There were few places on this war-torn world of Arda that Vaul could find peace... where he could calm his soul and become the knight he had been all those years ago.

His home of the grasslands bore too many harsh memories; he had spilt blood in more places than he cared to remember, and he had no real place to call home... but here, for reasons unknown to even Vaul, he felt calm.

He was genuinly surprised at this because, ironicly, he despised the sea. Vaul loathed and detested traveling on board ships as he always felt... trapped and confined.

Vaul stood, resting on the iron railings, just staring out towards the oncomming night; the world aflame in the distant sunset's crimson glow. The gentle wind felt cool as it carressed his skin, blowing all his troubles away.

His great armour locked away in a trunk, back at the inn, Vaul felt free in his simple, black leather, riding clothes.

Vaul looked over to where he had rested the Yang Spear.

"How many more battles must we fight before we are finished in this world?"

Ships hurried to and fro at the docks of Adune, each having its own destination and purpose. Slidoo had his own destination and purpose as well, but he did not prefer the busyness that the people around him seemed to revel in. The skink took his time, carefully plotting his next move, not taking action until the full plan was set.

Thus, he rested on the boards of the dock, waiting patiently for his courier to arrive. After some time, a sea gull came down to where he stood, revealing a rolled up piece of paper in its beak. Thank you," Slidoo replied. The gull nodded, flapped his wings, and was away.

Slidoo laid the paper on the ground and unraveled it with his body to examine its contents. He ran across it left to right, reading one line at a time. When he was finished, he licked his lips. This was what he was looking for. Pleased, he was about to turn around and carry out the orders when he spotted a man resting on the railings of the dock, apparently talking to himself. The skink strolled up to where the man stood, making himself visible. "The battles are not over until full victory is in our hands... or unless we die." The skink licked his lips again. "I know which of the two I'd prefer."

Looking round for the source of the voice, Vaul noticed the small figure next to him. Quite unperturbed by the talking skink Vaul did not bother to reach for his spear.

"Quite true small one, but my victories have been hollow for many a year now. I have fought battles across the world for the holiest good and for the darkest chaos yet I still find myself here posing the same question." Vaul slipped into thought for a few moments.

"Anyway, where are my manners? My name is Vaul. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Well met, Vaul. I am Slidoo," the skink said, almost with a hiss, which was unintentional. "I require no assistance, I was in fact on my way to carry out some business, but... I must tell you that soon, you shall see that your endeavors have not been in vain. Soon we shall see the fruit of our labors, and we shall see that the rewards are ours for the taking."

He scurried onto the iron railings, getting a better look at the open water, the small boats going about their way. "Patience is key here, Vaul. Patience will show us who the victor is." His tongue hissed forward as his blue tail wriggled with delight. He wasn't just telling Vaul what he wanted to hear. What Slidoo said, in Slidoo's opinion, was the absolute truth. Soon, Lomedor would see the dawn of a new age, and the rest of Arda would follow. Soon, the toil of many would pay off.

"You are wise for a skink... but then again, merely the ability to talk would make you extremely wise for a skink... No offence intended. But we shall see, I hope you are right."

Looking out into the bay, Vaul watched as the last of the day's trading boats sailed into the harbour looking for the safety of their moorings. In that moment Vaul found they were not so different to himself. For ninety percent of their existance they were free, unbound and unchained as they sailed the open waters. But now and again even the mightiest of ships needed a place to make birth.

"I feel in the mood for a walk. You mentioned some business, is there somewhere I can take you? I'm am fairly sure that I can get you there quicker than if you had to traverse the port on your own. Again no offence meant but in situations such as this, size is usually an advantage."

Though the man who called himself Vaul had mentioned he did not intend offense, Slidoo couldn't help but wince as the man compared him to the rest of his species. Slidoo was obviously no ordinary skink, and he didn't appreciate being compared to ordinary ones. It was something he got a lot, and something he genuinely detested. He tried not to show his disgust at Vaul, for the man had made a casual mistake and meant well towards the small reptilian. He decided the man deserved a second chance. Vaul had been right about one thing. Slidoo surely was quite wise.

Slidoo answered the dark knight, not telling him that he actually had a mount that would answer his beckoning call and would take him anywhere he pleased. "A walk sounds nice, and I thank you for your kind offer. I do happen to have some business that needs attending to, it is a little ways away, in the market place where they sell the fish and stuff of that nature. Do you know the place?"

"I have been here many times before. I know the entire city fairly well. I come here to look for work or to rest. Where is it you seek to go?"

Vaul had not wished to mention any specifics to his... ethicly dubious line of work as he was still unsure of the skinks allegiance. No doubt this creature was a member of the Tiny Terrors Guild, he had come across a variety of these talking animals, some of whome posessed great power. Vaul knew better than to underestimate any creature on Arda... many of them turned out to be either sorcerers or, like in the case of his Mistress, shapeshifters or demons.

"May I ask a question of you Sildoo? You are a member of the Tiny Terrors, are you not?"

It was irrelevant at this point in time how Vaul had heard of what some called the Tiny Terrors. It was perhaps one of the most secretive of all the organizations in Arda, only those invited to be part of it were supposed to know of its existence. Had word gotten out already?

Whatever had happened, Slidoo needed to lay down a cover story and divert attention away from the subject of the Tiny Terrors. "The Tiny Terrors? Can't say the name means much to me," he trailed off, as if he was in thought. "But, I prefer to work alone. Ttoday may be an exception, however. I would like you to accompany me down to the market, where we may perchance see a scoundrel that owes me an explanation for some past deeds. The perpetrator in question happens to be a weasel. Care to join me?" He crawled around a bit, clinging on to Vaul's boot, looking up at the man. If the knight responded favorably, the skink would climb up the man's limbs and let him lead the way. If he declined, it was all the same to Slidoo. He'd have his pet bat ready at the sound of a whistle to come and pick him up, to take him to where he needed to be.

"Very well."
Noting the pause, Vaul decided not to pursue the point. Trying to remember the name of the animal who had aided him long ago, and informed him of the Terrors, Vaul stared towards the sky. It was no use, his memory was not what it had once been so he just focused on the situation at hand.

"Climb up Slidoo and we shall depart." Vaul watched as the skink made its way up to his arm and then set off in the direction of the market.

There was something about Vaul and his appearance that made people generally nervous and want to move out of his way, so progress was quick. The pair soon arrived at the market area which, although still busy, was calming down in preperation for the night.

Slidoo wasn't particularly enjoying the ride as he clinged to Vaul's armor. The fast movement made him dizzy, but he didn't show the signs of it. When they finally reached the market place, he was forced to open his eyes and survey the area.

One vendor in particular caught his attention. "There," said the skink, and he pointed his front limb at the small merchant tent, spreading his fingers. "That's where we need to be."

He slid down Vaul, not wanting his target to see him riding atop a human. The ground suited him better anyway. He wasn't sure if Vaul would follow, but the man was welcome to witness what took place. Slidoo eyed the owner of the tent, a fruit vendor, who was reading a newspaper while waiting for a customer. Right next to the man was a cream-colored weasel with long whiskers and a bushy tail. Slidoo slithered up to him.

The weasel spoke first. "Slidoo! I did not... I did not expect to see you here!"

Slidoo hissed. "You know who sent me, and you know I never fail." The skink turned his attention back towards Vaul. "Watch this closely, it may be something that interests you."

Rather unconcerned with what business Slidoo had with the weasel, yet having nothing better to do with his time at that specific moment, Vaul stayed to watch.

Watching as the conversation unfolded between the skink and the weasel Vaul awaited the climax.

The thought had occured to Vaul that this was not how he had pictured his day going... watching a heated argument between a skink and a weasel... why were these surreal days always happening to him?

"Slidoo, we can work this out! I mean, I know I owe you, one way or the other, for that botched up mission, but we can-"

"The window of opportunity has closed for you, vermin," Slidoo hissed, not even giving the weasel the dignity of uttering its name. "There will be no working this out. Not this time."

Slidoo turned his head around and winked at Vaul. Then, a screech came out of his mouth so loud it is unimaginable. From the skies, a winged terror came spiraling down towards the market, a bat, dark as night itself. It had heeded Slidoo's call and needed no further instruction as his talons dug deep into the weasel's flesh. The rodent squealed endlessly, begging Slidoo to stop the flying beast from attacking, but the skink gave him no impression that he was even listening. He climbed up to Vaul's shoulder and whispered into the man's ear. "His name was Dralon, and he double crossed me."

Watching the bat descend from the sky and savage the weasel, Vaul found it a rather inefficient way of despensing justice.

"His name was Dralon, and he double crossed me."

Turning to the skink, Vaul began, "You had merely to have asked and I could have wrung his neck in much less time."

Watching the commotion that had been caused in the market by the bloody scene, Vaul continued, "It may be better if we vacated this place sooner rather than later. I would rather not get involved with an enraged shopkeeper today. I have killed enough people recently..." Vaul trailed off, as he inwardly scolded himself for his slip in speech.

Vaul was right of course, and yet at the same time he couldn't be more wrong. Slidoo tried to exlain this to him in his own way.

"You are right, my friend. If I had called upon you to deal out my judgement, it would have been much swifter." The skink paused and hissed for added effect. "But had the thought entered your mind that perhaps quicker is not always better? Dralon needed to feel the torture before he died. He needed to feel it, Vaul. Efficiency is not always what it seems."

Slidoo climbed around to Vaul's other shoulder and blinked his eyes. "But you are right, we should leave this place, though the shopkeeper is aware of the deeds his weasel has commited, and will not enter into fury today." Almost forgetting, Slidoo got closer to Vaul's ear, and said, "And you should be proud of your killing. You have quite a talent."

"Do not get me wrong, I understand your methods... I would just rather refrain from engaging in a battle before my mission has even begun..."

Vaul stopped suddenly... he realised his mistake a second after he said it. His mission was not due to start for quite some hours but until then he was to keep a low profile and not attract attention to himself.

"Oh? A mission, you say?" Slidoo's interest had been piqued. He wished to know what the Black Knight spoke of. Much news reached Slidoo through his contacts throughout the realm, but until now, he had known very little about the man, or his dealings. He wanted to know more. "Vaul, is there something you have not told me? Something I can, perhaps... assist with?"

((OOC: Holy mullet, short post :/ )

"I should not have spoken, my master would not be pleased." Vaul replied to the skink. Thinking for a second, Vaul continued, "If you stay in the city much longer though... you will undoubtably find out." He spoke with a dark smirk.

As first Avatar to the Guild of Lost Souls, Vaul had been appointed this special mission from Lord Sloth himself. He had been sent to Lómëdor, along with Wrath, to await further instructions before the mission was to begin in full. He felt proud that he had been trusted enough, by the leader of the Seven Sins, to play a key role in their first strike.

The Avatar of Wrath would be known... and feared throughout this doomed world of Arda... but for now, he would bide his time, keep low and wait for Sloth's command.

"Is there anywhere you need to be my small friend? If not would you care to join me for a drink? Night is setting in and I'd hate to have to... deal... with any foolish people hoping to part me with my money."

(wow a topic that says open.)

The land was filled with evil, now more than ever. Yet even now as she walked down the usual streets of the city, she knew somthing was wrong. Her swords white flames burned, but not the low dim flames that usually covered the blade, from the evil in the cities crime, no this flame was fierce, an untamed beast that threatened to consume all it touched. She took it upon herself to find the cause.

" I seem to be getting near. The flames have grown more intense." Her pace quickened, her casual walk turning into a worried sprint.


"If you stay in the city much longer though... you will undoubtably find out."

Undoubtably find out what? This could be bad. Ok I'll Just go over and ask.

She casually walked closer though she keeped watching for sudden movements.

Above everything else, Slidoo wanted to find out exactly what Vaul was referring to. "I suppose I'll have to stick around then. My curiosity has gotten the better of me." At that instant, a figure appeared to be walking closer toward the two, a flaming sword in hands. The skink turned his attention back to Vaul. "Have you invited this person here? Do you know who this is?" The new arrival did not seem to bode well for the pair, and Slidoo was already churning up in his mind a plan of escape, should the person be more powerful than imagined. But he would not run prematurely. That would wait until the last possible second. He needed to figure out just who this new arrival was and what their purpose was in striding up to Vaul and Slidoo.

If all goes well at this encounter, Slidoo thought to himself, I shall have Vaul take me to the pub. We will see then, perhaps, more of his master's plan. Whoever his master may be.