Sand_Dragon

Nice work!

[[ In fact, you win what might probably be the most horrifying prize in all existence. @Nonsense have a great break, man]] Tyr Roll = 2 Ryn Roll = 3 --- "The Merchant himself," Ryn murmurs to himself, contemplating the name for a moment. "Yes, the Merchant!" says the mysterious stranger. His eyes glitter under the shadow of his hood. "Rumored to be dead! Rumored to be the wealthiest man alive! Rumored to be the devil himself! But of all these rumors there's an important truth - my friend pays, and pays well." Ryn continues his train of thought. "It almost seems too convenient. Then again, the Merchant must have eyes everywhere, I suppose." He gives the sword-handle hanging impossibly from Tyr's belt a glance. Such a weapon could be useful someday, but it has attached itself to the mercenary, apparently. "It's your decision, Tyr." Tyr considers the offer. The meeting with the captain is later in the afternoon, and any... oddities... could well delay them. However Vercci's equipment is famed; it's for a good reason he equips the armies of the great Merchant Lords of Italy and Europe. And Tyr knows that when such a powerful man makes an offer - even through an apparent errand boy like this strange man - he does not take well to refusal. "Take us to this warehouse, then let us see what sort of bargain we may make." "Excellent!" exclaims the stranger. Tyr holds up a cautioning finger. "I must warn you," he says, "we do want to keep to our engagement with the Captain later on in the day. This shan't take too long, shall it?" "Hardly," says the stranger. "I know my friend's representatives will know the worth of your artifact, and bargain for it accordingly." Cassandra stands. "You two go ahead. I'll see to my sister and our wounded friend; then I'll see what I can do about getting ourselves out of this city." *** The man leads Tyr and Ryn through the winding streets of Genoa. Their passage is taking them back to the docks, and half an hour's walk is enough time to get there. [2, 3] Though Tyr does not notice anything strange, Ryn manages to catch a glimpse of the mercenaries from the inn, shadowing them with surprising efficiency. Soon Tyr is alerted to them as well. They do not look as though they are going to attack, seemingly content to follow. A short while later, the stranger opens a large door in the side of a dockside warehouse and leads Tyr and Ryn inside. "My friend's representatives will speak with you in here," he says. "As for myself, I have business to attend to in a different part of town. Do Vercci a good deal, and he shall reward you!" With a swirl of his cloak, the man walks off, leaving Tyr and Ryn alone in the warehouse - except for a man at a table, scribbling on a sheet of vellum. The cavernous warehouse is filled with amphorae, chests, and bundles of goods, but it is the crates - crates that must carry some of Vercci's famous stock - that draw their attention. The sallow man at the table, old and frail, glares at the pair over his pile of accounts. "Good day," he says. "I assume you are here on business the Master. Of course, he will not be here personally, but I am in all respects his arm here in Genoa. What business do you have with me?" ___________ Kurojin --- Roll = 2, 4, 1 ___________ Kurojin draws himself up. "Let's make haste," he says. He looks out the window and tries to identify a clean avenue of escape, [2] but finds none. It will have to be the way he came, then. "We must move quickly and quietly, if possible." "We'll have to do something about your wounds, sir," says the girl. "I suppose that can wait." [4] Kurojin and his new companions manage to make their way out the window without any unfortunate incidents like the last one. The hollering of the lizardmen and the smell of death and burning thatch (and flesh) rises through the air, pricking the dragon man's sensitive nostrils. Quickly the three make their way down the road, the opposite direction from where the lizard men's path of destruction leads. There is another village in this direction according to the girl, and perhaps it will offer some kind of harbor. [1] After some travel, Kurojin feels a sharp pain in his side. The wound has reopened itself and is bleeding freely. Perhaps not the best of things to happen at this time.

Tyr Roll = 3 Ryn No roll --- The potentially nasty business with the watch concluded, Tyr returns to the table and turns to Cassandra. "Should we inform Sophitia of the events that have transpired here, and what we have learned?" he asks her. [3] A wary eye on the rest of the taverns' occupants, he notices that the group of mercenaries has abandoned all pretense of eating and are now half-heartedly concealing their attempts to listen in. She furrows her brow in thought. "I think it'd be best if we let her rest, for now. I doubt she and Lysander will be in any shape to move any time soon, and they should be safe enough here." Cassandra leans towards Ryn and Tyr. "While I don't like the look of these people much," she whispers, "I'm not looking forward to leaving the city the same way we came either. The red giant that waylaid us on our way into the city could still be there. Although with any luck Sorel ran across him too." Tyr nods. "I suppose we should have enough time before the meeting to finally get rid of all of this sodding extra gear." "And get some new gear as well, perhaps," Ryn chimes in. He has a point. Their gear is rather noticeably battered, and will need either some caring for or a decent replacement. "Gear?" says a voice. "I can help with gear." It is the mysterious stranger, standard issue for any tavern. For someone in a heavy cloak, he moves with surprising speed and stealth - the three at the table did not notice him until he was close enough to speak. "And who are you?" asks Cassandra. The stranger smirks, stroking his pointed beard under his hood and drawing a long-stemmed pipe from beneath his cloak. "A man with friends. A man whose friends value precious artifacts rather highly," he says, indicating Tyr's belt. Tyr looks down. It looks as though the ghost sword has reattached itself to his belt again. A most curious weapon. Its mystic powers cannot be discounted. "Such a weapon would cost many, many pistoles - far too many for even a 'merchant's daughter' to carry about," he says, with a wink at Cassandra. "Even with such stout bodyguards as these. But perhaps you could trade it to my friend: he is a man of wealth and taste, who prizes such things - and has arms and armor in such store as to beggar even the merchant princes of Venice. He retains a warehouse not far from here." "And who is your friend?" Cassandra says, a note of caution in her voice. The man looks around the tavern theatrically, as though attempting to ensure that no one is listening (and thus ensuring that everyone will be listening). "My friend is man named 'Vercci'. Perhaps you have heard of him?" As a mercenary, Tyr knows the name of course, and even Ryn has heard inklings - Malta in the past has had dealings with this man. Vercci is the man known as the Merchant of Death - a man wealthy enough to rival kings in power. He is an arms dealer, and supplies many of the armies of the merchant princes of Europe. If this man truly is a 'friend' of Vercci's, then perhaps a trade could be achieved - but Vercci is also a very dangerous man, and his reach is long. And Domenica did mention he had ties to Sorel... "What say you, friends? I can take you to his warehouse - it is not too far from here," says the man, puffing on his pipe. "Lesser merchants will take the store of gear you've acquired in your... adventures, but a weapon such as that which hangs at your waist should go to no other man than my friend." Perhaps splitting up might help - clearly this strange man is interested in Tyr's mysterious acquisition, but cares not for the pile of other gear they have amassed. Someone else might be able to take a cart and pawn off the individual armor and weapon pieces. ___________ Kurojin --- Roll = 1, 6, 6 ___________ Kurojin scoffs at the shard's words. "And I of thy complains, If thou wants me to fight then thou should heal me," he says snidely. The shard seems to laugh. "CREATURE, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ME? I AM NO HEALER. I AM WAR. I AM TERROR. I AM POWER. HEALING IS THE LEFT HAND PATH. I AM THE DESTROYER, AND SO TOO WOULD YOU BE IF YOU BUT TOOK ME. I CAN REMAKE YOUR SHATTERED BODY, BUT NOT RESTORE IT. SUCH IS BEYOND MY SCOPE. THEREFORE TAKE ME AND PLACE ME IN YOUR WOUND, THAT WE MAY BE ONE." The artifact's words ringing in his inner ear, Kurojin attempts to make his way into the home. He gives the pendant a brief glance - what dim life it showed earlier remains. [1] He attempts to get in through the window, but trips and plants himself on his face. The huddled figures start. "Don't come near!" says the slightly larger one. It is another youth, of small frame, with fear in his eyes and shaky hands on what is definitely a sword - a sword that is now angled at Kurojin. His clothes are modest but well kept - perhaps he was moderately wealthy. "I swear, I'll cut you down if you come near, barbarian!" The smaller figure cowers. Up close, it looks to be a young woman, younger than the other, hiding behind him and gripping the dagger like a talisman - so tight her knuckles are white. With a rumbling, the shard stirs again. "OR PERHAPS I COULD HEAL YOU, DRAGON LORD. BUT I REQUIRE... SACRIFICE." It speaks no more, but its meaning is clear. "What are you?" says the girl. "You don't look like one of them, but..." "It's a monster, is what it is," says the boy. "You saw what they did to the militia. I won't let that happen to you." Kurojin draws himself to his full height. "I wish thee no harm," he says soothingly. "These beasts are my enemies." [6] Perhaps it is something in his voice, or in the commanding nature of his dragon forebears, but the youth lowers his sword. "It seems so unlikely, but... I believe you." [6] "He isn't like them, is he, Brand?" the girl says. "You're... not an animal. Can you save us?" The boy shakes his head. "There's just one of him, and heaven knows how many of them. And look," he says, indicating Kurojin's wounds. "He's barely holding together as it is. He might need our help just as much as we need his." "Still, we can get out of here," says the girl. "That winged demon out there - no offense - won't stop until everything is burned to the ground. I wouldn't like to be here when he gets around to burning this place." She turns to Kurojin. "We're not from here, you see. We were just passing through on the way to the shrine of San Giorgo in Genoa." "Looking to get supplies," interjects the young man - Brand. "I wanted to be a knight, see a knight of Saint George. Chances of that are looking dim. We took to hiding in here when the fighting turned for the worse... I should have stayed out there." "Hiding isn't going to get us anywhere, though," says the girl. "Can you help us?" she says, addressing Kurojin. "We might be able to break through - out to the city, though I don't fancy our odds on that road. Better if we followed the road to the next village, it's not two miles from here. We could warn them, too - I think we're the only survivors." The cacophony from outside is getting louder. It's only a matter of time before the capering horde reaches this area of the village. "MY OFFER STILL STANDS, DRAGON LORD. WHY SADDLE YOURSELF WITH THESE MANLINGS? FEED THEM TO ME AND I WILL RESTORE YOU TO HEALTH." "Well?" says the girl, hope welling up in her brown eyes. "If we make a break for it now at a good pace, we could make it before the greater part of the horde finds us."

[[ TIME TO CONQUER EARTH CONTINUE THE GAME!]] Tyr No roll Ryn No roll --- Considering Tyr to have the situation mostly under control, Ryn sits back down and returns to his breakfast - keeping an attentive ear and eye on the conversation. Cassandra leans forward intently. "I think that was well handled," she whispers to Ryn. "Although it looks like we've got ourselves an appointment with the guard-captain now." Tyr shakes his head in response to Domenica's inquiry. "Unfortunately, the lord is still alive. However, he has made a threat upon our lives, so we intend to repay him in kind." The guardsman who spoke before cocks his head. "Aye, well, you'll have to get in line, now, won't ye? The man's got a list of wrongdoings as long as the Strada Vittori and a whole host of men and ladies willin' to cut his throat so much as look at him." The mercenary considers this. "Has he truly caused so much pain to the people of this city? Why has nothing been done about this? Or have there been failed attempts?" The female guardsman, Domenica, points out the people in the tavern. "There's money in working for him, as you'll see here, and these free lances over here aren't the type to be trifled with. You're a mercenary yourself from the looks of you," she says, giving Tyr a once-over. "I've got a pistole that says you were just one of many he's been bringing into the city lately. He was planning something big, Sorel was, something much bigger than his nightly... preoccupations." This is true - while Tyr's original job was to guard Captain Stavros' ship from bandit attacks, that rapidly translated into an invitation into Lord Sorel's mansion. He asks Domenica what the job was. "Heaven knows," she says, shrugging. "There was some mention of retrieval of some artifact - a sword, or some such, with the problem that the sword in question had a formidable bearer - the Azure Knight, they call him, and they say he can't be killed. Lord Sorel wished to put that to the test, perhaps by flinging as many blades as he possibly could at him." At the mention of the name, Cassandra visibly pales. She quickly hides her surprise, however. The name is not unknown to Tyr and Ryn, either - but the Azure Knight is supposed to be a myth, or a legend - like every other multicolored knight out there. Domenica looks to her companions. "I suppose that's all then. Lord Sorel's got powerful allies - that's why nothing's been done about him, and besides, what can the common folk do against someone with all that money and power? He's connected to all sorts - ties to the Merchant of Death, Vercci, to all sorts of sellswords and rogues, there are even rumors that he's scuffled more than once with the dread pirate Cervantes - there's a name you'll be hearing plenty along this coast." "We'll be off," says the guardsman to her left. "If I were you, I'd keep my appointment with the Captain." "He can be right ferocious when he don't get his way," says the other. The three guardsmen leave by the tavern's doorway ___________ Kurojin --- Roll = 6, 4 ___________ His enemy disarmed and disabled, Kurojin steps back into the tree shade. [6] His natural coloration makes his cover almost perfect. There is little chance that he will be spotted by the capering, hooting lizard men. Slowly, he makes his way into the village, coming more than once within ten feet of a lizard man. It appears their senses of smell and hearing aren't the best - more proof that rather than natural beings, they are horrid deformations of nature's proper way. Perhaps they were once men, perhaps they were once lizards. Either way, they are monsters now. The shard flares up. "ALL OF THIS SNEAKING ABOUT TESTS MY PATIENCE SORELY, DRAGON LORD. TAKE MY POWER AND THESE FOUL BEASTS WOULD BE AS WHEAT BEFORE A SCYTHE. LIZARD WHEAT, AS IT WERE." The Pendant of Hephaestus begins to glow dimly as well. As he rounds an as-yet unburned home, Kurojin spies through the window a pair of huddled shapes, one clasping what looks like a sword and the other, whose hands are slightly smaller, with its hands on a dagger.

[if you meet anyone from wolfkrone, of course] Tyr Roll = 4 Ryn Roll = 5 --- "Of course, good captain," says Tyr in reply to Captain Lorenzo's demand. He stands, drawing himself up to his full height. "I acquired it from the slain corpse of a warrior, near the Lord Sorel's mansion. I saw need to acquire a new shield, as my previous had been damaged moments before while I and my compatriots were slaying a group of fiends who made an attempt upon our lives." The mercenary pauses, a look of faux complexion on his face, and turns to Ryn, "That makes, hmm, how many foes that we have dispatched since we met, Ryn? And to think, we've yet to find a real challenge." [4] The Captain's mustache veritably bristles and his face goes red. "Sir, I would appreciate it greatly if we were to take a walk out behind the inn, to continue this conversation." The young lady beside him pipes up. "Erm, sir, I'd really prefer it if we weren't to get into any... conversations so early in the day." One of the guardsmen nods fervently. "Seeing as we haven't had breakfast yet, and my wine's cooling right quick, sir, maybe we could delay the... conversation? This man's not bothering no one, sir, and he looks very... talkative." The Captain gives his men a look of disgust. "In my day, a good private talk was just the thing for an empty stomach! Loosens the limbs, sharpens the mind! I've had good conversations with plenty of people over the years, though they weren't up for a second one any time after that." He lays his hand meaningfully on his weapon, a simple but efficient looking arming sword. Ryn gets to his feet, hoping to forestall a possible fight. ""Sir, I apologize for my companion's unjust anger. We have had a long night and have just awoken. I suppose with the way you were talking, he decided to play along - However, what he says is true. We were attacked by some ruffians last night. Perhaps the same ones that burned the Lord's mansion. Tyr's shield was claimed as a battle trophy." "Ruffians?" says Captain Lorenzo, twirling his mustache. He glares fiercely at Cassandra. "And this one had no part of it, to be sure?" She smiles her most winning smile. "I'm a merchant's daughter, sir, visiting Genoa to see my family. My sister is upstairs. Sadly, my dear brother was waylaid by those bandits the other night, and lost his hand. Thankfully these two were there to give us aid." "See sir?" says Domenica. "He took that shield off one of the vagrants responsible for the burning of Lord Sorel's mansion. I really don't think there's any need for... conversation outside." The Captain harrumphs loudly. "Very well, then. I would still like to have a look-see about you people; this hardly sits right with me. If you saw the bandits responsible for the burning of the Lord Sorel's mansion, then you can aid our investigation. Come to the Constabulary at five of the clock this evening. Good day to you!" Captain Lorenzo stomps out of the tavern in high dudgeon, tromping off into the street. The various occupants of the tavern watch his progress - some of them with a wary hand on their sword belts - and then return to their business. The guardsmen wait until he is out of sight from the window. The young lady, Domenica, turns back to Tyr. "Listen - just between the three of you and us three, what did happen last night? You had to have been near the mansion to get one of those shields." She smiles slyly. "Don't worry - we're not looking for 'conversation', just answers. I'm personally hoping Lord Sorel is dead and gone in that pile of rubble." "Aye," says one of the guardsmen. "A right terror, he was. The Captain won't believe none of it, says it's all fishwifery and rumor, but I seen him at night, stalking the streets and preying on all what get in his way. We're just lucky we never ran into him on a patrol, otherwise-" the guardsman draws his thumb across his throat. His meaning is clear. ___________ COMBAT! --- The lizardman lies facedown in the dirt, blood seeping from a wound in his skull. The capering and hooting of his band can be heard from where Kurojin is standing, but they are still focused on their looting and have yet to notice him. ___________

Tyr Roll = 6, 3 Ryn Roll = 3, 4 --- The innkeeper has clearly been cutting corners, having regained his business savvy over the night. The meal is hot, but unseasoned, and the beer is very clearly watered down and has flecks of heaven knows what in it. Possibly beard stubble, possibly dirt, and possibly even those tiny animals the doctors are always talking about that cause disease and madness. [6, 3] As Ryn and Tyr fall to, they overhear snippets of conversation from the table occupied by members of the Guard. The big Captain appears to be berating his Guardsmen - who look short on sleep and rather cantankerous. In what can only be described as "a very quiet yell", he seems to be chewing out his men for something. [3, 4] A few minutes pass. It becomes clear that the reason for the Captain's anger is the fire the previous night. Several shields and weapons, he says, have been found, and the corpses that were left at the burned mansion of Lord Sorel should have been a big enough clue for the searchers. Shields similar in nature to those left on a few of the corpses, he reasons, are very rare in Genoa, and since Genoa itself isn't on campaign it should be easy enough to find warriors bearing similar shields. "For example," roars the Captain, "take that fellow over there!" He points a finger directly at Tyr. "Why, that shield he's wearing on his back looks exactly like one of the shields on those unknown warriors at the Sorel house! All you have to do is find shields like those, and you've found the culprits!" Uh oh. "Erm, Captain Lorenzo?" says one of the Guardsmen, a youngish looking woman in the Lombard chain and surcoat. "That shield." "Yes, Domenica?" the Captain barks. She stutters. "It's just that..." "Spit it out, young woman!" says the Captain. "I haven't all day!" "It is almost exactly like the ones at the manor," she says. "Down to that Grecian letter on its boss." The Captain turns slowly and eyeballs Tyr from head to toe. He downs his mug of beer, wipes the suds off his mouth with the back of his hand, and gets to his feet. "So it is," he says loudly. "So it is!" He gestures to the Guardsmen to follow him. The two men groan audibly, while the woman visibly shrugs and rolls her eyes. They get to their feet as well and form up reluctantly behind Captain Lorenzo. "You!" says the Captain. "You there, I say, the fellow with the gaudy shield! The one with the lady and that Wolfkroner!" He seems to have taken Ryn's bearing of a Wolfkrone shield as marker of his allegiance. Perhaps this can be spun to their advantage? "Sir," says the Captain, putting his hand on his sword. "I demand to know how you came by that shield! It is a matter of great import!" Cassandra looks to Ryn and Tyr. This might be trouble. ___________ Kurojin Roll = 2, 4 --- Sword at the ready, Kurojin heed's the shard's advice and swings quickly, attempting to kill this strange creature before it can warn its comrades. [2] The steely edge arcs toward's the creature's mottled throat, but it ducks at the last second, and with the rage of the lizardman people in its eyes, it hollers an ululating battle cry. [4] Kurojin looks to the the crowd of hooting lizardmen and their leader in the village. None of them have noticed, but now that the creature is forewarned, it doesn't look as though he'll get a second chance. The creature advances towards him and hollers again, brandishing its deadly axe. "IT WAS WORTH A TRY," says the shard, with the hint of a sneer in its grating mind-voice. "SHOW THIS PRIMITIVE SAVAGE REAL STEEL, AND TEACH HIM THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DRAGONS AND LIZARDS." ROLL FOR INITIATIVE: Kurojin = 6 Lizardman = 1 Turn Order 1. Kurojin 2. Bobo the Lizardman ___________

I don't think anyone in this thread is trying to convince anyone else, though. Most of the posts have a disclaimer like "this is just my personal opinion". People are just voicing concerns they've wanted to voice, that is all.

[first, you're gonna have to succeed on that roll to cut the poor lizard-dude's head off And second: twenty-seven (maybe, might be more, might be less), plus their winged firebreathing leader lizard]

Oh, yeah, well, I know that feel. I absolutely hate it when someone just slaps an armor set in a case somewhere, it doesn't feel right if it's something that would fit in properly with the world. Well, there's always the Enclave trooper mods, which add in Enclave remnants in their FO3 armor, which you can take off their charred corpses after you're done. And it ain't an armor mod, but I know at least one of Bingle's melee .esps adds his psycho awesome melee weapons to NPCs, which means you might end up dueling Super Mutants wielding rocket sledgehammers.

Tyr No roll Ryn No roll --- "I shall gladly accompany you downstairs," says the mercenary. He wonders what the Paladin is up to, though given what he's seen of the good knight, he's probably laying in bed and sending tendrils of divine energy to probe every crack of the inn. Not that that's a bad thing, no sir! Ryn pokes his head out through his door and rejoins Tyr and Cassandra. Seeing that they are about to leave, he joins them. "Good morning!" says Cassandra. "We were just about to head down." Downstairs, the tavern is bustling with business. A number of members of the night's watch, looking rather disgruntled and soot-stained, occupy the tables, clustered around a big man who wears a captain's cape, with the Lombard Cross of San Giorgo - a red cross on a white field - emblazoned on the back. From his body language he looks to be in a rather sour mood. The innkeeper's son and what looks to be his mother are rushing around the inn, serving hungry customers. The innkeeper appears to be beckoning to a table where a hot breakfast has been set for Tyr, Ryn, Cassandra, and Sophitia. Although it is early in the day, as is inevitable in all taverns a mysterious stranger in a dark hooded cloak is sitting in a corner, smoking a pipe. There is also the standard complement of off-duty day guards, a few hard men in leather armor who look to be mercenaries, and a salty-looking woman with a pair of pistols hanging at her belt. "You'd think there was never a fire here," says Cassandra in hushed tones. Where did all these people come from?" ___________ Kurojin No roll --- Kurojin paces away slowly, swords drawn - though the weight of his fire-warped sword is noticeably off balance compared to his other one. The quick action he took on the mountaintop definitely saved his life, so perhaps a single blade is not so large a price to pay. Though it is definitely going to be ineffectual in combat. As the lizardman draws closer, it halts. "SKREE?" it inquires, sniffing the air curiously. It seems to be looking at Kurojin's exposed wings and horns; clearly this one - though seemingly soft like a human - has traits in common with his rough kind. "ODD. OR PERHAPS NOT SO ODD." says the shard. "YOU ONLY RESEMBLE THEM SUPERFICIALLY, DRAGON LORD, BUT ENOUGH TO GIVE IT PAUSE. SEIZE THE ADVANTAGE. STRIKE OFF HIS HEAD!" "SKREE!" hollers the lizardman, clearly getting agitated. It licks blood off its chops and cocks its head to one side. Now that Kurojin has gotten a better look at it, it becomes clear that it is not entirely unintelligent - it is wearing crude hide and metal armor on its chest, and wields a primitive but wicked looking axe in the other. "SKREEEEEEEE!" It's also making a godawful racket. ___________

[hey, just be glad I'm not going into gratuitous detail about the fact that Kurojin has yet to find a pair of pants and is technically still *swinging free*]

[Have Tyr and Ryn armed up? It's not necessarily a de-facto thing] Tyr Roll = 3 Ryn Roll = 5 --- Ryn gets to his feet and sends forth a tendril of power, searching for his allies. [5] In retrospect, doing so might have been the act of a paranoiac, but it never quite hurts to be safe. He explores the inn, though the presence of the ruby ring - and its dark power - interferes with his senses somewhat. Sophitia's electric yellow presence and Tyr's gray one are still in the area, as is Cassandra's - though there is something strange about hers. The innkeeper appears to be up and about, while the hall downstairs appears to be filled with bustle and chatter - no doubt regulars gathered for breakfast and to discuss the queer events of the previous night. Tyr, too, is up and about, and well-rested. Long months on the campaign trail have made soft beddings unnecessary for one such as him, but the lack of necessity does not mean that it is unappreciated. He heads out of the door and finds Cassandra in the hall. "Good morning," she says cheerily. She does not look as though she is having a good one - Tyr detects the faintest hint of dark circles around her eyes, a sure sign of a lack of sleep. "My sister's still asleep, as is Lysander." "Is there any business we need to take care of today?" Tyr asks. At 9 of the clock it might be a simple matter to pawn off the goods they've acquired, or find a collector with a fat purse. She nods. "I think we'll be able to sell off our excess gear now, although I think some breakfast might be in order, first." "And what then?" asks the mercenary. "Is our plan to make leave of this place still in the works, or has the plan been altered overnight?" "We might have to consult Sophitia about that," Cassandra says. "Although I think she'll be glad to be quit of this city for now. Earlier this morning I heard some travelers talking about lizardman and bandit attacks, and also someone talking about needing guards for a merchant caravan to Venice - that's a journey of half a week or so. It would be a good cover story for us leaving Genoa, assuming the authorities haven't noticed us yet." Cassandra stretches languorously and yawns. "I'm going to go downstairs and ask around. Are you coming with me, or do you have other plans?" ___________ Kurojin Roll = 4, 1 [critical failure] --- Kurojin draws his cloak tightly around himself and proceeds down to the village, the sun's rays rapidly heating his body. His wounds appear to be properly holding, even with his haphazard first aid attempts the previous day, but the pain is still present - a dull, numb ache that never ceases to remind him that he had recently been torn open by a weapon. As he nears the village, it becomes apparent that something terrible has happened here. The smoke trails he noticed earlier are in fact emitting from the burning roofs of cottages. Animalistic howls and the screams of the villagers can be heard at this distance. It appears the lizardman bandits have come to play. [4] From this distance he can see that one lizardman is at the center of the carnage. He has great feathered wings and brandishes two battle-axes. He is busy setting fire to some poor soul while his band of lizardmen watches, hooting in glee. [1] Kurojin's cloak snags on a branch and pulls free, exposing his true nature to the world... although it would appear that nothing is around to see him. But suddenly he realizes just how exposed he is. A guttural roar catches his attention. A hulking lizard-man has spotted him. It drops what appears to be the remains of a small child and makes its way towards him. The shard suddenly flares up in heat and color, warming Kurojin through its cloth wrapping. "I HOPE YOU ARE NOT PLANNING TO TRY AND PREACH TO THIS ONE, TOO, DRAGON-LORD. HE DOES NOT LOOK MUCH LIKE ONE FOR CONVERSATION." ___________

[will post turn in a bit, got caught up in work]