NationStates Jolt Archive

‘The Red Cow’ was a tavern in Exetergrecia, which catered for all the important people from Draconis Nightcrawlis and those who were visiting the nation on business. Inside the tavern was expensively decorated, unlike traditional taverns, it was bright in colour, mostly red of course. The bar and tables were made of an expensive marble, and the barstools and chairs made with fine leather, which of course was replaced regularly. On the wall behind the bar was a large mirror that covered the entire wall. At the far end of the tavern there was a large portrait of the Draconian Royal family hanging over an open fireplace, which was of course built out of expensive marble.

The aging barman looked up from polishing a tankard as the door to his tavern opened. A heavily cloaked figure entered, to resident Draconians this figure was a known regular, but to those whom this may be their first visit to ‘The Red Cow’, the site of a shortish person hidden under a hooded cloak. The only patrons who watched the cloaked figure cross the room were representatives from other nations. The cloaked figure sat down at the bar and the barman placed a full tankard in front of him. Obviously the barman knew what the cloaked figures preferred beverage was and had poured it as soon as they had entered the tavern. As the tankard was lifted from the bar top, the other patrons went back to their own business. The cloaked figure kept its hood up, never revealing a face.

bump from page 4! :(

The cloaked figure put the tankard down and looked around. Under the dark hood, the outline of a face could be seen. A lock of hair was seen falling in front of their face, it was a very dark blue in colour. The cloaked figure turned around again and went back to their drink.

http://www.jonathan.bennett5.btinternet.co.uk/ns/image219.jpg

OOC: This is fanasty? is it not? and what time period? This sounds like something to join...

OOC It's a space nation still on NSEarth, but the style is based on medieval-fantasy. So dragons and spaceships :)

OOC: Come on someone must be remotely interested

OOC oops double post

Shortly after the first figure entered, another figure entered. The figure was wearing a full body cloak of a cold, icy blue color, and all that could be seen was the figures chin. It sat down at the bar, next to the other figure, and motioned for a drink with a black gloved hand, it cared not what kind.

Two foreigners walk up to the bar near the stranger and sit down, still wrapped up in their own conversation. "That always was you're problem, Sam. You were never prepared for anything." the speaker patted the revolver holstered at his waist to show the kind of preparation he meant. He was a tall man and broad, he looked about 50. A grizzled, worn face looked out from under the peaked cap of a Major in the Slutbum Wallah army.

"Prepared? If you had spent a month in Special Ops field work you would know how useless preparation was." The second stranger was just under average height and thin. He wore a long brown coat over a worn blue suit, and had an air about him of a man who had seen more than he had ever wanted to of the nastier side of life.

The barman eyed the newcomer suspiciously, he was used to one cloaked figure coming in, as he was a regular. Damon, the barkeeper, knew who the first cloaked figure was, but this second one was new to him. As two foreigners walked up to the bar, he placed a tankard of ale in front of the cloaked stranger. Waiting for a suitable opening in the conversation between the two newer arrivals, one of whom he noticed was an army Major, before asking, “What do you wish to drink today, Sirs.”

"Scotch." said the Major.

"Tea." said Sam.

"Tea?"

"I have to think straight otherwise we'll never find her. And don't you get drunk. You're supposed to be my backup."

"It helps me relax."

The figure threw down arround a hundred credits, knowing that it should pay more than enough for his drink, as well as his neighbors at the bar. "This should pay for everyone I believe..." The figure said, in a rough voice that cleared out. He kept his hood on, but his voice suggested he was in his mid twenties.

"Right away Sirs," Damon said before turning around. They saw him take a bootle of 'Draconian Scotch' down from a shelf and poured it into a glass. He place the glass in front of them and wondered off into the kitchen.

The cloaked figure coughed and anyone looking would have notice a furry blue hand with only three digits was placed in front of the mouth. Damon returned with a try, upon which was a teacup, a teapot and a small jug of milk. He placed the contents on the bar in front of Sam.

"Will that be all Sirs?" he asked as he picked up the credit the strange figure had thrown down. "That should do," he said he said looking at the stranger, "you are fortunate that I take any money here or you would have to pay in pounds."

The Major drank the whisky carefuly, suspicious of the foriegn brand, "What was her name again? Ilsa?"

"Ilsa Romanovich. If we don't find her and bring her within Slutbum Wallah borders within 48 hours we're both in trouble."

"You know where she is?"

"More or less. It's the security I'm worried about."

The man noticed the figures hand next to him, and he turned his head more, and asked, "So what are you? Blue furry hands seem to get my attention, and what is your name?" He was still hidden under his cloak...

The barman took the empty tankard from the cloaked figure and replaced it with a full one, he eyed the stranger nervously. Since they had arrived the tavern had emptyed somewhat, though there were still people dotted around drinking solo. Damon grimaced somewhat when the cloaked figure spoke.

"I am a blue elf, haven't you seen one before?" he said, his voice fairly youthful, sounding prehaps fifteen or sixteen. "The name is Kurt, what might yours be?"

Kurt still hid his face under the darkness of the hood.

OCC: I'd like to get involved in this, but without involving my country. Do you mind if I use a character from one of the books I'm writing? I will await an answer before typing anything.

"Let me see your face then, you must not be that old, I can tell from your voice, unless something within your race says otherwise... I am known as Kaz." Kaz removed his hood, showing the fce of an elf, but his eyes decieved that. They were reptilian, and had a cold saphire blue color to them. His hair, down to his neck, was also, a very cold blue, beyond the coldness of his cloak. "Well then, many elves aren't there, Kurt?"

OOC That's fine Grimdale

IC:

Kurt was surprised, he had been expecting a human at least. He studied his face, the face was elvan, but the eyes reptilian. He sighed, he was nervous at revealling himself, but he felt safe enogh. At least Kaz was not going to judge him, but looking at the Major and the person he was with, he wondered about them.

"Very well," he said.

Damon just shrugged as Kurt pulled down his hood and smiled at Kaz. His hair was long and dark, kind of indigo in colour. His face was the same colour as his hands and were just as furry. Kurts eyes were a pale yellow.

"I am fifteen," Kurt announced. "There are many elves here yes, but I am special."

http://www.jonathan.bennett5.btinternet.co.uk/ns/image225.jpg

"You are young..." Kaz said looking at Kurt. "Yes, it is true, I have not seen your kind before..."
Kaz began thinking, 'This boy is very interestering...'

"So you are fifteen? And drinking ale by the tankard?" Kaz laughed, "Impressive, but as an elf, it seems you might be older? Or are you really fifteen?"

Kaz stared at him for a second, then put his gaze to the drink, half left before himself, and he picked it up, and drank the whole thing down. "Another bartender, if you would."

"Like I said I am special," he smirked, "my father is just like me, but my mother is human. I am very much fifteen, I guess I age like a human, comes from my mothers side of the family."

Kurt then looked somewhat down by mentioning family. The barman meanwhile nodded and replaced Kaz' epmty tankard with a full one.

"You do realise that there is no minimum age for drinking in Draconis Nightcrawlis," Damon explained to Kaz. "However Kurts father might have other ideas about that, especially if he knew that his son was a regular here."

"How interestering, well, please, do not mention anything that will have any negative effects uppon yourself. Enough about questions though, go ahead, ask me anything you want." Kaz picked up his drink, and drank down half, no time waisted flat. "So go ahead, ask."

The barman went back to polishing tankards, he knew Kurt would be more interested in him and he could still watch over the teen as he did so anyway.

Kurt took a gulp of his ale. "So where are you from?" he asked.

"I am from Drognan, ruled under one Emperor. He really isn't as bad as he seems. I am one of his Inquisitors, and lead the inquisition force. Not much I can tell you from there, all classified. What else Kurt? Just go ahead and ask all the wuestions you have, I am sure I will get all them." He drank down another quarter of his ale, and waited.

IC: The next person to enter the bar carried a long quarterstaff and wore a hooded white cloak that failed to conceal the presence of the autoharp slung across his back On his shoulder rode a winged lizard about three feet long. Glancing around the bar with eyes hidden by the cloak he nodded to himself in a satisfied manner before taking a seat a few stools down from the two men who were talking at the table. Throwing a handful of strange gold coins on the table he signaled the bartender. His voice was a melodious tenor. "I'll have a bottle of whatever's the strongest drink you have here, and I'd like a small bowl so my friend here can also indulge.

OOC: Just what kind of world is this, magic, no magic, tech level?

Kurt smirked, this seemed fairly interesting. "So what bings you to Draconis Nightcrawlis then, if you don't mind me asking," he then asked.

come to the vast expanses of the Planar Orb of the Holy Knights, where you can do ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING (with the consent of the Judicator of course) but you will instanty have infinite resources from the land since its lies in a planar orb and stretches forever.

come to the vast expanses of the Planar Orb of the Holy Knights, where you can do ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING (with the consent of the Judicator of course) but you will instanty have infinite resources from the land since its lies in a planar orb and stretches forever.

Man I love the power of the IGNORE

OOC dont hijack, UND and same here, Draconis.

IC Kaz looked at him then looked back at his drink. "Adventure, simple as that. Something fun to do, been doing it all my life, unless criseses arise in my naation, then I get back by my own means" He smirked at his last remark, then turned to see the new comer. His lizard friend seemed to intrigue him, but he turned back, waiting for Kurt.

Damon the barman sighed, it seemed that hiding ones face under a hooded cloak was the order of the day. He noded and got a bottle from the shelf and poured its contents into a glass and a bowl. The barman went over and place them on the bar.

"It is on the house as our friend Kaz here has already payed," he mentioned.

OOC: Here's to the power of IGNORE

IC:"One should be careful what one seeks adventuring, for there are things one should never learn." The stranger's voice was soft, but it carried the weight of great knowledge and pain behind it.

Kurt placed his hands behind his back and stretched. "We would all love adventure, but unfortunatly I am stuck here due to circumstances," the teenage elf sighed.

OOC theres magic and there is space travel.

The stranger looked at Kurt. "Do not think that adventure is all fun and games. There is often great danger and pain. And always, there is a price. I would give a lot for the days past when I was stuck at home." The stranger poured some of the bottle into a bowl and the lizard crawled down his shoulder and began to lap at the drink while the stranger began to nurse his own glass.

Kurt begged to differ. Despite what the stranger said, he would prefer the danger of adventure then the life he had. His life felt stale and uninterestesting. Even now he knew that Damon was watching him carefully, the barman was effectively babysitting him and he hated that.

"Adventure, though dangerous is better then my stale life of being around boring rich snobs and their bratty children," he stated

"And what is your name stranger? I have carried many, i assure you, many years. How long have you been traveling also? And what are you?" Kaz was in quite a different mood from what he always was, but he was in a new place, questions are always asked.

"I must ask," Kurt began, taking a gulp of ale in between, "how old are you Kaz?"

The stranger rose to his full height, even sitting he towered over the other two. The lizard suddenly looked up and neatly lept back onto his shoulder, it's long barbed tail wraping around his chest. His voice had shifted from a pleasent tenor to a deep and pained bass. "You should be grateful for that life of ease. I had such a life once, and I would give anything to have it back. But instead of doing the sensible thing I took off on some fool brained adventure. That adventure ended up with my having to fight my own father to the death, the death of my fiancee, and for a time my very soul and sanity." The stranger sat down heavily, exausted by his sudden out burst. Now his voice was hoarse and barely audible. "I'm sorry for that outburst, it's just I'd hate to see someone else suffer nearly as much as I have." A thin smile could be seen under the hood. "By the way, my name is Braun, and this is Marciel."

"As for what I am, who knows? I've been called both a demon and an abomination, a savior and a destroyer. But perhaps I should let you judge for yourselves." With that he pulled back his hood. An almost entirerly human face looked out on the pair. Almost, if you discounted the pair of tiger ears on top of his head sticking out of a mass of flaming red hair, and the two glowing sockets where eyes should have been.

"Good to meet you, Braun. Same to you Marciel. Well, I ake it you are... Human? Braun?" Kaz was laughing on the inside from his outburst, but he couldn't laugh much, he had done the same once...

"So Kurt, you want to know how old I am do you? For the record, two thousand, nine hundred, and fifty three years old, may or may not be impressive, but that has its own reasons." He laughed, he was wonderin what his facial expression would be...

"Don't worry, my father says that he used to be called a demon before he came here," Kurt mentioned, he looked over Braun. Not wanting to offend he stayed quiet about the wierd eyes. "You have ears like a tiger's, I like tiger's."

Kurts jaw dropped at the mention of Kaz' age. He knew of nothing that was as old as that except for most of the kingdoms cities. "You are not kidding about your age are you?" he asked.

"Kurt, manners no gawking, what would your father think," Damon reminded him.

"Sorry," he apoligised.

darn double post :evil:

"Actually I'm only half human, I have no real idea exactly what my father was, only that he lived to cause pain and misery, I'd have been one of his servents had my mother not escaped from him." Braun's expression hardened. "He killed her for defying him in such a manner, the only reason I survived was that she had abandoned me in order to draw him off my trail. A well established muscian found me and was kind enough to take me on as an apprentice." Braun gestured to his autoharp. "Braun pulled back his left sleeve revealing a series of strange symbols that ran all the way from his shoulder to the back of his hand. The markings exactly matched those on his staff. "My father needed someone he could bond to this staff to unleash it's true power, and to do so it had to be done at birth. Not having anywhere to go now I've slowly been making my way around the world. Perhaps you two would like a song?"

"How interestering, well, what is your age, might I ask?" Kaz laughed, he wasn't the only you could say 'freak' in the bar with Kurt. But they did not know what Kaz was, only that his eyes were reptilian.

OOC gtg for about 2 hours, will be back, post a message, and hit the sack for bed. Have my guy for the time being just listening cya allz laterz

OOC its almost 3am, I'm off to bed too, we'll carry this on tonight.

BTW should I have it as a closed RP now?

IC: "I don't know exactly, at least forty, maybe as much as forty-five. Marciel here has been with me almost my entire life. She's my friend and guardian. Her mental presence is also the only thing that keeps me from becoming what my father was."

OOC: Heading to bed myself, it's 10 o'clock here and I've got 8:00 o'clock classes tomorrow. I'm kind of busy tomorrow night but I'll try to keep up. And yeah, we might want to close this RP.

OOC OK I've made it a Private RP now, don't want too many people posting, I don't want to get lost :lol:

OOC good, closed, hate people that but in sometimes when ur like on page 5 lol


IC Kaz looked at Kurt, "Yes, I am that old, sorry for no answer before hand." He then finished his ale, and looked to Braun, "So, only 45... Your words do carry that of an older mans wisdom, and with your, so say, demonic heritage, I believe you will live much longer... And Marciel, there is something great that will come from your friend. Does your friend understand Draconic, the language of dragons, Braun?"

Braun smiled. Seemingly relaxed for the moment. "Yes, and no. She's actually telepathic. So far as I know she's never had a problem understanding or speaking to anyone. Though she dislikes reading anyone's thoughts besides my own. She says that most minds are too disorganised and cluttered." Braun shrugged. "It could also have something to do with the fact that we've had a permanent mental bond since even before the day she hatched. But that's another story for another time. And you sir, what is your story?"

Kurt rubbed his eyes as he moved onto his third tankard of ale.

"I bet my mind is way too cluttered and disorganised for her then," he remarked with a grin.

"My story? Well, that is a long one, but I can give you a short version? If you want either, Braun." Kaz's saphire reptilian eyes hit the light, giving a short glare of light. "Its your choice, but both may be entertaining for the kid over here."

"Hey I'm interested in hearing your story, you look interesting," Kurt remarked.

"It's your choice, though I'd prefer to hear the long one. We seem to have plenty of time to kill tonight. And who knows, if your tale is interesting enough I may just turn it into a ballad." Marciel settled herself more comfortibly on Braun's shoulder as he leaned back in preperation to giving the story his full attention.

Kurt finished his third tankard of ale and was waiting for his fourth.

"We have all night, I personally don't have to be anywhere," he mentioned.

damned double post

OOC: Just so you guys know I've got a D&D game in three and a half hours, so after that I won't be able to post for awhile. Sorry, but this is a weekly event and it can't be resceduled.

OOC: NP, we all have an RL :)

OOC D&D is the best!!! What is ur character? or are you DM?
Have you tried the SW RPG? Its fun too.


IC: "Hmm, full story then aye? Well, first, I need to show you what I really am, under this cloak..." Kaz steped down from his stool, and walked bat a bit, thinking, 'Can I really trust them? They seem trustworthy, its not like me to go and show myself so soon... Espescially in an open bar. Well, I guess they are trustworthy, I feel a great sense of light within them, so I will' It was never like Kaz to show himself so soon, it wasn't like him, but he did trust them...

He took off his ebony gloves, revealing hands, scaley looking hands, that had a resemblance to claws. He pulled back his sleves showing the skin like scales disipating to normal skin. He then began to remove his cloak, from buttons in the front, "Are you sure you guys want to know?" He said, before he undid the last button and removed his cloak, waiting for their answers...

Kurt studied Kaz' hands with interest. It was unlike nothing he had seen before. He had seen reptilian people before, but never anyone that appeared to be half reptilian and half elven.

"I'm up for knowing," he said.

"Well what about you Braun?" Kaz noticed Kurt staring at his hands, but said nothing about it.

OOC: A Demonic Neutral human fighter, and this is only my second game. A fallen paladin he goes by the name of Fa'lith. Sorry I took so long to post this, the server's been acting up.

IC: Braun hesitated for only a moment to hold a quick mental conversation with Marciel. The conversation finished, and agreement reached, he nodded to Kaz. "I have seen things that would cause most men's souls to run screaming from their bodies to leave only an empty husk behind. More than that, Marciel trusts you, and I trust her. You are among friends here." A lopsided grin crossed Braun's face. "Besides, who am I to judge one by their looks?"

"That would be being scared to death," Kurt remarked with a grin. "My father told me a long time ago never to judge people by the way they looked. When he was about my age he used to be called all kinds of things."

Braun's mouth turned into a tight grimmace. "No, what I ment when I said that, is that I watched mens souls physically rip themselves from their bodies and race off screaming in a futile attempt at escape."

"But the body dies without it's soul, at least that is what I am told," Kurt replied.

Finally he was given his fourth tankard of the night.

"Well are you done squabbling? Sorry, just I was beginning to wonder if you wanted to know."

"Sorry Kaz, old memories are hard to forget sometimes. If you're really interested Kurt I'll tell you about it later."

"Sorry," Kurt apoligised and took a gulp of ale. "Yes I would be interested."

"Well then, this is what I am..." Kaz took a big breath, he didn't like to do this in public, but he had to do is some time. He undid the last button and removed his cloak, it falling to the floor.
He bent slightly forward, and a pair of wings unfolded, a pair of icy saphireic blue dragons wing, came spreading out, seeming to unfold upon themselves, until they reached a wingspan of 14 feet, almost the length of the bar. He also had a tail, the same color and scaled, about 4 feet long, fall and hit the floor with a small thud. He gave a small smile, then swiftly brought his wings to his back, making a somewhat cloak of their own, arround him.

"So, thats what I am... Any questions... If any, dont hesitate to ask, because I really dont want any mistakes..." He seemed nervisous, but still relaxed now...


OOC P.S. He was wearing a vest and pants, both with a lot of pouches.
P.S.S This is my character for D&D, I found a document that had all the traits of this character, so i asked my DM, and he said ok. He is a level 13 fighter WOOT and kicks @$$

THAT'S KURT ON XMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ON CARTOON NETWORK!!!!!!!!!! :lol: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!:

OOC OMG NO WAY?!?! now stop hijacking *whips out heavy tank sized ignore cannon*

"Whoa!" Kurt said in surprise, "those wings are massive, though not as massive as those I have seen on a dragon. Those are real aren't they, surely the drink hasn't kicked in yet."

Kurt found that he couldn't help but stare at the wings, there were absolutely amazing.

OOC: Cool, I have a friend who plays a character something like that.

IC: Braun's only response was a raised eyebrow. "I never thought I'd see a Draconian in my lifetime. Aren't we an odd bunch. A blue elf, a dragon man, and whatever in the deepest levels of Nerull's thirty hell's I am." Braun lifted his drink. "To misfits!" With that he drained the glass with one convulsive motion.

OOC I knew someone would post something like that :roll:

"The reason they are not so massive is because I am only half-dragon, a dragon-elf. These wings are ample to fit my body, and they stay hidden, along with my tail, under my cloak with magic..." Kaz had gone into a somewhat serisous attitude, which he did somewhat often. "So no, your eyes do not decieve you, and you are not drunk, yet."

OOC Conflound double post! lol

"I didn't know half-dragon, half-elves existed, learn something new everyday," Kurt smiled, this time showing that he had fangs, "I have a tail too, but it's tucked away in my cloak."

grrrrr double post again :x

"Gentlemen, I think we may have more in common than we may have first thought when we entered this bar tonight. I see now that it is not for no reason that we all wear cloaks. I say that we set aside tonight for telling tales of the troubles, pains, and yes even joys that such burdens have brought us. What do you say?" Marciel bleaked in obvious agreement to such an idea from Braun's shoulder.

OOC crap! forgot that kaz had fangs! well, he does, lets just say he just now showed them with his wings, but his wings attracted all the attention from his teeth.


IC Kaz picked up his ale, "Yes, to misfits." He drank down the rest of his ale, and asked, "Bartender, another please."

"I have a brother also... He is a dragon-elf as well. Only he comes from a red dragon... not blue." He stopped for a minute. "And I almost killed him, for going against our emperor. He was dewinged, which is a very painful process to us half-breeds. I couldn't believe, that I was the one who had to do it to him..." His voice was sad and deep... With much pain in it. "He had fallen to the darkness, after saving me from it. He went against Drognan and our emperor, and their attempts failed. When it was over, we had to dewing him... He and I are only one out of a hundred known half-dragons, of any humanoid breed, and any draconic breed." His voice trailed off... a silence was arround for a minute... "The population is growing, by natural born half-breeds now... I am actually looking for a mate... But I do not know the chances of finding one... very rare..."

"Gentlemen, I think we may have more in common than we may have first thought when we entered this bar tonight. I see now that it is not for no reason that we all wear cloaks. I say that we set aside tonight for telling tales of the troubles, pains, and yes even joys that such burdens have brought us. What do you say?" Marciel bleaked in obvious agreement to such an idea from Braun's shoulder.


OOC: looks like I already started sorrows...

Kurt thought about what Braun had just said, he looked to where Damon the barman was. He was still keeping an eye on the teen.

"You have seen the painting over the fireplace haven't you?" he then asked the others.

He pointed to it just in case they hadn't. There in the centre of the painting was a familiar looking blue elf dressed in a white pirate shirt and black trousers. Behind him were two adults, the man a blue elf, the moman was human. Also in the painting was girl who looked like Kurt but had jet black hair instead.

OOC: left a post, bottom pg 4


IC Kaz shook his head, and looked to the picture. "Who are all thoes people?" He said with a still, bit of sadness in his voice.

IC:"I've been hunted like an animal at times, other times people simply run at the sight of me. And I'm always forced to wear this blasted hood. On the other hand Gloria said that these ears where what had first attracted her to me. Back home people knew me, and I didn't have to wear a hood." Braun gave a heavy sigh and looked into his refilled drink, his face a mask of remembered pain. "I'd promised her nothing would harm her so long as I lived, and then I had to watch her die in front of my eyes. She died because she loved me." The glass in Braun's hand shattered under a sudden spasem. Despite the stinging of the alcohol in his cut hands, he didn't flinch. Marciel's tounge flicked out to lick Braun's cheek a few times. After a moment he muttered a few words and the wounds healed over in mere seconds. "I've often thought how ironic it is that my greatest joy in life is now my greatest pain. And that my friends is what my appearence has brought me."

OOC: Got to go, my D&D group is almost here. Gonna be several hours before I can get back on.

Braun had managed to get his voice and face back under some semblence of control. "Family members of yours?"

OOC NP, I'm off too

IC

Kurt shook his head with a slight disappointment. "Yes they are my family," he replied.

"That would be the Royal Family," the barman said, "and that is the Prince that you are talking to."

OOC its cool, I think we can all take a break now. Ill be bak neways in 2 o 3 hrs, got to do some work on a friends comp. He fried his CPU HAHAH

He needs me to replace it with a new one of his

IC: "I haven't found someone to truly care for... I only hope someday I may find one of my kin, and be able to share my life and feelings with her..." Kaz looked down, his tail twitching slowly, back and fourth. His eyes seeming to tear up slightly, from the thoughts of his brother, and the thoughts that he may never find a mate... but he never would really know, and he needed to pull himself from the darkness. He sat there, silent, thinking about all he has said.....

Kaz threw his head up, "The prince?" His voice was without enthuasim, but still sorrow. He couldn't pull out of it. "Well sorry, your majesty. But dont expect to hear that a lot, prince or not, your still that furry elfe boy." He gave a short laugh, "Well, okay, if I need be I will give you 'royal respect.'"


OOC now im gone bye bye all for a while

Kurt grinned. "Yeah, I am a prince, I don't care much for being called your majesty though, just call me Kurt," he replied, "part of the reason I come here, hidden under that cloak is to get away from it all for a while. I have to sneak out though."

OOC cya guys tomorrow, cant stay on, falling asleep. Ill post tomorrow mornin and tomorrow.

"You would not be the first person of royal heritage who seeks to escape such a life that I have met. I now better understand your wish for adventure. However, for people in your position, adventure usually comes to them eventually without the need for them to seek it."

"Not in Exetergrecia," Kurt sighed, "both castles and palaces are pretty boring, not much I can do except be around the bratty spawn of rich snobs who are boring, or get dragged to one of those stale royal parties. Braun, you're wrong, most of the time you do have to look for adventure."

Braun signaled Kurt to be silent for a moment. His eyes closed in concentration and his ears twitched several times, turning back and forth as if trying to localize something. After a moment Braun opened his eyes and casually picked up his staff from where it had been leaning against the bar. Marciel's head had lifted from where it had been resting on Braun's shoulder, and she was looking around alertly. "Gentlemen, there are three men outside that door who are heavily armed with swords and at least one bow, professionals to unless I'm mistaken. I assume they aren't friends of either of you?"

'Great,' Kurt thought, just what he didn't need, trouble. If they came in there would be a fight and his father would find out that he had been coming here. He didn't want that to happen.

"I hope they're friendly," the prince remarked, "if I get into a fight then my father will know that I have been coming here and that isn't something I want to have happen."

The others could see the worried look on the young princes face.

"I assume they're not friends of yours either Kaz? Kurt don't worry I'll handle it, I think I know why they're here. Is there a back door to this place by chance?"

"Of course, out through where the deliveries are made," Kurt mentioned, "Also the is a door into the sewers from the cellar, I know these things just in case I need to escape. Though I always throught it would be because someone knew who I was."

OOC: The next post is going to take a minute so please don't post until it's up.

IC: Braun put a calming hand on Kurt's shoulder. "Wait here, I'll only be a minute." With that Braun nimbilly lept over the bar and disappeared through a door in back.

Inside: A minute or so after Braun left Kaz and Kurt could hear him addressing the men outside in an unknown language. His tone was one of reason, tinged with a hint of futility. Seconds later there was the sound of laughter and a shout follwed by two simulatious cries of pain. Next came the sound of weapons falling to the ground, and seconds later the unmistakible thud of a body hitting the ground hard. A few more words were spoken and then Braun walked in the front door, wiping a throwing knife clean of blood before secreting it back on his person.

Outside: Braun had raised his hood over his head once more. As he came around the corner the one of the men pointed and the other two quickly turned to face him. As Braun had thought, they were all wearing swords, and one of them carried a longbow. Braun held up his hands in a gesture of peace as he addressed them in the first language he'd ever learned. "Gentlemen, I assume your here on the business of Lord Mountbatten?"
As of yet they had not drawn their weapons. The man standing on the left spoke. "If your the demon with the tiger ears who carries a mini-drag then I suggest you surrender. At least that way I promise you a quick and painless death."
Braun raised an eyebrow. "And if I choose the other way?"
The man gave a smile more suited to a famished wolf finding fresh prey than a human face. "We cut you apart a piece at a time."
"I'm not going with you gentlemen, most especially since it is his Lordship who has wronged me, not the other way around. I will give you one chance to leave peacefully, should you fail to accept it, the consequences will be upon your head."
The man and his companions gave an evil laugh. "I was hoping you'd want to do this the hard way, it's been too long since my blade tasted blood." With that two of the men started to draw their swords while the third brought his bow up. Before any of them had more than half drawn Braun's arm lept out throwing Marciel at one while releasing a pair of knives with the other. The man with the bow dropped it as one of the knives found it's mark in his shoulder, the man on the right dropped his sword as a knife lodged in his wrist. The third man only managed to take a couple of wild swings at Marciel before her tail lashed out and he dropped to the ground.
"How long you put him out for Marciel?"
"He should be out cold for at least a week."
"Good."
"Gentlemen, I suggest you take your comrade and yourselves far away from here and never bother me again. The only reason any of you live is that I have an inate dislike for killing." Braun threw the hood of his cloak back and his eyes narrowed as his voice dropped from a conversational tone to one that would freeze the heart of even the stoutest warrior. "Next time we meet I will not be so forgiving. Now leave!"
The men hardly stopped to pull the knives from their bodies and retireve their weapons with their good hands before awkwardly draggin their comrade away. Braun stooped to pick up his knives as Marciel settled herself back on his shoulder. Wiping them clean he walked back into the tavern.

"What was that all about?" Kurt asked.

Braun reseated himself at the bar and took a sip from his glass before respnding. "A certain Lordship and myself had something of a falling out about twenty-three years ago. He wanted something I had, I refused to give it to him, tried to have me killed, and I took his favorite horse to make my escape. After that he put a rather hefty bounty on my head, collectible only if the item is also aquired. Since then I've averaged a bounty hunting team every three months. Usually after our first run in a given group will decide to hunt other bounties, the exceptions don't live long enough to make a mistake twice." Braun shook his head. "That was one of those groups. More than twenty years, and more than half a world away and the price is enough to keep them coming despite the complete lack of success by any of them. Sometimes I just don't understand what drives people, money is not losing one's life over."

"They were not even worthy of holding a sword." He gave a short laugh, "If I had my sword, they would be running by its power. Even you would get chills, Braun. An ancient sword, crafted by the powers of dragons in Drognan, such blades are ancient artifacts now... And I hold one." He opened a pouch, and pulled out a lightning blue and white crystal. "This is all I need for the time being." He put it away, and looked at Braun, "So were they fun?" he said with a laugh.

"They proberly wouldn't stand up to any of the weapons my kingdom has," Kurt remarked with a grin. "Unfortunatly all I have on me is a dagger and a stun-gun."

Braun looked over at Kaz. "I take no pleasure in inflicting pain or death upon others, in fact it is something I go out of my way to avoid. I wonder though how your sword would fare against my staff. The markings on it are not merely for show I assure you." Braun paused for a moment. "Though I hope that is a match we will never see." Braun's voice shifted to a lower octave. "Do not be so sure that your sword would frighten me, I have stood my ground against that which no mortal should encounter and be able to survive."

"And as if someone as old as me hasn't?" He said with a laugh, "Why wouldn't you want to see such a match? And I understand that your staff has its prowess beyond what it looks."

"Because to win such a match I would almost certainly need to unlease the staffs power. And there is no govener on the power that can be activated, it is either all or nothing. And that all is its ability to rip the soul from one's body at a mere touch. I have enough angry souls whose screams of pain still echo in my ears after so long without adding another to it. The staff is bound to me by the markings on it's surface and on my arm. Perhaps you with your many years of gathered knowledge would recognise the name of Nerull?"

Kaz looked down and pondered... "Nerull.. Nerull.." He looked up, "Ah yes, such the staff is the one you carry? True to it's historic words and your words it does? Well, if that is such the staff Nerull, then you have heard of Duros? The Rune Sword of Duros? Tis the sword I weild, giving such power in the elements... But it seemes to be a great conductor of my power. So you could say there is a link between me, and it, considering that it has no effect under the hands of another person."

"Always with the ripping souls from bodies," Kurt remarked, "So you don't know the full power of the staff or am I just getting the wrong end of the stick."

The light in Braun's eyes dimmed as memories flooded back. "No that is not the staff's name, it's name is Seelen Fresser. Nerull is, or I should say was, the god of chaos, trickery, and above all death. Twenty odd years ago I was caught up in the doings of the gods. It ended up with me facing him on a barren and blasted wasteland, the destiny of the world at stake. With this staff I broke him and laid him low, sealing his essence forever within the staff. That fight cost me everything, my financee, my friends." A dangerous laugh emerged from Braun's throat. "And my sanity for a time, in that fight we matched power for whoever was stronger would prevail, and we used everything we had, I saw into the very depths of everyone of the thirty levels of hell, and other things even more horrible, only the power of this staff, a staff designed specifically to kill gods, was I able to preval in the end." Braun turned to Kurt, the light in his eyes only slowly returning to normal. "And the reason there is so much talk of souls is that those memories stand out in one's mind over all others until the day one dies. You would both be well advised never to touch this staff without my presence."

OOC: I'm surprised you didn't recognise the reference, it's straight out of the D&D phb.

OOC: been a while since ive looked at the book, im more into the starwars one right now, so ill work with it.

IC: "Ah, you destroyed the god Nerull, but wasn't there a staff named after such the god? It too, has the power of soul stealing, but at a much lower level, and shouldn't be bound to a person. If your, Seelen Fresser, was to destroy gods." He stopped, and said nothing more for a moment. He looked up, "Nerull, he was destroyed by you? Or how ever you want to say it. Interestering..."

"OK I'm sorry, you two have lost me now," Kurt apoligised.

OOC: Seelen Fresser actually translates roughly in German as "Eater of Souls."

IC: "I don't know of the staff you speak of. This particular staff was the reason I was born. My father created it hoping to destroy all the gods and only after finishing it needed to be bonded to a person at birth, and he dared not give such power to a full demon. However he thought he could control a mere halfbreed. And he may well have been able to had my mother not escaped with both myself and the staff. As it was he fell to my other abilites and not that of the staff he created. He died never knowing that he was merely a pawn in a plot of Nerull, the same plot that I eventually found myself entangled in. A fitting fate for a god though wouldn't you say? To be destroyed by that with which it had hoped to rule all." Braun hung his head for a moment before looking up. "I just wish it hadn't come at such a price." Braun lifted his glass high. "To those who have fallen, may their sacrifices never be forgotten." He finished in a voice that was so low his companions had to strain to hear it. "And may those who survive be capable of bearing their burdens in addition to their own." Braun put the glass down on the bar carefully, as if afraid it would break. "I think I've had enough for tonight, when one's old memories seem more real than the present it's time to stop."

"OK I'm sorry, you two have lost me now," Kurt apoligised.
OOC: Sorry, we do sound like a couple of old warhorses reminising don't we? Out of curiousity, are we going to spend all our time here in the tavern or will other things happen?

OOC Depends on where the talking leads to

IC: "Kurt, your family wouldn't happen to be looking for a musician would they, or maybe some scrying perhaps? My talents aren't merely in the fields of music and story telling."

OOC: I hope you don't mind my posting this here, it's actually the epilogue to the story I'm writing around this character.

The Hero’s Burden
Long and far have I traveled
Through the seas and the skies
Over hills and plains
And in the vast darkness between the stars

I have no real home
For I am the true wanderer
Stopping only long enough to complete my task
And then I move on, to wander yet again

It is a long and lonely road I travel
With few friends and many enemies
Forever in the darkness
Striving for the light

The burden I carry is heavy
The weight of those who have fallen before me is wearying
Their ghosts scream for vengeance in my mind
And their faces hover before me when I sleep

But I shall not falter
For I am the shield that protects the innocent
And I am the sword that drives back all that is evil
I shall not rest until my task is finished

So come, be you gods, demons or mortals
Pass in peace, or face my undying wrath
And when the battle is over
I shall grieve, and then raise my sword once again

"Well, Things that happen happen, and nothing can be done to change it, just as I had to dewing my own brother," His face seemed to become blank, emotionless.


He shook his head, and looked between the two, "Where to guys? I've been needing some fresh air, what do you say?"

double post, me kill now :twisted:

"I'm not sure really," Kurt admitted, "doubt my father would like the idea of me giving jobs out to strangers I met in a tavern. You could always ask Damon, he might be interested."

Look over, he saw that the barman was again polishing tankards as he watched them. He didn't want anything to happen to the prince, not in his kingdom.

"I don't know Kaz, I'm not sure where I can safely go other then here," the young prince said, glumly.

"That's all right Kurt, I was simply wondering if they needed some help, I don't really need a job, I've more than enough wealth of my own. And frankly I don't see what there is to worry about if we go somewhere else, between me, Marciel and Kaz here, you'll be as safe as if you were back at your palace. Besides, where's that sense of adventure you were talking about? You'll certainly not find it moping around a bar, right Kaz?"

DIE DOUBLE POST!

"Well lets see, I am sure Braun and myself can go anywhere with you safley, and would it really hurt?" He seemed to still now have a sadness in his voice, memories were still flooding him, and he needed the fresh air. "Well, whatever is going to happen, let me know outside, I need air."

He got up, and started walking outside, rusteling his wings as he walked, and supprisingly, his tail not dragging. He steped outside and saw several small blood puddles and laughed, "Nice one, Braun."

"It was average as fights go. Three to one odds are about what I usually face when dealing with bounty hunters. I find that if I let them live, their stories usually scare the others off for a while. Got one in the wrist and forced him to drop his sword, nailed another in the shoulder and forced him to release his bow, and Marciel put the other one out cold for at least a week. After that they decided they didn't want to fight anymore." Braun stopped in the doorway and looked over his shoulder. "You coming Kurt?"

"I supose it could be safe if I keep my face hidden by my hood, too many people would recognise me and that wouldn't be good," Kurt explained, he was scratching the back of his neck nervously.

"Hmm, if it's your appearence that's a problem maybe I can do something to help. There's no danger involved, but I won't do it if you don't want me to."

gah

"What is it that you can do?" he asked.

*drops gernade* destruction of double post completed *BOOM*

Geez so many double posts

Kaz walked across the street, and leaned against a wall, he no longer cared being visible in public for what he was now. People would have to get over it for now. A minute later he pushed himself off the wall and stretched his wings, and looked up. "Been six months since I have been able to fly." He looked back at the door, noticing they were still inside. "Guess I should wait..."

Marciel had lifted off Braun's shoulder and was circling through the air above. Braun brought his autoharp around. "Music has a magic that can be harnessed by those with the knowledge and the ability. I can create an illusion that should last a few hours. No one would know it's you under it, not unless they were specificly looking to defeat an illusion spell."

"So I'd still be me, while everyone else will think I am someone else," he thought, "I'd still see myself looking like me wouldn't I?"

"Not until the illusion wears off, it's skin tight. That's the only way it will work."

"Ah it would be strange not looking myself," Kurt admitted, "So you can make me look what I would be like if I was human?"

Kaz shifted arround outside, growing tired of waiting. "Well I do need the air..."


OOC Have kaz go where ever u guys go, i need to go ill be bak in an hour.

"Not a problem, just hold on a second while I remember the tune, it's been a while since I used this one."

Braun's hands began to pluck at the auto harp, dlowly and indecisivly at first, then faster as he found the tune. "What is is not, and what is not is. Eyes see what they wish and nought else. But now they shall see what I wish." A soft glow enveloped Kurt. After a few seconds it stopped and seemingly standing there was a fifteen year old black haired human male with Kurt's height and build. Braun looked him up and down appraisingly. "Not bad, if I didn't know I'd swear your human." Braun grinned at a mental comment from Marciel refrencing an old joke he'd played with that same spell. "Let's get going, the illusion should hold until at least dawn."

OOC Do any of you have pics of what you invision your characters as looking like?

IC

Kurt shuddered and looked into the mirror, he was surprised by what he saw. He looked nothing like himself, but yet his facial features looked the same, appart from the elven ears of course.

"You look almost like my son Kurt," Damon smiled, he knew the King wouldn't like this, but the barman couldn't help but feel happy by the look on the young princes face.

"Braun, you rule," Kurt grinned

http://www.jonathan.bennett5.btinternet.co.uk/ns/image246.jpg

OOC: Sorry but no, I haven't even gotten past page 130 in my book and I'm only a fifth of the way through the story. I'm hoping my roomate can draw a picture for me at some point, but until then I have to do without. Don't know if I've mentioned this yet but Braun is 6' 8".

Braun couldn't help but grin at Kurt obvious pleasure. It wasn't often he got a chance to help someone nowadays. "Come on, time's a wasting and Kaz is getting impatient." As Braun headed out the door Marciel flew past before zooming up out of sight for a moment.
"Don't stray too far, we have a prince to protect tonight." Braun thought to her.
"Don't worry so much." The thought came back.
Braun merely shook his head. Despite the strange circumstances for once everything seemed right in the world.

OOC NP, its what our imaginations for :D Wow thats big :shock:

OOC NP, its what our imaginations for :D Wow thats big :shock:

OOC: Now picture him with his hood back, eye's glowing, a pair of tiger ears sticking out of a mass of flaming red hair and a mini-drag riding on his shoulder. Is it any wonder some think he's a demon?

Kurt wave to the barman as he too left the tavern. He couldn't believe how different he looked, especially with the extra digits on his hands.

"I can't believe this," he said upon going out onto the street.

Braun had pulled his hood over his head before stepping out onto the street. Reaching into his backpack he pulled out a small flute and began to play a merry fast paced tune with a tempo that often changed. Overhead Marciel darted, dipped and wheeled gracefully through the air. Braun stopped playing the flute long enough to wave Kaz over before returning to the merry melody.

Kurt looked up at the sky and took in large breath of fresh air. The clean air laws had really done their work in recent months. Now that it was getting late, the traffic on the street was dying down, but it was still fairly busy. He could believe that he could stand there with no one recognising him, he was just a nobody.

"This feels great," he told himself.

OOC: Going to bed, night all.

OOC, its almost 4am here, so definatly bed for me :lol:

Kaz laughed as he noticed Marciel flying arround above. "Hold on a second, I will be right back..." He crouched down, looked up, and sprang like a coil straight up like a dart, and flew out of sight, straight up.

He was above the slight cloud covering, and hovered there, looking into the moon. He began to move his hands into a circular pattern, and began chanting to the music he could still hear from Braun in draconic. He then put his hands togather and the moon began to glow with a radiant light, seeming to make it like day. The clouds seemed to disapear, and stars shone brightly. He went back down, and at about 15 feet above them, shouted, "Tonight, we are going to have some fun boys."m then he pulled his wings to his back, and landed on the ground, looking at the two, "By the way, nice looks Kurt. Just its easy for me only because I know your presence now, and your facial features." He laughed, "Lets go."

Marciel did a beautiful barrel roll followed by an inverted dive directly between Braun and Kurt. Her emotions of freedom and enjoyment suffused through Braun, improving his already bouyant mood. A thought down a diffrent mental pathway produced the desired result. A host of small colored lights burst into life, dancing and dashing, chasing one another, splitting and rejoining. Marciel was quickly among them, dancing around and through them with a grace that would not be expected by anyone who had not seen her fly. A small trick, and one of the earliest he had learned, it was still one of Braun's favorites. Looking up as day seemingly broke overhead Braun called out. "Thank you for lighting the way friend Kaz, come friends, the night is yet young, the sky notwithstanding, we'll show this town how to have a good time!"

Kurt watched Marciel, with a grin on his face. 'Such freedom,' he thought, 'tonight I shall have the most freedom.'

"I feel so different Kaz, yet I still feel the same," he said.

Braun gave a laugh. "Just be sure not to shake anyone's hand, the illusion only affects sight, not touch."

"I guess that would be why I feel the same then," Kurt laughed, "Better not wag my tail either then."

"Just be sure no one steps on it and you won't have a problem." Braun said.

"If someone does, I'll just have to try and not yell out in pain," the young prince grimaced. "Still as long as I keep it coiled around me under the cloak it really shouldn't be a problem."

"He does seem awfully happy doesn't he Braun?" Marciel's thought-speak sounded in Braun's mind.
"He does, doesn't he?"
"It's a shame it will all end in a few hours. Isn't there anything you can do Braun?"
Braun thought on that for a moment, the beginings of an idea forming. "Perhaps there is after all, give me some time to think on it. It can't be anything permanent, that's for sure." Braun's mind wandered off into deep thought.

Kurt began whistling as he waited for the other two. He was sure that they knew where else they wanted to go.

Kaz walked down with the two, just glancing at everything, trying to find something to do. "So.. What are we doing guys? We need something to do..." He still looked arround, and waited for any possible answers.

Off to one side of the street a building displayed a flashing neon sign advertising a casino. "How about we go in there, it looks lively enough."

"Hey, I got wings, I would have to get my cloak back at the bar, I left it with the bartender." He looked at Kurt, then Braun, "And Kurt, he would have to avoid bumping inot anyone."

"I'm not into gambling anyway," Kurt admitted.

Braun shrugged his shoulders. "It was just a thought. What do you guys want to do then?"

"Well, our little prince said he wanted adventure, so what do you say we find something to 'thrill' him"

"The only problem with that is that most adventure involves danger, and I for one am not going to do anything to intentionally put him in danger. Hmmm, Kurt, is there an outdoor marketplace or something similar around here? Something interesting usually turns up in such places."

OOC Well it did post my last post, TWICE! :x
Well anyway I'm off to bed now

"Yeah, the main outdoor market is just down the road, it's huge," the prince told them.

Braun pulled his backpack around in front of him, reaching into it his whole arm right up to the shoulder disappeared, he rummaged around for a moment and pulled out a rolled bundle which he tossed to Kaz. "Here, I always keep a spare cloak in case something happens to mine. now let's et going, I've some coin that could do with some haggling. The night's on me so feel free to go wild you two."

Kaz caught the cloak, and put it on. His wings seemed to push out a little. "Lets fix that..." He moved his hands up and down, then claped them, and a spark went of, and the cloak seemed to drop on him like he was just some human. "Thats better..."

"Actually I prefered the wings," Kurt grinned. "So it's definatley the market then?"

"Sorry, but with that many people? no can do. It bugs me when people.. stare."

"People tend to stare at me too," the young prince laughed.

"Friends, if this market is anything at all like what they are back where I come from we could walk right through the middle of it with any disguises and not even get a second glance." Braun stopped in midstep and smacked himself in the forehead. "I am an idiot. How would you two feel about visiting Sabina? It's the closest place I have to a home. A quick teleportation spell should get us there and back with no problem."

"Sabina? Where is that," Kurt questioned him.

"More than halfway around the world. It's the Capital city on the island of Pyron. A large port, just about every race imaginable can be found there. It's one of the few places none of us would even get a second glance, it also has one of the biggest open air markets in the world. If you can afford it, you can find and buy it."

"Wow, you can safely get us there by teleporting us there safely?" he then asked. Going to this Sabina place sounded interesting.

Braun nodded. "If it were just about anywhere else I wouldn't make you any guarentees, but I know it well enough that there'll be no problem getting there." Braun rubbed his chin. "Hmmm, getting back might be a little difficult though. I haven't been around here long enough to get a good enough feel for the place. Let me think.... I know, I've got just thing." Braun bent over and once again began to rummage around in his back pack, leaning in far enough that most of his upper body dissapeared. Mumbling could be heard out of the back pack. "I know it's in here somewhere, blasted pocket dimensions, never can find, ah, here it is!"
Braun's hand held a golden symbol. "A location symbol, it will mark this spot so I can find it again during a teleport."

"Come well prepared then," Kurt remarked, "so what do you think, Kaz?"

"Hmph, travel for about twenty years and you'll be amazed at the amount of oddball useful stuff you can pick up. My biggest problem before I got this particular backpack was trying to lug it around. I'm ready when you are."

"I'm ready," Kurt said.

"Whatever works, just something to do." He said with a smile. "Ready, Captain Braun." He laughed at the remark. "What are the... cultures? or races I should ask?"

"Any and all my winged friend, any and all." Braun held the symbol and concentrated for a minute. Letting go it hovered in the air for a moment beofre glowing white and then disapearing. Braun pulled around his autoharp and began to plink out a complicated pattern. After a moment a portal of white light simmered into existance. "OK, let's go, the portal will only last a minute." With that Braun walked through the portal, with Marciel flying through right behind him.

Kurt followed Braun into the portal, he had no idea what to expect. He didn't really no if it was sensible to do this, but he walked through anyway.

Emerging from the portal the group found themselves on the edge of a massive market place that seemed to stretch on forever. Elves, dwarves, gnomes, halflings, humans, and many, many other races could be seen buying, selling and bartering. Braun pulled back his hood and pulled a gold medallion on which was carved a harp crossed with a throwing knife. "Just keep a close eye on your purses and your backs, just about everything short of outright murder is allowed here. We shouldn't have a problem though, I've got something of a reputation here."

"I hope its a good rep," Kurt remarked. He looked around at the market place. Exetergrecia market used to be huge until he saw this place.

"So how many people live here?" he then asked.

Braun shrugged at the question. "No one really knows, government is rather lax, as long as the taxes are paid, they don't really bother anyone. But if I had to make a good guess, I'd say there is at least a million people in this city at any given time. And almost everyone one of them comes here at one point or another. And as for my reputation, you really couldn't find one better. As my medallion indicates I'm a Master Bard, until I left for the life of a wanderer I was making a very good living here. I split the availible work with my old Master, now my ex-apprentice works with him, last time I was here they had more business than they could handle."

"Ah, thats good then," the young prince said, looking at his human hands once again. "Do you think it's better for me to look like this rather then my true form in case someone recognises me?"

"Frankly, I doubt anyone here would care. Human or Blue Elf, neither will attract any real attention. Besides, compared to me and Kaz here you look downright normal. And that's not counting some of the other customers of this place." To emphasize his point he gestured toward where a group of vaguely arachnoid creatures were engaged in spirited bargining with a merchant that looked remarkibly like a giant bat. "In all my travels this is the only place in the world I been where race and class truely don't matter, only one's reputation and coin. If you don't have at least a fair amount of one, you had best have a lot of the other. Many shop here who can't shop elsewhere. For me, this is the closest thing I can call to a real home."

Kurt smiled, he was beginning to like this place. He would defiantly have to buy something to remind him of Sabina.

"Do you think they take Draconian credit cards here?" he said, asking yet another question.

IC: "Don't worry I'm paying. And no they don't, most of the people here have never even heard of a credit card. People in this part of the world have no love for any technology more complex than a water clock. Magic takes the place of technology and that's the way it looks to stay."

OOC: Let's wait for Drognan before we go any further.

"Damn," Kurt cursed, not what he hoped for. No technology, meant no telly and no decent music.

OOC: Sure.

OOC: sorry guys, had some problems arrise, but I should be good for now.

IC: Kaz kept silent, he had seen a place like this, but this was far more populated by creatures even he had never seen before. 'This just might be the place... He seemed to be looking arround now, but his eyes seemed to keep a straight line. "So, what do you sujest in doing from here, Braun?"

"Get in there and haggle your way to the best bargin you can get. That's what." As the group proceeded to enter the market place various storekeepers called out to Braun.
"Hey Braun, good to see you back, it's been awhile!" An older human male yelled.
"Good to see you as well Ganther, hows the family?"
"Finally got Julie married off, and the Miss still nags as well as ever."

And another. "Braun, you're back, care to give a performence?"
"Sorry, not today, I'm in a hurry and can't stay long."
And so it went, Braun trading greetings and friendly insults with many of the shop keepers.
"Well, don't just stand there and stare you two, the day's shopping is on me, have at it." Braun said as he headed over to one of the general merchandise stalls.

Kaz simply deverted off to a merchant that called.
Kaz's face was hidden beneath the cloak, and he seemed to talk in a deep tone, "What do you have for sale, any good old artifacts or weapons, if not, who may have them?"
The merchant looked at him with a smile, he was a simple human. "I may, I may not. What is your offerings?"
"Lets see, your life?" He said with a smile, his fangs giving a hint of light to the mans face. "or maybe you will let me see your items?"
"You better cut that out." The merchant seemed to be slightly starteled, but now worried. "I dislike you... Vampires."
"Im not a vampire, but I can still hurt you, now show me your wares?"
"Fine... But no more funny bisiness, okay?"
The merchant opens a case underneath his 'desk' and sets it on the table, "Go ahead, rummage through..."

Kaz looks in, trying to find something of intrest.

Kurt quietly looked around. He had no idea what he wanted to buy at the moment, so he just looked around. At least no one would recognise him so he could look around in peace. Kaz already looked to be arguing with the merchats already. He actually found that to be funny the way he threatened the merchant to see his wares.

IC: Braun was already well underway haggling over a small amulet that had caught his interest. "Oh, friend Braun, I would not think of parting from such a rare and hard to find item for anything less than thirty gold."
"Most likely it is rare and hard to find because of it's poor quality and general uselessness, three silver."
"You insult me with such a pitiful offer, you would aim to starve my poor wife and six children? I can go no lower than twenty-five gold."
"The only people that would starve would be your three mistresses. Two gold, and not a copper more."
The merchant threw his arms in the air in a display of dispair. "Now you would starve me as well, have you no heart? Nineteen gold, I shall not budge from that price."
"Braun gestured at the merchant's large stomach. "I dare say nothing short of a tornado could budge you, a short period of starvation would do you good. If what you say is true then I am doing you a favor. Four gold and three silver."
The merchant's face flushed red and it looked as if he would start foaming at the mouth any second. "Now you truely do insult me, me who has watched and guided you since childhood. Out of sentimentality I shall reduce my price to ten gold."
"The only thing you ever watched me for was the jingle of coin in my pocket and the only guidence you ever gave me was just how badly you were willing to swindle a mere child, seven gold and five silver, and it is theft at that."
"Done!"
Both parties involved, old friends, walked away well satisfied with the deal.

OOC: That's how you haggle! :D

"Sound like you have quite a history with him," Kurt remarked, still looking around for something to catch his interest.

"You could say that. I spent my entire childhod in this city. Whenever my Master wasn't instructing me I was out playing in the market or the port taverns to make some spending money. Many of the merchants here watched me grow up."
Even as Braun spoke a young woman ran out from the crowd and flung her arms around him. "Uncle Braun, you're back!"
"Amelia, is that you? You grown at least a foot since I saw you last."
She nodded, an ear to ear grin on her face. "Mother's been wondering what you've been up to."
"This and that. Kurt, I'd like you to meet Amelia Hi'ale, daughter of the Sorceress Marea."
Amelia turned to look at Kurt. "He's cute, but he really shouldn't hide like that." Before Braun could stop her, a mischivious look in her eye, she waved her hand and muttered something that caused Kurt's illusion to break down.
Braun looked down at her with a mixture of irritation and resignment. "She's also impulsive, curious, a sorceress in training, and now in a lot of trouble with her mother when I see her next."
Amelia didn't even look the least bit ashamed of her actions.
"Sorry about that Kurt."

"Thats alright, its not like I have to hide my true self here," he said. Under his fur he was blushing at being called cute.

"I'm afraid further bartering will have to wait for the moment." Braun took Amelia gently by the arm. "We young lady are going to see your mother, now."
She knew that tone well enough to realise there was no point in arguing.
"This should only take a few minutes Kurt, besides, I wanted to see Marea before I left anyway. Kaz, you want to come along, or we can meet you back here shortly?"

"You want me to come as well?" Kurt asked.

When Kaz heard Braun's voice, he quickly released the grim from the merchants collar on his shirt, "Uh, I will stay here. I am just bartering away... heheh"
The merchant yelled, "No, please take him!"
"Quiet you"
The merchant went silent...

"Why not? I'm certain;y not leaving you to wander this market alone, you'd be lost within five minutes. Don't worry, it shouldn't take long." Braun's face split in a grin. Besides, I think Amelia like you. Amelia blushed heavily at that and Marciel chirped with laughter.

"Guess we're leaving Kaz to his fun," Kurt remarked with a sly grin.

"This man hsa an item of intrest for me, If you tell me where you are going, I will find you, and dont forget, if I am lost, I can just fly outta here"
The merchant stood there, then steped back into the corner of his stall.

"We should be back shortly Kaz, and then maybe I can give you a hand finding what you're looking for. And Amelia, for crying out loud stop giggling like that, you're almost sixteen, a sorceress shouldn't be so childish and impulsive, it's just not safe."
"Tell that to my mother."
Braun groaned inwardly. "She's the exception to the rule, you know that. How about to start making up for your action you run ahead and let your mother know we're coming."
"Yes Uncle Braun." Amelia said as she disappeared in a flash of light.
"Show off." Braun muttered under his breath while shaking his head. "Come on Kurt, we'd best not keep Marea waiting now that she knows we're coming. And in case you haven't picked up on it yet I think my adopted niece likes you. You could do worse you know."
Braun stopped in front of one of a series of open archways set into a stone wall. He spoke a few words and the archway lit up with a white light that Braun stepped into.

"Hope you get whatever it is that you want," Kurt mentioned. "Proberly shouldn't be too hard to sport a fuzzy blue guy in a crowd."

Kurt nodded, saying, "Yeah I kinda noticed that, girls dig the fuzzy guy."

He then followed through the archways, he guessed that he too should step into the light and did so.

As Kaz watched Braun and Kurt walk off, he quickly turned to the merchant and reached for his colar again. "Sell me that shard! You dont even know what power it has, or which dragon's soul it has do you?"

"Let go of me you creature, why couldn't you have gone with them?!"

"Because I want that shard, thats why!"

"What use is it to you then?" the merchant pulled off Kaz's grip, and grabed the crystal shard from the corner, it glowing with a firery crimson glow.

"Sell it to me now..." Kaz's already mean deep voice became even darker.

"Fine, one hundred gold."

Kaz pulled back his hood, and looked to the man, his icy eyes piercing through the man. "Five gold. No more no less."

"Fifty"
"Seven"
"Thirty"
"Ten, now sell it to me, or force will be involved and you wont get your money."
"Twelve, do it, or no sell"
"I said ten, now" Kaz's words had a great deal of power behind it now.
The merchant was now scared half to death, "F.. Fine.. Take it and leave!"
Kaz's voice returned to normal as he handed over the coin, "Thank you for your time friend, you wouldn't happen to have any more would you?"
"No! go away! Look for a man named Undraz, now leave!"

Kaz walked off, studying the crystal shard in his hands now. Someone eles has these crystals? This.. Undraz. I must find him...

IC: Braun found himself standing as expected on what seemed to be thin air about fifty feet out from the top of a tower. Braun put a hand on Kurt's shoulder. "Don't worry it's just for effect. Marea's got a strange sense of humor." After that Braun walked onto the tower and down a stairway into a well lit reception room.
Amelia was standing next to a tall beautiful woman. "Braun, it's good you could come. And you sir, I'm sorry for my daughter's actions earlier, please forgive her, she'll be properly punished I assure you. Now what is it you wanted to speak to me about?"
"Can we talk about it in private?"
"Of course, come with me. Amelia, see to our guest."
Braun followed the sorceress through another door, leaving Kurt with Amelia. Braun's parting words were. "I'll be right back, have fun."

OOC: Feel free to RP with her for a little while.

Kurt smiled weakly at Amelia, he felt uneasy because he didn't know what to say.

Braun reappeared with Marea a few minutes later. "Thanks again Marea, that's another one I owe you."
"I'll subtract it from the ten I still owe you."
"Ready to go Kurt?"

"Yeah I'm ready," Kurt nodded, his tail twitched nervously.

OOC: You'll find out the reason for this visit in a little while.

A few minutes later they found themselves back out in the marketplace. "Find what you were looking for Kaz? If not I can probibly help you find it."

"How about you Kurt, are you looking for anything in particular?"

Kaz looked up to Braun, "Ya." His voice trailed off, as he stared into the crystal "but do you know anyone named.. Undraz? He seems like he has something I am looking for, but I can always come back and find him..."

"I haven't seen anything that has taken my eye yet," Kurt sighed. So many things but none of which interested him.

"Undraz, Undraz, yes, I think I know someone by that name. Been awhile though. Come on I know where he'll be if anywhere." Braun headed deeper into the market, past stalls selling everything imaginible, and many things that couldn't be. The deeper into the market they went the stranger or more powerful were the items being sold. Braun finally stopped in front of one booth in particular. The booth had shelves filled with crystals of all types and colors.
"Watch your step with this one Kaz, he's somewhat shady, but no violence please. Hey Undraz, I've got a customer for you."

OOC double post

"I believe you have something you will be willing to sell me that I want, Undraz."

OOC:You want to RP him?

OOC: Nope this one's all yours.

IC: Undraz, no cheating this one, he's a friend, and he's to be treated as such or I'll see that certain facts about some shady business deals come to light, understand?

As they delt with this Undraz fella, Kurt decided to have a little look around. Maybe he could find something of interest here. Perhaps a nicely decorated dagger or maybe even a sword. After all he doubted that there were lightsabres here, something that he desperatly wanted but was never allowed.

Braun turned from where Kaz had started bargining to Kurt. "So just what is it your looking for Kurt? A wepaon to take home, magical rings, statues, you name it it's here."

OOC another double errr

Undraz came out from his corner in the stall, wearing dark robes, and half his face showing slightly. The showing part of his face revealed a blue eyed elf, but through the darkness, a red eye was seen, dimly shining through.
Kaz was frozen solid, "Y.. You bastard.. Running here and changing your name to.. Undraz." Kaz reached in his cloak and pulled out a revolver, and put it to the elf's face, "Why?"

Undraz stood there, not even flinching, "Because I did. And don't you even say my name, it is Undraz, Kazahan Lo of Drognan, brother of the shameful dewinged Vor'en Lo. I know what you are here for, to reclaim some dignity to your brother, and find his fathers shard, just as you have found your own."

Kaz ripped back his hood, and pulled out another revolver from his other side, "I should kill you for everything you just said... You went against us, and then ran here five hundred years ago... You have some nerve Teron Kale, brother of our true emperor, If only he knew."

Teron, or Undraz, pulled back his hood as well, his black hair cascading down to his waist. "But he dosen't, does he?"

When Braun saw Kaz pull out the weapons he swung around with his staff knocking them from Kaz's hands. As the staff was held stretched out between the two it began to glow with a black light while the markings on it began to glow white. An aura of fear and dread exuded from the staff. "No violence, this is a peaceful market place. If you two have an old dispute settle it elsewhere."

Kaz stared at Braun, rage and anger showing in his face. "Fine, but for now, stay out of this Braun.."

Undraz looked to Braun and Kaz, and laughed. "Nicely done to enforce the rules."


Kaz looked to Undraz, grabed his arm, and said, "Your coming with me." And he put his indexfinger and middle finger to his head, and in the blink of an eye, they were gone, just a few 'riples' in the air the second they left.

Kurt couldn't believe what just happened.

"Where did they go?" He wondered.

Braun lowered the staff as it regained it's usual appearence. "I don't know, and since it's none of our business we're not going to follow them. Now what was it you were looking for."

"I was thinking maybe a sword or a decorative dagger," Kurt replied. The thought of wondering where Kaz had gone was still clear in his mind.

Braun noted Kurt's concern. "Don't worry, Kaz is big enough to take care of himself. Now do you want a weapon that's funtional or merely decrotive, and magic or non-magic?"

"I didn't particulary care for stopping Kaz, but the last time blood was intentionally shed in this market place three thousand years ago it spread until half the city was engulfed in flames. After that the law against violence was put in place. The price for shedding another's blood here is one's life. I did not want our friend to have to pay such a price."

"I guess he knows and teleported himself and the other guy somewhere else them," He said, his tail twitched nevously again. "Functional preferably and magic sounds good."

Braun took Kurt to another shop a short ways away. Ducking under the doorway they emerged into a shop in which the walls were entirely covered in weapons of all descriptions, some of whose uses weren't even certain. Braun called out to the store keeper. "Hey Marty, my friend here is looking to obtain some of your better merchandise. I'm buying so price in no concern."
The store keeper, a large man looked Kurt up and down appraisingly. "Hmm you look like you're fairly fast and agile, I think I have just the thing." The store keeper disappeared into the back of the shop, emerging a few minutes later with a sheath wrapped in cloth. Unwrapping the sheath he pulled out a fairly non-descript rapier. "This is one of my rarest and most valuable items. It's enchanted so as to aid it's wielder in both defense and offense, it also offers a measure of protection against all types of magic. Would you care to give it a try sir?" He said as he offered it to Kurt.

Kurt first looked at the rapier and its non-descriptness, before taking it from the shop owner. He held it up in both hands, still looking at it.

"How much does it cost?" he asked. "What is its enchantment?"

On a mountain peak, nearing the edge of a cliff, under a shining bright moon, Kaz and Undraz, or Teron, were standing ten feet from eachother. In Kaz's hands, was a great sword. The sword was glowing with an erie white mist, and seemed to be made of some other matereal than any usual metals for swords. Kaz took off the cloak, and it flew into the winds. His saphire blue wings were outstretched, and his tali was moving around angerly.
Teron was standing across, and had his cloak off as well, revealing great wings of black, seeming to be as Kaz's wings, only black. He, too, had a tail, that was still and solid as can be.

Teron threw back some of his black hair from his face, "Kaz, you cant win, you will die up here. And if you manage to beat me, then I will take you down as well!" His voice was filled with complete darkness, and very scruffy. On his hands, were a pair of gloves with blade like nails, on each finger, that seemed to be letting off a green mist.

Kaz lifted his hand and stroked his blade, chanting in draconic. His hands filled with electricity, and it zapped all arround the blade. "Tonight, you will die, Teron Kale, brother of Diomedious Kale, the one true emperor of Drognan!"

With that Kaz thrusted himself at Teron with his wings, as did Teron to Kaz...

"As I told you sir, it will guide your hand in both attack and defense, as well as give you aid should you face attack by magic. It's alive after a fashion. The price, since Braun here is paying is fifteen-thousand gold pieces."
Braun didn't even blink as he pulled a heavy bag out of his backpack and handed it to the shopkeeper. "There's fifteen-thousand there in platinum. If he wants the sword it's yours."

OOC: now how is that for the beginning of a battle heheh

Hey Grimdale, have you played Dark Age of Camelot?

PS the battle has to do with Kaz's past, in which, was supposed to be said in the br, but we forgot... lol I am sure if Kaz survives, he will tell your guys, but if he dosen't, you must seek his brother

Ok back to story lol

End OOC

OOC: No, but I can hardly wait. Go for it.

Kurt thought for a moment, he had only met this guy not so long ago in a tavern. Should he really be letting Braun buy this sword for him. It couldn't hurt really, but then again Kaz completely changed when they came across Undraz. Then again this sword was what he had always wanted but his father had never allowed him. Back in Draconis Nightcrawlis, he could never simply walk in a shop in the hooded cloak like he could in the tavern, in a shop they would have known who he was by way of his credit cards. He knew that there was only one thing he could do.

"I'll take it," he smiled.

OOC: Stealing your character for a moment.
"Excellent sir."
Kurt could feel the sword pulse in his hands almost as if it was alive.
"Don't worry about the price Kurt, there's plenty more where that came from. Though I'm getting worried about Kaz. What do you say we drop in on him and see how he's doing." Braun pulled out the flute from earlier and played a quick melody. "Got him located, hold on." Braun grabbed Kurt's arm as he dived through yet another portal.

Kaz and Teron clashed in a fury of attacks, only blurs could be seen. Neither one of them seemed to be getting any hits, and they were still standing.

Kaz screamed out, and jumped back. He had a slash across his face.
Teron looked to him, "The almighty Kaz has taken a hit from me, looks like you are falling behind Kaz, just step down and let me make it easy." His face showed an evil smile of delight.
Kaz simply looked to him, letting the blood from his diagional face long scratch bleed. "Never!" He yelled as he flew at him across the ground, the tip of his sword pointing straight for Teron.
"You never give up do you?!" Teron yelled as he sped twoards Kaz, doing a kick to drive the point of the blade from himself, and then trying to send a fury of swipes at Kaz.


They went on for several minutes, seeming to never hit eachother, and neither growing tired...

Kurt had no idea what was going on, everything had gone to quickly for him to register. Though he did know they were going to see Kaz, or at leat he expected to.

What Braun saw when he emerged from the portal was a duel to the death. Braun hesitated for a brief second to determine what to do, but Marciel did no such thing, flying straight at Kaz's assailent. That decided Braun and he moved in with his staff to trap the one he knew as Undraz between him and Kaz. Right or wrong, he would not allow his bond partner to fight alone.

Kurt saw what was going on with his new friend and knew that he should help. He held up his new rapier and prepared himself to fight. Hopefully he would not need to, but one could not be sure.

Kaz stopped as he watched Braun and Kurt come from the portal, and Braun approaching, "Leave! This is not meant for you to..." Kaz stood there, and by his side, Teron had his fist at Kaz's sides, with a nail in his side.
Teron looked to the two, "Thank you for the distraction fools." He began to smirk an evil smile.

Kaz was twitching slightly, then he looked to his evil faced foe, "Why?"
Teron looked to him again, "Because your brother was a useless fool that was to easy to take from in the darkness, thats why."
Kaz looked back to Braun, "Leave" His voice was weak, "Leave now, this is not meant for you..." Kaz then grabed his sword tight and quickly swung it at Teron, but he pulled back, releasing the nail from Kaz.
They took to the air, but Kaz was flying and fighting limpily, and his actions were now slow, but reflexes seemed to be holding out....

The young prince didn't know what to do, he just couldn't just leave Kaz to fight alone.

Braun set his staff aside and pulled his autoharp out. Time and practice allowed him play the healing melody without even the need to think. White light suffused itself from around him stretching out to engulf Kaz, healing wounds and restoring energy. The song at an end Braun switched to a faster more vibbrent tune. This time his autoharp began to glow a firery read and flames built up around Braun before lashing out at Kaz's attacker in a stream of Dragon Fire. He had not earned the title of Spellsinger casually. Marciel continued to try and find a chink in the armor so she could put her poison to work.

"I shal not leave so long as my bond-partner fights." Braun yelled up to Kaz. He turned to his opponent. "You would be wise to choose other than to face he who has among his many names Reaper of Souls and who has fought gods."

Kaz was begining to revitalize a bit, but it only restored his energy, letting him fight more, and the pain gone, but he was still bleeding badly from his side.
Teron yelled while fighting Kaz, before Braun did his dragonfire, "Spells can not heal my wounds from my blades, these are rune blades!" He continued to fight in furies of slashes, throwing a few at Marciel, until the flame engulfed him.
Kaz stopped, blood dripping down his face and side, down his leg. He rested for a second until he saw Teron burst from thje flame.
"Fool to have trusted me Braun, fool." He pointed a hand at Braun, and fended off several swipes from Kaz's sword, and shot a beam of death like black energy at Braun and the prince....

Braun quickly countered with a song that created a white shield around him and Kurt that the death beam disapated against. Braun's cloak had begun to billow out and whip around as if he were in the center of whirlwind. "Whatever magic you care to use, I can counter it. My magic is greater than you can possibly imagine. I am the last of the Spellsingers. The gods themselves tried millenia ago to destory such ability, so great was it's power it threatend even them."
Marciel had returned to Braun's shoulder and hissed defiance at the traitor. Another song and meteors began to rain from the sky around Kaz.