Another November day dawns over the city of La Roche in the Principality of Gabriel. Like all the great metropolises of Gabriel, this results in very different effects depending on which side of the city one falls upon. For the nobles, whether they hold the grandest of titles and most expansive of mansions, or merely large villas with less then a dozen servants, they are greeted with the sparkle of frost across the exquisitely carved stones of the streets and buildings. As sunlight streams in through windows, a slight shift in the plush down mattresses and silken sheets results in the release of embroidered ties that held back the sheer canopy surrounding the four-posters of the bed, allowing the light to be pleasantly shifted to further warm slumber. By the time they rouse themselves from bed, the glittering crystals of frost will have vanished in the morning rays like so many dreams of the night before.

For the poor who dwell in the slums, the morning is less peaceful, as many have already been awake for hours. Another day of toiling for the coppers paid from working in the factories, slaving over cloth, leather, metal, and fire. Searching the slums for any food that is available, even if it belonged to one of the roving packs of stray animals. Here the frost isn't beautiful, as it crusts over the puddles of refuse and excrement that dot the rough streets, or covers the latest victim that failed to arrive home with his daily pay. The buildings lean at such strange angles and have so many holes in the walls that the frost merely makes them seem in even poorer repair. At least the sun will banish the chill, so that the draughts will be slightly more endurable.

Few private buildings hold the majesty of The Convent of Saint Catherine, and its beautiful garden that dominates all sight behind it. The grounds had been swept clear of frost in order to prepare for the two nobles that had pulled themselves out of bed in order to engage in the traditional use of the garden: duels. Both nobles were adorned in their best dueling outfits, suits of silk, half capes of exotic animal furs, and gold and platinum adornments to glitter in the morning light. Family and business associates of both sides were also wearing their best, waiting for superiority to be determined. The gathered clothing was worth several times the value of the slums. None of those gathered for the duel, or the nuns that were beginning their daily business, noticed the other, stranger figure that stood atop the Convent in the morning light.

Standing atop the bell tower of the Convent was a lone figure, whose armour clung to him and glittered in the light as the frost on the tower beneath him. The doves sleeping atop the stone ignored him, as though he was not even there. The wind tousled his short blue hair, as his gaze swept over the city, in the direction of a very particular street. Grevens Boulevard, the boundary between the districts dedicated to the nobility, and the slums. Every building is either too extravagant or too decrepit to belong there, and so the street as a whole seemed mismatched and wrong.

"Report" whispered a deep voice at his ear. The man didn't so much as flinch.

"All of The Dreamers have gathered in the Gabriel city of La Roche." he responded with a voice as cold as the surrounding frost.

"Do they realize what they are?"

"No, they yet remain ignorant. It is as though 'Fate' is attempting to push them together."

"Then it is time that we pushed back."

The retort of a matchlock pistol shattered the morning calm. The doves atop the tower took flight in an explosion of white feathers. One of the noblemen fell to the ground, the grass beneath him dyed red in an ever-expanding pool. A doctor from the noble's house rushed over, fell to his knees, and shook his head after quickly looking over his employer. There was nothing to be done.

"Well then," whispered the man in the sleek glittering armour, a smile crossing his face, "time for a little push."


"Man, my nips are so hard right now," grumbled a tall, well-muscled man with a mane of bright red hair and cool amber eyes. "Why did I choose to leave the mountains, I should have prepared for winter better."

As the man walked onto Grevens Boulevard he drew many looks from the shopkeepers and lower nobles that had begun their days. After all, it was not everyday that amidst the morning frost they saw a shirtless, well-muscled man of over 6 feet in height walking down the street in only a pair of thick black gui pants and tabi, with cloth arm guards. Across his back was slung a large sack filled with few belongings.

"Alright, lets sell these wolf furs, check and see if there are any jobs I can do, and get back to my mountain before it gets too late." With that, the man who called himself Fenix strode further into the city, fingers of his free hand unconsciously stroking the egg-shaped red stone that hung from a platinum chain around his neck, "Perhaps this time I will find some answers."


Jormangander rolled out of bed in the early light and said a quick prayer to the Aityr before readying himself for the day. The northman stood only a few inches above 5' but was built solidly, his hair blonde, shaggy, and trimmed short to keep it out of his eyes. His beard was as shaggy as the rest of his hair. Disquieting blue eyes peered from beneath a serious brow, and only few could look at them for long without feeling like they are being weighed up. Donning his chainmail and twin warhammers Jormangander headed to the dining hall and ate breakfast alone, given a wide berth by the other servants eating at that time. After eating Jormangander enters the office of his master Gui Montbert, and learned that he would be escorting the noble's son around town for the day. As Jormangander headed to gather his charge he muttered another prayer to the Aityr, asking them to provide him with some reason to draw his hammer today. Babysitting was getting old.


Walking towards Grevens Boulevard, many a man's eye was drawn to a particular young woman walking along the cobbles. If asked by their wives, most of whom had cast narrowed-eye glares after the same young woman, about what their husbands were looking at, they would respond by commenting on how rare violet hair and grey eyes were on Asher women, or how lovely their wives may look in the young woman's quite extravagant, and obviously expensive, clothes. Only one answered what all were thinking, that his gaze was drawn by the slightly exaggerated swaying of her hips, and the ample bosom above her narrow waist. He received a slap that nearly threw him to the cobbles, and his cheek reddened to match his wife's make-up.

"Perhaps I'm drawing a mite too much attention to myself," Sophia Synanceia murmured to herself as she continued to note the wandering eyes that tracked her steps. Her gloved fingers moved away from the exquisitely carved daggers at her waist. "I couldn't run forever, but maybe this is too much notice. Oh well, time to do some proper shopping, it has been too long."


The ring of horseshoes rang out against the cobblestones of Grevens Boulevard. Riding with eyes closed was a slender young woman in good traveling clothes and blonde hair. Lynn Hohenheim tucked a stunning pendant with the symbol of the Church engraved on it into her shirt. Walking beside the horse was Lynn's bullmastiff Brutus, and it was the dog that was taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the city. Occasionally Brutus' dark eyes would, for the briefest of moments, flash into golden eyes lacking pupils, eyes shockingly similar to the young woman on the horse if she were to open them.

"This looks like it could prove to be a good place to stay for a while," she said to Brutus and her horse Valkyrie, "Maybe we will be able to have a chance to relax, or find something new to do."


"It is good to be in a city again," rumbled a great mountain of a man as he examined his surroundings, "I need a drink to wash the dust from my throat. My wineskins are woefully empty."

He looked down at his partial plate, bearing the eastern appearance of Phaion or Varja. His dark complexion, white hair and over 6 foot height and near 400 pound girth would be unusual, to say the least, in either of those lands. Few individuals tend to carry the mixed blood of Daevar and Varja. The nodachi at his waist was kept in exquisite condition, with the wrappings at its hilt showing years of experience in battle.

"Now, where to find some sake." Taiko no Musashi smiled to himself as he rubbed his large hands together.


A man just behind Taiko on the street shook his head beneath his wide-brimmed hat. He was of average height, weight, and if anyone that saw him could remember him they would say he was of average looks too, despite a slight grey tinge to his skin. He stayed in the shadows of the buildings, his loose-fitting dark clothes blended in nicely. His eyes casually surveyed the crowd, but they never strayed far from Taiko.

"What have you got yourself into this time Shadow," the man muttered beneath his hat, "If that lout gets himself killed on my watch I will be furious."

Shaking his head, Shadow followed after Taiko as he headed further into Grevens Boulevard.


In the centre of Grevens Boulevard stands an old wooden board, crooked and weather stained planks standing tall in the streets. Fragments of paper flutter in the breeze from the rusted nails pinning them in place. For people that couldn't afford to hire the city guards, they nail up their tasks here in hopes that anyone will look at them and provide assistance. Around the board was gathered a large group of lesser nobles and the servants of other nobles out in the morning. The group was being held back by a small group of city guards, and the crowd had already begun shouting at the figure before the old wooden board. In the central opening stood a large man, 6 feet in height and well muscled. He wore a designer three-piece suit made of purple velvet, and wore the skull of some exotic creature as a helmet that covered the upper half of his face. He surveyed the crowd, and as his cold black eyes fell over those that shouted at him they fell silent and grew pale.

Behind the gathered crowd stood many other individuals that also watched, some that had not been in the city very long at all. Then, there was also one long time resident of La Roche.

"What is the hold up!" Sputtered a young noble that was known for 'slumming' on Grevens Boulevard. His name was Francisco Montbert, son of Lord Gui Montbert. His suit was exquisite, his youthful physique was built to make women swoon, but his face was twisted in a look of disgust. Francisco had a reputation for drinking, gambling, womanizing, and generally using his financial resources to risk damaging his father's good name. That was why Jormangander stood just behind him today, to ensure that Gui wouldn't get himself in any trouble that his father wouldn't want.

"I intended to be drinking already. Jormangander, find out why we are being kept from our liquor, and my women."

With a nod Jormangander strode forward into the crowd, muttering under his breath as he shoved the nobles in his way aside. Those that thought to challenge him in passing bit down on their words as they met his eyes. Now was not a time to challenge the warrior, as he would like nothing more then to bury one of his hammers into some idiot's skull. He reached the front just before the skull-clad man began to address the crowd gathered.

"Your society is a fallacy that is doomed to fail," he said in a dark voice. Those gathered before him instantly fell silent. "You choose to cling to a fallen system. Following the foolish, the wealthy, and the ignorant will never allow escape from the current path. Looking around this city is enough to make it clear. A small number have all the power and wealth, all of the power and influence, and then the rest are left to rot in the slums, working merely to survive, never given a chance to flourish and move forward. They are trodden upon like garbage, and thrown aside just as quickly. There is one hope for these Tarnished Souls, and that is change. Only those with 'gifts' have the rights and capabilities to be true leaders. I represent a group of people with such 'gifts', and it is our intention to take this world to its true path. I give you an offer now, to stand with us and join this new order, or stand against us an be swept aside."

With that the skull wearing man walked towards the crowd, as they began shouting and screaming at him, until he got close where they all fall silent again and move out of his path. He strode into the slums, and the crowd dispersed. A few talked quietly about the strange man, but most of the conversation focused on his appearance, rather then his words.

Sophia watched where the skull-clad man was headed into the slum, and began to follow him at a short distance. She calmly walked down the winding and ever narrowing alleys, as the stench of the unwashed masses began to creep in with the warming heat. On occasion the man looked over his shoulder, peered at her through the corner of his eyes, and kept walking. Knowing that she had been seen, something seemed to compel her to follow anyway, even when the man walked down a dark narrow side street. As she walked into the alley, she found the suit-clad man leaning against a wall staring directly at her.

"What do you want with me?" The man commented with a cold regard.

"You weren't very helpful with your speech," Sophia calmly returned, but made sure she didn't get any closer.

"I am only a messenger, I spread the message."

"Still, you *weren't* very helpful."

"My task is not to be helpful. It is to prepare people for what is to come."

"Alright, then I will just be leaving."

The man nodded, and Sophia made a hasty retreat back to Grevens Boulevard.

"Well, that wasn't helpful at all," she grumbled to herself, "I guess I might as well look for an inn to stay at, and then perhaps take in some clothes and jewelry shops."


"Hey, you can't bring a dog in here." growled the pock-faced tavern keeper. Lynn had Brutus cast its gaze around the Lace Madam Tavern. As the only woman in the tavern, had Lynn not been there the name might have been misleading.

"Um, blind." Lynn responded with a smile.

"Ah, I see." replied the tavern keeper, "Well then, you got any coins in that purse of your?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the blind don't tend to be able to work much. If I'm going to be providing you with drinks, I need to make sure you have the coin to pay."

"Oh, I can pay." She replied with a sweet smile, and a jingle of her coin purse. It sounded even fuller then any other's in the tavern."

"Excellent ma'am. Right this way please." He showed her to a fine table near the centre of the tavern. "What can I get the fine lady today?"

"Tea."


After the man in velvet left the street Jormangander returned to Francisco.

"It was just some loony ranting about the end of the world, this way to your usual tavern."

Jormangander led Francisco to the Lace Madam, Francisco's usual "hunting ground". Upon entering Jormangander found a table near the centre of the floor took a seat and eyed up the room and its patrons. Seeing a woman with a dog Jormangander disregarded her as a threat to his lord and moved on. There were two groups of adventurers and a lone man sitting at a corner table. All of which were eying up his lord. Meeting the eyes of one group of men Jormangander lays his hand on a hammer and simply shakes his head, the leader sensing this nobleman might be more trouble then he's worth turns around and gets back to his drinking.

Shortly afterwards a large man in partial plate entered the bar and took a table to himself, he was followed in by a non-descript man who Jormangander also disregarded as he took a table in the corner.

The lone man in the corner stood and drunkenly swayed towards the exit. As he passed Francisco he deftly snatched the money pouch that hangs from Francisco's belt. Not deftly enough to evade Jormangander's watch however. Throwing his chair aside Jormangander rose, drew his hammer and addressed the would be thief; "Stop moving. Turn around and drop the money bag."

Sensing he has been found out the thief turned around and drunkenly slurred "What money bagssh? I don't know what you're talking aboutssh."

Hoping that the drunkard will deny him one more time Jormangander repeats his ultimatum. Adding emphasis by raising his hammer and taking a step forward.

At this point the bartender stepped forward, "What is going on here!?"

"This man has stolen my master's money pouch and if he doesn't return it I will strike him down here and now. Fetch a guard." The bartender quickly ducked out the door in search of a guard.

Francisco finally clued into what was going on, he stood furious and seething. "Wait, MY money pouch? It is missing! Jormangander! Stop this man!"

Seeing that Jormangander was serious the 'drunk' decided the pouch wasn't worth his life. "Oh, I think you mean this money bag..." Throwing the pouch on the ground the thief turned to leave as a guard entered the tavern with the bartender.

The guard dragged the would be thief off to the stockade, despite his protests and attempt to wriggle free of the guard's grip. Francisco, overjoyed to be reunited with his money pouch, proceeded to buy a round of drinks for the entire bar. Then another round. The attractive woman with the mastiff stood, preparing to leave. She made her way towards Francisco first however.


Taiko sat at his table honing his nodachi. He had already drained the sake bottle that he had order from the bartender, but with it costing an entire gold crown by itself he wouldn't be able to continue ordering imports. Luckily two tankards of beer were placed in front of him after a boisterous noble purchased for everyone in the bar. He continued honing and polishing his blade between drinks.

"I'm afraid you can't be doing that in the tavern." grumbled the barkeep as he placed the tankards on Taiko's table.

"What do you mean I can't tend my blade in the bar?" Taiko rumbled back.

"I can't risk sparks, metal shavings, or sword oil fouling the floor or tables. I try to maintain a classy establishment."

"Of course you do," Taiko muttered into his beer, "Fine, I'll tend it later." Sliding the blade back into it sheath, he began to quickly drain both flagons.

Shadow refused to drink while monitoring his charge, especially since Taiko had already gone through as much as he has. He walked over and placed both of his own drinks in front of Taiko. A nod of recognition was all the thanks he got, stayed in his shadowy table in the corner and continued to watch. As Taiko raised the third flagon to his lips, he had already forgotten where they had come from.


As Lynn prepared to leave she decided that it would be polite to thank the boisterous noble who provided the bar with two free rounds of drinks. She approached the noble and his disquieting guard with Brutus calmly padding at her side. "Hello sir, I'm just on my way out and would like to thank you for the rounds of drinks you paid for."

Francisco drunkenly turned to face the woman and was instantly enamored. In a heartbeat he decided that she would be his conquest for the evening.

"Why it's nothing my dear lady, and where might I ask are you staying this evening?"

"Oh, well I was merely going to find an inn for the night."

"How convenient! There is an inn right next-door, wonderful establishment. Very clean. And I am personal friends with the innkeeper. I'm sure if I went next door with you I could arrange for a discount, the friends and family discount for you." Francisco said with a flip of his hair to show off his brilliant eyes.

"Thank you again for the kind offer sir, but I think I can get by just fine with the usual rates."

"No no no, I insist! Let me come with you."

"Well how about you write me a note, recommending that the inn keeper gives me the discount, that way you can stay here and continue to grace these patrons with your presence."

Lynn's words seemed to get through to Francisco's rather large ego and he relented. He wrote a short note for Lynn, which was still perfectly legible despite his drunken state, at least for a noble's handwriting.

"And there you are Miss…?"

"The name is Lynn, and thank you again sir."

Lynn left the bar and headed for the Sleeping Sheep. She entered the quaint inn and presented the innkeeper with a letter he found very familiar.

"Ah yes, here you go miss. Our finest suite, the first night is on us. How long will you be staying with us?"

"Just the night sir, thank you."

With that Lynn headed up to the room to relax after a long day of exploring the wonders of La Roche's market district.


"Barkeep, there seems to be a problem with my glass." Taiko pointed at one of the empty tankards on his table. Although he had already downed a bottle of sake and four free beers courtesy of the loudmouth noble, his thirst was not yet quenched; it never seemed to be quenched.

"Well sir there seems to be a problem with your table also," replied the barkeep, used to this cliché he had come up with a response witty enough for his usual clients.

"Oh? Is there now? Well does this fix the problem?" Taiko retrieved a few copper pieces from his pouch and places them on the table for the barkeep.

"It most certainly does," he smiled while he poured a fresh tankard of beer and placed it in front of Taiko, "in fact I think it fixes both of our problems."

As Taiko watched the bartender walk away he had the feeling he was being watched, but no one in the bar seemed to be paying much attention to him. Shrugging to himself he drained his last beer and left the tavern, deciding it might be time to find lodgings for the night. He didn't notice as Shadow rose from his seat and followed him out into the night.


Sophia, tired from a long afternoon browsing the endless clothing and jewelry booths found she walking into the Sleeping Sheep behind an inebriated man in armor. She didn't notice as Shadow took up a post across the street.

"Hello innkeeper, I need a room for the night." Taiko rumbled. As he paid for his key Sophia noticed his obvious glance at her figure. Thankfully he decided that looking was enough and he make his way to his room. As she watched the armoured man leave, she turned to address the innkeeper.

"Good evening sir, I also require a room for the night. They are clean yes?"

"Of course madam, cleaned them myself just this morning." The innkeeper had a refined accent to him, which suggested he was not from Gabriel originally. His hair was graying, but he was still physically strong, and the scars across his hands suggested he was once a soldier.

"Excellent." Sophia handed over a few coins, took her key and made her way to her room.


"Well that was a waste of a day," Fenix sighed while shaking his head. He had spent the day looking for people in need, but unable to come up with anything beyond spoiled nobles with selfish problems. As his stomach growled he shook his head. "I guess I need to help myself to ensure that I can help others once I find some truly in need."

He looked over the various buildings and stalls of Grevens Boulevard, and decided that a small stew stall would be his target. He strode up with the sack containing his choice belongings.

The owner of the stall was a short man lacking any semblance of a neck. He was stirring a large pot over a small oven fire, adding a variety of herbs and pieces of meat between tastings of the stew. He peered up at Fenix with his large buggy eyes.

"What can I 'elp you with sir?"

"How many days worth of stew can I get for these?" Fenix asks as he pulled out three gorgeous wolf pelts.

The stall owner reached over and felt the fur. "These are some fine pelts. I can give you a day's worth of stew for each."

"I've come a long way carrying these. I will need a week's worth of stew to help make the trip worthwhile."

The bug-eyed stall keeper eyed the man before him and the pelt. He mumbled to himself for a few moments, then nodded. "How about five days worth then?"

"I suppose five days would be acceptable."

The stall keeper began to pour steaming stew into leather bowls, which he then wrapped in leather coverings to prevent them from spilling. He handed them over to Fenix, along with a carved wooden spoon. "'Ere you are sir. I hope you enjoy."

Fenix handed over the pelts, placed four of the containers of stew into his bag, and then walked over to sit along a stairway and opened up his first packet of stew. The aroma was hearty, and the broth thick. With the first mouthful Fenix was pleasantly surprised by the full breadth of the flavours, an exquisite blend of spices topped with just enough sage to allow for his tongue to tingle pleasantly. As he savored the stew, he wandered over to the bulletin board to look for any work.

Alas, the board proved to be as bare as his legwork had been. The only job was to try and clear out the rats that had infested one of the many orphanages in the slums, with the reward being the automatic adoption of the orphan of their choice.

"Hmm, unfortunately children do not tend to do well in my mountains. I guess there really isn't any work for me at the moment."

The sun had just finished setting as Fenix finished his stew; he noticed a group of ten men standing just within the boundary of the slums. They were whispering in hushed voices, and were pushing torn fragments of cloth into bottles of clear liquid. Fenix approached the group, getting the feeling that he may have some work to do tonight after all. As he approached a side alley near the men, he could hear fragments of their conversation.

"...Zelna is right..."

"...almost prepared..."

"...we can move immediately..."

"...purify the Tarnished ones in flames..."

"Shit," muttered Fenix as he headed back towards Grevens Boulevard. He needed to find a guard swiftly, or else the night might be more exciting than anyone wanted.


"Come Jormangander, it is time that I surprise my young maiden with the most splendid surprise of love," Francisco Montbert slurred to Jormangander as he staggered out of the Lace Madam. "To the Sleeping Sheep!"

"You're not serious are you? She shot you down."

"No, no, no, she is merely playing hard to get. Once I burst forth into her bedchamber and win her over with the most brilliantly burning flames of passion, she will be thanking Christ himself for her good fortune. Of course, you must stand guard outside to make sure that we are not interrupted, and under no circumstances are you to enter the room, no matter how fervent the cries, high pitched the shrieks, or frequent the requests for God's intervention. You must remain outside."

Jormangander remembered the size of the dog that the young woman had with her, and had the sneaking suspicion that it would be the Francisco's girlish screams and cries for mercy that would fill the air, but there was no point in arguing with Francisco when he had been drinking, especially not when there was a beautiful woman involved. Jormangander merely shrugged and followed the young master into the Sleeping Sheep.

"Giles my good man," Francisco greeted with a flourish of his arms as he almost tripped on the carpet. "Has the young woman I sent over here arrived yet, and if so how long does it usually take your patrons to fall asleep.

The bunching of the innkeeper's jaw suggested that he had heard all this before, and that the very idea offended him, but something forced him to comply. "Yes, young master, she arrived not too long ago. As to your second question, it varies greatly per person. Perhaps you should leave her alone for a while."

"An excellent idea Giles. Come Jormangander, let us have a seat until my fair maiden is ready to receive me."

Jormangander resisted yet another urge to have his hammer 'slip' to strike Francisco, and sat down in one of the lobby chairs.


A guard carrying a torch was brushing dust from his decorative coat when Fenix ran up to him from the shadows of the slums.

"And what is it that you need...citizen." The guard said with one eyebrow raised as he regarded Fenix's lack of attire.

"There are a group of men in the slums carrying improvised firebombs. They need to be arrested before they do anything."

"I see, and how many were there?"

"About a dozen."

The guard paled slightly upon hearing that news. "A dozen you say. Well then, while I go fetch backup, you should do your best to assist in the apprehension of them as you look quite capable."

As the guard ran to fetch backup he missed Fenix's exasperated look. "These guards are useless," he muttered to himself as he turned back towards where he last saw the poorly equipped thugs. He was able to see the first of the firebombs be hurled through one of the windows on Grevens Boulevard. "Shit."


A bottle sheathed in flames burst in through the window beside Jormangander's head. It crashed into the entryway of the Sleeping Sheep and spread tongues of flame across the carpets. The innkeeper cursed, the fire crackled, and Francisco sputtered in drunken bewilderment. Not missing a beat, Jormangander grabbed Francisco by the collar of his shirt, hoisted him bodily from his chair and burst out the door into the night air beyond.

The peaceful night on Grevens Boulevard had been interrupted in a flash, with the flashing lights of flames shining from the broken windows of inns, taverns, shops, and homes. The air that had been silent only moments ago had filled with cries of terror, shouts for help, and exclamations of fire.

"Time for you to go home," growled Jormangander to Francisco as he continued to drag him towards the Montbert villa.

"Wait, what do you mean," Francisco sputtered back, his eyes wide with shock and inebriation, "But Jormangander, I was going to get laid! Laid I say!"

"Tell you what, how about you just go out tomorrow night to get yourself laid then," Jormangander retorted, not letting go or stopping for a moment.

"Yes, that is a brilliant idea Jormangander. After all, this smoke would only damage my wardrobe."

There were times when Jormangander wondered why the Aityr had cursed him with such a gullible and foolish charge, but at this moment his charge's faults could be accepted.


Shadow watched as the patrons of The Sleeping Sheep exited onto the street: the muscular one of the north dragging his noble, the lovely woman with violet hair that frowned down at the smudges of smoke on her clothes, and an attractive woman with her large mastiff. Shadow scowled as the one person he wanted to see leaving the inn never appeared, and so he readied his scimitar and charged into the inn looking for Taiko.

He rushed past the innkeeper battling the flames with a thick, damp robe. Spotting an open door behind the desk, in which was a large open barrel of water, Shadow quickly shouted at the innkeeper to dump it. Throwing the damp robe onto the fire, Giles ran behind the desk and heaved over the water barrel. The water poured across the floor, for a moment spreading the alcohol-fuelled fire across the inn floor, but the water extinguished it a moment later. With the fire extinguished Shadow took the stairs three at a time as he rushed to Taiko's room. The great man had collapsed onto the bed, snoring loudly and still wearing his armour and weapon. The plush mattress would have a large dent in its support, and the creaking of broken wood whimpered out from the bed frame. Shadow reached over and slapped Taiko hard across the face.

"What the hell do you want!?" Taiko roared as he blindly swung his hands through the air, trying to strike whoever dared wake him from his unconsciousness. Shadow lithely dodged the blindly grasping hands.

"Get out of here, now," Shadow rasped at the flailing mountain in the bed.

Taiko glared at the grey shrouded man in front of him, but then grumbled, rolled out of bed with a rattle of steel, and began heading downstairs. Shadow sighed, and followed.

At the base of the inn, Giles was mopping up water and complaining about the smoke. Shadow left the inn shaking his head, and spotted a group of men running towards the slums. He drew his scimitar once again, and pulled out his chakram in his good hand. They had almost harmed his charge, now those men would pay. As Shadow charged off into the slums, Taiko was left looking around at the smoke filled inn entrance.

"Why the hell did I get up again?" He muttered to himself, "everything looks under control down here. Innkeeper, what in Naraku happened down here?"

"There was a smile fire sir, but luckily do to some quick thinking on... my part I believe it was the flames have been extinguished."

"Excellent, glad to be in such good hands. I'll be going back to my room then."


"There they are," Fenix whispered to himself as he chased after the men that had thrown the flaming bottles, "Time I showed this city's guards what they should be doing."

Fenix leapt into the centre of the ten men, bringing a series of palm strikes and leg sweeps to trip up one of them, causing the poorly dressed man to fall to the ground. As the others noticed the large shirtless man in their midst, they continued to flee deeper into the slums. With a second flurry of strikes Fenix planted his right foot onto the man's left calf, and with a vicious twisting tore the lower leg free from its joint while slamming the man's head into the side wall of the alley with a sickening crunch. As Fenix turned to regard the fleeing men, the spinning blade of a chakram flew from a nearby alley, digging into his left calf and sending him sprawling in the muck of the alley. With a crack from the side of his scimitar, the injured man was placed into blissful oblivion. Fenix picked up the deceased man and slung him across one of his shoulders, and Shadow pulled the unconscious man to his feet. The other men had vanished into the slums.

Fenix nodded towards the new arrival. "Thanks for the help."

"Not a problem," Shadow rasped back, "They attempted to harm my charge."

The sounds of running feet and the waving light of torches heralded the arrival of a dozen Gabrielense guards running towards the slums. Fenix and Shadow brought their suspects to the group of guards, and Fenix scowled as he recognized the man leading the group.

"Ah, I see that you were able to capture some of them," the guard that Fenix had warned about them in the first place said, sweat sheathing his face. "We can take the two of them off your hands, and also provide you with a small reward for your effort."

"You mean the effort that you should have put in yourself," Fenix retorted coldly.

"But, but I had to get reinforcements, there were so many of them."

"So you sent a single man that you had never met before after them."

"You seemed capable... I was sure that you would be fine."

"Sure, whatever. Lets get that reward."

"Excellent, right this way then, I'll just need to take you to the nearest guard post."

Shadow looked over his shoulder at the Sleeping Sheep. "Are you sure that I can't just get my reward here and be on my way?"

"I'm afraid not, paperwork and what not."

With a sigh, he relented. He had prevented his mark from being burned alive in his drunken unconsciousness, surely Taiko could last a few hours without his supervision.


With Francisco safely dropped off at his father's villa, Jormangander returned to Grevens Boulevard in order to find the people responsible so that he could introduce them to his favourite metal friends. Most of the fires had been extinguished, but a few continued to burn stubbornly, with people rushing buckets of water to try and fight them, or crowds watching those beyond saving burn to the ground. Jormangander ignored the flames, and began searching through the detritus for the path that the men had taken. He traversed the corners, turns, and narrow paths, found patches of blood from a recent scuffle, but then tasks became much more difficult. The path he had been following split as the men scattered to try and evade pursuit. With the darkness of night shrouding their paths, tracking would not be successful.

"Fine, you survive for the night you bastards." Jormangander muttered as he slung his hammer. "I'll find you all tomorrow."

With that, Jormangander returned to the Montbert estate so that he would be rested for the justice to be unleashed come the dawn. As he passed through Grevens Boulevard he saw a large shirtless man with long red hair, covered in soot standing before a house that still smoked from freshly extinguished flames. One of the others outside the home patted the man on the back and led him inside.


Gong, gong, gong, gong. The peace of dawn was disturbed by the metallic clang of a Gabriel crier, swinging a bell nearly as large as him over his head. Gong, gong, gong, gong. A crowd gathered quickly, composed of nobles' servants and individuals that had dealt with the fires firsthand. There are four guards standing to protect the crier, to ensure that no one attacks him for waking them up. Gong, gong, gong, gong. The protection wasn't a mistake, because from the looks that Taiko and Fenix were throwing towards him promised death as soon as he was alone. Also witnessing the disturbance was Shadow, Lynn, Sophia, and Jormangander after being cleared by Lord Montbert to find the men that nearly harmed his son, despite Francisco's cries of injustice that he may not go woman hunting.

After the one last round of the crier ringing his oversized bell the guards nailed a new writ to the board, and left without saying a word, the crier in hot pursuit. As the crier remained with the guards, Taiko and Fenix allowed him to leave in one piece. The nobles and servants shook their heads and muttered to each other about the horrendous racket, and then continued on their way. Only a small group decided to actually read the writ, Taiko, Fenix, and Jormangander amongst them. The writ had the gold leaf and looping quillwork of the nobility.

For disturbing the piece, destruction of property, and crimes within a district above their own class, the La Roche guard here by offer a reward for the apprehension and delivery of the individuals behind the arson of Grevens Boulevard last night. An amount of 10 silver crowns will be paid for each deceased culprit apprehended, and a sum of 30 silver crowns will be presented for every culprit delivered alive. Those that are delivered alive shall receive punishment fitting of their crimes.

Murmurs spread through those gathered as the tougher men and women headed out to gather their allies and equipment. As the rumours of the reward spread into the slums, those in need of money began to excitedly talk amongst themselves. Soon the slums were filled with the sounds of rushed talking, and slapping feet as the poor began their blind search for wealth.

Jormangander, nodding at the writ turned to walk into the slums, heading to where he lost track of the culprits the night before. Seeing that the northman looked like he knew where he was going, Taiko shrugged his armour into a more comfortable position, and began following the tough looking man. With the two dangerous looking men heading off in one direction, Fenix began to follow the two of them, although staying a narrow alleyway away from them. Shadow stayed within the gloom nearby Fenix, easily keeping eyes upon Taiko. While Lynn and Brutus watched the group of men heading into the slums, a beautiful young woman approached her.

"What do you say we follow those boys and see what they get up to?" Sophia said with a sweet smile as she ran a gloved hand through her hair, "It could be an enjoyable way to spend a day."

"That's a wonderful idea," Lynn responded lightly, "I'm sure it could be very interesting. What's the worst that could happen after all? I'm Lynn."

"Sophia. This could be fun."

As the young ladies fell into line with the rest of the cobbled together caravan Jormangander looked over his shoulder, sighed and shook his head at the cluster behind him, and ignored them.

Upon reaching the area where Jormangander lost track of his prey, he looked around for a local that may have seen anything, and that also hadn't been drinking heavily. He spotted a young Aion man with tattered clothes and dirt covering his extremities.

"You there, you didn't see the men responsible for the firebombing of Grevens Boulevard come through here last night did you?" Jormangander growled.

"Maybe I did, what's it worth to you?" the young man responded.

Jormangander hefted one of his well-used hammers, and glared at the young man with eyes that could turn blood to ice in a man's veins. "No, I think the question is, what is it worth to you, boy?"

"I understand," the young man replied with a nervous chuckle, "Well, to me it is worth keeping things civil, as well as I get to keep my kneecaps. I did see them last night. If you want, I can even take you to them.

"That is exactly what I want."

While this conversation had been going on, Taiko had walked up behind Jormangander, so close that the great man's shadow covered Jormangander. Fenix had attempted to nonchalantly continue moving forward, but had needed to stop in order to continue hearing the conversation. The ladies had stopped a respectable distance back, and were casually talking with each other.

"Shall I also lead all of these people?"

"No, you just need to lead me," Jormangander responded before turning to regard Taiko. "This is my mission and my information. Get lost."

Taiko stood there silently.

"Lead on then," Jormangander said as he turned back to regard the young man. As the young man began to lead Jormangander forward, Taiko and the rest of the group also began following. "I thought I told you to get lost."

"Oh don't worry, I heard you," Taiko coolly responded.

"Then why are you still following me?"

"Because I intend to deal with those wretches that attacked where I was sleeping. They need to be taught a lesson."

"Fine, but you'd better not get in my way."

As the arguments continued, the young man led the disjointed caravan through the narrow and winding streets and alleys of the slums. They passed groups of the impoverished also searching, carrying broken table and chair legs as improvised clubs. They were loud, disorganized, and knew to keep a wide berth from the more experienced looking warriors as they passed.

Finally, the youth stopped and pointed towards a dilapidated house just across the street from where their alley ended.

"Last I saw them they were in there."

"Good work. Take this and get out of here." Jormangander said as he flipped the youth a silver crown. The young man snatched the coin out of the air, stammered his thanks, and headed back the way he came.

"Now, finally time for some fun." Jormangander smiled to himself as he loosened up his shoulders and readied a hammer.

Jormangander strode towards the rundown shack, but beside him also approached Taiko, buckler strapped to his arm and nodachi on his shoulder. Jormangander whirled on him with his hammer. "Now where the hell do you think you are going?"

"Well, I plan on killing all those wretches and gaining the bounties on their head." Taiko replied as he shrugged his armour into a more comfortable position. "What do you plan on doing?"

"This is my information, my group to bring to justice, and my money to be made. Get out of here."

"Listen little man, there is no way I am going to let you stop me from getting in there and fighting them."

With that comment Jormangander bristled as though struck. With a whirl he brought his warhammer up under Taiko's jaw. "You call me short again and this hammer is going to replace where your skull was. This job is mine."

"Man you're a touchy one. Quite the temper on you too. Tell you what, there must be some way we can settle who gets to do this."

"Fine, tell you what, big man, how about you and I arm wrestle. Winner gets all the money for both the ones we take down."

"You're joking, you want to arm wrestle with me? I accept, but you'll regret it."

Both men smiled as they lay down onto the cobbled tiles of the alleyway. As they both shifted into position, they clamped gauntleted hands. The rest gathered nearby just shook their heads as they watched the two mighty men, stretched out on the ground risk money on a test of strength. The two counted in unison, one, two, three, and their muscles clenched as the pair pushed with all their strength. For a moment, neither of their arms shifted, both locked in place by the other's strength. Then, with a crack that shattered tile, Jormangander drove Taiko's hand into the street.

"There I win, you might as well leave." Jormangander said while brushing dirt and garbage from the front of his armour.

Taiko shook out his hand, bruised but not broken, "You are deceptively strong." A deal's a deal, but I'm not going to let you have all the fun. I'll stay to see this through."

"Fine, but you'd better not try anything."

As Jormangander and Taiko prepared to move into position at the crooked front door, Shadow moved to the alley on the right side the houses front. There did not seem to be any back doors, and so he took up position near one of the dusty, cracked windows near the back corner. Through the many gaps he peered in to determine just how much trouble his charge had gotten them into. The interior was small and cramped. A pair of the men responsible for the firebombing were playing cards at a makeshift table just inside the window he looked through, with another three drinking at another table against the wall on the other side of him. Three more arranged themselves rolling dice in front of the door. He drew out his boy, notched an arrow, and waited for the show to start. Fenix watched where the other alley then Shadow, monitoring if anyone tries to escape from the back. Sophia and Lynn remained in the alley that they had entered from, watching to see what would happen. Taiko walked up to the door, with Jormangander standing closer then his shadow. With a heaving kick, Taiko knocked the crooked door clear of its rusty hinges to crash onto the floor.

The men stared at the door and rose to their feet. Shadow fired his notched arrow, sending it through the window in a shower of glass. The arrow struck one of the card players, pinning the hand holding his cards to his chest. The man was dead before he hit the floor, and all he had to show for it was a pair of deuces. As the criminals began drawing clubs, Lynn calmed her mind and took a deep breath. Invisible threads of shimmering energy spread through the air in front of her and wrapped themselves around one of the men that had been drinking. As the threads caressed the man's mind he heard Lynn's voice sweetly tell him "You don't wish to harm anyone." The club seemed to grow heavy in the man's hand. Lynn smiled.

With clubs drawn, the men inside the shack charged, the other card player swinging his club through the broken window at Shadow, and the other six trying to force Taiko out of the door frame through sheer weight of numbers. Club swinging towards him, Shadow ducked down, avoiding the ugly wooden cudgel as it struck the window frame. The mound of people at the door piled in three wide and two deep, and lashed out with their clubs at Taiko. As one with an unfinished metal bar swung down at him, Taiko knocked it aside with his buckler, then sliced his nodachi up the mans arm. Other clubs rained down on him, but Taiko's armour deflected and absorbed all blows against it. With a smile Taiko slid out of the door frame to his right, and one of Jormangander's hammers came spiraling through the air to crash into the shoulder of the poor sap trying to hold the door, snapping bones. Drawing his second hammer, Jormangander strode up to the man he had struck with his thrown hammer, and with a two-handed swing lifted the man into the air, tearing through his left calf in the process, and then brought his hammer down to crush the man into the dirt floor.

"He has the door, but I can't let him have all the fun," Taiko laughed to himself as he drew back his right arm, "Let me see, the wall looks weak right, about, here!" Taiko lunged forward with his arm, punching a hole through the weakest point, with his fist just missing the head of the man he had already injured. "Damn, missed him."

Shadow stood up and fired a second arrow at the other card player. Twisting violently to avoid it, the arrow tore through the man's shirt without harm, and his club swung out at Shadow once again. Deftly stepping backwards Shadow avoided the wild swing. Shadow stood up and fired a second arrow at the other card player. Twisting violently to avoid it, the arrow tore through the man's shirt without harm, and his club swung out at Shadow once again. Deftly stepping backwards Shadow avoided the wild swing. More invisible tendrils connected Lynn to one of the other criminals, stripping his will to fight as well. Seeing the door blocked and unable to swing his club, one of the men fled to the back window, opened it, and began climbing out. Fenix smiled down at him from outside the window, and with a flurry of palm strikes kept the man pinned in the window. As the man continued to try and extricate himself from the window, a pair of blows from palm and knee crashed into the man's head, causing him to slump dazed in the window. As a criminal walked over the body of his fallen companion to fill the gap at the door, Jormangander brought his hammer around into the man's gut, knocking the wind out of him. The man with the gouged arm stabbed through the hole punched through the wall, but Taiko knocked the club aside and stabbed in with his blade, gouging through the man's ribcage, leaving him coughing up blood. One of the bandits at the door had his club batted aside by Jormangander. When the card player attempted to club Shadow once more, his weapon struck nothing but air, and Shadow leaned in through the window and fired his bow, pinning the man's foot to the dirt floor. He howled in pain, and fell huddled over his own foot. The wall in front of Taiko caved in as he ran his shoulder into it, smiling down at the man he had so effectively cut up. Threads of psychic power washed away from one of the four men remaining standing at the door, as another of Shadow's arrow burst out of his chest. His blood and bone fragments splattered the men in front of him.

Sheathing her pair of white steel daggers, Sophia backed up to stand beside Lynn in the alley mouth. "Well, it looks like they have things well in hand." Sophia sighed as she stretched her fingers. "Indeed," Lynn responded with her eyes closed, "It certainly is fun to watch." Sophia's sidelong glance went unnoticed by Lynn. Having never seen the woman's eyes open, there were more then a few questions to be answered about this woman. She turned back to continue watching the conflict.

Right as Sophia turned back to watch, Jormangander took up his hammer in both hands, tensed his entire body, and swung it through the air at the three men just inside the doorway. The man that had been carved up by Taiko didn't even see the hammer before it crashed through and removed his head. The hammer then continued to cave in the skull of the man directly in front of him. Having already torn through two men, his hammer crashed into the head of the third man with enough force to send him too his knees. Lynn gently patted Brutus on the head, and they began moving forward, seeing that the conflict wouldn't last much longer at all. As Taiko strode through the hole he had torn through the house wall, he walked behind the man on his knees, and with a quick strike severed the man's spine and kidneys, ending his pain.

"Please don't kill us," The man cradled over his pinned foot begged. "Please, spare us."

"We are begging you," mumbled the nearly unconscious man trapped in the window, Fenix's palms having stopped trying to send him into proper unconsciousness.

"Fine, we accept your surrender," Taiko rumbled as he looked around the small building.

"If you try anything though, I'll kill the pair of you," stated Jormangander as he cleaned the blood of his hammers using the dead men's shirts.

The two bloodied men nodded, and allowed themselves to be tied up by Lynn and Fenix.

"Well, I agreed to give you my share of the reward, so here," Taiko said as he dropped the corpse of the man he had nearly divided in two onto the pile of Jormangander's slain. He then walked over to the crate that had drawn his attention, tearing it open to find glass bottles of clear fluid. Taking one out of the crate Taiko removed the stopper, sniffed its contents, and his eyes immediately began to water as the overpowering fumes filled his nose. With an enormous grin he put the rest of the bottles into his pack, and took a long drink from the bottle he had opened. As the exceedingly alcoholic beverage scorched its way down his throat, Taiko walked back to the entrance, and with a heave of his shoulder bouldered through the wall on the other side of the door. As the roof began threatening to collapse down on them, the rest prepared to leave as well. Jormangander piled the four corpses at his feet onto his shoulders, Shadow dragged his two victims by their feet, and Fenix and Lynn lead each of their captured men behind them. Sophia took a quick look around the dilapidated building, but as the rafters creaked from strain, she followed Lynn and Brutus.

People in the slums fled before the disconcerting sight that this unorthodox group of individuals made as they headed back towards Grevens Boulevard, corpses slung across shoulders, coated in blood, and leading battered individuals by ropes. No one dared to stand in their way, or to ask them what they were doing with those people. There were looks of dread, awe, and mild lecherous intent. As the group dragged their victims back onto the boulevard, a patrolling guard spotted them, but hesitated where he stood. Impatient, Jormangander hauled his vanquished foes over to the guard, with the rest of them following behind.

"You still paying for the men responsible for the firebombing," Jormangander growled, blood dribbling down his arms and body.

The guard visibly relaxed, and even managed a sickly smile. "Yes we are."

"Here." Jormangander dropped the four bodies at the guard's feet, blood splattering across his boots. "I'll take my reward now." The others brought forward their corpses or prisoners, and the guard looked them all over.

"Excellent, I can pay you all the agreed upon amount. You even brought us two more alive. With the two brought in last night it means we'll be able to have a proper public hanging in order to show vermin like these men what happens when you dare assault Gabriel property. Since you are the ones that were able to bring these men to us, I'm sure we could arrange seats of honour for all of you for the hangings. What do you say?"

"No thanks, not interested," Jormangander muttered as he shrugged off the blood from his armour, "I have work to do." With that, he headed back towards the Montbert villa.

"Executions aren't to my liking." Fenix replied as he walked back to the home he had helped save from the fires.

"I do not take joy from seeing death," Lynn sighed as she and Sophia began looking for a different inn to stay at, hopefully that did not smell of smoke. Shadow had already vanished into the Lace Madam, only to find Taiko already passed out at one of the tables.

As the sun began to set upon the opulent city, guards set labourers to work on Grevens Boulevard, constructing a gallows in order to demonstrate the power of La Roche's justice.


As the sun began creeping through Jormangander's window, he had already been up and had prepared himself for the day ahead. He had already stopped by his master's office, and to his annoyance it was another day of supervising Francisco. He had already prepared himself, and Francisco was waiting just outside the villa. He impatiently tapped his feet, dressed in one of his best suits.

"There you are," Francisco shouted, "It is time that we went to find me some fresh prey today. It has been too long since I found a stunning woman to spend time with. After all, you cost me my hunting yesterday, so we have an entire day to make up for. Let the fun begin!"

With that, Francisco charged out the villa gates, with Jormangander following just behind him. As a pigeon tried to fly from the frost covered bushes outside, one of Jormangander's hammers lashed out and crushed it out of the air. It wasn't a human, but it helped calm his fury.


The calm morning was torn asunder by the ringing of a large bell in the hands of a crier. Jormangander and Francisco had just been approaching the Lace Madam, but the large gallows and crowd that had gathered around them blocked their passage. Other faces peered out of inn and home windows, Taiko and Fenix glaring at the crier that dared to wake them up at such an ungodly hour, Lynn and Sophia standing just outside the new inn that they were staying at, while Shadow watched from the alleys outside the Sleeping Sheep. The crier rang his bell with fierce fervor as a La Roche guard finished tightening the nooses around the necks of the four men that had taken part in the firebombing that had been captured alive. They were beaten, bruised, and cut, and they all looked terror-struck before their death. Four other guards stood before the gallows, keeping watchful eyes on the crowd.

"These men dared to commit crimes against the city of La Roche, and in so doing crimes against the great Principality of Gabriel! The punishment for their crimes of assault, arson, destruction of property, and disturbing the piece, is death! Let this serve to a warning to any of you out there that would dare to challenge the strength of Gabriel!"

The guard headed to the lever that controlled the trap doors beneath the criminals' feet. He placed his hand on the elegantly carved handle, and stopped. The pallor of his flesh twisted to grey, as his flesh began to shrivel. His hand fell from the handle, his eyes rolled back in his head, and he fell to his knees. As the guard fell from the gallows, he crashed to the ground in a heap, with his limbs twisted in ways that no living person could tolerate.

"I warned you all, you worthless cretins." From the shadows appeared the man tall man in the velvet suit, creature skull helmet glittering in the early morning light. The crowd parted before him as his gaze fell upon them. As he walked up the steps to the gallows, the four guards that had been watching the crowd drew their blades and began to advance. The man turned to face them, and for the briefest of moments something appeared behind him. Those that glimpsed it could only describe it as a man-shaped mass of darkness, eight feet tall with too many joints to its limbs. The air seemed to grow more chill just for its presence, and its eyes were twin pricks of light that looked colder then the more bitter winter. Just as quickly as it appeared it vanished, but the guards hesitated in their advance.

"I gave you people the chance to be part of something great, something that would revolutionize the way our world is run. I offered you all liberation from this wretched enslavement you all call life. I warned you all that those without gifts would be incapable of leading you, but you ignored my words. Now I must demonstrate it. In a heartbeat I have struck your guards, the protectors of the piece, still in terror. I will free these men that work for my interests, and we shall leave here. There is nothing these cretins are capable of to even slow our presence. Will any of you stand in my way?"

The man gazed around the gathered crowd, cold eyes washing over those gathered. No one spoke, some even forgot to breathe. With an arrogant smile the man drew a glittering rapier, and cut the nooses from the gallows. He then calmly walked down the steps once more, his men in pursuit. As the guards finally pulled themselves together, they once again began to advance on the skull wearing man. The man in front stopped however, as his skin began to shrivel and his colour grayed. With an agonized scream the man fell to his knees, sword falling from limp fingers. The scream halted the other guards in their tracks, and with one last mocking smile the man that had freed the criminals vanished into the slums.

The crowd dispersed silently, not yet ready to discuss what they had just seen. For some of them, they would never be ready to discuss what they had seen. Francisco, shaking himself lightly, turned to Jormangander with as much of a smile as he could muster. "Come, I think it is time we enjoyed a drink." Jormangander nodded, and the two entered the Lace Madam. Shortly after them, Lynn and Fenix made their ways in, all selecting separate tables. Sophia made her way back into the inn to better prepare herself for the day ahead. Shadow remained at his post, and watched as Taiko sat down in front of the door to the tavern. The large man pulled a tonkori from his backpack, and began to play deftly. As the notes filled the air in a sorrowful tone, his voice joined them in a song he learned long ago.

"For all that were lost long ago,

And those that have longed to be found,

To all that have suffered in silence,

And have seen friend place within the ground,

All of the trees whispered hushed,

About ages once held,

In the palms of mens' hands,

That have now been reduced to nothing but dust..."