[center][h1][color=red] William [/color] and [color=f7941d] Jamie [/color] [indent] collab post [/indent] [/h1][/center]


 William was amazed of the sheer quantity of people in one place. He heard about this things called " cities " but he never saw anything like this ever. Not that he could...all this explosion-thief quest of theirs has a silver lining even if they will all probably be killed by the end of it. 
He approached Jamie , which he didn't talk to much because she spent all her time with Shadow and tapped her on the shoulder. " [color=red] Hey. Jamie , right ? I want to try something I've only heard the...Templar talk about but I'm afraid I would get lost in all these people. This...city is huge ! Much bigger than my prison cell that's for sure. Can you...please come with me ? The others have already left to buy stuff. I just hope they don't go too far. [/color] ". 


Jamie continued the journey back to the where the others were in silent, deciding that Darius could be as difficult as he wanted. She could be even more so. As William approached her, she gave him a smile, and nodded, [color=f7941d]"Sure thing, I'd be happy to."[/color] Not that she would be any good at directing them back, but she had a good memory, and besides, the little trip to the black markets had shown her that the city was more than a little dangerous. [color=f7941d]"As long as they stay in the city, we should be okay. We didn't start getting headaches until we were at the cross roads, which was a far way from you guys, I imagine"[/color]

William nodded. " [color=red] Yeah. That was pretty far. Something like...2 km or more. Which is funny considering that the Templar that injected us with the bomb said we couldn't leave each other's sides. Maybe this...bomb is not working as good as the Templar told us about. My guess is that this is something that has not yet been tested and we are the first test subjects. I wander what would happen if we somehow overload the enchantment. I don't know if you know but every enchanment , of any kind has a small issue from what I understood. If too much magic is put in it , it will break. So, in theory, it would be possible to overload this enchantment too but I don' t think that Aelar and me could do it but that's just a theory. I don't know in what section of the Citadel you worked in but in the library we are not allowed to study much , not that some of us want to. We all know what happenes to Magi that learn too much , too fast. I guess you've seen more than a few executions in your career. I lost a...friend , a good friend because of that. She asked to see the Templar in charge back then because she had a theory on why Magi from after the war couldn't learn more than one type of magic and she never came back. I asked the guards , where she is and after I got a black eye from one of their sword hilts...they've told me that she was sent to the Death Row. 
Anyway. I wanted to go to a tavern. I heard there is something called...ale ? That I wish I could try. If this will be the last journey in my life , at least I will die knowing that I've done things no Magi in 100 years ever did. You know ? [/color] " as he was saying this , they've moved through the streets towards one of the many taverns in the city. 

Jamie listened as William rambled on, She let him go on until it seemed like he had run out of words, taking a moment or two to process everything he had said, glancing about them and looking for a taven that wouldn't, hopefully, end in a fight. [color=f7941d]"Perhaps it has been tested, but never on so many at once. And we are different races as well. And I don't imagine the bombs have ever been tested on Magi before. That would involve actually giving you some freedom, wouldn't it?"[/color] Jamie disliked the way the Magi were treated. The thought of not being able to learn more then what was allowed? Having to stay in the citadel, always watched, and at any moment you could be killed? 

[color=f7941d]"I never went to the exercutions if I could help it"[/color] She said softly,[color=f7941d]"See, I have this problem with Authority. That being, if I don't like something, I tend to do something about it. I don't like the way you guys are treated, nor do I like the fact you get put to death for knowing too much."[/color] She gave a sigh, and she said, a tone of sadness in her voice [color=f7941d]"While it would be good to get rid of the bombs, how would we test it out? One wrong move, and we're all dead"[/color]

She didn't think William had given any thought to the fact that when they got back, if they survived at all, the citadel might consider him as having learned too much, of knowing too much. She didn't want to see anyone she had worked with like this, be killed just for doing what the citadel wanted. She gave a sigh,and turned into a tarven, glancing about at the occupants in the room. She led William over to a table that covered their backs, while giving Jamie a good view of the door. 

"[color=red] I...I...thank you for the kind words my lady. [/color]" he bowed deeply. "[color=red] Maybe not all Templars are all bad. Makes you wonder. Why would your Head Templar send people that are known to be Magi-friendly , right ? Almost everyone...
How we can test it , you say ? The bombs are in our blood , yes ? That means that somehow we are all linked together so if I would take some blood from you and some blood from me...they should react to each other. My spells allow me to eat the lifeforce out of something around me , if I would focus on...let's say your blood , my blood...in theory should react to whatever I do to your blood. It's just a theory and it's the safest thing we can do. It won't kill us and I don't think it will hurt too much. [/color]" as soon as William entered the tavern with Jamie he was assaulted by a bunch of smells he never smelled. People were playing dice , dancing , drinking and screeming at each other over the music that was played by a bard. 
"[color=red] Wow. What's all this ? So much noise. Is this the "music" I heard of ? And what are those people doing there with those...things. ( he means the dices ). They seem angry at each other. What happened ? [/color]" said William with a look of curiosity on his face. 

At the curious looks they got, Jamie simply lay a hand on her sword. She was quite use to the illustrious looks men gave her, she noted that they saw her injuries and there was anger in some eyes. She shook her head when one rose, figuring they thought William had hurt her, and gave them a smile to reassure them she was okay, simply tapping her sword [i]I am no mere woman[/i] she thought with amusement. 

[color=f7941d]"I think they more wanted to get rid of me, then get rid of you. I doubt they even care that I am sympathetic to your course"[/color] Jamie said, musingly [color=f7941d]"I'm good. I follow their orders, I do what is required of me, but you've seen my tendancy to go a little...wild"[/color] She chuckled with amusement. [color=f7941d]"Well, we can try that. No harm in it, right? I'd rather not go ka-bloom!"[/color] 

She smiled at William's reaction to the tavern, and decided she would do what she could to show him the wonders this world offered. [i]just no blackmarkets. I didn't like them before going into one, and I'm not going to like them anymore now[/i] she thought. [color=f7941d]"Yeah. That's music. Not the best I've heard, but"[/color] She waved a hand around them, and smiled [color=f7941d]"This is perhaps the best, and the worst of life. Those mean are playing with dice, they're having a game....of well chance. It's gambling. One probably won a lot of money and the others are probably acusing him of cheating. Don't mind them"[/color] She said, calling over a severving girl, she ordered them two ales. 

William got curious about the dice game. "[color=red] Gambling. Hmm...They bet gold and if one wins , he takes all the gold from the others ? It sounds awfully similar to what the Templar do in the library. They throw something at a Magi and if the Magi is hit , the Templar laugh and one of them gives gold to the other one but there is no dice there. Is it the same game or something like it ? 
Also. Do you mind if you teach me the game those men play with dices ? We are going on a caravan and I don't know how long the road will be but I guess we can have time but only if you want to...Temp-- Jamie.  I'm sorry. I'm not used to talk with Templar , so freely. Thank you again for allowing me. [/color]" William bows his head again in thanks. 

[color=f7941d]"No, it's not the same thing. They were just being jerks."[/color] Jamie said, quite disgruntled that there would be such actions, but not surprised. [color=f7941d]"Sure, I can teach you. It's not that hard to learn, although it may feel like it is"[/color] She said. She gave William a smile, hoping to put him at ease. 

[color=f7941d]"You don't have to bow to me. i'm not....I'm not a templar out here, just one of the group. And from what you've told me about the templar that guard you, perhaps I don't wish to be one at all"[/color] She gave a shrug, accepting the drinks as the waitress returned, paying her.

"[color=red]Then you could say that all Templar are jerks. Almost all. Every guard shift at the library did that. I hated that place and loved it in the same time. I don't think , you've seen the interior of a prison cell. It's wet , dark and empty. Also we cannot see anything and that magic dampering thing ? It hurts when it starts it's effect and you cannot shake the feel that it's there. A lot of Magi die from that , from what I heard. They kill themselves and believe me , every Magi at the Citadel had that thought in his mind more than once in his life. I was one of the lucky ones to be allowed to learn magic and by lucky I mean that I'll die faster than the others and in better conditions. [/color]" William's face turned into a frown and then he smiled at the waitress when she gave them drinks. He approached the cup of ale to his nose and took a deep breath. It was a nice smell compared with the other smells in the tavern. "[color=red]At least I can say this , without the fear of getting myself killed now. May the Saint look over us all. I thank you for this opportunity. [/color]" as he said he bowed his head again but not for Jamie but as in respect for The Saint. He then took a sip and put the cup on the table. "[color=red] Bleah. What's this ? You , people drink this because you like it ? [/color]" William's face clearly showed his disgust. 

Jamie listened as William spoke, with each word, she grew more disgusted. No one should be treated as the magi were. [color=f7941d]"You won't die. We'll find someway of making sure that doesn't happen"[/color] She said, already half thinking about what they could do. The citadel had no right to do what they did. 

She watched, managing amusement, as William took a sip. She herself had a mouthful, holding the cup, she gave a soft laugh at his words. [color=f7941d]"It's an acquired taste. But most people drink it because its cheap and a fast way of getting drunk. I'll buy some wine for later, and you can try that. It's generally a bit better then the ale"[/color] she said, taking another mouthful of the ale.

It wasn't Jamie's first time drinking it, nor would it be her last. A drink was a drink, although when she did drink Jamie prefered Wine to Ale. [color=f7941d]"Maybe a sweet wine would be best"[/color] She said, thoughtfully, nursing the Ale. 

William smiled at Jamie's words. "[color=red] Don't get me wrong Jamie but please stop trying to sugar coat this. Me and Aelar will both die as soon as we get back to the Citadel that is , if we even survive that Wasteland thing. Ok ? You and the other Templar will probably get killed too and be painted as Magi-lovers. Given as examples to the other Templar and don't even try to say it won't happen like that. We Magi know exactly what to expect from the Templar. [/color]" William shook his head after that. He then took a deep breath. "[color=red] We are sent to the Wasteland then it means that we may have a way out of this. It won't help you non-Magi , I think , but for Aelar and me...it will all be good. [/color]" William pushed his cup of Ale towards Jamie. "[color=red] All yours. [/color]".

[color=f7941d]"I'm well aware that this job was a death sentence, no matter what. Didn't really have much choice in the matter. So I just won't die. I don't plan on being killed. I figure we have a little bit of time to figure out how not to a) get blown up and b) get killed at the citadel."[/color] Jamie said, giving a shrug, she finished off her ale, [color=f7941d]"I'm not blind to the citadel's ways, I just haven't yet found a way to...fix them"[/color] She sighed softly. 

[color=f7941d]"In the meantime...there's things to enjoy, and if there's even a slim possibility I will die despite my convinction not to, well, I'm going to enjoy them"[/color]. The thought of her family though saddened her. She took William's Ale, but didn't drink, frowning slightly. [color=f7941d]"I think...we will have to try your theory with the bombs. That will be the key to surviving, because if I can help it, you aren't going back there"[/color]

William laughed with all his mouth when he heard Jamie's last words. "[color=red] I'm sorry Jamie but I thought I heard you saying that I won't go back there. I'm really sorry but I fail to see how. The Templar have my blood and have their machines that will send them my location anywhere I would go in this part of the continent and no one survived a trip throught the "Black Border" ( meaning the end of the map in all directions ). So they will find me or Aelar. I won't be surprised to see that they've got your blood there too , in order to be sure you shall return or they will return you to your post. [/color]" William said with a frown now on his face. A dark frown.

"[color=red]I can try my theory , right now. If you really want to. I just need some blood from the both of us and two different bowls in which to store the blood. I think I can test it alone , if not...It will at least prove a part of my theory. That our blood is connected to each other. [/color]" 

[color=f7941d]"Oh, I'm aware of that"[/color] Jamie said, with a shrug, [color=f7941d]"and I'm sure they do have my blood. But...there's always a way out of something. You just have to figure out what that is"[/color] That might sound overall niave and optomistic of her, but Jamie lived by the ideal that nothing was impossible. [color=f7941d]"And you just have to be willing to try. It doesn't matter if we fail. We're dead anyway. So we may as well try"[/color] 

She set the second Ale down, calling the waitress, she asked for a couple of skins of wine, waiting until she had left before saying [color=f7941d]"Well, probably best to do that where there aren't so many watching eyes. Still, I don't know how our blood could be connected, but I'm open for anything"[/color] She pondered that for a moment or two. [color=f7941d]"william...have you actually ever seen these machines you mentioned?"[/color] 


"[color=red] I remember something from when I was really young. A Templar came and took everyone's blood and then put it in a vial of somekind. It turned from red to black almost in an instant. After that , nothing. I only remembered this because that head Templar said that the bombs they've injected us with are the same as the tracking devices. So , yeah. I think our blood is connected. I don't know much about enchantments as I've said before but I think it's a logical thing. How else wound the bomb work ? How can it detect when one of us dies or leaves ? You understand what I mean ? [/color]" William was looking at Jamie with determination in his eyes. He was ready to do anything there was to destroy the bombs. 

Jamie listened to the explination, frowning slightly as he explained. [color=f7941d]"That makes sense..,"[/color] she trailed off, thoughtful. Something he had said rang a bell, and she replayed the conversation, she looked back to William and said [color=f7941d]"You just said that the Templar said the bombs are the same as the tracking device...so figure out how to get rid of one, couldn't you figure out how to get rid of the other?"[/color]

"[color=red] It seems the same but it's not. The bombs are inside our blood when the tracking device uses our blood to track us. It's not inside us. If it was then yes , your idea would work. [/color]" William said and then a thought hit him. "[color=red] We are tracked right now , yes ? They know where we are all the time so if we are desertors to the Templar and Magi , they would send someone after us right ? Wait...that sounds bad. Do you think we are much time before they come to capture us ? [/color]" his face turned again into a frown.

Jamie pondered for a moment. She didn't know much about magic, that was for certain, but...[color=f7941d]"How close would you need to be, to deal with the tracking devices?"[/color] She suspected she wouldn't get the answer she wanted, yet...would it be possible to get into the citadel without being known? 

[color=f7941d]"Of course they are going to send someone after us. Got to keep up pretenses, right? I'm surrpised we haven't been attacked yet"[/color] She gave a shrug, [color=f7941d]"We'll survive. We've got strong fighters, good skills. And a certain determination not to die quite yet"[/color]

"[color=red]How close ? Well...I would need to be near them and they are not connected to each other probably so that would mean that I would have to have them all near me. It's not possible. Believe me. Those things are better protected than the Emperor himself probably. 
I am surprised of that thing myself. They know our location so why not attack us on the road ? Why give us the chance to enter a city ? 
Strong fighters and two Magi ? It won't be enough if they send a group of Holy Templar after us. Those guys don't...kid around. 
I forgot to tell you guys something when we first met. I just realized. No one in the group knows what my powers are , right ? [/color]" William said with a smile on his face. 

Jamie thought about the story Darius had told her. She thought about how unlikely it was that they would all be here, right now. [color=f7941d]"It is possible. There's always a way, and I'm going to figure it out"[/color] She would have time. She hoped. [color=f7941d]"Perhaps we weren't far enough away. Maybe they'll attack once we are out the city. Or maybe there's someone waiting to attack right now. It doesn't matter, we will just have to fight our way throught it[/color]

At the mention of the holy templars, Jamie gave a shrug, [color=f7941d]"There's always someone stronger and faster than you. So you just have to be smarter. The holy templars...they have their weaknesses just like everyone else. 

Nope, don't think you told us what they were"[/color] She glanced up, and accepted the wine skins from the Waitress, paying her for them, and giving her a little bit extra, before rising [color=f7941d]"Come on, the others are probably waiting for us, we should head back. But you're gonna tell me what you can do"[/color] She flashed him a smile, slipping the wine skins into her pack, beside her water skins. 

William smiled at Jamie and rose up from the table. "[color=red] Well...I don't know if you know but we...Dark Humans can only learn Black Magic and Death Magic. I can cast a spell from both magic schools. I can suck the lifeforce out of someone with my touch. Something like what Aelar does with his healing power but instead of taking some myself , I take from someone else and give it to myself and...The second spell I can cast is something I only tried once because I was affraid it could get me killed. Anything can get you killed in the Citadel so I tried it once , it worked and never did it again. I can make a person sick. Something like a bubonic plague. I heard it hurts like hell but I don't know. I tried it on a rat and the poor thing started to scream and then he died. Very fast. I had to suck the life force of two plants to even cast that spell. I wander what would happen if I took more than that ? [/color]" said William with a curiosity in his eyes that could be clearly seen. 

As William talked , Jamie simply nodded. "[color=red] Well...anyway. Really thank you for showing me what normal people  do in their free time. I owe you one. I hope you don't mind if I find my way back to the caravan. I've got something to think of and I would like to be alone. Thanks again. [/color]" as soon as William finished his sentence he left Jamie's side and went alone to the caravan. 





( This happens before the last collab post :) ) 
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