[COLOR=GRAY][INDENT][INDENT][CENTER][sup][h2]O[i][sub][sup]nce was a man who lived a life so mundane, it could only be true. [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] Practically invisible to the world around him, life carries on while he felt perpetually stuck treading water just to keep his head [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] afloat. Fortunately for the man, fate had different ideas and intervened with a heavy hand. Pushed into a corner, the man [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] was driven to hide amongst dusty shelves and heavy tomes. In the silence, he could hear his name being whispered, [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] over and over again, until his hand touched one particular opus. A worn book, bound in leather and tarnished steel. Though [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] sealed, it opened for a price, and upon spreading its pages, the man's life was changed forever. [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] [color=2c2c2e]_[/color] Now, he is the Warlock they call...[/sup][/sub][/i][/h2][/sup][/center][/INDENT][/INDENT][sub][hr][/sub][sup][hr][/sup][CENTER][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5661999][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019e83f9-259f-75fb-95e3-57387106ed18.webp[/img][/url][/CENTER][sub][hr][/sub][sup][hr][/sup][SUB][SUP][table][row][cell][INDENT][h2][b][COLOR=SILVER]L[SUP][SUB]OCATION:[/SUB][/SUP][/COLOR][/b] [i][SUP][SUB]GALLOWAY'S EMPORIUM OF ANTIQUITIES - MILK STREET[/SUB][/SUP][/i][/h2][/INDENT][/cell][cell][INDENT][RIGHT][h2][b][COLOR=SILVER]U[SUP][SUB]RBAN [/SUB][/SUP]G[SUP][SUB]OTHIC[/SUB][/SUP] #1.10[SUP][SUB]:[/SUB][/SUP][/COLOR][/b] [i][SUP][SUB]HARD KNOCKS[/SUB][/SUP][/i][/h2][/RIGHT][/INDENT][/cell][/row][/table][/SUP][/SUB][hr][SUP][SUP][table][row][cell][INDENT][sup][h1][b][COLOR=SILVER]I[SUP][SUB]NTERACTIONS:[/SUB][/SUP][/COLOR][/b] [i][SUP][SUB]NONE[/SUB][/SUP][/i][/h1][/sup][/INDENT][/cell][cell][INDENT][RIGHT][sup][h1][b][COLOR=SILVER]P[SUP][SUB]REVIOUSLY:[/SUB][/SUP][/COLOR][/b] [i][SUP][SUB][URL=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5666120]HANDS[/URL][/SUB][/SUP][/i][/h1][/sup][/RIGHT][/INDENT][/cell][/row][/table][/SUP][/SUP][INDENT][INDENT]"It's remarkably impressive what you've done," Galloway continued, motioning for Archie to follow him. Archie swallowed hard, feeling a nervous lump forming in his throat, taking one last look at the Arquus de Vice before following the older man. "Better men than you have tried to claim this grimoire as their own, yet somehow, only you've accomplished such a feat," Galloway explained while walking. He was joined by a small owl that swooped down from the rafters of the store, letting out a small 'hoot' before coming to rest on his shoulder. A sudden growl from beside Archie alerted him to the Grim's reappearance as the black dog moved ahead of him, its hackles raised, maintaining a blockade between the younger man and the storekeeper. "How long has he been with you?" Galloway asked, turning around before pointing towards the black dog. "As long as I can remember," Archie replied, somewhat less surprised that this Galloway character of all people could see the wolf-dog. Galloway looked from the Grim, back to Archie before raising his finger and thumb to his bare chin and scratching it thoughtfully. "What day were you born?" The older man inquired, his eyes staring intently at the bagherst while the darkly coloured canine returned the intrusive gaze with a piercing glare of its own. Archie was caught off guard by the question; it wasn't often that people asked personal details about his life, let alone his birthday. "I don't actually know my birthday." He shuffled his feet against the wooden floor, eyes wandering away from Galloway, towards the nearest window. "It was kind of lost when I was put in the foster system; St. Dymphna's was never given a record for it." Archie continued, his volume falling as he spoke. Clearing his throat, he turned his face back towards Galloway. "My parents, uh, the adoptive ones, always celebrated my adoption day." A growl from the Grim interrupted anything further from Archie. Galloway turned rapidly on his heels, hands tightly gripping his cane, before he firmly tapped it against the floor and raised his right hand in the direction of the black dog. "Enough, Marrok!" Galloway shouted. To Archie's surprise, the beast's hackles lowered as the dog bowed his head towards Galloway. A small smile crossed the silver-haired man's face before he muttered slightly beneath his breath. "How fascinating." "Where'd you train?" "Uh, Calder City University?" "No, where did you study the arcane?" "I haven't, I uh, didn't." "you expect me to believe that you opened the Grimoire with no training?" "That is what happened." "Then you need my help even more than I thought." "I'd suggest making that tome a tad more travel-sized to avoid suspicions." -Galloway -"Oh, this is your blood? Ah, I can't take your money, you've already paid the price for the grimoire. It's yours now, watch yourself." Mayhew and Galloway showdown Galloway has Mayhew's wand on display in the shop. Arquus de Vice.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/COLOR]