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Pledge of Tyranny (updated November 13)
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<blockquote data-quote="genshou" data-source="post: 2809413" data-attributes="member: 13164"><p><strong>Christmas Update, Part I</strong></p><p></p><p>It was several more minutes before either of them felt the need to speak. Evendur was silently reflecting on what he had learned of his soon-to-be-adventuring companion, and Shirl found speaking difficult at all times, more so after being teased in such a manner. As they moved into an alleyway to avoid the crowded streets of the city, Evendur turned to face her once more. “The staff at the inn tell me you have some skill at the art of song. But what other skills have you learned in your bardic training?</p><p></p><p>Shirl smiled broadly, glad he was asking about something of that sort. “Well, you know, singing isn’t actually my main area of focus.”</p><p></p><p>“And yet everyone at the inn was quite impressed,” Evendur interjected swiftly. “If you have even more talent in another area of focus, your skill must be phenomenal.”</p><p></p><p>The compliment was enough to bring warmth to Shirl’s cheeks. “Why, thank you. I have spent most of my time learning to play the trumpet. I’ve also picked up some skill in dancing and know a few of the more common ballads, and recently I’ve begun learning the drums.” She tapped her index finger to her chin as she remembered something. “Oh, and of course I’m continuing the family business. The Ravenlocke name is a well-known one in leatherworking, and I couldn’t help but carry on my father’s trade. See this whip, and the leather in my clothing? I made them myself while I was adventuring.”</p><p></p><p>Evendur nodded. “Very impressive. I suppose my own clothing must not be very impressive by comparison.” He stepped deftly around a pile of filth in the middle of the alley. “Nor would this humble staff make for a fine adventurer’s weapon.” He sighed. “It’ll be difficult until I have gold to purchase real adventuring gear.”</p><p></p><p>Shirl grinned, trying to cheer him up a bit. “Still… you’ve nowhere to go but up. Try to think of it that way. And besides–”</p><p></p><p>Evendur interrupted her speech with an upraised hand. He stopped walking and shifted his left hand to get a better grip on his staff, while his right reached inside his tunic. It took Shirl only a moment to realize his intent. She scanned the alley warily, and thought for a moment that she saw a shadow move around a corner. “Cutthroats?” she whispered, her hand going to her whip dagger.</p><p></p><p>Evendur smirked slightly. “Welcome to Waterdeep. Plan on staying long?” Shirl shot him a wilting look. “I hope you’re good with that whip you made, because I count seven of them.” Shirl redoubled her efforts to spot their attackers, but the shadows and refuse ahead kept her from seeing anyone. She didn’t doubt Evendur’s sincerity, especially given the palpable feeling of danger. But what if Evendur were the source of that danger…?</p><p></p><p>“Down !” Evendur shouted, even as he tackled her and rolled behind a crate. Her head hit the dirt hard, knocking her senseless for a moment. The sound of a crossbow bolt ricocheting off of the alley wall nearby brought her to her senses, and she crawled behind the crate even as another stuck into the ground just behind her foot.</p><p></p><p>Evendur pointed to the bolt, speaking in the elven tongue. <span style="color: Plum"><em>“Hand crossbow. Those are expensive enough that we’re probably only dealing with one or two of them. The rest will be armed with knives, or other cheap, easily hidden weapons. What do you have left in the way of magic?”</em></span></p><p></p><p>Shirl concentrated for a moment. She could hear the foes moving closer; anything they did would have to be quick. <span style="color: Plum"><em>“Not much. Enough for two spells.”</em></span></p><p></p><p>Evendur nodded. <span style="color: Plum"><em>“Use them wisely. First, we’ll need a diversion…”</em></span> Shirl had already stood up. She held her arms up in surrender. “If all you want is my gold, I’d rather give it to you than be shot.” She could see them now, seven young adult men armed with knives and short swords. Two also held co cked hand crossbows.</p><p></p><p>Evendur sighed. <em>That’s </em>not<em> going to work,</em> he thought. The cutthroats laughed. “Oh, we’re not interested in gold,” the leader growled as he took a menacing step forward, keeping his hand crossbow levelled at her. “We’re interested in what’s under the tabard.”</p><p></p><p>Shirl’s face took on an ashen hue as a thousand images flooded her mind. Her eyes ceased to focus on anything as she realized what it was they were after. Evendur growled ferally. “Don’t listen! We can take ‘em.” In the elven tongue, he shared more detailed instructions. <span style="color: Plum"><em>“Remember the spell you cast in the inn, that stunned one of the two brawlers? Cast it on the leader.”</em></span></p><p></p><p>Shirl turned slowly to face him and then nodded. Taking in a deep breath, she whirled around to glare at the leader. “I dare you to even try,” she warned dangerously. “I could take you all on naked and with no weapon.” She reached for the strings tying her vest in the front.</p><p></p><p>Evendur turned with the same look of disbelief as many of the thugs were giving her. He, however, saw and recognized the way in which her fingers were moving… and just as her spell went off, he popped up from behind cover and threw the club he was hiding straight at the second crossbow-wielding foe. It hit the man hard in the shoulder, and he dropped the crossbow. The bolt fired up into the air,, hitting against the second story wall of a building. The cutthroat gang charged while their leader stood motionless with a dumfounded expression on his face. Swords unsheathed as the two sides met in melee.</p><p></p><p>Evendur ducked, twisted, and weaved as steel came flying at his body. Several blades found themselves striking the crate, and those that managed to reach closer proximity were deflected by his whirling staff. The man with the injured shoulder picked the crossbow up with his injured arm and stood behind the other cutthroats, reloading it and waiting for an opening...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="genshou, post: 2809413, member: 13164"] [b]Christmas Update, Part I[/b] It was several more minutes before either of them felt the need to speak. Evendur was silently reflecting on what he had learned of his soon-to-be-adventuring companion, and Shirl found speaking difficult at all times, more so after being teased in such a manner. As they moved into an alleyway to avoid the crowded streets of the city, Evendur turned to face her once more. “The staff at the inn tell me you have some skill at the art of song. But what other skills have you learned in your bardic training? Shirl smiled broadly, glad he was asking about something of that sort. “Well, you know, singing isn’t actually my main area of focus.” “And yet everyone at the inn was quite impressed,” Evendur interjected swiftly. “If you have even more talent in another area of focus, your skill must be phenomenal.” The compliment was enough to bring warmth to Shirl’s cheeks. “Why, thank you. I have spent most of my time learning to play the trumpet. I’ve also picked up some skill in dancing and know a few of the more common ballads, and recently I’ve begun learning the drums.” She tapped her index finger to her chin as she remembered something. “Oh, and of course I’m continuing the family business. The Ravenlocke name is a well-known one in leatherworking, and I couldn’t help but carry on my father’s trade. See this whip, and the leather in my clothing? I made them myself while I was adventuring.” Evendur nodded. “Very impressive. I suppose my own clothing must not be very impressive by comparison.” He stepped deftly around a pile of filth in the middle of the alley. “Nor would this humble staff make for a fine adventurer’s weapon.” He sighed. “It’ll be difficult until I have gold to purchase real adventuring gear.” Shirl grinned, trying to cheer him up a bit. “Still… you’ve nowhere to go but up. Try to think of it that way. And besides–” Evendur interrupted her speech with an upraised hand. He stopped walking and shifted his left hand to get a better grip on his staff, while his right reached inside his tunic. It took Shirl only a moment to realize his intent. She scanned the alley warily, and thought for a moment that she saw a shadow move around a corner. “Cutthroats?” she whispered, her hand going to her whip dagger. Evendur smirked slightly. “Welcome to Waterdeep. Plan on staying long?” Shirl shot him a wilting look. “I hope you’re good with that whip you made, because I count seven of them.” Shirl redoubled her efforts to spot their attackers, but the shadows and refuse ahead kept her from seeing anyone. She didn’t doubt Evendur’s sincerity, especially given the palpable feeling of danger. But what if Evendur were the source of that danger…? “Down !” Evendur shouted, even as he tackled her and rolled behind a crate. Her head hit the dirt hard, knocking her senseless for a moment. The sound of a crossbow bolt ricocheting off of the alley wall nearby brought her to her senses, and she crawled behind the crate even as another stuck into the ground just behind her foot. Evendur pointed to the bolt, speaking in the elven tongue. [COLOR=Plum][I]“Hand crossbow. Those are expensive enough that we’re probably only dealing with one or two of them. The rest will be armed with knives, or other cheap, easily hidden weapons. What do you have left in the way of magic?”[/I][/COLOR] Shirl concentrated for a moment. She could hear the foes moving closer; anything they did would have to be quick. [COLOR=Plum][I]“Not much. Enough for two spells.”[/I][/COLOR] Evendur nodded. [COLOR=Plum][I]“Use them wisely. First, we’ll need a diversion…”[/I][/COLOR] Shirl had already stood up. She held her arms up in surrender. “If all you want is my gold, I’d rather give it to you than be shot.” She could see them now, seven young adult men armed with knives and short swords. Two also held co cked hand crossbows. Evendur sighed. [I]That’s [/I]not[I] going to work,[/I] he thought. The cutthroats laughed. “Oh, we’re not interested in gold,” the leader growled as he took a menacing step forward, keeping his hand crossbow levelled at her. “We’re interested in what’s under the tabard.” Shirl’s face took on an ashen hue as a thousand images flooded her mind. Her eyes ceased to focus on anything as she realized what it was they were after. Evendur growled ferally. “Don’t listen! We can take ‘em.” In the elven tongue, he shared more detailed instructions. [COLOR=Plum][I]“Remember the spell you cast in the inn, that stunned one of the two brawlers? Cast it on the leader.”[/I][/COLOR] Shirl turned slowly to face him and then nodded. Taking in a deep breath, she whirled around to glare at the leader. “I dare you to even try,” she warned dangerously. “I could take you all on naked and with no weapon.” She reached for the strings tying her vest in the front. Evendur turned with the same look of disbelief as many of the thugs were giving her. He, however, saw and recognized the way in which her fingers were moving… and just as her spell went off, he popped up from behind cover and threw the club he was hiding straight at the second crossbow-wielding foe. It hit the man hard in the shoulder, and he dropped the crossbow. The bolt fired up into the air,, hitting against the second story wall of a building. The cutthroat gang charged while their leader stood motionless with a dumfounded expression on his face. Swords unsheathed as the two sides met in melee. Evendur ducked, twisted, and weaved as steel came flying at his body. Several blades found themselves striking the crate, and those that managed to reach closer proximity were deflected by his whirling staff. The man with the injured shoulder picked the crossbow up with his injured arm and stood behind the other cutthroats, reloading it and waiting for an opening... [/QUOTE]
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