[IC] 🆃🅷🅴 🅼🅰🅶🅸🅲🅰🅻 🅿🅻🅸🅶🅷🆃

[Gareth]

(Don't beat me up, you guys wrote alot while I have not.)

Razer packed up all his supplies, and headed with the rest of the group towards Milas. He was around the middle of the pact and he didn't pay much attention to the others until the arrival of Maren. He smiled at her, as she seemed like a personable girl. He even chuckled a little under his breath, as he caught a glimpse of Aelar and Maren holding hands.

He still had that bad feeling, like an invisible black storm cloud was going to shower him with rain and sunder him with lightning. He again noticed he hadn't changed clothes for last night's sleep and he sighed. Still wearing the leather.....

He ran with the others when they got separated on their journey and the headaches began. Razer had put both front paws holding his head as he ran to catch up with those in the front.

After reuniting once again the headaches, thankfully ceased. Shortly thereafter Milas was within sight. "I'll see you guys and gals later, I want some time to see this place on my own." It was a lie, he wanted time to think without so many voices around him, so he found the nearest Tavern that Milas had and entered. It was a worn down shack really and the barmaid looked like she had seen better days. Not caring about the decor he bought himself a drink with a sour flavor and sat down. He thought about it for hours and he still didn't know why he felt something was going to go wrong.

And so, he walked out of the tavern to the corner of the building and turned into an alleyway. In the middle of the alley was a guy with his hands in his pocket. Razer was passing him as *Thunk* the lights that were his eyes went out.

He woke up to a blinding headache in a dimly lit room. Razer was tied up, but he managed to see in the corner of his eye that there were bloody swords hanging from the walls.

"So, you are awake."

Razer glared at him.

"Your stuff is all mine now. Fancy clothes, good money, it all belongs to me." said the kidnapper as he pointed to a table in the far corner of the room, where indeed Razer's possessions were all piled up.

__________________________________________________________
Throughout town, sellswords about thirty in number, were putting up posters on the walls of Milas.

Tiger named R-a-z-o-r a good kitty cat.

He's in our hands.

If anyone wants him alive, meet me at The Old Graveyard no later than nightfall where the sun has fallen and the moon has risen.

Any later the tiger cat, will lose all 9 lives.

Don't know the graveyard?

Well I guess the cat will be dead then.

Oh, yeah don't forget to bring alot of valuables or yeah the cat also dies.

The letter is signed by one, Drake Rictus.

One man with a very large longbow, ran into the room where Drake and Razer were. Drake glared at him as he was interrupted, "What?"

"We put up all the posters sir."

"Good, Carlos. With luck, I'll be a rich man tonight and if not." He grinned nastily at Razer as he finished the sentence.

@Ashevelendar@Caits@Wick@Shadow Daedalus@dabombjk@Venku

[MarshiestMallow]

Jamie and Darius

@Gareth[@Ashevelender]@Wick@Shadow Daedalus@dabombjk@Venku

Jamie had grown worried as the headaches had come, and then gone. She was worried that something had happened to the rest of the group, but she figured if it had, they'd be dead. She spent some of that worry on shooting another rabbit, collecting it when her arrow hit home. It didn't help much, but by then the headache had faded. She glanced back the way they had come, as if she could see all the way back to the others, or see some sign as to what had happened, but of course she couldn't. She gave a sigh, continuing to look about them, knowing they were getting close to Milas. 

The waiting was probably harder then the headaches. The longer it took, the more Jamie was sure something had happened. She gave a relieved sigh when she saw the others in the distance, getting closer. She frowned at the added figure, wondering what the heck had happened. Had they picked up a stranger along the road?

Finding out that the stranger was Elyra's cousin, Jamie was reassured, although she did wonder why she had hunted Elyra down. As the group dispersed into the city, Jamie started towards a goods store, seeking out some more supplies. 

Darius had chosen to be silent the rest of the stretch to Milas. He kept his breathing to a minimal, his eyes trained to watch his surroundings, and his senses open in case of an attack, and his muscles trained to react and kill.........and he still had an uneasy feeing in the pit of his stomach. While his mind was at ease, a nagging memory of his......most recent transaction with Jamie, something he desperately wished to erase. He had no idea why what had happened, happened. It was not as if women of a sexual nature had not propositioned him before. But this was....different.

Darius and Jamie stopped at Milas, and waited for the rest of the group to catch up. The headaches  were minor and did not bother him much. He theorized quickly that it must be something that goes along with the bombs inside them. While he did not expect another person from Elyra's bloodline to appear, he shrugged it off. As the group dispersed into the city, Darius followed Jamie curiously as she began looking for a store.Darius followed for a short time before he stopped Jamie by calling her to stop.

"Jamie stop. Why are you wasting time looking for....civilan stores? I can guide us to black market vendors."

Jamie looked back, a little surprised to see Darius following her, before shrugging and continuing on her way. At his call, she stopped, turning back to face him."I was looking for a specific store. I like to support the small people. Sometimes some towns have these smalls stores, that have great stuff. But it doesn't look like it" She said, giving a shrug, "So I guess you can show me these vendors"Again, she was curious as to just why he wanted to be helpful to her. She didn't ask, instead she smiled, and walked back to Darius.

Darius felt his body heat slightly rise and he willed himself to calm down. He gave her a look then turned around, then motioned for her to follow. He walked down a few public streets, pausing every so often and looked around a bit. Then he suddenly ducked into an alley and walked over to a man who was leaning against the wall.

"Show me."

Darius went through his pocket and produced a small odd looking silver coin. He tossed it to the man, who caught it mid air and examined it. Then he tossed it back to Darius, who caught it and pocketed it, then motioned to him to follow. He led Darius and Jamie down the alley, through another alley, and through a cellar attached to the wall of a building in the alley. When Darius and Jamie walked in to the cellar, and Darius saw exactly what he expected. The inside was much bigger than it appeared outside, and was filled with men and women alike, standing in front of their stands shouting and yelling out offers. Many people were already there, bartering and shopping. Some of the goods they were purchasing......well Darius assumed Jamie would not even look at those stalls. He looked at Jamie.

"Dont go to any of the vendors with a small purple star on their stand. Other than that you can find anything here. Just....be careful. Money is not always the main form of currency here."

Jamie followed Darius, watching the...transaction? between him and the alley way man. She had no idea what that was meant to signify, but it seemed to get them in. She glanced about them. The shouting, offers, was oddly like a normal market place, but there the similarities stopped. 

She was sure there was more than a little bit of illegal products here, and she frowned over the illegal weapons she saw. If she was going to get a weapon, she wanted to get it from a blacksmith she trusted. She made her own bows, when she needed one. 

money is not always the main form of currency? what the hell does that mean? she thought to herself.She shifted her gear slightly, so she could reach for her bow easily, and made sure her reach to her sword wasn't hindered. The knife on her calf was also reassuring, and she glanced about them. There were some sights that made her question whether money was even used here. At his words to be careful, she supposed she couldn't begrudge him that. It wasn't like she'd be anything close to careful with him. 

"Don't worry, I promise not to get in trouble." Despite the uneasiness she felt, she flashed him a grin "I can be very conservative, when I want to be"

Darius doubted that but kept his comments to himself. He kept an eye on her but he had his own list of things he needed. He walked over to a vendor with bottles and vials, all steaming different colors, and looked the vendor in the eyes. 

"I need these items,"Darius said as he pulled out a list and placed it in front of the vendor,"and I need it ready as soon as possible."

Darius put his hand in his pouch, and into his money pouch. He grabbed a few coins, but never pulled out his money pouch. He knew better. When he pulled out his hand, he placed the coins on his list in front of the vendor. 

The vendor smiled, showing his rotten teeth. "Twenty five minutes."

Darius nodded and walked away, moving to a weapons stall and looking for Jamie at the same time.

Jamie decided not to drift too far away, figuring that that would be better then finding herself lost amongst a lot of unsavory sorts. She didn't want to have to kill anyone. That, and she didn't know how anything worked here. She glanced about, looking for a stall that would have what she wanted, a spare string for her bow being top of her list, as well as a few other things. True to her word, she stayed away from the stalls with the purple star, although she wondered why. 

Finding a stall she thought would be suitable, browsing what was on offer, watching those around her, and the vendor as well. She tried to make it look like she belonged, but she was more than certain she looked exactly like fresh meat. 

Pointing to what she wanted, Jamie looked up at the vendor, steeling her expression. She quickly finished the transaction, paying exactly what she wanted, although she found doing so with someone questionable a little distasteful. Still, she didn't have much money on her. 

She glanced about, and started to make her way over to Darius, deciding she didn't need anything else. 

Darius had gotten what he wanted, having bought his new weapons and after twenty minutes he picked up the vials he ordered. He pocketed them in his pouch. He placed his new Bow around his back, and his new daggers, two of them, one on each side of his waist. He spotted Jamie and he walked over to her. As he approached her however his trained eyes spotted shadowy movement behind her. Instinct took over, as his hands went to the sides of his chest and he withdrew two knives. He tossed them at Jamie, landing with a thud in the skulls of two men on both sides of her with drawn weapons. Darius sped over to Jamie, and as he retrieved his knives another figure appeared behind him, ready to pierce him with a small sword. Darius reacted swiftly, spinning around as he drew a dagger and slashed open the attackers neck. His spin ended with him facing Jamie. Darius looked around seeing the tension and murderous intent in the room.

"Try that again, I will kill everyone in this room. The Shadow does not give second chances."

With everyone stunned at the revealing of his identity, Darius shoved Jamie forcefully and made her walk with him out of the cellar. When they were out of the cellar, he pulled out a small paper ball from his pouch and a small vial he recently purchased. He poured the contents of the vial inside the ball, then opened the cellar and dropped it in. Terrified and pained screams could be heard before he closed the cellar door, and looked at the man who brought them there in the first place. The man looked terrified and tried to run, only to be stopped by a swift arrow from Darius. 

Darius looked at Jamie, motioned with his head to follow, and he began walking away from the scene.

Sensing something wrong, Jamie dropped to the ground as Darius threw his knives, rolling and coming back up, drawing her sword as she did so, and spinning about, sparing the two dead man a glance, but otherwise looking at the room at large, studying the room and looking for any sign of another attack. She didn't say anything as Darius shoved her out the cellar, although she wanted to do more than merely walk away. 

She only sheathed her sword when they were out of the cellar, watching what Darius was doing. He had, quite possibly, saved her life. Pondering that, Jamie didn't say anything as he dropped whatever the concoction was, looking away at the screams. 

She followed him out the alley. "You saved my life"

Darius did not look back at her when he spoke.

"If you die, we all die."

Jamie had expected such an answer, and she shook her head with a sigh "I could almost believe that, if I couldn't defend myself" She took a  moment to look about them, more wary now. She started to walk in the direction the others should be, not saying anything else. 

[Shadow Daedalus]

James Blackwall

As the group entered Milas, James was constantly but subtly checking his surroundings. He had nothing that he particularly wanted to by, so he decided to stay close the caravan until Razer decided to separate from the group. An Idea struck and he quickly excused himself from the group to look over the market and shops.

After he finished speaking to one of the vendors, pocketing the items he had just bought and placing the money in the vendor's palm, he turned his head to see a rough-looking man with a sword at his hip, most like a mercenary of some kind, putting up a poster on one of side of one of the buildings. Curious, James waited before the man disappeared from sight and then went over to inspect the paper. As his eyes scanned the words, a hard expression settled on his face. He was a little surprised someone like Razer could be captured like that, but he was more worried about if something were to happen. If one dies, they all die. Growling a little, he roughly folded the paper and began to make his way towards the mentioned graveyard.

As if by luck, he passed Jamie and Darius as they made their way back to the caravan. He didn't stop walking, instead slightly forcibly handing one of them the poster, slightly forcefully, not even looking at which one as he kept walking. Hopefully, one of them would either back him up or warn the others.

It didn't take him too long to find the old graveyard, after stopping a few times to ask directions it was around mid-afternoon. When he arrived, he was met by a small contingent of mercenaries. His hands fell to his swords, but he didn't draw them. Instead, with an icy tone, he asked a simple question.

"Where's Razer?"

His voice was hard and final. He wasn't going to waste time. He was getting an answer, one way or the other.

@Caits@Gareth@Venku@Wick
@dabombjk@ashevelendar

[Gareth]

Gareth hated this guy, whoever he was. He hated being imprisoned in a room, with only his kidnapper's voice threatening him for information and laughing constantly. It didn't help his mood that everytime Razor said something back, to try and show that his guy didn't scare him. (Drake) would point to the bloody swords on the wall, and say casually, "You wouldn't want to be the next one to 'get it', would you?"

The hours dragged on and Razer was beginning to grow hungry. He was also sore from the ropes binding him to the chair. He wasn't going to give (Drake) the satisfaction of showing that he was uncomfortable. Probably no chance anyone is going to save me tho, as I haven't exactly made any close friends here... He thought glumly.

Abruptly Razer was lifted into the air, chair and all. And marched out towards where? He didn't know. He could tell that he had spent the whole day imprisoned as the night sky and moon made it only too obvious. This is probably goodbye, I'm sorry mother and father for failing you and all Kil'garens. He said farewell in his mind.

The Marching continued with ten of the sellswords leading the group and ten trailing behind watching for any threats.

Abruptly a graveyard came into view and they plopped Razer in his tied up prison of a chair next to a tree in the very far corner of the graveyard. There they had three men very tightly tie Razer and chair around the tree, making sure there was no way in hell he would free himself.

Drake nodded as he watched his men tie Razer up like a vicious animal that should be restrained. That tiger should be happy I haven't already killed him.he thought smugly.

He saw in the corner of his eye that Carlos was in position, on a rooftop behind the graveyard and also behind 'razer's tree' with only his longbow and the top of his head remotely visible.

Just then he heard a voice it seemed to come from a stone, such that it was so cold without a note of a smile behind it. Drake smiled as he calmly walked the path in the middle of the graveyard. Drake was a tall man, with two earings in each ear, short spiky red hair and small black eyes. He was wearing a loose vest of blue silk that he had robbed from some poor fool a short while ago. Drake stopped in the middle of the circle of his men, each man's sword already drawn. He had the last ten of his men in a circle around razer's tree, their swords also drawn.

Two of the men took a half step aside so Drake could see the source of such a cold sounding demand. Drake spotted (James Blackwell), "So you are the one who is so pissed off." He said as he leered at James.

"Well now, Razor is just over there." Drake was pointing at the tree in the back with the ring of sellswords guarding it." He turned back to James as he put his hand to his long curved sword (Scimitar), he drew the weapon from its sheath. Then flicked his wrist as he flipped the weapon in the air and deftly caught it by the handle, showing that handling weapons was child's play for him.

Back to business he curtly said, "Now, do you have some small valuables I can't see with you? Or is you and Tiger going to sleep in this graveyard permanently." As the last words left Drake's mouth, the sellswords around him tensed ready for the inevitable bloodbath.

__________________________________________________________

Razor eyes widened as he heard a voice demand where he was. Someone has come to save me!He was more than happy he was overjoyed.

Then he looked towards all the sellswords around his tree and he looked down glumly, Whoever you are run... You can't save me....He thought glumly.

@Ashevelendar@Wick@Venku@dabombjk@Caits@Shadow Daedalus

[Wick]

Elyra

Elyra hadn't really paid too much attention to anyone until James left. That got her attention, weapons with her she had tailed him and not let him know she was there. When he handed Jamie and Shadow the paper she had caught sight of it and followed James to the cemetery only to find that she was glad that she had her bow and arrows with her. She had found Razer. If she stood up she could see James across the cemetery talking to some man. She was well hidden.

Elyra made sure she had an escape plan for herself and was relying on James not getting himself killed. Elyra took aim at the circle around Razer and she let arrows fly in great succession. She hit all but one of them. They fell to the ground and the last one was holding his sword up and was obviously scared as he searched the area for where this mysterious archer was. Elyra picked up her slingshot and picked a sharp looking rock and she slung it hitting the man in the middle of the forehead. It nailed him and she watched him fall to the ground knocked out.

She got to Razer and she realized after all that that she didn't have a knife on her. She pulled and tugged on his ropes and she managed to help him get a front arm free. After that she stood back as he got himself out.

@Gareth@shadow Daedalus@dabombjk@caits

[Venku]

Thainar Romarod

Collab with @King Tai

Fresh air and light, that was one of the first things that came to Romarod's mind upon being escorted from his prison when a male came to take him to Milas to join up with a few others. Following along willingly with Thainar with no problem nor thought of causing trouble since there have already been a history of blood being spilled between the magi and non-magi. The towering creature was simply happy that he even had the chance and privilege to leave and be useful. During the travel, he was quite quiet, not uttering a word unless he needed to.

Looking to the horizon, Romarod finally broke silence "Is that it up ahead?" he asked Thainar. "Indeed that is Milas we should arrive within the next few minutes at our current pace." Thainar responded. He found the Gargantu, Romarod, to be quite interesting. Most people when released from a dark lonely cell would be celebratory, Romarod was actually quite subdued and barely made a sound during the hurried journey. Thainar had been quite surprised when he was given this mission, however he still took the time to grab some essential smithing tools including his personal hammer and mobile forge. "We are going to have to find a shop that sells clothing in your size as the Magi robes you wear are to distinctive." Thainar told Romarod as they approached the entrance to the city.

A slight nod, Romarod simply gave upon the response that Thainar gave him. Still a little cautious even after being sent by the Ascended Templar, meeting Thainar, Romarod didn't trust very easily of non-magi but so far, nothing ill has surfaced. For such a huge being, it would be hard to imagine him seemingly the bashful type. He did say he was joining others that are part of a caravan. Were they going to be nasty to him? Was he going to meet anyone like him, a magi? These questions were going to be answered soon as they approached the entrance of the city. Looking down at the half-elf and then back up and around his surroundings, a near smile came upon his face. "If I wear a Magi robe, will that cause problems for others who see me and knowing what I am?" He asked in a soft spoken voice.

"Well not necessarily as many do not know what mage robes look like but if someone who is extremely biased against Magi recognizes you as a mage things would be very inconvenient to say the least." Thainar responded truthfully. He had heard Romarod had been in the Citadel since it was built so he wasn't surprised he wasn't aware of what Magi robes mean. They were meant by the Empire as a sign of a curse and any seen with them would be in trouble unless they were a Templar.

"Oh. I can just hope for the best." Romarod responded being a little intrigued to be able to see other people going about their business. "Do you know anything about the group we are going to join?" he asked following Thainar. It seemed that not so much as a peep came out his mouth during the whole trip be something about this town, suddenly had Romarod curious as to who he was going to meet, why him? and how long he was going to be allowed to stay out of the cell and so on.

Thainar thought again on the information he had been given on those he was headed to meet. "Well I personally know two of the members of the group we are meeting. One is a human man named James, he is the instructor for many of the Templar at the Citadel infact I trained under him at one point. He is a good man and from what I understand has positive feelings towards Magi in general. The other is an elvish woman named Elyra she is a nurse and from my interactions with her I can tell she has a kind heart towards all. The rest of the group I am unfamiliar with personally, however I have heard of two of them, Gun'Tar an extremely loyal Gargantu Grand Templar and Shadow the premier assassin of the entire empire. There is another Templar in the group a human woman named Jamie. The final two members are Magi one a Dark Human name William the other a Half-Elf named Aelar." Thainar told Romarod all he knew about their future companions. As he finished they happened to pass by a shop that advertised Gargantu clothing. "Well lets head into this shop real quick to purchase some other clothing for you and then head to the meeting place."

Listening to Thainar explain about two two people he knew in the group they were joining and a little about the others, what Romarod paid more attention to was the mention of another Gargantu like himself and two other Magi. What could they be capable of? This brought a bit of excitement inside of the big guy but on the outside, he simply smirked. Twas quite interesting the mixture that made up this group. He couldn't wait to meet them but then again...what was he going to say to people he never met. He barely said anything to Thainar until now. When directed to head into the shop, Romarod quietly followed to get his new piece of garment.

After buying the necessary garments for Romarod, Thainar led him towards the meeting place taking a look at the shops on the way as some had items that would be useful and being a master blacksmith Thainar had no lack for money.

@Caits@Ashevelendar@Wick@dabombjk@Shadow Daedalus@Gareth

[Gareth]

JamieDariusJamesElyraRazor

Razer was stunned as he saw arrows falling from out of nowhere. Then all of the swords men went down like dominoes around the tree, as Elyra appeared and started to free him.

"Thank you Elyra, I'll never be able to repay this debt."

Elyra looked up as some of the swordsmen were getting up. "You can. Don't let them kill me. She grabbed some stones out of her pocket and slung them at the men one by one. She had to dodge a couple of swords and she tried to stay behind Razer. One of the swordsmen grabbed her by the waist and she was hoisted up off of the ground."PUT ME DOWN!" She yelled.

Elyra then slammed her head backwards into his jaw. He let go of her and she scrambled away and climbed onto Razer's back and hung on. "We need to get out of here big guy!"

Razer took a slight cut on his arm from one of the swordsmen. But besides that he was uninjured as he dodged a couple of guy's swings. He looked around as he heard Elyra scream but she was ok as she fought him off. Before they were overwhelmed, Razer ran with Elyra on his back, faster than he had ever run, at break neck speed through the streets of Milas, allowing his feline eyes to direct him with the little light that was there from torches.

Jamie was silent the rest of the rest of the way back to where the others were, but as James slammed a poster I her hands, she looked down at it frowning, reading it, giving a sigh, she handed it to Darius, shifting her gear around, she slipped what she had brought inside her pack. She grabbed her bow, loosly knocking an arrow and holding it at her side, as she slipped three arrows into a hold of her leathers after taking her shirt off, and putting it away. Turning, she started to follow James.

She didn't look back to see if Darius was following, like he had said, if one of them died then they all died. She assumed he would come, based on that sentence, although she didn't particularly believe that was all the reason why he had saved her life.

Darius held the poster in his and read it carefully. Amateurs, he thought. They were sloppy, unelegant, and there was so many errors in this plan he wanted to laugh. Last time he was contracted to do something like this, It was give or take ten years ago. Darius did not follow anyone, but he headed in the same direction as the rest of the group he was with. When they arrived where the action was he slipped into the shadows.

Carlos, had his eyes locked on the first enemy, (James), and was ready to let fly his first arrow across the graveyard when given the signal from Drake. When all of a sudden all the security from the tree went down. "Shit." He cussed as he turned his bow in that direction. Deciding to take aim at Elyra, he released his first arrow straight towards her back.

Elyra heard the arrows wooshing through the air. She turned just in time to barely miss getting a direct hit in the back. Instead it scratched her back and she shrieked but held onto Razer.

Carlos cussed yet again, when he missed her. "Fuck." He realized that the two escapees were running for it, and he jumped from rooftop to rooftop, bow held at his side, sure that Razor would tire out from running with the girl on his back before he himself would.

The sound of her scream pricked in James's ears and he bristled, his eye sharp and narrow. His fists tightened and his stance changed slightly as he moved one foot a little closer and twisted his body a little, but he didn't make a move to attack.

Drake noticed the commotion from the back of the graveyard and he turned back to James his eyes like molten coal filled with hatred. "You didn't come with valuables, you didn't come alone, instead you try to pull a sneak attack on me!" He turned towards where Razor had escaped. "You 15 men surround those two and kill em!" Abruptly half the circle broke apart in pursuit of Elyra and Razer.

Dashing between grave stones, Jamie fired off the arrow she had knocked, towards one of the men pursing Elyra and Razer, shifting, she returned her bow to her shoulder, she drew her blade, stepping between the group, and Elyra and Razer. five left. She stood, holding her blade in one hand, watching the men approach. She hoped to give Elyra a chance to either use her bow or sling shot to take a few more of them down, as she quickly engaged them before they could encirling her. Jamie used her speed to quickly incapacitate one, twirling away and then back. All she need do was hold out, and let these men use their strength trying to break her.

She stepped back, dodging an attack, before darting back in again, slashing and stabbing and back out.

Between the ones that were down and injured after Elyra's first assault and the ones that Jamie had taken down, there were only a handful left in that section of the graveyard. "Boy those girls fight like demons..." One of the men grumbled to himself. With that only 5 swords men were left. One who is chasing down Elyra and Razor and four that were closing in on Jamie. "Your dead wench" one of, Jamie's opponents growled. As he swung his blade in a downwards slash, trying to split her stomach open and followed up with a forward thrust.

The Last nine men in front of Drake didn't even wait for orders, in groups of three they advanced on James, blades held low, for a killing thrust through the heart. While Drake himself followed the groups of three but kept a distance between them and him, waiting for James to falter so that he could strike quickly and be rid of him.

Darius had melted into the shadows, quite non literally. He emerged from hiding on the ceiling, dropped in between the space between Drake and his three groups of men. He landed, back to Drake, and quick as arrow attacked. He aimed his bow, notched with three arrows, and fired at the three men to his north east side. They died instantly as his arrows pierced the three mens head. That left two more groups of three, one group directly in front of him and the other three north west of him. Darius figured James could handle the rest. His wrapped his bow around his back and unsheathed both his daggers, then faced Drake.

A small smirk rested on James's face as the seemingly daunting group of mercenaries were slowly divided and cut down. Now, he had six amateurs to deal with. The first group of three lunged for the attack as James side-stepped them, drawing his swords in time to block the next group's strikes. Blocking one sword with each of his own, and the remaining sword with the armour on his left arm, he pushed the swords away and slashed low across the two on his left. The one furthest from his left was able to narrowly avoid the attack by stumbling backwards, but the one in the centre wasn't so lucky. The tip of his sword raked deep across his stomach and he dropped to his knees in pain and shock. He was instantly put out of his misery as James kicked him onto his back and impaled his heart. That's one.

Pausing in shock, the other mercenaries barely had time to react as he lowered into a slight crouch before charging towards the man in the center. Out of panic, he slashed at James, only for him to deflect the blade with one of his own and sinking the other straight through his heart before letting go of the blade and spinning on his heel and releasing an arc of lightning from his gauntlet towards another approaching sellsword. Stumbling back in pain, the mercenary didn't have a chance to recover as James bolted over to him and plunged the full length of his enchanted sword into his stomach, the teal-black flames licking at the horrific wound, before James ripped the blade out and he fell to his knees before James swiftly and brutally decapitated him with a two-handed slash. 'That's Two and Three.'

Drake wasn't afraid or even flinched when he saw how yet another enemy showed himself and took down three of his men with his arrows as if they were nothing to him. He turned back to James as another three of his were brought down systematically, like this was a game of chess and he was getting outmaneuvered towards checkmate. He only had three men left, but he didn't give a damn about numbers anymore. "You three, watch this. I'm going to kill both of these men and show them what a real swordsmen can do."

He went after Darius, circling around him, Drake was being light on his feet. Not making a sound as he circled around Darius until both him and James were in his line of sight, directly in front of him. His scimitar seemingly danced in his hand as he went from attack to attack. The speed of the attacks, were incredible such that only someone which has great experience and skill could achieve as the scimitar blade itself was a blur. First it was a horizontal slash, then a reverse horizontal slash, Then he sidestepped expecting a counterattack but as he sidestepped he also did an uppercut swing with his sword, folowed by a downward thrust. He only put enough energy into each attack, to rip through clothes, shred skin and not even mortally wound his opponent. It was all about testing Darius, seeing if he could keep up with Drake or even fight back.

While he was fighting Darius, he was ready for James, making sure he didn't leave Drakes line of sight.

The other reason Drake didn't use pure power behind his attacks was that he knew Darius and James were skilled and he wasn't going to leave himself weak and have them outlast him.

Darius was impressed by Drakes speed, realizing he was not a normal opponent. Darius blocked the first horizontal strike by crossing his swords and blocking, then ducked the second atack. Darius jabbed with his daggers, only for Drake to side step him and then upper cut then downward thrust him. Drakes speed was fast, but Darius was faster. He jumped back, missed by the attacks, then Darius lunged. He feinted a forward thrust at his neck, then jabbed with his other dagger at Drakes side. He spun around Drake so he was behind him. He swept Drakes legs, hoping to knock him down and finish him off.

With quick reflexes, after the downward lunge, Drake was able to use the cutting edge of his blade to push away darius's neck lunge, except it didn't come. At the last second Drake pivoted and took a step to the side, making the jab only break the skin making his side bleed a little. He followed Darius's movement with his eyes and smiled as he noticed the sweep. He backflipped away, still with his sword in his hand, showing that even a 'mere bandit' can do acrobatics mid fight. He began to get serious as a deadly gleam was in his eyes. "You are a lot faster than I would have thought, but now the games end." With that a kicked up a bunch of dirt towards Darius's face and smoothly stepped around towards his back. Drake rushed him using the full force of his arm behind each attack, but his attack speed wasn't any slower than before. He put his sword blade by his own head as he flicked his forearm outwards with a slash at the back of Darius's head, followed by three rapid thrusts, the first to his head, then torso, then his legs. He kept advancing on Darius, as he moved forward. "It's only a matter of time, why not throw down your blades now?"

Darius would have scoffed at Drake if he wasnt in the heat of battle.

"Who was playing games? I simply wished to gauge you."

When he saw the dirt nearly in his face he closed his eyes shut, letting the dirt hit him. To Drake he was now blinded, but little did he know he was "The Shadow" the most feared assassin. And what a poor assassin he would be if he could only fight if he could see. He diverted any energy he had into seeing into listening, and he could hear what Drake was doing. He had expected Drake to use the same speed, same force but he was mistaken. Darius barely was able to bring his daggers up to block the strike to the back of his head, and he had enough of him. He had wanted to see if he could use Drake somehow, but this was unacceptable. Darius finished gauging him......and found him unsatisfactory. Darius stood still as Drake launched his attacks, a series of thrusts, and Darius did not move his whole body to dodge. He only moved each body part slightly, allowing Drake to injure him somewhat but not gaining the upperhand. When Drake began advancing on Darius again, he dropped both his daggers. Then he reached out with both hands and grabbed both of Drakes wrists, twisting them so that he dropped his weapons.

"Dropped my weapons. Happy?"

Darius let go of one wrist, and used his strength to pull Drake towards him. He grabbed him, turning him and holding both arms against Drakes back. Then he kicked the back of his legs so he was on his knees.

Drake smiled as Darius grabbed his wrists, "Are we 5 year olds and now you are going to tell me some secret?" His sword fell to the ground but he wasn't worried as Darius spun him, he managed to keep his balance fairly well and tense up his muscles so that when Darius kicked his legs and he fell to his knees. It almost seemed like Drake had done it himself and was about to kneel to god.

Drake got back up and brushed himself off. "Are you up for hand to hand, or would you rather disarm a man and then kill him with a blade?"

Darius took a step forward and put his left hand on Drakes right shoulder.

"I nunc, et succendatur, et non in vita vellet."

Darius reared his right hand back, flattened it, then swiftly lunged his right hand forward. Darius pierced through Drakes chest where his heart was, and on the other side of Drake was Darius's hand, appearing out of Drakes back holding his heart. Darius held still for a moment, then pulled back his hand. He ripped his hand out of Drake, still clutching his heart.

Before Drake could react Darius had his hand through his body as the man held his heart. The pain was unbearable as his body started shaking from the over stimulation of his nerves telling him, PAIN, too much PAIN. He managed to put a hand to his head to try and cope. As Darius withdrew his hand Drake fell facedown. He brought his head up slightly so that he could look Darius in the eyes and the first feeling of fear that Drake had ever felt were clear in his small black eyes. He managed to get out the words, "Who the hell are you?" he said in barely more than a whisper as he was bleeding to death.

Darius knelt and spoke softly into Drakes ear.

"I am the one who has killed you. I am The Shadow of this worlds evil. When you meet Satan in Hell, tell him one day I shall come for him as well. Then go and join all of my other victims. There will be a rather large group of them."

As Drake heard Darius, speak in his ear, his eyes widened. I made a mistake, I shouldn't have went to the graveyard, it was a terrible plan... I should of known this man Shadow would have been here like a ghost that eats souls... His brain tormented him in the last moments of his life. He rasped out one last word as his eyes rolled back into his head, "Death....."

Drake was more dead than someone in a grave 50 years.

Jamie continued to fight the now four guards she had intercepted. She knew that she could hold out, but that against all four, she couldn't draw it out, knowing she would tire before all the guards did. So she knocked it up a knotch, using the environment to her advantage. She rolled away, using the gravestones, she came up, and swung her bow up, knocking an arrow, and letting it fly, taking out a second guard. As they began to draw near, she crouched, and scooped up her sword again, leaping over the headstone, and stabbing one through the stomach, and stepped back, pulling her blade with her.

One of the swordsman ran as he saw his fellows killed by Jamie. The other one expected her to leap over the headstone as he saw her trying to use them as shields to keep her out of harms way, and so he was waiting for her as she jumped. He was to her right a couple of steps away but as she was landing he rushed at her, with a vicious thrust aimed at her right hip.

two more to go she thought. spinning about as the swordman rushed at her, bringing her own sword up, to block the blow, she stumbled back at the force of it, she pushed back, she reached for one of her arrows, bringing it about much like she would a dagger, holding the shaft, to try and stab the swordsman, or at least throw him off balance.

The guy was enraged as he saw that her, Jamie was able to hold her ground against him, a man. He reacted by instinct more than anything else as he saw the arrow about to be stabbed into him, he twisted his wrist and smoothly slashed the arrowhead off, turning it into a blunt or pretty much useless "dagger." He then stepped back, and ran a coupld steps forward, jumped high into the air with his sword held in both hands. As he fell his blade came closer and closer to splitting her head in two with the force of his whole body thrown into the attack.

Jamie acted on pure instinct. She dropped to the ground and rolled, throwing her blade up across her body as she landed on her back to protect herself from the on coming sword, she took a risk and blocked the blade with one hand, reaching down at retrieving the knife along her calf, as she fully came to a stop on her back, and flinging it up, directly at the mans chest,.

The thing was Jamie was right to use her blade to protect herself from the falling sword, as she didn't roll enough to escape the attack. As the man's blade slammed into Jamie's sword, a loud clang rang out, the forward momentum of the man's arm tipped the point of the sword downwards and almost stabbed Jamie's chest, being mere inches away in reality. This clash of weapons also sent Jamie's sword spinning away from her, and jarred the swordsman's arm making his weapon useless.

He didn't expect the knife, and even if he had he hadn't the means to defend himself. Thus it did hit its mark and penetrated all the way into his chest as the ground was littered with blood. "You sneaky Bitch!!!", the man managed to yell, before blood flooded out of his mouth and he fell backwards, eyes rolling into the back of his skull. Completely dead.

Jamie rose, a little shakily, rolling her right shoulder, she retrieved the knife from the dead man's chest, placing her foot on his chest, she yanked it out, and crouching, wiped the blood off of it, tracing the engraved D.M on the handle again, she put it back in the sheath on her calf, "Thats right, now where did your buddy run off to?" She asked the corpse, looking about, but it appeared the last swordsman had go craven. She shook her head, and gave a sigh "Your buddy had the right of it. Never underestimate a woman"

She went to retrieve her sword, sliding the blade back into its sheath on her right hip, after checking that it wasn't damaged. Breathing out a slow breath, she glanced about, seeing how everyone else was faring. She glanced about for Elyria and Razor, intending to keep them safe, figuring that Darius and James had the rest under control for now.

She dashed off in the direction they had gone, spying the swordsman and archer following them, she dropped to one knee, bringing her bow around front, she fired at the swordman.

Karlos had a great eye for noticing the small details or things in the corner of a person's eye that normal people would miss. At first he ignored someone running in the corner of his vision as unimportant, but then when he saw a small object shoot through the air, he took this object seriously.

Jamie's arrow pierced the swordsman's left bicep, ruining that arm's muscles. "ARRGH!" he yelled as he fell back against the nearest house's wall from the sudden flash of pain that his brain was telling him he was feeling.

Within two seconds, Karlos spotted Jamie and knocked a steel tipped arrow, one he normally reserved for armored knights to his longbow. He pulled the arrow all the back on his bow, and at the last second he aimed it not at Jamie but at the ground in front of her feet.

The arrow penetrated the dirt road, until only the tip of the arrow stuck out in front of Jamie.

"I see you are a good archer. My name is Karlos and I wish not to kill you, but you must allow me to chase the Tiger and the Girl."

Karlos tried getting Jamie to back off peacefully.

Jamie didn't flinch as the arrow flew towards her, staying where she was, she knocked another arrow, and aimed it towards Karlos. "And allow my friends to be at your mercy? Why should I?"

Jamie was well aware that she probably wasn't getting out of this battle without injuries, yet she was more then certain she could deal with this pesky archer.

He watched her aim the arrow at him calmly as he shook his head, like a father would to a stubborn and impulsive daughter. "T'was your mistake, I tried to let you off gracefully, but if you truly want to have a duel of marksmanship, it will be your first and last mistake. I'm one of the best around here for a reason."

He knocked an arrow to his own bow and fired it as he jumped backwards onto the next rooftop. He accounted for the extra strength he'd have to use to make the arrow go the extra distance from where he was first standing, talking to Jamie. The fired arrow was going directly at Jamie's knocked arrow and with its launch power it could easily split it into two.

At the instant Karlos fired his arrow, Jamie fired herself, leaping to the side, she had another arrow knocked when it slammed into the ground a little bit back from where she had been, firing the newly knocked arrow at Karlos, before she dashed forward, seeking to get closer. She did however zig and zag, and when she stopped, Jamie crouched so that, while firing she could, if needed, roll away from a shot.

Karlos nodded as he saw the two arrows collide and noticed that his was that little bit stronger. She reacted quickly as he noticed her going for the second arrow and flattened himself on the rooftop, almost like he was laying on a bed facedown. Even so, the arrow, shaved off a strip of his hair leaving him with a straight bald patch, that showed off his pale scalp. His eyes widened, he thought he had gotten away from that easily.

He got up and knocked two arrows to his bow, simultaneously. He fired them both from his bow as she crouched, one was going for her head, and one was going for her torso directly below her head.

Jamie rolled, letting the arrow she had knocked fly, she avoided one arrow, the second grazed her arm as she rolled out the way, the unprotected flesh slashing open as the head moved along her lower arm, and she cursed the lack of leather along her arms, but it just wasn't practical. Cursing, she rose, firing off three arrows in quick succession, her own warm blood running down her arm as she did so.

She then ran directly towards the building Karlos was upon, wishing she could retrieve her shirt from where she had tucked it under her leathers, to use to stem the bleeding as she took a leap, kicking off the wall and pepelling herself up, grabbing the lip of the roof and rolling over the edge, she dove at Karlos.

She herself knew the weakness of an archer was distance. Too far, and their shots wouldn't be any good. Too close, and it gave your opponent the chance to kill you before you got an arrow off. So she closed the distance, taking that risk. Perhaps it was too much of a risk-she wasn't just playing with her life after all, but everyones.

Karlos grinned as he noticed that he had managed to get her with the second arrow. He could almost smell victory. He knocked another arrow to his bow as he saw her starting to fire her own. He managed to avoid the first two by jumping to the side towards the edge of the roof, catching his balance just at the edge, but the last arrow bit deeply into his foot through his shoe. And so he almost lost his balance again. He lost track of Jamie during his balancing act to save his life from falling headfirst onto the road. He turned in time to see Jamie coming straight at him, he only had time to drop his bow and turn his body away from the edge before she grabbed his waist and they both fell onto the corner of the roof instead. As they rolled towards the center of the rooftop, Karlos knew how to get rid of someone with his bare hands. He didn't like the idea of it, but he had no bloody choice now!

He managed to get a hold of Jamie's neck with one his hands and he used his other hand to punch her as hard as he could in her stomach.

Jamie growled as she felt his hand go around her neck, letting out a breath as she felt the movement of the punch, taking the blow, she wriggled, and retrieved her knife, slashing at his hand around her neck with it, hoping to not only get her neck free, but to also cause as much damage to his hand as possible.

"aaaaAAAAAAAA!" one long syllable of intense pain as her knife cut off the smallest finger of his left hand. He instantly released her neck with that hand and stopped punching her stomach as well, instead he managed to get out of the roll with Jamie, got up and kicked her so that she would roll towards the edge of the rooftop.

"Nothing. Personal."

Jamie felt herself rolling, and for a moment she seemed to balance on the edge. Twisting, Jamie caught herself on the edge of the roof with her free hand, grimacing, she then let herself drop to the ground, sheathing the knife as she crouched.

She drew in a breath, and out, and took a moment to retrieve her shirt, wrapping it around her injuried arm, she once more leaped up onto the roof, this time Jamie unsheathed her sword, and she said "You're right. It really is nothing personal, but I think I'll just kill you now"

Karlos, saw Jamie roll to the edge, and spat on the ground in disgust as she caught herself. Stubborn. Doesn't know when to die. She then disappeared from view and Karlos crossed his fingers that she had decided after all to off herself and let him move on with his life. As she returned, he looked towards the heavens, Did I really have to fight this person today, was it really my fate? Blimey I'm an unlucky one.

As he heard her spin his words and say that it was actually HE who was to die, he stared at her. He ignored her sword completely as he spoke, "I have two things to say. Can you allow me those things before I die?"


Jamie knew she shouldn't let her opponent chat and have a chance to catch her off guard, yet she said "Very well" She'd rather not kill anyone else today, but if she had to, she would. IF Karlos knew what was good for him, he wouldn't tempt her to skewer him.

Karlos eyes widened as she actually accepted his request. He half believed she'd outright deny it. But when it came to words he was an honest man, "I've never fought a fighter as good as you and I think you have the potential to be better than anyone, you just have to keep going." Then the atmosphere seemed to get all serious all of a sudden as he looked all around him for people who might be listening. Spotting no one, he continued, "Drake our leader of this group who's at the graveyard right now. He is a good friend of mine since way back. But sadly all our freedom's have been taken away, by a larger group. They are called "The Trinity", their real motives are unknown. But it was their order to kill the Tiger, we just made it seem like it was a kidnapping. And now if you dont kill me, they probably will."

Jamie listened as Karlos talked, watching him to see if there was any sign he was trying to trick her, yet she couldn't see if that was so. She narrowed her eyes, before giving a soft sigh.

"I can't allow you, or anyone else to kill Razor. This Trinity is just going to have to be disatisfied" She said, weary, shaking her head, "You can surrender, and we can protect you, from them. Chances are, we'll have to fight them anyway"

She knew she shouldn't be soft, yet...he made it seem like they had no choice, that they were, essentially, slaves. And Jamie didn't stand by that. She still watched Karlos, wary of any deceit.

Karlos's eyes widened more and more as Jamie continued speaking. First she spoke so confidently of opposing such a powerful group and very powerful they were at that. Then she even went as far as to offer to protect him, after him nearly killing her. He questioned in his mind about how long that protection would hold out, but only a really stupid man would throw away a shield given to you when someone was aiming to shoot you in the head. "Thank you very much. I'll do my best to help you or die trying to show how much this means to me, you helping me after everything that has happened."

With that Karlos held out his hand to her.

With Drake dead, and James able to take care of himself, Darius dropped Drakes heart and began searching his dead person. He took any money he had on him, and medicinal items, and found a note on his person. With a bloody hand, Darius read the note. Darius read it over once, then dropped it. The note was from a man named Carlos, saying how he was going to be on a certain rooftop shooting "The Tiger". That was about as tacky as "The shadow. Darius thought to himself. Darius raise his right hand, the bloody one, and gave a two finger salute.

"Hmph. Should have known Jamie would be here,"Darius said to himself quietly then spoke up," Jamie hurry and kill this fool. What are you doing?"

Jamie glanced over. She knew that there would be challenges in taking a prisoner, but she wasn't going to kill someone that had willing surrendered to her. She shook her head, "It seems a shame to kill him when he gave me such lovely information. Besides, he surrendered to me" she said, looking back to Karlos, she still held her sword in hand, and hadn't yet thought to take Karlos's weapons. She did so now, although she didn't think he'd try anything, he had seemed quite grateful for the chance of, well, strangely enough, freedom.

Darius sighed slightly and stood up.

"Pray tell, what information could be so important that it would save his life? And....if I might add......are you alright? Are you.....harmed?"

"He seems to know about this Trinity. They wanted Razor's death, and that seems important, doesn't it?" Jamie looked back over at his questions to her well being, and smiled, "cuts and scraps, and a slash along my arm, nothing major. Most of the bloods from the soldier I stabbed who tried to skewer me with his sword" She shrugged off her injuries as if they were nothing, "What about you?" She slung Karlos's bow over her shoulder with hers, and then sheathed her sword.

Darius checked himself over again. He had all his weapons, he had about a half full quiver, and his daggers were sheathed. He looked back up and walked over to Jamie, standing a few feet away.

"Of course I am fine. A few cuts, but I allowed myself to be cut. I have no unintended injuries. Although if you have a rag I would greatly appreciate borrowing it."

Darius raised his right hand.

"I do not enjoy bathing in the blood of my enemies"

Jamie shook her head "The only thing I had was the shirt I wore over my leathers-which is currently stopping the bleeding on my arm" She herself was more than ready for a bath of any kind-she knew she was covered in blood, dirt and who knows what else. The way Karlos had shot, she knew her injuries could have been much worse, and only her speed had saved her.

She flexed her fingers, and resisted the urge to yawn, failing to do so. She had thought that there would be more argument about taking Karlos as a prisoner, but was quite glad there wasn't. Figuring Karlos wasn't going to run off, not when they'd all but won, and were his only hope for survival, she relaxed slightly, "I'm glad you're okay" She didn't care if that offended him or anything, she was well aware that Darius was an excellent fighter. Still, she just wanted to say it.

She grinned, "Otherwise, who would I Kiss?"

Darius paused in his thinking, and kept his face expressionless. He looked at Jamie and spoke with no voice elevation.

"I....I um.....yea."

Darius looked over at Karlos, then back at Jamie.

Jamie watched Darius, curious. It wasn't the first time Darius had seemed at a loss of what to say. Yet what was this? As he looked at Karlos, Jamie couldn't help but smile was Darius Jealous?. That was...excellent.

"What? Karlos?" She shook her head, "Nah. Gotta have boundaries with prisoners, besides..." She gave a shrug, "He didn't try to kiss me in battle, and I don't kiss everyone I see"

Darius scoffed.

"It was a battle tactic, it meant nothing in our fight. I do not understand why you believe otherwise."

Darius stood there and shook his head slightly.

"Oh, I know it was a tactic" Jamie said cheerfully, "But who said the battle was over? I just changed it's gears" She said with amusement, "And...well" She gave a shrug, and sat down, "Some of your responses tell me otherwise"

Darius eyed the prisoner suspisciously, then sat in front of Jamie. He pulled of his medicinal pouch and began putting out a few pastes and bandages.

"My responses? I do not understand what you mean. Also take some of this. Bandage yourself."

She glanced away, looking down at her injuried arm, and the poor field bandage she had given it, before gently removing the shirt to check the damage, as the adrenaline wore off, that was the main source of her pain, and she grimaced.

She took what Darius offered her, and gave a laugh "You kissed me back, and you saved my life" She said, as she carefully examined the slash along her arm, knowing that it probably needed to be sewn up, but lacking Elyra, it would have to wait. She started, with some difficulty, to bandage it.

Darius grunted and leaned forward. He swatted Jamies hands away from her arm and he sighed.

"A few bandages are not going to heal this."

Darius picked up a needle and some thread, and started stiching up the gruesome cut.

"Also.....I dont recall kissing you. Or.......I mean well yes I have saved your life but if you die we all die."

Jamie kept her arm steady, ignoring, or trying to, the feel of the thread, the pull on her skin. The pain really was nothing, yet she still concentrated on not flinching away.

"Sure, except I can protect myself" She said with amusement, waiting for him to finish the stitching, before saying "Perhaps...I should freshen your memory again" She shifted slightly, and kissed him once more.

Darius shifted slightly, appalled at the audacity Jamie had shown. When he shifted he slightly pulled away, slightly scratching Jamie with the needle. Nothing was damaged worse, and he could still stitch fine. Darius grunted at Jamie and nearly finished his sewing job.

Jamie decided to take that as a positive, figuring at least he hadn't reacted badly, or stabbed her in anyway. She simply smiled, and let him finish, quite content. She once more tried to bandage the cut, yet it was a clumsy job.

Darius moved fast. He walked over to the prisoner, knocking him out with a blow to the head. Then he looked back at Jamie, walked over to her, then pushed her down so that she was on her back. Darius held himself over her laying figure, held her cheek in his hand, and kissed her. He held the kiss for awhile not letting her react.

Jamie watched Darius walk away, figuring that that was it. At the thunk of a blow, she blinked, a little surprised, looking back she had no idea what Darius was about to do, even more shocked when he pushed her down. The trifecta of surprise was him kissing her. She responded to the kiss, returning it, both surprised, and pleased.

Darius recieved Jamies kiss back, and returned it with quite a large amount of enthusiasim. He wrapped his arms around Jamie, then sat up picking her up with him and setting her in his lap.

Jamie wasn't sure what had come over Darius, but she decided she didn't care, quite happily returning the enthusiasim, she shifted slightly when he set her in his lap, quite comfortable.

Darius suddenly broke off the kiss, and softly pushed Jamie away. He stood up, took a step back, and brushed himself off.

"There. Happy? It seems like for some reason, the only way to recieve less annoyance is to do that."

Jamie sighed softly as he pushed her away, rising herself, She chuckled at his words, "There is no less annoyance with me" She said, amused. She gathered up her gear, and said "You knocked him out, you can carry him" before starting to walk off, to seek out Elyra and Razor, but she looked back, and grinned at Darius.

Darius looked at Jamie and raised his eyebrow. He sighed, picking up Karlos and slinging him over his shoulder. He followed Jamie as she sought as Elyra and Razor.

Elyra held onto Razer's scruff as he ran into town. She kept her head down. "I think we are safe now!" She yelled into his ear. She sat up as he took them back to the caravan. Elyra slid off of his back and straightened her skirt. She walked up to the leader of the caravan.

"We are to join the caravan. When is it leaving Milas?" The man in charge looked at her and said "We have broken wheel and can not get repair til tomorrow. We will leave tomorrow afternoon. You should get room in hotel tonight." Elyra understood the man's broken language but nodded and grabbed her gear and James' and Razer grabbed his. She and Razer headed to the hotel. She got a room and took the supplies up with her.

Maren and Aelar were behind Elyra and just followed her. Maren got a room and took everything but the horse up there. She had the horse boarded for the night and she went upstairs with Aelar thinking everyone else was already there.

Elyra looked at Razer and asked him, "How long til they should be back? I'm worried about James. I know the others were there too but still..."

@King Tai@Venku@Shadow Daedalus@dabombjk@Wick@Ashevelendar@Caits

[Ashevelendar]

William and Jamie

collab post

William was amazed of the sheer quantity of people in one place. He heard about this things called " cities " but he never saw anything like this ever. Not that he could...all this explosion-thief quest of theirs has a silver lining even if they will all probably be killed by the end of it.
He approached Jamie , which he didn't talk to much because she spent all her time with Shadow and tapped her on the shoulder. " Hey. Jamie , right ? I want to try something I've only heard the...Templar talk about but I'm afraid I would get lost in all these people. This...city is huge ! Much bigger than my prison cell that's for sure. Can you...please come with me ? The others have already left to buy stuff. I just hope they don't go too far. ".

Jamie continued the journey back to the where the others were in silent, deciding that Darius could be as difficult as he wanted. She could be even more so. As William approached her, she gave him a smile, and nodded, "Sure thing, I'd be happy to." Not that she would be any good at directing them back, but she had a good memory, and besides, the little trip to the black markets had shown her that the city was more than a little dangerous. "As long as they stay in the city, we should be okay. We didn't start getting headaches until we were at the cross roads, which was a far way from you guys, I imagine"

William nodded. " Yeah. That was pretty far. Something like...2 km or more. Which is funny considering that the Templar that injected us with the bomb said we couldn't leave each other's sides. Maybe this...bomb is not working as good as the Templar told us about. My guess is that this is something that has not yet been tested and we are the first test subjects. I wander what would happen if we somehow overload the enchantment. I don't know if you know but every enchanment , of any kind has a small issue from what I understood. If too much magic is put in it , it will break. So, in theory, it would be possible to overload this enchantment too but I don' t think that Aelar and me could do it but that's just a theory. I don't know in what section of the Citadel you worked in but in the library we are not allowed to study much , not that some of us want to. We all know what happenes to Magi that learn too much , too fast. I guess you've seen more than a few executions in your career. I lost a...friend , a good friend because of that. She asked to see the Templar in charge back then because she had a theory on why Magi from after the war couldn't learn more than one type of magic and she never came back. I asked the guards , where she is and after I got a black eye from one of their sword hilts...they've told me that she was sent to the Death Row.
Anyway. I wanted to go to a tavern. I heard there is something called...ale ? That I wish I could try. If this will be the last journey in my life , at least I will die knowing that I've done things no Magi in 100 years ever did. You know ? " as he was saying this , they've moved through the streets towards one of the many taverns in the city.

Jamie listened as William rambled on, She let him go on until it seemed like he had run out of words, taking a moment or two to process everything he had said, glancing about them and looking for a taven that wouldn't, hopefully, end in a fight. "Perhaps it has been tested, but never on so many at once. And we are different races as well. And I don't imagine the bombs have ever been tested on Magi before. That would involve actually giving you some freedom, wouldn't it?" Jamie disliked the way the Magi were treated. The thought of not being able to learn more then what was allowed? Having to stay in the citadel, always watched, and at any moment you could be killed?

"I never went to the exercutions if I could help it" She said softly,"See, I have this problem with Authority. That being, if I don't like something, I tend to do something about it. I don't like the way you guys are treated, nor do I like the fact you get put to death for knowing too much." She gave a sigh, and she said, a tone of sadness in her voice "While it would be good to get rid of the bombs, how would we test it out? One wrong move, and we're all dead"

She didn't think William had given any thought to the fact that when they got back, if they survived at all, the citadel might consider him as having learned too much, of knowing too much. She didn't want to see anyone she had worked with like this, be killed just for doing what the citadel wanted. She gave a sigh,and turned into a tarven, glancing about at the occupants in the room. She led William over to a table that covered their backs, while giving Jamie a good view of the door.

" I...I...thank you for the kind words my lady. " he bowed deeply. " Maybe not all Templars are all bad. Makes you wonder. Why would your Head Templar send people that are known to be Magi-friendly , right ? Almost everyone...
How we can test it , you say ? The bombs are in our blood , yes ? That means that somehow we are all linked together so if I would take some blood from you and some blood from me...they should react to each other. My spells allow me to eat the lifeforce out of something around me , if I would focus on...let's say your blood , my blood...in theory should react to whatever I do to your blood. It's just a theory and it's the safest thing we can do. It won't kill us and I don't think it will hurt too much. " as soon as William entered the tavern with Jamie he was assaulted by a bunch of smells he never smelled. People were playing dice , dancing , drinking and screeming at each other over the music that was played by a bard.
" Wow. What's all this ? So much noise. Is this the "music" I heard of ? And what are those people doing there with those...things. ( he means the dices ). They seem angry at each other. What happened ? " said William with a look of curiosity on his face.

At the curious looks they got, Jamie simply lay a hand on her sword. She was quite use to the illustrious looks men gave her, she noted that they saw her injuries and there was anger in some eyes. She shook her head when one rose, figuring they thought William had hurt her, and gave them a smile to reassure them she was okay, simply tapping her sword I am no mere woman she thought with amusement.

"I think they more wanted to get rid of me, then get rid of you. I doubt they even care that I am sympathetic to your course" Jamie said, musingly "I'm good. I follow their orders, I do what is required of me, but you've seen my tendancy to go a little...wild" She chuckled with amusement. "Well, we can try that. No harm in it, right? I'd rather not go ka-bloom!"

She smiled at William's reaction to the tavern, and decided she would do what she could to show him the wonders this world offered. just no blackmarkets. I didn't like them before going into one, and I'm not going to like them anymore now she thought. "Yeah. That's music. Not the best I've heard, but" She waved a hand around them, and smiled "This is perhaps the best, and the worst of life. Those mean are playing with dice, they're having a game....of well chance. It's gambling. One probably won a lot of money and the others are probably acusing him of cheating. Don't mind them" She said, calling over a severving girl, she ordered them two ales.

William got curious about the dice game. " Gambling. Hmm...They bet gold and if one wins , he takes all the gold from the others ? It sounds awfully similar to what the Templar do in the library. They throw something at a Magi and if the Magi is hit , the Templar laugh and one of them gives gold to the other one but there is no dice there. Is it the same game or something like it ?
Also. Do you mind if you teach me the game those men play with dices ? We are going on a caravan and I don't know how long the road will be but I guess we can have time but only if you want to...Temp-- Jamie. I'm sorry. I'm not used to talk with Templar , so freely. Thank you again for allowing me. " William bows his head again in thanks.

"No, it's not the same thing. They were just being jerks." Jamie said, quite disgruntled that there would be such actions, but not surprised. "Sure, I can teach you. It's not that hard to learn, although it may feel like it is" She said. She gave William a smile, hoping to put him at ease.

"You don't have to bow to me. i'm not....I'm not a templar out here, just one of the group. And from what you've told me about the templar that guard you, perhaps I don't wish to be one at all" She gave a shrug, accepting the drinks as the waitress returned, paying her.

"Then you could say that all Templar are jerks. Almost all. Every guard shift at the library did that. I hated that place and loved it in the same time. I don't think , you've seen the interior of a prison cell. It's wet , dark and empty. Also we cannot see anything and that magic dampering thing ? It hurts when it starts it's effect and you cannot shake the feel that it's there. A lot of Magi die from that , from what I heard. They kill themselves and believe me , every Magi at the Citadel had that thought in his mind more than once in his life. I was one of the lucky ones to be allowed to learn magic and by lucky I mean that I'll die faster than the others and in better conditions. " William's face turned into a frown and then he smiled at the waitress when she gave them drinks. He approached the cup of ale to his nose and took a deep breath. It was a nice smell compared with the other smells in the tavern. "At least I can say this , without the fear of getting myself killed now. May the Saint look over us all. I thank you for this opportunity. " as he said he bowed his head again but not for Jamie but as in respect for The Saint. He then took a sip and put the cup on the table. " Bleah. What's this ? You , people drink this because you like it ? " William's face clearly showed his disgust.

Jamie listened as William spoke, with each word, she grew more disgusted. No one should be treated as the magi were. "You won't die. We'll find someway of making sure that doesn't happen" She said, already half thinking about what they could do. The citadel had no right to do what they did.

She watched, managing amusement, as William took a sip. She herself had a mouthful, holding the cup, she gave a soft laugh at his words. "It's an acquired taste. But most people drink it because its cheap and a fast way of getting drunk. I'll buy some wine for later, and you can try that. It's generally a bit better then the ale" she said, taking another mouthful of the ale.

It wasn't Jamie's first time drinking it, nor would it be her last. A drink was a drink, although when she did drink Jamie prefered Wine to Ale. "Maybe a sweet wine would be best" She said, thoughtfully, nursing the Ale.

William smiled at Jamie's words. " Don't get me wrong Jamie but please stop trying to sugar coat this. Me and Aelar will both die as soon as we get back to the Citadel that is , if we even survive that Wasteland thing. Ok ? You and the other Templar will probably get killed too and be painted as Magi-lovers. Given as examples to the other Templar and don't even try to say it won't happen like that. We Magi know exactly what to expect from the Templar. " William shook his head after that. He then took a deep breath. " We are sent to the Wasteland then it means that we may have a way out of this. It won't help you non-Magi , I think , but for Aelar and me...it will all be good. " William pushed his cup of Ale towards Jamie. " All yours. ".

"I'm well aware that this job was a death sentence, no matter what. Didn't really have much choice in the matter. So I just won't die. I don't plan on being killed. I figure we have a little bit of time to figure out how not to a) get blown up and b) get killed at the citadel." Jamie said, giving a shrug, she finished off her ale, "I'm not blind to the citadel's ways, I just haven't yet found a way to...fix them" She sighed softly.

"In the meantime...there's things to enjoy, and if there's even a slim possibility I will die despite my convinction not to, well, I'm going to enjoy them". The thought of her family though saddened her. She took William's Ale, but didn't drink, frowning slightly. "I think...we will have to try your theory with the bombs. That will be the key to surviving, because if I can help it, you aren't going back there"

William laughed with all his mouth when he heard Jamie's last words. " I'm sorry Jamie but I thought I heard you saying that I won't go back there. I'm really sorry but I fail to see how. The Templar have my blood and have their machines that will send them my location anywhere I would go in this part of the continent and no one survived a trip throught the "Black Border" ( meaning the end of the map in all directions ). So they will find me or Aelar. I won't be surprised to see that they've got your blood there too , in order to be sure you shall return or they will return you to your post. " William said with a frown now on his face. A dark frown.

"I can try my theory , right now. If you really want to. I just need some blood from the both of us and two different bowls in which to store the blood. I think I can test it alone , if not...It will at least prove a part of my theory. That our blood is connected to each other. "

"Oh, I'm aware of that" Jamie said, with a shrug, "and I'm sure they do have my blood. But...there's always a way out of something. You just have to figure out what that is" That might sound overall niave and optomistic of her, but Jamie lived by the ideal that nothing was impossible. "And you just have to be willing to try. It doesn't matter if we fail. We're dead anyway. So we may as well try"

She set the second Ale down, calling the waitress, she asked for a couple of skins of wine, waiting until she had left before saying "Well, probably best to do that where there aren't so many watching eyes. Still, I don't know how our blood could be connected, but I'm open for anything" She pondered that for a moment or two. "william...have you actually ever seen these machines you mentioned?"

" I remember something from when I was really young. A Templar came and took everyone's blood and then put it in a vial of somekind. It turned from red to black almost in an instant. After that , nothing. I only remembered this because that head Templar said that the bombs they've injected us with are the same as the tracking devices. So , yeah. I think our blood is connected. I don't know much about enchantments as I've said before but I think it's a logical thing. How else wound the bomb work ? How can it detect when one of us dies or leaves ? You understand what I mean ? " William was looking at Jamie with determination in his eyes. He was ready to do anything there was to destroy the bombs.

Jamie listened to the explination, frowning slightly as he explained. "That makes sense..," she trailed off, thoughtful. Something he had said rang a bell, and she replayed the conversation, she looked back to William and said "You just said that the Templar said the bombs are the same as the tracking device...so figure out how to get rid of one, couldn't you figure out how to get rid of the other?"

" It seems the same but it's not. The bombs are inside our blood when the tracking device uses our blood to track us. It's not inside us. If it was then yes , your idea would work. " William said and then a thought hit him. " We are tracked right now , yes ? They know where we are all the time so if we are desertors to the Templar and Magi , they would send someone after us right ? Wait...that sounds bad. Do you think we are much time before they come to capture us ? " his face turned again into a frown.

Jamie pondered for a moment. She didn't know much about magic, that was for certain, but..."How close would you need to be, to deal with the tracking devices?" She suspected she wouldn't get the answer she wanted, yet...would it be possible to get into the citadel without being known?

"Of course they are going to send someone after us. Got to keep up pretenses, right? I'm surrpised we haven't been attacked yet" She gave a shrug, "We'll survive. We've got strong fighters, good skills. And a certain determination not to die quite yet"

"How close ? Well...I would need to be near them and they are not connected to each other probably so that would mean that I would have to have them all near me. It's not possible. Believe me. Those things are better protected than the Emperor himself probably.
I am surprised of that thing myself. They know our location so why not attack us on the road ? Why give us the chance to enter a city ?
Strong fighters and two Magi ? It won't be enough if they send a group of Holy Templar after us. Those guys don't...kid around.
I forgot to tell you guys something when we first met. I just realized. No one in the group knows what my powers are , right ? " William said with a smile on his face.

Jamie thought about the story Darius had told her. She thought about how unlikely it was that they would all be here, right now. "It is possible. There's always a way, and I'm going to figure it out" She would have time. She hoped. "Perhaps we weren't far enough away. Maybe they'll attack once we are out the city. Or maybe there's someone waiting to attack right now. It doesn't matter, we will just have to fight our way throught it

At the mention of the holy templars, Jamie gave a shrug, "There's always someone stronger and faster than you. So you just have to be smarter. The holy templars...they have their weaknesses just like everyone else.

Nope, don't think you told us what they were" She glanced up, and accepted the wine skins from the Waitress, paying her for them, and giving her a little bit extra, before rising "Come on, the others are probably waiting for us, we should head back. But you're gonna tell me what you can do" She flashed him a smile, slipping the wine skins into her pack, beside her water skins.

William smiled at Jamie and rose up from the table. " Well...I don't know if you know but we...Dark Humans can only learn Black Magic and Death Magic. I can cast a spell from both magic schools. I can suck the lifeforce out of someone with my touch. Something like what Aelar does with his healing power but instead of taking some myself , I take from someone else and give it to myself and...The second spell I can cast is something I only tried once because I was affraid it could get me killed. Anything can get you killed in the Citadel so I tried it once , it worked and never did it again. I can make a person sick. Something like a bubonic plague. I heard it hurts like hell but I don't know. I tried it on a rat and the poor thing started to scream and then he died. Very fast. I had to suck the life force of two plants to even cast that spell. I wander what would happen if I took more than that ? " said William with a curiosity in his eyes that could be clearly seen.

As William talked , Jamie simply nodded. " Well...anyway. Really thank you for showing me what normal people do in their free time. I owe you one. I hope you don't mind if I find my way back to the caravan. I've got something to think of and I would like to be alone. Thanks again. " as soon as William finished his sentence he left Jamie's side and went alone to the caravan.

( This happens before the last collab post :) )
@King Tai@Venku@Shadow Daedalus@dabombjk@Wick@Caits@Gareth

[MarshiestMallow]

Jamie and Darius

@Ashevelendar@venku@Shadow Daedalus@dabombjk@Wick@Gareth
Following the direction Elyra had run of with Razor, Jamie realised they were heading back to the caravan and the in. More than a little relieved that they would be staying the night, Jamie quickly sorted out a room to lock Karlos in, figuring he'd be out for a while, she nevertheless asked for food to be sorted for him later. She knew she would have to speak with the others about the fact she had taken him prisioner, but that would be for later. 

Her first intention was to buy some new clothes, considering she had ruined two shirts in as many days, and then find some public baths, bathe and then perhaps have Elyra check over her injuries. She paid for the rooms, frowning slightly over the cost, before she started out the inn, frowning slightly as she thought on where she could find a clothes store/stall. 

Darius thought on what he should do next. After traveling with Jamie to the inn and depositing Karlos in the inn, he realized he needed fresh clothes. It wasnt as if he made do with worse before, but he figured why not? It wasnt as if it mattered and they were stuck here for the night. He didnt have conventional money, at least not on him. And he doubted he could find his usual criminal money banker, the one who gave him his funds from his untraceable and private criminal bank account, at this time of the night. Darius decided on the old way, he would steal. 

Darius walked out of the inn, and looked around. He saw Jamie, and sighed mentally. Hopefully he would not have to deal with.......that kissing thing again tonight. It had been a long night.

Jamie had just seen a clothing place, that looked like it was nearly closing. She saw Darius, hesitated, but clothes were more important right then, or she'd be wearing her leathers all the time. So she merely flashed him a smile, and continued on her way, slipping in the door even as the owner went to shut it. 

He argued with her a moment, but Jamie flashed some coins, which seemed to satisfy him that she wasn't going to steal anything. Satisfied, Jamie glanced about at what was on display, not particularly caring what she had to have, she began to search for anything in her size. 

Darius moved fast, spotting a closed clothing store, and when he saw no one was looking he pulled out his lockpicks, picked the lock, and snuck. There he spent a few moments, picking out a few outfits and deciding on what to wear. He was only going to steal one outfit, possibly two. One to wear when he wasnt wearing his assassin outfit, and one to wear formally. You never know what you will need. Luckily the store also held a numerous other objects like a new bag. He found one that could hold his clothing apparels, and was easy to handle. 

He decided to wear a simple black long sleeve tunic, with dark brown leather pants and black. He bagged a more formal outfit, and his assassin outfit. 

Jamie tried to be quick, both for the owner and the fact that she disliked shopping. She quickly grabbed a few pairs of shirts, going for browns and greens, earning a strange glance from the owner. She rolled her eyes as she grabbed some pants, if the man could see that she was a fighter, then he was stupidier then he looked. She paid for the clothes, getting the owner down from what was obviously an extravagant price, and when she still wasn't satisfied, she made as if to be reaching for her blade. 

That got the price down further, and satisfied, Jamie darted out the store, starting towards where she had see a bath house, hearing the store door close and luck hurriedly behind her. 

A slightly ajar door on an otherwise closed store caught her attention, and she stopped, studying it a moment. 

Darius departed the store, with his new bag on his back and wearing his new outfit. He quickly exited, softly closing the door behind him and darted away into the night. He did not go very far though. Now that he had new clothes, he could use some relaxation. He spotted a bath house not far from where he was. Darius walked over to the bathhouse and entered it quietly. He was not sure how it went with bath houses, but it seemed as if they were open but not busy.

He slipped in and placed his gear off to the side. Seeing how he was alone, he stripped down and slowly climbed into the steaming water, almost groaning in enjoyment and relaxation.

Jamie continued on her way to the nearest bath house. Frowning over how much coin she had spent, she hesitated, but she needed a bath, and not a simple wash that the inn would provide. She thought for a moment about just...slipping by the workers. Watching them a moment, Jamie pondered that option. 

The thought of warm water, and cleanliness won out against her morals, and she slipped by the workers, heading towards the nearest room, she glanced back constantly, sure she had been seen despite her carefulness. She ended up facing the entrance, walking backwards. 

There didn't seem to be any commotion, or alarm, yet Jamie still walked backwards, ready to jump into whatever hiding spot she could. So it was that she ended up falling into the bath, dropping her new clothes in suprise, the bag landed on the side, and she did not, splashing into the water, she came up, stifling laughter. 

Darius opened his eyes at the splash, and realized someone else was here. he quixkly held his breath and dove underwater. He could hold his breath for quite a while, and decided he would decide on a course of action if the stranger left or not.

Jamie glanced about, to see if anyone had come at the sound of the splash, and to check if she was alone. She climbed out of the water, grabbing a towel, she dried her leathers as best she could, before carefully unwinding the various bandages, on her hands and arm, figuring she'd had to wait until she was back at the inn to rebandage them. 

From there, Jamie undressed, laying her leathers aside gently, and went to get back into the bath, intent on staying there until she was happily clean. 

Darius stayed there udnerwater for a good little while. He heard someone get out of the water, and when they did he re surfaced silently. He shook his head in disgust with himself. He was relaxed, and his senses were not utilized. He sighed silently and did nto think to question it. He worked hard and this mission.....it was taking its toll already. Darius layed against the edge of a bath, placing a hot towel over his eyes, and relaxed again.

Jamie stood still a moment, seeing Darius. She wondered, briefly, what the chances were of falling into the bath he had been in. Amused, and not particularly bothered by the fact she wasn't alone, she slipped back into the pool, considering her options. 

There was of course the obvious option....but she decided against that for now. She could just relax, but where was the fun in that? Allowing a moment, she simply let the water soothe her numerous injuries and bruises, before she spalshed water at Darius. If he was going to ignore her, she'd just simply make that too hard to do. 

Darius jerked suddenly when he was splashed, his towl falling from his face into the water and Darius pushed his hair out of his face. He spotted Jamie across the bath from him, int he water with the water right abover her chest level. Darius was already slightly red from the steam and water, but if he was actualy slightly blushing. Darius almost jumped out of the water, but he remembered he was naked.

"Jamie! Wha..the nerve! W..what are you doing here?"

Jamie managed to supress a laugh, although she was pleased she had managed to surprise him She glanced about at the question, as if looking for some sort of answer. "Why, I do believe it's called bathing. And considering I snuck in, I wasn't going to go out and ask for another bath when I saw you here" She said, unable to keep the amusement out her voice. 

Darius tried to back away, even though Jamie was far away, but his back was pressed against the edge of the bath.

"Be that as it may, I can not condone this...this ludicrous behavior! It is extremley innapropriate!"

Jamie watched him, more then a little amused right then. "What are you going to do about it?" She said, quite curious to hear the answer to that, before she gave a shrug

"Ludicrous? How is it ludicrous?" It wasn't like she had chosen the bath. She'd fallen into it. That seemed almost like he was merely stretching for something, like a buffer. Amused at that, Jamie thought a moment. 

He wanted her to be ludicrous? So be it. Jamie figured there'd never be such a chance again, and besides, she had to prove she was just as annoyance no matter if he took action. So she moved towards Darius, noting that he had already tried to move away, yet the edge of the tub was there. 

"Well?"

She mostly spoke to keep him distracted, before she closed the rest of the distance, planning to kiss him once more. 

Darius could see Jamie moving forward, his breathing starting to get heavy. His heart started to beat faster and he felt like he was frozen and moving at the same time. Darius again tried to move back but he could not, he was already at the edge.

"Jamie..no. Not again, I know what your thinking. Did you not already get enough of.....kissing earlier?"

Jamie gave an almost throaty chuckle, a little pleased at the reaction. She could have a little fun with that, but...she didn't truly wish to torment him. Much. "That's the thing with kissing, it leaves you wanting more" She smiled, and merely gave him a quick kiss

Darius did not shudder or pull away from Jamie as she kissed him, rather he felt the peck and found himself yearning. Jamie seemed to be right. Kissing seemed to....leave you wanting more.

Darius felt himself feeling..odd. He started having feelings in parts of his body he did not normally feel from. He was trained not to. And he could only barely contain himself from gazing upon Jamies entire body which is mostly covered by water. Darius leaned forward, letting his impulses control him, and kissed Jamie.

Jamie had been content merely...teasing Darius, having no intent on making him truly uncomfortable. Simply because that would make it harder to break through. Yet when Darius kissed her, she couldn't help but respond, returning the kiss, and  moving closer. 

Darius accepted Jamies kiss, and wrapped his arms around Jamies naked body. He had no idea what he was doing, and to be honest he had not tthought much on it. It was as if all his senses were being over loaded all at once. Darius did simply as he felt he was suppose to. But suddenly...he stopped. He pulled his lips away but held on to her.

"This is crazy. Jamie I.....I am "The Shadow". I have sworn to kill you. I dont....I dont understand how,,,why you could do this. Allow this. I have more blood on my hands than anyone, and....I mean....."

Jamie wasn't discouraged by him pulling away, especially not when he still held her. At his words, Jamie gave a shrug. "We could all die tomorrow, we will probably all die when we get back to the citadel. A death threat is nothing, compared to that. And maybe I just don't care about how much blood you have on your hands. 

Things don't have to make sense"

She shook her head, and then she simply threw all caution away, and kissed him again, this time it wasn't a simple peck. 

Darius had enough fighting whatever it was he had been fighting. He did not know what was going to become of this, but he did not care. Darius held on to Jamie tightly and kissed her back. For a good amount of time, they stayed in the water, moving around in the water partaking in the sins of the flesh. For how long, they couldnt say. All Darius knew was this was something new to him, and it was more pleasurable than anything he had experienced.

After time had passed and their acts of passions ceased, Darius had both arms against the edge of the pool, him catching his breath as he laid against the edge.

Jamie could truly say she hadn't expected such a response, but that she wasn't going to argue about it,  not when it felt so good. She floated for a moment, more then content, before sighing. For the moment, Jamie didn't seem to know what to do, or say. She stood and stretched, savouring the feel of loose muscles. 

They couldn't stay there forever,not when she had a prisoner to check up on, and what if there had been another attack? Still, she was very reluctant to leave the warm water. 

She glanced over at Darius, to see how he was. 

Darius opened his eyes and looked at Jamie.

"Well...that was something new. Not unpleasent. But unexpected. Was that your plan? Like the end goal, with all the kissing and the prodding?"

Jamie smiled, amused at the question, "Well, part of it, sure" She said, deciding to let him think on that himself, "But not all.". She gave a laugh, starting to climb out the bath. She figured her answers would confuse him, but that was alright. 

Darius watched Jamie, and her beautiful figure no less, as she emerged from the the bath. Darius sighed and did the same. He quickly walked over to his things, dried himself off from a towel he stole, and got dressed. As he did he spoke.

"I trust that you will keep our...um..actions under complete discretion. I just believe it would be better that keep this..to ourselves while we are on mission. I am used to no one knowing anything regarding me."

Jamie dressed in her new clothes, unsurprised by the request. "Sure. I don't mind doing that" It seemed she was piling up secrets that were Darius related, and that pleased her. His name, the story he'd told her, and now this. 

She gathered up the rest of her things, "Now we have to sneak out"

Darius smiled slightyl. He was fully clothed and had all of his gear on.

"Sneaking.....thats my specialty."

Darius walked backwards, into the rising steam from the bath house and shadows in its corners and seemingly dissapeared from view. An old trick he learned. Doing so allowed Darius to leave the bath house virtually undetected.

Jamie watched Darius disappear, shaking her head, and glanced out the door. For a moment, she tried to see how he had done it, but gave up. Instead, she listened to the sounds outside the corridor, holding her breath, she took a chance when she heard footsteps disappearing, presumable to another room, and darted out. 

She didn't stop to look and see if she had been busted, instead she continued on out, and into the night, glancing about only when she had gone a few stores away. 

Darius made it back first to the Inn, settling inside Jamies room for a moment. He looked around, making sure there were no traps hidden. A paranoid assassin tactic. Then when he was sure the room was clear, he left his bags by Jamies bed and went up to the roof. He laid there, watching the stars.

Jamie got a little lost finding her way back, but soon reached the inn. She talked with the inn keeper for a moment, asking if food had been organised for Karlos, and getting an affermative, she left the common room, entering her room, she didn't expect to see Darius's  gear there. Curious about that, she plopped her own gear on the bed, and since she was clean, she started to clean her gear, makng sure to get all the blood on her sword, and the knife Darius had given her, the ritual one she had done several times before. 

[Shadow Daedalus]

James Blackwall

As James ripped his blade out of the final mercenary, he took a second to look back across the blood-soaked graveyard. Bodies were dotted between the headstones, littered with a multitude of slashes, stabs and even a few electrical burns. He thought back to a few minutes ago.

As Elyra and Razer retreated to the caravan with the others covering them, James had remained behind. Dealing with the last three mercenaries was child's play, but he wanted to make sure that no more enemies were still standing. As such, he stood alone, surrounded by death. The silence didn't last long as another, smaller group of mercenaries soon arrived and James met them blade on blade, alone.

He pulled himself from his thoughts as he looked down at himself. Blood was splattered across his clothes and coated his swords, even as the magic flames danced and coiled, and he could even feel it on his face. He deactivated the magic mechanism to look at the blades before he let them fall to his sides with a hollow laugh. 'So much for being a good person, eh Elyra?'. Roughly pulling off a rag from the torn clothing of one of the cleaner corpses, he wiped the blood from his weapons and re-sheathed them. Wiping what blood he could from his body, he tossed the rag down and began to walk back in the direction of the Inn.

When he arrived, he didn't see any of the others. Regardless, he paid for his room and removed his weapons, tossing them onto the bed along with his singular arm plates before he noticed that he didn't have his supplies. He slipped off his blood-stained coat before glaring at the small blood stains on his trousers, but nonetheless stepped out of his room and clicked the door shut behind him. Guessing Elyra probably picked them up for him, he got her room from the Innkeeper and tapped the back of his knuckles against her door as he waited for an answer.

"Elyra? It's James. Have you got my supplies?"

@Ashevelendar@Gareth@Venku@Wick@Caits@dabombjk

[Ashevelendar]

Gun'Tar was staying with the caravan the whole time the others did whatever they wanted to do. He was not here to shop or talk with the others. He was here to do a job for the Empire , to do what had to be done. Gun'Tar was not yet sure why did the accursed Magi where paired up with him but he knew for certain that he will be the one that will deal the final blow to any of them when the time came. Even if it meant to kill himself.
As he was waiting for the next day to come , a shady man approached him. Something was familiar about him but he couldn't figure out what made him so familiar. The shady man had his face obscured by his cloak when he started to talk. His voice was as if he was not used to talking , as if he didn't talk in a long time.

"Greeting Templar. Ask not who I am but know that I am bringing you a message. " Leave tonight if you wish to survive. Leave tonight if you want to continue in your lie. Leave tonight for the Hunter is here. Leave tonight or perish at the hand of Fate. ". said the shady man.

Gun'Tar started to laugh when he heard the man talk. In his mind he was just a madman and what he told him. The shady man simply nodded and with a move of his hand Gun'Tar was shown a vision of all his companions dead at the hand of a strange creature, all his companions including him. Gun'tar raised his weapons as soon as the vision ended to strike the Mage but he was no longer there. He quickly ran towards the others and met another Gargantu and a Templar as soon as he left the caravan site. The Gargantu was clearly a Magi , one that he knew. He saw him a lot of time when he was still young , trapped inside his cage for eternity.
" Hello dear , Templar. I don't think we've met. Gun'Tar. I guess you are here for the mission ? That or you want to kill this...cursed thing , away from the Citadel ? " said Gun'Tar his face betrayed nothing of what happened before.

---

The shady man appears in front of the other characters at the same time , tells them the same thing he said to Gun'Tar and whatever they tell him, he shall show them a vision in which they are killed by a strange creature then disappears as if he was never there.

William was in front of a bowl with his own blood and the blood of Jamie in another bowl. He got the blood from her wounded rags , what little he could find and was testing his theory. As soon as William concentrated and removed the life force from his own blood , Jamie's blood started to vibrate. When he stopped the vibration stopped too. William yelled as load as he could " YES ! It works ! " he then realized that his room in the inn was not as sound-proof as he thought when a scream from a nearby room told him to stop yelling. He was about to leave the room when the shady man appeared out of nowhere , told him the message and showed him the vision. When he got "back" the man was nowhere to be seen. He quickly found Aelar's room and knocked at the door politely.

@King Tai I'm sorry I didn't saw your last post here in IC :( Lost it probably...
@Venku@Shadow Daedalus@dabombjk@Wick@Caits@Gareth

[Wick]

James and Elyra

collaboration with @shadow Daedalus

Elyra heard James' voice and she ran to the door and flung it open. She looked at him covered in blood and pulled him inside. She reached up and kissed him and asked him, "Are you hurt? Is this all other people's blood?"

"Most of it, at least." He pulled off his leather glove and gently placed his hand against her cheek. "I'm fine, don't worry. A few scrapes here and there aren't enough to do any real damage." He smiled, giving her a quick hug. Before he could say anymore, a shadow in the corner of the room seemed to warp into a cloaked figure as time seemed to slow.

"Leave tonight if you wish to survive. Leave tonight if you want to continue in your lie. Leave tonight for the Hunter is here. Leave tonight or perish at the hand of Fate." James held Elyra a little tighter as he was about to growl at the figure, but with a wave of their hand his vision faded to darkness. Everything was blurred and grey as he looked around to see that he was no longer in the Inn. Instead he had to helplessly watch as the members of his group were slaughtered by some kind of nightmarish... creature, one by one until it finally pounced on him. Through his dying eyes, he watched as it faded away, as if a ghost or illusion, until he finally gave into the darkness.

James's eyes snapped open, quickly searching the Inn room but seeing no sign of the figure. He looked down at the elven woman in his arms and gently squeezed her as he kissed the crown of her head.

Elyra had moved into James' arms and then the vision started and by the end of it she was wiping tears from her eyes.

"James? Did you see it too? Obviously it is some kind of illusion. Why would someone send that to us? Do you think it's really a prediction of the future if we don't leave tonight or is it someone messing with us to get us away from the caravan?" She had too many questions running around in her mind.

"What happens if we leave and it's a trap?"

James was silent for a moment as he calmed the rampant emotions in his own head before he spoke. His voice was worried, but hard.
"Then we'll fight, and we'll win." Wiping any stray tears from her eyes, he quickly checked her over to make sure none of the blood on him got onto her. The action sparked a reminder for why he had originally came to see her. "Ah, my gear? I need to get these washed and I can't wander around in my underwear..."

Elyra smiled and grabbed his bag. "I brought them up I figured we would be staying together. I hoped that was okay." She sighed and started gathering her things and packing them back into her bags. It only took a minute and she looked at him. "Go ahead, the bath is part of the room charge." She pointed to the private bathroom.

"I would have liked to room together, I just wasn't sure about... you know... customs and such..." He looked away, uncharacteristically shy. "I'll keep that in mind, if there's ever a next time." He stepped into the bathroom after pulling the towel out of his bag before he removed his clothes and quickly washed himself of the last remaining blood, before quickly setting to work removing the stains from his clothes. Once he was satisfied he had gotten as much as he could out of the clothing, he rang them out and quickly changed into a new set. Stuffing the mostly dry clothes into his bag, he grabbed his coat and weapons from his room and did the same to his coat before using his gauntlet to pass a small charge though his coat, evaporating the last of the water. Pulling his now dry coat and scarf over his shoulders, he grabbed his bag and walked over to Elyra. "We should collect the others, or warn them if they don't already know."

She nodded and grabbed the travois and cleared all of the supplies onto it and double checked the room. Her next stop was only a couple of doors down to Maren's room. She was amused to find Maren and Aelar laughing over a game of cards. Elyra looked at Maren oddly. "Did you not get the warning vison too?" Maren nodded "Yes we did but we hadn't unpacked anything so we just played cards til you came to get us." Elyra figured she would never understand her cousin fully. She looked at her and smiled half heartedly. Maren put her stuff on the travois and she grabbed one side of it and helped Elyra pull it til they got out to the horse. They got the horse ready and hooked the travois and supplies to it and they waited for the others.

@Ashevelendar@dabombjk@caits@venku@gareth@king tai

[dabombjk]

Darius and Jamie

Darius jumped to his feet, as he could sense a presence on the roof with him. Instinctevely he armed himself, drawing his daggers and readying himself for battle. The being that appeared before him was a shady fellow, wearing a hood that covered his face. Darius knew that most people who wore hoods and who could sneak like this person did were people who meant buisness.

"Greetings Assassin. Ask not who I am but know that I am bringing you a message. " Leave tonight if you wish to survive. Leave tonight if you want to continue in your lie. Leave tonight for the Hunter is here. Leave tonight or perish at the hand of Fate." said the shady man.

Darius looked questioningly at the hooded man but did not say a word. He did sheathe his weapons as he theorized that this messanger was not a threat to him at the moment. The hooded man raised his hand and waved, and instantly Darius's mind was hit with a mental form of magic. Darius resisted it at first, staggering him, but eventually his mind was overcome with visions of everyone dying. Including himself. After a moment Darius recovered and swiftly brought out his bow and notched an arrow at the stranger, only to see he dissapeared. Darius sheathed his bow and arrow, and calmly thought to himself. It was rare to to see ones own death, and even rarer to have concrete proof there was something that could kill him. He was conflicted at this. Part of what made him a good assassin was he had no fear of death,a dn he had come close to deaths doors before. Dying, he had no problem with. Honestly he welcomed the vacation. But he hated the idea of someone being able to say they killed "The Shadow".

Jamie glanced up as something or someone appeared in the room. She held the knife, ready to throw it, but she figured that someone that could just appear like that wouldn't be hit by throwing a knife. She waited to see if the being spoke, or did anything, quite ready to defend herself if need be.

"Greeting Templar. Ask not who I am but know that I am bringing you a message. " Leave tonight if you wish to survive. Leave tonight if you want to continue in your lie. Leave tonight for the Hunter is here. Leave tonight or perish at the hand of Fate. ". said the shady man.

Jamie frowned slightly, starting to rise, but then the shadow man did something, and she flinched back at the vision. She wasn't afraid of the vision, yet the images were shocking, and she flinged the knife she still held. The thunk of it embedding into the wood told her the figure was gone. Sitting where she was a moment, she considered what had been said. It sounded like a threat. The only question was....was it a threat to go, or a threat to stay?

Frowning, she rose, and retrieved the knife from the door, once more slipping it into the sheath, beginning to gather up her gear. It seemed that either way, they'd be moving out tonight.

Darius snuck back into the inn, through Jamies window. He silently opened it and leaped through it. He saw Jamie retrieving the knife from the door, and leaned against the windowsil.

"Next time you throw your knife, make sure to twist your wrist as you let go. It adds more velocity to the knife so it penetrates deeper."

Jamie glanced over, and gave a sigh this. "I figured the hooded being would just disappear as easily as they appeared, and I didn't want to have to tear the door down to get the knife back" She said, shouldering her pack, checking her quiver, then slinging that and her bow over her other shoulder, "I'd assume the hooded being appeared to everyone, or why offer such a warning?"

Darius closed his eyes.

"So you met it too? Tell me something.....did it..show you anything?"

Darius needed to know if she saw how he died too, it wasnt something he relished others knowing. His death, he wanted it to happen his way. What he saw was horrible.

"You mean all of us dying? Yeah" Jamie said, glancing about to make sure she wasn't forgetting anything. "Probably just a trick, but we can ask William or Aelar about it. They might know more about such things"

She gave a shrug, looking over to Darius "It seems strange. Why warn us? Who were they? I don't suppose it matters now."

"The only reason I would warn someone of their impending death is if I needed that person for something, and their death would go against my plan. I can only assume that is what is happening here. With the hooded man.

Darius opened his eyes, walked over, and grabbed his two bags. He slung one around like a backpack and another around his shoulders.

"I swear this contract is becoming more of a nuisance every second."

Jamie thought on that a moment. She doubted it would be the citadel. But then, who else would want them alive long enough to succeed? There seemed to be no point thinking about it.

She laughed "because being injected with a bomb wasn't annoying enough?"

"Please, your still upset about that? Anyways, Ill grab our pow and we can head out with everyone else."

Darius gave Jamies shoulder a quick squeeze then walked over and slung their pow across his shoulder.

Jamie nodded, grabbing Karlos's gear, she opened the door, glancing out to make sure there was nothing dangerous out there waiting to attack them, leaving the door open for Darius.

@caits@wick@venku@ashevelendar@shadow daedalus@gareth@king tai

[BlackPanther]

Salem and Malcolm

---

Salem silently exercises in his dark cell. Green eyes easily piercing the darkness...not that it improved conditions any. Then the door opened. Acting mute, he tilted his head down as an act of submission. Nothing was said as they quickly muzzled and chained him. He felt himself being dragged somewhere and heard the breathing of another person being dragged next to him. Soon they were injected with the explosive substance after receiving a speech...which he barely paid attention to. He looked over to see a man with curly hair and bright green eyes. They were then cast into the world to find the group.

---

Salem now had clothes that looked more like thief or assassin clothing then anything else. He could almost blend in if it wasn't for his tail and eyes...along with lack of shoes and his paw like hands. He looked at Malcolm who was wearing more simple clothing. He sighed. "Malcolm...we have been walking for ages is it not time for a break."

Malcolm looked at Salem and shook his head. "No...we need to find the rest. Besides I believe we are approaching something" the something in question was the caravan. However, before they could get any closer they were both visted by the shadowy figure. Salem hissed but before either could act, they each witnessed the vision on their own. When it ended the two magi looked at each other. Salem's tail frizzed from witnessing the vision and Malcolm seemed eerily calm considering. "Thoughts on what that meant?" Salem shook his head.

They got closer and Salem moved into a hiding spot. On this journey the two had become close finding strength in allowing Malcolm to speak to people while Salem hid in case of a trap or attack. Malcolm approached and simply waited to be noticed. His hands clasped in front of him. He seemed very non threatening.

---

(Salem's attire looks a bit like so:

Hider

Though he's all black so no spots.

[King Tai]

@Ashevelendar

Romarod waited with Thainar after gaining a new garment for his travels and mission he'd join with the others. Taking in the surrounding as a sort of free man, he quietly soaked in the air until he noticed someone approaching them. But first, for a moment, Romarod saw a vision that included himself along with others he must've realized, is part of his team. it was gruesome seeing the death that was happening as he lifted his hands up being it felt too real. When the vision disappeared, he blinked a couple times before noticing the individual he saw coming forth. Gray skin, just like his own....ugly as hell...just like himself when he saw his reflection in the water. Tall just like himself. Another Gargantu!

When the gargantu came over to speak, he addressed Thainar but didn't really greet Romarod but sounded like he already knew he's a Magi wondering if Romarod was brought out of Citadel to be killed. Romarod didn't really pay mind to this other one's words but scanned and studied him for a moment, looking over at Thainar and finally speaking up Hi...I'm Romarod.... he said calmly to his fellow gargantu.

(Sorry for the short post but don't really know what else to post at this time.)

[Gareth]

@Ashevelendar@Venku@Wick@Shadow Daedalus@dabombjk@King Tai@Black Panther@Caits

Razer hadn't even known who had rescued him, until Elyra spoke about them. He kept his surprise hidden at learning at how many people and exactly who had saved his life.
"I have no idea when they'll be back, it could be hours, it could be mid day tomorrow. It all depends how the fighting goes down. If they are winning or losing."
As Elyra left him Razor went his own way. There was one big thing on his mind. His stuff. It must still be at the enemy base! Thank god it was still nighttime, as he went on all fours and ran like a wild beast through the Streets of Milas. He kept to the shadows as much as possible. He didn't want to scare any civilians that might for whatever godforsaken reason, might still be up at this late hour. The wind was cold on his fur, but he paid it no mind. It didn't take him all that long to reach their base as he remembered the route that he had the 'Priviliging of enjoying from his tied up "Throne". He felt a pang of anger in his mind as he remembered how he was treated here. He then stood up and abruptly kicked the wooden door off its hinges. It fell to the ground with a loud slam. He looked inside to see if anybody was there and noticed there was no one in the whole base. It seemed as if everyone of that disgusting group had left here for the graveyard. All well and good, the faster im out of here the better. Less than a minute later he had all his possessions in strapped to him, like normal and made his departure. He risked a look at the graveyard having seen nothing since he fled the place afraid to lose his life. Wow, from the couple of glances that he spared that way, he saw piles of bodies. All of the dead were mercenaries, he knew this because he was very good at noticing things with only a glance, it might even be his best skill. He also noticed a small girl in the middle of the graveyard kneeling next to the corpse of one of the dead mercenaries. She was crying, Razer could tell she was indeed very, very sad and he guessed that the mercenary was her father. He hated himself as he left the scene behind and continued on his way back to the hotel. Too much insane stuff has happened this night, and i'm not stupid enough to go and give myself more problems to worry about.He tried to convince himself that it was ok that he left that girl alone in the middle of a graveyard filled with dead bodies crying away. He also felt kind of ashamed as the whole situation he felt was at least partly his fault. Had I paid attention, back there in that alley, that son of a bitch would never have gotten the drop on me and the whole graveyard thing would have never happened. It's too bad I don't even remember what the dude's face looked like.
He shook his head as he tried to clear his mind for sleep as he reached the hotel's front door and started to pull it open.
"Greeting Templar. Ask not who I am but know that I am bringing you a message. " Leave tonight if you wish to survive. Leave tonight if you want to continue in your life. Leave tonight for the Hunter is here. Leave tonight or perish at the hand of Fate. ". said the shady man.
Razor growled louder than he had ever growled before as his feline ears turned slightly backwards and he grabbed his quarterstaff in both arms and was about to use it as a giant hammer to smash this foolish idiot of a man for being the last straw in what was already a super shitty night.
But before the man could be struck down he waved his hand and Razor dropped his weapon as a vision appeared in his mind and blocked him from seeing anything else. I'm dead! And so his everyone else! What kind of trick is this?! I was standing in front of a hotel a minute ago! And what is that strange creature?! When the vision cleared he picked his quarterstaff and his angry eyes scanned his surroundings for the man who was going to get the beatdown of his life. Yet the man was, gone, poof, seemingly never were there. Never was there. Some weird thing happened just now, I saw something randomly, I thought I saw a man and me and everyone of the group dead. I refuse to believe in whatever the hell that death scene could mean though. Last time I thought bad shit was going to happen-I MADE IT HAPPEN TO MYSELF! I will NOT allow that to happen again this time. He nodded as he continued past the Hotel's door and to his room. I'm going to forget that thing with that strange man ever happened. forget it and move on. With that he drifted into a deep sleep.
_________________________________________________________________
Karlos didn't really remember much before he was knocked out and brought to his 'room' in the hotel. Although as much as it seemed nicer than a typical prison cell, it was still basically the same thing. He couldn't leave the place when he wanted to. He couldn't leave the room when he wanted to. He had his food given to him, whenever someone thought enough about him to prevent his starvation. He had learned from the person who was giving him his food directly by handing it to him, that it was Jamie who ensured that he was fed regularly. It made him smile, a tough fighter with a good heart, those two things didn't go together very often. He hoped drake was alright, but if he carlos was captured then there was a very good chance that the Tiger was rescued and drake had been killed. He shook his head sadly as he remembered all the good times they had together. They used to hunt rabbits together as boys and run through the woods laughing as they chased each other for hours, playing a long game of tag or hide and seek. They were both Drake's personal favourites. They were both referred to as "Those little troublesome munchkins," By everyone in their small hometown. He continued to reminisce about all the good times they had together, until at last he fell a sleep on the floor of the room. Snoring loudly.

[Ashevelendar]

Gun'Tar , Malcom , Salem and Razer

Collab with @Gareth and @BlackPanther

Gun'Tar looked with distain at the other Gargantu. " Mage. Call me Gun'Tar if you really , really have too. I guess you are our reinforcements ? Damn. Why did they have to send another mage ? Oh' and I know who you are mage. I was there when they caged you , I was the one that threw you in that cage after all. Should've killed you back them. It would've been mercy for you. Not that you deserve any. " said Gun'Tar with his usual distanfull voice.

As soon as he finished his "speech" another Magi came. Gun'Tar shook his head again and stomped the ground with his foot. " Please tell me I don't recognize you and you are not another mage. Please. " said Gun'Tar in the same voice as usually.

Malcolm chuckled and tilted his head. His attire was more oddly formal and a stark contrast to Salem. A vest was over a crisp white shirt with pants tucked into expensive looking boots. He spread his arms and shrugged. "I may or may not be a Mage." he then did a hand signal which alerted Salem to step out of hiding. Salem stood beside Malcolm and gave a green eyed glare from under his hood. Black tail flicking back and forth. "And my companion may or may not be a Mage" Salem's eyes could not roll any harder.

Gun'Tar hit the ground with a loud *bang*. " Cease with that Magi. I don't care that we are tied to each other with those bombs. I'll remove both of your heads. " Gun'Tar sneered. " We have to go to the inn the others stay. I've...got a bad feeling about this. We need to leave Milas tonight. " his voice was the same.

Malcolm seemed unaffected by the threat. His arms crossed and he looked at Salem. "He seems touchy no?" Salem sighed. "Malcolm I swear if you get us killed I will make sure to kill you again in whatever after life we end up in" Malcolm grinned. He then focused back on Gun'Tar. "I take it you witnessed the hooded individual and then the vision as well?" Salem seemed curious. "Will the rest of the group be leaving as well?" silly question but considering neither have really experienced much other then a dark cell....can't blame them for silly questions.

Gun'Tar quickly approached Malcom. His towering body was high above Malcom's head and he looked down at the tiny man. " I should've killed you when I had the chance. We may be tied together human, right now. But remember. When this all ends , I'll be the one that will be the one that shall breathe. So...how you humans , say it ? Let's see who shall have the last laugh. " Gun'Tar stopped talking when he heard that Malcom and Salem got the vision too.
" You guys had the vision too ? Damn. Someone is messing up with us all right. That's magic I haven't seen in awhile. " he stomped the ground again harder this time and looked at Salem. " The others shall come soon. Something tells me that they received that vision too. Which means they'll come here if they know what's good for them. "

Malcolm looked up at the towering being. "And yet you didn't. I think it's not me you hate but rather the circumstances you were in" he shook his head causing blonde curls to fall in somehow still a rather okay fashion. "I plan on living for the first time in my life. So even if it ends after this...I can say I lived" he grinned. "So feel free to laugh."
He nodded when Gun'Tar spoke about the vision. Salem had remained quite but also nodded in acknowledgement for the answer given. "Leaving does seem best. I'd rather not get my head blown off"

Gun'Tar smirked. " A Magi with a mouth. That's exactly what we needed. You shall get along well with the other Magi. Maybe you can come up with fantasy stories about how your blood is the key to the power of the Amulet and all that. " said Gun'Tar sarcastically.

Malcolm grinned. "I try" Salem then spoke up. "I take from that tone that that was actually a thing." the two looked at each other. "Where on earth did that guess even come from" he shook his head again and Salem shrugged. They both clearly did not agree with it at all.

Gun'Tar was about to hit Malcolm when Salem spoke up. " Yeah it was a thing. Our...geniuses thought that because some of them are from rich families they are linked to each other. Bullshit. Big , fucking bullshit. " said Gun'Tar his voice colder than his usual voice.

*Meanwhile*

William left the others and went to Razer's room. They were leaving and couldn't leave his behind. He knocked on his door and waited for him to answer.

Razor rolled around on his bed, catching up on some well deserved z's when he heard someone knocking. He growled slightly as his rest was abruptly cut short and he got up and answered the door. He took a deep breath and calmed himself as he put his paw on the doorknob and opened it slowly. Spotting that it was William who woke up him at this late hour, he asked. "What's going on William? I don't know if you knew but I was sleeping..."

William looked at the floor feeling uncomfortable. " I...I'm sorry. We need to go. " said William with half-voice then he took a deep breath and continued his voice returning to normal. " We need to go. The others already packed up and it's time to leave Milas. The caravan is waiting for us to leave. Gun'Tar is already there...I'm sorry again for disturbing you. " he added a smile at the end.

Razor eyes widened when he learned that the Caravan was intending on leaving tonight. But, me and Elyra and talked to the Caravan guy earlier and it seemed he wasn't leaving until the following day... Razor was slightly confused by William and then shook his head. Screw it, I don't know a reason why William would make that, it seems too ridiculous to be a lie. "Alright william, lets go."

" I'm sorry it's all of a sudden. Everyone saw a shady man that showed us a vision about us getting killed if we stay here any longer. The caravan guy will probably change his mind when he sees us. Something tells me that he was paid to take us there.
Did you get that vision too ? " William was curious about the implications of vision. Why did everyone received them ? How that...man appeared and then vanished just like that ?

Gareth eyes narrowed in skepticism as apparently william had seen the same thing that Razor had saw. But he, Razor had already decided to forget that all and it was slightly unnerving that it was being brought up again. He spoke in a no-nonsense tone with his eyes steadily gazing into William's "Look, I know it was a scary thing whatever that thing was that we 'saw.' Personally I don't believe any of it, that the 'shady guy showed us. Do not try to convince me otherwise, I've had a really shitty night tonight and that whole fiasco with the shady guy's tricks is not something I appreciate talking about right now..."

He thought about what he said and he changed his tone slightly as he continued, "William I'm sorry if I came across as an insensitive jerk right now. But I've got so much stuff on my mind right now that I can't worry about whatever the hell that shady character showed us. Believe what you want about it, its your choice." He heard about William's concern about the Caravan driver and Razor growled, "That Caravan driver better not change his mind and ditch us here in Milas. Otherwise I'll ring his neck."

William laughed. It was the first time he did so in some time. " I'm sorry for laughing. It's funny that you don't know anything about magic but you still decide to ignore what was clearly a very high level spell. If you can tell me someone that can cast a spell of that level...without being dead...well , I'll believe you. Think about it. We , Magi are not allowed to study high level spells. How did that...guy , learned that spell ? If he knows that kind of spells then he is not to be ignored. " said William with a high voice. He was angry that someone would consider magic to be...ignorable.

Razor growled slightly as William laughed and then apologized for laughing. "I've already told you not to try to convince me that, that guy's trick was anything more than a trick." He shook his head adamantly when William continued to go on about it being a high level spell. "I also said believe what you want. Which obviously you are doing but you aren't getting the clue here, I'm not going to believe that it was some spell. That what happened there was some, what a vision of the future? Not a chance!"

Razor went to walk past William, as he was done with his conversation.

William put a hand on his shoulder and muttered something under his breath. He started to drain some of his lifeforce. He quickly removed his hand and dodged back in preparation of the blow that will probably come. " Really sorry about that but you have to understand magic if we are to survive in this Wasteland. This Wasteland is the birth-place of magic.
That spell ? It showed a possible future not the actual future. Ok ? Really sorry for that again. " said William looking more energetic than before (because of the extra lifeforce in him)

Razor felt a hand on his shoulder and he felt a weird sensation that wasn't really pain per say and it made his eyes widen to seem the size of dinner plates, in shock. He turned back to William as his eyes narrowed. He kinda wanted to strike William, but then again he didn't know what exactly William had done so he let it go. His eyes slowly returned to their normal size as he listened to William. "It's fine. And ok, since you are very serious about this, I have no choice but to actually start to believe in what you are saying, that it was real, that what that guy did was magic." He nodded slowly as William continued, "Ok, a possible future, so we can avoid it then. The question is how do we do that?" He asked William curiously.

William smiled that he was understood. " First of all. I used a spell you , in case you are wondering what I did to you. I sucked out your lifeforce. Only for a few seconds, any longer and...I don't know. Never tried to keep it longer than a few seconds but I guess it hurts bad.
Second of all. Well...I don't really know but the guy said we need to leave and that if we don't do it. That vision will happen. So , guess what ? We need to leave. No one wants to take the risk of fighting something that already killed us once. Right ? "

Razor again had the temptation to strike William as he explained that he had sucked Razor's lifeforce. His claws came out of his one paw before William explained that he had only sucked out a few seconds of his life apparently. Razor was only too happy to leave this place and if it meant saving his life he wanted to be on the road already! "Let's go then! what are we waiting for?" He grabbed William's hand and started to pull him towards the Caravan.

William lets himself get pulled towards the caravan.

@Wick@caits@dabombjk@venku@shadow daedalus@gareth@king tai

[King Tai]

@Ashevelendar@Gareth@BlackPanther@dabombjk@Wick@Caits

Romarod listen to the rant and unpleasant words coming from Gun'Tar. He didn't remember doing a damn thing wrong to his fellow Gargantu but knowing that he was the one to put his own kind away, a bit of bitterness brewed inside of him but on the outside, he kept his composure. Should have killed him? A part of Romarod sort of wished he'd try to kill him now to give him a reason to fight back even though his head would probably blow off. Quiet but showing a seriousness in the younger gargantu's eyes, he wanted to shut this one up. He wasn't small like others so...he had the confidence to be a match to him.

I don't care what you think of me, old one...but we are stuck together whether you like it or not and as much as I don't want to try and control myself....you'd better not try and attack me...I'm just as strong as you are...but I'm going to act like you didn't say what you just said. He said in a calm voice but with a hint of warning. You sound more scared of us than anything. But on to other things...I had that vision as well. he said to his fellow gargantu and looked over to malcolm and Salem. he noticed his fellow magi, giving them a nod as well.

[MarshiestMallow]

Jamie

Jamie led the way out of the inn, stopping and conversing with the inn keeper a moment, who disappeared for a few moments, and came back with a parcel of food. Jamie smiled, and paid the inn keeper for it, her supply of coins dwindling, yet she figured she probably wouldn't have much chance to spend them anymore. She glanced about, but it looked like everyone else was already heading to te caravan. Thanking the inn keeper, she whispered something to them, before leading the way out once more. She glanced back at Darius, yet Karlos didn't seem to have awoken yet.

She had to wonder if he knew that his friend was dead. He didn't seem stupid, so if he had woken then it seemed reasonable that he had figured that out. Givinga soft sigh, she slipped out the inn. She grimaced as she realised she hadn't sought out Elyra yet to have her wounds checked out once more, and they were still unbandaged from the both house. She glanced down at her hands, flexing the fingers, but to her the wounds there seemed better. Although she was still worried about her right hand. She took the sign that there was pain in both hands as a good sign. Nerve damage she doubted there would be any pain.

The slash along her arm hurt, and Elyra hadn't had a chance to look at that yet, but she figured it was all okay. It had certainly had a good wash, in any case. She smiled as she walked, enjoying the loose, limber feel of her muscles. Nothing hurt there. Amazing, what such activities can do for you. When she reached the caravan, she shifted the paracel of food, slipped it into her backpack, only intending to share it with the group. She didn't particularly trust the caravan people.

"Hey guys" She said to all who were there, cheerful, approaching Elyra. "Will you check my injuries? The bath I had probably washed away the stuff you used on my hands, and my arm probably needs to be checked" She glanced back, before saying as if she had forgotten, "I took a prisoner. Karlos seems okay. He didn't attack after he surrendeered, and I promised we'd protect him from this "Trinity". The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?" She smiled and shrugged, "He uses steel arrows, which bloody hurt" She showed Elyra her arm, the shocking gash there.
@King Tai@Ashevelendar@Gareth@BlackPanther@dabombjk@Wick@Shadow Daedalus@venku

[Wick]

Darius, Jamie, Elyra and Maren

collab w/@caits and @dabombjk

Darius set Karlos down next to him, rather suddenly. He had Karlos slung over his shoulder, then suddenly dropped him to the ground. Karlos grunted when he hit the ground, and Darius was unsure if he was conscious or not. Darius slightly kicked him in the stomach, just to see his reaction. Karlos grunted again. Darius looked at Jamie, a slightly sparkle in his eye when he did. His muscles were still slightly sore, first because of all the activity retrieving their kidnapped comrade, then......well his....activity with Jamie. That....that was a workout. But it was enjoyable.

Darius looked himself over again. He had no major wounds, and he could barely find a scratch on him. He needed no medical attention.

Elyra looked at Jamie's arm and her other minor wounds. She grabbed one of her bags and rummaged through it looking for her salve for her hand and another for her arm to put on over the stitches. "Thank you back at the cemetery by the way. I'm glad it wasn't just me and James there. I saw you and Shadow there too." Elyra looked up at her oddly while working on her wounds. "A prisoner? What are we going to do with a prisoner?"

Jamie calmly took the medical treatments, humming in thought, before shrugging "There's something to be said for turning an enemy into a friend, don't you think?" She smiled brightly, "As for what to do with him, feed him, protect him, be nice to him? I'm not going to kill someone that surrendered to me, and that has information we could use. I'll make sure he doesn't get into trouble"

Darius scoffed, and turned his head. He looked down at Karlos.

"If he does make any wrong moves, I will kill him myself. I still do not believe bringing him along is the best idea, dead weight and all, but Jamie is.....persistent.

Darius looked up, and at Elyra.

"Are you injured from any of the fighting?"

She sighed at the comment. "No, not injured. Just tired and disappointed. I was looking forwards to sleeping on a bed tonight. Thanks to that vision it might be a long time before we see a bed again." She moved and her back stung. "Oh, ouch....ok maybe a little injured. I forgot about my back." She looked at Jamie who was now wrapped up with bandages and she looked over at Maren. "Come help me a minute."

Maren walked over and Elyra removed her cloak and it moved her back and she winced. Maren gasped. Elyra's back was soaked through in blood. "No wonder you don't look so good. I don't know if I could do this right Elyra it's worse than anything I've worked on before." Elyra sighed a little frustrated.

"Shadow do you know anything about first aid? I can walk you through it."

Darius looked over Elyra, then looked back at Karlos. Then Darius walked over and knelt behind Elyra.

"Yes I do, being an assassin of my caliber requires one to know how to fix stabilize injuries on the spot. I have a limited knowledge of first aid."

Darius reached for his pouch and set it next to him, pouring out his personal collection of medical items, herbs and pastes and such.

Jamie had been about to say something when Elyra mentioned her back, and what she had been about to say disappeared, replaced by worry for her friend. She hadn't thought that Elyra had been injured, but now the blood was evident of that.

"Can I do anything?"

Elyra nodded and said, "Make sure it's sterile and clean." Elyra handed her a bottle of alcohol and she took a quick swig first then put it in Jamie's hand. "Just do it." The gash was deep and went right across half of her back so when Jamie cleaned it, Elyra gritted her teeth and her hands clenched so hard her own nails cut into her hands. Tears welled up as it burned like a hell fire. Elyra nodded and handed a salve to use on it to her. "Give this to Shadow." Elyra said her voice obviously showing that she was in pain.

Darius took the salve and gently applied it to Elyra's back. Years of training, intense and focused and more horrid than most would imagine, would make you think Darius would have thick and calloused hands. But the thing was it was the opposite. Darius had strangely smooth hands and skin, and was able to apply the salve gently. His nimble fingers moved softly, and applied the salve in all the right places where he could feel there was the most pain.

Darius reached out and grabbed a small brown pouch from his personal collection. He reached in and when he took his hand out a small amount of what looked like brown sand was in his palm. Darius took a pinch and sprinkled it on Elyra's back.

"Im adding a small amount of something I frequently use on myself on small cuts and scrapes that prevent me from using my weapons correctly. Your wound is worse, so it wont be as effective but so long as the wound doesnt open again it should act as a small amount of protection to the rest of medicine so it doesnt wash off or get removed early."

Jamie followed Elyra's instructions, but then there wasn't really much else that she could do. She sighed softly, wanting to do more, but knowing she didn't have the knowledge to help. Which seemed a surprising lack in her skills. She stepped back so she wasn't in the way, glancing about them, remembering the shadow man's threatening visit. It wouldn't do to become complacent, so she glanced about them to make sure there was no one about to attack them again.

After a moment, she moved over to Karlos. She would have been worried that he hadn't woken yet, if the inn keeper hadn't told her that he'd been fed, and had apparently eaten it. So unless there was a ghost in the inn, Karlos had eaten it. It was just something to do. But that only took a moment, and she glanced back over to the others.

Maren watched and felt ill at ease watching some strange man work on her cousin. "I'm Maren, Elyra's cousin. Who are you? You said you are an assassin?" Elyra looked at her and said, "Maren, don't ask." Maren looked at her and asked again. "Who are you again?" Elyra looked at her and shook her head.

Darius looked at Maren as if finally noticing her prescence. Well not that but she finally became someone worth noticing. Darius looked Maren over, sizing her up. She had soft looking hands but he noticed they had the markings of someone who knew how to use a weapon. From the looks of it, and his best guess, probably from training of staff weaponary. She had nimble looking fingers, so she could probably do delicate work. She had a glare in her eye, more than likely she had a fire in her. A will, a strong set of beliefs. Darius could tell from her tone that she cared deeply for family. She had a look about, almost in a cute way. As he finished with Elyra he stood and faced Maren.

"I am "The Shadow". Call me by only that title. I am a master assassin, world class, brought in to this job by contract. I am not attempting anything besides bringing my companion up to fighting speed as fast as possible. Who are you? I wasnt aware we were recieving reinforcements."

Maren's reaction was swift and unencumbered. She moved her hand and while he was focussed on that she raised her knee and nailed him where it hurts. "That's for my cousin you killed." Maren walked away and back to the horse and Aelar. She was angry and mumbling to herself about this crazy trech through hell with Satan himself and other such stuff.

Elyra half smiled at her cousin's reaction to finding out who he is. "She took that better than I thought she would. Not that it matters to you at this point."

Darius went down fast. He has been stabbed, speared, cut, sliced open, burned, frozen, poisoned, drowned, shocked, and injured in many like fashions but never this. For a few moments he was in constant pain, unable to move. But that changed quickly. After a few seconds, a light sparked in Darius' eyes. Swiftly, silently, and faster than the eye could blink Darius forced himself up and brought out an arrow from the sheathe on his belt. He twirled it in his fingers, raised his hand, and prepared to throw it and kill Maren.

Jamie watched the scene, particularly watching Darius. She was more then ready to jump in, as it seemed likely he would retaliate, and she was moving even as Darius did, putting herself between him, and Maren. She moved fast, aiming to snatch the arrow away, she knew that that wouldn't do just by itself. He had more weapons, and the removal of one wouldn't stop him. So she moved fast, closing the gap, she kissed him.

Darius could not react to Jamie. He held his hand in the air, arrow in hand, but did not move. Darius held still for a moment, unsure on how to act. He had meant to kill Maren for her insufferable actions. But now.....

Darius returned the kiss, then took a step back. He sheathed his arrow, and looked at Jamie in her eyes.

"I..I..I told you that was not allowed. Stop that ridiculous behavior."

Jamie grinned, "Really? You don't sound too sure about that, but either way, I'll probably disobey again" She laughed, relieved for the moment that she had managed to stop the killing of Maren, and quite pleased.

Elyra carefully put on her cloak hoping that James wouldn't notice her slow movements when he got back. She was chuckling softly at Darius' reaction and to Jamie's response. At least he wasn't trying to kill Jamie anymore.

@ashevelendar@gareth@venku@king tai@blackpanther