Jellicle's Creed IV: Family Ties

by Xeir Zith

When his home is attacked, his father and a dear friend slain, their house burned, Munkustrap Grayhame flees to the streets and finds solace in human drink of all kinds. A mysterious mentor takes him in and trains him into one of the most feared killers of his time. Munkus, bent on revenge begins to hunt those who destroyed his world. Question is, who will live when he is done

5. Seqeunce 1 Memory 5

The Jellicle's Creed

IV

Family Ties

Extracts from the Journal of Munkustrap Grayhame

Sequence 01

Memory 05: Follow the Leader part 1

29 May-3 June 2011

1

So, today is a weird day. I mean, I was not able to write for about six days. The last time I was able to write anything was back on 23 May. So I will start there. This might go a bit long.

23 May 2011, the day my father was buried. Was a strange day. I was sent by a tailor, named Perry to deal with a group of thieves and miscrants that wanted his profits. So I went to deal with them personally. As a friend of the store owner, returning his store to full profits made me a richer man, I could go to Perry any time needed to get items for completely free.

But it was easier said then done. Perry was a good man though. No doubt about that. I liked him, he was like part of my new family now I figured at least that much.

Anyway, I went to the location pointed out to me and entered. Almost instantly regretting the fact I went in the place in the first place. Mostly because, it stank to high heaven inside. God alone knew what the bathrooms smelled like. Neverless, not all of two seconds after I went in I was set upon by four differnet men demanding answers of why I was there. My hood drawn up over my head. My face currently unseen.

I thought carefully on what I was going to say next. Finally I said, "I am here to return that which was stolen from its owner." Apparently the men thought I was a thief. Until I explained of what exactly I planned to return to its proper owner. The men snarled and one made to jump on me when another voice spoke up

"Really ?" The man stepped into view. He was tall and thin, built like a Jellicle, I recognised him instantly. "Then perhaps you can tell me why Perry was not able to come on his own so he sent a lacky ?"

"Davis." I growled, I recognised the thief, I had given him a good thrashing when he tried to rob my father two years before. Now I was there to return Perry's lost money. "You have the money ? Because if you do I can take it and walk out, no lives lost or injuries taken on either side."

"Really ? You think you can just walk in here, demand my rightful property, and then walk out unhindered ? Ha! Think before you speak! Kill him!" Davis said, the head of the Thieves Guild of St Andrews Square always was a hothead.

Two thieves jumped me at once. I span and ducked, my left wrist sprang out the hidden blade while the other slid out the hookblade and grabbed my first target, I threw the man into his fellows and dug out the neck of another thief, the man sank to the floor dead.

They came at me in a rush.

I did not like the smell of blood and death, but sadly, these guys wanted me dead. So therefore, ee were even. Two down, a whole bunch to go. I span to my left. Grabbed the first guy I could, and threw him into his fellows. Dodging to my right I snagged another man, broke his ankle, then snapped his neck all in one go. I span again, arm out, slitch, straight across another mans throat.

Finally Davis joined in. We traded blows for all of two hartbeats uintil I broke his left hand. In one swift move I had him on the floor at my mercy. The man had lost all his men. He was pale in my eyes. "Alright, I'll repay that tailor!" Davis growled at me. Clearly unhappy at the loss of his money. I let him go, my unasked question said it all. He pointed to a nearby chest. I left the man be, took up the chest of money, and left the thieves den.

I returned the money to Perry, who was overjoyed to see his lost money returned, he counted it carefully, and even repaid me for the dye jobs he did for me. He then said to me "When you require anything, clothing, pouches for your gear, or similar items, come to me, I'll get you fitted and geared for no cost whatsoever." With that I thanked him and left. I had a place I could visit for clothing when needed. That was most helpful to me in many respects.

2

I found the funeral prossession, blending instantly with a group of mourners I never recognised for the life of me. It did not matter, I used what Tiri had taught me and blended carefully as I could. But it was not enough, I felt eyes on me at every turn I made. I did not know it then, but I know it now, I was being tracked by someone.

The prossession arrived at the place to bury my father. I kept myself calm. I saw my brother, his wife was weeping. I never could remember her name. I was glad I was unrecognised by everyone present. I spotted one man I did not recognise, he was tall, ginger haired. And wore black mourning clothing. After a moment of focusing on the man I decerned his name. Marcus Darvine. My worst enemy.

What was he doing at my fathers funeral ?

There was a woman with him, dressed in red and green, with some brown and tan. I recognised her briefly, I'd seen her before, but where ? I shook my head briefly, almost unseen by any around me, the feeling of death was just nuts. Sometimes I hated it, but I knew I was going to have to get used to it.

I was thankful for the training Tiri had given me, even though so little. And also for the newly dyed clothing Perry was able to do for me. I was completely unrecognisible in my gear. I did not even have to say a word either. I let my brother do the talking when the times came for it most of the time.

Soon the funereal was over, I moved to the far end of the massive cemetary. Knowing full well that my fathers grave was going to be carefully watched. Nevertheless I waited until the place was empty and there was none as far as the eye could see. Then I moved to the gravesite, the tombstone already in place.

How long I stood there I did not know, nor did I care. "I am sorry father. I have failed you as a son, but I wont fail you now, I will avenge you and mother. But I am at a loss now of what to do next, send me where I am to go." With those words I stood up and left the cemetary. In slightly better spirits then I was at the start of the day. I found a bathroom and cleaned both my blades carefully.

As I headed back onto the streets I felt eyes on me again, I chose that time to duck into a building for a bite to eat. Once seated I was able to observe those passing by. And also those looking for me directly. In such a case of events I found myself noticing three things.

The first was that only one person was actively looking over the crowd aside from myself. St Andrews Square was an open market in many areas, not many people owned a car, unlike myself I had my trucks keys in my pack. I noticed first that she was a woman, carefully observing everyone, looking for someone. But who was she looking for ?

I knew the answer to that.

Me.

I did not know how to act in such an event, so I tried my best to ignore it. Occasional I felt her eyes on me and looked up briefly. My gaze once or twice locked with hers, she looked away. Where had I seen the woman before ? Brown and tan, with green and red... Wait! I had it, my fathers funeral, the woman I was looking at there in the market was there at my fathers funeral, standing beside that other man! She was looking for me for some reason.

When it appeared that she did not find me I chose to watch whom she spoke to, carefully taking in things she did, and people she spoke with, she spoke with a shop keeper. The man sold carpets and rugs. The second man I noticed sold only incense. And then the third man, the last of the men she spoke with sold weapons.

When the woman had left I watched the first man as he left his shop, I left my tip on the table and followed the man. Apparently the man was a letter carrier as he stopped by the other two and picked up letters from them both. I followed the man into an alleyway and there I struck, hammering out fast with my fest I caught him soundly in the back of the head. The man sank to the ally floor in a heap. I pocketed both three letters and some money. Perfect.

I moved on then, away from St Andrews Sqaure. Towards the horrors that awaited me in London. Away from my old home and the safety of a town I knew every place to hide perfectly like the back of my head. London was new to me, I was there so far only once. This time however I planned on finishing what my father started.

As I moved through the streets I felt eyes on me again. Try as I might I was unable to shake them. So I acted as if I was looking around the street, taking in everything around me, including a pair of burly men in dark suits.

I kept walking. Yep, I was being followed by some unsavery fellows. I turned into an alley and waited for the two men to enter it themselves. When they had done so I dropped from my perch I had taken and tackled both men to the ground. "Alright, two eyes is bad enough, but when its two pairs makes me slightly uneasy gentlemen." I said when I let them back up. "What do you want ?" I only wanted to talk to them, never to harm them.

"Only to warn you kid. You took down the thieves, this much has been spread across town, an unknown man took down the Thieves Den. This is good news for the Bossman. You make a good fighter. We don't doubt it was you. With skills at hiding like your own. For a second we couldn't tell what alley you had ducked into." said one of the two.

The other spoke up saying, "We saw you take down that letter carrier for the Darvina." he said to me, "The Darvina are our enemies, not as bad as the theives den or the local whorehouses. The Darvina are bad news. The ladies even more so."

"I was being tracked by one of these, Darvina members" I said, I withdrew the letters I had taken from the letter carrier "Apparently not only was Old Master Grayhame on the hit list, but both his sons as well" I said.

The two men nodded, "That's right, if you work with us we can protect you better then anyone else." The first said to me. He handed me a paper with an address on it. "When you feel up to it, look for the Assassins. Ask for Graymane." With that the two men took their leave of me.

3

I thought it was time to write a bit. After a day of events I just could not focus long enough to write. So I wrote until I could write no more. That was on 1 June actually. The thirteith of May was a dank day, not many were out, so I too stayed in. dark and damp, not a good plan when trying to take down my fathers killers.

So I stayed in, I found another inn, made myself to home, and then started researching at the local library carefully on old factions in the town of St Andrews Square and the city of London. What groups held sway over certain areas. Among other things.

I found out quite a bit of the Templar Order, and also the Assassin Brotherhood, and the areas of power each group tried to control. The Templars I learned, were the type that wanted nothing but order, control, and money, lots and lots of money.

The Assassins on the other hand, the more I read the more I felt I wanted to be one of them. Little did I know my mother, and my father, were both Assassins at one point or another. Hench the arm devices. I read about the weapons both groups used, lies, deceit, stealth killings, the works. It was in fact a lot of rather interesting fun reading I must admit.

I never expected I could become one of them.

I left the library a few minutes later, the books in my pack ready to be read that evening at the inn. Once more I felt eyes on me, but I managed to loose them. Briefly.

4

Today I finally got to write some more, it was hectic as hell I must admit, even though now I do not know how much of this I can write. I'm hiding at the moment. Going to move soon to another inn. A better more secured location I think.

I was followed here. I heard voices outside my door, the innkeeper, a stoic woman with a strong sense of honor threated to throw the person out herself if they came back looking for me. I paid her handsomely when I checked out. Right now I'm on the move until I find another inn to stay at.

5

OK, after most of the day searching I finally found another inn I can stay at. Once given my room I locked the door and stepped out to the balcony, looking out onto the ground below I took in everything with that extra sense I had, everything with black and white with places I could blend in in bright blue, and enemies in blood red. I found two outside.

Great, two more to take down or lose completely. Choices choices. I chose to let them come to me, let them in for a drink, then kill them with kidness. If that did not work, I could use my hidden blades too.

Darkness soon came on, and as soon as it did I informed the innkeeper of the two outside, bade her to let them come in and come to my room on the third floor. When the two had arrived I told the innkeeper that should anything be amiss, she was to not interfere and that I'd pay in full for any damages t othe room. She had no idea what I meant but ten minutes later I checked out.

Both men were dead in my room, one in the shower, I ended up having to strangle the huge guy with the showerhead chain. The other I left on the sofa in the room, Or rather, in the thing. At that point I was in no mood to play anymore. I wanted this job done, and quickly as possible. I paid for the room and a new bathroom remodel for it, along with a complete set of new funishings for the room as well, the landlord asked no questions as promised.

It was time for me to move on.

6

Today is june the third I think it is, can't really tell, it was a weird day. I think I am still in a daze, not completely sure.

I finally met up with an Assassin, his name is currently unknown to me at the moment, but it does not matter much if at all for the time being. I know him only as Mentor.

He saved my life. Which I find strange. Why did he save me ? I guess I will find out soon enough.

M.G.

Rolling Thunder

In an unknown network of back alleys and under roads

Daylight broke throuigh the sky above. Where was he ? An eye opened. Great, I fogrot, he thought, He'd fallen asleep in an alley, waiting for the time to sneak off from the inn. No time like the present. Munkus thought getting to his feet and putting on his pack and belt. He put on his arm devices. He had no idea what they were really called, he liked the short blades, one of them a hook, switchible between the two in fact. Very useful in many cases he thought. He remembered helping Perry, his new clothing, in a sense of speaking, was perfect fit, and nicely tinted to the desired shade. Everything was perfect.

Or not.

Munkus had taken all of two steps when he felt eyes on him again. Then he heard the voice, "About time I found you." The woman said. Voalle was angered sure, skilled too by the look of it. Munkus only had a few minutes worth of fight experience behind him though. Voalle took in the young man. "I see you got a change of clothing, like that will help."

She had gotten notices from her informers. One of them read. "he's been approached by the Assassino~Faulker down" Finally she had found him, "Took me some time too. Even though I had others looking for you to pinpoint your location. Where were you headed, out of St Andrews Sqaure no doubt." The woman stepped into view.

Munkus looked at her, focusing slowly on his rising anger he kept his temper as best possible. This was the woman that he had seen in brown and tan and red and green at his fathers burial two days before! "You! I know you, you were looking for me. Why ?"

"Simple, to kill you. Why else did I go through the work of searching for you so long ?" Voalle replied. She counted off on her left hand, "First I went to where two workers of an inn left you, but you had checked out before I got there, for the moment I lost you, but I had others looking for you. Then I tracked you as far as another inn, but the inkeeper there insisted you were not to be disturbed on the grounds that she'd personally throw me to the streets. My men found you at the third inn last night, I found them, thanks to you, dead in your room. Obviously you have some measure of skill. A measure of which I want to test." Voalle's smile faded. "Sadly, given the look of you, all bark and no bite. I think I can easily take you down."

"Don't press your luck, bitch." Munkus retorted.

"Oh, I feel like pressing it quite a bit after you are dead" Voalle replied. She withdrew a siletto from her belt. As she did so Munkus flicked his fingers, the hidden blade slid into view, with it, the hookblade on his left hand.

"Still want to press your luck ?" Munkus asked.

Voalle growled and attacked. She ran forwards at Munkus, Munkus brought up a hand, the blade was withdraw, two fingers were out and pointed. He jabbed her dead in the eyes as she ran at him. She shireked in his face and he ducked her wild swing, tackling her into a wall. He growled under his breath. "You should have left me alone when you found your men dead in my room this morning. Now you'll be the same way!"

He made to strike, but she kneed him solid in the groin and sent him sailing backwards with a hard kick. Munkus flicked up some sand and caused a smokey area to form from the dust he kicked up. He span on his feet, kicking out hard, the same instant he took a hit, which sent him flying as well as the killer after his hide.

Munkus crashed into a stack of pallets, wood exploded all around him as he landed on the stacked pallets. When the sawdust settled he spotted his foe bearing down on him and at the last second he stuck his foot into a pallet and whiped it up, the broken pallet smacked hard into his attacker. Voalle went flying. The siletto she used went flying aside

She scampered to pick it up

Munkus grabbed up his pack, slung it across his shoulders and took off then, with Voalle not far behind him, he went deeper into the alley, ran up a wall and jumped across to the other side, moving upwards. Voalle followed two steps behind. Munkus stamped down hard on her fingers as she climbed after him and even kicked at her. He jumped back to the alley floor and grabbed up a metal rod no longer then a standard american baseball bat.

He swung madly. Voalle ducked easily and got into his reach and kicked at him again, Munkus went flying, as a last resort he swung his fist hard as he could, but Voalle was not there, she had moved. Time seemed to slow as Munkus fought the unknown assassin. The place he was swinging at was an empty robe.

He swung to his left as quickly as he was able with his fist leading, and again, Voalle was moving, again an empty robe was where he swung, He swung fast again to his right, once more she was moving, back to her first position in the fight. She kicked him again from behind. He landed back where he'd started the fight initally. He shook his head, blinking as he watched Voalle get closer to him. Her blade ready to strike.

He tried to focus as a grey robed man dropped from the sky and kicked hard at Voalle. With a shout the Templar assassin turned on the grey robed invader. Only to have her hand caught and her arm twisted, then shortly was swiftly disarmed. The blade was thrown aside, lodging hilt deep in the nearby wall.

Voalle screamed and withdrew another siletto and dove for the intruder. The grey robed man dodged the first two strikes then grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder before he kicked her in the side as she hit the ground, sending her flying into a stack of nearby pallets. Voalle spat up some blood before getting to her feet, picking up her dropped weapon she turned towards the new fighter "You dare to impose yourself on my kill ?" She asked

"Of course." Replied a cultured tone "I dare indeed to save one from one I once considered my own daughter." With that the newcomer flicked up a wrist and fired off a dart. Voalle hit the ground a moment later, out like a light. The gray robed stranger went over to the woman, rolled her onto her back, and then picked her pockets carefully. Taking her weapons. All of them, even the hidden blade the woman wore.

He'd let her live, in shame. She now could not go back to Marcus Darvine and his Templars, but she could rejoin the Assassin's as a new recruit at some point in the future. Munkus however was confused by the gray robed cats actions. "You're letting her live ?" He asked, as he got back to his feet. He rubbed his head and grabbed up his dropped pack once more.

"Yes, I am letting her live. In her shame however. After she left our order for greater glory and better coin, she joined our orders enemy. I defeated her yes, but I still consder her one of our order, though, misguided. By taking her weapons and primary gear, she wont have any means to fend for herself." The dark robed man said, "I've been watching her for some time now, she was sent to track and kill you and members of your family most likely. Be happy I got where when I did. Here, take these in your pack" The gray robed stranger held out Voalles weapons to Munkus, who did as told. Having no idea whatsoever else to do but to follow the man who had saved his life

"What will happen to her now ?" Munkus asked

"She cannot go back empty handed to her old employers, so aside from killing herself her only choice really is to come back to her old brothers and sisters. Put her skills to proper good use." The robed man replied.

"Her employers, who were her employers ?" Munkus asked then

"Let me just say that it is too much information to take in a single sitting." He replied. He took Munkus by the shoulder "Come, lets get you to a proper place to stay for the time being." With that he lead the way by rooftop through London until he got to a certain point then walked on the ground the rest of the way.

Davenport Manor

Outskirts a few minutes later

As they walked Munkus began to wonder who this man was, and why he had saved him. "Pardon me for asking, but, why did you save me ? I mean, what good will saving me have for you in the long run anyway ?"

"For the moment I will tell you this" The robed man replied. He stopped and turned to Munkus, a hand up, two fingers extended, "First and formost it is not who you are, or where you are from, nor is it about who you are to me. I saved you because of who you were born to be. Not what people expect of you." He lowered his hand "No, that said, I do believe we have a bit of work to do. Come, let us get inside."

It was then that Munkus noticed the place they had come to. Completely in the dead center of london overlooking the Thames River to the west was naught more but a massive, massive, house. Munkus stared for a long moment, "Is that ?"

"It will be where you will be living for the next few weeks while I explain things to you. And possibly craft you as your mother wanted." With those words the gate opened without a sound as the two men neared it. Once they were inside the gated high walled property Munkus saw that the space was used, everywhere he looked there was places, for training, he thought. It had to be, there were target practise fields, a fight arena, weapons racks were everywhere. "Welcome to your new home, Munkustrap Grayhame."

"My new home ?" Munkus asked, confused, as the robed stranger, now Munkus thought of as the owner of the household he was just allowed to join. Lead him inside the great front doors of the massive house.

Davenport Manor

Meeting Chamber

Once inside he saw it was a masive villa of some form. Two halls went to his left and right. While stairs went up, and down, directly before him. "It is indeed your new home. Come, I want to inform the others of your joining us as a recruit" The robed man turned and lead the way down one of the halls, to the left of the front doors. Munkus followed.

The two soon entered a room, various couches and chairs were spread around it, a long oval table was in the center with dozens of chairs on either side with one large one at the head of the table. The robed man pointed towards the foot of the table, "Stand there." He said. He turned to another who was within the room, "Call the others. As many that can join us" He wanted at least ten people to approve of the new recruit to make it offical. The servant nodded and left the room with the order. Within moments people Munkus never knew in his life entered the room and took their places at the table and sat down.

Munkus felt weird as eyes were trained on him. Even the robed stranger that saved his life was seated, he was the only one without a seat. Munkus faked not being nervous and tried to think of something nicer for the occasion, but all he could think of was those eyes, and the person that just tried to kill him not minutes before.

Finally after a good few minutes of quiet the robed stranger stood and spoke "My brothers and sisters. My Assassins. My friends." He began, "I bring us a new recruit, Saved from the deadly skills of one of our former sisters. I took from her her weapons and hidden blades. These I now place before you on the table here to decide of what to do with them, we will decide also what to do with this young man, her target."

With those words he motioned to Munkus to lay the taken gear from his would be killer. He did so without question, setting everything the robed stranger had taken from the former assassin and laying it on the table for all to see. When he was done he put his pack back on, and his hands went behind his back. He was still nervous, but now quite confused, and wondering of what was to become of not just himdelf, but the gear he'd just placed onto the table in front of him.

He did not have to wait long

One of those seated at table spoke, his name was Akilla "When I speak I speak for myself. I recognise the gear placed upon the table surface Mentor, it is the gear of our lost sister, Voalle. Why has this young man brought it to us ? Surely he did not slay her and take her gear, bringing it here to us to display. I can see clearly he lacks the skills to defend even himself." Munkus was about to speak up when the robed stranger spoke

"I have seen this mans skill. He has a knack for improvising on the fly in a fight. I stepped in when his lif was about to be ended. Voalle may have left us for the Templars, but I made it so she has one choice, to return to us. Her task was to eliminate this man and his family, our most celebrated members. When this mans life was about to be ended, I saved him." The stranger at the head of the table then removed his hood, long gray hair framed an angular face. Dark steel gray eyes stared out at the world. Munkus saw clearly what the man was, A Jellicle. The stranger left his place at the head of the table and walked around one side of it. Speaking as he did so until he came to the side of Munkus. Saying, "I support this ones initation into our order. Are there any objections ?"

"If there were any we'd speak our minds" Said Akilla, looking to each of his fellow Assassins in turn before turning to Munkustrap, asking the young man simply "Do you have what it takes to take a life ?"

Munkus thought long and hard to answer that question, finally he said, remembering taking the life of one of the men that killed his father and his fathers friend Gus. "Yes, if I must I can indeed take a life." He then remebered the theives den, how he ended it, aside from the last man, Davis.

"Then there are no objections to allowing this man into our order, Mentor." Said Akilla, Munkus' answer to him was enough for him. "Seeing that you took some time to carefully craft your answer, I see now that you did indeed take a life. Several in fact. For I scent blood on your hands. You killed more then you wish to admit. Why do this ?"

"I thought back to the first life I ever took. One of the men that ruined my family." Munkus said, "Then after wards, yesterday, I helped a friend get his lost money back."

Akilla smiled, "I see you also visited the tailor, Perry is a good man, We tried to help him before, but we never found the theives, tell us Grayhame, how did you succeed, when the rest of us could not ?"

Munkus thought for a moment, then said "I do not know. I simply followed the money. At first. I followed the directions Perry gave me. I then used my senses that my father taught me as a child how to use. Once I used them, I was better off. Managed to trail the theives until I arrived at my destination. Spoke briefly with the theives leader, I even tried to get a reasonable reply and the money, but I was set upon, so I took their lives in self defense, Davis was the only one left, I took the money and returned it to Perry."

"Then why hesitate when you answered me ?" Akilla asked calmly, He was not trying to anger Munkus, but to help him learn.

"I wanted to be sure I knew exactly what I was saying, that I could be truthful in my statement as I said it" Munkus replied, trying to stay calm and keep himself controlled.

Akilla smiled, He turned to his Mentor, "Mentor, you heard it as well as all of us, This man is indeed skilled, we shall teach him as you have taught us." He said.

"Then it is settled. Taku, you shall take first training sessions with Grayhame. I will take noontime, Everyone else, dismissed, Taku, I want you to show our new recruit the grounds, answer any questions he may have as needed." With that the gray robed stranger, the Mentor, took his own leave. Walking with Akilla for a long while. Leaving munkus with a dark haired young man like himself. Taku.

Taku stepped over to Munkus, seeing Munkus for what he really was. Munkus the same saw Taku for what he was, a solid silver panther Jellicle. "The Mentor supported your joining us, For once I am glad another joined us, One newer than I. Normally the newest member shows the new guy the place. That turns to me in this case. Not exactly new here mind you. But the last few that were told to inform and show others around did not do their jobs well enough, apparently one or two of the more recent members informed the Mentor that I knew enough of this place to be the architect of it. Might as well be" He said. Taku then smiled and stuck out his hand, "I'm Taku by the way,"

"Munkustrap, but you can call me Munkus." Munkus replied, shaking the mans hand. "Nice to meet you Taku." The two started walking then back to the table though.

"Well, since the job of showing you around the grounds, I think we'll start with your room first, so lets head upstairs. Take up the gear here." Taku picked up first one hidden blade, handling it carefully he disconnected the device from the vambrace. "I see you have yourself a pair. That is fine. We are to dismantle these when they are taken from our enemies or old members that had gone astray." he explained as he took the weapons apart. He set the pieces next to the vambraces. When he was done he turned to Munkus, "So, lets get started on the show and tell. Come with me." With that, Munkus was then inductected formally into the Assassins Brotherhood.