Mists over the Musarde [IC]

[ewancummins]

It is a late summer's night in the city of Pont-a-Museau. The warm breeze is heavy with the fragrance of night-blooming lilies that grow wild along the banks of the Musarde. The moon is new, but no clouds dim the stars. Most of the city is empty, with silent streets and darkened houses. Here and there from doorways and windows spring up little wells of light. A tavern stands open to receive revellers. A woman lights a candle to guide her lover to her chamber. A nightwatchman paces his rounds, lantern in one hand and the other hand resting on his sword's hilt.



In one of the town's many half empty neighborhoods a young woman flees down a narrow street, her hair and dress streaming wildly behind her. Three men , all hooded and cloaked despite the summer warmth, are pursuing her on foot. They are gaining on her with every stride. Soon they will overtake her, unless fortune intervenes on her behalf.

[steveflam]

What a strange city. Rumors of this n that n bogeymen. And not a soul at night. What kind of city is that, I ask meself. Hey what's this? Norzak asks himself as he spies the scene developping before him. "T'aint right that. Not a care fer a 'uman but three on one ain't right!"

Rushing to intercept the three chasers, the surly dwarf yells out "Hey ya mangy ragamuffins, pick on someone yer own size!" He yells out. He begins casting a spell at the first thug.

[ewancummins]

One of the pursuing men peels off and turns to face the dwarf. He squints at Norzak's odd appearance and wrinkles his nose when the stench hits him.

''''None of your affair, half-man. Get lost, before I gut you like a fish!''

The thug draws a poignard from his belt and brandishes it at Norzak.

[LegallyTired]

The sound of a cane and of heavy steps on the pavement are soon heard echoing in the silent night.

A broad and tall silhouette emerges from the end of the narrow street.

"I see that gentlemen take many forms, monsieur dwarf. As for you cowards, you should flee before you regret this faux pas."

The cavernous voice and the sheer silhouette of this elegantly dressed stranger are quite unsettling.

[Le Noir Faineant]

"Be careful what you boast around, criminal."

The door of the nearby tavern opens and another figure steps on the dark street, sword in hand. A tall, beardless human, with a bizarre horned helmet on his head.

"You thugs just serve to beat the weak and the helpless... Or other thugs. If you cannot leave those people unharmed, come and try me. Try a knight!"

[ewancummins]

The cloaked thug looks about himself, his jerky motions suggesting alarm.
He suddenly turns and takes to his heels [not in the direction of his peers, either, but down a side alley].


From up the main street, the young woman can be heard screaming. The two thugs have caught her and have wrestled her to the ground! One of them looks to be trying to fit something over her head- a sack or a mask of some kind, perhaps?

[This is only about twenty yards away from where you all are standing].

[Le Noir Faineant]

Cirdan will attack the two thugs that are kidnapping the woman, without any further hesistation.

[Adam]

The bell on the shop door jingles lightly as Bennedict steps out into the night, his walking cane tapping lightly on the cobblestone as he steps away from "Carson's Curios." He hears the sign on the door flip from "open" to "closed" as he turns down a side street, walking with a bit of undue haste once he leaves the storefront. The search for a manuscript of Edgar Crouseau's seminal masterpiece, "The Devil and HIs Apprentice," had been a long, arduous, and in the end profitable one. He is looking forward to a night of relaxation, giving his eyes the night off from squinting at old, faded text by candle light and perhaps enjoying a warm bath. And, of course, making arrangements to ensure he was out of town before Carson realized that the document was a forgery.

Gehrman smiles under his grey mustache. "If the old man ever does figure it out," he mumbles under his breath, feeling the heavy weight of the coins in his pocket.

Suddenly he rounds a corner, coming face to face with what appears to be a mugging in progress. Two men hold a woman to the cobblestone, while a third squares off against a trio of odd looking sorts twenty feet away, with Bennedict stuck more or less in the middle.

"Oh bother," Bennedict says with a hint of irritation, pushing his glasses further up onto his nose. He turns and steps back towards the alley, waiting for the situation to resolve itself so he can be on his way.

[LegallyTired]

Léon grinds his teeth and starts running towards the two assailants.

A deep groan resonates in the alley has he is approaching towards the man holding the mask. His cane firmly in hand pointing towards the thug he has the intention to correct.

"En garde!"

[ewancummins]

The ruffian fleeing down the alley suddenly stumbles and falls motionless, slumping against the side of a building. He appears to be unconsious, although he neither hit his head nor was he attacked in any visible manner.

The two thugs accosting the young woman drop her rudely to the cobbles and make ready to defend themselves. The one on the right has a long clasp knife and the his companion on the left has a wooden club.

Cirdan attacks the club wielder. His longsword whistles through the air and catches the club-man across the chest. He shrieks in pain and counterattacks,wildly swinging his club at Cirdan's head. BANG! Cirdan feels his ears ring as the blow connects with his helmet, but isn't harmed.


The other thug slashes at Leon with his clasp-knife , but Leon is easily able to sidestep the arcing blade and counterattack with a punch. A mighty left hook sends the goon head over heels and leaves him sprawled in the street, groaning and dazed.

[steveflam]

Norzak appreciates his spell and mutters "serves ya right, ya durned thug!" AS he says so he spies the situation. Who is all these folks? Well them thugs ain't got long. N where is the police around here. Sure are scarcer n an elf in a dwarf mine..

Norzak gets to one, knee and cocks his crossbow. Pointing it at the club weilder, he takes aim, but holds his actionm to see what will become of the altercation.

[Adam]

Casitng about in all directions, Bennedict is unable to spy a law enforcement official to come break up the ruckus. Of course, they're always around when you don't want them he thinks, ruefully, to himself. Just then, he noticed one of the ruffians attacking the women drop something off to one side. Eyeing both groups of combatants with suspicion, he edged towards the dropped item, his curiosity piqued. He kept the words to the Ezran prayer of sanctuary on the tip of his tongue, however, in case anyone got any funny ideas about dragging him into the scrum.

[LegallyTired]

Léon flexes his muscles and looks menacingly at the club wielding thug while keeping an eye on the one laying on the ground.

"A gentleman should escort this lady elsewhere. It is still time to run, human. "

[ewancummins]

The club weilding ruffian drops his weapon and flees headlong into the night, leaving a spotty trail of blood on the cobbles as he goes.

Leon is able to easily pin the other fellow before he can regain his senses.

The young woman gets to her feet and takes a moment to compose herself. Once she's got her breathing under control, she speaks:

''Thank you, brave heroes, for rescuing me! ''

Bennedict recovers the dropped object. It turns out to be a velvet pouch with something heavy inside.


On the ground nearby lies a mask with breathing holes made from a heavy cloth sack, a short length of cord, and a gray kerchief.

[Adam]

Bennedict watches as the third ruffian attacking the woman flees into the night, glad that the exchange is over but suddenly concerned that now he's the only one left. He shoves the velvet pouch into his pack for examination later and steps forward cautiously, looking back and forth between the standing combatants and the now upright woman.

"Anyone care to elaborate on what just transpired?" he asks, an eyebrow arched inquisitively.