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[Shekey the Green]

(Ooc: Okay, sorry it's gonna be small. Finals are taking up all my time. D: And Pomazon...does anyone know what's going on? )

She was...angry. At humans. At their inability to accept differences. At their stupidity. Their Lust...their anger...their...flaws.

I thought I had control of this, she thought amidst her chaotic mind. People's shouting were incomprehensible. She felt the earth reverberate around her...as much as she could in the city.

It went windy. The Nature Magic was conflicting with the process. She saw a dancing maniac who seemed to be the source of the problem. Before she had time to attack, she collapsed and everything went black.

--

"It seems we've lost Nameless..." Alabast thought aloud. There seemed to be some angry people a few streets down.

"Should we go see what's going on? It's really windy!" Xavier cried.

"I don't like meddling in the affairs of others," he said mildly. But he couldn't help as to be curious as to what's going on.

"Nature Magic!" someone from the streets cried.

That was the que.

"Let's go," Alabast said suddenly.

They darted through the backstreets towards the commotion. One of the alleys led up to a mob of people running away. Through the faces, they could see Lotus dancing and singing.

They screamed for him and tried to get his attention; waving their arms frantically, they tried to get him to go into the alley. Alabast wasn't too sure if he wanted to be with any people anymore.

Why does Chaos follow me? Alabast thought.

[JRPomazon]

Speedwagon took Gate to some sort of establishment after they met. It appeared to be some sort of brothel, seeing as scantly clothed women were all around them and the patrons were all men. Gate paid no attention to his new surrounding, although Speedwagon seemed to be enjoying the sights. The girls were paying special attention to Speedwagon and appeared to be on friendly terms with him. He was most likely a frequent guest. The two of them made their way to a back room, where the decor was less . . . attractive. Waiting for them in said room was an older man waiting by the door and a middle aged man sitting near a desk.

"Speedwagon, who the hell is this?" Said the older man, his hands crossed on the desk.

"Sir, this is Gate Baal. He has decided to take the job we were hoping to fill." Speedwagon replied in the most obedient voice.

"I see. You usually pick bigger guys than him, why the change in help?" The older man asked.

"He doesn't attract as much attention. A guy like that is exactly what we need for this job."

The older man nodded, understanding Speedwagon's idea.

"I am Turisas. Speedwagon always brings good help, so I hope that you keep that tradition alive."

Gate remained silent.

"Not much of a talker, eh?" Turisas asked.

"Alright, introductions are done. Let's get to the fat. How well can you hide a package?"

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

Lotus felt himself grow tired, and soon he had brought himself to a stand still. the wind had died down as well, becoming nothing more than a slight breeze. Lotus huffed and puffed as he tried to catch his breath, the effort spent in the dance ritual was great.

The rythm beneath Lotus's feet had quieted, his ears able to better hear everything else. He heard shouting and turned his head to look at Alabast and Xavier trying to get his attention. He was about to move when he heard another pair of voices.

"Right there! He's stopped! Quickly, get him!" a Dragon Knight ordered.

Lotus watched as few knights advanced upon him. He cast a quick glance towards Alabast and Xavier again.

They will chase them too...

Lotus gave the two a smile, and spun around to run the other way. He was tired, but the knights' armor and weapons would slow them down as well. While panting heavy breaths, Lotus ran down the street, just trying to stay ahead.

[JRPomazon]

This Turisas was an older man, somewhat portly with graying hair. His face has small scars all over his face and his eyes were like that of a wolf. His associate Speedwagon was a slimmer man, still full of youth with slicked back black hair. They wanted Gate to carry a small parcel in secrecy to a location yet to be revealed.

"Where is it going?" Gate asked as he pointed to the package.

"Bless the gods, he speaks." Turisas commented.

"This little ditty needs to find it's way into the hands of my associate on the other side of Kinaancha."

"That all?" Gate asked.

"Don't. . . interrupt me." Turisas said, his irritation was quite visible.

"The man will be waiting for you by a ruin down building near a couple of shops. The shops are the Golden Goose and the Silver Fox. Give it to him and come back here. Don't open the parcel under any circumstances."

Gate nodded and took the package. After placing the small box under his clothing, he proceeded to walk out of the room and head towards his destination. All he had to do was deliver a box, nothing terribly challenging. Turisas and Speedwagon kept their eyes on Gate as he left.

"Speedwagon, follow Mr. Gate and makes sure he goes where he needs to be."

"Sir?" Speedwagon asked.

"He didn't ask any questions. He just took the box without asking what was inside it. He is either very stupid or he knows something." Turisas commented.

"He just might not care about what is inside." Speedwagon said.

"Did I ask for your opinion?" Turisas asked his subordinate.

"My apologizes sir, I'll go now." Speedwagon said as he headed for the door.

"Speedwagon." Turisas called out. Speedwagon looked back at Turisas.

"Make sure he doesn't open that box. Curiosity can kill, ya know?"

Speedwagon nodded and went on his way, following Gate to make sure everything went according to plan.

[nameless]

"Look I allready told you I have no idea what is going on." Nameless had be processed and thrown into a dingy cell utill he was dragged into an interigation room for questioning.

"I don't believe you." The captian of the guards said. "You were less effected by the balst of wind, thus you must have been in on the whole thing."

"No ok look I'll tell you again. I was walking down the street towards some of my friends who had been shopping, when all a' sudden a bunch of people began to fill the street, it looked like a mob or something, anyway my friend were caught up in the in the mob and that is when the wind came out of nowhere and knocked me out for a bit." Nameless said for the hundreth time.

"Still why werent you affected like everyone else?" The captian said again.

"Becuse I'm really used to being knocked down, hit , clubbed, and being hit with fish." Nameless said with a slight grin.

"Ok well we will keep you over night incase any of your friends show up. Take him away." The captian motioned to two guards who proceeded to drag Nameless back to his cell.

"Stay quiet kid your sharin' a cell wiv a killer." The guard grinned evily as they walked away.

"Killer my foot..." Nameless looked at the form that occupied the cell with him. Nameless couldn't see the mans face, but the man didn't look like a killer, he was thin, with long brown hair that had wisps of grey running through it, and a scraggly gotee. The mand clothes weren't in great repair either.

"Kid what are you doing in here?" The man said.

"The brilliant constabulary thinks I have something to do with the happenings in the town streets, when in reality I have no idea what the hell went down there." Nameless said to the man.

"Oh sounds like a regular day in this city." The man said with a chuckle.

"So what are you in for? if you don't mind me askin." Nameless asked with slight hesitation in his voice.

"I killed a man."

*Hrk*

[Arato]

Arato awoke only to wish he hadn't. Every square inch of his body ached from the lactic acid build-up caused by his over-exertion. He groaned and rolled over.

"Ah, you're finally awake I see," Jacob said from across the room.

"Aye, but I wish I wasn't, how long was I out?" Asked Arato.

"About a day total, the girl is still unconscious though," Jacob stated.

Arato sat up and grunted. "I hope she wakes up soon, we need to find our friends. They could be anywhere by now, they may even have left without us."

"No, they are still in the city, you can be sure of that."

"How do you know?"

"The Dragon Knights put the city in lockdown while they look for you and your friends. You have the advantage though, they don't know what you look like yet."

"Well thats good, I guess... But how am I going to find my friends, I can barely move my legs and I can't leave her behind. It's too dangerous. I have to wait for her to wake up."

"Here, eat this," said Jacob, handing Arato a bowl of hot chicken broth with some onion and garlic.

"Thanks, I'm starving."

"You should also know that the Knights claim to have captured one of the members involved in the disturbance."

"Uh-oh, did they give a description?"

"Ya, short, loud, and he apparently likes to fix things."

Nameless!, thought Arato.
"They won't keep him in jail for long, he's brilliant with his hands."

"So you DO know him?"

Arato nodded his head.

"Does he anything about how you were involved?"

"I don't think so, but I could be wrong, there were a lot of people in the crowd and I wasn't in the mood for memorizing faces."

"Does he know anything about me," asked Jacob.

"No, I didn't talk to any of them about you."

"Good, you should be safe here for a while then."

"I'm not worried about me, It's her I'm concerned about. I can't defend her if she's unconscious on my shoulders, I'm a good fighter, but I would have to put her down on the ground and someone could easily sneak in behind me in a fight and capture her. I cannot leave until she is better."

Adrasteia groaned and opened her eyes.

[Nightshade]

The bar keep returned. "He ahh." he seemed lost for words. "He jumped out the window." Gwen gaped at him.
She sighed, and left quickly. 'curses! well...what to do now...' She flew back and forth as if paceing. Suddenly a young man was yelling as he was dragged away twords the jail by two guards... 'Hmm... I wonder...' She flew after them, keeping far enough away so as to not disturb them. Once they reached the jail, he kept insisting he had nothing to do with the commotion eairlyer. She went to the guard on duty. "Mind if I visit for a while?" He motioned her in, and she flew between the cells looking for the kid. She found him sitting next Geron. "Hello there Geron." The man moved slightly. "Gwenned... How nice of you to stop in." She smiled. "You.. Kid, need some help?" She asked. She checked if the guards were patroling. The halls were clear. She pulled a lock pick out of her boot, and held it up. "I can get you out, I know your innocent."

[JRPomazon]

(OoC: Hey Arato, who is this Jacob? I thought your character's companion had a different name.)

This city, although vast and given the title "imperial" was not different from any other establishment of man. Nothing struck Gate as "amazing" or "beautiful". However, traveling through to the other side of the city was still a lengthy task. The small parcel he carried under his shirt was neatly placed to avoid suspicion. Even the clever Speedwagon, who was following Gate to make sure he did his job wouldn't have known if he didn't have the prior knowledge of the arrangement. Eventually, Gate saw the place know as "Silver Fox Silversmiths". He looked over to find the Golden Goose and next to it an old building. Gate stopped for a moment, which caused the onlooking Speedwagon to stop his tracking.

"Turisas sent Speedwagon to follow me after all." He thought as he noticed his persuer.

"Strange way of letting someone do a job."

Gate resumed his trek and found himself in front of an old establishment. It seemed that even the imperial city had places which had lost their luster. He proceeded inside, which caught the eye of an onlooking knight. The knight focused his attention of the building while Speedwagon watched the scene from a safer location. As Gate walked into the ruin place, he noticed that everything here appeared to have aged a considerable amount and left in terrible care.

"Hey, you-you there."

A voice, most likely the person Gate was meant to make contact with. He came out of the shadows, his clothing in tatters, his form was scrawny and starved and a mild odor. What was his most notable feature was his uncontrollable shaking.

"You have something-thing for me-e? Right? R-Right?" He asked as he held out his hand.

Gate reached to grab the parcel he was carrying. He tossed it to the man who managed to fumble around while he caught it. The clinking man tore it open, revealing several strangely shaped leaves. He clumsily grabbed them and placed them in his mouth, chewing furiously to break them down. Gate had his suspicions as to what he was carrying, but now he knew it was some sort of drug. The man finished whatever was left, all the while his shaking had stopped.

"Where is the-he rest?" He asked.

"That is all I had." Gate coldly answered.

"DON'T BE COY WITH ME! WHERE IS THE REST!? I KNOW YOU HAVE MORE! GIVE IT NOW!" He shouted.

In a fit of anger, the clinking man leaped at Gate. Gate sidestepped the lunge and leaped back from his attacker.

"A single opponent on uneven ground. No weapons to be seen. Hostile and mad. Recommended action: Retaliation." He said to himself.

Gate shook his arm and out came three daggers from his sleeve.

"WHERE IS IT!?!?" The man shouted again and he lunged again.

"Pathetic creature." Gate replied as he threw the daggers at his opponent.

The three projectiles flew into their target, two in the chest and one in his arm. The force knocked him back, the clinking man fell on his back. He writhed in pain, screaming as he tried to remove the daggers. He managed to pull them all out and get back on his feet. Gate shook his arm again and out came two more daggers.

Edited by JRPomazon, 15 December 2008 - 01:35 AM.

[Arato]

Adrasteia had fallen asleep again.

"So what exactly did you do to your legs?" Asked Jacob.

"Huh?" Arato glanced down at the bruises, "Oh that, I didn't tell you everything that happened. After escaping from the crowd I took her to an inn, foolish I know, but I just needed her out of there for the time. Well the Knights came to search the inn so I had to jump out the window of the second story room I'd paid for."

"You jumped out a window with her on your back?!" exclaimed Jacob, astonished.

"Adrenaline doesn't support rational decisions, and besides, the knights were already downstairs, I couldn't have ran down in front of them..."

"Im surprised you didn't pass out earlier from the pain, that jump must have torn up your muscles."

"I didn't care about the pain, I was focused on getting her out and I meant to do it or die trying, which I might now that I can barely move," said Arato, grunting back the pain.

Edited by Arato, 09 December 2008 - 11:35 AM.

[nameless]

"You.. Kid, need some help?" She asked. She checked if the guards were patroling. The halls were clear. She pulled a lock pick out of her boot, and held it up. "I can get you out, I know your innocent."


"Hey cool its a fairy sized lock pick." Nameless moved over to the fairy and began looking at the small implement. "Could I possibly buy that from you?" Nameless said with hopeful smile. "Those things are great for mechanical work."

Before the fairy had a chance to respond a guard began to make his way down the hall. "You better put that away." Nameless said as he sat back down.

"Also you better leave you don't want to get mixed up with me."

"Oi kid lets go the cap'n thinks he has made some progress and wants to talk to you again." The guard said as he reached the cell.

"What more questions? come on guys don't you have some other way to waste tax payers money?" Nameless said with a massive groan.

"Haha very funny, come on." The guard shoved Nameless back towards the interrogation room.

"Poor kid, he doesn't know that these guards will keep him here till next year just to make it look like there progress in the case." Said Garron with a sigh and a chuckle. "You'd best leave for now little missy. I'm sure he can handle himself."

Edited by nameless, 14 December 2008 - 03:35 PM.

[JRPomazon]

The simple delivery had bloomed into a full on life or death bot between Gate and this unusual addict. Whatever was in those leaves made him as ferocious and unpredictable as any wild beast. Still, Gate remained calm and held the lifeless expression he always wore on his face. This clinking man kept leaping at Gate from every possible angle one could think of, his hands bent on strangling Gate's throat. Gate calmly sidestepped each of the lunges, almost as though he knew exactly where and when to move. It was almost as though they were dancing. Gate rushed passed the clinking man and threw his daggers at his opponent as they passed each other. With a shriek, the clinking man took the attack in his chest once again and again he pulled them out of his body and resumed his assault.

"That should have killed him." He thought as he began to dodge the second part of the clinking man's erratic attacks.

He felt something press against his leg and looked down to find the clinking man grabbing his leg.

"WHERE ARE YOU HIDING IT!?" The clinking man screamed.

Gate threw his elbow into the head of the clinking man, who released his leg after the impact. Gate retreated back and reclaimed three of his five used daggers.

"What kind of plant did he eat?" Gate thought as he prepared himself for the next attack.

[Crimson Lego]

Leo awoke from a dream. In his dream he had seen his father, giving him the knife on his deathbed. Getting out of bed, he stretched and went to sit down. Maybe I should leave Zok for a bit and travel. He shook his head. If Leo was going to do that, he'd need another weapon and some more arrows. Moving to his anvil, he began preparations.

Soon, he had 20 more arrows and 3 throwing knives. Opening the door of his hut, he looked up. Time to go, he set along the path.

[Nightshade]

Gwen sighed and left the prison.

"Ah well, maybe I should look for that man..."

She set off in the general direction of the inn. She asked around, but most people hadn't seen him. She avoided the guards, and kept to the back allies for the fastest routes.

"Oh good greif! Where the hell is he?!"

[SL the Pyro]

With the agility to rival a cheetah, Shadow raced through the alleyways of Kinaancha in the direction of where the mob had almost ambushed the neko in the hopes of finding some clue as to its whereabouts. He had quickly formed a plan; the supposed suicide of the neko would be the fastest way to end the lockdown. Any other course of action would extend it considerably.

While he was speeding through the night, his senses were not dulled in the slightest. He noticed something coming towards him, roughly the size of an improperly thrown knife. But properly thrown or not, a knife had the ability to wound. He reacted quicky in unsheathing one of his longswords, long since bathed in crimson blood, and swung it out at the intrusion as it neared him.

He held it in place when he saw that the object was not a knife... but a living being. It was a fairy. Such beings were not easily found... and yet one was here in Kinaancha? Shadow's experience told him that such coincidences could be traps. Keeping his eyes peeled and his crimson blade level at the fairy, he asked in a smooth and quiet voice, "Who are you?"

Edited by Shadow_Link, 24 December 2008 - 07:28 PM.

[Shekey the Green]

Head spinning. Adrasteia woke up to Arato and a strange man. Her body was stiff. She sat up slowly, her muscles had obviously been tense for sometime.

"I...didn't kill anyone. Did I?" She asked. These were the only words she could muster. She hated cities....and humans. This is the same reason why she left society in the first place. Stupidity and Judgments made her angry. She assumed this was the way humanity was.

Everything seemed calm outside. No mobs. She checked her sides. Her weapons were still there, and so was her side satchel.

Where is everyone else? she thought.

--

Lotus...ran away?

He just smiled and left. The people were scattering.

"We should go," he said quietly. Xavier nodded and they turned and headed back towards the inn. No sign of anyone except for them.

They walked in silence. The main streets would be a mess.

"Who are you?" a voice came out.

A man was threatening a fairy with a sword. Alabast tried to think of the logic in this one as he walked closer. There were no places to turn, so he'd have to walk past. Alabast grabbed Xavier and pulled him in front, holding onto his shoulders. "Don't make eye contact. Just keep walking. We'll speak if we're spoken to."

Xavier nodded. And they walked.

[JRPomazon]

Gate was constantly on his feet, dodging the clinking man's erratic lunges. He seemed to have a boundless amount of energy because of the plant he ingested, but this unnatural strength of his had to wear out some time or another. Gate kept reusing the daggers he already had used rather than pull out new ones, since if he had too many out he would most likely lose some of them while regathering them and he didn't want to fret over placing them all back in their places. He reclaimed three in one hand and two in the other. The clinking man let out a vicious howl and charged at him. Gate wouldn't dodge and leap away, not this time. He sidestepped to the right of his attacker and tripped him. The scrawny clinking man flew a great distance from the ground before he reunited with the old wooden floor with a loud crash.

There was silence in that broken hall, the clinking man slowly crawled back to his feet as the broken chains tied to his arms rattled. Before he fully got to his feet, his legs shook and the scrawny man fell face first. Gate began to place all of his daggers away in their proper places, his work here was done. He walked past the clinking man as he picked up his daggers by the sleeping man. As he walked outside, he noticed a knight standing by the scene almost as if he had been waiting for him. Gate paid him no mind and walked past him. He merged back into the crowd just be sure the knight chose to follow him. Gate turned into an alley where he found the man Speedwagon loitering. Speedwagon jumped when he saw Gate as he was surprised to be snuck up on.

"Damn it Gate, don't sneak up on me like that!" He said as he placed his hand over his fast beating heart.

Edited by JRPomazon, 27 December 2008 - 04:07 PM.

[Arato]

"I...didn't kill anyone. Did I?" She asked.

"No, Adrasteia... but there isn't much time to explain. We can stay here until you are fully recovered but the longer we stay the riskier it is. The city is under lockdown because of you and I... you should consider yourself lucky that you aren't very heavy," he groaned, "I had to carry you for a quite a ways."

"And jump out a window with you on his back," added Jacob.

Arato shrugged, "It had to be done, but for right now you needn't worry about that, you need to eat and get your rest."

Edited by Arato, 27 December 2008 - 06:47 PM.

[JRPomazon]

Speedwagon managed to recover his composure after Gate startled him.

"Well, it seems that everything went OK." He said as he readjusted his shirt.

"Why would you people have a client as dangerous as that man? Does he pay better than your other customers?" Gate asked.

"Heh, you could say that." Speedwagon said with a sick smile on his face.

"He was a nice guy when he first came looking for that particular product, but over time he just kinda lost it. Must be a side effect or some-"

"Why are you here Speedwagon?" Gate said, placing a dagger next to Speedwagon's neck.

"Hey, Hey! Cool it friend, I mean no harm here!" Speedwagon said as he felt the cold metal press against his neck.

"That is yet to be determined." Gate replied coldly, his eyes focused on Speedwagon's reactions.

"I had to make sure you didn't look in the package, you're a first timer and let's face it, no one trusts anyone on a first job. And should the delivery boy fail to deliver . . . well no offense but I'd have to clean up. You know?"

"What did that man purchase? What kind of plant gave him that amount of strength?" Gate asked again.

"I can't say." Speedwagon said.

Gate pressed his dagger harder on Speedwagon's neck.

"I really don't know!" He said.

"Turisas would know, he's the middle man after all!"

Gate kept his dagger where it was for a bit, processing what Speedwagon had said. He lowered his dagger and released Speedwagon. Speedwagon clenched his neck, checking to see if he was bleeding. His neck was clean, but he still rubbed the tender skin.

"Why you want to know about the package? You want to become a proud customer to Turisas?" Speedwagon said.

Gate raised his dagger again in a threatening manner.

"Alright, Alright! I was just kidding!" He said as he raised his hands in defense.

After the subtle dispute, the two of them headed back to the brothel.

[Steel Samurai]

Wil had managed to pull one of the sacks littered around the hold of the ship closer to him, and put his feet up on it. But, it was rather lumpy. Much lumpier than the corn or wheat Wil had assumed the ship was carrying should be. He frowned, and managed to get the mouth of the sack open with his feet. He peered inside, and his eyes widened. It was packets of a substance illegal in the Imperial City known as Korlang. So. He had taken passage on a smuggling vessel. That changed things. Slightly.

[Selena]

Kinaancha ? Northeast Docks
--

She marched swiftly down the wooden dock, leading a group of ten men, irritated by an eleventh who was trying so hard to get on her good side. He smiled incessantly, some of his yellow teeth missing, the gaps nothing but rotted gums. He smelled as bad as he looked. If she hadn't wanted his goods so badly, she wouldn't have spared five seconds with him.

?I'm so sorry about th- this lock down, ma'am,? he said as they walked. ?There was apparently some trouble down in...?

?I heard about it before you did. I am not concerned.?

?Oh. Good, good,? he laughed nervously. ?Well, this extra prize I've brought you is a beautiful specimen! He'll get you a lot of money!?

She said nothing further and they continued on until they reached his ship, an old vessel with unimpressive woodwork and patched sails. She held up her hand and five of her men stopped walking, taking up a position outside to watch for any disturbances, pistols and daggers hidden beneath their clothes. Her remaining five men followed her up the boarding ramp. Her gracious host led them down into the ship's hold, and he lit a lamp to illuminate the dark interior. She took a quick glance at some of the sacks and crates in the foreground. Everything there seemed to be in order. Now what about this 'extra?'

Lara pulled back her hood and shook out her red hair as the warm glow spread. She focused her eyes on the far side of the hold, where a man was bound. He was very tall with an exceptionally strong build. His muscles were well developed, indicating years worth of training. He wasn't just some farmhand who got mixed up with the wrong folks on his way to the city. Perhaps he was a mercenary, but he looked too young. There was still a great deal of youth in his face, no matter how gargantuan his build. Some would-be hero off to get the girl and save the world?

?Well? What do you think?? The ship's captain smiled that sickening grin again. ?H-he's very nice, isn't he??

Lara took a few slow steps forward, staring down at her potential purchase. He was too tall for a local man. She'd only seen that particular body type a few times before, and most of them had been from Dol Enol. And what had brought the young man to Kinaancha? Business of some sort? Hoping to gain work as a thug? Either way, he was worth plenty of money. He'd be king of the Himmel gladiator leagues. But very dangerous if not watched closely. If nothing else, he would be a well paid nightly companion to anyone in Himmel who could afford it.

?You didn't harm him in any way, did you??

The captain shook his head. She swore she could hear rattling inside. ?No, ma'am! Perfect condition! The sedatives I gave him may still be in slight effect, but that will wear off in time. Inspect him if you wish!?

Lara took a few more steps forward, standing well within attacking distance should he attempt to pry himself free. But with five armed men standing behind her, three with guns and two with poisoned daggers, she wasn't terribly worried. Best to check for injuries and sores. Damaged goods would be worth a lower price. She lifted up his shirt and checked his abdomen and chest. Well developed and with no defects. As nightly companion might have been one of his jobs, depending on who bought him after arriving in Himmel, she had to make sure everything else was in order.

Lara grabbed his trousers and yanked them down unceremoniously. Her lips curved into a smirk. ?Hm.?

[JRPomazon]

Speedwagon once again opened the doors of the brothel for Gate. The women greeted the two of them with a warm welcome, still assuming that Gate would be their next customer. As Speedwagon took his time with his familiars, Gate proceeded to the back room to discuss matters with Turisas. There Turisas was, sitting in his chair smoking a pipe with his large bodyguard. Speedwagon left the women of the brothel to follow suit. The door was closed shortly after and the talks began.

"Well now Gate, you certainly did a great job. You came right back once the package was delivered." He said as he placed his pipe on his desk.

"As agreed, you'll aid my leave of the city." Gate said, his eyes meeting Turisas'.

"That is true. I did say I would help. But how can I give up on the best delivery boy I've seen in months?" He asked.

"I mean, you actually survived your first job, that would of killed off most poor saps."

"We had an agreement you cretin." Gate replied callously.

"I don't like that tone of voice you dingy rat." Turisas said, his eyes focused on Gate like a starved wolf on meat.

"In fact, I think I like it better when you didn't talk. Shut him up Kravitz."

Kravitz was the large man that lurked in the corner of the room, serving as a door man when needed. His face was rough looking, the kind of person you know just by looking at that they know how to inflict pain. Speedwagon looked over at Gate and gulped as he backed to the wall. Kravitz threw his fist towards Gate, who crouched down to avoid the blow. Gate backed away from the overwhelming large man attempting to make some distance between the two of them. However, the room was small and not many maneuvers could be done here. Gate pulled a dagger from his shirt, the same one he threatened Speedwagon with.

"You scared mister?" Kravitz asked Gate as he cracked his knuckles.

"Little knife like that aint gonna kill me."

Gate, with his face remaining as calm and cold as every looked on and put his knife away. Kravitz smiled, assuming that Gate had put away his weapons and stepped forward. Gate quickly pulled the gun that he stole from a group of bandits near Cha'Firen and shot Kravitz. Gate took the time to figure out the gun's mechanics while sailing to Kinaancha, loading a bullet being one of the lessons learned. However, the bullet stayed when Gate's arm moved from the recoil, making what could have been a fatal wound into just a normal disabling wound of the upper arm. Nevertheless, Kravitz went down. Gate placed the gun away and took the dagger, pointing to Turisas with it.

Edited by JRPomazon, 30 December 2008 - 05:41 AM.

[Arato]

Arato had left Adrasteia asleep with Jacob to watch over her and had gone to find the others in the group. He hated to leave her but he couldn't afford to waste time looking for the others later. As soon as she was able they were going to find a way out of the city with all the others.

He glanced around him. The streets were empty Great, he though Everyone else is scared to be in the streets because the knights might question them... He kept walking, using his staff as a supporter for his still sore legs. Where the crud would they be hiding? He wondered if they had already found a way out of the city. He saw several women stare at him from inside their respective houses as he walked down the once crowded streets, alone. He cut a conspicuous character wearing a full body cloak and walking with his staff.

Two large men approached him from the front, he turned to his right to avoid them. They moved and blocked his path.
"You were one of those freaks with the Neko!" Shouted one of them. Arato recognized the man he had held a knife to standing behind the large men staring contentedly at his would-be prey. Arato was in no shape to run so he had to fight.
He pulled back his hood to expose his eyes and silently readied his staff as a weapon. The first of the large men rushed him only to wind up with his face smashed into the dirt and a bruise on his head. Arato turned around in time to see the second mans fist hit him in the stomach. The force knocked him back a few feet and he mentally cursed himself for not paying attention. He managed a few quick hits with his staff on the second man and quickly knocked him out.

He examined the bruise forming on his stomach and winced as his legs reminded him that they should not be active. The man who had hired them was nowhere in sight so Arato walked slowly forwards, wondering how he was going to find his friends.

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

Lotus had just barely outran the knights who were chasing him, something that his tired body was grateful for. A small stack of crates in an alley had become his hiding place,, and thankfully there were few people out in the streets that would be able to notice him. Lotus looked down at himself, at the backside of his palm, seeing the green lines that were an extension of his full body tattoo. He realized how much he stuck out like a sore thumb in this place.

This was a strange land indeed.

Lotus could not stay the alley forever though, the knights would continue looking for him even there, that much he knew. He pulled himself up and trudged along, still trying to keep out of site. He had no idea where he was going in this forest of buildings, but a fear kept eating away at him.

As he entered a particularly dingy part of Kinaancha, Lotus realized what that fear was.

He ran away at first to keep the others from being caught, but after that? He was afraid of whatever punishment may be driven down upon him. Lotus remembered the many, terrible stories that had been passed down about sadistic Not-Mogili, stories which he thought he had put away after living on one the frontier towns. The realization struck Lotus like a blow to the head. He had no idea how the law worked here, nor how his actions would be judged. After seeing the people who were closing in on Adrasteia, it seemed as though nothing but bad things would happen.

Part of him wished to turn the other cheek, to know these people who must surely be better than the first glance showed. But another part of him, that fearful, xenophobic bit of himself that never trusted Not-Mogili, shouted so loudly that it drowned out any semblance of reason.

Feeling tired again, Lotus stopped and leaned against a wall, his tired knees bending immediately to sit.

?Korata hinaia a...?

I am a coward...

[Nightshade]

Gwen sped into another ally. Oh God! I'm lost again!
As she tried to find a way out to the main streets, a man blocked her path. He pointed a blood covered sword at her and asked: "Who are you?"

Gwen gulped slightly, she hated getting caught. But he didn't look like a knight to her. Plus his sword had blood on it, something that happened very rarely with the guards. She took a deep breath, and rasied her hands slightly.


"My name is Gwen. Can I help you?" She kept her voice as level as she could, and drifted a few inches higher off the ground until she was stareing into his eyes. She looked down quickly, and saw the gleam of her knife in her boot. Good. She thought. I might need that later.

[Steel Samurai]

[OOC: Just a clarification guys, the Dragon Knights are based in Kinaancha and have considerable influence there, but they do not govern it. So, there would be far more ordinary guards than knights]

Wil opened his eyes as the captain began talking about the sedatives. He looked piercingly at the woman with the red hair standing in front of him. Who was she? A buyer? The owner of the vessel? Her expression as she looked at him was that of a butcher examining a haunch of deer brought in by a hunter. They were obviously in port, and escaping now would be as simple as ripping his restraints out of the hull of the boat and jumping overboard. But Wil had no idea where his sword was, and the thugs around the woman were well armed. There would be almost no chance of survival.


The captain noticed he was awake and instantly took a step backwards, hiding behind one of the thugs. The thug glanced backwards, a disgusted look on his face. The woman, however, fearlessly stepped forward and lifted his shirt, examining his torso, then jerked his pants down. Wil's face turned beet-red. He wracked his brain desperately, trying to figure out how to escape the situation. Then it came upon him. He groaned inwardly at not having thought of it before. It was a slightly embarrassing position to reveal this in, but he composed himself as best he could, looked directly into the woman's hazel eyes, and spoke.

"Ma'am, I must request that you unchain me and return my possessions. The Council of the Dragon is expecting me in two days for the second portion of my initiation ceremony, and if I do not arrive they will begin to look for me. I really don't know what they would do if they found this slaving operation had been kidnapping young initiates."

[SL the Pyro]

Shadow kept the sword level with the fairy as she flew upwards to look at him straight. "My name is Gwen. Can I help you?" Her voice was shaky, but she was trying to keep calm. Courage was not her friend tonight, it seemed.

He took this moment to look over her closely, his eyes also catching the handle of a potential weapon in the side of her boot. Shadow felt a little vulnerable upon realizing this, but never let the brief anxiety show as he dismissed it as quickly as it came. The fairy could be as hard to slash as a fly and could probably sink that weapon into his neck... but fortunately, he already had her as swordpoint and would be able to cut her down if she attempted anything.

His gaze was drawn away as two people ran past them, giving them odd looks but otherwise leaving them alone. A wise decision.

While Shadow had Gwen at his mercy, he might as well try to find a use for her. "This city was put under lockdown because of a Neko. Have you seen this creature recently?" he asked.

Edited by Shadow_Link, 30 December 2008 - 11:43 PM.

[Selena]

Lara tugged the man's trousers back into their proper position, saving him from any more shame. She kept her face unreadable, repressing her reaction and emotions in the manner that she had been trained to. She kept only a small grin on her face as she considered his statement. A Dragon Knight initiate? Very dangerous to keep him tame. Perhaps impossible unless there was always someone there to keep him trapped. He'd be worth so much, however! The old ship captain didn't even know how much. His offer was so low! She could make a killing from his sale. And here he was, wrapped up like a present. He couldn't have been too bright if he had gotten trapped on such a rickety old vessel. All brawn and little brain. That would have been fortunate. Even more so if he were the greedy sort. If he were made a gladiator, he'd be showered with gifts so long as he remained controlled.

Or, if he were made a servant of her family, then she could do wonders with his raw fighting ability. There was a way for both of them to benefit.

"I am not sure if the Dragon Knights will be too upset if they lose a boy who can fall into a trap laid by a simple ferryman. Perhaps they took you out of training much too soon." Her voice was calm and businesslike. She stood and pointed at the ship captain. "I will buy him at the agreed price. Keep him chained, of course. Boys, keep your guns trained on him. I would like to leave right away. Captain, does he have any personal effects on board?"

A moment of hesitation, even if it was only a slight one. "No, ma'am."

She stared at him, her grin temporarily gone.

"Well, just a sword, but that's no bother is it?"

"Give the sword to Solan," she said, pointing at one of her men that didn't carry a rifle. She watched quietly as the captain went to fetch the blade, and her grin couldn't help but come back after she saw its size. She would have made a joke about compensating for something, but she'd already gotten a look. Men just loved of force, didn't they? The small and subtle knife, in her mind, was always much more efficient. Especially if laced with poison. After her new slave was secured, she clapped her hands. "Let's go. Have the men outside haul these other goods out and into the wagon."

They moved like well oiled machines, each of them having been with business for years, if not for a lifetime. The men outside hauled the bags full of contraband into one of her two specially designed wagons. There was an entirely separate bed underneath the traditional one, a compartment used for storing goods that should have stayed out of eyesight. Everything was shoved in there, save for a few crates of fruits and vegetables, which were left on top of the traditional wagon bed. Just a local shop bringing back supplies to their store, nothing else!

Wil was brought to the side of the wagon, guns still trained on him. It would be awkward to keep him silent as they passed by several security points, but not impossible. As the other men were loading up the goods, she smiled at him and began a proper conversation now that she was out of earshot of the ship's captain. "This is quite a dilemma. Now that I've paid for you, you are a form of walking currency. If I were to lose you, my business would be down a large sum of money. This is obviously not acceptable. If you escaped, I would have to send my men after you. And even Dragon Knights fall asleep or get drunk at some point. Besides, having to constantly look over your shoulder is not a life worth living."

"I am not completely unreasonable, however," Lara said pleasantly. "I will release you from bondage before your deadline. You must pay me, however, to reimburse my loss. I doubt you can. In such a case, you would have to work off your debt, like a patron at a restaurant who cannot pay for their meal. I already know you're horrid at avoiding traps, but I'm sure that your training has made you as lethal as the best of my agents when put into a proper fight. These agents of mine are very well paid. You could earn your freedom within two days. And perhaps a little extra."

"Understand that most crime bosses in this area would not be so generous. I would seriously consider the offer. If not, then you're off to become an unpaid gladiator, laborer, or the nightly entertainment of an entire village or two." Then Lara remembered another point. "And if you're concerned about harming the innocent, that is not my business. All you will have to do is protect a beautiful, ambitious young woman from the filthiest lowlifes in society."

"What say you?"

[JRPomazon]

Turisas was giving Gate his full attention. His muscle was down and his other help was cornered. He sighed, realizing he was in a bad situation.

"Well, that was quite a trick." He said as he started smoking his pipe again.

"Alright, you got me. I may go back on my word, but only when good business is involved."

"How do I escape this city?" Gate asked.

"Speedwagon will show you once you leave." Turisas replied.

"You better pray I don't see you in this city again."

Gate didn't pay any attention to Turisas' threat, the only thing on his mind was leaving this city. Men like him hid behind their desks, pretending to have strength. Perhaps he did have something, the brains and ambition to become what he is today. Maybe all he really had was dumb luck. Nevertheless, Gate never planned to see this man or his cohorts again. Speedwagon led Gate out of the brothel and into the open streets. Gate followed Speedwagon closely, seeing as the man knew where he was going. There were less people on the streets due to the lockdown.

"Hey, you never got your answer from Turisas about the plant. You wanted to know, didn't you?" Speedwagon asked as he broke the silence.

"It doesn't concern me." Gate relied.

There wasn't much conversation after that.

Edited by JRPomazon, 31 December 2008 - 04:46 PM.

[Steel Samurai]

Wil was calm as he was escorted topside. The thugs were good, he could tell by the way they moved. No effort wasted, this was simply business for them. And for the woman as well, apparently. His eyes darted about, seeking a way of escape. Nothing that wasn't hugely risky. A better opportunity would most likely come later. He directed his thoughts instead to what he could learn from this situation. Better alertness would be one. Next time he would not be so quick to trust seedy looking boatmen. Upon further reflection, Wil thought that perhaps it would be wise not to trust anyone he did not know who might stand to gain from his loss. He imagined that there were other ways he could be taken advantage of than being kidnapped, so in the future he would have to discern more carefully. They were at the cart now. The woman spoke. He listened intently, and smiled when she finished. A way for everyone to be satisfied without violence. Hopefully, anyway.

"I accept your kind offer, ma'am, and thank you."

[Selena]

"Very good," Lara said. The arrangement would save her the trouble of calling in her best local agents for her meetings. She had only a few people in Kinaancha she could trust. The local Yuusef branches would loan her some of their men if she really needed the support, but that was a humiliating process. She was self-sufficient - the leading officer in Himmel. She didn't need to beg for help. The Dragon Knight would be enough, should he remain calm.

Some of her men piled into the wagon with the majority of the goods. The rest, especially the ones with firearms, began to head into the other. Lara hoisted herself up in the front of that wagon, sitting next to the driver. Two of her riflemen waited for his ascension, not trusting him alone. They would board after Wil did.

She patted the seat next to her. "We're off. Come here and tell me a little about yourself. It will pass the time."