All:
It is a busy day in Lomedor, and there are many guards present throughout the city. The sun is shining, and there is a fair breeze, and none of you appear conspicuous as you move throughout the crowd towards a secluded pub on the corner of the square. There are no bouncers outside of the seedy bar, but there is a feeling of tainted divinity here – as if the ground was once hallow, but is now twisted and evil. Truthfully, the bar was built upon an old cemetery, and those inside have been using it as a base of operations throughout the city.

As you enter you notice the bar has quite a few patrons, most of which are surrounding a single table. You immediately spot your target. He is a fair-skinned man known only as “Jack” to the three of you. He has an athletic build, and has a scar across the left side of his face. From the door you can hear their conversation. You notice the people in the bar eye you as you enter, and one whispers in Jack’s ear. He only gives you a glance.

Jack was pointed out by an informant as having been involved in the sack of the Marauder’s University in Ondolond. He has information on who was involved, and where they are located, but he has been known for his resilience to interrogation. You were sent here to capture him, but it will not be easy.

OOC to All:
Welcome to the next Shadovar Concordance mission. This is part one of a larger plot. Your objective his to capture Jack, and interrogate him. Doing so will not be easily because he knows the city well, has many friends who will try to stop you, and will try to escape by any means necessary. He carries no apparent weapons, but be warned: he is an expert of unarmed combat, and will not go down without a fight. He must not be killed – not until he has been fully interrogated. The DM will dictate his actions and his reactions towards your interrogation.

On another note, hurting him outside in an unsecure location will draw the attention of the guards, which will compromise the mission. Stealth and finesse are key.

Be careful, and good luck.

It felt good to run in under-the-table circles again. Thindraug had quickly found himself a band of outlaws that sought the skills of a well-trained thief, and in return for his services he was provided with some coin, the occasional lodging, food, and minor supplies. It helped him get by, but he would need more money and equipment to survive a longer stay in the city.

His first mission seemed simple enough, requiring him to utilize his skills of deception instead of his nimble hands. He was to meet two other members of the Concordance, as they called themselves, then locate a man named Jack who had a scar on the left side of his face. The man was known to have wronged the Concordance in the past, and they were to extract from him information about who was involved in the sacking of a library belonging to the Marauders, Thindraug's chosen sect of the Concordance, and where they could be found.

The three members had met very briefly only a few hours earlier. They spent little time getting to know one another, instead opting to move straight into discussing the information they had and quickly coming up a joint plan for the mission – there wasn't much time to waste before they had to make a move. After some careful thought, they each had an individual way to contribute to the mission, a back up plan or two, and there were several alternative ways in which the mission could still be carried out discretely in the event of trouble. All in all, it seemed like they had a solid strategy.

Having split up to approach the bar from different directions at different times, Thindraug padded down the street alone. He behaved as he usually would when wandering by himself, eying everything that wasn't nailed down to see if it was worth taking. The sun was shining down on him, making him warmer than most because of his thick fur, despite the breeze. He decided to pant a little to be extra convincing of his random need to enter into the bar toward which he was walking. Casing the building, his eyes searched for windows, extra doors, stray crates and barrels, close trees, bushes, nearby alleys - anything and everything that could later be used to his advantage. Taking mental note of all he observed, he wondered what it was about the building that seemed so eerie as he finally ducked through the front doorway.

Always mindful of the appearances necessary to remain inconspicuous, his eyes immediately sought the bar as he licked his chops, instead of zooming around to study each face. He didn't want to risk spending too long gazing at anyone, so he also avoided making eye contact with the men he noticed watching him in his peripheral vision. If the man he was looking for was here and Thindraug stopped mid-scan to study his features and determine his identity, it could be picked up on by anyone with a knack for reading facial expressions, which is far easier to do than most people realize, especially when they are watching you. On the other side of the coin, he didn't want to risk acknowledging any of his secret companions either, since they were trying to keep themselves unlinked to one another. So to the bar he went without hesitation, feigning ignorance as he cheerily perching himself on a stool and asked the barkeep for an ale. Drink ordered and nothing else to do at this point, he finally took his opportunity to let his eyes wander around the room like any normal person might whilst waiting.

They were first drawn to the unusual gathering of many men around one table. Usually patrons were scattered about the bar randomly in small groups. If the man he sought was already here, he had to be at that table. But he could not immediately identify anyone with a scar on his face, which eliminated all the men on the side of the table facing toward the back of the bar. Before he could idly observe anyone else, the bartender set a mug of ale on the counter in front of him, gruffly telling him he now owed half a crown. "Oi, is ale really that expensive 'round here? Ah, well, thanks mate! Seems like you'll make a few pretty crowns tonight with the number of people ya got comin' in today," he said with a wink and a head nod toward the crowded table as he handed the tender a silver coin he'd fished out of a small pouch hanging from his leathers. As he smiled nonchalantly, he wondered if the bartender was worth any easy information.

Sipping his ale his keen ears eavesdropped on the men at the table, seeking the right opportunity to begin his charade while he pretended to observe the décor, looking now for the faces of his associates and their target.

[OOC: Since Jack's face is visible immediately upon entry and Thinny is now further back in the pub, at the bar, Jack's back is to Thinny. Hence why he hasn't spotted him yet, after purposefully not looking upon entry.]

Cara had run with a number of different evil entities, each with their own varying degree of success, but she was glad to once again be working along side Annihilate. She had already learned a lot from him and knew that working under him would only give her the chance to learn even more. She was ready to learn, to find out what Annihilate had in store for her, and if it was his belief that she should also be willing to follow the directions of others, this was not something she was going to fight him on. She did not generally like to follow anyone else, especially someone she had only met once before in a very odd situation, but she knew that as a member of the guild she would have to work with everyone and this was as good a chance as any to test herself.

Besides, this mission was important to her for other reasons. Even though Anni was the only one she was close with, even though she did not know the members who had died, it needed to be known that Shadovar could not be tampered with. One could not attack them or their members without fierce retaliation, and she was ready to gain the information needed to retaliate in kind. This was only the first step, but a message would be sent out that it was not in ones best interest if they valued their life to attack the members of the Shadovar Concordance.

So it was that she stood on the street a short ways from the pub, pausing to make sure she was prepared to play her part and that neither of her accomplices had arrived at the wrong time. She had two accomplices for this mission, the leader, Vaudeux, she had met before, but the other accomplice, Thindraug, was a completely new entity to her. It would be interesting to see how the three of them would work together, she just hoped neither of them would do anything to screw things up. Sure, Vaudeux had saved her when she had been poisoned by the demon in the underworld and she was thankful for that, but aside from that and her knowledge of him as the Guardian, she did not know anything that would tell her whether he would be capable or not. Knowing nothing about the second accomplice aside from the small amount she had learned when they had met, she had no way of knowing if he had the skills he proclaimed to have. She would have to trust them for she would not be able to complete this task alone, but as with any time when she was forced to work with another of whom she did not yet fully trust, she would be watching her back and doing what she must to ensure success if the others were to fail.

She looked down at herself one more time, making sure that her look would fit the role she planned to play. She wore a tight, black, leather bodice that emphasized her chest, and her skirt was hitched up on the side to show a hint of her leg and the leather boots she wore. Within one boot she had hidden her black dagger, and in the other her katar rested. She had lined her eyes in black and her hair curled about her face, long strands running loosely down her back. She had not brought her katana as she did not want any suspicions to arise form it, nor did she wear her cape. The lack of those items felt odd to her, and the outfit was beyond what she would usually wear, but it was befitting her task and she would make do.

The time had come and Caranrendis began to sashay in the direction of the bar. Her hips weaved back and forth, her hair blew about slightly, and she stood straight and tall. When she entered the bar, she stopped a moment and let her eyes wonder, a hungry look in her eyes as if she was searching for someone to feed her hunger. She stood there with her hip thrust out and her hand resting there as her eyes did their scan. She caught the eyes of the bar tender and nodded to him, a signal to bring her a drink, and then her eyes moved back across the room. She had already caught sight of one of her accomplices, had done so as she scanned to room but would not look back into his direction. At least he had arrived as planned. Her eyes continued their scan until they stopped on another pass across Jack’s table, as if she had found something that was of great interest to her.

Licking her lips in a fake show of lust, she sashayed away from the door and in the direction of Jack’s table. She was playing the woman on the hunt, and making no attempt to hide that she had found her prey. As her body moved across the room she could hear a wolf whistle from a nearby table and a seductive smile lifted on side of her lips. Soon she stood by the table, looking down at Jack and allowing her eyes to scan across his body as if assessing him. He would likely think it was for his looks, but the truth was she was assessing any weapons he might have. She also ran her “hungry” eyes across the body of his second, making it look as if she was ready to spend some “quality” time with either or both of them.

Just then, she was tapped on the shoulder and turned to see the bartender. He handed her the drink with a nod, and she took it turning back to the men she had come to see. Lifting the liquor to her lips she took a deep drink before setting it on the edge of the table and saying, “You look like you might enjoy a good time.”

The shed was dim, harboring clouds of dust and curtains of spider webs athwart its aging plank structure. Solitarily it stood, just paces away from the entrails of Lomedor, like a dilapidated beacon. It rarely received attention or notice, nor could be persuaded otherwise in any quality of light or surrounding foliage. The leafage was wild as it grew, uninhibited around the shack, so that a quick approach would be met by thistles and other shin-high grasses to brush across a body. And such a body approached. It was a figure of masculinity, angular in bountiful sinew which wore a rich set of Elven attire that fitted snugly over the rounded brawn. Tanned skin shone healthily where it was exposed in the twilight air, so that the man seemed to glow, in all his striking beauty, alongside the slow cooling of the sky. The image of man wedged a path between the grasses, hoeing away the waves of weed with merely the bulk of his shins. The path traced its way up to the door of the shed, whose hinges creaked in rusted age upon opening.

With a sharp glance away from the structure, the man peered around the mortal-free space, before slipping inside. Lungs full of mold and dust at once, Vaudeux coughed in disgust for his surroundings. He waved away a screen of cobwebs, before tending to the space. From its corner was a chair, backed with only half of the poles that originally came in its making. But he positioned the stool in the center of the shack, to the much disturbance of the rest of the grime and insect-life that had settled in the chair corner. The filth tickled his bare arms with the touch of hairy, creeping spiders so that Jupiter jolted in repulsion. He itched the disturbed pores, glaring around with dark thoughts, I hope we needn’t come back to this ghastly shack. But he was sure, from the prior facts of their target, that another visit would be likely. That Jack wouldn't be easily pursueded. And so he took one last look around, noting the loose boards, the inside locks, and just how big of space he had, before he removed himself from the shed’s interiors.

Amethyst into darker blue, night had arrived. Newborn stars winked down at him from above, as Vaudeux appreciated the fresh air expanding his lungs. He momentarily closed his lids, welcoming an atmosphere that was apart from filth or musty webs clouding his vision and breath. Once he was certain he was free, the Ainur gradually began his journey back into town, guarded by the cloak of night which now cast generous shadow over his charming features. He moved through the darkness with a quickened stride, mimicking the soft padding of a creeping predator who silently stalks his prey. The night was nothing for Vaudeux, who saw it in all its clarity with his gifted pupils. And, as sure-footed as he was, he did not run through the streets, but, instead, took his time in favor of retaining his anonymity.

The patrons of Lomedor were sparse across the cobbled paths or only existing in couples and tightly-knitted, traveling bunches; afraid of what nightfall might have lurking for them around the next unprotected corner. Jupiter stalked out from the nearest ally, nearly frightening the britches off a pair as they strode by. Once the couple darted off, holding each other and gasping in frightened breath, Vaudeux pushed through the awkward encounter, strutted in the opposite direction, and was only paces away from his desired setting.

It was a small pub, welcoming in an array of grubby guests through its half-hinged rotting door. Though he couldn’t quite see inside of the establishment, he could feel a strange pull, of what lurked inside, to him. That, if the building could talk, it was whispering to the Ainur curious hushing of interest. He felt peculiar, even tainted, standing outside the tavern, so much so that he pushed his way through the entry with an unfeigned air of bemusement. It was inside he discovered that it was no less of a bar than he had expected.

At any other point in time he wouldn’t even have considered entering such a place. The floor was lined with a visible inch of dust, and the atmosphere thick with pipe smoke. With the only way he could see the shapes of the guests was by low-lit green lanterns, Vaudeux paced in cautiously, fully aware of the task that he was leading but distracted by the repellent state of the pub. Tables whose integrity was tarnished by numerous carvings and chunks missing, glasses whose outer surfaces appeared brown from their lack of cleaning; Jupiter frowned in distaste. Why is it that the corrupt always find solace in such places? He awaited the day when evil would reign, thereby forcing the righteous to spend their time slumping in filth.

A man, peering eyes half-cast, caught him standing in the doorway. Jupiter’s heart-leapt in mistake, but he decided to reel with it. “Ugh, this is not Wilwarin!” He protested, scanning a quick and disgusted eye around the bar. His sights settled on another drunkard, lolling nearest to the Ainur on the rickety panels of the wall. He side-stepped towards the man, breathing in a waft of strong alcoholic scents upon approach, “Excuse me, you, do you happen to know the quickest route to Wilwarin?”

All:
While the bartender brings you your drinks, he doesn’t acknowledge your nods or your comments. He takes little notice of you, though that cannot be said of the rest of the patrons. They keep a close eye on you, not having seen you before. Their suspicion is well placed, but much more than they know. Most of them, you will notice, keep their hands close to their hips. Few of them wear weapons openly, but it is obvious that many of them carry hidden blades within their pockets and belts.

Thindraug:
Your presence is quickly disregarded as you leave their line of sight, though one or two of the patrons seem to be on edge as you take a seat near them. They are not used to a Lupine in their presence, which may work to your advantage.

Caranrendis:
Every man in the room turns to look as you enter the room. The attention is flattering, but it is not all good. Many of them are suspicious of you – perhaps more so than they are of a lupine wandering into their bar – a sign that you should proceed with caution. The man you approached looks up at you curiously. However, you notice two things about him immediately that may change your plan. First, the man to his left, Jack, is staring at you intently. Second, the man to his right has a more effeminate appearance, and you notice that the man you approached has his hand on this one’s shoulder. Regardless, he looks up at you with a smirk and says, “We’re already having a good time.”

Vaudeux:
As you enter the bar, all of the other goings-on seem to stop abruptly. It is obvious these men know who you are, and are startled by your presence. However, moments later whispers erupt from the table Jack is seated at. They are very suspicious of you because they are apparently aware of your relationship with the Marauder’s. You’ll notice, however, that the drunkard you asked for directions just looks up at you curiously. He’s not sure how to respond, so he merely stares dumbfounded.

OOC to All:
Excellent beginnings, everyone. Just remember to keep to your plans, and play off of each other’s posts no matter what happens. YOu may now proceed with the topic.

Caranrendis stood before the men and waited for their response. She could feel many eyes still on her and knew that while some of them may have been assessing her as she had meant for them to, other looked at her with a great deal of suspicion, but she couldn’t let that affect her actions. She had a part to play and staying true to character she could not let any negativity affect her. She had entered the bar looking for a man who wanted to have a little fun, and that was what she would leave with. At least, that was the image she would continue top portray for everyone around her and do her best to make them believe was true.

She waited for the man to respond to her proposition, but her eyes caught on a hand rested on the man’s shoulder. Following the hand her eyes caught on a very feminine man, but a man none the less. It seemed she had chosen the wrong person to seduce, would seem as if he didn’t like the ladies. Still, she said nothing, waiting to see what the man would say. Her eyes moved away from he feminine man and caught once again on Jack, who seemed to be staring right at her. She gave him a flirtatious smirk and she heard the other man begin to talk. Her eyes went back to him and she shook her head slightly at his answer. Never would have guessed that Jack’s second would have liked men, she thought to herself, I guess I will have to move to plan two.

“Your loss, but then it may turn out to be my gain.” As she spoke her eyes moved to Jack, scanning him from bottom to top, as much as her eyes could see, running her gaze across his face for only moments before her gaze traveled back down his body. She went to move in his direction when she heard the door to the bar opening. Her eyes flashed to the door and she caught sight of Vaudeux. Her eyes assessed him as one of the profession she was playing would, and she allowed disgust to play across her features. He was just a pretty boy, so worried about his own looks he couldn’t get past them. Disregarding him, her eyes once again moved to Jack, her target for the night.

She began to move around the first man and his feminine man lover, her tongue darting about her lips once again. “Now please don’t tell me you run the same way as your friend here, cause if not I might just want to take a bite.” She came up behind Jack and leaned down so that he could feel her breath upon his ear. “If you’re looking for a little fun, I would be more than willing to give you some of my time,” she whispered, putting warmth in her voice that promised him she would be worth the time.

The drunkard seemed to doze on the spot, and his head swaying slightly, mimicking the blown limbs of a palm caught in a slow, rocking draft. He stared at Jupiter in return, lids fluttering, eyes peering in and out of focus, until he tilted his head back and let a gurgling burp splutter out between his cracked lips. Vaudeux wheeled away in absolute nausea, waving away at the air that reeked of bile and bad ale. He turned around to the greeting of eyes of every kind, but which bore expressions of intent interest. There were even flashes of suspicion on irises that alarmed and caught the Ainur off guard. It seemed as if he was recognized for the worst, for there was no doubt that the atmosphere of the room had shifted. And the eyes that quickly passed him for inspection, dove away just as quickly, back to their regular business.

At that moment he knew no regular methods would be welcomed in the tensed tavern, so he resolved onto his alternate plan. From beneath his breast, withdrawn silkily and slighted by the hems of his downed sleeve, Jupiter unsheathed his dagger. He appeared merely to adjust his collar, arrogantly passing through the bar in his feinted quest for directions. But he was fingering the blade, cold metal firmly anchored to his pointer stealthy concealed by the darkness. He moved through the dispersed throng, finding the same drunken stares at every passing patron. That is, until he was at Jack’s table. Up until that point his movements were purposeful, guided by the inept drunks and their lack of speech; but now he was running out of verbal options, he was coming down to the last few patrons and needed to make a move before his built-up façade would crash. Well, crash before it was necessary.

He was paused just on the perimeter of Jack’s round table, and only stood there long enough to perceive that the man was busily entranced with a scantly clad bar guest. Miss Ithildinwin. Thought Vaudeux for half a breath, impressed that her facet of their conjoined scheme appeared passable. Noting that their target was busy, Jupiter set his sights on the closest man, an ally of Jack, yet who was nothing but a tool under the eyes of the Ainur. With a strategically placed glance he then noticed his other companion posted at the bar, waiting with a poise that resembled one of a noble. Thus, appearing like he had no other options, Jupiter turned back to the man and gripped his arm with a forced strength, doing little to make his actions subtle, but purposefully arrogant.

“Excuse me,” Said the Fire Guardian directing the man’s attention away from his table, even going as far as to drag him up to his level - standing and facing away from the group. “You know where Wilwarin is-” A glint of dangerous silver flashed for the man and its wielder alone, pointed into the abdomen of Vaudeux's unfourtunate victim. “Don’t you?” He went to direct the man away, then whispered so harshly that he could have been seething in exhale, “You’ll help me get Jack, got it?”

A few minutes passed uneventfully as Thindraug trained his hearing on the conversations taking place at the head table, but thus far very little information had been communicated to him. He caught the name "Jack" used in reference to someone at the table, and mentally he grinned. He also picked up on the card game a few of the table's occupants had started, but so far little else was apparent to him.

Figuring his best bet would be to continue exploring his curiosity about the large number of people at the table, he looked over some of the men seated at the bar next to him. Leaning in, his massive figure towering over the adjacent patron, he questioned him. "You reckon they've got some poker tournament goin' on at the big table? Lots o' men gathered, aye? A fellow such as myself might be interested at tryin' 'is hand in a game!" He glanced at the table again while the man responded, taking another opportunity to spy.

One of his cohorts had finally arrived, the female, and already she stood at the table. By human standards, she was attractively dressed, but it was of little interest to the eye of a male lupine. She stood between two men whose backs were facing him, the sides of their faces now visible to him. He did not see a scar, for the left side of the man's face was not directed toward him from this vantage point, but the rest of Jacks description was a dead on match to one of them. She had been quick to approach them, and Thindraug was slightly worried that it may have been too quick when suspicions were perceivably high. But she seemed to be pulling it off, appearing to have Jack's undivided attention.

Things were running smoothly so far with two agents in place when Vaudeux finally arrived. The reaction to his presence was strong and activity in the bar came to a halt as all eyes turned to his proud features. This was not a good sign for the guardian, but it was far from surprising. People began to whisper and Thindraug felt like something was about to go down. He kept his back up plans in mind, ready for what might come of the situation as Vaudeux roughly dragged one man out of his seat by the arm. Everyone was sure to notice the tense interaction, it was only a matter of time before they collectively acted, perhaps inciting a bar room brawl? He had participated in his share of brawls while living in Angband, if it came to that he knew just how to handle himself. It might even play into his favor, but he didn't know what would happen to the lady's efforts as a result.

Turning back to the man he'd questioned a moment ago, who looked notably bothered by his presence now, he questioned him a second time. "What's with the pretty boy, he cheat someone at a hand of cards?"

All: As the scene continues, you’ll notice that behind you others are entering the bar. They don’t really seem to notice any of you, but be wary nonetheless. Things can easily happen in crowded bars.

Caranrendis: Your actions do not go unnoticed by the target, nor do his other companions forget your presence as you secretly slide in behind them. When their attention turns back to you from Vaudeux Jack’s second says to you, “You’ll be getting nothing from either of us, missy!”

However, your seductive nature is perhaps a bit too much for the target, and he lets himself relax at the feeling of your warm breath upon his ear. You notice the back of his head lean back slightly resting against your shoulder. “Now don’t be too hasty, Mr. Priest,” Jack remarks in response to his second, “I might just be in the mood for some fun – it’s been a long time.”

You notice that off to the side the man that Priests has close to him sit with his mouth agape. It might seem like surprise, but buried deep within that expression is another emotion: jealousy.

Vaudeux: While you are a surprise to see in the disgusting bar, you are quickly left alone. While wayward eyes occasionally glimpse you, you’ll notice that your sly hands and swift movements are not easily noticed. Even the man you pull aside takes a moment to notice your actions. His expression is priceless, a mix of fear and surprise, and it is obvious before he even speaks that you have his attention and his cooperation. His own life is more valuable to him than Jack’s. “Yes mi’lord,” he says quietly knowing that if his voice causes a stir that you will take his life.

Thindraug: The large man next to you looks at you curiously. He apparently has seen lupines before, and you don’t seem to bother him. You’ll notice that he has a particularly easy going face, red from drink and almost pleasant, and he nods heartily. He appears to be a sailor of sorts, and his voice is heavy, but it draws little attention from the others in the bar “Aye, my boy, aye! There’s a big goin’-on over thar. But it’s gablin’ in a differ’n’t way that you ma’ no’ understand! ‘Er Jack has somethin’ up ‘is sleeves they say.”

He takes another draught of his ale, and as you comment on Vaudeux’s entrance he turns and looks over his shoulder. The men next to him follow suit. “A man like tha’s bound for trouble ‘er. He looks familiar, but I could no’ tell you where from.”

OOC to All: You may now continue your turn.

Even as she heard the second basically advising her that she was wasting her time, Caranrendis could feel Jack relaxing in his chair. She chose to ignore his second, knowing that Jack was in charge, and playing it as she suspected one of the trade would, awaiting the answer of her current prospect rather then of his friend. Having taken note of the friend’s choice in love, she had no reason to listen to the man. If he wanted to be with men, well, that was his choice and it would seem that Jack did not share in those attractions.

It was only a moment before Jack spoke up, keeping Caranrendis from having to ignore his second for too long. It seemed she was right about him, he was now leaning against her slightly and he was interesting in allowing her to ply her “trade” on him. It was a stroke of luck, he may not have been her original target but if he would follow her then their task would be a great deal easier.

Choosing to ignore the looks on the faces of Jack’s comrades, she moved one hand up to slide silkily through Jack’s hair. Just a slight massage, a soft touch that would hint of things to come. Her hand slid down his neck and gently caressed his face before continuing down across his cloth covered chest. She would give him a hint of what he would receive, and then she would invite him to go back to her room with her, all the while making him believe that she would give him a night to remember. In fact, she would give him a night to remember, just not in the way that he was hoping.

Cara shifted around him, her hand massaging the back of his head and her body moving to let him see her better. She slid herself onto his lap, hoping that she wasn’t moving too fast but again wanting to hint at the fun they could have. Her hands moved down his back and around to his front, dipping slightly under his shirt as she once again leaned forwards towards his ear, giving him a good view of her cleavage at the same time.

Whispering to him she said, “Maybe we could take this somewhere a little more private, I could show you my real talents.” Her voice was like creamy chocolate, rich and smooth, flowing from between her lips. Her tongue slipped to his earlobe and she gave a little nibble, all the while disconnecting her brain so the action wouldn’t make her puke. If he was able to say no, she didn’t know where she would go with it next as she wouldn’t feel comfortable doing anything more in the crowd, or at all with him for that matter. Please let him agree to join me, she thought to herself, please just let this work.

“I have a nice room I could take you to,” she whispered to him with sensual undertones, "we could have a lot of fun if we went back there.”

((OOC: I apologize if I went too far here, I wasn't sure what to do or how far was too far. If it needs editing please tell me and I will make any necassary changes.))

“Good!” Jupiter breathed, his excitement building internally with all the possibilities that then flooded to his mind. From his peripherals he noted how comfortable one of his cohorts was getting with their target and knew, what the situation next needed. Gustily his next commands filled their space, occupied then by only the persistence of his dagger, “You need to convince Jack into leaving. In whatever way you can, you must-” Yet his sentence was cut short by the pure tension of eyes that passed him at that very moment. He was ripped from the attention of his forced, nervous help by the flying elbow of another patron of the bar.

The man’s stature was that of the majority, high on alcohol and disregarding the space of others. It wasn’t a surprise that, with the way he staggered to mimic a victim of an earthquake, he was bound to cause calamity into something. He laughed sloppily, tossed up an arm, and nearly strangled the taxing Ainur from his deeds. Yet, the moment seemed right, for as Jack’s ally turned away Jupiter’s blade glinted in the open with the eerie glow of the bar’s subdued light. Vaudeux faltered with the porting weight of the drunkard and stumbled away from his help, his mission, and his target.

The clamor of their bodies entwined was troll-like at best, heightened sourly by the intoxicated professions of his attacker, who sought to blame his lumbering on Jupiter. “’Ey!” Shouted the dazed brute to Vaudeux, who was just wrenching away to find his footing. “Watch where yer going princey or I’ll shove my-” His reddened orbs flashed a sudden shock and, what appeared to be, the reflection of the Maiar’s blade within his glossy pupils. Seeking only to blench another uproar from the man, Jupiter sought to quickly stow away his dagger, but found that -at once- his quickness to be silky was a mistake.

The thug’s fat neck jiggled as he reached an arm, the size of a ham, out towards the weapon. Vaudeux tried to recoil, but found that he was backed against the tarnished panels, that were the tavern’s walls, and bound to his spot by the sheer mass of the brute before him. He knew he had no choice but to get by this large, slobbering bump in his path or else lose in his hard-sought victory with one of Jack’s men. As the man moved in, cooing in exasperation and slurring, “Gimme!” Jupiter slid away, and put the full force of an uppercut into the man’s pot belly. His fist met a wall of pure, hard fat, and its owner merely let out a vile breath of salivated mead that seemed to reverb to the ears (and noses) of their closest surrounding bar patrons. Vaudeux looked up to see that the strength of his punch had done nothing but take the man’s attention off of Jupiter’s dagger and onto Jupiter himself.

The fat man’s retaliation was carried into the loop of bar attendants, nearly knocking two to the ground as he blundered after the weaving form of the Guardian. Soon, as if the attraction of fist was contagious, the whole tavern surrounding the spark of the brawl became a mass of flying appendages. Vaudeux did his best to dodge the limbs of harm, to weave back round to the table, to keep his eyes on Jack. For what he had just unintentionally started, was exactly the thing that their mission required for failure. And the flurry built in momentum, guided by the brute’s drunken devastation.

Listening to the thick accent of the man beside him, Thindraug's brain worked to solve the puzzle behind the meaning of his slurred words. "Another kind of gamblin', eh? I'm a bettin' man myself, what sorta game we talkin'?" he asked as he leaned forward with interest, his expression and tone indicating he might be looking to get involved in some risky business. He wondered what the man knew about Jack, and how much of it he'd spill to a stranger that made confident eye-contact with him, as if he was in the business of under-the-table activities and could smell a deal to be made.

It was during this conversation that the noise level of the bar picked up, a familiar crescendo whose notes sang of breaking objects and bruising tissue. His eyes shifted away to the fight brewing behind him in time to see Vaudeux duck away from a large man at the epicenter of the storm. This would not be beneficial to their goal, every passing second formed spidery cracks in the foundation of their elaborate guise. The drunkards on this side of town seemed to use any reason to start a fight, causing the mayhem to spread as they tore up the pub. He hoped the lady didn't get hurt as fists and objects started to fly.

"Oi, c'mon!" he shouted as he was abruptly showered with the crystalline shards of broken glass from a fallen mug, despite being seated a distance from the heart of the action. Putting a new plan into motion to adjust for the latest turn of events, he got up from his seat and jumped into the fray, dodging a swinging fist before bodily pulling a patron off of one of the men that had been seated at Jack's table. It was rather easy, given that he was nearly two feet taller and two hundred pounds heavier than the brawler he held back. " 'Ey fanks," the man grunted through a fat lip. Thindraug nodded and pushed the smaller man back down into a booth where he would hopefully stay.

Side-stepping to dodge a flying bottle of ale, he worked his way around the table as if he was trying to leave. In reality, he was trying to get closer to Jack and Vaudeux in case something happened (which seemed inevitable now), picking up the bonus of sparing some of Jack's friends from a beating. Perhaps they would remember the massive lupine that had spared them, and would be grateful of his company where they could speak with loose tongues.

All: The sudden excitement has put everyone in the bar on the edge. Many of Jack’s body guards have jumped up and made a wall in front of him, and all of this attention seems to be focused on Vaudeux. Jack, however, isn’t going to stay around and fight if he doesn’t have to. However, with the main door blocked, he turns and tries to break for the upstairs hallway. You’ll all notice that Jack’s second in command is keeping his eyes on all of you. Apparently he suspects something now, and you’ll have a harder time getting Jack alone without violence.

Caranrendis: Just before the fight broke out Jack accepted your invitation, and he stood to join you. Now he tries to rush past you to get upstairs away from the fight. You notice that he draws a small dagger from his belt for protection, but he seems to have no other weapons. Jack’s second in command has also been inching closer to you, just to keep you close.

Vaudeux: Everyone around you has been stirred into motion. Your main threat is the large thug whose friend you have hit. However, everyone seems to be against you now. Many of Jack’s men have been spurred into action, but few of them come onto you very quickly. Again, they know who you are, and aren’t going to risk being turned to ash. However, a few brave souls come at you with daggers and chair legs. They want you gone.

Thindraug: The men that you keep away from the brawl seem very grateful. Most of them stay where you have put them with few exceptions. One in particular begins calling out to the bartender to bring his “hairy friend” a drink. With Jack trying to escape, however, it will be difficult for you to continue holding many of the men back without looking to suspicious as you move towards the stair case.

OOC: You may now continue to post. Be careful, however, Jack is trying to escape, and if he gets out of the building and into the streets you will be hard pressed to find him.

Caranrendis was very pleased with how things were turning out, Jack had agreed to join her and once she got him alone all she would need do would be to wait on the others and they could begin the next phase of their task. It was amazing what a little female persuasion could do, and all without any violence, or at least there wouldn’t have been.

As Cara began to move along with Jack everything quickly fell apart. She couldn’t believe Vaudeux had started a fight, of all things to do that had to be almost the worst possible. If he could have just played it cool then they would have had Jack with no one the wiser, but he had gained too much attention and the anger of too many of the bar patrons. Now Jack was trying to take off without her, and Cara knew that if he got away their task would be a great deal easier.

Forcing herself not to show her frustration on her face, she instead showed fear, of which there was enough within her anyways. True, what she feared was failing, but she would make it believed that her fear was of the fight. Her eyes bugged out and she stumbled back away from the fight, cringing as if the violence was disturbing to her, which it was in this case, but again not for the reason she hoped to make Jack believe. Her eyes scanned the room wildly as if looking for protection and caught again on Jack as he was making his mistake. She hoped that he did not use the dagger in his hand to hurt her when she made her move, hoped that he would listen to her and that she could still go off with him, but she just didn’t know what would happen at this point. He would have to be more suspicious, but she just hoped his suspicions would not yet extend to her. She also had to hope that his second would not take action against her, as he definitely seemed suspicious.

Moving towards Jack, Cara called out, “Wait, please don’t leave me here,” a quiver running through her voice. She hoped to sound frightened, but only his response would tell her if she succeeded. She moved towards him, tried to catch up with him, and allowed herself to nearly fall, barely catching herself, with her whole body showing a slight quaking. As she got closer to him she said, “Please don’t leave me here. I, I am afraid of such violence as this.” Her eyes glanced quickly to the fighting, a shiver went down her body, and her voice continued to shake. Her eyes moved back to Jack, “I know how to please a man, but I do not know how to fight one. Please, take me with you; get me away from this violence. We can both get away; we can still have our fun.”

This was her only chance, if he refused she would have to give up the act and once again become a part of the violence. It would not be easy to get at her daggers, especially with his already out, but if he refused she would have to find a way to take him down. But then, she did have a talent for disarming opponents and that would likely be faster then attempting to grab her own weapons. Either way, she could not allow him to escape.

Carefully positioned around the table, Thindraug observed as Jack moved for the nearby stairs while his female associate pleaded with him for safety. It was a good move on her part, it was common practice for men to be raised with the idea that they needed to protect women, that they were not to hit ladies or let them be hit. Though she had not qualified for lady-like in her pursual of his carnal affections, she now seemed softer, more pitiable. It was a good façade; so good, in fact, that it was the perfect transition he required to make contact with Jack.

The brawl raged on, having split into two distinctive groups: Jack's crew and the pub's regulars. Perhaps the patrons weren't welcome to the idea of the gang imposing themselves on the atmosphere, but whatever the reason it kept the momentum of the fight going. One man, squat in stature and seemingly a regular, swung a broken chair leg as if it were a mace, thrashing anyone nearby as he moved closer to Caranrendis, Jack, his second, and now Thindraug. It seemed as though he was plowing his way through the gang in a drunken rage, headed straight for the spot where Jack and the lady stood.

Thindraug grit his teeth, knowing he would later regret what he was about to do, but charged forward past the others in spite of it. The stocky man bore down on their location like a kamikaze, swinging the chair leg in all directions so that he clubbed gut or chest or skull of anyone that came close. The two stampeding juggernauts collided directly in front of Caranrendis and Jack, due to the Thindraug's careful timing. He took a nasty blow to his right hip, but his great height and weight brought the smaller man crashing to the floor with him in a purposefully clamorous display of bravery.

The lupine looked up toward Cara from the wooden boards upon which he lay as he pushed the dazed man off of himself. "A lady's plea for protection does not go unheard. Flee, up the stairwell, I will follow at the rear to ensure your safety," he said, not only to Caranrendis but also to Jack and his second. If everything worked out, he would appear to be both hero and ally, another step in the direction toward gaining trust and cooperation. At any rate, they were soon to have two Concordance agents alone in a secluded area with the main target.

((The following post is written in rhyme))


Brusque motion from all around, carried Vaudeux in and out, through the bodies of the place, bashing, smashing, and ruining grace. But as he moved, he was not at all safe, for a pub brawl had begun and the experienced took to him in haste. He saw their lengthy, corpulent strides and hateful fires within their eyes, but as he weaved he worried not, for whatever fire they had, his was ten times as hot. The throng shifted in. Up came a bow and so Jupiter moved, blocking even harder and aiming to bruise. Those that surrounded him, intending to harm, were thrown into each other by the pained - to much alarm. The handsome man grunted while nearly being hit, but such was his dodging that he found his path acquit. From the space clear, his target darted, flew from the room, and up the stairs parted. The guardian made way in attempt to follow, but his space no longer proved hollow. All 'round lackeys ran and lackeys lunged, running after Jack to protect and Vaudeux to expunge.

A glint of silver caught his eye, flowing from a drunkards grip, a dagger with a puncturing purpose - Vaud's flesh he intended to rip. Yet the Maia’s mind was keen, as built as his body was strong, and so he leapt back catching hold of the man, to avoid the harmful prong. A breeze from behind caught Jupiter’s notice as another came rushing ahead, so with a pivot and a well-placed maneuver, wielded his attacker’s blade until the other caught it -and bled. The first spill of crimson, had the throng in panic about - as tension grew angrily - within the chaotic bout. Yet the spark threw away his victims, bopping one on the skull, a pain throbbing in his hand that was buzzing and ever-so dull.

From out of the clamor of bodies, wielding a sharp hickory stump, came a wild-faced brute with a bouncing belly hump. He came yet so fast, he came in with a persona so bold, and yet his brandishing came empty and his stride came too old. “For Jack!” yelled the belly, as brash as he was rude, bashing in chopping-wood motion, over the impeccably dressed dude. Jupiter only had time to raise his arm in block, and appreciate the attacks in that they were not aimed at his…

Cocked in a manner to suggest a retort Vaudeux grabbed the leg in haste, it quickly broke to leave his arm stinging, before he pummeled him in the waist. The belly crumpled as the Ainur found his way, from the trickle of diminishing attackers, the pile of drunkards, and away from the fray. Dodging a table and looking forthwith, he spied a pair of furry legs as they climbed the lift. It was then the leader played a different role, from angered patron to pursuer he shifted, so bounding up the steps after the escapees he drifted. It wasn’t long before he was breathing down their backs, his dangerous strides near, and his voice yelling so loud,

“Get your asses back here!”

All:
Jack seems very anxious to get out of the bar, but Caranrendis’s pleas are more than enough to make his cowardly heart turn about. It is very noticeable, and he turns about quickly every now and then to assess the situation. After responding to the action caused by Vaudeux, he eagerly heads upstairs – Cararendis on one arm, and Thindraug taking up the rear.

Caranrendis:
With fear in his eyes, Jack turns about. You can see the hesitation in his eyes, as well as the turning of the gears in his mind. His thought process is clear – maybe helping you will benefit him in some way. He says, “Aright! But hurry!” He grabs your arm and pulls you along, but stops when Thindraug hits the ground. However, moments after he runs back up the the stairs intent on going through the fire escape at the far end of the upper hall.

Thindraug:
You startle Jack as he begins to run with Cara at his side. However, he clearly sees the “sincerity” in your actions. He comments, “Help me, lupine, and I’ll make it worth your while!” It is the promise of a full purse. Without awaiting your response, however, he bolts.

Vaudeux:
Your actions have caused quite a bit of trouble for the patrons of the bar, and slowly you notice as the number of bruises and broken bones increases, the fewer enemies you have confronting you. Most of them are already on the ground, or have no interested in loosing to your might. You notice your two companions and your mark run up the stairs, but have another handful of adversaries to deal with before you may aide them. It is time to hurry, now.

OOC to All:
Excellent posts everyone. You may now continue. You are coming to the most imperative portion of the RP, so you must not allow Jack to escape or be killed.

OOC to Vaudeux:
The rhyme scheme of your post was excellent. Kudos.

For a moment Caranrendis feared that Jack would not allow her to come, that she would have to somehow force him to bring her along which might force her hand and give away more information then she was ready for him to know. She felt a great relief when he agreed, a relief that showed on her face but could luckily be seen as relief at the fact that he had agreed to help her, the “poor damsel in distress”. She knew that she was no “damsel in distress”, her accomplices would know the same, but it would see he saw some use for her anyways and actually had fallen into believing the act she was putting on. Cara knew that she was not the best actress, and was still surprised that her ruse was working with as weary as he should have been. I guess he must be lonely for the presence of a lady, Cara thought to herself, otherwise there is a good chance my little ruse would never have worked so well.

Either way, though the plan had deviated a little Cara was pleased with how things were going thus far, it seemed that they just may be able to get him away from his protection and she trusted that Vaudeux would not find it too difficult to escape the mess he had gotten himself into. She could hear the fighting and glanced back once in a while in a frightened glance, to catch sight of fists and bodies flying. Grunts of pain rung out through the room, and the crack of fists on flesh created their own melodious sound. She would have loved to have been a part of the fight, to pull her blade and her the slick gush of blood as it entered an adversary’s stomach, but that was not her part to play.

As for her second companion, Cara went to glance around swiftly once again, as if checking to make sure the fighting had not gotten too close, and tried to spot him when he landed in front of her. She jumped a little at his sudden appearance and felt a slight tug on her arm from where Jack was pulling her along but he stopped momentarily as well.

She watched the exchange between the lupine and Jack, her eyes flickering from one to another. She hoped it would just look like a bit of fear and a want for things to move along so they could reach safety, but she couldn’t be sure how the action might come across. It didn’t seem to matter anyways, Jack had decided to trust her comrade and it would seem they had just increased their chance of success greatly.

As Jack took off once again after accepting the help of Thindraug, Cara called out in a slightly shaken voice, “Thank you, thank you both for your help. I just hope we can get out of here before anything bad happens to any of the three of us.” With that her voice trailed off and she was once again being pulled along by Jack, her feet moving swiftly in order to keep up with his gait.

When they reached the top of the stairs Cara saw Jack looking towards the fire escape and she knew that she couldn’t let him be the first to go down. He may get smart if he were to climb down first and not wait for the damsel who he had agreed to help. No, she would have to get him to allow her to go first, then Jack would follow, and Thindraug would be third, bowing Jack in at the bottom. It was the best choice, but would a scared damsel really want to climb out the window first? Well, Cara thought to herself, said damsel might if she was more afraid of the fighting and being injured that way then any chance of a fall from the second story. I will just have to convince him of that when we reach the window.

That time came not more then a moment later as the window with the fire escape was only a short distance away. As soon as they reached it, luck fell to her side and Cara heard a loud crash from below. She allowed herself to jump in reaction and moved into the window, looking into Jack’s eyes pleadingly. With a slight hitch in her voice she said, “Please, may I go down first. I fear the fight may come up the stairs and I can not protect myself. I fear the fight much more then a climb down from this height.” Without even waiting for an answer, Cara began to climb out the window and work her way slowly down the fire escape, hoping that Jack would not object.

((OOC: sorry for the delay, school got crazy what with 3 papers to write and 3 finals to take. It’s summer now so I should be able to keep up much better through the rest of this thread.))