Dice Our Shenanigans

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

The village was loud tonight. Templars were still doing their searches, barging in homes, with soldiers putting things outside, mostly books that their mages were feeling out for magic. There were torch lights in the forest. Word was they had spotted someone who looked like the wanted masked thief, and a mass search was ongoing. The bookshop with its roof of overgrown plants was closed surprisingly when mousy Isa scuttled inside. James was grumbling, as he rearranged the messy interior. It seemed that the Templars had left without putting things back the way they were.

There were scores of books and scrolls on the cedar wood floor. It looked like it was going to take him a long time, as the walls of bookshelves reached up to the ceiling. He patted his hands free of dust, and went up a spiral staircase. Here there was a small round room where a stain glass window of a white deer in a forest overlooked the village and moon outside. There were two lamps, a few love seats, and a big bed. Beside it was a pile of cushions where there was a most beautiful glowing silver stag sleeping next to a small fireplace.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

Isa hopped-run his way around the huge boots of the Templars that walked by in a rush, having to weave side to side to dodge. He didn’t want to be squished- Who knew mice had it rough?!

The tiny red mouse sniffed as he stood on his hind legs, staring at the huge door in front of him. It wasn’t closed before. Appropriate, he supposed. Considering they are going to talk privately. How to get inside, he thought, looking at the door. Then he jumped forward, scuttling towards a small chipped opening on the wood, and wiggled through. Popping out inside.

Isa groaned, sounding like an annoyed squeak, at the sight of mountains of books and scrolls. Greeaaaaat~ Still, the red mouse moved forward, hearing James’ angry muttering coming close and closer until he spotted a familiar dark blue robe. An idea popped in his mind and his little nose twitched. He carefully climbed up the robe and hide in James’ pocket.

When he felt James moving, Isa popped his little head out of the pocket, watching the first floor becoming far away as the bookkeeper climbed up the spiral staircase. Blinking his almond eyes at the sight of the window glass pane and at the white glowing stag that’s laying by the fire. So pretty, he thought. Momentarily squeaking in surprise when he felt James’ hand slid inside the pocket.

”Ahhhhh!” Isa yelled. Or well . . . Squeaking as he leaped out of James’ pocket and ran towards the loveseat; climbing it and sat down in a lazy fashion. Grinning his familiar impish grin and waved a tiny paw.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

James was surprised to feel the mouse scuttle out of his pocket. "Ahhh, you've come." He said, realizing it was Isa. He went over to the stained glass window and closed the blue curtains. He pulled out a piece of lapiz lazuli that floated in front of him and he deftly drew a magic circle in the air. The blue gemstone poofed into blue incense that he inhaled.

"Tell me what it is that you want, I can understand you." he said, extending a palm for mousey Isa to hop on.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

Isa tilted his head. Nose twitched.

”You can hear me?” He asked, hopping on James’ palm and sitting on his hind legs. “Okay. I wanted to thank ya for getting in contact with Moss and tell ya what ya wanted to know. . . The Void.”

”Ask me anything, I’ll answer it as best as I can.” Isa said, his bent tail waving around. His tone of voice sounded different compared to before; less sarcastic and more calming. “Or if ya need help, I’m willing.”

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

James sat by the fireplace. "Yes, I can understand animals for a time." He placed a cushion on the arm rest and plopped Isa on top. He raised a brow at this unexpected offer. "Then, help me with two things. First, tell me how to banish or open a portal to send that monster attacking the merchants back to the void. At first we had thought it was a demon, but it roamed during daylight. I've read about abominations like that thing, only I couldn't understand how it came here until you showed up."

He put out two fingers. "Secondly, tell me the truth, who are you and your friend, and do you have anything to do with the masked thief the Templars are looking for and that book he stole from them? All these events started when your friend showed up, and now three days after you arrived the Templars got wind of the thief around this area."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

Isa made himself comfortable and looked up, leaning towards the warm fire without a second thought.

“Please don’t open a portal unless the person is experienced in opening portals and locating the area with extremely precise control in their tremendous power; not a little ragnite and a kiss of good luck.” Isa groaned, a little paw pressed against his forehead. “It’ll cause a tear if ya do it like my dumb butt did. Luckily for me, Ancient Loki found me and fixed that tear — or at least I hope he did while I was passed out for those seventeen days. According to him, that hasn’t happened for forty years now. Ya might want to check that in your studies.“ He added helpfully.

”To banish the monster, you need an experienced professional who knows about divination and has visited the Void at least once.” James can hear the little mouse chuckle rather ironically as he grimaced. “And lucky for you....I’m a demon hunter under Loki’s name who studies ruins and it’s history for ten years. Give or take.”

“Moss and I just wanted to travel together and reach the Highlands safely. That’s it. That’s all there is to it. We’re suppose to separate after a certain point but...well we didn’t expect the way it did. I don’t know about Moss, but my reason to come here is to search for my uncle and kill him. Stop him from mining soul stones. No, we have nothing to do with the thief or the book .... but Loki has sent me dreams of finding him and that book. Warned me that my uncle is searching for that book for evil purposes.”

Isa sighed. “Inside that book is a cure for victims who has miasma poisoning and I need that cure. The thief being here and the monster—- it’s an actual coincidence that Moss and I came here just as the monster and thief did.” Then the little mouse stood on his hind legs, crossing his arms.

”That should answer your questions. I think.”

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

James held his chin in thought. "What are your plans now? You are waiting for your friend, would you be willing to help us banish this monster, or are you going to hunt down the thief and this book?

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

Isa grinned impishly. “Well I’m glad ya asked because I was hoping that maybe ... someone in this village can find and hide the thief while I help ya banish the monster. This creature, after all, chased my friend. I’d like to chase it back home, where it belongs.”

”That is, if ya are willing to help me in that regard, of course.“

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

"No." said James immediately. "That's putting everyone here in danger, I don't want to involve anyone here with that thief and get arrested by the Templars. You seem to think this person is someone good. Whoever this thief is broke into the Cerberus tower with another about seven months ago and murdered two people while stealing that book I presume."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

“Never said that he was good.” Isa replied. “Quite honestly, I don’t need the thief as much as I need the cure in the book. Badly.”

”And I did say willingly. It’s fine if ya don’t want to. I won’t hold it against ya.” The red mouse muttered, sighing in acceptance that he might not have that cure after all. Needing to find his cure in another way, perhaps.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

"I don't want to help you with the book. The Templars have mobilized their armies looking for that. I don't know what is in that book, apart from a cure, but it's something powerful, or dangerous, or both for them to want it so badly, and I don't want my family and friends to get caught in between them and whoever wanted that book so bad they risked breaking into the Cerberus Tower. Who is your uncle, by the way?"

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

“A book is a book. It’s the people who use the book for bad purposes that’s dangerous.” Isa replied, looking away from James and staring at the fire. “And I rather not have the Templars have it either...especially not that inquisitor.”

“My uncle is an evil man who’s harvesting soul stones. Almost harvested mine and he harvested my mother’s.” He growled before taking deep breaths to calm down. He can’t lose his temper again. He can’t. “He’s the reason why I need that cure. He poured demon miasma on my body while trying to harvest me and now ... I might turn into a demon.”

He shuddered, the memory of seeing Moss dead appeared in his mind. James can see that Isa is trembling, scared.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

"I hate to admit this, but Inquisitor Giovanni, though his methods are brutal, he has good intentions. He's one of those who disapprove of artifacts being kept by the Cerberus Assembly, he prefers they are destroyed. He will probably destroy that book, I would do the same. Remove the temptation of power, even though the book can be used for good . . . I am sorry that your uncle did that despicable thing to you. What is his name and what does he look like? We can put up a bounty on him, make sure people are aware there's a rogue mechromancer on the loose, and I can send you word if we hear any news about him."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

Isa glared at James, chuckling in disbelief. “Excuse me? No, he has no good intentions. Forcing someone to join by temptations like money, women, and a house in Vanar is not a good person thing to do. Or threatening my friend’s safety after I declined.”

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

James raised a brow. "He forced you to join the Templars? Why, what does he want from you?"

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

“He wanted the knowledge that I hold.” Isa turned to face James fully, paws on his hips. “Ever since he learned about me being able to go through the ruined portals, he wanted me to tell him about how I ‘fixed’ Windshear portal and arrive in the sunken temple at a different time then Moss.”

”I have a bad feeling about him and that rat-faced wizard of his-! I can tell, he was staring at my back hard when I left with Kenren and Chenglei earlier today.” Or he was paranoid. It could be either or. Probably paranoid.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

"I see. Yes, being able to move armies from one place to another like the kings of the old age would be a great advantage . . . so you're not the materialistic type, huh, but friends mean a lot to you. The Inquisitor likely has men following you around. If I were you, I'd leave secretly, keep a low profile, and meet up with your friend somewhere else. Minnie may have told Inquisitor Giovanni he only has a day to search our village, but I'm sure he won't just let you go, there'll be agents in disguise in the village or in the forest just waiting for a chance to force that knowledge out of you. He won't do it in the open where he'll risk angering, Minnie, but he has a lot of trained men at his disposal, while we in this village are only few. But, I will help you leave safely. I'm sure Minnie and the others will do the same. But I won't help you with the book, nor get you out if you get into trouble with the Templars because of it."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

Isa deadpanned. “Are ya not afraid that he might take advantage of that knowledge? You said that you want to protect your family and friends. If I was in your shoes, I’d be suspicious of him no matter what was written. Betrayals can still happen, backstabbing is a thing that evil men do, and I refuse to be part of their schemes.”

”You may focus on the monster, but I’m more scared of what the inquisitor and rat face will do should they ever catch Moss to force information out of me or use that book.”

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

"I didn't say I trust him. Only that he has good intentions. I know he doesn't care for people like you and I who have an interest in uncovering the past. Right now it's just more dangerous to get in their way." said James. "It wasn't always like this with the Templars, years ago this forest was a battlefield. I just don't want to start a fight by getting in the way of what they're looking for."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

“Good intentions, he says. In their way, right.” Isa snorted.

“There’s no good intentions in forcing people who he doesn’t CARE about to join in the Templars with threats. It doesn’t make sense to let a supposed mechromancer to join in their ‘pure’ cause unless there’s a horrible reason for it. Why didn’t they ask YOU to join before? Or now? Just because of Minnie? Then why not an exchange trip of sorts to show peace between Vanar and Bird Village? Why are they asking a stranger like me about that? A stranger they don’t care about?”

”Answer me that, James.” Isa crossed his arms. “I’m telling ya right now: there’s nothing good about this inquisitor or rat face at this very moment.”

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

"They have asked us to join and our and their envoys do visit each other to show peace. And they probably want you for power, as I said to be able to transport armies from one place to another is a great advantage. The good intentions was about the book, I said that he will probably destroy it. Either way, I will not help you look for that book, that is final." said James sternly.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

“And I refuse to be their advantage against this village or any other places where there are innocent lives on the line.” Isa retorted back, then he shook his head. “Never mind then. I see how this goes . . . Where can I buy the ley message scroll? I’ll pay for it tomorrow— should I be okay by then after tonight, that is.”

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

James looked at the mouse exasperatedly. "I said I will help you get out, you and your friend. Why did you think I told you to go to Johnny?" he looked annoyed. "Come by tomorrow for the scroll, you can't carry it anyway in your current form. And don't leave yet, there's still that monster to banish and your uncle's name and what he looks like that we need to discuss, I don't want someone murdering people and collecting their souls within a hundred miles from my village."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

Isa glared at James, taking deep breaths to calm down.

”Duh! Why did you think I said I’ll pay for it tomorrow? What? Did ya think that I don’t remember I’m a mouse? With our major height difference?“ He retorted, waving a short arm to gesture them both. Then he snorted. “Yes, color me surprised when I heard of this method, it’s rather ingenious.”

He frowned, now annoyed. “You don’t listen, do ya? I just told ya that I could banish the monster since I’m a demon hunter with ten years of experience and I’ve been to the Void once. Hello? I can help ya if you like my assistance, but I want something in return —- and no, I’m not talking about the stupid book or the dumb killer thief that’s loose in your village, Mister ‘I’m assuming that you only asking for the book this entire time for the information I want.’” Isa huffed.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Snowy Owl -
"Night Time, Bird Village, The Highlands"​

James groaned in irritation. The white stag woke up with a snort and looked up at him and the mouse on the cushion. "Then why did you ask about the scroll now like you wanted me to give it to you now and then you'll just pay tomorrow?" He squeezed the bridge of his nose. "I know, I know you want to help, that's why I want to discuss the banishing more. So why are you talking about the book a lot?"

Katsuya