A new quest begins

[Sabertooth Kitten]

Only a few patrons of the inn look up as a short slender figure enters and makes her way slowly to the bar.
"Dark Ale" she says to the barmaid.
Taking her drink she puts her back to the bar and scans the crowd.
Those that are observant see a woman about shoulder high to the barbarian standing a couple of feet down the bar from her. She has long red hair and slightly slanted eyes with vertical pupils and ears with upswept tips. There appears to be more than a touch of the Fae about her.
A slight smile touches her lips as she pretends to sip her ale.
She observes the fighters, rogues and spellcasters of various races busily drinking and wenching the evening away. There were even a few sailors over in one corner. Pirates or I'm a cub.
There is a good crowd in here, she thinks, Maybe I can find the ones I need.
She turns back to the barmaid. "I'm looking for a few good people who love a challenge."
The barmaid grins, "And who have more lust for adventure than the good sense to stay home eh?"
She grins back at the barmaid showing slightly elongated canine teeth. "That might help." She flips the barmaid a gold coin.
The barmaid nods once and comes out from behind the bar to move among the patrons pausing now and then to whisper to one.
The ones the barmaid speaks to turn and look at the woman at the bar.
Assessing her and deciding whether it will be worth the trouble to go over and see what this is all about.

[asianmommy]

*The strange woman has sent Arethia, the bar maid around, and as usual, her and I share the knowledge of a good job with better pay than most. She's always keen to help me since I helped her out of a tight spot a while back. I take a long sip of my wine and then i lift all two hundred pounds of my feline self off of the bench and stalk slowly towards her*
Japhael is a Feline-human (a jungle cat mix to be more specific). He is bronze skinned with a feline face, and rough, lean build. His eyes are copper and his face and hair are furry (but sleek). He is scarred on his chest and hands in strips.

My name is Japhael.

[Evandril]

A figure stands, towards the back of the inn, making his way towards the bar. Tall, and elven in apperance and movement, with the typical grace of their kind. As he draws closer, his white hair is easily apparent, with his road-worn chain displaying his craft, as does the immaculate sword over his shoulder. His eyes are a pale lavender, you note, as he speaks. "Greetings, milady" he says with a slight bow "I've been told you have need of companions...If you would care to share your tale, perhaps I could be of aid. My name is Skivon."

[Sabertooth Kitten]

The woman looks at the two adventurers before her. "very nice" she thinks, then jerks her attention back to the matter at hand.
"Japhael, Skivon." She nods to each of them in turn. "My name is Serena." she gestures to an empty table over against one wall. "Would you gentlemen care to join me?" she smiles slightly. "I'd like to know more about you, and I am sure that you are curious about me and what I have in mind."

[Evandril]

((Quick question, how common/powerful is magic in this world? If it's not that strong, or common, please let me know, will edit ;) ))

Skivon nods his approval, his smile widening. "Of course, milady, after you" he says, bowing yet again, as the chair nearest the wall slides back at a gesture. "Would you care for a real drink? Somehow, I don't belive that ale to be, ah, your normal choice" He asks, taking the next most suitable chair.

[Sabertooth Kitten]

((Quick question, how common/powerful is magic in this world? If it's not that strong, or common, please let me know, will edit ;) ))


(( Not-So-Quick Answer))
Most magics in game are the comfort/convenience cantrip types( lighting fires, foxfire for illumination, minor telekinesis *under 15 pounds max* communication, food preservation and the like).
The battle magics (fireballs, lightning bolts, instant death etc.) are very difficult and very few can use them directly. prepackaged spells and items are available, but at high cost and dubious safety and reliability. (Imagine the lightning bolt spell that you just paid 500 gold for going off in your sporran or belt pouch while chatting with some friends...)
Enhancement magics fall somewhere in between. There are only a relative few that can do the magic, however they do sell their services to enhance or enchant objects or people. But their services come at a high price and few can afford them.
Temporary enchantments are less expensive but they do have that nasty habit of failing just when you need them the most.
Healing magics are much more common and can include potions as well as characters who have the talent. As in our world, Healers expect to get paid. A lot.;)
Curses and cursed items are around if not exactly common. Fortunately most of the curses are of the practical joke variety. (Use your imagination and get creative here)
The really nasty curses aren't always readily identifiable as such, often masquerading as minor until the worst possible moment.
There are the usual races and classes as well as shape shifters and even the odd dragonkin. (A dragon is related to the dragonkin the way humans are to chimps.) Dragonkin look humanoid and interact well with humans most of the time, but when they are upset, the scales, teeth and bad breath make their appearance. ( You never know about that busty barmaid you are about to pinch...:D)
Any more questions and/or ideas?

[Ecchi_Kitty]

Glowing faintly in the reflected light of the fire, a pair of pale blue eyes watch the new arrival and her companions. Ears perked to hear, the feline pads silently atop the worn rafters of the bar, perching above the table, half hidden in the shadows.

If one happens to notice, he seems a common cat, a bit thin perhaps, but sleek and healthy, his tabby grey coat well groomed. But the pale blue of his eyes is uncommon in cats, and the round pupils even moreso.

[DrT]

As the three take their place around the table, they sense a presence nearby. Looking up they find an individual facing them, calmly waiting to be aknowledged. Almost seven feet in height, he towers over their table with the patience and quiet of a stone statue. He wears an odd outfit for this part of the world, or any part of the world for that matter. Indeed, his suit of armor has no single distinction as such, has it seem to have all of them at once: it’s a blend of styles seemingly coming from every corner of the world, as parts of armors from different regions were adapted and fit together into a working whole. A longer examination of the odd assortment of plating styles, buckles and seemingly random leather straps reveal multiple small weapons concealed within the design.
The overall feeling is at first a massive pile of armor parts layered randomly over a burly human with so pattern in mind other that achieving protection, but as one closely studies the assortment, the feeling of randomness dissapears to be replaced by a sense of purpose, as if each part was chosen not because it was there, but because of all the parts available, that one would do the job best.
Noticing that they aknowledge him, he announces in a voice surprisingly soft for a man his built (about 7 feet tall and 3-4 in width with the suit):
-Greetings sirs. I couldn’t help but hear you are in need of hands. Mine are free at present, and I could very well be interested in lending them to you.
As the combined surprise of the sudden appearance of the massive individual and his surprisingly soft voice wears off, the three notice that his pack is tilted against a nearby table, composed of a broad shield and a motley array of equipment, including a nice assortment of weapons. As the reality of the individual sink in, the three realized that they didn’t actually hear him coming. Although it might have been because of the important background noise of the tavern, there seem to radiate an affinity for silence around the imposing presence.
-My name is Valen.

[asianmommy]

Valen, I am Japhael, this is Serena and Skivon.
*Japhael studies the strangers but keeps his body relaxed trying not to tense up and show his wariness.*

How can we be of service, lady?

[Sabertooth Kitten]

"Welcome Valen. I am looking for people bold enough to help me make a raid on the lair of the pirate queen Damita. She has something that belongs to me and I want it back."
Serena looks at the men to gauge their reactions.
"There will be booty enough for all. Magical items of all types, gold and jewels aplenty." She pauses for a second. "There will be fighting enough both on the way and once we get there."
Serena gives the men an evil grin. "And if someone should happen to skewer Queen Damita I won't shed any tears. Of course if she can be captured, I am sure that she will bring a fine price at auction."
She signals the barmaid to bring another round of drinks to the table and sits back to let the men consider her proposal.

[Evandril]

Skivon's eyes narrow at the last comment. "Her death would not bother me, but I'll have no part in selling someone...If she lives, find some other way to deal with her, or we shall part ways now." He looks around the table, meeting the other's eyes, gauging their reactions, and filing away the information. "If we are to go after her in her lair, we will need information, and a plan...Hopefully you can provide what we need?"

[asianmommy]

"I agree, that I would not mind seeing her get what is coming to her, and I have no qualms about auctioning her off to the highest bidder, but I wonder how much sea voyage will be necessary to undertake this mission. As you may know, my kind do not travel well on long sea journeys."

[Sabertooth Kitten]

"Queen Damita may not even be in her lair when we get there, so the point may be moot." Serena sighs. "But if she is, do with her as you will. I just want my property back."
She pulls a map from beneath her tunic and spreads the parchment on the table.
"The pirate queens lair is on the mainland just a few dozen leagues from here."
Serena indicates a point in the coast.
"Approach by sea is next to impossible due to the treacherous currents and the jagged bottom. IT is said that only Damita and her most loyal leutenants know the only safe passge through."
Serena's eyes begin to gleam.
"Approach by land is almost as bad as the Lair is surrounded by cliffs that a lizard would have trouble descending. The good news is that there is a way to the beach level via a network of caves that we can enter here."
Serena points to another spot on the map a good distance away from the coastline.
"The bad news is that the caves are inhabited."

[asianmommy]

"Well, we can always see what alternates lay in wait for us. I am pretty good at climbing almost sheer cliff face, and we can always use ropes to get us down, but it would make us more vulnerable.

[DrT]

*Valen waits patiently as information trickles to him. his face stays impassive throughout the exchange. when he talks, his voice is still as soft and smooth as before*
Although I am familiar with the concept of ransoming prisoners, or collecting bounties, I wouldn't be so keen at auctionning off someone to an uncertain fate. But as you mentionned, this might be a moot point and we'll have to cross that bridge when we meet it, if we do so.
Regarding climbing, I have some basic skills however experience taugh me that hasardous climbing requires one to get light, hence armor and weapons shouldn't be carried. I believe that raiding a pirate's lair without the proper weaponry sounds to me rather unwise. However, I do propose that we see for ourselves what kind of climbing there is to be done and if our friend here says it can be done, I'll gladly give it a try.
*turns toward employer*
The option of the caves sounds to me the last option, as I gather the inhabitants may not be keen to let us pass without some scuffle ? Maybe safe passage can be bough ? I'd rather like to avoid spilling the blood of one that means nothing more than defending his home.

[Ecchi_Kitty]

Having seen enough, the tabby grey feline rises, and stretches with a yawn. With a quick spring, he leap towards the bar wall, momentum holding him there a moment, long enough to redirect his fall to the back of an empty chair, and from there onto the table.

Never let it be said a cat can't make an entrace.

Weaving nimbly thru the mugs left on the table top, he pads over to the map, regarding the details a moment before taking a seat, his round blue eyes looking to Serena's in a juxtipose gaze.

[asianmommy]

To the cat "Hello, friend, I am Japhael Hallah, greetings to you."

To the table, Japhael drinks slowly from a flask.

[Ecchi_Kitty]

The cat turns his ears and then head, trilling a meow of greetings to Japhael.

Glancing back to Serena for a moment, he steps lightly onto the map, stretching out a paw to pad lightly at the place where the entrace to the caves is marked. Stepping back off the map, he crouches low, ears laid back and tail slowly twitching. Sitting up again and relaxing, he glances to the others with a soft murr.

[DrT]

Valen bend slightly to look into the cat's eyes
"what is it you know, little friend? Have you been to that place before? Or is it that extra sense you have that tells you great trouble are to be found in this place?"

[asianmommy]

Japh reaches his hand out to the feline and asks, "can you tell me?"

[Evandril]

Skivon leans close as well, examining the cat, then takes a knife, and cuts a piece of leather into pieces...which he then lables with the alphabet, and places them on the table. "Something for you to play with, see how well you can communicate" He then raises his gaze to their hostess once again "What can you tell us of the dwellers in the passage? I have some skill in persuasion of varying sorts, perhaps we could even gain allies."

[Ecchi_Kitty]

The feline slowly blinks, his head tilting slightly to the side. Whatever reaction he was expecting, this clearly isn't it.

First glanceing to Valen, he makes a rumbleing snort and shakes his head in a definate negitive.

After a curiousity sniff of Japh's hand, the cat idly brushes his head against it before turning away, making no direction objection, but not intrested in being petted at the moment.

The assorted peices of leather gather intrest, paws battng at the various bits with a mix of curiousity and idle frustration. Eventually, four pieces are carefully extracted and positioned.

S N E K

[DrT]

*Valen lifts an eyebrow at the word*

Is that your name?

[Ecchi_Kitty]

The cat snarls softly, flopping down in the middle of the leather bits for a bit of pondering and frustrated grumbeling. After a moment, he pauses, eyes narrowing, tail twitching, ears perked; an idea has firmly caught his attention.

Riseing slowly, the tabby feline begins to advace towards Skivon, a slight shimmer surrounding him, vaugely similar to a heat distortion. A sharp, greasy, electric tingle fills the air and magic begins to take form. But the feeling, and the cats step, falter as second thoughts and doubt takes hold.

The magic swirls and crackles, impacient, then swells again, lashing out not towards single individual, but towards all of you, a few stray strands drifting out yet further, touching briefly upon others within the bar.

The impresion is distinctly that of gazeing deeply into a set of pale blue eyes, though of course it's impossible for one set of eyes, even those of a cat, to stare back at so many people at once. It is not telepathy, that is a diffrent power, but it is a link of sences and minds. A new link, carefully controled, but wild and untamed, not quite like anything that has come before. The images and impressions are jumbled, chaotic, and nearly non-senceable; but, in a moment, your mind adjusts, and starts to make sence of what it receives, forming something of a story:

[Ecchi_Kitty]

Since time immortal, wizards, witches, and magic users of all sorts have used magical tools to aid their thalmaturgic works; wands and rings, spellbooks and crystal balls, potions and summoning circles. Most tools are inert objects, lumps of metal, wood and stone, with no real life of their own. But some tools do indeed live, in their own ways; infernal imps, summond from alien planes; blood born homunculus; animated golums; and simple animals, mystically enhanced. In a word, familiars.

As living, organic things, each familar is unique, but most are either wise spirits of some kind, summoned to act as guides and servants, else parts of the magic user, enhanced to act indepandantly, or finally common creaters, altered to suit a new purpose. When an animal is taken for a familar, a part of the magic uses own magic is placed within the animal, where it grows and adapts with the animals own life force, forging a mystical link between the familiar and magic user. This magic changes the animal, often making them smarter, stronger, and far most mystically aware, as well as the occasional physical change. The mystic link also acts as a bond between the magic user and familiar, sometimes letting one see thru the others eyes, or speak to each other over a distance. But more often the link is more subtle, the two shareing emotions and manners, becomeing quite similar over time.

But, if the magic user or familiar is seriously injured, or dies, the link snaps. The trauma of the death is bad enough, but the mystical backlash makes for a one-two puch that can flatten even the most powerful of wizards, and almost always kills the familiar. But not all bonds are unto death, some magic users release their familars after a time, while others may choose to pass them on, bequething a familiar to a prize apprentence perhaps. Such familiars may continue to grow with their new masters, in time becomeing rather powerful in their own right.

Imagine if you will, a young kitten, chosen for a familiar by a young lordling who has taken up the mystic arts. It's lifespan greatly extended by the magic in it's linking, the kitten slowly grows to a cat, it's own power and wisdom growning along with that of it's master. Imagine an uncommon sort of wizard, who spends his days not cooped up in a library amoung musty books, but out in the fields and woods, hunting and sporting with other lordlings. Imagine a cat, set not to lounge amoung the scrolls, but to ride with the hunt, clinging to saddleback, or running with the horses, hunting full grown deer with magical claws, growing not wise and clever, but powerful and quick.

Imagine a favored niece, just starting her own dabbeling the Arts, given not a guard dog, but a cat to protect her from whatever ills may come. Imagine a girl, grown into a young woman, clever and quick, sending a familiar cat to lurk in shadows and outside windows, hearing tidbits of Court rumor not ment to be overheard. Imagine a Duchess, mature and tired of nightly games, giving her ever spry and young cat to a favored nephew of her own, that he may enjoy the games she once relished.

Imagine a young man, over confidant in his youth, his budding mystic powers, and in a drink too many, starting a quarrel in the wrong place, with the wrong people, far from where another cold body in the gutter will be noted.

Imagine a cat, still young of body, but old of soul, grown tough and independant over years of service. Imagine a sudden lash of power, rich with youthful defiance and independance, leaveing the cat free and unbound for the first time in nearly a century. Imagine years of unfettered adventure and exploration, traveling far from home, enjoying powers and abilities long possessed, but never tested by one's own will, underscored by a deep curiousity inhertant to a cat's nature.

Thrice the magical link between a mage and a cat has been forged, but this fourth time the cat guides the link, not to a single soul, but carefully split and weakened, tenuiously connecting to the minds of several others not for a lifetime, but a few mere seconds before breaking, the power snapping back once more; no longer with deadly force, just the mild twinge of a headache.....

[Ecchi_Kitty]

((I appoligize if that's a bit much. Had the charecter idea from the start, but comming up with a way to communicate it within the framework of the game proved to be more of an obstical then I'd expected.))

[DrT]

*Valen lets his thoughs vander on the new information. After a moment a half smile forms on his lips*
Thank yo ufor the story, cat. I see you've had quite an interesting existence. However, you did forget to mention your name again...
*the last part is said in a humorous tone, casting an amused glance at the cat*

OOC: I really like that background. grats !

[asianmommy]

Japhael nods his head in acceptance.
Thank you.

[Ecchi_Kitty]

The cat makes a rolling motion of his shoulders, as close to a shrug as he's likely to come. Cats have cat names; a mix of color, scent, and pose. Human minds are unable to grasp many of the parts, let alone reproduce them, so any placeholder title understood to represent the feline in question is acceptable. Espically as humans have a habit of renameing the cat whenever whim happens to take them.

[asianmommy]

Japhael loses himself deep in thought. it has been a long time since he has done anything with a group so mixed as this. usually his kind stick to their own country and spend much time just keeping outsiders away from their inner sanctums, where the shamans and women are. Being predators they also hunt and kill their food, and are active most of the time. Japhael has been travelling though.

The feline human mixture came from the god Inestus, a cat god who lay with a human-formed goddess. Their children were known as Sher Ines (Of Inestus). They were half feline, in dexterity, facial features, and other important ways, but in many respects they were human. Their magic was limited to shamans and wizards, for few could attain that level of magic. Theirs was a skill of the body.

Japhael came to this town seeking to know the world outside of their territory, outside of Inness. He had found the people, now for the adventure.

[Evandril]

*Skivon 'listens' to the remarkable story, obviously impressed with the Cat's action. As the link begins to break, he seizes it briefly, just long enough to send a message of his own along it "Be careful using this...Some casters would find you a valuable slave" He then releases the link, with a wink to the Cat.*

"With your skills, and ability to move unnoticed, perhaps you could scout the caves for us...If you would be so inclined, of course"

[Ecchi_Kitty]

The cat yawns and stretches, needle point fangs and razor claws for an instant gleaming in the light. Padding towards the edge of the table, he notes a spare scrap of leather sticking up on the table, wiggeling a little in the currents of air. A delicate paw reaches out, lightly tapping the scrap, then playfully batting it to the side. As it approaches the edge of the table, the Cat pounces, hittign the poor scrap of leather with all four paws..... and a distinct electrical crackle that leaves little more then a sooty spot and a wisp of smoke....

Posed from his pounce, the Cat spings again, hopping lightly to the back of a chair before leaping to the wall, scrambeling a moment to leap again up to the rafters of the bar, hesitateing a moment to steady himself and look down at all of you before quickly moving along the aged timber, swiftly blending with the flickering shadows, the occasional hint of movement the only signs of his passage.

"Mmraow?"

The inquisitive call brings attention back down to the table.... where the Cat sits calmly, idly peering towards the rafters himself, as if to inquire what you've been looking at.....

His demonstration of combat ability, quickness, stealth, and misdirection apparently finished, his paw once again taps the maps symbol for the entrance to the caves, making clear his own recomendation for a course of action before once more setteling off to the side to watch and listen.

[asianmommy]

"i believe we should follow the advice of this feline." Japhael nods, bringing his attention back to the table.

[Sunder]

"Damn it!"

The outcry is followed by a series of thumps. Loud thumps. A lot of them, that end with a tangle of arms and legs at the bottom of a set of stairs towards the back of the room.

What straightens out of the mess, brushing himself off, is a man of average height - about five feet and eleven inches at most - dressed in silver buckled black leather. The vest is currently unstrapped and open at the chest, revealing a white linen shirt, and the leggings are strapped with five or six buckled straps about his thighs and calves. He makes a faint clinking sound as he dusts down his arms and legs.

He looks up, apparently a little embaressed, and clears his throat. His eyes are gold; not gold as the metal, but in the almost caramel yellow colour that is rare but not unheard of amongst humans, and his raven hair is tied back in a pony-tail that reaches to just between his shoulders. He has a neatly trimmed vandyke beard - also black - and fine, almost feminine lips.

The barmaid stops next to him as she does her rounds, and whispers something quietly to him. Though he doesn't appear to be paying much attention - he seems rather more interested in her abundant cleavage - he nods, pats her in a somewhat familiar manner on the rump and moves forward confidently to the strange assortment of beings.

"I hear you're looking for a few people with more courage than sense. The name's Stowe, and I could very well be interested in whatever you're planning."