Private Tales Throw down the Gauntlet

[Madame Valkery]

Valkery walked down the streets of Alliria dressed in her usual high collared full length gown, long sleeves covering her arms even as the weather was starting to get warmer. She carried a closed parasol. The skin of her left hand, that gripped the wooden handle of the parasol, was warped and mangled by strange burn scars. The scars disappeared under her sleeve, more scars could be seen under her collar and up the side of her neck. Despite the scaring she was quite attractive; Youthful skin which was almost to pail, full lips painted with color and intense blue-green eyes that seemed to see everything. Her white hair was done up in a need up do and covered with a fancy wide brimmed hat which was held in place by a fancy silver hat pin.

Her usual intensity was slightly mellowed by the slight hunch in her posture, the dark circles beneath her eyes, and how she occasionally leaned on the umbrellas as if it was a cane. She paused a moment in the market square, here eyes lingering on the fountain, She then looked down at her scared hand. She wandered out of the market square, down side alleys towards the slums, none of the shops here would have what she wanted.

She had been walking for several minus when she felt it, that familiar dark aura. The void. It was faint, but present. Was it just old, or was this aura weaker than the one's she had sensed coming from the cult members. She changed her coarse, following the trail the void had left behind. It alley's became darker and more narrow. It wasn't long before she sensed several people, around five, hiding in the shadows or around corners. There was the faint aura of the void on all of them but not enough for them to be full fledged cultists.

A man stepped out of the shadows in front of her, your average looking thug, tall and broad shouldered, greasy hair tied back in a ponytail and a knife held threateningly in one hand, "What's a pretty missus like you doing in a place like this" Valkery sensed two more of the thugs come out of hiding behind her blocking off the exit. "Now do exactly as we say and you wont be hurt... to much that is," He laughed with a sneer.

Valkeries grip tightened on the handle of her umbrella. She looked up at him from under the brim of her hat her cold gaze cutting into him "Are you sure about that?" She said gritting her teeth. Then see sensed it. Another person, a half orc moving quickly into her field of awareness. Was he with the thugs? he didn't have the same void aura on him.

Tyto

 

[Tyto]

Tyto's day was starting off like any other, slumped over in an alleyway, waking up from getting the stuffing beaten out of him. Dark, dingy, and his only company besides the rats being local drunkard and leering old man, Gen.

Speaking of, he hadnt seen the old man move since he drunkenly passed out next to Tyto. Slowly struggling to his feet he regarded the old fool. "Gen, you still with us? Gen!" A short kick to the ribs and a grumble from the old man was enough to satisfy him. Tyto began to assess his situation, bruised all over, and still in pain from a barely healed stab wound in his abdomen. That bastard O'keel must be adding water to his restorative potions again.

That was the last of his money, too. You don't get to own much in the slums when you spend all your time making an enemy of the local gangs. Stretching, Tyto made his way to the opening of the alley, peering around the corner. "Crap"

There she was, yet another noble woman who wandered too far from the markets. Tyto moved to warn her to turn around and leave this gutter before undesirables show up when, to his dismay, they already showed up. Yet this one did not run. Why?

This has got to be some sort of sting operation. It has to be, right? Tyto knew he was just trying to convince himself that. All the places guards would normaly hide were occupied by more thugs. Does this lady think she can take all these guys? Even if she could, these guys don't exactly fight fair.

There was nothing else for it. Tyto grabbed the half finished bottle from his sleeping friend. "I'm going to borrow this, old man." Made his way to the opening of the alley, their leader seems to be making his usual threats. Now or never Tyto. Maybe if you start a brawl you can buy the noblewoman time to get out of this place.

Jumping out from his hiding spot and taking a few running steps, he flung the bottle at their leader, the bottle shattering and leaving its stale contents to run down his back.

"Um... I'll have what SHES having!"

The thug, unfazed it seemed, turned around and sneered at Tyto. "You again? Don't you know it's rude to interrupt while a man is doing buisness with a lady? I don't think ill leave you with just a light stabbing like last time."

Tyto slowly changed his posture into the Owl Claw stance. Looking around at the thug and his boys, he let out a sharp orcish curse word under his breath, sighed and said "well, this ISNT last time"

 

[Madame Valkery]

Valkery sighed, so the new kid was trying to help her. "Your attempts are admirable kid, but pointless." Two more thugs came out of hiding near Tyto to back up their leader.

Valkery sensed the two thugs behind her move in to restrain her. One placed a hand on her shoulder. Dropping her umbrella she grabbed him by the wrist and filliped him over her shoulder. He landed with a heavy thud on his back. The second thug lunged at her from behind. concentrating her aura beneath her feet she sprung to the side with an unnatural speed, drawing the long silver pin from her hat as she spun around to face them. She stood for a moment evaluating her opponents as the first got up from the ground with a groan.

She still wasn't completely back to normal after her injuries. A drawn out close combat situation was undesirable. She draw another silver pin from her bun, this one smaller. It flew with precision through the air Embedding itself in the second thugs chest piercing his lung. He fell to his knees gasping for air. The first thug had barely gotten to his feet when he felt Valkery's hand close around his throat slamming him back down to the ground with an unnatural force, her silver hat pin running through his shoulder pinning him to the ground. She draw the blade from his shoulder leaping over him almost before they hit the ground.

Those two would be preoccupied with their own injuries for a minute she thought turning her attention to the newcomer and the three thugs that had met his challenge.

 

[Tyto]

Tyto had no sooner made his stand then the woman calls him a kid and flips a guy that she hadn't even seen. Just who was this lady? What dojo did she train at? And where does she get off calling him a kid!?

Tyto would have to ask these questions later. The one on his left made a move first, closing in swinging a baton. Tyto launched into the swing, striking with his thumb the attackers throat where he was open. The man stumbled past, gagging and dropping his weapon. Ha! Could a kid do THAT? Tyto looked over to see her jump to the side of another attacker with speed he hadnt seen before in a human. How in the wor-

WHACK a fist met the side of Tytos head from the attacker on his right. He stumbled, dazed for a second. Stupid! Stupid! Don't get distracted. Counter, advance, counter, advance. Just like Rasmus taught you. He righted himself and was ready for the thugs follow up attack. Striking with gouging fingertips at the tendons on the inside of his wrist, the quickly grabbing said arm and striking at his elbow then the shoulder, throwing the man to the ground. Looking up at their leader who stood there, arms crossed, laughing and pointing over tytos shoulder.

Before he could react, Tyto was struck in the back of the head by the first guy's baton. He fell over, ears ringing, eyes unfocused, while the 2 thugs began to wail on him. All the while their leader just stood there laughing, mocking him. Tyto desperately covered his head, blocking the blows he could, taking many strikes to his body.

As he took the hits he remembered his father. Big, orcish, hot tempered but good natured. Recounting his days in the orcish clans. "Remember son. If you can take it, you can make it. Take the beatings the enemy can throw at you, then when they give you an opening, give it back ten times worse! HA HA!" Regaining focus he saw it. An opening! Tyto launched at kick at the knee of one of his attackers. With a sickening snap the man fell to the ground. Without a second look he grabbed the seconds arm as he rained down a punch and brought him down to the ground. Grappling his way an top holding the man's wrist. With a sharp twist and a loud pop the man lay there clutching his arm. One to go.

Tyto looked up, the woman had used some sort of throwing needle and slammed the last of her attackers. What was she some sort of assassin? Would he have to stop her too? Struggling to his feet he didn't even give the leader time for an insult. Rushing into the 8 Ways Assault stance, raining down blows from all angles and taking every attack the thug threw back.

The leader, becoming annoyed drew his blade in the maelstrom of attacks, this punk has been a thorn in his side too long. He was tougher than some half orc. A punch to the face, a kick to the ribs, a stab in the hand. He was gonna take this upstart apart.

Tyto's body felt like it was on fire. Taking hit after hit, surface level cut and wild stab. Finally the bastards knife hit him square in the ribs, getting stuck. Before he could even cry out the man's hand was around his throat. "Any last words before I end you?" His free hand twisting the knife.

"Yeagh... kgotcchu!" Tyto spluttered out grabbing the mans arm and breaking his elbow.

The man fell to the ground, scrambling back as Tyto loomed over him. "To hell with you!" The bandit cried out "You'll always be nothing! 'LLeast MY ma never took fat, orcish-"

A swift kick to the face from Tyto stopped whatever foulness would come from the thug's mouth. Tyto then noticed the eyes of the woman on him. He turned, fists raised, barely able to stand.

"Who.. a-are youu" Tyto weakly asked.

 

[Madame Valkery]

Valkery looked at the half orc, "Sit down before you collapsed" She sighed, bending over and picking up her umbrella. The thug she had stabbed in the shoulder tried to get up and she promptly whacked him in the throat with the head of her umbrella. He collapsed coughing and choking.

Valkery turned back to Tyto "I really am out of shape," She said brushing off her dress as she approached him, "I really should have been able to finish my two off before they hurt you this badly. She sighed again "I supposes that is what happens when I don't train for non-lethal combat as often," She reached into a deep pocket in her dress and pulled out a pouch. "Now let me see your wounds before you pass out." She pulled a needle and thread from the pouch along with a roll of bandages.

Valkery used some of her aura to slow the bleeding and ease the pain. That should be enough to keep him from passing out on her.

 

[Tyto]

Tyto never took his eyes off the now suspicious lady. Even as the strange feeling surged through him as she tended to his wounds, His mind was abuzz with questions and he did not bother waiting. "who are you? Whats a noble doing in the slums? Where'd you learn to fight? Who's your sensei? How did you do all those moves in such little time? Are you an assassin? What are you doing to me?" Rapid fire before any question could be answered he launched the next one. He eventualy settled on the two most pressing queries in his head: "Who are you calling kid?! You're younger than me! And nevermind that, can you teach me how you did all that?"

 

[Madame Valkery]

Valkery listened to his questions as she tended to his wounds. He seemed to still be running on adrenaline. Valkery waited for his string of questions to end, but his last one made her stop and think. He wanted her to teach him. The last time she had taught someone they had become the target of an evil cult. She did want to pass this knowledge on but was it even safe for her to do so, and was this young man even the right person. She dodged the question, instead focusing on the numerous other questions he had asked.

"I am Madam Valkery. And I call you a kid because you are one. You might be a half orc but you can't be older than your mid twenties. Judging by your aura I'd say twenty five if I had to make a guess. If you didn't notice I'm not fully human either kid. I am almost twice your age," She said tucking her hair behind one of her half-elvin pointed ears. "As for how I did all that, I use a kind of magic called aura magic which enhances my combat abilities. I find the noble woman act is a convenient deception, opponents often underestimate one when they are dressed this way. Other people are also more likely to listen to you if they think you are rich." She pursed her lips, he had sustained a large number of injuries, not all of them from this fight. "You were very foolish to jump into a fight like that, especially when you were still recovering from an injury," She chided as she tended to a cut on his arm. Valkery knew what she was saying was hypocritical. close up Tyto could see the scaring on her hand. If he knew anything about how wounds healed he would be able to tell this one did not seem that old.

 

[Tyto]

Tyto sat there, being mended and reprimanded by a total stranger. Valkery, huh? She may have a point in calling him a kid but it almost stung more than his injuries. After all, what did he really accomplish by running in like that? And sitting here getting scolded after the fight was not much different than 2 kids getting into a school yard scrap and getting a finger wagging from their teacher while they nurse bruises. Tyto looked over at the groaning would be men on the ground, guess the only difference here was more broken bones and weapons.

This didn't change the fact that it embarrassed him to no end. Tyto hoped the darkerighting of the slums masked how flushed he was getting when she called him foolish. He settled on avoiding eye contact and watching her work. Wait a sec, what with her hand?

Those are some nasty burns, but whats more, these don't look all that natural. The burns on his right arm were example enough for him to compare it to. While they were severe, they looked like any third degree burn scar. Hers looked warped, perhaps it was some sort of magic. She must not have been fighting at 100% either. Realizing he was staring, Tyto shifted his gaze back at her face.

Dark circles under the eyes, definitely not at full capacity either. He frowned. She's getting on him about still being in recovery? Still, hard to deny that, had she been just any noblewoman and fled, he might not have made it out of this one.

Tyto pondered for a moment. Had any of the bandits known even a shred of magic, things could have ended worse for both of them. And while she did more of the saving in the recent encounter, Tyto was still able to keep the attention of 3 of them. Had he lost, she'd have had 3 weakened opponents.

A plan was slowly forming in his head, but he had to be sure she was even the kind of person he'd want to accompany. Sure, she saved him. Sure, she's patching him up. But whatever she's after in these slums might not be as good as her deeds.

"Thank you. For patching me up." This is too embarrassing. Tyto hoped she couldn't see through him like she could the goons. "And for helping me win that fight." He tried to hold on to the last of his dignity. "My name's Tyto." Exrending a hand out for a hand shake he asked "So what is it exactly you're looking for in the slums?"

 

[Madame Valkery]

Valkery shook his hand before helping him to his feet. She could tell he was embarrassed so she didn't push the issue. Instead she focused on answering his question. "I have been tracking the activity of a dark cult. I sensed void aura on these thugs and came to investigate." She looked down at the unconscious thugs "It's not enough for them to be void users themselves, but perhaps they've had interaction with one recently." She bent down and picked up the smaller hair pin from the ground. The thug had pulled it out and dropped it on the ground before running away. She cleaned it off on a rag and carefully redid her bun. She then picked her hat back up and placed it atop her head cleaning the hat pin off before using it to secure the hat. She then looked back down the ally in the direction the thugs had come from. She could retrace their steps, find out where this void aura was coming from.

She started down the ally again then paused and turned back to Tyto. "You seemed familiar with these thugs, follow me, tell me what you know about them." She said before continuing to follow the aura trail.

 

[Tyto]

Tyto was taken aback for a second. He hadnt expected her to ask him along so easily. A dark cult seemed like it was out of his depth, but if they are somehow influencing the local gangs it was his obligation to help get rid of them. Besides, if he watcher her real close maybe he could learn the trick to how she was able to do those cool moves. That kind of skill would come in real handy in his quest against evil.

"Yes of course" Tyto said, quickly moving to catch up. "Those guys call themselves the Reavers. Nasty group of bastards. Usually stab or otherwise beat up those they hold up, even when their demands are met. Their leader's name is Karass and they have a hideout near O'keel's shop. Speaking of, never waste your money there. He dilutes his potions with water and im sure he had me drink a poultice once."

Tyto followed Her through the winding alleys as she followed the trail of the aura. He watched her closely, but he could not make out what exactly she was doing to sense it. Could she see it? Was it a sixth sense? A stack of small crates he had absent mindedly knocked over brought his attention back to watching where he was going.

"Uh, right, yeah. Where was I? As for how they came into contact l with your dark cult, I have no idea. There's all manner of shady buisness going on here. But! If this trail runs cold, there's a seedy tavern over in that direction that might have some answers. I've definitely heard plans for crimes in there before. Maybe someone there knows? Speaking of the trail we are followin here, how do you follow it exactly?"

 

[Madame Valkery]

Valkery glanced sidelong at the kid as he ran into a stack of crates. His spacial awareness was lacking, but he seemed quite interested in her abilities.

"Every being has an aura, this aura leaves behind a residue on anything it touches which with practice can be sensed and tracked. Also if you knew it was a poultice why did you drink it? If you know it's bad then stop buying hack medicine." Valkery knew she was being a bit harsh, it wasn't like her to get invested in random strangers problems. However, this kid was different some how. His passion, his curiosity, and his reckless abandon for his own safety. He had potential.

 

[Tyto]

Tyto let out a laugh as he said "Its not like I knew at the time it was a poultice!" It really was funny looking back at it. And it was kinda nice to relay a funny story to someone other than gross old Gen. Shaking his head, he continued "And as for the hack medicine, yeah, I would agree with you but I don't exactly make a lot of money currently. A weaker potion that holds me together is better than nothing, right?"

Come to think of it, he looked down at his tattered, dirty Gi. It was barely held together in some places and beyond the regular grime now was blood stained in places from the recent fight. A real sight. He felt a twinge of guilt for letting it get in this state. He looked over at Valkery, nice clothes, well put together even when not at 100%, and most importantly able to defeat bandits with no difficulty. They weren't that far apart due to it being an alley but to Tyto it was as if an entire chasm was between them.

"So this cult, what exactly is it that they do? I doubt they would waste time personally coming down here for random scores with the local bandits."

 

[Madame Valkery]

"The cult kills their victims collecting their life aura and converting it into void aura to fuel their magic and power. They are trying to grow and expand. I fought them in Alliria about a month ago. That is when I got this." She said holding up her scared hand. "Do you remember how about a month ago twenty guards were massacred in the market square one night. They never found out who did it. That was all done by a single cult member." Valkery paused and stared at the ground leaning heavily on her umbrella as if it was a cane. "It's true that they probably usually wouldn't bother with thugs like this. However, I did a considerable amount of damage to them that night and they would need to lay low after committing such a blatant display of violence in a heavily populated city. Alternatively, I know the cult was targeting thugs in Elbion as victims to fuel their magic." She looked back up and continued following the trail. "Either way, this void aura I sense is connected to the cult some how. I need to find out how." There was a lull in the conversation before Valkery turned to Tyto, "Now tell me about yourself. How do you know those thugs?"

 

[Tyto]

What?! 20 guards?!? Tyto had assumed that it was some sort of gang uprising. That was all ONE guy? And this woman fought them? That's how this absolute powerhouse of a lady was scarred so badly?

Tyto's throat went dry, how could he help when one cult member could kill 20 trained guards? The world seemed to swim around him, he was helpless in a sea of evil and corruption. From all the way up, down to the slums of all places!

Thats when Tyto noticed her leaning on her umbrella. It was like a cane to her. Tyto never understood what it was about people needing help that moved him to action. If he could help her, even if it meant facing an organization that could take 20 men each, he'd be the one to knock the teeth out of a single cultist before they ended him. Tyto needed to be brave. He needed to help this lady stop this evil cult. Even if she was stronger than him.

"Well, I came on to the scene a year or so ago. The bandits would hold up random people, and I would fight them until the people could get away. Some targets would be nobles, some would be average people from down here in the slums. Day in, day out, I'd either stop them from huring innocents or I'd be grinding their drugs into the dirt."

Tyto looked around nervously, starting to anticipate a cultist behind every corner. "Before you ask, yes, it IS my buisness what goes on down here. People hurt one another for any number of reasons. They all go on about how 'Everything is relative', one man's good is one man's evil to them." Tyto couldn't help it, he was tired of all the bandits and guards and even CULTISTS saying that they were justified! He looked over at Valkery. "They are all making excuses for themselves if you ask me! Some things are simple. Some things are right, some things are wrong. I live down here, and I'll die down here if it means helping the few good ones make it out!" He noticed his hands were shaking. "My apologies, miss. That's really all my story amounts to." Tyto decided he could either be in his feelings about it, or he could learn how to fight an even greater evil than back alley thugs.

"You fought one guy who could take down 20 guards? How did you do that? With aura magic again? Or can you shoot fireballs too?"

 

[Madame Valkery]

"One Girl actually," Valkery said staring vacantly down the alley, her eye's unfocused but she was still able to avoid all obstacles in her path, stepping over some broken glass as if she could see it without having to look directly at it. "The cult has a tendency to recruit vulnerable young women. The dark entity they worship offers them the thing they want most when they are at their weakest..." She trailed off shaking her head before looking back Tyto. "While you could use aura magic to create fire, I find it to be a waste of energy in combat. The cult uses void aura to fight, I am able to use my own aura to deflect these attacks while using quick physical attacks to break through their defenses." She didn't mention how she probably only survived that fight because her opponent never wanted to kill her in the first place.

Valkery stopped walking and blinked. The trail lead to what looked like a rundown shop, a sign with a potion bottle on it hanging over the door. "Is this that O'keel guys shop you were talking about before?"

 

[Tyto]

Tyto's heart sank as he saw the sign. "Yes, miss, yes it is." O'keel was a rat bastard who sold barely functional potions, but Tyto didn't want to believe he was in bed with an evil cult. He let out a sharp orcish curse word under his breath and turned to Valkery. "Listen, give me maybe a 5 second head start into this place." He couldn't believe it. A cheapskate helping a cult? He felt betrayed. O'keel was always so friendly. Sure, he was just trying to get another customer but Tyto always appreciated the rare occasion that he was being treated like a person. Was O'keel using these charms on vulnerable women too? Time to find out. "I'll go first, then you. Good guard, bad guard." Tyto made his way inside. "Maybe bad guard Worse guard." He said sharply under his breath as he stepped inside.

"Ayyyy! Tyto, my boy!" O'keel called out. "You look like crap! Need another one of my patented restorative elixirs?" O'keel, rotund, greasy, and sickly charismatic called out to Tyto.

Tyto walked up to the counter, eyeing the man closely. Tyto tried did his best to 'feel' an aura coming off O'keel. If the void was as greasy and sweaty as this man, Tyto and Valkery would have slipped by now on the way here. "No, you can't just sense an aura by wanting to real hard." he figured to himself. "I've had a pretty crap day, O'keel. Maybe something real strong that could help with multiple stab wounds for a change."

The greasy man was taken back for a second, this urchin never talked to him like that, maybe he was finally ready to get into buisness for himself. And if he was, O'keel had just the opening job for him. "Sure my boy! Try this one here!" he slid a potion across the counter towards Tyto. This one was some of his best work, undiluted and pretty powerful. If he could get Tyto under his pay roll he could stop this little shit from getting in all his other customers hair. Then he could make some real money.

Tyto took the potion in his hand. "So O'keel, any young women come through here? Perhaps some with nowhere else to go?" Tyto didn't even car for his lack of finesse. He was going to get answers.

"W-what? Of course not! What kind of establishment does this look like? If you want vulnerable women, go to the tavern closer to the shallows!" O'keel stammered out. How dare this half breed walk in here asking all these questions!

There! Right there! Tyto could have sworn he felt deceit coming from this man. His hand gripping tighter and tighter until the potion shattered in his hand. Lashing out and grabbing the mans neck in his glass riddled hand, pulling him close over the counter. "Listen! Youre going to tell be what I want to know before I get angry!" Tyto drew back his fist with his free hand when the door opened up. Both Tyto and O'keel snapping their attention to the open doorway.

 

[Madame Valkery]

Tyto ran off on into the building on his own before she could stop him. She rushed after him, 'Great, this idiot was about to-' But stopped short in front of the door to the shop when she heard what Tyto was actually saying. She listened more carefully and an amused smile crossed her lips. The kid wasn't doing that bad actually.

Well, he was doing ok till he started yelling threats. Valkery opened the door interrupting, standing tall, cutting through the tension like a knife as she made her way to the counter. She tapped Tyto on the shoulder dismissively "Put the man down sweetheart," She said, her usual impression of intimidation different now than it had been before in the alleyway.

"Forgive him, he's a bit brash isn't he. Too much energy, no direction... but that's not the point here." She leaned in and gently placed her right hand on O'Keel's, "You are O'Keel right? I'm Madam Valkery. What our dear Tyto was trying to say is that I am looking for girls looking for out of a difficult situation and would like getting paid in the process. But if that's not something you are able to help me with that's ok." She looked at him with gently hooded eyes as she ran her thumb along his wrist. "My establishment is also looking for some strong men who don't mind a bit of dangerous work. There is good money in it, and descent insurance. If you know of anyone interested in something like that I would be very grateful."

Valkery could sense the void aura in this place as well but still not strong enough to be a void user. It was all over the shop, and O'keel himself, especially his hands... and strangely his neck. Perhaps from a choke hold of some sort. There was definitely bruising on his neck, though it was well hidden. She changed the subject, an expression of concern crossing her face "Oh sweetheart, who did this to you?" She said reaching out and gently pulling his collar back to better see the bruises. It was defiantly from a choke hold, the distinctive pattern of bruising matched that of a hand, a large one at that, and it wreaked of void aura.

 

[Tyto]

Tyto did as Valkery said and released the man. Crossing his arms, he took a step back and watched. Just when he thought he was getting information out of O'keel too. Tyto watched as she put her hand on O'keels, ran her thumb across his wrist, and otherwise played him like a fiddle. He could see it in O'keels face. Tyto rolled his eyes, he could do that too if he looked like a young woman. His way would have worked too.

O'keel smiled and laughed, slicking back his hair a bit "Oh this? This is nothing. Some guy named Karass thought he could rough me up for a bunch of free potions. I got him to pay though. Ever since he got that stupid metal glove he's been acting like an even bigger big shot than normal." O'keel looked over at Tyto. "Kid, you should have taken Karass's offer to join his crew way back when. He's making moves to be the only gang. Join or die as it were."

O'keel looked back to Valkery "Listen lady, Karass seems different. If you're offering paying jobs down here you're gonna wanna offer him a cut. Send your mongrel over there instead though. Karass has enough 'girlfriends' as it is." He fixed his collar and looked Valkery up and down. "You know, if you do send him, while the half orcs gone, maybe you and I could get to know each other?"

 

[Madame Valkery]

Valkery smiled softly "My time isn't free you know, and I'm not just a pretty face. I'm a business woman, I can't just leave important financial decisions in the hands of underlings. Your a business man, you must understand." She said patting his hand before pulling away and heading for the door. "You were quite useful though, I will remember that for the future. Now come along Tyto dear."

Once they were outside she turned to Tyto "You didn't do too bad in their. Just don't be so quick to resort to violence next time. We want information and your method would get that but he would have immediately told Karass we were coming and that we were not friendly. Now there will be minimal suspicion, even if O'keel tells him about us he will have no reason to consider us anymore of a threat than usual." She explained.

"Now do you have any idea how many followers Karass usually has around him at any given time?"

 

[Tyto]

"Well, when he leaves his hideout he's always got at least six of his best Reavers with him. As for in the hideout, who knows how many there are. I've only been inside once and it's bigger on the inside than the exterior would suggest." Tyto thought about what O'keel had said for a moment.

"If what O'keel said is true, he's probably got more allies than before. Also, I don't remember him ever flashing an armored hand around. Maybe thats the thing connected to the cult? Did they take his hand?" Giving up your hand for power definitely sounded culty to Tyto.

"Normally i'd say let's storm the place. You're probably strong enough to take down all the goons yourself. However I doubt you'd go for an idea like that." He was really just saying that to poke fun. Tyto risking his own life was one thing, but to suggest for another to seriously do it would be different.

 

[Madame Valkery]

"I doubt They took his hand." Walking with tyto to a more secluded area were they could talk. "In the last altercation I had with the cult I was able to steel a book which contained information about the core tenets of their cult. The book described a set of armor infused with void aura. The set included a pair of gauntlets. If Karass has one of these gauntlets it might explain the void aura I have been sensing." She steepled her figures as she thought, staring intently at nothing in particular "O'Keel mentioned lady friends. He could have just been talking about the usual female entourage that guys like Karass keep around. Or he could be referring to cult members. Though that still doesn't explain why they would give a lowlife like Karass one of their sacred artifacts. They are desperate, but I don't think they are that desperate." She sighed and looked back at Tyto. "I could easily take out six thugs on my own if they were all humans or elves with no magic, and I didn't have to worry about killing them, but if the cult is involved that is another story."

It was about midday, not the best time to do scout work. And she had not brought her rapier.

"Let's go get something to eat, I would also like to change into something more appropriate. We can come back this evening scout the place out before heading on in. We can continue this rues of recruitment. If Karass really is interested in expanding he would be interested in something like that. That should get us close to him. Once inside I'll have a better idea of what we are dealing with."

 

[Tyto]

At the mention of food, Tyto was made painfully aware of the growling in his stomach he had been ignoring since yesterday. "Yes! Please!" He quickly recomposed himself. "Yeah, that sounds doable, where were you thinking of getting food? Closer to your place since you said you needed to change?"

Tyto moved in the direction of the market district of the main city. "So, I've told you about me, whats your story? How long have you been fighting the cult? And where did you learn aura magic?"

 

[Madame Valkery]

Valkery nodded and walked along side Tyto, "The cult is a new development. A rich family's daughter was targeted by the cult, and one of their son's was killed. They hired me to rescue their daughter from the cult. That was about a year ago. As for where I learned aura magic, I taught myself. I found other types of magic to limiting. Now, when I'm not hunting down cult members, I mostly just do research for the monster hunters guild, or hunt down occult type city based monsters such as vampires or werewolfs. You might have herd of an outbreak of lycanthropy which ravaged several villages on the outskirts of Alliria about five years ago. I was at the forefront of the efforts to cull that threat. The people in the area started calling me the White Reaper," She explained.

 

[Tyto]

Tyto listened intently. Monsters, cults, self taught in magic, recognized by the people for her efforts, AND a cool nickname! She was obviously well off enough, yet she still worked against evil. This is definitely somone he'd want to learn from. However, last time he had a sensei, he was too weak to protect them.

As they got to the edge of the slums, Tyto hesitated for a second. He never really received a good reception when he'd venture out. He decided to keep his head down and eyes on the ground, pretending not to notice the looks he was getting. After a bit of silence, Tyto decided to fill the void.

"You know, my late sensei was self taught too." Tyto moved a shredded part of his Gi to the side to reveal the crest of the Owl School of Marial Arts. An owls talons outstretched as if about to seize prey. "With your extensive knowledge in several areas you'd probably make for a good teacher like he was. Have you ever considered starting a school? I'm sure plenty would want to learn from 'The White Reaper', you'd never have a shortage of students."

 

[Madame Valkery]

She could sens his unease, It made sense, dressed as he was, in rags covered in blood he stood out painfully.

Then he started talking about his late teacher. She sensed an aura of guilt from the young man when he talked about his former sensei. When he suggested she open a school she tensed. The last time she had taken on a student she had been to weak to protect them. Her grip tightened on her umbrella for a moment before she let out a deep breath relaxing.

"I used to be a privet tutor. If I wanted to teach large groups I would have found a job at the college in Elbion." She shook her head, "Anyway, you stand out like a sore thumb in those cloths, especially now with all the blood. If you would like I can get you a new set a cloths." She said.