Seeking Help

[Tiber]

Tiber's lungs felt heavy in his chest, dragging his shoulders and head to the ground as if they were ten pounds each.
The boy panted franticly as he ducked into the backdoor of a tavern at peak hour. Few heads turned towards him as he tried to compose himself and survey the room, his blue robes betraying his subtlety.
The mage was relieved to find himself as the most unusual character in the building. Continuing to swallow large gasps of air, Tiber moved into the crowd at the bar where he disappeared amongst the bodies. He shed his robes on the floor where his garb was immediately trampled without conscious. The boy emerged on the other side of the crowd in the back corner of the tavern where the stairs were located. He labored to move his exhausted feet up the stairs; using the staff Master Gervalt had given him. It had been a long journey from his home on Shogun Island, but it was certainly not lacking in excitement. The three-day boat trip to the mainland was normal enough, but as soon as he hit the docks he was confronted by the men who currently pursued him.
Reaching the top floor, Tiber busted into a vacated room and scrambled to the window that stood over the street. The cool night air combined with his warm pants of breath caused the glass to fog up, but Tiber could still make out three figures dressed in black, dashing down the street. They halted in front of the tavern, talking to each other hastily through the cloth that covered their mouths. This was the first real opportunity that Tiber had been given in the last few days to actual view the men who pursued him tirelessly. They were ninjas to be certain, no doubt under the employ of Chronos Masters he had defied. They had no intention of bringing Tiber back to the Island alive.
Without warning, the ninjas suddenly bolted in different directions, two of them into the tavern and one further down the street.
"Damn!" Tiber muttered as he jarred the window open and stepped out onto the slick strip of roofing that hung over the main entrance.
The boy's body trembled at the cold, which bit at his exposed arms. Closing the window behind him, Tiber surveyed the drop. It was not a deadly proposition to fall to the street, but nevertheless one he did not care to take.
Proceeding along the roofing, the mage took great care not to slip, wedging his staff into the tiles for extra support. He wore only a simple cloth shirt and pants, which without his robe did little to abate the cold.
Reaching the end of the roofing, Tiber planted his feet and made a hurried jump to the roof of the adjacent building. Thankfully it was only a single story structure, making it easy for the boy to span the alley and land safely, although painfully on the surface.
Keeping his pain quiet, Tiber surveyed his ankles to see nothing was wrong; simply the biting cold that caused his discomfort.
Being cautious not to expose himself to the street below, Tiber peered to the horizon of the small town. There were not walls so his eyes could gaze for miles before meeting the horizon. To the south was Demon Guardians and Raistlin. The boy needed only to survive another day's trip in order to make it safely. There they would help him shed his problem.

[Tiber]

Tiber had managed to get well outside of town before he collapsed of fatigue. He had never run so much in his life. He had exhausted all of his normal energy a long time ago. It was pure adrenaline that kept him on his feet. Disregarding the numbness in his legs, Tiber lifted himself and staggered his way into the trees that lined the main road. He could not stay out in clear sight or his pursuers would surely find him. A pesky bunch they were. Fatigue seemed an unfamiliar concept to them, and if not for a couple Slowa spells at the most opportune times, they would have caught Tiber back at the docks.
As the boy lay down behind some shrubs that guarded him from the road, he placed his staff next to him and tried to recoup his energy. He had little doubt that the ninjas would soon figure out that he was nowhere in that town. They did not know of his destination, but after days of chasing in a direct route, they probably could guess.
“Damn it” Tiber panted as his fist struck the ground in frustration. “I have to get up and go. If they beat me to Demon Guardians then I have no chance.”
The boy sat up easily enough, but his legs simply were too weak to respond immediately. Rolling over, Tiber used his momentum to find his feet and become upright. Once again filled with pain, he limped out to the dirt road and began a hobbled run towards his destination.
Upon his third step there was a shuffle of dirt behind him.
The Mage turned to see the three ninjas stalking behind him, swords drawn.
“Oh hell”, Tiber spat with disgust, stumbling backwards. He had no chance to outrun them the rest of the way. Tripping over a lump in the path, the boy’s legs wobbled and collapsed underneath him. He fell hard to the ground, where he lay helpless. As one ninja appeared above him, the air rang with a loud crack. The warrior in black halted for a moment where he stood before falling limp to the ground.

((ooc: open for anyone to jump in now))

[Raistlin]

~The tavern was all a bustle as usual. Also, as usual, there was a man sitting in the darkest corner by a window. He quietly sipped his tea while reading one of his many spell books. Not much ever happened in this town. It was a quiet place to study and get a good meal outside. Everything was as calm as usual until the door bust open and a man in blue robes entered. It caught the attention of the man in the dark.~

*Those are the robes of a Cronos Mage. It's not like them to be on the main land* he thought.

~He watched as the mage stripped himself of his robes while pushing through the crowd.~

*No mage gives up his robes easily. Something has really spooked him.*

~He shrugged it off as none of his business, but he has the utmost respect for the symbology of a mages robes. He slipped through the crowd himself and snatched up the robes. Most of the customers at this tavern knew of this man. Knew better then to question, or get in the way of the black robed man. Getting back to his seat he places them in the other seat at his table and wiped off the foot prints from them. The cronos mage had made it up the stairs by now and the man in the tavern began to smooth the robes to fold them. Suddenly two dark figures slipped through the door, but never made a sound. He noticed though. He notices everything. Thinking what they might be doing here he stuffs the robes into his pack as quickly as he could. He returns to his book and keeps his ears open for what they might do. Right away he hears an odd sound from overhead, but it wasn't from a room. Someone was on the roof. Out of the corner of his eye he catches the sight of a man jumping to the adjacent building holding a staff.~

*This may not be of concern to me, but I don't want to see some bloody ninjas loot a mage. He needs to make distance between them.*

~He gets up and heads outside. With the help of his horse he takes a tunic and a broom. Propping them on the saddle just right he waves his hands over it and they change color. He makes the illusion of a blue robed rider on the horse. He has a few words with his horse and sends it off. As expected when the horse headed out of the alley and turned down the road, opposite of the direction the cronos mage went, two ninjas drop down from the second floor of the tavern and chase after it.~

"That will keep them busy for a while. I'll get back home myself."

~He begins to head out of town when he notices the cronos mage heading out of town in the same direction.~

*He couldn't be heading to Demon Guardians castle, could he?*

~He decided to slip into the forest along the road and watch him. After a while the mage collapses and mutters something to himself. Then he sees the ninjas have caught up to the mage. One of them leap up at the cronos mage looking to stab him. In the blink of an eye the black robed man is behind the ninja. Extending his left hand he lets loose a bolt of lightning that burns a hole in his back.~

"Young cronos mage, if you want my help take my hand and we'll be out of here."

~He extends his hand out to the mage now sprawled out on the ground.~

[Tiber]

Tiber wanted to laugh out loud at the situation, but he was still to shaken up from his experience.
Not wanting to waste any time, the Chronos Mage shot his hand out to Raistlin, nervously watching the two ninjas who now charged at them to avenge their partner.
"Alright, Lets go!"

[GuildM]

~Guts sat at the bar of the tavern where Raistlin was. He happened to be there often since it was close to the castle. He saw the blue robed mage and watched everything Raist did. When the ninjas came in Guts smiled. He liked fighting ninjas. They didn't need to be many to be difficult. He saw Raist leave and watched out the window. When he saw the ninjas chase after Raist's horse he wondered what was going on.~

~Raist headed down the road and Guts stepped outside. He noticed Raist was going in the direction of the castle, but on foot. Guts followed. He saw Raist notice someone down the road then slip into the forest.~

"What's he doing? Wait a minute. Is that.... it must be the mage from before. He has that staff. I'll have to catch up on horse back."

~Guts ruched back to the tavern to get his horse. On his way he saw the ninjas rush past him silently.~

"Damn. I'm gonna need to hurry."

~Getting on his horse he rushed over towards their direction. He got there just in time to see Raist blast one of them and offer his hand to the blue mage, now robeless. The two remaining ninjas were rushing in at them. Guts kicked his horse to go faster. When the ninjas were about to jump them Guts swung his sword to slice them in half, but they turned in midair and blocked the attack with their swords. They were tossed off to the side away from the mages.~

"Raist, you can move out. I got these two. You can use my horse."

~Guts lept off his horse and kept himself between the ninjas and them.~

[Raistlin]

~Raistlin helped the cronos mage up and looked at Guts with a scoff and a sneer.~

"Are you mocking me? I do not need your stead."

~He waved his hand and spoke a quick word of magic. Everything went dark. Without being able to see what was going on candles all the sudden lit up. There were book shelves stacked with differently colored books. A large stone table set in the center of the room covered in bottles filled with differently colored liquids. There were shelves adorned with weird objects in jars of clear liquid. Raist turned to the cronos mage.~

"I am Raistlin. Welcome to my laboratory in the tallest spire of the Demon Guardians castle."

[Tiber]

The Chronos Mage smiled as he withdrew his hand from Raistlin's.
"Yes, you are indeed Raistlin. The luck of it all is remarkable. I suppose there is something to be said for fate."
Tiber reached out to the other mage, gently plucking the nicely folded blue robes from underneath his arm.
"Thank you very much, I appreciate your assistance... I don’t know if you remember me, but my name is Tiber, the son of Darius. You said you had known him when we met at Izlude's Shadow Alliance."
Bowing his head, the boy tried to piece his words as carefully as he could, "My Master...Gervalt. He sent me here in search of you. He said that once you came to Shogun Island, where you shared your knowledge during the renaissance of magi that my father created.
The Chronos mages on the island have cast me out, and Master Gervalt...he did not take the judgment easily...He gave himself up and sent me here, in the hopes you would continue my training as a mage, or at least aide me in my quest against Izlude."

((ooc: sorry for the confusion raist, but im doing this as if our shadow alliance rp was already done. After that I went to the Island, and now I am here. Sorry for making you think it was a new introduction for them))

[Raistlin]

((ooc: Np. I understand. We won't be living in the Shadow Alliance castle, so you will be free to go to Shogun Island later and do all this. The next RP in SA you can be with us.))

~Raist allowed him to have his robes back.~

"Take care of those. You should be honored to wear them and not so quick to discard them when you are in distress."

~He immediately dispelled the topic, turned around, and spoke of what was said.~

"I remember Darius well, but Gervalt is slightly mistaken to think I would be a valuable teacher of your art. I assisted in the formation of magi only to try and rule it. I went to Shogun to get away from my past. I wanted to start anew, but I always go back to what I know best. Magic was not highly known there and I knew if I controlled the flow of magic there they would worship me. Darius intervened though. We talked and came to a mutual understanding. I left him a few gifts before I left. There is one thing that I had that would have helped him greatly though, but never gave it away."

~Raist had made his way to a bookshelf. Reaching high up to the top shelf he pulled down a book the same color as Tiber's robes. It was adorned with runes known to those who practice the cronos art. He blew off a thick layer of dust and wiped it with a cloth.~

"This book was the first ever chronicles of the cronos art. It documents all spells, amulets, runes, anything that has to do with that art. It is sealed and blessed with a restraining spell that keeps it from leaving this tower. All books are bound by such a barrier if they are the first of their kind. The book has to be blessed to a new master in order to change hands. I can lift the seal and let you read some of it, but it can't leave here. Also, you may be too young and fresh to the art to be able to read most of it, but I will help you. The only problem is you are not of this clan and can't reside here. I can't take you on as a student till then."

[Tiber]

Tiber had not anticipated such an open reception to his plea, not after the two's somewhat chilly first meeting.
"Why, I had come here knowing that I might become part of this clan anyways, so I have no qualms with that possibility."
Slipping his robe back over his cloth garbs, the boy popped his head out of the neckline and let out a sigh.
"I already feel better, and I will not be rid of my robes so easily next time."
Peering at the book Raistlin held, the young mage became anxious. That book was, if not the key, then the next step to defeating Izlude. Gervalt had been truly wise to send him here. The Chronos stream must have shown the Master what was to happen.
"I declare that I wish to join the Demon Guardians, and become your pupil....what must I do?"

[YungGun]

~Yung Gun was in the far corner of Raistlin's labortory. He hid himself well because he knew that Raitlin didnt really like him in there. Yung Gun was quietly reading a book about fire when he heard the two have their conversation~

~When Tiber said he wanted to be a Demon Guardian, Yung Gun walked out of his hiding place~

"Raistlin. You brung another person here. Why does all this strangers follow you home?"

~Yung Gun took a closer look at the man~

"Oh! I remember you!!! Your Tiber........I thought I wasnt gonna see you again for a long time"

[Raistlin]

~Raist looked at YG with a vile sneer.~

"I welcomed you in here to have free access to the fire elemental tombs because I want you to be a valuable member of the clan. Not to snoop into my business. Either leave, or make yourself useful. You can escort our 'friend' here to see Paco, or I'll teleport you into the moat and do it myself."

[Krasor]

"Actually Paco is out at this time.........."

~The voice came from a small orb on Raistlin's desk~

"And really, you let Yunggun into your chambers but not me! I'm not sure how much more offensive you could get! Pride aside however, did you happen to remember that order of Detrimindexta I asked you to pick up?"

~Krasor sat outside the door at the bottom of Raistlin's tower speaking into another orb he held in his hand that he used to communicate with the mage, he was currently in his alchemist form, various pouches were strwen about his waist eash one holding many different concoctions and reagents for his work.~

[GuildM]

~Out on the road to the castle, far away from the eyes of the look outs was Guts. The two remaining ninjas were not pleased to have lost their pray. They began by splitting up and going in opposite directions. Once equally distanced form each other they ran around Guts keeping the same distance away. Without warning they jumped at him. He tried to deflect one, but couldn't stop both. He took a deep slash to his side slicing between his ribs. The other was deflected off his sword easily. Afterwords they were back to their distance running around him. Next thing he knew they did the same thing. This time he tried to turn while he deflected one of them, but got stabbed in the back. The other ninja had spun around when he passed him to insert his sword easily into Guts' back. He was feeling the weakness of the blood loss now. The ninjas were running around him again.~

"You damn insects. I'll show you what you get for being a pain in my ass!"

~He held his sword over his head at an angle pointing down. When the ninjas pounced on him he thrusted his sword into the ground launching him up into the air. The ninjas both passed where he was and he came down over one of them. He came down with his sword over him. The ninja tried to defend against his attack, but the force of his drop along with his swing was so strong he broke the ninja's sword in half before chopping him in two down the middle. Guts then turned to the other ninja and let loose five arrows from the repeating crossbow on his left hand. The ninja blocked them with his sword, but one got past and got him in his left shoulder. Guts jumped at him. The ninja was able to block a few swings before Guts over powered him and removed the ninja's head.~

"That was fun...... I just..... need to get.... back............. damn ninjas."

~His vision was blurring from loss of blood. He whistled as best as he could and the horse heard him. He pulled himself up on the horse as best as he could and it headed back to the castle.~

[Raistlin]

"Yes, Krasor. If you go to the stables you'll find them in the satchel of my horse it should be there by now. YungGun here is a student. I told you if you ever wanted any teachings to participate in the classes I hold every week in the lecture hall. You should be glad I even bother to run these pathetic errands for you. I only do so because you happen to be a kindred spirit. Don't push my patience with you."

~He swatted at the orb scattering it into a cloud of smoke. Afterwards he knelt down and picked up the book YG was reading and placed it back in it's place of the shelf.~

"And i swear if you don't start putting things away I'll place enchantments on the books you read to burn the skin off your hands. Tiber, you can wait for Paco in the audience chambers till he arrives, or a representative of his attends to you. In the mean time I'm going to send Paco a message about you via the corridors of magic. Till next we meet, young mage."

~Raist turned away from YG and Tiber to his shelf of jars. Picking a couple odd colored bottles he went to his stone table and began working. His concentration was absorbed in his work.~

[Tiber]

After receiving direction, Tiber bowed, "Thank you Raistlin. I will go there now."
Turning towards the door, he nodded towards Yunggun "It is good to see you. I did not expect to see you for some time either, but thankfully fortune would have it that our path's join again."
Hesitating at the room's exit, the Chronos Mage smile sheepishly, "I'm afraid I do not know where the audience chambers are, or even where we are in the city right now. Yunggun, could I ask you to show me where to go? I'm sure Raistin would love your company" he said with a wide grin, "But I don’t want to keep the representative waiting."