Questions and Warnings

Kefka awoke the morning after the party filled with a sense of dread. He opened his eyes to see he was alone in his bed but could hear the coos of Jasnah, and the whispers of Harriet coming from the kitchen. He sighed contentedly as he got out of bed and made his way towards the bathroom. He grabbed his razor and began to shave his head. If he was going to lose his hair it may as well be on his terms. Satisfied with his work he washed his face and got dressed. He walked into the kitchen and giving his wife and daughter each a kiss. He sat at the table holding his daughter while regaling Harriet with the story of Zavala and boasting about becoming Beta. After breakfast He found some paper and a pen and began to write the details he vaguely remembered when entrapped in Patience's dream. He also drew the emblem as best he remembered. He may have only seen what Patience wanted to show him, but it could still hold clues. He pocketed the letter in his coat and left the house to track down Cold Stare.

It didn't take too long to find Cold Stare; he spoke to Roach-Eyes at the Camino Real caern, and she referred him to a old horse stable on the outskirts of Nacogdoches. Kefka found the taciturn Iron Rider theurge unlocking the hefty knotted oak gate. He approached Cold Stare with a smile and tipped his hat to him.

"Howdy Cold Stare. How are things going with the machine?"

The lanky Cold-Stare was wearing an overcoat over old suspenders, and Mocks saw the Garou symbols of 'truth' and 'hate' etched into his knuckles as he let go of the padlock of the stable.

"It was quite a find you got ahold of in Zavala. Purifying it is easy, but learning how it works without another machine to talk to is going to be... challenging." Cold-Stare leaned back on the stable door, peering at Kefka through shaggy grey locks. "I doubt a Shadow Lord is here to just to chew the fat, though. Spit it out, kid."

Kefka smirks and spits before responding to Cold Stare.

"I'll shoot straight with ya Cold Stare. I came here for 2 reasons. First reason bein' that machine there and what is on the other side. Twice now it's attacked Metal Noise and we had to reawaken him. Metal Noise said the Spirit had no name. What the hell kind of spirit ain't got a name?"

He pauses.

"Another thing if you send a message and play with it. Whatever that thing is will know. It weren't hooked up in the physical world and Metal Noise still got a message to it."

He shrugs and smiles.

"I ain't here to tell ya how to do your job, I just wanted to make sure we had given you what little info we had."

Kefka then sat on the ground crosslegged and grinning.

"Second reason I came here is Slick Blood said you knew a thing or two about tattoos."

"All spirits have names." The theurge said flatly. "The technology spirit isn't all-knowing, but if the Jaggling is correct, that would mean that what we are dealing with isn't a spirit."

"I know my way around a heated needle, yes. What do you need, and, more importantly, what are you offering?" Cold-Stare's brown eyes were like honey that somehow had gone bad.

Kefka cracks a grin.

"Not a spirit, eh? That's good. We don't get in trouble for killing things that aren't spirits."

The grin fades away as the next question is asked.

"The names of three fallen friends. For payment I can offer cold hard cash, being a deputy has its perks. If you aren't interested in that..."

Kefka fumbles around in his pockets for a few moments. Eventually he pulls out what looks like a hunk of salt. He holds it up in one hand between thumb and forefinger.

"This talon was a gift to me from Chief Bowl. If you are caught in an illusion the salt rock will shatter and dispel the illusion. Keep it on your person and it will activate automatically."

He tosses it to his other hand and pockets it. He looks to Cold Stare with a raised eyebrow.

"What is the normal method of payment?"

Cold-Stare nodded somberly. "I see." The gold-brown eyes did not blink. "That's a favor I'm willing to oblige." The Iron Rider roused himself from where he was leaning against the barn door, and waved off the Ragabash. "Keep your talens and money. You've been helpful enough regarding the telegraph, and that's enough, for now. If I need a small favor a grandson of Thunder can provide, I'll let you know and we'll be even."