PBEM-G6

Chapter Nine

Isianu nodded in agrement, "Yes, formerly being one, I can safely say the dead really don't like it when you try to take their things." Realizing what she just said, Isianu let go of Kupita's deedly-bopper and simply put her face in her paw, not beliving she said that. Moving over to help Feltan up the Lupine sorceress turned to the others and said, "Well I don't think that we should stay here long, regardless. Let's just find the door to this crypt and get out of here..."

Kupita followed but argued abit. "I didn't mean to be offencive, it is just that all the other monks here are.. er... were werewolves. I just assumed that he was too. I thought that this was kinda a club for Lupine Monks.

After brushing the dust off Feltan and making sure he was alright, Isianu sighed and started to walk across the crypt. Looking over in the moogle's direction, she said, "Well it might be a cathedral for lupine monks, but it's definately not a Lupine temple." There was quite a bit of emphasis on the former term, stating the clear difference between the adjective and the noun. "Because those priests back there were definitely not Lupines in any sense of the word. True, they looked quite a bit like us, but there were subtle differences in the fur, and how they smelled. Then there's the fact that we can't change into humans anytime we wish. Trust me, if I could do that, I would. It'd help me get out of so much trouble..." With that thought Isianu wondered, that those priests spent so much time around that vase and gradually became lupine, would she become human? Shaking her head free of such a thought and put it on more practical use, namely finding the door out of the crypt and out into the open air.

Kupita saw that her avenues of looting were completely blocked, with Rei between the moogle and the sarcophagus and Isianu having her by the deedly-bobber.

Feltan blinked in the rays of light coming through the mausoleum doors. Seeing everyone intent on leaving and being perfectly in agreement himself, he put his full weight against one of the doors and slowly pushed it ajar. He blinked his watery eyes in the sunlight that streamed in. "Th-there's someone out there..." he whispered, pulling his head back. "A man with a shovel." He leaned partway out into the open air.

Roger and Modera looked pointedly at their newest guest. It ignored their comments, just looking at the water dripping down the chimney. It turned its head upward, an awkward move, and sniffed the air. It went back to watching the water run.

"Man with a shovel? Does he look rather decrepit, insists you are a zombie, and constantly toss holy water in your face?" Rei looked at Feltan, and then back to the sarcophogi. "Nevermind, it was a silly question anyway."

"Just find out if he's the gravekeep, and if he's seen anyone come by." She went back to searching the sarchophagi for signs of recent activity.

Feltan gulped. "All right, all right." He slipped out of the chamber, into the day outside. Rei continued to look the sarcophagi over. They had not been touched for some time, although one had smudges in the thick dust from small hands.

A minute later, Feltan returned. "The man seems to be asleep. He didn't answer me when I asked if he was the gravekeep."

Standing up against the side of the door, Isianu tried to take a quick glance at the man out there without herself being seen. When Feltan came back, a puzzled look crossed her face

Asleep? Standing up? I don't like that sound of that! Kupita thought. "Are you sure that she isn't just hard of hearing?"

Isianu: "He's asleep? Well I guess if he's propped up with the shovel, I guess it could be possible. Anyway, this seems like as good a time as any to get out of here. We don't know how he's going to be asleep, and we might not get another chance like this. Rei, why don't you take the lead with Kupita, me and Feltan behind you? There probably isn't anybody else out there, but it's better to err on the side of caution..."

Satisfied that the crypts had been untouched for some time, Rei nodded at Isianu. "Seems reasonable enough to me. And thank you for being so brave about going out Feltan. It was valuable information you brought back." She smiled at him as she passed by on the way out of the crypt. Perhaps she could discover why the man was sleeping on his feet, because surely a hired hand of the church they had just left wouldn't do such a thing. She wondered exactly where this brought them out.

Isianu gestured for Rei and Feltan to take the lead, keeping a close eye on Kupita. Her senses were all tingling from the artifact she carried and the feeling was beginning to unnerve her.

Outside, Rei took her bearings. She had suspected that they would be in the old cemetary. It lay roughly between Castle Aldersgate and the City itself, far north of the beaten path that connected the two. Although she had little experience within the city, she knew that much.

Behind them, several white stone mausoleums stood, regally overlooking the shoddier, time worn gravestones that made up the majority of the markers in the cemetary. There was indeed an old man in coveralls, leaning on a shovel and breathing slowly. Rei walked up to man, followed by Feltan, while Isianu did her best to skirt the man's position. Unfortunately, she failed to notice an old, almost flat stone just off the worn path and tripped. She caught herself by grabbing the next stone, breathing a sigh of relief. As she righted herself, the old stone suddenly fell over onto the first with a sharp crack. The old man stirred, yelping when he found himself being looked at very pointedly by a knight and short priest.

Rei straightened herself out, and looked at the man. "Greetings sir, my name is Rei Sarel, and this is kind Feltan. I apologize for disturbing your rest, but, if it is acceptable by you, I would like to talk to you. You haven't by any chance seen a man with a pendant come through this way, have you?"

Isianu cursed her bad luck and not seeing the remnants of tombstone at her feet. Fortunately, the groundskeeper hasn't turned in her direction yet and Rei was distracting him, giving her a chance to get out of sight. Not even standing up, Isianu scrabbled her way to the nearest large tombstone that might hide her from the stranger's sight. Once there, she tried to use her indirect senses to determine where the man is and what they're talking about.

Rei winced inwardly at Isianu's fall and subsequent scramble to hide. The man turned and mumbled to himself, seeing the fallen stone but no lupine. "Dad burn stones..." He turned back to Rei. "Can't say as I have. Had a lady with a pendant once. Had a fellow in his armor." He chuckled to himself, "Buried a helmet with no head in it just this week... no body either," then somberly, "devoured, you know?" He shook slightly, looking around apprehensively, his eyes falling on Kupita. "What in tarnation is that?!"

Rei turned her head to Kupita, and sigh. "That, kind sir, is Kupita. She would be a moogle. Of some sort, anyway."

Shrugging, she turned back to the man. "You wouldn't happen to know the fastest way out of town would you? Or possibly a place near here where we could aquire mounts?"

Rei was getting uneasy standing around in a graveyard. Strange things always happened in graveyards.

At the mention of her name Kupita looked over and was quite relieved to see the man talking. She had been afraid that he was dead. She made her way over to him.

"Greetings! I am Kupita, bravest of the Moogle Dark knights! I have fought and won many battles, and have had many grand adventures in my quest for excitement, fame and fortune! Tell me, what is the name of this Graveyard."

The man's brow furrowed at the strange, chatty creature's interruption. He shrugged at Kupita and turned his attention at Rei. "Fastest way out's six feet down," he snorted. He pointed to his right. "Castle's that way," then pointed left, "town's that way." He turned around and looked at the cemetary entrance in the distance. "Stable's are due south." He tapped his shovel with his finger, turning back around. "That's pretty much it..."

"Stables? Let's go!" She shouted with glee. Perhaps there were chocobos there. Even if there are just horses, surely they aren't too hard to ride. She thought as she started southward.

"Pretty much?" Rei looked at him inquisitively, ignoring Kupita. "Is there anything else of interest sir? Anything you can think of at all?"

The man put his head on his hands, leaning on the shovel. He thought for a moment. "Hm? Castle ain't interestin' enough fer ya'? Some people likes to see them council's mansions, but that's in the city. And I'd like to see the King's tomb, but it's under the castle. They don't let just any ol' gravediggers down there. Nope, nope..." He closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep.

Pursuing Rei

Watching the man nod off, I silently thank him for the information. "Feltan...where's Isianu?" I look around, and shake my head. Of course she was here, probably just hiding. It made sense. "I guess it's time we moved on. As much as I wouldn't mind seeing the castle, I think it might be a good idea to get out of town. Unless..." A thought occurred, once they realized we weren't inside the cathedral, they would certainly aler the guards at the gates of the city. Perhaps the best place to hide is right out in the open, a place where no one would suspect. "I have a new idea. Excuse me, sir?" I reach out and take a hold of his arm gently. "If they wouldn't let in any old gravekeep, would they let in a gravekeep in concert with a Priest and a knight of great repute...as well as a magician, all whom wish to visit the grave of the King for some reason or another? I'm sure we can think of something, if you really want to get in..." I trail off, hoping someone else could refine my idea into something workable. The man didn't respond but snored softly again. Feltan was still looking around the cemetary nearby. He looked at the man, then to Rei. "Isianu went over there. I think she hid..." He spoke with concern. "Why would you want to go to another tomb?" "Wouldn't it be a good place to hide? I figured we could get in, stick it out for a day or two, then, once they figured we were long gone from the town, make our break for it. By not leaving the city, we don't risk be caught doing that. Or we could take our chances, go to the stables, buy some mounts, and then try and escape. We may as well wave a red flag over our heads and scream 'I'm a heretic and I'd like you to catch me' The entire time too." I sigh, and my face softens as I look down at Feltan. "Look, I'm sorry. I'm just used to only taking care of myself. If I was alone, I'd just throw on a cloak and high-tail it out of here. As it stands, I can' really do that, because we are a larger group. Do you have anything in mind Feltan?" "I just want to leave." Feltan glanced around. "I never wanted to come here, and I certainly didn't want to wander through anyone's tomb..." He made a slight face. "If I heard what I thought I heard, we're between the Castle and the city. If we walk towards those stables, I think we could avoid both. Then we could all just go home."

"That sounds fine then Feltan. I pray that everything will be well for us. I'm sure it will be." Turning, I put on a serious face. "Isianu, Kupita, we're going to the stables. Let's get moving." I look back at Feltan, and put a hand on my sword. "Just in case we meet anyone on the way." With that said, I start heading towards the stables.

Feltan searched through the tombstones until he found Isianu. "Hurry, Isianu, we're trying to escape. The sooner we leave, the better."

Getting up from behind her hiding place, Isianu stretched a bit after staying in an uncomfortable position for so long. "Well I could see the merit in your idea Rei," she said walking around and flowing the group, putting her hood up. "It's just that when the search has quieted down, we would still have to make our way past the guards, the only difference would be at what time. Honestly, I really want to get out of here and start looking for Trent, he's a live and I think he can tell us about what happened with that odd general." Reaching the gates of the cemetery, Isianu paused for a second and looked at the bars. Something came into her mind and she immediately dug out the old white funeral shroud she was in when she woke up. It still had some of her blood on it, but dried only making a small part of the garment stiff. With a fluid motion, she set the garment on a spike of the bar and followed the others toward the stables. "Okay, I'm ready," she whispered to her comrades, "Let's find some mounts and get out of this hostile place..."

Feltan cast a glance at Kupita. "I know we didn't have time to look for H.P. before... but we're going to the stables... I'm sure that's where they would have taken him." Outside the cemetary gate, they could see the Castle off to their left and the city spreading off to their right, both distant but perhaps not far enough for comfort. They would have to cross the road between the two.

Kupita, Isianu, Rei, and Feltan left the cemetary, crossing a pathworn and trampled field. They were nervous, half-expecting a search party to come from the town or castle and catch them. They could see someone walking on the road ahead, but by the time they came close enough to be seen, the figure was long gone. They hurriedly passed the road, continuing on through the dusty field. After ten minutes, the circle of sheds and pens that made up the stables came into view. The city still stretched off to their right, but the castle had receded behind them.

Hiding behind what cover was available to her, Isianu looked out at the stables, they seemed to be empty but the chance there was a stable boy tending the horses was rather great. "Well this is a rather precarious situation," she muttered to the rest of the group. "If we want to get out of here fast enough to avoid the patrols, then we would probably need some mounts. The fact of the matter is that taking some horses and riding off into the distance is a rather noisy affair. First we need to see if anybody is on duty and get him out of there, or at the worse restrain him. Within all likelihood, this is probably be the best place for H.P. to be kept, that would be our second priority. Finally, we get on our mounts and as quietly as possible leave this hostile land." Looking around at Rei and Kupita questioningly, "Would you stay here for a moment while I go and scout out what lies ahead? Keep a close eye on me and anything that might try to enter or leave the stables. Please, don't move until I beckon you, or unless someone hostile comes." Giving a slight nod to those around her, Isianu got up and made her way to the stables as quietly as she can, listening or trying to pick up the scent of anyone there.

Rei nodded to Isianu, in approval of her plan. "I will pray for your success in this endeavour." She inclined her head, and held her cross carefully.

Seeing no dissent, Isianu carefully approached the stable. It almost seemed abandoned. The pens she could see were empty, which was odd. She wondered about what she had read about humans and their animals, and what she had seen of the horse she had ridden on. Her senses on alert, she heard the man before he emerged. A spry human in green tunic emerged from the stable, lost in his own thoughts. He came very near, but she had the presence of mind to stay low and still. If he had looked her way, she would have been lost, but he was intent on his own pursuit. He was walking toward the distant city.

Rei looked at Kupita. "What should we do, Kupita? If he sees us, he will be able to tell people where we were. Perhaps we should hide somewhere. What do you think?" She paused and looked at the moogle. "And no, hurting him isn't an option."

In almost a split second, Isianu propped herself flush against the nearest wall, and knelt down, hoping the shadows there would be enough to hide her rather large frame. Holding her breath, she kept her eyes on the young man, in her mind trying to will him to keep on walking. Once he passed without noticing her, she took a deep breath as quietly as possible and leaned over to look around the corner of the stables. As the stable boy was a suitable distance away from them and still heading towards town, Isianu looked over into the stables proper to make sure nobody else was on duty. Once the coast was clear, she waved the others to follow her into the stables and start searching for H.P. and other mounts to take them away from this godforsaken country.

Isianu sneaked past the first building, finding the stables were truly deserted. From her safe vantage point, the only sign of life she could find was a fat human standing in the middle of the area, frozen in place.

The man leaving the stables stopped and turned in their direction. Feltan looked up at Rei. "He doesn't see us, does he? No, how could he? What do we do now? Did Isianu just wave at us?" Isianu had indeed waved before she disappeared from sight, but she had not seen the stable hand stop.

Kupita ran over to the stable hand.

"Hey there! I can't find my Chocobo. Is he by chance here? He's Black with big blue eyes! And he was wearing a saddle." She smiled and batted her eyes at the stable hand.

Having nothing to hide, Asper answered the strange band. "I've just arrived here myself... as far as chocobos go, all the ones here were just stolen by goblins, but I did see a black chocobo with them."

"Goblins?!?!? Oh no! Poor H.P.!" I don't know whether to wish that the black chocobo is H.P. or not! I've heard what Goblins do to chocobos... I don't even want to think about them doing it to H.P. "Please! Can you tell me where they went? I need to find my Chocobo! He needs me!" and I need him... H.P., I love you! She looked pleadingly at the Stable boy.

"Oh dear, we have to save him," moaned Feltan. He whispered to Rei, "(We need to get Isianu, too!)" He wandered toward the stable, keeping his eye on the man from the stable and not succeeding at being discrete or stealthy in any way.

Rei watched Feltan wander off towards Isianu, and then looked back at the stable-hand. Folding her arms underneath her breasts, she tilted her head and examined him. For a stable-hand who just lost all of his chocobo's, he didn't seem all that concerned.

Isianu was trying to listen in on the conversation with the stable hand when the door to the small shed near her flew open. A man tied hand and foot with something shoved in his mouth staggered out, leaning heavily on the door frame. He looked at Isianu, eyes widening and gave a muffled cry before his eyes rolled back in his head and he fell over.

A strangled meep came out of Isianu as the restrained man hopped out of the shed and promptly fainted at the sight of her. It did leave her feeling rather insulted, but she was glad that no further effort would be needed to silence him.

"Isianu! Isianu!" said Feltan in a mock whisper, walking into the stable area. He looked down at the prone man and then over where Isianu was standing. "Oh dear," he said, giving her an appraising look, "we'd better hide him."

Turning, hearing Feltan running up towards her, Isianu put a finger to her lips and shushed him. "Be quiet," Isianu whispered to the dwarf wizard, "There's still a guard out there." Looking at the unconcious man, then turning to Feltan, she said, "I didn't do it, I just found him this way, but I think you are right. I guess where ever he was before would be a good a place as any?" With that she picked up the unconcious form and laid it back in the shed, looking around quickly for anything that might prove useful.

Feltan shoved the man into the shed, where they discovered a another man similarly tied and gagged. He said something muffled to Feltan and then shrieked into his gag when he saw Isianu. He attempted to slide against the back wall of the shed to get away. A brief look around the shed revealed a few shovels and brooms.

Isianu turned back to her ally, "You have come to tell me what that man said? I didn't catch most of it, but I heard Kupita say something about H.P. in danger, if so, then we should leave as soon as possible. There are no mounts here, so I am afraid we'll have to walk where ever we are going. Is the lad gone yet?"

"He said Goblins took the chocobos and one of them was black. He seemed to be wait--"

"Guards!" came a hoarse shout. "Guards!" The cries came from the center of the stable area, where Isianu had seen the large guard. The shout repeated several more times, then went silent again. Everything was quiet again.

"Well then, kind sir." Rei offered him her hand, keeping the other arm folded across her chest. "My name is Rei Sarel, Priest-Knight of Heron. Could I inquire as to your name, and perhaps the reason why you don't seem concerned that all of your chocobo's just ran away? We are correct in assuming that you are the stablehand, right?"

The other man in the shed slightly perplexed Isianu, it seemed that someone else was trying to get through this area without being noticed. Not finding anything particularly useful in the shed, Isianu was startled to hear the cry in the stable's square, and then turned back to the restrained humans. "Well as you two seem to be rather busy," she said with a malicious smile, "I think I'll just leave you two alone for a while. Bye!" with a wave, she shut the door on the two men and turned back to Feltan. "I think that's our signal to move on, come, let's go." Drawing up her hood to further hide her Lupine features, Isianu rushed out towards Rei and Kupita ignoring the stable hand. "Noble ladies," she said in slightly hushed tones, but with a tinge of urgency, "I think we might have worn out our stay here. I believe that is time to move on."

"I see." Lowering her extended hand from the man, Rei inclined her head in a respectful nod. "I apologize sir, but it seems we are to be moving again. Good luck regaining your chocobos from the creatures that took them. I would aid you had I but the time, alas, I do not. Good day to you." With a final look at Isianu, she slowly started to walk away, hoping someone else would choose what direction they would take.

Asper muttered something about chocobos and walked toward the distant cityscape. Kupita looked from Feltan to Rei to Isianu. "He found H.P., I just know it. C'mon, we have to follow him!" Without waiting for reply, the moogle took off after the man.

Feltan looked dubiously at Isianu. "I don't think we can go that way... you being so... well, you know. We should get out while we still can."

A slight groan came from Isianu at the moogle's comment with a quick glance behind her to make sure nobody was chasing them yet. "I would think that would be an extrordinarly bad idea," she said rather calmly, "Besides I doubt H.P. would be in the city. Goblins are pariah's in almost every culture and wouldn't live within a city unless they were hidden in the sewers or the back allies. In that instnace a black chocobo would definately point them out to the nearest authority." Crossing her arms a little worried, Isianu continued, "Of course there are exceptions, if they have a master then all bets are off. If that is true, then we really have something to worry about, because they might have more powerful creatures under their control. Either way, I seriously doubt that we're heading to the city, not just because of the remote possibility H.P. is there. As Feltan stated," waving towards the dwarf, "We are wanted criminals and for the exception of him and Rei, we'd be easily recognized on site. So, I have another plan."

Rushing forward towards the stable hand before he could reach the city, Isianu put a paw on his shoulder and turned him around. "Excuse me," she said as much civily as she could in a hury, "But would you please be so kind to point us in the direction of the goblin settlement? We would be very thankful and you would not have to hear about us any more."

Asper looked at the tall werewolf that had just turned him around. Goblin settlement? He shrugged, pointing to the cityscape. "The goblins went this way. I don't know where they live, but maybe someone who lives here does..."

Putting a paw to her head, Isianu let out a long sigh before she opened her eyes to look back at Asper. "Thank you very much sir, sorry to keep you from your journey..." she then gave him a dismisive gesture with her free paw. As the stablehand went to the others waiting in the road, still wearing a rather forlorn look. "Well, I think we have some serious problems, it seems that the goblins are somewhere in the city, which means they are being lead by someone much more powerful." Taking her paw off her head, she looked the others in the eyes and said, "Alright, which ever path we take, we need to decide now, and quickly. I'm all for getting out of here with my fur still on my skin, but then H.P. is prisoner of some foul person. So shall we try running across the open field with no cover trying to avoid the Baron's soldiers, or take our chances in the back allies of the town running from the Watch? What ever the decisioin, we need to make it now!"

Asper walked away from the pesky group, glad to be on his way again.

Kupita looked at Rei and Isianu in obvious irritation. ^^This is nuts!^^ She stamped her foot and followed after Asper. "I'm going to get my chocobo! Just you watch me!"

Feltan watched with alarm as Kupita and Asper made their way into the looming city. He reached up for his hat, but discovered again that it was missing. "I... I'll go with you, Isianu."

Rei chimed in. "I offered my service. I too will do what I must."

This was getting a little too much, putting two fingers on her temples, Isianu began to rub them, a little tired with all of this stuff. Everything seemed to be going rather downhill, quite literally with nobody giving any sort of decision, it was all up to her, and she would have to do so fast. Putting her paws to the side and took a deep breath, staring back at the city and the field to the side. "I say we go find Kupita's chocobo, then try to escape detection. It's true that out here there won't be as many people to spot us in the field, but if there is someone there, they'll see us right away. At least in city we could find some cover despite all of the people residing there. We'll keep to the back allies, and if need be, the sewer while Rei and Feltan go out and scout the area ahead, giving me and Kupita the signal to go forward. We'll do this slowly, and one alley at a time." With that being said, she motioned for the human and dwarf to take the lead and followed suit close behind, trying to keep Kupita under control. A certain air was forming around Isianu, she felt confident about this, she made her first really vital leadership decision and it felt good, right, natural. It was what she was born to do, she just hoped that she had enough sense to have made the right decision.

Kupita and Asper paid little attention to Isianu's declaration, having already ranged far ahead of the group. Even as she declared that Rei and Feltan should scout, Asper and Kupita had already entered the road leading into the section of the city before them. Kupita fell into step with the man, seeing that her presence seemed to irritate him and taking it as a sign that she was intimidating.

"Sewer," breathed Feltan, stepping in front of Isianu. He reached for his hat, then shook his head and walked for the line of buildings. His expression was far from confident. Rei followed, her own expression stoic.

The buildings they approached seemed old and timeworn. Most of them were two stories and spacious, but had fallen into disrepair over time. Rei and Feltan stepped onto the road, seeing a cross-street not far ahead. At the corner was a smaller house, out of place amidst the silent structures that made up the city. Isianu reached the first of the large buildings as Rei and Feltan ranged ahead. It was very quiet, almost as if the city was asleep, or abandoned.

Asper and Kupita arrived at the smaller structure, noting that a sign above the door read, "Guardhouse". Nothing stirred on the street.

The sorceress looked at the worried dwarf and she sighed, "I know it would be unpleasant, but it's definitely better than the alternative. We just need to hope that it wouldn't come to that..." When they came into the town proper, Isianu looked around at the gloomy buildings, rather worried. This was definitely not what she thought some powerful nation would be like, then there was the fact that nobody was out despite the time. "It feels wrong here, something's simply not right about this silence. I only think that we should take advantage of this while we can." Looking at the guardhouse, Isianu mumbled something to herself, and then turned to the others and said, "This looks like the best place to start. If Rei or Feltan can't ask about the location of some goblins, then I would think this might be the best place to hide. If we find a nice spot behind the shack, we could easily avoid the patrols, they wouldn't think to look this close to their headquarters." Slowly making her way back behind the shack, Isianu tried to get a lay out of what's back there, if there was any boxes to stack, if there were any back doors leading there, and so on. There she stays for a bit, trying to listen in to what was going on around the corner.

"What's going on here?" bellowed a burly man in heavy armor, emerging from the shadows at the cross-street. He advanced menacingly on Kupita and Asper, his keen eye falling on Feltan and Rei behind them and moving to the alley Isianu had just hidden in. "There's no one allowed here, as you should well know... citizens." He swiftly grabbed Kupita and lifted her off the ground by her neck. "The rogue moogle... You are all under arrest for harboring an enemy of the kingdom of Aldersgate. And you there, in the alley, show yourself..." As he spoke, he quickly stepped to the guardhouse and kicked the door harshly. "Wake up, you fool! There is an arrest to be made!" He glowered at them, watching while a disheveled, lightly armed man emerged from the shack.

Rei stepped forward, regarding the knight coolly. "I am Rei Sarel, Knight of Heron. If you please, sir, I think you should unhand Kupita. You are... mistaken... I'm sure she means you no immediate ill will."

"You have no authority here, church knight," spat the man, shaking Kupita slightly. "You are clearly trespassing and in the presence of a known criminal. Stand down..." He put his free hand to his sword hilt. "Or force my hand." He smiled grimly.

A slight growl escaped Isianu's lips as the watchman emerged and asailed her friends, as she went up against the nearby wall. Slowly she took out the fire rod that Feltan gave to her, prepared to use it, but hearing that the capitan was holding Kupita ruled out that course of action. This was a very trecherous position she was in, the guard man knew that she was there and running away was out for honor and low sucess rate. Instead she took a deep breath and decided to go the way of the diplomat. "Please stay your hand officer," Isianu said without leaving the alley, "We do not wish any trouble upon you, or our group. I do not wish harm upon you, but I think it would be best if you just let us go along with our business, believe me, we are more trouble than we're worth." With a brief pause, Isianu put her paw upon her face in frustration, what was she doing? This brute wouldn't heed a word she was saying and would eventually come around the corner, sword drawn ready to kill her again. Putting her rod away, she banged her head against the wall, she sighed, "Alright, I guess that nothing I say would keep you from doing your duty single- mindedly? Just tell me exactly what are the charges against her and what you shall do to us?"

The man detaining Kupita cast a warning look at Rei and Asper, both standing too close for his liking. He swung Kupita in a gesture indicating the building and the alley. The other guard looked that way and wavered a moment, then skulked away. He thought carefully, scanning the moogle. "The moogle matches the description of a fugitive. That's reason enough to take you all in to see a magistrate... or the Baron himself, if the crimes are great. Entering a condemned area is punishable by fine, but aiding a fugitive is very serious. If you come quietly, it will go much better for you." He paused, watching Rei backing away slowly. "I only tell you to make this easier... you can't escape. A dozen of the Baron's Own are patrolling within earshot." His blade glinted as he partially drew it. Kupita struggled and he gave her an angry shake.

Growling a slight curse in the Lupine tongue, going through the various courses of action that were open to her, Isianu found out that she really didn't have any. "Alright, alright," she sighed heavily, "I'll come out, you don't have to send some flunkie to extract me out of my position. I'm just warning you, I'm not what you think, and don't do anything rash. Just remember, I am coming out to peacefully discuss this predicament." Taking a deep breath and complaining that this was totally insane, Isianu took a step around the corner to see the Watch's captain holdinging Kupita. "Excuse me sir," she said as politely as possible, "Could you do my friend the favor of being restraned with her feet on the ground?"

The knight was visibly shaken at Isianu's appearance. He recovered and held his sword aloft, looking around suspiciously. "Well, demon, how many of you are there? You'll find it's not as easy to kill soldiers as it is to kill women and children..." Still holding Kupita, he slowly backed away from the werewolf.

Isianu's eyes circled and sighed at the reaction the captain had upon seeing her, slowly walking forward and leaning against the nearby wall. "Now we're supposed to go through the part where I threaten you with my magical powers," she said in a rather deadpan tone, "Then you threaten me with your loyal men around the corner ready to ambush me. But to tell you the truth, I've been doing that quite a bit lately and all it's done was get me killed, so I'll be brief. Yes, there is a hostile group of Lupines out there, and no they haven't attacked you yet. Just some cowardly bandits trying to take advantage of your paranoia and our beautifully primordial image." Isianu stared out past the captain, but her attention went back to the task at hand. "Anyway I've been running around this country just trying to find a way to go back at my home land and bring peace to it, as odd as it sounds." Turning to the captain, giving him an inquisitive look Isianu began to tap a foot on the ground, "So as I'm obviously new around here would you mind telling me why this entire area is condemned, and why it's such a crime to trespass here. That and I'd also like to know WHY my friend is such a heinous fugitive, as a professional courtesy?" Isianu stood there staring at the captain for a while, then turned to look behind her and took a slight whiff. "That and I would tell your man to wash, he stinks more than any human I have meet so far..."

The sneaking guard gasped in fear at being discovered and cowered, not quite hidden in the shadow of the building. The knight looked down at the ground, squinting. "So it's nothing personal then, is that it?" He sneered, "Bah! I tell nothing to my prisoners! Call your allies if you even have them, or put your weapons down! Dead or alive makes no difference to me." He suddenly threw Kupita against the guardhouse and pulled a small object from his belt. Pressing it to his lips, he blew a shrill note, keeping Rei, Asper, Isianu, and Feltan locked in his gaze. He held sword and whistle at the ready.

"Come now," Isianu said, "It's not like I'm asking you about how many troops you have around the town? And why so rude? I've been perfectly civil to this point." When he threw down Kupita, Isianu gasped and went to help her downed compatriot, if the capitan hadn't blown his wistle. The loud, high-pitched sound sent reverberations that her extremely sensitive ears picked it up when the way the others obviously didn't. Immediately putting her paws over her ears and growling a bit in pain, trying to shut out the horrible sound. Once he stops, Isianu takes a paw away from her ear and says, "Alright, alright, just don't do that again! [I hope that they don't give those things to everybody, or else I'll be in for a lot of headaches...]" Digging into her robes, she took out her rod and dropped it on the ground in front of her, "This is all there is, your countrymen have killed off the rest of my friends... Happy?" Isianu stands there, looking rather disgusted with her arms crossed, keeping her eye on the capitan.

Resigned, Asper carefully removed his sword and dropped it near Isianu's rod.

"The only creature here intent on killing anyone is you," said Rei, also removing her sword and tossing it with the other weapons. Feltan checked himself for weapons, but found none... he seemed relieved.

Another armored man of somewhat smaller stature than their captor charged up the road, a younger soldier. His sword was drawn and he looked at the group in amazement. He almost spoke, but held his tongue and stared at Isianu.

Kupita shook her head and stood. She looked at Isianu and then growled at the man. It seemed that she might attack, but after a long hesitation the moogle threw her blade into the pile. She grumbled to herself.

"Excellent," grinned the man. Three more knights had arrived from other directions, keeping their distance and weapons drawn. "Move together, keep your hands where I can see them." He spoke quickly and quietly to the first of the knights and sent the younger off ahead. "Let's go see the Baron."