Underdark- Black Web Region
Kingdom of Zeren'gor Territory- City of Nythi Thalas
Warehouse District
"How is everything going?" Aaron asked as he dropped out of Stealth causing the sentry to jump slightly.
"Jesus, FUCK!! I know we can Resurrect Aaron, but dammit, are you trying to give me a heart attack.' Davis replied as Aaron smirked at him. 'Everything is fine. Everyone is happy that the Smugglers agreed to put us up and give us a safe place to stay until everything settles down. Everyone is wondering when that will happen though?" Davis asked pointedly and Aaron smiled before clapping him on his shoulder.
"Everything will be done soon my friend one way or another. I am about to go tell everyone they have a day to finish up any remaining preparations to make, after that within twelve hours it will be done. Don't go running off now Davis, you will be relieved to get any unfinished business done." Aaron told him before pulling back his hood and entering the warehouse.
It had been converted from a place of storage into a training area for new Guild members. An Agility course, places to spar, locked doors and chests of various types and grade, a Stealth room and a Trap room. A place Aaron was sure Jonas had forgotten about, but Aaron had not. The young Thieves and new members of the Guild had been ecstatic to be able to have a safe environment to practice and hone their skills. "Hey Margie, how is everything going?" Aaron asked causing the woman to give him a hard eye and snort before she went back to studying the various groups below.
"They learn quickly and if we survive, you got a good core of new Thieves to work the streets of Nythis Thalas that won't depend on smashing someone's skull in to steal from them." the Human woman replied. The hard woman was an excellent Thief and had come recommended by an old acquaintance that trusted her. She had quickly earned the respect of all the new Thieves by leading by example, or by breaking a few bones. She was also an excellent trainer for all the common Skills any Thief would need.
"Do you have that list of names?" Aaron asked her and she grunted.
"Aye, they will be ready when you need them. We are taking a big risk waiting as long as you are." Margie admonished him.
Aaron gave her a hard look and she shifted uncomfortably, "It gives them more time to train and level, giving them more experience and increasing their chances at surviving the coming fight. I do what is necessary for the Guild and our people Margie, that's one of the reasons why I brought you on board. To help them learn skills they will need, both in the coming fight and for afterward." Aaron told her.
"Well, at least you are planning on succeeding. From what I understand the deck is stacked against us." Margie replied and Aaron gave her a cocksure smile he didn't feel and winked.
"So we got them right where we want them. Keep the training going, I have to go check on some aces I plan on pulling out of my slave or ass." Aaron replied causing the woman to smile and wink.
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Underdark- Black Web Region
Kingdom of Zeren'gor Territory- City of Nythi Thalas
Inner City- House Bourne
Aaron wove his blades in a defensive pattern as his opponet pressed him hard, "KEEP IN THE CIRCLE!!" Natash bellowed at him and Aaron absently checked where he was and noticed he was inches away from breaking out of it and automatically losing. With a curse, Aaron smacked one of his opponents' blades to the side and shoulder checked her causing her to stumble backward and buying Aaron some time to go on the offensive.
"Better!!" Natash called out from outside the sparring area as they continued to dance back and forth but it was only a matter of time until Aaron's opponent finished the fight. She was more experienced using swords and was a little bit quicker as well. Finally, a minute later Aaron lost one of his blades as his opponents' sword slammed into his knuckles causing Aaron to curse as he dropped it, his opponets follow up attack swept Aaron's legs out from under him and placed a sword blade at his throat.
"DEAD!! Every blow has an objective, but not every blow has to be a killing blow.' Natash stated as he walked around talking to both students, 'You can kill an opponent with a dozen bleeding wounds, or with one thrust through the heart. Does it really matter as long as they are dead? Keep moving, until your life has fled your body, you can still fight. Remember this, always. A Duelist is not just the weapons in their hands, their mind and bodies are weapons as well. Hone them all to razor sharpness and you can become almost unbeatable. UNDERSTAND?" Natash yelled out.
A chorus of 'Yes First Sword' was returned before he bowed to the assembled candidates as the class started to break up. Aarons opponent eyed him and bowed, very slightly, to him. "You fought well, for a male. Perhaps I will see you again," she commented to him before turning and leaving.
Aaron looked at Natash who was standing there trying not to laugh, "Relax my friend, that is Corina, First Heir to House Ishala, the First House of the City and Stewards of Nythi Thalas. It is well known she had very little respect for the male species, so take that compliment as gold. The second part is an interest in seeing you as part of her Household someday. She has no idea who you are." Natash said with a smirk.
Aaron shuddered, "I have no wish to join any House and I will be discrete when I decline her invitation. Perhaps I will let slip what Guild I am associated with and it will dissuade her from inquiring any further." Aaron commented and Natash shrugged his shoulders.
"Possible, or it might entice her further, who knows with women until it's all said and done. I have read some concerning reports though lately...should I be worried?" Natash replied as he threw a waterskin at Aaron who caught it deftly.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Aaron frowned, he would have to be cautious. Guild business was not discussed with outsiders, just like House business was not. Yet he had already involved Lolth and her Priests, so... "What exactly have you heard?"
Natash gave him a hard look but Aaron shrugged it off, if he was going to be Viscount, he would be that man. That included not being bullied by the First Sword of a House. After a moment Natash gave him a smile a grudging nod of respect before replying, "Rumbles in the Undercity, possibly civil war or even war within the Underworld Guilds. It makes certain people nervous and they wonder how long until it spills onto the streets." Natash stated.
Aaron frowned as he took a deep drink from the water skin before handing it back to the First Sword, "It will all be settled soon, one way or another. If we lose, I don't think your people will have to worry very long, they will probably be killed soon after." Aaron replied and Natash frowned.
"Is that a threat?" the First Sword asked and Aaron looked at him then laughed.
"From me, not at all. From the ones, I oppose, very much so. They are the ones that are behind Jerimiah, having me imprisoned on Earth and other actions. Now if you will excuse me, I must be off. Too many things to do and very little time to do it." Aaron replied.
"Can you stop them?" Natash asked. Aaron smiled and winked before leaving.
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Underdark- Black Web Region
Kingdom of Zeren'gor Territory- City of Nythi Thalas
Outer City
Aaron could feel the eyes on him and smile at their ineptitude at following him. Upon entering the less patrolled and wild part of the city, Aaron had picked up more than one eye on him. It had taken them five minutes before they had finally gotten close enough for him to identify them. Pete and a couple of his cronies, probably the ones he had made fools of before everything had gone to shit.
More than one Begger had made covert offers to help, but Aaron had dissuaded them. He was also certain that at least one Assassin was ghosting behind them. None of them should interfere due to this being internal politics. At least Aaron hoped not if he built his leadership on the corpses the other Guilds dropped, he would be questioned at every turn. No, he had to do this alone or not at all. Aaron smiled, killing Pete one of Jonas Lieutenants, was too good of an opportunity to let pass up.
The next turn Aaron took, he dropped into Stealth immediately and moved towards the nearest alleyway as he studied the three Enforcers desperately looking for him. He chuckled and shook his head as they started to spread out, but at least they stayed within sight of each other. Aaron had to be careful, they had the Rogue Skill Tree and access to Rogue's Eye. One glance at him would probably highlight him as bright red in their eyes. So with a frown, Aaron started climbing the nearest building.
Fifteen minutes later, with plenty of grumbling, cursing, and intimidation was thrown at the few bystanders Pete and his groupies were on the verge of giving up. Aaron was considering what he wanted to do, he didn't want them getting away and getting back to the Undercity. Before he could decide what to do, another robed and cowled figure appeared on the street and marched up to Pete and slapped him and started yelling at him.
Aaron's grip the hilts of his daggers tightened as the popup appeared above the man's head identifying him as a Chaos Priest. Whatever he was saying scared Pete's companions because they immediately left leaving the big bruiser alone with the Priest. Aaron was too far away to make whatever he was saying clearly. "What are you doing?" Joe asked causing Aaron to flinch.
"Asshole, waiting for an opportune moment. Stay out of the way and don't get blasted by the Chaos Priest." Aaron told the Assassin as he moved across the roof of the building trying to get close enough to hear what the Priest was saying. Too late, the little impromptu meeting was breaking up and like a scolded schoolboy, Pete stomped off with the Priest trailing him at a more dignified pace. Aaron smiled as he drew his daggers and triggered Step through Shadows, appearing behind the Priest. With thought and flash of movement, both daggers found themselves lodged into the Priests neck and kidneys as Aaron triggered Backstab and Shank.
The Chaos Priest stumbled and collapsed at his feet as its health bar appeared and just as quickly disappeared. The noise of the Priest falling attracted Pete's attention as Aaron released one of his daggers and thrust his hand forward conjuring and throwing four knives with Fan of Blades before retrieving his off-hand knife. Pete was sent back reeling as half his health disappeared as the blades sunk into an arm and his chest. Nothing critical, but it would hurt and make him bleed.
With a shout, the Enforcer charged him and Aaron darted ahead, as his daggers lashed out as he slid past Pete cutting grooves into the man's legs drawing more blood and making him stumble. Aaron and Pete wheeled around to face each other, the Enforcer lashed out with a club, but Aaron ducked under it and kicked at the mans knee causing a 'pop' and scream as he started to collapse. Aaron moved forward and buried one dagger into the man's eye while the other slit his throat causing blood to fountain out as the Enforcer jerked once then died.
Aaron quickly looked around, but the other Enforcers were long gone now. He quickly looted the two bodies, but only the Priest had anything of note and it was all Chaos Aligned gear. Useless to him or the Guild unless he could get an Enchanter to strip the Alignment away. "Not bad, I think you missed you calling," Joe commented as he appeared from the nearby shadows.
Aaron gave him a bemused grin, "Well, there is always next time if I die by one of this guy's daggers." Aaron showed him the nasty looking knife he had picked up.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Name: Chaos Touched Sacrificial Knife
Quality: Uncommon
Weapon Type: Kris/Dagger
Damage: 30
Properties: Increase Intelligence by (Level X.25)
Properties: Increase Spell Damage by 10%
Enchantment: Fates Folly*
Requirement: Chaos Aligned, Chaos Acolyte
Durability: 100/120
Description: Chaos Blades are becoming more and more common on the Mortal Plane of Ithea. Beware both Local and Immortal, neither is beyond the reach of Chaos.
Note* Fates Folly= Immortals killed by this blade have a 30% chance that their current Avatar will be destroyed.
Joe winced and looked away, "Fucking dumbass. At least we don't die, die. Patch Thirteen fixed that." Joe replied and Aaron nodded, but what happened if Chaos found away around that. She had already found a way to destroy Avatars, which should have been impossible, how long until she found a way to kill Immortals permanently. Aaron shoved the thought away for later as he made his way deeper into the outskirts of the city.