???:<br/>Looking out a window, a young woman observes the giant dragon and snorts. "How vulgar.  These American Magus' lack proper restraint. It's as if they don't care who sees their power," she sindely comments in a heavy french accent.<br/><br/>Elsewhere, the young man with the bandaged arm raises an eyebrow at the display.  "How very....interesting. I suppose I should go investigate."<br/><br/>In yet another location, the man from the alleyway grins. Though he can't see the display of power, he can feel it from his location  "Well well well. Someone is certainly showing off. Come, we're going to check it out!"<br/>---------------------------------<br/><br/>Cmpuncle: you failed the roll. Every once in a while, I'll ask for a roll. Sometimes it'll be a spot check, or a conversation check, etc.  Anyway, back to your character specific information:<br/><br/>The clerk shakes his head almost imperceptibly. While he believes you can fend for yourself and that you're not a member not of a gang, he doesn't quite believe you'll be buying one of the warehouses.  Instead of saying so, he answers your question instead.  "They seemed to be looking for something. Their leader appeared to be a young woman, teenager I think, but her hair was a shimmery white. Not sure what product she uses, but my daughter would love to have it, I'm sure.  I figure they're some new gang out to make a name for themselves.  This town used to be such a nice place. No gangs, no violence. When all the factories and warehouses closed shop, a lot of families went broke. Then the gangs sprung up. "<br/>-------------------------<br/>DigitLninja:<br/>The mage's circle begins to glow red as you begin the incantation. As you focus more and more on the ritual, you start losing awareness of what's around you and devote all of it into the ritual. As the ritual proceeds, the glow begins to get brighter and brighter, and the catalyst you chose begins to glow as well.  The atmosphere in the room is charged with mana as you pour more of your mana, or prana rather, into the ritual.  Then all at once, everything returns to normal.  The circle fades away, the air loses it's edge, and your catalyst dissolves.<br/><br/>and then there's a burst of energy upstairs accompanied by the sound of an explosion that shakes the building.<br/>and another explosion, and another.<br/><br/>A glance at the clock indicates you've poured over an hour into the ritual.<br/>---------------------------<br/>Undercover:<br/>Lancer considers your suggestion and opens a window before commenting, "I agree we should train, but I believe we should avoid scouting out other masters just yet.  As far as I can tell, two servants are currently summoned, myself and another.  As to their identity, I can not venture a guess.  Chances are, it's a Saber or Berserker, since I was summoned as a Lancer and those two classes fit my skill set better than Lancer. If a Saber, chances are good I would win. Depending on the Berserker, that might not be the case.  While I fear no opponent, I dare not risk a confrontation with Berserker without having trained with you a bit." He looks out the window, and satisfied that no one will see him, sweeps you off your feet and jumps out the window with you, landing down below out of sight of any prying eyes. He puts you back down, "sorry if I have startled you, but I thought it wise to leave that way, to fool anyone who might be monitoring your room."<br/><br/><br/>(Slight time deviation. Ninja, you're currently an hour ahead of cmpuncle, half an hour ahead of undercover, and at the present moment for ???)<br/>