saves her by shoving the vampire into a wall, dazing him, then grabbing onto Shaynas paws before she slips into oblivion. The two males have a dual on the edge of the stairs, and Zaiden is able to knock him out then coup de grace.

The battle injures a few of the troops--who were busy fighting minions to keep the way clear. Shayna has a few massive cuts but her head is now clear and free. The one trying to control her is dead.

Zaiden pushes the corpse off the ledge of a nearby window and into the sea to be sure. He then warps the platoon back to the city and gets Shayna to crash while he finishes things up with the families and paperwork.

He makes sure Shayna gets the credit she deserves, even though he was the one that killed the murderer. It was her life on the line, after all, and she did figure everything out.

[melodysangel]

3.5



Shes crashing at Zaidens here. He is trying to take care of her.

She receives notes from each of the families thanking her for her bravery. Among the notes are some coin or other trinkets. Zaiden doesn't let her go until she is completely healed since she was severely injured.