A Healer and a Fight

[ringmasterrob]

[ModNote: Continued from Waiting for Ridolfo.]

*Rob rushes to the marketpace, going as fast as he can with a heavy young mage on his back and a near concussion on his forehead.*

Rob: *to self* This bloody town has a dozen murderous thieves and no damned healer, doctor, shaman or anything like it.

*Rob searches the market desperatly trying to find a stall or someone offering healing, thankfully Nesty's stall is deserted so any trouble between the young mage and Nesty won't kick off for now. Quite a few people are eyeing the huge lump on Rob's head*

Salesman: Can I offer you a bottle of whiskey sir?

Rob: No thanks, i'm not interested in drinking

Villager: Didn't look like that in the Crazed Heifer last night Ringmaster!

*As a few thuggish villagers who had been drinking a table away from Rob the previous night burst into fits of taunts and laughter Rob scowls*

Villager: Uh oh, we've upset the Ringmaster perhaps he'll start crying again!

*Rob can't take it anymore, he puts the unconcious young mage on an empty stall and rolls up his sleeves*

Villager: oooooo Ringmaster wants a fight, like a man or using your magical tricks like normal eh?

Rob: Very well, fists it is...

*Rob drops his staff, the near concussion on his head combines with his trand appear to be clouding his judgment. As the villagers puts up his fists and begins another insult Rob flies at him, a blow to the chin sends him down with the first blow. His eyes open wide in shock as Rob delivers a kick to his abdomin*

Rob: ...I'm sorry, did I hurt you?

*Rob stands triumphant over the villager who spits out a mouthful of blood, the fool clearly was not expecting Rob to fight so well in melee combat. However his friends, after recovering from the intial shock, pull out swords*

Villager 2: Oh you little bastard, i'll make ya pay fer that one, with yer life!

*The market has stopped bustling, all eyes are focused on Rob and the three men with swords ready to gut him in a second. The villager on the floor is still writhing in pain from the abdomin shot*

Rob: Sorry to do this to you, but...

*Rob pulls out a potion and drinks it as the first villager lunges at him, the sword strikes through his middle but the blade shatters, the villager looks up to see Rob's flesh has taken on the texture of stone. Rob picks him up and hurls him through another empty stall before thrusting the swords from the remaining two. Both set off running, Rob takes out a seperate potion drinks it and is restored. He picks up his staff and dusts himself down*

Rob: Now, is anyone here offering healing skills or do you want to insult me some more?

*Rob gestures to the unconcious villager lying in the splintered remains of the stall. He then walks over to the young mage to check on him*

(OOC: Anyone is free to offer healing skills here, use your imagination)

[Skiprazor]

[*Skiprazor has been watching the melee from a short distance away, and can not fail to experience a mixture of surprise and admiration at the man's swift dispatching of the mob. He notices that there is a body lying on the ground, which the man kneels down to check on. The person on the ground is obviously in need of help. Skiprazor feels that he may be able to provide some assistance, but feels the need to first ascertain exactly what has happened.*]

[*He slowly crosses the marketplace and approaches the kneeling man. As the man looks up, he notices this hooded figure aproaching, his blue eyes visible even under the shadow of his cowl. The figure speaks in a measured tone.*]

"What ails this man?"

[ringmasterrob]

*Rob Surveys the man with distaste, something about him is telling Rob he's not from this world, the voice is silenced by another shrilled one "well neither are you so don't get picky, beggars can't be choosers remember?" Rob comes to his senses and greets the fellow*

Rob: It appears he has been mugged and beaten, when I found him he stumbled out and mentioned Nesty, a local trader, before passing out. He's from a mages guild called KK. He needs urgent healing that's beyond my school of magic.

*Rob looks hopefully at this strange man, perhaps he'd got lucky and this man was a new healer from a distant town or perhaps he was a hired killed from Lady Mercury's guild.*

[Skiprazor]

[*Kneeling down, Skiprazor surveys the injured man's wounds, dimly aware of the strange combination of curiosity and suspicion radiating from the sorcerer. There are bruises and welts all over the man's body, and blood trickles from a number af gashes on his face and head. He is drifting in and out of consciousness.*]

"I am no healer, nor a sorcerer in the sense you would imagine. I can not fully relieve this man's suffering, but I can provide him with comfort until you can locate a skilled healer."

[*Without waiting for a reply, Skiprazor takes out a small pouch from his knapsack and hands it to the archmage.*]

a bag of healing herbs

"Apply this to his wounds; they are powerful herbs, picked from distant valleys, and they will ease his pain."

[*Skiprazor can see that the injured man is fading fast. He needs something to revive him, to ensure that the drum of his heart continues to beat strong. Leaning towards the archmage, he speaks in his ear - his voice a mere whisper, but full of resonance.*]

"I have the....'skills' necessary to keep this man from death, but they are not something I care to share with the entire population of the realm. Bear him hence with me."

[*Skiprazor gets to his feet, and helps the archmage shoulder the limp body of the injured man. He beckons towards a secluded alleyway a short distance from the marketplace.*]

"Follow me."

[ringmasterrob]

*Rob hesitates for a few instances, he's not feeling top shape and if this is an ambush he may be easily bested, but he doesn't want the failure of letting this young mage die, it does against the archmage code. Reluctantly he picks up the injured fellow and follows this man, the two of them sharing his weight make an easy job of moving him into the alley*

Rob: Do what you can then stranger.

[Skiprazor]

[*Skiprazor looks around slowly, ensuring that their surroundings are free from prying eyes. He appears to be almost nervous, a fact somewhat at odds with his otherwise totally collected demeanour. Confident that there is nobody watching, he kneels down beside the injured man.*]

[*As the archmage watches with an apprehensive curiosity, Skiprazor places his open palm in the middle of the man's chest. He takes a deep breath, concentrating, as if willing the man's heart to pulse with renewed vigour.*]

[*Nothing happens for a few moments, though Skiprazor does not flinch. The archmage is beginning to wonder if he is wasting his time when he feels the hairs on the back of his neck suddenly stand on end. The air suddenly seems alive, charged, as if a frenzied storm was about to engulf them at any moment. He looks up at the sky - it is crystal clear. As his eyes return to the mysterous figure hunched over the injured man, he notces that his eyes are glowing with a brilliant blue.*]

[*In an instant, the figure is engulfed with what seems like a lightning storm in microcosm. Blinding blue strands arc across his torso, shafts of light radiating from his eyes and mouth. A wind blown from the mouth of the heavens themselves blasts through the alley, kicking up leaves and rock. A bolt of blue shoots down his arm to the hand clasped on the man's chest, engulfing him also. Skiprazor lets out a ragged scream, his form dissipating and fragmenting in and out of the ether, as both he and the man on the ground twitch and spasm, slaves to the will of an irresistable elemental force.*]

[*The archmage shields his eyes from the onslaught, trying to shut out the blinding light. After what seems like an eternity, but was in reality only a few seconds, the electrical whirlwind subsides as abruptly as it had begun. Skiprazor is thrown like a ragdoll from his position beside the injured man across the alley, his body slamming into the side of a wooden barn. Lifeless, he slumps to the ground.*]

[*The injured man on the ground coughs and gasps, sucking in life-giving air greedily. Concerned, the archmage crouches to check on him. He is breathing steadily, though still appears to be in considerable pain. His wounds, bleding only moments earlier, appear to have been gently cauterized. He places his ear to the man's chest, which is hot where Skiprazor's hand has been, and listens; his heart beats strong.*]

[*In disbelief, the archmage looks back over his shoulder to where Skiprazor lies slumped against the wall, gasping for breath.*]

[ringmasterrob]

*Rob goes over to the man to check on him, he was thrown back with such force several timbers had been splintered on the barn. It has clearly hurt him very badly. The magic he used is not one even the well travelled Rob recognises.*

Rob: Are you going to be alright, if not I have something that might help. I must ask you though what kind of magic you just used, it appeared nothing short of a miracle.

[Skiprazor]

[Wracked with agony, Skiprazor lies against the wall, trying to focus his mind enough to reply. Pain tears at every fibre of his being, yet he has sustained no superficial wounds whatsoever, save for the impact of the timbers. He looks up at the archmage, who wears on expression of obvious concern. The archmage notices that his eyes are flickering erratically with the same blue aura that had consumed him just moments earlier. Skiprazor speaks, his voice ragged and agonized.*]

"That was not magic - at least, not magic in the sense you would use. I am no sorcerer, I have not yet learned that craft in this realm. What you have witnessed is something that I can not explain to you. I mean, I think I know how and why it happens, but it is not something I can express in words anyone here will comprehend. Not even you, master wizard."

[*He pauses for a moment, as the image of someone's face blinks into his mind.*]

"Wait...there is one person here who would understand. The girl from the other realm....Julia. I was going to explain to her why I am here, and what these powers you have bore witness to really mean. She would understand the language I would use with ease. But she has gone elsewhere, and I do not know how to find her."

"I want to explain, I really do. You have no idea how much of a relief it would be if I could just make you understand. But for the meantime, I fear it is impossible. I apologise. Thank you for trusting me to help your friend."

[*He beckons to the young wizard, lying on the ground across the alleyway.*]

"He will be okay, yes?"

[ringmasterrob]

*Rob listens to his tale with understanding and compasion*

Rob: I too am from another world that has its own language and secrecys not understood by people of this world, I understand. It appears the young chap will be fine thanks to your help sir. I can only offer to return the favour in finding this Julia girl.

*Rob and Skip life Magnus and Rob places him in the care of a trustworthy villager. He tells the man to take him to the Wolf's Howl and give him instructions to call Rob using basic magic, this done Rob turns back to Skip*

Rob: When and where was she last seen?

[Skiprazor]

"I only met her last night, in the Wolf's Howl Inn. But I knew immediately that she was different. I was so close to telling her everything about me....so close to blurting out a hundred questions I need the answers for. But she was distracted by a message from the local minstrel, whom I suspect she is something of a fan of."

"So she left the inn, and went to meet him. I suspected a trap at first, so I followed her, but I lost her on the path to Wolfenden. There were two men doing business on the path, but I did not address them. I camped in the forest overnight, then came here to the marketplace, which is where I met you."

"Tell me, where does the path to Wolfenden lead in the opposite direction?"

[ringmasterrob]

Rob: Why to the Boarding School of course, and beyond thay the Dunnfalls and vasts forests. There are the dungeons but what would Lord Fear want with her?

[Skiprazor]

[*Skiprazor closes his eyes, trying to remember the previous evening.*]

"One of the first things she said to me was that she was being threatened by the 'local bad guy'. I dismissed it at first, thinking that some local ruffian may have tried to intimidate her, but...do you think this Lord Fear could be behind it? I wonder what business he could have with her.... Does Fear have any henchmen or sidekicks he could have dispatched to subdue her?"

[ringmasterrob]

Well, i've never dealt with Fear directly. He's not my enemy just another problem to avoid. He has plenty of henchmen, Sylvester Hands, Raptor and a huge army of goblins. He used to have Edward Deal but he was hung and of course Skarkill was stabbed by Deal.

[Skiprazor]

[*Slowly, Skiprazor can feel the paranoia creeping into his mind. It is obvious that this Fear has numerous cohorts, any one of whom could have abducted Julia for Fear's own nefarious ends. Then he remembers losing Julia on the path to Wolfenden, and the two men he had seen trading there. Alarm bells ring out in the deepest recesses of his instincts.*]

"Please, if you can, answer me this - what do these henchmen look like?"

[ringmasterrob]

*Rob gives detailed descriptions of all Lord Fear's minions*

Rob: i also suspect Mr Nesty after his current behaviour, the night before I got drunk I had a horrible nightmare in which he stole my powers and my past enemies stood and ridiculed me, it was so horrific I had to do something to calm myself, but the alchol made it worse.

*Rob thinks*

Rob: I must go an meet with Nesty about the boarding school accomidation payment, I have the final installment to make. I'll meet you in the Wolf's Howl for a drink later if you're interested?