It's a typical awake-time in the Courts-- the boundary between day and night is currently straight overhead, with the black half on the right, and the shimmering day-glow colors writhing cheerfully on the left.

A cool breeze blows ashes from somewhere to somewhere, with a bracing smell like a cross between wet paint and burning rubber.

The Black Road can be seen off to the right, crossing a plain and passing beyond it over the dark abyss toward a citadel, firefly gleams flickering about it. Gauzy bridges drift in
the air, extending from far in that darkness, and demonic forms travel upon them as well as upon the black road.

At your back, you hear something unexpected.

It's a black-and-gray whirlwind. "Allura Caryx," it says in a voice like a small hurricane. "I am a messenger sent to tell you to attend the head of your house, who has a job for you. It would be advisable not to keep her waiting long."

"A job ! That's for adults. Im not old enough for a job. Who are you again ?"

She approaches the whirlwind.

Her mind goes from the wonderful day of enjoying herself she had planned to the dreary demands of family business it seemed like she had been roped into.

"I am Lascus, a demon in House Caryx's employ. I know little of the job in question, save that Duchess Velana chooses to assign it to you."

"Well Lascus, thanks for the message, I better go see what she wants." She gave him whatever an appropriate tip was for his services and then headed off to see Velana feeling a bit intimidated to be called before the Duchess.

She made sure she was presentable before heading to the houses main holdings to see her.

Once Allura enters Caryxways, every fourth or fifth person or demon she sees who notices her says "Ah, it's you. Don't keep the duchess waiting..." And they hurry her along...

(1. I presume Allura doesn't dawdle?

2. So wait, how old is Allura, anyway?)

Allura runs through the halls when everyone it looking at her making her feel self conscious

She is just a kid

(...I was not clear on this.

But I can make it work. But... I need to know exactly-ish. ...11? 10? 9? 8? Younger? Older?)

((You know what I want to avoid problems with RPOL let's make her a nice boring 18))

(Ah, yes, I hadn't thought of that. Got it.)

Duchess Velana is alone when Allura enters her reception chamber, a black hall with green stained-glass windows. "Ah, young Allura. I have..." She pauses. "...A mission for you," she says, her tone suddenly deciding to be hushed and excited (because she's hoping that Allura will respond well to aren't you lucky, you get a cool secret mission).

"I'm kind of excited Duchess, I have never been picked for any missions before. What did you have in mind for me ?"

That is exactly how Allura takes it getting hushed in town though perhaps a little louder due to her first time missions jitters.

The duchess seems pleased that her tactic is working so far. "As you know, our enemies are House Sawall, led by the schemer, Mandor. There have been some small attempted security breaches lately on one of the paths we take to train the Fire Angels. I want you to go to a location in Shadow and ask some questions. The people you find at the place I send you will be of House Sawall, or else they'll be in Sawall's... employ. I want you to find out if anyone at that place knows anything about an attempt to find the Fire Angels' training ground." The duchess puts on her I am talking to a young person voice even more than before. "You are so young and innocent, I feel that you have a nature that might lead others to trust you, so you can see why I have chosen you for this mission, yes?"

"I will do my best, but if they know my house won't they be close lipped about saying their nefarious attempts at infiltrating our houses holdings. I can't even believe any would be dumb enough to mess around with our fire angel training grounds they risk having one of those things sicced on them. I prefer smaller more controllable demons but the fire angels are amazing."