OOC: No illusionary thats fine. We can assume kaye was picking up on the scent their captor or anybody else had left on the book after repeated use and entry into the room.

And Dw, we'll be free soon enough.

Artemis

As they walked back into the room Sadi sat down against a wall and buried her face in her hands. Artemis couldn't tell if she was crying or just frustrated.

He walked towards the pile of weapons some one had gathered, picking out a short swords which was relatively rust free to go with the short sword he had liberated from the now one eyed goblin.

"I think we should move on now if you're all ready?" He said to the room, trying and failing to project his voice for the benefit of those further away. "Those who are Injured should remain at the back in case we run into any more danger."

Artenis looked over and noticed Sadi eyeing Alsan and Avalon with curiosity. Until he caught her eye, blushing a little she gave a short nod.

"If every ones ok with it, we should go now." He said again, not even trying to project his voice this time as he walked around the pile of weapons and other would be useful items and trinkets.

As he walked towards the exit to the subterranean cavern the sounds of battle grew louder and louder. He couldn't hear the squawk's and screams of goblins, but more of the grunts and cry's of men.

Perhaps we're about to find out why our escape was so easy He thought, cautiously ploughing on, itching to find out who was fighting.

Falcor

When Morgana smiled at him it reminded him of someone. It wasn't until he smiled back that he realized her charisma reminded him of, well, him. Now was not the time to go into deep thought about what a smile meant though. "That would probably be a good idea. Goblins were never known for curing diseases through their claw marks." He said with a playful grin, then turned to Artemis when he spoke.

It was then he noticed a large pile of the goblins weapons in the middle of the room. Someone had been stockpiling while they were in the library. He began to walk a circle around the pile to see if there was anything he could use. A small iron short sword stuck out to him, it would complete the iron longsword he already had perfectly. Now something to hold them. On the bodies of one of the goblins he saw it was wearing a thick leather belt. That was better than nothing. He took the belt off of the goblin and clasped it on himself, then slid the shortsword through the belt, which held it perfectly. It was far from being a good sheath, but it was better than having to carry it, like he was going to have to do with his longsword.

After that, it was onward and upward behind Artemis. As he passed Jo he noticed that the Khajiit was not following behind Artemis as well. Usually he was so eager to go to battle. He must have realized that with his wounded arm he would probably be more likely to drag everyone else down than to be an actual asset.

He stepped a little lighter as they walked down the tunnel, and held his longsword lightly in his right hand. The sound of fighting soon filled the tunnels as they continued on. Guess someone started the party without us. Falcor though to himself. Maybe this was what the man back in the cage room was talking about when he was talking about 'the thieves' breaking through their defenses. Well, they find out for sure when they got to the battle.

"Yes, indeed. Injured behind those who can hold their own. There's plenty of battles up ahead, I can hear them." Alsan replied, holding his short sword loosely in his hand, his finger and thumb pinching the blade. He moved to the pile, picking up one of the other short swords. He tested it out, making sure the swords were balanced before letting them fall to his sides.

"I really need a rapier, not these blunted blades." He muttered, frowning. "Everyone ready?"

Avalon and Kaye

"One second..." Avalon said. She snatched a sack from the corner and carefully put books into it- her speed was hindered somewhat by an innate want to care for the texts. She grabbed some texts that had useful titles, such as 'A Brief History of the Empire' and some that just seemed interesting, but she also slid a number of leatherbound and titleless texts that she imagined might hold important information.

She was slightly bemused by her own urge to amass items and knowledge- was this simply an effect of her amnesia, or was it something more? Was the person she had once been someone who liked to collect information? A librarian perhaps? Who knew.

Kaye did. She looked over at him. This man held the key to her memory, she felt sure. But she neither had the time nor the wish to get into that now. I can find out who I am later... she thought. For now, I should just focus on staying alive long enough to get the chance...

She gazed at an amulet, hanging from a slender chain from the wall. It didn't seem valuable, but the markings on it intrigued her, as did the blue crystal resting at its centre. She slipped it off the chain and around her neck, sliding it under her shirt with her free arm. Recompense... she told herself, but she knew she wasn't taking it because she thought she could take what she wanted. It was rather that she thought you could take what you wanted from those who could afford it, or who deserved it. And a strange intellectual curiosity that surrounded the amulet, drawing her to it.


Kaye looked at the pile, and then at his own hands. All of this seemed so useless- the pipe, these broken and blunt weapons. His body was his own best weapon, when deprived of better equipment. But he wanted to seem normal.

So far, despite being the only person in the group to sustain no injuries whatsoever, nobody seemed to have noticed him. Kaye was used to this. People usually either hated him for his condition, or ignored him. Still, it was a lonely way to live.

Especially now that Ava didn't remember him. He could hardly remember the last time he'd felt this alone.

Morgana cast one last look over the weapons. From what little she remembered, she favored longer blades (she had two memories with bastard swords, and one with an overly-large short sword). However, goblins weren't known for bearing large weapons. The longest of the blades had already been snatched up. It served her right for giving them the chance, really.

And so, she took up a bow instead and strapped on a quiver. She'd used a bow before... whether she was any good with it was an entirely different question. It felt much less familiar in her hand than the dagger did... but it was better than nothing.

Then, she moved to stand behind Artemis. He was still leading, despite being one of the "injured" ones. Stubborn moron.

Morgana instinctually stepped softly as the sounds of battle drew closer. She hugged the wall and lingered in the shadows... then again, she'd already discovered and accepted the fact that she was sneaky, and she wasn't exactly the only one in the party.

He looked through a few crates and sacks, but could find nothing. He walked by a few blade, picking one up, but when comparing it with the club, he liked the feel of the club better, so he dropped the sword and kept looking for a drink.

Finally, on a little wooden table, near some bad looking meat, he found a bottle. He couldn't tell what it was by smelling it, but it was rather strong, but he wasn't sure if should taste it. Another sharp pain in his side quickly changed his mind, as he brought the bottle to his lips, and tilted it upwards a little. He took a rather large sip, and felt it burning his throat all the way down, sending that fake warmth through his body, and easing his mind.

He smiled for the first time in what felt like a long time, and he took another sip, shaking his head a little at the taste, but he took another sip. When a few of the group started to move out, Gerich jogged to catch up with them. At least in a fight he didn't have to stand around. He didn't know these people, and waiting back with a room of dead goblin's and a bunch of strangers.

He followed the beautiful Imperial out of the room, though he fell behind a little as he slowed to take another drink every once and a while. He clutched the club in his left arm, and the drink in his sore right, both palms sweating quite a bit, though the pain in his side had dulled a bit.

IC:

Artemis

As the group gathered and started to make their way towards the sounds of a growing battle, Artemis began to quicken his pace. He did not know who was on his side in the coming battle. But he sure as hell knew that he didn't want to arrive late only to be greeted by the corpses of those trying to help them.

The floor was uneven and slippery through the twisting corridors of the sewers, it was obviously a long forgotten part of the imperial cities underbelly which had long since fallen into disrepair.

He could hear Sadi's shallow breathing behind him, she was deeply un-nerved by whatever memories their captor had planted in her mind.

The battle grew closer with every step, he could almost taste the sweat and blood. The anticipation was now building, pooling in his chest, ready to be released in an onslaught of hostility towards the first person to flinch in his direction in a way he didn't deem fit.

He wasn't disappointed, as he rounded the corner into another room, not quite as big as the library, but equally as imposing. Filled with ominous shadows and strange statues of obscure unfamiliar art. The battle raged on, many leather clad men and women fought against a small but fierce group of what appeared to be vampires, each pale and gaunt, their lips over biting a little where their jutted downwards.

Several bodies lay on the floor, some unmoving and lifeless. Some stirring as life slowly faded. Artemis couldn't believe that such a small group of vampires could hold against such a large group of what he could only assume where thieves or bandits.

One thing distracted him, a few of those fighting the vampire did not wear conventional leather. They wore dark almost skin tight leathers, some sporting white handprints on the shoulders, most wearing a hood which almost completely obscured their faces.

He lifted his swords and strode forward with a sense of purpose and longing. He wanted to punish them, to make them bleed and feel the pain he had felt as he was subject to physical torture. He wanted to vent his fury that his father was dead and his sister was a shell of her old vibrant self.

But as he was about to join the battle a red guard dressed in leather armour ran towards the group, waving his free hand to grab their attention. He faltered as he ran, sensing that Artemis had every intention of turning him into skewered meat, sheathing his weapon he held out both hands in a gesture of peace.

"What?" Artemis spat, impatient and quite alarmed that the man thought this was an appropriate time for idle banter.

"We're here to help, is Avalon with you?" he asked, his eyes quickly passing over the less than professional looking group behind Artemis, well, all except Alsan. Who quite frankly looked as if he was to take a stroll around the city in the company of a pretty lady of his choosing.

"Yes, And the Redguard Kaye who claims to be her spouse, what of it?" He asked briskly, beginning to stride forward, stopping when the red guard placed a palm on his chest.

"You see this?" He asked, holding up a bright silver sword. "Silver, hurts vampires see. You're not equipped to fight them. We'll take care of these while you make you're safe escape."

"I'm not letting them go unpunished!" he spat again, this time a few flecks of saliva shot from his mouth and hit the red guard in the face.

"And you wont have to. If you get out of here now! You're no good dead. You all need to escape, he's coming back, He's already killed a group of fifteen of our best rogues and a speaker! Do you know how dangerous this man is!"

"No, Artemis really, we should do as he says. It's for our own good." Sadi said placing a gentle soft hand on his shoulder, as he showed every sign of answering back. Instead he relented and listened to what the red guard had to say.

"Ok, Head to the end of this room, there's a small tunnel and a ladder, the ladder will lead you into the best defence in the Market district, he doesn't know you're coming so beware, he might call the guard. But its nothing we cant smooth other quickly enough. Now go!" he said hurriedly before pushing past towards the one names Kaye. "Keep her safe, take her somewhere and protect her until we can meet again."

Artemis moved forward at a run, holding Sadi's hand, dragging her along in his wake, running towards his goal. The exit they had anticipated and desired since they woke up in this hell. Answer's, they would come soon enough, even if he had to torture some one himself he would have them.

He managed to get through the room unnoticed thanks to the clamour and ferociousness of the battle, reaching the ladder in seconds. He didn't bother to look back and check if every one was safe, he had priorities.

"Up! Go on, get up their!" He said to Sadi, pushing her towards the ladder, looking up towards the open hatch. "Quickly now!"

"Artemis, no, you're not staying. I refuse, you go first." She replied, a frantic look in her eye, she sensed that he had every intention of staying, even though he did not.

"No, once you're safe I'll follow." He shot back, watching warily as a vampire broke of from the fray, only to be slain by a number of arrows which seemed to impale him simultaneously.

"Ok, I swear I will come back and punish you myself if you don't!" she snapped, a glimmer of her fiery and vibrant personality flashing behind her green eyes as she began to climb the ladder.

"Come on people, go, go, go!" he shouted to the group, waiting for them to get out safely before following.


OOC: ahh the sweet taste of freedom, you can either take it and taste it, or stay and fight. You're choice entirely. But try not to linger to long, id rather not kill anybody in the first thread lol

"The merchants of Best Defense shall not be an issue, I am well acquainted with them. Allow me." Alsan said as he followed Artemis and Sadi, letting the woman climb up first.

In the basemant a hatch opened as Sadi had climbed out, and Alsan followed immediately after her, getting to his feet and brushing off his knees. Smiling, he gave Sadi a single finger in the air. "Hold here while I inform the merchants of our coming. It'll help us avoid arrest."

OOC: Sorry for the minor control of Sadi there.

IC: Alsan moved to the door of the basemant, calmly opening it. The lock worked one way, so opened from within but remained shut from without. One could exit, but not enter, without the key. Alsan stood there as the door closed, wiping dust and dirt off his clothes before walking into the store proper. Both Varnado and Maro looked stunned as he came in from the basemant doorway, before Maro cracked open a smile.

"Alsan Santiare, what a pleasant surprise."

"Why the hell are you coming out of the basemant?" Varnado snapped, crossing his arms. Alsan returned the gesture, but raised one eyebrow questioningly.

"As it so happens, I'm in a bit of a spot right now." Alsan replied, smirking. Maro laughed.

"What is it this time, Alsan?"

"Kidnapping, actually. I'm one of several victims." He said, unfolding his arms and spreading them to show himself. Dirt still stuck to much of his clothes.

"You look fine to me." Varnado replied, grunting. Alsan snapped a finger at him. "Aha, but I said I am one of several. There happen to be three ladies and a group of men along with me, all of us either injured, undernourished, or amnesic. Our captor made a slip, and we escaped through the sewers. Now, though, we have the issue of it being your basemant we came out of. I pray you won't have a problem?"

"I don't see why we should." Maro remarked, looking to Varnado.

"Ah hell."

Morgana stopped cold and stared, her heart heading sideways in her chest. She knew she should follow her companions, but couldn't bring herself to do it just yet as she looked over their saviors.

They killed a Speaker? repeated over and over in her head, like a tolling bell. She didn't even have the luxury of wondering who, because she remembered no names or faces. She only knew that it angered her very much to hear that someone had dared to kill him or her.

It angered her even more not to be able to recognize faces she knew she should. Sick [censored], messing with her head like that.

Morgana fingered the handle of her dagger, but knew better than to jump into the fray. They were giving the prisoners a chance to escape, and Morgana intended to take that opportunity. However, she couldn't help but sweep her gaze over their saviors one last time, as if one of the faces might suddenly become familiar. She knew these people. She wasn't sure how, but she felt in her gut that she did.

She hated that their host had taken that away from her.

She spun on her heel and dashed for the ladder.

Falcor & Jo

As they turned the corner into the view of the battle, Falcor instinctively drew the shortsword into his off-hand. He instantly recognized the vampires suprised somewhat at their fighting prowess. Vampires that pale usually fight more like animals than soldiers. The men and woman in the leath armor must have been the thieves. Then he recognized other leath clad fighters that wore very unique armor; The Dark Brotherhood. If they were here fighting in this large a number, then this fight was out of this rag-tag group of escapee's hands. Especially after learning that their captor killed a silencer, he only knew that a silencer was a high rank, nothing else.

He too was about to make a break for the exit when he remembered everyone back in the cave. "Keep heading out guys, I'll go back and get the rest!" He semi-yelled over the loud combat. Then he headed back down the tunnel to the goblin graveyard. Everyone was still in there, thankfully.

"Alright, let's head out. Move fast, we need to get out of here before 'He' returns." He said loudly so that everyone who stayed behind could hear. Jo jumped at the sound of Falcor and was at the tunnel in only seconds.

"Finally, a real fight." Falcor heard the Khajiit mutter. He quickly grabbed Jo by his shirt.
"This fight is beyond us Jo. You fight, you die... Let's go." Falcor was compassionate, but if someone needed his help to get into the tunnel, they probably weren't going to get out alive.

Upon entering the real battelfield once again, Jo froze for a moment. The Dark Brotherhood, thieves, likely the Thieves Guild, and Vampires. All three myths together in one place, and all fighting. Falcor had been right, this battle was beyond them right now at least.

"The exit is over there, go." He said running across the battlefield behind Jo. Jo quickly headed into the small cave with a ladder, and began climbing up it; wasting no time. Falcor stayed behind with Artemis, his morals dictated it, Jo had few morals however and had no problem climbing the ladder ahead of others.

As they arrived on the scene, Gerich downed the rest of the bottle without another thought. He was too shocked at what he was seeing, especially the vampire's. He wiped his lips, swore once, and raised his club, more swears streaming from his mouth silently.

"This is [censored]." he muttered, only a slight slur to his words.

However, when the group started moving, he followed quickly, thankful for a way out, and rather glad he hadn't stayed behind in the goblin room. He waited his turn to ascend the ladder, following the beautiful Imperial woman (he has to remember to ask for her name) and a Khajiit to the ladder.

He looked back, leaning a little to the side, his head spinning just a little, as he waited, looking back to see if anything unfriendly followed them, and noticing two men stayed back a little, probably to ensure their escape.

"My hero." he muttered, faking joy and admiration, shaking his head.

OOC: Dammit, I get what I ask for, but only when I am already offline. Typical.

Avalon and Kaye

Ava gazed non-plussed at the assorted rogues and assassins before her. They seemed to know her- or, at least, the rogues did. A middle-aged redguard caught Ava's attention. He clasped her forearm in a companionly manner. "Doyen," he said. It stirred a memory in her, one of the only that she remembered. Of a beggar in the street whispering 'Shadow Hide you, Doyen'. But this redguard did not say it with reverance- he said it with the respect of an equal.

What is it with me and reguards? she thought, her arm itching to be yanked away from this sudden and unwanted contact. She did not know this man. I'm like a fricking magnet...

"Armande," Kaye replied. He at least, seemed to recognise this man. He glanced at Ava. "She's been compromised, and is not in a fit state."

"But I thought-," Armande Christophe began, gazing at her bandages, but Kaye interrupted him.

"No, it's a mental thing," her would-be lover explained.

Armande nodded. "Take her to the refuge, then. We won't risk her here." He tossed a silver blade to Kaye, who caught it in one hand with ease. "Good luck," he said.

Kaye bowed his head, and hurried over to the ladder, dragging Ava along behind him.

"Where are we going?" she asked. The suspicion in her voice hurt him so deeply. But he knew that she was a clever girl, and would assume that, since he loved her, he would not consciously cause her harm.

"To safety," he told her. "There's a battle here that cannot be one- not in this state. Give me that bag." He took the sack of belongings from Ava as she climbed up the ladder, oddly using both hands- her injured side as well as her whole one. When both of them had ascended, Kaye took her hand again. "Quickly," he said. "Follow me."

He spared no final thoughts for the other members of the group. They had hardly qualified as pack- seeming to not care for him or Ava at all. Besides, they were safe now. Ava could be his only priority.

They ran off towards the Waterfront.

???

His steps where measured, his feet guided him through the darkness along the labyrinth or tunnels and sewers which he was all to familiar with. Moving around holes and obstructions in his path with out a second thought, it was all subconscious.

A gratifying sense of self assurance filled him with warmth, a feeling he had long forgotten. But now he was close, his work was almost done. The last pieces of the puzzle where falling into place. All he needed to do was guide them to the areas in which they where made to fit.

Each step he took in his research, each leap and bound in his consumption of knowledge brought him closer. His ultimate goal was to be realised. All those who tried to stop him would suffer. He would not kill them, Oh no. That was a prize they did not deserve. Like his past experiments, they would be kept between the line dividing life and death. An eternal limbo of suffering and pain, the same suffering and pain which created him.

What they did to me all those years ago was monstrous! a vicious voice resounded through the fit to burst caverns of his mind, each crevice filled with knowledge. And so they created a monster fit for the purpose of vengeance? another voice, this time quiet and sly. More calculating and malicious than passionate and filled with rage. They created what needed to be made. The world as we know it will change. I will be the architect. again, another voice. This one precise and devoid of emotion.

"And she will join me again. Just as I promised. She will join me, again." a cold almost whisper of a voice came, the thin dry lips of the pale masked man barely moving as the words escaped, it would take a master of the highest social skills to sense the longing and compassion in his voice. His emotions where luggage to him, something unnecessary and unwanted. They only served to slow him down. He had long since learned to suppress them. He has been suppressing them for so long that each emotion was as unfamiliar as the faces of a thousand strangers. Each emotion reared its head in such rare times where his anger could not be controlled. Or his joy would not be caged.

But the events where sparse and infrequent. Over the past fifty years he counted but three outbursts of emotion. None of which lasted longer than a minute, if that.

He could hear the beast cowering as he walked through the vast halls of the subterranean sess-pit, the goblins especially. At first, when he began the construction of his halls of research, they would attack him. Constantly serving as a reminder that beings of lesser intelligence than he should be removed from Nirn. But they soon grew to fear him. After he flayed their shamans, peeling the green taught flesh from sinewy chord like muscle. These where the preliminary experiment which led to his greatness, his understanding.

He would force them to gather round and watch as he experimented on their leader. Watching each one of them closely. Sensing their some what linear undeveloped emotions as he operated upon the still breathing and screaming beast. He soon conducted experiments of a similar nature on the inhabitants of the Imperial city.

But in one mind. He found the most peculiar thing, perhaps the one thing which drew him to Cyrodil. The answer, or perhaps a small part of it. To a question which had long been a fierce torrent of unruly thunder and fire within his heart. The question which drove him towards perfection. He found it within the mind of a simple adventurer, the knowledge embedded into his mind without him even knowing.

It was this which made him do the things he did, pushing memories and thoughts aside, damaging and tearing them asunder. Forcing them out of consciousness In the pursuit of the knowledge.

Those who didn't have it where left disfigured and deformed, their bodies mere husks of humanity. They lived however, they tried to cry out for help. Adventurers would slay them where they stood, simply mistaking them for a walking corpse. A cruel end to a cruel life, perhaps.

He soon found a link, something which certain people had in common, on the same day, every year. The device activates. Until that day, the device is impossible to find. Perhaps it doesn't exist until a certain day, or perhaps the earth opens up and swallows it. Or perhaps it was an elaborate disguise. All he knew was he didn't need to find them to take the knowledge they hold. He had to find those who had encountered them.

And he had the last few. The beast girl. A Breton thief with a dark secret. He found it within her. The Imperial, a cold but intelligent woman indeed, He was lucky to have her memory of the incident. She was difficulty to track, and even more difficult to catch.

The Imperial man, the easiest to track, and easiest to catch. He was found drunk on the streets of the waterfront district. Nobody objected to his kidnapping, they assumed he was being taken home to recover from his binge.

And then there was the mage whelp of the fool wizard, the charitable man who would foster children out of the goodness of his own heart. The memories she held for the man sickened him to no end. He was glad to liberate her of the hindrances she carried.

The soft golden light of a torch graced his cold flesh as he approached a dead end. A hand reached up to the torch bracket, skeletal like, the veins jutting out. It looked as if he had a number of worms burrowing beneath his flesh. The skin was tight and almost translucent. His time away from the sun was probably to blame. But no matter. He twisted the bracket to the left, the wall in front of him immediately moved forwards before scraping off to the right, revealing the cathedral like library of books and manuscripts.

His heart stopped beating. His blood turned cold, jaw clenched and eyes set. The room, the secret room known only to him. It was open. Who had seen it? It did not matter. Their memory of it would dissipate as they blood drained from their body.

He carefully surveyed the room, the door leading to the cells was empty, water was beginning to seep through from the tank room. On the opposite side the family heirloom, the one thing he had kept from his family was gone. The tapestry, ripped from its pole.

He quickened his walk into a swift gait, passing over the bridge, The scent didn't effect him any more. He had seen and breathed far worse things than bodily waste.

Another wash of cold ice swept through his body, the goblins who he had not slaughtered where now dead. Stripped of their crude weapons. This did no bode well. They had escaped.

His feet guided him again, his subconscious taking control as his mind assessed the situation. It didn't take long for him to think of a solution to the problem at hand. It never took long, never will.

The clamour of battle could be heard. Had he not already dealt with the underlings of the Night mother and the Gray fox? Had he not already slaughtered their speaker? The Khajiit with the mettle to attack him bare handed, only to be reduced to a smoking carcass of brittle charred flesh.

Apparently, that was only one group. This was the main force, the force which was supposed to serve as a deterrent while the smaller group rescued the prisoners. Well, if he had not murdered them like animals that is.

As he rounded the corner his sense where attacked by a barrage of noise, screaming and shouting. Then the smell of sweat and blood invaded his sinuses.

His eyes swept the battlefield. A few expendable vampires and to many expendable rogues and assassins. The filth of society, and then. The prisoners. He spotted the last to at the bottom of a ladder. One he recognized as the brother of the mage girl, the other he did not know. He watched as the wounded Brother shouted unknown words to a Redguard, They all started climbing the ladder as the Redguard reached them.

He screamed as a tidal wave of cold fury flooded through his body, releasing a bolt of lightning which violently rippsed the air apart as it shot towards the group of thieves, leaving a faint static energy in its wake.

He did not relish in the death of others as he launched another spell towards the thieves, he did not laugh as bodies fell to the floor, or flew into the walls.

He did not cry in rage as the vampires deserted him out of fear.

His body quivered at the unfamiliar feeling of anger. He rushed towards the ladder, just in time to see a foot disappear and the hatch close. Another scream of fury left his lungs, almost forcing blood out with the force of the escaping air. After a second or two he gathered he thoughts again, his hand crept up lazily towards the hatch, a single blast of fire demolished it, along with a large section of the floor.

His hands grasped the searing metal, his skin melted against it, the heat would be unbearable to any normal man. But that was his gift to the world and himself, His abnormality. He ignored the pain, instead he climbed, mutilating his own flesh in the pursuit of those pestilential thieves and escaped prisoners. His dream would not be stolen from him when he was so close to realising his destiny. The destiny that HE had shaped and formed, the destiny that HE had moulded, destroying the paths laid out to him by the gods. Casting them aside without regretted or remorse. As he reached the top of the ladder, the door leading out of the generic city basemant slammed shut, a few muffled shouts could be heard before a great deal of heavy foot steps.

He threw another handful of searing fire towards the door, Its remains disappeared in a fog of ash and smoke, the side wall leading to the neighbouring shop was demolished, as was the ceiling to the next floor and the front wall of the shop.

He walked onwards, his poise and stature correct, his footsteps measured and precise. His emotions dissipating. The rubble fell around him, he could see the street outside, legion officers gathered around, blocking any citizens from getting closer.

His thin lips twisted into a cruel smile as the watchmen trained their bows on him. He raised his hands as if in surrender. As a high pitched whirling noise drowned out the sounds of panicking citizens and falling masonry.



Artemis

"Come on! Quickly!" He cried over the battle of the thieves and vampires, The Redguard ran towards him frantically. "Up!" He added In a shout, pushing Falcor towards the ladder and following closely behind along with the Redguard.

They scrambled upwards through the trap door, slamming and locking it behind them as they frantically made their escape.

"What about the others? They have no way to escape!" Artemis shouted over his shoulder to the Redguard as Falcor bolted through the door.

"They're already dea-!" He cried, his voice failing as the sound of an explosion resounded through the building. "Run!"

They didn't need telling twice, Artemis pushed Falcor through the door and followed closely into the street, the imperial watch where already gathering, looks of anxiousness upon their faces, each nervously fingering their bow. Artemis spotted Sadi and immediately ran towards her as another explosion mingled in with the sound of a collapsing building drowned out the sound of growing footsteps.

He turned to look at the building they had just emerged from, the entire front wall had been blasted off, along with the side wall to the building next to it. A tall pale figure walked through the rubble, stepping over the dead bodies of the shops proprietors. His hand held aloft.

Artemis turned to Sadi, about to tell her to run before the high-pitched sound of a mechanical object forced his attention away, He looked up towards the top of the North tower, atop of it was a large orb like construct, spinning furiously on its axis.

A brilliant flash of bright light almost blinded him, as he regained his vision, a new group of people where among them. Battle mages, each wearing silver legion armour with a white hood over their head.

"You are under arrest! Come willingly or face pain of death!" One cried over the clamour or noise, he looked nervous and uncertain, eying the mans smile cautiously.

"I choose death." He replied simply. His voice hollow, cold and dark.

The mage nodded, as a volley of arrows passed over his head. The man reacted almost instantly, the force of his shield spell driving the surrounding rubble from him, creating a large circle of blackened stone. As the last of the arrows met uselessly with the shield he retaliated, launching balls or bright blue light at the Archers, each fell to the floor, their bodies rigid and unmoving. Their last breath of air frozen in their lungs.

As the battle mages began to attack, Sadi threw spell after spell at the man, her face a perfect picture of rage, Artemis tried dragging her away but she broke his grip and carried on.

With each fallen battle mage another appeared to take his place, shooting volleys of magic at the man. The force of their attacks left the building weaker and weaker. It was now threatening to collapse at any minute.

"Enough! You will cease this spell casting and come with us!" A fierce voice rang, the same mage as before. Apparently the last surviving member of the first group. Artemis gazed over at the leather faced man. He looked like an obscure version of the Gray fox in a way, only his was dark and taught, nailed to his face.

"Very well, I surrender to you but you will bring the girl as well. That is what I demand. Carry out my wishes or you will perish before this day ends."

The un-named battle mage nodded to the man beside him, who immediately grasped Sadi and dragged her away from Artemis.

He launched himself at the battle mage, raising his short sword high, preparing to strike the mans head.
But the chance never came, instead he was wrestled backwards against the wall by the remaining battle mages. He exhausted himself as he tried to break free. The arrow bending and splintering as he did, the pain passing through him almost unnoticed.

"No! I didn't do anything wrong, I was trying to help! Please!" Sadi protested, struggling against the mans grasp.

"You have committed the highest of crimes, you will be punished along with this man." The mage spat back. Walking forwards and placing a hand on the leather faced mans shoulder.

Another high pitched screeching followed by a flash of light and they where gone. Leaving the bodies of the fallen upon the floor.

Artemis felt numb with shock, he didn't move an inch for several seconds before his mind shot into over drive. He walked forwards, replaying the events in his mind.

Where have they taken her? What will they do to her? he thought desperately, falling to his knees where she disappeared with the mage. He barely noticed that he was kneeling on a velvet blue journal as he buried his face in it hands.



OOC: Sorry for the character controle every body but i wanted to get this post out of the way, i dont know if i'll be able to come on much over the weekend, im packing for uni so i'll be extremely busy. So i didnt want to leave you all in the eternal limbo between captured and free

Now, just a reminder. You're still confined to the city. The furthest i will let you go is Weye just outside the city. There just isnt enough people to have a full province, without character interaction people will eventualy run out of ideas and this will die, and i dont want that :shakehead: . But the map we're using for the city is huge any ways. :foodndrink:

And apologies for the length.. It was origionaly 8 pages long on MSword, so i had to condense it and managed to lower it to 4 pages lol

"[censored]!" Morgana dove for cover as the shop exploded behind her and the tail of the group. She ducked into an alley, watching from the safety of the shadows as legionnaires surrounded the ruined storefronts.

When a man stepped out, Morgana sank deeper into the shadows and unstrapped the bow, her eyes narrowing. This was him, there could be no doubt. This was the one who had messed with her head.

However, Morgana knew it was stupid to start a battle she couldn't win. This guy was out of her league; she could only engage him if she knew that she held the advantage.

Therefore, she stayed where she was as the events unfolded, a silent observer. She took careful note of the mage's features, in vain hopes that she'd be able to track him down later. No one ecisted in a vacuum; there had to information on him. The question was how Morgana could get it.

Because she would get it. Oh, yes. By the time Morgana would be through with him, he'd be a weeping wreck, bereft of eyes, tongue (not to mention certain other organs), and begging for release from her wrath.

Alsan stood with amazing calm in place, as the side of the Best Defense and neighboring shop were blown apart. He turned, eyebrows raised, while Varnado cursed and Marus followed suit. "Seems my plan was irrelevant." Alsan remarked coolly, watching as a man clad in a leather mask emerged from the basemant. His eyes narrowed. The man was very familiar. He'd seen him before, in front of the cages. That was the man who had wiped away the women's memories.

Alsan grit his teeth as the battlemages began their fight. He held his ground, but his fists were tightly clenched around the handles of the short swords. That man... standing so close. Such powerful magic. He could very well have been the one responsible for the death of the Champion. And he erased the memories of those women...

For some reason, that made him hate the man more than anything else did. When the fighting finally stopped, he looked up to see a bargain being made; Sadi was to be jailed as well.

"No!" Alsan rose his voice and finally moved, taking a firm step forward. His tone was all commanding and firm. It changed quickly, though when the battlemages were gone. "[censored]!" He tossed one sword on the ground, looking to the dumbfounded faces of the shop keepers.

"Sorry 'bout that. Had a bit of an issue with a nasty bloke." He cracked into a smile at his fake Colovian accent. "Pa will refund you if you require it." He gave them a small salute and then moved over to Artemis. One gloved hand held the man's shoulder, and he put himself at the man's level.

"I'm going to get her back, Artemis. She's innocent. And with that man, who knows what might happen. Come with me. You'll sleep in my manor tonight. And take the journal with you." He rose after saying this, looking at the others in the group.

"Those of you who don't have a very clean home to go to now, you are welcome to bathe yourself at my place."

Avalon and Kaye

The race away from the sewers was a terrifying one. She could hear screaming, authorative yells, explosions... but she wanted none of it, and she knew better than to slow herself down by looking back. But though Ava and Kaye ran at inhuman speeds, they also heard with inhuman ears, the sounds of battle sounding so near even as they neared the waterfront.

Ava's eyes glistened with unshed tears. She had not stayed behind to help those people. She had as good as left them for dead. But then, she was injured... wasn't she? THe pain in her arm and side seemed to be gone.

They ran on, stopping at a collection of shacks on the waterfront. Kaye tugged Ava further, kicking open the cellar of a run-down shack. They descended the stairs, both of their eyes adjusting to the almost total darkness as they closed the doors behind them. He led Ava to a small crawl hole behind some crates- it didn't look like anything bigger than one of the giant rats could get through it. He glanced at Ava. "Go on then..." he said. Ava hesitated, and then crouched down, resting wait carefully on her injured side. It didn't hurt. She crawled through on her belly. Behind her, she could hear Kaye doing the same.

I'm surprised he can fit... she thought. But then, he is much taller than he is wide... She eventually came to a blood coloured-door with a hand on it. It seemed to glow eerily, though it gave off no light, and it emitted a sound that struck fear into Ava's heart. On instinct, she reached out and touched the hand-print on the door.

'Who is the Gray Fox?' the voice whispered, causing Ava to shiver. Ava stared at it, completely non-plussed, but a deep, calm voice said behind her; "Emerel Dareloth." The door gave way, and led to a further tunnel, one in which they could stand. They made their way further downhill until they came to what seemed to be a cave. The word that came to Ava's mind was 'Underground Sanctuary'.

Shouts of "Doyen!" and "Mercury!" came from all sides. A crowd of rogues rushed over to her, people hugged her, patted her arm or squeezed her shoulder, but she was not frightened of them. They smelled like pack- like people like her.

Kaye watched all this and disappeared to his room. Nobody would harm Ava, not here.

"Hi..." Ava said hesitantly to them all, with a nervous smile. "I'm uh... a bit tender at the moment." This seemed to deeply worry people, and some murmured 'Silver', although why she was unsure. She was brought before someone she assumed was the alchemist, judging by her surroundings.

"Mercury, it is good to see you," she said. She looked to be dunmer, but her ash skin was so dark as to be almost black. The result was that her red eyes seemed even more pronounced... and so did her fangs.

Ava raised her eyebrows at her. "You're a vampire?" she asked, letting the question speak for itself. The alchemist laughed, although her expression was worried. "I am indeed, but I am no Aundae. I work for the Thieves' Guild as their healer and protector, and the Aundae cannot touch me. I am of the Thrafey Clan." She hesitated, and added, "My name is Cassandra- or Cassey, as I prefer."

Ava could not help but smile. THis woman- or vampire- had quickly worked out that Ava had lost her memory- or at least, that she did not remember her. It seemed to cause her concern, which meant that Cassey cared for her. This meant that she could trust her- to some degree.

Ava hopped up and sat on a desk. "I hear magic has been outlawed. It must be hard to be a healer with only alchemy..."

Cassey shook her head. "Not if you've had centuries to perfect your art. I'm what is called a Secret Master- one who never gets recognition for the fact that their skills outdo what even history can record. But I do not heal just with alchemy, though- the Thrafey power is to heal, and vampire magic cannot be traced by the mages' guild, or even other vampires unless they are stood right beside me. Of course, magic cannot be traced down here, either." She ran her hands over Ava's body, the pair of them glowing faintly blue as Cassey probed her, but Ava felt no urge to move.

Cassey's brow furrowed further. "Some damage has been done to your mind," she murmured. "But then... I'm sure you've discovered that already..."

Ava nodded. "What was that door about? The one with the hand?" she asked, changing the subject.

"The Dark Brotherhood provided us with a sanctuary of our own when he joined forces with them. They told us how to construct them, and their 'God'," she made a face. "Made us the door. But nobody except the Thieves' Can get in here: only we know the location, and few are so good- or so small- as to be able to crawl down, or even spot the hiding place. Even the Dark Brotherhood do not know where it is, and only we know the password."

"So where am I? What's my part in all this?"

Cassey sighed. "You are a Doyen of the Thieves' Guild- the highest ranking and most trusted advisors of the Gray Fox, our Lord and Master. A Doyen's job usually entailed dealing out jobs and keeping the thieves' laws, as well as getting rid of bounties and doing the heists that only the most skilled could handle."

"But you were different." Red eyes met silver blue as they looked at each other.

Ava asked simply, "How?"

"You are not a thief or rogue, Mercury, although you certainly make a good one. You are a Bard- a teller of tales, a singer of songs, a keeper of lore- and someone who buys and sells in knowledge and can get information from anyone, anywhere. With your silver-coated tongue, you became our sort of Ambassador- you dealt in official matters, represented us, and got us important information that even the beggar's failed to gain- although you dealed very closely with them. You were the ears and eyes of the Guild. In short, you were our Spy- even our Spymaster, as you coordinated all information and ambassadorial jobs- even when you were young. You got Lex to lay off us."

Ava nodded. She liked the sound of all this. It was something she would certainly enjoy doing. "Just two more questions..." she begged, but Cassey smiled.

"You can have as many as you like. We are greatly alike, you and I- both the secret prizes of the Thieves', kept under lock and key from the Aundae, who want us so badly. Both weapons as much as tools, too..."

Ava took all this in, wondering what Cassey meant. "Why does everyone keep calling me Mercury? Kaye said I was Avalon."

Cassey nodded. "Avalon Dierre is your true name, but thieves' rarely go by that alone. Although I'm afraid this particular nickname is my fault. The colour of your eyes is like a very rare metal- a soft, malleable one called Mercury. It reminded me a lot of you- because you are so easily changeable, and your properties never seem to remain the same- you always act and think differently as required, and you are very versatile. Most of the other's didn't really know the why of the name Mercury- although I think Methredel and Armande understood- but they loved the idea of it. Pretty soon, it was what everyone called you." She smiled apologetically. "You always hated it."

Ava shrugged. "I kinda like it..."

Cassey smiled sadly. "Yes, I was afraid of that."

Ava did not miss Cassey's behaviour, but ploughed on with her last question. "Can anything be done about my memory?"

Cassey nodded slowly, but her expression was sad. "Well, your knowledge- things you have learned, such as lore, history, skills- will return to you with time, and I imagine they have already begun. I would still advise reading a lot- for you will only remember things you have learned, not where or how you learned them, and you will feel more fullfilled with something to back up your knowledge with.

"However, your memory... Given time, I could probably develop a spell pattern or potion, but I suggest you think long and hard before your choose to do so. It will never return normally to you- too much damage has been done. And you have already begun the change into someone new- a result of all the effects of your experiences, without your past to back them up, has made you into a different person, similarly skilled but differently tempermented. Although even as you were, you were always a bit of a mystery- even to Kaye."

Kaye... She felt awful that she did not remember him. He seemed so... broken. Whatever kind of person she had become, she did not wish to cause undue suffering to others- especially not those who seemed to care for her.

Cassey began to remove the bandages and sling from Ava's arm. "Fifteen minute healing," she observed. "Not as fast as the other werecreatures, but then the Fox always was weaker- not that I have experienced any other, besides you." She looked into her eyes. "You must learn not only to use your instincts, but to apply your will to what you want. That is the fox's true strength, however fast it may be. Mind over matter. Do not allow yourself to become a mindless animal, or allow physical weakness when your will can supply the strength you need."

"I don't understand..." Ava began. Cassey held up her injured arm- it was completely healed, not even a scar to show it's happening. Ava looked up at the vampiress, terrified.

"If you learn to apply your will, it will not even take that long. Only silver, daedric or enchanted weapons can truly harm you- or me, though your claws can do the same damage to both our kinds." she gazed at Ava solemnly. "You are a Werefox- the only one I have ever heard of, but a werefox nonetheless. You need not worry- the Guild is all aware, and we have failsafes put in place to ensure our safety should you lose control- which I am afraid to say you are bound to do if you do not heed my advice."

Ava yanked her arm away. This was all too much. "Make the potion..." she said, turning to leave- trying to get away from Cassandra, and her terrifying revelations.

Cassey looked down. "As you wish." she said as Ava left, but she added quietly, knowing that AVa's sensitive ears would hear, "But I already mourn the loss of my friend Avalon Dierre- you are too different to ever truly go back. I only wonder what will become of you, and hope that you will make yourself, rather than allow your experiences to shape you. I am sure you could. Whoever you are."

With tears in her eyes, Ava went to the room that had her scent in it- it was bare, save for a bed and dressed, and very small, with Kaye asleep on the bed. Ava curled up on the floor and fell asleep, desperately trying to escape the terrifying truths she had just learned.

Falcor and Jo

Only seconds after Falcor had been pushed out of the trap and he and Jo were out of the shop door, the building seemingly exploded. Jo ran down the street a ways from the building, Falcor was knocked down however, not far from their captor. Falcor began backing away from the man as Jo began running towards him.

As Jo passed Falcor, Falcor reached out and grabbed the Khajiit by the back of his shirt and stopped him from doing whatever he was going to do. "This isn't our fight Jo." Before Jo could respond a barrage of spells and arrows came at the masked man. The spells and arrows seemd to have about the same effect as flies attacking a Troll.

All they could do was watch as the Battlemage Captain agreed to taking Sadi in with the masked man. Soon the street was quiet once again. Falcor began to walk over to Artemis, still baffled by what just happened. He stood next to Artemis just in time to hear Aslan invite him to his mansion, and bring the journal.

"No, you need to give the journal to me Artemis. That journal has to go to the Imperial Legion here in the city. I may be able to use it as a bargaining chip to get your sister out. If not... Perhaps I can get her out anyways." He said, hand outstretched to take the journal.

By now Jo had already disappeared from the streets. He did feel sorry for Artemis losing his sister, but all in all, he didn't care. So long as it was her that was being taken away and not him. Several minutes passed as he traveled through the Imperial City and before long he was crossing the bridge in the Waterfront. The location of his safe house in the Imperial City.

Soon he was back where the slums of the Waterfront were located. Well, all of the Waterfront were the slums, but these shack houses were the worst part of it. He stood in front of a small shack that looked as if it were about to cave in any moment. He slowly glanced all around him to make sure no one was following, then opened the door.

The shack was virtually empty. A small bed, a fireplace, a table, a dresser, and one cabinet. He only used this place when he was near the Imperial City, which wasn't as often as most would think. Only a few moments passed between the time he walked through the door and the time he dropped onto the bed; asleep in seconds. It had been a long day, he had revenge to plot for their captor, and one should never plot revenge while tired.

OOC: I've just realised I've put all my characters to bed, and that, except for Fantiago (bless you!) I am the only one to have done so. This calls for drastic measures: dreams and NPCs, methinks.
IC:

Kaye

The redguard stirred as Ava came in, but did not wake: he was used to her being around, and it comforted him to have her near him. But something was wrong: he did not feel her weight and warmth pressing against his side. He felt oddly lonely: more than he had before she'd entered. He frowned in his sleep, saddened for reasons he did not understand.

His dreams were full of one thing: Avalon.

He pulled her closer to him, enfolding her into his arms in a passionate hug. Resting his head against her hair, he murmured, "I miss you." Ava laughed, and hugged him more tightly; clearly, his words had endeared him to her further.

"Don't be silly, I only went to market to get some breakfast..." she informed, her cheek leant against his shoulder. "You don't need to worry about me: I'm a tough old bard. I'll sing the ears off of anyone who crosses me."

Kaye chuckled slightly, but was still nervous. He was always nervous, terrified that something was going to take his Ava from him. He had been ever since the first moment he'd met her: like a devoted dog to its master, he'd wanted to follow her everywhere, protect her from everything, and adored her unreservedly.

Ava was worse at the 'unreservedly' business, but he did not hold it against her. He knew it was her nature to be cautious, wary of harm, and he could only hope that one day, she could see that he'd love her in spite of everything, that he'd never leave her. But as it was, he knew she loved him as much as he loved her; she just found it harder to trust.

Though Kaye could have held her forever, Ava had much work to do, and, with a reluctant sigh, extricated herself from his arms, giving him a sweet, lingering kiss as she withdrew that set Kaye's heart beating. "I have to go," she said unhappily. "The Fox has a task for me, I think: we have another meeting today."

If Kaye had been in wolf form, his fur might have bristled. "I don't like how often he sees you. He wants you, Ava, and I'll be damned if I let him have you. Or anyone." He gazed at her solemnly.

Ava smiled at him, love shining from her face as she leaned in close to him, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her lips against his. They remained like that for what seemed like an age, before she withdrew, breathless. "You won't ever have to," she told him quietly, brushing his cheeks lightly with her fingertips. "You are my mate, Kaye, and I am yours. In body and soul. Don't ever forget that. I won't ever leave you." She gazed into his eyes with an intensity that made Kaye shiver. Only Ava could evoke such emotion in him. Only she could be so reassuring, or show how much she loved in a way he understood. The woman understood emotion like nobody else, and she was not faking it.

He smiled hesitantly. "I won't forget," he said, feeling warm and calm inside.

The dream changed. Kaye shifted uncomfortably in his sleep.

Kaye yawned and stretched, waking up. It was late morning: they'd had a good hunt the night before. He turned over, expecting to find Ava, but there was nobody there. He sniffed the air: the scent of strange men was all over the room. How had they come and gone without him noticing.

And, most importantly, where was Ava?

He spent the whole of the next day searching for her, but to no avail. He spent the next three months looking for her, but still nothing. She was gone. His love was gone, stolen from him. During the day, he thrashed around their room, breaking things, venting his anger, at night, he howled alone. Ava was gone, gone and he didn't know where. How would he ever find her again?

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

Cassandra

Cassey gazed at her alchemy lab. Should she make the potion? To do so would be like to destroy a young child: Ava was somebody knew now, and to be honest, the damage that was done to her memory could never be truly restored. She had suffered badly.

If she made the potion, it would help the recovery, but could not undo what had been done. Naturally, none of Ava's memory was likely to return. Perhaps a few splintered memories, but nothing more. SHe could learn all about her past, but it would still not truly be her own: without the memories, it would mean nothing to her.

Cassey headed to her herb cupboard, taking a few ingredients out as she thought. She hoped that Ava- or whoever she decided to be- would make her own life. She had an opportunity here, to shape herself, choose who she wanted to be, rather than being a product of her experiences. She had all the skills and none of the scars. She could be something fantastic.

But with the City in the state it was in, she could also be something disasterous. Who was to say she would not now fall to evil? Without all the teachings and experiences of her childhood, her instinct to be good could only take her so far. The girl was a clean slate: if she did not form herself, then somebody else would write her story for her.

And that was a terrifying thought... and a tempting one. Should Cassey write her story? She could make her into something great, it was true. All the wisdom and experience of an ancient being behind the skills of that girl. But that would be wrong: Cassey was not that kind of vampire, although the temptation to conduct such an experiment was great.

No, she would let Ava make her own way, offering advice when it was asked of her, and she would hope that the girl's will was strong enough to protect her from those who would use her.

Avalon Dierre was dead. But the Werefox lived yet. She just needed a life to go with the body. At the very least, this was encouraging. Cassey had a strongly vested interest in the survival of the Werefox. A lot of people did, but few lived yet.

Morgana strode out of the alley. "If we're going after that mage, count me in." Her narrowed eyes were still fixed on the spot where the mage had disappeared. "We'll get your kitten back, Artemis, and make the mage reverse whatever he did to us." And then make him wish he'd never touched them in the first place.

"But first, I fear I must take you up on your offer of a bath, Alsan." She forced herself to relax, even giving the nobleman a weak smile. "I'm unable to do so at home, I'm afraid, since I do not know where that home is."

Gerich was simply stunned at the display of magick and power. It sobered him up instantly, as he ran from the scene, stopping a safe distance away with a small crowd of people, watching the scene unfold. The magick duel was unlike anything he had seen, and the way the lone man wielded it actually sent shivers up his spine.

He had defeated a group of Legion Battlemages, arguably the best offensive spellcasters in the land, and he barely had a scratch on him. He was so mezmerized by it, that he took an extra second to realize it had stopped, and the man was talking again. When the battlemages gave over the young woman who had been down in the sewers with them, Gerich couldn't believe it, and couldn't blame the man trying to fight the battlemage's grasp to save her.

But then they were gone, a blinding flash of light marking their escape. Gerich wandered over to the man, Artemis or something, standing back a little as the noble looking one offered them a place to stay for the night. Gerich would've liked to go back to his house, but for some reason he couldn't remember where it was. It wasn't the first time though, as many nights he had forgotten where he lived, falling asleep in the streets and such.

He also spoke of getting the man's sister back, which meant they would be going against that man and his power. Gerich was all for the bed and food, but he wasn't so sure he wanted to help these people do something so dangerous.

He spoke up for the first time, just to make sure the man knew who was coming to his house. "If it isn't a problem, I would like to take you up on that offer." he mumbled to the man.

"Which is why I gave the offer in the first place, m'lady Morgana. I figured many of you have no home you can recall." Alsan replied smoothly, patting Artemis' shoulder. "Come."

When he straightened again, he looked to Falcor. "If you take the journal, make sure no one but you possesses it. I have a sneaking suspicion there could be moles within the Legion for this man. He has certainly shown the power to have such. The legion, namely you, have my support in the freeing of Sadi. We should work together for the common goal."

That said he began to head towards the Elven Gardens District. "My home is in the district next to the Markets, as the Sanclaire family is a noble merchant family. We have plenty of guest rooms in the King and Queen, which my father owns, and our house is right beside it." He explained over his shoulder as he walked, turning when he reached the bridge that connected the last Market district Isle to the next.

"i can offer you free board for the night, but nothing more, sadly. Not without conversing with Father first."

OOC: If it is not too much trouble for everyone else, is it possible that at some point bed-time happens? (Looking especially at Solidor, here...) It's just that I was stupid and put my chars to bed before anyone else, so it could be a while before I can start posting again if everyone stays up all night.

ooc- I'm kinda waiting for Solidor to reply to a PM. Then, yeah, Morganawill be ready to turn in.

ic-

Morgana followed Alsan away from the scene, glancing back at the ruined storefronts only once.

She was alarmed to find that, without guidance, she would become quite lost in this city. It was huge. And miserable. All these cramped, dirty places... she didn't like it. The people were all noisy and quick to get into her personal space, an act that had her gritting her teeth and resisting the urge to shove back at the jostling crowds. For all she knew, doing so would cause a riot... she honestly didn't much care if she did, but she couldn't afford to make a scene when her mental state put her at such a disadvantage.

So, she followed quietly behind Alsan, trying to act like she wasn't about to start whacking people with her bow. Her tension seeped into her gait, but not her expression, which remained a mask of polite gentility.

She wasn't surprised to know that the nobleman was... a nobleman. She may not remember names, but high blood was typically easy to sniff out, and Alsan reeked of it. "A night's rest would be lovely. I wish I had a way to repay your kindness." She sent Alsan a warm smile.

OOC: *sigh*... when do we think Solidor'll turn up?

ooc- Solidor hasn't been on in over a week. We can either continue waiting, drop the RP, or forge on without him, treating his characters as NPCs for the time being. He kinda designated me with moderation rights, so we could move on without him. Unfortunately, I don't know much more than you guys do, storywise. :shrug:

Any thoughts on how we should handle this?