Hello, hello, hello, what's happenin' readers?

In this chapter, I finally write about the Shield of Arrav quest. I intended to do this at some point in 'The Adventure Through RuneScape', but I never got around to doing it. I feel that now is a perfect time. Originally this chapter was going to be in two parts but I made the decicion to bond the two parts and make an especially long chapter. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Jagex, RuneScape, or any of the RuneScape characters. All I own is the plot of this fanfiction and some of the characters in the story. I am not making a financial profit from this story.

Chapter 4: Shield of Arrav

"Thank you for coming," the man smiled. "I have been waiting for you. I assume you got the message. I am here on orders of King Roald. He says he has a job for you that could prove rewarding."

I looked at the man curiously. He was very podgy, with twinkling eyes. He wore gold robes that barely fitted him, and he currently held a scroll that he was reading.

Earlier this morning, several men blowing trumpets marched into my house, accompanied by a messenger who told me a man would be waiting for me in the Varrock museum to speak to me about a job. I cautiously came to the museum to find this man.

"What might this job entail?" I asked.

"The Shield of Arrav," the man replied. "Have you ever heard of it?" I shook my head, nonplussed. "Come with me." I followed the man, who took me to a display. Half of a shield hung inside of the display. The shield half looked slightly battered, but it was intricate and looked like it would have been a mighty shield if it was whole. It had been painted white and blue, and there was a star painted in the middle.

"This shield is called the Shield of Arrav," the man explained. "It is an ancient shield with very magical properties. It once belonged to the great warrior Arrav, who was in a dangerous situation and threw the shield away so somebody else could use it. At some point during its history it was broken into two halves, and only one half has been acquired to put on display. The whereabouts of the other half have been unknown… until now.

"King Roald heard word of the other half of the shield being with a heinous gang called the Black Arm Gang. This gang is a nasty organisation in Varrock who specialise in thievery and trickery. But the gang are also very clever, and they hide their base of operations well."

"Why have you asked for my help, though?" I asked, confused. "Surely King Roald has access to men more suited for the job."

"King Roald has tried," the man grunted. "Three men before you have tried the job and failed. The first two men couldn't even find the Black Arm Gang's base. The third man didn't return from the job. King Roald has heard of your deeds, and thinks you might be suited for the job."

"Will I receive a reward if I find and return the shield half?" I enquired. I wasn't asking out of greed; I merely wanted to know if I would get anything for my efforts.

"Naturally," the man chuckled. "Not only will you make yourself friendly with King Roald (which is never a bad thing), he'll reward you, you'll earn a reward from the museum, and word of what you achieved would probably spread elsewhere and would generally open you up to other jobs. Besides, it's a quest. You'd earn quest points, assuming you actually succeed in retrieving the shield. Do you accept the job?"

I nodded, and I thanked the man. "Do you have any idea where I should start?" I queried.

"I have no idea. You are the one who is doing the job," the man shrugged. I thanked the man a final time, before leaving the museum, glancing briefly at the great marble building as I left it.

I thought about what my plan of action was, and I eventually decided that asking the homeless was the best option at the moment, because they probably saw a lot of things on the streets and they would possibly be able to give me a clue as to where the Black Arm Gang hid.

I decided to enter the poverty-stricken area of Varrock first. As I left the busy main streets, the smooth paved floor vanished and was replaced with dirt which crunched unpleasantly under my feet. Most buildings here were dilapidated, empty, or collapsed. Homeless beggars were scattered across the area. They looked at me curiously, and I had difficulty choosing which one to ask. I settled on asking a man with a notably large beard. I slipped a handful of coins into his hand. "What can you tell me about the whereabouts of the Black Arm Gang?" I whispered in his ear, cringing at the rotten smell that lingered around him. He surveyed the coins in his hand with glee.

"Personally, I know nothing," he muttered. "But Charlie, who lives near the fountain near the sword shop, may know a thing or two." I thanked the tramp, offered him a piece of bread, and left the poor area of Varrock as soon as I could.

I approached the fountain that the homeless man spoke of, and I saw a man wrapped in brown rags sitting about ten feet away from the fountain. I approached the man.

"Are you Charlie?" I asked him. He nodded, glaring at me suspiciously. "Can you tell me anything about the whereabouts of the Black Arm Gang?"

"Possibly," he replied sourly. "But they really aren't people to be trifled with. Besides, I really have a bad memory. I need something to jump-start my memory before I can tell you anything." I groaned, and I handed him a handful of coins. He gave the coins a glance before shaking his head, his eyes filled with greed. "It isn't coming to me," he said with mock-annoyance. I counted out 500gp, and gave that to him. "It's returning," he gasped. "Perhaps a little more, just to loosen my tongue…" I counted out another 200gp, and I gave that to him. "Now we're talking," he cackled. "Yes, I do know something about the whereabouts of the Black Arm Gang.

"Go down this alley," he said, gesturing to a nearby alleyway entrance. "It will lead you through a small system of alleyways. Go left when you first get the chance, and then follow that until you get to a right turning. Take that, and then climb up the first rusty ladder you see on your left. Go across the metal balcony and skip two ladders. Go down the third one, and then follow the alley until you reach a dead end. On your right, there will be a small wooden door. Go through that, and you've arrived at the headquarters of the Black Arm Gang. However, tread with caution, because they are strong people that take no nonsense." I thanked Charlie for his information, before following his directions.

As I walked through the alley, I met some suspicious-looking people. They cast me furtive glances, before slipping away into the shadows. Eventually, I arrived at the dead end described, and I saw the door. I walked through as quietly as I could.

I appeared in a small, rather bare room with no windows and two doors (one in front of me and the one I'd just come through). Three people wearing skin-tight black outfits appeared from seemingly nowhere, and pointed daggers at my throat.

"State your name and intention," one of them hissed.

"My name is Cedric, and I intend to join the Black Arm Gang," I replied, forming a plan of action quickly. I decided to use Cedric's name as a fake name because Cedric was dead, and nobody would be suspicious. They lowered their daggers, their eyes boring into mine.

"Come with us," one of them growled. "We'll take you to Katrine. Remember, make one wrong move and we'll slit your throat and take your expensive-looking swords from you." I put my hands up in the air, and they took me through the door.

The room they'd taken me into was nicely furnished, with a golden table, golden chairs, golden carpets, silver-painted walls, and a large oak grandfather clock standing in the corner. There were some sinister-looking people sitting down in this room. There were three doors in this room (one of them we'd just walked through). They took me through the door to our left. In here, there was a fairly long hall. We passed a flight of stairs and many benches (most of them were occupied). We arrived at a large mahogany door with a golden knocker on the front. One of the men rapped the knocker three times. A loud female voice from inside granted us entry.

We'd stepped into an office of sorts. Large bookshelves filled with books occupied one side of the office. A desk had been placed in the middle, and sitting behind it was the most fearsome woman I'd ever seen.

The woman had long, silver hair which draped past her shoulders. She wore metal plates which protected her shoulders, and a purple top. She wore tight black trousers, and in her left hand she clutched a crooked dagger. Her dark-brown eyes inspected me closely, almost as if she was trying to read my mind. Her mouth was motionless. I assumed she was Katrine, leader of the Black Arm Gang. The men surrounding me bowed, and left.

"Who are you?" she barked, making me jump out of my skin.

"Main… I mean, my name is Cedric," I stuttered. She sniffed.

"What are you doing here, Cedric?" she demanded.

"I wish to join the Black Arm Gang," I whimpered, trying to make myself sound confident, and failing miserably. She snorted.

"A scrub like you, join an organisation like ours?" she smirked. "I'm not so sure about that. Then again…" She eyed Madrey1's dragon sword on my belt with a tint of respect in her eyes. "You could prove useful. Perhaps you could be of assistance in a little project I have planned. As soon as Boneripper returns…" At that moment, the door swung open. "Speak of the devil!" she exclaimed, and I turned to face the man who'd just walked in.

He wore a pair of black rubber trousers and a tight red T-shirt. He wore long, black boots, and attached to his hip was a chain with a jagged rusty hook hanging from it. I eyed this weapon uncomfortably. He was thin, yet muscular, and something about him intimidated me. At the moment, he was chewing on a leg of chicken like a man who'd never seen food before. "Hello, Boneripper! It's nice to see you again!" Katrine exclaimed, changing her demeanour almost instantly. Boneripper must be a very well-respected person, I thought. I couldn't help feeling like I'd heard the name before… "Are you ready for the job?"

"Yes," he growled. His voice was deep and menacing, and it gave me goose-bumps. "That happens to be exactly why I've come to visit you today. However, although I may be skilled, a small amount of assistance may be required if I am to carry out an operation of such difficulty."

"I've just managed to solve that little problem," Katrine grinned. "Boneripper, this is Cedric, a new recruit of ours who will be accompanying you on your mission to prove his ability. Cedric, this is Boneripper, one of the most able assassins of the Black Arm Gang. Although he calls himself a member of the Black Arm Gang, he can be hired by other people as well." Boneripper shook my hand coldly, looking at me with what seemed to be amusement. "Cedric, follow Boneripper. He will explain to you everything about what you're about to do. If you succeed to be of assistance to him during the mission, I will give you a reward of some shape or form and I may consider your request to join our ranks." I nodded, and I reluctantly followed Boneripper out of the door.

"Right, noob, what we're about to do is dangerous," Boneripper hissed. "There is another gang that exists in Varrock. The gang is called the Phoenix Gang, and they are our enemies. We've heard that they've just received a shipment of phoenix crossbows, very powerful weapons which could prove a threat to us. I've been commanded to infiltrate the lair of the Phoenix Gang to retrieve these crossbows. You will help me by attacking any guards, keeping watch while I steal the crossbows, and helping me make a smooth escape. I'd imagine you are able enough to fight, judging by the sword hanging from your belt." I nodded seriously, still trying to figure out where I'd seen Boneripper before. After giving it much thought, I remembered suddenly. I'd seen Boneripper's face on 'wanted' posters all over Varrock and Falador! Suddenly feeling very scared, I edged away from Boneripper.

He led me back onto the Varrock main streets and he took me into another dark alley nearby. We meandered through what felt like a maze of alleyways before we appeared somewhere in the poorer parts of Varrock. We approached a crumbling house, and Boneripper smashed the door off its hinges with one swift kick. We entered, and Boneripper pulled down a cupboard. Behind this cupboard was a door. He opened the door, and behind the door there was a flight of steps that led downwards. Boneripper walked down these steps slowly and I followed, feeling uncertain.

I'd only just been introduced to the Black Arm Gang, and here we were invading the base of yet another gang! How many gangs altogether had made Varrock their home?

"Listen, noob," Boneripper hissed. "The Phoenix Gang is not to be underestimated. Remember that our sole goal is to retrieve the crossbows. Do not cause any unnecessary trouble." I nodded seriously.

Eventually we encountered two people who wore red costumes with phoenix emblems on them. Attached to their belts were steel swords. They yelled as they saw Boneripper; he had obviously made a reputation for himself. With a snarl, he grabbed his rusty hook and swung it towards the Phoenix Gang guards. They screamed as their heads were crushed by the hook. Their limp forms fell to the floor.

Boneripper undressed them both and threw me one of their outfits. "We need disguises of some sort," he explained. "I may be strong, but attracting the attention of the whole gang would not be good, especially if their leader gets involved." I reluctantly put on the red clothes while Boneripper did the same. I glanced at the dead guards with pity before Boneripper began walking. I had to follow him.

We passed several guards as we walked down the stairs, all of which ignored us. Before long we reached the end of the stairs and were met with a long corridor which branched off at several points. The corridor was crawling with Phoenix Gang members. None of them gave us any attention, which was a good thing.

"If I'm correct…" Boneripper mumbled to himself. "The vault is down here somewhere…" He followed a path to the left, and I scuttled after him.

We went through a small maze of corridors filled with Phoenix Gang members. Eventually we arrived at a door with a large lock on it. Boneripper threw his hook into the lock, creating a loud clanging noise and denting the lock slightly. Phoenix Gang members glanced at us suspiciously as they passed us. "Help me," Boneripper growled. I unsheathed Silverlight and I proceeded to smash the lock with it. The suspicious glances that were being thrown in our directions soon turned into angry glares, and people began asking us what we were doing. Boneripper roared a response involving lock replacement, and he was so intimidating nobody dared argue with him. Eventually the lock fell to the floor with a clatter and the door flew open. We crept inside and the door shut behind us.

We'd walked into another small corridor. At the end of this corridor there was a massive metal circle covered with a large variety of locks; I recognised it as a fairly advanced vault. At least twenty Phoenix Gang's guards had surrounded us within seconds.

"State your name, gang rank and intention!" one of the guards barked.

"My name… is Boneripper," Boneripper smirked. "My rank… I'm better than you noobs. My intention… is ripping your bones out of their bodies!" He sent his hook crashing into the skull of a guard, who died instantly. The other guards screeched with alarm, and attacked us with no hesitation.

I parried the blow of a guard. I did not want to fight these people, but unless I wanted to spend the rest of my life rotting in a dungeon somewhere in these halls I had to. After another few minutes of close combat I overpowered and killed the guard. Another guard attacked me and I noticed that his style of fighting was heavier and harsher, so I decided to swap to Madrey1's sword. The brute force of the dragon metal would combat excellently against the guard's weighty blows. I killed him within two minutes.

Boneripper was a ferocious lion in battle. Every move he made with his vicious hook killed at least two people, and within moments all of the guards lay at his feet, either dying or dead. He spat the chicken bone he always chewed onto the dead bodies of his victims.

He ran towards the vault on the far side and I followed. He inspected the vault before tapping it in certain places with his hook. "This is a very tough vault," he stated. "But I have broken through tougher vaults. Keep watch while I open this thing." I turned my back on him and I began hearing scratching and cracking noises. Boneripper was clearly an expert in all things rotten and dishonest if he could break through such an advanced-looking vault.

I heard angry voices and at least seven guards marched through the door on the opposite side. "I hear people. Take care of them, noob. With that shiny dragon sword you should be able to take care of them," Boneripper spat. The guards approached me and I pulled out my barbarian hammer. I had no intention of killing these men. All I planned to do was knock them unconscious so they wouldn't disturb us. I tried that approach and I succeeded in knocking out five of the men. The other two men ran past me, but Boneripper defeated them with ease.

Eventually, something let off a loud cracking noise and a large metal disc fell off the vault. It swung open. Behind it there was a small metal room. There were five crates inside this room. Boneripper opened all of them. One of them was filled with different gems and one of them was filled with diamond-tipped arrows. Two of them were filled with crossbows that looked powerful. They'd been constructed from the finest mahogany, and I assumed these were the phoenix crossbows we were supposed to be retrieving. The last one was filled with strange golden models of phoenixes. The models all had flat bases so they could be set up, and the eyes of the phoenixes were made from rubies. Boneripper shrugged and picked up three of the crates. He gestured for me to pick up the other two, and I obliged. The crates were bulky and difficult to carry, but I managed it.

"Now escaping with these things is the difficult part," Boneripper said. I nodded in agreement. We walked as quickly and as casually as we could out of the vault room and into the main corridor.

We joined the flow of Phoenix Gang members travelling down the corridor. We earned many suspicious looks from people we passed due to the crates we were carrying. We heard shouts from behind us and an arrow flew past me, barely missing my left ear. We sprung into a run to try and evade the people chasing us. We successfully reached the stairs and we bounced up them, two at a time. We encountered guards who attempted to stop us on the way up, but Boneripper killed them with simple swings of his hook. We eventually reached the top and we ran into the collapsing house, gasping for breath. We were met with dozens upon dozens of Phoenix Gang members, all pointing swords and bows towards us.

"Hold these," Boneripper grunted, handing me the three crates he was holding. I stumbled, struggling under the weight of all five crates. More Phoenix Gang members poured from the entrance, shouting and waving their weapons towards Boneripper. I couldn't fight at the moment, so I backed into a corner. Boneripper was completely surrounded, and I doubted he could escape at all.

Boneripper jumped into the air, spinning his hook around viciously. He impaled three people at once with it, and they collapsed on the floor. A shower of arrows fell down on him, and he somehow managed to evade all of them by spinning through the air. He kicked two more people out of the way and let hell loose on his attackers. He jumped backwards and grabbed the necks of people that stood behind him, killing them instantly. He flung their bodies through the air, knocking down many more people as he did so. He threw the people he was holding into the unstable ceiling, which collapsed, crushing countless people in the process. He killed mercilessly with his hook, barely receiving a scratch in the process. After about ten minutes of combat, piles of bodies lay by his feet while anybody else who was fighting him previously had fled. I could only gape with amazement. Madrey1 couldn't have accomplished a feat like that.

"Come on, kid," he snarled, snatching three crates off me. "What are you standing there for? Are you stupid? Let's go before any more Phoenix fools chase after us." He sprinted away, and I followed reluctantly. I was now absolutely terrified of this man.

We returned to the Black Arm Gang base. Boneripper received a round of applause by the people sitting down, and he bowed proudly. We went into Katrine's office, and she stood up upon seeing us, clapping.

"Boneripper and Cedric!" she smiled. "I see that your mission was successful. Did you meet many difficulties?"

"There were one or two complications," Boneripper sneered. "But nothing was too big for me."

"How was Cedric?" she enquired.

"Okay, I suppose," he shrugged. "He wasn't a hindrance." Katrine nodded, and Boneripper left.

"Cedric!" she barked. "Take the crates to our storage room. It's outside my office, down the corridor and you'll see some stairs. You've done well. If you continue helping, I'll consider letting you into the gang as a full-time member. Take this badge. It will prove that you're associated with us if anybody asks for identification. I will summon you if you are needed again." She handed me a black cloth badge. It had 'Black Arm Gang' stitched onto it, with a stitched image of a black hand in the centre. I pocketed it, taking the crates as I left.

I walked up the stairs described by Katrine, and I appeared in a long room piled high with boxes and crates filled with different things. The shield half was probably in here somewhere! A man in black outfit stood nearby, giving me a strange look. I smiled at him, and he looked like he was going to ask me something. I cast a 'confusion' spell in his direction and I guided him towards the stairs gently. He stumbled down the stairs, looking dazed and… well, confused.

I put the five crates I was holding down and I began exploring the room, opening every box I found. I discovered many odd things, like boxes of coins, crates of jewels, and even a large orb filled with golden liquid. Eventually I found a large crate which had been bolted shut. I blasted the crate open, and inside I found the shield half. I picked it up gingerly, and I turned to leave. I was faced with a red-faced Boneripper.

"I should have suspected as much, Cedric," he spat. "Or should I say, Mainiac97." I blanched as he said my name. He snorted. "I'm not stupid," he told me, his voice growing louder with every syllable. "A lot of people know who you are, Mainiac97. I thought I recognised you when Katrine first sent you to join me on the mission. My suspicions were confirmed when I saw you knock those Phoenix Gang guards out instead of giving them the painful deaths they deserved. I've kept an eye on you, and now I see you taking the shield half. You were put up to this! I cannot let you leave with that!"

He roared with rage, and he threw his hook towards me. It hit a nearby crate, and golden coins burst from the crack he created. He smashed his hook into the floor, leaving a large dent. I tried hurting him with Madrey1's sword but he was too strong and he snatched the sword from my grasp. He booted me in the stomach, and I was winded. He swung his hook towards me, and in a desperate attempt to protect myself I held the shield half in front of me. The hook hit the shield half and smashed into shards. Boneripper held the rope of the hook in his hand, looking enraged. I saw what I held, and I thumped Boneripper in the head with the shield half. He was concussed, and I knocked him unconscious with another strike of the shield half. I looked at it with amazement. Now I saw why it was so treasured.

I glanced at the five crates we'd stolen from the Phoenix Gang and I decided to take them with me. Perhaps King Roald would appreciate them. I put the shield half in the top crate, and I picked them all up with a lot of effort. Tripping slightly, I walked out of the storage room. I staggered clumsily through the Black Arm Gang's base, trying my utmost not to attract unwanted attention. I left the base and began negotiating the alley. If I could get to the main street safely, I'd be fine. I stumbled out of the alley, breathing a sigh of relief as I saw the Blue Moon Inn.

I walked through the town square, feeling foolish. I approached the palace, and guard ran forward to meet me.

"Mainiac97," he murmured. "How may I help you?"

"I wish to seek an audience with King Roald," I gasped, feeling my strength sag under the massive weight of my crates. "Is he free?" The guard ran to check, and I put down my crates, sighing with relief. He returned shortly. "King Roald is free," he informed me. "He also seemed to show delight when I mentioned that you were holding crates. Perhaps he was expecting you. Let me help you with those crates. I will guide you to his throne." He clicked his fingers, and two guards approached us. They took one crate each while I carried the other two.

We walked through the exquisite corridors of the palace until we arrived at a large oak door flanked by three guards. One of them opened the doors for us and we entered. We were in a large room dotted by guards. Red carpets covered the floor, and two massive gold thrones stood on the far side of the room. One of these thrones was occupied by none other than King Roald himself, who currently looked magnificent in long purple robes. I assumed that the other throne was for Queen Ellamaria. I was marched up to King Roald, and I dropped my crates while the guards placed theirs by my feet.

"Greetings, Mainiac97," King Roald said in a loud, booming voice. I bowed. "Please tell me the reasons for your visit, although I already suspect them."

"Your majesty," I said, bowing. "You sent me on a mission to infiltrate the Black Arm Gang's lair and find the missing half of the powerful Shield of Arrav. I have come to you to report that the mission has been successful." King Roald raised an eyebrow.

"So you have the shield half?" he whispered. I nodded. He jumped up and whooped in a most unprofessional manner. "For years I have been looking for it!" he exclaimed. "I have hired men to burrow through piles of notes to try and find out where the shield half last was. I've paid the most experienced detectives to try and locate it. I've spent the last decade looking for people who would find it. Now I decide to send you on the job, and you succeed! Please show it to me." I dove into a crate and I found the shield half. I handed it to him and he inspected it, looking like a delighted schoolchild.

"This is definitely part of the Shield of Arrav. I've spent many nights with the other half, puzzling over it. I know the feel of it, the scent of it. However, I must ask you about what you had to do to retrieve this," King Roald said curiously. So I repeated to him my efforts. I told him of my luck in finding a tramp that happened to know the whereabouts. I told him about my stumbling upon the lair and speaking to Katrine. I described to him the robbery of the Phoenix Gang lair with Boneripper and finding and stealing the shield half afterwards. "So you mean to tell me you know the whereabouts of the Black Arm Gang and, through them, the Phoenix Gang?" King Roald enquired. I nodded. He clapped me on the back. "Not only have you recovered an ancient artefact, you've revealed to us the location of two of the most dangerous gangs in Varrock. The people I hired previously failed," he remarked. "Yet you have succeeded because of your initiative and quick thinking. Well done. Now, what else have you got to show me?"

"These are the crates that we found inside the Phoenix Gang's vault," I explained. "I decided to bring them with me to give to you, because I feel that they must be of some black criminal value if the Black Arm Gang sent Boneripper to steal them."

I opened up the first crate and the phoenix crossbows were all piled up inside. He picked one of them up gingerly. "I've heard about these crossbows," he muttered darkly. "They are the finest of their kind. Of course the Black Arm Gang would want them. Just look at the sleek quality of the wood and the potential power of the string. No wonder the Phoenix Gang protected them so well. Now we have samples. For your hard work, you should keep some. Will five be enough?" I nodded quickly, flabbergasted. I opened the second crate and this was also full of phoenix crossbows. The third crate was filled with the diamond-tipped arrows and King Roald inspected them. "These seem to be of a specific make," he uttered. "They were probably made to go with the crossbows. Here, take a hundred. That still leaves us with plenty. This can be used as evidence against the Phoenix Gang." The fourth crate was filled with different gems, and King Roald waved them off, saying that I could keep them.

When I showed him the strange golden phoenix statues, he seemed surprised. "I don't understand why they would have these," he told me. "Perhaps they're of some value. Perhaps they serve a purpose. Either way, I thank you very much for giving them to me. You may take some, we don't need them all." I took ten, thanking King Roald.

"Well, once again, thank you for the shield half, these Phoenix Gang artefacts, and your information," King Roald grinned. "I will reward you with 20, 000 coins. That should suffice. Also, take this." He handed me an experience lamp. "Use it wisely. You've strengthened the trust I have for you. You may leave." I was escorted from the throne room by two guards, and back outside. I looked in my left hand; I saw I was clutching a scroll. I read it.

Congratulations! You have completed The Shield of Arrav.

You have earned:

1 quest point

20, 000gp

Experience lamp

Phoenix Gang artefacts

I smiled at the scroll, feeling very pleased. My quest book flew out, and the scroll attached itself to a page in the book, which then returned to my bag.

I decided to take the golden phoenix statues to the Grand Exchange to get them valued. I walked into the bustling trade centre, feeling insignificant compared to the enormous pillars and hand statue. I queued up patiently, and eventually my turn came.

"Hello," I said politely. "I have something odd here, and I don't know its value or if it serves any purpose. Do you think you can help me?" he lady behind the desk took the statue out of my hands, looking slightly bored. She pulled out a small hammer and tapped the statue with it. She prodded it with several different curious instruments and waved a rune-like object over it. After weighing it with a strange set of scales and pressing some odd buttons she handed it back to me.

"I can reveal that the statue is worth about 30, 000gp in gold and rubies," she said. "However, I cannot buy it off you or exchange it until I can be completely sure. This is mainly because it carries an enchantment of sorts, but my magic tool cannot specify which enchantment. I can assure you, however, that the spell isn't harmful and it is safe to hold and display. If you let me take this, I can find out a definite price for you by the end of today and it will be placed in your bank with a note attached to it. Is that okay with you?" I nodded and she put the statue on a table behind her.

I gave the phoenix crossbow to her to value and she chuckled. "I can reveal to you the price of this crossbow," she told me, looking amused. "This is a rare type of crossbow and I can buy it off you for 40, 000." I gasped. "Would you like to sell it?" I shook my head. Perhaps I'd sell it another time, but for the time being I wanted to keep everything.

"While you're here, are there any bank exchanges you would like to make?" she asked. I nodded again. I pressed in my PIN and my bank opened in front of me. I put in all of my golden statues barring one, all of my crossbows barring one, all of my arrows, my gems and my experience lamp. I closed my bank account and I teleported to my house.

After polishing my armour, recovering with a meat sandwich and feeding my pets, I went to my trophy room. I took my Black Arm Gang badge from my pocket and I placed it in an empty stand. Next to it I placed the phoenix crossbow and the golden phoenix statue I'd kept. It would always remind me of my little adventure.

As I admired the new additions to my trophy room, I considered the day's events. Although I felt proud that I'd single-handedly unveiled the hideouts of two criminal gangs as well as recovered the missing half of the Shield of Arrav, I felt slightly guilty. The badge was a sign of my act of deception and it was a symbol of hatred, shame and back-stabbing. I'd associated myself with a heinous gang and I'd worked closely with a horrific assassin, and even if it had been for the better good I would never forgive myself for achieving what I'd achieved.

I hope that was to your liking. My question to you is, what are your opinions of Boneripper thus far? Do you think Mainiac97 should be wary of him and maybe even the whole Black Arm Gang seeking revenge?

I must give a mention here to Haseo the Terror of Death. Although I own Boneripper because I created him, he also features in Haseo's 'The Sphere of Varrock' stories, so therefore he is a small part of our shared universe.

Some of you have reviewed, asking for characters to be featured. Although I respect your reviews and your requests and if it was convenient, I would use all your characters, I can't use all requests because the story has so many characters already. If you want a character in the story, write them out fully (their history, their skills, their appearence, their personality, etc), because at some point I plan to hold a 'character competition' of sorts, where you can give your full requests to me and I will feature my three favourite requests in the story.

Next time, expect to see a little something for Halloween ;)

Until next time, toodles!