<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 8pt;">At Mis' side Sticks was twitchier than usual, which was saying something.  Sticks had been a street musician.  He spent his time drumming for whatever scraps people would throw his way.  When one of the guild members tried to pick his pocket the halfling had taken the sticks he'd been drumming with and used them to trap the man's wrist, whacking the thief's arm right on the nerve so that his purse was released and he didn't have to break the thief's wrist achieving that effect.  The guy had picked up his purse and gone right back to drumming as if nothing had happened.  Even though the guild member had kind of hard feelings about it, he'd put the kid's name in at the guild. Sticks seemed to lack the ability to stand still.  He had all sorts of ticks and his speech was fast paced and oftentimes downright difficult to follow.  If one could put up with the annoying creature, however, he was a pretty good guy underneath it all.  He had a good sense of humor and could be pretty loyal. <br/><br/>Gudgeon on the other hand was stoic and quiet.  He was more like Keegan in that he didn't shy away from violence to take care of a problem.  He wasn't rash, but his patience had a limit and when that line was crossed he didn't hesitate.  Gudgeon was a human and had a generally respectable appearance.  He tended to run a more high end scam, with a set of fine clothing he could generally slip into a high class function without being detected.  He'd imitated guards, nobles, and (legend had it) even a woman once, though no one could be certain whether this was myth or not.  Rumor and exaggeration were more popular than the drinks at the headquarters.   Yet, Gudgeon didn't seem to have any interest in solidifying his reputation one way or another, and that said more than it didn't.  His calm demeanor and tall drink of water build set him apart from Sticks significantly.  <br/><br/>To be certain the three of them struck an odd picture.<br/><br/>The leader of the Nighthawks was sitting behind his desk in the small, immaculate, office.  Keegan was a beautiful specimen, though the few who dared to look at him that way had a nasty habit of ending up dead.  Keegan was dark skinned, a complexion like the deepest blue of the darkest night.  His hair was was a white-blue that stood out against his skin.  His eyes were gray, and they had a look in them so hard that they might have been made of steel.  "Sit" he instructed.  This was extremely rare.  Generally anyone who entered the office stood.  No one went in there for long.  Generally whoever went in there either got their reprimand or orders in the most concise manner possible and the Mayor then filled them in on the details.  Strictly speaking Keegan didn't like killing in his office because it got blood everywhere.  Besides, when he was going to take action he generally made sure to do so publicly as it meant he didn't have to kill as often seeing as it instilled enough fear in his subordinates to keep them in line.<br/><br/>Once they complied with his demand he looked them over.  These three had been chosen from among the rest for very specific reasons.  "We've reached a fragile accord with the Phyllobates Terribilis.  You three will act as representatives of the Nighthawks, working with three of the temple's assassins.  Together you will find whoever was responsible for the initial three murders of the temple's subjects and you will eliminate those responsible.  I can't promise that the temple's assassins won't try to kill you.  If they do try, don't make it easy for them.  If they don't try, you're not to provoke a war.  In any case, you should know better than to trust them.  The High Priestess and I have agreed that the Mage's Council is the most advantageous place to start your search.  You will not be welcome there.  You will probably die.  If you don't, you'll be rewarded.  If you screw this up for us, you'll answer to me." Keegan stated matter-of-factly however while he hadn't raised his voice from his soft tone his words were ominous.  Keegan generally didn't make threats.  After all he didn't need to.  Therefore,it was likely Keegan would do something far worse than just kill them if they did not perform appropriately.<br/><br/>Without giving them any more time to digest the information Keegan picked up a canister that was resting against the desk and opened it, spreading out the map contained inside on the table and preparing to give them the logistical information on the Mage's Coucil's defenses, or at least what little he knew about them.  Keegan knew that if he wanted something done right with this ragtag bunch he generally had to have a hand in it himself.  The only person he trusted was dead.  These brigands he was going instruct carefully and motivate with a carrot and a stick as though they were children.</span>