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Chres Sansus


Interaction with @Fetzen
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Sil fluttered up to Chres's ear "It's asking for attention." She whispered, pointing at Týfurkh "Try ignoring it. Maybe it will just go away."

"I tried that with you," Chres muttered under his breath. "and yet, here you are." Sil stared blankly at Chres, not really understanding.

Chres shook his head, turning his attention to Týfurkh. "DB said he'll be waiting outside." Chres said, ignoring Sil as she fluttered over to the giant man. "What exactly is this 'mission' you're planning? I'm afraid I seem to be in the dark."

"It's not natural." Sil whispered loudly, while gesturing at the towering man looming right beside her. "They really shouldn't come in that size."

Chres sighed, putting his fingers to his eyes.

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Karina Frost


Much to Karina's luck, due to her petite size, the couch she found earlier served her incredibly well. It was not that she didn't trust the others, but Karina learned with time that there was no such thing as being overcautious when in enemy territory, so even though they were on guard, she woke up a few times through the night and was sure to always be alert.

As usual for someone who was raised and trained in the military, Karina had woken up before the sun rose into the sky. Instead of going to greet the others though, Karina simply took a bit of time to straighten her clothes, her hair and look 'presentable' as she waited for the rest of the group to wake up.

When the time for the breakfast came, she went to the hall and sat down with the rest as they ate the little food they have. Even though food was precious, they needed to feed themselves well and have energy to flee and fight. Given that they were literally surrounded by enemies, they would need it.

"I agree... It's our only hope to leave the city at this moment..." Karina replied to Týfurkh as she ate a bit of food. Chres didn't seem to know about their plan though.

"Týfurkh can use his abilities to focus and direct sound. We plan to use it to send a message to the forward base of the military of touch. By saying a certain combination of words, they will know it's me." Karina explained to Chres.

"It's our best hope to leave this town, if they send a small team to extract us from the town safely. I'm afraid it will take a bit though since it would be a delicate operation..." Karina finished. Despite her words, her expression was somewhat grim and thoughtful.

"We need to be careful... This... All this situation... The cultists, this strange... power... And that strange man that we met on the first day..." Karina said, looking down, lost in her own thoughts.

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The man was sort of keeping track of time as he sat outside. It was nice just feeling the breeze and clearing his thought as he focused at what lay ahead of them. He breathed in with the breeze focusing on its caress. He felt invigorated and crackling with energy, as he was ready to depart.

Eventually he felt it should be about time to go check in on his comrades. His instincts were right, for as he opened the door he saw that they were already up and getting ready to depart. He gave Sil a head pat with his index finger as he paid attention to Karina speak. He had arrived in term to listen to her explain the plan to Chres.

"I don't think it's good to fill your head with too many worries. It'll keep you distracted thinking over all these things we got no control." He said to her as she expressed her worries to everyone listening.

"Anyway about this plan for evacuation. Is it really a good idea to leave this town to get corrupted by the cult? I know it's practically at that point, but I still feel some guilt about leaving ordinary people behind. And I also can't help but think if we strike at some vulnerable point even if it's risky, that it'll work to our benefit."

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Týfurkh


The plate with the piece of bread in front of Chres started to shift along the table's surface, almost falling over the edge and down into the man's lap, when the table started to sag under the burden of something that obviously was far too heavy. Sil would have sticked to the word 'it' while more normal persons called that something simply 'Týfurkh'. The man had sat down halfway in front of Chres, thereby virtually forcing his companion to direct his attention towards him. Also, while waiting for that to happen, Týfurkh used his index and middle finger to give Sil a slight poke into the middle section.

"Chres ?" he ultimately asked, an unstable mixture of a grin and a stern look expressed in his face. "Could you do me a favor and tell your flying cutie that I'm not an it ? I don't want to be seen as someone strictly enforcing every rule of human interaction, but that's just a bit... rude. You understand ? The fact that I'm a little, well, bigger, does not make me any less human than you or anyone else around here is. If I'm causing trouble you can free to tell me whenever you like, but I'm asking for that little bit of trust especially in our current situation. Your flying cutie appears to be more than intelligent enough to understand this I think."

As Týfurkh lifted himself again the piece of bread was almost catapulted off the plate, but at least he seemed not to have permanently damanged the piece of furniture. In response to the other man who had just entered the room he started speaking again: "I don't think that we're leaving the town behind by our current plan any more than we already do now. On the contrary: With help from outside our chances of success in this town can only increase. I think it would be foolish to put the chance of propagating all of the knowledge we gained to the outside world at risk by gambling on some other weak spot we haven't even identified yet. I think that, in fact, the plan we are going to follow now is the current weak spot available."

Having said this, Týfurkh made efforts to leave the room, but not without turning around once more briefly to look what Chres was doing. If the latter was eager to respond to the little 'rant' he'd simply have to move as well, but this really was not a priority. The task ahead was of far greater importance, so Týfurkh hurried to get himself ready -- even if that meant continuing to chew on his own piece of bread while gearing up.

"I'll be ready in a minute or so and wait outside then."
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Chres Sansus


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Chres's quest for death came with a set of requirements. First, it must be public. Second, that it be shameful. He wanted to be remembered as a fool, rather than a hero. Last, above everything else, his death had to come without bringing risk to others.

It was this last rule that bound Chres to this group. Should escape from this town come down to a fight, their chances of winning would only decrease if their numbers were to dwindle. Chres stuck around for this reason, and this reason only. The moment they escaped, he would be gone. Never sparing the group a second thought.

So when Karina mentioned her plan and the possibility of escape, a glimmer of hope rose in Chres's chest. That was about when Chres's plate of bread shifted suddenly. Týfurkh had not taken kindly to Sil's words.

"Hear that Chres?" Sil giggled. "It thinks I'm cute!"

Chres whipped his head in Sil's direction, staring daggers at her.

"Hey Chres! Can you tell it-" Eyes wide, Chres snatched Sil out of the air as if his life depended on it. He quickly covered her mouth with his thumb an forefinger. The rest of her sentence came out as a muffle.

"-Mmmfpha mmma mmmufph mmufph mma mmmfff mmmm mmma!" Sil continued, unaware nobody could understand her.

"I'll be sure to talk to her." Chres said releasing Sil. She happily fluttered off to the right. That was about when DB walked in.

Sil giggled as the man patted her on the head with his finger. I like him. She thought to Chres, before zipping off, towards Octavio's familiar, and sticking her tongue out at it.

Chres frowned at the two men's words. Fighting the cult would just be another shackle binding Chres to the group. This wasn't the first time DB had expressed a desire to fight the Cult. Chres wondered to himself exactly what the man's motivations were.

"I suspect fighting the Cult would be reckless without a plan of attack." Chres said carefully. "Sounds to me our ability to coordinate with the military is limited while inside the town. If Karina can provide us a way out, it could allow you all a means to regroup and plan out an attack."

Chres was careful not to put any emphasis on the words 'you all'. He didn't want to make it sound like he would ditch them, yet at the same time, he wasn't going to mislead them about his intentions. Perhaps he would not have a problem with recklessly attacking the Cult were it not for the fact that the Cult wanted them alive instead of dead...

"As things stand right now, I just don't see us as having the numbers to effectively help."

"There... there might be a way..." The Innkeeper spoke up hesitantly. "To bring in some numbers, I mean." Chres's heart sank at the man's words. He turned his attention to the Innkeeper. Careful to keep the disappointment out of his expression.

The innkeeper appeared uncomfortable to have so many eyes on him. For a moment nobody said anything. The innkeeper blinked his eyes, as if suddenly realizing that everyone was expecting him to elaborate. "They call themselves The Watch. They have been going around trying to encourage others to rebel against the King's decision to allow the Cult in our town. Most of us have been against the idea. You know, with the war going on and all... But now..."

Chres nodded in understanding. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt..." Chres began hesitantly, "...to have a backup plan." Starting a riot would help if things did come down to a fight. "Where might we find them?"

"That, I do not know." The innkeeper said. For a moment Chres nearly breathed a sigh of relief. It would have been a hindrance to his 'quest', were he to rope himself into another group. Unfortunately for Chres, the innkeeper didn't stop talking there. "However, I know a man who does..."




And so they split into two groups. Chres, Octavio and the innkeeper head out to the market place, looking to buy rations and to meet the man who could take them to The Watch.

Karina, DB and Týfurkh set out towards the center of town, near where the Cult's influence was strongest. The three of them unaware of the tail they gained, only moments after leaving the house.
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The man listened to both Týfurkh and Chres' commentary on a possible attack on the cult. They were right in that they needed a plan and some numbers to help with this. He leaned against the wall and thought for a brief moment. A smile appeared on his face as he recalled something important said by that mysterious entity. It was definitely a weak spot that they could strike all right, but they definitely could use some reinforcements. He looked at the two men and said, "You're right, you two. More people and a plan is what we need before we commit to something, especially more people."

He then focused on Chres and said, "Do you remember that night with Gin when he mentioned this Seed of insight? He said if we can find it and kill it, it'll not only disorient the cultists but also rid the town of the distortion, or at least until they make a new one. Furthermore, he already told us to where it might be and how to kill the damn thing. He said it'll be in a large underground space like a basement or cellar, and we need to tear all the hearts out first, hack the stem, and salt the stump. If we can find it and destroy it, it'll definitely help us. Even more so if we end up killing or incapacitating any high ranking members of their cult guarding the thing. It's easier said than done of course. But hey, at least we got a target and the beginnings of a plan."

His attention turned to the Innkeeper when he started to speak about a way to get more people to help. The man's eyes rose up with a glimmer as the Innkeeper spoke about this Watch. While Karina's military could be of use, there was still the issue of authorization and countless other minutiae that could influence on whether or not to act. But a group of rebels within the town? That's much more actionable in his eyes, as well making him just a bit more hopeful knowing the town wasn't entirely lost as there were brave people fighting against the cult. "Is that so? Well I guess we should definitely make friends with them." He said to the Innkeeper.

Eventually Karina,Týfurkh, and him would leave on this task to help Karina deliver her message to the military. As they walked through town, he took a look at Týfurkh and asked, "So, I don't believe we've met before. What's you're name and how'd you get caught up in this?" He then glanced at Karina and said, "As for you, the name's Karina right? I think I heard it said by Chres, or would you rather be called Karlie? I guess this was far from what you were expecting when you came into spy on this little town right?"



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Karina Frost


DB was right. Worrying herself right now was the worst thing Karina could do. She should keep her head clean and stay calm is she wanted to get out of there. Then she could start thinking about the future.

"Thanks DB. Don't worry, I was just thinking out loud." Karina said, nodding towards DB after he spoke to her.

When he mentioned about leaving the town behind though, Karina's expression immediately became darker. Týfurkh soon replied, saying that with help from outside they would have better chances to save the town. Unlike them, who still had hope for the town, Karina's silence and her expression were enough to convey her thoughts.

When the Innkeeper mentioned a second group that could potentially help them to fight the Cultists, Karina listened carefully. Apparently there was a group that was against the King's decision to let the cult enter the town and had formed a resistance. If they wanted information about the cult, that group, The Watch would probably have more than anyone else.

"If somehow we manage to contact this group, things could get a bit easier. Are you sure they can be trusted though?" She asked.

"This Seed of Insight that Gin man mentioned... It will undoubtedly be very well guarded. We need to destroy it at all costs." Karina said, putting an emphasis on the last part. It was obvious what she meant by those words. Everyone knew how much of a menace the cult was and if it wasn't contained, it would spread like a plague.

After the conversations were over, her, Týfurkh and DB finally were ready to head out.
As they were walking through the streets, DB called her.

"Karina is good, thank you." She replied with a piercing stare after DB asked if he could call her 'Karlie'. Calling her by name, without her military title was already something, calling her 'Karlie' would be too much.

"And yes. I wasn't expecting... this much. I heard some rumors, which were the reason why I came to investigate. But what I'm seeing is hard to believe." Karina continued.

"As I said before, we need to get rid of the Cult as soon as possible. At all costs. Otherwise the cult will spread like a plague..." Karina finished. She was sure they also knew how much of a threat the cult was and understood what she meant by those words she just spoke.

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Týfurkh


There were members of the school of hearing who would have possessed spells easily capable of pinpointing the soft steps of any pursuer that had attached himself to the party, but unfortunately Týfurkh could not count himself to those. The school of hearing possessed a spectrum far too broad for a single person to cover it entirely, so everyone just had power over a more or less large fraction of it. So the tail the three had gained remained a mystery.

"I'm Týfurkh, and I think we haven't met before indeed since I can't remember it either. I'm completely new to this place..." While starting to talk, Týfurkh couldn't help but let his eyes drift away from his conversational partner once in a while in order to check their surroundings. He expected everyone to feel that certain bit of tension he felt currently and that would have been all to understandable given their objective and overall situation. He felt obliged not to drop his level of awareness at any point in time.

"Basically this town has not been my goal, but merely an intermediate stop of a long journey I intended to make. I rented a room in a tavern that most likely doesn't exist anymore, went to bed... And when I woke up in the morning I could already smell and see smoke. I would have tried to escape as fast as possible if it had not been for this certain, mysterious guy. He gave me a hint that there were others in a similar situation like me and told me where to go in order to find them. He was convincing enough for me to believe his story and so I ended up meeting all of you. Since then we're sitting in the very same boat I guess."

Retelling the story reminded Týfurkh that it was kinda awkward to say the least. And it reminded him that, at some point and under the precondition that they'd be able to resolve the situation here, they should go after the identity of Mr. Mysterious. Who was he and what were his aims ? It would be very interesting to find out if possible. So far he had seemed to have nothing but gut intentions, but this only helped to open up the field of speculation even further.

"What about you ? Did you meet him as well ?"
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"Karina it is." He said as he noted her displeasure at being called Karlie. He would then add as he continued speaking to her, "Agreed about this cult needing to be destroyed. Although at this point I think they're spreading, the question being just how far and can we put a dent in their plans. The good thing is we got something of a plan to set-up right? We get you to to the tower, we find out more about this 'watch', and if they're worth a damn we can use them to help find that seed and destroy it. Of course there's more steps in between but something about you tells me you're good at this sort of thing and can probably help fill them out."

The man turned his attentions to Týfurkh who had now began speaking to him. "You can call me whatever you want Týfurkh. People seem to be using DB the most so that'll work for now. As for that mysterious man, yeah I've met him on the first night here in town. There were others there as well. Karina, Chres, the guy with the cat. Popped in and did some weird magic and told us about the incoming attack by the cultists. Said we could either die or join in and live to fight the cult. Told us about the cult and the seed. Then the cultists attacked and well, you know the rest."

As they walked he noticed how empty and sad the town seemed following the chaos. Even more so was the decorations which were half-hardheartedly set up. It occurred to him that perhaps there was a festival or some other event to be happening. He then looked at the group but really addressing Týfurkh's question said, "As for me. Well let's just say buy me some good wine and if we find some quiet time, I'll tell you about my two real names and what's a vagabond like me doing here." Despite the sort of playfulness in his invitation for them to press him on more information, there was a slip of repressed pain in his look and voice. It was suggestive that perhaps he really was being sincere in needing some liquid courage to tell something that was painful to him.

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Chres Sansus


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Chres stared up at the pitch black sky. It's odd green sun hiding behind some dark gray clouds, that had tinge of blue. The clouds formed odd shapes with straight edges. They moved against the wind, defiant and unyielding. It was an odd sight to behold. Foreign in every way.

What exactly was this Seed of Insight? How did it's existence cause the world to warp so drastically? More importantly though, what did that mean for Chres and the rest should they ultimately decide to raise their weapons against it?

These were pressing questions. Questions Chres honestly didn't even want to think about. It was a distraction from Chres's real goal. And yet, due to a remaining shred of self righteousness, Chres thought about these questions anyway. They lingered in the back of his mind as Octavio, the Innkeeper and Chres trudged their way towards the Market square. The Innkeeper leading the way.

The walk was not a pleasant one, to be sure. The previous day's events had left the town a mess. Corpses of townsfolk sprinkled the ground. Their smell pungent in the air, attracting flys and ravens who saw a free meal. Windows and doors were shattered and splintered revealing building interiors that had not fared much better. Some buildings were charred to a crisp, while others were gone entirely.

And then, there were the people. People walking the streets aimlessly, as if in a daze. Some sat huddled in a ball shivering despite Summer's warmth. Others kept to the shadows, glancing about nervously as if expecting some sort of attack. Mothers kept their children close, suspicious of those around them.

Chres continued walking onward, not staring too long at any one person. He did his best to ignore them. Were he to care for these people, then he knew he would become lost in some vain attempt to help them. These people were already lost... or at least that was Chres kept telling himself. A weak attempt to look past their plight. And yet with every new person he saw....

"How was it that you got your Familiar?" Chres asked, hoping to distract himself from the horrors before him. "I've been watching him for a while now. Must have cost your weight in coin to buy an elegant Familiar such as him."

"He's saying you're fat." Sil said happily. Chres gave her a stern look. He really did need to talk to her. She did not make for good company when others were around.

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Octavio felt his muscles relax at the mention of a rebel party within the town. It meant several things. One, the bigwigs were going to be devoting a lot of time and resources to them, and two, it meant that he was in an environment where tension and distrust were going to be higher than usual.

"Rebels, excellent. More willing to commit to action than the average man, and more knowledgeable of the inner workings of the town than any of the higher ups could ever hope to be." He sauntered close to the exit, less out of impatience and more out of not being used to having to wait on others. "Even if they don't form some sort of alliance with us, we should still make a serious attempt to get as much information about the city as possible from them."

All of the political and social reasons backing the rebels didn't matter to Octavio. He just wanted as much information as possible and knew from experience that it was the commoners who knew the most about the lands.

...

Lynx had to stop himself from wincing at Sil's words. Who was that aimed at? he thought, vanity and concern poorly hidden under a layer of annoyance. Octavio didn´t answer his question and instead replied directly to Chres.

"Fat? I suppose my friend here enjoys his meals, even in times of crisis." He shot a jokingly accusatory look at the cat, who communicated his fury at Octavio wordlessly. Both of them knew that around this point in their squabbling Lynx would usually disappear for awhile to mutter angrily to himself, but their scenery had instilled a sense of vulnerability within them. Everyone in town, it seemed, was trying to fend for themselves. Octavio never considered himself to be good with kids, but even he still found himself surprised at the horrified stares the younger townsfolk gave him. At least now we don't have to worry about some sticky brat petting you. Octavio thought, with a gentleness intended to diffuse Lynx.

Chres had spent their time around the market with a worried look on his face. Everyone around them looked more or less the same, but it felt odd to see the unofficial leader of their party joining in. It was wrong somehow, and Octavio felt as if he needed to remedy it. He immediately brushed away the prospect of beginning to care about him as soon as his mind suggested it, however, and he attempted to busy his thoughts with some trinket that caught his eye. He doesn´t drink, so I can´t solve this with wine. he thought, against his own wishes.

"How I got my familiar, eh?" Octavio was glad that he´d initiated the conversation instead of the other way around, as even with his skills in speechcraft he knew that there really wasn´t much to talk about. It wasn´t like with lying to nobles, where you could just earn their respect by one-upping them over and over again. Chres was different. His eyes slowly settled on his familiar, taking in Lynx´s beauty more sharply now that it had been pointed out. Yes... Lynx was definitely striking, elegant to the point of being imposing. Octavio even felt a pang of guilt for having gotten used to it. Fur the gray of a gentle dawn surrounding a lithe and powerful body, adorned with a storm of dark spots all across his back. Lynx turned to look at him, meeting Octavio´s gaze with a pair of eyes the color of ice water.

"I was at a ball one day." Octavio began to speak, not breaking the eye contact with the big cat. "The King and Queen wanted a grand celebration for their daughter's coming of age. It was more than simply that however, as they had wished to see if any of the town's young men could be an eligible suitor." He remembered all of the espionage and flattery involved in inferring just that one simple sentence. His thoughts were once again a mad mess of possible outcomes and sentences, mixing and matching to try and determine the best possible series of events to present.

"The princess loved animals, mostly the familiars that the court wizards would entertain her with. She brought out nearly a dozen of them for her ball, all of them anchored to precious stones that were just as eye catching as they were. One of them had caught my eye, a lynx being constrained by an ornamental leash that was painful to even look at. Anyone could have seen that he was in great pain by his movements alone." Lynx turned away. Remembering his days as an ornament angered him.

"I had no interest in trying to capture the princess' heart, and my close friend at the time had failed to show up. With no plans in mind and an abundance of wealth I simply negotiated a purchase. She didn´t care for him, so it wasn´t difficult."

Several brief periods of violence and emotion swept around the various webs of sentences that were being formulated and selected. Glass being shattered, guards being fought, his once closest friend attempting to murder him the moment he fled the scene. The smile he gave Chres was friendly, yet his thoughts centered on vengeance. If he were to do one more thing before dying in this horrid situation he found himself in, it was hunting down Ophelia and flaying her. The woman who had grown up with him in their orphanage as a sister, providing him with the wrong information to get him killed, and then attempting to finish him off herself after he had survived. One of the few genuine emotions in his stunted heart was hatred towards her. Raw, total hatred.
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Karina Frost






Karina couldn't help but to think in the ridiculous coincidence that all that situation was. Despite their different goals and origins, they all found themselves in the same situation. Despite all that, their only hope was to work together so the introductions, even if one may think they were a bit out of time, were understandable in order to keep the group together. Even she was on edge regarding all that they were facing. It was not only physically but also mentally tiring. In fact, she was feeling a bit guilty for being so harsh with DB when he called her by a nickname.

Exactly due to those reasons, she never even considered that the group might have been followed...

"It's not like we have any other choice but to trust in that 'Gin' guy..." Karina said, using the name he gave to them.

"I'm sorry for being so harsh, DB, Týfurkh. The Cult and this entire situation are putting me on edge. It is mentally tiring to be mindful of one's surroundings at all times. Being behind enemy lines all time without a moment to rest." Karina said, looking away with a tired, but unexpectedly cute expression, which made evident that there was another side to her other than the serious, military officer she showed herself to be until now.

"'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'. No matter our origins or goals, the only way to get out of this situation is together." she said looking to both of them and nodding with a serious expression. Almost as if she was saying that from that second onwards she was formally considering them as her allies.

"We need to be careful from now on. Even if we somehow get discovered, we need to be sure our message gets delivered and that no one intercepts it." Karina said with a serious expression. The plan Týfurkh thought was their best chance of getting help from outside.

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Chres smiled at Octavio's comment, honestly just relieved that Chres didn't have to put out another Sil related fire. He caught Sil out of the corner of his eye, poking the lynx's belly.

"Heehee." She giggled. "Tubby horsey."

Tonight. Chres thought. I'll talk to her tonight.

A fly zipped past Sil, catching her attention. And just like that, she sped off after it. Familiar forgotten.

Aaaaand... the next night... Chres thought with dread. Along with every other night after... He sighed hopelessly, as he listened to Octavio's story.

It was more of a tale than Chres expected, albeit the abridged version no doubt. Short, though it may have been, it was more than enough to add more pieces to the puzzle that was Octavio.

The man had some high profile connections. High enough to grant him access to a royal ball. A new question tickled the back of Chres mind. Who exactly was this royal family Octavio was referring to? Fortunately, Octavio had already given Chres multiple clues.

The ball had been for a princess's coming of age ceremony. The Nation of Hearing and Touch did not have any princesses. Meanwhile, the Princess to the Nation of Taste was only five years of age. This left only two possible candidates. The royal family to the Nation of Sight and the royal family to the Nation of Smell.

The Royal family to the Nation of Sight was already a likely candidate. Octavio had previously hinted that he had been to the Shining Palace, maybe even more than once. To add to this, the man's nationality was likely that of the Nation of Sight. It was also well known that the princess to the Nation of Sight had only just come of age the previous year. Despite this, there were issues with this theory.

First off, King Y’lleant was not known for putting on fancy displays of wealth. In fact, until just recently, King Y’lleant had been known as a king of the people. He tended to include the people in times of celebration. Setting up elaborate festivals, which at their grandest would last for days at a time. To add to this problem. Chres seemed to remember hearing that the Princess had requested to not celebrate her coming of age the previous year, due to rising tensions with the Nation of Touch.

No... The Royal Family to the Nation of Sight seemed an unlikely candidate to be hosting the ball Octavio spoke of. Rather, a better candidate would the royal family to the Nation of Smell. King and Queen Aziere.

Not only did King and Queen Aziere have a plethora of daughters, they were also quick to marry them off to nearly any wealthy suitor. Additionally, the family was known for fancy displays of all sorts, including elegant balls. It was rumored that this was more for show than for anything else, as the royal family was not the actual seat of power behind the Nation of Smell. The true power, behind the nation, lay in the hands of the country's many Mistresses of Merchants. The King and Queen never did anything without first consulting them.

Yes. In all likelihood, Octavio had been referring to a ball hosted for one of King and Queen Aziere's daughters. But this conclusion only served further confuse Chres, in regards to Octavio's identity. What kind of high profile man was Octavio? What kind of connections did he have to both have access to the Nation of Sight's Shining Palace and to be invited to a Ball, as a potential suitor, for a Princess to the Nation of Smell?

Octavio may have added more pieces to the puzzle, but he certainly hadn't made solving the puzzle any easier. That being said, he may have let slip one additional hint.

"That was... a more elaborate story than I had expected." Chres admitted honestly, as he gave Octavio a friendly smile.

A brief moment of silence followed before Chres continued talking. "If you don't mind me asking, who was this friend you mentioned? How come she never showed?"
Hidden 5 yrs ago Post by HokumPocus
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Octavio´s right foot stepped on a twig, punctuating the brief period of silence between the two men with a sharp snap. Chres´ question had blindsided him, he had to admit. Ophelia. Even thinking about her name elicited a feeling of betrayal that plunged deeper than any remotely positive feeling he´d ever received in his life. The woman who had set him up to die. He thought about portraying her as a kind woman who had simply chosen not to attend the ball, but the idea filled him with disgust. Octavio was a liar, but even he had his limits. Besides, if he played his cards right, this party he was stuck with could potentially help skewer her.

"We used to be friends, long ago," he said, the bluntness of the sentence out of place for him. "She was one of the most talented illusionists I had ever seen, and she had, whether she intended to or not, shown me the theatrics and power that surrounded the branch of magic. How the mind could be stronger than the body, how words could be sharper than steel. I suppose you could have considered me to be her apprentice during those years, although neither of us saw it that way."

The small twig cracked again. "She had attempted to have me killed not too long after that event, as part of an intricate scheme to gain notoriety. I had fled, and for a long time it was nearly impossible to believe that a person that close to me could arrange for my death for her own gain."

His face gave off a sinister energy. "I guess that´s just the typical human, right?" he said, the words slithering out of his mouth. In moments his face reverted to his typical disarming grin. "It was around that time that I had managed to befriend Lynx however, so I suppose my total amount of friends didn´t change, eh?"

He turned towards the familiar, who had been too preoccupied with squabbling with Sil again to pay attention. The number stayed at one.

Lynx stared Sil down with a murderous gaze. "I fail to understand how I could ever come to resemble a horse, fairy." The word fairy was hissed with a heavy amount of contempt.
Hidden 5 yrs ago 5 yrs ago Post by Jerkchicken
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@13org@Fetzen



"It's fine, apology accepted." He said to her in response.

He'd listen to her explain herself and why she was in a less than friendly disposition. It was all very reasonable and understandable to the point of being dull. Her expression though, that was quite surprising. It didn't escape him how oddly cute it was on her. That contrast between this serious, competent officer and that, it was just too amusing and amusing. He had to turn away, lest she thought he wasn't taking her seriously which he didn't want to do. Yet as he cracked a smile in privacy, he felt an urge to poke tease just a bit.

"Oh, so you do got another side to you. A rather soft and fluffy one." He said to her with a slight chuckle. He felt the urge to rib her just a bit more, but decided to wrap it up as he didn't want to provoke a sword fight with her. Although a friendly spar with would probably be fun, but this wasn't the time for it. He'd add, "Don't worry Cap' we'll be good soldiers and follow your commands." He had fun deflating the heavy and serious tone of the woman.

His joviality would drop for a brief second as he'd say, "Anyway, let's get this done and reconvene with the others afterwards. Hopefully it should be useful meeting with them. At the very least we should be able to get some food for everyone, I don't about you but I'm not a pigeon so stale bread isn't really enjoyable for me." While he was far from being confident in their victory, he didn't let himself get psyched out. Complications were inevitable, but if one could adapt and improvise properly, even an unfavorable situation can be reversed.
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Chres Sansus


Interaction with @HokumPocus



Chres blinked, caught off guard by Octavio's sudden display of resentment and hatred. His mask of control shattered. All with a single question.

Chres had uncovered something here. Exactly what, he was not yet sure. But, judging by how quick Octavio was to put that mask back on, this man had revealed something very personal. Perhaps there was more to Octavio than Chres had previously thought.

Hesitantly, Chres stopped walking and placed his hand comfortingly on Octavio's shoulder. Brow furrowed, Chres looked to Octavio and gave him a single nod of understanding.

He turned his gaze towards the market square. Half-ass decorations scattered the scene of the market. That's right... He thought, Today is the first day of new month of Olfaccium. It was a day usually marked by a celebration of the sense of smell.

Chres stared grimly at the scene, watching groups of people covering up dead bodies that lined the marketplace. They moved the bodies off to the side. Their stares vacant and lacking life. Some people had taken to tossing flower petals haphazardly into the wind. There was no glee in their eyes, rather more of a sense of concentration. As if this was all they could do so as to not remember the events of the day prior. Storytellers sat alone on their stools staring off in the distance. Some of them tried to gather the people's attention, but few were in the mood to hear the stories of old.

It was a miserable display of festivity. Perhaps the worst Chres had ever seen. The Distortion had wrecked these people. A fact that was getting harder and harder to ignore.

"I'm sorry..." Chres said at last, "I didn't know."

Removing his hand from Octavio's shoulder, Chres continued walking onward. His gaze lowered pensively, as he considered his next words.

"Fairy?! Me???" He heard Sil say, off to the side. "You silly. I'm not just a fairy." Sil transformed into her secondary, less used form. A ferret. "I'm also whatever the puddle this thing is!"

Chres raised his eyebrow bemused. Did she just use the word 'puddle' as a curse? He thought. This... was a new level of obsession for her.

Sil turned back into her primary form and flew over the familiar's head just out of reach. "Hmmmmmm..." She said. "You are a bit small for a horsey..."

Her eyes suddenly lit up with glee. "Wait! I know!" Sil landed softly atop the cat's head. "There, that's better!" Sil began patting the side of the cat's head rhythmically. "Giddy-up, Tubby! Giddy-up!"

Chres looked away from the two as they played. He now knew exactly what to say.

"I've been with Sil for about a year now." Chres said at length. "We've had our good times... The bad times? Well... they are usually one-sided. In person, I may act as if she is a nuisance. In truth, she is precious to me."

Chres pulled Sil's metal glass pendent out from beneath his shirt and stared intently at its glittering surface. There was a look of melancholy in his eyes. "Sil was given to me as a gift." He said, "The only thing I have left from my deceased wife. Sil is... more valuable than any treasure I have ever known. However, she is a reminder to me as well... a reminder of what happened that night... a reminder of how I failed my wife."

Chres swallowed. He could feel his chest tightening. "Perhaps, it was she who failed me first... but in truth, none of that really matters. I can't blame her for what she did. After all, I was never really there."

Gripping the pendent tight in his hand, Chres tightened his jaw until finally, he released a sigh. "She died that night, a year ago." He said. It was one of the hardest things for him to admit aloud. "She haunts my dreams... she haunts my thoughts... she died without me ever learning the answer to, 'Why?'... I have days which are better than others. However, on most days... it just feels like the whole world is weighing me down."

Looking ahead, Chres shook his head. "Since that day, one year ago," he continued, "I've carried with me a length of rope within my satchel. At night, sometimes I take it out and just stare at it. Imagining how it would feel to wrap it around my throat."

Chres released his grip on Sil's pendent. Letting it drop down, back beneath his shirt. "Those are my darkest moments." Chres said quietly, slowly looking up towards the Distortion's strange pitch black sky. "Nights where I can feel the darkness closing in on me... And yet, it's in those darkest of nights that she comes to me." He turned his gaze to Sil, sitting atop Lynx's head playfully.

"She comforts me, in those dark moments." Chres said. "Tells me it's going to be okay... I've always thought it strange see her act in such a way. How unlike my little familiar to show any kind of empathy for anyone but herself... There are times where I wonder whether I would be here now, if it weren't for her..."

Sil giggled. Still patting the side of the cat's head. Urging her steed to gallop off and into the unknown.

Chres smiled softly. "No. I suspect I wouldn't be... Funny how the mind works." Chres said, looking to Octavio. "Here I am, a man seeking death, and yet... I can't help but take comfort in the fact that I'm still alive due to her efforts." He chuckled to himself silently. "What a strange, old man I've become."

Reaching into his shirt, Chres pulled out his flask of flavored water and took a swig. It was then that he heard a bout of shouting in the innkeeper's direction.

"What do you mean this food is not for sale? Why even have it out in this stall if you won't sell it?" The innkeeper shouted to the merchant before him.

Swallowing his water, Chres put away the flask and nodded to Octavio to quickened his pace. The merchant standing before the innkeeper had his hair slicked back. It's color black and greasy. His body was of a man well fed. His belly slipping out from under his shirt. Scattered behind him were six burly men. Weapons hanging at their side.

"We have been well compensated to allow those in need a small portion of food for free." The merchant said with a smile. "However, those who want an actual meal, will need to attend today's ceremony at the Church of Insight. They will be handing out meals to everyone there."

Not good. Chres thought. They've bought the people selling the food.

"This is ridiculous!" The innkeeper exclaimed. Three of the burly men, began to gather behind the merchant. Hands fingering the weapons at their side. "You are the fifth merchant who has refused to sell me food! If it's coin you want, I have it here! Why sell yourself to the cult like this? Look at what they've done to this city already!"

"I'm only trying to make a livelihood for my own family." The merchant said, still smiling. "I can't do that if The Clan takes my food away."

"The Clan?" The innkeeper said hesitantly.

"The Clan." One of the thugs repeated. "It's the name we prefer."

The innkeeper took a step back, eyes wide with realization. Chres grabbed hold of the innkeeper's arm. "We should go." He said. The innkeeper only nodded.

The two moved away from the stall; Chres motioning Octavio to follow. They didn't get more than five steps away before hearing the thug call out to them.

"Hold it right there." The thug said pointing to both Chres and Octavio. Chres stopped in his tracks, trying to not act suspicious. "You two... I know you."

"No..." Chres said. "I don't believe we've met."

The Thug chuckled. "Ah... my mistake then. You're right. We haven't met." Chres held back a sigh of relief. He nodded to the thug and turned to walk away. "But Sightless Syella, on the other hand..."

It happened in an instant. Chres called forth his stored body heat into the palm of his hand and Compressed it into a ball of energy. Turning on the heels of his feet, he threw the Compressed heat construct at the thug as hard as he could.

Caught off guard, the man fumbled for his weapon, but he was far too slow. The construct made contact with the man's stomach and burst on impact, sending the thug flying into the food stall and the merchant behind it. The two of them went down. Knocked out cold.

"Go!" Chres yelled. The three of them ran together in a group.

Compression was a nifty aspect of Tempraision, but it was by no means efficient. There was no telling how many other cult members lurked in the marketplace. As such Chres thought it a poor idea to take on the remaining thugs out in the open. Not to mention, at the very least, it would mean dealing with five other people all at once. No. It probably would be best to divide and conquer.

The three of them ran into a near by alleyway, the remaining thugs following close on their heels.
Hidden 5 yrs ago Post by Fetzen
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Týfurkh


"You're right, we need to be careful. However if it alleviates anybody I can say that so far I'm not picking up anything suspicious." Completely counteracting his previous statement Týfurkh didn't hesitate to add though that, unlike his voice, his hearing wasn't much better than that of the average human though. "And I can't deny the fact though that I myself probably am not the most unnoticable one."

The party ventured on, but the city's state in general didn't get any better. If anything it seemed to have deteriorated over the night even more. The clocktower was still standing though as everyone could see if looking at the horizon. "I doubt that anyone will be able to intercept the message. It is a very directed wave, not a general shoutout. One can only hear it if standing within its wake, and for this somebody would have to be, well..., floating in the air as it travels down from the top of the tower over the city walls towards its destination. I see the danger of interception much more outside the city's walls than inside. However all of this is presuming that we can still access the top of the tower."

That was were Týfurkh's most urgent concerns were. Their mission could end with as little as finding a gate firmly locked and so strong that none of them could break through. Or their enemies might have taken a hold of the tower as it could also serve as an excellent lookout and a way to sound a general alarm when using the bells. Or, while its walls were still standing, it could have suffered enough of internal damage for its higher levels to become inaccessible without great effort.

"Say... can you climb ? Does anybody have a long rope or so ? Just in case..." he addressed both Karina and DB. "We don't know that internal state the building is in, but we need to get as high up as possible. The higher the more unlikely interception will be and the better we can take aim. The message will be pointless if it travels along the wrong direction."

@13org@Jerkchicken
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Hidden 5 yrs ago Post by Jerkchicken
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@13org@Fetzen

The party had finally made it to the clock tower. It was definitely worse for wear, and he could understand the giant's trepidation with regards to climbing the tower. His weight could pose a risk on breaking the steps if they were damaged and wooden. He could probably break the locked door, but it might be more suspicious than they already were hanging around it. He calmly paced around while eyeballing their surroundings. He noticed an open window in the tower that seemed large enough to crawl through.

Chuckling he stepped forward saying, "No need for rope, like I said I'd scout for you two didn't I? Just hold tight and try not to be more suspicious than we already are." Before he did anything he glanced around to see if there weren't any people to see what he'd do next. Of course he was none the wiser about them being followed. He then started running up a nearby building as his power kicked in for him to make a flying leap from the rooftop and towards the clock tower. From there, there he'd climb and jump up the tower as he grabbed what could and slipped in through that window.

Inside, he'd find the interior in much better state than the exterior. He stood still on the wooden steps which while creaky where definitely solid at least for his steps. He stood still as he listened if there was anyone else inside that he'd need to dispatch. After a couple of minutes concentration, he didn't detect anything inside with him. Well outside of the pigeons, their molted feathers, and shit. He'd use his power to leap down the stairwell to get down faster. He'd unlock the door and then poke his head out, calling attention to Týfurkh and Karina. "Get in her and let's get this done with!" He'd say in a low voice to them.
Hidden 5 yrs ago Post by Typical
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Ferris Talese

@Pezz570@HokumPocus

The forest was a quiet rustle of leaves around Ferris as he walked, and in the distance crickets were readying their songs for when the sun sank below the skyline. Around him, the air was cooling to the slightly nippy nighttime temperature common to the border between the Lands of Taste and Sight.

Ferris adjusted his hat as a bit of wind leaked through the trees. He'd make it to the next town before nightfall, but perhaps it was time to consider upping up his pace a bit. The border woods weren't known for being safe after dark, and every now and then a corpse would turn up for one reason or another. While Ferris was secure in his abilities, he wasn't one to spend time and energy frivolously. So, resting his hand on the hilt of his blade under his cloak, he moved to speed up his pace, but a sound from behind—a throat clearing—made him whirl around.

Leaning against a tree was a black haired man who wore an easy, confident grin as he waved to Ferris. There was something unnatural about the scene. It was not just the man who acted as if he knew Ferris but the forest as well. The crickets were no longer chirping. The leaves had stopped their rustling. The air had gone still, and the forest... silent.

Ferris didn't react, instead watching the man carefully. The man hadn't snuck up on him because no one had. Not in a long time, and not in the middle of the woods, where leaves and earth were the only scents around. The other option, however, made both more and less sense; it was unlikely that the man teleported to or materialized in his current position, yet such would explain the utter lack of scent and sound.

Weighing his options, Ferris figured talking was his best course of action. If the man wanted Ferris' head, he'd just given up his best chance at it, and—judging by his grin—he was probably a talker. And, since Ferris had only questions at this point, he would play along.

“Who are you?”

"Who am I?" The mystery man repeated, rubbing his chin in amusement. "What an odd little question to ask me." The man turned his back to Ferris and gazed towards the night sky as if in thought. "To say I am a who would imply that I am someone. A someone forever is, and even after death remains forever who they were. Me? I'm forever changing, much like time itself. So a someone I am not. A who I can never be.

"But, what am I?"
The man continued, twirling with his arms outstretched. "Now there's an interesting question! For a what I most certainly am. Exactly what, I shall not say. I fear the answer is far too much, especially for a mind as unhinged as your own.

"No, no."
The man said with a smirk and a swat of his hand. "Simple. I'll keep things simple. I would rather have that mind remain uncracked, after all. Instead, I'll keep things down to a name. I tend to take my names by the person. For you? I'll go with... Hagan Talese..." The man pronounced the name slowly and deliberately. His lips curled into a calculated and knowingly grin. The kind that would put any man's hair on ends.

The mystery man locked eyes with Ferris. Looking as if he were peering into Ferris soul.

Ferris froze. It'd been years since he heard that name. Hagan Talese, the man who'd died fighting off assassins in a bid to buy Ferris enough time to escape out the back window of their cabin. The same cabin was a beacon of orange light when Ferris finally chanced a look behind him, easily identifiable in the night, and even now Ferris could recall the acrid smell of smoke.

Whether or not he'd actually smelled it was irrelevant, just as it was irrelevant how this man knew his father's name. Without warning, Ferris sprung at the man, drawing his blade and slashing it towards the man's throat.

Blood sprayed forth from the neck of the black hair man. The blade cutting cleanly through. The man who introduced himself as Hagan, collapsed to the ground. dying a pool of blood.

"Yikes..." Came a voice behind Ferris. It was the same as the one belonging to the man Ferris had just killed. "Now perhaps Hagan isn't the most hilarious name I've introduced myself as but there's no need to go making mess over it."

Behind Ferris sat the same black haired man which Ferris had just killed. He eyed Ferris with and sly look on his face. "Honestly, friend, you mustn't go killing every odd person you see. The even people? Sure! Go right on ahead! But the odd ones? Oh no, no, no! You see, it's odd ones who are the most interesting of the bunch!" The man smirked as if amused by his own joke.

Ferris stiffened, whirling around to put his sword between himself and the man who was and wasn’t bleeding out on the floor. ”What do you want,” he asked flatly.

His eyes flicked to the man on the floor, whose throat bubbled with his last breaths, to the silent forest around them that was suddenly devoid of the sounds of leaves and life. Then, his eyes settled warily again on the second man.

"Now why is it that everyone just assumes I want something from them? Maybe I just stopped for a good old chit chat, or maybe I'm here just to make a friend. What do you say, dead me? Why do you think everybody thinks I'm out to get something?"

The man, who introduced himself as Hagan, turned expectantly towards the dead version of himself as if expecting a response. He waited patiently with is hand to his ear. Nodding every half a second or so. "Uh-huh," The man said. "You don't say?" He continued. "Huh. I never thought of it that way. Gee thanks, dead me."

The man turned his attention back to Ferris "Dead me says I could use a bath. He also told me to tell you he said, hi."

The man gave Ferris an amused smile, knowing full well that he was being unhelpful. "Truth is, what I want is actually quite simple. I want a good cup of tea-" He said, raising his hand and snapping his fingers. A cup of tea materialized in his left hand. -and for the success of some convoluted plan which just so happens to align with a silly bounty hunter's quest for revenge."

The man took a sip from his cup of tea. "So tell me, friend... Do I have your attention?"

Ferris stayed silent as the man spoke, watching him carefully. From his magic, it was clear that the man was stronger than him, and perhaps even the strongest magic-user he’d had ever encountered. Unless this was all an illusion—which was possible, but still left Ferris in an unfavorable position—the man had literally summoned a flesh-and-blood copy of himself, which meant he likely couldn't be killed via normal means.

“Yeah.” Ferris let his bladed hand drop to his side.“You have my attention.”



Olfaccium was Ferris’ least favorite month, given his choice of clothing, but he’d never let it bother him. Having arrived in Shimmer Town at sunrise, he’d spent the morning walking around town looking for something—or someone—in particular. The information he’d been given was sufficient to help him locate his new targets, but it was a sizable town with a decent population. Stale scents were available, but Ferris needed fresh ones to track, lest he be led randomly around by the nose. Though the information he’d been provided seemed largely accurate, he disliked the idea of immediately trusting what he’d been told. Until he found the ones he’d been told about, until he’d spoken to them, gauged their goals and desires, he’d continue to be wary.

The town was a messy mix of scents in the morning, likely leftovers from fights from days prior. The fainter scents were only detectable if he focused, meaning they were likely old and past their use. Stronger scents, though, offered little information without a face to put them to, and a face was all Ferris lacked at the moment. A face and a location, but the latter provided the former.

However, given the state of the town—the dead lining the streets with mourners caught between celebration and sorrow—Ferris figured it wouldn’t take long to find his targets after they started moving through the town. If his source was correct, the group was still in town, so it was just a waiting game. This fact culminated in an uneventful morning as Ferris walked the town, knowing full well he wasn’t the only one looking but being unable to do anything about the fact. That he’d been pointed in their direction was proof enough of the group’s threat to the shadows of the town, and Ferris knew he’d be naive to believe he was completely safe roaming inside town walls.

It took a bit of aimless wandering after stray scents and a good bit of luck but after a decent amount of time following the fading pinewood scent indicative of Touch magic, a scuffle of sorts broke out in the square, starting with an unannounced crash. Those involved easily parted the meager crowd as the chased and chasing sped away from the scene, the sharp smell of fresh pine enough to incite Ferris to follow. With a scent trail to track, he was hard on their heels, though he maintained some distance as to not clue in the pursuers. When they turned into an alleyway, Ferris waited a beat, then ran over, pausing at the corner to access his vials and pull up his mask. In went dabs of fruit and earth in case things went south.

Then, drawing a dagger, Ferris rounded the corner and drove it into the lower back of the nearest man from behind before kneeing him, using the momentum of his fall back to push him off the dagger. The man’s pained cry was cut short as Ferris caught him, slitting his throat and dropping him. Blood welled out around the man’s fingers as he hit the ground, grasping at a lost cause.

“Chres. Octavio,” Ferris said, tossing aside his dagger and drawing his sword, the other thugs backing away from him with their weapons up and eyes wide. “Let’s talk after.”

With that, he lunged at the next closest thug, blade high to disguise his intentions to pivot a kick.
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Hidden 5 yrs ago 5 yrs ago Post by HokumPocus
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Octavio quietly nodded at Chres. Earlier he had reasoned that there must have been some important reason behind taking along such an… interesting familiar around, but didn't expect tragedy. He was at a loss for words and didn't know how to comfort the man who had just revealed an intimate part of himself to him. He nearly sighed from both the frustration of being too inexperienced to handle honest conversations and a growing empathy for his party. Would cheering him up be the right thing to do? “My condolences, Chres,” he finally uttered. Forming a grin on his face, he added, “I suppose this means I´ll have to warn Lynx against battering her around.”

As he continued their errand the unmistakable air of tension began to manifest in Octavio´s surroundings. He knew it was ridiculous, but it was a relief to be thrust into a situation he was much more familiar with. His eyes glazed over the scene unfolding before him with a false warmth, discretely monitoring all of the little changes in the facial expressions and body movements of the innkeeper and the cultists. This was definitely more than haggling gone wrong, and by the way the thugs in particular tensed, things were going to get ugly.

In response he began to form an illusion in his mind, working slowly so as to maintain his unassuming appearance. He started with big, broad strokes to get the fundamentals right, and then moved on to the more complex parts as the image took on a more solid grip in his mind. It almost felt automatic given the amount of times he had created illusions of himself. With luck, the tension would defuse and his safety measure would result useless.

"But Sightless Syella, on the other hand..."

Damn it.

***


They took to the alleyway in a storm of footsteps, Chres leading the way and Octavio hurriedly catching up to him. At some point during the commotion he had summoned his illusion unintentionally, much like someone holding a heavy object tended to drop it while running. He wasn´t sure if the amount of intelligence he had imbued in this one was even enough to make it viable, but there was no time to spare in escaping the quintet of armed thugs behind them.

Octavio chuckled to himself. Seeing Chres do the exact same thing he was planning on made him respect the man more. There was no doubt in his mind that some of the others would have tried tossing themselves into battle had he been paired up with them. Near his legs Lynx shot out like an arrow, successfully outpacing everyone present. The cat jolted even faster at the sight of another warrior joining their claustrophobic battle.

While the appearance of another stranger urged him to run faster, he shouted their names and even slew one of the thugs. Another warrior appointed to join their improvised party of hostages?

He could always ask that later. Right now, the prime opportunity to strike presented itself right before him. Octavio descended on the closest thug, his illusion joining him and doubling the pressure with no time wasted. This one was definitely a bit harder to control than his typical illusions. Had he been an unrestrained man, a large grimace would have covered his face. Instead he remained fairly neutral, wearing a small smirk on both of them.

His combat style consisted of waiting, gathering his power, and striking when his opponent was weakest, typical for a rogue. The current situation he found himself in was the total opposite however. He was fighting at a disadvantage, and had to compensate for that by going on the defensive. Using his natural dexterity and the fact that there were two of him, he watched his own back and stuck to landing safe slashes on his opponents, not letting them strike at him in return. Rather than target any one thug in particular, he had dangerously placed himself close to the center of the action and settled on punishing anyone who got too close. Chres could use ranged magic, so this could be helpful for him, right? He made a mental note to claim that that had been a part of this strategy from the beginning when asked.

Throughout the chaos of battle several shallow cuts had been successfully scored against the skin of both Octavio and his illusion. The ferocity of the thugs was rising, leaving Octavio no choice but to pull back. A thug noticed this and went in for an opening in his stance, successfully striking at the illusion. The heavy blow had carved an enormous gash across his shoulder and incapacitated him. Not letting the pressure get to him, Octavio´s smirk grew by a fraction and the man sped to try and catch the thug by surprise.

He dug his dagger messily into the man´s flank and prepared to fight any resistance with his remaining short sword. Throwing knives weren´t an option with so many allies close. His strategy had switched to being fully offensive, circling the thug with both of his selves, making it impossible to completely defend himself from attack. His illusion went in for the kill, impaling the man brutally in the throat. The illusion´s movements were sloppy and he let the sword linger inside of the man far longer than he should have before dragging it out, a sign that his injuries were grave. He couldn´t create another one either, as the alleyway choked out the light and would extend the length of the process. This battle would have to end fast.
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