Lapis quietly seethed at herself. Of course her new companions were broke. She cursed her bleeding heart the whole way to Zephyr, while outwardly tending to the group’s needs with perfect hospitality. She let them eat and drink from her already meager supplies, mentally calculating how much gold she would need to make to replenish what they took. Too much.

She noted Arthur reading the strange journal Dalious had given him. It seemed to disturb him greatly, but she dared not ask him about it in such close quarters with the strangers. And anyway, there seemed to be a dispute between Ashe and Dal as to its ownership, so she thought it best not to bring it up. If Arthur decided to buy it from them, that was his decision. But if he didn’t, perhaps she could, and later fetch a very fine price for it at market. There were at least three rare book collectors she knew in the next town over from Zephyr. A magic journal would pique anyone’s interest, but book collectors would pay exorbitant amounts for one. However, Ashe clearly knew the item was of value. Lapis might not be able to pay whatever price she named. But the group still owed her. A plan began to form in her mind...

Despite herself, her worry began to show on her face as they rode into the village. Even the familiar splendor of Zephyr didn’t lift her spirits. She directed Helah right to the oasis; at least her camel could quench her thirst for free. As the others dismounted, she made to follow them, intending to persuade at least one of them. But before that, she turned to Arthur. Well, Novice Travers, I hope your journey wasn’t too disrupted by our new friends. I am going to follow them to the tavern to speak with them. You’re free to join me for a drink.

She rolled her eyes at Dalious’s invitation to have a drink before she could stop herself. Something about that man really made her lose her cool demeanor. But she had enough self-control to keep from biting his head off–this time.

By the time Lapis hopped down from her caravan, Ashe was already striding away in the direction of the tavern. She turned to Fyr instead.I understand you and your friends are lacking in wealth at the moment. I’m sure it didn’t escape your notice that I am in the same boat. Now look, I have enough money to secure some rooms for us all at the inn here for a night or two, and a few hot meals, but I think we both know we have to plan ahead. Why don’t I buy you and your companions a drink and talk this over?

She walked with Fyr to the tavern where they joined Ashe. Lapis flagged down a server and ordered them all a round of ales and a plate of roast meat and vegetables. She allowed them all a few moments to chat and savor the meal, then spoke. You all seem to have…unusual skills. Skills I do not share. Likewise, I have skills you do not share. And I have a caravan. My proposal is this: we travel together. I provide transportation, food, drink, and shelter. You provide the loot. I set up my stall whenever we reach town, and I sell it. You can help protect me on the road and at market. Whatever we sell, we split the profits. I’m open to negotiation on the percentage, but I expect a fair split considering my hospitality so far. What are your thoughts?

Arthur nodded his head at Lapis's invitation. "I would be happy to join in, thank you." Then followed her into the tavern, eyes focused firmly on their recent travelling companions and with the journal clutched within his satchel. All through the journey after Dalious had given it back to him, he'd kept watch on it and looked over it when he dared. Recordings of vile rituals, the scribbles of a man consumed with a lust for power who paid every price to gain more. He needed to get this to his superiors...Someone higher up, more trained in resisting the darkness needed to glean all the information they could to right what wrongs could be righted, then burn the vile text. But all his superiors were in Avalon and he still had a task to complete here. So he would have to take on this dreadful burden, and pray dearly that he did not fall into the temptations within. If what the group had said about freeing slaves was true, then it would seem one of his strongholds was overthrown. But the others...

He took the offered ale and sipped it down, overlooking the tavern itself. It was surprising how similar but different such a place was from home. The walls were sunbaked clay instead of dark timber and roughhewn stone. The floor was far more sandy. Veils, turbans, and other desert apparel was far more common throughout the crowd. Colorful curtains dangled in the back where men partook in their hookah pipes. And yet, there was still the barkeep overlooking everything from the bar, barmaids passing around the drinks as they went among the tables and patrons, men huddled together to discuss various matters, a stage where a bard sung his tale, and tables in the back which near rang with the sound of rolling dice.

He sighed. Of course such a vice would afflict every corner of the world. His attention then turned back to the table with his current companions. He would not want to miss anything that was going on.

Dalious ate his fair share of the roast beef, while drinking his ale in almost a single chug. It was damn good. He then sat back, full and content, listening to all Lapis had to say. He agreed with her and nodded to her when she was done speaking. "Fair is fair," he spoke. "I say yes to your proposals. However, though I am appreciative for this food and drink for my crew, I feel we must make it up to you on this very night. Therefore, let's make some coin...Ashe, there's a game of cards going on over there, let us....."

As he spoke and stood up, he found his focus and attention shifting to something completely different than was before. It was his ears and the sound of the room that had taken over him, the Bard's music was memorizing to the pirate. It zoned him in to where he couldn't hear his companions any longer even if they were talking to him. He didn't even realize that he left the group and shifted over to the musician.

The bard wore a long purple robe with a white turbon on his head. He played an acoustic guitar with his fingers only, his eyes closed as he finished a melody of perfection. The tone and sound was something Dalious had never heard before, however from watching his hands progress different chords on the instrument Dalious quickly learned how to play the song in his own head. When the bard finished he opened his eyes and saw Dalious standing before him.

"Scale of B, four timing, absolutely gold finger picking," Dalious said while applauding with the rest of the tavern.

"Indeed, do you play?" the musician asked, motioning toward another guitar set up against the wall nearby. "Please, join me my friend if you so desire."

"Oh no I couldn't possibly, we come from different cultures mate," Dalious was already walking toward the vacant guitar to pick it up.

"Then let us fool around and find out something new together," he started, while pulling up a chair for Dalious. "My name is Saben, welcome to the Sandy Oasis."

"Captain Dalious Durendail, a pleasure. Key of F sharp minor, watch me for the changes, up in pace and tone. I'll solo after your settled then I'll give it back on the next run. Let's jam."

Dalious finger strummed the first few chords, then started a fast clap to show Saben the tempo, which the expert musician got immediately as he showed by clapping along. Then they played together in perfect unison. It was on the spot, something no one from these parts had ever heard before.

As Ashe stepped into the dimly lit tavern, the creak of the heavy wooden door drawn a few eyes her way. The air was filled with a warm mix of laughter, clinking tankards, and the soft strumming of the bard's guitar.

The contrast between this unfamiliar yet oddly reminiscent tavern and her homeland struck Ashe as she took in the scene. The walls, baked by the unrelenting sun, were constructed of clay rather than the dark timber and rough stones she was accustomed to. Underfoot, the floor felt coarser, sandy grains shifting subtly with each step. Somehow all taverns were the same. You had the barkeep, the barmaids, the groups of nobles or at least wealthier villagers and in the back...her favorite spot. The gambling tables.

Ashe refused the alcohol that was offered and only asked for some goat milk which she drank slowly. She lifted the cup just enough for the others not to see her face but as well, enough to be able to drink in peace.

"'Haven't played cards in a long time, but I can see some dice games. And if you haven't yet figured it out... I'm good at dice games. You could say I'm a lucky person,'" said Ashe before heading over, leaving Fyr with Lapis and Arthur.

Briefly, she stopped and heard Dal's song. Ashe knew the song well; it was something from her homeland. Something she had heard in taverns more than once, but certainly not something sung in a bar in the middle of the desert. The patrons seemed moved by the song, and a few threw some coins onto the stage in thanks for such a lovely performance. Of course, Ashe approached the stage and gave a mock applause to Dal before picking up five coins that were thrown and then turned around, making her way to the dice tables.

"Hey-ho, boys. Got room for one more? I've got exactly 5 coins to roll with, and I plan to clear you out. What's the game?" announced Ashe as she approached a group of a few men. They looked like thugs, big and muscular, with dark skin. They laughed at Ashe's bravado initially, but seeing that she wasn't moving away, one of them said in a loud, gruff voice:

"You've got balls on you, missy. It's barbooth. If you know the rules, feel free to join; if not... SOD OFF!"

"Know the rules? I've written them. Five coins on the next roll."

"I'll match your 5, that you sod your roll." said one of the thugs before all of them joined in.



Ashe smiled at the dice and rolled them. With a knowing grin, she felt her magic guide the dice as they tumbled, and they rolled until... 6-6. The other player rolled 1-3. Ashe won.

"Guess today is my lucky day, boys. Sorry about that." said Ashe as she took her earnings before walking towards the table where the group had initially sat, lifting a small pouch containing all the gold she had earned.

"What can I say? I'm lucky." said Ashe confidently, making the pouch jiggle with a satisfying clink.

Fyr did not exactly feel well as he listened to Lapis' proposal. On one hand he knew that they just had to come to some sort of agreement after the sheer amount of hospitality the woman had already given them, but on the other hand he didn't like the word 'loot'. Just at this point had he or Ashe pointed out that they were some sort of scavenging adventurers digging through people's still warm corpses in order to pick up their former property ? Or was this all Dalious' fault ? Fyr had no trouble imagining the pirate telling stories about both his own greatness and that of being a freelancing enterpreneur of the very special kind.

"I will be happy to share whatever kind of coin I will make on our ways with you, knowing that I have to redeem myself for your services offered." Fyr replied after a brief moment of thinking, hoping that this was the kind of answer that was both honest and abstract enough not to raise some crude expectations he didn't really like. Sitting on the chair was seemed to be relatively close to the brink of collapse, Fyr watched how Ashe and Dalious had already gone much further than just enjoying their first drink like he did.

Having some shadow shining onto one's scalp was a nice thing after having spent days openly exposed on a camel. Speaking of the latter, Fyr had to remind himself about asking for the coins he had earned when winning Ashe's bet. One first step towards paying Lapis! He looked forward to having a bath that would wash away what bloody remainders of demonfolk still hung on to either his skin or his clothes and maybe there'd even be a trustworthy blacksmith around in this settlement he could ask for a wheatstone for his trusty axe...

Halfway into his ale though, Fyr's relaxation was disturbed by the floor vibrating beneath the steps of a large male approaching him. One of the thugs he had seen right when entering the main hall it seemed and the individual spoke up to him right away: "Hey! You look like someone who could outdo all the petty competition here! Want to fight me ?"

Fyr dropped his ale back on the table and looked at the male in an irritated manner. "Fight ? Here ? Why should I be that dumb ?"

He earned a burst of laughter from both the male and the other thugs at the counter who had heard him as well. "Oh! Our man from the north apparently doesn't know what we mean when we say 'fight' here!" Fyr's conversational partner subsequently made a gesture imitating the typical moves involved when arm wrestling and he finally understood.

"Oh... Well, if you want! What's the stake ?"

"Two. Real gold!"

The other thugs at the counter had gotten moving towards another table that had been vacant so far. They started cleaning it from the remains of a previous and apparently quite lavish meal, but they did it so hastily that it earned them a quite sceptical look and other signs of profound disapproval from the barmaiden. Fyr was gestured towards said table then and took a seat there, facing his opponent.

With the thugs' friends surrounding the table and watching, there was little too see for the rest of the tavern. The excited cheers could be easily heard though as the duel dragged on and on. Would Fyr win or would his lose the coin he had earned from Ashe's bet again right away ?



The cheering and shouting was drowned out by a bursting scream all of a sudden as something important gave way. Fyr himself could only watch in shock as all of the resistance his bulging arm had been facing vanished too quickly for him to reduce the amount of force exerted. The thug's hand slammed onto the table very hard as it was no longer experiencing proper support from the arm it belonged to and its owner was in obvious, great pain.

"That cheater! He must be a berserker... all on weird herbs and mushrooms! He broke my wrist!"

"You don't even have the slightest idea!" Fyr snapped back, raising from his chair in a near instant as he anticipated some sort of escalation. "You just lost! How could I have known you're weaker inside that you look outside ? Also it was you who challenged me and not the other way round!"

The small band of thugs became quite loud and agitated now, discussing about something like a 'code of honor' among them and that 'a bet was a bet'. And of course they looked at and inspected their companion's mishap with as much medical (in-)competence as they could muster. Fyr didn't even want to look at it, but found himself surprisingly alone now in spite of still standing so close to the scene. His eyes searched for Ashe, Dal and Lapis hoping that they could help him or the situation somehow.

The tension in the tavern escalated rapidly as the patrons sensed trouble brewing. Five burly men, fueled by anger and alcohol, rose from their tables with intimidating postures. They shouted angrily at Ashe and their group, their voices reverberating throughout the establishment. Two of them grabbed nearby bottles, smashing them into crude improvised weapons.

The other patrons in the bar, who had been enjoying their drinks and revelry moments ago, now looked on with wary anticipation. The cheerful atmosphere had transformed into a volatile and dangerous one, as the confrontation between the newcomers and the locals unfolded.

Some patrons hurriedly moved away from the epicentre of the conflict, seeking safety in the far corners of the tavern. Others exchanged uneasy glances and whispered amongst themselves, unsure of what would happen next. The air was thick with tension, and everyone braced for the impending clash between these two opposing forces.

As the confrontation in the tavern intensified, the thug with the broken wrist, clutching his injured arm in agony, suddenly made a desperate move. He stumbled away from the escalating chaos, heading toward the back of the tavern. With a loud shout, he called out a name that carried a weight of authority among the group of aggressive men.

"Boss! Boss! Trouble!!"

The name "Griff" echoed through the tavern, and the patrons couldn't help but glance at each other in uncertainty. It seemed that the injured thug was summoning their leader, a figure known to command respect and obedience among these unruly men.

The atmosphere in the tavern grew even tender as the situation took an unexpected turn. All eyes were now on the back of the tavern, awaiting the arrival of the boss. Unbeknownst for the party, the boss was known for their love of violence but as well, love of coin and keen mind.

Out from the backrooms, a large, hulking man of about Fyr's size or bigger came sauntering in. The entire tavern hushed. He glanced over the situation, saw his man with the broken arm then Fyr, and came up right in front of Fyr and sized him up, revealing the scar cutting from his forehead to his cheek. "What seems to be the trouble here, boys?"

"He's a madman, Griff." The guy holding his arm came up to him. "I just invited him to a friendly game, and he tore my arm off! Now he's demanding that he won the bet!"

"I'm certain this was all an accident..." Arthur rose from his seat. "As you can see, my friend here is rather on the large size and we've all had a tiring day."

"Is that so...?" He looked back at Fyr. "What do you say? Was this all an, 'accident'?"

Dalious, at least, agreed readily to her proposal, but Lapis wasn’t sure she thought too highly of his opinion, especially as he flitted from their table over to a nearby bard with hardly a glance back. The music they made together was nice enough, she had to admit.

Lapis hid her disappointment as Ashe, too, left the table to go gambling. Her agreement was the one she had wanted most. Well, at least the woman might come back richer. No use trying to draw blood from a stone.

She turned to Fyr–perhaps her last chance at joining this little circus. She didn’t know him well enough yet to determine what he really thought, but he did agree to repay her. It would have to do for now.

Lapis let herself fully smile when Ashe returned to the table, jingling merrily. “Indeed, you are lucky. I only hope you count me and Arthur here among your group and share your luck with us.”

She would have said more, but a huge brute approached the table and challenged Fyr to an arm wrestling match, of all things. This place sure has changed since I was here last. She tried to squeeze through the ring of thugs to watch Fyr in action, but only got through in time for the screech of pain from his opponent. The atmosphere changed rapidly as everyone tensed for a brawl. Lapis could feel her heart thundering in her chest as she made brief eye contact with Fyr. Even he looked panicked, like he was looking to her for a solution. She shifted a hand to her dagger hanging from her waist and gave him a subtle shake of her head.

To her surprise, Arthur stepped in, insisting it was all a mistake. She wasn’t sure these thugs could be persuaded, but it was worth a shot. “Oh, it was an accident for certain! He hardly knows his own strength, you see. I’m sure you’ve broken a door or two just by closing it, haven’t you? You seem a strong sort yourself. Why don’t we buy you a drink and part here as friends?” She turned her head and tried to catch Ashe’s eye in the crowd.

"How can you even think about this not being an accident ?"

Fyr had trouble holding back the disdain he almost instantly felt for what he saw. This king of gangs, they only rarely occured where he came from yet here they had had to run into one of them right away. Curse this bad luck!

"First of all, it was your friend who challenged me for a round of arm wrestling and not the other way round, and he had plenty of opportunity to look at whom he was dealing with. Second, I think we all agree that any participant in arm wrestling is supposed to deliver as much strength as is necessary in order to defeat his opponent, right ? And last but not least it's a matter of fact that one can only exert as much force on someone's arm as said arm is able to resist, any more than that and the arm starts dropping to the table and the game is over. So..."

Fyr sighed slightly before coming to what he hoped to be the ultimate conclusion:

"... in essence, your friend had enough strength to break his own bone. That can happen if one's focused too much on looking bulky and not doing what's needed for the rest of the body to catch up and deliver real strength."

At this point, he couldn't resist prodding the injured man gently with his index finger.

"Can be dangerous for the heart, too! Arm wrestling puts some serious stress on that as well. So maybe you should keep looking after him for a little longer ?"

He really would have liked to tell this gang leader exactly the same thing for the man seemed to fall into the very same category of 'it's all on the surface' in his eyes, but didn't dare to do so just in case that would enrage all of them.

"Is this explanation acceptable ? I haven't eaten well for weeks and am half starved, so I could really use the gold coins I've earned right now!"

Griff tilted his head, considering Fyr in all his present state, then he chuckled and slapped him on the back. "Go bandage your arm there, Shad. Bartender, let's get some meat for this fighter here! You can buy me that drink," he bowed to Lapis. "And you, my friend," he wrapped his arm around Fyr and led him to the bar. "Can tell me a little more about yourself over a hot meal. Where are you from, for starters? You don't seem to be a desert native. Get back to playing over there, bards." Then he threw some gold coin Dal and the other bard's way as he sat himself down and the food came out.

Arthur allowed himself to relax a bit. That could have gone poorly...Still, he moved himself closer to Fyr just in case. They did all seem in need of real rest soon.

The other tavern patrons started nervously to return to their former gaiety while the one gang member muttered as he left to get his arm taken care of. A group in the back watched the proceedings with interest.

After Dalious and his new bard friend finished their collaboration the audience erupted in cheers and tossed bags of coins their way. The pirate felt like a famous musician for the moment, as to the likes of such of his heroes like Brogan the poet or Sambarg the sea shanty legend. The other bard noticed Ashe, who had stood amongst the crowd before them only to take one of their bag of coins. Before the bard could call at her like it seemed he was about to, Dalious stopped him.

"Apologies Saben, but that one is with me. She's just taking my share if you don't mind, forgive her rudeness, she wears the mask because she was burned and scarred in a fire of her own doing and has grown bitter for all things because of it. However her heart is true and she means well, she's just shy."

"Oh, the poor thing! She must have had a hard life...let me help you, you deserve it my new friend. Please, take half of these earnings. It's my pleasure."

Dalious bowed in appreciation as he gathered half the earnings and stuffed them into his pockets.

"Many thanks, say, shall we continue?"

Saben nodded, and started playing a new song. This time Dalious followed his leads and the music was of the local tone. They played and Dalious lost himself in the music, that was until a disruption seemed to occur within the tavern. It appeared Fyr had broken some guys arm in arm wrestling and the whole bar quieted in response including Saben and in turn himself. Everyone started chanting 'Griff'.

Dalious rose an eyebrow at the distraction as he paused playing the guitar. Fyr might be in trouble, the pirate put his hand on the sheath of his cutlass in the anticipation as the guy named Griff finally appeared. If anything he could dive in and murder at least this guy before they got to Fyr, but luckily Fyr seemed to talk his way out of the confrontation seamlessly. Afterward, Griff relaxed, as did everyone, and he even moved to the bar to buy Fyr a drink while tossing him and Saben more coin to continue playing. Dalious shrugged, and the music began again without issues.

Ashe stopped just as she took Dal's "share" and managed to overhear a part of the discussion between him and the bard. She began shaking her head before hearing Dal's "explanation" of her mask and saw that the bard had given them more money than what she took. With a chuckle, she headed back to the table just as she heard a scream and saw Fyr breaking one of the thugs she had beaten at gambling a few moments ago.

Making herself scarce, she went around the group when Griff appeared. A massive man, bigger than the thugs, came out from the backrooms, and Ashe's hand instinctively went to her dagger as she tried to go around the men. A quick slash of the throat, if she moved fast enough, would calm these thugs down fast enough... hopefully.

Just as she was getting close, Fyr did the unexpected: he talked his way out of a beating. The atmosphere relaxed immediately, with most of the bar's patrons going back to their business. Now that the crisis was averted and some coins in their pockets, it was time for the group to finally relax.

---

---

As the excitement with Griff ended, the group sat together, seemingly enjoying a moment of peace before discussing what would come next for them. The atmosphere was filled with the murmur of patrons, clinking glasses, and the faint scent of ale.

Unbeknownst to them, a group watched from the shadows, their eyes fixed on Ashe and her companions. Each one of them, dressed in dark, dusty robes, shared a silent, determined resolve. The assassins exchanged knowing glances, ready to execute their mission when the time was right.

One of them stood up and brushed past the group before stopping just in front of the group's table. Taking a deep breath, the person dropped the robe off their shoulders, revealing a bald and naked woman. Every inch of her skin was covered in tattoos that flowed down her beautiful form. Looking at each of them in turn, the group, if perceptive enough, would notice that the tattoos on the woman were slowly starting to shine with a blue light.

The person's eyes, if one cared to look at them, were fully white and out of focus. For a few seconds, she just stared at the group before muttering something under her breath. Every few seconds, the muttering would increase in pace, and the tattoos, if noticed, would shine more and more.

Lapis breathed a sigh of relief and followed Fyr, Arthur, and the hulking Griff to the bar to buy the brute the drink she had promised him. Parting with even more of her precious coin, she couldn’t help an inward chuckle. Once the adrenaline had died down, she realized how…invigorated she felt. Would it be like this all the time, traveling with these new companions? She was surprised at herself, at how excited she felt, rather than daunted.

As she sat back down at the table, her smiles came more easily and more genuinely than before. She even giggled when Dal’s absurd music started back up. Perhaps she was actually losing her mind.



That prospect gained traction when a woman in dark robes strode right up to their table and stripped naked before them. Lapis got hardly a glance at her body before she whisked her gaze away, her face heating instantly. She was familiar enough with prostitution, but had never seen such a bold proposition! Never had she been more grateful that her skin didn’t show blushes easily. She focused her attention instead on her companions, gauging their reactions to the bare newcomer, and tried to school her own expression back to nonchalance. Her hands nervously clutched the sides of her cup.

Fyr felt a big stone rolling off his heart when his exlanation of how things happened apparently was accepted. Fighting against all of those simutalenously ? Would definitely not have been easy to say the very least! He wasn't so sure though about whether challening the thug's traning scheme had been such a good idea because now they had an open invitation to make him their new training supervisor. Dealing with these thugs for a longer term was not exactly the prospect Fyr had been looking out for.

Aside from that though, this Oasis and its town actually started to look better in his eyes than before. Dal and Ashe made a quite good job at entertaining people and he could see and hear coins being tossed towards them. Maybe the greatest pirate of all times was the greatest entertainer of all times instead, but didn't want to admit it ? Fyr made a quick mental note about using this as a means to tease the man when needed, then opted to choose his drink: The first bottle looked as if containing either very fluid honey or fermented camel pee if that was a thing. The second bottle was a massive flask made out of intransparent glass, its contents unknown until poured. The third one had just been put onto the stove so to make its contents vent steam. Some sort of tea, perhaps ?

"I... take the second one. I like things that look as dark and abysmal as my heart!" he tried to make a joke to reinvigorate himself.

And what kind of liquor came out of that black hole of a bottle! The barmaid had barely taken off the cork when the air already seemed to be replaced by something tormenting and flammable. What was this ? Pure alcohol mixed with fresh tar from the pits or had the inhabitants of this desert figured out something even more radical ? Yet now there he was, surrounded by thugs and with at least half of them grinning as they eagerly expected their newcomer to start drinking what probably was both harmless and a significant achievement in terms of destillery once one managed to get past its revolting stage.

Fyr took the first gulp and it felt like lava flowing down his esophagus. The thugs were cheering while he thought that his vision had just became slightly blurry. And... wait... what was that ? As Fyr shook his head in a futile attempt to get rid of the drink's initial side effects on the unaccustomed, he inevitably got the rest of the counter into his view again. Was there really a naked woman standing around or had his mind started to fail ? It was at this point when Fyr actually felt thankful for the thugs being there for some of them shared his own, slightly bewildered expression in spite of having made a different choice of drink.

So this was real!

"Hey you!" Fyr's voice was loud enough to be picked up easily and the horizontally arranged trunk that was his muscle-laden arm pointing at the woman should be seen easily enough as well. In theory, that was! "Could you be a bit less daring, perhaps ?" That was not a question, more of a demand.

Fyr blinked several times, but the slightly blurry vision didn't go away. Still he had the gut feeling that something else was going on. Had the thugs cheated him by making him drink a poison or the like ?

Dalious and Saben embraced once their set of music was over. Saben even squeezed Dalious' ass right before they parted, confusing the pirate. He just nodded with an uncomfortable smirk and then moved back to his crew who were back at the table.

Dalious flopped his coin purses down on the table, letting the crew see how well he has done. "Somebody stop me, I'm a coin making machine and.... don't deny how talented I am!!" he laughed as he spoke, pointing a finger at Ashe. Then he turned to Fyr. "...and seven hells that was impressive mate, you almost wooed me into buying you a drink!"

Dal grabbed the nearest pint and downed it in one go, plenty of the ale spilling to his collar and chest. When he looked back up to speak again he found himself speechless, as a bald woman had disrobed in front of him and everyone around. He was caught off guard by her nudity. He found himself frozen by her act as he could look at nothing more than her bare breasts. Boobs!!!!!!!!!

Arthur instantly relaxed. Good thing that fight was adverted. He'd of course have joined with Lapis and these, people. Fetzen had been in the right. But he was also suppose to be keeping a low profile...He needed a drink. Two tankards later, he realized he might have had a little too much. His hand was shaking, and now it seemed that everyone in the room was turning around to look at something.



He turned, then quickly averted his eyes, calling upon prayers to all the saints to help against temptation.

Griff meanwhile kept starring. "What sorta show is this, bartender? I don't recall you ever hiring a skin dancer."

"She ain't hired here." The bartender said.

Others stared in wonder. Some in black went further away from her, slipping quietly to their places while people's eyes were drawn to the woman.

Lapis kept her eyes averted, but sighed in relief when Fyr addressed the naked woman. At least he’s taking charge of sending her packing! She’d never known this place to hire prostitutes, which the bartender then confirmed. Her confusion and discomfort only increased. What on earth was such a woman doing here? She looked to her companions to gauge their reactions. Fyr was pointing at the woman, but kept blinking his eyes as if trying to clear them. Arthur looked as appalled as she felt. Dal was blatantly staring at the woman’s chest. Lapis scoffed, surprised he wasn’t also drooling. He at least wasn’t alone, as some of the other thugs sharing their table had gone a bit slack-jawed themselves. She would have rolled her eyes if she wasn’t afraid of grabbing another unwanted eyeful of skin. And Ashe…she obviously couldn’t tell with the mask and hood combination. Hopefully she had noticed the naked woman, too, and would take action. Someone needed to get her out of here, and it clearly wouldn’t be the staff here. Everyone around their table seemed to be at a standstill, and Lapis couldn’t figure out why…

The woman stood still as her tattoos seemed to glow stronger, her face was in pure ecstasy as her mutter grew faster and faster. Not that anyone but Ashe noticed it in time.

Eventually, it became obvious to everyone that a spell was being cast.

"Everyone DOWN NOW!" shouted Ashe as she threw herself on the floor, hoping the others would follow her lead.

A bright light followed before a deafening sound of a magical explosion rocked the tavern. Griff, his crew and a good part of the patrons were caught in the blast which acted as a scythe which cut them in half.

As the smoke cleared, the carnage was revealed. Blood, body parts and dead bodies and broken furniture everywhere.

From the back of the bar, the part where the damage was the least, 5 figures stood up. All dressed up in the same robes as the woman.

Two of them had long sharp blades and a small crossbow attached to their arms and they straight away made a bee-line towards the group.

The other two, followed closely behind before stopping a few metres away from the group. They disrobed and revealed the same tattoos as the woman before and started muttering their spell as the tattoos would start to glow.

And finally, the leader. Stood in the back, waiting for two to engage before jumping in themselves.

If there was one thing Dalious loved to see, it was a woman's breasts. However something felt different this time, whether it was the tone of the room or the out of place naked lady, something was off. It only fully hit Dalious when his companion shouted to get down, and if there was one thing he learned about Ashe it was that she didn't mess around for jokes or jests. Dalious hit the floor.

His ears rang as the blast destroyed everything around them, he could feel the potions in his satchel shatter on his hip as he hit the ground.



The room felt broken. The aroma from the broken potions fueled him to his feet, he felt invigorated. He felt...healthy again. And the first thing he noticed was his friends on the floor and a bunch of enemies closing in.

He quickly looked around the room, seeing everyone was split in half from the explosion, including his newly met friend Saben. Saben's guts had spilled out before the man, his corpse falling shortly near to the stage.

"Nooo!! Saben!" Dalious shouted in angst. The pirate rose to his feet in a rage. He looked towards the nearest assassin to him. "You!!....and me, right fucking now!". Dalious struck hard.



Dalious struck the assassin.

Lapis was luckily still looking in Ashe’s direction when the masked woman shouted. She nearly knocked her head on the table as she dove under it, unsheathing her dagger as she crouched. An ear-shattering boom cracked through the tavern, and from under the table, she saw dozens of cleaved bodies thud to the floor. Limbs, entrails, and gallons of blood swam in her vision as she swayed on the balls of her feet, her dagger hanging limp in her grasp. Fear clawed its way down her spine.

She might have descended further into shock if not for Dal’s anguished cry. Her vacant gaze snapped to follow his; the musician he’d befriended only moments ago was in pieces, his innards still steaming. She closed her eyes and allowed herself one more moment to steady her nerves before she inched her head up over the edge of the table, getting a better look at their adversaries. She noticed two more nude people immediately, but this time pushed aside her embarrassment to note the glowing tattoos covering their bodies. Magic. These people were somehow the cause of the explosion. She noted the armed fighters and the ringleader in the back, but dismissed them. They far outclassed her just by being armed; her companions would have to take them on. But the unarmed mages…

She scanned her immediate area and seized as many dinner knives as she could reach from the surface of the table, keeping low and moving quickly. Plus her dagger, that was five weapons at her disposal. Ducking back down under the table, she also spied a throwing knife that had fallen out of Dal’s pack. Six. She peeked back up, readjusting her grip on her dagger as she took careful aim.



She shot up, hurled her dagger at the naked mage to her right, and ducked back down, not waiting to see if she hit her mark. From the way her hands shook, she wasn’t too confident.