text: [Themes: fantasy, humor]
  
  Year 21
  
  "Yeah, yeah, here's the rent." You say handing over a few silvers to Trobart.
  
  As usual he grabs the silvers and gives you mean glance.
  
  "I'm getting real tired of your shit! I KNOW you got the money to pay me on fucking time! Telling you right now, you keep pushing me like this, and you'll be out on your thieving ass!"
  "I'm sorry. Please don't throw me out of this palace." You say.
  
  Whether Trobart caught your sarcasm or not, he doesn't acknowledge it with more verbal abuse, he just storms off. Sometimes it's just too much fun to mess with him.
  
  Really, you could probably afford to live somewhere better now, but this place is cheap enough that you're reluctant move. Besides if you lived some place more expensive, you wouldn't be able to spend your money on fun things like wine, women and better equipment on occasion.
  
  You head back to your room where Elana comes up to greet you before scampering off again. One thing's for sure. You haven't had any problems with normal rats or other pests with Elana around. She's aggressively territorial and more than willing to make a meal out of them. Even Virgil doesn't knock on the door to bother you as much since she nearly bit his toe off.
  
  You then hear a knock at your door. Well, it doesn't stop him completely.
  
  "Virgil, I think you should know Elana's hungry right now." You say.
  "That's nice that your girlfriend is starving, but I'm not Virgil, whoever that is. I'm from you friends in Klyton's most infamous club." You hear a voice answer. Sounds female.
  "Crimson Talons?"
  "(Sigh) Tell the militia why don't you? You going to let me in or not?"
  "That depends...why are you here? Nobody from the Talons has ever sought me out before."
  "Yeah, well there's a first time for everything. Look, I'm just here on Tom's orders. I'm not shouting between a door like this. Either open the door, or I'll let him know you aren't interested..."
  "Alright, alright, hold on." You say.
  
  You tell Elana to stay and not attack (at least not immediately) and you go to open the door cautiously. Upon opening it, you see a dark longhaired woman who while is certainly older than you is still in fit condition. She's attractive in a trashy sort of way. (Sort of reminds you of an older version of Annah)
  
  While you've been to the Talon's headquarters more than a few times, but other than Tom and a guy named Vaughn who is usually the fence for your stolen items, you can't really say you've ever paid too much attention to most of them (let alone learned their names), so you don't really recognize her. However, with her looks combined with her attire and she definitely looks like the sort that would belong to the Crimson Talons.
  
  The woman walks in without you even inviting her in and takes a look around.
  
  "Wow, some place you have here. I can see why you didn't want to join the Talons when you're obviously doing so well on your own." She says.
  "Right, because that abandoned building you all squat in and have to sneak about by going in and out of the shit filled sewers is so much better." You reply.
  "Actually, I was paying you a compliment asshole. This place IS better. I mean yeah it's still a dump, but as you said, at least you're not stepping over shit every five minutes on your way here and it's all to yourself."
  
  "...not counting the rats of course." She adds when she sees Elana who is curled up in the corner where you told her to stay.
  "Elana's not a rat, she's a qweepa." You say.
  "Oh, that's Elana? I thought it was weird I didn't see some strumpet on your bed when I walked in here. Well whatever it is, it's ugly and its teeth are too big." Zalmora says while taking a seat on your bed.
  "So are you just here to insult my home and my pet or are you actually going to tell me who you are and why Tom sent you?"
  "I told you I wasn't insulting your home. Anyway, I'm Zalmora and Tom wants to see you."
  "What for?"
  "Well, you'd have to talk with him about the details, but basically he wants you to reconsider joining us."
  "Then you've wasted a trip, because as you pointed out I'm doing fine on my own. Besides, didn't several of your members just get arrested by that botched bank job recently?"
  "Only two got caught and they weren't arrested because the militia killed them with they were resisting."
  "Oh, well that's different then. At the rate you lot are going I don't predict good things for you in the future. You can tell Tom thanks, but no thanks."
  "Yeah, he thought you might say that, and honestly if I were in your position I'd probably feel the same way."
  "Good, then we understand each other, goodbye..." you say and go to open the door again, but Zalmora doesn't even move, she just stretches out on your bed and makes herself more comfortable.
  
  "Although, I also have to tell you that your cooperation on this matter is in your best interest." She says.
  "So, what then? Did Tom send you over here to fuck me in an effort to convince me to join? You seem to be getting quite comfortable on my bed."
  "Well I wouldn't put it past him to have that in mind, but if he really wanted to get results in that way, he should have sent the half-elven whores in the gang instead. If I had to guess why he sent me, it's because as much as he's loathed to admit it, I have a decent history of convincing folks. In any case, if you don't join, don't bother coming around with your stolen shit anymore, we won't be fencing it."
  "So is that your argument? If I don't join your little group, you aren't going to fence for me anymore? Fine. I'll just take my shit to Fookins the Fat." You exclaim.
  "Fookins? You're going to trust that goblin to fence your shit?" Zalmora chuckles.
  "Okay fine, I'll just sell it myself."
  "While I don't doubt that you could, but I get a vibe from you that you'd rather not want to bother. If you were about that aspect of our game, you would have been doing it long before now."
  "Well, you might be right, but obviously you lot aren't giving me a choice."
  "Sure we are. Join us and reap the benefits, or don't and suffer the consequences. I guess this would also be a good time to add that if you don't join us you might have a target on your back."
  
  Didn't take long to get to physical threats. You immediately draw your weapon and Elana who was previously at rest, is now alert and prepared to attack on your command. Zalmora doesn't move though, she just continues to look up at the ceiling with her legs crossed. She either doesn't realize the seriousness of her situation, or she's so much of a skilled fighter that she isn't worried.
  
  "You can put that away, I'm not going to kill or even attack you." Zalmora says.
  "You just fucking threatened me in my own damn room!" you exclaim.
  "Actually I didn't. Tom did and honestly I don't think he's got the balls to follow through on said threats. Other freelancers in the city? Maybe. You? Nah. You rescued him from a cage; he's never going to forget that. He's likely to be pissed and disappointed that you don't join, but he's not going to actively put a contract on your head. He's not like our last boss Edmund."
  
  At this point she sits up and gets off your bed. You're still on your guard, but she keeps her distance.
  
  "Since I can see you're a bit tense right now, I'll leave to let you think it over."
  
  Zal's approach to this is confusing the hell out of you. It almost feels like she's deliberately trying to convince you NOT to join.
  
  "There isn't much to think about. Your words have not swayed me, quite the opposite really. Maybe Tom should have sent those two halfbreed whores to convince me instead." You say.
  "Truly? Is a quick tumble all it would have really done to convince you? Well, let's get to it then." Zal says.
  "Wait, what, really?" you ask.
  "Pfft, no!" Zal laughs. "Look, it's up to you if you want to join. I'm not going over the benefits of joining, because I think you know what those could possibly be AND I think you're smart enough to know you're only going to get out of it, what you put in to it. Like I said, you once rescued Tom from a cage, so you're already in good standing with him. A lot better than most. I'm just giving you a heads up on the downsides of not joining. If you're comfortable with those, then I guess the choice is easy. You know where to find us if you change your mind, but remember ONLY come to us, IF you change your mind."
  
  Zal opens your door and begins to leave, but then stops.
  
  "Just on a personal note, I wouldn't mind seeing you join us. It would be nice to have another skilled rogue around to work with. Your independent actions in the university district aren't completely unknown to me. And who knows, we might just have that tumble after all."
  
  Zal then nods at you with a smile and leaves.
  
  Well she didn't sway you until that last bit. Not the tumble part, (though you certainly wouldn't turn that down) but more of the idea of working with someone else.
  
  You don't think about it too much, but you do sort of miss working with another person. You did it for years with your sister and then Annah for a short time. You're convinced that if tragedy hadn't struck with her, she probably would have gotten better.
  
  Working by yourself has its advantages and over the years you've gotten used to it, but there are more than a few times where it would have helped to have another person by your side. There's also the convenience that you'd be able to have the Talons still fence shit for you and the possibility that you wouldn't have a target on your back, even if Zal says the latter is unlikely.
  
  Still, you really aren't sure about the whole joining the Crimson Talons thing. That's more people than you'd care to work with and you'd have to ultimately answer to someone. Let alone the other concerns you have.
  
  > stay independent
  The cons far outweigh the pros. You've found your niche by plying most of your trade at the university district. You're staying out of the Talons way and more or less keeping a low profile from the militia. You see no good reason to change that.
  
  You guess you'll have to become more of a "salesman" of sorts if you steal anything that isn't actual money though. You suppose the drugs you pilfer from the medical school won't be too hard to get a good price for or find buyers. Maybe it's time to branch out your skill set anyway. You are working on your own so you really need to be a jack-of-all-trades and try not to rely on outside sources. Especially since you still believe that the Crimson Talons are destined for nothing good in the future.
  
  Thinking no more about it, you pack some of your tools in your bag and set off for the university.
  
  Later...
  
  After picking a few random pockets, you pass by one of the bulletin boards to see if there are any big parties being announced in the near future (or even tonight) since those are always usually profitable to attend.
  
  You take note of a couple listed and then you see a notice for a job.
  
  In need of two people to assist in gathering several eggs from a Creptian Blueshell. Location will most likely be in the shores north of Hessla.
  
  Trip will be paid for and a reasonable monetary reward will be provided upon completion of the task.
  
  Please see me in my office at the medical school for details if interested.
  
  Dr. Gossey
  
  While you've seen a few of these notices in the past since your last job with Dr. Gossey, you've actually been reluctant to try it again for several reasons, but you're feeling a little adventurous. Might be good to get out of the city for a while anyway, because if that Zalmora woman comes around again to convince you to join, you might just be silly enough to do it.
  
  You head over to the medical school and unlike last time you easily find Gossey's office without getting lost. (Though you sort of know this place fairly well by now considering all the medical paraphernalia you've stolen from this place)
  
  When you arrive, you find that she's conveniently in her office. When she sees you she greets you warmly.
  
  "Well, this is a surprise. I was wondering if we'd ever bump into each other again. I haven't seen you since the last time you got those qweepas for me. I guess classes are keeping you busy?" Gossey asks.
  "Yeah, I tend to study a lot, but anyway I'm here about the job posting." You say.
  "Oh good! I already got one person to help and since you did such a good job last time in acquiring the qweepas, I think I can safely hire you right away. Are you familiar with Creptain Blueshells?"
  "Mm, not especially no."
  "Well they're sort of like a cross between a snail and a crab, but about as big as a large dog. I mean they don't move very fast and they aren't usually overly aggressive in the scheme of things, but considering we need to take some eggs...well I can guarantee they aren't going to be happy."
  "I see. I don't suppose they sell these creatures as a delicacy in Hessla do they?"
  "Oh no. They're far too poisonous to most life forms for that. In fact beside their shells, that's probably their number one defense. Don't let them spit on you."
  "They spit?"
  "Oh yes, but as I said, you'll have extra help this time. A student from the magic college is coming on the trip, along with my assistant Kelium. Between the three of you, I don't anticipate you'll have any problems as long as you remain cautious."
  "Magic huh? Hmm, well that sounds like evening the odds a bit at least."
  "To be sure, but I know this still has its danger, so it will be fifty gold upon completion. I'd offer a little more, but the other student needs her payment too."
  
  Fifty gold pieces is a nice chunk to go towards your secret savings. And as far as the crab snails monsters go, the wizard can probably handle the heavy lifting what with the fireballs and lightning and such.
  
  "Sounds reasonable. So when do we get going?" you ask.
  "Well since we have you now, I suppose I can get the trip going in three days. I'll explain to my assistant what you look like and you can just meet up with him at the carriage station in the morning. You'll probably have to stay in Hessla for the night when you reach it, but from there you should travel north along the coast to seek out the Creptians, but don't worry on that front, my assistant will have a map and I think you'll find Kelium much more agreeable than the last time you worked one of these jobs." Gossey remarks.
  "Well that's good to hear. Did Elana graduate then?" you ask.
  "It's the strangest thing. She never returned. I don't really want to think about what might have happened to her, but that's all in the past, and I'm sure you did your best in trying to convince her that staying in Hessla alone ran a risk. Oh well, all in the past. But right now, all you have to do is make sure you get some of Creptian eggs. That's the most important thing." Gossey remarks.
  
  Having come to an agreement with Dr. Gossey and her explaining what Kelium looks like along with the magic student Yvette, you take your leave of the university and head back home.
  
  Your next few days mainly consist of you preparing yourself for the trip. You pack your short sword, and a couple extra knives along with your flintlock. You also go and steal yourself some anti-venom from the apothecary. (Along with a few other items) You figure it can't hurt.
  
  Finally on the day you're supposed to meet everyone, you go to the carriage station and seek out your companions for this trip.
  
  Doesn't take long when you see a tall pale man wearing a cap loading up a few bags on a carriage and near him is a shorter woman with light brown hair. You're guessing that's them. You also look at the driver and see that it isn't Yrid.
  
  "Hey, you're Yvette and Kelium right?" you ask, and both of them turn to address you and confirm this question, then you announce who you are.
  
  "That's great. More people to talk with on the trip." Kelium says easily hoisting another bag on top of the carriage with one arm.
  "Hi." Yvette says demurely.
  
  Not exactly what you expected. Kelium seems like less like a scholar and more like an athletic type. And you were expecting Yvette to be dressed in a robe or something similar. Maybe even holding a staff or something. At least neither are dressed screaming of "Hey I'm rich, come rob and enslave me!" though.
  
  All three of you pile into the carriage, which is already better than last time. You and Kelium sit on one side while Yvette sits on the other and you're soon on your way.
  
  Kelium talks for half of the trip and almost never shuts up. He goes on about his studies and how he's been helping Dr. Gossey and what he plans to do when he graduates. It probably would all be very fascinating if you actually cared. Still, at least he's pleasant enough and he's talking so much about himself he doesn't ask anything about you at all. You occasionally just give a general agreement with whatever he's saying.
  
  Yvette is quiet and is just mainly listening to Kelium. She doesn't talk at all. Maybe wizards are just like that. All that isolated studying.
  
  Eventually Kelium does shut up because he starts to get sleepy. He mentions that he was studying up on Blueshell Creptians all night just to be extra prepared. He then mentions for you two to wake him when you arrive in Hessla and soon he's fast asleep complete with snoring.
  
  You take this opportunity to sit over on the other side of the carriage.
  
  "Um. What are you doing?" Yvette asks a bit suspiciously.
  "I'm sitting over here, because that snoring giant over there is taking up most of the room, not to mention he's loud enough even without being seated right next to him. I'd like to reach Hessla and not be deaf in one ear." You explain.
  "Oh. Okay then." Yvette says and then gets over as far as she can when you sit down.
  "You...don't trust me do you?" you ask.
  "Um...no, I mean yes. I mean um..." Yvette stutters.
  "Hah. It's okay. I understand being cautious, but I'm really not going to do anything, I mean you're a wizard. I'm not risking getting a spell cast on me."
  "No! It's not that! It's just well...I'm not used to being cramped in a small space like this with a bunch of people. I like a lot of personal space."
  "Ah. Got it. Also understand. You want me to go back and sit over there?"
  "No. It's okay. You seem nice."
  "Thanks. Don't hear that one often. So I've never met a wizard before. Tell me everything."
  "There isn't much to tell and I'm not really a wizard. I'm still just an adept. I actually took this job as part of my own assignment of taking what I learned in the classroom and applying it to the field. I was sort of too nervous just to do it alone."
  "Well it is a scary world out there at times."
  
  You proceed to speak with Yvette for the rest of the trip who slowly starts to open up a bit. She goes on to tell you that the magic school isn't even all that big. She's only one of twenty-three students! Apparently the university is almost on the verge of closing it down since naturally magically talented individuals seem to be born less and less these days.
  
  However, magic is still a mighty force in this world and one of the Klyton Council members is a mage himself (Though not a particularly powerful one), so the school remains open.
  
  Just as you're starting to get Yvette to laugh at your dumb goblin jokes, you're arriving in Hessla and the driver stops.
  
  "I guess we should wake up Kelium." Yvette says.
  "Yeah, I suppose so." You reply a bit disappointed. You were starting to enjoy your personal time with Yvette.
  
  While Yvette wakes him up, you get out to speak to the driver and ask him to take you to an inn that's better than the Barnacle.
  
  "And DON'T even fucking think about taking us to the Cozy Krak Inn!" you exclaim.
  "Wasn't going to sir. I've never even heard of the place. I was going to suggest going to the Sea Dog."
  "Is it a slavers den?"
  "Um, no. It's run by an old ex-pirate and is more or less friendlier than most inns."
  "It better be." You say.
  
  You get back in and see that Kelium is awake and the carriage soon takes you to your destination.
  
  The Sea Dog is better than the Barnacle, but not by much. However, it at least isn't trying to appear like something it isn't. Kelium grabs all the supplies he packed, he doesn't even ask for help.
  
  The ex-pirate that the driver mentioned reminds you of Trobart from the Welcome Mat because as soon as you enter he's glaring at you with his one good eye and asking what the hell you want.
  
  While you would probably return the verbal abuse, Kelium takes it all in stride and simply pays for the rooms. Unfortunately only two are available. Naturally it's decided that Yvette will take one room and you'll have to share one with Kelium. Not looking forward to that mostly because the guy snores so loudly.
  
  However as it turns out Kelium isn't ready to go to sleep.
  
  "I partially slept on the way here, so I'm wide awake! We should hang out and go find a proper tavern! Or better yet let's go find a gambling house! Dr. Gossey gave me all this money for the trip; I bet I can fucking double it!" Kelium exclaims.
  "But don't you need to be alert for the trip north tomorrow?" you ask.
  "I'll be fine! Besides, we don't have to leave first thing in the morning. Come on, let's go have a little fun! This place has got to have less restrictions than Klyton!"
  "I dunno, I really think you should just stay put and try to get some rest. I mean I haven't slept so..."
  "Come on man! You're not one of those guys that studies all the time are you? I mean I figure you took a job like this because you're an adventurous type! I mean yeah you got a job and I got an assignment, but shit, I ain't never been to a different town before. I wanna explore the scenery a bit! Maybe we can get Yvette to join us too! I saw you checking her out! She's a bit too quiet and bookish looking for me, but hey whatever you like man."
  
  On one hand you don't really have anything against going out and spending someone else's money and maybe having some fun, but you also don't relish the idea of having to look after this fool because with his boisterousness you just know he's going to get himself into a whole mess of trouble and you already got monster crab snails to deal with tomorrow and EVERYONE needs to be prepared for that shit.
  
  > go party with Kelium
  What the hell, might as well make this trip fun and he'll probably just leave anyway. At least if you go with him, you'll be able to have some control over the situation.
  
  "Alright, but let's just me and you go. I doubt if this would be Yvette's thing." You say.
  "Yeah, you're probably right, don't need her slowing us down. Okay! So where do you know that's a good place to go?" Kelium remarks.
  "Well we could try the Sultry Siren. That's usually the popular place."
  "Great! Lead the way."
  
  You and Kelium head to the Sultry Siren, which is a lot busier than the last time you came here, then again the last time you were here, you weren't paying excessive attention to the environment.
  
  Kelium immediately takes a liking to the place going on about how this was the sort of thing he was talking about. He orders drinks for the pair of you and wastes no time in wanting to get involved in one of the gambling games going on.
  
  "Wouldn't you rather go see one of the ladies they got here?" you ask.
  "Well...maybe later. I wanna see if I can win some more money first, then I'll be able to pay more for special requests!" Kelium says excitedly.
  "Um, sure. I'm gonna warn you though, a lot of these folks pretty serious about their gambling. I'd say play a few times and then stop before you lose ALL your money."
  "Me lose? Hardly. I'm not unfamiliar with games of chance and it all comes down to probability! You just have to know the system and the beauty is, it isn't even cheating. I used to play private games against folks at the University all the time until everyone realized they would just be throwing their money away. These fools probably put all their misguided faith in Yag or whatever that silly deity of luck is called."
  "Yeah? Well you might also want to be careful if you intend on winning all the time too. In fact that might even be more dangerous."
  "Bah, stop worrying! Here! Go get yourself the best, I've got this." Kelium remarks and hands you a bunch of silvers as if it was nothing.
  
  You quickly pocket them and briefly think about stopping Kelium since he's already throwing large amounts of money around like some clueless tourist. However you then remember you're supposed to be having fun and Kelium is a big boy and can probably handle himself.
  
  You take your silver and indulge in the best looking whore the Sultry Siren has to offer. You have so much fun with Ariel that you lose track of time until she tells you to get out because you've run out of coin.
  
  Just as well since you probably need to go check to see if Kelium has lost all his money yet.
  
  To your surprise he wasn't joking about knowing "the system" and he's up by at least a few hundred already.
  
  "Hey! You have as much fun as I've been having? Here, go have some more fun!" Kelium exclaims and shoves another pile of coins at you.
  "This is great and all, but don't you think you better stop? I mean it looks like you're ahead." You say.
  "No way, I'm nowhere near finished yet! More drinks for everyone!"
  
  Well it looks like Kelium is spreading the wealth around even though he's winning. Most people seem to be cheering him on. You see a few disgruntled folks perturbed about losing, but nobody looks like they're ready to kill him yet. In fact you're amazed it hasn't happened already given how much he's won.
  
  Maybe you were worried over nothing.
  
  You take Kelium's coins and get yourself a few drinks before heading to see Ariel again.
  
  This sort of merriment goes on for another few hours and by the time you're done with your third round of fun with Ariel (and a couple of her friends) you're only slightly less drunk than Kelium who is STILL winning despite the fact he shouldn't even be standing at this point.
  
  Despite your intoxicated state, you're still aware of your surroundings and now you're starting see less cheering and more glaring eyes of hatred. You think this would be the time to leave.
  
  "Kelium, (hic) it's getting a bit late, we got that thing to do tomorrow." You say, pulling at his arm.
  "B...b...bbut I haven't...be...begun...(hic) to havffffun yet! (hic)." He slurs.
  "Yeah you have, come on let's go..." you say and start grabbing up his coins and pushing him away from the table.
  
  However the men he's currently playing with aren't receptive to that idea.
  
  "Who the fuck are you, his fuck boy? He can't just leave without letting us have a chance of winning back our money." One of them says.
  "Pfft, wouldn't matter anyway. I've been watching this asshole all night and while I can't prove it, I KNOW he's gotta be cheating. There's some magic shit going on or something maybe." Another remarks.
  "Hey waitaminute, maybe it's THIS guy who's been in control the whole night! Maybe this guy is an illusion or something." a third says.
  "What? That's redic...(hic) ulous. I've been spending all my time with the ladies in the back the whole time! I'm not a damn wizard!" you exclaim.
  
  Unfortunately the men aren't convinced and begin advancing on you. You back away, and tell them they can take all the money, but Kelium really isn't keen on that idea even in his near passed out state.
  
  "Whaaaaa!? (hic) Fuck dat! Haf at you!" he says and clumsily tries to draw his sword.
  
  This is a very bad move and the men waste no time in turning this situation into what might have been just a beat down, into a stabby bad time.
  
  Kelium is instantly run through by the time he draws his blade, then he's knocked to the floor dead.
  
  "Oh shit..." you say and start to run.
  
  Under normal circumstances you'd probably be able to get away, but you're just not in the best coordinated condition and you end up barely getting out the door before one of the gamblers trips you up and you go sprawling to the ground.
  
  You feel a crushing blow to your head, which is then followed by someone roughly turning you over. You go for your flintlock, but are stopped and it's all the excuse they need to put a knife in your throat.