ChaoZ: A Royal pain in the elves.

[Roltharus]

"You're no fun." Rol prepped himself to dodge the spear, he didn't want to solidify the shadows while the orc had red ki on his hands as he'd undoubtedly be able to tear them off. The bounty hunter hoped their be enough time between red ki uses for him to do as he planned.

[Jex Cahill]

Jex moved his head to the left and squeezed harder, bearhugging the lady.


"Hey, hey. No fists, only love, now."

He continued releasing ice magic. The floor beneath him started freezing from the magic leaving his body.

[Kiro Cloudwatcher]

The orc threw the makeshift spear. It nearly hit Rol but thanks to the darkness the aim was slightly off and it drilled halfway through the wall instead. The Orc roared with frustration giving Rol a chance to start choking him.

As soon as he noticed the shadow hands squeezing his throat he began to struggle against it. The Orc's immense strength strained the shadows and made it far from easy to hold him down.



The elf screamed again as the cold seared her skin. But she showed no signs of stopping. "How about biting?" She answered before removing the bandana in front of her mouth. Revealing what it had been hidding, the right side of her lower jaw was made out of a shiny black metal. The metal covered her neck and went all the way to her shoulder, maybe even all the way to her metal hand. She leaned in and bit into his shoulder, hard.

[Jex Cahill]

Jex steeled himself, ready for the bite. He knew it was gonna hurt like a truck but the closer she was to him the easier it would be to break her metal.


"Ignis!"

Suddenly, the magic changed. The temperature rose and heated up at an alarming rate. The ice on the floor quickly disappeared. Jex knew the metal wouldn't be damaged by that alone but he felt around and tried to inflict pain on where she had skin to get her bite off. If it goes well, the metal would heat and he would recast his ice spell, turning the magic cold once more, hopefully making the metal brittle.

[Roltharus]

Rol struggled with his shadows trying to keep the orc down. "Please stop being a nuisance, I would greatly appreciate you complying with my attempt to injure you, thank you." The bounty hunter tried to focus more attention on applying pressure to the orc's neck, but the constant struggle made the added pressure slight, if even there at all.


"Seriously man, I can't do anything but this unless you stop moving around, pretty please? With a cherry on top?" 

[Kiro Cloudwatcher]

The sudden dramatic change of temperature caused the cyborg elf release her bite and scream even louder. But it also unfroze her metal hand from Jex's staff. Allowing her to release her grip on it.
Before Jex could switch back to magic she used her newfound bit of freedom to push herself away by a few inches and kneeing him in the balls.
The pain causes Jex's grip to slip and the elf breaks free. She jumps back, away from Jex and falls to her knee. The wounds on her back seem to cause a lot of pain. But so does the bite on Jex's shoulder, it appears to be bleeding.

She growls. "Kill them!" She shouts.

The people that had been watching from the sidelines respond immediatly and rush into the fight. Eleven of them surround Jex. Five others jump down the hole and charg at Rol. Four more position themselves around the hole and point their guns at him.

The Orc roars, still trying to break free. His muscles grow and a faint red glow of Ki radiates from him. The Shadows start to tear.

The only ones not fighting now are Fluffy and the lady who is curled up on the floor still. And that other guy Jex knocked out earlier.

(This might be a good place for your new character to make their entrance, Jex.)

[Jex Cahill]

He held the card between the last joints of his middle and index finger. Flicking his index up, the card flipped over and caught itself under his ring finger. He brought it down, trapping it now between his middle finger and his ring finger. He did it once again, but flicked the card the other way this time. Repeatedly until the card was a blur on his knuckles. It danced over his hand cleanly and smoothly. His other hand clenched the old, broken couch he had nested himself in just moments ago. It was dark but a few poorly boarded windows allowed enough light to show his features. Short, dark hair, olive skin tormented by the dust and grime of the city. He was slim and short, about 5'9". He wore dark brown pants and a dirty white unbuttoned shirt rested on his shoulders. A strap wound itself around him and ended in an open pouch, revealing more cards.

"King."

A voice called from the shadows, he continued the fluttering of his card.

"Syndicate is in our home."



He flinched and the card flicked away from him. It floated down to the ground a few feet in front of him. He stood up and started walking. He could hear it now, the crashing and gunshots. Oh how distracted he could be. A woman opened the door for him and he smiled.

"Thanks, darling."

The card shone face up on the floor, a king of diamonds sat in it's frame. A mad smile and a small dagger in it's hand rather than the axe. Scribbled on the corner of the card in the white border, "Ex Nihilo Nihil Fit". Nothing comes from nothing.

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Jex groaned in pain and put his hand on his shoulder to apply pressure to the wound. It had caused more damage than he expected. He looked around at the henchmen surrounding him. He'd say something had his shoulder not been in this much pain. Taking a grasp with his staff he tried to cast a spell but he shuddered as the goons moved towards him.

"Fuck this."

Before Jex could try anything a wisp in the wind rang by and struck the ground beside his head. Before he could turn to check what it was a bright light emitted from it, urging Jex to turn his head away to protect his eyes.

-------------------------------------------------------

The man stood atop the nearby building and jumped down once the light card was activated. Five of his people stood beside him when he landed. Of them, 4 ran towards Rol, weapons sheathed to help him. One of the four was an orc. Though he was not as big as the other, his muscles were much more defined and he seemed to move at a much faster pace.

"King" fanned his hands out, four cards appearing in each hand. He swung his arms, throwing each steel-tipped set towards the men attacking Jex. His other companion ran forward, an elf, and unsheathed her daggers to attack whoever stood after his attack. The man turned his attention to the woman made of armor. He could recognize that arm anywhere. He ran towards her, flicking his finger. Another card appeared and he threw it at her. This one, however, seemed different. It didn't gather momentum from spinning in the air as his magic pushed it forward. The rune on the card sparked alight and he snapped his fingers. Ice magic burst from the card, towards the lady in the form of icicles hurtling towards her.

[Roltharus]

After a tear in his Shadows and a bright flash of light Rol had assumed the worst. 

"I died, I was killed by an large angry orc who glows red, just like my horoscope said." 

Of course, the bounty hunter was fine. Dramatic, but undoubtedly alive. Once he placed himself back in reality, as firmly as he could he noticed four figures heading towards him. Reinforcements undoubted, whose? Rol didn't have a clue.  

"I come in peace, take me to your leader?" The bounty hunter said, distracted from his orignal opponent.

[Kiro Cloudwatcher]

Innitially blinded by the flash the four men standing near the hole regained their sight in time to aim their guns at the four newcomers, including the orc.
The five men three men and two women that were already down in the hole had been looking away from the flash. The two women went to help the giant orc with the shadows. The three men charged straight at the bounty hunter.
All three of them armed with a sword.


The eleven standing around Jex had been completely blinded and couldn't dodge the steel tipped cards. Only three of them were not hit because there weren't enough cards. One of them ran.
The elf took one of them down before he could react. The last one managed to evade her attack. And as soon as he regained his sight he countered with his whip.


The cyborg elf threw herself to the side in an attempt to evade the icicles. But the wounds on her back and the still hot metal made her flinch and hit the ground with her face.
She pushed herself into the air and landed back on her feet. "Ugh, you again. When are you gonna learn that WE own this town. You have no place here!"  She said as she straightened her mohawk back up.
While on the ground she had sneakily picked up a gun one of the knocked out thugs dropped. She aimed it at "King".

[Jex Cahill]

The man flicked a card into the air, it spun in front of him for a few moments and then started spinning around him. A green rune lit up, leaving a trail of magic behind it as it circled him. The card should deflect any single projectile from hitting him directly.


"You've made a mistake, dear." 

He ran up, fanning four steel cards, two to each hand, and threw them at the lady. While she was distracted dealing with those he charged forward, prepared for hand to hand combat.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jex couldn't focus. The pain coming from his shoulder was starting to become unbearable. He clutched Daniel.


"Help, I need you to heal me. Give me something."


He grasped his shoulder with his other hand. He could feel the blood seeping from his limb.

[Roltharus]

"So many people." Rol tossed an explosive at the a little ahead feet of the men charging at him, activating it. "That's where my no-no square begins, don't enter it."

He eye'd the Orc realizing they'd be out of his shadows even faster now. "God damn it."

[Kiro Cloudwatcher]

The cyborg elf grabbed the steel cards with her metal hand and used her momentum to swing around and throw them back. She then took her shot, the bullet went faster than the cards and hit the defense card first, being deflected by it.


(I'm not sure if you meant for it to just deflect the first thing that hits it or if it can take multiple hits. So I'm not sure what happens with the steel cards.)

She then dashed forward.


Meanwhile King's elf companion had been caught by the other guys whip. She slashed right through it with one of her dagger and threw her other one right between his eyes.


The orc flashed by the men with guns. He punched one of them in the face, took his gun and shot him with it before discarding the gun. His buddies had taken care of the other three.


Below them the explosive went off, taking out the three men.

The orc and his companions jumped down the hole to give Rol a hand. Just as the giant orc breaks free from his shadow bonds with a shockwave of red ki that nearly knocks Rol and the smaller Orc on their asses.
The two women that were helping the orc were knocked out by it.

The Giant orc wasted no time charging at Rol and the others. The small orc and his companions prepared to engage the giant.



Back upstairs Danielle started healing Jex. The bleeding stopped. "Sorry! The GM forgot about me. I think I slipped into standby mode or something."

[Jex Cahill]

(I suppose it depends on how strong the thing that hits it is. I'd say 5 of Jex's light arrows is a good gauge of strength.)

King smiled as his protector card deflected the bullet. He dodged to the left, evading three metal cards and allowing his protector card to block the two off. He burst forward, trying to fight her closer. He threw a punch with his right hand to her face, following his momentum up with a reverse round house kick from the same direction. Still spinning, he lowered his body for the kick, a card slipped from under his sleeve.

The rune on the card glowed blue, signifying there was enough of his magic in it. He tried to slap it on her metal parts as the lightning magic would be more effective.

--------------------------------------------------------

Jex rose from the ground slowly. His shoulder already felt much better now thanks to Daniel. He quickly took scope of his surroundings and tried to analyze what just happened. He looked down at where he was lying down a few moments ago and picked up the card that was embedded into the ground. It smoked and was hot to the touch. Jex used his ice magic on his fingers to negate the heat and inspected it. The face of the card was blank but the back of it had an intricate design that consisted of 2 crows flying away from a crown situated in the middle of the card.

Jex put the card in his pocket and looked towards the woman as a figure fought with her hand to hand. Confused who this help was, he shrugged and decided any help was good enough. However, he wished to help as well. He couldn't find an opening to but readied himself just in case the opportunity presented itself.

[Roltharus]

Rol lost his balance when he was hit by the red ki, but managed to keep himself from falling down. Only to find a large Orc barreling towards him. "Maybe I should have fell down." 


The bounty hunter became aware of the people around him, not attacking him. "Woah, are these friendlies? I sure hope so." He sent his Shadows towards the Orc's feet, if holding him down didn't work, maybe tripping would.

[Kiro Cloudwatcher]

The Cyborg-elf blocks King's punch with her normal arm and twists her body around. She catches his leg and stops the kick with her metal arm. She rotates all the way back around holding his leg in a strong grip.
This brings him off balance but he still manages to use the card. The lightning magic runs through the metal arm and shocks the cyborg and King at the same time.
They both fall to the ground.

Danielle's voice rings through Jex's mind. "Now's your chance, before she gets back up. Also, why do you keep calling me Daniel? I wasn't aware I switched genders.. Wait do I even have a gender?.. My statue was female but now I'm just a bundle of Mana in a staff. Does that count as a gender? I'm confused."


Meanwhile down in the basement the orc has no way of seeing the shadows and trips over them. Slamming down hard on the floor. The other orc and his companions jump on the fallen giant hoping to finish him off before he gets back up.

[Jex Cahill]

King cringed at the pain and fell to the ground. He looked at the mage on the ground as they rose up. He wasn't sure if they were friendly, unsheathing a shield card once more just in case he attacked him. 

-----------------------------------------------------------

Jex nodded and took aim, he pointed the staff directly at the elven lady.


"Sagitta Magica! Series Glacie!"

An ice arrow created itself and flew straight, whistling in the air. Jex took note of the man who'd presumably saved him. He was unsure as to who it was. Perhaps someone he'd known from before?

[Roltharus]

"Do I assume you guys are those ironically murderer-y good guys?" Rol asked the people trying to finish of the orc. "Or am I wrong on either part? Both maybe? Anyone wanna talk? I get lonely."

[Kiro Cloudwatcher]

The cyborg-elf is stunned and unable to react to the ice arrow. She was knocked out cold.
(Or dead if the ice arrow is the kind that impales people?)

---

"There are no 'good guys' in this city. There's only the evil people who run this place and the desperate people who do what they need to do to survive." The smaller orc says before slitting the giant orc's throat.


(Unless King doesn't allow his crew to kill. In which case, oops? )

The orc and the other three head back upstairs. They and the female elf (the one on Kings crew) regroup around their leader.

The other woman who was still curled up to the ground looked at Fluffy who was still stuck in the net next to her. "Is it over?"
The manticore tilted his head, he wasn't sure.

[Jex Cahill]

(It is allowed.)

King looked at his dirty clothes and smirked. He looked towards the mage that sat a few feet away, staring at him. He could sense the intense magic coming form his body and it made him wonder how he even came to the predicament he was in, in the first place. The man, he assumed, probably didn't want to cause too much damage in the city, or call too much attention. He walked towards him and took his hand, shaking it.

"Corvo."

"Jex."

They game a firm shake and let go. Jex felt the magic that covered Corvo's hand. Corvo urged Jex to follow him towards the larger group, gesturing the elf lady to follow. 


"And where are you two chaps from?"

Jex looked around, hesitantly before answering. He explained that they were tourists, looking for a place to stay and they were led here by a young boy. Corvo nodded and looked at Rol, the back to Jex. 

"I've got a place for you to stay if you still need it."

Jex frowned. Who was this guy? Why was he being so hospitable? He was suspicious. They'd already helped him once, why again?


"That's alright, you've already helped us enough."

"Oh no, no. I don't think you understand. Both of you owe me for saving your asses back there. And I can tell you guys have some hit in you. I need you to pay me back."

Corvo flipped a card into the air and caught it with his hand. The light glinting off of the metal edge.


"And I always get my money back, one way or another."

[Roltharus]

"Ooh boy an edgelord. I bet your boss is just as bad." Rol sighed, looking away as the Giant orc's throat was slit. "Goodnight.. Sweet prince." He said, in a whisper before heading back up to the main floor, straight to Fluffy and the remaining member of the ambushers troop.


"How ya doing Fluffy?" The bounty hunter pet the manticore while listening to Jex and Corvo's exchange and Corvo's following threat.

"What a dick, 'i offered my unwarranted or requested services and expect to be paid back thank you.' Is he gonna make us help with his bootleg boozing or making some of his rivals sleep with the fishes? Capiche?"

[Kiro Cloudwatcher]

(Which elf lady is being gestured to to follow? Schrödinger's cyborg, King's crewmember that helped him fight, or the one curled up on the ground next to fluffy? The last one makes the most sense but in a city full of elves you might wanna be a bit more specific. lol- I'll assume you meant that one until you confirm or say otherwise. )


The Elf lady uncurls herself and gets back on her feet. She dusts herself off and retrieves her axes before safely putting them away. She looks at Rol and Fluffy. "I bet he'd feel better without the fishing net." She pointed out the net that Fluffy was still trapped in. She then helped Rol free the Manticore.


She also listened to the convo between Corvo and Jex-o while combing her short hair after it got messed up earlier. "Eh, I'm just glad to be alive after my boss fired me.. or rather fired at me. In this city those two are usually the same thing." She paused before looking at Rol.
"Did I thank you for the whole not letting me die thing? If not then, thanks man. If I already did then ignore the last two sentences."


"Whatever he's making us do it's probably better than my last job." She followed Rol, Jex and Fluffy.


Meanwhile Riaden, the valiant leader of this quest, had disappeared.. again.

[Jex Cahill]

Corvo smiled, looking at the lady. He supposed she was with these two, then. He started walking, urging everyone to follow him. 


"Yes! I'm glad someone understands. To receive, you must give, correct?"

He smiled and urged everyone to follow him outside. He continued flipping his card between his fingers. He walked, and Jex followed. The mage was hesitant but at the same time Corvo was correct. Him and Rol did owe him for saving them back there. He could have handled it had he not risked endangering civilians, and it almost came to that point. Thanks to this man, no one was unnecessarily hurt.

"So, it's simple really. I just need you kids to help me bust my friends out of prison."

Corvo said blatantly. To him, this was normal child's play. Jex however, furrowed his eyebrows and took a step back. He started to lift his staff when Corvo held his card up, prepared to throw.


"Oh calm down. They were wrongfully accused... Well, technically."

Corvo laughed and turned away from Jex.


"Long story short, the government is corrupt, yada yada, we're freedom fighters, yada yada, they took us in for 'disturbing the peace', yada yada, I got out, my friends are still in."

Corvo looked at Jex dead in the eyes, his smile gone now. His tone was serious.


"I need you to pay me back, Jex."

Jex's eyes shifted to find Rol and wondered what he should say.

[Roltharus]

"Fishing net? I thought this was a fashion accessory." He said, getting the manticore out of the net.

Rol 'listened' to Corvo's request, he rolled his eyes. Nodding to show acknowledgement to the Elf ladies input before noticing Jex's eyes on him. 

"Don't look at me bud, I feel I owe the kid who led us into the trap more than this jag. But that's me and I'm crazy. As per usual, your call." The bounty hunter said, realizing it was actually Riaden's call, then realizing Riaden wasn't there, so that tangent opf thought wasn't required.

[Kiro Cloudwatcher]

Fluffy stretches himself once the net is removed. He cleans his fur before following the others.


"Yuck, the prison. That's the last place I wanted to see again." The elf lady said. The thought of being in that place again sent shivers down her spine. "Buuut as long as we don't get locked up it won't be that bad. Maybe I'll even get to have some revenge against that fat ass guard. If he hasn't died of a heart attack yet." She shrugged before leaning down and petting Fluffy. The thought of revenge put a grin on her face. "I'm in."


Meanwhile on a nearby rooftop Riaden was watching them. The rain made it hard to listen in but he got the gist of the conversation. Corvo was either telling the truth or he was a very skilled liar. Either way he didn't seem to be an immediate threat. Riaden decided against intervening for now. He followed them, completely unnoticed.

[Jex Cahill]

Jex looked away from Rol and nodded. Corvo didn't seem like a bad person, and even if he was, Jex was sure him and Rol could take him down. But at the same time, he wasn't sure how many more crew mates this person had, nor how much power he actually held.

"Lead the way."

Corvo smiled and turned. He walked, more briskly.

"Alright, well, first thing's first let's get you some fake identification. See, where we're at is the Pertus District, the harbor. This is where the workers go. The prison is East, the Lapus District. That district -"

He paused laughed for a bit. In his fit, he noticed a shadow move across the rooftop. Before he could focus, it was long gone. He was somewhat worried, however, so he gestured the elf with the whip to go investigate.

"That's Lady Golden Hands territory. They call her the master thief. Amazing crew really, admirable."

Corvo could taste the sarcasm in his mouth when he decided he should get back to business.


"Her whole crew is filled with thieves, robbers, and cons. If we're lucky they'll be fighting the Syndicate, Alvern's crew, who were the ones who ambushed you, and we won't have to deal with them."

Corvo turned down an alleyway and looked around before facing a bare wall. 

"Syndicate works in the shadows."

He pulled out a card from his pocket and put it on the wall. White light emitted from the card as it stuck onto the wall and a door revealed itself.

"We work... Well, wherever's darker than a shadow."

Corvo smiled and walked through the door, gesturing everyone to follow.

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