<div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">Finders Keepers<br/>A Scarred Land's Story</span></strong><br/></div><br/><div align="center">(http://i55.tinypic.com/wb2xd3.jpg)</div><br/>It is the first Belasday in the month of Tanot within the city of Shelzar it's high walls shield it's occupants from a sandstorm that brews on the horizon, it is night and the occupant's of the city of pleasures the city of sin go about there business as usual. For tonight in a night like any other for many who walk the streets and alleys, a night to revel a night to seek out the pleasures and excess the city offers up on a daily basis.  But for a few tonight was a night that perhaps would be remembered and marked, it was tonight that the enigmatic Lady of the Mask would offer employment to a few of Shelzar's mercenaries,rogues and sellswords. Little fact was known of the Lady of the Mask but there where many a rumor whispered of her wealth and influence, she had arrived almost a year ago and seemingly settled into the cities foreign quarter.<br/><br/>The foreign quarter was a picture of what made Shelzar what it was within its streets and alleys one could see and find the root of the city, in this new emerging age of inquisition Shelzar had become even more popular among many of the races and people of Ghelspad. For Shelzar was a tolerant and open city what you could find within it walls you would scarcely imagine to find elsewhere on Ghelspad, where once the foreign quarter's purpose had begun to seam irrelevant it now had purpose once more packed with new arrival's and races from all of Ghelspad.  As one walked the alleys exotic sights and sensations intruded upon the senses, the harlot's and entertainers of the quarter where all too eager to entice and entertain whatever the pleasure or sin. The smells of the many exotic foods and spices within the quarter was a constant plague upon the mind, and if they where not enough the barks and shouts of those selling them probably where.  It was hard to move with the packed streets and alleyways without being offered something, even the illicit and black market wares seamed to be eagerly offered up and on display here.<br/><br/>The Quelskan Kitchen was the place of meeting this night one of the most famous ethnic restaurants within the quarter if not the city itself, it's owner a Zathiskan woman was a uncontested in the art of traditional and authentic Zathiskan food. The smells of the pungent curries and grilled meets wafted through the local streets, drawing both approval and some disgust from those who where not fond of Zathiskan cuisine. Usually the Quelskan Kitchen was busy especially during the night taking advantage of the lack of curfew which had once been common in the quarter, but tonight the place seamed empty other than the owner and her few staff.<br/><br/>Within the Lady of the Mask and her entourage waited in private seclusion, those whom had searched and come to meet with her where directed into the room. The Lady of the Mask and her entourage sat some distance from the table and seating provided for her guest, The Lady herself sat at the center of a table with a fellow masked companion stood behind her and two of the city guard either side of her chair, the table was set beneath veil of the finest mesh silks further adding to the mystery and rumor of this most secretive of women. It was said that nobody has ever seen her face, some even whispered that she did not have one many rumors about her nature circulated none had ever been proven. She was dressed in a black and white dress worn beneath a heavy black robe she showed no flesh but ample jewels and signs of wealth, her fabled mask was topped with a crimson wreath of silks  her masked facade forever blank.<br/><br/><div align="center">(http://i53.tinypic.com/2pzbbyg.jpg)</div><br/>She toyed with the meal before her examining and sifting through it idly with her fork held like an implement of dissection, clearly she had no intention of eating it she did not come here for the food after all.  As her guests arrived and placed themselves before her she glanced them over, she had been searching for weeks for a suitable company of men or women to add to her books those she could trust and employ to perform special services for her.  She placed her fork to one side and glanced towards the owner of the restaurant who lurked to one side, the owner nodded in turn and swiftly headed of.  Moment's later the most unusual of small creatures scurried forth from the back rooms, carrying with it a bound book and black chest lined with glimmering silver supports and hinges, the two guards looked nervously at the reptilian creature. It's small form was clad in a small robe and hood it's snout and tail poked forth from the covering clothes, it's scaly skin was a mottled dark gray and black it appeared to have but one beady eye the other covered by a strange eye piece.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://i51.tinypic.com/acafq0.jpg)<br/></div><br/>The peculiar creature hopped up on to a chair besides it's mistress she turned towards the creature and pulled the book from the top of the chest, placing the book before her she opened it up and conjured forth a black feather quill from her sleeve in a manner of legerdemain that would make her perhaps versed in magic or exceptional slight of hand. The creature nodded to the woman and looked to those gathered before it clearing it's throat it spoke the common tongue in a raspy sibilant tone.<br/><br/><em>“Thossse that ssseek employment, ssspeak and be known my missstresss hasss chosssen you among many.  Ssshe hasss tasssksss for you and isss prepared to pay a high price for your time and ssservice.  The Lady of the Masssk asksss you consssider before you accept her tasssk, there will be dangersss and perilsss before you, but in placing your livesss in her ssservice you will receive of her many blesssingsss and asssissst in the cleansssing and reparation of Ghelssspad.”</em><br/><br/>The creature looked once more to the Lady of the Mask and she nodded once again to the creature and he opened the black chest to reveal the strange glint and glimmer of exotic coins, she glanced to those gathered before her and spoke herself as she gestured for those gather to approach. Her voice echoed forth in a clear and untainted tone “Speak now, come forth one by one sign my book join me in service and I will reward you for it.  Your first task will be a simple one for all of you I am sure that is why I have chosen each of you, all that remains is your own choice.  If you have questions, now is the time I will permit them.”<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong>Interest &amp; Info Thread</strong><br/>http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=109421.0 (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=109421.0)<br/><br/><strong>Characters &amp; System Thread</strong><br/>http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=110412.0 (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=110412.0)<br/><br/><strong>OOC Thread</strong><br/>http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=110411.0 (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=110411.0)<br/></span><br/></div>