A dusty, bloody, fiery, smelly way out.

Coming to, I saw wooden beams above my head slanting downward. To my left Darren loomed, his face splitting into one of the largest most sincere grins I had ever witnessed. The sound of rain dancing overhead beating its steady melody upon the beams is forever etched into my mind. The smell of dust was thick, and looking around I could see it coating the floorboards. Lim and Alloriah were on the other side of this rather small yet long room. Jax alone was absent. 

Questioning the absence of Jax, I sat up, none too worse for the wear, my wounds wonderfully healed. I was told that we were in the attic of an abandoned house. And that Jax went out. Everyone seemed to be alright, but we were to keep our talking in whispers. Asking Alloriah about the lion, she told me that he was set free. I raised a eyebrow in the shadows, but took her word for it. I would think it would take more than a few moments to set the lion free back to its mountains, but then again I am no Druid.


After some time Jax, returned, crawling through a small window, the rain had eased up to a drizzle, and small drops glistened off his clothing and hair. He told us that our descriptions were being circulated, guards were looking for us, and in short we needed to get out of here, quickly. Into my pack I rustled for but a moment, and out I pulled a small box. I offered to augment every one's looks until we were outside of the damnable walls. My offer was heartily taken up and the next few hours put my skills to the test. Using Jax's information on our descriptions I went to work. 

First Lim Dul'Karavack's thick black tresses were shaved off, fully. and his skin colour, lightened. Jax and Darren's skin colour changed as well. There was little else I could do for them. Alloriah though I changed her hair as to make it appear short, but cut it I did not, and I dulled her features. For myself I dyed my hair a non-discript colour, and braided it. When my work was done we did look differently enough so a given description wouldn't match us. We then left our attic hiding hole, in groups of twos, and I alone checking ahead of us. With my cloak closed and hood pulled up I could sneak ahead with little fear. We were to split up and go different ways to ultimately rendezvous at the Inn.

Dodging patrol groups, with out any incident this time, I finally made it back to the Inn, and watched from a close alley way. I let them trickle in, then slipped farther around to the alley and made a bit of a change with my own clothing. Inside I went. At a corner table they were sitting and I slipped next to Darren to join. The Innkeeper had signaled it was not time to leave yet. Ordering some drinks, we sat there for a relatively short amount of time, mayhaps a half of a hour. We were getting ready to leave, eventide was nigh. 

The door to the Inn burst open and guards marched in. I wrapped my arms around Darren and flaunted over him, resting my head on his muscular shoulder. His hand slipped around my waist, while I felt his other inching towards his weapon. Lim engaged himself in conversation with Jax, and Alloriah looked on with interest. Five minutes at least, the Captain of this unit looked us over. When finally he turned to leave, in stepped the Cleric.
  The very Cleric we left unconscious. I almost regretted not killing him when I had the chance. Alas, the penalty for his death would not mesh well with my plans, if ever I was caught. 

He looked around for but a moment. 

"That's them, they broke into my home and took a valuable book." 

The guards moved to us, Lim unleashed a spell, Darren busted forward toppled the table, I slipped behind him. Alloriah, well, I do not know what she did. Jax caught my eye, I knew what he meant to do, and nodded. He slipped away in the confusion. I only hoped he got outside safely, and that he had some light to lead him through the underground. After a few moments of scuffling, and shouting Lim, Alloriah, and myself were subdued. Whileas Darren was holding his own with three of the guards.

Seeing the danger rising around him, and knowing the outcome of three more guards joining the fray, I yelled for Darren to cease. He gave me a confused look. And I shouted for him to lay down his weapon, this battle was over, to allow himself to be taken. It seemed to take him a moment to let the scene around him to sink in, but finally he yielded, grudgingly. Guards rushed over, took his weapon, and shackled his hands behind his back. To my eyes, it was as if someone had captured a wild stallion. Shameful.

All the while the Cleric stood watching, like a amused spectator. As we were shackled he walked up to each of us, and studied our faces. 

"Did you really think you could get away? My book is very valuable." 

"We didn't steal any book!" Alloriah finally seemed to find a voice. 

"There's one missing. Where is he?" The Cleric came up to me and lowered his face.

Looking up at him calmly. "I have no idea what your talking about. We just came here for a meal. I don't know what book you could mean." 

He sneered. "Take them to the prison, they can be questioned there." Turning on his heel he walked away, a small group of guard waiting outside rejoined him, and escorted him up the road. Babble broke forth from Lim and Alloriah, what they said I do not know, I was contemplating too deeply to pay attention. How to escape...with the rest of them in tow...surely they couldn't keep a closed mouth under interrogation.....the Nest would fall due to the storm that would come about. 

The Captain ordered for us to be taken outside, a small group of three guards were to stay at the Inn. Two carts pulled by oxen were waiting in the evening dimness, to carry us away. Darren was being corralled up, in the first cart, and Alloriah was bring lifted up into the second one. Turning to the Captain I spoke calmly. 

"You can leave the Innkeeper alone, she did nothing. She knows nothing." 

A slap greeted my face. Mercifully un-gauntleted, stinging none the less. 

"Bring me a gag!" It was done and I was gagged."You need to learn your place. Make sure she doesn't talk!" He yanked me around. "You had her shackles too loose!" Lifting me up and apparently shaking me he unlocked my shackles! "There, now do your jobs properly next time, foolishness will get you nowhere." Watching Lim and myself being loaded in the first and second cart, satisfied he ordered the carts off. I watched him turn to attend to the poor Innkeeper, and that mess we caused. The Crow's feathers drop at interesting places. 

The cart lurched down the cobbled street, two guards walking ahead, one on each cart, and two walking behind. In the evening light there was not much to do, mayhaps only be thankful that citizens did not crowd the street, and gawk. I knew the area, and there was only one chance. My dagger and short bow lie next to the guard, along with Darren's sword, Alloriah's staff, and Lim half spear. I moved closer to Alloriah, back to back, and undid her shackles. There was a tunnel coming up that we were to pass through. With any more luck we would be free. The guard watching us looked behind him, forward to the first cart, and I quickly slipped my dagger out of the pile and under my legs. Alloriah was watching me, and I just shrugged my shoulders. As the tunnel came and we entered through it was dark, so very dark, no torches had been lit here yet. Perfect. 

I slipped off of the cart, and dropped back behind the two guards following. Slipping the keys off one's belt loop proved no challenge. My dagger easily found its way between one's ribs, and he crumpled like wet paper. I moved and slipped the keys into Alloriah's hands, then moved off toward the wall of the tunnel. The other unable to see well, called out to see what happened. Amazingly enough I could see perfectly. Of course, that's one of the advantages to not being human. I felt fur brush across myself, looking very hard I could see the shape of a large, very large feline. Blacker than the blackest night. Nearly impossible to discern from the darkness. I reached out and touched its shoulder. Not being attacked, I grinned. It might be handy having a Druid around. Now, the guard that was sitting on my cart was up, weapon drawn, ready. My grinned turned into a smile, he isn't ready enough. 

Weaving through the ox I made my way to the guard, and struck. Injuring a man apparently makes him cry out in pain. Such a shame it was not another instantly silenced injury. Yells exploded from the guards remaining. I grabbed Darren's sword and dropped it on his cart. For it suddenly lurched forward. Moving to intercept one of the guards coming from the front, I yelled for Alloriah to do something. Lim and Darren jumped into motion as well, thankfully. Sometimes...well, that's neither here or now. Fighting ensued. Lim got a spell or two off, Darren is impressive to watch even with his hand shackled, for he somehow got them in front of him. I think Alloriah actually cured one or two of us. And the feline helped us as well. During the battle, I think Alloriah undid Lim's shackles, while I worked on Darren's from inside his arms, as he was fighting. Soon all but one of the guards were down. As the last one ran off, I rushed over to my bow and quickly drew a arrow from a quiver and fired. 

It missed. 

Cursing under my breath I looked around. Lim and Darren were kneeling at Alloriah's side, apparently she went down during the fight. Running over to her body, I checked her vitals. She would live. I then went over to the wall of the tunnel, and drew out my lock picks. A door to the sewers was set here, and this would be our only way out. Setting to work I heard yells coming from down the street and a bell began to clang. Lim must learn someday, that speaking to me during such a impeccable time is not the best of decisions.

Much less telling me to hurry. 

With a minute the lock clicked open and Darren pushed the much unused door open. Inside he went, followed by Lim carrying Alloriah's body. I followed and looked around making sure no one had seen us. Once inside the door was quickly closed behind me and the lock reset. I informed them that Alloriah will be fine and she was mearly unconscious at the moment. Lim let out a wicked grin that took up his entire face. He then swooped a finger into the sewage that was running below us. Promptly putting said finger under Alloriah's nose. 

Never before have I seen someone awake so promptly, and disgustedly.

Laughing softly to myself at what just occurred. Alloriah created a ball of magical light. For fire in such a area would be a prompt end to our lives. I stepped forward to lead them out and slipped on a bit of sewage that Lim had caused to drip in the walkway. Let me just say that the rest of our journey back to the Nest was uneventful, and upon arriving I spirited myself away to the bath house before rejoining the other in a meeting with Master Crow. 

To get the stench of the Citadel off of me.