Kipsy

Never trust the rat, or it will eat your cheese.

Name: Kipsy

Age: 96yrs (as of last appearance)

Hair Color: Brown / white stripe

Eye Color: Green

Race: Stag / Chipmunk Demon

Physical Racial Traits: Horn (broken)

Abilities: Social swarm

Skills: Effortlessly manage multiple contact network

Occupation: Contract Lead

Job entails: Use network to find contracts, collect deposits and payments on contracts

Average pay: Unimportant

Favorites:

Food: Pumpkin seeds

Time of Day: Dusk

Season: Fall

Drink: Sweet water

Thing to think of before going to sleep: Why could humans breed with demons but other species can't?

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Kipsy was dusting a shelf with a rag.

He set the item back, and kept dusting.
A panel in the wall opened, and in came a small wide-eyed male.

"Oh, Squek, what do you have for me?" Kipsy asked.

The mousy faced male offer a small covered basket to him.

Kipsy took the basket and opened it.

Inside was a plethora of letters and scrolls.

"Oh, a good selection.
I'm sure there's something he'd enjoy in here.
Any word on our problem?"

The other male looked down,

"I'm sorry sir, but we can't seem to determine where the issue is.

And the leads don't know how else to find the leak without alerting them to our knowledge of it..."

Kipsy sighed, "Alright. I'll come up with something.

We can't let this get any worse, tell the leads to tighten their reigns a bit.

If asked why, simply say that the royal family seems to be preparing a hunt.

And we want to play it safe this year."

The smaller male laughed, "Yes, last year was a tad chaotic.

I'll pass the word.

Anything else, sir?"

Kipsy thought a moment,

"No, that's fine for now."

The mousy male nodded and hurried out.

He closed the panel behind himself.

Kipsy went to his counter, and sat down placing the basket at his feet.

He reached in pulling out a letter, he opened it and read thru it.

"Psh, no way he takes this."

He marked it with an 'X', before he opened a slot on his left and tossed the letter in.

He picked up each letter, and marked it.

Some with 'X', others with a money sign, various symbols.

Before either tossing it down the left slot, or putting it in a drawer on his right.

The left led to the basement.

His workers would review the letters.

Then either tell the guild or client it why it wouldn't be accepted.

If they wanted to change something, they were allowed.

He picked up a scroll with a list of names.

Kipsy sighed, the list of people who were requesting to meet Purpura in person.

Purpura had only ever met with one person, outside of a contract.

Why that one? Kipsy didn't know.

He often wondered why Purpura insisted on hearing the names anyway.

Given how he never agreed to meet them.

Kipsy sighed, and set the scroll in the drawer as well.

He went thru each scroll.

Most were information.

On the last scroll he reviewed it repeatedly.

It was about his recent issue.

There was a rat in his carefully constructed nest.

He'd been trying to figure out who it was for nearly two months.

His most recent attempt had been getting his four section leads to review their employees.

Yet each swore by all their employees.

The leads had nothing to gain, only to lose.

He'd made sure of that.

Any contract regarding anyone in the network was treated as a threat.

Purpura had repeatedly agreed to eliminate those that threatened it.

He didn't want to involve Purpura on an inhouse issue...
But it may be his only option.

A bell chimed, as the front door had opened.

A man walked inside.

Kipsy peered over his counter at the man.

It was a large man, though dressed plainly.

Kipsy dropped the scroll in the drawer, and closed it.

It was magically locked, only able to be opened by his hand.

He stood, "Welcome, sir.
Searching for anything in particular?"

The man looked to him, "Just browsing."

Kipsy nodded, "If you need anything, please let me know."

The man nodded and began to roam the store.

The store was large and generally cluttered.

He often meant to organize better, but he had other priorities.

There were shelves and old furniture all about.

He'd always liked antiques.

He sat down, and opened a book.

After a bit the man came over to Kipsy's counter.

He set down an old clock.

Kipsy glanced to it, "Oh, yes.

Quite a piece.
Would you like to know more about it?"

The man shook his head,

"Nah, my wife wanted a new clock for the living room."

Kipsy nodded, and rang it up.

"Twenty-seven."

The man sighed, "That kingdom tax just kills it, doesn't it?"
Kipsy smiled, "Yes, sadly it does."

The man began to rummage thru his pockets.

Their was a small bell chime again, signally another person entered.

Kipsy began wrapping the clock gently.

Suddenly the man grabbed Kipsy's shirt, and held a knife to his throat.

He spoke in a harsh whisper.

"Alright, horn boy. Spill all you know about Purpura."

Kipsy looked scared, "Who?" he asked.

"Don't play dumb.

My contacts pointed me to you, so you're gonna tell me everything you know.

I want his real name, his place of address, everything."

Kipsy looked frightened,

"I really don't know what you're talking about.

Please, please don't kill me."

The man pushed the knife a little harder.

"I will cut your throat open if you don't talk."

Suddenly Kipsy smiled, "I think I'll be fine."

"Wha-"

A large spike went from the man's back out his stomach.

Before ripping out.

The man collapsed, and standing behind him was a male.

He was wearing a purple jacket, with the hood up, and darkly stained pants.

Kipsy rubbed his throat a bit, and dusted off his shirt.

"How rude." Kipsy said, before sighing.
"Could you... clean up the blood? I don't want it to stain."

The male shrugged, and waved his hand the blood moved absorbing into his pants.

Kipsy sighed, "Well, I had hoped to avoid you learning.

But it appears I'm having a bit of a rat issue..."

The male slumped into the chair near the desk, seeming uninterested.

"If I need your help later, would you?"

The male nodded.

"Ah, much appreciated.
Oh, so a couple new ones came in today.

We've got-" The male quietly yawned.

Kipsy stopped, he knew it wasn't boredom.

It was exhaustion.

Purpura had a nasty habit of overworking himself.

Often forgetting to sleep, or eat.

Kipsy sighed, "We've got nothing pressing though.

You should go rest, I'll contact you in a few days with some good ones."

The male didn't look convinced.

Kipsy smiled, "Besides, with my rat problem, anything I've got could be a trap.

I need to do further research on the clients and targets before I send you."

The male sighed, and got up.

"Oh, here's the list of recent meet requests."

He said pulling open the drawer, and offering the scroll to the male.

Purpura took the scroll, and examined it.

Before seeming to pause on one name.

He circled the name in blood.

"You want to meet one?"

Purpura nodded.

Kipsy felt surprised, "Alright, I'll get the details right away.

Come back tomorrow, and I'll have everything."

Purpura moved towards the door when the panel in the wall opened.

The mousy male came out.

Kipsy went wide-eyed, looking to the male.

Purpura had stopped walking for a moment, but left anyway.

Kipsy sighed, glad Purpura had left.

"Would you clean up the corpse?

I'm gonna close the shop for the day."

Kipsy went over and changed the sign on the door, before locking the door.

The mousy male examined the corpse before dragging it thru the panel.

Kipsy sighed, and clicked a light off.

"Time to find a rat."

He said determined, he went thru a door into an office space.

He flipped the desk, and it showed a web-like network.

It was his informants, leads, confidants, post masters, guild contact, royal liaison.

Someone in this network was a rat.

He reviewed the scroll from his leads.

Even with a vote of confidence he wanted to compare their notes to his.

He began working, examining each name.

He used a marker on his board, and used checks, and circles.

He reviewed and unchecked or checked circles, for a good few hours.

Finally, he felt done and there was maybe five circles.

He examined his chart some more, before he had a gut wrenching realization.

All the circles fell under one lead.

The lead incharge of the western quadrant.

That was the area where the capital city, and royal palace were located.

He didn't like this at all.

He flipped the desk, and went into the shop.

He opened the drawer, and took out all the letters.

If someone had been smart enough to find Kipsy...

They were smart enough to put forth a good contract.

He took out the three from the west.

He went back into his office, and reviewed them.

None were repeat clients, or seemed particularly hazardous.

None requested to meet Purpura before or after.

Each seemed a perfectly normal assignment.

The west wasn't a particularly busy region.

Kipsy knew Purpura didn't like working in the region much.

Partially because the royal family employed him often enough in the area.

He also knew that many families there were rich, and employed their own personal assassins.

Or perhaps the family had used one assassin for generations.

Whatever it was, they didn't get many takers.

The west leader kept busy, due to the guild presence in the area.

Plus acting as lead to the royal liaison.

Both were highly diplomatic needs, and the lead he had been hired with that in mind.

Perhaps he'd asked to much of him, thus the lead was failing in other areas...
A personal visit couldn't hurt, he'd already suggested the royal hunt as a reason for increase awareness.

Visiting the lead incharge of the area of the hunt wouldn't seem strange.

The next day he left the information he'd promised Purpura on the counter, and left.

Purpura could easily get in the shop, even if locked

Later he went up to a door in a village and knocked.

The village was small, rustic and had likely seen better days.

A small viewing panel opened, then closed and the door opened.

Kipsy came inside.

He was quickly greeted by a male with large stylized ears, and bright blue eyes.

Even blue hair, of various shades.

His essence just reminded one of water.

"Welcome, welcome.
What brings you to the west region?"

The two were walking to into an office, and Kipsy closed the door.

"I believe I've narrowed down my rat problem." Kipsy said.

The male looked concerned, "Someone in my command?"
Kipsy nodded, "After reviewing all the records, my only suspects are all in your region."

The male sighed, looking disappointed.

"My greatest apologies, I-"
Kipsy interrupted, "No need to apologize.

I had asked to much of you.
I should have known you needed an assistant, or co-lead to deal with everything."

The male sighed again, "There is always much to-"

There was a loud knock at the door.

"Speak." the male said.

Outside the door a voice spoke, "Sir, the guild wants you."

The male rolled his eyes, "Is it about the tournament? I already said he would not join. And nothing they offer will change our stance."

"Sir, they insist on speaking to you directly."

The male sighed, "I'm sorry, please make yourself at home, and do as you need."

Both rose, as the male exited the room.

Kipsy watched a male with pink striped hair follow.

Kipsy looked about, and exited the room.

He went to what could be called a living room.

He needed personal interviews with his five suspects.

Kipsy sat, taking out a notebook.

The pink striped hair came over, "Sir."

Kipsy looked to him,

"Oh, yes. Could I perhaps speak with each employee in the house?

And the liaisons.

With the upcoming hunt, I want to be sure everyone is prepared."

The male nodded, and went to spread the word.

The day dragged on as he interviewed each person, one-on-one.

Yet each seemed perfectly trustworthy.

None seemed to be his rat.

He sat examining his notes, had he missed something?
Had he been wrong in his notes narrowing it to these five?

There was a sudden commotion.

The house was full of noise as people ran about.

Kipsy stood, perhaps he'd been right.

As he looked about, his eyes watched the stairs as a male went flying down them.

The male was pinned to the floor, by black shadows.

Black shadows?
Kipsy suddenly gasped, it was Black Death.

Black Death was known to be a mixed shadow demon of some talent.

Speculation was a relation to the royal family.

Perhaps a b*****d child.

However, he never worked in this region.

Why was he in this house?
Had he been secretly gathering information to try to eliminate Purpura?

It didn't seem his style.

Kipsy moved quickly, the two had worked together on occasion.

Though they considered themselves rivals.

He ducked behind a curtain, as suddenly there was a curdled scream.

Scream after scream.
Black was killing everyone in the house.

Kipsy felt his mind race.

Suddenly his feet were yanked out from under him.

Black was over him, about to strike him, but stopped.

The metallic mask accentuated his breathing.

He got up, and instead offered a hand.

Kipsy cautiously took it and stood.

"Black, if I may ask-" Kipsy started.
Black put his hand up to silent him, as he looked off.

Kipsy was quiet, as the lead walked in.

The room looked in carnage.

There were corpses all about, blood splattered on the walls.

Items had been destroyed in the process.

The lead looked around, "What-?" he began.
Black charged him.

"Wait!" Kipsy shouted.
Black paused right infront of the male who was wide-eyed.

He backed up slightly, but shadows suddenly grabbed his legs holding him in place.

Kipsy looked to each side, "Why are you killing everyone?"

Black stepped towards Kipsy.
"This house is rotting from within."

Kipsy shook his head, "No, there's one rat.

Surely you've got him. Leave Thersang alive.

He has been a good lead, and a good friend."

Black suddenly laughed, "Thersang is long dead."

Kipsy replied, "He's standing right there."

Black went quietly behind the black-haired male, and spoke.

"This, is not Thersang."

He put his hand on the male face and slide it to the left.

The male suddenly screamed in agony.

"NO!" Kipsy shouted, stepping forward, before stopping.

The male's face was shifting till he suddenly had no face.

Kipsy stared in a long silence, before Black stabbed the male and ripped him in half.

Kipsy was silent, "He... was a puppet..."

Black let the corpse fall, "Yes.

They were all puppets.

A noble realized this was an information house.

And had an assassin slowly kill, and replace every person in the house."

Kipsy was quiet, no wonder he couldn't figure out who the rat was.

Puppets don't show their deceit, because they don't realize it's deceit.

They're usually unaware they're even a puppet.

"How did you know?" Kipsy asked.

"I have an informant in the court.

The lord was bragging about the cunning of his plan.

Something about slowly controlling the entire network.

Anyway, I met with Purpura-"

"When?" Kipsy asked in shock.

"Earlier today." Black said with a laugh.

Kipsy felt baffled, that must have been the person Purpura decided to meet.

It'd been a secret meeting between the two of them.

Black continued, "Anyway, he went after the assassin.

I came here to deal with the infestation."

Kipsy covered his face with one hand as he thought.

Black came over to him, and took his other hand.

He placed a small package in his hand.

"Do give this to Purpura when you get back." he said before vanishing.

Kipsy examined the package, then looked around.

"More discrete... And new management..."

He went over to the blue-haired, now faceless corpse.

"Poor Thersang...

I'm sorry that I failed you..."

Author's Note

Kipsy's story, he deals with a lot each day-to-day. Managing to run a large network, both as Purpura's liaison, and in that Purpura is Prince Tynan's personal assassin. So he's pretty much in charge of all of Purpura's work. Purpura gets the easy job of killing people.