Ashan 77th
These whispers flitted along ‘neath the dried-out causeway...
”Padfoot’s back, they say he’s been freeing the slaves.”
”That dog the guttersnipes talk about? That fairytale?”
”No, really, I seen’t him with my own eyes, gotta be ten feet tall, claws of bloody bronze!”
”Yeah, and I’m a horse!”
The two disagreed in earshot, one of multiple occurrences of this tale. They’d been popping up all over the city on occasion, the disturbances Mal caused within the Underground causing a commotion.
”An jus’ where ‘ya reckon ‘ya seen’t this giant fox monster?”
”On me mum, he runs a bloody tavern in the Underground!”
”You’re full of it!”
”I swear it! I had a drink and there he was, sat with his cronies! A big fella, got a hide of white, a big tail.”
”No... no way, I gotta see this.”
”I ain’t got nothin’ betta to do, wanna’n go? His place’s called Downtrodden.”
The two set off towards the business, arguing about what the persistent bar patron had seen. “Aye, took over the place from the former owner who wus’ sellin’ slaves. Don’ think he’ll last, soon as those Etzori catch wind of him he’ll be dead as an Immortal under Pahrne’s blade.”
The description matched Mal perfectly--eight feet tall as a giant fox, white fur. A Hyx. It’s got to be a Hyx. The two didn’t seem to care or pay much attention to their surroundings, descending down a ladder into the Underground where their voices echoed through the barely-lit darkness.
Several Bits Later....
The two arrived at Downtrodden, Mal’s place of business. The rumor had served the place well, and all manner of miscreant arrived seeking work, entertainment, or vice. Or simply to sate their own curiosity, possibly even betting on the Hyx’s very existence.
”Let us in!” knocked one, the door opening to the tune of a soft flute playing. There was but one bard propped up on a chair upon the stage inside, surrounded by filled tables; gamblers, diners, conspirators. All manner of man could be found here.
And, more importantly, Mal sat in the corner facing the door, several men around him talking.
”So how’s this gonna work?” argued a man in a top hat. “They aren’t going to agree to that. We’re going to get ‘dealt with’ once those Etzori finish up with the Seekers.”
”Seekers?”
”Yeah, rumor has it there’s this group of mages somewhere down here. I’ve never seen ‘em, but one of the Marshall’s is up in a tizzy trying to hunt them down. A Wing came knockin’ this morning while you were away.”
”’Ey don’t sound so bad,” said Mal. His ears flicked up and his eyes trained themselves at a fresh pair of ogglers. “’Ye two fools got a problem?” he growled at them, baring his teeth. They just laughed.
”Y’know, I’m beginnin’ to rethink this nice guy thing,” he told his friends. They too laughed.
”C’mon, it’s not funny.” he ate his words when they just laughed harder, but in a way he felt accepted; it was rare someone laughed around a monster such as he. A smile slowly crept up his muzzle, and he managed to see through the embarrassment at what he really had going here. Today was a good day.
Tis’ a shame I’m such a piece of shit as to get you lot killed for som’ cause. I can’t possibly protect all of you from Etzos herself... but I can try.
These whispers flitted along ‘neath the dried-out causeway...
”Padfoot’s back, they say he’s been freeing the slaves.”
”That dog the guttersnipes talk about? That fairytale?”
”No, really, I seen’t him with my own eyes, gotta be ten feet tall, claws of bloody bronze!”
”Yeah, and I’m a horse!”
The two disagreed in earshot, one of multiple occurrences of this tale. They’d been popping up all over the city on occasion, the disturbances Mal caused within the Underground causing a commotion.
”An jus’ where ‘ya reckon ‘ya seen’t this giant fox monster?”
”On me mum, he runs a bloody tavern in the Underground!”
”You’re full of it!”
”I swear it! I had a drink and there he was, sat with his cronies! A big fella, got a hide of white, a big tail.”
”No... no way, I gotta see this.”
”I ain’t got nothin’ betta to do, wanna’n go? His place’s called Downtrodden.”
The two set off towards the business, arguing about what the persistent bar patron had seen. “Aye, took over the place from the former owner who wus’ sellin’ slaves. Don’ think he’ll last, soon as those Etzori catch wind of him he’ll be dead as an Immortal under Pahrne’s blade.”
The description matched Mal perfectly--eight feet tall as a giant fox, white fur. A Hyx. It’s got to be a Hyx. The two didn’t seem to care or pay much attention to their surroundings, descending down a ladder into the Underground where their voices echoed through the barely-lit darkness.
Several Bits Later....
The two arrived at Downtrodden, Mal’s place of business. The rumor had served the place well, and all manner of miscreant arrived seeking work, entertainment, or vice. Or simply to sate their own curiosity, possibly even betting on the Hyx’s very existence.
”Let us in!” knocked one, the door opening to the tune of a soft flute playing. There was but one bard propped up on a chair upon the stage inside, surrounded by filled tables; gamblers, diners, conspirators. All manner of man could be found here.
And, more importantly, Mal sat in the corner facing the door, several men around him talking.
”So how’s this gonna work?” argued a man in a top hat. “They aren’t going to agree to that. We’re going to get ‘dealt with’ once those Etzori finish up with the Seekers.”
”Seekers?”
”Yeah, rumor has it there’s this group of mages somewhere down here. I’ve never seen ‘em, but one of the Marshall’s is up in a tizzy trying to hunt them down. A Wing came knockin’ this morning while you were away.”
”’Ey don’t sound so bad,” said Mal. His ears flicked up and his eyes trained themselves at a fresh pair of ogglers. “’Ye two fools got a problem?” he growled at them, baring his teeth. They just laughed.
”Y’know, I’m beginnin’ to rethink this nice guy thing,” he told his friends. They too laughed.
”C’mon, it’s not funny.” he ate his words when they just laughed harder, but in a way he felt accepted; it was rare someone laughed around a monster such as he. A smile slowly crept up his muzzle, and he managed to see through the embarrassment at what he really had going here. Today was a good day.
Tis’ a shame I’m such a piece of shit as to get you lot killed for som’ cause. I can’t possibly protect all of you from Etzos herself... but I can try.