POOHEAD189

Welcome to the Entrance to yours truly ;>

@277Kazuhiro welcome to the site! Let me know if you have any questions

At The Edge of The World

The guide ushered the two into the stone structure at the center, the rain beginning the thicken and a light breeze whipped by them. The legionnaires ignored the rain, and only gave cursory glances to Beren, though a few eyed Emmaline with some interest.

For his part, Beren felt right at home here. Despite the fact he lived quite a loose life out at the very edge of civilization, he was used to ordered drill and mighty earthworks by the dwarves. This was just a younger race playing at what the ancients had already perfected, though they did it with the tenacity of men and the skill of many years of practice. He had a small urge to volunteer to help, but he knew if he asked he would by flat out refused or they would induct him into their ranks and he hadn't the time.

"This is but the first of many," the guide said proudly, noticing Beren studying the battlements and fortifications erected. "Soon we'll make a wall along the Black Delta, once the emperor buys out the confederation. We will upturn the fores-"

Beren almost burst out laughing, but he kept himself from interrupting the haughty guide as the man continued to present their future campaigns, eager to tell someone not of the army. Emmaline looked at him curiously, and he blinked, impressed she had noticed his change in demeanor. He leaned in and whispered conspiratorially. "I'll tell you later."

Before he pulled away, she grabbed his jerkin and kissed his cheek. "You look good just out of the rain." She whispered. His face flushed, but before he could be awkward, both they and the monologuing guide were interrupted by a huge crash, and a shake of the trees beyond the palisade wall. As soon, the protostates turned or looked up from their tasks, and the only sound that followed was the pouring rain.

"What was that?" Emmaline asked, placing her hand on her hips and wanting to appear as if she had the authority to demand an answer. As far as Beren was concerned, she was noble born and it was only natural.

"I don't know," Beren and the guide said as one. Idly, Beren wondered if they had named the fort Serpentus because of a local beast. He dearly hoped a Bagrada serpent was not near.

They caught sight of one of the hundreds of trees in the distance going down, pulled by something immensely strong.

"Stations!" A scarred centurion cried, placing his feathered helm atop his head and roaring for his men to move. Spears and shields were dolled out and hastily grabbed, as yet another tree was destroyed beyond the wall.

This one was far closer.

Pax Astra

"Pardon my friend, the life of a hermit has made her unused to proper roman socializing," Tiber said, though it was probably lost on everyone there except Sabatine that his voice oozed sarcasm. She looked at him with a raised eyebrow, but let him speak regardless. Tiber wasn't a speech writer, more accustomed to spartan speech than oratory. He retrieved a golden drachma and flipped it by a quick motion of the thumb, sending it spinning back into the palm of the same hand.

"We come here as clients, seeking our patrons aid." He emphasized it by the next flick of his thumb sending the coin spinning to land at the foot of the 'throne' before Gorm.

"What is this?" Gorm asked dangerously, huffing at the small coin as if it were an insult, which was half correct, though the ketcharch was obviously curious at the pectacle.

"Our tribute," Tiber remarked, as if it was the most obvious answer in the galaxy. "You see, my friend and I were on vacation for a bit. After she was attacked from men of yours who doubtless were acting of their own accord, she needed a breather, and being a fellow soldier I decided to help her and we headed to the beach. But when I got back, I found my shop ransacked by brigands."

He shook his head, lifting his arms vaguely as he gestured. "I couldn't imagine how such barbarism could happen under your watch, good Ketcharch. But I know you must have been so busy celebrating your birthday, your men likely took to drink and weren't their best." He placed a hand on his chest. "I hold no grudges. All I ask, is that the men who assailed my residence, granted to me by service to the Empress-"

Sabatine's mouth went small, trying not to laugh at the thought of 'servicing the empress'. Tiber would get her for that, but with a great force of will he kept his face straight. "-are brought to justice, and my friend and I can sleep peacefully at night."

It was a small bit of theater, but Tiber was doing his best to keep from going to war with Gorm, while also keeping the man and his lackeys from walking all over him. He was giving the warlord an out, one that Tiber sincerely hoped he take.

But a darker side of him was waiting for him not to. It was Mars, patiently waiting for the blood to flow.

Dark Streets - Urban Shadows

Ǫlni The Forgemaster

---

"No hospitals," Ǫlni said, brooking no argument from Harald. He picked himself up, going to grab a small cot, an old blanket from the closet and a pillow, along with a glass of water. As he brought the bundle back, he heard Harald ask:

"Is this really a Valkyrie?"

"Aye, boy. Even in the old days, you midgardians did not get to see them often. Only the bravest of warriors, picked by Odin for Valhalla."

"Is Odin and his warriors...are they still...?"

"Oh they show up to those worthy, still, lad. Maybe you'll see it one day. Now help me put her up on the cot." He said, and the two lifted her up as slowly and gently as they could. Once she was set up and wrapped up, Ǫlni patted her cheek. "Oi, what happened? Who did this to ye?"
@Penny

Dark Streets - Urban Shadows

Ǫlni The Forgemaster

---

Ǫlni grumbled, kneeling down beside the Valkyrie. His fingers were thick, but they were dexterous. He began to peel the armor off, speaking of the make as he did so, as if it were second nature.

"The Choosers of the Slain are the handmaidens of Odin. Their armor is of the finest quality. Dwarf make, actually. Though I never made any myself. This was something my grandfather worked on..." He undid her glimmering golden pauldrons, sharp edged and wide, in the likeness of great wings. "The plates aid her in gliding, and the cuirass is ten thousand thousand links of gilded steel. She wears no coif, as ye can see. But her helm, shaped like an eagle, you see? It can survive any blow save a strike from Thor's hammer himself. Here lad, grab the lower bits-"

"What?" Harald asked, too focused on staunching the blood to be bewildered, but still confused.

"Oh, right." It was just easier for him to pull the cuirass off with two men, but he raised her arms and yanked the plate gauntlets off all the same, pulling off the cuirass as Harald helped lift her body. Soon she had on naught but a linen top and a simple skirt. "How is she, lad? Ye don't want to be failing now. Odin is vengeful you see..."

"I'm helping though!" He breathed.

"Yes, but he's a fickle god. Where do ye think Loki gets it from?"
@Penny

Pax Astra

Tiber revved the engine, the radio hopping on as soon as they sped off into the main road, sending bits of gravel and flecks of dirt tumbling to the wayside. The few miles to town were a straight shot save for the last stretch when they passed by a fueling station. Tiber enjoyed rides with the wind in his face accompanied by a speed beyond men, the sound of a roaring engine beneath him. Picket fences and various livestock idly grazing set the scene, and yet behind the sunglasses he wore, his eyes were sharp and exuded danger.

Truth be told, he felt more like a barbarian now than he ever had in his life, even more than the ribbings he would get from his unit in the service. He wasn't going to battle in formation, he only had a partner with him, and despite the Ketcharch not being a true, lawful authority figure, somehow he felt he was acting in rebellion. He couldn't explain it, but it was a feeling that wouldn't leave his head in the drive to town.

Once they reached the fueling station, they saw a modified parser, a moderate-sized supped up transport, stationed by the food mart. Three of the Ketcharch's men in civilian clothes laughed and smoked as they stood guard. Tiber rode on passed them without slowing in the least, and they did not seem to notice. Tiber smirked. If this went south, they would be strung up.

"On our left," Sabatine said softly, after they had slowed down. Tiber saw the eye of a man peering just past the newspaper he was supposedly reading. He looked right, and even as she mentioned the right, he saw the old woman staring out of her window, obviously not cleaning the glass surface as she was attempting to appear so. The further they went into town, they saw more overt showing of strength, though no one made a move against them. Like as not it wasn't meant for them, but a show for the masses. Obviously word had gotten out about missing men, and to keep the population from feeling emboldened, the ketcharch had decided to let his auxiliaries out to look tough.

Tiber didn't parked the atv in a space for it. He set it down right at the foot of the stairs leading up to the ketcharch's stronghold. It looked like a smart, quaint office building for a lowly mayor. Tiber wondered what the inside looked like. Probably far more conspicuous.

Dark Streets - Urban Shadows

Ǫlni The Forgemaster

---

The dwarf hopped out of the pick up, parking at the edge of the street and stomping through the grass. He ignored the dog that stomped out and started yowling, and he made it to the front door. He knocked on the wooden frame, hard. Eventually a young man answered, tan skinned and dark of hair.

"Who are you?" Ǫlni asked.

"Uh, Fred?" He asked by way of question, wondering what this short man who had not even introduced himself yet was doing at the front door.

"Get me Harald. Tell him Ǫlni needs him. Time is of the essence."

He gave an incredulous look, but he went back in and a minute later, Harald walked out with a natural bud lite in his hand. He looked a bit spooked to see the dwarf. "What are you doing here?" He asked, almost conspiratorially.

"I have a patient for ye. Come with me." He said, and began walking back to his truck. After a moment of protest, Harald cursed in norwegian and hurried inside to grab his supplies before hustling over to get in the truck. Ǫlni put the pedal to the metal and they arrived back at his shop minutes later, having filled him in on the situation. Harald walked into the shop with wide eyes, placing his bag down and gaping at the wings on the woman, still bleeding. Ǫlni knew she was too tough to bleed out so quickly, but Harald needed to work fast.

"See that she lives. Oh and see if ye can wake her up." The dwarf ordered.

"That is uh, not how this works." Harald said, sweating.
@Penny

Damned to the Depths

A guardsman pointed and fired at Markus, who spun as the shot went wide. The bullet punched into the arm of an elderly baroness who gave a hoot in surprise and shivered as she sunk to her feet. The arquebusier was stunned for a moment, though after a mere second he went for his sidesword. It was a second too long. Markus slid through the crowd and ran the man through the gut, causing him to be stricken and wide mouthed. The captain twisted the blade so he would scream in front of the terrified onlookers, and slowly he yanked the backsword out of him as he hit the floor, dead. What arquebusiers were left dropped their guns, Jax collecting them and patting one of the soldiers on the cheek, mockingly.

"Unfortunately ladies and gentleman," Markus said, as if he had just told an ornery man to leave rather than brutally killing a goodly guardsman. He nonchalantly wiped the blood off his blade with a fallen handkerchief. "We cannot escort you back to your lovely homes and collect the payment for our delectable hospitality there, and so we must humbly ask only for your valuables at present."

Sketti ripped a tablecloth off a wide dining table, sending glasses, horderves, and porcelain plates clattering and shattering to the floor. He wrapped the cloth up in the fashion of a makeshift bag, and with a terrible grin he began to stalk around the room, taking all of their valuables. Rings, necklaces, bracelets, whatever wasn't sewn to their skin, though whatever earrings they could remove, Sketti insisted. Those who resisted got a punch in the gut that sent them on the ground, sometimes knocked out cold by the muscles dwarf. Jim collected what he could from those they had to make an example of.

"You're nothing but a thug," an older gentleman said, stepping out of the crowd to challenge Markus.

The swordmage turned, looking at him hard for a few, tense moments. He gave a chuckle and put his arm around the old man's shoulder as if he were a comrade in arms. "My lord...coming from you entitled bastards, that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me." He glanced at Calliope. "No offense."

"None taken. I pride myself on wearing the title proudly." She said with all of the smug arrogance in the world. Markus grinned, letting his eyes trail down her body for a brief moment as she turned and threatened a young man with cooking his wife with hellfire and serving her to him on one of their pretty plates.

Dark Streets - Urban Shadows

@POOHEAD189

So is Ǫlni just going to leave Sayeeda at the warehouse without any explanation of where he's going or what he's doing?

Also, did you make your session opening move?

@rush99999

I said I'd forgive you that once. If I make a mistake, Penny will let me know. But I discussed it with her beforehand.

Dark Streets - Urban Shadows

@POOHEAD189 does your doctor know about the supernatural?

@Penny

Yes, though he's new to it.