All stories, small or grand, have a beginning. This tale's true beginning was some years priveous, when the young Viscount of the city state Brixia took ill and died, not 3 years after his rule began. With no heirs of his own, the position was past to his younger brother. A vile and lazy man, the new Viscount allowed his greed to guide him. He increased taxes, made laws suggested by other nobles in his city to keep the rising elf and dwarf populations from achieving the same social standards as the clearly superior human nobility. With the proper pay offs, criminals operated mostly unmolested in Brixia.

Many hoped that once the Viscount died, the city would be able to return to the way it had been, but that hope was in vain.

During his reign, the Viscount sired a son, who grew to be more intelligent and devious than his father. Where the old man had made laws out of laziness and disinterest, his son, Jafallo Trastead saw opportunities to increase his wealth while cementing his power over the pitiful people his father ruled. When Jafallo came of age, his father also suddenly took ill like his brother had so long ago and died, though few believed this illness had been natural. Talking his place of power, Viscount Trastead began a iron handed rule of Brixia and surrounding lands. Segregation among the races became the norm. Crime increased further, which seemed to call foul things like goblins to the city, soon making a place for themselves in the criminal element.

Now, 10 years after Trastead began his rule, some people have had enough. Talks of rebellion are whispered behind closed doors, though knowing who to trust is hard. Old hatreds between races rekindle under the Viscount"s rule and he has spies everywhere. Who is there to trust? And who has the will to stand up to make a change?

 

Character Sheets:

Name:

Gender:

Race:

Appearance:

History:

Weapons:

 

My characters

 

Character Sheets:

Name: Ander

Age: 20

Gender: Male

Race: half human, half dark elf

Appearance: Short by human standards. Athletic build. Dark grey skin and bright blue eyes. Messy white hair that sometimes gets in his eyes. Usually wears simple shirt and baggy pants in earth tones. Has a larger monk tunic he wears when he doesn't want to be harassed. Though he prefers to be bare foot, he keeps a pair of wood sandals around.

History: Left an orphan outside a monastery near Brixia, Ander was dealt two bad cards by life. First, he was a half breed of human and elf, meaning despised by both. Second, the elf who had been his parent had been a dark elf. Only the intervention of another half breed monk prevented Ander from a life of isolation or worse. Using Brixia as the grounds, Ander's teacher taught him all the survival techniques he had learned before becoming a monk from how to move through a city like a monkey in the trees to developing a thick skin to ignore what the small minded said about him. Ander was also taught how to the simple movement forms the monks used as a basis for fighting with no weapons. In recent years, his home has been hit by attacks from local bandits. Many monks, trying to talk it out, were killed. His master, one of the casualties, spoke his suspicion of Viscount Trastead's hand in the attack before he died. Armed with this, Ander feels the shift of winds as he leaves the monastery to assume a new place in Brixia.

Weapons: None.

 

Character Sheets:

Name: Dral Grindstone

Gender: Male

Race: Dwarf

Appearance: short and stocky. Most of his face is obscured behind a long, braided beard that is brown with veins of grey running through it. A crooked nose peaks put above the beard, as does one keen, dark brown eye. Where the other should be is covered by an eyepatch. Wears a mix of leather and chain mail common among dwarves along with an iron helm to cover his shaved bald head.

History: The co-owner of a jewelry store, Dral Grindstone is kept away from the customers as much as possible. It is well known that he hates all humans, hobbits and elves with a more powerful version given over to goblins. Those who know Dral don't pay this too much mind as he also seems to hate every dwarf he lays his eye on. Some say that before he became a jeweler, he had fought in several wars in his younger days, though any who ask are cussed out and told to mind their own bees wax. Now a days, with more problems coming from the Viscount, Dral has been becoming less vocal and more quite. Like the calm before the storm.

Weapons: crossbow and one handed ax.

Joker rested her face in her hands, "damn it..." she tore her scarf from her head, "stupid thing". She looked at the dwarf,

"im not asking you to do anything you dont want to, if your out just say so" she ran her fingers through her hair trying to loosen some of the tangles that formed from being stuffed in the scarf.

"Actually, the vicount's right hand man has a daughter. She might be trouble for us since she is an older child, around thirteen i think? im not sure, but its obvious he cares for his daughter because... crap... because she is almost impossible to get to... she is guarded almost as well as the viscount himself..." She grumbled just now realizing this. "that would be a suicide mission.

"Only for conventional methods." Ander replied. "Brute force and all that. While careful, the guards won't expect the same kind of entry method's as an assassin might take, in and out. She might be important, be she's not the Viscount."

"I thought you were coming up with an alternate plan." Dral snapped.

"Do you know any idealistic members of the human nobility that could be convinced to help us?"

Dral glared back, but muttered "No."

"Exactly. We have limited options, so we need to be ready to use what we have. Having plans, even ones you don't want to use, is key."

"That is true, but i think i have a plan that would be much safer, and allow us to find out exactly how much power these nobles possess. I heard from an informant of mine that the nobles have started hiring elven servants since we are much quicker than humans and can get alot more work done. So what if we had one of our own go in?" She got the remaining tangles out of her hair and rolled of the scarf.

"It seems like it would be worth a shot, and Dral you know you want to know what kind of weapons they have hmm?" Joker looked at him hoping he would bite and decide to go along with their plan.

Dral eyed Joker for sometime before answering.

"Standard issue crossbows, swords and pikes?" He asked sourly. "No, that would be too common if your trying to whet my appetite with it. So tell me, girl, what are the carrying?"

Ander grimaced slightly. He began to worry they were taxing the old dwarf's good humor, and heavens knew that he seemed to have precious little of that.

"The servant way is a good way in." He said to Joker, pushing on despite his concerns about the dwarf's temper. "If you can get some of your friends in with you, then you should be set, depending on how much planning we can do for it."

"I was thinking fire powered weapons" She said, Joker knew it was only a rumor that fire powered weapons had been developed by the viscount but she had seen what must have been one from a distance near the property of a noble. If they had weapons like that the weapons the rebellion had would be no match.

"The problem is i know for a fact not one of my men would be able to keep their cool and actually serve the noble for a time..." She admitted looking at Ander. " I would do it myself but then there would be no one to lead my group." Joker looked down at her feet dangling off of the exam table.

Dral's eyebrows raised when Joker mentioned fire weapons.

"Well done, girl." He said. "You have peaked my interest."

He then went back to looking stern.

"Of course, that's another reason why this plan is a bad one. And if none of your clan is go enough to do it, who do you expect to get in?"

Ander sighed.

"That's a point. We could look at some new comers in town, but finding one that is both skilled and trustworthy might take more time than we have."

"ugh..." She fell back onto the table and stared up at the cieling, " well... what if... i can't believe im saying this... what if you relayed my orders to me group while i was away?" Joker turned her head and looked from Ander to Dral. She would have no problem getting another servant to cover for her while she went to talk things over with them that wasn't the problem, it was going to be keeping the elves in line with their leader gone.

" Just a suggestion, or one of you could try to get in as a servant..."

Dral burst out laughing.

"Right!" He exclaimed. "A one eyed, surly dwarf or a grey skinned half breed. Prime servent material."

Ander, on the other hand, looked more serious, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Will your crew listen to either of us?" He asked. "Like Dral pointed out, we're not exactly the most likable people."

Joker decided to ignore Dral's comment and answer Ander's question. "They will if i tell them to" She said looking at Ander and sitting back up.

"But I would have to be able to establish a reliable means of communication so we can figure out what you guys need to be doing while im there, i have a feeling this is going to be more than just a one day deal." 

Ander slipped off his seat on a counter and paced a little as he thought.

"The house will be under heavy guard." He mused. "But certain areas connected to the house, like the stables, should have less guards."

Dral looked unhappy as he glared at nothing in perticular. He didn't want a part of this, but...

"One of my cousins owns the carts and drivers that delivers the food and drink to the place." He muttered, reluctantly. "If you can get yourself near the unloading detail, you can slip messages in and out."

Ander stopped pacing and arched a white eyebrow at the ornery dwarf. Why was he being helpful on a plan he had denounced?

Joker nodded, "yeah that could work, im sure i could get there with little difficulty..." She thought over what she would need to get in, civilian clothing, a name, and a reputation much cleaner than that of her current record. She sighed, "and a new temperament...". Joker frowned at this realizing how much this infiltration was going to take.

"Study the other servants and do what they do." Ander suggested. "Most humans view elves as interchangeable, so they won't probe too far into your mannerisms."

He began to pace again.

"You'd best have an introduction from another human. They'll trust that more elvish street cred. Maybe a letter from a upstanding merchant, easier than an actual noble."

"And how do you plan to get that?" Dral asked, eyeing Ander. "Most merchants are a little careful about what they sign."

"Simple. Forgery."

"Forgery?" The old dwarf repeated, sounding perplexed. "You do that, then you'd better pray the big wigs don't ask the merchant you copied about that nice maid he recommended. Plus, where you gonna find a forger who's not already neck deep in some criminal organization, who all answer to the Viscount?"

Ander stopped pacing and held up a finger.

"First, there are several merchants around who do a lot of traveling." He explained. "Finding one who will be out of the way long enough will be child's play."

A second finger went up.

"And as far as a forger goes, you have some one who was made to copy books as exactly as possible since he was a boy."

Ander grinned.

"Namely, you have me."

Joker listened to them, "alright so im guessing you are all over the letter, i need to work on looking and acting the part. I'll introduce you to my group... it may be best if i choose someone to lead them along with you just in case i can't get orders out right away."

She looked at Dral, " they know who you are i wont have a problem getting them to follow you, its Ander that will take some convincing since im not completely sure about myself..." She picked up her scarf and tucked her hair back into it covering her face. "As soon as I talk to them I'll come find you" She hopped down from the table.

Dral glanced at Ander, seeing if there was any reaction about Joker's stated trust level of the half breed, but saw not even a flicker.

"Thick skinned bugger, I'll give him that." Dral thought.

"Fine, what ever." He said aloud to Joker. "I'll still be looking for other options that don't involve kidnapping."

"Good." Ander said, gathering up his over robes. "I will also be trying to find some other pressure points we can use."

He shrugged his outer garment on and stopped by Joker.

"I also want you to have a signal ready for of you need to get out of there. The elves will only follow a dwarf's orders for so long. Then, things could get nasty. I'd rather have someone level headed running them in future."

Joker nodded, "I'll think on that... but i have a feeling I'll need to discover the job I'm given before figuring out a means of signaling you." She nodded to Dral and left the small clinic room. She climbed onto a roof still wary of the guards that had been sent to find her. The streets seemed empty enough but she wasn't taking any chances as she made her way her the small abandoned building. Joker looked around before entering and sat down looking around the dark empty room. "ill call them to talk tomorrow..." She poured herself a drink and thought on the problem at hand, finding a human that will help her.

Ander watched after Joker as she left. Perhaps it was better that he hadn't managed to find her friends before learning more about her. Musing on this, he put on his robe.

"Guess I'd better head out and find a place to stay." He said to Dral. "I'll try to find you later when I have more info."

He headed towards the door but was stopped by Dral's open hand.

"There's a cot in back." The old dwarf said. "Ain't that comfortable, but it should work for ya just fine."

Ander stared at Dral, his expression unreadable.

"And why would you let me stay here?" The half dark elf asked.

Dral grinned.

"I like to know where wild cards are." He answered Ander. "And right now, I'm still thinking you're one."

The two conspirators stared at each other for a bit, but Ander broke it by taking off his over robe.

"And if feel like a walk?" He asked.

Dral shrugged.

"Watch out for guards." He replied. "They like finding curfew breakers."

Tossing Ander a key, Dral gave a two fingered salute and left, closing the door behind him.

The next morning Joker called her group and gave them her plan, they took it better than they thought she would.

"So you are still in charge right?" One of the larger guys asked, he knew of the dwarf but didn't like the idea of him leading them.

"Yes, they are just going to make sure everything runs smoothly while im on the inside and my ticket out if something goes wrong..." She thought about that for a minute realizing what it meant. If they wanted to, they could reveal her and keep on the act of them being in charge, she would be completely out of the equation. Joker sunk low into her chair ignoring the worried the questions of her friends.

Ander noticed the first rays of the morning's light as he sat on a stool, working on a counter with a pen and paper. Several bottles sat nearby, which he would occasionally pick up to study the alchemist signature. On the paper was copies of the signature, several crossed out. He actually hadn't been too sure he could forge another person's hand writing, but it looked like he had a knack for it. He'd have to thank his dark elf parent for that, if he every met him or her.

Putting down his pen, Ander rubbed his eyes. He had actually gotten some good sleep last night, he just didn't need much off it. deciding the next order of business was some food, he got on his robe and headed out of Dral's basement clinic, locking the door behind him.

 

Dral glowered at the young dwarf in front of him. She was a dependable sort, but apparently not today.

"You mean our contact in the Viscount's office is dead." he said flatly.

The young dwarf, named Magda, squirmed slightly under the one eyed dwarf's gaze.

"No, sir." She answered. "We just haven't heard from him."

"Then he ain't going to." Dral sighed. "I was wondering if the Viscount would be able to see through the clerk, and now I have an answer."

Magda looked alarmed.

"Won't that lead the Viscount to us?"

Dral shook his head.

"No, I made sure the clerk thought we were a thief group. He hadn't seen any of us or anything."

His eye narrowed.

"Right?"

"Yes, sir." Magda answered, confident. "He never saw me."

Dral nodded his satisfaction. Looks like he would have to look for ways to influence the nobles another way.

Once morning arrived Joker set off into the market, since she now knew her scarf was next to useless she didn't bother wearing it. She wore her hair in a ponytail out of her face and scanned the crowds for a girl she had heard of about a year ago that was helping elves. She heard that the girl owned a small shop that sold jewelry but little else. "there are way too many shops for this to work...." Joker shoved her way out of the crowd and climbed onto a roof to take note of the nearby shops. Her idea payed off as she spotted the store further down the street. "well lets hope she can help me..." Joker made her way to the shop and stepped into the small tent looking around. Most of the jewelry was obviously hand made by a unskilled craftsman but she took no notice.

"Hello? anyone here??" She walked further into the tent bothered by the weird silence that surrounded it.

Buying a loaf of bread and some nearly fresh fruit with some of the money he had, Ander munched on an apple as he wondered through the market area. He had always been able to think better when moving, which had always puzzled him. There wasn't exactly a lot of room to roam in the monastery, so he didn't get it there. Wouldn't be from his dark elf half, since they reportedly lived in cases and what not. Human side, then, though figuring this out really didn't help him any.

"How do you think?" He thought, his mind of the Viscount.

One of the books his old master smuggled to him talked about getting to know an enemy. Get in your opponent's head and you will know his weaknesses. At the time, Ander had wondered why someone had wasted time writing that down. To even his young mind, Ander thought it was common sense. Now, years later, he knew not everyone thought this way. But it was that kind of thinking that was going to bring the Viscount down. Both Dral and Joker were still trying to wage a civilized rebellion. Ander actually couldn't fault them for that and would be glad to see those methods succeed, but deep rooted pessimism told him it would take darker methods. To beat the Viscount, someone would have to think like him and be ready to use methods like him.

In his mind, Joker and Dral looked down on Ander with disapproval.

"Well, at least to see where his vulnerable spots are." He thought.

Joker had ventured to the back of the tent, "shes not in here....". Before she could turn around a blunt object struck the back of her head knocking her unconscious.

"Finally we got her! Boss will be pleased huh?? I bet he will get a big pay out from the viscount" One of the guards picked her up and started out of the tent. They knew no one would question them because of the crest they wore on their uniform, so were free to walk down the street of the market without having to hide their captured rebel.

"Don't ya think one of her elves will try to help her??" The duller guard asked. As much as he could fight it was beyond the brighter guard how he got hired in the first place.

"No, they wont attack in the open, their numbers are too small to risk more of them being killed."

The meeting hall bussled as merchants of all shapes and sizes bussled around, making deals, confirming deliveries and so on. Dral hated coming to these meetings, but it was the best way to see who was and wasn't here. He had already found a couple of possible out of town merchants Ander could forge, though for the life of him, Dral wasn't sure why he was helping.

"Because they'd try it any way, and get themselves killed." He thought.

He was about to have to hear a halflings talk about "economic resurgence", what ever the hells that was, when he saw another halflings scurry in. He knew this one. One of his eyes and ears on the street, and he had given them special orders to keep an eye on Joker and Ander.

"Blast." He swore moving to meet up with the halflings and left.

 

As he continued walking, Ander noticed what the guard's must have thought were hidden guards up on the roofs. Considering he was pretty they weren't on a few streets back, which meant they picked this spot for a reason. Ander had been seen using the rooftops, and while he couldn't be the only one, he did seem to be the most prominate. To him, it all spelled out that the guards were doing something that they didn't want the mysterious dark elf from putting his nose into. And that was enough to draw his attention.

Joker woke up slung over the back of a guard, "what the hell....?" Her vision was blurry and her head was bleeding steadily from her injury. The guard had her hands pinned so she couldn't reach any of her knives. "Hey!" She tried kicking the man only to be knocked out again by a second guard she failed to notice.

"heh she woke up faster than i thought she would!" the dimmer guard said laughing a little after hitting her.

"your an idiot" the other replied plainly. As he kept his focus on making sure no funny business was going on. Once he got through the gates of the nobles land he would relax but not a second before.

Seeing as there was somewhere the nonhuman elements of the crowd seemed to be trying to get away from, Ander marched in that direction. He spotted one of Joker's elves, one of the ones that had used the wine cart to buy her time.

"One of yours?" Ander hissed into the elf's ear.

The elf jerked and started to turn.

"Don't." Ander ordered. "Best it look like we aren't talking. Now, is this about one of yours?"

The elf, following Ander's decree about looking back, nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Joker." he whispered.

Ander's face tightened. Of course. He had made an appearance at her daring escape yesterday. The guard's were in positions on the roof tops where he would use to move about. Who ever was in charge of the city guards went up a few notches in the half breed's mind.

Giving Joker's follower a glance, Ander could see that there was going to be no help from him and the others. Openly attacking the guards would be suicide for the the people who had lives and families. Luckily, this was Ander's life and he would be very interested if the guards could find any family member of his as he knew of none.

"Keep the others safe." Ander whispered to one of Joker's crew. "I'll try to get her out."

With that, Ander melted back into the crowd.

Joker drifted in and out of consciousness the blood from her head causing her hair to matte together. One of the guards noticed the elves watching them angrily, "hey looks like you were right they ain't doin nothin!" He exclaimed happily.

"of course im right dimwit" The soldier shifted the limp body higher up onto his shoulder. For the leader of a rebellion, this elf didn't seem to be much of a fight. But then again  he hadn't seen her with time enough to react. He considered this for a while walking down the quickly clearing streets yelling at anyone that seemed to be straying too close.

Joker opened her eyes after willing the pain in her head to go away, she caught a glance of one her elves. They had a pitiful look on their face, she wanted to wave her hand, smile, something to tell them to go away, not to get involved but she realized she was losing feeling in her hands.