Mirthholme Saga 1: A New Peril Beckons

[Astral Harmony]

Chapter 1: Not the Right Time and Place For a Fight

Port City Marldukes clawed into the Binorus Coastline on the eastern edge of the Endursa Continent with all the strength of an organized human mob and their various tools of the trade. Turned from a small fishing village into a bustling sea port in a matter of just a few years by the very human need to do business, the city has welcomed and bid farewell to many individuals of all races, classes, creeds, and reputations. It was one of the few places where one could find adventure, wealth, a good fight, reliable friends, and even love (purchased or genuine, your choice) in just the space of a day.

It's been a quiet week since that botched assassination attempt on you, and the breaking of the sun over the vast ocean signals the arrival of a morning beckoning good weather. It'd be a hot one today, but fortunately the cool breeze carried a persistant and comfortable chill. Puffy white clouds of negligible size slowly push across the sky to the west.

Chelsea and Joshua Graham, two child prodigies who could help you make sense of that night when that bitch tried to shove you off your mortal coil, lived in the basement of a well-to-do inn called the Azure Street Stop. It was there that they did their lucrative businesses, where Chelsea provided her critical intellect on various subjects and Joshua bought and sold information on a day-to-day business (though he did take the time required to validate it before paying for it).

Everything was in order in the port city. Children played without fear. Merchants boasted their wares competitively yet professionally without childish namecalling. Housewives hung laundry to dry and then gathered to gossip and laugh over tea. Sailors emerged rapidly from houses and tried to make their intended ships while nursing hangovers. Fishermen inspected their watercraft before setting out to hunt their aquatic prey. The town crier spread the news. Noblemen and women spoke at length about unimportant matters like the weather. Adventurers chewed the rag about adventures of old and their future journies. Guards stepped out of their barracks and relieved their sleepy brethren.

All in all, an almost depressingly quiet and average day.

[Premmy]

Adeze trudged through the streets of Marldukes, cursing her own fashion sense. The robe kept the sun out of her eyes, but it was big and hot. The flowng garment hid her regular supplies in it's fold and pockets, but it was heavy. It kept her opponent from reading her expression in a fight, but it was pretty conspicuous.... Okay, the big scythe was probably heavier and more conspicuous than her robe... but she felt like blaming the Dark grey hooded robe today, she had spent all yesterday cursing her weapons and supplies.

Sweat poured down her forehead and dripped off her nose to the ground. She really Really needed to take a break.She found a bench and pulled back her hood, she crossed her scythe in front of her as a visibile wall between her and the outside world, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes, thinking back to that night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was an old temple, rumored to hold some great power that could end wars. Perfect to resurrect an empire. She had made it halfway in and found a nice place to nap for the night before continuing her exploration when her honed troublemaker's senses kicked in. Someone wanted her dead.

She did the usual thing, she "leaped" out of the way, Her legs touching the wall on the far side. On the other side, with her bundled up robe she was using as a pillow was a woman she had'nt met "Oh, I don't think I've had the chance to piss you off yet" She grabbed the knives kept in their hidden holsters on her thighs "But now's a good enough time as any". She teleporteded behind the assasin, swung her blades, then leaped to another side of the room. The assasin's fingers were dripping with blood, and her pants were ripped, but she was still alive.

Adeze Rolled her neck around and walked closer "Those were aimed at your neck and stomach, you're good" She eyed a scythe tatto connected to some other body art she could'nt quite make out "ooh, I could use one of those about now" She flipped up one of her knives in the air and tossed the other one at the assassin, using the distractions to Leap next to her scythe.

FSSSSHHH!

thick smoke filled the chamber, she heard footsteps, but could'nt make out where they were coming from, they seemed to fade away. she was running. "COWARD!"

[Overcast]

The lab was large, there were barrels filled with ingredients and strange contraptions right and left. Sitting with a pencil was an undead man who seemed concentrated on a list of ingredients that he edited constantly adding lines of notes and theories as he thought on. Immortality would not make itself unless he was lucky, he had to find it. He was about three quarters through editing his ideas on using possible time magic in order to go back in time and cause a paradox by killing himself and forcing time to make him exist while simultaneously not exist when he saw a stake exit his chest.

This alarmed him slightly. He looked behind him to see a female assassin who seemed rather well put together. He grabbed her arm and his revolver as she seemed absolutely shocked that he was still alive. He grinned with an odd sort of confidence saying,

"I am a revenant not a vampire."

She let go of the blade as he spun the chair quickly taking a very uneducated shot at her that tore her clothes slightly. He cursed his lack of aim as he caught the tattoo of a lily blossom with a scythe blade attacked to the top of it and tried to grab one of his potions. When she ran off. he stood up and tried to give chase but she was much faster than he and soon enough she was gone. He pulled the stake out of his chest slowly as the wounds began to heal. He threw the potion off, quite annoyed at what had happened.

The tattoo was obviously a signature of sorts, and he was going to figure out what it meant. To his dismay he didn't have the resources to do that himself, but he knew who did. So he was out the door, he had a ship to catch...

_____________________________________________

The ship ride had not been pleasant. The amount of time it had taken to convince the captain to let him ride on his vehicle was ludicrous. Being on the ship had been a pain as most folks were entirely unsettled with having a member of the undead nearby them and their children. Some had even tried to kill him, and it didn't make him any more popular when he made a few more corpses on board.

It didn't matter to these people he had stopped a conspiracy of alchemists from raising a grand army of undead led by truly immortal overlords and taking over their world. He was undead, that made him evil, they weren't all wrong, but it didn't keep him from being annoyed at the stupidity of these bastards. He felt extreme relief when he saw Marldukes in view. Finally he could get his information and begin the hunt.

He just needed a start, for these people had interrupted his studies and had tried to kill him. The Trefoil Knot had learned this wasn't a good idea, and soon enough those attractive assassins and whatever creep had bought them would find out the same. Not that they'd live to tell anyone.

[Astral Harmony]

Between the cooling wind, her dark grey robe, and her intimidating scythe, Adeze didn't even have to be worried about being picked up by the local miscreants. She had made a couple of guards nervous, what with that large weapon of hers, but then they recognized her immediately. Fortunately for Adeze, they decided against trying to impress her with unpracticed sweet whisperings and tiresome adolations.

-----

As Scott walked inland from the pier, he came across a stunning woman singing and strumming a lute. On reflex, he cautiously glanced at her thighs, which were sensually exposed. No tattoo. Whether Scott was relieved or frustrated was of his own mind. The woman noticed his brief glance and gave him a wink without missing a note.

It was the song "Safeguarding Winds", one of those calming little tunes that was much like praying for the safety of the sailors and fishermen. She didn't do it exactly for free and she had a plumed cap with some glimmering coins inside it. Those who died by Scott's actions apparently did not hear the song in time.

-----

Meanwhile, watching much of the port city through a second floor balcony in a mansion in the upper class sector...

"I hope you appreciate my coming out here."
The effiminately beautiful man sighed. "You know, it could actually do you some good to get some sun once or twice a year."
The man who spoke first was of middle age, only had hair on the sides and back of his head, expensive glasses, and a white stylized labcoat. From the obscure bulges and the somewhat strange method in which he walked, the man was certain his scientist friend was not particularly human beneath that coat.
"Ugh, forget the damn sun. Every minute I'm out here basking in the glow of the sun, my all-important research is set back a few weeks. Did I really need to come out here?"
"Do you not want to see the results of your greatest medical achievement yet?"
"I already know what's going to happen," the scientist replied dismissively. "The time I would spend seeing the first tryout is time I could be spending perfecting my inventions."
"Fine. Then I'd just like an opinion. I want you to see how your test patient performs and I want an honest critique of how its performance is magnified."
"Shall I get started now?"
The man shook his head. "No, not yet. I want them all here, and I can only 'see' three of them. I'll bet that third one is a little angry."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"I didn't send an assassin after him," the man chuckled softly. "And if you saw him now, you'd know exactly why."

There was a knock on the door. "Come in," the scientist beckoned.
"She's already in," the man said.
It was the old crone who spoke for the assassins. She crept out of one of the more shadowy corners, startling the scientist. The man was unmoved.
"My humblest apologies for my tardiness," the old woman said with a bow. "I had to make the arrangements you asked for."
"Is my position clear on our contract?" the man asked her.
"Of course, and that's exactly how we operate. Until the job is done and your services are satisfied, my assassins are at your command. At any rate, Isabelle stands at the ready. She was told to wait for you."
"Excellent," the man said, turning back around to scan the city. "I shall go to her soon."
"Are you really fine with just one?" the crone asked. "My girls failed to deliver when engaging your selected targets one-on-one, and in this situation it's like you're sending her against all of them at once."
"She'll have reinforcements. I have things I want to try out."
"That sorcery you've been researching?" the scientist guessed accurately.
The man folded his arms. "All at once, powerful enemies shall converge on this city. There will be slaughter, there will be fire, and if our cards are played right, there will be dead heroes, and that's what I'm really looking forward to."
The scientist turned back to face the city. "Hmmm...now I'm suddenly very interested on this test run."
The old woman bowed. "I will return to my guild and tell my girls about the next steps. If you'll excuse me." But she didn't wait for a response and was already gone.

[lazy man]

Asche walked through Marldukes with many a stare trailing him. He knew his mere presence caused panic in many, and the volume of people in cities made that troublesome, but he had to press on no matter what the result. Stares and panic be damned, he would see the Graham twins about that assassin.

And the reason behind that was that he was worried that the cult he had destroyed twenty years ago was starting to rise up again. They were the only ones he knew of that would want to get rid of him. Any others were just scared townsfolk who could never get enough money to hire an assassin of that caliber.

He remembered that the fight had been brief, and obviously in his favor. The girl had tried to block his Demon Slayer with her own weapon, a fatal mistake made by many considering the weapons always broke from the momentum of the swing. This girl, however, managed to dodge the swing before the full blow hit her. Asche had rarely encountered anything that could move that easily, so the fact that she started to run the moment after was actually surprising.

Asche, watching his back ever since he had been attacked, was not content with just sitting around now that he was here. He made a beeline for the Azure Street Stop, fully intending to press through anyone that would try and get in his way. Of course, being wrapped in his cape and with the Demon Slayer's hilt sticking out over his shoulder, he was pretty much guaranteed to have little resistance.

[Naqel]

Thar was siting on top of a cliff not far away from Marldukes pier, enjoying the gentle breeze from the sea. He wasn't thinking really much at the moment, just enjoying the weather.
A letter, with questions for the two prodigies, was safely put in a small leather pouch strapped around his waist.

---

Later that day, Thar would go into the town itself, to find out exactly where did Chelsea and Joshua Graham lived.

[Steel Shadow]

A happy whistle drifted through the sunny streets of Marldukes as a man wearing the traditional robes of the mage guild's air branch strolled along, occasionally looking around to watch goings on around him with curiosity. From time to time he would pull out a piece of paper from one of his many pockets and look it over before glancing at the nearest street sign. Each time he folded the paper away carefully and continued on his journey. Clearly, the man was looking for something.

Eventually, after searching for some time on his own, he gave up and approached a guard on patrol.

"Hey there, excuse me?" he waved in greeting, "Could you help me out? I'm looking for this address..." He paused there, his hand in his pocket searching. Blinking, he peered down and held the pocket open to look into. "Huh.. weird, it was here just a second ago... Ah, give me a second... Oh! It was in my other hand!"

The mans face coloured red in embarrassment as he dropped his robe back down and opened up the piece of paper in his hand. Grinning and rubbing the back of his head, he presented it to the guard. It read 'The Azure Street Stop', followed by a short address, and the name of the city.

The guard kept an impassive face on as he glanced at the note and gave the man directions to the pub, which was only a few streets away. The man smiled and thanked him with a thumbs up before moving out of his way with a hasty bow, during which his feet got tangled up in one of the lower parts of his robe and he tripped over, landing on his rear. The guard was gracious enough to ignore it.

With another hasty "Thanks!" Soan Spirare took the path he had been directed to, drawing closer to his destination. Smiling, he began to whistle once more.

[Overcast]

Apparently his glance had been misinterpreted by the streetside bard. Though he was entirely surprised he got any approval from the dear lady as dead as he was. If he had blood he may have blushed. Though the look on his face was still rather uncomfortable, enough to look a bit too innocent for a man who ate human flesh on a daily basis.

He was dressed rather nice he figured. He had made sure his hair wasn't as brooding as typical though it still hung unhealthily about his face like a frame. His shirt was a kind silk number of deep purple and a pair of black pants. As always the gloves were on his hands, a chemist never worked without them, a hand gripped about that bag of potions and tools he lived for. Of course he stuck out in the common crowd, but it wasn't his fault. In life he had taken comfort over substance, and even in undeath he wore the clothes that would give the skin a gentle sort of sensation. He just wished his death hadn't made his nerves so insensitive, it almost ruined the reason.

He tipped his hat to the woman and shot her a coin for good measure, trying to cover that uncomfortable expression with a warm smile. He soon found himself stepping on his way to his dear informants. Little prodigies, how he wished he could have been half the geniuses they are when he was their age.

Yet he couldn't help but feel like he was being watched...ahh just paranoia after an assassination attempt. Nothing to worry about.

[Premmy]

Adeze sighed and stood up, time to get busy. She got up and Stretched her back out, she pulled up her scythe, heaved it onto her shoulder and trudged onwards. She stood at the door of the Azure Street Shop and pushed it open. She grinned pleasently at the girl behind the counter and pulled her hood back to reveal her face and began speaking sweetly as she leaned on her scythe, the blade of which was now embeded in the wooden counter-top. "Ho there! I'm Adaeze, yes, the very same, someone tried to kill me recently and I'd like to know why, well, someone tried to kill me and had a better chance than most people anyway"

[Arcanum]

Alex looked up from his mug of what he had been told was ale, but tasted more like liquid dirt. The thunk that had gained his attention had been caused by a scythe-wielding, hooded lady embedding the previously mentioned scythe into the bar. Alex shook his head and took another drink. Some people just don't have any style, he thought. Then he heard the girl say her name. Adeze... where have I heard that before.... Ah now I remember, some bloke tried to get me to steal her scythe. Good thing I turned the jackass down.

"...someone tried to kill me recently..."

The words pierced through Alex's thoughts. Ah so I'm not the only one. At the mention of the attempted assassination Alex's mind returned to that night last week.

He had been lying in bed after another night of excessive consumption. His plan was to sleep until the following night, but someone had other plans. Just when he was about to pass out, he caught a shadowy blur in the corner of his eye and lurched out of his bed. He turned around, a pistol now in his hand, and fired twice. One bullet deflected off the assassin's blade that was embedded in his bed (his expensive bed) and the other sunk into her arm. She turned and fled and Alex only had time to glimpse a tattoo on her thigh before his adrenaline receeded and was replaced by a drunken haze. It had been a bad choice to drink that night.

But now here he was, inside the Azure Street Stop with very few people actually knowing that he was in Marldukes. During the year before his encounter with the Living Flame (may it's damned "soul" find forever torment in a dimension filled with nothing) Alex had spent some time working with Joshua smuggling various documents in and out of the city. Joshua had spent quite a lot of time showing Alex the various secret ways in, out, and around the city, before Alex decided it was too much of a hassle and showed Joshua his ability.

Alex took another drink and leaned back in his chair. He had a good view from here and while he needed to talk to the twins too, might as well let a crazy scythe-wielding lady go first. After all it would be rude not too.