Ashana

The snow cracked and crunched under her feet with every step she took through the crowded city street, shifty eyes dancing about in the sockets of her head to and fro, scanning for a potential mark.

Gods damned this blasted city! She shivered a little, wrapping her elegant shawl a bit tighter around her, a gift from a particularly innebriated nobleman she lured into bed. Thankfully she spared herself the indecency of laying with the fat, drunken pig. Just her luck he was one of those fools who liked to be tied down.

What I wouldn't give for the heat of the desert sand... A cruel place it was, Ahkshriba, but what would be more cruel than freezing to death in this gods damned snow?

She sighed, her breath a thin mist caught in the biting, frigid air. The buzzing of the market rabble was incessant in her ears, her head pounding. Maybe killing a few tankards of ale was not the best way to celebrate her victory over that drunken fool.

Hmm...there has to be something in this market worth stealing. Blast! But nothing of the sort, just the ususl, dried meats and fish, produce that could hardly be called such... Not a single jeweler or antiques dealer to be seen. Perhaps she would just have to resort to picking pockets, but that lacked the flair and the fun the Black Rose had come to known.

Ryan

Ryan walked down the road, snow melting against him as it fell. He didn't care, he found it increasingly difficult to care about much. Since he'd come to Agartha not only had he been unable to get into any mischief, but he was unable to make ANY friends. It's as if the weather had made these people less friendly, at least to him.

Ryan and Natsuki momentarily locked eyes. She turned her gaze away from Ryan as fast as she could. This intrigued Ryan which caused him to approach her and strike up a conversation.

"Hey beautiful!" Ryan said damn near soaking wet. He didn't care, he was to stricken with her beauty to care. He reached out with a cold hand to grab hers and kiss it.

To his shock the girl let him, and he made his introductions. "My name is Ryan,
it's a pleasure to meet you...". Ryan left a blank space in his speech for her to fill her name with.

Natsuki

Oh please don't walk over here, oh please please please... The world didn't listen and he strolled right on over and introduced himself. "... Natsuki." she filled her name in his blank space. She thought the half elf was cute, but this young man before her gave her a while new perspective on the meaning. She looked him up and down, she loved his coat even though it was soaked to all hell. Natsuki gasped and realized consciously he was drenched! She couldn't let him catch his death of cold so she brought him into the shop. She made him stand by to door while she dried his clothes, making sure not to get water tracked around.

The rat like beast pounced at the large green orc, sinking its four razer sharp teeth into his leather arm pad. There was pain, but no blood drawn. "Dawn was right," the orc thought as he raised his maul to crush it's head "armor is very important." He brought his mace down, but the rat seemed to have noticed his intent and yanked on his arm tearing off the piece of leather. The mace narrowly missing the small creature. "Dawn was right," the orc thought again "this is no normal rodent."


Lug sat on his favorite wooden stool, surrounded by the teared cloth of his home. He had tried his hand at fixing the holes once or twice, but took to simply placing items in front of them instead. The fire that burned in the center of the square tent let off enough heat for the cold blooded orc, and he had no complaints. "Things could be worse". His daily mantra. There was so much in this life worth living for that where you lived it didn't seem all that important. The biggest issue he faced was boredom. With the cold winter coming through, most others were spending more and more time inside.

The boredom set in and the orc got up, the fire was low, but still producing warmth, with no intent of wasting it, he called out to the groups of poor living around him and let them know that anyone without warmth was free to take his. A few took him up on his offer as he walked away.

As he was leaving the lowly quarter, a familiar face caught his eye. That of Dawn, one of the soldiers in the Royal Agarthan Military Police. Most people called them The RAMP, Lug had misheard this as RUMP when he first arrived in Agarthan, and was not one to change this misconception.

"Eh mizz Rump!" Lug bellowed from deep within his lungs, the taste of the onion he had eaten for breakfast filling the air around him.

"Lug, just the type of brute I've been looking for," she responded. Holding her hands tightly behind her back. She stood no taller than 5 foot with short brown hair just below human ears. Lug couldn't help but notice again how stunning she looked in her red and silver armor, almost reflecting her face in it's shine.

Lug wasn't sure what a brute was, but if Dawn was looking for him, he knew it would probably be fun.

"I had hoped you'd say that mizz Rump!" he expelled "what can I do for this fine city today!"

Dawn reported that there was Rodent of Unsettling Size in the sewers beneath the bazaar that had been harassing the patrons and traders. Lug's favorite kind of problem, messy and bloody. He accepted and made his way into the muck.


Lug looked the RoUS in it's eyes as it swallowed the piece of leather whole. "Good luck you won't have to pass that later big one," he said toward the creature "on account of you being a dead rat boy." Lug pulled his second iron mace from his back and took position like a person ready to sprint for his life, he ran at the creature letting out a howl that shook the tunnel. Iron made contact with bone, and the creature fell lifelessly on the floor, it's head crushed between the two maces from left and right. The creature slid into the muck begining to be carried away by the flowing filth. Lug leaned over and threw the creature onto his back, knowing this would feed many of his friends in the lowlies, and made his way to the exit.

As he was about to climb the stairs, Lug heard a small squeek. Fearing there was another RoUS he sat his kill down and followed. The darkness became problematic as he made his way down a long tunnel, all the way following the noise. His darkvision helped him to see although with limited color depth, he could make out a small figure at the end. A nest, made up of clothing and other items he could only assume came from the bazaar above, in the nest sat a small RoUS, it's eyes just barely open. Alone, motherless.

Lug's heart skipped a beat, he remembered his first night after his mother left him to fend in the city himself. He nearly didn't make it through. But, like many creatures before, Lug could help this little one. He scooped the small creature up into his arms, no bigger than a small cat. Instinctively it bit into Lug, where the armor it's mother had eaten, had once been placed. Lug grabbed the mother by the tail dragging her behind as he made his way back to the lowly quarter.

Gharn landed heavily with a splash as he was thrown from the bar. He'd landed in a puddle of mud and instantly sat up, growling angrily. His eyes flashed from pale blue to golden yellow, the pupils turning to slits as he snarled. "No shoes, no shirt, no service!" shouted the bouncer, pointing to the sign next to the door to the bar. Gharn had gone inside, trying to find work of some kind, even among the patrons. His Wereform was immense, and could be useful for heavy lifting.

The bouncer appeared unimpressed by the young man growling at him. He was obviously very badly scarred, which led him to think the lad had a rough past. That, combined with his state of dress, nothing more than a pair of ragged pants, had made him think it would be better to make the youth vacate his bar.

Gharn got up, wiping mud from his face. The human had tossed him, literally tossed him into the road. A small piece of gravel had opened a new cut on his cheek and the blood mixed with the rain around him. He growled and began to grow. The Bouncer's face went from stubbornly confident and stern, to pale and fearful in a manner of moments. The young man before him had transformed, fur growing along his body, muscles expanding to immense levels and the size of him! He had nearly doubled in height! Gharn roared at the man, who wisely made the decision to turn and run back into the bar, through the door that Gharn could no longer fit through. Gharn drew his massive sword, but instead of trying to go after the man, he simple walked up to the sign and smashed his blade into it, ripping a huge chunk from the wooden exterior and obliterating the sign.

Satisfied with his work, Gharn sheathed his giant weapon, then returned to his human form, walking down the street towards the local market. Maybe if he was in luck there might be a shop-keep in need of some heavy lifting. He shivered slightly, the cold air didn't bother him as much as it would a normal human, but being so exposed as he was his feet were icy and his body covered in goosebumps. Maybe shoes and a shirt were a good idea after all... He pulled several coins from his pocket and counted them, he might have just enough for a meal and a secondhand pair of shoes...

He walked towards the market, not paying attention to much, especially to the infamous Black Rose standing not 50 feet from him as he perused the stalls.

@Overlord Thraka

Ashana

Ashana was blending with the crowd nonchalantly, looking for a worth mark. All she saw was poor left and right, the lowly quarter was pretty good for thievery but only if you when who had what. It seemed obvious that nobody had anything here. When suddenly crash! Ashana witnessed a were-creature get tossed out of a bar and fuck up thier sign in retaliation. "Bah hah hah hah hah"! Ashana couldn't hold back the laughter she felt. I mean that's not something you see every day, and she was sure glad she got to see it. It took her mind off the slim pickings. She approached the were man. "Hey there big guy! You know you can stay with me in my room at the inn up the road if you want. I have room in my bed and they won't mess with you there.
I could probably even get you some shoes and a shirt".

Ashana smiled an endearing smile and reached out a hand to shake. *"My names Alyssa, what's yours? Ashana felt like he could be useful so she wanted to befriend this strong Ally.

Gharn had been in the middle of purchasing something that looked very much like a flaffel from a seedy looking Dwarf when he heard someone call out to him over the noise of the crowd. He turned to fight a rather pretty woman approaching him, and was startled slightly by it. He took a step back as the dwarf impatiently held out a hand for money.

Ignoring the dwarf, Gharn frowned slightly, though the expression only cross half of his face. The left side was marred badly by 4 long scars, and the damage done by them left that side of his face mostly paralyzed. It would only show emotion when Gharn's expression was a powerful one. The last time it had happened, Gharn had been furious at a pair of Guards who had knocked down a small shelter he'd built of trash. Had not more Guards quickly shown up, Gharn would likely now be spending his time either in prison, or 6 feet under as killing a Guard is not something that is generally applauded by the law.

Gharn wasn't trusting enough to instantly follow the woman, but she initially seemed nice enough... Cautiously he stretched out his hand to shake. His grip was firm, strong, a warrior's grip as he shook her hand. "Gharn I be. Who be you?" he asked. "And why be you offering mucha help to I? I notta one to take... er... what be word... Charity! I notta be one to be takin' lotta charity, so why you helpin' I?" he spoke oddly, his common partially broken, but also with a very unusual dialect and phrasing. His accent was thick, resembling something one might hear in Mezo-America in the 1400s.

Agartha... This city reeked, the stench of magic was permeating throughout, and so this was to be the next battlefield. Fendren knew that there were many mages here that would be unable to bear the idea of hiding their cruel talents, they would throw lights and flame, float and chant, the more that he thought about this the angrier he became. The snow that fell was cold so Fendren pulled the hood of his dark cloak over his head and sank into it a bit further, as he walked the main thoroughfare he watched for any sign of magic, a street trick, a small display anything to give away a mage apart from just a robe wearing idiot.
This city was bustling and Fendren was starting to become overwhelmed, there were people chatting in every doorway and many of them looked normal, they always look normal, but he had to be vigilant. This was when he saw it, a man in a gaudy purple robe and cloak, the man set his hand over a small firepit and cast a spell lighting it aflame, a couple of people, seemingly poorer folk, huddling around the flame thanking the man vehemently. Fendren had to bite back sympathy, this mage tends to the poor today, tomorrow he enslaves them, this was his target. Fendren ducked into a nearby alley, he hope to keep a distance, he needed a clear shot with minimal witnesses, a higher vantage wouldn't hurt either, his time with Duncan had taught him well and he would serve Duncans purpose.

@Overlord Thraka

Ashana

Ashana smiled and explained she'd never seen someone like him and she couldn't stand to see him thrown out over stupid clothing.
"... I'm not usually one to offer charity either.
However that's no reason you should freeze tonight, feel free to stop by later. I'll be there all night, room 14. The inn is called the cozy stump. I'll have a shirt and shoes waiting for you". Ashana was starting to wonder if it was worth the effort. First she had to be nice, then she had to deal with Broken English? What a day...

Ashana started to walk back to her room, completely disappointed thier was no jewelry vendors... At all..

@RoccanIronclad (find my shop maybe? eyebrow wiggle)

Natsuki

"You really should wear a coat or something if your gonna walk in the snow mister, look at you"! Natsuki finally dried off the Ryan and set him down in her potion/enchantments shop. She made him some food and sat down to talk while waiting for customers. "Why wouldn't you wear a coat outside or something? Don't you realize that's how people die of hypothermia or lose toes"!

"Hahaha I don't care I got to talk to you! After all what's a little water gonna do to me? I don't feel cold at all.. Natsuki looked puzzled, truly an interesting man before her.

@Overlord Thraka

Lug walked through the lowly quarter, with rattling in hand, and mother dragged behind. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a red woman speaking to one of the werelion. Lug had seen him before, but he felt something bad may happen to the man if left alone. At the least he could offer his home and meal for the night.

He approached the werelion as the red woman walked away. "Hello Stranger," he started "Want some dinner?! I just slayed this whole RoUS single handedly in glorious combat! It should make a meal fitting for a king, one I can't eat alone. @RoccanIronclad My friend Demetri should have the fire started by now. A feast for us street dwellers, what a sight to behold!"

Lug continued to speak, waiting for the werelion to interject.

@brightSteel

Gharn seemed surprised still by the woman's offer. He wasn't sure if he could trust her, as it seemed highly out of the blue for her to just offer shelter to him, especially with it being a hotel room and not a home. Then again maybe it made for sense if...

Gharn shook his head, this was all very confusing, but he knew what he would do. He quickly ducked the flaffel thrown at him as the dwarf lost his patience, then ran after the woman he's knew as Alyssa. "Wait!" He called after her. "I accept" he said, catching up to her easily. "I accept your offer Alyssa. Please, we go? It be... well very cold, I be tough to cold, but not that tough" he said, smiling slightly sheepishly

@Overlord Thraka

Ashana

Ashana smiled and walked with the werelion to her room at the sleepy stump. While they walked she made idle conversation, "How long have you been in Agartha? It's usually pretty snowy here but we get some sun every day or two". Definitely cold enough outside living is a pain, I guess I just wanted to hell somebody.

Ashana walked into the inn to see 3 city guards, they were holding a warrant for the arrest of Alyssa glint... Her alais at the inn. The bar man pointed her or immidiatly, gaining a nice sac of course in the process. The guards closed in on Alyssa and she backed out the door. "sorry to have to dash beasty,
but I guess my stay here is over. I've got 30 gold in my room, help yourself and find me sometime. Ashana winked at the werelion and ran off down the street and through allys, losing the guards fairly easily.

Fendren stalked the man down a few streets until they found themselves in a relatively empty one, the shot was perfect, the man had his back turned, no witnesses, nothing to stop him. Fendren held up his left hand and from pointed with his first two fingers, from his hand mana began to build and soon spread into the shape of a bow, he drew back on the coursing flow of magical energy and what looked to be an arrow drew back with it. Fendren aimed for the top of the mans back, a quick and clean shot, not wanting the man to have a moment to respond, but just as he planned to fire, a woman darts out of a nearby inn, the man turns to look at the commotion and Fendren is forced to drop his bow, the weapon merely dissipating into the air.
To avoid being noticed himself and drawing attention, all Fendren could do was duck into a nearby shop. Fendren stepped through the doorway and got out of sight of the street quickly, if the man had seen him it was only a glimpse and not a threatening one. The surroundings he found himself in now however was not a great one either, he just walked into what appeared to be a potion shop, potions of which, do nothing to him. Not only that but there were others here, a man and a woman, seemingly distracted by each other Fendren tried to look like he was browsing while he waited for the street to calm hopefully he would be able to get back on the mages tail.

@BrightSteel

@BrightSteel @Fury Panda

Gharn listened to the woman ask her questions, and answered them shortly. "2 moons I be here. Come to trade, many furs, other tings. Carvings. I make alla dem." he answered. "But bridge collapse, no way home, no way out. Stuck here, little money left."

As they came into the inn and Gharn saw the three guards rush after Alyssa, he wasn't sure what to do. His first instinct was to block them, stop them from harming his new acquaintance, but when he saw the wanted poster he wasn't so sure. He watched the guards rush her from the building, deliberating on giving chase. Finally he shrugged, marched up to her room and stole all her gold. It would keep him afloat for a while, and he could buy some warmer clothes.

As he exited the building several minutes later he was accosted by an orc, offering to feed him a large rat. Gharn frowned, curious as to why the gods had chosen this day for him to become the center of charity. He opened his mouth to speak, but a rumble from his belly answered the Orc's question. Gharn nodded and walked after the Orc, confident he could take care of the greenskin should he prove to be troublesom. Gharn had already had to kill one Orcish sneak-thief who'd tried to make off with some of his carvings a month or so back.
"Food be good, yesyes. What be RoUS?" he asked.

@RoccanIronclad

Natsuki

Natsuki looks over from Ryan to see a possible customer come in, she swiftly greeted them with an innocent youthful smile. "Hello sir and welcome to The Enchanted Phile.
If you need any specific potion or particular enchantments done... Well Iiii'm your girl, the bestest witch around. So what can I do you for this fine day"? Natsuki waited for the man to reply, Ryan sitting on a chair in the back.

Fendren looked outside the shop and couldn't see the man anymore, he must have moved on, the longer he waits the harder he will be to track. Fendren was too preoccupied by his thoughts to notice the young woman come up to him and introduce herself as the 'bestest witch' around, an idea that could have made him laugh but almost cute.

"I'm afraid I was merely taking refuge a moment. There was a commotion, I didn't want to be involved, besides, potions do nothing for me."

Fendren looked around, there were many potions around and they were of all kinds. Fendren once could drink them and benefit from the effect, and for a moment he lingered in the memory, before he looked back to the woman. This woman introduced herself as a witch, a mage, yet another that defies the order. Fendren was unsure of this one though, she was still young, could she be saved from this fate? No, there was no room for doubt, she would become a target just like the rest, just not yet, not here.

"I should be going, I have business elsewhere."

As Fendren spoke, he could feel his anger welling, his runic scars glowing with his own inherent energy, too many witnesses, he was unable to get the advantage, he still had surprise as long as he keeps his cool, but this was not an easy task.

@BrightSteel

@RoccanIronclad (feel free to attack, I might even let you hit her hahah ;) Ryan will try to help though.)

Natsuki

"well in that case have a wonderful day sir,
and remember I'm also an enchantress so come back if you need anything enchanted". Natsuki was bright and bubbly. She didn't give off even a slight evil vibe. Ryan just looked sorta like an idiot, sitting in his chair just starting at the man.

@Overlord Thraka @BrightSteel

"You don't know what a RoUS is.. it's...it's ...a rabid...offensive...underground...Slab of meat!" Lug patted the little werelion on his back. He thought that's what Dawn had said they were called, but that was a few months ago, and Lug's memory was...hazy.

The little RoUS stirred in his hands, trying to hide it's head away in the folds of his arm. As they approached the camp, a large fire burned in the center, with no signs of Demetri. Lug handed the dead mother to a fellow lowly, who proceeded to skin the beast.

Lug waved the werelion to his tent, where a few peoples were taking shelter. They thanked Lug for allowing them to use the space and walked out. Lug pulled a blanket from a pile housing an assortment of random items, one of which being a small cage. He slipped the baby RoUS inside as it shivered, not used to the bitter cold above the sewer.
"Little werelion," Lug boomed, much too loudly for the small space. "I must see a magic woman, and find a hot rock for this little creature." "You can stay if you'd like, or join me in another glorious adventure to the magic store!"

Gharn padded after the orc. He held back a flinch of surprise when the seeming my overly friendly orc patted his back. He wasn't sure about this one, like before with the human, he was being treated well, but it still seemed odd. Most orcs were unfriendly, sometimes downright unpleasant, but this one seemed too jovial and friendly

Gharn winced as the orc boomed loudly about a magic rock, but was more severely annoyed at being called "little lion". He was larger than most of his kind when in wereform. "You go. I have a woman to find" he said, fully intending to go find Alyssa once more and learn who she really was