[Stumble Alley] Hunting for Heads (Bob)

[Eryss Waldu]

58th of Fall, 511AV [It was inevitable that fighting broke out between two or more of the factions in Sunberth so on the 58th day of Fall when the Sun’s Berth and the Daggerhand went to war it hadn’t caught anyone who was paying attention by surprise. When Eryss had first learned the news he was elated in fact and left the Crimson Edge encampment to investigate which may have been what some would consider an unwise move on his part but the man was an exceptionally skilled Mage after all and didn’t consider any trouble he might find unmanageable. Indeed, Eryss was actively looking for something and though he wouldn’t go so far as to say what it was he would know it when he saw it and could take the necessary steps thereafter.] [By the time he had made it deeper into Sunberth it was nightfall, the suns light have sunk down behind the horizon and the moon now glowing brightly overhead, Eryss wasn’t exactly inconspicuous if you were to see him but he didn’t stand out as someone of importance. He had erected a Shield around himself as well that, at this point, was fairly simple and straightforward. The Shield was designed and woven specifically to deflect blows from projectiles, these being arrows and maybe a thrown spear, that would puncture or pierce; he had the most awful paranoia of being shot from afar after all which was something of a secret of his.] [He was dressed in rustically coloured robes that were darker and helped him to blend into the darkness if he lingered close to it which was exactly what Eryss did. He was near the mouth of Stumble Alley at the moment, doing his best to conceal himself, and observing the area for any movement that might have occurred around him. Whenever he thought someone was wandering near he’d purposely move backwards against the wall closest to his back so that he was easier to miss but for the most part he hadn’t seen what he was looking for. His eyes were alert though, trying to pick something out, but to no avail. Battlefields all across the city and it seems as though he had come to the wrong place.] [Nothing had happened near the mouth of Stumble Alley so the Mage decided that if he wanted to happen upon anything it would be better to venture further down. Stumble Alley was disputed between several factions as far as he knew so the Mage was sure that some fighting must be occurring somewhere down its lengthy expanse. Walking close to the wall of the alley Eryss would continue skulking onwards though while looking ahead. He found several crates stacked on top of one another and quietly lurked near them, looking around them and waiting.] [At first he heard nothing but then there was the vague sound of footsteps and he fell back further into the darkness. His eyes seemingly darkening beneath the hood that concealed his features before a drunk stumbled by likely heading home from The Disappearing Drunk, a tavern located down this stretch of the Sunberth alley, it was disappointing but Eryss calmed down and began to muse quietly to himself. He’d just need to wait.] [The Mage wasn’t terribly patient most of the time though. He had the nagging feeling that while he was wasting time here that he was missing something elsewhere. Maybe it was just his mind playing tricks on him or maybe it was the Sweet Whispers. Most Mages heard voices urging them to cast more but Eryss had a different calling and while he could remain composed the majority of the time there were moments of weakness where he had no choice but to burn something. The sound of skin blackening and popping. The smell of meat cooking. These were like wine and drink to him the same as a barbarian might intoxicate himself and inebriate his senses.] [Waiting though Eryss had sworn he heard something else and with a malevolent look overtaking his features he’d have begin to channel his djed into a translucent gaseous res that began to expand from the palm of his right hand. He hadn’t shaped it yet but he was waiting, wanting to see just what the footsteps that he heard were, and then if he decided it was worthwhile he would have struck.]

[Bob Barton]

The fighting was inevitable? But everyday in Sunberth was already full of chaos and fighting to the day was no different. At least that was what Bob would have thought of when he left the Kennels. After doing his normal routine for the day, dumping food on the dogs and horses as well as giving them their water he was prepared to leave until one of the other people who worked in Killroy came to him to ask if Bob could do a favor. "And why should I walk the dog for you?" Normally the dogs would be walked in groups because it was faster so Bob was curious to ask "why does this one need special attention?" So much for working Bob up for nothing. She admitted that was feeling a little under the weather to walk the dog today, special only because tomorrow some important client was going to get it and that if Bob helped her properly, he was promised something special.

All the same, an easy job and the promise of a reward at the end of it. Of course the true reason why she did not want to walk the dog was so that she won't be caught in the middle of the fighting. She did not even expect Bob to return which was why she could afford her empty promises. The dog? It was indeed important and it was part of her revenge scheme against Killroy for what he tried on her days before. Bob of course had no reason to be suspicious of his co-workers here in Killroy's, especially an innocent young thing like her or else he would have pressed her for more answers than she gave. Trust was not a good thing in Sunberth and it was trust which allowed Bob to be happy with the answers she gave and took her up on her offer.

Normally special walkie time was for Jinsen but today Bob was giving it to another dog. Hopefully it will understand that when Bob told it that "its only for today Jinsen and I am getting something out of it. You know that I would never abandon you unless it was worth it." Really-really-really worth it but then who would want Jinsen when there were so many other options? So today Jinsen will just have to contend with "some extra food for you here Jinsen" like a bribe for the greedy dog when Bob took yet another bowlful of food to put in the cage and petted it a little behind the ears before leaving it and the Kennels behind.

Despite what the others normally told him that the dog is led when it walks, Bob was lazy and allowed the dog to lead him. Yes, just like Jinsen only Bob could still easily control his own dog. The nice friendly one which looked to him for direction. This one? It was a big bruiser. A fighter like Cade or Mok if Bob had to compare it with anyone he knew. And once Bob allowed it to walk in the front, no amount of tugging and pulling from him was able to get any response. The dog just continued to go where it wanted to go. "Dammit you stupid mutt!" Bob yelled as he tried to pull it to the street on the side. "I want to go here!"

Big mistake. Bob got the attention of the dog like he wanted to but it still did not obey. Instead of turned around and snarled at him in defiance. Poised and ready to attack by the way it lowered its body and spread its legs the way he saw Hannah training some of them before. "Just my luck, an attack dog or a guard dog..." Bob mumbled to himself as he backed away from it saying "nice, nice doggy. If you don't attack me I will let you go where you want see?" he said raising his hands and leash to show the dog.

Another mistake because Bob showed his weakness to an aggressive dog. Did it just lick its lips? "No, get away!" Bob said clenching tightly to his cane. Then suddenly it turned away and started to walk off, dragging Bob along to follow. He was glad that he was able to avoid getting attacked again even if it did allow the dog to act at the leader. The next owner's problem, not Bob after tomorrow and he will have to be the one to put up with the dog acting as the leader. Not wanting to anger the dog further, Bob just allowed it to move to the sides to sniff at whatever bins and boxes they passed. Even when it looked back at Bob, probably for direction he just told it to "anywhere you want to go to, I am alright with it."

So all throughout the dog led Bob through Sunberth and he could tell...it was different. The people looked very uneasy and jumpy, ready to just spring at someone to let the tension out. On more than one occasion, some of them really did and Bob nearly was drawn into it if not for the vicious monster in front of him. All Bob knew about all these little skirmishes was that Sun's Birth and Daggerhands were mentioned a lot. Names which already told him there he shouldn't be trying to pry into anymore unless he wanted to get into even more trouble and it would be a whole lot better to go back. Now!

But if he did go back now, Bob would look like a useless coward especially to the cute, young thing that he promised to help. "Maybe a little longer eh?" he asked the dog which turned back and snarled at him as usual causing him to cringe and add in a small voice "if you really want to..." No doubt that the dog was lucky enough to get Bob today because it was given a chance to call the shots. The one who is walking Bob through Sunberth instead of the other way around right until Bob ran into a pretty big group on the streets. They were a lot different from the others that he already seen, sporting their tattoos and clothes that he was already all too familiar with. It was all displayed in a place people knew where to look and their reputation preceded them well enough. Not to dogs though, they knew nothing and the one with Bob was walking straight at them thinking that it will get the same immunity as all the other groups.

No dog was as scary as those and Bob took charge and started tugging at the leash to lead the dog away from them. The dog tried to opposed him and pushed itself further ahead. "No, not this time. You are going to get us both killed!" and he could not have that. So Bob pulled the leash and started to run at the alley beside him. Another notorious thing in Sunberth known as the Stumble Alley. Dogs, rival gangs and Stumble Alley, nevermind the unknown presence of a trigger-happy reimancer as well. So many dangers all around him but the choices were clear. "Just! Get! In! Here!" he yelled at the dog in between each jerk right until the both of them were in. Now where can he go to hide out until all this was over? Of course. In Stumble Alley there was only the Disappearing Drunk! "Come on, lets go and grab a bite" he told the dog hoping that its motivations were the same as Jinsen.

[Eryss Waldu]

[As he heard what sounded like footsteps grow louder Eryss had prepared to strike when another drunk wandered past the crate where he concealed himself in the shadows. His res now mimicking a gaseous ball of translucent mist he maintained it as the man he had thought might have been a member of the groups he was seeking wandered by. Beneath his hood Eryss had begun to frown quite deeply and considered moving on when he heard something else, footsteps and a voice, he wasn’t quite done yet he’d decided.] [It sounded like arguing when he heard the voice initially, obviously a masculine one, though he couldn’t make out exactly what was being said. Then there were footfalls again and the Mage remained quiet until he had seen a figure come into view. It was two figures actually. He recognized a dog first and then behind it handling its leash was a small man that Eryss thought he might know. Actually it took Eryss several moments but eventually he did recognize Bob, not by name but as someone he’d seen before, it was some time ago last season in the Pig’s Foot Tavern when he’d seen Bob and at the time he’d ordered Cade to watch the diminutive man.] [Now that he recognized him Eryss felt no reservations when he moved from the shadows at one side of the crates, stepping out from behind them and hopefully behind Bob too, before shouting...”You! Little Man. I know you.”...he didn’t actually know Bob’s name which meant that he’d call out to him based on a description instead. He hadn’t attacked Bob but that was more due to the fact that Eryss thought he might have been of some use to him which lead into the next statement he made...”Dangerous to be wandering Stumble Alley alone at night. Especially with all the fighting going on in the streets.”...he wagered Bob would know exactly what he was talking about when he mentioned the fighting. Bob didn’t look like much of a combatant but the eyes could be deceived and he still had that dog on a leash which Eryss was weary of.] [Eryss hadn’t allowed the res he summoned to dissipate yet and he willed it to hover above his hand half threateningly. He’d likely scorch the dog first depending on how Bob reacted but there was nothing to say that they couldn’t have a peaceable conversation. “Only drunks and Daggerhand come down this alley at night. Which are you?”...Eryss would have questioned Bob from a distance, still precariously letting the gaseous orb hovering above his hand, though he had already surmised Bob to be neither. Maybe the both of them could work together and thin the ranks of the local gangs if they could come to an agreement, they might even be able to take a trophy out of it.] [It was just then that Eryss was distracted by the sounds of something else occurring nearby, a scream, and then footfalls as someone came running towards Bob and he from deeper in the alley. Not an attacker, someone scared and frightened, they were running away and when she came into view, it was a young woman, she rushed by both of them and towards the exit of the alley. Echoing behind her it sounded like there might have been something more interesting going on though, a fight maybe, looking past Bob it seemed as though Eryss had happened upon what he was looking for since venturing out onto the streets.] [Eyes flickered towards Bob then and Eryss would have said...”Another battle. Nearby.”...and then he went quiet before moving ahead. He looked at Bob as he went and, deciding he wasn’t what he was hunting for tonight, would motion towards him with one had as though inviting him to come along. Eryss wasn’t much for talking most of the time. He also kept a close eye on that dog of Bob’s not knowing how much control Bob had on the thing still nor whether or not he could make him attack. Eryss also wasn’t one when it came to being mauled by a beast.]

[Bob Barton]

Who did Bob see on his way to the tavern but a familiar figure. Familiar to recognize but not familiar enough approach. Bob had seen him before, at the Pig's Foot the same time he saw his other friends. Like him, Bob was able to recognize even if he could not recall a name because while this man did not join his more fun fellows, Bob could remember the cloak which prowls around the camp when he meets up with Cade, Mok and Antar or is forced to see the drunks back. So if anyone thought that they should treat this individual more carefully, it would be anyone other than Bob because...the rest of the Crimson Edge were already pretty nice compared to the rest of the people in Sunberth.

The dog though, can be grouped with anyone because as soon as it sensed Eryss it started snarling at him. It could be because of the aggressive thoughts, it could be because of the djed around or it could just because the dog was what it was. A vicious monster like the man it was threatening. But could what he just said, that Bob was a little man he knew be taken as threatening? It sounded more like an insult. A statement that Bob was too weak to be in Sunberth. A statement that Bob could not allow to stand. The only way to go against words like this is to offer similar words in kind like "I know you too Creepy Man" because that was Bob's first impression of him at the Pig's Foot. "You don't have your little posse around with you?" part insulting since it implies that Eryss would be unable to get anything done without his partners and part question so that Bob could find out if there was anyone he knew nearby. He would prefer to deal with them instead of a stranger.

But no, he was all alone as Bob would find out if he chose to answer. Unlike Bob who had this vicious thing which was ready to attack that took all of his strength to hold it back while reassuring it that "the man is not an enemy" at least not yet. Bob has already seen all that fighting and knew what he meant so he did not want to be dragged into one. He might have ended up in one seeing the dog's persistence as it pressed forward until Bob finally had enough and gave the leash a hard pull as he snapped at it, telling it that enough is "enough!" A little show of authority was all that was needed to calm it down, but not enough to make it less wary of the mage as it stood ready to attack.

Now where were they? Which was Bob? "Neither" because the only time he might risk getting drunk is with the barbarian cousins. The Daggerhands on the other side were a party he avoided without much effort. The better question was "what about you?" even if Bob already knew the answer that he was part of the Crimson Edge. It still didn't hurt to ask especially to know "why are you so sure that its the Daggerhands that are involved?" He has spied on the tattoos earlier but to think that the widespread fighting was solely because of them would be an overstatement of their abilities. Or would it be an understatement of them being unable to keep the order in Sunberth like they should?

Bob might never get an answer because there was suddenly a shrill scream and a young woman passing through to the other exit. This could probably be a bad sign because the last time he was in this alley with a screaming woman, there was a small group of Daggerhands about too. He took a quick glimpse behind him to check if they were really there but all he could find were noises which he can hear. Noises which could be "another battle?" and one which the creepy man creeped towards stealthily.

What was he expecting out of this? A fight? That would make him a true member of the Crimson Edge as Bob has experienced everytime he was somehow drawn into their battles or brawls. It would seem that today will be another such experience, only with a member that he did not know at all. Still, he could not deny that Sunberth was a lot more dangerous today and the thought that Daggerhands might be involved made it seem more so. A friend of a friend might be a lot more reliable than a dog which would take the first opportunity to take a bite out of him if he was going get through all of this safely. Quietly, Bob moved to follow if only to see what he might be forced to face.

[Eryss Waldu]

[Listening to his reaction Eryss discovered a new respect for Bob. It wasn’t often that anyone who knew the Mage answered a perceived insult with one of their own and truth be told being called a creepy man almost rang out as more of a compliment to the man. Bob would hear him chuckling not long afterwards while inquiring as to whether he was alone or not and Eryss having confidence in his ability to best the dog growling at him if its master decided to release it would have nodded his head several times clearly indicating that Bob was correct. He was quiet for a few moments in kind before answering...”No I don’t but I don’t need them to help me.”...overconfidence maybe but Eryss was a talented Mage and quite powerful in his own right.] [Eyes then turned their attention from Bob towards the dog still snarling, growling threateningly, and Eryss observed as Bob took control of the beast letting it know that enough was enough while Eryss continued to manipulate the gaseous res in his hand. Better Bob take control of the dog than Eryss turn it to ash or at least that was the opinion of the Mage. Though he wasn’t large in stature Eryss could sense an aura of authority that the man possessed; Bob definitely had his ways to make people listen or at least that is what he thought after watching the man.] [Neither seemed to be an echo of the answer from either man. Eryss didn’t drink often and he certainly wasn’t associated with the Daggerhands. Not after the trouble Cade had gotten into down this same alley not too long ago. Shaking his head Eryss went on to reply...”You already know who I’m with. Anywhere you go in this city you’ll learn the Daggerhands are involved in what’s going on.”...he had started to say more when he was cut off by that same scream and the woman running as had been mentioned before. As Eryss moved onwards to investigate he paused only to see if Bob had answered his summons to come as well before his footsteps took him further into the darkness of the alley and towards the sounds of battle.] [Using the late hour and the natural darkness cultivating in the alley to his advantage Eryss moved closer to the sounds of battle that had been well beyond his range of sight. He would check to see whether or not Bob followed on occasion before looking ahead again. Always best to know what was behind you in any event so that you weren’t caught unaware. After what seemed like several moments of moving slowly and carefully Eryss began to see the outline of figures fighting with one another ahead of himself and he crouched down quietly. He’d signal for Bob to do the same if he was still following. As for the res that Eryss had summoned when he’d considered attacking Bob it had either dispersed harmlessly or been reabsorbed into his body so that it didn’t go to waste for the time.] [Up ahead men were clearly fighting and as Eryss strained his eyes to see what was occurring he’d eventually make out more of the battle. It appeared as though a small group of Daggerhand were fighting with a group on the Sun’s Berth. Difficult to say who was winning at the moment but Eryss was fairly certain that it was the Daggerhand at this point. “Daggerhand and the Sun’s Berth.”...he would have said quietly and confirmed back to Bob whom he was assuming was still with him at this point before continuing...”This is what I was looking for. Wait until the fighting stops now and then see what happens next.”...clearly by the way he was talking quietly Eryss was expecting Bob to be of assistance to him now somehow though he didn’t elaborate.] [Eryss wasn’t to be confused with a vigilante or a hero but he clearly had an idea of his own to take advantage of situations just like this one. Waiting, crouched down on one knee, he would turn his head to look at Bob and smile viciously beneath the hood he used to conceal his features before saying...”You know me and I know you.”...he began before continuing on...”The Daggerhand are both of our enemies. If you think that that you can help I would be willing to share whatever we find on the bodies with you.”...it was a bold proposition. Bob was a smart man Eryss reasoned, or Sunberth would have killed him already, so he presumed he would catch on to the proposition. It was simple and now Eryss elaborated...”We wait until the fighting is done and clear the survivors ourselves while they’re tired. There’s fighting all over Sunberth so blame for the deaths will easily shift to the other faction and vice versa.”...that was the gist of the plan for now and Eryss was waiting to see how Bob would respond to the idea. Maybe Bob was against killing but surely he must realize these men would slit his throat in a heartbeat if they weren’t already fighting.] OOCSorry about the time it took me to get this up. I was gone for a few days and just got back the other evening.

[Bob Barton]

The creepy man was really creepy because its not everyday that you will hear a person chuckle with satisfaction that way in the face of danger. Wait, scratch that. Bob has met plenty of people like that in Sunberth already so the way Eryss acted was nothing new. Yes, they were all brimming with overconfidence on how strong and powerful they could be in this city but...the savage ferocity of a dog like this would practically maim them. Even if it should die in the process it will give Bob enough time to go right up to his target during the distraction and give a stab, or two, or three finishing those who were unfortunate enough to underestimate him as they always did. Those who think their position are elevated due to their power always had a hard fall coming for them. So it would be better for Eryss and Bob who admitted that "I would have felt a lot more confident if Cade or Mok, even Antar was around" in all this chaos instead of...him. At least he will have a reliable and friendly face around.

Still, he had to make do with what he got. A dog and a strange man he knew nothing about. "What can you do then...Crimson?" Bob had to call him something and knowing his affiliation it seemed very spot on. Especially from the red cloak he is always wearing like now. Once he knew if the man was capable, then he would more likely to put his survival in his hands. If not, there is more than one red man in the alley and the other one at least had a tavern which has doors to lock out the city if it needed to. The reason was simple. It was a lot more better to hide than "facing the Daggerhands" who practically ruled Sunberth because it "is suicide" especially without a plan. The more Bob knew about his unlikely ally and the event, the better.

Bob tried to follow as quietly as possible after the cloaked man who should have a lot more if he was really planning to fight. Finally he reached behind without much noise unless you count the scuffling and occasional harsh command. Try and sneak with a aggressive dog if you think it was that easy. Bob had to keep an eye on following, the alley for anything which would make a noise and the dog which would cause a lot of trouble if left alone. Bob's voice broke through the silence...or at least was bigger than the other noise for a moment when he asked "well? Do we actually have a good reason for messing with the Daggerhands or is it a better time to hide?" A good reason would be something like stopping whatever it is the Daggerhands are planning but that was what Bob has been trying to find out from Eryss but then it still won't convince him because he knew something very well. It does not pay to be a hero. Not in Sunberth and especially not in Stumble Alley like the other old fool who tried his luck with Daggerhands.

He waited for his answer behind a crate. Behind, not inside as some people might think. Bob was small enough to be concealed by a crate if he put his body close together enough even with the dog held in between as he whispered "it'll be alright until we reach home" as calm and quietly as possible. Jinsen or another dog would have been treated differently but he did not want this violent dog to freak out. Bob could have used someone like Bob right now because of Eryss' reasons to start a fight. "What are you crazy? You've been looking for a fight?" Bob's theory must have been right then. The Crimson Edge are full of battle maniacs. "There are easier people to loot if you want. People whose death will not bring the full weight of their gangs on you" he said softly this time not to calm but to make sure they were not overheard by anyone especially the Sun's Birth and the Daggerhands.

Working at Killroy's taught him a lot like not to mess with dogs fighting over a meal. Leave them alone long enough and they will have no reason. Same with the rival gangs. "What reason could they possibly have to hurt me? Besides the way they treat everyone I am nothing different. Either way the fighting ends, they will still fight and kill each other to be top dog. Why do you want to risk yourself intervening?" Bob did not want to get caught up in all the chaos for any good reason and if not for his mutual acquaintances in the Crimson Edge he would not be wasting so much time trying to persuade Eryss not to do anything too rash.

[Eryss Waldu]

[All the talking, the questioning, the doubt wore out the patience of Eryss quickly. He had ignored Bob when the man said that facing the Daggerhands was suicide however seeming to understand the man’s apprehension that may have been because he understood that this may have been because he hadn’t told Bob that he did have a plan. Indifferent towards how Bob felt however Eryss wouldn’t even look back over his shoulder until he had asked if there was a good reason to kill these men which caused Eryss to turn his head and look at him beneath the hood of the cloak that he wore. Quietly the Mage was assessing him with eyes hidden beneath his cloak though he carefully observed the vicious dog that he had brought as well.] [Eventually Eryss scoffed when Bob asked if he was crazy. He almost blurted out an obscenity at him but reminding himself that he remained crouched and hidden while members of the Daggerhand and Sun’s Berth continued to battle deeper in the alley Eryss replied to Bob with a solemn tone accompanying his voice...”Hardly. This is the perfect time to fight the Daggerhand. While they are preoccupied with the Sun’s Berth.” He had revealed a very small portion of his reasoning to Bob though whether or not the man understood exactly what Eryss was telling him was a different story. “Attacking now, after the fight is done, is perfect. We could blame the deaths of these men on one another and play the factions against one another in the current turmoil.”...it all seemed to make perfect sense to Eryss as he explained it to Bob but something told him that he would need a bit more encouragement which is why the Mage had started to exude a small coating of res which hovered around him as a translucent wind while he remained crouched in the shadows of the alley.] [Averting his eyes from Bob only briefly he’d watch as the battle began to come to its conclusion, there were still three Daggerhands but only one member of the Sun’s Berth left so the end seemed preordained as did the victor, Eryss would look back at the small man a moment later. “Our reason for attacking the Daggerhands is that they are a blight on Sunberth. Well my reason anyways. Your reason is that I will hurt you if you decide not to.”...as Eryss said this a small amount of electricity arced out from his body towards Bob and his canine, not even close to a significant amount of the res he had summoned over himself, so that Bob knew the Mage was serious. He could command the dog to attack but Eryss was prepared for that now as well.] [Waiting for Bob to signify that he understood how this would play out Eryss continued by telling him...”We will do Sunberth a favour and ensure that there are a few less Daggerhands after tonight....he may have sounded almost like a vigilante but the truth was, of course, much more malign than that. Bob had asked why Eryss would risk himself by intervening but now it should be clear that he had no intention of intervening, he would ambush the Daggerhands once the last member of the Sun’s Berth was dead. Though he was watching Bob Eryss heard as the Daggerhands closed in on their last opponent and were almost ready to finish him and he let his head tilt to the side as though waiting to hear another objection.] [Bob thought that Crimson Edge was full of battle maniacs, hardly, Eryss was every bit a killer though and more than a tad out of his mind but that was another story.] [Eyes turned back towards the battle as the Daggerhands finished the last of the Sun’s Berth, they looked so young and were likely inexperienced members of the group, but Eryss was ready in case Bob attempted a double-cross as the gaseous and translucent res continued hovering near his form. At last he would say...”As they loot the bodies have your beast attack. Then run in after it and cause a distraction. Everything will be over before they know what’s happening. Don’t worry, you will live.”...the Mage had said dryly as though half heartedly attempting to reassure Bob he wasn’t going to die when he did this.] [Waiting until the right time Eryss would raise his right hand, rubbing his index finger and thumb together, watching as the last three Daggerhand’s began to move over the bodies of the dead members of the Sun’s Berth while he and Bob remained hidden. Eryss was cool and collected on the outside it seemed, his expression hidden from view beneath the hood of his robes, but inside himself the Mage seethed with the desire to burn these men and leave their bodies broken corpses. He wanted it badly enough to taste it, he could already smell their burning flesh as it filled the alley.]

[Bob Barton]

As far as Bob was concerned, "the Daggerhands and Sun's Birth can kill themselves like the dogs they are. I personally do not want to kill myself over an old soiled bone like Sunberth where there are so many others." Power worked a simple way. Take one of the players out and the void will be filled eventually. "Its a neverending cycle Crimson. One that no man will ever beat no matter how strong they are." One of the best reasons why Bob was not really that interested in the power struggles which happened in Sunberth as long as they did not put him in danger or disturb his fun. If the Crimson Edge wanted to play in those games, Bob won't stop them though he would not mind helping if a friend asked for some. Eryss was just not a friend yet.

If he really wanted to be friends, one of the few ways to get Bob's assistance, Eryss was going about it wrong. Friends do not throw lightning bolts at one another unless of course it was from training. Even the ruffians like Cade and Mok had more manners than Eryss which was surprising. Eryss could gather a group of people for himself, coming out with more than he intended to join him in a random tavern but he could not even get Bob's trust? Probably there was a correlation there somewhere about the ability to lead and make friends which can be explored because Eryss was on one side and Bob was on the other. That is something that the scholars in Zeltiva can discover. In Sunberth the only thing a person needed to know is how to survive.

If Eryss wanted a reaction from the lightning bolt he got one from Bob and the dog both. Bob yelped while the dog gave a bark in unison. Hopefully Eryss would not know how much the lighting scared Bob. It all went back to his time in Syliras and a boy named Clyde and everytime there was lightning , Bob came up all wet. While he was busy being scared, the dog tried to take a bite out of the one which attacked them. Recovering from that brief pause, Bob held on tightly on the leash and put his foot down. Literally. "Lets be civil about this you mutt!" which could mean the dog or Eryss. "No doubt you can kill him but you'd die too. So! Hold! Still!" he commanded the dog saying "sit!" over and over after that until the beast realized that Bob will not be letting it have its way. He was the human here and it was time to show the dog who was the boss.

He knew how lightning like this worked. Too little it won't effect him much and "too much you risk zapping yourself especially when you are this close to your targets." The elements are unpredictable which was why Bob chose the more safer and unpopular ones among mages. For the big spells, res took time to build too. "Which is faster? Your lightning or my words?" he asked trying to scare Eryss into staying his hand. Bob would only need to let go off the leash and let the dog take all the attention while he gave "a shout from me" that "will have all those Daggerhands on you before you even know what happened." Was Eryss scared yet? He better be because Bob was. He could not decide which one was scarier. One power hungry mage or all those bloodthirsty Daggerhands.

Eryss was one who would like putting a personal touch on those he hurt and Bob preferred to not get his hands dirty but both undoubtedly were able to hurt people they really wanted to. Bob had many options here, even the dog which he was pulling on the leash to assert dominance as he stared at it and said "hold...hold..." with clenched teeth while he processed everything. Bob did not take threats lightly and would like nothing more than to see pieces of Eryss all over the alley but he understood. Not about the hurting because Bob knew that if he really wanted to he can best the mage. "I understand that the Daggerhands are a blight on Sunberth" and would kill indiscriminately given the chance. If they found the pair now it would most likely be them.

Bob held out his hand before Eryss explained the battleplan to give the leader of the Crimson Edge his conditions. Eryss should know that Bob had a personal rule that "I do not kill except when I really need to" and no matter what this situation did not come under that unless it was to get rid of Eryss. So much for leadership now because Bob felt sorry that Antar, Cade, Mok and the others have such a brute for one. They had plenty of muscle and what they really needed was brains. If Eryss had any brains now, he should use it by listening to everything that Bob had already said and agree that "I will distract them as needed. You can get the blood on your hands yourself if you want it badly enough."

Once they were in an agreement, the most likely result in this stalemate, Bob would join Eryss in his hiding place watching the Daggerhand's victory. They were not alone, sort of. Behind him Bob had the dog he had to tug and force along as he whispered in the harshest voice he could for it to "be quiet or else!" That could mean many things and it would be up to the dog to interpret it as long as it followed quietly. They had to remain undetected as long as possible until it was time to attack.

[Eryss Waldu]

[Bob’s rhetoric wasn’t lost on Eryss who had listened to him say that the killing between the Sun’s Berth and Daggerhand was never ending and that no one could have changed that but Eryss, keeping his thoughts to himself, disagreed and had his own vision of how things would proceed in the coming seasons and years following that. After he had generated a small portion of Lightning that arced away from himself Eryss seemed unconcerned when he heard the Dogs response or the words that followed. The Dog kill Eryss? Maybe if the Mage was caught off guard but with a light coating of res still hovering close to his body the beast would have little chance as it’d take an instant for him to transform it into whatever element he desired and apply it appropriately. Wise of Bob to command the dog to sit in his own opinion.] [Eryss was quite amiable to the entire situation, watching as the Daggerhand finished their last opponent, before he heard Bob ask him which was faster the lightning that Eryss would create or the words Bob could shout. “Neither.”...was the answer that Eryss offered, the res already created would take barely any time at all to transmute after all and Bob having only to speak would likewise be difficult to silence in time, the Mage didn’t offer any other kind of threat but averting his eyes to look at Bob beneath his cloak he’d give him the distinct impression that a double-cross wasn’t wise. An advantage Eryss hadn’t demonstrated at all to this point was his knowledge of Shielding as well which was quite the game changer that others often overlooked.] [Once a silence had existed between the two of them for the appropriate amount of time Eryss would however concede to Bob’s terms that he do none of the killing. This was hardly an inconvenience to the Mage who answered...”Very well. A distraction is all that is necessary in any case.”...before looking back towards the battle as it concluded. It seems like the last man took awhile to die. Waiting in the shadows Eryss would watch, with Bob and the Dog, as the Daggerhands turned to loot the bodies of the dead men they had killed. Looking at them Eryss saw how young they were, barely even out of the house, likely these were newly recruited boys or former members of a gang of young toughs earning their colors through this recent bloodshed. None of them should be missed. Eryss could say nothing of the fallen Sun’s Berth but he had no hand in their deaths either.] [Watching. Biding his time. Eryss would wait until the perfect opportunity and when he had finally seen it as the Daggerhand were busy looting the dead and removing valuables from them he would have uttered...”Now. Go now.”...to Bob and the Dog which was their signal to rush out and draw the attention of the men. Until then Eryss had been controlling the res he had previously summoned however upon uttering his orders he would cause it to flow back to the open palm of his right hand where it formed a gaseous ball, the process took considerably little time, and the Mage chose a target from the men that Bob and the Dog should have surprised.] [As he rose from the shadows of his hiding place near the wall of the alley Eryss would cause the newly condensed ball of gaseous res to hover towards one man before like a shot in the dark it had transmute into a bolt of lightning. Lightning extended towards the chest of one surprised Daggerhand in the blink of an eye and left an enormous blackened burn on his chest which sizzled and popped due to the residual heat of the blast before the man, still standing afterwards, fall backwards. Dead before he hit the ground his flesh burnt and his organs cooked from the inside.] [In what was the blink of an eye the Daggerhand were down from three to two. Already tired from the previous battle Eryss felt as though victory was almost preordained at this point. Of course that could have been overconfidence talking too.] [Stepping further into the alley Eryss would have begun to channel his djed one more, transforming it into res so that he could attack again, however unlike what he had just done he separated the res that he created into two. In his left hand was a translucent liquid res and in his right was a thin gaseous res that he began shaping into an orb to compliment his palm. Deciding he would aid the Dog first Eryss lashed out with his left hand and hurled the liquid res towards the Daggerhand the Dog had drawn the attention before mentally manipulating its properties to create something more malleable. As the liquid res flung itself towards the Daggerhand it became calcified and earthen, lengthening itself into a long shaft, and becoming projectile like so that it could spear deep into the shoulder or torso of the man it struck.] [Bob may not have wanted blood on his hands but Eryss reasoned the Dog would likely finish a weakened opponent. After he had thrown the liquid res Eryss turned his attention towards Bob and the other Daggerhand, aiming carefully...]

[Bob Barton]

If Eryss had shielding, he should have went to the front first. He can be the tank of this party. He won't have to worry much about it if what he thought was true and these Daggerhands are a bunch of new recruits. If Eryss was as good a mage or a shield user as he claimed to be, he shouldn't have much or a problem taking care of the whole fight on his own. No Eryss did not use a big ass shield like those knights because if he did, Bob would no doubt force him to go to attack by himself instead. Eryss was a person capable of using the magic of shielding. A common misconception that people would make when they don't know anything about it much like Bob when he first found out about it. Maybe he could have even learned more about how they worked if Clyde had more time to work on it but then it was just plain rotten luck. Never trust people with power, mages or those who are in the position to control them unless they have proven themselves. Once the secret is out just what is the sort of people you are dealing with, the best thing to do is to avoid them as much as possible. Well right now Bob should be glad because that one will no longer be able to disrupt him or anyone else just because of his twisted whims. Why? That will be his little secret.

But of course, shields can only be tasked against certain things. Eryss who to Bob did not look like the sort to put himself in harms way during a fight like when he suggested the battle plan can't plan for every eventuality. Even if by the off chance he tasked his shields to ward off blades to stop the Daggerhands initially instead of projectiles, just how common is the fangs of a dog? The dog would lunge forward and even if it was not able to get through the shield on time, the Daggerhands would soon come and finish off Eryss and give Bob enough time to run away. Too bad Bob did not know any of this or had some sort of magic powers to see the shield for what it was otherwise he would be able to use this knowledge to his advantage. Magic does provide power but...everyone knew that knowledge IS power. Shielding is the quite a game changer but easily overlooked because it is a very specific discipline.

Bob continued watching the Daggerhand boys looting the bodies and actually he was not that concerned with their age because he did not even notice it. What he was more concerned with was the sheer idea of looting at this point in time. Sunberth was just like a miniature battlefield now. Just what exactly would people who went into a fight knowing that they might die bring along besides their weapons and armour? Some coins to hit the tavern if they won? But looking at what those boys picked from the corpses, those pouches could not hold that many gold coins each. That was assuming that those dead Sun Birth fighters were not cheap enough to only be carrying around silvers or copper. Probably some mementos and trinkets to encourage them too. Nahhhh, "those Sun Birth's people are tough men" and not sappy emotional women. That was what Bob meant when he said that though he also meant that a dog, a mage and a midget might not stand much of a chance in fighting those who were capable to taking them down.

Unless they caught the Daggerhands by surprise as they were currently planning. Maybe that was how the Daggerhands got to beat the Sun Birth? It was a good tactic when you are hopelessly outmatched. Bob and Eryss were going to have to attack with such ferocity and without mercy to succeed...much like the dog which was just raring to spring into action. Bob could tell that it didn't care who it was going to attack. Much like other dogs in Killroy's which were bored or mistreated they just wanted an outlet. Initially it was looking at Bob, the one who was trying to assert control over it very harshly. Then thanks to Eryss, the attention shifted to the man who stupidly threatened it with lightning. After that, the dog was just plain spoilt for choice. Three other potential victims? "Yes look at them" Bob whispered into its ear while his hands held its head to look straight at the Daggerhands because "they are all yours..." hoping that his cheery and encouraging voice would make the dog more receptive to the idea.

Eryss said "go now?" but did he really think that Bob would listen to him that easily? Not after the way he tried to strongarm the midget into this madness. Bob still acting stupid wasted another few moments by asking another question like "by now you mean before or after you fry one because...there is only one dog and one me." Acting stupid and actually being stupid were two different things entirely because the Daggerhands were so focused on looting they could not bother to hear the whispered queries. After watching the annoyed expression on Eryss which showed that Bob had won his petty comeback, he broke the silence yelling "munchies!" and letting go off the leash allowing the dog to go like it wanted to. It would not even need a command after being so worked up but Bob had to at least show that the mage had some reason to be afraid of him just in case a double-cross of his own was planned.

Waiting until the dog had selected its target, Bob took his sword out of his cane and ran up to the other Daggerhand on the other side forcing the one in between to pause and make a choice of who he wanted to help. The decision has been already made for him unfortunately when suddenly as quick as the lightning that Eryss shot at him, he died. The dog too excited to even be bothered and Bob who already expected something like this shrugged off any surprise that they would feel and attacked the remaining two members.

The dog had a simple job already chewing on its opponent's swordarm and allowing Eryss to kill him quick. If ever Killroy needed an advertisement for his Kennel's, Bob would suggest "Chewing off the hands of Sunberth" but Killroy would probably not be allowed to use that by an angry Robern. What did Bob do? He charged straight with his sword and held it in the air like he was going to attack but to the Daggerhand who was staring at it intently, the attack actually came from the cane in Bob's other hand. Smashing into the youth's ankle and dropping him down so Bob could make eye contact. "Good to see that we are now on the same level boy."

It was words to try and make the Daggerhand think that Bob was actually a threat but instead it was seen as an insult especially to one of those who are part of Robern's elite. He roared and forced himself up again with Bob frantically hitting him on the head from the top to try and force him down with the cane while using his sword to try and block the wild strikes of fury from the insulted boy. Well there was not much shiny sword effects when the two swords clashed with each other but there was some bright red crimson flying around after the fifth attempt to block. While Bob was able to push the sword away, it still caused shallow cuts on his body since he was too busy hammering away his cane on the boy's head to focus on speed. This is no longer a sparring match with a naive benshira Bob, this is a real thing against a real Daggerhand who was pissed. He shouldn't have tried dual wielding again without practice. Practice that Zenai and Eridanus should have provided him with.