OOC- The Jewelry Store is across the street from Caissa's Book Store. She's going to join us once the fighting begins.
This will be very interesting to rp. Hopefully it wont get to confusing.

IC- There were 8 of them. All were of monstrous build and looked like hell had chewed them up and spit them back out. Larry the leader growled to Raven who was picking the lock of a wealthy jewelers store “Hurry up the guards patrol this area and Mondael has been know not to put enough sleepin powder in their drinks before.” Mondael looked up at Larry at the mention of his most recent fumble and just shrugged his shoulders, he didn’t care.

Alexander had gotten under control after their second run in with some local guards telling them they had to go home, or shut their yap holes, it was getting late and in an hour or so they’d all have to go. At least the pages would, he refused to go without at least 5-6 hours of sleep. It was almost completely dark when he heard someone growl vicious words at another. He couldn’t hear what was said so he quickly slowed his pace wondering what was going on.

Gwynn followed Alexander, silently stepping next to the other page. Gwynn's copper locks fell in waves over her face, and her hazel eyes twinkled as she took in the robbery.

"What shall we do?" the page asked Alexander uncertainly, staying close to his side. Gwynn was ready to fight, ready to do anything, really.

Livia could hear masculine voices that weren't those of Falik or Alexander. Hurrying to catch up, she whispered, "Ur, what's going on?" she knew she had her tiny dagger, but still, it was tiny. Poking the nearest member of the party in the small of the back, she repeated her query.

OOC: I kind of made up the name for the band of thugs. Is that fine? If not, I'll edit and have Caissa just be confused.

Caissa was awakened by footsteps. "Oh, Mithros, not The Theives," she murmured. Lighting a candle, she ran downstairs with her sword, praying they weren't robbing her bookstore. Instead, she saw that the jewelry store across the street from her house/shop was being robbed. "Oh, gods!" she nearly yelled. The proprietor was a friend of hers.

But there was nothing she could do. Her sword-fighting skills would probably be no match for their brute strength. Looking out the window once more, she saw a small band of people that didn't look to be part of the Theives. "Please don't let them get hurt, Goddess," she muttered. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she watched, just to be on the safe side.

ooc- well, i'm just gonna post here...

ic-
Kathlayne ran after the two pages, and soon caught up. Then she slowed down and asked, " So, what exatly is are plan of action?" She was eager to teach these theives a lesson, but she was kind of afraid that someone would get hurt. However, Kathlayne pushed those thoughts out of her head.

Seeing Caissa near by, she thought Well, at least there's an adult near by who can help us if we get into a real fix. Kathlayne gripped her dagger....just in case.

ooc-sorry i'm posting as penelope, but i forgot to log out.

Gwynn smiled nervously at Kathlayne, her throat tightening. We really could get ourselves in serious trouble here! the page thought edgily, but forced herself to be brave. I'll do it for Alexander. But, Goddess, please don't let him get hurt. Gwynn gave a murmered Yamani prayer, and as a chill wind rippled her hair, moved closer to Alexander.

If Alexander gets injured, I sware I will commit suicide. Gwynn brushed back her hair as the breeze whipped it around her face.

Falik gritted his teeth as he saw why everyone had suddenly slowed down. They hadn't been spotted yet but it was only a matter of time.

He quickly grabbed his dagger and looked to see the grim look on all the rest of the group's faces. In a barely audible whisper he murmered, "plan? I can probably muster a flash of light or something to obscure us, it wont last though."

The back of his neck prickled. He hated using magic at the best of times, but if it'd give them an advantage it was worth it.

Gwynn's face tightened in worry. Seeing Falik draw his dagger, Gwynn pulled out her belt-knife. The blade shown, well polished steel, and a small jewled shone on the hilt. Topez and emerald were placed together, a waving line dividing the two gems. Raven Armory sported the type of knife. Gwynn had received this the first year of training. It had been a lucky present, but now her parents weren't as well-off as they used to be, resulting in lack of expensive luxuries. Northwatch had been having rough times with the Scanrans.

But I do have FireDancer, Gwynn told herself, then shook her head. How can I be thinking of gifts in a time like this?! The page flashed an uncertain look in Falik's direction.

"Are...are we really going to fight them?" Gwynn asked in a small voice, pointing a small hand in the direction of the Theives. She was ready to fight if they had to, but how were they going to fight. Gwynn couldn't bare think of injuring just a simple theif, enemies were another thing, but theives? Or perhaps they could just capture them, and take them to court. Gwynn swallowed nervously, her hand clenched around the dagger.

OOC: Um, Caissa's inside, watching through the window, at least that's where I think she is..

IC: Livia saw Gwynn and Falik draw their daggers, and took it as an unspoken prompt to draw her own. She saw the name imprinted on the handle: Martin Heart. Oh, Da, she thought.

Clearing her mind, she took another step forward.

"Not if we don't have to." Falik replied in answer to Gwynn's question. "However if it comes to it I'd rather they went down than us! They don't look like the type who are going to say Goddess bless and send us merrily on our way."

Inwardly he thought, if we survive this, Lord Genlith is going to KILL us.

ooc- sorry, i guess i didn't read caissa's post clearly.

ic-
Kathlayne was starting to get a bit nervous, and she too pulled out her dagger, a silver blade, with an emerald and a saphire set in the hilt. She made a mental note to herself to thank her friend back home for giving it to her. Well, I really hope we don't have to fight, but if we do, I'd better be prepared. So, Kathlayne began to do streching for combat.

Kathlayne's temper was rising, despite her effort to control it. Well, we need to come up with a plan that involves everyone. She thought hottly, but then realized she was being a snob. Well, if the plan workes, who cares who's in it!

"Yes, and I never said I'd rather be killed than the Theives," Gwynn replied to Falik's comment crossly. The page blushed, biting her lip. "I'm sorry, Falik...I just...I'm really sorry..."

Gwynn shook her head. "The magic idea. I think that would probably work, to either lure the Theives away and ambush from the back or hide us. But what will we do then? If we are going to use magic."

Alexander thought as quick as lightning. He turned to Falik and asked "Can you make the light come from the other end of the street? If you can we can have them run to us, and from there they can surrender or... we fight. It's are duty, this is why we train, to keep people from senseless danger and injustice caused by others. If anyone doesn't want to help speak now, there is no turning back. You could do us a favor and get the watch."

Why is the watch not here now? This is an upper part of the market district, there should be patrols. Mithros knows we ran into enough of them on the way here? Alexander thought perplexed.

Gwynn smiled at Alexander as he announced his idea. "Yes, you're brilliant Alexander." The page squinted her eyes in the darkness, looking in the direction of the thugs. "We'd better hurry, though. Where are all the others?"

Gwynn glanced at Alexander, then Falik, Kathlayne, and Livia. There were many more in the group, at least those who had joined them at the dancing dove, but Gwynn wasn't at all sure if they were coming.

"I can do that," replied Falik. "It'll be a bright light so avert your eyes from it and it'll sweep up towards us, I can't promise how long it'll last though, a matter of seconds maybe. I think I can throw in some strange noises too. Just to get them runining." He grinned quickly.

"I'll warn you when I'm about to do it."

He shut his eyes and began to look inwards to the small flame of sand coloured magic that burned inside. He called the flame, shaping it with his mind. When he felt the magic trickling down his arms to his fingertips he opened his eyes. He was sweating slightly with the effort.

"Ready?" he asked the others.

Gwynn gulped. "Yeah," the page answered Falik, staring at the bazhir. Gwynn hadn't found out Falik had the Gift until only a few months ago. The Northwatch page wished she had magic, but she didn't.

Gwynn moved her hazel eyes away from Falik, obeying his suggestion. The page glanced quickly around at the others, seeing if they were ready.

"I'm ready."Kathlayne said grimly. She pushed aside her fears and doubts, and then backed away, hiding behind a slightly protrunding wall of a shop.

ooc- sorry it's so short, but i didn't know what else to say....

"I'm ready," Livia announced. She took a huge breath. She hated strange noises.

OOC: Same thing as Kathlyne, can't think of anything better to say...

"Falik, I didn't know you had the Gift!" Meridan exclaimed. Not too loudly though. "Look, if you need to be hidden, I can make us invisible, it'll look like the air is attacking...That is, if you want me to, I mean, it's something I'm good at." She sighed and stopped talking. She had come up a bit later than the others. Upon exiting the Dove, she had had a bit of trouble with a few drunken men, and was forced to knock them out with a half empty bottle of brandy, snatched from the hand of a passerby.
Meridan drew her sword, Rielath, and held it so that the rubies set in the hilt danced with light. Rubies, she thought, the official gem of Fief Redrose. I'll do the Fief justice tonight. She stretched a bit, to loosen up the joints in her back. "All right, I'm ready." She whispered, then even more quietly; "I'm in the mood for a good fight."

Falik nodded quickly at Meridan. "It might help, don't burn yourself out doing it though," he warned in a whisper.

"Okay, don't look directly at the light. One...two..three!"

He sent a bolt of sandy coloured light streaking down the road shaping it with his mind as it moved so it broadened and shone brilliantly, a strange howling noise filling the air. Then the light burst in to a blinding white flash that lasted what seemed like many seconds and was gone.

In the background he heard the shouts of the thugs as they ran from the lights and the noise and then exclaimations of being half blind as the brilliant flash had filled the street. With luck now not only were they running towards them now, they couldn't see a thing.

He swayed slightly as the exhilleration of using magic left him. He steadied himself and prepared to fight.

Meridan closed her eyes for a moment, then concentrated her magic and sent it out in a web that covered all of the small company. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She could not see any of her companions. Actually, she though suddenly, This could be a bad idea. We might hurt one of our own... Quickly, she cast another web of blue/green magic, this one let those who were invisible see their companions. The girl squinted at her friends. Bright spots were still appearing before her eyes, a result of Falik's spell, and the effect that using her Gift had on her. She blinked several times, and the spots faded. She could now see the others, and also, perhaps more importantly, the rather large thugs that were racing towards them.

Livia was still blinking as she got over Falik's bright light. It hadn't scared her as much as she had anticipated. In fact, she was giggling. "Livia, stop," she ordered herself. But it had actually been rather funny, those thugs running away. Deep breaths. Deep breaths.

As Meridan's magic covered them, Livia felt safer. "It's going to be fine. It's going to be fine."

Uh-oh Kathlayne thought, panicking a bit. But as she saw Meridan and Falik's magic, she calmed a bit, hoping this would work, and chase the thugs away.

Kathlayne had always wished she had the Gift, but now she wished it more than ever. If only I could be of help! Mithros, I need to learn life will be OK, even if I don't have the gift.

Meridan drew her sword, just in case. She didn't know if the thugs would be scared away by the magic, but if they weren't, she didn't want to take any chances. Some of them might even have the Gift!

OOC: that would be interesting...Gifted thugs.

OOC: That would be HILARIOUS...Gifted thugs....*cracks up*

IC: Caissa gasped as a bright light broke the darkness of the night. She looked for the source of the light. It was most likely from somebody who was Gifted.

The bookseller traced the light to a Bazhir boy. "Impressive," she muttered. For the briefest second, Caissa was jealous. Having the gift would have gotten her out of several difficult situations in her 18 years. She heard the Theives shouting, swearing. Somehow, Caissa remained glued to the window. She just had to keep a watch on this little group.

((Caissa to the rescue!))

Meridan chanced a glance over her shoulder, and observed a girl watching the group from a store window. She quickly spun back around though, just in time to collide with a large fist. "Holy Mithros!" She grabbed the thug's arm and twisted it painfully behind his back. She had to admit that little Shang tricks like this were rather useful. She summoned a drop of her Gift to insure that the man's arm stayed in that position until it was untwisted by magic. Meridan had no sympathy for him. He had chosen this life, and he should have been prepared to face the consequences.

Falik reversed his daggar and smacked the pommel hard agains the head of a blinded and bedazzled thug. The man went down like a dead weight.

Falik grinned but he knew that their magical advantage wouldn't last too much longer. He frowned seeing the magical barrier that kept then hidden starting to flicker.

"Meridan!" He called, "you need to cut your spell free otherwise you're going to drain yourself out!"

Kathlayne saw the woman in the window, and recognised her as a bookseller that she had seen several times at the castle, talking with one of the knights. She let out some of her breath, thinking, Well, at least there's someone near by to help us if we get into a real fix, though I douht we will.

She spotted a thug creeping clumsily up behind her, and she turned and held up her dagger, ready to slash. As his eyes were transfixed with the dagger, Kathlayne kicked him in the gut, and then reached with her spare hand and punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground.

Meridan could feel the strain of keeping the spells up. Without her realizing it, twenty minutes had passed. A half hour was the maximum she could keep two going without completely draining herself. She heard Falik's cry, and reluctantly released both spells. She didn't want to give up their advantage, but she had no other option. Draining her magic wouldn't do anyone any good, except perhaps the thugs. And no one wanted to give them any extra advantages.

As soon as she dropped the spells, Meridan felt as if a great weight had been lifted off her chest. She shook her head quickly to clear it, and readied herself for a considerably more difficult fight. As a thug neared her, she took a small throwing knife from her belt and hurled it at him. The sharpened blade pierced him just to the left of his heart. Not immediately fatal. Meridan cursed loudly, this meant that she might have to fight. She held her sword in position, waiting for the stroke that never came. The man collapsed on the ground, moaning. Meridan quickly administered the mercy stroke. She bent over the thug. It was one thing to kill a man in battle, outright, but to do this. Kill him when he was in no position to defend himself, even though it was for his own good. The girl's eyes watered, and a single tear fell. She considered lingering, perhaps putting the invisibility spell back up. But she quickly dismissed the idea and straightened, ready for the next opponent. Mithros, it seemed like there were hundreds of them, Meridan thought, as she struck down her third thug and saw her companions doing the same.

Livia whirled around, taking her dagger out of her boot. There was someone behind her. Sure enough, one of the thugs, one that had either recovered or was new to the fight had been about to grab her. "This is too gods-blest confusing," she grumbled as she used the hilt of her boot-dagger to hit the thug in the neck.

Apparently, it hadn't hurt him very much. Trying to remember all the basic punches and kicks she had learned from her Da and in the Copper Isles, the servant girl dropped her dagger, bunched up her fingers into a tight fist and hit the thug across the face. He fought back, hitting her abdomen for the most part. She didn't think her Gift would be of much use at this point.

At last, she managed to bring her attacker down with a hard punch followed by a sharp kick to the stomach. He went down with a hard thump. Unconcious, it looked like. Livia fell over herself, almost totally exhausted. Cursing the thugs, her own stupidity, everything, Livia got up and realized she was bleeding. Her red fire eased the pain.

But there was still work to be done. Livia picked her dagger up and searched for one of her companions to help. She looked to her right and saw Caissa's bookstore. She had seen Caissa a few times at the palace, and she had bought some books there. As if an answer to her prayers, she saw Caissa's shillouette at the window. "CAISSA!" she yelled.

OOC: CHASSIE!

Meridan came up to the thug that Livia had knocked out. She swiftly and silently slit his throat. There was now one less thug in the world, and as far as she was concerned, that was a good thing. She didn't find it hard to kill in battle, as long as she didn't think about the victim's family and loved ones. Though, she reminded herself for what seemed like the thousanth time, he should have considered the consequenckes before he resorted to lawbreaking. With his battle skills, he could have become a soldier!

Meridan came up to the thug that Livia had knocked out. She swiftly and silently slit his throat. There was now one less thug in the world, and as far as she was concerned, that was a good thing. She didn't find it hard to kill in battle, as long as she didn't think about the victim's family and loved ones. Though, she reminded herself for what seemed like the thousanth time, he should have considered the consequenckes before he resorted to lawbreaking. With his battle skills, he could have become a soldier!

Meridan came up to the thug that Livia had knocked out. She swiftly and silently slit his throat. There was now one less thug in the world, and as far as she was concerned, that was a good thing. She didn't find it hard to kill in battle, as long as she didn't think about the victim's family and loved ones. Though, she reminded herself for what seemed like the thousanth time, he should have considered the consequences before he resorted to lawbreaking. With his battle skills, he could have become a soldier!

OOC: Um, Meridan, you posted three times the same post, just in case you didn't know...

IC: Caissa saw the fighting begin. Well, she wasn't going to stand idly by anymore. She ran out the door, not particularly caring that she was still in her nightgown. The nightgown in question was frilly and lacy, and she cursed everything about it as she tripped over the stairs, ripping it. Her sword was drawn, and she brandished it in front of a remaining thug that was still breathless. He ducked too fast, and Caissa's blade went hurtling through the air, almost cutting Livia's arm off.

"I'm sorry," she apologized. But there was no time for apologies at this very second. Her sword shone as she ran one thug through. She almost vomited at the sight. She had never actually killed anybody in battle before, and it was almsot too much. Taking a deep breath and fighting back the vomit, Caissa continued to twirl her sword. Looking down, she realilzed that her nightgown was practically ripped to shreds. "Ugh," she muttered. If only she had some breeches...but it was too late to run back and grab some now. She was stuck wearing the frilly nightgown.

Falik blinked several times, hardly trusting his own eyes. What he thought he could see was a young woman in a ripped and ruined frilly nightgown wielding a sword!

He turned his attention back to the thugs, kicking out to the side to hit one in the stomach, knocking the wind from him. He grabbed the mans neck and pinched a pressure point that would make him collapse. He didn't want to kill anyone if he didn't have to, even thieves.

Gwynn lifted her belt-knife high as a thief loped towards her. The page took a deep breath, and cursed at the tangled strands of copper hair that whipped uncontrollably into her hazel eyes. Gwynn wished she was back in the palace with Alexander. Gwynn wished she could at least take comfort from Alexander in the midst of battle, but that was only wishing, and now the page had to decide her's or this theif's fate.

Gwynn held the blade loosely in her finger, in a throwing stance. She had practiced knife-throwing in the Yamani Islands and had discovered she was quite good at it. But how could she kill someone, Gwynn had never come close to killing someone, she was only 13, and this theif wasn't that much of an enemy. It...it can't be that hard! Gwynn struggled to keep her mind in control through frenzied gulps. Meridan did it.

Gwynn's mind was a whirlwind of confusion. She knew she was running out of time, and could be killed any moment, but how was she supposed to defend herself. It was too late to get in a stance to punch the theif or even knock him out with a dagger. Gwynn put herself to it, and blindly threw the dagger. The page forced her hazel eyes shut as she just saw the knife slice through the theif's throat.

"Oh, Goddess, help me!" Gwynn gasped as the theif pummelled her shoulder with large fists in his last breath of life. The page swore silently, vomited, and fell to the ground, ashen faced, she took one breath, and lay half-concious.

OOC: Crap. I spelled consequences wrong, so then I went back and accidentally posted it wrong again. I fixed it finally, but I had to get off immediatly afterwards, so i didn't catch the mistake. And I can't delete posts, so we're stuck with it.

IC: Meridan turned around, and almost laughed aloud! Fighting alongside her was the girl from a shop across the street. And she was fighting in naught but a shredded and bloody nightgown! Meridan tore her eyes from Caissa and looked about for Gwynn. The page was nowhere to be seen. "Gwynn! Gwynn! Good gods, where is she?" Meridan used part of her remaining magic to cast a shield around herself. This way she could sheath her sword and turn all her attentions to finding Gwynn. As she looked, she quickly counted off her other companions. As far as she could tell, they were all present, if that was the word for 'wildly fighting for their lives'. Finally Meridan spotted the the copper haired page. She was lying on the ground. Seemingly unconcious. The trainee didn't want to consider the other option, though she forced herself to face the facts. Gwynn was a page, an exceptional one, but a page nonetheless, and she most likely hadn't fought in any life or death situations the palace. "Holy Mithros!" Meridan shouted to the sky. "This was supposed to be a lark! No one was supposed to get killed!" The girl knelt down beside her friend, and felt her pulse. It was strong. At least she wasn't dead. As Meridan bent over Gwynn's body, her shield flickered. She cursed as foully as she could, but it didn't replentish her magic. Her Gift was running out. She needed to get to the ocean, or at least go somewhere cold. The girl screamed her frustration. Wait. Livia had the gift, didn't she? Perhaps she had some left. After all, she hadn't appeared to be using it. Or maybe Falik could shield her until she could get out of the marketplace. Once away from the battle scene, what could she do though? The only logical option was to look for some cold or salty water so she could get her Gift back. But even with her Gift, she wasn't a wonderful healer. She'd always preferred shields and spells to that effect. Going to the palace was out of the question. She would probably get there too late to do anyone any good, and she also didn't want to get the pages in trouble. With no real way of getting a message to Falik or Livia, any plans that she had were useless anyway. Meridan decided to drop the shield and defend Gwynn. She released the magical shield surrounding her and prepared to fight once more. This time not only for her, but for Gwynn also.

Livia shot a dark look at the clumsy swordsman who had almost chopped off her appendages and was about to throw some nasty words in their direction, but she stopped herself.

"Caissa, thank the Sunrose! We were needing help." Looking the bookseller up and down, Livia grinned in spite of the grim scene before her. "Did you consider changing for battle?"

Guessing the answer, the girl looked about again for anymore thugs. As there were none heading her direction, she relaxed for a few seconds before her gaze caught Meridan and Gwynn. Sheathing her dagger, Livia scurried over to the two girls. "What's the matter?" She looked worriedly at Gwynn, but spoke to Meridan. "She needs to be healed, doesn't she?"

Stupid rhetorical question. Livia asked it anyway.

"I'll help if you need me to."

Kathlayne screamed and nearly vomited as the thug that Meridan had knifed went down, blood gushing from his wound. Then another thug, and another went down. After a few moments, they all went still. Kathlayne fell to her knees. She had never seen anyone dead. They are human beings, and this is murder, even if they are just street thugs! They might have wives and children. But, I guess they'd kill us if they got the chance. She pulled herself up, and picked up her dagger laying beside her. Seeing Gwynn lying unconsious, Kathlayne rushed over punching a nearby thug as she went. As she saw the page's white face, she gasped and closed her eyes. Oh, great one above, please have mercy on this girl! she begged, then said sofly, " She's not...not..." but she stopped and gave a sigh of relief as she saw Gwynn's eyes flutter and her chest move.

A thug creeped up behind Meridan, and Kathlayne lunged forward. It happened so fast, that she didn't even know what she was doing until she had. She looked down and saw the thug roll over and lay still. This time she did vomit. Kathlayne had no time to think about the dead thug, so she pushed it out of her mind. This was what a knight would have to do at one time or another, so she had better get used to it. She asked quickly, "So, what do we do with Gwynn?" She though about her own question for a second, and then yelled over at Caissa, "Do you have any healing things in you house? Can we bring Gwynn in there?"