Tauer's Tower

[Tauer]

In the shade of the fort of power
Maidens weep and children cower
Bold dogs growl and old men glower
At the sight of the Demon Tower.

From across the land, travelers scour
Through Summer's heat and Winter's shower
From breaking dawn to twilight hour
To gaze upon the Demon Tower.

Heroic tales, here shall flower
For the Crone, expression dour
Cries " 'ware the prince of darkened power!
That dwells inside: the demon, Tauer."

~ 'Tale from a Potential Future' - Anon

[Tauer]

On the edge of town stands a tower; old, abandoned and forgotten. The wizard who once occupied this grand monument to magic has long since departed the land, leaving the tower empty and silent. Time has taken it's toll on the the stone citadel; the door has become warped, it's hinges rusted and creaky, and several of the tower's many windows are smashed or cracked. Ivy and moss grow in patches over and in between the brickwork and, over the years, crows and ravens have taken up residence here.

Inside, a stone staircase - fragmented here and there - winds it's way up from the ground floor to the top. Bare bookcases, boasting only dusty shelves, are the only things occupying the tiers of the tower. Whatever tomes and potions had once rested here were long gone.

Many of the locals believe the wizard's tower is haunted and deliberately go out of their way to avoid it. That's what made this the perfect place to stay; no one would bother him here.

Tauer pushed the misshapen front door. The wood creaked and resisted but eventually gave way.

The demon claimed his tower.

[Tauer]

A full moon beamed brightly tonight, illuminating the demon in an eerie glow. Tauer stood outside, on the balcony that circled the tower's top floor, and looked out over the sleepy town. The air was cool against his pale skin and a gentle breeze passed through his hair like a mother's delicate touch. The stone was cold against his bare feet, yet not harshly so, and from his lookout spot the world seemed to be calm and peaceful.

Somewhere in that labyrinth of wood and stone buildings Nissa and Joff were most likely sound asleep, held captive by the red-headed cathian Piper. Tauer was certain that no harm would come to them. He had agreed to work with the would-be-king of the streets to win the brother and sister's freedom, and if anything did happen to them the demon prince would tear this town apart to find those responsible.

Tauer had no doubt that Piper had had his little rats and birds keeping a watchful eye on him since their encounter, and once the time came to do this mysterious job, the cathian would have no trouble tracking the demon prince down to give him the inevitable message.

Until then, Tauer would rest and re-energize - apparently his gift was going to be needed - and later, learn more about the town and it's people. Tomorrow, he would go find a tavern. It seemed like a good place to start.

[Neko]

::Tauer wakes one day to find he had a visitor in the night. On an old wooden table that had been there since before he had moved in he finds a fresh juicy apple weighing down a folded piece of paper. ::

[Tauer]

The demon prince covered a morning yawn with the back of his hand as he picked up the apple. Tauer didn't need a message to know that this was related to Nissa and Joff. He unfolded the piece of paper, somewhat apprehensively, and read what he thought could be instructions from Piper.

[Neko]

"Morning, gent.

Nice place you found here, though a bit drafty. You may want to consider moving into town. I hear there's an apartment you might be interested in dockside. Perhaps you should check it out. I believe there is an Open House tonight.

I wouldn't want anything to happen to you all alone out here."

::An address is listed at the bottom of the unsigned note::


((Orp's Apartment Thread in Homesteads ;D ))

[Tauer]

Tauer read the letter a second time then let out a sigh. The demon prince got the impression that Piper was looking to utilise his skills for more than this one unspecified job. Why else would the street rat want him to up and move to the docks? Were Piper's little birds and rats getting tired of running back and forth across town? And had that last part been a threat?

Well, whatever was going to happen, Tauer decided that he wasn't going to give up his new home permanently. Once the job was complete, and Nissa and Joff were free from Piper, the demon would return to the solitude of his tower.

Possessing no belongings, other than the clothes on his back, Tauer took a bite of the apple and headed out to find the address written on the note.

[Tauer]

Tauer approached the tower cautiously. He hadn't seen anyone following him or Orp Boon as they made their way across town from the docks. But that meant nothing. The gang leader Piper would have certainly had his little rats and birds follow him. Yet he didn't have the faintest idea why the red-headed cathian would want the small, leather-bound ledger that was in the cyclops' possession. That was IF Orp Boon actually carried said ledger. Tauer hadn't actually seen it for himself but he didn't suppose that mattered too much. One way or the other the demon prince was hoping for a confrontation with the cathian.

The tower's warped front door was opened slightly, just the way he'd left it, making it easier to slip in and out. Tauer glanced behind him to Orp Boon, checking the cyclops was ready for an encounter.

[Orp Boon]

Orp readjusted the ledger in his shirt as he walked behind Tauer. The tower was kind of shabby but it looked like out here there were no taxes or rent, something that Orp would have to look into. He looked through the foliage as they approached the door and entered.

[Neko]

::The foliage seemed fine around the base of the Tower as they entered. It was just as overgrown as it had been for as long as any local would remember.

The door gave way with the famliar creak that Tauer had come to expect as the two of them entered the first floor room. If Tauer was expecting a huge welcome, he was saddly disappointed as the room was empty except for what furnishings he had.

However, echoing down the stairs from the room above, they could both hear the sound of footsteps pacing the floor. One step soft, the matching one heavier and accompanied by the creak of metal on metal... ::

[Orp Boon]

Hmm, no obvious ambushes. Either they were well hidden, this 'Piper' underestimated Tauer or he was dumb. Orp whispered to Tauer,

"You have a guest over?"

[Tauer]

Tauer shook his head. The demon's mind became troubled as he inched his way up the stairs, cautiously, ready to tug at the surrounding shadows for aid. Had Piper sent only one of the children as punishment, along with a messenger? Curiosity drew him further up the steps. He had to know who was trespassing in his tower.

[Neko]

::The pair made their way up the stone staircase the ringed the edge of the tower and passed through the old wooden door that led into the room above.

Pacing the floor was a solitary figure, dressed in clothes that were dirty and ragged from neglect. It was a red headed Cathian, his hair pulled back from a high forehead, and a metal legbrace on one leg that hampered his movement somewhat. When Tauer entered, the Cathian turned to face him. And when he saw Orp enter behind him, the man positively beamed with excitement.

slow clap::

"Bravo, Mate! Didn't think you'ld be able to pull it off this time, I did. Macavity tho, 'e says to let you at it, so's I did. Now look at you. You not only brought back the ledger, but the author as well!"

::He steps closer and gives Tauer a conspiritorial wink::

"You give 'im that same 'do it for the children' bit you pulled in Bacall? Didn't think that would work a second time, Mate."

::He gives Tauer a pat on the back and steps closer to Orp.::

"'ello, Chum. Name's Piper, and you just been 'oodwinked, you 'ave. Now 'ow's about you 'and over that ledger o' yours."

::Below you can here the creak of the door again. Perhaps its just the wind...::

[Tauer]

What? I didn't...

Tauer looked at Orp Boon, almost pleading. He hadn't conspired to bring the cyclops here. The demon felt whatever trust there might have been between Boon and himself was about to crumble like a soggy biscuit. Tauer suspected the cathian was trying to cause a rift between them. Or did Piper really think he'd tricked the cyclops?

Upon hearing the door downstairs creak, he gathered his senses. Was he about to have another unwelcome visitor? The demon prince discreetly moved himself away from the stairway, placing himself so his back was facing a wall. If a trap was about to be sprung Tauer wasn't going to be caught unawares.

What's in the ledger that's so important to you, Piper?

[Orp Boon]

Orp wouldn't be too surprised either way if Tauer legitimately tricked him or Piper was just saying those things. All he knew was this Piper seemed really sketchy and that no one was getting their hands on his ledger.

"You'll get this ledger, over my dead body."

Orp readied his metal magic to loose a whip of his wire at Piper.