Welcome to Gaia! ::

Also known as "The Holy City." The cathedral was rebuilt and now takes up most of the city. Monks, and other religious people, make up the main population. Poverty, along with slaves, has been dimished to only those few who hide in the shadows.

The man had listened to his offer. He had gathered himself a new pawn. For the return of "his" money the man was to go and find any magician willing to work for the same amount Bane had given back to the scoundrel. It shouldn't be too hard really, considering that amount of money could buy a home and food for a week.

While the man, whose name he had learned was Garn, was doing that he himself would be gathering more pawns. these however would be more useful than a street urchin searching for a quick buck. Still in his disguised form he made his way to the cathedral. It was alrge made with some black stone interspersed with white. It had been rebuilt some years ago, made bigger. they had tried to erase the memory of what the city used to be. A horrid and diseased place overun with pain and poverty, but turn to the right people and the darkness would return.

Inside the cathedral Bane asked where he might fin the chambers of those who presided over the division of the religion that clung to the old ways. He went swiftly through the corridors and reached the specific chapel. the chapel was small and old and dusty. These people still believed that the less body you had the closer you were to the divine. It was disgusting and horrendous, but it was dark and it could spread. He met with a man who had no arms who directed him to sit in his office with a few head nodding motions.

"What is it you would like to speak about about my child." the religious man asked. the words were nice, but his tone was of indifference as if he was doing this only because he had to.

"I came to offer my services to your sect." Bane replied. "You see I am a magician by trade, and know extensively how to heal injuries and even stop pain. You could perform your rituals without the fear of death or infection."

If he had hands the man would have put one up to stop him, "I am grateful for your concern, but we have had offers like yours before. To do that we would be violating our religious law. The dvine would turn their heads from those who defied them as such."

Bane had guessed something like this might happen, "Are you absolutely sure sir?" The no-armed man gave a definitive nod. "Fine then." Bane stared deep into the man's eyes and attacked him with his mind. He broke the barriers as one might snap a twig. He could search pitiful memories and know all about him, but he could care less. What he did do was break the man. He beat his mind until it was a blank page ready for written instructions by Bane himself. "You will go and inform all of the members of your sect that they are to go out into the city and attempt to convert as many people as possible. Got that?"

The man gave a scared nod, his eyes were wide and he had broekn out in a cold sweat. The Rider got up and left the cathedral. He needed to meet with Garn.

As Bane left the cathedral Geden was there to greet him. The other rider said hello and Bane provided a affirmative nod. The Four could fly as free as they wished, but he always wonderd where they went and why. Sometimes they told the others and sometimes they just left. He also wondered what geden had in mind being here. Perhaps it was similar to his own plans. He brushed it aside and just simply asked, "What brings you here?" his voice was still different from his original.

Supplies for what? was Bane's first thought. That however passed soon enough when Geden mentioned the Elthaein. He was pesky certainly. Unfortunately he was apparently intelligent as well since he was traveling in a pack. That was depressing. He thought it might be fun to break a few elves. Maybe make a statement.

There was at least one thing left for him to do and he didn't want to leave jsut yet. He wouldn't let a band of pathetic elves have him running scared. Elves may be higher up than humans, but compared to a rider they were still nothing. The leader of The Four spread his mind wider than his normal defences and contacted Cakren. He told his faithful to fly with Gartia and be ready for a swift getaway. After that was done he refocused his mind to become a fortess and refrained from checking other's minds for fear of detectino by the elves. His mind was the strongest out of anyone he had ever met save a few of his elder Riders. It was his greatest weapon and defense and most other riders cringed when they cmae in contact with his dark presence. "Well, theres just one thing I need to do first. Follow me." Bane turned to his right and his cloak swept behind him.

He made his way through the crowd, his eyes darting for signs of elves or anyone who seemed to be searching for something. Eventually, he arived in front of a tavern. It was close to where he had met Garn earlier. The tavern was bit dreary, and seemed to be low on business. That was fine, he wasn't here for ale. The Rider stepped inside and looked about. Garn was at a table in a corner with another man in a cloak too small, tattered clothes, and long greasy hair. Bane pulled up a chair, "Where've you been? We been waitin' for a while now." Garn spouted immediately. The impudance. The Rider snorted and tried to control himself.

"I had other business to tend to. I assume this is the magician?" Bane retorted.

"Izil. What would you like done? Sick family? Bad crops?" the magician chimed in. His voice a little high for a man's, and his eyes were shifty like he couldn't look straight at you. Bane had made a good choice. this city would fall the quickest. He knew not all the darkness could have been extinguiched here.

"Not quite. I want you two to work together to form a gang of sorts. Here in this city there are those that would cheat and lie and steal. They cannot be allowed to continue unchecked. The Riders wont do it. They are too busy for that. I want you to gather them up and create a haven for them. Your reward is as much gold as is in this city."

"Done," said Garn immediately.

Izil was more hesitant, "Why? Surely you see us as such filth as what you want us to gather. You seem to want to clean the city of us, so why pay us to do it?" Surprisingly he did not ask about why he chose a mage to do something that Garn could do. But he must have realized that the advantage of having a magician was far greater than to risk his money on more like Garn. That however weas not the only reason, and Izil would find that out sometime down the road.

"If I can make your life's better than there will not be a need for the crime and exploitation. I do wish to help." Bane lied. Izil gave an affirmative nod agreeing to do the work. The reward was high and he longed for the life of a noble. HE almost had that life before. He had been born to some nobles within the city, but when he had spent his time on magic and neglected his school, and then failed to comprehend his father's business, his parents kicked him out. Since then he lived on the streets trying to sell his mediocre magical skills. "Good." finished Bane.

((I think I might have overdid it a bit. xd ))

----- Bane + Cakren -----

Bane turned his head slightly and gave a nod to Geden. He stood, still facing his two 'employees.' "I'll have people checking up on your progress. When your done then you'll get your due."

Bane mentally contacted his dragon and sent an image of Helgrind and spoke of their exit. He then spoke to Geden softly, "We'll exit through Helgrind. I've contacted Cakren, he'll relay to Gartia. They'll be hiding in the mountain tops till we arive." The Rider then motioned for his companion to take the lead. It would seem he had a nack for handling these hunters.

Bane left the tavern. Wary of attack, his mind was spread, searching for ill intent directed at him. He quickly made his way through the crowded streets, eager to rid of the lowly vermin with which he had just held conference with. As planned he traveled to Helgrind. Hiding behind a large assortment of stone he awaited Cakren. The two flew off towards the Spine together, his work was never done.

Izil and Garn

The two 'former' criminals made their way back into the allies. The sooner they got their work done, they figured, the sooner they could attain that mountain of gold. Izil used his mental abilities to find the gamblers and thugs. There were few out in the light of the day, but through determination a few stragglers were gathered. One of them tried to fight the two, unbelieving of what they claimed. Between Izil's demented mind and and Garn physical skill the man bent to their whims.

The five shifty characters walked the streets, searching. They needed a place to congregate. A tavern may not be able to hold all the idiots Dras Leona had to offer, and most weren't willing to pay room and board every day. So, they would use their talents to seize a place. An inn of sorts would actually be good, but it had to be the right one. They could have food and ale and fill remaining room with customers. It would almost be like running a respectable business... almost.

At last they found what they were looking for. It was far enough from the wall of the city to be lacking hoards of insects, but it wasn't nice enough for any of the pompous upper class.

The sun was still high in the sky. Night was far off yet. They would wait till dark. Until then, it was still a search for more scum.