[color=a187be][center][h1]Eudaxia[/h1][/center][/color]

"It's a real shame I dropped that stick you know. It's served me well for [i]years[/i], you wouldn't believe how long it-"

Eudaxia tried to contain her annoyance as the Shaemus plodded along beside her, hand on her shoulder to guide his way. Her eyes darted around her as they walked towards the main gate, looking for a stray length of wood or stick that might be lying around so the old priest would shut up, a heavy sack full of rats an uncomfortable (and not to mention smelly) weight on her shoulder. She was half tempted to ditch the blind man for his constant lamenting, but even though she had the rats now, she told herself it was a waste to discard a new ally. 

She'd managed to gather fifty of the rodents in the end, though it had been grim work. Many of the rats had been in cloven into pieces or fried by their magic. She'd also given most of them a good squishing before picking them up, to make sure they were well and truly dead. Eventually they'd run out of rats around the ladder base, and she hadn't had the courage to move further down the tunnel.

It wasn't long before Hero's square came into view, and the pair entered the late-night crowd. Thankfully their dishevelled state was good for one thing and people parted to avoid the pair. Eudaxia continued indifferently, scanning the stalls as they walked past out of habit, she was getting tired now, and looking forward to returning to her hideout, but you always had to keep an eye out for opportunity...

"Bits and baubles! Get your bits and baubles here!"

The cry caught her attention, as did the carved walking stick the stall had for sale. The merchant sneered at her as they approached, likely worried they'd keep other customers away. "You there, Tiefling! If you aren't buying, move along." Then he spotted the priest, instantly switching from defensive to welcoming. "Why, Shaemus, I didn't see you there!"

"Ah yes Craton, my old friend. You have nothing to fear from my friend here." Shaemus replied. Patting Eudaxia on the shoulder.

"ah of course! My apologies!" He said, without a hint of sincerity. The two chatted for a second, but Eudaxia urged them on to the gate, she had no desire to sit and listen to the slimy merchant fawn. They could return for the stick later.

Soon the crowd faded and the city gates loomed before them, shut closed for the night, save for a small side gate, where a small line of miserable looking individuals clutching sacks lined up before a desk. Eudaxia approached, noting with a small amount of satisfaction from their envious glances that their sack was the largest. She lined up, shooting glares at anyone who looked their way too long. A small tiefling and a blind priest must have looked like easy targets, and the last thing she wanted was to have to fight off scavengers who wanted their rats.

It wasn't long before it was their turn. An eccentric looking adventurer with a red Mohawk cursed under his breath as he left the desk. "[i]fucking tieflings[/i]"

Eudaxia stepped up, eyes forward. "FIFTY" she said, almost proudly as she dumped the sack on the desk, not envying the poor slaves who stepped forward to count the haul.

The guard who sat across from her with a quill in his hand stared with dead eyes. "Where came you by these rats, tiefling?" he said imperiously after a pause.

"The sewers, can't you smell?" she snapped, her irritation at the suspicion bleeding through in her tired state.

"Impossible to tell the stink from sewer and tiefling." spat the guard, a spark of hatred creeping into his lifeless eyes. "Let me see your scroll of recommendation." he said, rising. From a guard post, a second guard emerged, hearing his colleagues firm tone.

[i]oh hell no [/i]she thought, seeing where this was going. Deep down she felt that silent fury, that seething anger she'd carried all her life at having to fight harder for every scrap, grovel more piteously for every handout, just because of her horns and tail. She'd been swarmed and bitten and nibbled on, [i]how dare they try and take this from her[/i].  She wanted to flare her magic and punish them, but that not how she fought. Not yet. 

Instead she rolled her eyes tiredly. "I ain't no professional. if you didn't want lowlifes hunting the rats you shouldn't have put the notice up. C'mon lads, can't I just get my silver and get out of your way? " she gestures at the line of people with sacks. "folk aren't going to bring you rats no more if they hear you're screwing them over their money."

The guard looked back to the line hesitantly, then sighed, his eyes returning to boredom as he settled back into his chair. "I suppose you have a point" he grunted, slowly counting out shiny coins into a pouch he slid across the table. "Take your silvers and begone, wretch, 'fore I see you in stocks."

Eudaxia snatched up the coins, enjoying its weight, and flashed him a winning smile. That was how you did it. Convince them you're not worth the hassle of bullying. It was the only victory she had ever been allowed. She bounced away from the desk, re-joining Shaemus. "I think that went pretty well." she said, her mood reversed. "Your friend back in the square had a stick on sale you could buy if you want."

"Ah splendid! Though knowing him he'd charge an arm and a leg, and a blind man sorely needs those appendages, my dear!" Shaemus laughed, before turning to the guard. "My good sir, a moment of your time!"
The guard sighed, his patience near its end. "What is it priest?"
Shaemus leaned in close, speaking in a hushed tone. "Are you aware, officer, that these rats carry the Grey Plague. It has been a harrowing ordeal for me and my friend here. We were most alarmed when we found out, and I'd wager the line here behind me will be equally alarmed...."
The guard pinched the bridge of his nose, and Eudaxia's mood improved further as he paled visibly. "Name your price, priest."
"Why only another 250 silver, my good sir." Shaemus smiled. Could he wink, perhaps he would have toward Eudaxia.
The guard tossed a fat pouch at the priest. It bounced off his arm and onto the table, before he seized it, and slipped it into his robes.

"Not bad at all." she said, surprised and impressed. She wished she'd thought of that. But then again she'd though she as the only one ignorant of the plague. "I thought members of the faith didn't stoop to such strategies."

Shaemus smirked. "I feel like a scratching post for rats. Surely the city coffers can handle a little extra silvers, besides this alm box isn't going to fill itself."

"to the stall then?"

"No need, child. I head for Godsreach, back to hearth and home." The priest seems to think for a moment. "My invitation is still open, Eudy. Should you need a place to stay, find a hot meal and some rest, as well as answers, the Temple of Larethian is open to you."

She hesitated. "I'll consider it, thanks." This was the second time the offer was made. If she could really find answers... But not tonight. She was tired, and though she had no doubt Shaemus meant well in his own way, she wanted to be at her full strength before delivering herself into the hands of the clergy.

"Very good." Shaemus was quiet with thought for a moment before speaking. "I shall think we saved some poor soul from the grey plague thus night."

she shrugged indifferently. "Probably. it was a lot of rats. Though another two poor souls nearly ended up catching it themselves. and those rats seemed.....strange. this whole plague seems strange. Magic even." she said hesitantly.

"Indeed it does. These are dark times, child." He took a step and stopped short. "Ah Eudy.... which way is east?"

she grabbed his arm and pointed with it. "That way. you [i]sure[/i] you don't want that stick?" She had an inkling of an idea, if she could get him to distract that sleazy merchant...

Shaemus laughed. "Like the back of my hand, child. Like the back of my hand! At least now that I have my bearings. Fare thee well, and Gods be with you! Until our next meeting." Shaemus bowed low, making his way eastward.

She shook her head as the strange man left, no stick to guide his way, and walked back to the square. She had some spending money now, she could retire, but it still felt like there was more to be done. In the pitch darkness of the night market, it was easy for things to go missing. Since she was here, she might as well take advantage.

This line of thinking would ultimately prove to be a mistake.

She moved around the edges of the crowd, scanning for a good mark. She caught a flash of a priestly looking woman. She wore chainmail, 
but more importantly had a golden holy symbol around her neck. Too risky, she thought. necklaces were difficult. She looked around and spotted other suitable looking targets in the crowd, but her mind kept coming back to the sleazy bauble merchant. If anyone deserved to be robbed tonight, it was him.

She wandered back over to his stall, noting how diligently he eyed his wares. With a whispered word and a gesture, a ghostly hand appeared floating underneath his stall, barely visible in the darkness. It was a neat trick, handy if you worked alone like she did. The merchant eyed her suspiciously as she approached, sand stood to the side of his stall. "I'd like to buy the stick please" she said pointing. "Shaemus lost his and I think it would make a nice present." She slowly manoeuvred the hand with her mind as she spoke, creeping it up the other side of the stall. There was a nice golden brooch on that end of the stand.
"It's a gold coin for the finely carved stick..." he said suspiciously.
"Oh come on, a gold piece for a stick? I'll give you fifty silver" she said, maintaining eye contact with the man as she willed the hand to move over to collect the brooch.

Except it didn't. It ploughed into stand, scattering a few bits of jewellery. The peddler gaped in surprise, swatting the at hand which vanished into the mist.

[i]well crap[/i]. This was what happened when you didn't watch where you put your hands.[i] cmon, I can still smooth this over[/i]. She opened her mouth.

"I should have known! Guards! Thief! Thief!"

She made the call, and bolted. There was an alleyway nearby. Nobody knew these streets like she did, she would lose them th-

Pain. Pain in her leg. She staggered, looking down in shock. [i]There was an axe in her thigh[/i]. She barely had time to process this before she felt something else overcome her. She suddenly felt sluggish, like she was moving through water. The feeling washed over her, and in a way it felt strangely familiar.[i] It feels like... like my magic[/i]. From the crowd ahead, she could see a man charging towards her determinedly, the feeling was coming from him. He collided with her, catching her in a grip. She felt too lethargic to slip away, so she pushed and shoved instead, with all her might, but it was fruitless. She couldn't get any purchase with her wounded leg.

[i]No... Not like this.[/i]

"Tiefling bitch!" a guard cursed as they caught up with the pair.
"Why do they let these vermin walk the streets?" another questioned, slapping irons around her wrists. It was Over.

She struggled defiantly in the mans grip, still stunned at how quickly things had gone wrong. “Wait, she’s with me! Part of a case!” the strange vigilante said, not relinquishing his hold.

From the crowd, a dwarf approached, walking up to Eudaxia. "I'll be taking this" he said, and she cried out in pain as he yanked the handaxe from her thigh, as if he were simply collecting his hat from a tavern cloakroom. "Good day to you all" he said, leaving without giving her a glance, even as she glared after him, eyes full of cold fury at his indifference. 

"Take it up with the watch commander. This ones coming with us to the Keep." they said, wresting her from her captor's grip.

W-wait! Let me just ask her one question! Time is of the essence, right now! Do you know anything about a haggish herbalist selling potions to young women?” They turned her around to face this strange man who had magic like hers, and looked at her, waiting for a response. She raised her head and looked into his eyes.

And spat in his face.

Then everything went black.