Alton and Waesmaer enter the Blackfeather outpost. It’s not terribly far from where the victim was first found to have been beheaded. Waesmaer has already explained to Alton that the city keeps a contract with Blackfeather in case of emergencies, and this case most certainly counts. They should be able to have first pick of available professional adventurers.

They’re met by an elderly necropolitan, who introduces herself as Eudora Macris, the hiring agent for the outpost. Her taxidermy is excellent. Alton only notices her life status by the unnatural way the agent fails to breathe. She brings them into a small conference room with an oval table. The chairs are arranged along one of the long sides of the table, with a cork board on the opposite side. She carries a clipboard and many documents.

Waesmaer explains their need to hire a professional group, and Alton lays out the challenges facing them.

“So as you can see,” Alton finishes, “we not only need highly skilled personnel, but we need them in a rush.”

“I see.” Macris opens a folder in front of them. “We have many talented individuals in the city, but not all of them are qualified for this kind of work.”

The folder contains many cards, each with a name, a role, and a rank. Macris leafs through them quickly, resorting the cards as she goes.

“Vampires are not trivial opponents.” She removes most of the cards, showing that their rank is simply too low. “I’ll not feed it our green recruits, and it would be a waste of talent to risk someone with too little experience.”

“So what kind of timeline can we expect?” Alton asks nervously.

“What would be your best case scenario?” Macris asks, folding her hands over the smaller stack of cards.

“Is within the hour possible?” the elf detective can’t keep her hands still, fidgeting.

Macris looks at a clock in the room. It’s nearly eleven.

“It’s correct that noon is the safest time for a raid on a vampire lair.” She does some mental math. “I can get a team together and to you within your time frame, but it will be limited to who I have on hand. If you’re okay with having a less than complete party, then I’ll send my most suitable three to meet you at the location.” She puts down all of the cards.

“I can agree to that,” Waesmaer shakes the Blackfeather agent’s hand. “I can complete the paperwork as needed.” He turns to the detective. “Detective Alton, please go inform your partner of this news.”

“Yes sir,” Alton scoots out of her chair in a hurry. She’s headed out the door just in time to nearly run face-first into a strix who’s on her way in. Both apologize and maneuver around each other awkwardly avoiding the strix’s great wingspan. With that complete, her feet hit pavement and she’s on her way to the station.