History is made and history is forgotten as sands imperceptible trickle through the hourglass of time immemorial. Days beget weeks, weeks beget months and months beget years.

It had been ten years since Iridia's well-worn boots had last landed on the cobblestone streets of Rimuldar. On one hand, it seemed like a lifetime since she had roamed the dark alleys and high rooftops as a cat burglar in the city. On the other, it seemed like only yesterday.

Much had changed, but yet even more had stayed the same. The prince's fist still gripped tightly around the city. Black-cloaked riders trotted down the streets in pairs, glossy ebon helms shadowing their scowling faces.

Rumors and gossip of strange happenings in the night were commonplace. Witches and warlocks were burred at the stake on a monthly basis for practicing Black Magic. People whispered amongst themselves that spirits and wraiths roamed the streets and haunted the abandoned buildings. Any place found to be haunted was demolished. Taller stone buildings were erected in their place. Stone gargoyle statues were the style, as were iron-barred windows.

Soon after arriving in town, Iridia learned her old gang of fellow thieves had been disbanded. A fire had consumed the Raven's Claw Pawn and Consignment shop years ago. Zuul had been brutally murdered in the night, his hands and wings staked to the wall of the burning shop. They found his body charred and blistered.

It didn't take long for the former thief to find some like-minded individuals. A cloaked and hooded figure strode beside her down one alleyway near the merchant's quarter. Inside his pack, a pixy rode stowaway. She had just met them both at a seedy Lower Ward tavern. Eddy Smalls was the man's name; while the tiny pixy went by Suzette "Finger Breaker" Silverwing. Whether or not the five-inch-tall winged person could actually break fingers remained to be seen.

The fact that Eddy reminded Iridia somewhat of the long-lost Frank, and the fact that in this small world Eddy actually knew Frank well, brought the two together. Eddy had met Suzette -- who had a fierce love for the drink -- only a few days prior to that.


_{To be continued...}

Far, far away, stands the Free City of Travial, a capitalistic burg rivaling Rimuldar in size. The city is led by a council of merchant-aldermen and is famous for it's annual merchant guild rendevous, many of which hold considerable sway within the boundaries of the Empire of Man. The council aldermen all hold the top positions within their respective guilds and have enough allies in positions of influence that the city has been able to maintain a position of neutrality against the empire.

But the politics of the guilds aren't any of Gaiven the Dumb's concern. A member of a fraternal brotherhood of librarians, scribes, and historians, Gavian owns and operates a small, cozy shop nestled between a butcher and a baker on a merchant street in Travial. Keeping his business in operation is at the forefront of hi mind as he sets a stack of three heavy tomes down on a table and wipes his brow.

Recently, Gaiven arranged an agreement with a printer to have books printed that would be within the means of the average citizen, hoping to gain a new market. Unfortunately, there isn't enough interest, and he is losing money. The new books means that not only the shelves are filled, but brand-new books are piled on tables and floor all around the little shop.

Gaiven puts his hands on his hips and surveys his progress. He sighs wordlessly; there's still a lot of organizing left to do.


_{To be continued...}

Just then, Gaiven hears the jingle of the bell above his shop's front door. A customer!

Books seemed to be the life blood of Xavier's work.  Either as a formulary or as a spellbook, he always seemed to have one in his hand at some point during the day.  Today would be no different.  Having exhausted the shelves of his own library, he set out to dig deep in the stacks elsewhere in search of knowledge.

The new shop seemed a bit small and it's location left a little something to be desired, but the lure of the books within still brought Xavier in.

Casting his eyes about the room, he looked for anything that might catch his eye.  When nothing seemed to present itself, he sought out the man behind the counter.

"Excuse me, do you have any books that may pertain to the field of alchemical research?"

[Private to Stripe: OOC: Looking around the room for any texts that may actuually be magic items.]

With a smile Gaiven turns around, nodding to the newcomer. His smile seems to falter though, when he sees Whisper's face. The genuine smile fades into a business-like and totally non expressive demeanor, as he listens to Whisper's request.

He seizes a pen, dips it with ink, and quickly scribbles on a piece of paper. Finished, he turns it around for Whisper to read:

"I'm afraid we do not possess any books in that field."

Back in Rimuldar, the threesome happen upon an occupied alleyway. Four young hoodlums turn their way as Iridia, Eddy and Suzette turn the corner. One whistles. "Damn! Look at what we gots here! Hey, honey, why don't you get yourself a real man?" The snaggletooth street thug grins wickedly and starts walking towards Iridia and Eddy.

 "Oh for fuc... listen I really don't feel like having a fight right now, it always ends badly for me. Do us all a favor and scram."
Eddy draws out his knife and braces himself for an attack.

Eddy Smalls rolled 9 using 3d6. Fast Draw (Knife) bl:13.
Eddy does All Out Defence.

Iridia have certainly grown up in the past ten years. She is a child no more. Both in mind and body, she had matured. While her beauty remains, it had lost much of the innocence it once had. Now, she shows signs of determination instead of indecisiveness, and cunningness instead of naivness. Her body had grown set of womanly assets that would make other women envious, and men lustful.

"There now, Eddy. Be a man." Iridia whispers and steps forward.

"I don't have time for you." She hisses and leered the man, "Out of our way, or else."

Iridia slowly draws her long knife. She didn't have the patience to deal with lowly thugs at this moment. She also needed to practice

Action: Wait, If he steps in within two yards, then step forward and punch his stomach.
Active Defense: Sideslip retreating dodge for the first attack, brawling parry for next, and dodge for the third attack.

01:21, Today: Iridia Silvermane rolled 6 using 3d6. Intimidation. 
This message was last edited by the player at 00:14, Fri 23 Jan 2009.

Xavier continued to gaze at the books filling the shelves.  His eyes came to rest on a certain tome.  Pointing a finger at it, he spoke

"I would like that one, the one about fairytales.  Classic fairytales I believe."

Xavier waited for the man to turn and retrieve the book.  As the man walked, Xavier continued,

"Do I know you from somewhere?  Your face seems really familiar."

"Wha?  What's going on?"  A flap on Smalls' pack opened itself, and the smell of something like a very small distillery came wafting out.  "I was asleep!" Five inches of furious pixie exploded out of the backpack, a sharpened knitting needle in one hand.  She spiralled for height above the five giants.  "You had to start a fight while I was sleeping?  Insensitive!  You're nothing but a bunch of crosseyed, slack-jawed oafs!  You!  Short stuff!  Next time you decide to piss off some thugs, have the common decency to put your pack DOWN when you know I'm asleep in it.  One of those four impotent asses might have hit me, or worse, the whiskey!"  As she delivered her high pitched tirade, she gained a bit of altitude, and circled above the four goons.

If the thugs start anything, she's going to hit the leader with her Pixie Dust
This message was last edited by the player at 04:42, Fri 23 Jan 2009.

At first, the wide-eyed thugs are surprised. Once the proverbial cat lets go of their tongues, they all start laughing. Loudly.

"Come here, you! I always wanted one 'o you fairies!" The leader makes a quick grab for Suzette.

For his trouble, he gets a puff of glittering dust in the face. He exhales quickly and waves the sparkling mist away. "You little!"

The other thee stop their laughing and start toward their leader.

---

OOC: Iridia and Eddy are about two hexes apart from Suzette, who is in an adjacent hex to the leader. The other three are one hax behind the leader.

Stripe rolled 9 using 3d6. Grapple.
Stripe, on behalf of Suzette, rolled 11 using 3d6. Dodge.
Stripe, on behalf of Suzette, rolled 4 using 3d6. Pixy dust.
Stripe rolled 8 using 3d6. HT roll (Vs. 11).

At first, the pixy distracted the thugs, but when they see Eddy is holding a knife, two of them whip theirs out as well. The leader seems to preoccupied with the flittering menace to notice.

"First, you pull a balde on me a me buddies, jus mind'n our own b'ness. Second, you're tell'n me ta get out 'o me own alley..." The second thug, knife drawn, has to struggle to come up with the number after two. "Thirdly, you's gunna make me spill your blood on me mudder's bir'day. Dat ain't good, stranger!"

The  thug advances, a bloodthirsty glimmer in his eye.

"Little!  At least I'm not the one stuffing a cucumber down my pants.  'n I'm not a poncy fairy, you mouldering morsel of dog excriment, 'm a bloody pixie!"  Recognizing her spear, so handy in warding off cats, would be virtually useless in this fight, she dropped it to the ground, then raised her arms into pixi-fu unarmed combat stance, while discharging another puff of glitter from her dragonfly wings into the leader's face, ready to drop altitude in a second if he should try to grab at her again.

OOC: If he attempts to hit her again, she is going to parry and retreat, not dodge, giving her a parry of 12 (in addition to the -7 to hit for being teensy).  If that occurs, she'll go for an hand-lock.  If not, she'll blow dust in his face.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:43, Fri 23 Jan 2009.

Gaiven nods, and walks to retrieve the book. At Whisper's question, a wave of relief passes over the mute. He has no interest in reconnecting with his old past, least of all the sorcerous Whisper. If he hasn't really recognized him, there still was a chance that the whole encounter could be ended with the exchange of a book for some coins.

Returning with Thorden's Tales and Adventures, Gaiven places it on the table, and scribbles another line of text for Whisper to read.

"I don't believe I've seen you before. I'm certain I would remember. The book will be 15 silver, please."

As the man returned to the counter, Xavier studied his face. Suddenly his eyes opened wide and a smile crept across his face,

"Gaven was it. No! Gaiven, that was it.  Rimuldar last time we met.  I'm sure of it."

Xavier put his hand on the book and looked at Gaiven,

"It has been a long time, have you kept in touch with," A moment passes as he tries to recollect, "Just what was her name, Gaiven?"

 "There's two problems with that Suzette, first: I didn't know you stowed away in there again, and second: even if there was any Booze in there to begin with, it will certainly be gone now.
And you, Brainiac, you were not minding your own busyness, this isn't your alley, and your mother's birthday was last week, when I did her well."

Thug advances to where?
If he walks into striking-range, Eddy will Attack. If he only moves 1 step, Eddy will All-Out-Attack on the leader.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:23, Fri 23 Jan 2009.

A hostile scowl appears on Gaiven's face. He furiously scribbles a single line, and then forcefully turns back the paper so that Whisper can read:

"I am sure I don't know what you are talking about."

"Back out, Suzette." Iridia orderd, stepping forward again.

"I'll say this one more time, step aside or you bleed." She ordered the thugs

Action: Wait, if anyone comes within striking distance then Iridia will step into close range and punch. If the leader tries to grab Suzette she will step forward again and punch him in the guts.

Active defense: Side-slip retreat dodge (+2 to dodge), knife parry for the next attack, and brawling parry for the third.

19:32, Today: Iridia Silvermane rolled 13 using 3d6. Intimidate. Skill = 13

Xavier smiles as he reads the hastily scribbled words on the paper.  Taking the quill, he writes back to Gaiven,

"I am sorry for my misunderstanding.  I was unaware that you couldn't talk.  Perhaps we can do business later.  I have many stories about dragons that I would like to have scribed.  Hopefully you won't charge me an eye-tooth for it.  There is much money in it for you!"

Xavier set the pen down and dropped two gold coins on the counter.

"Be seeing you around then."

[Private to Stripe: OOC: I hope that's not tooo subtle.  If he doesn't respond, I will return to my wagon and examine the book.]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:26, Sat 24 Jan 2009.

Buzzing in the air, Suzette keeps out of the man's clutches, but can't manage to catch one of his fingers -- lucky for him!

From out of nowhere, Eddy wades into the middle of things with a quick thrust of his knife! With a resounding scream, the man topples over and crashes into the nearby wall clutching his bleeding gut.

Like a street brawler, Eddy stands before the other three thugs in fighting stance, bloody knife in one hand.

"I'll say this one more time, step aside or you bleed." Iridia ordered the thugs. Her words are punctuated by a squeal of pain from their fallen leader.

The three standing thugs, two with knives drawn, scowl and bare their teeth... but they hesitate, locking gazes with both their opponents.

A few tense seconds later, the one without a knife breaks the silence. "Com'on! We gotta get him to the healer!" He goes over to his friend and starts to lift him. "Com'on! There'll be another time!" He grabs the nearest by his sleeve and tugs. With that, he backs away and helps his friend lift their wincing leader from the ground.

"Yes, there will be another time!" the leader seethes through clenched teeth. "I swear on my mother's grave I'll kill you and have that gods damn fairy! I'll kill you!" His last threat is a shout as the two drag him away. The remaining thug backs away, then sheaths his knife and turns to follow the others.

"Yeah, you better run, $#&^er. Next time you try this stuff, YOU MIGHT NOT GET THAT CHANCE!"
Eddy turns to Suzette with a quickly fading look of concern in his eyes and then to Iridia.
"You're alright? Yeah, too bad. Ok, so my shortcut was a bad idea, but you're the one who supposed to know where we're going. Spill the beans girl, I don't want to run in circles around the city all day."

OOC: Eddy Smalls rolled 6 using 3d6. Snapping out of Berserk, CR12.
BTW where are we going?

Gaiven looks despairingly at the paper that Whisper has left him. Screaming was said to have a therapeutic effect at times like this. Just a shame he didn't have any voice. Though he could always develop an ulcer. The old man said you were never too young to develop an ulcer. Apparently he was right.

Iridia smirks at the sight of the retreating thugs, then turns to Eddy.

"Nice move there, Eddy." Iridia remarks as she sheathes her knife. "We should have killed them, though. It'll be really inconvenient if they try to bring a bigger gang against us later on."

"Since you asked, I have no idea. I've been away for ten years, this place has changed quite a bit since then." Iridia continues while rubbing her chin, pondering on what to do next. "Well, I guess finding some form of lodging would be a logical next step, don't you think?"

"Well you can stay at my place. It's not much, but it's home. I'm sure you can eh... compensate me in kind for my trouble."

OOC: Eddy Smalls rolled 13 using 3d6. Self-C roll for Lecherousness, CR: 15. At -100 for walking right into this one.
On that note, Eddy has Appearance: Attractive, in case you where wondering.
Should I roll for Suzette too, or don't humans and pixies 'swing that way'?
This message was last edited by the player at 11:10, Tue 27 Jan 2009.

"You'd better run, you slackjawed, lily-livered, yellow-bellied, street spawn.  Only whores you could get to love you would be your mammas, and they'd still charge you double!

And you! Tiny!  You have a flop?  I got dibs on a rafter, and if any of your fingers come near me while I'm sleeping, I'll make it bend backwards."

"Oooh, how interesting." Iridia passes her tongue over her lower lip as she grins to Eddy. Iridia steps in closer, and leans her face toward's Eddy's, leaving nothing but several inches in between. Her grin widens as she stares into Eddy's eyes as she tries to measure his seriousness. To any lesser man, Iridia would seem scary, or insane.

When she finally has enough, Iridia withdraws her face. "Very well then, let's go. Come along, Little Suzette."

Xavier had returned to his wagon with his new purchase in tow.  After several hours reading it, he decided enough time had passed and returned to the small bookstore where he purchased it.

Walking through the door, he had a large smile on his face,

"So what made you decide to open a book shop of all things?  Never knew you were much of a reader.  Must be some one of a kind ones in here.  Ever consider getting copies made of these?"

Xavier set a hand on a stack,

"A fire in here and your life's work would be up in flames.  Might consider some sort of protection."

Xavier scanned the room before crossing his arms,

"Had any time to think about our prior conversation?"

Eddy takes Iridia, and under some protest Suzette, to his small house. It's an 2nd floor attic, on top of a small bookstore. The thick A-frames of the roof make walking upright difficult, but at least they kept the water and the wind out. They also keep the sunlight out, making it very dark. Although 3 candles surround a small house-altar next to the shaft of a chimney, Eddy is reluctant to light them. A flatted sack of hay, that smells distinctly of use, qualifies as a bed, and a chair with a broken leg is the only other furniture present.

"Welcome to my crib. Make yourself at home.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:39, Thu 29 Jan 2009.

Gaiven is in half a mind to just chase the sorcerer out of his shop. Then again, he is a sorcerer, and even if he might not put a curse on Gaiven, there is the threat concerning his store.

Still, Gaiven remains silent with his arms folded across his chest, saying nothing.

Xavier moved the paper across the counter and set it and the quill before Gaiven.

"Perhaps your memory needs a little jogging.  It, and I'm sure you know what it I'm talking about, was stolen by you and the cute girl and the fellow that got executed."

Xavier pointed to the paper,

"Ring any bells yet?  No?  Then let me continue.  You sold it to a creature by the name of Zuul, who has since been killed."

Xavier crossed the store to stand in the window,

"Do you have any idea what has become of 'it'?"

Xavier stood there, looking out the window, smiling at those that passed by.

"Hey, nice digs!  JUST my size!"  Suzette puts on a dazzling display of aerobatics as she flits about the tiny appartment.  She disappears up above one of the beams for a moment.  After a brief shower of mouse droppings, she pops her head out from behind the beam.  "Home sweet home.  So, what's the scam?  We going to knock over one of them mansions?  Find those terribly rude bully boys and beat the crap out of them?  I'll hold them, you punch!"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:52, Fri 30 Jan 2009.

"Well, we could work on the alley we just 'conquered', but I was really looking for something bigger. So yeah, we could do a mansion, but we'd need to find a place to sell the loot. I don't know any living fences. You?"


OOC: Eddy Smalls rolled 14 using 3d6. Looking for fence. Streetwise, bl:12.

Gaiven grabs the pen with a demonstrative sweep of his hand, and dips is just a bit too violently, ink spattering over the edge of the inkwell. Xavier can hear the sound of scratching as he finally writes a short sentence.

"I have no idea where the tooth is."

Xavier at first smiles as he sees Gaiven scribbling quickly on the paper.  Reading the words there causes his smile to disappear.  Dropping the paper back to the counter, he smiles again,

"Then perhaps we should ask our old friend Zuul."

[Private to Stripe: OOC: AFB right now, but I think Summon spirit will aloow me to ask questions right?]

Gaiven jerks the paper back to his own side of the table, scribbles, and then thrusts it back.

"I am not going back."

[Private to Whisper: Travial is pretty far away from Rimuldar. Six weeks journey in fact.]

Iridia wasn't very impressed, and showed it. However, she wasn't expecting much in the first place so she chose not to complain.

"A mansion would be good. It has been a long while since I did a job, and I am itching for it." Iridia added, "However, we need to know a fence first, or else it's useless. I used to deal with one other than the Gargoyle before I joined the Raven's Claw, but I don't really remember where he is, if he is still around anyway. It isn't safe to ask around for him. Eddy, how come you are a thief living here and you don't know a fence?"

12:48, Today: Iridia Silvermane rolled 12 using 3d6. Area knowledge. 
This message was last edited by the player at 08:51, Sat 31 Jan 2009.

"Well I used to know a guy named Zuul, but he got himself wasted. I think I know a good tavern where we could find a new one. It's better than staying up here."
Eddy leads his companions to a shady tavern in the underclass housing district.

Eddy Smalls rolled 9 using 3d6. Looking for Underworld. Streetwise, bl:12.

"That ugly bastard is the one that was introduced to me after I joined the Raven's Claw. Good riddance. He ripped Frank and I off when we were trying to sell a diamond. I believe it was called the Dragon's fang, or something like that. Anyways, I could swear the stone was magical." Iridia slammed her fist on her palm, then took a deep breath. "Well, no use griping about something that happened years ago. You are right, let us go to a tavern. Come along Suzette, you are about to get your daily booze fix."

With a loud crack resounding, a man comes tumbling backwards out of the Cracked Mug's front door. Following him, an ogrish brute strides out, cracking his knuckles. "And stay out! Yer barred fer a week."

Inside, Eddy, Iridia and Suzette can see through the window that the tavern is a rowdy madhouse full of drunkards and wenches. Music from the three piece band can scarcely be heard above the din.

It's just past nightfall, but the party has already started for the patrons of this Lower Ward bar. There are other taverns that might not be so busy.

Suzette climbs for altitude, and spirals above the crowd, looking for a familiar face, any familiar face.

She fails.  Shrugging philosophically, she waves impatiently at Iridia and Smalls, and powerdives for the bar

OOC: 08:31, Today: Suzette rolled 14 using 3d6. Streetwise, looking for a friendly fence.

"Then perhaps I should bring Zuul here then?  Have it your way."

Xavier shrugged and sat himself on the floor facing the window of the shop.  Crossing his legs and placing his hands palm up, he stretched his neck a bit, then spoke to Gaiven,

"Might want to make sure no one bothers me. Don't want any spells misfiring in here, could be messy."

With that Xavier began chanting.

There was nothing that Gaiven wanted less than seeing Zuul again. Well.. even less he wanted magic performed in his shop. Gaiven weighted the option of throwing Xavier out on his ear against the chance of some dark magic overflow killing him and throwing his soul to the hells. Gaiven didn't want to go to hell.

With a harried expression, he strides over and closes the latch on the front door. Then thinking, he opens the latch again, and walks outside to close the shutters across the windows.

Several queit minutes drag by with Xavier chanting as he sat on the floor.  Suddenly his arms grew lax and his sagged.

"I was not able to bring forth his spirit here."

Xavier shook his head while it still hung to his chest.  Looking up to Gaiven he smiled once more,

"Don't worry, I can try tomorrow as well and everyday after that until we get him!"

Standing back up he went to the door and unlatched it,

"Oh and don't worry about security.  I'll bring my own tomorrow."

With a sping in his step, Xavier walked out the door and gave a few quick nods and 'Good evenings' to those he passed on his way back to his wagon.

[Private to Stripe: OOC: Actually made no attempt to cast the spell, just trying to force the issue with Gaiven]

Xavier returns to his grandiloquent traveling wagon and enters it with a flick of his flowing robes.

Earlier, he had used his arcane powers to delve into the book he had purchased from Gaiven. The wizard could tell as soon as he first laid eyes on it sitting on Gaiven's shelf that it was a tome of magic, not some trifling book of fairy tales. His mystic spells and enchantments raveled that the book was not as it seemed, but he could not decipher its true nature... Further research will be necessary.

There it sat on his reading podium, opened to its center. It stared back at him like an unsolved puzzle.

Iridia walked into the bar behind Eddy. She didn't look too comfortable with this atmosphere even though she spent the majority of her time away from Rimuldar in such establishments.

She picked an empty two seat table and sat down with Eddy, and began checking the room for people she knew.

And there he was. She didn't recognize him at first, and has her doubts, but it could possibly be Jim.

"Oi, Eddy. I think I spot an old Raven's Claw member." Iridia whispers, "Should we try and approach him? He was a bastard last time I met him."

 "Well you'd know better than I do, but frankly we're desperate. We can't afford to be picky."
Eddy takes out 2 copper-pieces and beckons Iridia to follow. Playing with the metal in his hand he sits down in front of Jim and let's her open the conversation.
 "Hi there."

Standing in the doorway, Gaiven looks after Whisper has he disappears down the street. Closing the door, he considers for a moment, and then closes the latch again. He wasn't feeling in the mood for any more customers today.

Maybe if he kept the shop closed, Whisper would stay away. But it is a forlorn thought. Even if the wizard didn't use some magickery, he could always be back at a later time. Hiding would, in this case, solve nothing. Gaiven shivers as he considers the other things he is hiding from, and how Whisper's presence might compromise that.

Take a deep, slightly shuddery breath, Gaiven walks back to his desk and secures a new piece of paper. Grabbing his pen, he writes a short message. He takes a moment to look it over, takes another deep breath, then nods and places it on the table. He doesn't look forward to the sorcerer's next visit, but at least it might be his last.

Dawn came and Xavier was quick to hop from his bed.  Gathering a few simple items he walked about the wagon until he found another room,

"Jordan! Boy, are you awake?" Somewhere within, a murmur announced the boy's rise from sleep.  "Off to see if our new friend is awake.  Instruct Golem the way to go, I've got a bit of work still to do on this infernal book.  Give me a knock when we arrive."

With that he returned to his small cabin and began reading the book once more, looking for any clues that might be held within the illusionary pages.

"May need a bit more work ..."

---

By the time the wagon creaked onto the street that held the small bookstore, the sun had risen to nearly midday. A small boy sat on the driver's seat alongside a figure entirely covered in a strange reddish metal.  Directions to the bookstore had been given and then re-given to the metal-clad driver until the wagon came to a lurching stop near the door.  The small boy jumped from his seat and gave the metal figure a few quick words which made him dismount the seat as well and follow the boy.  Standing next to the door, Jordan gave the door a few strikes with his fist, then spoke loudly,

"We're here."

A few moments later, Xavier exited with a small glowing ball, the size of a melon, floating near his head.  Looking to Jordan, he patted the boy on the head,

"Thank you.  Now let's go pay our friend a visit."

Looking to the metal figure, he spoke evenly "Follow."

The three along with the floating ball approached the shop's door and knocked.

Gaiven had not opened the shop today. The shutters are closed, and the latch holds the door closed. He didn't want anyone to be here, when the sorcerer arrived.

The knock on the door makes him jump slightly, but then he calms himself. Grabbing the message he wrote the day before, he rises from the chair behind the table, and walks to the door.

He quickly opens the door, and prepares to hand over the piece of paper, but then halts. The metal-clad man. The orb hovering next to Whisper's head. Gaiven reconsiders leaving the sorcerer on the street, and quickly waves him inside, sticking his head out the door to see if any of his neighbors saw, before closing the door behind the trio.

Then, he hands over the paper.

I don't have the Dragon's Tooth. Zuul doesn't either, unless he managed to reacquire it. I sold the Tooth to Thomis the fence back in Rimuldar. I also sold him a magic box you might be interested in. But I've got nothing to do with this stuff anymore. I don't know anymore. I wish you a good journey.

Last time Iridia saw the man, it was a dark day indeed. He house had been ransacked leaving her little more than a homeless vagabond. Frank had just been drug away to certain doom by the Black Guard, a mage-tracker leading the charge. It felt so long ago, but it seemed like only yesterday the man was leaning against the walk talking with Whisper and she. "Whisper" -- there's a man she hadn't seen in a while either.

What was his name? Jim?

"It's Joe," the man replies to her greeting with a grin over the top of his pewter mug. "Last time I saw you, you were a wanted woman." Looking into her eyes, he talks just loud enough to be heard across the table above the loud tavern's din. "Probably still are."

"Whose your friend?" he asks with a nod in Eddy's direction, but without moving his eyes from Iridia's.

About that time, there's a commotion at the bar. Apparently, Suzette is managing to cause a stir inside an already rowdy saloon. A group of drunkards are laughing a pointing. "Looky there! A gods-damn fairy! Bartender, what's you putting in my drink?!"

Walking into the store, Xavier looked to the metal clad man and spoke,

"Let no one enter."

Turning to Jordan he spoke softly,

"Make sure he doesn't rip anyones arms off will you?"

Jordan smiled and nodded, running up behind the golem and speaking quietly to it.

Xavier had crossed the room and smiled towards Gaiven.  Seeing the paper he took it from him, a bit of confusion on his face. Xavier received the paper and cast his eyes upon the paper, reading the words quickly.  Dropping his arms down, he looked from the paper to Gaiven, his smile gone,

"I have a host of questions for you, none of which really matter at this point."

Xavier let out a sigh and placed his hand upon his forehead.

"You sold it how long ago? Ten years?  What are the odds that Thomis the fence is still in Rimuldar, let alone even alive?"

Squinting now, Xavier considered his options by muttering to himself.  A plan was slowly beginning to hatch in his mind,

"You like books then Gaiven, is that it?  What would you say if I could copy any of your books here in a day?  Two copies, three copies possibly more all in one day.  What would that be worth to you?"

Eddy continues to fiddles the coins on his hand.
"I'm Eddy, and lets leave it at that for now. What  about you? Are you still 'wanted' or did you wuss out when they got the Raven's Claw."

Gaiven squelches a sigh. Of course it wasn't that easy. He'd like to think that it'd just be a question of answering a few questions, but his last proposal made Gaiven uneasy.

Returning to the desk, he grabs the pen, and writes;

I wouldn't want you to copy all of the books. I'm law-abiding now. I want nothing to do with the stone, or whatever else

Gaiven hesitates. He was going to write "you're doing", but he didn't want to anger the sorceror. Not if it could be avoided. He dibs the pen again and ends the sentence.

whatever else is going on these days.

"Seems your mind is made up then."

Xavier shrugged and looked about the room, taking in the surroundings one last time.

"Very well, I shall make the trip to Rimuldar without you."

Turning away he motioned to Jordan and the golem,

"Our work here is done. We are going to Rimuldar, prepare the wagon."

The boy spoke to the golem and the two exited the store, boarding the wagon.

Xavier turned back to Gaiven,

"I wish you well Gaiven, perhaps next time I'll ask just for a book."

Xavier stuck out his hand to shake Gaiven's if he would allow.  Once the formallities were done, the wizard nodded to Gaiven then proceeded out the door to the wagon.  There he turned and called back to Gaiven,

"Good luck Gaiven."

Xavier then turned to the young boy sitting up front with the golem and nodded.  With that the boy spoke to the golem and the horses pulled the wagon forward.  As the wagon slowly disappeared out of sight, Xavier offered one more wave to Gaiven before retreating into the wagon.

"They must have forgotten about me by now." Iridia answered while she stole a glimpse of whatever was happening at the bar.

"I left the city soon after I spoke to you back at the Gargoyle's." Iridia continued while keeping one eye at the Suzette. "You still illegal?"

When Whisper offers his hand, Gaiven hesitates for a moment, then shakes it, before following Whisper to the door. Even before Whisper has reached the wagon, the door is closed again, only the empty front of the closed store offering an answer to his wish of good luck.

Suzette responds to the drunkard, "Whatever it is, gimmee some!  I wanna see the fairy too!"

Time -- imperceptible, intangible, yet so essential: Xavier uses every measure of it he can to study his newfound magical puzzle as his wagon slowly crosses the land. When upon the distant horizon Rimuldar's lights shine, it is time that poses the greatest separation between Xavier and his destination; it had been nearly ten years since he had last trod upon the city's cobblestones...


Unbeknownst to the wizard, an old, if short-lived, accomplice was sipping a beer in the Cracked Mug tavern across the table from another former Raven's Claw gangster.

"They forget, but 'ol Kane don't," Joe says, ignoring Eddy while still smirking and looking into Iridia's eyes as he sips his beer. "Good thing for you he's dead."

"Awl-right boys! Settle ye down!" the broken-toothed bartender says as he waves the gathered crowd away to arms length. From the look of the bartender, he did all of his own bouncing. His ears were terribly cauliflowered, and his nose was jagged and poorly-mended from all the times it had been broken. The man isn't the biggest in the bar -- standing only about 5'10" and weighing about 170 lbs -- but there was none tougher looking. Dark green, almost black tattoos cover his wiry arms from wrist to shoulder, and around the crown of his shaven head. His brow juts and his eyes are deeply sunken into their sockets. He has a stubble that looks like it could file through an iron bar. If the protruding knuckles of his fists don't do the job, he wears a wooden club right on his hip.

"She ain't no fairy anyways!

"...She's a sprite, ain't cha?"

Iridia narrows her eyes and locks them with Joe's.

"How? Was he killed, or did he pass away?" Iridia asked, demanding an answer before they continue the conversation. "No, mages don't pass away. Who killed him?"

"Beats me," Joe replies with a shrug. "But he is. I kinda liked him, to tell you the truth."

"He killed Frank." Iridia hissed. But that was a long time ago, so she decides to let it slide.

"Good riddance anyway." Iridia cut her own pace. "So do you still filch?"

Joe laughs. "I kinda grew out of that stuff. What did you say your name was again? Sorry."

A fight breaks out in one corner of the tavern, near the musicians.

Eddy looks over his shoulder at the fight. He'd gotten in quite a few fights in his life, several good ones too. Not unusual for him to be the last men standing. And there was one time when he was the last thing standing. But no,, he thought to himself,proper brawl-etiquette is that you wait for something to fly to within a inch of your head before you'd jump in. And besides, I'm here for money, for work. I'll have time to make friends later.
He tightly grasps the coins in his hand. 'Joe' wasn't showing much interest in them anyway. He throw a look at Iridia, not sure how she would answer.
 "How much do we really need to know about each other hmmm? "

"Name would be nice."

"Emilia." She lied, "So what are you doing now?"

Overcrowding make makes for a tight squeeze behind Joe. He has to scoot his chair for a couple drunkards to get through. "Drinking a beer. You?"

Xavier awoke to the silently jostling of the wagon.  Knowing the movements of those he traveled with, it could only mean that Jordan was awake and had the golem readying the horses.  Yawning and stretching, he found the book that had confounded him still open on his chest, it's secrets still hidden.  Thoughts of what to do with the book ran through his head,

After I wake up. Maybe.

A moment of thought about his destination and Xavier thoguth twice about showing his 'talents' publicly like he did with Gaiven.

"Heh." Xavier chuckled at the look on Gaiven's face when he last opened the door.

Returning his mind to the present, Xavier dressed and climbed the ladder to the top of the wagon. Opening the door there, he was greeted by a cold breeze, Jordan and the golem slowly driving the horses.  Fighting off a chill, Xavier spoke to Jordan,

"How much further?"

"Not long I suppose."

"Today or tomorrow?"

"Either I suppose."

"Very funny.  Keep it up and I'll turn you into a frog.  A tasty frog."

Fighting back his laughter, Jordan finally answered, "Tomorrow."

Satisfied with the answer and shooting Jordan a quick smile, Xavier returned into the wagon and prepared himself for a dangerous thing for a wizard, going to Rimuldar.

"I'll pass. I've had enough beer to last me a lifetime while I was away. Eddy?"

Iridia leans closer to Eddy. He seemed more streetwise smart than her, so she thought it would be a good idea to ask for his advice first.

"Ya think we should ask him about a fence?" Iridia whispers.

 "Yes. At this point we have nothing to lose. Well, our lives, but I don't think he could take us both."
He turns to Joe.
 "We're looking to get into some action, but we nee someone to shift the gains. Any ideas?"

OOC: Eddy Smalls rolled 13 using 3d6. Asking for fence, Streetwise, bl:12. *^%&.

Over at the bar, the fight is continuing merrily, egged on by Suzette, who is orbitting the rafters, dropping pieces of food on people's heads.

OOC: Iridia was clear to ask since this guy (obviously) digs her, and she made her Streetwise roll for this, but since Frank Eddy asked, I'm going to let a reaction roll handle this. 17:53, Today: Stripe rolled 8 using 3d6.

---

Joe leans back in his chair and exhales, looking at Eddy now for the first time. "I hear you can move stuff behind the counter here, but I wouldn't know since I'm straight up. You didn't hear it from me, either." Upon the word, "here," Joe give a slight backwards nod toward the bar.

However, he probably doesn't mean you can just walk up to the bar tender with stolen goods and ask to pawn them. Of course, you're going to have to take some couth in the matter.

Suzette has managed to keep the attention of her enamored audience, some of whom in their drunken state are calling for her to descend for a better look.

Alone and hungry, Marius strides into the tavern.


[Private to Marius: OOC: Sorry, it's a quick intro. Do you want something to play off from? Like, some reason to be here? Let me know.]

Marius strides in, notices that he isn't the center of attention, and throws out his arms.

"Hey, hey, hey! Look who's back! That's right! They ain't caught me yet. Though it was a close one this time. Got some lovely stories from the bedroom of a certain lovely daughter of a certain grumpy nobleman. But first.."

He gestures at the barkeep, communicating with him across the room through sheer volume of voice "'Ey Marcus! Get me something to drink and something to eat, will ya? I'm starving! Give me something good, and I might even pay off my tab."

Making his way through the room, Marius pats people on the back, wenches on the butt, and offer small talk to old acquaintances before finally sitting down at the table next to Joe's where it seems a couple of guys were saving him a seat. Soon he is relating his exploits in the bedroom of a certain lovely daughter of a certain grumpy nobleman, complete with lewd hand gestures.

[Private to GM: Given how the bar seems inclined to party, I'm thinking that Marius is a regular.
On that note, the barkeep reminding Marius just how large his tab is by now, might be a good way to get Marius involved in whatever heist the others are planing. I'm planing to have him overhear them, given how he is sitting at the very next table.]

"I see, so that should mean morning visits, instead of midnight ones." Iridia noted to both Joe and Eddy.

Iridia was not very impressed by the newcomer. She passed a glance over him and left it at that.

When Marius strides in, it seems like the whole tavern unites in a loud cheer of his name. "MARIUS!"

"'Ey Marcus! Get me something to drink and something to eat, will ya? I'm starving! Give me something good, and I might even pay off my tab."

"Yeah! I've heard that one before ye bloody scamp!" Despite the rough bartender's words, he's obviously not too worried about it. As a matter of fact, he's already pouring an overflowing mug, it's sudsy head running over the pewter mug's top. With one hand, he slides it across the bar. Like a synchronized, well-practiced event, the patrons sitting at the bar lift their own elbows and mugs in line, letting it glide into Marius' waiting hand. "A gold piece before ye leave tonight, or your hide!"

"Marius!" Joe says, clashing mugs with his table's newcomer as if it were his own brother. "They let you out 'o the clink already? Must not have found out you buggered the baron's wife yet.

"Marius, meet... Uh. This lady and her friend. They're new in town. And, to my table. They have the very backward impression that I am some sort of a thief."

Before the introductions are finished, a towering ogre of a man appears looming over the table, red-faced mad.

Joe doesn't recognize him.

Iridia doesn't recognize him.

Eddy doesn't recognize him.

Marius recognizes him. After all, he had slept with his wife just two nights ago...

Iridia blinks her eyes a few times in an attempt to understand the situation. She atleast knew that this man is mad!

"We..." She pointed at herself and Eddy. "Are not with him."

"They let you out 'o the clink already? Must not have found out you buggered the baron's wife yet."

"Oh, you know how it is. I managed to talk the warden into a game of dice, and by evenings end he let me go in exchange for me promising not to dally with his wife. And I'd won her fair and square too!"

"Marius, meet... Uh. This lady and her friend. They're new in town. And, to my table. They have the very backward impression that I am some sort of a thief."

When Marius turns his eyes on Iridia, he smiles widely, and then makes a deep sweeping bow "Marius, at your service milady. I.."

The large shadow of the ogrish man looms over Marius, but he doesn't seem to pay him the least notice.

"Would be honored if you would allow me to buy you a beverage."

He turns his smile to Eddy

"Your friend too, of course."

Iridia's assurance to the large man, finally causes Marius to turn around. The smile never leaves his face. Indeed, it seems to grow larger. He spreads his arms out wide, as if though he wants to hug the brute.

"There you are! Have a seat. Sit down. What's the news?"

With a roar, the huge bearded man wades into Marius with a haymaker punch.


OOC: Today: Stripe rolled 9 using 3d6.

Marius bumps against the table as he throws himself backwards to avoid the punch.

"Oh, so that's how you're playing?" he asks fearlessly, and then rushes forward again. Two steps, and then he launches a kick straight for the gonads.

[Private to GM: Successful dodge.
Followed by all-out(determined)(+4) kick(-2) to the groin(-3), which hits unless the thug makes his defense roll.
2 damage, -4 shock penalty]

Iridia pushes her seat backwards and puts her hands on the table, readying herself to jump back in the case the fight escalates to throwing chairs and breaking tables.

OOC: What is Marius's appearance level?

Barely 3 feet into the room, and this 'Marius' had already hit a wrong button for Eddy. Seeing Iridia jump up at the scuffle, he's quick to remind her that he's a stranger who needs no help from them, and that they were there for a fence, not a partner.
 "Now now, Emilia, you remember how this works. Wait for the fight to come to you, or else the whole tavern could just jump in. Now, let's go get us some drinks from the tap."
He maneuvers himself around the fighting to the counter.
 "Hey barkeep, 1 milk, 1 beer and a quick chitchat if you have a minute."

"If you have not been keeping up, darling, I was just getting ready to leave this table." She corrected Eddy as she followed him around the fight.

Iridia stood beside Eddy at the counter.

"It wouldn't take long." She added, then leaned to whisper to Eddy. "What if he reported us? This could end us before we even begin!"

 "Reported us for what? We haven't done anything yet. Besides, I think everyone in this room has their reasons to stay away from the guards; He wouldn't want to attract attention to himself."

If the big bear felt it, he's too angry to show the pain. Again, he barrels through with a mighty right-hand lead, which Marius ducks with grace. Joe comes flying from the side, slamming his shoulder into the off-balance giant sending him toppling to the floor.

"You're a lot of trouble," he quips to Marius.


Away from the commotion, the bartender asks the pair what they would like.



[Private to Marius: OOC: Stripe rolled 8 using 3d6. AoA +4 to head (-5)(-4 for shock). Miss by 1. His first attack was an AoA +4 to your head. So, he got no defense roll.

Stripe rolled 7 using 3d6. Joe shove.
Stripe rolled 4 using 1d6. Knockback.
Stripe rolled 12 using 3d6. Resist fall (DX 10). Fail.]

"Thanks partner." Marius says with smile and a thumbs up.

"You know how it is. By now, I run into this sorta guys all the time. Gotta teach them to leave an honest bloke alone. Though that reminds me.."

The handsome rogue, wanders over to where the big guy fell, grabbing a chair along the way. Resting the sturdy piece of furniture on his shoulder, he stops next to the fallen man, feets wide, other hand on his hip.

"Now, do you want to talk reasonably about this, or do me and my pals actually have to start hurting you?"

[Private to GM: 8 against Diplomacy 13]

Iridia nodded at Eddy, then turned to the bartender and beckoned him to lean closer.

"Eey, a fellow over there." Iridia pointed at Marius and Joe. "Told us we could find you willing to buy things. How much of that is true?"

00:05, Today: Iridia Silvermane rolled 10 using 3d6. Fast talk (14).

"That'll be two coppers!" The barkeep says over the commotion as he poored a beer. "The milk and the chitchat are both free! If it weren't, Abel here would be broke!" The nearest seated patron smiles as he lifts a frothed mug to his lips. The bartender hands Eddy's beer and milk over those seated at the bar.


The bartender's expression goes from a snaggle-toothed smile to perplexity. "What the hell are you talking ab- ...Hey!" The bartender's face again changes expression as he squints at Iridia. "You gots white hair. 'Bout five-four too, ain't cha? Somebody was jus in here a look'n fer you not twenty minutes ago. Some sorta damn wizard." The bartender spits on the floor as if that last word had a bad taste. "Told him I never saw ya.

"Now, you want something ta drink, sweetheart? 'Cause, that's all the buy'n and sell'n we do 'round 'ere."

"A wizard?" Iridia muttered.

'It can't be!'

"Tender." Iridia called for his attention again. "Did he tell you anything else? Like where I can find him?"

Eddy places the two coppers on the table and takes a swig from the beer.
 "You know a wizard, Emilia?"

"I knew only two in my life. One is a friend who used to be in the Raven's Claw. The other was a tracker working with the guards. He killed Frank, and almost got me too. Joe back here said that he was dead, so that only leaves one more wizard who would ask for me." Iridia paused to take a breath. "I think we should look for him. If he was asking for me, then he must have heard that I came back to town and wants to tell me something important."

"I would tell you to keep your voice down."  the voice was nearly a whisper.

Xavier moved next to the woman, a drink in his hand and a cloak's cowl pulled far over his head while a scarf was wrapped around his lower face to obscure his features.  Not making eye contact with her he continued,

"I haven't been here long and there are so many new faces, yours is the only one I can trust right now.  Follow me outside."

With that the wizard placed what was left of his ale on the bar, grabs his staff and tries to make his way outside.

Iridia almost jumps up at Whisper voice. She had no idea he was right behind her all the time. She nods at Eddy, indicating that he should follow, and follows Whisper outside.

Once outside, she tries to get a better look at him to see how he has changed.

"It is good to see you are alive and well, Whisper."

 "Who are you?" Eddy asks, almost instinctively. "You know this guy, Emilia?"

"Yes." She answered. "Eddy, this is Whisper, he is the wizard I was talking about. Whisper, this is Eddy Smalls. You can trust him."

"And Eddy, you can call me by my real name now." Iridia said. She didn't like to fake her name, but it is something that ought to be done when in public.

"Nice to see that you're still here.  Nice to have a familiar face in this city."
Xavier smiled beneath his scarf.
"Also nice to see you're keeping the same company as well."

"I'm looking for a fence.  Not for selling something, but for something he purchased.  Goes by the name Thomis, ever heard of him?"

"No. We are looking for any fence, for that matter. Eddy and I are trying to get back into the business." Iridia smiled back. "What do you want to buy back?"

Eddy throws Xavier a look filled with cynicism.
 "This 'Thomas' doesn't happen to live in the Lower Ward in Mary's Bakers street, does he? Cause if he is, 'living' isn't the proper word for his state. 'Wasting away' is what I would pick. The Black Cloaks took everything from him: his money, his property, his house, his family, even his sanity. We've got better things to do than listen to some ranting old crackpot who can barely find the door of his own shack, even when he's inside of it."
[Private to Stripe: Thx, nice touch.]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:16, Tue 17 Feb 2009.

"Hmm, I am not sure.  I've never met the man before."  Xavier looked at Eddy. "THAT'S why I'm here asking for you." His gaze had returned to Iridia. "The item I seek is the one that cost Frank his life.  I have business with it. Wizard's business."  The last two words carried a somewhat ominous tone to them.  "Now let us go see the Thomas that you speak of."  Xavier turned and headed off to the main thoroughfare where his wagon waited.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:21, Wed 18 Feb 2009.

In reply, the growling giant draws a knife from his boot and begins to stand as quickly as his massive girth will allow...


[Private to Marius: OOC: Changed posture from prone to kneeling.]

Joe, a well-known street brawler, takes a step back, hesitant to enter into a life-or-death fight when flight has always been the better option.

Marius, however, doesn't back down. He merely lowers his chair into a defensive position, and continues his banter.

"Aw, come now. I'd really hate to send you home with lasting marks. For your wife's sake."

[Private to GM:
All-out defense: Parry with chair, followed if necessary by retreating dodge]

 "Well, all right, I'll take you to the place, cause Iridia trusts you. But you're going in there on your own, I don't want no business with a guy who throws knifes at his phantoms."
Eddy leads Xavier (and Iridia) down the main road, crowded with traffic from the gates to the upper wards and back, through a side lane, filled with merchants and shops, past a garbage dump, reeking in the sun, to a dark and cramped street, Mary's Bakers street. All the bakers had long since left, when people started dumping their filth just up-wind.
He points to a door on the side of a shop.
"He lives there, and that's all I can tell you. Good luck in there, you'll need it to dodge the crap he trows at visitors."

"Are you coming as well?"  Xavier looked to Iridia.  "Maybe a pretty face is just what he needs to calm him down.  Now let's see what Thomas is up to."  Xavier smiled beneath his scarf and concentrated a few moments.

OOC: Whisper rolled 18 using 3d6. Glass Wall. Uh-oh

"Aw, come now. I'd really hate to send you home with lasting marks. For your wife's sake."

Marius knew what the effect his last statement would have, and the ogrish man was quick to live up to his expectations. With a roar, he charged forward trying to knock the chair out of his way so that his scything knife could gain revenge for his pride. Like a lion tamer at a traveling menagerie, Marius holds him at bay.

It became clear that Joe wasn't stepping back out of hesitation. Rather, he was reaching back to grab a bottle of rum off the table. With downward swing, Joe shattered the bottle, making a jagged improvised weapon.

Using Marius' efforts with the chair as a partial shield, Joe tries to reach around with the broken glass bottle at the enraged giant.

That's when three deafeningly-loud slams on the bar quiets all but the most drunken and unruly patrons. "I'm only gunna say this once! All 'o yous OUT! Or, I'll bust y'all up!" Markus shouts, pointing his wickedly-knotted club in the combatant's direction.

The man doesn't even act like he heard the bartender. He continues to try to wrestle the chair away from Marius. Marius notices two more friends from the bar behind the man looking like they're ready to jump him. With a bit of coordination, Marius shoves as hard as he can as one crouches down, sending the giant toppling.

Moments later, Markus is there, club in hand, ejecting Marius and Joe as he tries to get the knife away from the ogre so he can do the same to him.

"Let's split before Markus asks for that gold piece," Joe whispers to Marius.

Iridia nods and looks at Eddy expectantly.

OOC: Should the guy attack on sight, then Iridia's active defense would be sideslip dodge.

With a few mystical gestures of his hands and a quiet word of arcane power, Xavier casts a spell meant to show him, and only him, what lies behind the rotted wooden door standing before them. In the eye of the wizard's mind, physics distort and warp, twisting the ruined back-ally shack's door as portal opens.

Instantly, Xavier realizes all too late that he's made a terrible mistake. Hair prickling as it stands on the back of his neck, the sorcerer feels the sudden attention of something -- something old, something foul, something evil -- lurking in the spirit realm, that plain of existence so close to the material world, but yet indefinitely far away. Rimuldar was quickly becoming known for its haunted halls, and Xavier catches a glimpse of why.

His eyes are transfixed on the scene before him, a scene so horrible it's painful to watch, but he cannot look away -- his spell runs out of control within the confines of his mind.

Ghostly pallid, skeletal, corpse-like; a terrified man is chained to the wall, the expression on his face a mask of pain and horror.

The scene shifts as if Xavier himself were present in the room, turning to face the opposite wall.

Hanging upside down from a tall, wooden gallows by ropes tied tightly around her ankles is a nude woman, beaten, bruised, and bloody. Her expression is even more horrified. Though Xavier can't hear her screams, he knows they are pleas for mercy.

Robed figures Xavier immediately recognizes as the dreaded Imperial torturers stand on each side of her. One, a pale old man with a white beard to his waist, holds a long, black saw in both hands. He mutters something looking back at the man chained to the wall. Xavier can't see him, but the man's reply must not have been pleasing to the grim torturer.

What happens next is too much for Xavier's mind to bear witness, but the flow of images poor forward before his unblinking eyes. He knows why the woman is tied upside down: so that when they begin to slowly saw her in half, the blood won't rush out too fast, prolonging her death as long as possible.

Xavier screams, but he cannot hear his own voice so overpowering are the images. He drops to his knees outside the door, eyes burning, tears streaming down his face. Desperately, he wants the images to stop invading his mind, but he is spared not a moment's respite.

Though it lasts only a single minute, to Xavier it feels like hours. After the woman, three children followed her in gruesome deaths before the man's grief-stricken eyes. His pleas for them are as great as his pleas for his own body.

His own tortures were each more devious than the next: the lash carves strips from his flesh; the rack pop his sinews and bones from their joints; his feet are plunged in scalding water till they blister; sitting upon an iron throne of thin, needle-like spikes, his buttocks and back are grilled; upon a huge wooden wheel he is rotated slowly over an open flame, the searing heat roasting away his skin upon each agonizing revolution...

It goes on and on and on long after the man's spirit and mind had broken. Over and over, the torturers ask him the same questions, but by the end, he is nothing but a babbling, mindless fool...


... In the minute after his spell is cast Xavier becomes little more. He drops face first to the cobblestone street, unconscious.

Iridia has no idea what just happened, other than that Xavier was unresponsive, overcome with pain. She has no way of knowing Xavier's last vision was of the torturers somehow noticing his magical scrying through the door. They turned and looked in his direction, and approached the door for a closer examination of the portal through which Xavier peered. Suddenly, they saw him, their cold, hard eyes piercing right through him, right through to his soul.

Eddy, having little knowledge of magic, simply watches Xavier collapse in agony, feeling somewhat awkward.
 "Soooo yeah. Very interesting, worth the trip. I think we're about done here."

Iridia was trying to shake Whisper out of his trance while Eddy just stood there and mocked. She gasps as he hit the floor, out cold.

"Whisper! Oh no..." Iridia turns him onto his back and shakes him some more. "Don't just stand there! Find some help! Find some water! Damn, the spell must have failed or something of the like. When it succeed, he bleeds."

 "I think that could be the problem right there, he either didn't bleed properly, or he has bleed too much already. Who's to say this isn't all part of the casting. Wizards can pull some crazy stuff just to make a fire. I'd say use a match, but not mister Wizard, nooooo, he go and get all magial and..."
Eddy walks off, looking for some water and help.

The spell seemed to work right, but something or someone had a different idea about what Xavier would be seeing. The vision seemed to last forever, the horrors his eyes were forced to watch.  Xavier wanted only to claw his own eyes out and leave them there upon the street.  Fearing for his life and soul, Xavier tried to turn and run, but could not even manage to move his feet.  His heart pounded within his chest, threatening to burst forth and land at his feet.  Unable to move, speak and feeling a pressure slowly increasing on his chest, Xavier crumpled to the ground.

---

Not far from the door stood Xavier's wagon, a young boy sat on the top, juggling two apples while eating a third.  The approach of Eddy without Xavier or Iridia caught his attention and he hopped down from the top of the large wagon, a look of worry on his face.  Turning towards the golem that sat on the driver's seat he spoke quietly, "Guard."  With that the dark brown metal man stepped down and stood just before the boy.  Once his shield was in place, he spoke again, "Where's X?"

 "Who's X?" answers Eddy, who at this point barely remembers that the guy he lead here was only referred to as Whisper by Iridia. After a brief explanation, he responds:
 "Oh him. He's back here, having some sort of seizure. If you're his posse, you'd better come right quick."
and leads the boy to Xavier, as the wizard is apparently known.

The boy looked down at Xavier and a frown quickly came over his face.  Turning to the golem, he spoke smoothly, "Lift."  The golem quietly obeyed, lifting the wizard's body. He quietly spoke again, "Follow." Once more the golem obeyed, following the young boy back to the wagon with the still twitching body of the wizard in his arms.  Opening the door the trio entered and quickly closed the door.

Eddy watched the big armored man clank back to the wagon. Bloody wizards. he thought.
 "Well that was a waste of time. So Iridia, wanna grab another beer, look for an actual fence or go back to my place, to not catch some sleep?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:31, Sun 22 Feb 2009.

Iridia observed wordlessly as the boy and the giant came, carried Whisper and went away. Her mouth almost gaped at the ease with which the giant of a man carried Whisper effortlessly.

"Uh, uh, uh..." Iridia fumbled around her mind for words, "Wait here, hold that thought."

Iridia ran up to the boy and the giant man.

"Uh, where are you taking him? Who are you people?" She asked while playing with one of her hair lockes. For some reason, she looked more innocent than ever. It could probably be attirbuted to being dumbstruck at what happened earlier.

Marius theatrically dusts off his jacket, saying "I could have taken him." but nonetheless follows Joe away from the bar.

Walking down the street, the lovable rogue dolefully questions "Now where are we going to find a good party at this time of day, that isn't at the Cracked Mug? And I had such a good audience."

The large metal man completely ignored Iridia and continued on his task.  The boy on the other hand, stopped and spoke quietly,  "We are.." he seemed to search for the right words before continuing "We are friends of X.  Xavier as you know him or perhaps even Whisper in his younger days.  Once we get him in the wagon we should be able to have him rest up a bit, maybe get a potion or two down his throat, but who knows."  The boy shrugged his shoulders before running ahead of the man in metal to open the wagon door.

"Ah, we are friends of him too!" Iridia said, "I am Iridia, and the man who called you is Eddy. Eh, how can I find you if I want to contact Whisper, I mean Xavier?"

Eddy waves his hand as Iridia mentions his name. "Hallo" He doesn't seem to interested in the whole scene, instead focusing his attention on a lonely loose cobble on the dirt.

"Do you want to leave?" the boy asks. "Because, you can ride with us if you want. I'm not sure otherwise. We'll probably set up camp just outside of town. By that old hangman's tree, maybe. X probably just needs some rest."

"Here in about an hour, the fights should start down at Dumus'" Joe replies, pronouncing the establishment's name "Doomie's."


It was past dusk when the two arrived at their next location, an underground fight club with illegal gambling and bets on the various prize fights taking place above the tables. The large, dark, smoked-filled basement was located beneath a funeral home, it's proprietor a grim undertaker during the day. Long, thin wooden beams stood as pillars all around, and a deep circular pit was dug in the dirt floor.

Marius had been here before. The combatants would jump down into the pit and square off one-on-one. Sometimes, they would have to be pulled up on a board tied to ropes, battered and bloody.

Fights were all bare-knuckle and no-holds-barred. Often, fighters would lose eyes, suffer ruptured testicles, and broken bones. The match stopped when the fighter lost consciousness, gave up... or died as was the case about once a year.

In the Empire of Man, such fights were outlawed, like prostitution and human slaves. All three of those aspects of society are currently a point of great contention in a brewing civil war threatening to tear the empire apart.

"Ah yes, good old Dumus." Marius says with a smile, looking around, then turns inspirationally to Joe.

"Say, what would you bet, if I were to jump down into that circle."

When the two step through the low, iron door after descend a short flight of stairs from a dark back-alley, they walk into a bustling cellar full of toughs. There must be 200 people packed into the spacious sub-level, all milling about, talking, laughing and drinking. Not one, but three towering, brutish ogres wait at the entrance, each carrying a heavy wooden club. One hit from it would split any man's skull wide open. Marius knows -- he's seen the brains spill out onto the floor after one of the ogres smashed a head like an egg.

One of the hulking ogres pats both Marius and Joe down before allowing them to go any farther after paying a silver for the cover charge. All weapons are confiscated.

There should be another ogre around somewhere, ducking under rafters as he wades through the crowd of relatively tiny humans. Under his watch, the only fights allowed happen in the pits and in the pits only.

Marius and Joe make there way to the arena, with Marius meeting and seeing several people he knows along the way -- some friends, some not.

---

OOC: The ogres have ST 20-24. With ST 22, one of their clubs (treated as a mace) does 4d+2 dmg... They wield them at about skill 12, with Brawling around 14. Bite 2d1-1 cut; Punch 2d-1 cr. Due to high HP, it takes 2 hp of dmg to do 1 point of shock. Think about those things before starting a brawl. ;D

"Pfft. For or against you?" Joe answers. "I only got a couple silver anyway. And, how much you had to drink? Aweful early for you to start talking about jumping down there."

"What are you talking about?" Marius enquirers, seeming genuinely surprised.

"You don't think I can take them? A swift kick to the groin and they'll be crying for their.. oh never mind. I guess I'll just watch for now."

On the way to find a good viewing spot, Marius automatically pats the behind of a prostitute as he passes by. Never mind the wealthy, yet shady looking guy that she is currently entertaining.

Taking whomever wished to go, the young boy, who introduced himself as Jordan, made small talk with anyone nearby while still giving verbal commands to the large man driving the horses.  Once they arrived at the hangman's tree Jordan commanded the golem to stop and feed the horses, which it quietly obeyed.

---

Xavier swam in a pool of sweat, his body trying to flush the memory from his mind.  The nightmare he was having shot him up in bed and onto the floor of the wagon, gasping for air.  A few moments passed until he realized he was back in the wagon.  Dropping his head into his hands, he slowed his breathing until it returned to a normal rhythm.  Standing up on weak legs, he roamed the interior of the wagon until he found something to drink and quickly drank it down, quenching his thirst.  Wiping his face off on the sleeve of his shirt, he slowly opened the door to find Jordan waiting at the door.

"How long was I out?"

"A bit."

"You ok?"

"I think I'll live.  We gotta go back and talk to Thomas, I still need it."

"I figured as much."

It is dark and approaching midnight when the wagon reaches the Hangman's Tree. Jordan makes camp beneath the oak as the wind howls through its bare branches.

"Oh, you woke up!" Iridia popped up from behind the wagon. "Oh dear, you look terrible, Xavier."

Xavier spun around to see Iridia at the side of the wagon.  Rasing his hand he offered a small wave, "I've been better."  Rubbing his forehead he continued, "I don't know what happened but I know what I saw."  He paused and looked at Jordan then Iridia, "And I know they saw me too."

"Saw?" Iridia asked, straining her forehead to try and understand what he meant by that. "What was that spell about anyway?"

 "Isn't it obvious." Eddy remarks with a smug look on his face. "Hocus Pocus here tried to use a spell to saw through the door, and the door sawed back. That is why a sensible man, or woman" Eddy quickly remarks as he misinterpret the look on Iridia's face: "Would just open a door using a key. Or a lockpick."

Jordan finishes making camp and puts a pot of stew and kettle of hot tea over the small fire. Soon, the forlorn bay of distant wolves howling at the moon echoes through the night.

Xavier shot eddy a cross look,

"No, I was not trying to saw the door.  I was merely trying to cast a simple spell to look through the wall, to see what mister Thomas was doing.  Just avoiding any unnecessary confrontation.  Unfortunately, I may have caused myself more trouble than I can possibly realize."

Once again Xavier held his hands to his head and held them there for several moments before the howling in the night shook him from his daze.

"You can stay here if you like, I have extra room in the wagon.  Just try to not knock anything over.  I wish to return to mister Thomas' tomorrow"

Reaching into the wagon Xavier retrieved a large sword and handed it to the golem.

"Nighttime." Xavier spoke flatly.

The golem took the sword in both hands and took his spot near the wagon's door.

Blood spatters onto the sand floor of the dimly-lit arena as the crowd roars. One of two half-naked brawlers, his knuckles bleeding, kicks his fallen opponent in the stomach. "Get up!" he shouts.

Missing teeth, blood trickling down his chin, the prone fighter rolls onto all fours and starts to do just that. But, the other combatant isn't about to let him get to his feet. Instead, he delivers a resounding kick to his face, sending another shower of blood into the air. This time, the man is knocked cold, his broken face buried in the sand.

To the deafening cheer of those circling the pit, the triumphant warrior raises both fists in victory.

An ogre jumps down into the pit and hauls away the bloody loser as the winner is helped out by his teammates.

"Good thing I didn't bet," Joe says with a shrug. He sips his beer from a wooden cup.

A brief intermission follows, with a buxom strip tease dance performed by five women in the pit. Tampe drums rumble as the women weave to the fast-paced beat, their semi-transparent silk garments leaving little -- if anything -- to the imagination.

Twelve fights are scheduled, and the first just finished. "Grudge matches" between patrons are allowed between bouts, and can be set up at the same place bets are tallied.

"You oughta set up a fight with 'ol boy," Joe says, meaning the ogrish giant from the Cracked Mug. It was a joke considering that so far, the two hadn't seen him. Marius might be a crafty street fighter with quick moves, but the man's size and weight would give him a clear advantage in a pit fight. "I'd bet on that."

Of course, the Fates heard Joe's remarks. Just then, Marius catches a glimpse of the man somewhere in the crowd. He hasn't seen Marius, and chances are, he won't if he lays low at all.

"I'm guessing from your snide remark, that you wouldn't be betting on me." Marius chastises Joe, but then smiles widely.

"But very well then. I'll take your bet. If you look over yonder, you may see that our old friend have followed us." he says with a throw of his head towards the man in question.

"I'll take him on, and I'll take him down, and I'll be willing to bet, say, 5 silver that I can do it."

"Go for it. It's your teeth."

 "Why didn't you just look through the keyhole, or even a window? Meh." Eddy responds, with a clear tone of insult in his voice.
...
"No thanks, we have a place in the city. You do whatever the heck you like.
So Iridia, about that drink, we could go to Doomie's, the fight club? We're bound to make a few friends there. If we hurry we could still catch the second match."

"Yea, sorry Xavier, I just came to check on you." Iridia said then turned to Eddy with an impressed look. "Fight club eh? Not exactly the most romantic spot, but it should prove pretty exciting. I hope it isn't very cramped in there though. I've had enough men-sweat to last me a week!"

 "Yeah, but no need for fancy dresses either."
Eddy takes Iridia to the club, turns in his knife to the bouncers, and wades her a way through the cheering crowds to a betting booth.
 "So what's fighting tonight buddy?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:36, Sat 28 Feb 2009.

"Hey! Mister Millar!" Marius calls, making his way through the crowd, to stop near the giant. He follows up with a flourishing bow, worthy of a noble's ballroom.

"So we meet again. If you still demand satisfaction concerning the matter with your wife, I propose that we can take care of the matter in the pit yonder. However, I would once again beseech you to reconsider. I happen to know that your wife loves you very much, and I would hate to do anything that will make her unhappy."

Marius gives the man a short second to think, and then throws in his final card

"Hells, if you want, we could go home together and hit the hay all three. Share some techniques, and get to know each other under more friendly circumstances."

[Private to GM: Since I know his wife's last name, I also happen to know his.

To Marius's beseeching, I rolled 13 against Diplomacy 13. So I guess we'll fight.]

Xavier shook his head at the mention of a fight club.

More things to worry about now than who's pummelling who.

"Enjoy your bloodfest.  Avoid those that you don't know."

With pleasantries out of the way, Xavier retired to his wagon to attempt to sleep.

Marius' words are spoken to a red-faced, seething, spitting giant as he struggles against three of his friends who are doing everything they can to hold him back. It's all they can to to keep the ox from tearing into Marius. While the ogrish man is too drunk to care, his friends know what will happen if he swings at Marius, and it has to do with the business end of a real ogre's club! "I'll kill 'em!" the man roars.

The commotion catches the attention of Iridia and Eddy, who had just entered the underground fight club. They notice Marius and Joe standing together before the raging bull.

"He accepts, ye bilge drinking sewer rat!" one of the man's friends yells at Marius above the giant's angry roars.

Moments later, under the scrutinizing stare of an ogre bouncer -- head and shoulders taller than the giant-of-a-man -- Millar is pushed away towards the other side of basement, kicking and shouting threats.

"I don't think he likes you," Joe says plainly.

The only thing a combatant has to do before stepping into the ring is remove his shoes and shirt, and submit to a thorough search for weapons. Marius will have to get ready as the next fight progresses, and its sounds like it's getting ready to start now.


OOC: I held off on starting the actual fight in case there was something anyone wanted to post.

"And such a shame too." Marius says as he removes his shirt "He has a lovely wife. He must really love the girl."

[Private to GM: Ready here]

Eddy catches a glimpse Marius turns a bit sour.
 Not this guy again. I swear if that guy hits on Dia again. Hey, he's getting into a fight, huh. Let's see how pretty he looks when he's had his face torn off. But how to bet on that. Illegal fight-clubs always have rigged betting, so if to much money is bet on one guy, the other guy is going to win. So to make this Marius loose, I need to bet a bundle on him.
He turns to the bookie.
 "I want to bet 5, 3 sil, no, 1 gold on pretty boy over there."

"Ho! Oh! Eddy, it's that guy from the tavern today." Iridia said to Eddy as she eyed Marius. She averted her gaze back to Eddy far too late. He had already placed a bet.

"Nooo, what did you do?! Look at his contendor, Eddy! He was at the tavern too! He is going to brutalize that idiot." She arched an eye brow, then clapped her hands excitedly. "Oh, it'll be glorious! Too bad you'll be losing money today."

 "Yes, too bad." Eddy reply with a grin that could scare the devil. "Let's go find a seat with a good view. Would you like something to drink?"
He starts maneuvering Iridia to the front row of the pit.

The money handler takes Eddy's gold coin. "The odds are 2-1 against him," he comments.

Soon, Marius is standing in the sand-bottom pit, squaring off against Millar.

In a grudge match, there are no rules, and the winner decides when the loser is done fighting... conscious or not.

OOC: Round 1. Marius, your turn.

Marius, having done a few theatrical stretches, jumps into the pit as Millar jumps in on the other side.

The lovable rogue strides up to the middle "Okay, if this is how you want to do it.." he extends a hand "Let the best man win."

[Private to GM: Move up to 0605.
Defense: Retreating Dodge (not all-out)
Rolled 14 against 12, fail]

'He is quite a knight this evening, this Eddy.' Iridia blushed lightly.

"Yea sure. Some beer." Iridia said. "But hurry up, your guy is about to get a beating."

 "Yo waiter-person, 2 beers!" Eddy yells.

A busty wench in a low-cut dress stoops over at the waist to hand Eddy two mugs of frothing beer and collects four coppers.

Marius' gesture is lost on the charging ape. He roars and barrels into the smaller man with a mighty right-hand lead. It goes right over his head as the quicker fighter ducks it with grace.

Xavier lie in bed for what felt like hours, the horrid visions replaying everytime he closed his eyes, preventing any sleep.  Not wanting to waste time re-living that ordeal, he instead gathered up his new book and again attempted to discover it's secrets.

[Private to Stripe: After mere moments of reading the book, Xavier's mind wandered from the book to the tooth to Thomas.  Sighing heavily, he closed the book and quietly dressed himself.  Gathering up his staff and bracelet, Xavier slipped from the wagon under the cover of darkness, moving through the streets until once again at Thomas' door.  Reaching out slowly he suddenly realized his hands were shaky and sweat had begun to stream down his face.  Steeling his nerve and pulling a pair of gloves from his pocket which he quickly donned, he reached to open the door.

OOC: Not that I'm trying to steal the show, but this is more than likely Xavier's actions.  More power=More Money=Happy Xavier  Now unless you think multiple people should be present, Xavier will take the golem and once near the door, summon his familiar.

BTW, do you the write-ups for the golem, familiar and Jordan?]

"Oh, you just never learn." Marius comments as he ducks down and backwards, out of reach of the large man. Then he takes two quick steps forward, and in a repeat of earlier event launches a kick straight to the giant's gonads, which this times makes a satisfying impact.

[Private to GM: All-out determined kick to the groin
Rolled 8 against an adjusted Brawling 11
Damage 5, shock -8, -5 to knockdown in the case of a major wound
No defense]

 "Thanks doll. I'll see you around." and with a firm smack on her rear and a big tip, Eddy takes the beer from the wench.

Iridia noticed what Eddy did to the waitress and backhanded his arm to get his attention. The fact that Eddy was attracted to that low-class waitress rather than her ticked Iridia off very much.

"Hey! Do that with another ugly bitch while you are around me once more, and I'll make sure to break that hand of yours." Iridia said in a low calm voice. It was up to Eddy to think wether she was serious or not.

Eddy's face turns red and he tries to change the subject. "Eh, Sure. Oh your beer! ... Come on ya slow twit, pound this face in!"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:41, Wed 11 Mar 2009.

Iridia took the beer, and surprisingly enough, quickly diverted her attention back to the fight.

"You know, he isn't have bad in a fight. Quite a looker too." Iridia commented to Eddy.

In reply to Whisper (msg #152): [private to Whisper]OOC: Per the PM, I had you wait until morning to head out.[/private]

---

Dawn strikes the sky like a hammer against anvil for Xavier. His splitting headache wakes him, bed sheets wet with sweat from a nightmare already fading from his mind. Jordan's already wrapping up camp, and soon, the sorcerer's wagon is working its way down the road. Soon, the trio -- wizard, apprentice, and hulking golem -- are striding up to Tomis the Fence's door.

Reaching out slowly, Xavier suddenly realized his hands were shaky and sweat had begun to stream down his face.  Steeling his nerve and pulling a pair of gloves from his pocket which he quickly donned, he reached to open the door.

Would it be a torture chamber? A haunt for demons and wraiths? What unspeakable evil and horror lay in wait behind the rough, old wooden door?

It creaked open, morning light pouring in behind the cloaked wizard, catching in rays on the thick dust hanging in the air.

The room is nearly empty, devoid of even furnature. All that remains is a rats nest of trash and refuse. The stench is overwhelming and slams against the mage as he stands in the open threshold. Light trcikles through cracks in the shutters and small holes in the roof. The floor is as rotten as the rest of the house.

At first, glance, Whisper would have missed him had it not been for the scurry of a rodent. But then, the two lock eyes. Completely naked and huddled in the corner, a filthy, skeletal man peeps out from between the fingers covering his face. Whisper had dared to step single foot inside so as to look behind the door he holds open. And that's where the man sat.

"I know nothing!" he screams at the top of his lungs, loud enough for everyone on the block to hear. "Leave me alone! Leave me alone!"

Back at the fight club, a snaggle-toothed man stands beside Eddy. "Rooting for the underdog, eh?" His head is shaven bald and he has a certain shady look, as if he's perpetually up to no good. He's the type of guy that looks like he'd rob his own mother at knife point for a couple coppers to buy a beer.

Round 2


Marius' leg goes right between the giant's legs, causing the audience to loose a simultaneous "Oooh!" It hurts to even watch the perfectly-placed kick to the man's groin.

But, the raging bull staggers only slightly, eyes watering with pain. He throws a punch that's so wildly off-mark that Marius doesn't even have to move for it to miss.

Whisper's nose was the first to discover something in the room, the smell.  At first he considered it might not be that bad, but a small breeze from within the room stifled that thought as well as his breath.  Holding a gloved hand to his face, Whisper next caught sight of the room in it's total desolation and ruin.  Whisper finally exhaled as he finished scanning the room, grateful that the vision seemed to be false and turned to leave this dead end.  That's when he saw the man hiding behind the door.  Shock rolled over Whisper at the man's appearance and sudden outburst.  A quick nod to Jordan and the boy nearly closed the door and ordered the golem to guard. Jordan then returned his gaze to the room beyond the door.

Whisper held out his palms to the man, his arms spread wide,

"I know what they did to you.  I know about the pain and torment."

Slowly Whisper approached the man.

"I know what they did to your family. Your wife and children."

Kneeling near the man, he held out his hand,

"I want to help you."

Reality is inconsequential to the man, who sees only a robed man; the very image of his torturous captors. "Stay away! Stay away! I don't know where it is! Leave me alone!"

The man's yelling turns into screams as Whisper approaches.

Eddy sips his beer and keeps his eyes on Marius, but does acknowledge the bad-beaked bozo.
 "It's not so much that I'm for the drunken oaf, it's more that I want to see the little guy get his face reconstructed. What about you? You have any irons in the fire? A little nest egg, not yet hatched?"

"You gotta admire a man, who can still stand up after that." Marius remarks, as the giant's punch sails by his head. Then he ducks in close, and launches a hard, but ill aimed blow at his opponent's ribs.

[Private to GM: Move into close combat
All-out strong punch to the torso
Rolled 10 against Brawling 12
Damage 1, shock -1
No defense]

Still standing next to Eddy, the man replies, "No, but I heard you was look'n fer a place to sell things." He uses the same voice inflection Iridia used back at the bar when speaking with Markus. Then, Eddy recalls the man's face. He was sitting at the bar. He probably overheard the conversation.

Whisper steps back, his hands now rubbing his chin and scratching his head.  Considering the man's apparent breakdown, Whisper deduces his approach is lacking in a certain area and decides on another approach.  Looking towards the door he spies the eyes of Jordan watching the events in the room.

"Come here and talk to him."

Jordan's only response is a quick head shake.

"I think he's more afraid of us than you are of him.  Besides, I'll stay in the room."

"Man I hate wierdoes."

Jordan mumbled as he entered the room and made eye contact with the man.  Obviously uncomfortable with the situation, Jordan raises his hand slightly and once again mumbled,

"Hi."

Eddy responds,slightly lowering his voice and uses the same voice inflection. Apparently they were a bit too loud the last time.
 "Yes, we were trying to plan something big, but with our liege, it's better not to sit around with the goods for too long, right. So do you know a way to shift things"

Eddy gives the man a sour look. This plan wasn't coming together at all.
 "And exactly what can you do that would justify part of our loot?"

Iridia notices the man, but seems to be concentrating on the fight. However, she still kept an ear for that the two beside her were saying.

A grin cracks one side of the newcomer's face. "I knows people. You need to sell stuff. I need to get stuff. Sounds like we'd make a good team, us three."

Inside the low pit, the brawl continues. Maruis is so far unharmed, managing to sidestep all of the bigger, slower man's wild, anger-fueled swings. But, when he comes in close, the ogrish man changes his tactic. With both arms, he tries to grab hold of the smaller fighter, but Marius is too wiry.

---

OOC: Stripe rolled 15 using 3d6. Grapple, AoA +4 to hit. Fail.

Garbage, too aweful to contimplate just what all composes it, flies at Jordan. The boy manages to step quickly out of the way. However, the guant, pale man isn't done there. A wild glimmer in his eyes, he clammers to his feet and looks as if he's going to kill the young lad...

Dancing a step backwards, Marius strikes a pose, and sends a dazzling smile up to the audience. Though the next words may seem directed at Millar, his face is turned towards the audience, and his voice carries in an entertainer's voice, reaching every corner of the large room.

"Come on Millar. Why don't you just give up? You are far too stupid to win."

[Private to GM: 9 against 14 Public Speaking
Trying to give people an experience they'll me talking about for the rest of the week. At the very least.

Defence: Retreating dodge, 9 against 13, not counting penalties for being distracted.]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:04, Thu 26 Mar 2009.

Again, the big ogre lunges, beyond furious over Marius' showmanship. Like a bull facing a matador, Marius steps out of the way, to the roar of the crowd's laughter and cheers.

"Whoop!" Marius shouts as he dodges the giant, and then plants a foot against his backside to give a mighty push.

[Private to GM: Move into close combat
All-out strong shove with leg
Rolled 8 against Dexterity 10 (-2 for kick included)
Damage 8 that only inflicts knockback (p. 378)
No defense]

Oh, but the giant wants to fall. It's unbelievable that he manages to stay on his feet so perfectly placed was the kick. However, the man planted a hand on the ground, and righted himself before he could tumble over.

He tears off towards the smaller fighter, again trying to drag him down. This time, he manages to hook his arms under Marius' with a crushingly-tight squeeze.

---

OOC: Stripe rolled 7 using 3d6. DX (8) to avoid fall. Stripe rolled 6 using 3d6. AoA +4 Grapple.

If Marius is the least intimidated by the fact that he has been caught in a bear hug, he certainly doesn't show it. Instead he grasps the giant's ears with both hands, heaves back his head, and then jerks forward to head butt the giant.

[Private to GM: All-out determined head butt against face
Rolled 9 against Brawling 7 (-4 Dex for grappling, -1 head butt, -5 face, +4 determined, +1 daredevil)
Which would mean a miss, though I think it would be hard not to hit *something* given the situation. Unless he is letting me go? ;)
Damage 1, shock -1, knockdown rolls are at -5
No defense]

Marius' head leans back, ready to rock down with all his might. But, the ogre-man presses the side of his face against Marius' breast making the head butt impossible.

The giant tries to use his size to bear Marius to the ground, but fails miserably in his attempt to do so.

Eddy takes another swig from his cup and rubs his chin contemplatively.
 "And will you be coming with us, or do we just deliver to you?"

"Aw, *grunt*, if you wanted a hug, *hehr* you could just have said so." Marius quips in the giant's embrace, as his booted foot glances harmlessly off the giant's inner thigh.

[Private to GM: All-out determined kick to groin
Rolled 13 against Brawling 10 (-4 Dex for grappling, -3 groin, +4 determined, +1 daredevil)
No defense]

"I prefer to acquire my loot personally," the man replies as they watch the giant continue his attempts to bear Marius to the ground.


[Private to Marius: OOC: Yer tern.]

The man's actions were expected and Xavier quickly begins a spell as the man begins to clamour to his feet.  The last few hand gestures end with a finger pointed at the crazed man.

OOC: Cast Levitation

[Private to Stripe: Whisper rolled 5 using 3d6. Levitation Spell roll.
Woohoo! A Critical!  On a Levitation spell!]

While the man's physical assault is brought to a quick end, hanging free in the air, his verbal abuse goes wild. Screeming, batting like a cat with his long, blackened fingernails, the man shouts curses and threats at the top of his lungs.

"Hey Eddy, you are about to lose your money!" Iridia tugged on his sleeve while sneaking another look at the new guy.

"He's fishy." She whispered to Eddy.

Drawing his leg back again, Marius tries another kick, but once again the angle is just a tad wrong.

[Private to GM: All-out determined kick to groin
Rolled 11 against Brawling 10 (-4 Dex for grappling, -3 groin, +4 determined, +1 daredevil)
No defense]

Marius manages to stay on his feet for another second, despite the ogrish man's attmpts to drag him down.

Still Marius's maneuvers seems not so much driven by desperation, as a bloodyminded intent to come out on top. Grabbing Millar's ears once again, he pulls him in close and..

[Private to GM: If successful "kisses him straight on the mouth."
Not sure what to roll for that :)]

Laughter rages from the audience as Marius plants a big smootch on the bearded giant's lips.

Suddenly, he releases Marius and stumbles back, a look of shock on his face as he wipes his lips. Not a second later, he's swinging for Marius' face. It misses, again making Marius look like a hare in a race against a tortoise.

The laughter and jeers continue as the man swings and misses.

At the laughter, Marius spins around, turning his back on Millar, performs a bow at the audience, and continues through the spin to take a swing at the giant, all in one fluid motion.

[Private to GM: Imagining it as a move and attack maneuver, punch to face
Rolled 13 against Brawling 4 (-5 face, -4 m&a, +1 daredevil)
Retreating dodge at 13

The maneuver is only slightly ruined by the swing sailing past Millar by more than a foot.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:06, Sat 28 Mar 2009.

"I would advise you to stop your yelling, but I doubt that you'd listen."

Leaving the man floating in the air, Whisper thinks for a moment.

"Perhaps something from his own memories might help.  Jordan, watch the door."

A few movements of his hands and an image forms before the man.

OOC: Cast Perfect Illusion

[Private to Stripe: Cast Perfect Illusion (1 hex) doubled for touch:

His wife, before she got tortured, will step from behind him and hold out her arms for him.

Yeah, I know, cheesy!]

With a resounding clap loud enough to pierce the roaring din, Marius' fist slams into Millar's mouth, bursting his lip open. It's by far the best slug of the match, and the crowd -- now mostly standing on their feet -- absolutely goes wild. Millar's punch was in mid-swing when Marius spun about and landed his own while simultaneously ducking the giant's.

Dodging Millar's blow, Marius dances around the giant, to end up behind him. This time, he doesn't raise his voice, speaking purely to Millar.

"Come on Millar. What you say we stop fighting, grab a couple of beers, and go home in peace?"

[Private to GM: Rolled 14 against Diplomacy 13
Failed]

Millar answers with his fist. The miss is so narrow, Marius can feel the wind on his nose.

"If that's how you want it." Marius replies, tiring of the fight.

Tucking his head down low, he dives in close to Millar, sticking to the man, as he drives a sharp punch into his side.

[Private to GM: All-out Strong punch to torso
Rolled 8 against Brawling 13 (+1 daredevil)
3 damage, 3 shock
No defense]

 "Huh, oh yeah, whatever." Eddy replies to Iridia's comment about the fight. His head was with the stranger who had access to the real money.
 "So you want us to scope out a joint for you, so all you'd have to do is haul in a load. Very well, but then I want to meet your people first."

"No, no, no, you misunderstand me." Iridia says, then covers her ears as the crowd goes wild. "We should check him out first, is all. After we are done here, you should follow him, see where he goes, okay?"

Eddy whispers something into Iridia's ear for no-one else to hear.

[Private to Iridia Silvermane: "Yes, we'll do that too. But if he shows us his fence, we won't need him at all. We can still follow him, see if he's legit, but we will have our fence and can work from there."]

Marius' ducks another blow as his fist slams into the big bear's ribs. It's pretty apparent that in his drunken state, Millar will have to get lucky to connect with his wry opponent.

---

OOC: End of Round 12. [Private to GM: Millar has 3 hp left.]

Continuing to stick close, head more or less resting on the big man's abs, Marius drives another blow, even stronger than the last one, into the man's side.

[Private to GM: All-out Strong punch to torso
Rolled 5 against Brawling 13 (+1 daredevil)
5 damage, 5 shock
No defense]

Marius' blow is solid, but the big man continues with his downward punch, which glances off with little effect.

[Private to Marius: OOC: Rolled a 2 for 1d-2 damage. 0 damage.]

As if he were seeing a bright, glowing angel, the crazed man stopps raking the air and shouting. "My love, is that you?"

The newcomer scoffs at Eddy's proposition, then reconsiders. "Alright. We can go right now, if you're up to it."

Though the strong man's punch doesn't necesarily hurt Marius, it is enough to distract him, and his own punch only graces the man's lower back with little effect.

[Private to GM: All-out Strong punch to torso
Rolled 8 against Brawling 13 (+1 daredevil)
0 damage
No defense]

To the roaring, wild crowd's approval, the two stand toe to to and duke it out.

[Private to Marius: OOC: Your turn]

Maybe he is getting tired. Maybe he is just getting sloppy. But despite the close confines, this time Marius misses entirely.

[Private to GM: All-out Strong punch to torso
Rolled 14 against Brawling 13 (+1 daredevil)
No defense]

 "We'll go directly after this fight, I've got some money riding on this fight and things seem about to get interesting. POUND HIS FACE IN YOU BIG OAF!"

Whisper watched as the man's demeanor changed at the appearance of his wife.  Concentrating, he focused his mind on the illusion.

Floating a few inches above the floor, the man's wife extended out her arms until the two settled into an imbrace.  Voices came from behind him and in front of him at the same time, all different, all female. They spoke quietly into his ears,

"Fear not, I am safe where I am at.  There is no more worry for you about me.  Rest now and return from your madness."

Letting go of him, the body drifted back and smiled towards him before speaking again,

"This man seeks the tooth, please help him anyway you can.  He knows of our pain, he has seen it and does not wish to harm you."


[Private to Stripe: OOC: I am such a fool, I was watching and reading the fight and completely missed your post for me!]
OOC, GM Edit: I took the illusion's words from private line and made them public.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:48, Wed 08 Apr 2009.

"Yeah!" Iridia yelled, but her voice was lost among the cheers of the spectators. It wasn't clear if she agreed with Eddy or was just enjoying the fight.