A War of Two Evils! (Philsys RP)

[Archmage144]

Darin, who had been paying little attention to anything, briefly glanced up at the crowd, spotted Mahou standing alone, and waved shyly at her, his face showing little if any emotion.

The only other thing of any interest Mahou noticed was that, for some reason, there was a large, dragonlike creature sitting in the middle of the marketplace, apparently trying to negotiate or discuss something with a small child--a pair that was drawing quite a few stares from passerby.

[Squintz Altec]

"Hmmm...interesting." Squintz realized that continuing to speak with this individual would probably just anger him more. Squintz sometimes had that way with people, though he rarely tried to annoy them. With that, he shut up, turning around to face Darin.

[Archmage144]

Darin shrugged at Squintz, ignoring the somewhat angry dragon. "He is apparently somewhat perturbed," Darin sighed. "So much anger..."

The time mage waved a hand dismissally. "If you and I are here for the same purpose, perhaps we should see the governor of the city? That would be...what Hakaril told me to do, anyway...he sent me with a message for him, and told me to enlist a few allies, if necessary. Hakaril always knew how to arrange and plan things..."

[Nakibe]

"Oooooooooh" said Solis, looking quite amazed that someone had telepathed him.

<Wooow..... Mostpeoplecan'ttalkheremisteranditannoysFluffy.He'salapdragonImetonce.He'sreallyniceandfriendly
andcuteandstuffandlikestochewonshoesandthingssometimes,buthe'sreallynice,justlikeAzul.Azul'srealniceandcute
andstufftoo.Iwishhewasherenow.Oh,misterDragon,sir?Whydidyougetallgrowlywiththatnicemanoverthere?> Solis rapidly telepathed to Derill, sending a quick image on Squintz to finish.

<Beingallgrowlylikethattopeopleisn'tverynice>, he finished up, and nodded his head quite sagely afterwards like he had just imparted a secret of the universe.

[Divinegon2130]

Derill tried to pick up as much of the rapid telepathy from Solis as he could. He managed to pick up the names Fluffy and Azul, hearing that Fluffy was a "lapdragon" and guessing, from the "just like" statement, that Azul was one too. But he didn't pick up everything in the middle.

"If you're wondering why I got all growly," Derill telepathed back to Solis, "it's because I'm not used to humans yet. I've been in hiding for too long."

Now, Derill turned to Squintz. Hoping he hadn't severely angered anyone, he told him, "It's not really hard feelings or anything... but how would you act if someone from a race that you know little about suddenly asked you something and sounded to you like they were demanding something? Not that you WERE demanding something, but still..."

Derill hoped that he didn't need to continue that statement.

[LadyDragonClawsEDW]

Aya glanced around casually, taking in the scene before her, her gaze gravitating to the large crowd gathered around the dragonlike creature and the little kid prodding it. Well there's a brave dragon, openly displaying his form...something I'd never do in Ayenee... She eyed the little kid and frowned. That one looks a little familiar...I'm sure I've seen him before...ah it was probably at the castle...too many kids running around there these days, I need to talk to Ayra about inviting guests...

As she approached the crowd silently, she couldn't help but get the feeling she was being watched. Aya whirled around quickly to discover the guide was still following her from behind. "What the hell, I told you you could go..."

"I'm not leaving until I receive my pay Miss DragonClaws..." he stated firmly.

Aya sighed, "Fine, just...please don't get in my way, okay?" she grumbled and began to push her way through the crowd to the draconain.

[Squintz Altec]

Squintz nodded in response to Derill, but then turned back to Darin.

"Yes, I think that we should get more info on what is going on here." Turning back to Derill, he said, "Would you like to accompany us?"

[Divinegon2130]

Derill looked back at Squintz, this time with a much more cheerful look in his eyes.

"Yes, I would like to accompany you," Derill said. "In fact, there's a little I can tell you right now about what's going on. From what I've been told by a young woman I encountered when I got here, there's two magi at war with each other. And part of their fighting involves undead. But that's all I know on the subject."

Now hopefully I can stay calm around these people, Derill silently added as an afterthought.

Then he caught a glimpse of someone trying to get through the crowd. Another one? Derill thought, curious as to why the person was in such a hurry.

[LadyDragonClawsEDW]

Aya managed to push her way through, stopping before the draconian, staring at him for a moment from beneath her hood. "Hn..." she muttered quietly, turning to stare at the child now. I know I've seen him somewhere before.... She dug through her memories, trying to place the face with someone she'd seen at the castle, a small recollection arising in her mind....

"Excuuuuse me but have you seen my big brother? I was told he might be here...." the little wide eyed child looked up at Aya from the steps of the castle, fixing disturbingly cute puppydog eyes upon her.

"I might, who is he?"

"His name is Damian, I'm Solis but he's not really my big brother and stuff but he acts like it and I haven't seen him in a long time and I'm really worried and I'm afraid it's my bad luck again...." the little boy looked on the edge of tears.

"I'm sorry dear...I don't think I've heard of this man you speak of..."

Aya shook her head, looking back to the little boy, her voice low, "Solis...? Is that you?"

(OOC: I tried to remember it as best as I could Nak)

[Nekogami]

Mahou decided to walk around the town. Some thing was bound to happen. The weapon's shops had been picked bare, item shops too. Everyone in town seemed to be up in arms.

"How hopeless." She looked for an tavern or pub to listen for some gossip. "People who are troubled usually look to shameless drinking. Such drinking loosens the most wary toungue." She smirked wryly.

[Archmage144]

It was a fairly traditional sight for Mahou as she entered the local tavern, the Basilisk's Tongue. Crowds of people, each within varying degrees of sobriety, sat around at wooden tables and drank or discussed various things, some interesting to the average passerby, and others not. Mahou's sensitive elven ears, however, had been trained to pick out what was important, although it was occasionally difficult to tell, and equally difficult to drown out everything else.

Unlike most of the equivalent drinking and chatting establishments Mahou had visited, the majority of the inhabitants seemed a bit frightened and suppressed. While conversation and happiness still occured, it appeared that everyone was a bit afraid of becoming too happy...

"I've heard the governor is looking for someone to deal with the problems in the town."

"Last time they came, they destroyed my whole farm! I'm screwed!"

"Somebody told me there was this old mage who lived in the outskirts of town, and that the governor confiscated his tower because they thought he was behind the undead attacks..."

"...don't tell anyone, but I think Samantha and Robert are..."

"500 gil, and not a coin less, or no sale!"

Messages like these flooded in and out of Mahou's senses...

[Nekogami]

"Agh." Mahou closed her eyes tightly. "Always chattering."
Incompetent bounty hunters, incompetent mayor....This mage however.....

Mahou decided to inquire further abou this mage. She stepped over to the gentlement that mentioned the mage. She put on her most alluring persona and leaned over to the man, smiling as sweetly as she could.

"Excuse me? I heard you talking about an old mage. I'm looking for my distant uncle who is a mage and..." Mahou sniffled dramatically. "And when I came here I heard awful things were happening....Will you help me?" She leaned in on the man closer, looking like a helpless girl who need a nice strong man to tell her what to do.


Edited by: [url=http://pub30.ezboard.com/unekogami.showPublicProfile?language=EN>Nekogami</A]&nbsp; at: 5/26/02 7:41:48 pm

[Archmage144]

The man grinned at Mahou stupidly. "Well, sure, I'd be all too glad to help someone like you, yeah? You want to find him..."

He glanced around shiftily. "You sure he's sane? A lot of mages are utter and complete crackpots...I bet he knows you're here now! Don't worry though," he intoned confidently, "I'll protect you, yeah?"

[Nekogami]

Mahou pulled up a chair and pretended to look distressed. "Oh goodness! I just hope my uncle is allright!" She hugged his arms and wiped her tears on his shoulder. "Oh pleeeease, tell me what has been happening here. Don't worry about it being to scary," she snuggled his arm closer. "As long as a big strong man like you is here, I won't be afraid."

Come on, squawk. I don't want to keep lathering up this creamy sweet persona. I'll puke!

She batted her eyelashes in a come hither kind of way.

[Archmage144]

"Well, it's...nothing to be happy about, is for sure," he sighed. "But you seem to be dwelling upon it...there've been skeletal armies and such forth marching through the city for weeks. Sometimes they fight with other armies, either here or in the countryside. They destroy our crops, our homes, and even kill us sometimes in the crossfire. It's horrible..."

Without warning, the bargoer's eyes welled up with tears, causing him to drop any and all impression he had earlier put on about being a strong, confident man. "They...they killed my brother," he sobbed, putting his face in his hands.

[Nekogami]

Mahou put her arms around him and tried to soothe him. "Oh, there there....He's...He's in a better place now. Away from the pain of this world."

Cripes. This is getting me no where.

"I'm sorry. I upset you.....Can you tell me where the tower is? My uncle might have been there and I have to go and save him."

[Archmage144]

The man stared into Mahou's eyes and nodded. "His tower...it's like a half a mile from here. But you don't want to go there...no one lives there any more, not since the government evicted him...he lives here in the city now, because he didn't want to be any trouble, I suppose. I don't know exactly where he lives...but his name is Vin. You could ask around..."

[Nekogami]

Mahou smiled sweetly. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" She gave the man a peck on the cheek and stood. "You've been so kind to me. I don't think I know anyone sweeter." She started to walk off, but for the icing on the cake, she gave the man a wink and blew him another kiss.

Gag me with mace. Vin the Old mage, eh? She looked around for some one who might be more knowlegeable about some old magical coot that got evicted for being an old magical coot.

[Archmage144]

...and sure enough, Mahou happened upon a man who was apparently a member of the town guard, based on his armor and weaponry, as well as his edgy expression--his face wore a look that seemed to convey the idea that he had been drinking gallons of coffee, whether he actually had or not.

The man glanced up at Mahou, curious what she could want with a random stranger in a bar.

[Nekogami]

Mahou decided that a stronger female persona would be better. She put her arms around the guard and put on a lazy look of seduction.

"Hey...soldier," she said in a soft drall. "I hear there's a lot of trouble brewing 'round these parts." She yawned. "I'm a journalist from the Rivan Star Magazine and someone told me that YOU are the man to speak too. Now what's this I hear about Vin the Old Man Mage?"

She took out a notepad and a pencil, giving he soldier a sidelong glance and smile.

He smells like a sweaty guard that's had too much beer...Oh wait, HE IS! She inwardly rolled her eyes.

Edited by: [url=http://pub30.ezboard.com/unekogami.showPublicProfile?language=EN>Nekogami</A]&nbsp; at: 5/26/02 7:42:36 pm

[Archmage144]

"Uh...uh...uh..." stuttered the guard, totally unprepared for this sort of approach. "Well, uh, you, uh, you see, er, well, then, um, he's, well, I saw him, yes, er, of course, uh, yes..."

The guard continued to stammer in this manner for a good minute or two, but Mahou was able to pick out the important parts--the mage lived a few streets over, in a small, ordinary red brick home with a silver roof.

[Divinegon2130]

Derill heard the person say something to the young man who he had been talking to telepathically. He strained his ears to try and hear it, but he couldn't quite make out what she was saying at first. He did, however, hear her asking the boy, "Is that you?"

A thought came to Derill's mind. He didn't know what to call these people. That question was shoved aside, however, by the presence of the lady.

Derill looked at her somewhat strangely, trying to figure out as much as he could just by visual appearance. He then telepathed her...

"Um... excuse me, but why are you here? The two of us were talking, whether or not you heard it. It's rude to just come in and ask something like that."

Derill had a sort of point there - he WAS talking to the boy before she came. Maybe not vocally, but it still could be considered 'talking'. Derill wondered if she'd interpret it that way, however...

(OOC: The female that this post mentions a lot IS Aya, just so you know. And the little boy I'm mentioning is Solis. Just writing it this way because Derill does not know either name.)

[LadyDragonClawsEDW]

As far as appearance was concerned there was very little Derill could figure out from the woman. The green cloak she wore did well to conceal her face and body.

And she didn't seem to take kindly to being randomly telepathed either. That's not my sister... She took a step further, her tail twitching beneath her robes as she spoke to the draconian, "Sir, please do not do that again..." she smirked to herself, "It's rude to telepath people you do not know..." she kept her voice low.

[Divinegon2130]

Derill thought for a moment. Figures... I can't find out anything about her from appearance, and she won't let me talk to her so that only *she* hears it... I don't want to make a fool of her or myself in front of a crowd, but I have to. Dammit.

Now he'd have to bring himself to the form of communication that he hated to use. He hated to speak to her, but it looked like she'd ignore him if he tried his telepathy again. Still, he'd need to give her HIS opinion.

"Don't tell me what's rude and what's not. Grrr...This is why I always have problems with humans... always telling others what to do and what not to do. The young lad here-" at this point, Derill pointed to Solis at this gesture "-doesn't seem to mind mental contact. Why would you? You think you're authority over me?"

[Squintz Altec]

Squintz mentally sighed at hearing the conflict. That dragon obviously didn't know much about this world. There were more than just humans in Gaera. Things were not always as they seemed. It didn't matter, though. This dragon struck him the wrong way at first. Squintz knew that he shouldn't be so judgemental, so he would give Derill a second chance. However, everyone else in his immediate vincity were great. He didn't mind them at all, especially the child.

[Nekogami]

Mahou scribbled down what the guard said and turned back to him. "You, my good sir, have a way with words."

A very bad way, but a way nonetheless.

Mahou whirled around and started to head off. "Be sure to check for my article!" She exited the tavern.

"Now....to find my mage," she said with a smirk. She headed off towards the mage's house.

[Archmage144]

Mahou, after a bit of searching, of which took less than twenty minutes, arrived on the doorstep of the mage's domacile. After knocking, she was rewarded with the presence of a somewhat aged man in black robes, gold and silvery trim punctuating them.

"What do you want, hm, are you in need of my assistance, yes? Have you come to seek the advice of the great Vin, master conjurer, hm?"

[Nakibe]

"Hi, Miss Aya!!! It's so incredibly nice to see you here!!!" shouted Solis joyfully as he leapt up to hug her. "What're you doing here, though, Miss Aya? I thought you lived at that big castle thingy I last saw you at with Pink and Ayra and everybody?"

(OOC: What you've got there seems to work for me, DC. )

[Nekogami]

Mahou smiled. "Hello, Vin. I wanted to talk to you. I hear that the Mayor wrongly evicted you from your home. I came here to see if I could clear you good name....." Mahou tried to peer inside. "May I come in?"

[Archmage144]

The mage blinked, fiddling with the hem of his robes nervously and making wavering eye contact with Mahou. "Why, yes, of course, certainly, yes, I see, is that it, hmm? I don't believe I know you, no, not at all, of course not, but why, do you need assistance, you want my help, a favor, perhaps? I must repay you, of course, yes, should you succeed, you see..."

He shook his head violently, as though shaking loose a few cobwebs. "Yes, yes, do that, come right in, I suppose..." He stepped back from the door and wandered into his own house, allowing Mahou to follow.

His house was like any other basic residential dwelling, except for the fact that a large portion of it had apparently been taken over by his experiments and converted into a massive laboratory. Potion bottles were strewn about everywhere, open books littered the floor, funny runes were carved in the furniture and occasionally glowed or spat sparks, the skull of a dragon sat on the desk next to a quill pen, and some half a dozen birds locked up in cages squawked and screeched at the entry of the new visitor. Glancing over at the birds, Mahou noticed that they were rather strange looking creatures, birds with blue-green feathers and vicious, serrated beaks--and she swore she spotted an extra pair of eyes on the neck of one of them.

Vin reclined in a comfortable looking oversized armchair and beckoned to Mahou to have a seat nearby. He shook his head slightly, then lowered his eyes and began to tell his story.

"You see, I'm sure, that is, I believe, yes, perhaps, that you've heard, the rumors, that is, which aren't rumors at all, no, not whatsoever, quite factual, indeed, yes, of skeletal warriors and whatnot, yes, of course, those stories? With all the magic involved, yes, you see, the governor was in a hurry, he was, of course, to find someone to blame, yes...someone to blame...he accused me, he did, of practicing necromancy, yes. But I do not, no, and I have never, of course, I wouldn't, it's against my principles, you see, yes? So he evicted me, yes, threw me right out, of my tower, of course, if it weren't obvious, and you understand, right, yes? He had no proof, no," he muttered, shaking his head.

[Nekogami]

Mahou made a slow blink, her expression didn't change. She wanted to speak but somehow saying "Yes." or "No." had gotten complicated by his speech.

"Aha," she said.".....Well, what do you know of necromancy? Perhaps we can figure out who is doing this and, thereby, clear your name and return you to your tower?"

[Archmage144]

"Oh, yes, I know much of necromancy, yes, I do, in fact, but of course, you see, they equate aptitude with achievement, I guess, but instead, you see, they haul me off, they do. You see, I possess, actually, a powerful weapon against the undead, of course, yes, I do, it's quite effective, would be useful for any who dared to challenge them, it would," he continued, in his odd, jerky manner of talking.

"You see, I suppose, you must realize, the simple fact that is, this is not a single harassment force, oh no. This is a war, yes, a battle, of course, for supremacy, you see, between two of the most powerful, yes, the most poweful, highly knowledgable, you see, of course, very strong necromancers, hmm? And what's the most powerful of the necromancers, hmm? Who can command the dead the most effectively, yes, the most effectively?"

Mahou blinked.

"THE DEAD, of course, THE DEAD! You've gotta know how they tick, yes, understand them, and you spend so much time with them, you do, that you become one yourself, on purpose, yes, so you can better command them, you do, and you become immortal! What we have here, we do, is a war, yes, between two of the most powerful, indeed, most powerful, the most powerful two liches I've ever seen, yes, ever seen, that you've ever seen as well, I suspect, hmmmmm?"

[Nekogami]

Mahou blinked again. "The Dead?? You mean...." She understood full well what he meant. The thought just did not appeal to her. She had family members that were necromancers but they were Alahi Drow.....and she avoided her drow side and things drow like the plague....

"....How might I find this supreme dead Necro...mancers?" Mahou shifted uneasily.

(OOC: When I made Mahou, I assumed Drow were black...like black black to explain why Mahou simply brown since she's half drow. Okay there ye go. The Alahi Drow are black drow and I so totally made the name up randomly.)

[Archmage144]

"Well, you know, of course, that is, I'd be glad to help you, after all, seeing as how, you see, I know the location of at least one of them, I do, yup, that's right. But it'd be suicide to just walk in there unequipped, it would, even if you're just trying to negotiate, yes...and I'm not so sure, not exactly, if I want to pass up an opportunity, no..."

The old man winked, giving Mahou a look she recognized from the bounty hunter business--a look of "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours."

"How about you see, perhaps, of course, if you can get my tower back from the governor, hmm?"

[Nekogami]

Mahou nodded at the old man's implications.

"All right....That's what I'm here for." She stood and cracked her knuckles with a smirk. "I know a little about Necros....anything I need to know about these?"

[Archmage144]

He shook his head. "Nothing specific that I know, yet, no, nothing at all, I don't believe."

"Good luck, that is, with the governor, of course, yes!"

[Nekogami]

Mahou nodded and gave a curt bow to Vin.

"See ya." She showed herself out and headed for Town Hall.

"All this walking....At least it's leading me closer to my prize." She sighed. "Why did it have to be necromancers? Mother, can you just leave me alone?"

[LadyDragonClawsEDW]

Aya nearly burst out laughing at the draconian's question on authority. As she started to respond to him in what was going to be an incredibly smarmy manner, Solis had decided to glomp her and announce her name and presence to the entire village as it seemed. Her eyes went wide, freezing still where she stood.

Ah, there are many Aya's around here I'll bet...yeah! And I bet the citizens don't actually know me as Aya anyways...I mean really, is the first name of the Queen that well known?

"Ehehehehe, nice to see you too Solis..." she patted his head almost mechanically.

[Squintz Altec]

Squintz looked at Aya intently. That name sounded familiar...and Solis has spoken of a castle..

Could it be? Nah, it probably wasn't.

Squintz decided to keep an eye on her. Queen or not, it was his duty to protect all.

[Nakibe]

"What's wrong, Miss Aya? You seem like you're tense and tense isn't good it makes you feel all fluttery in your chest. You should only feel tense when there's some scary bad thing attacking you or your mom is trying to make you eat brocolli but you don't want to."