P3: Chapter Four

XLIII

M3Dussa

As the words “I went by Ragnar” left his mouth, his heart which had been beating hard since he recognized BeAutyBrokEn, started beating so hard he was sure she could hear it. It wasn't helping that she was now completely still, he wished he could see past all her veils and see her expression. After a few beats, he felt he needed to say something. Before he could open his mouth she ran at him, her various layers flowing in the wake behind her. She was on him her arms wrapped around him before he could react. Which was for the best as his first thought was she was attacking. Because of this thought it him a moment to recognize the hug, when he did he returned it.

They hugged.

After a time, which M3Dussa was unable to measure, they broke apart. “I’m so sorry you were Tokened,” BeAutyBrokEn said, “Was it because you were quitting?”

“I don’t think so. I did tell them, so I guess that could have been why. But aSTARTe said something about needing blood to become the Black Hand, so I took that to mean it was planned. In one way she was right, I never would have gone along with their plan.”

“But you told them you were leaving?”

“Yeah, I don’t know. But I do know I’ll see them again, and when I do I’ll ask them.”

“That seems fair. I am thrilled that you found me, but I have to ask, what are you doing here?”

M3Dussa laughed uncomfortably, “Well when I came back, after Ragnar, I realized the only friends I thought I had stabbed me in the back. I couldn’t go back there. Plus that area is swarming with their minions. I remembered that you had agreed to work with Ragnar. I was hoping the agreement would be good for me too?”

“Of course! I will absolutely work with you. There’s just one thing.”

“What is it? It can’t be that bad.”

“I guess that depends on your view of clans is after your experience with the golden hand. I mean I guess you’re right it’s not that bad, you will need to join up with my clan.”

“Is that it? That’s not a problem for me, in fact, the protection and support of a clan will be helpful until I’ve gained a level or two.”

“Oh good! Come let’s get you to the Tee Dome, introduce you to ThElder404 and get you signed up with the T88’s.” With that, she grabbed his hand and started pulling him down the path back to Ral’ya. They chatted while they walked, soon she wasn't leading him, they were holding hands.

If you had asked M3Dussa how long this walk was he couldn’t have told you. In fact, if you pushed him on it you would find that he really didn’t remember walking at all. He remembered leaving the bridge behind and they stopped before a building, his memory of the time between was fuzzy and pleasant.

“What is that?!” M3Dussa blurted when he had torn his attention away from BeAutyBrokEn. The building that they had stopped before stood out in that its aesthetic was different from any other building he could remember in AntruA. All the other buildings, he could remember, had been styled after either American West or Medieval European Castle. This building had a Classical Greek feel, with marble columns guarding the door and the corners he could see. A blue slate dome topped the two-story building.

“I think that it’s The Tee Dome. It didn’t look like this before,” BeAutyBrokEn answered, “but that’s what was here anyway.” Then thinking of her little perch, “I have seen the landscape change to better accommodate the principles in a particular area. So maybe that’s what happened here? Come on, let’s check it out.” She dropped his hand and grabbed his arm, pulling him after her.

The inside was dark and set up like any other social room he had been in, in AntruA. A bar like set up along one wall, tables filling the rest of the space. The one thing that stood out to M3Dussa as he slithered after his arm, was the staircase behind the bar. BeAutyBrokEn pulled a chair out from a table. “Sit. I need to report in, then I’ll bring ThElder404 to you. Okay, are you good? Good, I’ll send someone with some Tonic.” With that, she was gone in a swirl of fabric and lace.

M3Dussa watch as spoke to the principle behind the bar, then she started behind the bar and up the stairs. The other principle had come from behind the bar and was walking towards M3Dussa and his table. When the principle placed a full pitcher on the table, followed by two goblets, it became clear that he would have to interact. It was with a little frustration that he pulled his attention from BeAutyBrokEn and focused on the principle who stood patiently.

VicTim2020

Level 2

Wallet-2Au

Maybe noting M3Dussa’s attention VicTim2020 gestured to an open chair before the goblets and the pitcher.

“Please,” M3Dussa replied.

Before he sat, VicTim2020 filled both goblets, then passed one to M3Dussa. After he was seated VicTim2020 raised his glass to M3Dussa, “To the Thunder 88.” he said then took a long sip.

“To the Eight Eight,” M3Dussa mumbled into his goblet, not totally sure what the Thunder 88 was. He drank anyways. It was pleasant but left a metallic taste in the back of his throat.

VicTim2020 took another long drink then shaking his head he chuckled. Finally, he looked at M3Dussa. “I’m sorry, I just had to see the principle who BeAutyBrokEn wanted to join up with the 88.”

“Is that a big deal?”

“Not really, it’s just that BeAutyBrokEn is kind of a celebrity here, and she has never recruited anyone else before you, so yeah you’re kind of a big deal.”

“I don’t even know what that means?” M3Dussa said loudly, then was uncomfortably aware of every pair of eyes turning towards him. He was saved from having to explain his outburst by BeAutyBrokEn, who slumped down in a chair halfway around the table, after a look at her face M3Dussa thought she might be crying. A tall white man in a long white robe and with long white hair and beard, sat in a chair next to BeAutyBrokEn.

“Are you alright?” M3Dussa asked BeAutyBrokEn. She didn’t say anything just folded her arms on the table then dropped her head into the created dark triangle. M3Dussa watched for a few minutes while the only movements she made was the shaking of her shoulders.

“What happened? Is she okay?” M3Dussa demanded of the tall stranger. Then he focused on the man in white.

ThElder404

Level 3

Wallet-15Au

“Oh, you’re the leader of this clan,” M3Dussa said in a small voice when he recognized the name.

“Yes, I am,” ThElder404 said with a laugh,  “and I know who you are, or were.”

“Oh.” M3Dussa said in an even smaller voice.

“No shame.” ThElder404 said then continued, “Beauty told me about you, up in my office. She said that you want to join the Thunder 88 and if you did she intended make you part of her hunter squad. If that’s what you want, you have my blessing.”

“That's wonderful but I’m not doing anything until I know that Beauty is okay,” M3Dussa said trying to sound firm.

“How gallant.” ThElder404’s laugh rolled out across the table. “I promise she’ll be fine, she just needs a few minutes, she just found out her friend got Tokened.”

M3Dussa turned back to BeAutyBrokEn, “Beauty I am so, so sorry.’

She lifted her head from her arms, “M3Dussa, relax I’ll be fine I just need a minute to collect myself. Are you a member of the 88 now?”

M3Dussa wasn’t sure so he turned to ThElder404, “Am I?”

“Not quite,” ThElder404 said as he pulled a scroll from his robe, and unrolled it on the table. “Sign at the bottom.” Once that was done, he picked up the scroll rerolled in and returned it to his robe. “Now you are. Nice to meet you. Good luck out there” That said he stood and left the table, patting BeAutyBrokEn on the shoulder on his way to the stairs behind the bar.

Left alone at the table with BeAutyBrokEn, M3Dussa had no idea of what to say or do, so he waited.After what felt like forever but could have less than five minutes, BeAutyBrokEn raised her head and looked around while playing with her veils. M3Dussa waited for a beat then asked, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine just pissed. And my veil keeps sticking to her face. I know that like you, she’ll come back, but these Tbags make me so mad.”

“Believe me they make me mad too.”

“How thoughtless, of course, you have strong feelings over this. ThElder404 sanctioned you joining my hunter squad. If you have no objection I say we go and hunt this Tbag down.”

They finished their Tonic got up and left the building together.

P3: Chapter three

BeAutyBrokEn  

“Beauty!” At the sound of her name, BeAutyBrokEn who had been lost in thought started. She barely looked up when her friend, all squeaks, and squeals, plowed into her. “Oh, Beauty I’m so happy I saw you, I was heading out on another mission, so if I had missed you I don’t when we would see each other again. How are you ?! What have you been up too, I heard you’re a hunter, what’s that all about?”

BeAutyBrokEn’s laugh stopped BuTTherKupp’s flow of questions. “It’s so good to see you. You said you’re leaving, do you have a few minutes to sit and catch up?”    

“For you of course,” she looked to the open door, “a few minutes anyway.” she sat at an open chair across from BeAutyBrokEn. “I hear you’re a coven of witches, and our greatest hunter, you have been busy. Tell me all about it.”

“I’ll keep it short, I stayed near the road where you left me and attacked anybody who came close enough.”

“The Coven. But if you were having so much luck why did you come to town?”

“Right, that ridiculous ‘coven’ rumor. I come back to town because it got boring waiting for principles to beat. After a bit, they stopped coming altogether, so I thought I would try to find you. My search for you lead me to the ThElder404 and the Thunder88, being a Hunter is perfect for me. But what about you?  When I made it back to town they told me, you were an explorer? How’d that happen?”

“It’s not interesting when I got to town the Thunder88 were in a recruiting push they offered being an Explorer. Being an Explorer, I couldn’t be happier, I wander around and try to find treasure chests, I have to share what I find with the ‘88, but only like twenty percent, so I do pretty well. The best part is I get to hear all the news, really just the rumors.”

“You mean gossip?!”

“Yeah, it’s awesome.”

“Tell me, what’s the best thing you’ve heard recently?”

“I don’t know if it’s the best thing, but it’s what everyone is talking about. The Tokening of Ragnar.”

“What!?”

“He was a Hunter, like you. I hear that he was Tokened by his clan. What’s wrong? you look like you’re going to be sick?”

“I feel awful.”

“Why do you, Oh, did you know him?”

“Yeah, he helped me on my first hunt. I convinced him to quit his clan, The Band of the Golden Hand. I’m the reason the Tokened him. It’s my fault he’s gone.”

“My mind is blown, you just blew my mind. He’s a celebrity! You met the biggest name in AnturA. How did you meet him?”

“He wasn’t like that, a celebrity and all, he was normal. He was nice.”

“Oh, honey I’m sorry, you liked him.”

“Yeah, he was kind. He treated me like an equal.”

“You got bit bad. I don’t know if this will help, but I don’t think it was your fault.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t think that the Golden Hand Tokened him because he quit. I believe they would have Tokened him anyways. They used his passing to restructure their whole organization. Now they call themselves The Band of the Black Hand, they offer a membership, pay to be protected from Tokening.”

“No wonder they Tokened him, Ragnar would never go along with something like that.”

“Well I never met the guy, but all the talk seems to agree with you.”

“ How’s everyone else reacting?”

“It’s a madhouse, opinions are as varied as the appearance of the principles who have them. Most think of him as a hero to be emulated, others think he was a vigilante who got his just desserts.”

“There is one thing most of us agree upon.” this new voice caused both BuTTherKup and BeAutyBrokEn to start. BeAutyBrokEn looked up to see ThElder404 standing next to BuTTherKupp. “We agree that what the Black Hand is doing is wrong. In fact!” suddenly he clapped his hands twice loudly. “Do I have everyone’s attention. Good. This is my official statement, please tell those who missed it. The Thunder88 is declaring war on the Band of the Black Hand. I find what they’re doing to abhorrent, I leave the methods of attack to each of you, to start I want to seal our borders to anyone wearing any Black Hand symbols. Let’s lock down our territory. Good luck out there.” he turned back to the table, “Did I make my feelings on this clear?”

“Yes, sir,” BuTTherKupp answered, BeAutyBrokEn nodded in support.

“Good,” ThElder404 said, his smile seeming to hold them like a warm blanket. “What I just told everyone, that doesn’t apply to you. I you both to stay on task, in fact, your missions are more important than ever, though BuTTherKupp I think it would be prudent to step up the finding allies if you can please make contact with each of the color’s leaders,, can you do that?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Wonderful, thank you. Beauty?” When ThElder404 turned his attention to BeAutyBrokEn, she felt it like a weight.

“Uh, yes, Sir?” She answered hesitantly.

Again his smile embraced her. “I have to tell you I’m very impressed with your success. Two vile Tokeners removed from this world. Two, incredible. I have been hearing about a Tokener coming over the bridge from Surka, have you heard anything?”

“No Sir, this is the first,” BeAutyBrokEn answered.

ThElder404 turned to BuTTherKupp, “This might take a minute so you might want to get a head start on your mission.”

BuTTherKupp got up quickly, “Yes Sir.” She turned to BeAutyBrokEn, to find her already standing. There was mutual squealing as they hugged. “Beauty, I’m so happy I ran into you. I can’t tell you how pleased I am you joined the Thunder88. Maybe next time we’ll be able to work together on a mission.” They embraced once more then BuTTherKupp turned and flounced out the door.

“Do you mind if I sit?” ThElder404 gestured to the chai that BuTTherKupp had vacated.  

“Please.” BeAutyBrokEn returned to her seat. Once they were both seated she asked, “So tell me, what do you know about this new Tokener?”

ThElder404 filled two glasses from a pitcher on the table, he pushed one towards BeAutyBrokEn and raised the other, “L'chayim.”

BeAutyBrokEn raised the offered glass, she didn’t know what he had said so she replied with a simple, “cheers.”

ThElder404 took a large sip, BeAutyBrokEn followed with a much smaller sip. She immediately noticed a metallic taste in the back of her throat. Sounds seemed enhanced, as well. She looked at ThElder404 again noting the individual motes floating in the light around his head giving him a haloed look.

After a few minutes, ThElder404 spoke. “Unfortunately I know very little about this new Tbag and I already told you most of what I know. I have heard a name, HeyZues, not that it’ll help you much. I’ve also heard a location, that should help you more, at least it should give you a start point.”

BeAutyBrokEn laughed, “Are you going to make me guess?”

“No,” ThElder404 took his map from his belt and unrolled it on the table. “Here, touch your map.” Once this was done and she had her map unrolled before her, he said “It’s like I said, and have heard from five different sources that he has been seen on or around the bridge to Surka. I know it’s not much to go on, the only other thing that I’ve heard, and this is much less confirmed, I have heard that his weapon of choice is a lasso.”

“A lasso? Like a rope?”

I guess. I don’t know, I’m sorry I don’t know more.”

“I’m sure it will be enough. I’ve started with less.” BeAutyBrokEn took a big final drink from her glass in preparation to leave.

ThElder404 finished his drink and stood up, “I wish you all the luck and that your hunt is a success. Your successes are key to my aggression against the Black Hand succeeding.”

“No pressure or anything,” BeAutyBrokEn said from the doorway. She smiled to show she was joking. she waved and closed the door behind her.

A slight breeze caught her veils and played with them lightly. She stepped away from the Tee Dome and started to walk along the road out of town. She kept to the edge of the road letting the boisterous crowds pass her, instead of watching the varied masses, focusing instead on the buildings and ruminating on how the town was changing. Though the town still held its frontier style, the street was now recognizable as a street.  Some of the buildings now sported embellishments like window boxes and wind chimes. Though the Tee Dome was heavily used very few other buildings were, the embellishments soon petered out and not long after so did the town.

BeAutyBrokEn soon was walking in the open plain. The plain was not without features, with the Tonic moving in her system she felt like she noticed each one. The ever-present bush with the purple berries dotted the landscape. Many other varieties of bushy plant filled out the fauna of the plain, overall a rather drab landscape. BeAutyBrokEn tried to focus on the potential that surrounded her, but her mind keeps returning to one thing. Ragnar.

It was here, surrounded by the seemingly empty plain, that her feelings made themselves known. She had, without realizing what she was doing, clamped down on her feelings. But now, out of the hustle and bustle that was town, the emotions came in full force. She let herself wallow for only a few minutes when she attempted to reign in the tumultuous, confusing, feelings she quickly understood that all, or the best, she could do filter the feelings into questions, questions that as of yet had no answer. These questions and feelings were her companions till the bridge lay before her.

The bridge served to convey the road, over a rushing river. It looked to be made of wood, Tall, with a big arch that prevented her from seeing the middle or the other side of the bridge, it also looked solid and well made. She approached with caution not being able to see the far side, the sound of steps froze her. She stopped and listened, and heard the crunch on steps of one principle, under the stomps of feet she could hear another sound, a scrap of something sliding on the bridge. Unable to see she took a step onto the bridge before she could take a second step two figures appeared on the crest of the bridge. They appeared to be about to fight.

Looking at them she felt confident that she had found HeyZeus. It was the lasso that gave him away.He wore pants, a flannel shirt, and a big ten-gallon hat. The lasso he moved from hand to hand while keeping it moving, spinning, the loop of it down near his ankles.

BeAutyBrokEn didn’t recognize HeyZeus’ opponent, it only took a moment for her to realize that the opponent was the cause of that scraping sound she was hearing. Their postures told her they were about to fight. Trying to gather as much information before the fight started she stepped onto the bridge and focused on the stranger.

M3Dussa

Level 2

Wallet-2Au

While trying to remember if she had ever heard that name before, the fight suddenly started. With no warning that BeAutyBrokEn could see, HeyZeus swung the lasso up towards M3Dussa slid back pulling a knife, seemingly from nowhere, and used the blade to knock away the offending rope. Then quickly moving his arm in a throwing motion, HeyZeus spun around, there was an audible thunk and BeAutyBrokEn saw the knife had struck in the wooden planking behind HeyZeus. HeyZeus came out of his spin on the attack, aiming his lasso first at M3Dussa’s tail and then at his head again.

M3Dussa managed to evade these attacks, but just barely. BeAutyBrokEn could see that he was struggling, clearly outclassed by a stronger opponent. BeAutyBrokEn felt that she was watching a bully couldn’t sit back and watch as one poor principle get Tokened through her inaction. HeyZeus had his entire attention turned to M3Dussa, BeAutyBrokEn took advantage of this and threw two threads, one stuck to the back of HeyZeus’ right knee, the other stuck to his left thigh.

The fight continued, and M3Dussa swung his tail in an attempt to trip HeyZeus. HeyZeus jumped over the tail easily evading the attack, BeAutyBrokEn saw her opportunity and pulled hard on the two threads, HeyZeus pitched forward and met the bridge hard with his chin. While he lay on the bridge stunned, BeAutyBroken took the three steps to his prone body and thrust her sword into his back. 1 kill +1 xp. She looked to M3Dussa to gauge his reaction, he was staring at her. Ignoring him for the time being she went down to one knee next to the body and went into his wallet and pulled out 10Au and his Token. She held the Token out to M3Dussa in the flat of her palm, with her other hand she pointed first to the Token and then to herself.     

M3Dussa rocked back a little like he had figured something out.“Oh! I see you want to Token him. Beauty that’s fine, do it.”

BeAutyBrokEn didn’t hesitate, she pulled out her Token and brought her hands together. There was a flash of light and she felt the tickle of electricity on her arms. When it was finished she put her still warm Token away and remembered something. “You called me Beauty?”

M3Dussa look taken back, “yeah, you  told me it was your nickname, and I should use it.”

“You? I told you that? How could I, I don’t think I’ve ever met you before.”

“No, no, you’re right, we haven’t met when I’ve like this as M3Dussa. We have met though, then I went by Ragar.”