Thread: Unlikely Saviors [-:Haru|Luana:-]

It was well known in Skali that the local Thieve's Guild took a high interest in matters that involved the Watchful Eye. As one of the few public Guilds that was well known and actually delved into the Old Magic, the Watchful Eye was typically a high priority for rogues and spies. Of course they took great care for the most part, but every organization has their weaknesses and the fact that they were so concerned with demonic entities meant that many member of the Watchful Eye overlooked the devious nature of their fellow humans. So it was that the Thieve's Guild in Skali had a special branch that specifically watched the Eye. The Masked. The true identities of The Masked are unknown, even by the other members of this special branch, and thus they act with anonymity and in deep secrecy. As Kion walked into the Watchful Eye Guildhouse, no, even as he entered the city of Skali itself, his presence was known by the Masked. It was a simple thing, to watch the White Lion as he made his way along the city streets. Though they could have had scouts along the rooftops, that was far too conspicuous, and yet they quickly found that they were not the only ones watching. The small form of the gnome slipped over the rooftops, and the Masked that saw her swiftly called for assistance. Soon, a trio of Masked had converged, one trailing the White Lion and two moving after the small rooftop-hopping gnome. What exactly had been said and done within the Watchful Eye Guildhouse made little difference as they continued to follow behind the gnome as she inturn followed the lion. The district of the city in which they soon found themselves was rife with rogues and cutthroats. This would work well to their advantage, and the trio met close to the Leaping Fish, simply waiting. The White Lion had moved inside, and though none of them had seen the entrance of the gnome, they certainly saw her speedy egress. Taking to the rooftops once more, the two that had followed her from the Watchful Eye also followed now, the last staying back as the White Lion exited the tavern, quite irate. Soon the pneumafera was followed as well. ---------- As Tika would exit her semi-permanent home, the little gnome was watched, assessed and then followed. The White Lion was far behind, the trio of Masked communicating over their orbal earpieces. The one following the lion moved past that target, reconvening with the other two as they now concentrated on the gnome. She had taken something, though exactly what it was was unknown. That was soon to change. Waiting for a time where the little gnome headed toward a main avenue, one of the Masked dropped into the alleyway in front of her. Wel 'ello there moppet. he said, and held out a hand to her. I jes' be wantin' whut ye took fr'm th'lion. No need t'get in a muck. he said. As he finished speaking, another figure dropped into the alleyway just behind her by about ten paces. This one did not speak and in fact already had a weapon drawn. The threat and intent were clear. 'And it ov'r moppet. the first one said, taking a few steps closer. ---------- Kion was able to follow by scent, and soon figured out the devious pathways that the little.... whatever.... had taken. Using the rooftops, the small being obviously didn't want to get trampled on the streets, and Kion smiled to himself. Clever. Still, whomever it was did not count on several aspects of his kind, namely their sense of smell. There was always a little wisp of of a scent that accompanied the smell of the Feywine, and Kion had to thank his luck that the envelope had been soaked in such a strong spirit. Speeding up his pace, the lion moved confidently along the streets, intent on getting back what was his. Tika's little feet skittered to a halt when the masked figure dropped down from the roofs. Her heart gave a painful thud. She knew exactly who he was. Well not exactly. He was a Mask. Ice raced through her guts. If any of the guilds she never wanted to tangle with them. She back up a step as he spoke, clutching her right pocket where the orb rested. Just as she turned to run another dropped down. This one was silent, a full faced mask of white, and had his weapon drawn. She was in a heap now but she wasn't about to give up her orb. Just some dumb letters, she said to stall for time. The one with a half mask just chuckled as he advanced another step. Tika backed up but knew of the other Mask. She could only back away so far before meeting the point of that weapon. 'Ere now moppet. Gives us th'pack and be on our way we will. Eh? Tika glared at the man. She only had a small chance but she had to take it. Assuming her hook would support the extra weight. Over my dead body! She shouted. Running back towards the one with the weapon she shot her hook. With a jump she flew into the air. The cord rippled back into its spring loaded gun, yanking her to the rooftops. A loud thud and crack issues from the gun. She jerked to a stop and dangled three feet over the Masks' heads. No! She snarled at her hook. The ill spoken man chuckled darkly. He was just tall enough to grab her ankle. Tika squirmed and kicked, screaming every profanity she could think of at the top of her lungs. She clung on valiantly with both hands and the man tugged on her ankle. A pop told her he pulled something out of place as fire raced across her ankle and up her leg. She cried out in pain yet still clung on, trying to get the cord to retract more. He yanked harder and she screamed in pain again, hands slipping. The last Masked stayed upon the rooftops, shadowing the lion below, and staying in constant contact with their counterparts. Who by now had cornered a small female gnome. Seemed she wasn't going along quietly though, and in fact, as they watched from the rooftops, the ears of the lion twitched and he set off at a quicker pace. Long powerful legs ate up ground easily, and he wasn't even running. The Masked on the roofs soon heard it as well, the cry of pain from a female, and the Lion was heading right for it. Amazed at his speed, the Masked on the roof hurried her own pace, but a loose roofing tile slipped out from under her foot, clattering down the roof and flying off the edge t crash to the ground, shattering. A soft growl from the lion as he peered over his shoulder. Though she'd managed to hide behind a chimney, the lion likely knew of her presence at least, but she'd still rather strike from the dark - if she even had to strike at all. Kion had heard the footsteps on the nearby roof as the person had hurried to keep up, and he praised their stealth. Were it not for that tile he might not have suspected a presence, but now he was sure something was going on. The double-bladed axe was pulled from his back as the cries of pain grew near, and Kion broke into a full run, those powerful legs that had been eating up ground now devouring it. As the lion came barreling around a particular corner he was greeted with an odd sight. A long tether line connected to a high point of a building across the way, at the end of that line, a small female form - the one crying in pain. Holding onto her leg was a man, darkly clad and masked, and closest to Kion, another man - lighter dressed but also masked. Even without knowing the full situation, the two frown men assaulting a female set Kion's nerves on edge. Were she apparently holding her own he might not have bothered. Or even if she had been a human size. But as it was she appeared almost as a child. The pnuemafera had to give it to the man closest to him. He was fast, and even with Kion bearing down on him, he did not falter or hesitate, and the white lion found a series of daggers hurled in his direction as the man swiftly moved to the side. The blades were not in a single file, and filled a pattern in the air making it difficult for Kion to dodge them all. Perhaps under different circumstances he might have been able to leap over them, but he was moving far too fast and the confines of the alley did not help either, so Kion ducked and slipped to one side, a sharp sting in his side as one found its mark, and then he was upon the white-masked man. The darkly clad man holding onto the little gnome's ankle gave a wrench, snarling as he did so. He seemed to take a certain sadistic pride in that move, hoping that even if she managed to get away she'd be in poor shape to move quickly. However, he did let go, and draw his own blades as the lion engaged his brother-in-arms. Then, across the way, the very building that Tika was anchored to, the last Masked finally caught up, her blade glinting dully in the moonlight as she observed, a thin smile under her mask and unable to be seen as she watched the scene not far away, her fingers strumming along the anchor line of the little gnome.