[R]-A Fable- [IC]

[Dirzrahel]

Walking into a town of gratuitous size, you see a piece of parchment nailed onto a wooden post:




Welcome to the world of Ether!

These vast lands of bountiful reserve and game supply an imagination worth thousand-fold in society and display grandeur at the dinner table! This world is composed of all sorts of myths and legends alike that tingle a child's noggin, as well as a sting to his bum. Folktales run rampant throughout town, cookies cartwheeling with freedom intended and cauldrons spewing smoke in protest to their wenches that are witches. Elves sing their moonlit song as their cousins the Drow let their blades sing through each other. Dwarves beat their hammers against metal and make doors that barricade the goblins in the deeper recesses, keeping them in, keeping their own safe. Dragons soar the sky, as do eagles, but they do not share with each other. This usually ends with a lucky boy happening upon roast fowl. All manner of beast and gentry walk their appendages across this land!

Magic plays an important role as well. What would be a world of myth without the omnipotent word of the fantastic? So many users of magic travel this terra, all with their own forms, their own wishes, their own ways. The divine song players, Dantists, fill this world with their heavenly songs and spiritual happiness that lay ghosts of the deceased to rest. The elemental magicians and their ways, through magic circle or incantation or simply a flick of the finger, fire with a look of the eye, water with a swish of a tail perhaps? Who knows! Only these two serve as examples for the multitudes of practices roaming the land, so what's keeping you from exploring this world?

Money?

Companionship?

Need sex?

Then at the helm of this world, serving as a flagship for all magic users and adventurers and used by all magic users and adventurers is an organization that constitutes all beliefs of free will!

Fable.

The guild of the growing minds that seeks to uncover the secrets of the world with one brush of the wing. A tavern that is built with four stories and an endless supply of hookers and beds! Emphasis on hookers. After a long day of treasure hunting, bounty hunting, rabbit hunting, and all sorts of hunting, a real man clambers into bed with a good woman and lays her to rest with the rest of the energy he has left. Of course, there are male hookers as well, ladies.

Fable is a tavern located at the heart of Ether in the boisterous and primary trade city of Vale, the ship port of all ship ports, and the World Battle Tournament's home. Everything can be found if looked for in this city, and if you happen to stumble upon the black market, you may just find something more valuable than your own risk-taking life!

So, come! Look at our bounty board and decide for yourself.

"Am I to be a hero? Am I to be an adventurer?"

Then take that rumpled piece of paper worth millions of gold pieces and yell out loud:

"Who's got the big dick now!?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------

((Theme: Rocky Road to Dublin - The Dubliners (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWCV5wpMJJM)))

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Oi yah bloody brutish bonnet o' baby's quim c'mere and get yer doom yeh cornholin' squabba o flamin' fag!"
"Haha yeh drunk ole' ass rimmin' bastad, coom and get me loik yer chasin' teh ass o' yah male lova!"

Thus was the conversational atmosphere of the greatest adventurer's guild in the entire land of Ether. Fable. A tavern built with resilience in mind thanks to the regular bar brawls and all-around happiness involved within the enchanted mahogany confines. The tavern was nearly as large as a castle, composed of four floors that separated the adventurer's renowns by rank. The bounty sheets placed on the boards are thus separated according to the ranks as well, the biggest rewards on the fourth floor. There was no guildmaster. The discipline of the guild was decided by the different ranks. The bottom floor has no say, the second has say over the first, the third over the second, and the fourth over the third. Easy enough to understand, eh? Giant kegs of beer and liquor and mead are on the walls of the tavern, tapped by the prettiest of barmaids and the most muscular barkeeps. The mood throughout the entire place is one of drunken happiness and the smell of alcohol! The lights are bright like the future goals of the adventurer's themselves, and the demeanor of it all is positive. The adventurers all consider each other brothers and sisters and live in harmony, tackling the bounties, and fighting the good fight! That is Fable. The most renowned guild hall in the world located in the biggest trade city of Ether, Vale.

"HAR HAR! ANUDDER ROUN' BOYS!"

The gargantuan double doors of the guild are open to all who seek a future of adventure and action. Inside is a numerous amount of men and women, beer mugs in hand, beer songs in air, and tall tales rounding about like fish stories.

Now, although there is no guildmaster, there is someone respected by all the members, young and old. Roran. The founder of Fable. An old, old man of nearly ninety-six years old. Long ago in his sixties he was cursed by a witch and given the fate of seeing his friends grow old and die while he stayed the same. He's the oldest member of Fable, and that is signified by his boisterous grey beard that covers his face, along with his length of grey hair around his head. He's a hearty-looking fellow and fails not in the area of giving advice to the new adventurers as well as the old. He's seen quite a lot. Although he's suppose to hang around the fourth floor in theory, he stays on the bottom floor. It's where all the excitement and commotion is at!

"Yeh yah shat stain on teh nose of a wanka wit cha gunna do boyo baby?!"

Tables upon tables are scattered along the fine wooden floor of the tavern, filled to the brim with both people and alcohol alike. Two thuds upon the wooden door silence the atmosphere of the place as all eyes on the bottom floor turn to the double doors of Fable, a handmade cigarette falling out of one of the hundreds of adventurers as they stared at the visitor. Bar fights stopped as well, as entertaining as they were.

There in the double doors stood the head of a black dragon. Its golden eye staring at all of them until the head flew in the air and broke a table a group were sitting at, a proud man standing where the head had been. He was covered with mythic-looking armor and a scythe was strapped to his back. His hand was extended up, his thumb up.

"GOT THE BASTARD!" The man yelled, followed by the conjecture of the others.

"OI! Ryka esh backs!"
"Wit cha doin wit teh lizard, boyo? Hadn't had yeh fun wit its tongue yet?"
"GET TAT LAD A DRINK!"

Ryker von Zephyrr was a renowned adventurer known for going on fourth floor bounty sheets by himself, without even a team to follow him. He was nearly as legendary as Roran himself, but he refused any word of it. He claims he does his best and strives for one thing, get the money, come back, and drink with his friends!

"Moon-Slaya 'ad a ruff time eh?"
"Spicy breath innit fun yeh knows."
"HAH! Loik yah know yeh fresh mouth o bloody pig dick!"
"WAT WAS TAT YEH JINGAL BALL SUCKA!?"

Ryker smiled, the mug of alcohol in hand. He was back home, and thank the higher beings for that. Nothing topped his home. Nothing topped Fable. He loved it here.

[Mysteria]

Ne`Rista Vantiago sat in Fable, one foot propped upon the empty chair beside her watching the barmaids and barkeeps as they kept the mead flowing and patrons served. And the barkeeps here were the finest in the land, they could give a girl something to look at any night all night long and even more if they were lucky enough.

Laughter and boisterous talk rang through the tavern as was per the norm. Roran was right in the middle of it as he always was. Ne'Rista had come to love the old man and look upon Fable as her home. The truth was that it was the only place she considered home anymore. There was no place else for her anymore, just Fable. It was where she always returned to whenever she would finally take a break from her wandering.

Ne'Rista had just yelled out over the crowd to Roran, knowing full well that she was one of the few that could get away with talking to the old gray haired man that way because he knew that it was with love and respect that she spoke the words "There ya be Roran tell these young pups how it is old man" when the massive double doors were thrown open and a hush grew over the crowd. Ne'Rista wouldn't have needed to look to know that the moon slayer had returned. That one always knew how to make an entrance.

No one had to get that lad a drink. Ne'Rista already had one in her hand as she made her way over to him, her long sienna colored hair flowing around her lithe frame and curves as she walked towards him handing him the stein in her hand "Ain't it just like you Ryker to be makin' a grand entrance each time you grace Fable with your presence?" Ne'Rista said the words with a slight smirk on her face.

[L]

The vicious little goblin with horns that people in Fable knew as Keb sat at the bar, already on his 5th mug of mead. Despite his size, Keb could still drink quite a few of larger humans under the table. He even made a sport of it with the new kids – relying on their arrogance and dim view of his race to challenge them to drinking games

He'd netted more than a few gold pieces that way, and the ones that lost tended to leave in shame.

He was just about to summon one of the barmaids over for his 6th when the double doors slammed open to reveal a dragon's head.

Keb knew who it was. FrakingShowoff was all he thought. Keb talked, and thought, fast. When the head flew threw the air to shatter a table and send it's residents scrambling, Keb – always thinking ahead - used the distraction to quickly swipe the mug of mead from the Orc unfortunate enough to sit next to him and save himself a gold peice.

He slipped down off the stool, quickly making his way through the crowd to the dragon's head and peered down at it, taking a messy, frothy swig from the mug as he studied it.

'Where'dyoufindthisSlaya,' Keb caught himself, slowed down his speech, 'Bet yer latest girl killed it for ya' He let off a grin full of green, pointy teeth.

[Dual]

Fable was booming with life and all sorts of shouting and carrying on, but sitting at a table just off to the left of the front door was a man playing a game of cards that didn't seem to care that much about the cursing and fighting erupting around him. His shocking white hair and eyes didn't seem too out of place among the strangest lot in the bar, and with an expressionless face, the relic known as Cormack scanned the other players at his table and nodded to himself.

As he did so, the ghost of a card-cheating dwarf emerged from behind the players and chuckled as he looked at their hands. They didn't seem to take much notice of their unseen guests's notice, and simply growled at Cormack who was now smirking slightly at their predicament. The dwarf hobbled over to him and muttered,
"Hand of three spades could beat 'em all."
Cormack nodded again and the dwarf's spirit vanished, leaving the gamblers alone once more. He set down his hand and declared with a knowing smile,
"Hand of three spades, gentlemen."

The others looked flabbergasted at this turn of events. Cormack had lost every game up to that point, and they had cheated every second of the game to make him lose his vast amount of coins that he had staked in the beginning to shove him out of the game so they could go to bigger bets. Now he had just up-and-played a hand that beat every last one of them. Outrage was evident on each of their faces, but Cormack either didn't notice or didn't care as he collected the large pile of coins from the table and deposited it in his bag. As a taunt, he took four gold coins and handed them back to the other gamblers to make sure they had enough to get by for the evening, should they have no more money.

Satisfied that he had cheated the cheaters and perhaps taught a lesson or two in humility, he approached the bar and was about to order a drink when the front door burst open and a large, black dragon peered in. In a moment, the dragon was gone, and the moonslayer Ryker was in its place. Cormack suppressed a smile at this and shoved the bag of winnings over to the barkeep as the other patrons exploded around Ryker to welcome him home.

"Drinks all around," Cormack said to the tender. "And make sure every man-jack here gets drunk enough to fall going uphill, aye?"

[Dirzrahel]

Ryker watched the lustrous Ne'Rista walk forward with a stein, a smile cracking on his face as he grabbed the elf by his hip and swung her in a dip, kissing her deeply, his tongue exploring the inside of her mouth and tasting the beer she had been drinking. He released the passionate display with a flourish, snatching the stein from her head as he spun about, standing on a table.

"Oi Ryka yeh given that wench a good un'!"

Roran laughed heartily, slapping the table Ryker was standing on as a thud resounded through the tavern, silence echoing after. He stood up, his jolly self and jolly beard jostling under his movement as he pointed to the Moon-Slayer.

"N' let us 'ear dis man's tale of heroism!" He echoed, his deep bass voice seemed to shake the wooden frame of the tavern itself. He was indeed a man of power in so many ways.

Ryker stook a long drink of both the beer mug and stein, some drops of the alcohol spilling on the table he was standing upon. He laughed, looking toward Roran. "Well, if ya must know ya old codger, I shall tell!"

Roran scoffed, arms crossed. "Who ya callin' an ole' codga yah filth sack o' bloodeh bitch cun!"

Ryker brushed off the ceremonial insult of Roran as he jumped from the table with a theatrical spin, landing on the head of the black dragon, and sitting down with his legs hanging over the dragon's eye.

"And here I was, rentin' a hoss from our GRAND ESTABLISHMENT! On my way to the port city o' Elaughtyrr where pray tell a giant black dragon was pillagin' their livestock and crops. Not only that friends, but they even went as far to say the lizard required a virgin a week!" The Moon-Slayer told, taking a swig of alcohol while in the background a man said: "Oi dat lizard loiks dem cherries eh!?" Shortly followed by laughing.

Ryker made a sloppy point toward the goblin near the dragon head, his finger coming to his lips in a dramatic 'hush' sign. Followed by signs from the crowd that involved the middle finger.

"I get there and y'know what I see? A group of virgins! Oh by lords above I treated each one of them with my own unique hospitality!" He continued, smiling widely with a thumb up.

"Aye yeh bloody virgin yerself."
"Haha boyo whaja do? Cook'em sum suppa?"

Ryker never stopped smiling as he got up and stood upon the dragon head, his foot perched on great long horn of the beast.

"The dragon came a few weeks later, claiming she was to take the virgins! I look at her and say, 'Ey! Whatcha mean? You a fag dragon!', o' course, this was not the nicest thing to say to a dragon that had been going through its time o' the month to begin with! Talk about blood, cripes! So there I grab its wavin' tongue and hold the beast down. Staked 'er tongue to tha ground and went to her back door and shoved Aura up it and out of it, rendin' that she fag in two! Took 'er head cause I like it, tis pretty ain't it?" He finished, flourishing in the air as he jumped down and patted Roran on the back.

"Oi! Why didn't yeh bring tha virgins ya queer?"

"Hah! Like you would know what to do with them you fag sack of balls gnawed up halfway in a vat of quim juice and baked in a pie of dick flap meat yah bloody yip wanker and not to mention, your mother is quite the looker, good thing she's been with EVERYONE!"

The old man who had called Ryker a queer sat in silence, his handmade cigarette falling out of his mouth. His face grew red like a beet, and his mouth opened, his old rotted teeth growling in the air. Then all of a sudden his facial expression changed to that of joy and celebration.

"Tat wus a good one, boyo!"
"Aye 'ee plugged yer bum hole up tere Tim!"
"Oi, aye straight hump'd yer face in and broked yer teeth!"


Roran returned the slap on Ryker's back, sitting next to the man, one arm around the Moon-Slayer, his other arm supporting his hand which held a huge mug of ale.

"A job well done, boyo. Job done well." He congratulated, taking a swing of his ale. His finger pointed to Ne'Rista, a grin upon his face.

"Now bed tat lass quick before I go afta her!"

[Mysteria]

With his glowing skin, aqua blue hair and piercing white eyes Ryker was indeed handsome, even more so when he smiled. This was the moment she had been waiting for. Ne'Rista instinctively allowed her well toned body to flow and bend, never spilling a drop from the stein she held, pressing against his muscular form as he dipped her. Her hands moved to the back of his neck pulling him close as she returned the moon slayers kiss, her tongue meeting his and curling around it exploring every inch of his mouth slowly before he ended the kiss.

"Always the showman aren't ya Ryker?" She had whispered into his ear right before he jumped up onto the table.While Ne'Rista wasn't exactly the promiscuous type, she did enjoy a good, rock... hard...body from time to time. Too bad that one insists upon remaining a virgin Ne'Rista thought to herself as she kicked a chair away from the table and extended one of her long lean legs up, taking a drink from her own mug resting her foot on the table listening intently as Ryker told his tale. Showman or not, Ne'Rista enjoyed a good tale as much as any man in Fable did.

Ne'Rista couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh at the exchange between Ryker and Roran, even interjecting her own thoughts into the conversation when it came to the subject of virgins. "Now then Roran, you know as well as I do that young master von Zephyrr be speaking with a forked tongue he is!" Nerista winked at the gray haired man as she said it.

"Hah! Like you would know what to do with them you fag sack of balls gnawed up halfway in a vat of quim juice and baked in a pie of dick flap meat yah bloody yip wanker and not to mention, your mother is quite the looker, good thing she's been with EVERYONE!"


For a split second Ne'Rista winced and then burst into laughter at the same time as the old man. However she arose abruptly to her feet upon hearing the words "Now bed tat lass quick before I go afta her!" and walked up to the old man slowly, her hips swaying as she wrapped her arms around him from behind "Old man, you'd not be able to keep up with the likes of me, I wouldn't want ya to have a heart attack. Then again, you'd be dying with a smile on your face now then wouldn't ya?" Ne'Rista clapped the old man on the back and turned her gaze back to Ryker, stepping forward and trailing her fingers down over his bare muscular chest leaving them come to rest upon the waist of his pants, her umber eyes filled with mischievousness as she spoke "And this pup here? Ha! He'd not know what to do with a real woman if one would ever give him the time of day to begin with. He'd run, tail tucked between his legs." Ne'Rista added "He wouldn't know where to begin." She said as a sly smile spread across her fair features, looking Ryker right in the eye as she said it.

[Higurashi]

Damon sat on the first floor of Fable. He had just gotten here an hour ago and already he was rather taken to the place. It was the exact opposite of what his entire life had been. He sat at a table with his legs propped up on it, alone. That was strange for the place because it was packed to the brim. Total strangers sat together just because there was a spot available. New freinds were made all the time. His previous life had been uncramped, stoic, and stuffy. You always had to follow the rules, doing everything only at its proper place and time.

He took a sip from his fourth or fifth beer. He STILL wasn't drunk yet, and that bothered him. He had never before in his life been drunk before. Some of the guys here told him it was great, and then laughed at him when he had told them that he had never had alchohol before. He downed the rest of his drink and just kept on going. He was beginning to attract attention by his seventh, and by his ninth some of the other guys had gathered at his table, staring in amazement. Most had seen men drink plenty more, but not without throughing up at least once by now. On his thirteenth, they started betting on how ar he would go. On his seventeenth, they began to look worried. On his twentyth, they began to look scared. Most of them had lost their bets to him. Finally, and his twentyt-fifth, the bar keeper for his part of the room asked him to stop, in fear of his health.

"But I still am not drunk yet." Damon said blankly. He took anther beer and downed it. It was then that Ryker and his dragon head burst in. Damon watched with a blank look on his face at the events that followed. He did of course laugh along with the rest at the jokesthat went on, but he felt no real mirth. He took another beer, payed for it, then downed it. Finally, the bar keep ran out of beer artound Damon's twentyninth. He raised up his hands at Damon's glare and said, "Eh, boyo ah dunt goot nay moor droonk!" Damon grimaced and went off to find another barkeep, but word had spread and none would take him. He finally got his thirtyeth drink when he held the barkeep at swordpoint. It was then that he noticed he was feeling a bit odd and sat down. He left out a might belch that peirced the uproar. The men around him stared with awe at this man who couldn't seem to get drunk.

It was then that Damon stood up again took out a banjo from under his table and walked over to the band. He sat down on a chair and tuned his instrument. The band looked over at him curiosly and asked him what he was doing. "Well lads, I plan on playing here mow don't yah see? Now, anyone here know 'Bugger Off'?" A couple of the players, (Specifically the accordian layer and the violinist) raised their hands. Damon shoved the rest of them off the stage, tapped ut the beat and began to play. The accordian and the violing began to play with him.

[Atrum Daemon]

Amidst all the boasting, drinking, screwing, gambling, and swearing was one who was not joining in. This was a very odd sight since normally by the fifteenth drink, this individual was right in the middle of the merry throng. But, that was not to be the case this day. Delek sat at a small wooden table in a corner of the tavern, a small pyramid of mugs forming in front of him. His forehead rested against his hand as he stared at the table without truly seeing it. The events of his last contract still fresh in his mind and still very troublesome.

Delek had recently heard of trouble brewing at the tower of the Maiden Astra. From what refugees from the tower and it’s surrounding lands said, Astra had forsaken her ways and made deals with demons, allowing them to fill the tower and it’s swamps below, corrupting them beyond all help. Being someone who knew a bit about the tower and the fact that it had treasures within, Delek decided to check it out figuring the job would pay for itself.

He got himself to the tower easily enough. Well, to the prison to be exact. After hacking his way through the mutated guards and getting out of the tower, Delek simply followed the smell of rot and decay to a swamp that had once been a simple marshland. The swamp had become infested with disease and disease carrying creatures.

In the deepest area of the swamp, Delek had found Astra. Around the uppermost ledge, mutated, minor demons worshipped her. On the way down, Delek found his way blocked by Astra’s knight Veral. After nearly being crushed to death by Veral’s massive hammer and nearly being knocked into the acidic marsh water, Delek relieved the fallen knight of his head.

Reaching Astra after that was simple. The maiden had worn robes of white while sitting within the blood water at the bottom of the swamp. Before she had died, she spoke to Delek: “Do you truly believe you have the right to decide who lives and dies? Who are you to decide what my fate is? Do all you Fable adventurers really think such decisions are yours to make? But, you have slain Veral, my most devoted knight. I no longer have the will to fight. But it will not be you who slays me.”

Delek was never sure what the glowing object was that Astra bit into, but it killed her in a spectacular light show and returned the swamp and tower to it’s normal state.

Delek now sat in the tavern, the maiden’s words still fresh in his mind and still very much bothering him.

[Stryker]

While attention was focused elsewhere, Drake sat against a wall in a small wooden chair hunched over looking to the floor. He had just happened upon this place just a few days ago, the atmosphere could tend to be a bit much for some, but that's not an issue with the inhabitants. At first the place was a bit too loud and boisterous for his liking, but after a while he got used to it and tended to just find a chair off to the side to sit in and not attract attention.

During his first stay, one of the regulars spotted him as he walked in and made a joke referring to him as new meat and made a point to heckle him for a while until he lost interest.

Truth be told, while it had been a few months since he left his home he still missed his family. All of them except his father who he had started to harbor a strong hatred for. In the few hunts he had taken up, that hatred helped him cope with being new to adventuring and not used to multiple enemies going for blood. It had taken him a while and a few close calls, but he had begun to get used to keeping his head on a swivel and watching his own back.

And now, he was having thoughts in his head regarding how his father treated him, how he didn't give a second thought to turning his back on him just for wanting something different...

As he continued thinking, he ended up tuning out his surroundings as his body tensed up and placed his forehead on the knuckles of his clasped hands and continuied looking to the floorboards.

"One day... I'll show you, father..." he thought to himself.

[Dirzrahel]

Ryker laughed as Rista tried to seduce him, his tongue flicking out and licking the tip of her nose.

"And you wouldn't know what to do with me! So we're even." He said, poking his gauntlet's finger in the beer and sliding a cold, metal finger around the side of her neck.

Roran laughed heartily at that, slapping Ryker on the back again and taking another swig of beer straight through his maw and down the hatch.
"N' tat's wit yeh get, hun. Ye'll ne'er know what Ryka 'ere is hidin'!" Roran interjected, slapping Rista on the ass with a bit of a grope at first. He was quite the old man, but still, he knew his way around the women!

The old man tapped a finger on the Moon-Slayer's shoulder and pointed up at the fourth floor, a twinkle in his eye. His brought his hand and cupped it around the boy's ear.
"Tere's a new bounty up tere, Ryka. Ye shud go and see fer yerself. Be flashy 'bout it, eh?"

Ryker nodded, a smile on his face as he got up and looked up at the chandelier of candles above his hand. With a heave he jumped up, taking hold of the wooden handing piece and swinging forth, his feet catching on the rail post of the second floor. He pushed off and swung back even further, leaping with a back flip on the next inward swing and landing on the rail guard of the third floor. Aura came slowly off his back as the scythe penetrated the floor above, acting as a swinging pole that Ryker was soon upon, flipping up and landing a bit imbalance don the fourth floor's rail guard. He faltered, the bottom floor clapping, waiting to see if he'd fall. He didn't. Sighs of disappointment went throughout the beer hall.

"Ah, fuck you all!" Ryker yelled, flipping them all off as he jumped onto the floor of the fourth floor and snatched a bounty sheet from the board.

He read it over quickly, assessing the situation immediately and walked briskly toward the fourth floor's rail guard. He put once hand on it and jumped off, grabbing Aura's handle as he fell. He raised the scythe above his head and spun it quickly and dexterously, the blade producing a down wind that softened his hall indefinitely, his feet landing softly on a table on the first floor. The tang of metal sounded as he re-strapped Aura, holding the writ out for all to see.

"Alright! I need four who will help with this! The Purist Alliance seems to be hitting on our Dwarven Comaraderie over supper and now we're warring on it! A mercenary order is out and I've taken the Dwarf's side! What we're doing is simple, we're to destroy all of the Purist's siege weaponry!" Ryker yelled, some newbies growing yellow over what the bounty sheet was about.

[Higurashi]

Damon had just finished the song when the action started. He got up from his chair, grabbed another beer, downed it, and began walking towards the one named Ryker. A couple of people begna to watch him as silence had fallem over the room and no one was moving. Some began to throw insults once they realized his intentions while a few scoffed at 'the wee lads foolishness'. Damon just continued to walk over to Ryker as activity resumed in the bar.

On his way over there Roran noticed him and grabbed him by the shoulder. He said, "Lad I hope you be knowins what exactly you be gettins in to. God help you if you're doing this out of foolish bravery. Now get on before some lass grabs you by those huge ears of yours and drags you off to beat yer ass for apporaching Ryker." Damon simply nodded his head and continued on with a quicker step. As he came up to Ryker a few of the drinkers were still eyeing him, while most had written him off as dead meat.

Damon came right up to the table Ryker was standing on and said, "Well Mr.Heroic I'll becoming with yee. I hope you won't mind having a rookie along after yee raped a dragon with your scythe there." Damon said this in a joking manner and some of the nearby guys who actually heard it laughed, while it was lost to most in the uproar. Damon also said, "As I said I'm a rookie but still a pretty fair shot with the Old Yew here," while moving his shoulder slightly to present a simply massive bow.

[Mysteria]

"And you wouldn't know what to do with me! So we're even."

Ne'Rista just laughed at the notion, bringing her face close to his her breath warm upon his skin as she spoke "Oh, I'd know what to do with a young'un like you boy, I'd turn you into a man right quick." Then with an indignant air about her retorted to Roran "And you old man, you know as well as I do that he doesn't have the balls to show what he's hidin," Rista removed Roran's hand from her ass then brought it to her lips and kissed it with a wink before continuing "Could be he hides it so well cuz he has nothin' to show eh?"

With that Ne'Rista burst into laughter right up until the moment that she heard the word bounty. Ne'Rista left out a slight groan. Another bounty, now? She had just gotten back to Fable and was beginning to relax but being of the wandering nature that she was could barely force herself to look away when after Ryker, who was done with his antics had returned with the piece of paper.

"Alright! I need four who will help with this! The Purist Alliance seems to be hitting on our Dwarven Comaraderie over supper and now we're warring on it! A mercenary order is out and I've taken the Dwarf's side! What we're doing is simple, we're to destroy all of the Purist's siege weaponry!"

Rista looked around. There seemed to be a lot of newbies in Fable and she wasn't sure if anyone would step up to the challenge or not other than the one newbie. There were a few other regulars who would probably be up to the challenge. She might as well offer whatever assistance she could, besides, she just couldn't for the life of her turn down a chance for a good adventure.

With a sigh she stepped forward "Alright Ryker, count me in." No one in the room dared comment about a woman stepping up for the job. At least not anyone who knew Ne'Rista anyhow. Ne'Rista had fought her share of battles and won, she'd paid her dues. She was more than capable of fending for herself and protecting any other woman or mans ass.

Just then the black panther Midnite came padding into Fable as some of the newbies looked on with fear stricken faces. Those who were accustomed to his presence just watched as he sat down on his hunches resting one of his massive paws on Ne'ristas foot as her hand absentmindedly stroked his head.

It seemed that cat always knew exactly when he was needed. Ne'Rista looked up with a grin "I do believe that Midnite would like to tag along!" It wasn't as if anyone could stop him had they wanted to.

[Stryker]

After watching Ryker slowly lower back to the floor and sheathe his scythe once more, he held up the bounty with his other hand which garnered everyone's attention.

"Alright! I need four who will help with this! The Purist Alliance seems to be hitting on our Dwarven Comaraderie over supper and now we're warring on it! A mercenary order is out and I've taken the Dwarf's side! What we're doing is simple, we're to destroy all of the Purist's siege weaponry!"

After hearing the declaration from the well-known Moon Slayer, Drake lowered his head once more and mulled over the idea of joining someone like him on a bounty. he wondered how things could go and if they'd even get along.

"Well Mr.Heroic I'll becoming with yee. I hope you won't mind having a rookie along after yee raped a dragon with your scythe there." A voice spoke up, causing him to return his attention the Ryker and the person now standing infront of him. From what he could tell, it was an elf with a bow to his back. Seemed to him that the elf wanted to join.

"As I said I'm a rookie but still a pretty fair shot with the Old Yew here."

Soon thereafter, the crimson-locked beauty that had been joking with Ryker and Roran stepped forward as well, "Alright Ryker, count me in."

As soon as she said so, a large panther strode into the establishment and seated itself at her side without a word being spoken.

"I do believe that Midnite would like to tag along!" Rista spoke up with a smirk.

After mulling it over in his head for a few seconds longer, he stood up and strode over to Ryker and the others.

"If you'd have me, I'll travel with you as well." he told him, ignoring the snickers from the more well-established adventurers that chuckled at Drake and Damon, two rookies stepping forward for a bounty of this stature.

[Atrum Daemon]

Delek was snapped out of his moral dilemma when the voice of the Moon-Slayer Ryker boomed over everyone else and said:

"Alright! I need four who will help with this! The Purist Alliance seems to be hitting on our Dwarven Comaraderie over supper and now we're warring on it! A mercenary order is out and I've taken the Dwarf's side! What we're doing is simple, we're to destroy all of the Purist's siege weaponry!"

Delek considered the idea for a moment. Being someone who was easily bored and really not wanting to dwell on the words of Astra for another moment, the Vorkhan knocked back his last mug and stood. He crossed the room and sized up Ryker for a moment. “So, let me get this straight,” Delek said, “we basically get to goon rush the Purists, wreck up the place, and all together wreck their shit? Oh, you can count me in, definitely, boyo.”

An amused half-grin split across Delek’s face. Finally, a job that sounded like a simple one. Sure, he’d agree that it would be better to have a some of the more experienced crew along, but he honestly did not give a flying shit.

[Dirzrahel]

Ryker saw all those that stood up to join him. A couple rookies, then Delek and Rista. He laughed boisterously, rolling up the contract and stashing it within his clothes.

"Well then! We have some wet ears among my group, tryin' to make a name for yourselves! Good show. You'll be going on a fourth rank bounty mission, and I'm telling you now, boyos..." Ryker said, pointing his left index finger at Drake and Damon, "... you two had better either stick together like stink on quim or learn to defend yourselves like men! By yourselves!"

Ryker jumped down off the table and clasped hands with Roran, both winking at each other like they knew they'd be seeing each other again. The Moon-Slayer turned at his group, his gaze resting on Rista at last, then going back.

"We've got a couple days to reach our payroll. We'll be takin' a galley through Grand Stream so we'll get there n' a day. Stock up and head to the port, lads and one lass." Ryker explained, putting a thumbs up to them all as he backed up to the door and turned his back on them, going straight out in the city of Vale. He had to pick up a couple things himself.

[Higurashi]

Damon smiled as Ryker adressed them and then properly dismissed him and the other new guy. "Well then! We have some wet ears among my group, tryin' to make a name for yourselves! Good show. You'll be going on a fourth rank bounty mission, and I'm telling you now, boyos..." Ryker said, pointing his left index finger at Drake and Damon, "... you two had better either stick together like stink on quim or learn to defend yourselves like men! By yourselves!" He then jumped of the table, clasped hands with Roran, and told the group to prepare themselves because they'd be leaving in a couple of days.

Ryker WAS right afterall. Damon did need to prepare himself, get some supplies, and generally take care of his buisness. As Ryker walked out the door Damon followed after him then went of to do what he needed to do. First, he went down to the weapon shop district and bought a couple dozen arrow bundles. Each bundle carried five arrows. He also got his sword resharpened. After he went back to the room he had rented at Fable and dropped off the arrows. He kept his sword with him as he went about, buying supplies and a pack to carry them. He kept a limit on these of course. He kept it lightweight, easy to carry, and healthy. He had good reason for this. After all, first, if it was to heavy or bulcky it would inhibit movement in the long run. and Secondly, the healthiness was so it would give him energy and not be useless calories. This took most of the rest of the day, and after Damon wondered what he should do for the next two days... He went back to fable and continued to preform songs and drink enormous amounts of alchohol.

[nonangelic92]

Kerran stepped thru the door of Fable and glanced around. There were all types of people here, people she had intention of interacting with but not at this moment. She walked up to the bar and order a pint and some mead. She tossed the bartender a few gold pieces and took a seat in the center of the room. She looked over to one of the tables and saw a panther and smiled. " Aw what a beauty." She looked up and saw a woman petting the beast, "And ye must be the owner. The name's Kerran and the game is finding adventure. What's yours?"

[Stryker]

After stepping forward and declaring his intentions, he watched Ryker's face contort into a loud, booming laugh as he stashed the contract in a safe place.

"Well then! We have some wet ears among my group, tryin' to make a name for yourselves! Good show. You'll be going on a fourth rank bounty mission, and I'm telling you now, boyos..." He told them before pointing to them, "... you two had better either stick together like stink on quim or learn to defend yourselves like men! By yourselves!"

Drake nodded before glancing to Damon and then back to Ryker as he hopped from the table he was standing on and shook hands with Roran, they giving each other a wink which struck Drake as a little odd but he didn't dwell on it.

"We've got a couple days to reach our payroll. We'll be takin' a galley through Grand Stream so we'll get there n' a day. Stock up and head to the port, lads and one lass." he exclaimed before giving them a thumbs up and walking out.

Shortly afterwards, he watched Damon leave as well.

"Might as well do so myself." he said aloud before nodding to Rista and walking out the door to prepare himself.

For the next hour he browsed the wares in the local medicine shop. He knew that he already has his weapons with him and didn't want, nor need anymore. So, instead of chose to stock up on supplies that might be needed since it was a rank 4 bounty and he, along with Damon, were just rookies. Once he finished, he decided to head on over to the lake just on the southern outskirts of town for a bit of peace so he could think about what awaited him.

[Mysteria]

"Aw what a beauty. And ye must be the owner. The name's Kerran and the game is finding adventure. What's yours?"

Ne'Rista looked at the newcomer. Owner? No one owned Midnite but no one who hadn't seen him before would have known that. Ne'Rista smiled at her as she patted the panthers head. "His name is Midnite, and I do not own him. He comes and goes as he pleases. No creature should ever be owned. And my name is Ne'Rista"

Ne'Rista watched as the others all left to gather their things. She traveled light and needed little in the way of provisions. She could go later, there was no reason to be rude to the new person. Taking a seat she watched the others leaving and then turned back to the stranger as Midnite lay down across her foot making himself comfortable. "And you, you say your name is Kerran? Pretty name. Where does it originate from?" Ne'Rista asked with a smile as she motioned for her to sit with her.

[Zarma]

He was sitting on a rocky balcony, over looking a main chamber with a tall ceiling and crystal chandeliers that radiated a pale blue light. Below, a silhouette against the dark walls, was a wraith, floating about gloomily, and filling the room with a deathly chill. Artemis's breath was visible in front of his eyes, and his hands were numb from the frosty wind that flowed through out the tower. Crouching next to him was his dwarven friend, a stout man with a thick build like most dwarfs, his beard twisted in braids with golden rings wrapped around the individual thickets of hair. He had a short sword against his left hip, his hand resting uneasily on it as he looked down on the miserable creature. "An' yer sure this be the only way?" The dwarf commented glumly, across the room three more men had begun to take their positions; there was no turning back now.

"I'm sure, Agrothat, now please, be quiet." He whispered in response, moving carefully around the balcony. It stretched around the whole room, allowing Artemis to arrange his warriors in the best way possible for the ambush. Observing the room below he knew that the most stealthy of his men were moving about the shadows, it was a good thing that he couldn't see them, because if he could they'd be easily caught by the specter. A stone throne rested in the center of the room, the wraith, as it did every day at this time, took his form over to the impressive chair and seated him self, looking over his long lost kingdom with icy discontent in his beady black eyes. Raising one hand, Artemis signaled for his warriors to prepare them selves. Using speciall crafted bows they pulled on their strings, as they had hoped they made no sound, and the wraith sat none the wise, with several sapphire tipped arrows pointed it's way. The first warrior, with a blade of deep-gnome crafted silver, approached the throne from behind.

The ancient ghost lifted his head, examining the room for a sign of disturbance, but could not detect anything out of the ordinary. Artemis grinned, a black band had been placed over his eyes so their subtle glow would not give away their position. A simple dark robe adorned his body over his shade skin uniform, and he two had drawn his bow, aiming an arrow at the shade. The warrior had managed his way to the back of the throne, and sat their, crouched with a black in his hand, waiting for the signal. From his belt he produced a ring made of gold, holding it a few inches away from the side of the chair. Artemis easily picked up on the confirmation, and purposely kicked a pebble forward. It fell to the ground with a clack, and the wraith was to his ghostly feet, walking forward with renewed suspicion. From behind the stealthy guild mate rushed forward, plunging forward the silver dagger into he felt it connect with the once bone spine of the apparition.

The battle was on, the wraith released an ear shattering scream that would normally drop a man to his knees, but the warriors had come prepared, with wax plugs protruding slightly from their ears. It turned and thrashed violently, the silver blade had begun to materialize wound, and it appeared as a solid lump of pale and rotted skin attached to the shadow of a body. The first soldier who had put the dagger in the wraiths back began to jump around, avoiding the wraiths icy grasp, and stabbing him viciously where he could. The dwarf warrior had descended to the first floor, and joined the fray, assisting the struggling warrior. The wraith pulled from a shadowy scabbard a blade of crimson hue, a long menacing object with a sickle like curve. It swung the blade frantically, trying to severe any protruding appendage from the imposing intruders. They dodge, jumping about wildly and leading the wraith to the back of the chamber, where the dwarf prepared to spring on the old wraith. Raising his shield, he charged forward, the red blade came down but was reflected by the shields enchantment. Bashing the ghost he was able to land a hit with his dwarven blade, which like the silver one was capable of cutting the ghost. It withered once more in pain, and stumbled backward to the clearing, where the first of the archers fired his arrow. Pinning the wraith in his left side he opened another fresh wound, the second arrow impacted it in its lower back, sending it forward slightly before another arrow took lodge in it's neck.

It stood still, hold the sword in it's hand with three sapphire arrows protruding from it's body, but it was not dead. The archers had missed their mark, a glowing heart in the center of it's body, protected from all but precious gems. Artemis cursed his luck, as the finalizing shot was his to take. The dwarf looked worried, Artemis could see his expression in the dark, but he quickly came to his senses and prepared to strike the wraith. The ghost too seemed to realize it's folly, and began to parry the dwarf and the other warrior as they continued their onslaught. Artemis pulled his bow back further, one-hundred and twenty pounds strained the bows enchanted willow, and the reed fibers that the string had been made out of twanged in protest, but did not snap.. He looked down the edge of the arrow, then to the wraiths heart, and waited for the dwarf to force him back more. With a mighty push, the dwarf pounded his shield against the wraith as he deflected the red blade with his dwarven blade, causing a massive chip in it's edge. The wraith stumbled backward, and as it stood, Artemis released his arrow.

It sunk in it's chest, an expression of horror filled the wraiths face as it turned deathly pale, materialized in it's dying moments. It looked down, the head of an arrow and part of it's shaft stuck through it's chest, and a white light shined through the hole. It's burst, sending rays of bright light exploding forth from its chest. The warm was suddenly filled with warmth, from some where on Artemis's flank he could hear the laughter of his men, and the laughter of a long dead king. He smiled him self, raising from his seat. The crystal chandeliers now glowed in bright yellow, illuminating the room momentarily, before going completely dark, a sign that the spirit had left for good. Another light filled the room as the human warrior on the floor next to the dwarf released a light from his palm, a simple spell of illumination. Artemis stood and stretched, the rest of his men shared in his relief, and began the looting promise. Artemis stopped them with a raised hand, "Tonight you choose your own ales, and sleep with the finest women in the halls of fable. Rejoice men, we walk from this crumbling catacombs wealthy, and tonight we lose are self in the temptation. Now pillage." He smiled brightly as they cheered, he had become good at his speeches, they adored them like gold it self; or almost like gold, anyway. No one dared touch the red blade until Artemis came down and inspected it, grabbing the hilt he confirmed that it indeed was enchanted, but not malicious. "We'll toss it in the strong box, and get a broker to appraise it later. Any complaints?"
"Aye, captain." A voice came from the warrior with the silver dagger. "I wish to take the sword as my payment." Artemis considered him for a moment, then nodded in agreement, handing it by it's hilt to him.
"May it serve you well."
"Thank you, captain."
"It were too big for the likes o' me anyway..." Chimed the dwarf, staring at his ruined short sword.
"Ah, fear not. I'll buy you another blade- No! Another ten blades in it's place. The fortune we have gained today is far greater then that one blade." He gestured around the room, having conquered the structure he could legally sell it to a lord of the land, and, although it did need some work, it would indeed fetch a fine price. The tapestries on the walls were maintained, and they too would fetch a fair some of gold.

The two day ride to Fable went by fast with gold in their pockets, they had sold the tower to a lord, and made their way back with the remaining loot. The dwarf had a new blade, lined with red, the blade it self was a golden-brown shade, a dwarven metal, the site of which made the stout creature beam with joy. Artemis dawned a new ring on his right hand, with a faceted black zircon sitting at it's top, it was filled with energy, and as the mage had told him, would help heal common poisons, a very practical enchantment in the eyes of Artemis. Later that night his men dined in the tavern, courting women with their fat purses and drinking until they stumbled about foolishly. Artemis looked at them with pride, their behavior was nothing new, and he believed that as long as they were happy, the viewing eye could shove it, although he doubted too many of the residence in Fable cared. Tonight he could rest.

He had hired a women, but found himself not in the mood. He stood there for a moment, allowing her to attempt to seduce him, but it was futile, and he dismissed her with her payment. He lied down, looking at the ceiling, and eventually fell asleep. He awoke late in the morning sweat dripping down his brow, his dagger already in his hand his eyes frantically searching the room. Nothing. He leaned back and breathed in deeply, allowing his heart to fall in pace. He rose from his bead and dressed him self in Shade's Skin, taking Tezenek and strapping it to his left hip. He sheathed his dagger, and attached the bow to it's place on his back, as well as collecting his quiver of arrows before heading out the door. He walked groggily into the tavern, glancing around at the eyes that had found his presence. He commanded some respect as a guild master, and not many people would be as quick to insult him when he had his men at his back. He looked around for them, they had agreed to meet there in the afternoon. They were easy to locate, they all had the guild insignia on their armor, a spiraling red dragon breathing fire at it's own tail.

They had congregated at a round table right from the center of the room, one man looked up and signaled the rest of the men to quickly down their booze, knowing that they'd be reprimanded if he found them drinking this early. It was something a grown man feared, being scolded by a boy ten years your minor in public. They finished and belched loudly, Artemis knew what they were doing, but with lack of evidence he didn't feel like dragging the issue out. His eyes found a vixen like figure with the hand of a mature man on her ass, he raised his brow, she didn't seem like the rest of the loose women wondering the halls, he had a feeling he couldn't hire her. Then another voice, one of Ryker, came from nearby. He looked over to him, he was announcing the proceedings of some raid on the Purist siege equipment, and he was looking for help. Before he could rise, four already had, and he sat for a moment, disappointing that he couldn't join in. It was a Rookie mission, really, he and his men could easily handle it he was sure, in fact he could go so far as to place a counter claim on the bounty and try it himself, if he got their first the loot would be his; however, he didn't want to get on that one's nerves. Ryker was renowned, and Artemis was sure that he was one who's nerves he didn't want to be getting on.

Glancing about his table he could see his men had their eyes on him. He shrugged, they all looked some what drunk. "You're going be drunk as aroused pigs by sunset if I leave ya' here, and I know it." He ended, allowing it to sit in the air for a moment, they shuffled their feet a bit under the table. "So be it then, I'll be off, you rest. Take your pays from the coffers, I think I'll join that Ryker fellow."

They all glanced at him dumbly, "Ye must be fooling with us captain, ya' don't be expectin' us to sit here on our bums, while ye go and take all the loot, do ya?" The dwarf protested, rising in his chair. "Yer out of yer mind, I say."
"Aye, I'm disbanding the guild you silly little dwarf. I'm allowing you a break, take it, I say."
There was some clear discontent in the group, but the dwarf looked into Artemis's eyes and perked up, "Then while yer off rolling in the mud, we'll be here, dining on veal and honey mead,"
"An' sleepin' with fine women!" Another announced, batting his mug against the table, "Another round!" Artemis smiled, they had apparently come to terms with their short parting. He rose from his seat, he saw that Ryker was heading for the door, he walked over quickly and haled him, "Ryker," he circled him and greeted him from upfront. "Would you mind another hand? I'm Artemis Estery, Guild Master of the Shade's Band, son of Silvan Estery and Miladan Estery. It is my pleasure to meet you, and, if I may, assist you in your task." He stood at his tallest, smiling formally. In the back ground he could see his men, looking forlornly at him, and then continuing to drink, some one apparently breaking the ice.

((Don't leave without me >.<))

[L]

The disgusting smile that adorned Keb's face melted off at Ryker's dismissal 'hush' sign. Then the crowd went back to fawning over the Moonslayer.
The grim goblin – muttering under his breath some insults better left unheard – sank back in to the crowd. Frackthem, they'llgetwhat'scoming

He slunk back to his original seat, jumping up and motioning to the bartender to serve more ale. Unfortunately for Keb, the Orc that he had just moments ago stolen from, was still there. Big – disgusting – and angry.

'You schtol mah beer runt' The Orc had trouble speaking, slurring over his words. Keb didn't know if it was because it was drunk, or just stupid. 'Ah'm gonna use you asa pair o' boots!" He slammed his fist, palm down on the bar in front of the goblin, who only stared up at the hulking Orc towering above him. 'Whatcha think 'bout that huh?'

Keb muttered a few words under his breath and the Orc look confused.

'Whatcha saying RUNT?,' By now, some of the patrons close by were watching the exchange with interest, and some coins were changing hands.

Keb kept his eyes firmly on the Ors eyes. 'I said,' The goblin paused for effect... 'That yur... pretty'

The crowd watching the Orc and Goblin were silenced. All eyes were on them – most were shocked. The Orc, however, went in to a rage.

He went to lift his hand off the bar, but found it stuck. He yanked it again and still couldn't move it. Keb grinned.

'Oh... nothatwasn'tit – I cast a gluespell, mah bad sunshine'

The Orc was still struggling with trying to get his hand free of the bar, even more livid at Keb's taunting.

Just then the Orc saw a flash of stone and it took him a moment to notice the little goblin's dagger planted firmly in his stuck hand.

The Orc went berserk once he registered the pain. Keb merely ignored the anger and threats, pulled the dagger out and walked off threw the crowd to leave the on-watchers quickly exchanging more money.

-

It was at this point that the little horned, green goblin saw Ryker's antics – and his announcement on the current contract. He watched in disgust as more fawners clambered to join his little trip. It was vulgar – disgusting – infuriating! All he wanted to do was knock the Moonslayer down a peg.

And then they left.

Keb took the opportunity to clamber up to the 4th floor, unnoticed by the rest of the crowd of course, all the while thinking PleasePleasePleasePlease

And it was there.

He quickly grabbed the contract, jumped deftly on to the rail and shouted down to the crowd in an almost high pitched squeal 'Oi! Yah sorryexcusesfar dragonnuts! - Who wants to have some fun with dem Alliance folks and kill sum dwarves?'

[nonangelic92]

Kerran smiled, " Well actually it comes from my village. Ker in my language means beauty and ran is twin, so when they come together my name actually means beauty from twins." Kerran looked around, " So do you know of any adventures so to speak of that are in needed of an extra person or something close to that." she asked kindly.

[Atrum Daemon]

Delek had some time to prepare and he planned to do just that. He had nabbed a room on one of the lower levels of the guild, the first floor to be specific, which was kept very sparsely decorated. The room was plain simply because Delek did not own much. The biggest thing in the room was a cabinet against the far wall that held the trophies he kept from his bounties.

Delek tossed an open travel pack onto his bed and looked through the various smaller drawers and the stocks of dried food he had. He added a few wrappings of dried meat and fruit to the pack that already contained all-weather sleeping gear. From the stand next to the trophy cabinet, Delek grabbed The Cleaver, his weapon of choice for non-magic combat. Since the weapon was made with a large wielder in mind, he could only comfortably carry it horizontally, usually at a slight angle with the curved tip pointing to the floor, across the small of his back.

With the final addition of an ornate dagger onto his belt, Delek swung the pack over his shoulder and left his room, waving his hand and engaging the magical locks as the door closed behind him. He picked his way back through the main room, smirking to himself when he heard the goblin Kab ask for help assisting the Alliance side of the same job.

“The port, huh?” Delek murmured to himself as he stepped out of the tavern. “Hopefully, this whole thing will take my mind off that damn tower job.”

Delek adjusted the pack and started walking, taking a slow pace since he felt like taking his time. After all, time was something he had plenty of in one form or another.

[Dirzrahel]

Ryker was just about out the door of the guild tavern when some bloke came up to him from behind. The Moon-Slayer turned around, an eyebrow raised, as he listened to the long-winded man until he got around to the part of joining. Ryker was not one for exceptions, and he had only asked for four, which was already said and done.

"Sorry, but I've got my group. Consider Keb over there, that goblin needs all the help he can get, haha! See you around. By the way, a useful thing to know-" Ryker said, his voice going to a whisper, "- announcing your titles and the such means nothing to us. You're a lad with a blade. That's all we all are. May we have a great battle, Arty-boy!" Ryker yelled, the others inside the guild taking a liking to the nickname. Roran chuckled at it, standing up and pointing his finger at the man.

"Arty-boyo it tis!" He bellowed, taking a swig from his mug.

Ryker turned his back on the boy and left, making his way tot he merchant's plaza. He needed a couple things, that was all. When he got there he reviewed the stands and the kiosks, surveying and bartering with the merchants until he got a nice length of chain about ten yards long and a pouch full of healing salve. He was going to pull something not widely seen at this battle. He wrapped the chain in an "X" over his chest as he left the plaza and made his way to the port, taking the chance to converse with the captain of the trading galley and slip the fellow a few gold jigs. Not many sailors liked Grand Stream, but with what Ryker had in mind, going through the Giants' territory was a must.

[Higurashi]

Alex was having a roaring good time at the moment. He had finally gotten drunk after consuming enough alchohol to take down a bull rhino, large male elephant, and troll together. He was loudly preforming with the entire band in tow, going around town and playing in Fable most of the day. Most of the preformances were made up of popular drinking songs and shanties. There were happy ones, sad ones, cold, ones, hot ones, and the occasional hilarious one. Quite a crowd had gathered to watch the new band christened "Drunkards Ballet'.

One interesting song was, My last night in Baltimore. It went as such, "~We were fresh from the sea, with our pocket full of money. When me an-me-maties headed for the bar! No sooner had we 'rived, when one pint turned to five. An the lassy grabbed me by the belt and dragged me to tha stairs! HO! Mother, don't wake-me, don't jostle or shake me, I spent all night drinkin with tha ladies by the shore! If I neva wake, don't cry and don't shake, just sing the glorious tales of my last night in Baltimore!~", and so on, with significant slurs and drunkeness to make it only sound even better. At some point a dance began up around the band, inside Fable. Damon sighted Kerran, went over, and dragged her into the fray, dancing to the music. "Hey there lass, how are you?" He asked.

[Mysteria]

K, " Well actually it comes from my village. Ker in my language means beauty and ran is twin, so when they come together my name actually means beauty from twins. So do you know of any adventures so to speak of that are in needed of an extra person or something close to that."

Ne'Rista took a long drawn out drink of her mead looking around as Kerran spoke. Her eyes fell back on Kerran as she answered "There was a bounty just announced. Ryder has his team already put together but I you might want to check with the other team, they might still be in need of someone."

Sitting her mug down Ne'Rista added "If I were you I'd talk to Keb, he might be able to set you in the right direction. Now if you excuse me I should go and a last minute check on some things."

Ne'Rista bid Kerran goodbye and made her way up the steps to her room and starting checking over her stuff.

[Stryker]

"So, ya think yer too good for the family, eh? Want to leave us behind and just go on yer merry little way?" his father boomed infront of the entire village while his mother held a small rag over her mouth, tears beginning to fill her eyes.

"I.. I just want to see what's out the-"

"Don't gimme that load'a shit!" his father yelled out, taking a step towards him making their difference in height that much more evident. While Drake stood just a shade over six feet, his father was a tower of a man in comparison. His father's 6'7 frame stood over him menacingly, as if daring him to speak out of turn again.

"We all know why ya wanna leave, it's not a secret. You're ashamed of the family."

"That's not true!" Drake exclaimed, the hurt becoming evident in his eyes.

"I'll hear nothing more out of you!" his father yelled before striking him across the cheek with a swift backhand, the blow catching him off guard and stumbling backwards a bit. The action causing all watching to gasp while his mother began to sob and run back in the house with Drake's younger sister in tow.

While all of that happened, his father had come nose to nose with him, anger filling his eyes rather than the sorrow that resided in Drake's.

"If ya ever come around here again, come prepared to leave in half the state ya arrived... You have no home here anymore, you're dead to this family..." he told him before quickly spinning around and heading to their house, physically moving anyone and anybody that happened to be between he and his destination.

"F-father... why?...." Drake mumbled as he fell to his knees... "Why...?"

"Gah!" Drake yelled out as he sat up and gather his breath. "...It.. was that dream again..." he thought to himself as he looked around and saw that he had been slepping on some bedding next to the lake. Eventually he propped himself up using his arms behind him and stared at the mid-day sky.

"I'll be going back... he can't stop me..." he thought, referring to his dream which was actually a nightmare that actually happened. Ever since being kicked out and disowned, that nightmare had been plaguing him. It was one of the main reasons that he had garnered a hatred for his father and what he had done to him three years ago.

[nonangelic92]

Kerran was surprised that in this town random people just took your hand to dance even though you arn't done talking. She didn't even say goodbye to the elven woman. She pushed the man away from her, "Listen sir, I have no idea who you are or where you come from. But where I come from, a man asks a lady to dance espeically after she's done after a conversation. And did it look like I was done." She throw a few gold pieces on the table, and turned back to the man, "Now since you wanna get all friendly can you take me to the one called Keb." she asked kindly

[Higurashi]

Damon watches as the lass walks off, refusing to dance. He's puzzled by this, but, of course, he is drunk afterall. When she asks where Keb is, he says, "Oh, Kebs over by that there bar" While pointing. "Now lass, I'll be seeing you later as you don't want to dance." He grabs a barmaid and starts dancing with her. She's more than obliging. Dance with a good looking elf was better than serving drunks. They twirled around to the music's frantic beat and eventually came to a rest. Damon let the girl get back to her work. (Much to her reluctance.) He then joined back up with the band and played a couple of tunes before coming of his alchohol high. It was the first time Damon had ever gotten a hangover, and he wasn't prepared. He lay there on the table until one of the band members dragged him back to his room and slugged him into bed. He soon got over the hangover however and got back down to the main floor. He then was challenged by a couple of the drunker patrons to shoot an arrow into and through a number of near impossible things. Damon gladly accepted, took out his bow and proceeded to shoot. He got all but one, which was a pyhsical impossiblity. Damon forked over the money and went back to what he was doing, which was looking for a nice girl.

[Zarma]

He commented in the back of his head, assuring him self that all his titles were for impressions but more so for formalities. "And may it grow greater," he said, moving to the side to allow him passage. He watched as Ryker departed, he gave off the impression that he was a glass that was a bit too full, but some how still retaining water. In side the tavern a cheer erupted from the table of his men, apparently rejoicing in the change of plans, and more so perhaps, as part of the guild charter, that he'd be taking from the guilds coffers for all their drinks. He shrugged, trotting over to his table, where his men were pounding their mugs into the wood; they must have growing drunker by the minute. There were various mumblings of the word name Arty-Boy were herd throughout the tavern, if nothing else he had gained some reputation, and he imagined those who would forget Artemis would not forget Arty-Boy.

"Aay, Arty-Boy", he herd from his right flank, taking from a daze he turned to examine the eyes of one of his six men on his right, a large human that was slightly taller the Artemis, but much broader. Artemis returned a stare that was so cold is froze the expression on the mans face. Artemis lifted his fist and punched him squarely in the nose, sending him sprawling to the floor. "Oi, listen here. I'll have none of this Arty-Boy stuff from you lot, I'm still Captain while I'm your guild-master." A groan escaped the man on the floor, Artemis reached down and offered his hand, the man, although his pride was struck, gladly accepted his offer and allowed himself to be yanked upwards. A stream of blood ran down his nose, and he was quick to place his free hand over it. "Wipe your nose off,"

"I think ye broke it, captain." He moaned, turning his nose, it cracked slightly and he winced in immense pain. "Aye, definitely broken'." Artemis shook his head, gesturing for one of the archers that had been with him three days ago. He placed his mead on the table on the walked over to examine his comrade's injury, his nose was crinkled and misshapen.
"You hit em right good, Captain," He continued to browse his nose, "Here's thinking it's going to require a bit o' the potion to fix this..." He reached into a satchel and pulled out a purplish liquid, a concoction he, as the guild herbalist, had brewed up. "Drink," He handed it to the wounded solider, he grimaced, having tasted the bitter swill before he was less then eager to try it again. But the pain one over, he tilted his head back and chugged the small drink, his faced pinched and he puckered his lips, placing the empty bottle on the table and taking his seat again, the potion would need some time to work it's way on the bone in his nose, but for now the numbing effects would suffice.

"I better be able to taste my drink, Captain." He wasn't really in the position for threats, but it was more of a friendly jest. Taking a seat he look about the table, his men had broken into chat, and idea the of sitting there in fable for a week or so of rest made his skin itch. He stood, remembering something Ryker had said about the goblin Keb shouting for recruits from the balcony. Artemis nodded towards his men, departing from the table and making his way to the stairs, where he proceeded to the top floor and approached the diminutive creature, stopping a safe distance behind him. "Keb?" It was obvious who he was, being the only goblin he ever herd of that wasn't brooding around a fire and stuff their pitiful faces with rotten mutton. The image made him smile, the thought of slicing his blade through a goblins skull always did that- the loot he'd get from their hoards never ceased to amaze him; a gold goblet they'd stolen from some wondering adventurer, an enchanted wand undoubtedly scavenged from a dying mage, or perhaps some lovely gems taken from deep gnomes traders. They were easy kills for good profits. He expected something more from Keb though, the goblin didn't look weak and gangly but sturdy and agile. "I'll join you." He paused for a moment, "What's the bounty?"

[nonangelic92]

Kerran walked up to the fourth floor "Which one of you is this guy named Keb?" she asked. A few patriens pointed to a goblin who looked drunk. Kerran blinked in astonishment, a goblin she thought seriously. She walked over to Keb and looked at him with a sweet yet knowing smile, " So your Keb. I thought you would be, I don't know taller. No offense of course. So I hear your looking for some adventureures, well here I am." she smiled.

[L]

Keb was startled by the voice behind him, so engrossed he was at the time with spitting on a random warrior who'd decided to insult him. He'd wanted to piss on him – but the last time he'd done that from one of the balconies he'd knocked a candle off its perch and the whole ordeal had ended up costing him a few hundred gold pieces in repairs for burning down a section of the bar.

Keb still maintained it was worth it.

'Keb? I'll join you... what's the bounty?

The little goblin spun on the railing to face the questioner and perked an eyebrow. There were all sorts of races and kinds at Fable, but even this one with his teal eyes and blue hair stood out. Before he'd had a chance to respond, another one... a blonde girl wearing a red outfit with pieces of armor attached walked up behind the male.

'So your Keb. I thought you would be, I don't know taller. No offense of course. So I hear your looking for some adventurers, well here I am.'

Keb blinked, swore under his breath – then spun and spat down in to the crowd below again. When he turned around, he let off a savage grin.

'Maynotbetall girl, but bigintherightplaces'

He jumped down off the rail, made no attempt to disguise scratching his ass with his bone dagger. 'Purist Alliance wantustospill Dwarf blood – lotsoffun! Beardedfreaks!' He looked around, saw what he wanted then walked off without another word, making his way over to a booth in the back of the room – expecting Kerran and Artemis to follow.

The large booth was already occupied, but this wasn't a deterrence for the goblin – he merely jumped up on the table, kicked a mug of ale in one of the occupants faces and screamed 'Getout!' at them.

The booth was suddenly unoccupied and Keb took a seat, slapping the parchment down on the table, waiting for the other 2 to arrive.

[nonangelic92]

Kerran rolled her eyes, he may be a goblin but he was just like all men. She followed him over to the table and took a seat. " So tell me Keb what did these dwarves to piss a special someone off. PIllage a town, kill a important noble or both plus a little bit more." she asked.

[Gsarge]

Herni stepped aside seeing Ryker walk out the door of Fable as he bowed his head lightly to him. “Pholtus, light your path.” He spoke clearly to him as he then made his way into the hall looking about among the adventurous folk as he just managed to catch wind that someone was looking to band together for a job. Good, he was eager to perform works in the name of Pholtus. He noticed a person being pointed over to a goblin as he weaved through the patrons gently stopping a barmaid’s tray from falling out onto a table.

He watched Keb’s little display. Impressive for most, though he’d fought more than his share of goblins to know what he had just done was well in the range of all but the least fit of his kind. He then made his way up to the both the rude goblin had just cleared out in time to hear some woman talking to him about the bounty. He just hung back and listened it seemed she was asking the same question he had going through his mind.

What they were hunting wasn’t important but the why was. While he knew there seemed to be good and evil among all peoples, however Pholtus really only cared about his worshipers and the slaying of all that he judged evil. If someone had put a bounty on it them it means they angered someone enough to put up a contract in Fable.

After Keb finished answering the woman’s question, he calmly and clearly spoke to him. “The contract wishes them dispatched from this world, correct? Is time an issue? What do we have to have to offer proof that the job is done? Who do we report to once the job is done?” He seemed much less pushy than a lot of the adventurers around Fable when interested in work even with his chain of questions, but he’d spoken with fast talkers like Keb before and figured most of them like getting all the important stuff out of the way and known to the rest of the group.

[L]

Keb tapped his claw on the wooden table impatiently as the questions came thick and fast, waiting for them to die down.

From the blonde girl seated at the table he got:
'So tell me Keb what did these dwarves to piss a special someone off. Pillage a town, kill a important noble or both plus a little bit more'

Then, from a new comer with some long spear looking thing he got bombarded with:
'The contract wishes them dispatched from this world, correct? Is time an issue? What do we have to have to offer proof that the job is done? Who do we report to once the job is done?'

When the questioning died down, Keb took his turn.

'Justhatedwarves – nothing personal. Morefun, making MoonSlayer's job harder. Ireallyreallyreallylove ruining his plans'

He turned in his seat to face Herni.

'Contractsaysprotectthe Seige Weapons. PuristAlliancewanttouse them. Bring down the DwarvenCityWalls apparently. We protect – dwarvesattackseigeweapons, wekilldwarves. Fun! Job done when Seige Weapons breakdownthewalls' Keb bounced in his seat with glee while sending an empty mug flying at the booth's wall.

Just as suddenly the goblin sobered, and Keb thought for a second.

'Shouldmovesoon – MoonSlayer has headstart. Yes, shouldmovesoon – we need to head to PuristAllianceWarCamp before MoonSlayerhasachancetowin'

He looked around. 'Areweit? Nomoretakers to jointhefun?'

[Anne Bonny]

When Kyra had entered the tavern some time earlier, she had done so with only the intention of having a few drinks and a few laughs. It had started out well enough, bursting through the doors with a boisterous call of, "Worry no more, gentlemen! I've arrived!" and taking a seat with a few aquaintences and a few mugs of ale. But when the goblin called down from the fourth floor about an adventure, Kyra just couldn't stand sitting still and letting someone else go off and have all the fun.

She had excused herself from her party and made her way upstairs in search of the goblin. The little monster already had some attention from a lovely, young looking girl and a man who's appearance made Kyra raise an eyebrow and give him the once-over from behind.

'Areweit? Nomoretakers to jointhefun? the goblin said, looking around. It took a brief moment for Kyra to process what he was saying, as her mind was still under the influence of ale and the goblin spoke so quickly.

"If there's fun to be had, count me in," Kyra said once she mentally deciphered his words. She smiled at the goblin. "Who could resist an invitation from such a cute little thing?"

[Dirzrahel]

Sailors and skippers bussed by on the wharf port of Vale, seagulls doing the same as their small, yellow beady eyes spied for a dropped fish or other morsel. Great grand trading galleys bobbed back and forth as the surf beat against their treated wooden bodies, cabin boys scrubbed some of their ships, hung for safety on a rope trailing off the ship's banister. A crow's nest here and there would be a first mate with a telescope, looking around at the ocean abroad, in case any outlaw were to sail in unexpectedly. Last but not least was the wharf pub, where the captains of these ships sat when their work was over. One such captain was Captain Kerrain Guil'tee, once pirate now trader of the open seas and a traveler of all waters westward, eastward, and beyond. He was a ripe man of his mid-thirties, a full beard scruffy and tinted with red but black as a raven's cloak. He sat at a table, his bandana emblazoned with the symbol of his trade, two shark fins and a wave over it all. His eyes were bright red, a sure sign of someone not human, but he didn't care. Everyone knew the name Kerrain Guil'tee, mostly from pirate days. Ryker sat across from him at a table, fist propped up under his chin.

"So then Kerrain, will you ferry us through Grand Stream?"

"Aye, Ryker. I still owe ye a favor from that errmm... one time." Captain Guil'tee said smiling cautiously as if saying not to bring up the subject of the favor. Ryker grinned slyly, throwing his hand over the table as the two clasped like brothers and exited the small wharf pub, making their way outside to the port. He walked with Kerrain until they reached his galley, once a pirate frigate.

"Welcome back to teh Grenavive, Ryker. She's been waitin' for ye to return. She'll be a-waitin' for the rest of yer crew too. They'd better have the mind of what the sea is if they chance at going upon Grenavive's landing plank." Kerrain said, clapping Ryker on the back as he approached his ship, yelling obscenities and insults at his crew as they whipped themselves into action and prepared the ship.

Ryker crossed his arms as he watched the crew scramble into sortie, the chains wrapped around his chest rattling. Oh, he had a plan with these chains. They'd serve a good purpose when dealing with the siege weapons that Purist Alliance had, and it'd be a very wonderful way indeed. Something so surprising, it would have the humans shaking in their armor and piss their trousers. He imagined for a brief moment if that would rust their armor, then shrugged. He cared not. Though if the battlefield started smelling like fresh feces instead of blood and dirt, he'd get a bit miffed.

He adjusted the sack of healing materials on his back as he went toward the Grenavive, approaching the great pirate frigate that was armed to the teeth with the latest cannon innovations and clean, crisp strong ironwood. He had been on this ship before, but that was when Kerrain was a pirate. That was when Ryker had the contract of killing Kerrain Guil'tee the Pirate.

He wasn't a pirate anymore, though.

[Stryker]

After taking a little while to tend to his sword and making sure it was in pristine condition, he got up from his bedding near the lake and began to pack up for his move to the port to meet with Ryker and the rest of the squad. Seeing as he wasn't known hardly at all within the confines of Fable he chose to leave at an earlier time than he needed to leave due to not wanting to hold up progress with the task at hand. He had a feeling, under the care-free attitude displayed by Ryker in the tavern that he had another side to him that he didn't intend to feel the brunt of anytime soon at all.

"If a fight breaks out at sea, I have to mind where this goes..." he told himself while sheathing it on his back. He was referring to the fact that it could freeze quite a bit of the water surrounding the ship if it were to make contact with the large body of water they would be crossing, he'd accidentally done it before to a small ship he was aboard that got him to the small port town. The boat made it to the docks, but it was damaged from having to plow through a couple feet of ice and the captain wasn't all that happy about what had happened either.

After gathering all his equipment and items, he slowly made his way to the port which was within eyesight from the lake. Matter of fact, he could see Ryker talking to someone as they walked along the docks and toward a ship, he guessed that it would be the one they would take across the sea. Soon enough he caught up to Ryker who was still making his way across the docks.

"Ryker!" he called out, "I'm all prepared and ready." he told him with a smile and nod.

[Atrum Daemon]

There was one thing Delek enjoyed more than tavern atmosphere. It was the atmosphere of a port. He had many good memories of various port towns and the not so legal things he had done while there. It crossed his mind that he should have asked Ryker what ship to look for, but Delek figured he’d spot the Moon Slayer easily enough. After all, not many men dressed the way he did.

Delek spotted Ryker heading toward what looked like the kind of ship Delek was used to seeing pirates sailing on. Smirking lightly, he increased his pace to a light jog and caught up with Ryker as he closed in on the ship. “Not skimpin on the ship are ya?” Delek asked, tapping Ryker with his foot as he caught up to the Moon Slayer.

Delek had been on his fair share of ships, but he had to admit that the ship he was facing was indeed and impressive one. “Never been through Grand Stream, myself,” he said musingly, “this should be interesting.”

[Mysteria]

Ne'Rista finished checking over the bag she had thrown together to make sure she had everything she would need for the trip, secured her daggers and sheathed her sword into it's scabbard. Taking a final look around the room to make sure everything was in it's place she stepped into the hallway closing the door behind her.

Slinging the bag across her shoulder Ne'Rista made her way down the steps and through the inn and slid up behind Roran wrapping her hands around him from behind, spinning him to face her and said "You, old man" Her voice was loud and it sounded as though Ne'rista was about to give the old man hell when she suddenly stopped in mid-sentence and flicked him on the nose with her finger then leaned in quick and kissed his cheek with a wink and a smile "Ye keep an eye on my room while I'm gone and keep a chair warm, I don't expect it's gonna take us long at all to be collecting any bounty."

With a turn and a quick few steps Ne'Rista was making her way across the tavern and into the street but not before the old man made sure he got good squeeze in across her ass before she left. That was Roran, as sweet as they come but never to old to be counted out for appreciating a good looking woman every chance he got.

It was a beautiful day out with skies almost as blue as the very sea that they were about to set sail upon. A light breeze kissed the air blowing her hair around her face as she walked through town and made her way down the busy docks. Life bustled all around her and as were those docks, so was Ne'Rista, completely full of life. She had always looked as life as an adventure to be lived to the fullest and living the life she did had allowed her to enjoy one adventure after another.

This bounty would be no different. It would be another adventure and the fact that she got to do it traveling the lands and seas with a bunch of handsome men this time around was just an added bonus for Ne'Rista. Ne'Rista saw Ryker, Drake and Delek ahead of her. Quickening her pace she caught up to them and with a smirk on her face slightly bowing as her umber colored eyes dancing with merriment she winked at both Delek and Drake then nodded to Ryker "And just what does the great and mighty Ryker have planned for us today?"

[Higurashi]

Damon finally finished up what sleeping and got out of bed. He had had a terrible hangover from the previous evening and it had taken a lot longer than usual to get up. He picked up his pre-prepared pack and put it on his back. He then picked up his bow and set it against the wall. He took about thrity arrows and put them on a sheath which his carried at his side. He took his gladius and sheathed it and also secured it on he waist. He then picke up his large yew bow and walked down into the main tavern. As he walked out the door he got a number of back slapping and even more numerous goodbye's.

As he walked out the front door and down to the harbor his mind ventured back to the days that he had been a little boy... "Don't you understand son?" His father had said. "You have to do this. Its for the good of our people!" "But what about me!?" He had replied "Why is it always about someone other than me?!" "Because son." His father had said. "This is the way of our world." Soon after, Damon had left home and rode his horse as far as he could go. Away from such a boring life, off to a life of adventure... Damon retrieved his horse from its stable on the way down to the harbor. He didn't ride it as it was forbidden in the city. He finally arrived at the port and sighted Ryker and the group waiting for him. He walked over, shouted out a greeting, and eyed the ship. "So this is our vessel aye? Should I leave my horse or are we taking it with us?"

[Dirzrahel]

Ryker watched a skipper sail through the air on a rope, going from the bow of the ship to the deck and dropping inside the cargo hold. Seemed like fun. He heard his name being called multiple times and looked around, bewildered. He was not used to having companions. Unfortunately, Roran had put fine print on the bottom. Had to have at least four partners in the deal before it could be accepted, but, the more the merrier. He picked the minimum so the reward would be split into bigger portions.

The Moon-Slayer turned around and indicated each of them with his finger.

"Drake, right? Rista, good you're here. Damon, yes. Delek, uh-huh. All seem accounted for..." He spoke to himself, mumbling a few words while questions hit him in rapid succession.

"Right, Drake, go board the Grenavive and get to know the crew and the captain. Rista, I happen to have a lot planned. We're going through Grand Stream instead of Sacaara for a reason that will be shown soon. Delek, you have no idea. The only way to get through Grand Stream is to have a specific kind of ship, and luckily, a friend of mine happens to own one of these. You'll notice how special it is when we set off. Damon, yes, this is the ship. You can bring the horse on board and trot it to the cargo hold. It'll be fine there." Ryker explained, turning around and approaching the Grenavive, his hand motioning them to come.

"Move out! We've got to make time if what I have in mind works!" He yelled, walking up the boarding plank and dropping down onto the deck of the Grenavive. He turned directly right and went up a small flight of step, the bow of the ship before him and Captain Guil'tee at the helm. The pirate's hand was resting on not a wheel, but an orb that sat on a pedestal. A very black orb that seemed to have something living inside it. The Captain looked to Ryker and grinned, a chuckle escaping his lips.

"So, the last time ye was on me ship, ye nearly crapped yer pants. Prepared dis time?" Kerrain inquired, his hand rubbing the orb slowly.

Ryker laughed back, a wry look on his face and his eyebrow raised, his arms crossing themselves as he tapped his foot.

"Well, let's say I'm used to it now. All the preparations ready, Kerrain?" Ryker retorted.

"Yessum, Ry. The tow platform has been strung up in the back. I 'ope you're putting somethin' that'll hurt on it." Captain Guil'tee mentioned, laughing at his own imagination of what they would be picking up in Grand Stream.

Ryker moved past the Captain to the stern of the ship, turning around and leaning on the rail. A smile crept onto his face, a glint in his eye.

"Methinks after you see it, you may want one yerself."

[Stryker]

"Right, Drake, go board the Grenavive and get to know the crew and the captain. Rista, I happen to have a lot planned. We're going through Grand Stream instead of Sacaara for a reason that will be shown soon. Delek, you have no idea. The only way to get through Grand Stream is to have a specific kind of ship, and luckily, a friend of mine happens to own one of these. You'll notice how special it is when we set off. Damon, yes, this is the ship. You can bring the horse on board and trot it to the cargo hold. It'll be fine there." Ryker told them all as they arrived before motioning for them to follow him aboard.

"Wow... this ship is... magnificent." he thought to himself as he walked aboard and looked around, it was the kind of ship he dreamed of sailing on when he was still at him. Nothing seemed shy of perfect condition no matter where he looked on the deck. "The Grenavi-"

"Move out! We've got to make time if what I have in mind works!" Ryker yelled out, catching Drake off-guard causing him to jerk out of talking to himself to where Ryker stood. He wasn't quite used to having a supervisor for a bounty but he knew that he'd have no problems with it in this situation, it'd just be something new to get acquainted with.

"He sure knows how to get someone's attention," Drake thought to himself before looking around and getting better acquainted with the crew before they set sail, walking up to members of the crew that didn't seem to be in the middle of something at the time and striking up small conversations. A few of them asked questions about his sword and the fact that the blade was tinted blue and why that was. So he spent a good deal of time re-explaining his sword's properties and abilities to more than a few people.

After a bit he found Delek and strode over to him before leaning back on the railing, "Seems like Ryker has everything already planned out for this bounty, eh?"

[nonangelic92]

"If there's fun to be had, count me in. Who could resist an invitation from such a cute little thing?" Kerran turned aorund and saw a tall woman with raven hair speak those exact words. She grunted a sound of complete annoyance after the woman called the goblin cute. She stood up, "Oh please your so drunk you would think a narling swamp rat is cute." She turned to Keb, " So are we gonna go have some dwarf or not?" she asked kind of snarky like.

[Atrum Daemon]

“As long as it gets my head away from recent events,” Delek said, “I don’t really care what he has planned, kid.”

Delek was sitting on the deck with his back against the railing, his sword propped up next to him. He noticed a few of the crew taking glances at the large blade and murmuring to each other, but didn’t pay it much mind. He was sure Drake would find it odd that Delek referred to him as “kid” since Delek himself did not look much older than Drake. “What will be interesting to see is if anyone will take the other end of the bounty and help the purists.”

He stretched his arms above his head before interlacing his fingers behind his head against the railing.

[Mysteria]

Rista, I happen to have a lot planned. We're going through Grand Stream instead of Sacaara for a reason that will be shown soon. Delek, you have no idea. The only way to get through Grand Stream is to have a specific kind of ship, and luckily, a friend of mine happens to own one of these. You'll notice how special it is when we set off. Damon, yes, this is the ship. You can bring the horse on board and trot it to the cargo hold. It'll be fine there."


Did he just call her Rista?

Ne'Rista's eyes narrowed at the Moon-Slayers use of the name Rista. Few people had the privilege of calling her Rista and why she tolerated Ryker using it she still at times wasn't exactly sure although she had her own thoughts on that very matter and none that she need share with others, especially the Moon-Slayer.

Ne'Rista hauled herself and her bag up onto deck throwing the bag down beside her foot as she leaned against the railing. On timely cue the panther appeared behind her and curling up at her foot he used the bag as a head rest.

The day was warm and sunny and Ne'Rista removed the jacket that she wore laying it over the railing of the ship and then leaning over it as she looked into the distance. The way the sun glinted off of the water mesmerized Ne'Rista as she stood there her long flowing hair shimmering in the sunlight as the breeze blew it away from her face. She could smell the salt air, and loved the way that the waves lapped against the side of the boat.

She was ready for adventure.

[Higurashi]

Damon nodded and pulled his horse onto the ship and down into the cargo hold. He made damn sure to properly secure the horse so it would fall over and hurt itself as the ship swayed back and forth. The horse really didn't like being on the ship, not on bit in fact. He struggled an pulled the entire way. It was almost as if the horse sensed something bad about the ship. Damon sighed when he finally got the horse secure and calmed down. It was going to be a long trip.

He then set about finding himself some quarters on the ship. Most replies he got told him to put his lazy bum down with the rest of the crew in the main quarters. Damon found the Quarters to be intolerable. It was a relatively clean place for a main barracks, but it still stank to high heaven. He finally managed to get a small, two person closet like room. He was supposed to share it with whomever asked next. He seriously hoped it wasn't Ne'Rista, one of the other adventurers, or anyone else for that matter. He liked sleeping by himself, and the crampedness of the sleeping space didnt help.

He stowed his possesions and went up on the main deck, looked around, and went of to talk to the anti-boarding party. They had some useful insight about focusing your bow with the swaying of the ship. They also pointed out that the arrows path would be more affected by sea winds and the humidity. Damon didn't understand most of it, but he got the basic affects and know-how. He stretched his arms out above his had and looked out on the ocean. Time for excitement, he thought. What I left home for.

[Dirzrahel]

As soon as Ryker had seen everyone get situated upon the Grenavive, he snapped his fingers and winked at Kerrain.

"It's time to show them what you've got, Captain." The Moon-Slayer said, laughing with a sinister tone.

Kerrain Guil'tee looked at him and then back to his crew, his voice traveling across the deck as he told everyone to man their stations. His handed slapped on the crystal orb and the sudden rocking and swaying of the ship stopped. In fact, the sounds of the oceans seemed to be below them now instead of around them. The crystal glowed an eerie white, Kerrain's eyes shining with only anticipation.

The ship lurched up into the air about five feet above the water, jostling all the crew and the occupants. Ryker would have lost his footing if he wasn't expecting it this time. He had been. When it first happened, he thought something had thrown the ship into the air, and nearly shat his pants. This time, he rode it like it were but a wave. The ship stabilized in the air about three feet from the surface of the ocean.

The Grenavive, ship of the Dread Pirate Captain Guil'tee, was a special vessel indeed. There were legends about the ship, that it could skate upon the waves and air and never did it hit the water while sailing. Those myths were correct. It was a stolen Lemurian galley. He had commandeered it when he was stranded on Lemuria, a land far, far away. Though, not far enough to find it again. Ryker was always waiting for a chance to adventure out to Lemuria, but lately, things had been a bit bleak in contracts. He needed more coin.

Ryker walked over to the rail of the ship, looking at the side as the magic happened. The wood seemed to morph as bars came out and propellers blossomed like flowers, a big one in the back of the galley had just sprouted like it was the beginning of spring. The Grenavive went into immediate motion, Kerrain stood with his hands holding out a star map and juggling a compass. Because of the Grenavive's special properties, traveling was an easy task. The only limitation was the amount of magic Captain Guil'tee possessed. Well, he was a Dread Pirate, after all.


Ryker turned to look at those on the deck and laughed out loud, his eyes settling on Ne'Rista.

"So, Riss, how's this for a secret of Ryker von Zephyrr? You should know who the captain of this ship is now. There's only one bloke around here that's ever been reported to have a ship like this."

Kerrain turned around, sighing loudly.

"Quit it will ya? I'd rather not remember tat o' myself."

[Mysteria]

"So, Riss, how's this for a secret of Ryker von Zephyrr? You should know who the captain of this ship is now. There's only one bloke around here that's ever been reported to have a ship like this."

If the ship called the Grenavive had not just floated into the air and Ne'Rista hadn't been slightly taken with it all one of two things would have probably happened to the virgin Ryker and he'd more than likely of not been able to handle either one of them. While Ne'Rista looked young she was not and had been around long enough to know how to handle a pup like Ryker.

Instead of wasting her energies on chewing Ryker a good one she looked over the edge of the boat trying to judge the distance between boat and water and then back to the captain of the ship. Kerrain Guil'tee stood mere inches in front of her. Everyone knew of the famed Kerrain Guil'tee. Ne'Rista gave a slight bow, a show of respect in her peoples world. "Good day to you Captain Guil'tee, tis a beautiful ship that you have here. Thank you for providing us passage."

[Anne Bonny]

"Oh please your so drunk you would think a narling swamp rat is cute." She turned to Keb, " So are we gonna go have some dwarf or not?" she asked kind of snarky like.

With undisguised surprise showing all over her face, Kyra stared at the little blond girl beside her. She was bold enough, but Kyra had to wonder if she had the muscle to back up her attitude. This girl was small enough for Kyra to break in half.

"Did you have something against swamp rats?" she asked, her voice breaking into laughter. "You've got quite a mouth, girl. Try not to let it get you into trouble, hm?"

With a roll of violet eyes, Kyra turned back to the goblin. "This one's a real peach, isn't she?" she asked, jabbing a thumb over her shoulder at the blond.

[nonangelic92]

Kerran stared at the tall woman, "Excuse me but this little peach has a name. Not that I would tell you it anyways." Kerran looked at the woman with a little bit of hatred in her eys.

[Anne Bonny]

Kyra shot the girl a wicked grin and placed her hands on her hips. "Listen, peaches, if I woulda cared about your name, I woulda asked for it."

[nonangelic92]

Kerran smiled, "Yeah and if I truelly cared what you had to say I would have asked for yours." Sits in the table, "So when are we going dwarf hunint?"

[L]

Keb cocked an eyebrow at the 2 women now quarreling in front of him.

'Ohfrakme, Moonslayergetswarriors, I get THIS!' The little goblin let off a string of vile curses, followed by banging his head on the table a few times, his horns leaving large dent marks in the wood.

He jumped up on the table. 'Listentome, youwantgold, blood or whatever, Idon'tcare! Notonefrakingbit – wehaveajob to do, weneedtogo, so unlessyouwantto kill each otherrightnow, I suggest we leavegodepart!'

[Zarma]

Artemis had sat him self down, his chin resting on his fist while his face had changed to a smug smile. He chuckled, the group was becoming increasingly entertaining. He wondered if he'd be better off doing the mission on his own; two disgruntled women and a goblin, fate had a way of playing him such hands. He allowed his eyes to roll over them, they were both fairly attractive, the blond one seeming deceivingly young. He tried to imagine him self in a hundred years, when he was a child he always thought of him self as an old but strong man when he saw the end of the century, but now he was older, more informed, he saw him self as a man that appeared no older then thirty in age, like his father. Reconciling his past he thought to how his mother had aged and his father always kept his same, youthful figure. He imagined his mother, she wasn't very old now, but fine wrinkles had formed on her face, and her hair showed signs of gray appearing amongst the normally auburn bun. His smug expression faded as he imagined him self never growing old, with a short lived companion at his side. The idea of having a wife that he knew would inevitably perish at his side made him shiver.

Regaining his concentration, he pushed the thoughts of his longevity to the back of his mind. The goblin was complaining about how he got stuck with them, and Artemis considered the irony to be quite humorous. The smile came back to his face, and he straightened his body, standing from his chair and stretching. "Well, ready when you are."

[Stryker]

“As long as it gets my head away from recent events, I don’t really care what he has planned, kid.” Delek replied.

"Kid?" Drake thought to himself, catching himself before giving Delek a strange look and instead just turned to face to ocean, using his elbows as props on the railing while looking at the sheer vastness of the ocean.

"He doesn't look much older than me, how does he figure I'm a kid to him?" he thought, fighting the urge to ask him his age.

Instead, he decided to just observe the water. The small waves that were bombarding the ship every few seconds.

Truthfully, he wasn't around the ocean that often in his life. When he arrived in the little port town was just the second time he'd been near the ocean, the other time was a trip his family took 5 years ago and he really didn't want to begin reminiscing about family times. He chose to focus on what Delek had just said, something about getting his mind off of recent events.

"Wonder what he meant..." he thought before hearing Delek speak up again.

"What will be interesting to see is if anyone will take the other end of the bounty and help the purists."

Drake turned again and leaned back against the railing again, like Delek was. "I'd say that someone would eventually... But I guess we'll find out either way in time." he replied before watching Ryker and the ship's captian interact a bit.

What happened next was something his head would reel over for days on end. He couldn't make out the words that were being said, but the captain slapped a crystal ball he was standing next to and then it began to shine a bright, bright white.

"What the hell's going on?" he spoke just slightly above a whisper before hearing the ship raise up out of the ocean, causing him to stumble slightly and catch the railing. After regaining his footing and looking around, he turned to Delek. "Is... Is this ship flying?!"

[Atrum Daemon]

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Delek said as the ship rose from the water. “Yeap, Drake, the ship is flying.”

He resisted the urge to scoff loudly at Ryker’s statement to Ne’Rista. The flying ship was not exactly one of Ryker’s secrets so much as a secret of the captain and crew. However, he did have to admit that being on such a ship was a once in a lifetime opportunity. The rising of the ship had not jostled Delek from his sitting position, but it had caused his blade to fall to the deck with a surprisingly loud and heavy sound. Delek retrieved the sword and tied it securely to the straps of his pack so it wouldn’t slide anywhere as the ship carried them on their way.

He moved his left hand out from behind his head and looked to the back of it. He could see the archaic seal gleaming faintly, reacting to whatever magic it was that the ship captain was using to make the vessel fly.

[Dirzrahel]

Captain Guil'tee turned around and chuckled, nodding toward Ne'Rista, and then pointing at Ryker.

"There's not to be thankin me. Ryker is the one who got dis ship in teh air. Though, after this lil' trip, the favors I owe 'im will be done wit." Kerrain explained, focusing his attention back on the open sea. Even though only forty minutes of an hour had passed, the horizon was getting closer. Air cut paths into the vast blue body under the levitating ship.

Ryker turned around and laid his hands and arms on the railing of the ship, the wind blowing his hair and the sash of Essence drifting around like an ethereal presence of cosmic and spiritual energy. As if a ghost were aboard the ship, swaying in the breeze. The heavy chains wrapped around his chest rattled in protest as he laid his chin upon his hands, leaning on the rail as he looked down to the sea. What he saw, he expected.

The water's surface broke all around the ship, giant beings flying out from the deep blue depths, soaring into the air like needles let loose upon the clouds. Their bodies bent as they dived back in. He liked the trip to Grand Stream just for this. These were cousins of the Leviathan of the Eastern Sea. A gentler species. Stronsay beasts. The water played off their serpent-like bodies and reflected a rainbow of colors in the air, their eyes pitch-black almonds that seemed to shine from the sun's gaze. Though during the day they were gentle, in the night, they turned quite fearsome. He had been on a ship when this had happened. They were one of the main reason not many sailors came way of Grand Stream from Vale.

Ryker looked back to Ne'Rista and sighed openly.

"Don't bother the Captain now, Ne'Rista. He needs to concentrate, otherwise, we'll capsize."

[Gsarge]

Henri nodded his head at Keb’s words. Uncaring about the two women’s argument, he looked down at the cursing goblin and moved out of his way so he could lead them to where they were either to depart of to start heading in the direction they would be walking to. “Shall we be off then?” He spoke calm and collected, Henri might not have looked it but he’d been wondering about the world slaying creatures since he was dispatched seven years ago and he still had another decade of this in his future. He turned on his heels and followed behind wherever the goblin planed to lead them.

“I’m much better on the defense than the charge so I have a feeling the battle plan will be the fastest of you weave among their ranks and I’ll just mop up any that get too close. Does that work for you?” He kept with Keb, preparation was important to winning any battle and he was interested in everyone knowing the rest of the party’s talents so that they knew what strengths to play to. One doesn’t last very long in as dangerous occupations as theirs being stupid unless a god likes them or they’re incredibly tough.

[L]

Fable

Keb started down the stairs towards the entrance to Fable.
'Long way to go. Many miles – and by ship,' Keb paused, looked at his companions. 'Throw-up on me, I gut you and use your entrails to go fishing – human guts make effective bait'

The Goblin paused half way down the stairs. 'Need to get things... Get your stuff, pack light, meet me in front of the wharf pub and hurry – we'll try to catch up to Moonslayer,' Keb spat over the stair rails at that comment – the spit landing squarely in an elf's mug of mead. Startled, the elf jumped out of his seat and half drew his sword. When he saw the culprit, Keb, looking down with a viscous grin, the elf sighed and sat back down without a word, 'May even get a chance to sink him - Contract over before it starts!' He paused for a second.

'Well, what are you waiting for – fackoff!'

Keb bounded lightly down the rest of the stairs and disappeared in to the crowd.

-

Wharf Pub

Less than an hour later, Keb was waiting in front of the Wharf Pub with nothing more than he had at Fable aside from a large bag and a rather colorful parrot sitting on his shoulder. The parrot was randomly squawking 'Fack You, Fack You' to the sailors and wharf crews walking around.

Keb himself was in a rather intense conversation with a large burly man with a Captain's Hat on.
'200 gold pieces.... that's final!' the Captain could be heard shouting.
'1 Gold piece and I get to steer the ship! I wanna be a pirate! And if you don't, Ima CUT you'
A number of sailors listening to the conversation between the 2 – the tiny goblin staring up at the human – were struggling to contain their laughter. The captain however, was almost completely red with rage.
'CUT ME? You look like the bowel movement I had this morning and you're going to cut ME?' The burly man let out a massive laugh.
'I won't go any lower than 150'
'10'
'100! THAT'S IT'
'500 gold pieces!' Keb retorted.
'75 and that's FINAL!'
Keb bounced with glee. 'DEAL!' The little goblin tossed a pouch of gold pieces at the captain, and only once he'd caught it did he realize his mistake.

[Mysteria]

"There's not to be thankin me. Ryker is the one who got dis ship in teh air. Though, after this lil' trip, the favors I owe 'im will be done wit."

The captain appeared to Rista to be of the fun loving sort too and it made her feel immediately at ease with being on board his ship. Ne'Rista leaned against the railing, watching as the mystical looking creatures danced and played in the air. They were non threatening and absolutely beautiful to watch floating and gliding through the air. She'd never seen them before and couldn't help but wonder to herself if the creatures were always this gentle.

Ryker had been watching too and she observed a look upon his face that she'd never seen before, then the sigh came.

"Don't bother the Captain now, Ne'Rista. He needs to concentrate, otherwise, we'll capsize."

Rista had no intention of bothering the captain, she was just enjoying the trip and looked around at some of the others in their group. Some were still trying to get their footing from the ship having risen in the air and were talking among themselves.


Rista stood close to him by the railing. Her earlier merriment at seeing him had passed. He would always be Ryker and he would always be untouchable to her but he held that certain spot in her heart just the same. Rista smiled, her voice a bit more serious though "So Ryker, tell me are they always this beautiful and peaceful? " Rista chewed on her lip a bit and then added "And of the bounty, what are your plans because I know you and you always have a plan."

[Dirzrahel]

Ryker looked back to the Stronsays and chuckled lightly, reaching out past the rail of the ship and running his hand along the smooth skin of a serpent that had revealed itself just a bit too close to the ship. His reflection could be seen in its skin, as could Ne'Rista's.

"A month ago there was a bounty to destroy the home of these creatures. I took the opposite and came out here at night in a small row boat. I intended on being a surprise. It was then I learned a valuable lesson, because when the sun goes down, Stronsays transform into ravenous, giant-toothed snakes. That was quite the night I had, haha!" The Moon-Slayer explained, retracting his hand form the serpent's side as it crashed back down into the ocean. They were truly magnificent creatures. He turned around and leaned his back on the railing, stretching his muscles and cracking his neck back and forth, as if he knew what was coming.

"Well, we're going to Grand Stream to hmmm... How should I put it?" Ryker inquired, doing squats by the railing as the bones in his legs cracked. The chains around his chest rattled with every movement.

"We're going to 'borrow' a weapon. I have every intention of returning it, it's just that the giants probably won't let me have it, so I say 'borrow'..." He continued, trotting up the stairs tot eh stern of his ship as he stood next to Kerrain, slapping the captain on the back.

Kerrain looked at him, rolling his eyes. "You see it, right? I leave it teh you."

Ryker nodded and bolted from the Captain's side, his foot jumping off the railing and his body sailing into the air, bulleting toward a far off black speck ahead of them. Essence's sash rippled with energy around his body as he wrapped the ethereal fabric around his left fist, bringing it back as he soared through the air. The black speck became bigger and bigger, until it was soon revealed to be a cannonball the size of three trading galleys. The Giant's defensive weapon, aptly named after their islands. The Grand Cannon. The cannon itself was the size of the cannonball and couldn't be carried over water, since it would sink. This required a ship that didn't run on water, but on magic-infused air. As well as a towing platform.

Aura slowly receded from the straps as Ryker held the scythe, kissing the handle. The sash of Essence touched the scythe blade and the sharp edge grew longer and wider, curling around the Moon-Slayer's body. He bought it over his head, the blade glowing spectrally in the air.

"AND THE WHEEL TURNS!"

Ryker's body barrel-rolled rapidly in the air as Aura connected with the cannon ball, slicing the massive iron orb in half in mid-air as the two halves sailed passed. They flew narrowly past the Grenavive's hull, almost touching the rods jutting out from the mast. Kerrain Guil'tee stayed calm through it all. A couple of the skippers could feel a stink arising from their pants.

Aura's blade shrunk down to its regular size as it was re-strapped to Ryker's back, the sash of Essence a bit dimmer than it was before. He dropped down on the stern next to Kerrain with a light thud, laughing wildly.

"So, Kerrain, how was that?"

"Good, good. Takes em thirty-minutes teh reload teh cannon. We'll be thar in twentee, get yer group on the bow." Captain Guil'tee said, his eyes blazing like he was back in his old pirate days.

Ryker turned to the deck and cupped his hands over his mouth. "Yoooo! Up here you lot! We'll be raidin Grand Stream soon!"

[Stryker]

After a spending a few seconds to get used to being on a ship that was floating above the water instead of being in it, he turned to see how Ne’Rista and Ryker handled the changes. He figured Ryker wasn’t bothered with it since he knew the captain and the ship seemingly pretty well so he wasn’t all that surprised to see him leaning over the railing and watching the sea life off in the distance. He also noticed that Ne’Rista wasn’t bothered too much by it as well as she stood next to Ryker calmly, also looking out over the ocean. He started to go over to them but noticed before taking a step that they seemed to be talking, so he decided to stay where he was next to Delek. Instead he turned to face the sea, placing his elbows on the railing and his chin in his hands.

“How much history d’you think those two have?” he asked Delek, “Seems like they go way back with each other.”

After a few seconds he noticed the bandana around his head seemed to be loosening, so he decided to undo it entirely. He stopped to look at it for a few seconds as it lay in his hand, the tips lightly blowing in the breeze. The bandana happened to be his mother’s old hair ribbon, she gave it to him just before he left his home. It held a special place within him and he vowed to never lose it and always wear it, he wore it on his head for a while to cover a scar he had gotten on a bounty months ago but the wound had healed by now and all that remained was a slight mark above his right eye.

After a few more seconds of looking at it and thinking of his family, sans his father, he decided to tie it around the bare bicep of his right arm. The arm used to have matching armor to go with the left arm, but he found that it hampered his arm’s movements when in combat and had chosen to remove it himself during a bit of down time. While it meant that his arm was susceptible to strikes, he could now move a lot better and had a much wider range of motion. It suited his fighting style perfectly.

"I wonder if those two were... Nah...." he thought.

It was then that he noticed out of the corner of his eye, all the happenings involving Ryker and his weapon of choice.

"The hell?!" he yelled out, spinning to face Ryker's position as he called out to them.

""Yoooo! Up here you lot! We'll be raidin Grand Stream soon!"

"I have a feeling this is gonna be quite the trip with him around." he spoke under his breath before making his way over to Ryker.

"So, when were we going to be let in on that cannonball's origin?" he asked him, a hint of annoyance that something like that was kept hidden.

[Atrum Daemon]

“I really, really don’t care,” Delek replied to Drake’s question.

It was a true statement. Delek did not care in the least how well any of these people knew each other. He knew Ryker well enough that he could trust him to see the mission through to success and that was the only reason he agreed to follow him. He still couldn’t get his head away from what had happened at Astra’s tower. However, a nice distraction was soon coming.

Delek watched Ryker’s show with mild interest. He stood up when the scythe blade grew longer and smirked lightly as the halves of the cannonball whooshed passed the ship. He laughed lightly at the generally shocked reactions of the crew. He shook his head lightly when Ryker called out for them and grabbed his weapon before striding across the deck to where he was waiting.

“You best have a damn good plan for what you’re taking us to do,” Delek said, resting the Cleaver on his shoulder.

[Gsarge]

The Templar followed the goblin outside of the pub everything he needed already on him in as he slowly made his way to the wharf pub looking around at the people coming into the city along with those departing it. Henri idly began to wonder if he would happen upon one of his fellow brothers of the faith in this place as he kept watching until hearing Keb’s voice broke him of his thoughts.

He turned his head hearing the captain haggle with the goblin over the price of their fare as he quirked a brow listening to the exchange watching Keb make a fool of the captain. Was that really a wise action? Henri just shrugged his shoulders and stood up walking over to the goblin and speaking so as to not end up startling him.

“Well, I guess it’s time to be heading out then?”

[nonangelic92]

Kerran came into Fable holding her small bag of items. She hoped that this whole thing went off with a hitch and no real trouble. She saw Keb and the other guy at a table with another man. She appeared up on the otherside of Keb, "Well I'm ready to shove off. We justneed that other chick and then we're good to go." She looked up at the guy on Keb's other side, "So since we'll be workign with eachother, what's your name? I'm Kerran."

[Mysteria]

Rista listened as Ryker told the story of the magnificent sea creatures and then watched his display of finesse. Ever the showman he was but he always had a way of grabbing peoples attention. She hadn't been surprised that Ryker had a plan. He always had a plan and that was one of the reasons why she often joined his group. Missions were missions but as in all missions, a good leader was always needed.

Ne'Rista could hear the others talking. She didn't really mind it too much, it wasn't the first time she'd heard things like that and chances were it wouldn't be the last. Rista actually laughed about it. The truth was the Ryker had his own history, and she had hers. She never felt much need to talk about her past because she had chosen to leave it there, along time ago.


"Yoooo! Up here you lot! We'll be raidin Grand Stream soon!" Rista wasted no time making her way to the rest of the group that was gathering around Ryker like flies to molasses.

[Anne Bonny]

Kyra had moved away from the goblin and his group with the best of intentions to quickly gather her things and head towards the warf. Really, she had. But when she was almost to the door one of her friends had caught her arm and insisted the she join him for a drink. Well, maybe it was more of a suggestion than an insistence, but either way, how could she refuse? Another ale quickly downed and a bit of bragging about her upcoming adventure, a kiss on her friend's cheek and Kyra finally made it out the door.

It didn't take long after that to gather her things for the trip. She paused to purchase a few supplies and took some time to pack everything on the saddle bags on her horse. The animal had snorted when her saddle was tightened, but didn't fuss. Kyra leaned her forehead against the horse's and smiled into her big brown eyes. "Ready for some fun, Venus?" she asked, tousling the mare's forelock with a giggle. "Just don't get in the goblin's way, alright? I think he's got a little temper. Same with the other girl, actually. Oh yes, this is going to be interesting!"

She had taken too long and she knew it, but Kyra was genuinely suprised that she was the last to arrive. Either way, she shrugged her shoulders and tossed her hair as she approached just in time to hear the little blond introduce herself to Keb.

"Aha! Kerran!" she cried excitedly as she approached. "You said you didn't want to tell me your name, but I knew I would get it from you eventually."

Kyra beamed at the girl before glancing out at the docks. "This is it then, right? Can we get going or did you all want to stick around and watch the sun set?"

[L]

The Captain looked over the girl asking who he was, then the one that walked up behind her, gloating over knowing her name. He glared at Keb, then at the 2 women.

'I'm Captain Rivero – ship's the one at the end of the wharf with the red and black lion flag. We leave in 10 minutes, so get your asses on deck or you ain't coming'

The Captain stalked off towards his ship, leaving the group behind, and Keb spun towards the group, almost jumping in glee.

'Of to the high seas! Pillage, Plunder... other stuff... we must be off, Moonslayer getting away'


-

The Howl of the Sea cut through the ocean with apparent ease. It looked run down – almost derelict – but the sailors moved deftly and in silence to do their work. Rivero stood behind the helm, eyes focused firmly ahead. The serious Captain hadn't spoken a word since the group had boarded. In fact, not one of the crew had spoken the entire time, they merely went about their jobs.

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab254/BrettJHowell/pirate_ship_in_cave.jpg

[Gsarge]

The Templar looked up seeing the other woman talking to someone and asking names, but since it seemed the captain beat him to introductions, he figured he wasn’t the one she was interested in knowing about. It wasn’t important to him anyway, the more time he spent with these people the more he wanted to bring Pholtus’ divine judgment down on their heads. He began to follow the captain hearing their leader speak of plundering on the seas as he turned his head glaring at him but making sure not to say anything. It was his party after all.

He stopped and looked over the ship, it wasn’t much to look at but its crew seemed to more than make up for the ship’s appearance. They all seemed adept at their task and more than able to make up for any faults of the ship. He stepped on not saying a word to anyone as he found a place to sit that was out of the way of the sailors and took his seat. The butt of his spear on the deck with it’s greenish tip pointed to the sky.

[Ohbad-Hai]

The mournful wail of the a lone violinist song set the atmosphere for the poorly lit Wharf pub. Roughly thirty-five patrons where in the pub, most not even raising their heads from the mug in front of them. Two pail homely bar maids, patrolling the floor like wraiths, adding to the stark gloom of the tavern. Barrzeal was sitting in his usual spot, a table off the side of the bar, up against the corner of the building. He like it that way, it allowed him some rest, knowing that no one could come up behind him.
One of the barmaids came up to him, giving him a polite but curt smile. “Could I fetch ye another drink?” she asked. Barrzeal nodded, he always took a liking to her, she never waited for him to ask. As she took his stein away, the front door to the pub opened, there stood a rather old bearded man. He started to walk towards Barrzeal, ever wary he started to slide a hand down toward one of his punching daggers. The old man waved it off, pulled up a seat and sat in-front of Barrzeal, fixed with a stern look.
Barrzeal and the Old man held each others gaze, it was broke by the arrival of the bar maid. Barrzeal reached into his pouch and produced two gold pieces and sent her on her way. The old mans face softened, and he leaned back a bit and said “So your Barrzeal, I've heard a lot about you. Heard of your mercenary work up north, and with our local boys here. I've also heard about your work around the city, helping with construction of housing and such. But I've also heard rumours of your not so good deeds.” The last statement he made with a frown.“I have sent people to find you, I believe you can be so much more in Fable, but you've turned down every invitation. This is why I am here today, My name is Roran. I come to you as the last emissary of invitation to Fable, from here on you need to do it on your own.” Roran looked hard into Barrzeal's eyes, and sighed and shaking his head in defeat. He got up from his chair, sending it sliding back. “You know where we are, I hope to see you in the halls of Fable.” He said with a forced smile and proceeded to turn and walk out, “Thank you” said Barrzeal. Roran didn't turn around just walked out.


That was a tenday ago. Barrzeal sat in the Wharf pub, in his same spot staring at the door. But today wasn't like that last day, it was far more busy, with no music, aside from the squabbling of the patrons. There was a crew of sailors running about in and out of the pub. Barrzeal watched the events unfold, reminiscing upon Roran's visit, wondering what like would be like as a adventurer of Fable. But shrugged that thought aside. He got up, from his spot, paid the barmaid, and proceeded to walk out the door of the Wharf Pub, and started to walk toward the pier when he noticed a peculiar looking goblin with a parrot scamper by. His parrot spouting obscenities off towards anyone who walked by. Barrzeal ducked into the alley next to the pub as this goblin approached a rather large man in captains garb. He stood there listening to the banter.

'200 gold pieces.... that's final!' the Captain could be heard shouting.
'1 Gold piece and I get to steer the ship! I wanna be a pirate! And if you don't, Ima CUT you'
'CUT ME? You look like the bowel movement I had this morning and you're going to cut ME?' The burly man let out a massive laugh.
'I won't go any lower than 150'
'10'
'100! THAT'S IT'
'500 gold pieces!' the goblin retorted
'75 and that's FINAL!'
'DEAL!'

Barrzeal heard the goblin tossing a bag of coins at the captain. He stood silent musing to himself at the masterful deception that the goblin pulled on the burly man. Shortly after the exchange, several other beings approached the goblin, all asking him questions, and bickering amongst themselves. This must be a party from Fable. Amused by the idea of other races being let by a goblin, Barrzeal paid closer attention. “Of to the high seas! Pillage, Plunder... other stuff... we must be off, Moonslayer getting away'”. Moonslayer, so it is a guild battle, he thought to himself. Curiosity claiming the best of him Barrzeal, started to head off down the dock after the captain. Thinking all the time that he has to get on that ship. Continuing to wonder what else this fabled heroes guild named Fable has to offer. Unsure of where they rag tag group was going, or what he was getting himself into Barrzeal skulked his way onto the ship named The Howl of the Sea. He managed to get onto the lower decks with out the crew noticing him, there he found a place to hide. Till he found an appropriate moment to approach the group from Fable. So Barrzeal sat in the darkness of the seemingly dilapidated ship, awaiting his chance to meet these heroes of Fable.

[Higurashi]

Damon sat in his hamock, half asleep. His mind wandered through the memories of his life, some good, some bad. It often came back to the pretty girl in Fable, though not often enough for his liking. He wondered occasionally what she was doing. His hamock swayed with the rocking of the ship, though that was more from the wind since we were not touching the waves. He went to check on his horse then went up to the bow of the ship where Ryker and the rest of the party had Gathered.

""Yoooo! Up here you lot! We'll be raidin Grand Stream soon!" Damon heard from Ryker. He then hurried and was witness to Ryker slicing a cannonball out of the air. It was really a significant feat to Damon though it may not have been so to most others aboard. He walked up to the bow and watched the waves, once again thinking of home. He listened to Ryker's story about a certain bounty of days past. Damon wondered if the hero wasn't a little bit arrogant. He shrugged the feeling off and continued to watch.

[nonangelic92]

Kerran made her way to the ship eager to start their voyage. Kerran sat upon the deck looking to the land she called her home. She was going to miss this land but she had duties to fill, in honor of her brother. She looked sadly away from her homeland, she missed him dearly. She shook her head furiously, No use in crying over whats alread happened, she thought. She turned around and went to find the others.

[Dirzrahel]

The horizon was a show of red and orange like an eruption of a volcano in the clear sky. The sun was starting its descent and played its wondrous colors across its own canvas, an artist with a bright idea. Ryker stood at the stern of the ship, Aura in his right hand, its blade in back of him. The ship picked up, speed flowing the ship in a straight drive with wind whipping at the crewmen and snapping the masts back and forth. Captain Guil'tee stood at the orb, a bead of sweat running down his face with slow degree, millimeter by millimeter. A vein on his forehead pulsed, his hand still and poised over the orb of the Lemurian ship.

Essence's sash flapped from the wind in eager anticipation of a fight early on. It wasn't the weapon that craved battle, but the armor. Quite the opposite. Ryker's eyes reflected the scene before them in an inverse proportion, the pupils of his eyes turning from perfect circles to vertical slits centered like a snake about to lunge at its target. Such was the mystery of his existence. He exhibited traits of nearly all animals and manner of beasts when in battle. He swung his scythe like the tail of a dragon, and guarded himself like a golem.

Captain Guil'tee's hand stirred and shook increasingly with each passing minute. His concentration was harder to maintain with each grain of time dripping from one side of the hourglass to another. The ship lurched forward suddenly, the stern raising into the air slightly.

Before the ship was finally a sign of land, and a rather large sign at that! Ryker pointed with his left hand, signalling what their mission was before them. The giant barrel of an equally gargantuan cannon was like a grounded and eclipsed sun before them. The Grand Cannon. The village of Grand Stream was behind the cannon itself. A huge iron orb spun rapidly within the barrel as another shot was released, the cannon ball hurtling toward the ship.

"I'll go on ahead and grab their attention. Rista, when you get sight of them, lay down some arrow fire on the giants loading the cannon! Drake, Delek! Go to the back of the ship and prepare the towing platform, and when the Grenavive gets close enough, start chaining that cannon up and bind it up on the tow! Damon, follow me!"

Ryker bent his knees and launched himself from the stern, his body barreling toward the cannon ball as he passed right through the orb, the iron behemoth falling into the ocean below in a hundred different pieces of accurately-sliced metal. Aura glowed brilliantly in the sunset, its blue light a gentle and tranquil source among the reds and oranges of the sky around them.

The Moon-Slayer landed on top of the Grand Cannon as he ran along the barrel and jumped off, landing in the middle of a group of giants readying the next shot. He tipped an invisible hat to their surprised faces, towering at nearly twenty feet tall mind you, and swung Aura in the air innocently.

"Hello there, gentlemen. We'll be commandeering this cannon for a few days. I promise on my honor it will be brought back, but for now, please learn to live without it..." Ryker said in the most noble and suave voice he could attain, leaping into the air as he cut the next cannonball in a clean sweep and swung off a giant's lock of hair, poking the behemoth in the eye with his own giant ponytail. The scythe-wielding bandit dropped off onto the ground while the giant was pre-occupied with his eye and set off and out on his own job. Cutting the chains which bound the grand cannon to the island. His job was the right side, Damon's was the left.

[Atrum Daemon]

Delek nodded at Ryker’s plan and tapped Drake on the shoulder. “Come on, kid,” he said, heading to the stern of the ship, setting the Cleaver on it’s spot across his lower back.

He wondered just how the ship was going to tow a weapon as large as the Grand Cannon. He reasoned that if the ship could fly, it must have some other surprises in waiting. He spotted the towing platform and noted that it would indeed take two people to make it work. He would have to wait for Drake to get over to the platform before any progress could be made in preparing it to carry the Cannon.

[Mysteria]

The ship approached the land mass in front of them along with the gigantic cannon. So this was what Ryker had been talking about Ne'Rista had thought to herself just as she heard the words coming from his mouth "I'll go on ahead and grab their attention. Rista, when you get sight of them, lay down some arrow fire on the giants loading the cannon!

Arrows for giants? Ne'Rista laughed out loud. Arrows wouldn't do at all for these behemoths. Running towards one of the glaive-launchers as she yelled over her shoulder "Ready the cannons" she made sure it had been loaded properly, then she fired, whizzing the glaive directly within mere inches of Rykers head as he launched himself towards the gigantic ball heading towards the ship. She smirked slightly as it passed Ryker, watching as pieces of the ball dropped into the water having been mutilated by Aura. The over sized arrow hit it's mark but did little to damage the giant that it hit.

As Ryker landed on top of the Grand Cannon and jumped off into the midst of the giants Rista waited as the glaive-launchers were reloaded and upon being sure that the giant was clearly in view yelled "Fire the cannons!" Rista watched as the balls went flying through the air along with the glaives that had just been released and hit the giants that Ryker had been distracting with his brilliant antics. Led met the giants, sending them reeling backwards and Rista laughed as the giants began staggering with their brother whose Rykers ponytail had just caught in the eye.

Rista figured that should give the others enough of time to do what they needed to do to capture the Grand Cannon.

[Stryker]

"I'll go on ahead and grab their attention. Rista, when you get sight of them, lay down some arrow fire on the giants loading the cannon! Drake, Delek! Go to the back of the ship and prepare the towing platform, and when the Grenavive gets close enough, start chaining that cannon up and bind it up on the tow! Damon, follow me!"


“…Right.” Drake responded to Ryker’s orders, for he and Delek to main the chains at the rear of the ship and wait for the distance to close enough before latching onto the giant cannon. They were to make sure that when they left, the cannon was with them instead of where it lay for now.

Honestly, Drake felt slightly miffed at the fact that he wouldn’t be in the action like Damon, Ryker and Ne’Rista. But he figured that doing this was a lot better than just sitting back and watching or maning cannons.

As Ryker turned back to the cannon, Delek tapped Drake on the shoulder.

“Come on, kid.” Delek called to him as he made his way nimbly to the back of the ship and to his position. Right behind him, Drake took his position as well opposite of him at the towing platform. In his head he wondered… Just how in the world would this ship, as grand as it seems, be able to tow a cannon of that size? After a few seconds his mind began to wander at the prospect of trying to, as Ryker put it, ‘borrow’ something of that size and tow it across the se-…

“Focus, dammit!” he told himself before giving his head a slight shake. With one last check to make sure his sword was securely fastened to his back, he picked up the chain and anxiously waited…

[Anne Bonny]

Making sure her horse and her possessions were secure on board the Howl was a quick task, and Kyra found herself wandering up onto the ship's deck in no time. After takeing a quick look around, the girl propped her elbow against a mast and took a moment to relax. There always had been something about the sea that she dearly loved. Maybe it was the way the sunlight violently reflected off the water and seemed to be absorbed by the wooden deck, giving the ship a sort of body heat of it's own, like a living creature. Or maybe it was the gently swaying of the ocean as it cradled the ship between it's waves. The salty taste of the ocean mixed with a cool breeze caressed her cheek as it passed by, and Kyra took a deep breath of it. Was it the fresh air she loved so much?

One of the crewmen brushed by as he worked. He didn't utter a word, but she noticed the scent of his sweat and the glow of his tanned skin as he passed. Kyra smiled to herself. Out of all the enjoyable things the sea offered, sailors were certainly the best.

Finally tearing her violet eyes away, Kyra continued to glance around. The other girl, Kerran, had taken her place on deck as well and was silently watching the land depart behind them. The holy warrior had found a nearby seat, still holding onto his spear, Kyra realized with some amusement. Add in the fiery little monster that lead them and they were a varied bunch, she mused. But if they could at least keep from wringing each others' necks on their travels, they could probably make a powerful team.

Kyra shrugged to herself and turned back to watching the sailors work with a satisfied sigh.

[L]

The Howl of the Sea cruised along steadily for the first half-hour of it's voyage under a brilliant clear sky with just enough wind to push the rickety ship along. It. The ship swayed unsteadily and loud creaks and groans could be heard from all parts of the ship.

The ship was eerily quiet and Keb paced up and down, becoming increasingly agitated. Finally, when he could bear it no more, he jumped up on the rail next to Kyra, took a small stone out of his pouch and tossed it at Kerran, letting off a savage little grin.

'Too quiet! Sailors mute... had their tongues cut out, long story... what's your lots excuse?'

He looked around for the rest of his team and let of a number of snarky curses to get their attention.

Through-out the Goblin's little display, a light fog had descended from nowhere on the Howl.

'We need to plan... plot... you know, I have this awesome recipe for dwarf sausage that requires a moon-slayer's stomach lining for that extra ooomph!.... but we need to beat him first,' The Goblin smashed his fist on the railing, 'POUND! Right in to the ground. So, start babbling you lot, what can you do? Beside looking all broody and thoughtful, which you lot could be gods at'

The fog was heavier now. In fact, no-one could see through the fog more than a meter out to sea. It was a heavy, brown fog – but eerily calm and quiet. Rivero steered the ship as though he could see perfectly though and did not seem particularly fazed behind the helm.

The sailors continued to do their work despite no viability – in fact, they unfurled a rather large sail, much bigger than the rest and not in tatters which instantly caught as though a strong gale were behind it, though no such wind was evident.

Captain Rivero came down to the group.

'We'll be there shortly. With luck we'll even beat Ryker there'

Keb spat off the railing. 'Good – soon we kill, lots of fun' He turned back to his group. 'So? What can you all do?'

[nonangelic92]

Kerran picked up the stone Keb had tossed at her and then tossed it back at him, "Well I can kick ass and look good at doing it, what can you do shortie?" she grin and winked. She walked over to Kyra and Keb. "Besides being the leader of this little what-not group of course."

[Ohbad-Hai]

Barrzeal, sat in his dark corner below deck. He watched a dark haired human woman settle her horse down and make sure it was tied down safely. He watched her leave, and thought what in the nine hells have I gotten myself into. Barrzeal dug into his pouch and pulled forth his coin case, began counting his pieces. He counted again to make sure, seventy-five just enough to pay the captain. I'll be broke, but at least I wont be gang planked. Musing to himself I gotta start thinking before I let my curiosity consume me. He slid his hand down his face, and shook his head. He rubbed his chin, how am I going to talk to the leader of the group, let alone show my worth. Barreal stood up adjusted his belt and clothing, making sure his weapons were ready, just in case it got messy. Sighing deeply he took his first forceful steps toward the upper deck. Barrzeal stood before the steps looking up, and took one determined step at a time. He walked out onto the deck, seeing the goblin standing next to the railing.

“We need to plan... plot... you know, I have this awesome recipe for dwarf sausage that requires a moon-slayer's stomach lining for that extra ooomph!.... but we need to beat him first,”

“'POUND! Right in to the ground. So, start babbling you lot, what can you do? Beside looking all broody and thoughtful, which you lot could be gods at'” He said in his squeaky little voice.

The Burly captain came down right in front of Barrzeal hailing the goblin and exclaiming
“We'll be there shortly. With luck we'll even beat Ryker there”

“Good – soon we kill, lots of fun” “So? What can you all do?” The goblin said as he looked at his group.

Barrzeal held his spot as the captain turned around to head back to the wheel, catching Barrzeal's stare. Barrzeal walked forward, barely breathing. The Captain held his gaze.. as if peering into Barrzeal. He felt his left hand twitch as he continued his approach awaiting the captains next move.

[L]

Keb barely heard what Kerran had to say. The stone she tossed at him hit him square on the temple, causing the goblin to loose his balance and fall. Luckily his reflexes were quick enough to grab on to the rail at the last second and he managed to pull himself back up on to the ship, letting off a number of curses that would make a prostitute blush. He was about to have a go at her when he saw the hobgoblin walk up to the group and begin his staring contest with the Captain. Rivero was about to reach for his saber before Keb stopped him.
'RIVERO! You brought us dinner? And we have to kill it ourselves?,' Keb let off a little 'weeeee' and jumped up and down in happiness. 'You know right how to treat your passengers!'
The captain merely grunted, hand still on the saber hilt.

'Not mine – stowaway'

Now many of the crew had stopped working – the ship's sails had caught and pushing the Howl of the Sea along nicely. Many of them watched the group – weapons drawn, unlike Captain Rivero.

Keb jumped down off the rail, drew his dagger, and walked up to the large hobgoblin, looking up at him.

'So what have we here dinner? Whatcha doing on the ship -I- hired? Looking to get gut are ya?'

[Ohbad-Hai]

Barrzeal watched the captain place his hand upon his sabre and shoot him a fierce glare. He grimaced thinking to himself that next time I should walk on noticed.
The little goblin squealed 'RIVERO! You brought us dinner? And we have to kill it ourselves?,' and accented it with a 'weeeee' Barrzeal glanced over to see him hoping up and down. 'You know right how to treat your passengers!' He said excitedly
Captain Rivero grunted out 'Not mine – stowaway' Barrzeal felt a deathly calm settle around him, hearing weapons being pulled from sheaths. He breathed deeply. Captain Rivero remained calm, his weapon still at his side.

Barrzeal watched the goblin hobble towards him, drawing out a nasty looking stone dagger.
'So what have we here dinner? Whatcha doing on the ship -I- hired? Looking to get gut are ya?' Barrzeal flexed his left hand, reaching back towards his punching dagger. But passing it and placing his hand on his pouch, unbuttoning it and pulling forth his coin case. He shook it, and tossed it towards Captain Rivero. Barrzeal looked down toward the tiny figure before him, baring a rather large toothy smile at him. “Payin fur yur ssupp.” Barrzeal took measure of the crew and passengers he was out matched but knew he was in a tight spot. He pushed off, jumping back a bit, drawing his punching daggers. Crouching down into his defensive stance, Barrzeal called out “I ran inta yur guild masster Roran a tenday ago. He handed me an invite, but I ssaw no interestss. Till I ssaw yur scrawny arse run down the wharf. I din know how ta approachh yah, if ya cant tell I'm less than conventional.” He said with a smug smirk. “But if yur belly still rumbles, you can try to flay me with that lil dagger of yurs.” All the while Barrzeal thought, that the goblins head would make a nice goblet, as well as mumbling a mild prayer to the forest god. The odds were defiantly stacked against him today.

[Gsarge]

Henri looked over at the goblin and stood up with a sigh. He should have just found his own contract to take, but he was eager to go so he left with the goblin and the two women. He seemed to be thinking to words to better describe what he felt he brought to a team. Before he could say anything he caught sight of the hobgoblin. Henri was really starting to dislike the company he was keeping more and more as the minutes passed. So the man had stolen away in the ship in order to get their attention because he wanted to join their band. He moved between Keb and the other person his green shining spearhead tapping on the deck gently.

“Now, now, the man simply wishes to join us in our cause. At least, that’s what I think he’s saying. Perhaps it is unwise for anyone to be drawing weapons at the moment.” He took note of the prayer he’d heard from the hobgoblin, it wasn’t in any demonspeak nor goblin so there was a good chance he wasn’t praying to any evil gods for protection. “I am Henri, Templar in the service of Pholtus. Would you be so kind as to return in kind your own name and why it is you seem to be so interested in us?” He turned back looking to Keb and shaking his head before turning back to face the newcomer his hands ready to put his spear before him should the hobgoblin make an offensive advance.

[Anne Bonny]

Kyra was thoroughly enjoying herself as she watched the excited Keb jump around the ship. The little creature was a riot, thumping his fists onto the ship and clamoring about the mission ahead. He reminded her of a short, bouncy court jester. And watching him nearly fall overboard was simply too much! Kyra burst into raucous laughter when he came scrambling over the deck.

But here was something to break the entertainment: a stowaway! And a big one at that, the girl mused as she looked the hobgoblin up and down. Keb, who she was quickly learning thought only with his stomach, proposed eating the brute. Henri obviously disagreed.

Kyra was not one for careful thought, but even a simpleton could see that the hobgoblin would make a powerful ally. She moved to Henri's side, running slim fingers through her dark hair as she walked.

"You know, if someone had told me this morning that I would be agreeing with a holy knight today, I would have laughed in their face. But I think Henri's right on this one." She faced the newcomer with a smile waving off the knight's questions with her hand. "We'll get to his interests in time, I'm sure. The important point is that he wants to join our little party, don't you?"

She turned back to face their little leader, excitement written all over her face. "Just look at him Keb! Look at those muscles! Can we please keep him? Please?"

[nonangelic92]

Kerran got bored with the little fight scene in front of her already, she had come for adeventure not this boring crap. "Kyra he is not a pet, hun. He is his own...hobgoblin and if he wants to stay shouldn't that be his and Kebs choice. Now since their ain't gonna be no fightin', I'm hungary and I will be in the mess hall." With that Kerran went below the ship.

[Ohbad-Hai]

“Now, now, the man simply wishes to join us in our cause. At least, that’s what I think he’s saying. Perhaps it is unwise for anyone to be drawing weapons at the moment.” Barrzeal watched as a man walked before him carrying a pole-arm with a glowing head. He stared at him, taking measure of the being that stood before him. “I am Henri, Templar in the service of Pholtus. Would you be so kind as to return in kind your own name and why it is you seem to be so interested in us?”

Barrzeal was forming the words on his lips as an attractive young woman with messy long black hair came running up to them. She ran her fingers through her hair, and Barrzeal got a good look of her then, noticing her beautiful face and her deep violet eyes. "You know, if someone had told me this morning that I would be agreeing with a holy knight today, I would have laughed in their face. But I think Henri's right on this one.""We'll get to his interests in time, I'm sure. The important point is that he wants to join our little party, don't you?"She said turning from Henri to him. He watched as this peculiar woman turned and looked at the goblin. The excitement seeping into her voice."Just look at him Keb! Look at those muscles! Can we please keep him? Please?”

Barrzeal let his guard fall a little bit as he was watching the interaction of the party, he was trying to find his voice again when a blond girl walked forward, she wasn't hard to look at either. She had human features but the seemed far to soft for Barrzeal like she was something else. "Kyra he is not a pet, hun. He is his own...hobgoblin and if he wants to stay shouldn't that be his and Kebs choice. Now since their ain't gonna be no fightin', I'm hungary and I will be in the mess hall." She said with the deep seated boredom seeping through.

Barrzeal grinned at the haphazard group thinking this will be fun if Keb, the little ankle bitter he is doesn't try to take a piece. “I'm Barrzeal of The fallen leavess.” He said with a bit of a grin. “I'd much like ta join yur party. If Keb wisshes, and if Capim Rivero finds the coinss to hiss liking.” He brought his weapons to guard again. Taking a moment to look into the eyes of each of his potential party members. As well as hoping Keb can not think with his stomach, and see his value. He swore at himself for being so brash again, one of these days, he will learn he thought with a quiet chuckle and a head shake.

[L]

Keb was sputtering when Henry came up to speak on the Hobgoblin's behalf. Then as Kyra came up, all but swooning over the goblinoid, he started talking to himself. When Kerran also interjected, he slammed his ahead against the railing – hard.

But he listened to Barrzeal introduce himself without causing any major catastrophes.

When one of the sailors on the crow's nest yelled out "Land Ahoy!" - even though the fog was still amazingly dense around them.

'Fine! Fine, Fine, FINE! Dinner can join if he wants. We have a job to do... If Dinner can hold his own, great, if not we can use him as fodder'

Keb sighed melodramatically. 'All I want to do is gut something, is that so hard!'

Captain River, standing silently through-out the whole exchange, merely grunted – accepted the Hobgoblin's coin – and turned to Keb.

'Make sure your crew's ready – we'll dock inside an hour. I want you off my ship as soon as we dock, runt'

[Ohbad-Hai]

Barrzeal stood before the haphazard party, letting his blades fall to his sides. As the members all made their arguments, he was mildly worried, "Land Ahoy!" he heard bellowed from above, he watched the small goblin Keb grow more flustered and even bash his horned head into the railing. 'Fine! Fine, Fine, FINE! Dinner can join if he wants. We have a job to do... If Dinner can hold his own, great, if not we can use him as fodder' Barrzeal gave a curt smile and bow. “Thank ya, ver much. I won let ye down.” Barrzeal looked over to see Rivero give him a grim nod, 'All I want to do is gut something, is that so hard!' Keb said with mild disappointment. 'Make sure your crew's ready – we'll dock inside an hour. I want you off my ship as soon as we dock, runt' Rivero said as he glowered at the goblin, venom oozing out from his voice. Barrzeal sheathed his weapons and looked at the party he joined, feeling uneasy and not sure what to say. He grinned helplessly and rubbed the back of his head.

[Anne Bonny]

The lookout's call that land was ahead was a surprise. Kyra's violet eyes moved upward to the nest, but even that was a clouded view through the dense fog that surrounded the ship. The girl bit her lip in confusion. How could the man on high see past the bow of the ship, let alone an oncoming destination?

An icy fingered chill becan to crawl up her back. Shaking her head in an attempt to dismiss her uneasiness, Kyra glaced back to their newest party member and flashed him a smile in an attempt to reassure herself as much as Barrzeal.

"All I want to do is gut something, is that so hard!" Keb was moaning. Kyra moved to his side and draped an arm around the goblin's shoulders.

"Soon enough, my friend," she said soothingly, even as her eyes nervously searched the grey fog around them. "Just imagine that melodic screaming of dwarves we'll be hearing."

[L]

"Just imagine that melodic screaming of dwarves we'll be hearing."

Keb almost orgasamed at that, so much so that he had to cross his legs and think very hard about bad things.... kittens, love, flowers.

The goblin quickly composed himself with a rough shake of his head.

'Look... come her, all of you... time for seriousness. Lots of fighting soon, very fun yes, but pressing matters to discuss before we debark. Very important'

Keb waited until everyone was listening.

'Very serious, need to discuss important matter. Once we kill Starslayer there's much to do and quickly,' He pointed at Kyra, 'You, get a big pot ready, man sized, lots of boiling dwarf blood... yes, dwarf blood work perfectly. I'll gut Starslayer – save intestine for dwarf sausage, but need Starslayer meat first – cut up, throw in boiling dwarf blood with parsley – nice stew, very nice!. Starslayer heart gets stuff with Dwarf brains and roasted... very important, don't roast too much, don't want it burnt. Not nice when burnt. Must all be done quickly before meat rots'

Keb stopped, thought for a moment.

'Yes, YES! Dwarf ribs – mmmmm – get Dwarf ribs, coat in spices,' Keb held up one of his pouches, 'these – cover in Dwarf skin to cook, adds nice flavor, take skin off after cooked. Yes, yes, I think we have a great big banquet – Starslayer stew for everyone, I get Starslayer heart. Enough Dwarf ribs for Everyone!'

'But first, smash Dwarf city walls. Forget protecting siege weapons for humans, just kill dwarfs attacking – much more fun killing dwarfs'

[nonangelic92]

Kerran was chomping on a chicken leg as Keb was talking. This little goblin was crazy yet fun at the samw time. He wanted to kill; these dwaves yet also eat them. Werid but fun. She swollowed the bit she was chewing, "But what if some of us dom't eat dwarves all all that. Some of us do have morales when it comes to eating things kinda human." she asked and took another bite of chicken.

[Dirzrahel]

But to his dismay, Damon was not so lucky. Ryker saw the act and squinted his eyes in gruesome sight, because a giant's fist rained down on the poor boy and squashed him like a ripe grape in season. His head seemed to just pop like a pimple under the weight of the knuckles of the giant, and his body crumpled with it. A terrible sight. A terrible sight indeed. He would be mourned. Later.

The Moon-Slayer reeled back from his side of the chains after cutting them all, freshly-hewed metal links jingling like bells as the scythe-wielding marauder passed another trio of giants, a sharp but shallow cut fending them back from touching him. He didn't seek to hurt them, just to scare them off. Grounding his foot and spinning off his hip, he hurled Aura through the air at the other chains, the grim blade slicing through all of them like butter and embedding itself into the stern of the Grenavive, making a solid platform for Ryker to jump on to get back on the ship. Though, Captain Kerrain cursed silently under his breath and started calculating money details. Jumping out of the way of a club and scampering up onto the cannon, Ryker cupped his hands around his mouth.

"Oi boys! Lash the chains on this beauty and haul her in!"

[Atrum Daemon]

“I got this,” Delek said to Drake when he heard Ryker’s shout.

Whipping out his ornate knife, Delek cut open the palm of his right hand and smeared his blood on the back of his left hand, activating The Grimoire. Speaking a single word in a language dead to the tongue’s of humankind, great red chains erupted from his left arm and encircled the barrel of the cannon. “Hold on!” he called to Ryker before tugging his harm backwards.

Not only was the cannon flung into the air by the magical chains, but Delek seemed unaffected by the weight of pulling such a great object as the chains began retracting and bringing the cannon down for a landing. Snapping two fingers of The Grimoire and speaking in his strange tongue again, the base of the towing platform gleamed for a moment before the cannon landed on it, the spell cushioning the impact so the platform did not shatter. “Simple,” Delek said with a half-grin as the red chains dispersed and the Grimoire stopped glowing with power.

Using the chains on the towing platform, Delek lashed the great weapon into place with Drake’s help.

[Mysteria]

Rista stood watching as the giant obliterated Damon, turning her head so she would not have to watch as life was drained from him. The deed done Rista turned her head in the direction of the moon-slayer's voice. He had tossed Aura into the air and with one quick swift movement the cannon had been released from it's chain and was free to be brought aboard the Grenavive. But how they planned on getting that behemoth on board was beyond Rista although she knew with all of the magic that this group held surely it would not be so big of a task but the question remained. How?

That question was quickly answered though as Delek swiftly moved into action. Never before had Rista seen a task be so quickly accomplished with such seemingly little effort. Within seconds that enormous cannon was on board deck, along with Ryker with it.

[Gsarge]

Henri moved over to Keb letting the goblin speak, doing his best to ignore the cooking talk. Keb’s fervent speaking about that subject made Henri question why this goblin was among adventurers and not his own kind. Once Keb was finally on battle strategy, he began to sound even more like the goblin stereotype, which the Templar was enjoying less and less. He gave a sigh and shook head slowly.

“Perhaps if you focused as much effort into devising a battle plan that would allow us to properly undermine the dwarven defenses as you have into planning a totally unfounded after party, I’d be more optimistic about our chances of success. As it is stands, ‘charge’ is an action performed during the battle, not a keystone to success. I believe we might do better taking council with our employers that should know more about the enemy than we currently do and then start forging our key to victory.”

[Stryker]

"Damn!" Drake thought to himself as he saw Damon's body lay lifelessly on the ground after recieving a deadly blow from the giant he had been occupied with.

Before letting himself dwell too long, he heard Ryker's voice ring through the air like the bell of a city chapel, early in the morn. "Oi boys! Lash the chains on this beauty and haul her in!" he yelled out from his positiion.

Just as Drake was about to start help Delek haul the cannon in, he looked to him to see if he was ready.

“I got this,” Delek told him to which he nodded and let him handle it, only holding onto his chain to make sure nothing went horribly awry. What he saw next made him almost begin to stare like a young boy, fresh from the womb.

Delek whipped out his knife and cut open the palm of his hand which made Drake blink a couple times in bewilderment. "Why would he do that?" he wondered before seeing him coat the back of his hand left hand and saying something that Drake couldn't make out. Soon enough, giant chains burst forth from his arm and took hold of the giant cannon.

"Hold on!" was all Drake heard and wasn't aware of who it was meant for but he braced himself against the ship while still having hold of his chain. Soon enough the entire cannon was sent into the air by Delek's chains which didn't seem to even bother Delek at all.

"You know, at this rate maybe I should've accompanied Damon and Ryker up top." he thought to himself as he continued watching Delek's show of power. Eventually the cannon landed on the towing platform safely without so much as a creak from the ship. After it landed, he and Delek finally used the chains to secure it to the platform. He then noted that Ryker was standing atop of it.

"Ryker, do we go back for Damon's body?" Drake asked, half wanting to do just that. The other half wanting to kill a few for his fallen comrade.

[L]

"But what if some of us don't eat dwarves all all that. Some of us do have morals when it comes to eating things kinda human."

A shudder went through Keb as he watched the girl eat a chicken leg.

'Dwarf more tasty than chicken – they soak in alcohol their whole lives, serves as a nice marinade. Chicken tastes like chicken, no not as nice'

The goblin was about to go on another dwarf rant, but was interrupted by the usually serious Henri. 'Perhaps if you focused as much effort into devising a battle plan that would allow us to properly undermine the dwarf defenses as you have into planning a totally unfounded after party, I’d be more optimistic about our chances of success. As it is stands, ‘charge’ is an action performed during the battle, not a keystone to success. I believe we might do better taking council with our employers that should know more about the enemy than we currently do and then start forging our key to victory.'

Keb grunted, 'Yes, but visualize success and success happens! Great motivation there, Keb should be motivation speaker for large armies... see dwarf meat roasting and it happens' He stopped and sighed, suddenly becoming serious. 'But plans help, yes I suppose they do. Look – Purist Alliance evil, xenophobic morons – don't tell them I said that – they certainly not like Keb, for sure,' Keb spat on the deck, 'Human elitist scum. Probably plan to use Keb as cannon ammo. I just want Starslayer blood. Hell, I'd rather eat chicken than help Alliance. But contract is good and gives me chance to kill dwarves... and Starslayer.

As for plan. Keb think he can confuse Dwarfs, not that hard really – they think slow, that's why Keb won't eat Dwarf brain, make Keb dumb probably – right spells, chaos and confusion, use that to sneak past defenses and attack Dwarf flank and play dodge-ball with catapult rocks' Keb's eyes glistened and he spoke in a rapid speech that was quicker than usual. 'Keb like Dodgerock – makes life interesting. We have good fighters, use them to scare Dwarfs, though not easily scared, like I said, not smart at all. As for Starslayer. Problem, big problem, not easy – deal with him when time comes – Keb think of something then. For moment, focus on Dwarfslaying'

The Howl of the Sea was slowing down now and the mist slowly clearing. Through the thinning fog land could now been seen – a large port town. Typically the port was bustling with activity, though now it was dead still as hundreds of humans stood gaping at the desiccated ship appearing out of a sudden mist.

Keb looked to Kyra, Henri and Kerran (though a nymph, still looked human). The goblin studied them for a moment before silently coming to a decision. 'Probably better human talk – yes, Alliance probably nicer if they think a human is in charge. Little they know Keb is the real mastermind! Joke's on them' Keb danced around waving his hands like a puppeter. 'Dance, Dance minions!'

The humans from the port were still gawking at the ship, expecting it to fully sink in front of their eyes. None of them moved to assist the ship in docking, but that didn't matter, as the sailors moved about efficiently to ensure the Howl docked easily. The Howl of the Sea had finally pulled in to a free dock and was dropping both anchor and the walkway as Captain Rivero once again came down to the group.

'We're here, get off'

Without another word the Captain turned his back and left the group to depart.

'Well my minions, human and dinner a like – iiiiiiit's time to cause some human's heart attacks!' Keb bounced excitedly and moved over to Kerran and her chicken leg. 'Soon you eat real food, very nice! Not chicken, chicken tastes like chicken'

Keb made his way to the walkway to depart the Howl of the Sea.