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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Black Omega" data-source="post: 942449" data-attributes="member: 79">If they were going to make a movie, the time was now.  Viktor was being healed by one of the clerics in his faction.  Fireblossom was ready.  Vlad was ready.  Toshiro was kind of ready, while half wishing he was helping the Yabanjin against the Inu.  If they attacked Viktor they could probably kill him but his faction would surely retaliate.  What Grond and Rodrigo would do they were unsure of.  So their survival might well end up depending on the support of Stavros and the followers of Cyric.  Once they realized they would be relying on the followers of a Chaotic Evil God of Cruelty and Treachery, it was decided to let the moment pass and play it safe.The distraction had been enough to miss out on one important event.  Finafin’s dead body was pounced on instantly by bandits lingering close by.  Gloves yanked off, boots pulled off, the dead elf’s belt searched for any gold or jewels while his rings and amulet were yanked away, until the elf’s two section body was left clad in little more than a loincloth.  The bandits of Kuzo being even less sentimental about such things than most bandits, not a thing of potential value was left unclaimed.While the group debated their next move, the Cyricians plotted, with many dour stares around the inn.  And Viktor basked in the glory of his victory.  But not for long.For Mir heard from her familiar that three men were ransacking the group’s tent.  Nothing of value had been left there, but they didn’t seem to be searching for gold.  They barely touched Toshiro’s box of Vodka, instead searching for things more carefully hidden.  Even driving metal rods down into the earth to try and see if something had been buried there.Then Viktor walked over to the party’s table.  Armor still drenched in blood, his most serious wounds were healed and if anything he looked even tougher than before.  The 6’5” abomination leaned, over, gloves hands on their table as he growled “It doesn’t take much to figure out what is going on here.  We’ve not had much trouble for a while.  Then a new group breezes into town and starts making friends with Stravro’s group while putting their own power and cruelty on display.  Only someone truly devious, savage and backstabbing would come up with such a bloodthirsty plan.  I smell a rat.”With this, Viktor looked at Nezu, who’s face turned a deadly pale as he slumped down a little in his chair while Viktor went on.  You can see we aren’t as dumb as you hoped, Rat.  I would think by now you’d know better than to underestimate us.  You can see Stavros and the followers of Cyric are not as tough as you thought.  If you think you can keep up with us, my people and Grond’s group are going out on a raid tonight.  The advance guard of Lord Jyaku’s army is getting too far ahead of the main body.  We’re going to hit them and grab a few prisoners.  Meet us at midnight at the main gate, if you want to prove how tough you –really- are.”The group left fairly soon after that.  But not before Rodrigo made his big announcement.“Bandits of Kuzo!  The time of our victory is almost at hand!  Even now, the army of the Unicorn clan draws near.  But I bring even better news!  Just a month ago, the great armies of the Crab Clan, one of the three military powers of the empire, were defeated by the weak and spineless Crane!  The Crab Clan Champion is killed and their army destroyed!  When we defeat the Unicorn, the second of the great military clans will fall!  We will claim gold beyond our wildest dreams!”  Rodrigo’s voice roars through the inn.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Slipping out of the inn before anything else happened, Fireblossom was trying to hold back a laugh “They really thought Nezu…”  another giggle suppressed while Nezu simply looked ill. “They aren’t half as smart as we thought they were…”“What about the raid tonight, though?  We could at least see who’s going on it and what they are up to.”  Kyruko thought out loud.The consensus of the group was to skip the raid, however.  Their goal was to disrupt the bandits of Kuzo, not help them on raids that would surely blow their cover.  Instead, they went back toward their camp area to try and catch the men there.  They had finished searching the area and were now staking it out from near the wall, watched by Mir’s Thrush.Again, their plan was interrupted.  Arriving near their camp, they heard a loudly yelled “Moooongooooo!”Dmitrios, still smelling of blood and battle, had arrived to look for his friend, clad in a still bloody and near wolf skin cloak.  And he was bearing gifts, wolf teeth necklaces for Nezu, Kaz and Toshiro.  Barbaric gifts there were accepted reluctantly by all but Mongo, who was fully back into his dumb barbarian mode, ready for a fighter after the slurs Rodrigo had uttered against his clan.  Certainly they had not truly lost to the Crane…Dmitrios could barely control his grinning “It was a great hunt!  We stuck them in the night, they had little warning and their leader was away!  We hunted the men from sled to sled, killing all we could find.  We might have gotten all of them, but that great bear they kept as a pet got in the way and allowed the others and the women and children to escape.  Damned stupid Inu.  Now they know who is best.  The skin of their great bear is now cloaks for our chieftains!  By the Black Blooded Beast, tonight has been a great night.  It is a shame you had to miss it, Mongo!”Mir, already feeling a bit ill at Dmitrio’s joy over the slaughter he called a hunt, felt her blood run colder.  She knew of the Black Blooded Beast.  Malar, a savage god of hunt and slaughter, deadly enemy of the Oak Father, Silvanus.  Her sour expression grew even more cold when Toshiro went on cheerfully “Great fight!  I wanted to help, but you know how it can go.  Hey, I hear the battle is coming soon.  If things don’t go the way we plan, meet me later.  I might have an offer for you.”Dmitrios was surprised by this, but willing to listen. “Sure.  The village we met at.  It’s deserted now, no one living there to get in our way.  But don’t worry so much, my friend.  I’ve heard the Hordelands are joining with our army to help destroy this Lord Jyaku!  With such power, we can’t lose!”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Dmitrios was even willing to help take care of the men watching the camp.  Flushed with victory, he stealthed off with the Kid (Yukiyo) to take a look, picking out the men and picking targets.  When the men were distracted by the rest of the party going to their camp, the two struck.  Arrows were fired in a flurry and two of the men fell dead.  Shocked for a moment, the other took off running, shoving his way past Kyruko, who tried to grab him as he passed, failing miserably to get a grip on the panicked thug.Which was also according to plan.  Her Chain of Eyes spell passed to the bandit and Mir had a beautiful view of exactly where the man was running to.  While Dmitrios showed the Kid about how to scalp a man, the others followed the trail.  Down the street, take a right here.  Mir’s eyes closed the whole time as she watched the man’s fearful flight.  He came to a rundown house and slipped inside.  Nothing but darkness and shadows, Mir could see nothing but she heard the voice well enough.“So, what did you find?  I want details!”  demanded Malachai’s raspy, Orcling voice.</blockquote>

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