Fantasy Crimson Streets

[Dragongal]

Polaris Mentha


Given that she didn't fully trust the new Isaac yet - she'd been given no reason too, and she didn't want to risk her younger allies - she found Sir Isaac's questions useful. Syrann's words, though would normally be true, she found a little too welcoming for the newcomer; he could still be an assassin of the Red Queen's. She glanced around for Prudence - she'd seen her earlier, where was she now...? She'd looked quite adorable in her new clothing, but Polaris had had no time to tell her. She had to worry that an enemy might find her before she did. She noticed also Elara's disappearance... which was very odd, but she put that out of her mind as it'd have little affect on what was soon to come.


Though she knew she was being rather rude, she didn't want to run any risks with the younger members around. She'd she her fun side more when she knew she could trust him. "I'm sorry, sir, but you'll understand if, besides answering Sir Isaac's questions, you gave us... some form of proof before trusting you with our lives, quite possibly in a battle."

 

[TheStoicist]

"... Some form of proof before trusting you with our lives, quite possibly in battle."


'This girl is intelligent', Isaac thought as he turned his eyes away from Sir Isaac and to the girl who had suddenly spoken up, and honestly, right to be wary of Isaac. He would be just as distrusting if he were in her position. So recalling some of the Queen's final instructions to him, Isaac looked between the two questioning him and answered loud enough for all to hear,


"Yes, very well, you have the right to know. I am Isaac Keefe from the Third Stein, my abilities consist of high-voltage electrokinesis and high-temperature heat resistance. Also, I was told this letter," he had swung his worn pack off his back in a familiar motion and pulled a cream-coloured envelope from it, decorated with the royal seal impressed into red wax. "Was to be given to Sir Syrann or Kaatl so they could officiate my business here." He cast his hard eyes about, searching for the ones that went by those names, some of these people had not announced their names yet, among them were Kaatl and Syrann.


And though he was worried that others might have suspicions about why the letter was only for Kaatl and Sir Syrann's eyes, Isaac hoped with this that he would gain a bit of faith from the group. Because even if some of them appeared friendly and open, he suspected that none actually had any trust in him yet.

 

[KnightofShadows]

Alexi moved quietly to the deepest shadow he could find in the proximity of the wall, then listened and observed, two of the things he did best. They were headed into the mouth of the lion, and they would need to be on their toes. He wanted to be sure he had all the information available, before that meeting…


He watched the interactions of all, as they met the newcomer. There was a notable air of caution and mistrust. Not to be unexpected given the circumstance. However, they could ill afford the sentiment with what lay ahead. They needed to be as unified as possible, and they already be facing the challenge of trying to reign in Elara, which given the fact that the position she found herself in, was quite contrary to the feral girls very nature. He sympathized with the poor girls circumstances particularly, as he knew what a struggle it must be for her to accept and overcome them. He hoped that she truly possessed the strength that he sensed in her, and that she would be able to.


He waited for Mutt to conclude, impressed by what he heard. Not simply due to the formidable sounding power he possessed, or even the mans imposing physicality and demeanor, but of the honesty the man had exhibited in doing so. He was glad for both. There were few things he would rather have on his side in facing a proverbial lion, than a fierce dog with a nasty bite.


“Welcome aboard Isaac. Thank you honoring us with your allegiance, and even more so for your honesty. It’s all true people! Every damn word of it…” he sniped, with a voice as cool as the shade he occupied.


“I hope that perhaps my affirmations will help to allay any fears or mistrust that any of us may still harbor. As well as serve to remind you all, that at least in my company, honesty is always the best policy.” his words fell solemnly.


“Now, perhaps we should resume our trek, before we lose Elara to her own designs in the crowded streets of the 2nd?” he said detaching himself from the relative comfort of the shade, much as he abhorred doing so.

 

[CallSign]

A hand pushed out from the wall, moving Alexi back into the sunlight with the group. "Don't talk to me about truth while you hide yourself in the shadows, Sunshine. You may be a lie detector, but you can still be a liar." Sir Isaac removed his hand from the wall and returned to the group.


As he passed through the group, Sir Isaac slipped the letter out of Isaac's hand, the letter itself ignoring the grip Isaac had on it. "At this point I trust Sir Anne and his pet more than I trust you, so I'll leave the verification up to them. After all, those are the queen's orders." Sir Isaac handed the letter to the knight before moving on, his hand .


"And while we're on the subject of trust and shadows, it would be nice if you were to lower your hood while we discuss matters of importance, Nanni. I don't mind it while traveling, but since we're talking... wait, are you wearing TWO hoods?" Sir Isaac bent down to get a closer look, confirming that the boy had indeed donned two hoods. "You must be sweltering under all those clothes! What reason could you have to wear two hoods when one is quite enough?"


@Elvengarda

 

[InsanEleven]

((I had already taken off the second hood in an earlier post, but then don't mind that))


"well, Dory, darling," he started of his sentence, and though he kept his face mostly happy and cheery his eyes spewed venom at the man in front of him. "the same reason you wear that hideous black thing on your body. Protection. Those upper cloaks are meant to be worn outside, as camouflage in forests or fields, while the inner cloak can be used for when you are inside city walls, as then those green nature patterns would stand out too much against bricks and wooden planks." Even so, the man had a point about being warm, and he had been about to take the upper cloak off. He still did so, and quickly and neatly folded the thing up to put it in his messenger bag, which he then put on his back so he wasn't hindered by it.


After he finished packing he stood up from the pole he was half sitting, half leaning on and walked back to the remainder of the group, locking eyes with Dorovich for a second as he passed.


"If you ever dare call me Nanni again I will promise to make your life a living hell." He whispered softly, yet calm, more determined than angry, and he was sure that if this man pissed him off enough he might even would. It wasn't like he had much to lose anyway, and it would be fun to try and see how long it would take him to wipe that grin off his face. A year? Two years perhaps, maybe even five... enough for him to never go bored again for the remainder of his life?

 

[KnightofShadows]

Alexi ducked the push as he felt its pressure, and nimbly spun away.


He gave a low chuckle, and raising a finger toward the infamous black market rogue. “Ah ah ah…” he scolded the man coldly.


“Touch me again, and I’ll touch you back.” he spat.


“You may want to be a bit more careful about whom you choose to offend Zak. We may have to work together for the moment, but our alliance is temporary and what you reap is what you sow. My eyes are quite sensitive to light, I seek the shadows in relief, not for malicious purposes. I have shared such on more than one occasion, and where I choose to abide, is of no concern to you.”


“You have no friends among those gathered here. I am quite certain that if there are any suspicions of falsehoods or concerns of trust, they lie with you.”


He took a step toward the man. “You have been warned. It will not be a courtesy extended twice. You will afford each one of us the respect we deserve, or you will soon regret the transgression!”


“If there is anyone here who disagrees with the sentiment, by all means, let’s hear it?” he asked imploringly.

 

[Dragongal]

Polaris Mentha

​

While Polaris naturally wanted to insult Dorovich and tell him that Sir Syrann actaully deserved the title, and wasn't just born into some fany family but had done something good with his life (anyone hwo was willing to stand up and say that to the White Queen last night must ahve been telling the truth by her reasoning) and wanted to make a stab at how he was still just a Black Market dealer, they needed to work together.


"You're all acting like children, now knock it off," Polaris growled at them, in atone that told them trying to argue with her would not end well. While she knew Inanis and Alexi were being perfectly fair and likely holding back, that didn't help still. While she didn't want them to think her mad at them, she had to risk it. "We're about to go on a potentially lethal mission and all you do is bicker? I want to get home as quick as possible, and none of you are helping. You get insulted or thrratened from one of the group, you let it fly. We need cohesiveness. When we finish this first mission then you can go at it back in the castle." She turned to Zak, saying, "Alexi's right, you're not making friends, and you're not making this job easier on any of us."





She turned to Keefe, nodding slightly. "I'm terribly sorry you have to see us this way, we aren't always at each others throats."

 

[TheStoicist]

Isaac lowered his head in a sort of shaking motion as he responded to the girl, who was apparently a mediator in this whole mess,


"It's alright, I'm no idealist, I expected this much." He had been contemplating speaking up before Polaris had done so, but had wondered if that would be crossing his boundaries as a newcomer I the group, now he had found his voice, although it was perhaps it was useless considering the more respected girl had spoken up first, yet that was probably the largest reason he ended up opening his mouth, regardless he turned to Alexi, Inanis, and Sir Isaac with a face no less indifferent than it had been twenty minutes ago, though maybe there was a bit of knowing firmness there that hadn't been in the expression before, even if Isaac was a rigid man,


"Thank you for your support Alexi, yet I have to say, I'm in agreement with Polaris. All of us have a purpose here, myself included, and considering we may die in this time, I assume these purposes are of great importance. So there is no use in turning on one another if it can be easily avoided." And that was exactly as Isaac thought, if it had no use to oneself, there was no place for it in ones heart or mind, he had lived his life by this philosophy and thus far it at least kept him breathing.


And though Isaac had really only addressed Alexi and Sir Isaac, though indirect it had been, he was quite conscious of Inanis. The stutter had disappeared with the boy's latest words and Isaac did wonder where it had gone to and perhaps even where it had come from. And though it was not his business to pry, Isaac thought to question him about the matter when there was more trust between himself and Inanis. Of course a stronger bond in the group was doubtful at this point. Isaac hadn't taken a particular liking to any of these people, though he actually had not come to dislike any either, even Sir Isaac, who didn't appear to be the most popular man in the team. As to why he didn't find the other Isaac distasteful was a mystery even to the foreigner himself. Perhaps it was because Isaac had never fully adopted the standards and expectations of proper behavior this country possessed, especially amongst it's better people.

 

[InsanEleven]

Ina quietly listened to Alexi's defence, and then Polaris plea to all work together which quickly took on a scornful tone. She was right though, and it wasn't wise to make enemies from the start, but never he would let it go over his heart to be called Nanni. His name was the only thing for twelve years that had stayed the same, that didn't die off, and was still said to this day, even though it normally was used scarcely. It was awful, and he hated it as it was given to him in mockery and spite, a cruel joke played on him by those that had bought him, and still, it was his, his body and his name were the only things he rightfully owned now, though there was a time where even one of those hadn't been his. And only the heroes, fools and suicidal had the right to attempt and take away either one, and Dorovich most definitely wasn't a hero come to the rescue of the world.


Ina just quietly shared a glance with the newcomer, electricity... that was definitely most frightening. His earlier 'experiences' with electricity hadn't been exactly walks in the park, and for some reason his body, or perhaps more his ability, reacted violently to it, to such an extent that one could see it as a deadly weakness. Though he didn't remember the entirety of what happened, as it had been years and years ago, just as he had started developing his powers, he did know that he never wanted to get close to a feeling like that again. It wasn't like he was curious to try and see if his abilities had grown over those youth allergies, and perhaps it would be wise not to get to close to this Keefe person in case he would accidentally zap him. On the other hand, if he did get close to him and on his good side, then he didn't have to worry about not so accidental zaps either... and just like that he realised he had been staring again, and his worries disappeared as a new way more important problem arose: he had embarrassed himself once more. Quietly he wanted to mutter out an apology, his face turning red knowing he had been impolite by staring, but initially his voice couldn't find a way out, though after a bit of a struggle he managed something acceptable.


"Sorry, i-I shouldn't s-stare." he just kept his eyes down, looking at his feet, hoping he hadn't upset Mr Keefe.

 

[CallSign]

Laughter echoed off the great wall beside them as Sir Isaac roared with laughter. His eyes teared up from his mirth, and he placed a hand on his chest to ineffectually relieve the pain of such hearty laughter. It was all just too funny. These little kids, with no history of success, were threatening him? Their threats were so hollow-sounding and just utterly stupid he couldn't stop laughing. He'd put the fear of the corporate into these greenhorns.


His left hand finally left the bag on his chest and moved into a ready position at his side, prepared for the obvious reaction, as his right shot forward to grab Inanis' collar and bring the youth's head close to his own. "You think you're hot stuff, Nanni-boy?" he asked, his voice sinister in its jovial tone and his face full of glee. "You know nothing of this world. You don't even know how to use a reversible cloak! You think your skills will keep you safe? That they'll overcome any obstacle? Your stupid pride will be your death. You see, I have capital. I'm a businessman, not some brute. I can hire as many men as I need to take you out. If the queen thought you were enough to take care of this mission alone, we wouldn't be here. You would do well to fix that insecurity of yours, boy, before you enter the world of men." Sir Isaac gave Inanis a shake for emphasis, then shoved him away.


Sir Isaac turned next to Alexi, the laughter still in his voice. "Now then, I don't believe I've given you permission to call me Zak, Sunshine. If you want respect from me, you earn it. You've done nothing but hide in shadows and make shallow remarks since we met, which are certainly not respectable by any means. I am a respectable businessman; I always honor my contracts. My present contract is with the queen. You'll find I'll uphold my end to the very word, so long as the queen upholds hers. However, it seems some members of our humble group are more interested in minor issues than the task at hand. I seek to verify Isaac's allegiance, yet you take offense to a little sunlight? By the gods, suck it up and put your hand to your brow, boy!"


A sigh escaped Sir Isaac's lips as seriousness returned to his face. "My contract with the queen prevents me from properly disciplining you unruly children. It's such a pity, but a contract is a contract. Since you're so keen on verifying statements, Sunshine, go ahead and tell the others that what I've said is the truth. Once Sir Anne verifies the letter Isaac presented to us, I'll explain my plan for battle. I intend to earn my rightful respect, unlike those who ask something for nothing. In the meantime, though, it would be very appreciated if none would refer to me by my ex-family's name. I am not one of them and will not be defined by them.


"And miss... Pole Dancer, was it? I believe you'll recall that we are not here to make friends. We're here to accomplish a task and nothing more. Let's focus on that first and set personal matters aside. It's just business."

 

[Dragongal]

Polaris, as a rule, only used violence in defense of the third, so naturally, when Zak grabbed Inanis, she wanted to pull him off and throw him into the wall. But she managed to keep her calm, trying to not make things worse. If this man was a threat to those who she was now beginning to think of as being in her charge, they'd have problems. Problems with bloody solutions.


When Zak had finished, she ran between Alexi, Inanis, and Zak, wanting to keep bloodshed to a minimum. She focused her attention on Zak. Few things pissed Polaris off in this world. Insults weren't one of them. She'd not play his game and get mad. "Alright, if you're only here to do your job, maybe you should just do that, not make up ridiculous nicknames for us. It's likely that you don't know this since you work alone so very often, businessman, but a team with better relations and trust is much more efficient. We don't have to like each other, but trust is important. You aren't earning any right now." She clenched her fist since she knew she couldn't look away from Zac to fight off the flood of memories, and kept control over her temper. Insults would do the opposite of helping, and she was doing well. Until it slipped a bit, with her final comment, "And Sir Syrann deserves the title 'Sir' far more than you do, he's earned it in blood trying to make the Steins better. Safer. You were just born lucky, Zak. Just stop harassing and threatening us, so we can get to work and you can complete your contract."


Polaris knew she'd slipped up, but it felt very good to say just one of the many, many pointed things in her head at the moment. At this rate, if he antagonized her and she messed up again, she'd be saying what she really wanted to tell him. Yet she regretted that she'd made more problems and wanted to get things moving a bit, and the attention off Dorovich. She unhooked her shield from her back, moving it to her hip, while very discreetly taking a single seed from a pouch next to the shield's clasps on her belt. She loudly said, "I suggest we get to work on a plan of action before crossing into the next Stein. Sir Syrann, Kaatl, if you'd please verify that letter so as to put some of us at ease before anything...?"


@Unwavering Knight @CallSign

 

[InsanEleven]

When Dorovich grabbed his collar Ina had felt his muscles eager to defend himself, and his hand raised to his wakazashi instinctively, but he held himself in. Though it was so very, very hard not to just switch his foot a few inches and slam this arrogant piece of bullshit face first into the ground. But fine, if the man wanted to play it that way, then so be it.


He couldn't help but smirk at those threats, and it revealed what Dorovich really was, just a riled up rich child, that only had his guards kill for him. The poor man seemed to be very sure that those people would protect him, that sending them after him would work as a threat. And sure as hell that didn't.


A cold, emotionless stare came over his face, which he so hard had tried to hide. Instead of chuckling a bit at those threads, he now just looked Dorovich in the eye, with the same silent gaze they all had seen before death, empty but in it's intent to kill and hurt. He didn't need words to threaten, and he didn't need guards to kill... and he made very sure the man would know that by the time they reappeared in the castle.

 

[KnightofShadows]

Alexi shook his head in disgust. This was simply foolish. He agreed with Polaris, in that it was all just childish and cooler heads would prevail.


However, there was only one way to deal with a bully whose insecurities were so glaring and painful, that all he was capable of was lashing out at all around him. He'd seen it many times before in the streets of the 3rd, which were a virtual breeding ground for them. There were few things in this world that he detested quite as thoroughly...


If you didn't stand up to them, and put them in their place, they would just keep coming back for more. Boundaries needed to be set with this one, or the group would continually suffer from his ignorance.


"Yes... Keep laughing fool! We will see who's laughing in the end, which by the way, you will never see coming..." he spat at the clearly delusional man.


"It will be my pleasure to show our friends just how to deal with a foolish bully like you."


"Sleep well..." he uttered, and calling on his power slipped away from their minds.


 



Alexi then called upon his power further, reaching out to the minds of Polaris and Prudence, Syrann and Kaatl.


He summoned for them an illusion, himself in the form of a ghostly apparition. He concentrated greatly, calling on his power to broadcast his message of assurances.


The shadow of Alexi raised a finger to his lips in the familiar gesture of requested silence.


"Shhhhhhh... Fear not friends, I am here. I am with you. I simply cannot tolerate any further foolishness, and seek to help quiet things down. I will never be further than the nearest shadows, watching, listening, and helping where and when I can. For now, it's best if he thinks me gone..." with the final word, the apparition dissolved to nothingness.

 

[CallSign]

Sir Isaac found himself surrounded by utter buffoons, naive rats, and unmoving behemoths. He knew the queen was incompetent, but for her to be unable to send enough troops to outnumber and take down a target whose whereabouts she already knew and instead turn to a team of angsty teenage trash was on a completely different level than he'd expected even from her. That he was included in this parade of ineptitude, and that he'd agreed to participate, were facts he now realized were personal failings of his. However, he knew that dedication could turn bad situations into success from personal experience. He would not let the inexperience of his team drag him down.


"Pole Dancer, I believe you'll find that I'm not making up silly names as your pride leads you to believe. I simply don't remember your names; they are completely unimportant to me. Not a one of you is my client. That I even try to keep your names in mind and use that instead of pointing as I speak is beyond what is needed by coworkers.


"See, I have worked in teams. I'm willing to wager a fair sum of money that I've worked with far more than you have, little girl. In my line of work, it is understood that if everyone does their job correctly, everyone gets paid. Therefore, we trust each other to do our jobs right because we trust the others to be loyal to their pay. We don't use names; even you should know why that is.


"Back to the present, then. We've just prepared ourselves for our first assignment together and regrouped to discuss plans and begin transit. Upon arrival I find an unknown present and find that nobody had the wonderful idea to question his allegiance before I asked my weighted question. I approach two other members with requests to perform simple actions to improve trust, only to be met with threats of death, pain, and darkness from little kids who're writing checks I know they can't cash."


Sir Isaac cast his eye toward the shadows Alexi had occupied and found him missing. As he was a somewhat important topic at the moment, Alexi had not been forgotten by Sir Isaac despite his lack of presence. Instead, Sir Isaac's mind provided him with a memory fresh from the previous night: the queen announcing Alexi's status as a "magical master of stealth".


"And now you have the audacity to say you can't trust me? You tell me that it's me who is threatening others? That I should back down, that I am the problem, that I am in the wrong? In words most popular in your part of the world, fuck that shit. Even now Sunshine seeks to cause me harm, though I've done naught to harm him - in fact, he does so instead of verifying my true statements to you. The true arrogance lies with the one who acts upon perceived slights with absurd force. Forgive me, all, but for my own safety I shall now mask my face. Blame Sunshine, if your childish minds must apply blame to someone."


Metal then surged up out of Sir Isaac's shirt, following his neck to the top of his head. In the span of a few seconds it formed a solid helmet as plain and sturdy as Syrann's. Plates of steel surrounded his neck, leaving nowhere open to the blade of a dagger.


@KnightofShadows @Dragongal

 

[Dragongal]

Polaris had, actually, also requested Syrann and Kaatl open the letter for verification. She was about to point this out, when he remarked on her work with teams. Insinuating that the best teams were the ones just getting paid. Her right hand twitched, her reflexes told her to make him stop talking as soon as possible, she couldn't stand hearing it anymore. Luckily for them both, he changed the topic. "First off, he's not going to hurt you. Second off, why are you guarding yourself if you said he couldn't cash that check?" She needed to steer the topic away while Syrann and Kaatl verified the letter. By her reasoning, this new memeber couldn't escape at this point, even if he was lying.


"So, both Prudence and Inanis are good at stealth. Syrann and Kaatl, myself, I'm sorry Isaac, I assume you too, are more of heavy-hitters. Zak, well, with his abilities, he could go either way. My suggestion is focusing those skill where they're best. We need the files, the man, and the three guards. If someone could just steal the stone, before fighting, that'd be easy, however, unlikely."

 

[InsanEleven]

Inanis had calmed down a bit after the initial hatred of his name being bastardised. When he looked up, he saw curious faces hang out of the windows above, meanwhile Dorovich and Polaris seemed happy to loudly portray little bits of information to all who were willing to hear. For someone who apparently loved his secret names, there didn't seem to be much he wouldn't give away to strangers.


"I don't want to interrupt on that comfy tea party of yours, I am sure we are all having fun, but it would be wise not to scream our entire mission through the streets. I am fine if you think I am an incompetent child, because I indeed have nothing to prove for me yet, but at least I am aware the price information has, and you two just loudly gave away about half a castle's worth of it. Just because it is the first stein doesn't mean we're safe enough to go babbling through the streets about details."


If they wanted to argue, at least they could try and not throw their entire mission away. These rumours would spread, fast, faster than they could get to the third stein, the not so secret anymore group set out on an important mission. There would be rumours about their appearance too, and after the first mission they would surely be linked to the assassination of an important gem holder within the Red Queen's Order. It would have been quite handy if at least some of them could have stayed anonymous, but after Dorovich' little helmet trick, and Alexi's apparent disappearance two powers had already been partly revealed... and Polaris little handy comment had them know the basic tactical lay-out of their group, including their true names.


"By the time we are in the third stein, they will already know enough to sabotage us. Bravo, we are now playing chess without a queen, I didn't know you people liked your games that hard." Slowly he clapped a little to add some force to his statement. After that he put his hood and cowl back on, and just hoped none had seen the colour of his eyes, as that information about him could be his dead sentence. They should move on, whether or not they trusted the newcomer, if he was a spy, he had heard enough to cause their death without getting physical.

 

[TheStoicist]

Isaac had said nothing the entire time. And it was not because there was no time to voice his thoughts, and he had confidence that if he truly wished to speak up his voice would carry enough to be heard by all in the group, but he currently had no desire to break words with the others. He found himself feeling bitter towards all in the dysfunctional company already. He had been skeptical about working with a group, especially one put together unwilling, because he mostly worked alone. But now he knew, this work should be done quickly and efficiently and he could leave these people as soon as possible. They were sour people with little experience in interacting with all different sorts and he wondered how some of them had come this far in life with such short tempers. But he already knew the answer, they were ill-tempered but powerful, yet here everyone was on (mostly) equal footing. It was a dangerous dynamic.


Yet the tall man remained silent, these thoughts had no use being voiced, things would fall apart or pull together as the spirits wished. Isaac just prayed that the winds would pull his way for once.


Isaac nodded in agreement to Inanis' words. Some of these were clever in their own right, even Zak though others may object to the sentiment, Isaac himself was more muscle than brain in times like this. Whatever the others thought.


Though Isaac had begun to draw out a strategy in his mind. One that he would share once they were in quieter surroundings. And had all of the team members.


He wondered how much trust must these people have in the girl who'd disappeared that they would let her go. She very well may be a spy and just have slipped off to tip off their actions. And though he knew he had been a major distraction at the time she'd left, and if she truly was a spy there were better times for her to meet up with a client than this, he could not help but be wary of it, even if it did not threaten him because she did not know his name or abilities.

 

[Unwavering Knight]

The Clipped Wings

Spoiler

The following is solely from Syrann's perspective, no one else sees what he sees.


For a moment, everything changed. The bickering voices became distorted screeches, the stench of pus and rotten flesh hung thick in the air as the meat-overgrown streets were illuminated by an eerie red light devoid of source, allowing the slime and blood to glisten with pronounced enticement. He didn't need to turn his head to know that on his shoulder sat a growth of fleshy matter, roots growing deep into his armor. His crippled limb pulsed and throbbed with pain beneath the plates.


The knight remained silent and still, like a statue.


A leering visage, slitted eyes spread across a pustule-ridden mass of meat appeared before him. A twitching tentacle offered a fleshy object, maws lined with rows of teeth opened to spew distorted noise. The knight's working arm reflexively rose as the mouths ejected vicious bile, the green-yellow matter splattering across the armored plates.


His vision was blocked when the growth on his shoulder moved, twitching appendages digging into his visor, roots tearing into his cranium. The knight's helmeted head gave a violent jerk.


Light, streets, people, voices, all returned. Before him stood the new arrival, Mutt, offering an envelope. Kaatl was hugging his helmet, face shrouded in worry. First lifting his hand to pat the fairy on the head a few times, the knight soon took the letter, though he left the actual opening of the envelope to the fairy.


"The messenger of this letter is Isaac Keefe, and he will be joining the group." his voice read out aloud as he held the paper before his form, a slight blue glow escaping the envelope, betraying its magical seal.


"I... suppose that is enough evidence." Syrann added, voice somewhat shaky before he caught himself and pointed towards the gate with artificial vigor "Let us go, my faithful quest-mates! Adventure and glory call!"


@Elvengarda @Luminescent

 

[Dragongal]

Polaris Mentha


Polaris was still taking deep, somewhat jerky breaths that didn't seem to do much for her, her right hand twitching a bit. She blinked, glancing from the blank wall to the grass and back, trying not to let anyone notice, bringing her shaking hand up to comb her fingers through her hair. She needed either a distraction or silence, and silence wasn't forthcoming. She didn't listen to what Inanis was saying, not to be rude, but because she didn't feel like she could exert the energy at the moment.


Out of the corner of her eye she noticed a slight movement from Syrann, or perhaps the fairy, she wasn't paying enough attention to tell, making her reflexively jump a bit to face him, her anger and nervousness disappearing, but not the shaking in her hand or her difficulty breathing. Her left forearm ached, and she tugged a bit at her sleeve, making certain the cuff was on her wrist, looking back to Syrann, a bit concerned. The fairy seemed worried for him, and he'd been silent for a while. Was it her imagining, or was his voice quieter than usual? Even shaky perhaps? While she preferred quieter things, it was odd for him, and when people acted odd, they had a problem. Which meant she had to help if she could.


She nodded, "Yes, right, I believe so. Ah, we should move on, I suppose. Make a plan... further along the line. Though it seems rather safe here... no one or buildings about... but we should go. We probably don't look as suspicious if we keep moving."

 

[Luminescent]

Prudence Caroline Ashford


Prudence smiled at Alexi after his gesture. She had watched the arguments and introductions take place from her spot against the door frame, but make no effort to introduce herself or make it known that she was even there in the first place. That was her favorite thing to do; Sit back and observe.


The temperature in the room dropped a few degrees and she got the chills but make an effort to conceal them, by shifting her weight just slightly to make distract from them.


Polaris and Sir Syrann both suggested that they get a move on, and she nodded. Seeing as no one really noticed, she stepped forward from her spot on the wall, so she stood next to Polaris, and nodded once more.


She was almost thrown aback at the lack of energy and thought it took to do that. The lack of bravery and courage to step up and state her opinion, even if it was mutual with the group.


She returned to her position against the wall and closed her eyes just slightly so she could have a better look at the other's responses. She didn't know why that helped her, but it did. Maybe it made her feel safer. More hidden.


She hoped deeply that that wasn't a trait she would lose.

 

[KnightofShadows]

Alexi saw the turmoil the group was experiencing around the fact they had no place to discuss their plans away from the prying eyes and ears of the world around them. There could be enemy spies among the multitudes, passing them on the streets, following them cautiously or posing as a nearby shopper and cleverly eavesdropping. Even the most unassuming of them could be taking orders from the Red Queen. They would indeed need a place to be able to discuss their tactics.


That was when it occurred to him. He could call on old man Cuthbert at his home here in the Second Stein. He had known the man since he was around Red’s age. He was a physician and apothecary, who had tried to treat Alexi’s mother. In the end though, there was little he could do for her, the ‘Blue Fever’ took who it would.


The man was kind and generous, and had kept Alexi alive in the early years before the mean streets of the 3rd had hardened him into a survivor. Alexi could tell the man harbored some form of guilt around the failure to save his mother, and however unwarranted, Alexi believed it had a great deal to do with the kindness he had shown him these many years. Perhaps this was just another way the man could help…


He was also the man who had saved him, the night that he’d whisked Red away from the horrific hands that she’d fallen into. The Rat Pack had brought him here to the 2nd, to Cuthbert’s home, as the hour had been late and they’d feared for his life. He would go and speak with the old man, and perhaps he might lend them the privacy of his garden. Alexi had spent more than a week in the man’s care, and he had taken great comfort and solace in the beauty of that high walled, intricate garden, its myriad of colors and many perfumed scents.


Alexi concentrated, and drew upon his telepathic powers of illusion once more. He reached out to this time, to all of the minds present. He manifested the vision of himself he’d summoned earlier for a few of them. A ghostly apparition of his likeness, easily identifiable.


“I have a friend here in the 2nd Stein who can provide us the privacy we require to discuss what we need to, away from the prying eyes and ears that surround us now.”


“I have known him long, and he is a kind and generous man. A physician and apothecary.” he continued, “The man has a high walled, spacious, open and lush garden where we will be safe. A place where Polaris will be able to guarantee our security.”


“I will run ahead and arrange this safe harbor for us, unless you wish me not to?”


He let the vision dissipate for all except Polaris.


“I have no reason to believe that Master Cuthbert would deny my request, but I feel that we could offer him something in return for this favor as well. He loves his garden of course, and it is a source of great pride as well as wealth in the great healing it provides. The man has cared for me and all the less fortunate of the 3rd.


If it’s not too much to ask, perhaps you could in turn, give his beloved garden a little love? Just nod yes if you are in agreement, and if you all agree, I’ll be on my way to arrange it. We can meet at the Southern Square, where most of us first met. He isn’t far from there.” he let his connection fall away from Polaris’s mind and the image dissolved.


Now to see what consensus could be had on the matter.


@Elvengarda @Luminescent

 

[Dragongal]

Polaris Mentha


Polaris nodded slightly, smiling. Out loud, to the others, she said, "Personally, I think it sounds like a good idea. I don't know about all of you, but I was hoping to get back to the castle for dinner; so I suggest we hurry up." She was feeling much more like herself now. She looked to Prudence, nodding to her. She'd seen her earlier, and now felt a mite guilty for not responding, making up for it now. She hoped the others hadn't seen her problems.


She moved her sword onto her hip, just in case they should run into problems on the streets of the Second. Her main concern was Prudence, who didn't really have any weapon. She decided to keep an eye on all of them except for Syrann, Zak and Isaac. Those three didn't seem to need it. Though, she thought, she didn't really trust Zak, didn't know Isaac, and Syrann had been quiet. She inwardly sighed. It was going ot be a very long day.

 

[InsanEleven]

Ina thought about the proposal for a while, it wasn't that he had anything against gardens, more that he didn't like the idea of them being kept between four walls or to be cut and kept eerily precise and orderly. They just didn't quite do it for him aesthetically wise, he preferred wilds, seeing those plants grow in ways that made him wonder why and how, made him realise that life wasn't bound by border nor the will of those who so desperately wanted order. That didn't mean it wasn't a good idea though, and his personal dislike for gardens just had to be set aside for a few days.


Quietly he nodded at Alexi in agreement, and the sooner he could get out of the first stein the better, before the political intrigues and pettiness of those first stein problems consume him. He most definitely wasn't born nor shaped for a place like this, and it should better stay in his dreams, lest he'd lose his frail purpose he had so painstakingly gathered for himself. He still preferred this above the second stein though, strangely enough. There hadn't been a single moment where he really had felt comfortable in the second stein, well, at least not for nearly twelve years. It painfully reminded him of how calm and fine his life could have been... and there was always this strange dread of accidentally bumping into his parents, though he most certainly avoided the area they lived in. He would never be able to explain what he had become, and he couldn't stand the thought of them being hurt every day with the knowledge of their eldest son being a lowly murderer. It wasn't worth it, they knew he lived, and that was all he could afford them to know, because the one thing even worse than them knowing how he turned out, would be the possibility of them being in danger because of him, or what they knew of him.


Again he removed his cowl to talk, though it was more in the general direction of the group than anyone specific.


"You know, they say scars will make you look though, I just hope that goes for burn marks too, I might have some space left on my right knee that I think would be very fashionable..." not that anyone would ever see his right knee up that close without them getting it in their face, but he still liked to think it would be nice to add to the list, he didn't really have any ember or true fire burns yet, it would sure be nice for a change to claw wounds and those old whip marks.


After that he just put his cowl back on and started moving towards the gate, he didn't feel like wasting more time standing idle, if they had to go to this garden, then they'd better start moving quickly or they'd still be walking by nightfall. Even though the second stein was safe, it still wasn't worth the risk with Prue in their midst to mindlessly wander about at night.

 

[Dragongal]

GM


The streets of the Second Stein were rather quiet this morning, but that made some sense since most people would be working, so the group had about two hours until noon to move about with minimal witnesses.


The paved streets offered little in the way of interest besides the shops and houses on the sides. At the quiet Southern Square, the group met back up with Alexi, whom could only be seen by some. He guided the group down some smaller streets, up to a pair of large wooden doors set into deep white stone walls bordered by two wooden buildings. Waiting outside was an old man. "So, you're Alexi's allies? You are all welcome to the use of my gardens. The houses on either side and the back are all my property. Though I have no weaponry, nobody will be able to eavesdrop or interfere."


Inside the garden, plants of all sizes and color grew against the walls and from a large bed in the middle, in a kind of controlled chaos. A thick flagstone path wound around the center bed, providing more than enough space for the whole group.


Once inside, Cuthbert closed the doors behind them.


(Feel free to post)
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[KnightofShadows]

Alexi once having lead the others to Master Cuthbert’s doors, dropped the mental obfuscation and illusions he’d used to lead them here. He was glad that he was able to find a solution to their little problem in a timely fashion, that they might be able to truly strategize without fear of the Red Queen’s spies.


He made the formal introductions at the beautiful heavy oak doors that lead into the physician’s sprawling estate. It was sprawling to his 3rd Stein eyes, yet truly humble in comparison to many such they had all seen on the trek here, and of course not remotely as lavish in comparison to the environment of the White Queen’s luxuriant home.


Master Cuthbert lead them through the black and white veined marble foyer, it’s walls adorned with lovely paintings, one which was a well done portrait clearly depicting their host, many years younger, dressed formally as many of the men they had seen moving about the palace, he stood behind a beautiful raven haired woman, in a lovely green gown. Her eyes were a deep green that matched her gown, they were kind eyes, happy eyes. The smile and look upon Master Cuthbert’s face in the portrait was one that spoke of happiness and contentment. An expression and demeanor which he had never seen matched by the man since he had known him. He wasn’t outwardly morose, he was simply someone whom it was easy to see carried a burden of sadness hidden away in his heart. His smiles were genuine when offered, they simply were fleeting and infrequent. As Alexi had never met the Mrs., he imagined that it was the loss of this woman that he suffered from. He had never asked the man, as he didn’t wish to bring such pain to the surface. He was a good man, and they were exceedingly rare in this world, from what Alexi could tell…


They were lead through to the quiet hall to the rear of the estate where heavy oak double doors opened out into the lush garden where they were assaulted by the heady aromas of thousand different flowers in bloom, countless intermingled scents of the herbs grown here that were the lifeblood of the man’s business, and the means by which he cared for the health and well-being of so many. It was a beautiful place. A true place of solace, where Alexi had spent many hours in silent contemplation during his recovery here, from the crossbow bolt that had very nearly taken his life the night he had freed Red from her captors.


He made his way along the flagstone path around the center garden’s bed, to its 12 o’clock, where the path continued toward the back of the garden where a copse of fragrant fruit trees of many varieties surrounded a small covered patio. Here there was a set of stone benches that were set in a half circle along the outside of the patios covered perimeter. There was a beautiful stone fire pit at its center, and a chimney of sorts that rose out the center of the patio’s cover. There was no fire of course at this hour, but the patio’s shade was a welcome reprieve from the sun’s heat. It was comfortable enough to remove his cloak entirely and escape the heat of it.


There were a few standing trays that held some refreshment’s their host had provided. A pitcher of ale, one of wine and one of water, tankards, cups and bowls of fresh fruits and nuts, bread and cheese, as well as a small bronze bell had all been thoughtfully provided.


Master Cuthbert stepped forward as some of them began to find seats and make themselves comfortable.


“I am quite happy that I can be of service to you all, and to the White Queen in your endeavor. I am always happy to help Alexi, but it isn’t every day that I am able to assist the Queen. I am at your service if you should require anything further, simply ring the bell.” he said pointing to the small bronze bell on the trays.


“There is ale, wine and water, and something for some energy to sate your hunger. Again, please let me know if there is anything more you might need. I will take my leave, and allow you to conduct your business without intrusion. Take what time you need.” With that, he bowed respectfully and ambled off in the direction they had come, humming a light tune to himself as he went.


Alexi stepped to the trays and asked, “May I pour the ladies a drink? Gentlemen?” he asked and set about fulfilling any requests, as well as pouring himself a cup of wine once the task was done. He took an apple as well, polished it against the inside of his cloak and found himself a seat, biting into the crisp golden apple with a satisfying crunch. “Shall we scheme us up a plan?” he asked with a smile, his luminous blue eyes alight.