He knew too much [ValamLym, possibly others]

[Iridescent]

Being watched was such a distinct feeling. The moment the sensation hit him, Andrew was on guard. He quickly made his way through the narrow, sandy streets, scanning his surroundings for anything out of the ordinary, anything that could confirm what he felt.
The part of the city where he lived wasn't the best kept nor the most modern, but it was cheap and he was free from prying eyes. Or had been, at least.
He was thankful that he had left the tavern after the evening had fallen; not only was he likely harder to spot now, in the dark, it was also a little less hot now and something told him he was going to need that in a bit. If he had to make a run for it, the sweltering heat wasn't the ideal environment.
And run he had to. Just as he was about to turn right at a very small, very narrow crossing, two men appeared from the other two streets, and then a third behind him.
For a moment Andrew looked at the situation. This was no coincidence. Not after what he saw earlier today. They were onto him.

He started sprinting down the only alleyway that was free, but the three immediately took after him. Andrew was an athletic young man, but he was no warrior. If they outran him, he could only hope their job was not to immediately kill him, even though he wasn't entirely certain the alternatives would be much better.
This part of Essyrn was a maze and it was both an advantage as well as a disadvantage. He'd lived in the city all his life, but he had by no means memorized all of it. One dead end would be enough for Andrew to be in deep trouble and this wasn't the kind of neighborhood where he could expect much help.

He kept running as fast as he could and eventually it seemed like he was starting to gain some distance. He gritted his teeth. A little more and he should be safe. Just a little more.
What he'd do from there he didn't know.
His heart was racing and he was starting to get tired. He turned left somewhere, into a long, but cluttered alleyway. He jumped over leftover building materials, around what looked like trash of sorts and managed to avoid tripping over something eerily reminiscent of a dead animal.
And then, halfway into the alley, someone stepped out in front of him. He came to an immediate halt and turned around, ready to run back, but at the end of the alley, the other three just showed up. He looked back at the man blocking his path and drew a short knife.
"Get out of my way," he said, out of breath. The man grinned briefly. He wore a hood, so Andrew could only see the lower half of his face. Andrew clutched the small knife so tightly his knuckles were white. The fact that the guy was not intimidated in the slightest was a bad sign.

It had gotten pretty dark by now and suddenly Andrew was awfully well aware of just how on his own he was. The other three caught up, walking the last bit, knowing their prey didn't have anywhere to go anyway.
"In a hurry, Andrew?" one of them asked.
"How do you know my name?"
"You're not the one asking questions here."
The next moment, the knife was slapped out of his hand and it fell into the sand, briefly shimmering during it's fall, but disappearing in the darkness immediately after. Andrew found himself pushed against the wall. The sandstone felt rough and cold against his back; his sweaty skin was only separated from the wall by a thin, white layer of fabric that clung to it unpleasantly.
He struggled, but the guy holding him in place had to be at least twice his size, even though he was shorter. Another picked something up off the ground and Andrew's eyes widened.
"Look at that, he dropped something."
As soon as he felt the cold metal against his cheek, Andrew closed his eyes.
"Now, we're going to have a brief talk, Andrew. And once that's over, we would like to show you why it's best you mind your own business, alright?"

[ValamLym]

Having spend a fair amount of time under the humans now, Nikkea had become more able at blending in. Despite this, she often menaged to catch glances every so often thanks to her almost intimidating aura. She didn't fear anything or anyone and it showed, in her stance, in the way she spoke, she bargained many a merchant out of his profit with her almost intimidating way of conversing.

She had been on her endless journey to find and punish the wicked, by her own means. As such, many a person had been found dead in the shining city of Essyrn. However, today she had been relatively peaceful, at-least until now. Her eyes were drawn to a peculiar scene, a man, sprinting past as if death was on his heels, seconds after three more followed, clearly in pursuit. Not even thinking for a second Nikkea sprinted after them, knocking people aside with little care, once she had set her mind on something, nothing would get between her.

She maintained a safe distance from the three men she was now following, the initial man out of her view by now. When she entered the alleyway herself she immediately drew her blade, not quite one of her holy spears, but it would do for these. When they started walking, she figured they had cornered their prey. She kept herself in cover around the cover, figuring she should at-least figure out who was the ''bad'' guy here, her initial instinct was to simply kill them all, but she felt it was her duty to only punish the wicked.

''Seems like you angered some bad people.. Andrew.'' she mumbled to herself, as she overheard the conversation, making up her mind that she'd at-least hear him out. Their sins were clear as the sky, worn on their sleeves like trophies. Figuring they would try to kill him if she simply charged, she decided to lie her way to their deaths.

Slowly walking up behind the three, she grabbed one of them around his neck and placed her blade on his throat ''Let him go, or your friend here will drown in his own blood.'' she announced the sharp end of her blade already drawing blood from the man she had caught, her un-natural strength more then able to keep the man in check. ''You don't want to make me angry.''

[Iridescent]

Andrew had already gritted his teeth, determined not to let them know his heart was pounding in his chest, when suddenly one of the men was grabbed from behind. An unknown woman had pressed a blade against his throat. Even in the dark the expression of shock on the man's face was unmistakeable. Andrew's own look of surprise quickly vanished, however. The guy holding him reacted fast and pressed Andrew's own knife against his throat.
"You do that and you won't be able to save this guy," he snapped, but there was a tone in his voice that was off, Andrew realized. This was a man who had little trouble beating answers out of someone, but the possibility of a comrade dying seemed to take some confidence out of him.
Andrew didn't move a muscle. All he could think about was the metal against his throat. One slash and it was all over.
All this time he'd known these guys were dangerous, in the same way you know an earthquake is dangerous; in the form of tidbits of knowledge and research. But standing here in the dark, with his life in the hands of someone who may well have taken lives before, that was a whole nother something.

[ValamLym]

Nikkea visually smirked when the man took up andrew and pressed the knife against his throat, this was exactly the response she had expected, anticipated even. She however knew from the tone of the man's voice that this wasn't a fair trade in his mind ''Oh, but I don't care about him.. I just want a chat. So, here's my proposal. You gently bring him over here, put him down and throw that knife away and I promise I wont cut you all to tiny little pieces.''

Her expression remained steadfast and stern, though a slight hint of joy did shine through, she was enjoying this. She knew it was wrong, but she did. The intensity, the fear in their eyes. It was all so beautiful to see mortals squirm under her grasp, pushing the blade tighter against the man's throat, now clearly causing a wound she finally spoke again ''So what shall it be?'' she nudged her head ''Your friends life, or his?''

[Iridescent]

Had it be any other person, there would've been no way Andrew believed the threats would've been taken seriously. But the blonde woman had an air of danger to her, of intimidation. Some people could do that, say things in such a way that you not only that they meant it, but that they were also willing to back it up.
There was a long tense silence, only interrupted by a few little gasps of pain from the man the woman was threatening. For a moment Andrew thought the impasse was going to go on forever, but then-
"Fine," the man holding Andrew finally said, between clenched teeth. He started pushing Andrew forward, not yet removing the knife.

About a meter or two away from the woman and her hostage, Andrew was let go and the man stepped back. Andrew immediately stepped to the side, so that his back was no longer turned towards the man with the knife. He looked from one to the other, while he briefly rubbed his throat. There was tension still. It wasn't over yet. The man might've been nervous before, but now that he was more or less humiliated in front of his men, he seemed angry as well.
"Now. Let. Him. Go," the man said, emphasizing every word, but not moving. His eyes were fixated on the blood that trickled down his friend's neck.

[ValamLym]

Nikkea waited patiently until the knife was removed from Andrew's throat, glimpsing at him for only a slight moment she smiled and turned toward the man, he demanded his friends release. ''Oh.. of-course.'' she simply stated as the sickening sound of a knife sliding through bloodied flesh was heard, the man gagging and gurgling on his own blood as he fell to the ground. Using this moment of confusion she immediately kicked the corpse away from her, grabbing the man who had stood to her left by his skull and smashing it against the walls of the alleyway, not just knocking him out, but killing him with the sheer strength she hit him against the wall with, while she did this, she tackled the man to her right with a free leg, before jabbing him in the heart with her blade.

The fourth man, whom she had been negotiating with caught her blade in his chest, thrown by her the moment it came loose from the other man. ''I don't negotiate.'' she simply stated, before walking over to the collapsed man and finishing him by stepping on his throat and turning her heel, the popping of his neck echoing through the alleyway.

After a few seconds she recollected her blade and sheathed it. Turning toward Andrew shortly after ''Now.. Why were they after you?'' she sounded almost demanding, clearly intent on immediately being informed about what could cause such vile men to chase him down. Had he stolen something? wronged the wrong people? the answer would not only sate her need for the truth, but it would also give the angel another target, at-least; so she hoped.

[Iridescent]

For one moment Andrew thought there might be a chance for the situation to end at least somewhat peacefully, but then the woman sliced her hostage's throat, with a sound that would likely be etched in Andrew's mind forever. He stepped back as the man stumbled and fell, dying within moments. The corpse was kicked away as if it were nothing and it was in that moment that Andrew realized that the woman might've saved him, but that that did not mean he was safe.
She killed two more, efficiently, quick and brutal. There was the sound of a skull cracking and Andrew suddenly felt sick. He pressed a hand over his mouth. He wasn't easily fazed, but then again; never in his life had he seen such brutality firsthand.
He was frozen. He looked on as she addressed the last man before ending his life too, not only by stabbing him, but by crushing his throat as well.

Andrew was about to throw up, but then she turned towards him. It took him a few seconds to find his voice and he tried not to look at the massacre around them.
"I-" his normal, diplomatic composure had left him for a moment. He was still reeling from the things he'd seen. "I was- I was looking into what they were doing," he finally managed to say, regaining his voice. As he spoke, his tone got more confident. This was a subject that was dear to him.
"I firmly believe that these men - or at least the organization they are part of - are responsible for the passing of a close friend of mine."
He took a deep breath, looking her in the eyes.
"It was made to look like a suicide. There was a letter - his handwriting, but I believe he was coerced - and he was hung." Saying that last word out loud was, to this day, unpleasant. "The last few months he was threatened by these people. They are behind it. And I'm finding proof."

[ValamLym]

Nikkea patiently listened to the man's story, a spark of interest surging through her body as he told the tale of his friends demise. Any normal person would've thought he was looking too far into things, that he had trouble coping. But Nikkea was not that person, she sought sin wherever she went, no matter how obscure it might be.

''Proof huh..''

she spoke, almost to herself before turning her attention back to him ''I think I can help you with that.'' she then stated, almost in a demanding tone. ''What have you learned so far?'' she then asked, figuring she'd make it sound like she would at-least take some convincing.

[Iridescent]

Well, she did not seem like she was intending on ending his life as well. Not that Andrew's body language relaxed; the corpses around them were still proof of just how brutal this woman could be.
When she suggested she could help out, his eyebrows went up. The surprise on his face was subtle, but it was there. Not many people before her had taken this seriously. And the one or two that did feel like there could be truth to it had been afraid to get involved.
He was not sure, however, wether or not he liked the idea of her getting in on this. On one hand she seemed powerful and power like that was something he didn't have.
She then wanted to know what he had learned so far. Her tone was more commanding than he liked, but if he closed his eyes for too long he could still hear the crack of that skull and he was intelligent enough to know who was calling the shots here.
He hesitated for a moment, contemplating where to start.
"Come with me, I live close by, I can show you," he eventually said. He probably had to move soon anyway, since these guys were onto him, so her knowing where he lived wouldn't make one bit of difference.
"It's easier to explain that way."
With most women, he wouldn't even have bothered suggesting this; they were smarter than going home with some random man, but given what this lady could do, he figured he'd be taking a bigger risk than she was.

[ValamLym]

Any other would have put serious question marks with the sudden invitation. However, Nikkea could not even remember the last time she felt something even remotely close to fear, which was not all that strange all things considered "If that pleases you." she simply stated.

She momentarily stared at him, trying to figure out whether he was hiding something from her. Naturally this was not possible by simply looking at this man. All his face showed was caution and perhaps a little bit of fear, nothing that was strange in his position.

"Lead on then." she stated taking several steps away from him almost as if she intended on observing him some more. She then would simply follow the man to his home. One she figured he would be visiting for the last time.

[Iridescent]

Lead on he did. Andrew wasn't happy with having his unprotected back turned to her, but he had little other options and he was glad to be away from the bodies.
Now that the cold of the night was falling and he wasn't running anymore, his body cooled down rapidly and he shivered.
He led the woman through three more cramped alleyways, before stopping in front of a downright word-down sandstone building. It stood a few stories tall, but did not even come close to the majesty of buildings like the Sha's Palace. The walls were stained and the whole street just smelled bad.
The door to the corridor wasn't even locked and Andrew walked in. On both sides were several doors and t the end there was a spiraling staircase which they had to walk up.

On the third floor was his home. He unlocked the door and walked in.
"Welcome," he said, his tone dry and the corner of his mouth twitched briefly. It was small and just as sad as the outside. Against the back wall, under a small, narrow window, stood a simple bed. There was one worn cupboard and there were multiple shelves, each one stuffed with books and countless notebooks, each meticulously numbered on the back. There was also a desk, several stacks of notebooks and paper on it. A small pot of ink and a feather were perched on top of one of the stacks.

But it was the walls that stood out. They stood out because they were covered in sheets of paper, all filled with sketches, notes and keywords, often connected with bits of thin rope, indicating a connection. But they were still orderly.
And because of that Andrew saw right away that something was out of the ordinary. He swore under his breath and walked over the wall where, in the middle of all the papers, one was missing and the gap it left had a small note in the middle. On the other walls several few more were gone, each leaving a gap that would only stand out to someone who knew exactly what went there.
He glanced over the note and then started frantically rummaging through the notebooks on the shelves. Multiple notebooks were missing.
"They were here-" he muttered, to no one in particular. "They found- Oh, this is bad."

[ValamLym]

Compared to the shining pillars of her own realm, this city was nothing short of pathetic, but nowhere in her wildest dreams did she think it could get worse. She was led through small alleyways and eventually into a disgusting looking structure, as if someone had forgotten to clean here for several centuries.. The worst part about that assessment being; it was probably true.

Her eyes were immediately drawn toward the wall, filled to the brim with the scribbling of a man obsessed. She really didn't feel surprise, heck, half of this was to be expected, but that didn't mean it wasn't still utterly disturbing. ''Looks like you need a hobby.'' she simply stated, walking over to the wall as well. She attempted to find the connection herself, but this truly was something only the man who made it could properly decypher.. or at-least someone who had inside knowledge about the information gathered here. Seeing as she had neither, she turned her attention back to Andrew.

''Friends of those guys outside I reckon?''

She simply inquired, not really as concerned as he was. ''What is bad?'' she finally asked, as she heard the man grovel about them finding something. Naturally she had no idea what they might've found, but she figured it would have something to do with his friend or something related to himself.

[Iridescent]

In response to the woman remarking that he needed a hobby, Andrew's only reaction had been a brief, cool glance from under his dark eyebrows.
He didn't speak until she asked wether the thieves were of the same group as the guys outside. Andrew's jaw tightened for a moment, as he distinctly remembered the bloodshed again, in vivid detail, but then he nodded, keeping his composure.
"Seems so."

He ran a finger along the spines of the books and notebooks. They used to be ordered alphabetically and numerically, since Andrew really liked having an easy time finding what he was looking for, but they were out of order now. As if someone had wanted to make it look like everything was alright, without understanding the person who's room they were going through.
So they didn't just take things, they've taken their sweet time looking through everything, he thought.
He took a deep breath, the sinking feeling growing.

"What's bad," he started, keeping his tone professional and his face straight, though his posture betrayed tension, "is that not only did they take important findings, but they also now have a list of people I've gathered information from. People who have all been victimized in some way. I haven't memorized every name on that list. Wouldn't write it down otherwise."
He clenched his fists.
"They now know precisely what I know and they also know precisely who snitched on them. I have taken into account the high likelihood of me eventually getting in trouble, but..."
He had fallen silent. He needed a moment to collect himself. From the moment he started understanding who these guys were he had known that getting involved was a risk. But it had never been part of the plan to have others be at risk as well. How could he never have noticed that someone must have followed him home at some point? How could he have been this careless?

[ValamLym]

Nikkea visually grimaced when he began speaking. That no doubt complicated things. She supposed he wanted to go to each person and warn them now, or at-least do something about it. However, with further thought, this could only be beneficial, they would no doubt run into more of the folks of those gangs and that would allow her to give them swift justice, while also royally angering her supposed brethren up in the high heavens.

''I suppose you wish to pursue them then, stop them from getting to your sources?'' she idly looked through the findings that did remain. Finding it almost impossible to discern something coherent, this truly were the scribbling of someone obsessed and only they would figure any of this out.

''But what is it that you know that's so dangerous to their entire organisation?'' She hoped he'd give her something she could immediately leverage to punish the members for, but she somehow doubted it would be that easy, it rarely was. Sadly for her part of her duty was also making sure no innocents are punished and as much as a gang might speak poorly of someone there have been exceptions and there could be again.

She herself began inspecting the room for any evidence, but so far she felt that whomever had been here knew what they were looking for and did everything in their power to make it look like they had never been there.. But there's always that one slip up.. that one tiny hint. Her time spend among humans and hunting their damned ilk had taught her plenty, a lot about investigating oddly enough, albeit somewhat limited toward how to find people.

[Iridescent]

Andrew nodded.
"I need to. These people are expected to keep their mouth shut. They don't do that, things can get dark," he said. From under the bed he took a dusty, old bag that he started to fill with the most important books and papers. For now that would have to do.
"I'll start from the top," he said, while quickly flipping through a small stack of papers, without looking up. "Kevan, my friend, had been acting strange for a while. He'd... had his troubles for quite some time, with which I have often helped him, but this was different. Like he was constantly looking over his shoulder. And when he- when he died it just didn't feel right. The note he left - which they took, by the way - wasn't like him. None of it was like him. He had to be coerced."

Briefly, Andrew straightened his back, before picking out seven very small notebooks and adding them to the growing contents of the bag.
"So," he said, looking up for a moment before going through another shelf with remarkable speed, "I started digging. In his home I found well hidden correspondence that made it seem like some people were putting pressure on him. It wasn't much, for obvious reasons, but it explained a thing or two. Those few letters are gone as well, of course."
The last words came out bitterly, while the rest of his explanation was done in his regular matter-of-fact way of speaking.
"I started asking around. Observed. Had to take my time with all of that. People pay these guys to be left alone. Small scale, all of this, but whatever it is they do, they do it well. People are scared, too. Took me a while to get some to talk to me."

He put the last three books inside the bag. Quite a chunk of the research had fit in it. Which of course wasn't all that strange, giving the very small size of his room, but he was still glad about it. What he was leaving behind - likely for good - wasn't exactly crucial and some of it was almost obsolete by now.
"Akbar's the first I want to speak to- a shopkeeper. If I recall correctly they were very keen on trying to get him to pay them for 'protection' as well. Let's go," he said. He walked out the door into the corridor.
"So, I got a pretty clear idea of the things this organization concerns itself with," he then continued, looking over his shoulder.
"Intimidation, blackmail, selling dubious things, violence, you name it. A few people linked them to one or two missing friends and relatives, but without proof."
He gritted his teeth.
"But those accusations don't come out of nowhere. It's no coincidence that a young man who refuses to pay them ends up dead, and that others in similar situations just vanish into thin air."

[Wrathwyrm]

Speak the shopkeeper's name and he shall appear!  Well, he shall be in his shop.  It is the way of things.  And lo, in a shop along one of the market streets of Essyrn, there was to be had a place that was labeled 'Akbar's Emporium'.  You have heard of it, yes?  Perhaps been to other cities with such a place setup?  Akbar The Third, going anyplace to make a profit, to satisfy customer and expence account.  Within this place, one would find the funny little man inspecting a cannonball.

The cannonball was one of the prototype shots used in the strange weapons in Connlaoth, the 'cannon'.  According to every fiber of his being, this round iron ball was quite valuable.  However, according to every bit of common sense he had, he might not be able to sell it.  Fortunately, this thing was a one-off from the insides of his coat.  Every now and then, Akbar reached inside his coat to pull out things.  It could be like this cannonball, or that banana, or the third sextent this week, or what-have-you.

At any rate, that was the sort of situation he would be found in, at this time.

[ValamLym]

Nikkea made mental notes of Andrew's story as he continued, it seemed fairly straight forward so and much more believable. This type of thing was probably not uncommon, if at all around these parts. ''You know your friend best, if that note seemed forced or artificial to you, then that's probably true.'' she rubbed her chin, visualizing what could've happened, picturing the man sitting at his chair writing the note with a blade at his back.

''So far it sounds like a textbook case, save for the fact that this gang is actually intelligent about it.'' she followed him through the door and into the hallway, making sure to stick close to him. She let out a short sigh as he continued ''Don't worry, you don't have to convince me.'' she quickly added as he spoke about their crimes. She figured nobody had believed him before and admittedly that was hardly strange, until she heard the full story she didn't believe much of it either, it was still possible he was simply looking to deeply into his friends death, but at the same time he had already gotten himself into trouble with these gangsters and that was pretty much her only interest.

She followed him down the streets and alleyways and onto the cities market streets. When Andrew halted near a stall she did too figuring this was this Akbar he spoke of. She didn't say anything and simply nodded her head in greeting, already getting tired of having to introduce herself; and she hadn't even really done that today.

[Iridescent]

When it became clear that the woman believed him, the corners of Andrew's mouth moved up briefly. He swung the bag over one shoulder and they went outside.
Given the fact that his home had been pretty deep into the labyrinth that was the city's backalleys, it was a bit of walk to the market district.
It was quite dark out, and Andrew kept a sharp eye on his surroundings, studying the people they came across carefully.
They probably don't even know what happened yet, calm down, he mentally told himself.

With his heart in his throat he stopped near Akbar's stall. He looked around quickly; most shops were already closed, and if something was going to happen, there wouldn't be many people who could help or even be a witness.
He suddenly felt awfully vulnerable in just his tunic and his unprotected back towards the street. He cleared his throat.
"Mr. Akbar? We need to talk to you, it's urgent." While Andrew dreaded the moment he'd be alone and everything that had happened tonight would likely come crashing down on him, right now he was on autopilot and had he been dressed better, he could easily have passed for something like a lawyer or an officer of sorts.

[Wrathwyrm]

The life of a shopkeeper depends on several factors to remain successful, in life.  He must be clever in his approach, high on social graces, strong in his delivery, and always seeing those around him as potential customers.  That is why the funny little man running this shop always greeted his potential customers with a smile and a heartfelt greeting.  However, because his hand had hit the cannonball as he spread his arms out suddenly, it came out like this...

"Welcome to Akbar's-"

THUD!

"-porium!"

Fortunately, nobody's foot was underneath the cannonball as it hit the ground.  As for Akbar himself, due to the fact that he was a professional shopkeeper, he didn't even flinch at the noise.  However, because he was the son of a son of a shopkeeper, with profit-making in his blood, it actually took him a minute to realize he was talking to Andrew.

"Aha...  The young man with the questions for Akbar.  What troubles your furrowed brow, fellow purveyor of fine goods?"

During their previous conversation, Akbar had not tried to sell him information, but actually tell him, due to the fact that he was a merchant himself.  Well, an assistant.  Still, it was a courtesy and for a good cause, so he was all for helping out.

[Iridescent]

Andrew had expected a lot, but not that the man would let a canonball fall out of his hands, which smashed down on the floor. He flinched when the thing fell, but regained his composure soon after.
Akbar wanted to know what troubled Andrew.
"Akbar, I'm sorry, but I have bad news," Andrew said, deciding that there was no use in beating around the bush. "The organization knows what I've been up to, they've been inside my house. What this means is that it is safe to assume they also know you and I have been talking. The notes I took during our conversation have been stolen."

He ignored the nasty combination of shame, guilt and stress that had balled up in his gut; there was simply no time for his emotions right now.
"You and the other people that helped me with my research are at risk. I am very sorry that this has happened. However right now warning you in time is the best thing I can do, I'm afraid."
For a moment he considered mentioning the earlier incident, but he knew too little about the woman to be able to decide wether or not that would be shooting himself in the foot or not.