[RP]Obake Blade

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn wasn't sure what happened within the next few seconds, but he found himself on the ground, clutching his little sister tightly to his chest, stammering out a string of nigh unintelligible words. "Oh my... Chryseis... Thought I'd lost you... Mom... so worried..."

 

Chryseis Stormchild struggled to free herself from her brother's smothering embrace. "Gerroff me, you goof!" she shouted, beating at his back. When that had no effect, she used the pommel of the sword she still held in her right hand to clock Carwyn right on the head. It landed with a resounding thonk and had the desired effect. He cried out in pain and released her, giving Chryseis time to scramble to her feet and point her sword at her brother again.

 

Carwyn looked up at her, rubbing his head. "What the heck did you do that for, Chrys? That hurt."

 

She kept her sword trained at his head. "It was supposed to, stupid."

 

He stood up, dusting his clothes off. "Why the heck do you have that thing anyway?" he asked. "Last I checked, you were a monk."

 

She sneered at him. "Well, things change, Carwyn." She held her sword higher, aiming it right for his heart as he took a step closer. "Don't try that again."

 

He snorted at her. "Well, what am I supposed to do when I finally see my little sister for the first time in three and a half years?"

 

"I'm not your little sister anymore!" Chryseis shouted. There was fury in her voice.

 

Carwyn was taken aback by the vitriol. "Chrys, you'll always be my little sister." He looked at her short hair and bruised face. "But you cut your hair! And what happened to your face?"

 

"You happened," she answered venomously.

 

"What the hell does that mean?" Carwyn asked, genuinely confused.

 

Chryseis narrowed her eyes, her irises glacial. "I mean that I tried to kill you last night. You, like the stubborn fool you are, got in my way and kicked me in the head."

 

Carwyn felt as if his legs had turned to jelly. All the color drained from his face. "That was you last night?"

[Jason Skywalker]

"Oh great, Carwyn's gone," Akira muttered. He got down the stairs and noticed Renn.

 

"Hey chief," Akira told him, "Have you seen Carwyn?"

 

"Oh, he went to the docks or so," Renn replied.

 

"Thanks!" He hurriedly said, making his way out of the inn and onto the docks.

 

He walked around for a little bit on the forest they where attacked. He then saw the same place Carwyn got the knife on his thigh. He searched around, but found nothing. Akira pulled the hood of his cloak up and sneaked around.

 

Akira eventually reached the docks, looking around for Carwyn.

 

"Hey," He shouted out loud at two fishermen, "Have you seen a Ranger around?"

 

"Well, what is he like?"

 

"Well, he has brown leather leggings and boots, has a beige tunic? Maybe a bow and a quiver full of arrows?"

 

"Oh yeah, he went that way," The fisherman said, pointing to west.

 

"Alright, thanks," Akira thanked, resuming his search for Carwyn.

[Quanon]

Bora Cho took a good sip from his new ale . Aya and Kyo quickly left the Inn again , no suprises here , she was a merchant and this was a market day .

 

Carwyn left as well , saying something about the docks . Bora Cho wondered a bit why Carwyn wanted to go to the docks and why Akira should go with him ?

 

Assansins would not attack in brought daylight , now would they ?

 

Anyway , it didn't matter to Bora Cho , it was their business not his .

He turned his head to Istengard and asked : " So what you think to do today , up for a good walk around the market ? I'm to look for some scrolls about healing , I guess it should come in handy . "

[Rexraptor2000]

"Yeah, sure, let's go," Hoshiko said, tucking the comb into her pocket and standing up. "What dream, out of curiosity? Or would you rather not say?"

 

"It was a dream about the old times where the elemental armies were fighting the demons. I was overlooking a desert with the general Aero fighting in the last battle for the east. After the battle was practically over, the demon leader of the other army used some sort of scythe to flood everything. During that I was talking to the general Pyro." Toa said standing up with her and making for the door.

 

"Last thing I remember was the scythe resurfacing and just floating aimlessly. After that a cold breeze from my open window woke me up. But enough about dreams.I want to get up and about. It's a nice day outside." Toa stood by the door and waited for her to go through first, a gesture of 'ladies first'.

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn looked at his sister, seeing the pain in her eyes. "Why would you want to kill me, Chrys?"

 

To his surprise, he saw a tear roll down her injured face. "You weren't supposed to be there," she replied, her voice lowering. "When I saw you there, I tried to warn the rest of my group off. But they would not be stopped. So I knew I had to take you out myself." She smirked ruefully. "But, like a typical big brother, you wouldn't let me win."

 

Carwyn looked at her confusedly. "What kind of crowd do you hang out with nowadays anyway? Can't be a good one if they're running around attacking a bunch of travelers fresh off the boat."

 

"That's my business, Carwyn," she snapped.

 

"You know, mom's worried about you," he told her softly.

 

He saw her eyes widen slightly at the mention of their mother. "She doesn't concern me anymore."

 

"I know you don't mean that," Carwyn pushed. "She's sick, Chrys. We're not sure if she's going to make it."

 

"I don't care!" Chryseis spat. But her tears betrayed her, she did care. "Just go away, Carwyn. Stop following me! I make my own destiny!" She quickly bounded off a barrel, onto the shanty roof and was gone.

 

Carwyn turned to watch her escape, his heart heavy.

[Dark_Lady]

Interesting dream, Hoshiko thought. She stepped outside, smiling at Toa. "Thanks for being such a gentleman."

[Rexraptor2000]

Interesting dream, Hoshiko thought. She stepped outside, smiling at Toa. "Thanks for being such a gentleman."

 

Toa followed her out and said smiling back "You welcome." Toa liked that smile. It reminded him of home when everybody he knew was smiling all the time.

 

Then he asked "So, do you want to get a bite of breakfast here before going out? Or do you want to get some food at the merchant event? I wouldn't mind getting something at the event, although I am a bit hungry right now." Toa felt the craving for pancakes, but doubted the kind they made here would be as good as the ones in the west.

[Jason Skywalker]

(D'oh! Post edited anyway.)

 

Akira looked around and found Carwyn on the floor on his knees.

 

He ran at him, "Carwyn!" He shouted out. Akira put his head under his arm and helped him up.

 

"What happened here?!"

[Darth_Velrogh]

((Sorry for not replying sooner Quanon..))

 

Istergard had just been standing them, amazed by Akira's reaction. Lets have breakfast?! he remembered, still shocked that he had just been kidnapped by some thugs and wanted to have breakfast, most of all, he JUST wanted to have breakfast.

 

But a few minutes later he declined the breakfast offer and went sit by the now black fireplace. Istergard wasn't able to keep that still and went to the stables, to check if the horses were good. Yes, he was THAT bored.

 

An hour later he returned inside to find Aya and Kyo entering but quickly leaving in a few moments. Istergard walked to the bar, seeing no one other than Bora-Cho.

 

"So what you think to do today , up for a good walk around the market ? I'm to look for some scrolls about healing , I guess it should come in handy ."

 

"Maybe, theres a chance we run into interesting trouble... uh I mean articles." Istergard said, slightly letting his mouth slip, he was dying to get his hands on those thugs. Especially Wolf, it won't be easy, but who knows?

 

"I'm packed, you ready?" he asked Bora-Cho.

[JasraLantill]

Aya had completed her last delivery of pre-ordered cloth bolts to the last tailor shop, and she was mildly surprised that Kyo was still tagging along. It had been a busy morning of ‘hi-how-are-yous,’ followed by condolences about her father, then the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’ from the tailors’ wives as they greedily filtered the richly woven and embroidered Southern fabrics through their fingers while their tailor husbands haggled then grunted their approval for Aya’s fair price for such luxuries. Then finally came the exchange of handshakes and coins, the lugging of the bolts from Bob’s back to the customer’s back room, and then it had been had been off to the next shop. It was nearing noon now, and Aya had a fairly full purse, Bob was barebacked, and Kyo still showed no sign of letting her out of his sight and had neither harried her or complained once.

 

Aya was awed by his tenacity, admired his patience, but dreaded the underlying reasons for it. She did not want to see the old woman. And, she did not want to give him the coin to take to her. But she also didn’t want to just outright refuse Kyo’s request—after all, he had travelled far in his quest to get his parchment translated, and now, just as he was on the brink of discovering its secrets, it was only her reluctance and fear that seemed to be blocking his path. But she had a personal ‘quest’ to do to, too, as well as a responsibility to look after her mother and brother by selling her goods in Ryuu-Tokai. But, at the moment, her fear of the old woman far outweighed her guilt.

 

As Aya led Bob back to the stables of the Smoking Dragon to retrieve the rest of her goods, she looked up at the sky. The sun was high. The noon bell would ring soon, signalling the official ‘start’ of the Quarter Market. The Lord Mayor would be there to open it up, just like he always did, and there would be music and food vendors, along with the normal market traders like her. It was a week long event, selling anything and everything—a real town festivity, and one that Aya had always looked forward to. But this Quarter Market would be different than the previous ones she had been involved in. Her father would not be there, and as she thought of him, a pang of sadness pierced her heart.

 

“C’mon,” she said to Kyo and Bob, giving a tug on Bob’s lead for him to pick up his pace. “We’ve got to hurry if I want to set up my stall before noon bell rings. I don’t mind if I’ve still got stuff to set up, but I don’t want to miss the Lord Mayor’s parade.”

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo frowned faintly, sighing softly. "Setting up the stall is not the only thing you need to do before noon." he said, looking at her pointedly. "I still need an answer."

[JasraLantill]

“Yeah, I know.” Then as if she’d been suddenly reminded of something, “Oh! Did I tell you that they’ll have fireworks tonight? They’re great fun! And we’ll get a great view from my stall. It’s right off the main square.”

[ForceFightWMe12]

He sighed exasperatedly and ran a hand through his hair. "Aya..."

[JasraLantill]

Aya sighed loudly as they continued walking. “Look, Kyo, I know that I promised you I’d give you an answer, but… I… I…” She hurried to think of an excuse for not going with him to the old woman’s house. “I… haven’t had a moment to properly think about it,” she said quickly, “with all the deliveries this morning, which, by the , I really, really appreciate your help in getting us done more quickly than I would’ve on my own. And…and… it’s the first day of the Quarter Market. I’ve really got to get my stall set up and….”

 

“Your stall?” a voice interrupted from a sidestreet they were passing. Aya turned at the familiar, but hated voice. It was Mr. Wolfgang-Bria himself, along with his entourage of lackeys and yes-men, heading towards the city square. He was richly dressed, wearing an embroidered waistcoat, a fashionable felt hat, and twirling a walking stick with a polished silver tip. Still, Aya thought, he looked to her like every bit the immoral, ill-mannered, ill-tempered thug she had always known him to be.

 

“My dear Miss S’Ornaku,” he started in a smooth voice that made Aya nearly re-live her breakfast. “I don’t believe it’s your stall anymore.” His mouth curled into what could have been considered a grin, although it would hardly be considered friendly by any means. “Well, not according to the lease agreement anyway. It’s mine now.”

[ForceFightWMe12]

"Lease agreement?" Kyo asked, his frown deepening slightly as he looked between the two. If they were as great of rivals as Aya made them out to be, he could hardly see any agreement at all between the two. If Aya had commented on how nice the weather was, he was almost positive that Wolf would respond on how dismal it was. "What agreement?"

[JasraLantill]

Wolf flashed a predatory smile of stained yellow teeth at Kyo, then Aya. “Oh? You father didn’t tell you, girl?" He tutted. “Just like Sam to protect his daughter.” Cautiously, he moved a tiny bit closer, obviously wary of Kyo even though Wolf’s entourage would easily protect him from a single warrior. “He decided to lease me his stall,” he started. “In lieu of repayment of a debt he owed me.” He reached into his waistcoat and removed a small roll of parchment. “I happen to have a copy of it right here. Unfortunately, it also states that in the event of his death, the stall reverts into my sole possession.” He lowered his eyes in fake remorse. “I was shocked to hear of his untimely demise.”

 

“My father didn’t owe you anything!” Aya snapped at him.

 

“Oh, but I’m afraid he did,” Wolf said matter-of-factly. “It’s right here in the agreement.” He unrolled the parchment and held it out to show her. “He agreed to the debt and signed and sealed the agreement to lease me the stall right here.” He pointed to an untidy scribble. “Right above where the Lord Mayor signed as our witness.”

 

Aya’s mouth dropped as she looked closer at the parchment. “My father’s seal…” she said quietly under her breath. Her eyes narrowed and she looked back at Wolf. “Where did you get that!” she demanded.

 

Wolf grinned slyly. “As I said, from your father.”

 

She had always had her suspicions about Wolf being somehow responsible for the caravan attack that had left her father dead. Now, seeing the wax impression of her father’s seal, which had been one of the items stolen by the bandits that fateful day, she knew she was right. But she couldn’t prove it.

 

“That’s not my father’s signature,” she said, pointing to the scribble. “This… document is a fake!”

 

Wolf cocked an eyebrow. “Oh? So you’re saying that the Lord Mayor’s seal is a fake also?”

 

Wolf had covered his tracks well. Aya suspected that the Lord Mayor’s seal was indeed genuine—and that Wolf had probably either paid him or blackmailed him to sign it. She let out a reluctant sigh. “No.”

 

Wolf smiled again. “Then we agree that the lease is valid?”

 

Aya responded with silence and an icy stare. There was no way she knew of challenging its legality.

[ForceFightWMe12]

The swordsman's eyes narrowed. "Hey, Aya..." he said, taking a small step forward, "Isn't this the same guy that Akira said had him and Istergard kidnapped?" his eyes didn't leave Wolf's as he continued, "What would a kidnapping thug want with a merchant's stall?"

[JasraLantill]

Wolf’s jaw set at Kyo’s accusation. “A thug, am I?” he asked rhetorically. “And what are you?” Her bodyguard?”

 

His eyes set on Aya again. “Perhaps we can make some kind of an… arrangement that would be beneficial to us both.” He snapped his fingers, and a young man stepped forward from Wolf’s group of lackeys.

 

The young man was about the same age as Aya. But that's where the similarities ended. His skin was pocked and he had dark, greasy hair, but his most distinguishing feature was the single bushy brow that stretched over his beady, piggy eyes. Then his narrow lips parted into a smile, or rather a leer at Aya, displaying a similar set of yellow, fangish teeth as Wolf’s.

 

“This is my son, Crispin,” Wolf introduced.

 

Aya eyed him over with disdain. “Yeah, I figured that. The bad teeth sort of gave it away. You ever hear of a dentist?”

 

Crispin glared at her. “My father was right,” he sneered. “You do need to learn your place!” He started to take a step forward towards Aya, but Wolf stuck out his arm to stay him.

 

“Patience, lad,” Wolf said quietly to his son. “We’re trying to strike a deal here. Shut up and learn something for once in your life.”

[ForceFightWMe12]

"Crispin, huh?" Kyo murmured, examining the man. Well, boy, rather. "Funny...he doesn't look to crisp to me..."

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn looked up at the rooftop where his sister had disappeared from, then back at the warrior who helped him up. "Just a bit of a family reunion," he told Akira. Rubbing the lump at the back of his head, he said, "Somehow, I don't think she was happy to see me."

 

Glancing up at the rooftop again, Carwyn noticed something glint in the sunlight. Curious, he scaled to the roof in much the same way Chryseis had, bounding up on a barrel, then vaulting to the roof. Padding carefully on the rickety rattan, he bent down and scooped up a familiar silver locket. "Well whaddaya know," he muttered. "At least I know you jump away from all Stormchilds." He snapped it open and frowned. His mother's picture was gone, and his sisters had been gouged in. "Oh Chrys..." Closing it, he pocketed it, then crossed to the other side of the roof, hoping to find anything else Chrys had dropped. He almost laughed when he saw his coat stuck to a broken part of the roof, flapping in the morning breeze. Picking his way over, he grabbed it and flapped it out. He also removed the throwing stars still stuck into the back. Looking at them in disgust, he placed them in his rucksack, then whirled his coat around his body to put it on.

 

Turning around, he leaped off the roof and walked back towards Akira. "Well, at least I managed to find both things I was looking for, even through one of them got away."

[JasraLantill]

“So what’s this ‘arrangement’ you have in mind, Wolf?” Aya asked dubiously.

 

“That’s Mr. Wolfgang-Bria, to you, girl,” Wolf corrected her.

 

Aya's eyes rolled briefly. "Ok-aay. What's this arrangement you have in mind, Mister Wolf?"

 

Wolf visibly bit back the urge to rise to her bait. “I’m interested in expanding my…business," he started. He grinned slyly. "Down south,” he specified. “And it would be an advantage to keep the business ‘in the family’ so to speak.” His eyes flicked over Crispin, and then back to Aya. “You’re of marriageable age….”

 

Kyo’s eyes narrowed and he took a decidedly more defensive stance in front of Aya, his lips formed into a snarl. “Why you –”

 

“What?!” Aya blurted. “You want me to marry…this… this…thing, so you can take over my family’s business? You, sir, or Mister, or whatever honorific you want to call yourself, are completely... insane!”

 

Wolf’s eyes flashed with anger. “I have other, less pleasant options for you, girl!” he growled as he pointed a threatening finger in her direction. “Options that I am not afraid to take!”

 

"Good!" Aya held her head up high. “I’d rather be tied upside down by my toes and boiled alive in pig’s lard than to have anything to do with you or your… offspring!” She tugged on Bob’s lead. “C’mon, Bob. If we can’t have our stall, then we’ll just have to think of some other way to sell our goods!” She looked over her shoulder at Kyo, worried that the warrior might decide after all to take matters into his own hands. “Just leave him,” she said to Kyo. “He’s not worth..." She struggled to think of an appropriate insult. "Not worth spit on the ground!”

[ForceFightWMe12]

As anger flashed through his veins, Kyo was seriously tempted to completely ignore Aya and launch himself at the father and son, entourage and all. The idea that this man could think that Aya would marry someone like this boy this - this rodent...

 

Even so, he held himself back. The merchant was right. This was neither the time or the place; a fight here and now would attract the attention of far too many people for his liking. Should Kyo ever have the chance again, however...

 

The swordsman backed off, following Aya as she and Bob departed, his arms held at his sides, his fingers curled into tight fists, pointedly ignoring the rabble that arose from the group of morons that surrounded Wolf

[Master_Archon]

Xan had hurried to the one place he would go at all besides the market for food, the blacksmith's shop. He made it just before closing, and the old fellow, an old aquaintance of Xan's, let him stay after closing, to do business with. Though the guy was very, very odd, and had atrotious business hours, he was one of the best blacksmiths in the area.

 

"Well, Xan, right on time," the blacksmith said with a chubby smile on his face.

 

"Well, I wanted to make it before you closed so I could get my order from my last visit," he stated rather breathlessly.

 

"Well, all you need is to pay the second half, because remember, you already forwarded the first half your last visit, around a year ago if I'm not mistaken," the blacksmith commented.

 

"I got payed, don't worry," Xan said, setting down his gear, and the pile of weapons on the counter.

 

The blacksmith eyed the pile suspiciously, "you into junk collectin' now, or somethin'?"

 

"No, just some weapons I looted, I'd like to sell them for some extra food money," Xan replied. "Because you know my job has me living off only enough money for food for a year, no more for luxury, and sometimes, I'm afraid, less than needed for food for a year," he told the blacksmith.

 

The blacksmith nodded, "hm, I know. But you done right by your career, protected many good men and women. But your reputation went sour 'cause oh that, what's 'er name? Oh, right! Hoshibo, but you did right by it lad, no matter how many sleezes approached you with wods of gold. You always protected people who had a good purpose. Remember that former politician that was trying to stop debt slavery, sad thing, he was a noble man, sad that she killed him, wonder why?" The blacksmith rambled on, sifting through the pile of weapons.

 

"It's Hoshiko, and I don't know why she killed the old man, he wasn't corrupt in any way....but what did I know at the time, it was only one of my first encounters with her, I didn't know her very well then," he responded to the blacksmith.

 

"Hm, but you know her now, maybe even better than you know yourself," he stated.

 

"Just like you know me better than I know myself," Xan retorted. "So, how much for all those weapons?" Xan asked, trying to move on with his business.

 

"Hm? Knicked blades...bad polish...blood stains...most made of iron.....I'd say no more than 2,500," the blacksmith replied.

 

Xan nearly fell over, that was more than expected, even if the weapons were in good condition, that would still be more than called for. This man was odd indeed, even after degrading the weapons; though it did help price fluctuation for the guy to like you, Xan didn't think he liked him that much!

 

"Okay," Xan agreed, still a little shaken. "Hmph," the blacksmith snorted, as he lifted the pile off the counter, and began to take the weapons away. But as he walked off, Xan caught a glance of a flail dangling form the pile, he eyed it greedily, he loved flails, well, he loved all weapons, but he loved flails in particular.

 

"Wait," Xan called after him. The blacksmith turned around, "yes?" He asked Xan.

 

"How much money would it take for me to get that flail fixed up, and ready for use?" Xan asked curiously. The blacksmith grinned mischieviously.

 

"Hm, I'd say 1,500," the blacksmith replied. Xan did some calculating, and figured out that that would have been the original price for all the weapons first off, more-or-less, anyways.

 

"You little schemer! You knew I'd want the flail, didn't you? So you increased the amount I'd get on account of my money problems? You do know me," Xan said in some shock, but with a tone of mock scolding.

 

The blacksmith let out a roar of laughter, "harhar! Do I? Or do I have another plan?" He questioned with a sly look on his fat face.

 

"Maybe; so when could I expect it to be done?" Xan asked.

 

"Hm? Hum, around opening time tonight," the blacksmith replied.

 

"Good, then get my order, and I'll be back tonight," he told the blacksmith.

 

"Well, you get your second half of the payment ready," the blacksmith quiped as he left to put the weapons away. Some time later the blacksmith returned and in his hands he carried Xan's order, a beautiful Pu Dao.

 

"Ah! You've out done yourself!" Xan complimented as he took hold of the staff weapon. It was a larger version than most, it's size perfectly matching Xan's 7' tall frame.

 

"My payment," the blacksmith said impatiently, holding his hand out.

 

"It's well worth the cost," Xan said in admiration as he took his money purse from it's position, and set it on the counter, and counted out the money. "There, second half of the payment, excluding 1,000 gold because those weapons will go towards this one's payment," Xan stated.

 

"Pleasure doing business with you my lad," said the blacksmith kindly.

 

"And you," said Xan with a bow, and after gathering his gear, he headed out of the blacksmith's shop, testing his new weapon like a child does with a new toy.

[Dark_Lady]

Toa followed her out and said smiling back "You welcome." Toa liked that smile. It reminded him of home when everybody he knew was smiling all the time.

 

Then he asked "So, do you want to get a bite of breakfast here before going out? Or do you want to get some food at the merchant event? I wouldn't mind getting something at the event, although I am a bit hungry right now." Toa felt the craving for pancakes, but doubted the kind they made here would be as good as the ones in the west.

"Well, we might as well eat at the event, unless you want to get something now," Hoshiko said. "I'm really not much of a breakfast person myself."

[Rexraptor2000]

"Well, we might as well eat at the event, unless you want to get something now," Hoshiko said. "I'm really not much of a breakfast person myself."

 

Toa's smiled remained and he said "Good. We might as well head out now, or we might miss something."

 

((Going to speed things up if you don't mind DL.))

 

So they headed out and started walking to the event, though Toa got them lost and didn't want to ask for directions, or admit that he was lost. Luckily, while Toa got preoccupied with trying to catch his pet Hydra who decided to come out of hibernation mode, Hoshiko asked for directions and they eventually reached the event at around noon, after Hedri had finally gotten bored playing with Toa and went back to sleep.

 

Toa eyed all the food being sold along with merchandise and asked "So do you have anything in mind about what you want to eat? I personally can't choose."