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PostPosted: March 8th, 2007, 12:01 am 
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As the side of the mountain finally opened up, Kjan guided the loaded wagon slowly through the entrance, giving Belnarr a slight nod as they passed by. He'd always found the dwarf to at least be fairly tolerable, even if they'd never quite gotten along since the Incident. How he was supposed to have known that dwarves did not, in fact, enjoy large amounts chili pepper distributed liberally throughout their meal was beyond him, but nonetheless, relations had been a bit strained since. But despite the rockiness of their relationship -no pun intended- they'd both learned to coexist in relative peace.

They made their way through several wide, winding corridors until at last the tunnel expanded into a more cavernous space. "Welcome, one and all," Kjan announced with false cheer as he continued to steer the wagon. He turned around to flash his passengers a slightly strained version of his usual lopsided grin before facing forward again and sweeping his arm expansively. "You are now inside the Earth's Teeth, or as we like to call it, the Phantom's Layer. You will all be relatively safe from the Regent and his men here-- or at least, as safe as you can be with those pigs still in power. Anyway, we strive to be as self-sustaining of a community as possible, and as such, we require that everyone earns his or her keep. Doesn't matter what you're doing, as long as you're benefitting the community and not slacking off. If you do not find this arrangement to be satisfactory, please speak up now....Come now, don't be shy. We'd hate for anyone to be discontent here, and I'll personally see to escorting any who so desire right back to the town. In fact, I'll even be so kind as to put you right back in the cell in which I found you, with no one the wiser....No takers? Excellent."

Kjan finally drew the wagon to a halt and climbed down to unhitch the horses. "Take these fine animals to the stables," he told a passing boy in his early teens, handing him the horses' reins. "And see to it that they're well taken care of. They've been through quite a lot for one day." He turned back to the escaped prisoners -who had wasted no time in emptying the crowded back of the wagon- and was about to speak when he was abruptly cut off.

"Kjan!" a voice called out, slicing through the air like a knife.

Kjan winced visibly before turning to address the speaker. "Your Highness," he said with as big of a grin as he could muster, bowing graciously.

A woman -young, by the looks of it- with raven black hair and piercing violet eyes came into view, arms folded across her chest. "Where is the Phantom?" she inquired, not wasting time with formalities. "I need to speak with him."

"Ah...about that..." Kjan began hesitantly, glancing at the new arrivals. "Friends, I'm afraid that I must leave you in the ever-capable hands of Threng for the time being. We have many important matters to discuss. Jais, you're coming too."


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PostPosted: March 8th, 2007, 12:35 pm 
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Nataniel, despite the pretty women and barrels of what looked to be a very tempting liquid, had a pressing thought on his mind, and couldn't be diverted. After pocketing a few pretty things that screamed his name, smoothing his hair back, and straightening his clothes, he sauntered over to Kjan, who looked as if he was planning something. Bloody plans. They never worked anyhow.

Now what to tell 'em? I could jus' say, "Hello, you're little community is nice haven for pig farmers and blacksmithies, but I got more important business to tend to; so thanks for saving my skin and all - ta!" But that don't hardly sound grateful. And then they'd ask the nature of my business. And then I'd say, oh, just business. And then they'd know I was hidin' something. And eventually it'd come out that I was plannin' to betray them. And then- I doubt they'd be all smiles.

Fpr a moment, he stood behind Kjan as if he was savoring a thought, or pondering one - but who could tell? With two bold fingers, he tapped the man on the back, nodding benevolently towards him.

"I gave it some thoughts," he slurred, blinking slightly, "And I want to be escorted back to town."

Noticing Kjan's shocked look, he realized this might have not been the best time to tell him, and the wording was all wrong.

"I gave it MANY thoughts," he said, quicker and louder, "An' I'll escort myself back to town?"

Curses. The wording was still all wrong.

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PostPosted: March 8th, 2007, 1:26 pm 
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Kalianna dressed quickly as she hear the sound of a horse drawn wagon pull into the entryway. She pulled her curly blond hair back quickly and stepped out of her room. She hoped that the phantom had arived as well, but she didn't see him when she came to the top of the stairs.

Kalianna could wiat no longer and hurried out to where the dwarves were taking care of the new arrivales that had been brought from the village. She spoted Kjan, one of the Phantoms many spys and walked over to him. "Has the Phantom not arrived yet? And I will need an acruate count of everyone that is going to stay." SHe said taking note of the man that had professed that he wanted to go back to the village he had just been rescued from.

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PostPosted: March 8th, 2007, 5:00 pm 
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Ash and his group of freed prisoners came through the tunnel a bit later. The group looked around in awe as they walked, bumping against each other.

"Welcome," Ash said, his voice echoing in the open space. "to the Earth's Teeth. In that direction you'll find someone who can take those shackles off of you." he pointed. "After that's done, talk to just about anybody and they can tell you what to do next. "

The group filed off, rather hesitantly, and Ash strode off in a different direction, hoping to find some food and a bath.


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PostPosted: March 8th, 2007, 5:50 pm 
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Witch_King_of_Angmar wrote:
Cato stopped the horse and seemed to think a little. He said "We are going to the capital." and immediately took off with the horse to the capital of the kingdom.


"Wait. What? The captital. Why?" Elizabeth asked, holding on tighter when the horse went faster...

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PostPosted: March 8th, 2007, 7:19 pm 
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The rider simply said "Something has changed, I felt it in the air."


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PostPosted: March 8th, 2007, 7:34 pm 
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Elizabeth was just about to reply, but decided not to, and instead kept quiet. Though she was a little nervous, since the capital village was the village she had just fled. Maybe there was no reason to flee in the first place, she thought, better safe then sorry. Of course, how do I know it's safe to trust this stranger?
Sighing, she watched the senery flash by...

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PostPosted: March 8th, 2007, 10:40 pm 
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The expression Threng made was about as close as anyone could get to shooting daggers with naught but a gaze. He wished he could have actually produced flying cuttlery with his eyes; it would have been such a useful trick as an assasin, but that was a talent that he did not possess.
"If this discussion is to be about the Phanom, I wish to be included." He stated. "I am as much his agent as you are"


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PostPosted: March 9th, 2007, 7:46 pm 
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This girl may get more than she's prepared for.... thought Cato. He noticed milestones marking the coming capital. He said to Elizabeth "Have you ever been to the capital?"


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PostPosted: March 9th, 2007, 7:56 pm 
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"Yes I have. I used to work in the local Pub as a barmaid," Elizabeth said, "why?"

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PostPosted: March 9th, 2007, 8:02 pm 
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"Oh, just a question.....the capital has been renovated much over the years and is much more splendid. Almost a monument to order," Cato said while he moved the horse along.


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PostPosted: March 9th, 2007, 8:18 pm 
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"I was there earlier today. It was a massecer(sp?). There was going to be a hanging, but the Phantom Grey had shown up, and saved the people who to be hanged." Elizabeth said, now looked at the horse they were riding.(um... what does the horse look like?)

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PostPosted: March 9th, 2007, 9:12 pm 
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OoC.black, large

Cato said to her "Hmmmm......do you know if the Phantom was captured?"


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PostPosted: March 9th, 2007, 9:34 pm 
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The place reeked strongly of urine and blood reminiscent of torture chambers. The stone walls and bars of the dreary cell seemed to close in on him from all sides. Maggots were beginning to infest the stale bread the guards had brought in only that morning.

Cirron had been here far too long.

He was a herbalist by trade, brewing potions and remedies in the city apothecary. But the guards had run rampant of late - something concerning the legendary Phantom Grey - and sales had rapidly rocketed in the wrong direction. Ridiculous taxes and house searches were only to name a few. The Regent was waxing paranoid, terrified of this titular figure that could very well be the downfall of his tyranny. Cirron had erred in his recklessness. He'd thrown in with dangerous denizens of the kingdom's black market, simply to feed his wife and two daughters.

And look where it landed him.

Running a hand through his graying sandy hair, he slumped back against the cell wall. The cell next to his grated open, and the guards unceremoniously tossed in a gray-cloaked form. Another good man driven to desperation by the Regent's madness? he couldn't help but wonder. These days, the dungeons were teeming more with innocuous albeit destitute citizens rather than true criminals.

----------

Jais scrambled along after Kjan. Not that he had a choice. The Cook with Questionable Skill (CQS) could have quite a temperament, especially concerning insubordination - a word that Jais had yet to add to his list of sins. After all, he was only the most charming and intelligent bachelor in all of Earth's Teeth. That said, he ducked into a perfect bow for the benefit of the beautiful lady who'd just sashayed in. Midway through his bowing however, he bumped into a stout figure, who proceeded to glare up at him in high dudgeon.

"What?" Jais asked innocently.

Belnarr extended a weathered hand. Cue the expectant look. Oh, and the clearing of the throat.

... all of which had no effect on the charming and intelligent bachelor in question, who was staring blankly at the outstretched hand. "You have dry palms?" he essayed hopefully.

Belnarr slapped a hand to his forehead. "The money, lad, the money!" he exploded. "I don't take bribes for nothin', ye know!"

"You do have dry palms!" replied Jais in quick delight. Turning to Kjan and the others, he asked politely, "May I leave for a moment? I have some lotion in my private quarters that just may be the salvation of this poor - "

The next thing he knew, an unpleasantly familiar fist with a certain dry palm was rushing at his face.

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PostPosted: March 10th, 2007, 1:50 am 
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Silvryn merely stared at Ranulf for a moment before returning her attention to the man in front of her. "Kjan, where is the Phantom?" she repeated insistently. "It is imperative that I speak with him."

Kjan looked around at each speaker, seemingly bewildered by the barrage of questions. He sighed and ran a tired hand over his eyes. He didn't want to be the leader. He really didn't. Leading was the Phantoms' job; Kjan was perfectly content to forever retain the appearance of the clueless-but-loveable sidekick.

"...I didn't invite any of you," he finally muttered before turning to address each one in order. "Mister Trovoglyst- as I already stated, we would be more than happy to provide transportation back to the capitol. We'll even put you right back in your cozy little cell. Otherwise, I'm afraid we can't allow you to leave at this time. Too many security risks, y'know? And Kaliana, I was about to ask the same of you. We were separated and never met up, and I was hoping he'd beat us back. No word from him, then? No? That does complicate things a bit more. Oh, and my count's about fifteen."

He paused for a breath and turned to Threng. "You..." he began, resting a hand heavily on Threng's shoulder. "...Whatever. We'll just let our new arrivals wander about aimlessly on their own until they find something that holds their attention. That works fine. However, we're not about to discuss such a delicate subject out here, so if we could please relocate to one of the meeting halls or something...that'd be nice."

Kjan was about to say more when yet another interruption came in the form of Jais. The man was trying to talk his way out of something -again- and Kjan turned around just in time to see Belnarr's fist sharply connect with the former-thief's face. Ordinarily he found the ongoing conflict between the two to be rather entertaining -better that Belnarr be focusing on Jais than on him, anyway- but at the moment it was just yet another distraction that he really didn't need. "Just...give the dwarf his money, Jais, and let's go," he said wearily, looking rather unlike the upbeat, jocular young man they'd seen only hours ago.


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PostPosted: March 10th, 2007, 2:03 am 
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The Phantom, expression disgruntled, picked himself up off the floor - whose cleanliness was doubtful at best - and scanned the cell. This Regent's morality might be on the blink but his common sense had a long way to go before it deserted him. It was distressingly solid.

Well, thought the Phantom, I've rescued others from the hangman's noose, no reason I can't do the same for myself.

And he desisted from wrinkling his nose at the none-too-clean straw that was spread sparingly over the cold stone floor, and settled down with his back against the wall. Time for some plotting.

After a moment he threw a sideways glance into the cell to his left. Hmm. Possible accomplice?

"Phantom Grey," he introduced himself. "Unfortunate recepient of the attention of a band of bounty hunters."

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