Meeting the UnDead(Rayage)

[Antar]

15th of Fall, 511av.

Midday on the Docks of Sunberth... how could one describe the hustle and bustle that such a time brought to the city? Ships were arriving, and departing, mostly small trading vessels though a few zeltivan privateers made their way past Lodestar Isle and out to sea in order to patrol the trade routes. The locals didn't necessarily get along with Zeltiva, and rumors were that Robern was more then willing to snatch one or two of them if he thought he could get away with it to make a clear sign of dominancy over the city.

Noth wished him luck on that, the Zeltivan navy was known for playing hard and fast when it came to the consequence they inflicted upon any who crossed them on the seas. But the hustle and bustle of the docks , fisherman would depart with nets, Robern's ships would stop trade ships, and private vessels departing for 'taxes and tarrifs' which amount little more then highway robbery taken to the waters. Piracy at its finest.

For now he merely watched the comings and goings, spending one of his few afternoons off. All morning he had toiled in the forests, chopping down trees and the bosses had told him to take the rest of the day off. So that's why he came down here, to the docks to enjoy one of his favorite passtimes: people watching. In the distance the sounds of sailors cries could be heard as a new ship pulled up to the docks.

[Rayage]

Rayage would sigh as he felt the loss of what he left behind, but he needed a break. He needed to get out of his lab, but that doesn’t mean stopping his research. For a little over three seasons the nuit worked there, fought there, and survived, and for three seasons he has had less than the success he wanted. Further research was needed, and further investigation on the condition of life would need to be pondered.

Luckily though, he was not alone. No, he hardly traveled alone now a days. Ever since the ‘homunculus’ creation of H1-A the furry lizard hardly spent a moment apart from the Alchemist. The furry thing would look silly perched on the mages shoulder as it was, but Ray took pride in his accomplishment, and anyone who would laugh at the achievement that Ray has come across surely did not know the amount of research that went into creating the creature; knowing that no one but another alchemist could truly value his work only made him bitter at the amount of attention that the furry thing attracted. Its white fur contrasted against the faded rainbow, the cascade of color that the nuit wore.

Looking down at the docks his ship had just arrived and he was, oh so patiently waiting to get off. He stood there, a statue by the wooden railing of the ship watching the sailors come and go just waiting for a moment to slip in between these lowly people. He watched them, waiting, time was ticking and it seemed he was getting nowhere fast. If he would have known that the dead couldn’t leave this ship he would never have…

Seeing his chance he, the mass of people clearing, he approached the plank that between the dock and the ship. Giving a look down he saw the great sea, its waves waiting for a person to fall in to claim in its name. Ray however was not falling for any sort of trick. He was an Alchemist; he was in search for the answer to life along with its meaning. He could not slow down, no, not now.

Taking his first step on the wooden path it wobbled a little, worried thoughts coming to him; a swift reminder of why he never liked to sail. Smiling to himself he took another step, and another, and another, with each step the plank wobbled even more and with each step he walked a bit faster. Another, and another, and another step and then he found himself on the solid dock. A person watching might have viewed the incident as humorous because of how fast the nuit crossed the clearing and the intensely worried look on his face.

Sighing he took a moment to collect himself, but also to step aside. He did not want to be in anyone’s way especially in a place he hasn’t been to in many seasons. He knew this place, Sunberth, the same place he came to go to Sahova. It was ironic that he would end up here again still in search of the same answers and the same principles that he left this place to find.

”Finally here again.” he talked seemingly to himself, but the comment was made towards H1-A, ”This place is where you were thought up of.” he informed the being perched on his shoulder. Though that information was a lie, he wanted to say it anyways. The little guy wouldn’t know any different.

Brushing off his robes he beat them with his hands roughly before setting at a rather slow place into the crowd that was in the port. Where he was going or what he was going to do was a mystery to him. He only came here on the flimsy excuse to further his research outside the laboratory setting. That, that was an excuse he was already regretting. He had forgotten how lowly most people were to him.

[Antar]

For a moment, Noth's eyes rose to the sight of Lodestar Isle out in the distant edge of the horizon. Even here the lighthouse could be seen, a place connected to the rumors of ancient manor built by an ancient alchemist. But only the barest shreds of knowledge about its existence were known, all was rather locked away in rumors and the hearsay of old wives tales. So soon enough, Noth's eyes wandered back to the incoming ship and he spotted a lone figure standing lazily at the top of the ship, acting as if he was hesitant to disembark.

Noth couldn't really blame him or her(he couldn't tell from this distance), coming ashore in a place like sunberth, a town infamous as a den of murderers and mayhem goers was enough to make any sane individual wary. Not that most of the population around here could be termed "sane" of course. It was just an expression. But it was dangerous enough to have him don his armor, and mercenary equipment of course. Even if he was here people watching, Antar knew very well the streets were a dangerous place.

Smiling lightly Antar wondered a moment at the figure's attire, a faded, multi-colored robe as if the figure were a mage or rather a hard on his luck troubradour of some sorts. From this distance a blob of patchy white fur of something sitting on the figure's shoulder drew his eye. That piqued his interest a enough for Ant to wonder just what the stranger was going to do. Was he going to disembark, or sail back off on the sailor's ship? If it were him, and he had the resources, he'd leave the streets of this fetid city behind like the pieces of rotting garbage they really were.

Fading back into the crowds he kept an eye out to see what the robed figure might do...

[Rayage]

Wandering, wading slowly through the crowd people were too close, and this place was too busy. Stopping he looked for a quick escape out of the crowd because this just was not working for him. Sidestepping to avoid being bumped he stumbled back and ran into a person. The lizard slipping off his shoulder and falling to the below, he squirmed down there and ran off into the crowd skillfully avoiding the feet of those who would trample the homunculus.

”H1-A” he mumbled and started going after it, but then a hand planted on his shoulder ”Where do you think you’re going?” a deep and rather brash voice came from behind him. Ray froze Who does he think he is laying a hand on me? The nuit let his rage build up. He turned around and looked at the man he had bumped into. Quite... Imposing, and he looked healthy. Would make a nice change of bodies.

Taking a step back he smiled at the man, ”I didn’t mean any harm, sir. Why don’t we just go our separate ways?” he suggested, but there was a little more to the suggestion. Each and every word was laced with poisonous Djed, the powers of a hypnotist was many, but he only knew so much. The simple spoken spell was supposed to make the man back off, to soothe any hard feeling, and point the man in the direction of just walking away. That is what Ray intended it to do, and with that he placed an emotion, a calming one, into the mans mind. One that was filled with forgiveness, and reinforced the words that were impressed into his mind with hypnotic suggestion, it was a good combo, simple and clean and there wasn’t much to it other than a drain in Djed. Something he could spare a bit of.

Looking into the mans eyes the mage straightened up and waited for him to back down, to move on, and to just walk away. H1-A had already got away and now he would have to search for him, picking a fight with this person wasn’t on his things to do list. That and he was quite surprised by himself. He was handling this rather well, usually he would solve it with complete and utter fear, but there was something about the man that told him he wasn’t scared of much of anything. Even though the emotion was quite powerful he thought it wouldn’t work, no, not in this case. He would have to take a different approach. This one seemed to be the right way. He wasn’t going to just start a brawl, especially in the state he was in right now.

The man backed down a little seeing the light in Rays magic. He moved on, his aggression forgotten under the hypnotic influence. Such a simple spell could carry such amazing results. Hypnotism, what a powerful magic it was. Smiling to himself he made his way out of the crowd trying to find H1-A again. Where could that lizard have gone? It annoyed him that the creature would just run off like that, but it was to be expected. If such a thing was scared, then it would run, seek a place of safety... Animals annoyed him like that and he made a mental not to reinforce the hypnotic programing in the lizards mind when he found the thing. It was one of a kind, how hard could it be to find?

One of a kind and probably would sell for some coin on the market. A disturbing thought to him, but now he was even more determined to find it. Sighing a little he moved the edge of the crowd again and started to move Djed to his eyes, activating Auristics. He quickly scanned the auras of present to him, but they were all a blur, and it was taking too long scanning each aura. Each one was swirling masses of energy, each revealing a piece of a person, but it wasn’t a persons aura he was looking for. It was H1-A. The Alchemical creation had quite a unique and distinct aura about it, but he frowned not seeing it. Focusing on one aura at a time was exhausting and soon he forced himself to stop. He would have to search for the creature the old fashioned way.

[Antar]

'My what an interesting creature.' Noth thought as he pet its back gently with his thumb. It was amazing what being in the right place at the right time can do...

He'd been following the robed man, weaving in and out of the crowds when the creature had leapt in fright and scuttled off, Antar had been right there to catch it as it scurried towards a hole. Instead of doing anything to outright grab it he merely had crouched down in its pathway and let the sleeve of his shadowsilk robe appear as welcoming to the darkness. The tiny lizard had slithered it's way up his gauntlets, and armor to huddle next to his shoulder. For a moment it had seemed to be on the verge of hissing and biting him, but Antar had wrapped one hand about it quickly enough to transfer it into his right sleeve, safely holding it in his gauntletted hand as it's claws skittered across the cold iron plates.

He turned quickly, almost imperceptibly , towards a nearby stall box where some sailors were piling up fish. Behind him, the mage seemed to run forwards wildly, bumping into one of the sailors nearby to begin to cause a ruckus.

It was all the distraction he needed as he snatched up one small fish and slid it up into the sleeve of his robe where the creature was being held. Soon enough, H1-A was munching happily on its swiped new prize as Noth broke away from the stall box to circle around through the crowds. Bu achieving this he received a better vantage point of the man who convinced the bruiser of a sailor to let him go.

Antar's mind was already hard at work, wondering what such a little critter might have as value, but not with the intention of selling it. No.. the creature looked like a lizard but had fur instead of scales. A deviation of nature, and one his curiousity wished to find out why. Was it a natural creature? He certainly didn't think so, but who was he to tell? There were plenty of monsters in the far off corners of the world no one would dared to explore. And the individual who had brought it here seemed interesting too... his movements seemed... off from a normal man's. A slight shumbling gait that reminded him of something from his past but he couldn't figure what.

As Rayage broke from the crowd to stagger up a side street, Noth followed at a distance, blending in behind another couple that lazily walked down the ways. Soon enough, the rogue might just ask the man, for it seemed to be a man, what the little fellow was... and make him an offer to return it. It was all about making the proper first impression of course.

When Rayage turned to search a side alley, Noth knew he'd soon get his chance. One of the lesser gangs , had a thug or two there. And they usually jumped anyone who seemed a little, 'newer' then the rest of the population. It was just the normal course of business in Sunberth after all.

[Rayage]

Sure the nuit was old, but he never liked doing things by hand. No, that too tedious. Heck in Sahova he didn’t even have to catch the creatures he used for his experiments the golems would just bring in his order. It was a nice convenience, and one that he had grown accustomed to, one that he hardly was willing to give up but he needed to get out of the lab and do some field study. Maybe even, while he is away here, collect some samples to bring back to experiment on in his lab when he could return to the undead island. Wasn’t that the point of this whole trip?

As he continued looking for the creature in question, H1-A, he spotted an unusually suspicious alleyway. It was dark enough and it was a possibility that H1-A could have gone down there. Curse his experiment! Running off. Who gave the creature permission to do that? Sighing he began to turn down the alley and he walked a couple feet in before he spotted a rather tall looking man coming towards him. Meeting in alleyways almost never turned out well, and so he began to back up when he heard a call behind him ”Where’d ya think you’re going?”.

This, this wasn’t good. He had no weapons on him and he certainly didn’t know any magic useful for direct combat. Stopping he turned so his back was towards the wall and he could see the two men coming for him, walking as if they own the place. The living disgust him. An empty rage started to fill him as he heard them call out to him, both taunting him and demanding his gold or else. Coming from Sahova it has been a long time since he has had to deal with this sort of situation and already his mind was filtering out what to do. He had already used a lot of his Djed from an earlier encounter and so he couldn’t do much more without risk.

Taking time to analyze his situation he noted the thugs were armed and they had to be much stronger than his weak undead form. A slight breeze bringing his multi-colored cloak more around him as if to comfort him, to bring him a sense of security in this hopeless situation he decided what he was going to do. Yes, it is worth the risk.

He felt himself get grabbed and thrown up against the wall, again they asked for his money, but as he felt contact with the wall he only smiled at them ignoring the slight pain. ”I believe you should go” he told them the words again laced with Djed, the suggestion placed in both of their minds and he even finished it off with a slight placed emotion: Fear. Though both his techniques were brief he was hoping that combined with his undead appearance would scare them off enough to decide that he wasn’t worth roughing up. He did have a body to look after after-all.

[Antar]

Ah the feel of fur across one's thumb was quite a pleasant sensation as he stroked the animal and watched the scene unfold. The two brutes were silent for a moment after the figure's attempts to dissuade them from their actions and get them to leave, but all it gained him was a longer moment's pause before they laughed uproariously at the man's seeming joke.

"Did you hear that Ben? The wily little bastard wants us to leave. Leave from our own alleyway? Isn't that somethin'?"

As the two ruffians began to heckle and press the faded robed man back against the wall, Antar knew it was time to act. In a half crouch he padded softly alongside of the alley, keeping himself from the three people's sight using a set of stacked crates to block his view.

"Sure is Casey. Sure is... we should split the petching git for such audacity. How's that sound to ya?"

He'd have to make his move shortly to ease the mounting tension. But the animal might be a problem. With one of his hands holding it tightly he'd have to be careful of where it would go, but seeing as how it remained perched on the robed man's shoulders an idea came to him. He moved H1-A to his own left shoulder, keeping the fabric of the shadowsilk robe above it, nestling it in comfort while letting his scale mail take the brunt of its claws digging in to hold its position. There was still some small chance of it biting him, but perhaps the fabric of the cloak might remind it it was safe within the shadows. If that failed he'd just chase it down again and put it safely in his rucksack and hope it didn't chew through the leather.

"Sounds just fine to me... how's that sound to you, 'Git?"

It was the perfect cover he needed for the last step.Reaching up with his right hand Antar quietly lay one hand on the sheathe of his gladius, intent to draw it to make ready for his attack. But then he thought of the seemingly need to make a good impression. He wanted to find out what the little critter was after all; it's very existence was a mystery, and mysteries intrigued him.

As the voices began to escalate, one of the thugs punched the wall by rayage's face as he started to play a game of trying to make the nuit flinch. Antar used the distraction to take crouch and take the final steps towards the closest one, Casey, as H1-A wiggled upon his shoulder. When he got within three paces of the wayward brutes he reached around Caseys head, grabbing a clump of hair on the back of the head with his left, and encircling the man's chin from behind with his right. A brief moment of pressure to push Casey's chin to the left before it met resistance was all it took before Antar reversed his actions. Pulling the chin to the right he simultaneously twisted with the left hand to the left. Applying pressure to snap the neck with a sickening squelch.

The man was as good as dead before he hit the ground. Ben on the other hand seemed a tougher sort and reacted by throwing Rayage back towards the crates with one hand and swiping at Noth with his dagger in his left. Antar hopped back to dodge the swing as H1-A's furry little head swivelled into view from under the folds of his cloak to look at the man. The creature hissed and Noth could sense the animal's body tense just moment before it vaulted from his shoulder. The lizard leapt towards Ben's face, it's claws scratching at his eyes and forehead, and its rear claws drawing welts upon his chest as the animal's jaws fastened upon the thug's nose.

A scream of pain came from the man before the brute acted as all brutes do. Reaching up with a gauntle, Ben tore the creature off his face and tossed it towards the side walls, where H1-A twisted like a cat to land on the brick. For some reason unknown to him it stayed there, just blinking in it's stupor as it clung to the brick for the rest of the fight. Noth took the distraction as the gift it was and drew his gladius as Ben's tossed the knife to pull his own longsword out into the fray.

The man swung wildly at him, forcing Noth to block each blow with the side of his gladius. Fighting against an armed opponent was much harder then using the weapon on something as inconsequential as a dire rat. Rats at least moved on their instincts. People, who were injured , and held weapons didn't necessarily do so. In fact they could be quite rash, and stupid. Like this one, Ben.

"Bastard... you killed Casey!"

The idiot should have been trying to flee but he still advanced upon Antar with all the care of a raging barbarian and the pair began trading blows as Noth was driven back step by step. The momentum turned however, when the thug shifted his stance to stab his lonsword forwards in a powerful two handed thrust. Noth twisted to the side, as the two swords collided, pushing forward to slide closer to Ben. Noth's left arm came up and under the Ben's arms and twisted them like a corkscrew, wrenching them apart before snapping his arm back in the other direction to latchg his left hand around Ben's left wrist. Gaining control of his opponents weapon hand he placed his hip into the man before stepping to the right to extend the arm to unbalance the man further. Pivoting around on the ball of his foot allowed noth to bring his right elbow back into the man's face. The shock forced Ben to let go of the longsword and it clattered to the ground.

Still maintaining control of his opponents wrist Noth reversed direction of his pivot to step out away from the man, before he lifted the arm higher over his head, and 'stepped' through. Sliding the edge of the gladius just under the armpit to cut the main artery as Ben's off balance form stumbled a half step forward, before Noth's own momentum and hold on the appendage savagely whipped the man around into the wall. He didn't wait for niceties, as a quick thrust to the neck finished the man off, sliding just above the breastplate the thug wore.

For a few moments he just stood there, speckled in blood as he stared down at his recently deceased opponent, before the chittering of the lizard drew his attention. It was still perched about eye high on the wall, and it leaped to his robe out of some survival instinct, burrowing into the sleeve as it sought out the enshadowing darkness. It ended up huddling itself at his right shoulder, and a small smile graced his lips in gratitude for the whirling buzzsaws help. Wiping the blade of his gladius on the corpse he sheathed it before he turned back towards the faded robed man with a smile. "My what an interesting little creature... and an interesting owner to be sure. I would rather like to ask a few questions of you about it's nature if that's alright. Just give me a second here, and then we should be on our way to someplace... safer for the moment. What's your name by the way?"

Moving to keep view of Rayage in view, Noth began to kneel at the corpses side, and began his search. Most notably on his list was removing the breastplate and helmet Ben had worn as well as the leather armor of the recently twisted Casey. The helmet seemed to be a little raggy but that was all right. The armor was in good enough shape, and he was sure he might find someone who might use it.

A small coinpurse with three gold was all his take, on it but, soon enough he had stripped the corpse down to nothing but its soiled underdrawers, rank with the last processes of life before he turned towards Casey. It was a decent haul for a day off, a breastplate with a studded leather skirt and greaves. A longsword, iron though, so not much real value, and helmet with a nasal breach from Ben. And on Casey a set of leather armor and a dagger was all he could find. Though the thug did seem to be of the sort to hide a small cutpurse with 3 silver in his pocket. A rather pitiful sum for a rather pitiful set of minor thugs.

With the new gear in hand, Noth sauntered over to the staggered man, searching him for any sign of whether he was injured. He didn't seem to be. But rather, he also didn't seem to be in a very talkative mood either. On the spur of the moment, Noth took the helmet he had taken from Ben and placed it on the robed man's head and tossing Casey's leather armor and dagger at Rayage's feet before the rogue stood back to appraise the nuit and then as if amusing himself sighed and cocked his head a little to side. "Ah that's a little better then. yes, much better then walking around in a robe looking like the easiest mark in the entire district." With the satchel of new goods in his burlap sack he stretched out a little before Antar cheerfully extended an armored gauntlet down to help Rayage up. "Now my mysteriously robed friend, it one thing to note if you are walking around in robes at least make them armored ones. I know a shop along the way that sells them quite right. Keep the other things off the dead; we'll call it a gift of sorts so you and I might discuss this fascinating creature. However, I think it best if we both get out of here... like now in fact. Introductions can be handled along the way of course."

At the end of his words, Noth reached up to his shoulder to take H1-A back into his hands and began to stroke its fur as the little lizard sighed a slight hissing sigh of pleasure. The broken sounds seemed like laughter as Rayage was helped to his feet long enough for the rogue to start striding quickly away. Leaving it entirely in the now helmeted nuit's regard whether he wished to follow after and keep up with the strange man who had called his pet lizard fascinating...

oocI'll pay for the leather armor and helm of the 'gift' if need be. You up for a jaunt to the stores for some armored robes? Nuits tend to need them in sunberth.

[Rayage]

Yeah, this definitely wasn’t Sahova. The nuit didn’t rule here and his status a member of their undead ranks meant nothing here. He couldn’t pull rank on the living like he was used to. A brief grimace was all the reaction he gave for their words as he tried to think himself out of this one. He was no personal mage at all, he didn’t specialize at the materialization of the elements or even the own craft that he used to control his homunculus, hypnotism. The concepts were still very new and he hadn’t expanded on them. He didn’t even know reimancy, the one good combative magic. It was times like this that he wished he was either better at hypnosis or just a little more skilled at shielding. It was times like that that reminded him of his own mortality as he wondered what the goons were going to do. Was he living in a dream, a delusion, that he was more powerful than what he really was? Most likely, but then he thought he cant let them get to him.

So putting on a smile, he could feel the urge to cast again, cast more magic, more and more and more. In his mind he was trying to convince himself that he could do one more spell, one more spell and that by doing so he could get rid of these foul people, these worms that call themselves humans. He couldn’t show fear, no, because then that would let them know that they have won, and they sure haven’t won quite yet. One more spell he could cast though with experience he was already teetering on overgiving. In fact, he was already, the whispers, the compelling words to cast one more spell, all signs! Curse him and his weakness, his folly was that he despite everything he tries to tell himself is only mortal just like the rest, just like everyone else here.

That realization and that alone shocked him. There was nothing extraordinary about him. Perhaps it was that alone that made him speechless as the thugs continued their bantering back and forth. He was… He was helpless when he was not in a laboratory setting. Helpless, weak, no, no, no he shook his head refusing to believe such harsh and world-shattering words. He was stronger than he looked and he was even more powerful than these fooled cared to know. He just had to show them it was so. Yes, that is right. He is perfect and the only flaws in this word are that of man, a group he was no longer of. He was elite, he was ever-living, he was undead.

As they started to toy with him, thinking that they have an easy target one of them punched the wall, the fist whizzing right past the nuits skull making contact with the wall. Being alive five hundred years you are bound to have seen scarier things than this and all they got from the Nuit was a chuckle, ”You really think Im scared of things that are beneath me? Youre barbaric tactics wont work on me.” he said trying to keep the superior air about him no matter how grim the situation. He was not going to let these roughens get to him that easily. No, he would show them the power of a Sahovan mage should be feared.

Just as he was about to really show his magical abilities, just as he was working up the courage to go further into overgiving, to take it just one more step forward because he had heard enough of this trashes talk and he was going to make them run away. He was going to show them all his awesome power. He was most of all going to make them pay. Though little did he know he would never get the chance because just as he was going to push himself over the edge into the realms of major overgiving something happened. The man named Casey’s head was snapped.

This sudden turn of events made the nuit laugh, though those present would have a hard time discerning what came from the nuit because it was as dry as he was. The laugh was great and he found it funny and oddly fitting that they guy die how he did. The big smirk on the nuits face lasted as he looked at the other thug, but then he was, rather violently, thrown into some crates. Falling backwards the crates broke under the force of the nuits body, catching him, but he couldn’t say he was pleased with that.

Stunned from the sudden shock of impact he laid there, a broken crate to be his chair one fitting for someone of his statue. This wasn’t Sahova anymore, and the fact that he came here thinking it would be easy to get some research done was, was idiotic. That he admitted, but he wasn’t regretting his trip seeing this encounter as a minor setback.

Looking up he saw something leap from the man who had snapped the neck of the other thug dodging the knife of Ben. Then someone familiar entered the picture, leaping from the strangers shoulder and attacking the man in his own way was H1-A, Rayages ‘homunculus’. A smirk formed on his face as he watched the scene unfold. That was a good experiment, a keeper indeed. He made note of how the lizard fought and what was happening. Could he use hypnotic suggestion or training to improve the lizards fighting style? Most likely. He didn’t hold anything in the realm of impossible. No, he liked to think with enough knowledge anything was possible, anything was within the reach of those with knowledge, even godhood. Though that was not what Ray sought he would gladly jump on the chance.

Seeing how easily dispatched the other was Ray sat there and looked at the two corpses. Serves them right he could spit on them. Then his thoughts were taken away from what had happened and drawn to the mans voice, was he talking to him? His eyes shifted away from the bodies and to the man who had ‘saved’ him from the thugs. Nodding at the words, ”Rayage.” he told him, ”I am Rayage an Alchemist from Sahova.” He watched him search the bodies, ”And you are?” he asked observing how to the man took what he could or thought was valuable from the bodies, no use to let it go to waste right? He grinned.

Taken back by what happened next he put a hand up to feel the helmet that was placed on his head and just looked at the other who seemed to be judging him. The easiest mark in all the district uh? Ray could have come more prepared. Though he again overestimated his abilities, he thought that next time he would be much much more prepared. Taking the hand extended to him he gave the stranger a nod taking the items that were dropped to his feet, the leather armor and the dagger. ”Why thank you.” he grinned and then looked at H1-A, the furry creature looking right at home at the man’s shoulder. He guessed that the lizard was liking the body heat or something.

Though the lizard seemed to be mocking him he paid no mind as he eyed the creature hurried after the man as he lead the way. ”Armored robes.” he wasn’t fond of the idea of extra weight, but if this cycle of running into questionable people every five chimes continued he would need and take anything he could get to protect himself. ”Sounds great.” he told him as he walked slightly behind the rouge glad that he came so the nuit didn’t have to waste his very soul on those who do not deserve a passing glance.

[Antar]

Nodding sideways at the man, listening to his words, Noth continued to pet the furry lizard in his grasp as his mind processed the words the other man had spoken. "Ah... A Sahovan Mage , eh? I guess that means you are a nuit? Don't answer that, I'm pretty sure I assume correctly. I shall give you this warning though, while I do not inherently feel the prejudices many have towards your kind I have no wish for you to take my body as your own. Should there... be a need of some sort to procure you a new one during your stay here: i'm sure we can work something out. My name, for many is simply : Anthony, or Ant for short."

As he continued to walk, he slowly began to lead the both of them towards the castle commons, more specifically towards a shop known as A Knight's Armory. It was the best, and possibly the most honest place to buy things in the city. And was also within the safest areas of the town, relatively speaking. No place in sunberth would ever truly be safe enough, but a side shop or during their hagglings might be a good place for Noth to get a feel for the other man, no ... this nuit he now was with. He'd have to determine if the man was safe enough to discuss things with. He was truly fascinated by H1-A's form and the creature seemed more magical now then before, especially if it had been borne here to the city on the shoulder of a Sahovan mage.

He didn't know much about the mages of Sahova, nothing more then the rumors at least. Perhaps this would be a good means of finding out a bit more, "Tell you what Rayage, since you seem new about Sunberth. Why don't I take the time to show you around. In return, you can inform me a bit on where you come from, the island of sahova of course, and just what this creature is. Does it have a name?"

As he waited for a reply they ventured up to the door of the armory and Noth turned towards the nuit. "Alright my new friend. Be forewarned, some of these clerks like to bulk up the prices to gain a little more for themselves but a savvy man can bring them down to something reasonable. It's all in how you spin it. We'll go in, look at the stuff you seem to find attractive for you and discuss what the price reasonably should be before you approach the clerk. I'll start by selling this blasted breastplate and studded skirt I just... procured, probably undercutting its real value. And we'll happily move on to somewhere else that would be safe for a long talk. That sounds good?

[Rayage]

The nuit watched carefully as the man continued to pet H1-A, nodding slightly at his words, ”Duly noted.” he muttered in response to Ant’s concerns of keeping his body. ”With you around,” he attempted some humor, ”I doubt I will need to acquire a new body.” he informed him confident of his acquaintances abilities. ”That was quite an act that you put on there.” thinking back to how easily he dispatched of those thugs. ”This place is more dangerous than I thought it would be.” He reflected on the series of events that lead to how he got into that situation, ”It seems Ive been in Sahova for too long. Working in the laboratory really makes one unaware of the world.” He seemed overly simplistic in his answer, but his mind was elsewhere as he was following his new companion.

Ant’s words drew him back to reality as he tried to strike a deal, ”You want to know about Sahova?” he laughed, ”Its truly a place of its own. I could describe it to you all day, but really get a grasp on it one will have to visit the island themselves. Though, I don’t think most of the living would be willing to do that.” he laughed as if he had said some kind of joke, ”And the creature.” he paused, ”Its name is H1-A. Homunculus 1-A.” Ray began to explain, ”Though its not a true homunculus it is a product of Alchemy.” He looked at it, admiring it a little more. ”The creature is a marvelous piece of art if I don’t say so myself. The product of years” if only Ant could imagine how long, ”of research into the condition of life.” he told him. Still following him to the door.

”They like to bulk up the prices?” he smiled, ”Well, we can talk about a reasonable price. I am old, but Im not rich” he told him unwanting to be ripped off today. If he were alive he would have taken a deep breath, but instead he prepared himself mentally and walked into the shop. He was not going to get ripped off, he was not going to get ripped off, and positive thinking does a lot in these kinds of situations. Who did the owner think he was to try to steal from this nuit, from this being who was obviously superior to anyone here.

The place had quite a wide selection of wares, but none much interested him, most being too heavy for him to wield anyways. His eyes fell on all the blades, but he quickly dismissed such sights because they were useless. The nuit would keep to himself avoiding the stare of people and trying his best to look uninterested, which was not hard for him because most things in this world didn’t come off as interesting to him. Though protection and armor plates would be beneficial, it was not his topmost priority. He needed to get his studies underway, but this little trip would be…

He stopped as he looked at the robes; his old ones were patched and looked like a tattered mess. These ones in front of him, obviously used, were in good enough repair to sell. Though use was obvious, they still had value; anything had value depending how one looks at it. One however stood out from the rest. It was… bulkier. Hand reaching out to further inspect it there seemed to be just plain fabric at first glance but one tactile observation was pressed upon it mysteries were revealed and answers given. Why was it so bulky? Well by touch it felt like there was something hard, a plate of sorts under the fabric, inside the robe. The hand opening the robe up revealed his suspicions were correct, armor plates were inside. It was bulky and looked odd, but if one was wearing it the bulkiness could be easily explained. ”What do you feel for this?” the nuit asked Ant.