The Mark

    In all my years working the streets, I've never come across a paladin before, so how was I supposed to know what he followed?
     Well, I've never tried to steal from one before rather... and I've always tried to avoid them at all cost frankly. But for some reason, today I was feeling adventurous.

     Cephalo stood there outside the Inn, looking around and wandering aimlessly about the town of Blubels, oblivious to my presence. He was moving towards the buildings with help wanted signs, but slouching his shoulders when he saw that he couldn't perform the task. I looked him and his equipment over carefully, seeing that he was well dressed, well kempt, and well armed.

     Why would he need a job? To be so well off and dressed like that in this town meant that you did have coin to spare. Either way, he probally had enough to provide me with money for dinner.

     The elf didn't hear me coming, nor did he see me off to his side. It was easy to reach his coin purse, and I managed only three measly gold pieces from the bag, but it was enough to get some lodging. Unfortunatley, he turned as I put the money in my pocket and started to walk away. He caught me by the back of my armor and lifted me up. I gasped stunned as he caught me and turned me to face him.

     "I know you stole from me, so you're going to have to work off the debt you just made." He said calmly, following his disposition as he carried me towards the Inn.

     On the way, we 'met' Dante the barbarian. He was drunk, and barely concious. Cephalo's trained instincts took over and nearly gave me the chance to run as he proped the dwarf up on the wall of the Inn, but Olidammara didn't smile on me that time.

     "Myself and my associate here," He lifted me up again to show the Inn keeper. "Krishal, would like to find employment here." He stated as I rolled my eyes.

     The Inn keeper grunted and said. "Your lodging is free so long as you work here, you get paid two gold per day, no more. Make all the beds in the Inn everyday after all the customers leave. Got it?"

     We both nodded, I twisted my face slightly at the Inn keeper's breath. It smelled like stale ale and rotten fish combined with a thick layer of garlic. Not something I envision of wanting to listen to, or smell, often. He led us into the back part of the Inn where all the beds were and set us to work.

     Slowly but surely, I started to warm up to Cephalo's goodness, his work ethic did get us free lodging for a few nights, and that night we went to sleep without arguement.

     The next morning, we continued the mundane task, till we burst in on the room of Lily, who was still asleep. Cephalo woke her gently as he could, and got called her 'mommy' in the process. When she woke, she shrieked holding her blanket over her nakedness while I innocently stood next to the doorway, looking at her. She didn't seem to notice Cephalo to her side till he introduced the two of us and apologized.

     Then the dwarf happened.

     Somehow, Dante had sobered up enough during the night and stumbled into the Inn through Lily's window, breaking the glass in the process, and passing out on the floor. She asked Cephalo to leave politely and then refrenced me as 'him' with a snide motion, so she could change. Lily had also wanted Dante out of the room, but we assured her that he was too drunk to see, which allowed her to change once we were outside.

     After paying the Inn Keeper for damages and the extra night's stay, I started thinking about repayment for Cephalo's kindness, and looked at the dwarf. He was still drunk, couldn't see, couldn't hear, yet. It was simply a matter of going over to him and taking the money, which I did. Then, what I feared happened. He regained conciousness. I'd no idea dwarves were so, detial oriented when he noticed his gold missing, and saw my pouch full.

     "I'm taking my gold back, plus intrest!" He rumbled as he swept my legs from under me and held me up.

     I could only grin as Cephalo and Lily laughed at my prediciment, and closed my eyes for the inevitable. He shook hard and more than what I stole from both Cephalo and Dante combined fell out of the pouch. He dropped me with a thud after gathering the gold, and we all agreed that we may be of use to one another. We left that afternoon to find the Magistrate of Blubels for some sort of quest.