[Stacked] Diary of an Ooze Witch (Joseph de Steel) Entry 4.1 (Patreon)

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4.1

With my partnership with the Mistress formulated, we began in earnest to unravel the conspiracy that I was convinced surrounded my Brother’s Madness. While I had no direct contacts inside of the city of Placedo, my perceived compliance in whatever Diacyst’s schemes were bought me at least some leeway in interacting with the social fabric, at least, as long as I played along with their charade. I was considered a predictable factor, a known quantity that would play his part to the end, too cowed by the potential scandals that Diacyst and his cronies could manufacture to be of any threat.

And to a degree, they were correct. My hands were tied between my obligations to the Steel Family Trading Company and the good name of that same family; to act the rebel, to threaten the system in place where I now resided, would be folly and wasted in action. They were the ones with all the power in this case, their influence vast and their operations obfuscated. It did no good to point fingers into the void, especially when the void had teeth.

But I was not without options. Jeru, as much of a lout he had been, was still something of an unknown factor. His ability to gain knowledge through his personal charisma was going to be invaluable in the coming nights. My partnership with the Mistress may also be a boon in disguise. Despite my misgivings after our initial meeting, she proves to be a woman of impeccable charisma and composure. Already, the Mistress has mapped out much of Diacyst’s network running throughout the city. Outside of his lieutenant, Ketzgel, he had made connections with the Blacksmith’s Guild leadership and higher ups in Placedo’s political hierarchy. There even were rumors that he had obtained a contract with the city’s guard for a rather lucrative deal.

Still, I needed to be mindful of how overt my hand in all this was. Jeru and the Mistress were still hidden to Diacyst and his minions, but if they continued to root about the city’s business, I doubt that would continue to last. Furthermore I was unsure of how far Diacyst’s influence extended beyond Placedo, and what that would mean for my own family. I wanted to avoid putting them in any danger lest Diacyst gain any more influence over me than he already had. I was in a land of wolves, so stepping carefully was a necessity.

I shifted attention toward the east end of Placedo. From my arrival into the city, I have been hesitant in making any investigations into that area due to the incursion of the Uhl Kattan. But as dreadful as their reputation is, the Mistress has promised a way of infiltrating that part of the city (under her supervision of course). This has raised my hopes in finding out more about the machinations of this sordid city, and with it, an answer to what has happened to my Brother. Call it a gut instinct, but my intuition leads me to believe that the answers I seek can be found there. If the harlot he has obsessed over is indeed real, I could imagine no place more fitting for her than the slums of such a despicable city.

I should add that the Mistress also seems to have an invested interest in finding this mystery woman for her own reasons. Curious, I tried to pry on what her motives might be, only to be shut down in an instant. I cannot blame her for being cagey about this, but a lack of details is slightly irritating for one in my position. Regardless, I will allow the lady to keep her secrets, as long as they do not threaten to endanger the lives of me or my own.

When my meeting with the Mistress had adjourned and she disappeared back into the city, Jeru wished for me to lend him my ear.

“Do you think we can trust her?” He asked candidly and with deference, “I understand that she has information and connections we lack in the city, but are we sure she isn’t lending us into a potential trap?”

I had considered Jeru’s statement carefully, especially concerning his normal propensity for the company of women seemed absent from his demeanor. It was true that I had not much grounds to trust the Mistress for what I had known about her. It was also a possibility she was another of Diacyst’s agents sent to handle me properly. Again, I felt inclined to trust my gut on this dangerous prospect. While I had no reason to trust her, I also had little reason to believe that Diacyst was using her either. Perhaps it was my elitist nature or my careful eye for detail, but the Mistress did not carry herself like someone who would move in the same circles as Diacyst. Despite her comely appearance, there had been a distinct stain upon her person that betrayed her best efforts to look the part. It was hard to put into words, but it was as if she had constructed a façade of what she thought was a noble bearing. She didn’t have the innate grace of one growing up in the lap luxury, but of someone who worked hard to put on airs. Simply put, she was a commoner pretending to be a noble. Not to admonish her attempt, but it was that personality of willfulness that made her a terrible fit for someone to get in Diacyst’s good graces.

I also recalled that the way she saw my Brother’s painting with the same revulsion that I had known… There was no way she could fabricate that reaction, especially if she could see past the glamour innate to it.

Alas, I must draw this entry to a close. In the morning, I am set to meet with Gabrin again and arrange for more sales of Steelbane iron. Loathe as I am to be a part of whatever scheme Diacyst has in mind for me, my routes are limited and I feel I am handcuffed by circumstance. Better for me to play the part of a doting stooge than to arouse suspicions of those unseen agents within the city. I would have to trust that Jeru and the Mistress would be able to unearth the secrets I sought in my stead. It’s amusing that one such as I, of noble birth and fortune, should depend so heavily on those who would be treated as commoners. Perhaps I am showing my lack of worldliness, a fatal flaw to be sure.

-        Joseph de Steel

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