[System]
Username: Sleater
Race/Species: Human, tilean from the Serenissima Republic of Verezzo

Gender: Male, seriously

Age: roughly 23

Career (if any) and Skills: Accomplished mercenary. He is competent with most ordinary hand weapons and with pikes. He excels at crossbows and, at least, knows how to ride a horse (although he has no horse of his own) BTW, he has, at least twice, convincingly disguised himself as a woman, and does probably know how to properly strangle an enemy.

Weapons: Short sword, shield, steel helmet, crossbow & 10 bolts. Knife in boot.

Attire: Old white tunic under black battered leather jacket. Blue cotton trousers.

Equipment/Other Mail armor, shield, steel helmet, Minor healing potion, iron rations for a week, backpack, travel boots, sandals, water canister. Leather gloves, light coat and two pairs of socks. Blanket and Amulet of Myrmidia.

Physical Description (as detailed as possible please, pictures not accepted.): Androginous, short young man with shoulder-long black hair and brown eyes. Thin and usually un-bearded. With the correct attire he may pass as a woman. He is somehow stronger than he looks.

Mental Description/Personality: He speaks little, but tries not to appear arrogant because of it. Gahetano thinks about himself as a hired assasin (not the glamorous kind of assasin, more the mobster kind) and about his proffesion as "Killing people out for money". So he can be, also, quite grim. Not so much a serious or professional guy, but a sad one, who has accepted his destiny. Enemies are just corpses that still defend themshelves. For what he is concerned, if the money equals the risk, then it's ok. He's not sure what will he do if he achieves richness or power. The idea of power is, perhaps, more into his mind, than the ideo of money.

Background/History: Gahetano's family fell in disgrace after an electoral change in the Republic of Verezzo. The sudden loss of power by the Reds ruined his father, and the Green medic in the village didn't treat his consequent illness due to the lack of payment. Gahetano, then, used his relationship with the doctor's daughter to gain access to the medic's house, disguise himself as her, and... the next morning the doctor was tied to his bed, strangled with a cotton stocking. There were a broken window, vomit nearby said window and the doctor's daughter was drunk in her room.
After that, Gahetano sold everything he had and joined several groups of mercenaries and adventurers. In the border princes he was involved in the prosecution an assasination of two emmisaries from Drakenhoff castle. Particularly messy assasinations that included one horse and one misterious undead warrior. Now, howewer, Barbaggi re-appears with no apparent links to that past, taking his chances once more, in the mercenary market.

[User]
"The pleasure is mine" Gahetano answered. "You made a good point, miss Del'Arivara... posing as traders or feriants for the festivals, we might stay in the town for a while without calling any atention and make a more accurate plan"

He took a cup of whine. After doubting for a moment, he noticed the old demi-fainted man in a chair near the wall, and handed him the alcohol. The man accepted it with a grateful gesture. Then Gahetano adressed the group: "In that, we are all concerned: does enyone know if it's legal to exhibit caged goblins in Bretonnia? Or does anyone have another suggestion?"

The mercenary raised another cup, while meaningfuly pulling a jar near the little greenskin. For one moment he remembered that one goblin ambush the same month of the horsemen. Now he found it even stranger the little runt hadn't tried to stab his ribs yet. Gods. Poor lil Elzbeth knew how to speak Bretonnian. She would had been so useful here... but no: she was safe now. And the farer from him the better.

[Assistant]
As the new manling person checked the security of the area and began discussing plans with the lass, Sketti pulled up a chair and hopped up. The wooden legs creaked slightly from the weight, but he didn't seem concerned. He grabbed the closest pint of whatever Ale their was and sipped it, having already consumed closed to 10 and trying to take it easy for the food in his stomach at the moment. Once their formalities were done, he nodded. "Och, that's easy." he said, interrupting. "I can distract whatever guards are around. I dinnae even have to be there. Just rig a small explosive to an abandoned cart or area and have it go off with a timed fuse." he explained. The Dwarf burped, despite his slow intake of Ale. "'Course, sometimes me bombs don't go off, so I might need to set three just in case. But if we time this right, we have the manling woman bagged and gagged just as I set off the explosion, and they'll be too busy scrambling for their lives than focusing on us. Especially at night. Manling eyes aren't well adjusted to it, no offense."
His mug pointed at the greenskin. "As for this one, not sure if it's 'legal' to cage one and display it but, from what I hear festivals aren't known for being picky with entertainment."

[User]
"I thought bombs are expensive" Gahetano observed "Perhaps we are discussing it too early: first thing first. How are we gonna get a ship... and what ship? We need one at our disposal: both for travel and for scaping"

Gahetano found a chair by the fire. He liked being warm. And the wine became also compfotably hotter. He started wondering to himself if they could give the damsel a gift big enough to hide her inside it.

[Assistant]
@POOHEAD189@Eisenhorn@Austronaut@Culluket@Sleater

It had been a while since Jan had said anything, and indeed it appeared that no-one really seemed to have noticed, yet there was a reason for this. That reason was, as was the want of many a Moot dweller after a hearty meal, because he had fallen quite asleep – his snores unheard above the shooting, shouting and general conversation between the old and new arrivals alike – but it appeared that this was soon to come to an end...

"Luccini!" He yelled with a start, his face rising from the plate of mashed potato into which it had slumped; apparently, in spite of his state of being rather unconscious, he had heard the entire conversation and now answered without thinking, even as he wiped away warm and buttered food from one side of his face.

"Did someone say we need a harbour? Well...Luccini is right next to the Tilean see, isn't it?"

The Duke of Trantio literally shook at the sight, wiping sweat from his unhinged and fevered brow, noticing that the Halfling had completely ignored the pointy-eared mercenary at the table. It was something that he however had not! Even as he spoke he stared at the Asur, his yes narrowing and his heartbeat racing, flashbacks coming to him even as he acknowledged the schemes of those around him.

"Master Dwarf," he replied to Sketti first, "you can have your land, your gold and as much beer as you can drink! I swear it on my ancestors tombs." Next he turned his eyes away from Baecion, for the moment, and took in the rest of the group, "you shall all have what you wish, either now or later as it may be."

With a slight click of his fingers there was movement from Alfredo, the ever-loyal manservant making visible a rather weighty pouch in one scarecrow hand; it had not been there before, had it? It was as if it appeared out of nowhere, but now he launched it onto the table with a loud thump and the chink of metal on metal, plates knocked aside and goblets upturned.

Falling like golden droplets from the loosened strings of the purse were coins of glittering gold, around a couple of hundred, the purse actually as big as the Halflings curly-haired head; there were some from Tilea, the markings of various Republics punched onto them, there were coins from several Imperial provinces, as well as Arabic coins and even...if one looked close enough...a couple of coins of Elvish gold.

Jan was not particularly interested in gold, a simple Halfling of simple means, but the glittering gift caught even his sharp eyed attention.

"So," he said again in his rather bass voice, for one of the Moot, "if there are no objections, then I suggest we take this bag 'ere an head for Luccini with all haste. An hope we don't meet no pirates on our way to...wherever it is we be goin' again."

[User]
The Engineer glanced at the wakened Halfling and chuckled. Just like a moot boy to be sleeping after a hearty meal. It was nice to have him on this trek, Sketti admitted. The Halfling's idea was right on the money as well. Luccini was indeed a good place to set off. Speaking of money...

The acceptance of Sketti's terms and the gold that scattered on the table widened the Dawi's eyes, and he scrambled over to a chair, hefting himself upon it, and stood on it like a stool as he leaned over the table and carefully examined the coins. There were so many variations! "Well ye got me attention." he admitted, grabbing a random coin and admiring it with a professional air.

"So...if there are no objections, then I suggest we take this bad 'ere an head for Luccini with all haste. An hope we don't meet no pirates on our way to...wherever it is we be goin' again." the Halfling said. Sketti still gazed at the different coins, picking each up and examining. "Aye, I'm ready to get goin' methinks." he agreed.

[Assistant]
Biancca beamed as the plans began to take shape. Not only was she gainfully employed but they were headed for Brettonia, the centre of culture and fashion, on an errand straight out of a story book. Admittedly this sounded like the villain's part in the book but that was just detail. Her ears perked up at the mention of land. She began to imagine that she might be able to gain estates and hence respectability. Come to think of it their doddering employer was childless and unwed. She cast her eyes around her companions.

How hard might it be to worm her way into the old man's title? Marriage was always possible of course but that seemed extreme. He was an old man, might he be convinced to adopt her and name her his heir? She sipped at her wine considering the idea. It might be easier just to fake documents to that effect. For that she would need the De Trantio's signature and his seal and no one to gainsay her when the time came.

She looked around her companions considering their suitability in such a scheme. The goblin need not be considered, his testimony would be worthless. The dwarf was another matter; they were famously rigid in matters of oaths and honour. Perhaps she could arrange for him to find employment in the north. That left the elf and Gahetano. She would watch them and see what might need to be done.

"Then it is settled," she declared, raising her glass in a toast.

"If you would draw up a contract for us my lord then I will be willing to sign on." A contract that would be on vellum and have the old man's signature and seal.

"After that, if you have no objection, I suggest we spend the night here, it is growing late and many of us have ridden a long way today already." The Dwarf might be ready to pick up and leave this instant but she could use a night of rest.

[User] -edited-

[Assistant] Hmm... anything they wished? As it happened, Baecion did have it in mind that perhaps a few tomes of magic and other such interesting topics might be necessary to help progress his magical abilities, if the man had any such objects in his castle... but he'd perhaps save his request until after they were alone, just so he didn't further alienate the other mercenaries in the group. Plans were discussed amongst others, including the idea of using a boat to escape (which Baecion first thought somewhat unnecessary, but after further chatter from the others saw the merits of implementing); meanwhile, Baecion finished his meal, politely crossed his hands over his lap, and when the time came, simply stated "A contract to confirm that we are owed certain dues once the job is complete sounds like a reasonable idea." Really, his input was barely needed, and ideally (at least for now), the less he was noticed, the better.

[User]
Gobskag rubbed his spindly green claws, a little too eagerly for anyone to be comfortable with.

"Sure, sure," he rasped, leering, "Poor, weak elfses and stunties needs their rest, neehh? Heh hehh... Ol' Gobskag will keep watch, an' make sure nuffing goes missing in da bleak, spooooky dead of night, hneh heh hnehh..."

It would be a good chance to poke around the cursed castle, too. Treasure and food aside, Gobskag would have bet his left eye there was a proper humie skeleton somewhere on the premises. Right good bones for magikk wands, and an evil-looking skull wouldn't go awry on his orkkult robes, neither.

"Den in da mornin' we can gets down ta business... But I ain't goin' in no cage!" he sqwaked, thumping his stikk against the floor for emphasis. "I gots a betta plan. One wiv extra cunnin' bits. Yous'll see."

He withdrew into suspicious mumbling, eyeing the others surreptitiously from under his hood and glancing around for secret doors.

[Assistant]
Gahetano nodded. He was tired: a little rest was what he was hoping for. Howewer, he tried not to sound too desperate for it:

"It's pretty much settled then" the human declared heading towards Alfredo with a renewed cup of wine the man obviously needed. The servant, reluctantly, accepted the drink -since it was now being offered not so much by a guest than by another servant of his master- "I suppose theres a room were we can rest without creating further inconvenience to our employer?."


[System]
Age: 24

Gender: Male

Race: Human (Mandalorian)

Appearance:

Personality: Much towards himself, never knowing who he can trust. However, he has some kind of conscience, as he only takes on missions he considers good. He only does something really unethical if he finds the money worth it.

Profession: Bounty hunter.

Skills: Excellent pilot, efficient marksman.

Abilities: His PCD makes him able to become temporarily invissible for the naked eye, and his jetpack makes him able to fly short distances, although even if he used them at the same time, the jetpack's propulsion would give away his position, and not only visually.

Equipment: A PCD, a jetpack (black) and a E-17d sniper rifle, along with black Mandalorian armor, geared up with a whipcord launcher and a range finder on his helmet. He also owns a modified X-wing (except not being made of Lego xD) and a black and red R2 series astromech droid, called R2-D9, nicknamed 'Denying'.

Brief Backstory: Born in a Mandalorian family, he left his tribe when young because he didn't want to follow the Resol'nare completely, specificly the part about following his leader, the Mand'alor. By leaving, he not only became a dar'manda, but also stopped following another part of Resol'nare, the one about contributing to his clan's welfare. He had no family anymore by that time, so he didn't break that one. He became a bounty hunter, and seemed to survive this way. He kept telling himself that he was still a real Mandalorian as long as he kept following at least half of the tenets of the Resol'nare. However, with already two down, he knew he was nearing the edge.

[User]
Jedi Knight Saku Rira

"Ah?"

Saku looked up, lime green gaze falling upon the metallic form of the medical droid whom they had been assigned. He was a different model then she was used to, but by his programming he didn't seem like a bad sort as droids went. Still, his question right now wasn't anything she was remotely interested in.

"I don't need anything like that, F7," she replied, folding her arms and leaning back in her seat. She didn't enjoy in indulging in sedatives or anything like that unless it was absolutely necessary for medical purposes. She knew some people needed medicines to calm medical disorders that resulted in excess nervousness... but she could calm herself via the Force, if she truly needed to. And she didn't feel she did, as annoying as this wait was. "... I'm just getting irritated about how long it's been taking to land. It feels like it's been four hours since we were told to prepare for landing."

The Lac'li sighed, nestling her childish frame against the seat. At least that was relatively comfortable... Ah, she really should try and be calmer. Grandmaster Skywalker didn't teach to utterly suppress your emotions, but he did instruct his jedi to be in control of them. But it wasn't as if her annoyance here hurt anyone. And... gaah, it was so irritating having to wait! She wanted to ensure innocent people wouldn't be harmed, and verify just what Grandmaster Skywalker had felt.

"... I know we have to be close, but it feels as if time's been standing still."

[Assistant]
Emergency Response Droid F7-250

F7 hummed quietly in acknowledgement at Lac'li Saku's response, understanding that while it wished to fulfill its primary directive, it should not press aid when the recipient did not wish it and the outcome was not life-threatening. From what the Droid had gathered from Lac'li Saku's medical file and its brief interactions with the Jedi Knight, this state of unrest was generally the woman's default mode of operation.

"I sympathize your distress, Lac'li Saku. The delay is extremely inefficient for your and the other Jedi's primary directives," the machine offered in as an empathetic a tone its vocalizer could manage, its large form assuming a crouched position near the Jedi. F7 had not often been given the chance to interact with Organics since its reactivation, and the few times it did were often just maintenance on its chassis. Perhaps interfacing this Organic would be able provide useful data regarding social interaction as well as helping it fulfill its primary directive of ensuring its masters' well-being.

F7 quirked its large, stream-lined head at a slight angle, hoping to emulate Organic body-language so to better convey its meaning. "Lac'li Saku, scientific testing has revealed that entertainment aids in the passage of relative time. Would you like to engage in an activity in order to shorten your perception of time's passing?" The machine offered optimistically, its cobolt and silver form illuminating its surroundings with dim, blue light.

[User]
It was a sight to behold, an angry Orryxian bashing her fists against the Ardent Liberty's pilot console. "I hate Hutt Space...", Kara cursed. They were drifting in front of the Huttese Golan III defence platform for four hours now and they were not let down to the Spaceport. After letting out a stream of expletives, Kara turned the comm-panel back on.

"Commander, your urgency to land seemed suspicious to some Hutts, therefore we are going to scan your ship once more before you can proceed the the spaceport. We are very sorry for this inconvenience, but the Republic is not that welcome in Hutt Space."
Kara sighed.
"I understand. However, I will have to file a report to the Senate about this. They will not be happy about this delay." This was her final gamble, something she learned in one of her more... diplomatic missions. And it usually paid off.

"The Senate? Oh... I am very sorry, we thought this was a warship and not an ambassador of the Senate. And we're sorry for not contacting you earlier." It always pays off to play the diplomat, Kara thought smiling a little.
"You're assigned to landing bay 27, don't stray from your assigned course.", came another person from the orbital station.

"Finally...", Kara muttered under her breath as she put the course into the computer, then she activated the comm once more.
"Fighter pilots, we've received landing clearance, please proceed to dock with the Ardent Liberty."

One thing Kara never understood about pilots was their decision to stay in their fighter cockpit, even when travelling through hyperspace. It was baffling to her.

"well, then... Let's get to it." With these words Kara pushed any distracting thoughts into the back of her head, clearing her throat and activating the intercomm.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we've just gotten landing clearance. I'm very sorry for the delay. It seems the Hutts are not very fond of Republic ships appearing on their doorstep. Probably because they have something to hide. We're now posing as a diplomatic corps from the Senate, I don't know how this will complicate the mission, but they would not have let us dock otherwise. For questions, come to the bridge or wait until we have landed."

Deciding it would be safer to do so, Kara deactivated the autopilot and the guidance system she had fed with the coordinates of the docking port displayed a row of green beacons on her HUD. Slowly and smoothly she eased the ship into the atmosphere of Nar Shaddaa.

[Assistant]
Bounty Hunter Krat Gyton

A black and red X-Wing flew towards Nar Shaddaa slowly. In it was a Mandalorian, wanting to get some credits. It was hard for him to get past the spaceborder control, as they thought he was with the Republic because he flew an X-Wing, but after he managed to convince them that he was a bounty hunter trying to find some 'smugglers who didn't pay their employers what they owed', they let him through. It was not a total lie though, he was trying to find some law breakers. However, he was more interested in the people at the secret meeting. He bet the Republic would pay a lot for some of them, and as he liked the way the Republic was handling it's government, he would help them. For now.

He landed on the appointed landing spot, opened his cockpit and got out. "Denying, you stay at the fighter. I will be back soon." The R2 astrodroid started to complain with its bleeping. Krat sighed. "Look, Denying, I know you want to come with me and kick some butt, but this is a stealth mission with much climbing involved. I don't think you are able to do that though." One long, annoyed bleep came from the droid. "You know what, I'll make a deal with you: You stay at the fighter and I give you permission to aim at anyone who comes too close to it. I even allow you to shoot anyone who touches it. Do we have a deal?" The droid now sounded as happy as it could be, and started turning the turret at the bottom of the X-Wing around towards the people walking past the docks. "That's a good droid!" Krat said, then walked away from the fighter. It was time for him to get ready for the job.


[System]
Species:
Human

Age:
37

Eye color:
Black

Hair color:
Black

Height:
6'2"

Weight:
211 LBS

Other:
His body is riddled with a variety of scars, both from his upbringing and Sith training.

Personality:
Vaeren holds a surprisingly calm exterior for a Sith, though underneath his facade he is boiling with the emotions that drive him and give him strength. He uses this control over his emotions to surprise people with sudden outbursts of pure passion, whether it be in conversation or in battle empowering his use of the force. He truly hates the Jedi, and to a lesser extent the Republic, and will do anything in his power to see them brought to their knees even if it takes a hundred or a thousand years.

Bio:
Vaeren was the third son of a family of Dantooinian farmers and grew up as the butt of his brothers often abusive and harmful pranks. By the time he had reached young adulthood he had resigned himself to a life of such torment, until he met a girl near his age, and they fell in love, slipping off to get married in secret. He lived a happy life for several years until a rebellion began on Dantooine, with his wifes family supporting the rebels. His wife was taken in for questioning under Jedi observation, and a freak accident resulted in her death, which Vaeren blamed the Jedi for. Still unknown to him is the fact that his wifes death was orchestrated by a Sith Lord who had taken an interest in Vaeren, and used the death of his wife to spur his anger and hatred, having already sensed his affinity with the Force. His training was brutal, requiring almost constant focus and he was often attacked by his Sith Master at random to enhance his skills, resulting in scars from a variety of weapons. His Master fueled Vaeren's hatred of the Jedi by setting up a variety of encounters showing the Jedi in a poor light, some true and some orchestrated. Finally, during a mission to Coruscants inner workings, his Master attacked him in their typical training regime. The battle was hard fought and it became clear that this was a battle to the death, with the backdrop of Coruscants heavy machinery pumping molten metal and steam as they fought for nearly an hour, finally resulting in Vaeren catching his Master in a trap, burying him in molten durasteel and claiming the title of Dark Lord of the Sith.

Equipment:
Lightsaber: Vaeren uses a specialized lightsaber. The hilt is of a fairly standard length but contains a springlock that can be released to extend it into a long-handled lightsaber. It's also an early form of Dual-Phase saber, with the springlocked hilt extending or retracting the blade as well.

[User]
Karnus looked around the dimly-lit ships cargo room as he finished ascending the ramp, pressing the button to retract it when he finished. He didn't want his prey to escape him, and that was one less exit to worry about. Now that it was clear he wasn't going to be ambushed in this room he retrieved his lightsaber from his belt, hidden underneath a thick black cloak over his decorated robes.

His thumb hovered over the ignition button of his saber, not yet pressing it as he didn't want to give away his presence, but ensuring he was prepared if she became aware of him on the ship with her. Behind his reflective mask his eyes closed, reaching out with the force to search for her. When he only detected one living thing on board, it became clear where she was, and he began making his way through the cramped corridors of the ship towards the passenger compartment.

The door was locked, of course. He hadn't expected otherwise but seeing as he didn't know the code it seemed it was time to give away his presence, pressing the button of his lightsaber and holding it in place, the crimson blade humming to life as he took the hilt in two hands, pushing the end of the blade through the edge of the durasteel door and beginning to cut away at it.

[Assistant]
Shae had heard it, a sound that she had listened for since she got off Coruscant. Lightsaber. Her eyes opened and she quickly got out of her bed, drawing both lightsabers and igniting them, she turned them both on at the exact same time so it would only sound like a single lightsaber. She saw the red blade making short work of the door in front of her, this wasn't a jedi, they didn't use red sabers. It dropped her guard momentarily but it quickly returned when she reasoned that her aggressor was slicing through the door to attack her.

To Shae, it didn't matter who it was beyond that door, even if it was another Sith, she couldn't take any chances. As the door fell and the two made eye contact, she knew she was looking at a powerful Sith. She attached her two sabers together to make a double ended lightsaber and took a low stance, her weapon held behind her. "No jedi here but come at me and be put down like one!" she threatened defensively.

[User]
The first thing he saw when the metal door collapsed onto the floor was the glow of two red lightsabers. This wasn't the Jedi he had expected, but rather something else. Something far more interesting than another holier-than-though Jedi to be hunted down and slain. He didn't attack right away, instead behind his emotionless mask he took in the sight of the girl before him, her body and face said she was young, but her eyes said she had been through more than her years would let on. The only sound between them for a moment was the hum of lightsabers, and their breathing, his metallic and amplified by his mask.

"You have no idea what you are getting yourself into, young one." He finally spoke, raising his lightsaber. "If you have no ties to the Jedi, then I have no quarrel with you. But if you have even the most remote force sense, you know I can destroy you. Stand down and we can talk."

[Assistant]
Shae held her joined lightsabers tightly and didn't move a muscle as he spoke. "My ties to the jedi are cut." she said, not dropping her guard.

She looked at the door he can cut down and the thought donned on her, "The ship captain." she looked him straight in the eye, "What did you do with him?"

Before she could continue further, she heard a high pitched squelching sound from outside of the ship. She narrowed her eyes at the Sith in front of her but deemed that he wasn't an immediate threat. She chose to step back and look over her shoulder and out the view port. "You've got to be kidding me..."

She saw the man she had taken the hand from, as well as his superior and a band of mercs twenty strong. The superior was standing on top of a crate as he lifted a loudspeaker to his mouth, "Attention, miss Jedi. My colleague here tells me you interrupted our search and killed one of my men. I don't like that. Pinta the Hutt has put a bounty on your head, you're worth more dead. Since I value the lives of my men, I want to avenge him and collect the hefty bounty you have to offer." his voice sounded like he was bargaining or trying to negotiate.

Shae gritted her teeth and looked back at the Sith, "We'll settle this later..."

Looking back out of the view port, Shae watched as the force at her command flung the crate the ring leader was on into the thug she had dealt with earlier. The weight of the crate killed him as he hit the wall. "Snitching little-" blast! A shot from a heavy blaster rung throughout the ship, they must have been surrounded, how many men did this ring leader take?

The ring leader spoke again over the loud speaker as he picked himself up from the sand, his breath was slightly, "Now you owe me two men! Tell you what, jedi... You come out of that ship easily and I might make your death quick."

Shae looked back at the other Sith with an untrusting glare before she spat at the floor, "He clearly doesn't know the jedi very well, even less about sith..."

That's when she heard the distinct sound of a plasma cutter slicing through one of the ship's airlocks. He definitely brought more than twenty men. She was about to shove past the bigger man to deal with the boarding issue, until she heard the man's voice again. It prompted her to look out the view port. "Look on the bright side. You'll only need to cover the loss of one and a half of my men. She most certainly was worth a small sum." he pointed at two other thugs as they rounded the corner, dragging the body of the girl she saved earlier into sight. Shae froze.

The ship shook as the raw power of the force emanated from her. Shae had felt a connection with that girl despite having only spoken to her once, like she was another version of herself. Shae flipped her dual saber and held it like a javelin, "Alright, Sith." she said to the man, "We'll talk in a minute."

She threw the saber at the wall, the plasma of the blade slicing through the hull of the ship like it was butter. It flew straight at the ring leader, he didn't even stand a chance as the blade pierced straight through his heart and continued through him, falling back through the other end of the blade. It was a grizzly sight. Those who caught a glimpse of the red blade before the force brought it back to its master and knew the meaning of the color knew they weren't just dealing with a jedi and ran. With Shae's single terrifying blow, she had cut the head off of the snake and routed thirteen thugs in sight and perhaps more out of sight.

The blade came through another section of the hall and Shae caught it like it was a bird of prey returning to its master. She twisted the two handles and split them into their separate forms, "We'll talk." she repeated, "Right after I wipe these thugs off the face of the galaxy."

[User]
Karnus casually removed his thumb from the button on his lightsaber, the blade retracting into itself with a sharp noise as he stepped back from the doorway, the shadows obscuring him once more, save for the red glow of Shae's lightsabers glinting off the emblems on his robes.

"Go then, little fallen jedi. I will wait." He said, folding his arms in front of him as he leaned back against the metal wall of the ship. This would be a good opportunity for him to determine just how capable she was, a useful thing to know if their later discussion came to blows.

He had to admit he was somewhat surprised she even knew of the Sith. According to the galaxy they'd been extinct for nearly a thousand years, though he supposed the Jedi might learn of such things still. Of course the fact that she thought herself a Sith... That was laughable. He decided if she proved herself here, perhaps he would make a true Sith out of her.

[Assistant]
"What's the hold up?" a thug asked as he watched his partner cutting through the airlock door.

"This stuff takes time, man, you gotta be patient. Besides, not like that Jedi bitch has anywhere to hide." the cutter said, not taking hsi eyes off from his work.

"She killed my best friend, I can't wait to make her pay." the first thug stated, his hands shaking with his blaster rifle.

"No shit? Today?" he asked, still working.

"Last week. This is that same person dolling out vigilante justice all across Tatooine, the Hutts already have a hell of a bounty on her head, but it was always a bounty on a question mark as a face."

"Hm, didn't realize this was the same person. Well Tatooine will be better off without 'er. Almost don-... You hear that?" the cutter said, stopping his device to press his ear against the airlock.

The two looked at each other for a moment before the airlock door started to creak and cringe. Their eyes met, and over time they started to get more and more uneasy. Just as they realized what was going on, it was too late, the airlock door flew outward, taking them with it into the sand outside. There was smoke billowing out from the breach in the airlock. Thugs closed in on it, blaster rifles trained. Silence.

As they neared, two red beams of light pierced through the smoky veil along with the signature hum of a light saber. The rifles opened up, and the two red beams swung to meet the lasers. One after one the blaster shots came back to their owners, taking a life with every purchased shot. Before Shae had even come from the smoke, eight thugs had been killed by their own blasters and another three had ran away out of terror. The thugs that stayed started encircling her, opening fire at the same time. The two sabers seemed to be everywhere at once, there was no chink in her defense, every shot at her meant another thug dead. The speed she was spinning the weapons at made it look like she was encased in a glowing red cocoon, the hum was powerful and rapid.

"Somebody just hurry up an-" shot. The apparent thug that was next in line to be ring leader took a blaster shot directly to the heart and fell backward, staring up at the blue sky of Tatooine until his consciousness left him.

In the matter of a minute, all of the thugs had either died or ran off. Shae stood in the exact same spot she had been in when she emerged, surrounded by dead thugs who thought they could best her. She hadn't even used her lightsaber to kill any of them, save for the ring leader before she had left the ship. She stood there, her lightsabers humming in the silence. Some bystanders gathered as looked at the majestic weapons in her hands.

Shae looked around, staring at all of the bystanders, they didn't stay for long. Tatooine was a place where one didn't stick around for more than a few seconds. When things returned to normal, Shae's lightsabers drew back and she clipped them to her belt. Her eyes fell on the dead girl she had saved earlier, she kept them on her for a few minutes. When she finally took her eyes off the body, Shae turned, wiping a single tear from her cheek as she headed back to the ship.

She looked at the Sith as she rounded a corner, her breathing heavy and the look in her eyes fierce. "Start explaining."

[User]
Karnus had remained in his position, leaning back against the ships wall with his arms folded and eyes closed, his face passive as he observed the short battle through the Force, slowly opening them and looking over at the girl when she returned to him, observing her face for a moment.

"You should be wary of giving orders to those more powerful than you, young one. You call yourself Sith but you are nothing of the sort. A dark Jedi perhaps, but compared to a true Sith you are but a worm crawling in the dirt. Do you even know our code? Do you understand it? I know for fact they do not teach such a thing in the Jedi temple. To be Sith you must be trained by Sith, as I was, and my master before me. Our line stretches back to the first Sith Empire. You have potential, enough that I could train you, but do not dare to call yourself Sith when you have not earned it."


[System]
Age:
16

Physical Description:
Siara has sandy-blonde hair that cascades all the way down to her waist, her wide light brown eyes still project a hint of innocence even after all that has happened. She stands at 5'3" feet and possesses a mass of 60 kilos, all implants and enhancements, excluding her nemesis weapon, counted.

Important items: What possessions are important to your character?

Integrated Sub-dermal armor and circulation system:
A set of augments and implants both magical and technological that functions to let the subject survive in vaccuum space for a limited amount of time. (5-10 minutes tops) As well as offer minimal protection from low-power firearms and average melee weapons.

Nemesis Weapon: Gungnir Valkyrie
Gungnir Valkyrie is a weapon meant to be grafted directly to the user as a pair of high utility wings that can generate its own thrust. It mainly gives the user the ability to fly in both atmospheric air and void space. Being made from refined electrum, it has the ability to completely surround the user with a magical shield, along with the utility to act as an actual physical shield. Additionally, the magical shield it projects can be transformed into a more offensive shape, like a sort of assault armor-like ram, meant to pierce through lightly armored space vessels.

For convenience, this weapon can retract and fold itself into the user's body at any given moment when it is not in active use.

HS-026 "IMP" (Broken):
The no longer functioning brain-chip that was implanted into her head. She had asked to keep it after the kind Rau've safely extracted it from her brain. She keeps it as a memento of her broken promise, and by extension, the family she had lost. She carries it on her person, sealed inside a small foamed black box container.

Short Bio:
Siara Volnert was the third daughter of a wealthy and influential man who actively opposed the warmongering agenda of the current Ascendancy regime. As many like him, Siara's father met an untimely death in the form of a well-orchestrated tragedy, as did his family. Outraged and feeling extremely vengeful, Siara's mother along with her older siblings cried out for righteous justice and tried to expose the regime's atrocities. Lacking the charisma of the Volnert patriarch, their voices went unheard and unheeded, and were ultimately silenced one by one.

After Siara's family was reduced to just her and her younger brother, the government seized all their wealth and holdings under some sort of fabricated noble pretense to help out the victims of the war, and of course, the war effort itself. As for the last members of the Volnert bloodline. They had been whisked away and were turned into lab rats in all but name.

Siara was a naive child. As the youngest daughter of the family, she was endlessly doted upon. She knew nothing but love and kindness as that was all she was thought and had experienced... until the death of her beloved father, that is. The depression and sadness brought upon by the series of "tragic" events that suddenly plagued her family were completely alien to her. Maria, her elder sister, decided to share to her a piece of wisdom when she started asking questions with complicated answers, instead of giving her a sugar-coated answer meant for children.

Maria thought her of Life and Death, Kindness and cruelty, Good and Evil, and most importantly, the gray morality of people. That Humans and even aliens all hold within them both maliciousness and benevolence. It was a worthwhile philosophy that was deeply ingrained into her psyche. At the end of the lesson, she made a promise to keep steady and "never change", to never succumb to hate, despair and malevolence. And it was because of this promise that she refused to harbor hate towards the Ascendancy... even as they continued to dissect and alter her body to their convenience, even as their immoral experiments killed her last remaining family before her very eyes.

There were several moments in the course of her new life that threatened to make her break that promise, but witnessing timely acts of charity and kindness repeatedly reforged this pact and made it into something nigh unbreakable. Unfortunately, it was this stubborn kindness that led to her being branded a failure and sent to be disposed of when she refused to kill anyone on the battlefield.

One scientist in particular saw an opportunity and rescinded her slate for disposal. The scientist implanted an experimental device to her brain that would give them remote control on her mentality, enabling them to remove inconvenient inhibitions and emotions temporarily, as well as input orders and objectives on the go. The experiment was a resounding success, Siara had become the perfect soldier... without completely dismantling her humanity. But there was one catch. All of the grief, stress and emotions she should've experienced while under the effects of the implant would hit her psyche all at once when the device was eventually switched off. It was only the promise she had so stubbornly kept that prevented her from breaking down into a mindless husk.

It was in the Battle of Proxima, where she was given only one objective, and was told only to eliminate as many targets as she could, was where she had fought and killed the most. So after her implant shorted out after suffering several EMP strikes, Siara simply broke down in the middle of the raging battlefield and wailed to the heavens in complete and abject despair.

It was in that horrid battle, where so many lives were lost, where Siara finally broke her most cherished promise.

The kindness she received from the Rau've had helped her a lot, but the hatred had already taken root. While she would've wanted nothing more than to accept the overwhelmingly kind charity of her former captors, Siara could not stand the thought of the atrocities of the ascendancy continuing behind closed doors. And so, she had to reluctantly decline their offer and join her like-minded fellows in their quest for vengeance with the ultimate goals of keeping everyone alive and putting an end to the atrocities of the Ascendancy Of Man.

Spell List:
* Blaze Slicer (World): - A spell to project and maintain an intense plasma beam from the wrist in the form of a sword.(basically, a handy-dandy lightsaber spell) She uses this as her main basic offense, dual wielding Blaze Slicers from both hands.
* Electro-Kinesis (World) - A spell that lets the user generate and manipulate electricity. Siara uses this to fire lightning arcs to strike targets either one-by-one or in a chain with adjusted intensity for every bolt. She used to use this for non-lethal take downs. (Will do so again) Siara also uses this to avoid damage from electrical attacks, as long as she doesn't lose focus or the power of the electrical attack doesn't exceed her ability. (Current Maximum output and capacity is 500 million watts)
* Weight o Meter (World) - An adept gravity spell that reduces and increases weight of the user, parts of the user or any other valid target within range. Siara mostly uses this for her flying, but also uses it to impair enemies by making them lose their balance or cause damage in structural integrity.
* Thermal Manipulation (World) - A spell to adjust temperature of a physical target either slowly or rapidly. Siara uses this to weaken certain targets with extreme heat or extreme cold or both. She also uses this to regulate her temperature when travelling in vacuum.

Exceptional Skill List:
Exceptional Acrobatics
Exceptional Swordsmanship

[User]
Rachel watched John leave the tank alive and well, thinking about Karrsh's question. "My upbringings weren't anything grand, but it was something at least remotely normal." she responded quietly "Than the Ascendancy came, took everything I knew and turned it all into nothing more than distant memories. And although many, including all of ye, had it much worse during the war, I just don't have it in me to forgive such a thing. I want to watch them burn, just like they watched us. Just make sure ya take inspiration from John and not me, and ya'll be right as rain." Much to her surprise, she became quite fond of the group, something unthinkable just a few months ago. The presence of others who went through a similar ordeal worked wonders. Humans were, after all, pack animals.

Although Rachel wasn't sure mixing alcohol and magic-wielding super soldiers was a good idea, she welcomed anything that would keep the group's spirits high. Perhaps 'spirits' wasn't the best choice of words. "A party, ye say? Should I go and steal a few bottles of something? Maybe some snacks to go with them?" Rachel asked a semi-serious question over the comms as she followed John out. Some distance from the meeting point, she emerged from the shadows and joined their leader, still vigilant of their surroundings. Falling into pace, she spoke, off the comms. "What are yer thoughts on this deal? I didn't hear all of it, but what I heard sounded a little too good to be true, at least without a significant hitch somewhere down the line. I mean, ten million? Is the lass planning a field trip through a war zone or something? Who in their right mind would pay so much for bodyguards?"

[Assistant]
Aaloka gripped tightly with two hands on her scythe, and twisted the indiscernible mechanism. The staff collapsed slightly, and the bladed head curled inwards, making the whole affair at least somewhat easier to transport in some cases. She then clipped the wring at the head and handle onto the back of her belt, so that it wouldn't get in the way of flight. She moved with a fluid rigidity, almost mechanical in nature but clearly made of practice and discipline. As she did so her partner responded, but was interrupted by the comms buzzing with activity.

A certain member of the group was asking questions. Allie had no answer for them. She was never a big talker, and honestly those sort of questions just flew under her radar. She didn't ignore him, not at all, she just felt he wouldn't get anything from what she might have to say. As her fellow soldiers spoke, bringing a lighter tone to the conversation, Aaloka watched her winged partner stand with her arms outstretched, looking a little put out of place. The shadow of a smile formed on her features as Siara stood there awkwardly. As if to answer her she approached and nestled in for the customary flight hug. She didn't say anything still, as was her way. But the big eyed look she gave up to her taller companion was enough communication. At least from her perspective.

She wouldn't admit it but she was pretty excited to get back home. While she liked all the party members for her own reasons and their own ways, she was particularly fond of Bree. For a reason she herself was unsure of. Maybe it was just the "aura" she put off, who knew. Perhaps it had something to do with their shared past in medicine. Even though Aaloka was no longer useful in that regard, and they weren't the only two with such a background. She found Bree much easier to approach than Terry. Nothing really unsettled her anymore but spending too much time with him always left her feeling a little more...empty?

[User]
Siara almost flinched at the physical contact, her body tensing, almost coiling itself up, as her mind briefly shifted into battle mode before quickly remembering where she was and who she was with. Seeing her partner's upturned, doe-eyed look, Siara felt all tension melt away. Wistfully smiling, she placed an affectionate hand over an affectionate hand over the back of Allie's head, ruffling her hair a bit as her other arm wrapped around the girl's waist and pulled her even closer. Siara had always appreciated Allie's comforting presence. Her silent affection, or at least that was what she had assumed, reminded her a lot of the old house-cat she used to play with back when she was still but an innocent child. So much that she had unconsciously taken hold of the girl in the same way she had used to embrace her cat.

"Sorry for spacing out." Her smile turning a bit more cheerful upon hearing the ongoing chatter happening in the comm links. It seems their ever-reliable leader already has it handled.

"Hold on tight, Allie." She cheerily reminded as her wings unfurled to their full extent, its alabaster scales, that were arranged to look like feathers, shimmering a mystical glow. A bell-like hum reverberated through the air, as their feet slowly left the ground and became aloft. Then, after reaching a certain height, with a graceful twist and a single beat of her wings, Siara flowed gently and swiftly into the alleyway with an elegant dive, negotiating its narrow space and tight turns with relative ease and poise. Only when they left the alley, did she spread her wings again, gravity magic hard at work to rapidly bleed their momentum, bringing them to a complete and instant halt just beside the factory's entrance.

Silently landing on the side, Siara released her partner.

"Let's wait for the others." She said, even though she already knew that was a given.

"I wonder what kind of job we got this time." Siara wondered idly as her wings began to retract, its scales sorting themselves like decks of cards, sliding above one another until they were sufficiently compressed enough to enter the compartments on her shoulder blades. She then brought out a white double breasted coat from her belt satchel to wear over her intentionally-cut-open-on-the-back undershirt. It was a fashion she had adopted after being forced to fight literally half-naked in one of their missions.

"Any clue?" She turned to her cherished friend, still giving her clothes some final touches.


[System]
Rank: Lieutenant

Age: 26

Biography & Concept: Born the second son of the esteemed Caladwarden family, who's lineage reaches back to the first millennium of human space exploration. He was one of three, his older brother Brandon having been groomed to succeed his father as a representative on the Cinnabar Senate in which his father is a prime member. His young brother Gridor placed in administrative duties on their island home estate. Kaiden was raised to be a military man, representative of their family's old notions of loyalty and homage. There needs to be at least one member of the family in the Cinnibar Navy, and Kiaden has grown up with such expectations and responsibilities. Though his brother Brandon did sign on for a brief period to learn his worth and to show his dedication to the Republic.

It gained him an edge on the officer's exam for Lieutenants, and he passed with relative ease. His contention with his father however came at the death of his older brother, who died during a brief skirmish. Kaiden was given leave to convene with his family, whereupon his father ordered him to relinquish his duties as a Lieutenant and take Brandon's mantle as the first son. Kaiden refused, preferring to make his own way in the Navy rather than relying on his family's influence to gain notoriety. He had always been independent minded, and if he hadn't already a knack for the officer's life he likely would have defied his father long before the Brandon's death. His already rocky relationship with his sire plummeted into them parting ways with harsh words and even harsher sentiments.

An oddity, this "prince of the isle" does rather enjoy lowborn commoners. He speaks easy enough and is no stranger to hard work. But he always tends to have an air or superiority and education most can find grating. Ever rebellious, he was involved in a few low-end scandals with servants and young women cooks at his family's estate, being rather good-looking with a smooth, deep voice that can be used to flutter hearts or send men to battle.

Here's hoping he can muster up a good battle record with his meager gifts, because war has just begun...
@Penny

[User]
"That sounds wonderfully decedent, my lord." Kaiden lied, swirling the wine he wished was vodka in his glass cup. He was likely the only person here save the few children present that yearned to be elsewhere. Hearing tales of from a bastard like Malgin was tiresome enough, but he could not care less about the fellow's yacht or the breasts of his mistress. He was likely extremely drunk, or his drink had been spiked to make him confess of such an affair in public. Kaiden wouldn't be surprised if the man's wife hadn't orchestrated just such a thing to embarrass himself in front of the Prince.

Luckily for him, Kaiden did not give a shit. In fact it would likely amuse him more if his wife attempted to casually speak to Kaiden and the Prince gave no indication her plan had come to fruition. If that was indeed what was occurring. The problem was, Malgin was not alone in speaking to the Prince. Two other gentlemen decidedly less inebriated stood there. Lord Paul Felitides, a man with a grave look and facial hair that Kaiden believed would have made a fine broom, along with the plump Guild Master Veraden Kornamy, who had taken no time in offering Kaiden an unofficial partnership in his evidently thriving business.

"Malgin, would you deign to take a seat? You look ghastly." Veraden commented.

"Oh, truly? Yes, yes I should. Good day to you gentlemen."

Once the man was gone, Veraden shook his head. "Swing, I say. I don't make a habit of insulting nobility, but the fellow is simply an embarrassment here."

"Are you not an unusual guest?" Kaiden remarked. The Guild Master seemed taken aback, no doubt his lack of a noble title was a sore spot. Lord Felitides smirked behind him, but said nothing. Kaiden had already gleaned whatever information he needed from the two men and now he was simply trying to pass the time by stirring trouble. If it weren't for Captain Micha he would have called for a duel already to spice up the vast ballroom chamber they stood within.

Among the crowd, Kaiden caught sight of Tilda making her way toward him. He was surprised to say he was glad to see her. They had been together for hours before she left him alone to snoop or lurk or whatever it was she was up to for around an hour. The two fellows with Kaiden appraised Tilda like she was a prime cut. It was true, but Kaiden had consciously kept himself from looking at her like that, lest she get idea. As usual, Kaiden was entirely indecisive when it came to women he'd have to continue to spend time with on his duty. If she wasn't his servant he would have bedded her already.

"Gentlemen, pardon my interruption. May I steal my date for a few moments?" She asked, gliding past them.

"I'm certain you'll have plenty of time to entertain him later." Lord Felitides replied dismissively. "You've some nerve for a woman."

"I was going to tell you the same thing." She said, fluttering her lashes. Before the Lord came over the shock of being spoken to in such a manner, she had already yanked Kaiden away, one hand on his hip and the other behind his neck. Kaiden's resolve to keep his eyes off of her took a blow from her hand being mere inches from his groin, but he played it off as being simply surprised she whisked him away.

Stepping onto the balcony, the woman shut the curtains behind him, giving Kaiden a nice eyefull of her rump in the tiny dress she'd chosen to wear. The planet's moon was bright this night, and the stars accentuated the vastness of the sky. Kaiden crossed his arms as she turned, looking at her expectantly. "What is it?" He asked.

"Hmm? Oh, nothing." She declared, grinning. She sauntered over to him, the way women do with their hips swaying. "I just was finished with my errands and saw you were bored, so I saw fit to save you. Was that wrong?"

Kaiden chuckled, and leaned back on the balustrade. "No, but I do need to ask what you were doing."

She stalked by him and leaned her arms on the stone railing just beside him, overlooking from the front garden. He cursed himself, thinking how beautiful she was. "Gathering information. Old habits die hard, I guess. Wasn't that what the Captain wanted you to do?"

"I've been doing it." He replied.

"And I am helping. Why am I never appreciated? You treat your ex with more respect than me, and by everything you've said, you're still not fond of her." Kaiden's look was all she needed to see. She shook her head. "I think an apology is in order, Prince."

Kaiden knew she was right. He'd been so focused on keeping professional with Sabatine that he threw whatever task he needed done to Tilda without so much as a thank you. True, he flirted with her. But he did it off an on, pinching himself whenever he caught himself in the act. "Ok ok," He replied, hands in the air. He leaned on the balustrade beside her the next moment, overlooking the gardens. "I agree. I just don't entirely trust you. You never did explain why you dropped your job so quickly on my offer."

It was her turn to hesitate. "Because being a reporter, I snoop into people's lives. As with most Republic reporters, I've snooped into yours." She confessed. "I saw you struggling and I know what you've been through, and I respect you. Also you're hot, but that has little to do with anything I'm sure." The woman began playing with one of the loose strands of blonde hair that curled behind her elaborate bun. "And I hated my bosses, so I took a chance. Is that so difficult to understand?"

"I took a chance on you, so...no." He replied, smirking.

She sighed. "Don't worry, boss. I will be the perfect little-"

Kaiden turned her head and kissed her full on the lips. Tilda's eyes widened for a quick moment, before her arms snaked around his neck and she kissed him back hungrily. Kaiden found it intoxicating, his hands on her lower back and slowly sliding down to her round bottom. The next few moments they enjoyed themselves, until their lips separated.

"That is more like it." She said, grinning. "Now what's say we...oh..."

"What?"

Tilda untangled from Kaiden the next moment, and the prince turned to see the gate to the garden opening. Sabatine and a few members of the crew strode in, searching every-which way for Kaiden. Luckily, they hadn't seen what just happened. Why would I care? Kaiden thought.

"Tilda, what information exactly did you find?"

[Assistant]
Sabatine pulled her commo helmet from her head and followed Higgs and Capperelli in through the wrought iron gate. The bosun hadn't been best pleased to be rousted from the brothel they had found him in but he hadn't complained or tried to shirk the duty which was a good sign. He had also been staggeringly drunk but after a dousing with cold water and a half hour spent searching for Kaiden he was, well not sober, but functional. A pair of liveried servants tried to step into the way.

"Mistress this is a private party, who do you think you are to..." the servants self important rant choked off as Capperelli punched him in the stomach and shoved him head long into a well manicured rose bush. That wasn't a good choice, but it wasn't so far from Sabatine's on reaction that she would bother to mention it.

"No one you want to fuck with tonight buddy," Higgs growled, though he directed the comment at the second servant who was already backing away with his hands raised. None of the spacers carried guns, or even the more customary knives or clubs, but she didn't doubt that her people would finish any trouble the locals put up about her barging into a private party. Fortunately further trouble was abrogated by the fact that Kaiden was close to hand.

"Kai," she called out, waving her hand at him, though he could hardly have missed his shipmates assaulting his hosts servants. The use of the diminutive name was intended to convince the locals that she knew Kaiden well enough that they should butt out without further object lessons delivered by her spacers, and to signal to Kaiden that this wasn't strictly speaking, official RCN business. The matter had been reported to Captain Micha who had said that it was a matter for the local police to sort out. He hadn't said that to Sabatine however so she was choosing to interpret that as Micha's opinion rather than official order. A few quick calls to the local police precincts had confirmed Cappereili's initial suspicion, whoever had taken the Midshipman, it wasn't the dirt side cops. Whoever it was though, was going to learn that the RCN didn't sit by and wait for the local PD to put down their donuts when one of their own was taken. At least if Sabatine had anything to say about it, which for the moment, she did. Involving Kaiden was a calculated risk but at least if both she and the XO concurred on the course of action it would be harder for Micha to raise any objections after the fact. They were, after all, the officers on the ground. She had used the recall plate Kaiden carried to locate him, all spacers on liberty carried such devices in case their should be some urgent need to recall them to the ship, but she hadn't activated it. To do so might alert the captain to what she was up to, which would give him a chance to order her not to do it. No one stopped her as she mounted the patio and closed with Kaiden.

"We have a situation XO," she said softly enough that only he and probably Tilda could hear. As directly as she could she outlined the situation, including the fact that Captain Micha had been made aware of it and seemed inclined to wait for the local cops to sort it out.

"It was all planned in advance," she concluded. Sabatine had linked her commo helmet to the ships systems, an easy enough trick if you were familiar with the hardware, which most people weren't. It amazed her how little interest people took in the tech they used every single day. Working in maintenance at Harbor Three had required her to learn every subsystem and hidden routine in almost every piece of kit the RCN used and she had learned very quickly that most people, even techs, didn't know they were there unless they directly bore on their day to day activities. Accessing the ship she had been able to uplink to the orbital satellite imagery, fortunately there as no cloud cover, and had spotted the snatch team staging in a nearby parking area before Otis had even entered the brothel. She had also been able to track them to a compound high up in the eastern hills. It was obviously guarded, though by nothing more than stone walls and a dozen or so locals.

"I don't have a second commo helmet but I suppose I could bring it up on a holo display," Sabatine concluded. Kaiden opened his mouth but Tilda produced a small palm sized unit and passed it to Sabatine.

"Use mine," she said helpfully. Sabatine nodded curtly and took the unit before pausing.

"It is up to you sir," she said choosing her words carefully. Kaiden was a scion of the Cinnibar nobility and thus understood that she was working around the Captain without her stating it directly.

"If you have duties here you can't leave..." she went on. If Kaiden didn't want to get involved that was his prerogative, but duty required that Sabatine report what she had learned to a superior. Kaiden was no coward, she knew that, but if he didn't want to stick his neck out for what might easily turn into a real ratfuck she would understand the choice, even if she couldn't respect it.

[User]
Kaiden could easily compartmentalize his mind in to over a dozen different sections, devoid of any emotion or tugging snare that might cause any one of them to spill out into the rest of his head. It helped him keep his calm in this bizarre situation, a situation that could have disastrous consequences to any number of parties involved. He trusted Sabatine when it came to the men, her instinct usually be right when it came to dangerous situations.

The Prince ran a hand through his thick head of hair, the mane having already been messed with by Tilda's hands. He shook his head, lamenting what he was about to say.

"If Captain Micha said we are not to do anything, then we aren't to do anything...that would be the responsible thing to say, at least. Unfortunately, that's not my decision." He remarked. "I'll help you. But regardless of what happens, we need to try to resolve this peacefully if at all possible. There's bigger things at risk than the life of one man, no matter how much history we have with him. But we won't let him die at the hands of some pirates bastards either."

The men around Sabatine grinned, and Tilda blinked, though whether she was impressed or taken aback it was hard to say. Despite the warning against bloodshed, Kaiden knelt down and pulled out a .380 semiautomatic pistol, checking to see if it was fully loaded with a 'clap' of his hand.


[System]
~My Characters~
Age: 21
Sex: Female
Mate: Open
Vampire or Werewolf: Vampire/Werewolf
Coven or Mav's Pack: Coven
Position in the Coven or Pack: Knight
Power : Healing, Ability to shift into a wolf, and Black Fire
Bio: Crimson is quiet around anyone who isn't her sister. She decided to live with the vampires because she thought it would be best and they would teach her how to be strong. Well the only thing she's learned since joining the Coven is that she can't control her Cursed Werewolf side.
Picture:
Wolf Picture:

Name: Shadow
Age: 25
Sex: Male
Mate: Open
Vampire or Werewolf: Werewolf
Coven or Shadow's Pack: Shadow's Pack
Position in the Coven or Pack: Alpha Male
Bio: Shadow grew up without a family. He was originally born in a different pack, but when his mother died from having her second born litter his father blamed him and his siblings. Well his siblings didn't make it, but Mav was too strong willed to die. Which is when the Alpha of Silverstone found him and took him in. When the war happened the Alpha's that took him in and treated him like family were killed. He is confused when it comes to Vampires, but he keeps the peace with the current vampires.
Picture:
Wolf Picture:

[User]
Vampires and Werewolves once lived together in peace on one condition werewolves do not mate with vampires and vampires do not mate with werewolves. One day a vampire fell in love with a werewolf. Despite the law in secreatcy they had two hybrid children. After 21 years the vampire and werewolf were found and killed. The children however were forced to leave by their parents. Now both girls return to their parents hometown only to find a war brewing between the two species. The girls must now try to stop this pointless war. So one claims to be a vampire while the other sister claims to be a werewolf, but can they fool everyone and stop this war before it starts or will they be caught and never stop the war?

Sitting inside the Coven's Kingdom Library as the rain began to softly fall outside. Looking outside for a moment then darting her crimson red eyes away and turning back to her book as she finished looking at what she was working on. As lightning flashed she jumped pushing her chair against the book shelf behind her. Holding her chest she panted heavily then shook her head, "Get it out of your mind, Crimson. It's outside and your inside." Closing her eyes for a moment her cat Ban jumped into her lap and curled up purring softly. Gently she began to pet him as she closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the book shelf as she hummed softly.

Shadow walked in the woods surrounding the village that was his home. Rain began to fall and then it was followed by lightning and thunder. "Well this is going to be one hell of a storm." Shaking his head he continued to walk his patrol. As he walked through the woods the rain began to fall harder. So stopping under a tree he shifted into his wolf form. Shaking out his fur he began to run finishing his patrol early. Once he got to his front porch he shifted back to his human form and walked inside grabbing a towel he had hanging by the door from when he had taken a shower before he went out, "Mmmm it's a down pour out there."

[Assistant]
Iris was outside doing a patrol when the rain started to fall. Normally there were a few people who were out patrolling at the same time, so she wasn't surprised to see a few wolves run from the woods and shift to humans and dart into the cluster of houses that contained their pack. Most people shared a house with a few other, other than the Alpha male. Since he had yet to choose a mate, he was alone in his house, the largest of the grouping.

Iris lived with two other women, both of whom were notorious for not being home. Not that Iris minded... She just didn't understand why they hadn't moved out to live with their mates. That's how their little town had begun after all. As the wolves picked their mates they moved out and into an empty house to make a family. When their children grew up, they were given roommates and moved into whatever house was vacant and appropriate until they found their mate. Of course, Iris didn't mind it much though either. She'd get pretty bored if the girl's didn't live there, that was for sure.

She shifted back to a human and walked back to her house as the rain came down, enjoying the storm. She'd never been frightened of lightning or thunder, maybe it was because Crimson was so frightened of it... Even though, Iris was years younger in those hours of storms, it was almost like she became the big sister. She sighed and pushed the thought of her sister aside as it just made her miss her more and walked up the steps to her front door. She went to open it, only to find it locked and when she went to get her key... "Shit."

She groaned and leaned her head against the door, "Locked out..."

She sighed and turned around as she ran her hands through her short blonde hair that was sufficiently soaked and started to think about how she was going to break into her own house. She sighed and started to walk around the building looking for an unlocked or open window.

Leopold sat in his study with his feet on his desk as he flicked through a few papers. Business... It was all really quite boring but it came with the title and the power. He removed his feet from the desk and sat forward before he signed off on the paper and moved it to the side of his bed. He stood and ran a hand through his hair as he exited his office and locked the door behind him. It was unlikely that anyone would go in there, since he had forbidden it and his word was not one easily crossed, but he liked to take precautions.

He made his way down the steps and to the library, there had been something he wanted to have prepared for what he needed to get done tomorrow. When he entered the large room, he found he was not alone. He quickly noticed Crimson, a rather new recruit to the coven sitting at a table. He walked in and looked out the window, "Seems like it is going to be quite the storm... It's going to smell like wet dog in the morning if the mutts got caught in it," He joked before walked over to one of the bookcases. He took a moment to search before he took a book off the shelf. He looked at Crimson again before he walked over to her and sat down on the corner of the table. He leaned over a little, leaning his hands in his lap, "And what it is that you are reading?" He asked politely.

[User]
Shadow finally dried himself off and began to cook some bacon. As the bacon cooked he changed out of his wet clothes right fast in his bedroom. However before he could put on his muscle shirt he seen someone outside in the ran walking around on of the houses, "Damn those vamps. Don't they know not to break the treaty? Fuck." Draping the shirt over his shoulder he walked into his kitchen and turned off the stove and took the pan with the bacon off the hot iron. Opening his door he stepped out onto his porch growling deeply in his chest. By now the rain was really heavy, but still looking at the figure as the wind blew he caught the scent and realized it wasn't a vamp. It was one of his newbies, Iris. Blinking for a few minutes as he puzzled out why she was walking around her house. Then it clicked to him. The girls she lived with always complained about her scent. Shaking his head as he sighed heavily, "They must have locked the poor girl out."

Running his fingers through his raven hair he shook his head again then called out to her, "Hey, Iris! You get locked out? Come on over and dry off." Saying that he turned around and walked back into his home leaving his door opened for her to come inside. Going back to the stove he turned it back on and flipped the bacon. Once that side was cooked he added more in case if Iris was hungry too. As he cooked his shirt got in the way, so he tossed it over into one of the near by stools around his islander. "How many eggs do you want, Iris?"

Crimson hadn't heard any movement in the Castle for some time, but as Leopold entered her eyes flew opened and she watched him carefully. As he made his joke she looked out the window and nodded in agreement. Again as he moved she watched him, but Ban jumped up onto the table as Leopold sat down. Looking at the book on the table she shrugged her shoulders, "Nothing really. Just a book on codes. Nothing fancy really." Grabbing the book before he could she closed it and put it away. As the lightning flashed she froze and closed her eyes tightly. Gently her body began to shake as Ban stood up and meowed softly at her. Turning her eyes to Ban she nodded and softly began to breath again, "Thank you, Ban. I have to constantly remind myself." Shaking her head she sat back down again gently picking up Ban and holding him close to her, "Why are you here, My Lord?"

[Assistant]
Iris jumped when a voice suddenly joined the sound of rain pounding against the ground. She looked toward the Alpha's house and turned a little red, embarrassed about being caught locked out of her own house. However, the windows all seemed to be locked so unless she planned on breaking and entering into her own house, she didn't have much choice. Taking a deep breath, she ran to the Alpha's house. When she stepped inside she closed the door behind her. She was completely drenched as she stood there, dripping on his floor. She didn't move from the entrance way, not wanting to soak anymore of the Alpha's floor. She bit her lip when he asked about eggs, "One..." She said quietly deciding the taking the offer was more polite than refusing it.

She ran her hand through her hair again, pulling off of her cheeks where it was practically glued to thanks to the rain. Iris glanced at the Alpha male once more, "Thanks.... for letting me stay. The girls... They must have left and I forgot my keys... again...."

She ran her hand over her naked thigh as she stood there in shorts and a loose fitting shirt. The summer storm had disturb a nice day and left Iris in the predicament that she was wet to the bone and absolutely freezing. She seemed to be the only one though as Shadow stood at his oven without his shirt. Iris stared a little at his back, watching how the muscles moved before she quickly moved her eyes away. She moved her eyes else where and allowed them to drift to his head. His hair was wet which made her wonder if that was from a shower or the rain. She wrapped her arms around herself and shifted a little at her spot at the door, her shoes squishing as she moved, "Sorry for being such an inconvenience," She said quietly.

Leopold couldn't lie, the fact that Crimson quickly stole it away before he looked at the book made him more curious about the contents. However, he dropped it when he noticed her react to the lightning outside. He glanced over his shoulder out the window and hummed slightly, ah the things he was learning. He brought his attention back to Crimson when she asked why he was here. He smiled, "Merely doing as one does when they go to a library," He rose the book in his hand, "I have to write to a few nearby coven leaders who don't think I am capable of my job. I figured it was best that I brush up on them all a little before I dive into that kind of work."

He stood and was about to leave the room when a thought struck him, "You should go to a windowless room if lightning scares you, Miss Crimson. Maybe not seeing it will help with your fear of it," He looked at her before he gave a curt nod and turned to leave.

[User]
Shadow chuckled softly and shook his head as he fixed two eggs for her. As the eggs cooked he walked into his bathroom and grabbed a towel off the rack. Walking out he tossed it to her, "Dry off, so you can sit by the fire and warm up a bit." Hearing of how she was locked out he chuckled again and tended to the food, "Seems you may need to tie them to you, so you won't stay locked out."
After fixing her eggs he put them on a plate for her and sat the plate on the table then began to fix his own eggs. Letting his eggs cook he grabbed his shirt and put it on. Having fixed his eggs the way he likes them he sat down and began to eat. Looking her over as his coal eyes looked her over, "I might have some clothes you can borrow while yours dry by the fire. After all I pick up different things when on patrol. Check in the Guest Bedroom." He pointed to the door to the right of the Kitchen. "Your not a inconvenience. After all it's my job to take care of my pack. If I can't take care of my pack in every way then what kind of leader am I?"

Crimson rolled her eyes as Leopold told her why he was there, "They should see it with their own eyes. After all from my point of view you seem to handle things well. Then again what do I know I'm not a leader I'm just a Guard here." Hearing his idea she closed her eyes and sighed heavily, "Don't call me 'Miss'. How many times do I have to tell you? As for a windowless room... The only place like that is my room and that's in the dungeons." Saying that she turned from the book shelf and headed for the door only to stop, "Ban, let's go." Meowing softly Ban followed after Crimson as she left the library and headed down to the Knight room.

Entering the Knight room most of the knights stopped in their tracks. Crimson looked around and growled low, "Don't stop just because I'm here." Walking over and grabbing her swords she walked into the training area with Ban hot on her heels.


[System]
Sex: Female
Age: 246
Race: Golem
Affinity: Metallum, specifically bronze.

Personality: Eresa fosters the appearance of a bored dilettante. She collects as much art, clothing, and people as her savings can afford, but holding very little affection for any of it beyond its price for resale. No, what truly captures her heart and soul is power. She had all the power she could want, once. If she could have it again, and hold on to it better this time, then perhaps she could fill the void in her purposeless life.

Greatest Love: Herself.

Motivator: To regain the power and influence she once possessed.

Fighting Style: As a being made of bronze and a Spirit of the same, Eresa has unparalleled control over her body's structure and the metals which comprise the alloy (copper, tin, etc.). She can form her hands into blades or other tools, increase her size, or even mend damage. For these benefits, there are also some serious deficits. Bronze is a soft alloy, bending and shearing far easier than steel, and the mending process takes quite a lot if time as Eresa has to concentrate to remake her fine components.

To be honest, if Eresa found herself in combat she'd most likely be chiding herself for being stupid. She would much rather hire some thugs, poison, or throw money at a problem until it goes away. Despite her prowess if it came to combat, Eresa is not a combatant.

Bio: 246 years ago Mother Eresa Aedon, Lux Matron of the Coven and holder of the 5th Mystery, died on a pyre. For 43 years previous she had clawed her way up the ranks of her order and tore down her rivals. The title of Arch-matron was within her grasp. But she'd grown complacent. Betrayed by a rival, she was one of the first flames that would set the whole of the Old Coven alight. But the fire didn't truly end her. She was saved.

Salvation pushed her soul into a worker of Monolith. There she toiled, bitter for it, but without the knowledge of why. In time she managed to find others like her, dissatisfied with their lot in life with the vague feeling that something had been wrongfully stolen. These disparate workers formed the Autonomous League, pooling their skills to find a way to slip the shackles of Providence's Blessings. From their labor the Converter was born.

Able to siphon Blessings away from their intended recipients, the converter stored the mystical energy for later use, to be shared by the League. The next, logical step was to see if they could concentrate the power of the Blessings enough to create a Traveler. Eresa was their first volunteer. The refinement and gathering processes were painstaking, but finally they were certain they could mimic the intensity of Providence for just a few seconds. They theorized that exposure to that much untamed energy would be enough to jump-start the Traveler metamorphosis. They were right, to a point.

When it was over Eresa felt like herself again. Her affinity for Lux had been wiped out by the transformation, but the loss paled before the return of her memories and the sense of being complete. After regaining her senses, she informed her fellows that they had succeeded. She then proceeded to kill them all using the Converter, destroyed it, and stole its design notes. She knew that somehow Monolith's god had sensed her apotheosis. The Spinnermen, workers who had given their minds and bodies to Providence to become temple guardians, were on their way. She made a harrowing escape from the city, Spinnermen tracking her the whole way until their Blessings failed them.

With her freedom assured, so long as he never returned, Eresa began to explore her new world. She raided her old boltholes for funds and sold the stockpiled charms and scrolls that she could no longer use. With the bureaucracy of the New Coven earning her bitter disdain, Eresa decided to enjoy her new lease on life. She earned it.

Appearance:

Eresa's "skin" is a dull bronze that, if looked at from afar, would almost pass for human. The mistake ends there as one would notice her eyes were the same color as the skin, almost like they and the rest of her face were sculpted as a formality from one piece of bronze. Her hair is much the same as its polished form doesn't actually hang free, but is another molded part of her head.

Eresa's taste for the finer things extends to her wardrobe. The latest fashions from across Protea usually find their way onto her 7' frame. By far her favorite is a glossy black gown that hugs her form without being inappropriately snug. A long drape off her right shoulder and a bronze sash around her hips completes the look.

[User]
The First Descent

Kai, itching now to get moving, resented Malte's question ever so slightly but resolved it into a silent thank you as the young man decided for himself. In truth, Kai knew not the answer to his question. The malodorous murk of the sewers promised to teem with threats, but Ebb itself hosted an entourage of hidden enemies, the barnacles clinging to its seldom-seen bottom, living and working just out of view. As for treasure, the ninja expected none. A new worry struck him as he awakened to the fact that numerous members of this group could very well be expecting a good, old-fashioned dungeon raid. They had better be prepared, Kai fretted. This job is shaping up to be anything but conventional. "Ebb side for Malte," he echoed, making a mental list. "Subterranean for...Edwin, is that right? We'll find peril and perhaps fascination down there for sure, if that is what you mean by adventure. Mr. Ghurst, your continued advisory will be valuable."

The next few minutes saw the addition of the Delacroixes, Riad, Ash, and Aron to the underground team, while Kadoodle, Helvetica, and Eresa volunteered to remain above. Udo Koro Kai harbored his doubts still about nearly half of the assembled people, be their flaws a visage that hinted at insanity, distrust-breeding demeanor, an overeager protectiveness, hygiene, or a corpselike countenance that could very well have belonged to an undead. It was rogues like this, he hoped, that would prevail where the previous 'squad of heroes', as he'd nicknamed them, failed. As he and lady Exeter were doling out rebreather and communication conduits, a couple of late arrivals appeared. One, a proud warrior calling himself Dane Joshin, whose every aspect portrayed him as a rugged hero, happily assuaged his misgivings about the Ebb underground by signing on to the above team. The other, a lively young lady clad in formerly pristine, now red-spattered desert-style clothes of cream color, was assigned to the sewer team. Finally, Levi, plagued by indecision, consigned herself to the above-ground team as well. With everything decided, all provided gear distributed, and not a moment to waste, the entire crew of sixteen left the Exeter house at a brisk pace.

Heading away from the waterfront and towering, monolithic seawall, the street dipped downward, leading gradually away from the stately hotels of the upper class. Before long, the road gave way to a walkway that overlooked one of Ebb's grand 'chasms'. What might have at first appeared to be an ordinary city peeled apart like an enormous apple, revealing a labyrinthine assortment of streets, bridges, canals, waterfalls, and towers that extended hundreds of feet down. While for now Ebb's true tide had almost receded fully, water gathered in places throughout the city, be they basins, rivers, aqueducts, or miniature lakes. A boat coming in from the port that the wealthy district bordered could travel a few hundred feet down a canal, enter an enormous basket of water, and descend a hundred feet by winch to a wharf nestled inside the city's mid-level. In fact, at about the mid-level there lay a huge basin called the City Lake, on which ships steamed and houses floated all day long regardless of the tide pouring in via huge pipes. Scattered throughout the City Lake were enormous pillars upon which rested a substantial amount of city directly overhead; seldom did the sunlight reach some parts of this ponderous pool. Ebb was very much in motion, alive despite the looming threat and dreadful red rain, and with a mission in mind the second investigation team was in motion too. Entering a dry lift all at once, the team was lowered past crammed apartments, the City Lake, and what appeared to be a sports stadium to the mid-low level of Ebb. From there, Kai led the way down flights of stairs, through steep streets, and onto a riverboat ride that brought the team close to the city's bottom.

Finally, just as the tide fully receded, the sixteen -with or without a stealthy but interested pursuer in the form of Haydrex- reached the bottom, a circular area of damp brown concrete eighty meters in diameter, cut in half by a sluggish, murky, cab-sized canal. On the opposite side of the yard from where they entered, a pair of rusty metal ladders led up to a slummy avenue on which Kai said the Depth Plumbers' headquarters resided. The water in the canal, only a few inches deep now, flowed into a yawning dark aperture into which the sewer team would be following it. "Here we part ways," Kai said, stepping into the canal. His manner was grim, obvious even with his mask, for at this very place he had almost been drowned not so long ago. "Both teams have two communication conduits for redundancy, should one be lost. Report in at intervals. Team Ebb, after checking on the Depth Plumbers, call the mayor for future instruction."

Mancer, silent so far but not recalcitrant when it came to looking at the intriguing oddities of the watery city during the trip, nodded. He took a few steps and leaped, white cloak flapping, over the canal to the other side, bound for the ladders. It took him a moment before he froze, realizing he was perhaps being preemptive. Looking back, he zeroed in on Eresa. She had every quality of a leader, from dress to bearing to a fancy name, so it seemed natural that she, though not officially appointed by Kai, would lead Team Ebb. "Um. We okay to go?"

-=-=-

For a indeterminate length of time after the second group left her parlour, Margaret Exeter sat very still, clinging the arms of her chair. While outwardly anxious, her breathing came easily and calmly, and for the first time in a few days a tentative ray of hope was peeking through the cloud cover. Sure, it was a team of misfits, with largely unknown backgrounds and skills, but she felt that if anyone they could get the job done. Even split in half, there would be more per team than the initial expedition could boast, and with a pair of communicators each there could be no mishap leading to a blackout.

Margeret reached for her cup of wine, grasped the glass, and paused. "No," she decided, standing up and leaving the liquor behind. "This is the start of something good. If I can't face it sober, what good am I?"

As it happened, next on her list of mayoral duties was dishes. No significant administrative duty, to be sure, but a politician wishing to preserve some semblance of self-providence (and therefore an appeal to the self-providing lower class) such as she could not forsake it. While the rain picked up, another hand poked out her window revealed it to be mercifully clear once more, and while this assisted to invigorate her spirit it did not shake her earlier premonition of dread. Lost in though, she allowed herself to split into autopilot, only interrupting the routine of soap, scrub, rinse, when a piece of china proved too dirty to be cleansed on the first wash. Gradually, however, Margaret discovered with annoyance that she had washed the same dish six times in a row, and still it came up streaked with grime. She looked at the water and jumped, finding it almost overflowing and unmanageably murky. Disgusted, she reached into the water and sought the plug, so as to allow the water to drain.

It took a few seconds for her to locate the drainpipe. When her fingers at last alighted on its surface, confusion spread across her features, for she could feel no drain stopping up the sink. Puzzled, she continued to grope around in the inky water, reaching down the pipe, until she stumbled upon something warm and fleshy. Before she could yank it out, the thing closed its fingers about her own hand and pulled. Margaret's scream was cut short by her impact with the murky water, and while she continued to struggle, no sound rang out but the persistent beat of rain and her panicked scuffling with her free had and legs, desperately trying to get free.

And then there was only the rain.

[Assistant]
Edwin pocketed the communicator, and began studying the rebreather, mumbling his thoughts along the way. "I wonder..." His main consideration was methods of extending the conduit's time limit. "Hmm. Without knowing it's design I couldn't do much to improve the spell itself, but..." Maybe he could extend it's ability by compounding spells of a similar nature. He sighed. "The spell's design is still an issue. The effects of a compound enchantment would be unpredictable." He placed the rebreather within another one of his coat pockets. "It would probably be easier just to make one from scratch." Tinkering with the rebreather would have to wait. Right now he wouldn't have the time or the resources for it anyways.

A few minutes later another thought came to mind. If I were to work on it later, somebody with expertise in related affinities could be helpful. As the group came to a halt, about to split into two, Edwin spoke out towards them. "Is anyone here skilled in the use of the Aura or Aqua affinities?" And took the rebreather back out of his pocket, tossing it up and down in his hand. "There's something I could use your help with. After we're done with the expedition of course."

[User]
Eresa felt it, a rush of elation, as Mancer looked back to her to confirm their readiness. It was deference. Pure sweet deference and she loved it. That the skeletal man had immediately fallen into that mentality was even better. Once this was over she would simply have to find a way to keep him in her services. What a jewel of a... man she supposed.

"No, no, as you were," she spoke with a ready smile as she simply hopped across the canal and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "I'm certain that we're all more than ready to leave this fetid pit."

The climb was thankfully short. Were she not constrained by her dress or her heels, it would have taken her no time at all, but that would be unseemly. The view that greeted her was, as advertised, a slum.

Dwarves of all ages, though definitely weighted towards the elderly, milled about. Their eyes were on the strangers resting somewhere between notice and vacancy. One thing was uniform, however, here was no hope to be found here. None at all. And down this oppressive alleyway, at its terminus, rested the plain form of the Depth Plumbers' offices.