• Solo • The Miracle of Graft

[Woe]

graft
3 of 5
noun (2)
: the acquisition of gain (such as money) in dishonest or questionable ways
also : illegal or unfair gain

Definition Credit

According to Merriam-webster.com

The catacombs beneath Almund wound their way through the oldest city of Scalvoris. Stretching the entire span, from the sewer drains in the harbor, to the outlying establishments and facilities. Woe had sent his runners along every edge of the catacombs over the past while, his contacts among some of the more downtrodden members of society ensured a thorough map of the underworld. He thought he'd pinpointed the location of the Court of Miracles. In no small part thanks to Balthazar's snooping during the crisis with Chrien and the Heart of Scalvoris, Woe had all but confirmed where it wasn't, which went a great distance toward figuring out where it could be.

Woe thought at first it must be near the Harbor. It seemed most logical to place one's criminal organization in a locale where illicit goods and loot could be transported to and from the city. But the answer was much more sideways than all that. It wasn't far from a cove near the harbor, nor was it far from a stable outside the city limits. In fact, the main facility, where jobs were doled out and cashed in on, were right beneath his nose, as he inspected that stable for 'Merchant Guild Business'. Having connections with official institutions could go a long way toward accomplishing one's goals. It could do far more than a silver tongue, and a palm laden with onyx nels.

So he established the contact with Cobra, and sent warning that he would infiltrate the Court of MIracles. It was an odd application process, for one wishing to join them, or at least liaise with them. He almost wondered how the sharp-tongued woman would react to it. Would he find a dagger at his throat the moment he moved through the door? Would these rag-tag miscreants even be able to see past their noses, to know that someone had invaded their home? Woe had placed a steep wager on the presupposition that they wouldn't.

So he arrived at the stable, cloaked in shadow and echoing the mirrored blending of the wolf totem. To further compound his discrete infiltration, he invoked the effigy of shadow cloak, wrapping himself in darkness and further merging with his own shadow. He didn't want to be known as Woe here. No, he knew Wraps, but as Erebus. Wraps had never met the man who was Woe.

He waited for one of the members to arrive, as he dsecended into the trap door that led into the catacomb corridor, which brought them to the entrance to the Court. All that was required, was to wait for Cobra to arrive, and in going to warn the other members, let him in the front door.