Expendable

Umbra Rose Condos

Are we sure this Dragon (Good) is really... Y'know... A Good Dragon...? *raised eyebrow and skeptic face*

@Xaltwind

Qaymu hasn't eaten any resident here (as far as you know). For a dragon, he's being very accommodating. And he certainly didn't have anything to do with any sudden departures of the maid service.

Welcome to Earth from the Alternate World of Maia: The Student Exchange Program

Are there lesser or minor phalanxes, or is this it? How would you classify someone with the ability to psychometrically read the history of an object - the older, the better, with a lean towards furniture and art. Psychiccer or astra?

Umbra Rose Condos

Nooo! Dragon man can't go smoking the gremlins out! That would ruin the whole game! That's cheating!

@BunniesOfDoom

Dragon

The dragon is an unstoppable superweapon, and will use its flame as early and as often as possible instead of keeping it in reserve. Any survivors will this learn not to venture further. He's going to be very hungry next week and will want to make sure nothing affects his food.

A new guild

"Who dares send thugs to assault fair ladies such as ourselves?" Gabs retorted angrily, staring past the brawlers to Balenof. "Why shouldn't we use everything we have against those who threaten violence when none was offered, no doubt wishing to take advantage of us and relieve us of our virtue? If you wish us to leave, have you no courage to face us yourself, or is courtesy a lost art in these lands?"

She might have grown up in the streets, but she had a good pair of ears, a small talent for verse, and a vocabulary that would put the old madams of bawdy houses to shame.

Empire of the Clouds

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Nikos

Zeppelin #27, Gondola

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Nikos scowled. That communist mechanic, having worked out the exact number of bars, it was going to be hard to make a few go 'missing' during the loading. Nor could he load extra, if they wanted to be able to escape this place when the invaders were so close.

His eyes glanced up at the catwalk, then headed over to the dumbwaiter, sliding up the hatch and began loading the stores inside. This would at least allow him to move the stores up to the galley, then they could be stacked in the dining room. It would be a bit cramp, but he wouldn't have to come down much afterward. Of course, with everyone else at their post, he'd have to go up and empty it himself. With a grumble, he pressed the button that sent the first shipment up, then headed towards the ladderwell.

Umbra Rose Condos

Qaymu

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Bldg 1, Restaurant
@Lemons - Velvet

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Hmmm, Qaymu mused. Older than I expected. Good move, I'm likely to lose this game. I really should have played more, there's so much rust here.

He glanced up at Velvet and frowned. "Are you...?" he began, but she had started talking to the Japanese girls. The one's aura was interesting to watch. He wondered briefly if she'd ever learned how to contain it, having noted its effect in passing on others. Even ordinary humans were affected - although both did have a certain appealing appearance to humans that might excuse it.

He gave them a wary but respectful nod.

The assistant manager's announcement made him frown in concern. Gremlins running lose in the building? And she wanted them caught and handed over? He was not even going to be allowed to roast a few? Well, he could still use his flame as encouragement.

Umbra Rose Condos

I managed to catch the flu. Today's challenge - keeping food down.

A new guild

Gabs ducked under the younger man's swing and butted her head towards his chin as she drew her short sword.

"Really," she grinned, "You're going to take on people wearing armor and weapons? And tuck your thumbs inside your fists? Idiots."

What idiot started this mess?

Umbra Rose Condos

Qaymu

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Bldg 1, Restaurant
@Lemons - Velvet

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"My story?" Qaymu asked, amused. "Well, I was the runt of the litter, so at some point I got pushed out of the nest. While I couldn't fly yet, I tumbled very well."

The dragon chuckled to himself.

"Fortunately for me, I was found by a circus. They put me in a cage, took care of my wounds, and for a time," he shrugged, waving his right hand palm up for a moment, "I was a side-show attraction. A profitable one, too. But as much as they were taking advantage of me, I was taking advantage of them. I watched - I listened. And I practiced. Then one morning, when I was ready, I said 'good morning' to the child who came to tend me."

"Ah, you should have seen his face!" Qaymu laughed. "He gaped at me, pissed himself, then ran off to fetch the ring master. Of course, the ring master and the head roustabout came over and stared hard at me. I coughed, trying to clear my throat, then the ringmaster turned to the boy and demanded, 'he talked to you?' So I said, 'I do beg your pardon, but I am terribly parched. Might I have a drink of water?'"

"A very interesting conversation, that day," the dragon said, sliding the knight's pawn to B6. "Naturally, the ringmaster preferred I didn't talk to the punters, afraid his circus would go up in flames, no doubt. And I got quite the earful from Ms. Beng, my neighbor. She was the circus' tiger."

"I made some promises, and was granted some liberty when the circus was closed, spending many an hour in the ring master's wagon, learning to play chess. As far as the punters were concerned, I was just a trained animal. I can still remember my stage fright! However, this was not to last, and it came time for me to make my own way in the world. As I was searching for a suitable cave, I came across an overturned royal carriage and men fighting over her. So I swooped down and rescued her."

"I was prone to much foolishness in those days," he sighs. "Not knowing who to trust, I raised her myself in as humanly a fashion as I could."

He gave a shrug, leaning back. "I couldn't leave her with anyone, so I made a comfortable home in a cave and raised her myself."

Umbra Rose Condos

@Expendable By the by, I love how we're just like...actually playing chess, it's really funny to me.

@Lemons

The hard part is finding all the pieces...

Queen