• Graded • A City of Villains and Lies (Guest Mod - Night!)

[Nightshade Eld]

Cylus 23rd, 717

The march of feet was completely uniform through the entire group. There were only seasoned veterans among them, those who had seen war and knew how devastating it was. Only those few would be able to handle the current mission. The leader of the group was a powerful looking man with a set jaw and a light stubble dotting his chin. His dark brown eyes had long ago lost the spirit and passion of youth, now they were reduced to little more than glazed orbs which still danced painfully with the trials of battle. His expression was a grim one, but for those who knew the man this was nothing special or different. He sighed with a shake of his head knowing that this next battle would be one of their hardest yet. For all the veterans the group was comprised of there was danger in each step they took forward. The leader of the group came to a stop holding up his hand. The troupe all stopped in time with each other, well oiled and well trained like the good killing machine that they were.

"Alright boys, this is going to be one of our hardest battles yet," the leader said turning to his men. His shaggy brown hair was dotted with the grays of age and the spryness of youth had left his old and tired bones. Yet there was a sharpness to his dull eyes, an intelligence in tactics and war beyond even that of the veterans among him. Each one held the man in high degrees of respect. "The infamous mob boss Don Paul was finally rooted out by our spy. His location is a little ways past here in the outer wall. We've been tracking this man for Arcs but he always seems to avoid capture. Today is the day that we put an end to this little game, today we finally bring some peace of mind to Etzos even if it's only temporary," the man said trying to rile up the group for the seemingly hopeless fight ahead of them.

"Winhelm, sir, we are all well aware of the tyrant that is Don Paul. We were aware when we signed up for this, that's why we're here now. We're with you to the end sir. Let's go kick some ass," one of the soldiers said looking to his commander. Winhelm turned to the younger man. Though he was the youngest in the group Alexander had seen a lot more fighting than the average man. He had proven himself a brave and powerful young man, able to hold his own. He'd earned the leader's respect already.

"Well put Burncock. Let's get this death show on the road," the man said. A small smirk glinted in the corners of his eyes even if his mouth stayed completely ridged. Together the soldiers marched, some of them knowing it would be their death while others knew they would return home as heroes. All of them were soon to be proved wrong.

***

"Boss! Boss!" A pathetic looking man shouted barging into the room without permission. Now wasn't the time to be asking however. There were far more important matters at hand. "They found their way in. They be a comin'! They be a comin'!" The man cried falling to his knees the minute he'd forced his message out of lips that felt like led. His body betrayed him, collapsing and out of strength. At the very least he'd informed his leader of the dire state the family had found itself in. The man collapsed on the ground was a good testament to how bad the situation was. He was missing an eye which continued to leak red liquid, he was covered in various scratch marks and a once fine suite was now violently torn apart as if the guards had been trying to catch him before he warned the Boss. Considering his state perhaps they had.

"Damage?" The man behind the desk asked. His chair was still swiveled around so he was facing the men behind him instead of the man who ran in. The five Capo of the family stood tall and proud while the Boss's Underboss quietly was whispering to him.

"They've already taken the main rooms, they're on their way here now. We're a doomed boss! Completely kaput! Out'a commission! There ain't no escapin' for most of us. But you Boss, we can still get you out'a here. Boss, please, my wife will take you away. You have to take care of the family-"

"Silence! I'm Papa Don Paul, I don't run," the Boss said turning around. He was a plump man with black hair and a powerful stance. She stood from his chair snuffing out a cigar he'd been puffing on moments prior. He walked right on front of the man. "Pick yourself up son, leave with your wife. She needs you more than she needs me. Evacuate with as many of the boys as you can. You'll need them to start rebuilding. I'll give you a clean get away," the man said pulling on his ruby red tie to straiten it. The color like blood was something fitting to see around the neck of the mob boss. He looked like he'd taken thousands of lives for the sake of money and power. Once a long time ago he'd lived in the city, he'd had power and he tried to undermine the city itself. He would become the most powerful man in all of Etzos if he had his way. But someone caught him. Rather than put himself and the family at risk he relocated to the outer walls. Because his refusal to show up before the court he'd been deemed a dangerous criminal. He'd never seen the inside of the city walls since.

"Boss you can't! We need you!" The grunt pleaded. His words had little effect on the Don. He seemed to be set in his ways.

The man laughed slightly turning towards his Underboss who still stood among the Capo. "You don't need me no more, you got Gamaguchi! Best man I ever did raise," the boss said with a laugh. "Three of you boys come with me to make sure the rest of the family gets out safe. Two of you stay with Gamaguchi, make sure he gets to the rest of the family. Tell them he's the new Boss now!" The Don said waving the three he'd chosen over. The Capo went to their deaths without hesitation if it meant seeing through their last moments at the side of The Boss.

"No! You can't, I'm not ready," Gamaguchi said trying to stop the other man in his crazy ideas.

"Gamaguchi my boy. I wouldn't be leaving you if I didn't think you was ready. It's your time now, the family needs a young boss with new ideas right now far more than they need a rusty old man who can barely wield his sword, either of them. Before I go I have one last thing I need to tell you, even if now is far from the best time it needs to be said before I can't say it no more. I told you your motha was a prostitute who left you a street cus' you didn't have no daddy. I took you in because that daddy was me. Take care my boy, keep our family safe," the man said turning towards the door out of his office without another word. "Oh yeah! Who wants a piece of Don Paul! Who's your Daddy!" The man cried running out with reckless abandon. The three Capo followed behind quickly, each one pulling out various weapons to aid their master in his final breaths.

"Come on boys, we betta get out'a here," Gamaguchi said.

"Boss," one of the Capo said. Gamaguchi flinched know that name now refereed to him.

"Shut up ya fools, we don't have no time to blubber until we're out'a this mess," the man said putting on a much braver face than what was actually there. On the inside he was breaking down. He finally has a dad only to learn it's the man he looked up to the most in the world. And now this man was going to die for him.

He and the Capo quickly began to leave the building trying to get out out before trouble could follow them. The man who had entered to warn them of the dire circumstance ended up having to be carried by one of the Capo. The group was almost out of the thick of it when a cry of anger sounded behind them. Before any of the three could answer a warrior ran at them with his blade drawn. It easily went through the chest of one of the Capo.

"You bastard!" Gamaguchi cried unsheathing his own weapon. The long sword easily hacked off the head of the enemy. "No, no. Ivan, you can't die now you stupid piece of shit! Stay with me!" Gamaguchi snarled. He dropped to his knees next to the dying man.

"Save the family," those were the last words out of the Capo Gamaguchi had come to trust over the years. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he trusted the man more than he trusted himself. The rest of the journey was quiet and somber. Finally they got to the rest of the family. It was completely in shambles. All the undercover operatives posted in the city had come to the aid of the family when they heard what was going on.

"Where's the Boss?" One of the men asked turning to Gamaguchi. The remaining Capo answered before he could. "The Boss is gone. Gamaguchi is the Boss now."

The group began to weep. "It's all over!" One of the women cried as she forced her head against the shoulder of her husband who fought to be a man and hold back the tears. They all loved, adored, and feared the Boss more than any of them had another person in their entire lives.

"No it ain't. It ain't over until the fat man sings. And I don't hear Papa singing yet!" Gamaguchi snapped. The group grew silent as he turned to the remaining Capo. "I've got a very important job for you."

***

The next day the entire city was a mess. Night could barely believe what had happened over the course of a single night. It was hard to get any decisive answers on what exactly went down, especially when people you didn't know were hesitant to answer a half breed. So instead of trying to get straight answers herself she quietly slinked along eavesdropping between conversations.

"Did you hear about the raid on the base of Don Paul? I heard even after all of that they weren't able to capture him! Apparently the "family" is loyal because did you hear what the new Boss did? He's put out a prize for the safe return of the old Boss. He's willing to offer anywhere from 50gn to 1000gn as well as a position in the family! Or at least that's the range of numbers I've heard..." One voice whispered to another.

"...the guards are desperate for the capture of the Don so they're recruiting anyone they can for the hunting party. If they offer a good rewards and some free gear then sign me up! Though that Don Paul sounds like a really scary man, I heard he killed the entire group of soldiers almost single handed. He got hurt, but he was able to escape a group of highly trained veterans. That says a lot!"

"If you want to side with mob then all you have to do is find the Don and offer him aid. If you bring him to the new boss then you get your reward. Though I hear it'll go up or down depending on how bad or good of shape the Don is in. If you ask me it sounds rewarding, but working with the guard sounds like less of a gamble. Certainly less dangerous. Helping this man out might make you public enemy number one here!"

The entire city buzzed with the news. Night's head hurt just listening to all the conflicting rumors. So much information to sort out, no telling what was the truth and what was a lie. The reward being offered sound ridiculous no matter which direction you went, though it was hard not to sound ludicrous when one of the richest and most infamous men goes missing and his successor is trying to find him. The one thing she knew for certain was how one went about trying to get that reward. Wander into the forest and find the Don, return the Don to the Family, pass go and collect reward. Easier said than done. How would you even find the family let alone the Don? Certainly he wouldn't be willing to trust a random stranger without proof. Of course a dead guard might be good enough proof if someone truly sadistic decided to try and get the approval of the family. Night couldn't help it when her mind wandered to the idea of Noth.

Either way she knew which direction she was going. "Excuse me?" She asked when the familiar setting of the guards barracks came into view.

"If it isn't the little bird," a familiar voice purred.

"Hello to you too caravan man, you don't look so hot," she commented looking Alexander up and down. The man was covered in bandages and didn't look like he would be helping on this hunt any time soon.

"Ah, yes. I was on the original raiding party. Winhelm and I were the only ones to get away," Alexander said with a sheepish grin.

"Sweet Immortals Alexander, what were you thinking? Also, were do I sign up?" The half breed asked. There was a light tone of amusement in her voice. To ask what was wrong with him and then ask to make the same mistake herself. It was logic that only made sense in the mind of Night, even if it didn't make sense to Alex the humor wasn't lost on the guard. He laughed in turn. The brightening of his expression was enough to make Night proud of herself.

"You're going to want to talk to Winhelm. Since he walked away unscathed he's helping to lead the new assault. We got a pretty good idea of how the Don fights. Winhelm's not a bad man, I'm sure he'd be more than happy to have someone like you. Even if you are a little..." he looked Night up and down allowing the implication to hang in the air. From Alexander it wasn't an insult, instead it was a simple statement of fact. Night was a half breed, plain and simple. Even if Alexander didn't mind most other people tended not to like that.

"We'll see about that," she said her happy nature quickly becoming a little more serious. She moved into work mode considering this the same type of thing as approaching one of the officers for work.

"Ah. And you must be the great and powerful Nightshade. I've heard people sing your hate or your praises or even nothing at all depending on what half of the tavern I feel like drinking on," the man said. The light jest instantly calmed her nerves. He truly was one of the few who didn't care. In fact the light that seemed to glow in his eyes upon her appearance implied he was grateful she showed up.

"I heard you're having troubles with someone. My sword is at your command should you have need of me, good sir."

[Limbo]

Shortly after the letter had arrived, what surprised him most was the length of the message. It seemed not just another summon from Noth, but instead something bigger. The information held in the written text was read out by Neronim, the teacher’s latest acquaintance. Even if they were still strangers in the eyes of the other, Nero had placed some trust upon Paplo, and so had Paplo in return. A simple ‘come with me’ had been enough incentive, and soon the pair was on their way.

Through the Outer Perimeter’s chaotic and busy streets they walked, yet the forest did not grow any closer. Instead, it was the door of the Eidisi what laid at the end of their road, and once there, three knocks and a minor pause was all needed. However, Aerlan did not answer, and after trying again, Paplo simply shook his head and walked away. Words were null, as instead the letter was all the research assistant needed to see to be convinced. It was somewhat ironic how the written word was, sometimes, more powerful than it’s spoken counterpart. Paplo thought long and hard about just how many arguments he would’ve needed to convince Aerlan to accompany him whilst Nero, the stranger, loomed close.
“No talking until we get there,” said Paplo, refusing to explain just whose door he had tried. “Let’s be professional about this.”

What spoke of whatever it was they were doing was the second letter Noth had scribbled. He needed not to pass it, for Nero had already read it In in, details and information were shared, product of the pondering of a lonely individual that dwelled within a cave, his thoughts and schemes his only company - save for the power hungry goose that cradled his heart.

Soon, the city and its inhabitants were muffled by the distance. The trees became dense, thick and tall, offering an intimidating skyline to whatever eyes dared look above. The sounds of birds changed, for they no longer sang and whistled joyful tunes. Instead, it was almost as if whatever sounds they emmited communicated their feral survival instinct; their songs were meant for battle, prideful and driven like the cries of an ape beating at its chest. There was no society in the forest, no morals nor titles. Only prey and predators roamed the wildnerness.

Advancing through the treacherous terrain was rough, exhausting, and perhaps somewhat exhasperating. The torchlight was too dim, and the lack of sunlight only hid nature’s ploys in the shadows. Many fools could shatter an angle were they not careful, and such care was, perhaps, why they took them so long to reach their destination. A pit in the rock, darker even than the never-ending night that had befallen this season. Fire lived within it, however, and the promise of some heat drove Paplo’s gait to slightly increase its speed.

Inside it, the leader awaited, once again caught with his pants up rather than exposed for the trio - two of the three members of said traveling party already being suspicious of whatever relationship transpired in the cave at night. However it may be, Paplo pointed towards Nero.
“Brought a friend. He can be trusted,” he said quite plainly. “Now, before you lay it out, I want to say a few words. We’re all here for a reason. We all crave for something. Be it coin, cleavage, or carnage, it can be achieved.”

Somewhat pointless speech, but it hopefully dispelled any doubts that may have been passing through the individuals’ minds. Paplo now glared at Noth, and nodded.
“At your service, boss.”

Off Topic

Sorry if it's a bit vague & short. It does it purpose, though. The letter referenced can be found here.

[Vluharqih]

Alex settled against the wall, her mirrorcloak a mottled grey today which blended in well against the rough hewn stone behind her. The hood hung around her head, keeping her face in shadow. The darkness hung around the city heavily, the cold wind of Cylus whipping through the streets. She had arrived before the word had gone out to the masses- courtesy of the Cauldron- and had been waiting just outside the barracks when the guard, a man named Wilhelm or something along those lines, had appeared, torch in hand.

He seemed surprised at Alex waiting for him, and confusion furrowed his brow momentarily. "What are you doing here? If you're looking to report a crime, this isn't the-"

Alex cut him off, "No. You're...Winhelm?" She said, reading the name off the note.

"Y-es?" The man phrased it as a question, his hand dropping to his side unconsciously as if he detected some threat from her.

"Good. I'm here to hunt down the Don. Where do I sign up?"

He hid his shock as he looked up at the retreating back of another blackguard, likely the one bringing the news to the rest of Etzos. He smoothed his features into what Alex assumed was his working face and smiled at her. "Wonderful. What skills do you have?"

Alex smothered her own smile and kept her face neutral, flat. "I have some skill with these," she said, gesturing to the daggers belted at her side, "though I'd be better off as a spy. I've heard that the mob is starting its own manhunt for the man, and you could use a man on the inside."

It hadn't taken her long to come up with that idea. She was terrible at fighting, not to mention the fact that she hated it with a passion, so that wasn't really an option. The Cauldron didn't care much what happened to the Don, only that they didn't want him to live. Backstabbing was more her style, so slipping in close would work well, and was pretty obvious from her point of view.

The conversation went back and forth a bit, him filling Alex in with the details as she tried not to show her impatience; the Cauldron had actually filled her in pretty well this time, so everything he was telling her was old news. When at last he let her go, Alex took off.

She wasted no time searching out a group of men who appeared to be interested in helping out the Don. Torches clumped on the streets as group after group swelled, then disbanded. Alex ducked into an alley, shifting quickly into Valyeria before continuing on.


Valyeria met several groups, leaning in and listening to their chatter. The groups that seemed to support finding the Don, Valyeria stuck near, but they all soon disbanded. Exasperated, she moved quicker, searching each group for someone who seemed...invested. It took her nearly three breaks, but eventually she found a group that wasn't full of it. In hushed tones they spoke of the money, all agreeing to return him to the mob. She nodded along and stuck close behind as the group, ten strong, ducked down into the Underground.

Their torches burned brightly, but Alex was prepared for the darkness. Given that no one seemed to be able to find the Don on the surface, Alex guessed that he was somewhere underground and had brought Brightfern. Her eyes were soon adjusted and she pulled the first needle from her waist.

It was Stain, a gift from Marshall Webb, mixed with an inhibitor and a couple of other treats. It would take adrenaline, and lots of it, to spark the reaction. Any fight, and this man would be dead before he drew his sword.

[Noth]

It took little time for the recipients of the letter to arrive at the home of the twilight hybrid, and immediately he found himself analyzing the newcomer, measuring him up in an instant so as to determine how he might fit into their plan. Crimson eyes flickered away from the fellow, determining that he would allow for further observation throughout the duration of their activities, and would thereby deign a more accurate reading on the man than simply glaring at him from across a shadowy and dark cavern. There was the slightest quack from behind him, alerting him to the presence of his pet goose as she meandered about the darkness, evidently having some difficulty in ascertaining the location of her nest. Feathered hands scooped her from the ground as if though she were weightless, placing her upon her desired destination and allowing her to curl into an avian ball as she prepared to sleep for the remainder of the trial. Noth knew that if he were to perish during their operations, then his dear pet would likely suffer the same fate, especially given the fierce conditions that Cylus often brought with it.

The primary aspects of the plan had already been determined and put to paper, though it seemed reasonable to reconvene in order to determine that all potential problems would be solved, and that there were numerous contingencies to deal with any unforeseen difficulties. Ynush spoke before any words could be uttered, making a note that everyone was in on the work for some differing purpose, but that in the end they were all working towards an objective. It was clear enough to Noth that the statement held truth, though he wondered if perhaps it was simply a reminder that they were not doing charity work, and that his underlings desired to be rewarded for their efforts. A good leader always knows to keep the needs of his underlings met both at the minimum and maximum levels to ensure that their efficiency never wanes in the face of conflict. Having someone who didn’t care whether you lived or die as a watchman never seemed to work well. He determined in his heart to reward those pitiful travelers that had brought him the information about the recent law enforcement activities of Etzos, especially since they had essentially offered him the job of finding their precious leader. It wasn’t nearly that official, naturally, but he preferred to view it as an invitation nonetheless.

He regaled various pieces of the grand scheme, quoting directly from his written works in a manner that made him feel somewhat akin to the great scholars of Idalos, directing their attention towards the doctrines that they had written, and cross-referencing their theories with those of other great men. Noth had no such men to reference when determining his plan, and whilst most aspects of it seemed reasonable enough, he found himself longing for some manner of scholarly contribution to claim that it was indeed such, that is, reasonable.

With words spoken, and the gentle cold of the bitter wind blasting outside, the group disbanded from their cavernous hiding place, each man maneuvering themselves through the darkness towards their selected objectives. Ynush was a talented actor, skilled in the arts of deception and theatre, and would thusly make a perfect spy for their purposes. He had been tasked with infiltrating the local guard and ensuring that their methods and operations would be utterly futile. Meanwhile, Aerlan; the cold and sociopathic Eidisi, had determined that he would not be participating, which meant that the job he would have been given; the vitally important quest of contacting the newly empowered Gamaguchi to ensure that their efforts in the matter would not be performed in vain, was now simply a hope for payment as opposed to a surety. The blue-skinned fellow seemed to be an especially ruthless variant on the normal criminal, especially given his complete and utter lack of emotional capacity, but that didn’t truly come as a shock given the individuals he had chosen to surround himself with, and for a moment Noth wondered whether or not the new member of their party felt anything either.

He cast his crimson eyes to his side, shifting the torch in his hand to the right slightly so as to ensure that the dancing flames cast their revealing light upon the face of his marching companion who seemed to rattle ever so quietly, as though his skeleton needed a chiropractic attunement. His skin seemed almost unnaturally pale in contrast to the darkly colored feathers that draped the Avriel, and he wondered how he might have acquired such a disposition. The occasional long-reaching flicker of light also revealed a slight redness that puffed under his eyes, and Noth immediately made the assumption that the newcomer was some manner of addict, though perhaps not in the traditional sense. Ynush had essentially admitted to being an addict in that he enjoyed draining men and women of their souls, or of their life essence, and it seemed reasonable enough to conclude that the newcomer felt quite the same about such matters.

They had been tasked with the terrifying difficult task of locating the old boss: a man by the name of Don Paul, and escorting him to his son. It was a noble and valiant cause that they had signed themselves up for, and Noth hoped that his hunting abilities would combine well with whatever the pale man brought to the proverbial table. Admittedly, the next parts of the plan would make the blood moon jealous at the amount of crimson which would be spilt upon the ground, but such things were for later. With a gradual sigh, he covered his face with the raven’s mask that had been purchased for their plan, allowing it to shield his face from sight, though he genuinely doubted that it would absolve him of the crime should he be spotted. He had a fairly discernible presence about him, what with being coated in feathers, but it was the thought that counted. The mask did give him a beak, which was perhaps the one avian feature that his malformed body had been lacking, and he grinned slightly at its presence, motioning towards his companion to cover his own face as well.

“Well then, pale man. What is your name and your profession? Why has Paplo brought you to me?” He spoke as he considered the most likely hiding places of the aforementioned Don.

[Neronin]

"Paplo?! He told me his name was Doctor Dragoo-... Nevermind." Neronin hissed, dropped the sack of bones he carried onto the dark ground beneath them. He wore his black robes, thinking they would keep him warmest out here beyond the city. In truth he had not known what Dragoon, Paplo he reminded himself, had wanted until they reached the cave. Neronin cursed his own stupidity at believing the idiotic lie. Paplo had just seemed so wild that it somehow fit. Paplo had introduced both Aerlan and Noth as previous companions, though Neronin sensed that this dark monster of a man was the leader. His red eyes unsettled Neronin and he wondered if it was some relic of magic gone awry. Neronin flexed his own right arm at the thought, his own witchbrand hidden under the black robe's sleeves.

"I'm Ron, but we best stick to the nicknames, Mongrel." Neronin said pointedly. He glanced around and dropped the sack of bones to the ground, wincing at the bright light of the torch. "Call me Marrow, and my skills are why that deception is a necessity." He said before turning back to the sack. The cloth was grimy and utterly mundane, with nothing impressive about it. Neronin pushed pack the sleeves of his robe, raising the wooden mask to his own face. It was a simple thing with an eerie looking skull painted on it. He laced the string behind his head and threw up his hood. Once he had heard they would need his magics, Neronin refused to do the job without hiding his identity. He had purchased a mask for himself, and the man named Dragoon and Paplo had insistent on masks for the rest of them too. "Maws said you would want the raven one... at the time I didn't know what he meant." Neronin said, the painted skull shining brightly as he turned to glance the bird monster over. "Now I get it." He shrugged and spread his hands out in front of him.

"Now don't worry...it won't hurt you." He said without explaining further. Neronin felt the swirling of his energies after only a moment's concentration. He let the stuff gather within him, feeling the pinpricks of power it left on his skin. Neronin poured the power out of him, the action coupled with a sudden and frightening transformation of his right arm. The black veins along its length glowed with a bright green light and the flesh shriveled and paled. He watched it, his own apprehension about the witch brand hidden by the mask. He hadn't yet gotten used to the sight of the transformation, but it happened whenever he cast the simplest spell. He felt the familiar link as his mind seeped into the Marrows. Neronin watched as both skeletal minions clambered out of the bag, creating themselves as they went. After a moment both skeletons stood before him, motionless. Both eyed Neronin and Noth with the eerie hunger all undead possessed.

Neronin sighed, glancing over at Noth to see any reaction. "A little extra reinforcements for our cause." Neronin glanced around the woods. "You think the Don is out here? I suppose he had to leave the city." Neronin began to walk to the edge of the copse of trees they were currently skulking in, looking out across the landscape. "It makes sense really. The Black Guard would have to fight the Army over jurisdiction, and they would be less willing to give up what information they had. It's what I'd do." Neronin leant against a tree and turned back to Noth as the two skeletons wordlessly moved to flank their master. Neronin felt a stiff breeze, the night's chill cutting. He shivered and pulled the hood up more over his head.

Their plan seemed devious to him, but with a nice prospect for payoff. Truth be told, he saw Paplo, or Maws as they were calling him tonight, as a good avenue to supply his research. This endeavor, though it promised gold, also seemed to promise corpses. That was his real currency. Power came through death, not gold. The necromancer glanced toward the city where many tiny fires still burned, the torches of guardsmen called out of bed most likely. He wondered how the blue man, the Eidisi, was doing. His job seemed to be the most tenuous, and perhaps the most important. "You think Maim found what's his name yet? You sure he can get us a good price?"

Ledger

Masks, x4: (12sn x4) Price =4gn 8sn

[Gangui]

An Angry Etzori Citizen.

The Citizen's Market buzzed with the exchange of goods and services as usual. The events that occurred outside of these stalls rarely did effect the mind of the people whom hustled every day in these corridors. Not a single contractor, merchant, or peasant paid any heed to the recent power games that were happening all around them. They continued as if there was no constant war or corruption infiltrating their ranks. Some called it willful ignorance. Others called it stupidity. Regardless, the fact remained the same: hey were little more than self-serving opportunists.

There was one person though, who had enough.

A middle-aged man stood upon a large wooden crate so that his voice could echo for all to hear. It was a common citizen, the type of man whom labored every day to support his family who lived in the Stone City.

"Hear ye! Hear ye! Has no one heard of the events that occurred yesterday? Am I speaking to deaf and dumb men, Etzos?"

"There is a syndicate of criminals that has been operating through the in-seems in our city and they have been revealed, BUT they have not been brought to justice!" A few people stopped to listen at his beckon, but even more turned an ear when he proclaimed the events concerning Don Carlos,

A merchant threw a tomato at the man, "Shut up ye old hack, yer holding up business!"

The angry speaker picked up the tomato and chucked it back at the heckler, "Woe to ye who doesn't listen to me!"

"This criminal known as Don Carlos is an evil and sick creature. Little do you stupid peasants know, this man has been poisoning our population for countless years. Like a spider, this man has been biting at us to immobilize and numb us, to only come prey on us later when we are weakened!"

Voices began to die down to hear out the radical claims being made, "They are EVIL men who walk among us in secret. They use MAGIC to calculate the number of people who will DIE in the upcoming war to the south and the north, so that they can strategize a plan to DIVIDE US CITIZENS and take control of our beloved nation in the name of their gods!"

"This is SO STUPID!"

The angry citizen rambled, spittle flying from his mouth, eyes beginning to widen, "I don't want to fight with the authority, I don't want to fight with the merchants in these stalls, I don't want to fight my neighbors. But that is all this DON CARLOS character wants for us people, he has been pitting us against each other for YEARS!"

Suddenly the man changed tone, "I want Etzos to succeed! I want our society to prosper! I want us to defeat the Immortals! BUT NO we are slowly being taken over and MURDERED slowly by Don Carlos' power tactics!"

Taking a deep breath, he squeezed his own face and rubbed his hands. All eyes were on him. "They have already murdered countless people. DAMNIT! Half of our population can't even remember why we founded beloved Etzos in the first place, because DON CARLOS HAS POISONED OUR MINDS!"

Several voices in the crowd began to cheer the man.

The man began getting red now and began waving his hands all around in a frenzy, "DON CARLOS and his CREW will do everything in their power to take our WEAPONS, take our PROPERTY, take our CHILDREN, and take our NATION!!"

The citizen began pointing savagely at everyone gathered around him, "No one CARES! NOTHING has been done about it!! I am SICK of this CRAP!!!"

Violent voices among the crowd began to chime in as well. He was not the only one that held this opinion apparently.

The speaker began slamming his fists together, "What the hell is wrong with you people?! Why haven't you done anything to stop this!? Am I the only one who CARES!?"

The crowd around him began to erupt in chatter. Some spoke against the man, but the majority were swept up by this fever. More and more people stopped their daily business and crowded around. The speaker remained silent for awhile now staring off into the distance as madness consumed his very soul. The vibe of the mob was rising up towards hostility to say the very least.

One of the city guards vested with authority over the market finally stepped forward and ordered the Citizen down from the podium.

The angry man lifted his head up slowly, with eyes so full of hate and spite that any lesser men quaked in his wrath, "DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLING US AND KILLING OUR CHILDREN!?" The voice echoed in a deep, gravely vibration of death and hate.

Whistling and hollering ensued.

"IF OUR BABIES ARN'T SAFE THAN NONE OF US OUR SAFE!!! YOU LET THEM RUN OVER WEAK AND INNOCENT PEOPLE!!! YOU STUPID SELF CENTERED FUCKS!!! YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO STOP IT!!!!!!!!"

Fists began to shake. The noise got louder and louder drowning out everything else.

The angry citizen grabbed the guardman's spear and yanked it away from his grasp, before proceeding to kick the militant to the floor, "I AM SICK OF DON CARLOS' CRAP!!!"

The crowd roared.

The crowd went wild in terror.

Gangui

The barbarian watched from the outskirts of the gathering as festering anger began to boil. The simple warrior had no clue what was going on; it was an entirely new experience for him. Unfortunately, it was contagious to the simple minded. The feeling of righteous fury crept out from the center of the commotion. The madness consumed their eyes like a burning flame. One by one each member of the crowd was infected with the creeping disease of fear. Undaunted by the rising anger, the curious man pushed his way to the front of the group. Little did Gangui know, stepping into the center of the fray was the most dangerous action he had ever taken in his life. In mere moments of listening to the speech of the Citizen, he too was swept up in the fever.

Every word that the Citizen spoke rung true in the barbarian's ears. Gangui specifically came to Etzos to seek personal Liberty and Justice against the Immortal who had done him wrong; he had been raised believing in Etzorsi Freedom from Oppression. How could the city fall under the guile of such a monstrosity? How could such an injustice take place? Why hadn't the authorities put to death this Don Carlos character?

Burning flames ignited in his heart at the fact that not even the children were safe anymore. The will to kill had settled in his soul. As if possessed by a demon, Gangui let out a roar. When the City-guard was pushed down, the wild-man's instinct towards action overcame him. Immediately, the half-blood began to kick the fallen soldier. Gangui roared from deep inside, his mind completely unhinged.

Things fell completely apart. A darkness fell over them and the world changed completely in front of their eyes. The faces of the mob turned horribly grotesque and wrathful. The men around him were swept up in violence and began to beat the fallen guard. The Citizen speaker fed off the lunacy, jumping down from his pulpit, "It is time we take a stand! Etzos wants Don Carlos DEAD!!!"

Drawing his blade and waving it in the air, Gangui roared in a frenzied agreement, "Come on! Let's go!"

Everyone hollered and agreed. Following the lead of the Citizen, the dark group of violence proceeded through the market due north towards the ramp directly towards the housing district. Thus, a lynch mob for Don Carlos was formed.

[Tirta]

Her new role as Vuda's personal dog seemed to be growing on her. She definitely was reaping some of the benefits of being employed by him. The clothing she had received at their second encounter was much more fitting for the chill of the city. Her blue cape whipped around her as the wind picked up, hinting at trouble in the city. She leaned against the wall of an alley as the rumor mill worked. Vuda had already heard the rumors. He had selected the ones that were true, his spies and guards proving to be more useful than she had excepted. Now, it was her job to go and do his bidding. After all, that was her job as a dog. Quietly, she moved out of the alley, weaving between the groups that gossiped about the family's fall. This was the liveliest she had seen the city. It made her shiver. The excitement was electrifying.

Her white crop top was covered with a leather half-corset. It covered her middle as a method of protection, having been added to her wardrobe as a means of protecting his investment. It was held up by criss-crossing leather bands attached to the silver plates of her capes. Her normal parachute pants were substituted for dark blue canvas pants. She had been bold enough to ask for tall black boots, accentuating her feminine features. After all, she was still a woman and her curves were just as much a weapon as her cutlass. Of course, it was the cape that made her feel the best. The way it billowed against the elements made her feel, and look, more powerful than she had before. The ability to look threatening was part of being a mage and a pirate.

She had been bid to find Winhelm, to side with the government to kill this Don Carlos. She moved, looking for the man in the streets that matched the description she had been given. She ended up at the barracks, lowering her head in a submissive fashion as she passed a few of the men at the entrance to the barracks. They let her in without much of a word. Clearly, mercenaries were welcome at this point. She strode through the ranks, holding her shoulder back. "I am looking for Commander Winhelm."

The man gestured towards the back of the barracks to a group of men that were huddled over a map of the forest. Tirta walked up to them, leaning over to peer at the maps. "Do you have any idea where he is on that map?"

"And you are?" Winhelp questioned, pulling himself upright from his plans.

"What, you haven't heard of me? The name is Tirta. I'm here to help."


(OOC: Apologies for the short post. Just getting in so that our guest moderator can give me more guidance.)

[Nightshade Eld]

Unfortunately for Valyeria's group the Don was not in the underground. Instead they came across someone different, at least it was getting closer thought. The last living Capo tailed close behind Gamaguchi as the two tried their own luck with the underground. Due to the secretive nature of the mob Gamaguchi was completely unknown to the outside world. If anything he and his companion would be assumed as low ranking members or perhaps not even members at all. It was an entirely reasonable assumption to think the pair the same breed of money grubbers as everyone else trying to hunt down the boss. Gamaguchi turned on the group of 10 when he saw them approaching. His eyes glittered dangerously as his hand skirted over towards his blade. "And who would all of you be?" The man asked trying to catch their eyes. He was able to pin Valyeria's, his brilliant green eyes stood out sharply against the darkness. The shimmer only became more dangerous as the flicker of the torch light seemed to cast shadows dancing through his forested orbs.

"If you're looking for the Boss then it might be a good idea to team up. If you aren't then it might a smart idea to get out of here." The Capo stood up a little straighter as he spoke. It was obvious that he meant it as a threat towards the guard which were prowling the underground as well as anyone helping them. Gamaguchi remained silent staying close to the Capo and slightly behind him. It could easily be questioned why one man was so protective of the other, but one could waste hours speculating on such a small matter. Due to the nature of the organization the other 9 members of the group were completely clueless as to who Gamaguchi was, they seemed to accept him as another person hunting for the prize. It had yet to be seen if Valyeria knew any different.

After a quick set of introductions and some heavy convincing that the group of 10 was in it for the money and they weren't trying to help the guards Gamaguchi finally calmed down his hand moving away from his blade. Both men wore neat suits that left a lot to be desired on the grounds of protection. They seemed like they would be easy kills, but appearance tended to heavily differ from the reality of a situation if one wasn't careful. It could be easy to mistake the easy kill of another person as the easy kill of yourself. "We've been trying for hours and the Don doesn't seem to be on the up. Guards and money grubbers have been combing the near forests for hours, ever since the fight broke out to be exact, and no one has been able to find him. Though the underground seems just as unlikely. There have been some guards slinking around. I heard in some areas they're killing anyone they see on site! Not that it would be any different trying to find him up in the streets," Gamaguchi said as he walked with the group. Both he and his Capo kept a certain distance from everyone else. There was a distinct caution in the way they moved and acted that betrayed lives raised by crime. Though that caution would serve them well should the rumors prove to be true. Which they did.

The group came to a dark and narrow hall that no one seemed comfortable with. There didn't look to be any way out if someone was corner on both sides. The damp darkness caused some of the group to go on edge. There was a faint dripping that echoed throughout the area adding to its eerie aura. The Capo moved even closer to his boss, close enough that certain things could be implied if they didn't consider each other to be family. He pulled out a small dagger that was coated in a sticky liquid that had a horrible smell. The dagger itself was the product of some alchemist's hard work, it almost seemed to ooze the poison which coated its blade. Gamaguchi opened his mouth to speak words of caution when a figure appeared at the end.

"Who are you?" It shouted. The form was obviously that of a member of the black guard. Before anyone in the group could answer the figure shouted to a couple of other figures which quickly appeared. After some more conversation the group of what looked to be five charged, they seemed armed to the teeth and it was a confrontation better avoided than fought. The no questions asked policy turned out to be a no questions answered policy as the small group of black guard charged the group of hunters. It was something that seemed very illegal, but that was the way of the underground. There was no telling what the guards would do should they actually catch up to the group and get within fighting range. Though judging by the cries of blood lust and how they held their weapons it wouldn't be something pretty. It was something that the group now consisting of 12 could win, but certainly it was better avoided.

"Run the other way!" The Capo cried pushing Gamaguchi into action before he actually moved to run himself. Of course he was putting his boss first. Feet pounded echoing down the halls and they tried to escape the party of guards quickly gaining of their tails. Some of the larger members of the group or those in heavier army and clothing started to huff and puff with the effort. Before the group could actually escape the small corridor they were cornered on both ends by another group of black guards.

"What do we do now?" One of the group members asked in a panicked tone. The new group of black guard on the other side of the tunnel had 18 members in total, quickly putting the group of money grubbers at the disadvantage. They wouldn't win a battle against this many people, not unless one of those among them was fairly skilled in battle. Regret was starting to seep into the hearts and minds of all those present, save for the boss and his Capo who both stood proudly. If they were doomed to go down then they would go down in true mob style, fighting. Of course both had no intent of going down until the old boss was safely returned to them.

"Quick, this way," the Capo hissed. Gamaguchi turned finding that there was a small grate in the floor that the Capo had been able to pry open. "Good work Arloe," Gamaguchi said rushing towards the grate. He was the first to jump down quickly followed by Arloe. There would only be time for three other people to escape before the guards descended upon the group. The other seven would be stuck in a fight. Presumably one to the death.

***

The mob continued to rage on in the streets without what seemed to be a single care for anyone else. As more people jumped in it quickly got out of hand, growing far past a simple lynch mob. People were trampled and wounded in the rampage, the black guard was called in but it couldn't really do much. What started out as a simple mob had quickly turned into an army that was quite frankly armed to the teeth. It could be said that the only thing the army didn't have was mages. There were no mages among the racist Etzori ranks. However everything else they could easily provide up. Even if the group's training in fighting was lackluster at best it didn't change the fact that there were hundreds of men and women quickly swarming the area around Etzos, inside of Etzos, underground Etzos. A large amount of people had even stolen the uniforms of Black Guard and descended into the depths of Etzos' underground. They were said to be killing anyone that looked remotely suspicious, of course a healthy amount of racism and trigger happiness was added into the judgments.

"Good people, please calm down!" A man shouted trying his hardest to get his voice to reach above the angry cries of hate. He looked to be part of the army. His voice however was completely drowned out by the yelling and shouting of the mob. All other sound besides that of war cries was swallowed up in a sea of agony and malice. Half of the mob stayed within Etzos trying to weed the Don out, spreading through the streets and causing mayhem. Houses were broken into, looted, there would certainly be corpses for someone to clean up in the days to follow such an event. Crime was able to flourish in the madness, most things going completely unnoticed as total anarchy unraveled in the streets. It didn't help that the other half of the Etzori mob had taken to the woods with little regard for their own health. All they had were the weapons in their hands and torches to guide their way. They swarmed the area around Etzos and were more terrifying than any of the wild animals that might have been roaming. Those child the mob was trying to protect? Many orphans or the foolishly curious would be crushed under feet.

"Will of your calm down? You're causing more harm than good!" Someone was finally able to get their voice to raise above the rest of the madness. Of course this was only achieved through the use of brutal tactics. Citizens were sprayed down with freezing water, mages rushed out into the streets to try and help calm the fighting and to help the black guard. For a moment the mob was suppressed as they listened to the black guard.

"It's not our fault we have to do things ourselves. It's you black guard weren't so incompetent to catch him in the first place!" A chorus of jeers followed the brave soul to shout insults at one of the ruling powers in Etzos. It was a dangerous situation for everyone involved, but at least for a moment the mob had become still.

The sad thing had to be how little the people knew. This "Don Carlos" was little more than a lie created by the family to keep the real boss safe. While Don Paul slowly got farther and farther away the mob hunted viciously for a Don Carlos and would not be convinced otherwise to the true identity of the man they now searched for. "It's almost sad, they know nothing about the family or the dangers that await them. Yet they throw themselves so wholeheartedly to the wolves," a woman said with a shake of her head. She cracked her fingers slowly causing a pop in all the joins along her body until there was nothing less to pop. Short brown hair trailed from her head down to roughly her neck. She peered out at the wave of outraged citizens with even gray eyes that almost looked like glass. It was almost as if something inside of her had died a long time ago. Paired with the wide Cheshire grin, the almost serpentine smile, the woman who was more of a beast had a haunting appearance. Once long ago she might have been human, but she had given that up for far greater power. Large claws came forth from her fingertips, fangs poked out of her mouth, her eyes were narrowed in a serpentine fashion. Witch brands.

"What do you say to helping thin this crowd?" The man beside her asked. He was in a similar position to the woman who stood beside him, though it was far less obvious. None of the tell tale signs of a mage were visible on his body, at least not without a closer look. The kind of look that only the woman standing next to him would have the pleasure of seeing on cold dark nights when it hurt to be alone. He had a light stubble growing from his chin, his hair was also brown but it was an almost straw like color to contrast the dark and creamy chocolate strands of the woman beside him. His eyes were sharpened with dangerous attention to detail, two perfectly focused sky blue orbs, as they danced around. He tilted his head from side to side occasionally as if he was better trying to hear something.

"My dear Carlos, that sounds like a lovely idea. How do you suppose we pull this off love? Certainly these idiot could be tricked into thinking that our precious boss is you! That would certainly cause some problems for yourself though, and I don't think the boss would be happy if his favorite mages bit the dust," she purred happily with a grin and a wink. She moved a little closer to the man as her eyes flickered dangerously. The glassy appearance in her orbs disappeared as a look of sadistic pleasure over took all of her expression. She almost seemed to be in pure ecstasy just thinking about the madness and suffering the pair could inflict together. She squeezed her arms tight around herself as she rubbed her thighs together with a tight sigh. "I can already imagine it!" She whimpered as she started to reach a pleasure high. Quickly the expression turned into one of doubt. "There's still the question of how we pull this off..."

"My sweet Anita, you underestimate my skills," Carlos said with a hearty laugh. A vicious grin spread across his lips as he looked about. Finally he found a good target. He turned his attention to a man that was holding a rather large torch. "Look!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. "There's the Don!" The mob turned into complete and total madness as the Defier pointed. With that gesture came a burst of magic which caused a fiery explosion. People caught up in the blast screamed, running away. Some people started dropping to the ground while others ran around like mad men catching more things on fire. Carlos turned to his beloved with a grin. Anita went into a sick kind of bliss as her face went completely flushed. "Oh~ It looks so lovely~ Scream louder pretties, I want to feel your voices echoing in my head!" The mess of a woman cried out as Carlos's face split into a massive smile. Her reaction was just too much. She wanted in on the action, it wasn't fair if her beloved got to have all the fun! The Becomer turned into a Jacadon, not the most dangerous beast she possessed but something that would certainly strike fear when people looked up into the skies.

"Burn!" She viciously echoed as she took to the skies. She flew past building belting out large sprays of steam. Those she was able to catch were almost instantly dead, or so close to being boiled alive that they would soon be dead. Anita flew past Carlos allowing his to quickly grab onto her leg. The mob tried to respond, but the disorganized group had little chance of being able to fight two expert mages. The black guard who had appeared to calm the mob were in a similar state of disorder that kept them from being able to do much. Carlos laughed as slowly the people of Etzos began to turn on each other as more explosions of flame made them think they were being attacked by the mages with the guards. Certainly it wouldn't help the skepticism against mages!

"Anita, let's get out of here before anyone powerful shows up. We'll meet up with Divinya and Remna," Carlos called up to his beloved who nodded changing her position to sweep towards the meeting point. The forest and their master beckoned the pair who disappeared off into the distance leaving Etzos to destroy itself from the inside out.

***

Wilhelm sighed looking over his group of warriors. This was the best that had come? This was the best that Etzos had to offer? He supposed that this was the best who wanted to be controlled. The rest would be working of their own volition, trying to gather whatever prize was offered by the guard. He wondered if Vuda would offer up any kind of rewards like he did when the mine was raided. Part of him wondered if Vuda himself would be joining the fray. Certainly Vuda had a distaste of the Don thanks to the threat that he posses. Though Vuda's actions were always uncertain and unpredictable. There was no saying what the master mage thought of the Don. The Mastermark looked over what little he had been offered and took a deep breath steeling his nerves for the coming hours.

Winhelm sized up Tirta who he still didn't seem to trust. He knew nothing about this woman and he didn't honestly want to know anything about her. His mind was more focused on the fact there were people he had to protect. "We have a rough idea of where he might be. We've checked the immediate area around Etzos so he somehow might have gotten in this area over here. We'll be splitting up as much as we can to try and check the area. I'm going to be leading a group to check near here, another group is going to be led over here. Alexander?" The man turned to his fellow warrior. Despite his wounds he had dragged himself over to listen as well as speak on an important matter.

"We have a late arrival," he said simply glancing at a beautiful woman. Her hair was long and perfectly cared for. It seemed to shimmer like gold and she gave off an aura of power and wealth. Brown doe eyes looked at the Mastermark with a air of innocents like she knew nothing wrong with the world. Though appearances could be deceiving and even the eyes could be hidden behind lies.

"Hello, I'm Remna," she panted trying to get a hold of her breath. Apparently she had sprinted here. Of course who wouldn't with the madness out in the streets? "Turns out there's a little problem outside," she said with a nervous laugh. Remna informed the group of warriors of the total chaos that had happened in the streets. Word about a pair of mages causing the mayhem was already starting to spread, though no one could locate either mage. Anyone who showed any signs of being a mage was instantly assumed suspect and treated with doubt.

"I see. It seems a group is going to have to stay behind and do what they can to help clean this up," Winhelm said with a bitter sigh.

"I can handle that," Alexander interjected. "I'll talk to people, see if I can get a small group of guards or even a small group from the army to help me out. This is only going to get worse if we don't catch Don David soon," Alexander said. Instantly a chain of whispers ran through the room like wildfire. Don David?

"Paul," Winhelm said with a shake of his head.

"I thought it was Carlos!" Another person interjected. Quickly the entire conversation turned into an argument over something as simple as a name.

Night who had been completely silent up until this point felt a rush of anger. "Everyone shut up! We don't have time to be arguing over names. Someone is out there who wants to kill half of Etzos and take the other half as his pets. Everyone is killing each other to try and get to him. The only way we can solve this is if we either catch or kill this bastard and bring him just law," the half breed said angrily as she glared over those gathered. Something in her tone quickly shut up most of the people present. Though some also whispered words of resentment about the half breed. "The fact of the matter is we need to get out there and find him. Name or no name."

Winhelm sighed with a shake of his head. How did he let himself become petty enough to argue about a name? "She's right. Everyone, get into groups of three or four. Try to avoid getting killed. Night, Tirta, you two are going to be coming with me. Remna I also want you to tag along. We're going as far out as we can get and we'll comb the area. Night, I expect you can fly even in these conditions. Correct?" He asked turning to the half breed.

Night nodded, "As long as I have a torch to follow then even in Cylus I shouldn't get lost," she said. "If the Don is stupid enough to light a torch of his own, then he should be easy to find. Of course he might always have Brightfern..." the half breed said her mind trying to come up with some kind of idea for hunting the man.

"Good, you make sure to keep a look out on the area around us. Give some kind of warning if you find something. I'll get you a lantern that you can tie to your leg or something. Tirta, Remna, you two and me are going to go get the finest and fastest horses this city has ever bred. The rest of you spread out. Elect a leader and try to search the area on the map. Each group can claim one. This is ours," the Mastermark said placing a small tick on the map close to the Misting Woods.

Night didn't like the idea of being so close to a dangerous area, but it would be a good place to hide for someone like the Don. With that all the groups set out with the intent of hunting down the Don with Alexander stayed behind to try and find a way to calm the mobs in the streets. Night could feel a slight sense of worry in the pit of her stomach. Her trust was spread thing for the time being. She wasn't sure what to think of Tirta and she most certainly didn't want to be around Remna!

***

The Boss himself actually was out in the woods. He was farther than anyone expected him to be. Roughly seven hours had passed, the man was assumed to be wounded and on foot. However he had been able to snag a horse and get much farther than even his own gang had assumed him capable of getting. Don Paul was coated in blood, but curiously enough there wasn't a single tear in his suit implying that he himself faced no injury in the face of at least 20 highly trained soldiers. He was right on the border of the Misting Woods hidden in darkness. One of his Alchemists had finally caught up to him and gave the man some Brightfern. So now he was in the darkness just trying to stay warm enough to survive. Heat had been a nice way to achieve that desired warmth, who knew a small dose of the Aukari drug could be so helpful?

The man himself seemed to stand tall and proud in the darkness. He was extremely large but given his sheer size he was a bit of a pin head. The least one could say was that his head did not fit his body. It was far too small for the sheer bulk of the man. His suit covered everything from the neck down, the only part of his body exposed with his head. The rest of him was extremely large, there were literal mountains of fat on him from living a life of luxury.

Finally a group of money grubbers caught up to the boss. "Finally, what took you loafs so long?" The boss asked when they explained they were there to try and help. "Damn Gamaguchi, wasting so much time and money on me of all people. Then again, that's the way the mob works. We wouldn't be a family unless we did stupid shit for one another."

There was a weird grinding noise as he turned, almost like metal scrapping against metal. The grunts looked at him weirdly. "What? You never seen a man big enough to need a back brace? Sooooorry my back is a little screwy," the man snapped at the group which quickly tried to make amends for their rudeness. "Spineless oafs, all of yous are gonna be dead by the end of this if you don't grow a back bone real quick. Speaking of, the first one of you to get within five feet of me gets a broken nose. If you come near me with any kind of weapons or strange powders I am stabbing you. This is the first and only warning I'm giving," the Boss sad.

OOC Note: From this post forward Wilhelm is not to be controlled by anyone but me. The same can be said for any of the NPC's that I create for the sake of the thread. Please treat them as if they are important NPC's being controlled by a moderator. The first couple of posts can be forgiven since they were set up posts. If you have a reason you need to use one then please PM me. Upon reviewing the Cylus calendar I have decided to set the date for the thread as the 23rd. If anyone has problem with that then they can contact me through PM and a new date will be decided in the next post.

[Limbo]

Paplo’s return to the city took him almost half a break. The movements in the streets were major, guards and hired hands traveling in groups here and there, shouting loudly and offering stink eyes gratis. Citizens moved as well, some in fear and some with indifference, whilst others gathered in alleys and discussed in hushed tones. Paplo wondered what Vuda’s position on all of this was, or if his influence was somehow involved in the events that transpired these turbulent trials. Trials there were, indeed, for battles were fought on many fronts, be it against one another, or against one’s own fears. Unbeknown towards these radical reactions, Paplo limited to do as he was told.

To join the guards’ effort would not be hard, especially for him. The previous two collaborations of sorts with Nightshade and the guard she represented at times would be a nice excuse to find himself within their side. Furthermore, as an empty creature with a convincing human disguise, his doubts were minimal. His torch began to flicker strangely, to which Paplo tilted it down in order to fuel the fire. It failed, for a gust of wind finally extinguished the stick the Mortalborn now held, and it was disposed of by merely tossing it in an alley. The business next to said alley, a small blacksmith shop that provided most horseshoes for the Outer Perimeter had two torches on his entrance, to which Paplo served himself with one of them.

Just before the city gates and the regular inspection, Paplo’s eyes spotted two familiar features. One of them was that of Nightshade’s black wings, which the teacher still craved with quite the zeal, and the second being Tirta’s colorful hairs; the green colors standing out quite obviously in the plain gray scale city. He stopped, offered his most charming smile, and waved.
“Oh my, what a coincidence!” he said to the incoming group, offering polite but gentle bows. “It’s nice to see you again, Tirta. Same goes to you, Eld.”

His blue eyes now landed on the individual they traveled with. Were it not for his armor and gruff attitude, Paplo would’ve branded him as a pimp walking his whores. The Mortalborn now imagined Paplo’s life as a pimp, and the thought surprised him. Maybe one day.
“Good trial, gentleman. Am I to assume you lead this reduced squad?” He chuckled. “I wish not to entertain you, dear guard, but I do have a petition to make. Would it be possible to be included within this traveling enterprise?”

Paplo did not seem much of a warrior, for he wasn’t. Even so, his somewhat formal attire did not make him quite the candidate.
“I have former experience with the guard,” he quickly added. “Perhaps the respected Nightshade could vouch for me, for we share a couple of noble tasks from our past meeting, or perhaps Tirta could, for she and I have faced overwhelming dangers we managed to survive.”

He smiled, again.

Off Topic

As a quick note, I'll add that Aerlan is unable to attend this thread, so I've edited him out of my previous post. Also, sorry for the late reply. >_>

[Vluharqih]

Over the course of the next several bits, Valyeria managed to poison over half of the group. She didn't know who the two who had just joined their group were, and quite frankly, she didn't care. They were obviously looking for the Don too, so they might see something Valyeria missed.

She sat back as the two men argued with the group, their skepticism making her smile. It made sense, though she was curious; if they all brought back the Don, who would get the prize?

She bet that if the group found him, alive and well, they would fall to infighting and be dead soon enough anyway. People seemed to go crazy about money- she didn't get that. It was just money.

She idly noticed that the two newcomers kept to themselves, holding a healthy distance between them and anyone else. Val rolled her eyes internally- if anyone really wanted to kill them, odds were they could even with the extra space.

What's the use in paranoia if it doesn't help you survive?

The dark hallway forced them to walk more or less single file, and Val found herself forced into the middle of the pack- the worst spot to be. She ignored the prickling sensation at her back and followed the man in front of her. When the group turned around, it took her half a second to understand. As the group stampeded backwards, Val saw one of the members, a heavyset man, trip and fall. She saw his hand go for his heart and almost imagined foam appearing at his mouth. Had she poisoned him, or was it simply a heart attack? It was impossible for her to see as she sprinted past and she doubted anyone behind her could see either.

When the guards appeared from the other side, panic quickly spread through the men left. Val found herself beside the two new arrivals, and when they found the grate she felt all eyes turn their way. A sudden stampede as men shouted and rushed forward, ignoring the possibility of behind skewered from behind. Without missing a beat, Val leaped forward and pushed a man back. He was already being pulled away and he stumbled backward, falling heavily and knocking several others down in the cramped quarters. Val was halfway down the ladder when she saw the effects of her poison truly begin to work.

Half of the people were comatose, foam seeping from their mouths as their bodies hindered those behind them. One man was already above her, his foot pushing down on her shoulder as he forced her to move quicker. She disappeared into the darkness, landing heavily next to the newcomers.

"Cover... mouth," she panted, holding the hem of her cloak over her nose. "Some kind of... poison." She leaned back against the wall, still bent double.

There were two more men who followed Val down, both of them quickly covering their faces as they heard her. "T-that's right. Half of 'em died from something in the air. They had foam coming out their mouth and everything!"

The two who survived looked tough, but scared. Their group had been decimated before it had even gone anywhere, and they knew nothing about those who were left.

"W-where do we go from here?" One of them asked, and Val watched from her position on the wall, nervous energy making her jittery.