475 Mocai: Intro to the Thieves Guild (1/2)

/Alpha: Wind: Can't you slow that thing down a bit?

/Alpha: Nix: I'm flying with the brakes on as it is.

/Alpha: Semmi: So... What happened at the Nix ranch last night?

/Alpha: Nix: Nothing really... Why do you ask?

/Alpha: Semmi: No reason; Raine seemed a bit out of sorts when we picked you up.

/Alpha: Nix: I made her breakfast, perhaps she didn't like it.

/Alpha: Wind: Did Pon opt-out of this mission?

/Alpha: Semmi: No, stealth isn't his thing. Besides, he's going to scout out potential temple acquisitions with Junie.

/Alpha: Nix: Just the five of us.

/Alpha: Wind: Five? Who else is coming? Fajii?

/Alpha: Nix: Del and Soup.

Soup stared out at the vast expanse of sky that was visible from her spot on Nix's shoulder. Her shadow sphinx form was ideal for this sort of mission.

/Alpha: Wind: Woah... That's a lot of white.

The capital of the Mocai province was aptly named Mocai City. It was a sprawling white city that was completely enclosed by a thirty-foot stone wall. Surprisingly enough, the safest city in Everspire was also the home of the Thieves Guild.

Nix shook his head at the distant view of the city. It looked like someone had taken a white paintbrush to everything. The buildings, sidewalks, and streets were nearly all the same shade of white. ”It's a bit horrifying, right, Soup?”

The tiny Sphinx didn't answer, other than to close her eyes against the glare.

/Alpha: Semmi: So this Mayor Huelix is asking for the support of the Thieves Guild? Any idea why?

/Alpha: Nix: I'm not concerned about why. My interest is in what we need to do for the guild.

/Alpha: Semmi: We'll find out in a bit; the northern area of the city is where we can land our mounts. Our contact's name is Pearl. She's going to meet us at the serpent statue.

/Alpha: Wind: I bet we'll be going in a sewer. That's always the case with these things.

/Alpha: Semmi: Underground for sure, hopefully not a sewer. Best place to hide something like that.

The group landed their Daiken's and quickly unsummoned them while dozens of curious onlookers watched. Nix opened up a breach from Haven and waited while a large black panther padded through.

Del Tali has joined Alpha.

/Alpha: Semmi: Welcome, Del.

/Alpha: Wind: Nice to have you.

/Alpha: Del: Thanks.

The black cat fell in beside Nix, shadowing his movements as he headed toward the market area. Unable to help himself, he reached down and scratched her ears.

Semmi admired the statue for a moment; it had a very ominous feel to it. ”I'd have nightmares if I lived next to that thing.”

/Alpha: Wind: Um... Found the Thieves Guild.

/Alpha: Nix: Really?

Wind pointed to a round building with an abundance of windows. There was a large sign on the front that read 'Thieves Guild.' ”Just a guess, but perhaps that's it.”

/Alpha: Semmi: Seriously?

A bell rang loudly from somewhere nearby when they opened the door to the building. A grandmotherly-looking woman looked up from a ledger she was writing in. She was dressed entirely in black cloth, seemingly a direct contradiction to her appearance.

”Greetings, customers. My name is Pearl. How may I help you?” The woman continued talking, not waiting for a reply. ”We specialize in stealing items, recovering stolen items, and information. Keep in mind that we don't recover items that we've stolen and vice versa.”

Nix gave her a deadpan expression. ”You have a storefront in the Market place?”

Pearl nodded and took a moment to push a stray strand of white hair behind her ear. ”Why not? We pay taxes like everyone else.”

/Alpha: Semmi: Sweet. So no sewers?

/Alpha: Wind: Fucking odd. Lamest Thieves Guild ever.

Nix smiled like her words sounded reasonable. ”We've been sent by Mayor Huelix, we are from the Inferno Guild.”

The older woman stared at him for a moment. ”That jackass from Free Trader City? What does he want?” Her dark eyes darted toward Del. ”That your cat? How much?”

Nix shrugged slightly. ”Free. Take her.”

Pearl's old face showed the beginning of a smile. ”Really?”

”No... I'll chew your old face off, Crone.” Del answer in a huff, absent of her usual politeness.

Pearl laughed loudly, instantly reminding the group of Chiba. ”A Shifter? Very convincing. Go to the North Gate; my daughter will bring you to our Head Quarters.”