"Sir, there is still no word..."

After almost three months I'd asumed there wouldn't be, but there was still the need to ask. We had assumed he was dead even, but just a week ago rumor came that our old friend had been seen in the great port of Cai'ton in the company of those we have long considered our enemies.

"Have all our ears from Cai'ton reported in already then?"

"No sir, one has yet to report..."

"AND ???"

"We just received word that another is dead, and there is some evidence that Dirge Erudis was involved, sir."

"You waited until the end of your report to give me this news?" Maybe its unfair of me that I speak so harshly - he is just doing his job, but it is well known the high level of import I have placed on this case. If one of our members thinks to go out on his own - thinks it could be a benefit to break from us - there MUST be an example made to prevent such ideas from forming elsewhere...

...No matter who it might be.

Then again, there must be another explination.

Having dismissed the Brethren who brought the daily reports, I find myself lost to my own troubled thoughts.

~ Mord, what are you doing? I feel as though you are calling me out, and the task before me is one I wish not to follow through. Please, old friend - don't make me do this... ~

The current Dirge and I have a long history together, and if this turns out as I fear - I would never allow another to seek him out. I am the only one responcible, and must do my part to set these things right.

~ Three days my friend, and then I wait no longer. Three days, and then I have no choice but to come for you...

... Wherever you are. ~

Butler - "I trust you slept well, master Erudis?"

"I didn't sleep at all."

Butler - "Oh, that is indeed a shame."

"Will you take me to Gando now, or will I continue to suffer the humiliation of being put on hold for yet another day?"

Butler - "As you know, master Erudis, the Temisyth family is very busy. I'm sure they have not forgotten about you, or your request."

"A bunch of street thugs and drug dealers. That is the Temisyth family."

Butler - "You would do well to watch your words in mater Temisyth's home, master Erudis."

"You tell Gando that if he doesn't see me today, I'll pick up the contract thats on his head and then move on to someone who can actually tell me what I want to hear."

Butler - "Err... As you wish, master Erudis."

~ (Azazel) Why don't you just kill Gando? Thats more money for the guild, more money for you... Besides, this man probably doesn't know anything about what you're looking for. Like you said, he's just a small time crook. ~

"Shut up Azazel! I grow tired of your incessant suggesting and provoking."

Bulter - "Did you say something, master Erudis?"

"No. Nothing. Leave me be."

Bulter - "Indeed, sir."

~ You know... Azazel may be right. And I'll need the funds if I'm going to continue this job. But I must speak with Gando first. He and his lackeys know the area pretty well. They have to have heard of what I'm looking for...~

There are no goodbyes today. The customary 'Good luck' or 'Good Fortune' are absent. The task at hand is a solemn one for all those who know, and may turn out to be the greatest loss out guild has ever known.

3 days, as promised, and still no further word. One of our leaders is missing and it would appear has turned on us, another of our men has failed to report, and yet a third is known dead. I find myself with little choice in the matter, and thus it is I head out.

"Easy now Vionyx, our road is straight. Don't let my demeanor trouble your gait old friend." Of course my most trusted mount would be able to pick up on the turmoil in my head, anyone probably could with just a glance in my dirrection after all. Deciding it best to try and distract myself, I once again check over all the supplies that have been packed in the neumerous bags as we head out.

The food, enough for 5 days of travel is dispearced evenly among 3 bags as precaution allong with a small assortment of other odds-and-ends. There is also 3 lengths of rope, each measuring about 50ft strapped to the saddle, a decent bedroll, my tinderbox, whet stone, and cooks pot.

As has always been my style, I travel light but well armed. There is the set of my Falcata sheathed in there costomary place on my back, the 7 daggers that are always well placed yet hidden all over my person, and the bow I made myself well over 15 years ago. I've also added a well-crafted woodsmans axe and a small crossbow that may prove useful if things turn out as feared. Finally, there is the barbed whip given to me years ago by the very man I now find myself hunting...

Galdo - "Look. I've never heard of any temple like the one you speak of in this area."

"Hrrr... You're not being of much help, Galdo. I think its time you said goodnight."

"Wait! Wait... There is a town in the desert east of here... Kezerac. Visit the monastery there. Perhaps the monks will know more of what you're looking for."

"Well... Apparently you aren't as useless as I thought."

"So you aren't going to kill me then?"

"I never said that."

"No! Wait!"

Quickly reaching to my side, I pulled out my right Sahaji. With a crisp slash across the neck, I severed the foolish crook's jugular.

"Nothing personal. I just need the money."

With the head of my victim in hand, I sought out the quickest exit from the mansion. My next stop would be the bounty office.

~ (Azazel) Only 300 gold? That seems hardly worth the trouble. You should give up on this little expedition and get back to the slaughter.~

"Quit complaining. Its enough to get us to the next city, with a little left for food and drink."

I reached the outskirts of town and whistled for Antimony, my steed.

"Make haste, old friend. We have a long ride ahead of us."

Even durring my time spent here as a youth I was never able to understand why this city port was so often reffered to as 'great'. What law there is here belongs to the merchants, and they hire nothing better than your average cut-throats, well over half of anything you see is easily called a slum, and those lesser fools who see themselves as someone like me abound...

...No wonder I am able to slip by unnoticed - as always.

It hasn't been a long time since my last visit, and things here change little - for that I am grateful in this time of haste. I decided before I'd arrived to start with the one man of ours we know to still live, and he led me immediately to the homes of the Temisyth family - a most fruitful desision.

The bloodbath I found there told me 2 things - first, our wayward guildmate was not in fact working in cohoots with our enemies, and second that he was still alive, active, and not far ahead of me. What was he up to though?

Joshen, my guide, informed me that there had been a bounty on the head of 2 of that families leaders, and I assumed by the looks of things that at least one of those bounties had probably been paid in full. Unfortunatly, that still did nothing to answer my most pressing question - where was my old friend Mordeuis, and what the hell was he doing?

The answer came to us via one of the many street peddlers in the area who was somehow a living witness to some small part of whatever took place here. We learned, thanks to some silver well spent, that our friend had appeared to get information that would carry him east into the desert to some small town called Kezerac.

My journey, it would seem, is far from over...

"Finally... I was starting to think we'd never arrive."

~ (Azazel) Me too. And what was with that caravan? Playing that horrid music... It about drove me insane!~

"You must be kidding me... Anyway, I'll call you when I have need of you again, Antimony."

Tapping Antimony's hind twice, she took off into the desert. God knows what she did when I wasn't around... It had taken us 5 days to reach the city of Kezerac. If the monks here didn't have the knowledge I sought, I 'd have half a mind to wipe out the entire town.

I unclasped my cloak and slid it between my layers of armor. It would be best that the residence here didn't know my affiliation. I began to wander about the town in search of [the monastery. As I meandered, I noticed a quaint little tavern just off the main road.

An hour or so passed before I reached the steps to the monastery.

"Finally! Why does everything have to look exactly the same here in the desert?"

I climbed the stairs and entered the monastery. What was held within was quite a site; large pillars of twisting white and black lined an auditorium at the front of which was a large iron cross hung above an ocean of candles.

~ (Azazel) This must be the place. ~

"You there! Monk!"

Monk - "Hello traveler. Do you come seeking enlightment?"

"Hardly. A man in a distant town said the monks here may have knowledge of the place I seek."

Monk - "Perhaps we do. You should meet with the Friar."

When I exited the monastery a couple of hours later, darkness had fell upon the small town.

Now was the perfect time to regain my energy for the journey ahead...

I doubt it was anything but luck, but about an hour ago I came across my old friend as he exited some old monestary. Remaining unseen, I decided to follow him for a short while rather than reveal myself right away - there was some small chance that I'd get the answers I needed this evening after all.

~ Come on Mord, I know you like to drink and all... ~

Guard - "...you check the one on the left, I'll look down there alongside the tavern..."

"I don't like this little town, its far to littered with these 'peace keepers' for my taste." With a mumble to myself, I look up and decide that maybe the rooftops just above would offer better vantage and cover.

~ Make me wait much longer and you won't even get a chance to take in a breath, never mind trying to speak. My patience grows thin. ~

As I entered the tavern I had the feeling I was being watched. Of course, I had that feeling a lot, so I dismissed the thought. Tonight would be my last night of enjoyment until I completed the trip back from my destination.

I began to scope out the occupants of the tavern as I made my way to the bar. Off to the right was a group of men playing dice, and to the left, more patrons sitting at the tables trying desperately to look as though they were minding their own business.

Bartender - "How may I help you, sir?"

"Something strong to drink... And a menu."

Bartender - "Right away!"

I perused the menu for a few minutes before placing my order. For being a back alley tavern, this place served rather high quality food. Grilled Venison with rice and beans, not what I had expected.

I gazed over at the men playing dice on the floor nearby. Apparently one of them noticed me, as he called out to me.

Man - "Hey there mister, care to join us?"

I thought for a moment, and then agreed. The recent journey had left me short on coin, and making it back would be difficult otherwise.

About twenty minutes had passed, and I was doing quite well for myself. I had made ten gold worth so far, with plans to take these men for all they had. Just as I was about to shoot again, my order was placed upon the bar.

Man - "Where ya goin', mister? You're on a roll!"

"I'll return when I finish this."

I ate my meal in solitude, as I had done many times before. I didn't much care for the company of others. There where only a handful of people whom I enjoyed being around for more than a couple of hours.

Once I had finished, I returned to the dice game that had proceeded on without me.

About an hour later, and fifty gold's worth in silver and copper richer, I rose to my feet and exited the tevern. As I turned the corner into the alleyway, I heard footsteps behind me.

Man - "Where do ya think yer goin?"

"It would appear that I am walking down this alley. I'd recommend you do the same - in the opposite direction."

Man - "You aren't going anywhere without paying up! I saw how much you made over there at the dice game! Now give me the money, or else!"

"Or else? Or else what? Can't you see by how heavily armed I am that I mean business?"

The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a small dagger.

Man - "Now pay up!"

The instant he pulled out that dagger, the man went from being an innocent bystander, to a would be assailant. I didn't care much for threats, and dealt with them accordingly.

I stomped with all my weight onto the heel of my right leg, releasing a blade at the toe of my boot. Spinning around, I caught the man square in the left temple, blood spraying out as I impacted. Just as quickly, I pulled my leg away from his head and watched his body fall to the floor.

~Huh... I really was expecting more of a fight. Such a shame. Well? Was it worth it? You're life for a few hundred gold?~

I turn around once more and continued down the alley as if nothing had happened.

Some people just never know when its a good time to simply walk away...

...obviously. Even so, I still was a bit surprised to see my old comrade go to such extremes - just wasn't like the Mordeuis I once knew. Something has changed and I don't like it.

"Erudis, its time you paid for your misdeads!"

Flipping off the roof as he spins, I draw my set of falcata...