((Credit for this post goes to LystAP/Aigiarn/X'cinna/Hihisa/Chakha/etc! With some minor edits, on my part))
The alleyways of Ul’dah have always been dark and grimy. The walled city cast shadows that spilled out into the camps surrounding the city, like mold surrounding a rotten piece of aldgoat meat floating in a festering puddle. The city has changed much since the beginning of the Astral Era, the camps of refugees have become semi-permanent, and many shoddy buildings have replaced the tents of the old refugee camps.
Within these suburbs of firth, lies a particularly horrid group of neighborhoods, the Dredges. Located near the warehouses of the former Telediji, and now, by the Sultanate, this patch of neighborhood has seen better days since the beginning of the Sultana’s mysterious illness and recovery.
Within the depths of this suburb, a gathering of blackguards, criminals and ill-doers agglomerated within a warehouse. Five groups are present: a group of ill-dressed Roes, the ‘Muscle Bound’; a shabby gang of Highlanders, the ‘Mhigan Flies’; a mixed race group of failed merchants, the ‘One-Gil Mob’; a bunch of Order of Nald’thal dropouts, the ‘’Short Staffs’; and finally, a mixed group of slightly twitching toughs, the ‘Alleyway Boars.’ The leader of the Alleyway Boars, Kordo was particularly shifty, his eyes darting back and forth.
“What ye called this meeting for Kordo? Ye finally gonna give in your turf?†the massive muscle-bound and well-oiled Roegen, Black Sun sneered at Kordo.
“His turf already belongs to another, gleaming Outsider.†A soft purr accompanied that voice, and everyone looked around warily. With a slam, a figure dropped down from the room, sending slightly shockwaves and a few drew their weapons in alarm. The figure stood up, wrapped in furs and a weird glimmering spear on their back. The dim light revealed a miqo’te woman with snow-white hair and blue highlights, with tanned skin. “It’s one of the Golden Prints bitches!†one of the Muscle Bound exclaimed.
“That’s X’cinna Ares to you. You glitter well in the dim light, Outsider,†the miqo’te stood up and smirked at Black Sun. The crowd glares, cowered and eyed her, “Who do you think you are, yes!,†the leader of the Short Staffs shouted. “Huh?†X’cinna’s eyes narrowed and glared at the lalafell, whom squeaked and curled up involuntarily. Her glare made the One-Gil Mob recoil and their leader flinch in fright. The Mhigan Flies appear uneasy at the sudden change in atmosphere, as they gathered around their leader.
Knuckles cracked as Black Sun eyed the newcomer with disdain, his fists glimmering with lubricant. “Ye decided to come into our little pisshole and tell me what for? I think ye got your britches over ye head, or mayhap you just frustrated without a real men,†he grinned lewdly. X’cinna twirled her spear and rest it over her shoulder, she bent down and gave him a smug look, “I got me a fella of interest, and he smells a lot better than ye. As for my sisters…â€
There was a moment of silence, as the gang-members looked around, suddenly wary of an ambush… instead, from above, a rambling spiel of words.
“Behold! Yes Minna! Our time has come to scare, frighten, cowe these malicious ruffians into indentured servitude or subservient indifference. Oh how scary they all look, how I wish I was back on the roof and suffering under sweet Erin’s ministrations, alas she yearns for chocolate. Do you think these ill-accoutered oafs have any? They must. What use being a foul-smelling alley-dweller if you cannot acquire chocolate on demand. Is it time for our entrance? Is Cinna’s tail twitching the signal? Or is it only irritation? Or fleas? This place looks to have fleas. I weep for my tail. But ah, eye contact! Clear indication of attention most intent! Now for the dramatic descent of U’jakata, Thamaugage Most PuissaAAH CLAWS, MINNA!â€
A windmilling figure dropped from the ceiling and crashed in front of Black Sun in a massive cloud of dust.
“Most disingenuous landing. Did they notice? Surely not. See those looks of incredulity, of awe. Yes, note their slack-jawed bewilderment, nay, despair, for I!†A grunt, as he lifted himself onto a knee, “I, U’jakata, Thamurmage Most Puissant am here in front of you oiled ruffians. Desp-ack!†The Muscle Bound leader grabbed him by the scuff and laughed, “Ye be the most pathetic…†Suddenly, a black shape fell from the ceiling, right onto the robed figure, who screeched. “MINNA! CLAWS!†A flash of flame and light engulfed the space, and the roegadyn was set ablaze. Black Sun screamed and flailed about as the enchanted fire engulfed his torso, his body oil feeding the flames of U’jakata’s magicks.
He turned and ran screaming into his fellow gang; their eyes widened as he impacted the first, setting his body oil on fire, and the next, lighting the room full of horrible burning light, as the flames fed off the cast-off ceruleum the Muscle-Bound used as cheap body oil. In a bright flare, their roasted bodies fell to the ground, like so many of U’jakata’s foes Cinna’s seen before. X’cinna felt a flicker of jealously arise for X’erin.
“Most uncomfortable, Minna. Have I not warned you? Do you not recall how the loss of my hand resulted in most unlikely realignment and most hairy of triggers? What is that look, it is a true expression. And now it boils, accursed aetherial surplus, look -†He shook his hand without looking, and another gout of flame passed within ilms of another thug, who had been advancing; the fellow screamed, and threw himself to the ground. “See what happens? Why must you always test me. Slight gesticulations are hazardous, and how much of these walls are wood and what remainder is stone? It occurs to me this is a hazardous place for a meeting. If we are not careful the whole place will burn, and everyone in it! The slightest gesture… ah, to what depths I have fallen, I, U’jakata, Thaumaturge Most Puissant, that I would be found not only interacting with such vile, wicked thugs. These are the lengths one must go to, for chocolate, in this age and day.†While U’jakata continued ranting to his cat, the room was quiet, as eyes watched him with alarum. Also most especially watching his hand, which continued to blaze with manic-seeming flame, motes of it falling off randomly as he gesticulated...
“The… the Short Staffs pledge their loyalty to the new boss, yes!†Anansi Ansi quickly tumbled out, “Please don’t hurt us! We’re nu’thing but helpless lalafells! Yes!†She continued to plead as her friends also groveled to the ground, “Pray teach us! Ser Most Puissant! We beg ye to take us as your students, yes!†“We seek no trouble with yeah, if you wanna rule the Dredges, we’ll look out for yeah! Just don’t kill us!†Lanidare of the Mhigan Flies blurted out. His comrades quickly nodded their heads and tried to wipe off their body oils.
“We’ll give you the best price on goods! Don’t fry us! We’ll never cheap you, swear!,’ explained C’thaya of the One-Gil Mob, her ears folded back and her tail between her legs. Her compatriots quickly nod their agreement with Thaya’s words. Kordo simply sat there, his face in a grimace, what a few suns this has been.
For the first time in summers, the Dredges have been unwittingly united under the iron-clad (?) will of U’jakata, Thaumaturge Most Puissant, in the name of the Golden Prints Sept...
Gangland Ul'dah!
The alleyways of Ul’dah have always been dark and grimy. The walled city cast shadows that spilled out into the camps surrounding the city, like mold surrounding a rotten piece of aldgoat meat floating in a festering puddle. The city has changed much since the beginning of the Astral Era, the camps of refugees have become semi-permanent, and many shoddy buildings have replaced the tents of the old refugee camps.
Within these suburbs of firth, lies a particularly horrid group of neighborhoods, the Dredges. Located near the warehouses of the former Telediji, and now, by the Sultanate, this patch of neighborhood has seen better days since the beginning of the Sultana’s mysterious illness and recovery.
Within the depths of this suburb, a gathering of blackguards, criminals and ill-doers agglomerated within a warehouse. Five groups are present: a group of ill-dressed Roes, the ‘Muscle Bound’; a shabby gang of Highlanders, the ‘Mhigan Flies’; a mixed race group of failed merchants, the ‘One-Gil Mob’; a bunch of Order of Nald’thal dropouts, the ‘’Short Staffs’; and finally, a mixed group of slightly twitching toughs, the ‘Alleyway Boars.’ The leader of the Alleyway Boars, Kordo was particularly shifty, his eyes darting back and forth.
“What ye called this meeting for Kordo? Ye finally gonna give in your turf?†the massive muscle-bound and well-oiled Roegen, Black Sun sneered at Kordo.
“His turf already belongs to another, gleaming Outsider.†A soft purr accompanied that voice, and everyone looked around warily. With a slam, a figure dropped down from the room, sending slightly shockwaves and a few drew their weapons in alarm. The figure stood up, wrapped in furs and a weird glimmering spear on their back. The dim light revealed a miqo’te woman with snow-white hair and blue highlights, with tanned skin. “It’s one of the Golden Prints bitches!†one of the Muscle Bound exclaimed.
“That’s X’cinna Ares to you. You glitter well in the dim light, Outsider,†the miqo’te stood up and smirked at Black Sun. The crowd glares, cowered and eyed her, “Who do you think you are, yes!,†the leader of the Short Staffs shouted. “Huh?†X’cinna’s eyes narrowed and glared at the lalafell, whom squeaked and curled up involuntarily. Her glare made the One-Gil Mob recoil and their leader flinch in fright. The Mhigan Flies appear uneasy at the sudden change in atmosphere, as they gathered around their leader.
Knuckles cracked as Black Sun eyed the newcomer with disdain, his fists glimmering with lubricant. “Ye decided to come into our little pisshole and tell me what for? I think ye got your britches over ye head, or mayhap you just frustrated without a real men,†he grinned lewdly. X’cinna twirled her spear and rest it over her shoulder, she bent down and gave him a smug look, “I got me a fella of interest, and he smells a lot better than ye. As for my sisters…â€
There was a moment of silence, as the gang-members looked around, suddenly wary of an ambush… instead, from above, a rambling spiel of words.
“Behold! Yes Minna! Our time has come to scare, frighten, cowe these malicious ruffians into indentured servitude or subservient indifference. Oh how scary they all look, how I wish I was back on the roof and suffering under sweet Erin’s ministrations, alas she yearns for chocolate. Do you think these ill-accoutered oafs have any? They must. What use being a foul-smelling alley-dweller if you cannot acquire chocolate on demand. Is it time for our entrance? Is Cinna’s tail twitching the signal? Or is it only irritation? Or fleas? This place looks to have fleas. I weep for my tail. But ah, eye contact! Clear indication of attention most intent! Now for the dramatic descent of U’jakata, Thamaugage Most PuissaAAH CLAWS, MINNA!â€
A windmilling figure dropped from the ceiling and crashed in front of Black Sun in a massive cloud of dust.
“Most disingenuous landing. Did they notice? Surely not. See those looks of incredulity, of awe. Yes, note their slack-jawed bewilderment, nay, despair, for I!†A grunt, as he lifted himself onto a knee, “I, U’jakata, Thamurmage Most Puissant am here in front of you oiled ruffians. Desp-ack!†The Muscle Bound leader grabbed him by the scuff and laughed, “Ye be the most pathetic…†Suddenly, a black shape fell from the ceiling, right onto the robed figure, who screeched. “MINNA! CLAWS!†A flash of flame and light engulfed the space, and the roegadyn was set ablaze. Black Sun screamed and flailed about as the enchanted fire engulfed his torso, his body oil feeding the flames of U’jakata’s magicks.
He turned and ran screaming into his fellow gang; their eyes widened as he impacted the first, setting his body oil on fire, and the next, lighting the room full of horrible burning light, as the flames fed off the cast-off ceruleum the Muscle-Bound used as cheap body oil. In a bright flare, their roasted bodies fell to the ground, like so many of U’jakata’s foes Cinna’s seen before. X’cinna felt a flicker of jealously arise for X’erin.
“Most uncomfortable, Minna. Have I not warned you? Do you not recall how the loss of my hand resulted in most unlikely realignment and most hairy of triggers? What is that look, it is a true expression. And now it boils, accursed aetherial surplus, look -†He shook his hand without looking, and another gout of flame passed within ilms of another thug, who had been advancing; the fellow screamed, and threw himself to the ground. “See what happens? Why must you always test me. Slight gesticulations are hazardous, and how much of these walls are wood and what remainder is stone? It occurs to me this is a hazardous place for a meeting. If we are not careful the whole place will burn, and everyone in it! The slightest gesture… ah, to what depths I have fallen, I, U’jakata, Thaumaturge Most Puissant, that I would be found not only interacting with such vile, wicked thugs. These are the lengths one must go to, for chocolate, in this age and day.†While U’jakata continued ranting to his cat, the room was quiet, as eyes watched him with alarum. Also most especially watching his hand, which continued to blaze with manic-seeming flame, motes of it falling off randomly as he gesticulated...
“The… the Short Staffs pledge their loyalty to the new boss, yes!†Anansi Ansi quickly tumbled out, “Please don’t hurt us! We’re nu’thing but helpless lalafells! Yes!†She continued to plead as her friends also groveled to the ground, “Pray teach us! Ser Most Puissant! We beg ye to take us as your students, yes!†“We seek no trouble with yeah, if you wanna rule the Dredges, we’ll look out for yeah! Just don’t kill us!†Lanidare of the Mhigan Flies blurted out. His comrades quickly nodded their heads and tried to wipe off their body oils.
“We’ll give you the best price on goods! Don’t fry us! We’ll never cheap you, swear!,’ explained C’thaya of the One-Gil Mob, her ears folded back and her tail between her legs. Her compatriots quickly nod their agreement with Thaya’s words. Kordo simply sat there, his face in a grimace, what a few suns this has been.
For the first time in summers, the Dredges have been unwittingly united under the iron-clad (?) will of U’jakata, Thaumaturge Most Puissant, in the name of the Golden Prints Sept...
![[Image: MBLxxyE.gif]](http://i.imgur.com/MBLxxyE.gif)
