To Hella Howesward, the most skilled and sought after consultant on matters of the dead, or perhaps more correctly, how they ended up leaving the mortal coil the night was young, the company stiff and the summer temperature was even chillier inside the large morgue that served as London's central hub of corpse-handling. The King's Mausoleum having been built with economic help from the Graveyard Society, was state of the art in equipment and staff...And looked like the misshapen offspring of a shoebox and a aquarium. Brown-red brick corners with glass and metal making up the first floor, with the second and third floors being all glass and steel. The two underground floors were a sturdy concrete foundation however, and built like a military bunker. Hella had her own office at the second floor, with a view of the Thames that she could enjoy if she ever got the urge...Though why anyone would find the Thames enjoyable, is another topic.<br/>However, amongst the other staff it is jokingly said that her real office is in sub-plane #2, where her own little domain had been made with the corpses coming there usually special cases, or those that the Alpha or Omega squads brought in. Today, fortunately for everyone's lunch it was an Alpha-case that had been brought...And the body doesn't remind anyone of haggis.  Just some poor schmuck who'd gotten caught in the path of a rampaging beast over at the Camden Market. Case of death might be trampled by a hybrid between a bear and and elephant, or having been hit by half a dozen shots from the Alpha squaddies fire. Alan Cross, the young head honcho of the Alpha teams sit on one of the metal tables meant for the dead and watches Hella with a calm expression of immense boredom.<br/>So Doc, any chance you can give me the cause of death so that I can sign the papers?"<br/>He was the type of person who'd make a great action movie star, handsome enough looks but a stony tough-guy act. And he's also dripping beasty-goo on her table.<br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/47/34/dd/4734dd4d33301c22823f4ac741cca776.jpg)</div></div><br/><br/>To Tegan, watching the pups of London's boudas paid well enough, as they were insanely protective of their cubs and she had come very highly recommended by Jarl, Hella's baby brother who was connected to the loose federation of packs and shifter types making up the London Shifter Community. Though right now it is perhaps not the most glamorous job as one young cub is hanging off her back, it's arms held tightly around her neck as it squeals happily. Another youngling is holding on to her right leg.<br/>Amanda, the bouda matriarch and a motherly woman in her late 40's chuckle as she enters the nursery.<br/>"So the mighty is brought low by the tiny yet again. Are you doing alright Tegan?"<br/>She'd taken to the younger Bouda from the moment their eyes had met, and accepting her as part of their pack would have happened even if Jarl hadn't asked. Right now she's holding a plate with freshly baked cinnamon buns in one hand.<br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://images.assettype.com/motherly/2015-11/32e2a989-c45c-4aad-86e6-77a34eac2845/unnamed-4.jpg)</div></div><br/>Brígh Murphy, up and rising star of the College of Mages, and liaison to the Foundation for Magical Education, Research, and Lecturing (Or Merlins among the common man) had been summoned to the office to the director of the foundation. Mr Parker was an old man, as British as they came and less Stiff-Upper Lip and more Rigor Mortis Face, a pair of small glasses sitting on his nose and making him look even more like a stern teacher about to hand out a spanking, while forbidding you to drink tea.<br/>"Miss Murphy, how good of you to come. I hope that it was not too bothersome for you to be called here at this hour?"<br/>The MERL, unlike the CoM, was strictly commercial; providing a public face for magicians of all stripes and aid with judicial needs.<br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://andermcintyre.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/stern4.jpg?w=560&amp;h=516)</div></div><br/>The Knight's of the Round were heroes, the good men and women and the occasional troll who protected the British Isles from dangers. However, heroes had a tendency to die young in their line of business. So the London chapter finds itself without another member as one of their own was slain in Camden earlier this very evening. So at the chapter house things are a bit more quiet than usual, withthe Knight-Commander having called a gathering.<br/>Elisabeth Marsden, the Knight-Commander of the Knight's of the Round in London is a stern woman, a veteran of the Highland Campaign against the Loup horde and the epitome of steady leadership. She looks out at the full knights and knight-sergeants gathered, thirty men and women all in all.<br/>"Knight-Sergeant Westley gave his life in the service of the Order, his loss will be felt as he was among our most senior staff. But as always my brothers and sisters, we must persevere and continue onward . Knight Swan, I would like for you to head to the King's Mausoleum morgue and retrieve his body as soon as possible. He deserves to receive a knight's full burial."<br/>She turns her focus to Cassandra, and while her tone is gentle enough it is still a command.<br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/52/77/8d/52778d749bc86caaf5508accf9610d15.jpg)</div></div><br/><br/>At the Hireling Society, things were interesting. The attack at Camden had stirred up fears among the common man that monsters were going to burst out of the woodwork, even now that Magic had been down for hours. Which meant a lot of people, primarily shopkeepers at Camden had paid for mercenary guards. One of those were Joss and her partner for the evening, a sword wielding Norwegian called Gunnar. The grizzled merc having found a support beam to lean against while people milled around.<br/>"So, yo tink dey have anytin' to worry about Josch?"<br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/55/fa/1c/55fa1cb9f3c7c62e52a5509f6d9907f3.jpg)</div></div>