False Faces|Sensatiamens, Sensatia

[Darastrix]

Schuldig teleported into Sensatia (Nagi had done the actual distance teleporting and was already back home) with a light pack slung over one shoulder and let out a sigh of mild relief. It wasn't warm by any means, but it was at least warmer than Khelek. He was somewhat used to the cold, but after Contrasta, he still liked warm weather better.

He started walking in a random direction, more to keep his blood pumping than anything. ~All right,~ he sent to Thelon. ~I'm here.~

[Kender Bard]

~Excellent~ Thelon replied. ~I'll let you decide how you want to handle this. In the meanwhile, I've informed the innkeeper of The Master's Inn that you'll be having a room there. If there's anything you require or want to know, just let me know.~

[Darastrix]

~Well, for starters, do the taken have anything in common as far as the last places they were seen alive or where the bodies have been found?~ Schuldig asked, altering his course to head for the Master's Inn.

[Kender Bard]

Thelon grew hushed, mentally, as he either tried to recall or consulted with others. After a few moments, he replied, ~At first they were near the walls but they seem quite random now, though no one has died within their own homes yet. All public space.~

[Darastrix]

~That you know, anyway. M'kay, so stragglers first, away from the main crowds to get established, then public places where anyone can be, so nobody they're copying would look out of place, plus it gives them a nice, big pool to pick from,~ Schuldig mused. ~If I was pulling something like this, and the point was to take someone and lessen the chance of getting caught so I can live here instead of hopping from person to person, after I got used to the place and watched for a while, I'd go after targets without families. Single merchants, maybe, or innkeepers. If I'm part of a group, that's better for all of us. Give us a base of operation--maybe a place to hide bodies--and the opportunity to get to know future prey and the habits of the town even better, or, if we take an inn, lone travelers would make a good escape plan or a chance to spread somewhere else, especially if it seems like people are being more careful around familiar faces.~

~Of course, since I don't know what they want yet, I'm just talking out of my ass, but that's at least one way it could be heading.~

[Kender Bard]

~I hadn't considered hiding, some of the corpses we've found were half eaten~ Thelon replied his disgust obvious. ~But I'll take your advice in mind. Would you like me to provide you with several individuals living on their own to investigate or should I simply keep tabs on them myself?~

[Darastrix]

Schuldig smirked to himself as the Master's Inn came into view. ~Got any single butchers? Oh, before you answer that, I need to make one thing clear. If I have to meet with you face-to-face at any point, I'll show up with my hair braided back. Small change, but it's something I never do normally, so if you see me with my hair the way it usually is, and I start walking your way without giving you a telepathic peep, that'll be one of your shapeshifters.~

[Kender Bard]

~Good thought~ Thelon remarked. He contemplated a moment before answering, ~I'll be wearing spectacles if we must meet together.~ He had a pair a friend had left and never bothered to pick back up and he hadn't thrown them out. ~And no, the local butcher is a family man. A lot of Sensatians are, actually.~

[Darastrix]

That was good...ish. The list of loners would probably be short; but if the shapeshifters needed to more food, they might just have to work together to take families at once.

~Well, let me know who does live alone around here, and I'll start nosing around. It won't even be hard to get away with; I can just use having Locket as my mentor as an excuse.~

[Kender Bard]

~I'll give it to you in pieces~ Thelon told Schuldig. ~There's still quite a few.~ He flashed names and faces at Schuldig in a steady stream, as well as where to find them. ~Thank you again for doing this.~

[Darastrix]

~Anyone ever tell you you have a gift for understatement, Thelon?~ Schuldig asked, pausing as his eyes nearly crossed at all of the information running through his head. His mind tended to jump from one thought to the next, but damned if he ever really remembered it all. ~'Quite a few?' Holy fuck. Nagi's got a great memory for facts and numbers, but I doubt he could get all of this.~

[Kender Bard]

~All right, all right~ Thelon replied hastily and ceased the flow. ~Perhaps you should just wander around Sensatia and try to feel out minds that don't fit?~

[Darastrix]

~Feeling up minds, I can do,~ Schuldig affirmed. ~And I might swing by the mind healer place to see if anyone's not shown up for a scheduled session in the last day or so. I bet that'd be the last place one of those things would want to go.~

[Kender Bard]

~Aye and do make sure that Mikasi is doing all right while you're there~ Thelon agreed, then slipped his mind away to turn to other business. Schuldig would certainly contact him again if needed.

[Darastrix]

Schuldig sighed. Do I have to?

His last communication with Mikasi had been about a year ago, after he'd requested the healer's help in dealing with Efil's abandoning him, and--ugh, he didn't want to think about all of that right now. First he'd toss his things into a room at the Master's and watch to see if the innkeeper (provided it was the same one) seemed to recognise him, since he had stayed there on more than one occasion. For better or worse (and usually not for better), Schuldig tended to leave an impression.

After that, he'd head to the Healorum. Healarium? Healy-hole? Whatever. The mind healer house.