OOC: This is Dasixus just Apathy wanted me to do the IC.

IC: Another meeting of the Blood Five was about to take place. Yet only three of the members were there. They other two gone for unknown reasons. "Let’s get this meeting come to order." A very commanding Hitomi announces. She felt particularly in command as her husband had left. "Just because he's your husband doesn't make you any higher then us." Sasha called to her. "Just let her do what she likes" muttered a sleepy Hasmuel, he didn't get a good nights sleep and was to tired to even argue.

"Well, other then Seishirou being gone and him , thou he never did like meetings. I don't think the human or gobin/orc lands have much news." Said Hitomi said as she tapped her fingers against the table. "How about you two?" As Sasha opened her mouth Hasmuel spoke before her. "The Elven lands have been stepping up as a Ayenee spy was seen, not caught. I think Seishirou was right about an invasion."

"Well we can't have that now can we." Sasha muttered as she eyed Hasmuel with interest. "I think I have another tad bit of information, a resent raid by the Underdark was stopped, some humans from Ayenee actually stopped them this time. I think Ayenee is getting dull still. They haven't fought any major wars for almost two hundred years." As the meeting went on the three talked about plans of action.

-----------

Down in a simple village Eldak walked toward the nearest inn. He was tired and the sun was beating hotter then he had ever known it could. As he entered the inn he covered the remaining parts of his body with is cloak. To many people thought of him as a leper yet it was only a curse by a dead witch. He had pasty white skin and a gaunt body thanks to her. As he approached the bar he coughed loudly to bring the innkeeper to him. "What will yah have sir?" The innkeeper asked, confused that someone would keep his entire body covered on a bloody hot day such as this one. "Give me a room and the oldest wine you have." was all Eldak asked for. "Right away sir." The innkeeper left to find a bottle of wine and a door key. Eldak looked around thinking to himself. (Just a bunch of drunken fools.)

One of the common patrons looked at Eldak as Eldak looked back at him. As he was drunk he thought Eldak was looking for a fight so he stumbled his way over to where Eldak was. "Wh..whatcha..loo..looking for" The drunk could barely speak. "Nothing from you, you drunk." Eldak hissed at him. The drunk broke the bottle whiskey he had in his hand and tried to stab Eldak in the face with it. Before he did thou a skeletal grip had found its way to his neck and was choking the life from him. "Well I don't think you really would want to do that know would you." Eldak hissed yet again. This time Eldak opened his cloak revealing a skeleton chained to his arm. The skeleton was choking the drunk as it slowly lowered its legs and opened up. It stood up as the chain broke.

The rest of the patrons ran screaming bloody murder as the innkeeper came back with bottle of wine and the key. He dropped both as he saw a skeleton choking one of his best costumers. He ran into his back room and locked the door. He really didn't want to die today. Eldak after making sure the man was dead released the skeleton and it slowly folded itself into its original position. "He dropped my wine, I really an thirsty now! Innkeeper get out here I will not kill you if you get me another bottle! The keeper hearing that he wouldn't die if he got another bottle hurried to get one and ran out slowly handing it to Eldak. "Better, much better." was all Eldak muttered as he brought the bottle to his dry lips. He left as he drank it and headed out of town. "Better not case too much noise." He said to himself.

Raphael, a man of just over six feet was walking into town as the robed man was walking out. Raphael‘s bright red hair was just visible from the front, as he was wearing a very well made mask of an eagle. The white feathers that were used were nearly perfectly groomed, as if the man had preened it just a few hours ago. The beak extended a few inches from Raphael’s nose and hooked down, so that if you looked at him straight on, you would only be able to see the corners of his perpetual good-natured grin. The feathers started from there, each row flat against the feathers behind and underneath, the only breaks being perfectly natural looking holes from which bright green eyes shone. Twin extensions of feathers continued past his ears, and swooped slightly upwards, giving the impression that the eagle that had inspired the mask had been in the middle of a dive, which it had. He wore a bright yellow shirt that reflected light enough to make it glimmer, but not enough to detract from the craftsmanship of the mask, and his pants were brown and loose, keeping him from getting overheated during the sweltering day. The only other things Raphael carried were a thin blade at his right hip, just too wide to be a rapier, and a backpack that seemed too large for a man of his thin build to carry. The pack was obviously full, though of what, it was unable to tell, and on the outside hung a myriad of masks resembling anything from an archetypal lord’s face to a fearsome dragon, to a bare skull that looked like it wrapped around the head of the wearer. He saw the robed man, and nodded to him in greeting on his way past. He briefly contemplated trying to sell a mask to the man, but decided against it, as he had to get to the inn to resupply, and he’d sell more in town anyway. “Curious,” was all Raphael said after he had made sure that the robed man was out of earshot.

He walked in to the tavern expecting to find the usual assortment of drunk, both good- and bad-natured, travelers like himself, a few mercenaries looking for a job, and a few townspeople relaxes while it was too hot to work. Instead he walked in to an empty room, save for a solitary man, the innkeeper, cleaning up the mess from two broken bottles, and a body fallen on the ground, that Raphael assumed was a passed out drunk, until he saw the surprised stare frozen on the man’s face. Raphael had traveled with enough mercenary troops to recognize when someone had been killed be something that shouldn’t have happened. The bartender looked up and took in Raphael with one swift look. “Great,” he said, “another freak. You hear to kill a regular, too? Get out. You aren’t welcome.”

Raphael was taken aback by this, he was used to getting a reaction when he entered a room, but not this one. He took off his mask, revealing a fairly handsome face that was almost as angular as an elf’s. “Sir, as you can see, I am not a freak. I’m a salesman and storyteller, and my clothes help to draw a crowd. Bigger crowds equal more money, which I’m sure you can appreciate, being an entrepreneur yourself.”

“Look, buddy, I’m a barkeep in a tiny town in the middle ‘a nowhere. You wanna talk flowery, go somewhere else. Right now I’m just hopin’ that that robed bastard with the skeleton on his arm didn’t scare away my business for the day. Now, you gonna buy something, or you just here to look pretty?

Raphael nodded and turned the mask around in his hand, and proceeded to rearrange the few feathers that had gotten out of place. “I’ll need a room for a few days, and for now I’d like one pint of beer, with more later, when I think of what I want.”

The bartender nodded gruffly, then dragged the drunk’s body behind the counter, so it wouldn’t disturb any potential customers. He laid out a mug on the bar, along with the key that he had dropped earlier, and went back to cleaning up the mess. Raphael drank the beer, then, seeing that no other patrons had entered the bar, he went outside. On his way out, he told the innkeeper to bring him out a jug of water in ten minutes. The barkeep only grunted, not really giving an answer one way or the other.

Outside, Raphael set down his pack, took a small rug from inside, and laid it out on the ground to one side of the door. He then took out from the bag several masks, ingeniously stack to fit together without taking up too much room, even though only a few bore the same general shape. He proceeded to set the masks out in a display, taking care to move in such a way that his shirt was always shimmering. He then set his pack down in the center of the display, all the masks hanging from it visible from some angle. His shirt, his personal mask, and his wares had drawn several people, most of them children, who were curious about the stranger in the mask. This was exactly what he wanted, and he smiled. “Okay,” he said, taking care to look each person in the eye briefly, “the mask you see before you bear the most interesting stories I know. Each one has an adventure that spawned it, each one was a triumph, or, for a few, a narrow escape. Some are filled with romance, others the strangest people and customs you have ever heard of, others excitement, danger, and derring-do. Now, which mask do you want to hear the story for?” And Raphael spread his arms in an all-encompassing manner, indicating the array of masks in front and around him. The few adults seemed skeptical, though one said loudly, “The rabbit!”, but he was drowned out by almost all the youth clamoring for “The dragon!” though some were young enough to shout “Dwagon!” Raphael smiled more widely, and bent down, deftly unhooking the green dragon mask from his pack, the mask was made with small metal fins painted green and covered with a clear reflective lacquer to make it reflect light, which were connected to the metal base, which was back with leather, for comfort to the wearer, the teeth were sharp, and looked like they could have come from any number of predators, though they were ally the same shade of yellow, and together made the masks more fearsome than it would have if the teeth had come from just one animal. He turned around, switched masks, then set the eagle mask on the ground, still not allowing the crowd to see his face. He stood up slowly, then spun and roared, his hands held like claws. Most of the younger children jumped and shrieked, and a few of the older children jumped, though they quickly acted as if they had done no such thing. Raphael laughed, and most of the people laughed with him, or at least at their friends who had jumped. “The story of this mask, the mask made after the dragon Nagalir, is an interesting one indeed, one which I play a part, yes, but not as big as I would have liked. You see, I was traveling with a party of monster hunters, who had been told about a wyvern with a large reward attached to its head. Now, the difference between a wyvern and a dragon is very great, as my companions and I were to soon find out. You see, the man who had given Maaken, our Elven scout, the information wasn’t what one would call knowledgeable. In fact, I was surprised that he could dress himself in the morning…”

As John stocked books at his library, a strange figure entered. John kept stocking knowing that ever book in this library could not leave with out one of the three wizards seal. Even thou John watched his man with a deep interest. It seemed that he was out of place in here. He wore a dark green tunic with black pants.

As John looked through the books he was stocking he remembered some. There was a book on casting teleportation spells, another on potions and cures for them, and his favorite, A book on Mages. He would soon become a full fledged Mage and wouldn't have to work here anymore. Thou the people here were usually nice and he had made a few friends.

Still he had been practicing for many months now had he could feel that his test would be soon. He could bring lightning down from the sky, create fireballs the size of men and summon blizzards on the hottest day of the year. He was ready, except he could barely fight without his magic. Once he did become a full fledged Mage he would learn enchantments. They were very hard to master but incredibly strong if known how to use properly.

Finally he shock himself back to reality. He must keep up on his work here. A true wizard could not only blow his opponents away on the battle field but also be ready to learn at any moment. Even if that meant learning the hard way.

"Quite boring out here at night, isn't it?" said Bridget out of the blue, walking in step with her brother, their boots clicking as they walked down the cobblestone path. It was their turn tonight to enforce the curfew alongside men of the Town Guard, who had been placed under their command.

"As boring as it ever gets," replied Shamus as he scratched the back of his head. "Been itching for a fight for a while... Wait, what the hell's that?" Shamus' eyes trailed quickly - but not quickly enough - after a dark figure, silhouetted against the moonlight. It seemed to glide speedily yet gracefully across the rooftops of the town's many houses. Despite giving chase, it disappeared from sight even quicker than he thought it would. "Blast it! It's gone. Light the beacon."

Bridget did as instructed, taking one of the torches that hung from the wall of a building and lit the fire beacon, illuminating the area around them. The guards in the team responded, lighting their beacons in response. They quickly gathered, one representative from each group, at the town square.

"We have someone defying the curfew. It may be a spy; keep your guard up. I want everyone to be on full alert. Go back now. Find that person," he instructed. He then quickly ran in the direction that he had last seen the figure head in, searching with his team of guards. "I'd best report this to the commander first thing in the morning..."

And with that, he went on his search for the unknown character that he had spotted.

"We have someone defying the curfew. It may be a spy; keep your guard up. I want everyone to be on full alert. Go back now. Find that person."

Having his arms crossed, Byrd listened to Shamus, the captain and his 'boss' if there was any sense of the word. He had little respect for him and his younger sister. Too young and naive to be holding any kind of position of power. Perhaps he would have looked more sympathetically upon them if he was a human like them. As an elf however, that simply was not going to happen. He could have found it almost comical that mere babes in comparison to his own age were barking orders to him, as a representative to his squad.

Of course, now everyone must be off in a hurry to catch some shadow. As if a shadow is to be caught in the first place. Byrd expected that it was nothing more than some wandering drunk. No better way than to get everyone all up in a tizzy for. As he swiftly walked down the main street, parts of his white, braided hair hit against the back of his neck in rhythm of his steps. He had realized over time how monotonous of a job this really was. It was made painfully obvious to him in just the last few months. And now today, they got to chase a shadow. He knew not to take what a human 'thought they saw' into all that much consideration. An elf's senses were infinitely better, but he shook his head, focusing down the road to where he could see his squad standing. Just thinking about humans, whoever they were, was enough to irritate him. It got him thinking of back home in the forest with his kin, memories he dearly wished to forget.

"What's the news?"

Byrd stopped only several feet from the guards standing around by one another. "Someone out in the town against curfew. We need to go around and look, captain's orders. You know they'd just chew us out if we didn't try."

One of the guards laughed at Byrd's comment. "Yeah, tell me about it. Real pain in the ass."

"Right. So, search our area right to the edge, look in barrels, turn over some stones, whatever. Lets just get to it."

With that, Byrd walked down a back alley with one other guardsman as the others spread out to the other streets. If this was any indication, the elf definitely knew he would have to find a way out of the town watch somehow. These beacon warnings were close to mind numbing for him. He hadn't even had to use his weapons on anything in over a month. The only times he has had them out is just to practice. That would be the day, when his skills actually get rusty.

On the road it was there was always some thing that would happen. Tonight it would happen to someone else. Eldak was in a fowl mood and few would even risk a glance at him as he walked on a road. He did not need companies because most thought his trade for only the pure evil. He did not care though if it would give him a chance to become young again he would do it.

That night was a crisp and quite night. Only an owl or two was heard and the gentle breeze. As Eldak did stop to make a camp he did hear some quiet chatter. A few men were planning on getting him when he went to sleep. Well let’s make this their nightmare. As he worked on making a campfire he also made a summoning circle. He wasn't going to invoke a beast from the neither world but a few zombies and a skeleton or two would do the job just fine. He could feel many bodies near him, and all of them were going to be used. Lucky for him he had plenty of time and mana. His little display at the inn was nothing, A simple show of power. Here he could let out some rage.

As he finished his tent and went inside and faked sleep, he heard footsteps slowly getting closer and closer. He grinned to himself as the first scream rose into the night. First it was just a zombie, then two and then six the three men were being eaten alive. He did keep one alive to question but he couldn't let a zombie be angry. After the first two died he exited the tent and slowly walked over to the survivor. "Who sent you?" Eldak hissed. The man terrifyed with fear stumbled over his words "W...I..we are....we were just regualar bandits, no one told just to what to do. We just were highway robbers, I swear!"

"I belive don't worry but if you tell me who you work for I won't kill you." Eldak said trying to smile. As these words reached the mans ears he suddenly attacked like he was a different person. "Well if you’re not going to kill me I guess I will tell you. Some stranger to us came with five bags of gold, he told us to kill everyone who came across this pass. So you see we were just doing our job."

"Alright now I hope you lived your life full enough." Eldak said with a evil smirk. "I will not kill you but my zombies on the other hand. They are very strong and I don't think I could stop them." Eldak said this time trying to sound low and weak. After this he went back into his tent. The zombies would protect him till he awoke and he fell asleep with the screams of terror from the bandit.

“…And even though William’s illusions did nothing but maybe distract the dragon, it gave Maaken the chance to line up his shot perfectly, hitting Nagalir in the right eye, and killing him.” By the time that Raphael had finished his story, quite a few people had gathered round, and considering the heat, most of them were fairly thirsty. The barkeep had taken advantage of this and had been selling drinks to the people gathered outside.

“Now, who would like to buy a mask?” Raphael said loud enough for everyone in the crowd to hear. The children who were in front immediately starting running through the crowd, hoping that at least one of their parents were there, and any who were lucky immediately started yelling about which mask they wanted. Raphael listened to each request and was able to pull out more masks from his bag as the requests grew for masks of Nagalir, Raphael’s companions, or whatever mask Raphael had said he had been wearing at some point in the story. There were even a few requests for masks of Raphael himself, though he always responded with, “Why do I need a mask that looks like me? My face already does that.” Then he would wink from behind the dragon’s mask that he was wearing and offer one of his multitude of other masks, saying that it was one of his favorites, and he always wore it when he did such and such. After the crowd dispersed and it was clear that Raphael wasn’t going to sell anymore masks, he went inside, changing back to the eagle mask that nobody got a good look at his face, even those who had been waiting and watching for it. Raphael ordered a drink and sat down with a few of the townsfolk, exchanging pleasantries and small talk about news in the surrounding regions, traveling conditions and the like.

Thrill walked down the street of a small village in Lathian. He looked around, despite his unusual appearance all together, he was excepted in this town, more than excepted, he and the tree druids had saved the village from a group of bandits. Then again, he is the one that enraged the bandits. He headed out into the forest. Jumping up into a tree, and climb to the top, he looked about. There they were, three great creatures, the three great Druids, Thrill was the fourth of the great Druids. He jumped from the tree and fell to the ground. He began running at unusual speed towards them, taking the shape of a great fox, its fur the color of his hair.

He reached the three, and was not surprised to find a group of angry wolves. The Horse Druid, called Pride, was speaking to them. His powers had adapted to the way of the wolf. Thrill took back his unusual, though real, form, and approached the Alpha male of the wolf pack. "What happened my dear freind?"

The wolf looked at him, and began to speak. Then an arrow pierced the creatures throte. As the wolf dropped dead, the Three Druids shape shifted and began to bring the trees to life. The assasin was quickly found, and to his surprise, locked to the ground as Thrill softened the ground under the man, then made the earth solid again.

Thrill approached the man, "What makes you think you have the right to kill an inocent creature."

"I thought it was one of you," the man smirked as he said this, and bit his own tongue off. The Wolf Druid, called Kang, and the leader of the Three old Druids, walked up to the man and smiled.

"It matters not weather you have no tongue, all you have to do, is stare into my young freinds eyes, and he will know your true intentions.

The man closed his eyes tight, not so happy now, but the Eagle Druid, Called Freedom, opened the mans eyes. Thrill, the Fox druid, called Deceit, Starred into the mans eyes, who screamed as he felt the eternal darkness ingulf his mind, and probe his mind for his intentions. Though Thrill could not dig for much more than the simplest of info, he can still cause much pain by doing so.

After He had figured it out, he nodded to the Druids. "Yes, it is true, simply some not so happy old family members from the underdark, nothing to get you involved in, my fathers."

Pride turned the rest of the wolf pack, then back at the trapped man. "Have fun, my brethren." They left the man there.

Deceit looked at the three old men when they reached the tavern, Druid Rum, a simple name called that because of the naturaly created Rum made by the Druids. "Fathers, I think it is time I left for my own adventure."

Freedom looked at him, and smiled, "It is about time my son."

Pride smiled, about to cry, but holding it back, "You, my son, are my real pride."

Kang looked him in the eyes, Deceit flinched, "Be careful my son, and be wise, someday, you yourself may have something worth fighting for, more than just to protect this village."

Deceit nodded, hugged his three fathers, and left. He stopped by a small shrine on his way out of the town. "Bless them Sasha, they may need it soon." He headed out of the small town and took on the shape of a fox, walking along, enjoying the scenery of the magnificent forest, than he took off at a run, not caring were he went, or how reached it.

Calvin had set up a small one person tent, the old fashioned 4 sticks and a piece of cloth, made a small fire and continued practising. Sweat dripped from his brow and off of his chin, as he had been trainning all thorughout the day until now. It was almost night now, Calvin decided to take the rest of the night off to relax. He slowly loosened the ropes tyed to his arms wich held fairly large rocks. This was Calvin's way to train his speed, as well as endurance. If he can be moderatly fast with the rocks attached, he'll be a lot faster with them off, or so he thought. And it seemed logical, so he regularly trainned like that since the day he left the school/orphanage.

Calvin sat near the fire, poking at it every now and then with a stick, or throwing more kindling on to keep it steady. His rapier layed next to him, unsheathed. Calvin sat starring at it, it seemed every time he looked at it, it either changed shape or he saw something differnt. The hilt seemed never to be the same, the silver cylinders seemed to twist and turn around the hilt in the reflexion of the flames. It really is an amazing blade.. Thought Calvin, leanning back and eventually falling onto the ground starring up at the stars. Calvin didn't know any of the constilations, but it didn't bother him, they were pretty otherwise. A few screams were heard in the distance..
Oh boy, a pair of fanny bandits were caught. Aw well, their fault for making the poor desicion of becoming a robber. They got what was coming to them. The echos of the screams died, and for a moment it was silent again, that is until one last scream was heard. Damn.. That person who caught them is really doing a number to them. Calvin let out a small laugh.
Calvin wasn't evil, but it was the thought of justice being served that made him smile. The night dragged on and Calvin grew tired, he leaned over to grab his rapier, sheathed it and crawled over to his tent where he layed down until he gently fell asleep. This tent has been his only home for a few months now, it was cozy, but Calvin was growing too big for it and soon he will be too big for it. But it'll do for now.

Eldak awake at his usual 4 A.M. and repacked his tent. He felt another’s life aura close and decided to check it out. He needed no more trouble and he used more mana then he thought he would bring up the zombies. As he slowly walked toward the 'pulse' as he calls it, he saw the remains of a camp-fire and a tent, much like his own. He made a few runes in the ground with his walking staff and muttered a few words, then stepped forward.

Inside lay a sleeping Half-Celestial being. No wonder he could feel his life pulse more, it was a being of higher order. "I wonder what he dreams about." Eldak thought to himself, he slowly as to touch his lost daughter he reached out and touched the Celestial beings face. So beautiful and calm. He pulled back and sat on a rock near the tent. In view of the man and started to mix up a drink for himself. It helped his dry throat when he had to use magic. He would wait for the man to awake and speak with him.

A puff of black smoke rises from a chimney on a village house, as a brown elven figure climbs out of it slowly. He slowly rises out of the square brick chimney, his green sleeveless shirt and cameo pants covered with pitch black soot, as well as his body. The figure leans backs over the chimney and reaches downwards, grabbing something from onlooker's view, and pulling on a long fuzzy chimney sweeping broom.

Air looks up at the sky, holding one hand to his forehand blocking out the bright sun from his eyes view. It is a blistering hot day, as the day before was, with the sun beating down pm the earth, creating haze in the distance. Air, holding the chimney sweep broom, climbs down from the roof and walks to the backyard of the house. Coming into his view was a white-fenced in garden of vegetables, with his client watering them. His client was a village old woman, looking the age of fifty or sixty, and was very kind.

"Ms. Baker, I finished sweeping your chimney. Is there anything else I may do for you today?" questioned Air, desiring more work to be paid for.

"No, that is all my dear, after I finish watering my garden, the daily chores will be done. Perhaps another day." replies Ms Baker, setting down her watering can and walking into the house for a moment. She comes back out with a small pouch and heads over to Air. "It may not be much deary, but please take it. It was nice for you to help." says Ms Baker, as she hands a small brown pouch to Air.

"No problem ma'am, as I'm only doing my life as a handyman. Doing these type of jobs is kind of relaxing." replies Air as he takes the pouch of coins and pockets them. "Well, I'm off to get me a bite to eat. Tell me if you have any work for me in the future!" yells Air as he runs off and a dash-like speed, waving to the old lady in the distance. He walks out to the front of the client's house and leans over her hedges growing under a window. He reaches down into them, and pulls from them a big brown leather quiver and a shimmering white bow, elegantly made.

"Ah, found them. Time for some food." Air says to himself, as he walks down the street. He yawns with his eyes closed, only to open them to a large crowd standing in front of a tavern. Curious to what the attention is about, he corrects himself and walks away from it. Crowds always lead to trouble, thought Air. He stopped by a local vendor stand and ordered two large grilled tunas. The vendor owner happily gave them to him as Air dropped a few coins on the counter and walked away, munching on a fish on a stick, holding the other in his opposite hand. As he eats, Air began to get a bit sleepy, and walked under a building next to him for shade and finished off his dinner.

Air opens his pouch and stares at a few coins left, in disbelief at his poorness. "Yet I am almost broke again, life is so repetitive..." sighs Air as he sits down under a buildings shade in the blistering hot heat and relaxes, staring at passer-bys.

The edges of his vision are blury, hes dreaming. Calvin is running amongst a grassy field with beautiful wild flowers growing all over in differnt patches and places. He sees a feminine figure just a few feet away. Her arms are open and welcoming, but it seems no matter how far Calvin runs, he doesn't get any closer. She is smiling, but Calvin cannot make out the rest of her face. Calvin hears a small deep chuckle, and turns to see what it is.
Standing around the same distance of the womanly figure, only to his right is now a more masculine one. His entire body is blank as he is standing infront of the setting sun. Calvin cannot make out who this other figure is either, but he too seemed happy to be in Calvins presence. Suddenly the mans head tilts up and he jumps. It seemed he had just sprouted wing and is flying with the woman figure towards the setting sun.
Calvin begins to utter some words in his sleep,
"No, no come back.." while tossing to his right side asleep. "Come back, who are youuu?" Rolling onto his back.
"No.. WAIT!" Calvin yelled, and sat up quickly knocking over his tent wich collapsed onto him.
Calvin took the cloth and threw it to the side, while collection the sticks.
"Ugh.. that one again..." Calvin uttered under his breath. Strapping the ropes onto his arms, Calvin turned around to a figure sitting at the base what was his fire. The man, or woman, was dressed in a black cloack, outlined in red. The persons head goes down, as he or she just had something to drink. The person appeard to be male, with gastly white skin and eyes as blue as Calvins.

"...Hi" Said Calvin with a smile. Trying not to offend the man by being frightened by his looks.

"...Hi" Said Calvin with a smile. The commotion did not startled Eldak, he simply coughed a little on his potion. He turned his head to the half-celestial. "Hello" Eldak called with his raspy voice. He did not know what kind of dream the boy had but it seemed to be more of a nightmare. "Best not show him my face." Eldak thought, "I'm sorry if I disrupted your sleep, I saw you this morning and decided to watch over you, as I had a encounter with some bandits not to far from here. Didn't want you to have to go through what I did eh?"

"It seems like you are traveling. If you would be so kind as to allow me to travel with you. I have no destination yet." Eldak said and tried his best to smile, he was never good at faking emotions but his powers with the undead were more then a worthy trade off. Eldak rose and started to collect his small veils and pots, then pack them away with in a few different hidden pockets in his robe. He calmly awaited Calvin's response.

"It seems like you are traveling. If you would be so kind as to allow me to travel with you. I have no destination yet." Said the man with a raspy voice. Now Calvin thought about this for a little..
A total stranger..
Dressed suspiciously..
But he did claim to watch over me for some time.. hmmm
Calvin watched him pack away all sorts of nicknacks inside his cloak, wich seemed to never fill.
Hes got this.. aura about him that gives me the chills.. It's like, deathly.
Might as well be friends than foes however.
"Well, I just go where the wind takes me and since you don't have a destination either, I guess that wouldn't be much of a problem."
Calvin turned around and folded his cloth of a tent, rapped the sticks inside of it, and flung it over his shoulder. Calvin looked around on the ground to make sure he did not misplace anything and found a symbol dug into the earth. He probably made it..
"Well, I haven't had a bite to eat for a while now. If you don't mind getting some breakfast?.. Oh, and by the way. My names Calvin." He said with a smile, extending a hand.

Oh, and by the way. My names Calvin." He said with a smile, extending a hand. At first Eldak pulled away, but then he let his hand snake out of its sleeve, its thin, milky white appearances seemed to startle Calvin at first but then they shock. "I would not mind some breakfast at all, Calvin." Eldak said, this time not as raspy as the potion had taken the edge of his throat. As Calvin traced Eldak's summoning runes Eldak quickly said "I did not know you to be friend or foe till I saw you. It was only a precaution, not needed anymore. With a kick of his shoe Eldak returned most of the dirt into its normal place.

After Calvin had finished packing up, Eldak turned back toward him "I know of a small village near here. If you would like to visit it with me, there is a very fine inn." As he noticed Calvins shy look Eldak understood. "Don't worry, its on me. You are allowing me to pay for breakfast." He pulled out a large coin purse as he finished the sentence. "This is all lawfully my money as well; I didn't steal them if you were wondering. It was actually the bandit’s money they had received from their unknown employer, but Calvin did not need to know.

"If you will follow me I can lead the way." Eldak said in one of his most pleasant tones.

He agreed to breakfast and the two shook hands. The strangers hand was pale and thin, this shocked Calvin at firts, but he didn't want to offend the man, so he immediatly put a polite smile back on.

"I did not know you to be friend or foe till I saw you. It was only a precaution, not needed anymore." The stranger said while kicked the figure in the dirt away.

Well, I'm not too sure what a couple of symbols and shapes in the dirt is going to do.. and the way he said it, it was his first possibly only defense. I'll have to ask him about that later when it's a better time.

"I know of a small village near here. If you would like to visit it with me, there is a very fine inn." He offered. Calvin gave a shy, ashamed look giving him the messege: I'm Broke. The man quickly caught on and pulled a large sack of coins out from one of his many pockets. Calvin raised an eyebrow.

"This is all lawfully my money as well; I didn't steal them if you were wondering." The cloacked one said. "If you will follow me I can lead the way."

"Sure." Replied Calvin, smiling.

The two started walking through the woods, Calvin walked a foot behind the stranger, letting him lead the way. He seemed to try to always remained covered, like hes hiding something. They eventually hit a path and started heading towards, what Calvin thought, was a town. Probably the one he had passed through not too long ago. The rocks hit together occasionaly as Calvin walked or hopped over a branch. Calvin knew that the stranger noticed it,
"Ah, sorry about them, Heh. I use them to train with, I believe it helps me." Calvin said politely.

They entered town, it seemed like some of the people recognized the cloaked man and were giving him strange looks. Not so much at Calvin, but the ones he did recieve were more of looks of shock, rather than disgust or fear. It seems he's really loved in this place..
They reached an Inn, the stranger entered first and sat down at the bar. The bartender turned around, noticing the stranger and grabbed the counter behind him to make sure he didn't fall. He grew pale with a deathly shocked look on his face, gripping the back pannel for dear life. "Oh no..." He quietly whispered to himself.
Calvin took a seat next to him and tried playing it casual to break whatever tension there was.
"I'll take a pint," Turning to his compainion, "That is if you don't mind." Calvin smiled. He shook his head, he didn't mind, and he looked at the bartender. It wasn't until that moment the bartneder sprang to life working as fast he possibly could.
"This sure is a nice place you got here barkeeper." Calvin said.
"T-t---than y-you." He replied.
Calvin turned around to spectate the rest of the place, or at least that part of it. There were one or two men passed out drunk, some singing, some arguing in a drunken rage. It was a lively place. Calvin turned to the bartender, "Theres this wierd odor you got going on around here.. what is it? It doesn't smell like any type of alcohol, it's kind of stomach turning, ya know?"
The bartender shot a quick glance down to the floor beneath him and then back up at Calvin like he had not looked down. "Sorry, I.... don't know what you mean."
Calvin let it go, maybe it wasn't any of his buisness, but it did make him a little queezy.
"Well.." Said Calvin to the cloaked man sitting next to him, "It's your money, I'll let you buy since you're treating. But I would like to know your name." Said Calvin, letting out a small laugh, as though making it seem the way his companion dressed and acted didn't bother him any longer. Like they were friends.

"It's your money; I'll let you buy since you're treating. But I would like to know your name." Said Calvin "That seems fair, my name is... Lathian." Its been forever since I gave my real name, but it just seems right. "Bartender, would you be so kind as to get us two rooms, and a glass of wine?" The bartender quickly nodded and turned to hurry into the back room, to get two keys and a glass of wine. Eldak turned to Calvin and whispered to him. "Later tonight, I need to tell you something, very important." At first Calvin looked confused and then he nodded his head. The bartender came back and set a glass of wine, the bottle and two room keys on the counter.

Eldak grabbed the glass, drained it and then set the glass down, and grabbed the bottle, he turned to Calvin, raised it and then dropped a smaller bag of gold by Calvin, he nodded to him and the bag then turned and walked out of the inn. He turned his gaze to the near by buildings. He saw a general store, and entered it to the sound of men squabbling.

"12 gold or no deal." the shopkeeper said, getting tired of bickering. "Please I need this part." said the man. Hmm I think that's my man. "I will give you fifteen gold for that." Eldak said. "Thank you sir, do you need anything else?" At the new offer the shopkeeper had perked up. Raphael looked disheartened, then he turned and started toward the door. When he neared Eldak, Eldak put a hand on his shoulder. "Wait, Raphael is it?" Eldak said, "Shopkeeper, may I have that now." "Certainly sir." the keeper said as he handed the object over. "Here Raphael." Eldak said as he gave the object to him. Now would you please come with me?" Raphael looked confused but he followed Eldak back to the inn. "Calvin, I would like you to meet an acquaintance of mine. Now before we all get into the questioning, could we please have some dinner. Keeper!"

At the call, the keeper hurried over to Eldak. "What do you need?" "Get us three meals" Eldak replied as Calvin, Raphael and he all sat down at the table.

"That seems fair, my name is... Lathian." Lathian replied. Well, now I know his name at least. This made Calvin a little more comfortable around him. The more I know about him the better off we'll travel together. Lathian leaned over towards Calvin and whispered "Later tonight, I need to tell you something, very important." At first Calvin looked confused and then he nodded his head.
Lathian got up and left Calvin in the bar alone. Odd.. but ever man has buisness i suppose..
"It be in your best interest to stay away from that man." Hissed the bartender.
Calvin raised an eyebrow, confused and curious, "Why?"
"Take my advice kid, if you want to live to see dawn, you best get your things and run, now, before he returns."
Calvin grew aggrivated at this, critisizing someone behind their back is one thing, but it gets personal when their one of Calvins friends, or companion. In this case it was more of his companion. "You know.." Calvin said, "I really don't like the way your talking about my companion." Calvin grew serious, bringing his right arm over his waste, grabbing the grip of his rapier, standing up.
"Just listen to me kid!" The bartender hissed,"Get out now while you still have a chance!"
Calvin drew his rapier at the immiedetly as soon he finished his sentenced and placed it under the bartenders chin.
"It's sharp..."
The bartenders' eyes widened with fear, sweat grew heavy on his brow, his hands raised over his head like he was getting arrested.
"No reason to get hasty..." He said calmly backing away.
"Thats what I figured." Calvin said while sitting down.

Lathian walked in a few minutes later, "Calvin, I would like you to meet an acquaintance of mine. Now before we all get into the questioning, could we please have some dinner. Keeper!"
The bartender whiped the sweat from his brow and scampered to what Calvin thought was a kitchen, or at least somewhere where he kept the food.

He returned several minutes later, the bartender looked at Lathian and his face grew pale again, Lathian probably gave him a dirty look for taking so long. On the three plates laid a few slices of bread and a bundle of heated meat. It looked and smelled delicious.

I wonder what he wants to tell me tonight...

After the bartender left, Eldak turned to Calvin and said "This is Raphael." Calvin gave Raphael a smile, then started to eat. Eldak started to cut small pieces of meat up and chew them thoroughly. "Raphael you may eat. It's my treat." Raphael nodded, and started to eat as well. Dinner was a quite meal, Eldak focusing on how to get them both to join him. Calvin mostly trying to get over what the bartender had told him earlier and Raphael thinking up a new story to sell his masks with.

As all three slowly finished their meals, Raphael turned to Eldak and Calvin "Thank you for dinner, it was excellent. If you need me I'm in room 15." With that he turned and started up to his room. As Eldak and Calvin watched Raphael walk, Eldak turned toward Calvin "Don't worry about him, I was wondering if we could go to your room, and speak of some matters."

As Calvin nodded, they both stood. After putting a few gold pieces on the counter, Eldak lead Calvin up to his room. After opening it up, Calvin sat down on the bed. Eldak leaded back against the wall facing Calvin. "I have told you that my name is Lathian correct?" Calvin nodded. "Well that is true, and you know of the god Lathian, god of night?" again Calvin nodded, thou he started to look confused.

"Well, I am the god of the night." At first Calvin almost laughed, but then as he watched Eldak/Lathian, a dark aura started to pour out around him. First his robes turned night black, and then a staff with a skull appeared upon it. Finally two large bone wings grew out of his back. He indeed looked like death itself. The air seemed to grow still, the lights of the room started to flicker. Clouds covered the sun up.

Then with a ragged cough, the whole seen disappeared. "Hope that is enough. I haven't had my medicine for awhile. Now down to business, I am gathering people together. For a great task, of which is of the utmost importance. I would wish for you to join in, the slaying of the great dragon, Sirus."

Raphael sat down at the desk in his room, and started pulling out his masks, carefully checking each one for the slightest damage or marking, and taking inventory as to what all he had sold. As he pulled out the masks he came across the piece of shaped steel that he had been trying to haggle the shopkeeper into selling him for cheap. Raphael had walked into the store hoping, but not expecting, to find something for a new mask. His eyes had come across the plain piece of steel, polished to the point that it was reflective, and sudden inspiration had struck. It was obvious that the piece of metal had never been intended to be used as a mask, but all it needed was eyeholes, maybe a nose or mouth grill, and a few other adornments to be one of the most exotic masks that he had ever made. Of course, then it would need a story to go with it, but that could come later.

Raphael examined the piece of steel for far longer than he needed to, because it made him think of the man who had bought it for him. How had the man known his name? Raphael wasn't that famous, not yet. The bartender seemed completely terrified of him, too, and not too fond of the other man, Calvin. He had seemed very confused that Raphael, who had brought him so many customers, would be sharing company with those two. Gods, even Raphael wasn't too sure, but there was something about that man.

Raphael shook his head, only then realizing that he was still wearing his eagle mask. He removed the mask and preened it, then added it to one of the several stacks of masks that he had made. He ran his hand through his bright red hair and shrugged. It was getting late. Raphael pulled a slip of paper out of his bag, marked down the day's sales, then replaced the paper. He then looked carefully through his masks and picked one out. The mask was of the god of night, Lathian, or at least, how Raphael pictured him. The masked was shaped like a round human face, except it was all black with small bits of glass that refracted and reflected light, appearing as stars. The eyes of the mask appeared closed, though the eyelids were made of a special mesh that allowed Raphael to see through. Raphael didn't know why he chose this mask tonight, but it just seemed right. He changed to bedclothes, set his rapier within easy reach, and climbed in to bed. He started drifting to sleep, but many ideas of a story for the steel mask were going through his head, preventing him from falling completely asleep.

Dinner was quiet, at least between the three of them. Lathian broke the silence for a moment,
"This is Raphael." He said, Calvin gave a friendly smile and returned to his food, as did Raphael.
Raphael was finished, stood up and said to Lathian "Thank you for dinner, it was excellent. If you need me I'm in room 15." Calvin finished his meal as Raphael walked by and Lathian and Calvin watched him as Raphael climbed the stairs.
I hope my smile didn't offend him or anything.. Thought Calvin.
"Don't worry about him," Said Lathian, "I was wondering if we could go to your room, and speak of some matters."
Calvin gave him a nod, the two stood and Lathian placed some gold coins on the table. They whent silently up the stairs towards Calvins room. Passing by room 15, Calvin looked at the key: 19 it said. They stopped infront of room 19, Calvin placed the key in the hole and unlocked the door, the two entered. Calvin took a seat comfortably on the bed as Lathian leaned up against a wall looking at Calvin. A silence fell but not for long..
"I have told you that my name is Lathian correct?" Calvin nodded, thinking back to when Lathian had introduced himself earlier.
"Well that is true, and you know of the god Lathian, god of night?" again Calvin nodded, however a Calvin had a puzzled look upon his face now.
"Well, I am the god of the night." Lathian explained. Calvin let out a slight laugh, not believing him. Lathian seemed to be dissapionted. Calvin watched Lathian as a dark aura poured out of his cloak and eventually spread out to cover himself. His cloak turned as black as night, maybe even darker.. A staff with a skull appeared out of nowhere and outside the window, clouds had been starting to cover up the sun.
The lights began to flicker and the air around them became cold and still.
This guy might just be Death himself.....
Two boned wings spread out behind Lathian, Calvins eyes widened so much, he hurt himself.
Calvin swallowed hard, trying to take all of this in without fainting or soiling himself.
Lathian let out a scratchy cough, like he was coughing out his own lungs. With that, everything whent back to normal as if nothing had happend in the first place.
I'm dreaming.. I'm going to wake up in my tent and if im lucky, I won't knock it ontop of myself like I did in this dream..
"Hope that is enough." Lathian spoke, "I haven't had my medicine for awhile. Now down to business, I am gathering people together. For a great task, of which is of the utmost importance. I would wish for you to join in, the slaying of the great dragon, Sirus."
Calvin remained still, closely watching Lathian.
"A Dragon? I thought were just old myths. More importantly... Why me? It seems like you and Raphael are much older than me and more expiernced ontop of that.." Calvin thought about this and then continued, "..I accept your offer and would like to ocompany you and who else you gather, to slay the dragon, Sirus. But I'm not as aged as you or Raphael and don't see myself Not getting in the way.."

"First of all, I barely know Raphael. Second, by the time we get everyone needed to slay Sirus, you will be more experienced then most soldiers. I am very glad that you will join me; well I do believe that we have had enough excitement for today. I will excuses myself. Good night Calvin" Lathian said as he closed to door. One down, only fourteen or so left. He quietly turned and started down the steps. He noticed that the bar was almost empty, except for a few drunken patrons. "Innkeeper, would you be able to give me a map to the area?

"I don't give out maps, even to you." the innkeeper said, glaring back at Lathain. "Fine, thou I wish I wasn't forced to do this." With a flick of his wrist, the body underneath the counter lurched. It grabbed the innkeeper by the leg and pulled him down under the bar. Lathian quietly walked around the counter, staring down at the keeper. "Well then, while my friend keeps you busy. I will take a map."

After looking through the drawers, Lathian found a map. He quietly slipped it into his robe and walked up the steps. He paused in front of Raphael's and Calvin's doors, making sure that they were asleep. After he closed his door he slipped out a sliver knife and cut his index finger. He traced a eight sided star on the door, then muttered a few words. He released control over the long dead patron, and the bartender slowly picked himself up downstairs. Lathian then calmly took of his body robe, and lay down on the bed. He then closed his eyes and prayed for a sleepless night.

"First of all, I barely know Raphael. Second, by the time we get everyone needed to slay Sirus, you will be more experienced then most soldiers. I am very glad that you will join me; well I do believe that we have had enough excitement for today. I will excuses myself. Good night Calvin"
With that, Lathian left and closed the door silently behind him.
Ca;vin remained still for a moment, trying to take it all in. It was working slightly, he hadn't soiled himself just yet. Rising from the bed, Calvin walked over to a desk and unstrapped the ropes wich were tied to his arms. Calvin placed them on the table, Calvin heard the wood crackling underneath the wieght.
They've sure have gotten heavey over time..
Calvin thought back to when he was first starting out on his own. His first goal was comfortably holding the rapier wich took a few weeks of progress. After that, he began doing his basics: foot placements, stabs and slashes, blocking. Those were months of trainning until Calvin decided to train with wieght attached, thinking that if could become resistant to extra wieght, he would be much faster when it is taken off. The wieght trainning drainned Calvin a lot faster than regularly, this meant he couldn't train all throughout the day as he once did. With his extra time, Calin learned how to make fire by using sticks and flint, an art a traveler couldn't live without.
Calvin stood there starring at the rocks thinking of the past, the long nights and early mornings. Calvin missed his bothers and sisters, not so much of his moms. They were his family as far as he was concerned. He returned to his bed but did not sit. Taking off his belt, Calvin gently took his Rapier and holster off and placed it on the bed. Haven't slept in a bed for so long.. heh.
Calvin layed down ontop of the covers holding his Rapier, gently letting his fingers stroke the black leather of the holster. It felt cool and smoothe to the touch, he pulled out the rapier. It glistened in the light of the setting sun, reflecting colors of pink, purple and red. The hilt glew all sorts of colors, when turned, the colors seemed to dance.
It really is a masterpiece.. Or at least, I would say.
Calvin gently placed it back in its holster and tucked himself under the covers and closed his eyes.
It looks like things are going to get pretty interesting from now on.. I wonder whats going to happen. I wonder how big this dragon, Sirus is.. Maybe its as tall as a building, maybe more.. Maybe thats why he needs people to help him.. Drifting into a deep sleep, Maybe he's met my parents..?

Raphael slept fitfully, odd visions visiting him in his dreams. Some he recognized from his past, some seemed to be from stories that he told to sell masks, others were completely unrecognizable from any experience that Raphael knew, other than that they featured himself.

One sequence repeated in his dreams, or at least seemed to. It was of Raphael, wearing an ornate mask, one that seemed to be made from the piece of shaped steel that he had picked up earlier. The steel was circled by a single twig, tied to itself at the top of the mask. Almond-shaped eyeholes had been punched in, and the only thing that marred the mirror surface of the mask was an ornate set of crisscrossing lines that touched the twig, extended by multicolored yarn where necessary. It wasn't readily visible how the yarn was connected to the steel, but Raphael knew a few techniques that could achieve that affect. More yarn dangled from either side of the mask, tied to the twig. Intertwined with this yarn were beads, feathers, and charms. The charms seemed to hold special significance, so Raphael focused on them, as you might be able to in a dream. Most of the charms were indistinct, though no less important because of this, but there were three charms that were visible in perfect clarity: a connected set of the comedy/drama theater masks that were made of a prismatic glass, so that their color was always shifting, a set of birds wings made of silver and fronted with a gold ring, and an eight-sided star, carved from the blackest onyx. Raphael wondered at this, figuring that that masks represented himself, and each of the others represented one of the two men that he met today, though he had no clue which charm went to which man, but he couldn't figure out why he would make a mask with representations of them. Also curious was the fact that, while he was wearing this mask, he seemed to be in combat with someone or something, and he wasn't using the rapier that sat beside him in the waking world. Instead he was wielding a leather bullwhip that had a short blade attached to the end. He wielded this weapon with confidence and ease, and even though the mask covered his entire face, and he could hear nothing, Raphael knew that his dream self was laughing. Not maniacally, not tauntingly, not hysterically, but because the feeling of life filled him, and laughter was the only outlet that it had.

Raphael woke the next morning drenched in sweat, though he still felt completely rested. He shook off the lingering sleep, and the remnants of his dreams, and got dressed for the day. He traded the mask of Lathian for one of his leftover dragon masks. Again, he didn't have any reason for this, it just felt right. He left his room, went downstairs and waited for his companions to join him.

As a uneventful night came and went, Lathian awoke to nothing different in the room. After washing his face, and cleaning his finger he dressed in his body robe, brought up the hood and up on his shoes. Then opened the door and walked down to the first floor. He noticed Raphael sitting at a table by himself, eating a breakfast and fidgeting with the mask which covered his face. A strange one, but still necessary to killing Sirus he thought.

"Raphael, hello again. I did not wish to wake you last night, but well now that we are both here. I was wondering if you might join me and Calvin on a quest of sorts." As Raphael's eyebrows raised as he thoroughly chewed his meal, Lathian could tell he was pondering. "It will take us around the land, and you will meet many different types of people, which you could make new masks for."

"Before you say yes or no. Please finish your meal. I have much time and I will not be leaving until Calvin is ready." Lathain pulled out the map, while Raphael ate. He first pointed to himself where he was, then to where he first needed to go. Arukai, a good sized city in the Human realm. Then to Quna in the Elven realm. And so on and so forth.

Raphael's immediate thought was to say yes, but the cloaked man told him to finish his breakfast first. So Raphael ate, and while he ate he thought of last night's dreams, especially that one recurring image. Raphael really didn't have any plans other than to head to the next town and ply his trade there, so there really wasn't any reason not to go with this man and Calvin. Raphael had gone on quests similar to the stories he told, but rarely did they end up being as sensational as those stories. Something about this quest suggested something epic, something that would be worthy of stories.

But Raphael's father had taught him to never enter into any sort of contract, even just a verbal one, without knowing what he was getting into. And so Raphael asked, "What kind of quest? I mean, every quest has a goal, and so far all you've told me is that there will be a lot of travel. Also, somehow you know my name, but I don't believe that I ever got yours."

Raphael finished his breakfast, then pulled out his bag from under the table. He pulled out the mask that he had set aside for touch-ups, along with a small box that contained tools and various materials and began fixing the imperfections while he listened to the man in the cloak and waited for Calvin to wake up.

"WAIT!"
Calvin reached out with his hand to grab nothing. He was sleeping, but this woke him. Sweat was dripping from his brow, as it usual did after these dreams, or nightmares. Calvin layed ontop of the covers of the bed, when he originaly liad inside of them. "I seemed to have moved around a lot more in that one.." Staring out the window, the sun was already up, high up. "Sh**, I'm probably late!... even though they never gave me a set time to meet them. Aw well, rushing wouldn't hurt.." So, Calvin quickly got re-dressed, strung the ropes attached to the large rocks to his arm, put his belt on while attaching his rapier and whent on about his way.
Going down the stairs, Calvin saw Lathian standing looking at what seemed like a map, and Raphael eatting breakfast. They were both quiet, going on about their own things until they had heard Calvin. Their eyes looked at him. Calvin scratched the back of his neck, nervous as if he was in trouble.
"Hah, uhmm.. Sorry. I over slept a bit."
Raphael returned to his meal, and Lathian his map. Raphael was about done with his map and Lathian seemed to be making small markings on the map, nothing too important, so Calvin figured it was a good time to ask some questions if any came to mind. Two did.
"Lathian.. this may seem like a childish question, but.. ..You seem to have a large emount of knowledge and I was wonder, if you know who my parents are, or.." Calvin hesitated, "..were." Calvin said approaching Lathian.
"And.. if you know why I'm having a reaccuring nightmare that seems so delightful until I wake... Sorry if im perstering you, you seem busy." Calvin said looking away shyly, knowing he was acting like a helpless child, but he wanted to know who the hell his parents were, and the nightmare, why it was happening all the time.

Raphael asked, "What kind of quest? I mean, every quest has a goal, and so far all you've told me is that there will be a lot of travel. Also, somehow you know my name, but I don't believe that I ever got yours." Lathian looked up from his map. "My name is Lathian. For the quest part, I am gathering people to kill Sirus, the dragon." At first Lathian thought he saw Raphael's eyes widen, then dismissed it as the sun's glare off of his mask.

"I am not joking about this, and you will be compensated during the travel, and you will make more money then most nobles make in their life after Sirus falls." Lathian said. Raphael went back to his meal and Lathian to his map. A few minutes later down stumbled Calvin. "Hah, uhmm.. Sorry. I over slept a bit." he said as he finished the steps and walked over to sit down.

"Lathian.. This may seem like a childish question, but.. ..You seem to have a large amount of knowledge and I was wonder, if you know who my parents are, or.." Calvin hesitated, "..were." At first Lathian was struck silent, then after looking down and finally back up he replied "In face, I did met your mother, a few decades ago. She was a beautiful being. If I was not a god, I would have married her, but since mortals and gods are forbidden to mate she left from a city long deserted, and moved to a hidden village of her kind."

"The last time I saw her was as she died. I never knew what killed her, but her husband, your father I believe to still be alive. On our way, we could go see him if you would like."

Lathian had pondered over Calvin's question, until he answered raising his head from the map.
"In face, I did met your mother, a few decades ago. She was a beautiful being. If I was not a god, I would have married her, but since mortals and gods are forbidden to mate she left from a city long deserted, and moved to a hidden village of her kind."
..Mom......

"The last time I saw her was as she died. I never knew what killed her, but her husband, your father I believe to still be alive. On our way, we could go see him if you would like."

Calvin stumbled backwards and fell onto the Inn floor not expecting an answer such as that.
"Moms dead... but Dads alive..." Calvin had been repeating this to himself several times as he now sat on the floor of the Inn. Calvin remember what Lathian had just said: 'On our way, we could go see him if you would like', I can go see my father.. 'We could go see him if you would like' Daddy.... 'if you would like'. The answer took Calvin aback so much he started to tear, but not cry.
The words "if you would like" repeatted in the back of Calvins head for what seemed like hours, but only a minute or so.

"Y....Y-e-e..." Calvin had a hard time talking, still in shock, "Y-e...ss, Ye---s-s," taking a deep breath, "Yes.. Yes YES! I would like to go see him!" He claimed. Calvin smiled and wiped off a single tear that had seemed to drip down his cheek, he hoped Lathian or Raphael didn't notice that.
Lathian turned to the map after Calvin answered, making another mark.
I wonder where Daddy lives.. I must be acting so childish right now... but.. but I just.. I can't help it! Calvin argued with himself.

At Lathian's response, Raphael's eyes widened and his jaw dropped slightly, though he quickly recovered and bent back to his work to hide any other signs of shock.

Raphael pulled out a pair of glasses with extended eyepieces, so that each functioned like a magnifying glass, adjusted the nose piece and legs, then fit it over the dragon mask's face, which looked rather odd. He bent down over the mask that he was working on, using a set of fine tools, adjusting things that weren't visible to the naked eye. "...to kill Sirus, the dragon." Well, that's interesting, Raphael thought. He focused on this, the promise of reward, and the minute repairs that he was making to the mask to the point that he barely heard Calvin's question or Lathian's response. However, when Calvin hit the floor, Raphael looked up and moved the glasses slightly so that he could clearly see what was going on. He saw Calvin stutter through his response and caught the tear that Calvin wiped away. Hmm...so he wants to know his parents, I'm glad I was lucky enough to know and love both of mine.

Raphael reset his glasses, bent back to the mask and resumed work saying, " Yes, I will go. It will be a good opportunity to spread my work, to find new inspiration, and to actually be part of something important. So, since we have to slay a dragon, I assume that you've seen one. Is my mask actually an accurate representation?" The last question was meant to see if Lathian was obviously bluffing, which Raphael didn't think he was, but he had to check.

" Yes, I will go. It will be a good opportunity to spread my work, to find new inspiration, and to actually be part of something important. So, since we have to slay a dragon, I assume that you've seen one. Is my mask actually an accurate representation?" Raphael asked. "Well most of the dragons of which I have met, it looks totally inaccurate. They do not have wings on their ears, or ears for that matter. Their eyes are always the color of their scales and their mouth is much like ours, only a lot bigger." Lathian said..

"Hope that is enough to please you. Now Calvin, Raphael if you both ready to start our journey. It will take us but a few days to reach our first destination." Lathian said, standing up and putting the map back into a pocket of his robe. As Raphael packed up his mask box, and equipment and Calvin picked himself up off the floor they set out. After leaving town, Lathian spoke out as they walked "Well, since we are traveling partners now. I think we should get to know each other. I guess I will have to start off. I have no goal other then to kill Sirus. I do not have dreams or hopes but do enjoy fine wines."

They exited the Inn in silence until Lathian spoke:
"Well, since we are traveling partners now. I think we should get to know each other. I guess I will have to start off. I have no goal other then to kill Sirus. I do not have dreams or hopes but do enjoy fine wines."
A good idea, but then again, the guy is probably chalk-full of them. Who knows how long he has really lived for if he truely is a god.. and too be traveling with him???! Thought Calvin, and then spoke.
"I'll go next then. Well, my names Calvin, ha ha, I've never seen a dragon before and thought they were only in fairy tales.. and I'm a fencer in trainning I guess. As for my history, I, obviously, don't know who my birth parents are and was raised as an orphan. You're next Raphael, neat mask by the way." Calvin finished with a smile.



[(*OOC: Lost inernet for a few hours, my dad cut my cord in half with a pair of scizzors and I had to make my own internet cord.. sorry for the delay.*)]

"Thank you, Calvin," Raphael said. "Well, my name is Raphael Masque, and I come from a fairly long line of mask makers and sellers. Chances are that if you see a good quality mask in the human or elven realms, then someone in my family made it. I'm cut from the same mold as my father, my father's father, and so on. I make masks, then sell them. I'm a bit more adventurous than my father, so I've seen some things that he hasn't, which has widened my repertoire of masks. I guess that that's my reason for coming along. I want to see more things that I can copy into masks, and I want to spread my masks to the world."

Raphael, as they talked and walked, would periodically pull out a map and check it, making small markings with a piece of charcoal. "So, I figure that it shouldn't take us long to reach Arukai. What are plans once we get there, Lathian?

"My first task will be to gather more to kill Sirus, second we will need to find a person or persons of great wealth to finance our quest. After that I believe we will spend some time gathering thoughts and drawing plans of how to reach Sirus in his cave. Finally we shall head to our next destination, and start the process again." Lathian said. With a glace to Calvin and Raphael he then asked "I see you both use fencing type weapons. As Calvin says I would like to see you two train together. The more you train the better you both will become, and it will help me on where to put you when the time comes to fight Sirus." They both looked a little startled, and then a smile crept across Calvin's face. Raphael turned his down as thou he was blushing but beneath the mask only he knew.

After again looking at each of his companions’ weapons, Lathian again spoke "I see that your sword seems to be a little worn Raphael, and your's had seen better days Calvin. If I may say that after reaching Arukai I would be more then willing to see that a blacksmith sees to your weapons, as I can well see you both love your weapons." Lathain finally finished, and as he did the walls of Arukai slowly grow out of the forest. With a sigh of relief, Lathian picked up his step, wanting to reach the city before anything weird happened.

Raphael touched the hilt of his rapier and said, "Yes it would be a good idea to train together, and as often as possible, though I'm sure that Calvin is better than I am. After all, my main skill lies with my masks. Also, both because Calvin has us covered in regards to the rapier, I might look into training with a different weapon, just for variety's sake." Raphael wanted to find a bladed whip, like the one that he was using in his dream, but he didn't think it was a good idea to tell his companions about it yet. When Lathian sped up, Raphael quickly matched pace, and he started looking around for signs of people around the city, since this was where bandits liked to lurk, far enough away from the city so that the guards wouldn't worry about it too much, but close enough that they clould run and hide in the city if need be.

Lathian picked up the pace on the outskirts of the city. Calvin trailed behind a little, being weighed down. Raphael had just spoken on how he wanted to see if he could use a differnt weapon than his rapier. This meant Calvin had little time to one on one train with him, even though he did not seem like an expiernced opponent. However, somebody was better than nobody, even if they aren't that skilled.

It was mid-noon to high-noon, Calvin didn't know. Calvin did know when it was lunchtime, his stomach told him. Trees loomed high with the occasional blank patches of dirt, most likely used as rest stops for caravans. Occasionaly there were a few men, maybe a woman or two, sitting around a small fire even though it was in the afternoon. Usualy when Calvin made eye contact with one of the bandits, they would give him a dirty look or reach for their weapon to try to frighten him. Calvin knew he had more powerful allies, so their futile attempts to threaten him failed, thought he did wish they tried to attack him. It would have been a good field test. No luck, just dirty looks.

Calvin picked up his pace to catch up with the other two.

Lathian noticed that Calvin began to slow behind himself and Raphael. With a hand motion which understood as speed up. Finally not a few minutes later they entered the city. First he led them to a decent inn. As the trio entered they were met with more then a few dirty looks which Lathian simply ignored. As he reached the counter the innkeeper brought himself up to the counter as well "What can I getcha sirs?" he kindly asked. "Three rooms and meals for a week." Lathian answered. The man gave him a confused look then nodded and went to grab the keys. He showed them to their rooms and they after changing clothes and washing up they all met down for dinner. After finishing, Lathian brought out two rather large sacks of gold. "Each of you take one. As long as you don't cause to much trouble I say we split up. Find anyone you think could be of use to our quest. Meet back here tomorrow morning here for breakfast and we can inform each other about what we found." Lathian said, with a nod he stood up and exited the inn.

Lathian gave Raphael and Calvin each a sack filed with gold after they reached the new town. "Each of you take one. As long as you don't cause to much trouble I say we split up. Find anyone you think could be of use to our quest. Meet back here tomorrow morning here for breakfast and we can inform each other about what we found." he said. With that note, Calvin immedietly departed, having much on his mind. Now that he had some money, there were some things needed to be done.

Calvin left the inn, leaving Raphael and Lathian alone to do what they needed to do. Lets get you repaired.. You could use a shine. Traveling down the road some, not knowing where he was or what city they were in, Calvin managed to stumble upon a blacksmiths place. Unlike other buildings, there was no front wall with a door, that part was missing. Instead, it was just a large opening so that anyone can walk in and roam. Calvin watched the blacksmith while he worked. He was a large and very muscular fellow, who seemed to have a tan, and the only hair on his face besides his eyebrows was his long black mustache.
"Excuse me!.." Calvin barked, hoping not to startle the worker even though he seemed to not hear Calvin.
"Excuse ME!" Calvin tried a little harder, but still, the noise of the pounding of the blacksmiths' hammer overpowered him. Calvin desided to yell a lot louder this time.
"EXCUSE MEEE!" The smith seemed to hear him that time. His head turned in Calvins direction and the man began to stand upright, placing down his oddly large hammer. Calvin misjudged the size of the smith, he was hunched over while working and was now at least seven and a half feet tall.
I wonder what this guy eats for breakfast... babies? Calvin thought.
"What?" The man grunted.
"I wish you to repair my weapon sir. I will pay you well." Calvin said.
"With what form of payment do you have? You're just a kid."
Calvin pretended to shuffle around in his pocket, wich was only the bag of gold he recieved from Lathian earlier, gabbing a few coins, making sure it didn't seem like he had much more. If the man knew he had a sackful, he would probably ask for more.
"These should do?" Calvin questioned, holding out three gold coins wich glimmered in the smiths' oven fire."
The man smiled, "Well then, since your a paying customer, I'll see what I can do for ya."
Calvin placed his rapier down on a table and left, leaving the smith a coin next to his rapier, for interests sake.

Calvin continued his journey down the road, in the same direction he came from. He passed several cat houses, and each time they tried to drag him in he refused. This city was structered similar to the one Calvin was from, just a few more shops here, a few missing there. As Calvin continued, the buildings seemed to get smaller and made with less care. He soon realized he was walking through the poor part of the town. "I must have walked a little too far.." He mumbled to himself. Calvin desided to head back, walking in the exact same direction he had came in. But, he couldn't shake off the feeling he was being followed.