<div dir="ltr">As of now, four authors are in the Round Robin: Kamau (most recent), Chris O'Kane, Rimme the Weasel, and myself. Please feel free to join in if you want. <div> </div><div>To help keep things organized I created a google doc with the story (as well as the Round Robin rules). The story starts on the second page.</div><div><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CYbuB1orNN7kKOOpRBtyQk0SukIGbtisJKaN6nFMPxY/edit?usp=sharing">https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CYbuB1orNN7kKOOpRBtyQk0SukIGbtisJKaN6nFMPxY/edit?usp=sharing</a> </div><div> </div><div>Keep in mind that while the story is taking place in June 708, the story (thus far) is still on Friday, June 2 even though it's June 20 in real life (at the time I'm typing this, most likely it'll be June 21 when the group gets it). </div><div> </div><div>I've also placed the whole story so far below, in case anyone can't access the doc. I'll be adding a new part tomorrow, just in case someone's sent something today and it hasn't arrived yet.</div><div> </div><div>-Indy</div><div>June 708[Author: Indy]Deep within Metamor Keep the rats play in the cellars. These are neither dank nor dark, as one might expect, but cozy homes kept clean and neat lit by fairy lights the colors of Christmas bulbs. The rats themselves are dressed similar to Keep fashion, though they rarely show themselves within the Keep proper. They instead stay close to rat size and live in their comfy homes, venturing out to gather food from the fields or making their own. On the first of June, a young rat named Trey awakened within his nest. The call of the summer reached down and took hold of him, stirring him to leave his home and scamper up and up through the paths long made. On two and four legs he ran, scampering at the imperious call of the outside world. Finally he reached the end and allowed his eyes to adjust before exiting into the bright light and warmth of a fine June day. --[Next Part Below]-- [Author: Rimme the Weasel] It was a Friday, and although it wasn't quite the end of the week, still there were many Keepers out enjoying the good weather. A couple reptile morphs lay on the rooftops, basking in the early morning sun. But for most Keepers, it was business as usual, either running their shops, or visiting the shops of others, before the bigger crowds came in on Saturday. A few nobles were already talking about Artela'kema, and making their preparations for the Duke's Hunt in two days -- refitting their steeds' shoes, brushing them down, or taking some practice trots around town. For Aldwin, this was no time to be relaxing. He and the other guards were already supposed to have been back on the road today, but his employer Gwayn was still looking for a buyer for their carpets. The usual buyer for his wares had died in a plague back in March, apparently an attack by the Daedra. Gwayn had already sold off their wool blankets to various small shops, enough to pay back some of their wages for the journey to Metamor, but they needed someone who could buy carpets in bulk, or they wouldn't have enough money for the return trip home. And if they didn't leave within three days, they'd risk being trapped in Metamor -- or, more likely, he and the guards would leave Gwayn trapped in Metamor while they fled south with Gwayn's money and horses. Aldwin hoped it didn't come to that. He joined the caravan thinking it'd be a way to use his combat skills protecting people and seeing the world, getting away from his days on the town watch, harassing starving beggars and petty crooks. He did not want to have to make a bad decision. But if it came down to life and death, a choice between helping his coworkers rob their boss so they could all safely return home, or being stranded homeless and friendless in a strange town in a strange form... His stomach growled. Since their food stocks had all spoiled thanks to a heavy rain and a leaky storage box, they'd all been left to buy their own food... or steal it, Aldwin suspected. Aldwin didn't want to resort to stealing, but he also had no idea how long his few coins would last him. He ventured out into the market stalls, hoping to find some cheap edible food. --[Next Part Below]-- [Author: Chris O’Kane] He found himself in one of the outer courtyards of the keep. A place busy with the hustle and bustle of daily life. People of many different species moved about on their daily errands. Also enjoying the warmth and sunshine.of a new summer day. "It's a wanderful day!" the rat exclaimed outloud to no one and everyone at the same time. --[Next Part Below]-- [Author: Indy] No one was within range to hear, but that hardly mattered. Trey found easy footing among the stones and had no fear of falling at all. He scampered around, enjoying the light and air. He soon came across a group of five human men in a fairly empty area. They had a worried expression and were talking amongst themselves. "I say we leave him. He ain't gonna find a new buyer in this place." "I never understood why Gwayn comes to this accursed place. Laselle's just south and isn't touched. Folks there can use carpets just as much if not more." "Th' old buyer was a friend of his way back. Offered him more for the carpets than anyone else. Guess he figured th' folks here might be generous." "Well, we're going to have to decide soon. Three more days and *none* of us are leaving." A sixth man came to join them. He had a basket and handed out some food. "Bless you Aldwin! Where'd you get these?" "At a food stand near here. Prices were right. Why are you all here? Where's Gwayn?" "We got tired of followin' him around. Ain't much room for us here an' he ain't got enough on him ta be worth robbin'." "That's not strictly true. The horses have enough for us in their saddles," said Aldwin. "He trusts the stable enough to leave them there, but *we* can get at them any time." The other men stood up. "What're you sayin' Aldwin?" "I came to offer my protection, not be turned into something unnatural. I wouldn't want to rob him--that never ends well--, but I don't want to be trapped here either. I especially don't like how light our purses are. Tomorrow's Saturday: busiest day, most likely for him to find a buyer. I say we give him till then." "And if he don't find a buyer?" "We leave quietly early Sunday morning. I can lie to the stables about it. We leave before Gwayn is even up. I don't want to, but I don't see we have much of a choice. Sooner or later our light purses will turn into starvation. And if we steal..." "We get caught and end up stuck here." "If we're lucky. Most places take a dim view of thieves and hang them high. But we'd best be doing our duties before or Gwayn will suspect." The others nodded. Another human came. "There you all are! What's this a lunch break?" "The men got hungry," said Aldwin. "I went to find some cheap food. Can't guard on an empty stomach." "Well, if you expect more pay, you'd best hope I not get robbed! I had to find someone willing to watch my wares while I came looking for you!" "Well, we're all fed and rested, and ready to do our duties again," said Aldwin. The other men nodded and followed their employer back into the crowds. If any of them had looked up, they'd have seen Trey with a furious look on his face! Betrayal! He had to do something, but what?--[Next Part Below]-- [Author: Rimme the Weasel] The six guards dispersed then, each heading to their assigned duties. Gallus returned to Gawyn's side throughout town. Rodrick and Nathan returned to the inn to guard their master's room and cargo, although Rodrick would break away and join Jerrod in ongoing games of cards and coins to win some extra bread and ale. Aldwin, minus Jerrod, went off to check the other taverns for other merchant caravans, seeking news on the road south and the usual market gossip. Which left the last guard to roam the streets for further intel and other buyers Gawyn might've missed. Only Gawyn knew this guard's true name, but he became known as Reed among the guards for three reasons: his rail-thin stature, his silent movement, and the sharp low whistle he gave on spotting a trap. He was not particularly skilled at the sword or staff or bow, but his stealth and observation were invaluable for avoiding ambushes. If the rumors were to be believed, he had gotten his skills not as a scout, but as a thief against the city watch of Salinon. It was also rumored that he had no qualms against killing friends who knew his secrets, that Reed was loyal only to himself, and might even backstab them once they left the watchful eye of Metamor. And Reed didn't trust them either. He had indeed once been a thief, though nowhere as cruel as the rumors made him out to be. It was in fact for those same skills that Gawyn had tasked him with a secret mission for today. He was to find the mysterious Thieves' Guild rumored to exist in Metamor, as such guilds always did beneath the public squares and open markets. If the carpets couldn't find a reputable buyer, then an underground buyer would do, so long as the coin was good. Reed had already warned Gawyn that he had little chance of succeeding. It was no easy task to contact the Thieves' Guild, doubly so as a foreigner, triply so in Metamor where secret passages came and went like smoke. And the prices wouldn't be great, especially since trade among thieves tended to be cut-throat in more ways than one. Still, Reed enjoyed the urban wilderness even more than the uncivilized one, and he set about investigating the many marks etched into the city walls. Very few of them were likely to have been made by anyone but street kids, common thugs, bored warriors, and accidental wagon crashes, but it was as useful an exercise as searching for master thieves. A flash of movement caught his eye. He saw a rat dart into a small mousehole along the castle walls. Normally Reed would have ignored the rat, but here in Metamor, any animal could be a spy, and his old suspicions of the city watch flared up. He began scanning the walls for other exits the rat could appear from. [Author: Chris O’Kane] "It's not like there is any real threat," one says, "Nothing we cant handle." The small group made its way thru the crowd. Trey was quiet as he pondered what to do next. "There is always someone here looking to steal what I have," the man countered. "And if I lose my items I can't sell them and if I cant make money neither do you." --[Next Part Below]-- [Author: Kamau] Rorlyn glided lazily down the valley, his eyes sweeping the land for any signs of trouble. The warmth of the day gave him plenty of thermals to use, saving him from having to flap his wings only occasionally to move to another updraft. As the Keep itself came into view he could see thepeople of Euper enjoying the warmth and sun. Maintaining his altitude, he began to circle the Keep itself. Those who did not need to work were in many of the sunny places and even those on watch seemed to be soaking up the sun’s gift that day. He noticed on one of the upper towers his friend Sal who was being pure cat and just laying on the warmed stone floor. A playful thought came to the gryphon’s mind, and he banked to his left angling his wings and tail feathers for descent. Passing over the west end of the wall he now drew in his wings, leaving them out just enough to guide what was now a full speed dive at the tower where the smilodon lay. Just before reaching the tower, he used his eagle voice, letting out a screech. Sal’s eyes popped open just in time to see and feel the huge, feathered body pass within inches of him, causing him to instinctively roll for cover. “Damn you Rorlyn,” the big cat screamed, jumping to his feet, “you scared the living daylights out of me.” The gryphon’s dark wing feathers flashed in golden hues as he swung around, coming close to his friend. “That was the general idea,” he replied, a chuckle in his voice, “Can’t have someone found sleeping while standing the watch.” “I’m not on watch you feathered and furred nit wit. These towers are manned only when we expect trouble.” “Gee, I guess I forgot,” Rorlyn replied coming into a hover with the aid of his magic, an avian smile on his face. I, however, need to move on up the valley as I am on duty. With a few strokes of his massive wings, he was once again at his usual height and gliding to the north. A short time later he noticed a single red skinned figure in the distance. He stared intently for a moment for he had never seen anyone who looked like this in the valley. He altered his course to bring him over to that location on the road to investigate who or what this might be. --[Next Part Below]-- </div></div>