Penny

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Dogs of War: Old World Mercenaries

Realization that they weren't going to be killed out of hand had its usual salutatory effect and she felt her breath relax. Whether it would have been possible for her to wield the seals energies, or destroy it by unbinding it, were excellent questions, but questions for enchanters a good deal braver, and a good deal less practically minded than Emmaline. Not that she wouldn't have tried of course. The tension that had filled the thieves surrounding them faded away as though it had never been. A low buzz of conversation resumed and a trio of indifferently talented fielders struck up a tune. Lucky Jack seemed to relax as well although both Emmaline and Amal had seen enough to recognise it as a pose, a man like him was never really relaxed, and wouldn't be until the priests of Morr tossed the first shovelful of dirt on his face.

"The night is wearing on," Emmaline commented, "I don't suppose this can wait until tomorrow?"

Jack shook his head curtly.

"Has to be back before they notice its gone, might have been easier to just hand it back, but I'd have to admit I let such a heist happen on my watch. Bad for business," the kingpin acknowledged.

"And I suppose if we get killed trying to put it back you can just claim we are some clueless idiots who wandered into Altdorf?" Jack grinned toothily.

"That one armed dwarf told me you were quick," he observed. Emmaline scowled.

"What did he pay a crier to tell people about us?" she demanded. Jack chuckled again.

"Now now Frauline, who do you think Nobby sells most of his loot too? Either to me to move out of town, or what he sells locally he pays me my cut right? With items like you were offering I just asked a few additional questions."

"Yeah well, he still deserves to have his beard set on fire," she groused, irritation replacing fear at the prospect of breaking into an Imperial Palace that might already be alerted that it had been violated once tonight.

"Am I stretching the friendship to ask if you have any supplies we could use?" she asked. Jack made a languid guesture towards a series of racks that lined one of the far walls. Coiled ropes, cross bows modified to carry lines and other tools of the thieves arts were neatly laid out.

"Help yourself."

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The Sinful Stars

Annika and Orion retired behind a screen of artfully carved lattice which partitioned the large living space into several smaller sections. The knight took a seat on a settee and Annika opened one of the embossed cases which had been provided by the duke. Inside was a gambeson quartered in blue and white and embroided with a hawk motif in golden thread. Training as a lady of the al'Malik court included assisting a man into armor and she unfastened the claps across the front and then lifted the armored coat by each shoulder allowing Orion to slip his arms into it. As he fastened the coat she lifted his ceramsteel breastplate.

"Looks a little shopworn compared to the fancy new coat," she observed wryly. The breastplate was scared and scraped with blade strikes and gun shots, the paint peeled and burned where it had turned aside laser strikes. Orion had made some effort to repair his armor but there was only so much that could be done without the services of an artificer. Such master armorers were rare though, come to think of it, the Duke probably had an armor master who would be able to restore the battle scarred armor.

"I suppose our host didn't have time to run me up a new dress for the ball," he quipped. Annika smirked, thinking of the new robes that had been left for her in her own quarters. She lifted the back plate of the armor and fitted it to Orion's back, moving around in front to deftly pull the straps tight before lifting the front plate and slipping it into place.

"Do you have any idea what 'Filenia' is up to? I sense she is hiding something, but that dosen't exactly require telepathy."

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What Are You Reading Right Now?

The Belgariad, by David Eddings. Never read this popular series, but I'm reading the first novel. It's a book that uses all of the classic tropes of fantasy. Essentially David Eddings way of saying "fuck you" to people who considered traditional arthurian fantasy boring or tiresome. It's a very good read and popular, and even though I am only a short way in I'm liking it. Reminds me of the Wheel of Time a bit.

@POOHEAD189

I own every book the Eddings' ever wrote. Belgarath the Sorcerer is great but for my money you just cant beat the Elenium. He really has his interpersonal banter down by then and he does a neat job of making the characters interesting even though the are essentially all Knights.

Currently I am reading Ruins of the Galaxy by JN Chaney and Christopher Hopper. Frankly it is formulaic and had not impressed me thus far.

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Penny's Pencils

I know it is early days but this tablet may be my favorite thing ever:

Roleplaying in 2020

I honestly don't know if I improved, at first with Covid and work and then with family drama I feel like I've been off my game for a long time.

I did write a really great scene of a ship attacking a harbor that I am quite proud of, and a gun battle that I think is pretty ok, but other than that, just kind of blah :(