Meglumar sat off of one of the docks, just looking out at the water. FINALLY, he had some peace and quiet! No crashing metal things of doom, no thieves breaking his masks, nothing! He was in town as a way to rest, and decided to spend some time taking in the sights. Right now, that sight was the port!

It was busy, many ships and many people, but they were paying no mind the the masked man, which made him able to relax, oddly. That and the water made him feel like he could just fall asleep at any moment. Which was a good thing and a bad thing. Good, in that he was relaxing. Bad, in that he really MIGHT fall asleep and fall into the water!

He saw a few ships arriving, and moved himself so that the disembarking people would not push him off. So many people coming to this large city, maybe he should buy something, bring it back home, and give it to his parents? Such a souvenir would be nice, right? A reminder of the large city far away, and the things it had. As well, as the things it had not. Like the small town charms!

He suddenly felt someone push him, likely on accident. He grabbed onto the ledge of the dock just as he was about to fall off. "Oh crap, oh crap, curse city people and their inability to watch where they are walking...." Muttered the paladin, pulling himself up. THAT was a close one. Maybe back in the town of Estolad, he WAS being truthful. Maybe he was more of a clown than a paladin! His bad luck certainly seemed to make it seem that way! He could only cringe in fear as to what may lie in his future now! If he WAS a clown, he would NEVER be able to stop evil!

Poor Meglumar then. Fate had it out for him. Ian wasn't the one who pushed him, though he was nearby when it happened. He smirked when he saw it happen. Not a sadist who had it out for Meglumar per se, just someone who appreciated physical humor.

Ian was a bit distinctive from the crowd. Actually a "bit" was putting it gently, Ian stood out like a sore thumb! Not only was he, well, taller then most people by a few inches, he had shimmery bronze hair! One would think he went to the FORGE not the barber's, to get it taken care of. And that was just his hair. He wore a distinct black cloak around himself, to keep his normal garb clean.

Ian though, was used to people staring. He had unwanted attention from the fairer sex, due to a bloodline with a few nymphs and elves thrown in. Indeed, physical traits of both nymph and elf could be seen, such as a smoother face then most, very slightly pointed ears, and so on.

Well, moving on, Ian was just silently amused at Meglumar's predicament. He had spent many months planning his movement throughout the world of Arda, and he found this to be a good start.

Meglumar sighed as he sat down once again, sighing. Well, there went the moment of relaxation, eh? Any and all good feelings left him, now, due to the clown thought. Not surprising after all. His time as a paladin was not going so well. Granted, it had only been a month so he still had a lot to do. He'd done some good, helping people. but he'd not found the glorious work he hoped for.

But, the more the thought on it, did he need the glory? No, that's not why he was a paladin. He was a paladin to help! Not to be famous. The more he thought on this, the more he smiled. he HAD helped people, no matter how small! Even those who tried to hurt him, he helped somehow...maybe.

"....Heh." He said, closing his eyes and laying back as the crowd passed. Maybe he was a clown, but he was also a paladin! He was a clowny paladin! He may not have been good with people, but he was good with doing good for people! And that was all he cared about.

"Ah, such a glorious day!" He said to himself. Nothing could ruin this now. He was in a better mood than before! Nothing, not even rain could ruin this day. The gods could try all they want (And they probably would!) to ruin his day, but nothing short of the apocalypse could ruin Meglumar's joy!

While the greater pantheon was too busy to notice that, and no doubt the Mistress of Chaos would've loved such an oppurtunity, one of the demi-god's of irony, fateful encounters, massive titles, practical jokes, randomness, and shaving cream elementals couldn't resist. Unfortunately, the event he set in motion was quickly added on by the demons of boredom, who goaded the dark demi-gods of Misfortune, Unpleasent noises, itchiness, annoying people, and circumstance into action. This got the Trickster beings' attention, and they added to the fun. What ensued would later be known to the lower demi-divinities as "The day the gods of balance should have been paying more attention".

A thin, but heavy, wooden pole began to fall, due to a bungling shopkeeper who shoe's happened to be untied tripping onto a display which knocked into it. The pole fell onto a cart that was carrying Marbles and children's toys. "Coincidentally", a mass exodus of people from a bar that was just closing it's doors interected with the cart's path, and so, many people we're sent stumbling and slipping around on marbles. One patron, who happened to be an adventurer holding a "Flame Cutlass" that he had been showing off, fell onto a dwarf who was holding a keg of ale on his back. The resulting explosion of THAT blew a cloud of random alchemic ingredients from an herbalist's store around, which began interacting randomly. One cloud of...stuff...created a horizontal column of fire in the middle of the air. Some liquids ran together into the water and happened to re-animate a nearby fish salesmen's wares, and combine them to form a man-sized monster with a sailor's outfit, huge chattering teeth, and an anchor pattern in one eye.

People began screaming and trying to escape the area, naturally. One of them knocked Ian right into Meglumar. "GAH!"

Meanwhile, a building collapsed, due to the strain of the various explosions that happened near it. The debris blocked the villagers from one of two exits from the area, so they all ran to the other, trampling over each other in the process. Sadly, some jackass threw a "Potion of Slapstick Comedy" onto the ground, which made it as slippery as oily ice. People began slipping and sliding around, crashing into each other. People were getting angry.

Suddenly, a riot broke out. Angry Mob! Sadly, they began slipping into the water.

Ian, meanwhile, was dealing with the insanity not very well. His temper was rising FAST, and he was still smashed up with Meglumar. "RRRRG!" And so, he took out his sword, and began using it as a walking stick to steady himself.

...God's damn it all! Meglumar twitched. He then twitched again. This topped the flaming metal thing of death and the monster inside. And THAT was saying something. Then some random person flew at him. "Ow! are you alright sir?" He asked, once the person was off of him. He sat up, and looked around at the chaos, only to see that it was basically resolved by the people falling into the water. ".....City people are weird." He muttered.

He then turned at the person and sighed. "My apologies if you are hurt, sir. Thank goodness my sword was not unsheathed, or you could have been killed!" He said with a small laugh. OK so it was a bad joke. It was a good thing he DID make his living as a paladin and NOT a clown. He'd be dead broke, and starving otherwise. Unless he was in situational comedy, in which case he'd probably have enough money to buy the city.

He then noticed the mans hair. Could he have been...No way, and he was walking around without a mask on?! Did he LIKE the attention or something?! "......Sir...I don't mean to be so abrupt, but are you part nymph?" another part nymph person in the city was amazing. But what was more amazing was that this one could stay out in public without a swarm of females. Could he control his powers?! Or were they not developed yet?

Either way, it did not matter, did it? He may not have even been a nymph! Maybe he was just involved in a very bad smelting accident, or something? It could be a second explanation for the hair, right? And things like that, while uncommon, do happen when magical items are in the mix!

Ian was a tad surprised. And a bit embarrassed. YES, he DID like the attention, so long as it didn't get too amorous. And it helped give him a bit of charm.

"Yes. Yes I am. Though it is quite diluted. I just look very good, as opposed to having the calls of "MARRY ME! MARRY! ME! MARRY ME!" that usually accompany those with a thicker bloodline. I am approximately 1/8th nymph, as opposed to half-breed. Judging by your mask, and your cloak...and all your other concealing garments, I'm safe in guessing you're at least half-breed. But Lolthlomendil DAMN IT! Figures a riot gets set off just as I start off on a journey. What in the world could have set off that!? You'd think some higher power had it out for us..."

Ian was wary, despite having a racial companion for now. He could see the sword Meglumar held, and it looked good-aligned to him. Probably given out by a temple or something. Ian inwardly sighed. Some temples gave out wafers, others gave out weapons. Sign of the times, that.

"Let's move to someplace where we can talk, an dnot have outrageous lunacy erupt around us, shall we?"

"Yes, I am a half breed, My mother was a full blooded Nymph. A shame most humans do not have the mental concentration to avoid the affects, neh?" He asked. Finally, someone who could get the general idea of what sort of hell being part nymph was like! Maybe! Hopefully. Possibly. Oh, who was he trying to kid, not likely. Still, it was good to see a fellow part-nymph in town. Not TOO surprising, this was such a large city....

This other part-nymph suggested moving elsewhere. "Sounds good. I've had enough of the water for now." He said. "I think i see just the place." He said, moving away, signaling for Ian to follow. He walked into an alley way, nice sized, yet secluded. He might even be able to removed his mask! Not that he would. He knew his bad luck too well. If he removed it, someone would come. Then there would be a riot.

Still, though, he let down his hood, and looked to where Ian, who likely followed him, and held out his hand. "Nice to meet a fellow part nymph at last. I am Meglumar Odai, Paladin. And you are?" He asked, as courteously as he could. He did not want to make an enemy of another part nymph. What worse enemy than one who knows all the weaknesses of your species?

Ian Immediately tried to tug off Meglumar's mask. "If I'm going to show you my face, you should show me yours." Ian was quirky like that. "I never forget a face, but names are a lot harder. I'll forget you if I don't see what you look like. THEN I'll tell you what my name is, and anything else you'd have whimsy to know." The fact Meglumar stated he was a Paladin outright set off warning bells in Ian's head. But hey, if an encounter happened...this WAS a nice, secluded alley.

As soon as his mask was off, Meglumar practically jumped out of his skin. He should not be like this! What if someone tried to take a short cut through here?! He moved so that Ian's head would block anyone from seeing HIS face. "Uh...y-y-y-y-yeah...OK...." he said, grabbing his mas out of Ian's hands. He wanted to be able to place it back on if need be.

"A-A-A-A-As I H-H-H-Have s-s-s-s-aid, M-M-M-My name is M-M-Meglumar Od-d-d-d-dai." He said, nervous as he could be. In this city, it was VERY possible someone would be by this alley. He needed to get this over with quickly, before he panicked himself into a grave. "A-A-A-A-And you are?" He continued.

Ian almost snickered. Almost. If it came to combat, all he had to do was get that mask off, and his opponent would never be able to use a spell with verbal components.

"Nice Stuttering. Anyways, My name is Ian DeSarva Vaner, 3rd heir to the head of the Vaner clan. I am a Mageknight, similar to your Paladinhood, only without a divine alignment." He then began an exagerrated imitation of Meglumar, fidgeting with his hands and shaking in his boots to add to the effect.

"S-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-so...I-i-i-i-i w-w-w-w-a-s-s-s-s-s thi-thi-thi-thi-thi-thi-thi-thi-thi-thi-thi-thi-thi-thi-thi-nking-g-g, m-m-m-m-m-m-ay-may-maybe you sh-sh-should...should..."

Then Ian abruptly stopped the imitation, and showed his knack for making fun of people.

"TAKE A SELF-CONFIDENCE CLASS."

"I-I'm sure it's easy to say that when you've not had the curse that IS the half blooded version of the nymph enchantment!" He said, distraught. "When you've accidentally lost a mask, and thereby been unable to so much as leave a building in fear of being torn limb from limb, then and ONLY then will you truly be able to understand!"

"ANYWAYS......" He said, trying to regain his composure. "Mage knight, eh? Interesting. Never heard of one before, Battlemages are the more common ones." He said, thinking out loud. "Anyways, what sort of magics do you use, if you mind my asking?" he asked. Just how different were these "Mage Knights" to a paladin?

Ian was a bit obviously uncomfortable at that. "Well...........Not many. I've only started. A Mageknight is simply the name my family gives to it's warriors, who traditionally are sent out into the world to attain strength. As such, I've begun my trek, and don't have a wide variety fo spells. But I do have a list of one's I intend to purchase."

He then took a deep breath. Ian has large lungs.

"Summon Lightning
Telekinesis
Telepathy
Summon Hands
Ghost Sound
Meteor
Falling Stars
Sunbeam
Supernova
Haste
Summon Warrior
Summon Master Warrior
Fear Tap
Sleep
Mental Anguish
Phantasmal Horror
Foresight
Spastic Limbs
Arcane Insanity
Earthquake
"

Potent stuff, a good ambition. The underlying sinister tone of some of the spells may clue in Meglumar, if he's perceptive.

Ian more or less ignored Meglumar's one short burst of anythign close to hostility.

Meglumar blinked as he heard that long list. Those spells, while for the most part sounding standard to mages, had some negative connotations. Was this other Nymph one of the less-than-kind people he was out to stop? "I....see...." He said, sounding somewhat hesitant, as he re-dawned his mask. Ian now gave him a bad feeling. He wasn't as skilled as other paladins in discovering a person's true intent, but he still had his gut instincts.

"Well, you know all about Paladins, likely. healing magics, and spells to defeat evil, as well as the standard sword and armor." He said, putting his hood up now. What should he do? He had no proof to this, just hints. He couldn't beat Ian up and take him to authorities, he'd done nothing wrong. He'd just hinted at a slightly dubious motive, with those spells.

"I certainly can say, despite only having met you, you certainly are an interesting person, Mr. Vaner." He said, maintaining his politeness. If Ian was not the best of people, like Meglumar suspected, Ian probably knew he knew. If not, he thought of Meglumar as strange, more than likely. No matter what, though, they both were unable to fight right now, weren't they? If Ian attacked or something, his cover was going to be blown. If Meglumar did, he'd be breaking the rules. What a strange situation.

An awkward silence set in.

Wind blew.

A tumbleweed, accidentally summoned by a druid somewhere in town, blew by.

Crickets chirped.

The tumbleweed smashed the crickets, abruptly ending the chirping.

Ian Knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knewthat Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian had ill intentions. (And that no one would ever be able to figure out who knew what once they read THIS paragraph.)

"I hate awkward silences....I don't quite know how to respond to your claims of me being interesting. Aside from the shared bloodline, I do not see where either of us could be remarkable to the other, really..."

"It's not just shared blood line. Your profession as a Mageknight is similar, yet very different to my job as a paladin, in the methods we use. Yet, I wager our motives are different. After all, everyone's motives are different!" He said, now less nervous with his mask on. "Anyways...I...should probably be off. I have paladin things to do. Farewall, Mr. Vaner. I hope we meet again."

Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian knew that Meglumar knew that Ian had ill intentions. He had no doubts that Ian knew that Meglumar knew tha-OK, no, I'm not going any further with that.

The point was, They both knew the other knew. Since neither could do anything, it would be best to separate, lest more awkward silences continue, with the possibility of some girl finding the two nymph males and making a high pitches squeal of ear-screeching pitch. Maybe the next time they met, though, it would be different. They'd probably be fighting to the death.

Ian took an alternate route out of the alley. He hoped they wouldn't meet again. Battles to the death were never fun, unless there was a sick motive behind it. And Ian didn't want to start his plans until he was powerful enough to do so. He'd lie in wait. He'd play along with those imperceptive of his motives, and once he was strong enough...strike.

"Adieu."