It didn't take much to intimidate the information out of the poor merchant. Taki had taken detailed notes and maps as Perrath grilled the man for every tidbit they'd been privy to. It wasn't long before they'd left him a shuddering mess in the alleyway and were on their way deeper into the slum of the Housing District. As the streets grew worse, Taki wondered if Perrath had much of a plan beyond kicking down the door. It wasn't the most elaborate or well prepared plan, but it also left your foe in the same state of surprise. So be it, she would follow Perrath into the den of counterfeiters and do her part to see her task through.

She stopped for a moment, tapping Perrath on the shoulder to quietly signal she was doing so. Pulling out her notes, she did a quick scan of the surroundings both by eye and with Geomagnetic Sense. They were close now, the building indicated by the map only a few hundred yards away. She pointed out the route on the map, then pointed down the alley in the direction to take. Her silent steps kept pace as the pair stalked through the gloomy, run down section of town. Places like this always made Taki question the supposed good the Crown was doing. Still, that was no excuse for the counterfeiters to be preying on the merchants and street vendors keeping the place from all being a slum. Taki steeled her resolve for what would happen next as she strolled quietly beside Perrath.

Being an angry and very tall dragon in armor with a big sword makes intimidating people easy. Taki absolutely played the voice of reason (while also being intimidating in her own right) while Perrath questioned the man. Taking his directions, Perrath’s walk is a mix of pride and anger (mostly anger because they hurt his pride). When Taki stops him and indicates a different path to take, he nods in understanding and slinks through the shadows. Despite his size and armor, his steps are completely silent, and moving between the darkened alleys, his form almost seems to meld with the shadows cast.

Finally, they reach the building where the counterfeit production has been taking place, and Perrath crouches down to observe any activity near the entrance. When he’s confident no one will see them coming, he approaches the door only to find his grand entrance blocked by the simple stopper of a lock. No matter. He takes a step back and wispy shadows gather around his person until it breaks away and forms a spectral version of Perrath. It looks at him and Taki with glowing purple eyes then steps through the door. Perrath then activates the magic that tethers him to the specter and switches places with it. Suddenly, he’s just inside the building, and no one seems to have noticed him.

Not the grand entrance he wanted. So, he unlocks the door then repeats the process, creating a new specter and switching places with it so that he’s outside beside Taki again. With a smug expression, Perrath turns the knob of the door slightly to release it then raises one leg and kicks it in with a loud bang. There are startled cries inside the warehouse which are quickly overcome by Perrath’s booming voice.

“For your trespasses on my honor, you will taste the steel of my blade!”

---

One with the shadows
Spectral Shadow

Quest details:

SPOILER: Click to show

Quest Name: This is a Stickup!
Chapter: Two
Description: Now that you have gained the middle mans trust you can have them take you to one of their hideouts where the fake solars are being held or even made. Once there we need you to bust up the operation, taking out anyone involved and putting a stop to the process. You may need to get your hands a little dirty while doing this, but putting a stop to everything is of major importance. Unfortunately this is only one of many locations, so we have more work to do, but this is a good first step.
Requirements:
- Requires at least two people (you and one other, the other does not need to be interested in the guild)
- You must make at least 6 post with each post being 150 words to complete the mission.
- You must put an end to the operation
- You must take out three large body guards protecting the facility
- Once you complete this mission you have finished this quest line

Taki watched the dragon warrior's shadowy trick with an amused grin, having seen similar abilities before she understood the mayhem they caused for a battle. What happened next did suprise her though, as Perrath charged through the front door with a hard kick that sent it slamming into the walls. The guards were quick to respond, some drawing melee weapons, others pulling light crossbows from their backs and taking aim. The shaman summoned her spirit guardians, their auras pouring over the area.

"Keta, you're with me. Ryu, don't let Perrath get swarmed if you please."

"Easily done Taki."

"On your tail, Miss!" Keta said with a giggling excitement.

The shaman took off around the building, leaving the warrior to deal with the front entrance while she made sure there were no holes for any fleas or rats to scurry out of. Geomagnetic Sense reached out around her as she rounded the building, giving her a mental picture of the surrounding area. Beneath the building was a basement, which had a tunnel leading out and up to the street from a nearby building... That would need to be cut off.

Walking over to the crossing point between the buildings, Taki focused her will, drawing on the magic of her spirit empowered by her guardian. The ground began to rumble and shake as the walls of the tunnel fused themselves back together to form a new, solid wall through the tunnel several feet thick. It cut the route off from both sides, leaving only one way for the shouting voices below the street to go. She turned with a wicked smirk and faced the rear door, knowing that both she and Perrath were about to be greeted by more angry faces and their stinging weapons. The shaman relaxed, watching the rear door with eager anticipation with her spirit guardian near her side.

With chaos suddenly breaking out in the warehouse and having drawn everyone’s attention with his perfectly dramatic entrance, Perrath grins. Shadows manifest around him, a smoke around his feet. With each step into the darkened warehouse, he is more difficult to see, and he uses that to his advantage.

Taking his greatsword in both hands, the dragon knight charges inside to the nearest guard that approaches. The guard swings wide, having trouble seeing the shadowy dragon in the dark room. With a mighty swipe empowered by Ryu’s presence, Perrath cleaves his massive blade down on the man, severing his arm. The sword seems to lap up the blood, green flames starting to form along the blade and from the guard’s wound. Whipping around, Perrath slams his tail into the man, knocking him back into some crates. He lets out a triumphant laugh and points his blade at the next guard approaching.

“Do you dare challenge me?!” he demands, the grin on his face evident in his voice. “I am vengeance manifest! Come and meet your fate and hope that the gods will welcome you into their arms when you bleed out before me!” He will paint the walls with their blood.

---

Cloak of Shadows
Soul Slicer - 1 stack of Soul Waning
Prehensile Tail, Bull’s Strength

The rear door was thrown open moments later, and nearly a dozen people came pouring out of it. They fanned out in a circle around 4 people lugging a heavily laden wagon. Taki smiled wide, her fangs glinting in the moonlight as she stepped into the light in the wagon's path. She could hear Perrath's voice over the other shouts in the building, though not what he was saying... still, by his tone, she pitied those who met the warrior's blade. Three of the guard came forward, blades drawn while the others closed their formation on the wagon. When they'd reached a point about half way between Taki and the wagon, she completed casting a spell she'd been preparing. With Keta at her side, even she was impressed and awestruck by the result as she poured her magic deep into the earth. From far below, a trio of molten snake like heads burst from the ground.¹

The magma hydra wasted no time, spouting flame at the guards near the wagon. They dove aside, though one wore a heavy suit of plate and was consumed by the smoldering glob of liquid rock that struck his chest and side. With a devious grin, she approached the three guards wielding blades as the heat from the hydra lapped at their backs and cut them off from both their charge and reinforcements. The wagon bearers were surprisingly stoic, or stunned with fear at the situation, and stared blankly at the glowing wurms ahead. With a deceptive stretch, the shaman loaded her sling with a Static Slug before planting her heel firmly into the ground and snapping her body forward. As she felt the sling pull taut and pivot about, she released the slug² and sent it sailing with a loud thud into the central guard. It burst against his chain shirt in a shower of copper shrapnel that sent sparks arcing between the three. The man staggered, but was held up by his companions as they started their approach towards the shaman, blades forward.

---

1: Taki's Spirit Summoning: Magma Hydra [Force of Nature, Overwhelming Magic]
2: Returning Sling, firing Static Slug [Exalted Marksmen]

Powerful as his swings are, Perrath still finds himself surrounded by the remaining guards and counterfeit conspirators. The light from the green flames licking along the length of his twisted black greatsword shimmer across his teeth as he grins. Being surrounded is no problem. The shadows around him collect again and project forward, a spectral version of himself rushing forward, startling the man ahead of him. Perrath switches places with it then whips his sword across the man’s back. As if using the life force as kindling, the green flames grow more intense.

Then the doors at the other end of the warehouse burst open, and a wagon pushes out. Well, he might as well help Taki surround their foes! Taking a step back into the surrounding shadows, Perrath disappears from view and rushes across the warehouse only to see Taki summon a creature of magma and begin ripping through their foes. He finds himself admiring her power and dives into the fray, taking advantage of the electrified enemies and cleaving his sword through them. More flames explode off of his blade when he does, and he laughs a victorious laugh.

"I hope you're enjoying yourself, Taki!" he shouts.

---

Spectral shadow
Cloak of Shadows / Pass Without a Trace

"Solving the world's problems for the Crown couldn't be more enjoyable Perrath." She replied in a casaul tone. His heavy blade passed through the guards with practiced ease, igniting some sort of enchantment to greater fury. She was surprised by the fluidity and ease that the warrior displayed as he fought, the conditioned strength it would take to carry such a heavy kit into battle. She strolled up to the stunned haulers and their laden wagon, not a one offering resistance. Tossing back the cover, it was laden with plates of metal embossed with the faces of a Solar coin. To go with this, there were various smelting implements and a pair of large presses with heavy wheels and carefully crafted moving parts.

"My my... trying to take your operation to another site? An intriguing, if ill conceived idea. Why don't the four of you kindly see yourselves to the door of the authorities, and send them our way?" Taki's words dripped with venom, her long serpentine fangs and strange eyes that were something between a viper and an owl added to the looming threat of the Hydra. It lashed out with more heavy chunks of burning rock, catching two more fleeing guards clanking away from the warehouse. She signaled Keta forward, to meet up with Perrath and Ryu to further hinder and support. One of the four meekly agreed as they started down the path, giving the summon a wide berth.  Meanwhile, she pondered what to do about the counterfeiting equipment as she watched the tapering action carefully in case she need intervene. So long as there were angered minds with sharp steel in the area, she would remain alert and watching.

“Bah, the Crown,” Perrath says with a particular disdain. Gaudy elves with lofty opinions of themselves, more like. Perhaps if they paid better, he’d like them more. Then again, he doubts that. Dragons deserve to rule the world, not elves that think they’re Solaria’s gift to the world.

In all honesty, if these counterfeiters hadn’t crossed him, he would likely be working with them to devalue the crown’s own coin. But that opportunity is not his to take today. However, with this equipment… Well, it could be.

With the last of the resisters cut down or quelled and the one instructed to tell the guard, Perrath looks at Taki. “How can you be so sure that one will not simply flee?” he says, glancing around to see if any of her spirits are following. “And what would you have me do with these three? Shall I cut them down or do you intend to turn them over to the guard?” He rests his greatsword across his shoulders, backlit by the green flames that hunger for more blood, more life energy. He’ll gladly give it to the blade, but he doesn’t want to give Taki a tainted opinion of him. The men are essentially helpless as it is.

"A shaman has her ways of keeping tabs on things." She smiled slyly, tapping one bare foot against the earth. Geomagnetic Sense would keep tabs on the travel of those she'd sent while she leaned in closer to the three combatants at the dragon's feet.

"Now... as for you three... Perrath brings up a good conundrum. We have the four important parts of your operation, those with the knowledge of it's workings... so what do we do with the goons, lackeys and peons?" She watched their expressions carefully as she used her bizarre appearance to increase the tension of the situation.

"Tch... get it over with already, either you will or the guard will after lettin' us rot in the dungeon a while... either way... be quick about it." The first said, his frustration plain across his features.

The second cowered, saying nothing and trying to shrink away from the shaman's gaze. The third stared back defiantly, then tried to rear up and spit at the shaman. As his head snapped back, she gave his cranium a resounding slap on each side with an arm, shoving his open mouth into the muck.

"Oi... after all that... you still have some fight left hmmmm? I wonder if my warm friend is still hungry?" She pointedly turned to the Hydra, which played along with her ruse and loomed closer, it's central head fixing it's gaze on the three with a primal hunger and globs of hissing magma dripping from it's maw.

All three seemed to catch on to the play at once and passed out from the stress and adrenaline of the situation. Shaking her head, she looked at Perrath.

"Honestly, their lives are forfeit either way. We have a few minutes before the guard come, so I'll leave it up to you. Doubtful the guards would be much good other than adding some validity to the other's statements, but they won't know much of the operation by design. Personally, the irony of it is not lost on me, and I share your sentiment about governing bodies... for both professional and personal reasons... but I understand that using the same rules and systems they've made to oppress against them, to set up situations where the folly of the Crown's system gets displayed for all to see by having the Crown do the heavy lifting... that's my kind of justice. Anyone can throw a rock or bash with a stick and change a life, but a clever person will convince someone that hitting themselves with the rock is the right move instead." Taki explained, knowing this level of happening, right in the heart of Sol City would be difficult to hide from the public. While the slums were perceived by the outside to be a place of filth and degeneracy, the residents understood otherwise and news would travel far beyond the walls and bounds of the island... how would the Crown respond to such wide scale corruption right in it's own house? More importantly, how would Charon at large respond to the Crown being able to keep it's own house free of such vermin?

Glancing towards Taki’s foot, an equally sly smile crosses Perrath’s face, and he nods in approval. She’s tricky, that orochi, which makes him glad that they have always been allies in their endeavors. He also approves of her methods of intimidation, watching the men squirm while she threatens them, reminding them that they are nothing more than collateral damage both to their employers and captors.

“Getting it over with quickly is easy, but to see you suffer would be more satisfactory,” the dragon hisses, leaning over them from behind and adding to the menace of the situation. He can’t help but chuckle when the men lose their consciousness for their fear. Well, an unconscious victim is no fun.

Sheathing his sword and adjusting his stance, Perrath looks at Taki and listens intently, smiling in agreement. “Turning their systems against them and exposing the rotten core beneath it all is the right kind of justice to seek,” he says. “I quite enjoy cutting down enemies, but there is a time and place for everything. The beast’s true nature must be revealed before enacting violence.” Then he lets out a despondent sigh. “If only things could be simpler.” But it won’t be. He finds himself grateful to be on the same page with Taki on their opinions of the Crown.

Finally, the guards arrive with the man sent to retrieve them. With him now shackled, Perrath steps forward and explains the situation in his most knightly tone. After being swindled, he and the renowned member of the Mage’s Guild, Miss Shitaki teamed up to expose the operation. As for the blood and bodies? Well, those are unfortunate consequences to people not going down quietly. With everything explained away simply enough, Perrath steps aside with Taki and gives her a bow with his fist pressed to his chest.

“As always, it is a pleasure to work alongside you, Shitakibo. You are a fearsome warrior with wisdom beyond that of mortal men. I thank you for assisting me in recovering some dignity from my situation and look forward to working alongside you again.”

"Of course, should our paths cross again in the future, I would gladly join your battles. Safe travels Perrath, and be well." Taki replied, then turned to join the procession of captured goods and people. She followed them back to the guard tower, ensuring their bosses didn't try to cover their tracks. With that out of the way, she made her way through the city towards the Mage's Guild to complete her task. While the paperwork was mostly done, there was a lengthy debriefing as the official reports were combed through in meticulous detail.

When it was finally over, Taki retired for the evening in the dorms, clutching her approval to finally join the rediscovered field of Arcanatek Research. What sort of discoveries would she encounter? How would her understanding of magical systems change? Why had this information been lost? Questions buzzed about as she drifted off to sleep that night, dreaming of the flow of magic and the dance of mysterious formulae yet to be discovered. The next step had begun for the shaman, and there would be less and less avoiding public notice or being a simple mender of fences and livestock... The time was at hand to consider each action she took going forward, to understand that these choices would reach beyond any personal scope or achievement.