Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist & Sindra)
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Duelist925 on 30-04-2013, 10:29:02</h2>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Duelist925</strong> on <strong>30-04-2013, 10:29:02</strong>
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				It wasn't a dangerously old tower--at least, it wasn't crumbling, much. Only a few stones missing, and it didn't look like it would fall over in a breeze. Heck, looked downright livable with a bit of work.<br><br>She'd have seen worse wizard's towers in her time than the one that stood in front of her in the spring sun.<br><br>It stood perhaps four stories tall, made of a darkly hued stone, with a deep green&nbsp; conical roof,well weathered by the years it had stood empty--only the shattered windows and the moss and vines creeping up the sides of the worked blocks of stone told of how long it had been unoccupied. A large door made of some dark timber hung on one hinge, lolling drunkenly open. It was almost inviting! Almost. <br><br>The inside was...well. It was obvious the place had been open to weather and animals for some time--scattered leaves, the remains of nests here and there, and the shed skin of what looked like a snake of some kind--old and dry--lay strewn about. A rat scurried off with a squeak at her entrance--the only sign of life right now. <br><br>A stairway curved alone one wall up--but a door, opposite the main one, was what demanded attention. Several runes, black as if they'd been scorched,&nbsp; surrounded its curved top, and the remains of a number of small animals lay at the bottom of the half open thing. It had been trapped--and the traps sprung. No magic could be detected, so...it was safe, for now. <br><br>Behind it was a hewn-stone stairway, coiling down into the earth. Descending, the air grew decidedly more chill--and there were no signs of life here. Despite the open door, no dropping, no leaves or nests--not even cobwebs. The way was lit by glowing balls of witchfire every few steps--a spell still lingering, despite the towers abandonment. Whatever was down here must have been important. <br><br>At the bottom was another door--no traps--which opened at her touch. Behind it was...it looked like a strange cross between a surgeons offices' and an alchemists laboratory, with a few wizardly items thrown in. Strange instruments hanging along one wall near a large iron cage--large enough to hold two or three full grown humanoids. A small pedestal, with a few curled pieces of paper. A small desk and a book shelf along one wall--the shelf empty but for a few smallish tomes, and the desk holding only a few splintered quills, and some more curled paper under a decorative paperweight. <br><br>Most disturbingly, off center of the room, near the cage and wall of...tools...was a stone table. It held several straps in a roughly humanoid shape (Ankle, wrist, upper arm, neck, waist, etc), and was carved with runnels, like some sick cross between a surgeons table and a sacrificial altar--it was stained dark with...use, and a small drain sat under it. Nearby stood a podium, of the kind many wizards use to hold books for perusal. <br><br>The place has a strangely clean scent, despite the stains at the table. <br><br>The strangest sight might have been the far wall though--it contained several alcoves, perhaps half a dozen, and each one had a small grate in it, the kind to let water drain away. In five were skeletal remains--three were seemingly human, though one bore orcish tusks, and the other had the somewhat elongated look of an elf.<br><br>The left-most one was the strangest looking. It held a large block of what seemed to be ice--vapor whisped away from it near continuously--which contained the frozen form of...something. The ice was cloudy, but she could make out a basic humanoid form, and the pale skin of a human or elf. <br><br>Next to the strange alcove was a small rune in the stone, detecting of some basic magic to her--not a trap. Somehow linked to whatever this...was. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Sindra</strong> on <strong>02-05-2013, 04:21:08</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/5552/1929981253305610submedi.jpg)</div> Safiras eyed the old tower dubiously as she made her way closer at a steady pace.&nbsp; As she got closer, she took in the stone building and nodded her appreciation at the care it had been given.&nbsp; She knew it had been around for a long time.&nbsp; It was one of the reasons that Safira had decided to investigate the place.&nbsp; Always on the lookout for new and interesting places rumored to have held powerful sorcerers, she spent a good part of her time traveling in hopes of finding something remotely interesting.&nbsp; <br><br>Perhaps it was because of her Elven heritage that she felt the need to study her craft so diligently and wandered as far as she could manage to collect dusty tomes, magical trinkets and anything else that may be of interest to her.&nbsp; But, more likely, it was the dragon blood inside her that caused her to collect valuable items and seek magic.&nbsp; Safira shrugged to herself.&nbsp; She had plenty of time to ponder the reasons why she was the way she was but, right now, there was an old tower to explore.&nbsp; <br><br>Her eyes were drawn to the opened door and excitement started to fill her.&nbsp; It either meant that the place was long abandoned or that something of interest had happened here recently.&nbsp; While she suspected it was the former, she hoped for the latter.&nbsp; &nbsp;Despite her excitement, she walked carefully and cautiously toward the opened door.&nbsp; Pushing it open, she stepped inside the tower, inspecting everything carefully before moving forward.&nbsp; <br><br>Her eyes danced around the room until they landed on the door with runes.&nbsp; To Safira, that was a most promising sign.&nbsp; Making her way carefully toward the door, she bent down to look at the dead creatures for a moment before wrinkling her nose and rising.&nbsp; Opening the door, she glanced down the stairs and smiled at the witchfire still remaining.&nbsp; It was another good sign.&nbsp; Perhaps the old occupant left something of interest behind.<br><br>Keeping her mystical senses open, she began descending down the stairs, her eyes glancing over every surface, flicking back and forth as she nervously made her way to the bottom.&nbsp; Her first glance around the basement made her already pale features turn another shade whiter.&nbsp; It was obviously a place where dark magics had been performed on unwilling subjects.&nbsp; With a shiver, she stepped fully into the room, investigating the items that proved her initial suspicions.&nbsp; “By the Gods.”&nbsp; She breathed out upon looking closely at the table.&nbsp; She shivered again and turned her back to the table, no longer wanting to think about what happened to the victims tied to the alter, only to spot the alcoves.<br><br>Safira gasped at the sight, moving closer before she realized she was doing so.&nbsp; While she didn't want to know - to see - she <em>had</em> to know.&nbsp; Looking inside each one, her nervousness grew.&nbsp; Whoever had lived here had been truly evil.&nbsp; She tightened her forest green cloak closer to her slim body as if she were cold as she made her way down the line.&nbsp; <br><br>Finally, at the very end, she spotted another victim but this one looked to be alive and frozen in ice.&nbsp; Perhaps to keep the victim alive?&nbsp; Calling on her own magics, she pressed pass the ice, feeling another being beneath it.&nbsp; Her heart raced, concern and fear warring inside her.&nbsp; Someone might be alive in there!&nbsp; Without much hesitation after checking for traps, Safira pressed her hand against the rune and let her magics flow into what she suspected was a lock.&nbsp; She hoped that she could free this person from this dark prison.&nbsp; 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Duelist925</strong> on <strong>02-05-2013, 04:51:47</strong>
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				The rune glowed under her hand, her own magics wakening the dormant spells laid within it. A line of blue fire shot from the rune, tracing the across the ice in a strange pattern. The fire winked out after only a moment--and was followed by a crack snapping through the air, as a thin line jarred across the ice. <br><br>Another crack sounded, and another--the ice was shattering, more and more cracks slicing through it. With a crash that was somewhere between a mirror shattering, and a rock being broken open, the massive block simply fell apart, crumbling down and beginning to melt. <br><br>The man inside slumped forward, falling heavily to the stone floor as he grew in a great rasping breath. Nude and seemingly barely conscious, he crawled forward, weakly, a few feet, before simply collapsing to the ground under him. <br><br>He was fit, whoever he was--he had dark hair, cut short, and most of him was fairly well toned--not someone who was averse to physical labor. He had a few scars along his body, nicks and such that most any working male would receive. <br><br>Of course, that wasn't the most attention grabbing thing about him. That would be his arm. His left arm was perfectly human. His right was...not. It was scaled, and bulged with well honed muscle that flexed whenever it moved.It's scaled were a deep slightly dull red, and its fingers ended in nasty looking claws. The scales continued from it to a hefty patch of the shoulder it connected to--both her hands together couldn't have covered it--and from there were small trails of scaly flesh that led to other portions of his body. One line curling around his back, to touch the opposite sides ribs--another trailing down, splitting so one strand spiralled down his left leg, and the other coiled around the base of his spine. <br><br>When he turned his head, breath rasping from the effort, to look at her, she could see another line of scales--these sliding along up his neck, and along his jawbone to coil around one eye. His right eye was yellow where it should have been white, and the pupil was a slit like a cats. <br><br>"Who are you?" he rasped in the common tongue. "Where am I?" His voice was a mangle croak from his long storage..."What happened to me?" He stared down at his scaled arm, eyes wide. "What happened to my arm..." He rasped. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Sindra</strong> on <strong>03-05-2013, 02:39:18</strong>
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				On instinct, Safira shielded herself in a thick layer of clear ice as a line of blue fire shot from the spelled rune.&nbsp; She could feel it when she awoke the magics within but couldn't place what it would do.&nbsp; She jumped as the ice-like substance cracked and she danced back a couple paces.<br><br>She surged forward as the man slumped forward but, before she could reach him, he crashed into the hard floor of the basement.&nbsp; Dropping the shield around her, she watched the man crawl forward, her fingers already working the clasp of her dark green cloak and removed it from her shoulders.&nbsp; While the male was probably too large to be completely covered by her cloak, it was better than nothing.<br><br>Cautiously, she crept forward, moving to one knee next to where he collapsed.&nbsp; Closer now, she noted the changes to what was mostly a human form.&nbsp; Shocked by the scales and claw-like hand, she shook her head, her brows furrowed.&nbsp; Whatever had been done to him was probably horrible and painful.&nbsp; With a deep breath, she laid her cloak over his altered, well muscled form.&nbsp; As there was little else she could do for him for the moment, she could at least offer some privacy with the cloak.<br><br>Her almond shaped eyes watched his face as he looked at her for the first time, her own eyes trailing the scales and landing on his yellow, slit eye.&nbsp; <br><br>“My name is Safira.”&nbsp; She answered in heavily accented common.&nbsp; Even without her long, pointed ears, her elven nature asserted itself in her words.&nbsp; “You are in the basement of a tower.&nbsp; We're quite far from any cities.”&nbsp; She answered his questions the best she could.&nbsp; She shook her head, and sat down the rest of the way next to him, wanting to provide what little comfort she could.&nbsp; “I don't know what happened to you nor why.&nbsp; I do know that some sort of very dark magic was used here.&nbsp; And on you.”&nbsp; She told him delicately but calmly.&nbsp; <br><br>Taking her pack off her back, she opened it and pulled out a water skin.&nbsp; “Are you thirsty?”&nbsp; She asked, holding out the water skin.&nbsp; There were plenty of places within a day or so to refill in this area.&nbsp; Rivers and small streams not uncommon in this part of the world.&nbsp; And, even if there wasn't a lot, she would share with this man.&nbsp; “Can you sit up?”&nbsp; She asked, laying a cold hand on his covered shoulder.&nbsp; Her body temperature was always colder than most other races as her control over cold influenced every part of her.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Duelist925</strong> on <strong>03-05-2013, 05:50:46</strong>
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				"Safira...." He breathed. The cloak settled around him, hiding his flesh, though it failed to cover everything of course. Grunting, he struggled to a sitting position, panting as though he were lifting a great weight. He pulled the cloak tight about himself to hide as much flesh as he could, using his left hand. <br><br>He kept looking at his right arm--or what had replaced it, at any rate. "Magic?" He said. His voice was stronger--he seemed to be recovering from his long stay in the ice. He looked round, eyes passing over the other alcoves and their skeletal remains, before they touched the altar like table. He visibly flinched when he saw it, shutting his eyes with a groan. "I don't...remember." He shook his head, and looked back to her. His left eye, normal, was an icy blue. <br><br>"You are an...elf." He observed. He reached out with his right hand to take the water-skin, before pausing. He stared at it again, before slowly retracting it, and reaching out with his left to take the skin. Taking a deep drought, he shuddered and handed it back. He was staring down at the scaled and clawed fingers of his right hand, flexing them slowly. "I can feel it. Like it were...part of me." His voice was strangely flat. He curled the reptilian hand into a fist--muscles moved smoothly under the skin, and his knuckles cracking loudly as he tightened it. <br><br>He looked over at her touch--he was...hot. Hotter than the average human or elf. He felt as if he were running a slight fever--but he had no other symptoms, no sweating. And his strength seemed to be returning. "Why were you...here? Exploring?" He asked her, eyes searching her face. <br><br>The ice had melted--far more quickly than it should have--and the water was running down the small drain in his alcove. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Sindra</strong> on <strong>03-05-2013, 06:26:00</strong>
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				Safira winced again at the pained expression that crossed the mans face as he tried to sit.&nbsp; A part of her wanted to help him rise to a sitting position but the best way to see how bad off he was was to let him do it for himself.&nbsp; He was in pretty bad shape but at least his body was working.&nbsp; She nodded at his words.&nbsp; “Who are you?”&nbsp; She asked, not certain he would remember that.&nbsp; But, if he didn't, he may still wish to be addressed in a certain way.<br><br>“Yes, magic.&nbsp; At least that's my guess.”&nbsp; She confirmed as his odd gaze roamed over the room that he had been locked away in.&nbsp; She was certain, now that she had the chance to see him, that he had been chained to that table at least once.&nbsp; She felt sympathy for him as he physically reacted to the sight of the horrible table.&nbsp; “It's alright.&nbsp; Perhaps memories will return in time.”&nbsp; She glanced around the room, not certain that remembering the experience would be such a good thing.&nbsp; “In any case, we should probably get you out of here.”&nbsp; <br><br>She nodded, a small smile playing across her face.&nbsp; “Indeed, I am.”&nbsp; She watched his right arm move, reaching for the water-skin.&nbsp; Even with whatever he had been through, it seemed as though the arm was still functional.&nbsp; She had seen it used while he crawled but fine motor control is quite different.&nbsp; Sitting by him, she tilted her head at his words, “I think it is part of you.”&nbsp; Her words were gentle but calm.&nbsp; “I've never heard of magic that can do this to someone but there are many arts that I'm not familiar with.”&nbsp; She told him.&nbsp; While magic itself wasn't evil, it could be used as such if the wielder is so inclined.&nbsp; “Perhaps you could ask a wizard.”<br><br>Removing her hand at his look, her brow furrowed at the residual heat.&nbsp; He looked as though he were getting better but felt incredibly warm.&nbsp; Almost everyone felt warm to her but he was hotter than they were.&nbsp; Perhaps it had something to do with whatever was done to him.&nbsp; “Yes.&nbsp; I had heard rumor of an abandoned tower and came to investigate.&nbsp; Sometimes there are tomes or other small items left behind.”&nbsp; She had never seen anything quite like this before.&nbsp; <br><br>Her dark green gaze fell on the alcove and the melted ice.&nbsp; Cold and ice were something she was intutively familiar with and it had melted far too quickly.&nbsp; With another shiver, she rose quite a bit more urgently than any movement she's made yet.&nbsp; Naturally graceful, her lithe body rose in a smooth motion.&nbsp; Holding out a hand to the man, an unspoken offer to help him rise, she spoke, “We should go.&nbsp; There's no telling how far the... person who did this is.&nbsp; If they're close enough, they may have sensed a change in their magics.”&nbsp; She didn't think the person was close by as all their valuable belongings seemed to be gone but she wanted to be gone from here.&nbsp; <br><br>Heading over to the shelves, Safira grabbed the books left behind and shoved them into her pack before slinging it on her back once again.&nbsp; Without her cloak, the strap of her bag rubbed against her bare shoulder.&nbsp; While her clothing was not practical for most people to travel in, she felt quite comfortable and, as she had a hard time in the heat, it kept her cool enough.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Outfit</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://d44ytnim3cfy5.cloudfront.net/assets/461158/view_large/0401097ca8c8ddf05594278a16932de5.jpg?1277009872)</div></div> 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Duelist925</strong> on <strong>04-05-2013, 12:22:51</strong>
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				"Valen." He said quietly once he'd sat up, answering her question.&nbsp; "Memories...why don't I remember..." He shook his head. "Magic, of course." He grimaced. He glanced up at her. "What are you, if not a wizard?" He asked, a bit of curiosity in his voice. "And do you know of any wizards who might know who did...this...to me? Or whats been done?"&nbsp; He returned his gaze to his arm, flexing it back and forth. "It feels strong. Stronger than I am normally." He said, a very strange note of calm to his voice. <br><br>"Abandoned?" He asked, glancing up at her. "...How long was I down here..." he muttered, rubbing at his forehead with a hand. "Do you know how long this place has been abandoned? I had...friends..." He trailed off, shaking his head. He looked up, and looked at her hand, before reaching out--with his right arm. He glared at the scaled thing, but took her hand with it--it had a smoothly pebbled texture, a curious feel to it. Somewhere between well treated snake skin and leather. With a low growl he pulled himself up, with her help, clutching her cloak about his waist. <br><br>He wrapped the cloak about himself, fastening it as best he could into a crude kilt while he stood. He walked around a bit, stretching his legs. "I feel...better. Not so weak..." He said, half speaking to her. He looked over, at the altar like table, and flinched again--before forced himself to approach it. "...I remember this table." He said slowly. He touched it, and shuddered. "...I remember pain. But...nothing else. No details..." He looked round, and shook his head. "Sorry. I'm...muddled. Thank you for freeing me. Do you want to look through the rest of the tower before we leave? My strength seems to be returning, so don't let my condition stop you." <br><br>He would move with her to ascend the witch-fire lit stairwell as he spoke. The main room of the tower was just as before--door open, staircase leading up. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Sindra</strong> on <strong>06-05-2013, 09:29:11</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/5552/1929981253305610submedi.jpg)</div>“Nice to meet you, Valen.”&nbsp; Safira replied calmly.&nbsp; She listened to him speak, nodding at his words.&nbsp; It was probably best that he didn't remember everything right away.&nbsp; Perhaps some would return as he healed and recovered.&nbsp; Though she could see no wounds on him currently, it didn't mean that there wasn't healing that needed to happen.&nbsp; She nodded but frowned.&nbsp; “I do know of some wizards but it would take some time to get to them.&nbsp; We are far from them though so it is my hope that there is someone closer.&nbsp; I think it would be best not to have to go to Ornthyr for answers.”&nbsp; She tilted her head.&nbsp; “Oh, I'm a sorceress.”&nbsp; She added with a slight shrug of her shoulders.&nbsp; She leaned closer, looking at his arm as he flexed it, watching the muscles bunch under the skin and scales.&nbsp; <br><br>“I don't know how long it was abandoned.&nbsp; I also am guessing that whoever did this to you picked this location because it was abandoned before he took up residence.”&nbsp; She thought for a moment, “Though I can't say that with certainty.&nbsp; I heard about this tower...” She paused, thinking for a moment, “About a month ago, maybe a little longer.”&nbsp; The feel of his scaled hand in hers was unusual. She didn't flinch away from it nor did she stare at the scaled skin.&nbsp; Instead, she took it the sensation and offered a small smile.&nbsp; Mostly, she felt sorrow for what this poor man had been through.<br><br>“No need to apologize.&nbsp; Anyone would be muddled after whatever you have been through.”&nbsp; Her eyes fell back to the back to the other alcoves with dead bodies residing within them.&nbsp; Whatever had happened here had to be horrific.&nbsp; She turned back to him and nodded once.&nbsp; “Let us see if there is anything left here.&nbsp; It may give us some clues as to what happened to you or who was responsible.”<br><br>Still cautious, Safira made her way up the steps with Valen, glancing at him regularly to make sure he was well.&nbsp; Once on the main floor, her eyes took in the room once again before landing on the staircase going up.&nbsp; She gestured toward it and made her way up the steps carefully, still inspecting everything before going forward.&nbsp; <br><br>At the first room, she stepped in wearily, keeping an eye on everything.&nbsp; She had been hit by some traps before and it took awhile to heal from the experience and, since then, it has remained fresh in her mind.&nbsp; Glancing around the small room, she noted the small, worn bed and wood shelves emptied of most items.&nbsp; Her gaze fell to the chest at the end of the bed and moved to it, kneeling down to investigate.&nbsp; Not seeing anything, she opened it, spotting a pants, a shirt and some worn boots.&nbsp; She glanced at her companion, wrapped in her small cloak and held the items up to him.&nbsp; “I don't know if they'll fit but probably a little better than the cloak.”&nbsp; Pausing a moment, she rose, “I can wait in the hall if you want to change in private.”
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Duelist925</strong> on <strong>06-05-2013, 10:08:13</strong>
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				"The pleasure is mine. " he glanced back at the alcove he'd been frozen in. "...Believe me." He muttered. He stretched, joints popping, muscles straigning, and flexed his new arm a bit more, moving it around curiously. "Ornthyr?" He said distractedly, glancing up. "Where is that? " He asked. "An elven city?"&nbsp; He nodded at her explanation of what she was. "So you...simply cast spells. You don't study it or the like?" <br><br>He nodded as she spoke, following after her. "And judging by those bones...Probably longer. " He said quietly. "There was no flesh to them...even if they were simply killed, it would take some time for the flesh to rot away. " He did notice her reaction--or lack there of--regarding contact with his new arm. He appreciated it...He scowled as a thought occurred to him, growling, "I hope we can find something about whoever...did this. If I find them.." He trailed off as they made their way onto the main floor. He didn't seem to be flagging or growing tired. <br><br>Following up to the second floor, he glanced around--bed, shelves with a few knicknacks and not much else. A letter opener that might serve as a dagger. A few odds and ends. His expression brightened as she brought out the clothes, and he chuckled softly. "I'm not particularly shy." He said with a smile, reaching to take the clothing. He stepped away and turned away from her, tugging the shirt on first, before undoing her cloak and throwing it over his shoulder. He slid the pants after he'd done that little bit of flesh revealing, and stepped into the boots. <br><br>"...Little loose..." He said as he tied the pants tight. "But if I can find a bit of rope, or a belt, nothing that I can't live with." He said. Everything seemed a size or so too large for him. <br><br>There was muffled thump--it came from the ceiling. A scrabbling noise--he looked up reflexively, looking puzzled. "THat sounded...bigger than a rat..."<br><br>The only other way in or out of the room was another wooden door at the other end.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Sindra</strong> on <strong>09-05-2013, 23:55:14</strong>
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				Safira didn't argue the words.&nbsp; After whatever the man had been through, she was sure it was much better to be freed.&nbsp; She nodded at his question, her red hair falling forward, bright against her pale skin.&nbsp; “It is an Elven city.&nbsp; The capitol city.”&nbsp; Again, she bobbed her head in a quick nod.&nbsp; “Yes.&nbsp; I can simply cast spells.&nbsp; I have had training and do like to read but it's still different from how a wizard works.&nbsp; They tend to be a bit more knowledgeable overall.”<br><br>“I would presume that the person had been here for awhile.”&nbsp; She agreed easily.&nbsp; “I don't necessarily think that all of the...victims were taken at the same time.”&nbsp; She added her thoughts to his own.&nbsp; “I can understand the desire to get your hands on whoever did this to you.&nbsp; But, considering what this person is capable of, we should find out as much as possible.”&nbsp; She pointed out logically.&nbsp; She didn't want to run in blind and have them both end up on another table like the one in the basement.<br><br>Safira nodded at his words and wasn't overly shy about watching him change.&nbsp; The scales that decorated his body were visible briefly and it made her wonder.&nbsp; She had no idea why someone would add scales to another person but, she had a feeling that there was more to this then they could see as yet.&nbsp; Perhaps the goal was some sort of complete transformation?&nbsp; But, if that were the case, why leave the project?&nbsp; She shook her head, the physical movements helping clear her head.&nbsp; <br><br>Her eyes took him in, looking him up and down before she nodded.&nbsp; “It's better than the cloak but maybe we can get you something in a town or city later.”&nbsp; She tilted her head, “Not bad overall, though.”&nbsp; <br><br>Safiras eyes snapped upward at the noise and narrowed.&nbsp; “It would appear we are not alone.”&nbsp; She said and nodded at the observation.&nbsp; “I agree.&nbsp; Probably not something rat like.”<br><br>“Shall we?”&nbsp; She asked, gesturing toward the door.&nbsp; She waited to walk by him.&nbsp; While she was quite capable of a fight, she didn't want them to separate for the moment, concerned that, while he seemed to have regained his strength, he may be a bit more vulnerable at the moment.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Duelist925</strong> on <strong>10-05-2013, 07:22:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Ill have to find one then..." He shook his head. "Thoughts for tomorrow." He said firmly, before he turned to change. <br><br>Other than the scales, the rest of him wasn't bad. A few scars here and there--he'd obviously seen some action before. One nasty one was a jagged stripe along his right side, just below the ribs. Other than that, a leanly muscled form. "I doubt I'll be able to do anything to him now." He said, an obvious growl to his tone. "But I will find him one day. And I will make him fix me, or make him pay."&nbsp; <br><br>He stretched, moving about in a few curious ways, seeing how the clothing pulled against itself, how it felt. "It'll do for now. At least the boots fit ok." <br><br>Looking back down. "Lets." He said, before moving to a chair and flipping it over--he grabbed a leg, looking like he was about to strain. But his right arm flexed, and the chair leg snapped off. He looked...startled. "...That was...easier than it sould've been." He said, looking at the scaled arm, holding the improvised club as she walked past. He shook his head. <br><br>"Not much I can do about it now anyway..." He said quietly. He pulled the door open, nodding to her to go first since she seemed to want to lead the way. <br><br>Past the door was a staircase, light filtering in from a few windows--one was broken. Outward, oddly. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Sindra</strong> on <strong>03-06-2013, 05:28:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Safira nodded at his growled words, her expression icy and giving nothing away.&nbsp; She agreed with him though, he should find the person that did this to him and make him reverse it or, at the very least, make him pay for the suffering the person imparted on him.&nbsp; “That is an excellent plan.”&nbsp; She said, a coldness in her tone.&nbsp; It was something she couldn't help at times.&nbsp; Her anger tended to be cold rather than a burning thing. <br><br>She took him in and nodded.&nbsp; “I'm just glad we found something for you to wear.&nbsp; It may not be perfect but it fits better than my cloak.”&nbsp; She grinned at him.&nbsp; The cloak barely covered anything and, while she may enjoy the sight of him, his travels would be far more difficult just wearing the soft green cloak.<br><br>Jumping slightly as he easily tore the chair leg off, she blinked at him.&nbsp; “Indeed.&nbsp; Perhaps you are stronger than you used to be?”&nbsp; She wasn't sure what was done to him but, whatever it was, seemed to have changed more than the eye could see.&nbsp; “That may come in handy soon.”&nbsp; <br><br>She raised an eyebrow as the door groaned when he pulled it open.&nbsp; It was a sturdy door and in decent repair so it was probably another side effect of the males strength.&nbsp; She stepped out of the door, moving quickly.&nbsp; About to go down the stairs, she noticed the broken window.&nbsp; Halting, she turned and looked out it. Perhaps the sound they heard was someone escaping?&nbsp; Uncertain, she paused long enough to see if there was anyone, or anything, above or below them.&nbsp; <br><br>“Do you see anything?”&nbsp; She asked him.&nbsp; He was stronger now and perhaps his sight would be better than a normal human or elf would be. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Duelist925</strong> on <strong>03-06-2013, 06:56:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He chuckled slightly. "That it does. " He said with a flash of a smile her way. "Not that your cloak was uncomfortable. Quite soft. " He had heard the anger in her voice earlier...it comforted him, oddly enough. That she was angry on his behalf....<br><br>"Likely. Whatever was done to me was done for a reason...maybe they were trying to make some...super soldier or something." He shook his head, flexing the scaled arm back and forth. "With luck, it won't desert me. " He smiled humorlessly as he stared at the scales for a moment. <br><br>He followed closely after her. "I see...nothing. Just stairs. The window was broken some time ago...a few days maybe? It can't be long, or else water would have gotten in from the rain...and I don't smell any mold. " The stairway continued upwards, to a third floor above ground. There was another scuttling noise above them--definitely a floor above. The staircase continued into a trap door--as they approached, he twitched. "Theres a...noise. " She heard it a moment later--a strange noise. Something like a growl, but with a sibilant quality to it...<br><br>The trapdoor opened relatively easily at her touch. The cries became more apparent--it sounded like something was in pain, or trapped.&nbsp; This room was...much more trashed. There were a number of shelves upturned, and it seemed this was the wizards study--bookshelves everywhere, with a large desk wedged in one corner. Near a broken window was a large bookcase that had collapsed--it was shifting slightly. Something was stuck under it....
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Sindra</strong> on <strong>05-06-2013, 05:54:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Safira tilted her head at the suggestion.&nbsp; “Perhaps.”&nbsp; She said slowly, considering the ramifications of this person being allowed to continue his experiments elsewhere.&nbsp; “I wonder what he would be doing with super soldiers.”&nbsp; She said quietly, mostly thinking aloud.&nbsp; Most people who would try to create such a thing would have a goal in mind once they were successful.&nbsp; She heard the humorless tone but nodded anyway.&nbsp; If there were something in here that wanted to harm them, it wouldn't be bad to be able to rely on his strength.<br><br>“Of course.”&nbsp; She replied to his comments.&nbsp; He was correct, there was no smell of mold or even wet wood that would be present if it had happened a long time ago and there was no sign that someone had used it recently.&nbsp; Leaving the window, she continued toward the stairs leading upwards.&nbsp; As they approached, she heard the scuttles from above and slowed her stride, being more cautious.&nbsp; Stepping carefully up the stairs, she paused when he spoke and listened.&nbsp; Nodding, her brow furrowed.&nbsp; She wasn't sure what would make that noise but would only find out by continuing forward.<br><br>Safira took in the room quickly, her almond eyes taking in the mess quickly.&nbsp; On seeing the movement, she gestured to Valen as he was definitely the stronger of the two.&nbsp; He could get them to whatever was trapped and probably pull the entire bookcase off the creature.&nbsp; And, she would be prepared to hurl magic at it if it attacked Valen.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Duelist925</strong> on <strong>05-06-2013, 22:27:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Sell them, maybe. Or try to start his own nation, or something of the sort." He shrugged. "Or maybe he's just a mad bastard." He shook his head. <br><br>He stepped round her when she gestured, moving slowly through the room, towards the collapsed bookshelf. It kept shuffling round, shaking, and the growls and pained noises kept coming. They seemed to be coming more frequently now--whatever it was, it was reacting to their approach. <br><br>He bent, grabbing either side of the shelf and nodded to her. "Whatever it is, if its aggressive...hit it with something." He said quietly. He tensed, and heaved the splintered wood up, quickly shoving it aside to try and free up his hands. <br><br>Revealed was...well. Nothing she'd ever seen before. It was roughly the size of a fox, and looked vaguely canine...if a wolf had mated with a cobra, perhaps. It had a slender somewhat serpentine appearance, and the head was an odd mix of sleek muzzle and the triangular shape of a snakes head. <br><br>Most of it's body was scaled a dark forest green shading into splotches of dark green, from nose to the tip of its whip tail, though there was a ruff of thick, dark fur about its neck, down the backs of its legs, and a tuft at the tip of its tail. <br><br>It was hurt--seems one of its legs had been trapped beneath the fallen shelves, and seemed broken. It held it up, shifting back as far as it could and snarling weakly at them. It looked like it'd been trapped for some time, judging by its malnourished appearance. Dark gold eyes stared at the two of them, darting back and forth--it was afraid. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Sindra</strong> on <strong>08-06-2013, 08:16:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Safira nodded at his theories. While it didn't matter what the person was planning to use them for, it was something that shouldn't be happening.&nbsp; Kidnapping and tormenting people was just not something that she could sit back and hope that someone else dealt with the problem.&nbsp; Without any preamble, she spoke up, “If it's appealing to you, I would love to help you find whoever did this.”&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>Following him through the room, she listened to the creature become more and more distressed by their mere presence.&nbsp; It sounded wounded and, instead of relief that people were coming, it seemed scared.&nbsp; That meant that it was probably another creature that had been taken and experimented on.&nbsp; <br><br>“Of course.”&nbsp; She replied, ready to defend them once the creature was no longer stuck.&nbsp; Poised and ready, she waited for him to pull up the heavy, splintered bookcase.&nbsp; While it was an impressive feat, she barely acknowledged it even in her own mind as she was prepared for the creature to attack them.<br><br>Safira blinked at the sight of the wounded creature.&nbsp; It was unlike anything she had ever encountered before but oddly adorable.&nbsp; Keeping herself ready, she watched it's golden eyes flick back and forth between them.&nbsp; Waiting for another moment, she finally relaxed ever so slightly as it didn't immediately attack them.<br><br>Keeping her movements slow and deliberate, she opened a pouch and pulled out a few small strips of dried meat.&nbsp; Holding it out, she walked closer to the creature ever so slowly.&nbsp; She didn't want to startle it and wanted to make it clear to the small predator that she was no threat.&nbsp; <br><br>“It's alright.&nbsp; We're not here to hurt you.”&nbsp; She cooed at the small, foxlike creature.&nbsp; Still careful and cautious, she got close enough to it to kneel down and hold out the offering but still giving it the choice to come closer to get it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Duelist925</strong> on <strong>10-06-2013, 02:19:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He paused at her offer, and nodded. "You are kind...I would welcome your company." He said with a slight smile. She was easy on the eyes as well, though he wasn't so crass as to say so. "A lovely and accomplished sorceress such as you is more than welcome." ...OK, maybe he WAS crass enough. <br><br>He stared down at the creature that had been trapped, taking a careful step to the side. "Be careful...that thing has needle sharp teeth.." He said quietly. Indeed, as the thing hissed and growled at them, it revealed its sharp fangs. Definitely a carnivore...<br><br>It regarded her warily as she spoke soothing, and fished in her pouch. The smell of the meat reached it, and its eyes began to dark from the meat to the rest of her. It clearly wanted the food, badly. As she edged nearer, its head began to wave back and forth uncertainly. A serpentine pattern as its attention was divided by the threat it thought of her, and its hunger.<br><br>With a darting snake-strike like motion, its head snapped forward, nipping a strip of meat from her hand. It pulled back quickly, and began to tear the meat into bite size strips which it swallowed whole. Still regarding her warily, it edged a bit closer, and nipped another piece out of her hand. It seemed to be growing use to her presence...<br><br>Several minutes, and most of her jerky later, it was tentatively sniffing her hand, nudging its nose against her skin. A few deep sniffs, and it began to but its head against her hand, almost cat like. It liked her!
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Sindra</strong> on <strong>14-06-2013, 23:01:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Safira smiled at his words.&nbsp; She was quite grateful that he would welcome her company.&nbsp; While she had been traveling far and wide to find more magical resources, she would still be able to do that while helping this man find the person that did this to him.&nbsp; Plus, this person was obviously using magic to do whatever it was that they were doing and that was interesting to her personally.&nbsp; She couldn't help but chuckle at the compliment.&nbsp; “Well, thank you.”&nbsp; She took in his form again.&nbsp; He was nice on the eyes as well.&nbsp; <br><br>Continuing to coo at the creature, she nodded at his words.&nbsp; The fang-like teeth on the thing had not escaped her notice and, while she was quite concerned about them, she didn't want to further traumatize the poor creature.&nbsp; It had already been traumatized enough.&nbsp; <br><br>Quietly and calmly, she continued to speak to the creature, her voice as soothing as she could make it as she moved closer and closer to it.&nbsp; Looking at it, she found that it had a strangely beautiful quality to it.&nbsp; Still cautious, her heart thumping in her chest, she moved as close as she dared before stopping and offering it the food.&nbsp; <br><br>Forcing herself to stay completely still as the creature snaked forward and tore the meat from her hand, she let out her breath as it consumed her offering.&nbsp; Pulling out another piece, she offered it more food.&nbsp; Than another piece and another.&nbsp; The poor thing was quite hungry and probably hadn't eaten in some time.<br><br>Safira grinned at the creature sniffed her hand.&nbsp; She opened her palm for it and waited patiently while it sniffed at her skin.&nbsp; She couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her as the creature bumped it's head against her hand.&nbsp; It seemed to want her to touch it.<br><br>Carefully, she moved her hand slowly, rubbing her fingers delicately on the top of it's head, watching it's reaction.&nbsp; Safira settled herself on the ground, sitting close to the creature while still allowing it to decide if it wished to continue to come closer to her.&nbsp; She hoped it would!&nbsp; She was growing attached to the strange creature quickly.&nbsp; Perhaps her Elven heritage made it almost impossible not to love living creatures.&nbsp; Or, perhaps it was it's own uniqueness that made her so drawn to it.&nbsp; <br><br>“It seems to like me.”&nbsp; She mentioned quietly to her companion, her voice still maintaining the soothing quality as to not startle the creature.&nbsp; “Perhaps it will wish to leave with us.&nbsp; I don't think we can just leave it here.”&nbsp; She wasn't sure how he would feel about that but she couldn't just leave the creature wounded and alone. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Duelist925</strong> on <strong>17-06-2013, 09:31:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He was staring down at the thing, head tilted curiously as he fed from her hand. He had to suppress a chuckle when it butted its head against her hand imperiously. "I think it'd die if we left it here. Its leg is rather mangled. It might need the attentions of an animal healer." He mused. <br><br>He knelt down, looking at it, and the thing peered at him before going back to nuzzling Safira's hand. It chirped, sounding almost like a bird. Abruptly, it scurried from its hiding place and darted up her, climbing her clothing and perching on her shoulder. It promptly stuck its head into her hair, sneezed once, and began to try and lick the inside of her ear. <br><br>He seemed to find this the funniest thing ever, falling back from his kneeling position to sit on his rump and erupt in a bark of laughter. "Ok, he certainly likes you." He said with an easy grin. It was the first real, unhindered smile she'd have seen. The thing peered at him again before letting out a "yip"-ing sound, and going back to exploring her ear canal. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Sindra</strong> on <strong>23-06-2013, 08:29:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Safira glanced at him as he spoke, her brows furrowed.&nbsp; “We most certainly cannot leave him here to die.”&nbsp; The thought disturbed her quite a bit.&nbsp; The poor little creature shouldn't be left to die.&nbsp; She nodded at the idea of the animal healer.&nbsp; “I agree.&nbsp; It will need some tending to.”<br><br>She let out a laugh as the creature crawled up her and perched on her shoulder.&nbsp; Letting out another laugh at the sneeze, she started to turn her head to see it as it tried to lick the inside of her ear.&nbsp; Shaking her head to keep it at bay, she cooed at the creature, “Oh, no, sweetie.&nbsp; Not the ear.”&nbsp; Not that it understood a word she was saying to it.<br><br>Grinning at Valen at his bark of laughter, she nodded in agreement.&nbsp; “It does seem to like me.”&nbsp; She was glad to see the man smile too.&nbsp; After everything he had been through, getting a nice laugh could only be good for him.&nbsp; She eyed her new friend as it yipped at Valen and chuckled.&nbsp; About to rise, she stopped as it started trying to explore her ear canal.&nbsp; “No, no sweetie.”&nbsp; She said to it but her words didn't seem to derail it's attempts at all.&nbsp; Covering her ear canal for the moment, she rose carefully as she didn't wish to dislodge her new friend.<br><br>“Shall we continue?”&nbsp; She asked Valen, glancing around the room once again.&nbsp; Getting a better look at the room now that they weren't so focused on the noises coming from the room, her eyes scanned over the books quickly to see if any were of interest. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Duelist925</strong> on <strong>24-06-2013, 07:03:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I don't see any blood...I think it's simply twisted badly, and likely broken. We may need to set it if you don't want the creature lamed. " he said, tilting his head thoughtfully. "Do you know how far the nearest village is?" He inquired. <br><br>Another low, rumbling chuckle escaped him as the thing simply kept up its explorations of her pointed ear, despite her admonishments. "I think you have a new pet, lady." He said with an easy grin. "It certainly feels safe enough riding you." It was a hefty weight on her shoulder, but nothing she couldn't handle. No worse than a large falcon. <br><br>He hefted himself back up, and began to gather books, reading over the titles of those that had readable titles, and setting aside anything that might be magic related. A sadly small pile. <br><br>Oddly, from both his and her searches, the books were a truly eclectic bunch--while there were a large number on anatomy, comprising the bulk of the collection, there were multiple volumes about the movements of the stars and moons, the ways of animals, several, oddly enough, on the forging of metals and alloys, and two regarding clockwork.&nbsp; For her interests, there were what seemed to be two spell books, one private and one an apprentices learner, and a small tome of magical knowledge concerning plants and alchemy. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Sindra</strong> on <strong>25-06-2013, 10:29:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Safira nodded sadly at Valens words.&nbsp; She didn't want to have the creature end up lame because they didn't help.&nbsp; “I really don't know how to do that and I'm a little worried about doing more harm than good.”&nbsp; She pondered his question and nodded.&nbsp; “Yes.&nbsp; The nearest village is less than a day from here.&nbsp; I stayed at it before making my way here.&nbsp; It took me most of a day to get here but I wasn't in a hurry either.”<br><br>She chuckled again, a musical, lilting noise to counter his rumbling chuckle.&nbsp; She moved her fingers in front of her ear canal but didn't seem bothered when it continued to lick at her pointed ear.&nbsp; “It's very sweet.&nbsp; I like it.”&nbsp; She was a little surprised by the weight and knew that it would have to change shoulders on occasion to keep her from any soreness.<br><br>She listened as he murmured off titles and her brows furrowed.&nbsp; Perhaps these didn't belong to the person who was doing the experiments on people.&nbsp; But, some of them would make sense as the wizard seemed to be working with various types of people as well as animals.&nbsp; She wasn't sure what the others would have to do with any of the work.&nbsp; With a one shoulder shrug, she took the couple of books that related to her intrests and stuck them in her bag, careful to not dislodge her new companion.<br><br>Once the hunting through the room was done, she glanced at Valen again.&nbsp; “Shall we?”&nbsp; She asked, anxious to get her new found friends to help.&nbsp; If they could get to the village, hopefully there wouldn't be any permanent damage to the little creature.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Failed Designs: An Adventure in Tirrel (Duelist &amp; Sindra)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Duelist925</strong> on <strong>30-06-2013, 06:51:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Valen nodded. "Any animal healer should be able to set the leg so it heals correctly...though it didn't have any issue climbing to your shoulder." He said with a chuckle. "I'd offer, but it's been ages since I tended an wounds by my own." He shook his head. "Farm was a long time ago..." He sighed. <br><br>The rest of the room was fairly empty, other than what looked like a trap door up to the roof. "I'm ready if you a--ohh." He'd been glancing behind a wedged over book case. One hand darted behind it, pulling out a rather nice looking dagger. He unsheathed it, blowing the dust off the handle. "Think I'll keep this...sturdy blade. Good for some hefty work..." He said, suddenly a bit cheerful. <br><br>It was a surprisingly plain looking blade--a black leather wrapped handle, with a stout blade that looked like it could take some punishment. <br><br>He tucked it, sheathe and all, into his belt and nodded to her. "I'm ready whenever you are." He said, gesturing to the door out. <br><br>The way out was uneventful. 
			</dd>
		</dl>
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