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:

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History:

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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.

"Hey stop!!" Joker finally caught up to the girl and grabbed her by the back of her shirt.

"Let me go let me go!" The small girl cried her weak attempts at struggling to get free were getting her no where.

"What are doing out here dont you know what part of town this is? No place for a noble girl" She said, she figured it out after seeing the small tattoo that all noble men women and children bore once their family pledged their alliance to the tyrant. Though she had never personally seen one before the stories about the small bird on the shoulder were enough to convince her.

"Put me down you dirty elf!" She spat, "or ill have you arrested!!"

Ander didn't notice the girl's pursuers yet, so he moved in closer to Joker and the girl, but kept an eye out.

"We are just trying to help." He told the girl, his voice slightly muffled by the face wrappings he had on.

The wrappings smelled like the wine, which turned Ander's stomach. He really had to get something better.

Joker glared at the girl, "what did you just call me brat???". She brought their faces closer to each other the look of death in her eyes. "I'm really not int he mood so you better spit out what your up to or ill rip your head of got it!?"

The girl blinked slightly stunned by the sudden outburst, "i-im running away from my guards...." She admitted, "now put me down?"

"yeah sure whatever..." She dropped the girl and looked around. "Well it looks like you lost them anyways, either that or they didn't dare to follow into this part of town" Joker guessed looking around.

"Her guards." Ander thought. "That's lovely."

"This is a bit of a dangerous area to be doing that." He commented to the girl.

Ander glanced back the way the girl had come. Personal guards came in all shapes and sizes, from glorified nannies to people with dragon slaying experience. And if she was a child of one of the big nobs, they might have sway to get city guards in on the search. He made a mental note to get better acquainted with Ruby's network. He was going to need an eyes and ears system he could rely on.

"Anyways they are gone now" The girl said straightening herself out. "I'm Sybille, daughter of the first noble. I'm here to announce my alliance with the rebellion."

Joker looked down at the girl, "hah shes actually serious", she thought to herself. With thinking this over Joker started laughing thinking it complete nonsense for a child, of nobility even, to try to join a war pitting her against her family. "What did your nanny make you angry?" She teased.

"Be quiet elf!" Sybille yelled glaring up at the older girl.

Ander stared at Sybille for a few seconds, then shook his head.

"So, you are going to announce that to the first people you meet, who might just sell you out for a pat on the head?" He asked, disbelief I his voice. "And why would anybody crazy enough to want to rebel have any reason to trust your word? You must have quite a explanation planned."

"Actually...." Sybille looked down a little, "I don't really know what I'm doing."

"hah you think I'm going to fall for the scared little girl act after what you just pulled??" Joker flicked the girl's forehead, "Go home kid you dont know what you are getting yourself into."

"Well then, let's start with a reason that led you to go looking for the resistance." Ander said, crossing his arms.

He was intrigued by this situation, whether it was a trap or legitimate. He was half inclined to believe it because surely the guards would come up with a better cover story than this.

"Though, Joker does have a point." He thought. "This Sybille could be using that old ploy. Rather disturbing how often it works."

"Has something happened to make you angry at your parents or other nobles?" He asked out loud.

Sybille rubbed her forehead, "They are always telling me the elves and the dwarves and everyone are evil and I wanted to see for myself why they are always trying to kill us". She decided to ignore the mean elf girl and turn her full attention to the man. " Plus noble life is boring, 24/7 guards, planned marriage, everything is done for you its annoying really."

"Atleast they get food everyday..." Joker thought to herself looking at the small human. " We don't have time to deal with this Ander we have much bigger issues...." Joker urged.

Ander cut his eyes over to Joker, but returned his gaze to Sybille. After a moment, he shook his head and chuckled.

"You want to know why other races are trying to kill humans?" He asked. "You must have been taught history, so you know they've been trying for a long time. Well, if you look closer to history, you will see that mankind has been trying to kill other races with just as much vigor. And it is not as human centered as you think. Elves and dwarves have been hacking at each other for centuries. Certain groups of Halflings know more about killing goblins then most dwarves. All living beings have been trying to kill each other since before we started writing things down. As for why, well...the only way you'll learn it is with a knife. The only question is will you be holding it or will you be on its point."

He turned, nodded to Joker and started walking away from Sybille.

Joker followed him and sighed, "hope she doesnt run into Dral, that would be too interesting for my liking". She thought as she walked away from the girl.

"Hey wait!!" The teenager yelled out running after the two, "where are you going?"

"It's tea time and we are off to meet up with some of our friends to talk about how good the old days were over crumpets." Ander sarcastically replied to Sybille. "I suggest you run along home before you miss the cucumber sandwiches. You'll like that fairy tail better then reality."

Inwardly, Ander was smirking. His impression of her thus far suggested that his comments would keep her after Joker and him. String her along long enough, and he'd get a better sense of if she was genuine. Either way, she was useful.

Joker glared at him knowing exactly what he was doing, "what do you think your doing?" She hissed angrily.

Sybille frowned and watched them for a moment before running after the two. "Hey wait a minute! thats not fair give me a chance!" Sybille insisted catching up to them. For a small noble girl she actually did have some speed in her.

"Testing a possible asset." Ander whispered back to Joker, apparently unconcerned with her glare.

As Sybille ran up, Ander whirled around, holding out a hand to stop the running girl.

"Fair is a concept that people came up with and ignore at their convenience." He told the noble girl. "Most times, you have to work for what people say should be theirs by 'fairness.' You want a chance? Earn it."

He turned and started walking away.

"Honestly, if you had really ran into someone in a resistance with the story you told us, they would have probably slit your throat after you stopped talking." He said over his shoulder.

'But you didn't did you?" She countered not making a move to follow. Joker glanced back then shrugged,

"the kid actually does have a point why didn't kill her". She pointed out walking with Ander. "But in all seriousness we are in no situation to take care of some noble child. I don't babysit."

"Not a good idea to point that sort of thing out, kid." Ander called over his shoulder. "Someone else might rethink not doing you in."

He walked a little further before softly saying to Joker, "I'm guessing your friend Adil would do away with her, huh?"

He looked around the street, looking for something specific. He found it in a "kid" skipping along by them. The odd way he was glancing at Ander suggested he knew more about Ander than a normal street urchin should. Ander grabbed him.

"Your watching the noble girl, right?" He asked quietly.

The "kid" nodded nervously.

"Tell Ruby, I want to see her." He commanded before letting the "kid" go.

He started walking again.

"Hopefully, we won't need to babysit."

Sybille sighed and looked at the ground her fake front of a brat slipping. "well, it was wroth a try" she thought then nodded a little to herself. She looked back up and watched the two walk away before looking around and wondering which direction home would be.

Joker looked at Ander, "your an idiot you know that right?" She asked annoying with him. She glanced back at the girl then over to him. "What was that all about anyways?? I seriously doubt thats how you scope out new... what did you call her an asset? Thats just absurd she is just a little girl."

"A noble little girl." Ander pointed out. "One that could have very powerful parents and grow up to be very powerful herself. Think in long terms, Joker. We start getting the next generation on nobles on our side, our fight becomes easier. As for my treatment of her, there is still a good chance she is a plant. Even if she is legit, nobles have elevated manipulation and treachery to an art form. We need to know more. If she's on the level, I'll contact her."

"If she's still around." Ruby's voice said from concealment behind a cart. "Let me guess, Andy, you want me to keep an eye on the girl?"

Ander stopped.

"Yes." He answered.

Ruby came around the cart, making sure that Sybille couldn't see her, if the girl was looking.

"I hope you have more money than it looks like, cause I ain't running a charity, tough guy."

Joker looked at Ander and sighed, "even if she is the real deal how do we know she wont turn on us down the rode? As great as having a noble on our side would be it would be even more dangerous to have an enemy knowing so much about us."

As Ruby appeared, Joker took a glance back to where the girl was. "Shes still just standing there huh....? If she is out in the open like that Adil would have no problem getting his hands on her. While the dark elf and half-ling talked, she made her way over the human girl and looked down at her.

Sybille waited for the elf to speak but she never did, "What? Whats that look for?"

Ander glanced after Joker.

"Now what is she doing?" He thought, but returned to his negotiation with the Halfling Information Broker.

"How about in trade?" He asked Ruby. "You do this for me, you have some extra muscle when you need it."

Ruby raised her eyebrows, then looked Ander up and down. She then chuckled.

"You got a deal, big guy." Ruby said, then spat in her hand and held it out.

Ander likewise spat and shook the Halfling's hand. Ruby released her grip, grinned, then dashed into an alley she had likely come from. Ander stood up and casually walked about half way back to where Joker and Sybille were. He didn't want to interfere, but he was interested in what Joker had to say.

Joker sighed, she could see it in her eyes she wasn't some phony dead spirited noble child. She was different and her current situation forced her to acknowledge that. She by far was not the most eloquent of elves but she new she was damn good at noticing things. "Well if you don't want to be killed out here you'd better keep up."

Sybille smiled, "I will!" She followed Joker as she turned around to walk back Ander. " So whats our plan?" She crossed her arms over her chest to suppress the anger at herself for letting the child hang around them. If nothing else she could be good leverage against her father.

Edited September 16, 201312 yr by echo

Ander gave Joker a questioning look, then gave Sybille a resigned one.

"First step, we find some place to stay." He said. "Well, at least I do. I'd really like my own place. You might need one too, with how your popularity is going."

He scratched his chin through the wrappings on his face.

"Some better clothes would be nice, but I can do that on my own time."

He turned his head slightly, looking at Sybille.

"Anything you want to see, little lady?"

Joker sighed, "right..." With her house destroyed by guards and her only safe hiding place taken over by her rival, finding a suitable place to stay would probably need to be high up on the to do list.

Sybille was a little taken aback by the question but immediately looked around and tried to think, "Well I've never been to the market and I've always wondered what it was like!" She said getting a little exited.

"Why don't you take her on your little field trip and I'll try to find a place, who knows maybe you will be able to find something to wear at the market."

Ander shrugged.

"Sounds like a plan to me." He said to Joker's suggestion. "Anything done over in post modernistic style should not be considered highly."

He held out three fingers to Sybille.

"Three rules to remember, young lady, if you are coming with me. One, out in the crowd, your a normal person. Someone steps on your foot or what ever trivial like that, ignore it and press on."

He ticked off fingers as he counted.

"Two, someone recognizes you, I'm not going to be with you anymore. I don't have the time to be locked up for possibly kidnapping you or what ever trumpet up charge a guard feels like leveling against me. Three, if you have anything you like having, keep careful track of them at all times, as there are pick pockets who could easily steal the shirt off your back as look at you."

After all his fingers are down, he switched to an open palm gesture, signifying a call to wait.

"The above being said, I've got your back, should you run afoul of something in the market. Please don't abuse that."

He smiled at Joker.

"Good luck!" Ander said brightly.

Sybille nodded then looked down at her dress. "Should I change into more normal clothes then?" She unclasped her gold necklace from around her neck and tucked it into her boot. "I mean if I don't want to get caught as a noble and all... I probably shouldn't be looking like this."

 

Joker left them to find a safe place to stay. She figured it wouldn't be smart to be on the edge of town judging by the state of her old home, so she went toward a more crowded and run-down neighborhood. The kind that no one goes into unless they are desperate or dirt poor. She talked to some of the people living around there and found a small two room building nobody seemed to be using. After a long quarrel with the dwarf who claimed to own it she gave in and tossed a few coins in his direction. She went inside to find some blankets in a corner. She used one to cover the only window in the building and set aside the rest for sleeping on. Joker also made a makeshift lock out of rope for the inside of the door. Once the place was satisfactory to the elf, she left and washed her hair attempting to detangle and wash the blood from it as much as she could with her fingers.