Springtime In The City 87.

Vexil. 

They rush down a cross street, with Zam the ex mercenary following Lisell Maera the scout, with Lord Farque out in front and Dorc da Orc trailing the other three. 

The youngest member of the group who is originally from The City Of Ruins is breathing heavily as they enter a short lane. 

The ex mercenary narrowly avoids a lady heading the other way in the lane. Who screams in fright, and steps out of the way of Dorc da Orc when the large ork enters the lane. 

Running out of the lane, Zam turns left in the direction that the scout Maera has gone. He crosses the street as he sees the junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque is doing that up ahead. 

The teenager who was scratching together a living as a mercenary in The City Of Ruins when the group found him. 

Turns into another street here in the northern neighbourhoods of the city of Vexil, and he finds that the lead scout has stopped, as Lord Farque is at the corner of a building just in front of the attractive young woman who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury. 

"Shit" mutters Zam the ex mercenary when Dorc da Orc comes running around the corner behind him, and almost runs him down, before coming to a stop, and the ork warleader sourly grunts at all the running they're doing. 

"Lis lead the way" says Lord Farque, who gestures across the street to a rooftop of one of the buildings over there, before he adds "Follow Axe". 

The undead wardog pops his head up for them to see as he stands upon the roof of the building the large heavily armoured deathlord just pointed to. 

"Dorc" says the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque, which gets an answering grunt from the big burly ork who is from the southern polar region of the world. 

"Kaughin vark cakl tighl margünd" says the lord of the death realm in the ork language, followed by "Sagudel tighls mar" as he gestures at Zam and Lisell. 

"Jad ma" replies Dorc da Orc in the same language with a nod of his head as he looks at the two young humans. 

Kill any cunt who attacks. Lord Farque told the warleader of the ork race. Followed by. Protect these two. With the large ork who is a general in the Armies of Farque replying with. Will do. 

The undead warlord who has the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands also know him by, nods his full helmed head. 

Then after looking up and down the street they're on, and seeing just a couple of people on the street, at the other end, walking away with their backs to this end of the street. 

The large heavily armoured deathlord leaps up to the roof of building the four of them have been in front of. 

"He gone" says Dorc da Orc in the common language, followed by "He fucken running" says the ork weaponsmith who is listening carefully as well as sniffing. "Fucken fast" adds the son of the former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks. 

Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by those who know her well, nods her head. 

Then she looks across the street, and sees Axe the undead wardog moving away along the rooftops over there. 

"Come on, let's go" says the attractive young woman originally from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury, who is now a junior officer in the Armies of Farque. 

As the three of them set off again, Dorc da Orc or Dorkindle to give him his full name, grunts then asks "Why we fucken running and shit?". 

"Mira's under attack" explains Zam the ex mercenary with a look back at the large ork who is a general in the Armies of Farque. 

"From that mage Garmen" adds the teenager who is the youngest member of the group as he and the ork weaponsmith follow Lis across the street they're on. 

The big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world just grunts at that, as the three of them, following the lead of the undead wardog Axe, head eastwards through the northern neighbourhoods of the city of Vexil on this fairly fine spring morning. 

Mira Reinholt the mage reappears on a building near a park here in the north of the city that he knows so well. 

The once powerful mage narrows his eyelids as he looks back in the direction he's come from. And though he can't sense that far any more. He can briefly boost his ability to sense by way of one of the spell gems he has, and he drains some of the power from it. 

"Fuck" mutters Mira Reinholt the mage with a sour looking lopsided smile upon his face as he senses what's approaching. 

A couple of mageglobes, one is another identifier. Which isn't moving particular quickly. And another, that's most definitely likely to be destructive. Right behind it. 

The Vexillian mage in exile knows that second piece of living magic will move at speed once the other one locates him. 

The spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands. 

Creates a mageglobe of his own, about the size of a small apple, bright blue in colour, which he sends back in the direction he's come from. 

The practitioner of magic who is also a highly skilled swordmaster knows his living piece of magic is a distraction more than anything else. 

Quickly looks around as he senses, trying to locate Garmen the elder, who he's now in a mage battle with. 

The mage Reinholt who is a member of Lord Farque's personal council knows there's only one outcome to this. 

And that's if one of the mages in a battle is killed. Though Mira has been in quite a number of them over the years. He hasn't actually won all of them by himself. 

Quite a few he's had helped. Like recently against Garmen the younger up in the hill country of northern Vexil back during the winter. Where it was actually Helbe the elven thief who killed the son of the older mage Garmen. 

The mage Reinholt is kinda hoping to get some help right now. Most likely from Lord Farque himself. Who can easily kill such a powerful spellcaster like Garmen the elder. 

The exiled Vexillian mage whose main advantage he has is the amulet he wears, that hides him from other practitioners of magic. 

Knows that living pieces of magic like a mageglobe doesn't care about that. And will find him eventually. 

But even so, the mage Garmen himself will not be able to locate him, unless he visibly spots him on this fairly fine spring morning here in the city of Vexil. 

The once powerful mage who wishes he didn't actually have the greater illusion spell cast upon him by Helbe the elven thief at the moment. 

Vanishes when he teleports away, then the slightly short stocky, and youngish looking fellow named Covar reappears on a rooftop about two hundred feet away, on the north side of the park in this part of the city of Vexil. 

The practitioner of magic who was the youngest ever member of the Mage Council of Vexil, senses as far away as he can. 

And though he can't actually see it, he senses his mageglobe approaching the pair that the mage Garmen sent after him. 

"Come on" Mira Reinholt the mage murmurs to himself, who then slightly smiles as he senses his mageglobe veer off, turning south. 

And that one of Garmen the elder's mageglobes takes off after it. The Vexillian mage in exile is silent for a few moments, then he grunts, slightly in disappointment as he realizes which one of Garmen's mageglobes took off, and which one is continuing on it's way towards him. 

"Fucking identifier" mutters the swordmaster Reinholt as the slower moving enemy mageglobe is still heading towards him. 

The once powerful mage who is part of the family that owns one of, if not, the most successful trading company, not just in Vexil, but the entire Southlands. 

Is pretty sure he senses another mageglobe in the distance heading this way too. He waits a few moments, then he sourly smiles to himself, and nods as he's now certain there's another mageglobe from Garmen the elder heading towards him. 

"Fuck" mutters Mira Reinholt the mage, who sighs then mutters "By the shape of fire" before he disappears, as he teleports away once again. 

After leaping across to another rooftop, Lord Farque comes to a stop, and he looks away to his right. 

The undead warlord slightly frowns behind the visor of his full helm, then he slightly nods to himself as he feels, then sees what's approaching in that direction. 

The large heavily armoured deathlord turns to his right and runs, then he easily bounds across the street below. And lands upon a rooftop on the opposite side of the street. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque waits, and after a few moments, he spots first one, then a second mageglobe. 

Come up over the roof of a building further down the street on this side, and head across the rooftops in this direction. 

Draugodrottin just stands there and watches the pair of living pieces of magic shoot towards the rooftop he's standing on. 

The lord of the death realm watches as the first mageglobe, which is bright blue in colour go flying past him at speed. 

Then the deathlord of Farque reaches out his right hand, and snatches the trailing mageglobe out of the air. 

Lord Farque squeezes his right gauntleted hand, crushing the living piece of magic, basically to death, so it no longer exists. 

The undead warlord whose elven name is Des'tier, which translates to The Destroyer in the common language. 

Watches as the first mageglobe, which was created by Mira Reinholt, comes back around and approache him. Slowly almost curiously. 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque who is sensing for the whereabouts of the mage Garmen. Snatches that mageglobe out of the air too. 

Ryn tell the stupid thing to distract other mageglobes of that mage Garmen, Lord Farque thinks to his family's sword that's strapped to his back as he holds the Mira Reinholt's mageglobe in his right gauntleted hand. 

Yes my lord, replies the Sword of Power Ryn, who then 'speaks' to the living piece of magic that Draugodrottin is holding. 

After she does, the undead warlord flings away the small, bright blue mageglobe. Which briefly hesitates, then after it spins around in the same spot a few times as it's slightly confused at what's just happened. 

It takes off at speed, and heads towards another of the mage Garmen's mageglobes in this neighbourhood, here in the north of the city of Vexil. 

"There you fucking are" murmurs Lord Farque as he locates Garmen the elder once again, the large heavily armoured deathlord then runs across the roof he's on, and leaps to another building as he goes after the member of the Mage Council of Vexil who is hell bent on finding, and killing Mira Reinholt the mage. 

After briefly stopping to speak to a patrol of city guardsmen, and telling them to arrest a couple of people in the neighbourhood. 

The mage Garmen made sure to give a good description of the pair. Though he thought about calling one an ork. But decided not to, and instead called it a stunted looking troll. Fatter than most, who is bristling with weapons all over them. 

The member of the Mage Council of Vexil who is in the middle of a mage battle with one Mira Reinholt, traitor to the city-state of Vexil. Who Garmen the elder helped to exile a quarter of a century ago during The he Battle of Vexil. 

Frowns as he looks back over his shoulder, as the city guardsmen hurry away. Some to find the pair the mage Garmen wants arrested. And others to the nearby guard tower. To inform other guardsmen what's going on. 

"Huh?" the mage Garmen the elder murmurs to himself with a slight frown upon his face, as he senses another of his mageglobes has prematurely come to the end of it's existence. 

"What's going on here?" the powerful practitioner of magic murmurs to himself, as he wonders how his living pieces of magic are coming to their demise and there's no sign that they've done so. 

The prominent member of the Mage Council of Vexil who still has a pair of mageglobes about. One of which can identify a particular mage, no matter how hard that particular person tries to hide themselves from other spellcasters. 

"Come on, find him" Garmen the senior murmurs to himself as he continues on his way down the street he's on "Find the bastard" adds the powerful practitioner of magic. 

The Vexillian mage turns right onto another street, knowing that his target, Mira Reinholt the mage is somewhere to the east of him. 

The mage Garmen levitates up to a rooftop to his right, shocking a few of the people on the street who see him. 

The powerful spellcaster looks around, sensing as well as looking for the mage Reinholt, who is somewhere in this part of the city. 

The member of the Mage Council of Vexil, is turning, looking away to the south of where he is. More or less the direction he's come from. And the Vexillian practitioner of magic, frowns as he spots something in the distance heading this way, at speed. 

"What the hell?" murmurs Garmen the senior as he sees the large heavily armoured figure, he knows to be an acquaintance of Mira Reinholt. Running across the nearby rooftops at speed. 

The powerful spellcaster blinks in surprise as watches the large figure leap from one building to another. That the mage Garmen knows is separated by a street. A street far too wide for anyone to jump across. Especially the large figure in a full suit of heavy plate armour. 

The Vexillian born practitioner of magic quickly creates a mageglobe, and flings it away in the direction of the large heavily armoured figure heading this way. 

Then as his living piece of magic takes off towards that individual, Garmen the elder turns to his right, then disappears as he teleports away as he continues his pursuit of Mira Reinholt the mage on this fairly fine spring morning here in the city of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 86.

The City Of Vexil. 

In the open courtyard behind the tavern, Zam the ex mercenary along with Lisell Maera the scout, and Covar, or Mira Reinholt the mage to be exact. See Lord Farque who is standing at a table with Dorc da Orc, look back over his right shoulder to the south. 

The youngest member of the group isn't certain, but the glimpse he got through the eye slot of the undead warlord's full helm, he thinks the large heavily armoured deathlord frowned. 

"Something wrong my lord?" asks Zam the ex mercenary when and the scout Maera and the mage Reinholt get to the table where the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque and the ork warleader are standing. 

"Something" murmurs Lord Farque, who then looks at the youngish looking, short stocky fellow by the name of Covar, and says "That Garmen is just to the south of us". 

The others, with the exception of Dorc da Orc who is busy drinking from a small barrel of ale, look away to the south. 

"Just went by that curio shop" continues the undead warlord, who pauses for a moment, before adding "Now on a rooftop of a building at the far end of the street". 

Zam, along with the scout Maera and the mage Reinholt all look towards the buildings at the southern end of the long street. 

"Can't see him" murmurs Mira Reinholt the mage, next to him Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by those who know her well, nods in agreement with the Vexillian mage in exile. 

The ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins nods in agreement too, for he can't see anyone on the rooftops in that direction. 

"He's there" says the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque whose people also know him by the name of Draugodrottin. 

"That four storey building with the peaked roof" continues the lord of the death realm, who follows on from that with "He's looking our way". 

"Shit" mutters Covar, who is really Mira Reinholt the mage beneath a Greater Illusion spell cast by Helbe the elven thief. 

"Hiding himself?" asks the practitioner of magic who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands. 

Until he lost most of his powers when he accidentally cast a rift/void spell that sent him offworld. 

"He is" is the reply from the large heavily armoured deathlord with a slight nod of his full helmed head. 

Then the undead warlord who has the elven name of Des'tier, which translates into the common language as The Destroyer, mutters "Shit" followed by "Mageglobe". 

A moment later, and there's a small bright light in the distance, about the size of an apple, suddenly appear on the rooftop Lord Farque indicated. 

Which briefly hesitates, then drops down over the side of the building, then drops down out of sight between that building, and the one in front of it. 

"Shit" mutters the short stocky fellow named Covar, who then quickly asks "You know what it does?". 

"Fucking pain in the ass trying to figure out those things unless they're close" sourly says Draugodrottin, who continues with "Whatever it does, it's heading this way".

As the mage Reinholt grimaces, the undead warlord slightly turns his full helmed head, tilting it to one side, as if he's listening to something. 

The lord of the death realm, then says "It's not destructive" followed by "So that's something, I fucking guess". 

The large heavily armoured deathlord briefly pauses, before continuing on with "Hell" he pauses once again, and looks at the exiled Vexillian mage who is a member of his personal council, and says "It can identify mages". 

The lord of the death realm is silent for a moment or two then he adds "The fucking thing just went underground". 

Covar who is actually Mira Reinholt, grimaces then says "Damn" then he shakes his head and says "It's living, it doesn't care about spells, it'll identify a mage no matter what, before it comes to the end of it's brief life". 

In response to Lisell Maera the scout saying "You'll be alright under that spell won't you?" followed by "It can't tell if you're a mage with that?". Not to mention the amulet that the mage Reinholt wears that hides his magical powers from other practitioners of magic. 

"Can you stop it?" quickly asks the once powerful mage as he looks at the large heavily armoured deathlord. 

"Maybe" says Des'tier, who continues on with "Depends what it actually does" dryly followed by "At least It's not moving quickly". 

The lord and ruler of the Lands Farque falls silent, then he looks at the ground towards the other end of the courtyard, and he says "Here it comes". 

Zam steps away from the short, stocky, kind of youngish looking fellow named Covar who is really the exiled Vexillian mage, Mira Reinholt. 

The next moment, the undead warlord is moving. Just then the incoming mageglobe shoots up through the courtyard, right behind the mage Reinholt, and up into the air. 

And before the deathlord of Farque can leap up into the sky and grab the living piece of magic that's white in colour, and the size of a small apple. 

It comes to the end of it's brief life, and briefly flares out, before a shaft of white light, from about fifty feet up in the air, beams down, right onto the mage Reinholt, clearly illuminating him on this fine spring morning here in the city of Vexil. 

"The fuck is that?" asks Dorc da Orc who finally realizes that something's going on "Killer you all lit up and shit" adds the large ork as the once powerful mage is briefly illuminated by the beam of light from above them. 

Then as the beam of light disappears, and the spellcaster who is also a highly skilled swordmaster mutters "Fuck". 

Lord Farque who has spun around, and is looking back to the south again, quickly says to the others "Move!". 

The next moment, three mageglobes, one after the other in quick succession, appear from the same rooftop as the previous one, that just identified the fellow named Covar, is actually a mage. 

"Another identifier" says Draugodrottin to the practitioner of magic who is a member of his personal council, the lord of the death realm follows on from that in a slightly dry tone with "You can guess what the other two can do". 

"Fuck" mutters the mage Reinholt once again, who then nods when the undead warlord tells "Teleport away" followed by "Try and lead them away". 

The next moment and the youngish looking, short stocky fellow named Covar disappears as the once powerful mage teleports away. 

Then two of the three new mageglobes, all of which are moving fairly quickly. Take off to the east, the direction Mira Reinholt teleported to. 

While the remaining mageglobe continues on towards the tavern, and the open courtyard behind it. 

"Fucking prick" mutters Des'tier who can clearly see the mage Garmen in the distance upon the roof of one of the buildings at the far end of the long street. 

The undead warlord who has sensed both Zam the ex mercenary and Lisell Maera the scout, run from the open courtyard, and around the northern end of the tavern. 

Rolls his eyes as he realizes Dorc da Orc hasn't moved, and is still at the table. The large heavily armoured deathlord glances at the ork general in his Armies, who is busy finishing off the small barrel of ale he's been drinking from. 

"What?" asks the ork weaponsmith as he takes a breath, and notices the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque looking at him. 

"Nothing" dryly says the lord of the death realm, who follows on from that "Fucking stay behind me, and don't move". 

The big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world just grunts in reply to that. Though he resumes drinking, he does what the undead warlord told him to do, and remains standing behind the large heavily armoured deathlord. 

"Bastard" mutters Garmen the senior, who continues on with "I knew it was him". As he looks eastwards in the direction a fairly young, short stocky fellow teleported away to. 

Feeling triumphant at his discovery, the member of the Mage Council of Vexil looks back to the open courtyard of the tavern at the far end of the long street he's on. 

He sees that the two large figures are the only ones who remain there. An avenger, a large fellow in a suit of dark blue, black heavy plate armour. 

And with him, apparently an ork. Though the mage Garmen is a little dubious at that. As he believes it's a stunted troll. A rather fat one at that. Which is absolutely covered in weapons of all kinds. 

The powerful practitioner of magic who is a member of the Mage Council of Vexil watches as one of his mageglobes shoots towards the pair in the courtyard behind the tavern in the distance. 

"Er?" Garmen the elder murmurs to himself in confusion after he sees his mageglobe explode, barely. 

For the large heavily armoured individual in the dark armour, was some way able to reach out and grab the fast moving mageglobe out of midair. 

Then pull it in towards him, and he tucked down over as held it to his chest, and the living piece of magic came to the end of it's life, and died. 

The member of the Mage Council of Vexil blinks in surprise at the lack of damage, of anything really. From that mageglobe exploding and not much happening. 

"What the hell?" mutters Garmen the senior, who continues muttering with "Oh shit". As the large heavily armoured individual who just grabbed his mageglobe just before it exploded. 

Stands up tall, and looks this way, directly at the powerful Vexillian mage who has cast an invisibility spell upon himself. 

The local spellcaster who has spent the springtime trying to locate Mira Reinholt the mage, who is responsible for the death of his son, Garmen the younger. Wonders who that person is. 

As he does, he creates another mageglobe, and sends it towards the pair behind the tavern at the other end of the long street. 

Garmen the elder not wanting to waste anymore time on them, looks away to his right, then disappears as he teleports away. In pursuit of who he's certain is Mira Reinholt the mage. 

The member of the Mage Council of Vexil is extremely lucky that he teleported then. For as he was in the process of disappearing. He caught sight of something rather large, and rather black. Approaching from his right, across the roof of the building directly to the right of the one he was on. 

After leaping through where the mage Garmen just was. Axe the undead wardog comes to a sudden stop. And looks to the north, to where his master is. 

The massive undead animal sees his master give him a hand signal, then say something in the ancient language of command. Which Axe can easily hear from this end of the long street. 

The undead wardog turns around and takes of running across the rooftops in this part of the city of Vexil. 

Heading after the mage Garmen the elder, who is in pursuit of Mira Reinholt the mage, who is being chased by two of the mage Garmen's mageglobes. 

As for the most recent mageglobe created by the member of the Mage Council of Vexil, that's heading to the open courtyard behind the tavern where Lord Farque and Dorc da Orc are. 

This time Draugodrottin doesn't even let the approaching mageglobe to get to the end of it's brief life. 

The undead warlord is a blur as he moves, and he leaps forward and grabs the living piece of magic out of the air. 

And he crushes it in his right gauntleted hand, destroying the mageglobe created by Garmen the senior. 

Jogging back across the courtyard, the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque, says to the large ork who is a general in his Armies "Let's go". 

The weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks grunts, then he grabs the remaining small barrel of ale off the table, and he follows the large heavily armoured deathlord around to northern end of the tavern. 

Where they find Zam the ex mercenary and Lisell Maera the scout waiting for the two of them. Both of them relieved to see the lord of the death realm and the ork warleader unharmed. 

"That way" says Lord Farque to Zam and Lis as he points off to the east, here in the north of the city of Vexil. 

"He's after Mira" adds the lord of the death realm, which gets a fairly dry sounding "I wonder why?" from the attractive young woman who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury. 

Des'tier just rolls his eyes, then he says to the other three "Let's go". And he, followed by the others, hurries from this end of the tavern, and makes his way out onto the street. 

Here in the northern neighbourhoods of the city of Vexil on what's a fairly fine spring morning in the capital of the city-state . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 85.

The City-State Of Vexil. 

Looking over at Lord Farque, Zam the ex mercenary asks him "What my lord?" after hearing the undead warlord mutter "Fuck". 

As they stand near the magical curio shop, the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque looks away to their left for a moment, then he looks at the youngest member of the group. 

"Pair of dwarves heading this way" quietly says Lord Farque in the elven language to the teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins. 

Zam quickly looks at Dorc da Orc who is leaning up against the front of the building on this fairly fine spring morning here in the city of Vexil. 

The ex mercenary then looks at the lord of the death realm, who quietly tells him in elvish "I better take the big fickwit away for a while". 

The large heavily armoured deathlord continues with "Those dwarves are definitely coming right here" he then adds "One of them is a delver". 

The youngest member of the group nods his head in understanding, as he knows a delver is a dwarven spellcaster. 

"There's a tavern back the way we came, I'll take him there" says Lord Farque who also goes by the name of Draugodrottin that the people of his lands know him by. 

Zam nods at that, then the undead warlord says in common to the ork warleader "Come on Dorc, let's get a drink". 

The large ork who has been bored as hell as they wait, perks up at hearing that from the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque. 

"Where?" asks Dorc da Orc as he looks around "Back the way we came from" replies the lord of the death realm, pointing away to the right in the direction they came from. 

"There's a tavern that way" adds the large heavily armoured deathlord whose elven name is Des'tier, which translates to The Destroyer in the common language. 

The big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world who is a general in the Armies of Farque, grunts as he spotted the tavern on the way here. 

Looking at the youngest member of the group, Draugodrottin tells him "Head there when Mira" the undead warlord pauses before dryly adding "I mean Covar" followed by "Finishes up here". 

"Yes my lord" says the teenager who was scratching together a meager living as a mercenary when the group found him in The City Of Ruins. 

The deathlord of Farque gestures at the rooftop of a nearby building, and quietly says in elvish to Zam "Axe will keep an eye on you". 

The ex mercenary looks that way, and though he can't see the undead wardog at the moment, he knows Axe is there if Lord Farque says so. 

"Come on, let's go" says the large heavily armoured deathlord in common to the ork warleader. 

Who grunts, and follows after Des'tier who is walking away, heading back in the direction they've come from. 

The youngest member of the group leans back against the front of building where the magical curio shop is housed. As he waits for Mira Reinholt the mage and Lisell Maera the scout to come back out, on this fairly fine spring morning here in the city of Vexil. 

During the next little while, Zam watches as a handful of customers enter the shop, the front door of which is a dozen feet to his left. 

By the looks of things, the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins figures most of them are from the nearby Mage College. 

As they're all younger than him, the oldest he figures is probably only sixteen or seventeen years old. 

And a bit after that, a pair of dwarves come up the street, and make their way to the magical curio shop. 

Zam can easily tell which one is the spellcaster. He's the one not wearing a heavy chainmail shirt, with heavy leather armour. Bristling with weapons. 

The ex mercenary says good morning to them in the dwarven language. He knows a few phrases in that language as there was a fair few dwarves living and working in The City Of Ruins when he was there. 

The armed and armoured dwarf just grunts in reply, while the dwarven delver in the cloak like robe, chuckles then says in common "Not bad" followed by "Good pronunciation, but you've got to work on the accent, because that's atrocious". 

Zam grins, and nods in reply to the dwarven spellcaster, who enters the magical curio shop, followed by the other dwarf, who looks to be his personal guard. 

Hell, glad the lord took Dorc away, the youngest member of the group thinks to himself, as he knows that if the large ork remained here, he would of tried to kill those two dwarves if he caught wind of them.  

It's not too long before Lisell Maera, followed by the mage Reinholt, make their way out of the magical curio shop. 

"Where are they?" asks Lisell Maera the scout looking at the teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins. 

"In a tavern that way" answers Zam the ex mercenary who points in the direction that Lord Farque and Dorc da Orc went. 

"Figured as much" says Mira Reinholt the mage, who continues on with "When I saw those two dwarves enter the shop I guessed Farque had taken that big fucking psycho away somewhere". 

The youngest member of the group nods, then he asks the once powerful mage "Get what you were looking for". 

"I did" replies the short stocky fellow named Covar, who is really Mira Reinholt "Two of them" continues the practitioner of magic who is also a highly skilled swordmaster "And a spell scroll too" adds the Vexillian mage in exile. 

Then the mage Reinholt, who in the history of the city-state of Vexil, is the youngest ever member of the Mage Council of Vexil, gestures in the direction they came from, then says "Probably best we head to where they are". 

Both the ex mercenary and the scout Maera nod in agreement, then the attractive young woman who is originally from the city-state of Brattonbury, moves off. 

The youngest member of the group, and the once powerful mage who is under the power of a Greater Illusion spell cast upon him by Helbe the elven thief. 

Follow after Lisell Maera the scout or Lis as she's more commonly called by the others in the group, on this relatively fine spring morning, where the cloud cover is clearing, thanks to a fairly stiff wind that's blowing today. 

As they walk, Zam looks up to the rooftop where he knows Axe has been watching them. The ex mercenary can't see the massive undead wardog, but he figures he's keeping pace with them as they head off to the tavern where Lord Farque and Dorc da Orc are. 

Not far away, at the edge of the main airdocks of the city of Vexil. The mage Garmen sourly smiles to himself after exiting one of the buildings that houses many of the officials that work here in the airdocks. 

The powerful practitioner of magic who is a member of the Mage Council of Vexil, refrains from sighing at the situation he finds himself in at the moment. 

Then the mage Garmen, often referred to as Garmen the elder or Garmen the senior, teleports away to the rooftop of a building to the north of the main airdocks of the city of Vexil. 

"Damn it boy, why did you have to hang around that filth?" the mage Garmen mutters to himself as he stands upon the roof of the four storey building. 

The powerful Vexillian spellcaster just shakes his head and wonders how he's ended up in the situation he finds himself in. 

After the daytime murder of the airdock official Gopeth a few days ago in one of the northern neighbourhoods of the city. 

The investigation by the city guard into the murder of the prominent city official. Found out some rather unsettling things about Gopeth. 

Who Garmen the elder vaguely knew, and had dealt with a couple of times in his position as a member of the Mage Council, dealing with issues pertaining to the main airdocks. 

But Garmen's deceased son, Garmen the younger was good friends with the airdock official Gopeth. 

And now the father, along with pretty much all of the Mage Council, as well as the City Council, along with the senior officials right across the city-state .

Are wondering how much, or even if Garmen the younger knew of the despicable things that Gopeth was doing in secret. 

To say the others in the Mage Council are annoyed, is an understatement. For they've stated in no uncertain terms to Garmen the senior. 

That he's not to waste any more time into trying to find the former Mage Council member, Mira Reinholt the mage. 

Who everyone believes is responsible for killing Garmen the younger during a border insurrection, by a mercenary army, up in the hill country of northern Vexil back in the wintertime. 

Garmen the elder teleports away again, to another rooftop further north. And when he reappears, he can't help himself and looks around hoping to find any sign of Mira Reinholt. 

Who he along with a number of others in the Mage Council a quarter of a century ago during the Battle of Vexil, exiled Mira Reinholt for treason. 

Garmen the mage looks away to his right, and he gets a clear view down a fairly long street, to a tavern in the distance, he used to frequent when he was younger. Before he got married and had his son. 

The powerful practitioner of magic spots some people in the open courtyard, to one side of the tavern and behind it. 

Where there's tables and seats, where people can eat and drink on fine days, like this spring morning here in the city of Vexil. 

The mage Garmen slightly frowns to himself as he sees two very large figures in the open courtyard of the tavern. 

Who are standing at a table, where they're joined by three others who have just made their way into the open courtyard. 

Garmen's frown gets even deeper as there's a memory that he's trying to recall about the man he's hell bent on finding. 

Then after a few moments as he continues to stare off into the distance at that tavern down the long street. 

Garmen the senior slightly nods, then murmurs to himself "Could it be?" and after pausing for a moment, adds "It actually could be". 

From the Battle of Vexil, the powerful spellcaster recalls the information of who Mira Reinholt was seen in the company of. 

One a large heavily armoured individual, an avenger most likely. And another, even bigger individual. One thought to be an ork, which sounds ridiculous, though believed to be a stunted troll of some kind. 

The mage Garmen slowly nods to himself, and even though it's been twenty five years, he quietly murmurs to himself "It's them". 

He looks at the other three at the table with them in the open courtyard behind the tavern in the distance. 

And with a farsight spell he quickly casts, the powerful mage sees that all three are far too young to be Mira Reinholt, and one of them is a young woman. 

Garmen the elder sighs in frustration, then a thought comes to him, and he murmurs "What if he's been hiding in plain sight?". 

The member of the Mage Council of Vexil who has sensed to the tavern courtyard in the distance. 

And though he doesn't detect any spell on those three who have joined the heavily armoured avenger, and the maybe ork. 

That doesn't necessarily mean that there's actually no spell on one of those three youngsters. 

Nodding to himself as he stands on the roof of a building a couple hundred yards away from the tavern he's looking at. 

Garmen the elder murmurs "Let's find out then" just before he creates a mage globe on this fairly fine spring morning here in the city of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 84.

Vexil. 

"Tithelim youn'th riendél umīkith" quietly says Zam the ex mercenary as they wait on the street just outside the Merchant's Rest inn this morning. 

"Lothilēl salindïl kelmïthel olmönd narthēl mulkithnêl" replies Lisell Maera the scout as she looks up and down the street, then up at the dawn sky, which is partly cloudy this morning, with no sign of rain like there's been the last few days here in the city of Vexil. 

The pair who have been conversing in elvish, fall silent as a pair of mounted riders pass by, followed by a covered carriage. 

The ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins and the attractive young woman who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury, share a look. As they both remember what they took part in just a few days ago. Publicly killing an important city official who worked at the main airdocks of the city of Vexil. 

The two of them turn around, as out of the covered walkway that leads into the small, square like courtyard where the Merchant's Rest is located. 

Comes Lord Farque, Dorc da Orc and a short stocky fellow, fairly young, around the scout Maera's age. 

"What's this one called?" asks Lisell Maera or Lis as she's more commonly called by the others in the group. 

"Covar" is the dry sounding reply from the young looking fellow who is really Mira Reinholt the mage. 

"Starting to think the royal thief gets a laugh at the types of people he makes you" states the junior officer in the Armies of Farque, who has a completely straight face when she says that. 

Next to her, the youngest member of the group can't help but grin as he looks at the short stocky fellow who looks like he's in his early twenties. But in actual fact is really twenty or so years older than that. 

"No really?" sarcastically says the once powerful mage, who in that same tone, continues with "I'd never of guessed". 

"Stop your fucking whining" says Lord Farque which immediately kills that conversation. The undead warlord who has been sensing in all directions. 

Mainly for any dwarves in the immediate vicinity. For the simple fact he doesn't want to spend all morning keeping a hold of Dorc da Orc. Who will definitely try to run off and murder any dwarf he catches wind of. 

"That way" says the large heavily armoured deathlord who points to the right, he follows that with "Lis lead the way". 

The scout Maera nods her head, and does so again when the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque tells her "Turn left at the end of the street, then head around the square and go south". 

"Yes my lord" says the attractive young woman who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury, who is a junior officer in undead warlord's Armies. 

Lis leads the way, with Zam the ex mercenary alongside Covar behind her. The deathlord of Farque and the ork warleader follow after them. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins glances at the shorter, and stockier man beside him, and quietly asks "Where exactly did you want to go to this morning?". 

"Pick up some magical supplies" replies the mage Reinholt, who isn't particularly pleased with the latest illusion spell he's been cast under. 

Though he does admit, it's better than some of the other ones that Helbe the elven thief has cast upon him recently. 

At least he's a man this time. The exiled Vexillian mage finds it annoying every time the highly talented elven magic user creates a greater illusion spell where he's a woman. 

Mira can never get used to the gait while walking when one's a woman. Nor can he get accustomed to whatever voice he ends up having when he's a greater illusion spell that makes him a woman. 

Zam nods at hearing the mage Reinholt wants some supplies, and he asks him "One of the magical curio shops down towards the main airdocks?". 

The spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in The Southlands, nods his head in reply to that question from the youngest member of the group. 

Then the mage who is also a highly skilled swordmaster, says "On this side, towards the Mage College". 

The ex mercenary nods again, then he glances back at the two large figures following behind them. 

Zam figures the reason Lord Farque has come out this morning, is to keep an eye on Dorc da Orc who he has allowed out. 

For the simple reason the large ork has been cooped up in The Merchant's Rest inn over the last few days as it's rained here in the city of Vexil. 

And with today being fairly fine, as there's a strong wind this spring morning, which is breaking up the cloud cover in this part of the city-state. It's probably best to allow the warleader of the ork race to go out. 

And the fact the arguing between the ork weaponsmith and his bitter rival sir Percavelle Lé Dic builds in intensity the longer they're in close confines together. 

Which could easily turn to blows if one or the other isn't allowed to roam about in the city, especially on a day that's fairly fine. 

As the five of them cross a street, the youngest member of the group who is originally from The City Of Ruins quietly asks the short, stocky fellow walking beside him "What's his highness actually doing this morning?". 

"No idea" is the truthful reply from Mira Reinholt, who like the ex mercenary, is speaking in the elven language. 

"Most likely something for Farque" adds the Vexillian practitioner of magic who also happens to be a highly skilled swordmaster. 

Zam nods at that, then he glances back at Lord Farque and Dorc da Orc who are following them. He's just about to ask the undead warlord where Helbe the elven thief is this morning, and what the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel is up to. When he spots movement on a nearby rooftop. 

After a moment, the youngest member of the group nods to himself, as he sees that it's Axe the undead wardog. And that the massive animal is following them through this part of the city on this relatively fine, but windy spring morning. 

They briefly stop to allow a wagon to pass by, then they cross another street, and head around a square, where there's a market taking place this morning. 

Lord Farque or Draugodrottin to give him his other name that the people of his lands know him by, has to briefly take a hold of Dorc da Orc's left arm. 

As the big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world caught the sight and smell of a number of interesting things being cooked, as well drinks being sold this morning at the market in the square. 

The large ork who has already had a massive breakfast, and plenty of booze to drink this morning. 

Looks sadly back at the market as they leave the square behind him as they continue south towards the area near the main airdocks of the city, where a magical curio shop the mage Reinholt is interested in going to, is located. 

"Keeping up with your training?" asks Covar to pass the time as they head south through the northern neighbourhoods here in the city of Vexil. 

"I am" replies Zam the ex mercenary, who follows on from that in a wry tone of voice with "Did some hand to hand combat training with Shur Kee in the stables just before dawn". 

"Lucky you" dryly says the exiled Vexillian mage, who continues on from that with "No way in hell I'd throw hands at that monk" he then adds "You always end up on your ass on the ground". 

"Tell me about it" wryly says the teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins, who continues with "I spent all my time getting up off the ground" Zam briefly pauses before adding "And i don't even think I put a hand on him at all". 

Next to the youngest member of the group, the short stocky fellow named Covar who is really Mira Reinholt just grins at that.

As they along with Lisell Maera the scout, Lord Farque and Dorc da Orc head towards the main airdocks of the city, and the nearby Mage College. 

The walk through the northern neighbourhoods here in the city of Vexil this morning is pretty uneventful. 

Except when Dorc da Orc spots a couple of hobbits on the other side of the street they're on, and the large ork just points at them and laughs, loudly. 

The big burly ork from the southern polar region of the world who had come to a stop, and just stood there laughing at the pair of halflings. 

Both of whom were totally confused to why this large green individual, was standing there, pointing at them, and laughing uncontrollably. 

Had to be hauled away by the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque, who took the ork weaponsmith by the left arm. 

Even then, the large ork who is a general in the Armies of Farque, continued to laugh at the two hobbits, even when he was dragged around the corner at the end of the street where they encountered the two hobbits. 

The son of the former matriarch of the wolf tribe of orks, only stopped laughing when the undead warlord quietly said something to him in orkish. 

Zam murmured to Covar wondering what the deathlord of Farque said to the warleader of the ork race. 

And the short, stocky man who is really Mira Reinholt the mage quietly replied that it probably involved violence by Lord Farque, upon the large ork. 

Which is usually the only way to get the ork weaponsmith to shut up when he gets into uncontrollable fits of laughter. 

The group with Lisell Maera out in front, approach the area of the central city where the prestigious Mage College of Vexil is located. 

Not far away to the south, lies the main airdocks of the city, which from the movement of airships leaving and arriving is anything to go by, is busy this fairly fine spring morning. 

"Down that lane there" says Covar who is really Mira Reinholt "And around the corner to left" adds the youngish looking, short stocky fellow who follows that with "The shop is further down that street". 

Zam slightly nods to himself, as he recognizes where they are. And that he knows which magical curio shop they're going to this morning. 

It's the same one that earlier in the spring, infact before the Spring Tourney of Vexil, where he got one of the two mage cannisters that were purchased that day. 

A mage cannister that the ex mercenary always has on him now, tied to an underarm strap, beneath his cloak. 

They enter the lane, and as they make their way down it, the youngest member of the group quietly asks in elvish "Anything in particular you're looking for?". 

"Just some empty spell gems" is the quiet reply from the practitioner of magic who was once the most powerful mage of his generation, in the entire Southlands. 

Who lost most of his powers a number of years ago when he miscast a spell that sent him offworld through a rift/void. 

"They tend to wear out after a fair bit of use" explains the Vexillian mage in exile, who follows that with "I like to keep at least one brand new one on me at all times" he continues with "Probably get a couple if i can". 

Makes sense, the ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins thinks to himself, as they exit the lane behind Lisell Maera who has turned to the left on the street they've come out on. 

"There it is" says the practitioner of magic who when he was still seventeen years old after completing his studies at The Mage College, became the youngest ever member of The Mage Council of Vexil. 

"I see it" says the scout Maera who leads the way to the magical curio shop, which by the looks of things, already has a few customers this morning. 

"Anything I have to be worried about in there?" quietly asks the mage Reinholt with a look back at the lord and ruler of the Lands Farque. 

"Just the usual" is the reply from the undead warlord who has the elven name of Des'tier, which translates into the common language as The Destroyer. 

"Mostly students from The Mage College by the feel of things" adds the large heavily armoured deathlord. The short stocky, fairly young individual nods his head in reply to that. 

"Zam wait out here" says Lord Farque, who continues on from that with "Lis head in with Mira, I mean Covar or whatever the fuck his name is today". 

The attractive young woman originally from the city-state of Vexil nods her head, and she follows the once powerful practitioner of magic into the shop. 

While Dorc da Orc after moving to follow them, stops and remains outside after the lord of the death realm quietly says something in the ork language to him. 

The large ork who is a general in the Armies of Farque, grunts and remains outside with Draugodrottin, and Zam the ex mercenary. 

On this mostly fine, though partly cloudy and windy spring morning here in the city that's the capital of the city-state of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 83.

The City Of Vexil. 

Looking out over the rooftops in the north of the city of Vexil as a light drizzle falls just after dawn this morning. 

Zam the ex mercenary glances to his right, and spots Axe the undead wardog on the roof of the building to his right. The massive animal is also looking across the rooftops in this part of the city. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins is glad Axe is here with him this morning. And even more so after what happened yesterday morning when he and Tovis the war engineer were attacked, and the undead wardog saved them from harm. 

Well, it was really Zam who was in harms way. As the assailants yesterday morning were hell bent on trying to kill him more than the war engineer who hails from the kingdom of Druvic. 

The youngest member of the group slightly sighs as he's now definitely a target to a group of people here in the city. 

For the simple fact he was squire to sir Percavelle Lé Dic during the Spring Tourney of Vexil. Where the former paladin was victorious during The Joust. And almost won Le Grande Meleé the following day. 

"Trust me to end up a target for a bunch of pissed off locals" Zam the ex mercenary murmurs to himself. 

On the rooftop to his right, the undead wardog Axe glances his way, before going back to looking across the rooftops here in the north of the city. 

The teenager who was scratching a meager living together as a mercenary when he was found by the group in The City Of Ruins. 

Wipes his face once again, hoping the drizzle comes to an end soon. From what he's learnt from the weather patterns here in the city of Vexil. 

Zam expects this light rain to end sometime later this afternoon or tonight. And that tomorrow will dawn fairly fine. 

The ex mercenary quickly looks behind him to the south, before continuing to look across the rooftops here in the north of the city of Vexil. 

He looks in the distance towards the north wall of the city as an airship passes by overhead, heading north after leaving the main airdocks of the city. 

The teen who is the youngest member of the group is just wondering if any of the others are going to show up. 

When Axe, who is lying down, stands up as he looks northwards across the buildings in this part of the capital of the city-state of Vexil. 

Zam looks to where the undead wardog is looking, and the next moment he sees a figure climb up onto the roof of a building about forty yards away. 

The ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins nods his hooded head after Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy looks his way, and gives a few hand signals. 

The youngest member of the group looks over at Axe to see if he's going to come along. And he finds the massive animal, standing there, looking at him, and waiting. 

"I guess so" Zam murmurs to himself, who then takes a dozen or so steps back, then runs forward, and leaps to the roof of the building, across the lane from the one he's been watching things from. 

The ex mercenary eventually makes his way to the building that the spy Tanith is on this morning, here in the city of Vexil. 

The teenager who is the youngest member of the group looks around to see where Axe has got to. And he spots the massive undead wardog on a nearby rooftop. Looking at him and the spy who is originally from the elven principality of Alinlae, and is now a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

"No one randomly attack you this morning?" quietly asks Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy after greeting the ex mercenary. 

"No" sourly says Zam in response to the elf who is more commonly called Dalin by those who know him well. 

The spy Tanith chuckles, then quietly tells the youngest member of the group "Just keep your wits about you when you're out on the streets of the city" followed by "And you should be fine". 

The ex mercenary just grunts in response to that, and does so again when the commander in the Armies of Farque tells him "In the meantime we've got other things to deal with". 

As Zam continues to look across the rooftops in this part of the city. Next to him, Dalin is looking up at the cloudy, drizzly sky just as much at the surrounding rooftops. 

The elven spy who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland of Alinlae, taps the right arm of the ex mercenary, and gestures up into the sky .

The youngest member of the group squints as he looks up through the drizzle that's falling across the city of Vexil. 

And after a moment he spots a bird, black in colour, a raven. Circling a building away to the left, a few streets over from the building where they are this morning. 

"Let's go" quietly says Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy who then leads the way, with the ex mercenary who hails from The City Of Ruins following after him. As they head towards the building that Saanea the witch's familiar is circling above. 

Before they climb down off the building they're on, Zam looks around for Axe. And wryly smiles to himself as he spots the undead wardog leap across the street that he and Dalin have to cross on foot, as there's no way in hell they could jump across to a building on the other side. 

The elven spy and the ex mercenary cross the street, and enter an alleyway on the other side. The commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque and the youngest member of the group, exit the alleyway. 

Then cross the street beyond that, heading to another alleyway. Which they briefly pause before entering to allow a donkey drawn cart, and the street vendor it belongs to, pass by the alleyway. 

Once in the alley, Dalinvardèl Tanith spots a set of narrow steps on the outside of a building, that leads up to that building's roof. 

The two of them head up the steps, and once on the rooftop, they crouch down as they make their way to the north side of the roof. 

By the time they get to that side of the roof, the elven spy and the ex mercenary are lying down flat, as the light drizzle continues to fall upon the city of Vexil this spring morning. 

Directly in front of them, just ten feet away is the building that Saanea's familiar has been circling. The two buildings are separated by an alleyway, a fairly busy one if the activity down in it is anything to go by. 

"Noisy bunch" the ex mercenary murmurs in elvish to the spy Tanith, who nods his hooded head in agreement with the youngest member of the group. 

The two of them have just taken a peek down into the alleyway that runs between the two buildings. And there's a fair few people entering, and exiting the building just in front of the one they're on top of. 

"Suppose sending Axe in and having him kill everyone in there is out of the question?" quietly says the ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins. 

After rolling his eyes, Dalinvardèl Tanith wryly says "You've been hanging out with Dorc too much". 

"Worth a try" murmurs Zam, who glances away to the right, where Axe is lying on the roof of the building in that direction. 

Then just as the teenager is about to ask the elven spy what they should do? Dalin quietly says to the youngest member of the group "There". 

The commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque points as he adds "That's who's going in". 

Through the lightly falling drizzle, Zam spots the familiar of Saanea the witch, has landed upon the roof of the building just in front of them. 

One moment the raven is hoping along the roof near the edge, the next moment it disappears, and there's suddenly a cat slinking along that roof. 

"Huh" murmurs the ex mercenary, who follows that with "I didn't know cats could do that". "That's no ordinary cat" dryly says Dalinvardèl Tanith, as the cat, which is a black cat, climbs down the side of the building with ease. 

The two of them pop their heads over the edge of the roof they're on, and look down into the alley below. 

And they spot the black cat, which is Saanea's familiar. Heading to the busy door, that people are entering and exiting, at the back of the building. 

"Would you look at that" murmurs the teenager who is the youngest member of the group, as the cat goes through the open door. 

And that was after it went through the legs of one of the men down in the alley who just made his way out of the building. 

And rubbed itself up against the legs of another man, this one waiting to enter the building, before it slipped in through the open doorway. 

"So what exactly are they up to?" asks Zam the ex mercenary after he and Dalinvardèl Tanith slide back from the edge of the roof. 

"Dark and nefarious things" is the reply from the commander in the Armies of Farque "They are?" says a surprised ex mercenary. 

"They're not" is the dry sounding answer from the elven spy who hails from the principality of Alinlae. 

"But they're up to all sorts of illegal shit" adds the spy Tanith, who nods his hooded head at the building in front of them, then quietly says "That was owned by that fellow Gopeth whose guts and throat you cut open the other day". 

Dalin continues with "Considering who he is, and what he got up to, it's no surprise he was involved in a lot of other illegal activity" followed by "And being one of the most important officials at the main airdocks, that gave him plenty of opportunity to get up to all sorts of things". 

The elven spy briefly pauses before continuing on with "Like steal a lot of shit" Dalinvardèl Tanith then adds "These lot are associates of his, and who knows who else, who are just taking his stolen shit". 

Zam nods his hooded head at hearing that, then he wipes his face again as the drizzling rain continues to fall this morning across the city of Vexil. 

"No wonder the city guards haven't taken this place yet" quietly says the youngest member of the group. 

"They're about to" says the spy who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses in the elven principality of Alinlae. 

"Any moment now" adds Dalin, who follows that with "His highness set it up". Zam's not surprised in the least at that. 

And when Saanea's familiar runs out of the open door, and takes off down the alleyway, where in mid stride, the black cat turns into a raven, and heads up into the grey sky. 

The spy Tanith gestures away to their left, and quietly tells the youngest member of the group "Here they come". 

A few moments later, and a number of squads of city guardsmen rush into the alleyway from that direction. 

And Zam along with Dalinvardèl Tanith, as well Axe the undead wardog over on the roof to their right. 

Watch the nearly two dozen guardsmen take down, and arrest all the people entering and exiting the building which was owned by the airdock official Gopeth. 

Those who have been taking his stolen goods, this cloudy, drizzly morning here in the city of Vexil . . . . . .

Springtime In The City 82.

The City-State Of Vexil. 

Watching from a distance down the street. Zam the ex mercenary sees the wagon full of gold briefly stop before turning onto the street to the right. 

The youngest member of the group sees Tovis the war engineer who is with the driver and the hired guard. 

Look back this way before the wagon rounds the corner, and gives a discreet hand signal when he catches the eye of the teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins. 

Zam who is glad that it's only slightly drizzling today, unlike the heavy rain that hit the city yesterday. 

Hurries down the street once the wagon is out of sight, he rounds the same corner after nearly knocking over a couple who are heading in the other direction. 

The youngest member of the group who was barely surviving as a mercenary when the group found him in The City Of Ruins. 

Slows down, as up ahead he sees the horse drawn wagon slowing down, then come to a stop in front of a patrol of city guards, who have waved it to a stop. 

Zam casually crosses the street, and sees that another wagon that must of been stopped. Is carrying on further down the street. To what looks like a tavern. 

"Makes sense" Zam the ex mercenary murmurs to himself as he sees that wagon has a number of ale barrels in the back of it. 

The teenager who is the youngest member of the group, briefly stops almost opposite the wagon that entered the city a short time ago. And is on the way to a nearby counting house. 

One of the patrol of four city guardsmen glances Zam's way, then ignores him as it looks like the ex mercenary is taking shelter beneath the front awning of a shop. 

Which in fact he actually is. Though more to keep an eye what's happening on the opposite side of the street. 

Where Tovis, who is standing beside the wagon. Is speaking to the lead guard in the four man patrol. 

Zam just hopes they're not a corrupt patrol, looking to take advantage of their authority. But he's been told that corruption is pretty low, to near non existent in Vexil's city guard. 

Due to the fact that the Mage Council of Vexil, tends to root out any corruption fairly quickly. Whether in the city guard, or the city-state's army, and the aircorp too. 

The corruption that there is in Vexil tends to be within the numerous trading companies. And their dealings with The City Council of Vexil. 

The teenager who is originally from The City Of Ruins hears Tovis explain how they're taking a shipment of precious ore to the nearby counting house. 

And the eyebrows of the two guardsmen who search the back of the wagon shoot up in surprise at what they find. 

And inform their patrol leader, that indeed it's a load of gold in the bed of the wagon once they pull up the canvas covering. 

The patrol leader waves the full wagon onwards, and the driver obliges, and has his horses moving fairly quickly, sending the wagon rolling onwards. 

Zam who moved off before the wagon did, crosses the street up ahead of it. And turns right into the lane that he knows the wagon will turn into. 

In the lightly falling drizzle, the youngest member of the group waits for the wagon to enter the lane. 

Once it does, and it goes by where the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins is standing against the rear of a building. 

The ex mercenary joins the war engineer who who hails from the kingdom of Druvic, where he served in the army of a prominent nobleman, before joining the group. 

"They've stepped up their patrols" quietly says Zam the ex mercenary in the elven language "That's the second one to stop you since you entered the city" adds the youngest member of the group. 

"Hmmm I wonder why?" says Tovis the war engineer in the same language as they walk alongside the wagon as it heads down the lane they're in. 

"Probably something to do with you yesterday morning, out in the open in the middle of a street, killing a prominent official working for the city council" dryly adds the commander in the engineering corp of the Armies of Farque. 

"That's probably why" dryly continues the war engineer, while next to him, the teenager originally from The City Of Ruins sourly smiles. 

"He deserved it" quietly says the youngest member of the group, followed by "Definitely deserved it". 

Tovis nods his head as they continue to walk through the drizzle as the wagon exits the lane, and they turn left onto another street. 

At the end of which, on the other side. Is their destination. One of the counting houses here in the north of the city of Vexil, that Lord Farque uses to store his gold from the mines that he's taken over, in the hill country in the north of the city-state of Vexil. 

"Deserved or not" quietly says the Druvician war engineer, who continues on with "Is beside the point". 

Tovis follows on from that with "The city guard have picked up their patrols in this part of the city" he then adds "They'll continue to do so until they find someone responsible for that Gopeth's death". 

Zam grunts at hearing that, and does so again when the commander in the Armies of Farque quietly tells him "I suspect the royal thief is setting up someone for that Gopeth fellow's death" he continues on with "So you've got nothing to be worried about". 

The teenager who was scratching together a meager living as a mercenary when the group found him in The City Of Ruins. 

Along with the war engineer who hails from the kingdom of Druvic, come to a stop beside the wagon, that's stop to the side of the building where the counting house is located. 

The hired guard hops off the back of the wagon, and the driver gets down off his seat. As Tovis speaks to one of the group of counting house workers who have come outside once they've noticed the arrival of the wagon, that's heavy with a shipment of gold bars. 

Zam steps aside to get out of the way as they start unloading the wagon. He waits for Tovis to finish speaking with one of the counting house workers. 

As he does, the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins looks over at the rooftops opposite this side of the building where the counting house is located. 

The teenager who is the youngest member of the group faintly smiles to himself as he briefly spots through the falling drizzle. 

The massive shape that's Axe the wardog, who for a moment looks down this way. Before he disappears from sight, as he drops down out a view on one of the buildings across the way. 

Zam figures the undead wardog has been following the wagon ever since it entered one of the gates in the north of the city earlier this morning. 

Which essentially is the same thing that the ex mercenary has been doing this drizzly spring morning here in the city of Vexil. 

Tovis joins him again, and the two of them watch the unloading of the wagon in silence. While away to their right, the wagon driver and the hired guard, are quietly chatting to one another. 

Once the wagon is finally unloaded, the war engineer from the kingdom of Druvic, and the ex mercenary from The City Of Ruins, bid the driver and guard farewell. 

The two of them move off once the wagon gets going again. Zam and Tovis head off in the direction of The Merchant's Rest inn. 

As it continues to drizzle, the youngest member of the group quietly says in elvish to the commander in the engineering corp of the Armies of Farque "When's the next one due?". 

"It'll be a while" replies Tovis in the same language, who follows that with "With just three of the mines producing now, and the weather the way it is up there". 

The open pit mine is still flooded, and the rain is usually heavier and more frequent up in the hill country of northern Vexil, compared to down here in the capital city. 

Including today's, and another shipment earlier in the week. The next wagon full of gold isn't expected until sometime next week, most likely later in that week. 

The teenager originally from The City Of Ruins nods his head, and the two of them hurry across the street they're on. 

Zam then tells the senior officer in the Armies of Farque "I still get the feeling that something is going to go off here in the city". 

The ex mercenary continues on with "Might not have anything to do with us" he briefly pauses as he considers things, then he quietly adds "Though most likely it will". 

Next to him, Tovis nods his head in understanding, and Zam tells him "What with Mira being wanted by that mage Garmen" he follows that with "As well as Percy and Shur Kee, not to mention Dorc because of what happened at that night market last week". 

"Anyone try and attack him again?" asks the war engineer who hails from the kingdom of Druvic, who is referring to Dorc da Orc. 

"Not that I've heard" is the reply from the teenager who is the youngest member of the group, who then pauses before continuing on with "Though knowing Dorc, who knows". 

Tovis grunts in agreement as the two of them make their way into a covered lane, that runs between two rows of buildings in this area in the north of the city. 

Zam as he walks, always has a hand on one of his weapons. As does the war engineer walking alongside him. 

Good thing he does, for out of an open doorway to their right. A number of assailants rush out into the lane and attack the seventeen year old ex mercenary and the war engineer who is in his mid twenties. 

Just in time, Zam draws his sword. And when it blocks a sword that's slashed at him from one of the men attacking them. 

As the youngest member of the group skips to the side out of the way, as he knows Tovis is absolutely brutal at close quarter combat, either with an axe or hammer that he prefers. Or with a sword or mace, that he also carries and likes to use. 

The ex mercenary quickly sees that he's the target of the half a dozen men who have attacked them in the covered lane. 

"Shit" mutters Zam who almost gets whacked in the hands as he blocks another sword swung at him, using his own blade to do so. 

The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins as he kicks out, connecting with the right knee of the fellow who just tried to cut him down. 

Winces as Tovis takes down two of the assailants in quick succession. Using his hammer to do so. Dropping the men to the ground with broken and shattered bones. 

Zam spins out of the way, and is about to hit one of other would be killers. When that fellow goes flying when something rather large runs into him. 

"Move" says Tovis who takes hold of the ex mercenary by the right arm, and drags him away. While behind them, Axe the undead wardog takes care of the remaining would be assailants. 

"Fucking hell" says Zam, who continues with "What was that all about?". The ex mercenary then winces when the war engineer says "They were definitely after you". 

The commander in the engineering corp of the Armies of Farque continues on from that with "Probably to do with you being squire to Percy during the tourney". 

The youngest member of the group sourly grunts, then nods his head in agreement with the Druvician war engineer. For that's happened before to Zam. And most likely will happen again. 

After exiting the covered lane and moving out into the drizzling rain that's falling today in the city of Vexil. 

The ex mercenary looks back into the covered lane, and sees the half a dozen bodies lying on the ground. And the undead wardog Axe is no where to be seen. 

"Hell" mutters Zam, who then says to the senior officer in the Armies of Farque "No way we'll be able to clean that up". 

Tovis nods his head in agreement, then says "I know" he follows on from that with "Hurry" he continues on with "Back to the inn as quick as we can". 

As the two of them head back to the Merchant's Rest inn on the drizzly spring morning here in the city of Vexil . . . . . .

 

Springtime In The City 81.

Vexil. 

"And the other teenage girl?" asks Zam the ex mercenary "Found, and returned to her family" replies Lisell Maera the scout, who follows that with "When the city guard went through his house". 

The youngest member of the group nods his head when he hears that, glad that the other teenager taken by Gopeth was found alive. 

Though he can only imagine the torment she's suffered whilst been held against her will by one of the senior officials at the airdocks of the city, who works directly for The City Council of Vexil. 

The ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins looks out the open window as it continues to rain. 

Then he glances at the attractive young woman standing beside. Zam can't help but think he was chosen to kill Gopeth instead of the scout Maera due to the fact Lisell might of taken her time to do so. Not exactly the smartest thing to do when his death was in such a public way. 

The teenager who is the youngest member of the group is pretty certain Lisell Maera or Lis as more often than not she's called by the others in the group. 

Would of taken pleasure in cutting Gopeth's cock and balls off if she entered the man's enclosed carriage instead of Zam. 

And true, they along with Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy were told to make his death public. They were also told to do so quickly and efficiently too. As well as save any of his victims if they were with him. 

"Think they know?" asks the teen who was scratching together a living as a mercenary in The City Of Ruins when the group found him. 

"They definitely know" says the junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

"They're holding an emergency meeting as we speak" continues the attractive young woman originally from the city-state of Brattonbury, referring to the City Council of Vexil. 

Zam nods at that, and does so again when Lis quietly tells him "Bet the Mage Council knows about it now as well". 

They fall silent as one of the other customers in the tavern walks by them on the way to the nearby front door. 

Then as the two of them continue to look out the open window as it continues to rain outside on this spring day here in the city of Vexil. 

The scout Maera resumes their conversation, continuing on in the elven language with "That will definitely get a reaction". 

Lis briefly pauses before adding "Considering who that piece of shit Gopeth used to be acquaintances with". 

The senior official working at the main airdocks of the city, was an acquaintance of the mage Garmen the younger. 

And though the father, Garmen the elder of the Mage Council of Vexil knew of Gopeth. After all he had dealings with him in the capacity of his job. 

The deceased son of the prominent member of Vexil's Mage Council, knew the senior official from the city airdocks quite well. 

And there's a fairly good chance that Garmen the younger knew of Gopeth's behaviour, and what he got up to in secret. 

This was all found out yesterday morning, by accident really. By Helbe the elven thief. Who was poking around the headquarters of the main city airdocks, checking up on something else for Lord Farque. 

The highly talented elven magic who as he tends to do. Reads the mind of basically everyone he observes without them knowing. 

Read the mind of Gopeth in passing. More to see if he had any hidden wealth he could steal. And found out what one of the senior most officials at the airdocks gets up to in secret. 

It was then, when the elven masterthief informed Lord Farque what he found out. And the people that this Gopeth was fairly close to in the past. Primarily the mage Garmen the younger. 

That they came up with a plan to kill Gopeth in public. And expose the criminal activity that he had been up to over the last decade or so. 

Where he had abducted, abused then killed young teenage girls, using the help of his private guards to do so. 

Some of whom were recommended to him by the mage Garmen the younger, as they had served in the army with him. 

And true the two young teenage girls that were being held against their will, were rescued by the groups actions. 

And for Zam the ex mercenary and Lisell Maera the scout, along with Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy, as well Beldane the cleric who all took part in the public killing, execution really, this morning. That was the main reason they did what they did without questioning it. 

That was really a secondary reason, as to why the undead warlord along with the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel, devised such a plan to eliminate one of the most senior officials in the entire city-state of Vexil, who worked directly for the City Council. 

They did it to create a problem for Garmen the elder. Now that the investigation is well and truly underway by the city guard. 

And that members of the Mage Council have stepped in to help with the investigation. Because of who was killed, and killed in such a public way. 

And for the fact that the grandson of the ruling prince of Laerel has made things easier for the senior officer in the city guards in charge of the investigation. 

By casting a few hidden spells to expose what Gopeth had been up to over the years. As well who he was acquaintances and friends with. And who might of known what he got up to in secret, and if any of them had helped him to do so over the years. 

"The father is going to have it rough trying to defend his dead son" quietly says Lisell Maera the scout referring to the prominent member of the Mage Council of Vexil, Garmen the elder. 

"Considering two of those three guards, along with the carriage driver were previously all in the younger Garmen's army company" adds the attractive young woman who hails from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury. 

Lis who was a little annoyed that she didn't get to kill Gopeth this morning. Who almost challenged Lord Farque himself when the lord of the death realm and Helbe the elven thief went over the plan earlier this morning. 

She thought better of it, and decided not to do something as stupid as to question the deathlord of Farque and the elven princeling's plan. 

Quietly tells the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins "Especially if the son actually knew what that gross fucker Gopeth got up to". 

The youngest member of the group nods his head in agreement with that, then he quietly says "Hopefully his highness can find out more about the situation with that". 

The scout Maera slightly nods at that, then she tells the teenager standing beside her "Even if he isn't about to" followed by "It's still going to be difficult for the father to defend his dead son". 

Lis whose mother was a street prostitute in the city-state of Brattonbury, and whose father, who she never actually met, was a sailor who plied his trade on The Great Western Ocean, quietly adds "I'm pretty certain the rest of the Mage Council won't give Garmen Senior free reign anymore in his pursuit of what happened to his son, and trying to track down Mira for what he thinks happened". 

Zam the ex mercenary grunts in agreement with the attractive young woman who is a junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

The two of them are waiting in a tavern, not far from the counting house on Masel Street that Lord Farque used previously. 

It's also not all that far from one of the towers of the city guard. The tower where the investigation into the death of Gopeth the airdock official is being conducted from. As his daytime murder took place not that far away from this tavern. Here in the north of the city of Vexil. 

Zam and Lis continue to look out the open window to the street away to the left, which they can just see through the steadily falling rain, this spring afternoon. 

The scout Maera quietly says "They should be back soon" she briefly pauses before adding in a slightly dry tone of voice "That's if his highness hasn't got distracted, and gone off and stolen something". 

The ex mercenary who is originally from The City Of Ruins faintly smiles at that from the attractive young woman who hails from the city-state of Brattonbury, then he says "Hopefully he hasn't". 

Though he probably has, Zam thinks to himself as the two of them continue to look towards the street away to their left as they look out the window at the front of the tavern. 

The junior officer in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque is just about to say something, when she changes her mind, and instead says "There they are". 

The youngest member of the group spots the two elven members of the group, Helbe the elven thief and Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy. 

Making their way from the street away to the left, heading in this direction, towards the neighbourhood tavern. 

Zam slightly shakes his head as he sees the two elves get closer, that the rain isn't hitting the elven masterthief at all. 

While right beside him, the spy Tanith's gray cloak is clearly wet from the rain, which has been falling all day, having started well before dawn. 

Lis taps his left arm when she sees Dalinvardèl Tanith look towards the tavern, specifically the front window that's open, and he nods his hooded head for them to come outside and join him and the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel. 

The scout leader and the ex mercenary make their way out of the tavern. With Zam refraining from sighing as he steps out into the rain this spring day. 

And he and the attractive young woman originally from the coastal city-state of Brattonbury wait until the two elves walk by the front of the tavern, and they fall in behind the two of them, and the four of them head down the street to the right. 

"Well?" asks Lisell Maera the scout voicing what Zam the ex mercenary is wanting to ask as they follow closely behind the elven spy and the elven master assassin. 

"We found out a fair bit" is the reply from Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy who is in front of the scout Maera, while the youngest member of the group is directly behind the elven master archer. 

"Well his highness did actually" dryly adds the spy who is originally from the elven principality of Alinlae, and is now a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque. 

Lis grunts at hearing that, then getting slightly annoyed that she's out in the rain again, the scout leader says "Helbe would you mind expanding that spell you've got on you". 

The attractive young woman who hails from the coast of The Southlands continues in a slightly sour tone of voice with "I'm sick of getting rained on". 

The next instant and the rain is no longer hitting Lis, Zam and Dalinvardèl Tanith, and as the elven spy mutters "Why didn't I ask that?". 

The scout Maera asks the highly talented elven practitioner of magic "What did you actually find out while you were snooping around?". 

"Not here" is the reply from Helbe the elven thief as he glances back at the pair following behind him and Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by those who know him well. 

"Back at the inn" adds the young elven noble who is the grandson, in fact the youngest grandchild of the ruling prince of Laerel. 

Lis grunts at that, while Zam slightly nods when the elven princeling quietly says to them "You'll find out when the others do". 

The elven masterthief pauses for a moment or two, before saying "Which is after I speak to Lord Farque about it". 

The highly talented elven magic user briefly pauses again, then he quietly says in slightly wry tone "For some reason I don't think he'll be entirely happy with things" followed by "Even though you lot eliminated that Gopeth, and got the mage Garmen under a fair bit of pressure from the other members of the Mage Council". 

The young elven noble who is from the island principality of Laerel, and who is now a member of Lord Farque's personal council, not to mention his personal envoy, falls silent. 

Behind the two elves, the two young humans, Zam the ex mercenary and Lisell Maera the scout share a look, as they wonder what Helbe the elven thief was able to find out. 

The four of them remain silent as they walk back to The Merchant's Rest inn, totally untouched by the rain. 

Which has been constantly falling all day, since before dawn on this spring day, here in the city of Vexil, the capital of the city-state that shares the same name . . . . . .