Young Writers Society

I'd like steal gold please.

Adam

The money wasn't flowing well and it was too cold for staying out too long so reluctantly Adam made his way back up the street to the hovel he called home. The door was hanging off its hinges and as he went in the smell of dirt clogged rooms, rotting food and a spider found their way up his nose. He snorted, flushing the insect away and stared blearily at the spider web he'd just walked through. It was getting worse. But fortunately that was just the entrance.

Adam made his way through the unlit hall, moving by touch and stealthily avoiding the traps. There weren't many people who came around poking there noses in where they weren't welcome but those who did never came back for seconds. It was haunted people said. Some even claimed to have seen a young man go in there but no one had ever seen him come out. Adam would scoff at them, the bunch of loonies. Of course he left the house, just not by the way he went in.

It was a long hallway and while their were doors to the sides, those rooms hadn't been used in years. Never during Adam's life time in fact. It was the doorway at the end of the hall that mattered, the one that couldn't be seen. Adam nudged the stone with his foot until he was sure he had the right one and then he counted again to make certain but he'd not got it wrong once yet. He pushed it harder and it slid out of the way easily. The stone it landed on in turn slid down with a scrape that sounded like the cry of a poor old ghost and with a groan the piece of wood and spring were activated and a board lifted up.

It could have been more theatrical. Adam had always liked to think that he'd change it one day but it served the purpose. The lifted board told him where to put his fingers to find the concealed trap door and then he was through it and standing on the ladder below. A minute later to reset the latch and off he went through the passages to find his dad.

"Bad day eh?" a jovial looking man glanced up from his seat, flask in hand and alcohol sloshed across his shirt. "Could s told yer tha' but yer never listen teh me. I don' go out when it's gonna be a bad n." Adam nodded placidly as he swung open a safe. He brought a small purse of coins out but instead of emptying it, he filled it. The man cocked an eyebrow at that.

"An' where migh' yer be goin'?" Adam's father asked. Adam grinned happily.

"It gets awful lonely some nights," he said with a conspirational wink. His father chortled and shook his head.

"Aye an' look where awful lonely gets you." The man raised his flask to his son and drunk deep. That was as close to a compliment as Adam had ever had from his father.

(Your skill purchase has been recorded. You have 2 skill points left, meaning at level 3 you'll have 7 points to spend.)

Adrian

After a brief lesson on the history of Arcadia, Adrian went into the city to find something to pass the time. His next lesson would be in about four hours, so he needed find something he could occupy himself with. He was sure to leave the university fully armed. His father always told him never to leave home unarmed. You never know when someone might attack you. Adrian didn't think it would come to that, but there have been times when his sword had helped him move around easily. People tended to stay out of your way when you carry a sword.

There was one place he wanted to check out. He had heard rumors from apprentice mages in the university about an abandoned house in the Elven Gardens District. The house is supposed to be haunted, or so the story goes. One of the students even claimed to have seen a man enter the building and never came back out. Being the son of the General of King Septim's army, Adrian felt obligated to check it out. If there was any fowl play involved, the Guard needed to know.

As he walked down the street he was greeted with salutes from most of the guards he passed. Everyone under the king's service knew about Adrian and his father. It was a sign of respect for being the son of one of the world's saviours from eighteen years ago. He knew the men meant well, but deep down Adrian felt he didn't have the right to receive such praise. If anyone was going to salute him, or bow to him, he wanted it to be for something he did, not his father. That's why he was working so hard to be accepted into the Blades, so he could live up to the praises he received every day.

After a few minutes he made it to the so-called haunted house. From up front, it didn't look all that scary. Then again, looks can be deceiving. He entered with caution as he lightly pushed the old and barely hinged front door. The inside of the house was dark, as well as musky from what Adrian could only guess was food that has been rotting for over a decade. The only available light source available came from the front door Adrian had left open. Even then it was difficult to see where he was walking.

Everything was going fine until Adrian heard something go twang under his foot. Before he knew what was happening, he was on the floor with a net over his body. He struggled to free himself, but the rope net was heavy and hard to move, and thanks to the darkness he couldn't see where the edge of the net began. He tried to reach for his sword and ended up ensnaring his own arm in the process.

The sound of footsteps caused him to stop moving. Someone was coming. Adrian prayed that whoever was approaching was friendly. If not, he was in big trouble. All he could do was wait as a silhouette of a man emerged from the darkness.

"What do we have here?" the man asked.

By the way, I've decided that Adam was five when his mother handed him over to his father. And instead of making a second character, I'm going to tie this one to one of the original characters: Warren. Adam doesn't know but his parents were really Warren and his wife and he was brought up in Warren's house when he was young, often taken along on visits to the other members of the group. Adam's mother then had a vision she couldn't tell anyone about and fled into the city, leaving Adam with a man who had been in her vision. The man had slept with many women and thought nothing of not recognising this one. Adam's mother then drowned herself in the river. It is believed the little boy drowned with her and his body was carried too far down stream to be found.

So that this works Adam is now eighteen and his mother was one of the villagers who Warren helped that time he stayed behind. Warren fell in love then and they ad a quick, passionate relationship before Warren realised he had to re-join the others. He did not feel that it was the right time to tell them about her while they were still journeying but later did and returned to find that she was pregnant. He married her and she moved to the city with him.

Adam knows his real name is Tyson but has forgotten his surname.

Adam

He was almost on his way to one of the many exits when he heard the twang coming from the entrance. A glance at his father convinced him that the old man wasn't going up there, he was getting close to comatose from the drinking. Adam grunted and made his way back to the ladder. He pulled it down, climbed up and peered through the darkness, his eyes adjusting quickly.

"What do we have here?" Adam smirked as he moved closer, watching the boy caught in the net. Bold little thing, had to be, he was the first person to try and enter the house in years. And... he had a sword. Smart too then. Adam waited, not just for his answer but also for the haze to leave his vision but when it did, he swallowed nervously. He knew that boy, hell everyone in the city knew that boy.

"I am Adrian Arakor and I came to investigate rumours of a haunted house when this net snared me. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?" There was an edge to the boy's voice but it was one of warning as opposed to menace and Adam knew he had heard something similar to it before. He scratched his head and wondered, not for the first time, where he had spent the first five years of his life.

Attempting to inch the sword around to cut the net, Adrian squirmed a little. Adam stepped closer.

"You'll cut yourself," he observed. Adrian's mouth opened but Adam stalled whatever he was about to say with a raised hand. "In answer to your question, this house is not indeed haunted. It belongs to my father."

"Then why the trap?" Adrian asked. Adam was right beside his sprawled body now and crouched, leaning forward to put his face close to the younger boys. He grinned again but a little awkwardly. This was as close as he had come to someone of his age without him having the intention to steal or swindle the person. And he knew he couldn't do that. Not a chance. He had some respect at least because he's heard of the horrors of those years, the horrors this boy's parents had helped to banish.

"The children around here can be trouble. This is one of the poorest streets in the city and it doesn't hurt to be cautious," Adam replied with a shrug. He dug in his belt for a small knife and started to cut his way through the net. "I'm Adam by the way. Adam Scotch."

(Sounds good. And after that we can say Warren left the kingdom to search for adventure, and try to forget about what happened to his new family.)

Adrian

"Nice to meet you, Adam," Adrian said once he was free from the net.

"So, son of both the king's General and the Arch Mage of the Arcane University. Bet life's been pretty easy for you, huh?" Adam asked, interested in knowing what it must be like being the highest ranking nobility in the kingdom.

"Not as easy as you might think," Adrian said. "My mother tutors me everyday and my father trains me any chance he gets. A lot is expected of me, and I have to work hard not to let everyone down."

"I see...but your parents must be rich, right? I bet you can buy any store in this city if you wanted to."

"Yeah...my parents don't give me an allowance," Adrian said. "My father believes that money should be earned through labour, not status. I eat in the mess hall just like anyone else. Even my bedroom is in the same building as the rest of the apprentice mages. In a way, I'm no richer than you."

"Huh...Your dad sounds like quite the hard ass," Adam said.

Adrian shrugged. "Maybe, but there's no one else I would rather have as a father. What about you? What's your father like?"

Edgar

The stairs led to an underground catacomb of some kind. There were a few small holes in the ceiling that reached above ground. The light from the mid-day sun seeped faintly through the long pockets. The light was helpful, but without a torch it would still be hard to see.

"So, you guys sure this passage is safe?" Edgar asked. He didn't know what it was, but something in the musky air kept him on edge.

"Absolutely," Lucas said. "Only the King and us Blades know of its existence. There's no way the enemy could follow us."

"So, who's this enemy you're talking about?" Edgar asked.

Before Lucas could answer, a figure jumped down from an overhead platform and landed behind the other soldier, who had taken the rear. Edgar saw the glint of metal in the figure's hand just before the enemy struck down the man.

The enemy was wearing black and red armor that had intricate designs all over it. His face was hidden by a mask-like helmet. He raised the mace he used to strike the soldier and charged toward King Septim.

Lucas rushed past Edgar, pushing him into the wall in the process. He pulled out his short sword and in a flash of steel he sliced through the seemingly solid armor. The enemy's armor disintegrated as his body fell to the ground, leaving behind a man in a red hooded robe. A large gash from Lucas' sword ran across his chest.

Lucas sheathed his sword and went to the King's side. "M'lord, are you all right?"

"I am fine, Lucas," Uriel assured him. "What of Renault?"

Lucas went over to his fallen comrade. He knelt on the floor beside his body and checked for a pulse. He closed his eyes and shook his head. "He's dead. I'm sorry, Sire, but we have to keep moving." He got back to his feet and took his place at the front of the group.

"I thought you said no one else knew about this place?" Edgar commented.

"I don't know how he could have been waiting for us," Lucas said. "Just keep quiet and stay alert, prisoner."

"I have a name, you know."

"And what would it be?"

"Edgar Whitebane."

"Whitebane, you say?" Lucas asked, as if it wasn't the first time he heard that name.

"That's right."

"Hmm..." He seemed to think about it for a moment, but dismissed it with a shake of his head. "All right, Edgar. There may be more of them further in, so keep your eyes peeled. We're making it out of here one way or another."

*I'll take level 1 Dark, thanks*

Balaes

The safe house was a long way from being a house. Boss Flicker's lair had been converted from the damp basement of the Quiet Lion Inn. The pleasant appearance of the common room above it belied the basement itself, where all manner of the city's most despised gathered.

Bal and Shmet made their way through the motley ranks of Flicker's gang, towards the boss himself. Shmet held the book in one hand, the other keeping a firm grip on Bal's sleeve, should he try to run for whatever imagined reason.

Flicker turned his face towards them as they approached, his eyes lighting up with avarice on the sight of the book in Shmet's arms. "Hand it over!" Shmet held out the book, and Flicker snatched it away like a small child, snarling a little, before smiling to himself. "Ah, Arri'll have her knickers in a right twist over this one, but there's nothing she can do right now." He snorted, "Foolish girl."

Then his eyes snapped to Bal's, furious again, "What took you so long, runner?"

Shmet answered for him, probably saving Bal a lot of trouble, "He almost got caught, and had to stick some thug in order to get away. Then he had to lose a couple of city guards."

Flicker raised an eyebrow, "Impressive, boy. I'll have to keep an eye on you. In the meantime - I've got a new job for you, Shmet. Maybe send this one on it, cool off some of the heat from that theft by keeping him in this area. I need you to investigate a young thief who's popped up recently. Name of Adam Scotch. He hangs around the haunted house, and isn't tied to any gang or guild at the moment. I need a runner to give him the offer of joining us. Him, Shmet?" The boss finished with a nod in Bal's direction.

Shmet nodded in reply, then turned to Bal, "You heard Boss Flicker, Balaes. Get to the haunted house and find the new thief."

***if someone could bring me in that would be good I'm stuck on how to do it***

(Well, the only person who could help you would be Ayumi. One of her characters is a Healer, so she could be a frequent customer. PM AyumiGosu and see if the two of you can figure something out.)

***okay***

Enya rolled her eyes as the two boys finally stumbled into the building, laughing and covered in sweat. She could smell their manly stench from the doorway, and she was standing next to the kitchen counter across the room.

"Good Lord!" she grimaced. "Don't you two know how to go easy once and a while? You stink worse than ever!"

Kai chuckled, leaning his practice sword and sheath next the door, a tradition he picked up from his father. "We're guys. We can't go easy."

She groaned, shaking her head as she opened a cabinent and pulled five plates down. She fixed a plate for each person in the household, taking them two at a time to the table in the next room. "Mother! Father! Dinner's ready!"

Her mother and father both entered the room, then, smiling as always. Her mother was almost as tall as her husband, beind half-elf. Many people said that Enya was her mother's spitting image: blonde hair, blue eyes, and taller than most girls her age. Kai resembled their father, being of average build with red hair and blue eyes.

They company sat down at the table, uttered a quick prayer of thanks for the great day, their families, and their homes, before beginning to eat and talk about the events of the day.

(You now have Lv. 1 Dark, Billy. Now, the only one left to pick her characters' skills is Ayumi. Oh, yeah. Ayumi told me she wouldn't be able to post much from Mondays to Thursdays, so just be pacient if she doesn't send you a reply right away, boltage.)

Adam

It was a harsh sounding laugh that escaped Adam's throat, harder and more grating than he had meant it to be. It was filled with a dull hatred for a mother who had left him, abandoned him to the city's dangers and a despising for a father who was the lowest of men. It was the laugh of a man who was starting to realise that the life of a thief was only fun and games while you was young. And only while you stayed alive.

"My dad," he said. "Is rotten to the core, he's drunk more alcohol than you have water and he's had more women than you have lessons." The boy's face turned a little red at the last comment and his mouth hung a little open. He closed it and then opened it again but Adam grabbed his arm and the boy went still, alert. That was some real training there.

"Someone's trying very hard to be quiet," Adam whispered in Adrian's ear. "Looks like you'll get to meet my old man afterall."

Adam began to move carefully back along the hallway, guiding Adrian's feet along the right path but the boy seemed reluctant to be led.

"I have no enemies, let them come," he whispered, at least having the sense to be quiet but Adam feared that was not enough.

"Good for you," he retorted. They'd reached the end now and Adam triggered the ladder, climbing down quickly. At the bottom, he looked up to see that the boy had indeed followed him.

"But I suppose I wouldn't be able to avoid those traps on my own," he said.

"No," Adam agreed. "But whoever is up there probably will." They entered into the next room where Adam's father was still drinking, chugging slowly from the bottle, his eyes more alert than what should have been expected. But Adam knew why. His father seemed to know when danger was around. He stumbled up.

"I'll be leadin' teh way out th'n, eh?" Adam shook his head.

"No, I want to see whose been sent. Just wanted to have an exit at my back first," Adam corrected. His father chortled and shook his head ruefully.

"Must ge' i' from 'is mother," he mumbled as he headed for one of the passages that led out of the underground base. "Yeh try teh teach 'em an' they jus' don' ge' it. Come fin' me if yer still alive, son."

"Yeah... sure thing old man," Adam said with an almost fond smile. That's my dad... always running when there's trouble. Got to love him sometimes.

Enya could not sleep. Again. It had been hours since dinner, and about half an hour since everyone else had gone to sleep.

She needed to walk...

She rose out of bed and slipped out of her nightgown, putting a skirt and simple tunic on, throwing a traveling cloak over her shoulders. She picked up her boots, carrying them until she reached the door...

Wait. It's nighttime. I'm a girl. I'm a YOUNG girl... she groaned at the thought; she would have to get her brother up...

She returned to his room to find him sitting up and staring out the window. "Kai? Can you walk with me? ...I can't get to sleep."

He nodded. A good brother, as always. Together, they made their way to town, just strolling quietly and looking at the stars in the sky. For some unknown reason, however, Enya stopped in front of the magic shop.

"Kai? Do you know about magic?" she asked.

"A little. Why?"

"It's...intriguing."

"Okay... So, why not go in? I'm sure the night's shiftman wouldn't mind telling you more about it."

Reon

Reon was awaken by the alarm. Like most of the house the bedrooms had a spell on them that brought him to the shop when late night shoppers came by. The old man had always thought customers never should wait. Reon hoped out of his bed fully dressed as always. He always stayed dressed in bed in case the alarm sounded. Reon made it to the front and flung open the door with a yawn.
"hi I'm Reon how may i help you, i assume you need a sleeping potion cause of the time"

Balaes

He noted the loop of rope just beyond the door as he entered, as well as a number of other traps littering the room haphazardly. Tripwires, small bags that probably contained half-baked alchemies, a trapdoor. Flicker would seize on this place if he had any idea how well guarded it was.

He picked his way through the traps with practised ease - he'd spent long enough as a runner to be able to recognise traps as obvious as these on his own. They looked to have been laid by a drunkard. Hope that's not the new boy's work...

He frowned as he reached the end of a hallway. There was a hole in the floor at the otherwise bare finish, but Bal couldn't see the bottom, couldn't see any kind of switch, and didn't particularly want to test how far down it was with his legs.

"Adam Scotch?" He called out, deciding that if he was going to be talking to him anyway, it would do well to announce his own presence. Hiding could only result in something bad for him, "I'm here to talk!" He didn't elaborate further - letting the thief know who'd sent him could ruin everything, and revealing his own hesitation to work for Flicker, as he had considered, might result in tipping off anyone who might have followed him. Such as Shmet.