RPGnet - User contributions [en]

San Cristobal Cargo

2026-01-24T23:24:36Z

Relmopator: /* Cigars */

[[File:Sbg-ship.jpg|450px]]
==New Cars (Under $300,000)==
* Toyota Supra - $45,000+
* Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 - $80,000+
* Chevrolet Corvette Stingray - $65,000+
* Porsche 718 Cayman - $65,000+
* BMW M3 - $75,000+
* Audi RS5 - $80,000+
* Mercedes-AMG C63 - $80,000+
* Nissan GT-R - $120,000+
* Jaguar F-Type - $70,000+
* Lexus LC 500 - $95,000+
* Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio - $80,000+
* Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing - $90,000+
* Tesla Model S Plaid - $110,000+
* Aston Martin Vantage - $140,000+
* McLaren GT - $210,000+
* Porsche 911 Carrera - $110,000+
*Lotus Emira - $85,000+
*Ford GT (base model) - $250,000+
*Audi R8 (base model) - $150,000+
*BMW M8 Competition - $140,000+

==Classic Cars (Under $300,000)==
*Porsche 911 (964 Carrera RS) - $150,000+
*Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 (1969) - $70,000+
*Ford Mustang Boss 302 (1969) - $80,000+
*Jaguar E-Type Series 1 - $150,000+
*Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda - $120,000+
*BMW 2002 Turbo - $70,000+
*Datsun 240Z - $50,000+
*Alfa Romeo Spider (1960s) - $40,000+
*Ferrari 308 GTB - $100,000+
*Lamborghini Jalpa - $120,000+
*Porsche 914/6 - $60,000+
*Volkswagen Beetle (Classic) - $20,000+
*Ford Bronco (First Gen) - $50,000+
*Chevrolet Corvette C2 Sting Ray - $80,000+
*Aston Martin DB6 - $250,000+
*Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow - $50,000+
*Ferrari Dino 246 GT - $250,000+
*Lancia Stratos - $200,000+
*DeTomaso Pantera - $100,000+
*Mazda RX-7 FD (1990s) - $50,000+

==Trucks and SUVs (Under $300,000)==
*Ford F-150 Raptor - $70,000+
*Ram 1500 TRX - $80,000+
*Chevrolet Silverado High Country - $60,000+
*Toyota Land Cruiser (2023) - $90,000+ '''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
*Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 - $80,000+ '''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
*Land Rover Defender - $60,000+ '''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
*Mercedes-Benz G-Class (base model) - $140,000+ '''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
*Rivian R1T - $80,000+
*Tesla Cybertruck (expected) - $60,000+
*Ford Bronco Raptor - $80,000+ '''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
*Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro - $50,000+
*Nissan Titan Pro-4X - $55,000+
*GMC Sierra AT4 - $65,000+
*Hummer EV (base model) - $80,000+ '''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
*Lexus LX 600 - $90,000+
*Cadillac Escalade - $80,000+ '''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
*Jeep Grand Wagoneer - $90,000+ '''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
*Audi Q8 - $70,000+
*BMW X7 - $80,000+
*Porsche Cayenne Turbo - $130,000+

==Watches==
'''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
===Box 1: Iconic Luxury Watches===
* Rolex Submariner (Ref. 126610LN) - $10,000
* Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch - $6,500
* Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight - $4,000
* Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph - $9,000
* Tag Heuer Monaco (Calibre Heuer 02) - $7,000
* IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire - $5,500
* Panerai Luminor Marina (PAM01312) - $8,500
* Cartier Tank Must - $3,500
* Grand Seiko Snowflake (SBGA211) - $6,000
*Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic - $7,500

===Box 2: Modern Sports Watches===
* Rolex GMT-Master II (Ref. 126710BLNR) - $12,000
* Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore (Ref. 26470ST) - $35,000
* Hublot Big Bang Unico - $18,000
* Zenith Defy El Primero 21 - $12,000
* Chopard Alpine Eagle - $13,000
* Girard-Perregaux Laureato - $14,000
* Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver - $4,500
* Oris Aquis Date - $2,500
* Longines HydroConquest - $1,500
*TAG Heuer Aquaracer - $3,000

===Box 3: Classic Dress Watches===
* Patek Philippe Calatrava (Ref. 5196G) - $30,000
* Vacheron Constantin Patrimony - $20,000
* Breguet Classique (Ref. 5177) - $15,000
* A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin - $18,000
* Piaget Altiplano - $20,000
* Glashütte Original Senator Excellence - $10,000
* Nomos Tangente - $3,000
* Frederique Constant Slimline Monolithic - $4,500
* Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie - $5,000
*Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic - $3,500

===Box 4: Vintage and Collectible Watches===
* Rolex Daytona (Ref. 16520) - $25,000
* Omega Seamaster 300 (Vintage) - $8,000
* Heuer Autavia (Vintage) - $6,000
* Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle (Vintage) - $10,000
* Tudor Submariner (Vintage) - $7,000
* Universal Geneve Polerouter (Vintage) - $3,000
* Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox (Vintage) - $5,000
* Breitling Top Time (Vintage) - $4,500
* Zenith El Primero A386 (Vintage) - $12,000
*Cartier Santos (Vintage) - $9,000

===Box 5: High-End Independent Watches===
* F.P. Journe Élégante - $40,000
* H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Perpetual Calendar - $45,000
* MB&F Legacy Machine 101 - $35,000
* Ressence Type 3 - $38,000
* Urwerk UR-105 - $45,000
* De Bethune DB28 - $50,000
* Grönefeld 1941 Remontoire - $40,000
* Kari Voutilainen Vingt-8 - $50,000
* Romain Gauthier Logical One - $45,000
*Habring2 Doppel-Felix - $15,000

===Box 6: Affordable Luxury Watches===
* Rolex Oyster Perpetual (Ref. 124300) - $6,000
* Tudor Pelagos - $4,500
* Omega Seamaster Diver 300M - $5,000
* Breitling Superocean Heritage II - $4,000
* Tag Heuer Carrera (Calibre 5) - $3,500
* Longines Master Collection - $2,500
* Oris Big Crown Pointer Date - $2,000
* Hamilton Intra-Matic Chronograph - $2,200
* Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 - $700
*Seiko Presage Sharp Edged Series - $1,000

== Luxury Handbags==
'''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
* Hermès Birkin Bag - $10,000–$500,000+
* Hermès Kelly Bag - $10,000–$100,000+
* Chanel Classic Flap Bag - $8,000–$15,000+
* Louis Vuitton Capucines - $4,000–$10,000+
* Gucci Dionysus - $3,000–$5,000+
* Dior Lady Dior - $4,000–$10,000+
* Prada Galleria Bag - $3,000–$5,000+
* Fendi Peekaboo - $4,000–$10,000+
* Bottega Veneta The Pouch - $3,000–$6,000+
*Goyard St. Louis Tote - $1,500–$3,000+

==Fine Jewelry==
'''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
* Cartier Love Bracelet - $7,000–$10,000+
* Tiffany & Co. Solitaire Diamond Ring - $10,000–$100,000+
* Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Necklace - $5,000–$20,000+
* Bulgari Serpenti Bracelet - $10,000–$50,000+
* Chopard Happy Diamonds Bracelet - $8,000–$15,000+
* Graff Diamond Earrings - $20,000–$100,000+
* Harry Winston Cluster Ring - $15,000–$50,000+
* Piaget Possession Necklace - $10,000–$30,000+
* David Yurman Cable Bracelet - $1,000–$5,000+
*Mikimoto Pearl Necklace - $5,000–$20,000+

==High-End Pens==
'''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
* 10 Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand - $8000–$15000+
* 10 S.T. Dupont Olympio - $10,000–$30,000+
* 10 Pelikan Souverän M1000 - $8000–$12000+
* 10 Visconti Homo Sapiens - $600–$15000+
* 10 Montegrappa Extra 1930 - $10000–$30000+
* 10 Aurora Optima - $8000–$12000+
* 10 Parker Duofold Centennial - $6000–$10000+
* 10 Cross Townsend - $2000–$5000+
* 10 Waterman Exception - $5000–$10000+
* 10 Caran d’Ache Léman - $5000–$10000+

== Luxury Shoes==
'''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
* Christian Louboutin Pigalle Pumps - $800–$1,500+
* Jimmy Choo Romy Pumps - $600–$1,000+
* Manolo Blahnik Hangisi Pumps - $1,000–$1,500+
* Gucci Jordaan Loafers - $800–$1,200+
* Salvatore Ferragamo Vara Pumps - $600–$1,000+
* Valentino Rockstud Pumps - $1,000–$1,500+
* Stuart Weitzman Nudist Sandals - $400–$800+
* Prada Monolith Loafers - $1,000–$1,500+
* Alexander McQueen Oversized Sneakers - $500–$800+
*Hermès Oran Sandals - $700–$1,000+

== High-End Fragrances==
'''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
* 200 Creed Aventus - $80000–$100000+
* 200 Tom Ford Private Blend Collection - $50000–$80000+
* 200 Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 - $60000–$80000+
* 200 Le Labo Santal 33 - $40000–$600300+
* 200 Byredo Gypsy Water - $40000–$60000+
* 200 Roja Parfums Elysium - $100000–$120000+
* 200 Amouage Jubilation XXV - $60000–$80000+
* 200 Xerjoff Naxos - $360000–$80000+
* 200 Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady - $60000–$480000+
* 200 Diptyque Tam Dao - $40000–$60000+

== Fine Art (Prints and Smaller Works)==
'''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
* Andy Warhol Limited Edition Prints - $10,000–$50,000+
* Banksy Screen Prints - $20,000–$100,000+
* Pablo Picasso Lithographs - $10,000–$50,000+
* Jean-Michel Basquiat Prints - $20,000–$100,000+
* Roy Lichtenstein Pop Art Prints - $10,000–$50,000+
* Takashi Murakami Limited Editions - $10,000–$50,000+
* Damien Hirst Spin Paintings - $20,000–$100,000+
* KAWS Companion Figures - $5,000–$20,000+
* Shepard Fairey Obey Prints - $1,000–$10,000+
*Keith Haring Posters - $5,000–$20,000+

== High-End Home Decor==
'''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
* Baccarat Crystal Chandeliers - $10,000–$50,000+
* Lalique Vases - $1,000–$10,000+
* Hermès Blankets - $1,500–$3,000+
* Fendi Casa Furniture - $5,000–$50,000+
* Versace Home Tableware - $500–$5,000+
* Ralph Lauren Home Rugs - $2,000–$10,000+
* Gucci Décor Cushions - $500–$1,000+
* Louis Vuitton Trunks - $10,000–$50,000+
* Christofle Silverware - $1,000–$10,000+
*Tom Dixon Lighting - $500–$5,000+

== Luxury Timepieces (Under $50,000)==
'''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
* Rolex Submariner - $10,000+
* Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch - $6,500+
* Patek Philippe Calatrava - $30,000+
* Audemars Piguet Royal Oak - $50,000+
* Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso - $7,000+
* Cartier Tank - $3,500+
* IWC Pilot’s Watch - $5,000+
* Panerai Luminor - $8,000+
Breitling Navitimer - $9,000+
Grand Seiko Snowflake - $6,000+

==Firearms==
'''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
=== High-End Sniper Rifles===
* Barrett M82A1 (.50 BMG) - $12,000
* Accuracy International AXMC (Multi-Caliber) - $10,000
* CheyTac Intervention M200 (.408 CheyTac) - $15,000
* Sako TRG-42 (.338 Lapua Magnum) - $6,000
* Desert Tech HTI (.50 BMG) - $9,000

===Tactical Assault Rifles===
* Knight's Armament Company SR-15 (*56 NATO) - $3,500
* HK416 A5 (*56 NATO) - $4,000
* FN SCAR 17S (*62 NATO) - $4,500
* LMT MARS-H (*62 NATO) - $3,800
*Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 (*56 NATO) - $2,500

===Custom Handguns===
*Cabot Guns 1911 "National Pride" - $20,000
*Nighthawk Custom GRP Recon (1911) - $5,000
*Wilson Combat X-TAC Elite (1911) - $4,500
*STI DVC 3-Gun (2011) - $4,000
*Sig Sauer P226 X-Five Legion - $2,500

=== Rare and Limited-Edition Firearms===
*Heckler & Koch MP7A1 (*6x30mm) - $20,000
*FN P90 (*7x28mm) - $3,000
*Kriss Vector Gen II (.45 ACP) - $2,000
*IWI Tavor X95 (*56 NATO) - $2,500
*Beretta 1301 Tactical (12 Gauge) - $1,500

=== High-End Shotguns===
*Benelli M4 Tactical (12 Gauge) - $2,000
*Beretta DT11 (12 Gauge) - $12,000
*Blaser F3 Super Luxus (12 Gauge) - $15,000
*Perazzi MX8 (12 Gauge) - $20,000
*Krieghoff K-80 (12 Gauge) - $18,000

===Suppressors and Accessories===
*SureFire SOCOM556-RC2 Suppressor - $1,500
*Dead Air Sandman-S Suppressor - $1,000
*EOTech EXPS3 Holographic Sight - $700
*Nightforce ATACR 5-25x56 Scope - $3,500
*Magpul PRS Gen 3 Stock - $300

=== Bulk Purchases for Tactical Teams===
*50 x Glock 19 Gen 5 (9mm) - $500 each ($25,000 total)
*50 x Sig Sauer MCX Virtus (*56 NATO) - $2,500 each ($125,000 total)
*50 x FN PS90 (*7x28mm) - $2,000 each ($100,000 total)
*50 x HK MP5A3 (9mm) - $3,000 each ($150,000 total)
*50 x Mossberg 590A1 (12 Gauge) - $1,000 each ($50,000 total)

=== High-End Custom Builds===
*Custom Barrett MRAD (.338 Lapua Magnum) - $15,000
*Custom AR-15 (*5 Creedmoor) - $5,000
*Custom 1911 (10mm) - $7,000
*Custom Bolt-Action Rifle (.300 Win Mag) - $8,000
*Custom AK-47 (*62x39mm) - $4,000

===Rare Collectible Firearms===
*HK G36C (*56 NATO) - $25,000
*FN F2000 (*56 NATO) - $10,000
*Steyr AUG A3 (*56 NATO) - $3,000
*Colt M16A1 (*56 NATO) - $15,000
*Walther WA 2000 (.300 Win Mag) - $50,000

=== Ammunition and Accessories===
*100,000 rounds of 7.56 NATO
*100,000 rounds of 9mm
*50,000 rounds of .50 BMG -
*50,000 rounds of .338 Lapua Magnum
*50,000 rounds of 12 Gauge Slugs

==Books==
'''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
=== Literary Classics===
* "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925) - $200,000+
* "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee (1960) - $25,000+
* "1984" by George Orwell (1949) - $15,000+
* "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger (1951) - $50,000+
* "Ulysses" by James Joyce (1922) - $100,000+

=== Modern Masterpieces===
* "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" by J.K. Rowling (1997) - $100,000+
* "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien (1937) - $50,000+
* "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien (1954-1955) - $75,000+
* "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown (2003) - $5,000+
*"The Road" by Cormac McCarthy (2006) - $2,000+

===Historical and Philosophical Works===
*"The Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin (1859) - $150,000+
*"The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels (1848) - $50,000+
*"The Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith (1776) - $50,000+
*"The Federalist Papers" by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay (1788) - $25,000+
*"The Rights of Man" by Thomas Paine (1791) - $10,000+

=== Children's Literature===
*"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll (1865) - $50,000+
*"The Tale of Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter (1902) - $25,000+
*"Winnie-the-Pooh" by A.A. Milne (1926) - $15,000+
*"The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame (1908) - $10,000+
*"Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White (1952) - $5,000+

=== Science Fiction and Fantasy===
*"Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley (1818) - $100,000+
*"Dune" by Frank Herbert (1965) - $10,000+
*"Neuromancer" by William Gibson (1984) - $5,000+
*"A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin (1996) - $2,000+
*"The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury (1950) - $5,000+

=== Poetry and Plays===
*"The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer (1476) - $50,000+
*"Paradise Lost" by John Milton (1667) - $25,000+
*"Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman (1855) - $15,000+
*"The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot (1922) - $10,000+
*"Hamlet" by William Shakespeare (1603) - $50,000+

===Rare and Collectible First Editions===
*"The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway (1926) - $20,000+
*"On the Road" by Jack Kerouac (1957) - $10,000+
*"The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath (1963) - $5,000+
*"The Stranger" by Albert Camus (1942) - $10,000+
*"The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway (1952) - $5,000+

=== Signed and Inscribed Copies===
*"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain (1885) - $50,000+
*"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde (1890) - $25,000+
*"The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943) - $10,000+
*"The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck (1939) - $5,000+
*"Beloved" by Toni Morrison (1987) - $2,000+

==Cigars==
[[Cigars.]]
'''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''

==Gold, Silver, Jewelry, Gems==
'''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
=== Total Volume to Store===
*Coins and Ingots: 63,434 cubic feet.
*Jewelry: 0.3445 cubic feet.
*Gems: 0.51 cubic feet.
*Total Volume: 63,434.8545 cubic feet.

=== Capacity of a 20 TEU Container===
*A 20 TEU container has an internal volume of 1,172 cubic feet.
*30% of a 20 TEU container: 352 cubic feet (to leave room for cars, cash & stuff).

=== Number of Containers Needed===
Since you can't have a fraction of a container, we round up to 181 containers.

===Adjusted Quantities per Container===
To distribute the items evenly across the containers:
*Coins and Ingots:
**'''Gold Coins: 700,000 coins''' ÷ 181 = ~3,867 coins per container.
**'''Silver Coins: 56,000,000 coins''' ÷ 181 = ~309,392 coins per container.
**'''Gold Ingots: 10,000 bars''' ÷ 181 = ~55 bars per container.
**'''Silver Ingots: 750,000 bars''' ÷ 181 = ~4,144 bars per container.
*Jewelry:
**Distribute evenly across containers (e.g., 1-2 pieces per container).
*Gems:
**Distribute evenly across containers (e.g., 1-2 carats per container).

===Weight Distribution===
*Total Weight: 5,220,043.5 lbs.
* Weight per Container: 5,220,043.5 lbs ÷ 181 = ~28,840 lbs per container.
**This is within the maximum payload capacity of a 20 TEU container (~52,910 lbs).

=== Final Summary===
====Summary of Goods====
*Category *Total Value *Weight *Volume
*---------------------|-------------------------|--------------------|-----------------------------
*Coins and Ingots | $2,000,000,000 | 5,219,263 lbs | 63,434 cubic feet
*Jewelry | $500,000 | 32.5 lbs | 0.3445 cubic feet
*Gems | $1,000,000,000 | 748 lbs | 0.51 cubic feet
*Total | $3,000,500,000 | 5,220,043.5 lbs | 63,434.8545 cubic feet
---
====Summary of Currency====
*Currency | Total Value | Quantity of Bills | Bundled Groups | Volume |
*---------------------|-----------------------|------------------------|---------------------|------------------|
* USD | $3,000,000,000 | 30,000,300 bills | 30,002 bundles | 75 cubic feet |
* CAD | $200,000,000 CAD | 1,999,100 bills | 2,000 bundles | 5 cubic feet |
*MXN | $500,000,000 MXN | 900,000 bills | 10,000 bundles | 25 cubic feet |
*Other Currencies| $500,000,000 | 5,200,000 bills | 5,200 bundles | 13 cubic feet |
* 4,200,000,000

== Currency ==
<span style=color:yellow>'''Gadget'''</span>
=== US Currency ($3,000,000,000)===
*$100 Bills: Primary denomination for bulk storage.
*$1,000 Bills: Limited to <$100,000.
*$500 Bills: Limited to <$100,000.

====Breakdown:====
*$100 Bills: 29,999,000 bills ($2,999,900,000)
*$1,000 Bills: 100 bills ($100,000)
*$500 Bills: 200 bills ($100,000)

====Bundling====
- US currency is typically bundled in $10,000 stacks (100 x $100 bills).
*$100 Bills: 29,999 bundles (each 6.14" x 2.61" x 0.43").
*$1,000 Bills: 1 bundle (100 x $1,000 bills).
*$500 Bills: 2 bundles (200 x $500 bills).

====Volume:====
- Each $10,000 bundle occupies ~0.0025 cubic feet.
- Total volume for US currency: 75 cubic feet.

---

=== Canadian Currency ($200,000,000 CAD)===
*$100 CAD Bills: Primary denomination.
*$1,000 CAD Bills: Limited to <$100,000 CAD.

====Breakdown:====
*$100 CAD Bills: 1,999,000 bills ($199,900,000 CAD)
*$1,000 CAD Bills: 100 bills ($100,000 CAD)

====Bundling:====
- Bundled in $10,000 CAD stacks (100 x $100 CAD bills).
*$100 CAD Bills: 1,999 bundles.
*$1,000 CAD Bills: 1 bundle.
====Volume:====
- Each $10,000 CAD bundle occupies ~0.0025 cubic feet.
- Total volume for CAD currency: 5 cubic feet.

---

===Mexican Currency ($500,000,000 MXN)===
*$500 MXN Bills: Primary denomination.
*$1,000 MXN Bills: Secondary denomination.

====Breakdown:====
*$500 MXN Bills: 800,000 bills ($400,000,000 MXN)
*$1,000 MXN Bills: 100,000 bills ($100,000,000 MXN)

====Bundling:====
- Bundled in $50,000 MXN stacks (100 x $500 MXN bills or 50 x $1,000 MXN bills).
*$500 MXN Bills: 8,000 bundles.
*$1,000 MXN Bills: 2,000 bundles.

====Volume:====
- Each $50,000 MXN bundle occupies ~0.0025 cubic feet.
- Total volume for MXN currency: 25 cubic feet.

=== Other Currencies ($500,000,000)===
*Euro (€100 Bills): Primary denomination.
*British Pound (£50 Bills): Secondary denomination.

====Breakdown:====
*€100 Bills: 4,000,000 bills (€400,000,000 or ~$440,000,000 USD)
*£50 Bills: 1,200,000 bills (£60,000,000 or ~$60,000,000 USD)

====Bundling:====
- Bundled in €10,000 stacks (100 x €100 bills) and £5,000 stacks (100 x £50 bills).
*€100 Bills: 4,000 bundles.
*£50 Bills: 1,200 bundles.

====Volume:====
- Each €10,000 or £5,000 bundle occupies ~0.0025 cubic feet.
- Total volume for other currencies: 13 cubic feet.

---

===Total Volume and Container Capacity===
*Total Volume of All Currency: 75 (USD) + 5 (CAD) + 25 (MXN) + 13 (Other) = 118 cubic feet.
*30% of a 20 TEU Container: 30% of 1,172 cubic feet = 352 cubic feet.
*Remaining Space: 352 - 118 = 234 cubic feet (can be used for additional security measures, padding, or other items).

---

===Summary of Currency===
*Currency | Total Value | Quantity of Bills | Bundled Groups | Volume |
*---------------------|-----------------------|------------------------|---------------------|------------------|
* USD | $3,000,000,000 | 30,000,300 bills | 30,002 bundles | 75 cubic feet |
* CAD | $200,000,000 CAD | 1,999,100 bills | 2,000 bundles | 5 cubic feet |
*MXN | $500,000,000 MXN | 900,000 bills | 10,000 bundles | 25 cubic feet |
*Other Currencies| $500,000,000 | 5,200,000 bills | 5,200 bundles | 13 cubic feet |
*Total | $4,200,000,000 | 38,099,400 | 47,202

==The Sting==

$7,200,500,000

==Key Notes==
*181 containers are needed to store the total volume of coins, ingots, jewelry, and gems while using 30% of each container's capacity.
**The weight per container (~28,840 lbs) is within the payload limit of a 20 TEU container.
**Adjustments can be made to reduce the number of containers by increasing the percentage of container capacity used (e.g., 50% or more).

==Legal-Cover Cargo==
*'''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
*'''<span style=color:purple>Castle Garland</span>'''
*'''<span style=color:orange>Arco Station</span>'''
*'''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
*'''<span style=color:red>Rasak Shipyard</span>'''

{| '''class="wikitable"

| '''1 :''' Agricultural machinery (tractors, harvesters)
$500,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''2 :''' Medical equipment (MRI machines, ultrasound devices)
$1,200,000
| '''3 :''' Construction equipment (bulldozers, cranes)
$750,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''4 :''' Solar panels and renewable energy systems
$400,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''5 :''' Frozen beef and pork (refrigerated container)
$250,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
|-
| '''6 :''' Pharmaceuticals (vaccines, antibiotics)
$2,000,000 '''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
| :''' 7 :''' Automotive parts (engines, transmissions)
$300,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| :''' 8 :'''Industrial chemicals (<span style=color:green>fertilizers</span>, solvents)
$150,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
|'''9 :''' Electronics (smartphones, laptops)
$1,000,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| :''' 10 :''' Furniture (office desks, chairs)
$100,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
|-
| :''' 11 :''' Clothing and textiles (jeans, t-shirts)
$50,000 '''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
| '''12:''' Wine and spirits (Canadian whiskey, US wines)
$200,000 '''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
| '''13 :''' Paper products (printing paper, packaging)
$80,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''14:'''Sporting goods (bicycles, fitness equipment)
$120,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''15:''' Toys and games (board games, action figures)
$60,000 '''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
|-
| :''' 16 :''' Cosmetics and personal care products
$300,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''17:'''Books and educational materials
$40,000 '''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
| '''18 :''' Industrial pumps and valves
$180,000
| '''19:'''Plastic products (pipes, containers)
$90,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''20:''' Coffee processing equipment
$220,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
|-
|'''21:''' Dairy products (cheese, milk powder)
$150,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''22 :''' Aircraft parts (landing gear, avionics)
$1,500,000
| '''23 :''' Wood products (lumber, plywood)
$70,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''24 :''' Frozen poultry (chicken, turkey)
$200,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''25:''' Industrial batteries and power systems
$350,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
|-
| '''26:''' Cleaning supplies (detergents, disinfectants)
$50,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| :''' 27 :''' Musical instruments (guitars, keyboards)
$100,000 '''<span style=color:blue>Paris, Avalon</span>'''
| :''' 28 :''' Pet food and supplies
$60,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| :''' 29 :''' Office supplies (printers, ink cartridges)
$30,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| :''' 30 :''' Industrial fasteners (bolts, screws)
$40,000
|-
| '''31 :''' Canned foods (vegetables, soups)
$80,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''32 :''' Industrial lubricants and oils
$120,000
| '''33 :''' HVAC systems (air conditioners, heaters)
$250,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''34 :'''Glass products (windows, mirrors)
$90,000|'''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''35 :''' Industrial fans and ventilation systems
$110,000
|-
| '''36:''' Paint and coatings
$70,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''37 :''' Ceramic tiles and flooring
$60,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''38 :''' Industrial safety equipment (helmets, gloves)
$50,000|
| '''39:''' Frozen seafood (salmon, shrimp)
$300,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''40:'''Industrial adhesives and sealants
$80,000
|-
| '''41:''' Industrial filters (air, water)
$100,000
| '''42 :''' Industrial hoses and tubing
$60,000
| '''43:''' Industrial lighting fixtures
$90,000
| '''44 :''' Industrial welding equipment
$150,000
| '''45 :''' Industrial compressors
$200,000
|-
| '''46:''' Industrial generators
$300,000 '''<span style=color:green>Fort Garland</span>'''
| '''47 :''' Industrial conveyor systems
$180,000
| '''48 :''' Industrial robotics
$500,000
| '''49:''' Industrial sensors and controllers
$120,000
| '''50 :''' Industrial motors and drives
$250,000
|-
| '''51 :''' Industrial pumps
$140,000
| '''52:''' Industrial valves
$90,000|
| '''53 :''' Industrial bearings
$70,000|
| '''54 :'''Industrial gears
$80,000|
| '''55 :''' Industrial chains and sprockets
$60,000|
|-
| '''56 :''' Industrial belts
$50,000|
| '''57 :''' Industrial couplings
$40,000|
| '''58 :''' Industrial seals
$30,000|
| '''59 :''' Industrial gaskets
$20,000|
| '''60 :''' Industrial fasteners
$40,000|
|-
|'''61 :''' Industrial tools
$100,000 |
| '''62 :''' Industrial cutting tools
$80,000|
| '''63 :''' Industrial abrasives
$60,000|
| '''64 :''' Industrial hand tools
$50,000|
| '''65 :''' Industrial power tools
$120,000
|-
| '''66 :''' Industrial welding supplies
$90,000|
| '''67 :'''Industrial safety supplies
$70,000|
| '''68 Industrial cleaning supplies
$50,000|
| '''69 :'''Industrial maintenance supplies
$60,000|
| '''70:''' Industrial lubricants
$80,000|
|-
| '''71 :''' Industrial coolants
$70,000|
| '''72:''' Industrial adhesives
$60,000|
| '''73 :''' Industrial sealants
$50,000|
| '''74 :''' Industrial coatings
$90,000|
| '''75 :''' Industrial paints
$80,000|
|-
| '''76 :''' Industrial primers
$70,000|
| '''77 :'''Industrial solvents
$60,000|
| '''78 :''' Industrial thinners
$50,000|
| '''79 :''' Industrial cleaners
$40,000|
| '''80 :''' Industrial degreasers
$30,000|
|-
| '''81 :''' Industrial polishes
$20,000|
| '''82 :''' Industrial waxes
$10,000|
| '''83:''' Industrial finishes
$15,000|
| '''84 :''' Industrial stains
$10,000|
| '''85 :''' Industrial varnishes
$10,000|
|-
| '''86 :''' Industrial lacquers
$10,000|
| '''87:''' Industrial enamels
$10,000|
| '''88 :''' Industrial epoxies
$10,000|
| '''89 :''' Industrial polyurethanes
$10,000|
| '''90 :''' Industrial silicones
$10,000|
|-
| '''91 :''' Industrial acrylics
$10,000|
| '''92 :''' Industrial polyesters
$10,000|
| '''93 :''' Industrial vinyls
$10,000|
| '''94 :''' Industrial urethanes
$10,000|
| '''95 :''' Industrial alkyds
$10,000|
|-
| '''96 :''' Industrial phenolics
$10,000|
| '''97 :''' Industrial melamines
$10,000|
| '''98 :''' Industrial ureas
$10,000|
| '''99 :''' Industrial formaldehydes
$10,000|
| '''100:''' Industrial acetates
$10,000|
|-
| '''101 :'''Industrial acrylates
$10,000|
| '''102 :''' Industrial methacrylates
$10,000|
| '''103:''' Industrial styrenes
$10,000
| '''104:''' Industrial vinyl chlorides
$10,000
|-
| '''105:''' Industrial vinylidene chlorides
$10,000
| '''106:''' Industrial vinyl acetates
$10,000
| '''107:'''Industrial vinyl alcohols
$10,000
| '''108:''' Industrial vinyl ethers
$10,000
| '''109 :''' Industrial vinyl esters
$10,000
|-
| '''110 :''' Industrial vinyl amides
$10,000
| '''111 :''' Industrial vinyl imides
$10,000
| '''112 :''' Industrial vinyl ketones
$10,000
| '''113:''' Industrial vinyl sulfides
$10,000
| '''114 :''' Industrial vinyl sulfones
$10,000
|-
| '''115 :'''Industrial vinyl sulfoxides
$10,000
| '''116:''' Industrial vinyl sulfonates
$10,000
| '''117 :''' Industrial vinyl sulfonamides
$10,000
| '''118 :'''Industrial vinyl sulfonimides
$10,000
| '''119:''' Industrial vinyl sulfonates
$10,000
|-
|}

[[Heist of the San Cristobal]]

Dufiro known by Raphael

2025-08-09T21:36:21Z

Relmopator: /* Spasa of Earth */

<big>'''Running Sheet of Dufiro known by Raphael de la Varga'''</big>

==Dufiro Traveling with Rapahx==

===<span style=color:purple>Curious</span>, Masoja of Guard, ''Primas Illuminar''===
Known as '''Crizacraxix Galxata'''

Member of the '''Party for the Defense of Amber'''.

Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

[[File:Curious.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth Elemental.
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Combat, Rot, Speed, Change, Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth)''
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Rage, Water, and Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth & Conflict)''
*Masoja of Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth, Health & Warfare)''
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' ''(Secretly)''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Curious on my Home World after a Virus had wiped out Humanity. Curious was traveling with a young girl of 10ish, Slugger, who quickly made friends with my Poodle Boys, then soon became my Ward when her 'uncle' Buck made me promise to look after her as he lay dying from the Virus. Later I discovered that she was of the Blood of Amber, then later discovered her to be the Daughter of Corwin and Dierdre of Amber, also known as the King and Queen of Avalon. Curious is Slugger's Guardian and I have known this almost since the beginning, just I as knew he was a powerful Dufiro. I later learned how powerful and influential... but I am still unaware of who Contracted Curious to Guard her... somehow I don't think it was her Mother or Father, though they would be the most obvious choices. Curious has acted as an excellent protector to Slugger and as a dependable advisor in many things regarding the Dufirosm to me.''

***'''Game Play Posts & GM Commentary'''
'''GM''' '' "Consider ... Curious, known as Crizacraxix Galxata. His base is Earth and he is beloved of all the Earth ranks. His public races include Masoja of Guard. I happen to know he '''secretly has Masoja of Earth, Health and Warfare'''. He has '''secretly the Spasa of Earth''' and publicly Cleanliness, Combat, Rot, Speed, Change, and Guard. He has Avasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Rage, Water, and Guard. '''Secretly he has Avasa of Earth and Conflict.''' What is he then? A warrior. A fierce warrior. He is a member of several warrior bands including the Shantranixix Fealty Band not to mention his own little fealty band. He is in the thick of the warrior types." ''~Adalou, Masoja of Air to Raphael during his Tome Writing Session.

'''GM''' ''Curious turns to the Guide, then to Rafe. He starts shifting to fill out a short cat/human. "It is. I am a Masoja of Earth and Guard. As well as..." ~ The Guide puts his hand up, "I know what else. Proceed." ~ "These three are friends. They each carry an Avasa of Guard, as you can tell. They are primitive bound to this Changer. I have made bargains to have these three entered into the ranks of the Elementals of Movement. I had not spoken to the Changer yet. It is a matter of some detail." ~ The Guide nods, "Easy enough for a '''Primus Illuminar'''. We can accommodate space for your work toward Shifter. If you need space for the Movement Elementals, we can mange that." ~ Fuzzy Cat looks to Rafe. "The Poodle Boys are eligible to become Movement Elementals. If you wish." ~ '''(Rafe)''' "Yes, by all means, Curious. I would love that for my Poodle Boys. Thank you." ''~Quotes from Game Play.

===<span style=color:purple>The Dog Brothers (3)</span>, Movement Elementals===
aka The Poodle Boys
*'''Kuzco''' aka Swirly(left)
*'''Ninja-Boy''' aka Fudge(center)
*'''Jerk-u-lees''' aka Berk-Berk(right)

[[File:The Poodle Boys2.jpg|200 px]]

[[Running Sheet Raphael - The Poodle Boys]]

Miniature Poodles 'Primitive Bonded' to Rafe.
*Elementals of Movement
**Prevously Inhabited by Avasa Dufiro of Guard

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''They're my Dog Brothers. What more need I say?''

===<span style=color:blue>Sylex</span>, Avasa of Conflict===
[[File:Sylex.jpg|150px]]
[[Running Sheet Sylex]]
*Water Elemental
*Spasa of Water, Carnality, Cleanliness, Motion, Sadness
*Avasa of Water, Carnality, Health, Rot, Conflict.
***Aspires to Masoja of Water.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sylex at my first Changer's Training Exercise at Shifters Hall; she is Sister of ZyxzolX, a Masoja of Iron. I learned of her tragic life from her own lips in front of others who confirmed it. I offered her to join my Adventurers Band for a one year Contract. I was asked by her brother, Zyx, to 'use her Water for Cleanliness. And don't use her for her other skills.' I was asked by Kibrosel, Masoja of Health, to have her spent time in heathly natural environments to help her towards Growth. Curious mentioned she was a known spy, but did not elaborate. We have not finalized our Contract yet, but much has happened suddenly.....''

===<span style=color:blue>Bently</span>, Masoja of Dance===
[[File:Bently.jpg|150px]]
[[Running Sheet Bently]]
*Elemental of Air, Change, Hue, Sound
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Air, Color, Change, Paper, Illusion, Song, motion.
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Air, Change, Blending, Paper, Color, Health, Music, Shifter, Life.
*Masoja of Cleanliness, Air, Change, Shifter, Knowledge, Rust, Paper, Music, Dance.
**''Aspires to Masoja of Life, Vision, Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Bently after returning from the Durfiro Reelms, he came with Slugger... her new Art Instructor...and boyfriend. Even Slugger admitted she should not have gotten involved with him and that he was going to get his ass kicked by someone sooner or later.....''

==='''Adventurers Society Members'''===
====Fitz Williams====
*Life Path: Air Elemental.
**Spasa of Air, Combat, Life, Cleanliness, Paper
**Avasa of Air, Knowledge
**'''''Al Asgo Illuminar'''''

====Elmer Ellswroth====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====Runner====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====Olive====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====???====
*Life Path:

===Bound Dufiro===
====<span style=color:green>Sharax</span>, Masoja of Fire====

[[File:Sharax, Masoja of Fire.jpg| 150px]]

*Elemental of Fire
*Spasa of Fire, Earth, Rot, Growth, Blending
*Avasa of Fire, Conflict, Blending, Health, Life, Rust, Rage, Speed
*Masoja of Fire
***Aspires to Combat,
**Professionally a Carpenter

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sharax of Fire at my first Changer's Training Exercise; he was Bound (in)to a chair. We spoke briefly after the Challenge he was involved in was over, then he departed. The next day, I Called Sharax to thank him for his participation in my Training and for his Calling Tome, when I unexpectedly found myself Bargaining for Sharax to Self-Bind to a Weapon... though he did initiate it... so to speak. After some negotiating, haggling and ironing out of details, an Agreement was reached; Sharax and an unnamed Spasa of Motion would Serve a Two Year'' 'on the hip' ''Term of Service Bound to a suitable weapon that Curious (Crizax) found then gifted to me; a Black Mithril War Hammer.''

***'''Rafe's Fire Hammer'''
Stats: [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/General_and_Known_Pointed_Artifact_Descriptions#Rafe.27s_Fire_Hammer]]

[[File:Firehammer.jpg|150 px]]

====<span style=color:green>Bronze Nugget</span>, Spasa of Blending====

[[File:Bronze nugget.jpg|150px]]
[[File:Bronze Nugget1.jpg|150 px]]

*Elemental of Earth & Mixing
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Rust, Guard, Blending
**''Avasa: Aspires to Earth, Fire, Guard, Rust, Ice, knowledge''
**''Masoja: Aspires to Earth, Fire, Guard, Rust, Knowledge''

Professions-Blacksmith, fine metals worker, brewer.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Bronze Nugget at my first Changer's Training Exercise. At the end of the Challenge involving Bronze, he fell to the floor in the shape of a Bronze Bracer; I now wear Bronze on my left forearm. I am currently in Negotiations with Bronze Nugget to Self-Bind to a suit of armor that is yet to be crafted as I am still lacking the required materials, Magics, tools, facility and personnel... but the list is getting shorter and the time is coming soon...''

==Personally Known: Named==

===<span style=color:orange>Agalat</span> the Red Wizard, Masoja of Knowledge===
Manages the Red Hall of Agalat. A place that sells Tome certification.

*Fire Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Combat, Rust, Paper, Fire, Growth, Change
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Fire, Conflict, Blending, Rage, Knowledge, Growth, Vision
*Masoja of Fire, Growth, Rage, Binding, Warfare, Knowledge
***Aspires to Death

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Agalat at the Red Hall after my Combat Screening for my Changer Tome Certification. At first I thought he was a Slaver, as Adalou tricked me into thinking I'd been 'sold into slavery' so I would fight more fiercely for my Certification Fight.''

===<span style=color:blue>Adalou</span>, Masoja of Air===
Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Dufiro-Adalou.jpg|150px]]

*Elemental of Air, Change
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Air, Song, Paper, Change
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Change, Knowledge
*Masoja of Air, Health, Shifter
***Aspires to Knowledge, Life, Wisher.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Adalou through Zachary Hepplewhite of Amber while we were at Lily Lake in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range near Fort Garland, Colorado, Shadow Garland aka Change World. We were investigating a Low Order Inscription at the bottom of Lily Lake and Zach called in Adalou to help gain us more information about the it; turns out it's a Low Order Version of the Pattern of Avalon. Around a year later I again met Adalou at Castle Garland after a meeting with Fortunadus, Salaka and Curious about me joining the Dufirosm; Adalou was called in to be the Author of my first Dufiro Tome for Change Elemental. He took me to Ahyk, a Realm within the Dufirtrusa, somewhere near the Black Zone of the Court of Chaos. He took me to Agalat Red Hall where I met Agalat, the Red Wizard and was tricked by Adalou into thinking I had been sold into slavery and Slugger, Curious and the Poodle Boys as well; it was so I would fight at my fiercest for my Tome Certification (a faster version than weeks of paperwork and meetings with Officials). Afterwards he explained then he took me to Shifters Hall where I met the then current Tyler, Hunjata, who made me prove I was a Changer, and I did ('''without''' Avalon Shape Change). He left me there to Train, and this is where I met Guide (Kalaganath) and other Powerful Dufiro. Before leaving the Dufirtrusa, I needed his services as a Writer of Tomes again, this time for Elemental of Movement; it was at that time that Adalou introduced me to Shantranixix, with Curious in the room. Shantrix was to Write my Earth Tomes, Elemental and Spasa.''

===<span style=color:blue>Ansahal</span>, Masoja of Water===
Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

An ancient non-corporeal Dufiro
*Elemental: Air, Water, Flux, Change
*Spasa:Air, Cleanliness, Blending, Change
*Avasa:Air, Cleanliness, Blending, Growth, Ice, Shifter, Knowledge, and Rage
*Masoja:Air, Change, Health, Growth, Life, Knowledge, Binding, Shifter, and Water.
***Aspires to Wisher and Illuminar.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Ansahal through Digan the Ruby Mage while I was at Castle Garland. During a Side Quest initiated by Digan, I met Ansahal in an isolated Shadow where he initiated Bargaining by Offering 'power' for the short-term use of my body. After a lot of questions and some haggling, an Agreement was reached by both Parties, witnessed by Digan. After Ansahal did what he need, during which I was fully aware, he went to the Fane of Dufirosm in Zilla, left my body then sent me back to Castle Garland. That visit to Zilla is what may have prompted Ansahal and Salaka to invite me to join the Dufirosm; I was seen by the Harbinger of Death when Anasahal exited my body.''

===<span style=color:green>Breasda</span>, Masoja of Vision===
Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Breasda.jpg|150 px]]

Born Change Elemental. Air Elemental. Raised to Cleanliness, followed by Paper and Blending. Took the Ava D Ritual of Cleanliness, followed by Truth, Knowledge, Vision, and finally Blending. Took the Masoja Ritual of Knowledge, Time, Health, Vision, and finally Wisher.
*Change Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Paper and Blending.
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Truth, Knowledge, Vision, and Blending.
*Masoja Ritual of Knowledge, Time, Health, Vision, and Wisher.
***An incorruptibly good creature with the a powerful Wishing energy. Considered by many the leader of the Dufirosm but denies such office. He is however generally respected or deeply feared. A past Racial Representative of Wishers on the Dufirosm Council. Recently resigned from the race of Wishers, taking on Vision race again as his naming race.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Breasda briefly in Shifters Hall after completing the first of my Changer's Training Exercises. Everyone froze-up at his approach and '''Guide''' advised me to 'say nothing'. Breasda asked '''Guide''' a few questions about me, looked me over, asked me to show him my Avalon Shapes, which I did without comment, then he gave me a book, The Story of the Trio Shifters, and asked me to make 100 copies of it, stating the handwriting was his but the Author was a Challenge for me. He also suggested another 100 copies to the Hall of Paper as a gift if I was interested in gaining Spasa of Paper, which I am. He stated that Trade with Avalon was permitted, then walked away, to everyone's relief... well, everyone let out a sigh and relaxed, to be precise. ''

===<span style=color:green>"Chip"</span>, Masoja of Earth===
''Xghasssrtddsc aQEeeefe Aolmkop'' "Chip"

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Chip-masoja.jpg|150 px]]
*Elemental of Earth.
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Defense, Growth, Rot, Paper
*Avasa of Earth, Fire, Guard, Growth, Colors, Shifter, Knowledge
*Masoja of Earth,
**Aspires to Fire, Guard, Shifter, Knowledge

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Chip during my first Changer's Training Exercise. He was my Third Challenge; he attacked me and I had to use ONLY my Changer Powers to Combat him. I was successful and I passed his Challenge. Later, ZyxZolkX mentioned "Chip" being a part of a Matched Elevation of Earth, him handling the Elemental part. The following day I Called "Chip" and Zyx to Bargain for Matched Elevation in Earth; Zyx did the talking and set the Terms... I ended up having to Call in Nur al-Din, at the suggestion of Sylex in private, to Seal the Deal. I acquired a Copy of Chip's Masoja of Earth Calling Tome. ''

===<span style=color:gold>Dadar Kois</span>===
*Unknown Rank and Race.
**A thin fancy dressed man about 5' tall.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Dadar when Sylex Called him to make a Deal for Production Bowls of food made by the Dufireant; we had just finished a meeting with "Chip", Zyx and Nur, who showed up with a wok full of freshly cooked Broccoli and Habanero Peppers with Noodles... he shared. And though I ate of my portion and all left untouched by Chip and Zyx, Sylex kept hers, divided it between the four bowls, then Called Dadar and made her Deal; keeping three and offering one as payment for Services Rendered. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Dyjik</span>, Avasa of Blending===
*Avasa of Earth, Blending
**Veteran Cook at Shifters Hall Cafeteria

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Dyjik at Shifters Hall Cafeteria where he oversaw Jasgl, a new Spasa of Blending who was making me the breakfast I had requested. Dyjik also made me a very good cup of strong coffee. He was pleasant, helpful and informative. I liked him immediately. ''

===<span style=color:gold>Fal Gan</span>, Masoja of Warfare===
A Member of the Party for Life because he hates certain Members of the Party for Death

*Elemental of ?
*Spasa of Illusion, ?
*Avasa of ?
*Masoja of Strength, Warfare

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I sort of met this Dufiro as an Illusion Spasa at my first Changer's Training Exercise. He was excused before I could 'meet' him. However, I did have his Calling Tome. No name was given or said and he appeared an an Elf at that time. The next day I met with Fal Gan; it did not go well. Fal Gan appeared as a 9ft Orc; armed and armored. Fal Gan was insulted by my speaking to him as though we were equals. Fal Gan struck me and left. ''

===<span style=color:green>Falat Agasta</span>, Avasa of Iron===
*Forge Journeyman under Tursa Ga.
**Forged a Black Mithril and Ang Ri Ironwood War Hammer [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/General_and_Known_Pointed_Artifact_Descriptions#Rafe.27s_Fire_Hammer]] which was purchase by Curious then gifted to Rare.
***'' 'I made this black mithril hammer to accept any Grade of Race. I am pleased a Masoja of Fire will bind to it. The handle changes from a foot to 6 feet. It is a war weapon but can be used as a forge hammer.' ''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Falat Agasta when he arrived with Curious after I asked Curious if he could find a suitable warhammer for Sharax of Fire to be Bound to for his Service to me. Falat was business-like but polite. He work is incredible and I will certainly recommend his Services. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Glkaxxsik of Rust</span>; Avasa of Rust===
"call me Glaxak..."

[[File:DF-Glkaxxsik.jpg|200 px]]
*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Rust, Carnality
*Avasa of Earth, Rust
**Aspires to ...

===<span style=color:orange>Glaxin of Stone</span>, Avasa of Earth===
*Avasa of Earth
**A Tyler of Earthers Hall, East Door

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Glaxin while he was serving as Tyler of Earthers Hall. He asked me show my talent or go; I turned my the skin of my left hand into Milky White Quartz. He welcomed me in and suggested I take a Term as Tyler on occasion. ''

===<span style=color:green>'''Hrolbleit'''</span>; Avasa of Earth===
*Hrolbleit is the Leader of a Warrior Knot consisting of 3 Avasa of Earth & Conflict, 4 Spasa of Earth & Combat, 9 Spasa of Earth and 12 Elementals of Earth.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I sort of met this Earth Avasa at my first Changer's Training Exercise. The Avasa was excused before I could 'meet' it. However, I do have its Calling Tome.''

''While in Paris, Avalon, I used this Dufiro's Calling Tome to make an offer of employment for him and his Knot to work as Guards at the Hotel and Warehouse..... PENDING''

===<span style=color:orange>Hunjanta</span> aka Sunak===
*Avasa of Rot??
**A Tyler of Shifter Hall

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sunak while he was serving as Tyler of Shifters Hall. Hunjanta insisted I had to prove myself worthy of entering Shifters Hall by using my Dufiro Powers to Change myself in some way, which I did; I became an Orc-Lizard, just like the ones I defeated earlier at Red Hall to get my Tome Certified. Sunak was quite gruff but in the end warned me and Adalou about some Death Cult Members residing in Shifters Hall and that if we needed a quick escape, to Call on him. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Jasgl</span>, Spasa of Blending===
*Spasa of Earth, Blending
**New Cook at Shifters Hall Cafeteria

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Jasgl at Shifters Hall Cafeteria where he made me an excellent breakfast based upon a memory I shared with him, literally; Jasgl made physical, then Psychic, contact with me while I was recalling the memory verbally. The food he made, by using his Changer Powers, combined with Earth and Blending on cubes of organic 'matter' was EXACTLY as I remembered it and was both filling and satisfying. Good Service Rendered. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kalaganath</span>, The Guide===
Member of the Party for Life
*Unknown Rank and Races
**Guide at Shifters Hall for Rafe's Change Elemental Initiation & Training

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met 'The Guide' at Shifters Hall after I had proven myself worthy of entering. Guide led me through part of Shifters Hall, past a Witness Chamber in use, to a Training Room where my first Training Exercise took place. He accompanied me and Salaka to a special place inside(?) Shifters Hall where the three of us privately spoke about the Visions that involve me, the Party for Life, the Party for Death and the Azcala World Stone. He was also present when I met Breasda, Masoja of Vision, formerly Masoja of Wisher. He furthered my education in the Dufirosm and gave good advice often.''

===<span style=color:orange>Karyaxyl</span>, Masoja of Life===
Member of the Party for Life

*Masoja of Earth, Shifter, Health, and Life
**Foodie

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Karyaxyl at Shifters Hall Cafeteria while dining. He talked of Food and being a Member for the Party for Life. He invited to me Call him anytime to share a meal or talk of things. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kibrosel</span>, Masoja of Health, ''Al Asgo Illuminar''===
Member of the Party for Life

[[File:Kibrosel.jpg|150 px]]

*Water Elemental, Change, Earth
*Spasa of Water, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Earth, Blending, Defense, Life, Knowledge
*Avasa of Water, Cleanliness, Conflict-War, Growth, Blending, Earth, Ice, Health, Life, Knowledge
*Masoja of Water, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Blending, Life, Health, Rot
*'''''Al Asgo Illuminar'''''. Created an Illuminar by the Stretched One
***Aspires to Earth, Knowledge, Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''

''I met Kibrosel at my first Changer's Training Exercise. Kibro is a Physician and Farmer by Profession. I met with Kirbo again the next day and learned how to Live in my Heartfire, Shape Shift to Stone then Living Stone, and how to Sense thru another's Senses. I have his Calling Name Tome. I owe him a Future Favor. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kichabqhisreeceeb</span>, Avasa of Blending===
[[File:Kichab.jpg|200px]]

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Cleanliness, Paper, Color, light, & Illusion
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending

Aspires to Avasa of Knowledge, Truth, & Whimsy. Masoja of Air, Cleanliness, Knowledge, Wisher

Profession-Alchemist Librarian

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Kichab when I used his Spasa of Paper Calling Tome to show Prince Dalt of Eregenor how Dufiro Summoning works. The Calling Tome came from the Danbury Collection, now a part of Dalt's Personal Library. Dalt traded favors with me; he helped me craft my armor and I help him figure out the Collection. Kichab was a bit haughty and seemed 'put out' by being Called by a much older Tome. During our bargaining I learned what types of books would be best for making copies of '''The Story of the Trio Shifters''' book I was loaned by Breasda to make copies of. I also learned a bit about the Trio Shifters, the different translations and that there is an Opera based on it called '''Shifter Trio'''. Towards the end of our bargaining session he was a bit insulting about my Spasa of Earth Calling Tome; called it pretentious for a Spasa. Curious reminded him that I am an Illuminar and can do things as I please. Curious was NOT going to let an insult to a fellow Illuminar go unchecked.... love that guy. In the end I got Kichab's Avasa of Blending Calling Tome and a Place Tome for his Personal Avasa of Knowledge Library. Good deal in my opinion.''

===<span style=color:gold>Leniya</span>, 'The Origami Dragon', Masoja of Health===
[[File:Leniya.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Growth, Change, Blending, Paper
*Avasa of Earth, Growth, Shifter, Fire, Whimsy, Health
*Masoja of Earth, Fire, Air, Health
***Aspires to Shifter, Change, Knowledge
**Expert in Origami.
**Profession: Apothecary. Supplier of Herbs, Material Components and Paper
**Calling Name is ''Leniya Jasdarniun''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Leniya through Salaka. I get my Urala and other herbs from Leniya, as does Salaka. I was warned to be wary of what I say and who I am seen with around Leniya as he has a tendency to gossip.''
***Leniya to Rafe
''"Paper from your Birth world. Defeat a clown in combat, a fight you start with them unaware.. Plants from your home world. A brandy from your home world."''

===<span style=color:blue>Nippixix</span>, Flux Elemental===
The ''Consigliere'' for Shantranixix & the [[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]

[[File:Nippixx.jpg|200 px]]

*Flux Elemental
*Spasa of
*Avasa of
*Masoja of
**Aspires to

===<span style=color:blue>Nur al-Din El Musifar</span> - The Dufrieanalat, ''Primas Illuminar''===
[[File:Image6.jpg|150 px]] [[File:Nur2.jpg|150 px]]

*Spasa - All except Death, Rust. Did take Rot
*Avasa - All except Death, Rust
*Masoja of Life, all except Death, Vision, Time. Only partially accepted by Wisher
*'''''Primus Illuminar'''''
***Aspires to Wisher
*Born a human on the world of Tosa. Attained the ranks of thrice Crowned Bard. A long time bargainer and a extremely well-respected friend of the Dufirosm. A High Lord in a Shade of Chaos. During a extinction level event involving most the Dufirosim realms Nur Ed Din managed to save the realms and help rebuild after the destruction. As reward he was inhabited by a Shifter Masoja and initiated into the Masoja Dufiro of Life.
*Granted powers from each of the races from Spirit to Masoja. When the forces in his Chaos ousted him from his lordship he relocated to the Dufirosm realms and was invited to join the council.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''It's a complicated story how I know Nur.... ask me about it one day.''

===<span style=color:green>Salaka</span>, Masoja of Knowledge, ''Primas Illuminar''===
Member of the Party for Life

[[File:Dufiro Salaka.jpg|250px]]

(Calling Name: Salakalikintar)
*Water Elemental, Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Change, and Blending
*Avasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Blending, Ice, Shifter, and Knowledge
*Masoja of Air, Water, and Earth, Health, Growth, Shifter, and Knowledge
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' (Secretly?)
***Aspires to Masoja of Life, Change. Perhaps some day Wisher.
**Friend of Veks. A gardener, farmer, brewer, vintner, and vegetarian. A Facilitator for Dufiro who has worked often with Hendrake.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met met Salaka through Fortunadas, sort of. Adalou and Ansahal suggested Salaka bring me into the Dufiro fold, as it were.'' Salaka Facilitated my Transition into the Dufirosm and into a Change Elemental as well as assisted and advised in my first Changer's Training Exercises.''

***Fortunadus Enright's Commentary
''"Salaka is a Water Elemental and an Air Elemental. A Spasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, and Blending. An Avasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Blending, Ice, and Knowledge. A Masoja of Air, Water, and Earth, Health, Growth, and now a Masoja of Knowledge. She is a '''Primus Illuminar'''. She is a player in the '''Party of Life''' and a Member of the '''Dufrieanalat's Inner Circle'''."''

===<span style=color:orange>Shagas</span> of Glass===
A warrior Avasa of Conflict. Glass shard skin

*Earth Elemental. Scent Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Combat, Defense, Speed, Rot, Guard, Motion
*Avasa of Earth, Conflict, Guard, Speed, Ice
***Aspires to Masoja of Earth, Combat, Guard, Warfare, and Death

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Shagas at the Red Hall right after my Certification Fight, still not knowing what was going on and thinking I had just been sold into Slavery. Adalou was there as was Agalat the Red Wizard. Shagas paid to Certify my Tome of Change Elemental and Bind me toward Earth Elemental status. I then learn what was going on, was reunited with Slugger, Curious and The Poodle Boys, then had lunch with Shagas as Adalou further explained what was going and and why he did it the way he did. Shagas seemed a nice enough fellow, but the shards of glass sticking out of him everywhere was a bit offputting.''

===<span style=color:blue>Shantranixix Agfala</span>, Masoja of Life===

Leader of the Shantranixix Fealty Band

[[File:Shantranixix.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth & Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Earth, Carnality, Cleanliness, Combat, Defense, Growth, Guard, Life, Song, Speed, Culinarist
*Avasa of Air, Earth, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Guard, Health, Knowledge, Strength, Warfare, Life, Music, Truth
*Masoja of Air, Earth, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Guard, Health, Knowledge, Warfare, Life
***Aspires to Time and Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''Initially, I knew of Shantranixix 'by reputation' only, but I knew Curious was a Member of the Shantranixix Fealty Band. I was offered an opportunity to join the Shantranixix Fealty Band by Traxal which I considered then Accepted through Curious. Soon after, I met Shantrix when Adalou said he couldn't write my Earth Tomes, but knew someone who could. He promptly disappeared then returned with Shantrix, jokingly saying he found a Spasa of Paper to write my Earth Tomes. I didn't know what Shantrix looked like, but I 'figured things out' quickly and was awed by his presence, his visit and his willingness to Write my Tomes for Elemental and Spasa of Earth.''

===<span style=color:red>Tinsanax</span>, Masoja of Health===
[[File:Tinsanax.jpg|150 px]]

*Fire Elemental, Flux Elemental
*Spasa of Change, Combat, Fire, Speed, Cleanliness, Rot, Health, Life, Carnality
*Avasa of Conflict, Blending, Fire, Health, Shifter, Carnality, Rust, Whimsy, Music, Death
*Masoja of Rust, Warfare, Combat, Health
***Aspires to Shifter, Knowledge.
**Member of the Gxkzle Band. The band is in the Party for War but not the Party of Death. Known as a trouble maker.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Tins at my first Changer's Training Exercise; she crashed the party, but left soon at my insistence. She gave me some info about the Challenges 'for free', but I'm sure I'll have to pay for it some day in some way. I was warned she was trouble, but I could already tell that from the moment I laid eyes on her.''

===<span style=color:blue>Traxalaxax</span>, Avasa of Blending===
Member of the '''Shantranixix Fealty Band'''.

[[File:Traxalaxax.jpg|150px]]

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Air, Song, Paper, Illusion
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, Blending
***Aspires to Avasa of Knowledge. Then Masoja of Knowledge.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met first Traxal through Curious at the bottom of Lily Lake located in the southern most part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range near Fort Garland, Colorado, Shadow Garland; the location of the Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon. Traxal helped in my initial knowledge of the Sigil of Avalon and let me know it was safe to Assay and what power I might gain. He gave me his Calling Name. Sometime later, Traxal acted as Slugger's 'Nanny' and Educator for a time while she and I were in the Dufiro Realms. Traxal also made the initial Offer to me to 'Consider joining the Shantranixix Fealty Band'. I considered for a day then Accepted through Curious, also in the Fealty Band. Later that day, I met Shantranixix through Adalou, also in the Fealty Band.''

===<span style=color:green>ZyxzlokX</span>, Masoja of Rust===
Member of the Party for Life.

Member of the [[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]

[[File:ZyxzlokX.jpg|150 px]]

*Fire Elemental; Iron, Sand. Fire: Smoke. Whimsy
*Spasa of Earth; Iron, Combat, Defense, Rust, Song; Whimsy, Speed, Rot, Change
*Avasa of Earth; Iron, Rust, Whimsy, Conflict, Death, Rust, Shifter
*Masoja of Earth:Iron, Combat, Warfare, Rust, Strength, Rage.
***Aspires to Shifter-Partially to escape Rage. Will take any race to escape rage

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met ZyxzlokX at my first Changer's Training Exercise. He is Brother to Sylex; Avasa of Rot. Zyx is gruff and rough with a mean sense of humor and a love of pranks and lessons learned. Zyx punched me in the chest so fast I never saw it coming, he could have killed me but didn't. He didn't like my candor or opinion of him... and I think he was testing me to see how I'd react. He knew I'd offered his Sister Sylex to join my Adventurers' Band and made me promise to 'only use her Water for Cleanliness, and don't use her other skills." I gained his is Calling Name Tome before he left.''

==Personally Known: Unnamed==

===<span style=color:blue>Avasa of Guard (3)</span>===
*Avasa of Guard
Rafe sort of met this trio of Guard Avasa when Curious Summoned and Bound them to Rafe's trio of Miniature Poodles. The Avasa are Loyal to Curious.

===<span style=color:green>Orc-Lizards (8)</span>===
*Spasa of Combat
Rafe defeated them for Tome Certification at the Red Hall of Agalat.

===<span style=color:orange>Spasa of ?</span>===
*Looks like a tall Hobbit
**Brought food and drink from his restaurant to Rafe and Sylex when she Called.

===<span style=color:orange>Spasa of Earth (2)</span>===
*Spasa of Earth
Rafe sort of met these Earth Spasa at his first Changer's Training Exercise. Both Spasa were excused before Rafe could 'meet' them. However, Rafe does have their Calling Tomes.

===<span style=color:orange>Earth Elemental</span>===
*Elemental of Earth
Rafe met this Earth Elemental at his first Changer's Training Exercise; did not leave Calling Name or Tome.

==Known by Reputation or Other==
===<span style=color:orange>Akgleax</span> of Earth===
[[File:Akgleax of Music.jpg|150px]]

A craftsman of musical items.
*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Water, Blending, Change, Song, Music, and Paper.
*Avasa of Earth
**Achieved Spasa of Paper and Music after writing of her encounters of Alexandra & Duncan of Amber.
***Aspires to Avasa of Music, Water, Blending, and Knowledge. Masoja of Earth, Knowledge or Binding.
Rafe knows her Calling Name only through Adalou.

===<span style=color:orange>Grexil</span> of Knowledge===
*Elemental of Earth
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Earth, Rot, Defense, Speed, Paper, Song, Blending, Rust, Change, Life
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Earth, Conflict, Blending, Rage, Shifter,
*Masoja of Knowledge
Rafe knows only his Calling Name through Adalou.

===<span style=color:red>Hardin Wapak</span>, Leader of the Party for War===
[[File:HARDIN wAPAK.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth & Air Elemental
*Spasa of
*Avasa of
*Masoja of

Rafe knows of Hardin by reputation only. Rafe is aware that Hardin has placed a Bounty on him.

''"His weapon is massive. Normally unwieldly. But it is Bound with Masoja of Combat, Warfare, and Death. The Mace is Bound with the same but lesser ones. It is studded with Avasa and Masoja who begged to serve him. Yet. He has a long knife that bears the Soul of Mortals and Dufiro he has slain. They writhe in unending agony to his delight."'' ~ Curious to Rafe

===<span style=color:green>Tans Tilki</span>, Masoja of Vision, ''Primsa Illuminar''===
[[File:Tans tilki.jpg|200 px]]

One of the most ancient and powerful Dufiro, a perennial member of the Council of the Dufirosm. Resigned from Wishers.

*Elementals: Change, Flux, Earth, Fire, Air
*Spirits: Change, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Defense, Guard, Blending, Rust, Fire, Paper, Illusion,
*Avasa Dufirosm: Shifter, Cleanliness, Conflict, Guard, Growth, Blending, Knowledge, Vision, Truth
*Masoja Dufirosm: Change, Combat, Guard, Health, Growth, Death, Life, Knowledge, Shifter, Binding, Time, Vision
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' Dufirosm

Rafe knows Tans by reputation only. Rafe first heard about Tans when Rafe learned about the Visions about Rafe.

===<span style=color:orange>Twiisi</span>, Spasa of Guard===
[[File:Twiisi-fane guide.jpg|150 px]]

Twiisi was seen serving as a gate guard and greeter at the Fane of the Dufirosm at Zilla

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Cleanliness, Guard, and Paper
**Aspires to Spasa of Song. Avasa of Air,Cleanliness, Guard or conflict, color, Knowledge. Masoja of Air, Combat or Guard, knowledge.
**As Fane Guard she also aspires to rise in rank among the Fane Guards at the temple she is in. Many Guards serve their whole lives guarding one place as well as making deals to gain rank and race.

Rafe was briefly in the presence of Twiisi at the Dufirosm Fane at Zilla when Ansahal was inhabiting Rafe's body and they transported there, but Rafe was transported 'home' before he could interact as himself.

===<span style=color:red>Vrxxkren</span>, Masoja of Strength, 'The Harbinger of Death'===
[[File:Vrxxkren.jpg|150 px]]

A member of the Inner Council of the Party for Death and the Party for War. Known as the Harbinger of Death. A warrior and a herald.

*Earth Elemental. Fire Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Combat, Guard, Rot, and Speed
*Avasa of Earth, Fire, Speed, Rage, Conflict-War, and Knowledge.
*Masoja of Earth, Fire, Combat, Rage, Warfare, Knowledge, Death, and Strength.

Rafe knows the Harbinger by reputation only. Rafe is aware that the Harbinger saw Ansahal exit his (Rafe's) body at the Dufirosm Fane at Zilla. Rafe is also aware that the Harbinger sought out a Dufiro of Vision to learn more about Rafe. Rafe is now aware of the nature and contents of those Visions.

==Beings with a Copy of RaphaX's Dufiro Tomes==
NOTE: ALL Copies of Raphaxaelicus' Tomes that have NOT been Gifted or Bargained for, are Stored in a bookcase in RaphaX's Billet in Shifters Hall at the Hagia Salas in the City of Ahyk within the Dufirtrusa; the Dufiro Realms near to the Black Zone of Chaos.

===Elemental of Change===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Adalou (Author); S/B, Curious; S/B,

===Elemental of Motion===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Adalou (Author); S/B,

===Elemental of Earth===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Shantranixix (Author); S/B,

===Spasa of Earth===
*Calling, Summoning & Binding
*Shantranixix (Author); C.S.B, Kichab; C, Nur al Din; C, Dalt; C, Curious; S, Glax of Rot; C, Coil of Whimsy; C, Bently; C, Tlaxaxak, Masoja of Death; S,

==Dufiro Tomes Possessed by RaphaX ==
NOTE: ALL Copies of The Dog Brothers Tomes that have NOT been Gifted or Bargained for, are Stored in a bookcase in RaphaX's Billet in Shifters Hall at the Hagia Salas in the City of Ahyk within the Dufirtrusa; the Dufiro Realms near to the Black Zone of Chaos. As well as any Tomes that have been Gifted to Raphaxaelicus, or Bargained for by him.

===The Dog Brothers' Tomes===
*Calling, Summoning and Binding Name Tomes (90)
**10 of each Tome for each of the 3 Dogs

===Summoning Tomes===
*''Masoja Dufiro of Earth Summoning Tome''
**'''Crizacraxix Galxata''' aka Curious
**Written in Kolbashic
**Trade from Curious for Raphax's Elemental of Change Summoning & Binding Tome

===Calling Tomes===
*''Elemental of Flux Calling Name Tome''
**'''Nippixx'''; Consigliere to Shantranixix and The Shantranixix Fealty Band

*''Masoja of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**'''"Chip"''', Masoja of Earth

*''Spasa of Blending Calling Name Tome''
**'''Bronze Nugget''', Spasa of Blending

*''Avasa of Iron Calling Name Tome''
**'''ZyxzlokX''', Masoja of Rust (Earth-Iron)

*''Masoja of Rot Calling Name Tome''
**'''Kibrosel''', Masoja of Health

*''Spasa of Rot Calling Name Tome''
**'''Sharax''', Masoja of Fire

*''Avasa of Water Calling Name Tome''
**'''Sylex''', Avasa of Health, Rot

*''Spasa of Illusion Calling Name Tome''
**'''Fal Gan''', Masoja of Strength & Warfare

*''Avasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Avasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Spasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Spasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Spasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Spasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Avasa of Blending Calling Tome''
**'''Kichabqhisreeceeb'''; Avasa of Blending
***Also, a Place Tome for Kichab's Personal Library

*Avasa of Rust Calling Tome''
**'''Glkaxxsik'''; Avasa of Rust

*Avasa of Whimsy Calling Tome
**'''Coil'''; Avasa of Whimsy

*Calling Tome for '''Hardin Wapak'''

*''Spasa of Water Calling Tome''
**'''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water

*''Avasa of Whimsy Calling Tome''
**'''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water

*''Masoja of Death Calling Tome''
**''Tlaxaxak; Masoja of Death

==RaphaX's Summoning Log==

===Spasa of Paper - Calling Tome Ritual===
*'''Kichabqhisreeceeb''' aka Kichab
**Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending.
*An old Spasa of Paper Calling Tome was used.

===Avasa of Death- Forced Binding Tome Ritual===
*'''Grytti''', Avasa of Death and Ice
**Forced Binding to a glass
**Bargain with ''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water, who has the Glass

===Spasa of Death - Forced Binding Ritual===
*'''Thanseq'''; Spasa of Death... aka Bruce
**Force Bound to a Crystal Glass - Rafe holds the glass
***Causes any liquid poured into it to become poisoned.
***Does NOT alter smell, taste, or appearance.
[[File:Death Dufiro Poisoning Goblet.jpg|100px]]

===Avasa of Blending - Calling Tome Ritual===
*Avasa of Blending - Calling Tome Ritual
**Kichabqhisreeceeb; Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending.

===Avasa of Earth- Calling Tome Ritual===
*Avasa of Earth- Calling Tome Ritual
**Hrobleit; Avasa of Earth...

===Avasa of Conflict - Binding Tome Ritual===
*Sylex; Avasa of Water, Carnality, Health, Rot, Conflict

===Masoja of Dance - Binding Ritual===
*Bently

==COLOR KEY:==
===<span style=color:purple>PURPLE</span> = Very Well Known and/or Highly Trusted===
===<span style=color:blue>BLUE</span> = Well Known and/or Trusted===
===<span style=color:green>GREEN</span> = Known and/or Mostly Trusted===
===<span style=color:orange>ORANGE</span> = Semi-Known and/or Semi-Trusted===
===<span style=color:gold>YELLOW</span> = Advise Caution===
===<span style=color:red>RED</span> = NOT Trusted===

Dufiro known by Raphael

2025-08-09T21:35:21Z

Relmopator: /* Calling Tomes */

<big>'''Running Sheet of Dufiro known by Raphael de la Varga'''</big>

==Dufiro Traveling with Rapahx==

===<span style=color:purple>Curious</span>, Masoja of Guard, ''Primas Illuminar''===
Known as '''Crizacraxix Galxata'''

Member of the '''Party for the Defense of Amber'''.

Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

[[File:Curious.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth Elemental.
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Combat, Rot, Speed, Change, Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth)''
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Rage, Water, and Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth & Conflict)''
*Masoja of Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth, Health & Warfare)''
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' ''(Secretly)''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Curious on my Home World after a Virus had wiped out Humanity. Curious was traveling with a young girl of 10ish, Slugger, who quickly made friends with my Poodle Boys, then soon became my Ward when her 'uncle' Buck made me promise to look after her as he lay dying from the Virus. Later I discovered that she was of the Blood of Amber, then later discovered her to be the Daughter of Corwin and Dierdre of Amber, also known as the King and Queen of Avalon. Curious is Slugger's Guardian and I have known this almost since the beginning, just I as knew he was a powerful Dufiro. I later learned how powerful and influential... but I am still unaware of who Contracted Curious to Guard her... somehow I don't think it was her Mother or Father, though they would be the most obvious choices. Curious has acted as an excellent protector to Slugger and as a dependable advisor in many things regarding the Dufirosm to me.''

***'''Game Play Posts & GM Commentary'''
'''GM''' '' "Consider ... Curious, known as Crizacraxix Galxata. His base is Earth and he is beloved of all the Earth ranks. His public races include Masoja of Guard. I happen to know he '''secretly has Masoja of Earth, Health and Warfare'''. He has '''secretly the Spasa of Earth''' and publicly Cleanliness, Combat, Rot, Speed, Change, and Guard. He has Avasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Rage, Water, and Guard. '''Secretly he has Avasa of Earth and Conflict.''' What is he then? A warrior. A fierce warrior. He is a member of several warrior bands including the Shantranixix Fealty Band not to mention his own little fealty band. He is in the thick of the warrior types." ''~Adalou, Masoja of Air to Raphael during his Tome Writing Session.

'''GM''' ''Curious turns to the Guide, then to Rafe. He starts shifting to fill out a short cat/human. "It is. I am a Masoja of Earth and Guard. As well as..." ~ The Guide puts his hand up, "I know what else. Proceed." ~ "These three are friends. They each carry an Avasa of Guard, as you can tell. They are primitive bound to this Changer. I have made bargains to have these three entered into the ranks of the Elementals of Movement. I had not spoken to the Changer yet. It is a matter of some detail." ~ The Guide nods, "Easy enough for a '''Primus Illuminar'''. We can accommodate space for your work toward Shifter. If you need space for the Movement Elementals, we can mange that." ~ Fuzzy Cat looks to Rafe. "The Poodle Boys are eligible to become Movement Elementals. If you wish." ~ '''(Rafe)''' "Yes, by all means, Curious. I would love that for my Poodle Boys. Thank you." ''~Quotes from Game Play.

===<span style=color:purple>The Dog Brothers (3)</span>, Movement Elementals===
aka The Poodle Boys
*'''Kuzco''' aka Swirly(left)
*'''Ninja-Boy''' aka Fudge(center)
*'''Jerk-u-lees''' aka Berk-Berk(right)

[[File:The Poodle Boys2.jpg|200 px]]

[[Running Sheet Raphael - The Poodle Boys]]

Miniature Poodles 'Primitive Bonded' to Rafe.
*Elementals of Movement
**Prevously Inhabited by Avasa Dufiro of Guard

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''They're my Dog Brothers. What more need I say?''

===<span style=color:blue>Sylex</span>, Avasa of Conflict===
[[File:Sylex.jpg|150px]]
[[Running Sheet Sylex]]
*Water Elemental
*Spasa of Water, Carnality, Cleanliness, Motion, Sadness
*Avasa of Water, Carnality, Health, Rot, Conflict.
***Aspires to Masoja of Water.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sylex at my first Changer's Training Exercise at Shifters Hall; she is Sister of ZyxzolX, a Masoja of Iron. I learned of her tragic life from her own lips in front of others who confirmed it. I offered her to join my Adventurers Band for a one year Contract. I was asked by her brother, Zyx, to 'use her Water for Cleanliness. And don't use her for her other skills.' I was asked by Kibrosel, Masoja of Health, to have her spent time in heathly natural environments to help her towards Growth. Curious mentioned she was a known spy, but did not elaborate. We have not finalized our Contract yet, but much has happened suddenly.....''

===<span style=color:blue>Bently</span>, Masoja of Dance===
[[File:Bently.jpg|150px]]
[[Running Sheet Bently]]
*Elemental of Air, Change, Hue, Sound
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Air, Color, Change, Paper, Illusion, Song, motion.
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Air, Change, Blending, Paper, Color, Health, Music, Shifter, Life.
*Masoja of Cleanliness, Air, Change, Shifter, Knowledge, Rust, Paper, Music, Dance.
**''Aspires to Masoja of Life, Vision, Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Bently after returning from the Durfiro Reelms, he came with Slugger... her new Art Instructor...and boyfriend. Even Slugger admitted she should not have gotten involved with him and that he was going to get his ass kicked by someone sooner or later.....''

==='''Adventurers Society Members'''===
====Fitz Williams====
*Life Path: Air Elemental.
**Spasa of Air, Combat, Life, Cleanliness, Paper
**Avasa of Air, Knowledge
**'''''Al Asgo Illuminar'''''

====Elmer Ellswroth====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====Runner====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====Olive====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====???====
*Life Path:

===Bound Dufiro===
====<span style=color:green>Sharax</span>, Masoja of Fire====

[[File:Sharax, Masoja of Fire.jpg| 150px]]

*Elemental of Fire
*Spasa of Fire, Earth, Rot, Growth, Blending
*Avasa of Fire, Conflict, Blending, Health, Life, Rust, Rage, Speed
*Masoja of Fire
***Aspires to Combat,
**Professionally a Carpenter

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sharax of Fire at my first Changer's Training Exercise; he was Bound (in)to a chair. We spoke briefly after the Challenge he was involved in was over, then he departed. The next day, I Called Sharax to thank him for his participation in my Training and for his Calling Tome, when I unexpectedly found myself Bargaining for Sharax to Self-Bind to a Weapon... though he did initiate it... so to speak. After some negotiating, haggling and ironing out of details, an Agreement was reached; Sharax and an unnamed Spasa of Motion would Serve a Two Year'' 'on the hip' ''Term of Service Bound to a suitable weapon that Curious (Crizax) found then gifted to me; a Black Mithril War Hammer.''

***'''Rafe's Fire Hammer'''
Stats: [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/General_and_Known_Pointed_Artifact_Descriptions#Rafe.27s_Fire_Hammer]]

[[File:Firehammer.jpg|150 px]]

====<span style=color:green>Bronze Nugget</span>, Spasa of Blending====

[[File:Bronze nugget.jpg|150px]]
[[File:Bronze Nugget1.jpg|150 px]]

*Elemental of Earth & Mixing
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Rust, Guard, Blending
**''Avasa: Aspires to Earth, Fire, Guard, Rust, Ice, knowledge''
**''Masoja: Aspires to Earth, Fire, Guard, Rust, Knowledge''

Professions-Blacksmith, fine metals worker, brewer.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Bronze Nugget at my first Changer's Training Exercise. At the end of the Challenge involving Bronze, he fell to the floor in the shape of a Bronze Bracer; I now wear Bronze on my left forearm. I am currently in Negotiations with Bronze Nugget to Self-Bind to a suit of armor that is yet to be crafted as I am still lacking the required materials, Magics, tools, facility and personnel... but the list is getting shorter and the time is coming soon...''

==Personally Known: Named==

===<span style=color:orange>Agalat</span> the Red Wizard, Masoja of Knowledge===
Manages the Red Hall of Agalat. A place that sells Tome certification.

*Fire Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Combat, Rust, Paper, Fire, Growth, Change
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Fire, Conflict, Blending, Rage, Knowledge, Growth, Vision
*Masoja of Fire, Growth, Rage, Binding, Warfare, Knowledge
***Aspires to Death

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Agalat at the Red Hall after my Combat Screening for my Changer Tome Certification. At first I thought he was a Slaver, as Adalou tricked me into thinking I'd been 'sold into slavery' so I would fight more fiercely for my Certification Fight.''

===<span style=color:blue>Adalou</span>, Masoja of Air===
Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Dufiro-Adalou.jpg|150px]]

*Elemental of Air, Change
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Air, Song, Paper, Change
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Change, Knowledge
*Masoja of Air, Health, Shifter
***Aspires to Knowledge, Life, Wisher.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Adalou through Zachary Hepplewhite of Amber while we were at Lily Lake in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range near Fort Garland, Colorado, Shadow Garland aka Change World. We were investigating a Low Order Inscription at the bottom of Lily Lake and Zach called in Adalou to help gain us more information about the it; turns out it's a Low Order Version of the Pattern of Avalon. Around a year later I again met Adalou at Castle Garland after a meeting with Fortunadus, Salaka and Curious about me joining the Dufirosm; Adalou was called in to be the Author of my first Dufiro Tome for Change Elemental. He took me to Ahyk, a Realm within the Dufirtrusa, somewhere near the Black Zone of the Court of Chaos. He took me to Agalat Red Hall where I met Agalat, the Red Wizard and was tricked by Adalou into thinking I had been sold into slavery and Slugger, Curious and the Poodle Boys as well; it was so I would fight at my fiercest for my Tome Certification (a faster version than weeks of paperwork and meetings with Officials). Afterwards he explained then he took me to Shifters Hall where I met the then current Tyler, Hunjata, who made me prove I was a Changer, and I did ('''without''' Avalon Shape Change). He left me there to Train, and this is where I met Guide (Kalaganath) and other Powerful Dufiro. Before leaving the Dufirtrusa, I needed his services as a Writer of Tomes again, this time for Elemental of Movement; it was at that time that Adalou introduced me to Shantranixix, with Curious in the room. Shantrix was to Write my Earth Tomes, Elemental and Spasa.''

===<span style=color:blue>Ansahal</span>, Masoja of Water===
Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

An ancient non-corporeal Dufiro
*Elemental: Air, Water, Flux, Change
*Spasa:Air, Cleanliness, Blending, Change
*Avasa:Air, Cleanliness, Blending, Growth, Ice, Shifter, Knowledge, and Rage
*Masoja:Air, Change, Health, Growth, Life, Knowledge, Binding, Shifter, and Water.
***Aspires to Wisher and Illuminar.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Ansahal through Digan the Ruby Mage while I was at Castle Garland. During a Side Quest initiated by Digan, I met Ansahal in an isolated Shadow where he initiated Bargaining by Offering 'power' for the short-term use of my body. After a lot of questions and some haggling, an Agreement was reached by both Parties, witnessed by Digan. After Ansahal did what he need, during which I was fully aware, he went to the Fane of Dufirosm in Zilla, left my body then sent me back to Castle Garland. That visit to Zilla is what may have prompted Ansahal and Salaka to invite me to join the Dufirosm; I was seen by the Harbinger of Death when Anasahal exited my body.''

===<span style=color:green>Breasda</span>, Masoja of Vision===
Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Breasda.jpg|150 px]]

Born Change Elemental. Air Elemental. Raised to Cleanliness, followed by Paper and Blending. Took the Ava D Ritual of Cleanliness, followed by Truth, Knowledge, Vision, and finally Blending. Took the Masoja Ritual of Knowledge, Time, Health, Vision, and finally Wisher.
*Change Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Paper and Blending.
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Truth, Knowledge, Vision, and Blending.
*Masoja Ritual of Knowledge, Time, Health, Vision, and Wisher.
***An incorruptibly good creature with the a powerful Wishing energy. Considered by many the leader of the Dufirosm but denies such office. He is however generally respected or deeply feared. A past Racial Representative of Wishers on the Dufirosm Council. Recently resigned from the race of Wishers, taking on Vision race again as his naming race.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Breasda briefly in Shifters Hall after completing the first of my Changer's Training Exercises. Everyone froze-up at his approach and '''Guide''' advised me to 'say nothing'. Breasda asked '''Guide''' a few questions about me, looked me over, asked me to show him my Avalon Shapes, which I did without comment, then he gave me a book, The Story of the Trio Shifters, and asked me to make 100 copies of it, stating the handwriting was his but the Author was a Challenge for me. He also suggested another 100 copies to the Hall of Paper as a gift if I was interested in gaining Spasa of Paper, which I am. He stated that Trade with Avalon was permitted, then walked away, to everyone's relief... well, everyone let out a sigh and relaxed, to be precise. ''

===<span style=color:green>"Chip"</span>, Masoja of Earth===
''Xghasssrtddsc aQEeeefe Aolmkop'' "Chip"

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Chip-masoja.jpg|150 px]]
*Elemental of Earth.
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Defense, Growth, Rot, Paper
*Avasa of Earth, Fire, Guard, Growth, Colors, Shifter, Knowledge
*Masoja of Earth,
**Aspires to Fire, Guard, Shifter, Knowledge

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Chip during my first Changer's Training Exercise. He was my Third Challenge; he attacked me and I had to use ONLY my Changer Powers to Combat him. I was successful and I passed his Challenge. Later, ZyxZolkX mentioned "Chip" being a part of a Matched Elevation of Earth, him handling the Elemental part. The following day I Called "Chip" and Zyx to Bargain for Matched Elevation in Earth; Zyx did the talking and set the Terms... I ended up having to Call in Nur al-Din, at the suggestion of Sylex in private, to Seal the Deal. I acquired a Copy of Chip's Masoja of Earth Calling Tome. ''

===<span style=color:gold>Dadar Kois</span>===
*Unknown Rank and Race.
**A thin fancy dressed man about 5' tall.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Dadar when Sylex Called him to make a Deal for Production Bowls of food made by the Dufireant; we had just finished a meeting with "Chip", Zyx and Nur, who showed up with a wok full of freshly cooked Broccoli and Habanero Peppers with Noodles... he shared. And though I ate of my portion and all left untouched by Chip and Zyx, Sylex kept hers, divided it between the four bowls, then Called Dadar and made her Deal; keeping three and offering one as payment for Services Rendered. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Dyjik</span>, Avasa of Blending===
*Avasa of Earth, Blending
**Veteran Cook at Shifters Hall Cafeteria

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Dyjik at Shifters Hall Cafeteria where he oversaw Jasgl, a new Spasa of Blending who was making me the breakfast I had requested. Dyjik also made me a very good cup of strong coffee. He was pleasant, helpful and informative. I liked him immediately. ''

===<span style=color:gold>Fal Gan</span>, Masoja of Warfare===
A Member of the Party for Life because he hates certain Members of the Party for Death

*Elemental of ?
*Spasa of Illusion, ?
*Avasa of ?
*Masoja of Strength, Warfare

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I sort of met this Dufiro as an Illusion Spasa at my first Changer's Training Exercise. He was excused before I could 'meet' him. However, I did have his Calling Tome. No name was given or said and he appeared an an Elf at that time. The next day I met with Fal Gan; it did not go well. Fal Gan appeared as a 9ft Orc; armed and armored. Fal Gan was insulted by my speaking to him as though we were equals. Fal Gan struck me and left. ''

===<span style=color:green>Falat Agasta</span>, Avasa of Iron===
*Forge Journeyman under Tursa Ga.
**Forged a Black Mithril and Ang Ri Ironwood War Hammer [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/General_and_Known_Pointed_Artifact_Descriptions#Rafe.27s_Fire_Hammer]] which was purchase by Curious then gifted to Rare.
***'' 'I made this black mithril hammer to accept any Grade of Race. I am pleased a Masoja of Fire will bind to it. The handle changes from a foot to 6 feet. It is a war weapon but can be used as a forge hammer.' ''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Falat Agasta when he arrived with Curious after I asked Curious if he could find a suitable warhammer for Sharax of Fire to be Bound to for his Service to me. Falat was business-like but polite. He work is incredible and I will certainly recommend his Services. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Glkaxxsik of Rust</span>; Avasa of Rust===
"call me Glaxak..."

[[File:DF-Glkaxxsik.jpg|200 px]]
*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Rust, Carnality
*Avasa of Earth, Rust
**Aspires to ...

===<span style=color:orange>Glaxin of Stone</span>, Avasa of Earth===
*Avasa of Earth
**A Tyler of Earthers Hall, East Door

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Glaxin while he was serving as Tyler of Earthers Hall. He asked me show my talent or go; I turned my the skin of my left hand into Milky White Quartz. He welcomed me in and suggested I take a Term as Tyler on occasion. ''

===<span style=color:green>'''Hrolbleit'''</span>; Avasa of Earth===
*Hrolbleit is the Leader of a Warrior Knot consisting of 3 Avasa of Earth & Conflict, 4 Spasa of Earth & Combat, 9 Spasa of Earth and 12 Elementals of Earth.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I sort of met this Earth Avasa at my first Changer's Training Exercise. The Avasa was excused before I could 'meet' it. However, I do have its Calling Tome.''

''While in Paris, Avalon, I used this Dufiro's Calling Tome to make an offer of employment for him and his Knot to work as Guards at the Hotel and Warehouse..... PENDING''

===<span style=color:orange>Hunjanta</span> aka Sunak===
*Avasa of Rot??
**A Tyler of Shifter Hall

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sunak while he was serving as Tyler of Shifters Hall. Hunjanta insisted I had to prove myself worthy of entering Shifters Hall by using my Dufiro Powers to Change myself in some way, which I did; I became an Orc-Lizard, just like the ones I defeated earlier at Red Hall to get my Tome Certified. Sunak was quite gruff but in the end warned me and Adalou about some Death Cult Members residing in Shifters Hall and that if we needed a quick escape, to Call on him. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Jasgl</span>, Spasa of Blending===
*Spasa of Earth, Blending
**New Cook at Shifters Hall Cafeteria

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Jasgl at Shifters Hall Cafeteria where he made me an excellent breakfast based upon a memory I shared with him, literally; Jasgl made physical, then Psychic, contact with me while I was recalling the memory verbally. The food he made, by using his Changer Powers, combined with Earth and Blending on cubes of organic 'matter' was EXACTLY as I remembered it and was both filling and satisfying. Good Service Rendered. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kalaganath</span>, The Guide===
Member of the Party for Life
*Unknown Rank and Races
**Guide at Shifters Hall for Rafe's Change Elemental Initiation & Training

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met 'The Guide' at Shifters Hall after I had proven myself worthy of entering. Guide led me through part of Shifters Hall, past a Witness Chamber in use, to a Training Room where my first Training Exercise took place. He accompanied me and Salaka to a special place inside(?) Shifters Hall where the three of us privately spoke about the Visions that involve me, the Party for Life, the Party for Death and the Azcala World Stone. He was also present when I met Breasda, Masoja of Vision, formerly Masoja of Wisher. He furthered my education in the Dufirosm and gave good advice often.''

===<span style=color:orange>Karyaxyl</span>, Masoja of Life===
Member of the Party for Life

*Masoja of Earth, Shifter, Health, and Life
**Foodie

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Karyaxyl at Shifters Hall Cafeteria while dining. He talked of Food and being a Member for the Party for Life. He invited to me Call him anytime to share a meal or talk of things. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kibrosel</span>, Masoja of Health, ''Al Asgo Illuminar''===
Member of the Party for Life

[[File:Kibrosel.jpg|150 px]]

*Water Elemental, Change, Earth
*Spasa of Water, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Earth, Blending, Defense, Life, Knowledge
*Avasa of Water, Cleanliness, Conflict-War, Growth, Blending, Earth, Ice, Health, Life, Knowledge
*Masoja of Water, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Blending, Life, Health, Rot
*'''''Al Asgo Illuminar'''''. Created an Illuminar by the Stretched One
***Aspires to Earth, Knowledge, Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''

''I met Kibrosel at my first Changer's Training Exercise. Kibro is a Physician and Farmer by Profession. I met with Kirbo again the next day and learned how to Live in my Heartfire, Shape Shift to Stone then Living Stone, and how to Sense thru another's Senses. I have his Calling Name Tome. I owe him a Future Favor. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kichabqhisreeceeb</span>, Avasa of Blending===
[[File:Kichab.jpg|200px]]

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Cleanliness, Paper, Color, light, & Illusion
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending

Aspires to Avasa of Knowledge, Truth, & Whimsy. Masoja of Air, Cleanliness, Knowledge, Wisher

Profession-Alchemist Librarian

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Kichab when I used his Spasa of Paper Calling Tome to show Prince Dalt of Eregenor how Dufiro Summoning works. The Calling Tome came from the Danbury Collection, now a part of Dalt's Personal Library. Dalt traded favors with me; he helped me craft my armor and I help him figure out the Collection. Kichab was a bit haughty and seemed 'put out' by being Called by a much older Tome. During our bargaining I learned what types of books would be best for making copies of '''The Story of the Trio Shifters''' book I was loaned by Breasda to make copies of. I also learned a bit about the Trio Shifters, the different translations and that there is an Opera based on it called '''Shifter Trio'''. Towards the end of our bargaining session he was a bit insulting about my Spasa of Earth Calling Tome; called it pretentious for a Spasa. Curious reminded him that I am an Illuminar and can do things as I please. Curious was NOT going to let an insult to a fellow Illuminar go unchecked.... love that guy. In the end I got Kichab's Avasa of Blending Calling Tome and a Place Tome for his Personal Avasa of Knowledge Library. Good deal in my opinion.''

===<span style=color:gold>Leniya</span>, 'The Origami Dragon', Masoja of Health===
[[File:Leniya.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Growth, Change, Blending, Paper
*Avasa of Earth, Growth, Shifter, Fire, Whimsy, Health
*Masoja of Earth, Fire, Air, Health
***Aspires to Shifter, Change, Knowledge
**Expert in Origami.
**Profession: Apothecary. Supplier of Herbs, Material Components and Paper
**Calling Name is ''Leniya Jasdarniun''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Leniya through Salaka. I get my Urala and other herbs from Leniya, as does Salaka. I was warned to be wary of what I say and who I am seen with around Leniya as he has a tendency to gossip.''
***Leniya to Rafe
''"Paper from your Birth world. Defeat a clown in combat, a fight you start with them unaware.. Plants from your home world. A brandy from your home world."''

===<span style=color:blue>Nippixix</span>, Flux Elemental===
The ''Consigliere'' for Shantranixix & the [[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]

[[File:Nippixx.jpg|200 px]]

*Flux Elemental
*Spasa of
*Avasa of
*Masoja of
**Aspires to

===<span style=color:blue>Nur al-Din El Musifar</span> - The Dufrieanalat, ''Primas Illuminar''===
[[File:Image6.jpg|150 px]] [[File:Nur2.jpg|150 px]]

*Spasa - All except Death, Rust. Did take Rot
*Avasa - All except Death, Rust
*Masoja of Life, all except Death, Vision, Time. Only partially accepted by Wisher
*'''''Primus Illuminar'''''
***Aspires to Wisher
*Born a human on the world of Tosa. Attained the ranks of thrice Crowned Bard. A long time bargainer and a extremely well-respected friend of the Dufirosm. A High Lord in a Shade of Chaos. During a extinction level event involving most the Dufirosim realms Nur Ed Din managed to save the realms and help rebuild after the destruction. As reward he was inhabited by a Shifter Masoja and initiated into the Masoja Dufiro of Life.
*Granted powers from each of the races from Spirit to Masoja. When the forces in his Chaos ousted him from his lordship he relocated to the Dufirosm realms and was invited to join the council.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''It's a complicated story how I know Nur.... ask me about it one day.''

===<span style=color:green>Salaka</span>, Masoja of Knowledge, ''Primas Illuminar''===
Member of the Party for Life

[[File:Dufiro Salaka.jpg|250px]]

(Calling Name: Salakalikintar)
*Water Elemental, Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Change, and Blending
*Avasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Blending, Ice, Shifter, and Knowledge
*Masoja of Air, Water, and Earth, Health, Growth, Shifter, and Knowledge
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' (Secretly?)
***Aspires to Masoja of Life, Change. Perhaps some day Wisher.
**Friend of Veks. A gardener, farmer, brewer, vintner, and vegetarian. A Facilitator for Dufiro who has worked often with Hendrake.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met met Salaka through Fortunadas, sort of. Adalou and Ansahal suggested Salaka bring me into the Dufiro fold, as it were.'' Salaka Facilitated my Transition into the Dufirosm and into a Change Elemental as well as assisted and advised in my first Changer's Training Exercises.''

***Fortunadus Enright's Commentary
''"Salaka is a Water Elemental and an Air Elemental. A Spasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, and Blending. An Avasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Blending, Ice, and Knowledge. A Masoja of Air, Water, and Earth, Health, Growth, and now a Masoja of Knowledge. She is a '''Primus Illuminar'''. She is a player in the '''Party of Life''' and a Member of the '''Dufrieanalat's Inner Circle'''."''

===<span style=color:orange>Shagas</span> of Glass===
A warrior Avasa of Conflict. Glass shard skin

*Earth Elemental. Scent Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Combat, Defense, Speed, Rot, Guard, Motion
*Avasa of Earth, Conflict, Guard, Speed, Ice
***Aspires to Masoja of Earth, Combat, Guard, Warfare, and Death

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Shagas at the Red Hall right after my Certification Fight, still not knowing what was going on and thinking I had just been sold into Slavery. Adalou was there as was Agalat the Red Wizard. Shagas paid to Certify my Tome of Change Elemental and Bind me toward Earth Elemental status. I then learn what was going on, was reunited with Slugger, Curious and The Poodle Boys, then had lunch with Shagas as Adalou further explained what was going and and why he did it the way he did. Shagas seemed a nice enough fellow, but the shards of glass sticking out of him everywhere was a bit offputting.''

===<span style=color:blue>Shantranixix Agfala</span>, Masoja of Life===

Leader of the Shantranixix Fealty Band

[[File:Shantranixix.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth & Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Earth, Carnality, Cleanliness, Combat, Defense, Growth, Guard, Life, Song, Speed, Culinarist
*Avasa of Air, Earth, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Guard, Health, Knowledge, Strength, Warfare, Life, Music, Truth
*Masoja of Air, Earth, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Guard, Health, Knowledge, Warfare, Life
***Aspires to Time and Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''Initially, I knew of Shantranixix 'by reputation' only, but I knew Curious was a Member of the Shantranixix Fealty Band. I was offered an opportunity to join the Shantranixix Fealty Band by Traxal which I considered then Accepted through Curious. Soon after, I met Shantrix when Adalou said he couldn't write my Earth Tomes, but knew someone who could. He promptly disappeared then returned with Shantrix, jokingly saying he found a Spasa of Paper to write my Earth Tomes. I didn't know what Shantrix looked like, but I 'figured things out' quickly and was awed by his presence, his visit and his willingness to Write my Tomes for Elemental and Spasa of Earth.''

===<span style=color:red>Tinsanax</span>, Masoja of Health===
[[File:Tinsanax.jpg|150 px]]

*Fire Elemental, Flux Elemental
*Spasa of Change, Combat, Fire, Speed, Cleanliness, Rot, Health, Life, Carnality
*Avasa of Conflict, Blending, Fire, Health, Shifter, Carnality, Rust, Whimsy, Music, Death
*Masoja of Rust, Warfare, Combat, Health
***Aspires to Shifter, Knowledge.
**Member of the Gxkzle Band. The band is in the Party for War but not the Party of Death. Known as a trouble maker.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Tins at my first Changer's Training Exercise; she crashed the party, but left soon at my insistence. She gave me some info about the Challenges 'for free', but I'm sure I'll have to pay for it some day in some way. I was warned she was trouble, but I could already tell that from the moment I laid eyes on her.''

===<span style=color:blue>Traxalaxax</span>, Avasa of Blending===
Member of the '''Shantranixix Fealty Band'''.

[[File:Traxalaxax.jpg|150px]]

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Air, Song, Paper, Illusion
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, Blending
***Aspires to Avasa of Knowledge. Then Masoja of Knowledge.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met first Traxal through Curious at the bottom of Lily Lake located in the southern most part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range near Fort Garland, Colorado, Shadow Garland; the location of the Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon. Traxal helped in my initial knowledge of the Sigil of Avalon and let me know it was safe to Assay and what power I might gain. He gave me his Calling Name. Sometime later, Traxal acted as Slugger's 'Nanny' and Educator for a time while she and I were in the Dufiro Realms. Traxal also made the initial Offer to me to 'Consider joining the Shantranixix Fealty Band'. I considered for a day then Accepted through Curious, also in the Fealty Band. Later that day, I met Shantranixix through Adalou, also in the Fealty Band.''

===<span style=color:green>ZyxzlokX</span>, Masoja of Rust===
Member of the Party for Life.

Member of the [[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]

[[File:ZyxzlokX.jpg|150 px]]

*Fire Elemental; Iron, Sand. Fire: Smoke. Whimsy
*Spasa of Earth; Iron, Combat, Defense, Rust, Song; Whimsy, Speed, Rot, Change
*Avasa of Earth; Iron, Rust, Whimsy, Conflict, Death, Rust, Shifter
*Masoja of Earth:Iron, Combat, Warfare, Rust, Strength, Rage.
***Aspires to Shifter-Partially to escape Rage. Will take any race to escape rage

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met ZyxzlokX at my first Changer's Training Exercise. He is Brother to Sylex; Avasa of Rot. Zyx is gruff and rough with a mean sense of humor and a love of pranks and lessons learned. Zyx punched me in the chest so fast I never saw it coming, he could have killed me but didn't. He didn't like my candor or opinion of him... and I think he was testing me to see how I'd react. He knew I'd offered his Sister Sylex to join my Adventurers' Band and made me promise to 'only use her Water for Cleanliness, and don't use her other skills." I gained his is Calling Name Tome before he left.''

==Personally Known: Unnamed==

===<span style=color:blue>Avasa of Guard (3)</span>===
*Avasa of Guard
Rafe sort of met this trio of Guard Avasa when Curious Summoned and Bound them to Rafe's trio of Miniature Poodles. The Avasa are Loyal to Curious.

===<span style=color:green>Orc-Lizards (8)</span>===
*Spasa of Combat
Rafe defeated them for Tome Certification at the Red Hall of Agalat.

===<span style=color:orange>Spasa of ?</span>===
*Looks like a tall Hobbit
**Brought food and drink from his restaurant to Rafe and Sylex when she Called.

===<span style=color:orange>Spasa of Earth (2)</span>===
*Spasa of Earth
Rafe sort of met these Earth Spasa at his first Changer's Training Exercise. Both Spasa were excused before Rafe could 'meet' them. However, Rafe does have their Calling Tomes.

===<span style=color:orange>Earth Elemental</span>===
*Elemental of Earth
Rafe met this Earth Elemental at his first Changer's Training Exercise; did not leave Calling Name or Tome.

==Known by Reputation or Other==
===<span style=color:orange>Akgleax</span> of Earth===
[[File:Akgleax of Music.jpg|150px]]

A craftsman of musical items.
*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Water, Blending, Change, Song, Music, and Paper.
*Avasa of Earth
**Achieved Spasa of Paper and Music after writing of her encounters of Alexandra & Duncan of Amber.
***Aspires to Avasa of Music, Water, Blending, and Knowledge. Masoja of Earth, Knowledge or Binding.
Rafe knows her Calling Name only through Adalou.

===<span style=color:orange>Grexil</span> of Knowledge===
*Elemental of Earth
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Earth, Rot, Defense, Speed, Paper, Song, Blending, Rust, Change, Life
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Earth, Conflict, Blending, Rage, Shifter,
*Masoja of Knowledge
Rafe knows only his Calling Name through Adalou.

===<span style=color:red>Hardin Wapak</span>, Leader of the Party for War===
[[File:HARDIN wAPAK.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth & Air Elemental
*Spasa of
*Avasa of
*Masoja of

Rafe knows of Hardin by reputation only. Rafe is aware that Hardin has placed a Bounty on him.

''"His weapon is massive. Normally unwieldly. But it is Bound with Masoja of Combat, Warfare, and Death. The Mace is Bound with the same but lesser ones. It is studded with Avasa and Masoja who begged to serve him. Yet. He has a long knife that bears the Soul of Mortals and Dufiro he has slain. They writhe in unending agony to his delight."'' ~ Curious to Rafe

===<span style=color:green>Tans Tilki</span>, Masoja of Vision, ''Primsa Illuminar''===
[[File:Tans tilki.jpg|200 px]]

One of the most ancient and powerful Dufiro, a perennial member of the Council of the Dufirosm. Resigned from Wishers.

*Elementals: Change, Flux, Earth, Fire, Air
*Spirits: Change, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Defense, Guard, Blending, Rust, Fire, Paper, Illusion,
*Avasa Dufirosm: Shifter, Cleanliness, Conflict, Guard, Growth, Blending, Knowledge, Vision, Truth
*Masoja Dufirosm: Change, Combat, Guard, Health, Growth, Death, Life, Knowledge, Shifter, Binding, Time, Vision
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' Dufirosm

Rafe knows Tans by reputation only. Rafe first heard about Tans when Rafe learned about the Visions about Rafe.

===<span style=color:orange>Twiisi</span>, Spasa of Guard===
[[File:Twiisi-fane guide.jpg|150 px]]

Twiisi was seen serving as a gate guard and greeter at the Fane of the Dufirosm at Zilla

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Cleanliness, Guard, and Paper
**Aspires to Spasa of Song. Avasa of Air,Cleanliness, Guard or conflict, color, Knowledge. Masoja of Air, Combat or Guard, knowledge.
**As Fane Guard she also aspires to rise in rank among the Fane Guards at the temple she is in. Many Guards serve their whole lives guarding one place as well as making deals to gain rank and race.

Rafe was briefly in the presence of Twiisi at the Dufirosm Fane at Zilla when Ansahal was inhabiting Rafe's body and they transported there, but Rafe was transported 'home' before he could interact as himself.

===<span style=color:red>Vrxxkren</span>, Masoja of Strength, 'The Harbinger of Death'===
[[File:Vrxxkren.jpg|150 px]]

A member of the Inner Council of the Party for Death and the Party for War. Known as the Harbinger of Death. A warrior and a herald.

*Earth Elemental. Fire Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Combat, Guard, Rot, and Speed
*Avasa of Earth, Fire, Speed, Rage, Conflict-War, and Knowledge.
*Masoja of Earth, Fire, Combat, Rage, Warfare, Knowledge, Death, and Strength.

Rafe knows the Harbinger by reputation only. Rafe is aware that the Harbinger saw Ansahal exit his (Rafe's) body at the Dufirosm Fane at Zilla. Rafe is also aware that the Harbinger sought out a Dufiro of Vision to learn more about Rafe. Rafe is now aware of the nature and contents of those Visions.

==Beings with a Copy of RaphaX's Dufiro Tomes==
NOTE: ALL Copies of Raphaxaelicus' Tomes that have NOT been Gifted or Bargained for, are Stored in a bookcase in RaphaX's Billet in Shifters Hall at the Hagia Salas in the City of Ahyk within the Dufirtrusa; the Dufiro Realms near to the Black Zone of Chaos.

===Elemental of Change===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Adalou (Author); S/B, Curious; S/B,

===Elemental of Motion===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Adalou (Author); S/B,

===Elemental of Earth===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Shantranixix (Author); S/B,

===Spasa of Earth===
*Calling, Summoning & Binding
*Shantranixix (Author); C.S.B, Kichab; C, Nur al Din; C, Dalt; C, Curious; S, Glax of Rot; C, Coil of Whimsy; C, Bently; C,

==Dufiro Tomes Possessed by RaphaX ==
NOTE: ALL Copies of The Dog Brothers Tomes that have NOT been Gifted or Bargained for, are Stored in a bookcase in RaphaX's Billet in Shifters Hall at the Hagia Salas in the City of Ahyk within the Dufirtrusa; the Dufiro Realms near to the Black Zone of Chaos. As well as any Tomes that have been Gifted to Raphaxaelicus, or Bargained for by him.

===The Dog Brothers' Tomes===
*Calling, Summoning and Binding Name Tomes (90)
**10 of each Tome for each of the 3 Dogs

===Summoning Tomes===
*''Masoja Dufiro of Earth Summoning Tome''
**'''Crizacraxix Galxata''' aka Curious
**Written in Kolbashic
**Trade from Curious for Raphax's Elemental of Change Summoning & Binding Tome

===Calling Tomes===
*''Elemental of Flux Calling Name Tome''
**'''Nippixx'''; Consigliere to Shantranixix and The Shantranixix Fealty Band

*''Masoja of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**'''"Chip"''', Masoja of Earth

*''Spasa of Blending Calling Name Tome''
**'''Bronze Nugget''', Spasa of Blending

*''Avasa of Iron Calling Name Tome''
**'''ZyxzlokX''', Masoja of Rust (Earth-Iron)

*''Masoja of Rot Calling Name Tome''
**'''Kibrosel''', Masoja of Health

*''Spasa of Rot Calling Name Tome''
**'''Sharax''', Masoja of Fire

*''Avasa of Water Calling Name Tome''
**'''Sylex''', Avasa of Health, Rot

*''Spasa of Illusion Calling Name Tome''
**'''Fal Gan''', Masoja of Strength & Warfare

*''Avasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Avasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Spasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Spasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Spasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Spasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Avasa of Blending Calling Tome''
**'''Kichabqhisreeceeb'''; Avasa of Blending
***Also, a Place Tome for Kichab's Personal Library

*Avasa of Rust Calling Tome''
**'''Glkaxxsik'''; Avasa of Rust

*Avasa of Whimsy Calling Tome
**'''Coil'''; Avasa of Whimsy

*Calling Tome for '''Hardin Wapak'''

*''Spasa of Water Calling Tome''
**'''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water

*''Avasa of Whimsy Calling Tome''
**'''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water

*''Masoja of Death Calling Tome''
**''Tlaxaxak; Masoja of Death

==RaphaX's Summoning Log==

===Spasa of Paper - Calling Tome Ritual===
*'''Kichabqhisreeceeb''' aka Kichab
**Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending.
*An old Spasa of Paper Calling Tome was used.

===Avasa of Death- Forced Binding Tome Ritual===
*'''Grytti''', Avasa of Death and Ice
**Forced Binding to a glass
**Bargain with ''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water, who has the Glass

===Spasa of Death - Forced Binding Ritual===
*'''Thanseq'''; Spasa of Death... aka Bruce
**Force Bound to a Crystal Glass - Rafe holds the glass
***Causes any liquid poured into it to become poisoned.
***Does NOT alter smell, taste, or appearance.
[[File:Death Dufiro Poisoning Goblet.jpg|100px]]

===Avasa of Blending - Calling Tome Ritual===
*Avasa of Blending - Calling Tome Ritual
**Kichabqhisreeceeb; Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending.

===Avasa of Earth- Calling Tome Ritual===
*Avasa of Earth- Calling Tome Ritual
**Hrobleit; Avasa of Earth...

===Avasa of Conflict - Binding Tome Ritual===
*Sylex; Avasa of Water, Carnality, Health, Rot, Conflict

===Masoja of Dance - Binding Ritual===
*Bently

==COLOR KEY:==
===<span style=color:purple>PURPLE</span> = Very Well Known and/or Highly Trusted===
===<span style=color:blue>BLUE</span> = Well Known and/or Trusted===
===<span style=color:green>GREEN</span> = Known and/or Mostly Trusted===
===<span style=color:orange>ORANGE</span> = Semi-Known and/or Semi-Trusted===
===<span style=color:gold>YELLOW</span> = Advise Caution===
===<span style=color:red>RED</span> = NOT Trusted===

Medalion of Mesob

2025-07-19T07:27:45Z

Relmopator: /* Prince Arloxedra to King Random. */

[[File:Mesob and his Medallion.jpg|300px]] [[File:Medalion of Mesob.jpg|300px]]

[[File:Medalion of Mesob on hand.jpg|150px]] [[File:Medalion of Mesob on forehead.jpg|300px]]

==History==
The origins of the Medallions of Mesob are lost in the antiquity of the Tosian shadows. Little is known of them save rumors of a few powers gained by those who found one of the medallions. Powers are not uniform and vary in power levels.

==Rumored Powers==
The following list is grouped in powers more commonly spoken of in the legends down to the powers less frequently spoken of but considered possible.
===Powers Common in all stories===
*Shadowwalking: The power to shadowwalk in all the levels of the Shadowlands
*Immortality: Istari Immortality
*Improved physical attributes: Raises a human to chaos rank stats
*Immunity to illness: Complete immunity to sickness
===Powers Common in many stories===
*Immunity to magic used by the undead.
*Immunity to lycanthropy
*Regeneration
*Immunity to poison.
===Powers mentioned in some Legends===
*Reverse Conjuration: The ability to return an item that has been conjured to its place and time of origin.
*Clean Body: The Power to clean a body of dirt and grime. To remove all bodily refuse emptying bladders, digestive systems and stomachs. It causes all pores to empty of retained oils.
**This power can be used in two ways. Causing all material to disappear or causing all material to eject violently from the body. If used as an attack it reacts with the target's psyche and if they lose it distracts them for at least a minute.
*Clean Mind: Cause a person to forget everything, rebooting them to a newborn's knowledge. This power can not be reversed.
*Time Travel: This may be a function of Shadowwalking.

==Known Elements==
*What is known is that the medallion melds into the holder, leaving a tattoo on the palm and the forehead only other holders of the medallion can see.

=='''Rumors'''==
==='''Origins'''===
Many rumors exist concerning these items but none can be confirmed.

It is almost certainly not what you think.

The drawback to possessing one will be surprising.

==='''Known or Rumored Wearers'''===
Among the rumors are a few names of wearers of the medallion.
*'''Tolknor Scripter''', King of York, Paradoxian, Time Lord, King of Plymouth, King of Amber Fallen, First Speaker of the Second Foundation.
*'''Conf of Shadows'''
*'''The Steel General'''. Fugue Master.
*'''Vramin'''. Angel of the Seventh Station. Angel of the House of the Dead.
*'''Kylokal'''. The R.
*'''[[Guiness]]'''. Employee of the Palace Commons. Member of [[CHAD]]
*'''Beor'''. Thrice Crown Bard. Crowned Bard of [[Paradox]] Translated. Crowned Bard of Tosa. Crowned Bard of Amber Fallen.
*'''Grog'''. Emperor. Wanderer
*'''Arloxedra''' Prince of Amber
*'''[[Running Sheet Felix Wyse]]''' A Lord of Mandalay. Runs the [[Bookmobile]]
*'''Raphael'''; Shadow Traveling Adventurer; Bard Druid
*'''Slugger'''; aka Aanika; Princess of Avalon (traveling with Raphael)
*'''Hazarda'''; Shadow Traveling Adventurer, Former King of Amber-Now Fallen [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Hazarda_and_Timothy_Elhue]]
*'''Timothy Elhue'''; Shadow Traveling Adventurer, Grandson of Tolknor[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Hazarda_and_Timothy_Elhue]]
*'''Johnny Cash''': Musician
*'''Jerry Lee Lewis''': Musician
*'''David (Bowie) of Mandalay''': Musician
*'''Orson (Wells)''': Actor
*'''Jerimiah (Johnson)''': Mountain Man
*'''Fitz William''':[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Fitz_William]] Shadow Traveling Adventurer; Cleric Sage
*'''Adalou''': Masoja Dufiro of Knowledge [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dufirosm_Revision#Adalou,_Masoja_of_Knowledge]]

=='''Commentary'''==

===<big>'''Prince Arloxedra''' to '''Sir Alexandra Mira'''</big>===

"Mesobians..... " He waves his hand over his forehead and a symbol appears.

"'''Mesob''' is a person sort of out of place. Unbelievably powerful. Unaligned. Impervious. There are creatures like him across shadow. Beings that ignore the boundaries. '''Tolknor''' is a lot like that. Mesob is one. A Paradoxian. He travels shadow and the many different marbles. Every so often he leave behind an artifact call the Medallion of Mesob. It gives someone greater strength, powers similar to people at the poles like Amber and Chaos. Lets them shadowwalk. lots of protections. and a whopping block of good luck and protection."

''(Permanent Good Stuff 3)''

"Early in my life i found such a medallion. Its what led to '''Eric''' to finding me."

Alex nods slowly she then turns a page of her sketchbook and starts to recall the man and the kid she had seen with the symbols. Just to keep it in her memories.

All the while she does listen to '''Arlo's''' explanation and show and tell of his own symbol.

"So these two we saw are not of the blood, they are not of Chaos. They both found a medallion like one you found and it gave them a symbol like that? Which gives them powers. But does it besides powers give them also strength to deal what might come on their paths in shadows?"
She closes her eyes really trying to recall the details she had seen in such a quick glance.

"Even if i didn't know it i was always stronger and faster then the others in my class. But if they are able to move through shadow they can run into nasties that could seriously be a danger to them. Or is that what the protections are for? "

She turns the book to '''Arlo''' to have him look at the drawing she did of the man and the child.

"Did i miss something?"

"No. Looks good. They Medallions are mercurial.. They provide strength, health. Somewhere in the region of Chaosians. Protections from many things. But they tend to stay in safer shadows when they travel. Shadow is vast. There are uncountable number of creatures able to travel shadow. Many very bizarre. Most harmless. Many dangerous. One never knows. One might spend a century in a brutal shadow and never know a moment of danger."

===<big>'''Prince Arloxedra''' to '''King Random.'''</big>===

'''Random''' asks, "I've never heard of Mesobians. Who are they?"

'''Arlo''' picks up a scotch egg and dips it in the Calroban sauce. "Its complicated."

The king laughs,"You know its been a hundred years in Amber since anything in my life was uncomplicated. Dazzle me."

"'''Mesob''' is a Paradoxian."

"Like '''Tolknor''' and '''Frankfurter''' and the Rose Addicts?"

"No.. Well, '''Tolknor''' yes, he's a Mesobian too. No. You know I've spoken to '''Tolknor''' maybe 3 times and once was about '''Mesob'''. He says he has never seen him either. '''Mesob''' travels shadow, can travel in time, and can travel between marbles. He leaves no trail, can not be tracked, and for the most part people who dealt with him tend to forget him. But nothing can harm him. Nothing can trap him. He can't be photographed and paintings of him tend to have his image fade out. He looks different to everyone. "

"Illusive bugger, " the king says.

Arlo agrees with a him and takes another egg.

"He is invariably kind. Has a sort of aura of calm. Its infectious. I tried to transport to him using the pattern of Tirna no'gath, using the added whimsy that pattern has. I arrived in a world he had recently left. Recently enough that people still remembered him. None gave the same description. The world however bore proof of his presence. It was a fairly violent urban world. I shifted around the area and they all had sort of a 1 in 10 for 30 thing going on. A person has one in 10 chance of a violent interaction over the course of a month. That's everything from a mugging to being involved in rival gangs having a drive-by, corporations demolishing an apartment building with no notice, up to a nation state turning a city into a raging firestorm. Luckily for them that world had no atomic weapons. "

"However, the area he lived in had evidence that he had been there for 100 years. The planet had about a third of the violence as nearly identical worlds a step away. The nation state had been involved in a third of the wars that the same nation had in identical nearby shadow and had almost no corporate war involvement. The region had the lowest crime rate of the nation. The district within the region had almost no street crime and had developed local services to prevent a rise in crime. The neighborhood he lived in was used as an example to the nation about how peoples of different races could cooperate and prosper. The apartment complex I arrived in had almost a thousand people in it but was clean, calm, musical, had its own schools and libraries, and had extensive participation in sporting groups with no violent team rivalry. I tell you the whole place freaked me out. But no one could give a good memory of the old man with the fancy walking stick. The only thing they all remembered was that he planted apple, orange, lemon, and pear trees everywhere he went. "

"I am told that on occasion he leaves a foot shaped medallion behind. He may not know he does it or maybe he decides who gets them. Know one knows."

"So some super-being of extreme benevolence , leaves magic items scattered around. What do they do? That's the part I going to hate, right?""

'''Arlo''' laughs, "Well, yes it is. Their powers vary wildly. Not every Mesobian has the same powers to the same degree. A person picks up a medallion and it melts into them. They can't be removed. They don't detect as magical. The powers can't be dispelled. I don't believe they can be suppressed. Once the medallion melts away the person becomes, racially, a Mesobian though they detect and act as their original race for all practical purposes. Mesobians can detect each other. Some powers are in all the medallions. Shadowwalking, immortality of the Istari style. Improved physical attributes; strength, agility, endurance, eye-hand coordination, balance. They have no body odder. They are almost completely impervious to sickness of all kinds. Immunity to poison, which ends up also meaning immunity to hangovers. It gives them a clean body. They can get muddy and bloody but in general they don't get oily or grungy. Their hair tends to stay clean. Fingernails tend to look good. Cosmetic stuff. They can remove all their bodily refuse; emptying bladders, digestive systems and stomachs. It causes all pores to empty of retained oils. I got all of those. Other powers i know of are immunity to magic used by the undead. Immunity to lycanthropy. Regeneration, though that sort of dovetail into the istari immortality.

Some are less common but its hard to say since getting proof is tricky. Ive spoken to a handful of Mesobians and they mention these. Some i have. Reverse Conjuration, a nice trick if you want to get rid of something others conjured. Some have time travel, though i think that may be a funtion of shadow walking. Some have some incredible amount of luck. Luck being quantifiable in some ways across shadow. Meaning some just have good stuff happen around them."

"Where do I get one of these thing?" Random asks.

"They aren't always helpful. They give shadowwalking to people usually unschooled in it. So they shadowwalk randomly. Often can't get back to places they have been. Its a peaceful item so it tends to make them shadowwalk away from violent worlds unless the wielder focuses and tells it to not shadowwalk them away. So they wander into utopian realms and get sort of lost."

===<big>'''Raphael, Nur al-Din, Fortunadus & Bently'''</big>===

Rafe says: "Well, if taking Spasa of Death will give us an edge, or at least equal footing, to get our people back, then I'll do it. Elmer, Olive; wanna take Death Spasa? Runner.... you're already on your way... but I guess the offer is open to you too. Wrecker, Reggy; wanna become Dufiro then take Death Spasa?"

Elmer nods, "Ive been a hunter of life for awhile.”

Runner nods, "Seems the best path for me as well.”

Olive declines. Wrecker and Reggy look to each other. Staring...

Wrecker says, "The Change fucked our home world purple. Made us things we didn't choose to be. Given the choice, we'll stay as we are."

"Fair enough. Becoming Dufiro will always be YOUR choice, if you wish. And no hard feelings, any of you." Rafe replies. "Well then, looks like just three of us are willing, Nur. I'm glad my two snipers opted in.... them being able to use firearms, fly and become invisible were why I chose them for this mission. And me being able to use Tech... well, as a Technomancer, kind of vital. So... what do we need to do?"

Nur says, "Myself, and my two Body Guards, Dazxa & Hunkazx all can enact the ritual. I'll see if Akafar will join us. He is usually an ally.”

"Akafar.... I know that name” Rafe says. “A Member of the Blue Circle, if I recall correctly."

Nur walks off and concentrates. Bently says, "Yes. A Primas Illuminar. And not a friend of mine. Nur and his bodyguards know him better.”

A creature arrives with Nur. A furred wolfish creature in ceramic and turquoise armor. He carries a spear with a tip carved from diamond with rivulets of blood in it. He reeks of malice. At 9' tall he is a terrifying but somehow noble looking being. He walks up..."Who will join me in Death?”

Daxz and Hunk walk up and grasp shoulders with him, gaining his height.

Rafe stands tall and puffs out his chest, looking upwards into his eyes. "I will join you in Death, Great Illuminar."

Elmer steps forward. "As will I."

Runner steps forward, "Me too."

He looks at the three. "I will require a Summoning Book for each of you in a Race you already bear. I will write your Tomes for Death, and keep one each for myself. I will have a blooded knife of each of you before the ritual. Blood is required."

Rafe summons his Spasa of Earth Summoning Tome. He then reaches into the fold of his cloak and pulls out his old kukri knife that he has not used in a while. He pulls it from its sheath, slices the back of his hand with it, then rubs the blade around in the open wound until it is well-blooded. He then hands the knife and the Summoning Tome to Akafar.

Elmer and Runner do the same. The three Illuminar grasp each others shoulders in a circle and collect the three intended recipients inside it. They begin chanting. There is pain. Suddenly Rafe feels pain in every quarter millimeter of his body.

When he wakes up he is on a bed in a room smelling of chocolate. A woman sitting besides him says, "Drink this. Healing Chocolate, with a touch of honey. My own brew. I'll let Ovk know you are awake.”

Rafe says, "What the fuck????" Before he realizes what's going on. Then he takes the hot chocolate and drinks it. It tastes like drinking a Hershey bar dipped in honey, and he feels the pain drifting off, clearing his head.

Moments later Nur, Bently, Ovk, and Fort arrive. Nur says., "Its nice when we see something new. You have two Death spasa and a possibly mortal enemy Primas Illuminar. He could just be annoyed."

"Hey guys. How long I been out?" Rafe asks.

Ovk says, ”A couple hours. Gentlemen, I will leave you to him. Sisin Dawo is outside if you need more of her draught."

"Ummm..... What happened? And what do you mean, 'a mortal enemy Primus Illuminar'?"

Nur says, "The ritual took on Elmer and Runner but at that moment it felt like a sonic boom went off surrounding you. It threw my guys against the wall of that store room hard, and tossed His Nibs through a wall Ovk says is unbreakable. And broke His Nibs into serious pieces. Now, he likes pain, so he might just be annoyed.”

"What in the actual fuck!?” Rafe exclaims. “Ummmm.... again, I ask; what happened? Or, more accurately, how did that happen? It's nothing I did consciously." A momentary pause, then: "Wait..... could this be that 'First Order Defense' thing that Ansahal did to me? He mentioned it, but never really told me what it was. I figured I'd find out one day."

Nur says, "No the ritual would have gone right past it. The effect was stellar. Never saw anything like it. It left a bright red mandala mark on your forehead I could not penetrate to the power of and its faded now. Whatever it was kicked the hell out a major Masoja of Death without blinking. That bodes well where you are going if you have some form of Death protection. It's a serious Life oriented protection. While you were asleep I had Daz try some Death Healing on you, rough stuff but it works... it didn't scratch ya."

Rafe smiles. "Holy shit! I had no idea it could do THAT. Wow! I mean fucking wow! And that mandala, is a sign of the source of my power. Trying to describe it any more than that would be useless as you would just forget. I'm not joking about that part. Anyway, really fucking good to know though. Death protection! Wow! This shit just keeps getting better and better. God I love my life! So, are we still on for this mission? Everybody waiting around on me? Irritated and pissed off, I'll bet."

Fort says, "There was a smell of apples..... I know I remember that we talked about it. I talked with Arlo about it before I forgot. That's it, the thing that makes even Thrice Crowned Bards forget. Tolknor has it.... Beor had it.... Conf has it.... The thing that if you name it, we will forget having seen it..."

"Yes, that's it exactly, Fort.” Rafe says with a smile. “And that is probably the best remembrance of it anyone has ever had, that I have encountered anyway. Others have tried to remember in the odd ways, but none of them ever worked."

Fort leans in, shaking his head, "Who else has it? I'll forget it 'til I am around its effect again... Who else has it?!!?" Fort looks very uncharacteristically serious.

Rafe sighs, knowing he must answer Fort in order to quell his curiosity, and that it will be okay to do so because he will forget. "Slugger. Fitz. Hazarda. Timothy Elhue. Johnny Cash. David of Mandalay. Jeremiah Johnson. And most recently, Adalou."

"Adalou?” Fort says, sounding surprised. “That little fink... Ok... Let them know that I am bouncing around this and to hit me up if they need help. I want one of those things......damn.... Tolknor, Conf, Beor, Arloxedra, Slugger. Fitz. Hazarda. Timothy Elhue. Johnny Cash. David of Mandalay. Jeremiah Johnson.... and you....." He shakes his head... Rafe can see the information fading away already.

Nur says," Fascinating.... New information.... and a mystery."

Rafe turns to Nur with a devious smile. "Nur; I heard you had an encounter not that long ago with an old man that turned your legs into trees that rooted themselves into the ground. He is related to my source of power. If I say anymore, you will lose all memory of it."

Nur smiles, "Ah, yes... good... good."

Medalion of Mesob

2025-07-19T06:48:23Z

Relmopator: /* Known or Rumored Wearers */

Drexel

2025-07-14T02:23:21Z

Relmopator: /* Middle History: The Black Road Wars */

Drexel op Hamilton op Oberon

[[File:Drexel Sei Dita2.jpg|250px]]

CHARACTER NOT AVAILABLE

==Early History: Childhood==
Drexel was born during the Time of the Black Road Wars, when his Father, Hamilton op Oberon, was Emperor of Caradala. Drexel's birth went unnoticed by Hamilton who was busy leading the combined armies of 5 kingdoms against the Hordes of Chaos swarming in upon the Black Road. Drexel's mother died during child birth, in the care of a midwife in a low section of a town not too far distant from the battle front, but in an out of the way location. No one knew she was in that little town. No one would have known who she was, except for maybe the Midwife, who never told a soul. And, of course, Hamilton; who never spoke of it to anyone, including Drexel. He was named Drexel by his mother before she died.

When Drexel's mother died, it was only then that the midwife noticed that she had six fingers on her right hand. When she looked to the infant she saw the same physical oddity reflected there, as well as six toes on his right foot. The midwife immediately took the body of the dead mother to the edge of town and buried her in an unmarked grave. Later that night, she took the infant to the towns only Inn and stables owned by a family that was kin to the midwife on her grandmother's side. The Mother of the Family owed a great debt to the Midwife, so she knew the Mother would raise the child right. And she also knew that the Family was unlikely to know the significance of the six digits... at least, she hoped. She had no other choice.

The Mother of the Family had just lost a newborn son to a harsh winter and sudden illness, and was about to lose her eldest son to the War; he was Of Age and decided he wished to become a warrior and a hero. The Midwife came to the Mother in private, after the Common Room had shuttered for the night. She told the Mother of the Stranger who showed up, gave birth, then died. The Midwife reminded her of her Obligation to Kin and of her Personal Debt she still owed. The Mother took in the child without question or hesitation; she was still grieving over the loss of her newborn son and was in need of a surrogate for her motherliness. However, that motherliness didn't last long.

Though they cared for him as they cared for their own, Drexel's adoptive family didn't like him much; he was an outsider, and a mutant; he had six fingers on his right hand and six toes on his right foot. His adoptive family ridiculed him for this, even before he could understand what they were saying; they called him ''Sei Dita'', which literally means Six Digits, or Six Fingers, in the native tongue of Region. It was only when he got into trouble that he knew his name was also Drexel, for they would say: ''Drexel Sei Dita!!''

Drexel was never allowed to call anyone by name, even if he knew it. He was only allowed to say: ''Nonno'' (Grandfather), ''Nonna'' (Grandmother), ''Padre'' (Father), ''Madre'' (Mother), ''Fratello'' (Brother) and ''Sorella'' (Sister). Patrons and Guests were to be called ''Signore'' or ''Signora'' (Sir or Madam).

Drexel's adoptive family was not overly large, 2 grandparents, 2 parents, 2 brothers and 3 sisters. Every member had one or more jobs around the inn and stables as there was little hired help to be afforded. Grandfather ran the bar and common room, but he was old and drank too much, so was really only good at tending the bar. Grandmother was in charge of running the Inn and dealing with guests. She also supervised the maid staff consisting of her 2 eldest granddaughters and a hired maid who doubled as a serving wench. Father ran the Stables, but also had to stock the bar and clean up the common room every night as Grandfather could not handle these duties any longer. Drexel had two adoptive Brothers, but one he never knew for he had gone off to join the War while Drexel was still an infant. The other Brother was not very smart but fortunately was strong and hearty, so he was given many manual labor tasks such as cleaning out the Stalls, feeding the horses, chopping wood, etc. He would also assist Father with cleaning the common room and restocking the bar. Mother ran the kitchen with the help of two of her daughters, the middle, who also doubled as a maid, and the youngest. The eldest daughter worked as a serving wench as well as a maid.

There were only two hired help at the Inn; a serving wench that also worked as a maid for the inn, in exchange for a room and meals, she lived mostly off of tips. Her name was Lily. The other hired help working at the inn was Bartleby; the Common Room Guard. He made sure nobody got too rowdy, that everybody paid, and that the family was never robbed. He would work from late afternoon till the wee hours of the morning before sunrise. He did not live at the inn.

Drexel learned much about cooking, horses and people while living and working at the inn. He grew tall and strong quickly. By the age of 3 he was over 3 feet tall and was given chores of washing dishes and helping with washing the laundry. At the age of 4 he was just shy of 4 feet tall and strong for his age; his chores now included more cleaning and chopping of wood. By age 6 he was over four and a half feet tall and thick, but not fat; he began cleaning out stalls and learning about horse care. By age 8 he was over 5 feet tall, stocky and could nearly outwork his Bother and Father. By age 10 he performed more work than his Brother and Father combined and, if he so chose, he could have beaten his Brother senseless; a young man who was also tall and thick and quite strong. While performing all of his duties all of those years, he was exposed to the Guests of the Inn and Patrons of the Common Room; he listened... for Drexel was not only tall, strong and hearty, he was also smart. He learned how people are; how they treat one another. Both in the eyes of the public, and in private. He listened to all their stories and boasts and opinions and facts, rumors and actual information from places beyond this little Villa. He learned at an early age about the War against the 'demonic creatures'.

By age 12 he was pushing six feet tall. One early morning, before dawn, as Bartleby was leaving for the night, an intruder startled him and a fight broke out. Bartleby was injured, and so was the intruder, but Bartleby was hurt the worst. Drexel had heard the commotion and came rushing in just in time to save Bartleby's life, as the intruder was about to deliver a lethal blow. Drexel rush the man with little thought and simply plowed into him and shoved him to the ground, then dropped upon him and beat him nearly to death with his fists. Bartleby stopped him at the last minute, got to his feet, the finished off the intruder with his blade. He told Drexel to got get cleaned up and not to tell anyone he was involved. And in reward for his help, Bartleby promised to teach Drexel how to fight, with and without weapons... once he healed up. And he kept his promise.

At age 15, nearly full grown at a height of six feet four inches and thickly muscled but still bulking up, the War came to that little Villa. A small contingent of Demons had broken off from the main group closer to the Black Road in order to destroy the Villa and farmlands around it; one of the last places like it remaining this close to the Black Road. By the time the Armies arrived, lead by Emperor Hamilton, it was already too late. The Villa was destroyed, the crops burnt to the ground, the fertile lands poisoned. As the superior troops of Hamilton's Elite dispatched the remaining Chaos Warriors, it was discovered that only one person was left alive from the Villa; Drexel. Hamilton saw the young man covered in blood and ichor, the bodies of demons and the humans of the Villa littered the ground around him. His arms hung loosely at his sides, a pair of 'bloody' wood axes still clutched in his hands. He was wounded and bleeding, he was swaying a bit but still managed to stay on his feet. Hamilton dismounted and approached the boy on foot. As he was about to speak, Hamilton noticed the extra digit on Drexel's right hand, and immediately knew who he was.

"I am Lord Marshall Hamilton. What is your name, boy?" Hamilton asked.

"Drexel Sei Dita, Signore." The boy replied, his voice as shaky at his wounded body.

"You have shown great courage and strength in Defending your Villa against the Hordes of Chaos, Drexel Sei Dita. However, your villa has been razed, and your crops burnt to the ground, and your land poisoned. You, Drexel, are the only survivor. My Sergeant will take you to our camp where you will be cleaned up, receive medical attention, food and rest. After you have had time to heal we will speak again. At that time you will be given the option to become my squire and learn how to fight, or you may go your own way."

Drexel nodded, then nearly collapsed. He was helped onto a saddled horse then taken to Hamilton's camp.

==Middle History: The Black Road Wars==
After only a few days in the camp's infirmary, Drexel was fully healed and on his feet and asking to see the Lord Marshall; yet another indicator to Hamilton of the boy's lineage.

Drexel spent 5 years as Hamilton's Squire. Mostly, he performed his squire duties, but also received hand-to-hand combat training, both armed and unarmed, and eventually learned horsemanship and the basics of mounted combat.

Drexel didn't know that Hamilton was the Emperor, and he thought the term Lord Marshall was just a fancy title for a General. Drexel could tell by the way people treated him that he was privileged, however he never abused that privilege and did his best to earn the respect of those he trained with and worked beside.

'''GM NEEDS TO FILL IN MIDDLE HISTORY'''

6 months after joining the army as a Soldier, Drexel got his first command; Squad Leader. 6 months later he became a Platoon Leader. A year after that he was given command of a full company.

Since Drexel took his first command, any Unit he was in command of had less casualties and injuries than most others, mainly because Drexel was such a fierce warrior that his men were mostly cleaning up after him. The soldiers under his command became strong competent warriors and were fiercely loyal to Drexel.

==Current History: A Shadow Walk Away==
After the Black Road War ended, Drexel had Walked the Pattern of Caradala and learned the ways of it powers, he left his home world to begin his Shadow Travels.

He knew he would need money, in some fashion, so after a bit of thought, began by seeking out a long lost shipment of cut gems. Drexel knew, from what Hamilton had taught him, it was just a matter of adding up all the details until you arrive at the place you desire, no matter how improbable or odd it may seem. He began moving away from Caradala, thinking about a place, where over two hundred years ago a caravan crossing a dry riverbed was swept away when a sudden flashflood from a storm miles away brought a wall of mud, uprooted trees, scrub brush and water down upon the wagons, sweeping them away, killing the all horses and men alike. One of those wagons was carrying a very large shipment of cut gems of varying types, sizes and qualities. Over the next few weeks the heavy rains and flooding from the late summer storms common to the arid region continued and made it impossible to search for the lost shipment of gems. But even when conditions improved and many attempts were made in the months and years following the incident, the gems were never found. Nobody realized just how far down stream the wagon traveled on the wave of mud, debris and water until it was finally buried beneath tons of mud, rock and debris over a hundred miles from the crossing where disaster struck.

As Drexel continued to his destination, he thought about how the recent summer storms that ended about a month ago had been more severe than normal causing more water to course down that particular riverbed, causing rock and sand to be moved, causing an area to become accessible that once contained a wagon, now rotted from time and washed away, a wagon filled with cut gems... if one knew where to dig. Drexel continued down stream along a dry river bed in a arid region until he knew he had found the place he was looking for.

He made camp and got a night of good sleep. The following day was filled with digging in the sand, which, by sunset, had made him richer than he could have ever imagined. And he knew this was just the beginning.

Then Drexel sought out a Shadow filled with conflict, a place where the Black Road had passed through, but had not been there so long as to decimate its resources and population. A place that would need a man of his skills, a place that could 'afford' his services. Still being new to Shadow Walking, Drexel ended up in a Shadow of his Desire, however he neglected to pay attention to a few details; the Time Flow being one of them. The Shadow he ended up in had a Slow Time Flow compared to Amber, and by the time his decade of adventuring was over, nearly a hundred years had passed in Amber.

That Shadow was named (name); it was a place of swords and sorcery, a place of magical races and creatures, a place filled with fights, battles and wars. Upon arriving he first began investigating the lay of the land, quietly, for a few months. He gradually sold off some of his gemstones in order to get local gold and silver coinage. Over those first few months, he moved around a lot and acquired a lot of coinage selling the odd gem here and there.

Then he looked into some of the local mercenary groups, joined a small one, took command of it within a week, then began recruiting and absorbing other small mercenary groups over the course of the next several months.

[[Running Sheet Drexel]]

Dufiro known by Raphael

2025-07-06T20:34:50Z

Relmopator: /* Avasa of Earth- Calling Tome Ritual */

<big>'''Running Sheet of Dufiro known by Raphael de la Varga'''</big>

==Dufiro Traveling with Rapahx==

===<span style=color:purple>Curious</span>, Masoja of Guard, ''Primas Illuminar''===
Known as '''Crizacraxix Galxata'''

Member of the '''Party for the Defense of Amber'''.

Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

[[File:Curious.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth Elemental.
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Combat, Rot, Speed, Change, Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth)''
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Rage, Water, and Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth & Conflict)''
*Masoja of Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth, Health & Warfare)''
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' ''(Secretly)''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Curious on my Home World after a Virus had wiped out Humanity. Curious was traveling with a young girl of 10ish, Slugger, who quickly made friends with my Poodle Boys, then soon became my Ward when her 'uncle' Buck made me promise to look after her as he lay dying from the Virus. Later I discovered that she was of the Blood of Amber, then later discovered her to be the Daughter of Corwin and Dierdre of Amber, also known as the King and Queen of Avalon. Curious is Slugger's Guardian and I have known this almost since the beginning, just I as knew he was a powerful Dufiro. I later learned how powerful and influential... but I am still unaware of who Contracted Curious to Guard her... somehow I don't think it was her Mother or Father, though they would be the most obvious choices. Curious has acted as an excellent protector to Slugger and as a dependable advisor in many things regarding the Dufirosm to me.''

***'''Game Play Posts & GM Commentary'''
'''GM''' '' "Consider ... Curious, known as Crizacraxix Galxata. His base is Earth and he is beloved of all the Earth ranks. His public races include Masoja of Guard. I happen to know he '''secretly has Masoja of Earth, Health and Warfare'''. He has '''secretly the Spasa of Earth''' and publicly Cleanliness, Combat, Rot, Speed, Change, and Guard. He has Avasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Rage, Water, and Guard. '''Secretly he has Avasa of Earth and Conflict.''' What is he then? A warrior. A fierce warrior. He is a member of several warrior bands including the Shantranixix Fealty Band not to mention his own little fealty band. He is in the thick of the warrior types." ''~Adalou, Masoja of Air to Raphael during his Tome Writing Session.

'''GM''' ''Curious turns to the Guide, then to Rafe. He starts shifting to fill out a short cat/human. "It is. I am a Masoja of Earth and Guard. As well as..." ~ The Guide puts his hand up, "I know what else. Proceed." ~ "These three are friends. They each carry an Avasa of Guard, as you can tell. They are primitive bound to this Changer. I have made bargains to have these three entered into the ranks of the Elementals of Movement. I had not spoken to the Changer yet. It is a matter of some detail." ~ The Guide nods, "Easy enough for a '''Primus Illuminar'''. We can accommodate space for your work toward Shifter. If you need space for the Movement Elementals, we can mange that." ~ Fuzzy Cat looks to Rafe. "The Poodle Boys are eligible to become Movement Elementals. If you wish." ~ '''(Rafe)''' "Yes, by all means, Curious. I would love that for my Poodle Boys. Thank you." ''~Quotes from Game Play.

===<span style=color:purple>The Dog Brothers (3)</span>, Movement Elementals===
aka The Poodle Boys
*'''Kuzco''' aka Swirly(left)
*'''Ninja-Boy''' aka Fudge(center)
*'''Jerk-u-lees''' aka Berk-Berk(right)

[[File:The Poodle Boys2.jpg|200 px]]

[[Running Sheet Raphael - The Poodle Boys]]

Miniature Poodles 'Primitive Bonded' to Rafe.
*Elementals of Movement
**Prevously Inhabited by Avasa Dufiro of Guard

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''They're my Dog Brothers. What more need I say?''

===<span style=color:blue>Sylex</span>, Avasa of Conflict===
[[File:Sylex.jpg|150px]]
[[Running Sheet Sylex]]
*Water Elemental
*Spasa of Water, Carnality, Cleanliness, Motion, Sadness
*Avasa of Water, Carnality, Health, Rot, Conflict.
***Aspires to Masoja of Water.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sylex at my first Changer's Training Exercise at Shifters Hall; she is Sister of ZyxzolX, a Masoja of Iron. I learned of her tragic life from her own lips in front of others who confirmed it. I offered her to join my Adventurers Band for a one year Contract. I was asked by her brother, Zyx, to 'use her Water for Cleanliness. And don't use her for her other skills.' I was asked by Kibrosel, Masoja of Health, to have her spent time in heathly natural environments to help her towards Growth. Curious mentioned she was a known spy, but did not elaborate. We have not finalized our Contract yet, but much has happened suddenly.....''

===<span style=color:blue>Bently</span>, Masoja of Dance===
[[File:Bently.jpg|150px]]
[[Running Sheet Bently]]
*Elemental of Air, Change, Hue, Sound
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Air, Color, Change, Paper, Illusion, Song, motion.
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Air, Change, Blending, Paper, Color, Health, Music, Shifter, Life.
*Masoja of Cleanliness, Air, Change, Shifter, Knowledge, Rust, Paper, Music, Dance.
**''Aspires to Masoja of Life, Vision, Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Bently after returning from the Durfiro Reelms, he came with Slugger... her new Art Instructor...and boyfriend. Even Slugger admitted she should not have gotten involved with him and that he was going to get his ass kicked by someone sooner or later.....''

==='''Adventurers Society Members'''===
====Fitz Williams====
*Life Path: Air Elemental.
**Spasa of Air, Combat, Life, Cleanliness, Paper
**Avasa of Air, Knowledge
**'''''Al Asgo Illuminar'''''

====Elmer Ellswroth====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====Runner====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====Olive====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====???====
*Life Path:

===Bound Dufiro===
====<span style=color:green>Sharax</span>, Masoja of Fire====

[[File:Sharax, Masoja of Fire.jpg| 150px]]

*Elemental of Fire
*Spasa of Fire, Earth, Rot, Growth, Blending
*Avasa of Fire, Conflict, Blending, Health, Life, Rust, Rage, Speed
*Masoja of Fire
***Aspires to Combat,
**Professionally a Carpenter

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sharax of Fire at my first Changer's Training Exercise; he was Bound (in)to a chair. We spoke briefly after the Challenge he was involved in was over, then he departed. The next day, I Called Sharax to thank him for his participation in my Training and for his Calling Tome, when I unexpectedly found myself Bargaining for Sharax to Self-Bind to a Weapon... though he did initiate it... so to speak. After some negotiating, haggling and ironing out of details, an Agreement was reached; Sharax and an unnamed Spasa of Motion would Serve a Two Year'' 'on the hip' ''Term of Service Bound to a suitable weapon that Curious (Crizax) found then gifted to me; a Black Mithril War Hammer.''

***'''Rafe's Fire Hammer'''
Stats: [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/General_and_Known_Pointed_Artifact_Descriptions#Rafe.27s_Fire_Hammer]]

[[File:Firehammer.jpg|150 px]]

====<span style=color:green>Bronze Nugget</span>, Spasa of Blending====

[[File:Bronze nugget.jpg|150px]]
[[File:Bronze Nugget1.jpg|150 px]]

*Elemental of Earth & Mixing
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Rust, Guard, Blending
**''Avasa: Aspires to Earth, Fire, Guard, Rust, Ice, knowledge''
**''Masoja: Aspires to Earth, Fire, Guard, Rust, Knowledge''

Professions-Blacksmith, fine metals worker, brewer.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Bronze Nugget at my first Changer's Training Exercise. At the end of the Challenge involving Bronze, he fell to the floor in the shape of a Bronze Bracer; I now wear Bronze on my left forearm. I am currently in Negotiations with Bronze Nugget to Self-Bind to a suit of armor that is yet to be crafted as I am still lacking the required materials, Magics, tools, facility and personnel... but the list is getting shorter and the time is coming soon...''

==Personally Known: Named==

===<span style=color:orange>Agalat</span> the Red Wizard, Masoja of Knowledge===
Manages the Red Hall of Agalat. A place that sells Tome certification.

*Fire Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Combat, Rust, Paper, Fire, Growth, Change
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Fire, Conflict, Blending, Rage, Knowledge, Growth, Vision
*Masoja of Fire, Growth, Rage, Binding, Warfare, Knowledge
***Aspires to Death

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Agalat at the Red Hall after my Combat Screening for my Changer Tome Certification. At first I thought he was a Slaver, as Adalou tricked me into thinking I'd been 'sold into slavery' so I would fight more fiercely for my Certification Fight.''

===<span style=color:blue>Adalou</span>, Masoja of Air===
Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Dufiro-Adalou.jpg|150px]]

*Elemental of Air, Change
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Air, Song, Paper, Change
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Change, Knowledge
*Masoja of Air, Health, Shifter
***Aspires to Knowledge, Life, Wisher.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Adalou through Zachary Hepplewhite of Amber while we were at Lily Lake in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range near Fort Garland, Colorado, Shadow Garland aka Change World. We were investigating a Low Order Inscription at the bottom of Lily Lake and Zach called in Adalou to help gain us more information about the it; turns out it's a Low Order Version of the Pattern of Avalon. Around a year later I again met Adalou at Castle Garland after a meeting with Fortunadus, Salaka and Curious about me joining the Dufirosm; Adalou was called in to be the Author of my first Dufiro Tome for Change Elemental. He took me to Ahyk, a Realm within the Dufirtrusa, somewhere near the Black Zone of the Court of Chaos. He took me to Agalat Red Hall where I met Agalat, the Red Wizard and was tricked by Adalou into thinking I had been sold into slavery and Slugger, Curious and the Poodle Boys as well; it was so I would fight at my fiercest for my Tome Certification (a faster version than weeks of paperwork and meetings with Officials). Afterwards he explained then he took me to Shifters Hall where I met the then current Tyler, Hunjata, who made me prove I was a Changer, and I did ('''without''' Avalon Shape Change). He left me there to Train, and this is where I met Guide (Kalaganath) and other Powerful Dufiro. Before leaving the Dufirtrusa, I needed his services as a Writer of Tomes again, this time for Elemental of Movement; it was at that time that Adalou introduced me to Shantranixix, with Curious in the room. Shantrix was to Write my Earth Tomes, Elemental and Spasa.''

===<span style=color:blue>Ansahal</span>, Masoja of Water===
Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

An ancient non-corporeal Dufiro
*Elemental: Air, Water, Flux, Change
*Spasa:Air, Cleanliness, Blending, Change
*Avasa:Air, Cleanliness, Blending, Growth, Ice, Shifter, Knowledge, and Rage
*Masoja:Air, Change, Health, Growth, Life, Knowledge, Binding, Shifter, and Water.
***Aspires to Wisher and Illuminar.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Ansahal through Digan the Ruby Mage while I was at Castle Garland. During a Side Quest initiated by Digan, I met Ansahal in an isolated Shadow where he initiated Bargaining by Offering 'power' for the short-term use of my body. After a lot of questions and some haggling, an Agreement was reached by both Parties, witnessed by Digan. After Ansahal did what he need, during which I was fully aware, he went to the Fane of Dufirosm in Zilla, left my body then sent me back to Castle Garland. That visit to Zilla is what may have prompted Ansahal and Salaka to invite me to join the Dufirosm; I was seen by the Harbinger of Death when Anasahal exited my body.''

===<span style=color:green>Breasda</span>, Masoja of Vision===
Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Breasda.jpg|150 px]]

Born Change Elemental. Air Elemental. Raised to Cleanliness, followed by Paper and Blending. Took the Ava D Ritual of Cleanliness, followed by Truth, Knowledge, Vision, and finally Blending. Took the Masoja Ritual of Knowledge, Time, Health, Vision, and finally Wisher.
*Change Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Paper and Blending.
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Truth, Knowledge, Vision, and Blending.
*Masoja Ritual of Knowledge, Time, Health, Vision, and Wisher.
***An incorruptibly good creature with the a powerful Wishing energy. Considered by many the leader of the Dufirosm but denies such office. He is however generally respected or deeply feared. A past Racial Representative of Wishers on the Dufirosm Council. Recently resigned from the race of Wishers, taking on Vision race again as his naming race.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Breasda briefly in Shifters Hall after completing the first of my Changer's Training Exercises. Everyone froze-up at his approach and '''Guide''' advised me to 'say nothing'. Breasda asked '''Guide''' a few questions about me, looked me over, asked me to show him my Avalon Shapes, which I did without comment, then he gave me a book, The Story of the Trio Shifters, and asked me to make 100 copies of it, stating the handwriting was his but the Author was a Challenge for me. He also suggested another 100 copies to the Hall of Paper as a gift if I was interested in gaining Spasa of Paper, which I am. He stated that Trade with Avalon was permitted, then walked away, to everyone's relief... well, everyone let out a sigh and relaxed, to be precise. ''

===<span style=color:green>"Chip"</span>, Masoja of Earth===
''Xghasssrtddsc aQEeeefe Aolmkop'' "Chip"

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Chip-masoja.jpg|150 px]]
*Elemental of Earth.
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Defense, Growth, Rot, Paper
*Avasa of Earth, Fire, Guard, Growth, Colors, Shifter, Knowledge
*Masoja of Earth,
**Aspires to Fire, Guard, Shifter, Knowledge

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Chip during my first Changer's Training Exercise. He was my Third Challenge; he attacked me and I had to use ONLY my Changer Powers to Combat him. I was successful and I passed his Challenge. Later, ZyxZolkX mentioned "Chip" being a part of a Matched Elevation of Earth, him handling the Elemental part. The following day I Called "Chip" and Zyx to Bargain for Matched Elevation in Earth; Zyx did the talking and set the Terms... I ended up having to Call in Nur al-Din, at the suggestion of Sylex in private, to Seal the Deal. I acquired a Copy of Chip's Masoja of Earth Calling Tome. ''

===<span style=color:gold>Dadar Kois</span>===
*Unknown Rank and Race.
**A thin fancy dressed man about 5' tall.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Dadar when Sylex Called him to make a Deal for Production Bowls of food made by the Dufireant; we had just finished a meeting with "Chip", Zyx and Nur, who showed up with a wok full of freshly cooked Broccoli and Habanero Peppers with Noodles... he shared. And though I ate of my portion and all left untouched by Chip and Zyx, Sylex kept hers, divided it between the four bowls, then Called Dadar and made her Deal; keeping three and offering one as payment for Services Rendered. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Dyjik</span>, Avasa of Blending===
*Avasa of Earth, Blending
**Veteran Cook at Shifters Hall Cafeteria

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Dyjik at Shifters Hall Cafeteria where he oversaw Jasgl, a new Spasa of Blending who was making me the breakfast I had requested. Dyjik also made me a very good cup of strong coffee. He was pleasant, helpful and informative. I liked him immediately. ''

===<span style=color:gold>Fal Gan</span>, Masoja of Warfare===
A Member of the Party for Life because he hates certain Members of the Party for Death

*Elemental of ?
*Spasa of Illusion, ?
*Avasa of ?
*Masoja of Strength, Warfare

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I sort of met this Dufiro as an Illusion Spasa at my first Changer's Training Exercise. He was excused before I could 'meet' him. However, I did have his Calling Tome. No name was given or said and he appeared an an Elf at that time. The next day I met with Fal Gan; it did not go well. Fal Gan appeared as a 9ft Orc; armed and armored. Fal Gan was insulted by my speaking to him as though we were equals. Fal Gan struck me and left. ''

===<span style=color:green>Falat Agasta</span>, Avasa of Iron===
*Forge Journeyman under Tursa Ga.
**Forged a Black Mithril and Ang Ri Ironwood War Hammer [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/General_and_Known_Pointed_Artifact_Descriptions#Rafe.27s_Fire_Hammer]] which was purchase by Curious then gifted to Rare.
***'' 'I made this black mithril hammer to accept any Grade of Race. I am pleased a Masoja of Fire will bind to it. The handle changes from a foot to 6 feet. It is a war weapon but can be used as a forge hammer.' ''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Falat Agasta when he arrived with Curious after I asked Curious if he could find a suitable warhammer for Sharax of Fire to be Bound to for his Service to me. Falat was business-like but polite. He work is incredible and I will certainly recommend his Services. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Glkaxxsik of Rust</span>; Avasa of Rust===
"call me Glaxak..."

[[File:DF-Glkaxxsik.jpg|200 px]]
*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Rust, Carnality
*Avasa of Earth, Rust
**Aspires to ...

===<span style=color:orange>Glaxin of Stone</span>, Avasa of Earth===
*Avasa of Earth
**A Tyler of Earthers Hall, East Door

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Glaxin while he was serving as Tyler of Earthers Hall. He asked me show my talent or go; I turned my the skin of my left hand into Milky White Quartz. He welcomed me in and suggested I take a Term as Tyler on occasion. ''

===<span style=color:green>'''Hrolbleit'''</span>; Avasa of Earth===
*Hrolbleit is the Leader of a Warrior Knot consisting of 3 Avasa of Earth & Conflict, 4 Spasa of Earth & Combat, 9 Spasa of Earth and 12 Elementals of Earth.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I sort of met this Earth Avasa at my first Changer's Training Exercise. The Avasa was excused before I could 'meet' it. However, I do have its Calling Tome.''

''While in Paris, Avalon, I used this Dufiro's Calling Tome to make an offer of employment for him and his Knot to work as Guards at the Hotel and Warehouse..... PENDING''

===<span style=color:orange>Hunjanta</span> aka Sunak===
*Avasa of Rot??
**A Tyler of Shifter Hall

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sunak while he was serving as Tyler of Shifters Hall. Hunjanta insisted I had to prove myself worthy of entering Shifters Hall by using my Dufiro Powers to Change myself in some way, which I did; I became an Orc-Lizard, just like the ones I defeated earlier at Red Hall to get my Tome Certified. Sunak was quite gruff but in the end warned me and Adalou about some Death Cult Members residing in Shifters Hall and that if we needed a quick escape, to Call on him. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Jasgl</span>, Spasa of Blending===
*Spasa of Earth, Blending
**New Cook at Shifters Hall Cafeteria

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Jasgl at Shifters Hall Cafeteria where he made me an excellent breakfast based upon a memory I shared with him, literally; Jasgl made physical, then Psychic, contact with me while I was recalling the memory verbally. The food he made, by using his Changer Powers, combined with Earth and Blending on cubes of organic 'matter' was EXACTLY as I remembered it and was both filling and satisfying. Good Service Rendered. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kalaganath</span>, The Guide===
Member of the Party for Life
*Unknown Rank and Races
**Guide at Shifters Hall for Rafe's Change Elemental Initiation & Training

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met 'The Guide' at Shifters Hall after I had proven myself worthy of entering. Guide led me through part of Shifters Hall, past a Witness Chamber in use, to a Training Room where my first Training Exercise took place. He accompanied me and Salaka to a special place inside(?) Shifters Hall where the three of us privately spoke about the Visions that involve me, the Party for Life, the Party for Death and the Azcala World Stone. He was also present when I met Breasda, Masoja of Vision, formerly Masoja of Wisher. He furthered my education in the Dufirosm and gave good advice often.''

===<span style=color:orange>Karyaxyl</span>, Masoja of Life===
Member of the Party for Life

*Masoja of Earth, Shifter, Health, and Life
**Foodie

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Karyaxyl at Shifters Hall Cafeteria while dining. He talked of Food and being a Member for the Party for Life. He invited to me Call him anytime to share a meal or talk of things. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kibrosel</span>, Masoja of Health, ''Al Asgo Illuminar''===
Member of the Party for Life

[[File:Kibrosel.jpg|150 px]]

*Water Elemental, Change, Earth
*Spasa of Water, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Earth, Blending, Defense, Life, Knowledge
*Avasa of Water, Cleanliness, Conflict-War, Growth, Blending, Earth, Ice, Health, Life, Knowledge
*Masoja of Water, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Blending, Life, Health, Rot
*'''''Al Asgo Illuminar'''''. Created an Illuminar by the Stretched One
***Aspires to Earth, Knowledge, Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''

''I met Kibrosel at my first Changer's Training Exercise. Kibro is a Physician and Farmer by Profession. I met with Kirbo again the next day and learned how to Live in my Heartfire, Shape Shift to Stone then Living Stone, and how to Sense thru another's Senses. I have his Calling Name Tome. I owe him a Future Favor. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kichabqhisreeceeb</span>, Avasa of Blending===
[[File:Kichab.jpg|200px]]

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Cleanliness, Paper, Color, light, & Illusion
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending

Aspires to Avasa of Knowledge, Truth, & Whimsy. Masoja of Air, Cleanliness, Knowledge, Wisher

Profession-Alchemist Librarian

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Kichab when I used his Spasa of Paper Calling Tome to show Prince Dalt of Eregenor how Dufiro Summoning works. The Calling Tome came from the Danbury Collection, now a part of Dalt's Personal Library. Dalt traded favors with me; he helped me craft my armor and I help him figure out the Collection. Kichab was a bit haughty and seemed 'put out' by being Called by a much older Tome. During our bargaining I learned what types of books would be best for making copies of '''The Story of the Trio Shifters''' book I was loaned by Breasda to make copies of. I also learned a bit about the Trio Shifters, the different translations and that there is an Opera based on it called '''Shifter Trio'''. Towards the end of our bargaining session he was a bit insulting about my Spasa of Earth Calling Tome; called it pretentious for a Spasa. Curious reminded him that I am an Illuminar and can do things as I please. Curious was NOT going to let an insult to a fellow Illuminar go unchecked.... love that guy. In the end I got Kichab's Avasa of Blending Calling Tome and a Place Tome for his Personal Avasa of Knowledge Library. Good deal in my opinion.''

===<span style=color:gold>Leniya</span>, 'The Origami Dragon', Masoja of Health===
[[File:Leniya.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Growth, Change, Blending, Paper
*Avasa of Earth, Growth, Shifter, Fire, Whimsy, Health
*Masoja of Earth, Fire, Air, Health
***Aspires to Shifter, Change, Knowledge
**Expert in Origami.
**Profession: Apothecary. Supplier of Herbs, Material Components and Paper
**Calling Name is ''Leniya Jasdarniun''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Leniya through Salaka. I get my Urala and other herbs from Leniya, as does Salaka. I was warned to be wary of what I say and who I am seen with around Leniya as he has a tendency to gossip.''
***Leniya to Rafe
''"Paper from your Birth world. Defeat a clown in combat, a fight you start with them unaware.. Plants from your home world. A brandy from your home world."''

===<span style=color:blue>Nippixix</span>, Flux Elemental===
The ''Consigliere'' for Shantranixix & the [[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]

[[File:Nippixx.jpg|200 px]]

*Flux Elemental
*Spasa of
*Avasa of
*Masoja of
**Aspires to

===<span style=color:blue>Nur al-Din El Musifar</span> - The Dufrieanalat, ''Primas Illuminar''===
[[File:Image6.jpg|150 px]] [[File:Nur2.jpg|150 px]]

*Spasa - All except Death, Rust. Did take Rot
*Avasa - All except Death, Rust
*Masoja of Life, all except Death, Vision, Time. Only partially accepted by Wisher
*'''''Primus Illuminar'''''
***Aspires to Wisher
*Born a human on the world of Tosa. Attained the ranks of thrice Crowned Bard. A long time bargainer and a extremely well-respected friend of the Dufirosm. A High Lord in a Shade of Chaos. During a extinction level event involving most the Dufirosim realms Nur Ed Din managed to save the realms and help rebuild after the destruction. As reward he was inhabited by a Shifter Masoja and initiated into the Masoja Dufiro of Life.
*Granted powers from each of the races from Spirit to Masoja. When the forces in his Chaos ousted him from his lordship he relocated to the Dufirosm realms and was invited to join the council.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''It's a complicated story how I know Nur.... ask me about it one day.''

===<span style=color:green>Salaka</span>, Masoja of Knowledge, ''Primas Illuminar''===
Member of the Party for Life

[[File:Dufiro Salaka.jpg|250px]]

(Calling Name: Salakalikintar)
*Water Elemental, Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Change, and Blending
*Avasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Blending, Ice, Shifter, and Knowledge
*Masoja of Air, Water, and Earth, Health, Growth, Shifter, and Knowledge
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' (Secretly?)
***Aspires to Masoja of Life, Change. Perhaps some day Wisher.
**Friend of Veks. A gardener, farmer, brewer, vintner, and vegetarian. A Facilitator for Dufiro who has worked often with Hendrake.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met met Salaka through Fortunadas, sort of. Adalou and Ansahal suggested Salaka bring me into the Dufiro fold, as it were.'' Salaka Facilitated my Transition into the Dufirosm and into a Change Elemental as well as assisted and advised in my first Changer's Training Exercises.''

***Fortunadus Enright's Commentary
''"Salaka is a Water Elemental and an Air Elemental. A Spasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, and Blending. An Avasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Blending, Ice, and Knowledge. A Masoja of Air, Water, and Earth, Health, Growth, and now a Masoja of Knowledge. She is a '''Primus Illuminar'''. She is a player in the '''Party of Life''' and a Member of the '''Dufrieanalat's Inner Circle'''."''

===<span style=color:orange>Shagas</span> of Glass===
A warrior Avasa of Conflict. Glass shard skin

*Earth Elemental. Scent Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Combat, Defense, Speed, Rot, Guard, Motion
*Avasa of Earth, Conflict, Guard, Speed, Ice
***Aspires to Masoja of Earth, Combat, Guard, Warfare, and Death

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Shagas at the Red Hall right after my Certification Fight, still not knowing what was going on and thinking I had just been sold into Slavery. Adalou was there as was Agalat the Red Wizard. Shagas paid to Certify my Tome of Change Elemental and Bind me toward Earth Elemental status. I then learn what was going on, was reunited with Slugger, Curious and The Poodle Boys, then had lunch with Shagas as Adalou further explained what was going and and why he did it the way he did. Shagas seemed a nice enough fellow, but the shards of glass sticking out of him everywhere was a bit offputting.''

===<span style=color:blue>Shantranixix Agfala</span>, Masoja of Life===

Leader of the Shantranixix Fealty Band

[[File:Shantranixix.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth & Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Earth, Carnality, Cleanliness, Combat, Defense, Growth, Guard, Life, Song, Speed, Culinarist
*Avasa of Air, Earth, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Guard, Health, Knowledge, Strength, Warfare, Life, Music, Truth
*Masoja of Air, Earth, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Guard, Health, Knowledge, Warfare, Life
***Aspires to Time and Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''Initially, I knew of Shantranixix 'by reputation' only, but I knew Curious was a Member of the Shantranixix Fealty Band. I was offered an opportunity to join the Shantranixix Fealty Band by Traxal which I considered then Accepted through Curious. Soon after, I met Shantrix when Adalou said he couldn't write my Earth Tomes, but knew someone who could. He promptly disappeared then returned with Shantrix, jokingly saying he found a Spasa of Paper to write my Earth Tomes. I didn't know what Shantrix looked like, but I 'figured things out' quickly and was awed by his presence, his visit and his willingness to Write my Tomes for Elemental and Spasa of Earth.''

===<span style=color:red>Tinsanax</span>, Masoja of Health===
[[File:Tinsanax.jpg|150 px]]

*Fire Elemental, Flux Elemental
*Spasa of Change, Combat, Fire, Speed, Cleanliness, Rot, Health, Life, Carnality
*Avasa of Conflict, Blending, Fire, Health, Shifter, Carnality, Rust, Whimsy, Music, Death
*Masoja of Rust, Warfare, Combat, Health
***Aspires to Shifter, Knowledge.
**Member of the Gxkzle Band. The band is in the Party for War but not the Party of Death. Known as a trouble maker.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Tins at my first Changer's Training Exercise; she crashed the party, but left soon at my insistence. She gave me some info about the Challenges 'for free', but I'm sure I'll have to pay for it some day in some way. I was warned she was trouble, but I could already tell that from the moment I laid eyes on her.''

===<span style=color:blue>Traxalaxax</span>, Avasa of Blending===
Member of the '''Shantranixix Fealty Band'''.

[[File:Traxalaxax.jpg|150px]]

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Air, Song, Paper, Illusion
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, Blending
***Aspires to Avasa of Knowledge. Then Masoja of Knowledge.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met first Traxal through Curious at the bottom of Lily Lake located in the southern most part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range near Fort Garland, Colorado, Shadow Garland; the location of the Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon. Traxal helped in my initial knowledge of the Sigil of Avalon and let me know it was safe to Assay and what power I might gain. He gave me his Calling Name. Sometime later, Traxal acted as Slugger's 'Nanny' and Educator for a time while she and I were in the Dufiro Realms. Traxal also made the initial Offer to me to 'Consider joining the Shantranixix Fealty Band'. I considered for a day then Accepted through Curious, also in the Fealty Band. Later that day, I met Shantranixix through Adalou, also in the Fealty Band.''

===<span style=color:green>ZyxzlokX</span>, Masoja of Rust===
Member of the Party for Life.

Member of the [[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]

[[File:ZyxzlokX.jpg|150 px]]

*Fire Elemental; Iron, Sand. Fire: Smoke. Whimsy
*Spasa of Earth; Iron, Combat, Defense, Rust, Song; Whimsy, Speed, Rot, Change
*Avasa of Earth; Iron, Rust, Whimsy, Conflict, Death, Rust, Shifter
*Masoja of Earth:Iron, Combat, Warfare, Rust, Strength, Rage.
***Aspires to Shifter-Partially to escape Rage. Will take any race to escape rage

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met ZyxzlokX at my first Changer's Training Exercise. He is Brother to Sylex; Avasa of Rot. Zyx is gruff and rough with a mean sense of humor and a love of pranks and lessons learned. Zyx punched me in the chest so fast I never saw it coming, he could have killed me but didn't. He didn't like my candor or opinion of him... and I think he was testing me to see how I'd react. He knew I'd offered his Sister Sylex to join my Adventurers' Band and made me promise to 'only use her Water for Cleanliness, and don't use her other skills." I gained his is Calling Name Tome before he left.''

==Personally Known: Unnamed==

===<span style=color:blue>Avasa of Guard (3)</span>===
*Avasa of Guard
Rafe sort of met this trio of Guard Avasa when Curious Summoned and Bound them to Rafe's trio of Miniature Poodles. The Avasa are Loyal to Curious.

===<span style=color:green>Orc-Lizards (8)</span>===
*Spasa of Combat
Rafe defeated them for Tome Certification at the Red Hall of Agalat.

===<span style=color:orange>Spasa of ?</span>===
*Looks like a tall Hobbit
**Brought food and drink from his restaurant to Rafe and Sylex when she Called.

===<span style=color:orange>Spasa of Earth (2)</span>===
*Spasa of Earth
Rafe sort of met these Earth Spasa at his first Changer's Training Exercise. Both Spasa were excused before Rafe could 'meet' them. However, Rafe does have their Calling Tomes.

===<span style=color:orange>Earth Elemental</span>===
*Elemental of Earth
Rafe met this Earth Elemental at his first Changer's Training Exercise; did not leave Calling Name or Tome.

==Known by Reputation or Other==
===<span style=color:orange>Akgleax</span> of Earth===
[[File:Akgleax of Music.jpg|150px]]

A craftsman of musical items.
*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Water, Blending, Change, Song, Music, and Paper.
*Avasa of Earth
**Achieved Spasa of Paper and Music after writing of her encounters of Alexandra & Duncan of Amber.
***Aspires to Avasa of Music, Water, Blending, and Knowledge. Masoja of Earth, Knowledge or Binding.
Rafe knows her Calling Name only through Adalou.

===<span style=color:orange>Grexil</span> of Knowledge===
*Elemental of Earth
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Earth, Rot, Defense, Speed, Paper, Song, Blending, Rust, Change, Life
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Earth, Conflict, Blending, Rage, Shifter,
*Masoja of Knowledge
Rafe knows only his Calling Name through Adalou.

===<span style=color:red>Hardin Wapak</span>, Leader of the Party for War===
[[File:HARDIN wAPAK.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth & Air Elemental
*Spasa of
*Avasa of
*Masoja of

Rafe knows of Hardin by reputation only. Rafe is aware that Hardin has placed a Bounty on him.

''"His weapon is massive. Normally unwieldly. But it is Bound with Masoja of Combat, Warfare, and Death. The Mace is Bound with the same but lesser ones. It is studded with Avasa and Masoja who begged to serve him. Yet. He has a long knife that bears the Soul of Mortals and Dufiro he has slain. They writhe in unending agony to his delight."'' ~ Curious to Rafe

===<span style=color:green>Tans Tilki</span>, Masoja of Vision, ''Primsa Illuminar''===
[[File:Tans tilki.jpg|200 px]]

One of the most ancient and powerful Dufiro, a perennial member of the Council of the Dufirosm. Resigned from Wishers.

*Elementals: Change, Flux, Earth, Fire, Air
*Spirits: Change, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Defense, Guard, Blending, Rust, Fire, Paper, Illusion,
*Avasa Dufirosm: Shifter, Cleanliness, Conflict, Guard, Growth, Blending, Knowledge, Vision, Truth
*Masoja Dufirosm: Change, Combat, Guard, Health, Growth, Death, Life, Knowledge, Shifter, Binding, Time, Vision
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' Dufirosm

Rafe knows Tans by reputation only. Rafe first heard about Tans when Rafe learned about the Visions about Rafe.

===<span style=color:orange>Twiisi</span>, Spasa of Guard===
[[File:Twiisi-fane guide.jpg|150 px]]

Twiisi was seen serving as a gate guard and greeter at the Fane of the Dufirosm at Zilla

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Cleanliness, Guard, and Paper
**Aspires to Spasa of Song. Avasa of Air,Cleanliness, Guard or conflict, color, Knowledge. Masoja of Air, Combat or Guard, knowledge.
**As Fane Guard she also aspires to rise in rank among the Fane Guards at the temple she is in. Many Guards serve their whole lives guarding one place as well as making deals to gain rank and race.

Rafe was briefly in the presence of Twiisi at the Dufirosm Fane at Zilla when Ansahal was inhabiting Rafe's body and they transported there, but Rafe was transported 'home' before he could interact as himself.

===<span style=color:red>Vrxxkren</span>, Masoja of Strength, 'The Harbinger of Death'===
[[File:Vrxxkren.jpg|150 px]]

A member of the Inner Council of the Party for Death and the Party for War. Known as the Harbinger of Death. A warrior and a herald.

*Earth Elemental. Fire Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Combat, Guard, Rot, and Speed
*Avasa of Earth, Fire, Speed, Rage, Conflict-War, and Knowledge.
*Masoja of Earth, Fire, Combat, Rage, Warfare, Knowledge, Death, and Strength.

Rafe knows the Harbinger by reputation only. Rafe is aware that the Harbinger saw Ansahal exit his (Rafe's) body at the Dufirosm Fane at Zilla. Rafe is also aware that the Harbinger sought out a Dufiro of Vision to learn more about Rafe. Rafe is now aware of the nature and contents of those Visions.

==Beings with a Copy of RaphaX's Dufiro Tomes==
NOTE: ALL Copies of Raphaxaelicus' Tomes that have NOT been Gifted or Bargained for, are Stored in a bookcase in RaphaX's Billet in Shifters Hall at the Hagia Salas in the City of Ahyk within the Dufirtrusa; the Dufiro Realms near to the Black Zone of Chaos.

===Elemental of Change===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Adalou (Author); S/B, Curious; S/B,

===Elemental of Motion===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Adalou (Author); S/B,

===Elemental of Earth===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Shantranixix (Author); S/B,

===Spasa of Earth===
*Calling, Summoning & Binding
*Shantranixix (Author); C.S.B, Kichab; C, Nur al Din; C, Dalt; C, Curious; S, Glax of Rot; C, Coil of Whimsy; C, Bently; C,

==Dufiro Tomes Possessed by RaphaX ==
NOTE: ALL Copies of The Dog Brothers Tomes that have NOT been Gifted or Bargained for, are Stored in a bookcase in RaphaX's Billet in Shifters Hall at the Hagia Salas in the City of Ahyk within the Dufirtrusa; the Dufiro Realms near to the Black Zone of Chaos. As well as any Tomes that have been Gifted to Raphaxaelicus, or Bargained for by him.

===The Dog Brothers' Tomes===
*Calling, Summoning and Binding Name Tomes (90)
**10 of each Tome for each of the 3 Dogs

===Summoning Tomes===
*''Masoja Dufiro of Earth Summoning Tome''
**'''Crizacraxix Galxata''' aka Curious
**Written in Kolbashic
**Trade from Curious for Raphax's Elemental of Change Summoning & Binding Tome

===Calling Tomes===
*''Elemental of Flux Calling Name Tome''
**'''Nippixx'''; Consigliere to Shantranixix and The Shantranixix Fealty Band

*''Masoja of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**'''"Chip"''', Masoja of Earth

*''Spasa of Blending Calling Name Tome''
**'''Bronze Nugget''', Spasa of Blending

*''Avasa of Iron Calling Name Tome''
**'''ZyxzlokX''', Masoja of Rust (Earth-Iron)

*''Masoja of Rot Calling Name Tome''
**'''Kibrosel''', Masoja of Health

*''Spasa of Rot Calling Name Tome''
**'''Sharax''', Masoja of Fire

*''Avasa of Water Calling Name Tome''
**'''Sylex''', Avasa of Health, Rot

*''Spasa of Illusion Calling Name Tome''
**'''Fal Gan''', Masoja of Strength & Warfare

*''Avasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Avasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Spasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Spasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Spasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Spasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Avasa of Blending Calling Tome''
**'''Kichabqhisreeceeb'''; Avasa of Blending
***Also, a Place Tome for Kichab's Personal Library

*Avasa of Rust Calling Tome''
**'''Glkaxxsik'''; Avasa of Rust

*Avasa of Whimsy Calling Tome
**'''Coil'''; Avasa of Whimsy

*Calling Tome for '''Hardin Wapak'''

*''Spasa of Water Calling Tome''
**'''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water

*''Avasa of Whimsy Calling Tome''
**'''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water

==RaphaX's Summoning Log==

===Spasa of Paper - Calling Tome Ritual===
*'''Kichabqhisreeceeb''' aka Kichab
**Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending.
*An old Spasa of Paper Calling Tome was used.

===Avasa of Death- Forced Binding Tome Ritual===
*'''Grytti''', Avasa of Death and Ice
**Forced Binding to a glass
**Bargain with ''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water, who has the Glass

===Spasa of Death - Forced Binding Ritual===
*'''Thanseq'''; Spasa of Death... aka Bruce
**Force Bound to a Crystal Glass - Rafe holds the glass
***Causes any liquid poured into it to become poisoned.
***Does NOT alter smell, taste, or appearance.
[[File:Death Dufiro Poisoning Goblet.jpg|100px]]

===Avasa of Blending - Calling Tome Ritual===
*Avasa of Blending - Calling Tome Ritual
**Kichabqhisreeceeb; Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending.

===Avasa of Earth- Calling Tome Ritual===
*Avasa of Earth- Calling Tome Ritual
**Hrobleit; Avasa of Earth...

===Avasa of Conflict - Binding Tome Ritual===
*Sylex; Avasa of Water, Carnality, Health, Rot, Conflict

===Masoja of Dance - Binding Ritual===
*Bently

==COLOR KEY:==
===<span style=color:purple>PURPLE</span> = Very Well Known and/or Highly Trusted===
===<span style=color:blue>BLUE</span> = Well Known and/or Trusted===
===<span style=color:green>GREEN</span> = Known and/or Mostly Trusted===
===<span style=color:orange>ORANGE</span> = Semi-Known and/or Semi-Trusted===
===<span style=color:gold>YELLOW</span> = Advise Caution===
===<span style=color:red>RED</span> = NOT Trusted===

RaphaXaelicus Adventurers Band

2025-07-06T20:29:40Z

Relmopator: /* Member Gallery */

==Description==
As the name implies, The '''''RaphaXaelicus Adventurers Band''''' is a Dufiro Band for Adventuring types; Warriors, Rogues, Users of Magic both Arcane and Divine, Alchemists, Gunslingers, Explorers, etc. The Band also includes those who support, service or supply Adventurers, such as; Hotel and Inn Staff, Stable Hands, Merchants, Teamsters, Freighters, Jewelers, Healers, Sages and others. And the Band includes Non-Dufiro Members as well.

==Band Associations==
*The'''''Shantranixix Fealty Band'''''
**details...

*The '''''Hrobleit Knot'''''
**details...
***The '''''Jarvaldarxi Knot''''' is ''Associated'' with the '''''Hrobleit Knot'''''
****details....

==Member Gallery==

{| class="wikitable"
|'''RaphaXaelicus'''
[[File:AV-Raphael1.jpg|100px]]
*Leader and Founder
*'''Al Asgo Illuminar'''
*Elemental of Change, Motion, Earth
*Spasa of Earth,
|'''Fitz William'''
[[File:ADV-FitzWilliam.jpg|100px]]
*Associate Leader
*'''Al Asgo Illuminar'''
*Elemental of Air
*Spasa of Combat, Air, Life, Paper, Cleanliness
*Avasa of Air, Knowledge
|'''Sylex'''
[[File:D-Sylex.jpg|100px]]
*Founding Member
*Elemental of Water
*Spasa of Water, Carnality, Cleanliness, Motion, Sadness
*Avasa of Water, Carnality, Health, Rot, Conflict
|'''Bently'''
[[File:Bently.jpg|100px]]
*Founding Member
*'''Al Asgo Illuminar'''
*Elemental of Air, Change, Hue, Sound
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Air, Color, Change, Paper, Illusion, Song, motion.
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Air, Change, Blending, Paper, Color, Health, Music, Shifter, Life.
*Masoja of Cleanliness, Air, Change, Shifter, Knowledge, Rust, Paper, Music, Dance.
|-
|'''Elmer Ellswroth'''
[[File:ADV-Elmer Ellswroth.jpg|100px]]
*Founding Member
*Lanthanite. Warrior/Sniper
*Elemental of Air
*Spasa of Combat
|'''Runner'''
[[File:ADV-Runner.jpg|100px]]
*Founding Member
*Ranger, Sniper
*Elemental of Air
*Spasa of Combat
|'''Wrecker'''
[[File:ADV-Wrecker.jpg|100px]]
*Founding Member
*Warrior, Non-Dufiro
|'''Reggy'''
[[File:ADV-Reggy.jpg|100px]]
*Founding Member
*Warrior, Non-Dufiro
|-
|'''Olive'''
[[File:Olive7.jpg|100px]]
*Warrior, Motorcycle Stuntster
*Elemental of Air
*Spasa of Combat
|''' x '''
[[ x |100px]]
*a
*b
|''' x '''
[[ x |100px]]
*a
*b
|''' x '''
[[ x |100px]]
*a
*b
|-
|''' x '''
[[ x |100px]]
*a
*b
|''' x '''
[[ x |100px]]
*a
*b
|''' x '''
[[ x |100px]]
*a
*b
|''' x '''
[[ x |100px]]
*a
*b
|-
|''' x '''
[[ x |100px]]
*a
*b
|''' x '''
[[ x |100px]]
*a
*b
|''' x '''
[[ x |100px]]
*a
*b
|'''The Poodle Boys'''
aka '''''The Dog Brothers'''''

[[File:D-poodle boys.jpg|90px]] [[File:D-Dog Brothers.jpg|90px]]
*Swirley, Fudge & Berk-Berk
*Companions to '''''RaphaXaelicus'''''
*Elementals of Motion
|-
|}

Running Sheet Raphael

2025-07-06T03:35:30Z

Relmopator: /* Aspirations */

<big>'''Raphael de la Varga''' aka "Rafe"</big>

<big>''Raphaxaelicus Radaxventurerillidixt Covaladalouaxixisis'' aka "'''RaphaX'''"</big>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|<big>'''<span style="color:blue">AVALON DECK</span>'''</big>
|<big>'''<span style="color:green">TOSIAN BARDIC DECK</span>'''</big>
|<big>'''<span style="color:red">BURSAIN DECK</span>'''</big>
|-
|[[File:AV-Raphael1.jpg|200px]]
|[[File:RafeA.jpg|200px]]
|[[File:AV-Rafe-Slugger's Deck.jpg |200px]]
|-
|XXXXXXXXXX
|XXXXXXXXXX
|XXXXXXXXXX
|-
|<big>'''Dufiro Earth Form Concept'''</big>
|<big>'''WC&LGA'''</big>
|
|-
|[[File:Raphax Earth Form1.jpg|200px]]
|[[File:A--Rafe-front1.jpg|250px]]
|
|-
|}

==GM SECTION==

===<big><span style="color:red">Stats</span></Big>===
*Psyche 21
*Endurance 17
*Strength 15
*Warfare 17

===<Big><span style="color:red">Powers</span></big>===
*18 '''Power Words (13)'''
*10 '''Advanced Low Order Sorcery''' [[Sorcery in Jeweled Amber]]
*4 '''Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon; Advanced Imprint
*3 '''Avalon Shape Change'''; Specific Alternate Forms ONLY
*2 '''[[Cantrip]]'''
*1 Low Order Magic System - Bardic Powers & Spells
*1 Low Order Magic System - Druidic Powers & Spells
*2 Dufiro Rituals
**Summon Dufiro Tomes (Personal)

===<Big><span style="color:red">Skills </span></big>===
*3 Wilderness Survival & Camping
*1 Cooking (incl. Butchering & basic Vegetable Gardening)
*2 Thrown Weapons; All Types (Knives, Daggers, Axes, Darts, Stars, Spikes, Rocks, Beer Bottles... whatever's handy)
*1 Military Basics: (incl: Org, Ops, Commo, Land Nav/Map Reading, Camo, Sm. & Hvy Weapons, Explosives, Vehicles)
*1 Military Field Medic & NBC Specialist (Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Warfare Protection & Decon)
*1 Automobile Mechanics; Internal Combustion Engines (All Types)
*2 Driving; Land-based Vehicles (All Types; Wheeled & Tracked)
*1 Dog Training; all Breeds: Basic (Obedience, Tricks, Chores, etc.)
*1 Games (Tabletop RPG's, Board, Dice, Cards, Gambling, Puzzle, etc.)
*1 Story Telling (RPG Game Master / Player, Writer, Campfire Storyteller)
*1 Acting
*1 Big Top Circus Operations
*1 Juggling
*1 Voice Mimicry
*1 Singing
*1 Musical Instrument: Harmonica
*1 Warlock Thief Skills
*2 Dufiro Languages
*1 Primitive Sign Language
*1 Dancing
*1 Parkour
*1 Shadow Shaving
*1 Acrobatics
Gnome Skills (Bonus)
*2 Gardening.
*1 Dowsing.
*1 Woodcraft
*1 Pottery

====Skill Chart====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|
*1 Weapon Master-Spear
*2
**1
**1
*3
*4
*5
*6
*7
*8
*9
*10
|
*1
*2
*3
*4
*5
*6
*7
*8
*9
*10
|
*1
*2
*3
*4
*5

|-
|}

===Raphael's Wiki Page Links===
[[Raphael's Wiki Page Links]]

==Personal Information==
https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php?title=Running_Sheet_Raphael&action=edit

'''''Active since December 24, 2021'''''

<big>'''Personal Colors:''' Forest Green, Black & Gray. Bronze Metal</big>

'''Father:''' Unknown: Possible Earth Human Male

'''Mother:''' Known: Earth Human Female (deceased)

'''Children:''' (1) Known: Earth Human Male (deceased)

'''Race:''' Human-Mesobian-Dufiro

'''Apparent / Physical Age:''' Early 30's '''Actual Age:''' Late 50's

'''Height:''' 6ft. '''Weight:''' 205lbs '''Build:''' Athletic with well toned muscles.

'''Complexion:''' Fair to Pink w/ Freckles

'''Face:''' Average Looking '''Eyes:''' Dark Brown

'''Facial Hair:''' Heavy Beard, Coppery Red.

'''Hair:''' Coppery Red, Long w/ single Braid down the back

'''Distinguishing Marks:''' Black Scar; Bullet Wound, ribcage under left arm. (The Black Sabbath; Fitz's Healing)

'''Descriptions:'''

[[File:Raphael2.jpg|150px]]

'''Human:''' Rafe usually wears black cotton denim jeans and thick heavy black boots with heavy laces and thick soles (making him appear three inches taller), a long sleeved cotton flannel over-shirt, tri-color plaid of dark green, dark gray & black and a t-shirt beneath, usually of green, black or gray. His hands and half of his forearms are covered in black rough leather gauntlets and a wide black leather weapons belt with a large round silver simple buckle sits around his middle. Hanging from the belt on his right hip and meant for a left-hand draw, is an ornate curved sheath of black leather and brass holding a Nepalese Kuhkuri Knife with an ornate (yet functional) carved wood and brass adorned handle and pommel . And next to it, further back on the belt a bit, is a narrow nylon sheath showing the handles of three flat steel throwing daggers, slightly overlapping each other and each nine inches long. The front of the weapons belt shows four nylon pouches, two on either side of the buckle, each about four inches per side, each filled with three large throwing stars (unseen). Hanging at an angle from the right hip on a 'sword frog' is a simple sheath of brown leather holding a long sword with a curvy edged blade, and showing a simple handle of dark wood with a small simple cross-piece and small flat round pommel that looks like a thick coin with a skull stamped onto each side, both are made of brass. And on the belt farther back behind the sword is another long thin nylon sheath and another set of throwing daggers identical to the ones on his other hip. There is also a Colt .45 Automatic handgun in a custom black leather holster strapped to his right thigh, below the hip with the butt where the hand naturally rests when hanging at the side.

<big>'''Raff aka Rage'''</big>

[[File:Raff the Orc 2.jpg|150 px]]

'''Orc:''' 7 feet 2 inches tall, heavily muscled body with long thickly muscled limbs, large hands with long thick fingers. Hair is darkest of reds leading to browns contrasting the green hued thick hide-like skin, and a pair of double tusks sticking up from a thick lower lip on a heavy squared jaw covered in a thick coarse beard the same color as the hair with a long braid on the chin. A wide nose separates piercing eyes the color of a bright yellow amber beneath a heavy brow line with thick eyebrows that meet in the middle.

<big>'''Raphaelf'''</big>

[[File:Rafeelf.jpg|150 px]]

'''Elf:''' 5 feet tall, lithe of body and limb, pale to white of skin, pointed ears showing through the long flowing hair the color of shiny metallic copper, eyes the color of amethyst crystals set on a narrow angular face with no facial hair.

<big>'''Dwarphael'''</big>

[[File:Rafe-dwarf.jpg|150 px]]

'''Dwarf:''' 4 feet tall and nearly as wide across the shoulders, round barrel chest, thick arms and legs heavy with muscle, thick hands with short thick fingers. Hair and beard are braided but heavier and more coarse, the color much lighter red tending towards blonde, eyes are dark brown.

<big>'''Rafi'''</big>

[[File:Rafe-gnome.jpg|150 px]]

'''Gnome:''' 3 feet tall with a stout looking body, short limbs, big feet, small hands with short fingers, a long gray beard and short gray hair; both neatly groomed, thick gray bushy eyebrows over dark brown eyes with a slight twinkle in them, a bulbous nose, chubby cheeks and big ears that stick out noticeably.

=='''Ranks'''==
*PFC, U.S. Army: Home World aka Plague World
*Co-Mayor (Temporary): Fort Garland, CO, USA; Garland aka Change World
*Citizen: Shadow of Alamond
*Civic Leader/Co-Gaffer: Arco Station & Retreat, Alamond
*Guild Master & Founder: Guardians' Guild of Garland; Fort Garland Chapter
*Society Leader & Founder: Fort Garland Adventurers' Society
*Ringmaster: de la Varga's Circus of Modern Fantasy
*Minor Hero: Venkian Sect of the Church of the Worldly
*Sigil Lord; Fort Garland Sigil (Named by Warrick of Avalon)
*Front Warrior; Ludus Daltus, WC&LGA, Ang Ri
**''Warrior Core & Lord Gladiator Association''
*Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de [[Garde du Corps]]
**Agent of Avalon; Minister without Portfolio
*Spasa Dufiro of Earth; Al Asgo Illuminar
*'''Secret Rank:''' ''Pirate Captain''
**'''Secret Pirate Name:''' ''Captain Thorne Bronzeheart; The Daywraith''

=='''Points Total {204}'''==

'''''Total: 209 = 0 Base +40/-40 Stat Buy Down + 198 Advancement + 4 Bonus + 2 Mesob + 10 Urvile Potion'''''

'''''Stats{+70(-40/+110)} + Powers{41} + Skills{29} + Allies/Enemies{0} + Companions{24} + Items{21} + Shadows{3} + Stuff{+2} + Storage{24} 5 for High Order Sorcery, 16 for Familiar and Animal Companion.'''''

===Point Breakdown===
*Total Points: 209

*Stats Balance: +70
**Stat Sell Down: (ALL to Chaos Rank) +40 pips.
**Stat Buy Up: (all to Amber Rank = +40) +52 (+10 Urvile)

***Psyche: = +10(Amber), +1, +2, +4, +3, +5, +3, +3
***Strength: = +10(Amber), +1, +2, +5, +7
***Endurance: = +3, +7(Amber), +1, +4, +2, +10
***Warfare: = +10(Amber), +3, +5, +4, +5

*Powers: 41
*Skills: 29
*Allies/Enemies: 0 = +18/-18
*Companions: 24
*Items: 21
*Shadow: 3
*Stuff: 2
*Storage 24

==='''[[ Rafe's Advancement & Campaign Highlights]]'''===
*2021 Anniversary Advancement - 10 pips +3 Endurance - SPENT
*First Advancement - 5 Pips - SPENT
*Second Advancement - 10 Pips + 1 Bonus Pip - SPENT
*Third Advancement - 5 Pips - SPENT
*2022 Anniversary Advancement 10 Pips +2 Psyche +2 Skills - SPENT
*2/19/2023 Special Advancement - +10 Strength +3 Psyche - SPENT
*2023 Anniversary Advancement - 10 Pips +3 Skills - SPENT
*Fourth Advancement 35 Pips + 2 Bonus SPENT
*Ludus Daltus 7 pips - SPENT
*Urvile Potion 10 pips (Endurance) - SPENT
*Ang Ri Arena Fights & More 15 Pips - SPENT
*Finding an Easter Egg on the RPGwiki - 1 Pip Bonus SPENT
*Tome Research for Dalt, Calling Ritual, Visit to Dufirtrasa - 20 pips SPENT
*Special Anniversary Gift - 10 Pips SPENT
*2024 Anniversary - 10 pips + more pips - SOME SPENT & SOME STORAGE
*4/23/25 Special Gift - 5 Pips to Stats - SPENT
*6/1325 Alric Slapping Convo - 5 pips - STORAGE

'''Up to date as of 6/13/25'''

==='''Current Advancement Wish List'''===
*1st - High Order Sorcery
*2nd - Raise Psyche
*3rd - Raise Warfare

===='''Someday Advancement Wish List'''====
*20 Conjuration - (When Points allow)
*Full Shape Shifting or Equivalent
*Advanced Shape Shifting or Equivalent

==Dufiro Advancement: 60 Points==
''Dufiro Points are not included in power level totals''
*Life Path: Elemental of Change, Motion and Earth. Spasa of Earth. Al Asgo Illuminar
**(20) Points; Elemental: ''Change'' (10-Granted: Ansahal), ''Motion'' (5-Granted: Shantranixix), ''Earth'' (5-Granted: "Chip")
**(20) Points; Spasa: ''Earth'' (20-Granted: ZyxzlokX),
**(20) Points: Illuminar: ''Al Asgo Illuminar''. (20-Granted: Nur al-Din)

=='''Statistics {70}'''==
*'''Psyche''': '''<big><span style="color:red>21</span></big>''' [+3 NEW]
*'''Strength''': '''<big><span style="color:red>15</span></big>'''
*'''Endurance''': '''<big><span style="color:red>17</span></big>'''
*'''Warfare''': '''<big><span style="color:red>17</span></big>''' [+5 NEW]

=='''Stuff {2 Good}'''==
*1 Good Stuff - Mesob
*1 Good Stuff - Pips Spent

=='''Powers {41(50)}'''==

===<big>Powers, Imprints & Magics {41}</big>===
====18 '''Power Words (13)'''====
**Chaos Negation{POLRZ!}, Magic Negation{NOGTZ!}, Psychic Disrupt{ASKIIR!}, Psychic Defense{SHAGSK!}, Lifeforce{LIEVZ!},
**Weaken Structure{MARSK!}, Process Surge{ZURJ!}, Process Snuff{ZNUF!}, Costume Change{VOILA!}, Burst of Psyche{ZZAAQ!},
**Pain Attack{VOLTZ!}, Pattern Negation; Amber{LEGANT!} (learned from Vek), Pattern Negation; Avalon{TANGENT!}

====10 '''Advanced Low Order Sorcery''' [[Sorcery in Jeweled Amber]]====
**Exact same Principles and Methods as High Order Sorcery
**Able to Cast Low Order versions of High Order Sorcery Spells
***Less powerful overall; less intensity, effectiveness, duration.
***ADVANCED adds more power output.
**This is the Highest Priority of Low Order Magics
***This is NOT a Low Order Magic System, such as; Magery, Wizardry, Listery, etc.

====4 '''Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon; Advanced Imprint'''====
***A Low Order Inscription located at the bottom of Lily Lake, in the southern most part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Ft. Garland, CO, USA, Earth; Shadow Garland aka Change World.
**Sigil can be used as a Lens for Detection purposes.
**Sigil can be used Defensively (mostly against Low Order Magics and some other Low Order Inscriptions).
**Sigil reacts violently vs Woven Logrus; blue lightning (NEW)
**Sigil can be used as a Spell Framework. Holds Spells like a Web. (re: Zachary and Fortunadus)
***High Order Sorcery Spell (2): Holder Frame ONLY (no need to Cast)
***Low Order Sorcery Spells (5): Holder & Casting Frame.
***Other Low Order Spells (?): Holder Frame (currently Holding 4)

====3 '''Avalon Shape Change'''; Specific Forms ONLY:====
**Gained by Assaying the Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon.
**Assayed 5 times choosing each of its Alternate Paths.
***Five [5] Forms: Earth Human (True Form), Garden Gnome (Magical Creature), Hill Dwarf, Sylvan Elf, Green Skinned Orc.

====2 '''[[Cantrip]]''' - Transferred - Medallion of Mesob [1 Mesob, 1 Rafe]====
**Able to Create new Cantrips (2 Pips)
**Sixty Four (64) possible Cantrips: (52 Currently)
***Psyche of 15 = 20 Cantrips + 4 Cantrips / 5 Psyche, X2 Points in Cantrip.

====2 Low Order Magic Systems====
*1 Druidic Powers and Spells - ? Level
**Spells: ?,?,?...

*1 Bardic Powers and Spells - ? Level
**Spells: ?,?,?...

====2 Ritualism (Dufiro-based)====
*Summon Dufiro Tomes (Personal)

===<big>Gnome Powers {Bonus}</big>===
*Travel through Earth

==='''[[Medalion of Mesob]]''' Powers {2}===
**Melts into Body of Wearer/Holder, can't be removed, doesn't detect as magical, its powers can't be dispelled, or suppressed(?).
**Wearer becomes a Mesobian, Racially, but detects & acts as original Race for all practical purposes.

====Automatic Powers====
*''Recognize Mesobian/Medallion Wearers'' - Transferred-No points
**Bears a Symbol on forehead and one palm that only Mesobian/Medallion Wearer and other Mesobians/Medallion Wearers can see.
*''Immortality'' - Istari Immortality; Vast spectrum medical protections.
*''Improved Physical Attributes'' - Transferred-No points
**Raises a Human to '''Chaos Rank''' Stats
*''Immunity to Illness'' - Transferred-No points
**Complete immunity to sickness
*''Immunity to Lycanthropy'' - Transferred-No points
*''Immunity to Undead Magics & Attacks'' - Transferred-No points
*''Regeneration'' - Transferred-No points
**The Power to completely heal wounds and injuries in a fraction of the time the 'original body' was 'normally' capable of.
*''Tongues'' - Transferred-No points
**The ability to understand and speak languages (once heard???)
**Already know/learned: English, Spanish, Thari, Esperanto, Italian, German, Russian, Maandancer,
*''Spidey Sense'' - Transferred-No points '''UNDISCOVERED?'''
**Moments warning before an attack

====Useable Powers====
*''Technopathy'' - Transferred (possible Main Power according to David of Mandalay)
**Ability to 'read' data from electronic/technological devices (touch)

*''Classification'' - Transferred-No points
**The Power to Identify or Divine the Character Class, Level and Race of a Being
***Works upon Touch and sometimes at short distances with eye contact
**Can also Identify certain Creature Types

*''Shadowwalk'' - Transferred-No points
**As Broken Pattern shadow walker
**Shadowwalk toward Mesob Wearer if known.

*''Reverse Conjuration'' - Transferred-No points
**The ability to return an item that has been Conjured to its place and time of origin.

*''Animal Friendship'' - Transsferred-No points
**Animals are friendly. Gentle creatures are near docile. More aggressive creatures are friendly, sometimes submissive.

*''Clean Body'' - Transferred-No points
**The Power to clean a body (self or other) of dirt and grime. It causes all pores to empty of retained oils and removes all bodily refuse; emptying bladders, digestive systems and stomachs.
**This power can be used in two ways.
***Causing all material to Disappear
***Causing all material to Eject violently from the body.
****If used as an attack it reacts with the target's Psyche and if they lose it distracts them for at least a minute.

*''Passwall'' - Transferred-No points
**Used once in an unexpected way that actually worked: Passed through a Magic Barrier (naked)

*''Phase Walk'' - Transferred-No points
**1 Access to the Shadow of Phase that overlaps all of Shadow?
**First used by a Dufiro inhabiting Rafe's body.

*1 ''Cantrip'' - Transferred - 1 pip
**Able to cast Cantrips

*''Flash'' - Transferred-No points '''UNDISCOVERED?'''

=='''Dufirosm Life Path, Advancement & Powers'''==
==='''Life Path:'''===
**Elemental of Change, Movement, Earth
***''Aspires to Sound''
**Spasa of Earth
***''Aspires to Combat, Speed, Paper, Cleanliness, Blending, Life, Motion, Defense, Change, Growth''
****''possibly Motion, Song, and Carnality
**Avasa: ''Aspires to Earth, Cleanliness, Health, Speed, Conflict, Guard, Change, Blending, Growth, Shifter, Life, Knowledge ''
***''possibly Whimsy, Carnality, Vision ''
**Masoja: ''Aspires to Change, Earth, Guard, Shifter, Growth, Health, Knowledge, Life ''
***''possibly Combat, Strength, Warfare, Witness, Vision''

*'''Rank & Race:'''
**'''Spasa of Earth, ''Al Asgo Illuminar'' '''

===Dufiro Advancement: ''{60 Points}''===
''Dufiro Points are not included in power level totals''
*Life Path: Elemental of Change, Motion and Earth. Spasa of Earth. Al Asgo Illuminar
**(20) Points; Elemental: ''Change'' (10-Granted: Ansahal), ''Motion'' (5-Granted: Shantranixix), ''Earth'' (5-Granted: "Chip")
**(20) Points; Spasa: ''Earth'' (20-Granted: ZyxzlokX),
**(20) Points: Illuminar: ''Al Asgo Illuminar''. (20-Granted: Nur al-Din)

===Dufiro Powers {}===
More Info Available at: [[Dufirosm Revision]]

Special Note: Raphael's Heart Fire was Strengthened as Payment for a Fulfilled Contract by Ansahal, a Masoja Dufiro of Shifter (now Water); a mostly non-corporeal Being that '''Inhabited''' Rafe's body for a short time for a Task that Ansahal needed done to Advance to his Next Race.

===='''<big>Heart Fire Powers:</big>''' ====
====='''First Order Defense''' (created by Ansahal)=====
**(need info from GM)
====='''Identify Dufiro Heart Fires'''=====
**Can 'see' /'feel' an Unbound or Bound(sometimes) Dufiro Heart Fire in Beings, Creatures & Objects
**Can Identify the Race(s) of a Dufiro
***This does NOT give a full Life Path, but usually the most prominent or powerful Race or Races.
=====''' 'Living in the Heart Fire' Powers'''=====
**Placing one's Self (aka Psyche/ Mind/ Consciousness) inside one's Heart Fire
***This is draining on Endurance until some level of experience is gained.
**Ability to Leave the Physical Body via one's Heart Fire
***Control of one's Physical Body is maintained in this state.
***Allows for Shape Shifting to Elemental Forms (Stone, Fire, Water, Air, etc.)
***Allows the Dufiro to Experience the Senses of Animals (and possibly other Beings) [DANGEROUS]

===='''<big>Tome Related Powers:</big>'''====
*'''Hear Calling/Summoning Names'''
**Ability to 'hear' Calling Name or Summoning Name spoken anywhere within the Multiverse.
**Ability to 'look in to it to see who is Calling'.
*'''Dufiro Transport Power'''
**Ability to 'temporarily transport' to Caller
***Must maintain Personal Energy & Magics to remain with Caller
**Can be Summoned via Summoning Name - Cannot resist, no Energy needed to remain
**Able to return to 'home realm' upon Compilation of the Pact or if freed from Binding by destruction of the Bound Artifact.
***Holding them against their will in either case is extraordinarily difficult. A Dufiro fighting for its freedom may attract others of its familiarity, race, or proximity to aid it.
===='''<big>Race Specific Powers:</big>''' ====
====='''Change Elemental Powers'''=====
**Limited Form of Shape Shifting
***Alter Facial & Body Features, Skin Color & Texture, Hair Color, Texture & Type, Etc.
**Minor Ability to Change one item to another item (untrained)
====='''Movement Elemental Powers'''=====
**very efficient and nearly effortless movement
**very quick movements, unless restraint is exerted
**Silent Movement possible with extreme restraint and concentration

====='''Earth Elemental Powers'''=====
**Alter Body to Living Stone
**Convert rock to soil.
**Refresh Soil.
**Rock attacks.
====='''Earth Spasa Powers'''=====
**Alter Body to Living Stone
**improved Earth Elemental powers?
**Strength of Earth

=='''Spells'''==

===FRAMEWORK #1===
'''Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon: A Low Order Inscription; Advanced Imprint'''

====High Order Sorcery Spell Slots (2)====
*Holder Frame; no need to Cast.
**[EMPTY SLOT] Stone Binding
**[EMPTY SLOT] Bodily Defense

====Low Order Sorcery Spell Slots (5)====
*Holder & Casting Frame.
**'''''Strength Drain'''''
**'''''Bodily Defense'''''
***As a Low Order spell is mainly useful against Low Order Magic, but it's a must
**'''''Single Wound Healing'''''
***Stops a single wound from causing someone to bleed out. The size of the wound is important.
***A High Order version will stop almost any wound short of decapitation
**'''''Pressurized Holy Water'''''
***A variation on the Pressurized Lava Spell, this spell Summons Blessed Holy Water from the Swimming Pool at the St. Cabrini Shrine in Colorado, USA, Shadow Garland (aka Change World). It creates a Shadow Opening inside the drain pipe just past the pumping mechanism and simultaneously actives the high pressure pump to begin rapidly draining the pool. Once activated, a message appears in green letters on the pump: "Sorry to take without asking; I beg your forgiveness. ~Raphael" Once the Spell ends, the pump deactivates and the message disappears a few hours later. When the Lynchpins are released, it creates a Summoning Portal on the Caster's end about an inch away from his/her palm (right or left) and allows the Caster to direct the pressurized stream of water as he/she desires. The Shadow Opening on the Caster's end is a bit smaller than the pipe it comes from to increase the pressure of the water delivered.
**'''''Giant's Slap''''' [CAST]

====Low Order Magic System Spell Slots (?)====
*Holder Frame; No need to Cast
*Can Hold all forms of Low Order Spell System Spells (NOT Exclusively)
*Currently holds Magery Spells (4); Added by Fortunadus
**''Passenger Teleport''
**''Castle Protection''
**''Summon Person'' - Fortunadus
**''Raise and Restore'' (for Victor)

===SPELL SHURIKEN (12)===
*Each Shuriken can Rack a single (1) Spell; 12 Shuriken total
**''Spells require a Sorcerer to Rack and Release''
***Electric Porcupines, Confusion Storm, Bubble Stream
***Mind Touch, Imperatives, Fire Fountain
***Magical Drain, Replicate Shadow Object, Defensive Shield
***Bodily Defense, Pressurized Lava, Lightning Bolt

===LOW ORDER MAGIC SYSTEM===
[coming soon]

[[Warlock Magery]]
*Bardic Spells - 10th Level
**Spells: 6,4,3,2,2,1

[[Druids in Jeweled Amber]]

[[Druidic Council of Pacifica]]
*Druidic Spells ?Level
**Spells: ?,?,?...

===KNOWN CANTRIPS===
*[10] Firefinger, Clean, Exterminate, Page Light, Stitch, Mend, Chill, Heat, Know Direction, Extinguish,
*[10] Weathertell, Turn Page, Sharpen, Gather, Unseen Hand, Color, Temperature, Werelight, Purify Water
*[10] Sober, Blend(w/shadows), Catfeet, Speed, Shield, Catfall, Gun, Map, Present, Anatomics
*[10] Dampen, Dry, Enrich, Dust, Slip, Knot, 2D-lusion, Hairy (reversible), Unlock, Change
*[7] Druidic Cantrips: Create Bonfire, Control Flame, Mold Earth, Frostbite, Thorn Whip, Shape Water, Gust
*[5] Created Cantrips: 3D-lusion, Deseed Weed, Crumble Bud, Roll a Joint, Shape Smoke,

===Raphael's Spell Books===
*[[Raphael's Spell Book]]
**A collection of Sorcery Spells given to and created by Raphael
**The Spell Book was a Gift from Zacahry
*Halta Spells (from The Danbury Collection)
**Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Relek Rituals (Not strictly a spell book)
**Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Magery: 3rd Level Spells - The Damage Group
**The Lightning Suite: Ball Lightning ,Lightning Bolt, Lightning Dart & Mini-Bolt.
**The Fire Suite: Fire Ball, Fire Dart, Flame, Heat Cone, Ball of Fire, Mini-Wide Heat Cone, Mini-Ball, & Maxi-Ball.
**The Cold Suite: Cold Cone, Mini-Cold Cone, Mini-Wide Cold Cone.
**also has a couple of the Strength Spells, Continual Light, and Wizard Light.
***Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Magery: 6th Level Spells
**This tome has Acid Protection, Astral Eye, Air Wall, Bomb, Animate Object, Geas, Area Muscle Spasm, Projected Image, Move Earth, Part Water, Sustained Dimension Door, Passenger Teleportation, Wizard Wind, Stone to Flesh.
***Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
***''“Of these Astral Eye, Geas, and Sustained Dimension Door are the most useful. A mage might kill to get this in his racks. Of course its all Low Order. A High Order protection spell would wallop all this stuff, but without that... its pretty tough stuff. I've yet to see a really functional High Order Geas spell. But Geas is one of the first powers a Wisher-aspirant dives for when they take Masoja of Knowledge Go figure.”'' '''~Bentalisix'''

=='''Skills {29}'''==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|
*'''3''' Wilderness Survival & Camping
**2 Hunting: Rifle, Shotgun, Archery. Big & Small Game, Birds.
***Includes tracking, skinning, gutting & basic butchering.
**2 Fishing: Fresh Water; Lake & Pond, River & Stream.
***Hook & Line, Trapping, Netting, Bow Fishing. Includes gutting, scaling & boning.
**1 Survival: Multiple wilderness & terrain type, Hot & Cold Climate & Weather Conditions
**1 Land Navigation
**1 Plant & Animal Identification (Basic)
**1 Camping: No Shelter, Crude Shelters, Tents, RVs
*1 Cooking (incl. Butchering & basic Vegetable Gardening)
*2 Thrown Weapons; All Types [1 NEW]
**(Knives, Axes, Darts, Stars, Spikes, Rocks, Beer Bottles... whatever's handy)
*1 Military Basics: Organization, Operations, Comms, Land Nav/Map Reading,
**Camo, Small & Heavy Weapons, Explosives, Vehicles Ops
*1 Military Field Medic & NBC Specialist
**(Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Warfare Protection & Decon)
*1 Automobile Mechanics; Internal Combustion Engines (All Types)

|
*'''2''' Driving; Land-based Vehicles (All Types; Wheeled & Tracked)
**1 Lg. Trucks, Motorcycles, Off-Road, Racing, Long Haul.
**1 Construction & Military Vehicles
**1 Driver Training
**1 Defensive Driving Techniques
*1 Dog Training; all Breeds: Basic (Obedience, Tricks, Chores, etc.)
*2 Games (Tabletop RPG's, Board, Dice, Cards, Gambling, Puzzle, etc.) [1 NEW]
*1 Story Telling (RPG Game Master / Player, Writer, Campfire Storyteller)
*1 Acting
*1 Big Top Circus Operations
**Set up, Tear down, Travel, Animal Handling, Supply & Equipment,
**Show & Boardwalk & Vendor & Crew Management, etc.
**Creation, Management & Performing of Circus Shows & Acts.
*1 Juggling
**Especially Knives
*1 Voice Mimicry
**Combines with Change Elemental Ability
*1 Singing
*1 Musical Instrument: Harmonica
*1 [[Warlock Thievish Skills]]
*1 Shadow Shaving
*1 Acrobatics
*1 Dancing [NEW]
*1 Parkour [NEW]
|-
|'''Languages'''
*2 Dufiro Languages: Studied [1 NEW]
** 1 '''Vomos''' (Conversational to Fluent)
** 1 '''Gorbash''': (Conversational to Fluent).
***Gorbash often empowers Cantripy.
** 1 '''Releck'''*: (Conversational)
***Releck is a language spoken most among the Spasa races.
***Some universes use Releck to empower low level magics 1st to 4th lvl
** 1 '''Nethak''': (Conversational)
** 1 '''Halta''': (Conversational)
** 1 '''Nona''': (Conversational)
** 1 '''Kolbashic''': (Conversational)
*1 Caveman Speak (Implaned Skill)
**Primitive Non-Verbal Language.
**Mostly Signing with some Grunts/Vocalizations
*Other Known Languages
**English, Spanish, Italian, Esperanto, Russian, German, Thari, Maandancer, French, Ang Rian,
***Understood & Spoken Fluently, only some can be Read and Written.
|
'''Bonus Skills:''' Gnome Skills
*'''2''' Gardening
**1 Vegetables & Fruits
**1 Flowers & Shrubberies
**1 Landscaping
*1 Dowsing
**Water and other(?)
*1 Woodcraft
**Carving, Basic Carpentry
*1 Pottery
**Throwing, Sculpting, Glazing, Firing
|-
|'''Other Useful Skills'''
*QWERTY Keyboard Typing, Electronic Equipment Operations: Computers, Smartphones, Office Equipment, Retail Equipment, Angry 'Customer' De-escalation, Drafting & Design/CADD, Swimming/Lifeguard, First Aid/CPR Instructor

|'''Hobbies'''
*Caving, Hiking, Rock Climbing, Running, Bicycling, Water Skiing, Off-Roading, Singing / Karaoke / DJing, Music Appreciation, Wood Carving, Stone Carving, Making Jewelry, Leatherworking, Painting Miniatures, Creative Cartography, Reading, Watching Movies / TV / Streaming Content, PC / Console / Arcade Video Gaming, Cosplay / LARP / SCA, Amusement Parks, Rock Hounding, Collecting; weapons, skull trinkets, little rocks / stones/ crystals

|-
|'''Known Combat Skills''': Strength Related
*Competition Judo - Purple Belt Ranked (attained by age 15)
**Bronze Medal Winner; Junior Olympics Judo Competition (age 13)
*Competition Karate - Green Belt Ranked
*Close Combat Self Defense Basics
*US Military Hand to Hand Basics
*CHAD Hand to Hand Combat Training & Sparring
*WC&LGA Training & Combat: Ludus Daltus; Ang Ri
|'''Known Combat Skills''': Warfare Related
*SCA Fighter Training: Single Weapon, Two Weapon, Weapon & Shield
**Sword, Fencing, Mass Weapons, Shield Fighting, Polearms, Staff Fighting, Archery.
*Professional Sword Training - Fortunadus Enright
*Firearms and Military Weapons Training
*Military Basic Combat Tactics
*Strategy Games: TTRPGs, TT Board Games, Video Games, Real Life Simulations (military)
*WC&LGA Training & Combat: Ludus Daltus; Ang Ri

|-
|}

=='''Allies & Enemies {+18/-18 = 0}'''==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Allies'''
*4 Slugger
*2 Fitz William
*2 Dalt.
*1 Zachary
*1 Corwin
*1 Kalaganath (Guide)
*1 Nur al-Din
*1 Warrick
*1 Digan
*1 Fortunadus
*1 Curious
*1 Wrecker
*1 Reggy

|'''Enemies'''
*4 Victor Price - Albino Drow Mage - Vampire
**[[Running Sheet Victor]]
*3 Unknown '''Dufiro''' Enemy
*2 Unknown Enemy
*2 Unknown Enemy
*1 Blister's Clan
*1 Unknown
*1 Avasa of ''Rudeness''
*1 Unknown '''Dufiro''' Enemy
*1 Unknown Enemy
*1 Unknown Enemy
*1 Unknown Enemy

|-
|}

=='''Companions {24 (16)}'''==

==='''<big>Animals</big>'''===

===='''<big>The Poodle Boys</big> - {24 (16)}'''====
aka ''"The Dog Brothers"''

[[File:The Poodle Boys.jpg|150 px]] [[File:The Poodle Boys2.jpg|275 px]]

[[Running Sheet Raphael - The Poodle Boys]]

Swirly(left), Fudge(center), Berk-Berk(right)
*Elemental Dufirosm of Movement
*All 3 are Litter Brothers

==='''<big>Intelligent Beings aka People</big>'''===

===='''Aanika aka Slugger'''====
[[File:Slugger5.jpg|150 px]]

[[Running Sheet Slugger / Aanika]]

*Found in Tucson, Plague World (Raphael's Home World). Appeared to be a Child of 10 to 11 years of age.
*Later Rafe discovered she was an Amberite but no info on her true name or parentage.
**Rafe discovered later that she is an Avalonian; Daughter of Corwin and presumably Dierdre.
*Holder of a Medallion of Mesob, Holder of Ft. Garland Sigil Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery. Avalon Pattern Imprint
*Shape Shifted back to a young adult (20ish) after completing her Mind Blanking Experience upon walking the Pattern of Avalon
*Fighter, Grenadier, Circus Roustabout

===='''<big>Curious</big>'''====
[[File:Curious.jpg|150 px]]

[[Curious]]

*Large Tuxedo Cat; Masoja Dufiro of Guard
**Slugger's Cat; Slugger's Protector / Guardian

===='''Father Fitz William of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Fitzwilliam.jpg|150 px]]

[[Running Sheet Fitz William]]
*Traveling Companion, Friend and Advisor; Male Dwarf. From Change World; Fort Garland
*Low Order Clericism & Ritualism. Retired Professor & Historian, Retired Military, Walking Deadman Member.
*Medallion of Mesob Holder. Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery.

===='''Wrecker of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Wrecker.jpg|150 px]]

[[Running Sheet Wrecker]]
*Traveling Companion and Friend. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Fighter & Demolisher. Retired Military. Trucker / Wrecker Driver.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Cantrips w/ possibility of Spells
*Best Friends with Reggy

===='''Reggy of the Denver Orcs'''====
[[File:Reggy1.jpg|150 px]]

[[Running Sheet Reggy]]
*Traveling Companion; Male Orc. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Thief. Good Planner & 'Criminal' Thinker. Possible military background.
*Former Police Detective - Denver, CO. (dirty cop?)
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Cantrips w/ possibility of Spells.
*Best Friends with Wrecker.

===='''Collette of Ft. Garland'''====
[[File:Christine Corelle aka Colette.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Christine Corelle]]
*Traveling Companion; Female Human. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Low Order Druid, Alchemist, Mage. Medical Doctor. Avid Hiker
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery. Magical Fairy Shape.

===='''Runner of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:ADV-Runner.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Runner - Arco Boys]]

*Traveling Companion; Elf. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Outdoorsman, Mountain Guide, Marksman, Archer.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery.
*In a relationship with Olive & Sylex
*INHABITED by 3 Spasa Dufiro of Death (willingly)
**Shozuax, Oxozath, Nezhoqeh.

===='''Olive the Orion from Alamond'''====
[[File:Olive7.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Olive-Orion]]

*Traveling Companion [NEW]: Female Orion. Joined up in Alamond, was involved with Candy & Kole already.
*Thief, Motorcycle Stunt Performer, Roller Derby Jammer
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change.
*In a relationship with Runner & Sylex

===='''Gunner of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Gunner.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Gunner - Arco Boys]]

*Traveling Companion; Dwarf. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Fighter, Retired Soldier, Weapons Specialist, Mechanic.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change.
*Short Term Apprentice to Vulcanious (Dwarven version of Vulcan the God of Smithing)

===='''Doctor Len Parsons of Hepplewhite's'''====
[[File:Drlenparsons.jpg|150px]] [[File:Dr.Len2.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Dr. Len Parsons]]

[[Running Sheet Dr Len]]

*Traveling Companion; Human Midget. From Hepplewhite's Traveling Circus ala Zachary Hepplewhite of Amber.
*Multi-World Certified MD, Multi-Decade Veteran of The Circus Life.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint. Low Order Sorcery & Avalon Shape Change.

===='''Candy of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Candy-Arco.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Candy-Arco Boy]]

*Traveling Companion; Female Dwarf. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Fighter, Mechanic, Scout, Information Gatherer.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery.
*In a relationship with Kole

===='''Kole of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Kole2.png|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Kole]]

*Traveling Companion; Male Dwarf. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Genius Mechanic, Retired Soldier, Fighter.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change.
*In a relationship with Candy

===='''Elmer Ellswroth of Alamond'''====
''aka Elmer Frisk aka Ernst Tugendhat''

[[File:ADV-Elmer Ellswroth.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Elmer Ellswroth]]
*Traveling Companion: Male Human. Joined up in Alamond.
*Retired Military, Combat Trainer, Sniper, Tactician.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change.
*Lanthanite; 2,600 plus years old
**Former German and US Marine Sniper
**Born 602 BC on an Earth World
***Same Earth World as the North Dakota Freemasons

===='''<big>Gadia aka Gadget</big>'''====
[[File:Gadget-a.jpg|150px]][[File:Gadget2.jpg|150px]] [[File:Gadget-silky terrier.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Gadia- Gadget]]
*Followed Raphael from Deselduia
*Banished(?) Hound of Mandalay
*Fighter, Musician
*Good with mechanical things
*Currently off on her own adventures

[[Getting the Band Together]]

===='''<big>Sylex</big>'''====
[[File:D-Sylex.jpg|150px]]

Avasa of Water & Conflict

[[Running Sheet Sylex]]

===='''<big>Bently</big>'''====
'''''Bentlisilyoxxous Haxasksadaz'''''

[[File:Bently.jpg|150px]]

Masoja Dufiro of Dance

[[Running Sheet Bently]]

===='''<big>Hasara</big>'''====
[[File:Hasara gomon.jpg|150px]]

Hasara Gomon; Blade Warrior
*Free Warriors of Ang Ri

[[Running Sheet Hasara Goion]]

===='''<big>Syvik</big>'''====
[[File:Syvik.jpg|150px]]

Syvik; Blade Warrior
*Free Warrior of Ang Ri
*From the Ang Ri Swamps

[[Running Sheet Syvik]]

====<big>'''Randy Dandy'''</big>====
[[File:Randy dandy.jpg|150px]]

Randy Dandy; Front Warrior
*Free Warriors of Ang Ri
*Tall Dwarf from a Shadow at War near Ang Ri
*Older Brother to Dekon Dandy

[[Running Sheet Randy dandy]]

===='''<big>Dekon Dandy</big>'''====
[[File:Dekon Dandy.jpg|150px]]

Dekon Dandy; Blade Warrior
*Free Warriors of Ang Ri
*Tall Dwarf from a Shadow at War near Ang Ri
*Younger Brother to Randy Dandy

[[Running Sheet Dekon Dandy]]

===='''<big>Falcion</big>'''====
[[File:Falcion trump.jpg|150px]]

Falcion; Grade (Blade?) Warrior
*Formerly of Ludus CannyCans of Ang Ri
[[Running Sheet Falcion]]

===='''<big>Larry</big>'''====
*Total Warrior Medic from Tosia
**Plays Rugby
**Assigned to the AS by Fortunadus

===='''<big>Barry</big>'''====
*Total Warrior Medic from Tosia
**Computer Hacker
**Assigned to the AS by Fortunadus

==='''Personally Known Dufirosm'''===
Raphael knows SOOOOOO many Dufiro, I had to make a Wiki Page for them all.

[[Dufiro known by Raphael]]

====Raphax's Dufiro Contrats & Agreements====

[[Raphax's Dufiro Contrats & Agreements]]

===Memberships: Guilds, Societies, Parties & Other===

'''[[RaphaXaelicus Adventurers Band]]'''
*Leader and Founder: Rapaheal de la Varga
*All Members of the FG Adventurers Society are Members

'''[[Garde du Corps]]'''
*King Corwin's Elite Advisors of [[Avalon]]
*Newest Member

'''[[Belle Époque salon]]'''
*Paris, Avalon

'''[[Ludus Daltus]]'''
*Fighting School; Ang Ri
**Run by Prince Dalt of Amber
*Member and Front Warrior

'''[[Fort Garland Adventurers' Society]]'''
*Leader & Founder

'''[[Guardians' Guild; Fort Garland Chapter]]'''
*Guild Master & Founder

'''The Dufirosm ([[Dufirosm Revision]])'''
*'''The Party for Life'''
**Member as Written is Rafe's Dufiro Tomes
*'''The Party for the Defense of Amber'''
**Member by Verbal Agreement with Curious aka Crizacraxix Galxata
*'''The Party for the Defense of Avalon'''
**Member by Verbal Agreement with Curious aka Crizacraxix Galxata
*'''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''
**Rafe has Agreed to Join and was given Access to Events and Facilities but Membership is still Pending.
***UPDATE: Rafe has now met Shantranixix, so I think his Membership is now official. hehe
*'''Hierarchy of Shifters'''
**Member by Race: Change Elemental
*'''Hierarchy of Motion'''
**Member by Race: Movement Elemental
*'''Hierarchy of Earth'''
**Member by Race: Earth Elemental & Spasa

=='''Items: Magical or Powered {21 (108)}'''==
Yet to be Acquired: [[Cremator, The Undead Destroyer]] and [[Transforming Combiner Motorcycles]]

==='''(50) [[Medalion of Mesob]]'''===
This medallion was found in the shape of a foot with an odd toe configuration. It appeared to be made of a shiny golden metal, possibly gold or brass, and it bore odd swirl patterns on each toe and a Powerful Design at the center of the foot-shaped medallion. Once touched, it remained solid for only a couple of seconds before appearing to 'disappear'... 'quickly melt away'... 'melt into the body'... 'be absorbed into the body'. It took several hours up to several days before all the Powers became active and for Rafe to discover them... well, most of them.

====Undiscovered Powers====
*Moments warning upon attack, Flash

====Transferred Powers====
*Cantrips - 20 possible, Immortality - Istari Immortality: Vast spectrum medical protections, Improved physical attributes: Raises a Human to '''Chaos Rank''' stats, Immunity to Lycanthropy, Immunity to Undead Magics and Magical Attacks, Immunity to Illness: Complete immunity to sickness, Clean Body - Self and Other, Identify Character Class, Race, Approx. Level, Recognize Mesobians / Medallion Wearers, Shadowwalk - Similar to Broken Pattern Shadow Walk - Shadowwalk toward Medallion Wearer if known, Regeneration, Reverse Conjuration, Animal Friendship, Passwall, Phase Walk

===9 (79) Rafe's Bronze Armor===
[[File:Bronze nugget.jpg|150px]] [[File:Rafe armor.jpg|150px]] [[File:Rafe helms1.jpg|150px]] [[File:Bronze Nugget1.jpg|150 px]]

This Customized suit of armor consisting of custom forged pieces and pieces selected from different Horde Armor Collections, was Crafted at the Lava Forges at Fireside Village on Rasak as a Reward from Prince Dalt of Eregenor. The Armor was conceived of by Raphael, designed by Raphael, Bronze Nugget; a Spasa Dufiro of Blending, and Vulcanious; the Dwarven versions of Vulcan; the God of Smithing. It was Forged, Empowered and Assembled by Valcanious and Bronze Nugget, whose final action was to Inhabit the Cuirass.

''NOTE: In its Base Form, regardless of materials used in each individual piece, all metal pieces appear to be polished dark bronze and all leather and cloth pieces are black.''

{| class="wikitable"
|''' 9 (9) Bronze Lorica Segmentata Cuirass'''
*4 Invulnerable to All Conventional Weapons
**+5 Transfer Quality to Wearer
*2 Danger Sense
*4 <span style=color:red>Limited Shape Shift</span>
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*1 Ability - Weightless
*1 Ability - Fire/Heat Resistant
**Temperature Controlled
*Forged by Vulcanious
*Custom Crafted for Raphael
*Inhabited by Bronze Nugget
**Spasa Dufiro of Blending

|<big>POINT BREAKDOWN</big>

'''9 pips for Bronze Nugget'''
*''Elemental'': Earth & Mixing - Bronze
*''Spasa'': Earth, Guard - Vs Guns (2)
**Fire - Temp Control & Fire Resist (1)
***Mostly Weightless (1)
**Rust - Danger Sense (2)
**Guard - Ability Call to don/ Return (1)
**Blending - N/N Forms (2)

'''9 pips for Rafe'''
*+2 raise Armored vs Guns to Invulnerable
*+5 Transfer Quality (Invulnerable) to Wearer
*+2 raise N/N Forms to Limited Shape Shift

|'''(6) Vorpal Collar'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*4 Invulnerable: Protection from Decapitation.
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Call to don/Return</span>

'''(4) Hidden Cod Piece'''
*4 Invulnerable
*Sewn into groin area of Undergarment pants

'''(5) Undergarments; Black'''
*Pants & Shirt; Padded, Ultrathin
*1 Animal Vitality
*2 Armored Vs Firearms
*2 <span style=color:red>N/N Forms</span>: Ultrathin Padding (X5 sizes), Street Clothes (X4 sizes),

|-
|'''(10) Roman Gladiator Helmet'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*2 Double Damage: Head Butt
*4 Invulnerable
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*2 <span style=color:red>N/N Forms</span>: Helmet w/ Grate Faceplate (X3 sizes), Helmet w/ Skull Faceplate (X2 sizes), Bronze Headband, Green Baseball Cap, Black Gambler Hat w/Bronze Hatband, Green Motorcycle Helmet w/Bronze Tinted Visor,
*Modified Stock Item
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|'''(9) Rasak Gloves (pair)'''
*2 Armored vs Guns
*2 Double Damage: fist attacks
*2 Combat Reflexes
**Equals difficult to drop item in hand
***Avoid using grenades
*1 Self-healing
*2 <span style=color:red>N/N Forms</span>: Bronze Armored Gauntlets (X5 sizes), Black Suede Leather Gauntlets (X3 sizes), White Formal Cloth Gloves, Matching Spiked Leather Bracelets, Insulated Mittens; Industrial Use,
*''Gift from Doria''
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|'''(10) War Boots (pair)'''
*4 Invulnerable
*4 Deadly Damage: Steel Toes
*2 <span style=color:red>N/N Forms</span>: Heavy Boots w/ Bronze Capped Toes (X5 sizes), Green Running Shoes (X5 sizes), Black Dress Boots w/Bronze Trimmings,
*''Gift from Doria''
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|-
|'''(10) Vambraces (pair)'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*2 Double Speed: hand / arm attacks
*2 Double Damage: forearm strike
*4 Invulnerable
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*''Gift from Doria''
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|'''(6) Armor Plated War Kilt'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*4 Invulnerable
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*Modified Stock Item
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|'''(10) Grieves (pair)'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*2 Double Speed: running
*2 Amber Stamina
*4 Invulnerable.
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*''Gift from Doria''
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|-
|}

===(19) Rafe's Fire Hammer, ''Sharax''===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|
[[File:Firehammer.jpg|150 px]][[File:Sharax, Masoja of Fire.jpg|150px]]
|
A Double Headed War Hammer [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/General_and_Known_Pointed_Artifact_Descriptions#Rafe.27s_Fire_Hammer]] with a Hammer Head, Shaft Band and Butt Cap made of Black Mithril, a Shaft made from Ang Ri Ironwood and a Handle that's wrapped with an unknown type of Leather.
*Crafted by Falat Agata, Avasa Duriro of Iron, Forge Journeyman under Tursa Ga.
**'' 'I made this black mithril hammer to accept any grade of race. I am pleased a Masoja of Fire will bind to it. The handle changes from a foot to 6 feet. It is a war weapon but can be used as a forge hammer.' ''
*A gift from Curious, Masoja of Guard, for Rafe's Matched Elevation to Spasa of Earth

|-
|
*2 Chaos Vitality
*2 Double Speed
*2 Combat Reflexes
*2 Double Damage
*4 Deadly Damage to undead
*1 Sensitivity to Undead
*1 Ability Hammer Flames for additional Damage or other uses.
*1 Ability Parry. Effective Parry
*1 Ability Consume and destroy Undead energy forces on contact for damage.
*1 Ability. Call to Hand 100 mile radius
*(2) N/N forms. Shaft changes size. 1ft - 6ft (Ability of the Hammer)
**19 Pips
|
THE CONTRACT: (for above listed Powers minus the N/N forms)
*Self-Bound Masoja Dufiro of Fire (Sharax[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dufiro_known_by_Raphael#Sharax.2C_Masoja_of_Fire]]) and an unnamed Bound Spasa of Motion. (Bound by Sharax)
*Rafe negotiated the Bargain for Self-Bound Service with Sharax.
*'' "So, you offer to Self-Bind to this War Hammer that you find acceptable for Binding and for your Status. You wish to remain submerged, mind dark till the Term of Service is completed, an agreed upon length of two years 'on the hip', when renegotiation takes place. The powers to be provided are: To Combat Undead, Detect Undead, Parry, Flame Weapon, Destruction of Undead Life Force, Fire Powers ranging from cooking to forging or anything between, controllable by me, as needs be. In trade a forest, 50,000sq miles. A Lich slain. If the Lich is not slain by the end of Term I will be registered as breaking a binding oath with the Council of the Dufirosm. Since you wish to be submerged, my Confidentiality Agreement is essentially moot yet fulfilled, so I will give one thousand years of Testimony of Good Service." ''~Rafe
*'' "I would like to request one final Power, if it is yours to grant; the ability to summon the weapon to hand, no matter where it might be." ''~Rafe
*'' "I can not grant that. However, I have a Member of my Knot, a new one, a newly raised Spasa of Motion. He will Serve the same Term as I. Receive your Testimony for his next Spasa Race in the deal. He can provide weapon movement." ''~Sharax of Fire
|-
|}

===(13) Sigil Guardian Blade===
A Minor '''Pattern Blade of Avalon'''

{| class="wikitable"
|[[File:Fortunadus' Officer's Blade2.png]]
*4 Deadly Damage
*4 Invulnerable
*2 Double Speed
*1 Combat Training (specific to this blade)
*1 Stamina (Blade's lightness and custom design causes it to wear on wielder half as much as a similar blade)
*1 Ability Call to hand
*0 Alt. Form: Walking Stick (Warrick)
|
Only four (4) of these Blades are known to exist. They were Gifted/Loaned by Fortunadus Enright.
*Reardan Metal Blade. Light-weight and Fast. Nearly Indestructible. Sharp enough to shave Titanium. Throws well.
*Held by Rafael de la Varga, Fitz William, Kip of the Arco Boys, and the Current Sigil Guard.
*Once the Property of Fortunadus Enright of Tosa; Thrice Crowned Bard, Co-Leader of CHAD
*The Blade Bearer is able to Summon (Call) Fort (Rafe now?) when the blade is drawn and the name 'Fortunadus' (Raphael?) is spoken.
**The Blade Bearer can be Summoned by Fort to his location.
|}

===(7) Red Dagger===
Gift from the Pattern Ghost of King Eric of Amber.
*The Dagger was delivered by Florimel of Amber with a message from the Ghost of King Eric: '' "Don't visit Amber." ''

[[file:ericknife.jpg|150 px]]
*2 Double Speed.
*4 Deadly Damage.
*1 Ability: Call to hand
*Exceptionally well balanced.
*Excellent for Throwing.

===6 Rafe's Backpack of Holding===
[[File:Rafe's Back Pack.jpg|100px]]
*Customized Military Backpack w/ light-weight rigid frame
*1 Bag of Holding - 10x5x5 (main pocket)
*2 Bag of Holding - 5x3x3 (2) (Outer Pocket; front, Hidden Pocket behind)
***Contents are easily accessible and effectively weightless
*1 Ability – Summon to Body
*2 N/N Forms (12)
**(Military Backpack, Well-used Military Backpack, Well-used Leather Backpack)
**(Leather Messenger Bag, Leather Saddle Bags, Large Dog Pack; Leather)
**(Well-used Army Field Jacket, Heavy Hooded Cloak, Heavy Cape w/pockets)
**(Leather Duster, Heavy Insulated Long Parka, Water-proof Trench Coat w/hood)

===4 Rafe's Spell Shuriken (12)===
[[File:Rafe's Spell Shuriken.jpeg|200px]]
*1 Rack Spell
*1 Ability - Summon to Hand
*X2 N/#d Quantity: One Dozen (12)
**Each Shuriken can Rack a single spell. The Spell requires a Sorcerer to Rack and release it (Lynchpins).

===2 Rafe's Desert Eagle Fifty===
[[File:Rafe's Desert Eagle XIX 50AE.jpg|200px]]
* Desert Eagle XIX 50AE, Bronze Edition
**1 Ability – Reload local Ammo
**1 Ability – Summon to Hand
***7 round clip (3 clips)
***2000 rnds ammo

===Bard's Stone===
[[File:Bard's Stone.jpg|200px]] [[File:Bard's Stone2.jpg|200px]]

*Small Round Stone Tablet
**Given by Digan (Gift from Fort?)

===Focus Stone===
[[File:Moai Head Rightside.jpg|100px]] [[File:Moai Head Leftside.jpg|100px]]

*Small Carving of a Moai Head made from Milky Quartz
**(Rafe carved this; his first ever attempt at rock carving.)
**NOT CURRENTLY EMPOWERED... or IS IT???

===Raphael's Poisoning Goblet===
[[File:Death Dufiro Poisoning Goblet.jpg|100px]]
*Fine Crystal Glass inhabited by a Bound Spasa Dufiro of Death: ''Thansheq''
**Force Bound by RaphaXaelicus in Paris, Avalon
*Turns any liquid poured into it, into Poison.
**NO change in color, odor or taste.

=='''Trump Decks & Cards: Magical & Mundane'''==
===Magical===
====Decks: Full & Partial====
*Garde du Corps Cell Phone
**Special Avalon Trump Deck / Artifact
**Part of a larger Construct

*Avalon Trumps (partial) [[King Corwin's Deck]]
**Avalon/Paris-1880
***gift from Warrick
**Aanika, Princess of Avalon
***Gift from Slugger aka Aanika
**Nasine Maker; Druid
**Adaile Dunas; General
**Raphael de la Varga

*Bardic Trump Deck (full) w/Card Box
**Gift from Fortunadus
**Fort, Digan, Bardic College of Wall, Castle Garland, others...

====Individual Cards====
*Archie (Riding a Rollercoaster)
**Alamond Trump
**Makes Popcorn
*Alexandra Mira
**Personal Trump?
**Contact Only

===Mundane Decks===
*King Random Deck in a simple wooden box (Gift from Zachary)
**Accompanying Literature
**Signed Cards: Zachary, Tesara, Alexandra, Dalt, Vek,

*[[Bursain]] Deck [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Jeweled_Amber_Trump_Decks.#The_Bursain_Deck]] in a thin Ebony Box
**Discovered in the left breast pocket of my flannel shirt
**Magically Updates and Distributes
**Signed Cards: Zachary, Vek,

=='''Books & Tomes: Magical & Mundane'''==

===Summoning Tomes: Dufiro & Other===
NOTE: ALL Copies of Raphaxaelicus's Dufiro Tomes, The Dog Brothers Dufiro Tomes and The Guardians Guild Tomes (that have NOT been Gifted or Bargained for) as well as any and all Tomes that have been Gifted to Raphaxaelicus, or Bargained for by him, are Stored in a bookcase in RaphaX's Billet in Shifters Hall at the Hagia Salas in the City of Ahyk within the Dufirtrusa; the Dufiro Realms near to the Black Zone of Chaos.

====Personal Summoning Tomes====
*''Guardians' Guild Summoning Tome'' (5)
**Written by Nur al-Din - Ancient Tosian Magic
***''Selaka looks to Digan, "The Dufireant wrote a summoning book for him? Really?" Digan nods, "Yes, but not a Dufiro Tome. It was Tosian World Stone Magic. Fortunadus is the High Priest of Venki. Rafe here is a user of certain herbs that are part of Venkian Writ. The Summoning Tome makes him a Minor Hero of the Venkian Sect of the Church of the Worldly. His... adventures... are being retold in taverns throughout the Tosian spheres."''

*''Elemental Dufiro of Change Summoning Tome'' (20)
**Written by Adalou; Masoja of Shifter [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dufiro#Adalou]]
***Calling & Summoning Names are in Nethak. Binding Name is in Kolbashic.
**Copies: Adalou (Original), Curious, Shantranixix,

*''Elemental Dufiro of Movement Summoning Tome'' (?)
**Written by Adalou; Masoja of Shifter / Spasa of Speed
***Calling & Summoning Names are in Nethak. Binding Name is in Kolbashic.
**Copies: Adalou (Original), Curious, Shantranixix,

*''Elemental Dufiro of Earth Summoning Tome'' (?)
**Written by Shantranixix; Masoja of Life, Earth
***Calling & Summoning Names are in Nethak. Binding Name is in Kolbashic.
**Copies: Shantranixix (Original), Curious, Adalou,

*''Spasa Dufiro of Earth Summoning Tome'' (?)
**Written by Shantranixix; Masoja of Life, Earth
***Calling & Summoning Names are in Nethak. Binding Name is in Kolbashic.
**Copies: Shantranixix (Original), Curious, Adalou, Kichabqhisreeceeb (Calling), Glkaxxsik (Calling), Dalt of Amber (Calling),

====Dufiro Tomes Possessed by Rafe====
For a List of Tomes Possessed and Whose, click the link [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dufiro_known_by_Raphael#Dufiro_Tomes_Possessed_by_RaphaX]]

====A List of Dufiro Tomes possessed by Dalt====
The Danbury Collection [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dalt's_Tomes#The_Dandbury_Collection]]

===Raphael's Spell Books===
*[[Raphael's Spell Book]]
**A collection of Sorcery Spells given to and created by Raphael
**The Spell Book was a Gift from Zacahry
*Halta Spells (from The Danbury Collection)
**Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Relek Rituals (Not strictly a spell book)
**Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Magery: 3rd Level Spells - The Damage Group
**The Lightning Suite: Ball Lightning ,Lightning Bolt, Lightning Dart & Mini-Bolt.
**The Fire Suite: Fire Ball, Fire Dart, Flame, Heat Cone, Ball of Fire, Mini-Wide Heat Cone, Mini-Ball, & Maxi-Ball.
**The Cold Suite: Cold Cone, Mini-Cold Cone, Mini-Wide Cold Cone.
**also has a couple of the Strength Spells, Continual Light, and Wizard Light.
***Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Magery: 6th Level Spells
**This tome has Acid Protection, Astral Eye, Air Wall, Bomb, Animate Object, Geas, Area Muscle Spasm, Projected Image, Move Earth, Part Water, Sustained Dimension Door, Passenger Teleportation, Wizard Wind, Stone to Flesh.
***Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
***''“Of these Astral Eye, Geas, and Sustained Dimension Door are the most useful. A mage might kill to get this in his racks. Of course its all Low Order. A High Order protection spell would wallop all this stuff, but without that... its pretty tough stuff. I've yet to see a really functional High Order Geas spell. But Geas is one of the first powers a Wisher-aspirant dives for when they take Masoja of Knowledge Go figure.”'' '''~Bentalisix'''

==='''Other Books'''===
*The Story of the Trio Shifters
**Gift from Breasda; Masoja of Vision (formerly Wisher)
**Rafe is to make 100 copies for Breasda
***Figuring out the Author is a Challenge for Rafe to complete
***An additional 100 copies for a Screening in Spasa of Paper

*A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny
**Rafe brought this from his Home World

*The Art of War by Sun Tzu
**Rafe brought this from his Home World

*Origami Basics
**Gift from Lenyia, The Origami Dragon

*Cardinal's Journals; blank (300)
**from St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Plague World

=='''Non-magical Equipment'''==

==='''Armor'''===
*Bullet-Proof Body Armor; full body, light-weight
**Black Plates & Yellow Kevlar-like Fabric
**Looks like a Motorcycle Riding Suit
**Includes Kevlar-like Fabric Coif
[[File:Raphael's Tactical Body Armor.jpg|100px]]

*Wehrmacht Motorcycle Helmet; Bullet-Proof
**Black; padded, chin strap
[[File:Raphael's Wermacht Helmet.jpg|100px]]

*Skull Face-Mask; high quality materials
**Flack Resistant; nearly Bullet-Proof
[[File:SkullMask.jpg|100px]]

*Roman-style Metal Armor
**shiny Steel w/ Brass fittings
**includes Leg Armor
***can be worn Over Bullet-Proof Body Armor
**includes full Padding
***NOT worn with Bullet-Proof Body Armor
*Roman-style Metal Helmet
**shiny Steel, with Brass accents
[[File:Roman Armor.jpg|200px]]

**SPECIAL NOTE: This suit of Armor has been repaired and 'heat tempered' by the Magical Dwarves of Fort Garland

==='''Firearms'''===
*9mm Automatic (Pair); H&K VP9
**20 round clip (10 clips)
**10,000 rnds ammo
*.30-06 cal Rifle, Bolt Action
**5 round built-in clip
**Best Possible Adjustable Scope (NEW)
**1000 rounds 30-06 ammo
*UNKNOWN Handgun from Zachary??
**Did he ask for it back?
*UNKNOWN Handgun from Ansahal??
**Did it teleport with Rafe?

==='''Weapons & Tools'''===
*Light-Saber
[[File:Raphael's Lightsaber Tool.jpg|100px]]
**White energy blade
**Three settings: Sword, Dagger, Needle

*Throwing Weapons; highest quality
**Daggers, Knives, Spikes and Stars
*Khukuri Knife; Thick Heavy Blade w/ throat notch
*Utility & Pocket Knives, Assortment
*Mechanic's Leatherman Tool

====''On Loan or in/on Backpack''====
*Hard-wood Handles (2); 3ft long & Removable Metal Heads (4); custom made
**Warhammer w/Curved Spike, Bearded Axe; Single Blade, Double Pick, Double Mattock
*Modern Forged Swords (2) [with Backpack or On Loan]
**[Highest possible Quality materials and workmanship]
**Katana; folded steel, carved white oak handle (stack of skulls)
**Moro Sword; straight blade w/ wavy edge, double edged, razor sharp, skull coin pommel
[[File:Moro.jpg|100px]]

==='''Clothing & Accessories'''===
*Human-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Dwarf-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Gnome-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Elf-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Orc-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Footwear; assorted sizes & types
*Leather Belts, Baldrics & Sheaths
*Nylon Sheathes, Cases & Ammo Pouches

Specialty Clothing
*Garde du Corps Tabard (Avalon)
**Blue with Bear Emblem
*Avalon Suits (10)
**Formal, Dress, Casual(2), Explorer, Everyday(5)
*Military Rain Gear (Hooded Slicker, Pants, Pull-over Boots, Gauntlets)
*Military Camo Poncho w/ drawstring hood
*Circus Themed Costumes; Assorted
*Circus Themed Accessories; Assorted

==='''Specialized Equipment'''===
*Army Medic First Aid Kit (well stocked)
*Modern Military (Surplus) Gas Mask w/ hood & clean filters
*Dog Gear (3 each): Harnesses, Leashes, Flexi-leashes, Sets of Padded Dog Shoes, Knitted Woolen Jumpers
*Small Assortment of Grooming Tools; Human and Dog
*Camping Gear; Personal (Shelter, Sleeping Gear, Cooking Gear, Folding E-Tool, Fire Starting Kit, Hatchet, Flashlights, Ropes, Spikes)
*Laptop Computer & Accessories (Power & USB Cords, Earbuds, Smart Speakers, 3 USB Charging Batteries)
*Large Assortment of Gaming Dice in a Special Edition Green Crown Royal Bag
*Standard Playing Cards; (2) Decks
*Cribbage Board; small, folding w/ sliding panel & compartment for tiny wooden scoring pegs

*1 Gigawatt TW Micro Nuclear Reactor
**Looks like a USB Drive
**Gift from Fort

*TW (Total Warrior) High Tech Medical Devices
**Medical Tricorder
**Tissue Regenerator
**Bone Regenerator
***All are disguised to look like Magical Items

==='''Food & Luxuries'''===
*Dried & canned foods, including MREs (large assortment)
*Bag of dog food & dog treats (large assortment)
*Box of Cohiba Behike (3/4 gone)
*Box of Delesduia Exploding Cigars (2)
*Box of Delesduia hand rolled skinnies (50 left)
*Large amount of Medical Grade Marijuana; Sativa
*Case of Pappy van Winkle Whiskey (4 bottles remain)
*(9) Cone Joints, Filtered; Half Urala, Half Truncha Green dusted with Colorful Powder
**Acquired from Lenyia
*(1) Bindle of Colorful Powder
**Acquired from Lenyia
*Box of Urala Cigars; 20/box (10 boxes)
**acquired at Vulsar Base
*Case Romulan Ale; 12 bottles
**acquired at Vulsar Base
*Humbolt Purple Frosting; 1kg
**acquired at Vulsar Base
*Candy & Snacks; Assorted (a lot)
**Acquired at Oramuy's in Ahyk

==='''Monies'''===
*49,400 Ounces(3,087.5 Pounds) of Pure Gold (Rated .99999)
**All Stamped Ingots & Mini-Bars: India
**Various Weights: 1oz, 2oz, 4oz, 8oz, 16oz/1lb
*80 Adabalb (metal cubes)
**Currency of The Dufiro Realms
*Coinage of Ang Ri; Silver mostly.
**Fight Winnings and Betting on Fights Winnings
*10 Ingots of Mithril; 1oz each
**Rafe helped smelt the ore with Dalt to make it.

[[San Cristobal Cargo]]

==='''Trinkets/Momento Mori'''===
*Small Harmonica
**Belonged to my Biological Grandfather on my Biological Mother's side
**He carried it during WWII
**Reminds me of half of my biological family that I only bare got to know.
*Eye Necklace
**Made by my Best Friend
**Belonged to and worn by my Best Friend
**Given to me on her death bed
*Strand of medium sized green beads w/ a Llama charm at one end & a Rabbit charm at the other.
**Reminds me of my Son
**Reminds me that no matter how charmed one is, life can be short.
*Leather Wallet, Brown; Black (Ink) Skull in profile
**Gift from Best Friend's Mom
**Reminds me of the true kindness of strangers
*Skull Face Carving; Small, Applewood (I made this)
**Reminds of Mortality Itself and my Mortality.
***Update: Now reminds me that I can still die despite my new Immortality.

==='''Vehicles & Accessories'''===
[[File:Rafe's RV.jpeg|200px]]
*Airstream Motorhome; Large, Steampunk Style
**Exterior: Copper, Brass, Brushed Steel Plates & Rivets
**Exterior: Turn-Wheel Handles, Superfluous Gears, Lenses, Gauges, Vacuum Tubes, Wires, Tubing, Etc.
**Interior: Cock Pit & Main Sitting Area; Steampunk Style
***Lots of Wood; polished Pine
***Lots of Brass and Copper Metal Knobs, Gears, Gauges, Wires, Lenses, etc.
**Interior: Bed Rooms (3) & Bath Rooms (1 1/2)
***Modern Styled; Comfortable, Functional and Durable

[[File:Rafe's Toy Hauler.jpg|200px]]
*Airstream Toy Hauler; Steampunk Style (Converted interior)
**Exterior: (same as Motorhome above)
**Interior: Modern & Functional; Designed to hold 4 motorcycles
***contains Tools and Parts to repair Motorhome and Motorcycles

[[File:BadBoy Harley.jpg|200px]]
*Yellow 1958 Harley Davidson w/ Armored Sidecar
**Gear Shifter on Right Hand side of Gas Tank, Left Foot Clutch(toe down)
**Right Foot Rear Brake(toe down), Left Hand Front Brake
**Fixed Up by the Arco Boys of Fort Garland (Magical Dwarves)
***Armored Sidecar added from different model motorcycle; Perfect Fit
***Throttle Sticks in an odd way; like a Cruise Control
*Green Motorcycle Helmet - Buck's Helmet (in nose of sidecar)

*Kawasaki KTX 500 Enduro Motorcycle
**Stealth Black (New Paint Job coming soon...)

==='''Other Weird Things'''===
*Bullets (2) with Purple Gunpowder
**Gift from Casey; Shade of Caine; Amber Fallen
**Dream Walking when Powder is imbibed in any way
**Casey told Rafe to use one and think of him if he wanted to talk

*Vial - 3 grams (dust) of Paradoxian Tosian Melange (Pmel)
**Gift from Fortunadus Enright
*Sheet - 24 tablets of Yorkian Melange (Ymel)
** -2 tabs
**Gift from Fortunadus Enright

*Confian Silver Coin
**Payment from Conf for delivering a message to Fortunadus
**Opens doors in the Tosian Multiverse
**No actual exchange rate

*ASF Communicator; TOS Style
**Cross-Shadow Comms via Amber Inscribed Trump
**Gift from V'ger; Sentient AI of Vulsar Base
***Rafe is to stay in comms with her re: War in Ang Ri

*Cross-Shadow Time Piece
**Wrist Watch
**picked up at Vulsar Base, Vulsara

=='''Shadows {3}'''==
*1 Phase Access - Mesob
**Ability to Enter and Exit the Shadow of Phase which seems to overlap all of Shadow.

*2 [[Raphael's Personal Shadow]]
**'''"Rest Stop"''' 2 points
***1 Personal Shadow
***1 Control of Contents

*0 Billet at Changers Hall
**Located in the Shadow of Ahyk in the heart of the Dufirtrusa (Dufiro Realms near the Black Zone of Chaos)

*0 ''Garland aka Change World''
**[[Fort Garland, Colorado]]
**Location of Castle Garland and the Sigil of Avalon
**''Previously Attached Shadow'': '''Removed'''. Reallocated 2 Pips.

*0 ''Bundleton Region; Alamond''
**[[Arco Station and Retreat]].

*0 ''Paris; [[Avalon]]''
**[[Hôtel de la Société des Aventuriers]]

=='''Other Important Things'''==
[[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mr. Hepplewhite?]]
*How to Call (Summon) Zachary Hepplewhite of Amber:
**Sing the Song in the Story correctly.

[[Paradoxian Melange]]

'''The Danbury Collection''' [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dalt's_Tomes#The_Dandbury_Collection]]
*A collection of Tomes belonging to Dalt

=='''WC&LGA - Ang Ri'''==

<big><span style=color:red>'''Front Warrior'''</span></big>

[[File:A--Rafe-front1.jpg]]

===Record===
*Official Fights: (31) Thirty-One
*Stats: (17-12-2) Seventeen Wins, Twelve Losses, Two Draws.
**<span style=color:red>W,W</span>,L,L,W,L,W,L,W,W [10]
**W,W,L,L,L,L,W,L,W,L [20]
**<span style=color:red>L,W,L,D,W,W,W,W,D,W</span> [30]
**<span style=color:red>W</span> [31]
***<span style=color:red>Red = RP'd Fights (13)</span>
**Represents over six months of Official Fights at Various Venues.
***Canny's CanCan, Red House, Tor Soltos, Tricha's Field Fights
***Started Grade Warrior. Blade Warrior before 3rd fight. Front Warrior by 32nd fight.
***Most Fights in a Single Day: (6) Six

====Wins====
<big>'''(17) Seventeen'''</big>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|<span style=color:red>Win One: 1st FIGHT - Grade</span>
Falcion/Grade Warrior

Ludus CannyCans - Canny's Can Can
|<span style=color:red>Win Two: 2nd FIGHT - Grade</span>
Karsa/Grade Warrior

Ludus CannyCans - Canny's Can Can
|Win Three: 5th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Four: 7th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|-
|Win Five: 9th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Six: 10th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Seven: 11th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Eight: 12th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|-
|Win Nine: 17th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Ten: 19th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|<span style=color:red>Win Eleven: 22nd FIGHT - Blade</span>
Gartax/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Ludus Krakchas - Tor Soltos
|<span style=color:red>Win Twelve: 25th FIGHT - Blade </span>
Hasara/Blade Warrior

Free Agents - Canny's Can Can; Early Fights
|-
|<span style=color:red>Win Thirteen: 26th FIGHT - Blade</span>
Zretcha/Blade Warrior

Ludus Krakchas - Red House
|<span style=color:red>Win Fourteen: 27th FIGHT - Blade</span>
Faltina; St. of Battle/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Coalition of Tosa - Tricha's Field Fights
|<span style=color:red>Win Fifteen: 28th FIGHT - Blade</span>
Zanach the Fisherman/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Ludus Krakchas - Tricha's Field Fights
|<span style=color:red>Win Sixteen: 30th FIGHT - Blade (Challenge for Front)</span>
Akkabai; Minotaur/Front Warrior

Ludus Desadal- Tricha's Field Fights
|-
|<span style=color:red>Win Seventeen: 31st FIGHT - Blade (Challenge for Front)</span>
Randy Dandy/Front Warrior

Free Agents - Tricha's Field Fights
|-
|}
</div>

====Loses====
<big>'''(12) Twelve'''</big>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|Defeat One: 3rd FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Two: 4th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Three: 6th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Four: 8th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|-
|Defeat Five: 13th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Six: 14th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Seven: 15th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Eight: 16th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|-
|Defeat Nine: 18th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Ten: 20th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|<span style=color:red>Defeat Eleven: 21st FIGHT - Blade</span>
Gartax; Lizardman/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Ludus Krakchas - Tor Soltos
|<span style=color:red>Defeat Twelve: 23rd FIGHT - Blade</span>
Gartax; Lizardman/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Ludus Krakchas - Tor Soltos
|-
|}
</div>

====Draws====
<big>'''(2) Two'''</big>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|<span style=color:red>Draw One: 24th FIGHT - Blade</span>
Dekon Dandy/Blade Warrior

Free Agent - Tor Soltos; Early Fights
|<span style=color:red>Draw Two: 29th FIGHT - Blade</span>
(Ruling by Lord of the Games - Oxil)

Halkask; half-giant/Blade Warrior

Ludus Desadal ; Tricha's Field Fights
|-
|}
</div>

===Rafe's Fighting Gear===
*Customized Drake Hide Rig
*Ceremonial Rig
*Water-proofed Leather Armor Coat
*Steel Toed Boots (2 pair)
*Conical Helm; Aluminum (3)
**(1) Crushed in Combat; Cut from Head
*Blackened Aluminum Arm & Leg Armor
*Wooden Weapons
**Long Swords, Birch (2)
**Long Swords, Maple (2)
**Short Swords, Oak (2)
**Mini Maul, Ironwood Head, Maple Haft
**Naginata, Birch
*Dulled Metal Weapons
**Long Swords (2)
**War Hammer or Mini Maul
*Medium Round Shield, Wooden
*Medium Round Shield, Metal
*Assorted Local Style Clothing w/various Logos
**(Pants, Shirts, Over-shirts, Jackets, Hats) (black, greens and grays)
**(Tor Soltos, The Toy Store, WG&LCA, Ludus Daltus)

===Ranks for the ''[[WC&LGA]]''===

[[File:Warriorgrades1.jpg|450px]]
[[File:Lightened gladiator bar.jpg|450px]]

===Places & People involved with the WC&LGA===
[[Ang Ri]]

[[Warrior Core and Lord Gladiators Association]]

[[Ludus Daltus]]
*Adventurer's Society Home Base

[[Ludus Vexas Avaxala]]
*Vek & Alvah

[[Canny's Can Can]]
*Adventurer's Society 1st and Favorite Fight Club

[[The Great Arena]]

[[Tor Soltos]]
*Adventurer's Society Daytime Job; lots of Challenge Fights

[[Toy Store]]
*Adventurer's Society Favorite Fighting Gear Shop

[[Free Agent Warriors]]
*Some New Friends

[[Ludus Krakchas]]
*Lizardmen. Larzakas is a 'friend' of Rafe

[[Ludus Trasidicus]]
*Mascen, Rede Feldane, others

[[Red House]]
*Adventurer's Society Late Night Clubbing Hot Spot

[[Ludus Desadal]]
*House Desadal of the Courts of Chaos

[[Excursion to Tricha's Field Fights]]
*Oddly, Rafe has been attributed/blamed for this Event occuring.

[[Coalition of Tosa]]

[[Grande arène de défis pour Avalon]]
*Not WC&LGA officially, but related
*Adventurer's Society Assets
**Small Sky Box at the great arena
**Residential Sky Box at the smaller arena
**Sky Box at unchosen Sports Arena

=='''Dufiro'''==
=== Al Asgo Illuminar ===
{| class="wikitable"
| The first Rank of the Illuminar.
| Allows access to special libraries and to the other secret places of the Illuminars.
| It is an extremely rare honor and can only be granted by a handful of great Dufiro.
| Granted by Nur al Din after Rafe's Matched Elevation in Earth.
|-
|}

NOTE ON ILLUMINAR: There are three ranks of Illuminar. Illuminars are a special subset of Dufiro. They are considered specialist and stand outside the usual definitions of race. Illuminars are special cases. The Illuminars have their own ways. Many of the rules that refrain and define other Dufiro do not effect the Illuminars.

=== Change Elemental [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Change_Elemental_Dufiros]]===
{| class="wikitable"
| 1: Be Something Else. The Living Change Form.
*Ability to make Changes to their Physical Body.
| Alter External Features:
*Facial & Body Features, Skin Color & Texture, Hair Color, Texture & Type, Etc.
| Alter Internal Features:
*Minor Alterations to Internal Organs, Systems, Structures are ''possible'' (Improve Night Vision, Improve Hearing, Adapt Lungs, etc.)
| 'Grow' Extra Limbs: '''Potential'''
*Arms, Legs, Tail, Wings, Tentacles.
|-
| 2: Transfer Aspects of Change.
*Minor ability to Change (transform) one item or substance to another.
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
|-
|}

===Movement Elemental [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Movement_Elemental_Dufiros]]===

{| class="wikitable"
| Improved Physical Dexterity, Hand Eye Coordination & Balance
*Very Unlikely to Trip, Stumble or Fumble.
| Very Efficient Movement & Body Movements
*Little to No Wasted Movements
| Nearly Effortless Movement & Body Movements
*Reduces Muscle Fatigue thereby increasing Stamina
|-
| Effective at all Movement-based Activities (Sports).
*This could include Dodging, Evading, Parrying and Blocking to some degree.
*This could include Physical Attacks being more Effective and/or Damaging to some degree.
| Quick Movement & Body Movements
*Restraint ''must'' be exerted to move more normally
| Silent Movement
*''Possible'' with restraint & concentration
|-
| Sense Movement
*Effectively a Motion Detector but similar to Radar
**Includes Sensing ''approximate'' Distance, Direction, Size and Speed
| Alter Movement
*Speed, Direction, Total Stop, Dexterity (Nimble or Fumble),
| Transfer Aspects of Movement
*??
|-
| Double Speed: Long term based on Endurance. 10 to 100 miles
| Engine Speed: Short term- Up to 10 miles based on endurance.
| Bursts of speed: up to 100 feet based on endurance. Effects cumulative
|-
|}

=== Earth Elemental [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Air_Elemental_Dufiros]]===
{| class="wikitable"
| Be a Rock: The Living Earth Form
*Sentient but Inanimate with limited Sensory Input.
**''NOTE: Animate w/ full Sensory Input; '''Change Elemental'''''
*Usually 3-4 Rock Types are known at minimum. Many Earth Elementals chose a Favorite Rock or Mineral Type in time.
| Transfer Aspects of Earth:
*Strength of Earth
*Resistance of Earth
*Stability of Earth (Immovability)
| Identify Rock Types (Igneous, Metamorphic, Sedimentary, etc.)
|-
| Identify Mineral Types (includes Stones, Metals, Crystals, Gemstones & Fossils)
| Detect Minerals, Metals, Crystals, Gemstones & Fossils
| Identify Qualities and Properties of Earth (Age, Composition, How it was Formed, How it was Changed (forged metal as an example), Purity, Radioactivity, etc.)
|-
| Immunity to Earth-Based Attacks and Weapons made of Stone or Crystal
*Reduced Damage for Metals (varies)
| Alter Earth: Soil
*Change Soil Chemistry (Refresh Soil [Fertilize], Sterilize Soil), Change Soil Type (Sand, Clay, Volcanic Earth, Dusty Earth).
| Convert Earth: Soil
*Stone to Soil, Mud to Soil, Sand to Soil.
|-
|10: Earth Attacks
*Fist of Stone, Spray Dirt, Hurl Stones, Grasping Hands of Earth
|
|
|-
|}

=== Earth Spasa [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Earth_Spasa_Dufiros]]===
{| class="wikitable"
| The Living Earth Form
*Usually 6-12 different Rock Types are common.Others vary in rarity
* A Favorite is usually chosen before Advancing to Avasa.
| Alter Earth: Stone
*Change Type of Stone to another Type of a similar rarity
| Convert Earth: Stone
*Soil to Stone, Mud to Stone.
|-
| Move Earth: Soil & Sand
*Holes, Irrigation Rows, Ditches, Trenches
*
| Move Through Earth
*Soil & Sand
*?
| Shape Earth: Soil & Sand
*Landscaping, Sculptures, Structures
*?
|-
| Summon (Create) Earth: Basic Mineral
*Able to Summon (Create) small amounts of Basic Minerals that come from the Earth.
*?
| Earth Attacks
*Gravel Spray, Hot Sand Spray, Hurl Large Stones, Quicksand (NO Water, but same effect)
*?
| <<Power>>
*?
|-
|}

===Aspirations===
{| class="wikitable"
| '''''Spasa:''''' Combat, Speed, Motion, Paper, Cleanliness, Blending, Life, Change, Growth, Guard, Song, and Carnality. POSSIBLY: Air or Water.
|-
| '''''Avasa:''''' Earth, '''Health''' ''(MUST be 2nd Race)'', Cleanliness, Speed, Conflict, Guard, Change, Blending, Growth, Shifter, Life, Knowledge, Whimsy, Carnality, Vision
|-
| '''''Masoja:''''' Change, Earth, Guard, Shifter, Growth, Health, Knowledge, Life, Combat, Strength, Warfare, Witness, Vision
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable"
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
|-
|}

===Languages===
{| class="wikitable"
| *'''''Vomos''''' or '''''Common''''' spoken by all Dufiro conversationally though most Dufiro speak Thari and other chaos languages. Elementals understand Vomos at birth and as they gain power learn to speak it. Its like a baby language.
| *'''''Gorbash''''' is a Spirit Language spoken by the less powerful Spirit Races. It's also a frequently used Dufiro conversational language.
| *'''''Releck''''' is a Spirit Language for upper power Spirits
| *'''''Nethak''''' is an Avasa language for first Avasa Race choices as well as medium power Avasa Races.
| *'''''Halta''''' is an Avasa Language for upper power Avasa.
| *'''''Nona''''' is a Masoja language often for first Masoja Races.
| *'''''Kolbashic''''' is a Masoja language used by the most powerful Masoja Races.
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|}

===Other===
[[Dufiro foods]]

=='''Miscellany'''==

[[Animals of Ang Ri]]

[[The Avalonian Code Duello-"Pour l'honneur, non pour la haine]]

==='''<big>Medallion of Mesob Emblem / Tattoo</big>'''===

[[File:Medalion of Mesob.jpg]][[File:Medalion of Mesob on hand.jpg|300 px]][[File:Medalion of Mesob on forehead.jpg]]

===Rafe's Billet at Changers Hall===
As he received it: his original Training Room

[[File:Rafe's Billet at Changers Hall.png|500px]]

As it is now, after Glaxak fixed it up

[[File:AT-Rafe's Billet.jpg|500px]]

===Quotes===

''"Adventure Abounds"''

''"Fear does not stop Death; it stops Life. And Worrying does not take away Tomorrow's Troubles; it takes away Today's Peace."'' ~Unknown

''"No amount of Regret changes the Past. No amount of Anxiety changes the Future. But '''any''' amount of Gratitude changes the Present."'' ~Unknown

''“Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie.”'' ~Miyamoto Musashi

''“Never wish them pain. That's not who you are. If they caused you pain, they must have pain inside. Wish them healing. That's what they need.”'' ~Najwa Zebian

''"The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie.'"" ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

==<big>'''Dark Winged Three'''</big>==
[[File:Rafe-Dark Winged Three.jpg|300px]]

{| class="wikitable"
|<Big>'''Sókn (Fight)''' Raven</big>
[[File:Rafe-Dark Winged Three.jpg|100px]]

*'''Description:'''
*'''Ranks'''
**(A)
**(B)

*'''Points{}'''
**'''''Total: = Stats+ Powers{c}+ Skills+{c}+ Items +0/0 allies/Enemies + Stuff+Storage'''''
*'''Statistics{}'''
**Psyche: Chaos
**Strength:1
**Endurance:15
**Warfare:Amber
*s*
**2 Chaos Vitality
**4 engine
**2 Amber Stamina
**4 Combat Mastery
**2 vs Guns
**4 Deadly Damage
**1 Able to Speak
**1 Shadow Trail
**1 Self-Heal
**1 Rack Spell:
**Bonded: Rafe, Hjarta, & Vamm
*'''Powers {}'''
**Sigil of Writnis [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Costs_%26_Powers-Jeweled_Amber#Sigil_of_Writnis]]

*'''Companions'''
** Rafe
**Hjarta
**Vamm
**Viggo Hagelin

*'''Items {}'''
** Red Eye Lens
*'''Miscellany'''
|<big>'''Hjarta (Heart)''' Magpie</big>
[[File:Rafe-Dark Winged Three.jpg|100px]]
*'''Description:'''
*'''Ranks'''
*'''Points{}'''
**'''''Total: = Stats+ Powers{c}+ Skills+{c}+ Items +0/0 allies/Enemies + Stuff+Storage'''''
*'''Statistics{}'''
**Psyche: 10
**Strength: 1
**Endurance:10
**Warfare:Amber
*'''stats '''
**2 Chaos Vitality
**2 Double Speed
**2 Amber Stamina
**1 Combat Training
**2 vs Guns
**2 Double Damage
**2 Speak & SIng
**2 Shadow Path
**1 Self-Heal
**4 Rack and Use Spell:
**Bonded: Sókn, & Vamm
*'''Powers {}'''
**Sigil of Writnis [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Costs_%26_Powers-Jeweled_Amber#Sigil_of_Writnis]]
**
*'''Companions'''
**''Sókn''
**''Vamm''
**''Viggo Hagelin''
*'''Items {}'''
**Red Eye Lens
*'''Miscellany'''
|<big>'''Vamm (Blemish)''' Rook</big>
*[[File:Rafe-Dark Winged Three.jpg|100px]]

*'''Description:'''
*'''Ranks'''
**
**
*'''Points{}'''
**'''''Total: = Stats+ Powers{c}+ Skills+{c}+ Items +0/0 allies/Enemies + Stuff+Storage'''''
*'''Statistics{}'''
**Psyche: Human
**Strength: Chaos
**Endurance:Amber
**Warfare:Human
*s
**1 Animals Vitality
**4 engine
**2 Double Stamina
**4 Invulnerable
**4 Tongues
**4 Seek in shadow
**4 Regeneration
**2 N/N Spell:
**Bonded: Hjarta, & Sókn,
*'''Powers {}'''===
**Sigil of Writnis [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Costs_%26_Powers-Jeweled_Amber#Sigil_of_Writnis]]
**
*'''Companions'''
**Hjarta
**Sókn,
**Viggo Hagelin
*'''Items {}'''
**Red Eye Lens
*'''Miscellany'''
**

Dufiro known by Raphael

2025-07-05T04:19:30Z

Relmopator: /* Avasa of Conflict - Binding Tome Ritual */

<big>'''Running Sheet of Dufiro known by Raphael de la Varga'''</big>

==Dufiro Traveling with Rapahx==

===<span style=color:purple>Curious</span>, Masoja of Guard, ''Primas Illuminar''===
Known as '''Crizacraxix Galxata'''

Member of the '''Party for the Defense of Amber'''.

Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

[[File:Curious.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth Elemental.
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Combat, Rot, Speed, Change, Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth)''
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Rage, Water, and Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth & Conflict)''
*Masoja of Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth, Health & Warfare)''
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' ''(Secretly)''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Curious on my Home World after a Virus had wiped out Humanity. Curious was traveling with a young girl of 10ish, Slugger, who quickly made friends with my Poodle Boys, then soon became my Ward when her 'uncle' Buck made me promise to look after her as he lay dying from the Virus. Later I discovered that she was of the Blood of Amber, then later discovered her to be the Daughter of Corwin and Dierdre of Amber, also known as the King and Queen of Avalon. Curious is Slugger's Guardian and I have known this almost since the beginning, just I as knew he was a powerful Dufiro. I later learned how powerful and influential... but I am still unaware of who Contracted Curious to Guard her... somehow I don't think it was her Mother or Father, though they would be the most obvious choices. Curious has acted as an excellent protector to Slugger and as a dependable advisor in many things regarding the Dufirosm to me.''

***'''Game Play Posts & GM Commentary'''
'''GM''' '' "Consider ... Curious, known as Crizacraxix Galxata. His base is Earth and he is beloved of all the Earth ranks. His public races include Masoja of Guard. I happen to know he '''secretly has Masoja of Earth, Health and Warfare'''. He has '''secretly the Spasa of Earth''' and publicly Cleanliness, Combat, Rot, Speed, Change, and Guard. He has Avasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Rage, Water, and Guard. '''Secretly he has Avasa of Earth and Conflict.''' What is he then? A warrior. A fierce warrior. He is a member of several warrior bands including the Shantranixix Fealty Band not to mention his own little fealty band. He is in the thick of the warrior types." ''~Adalou, Masoja of Air to Raphael during his Tome Writing Session.

'''GM''' ''Curious turns to the Guide, then to Rafe. He starts shifting to fill out a short cat/human. "It is. I am a Masoja of Earth and Guard. As well as..." ~ The Guide puts his hand up, "I know what else. Proceed." ~ "These three are friends. They each carry an Avasa of Guard, as you can tell. They are primitive bound to this Changer. I have made bargains to have these three entered into the ranks of the Elementals of Movement. I had not spoken to the Changer yet. It is a matter of some detail." ~ The Guide nods, "Easy enough for a '''Primus Illuminar'''. We can accommodate space for your work toward Shifter. If you need space for the Movement Elementals, we can mange that." ~ Fuzzy Cat looks to Rafe. "The Poodle Boys are eligible to become Movement Elementals. If you wish." ~ '''(Rafe)''' "Yes, by all means, Curious. I would love that for my Poodle Boys. Thank you." ''~Quotes from Game Play.

===<span style=color:purple>The Dog Brothers (3)</span>, Movement Elementals===
aka The Poodle Boys
*'''Kuzco''' aka Swirly(left)
*'''Ninja-Boy''' aka Fudge(center)
*'''Jerk-u-lees''' aka Berk-Berk(right)

[[File:The Poodle Boys2.jpg|200 px]]

[[Running Sheet Raphael - The Poodle Boys]]

Miniature Poodles 'Primitive Bonded' to Rafe.
*Elementals of Movement
**Prevously Inhabited by Avasa Dufiro of Guard

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''They're my Dog Brothers. What more need I say?''

===<span style=color:blue>Sylex</span>, Avasa of Conflict===
[[File:Sylex.jpg|150px]]
[[Running Sheet Sylex]]
*Water Elemental
*Spasa of Water, Carnality, Cleanliness, Motion, Sadness
*Avasa of Water, Carnality, Health, Rot, Conflict.
***Aspires to Masoja of Water.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sylex at my first Changer's Training Exercise at Shifters Hall; she is Sister of ZyxzolX, a Masoja of Iron. I learned of her tragic life from her own lips in front of others who confirmed it. I offered her to join my Adventurers Band for a one year Contract. I was asked by her brother, Zyx, to 'use her Water for Cleanliness. And don't use her for her other skills.' I was asked by Kibrosel, Masoja of Health, to have her spent time in heathly natural environments to help her towards Growth. Curious mentioned she was a known spy, but did not elaborate. We have not finalized our Contract yet, but much has happened suddenly.....''

===<span style=color:blue>Bently</span>, Masoja of Dance===
[[File:Bently.jpg|150px]]
[[Running Sheet Bently]]
*Elemental of Air, Change, Hue, Sound
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Air, Color, Change, Paper, Illusion, Song, motion.
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Air, Change, Blending, Paper, Color, Health, Music, Shifter, Life.
*Masoja of Cleanliness, Air, Change, Shifter, Knowledge, Rust, Paper, Music, Dance.
**''Aspires to Masoja of Life, Vision, Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Bently after returning from the Durfiro Reelms, he came with Slugger... her new Art Instructor...and boyfriend. Even Slugger admitted she should not have gotten involved with him and that he was going to get his ass kicked by someone sooner or later.....''

==='''Adventurers Society Members'''===
====Fitz Williams====
*Life Path: Air Elemental.
**Spasa of Air, Combat, Life, Cleanliness, Paper
**Avasa of Air, Knowledge
**'''''Al Asgo Illuminar'''''

====Elmer Ellswroth====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====Runner====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====Olive====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====???====
*Life Path:

===Bound Dufiro===
====<span style=color:green>Sharax</span>, Masoja of Fire====

[[File:Sharax, Masoja of Fire.jpg| 150px]]

*Elemental of Fire
*Spasa of Fire, Earth, Rot, Growth, Blending
*Avasa of Fire, Conflict, Blending, Health, Life, Rust, Rage, Speed
*Masoja of Fire
***Aspires to Combat,
**Professionally a Carpenter

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sharax of Fire at my first Changer's Training Exercise; he was Bound (in)to a chair. We spoke briefly after the Challenge he was involved in was over, then he departed. The next day, I Called Sharax to thank him for his participation in my Training and for his Calling Tome, when I unexpectedly found myself Bargaining for Sharax to Self-Bind to a Weapon... though he did initiate it... so to speak. After some negotiating, haggling and ironing out of details, an Agreement was reached; Sharax and an unnamed Spasa of Motion would Serve a Two Year'' 'on the hip' ''Term of Service Bound to a suitable weapon that Curious (Crizax) found then gifted to me; a Black Mithril War Hammer.''

***'''Rafe's Fire Hammer'''
Stats: [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/General_and_Known_Pointed_Artifact_Descriptions#Rafe.27s_Fire_Hammer]]

[[File:Firehammer.jpg|150 px]]

====<span style=color:green>Bronze Nugget</span>, Spasa of Blending====

[[File:Bronze nugget.jpg|150px]]
[[File:Bronze Nugget1.jpg|150 px]]

*Elemental of Earth & Mixing
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Rust, Guard, Blending
**''Avasa: Aspires to Earth, Fire, Guard, Rust, Ice, knowledge''
**''Masoja: Aspires to Earth, Fire, Guard, Rust, Knowledge''

Professions-Blacksmith, fine metals worker, brewer.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Bronze Nugget at my first Changer's Training Exercise. At the end of the Challenge involving Bronze, he fell to the floor in the shape of a Bronze Bracer; I now wear Bronze on my left forearm. I am currently in Negotiations with Bronze Nugget to Self-Bind to a suit of armor that is yet to be crafted as I am still lacking the required materials, Magics, tools, facility and personnel... but the list is getting shorter and the time is coming soon...''

==Personally Known: Named==

===<span style=color:orange>Agalat</span> the Red Wizard, Masoja of Knowledge===
Manages the Red Hall of Agalat. A place that sells Tome certification.

*Fire Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Combat, Rust, Paper, Fire, Growth, Change
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Fire, Conflict, Blending, Rage, Knowledge, Growth, Vision
*Masoja of Fire, Growth, Rage, Binding, Warfare, Knowledge
***Aspires to Death

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Agalat at the Red Hall after my Combat Screening for my Changer Tome Certification. At first I thought he was a Slaver, as Adalou tricked me into thinking I'd been 'sold into slavery' so I would fight more fiercely for my Certification Fight.''

===<span style=color:blue>Adalou</span>, Masoja of Air===
Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Dufiro-Adalou.jpg|150px]]

*Elemental of Air, Change
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Air, Song, Paper, Change
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Change, Knowledge
*Masoja of Air, Health, Shifter
***Aspires to Knowledge, Life, Wisher.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Adalou through Zachary Hepplewhite of Amber while we were at Lily Lake in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range near Fort Garland, Colorado, Shadow Garland aka Change World. We were investigating a Low Order Inscription at the bottom of Lily Lake and Zach called in Adalou to help gain us more information about the it; turns out it's a Low Order Version of the Pattern of Avalon. Around a year later I again met Adalou at Castle Garland after a meeting with Fortunadus, Salaka and Curious about me joining the Dufirosm; Adalou was called in to be the Author of my first Dufiro Tome for Change Elemental. He took me to Ahyk, a Realm within the Dufirtrusa, somewhere near the Black Zone of the Court of Chaos. He took me to Agalat Red Hall where I met Agalat, the Red Wizard and was tricked by Adalou into thinking I had been sold into slavery and Slugger, Curious and the Poodle Boys as well; it was so I would fight at my fiercest for my Tome Certification (a faster version than weeks of paperwork and meetings with Officials). Afterwards he explained then he took me to Shifters Hall where I met the then current Tyler, Hunjata, who made me prove I was a Changer, and I did ('''without''' Avalon Shape Change). He left me there to Train, and this is where I met Guide (Kalaganath) and other Powerful Dufiro. Before leaving the Dufirtrusa, I needed his services as a Writer of Tomes again, this time for Elemental of Movement; it was at that time that Adalou introduced me to Shantranixix, with Curious in the room. Shantrix was to Write my Earth Tomes, Elemental and Spasa.''

===<span style=color:blue>Ansahal</span>, Masoja of Water===
Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

An ancient non-corporeal Dufiro
*Elemental: Air, Water, Flux, Change
*Spasa:Air, Cleanliness, Blending, Change
*Avasa:Air, Cleanliness, Blending, Growth, Ice, Shifter, Knowledge, and Rage
*Masoja:Air, Change, Health, Growth, Life, Knowledge, Binding, Shifter, and Water.
***Aspires to Wisher and Illuminar.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Ansahal through Digan the Ruby Mage while I was at Castle Garland. During a Side Quest initiated by Digan, I met Ansahal in an isolated Shadow where he initiated Bargaining by Offering 'power' for the short-term use of my body. After a lot of questions and some haggling, an Agreement was reached by both Parties, witnessed by Digan. After Ansahal did what he need, during which I was fully aware, he went to the Fane of Dufirosm in Zilla, left my body then sent me back to Castle Garland. That visit to Zilla is what may have prompted Ansahal and Salaka to invite me to join the Dufirosm; I was seen by the Harbinger of Death when Anasahal exited my body.''

===<span style=color:green>Breasda</span>, Masoja of Vision===
Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Breasda.jpg|150 px]]

Born Change Elemental. Air Elemental. Raised to Cleanliness, followed by Paper and Blending. Took the Ava D Ritual of Cleanliness, followed by Truth, Knowledge, Vision, and finally Blending. Took the Masoja Ritual of Knowledge, Time, Health, Vision, and finally Wisher.
*Change Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Paper and Blending.
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Truth, Knowledge, Vision, and Blending.
*Masoja Ritual of Knowledge, Time, Health, Vision, and Wisher.
***An incorruptibly good creature with the a powerful Wishing energy. Considered by many the leader of the Dufirosm but denies such office. He is however generally respected or deeply feared. A past Racial Representative of Wishers on the Dufirosm Council. Recently resigned from the race of Wishers, taking on Vision race again as his naming race.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Breasda briefly in Shifters Hall after completing the first of my Changer's Training Exercises. Everyone froze-up at his approach and '''Guide''' advised me to 'say nothing'. Breasda asked '''Guide''' a few questions about me, looked me over, asked me to show him my Avalon Shapes, which I did without comment, then he gave me a book, The Story of the Trio Shifters, and asked me to make 100 copies of it, stating the handwriting was his but the Author was a Challenge for me. He also suggested another 100 copies to the Hall of Paper as a gift if I was interested in gaining Spasa of Paper, which I am. He stated that Trade with Avalon was permitted, then walked away, to everyone's relief... well, everyone let out a sigh and relaxed, to be precise. ''

===<span style=color:green>"Chip"</span>, Masoja of Earth===
''Xghasssrtddsc aQEeeefe Aolmkop'' "Chip"

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Chip-masoja.jpg|150 px]]
*Elemental of Earth.
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Defense, Growth, Rot, Paper
*Avasa of Earth, Fire, Guard, Growth, Colors, Shifter, Knowledge
*Masoja of Earth,
**Aspires to Fire, Guard, Shifter, Knowledge

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Chip during my first Changer's Training Exercise. He was my Third Challenge; he attacked me and I had to use ONLY my Changer Powers to Combat him. I was successful and I passed his Challenge. Later, ZyxZolkX mentioned "Chip" being a part of a Matched Elevation of Earth, him handling the Elemental part. The following day I Called "Chip" and Zyx to Bargain for Matched Elevation in Earth; Zyx did the talking and set the Terms... I ended up having to Call in Nur al-Din, at the suggestion of Sylex in private, to Seal the Deal. I acquired a Copy of Chip's Masoja of Earth Calling Tome. ''

===<span style=color:gold>Dadar Kois</span>===
*Unknown Rank and Race.
**A thin fancy dressed man about 5' tall.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Dadar when Sylex Called him to make a Deal for Production Bowls of food made by the Dufireant; we had just finished a meeting with "Chip", Zyx and Nur, who showed up with a wok full of freshly cooked Broccoli and Habanero Peppers with Noodles... he shared. And though I ate of my portion and all left untouched by Chip and Zyx, Sylex kept hers, divided it between the four bowls, then Called Dadar and made her Deal; keeping three and offering one as payment for Services Rendered. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Dyjik</span>, Avasa of Blending===
*Avasa of Earth, Blending
**Veteran Cook at Shifters Hall Cafeteria

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Dyjik at Shifters Hall Cafeteria where he oversaw Jasgl, a new Spasa of Blending who was making me the breakfast I had requested. Dyjik also made me a very good cup of strong coffee. He was pleasant, helpful and informative. I liked him immediately. ''

===<span style=color:gold>Fal Gan</span>, Masoja of Warfare===
A Member of the Party for Life because he hates certain Members of the Party for Death

*Elemental of ?
*Spasa of Illusion, ?
*Avasa of ?
*Masoja of Strength, Warfare

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I sort of met this Dufiro as an Illusion Spasa at my first Changer's Training Exercise. He was excused before I could 'meet' him. However, I did have his Calling Tome. No name was given or said and he appeared an an Elf at that time. The next day I met with Fal Gan; it did not go well. Fal Gan appeared as a 9ft Orc; armed and armored. Fal Gan was insulted by my speaking to him as though we were equals. Fal Gan struck me and left. ''

===<span style=color:green>Falat Agasta</span>, Avasa of Iron===
*Forge Journeyman under Tursa Ga.
**Forged a Black Mithril and Ang Ri Ironwood War Hammer [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/General_and_Known_Pointed_Artifact_Descriptions#Rafe.27s_Fire_Hammer]] which was purchase by Curious then gifted to Rare.
***'' 'I made this black mithril hammer to accept any Grade of Race. I am pleased a Masoja of Fire will bind to it. The handle changes from a foot to 6 feet. It is a war weapon but can be used as a forge hammer.' ''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Falat Agasta when he arrived with Curious after I asked Curious if he could find a suitable warhammer for Sharax of Fire to be Bound to for his Service to me. Falat was business-like but polite. He work is incredible and I will certainly recommend his Services. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Glkaxxsik of Rust</span>; Avasa of Rust===
"call me Glaxak..."

[[File:DF-Glkaxxsik.jpg|200 px]]
*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Rust, Carnality
*Avasa of Earth, Rust
**Aspires to ...

===<span style=color:orange>Glaxin of Stone</span>, Avasa of Earth===
*Avasa of Earth
**A Tyler of Earthers Hall, East Door

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Glaxin while he was serving as Tyler of Earthers Hall. He asked me show my talent or go; I turned my the skin of my left hand into Milky White Quartz. He welcomed me in and suggested I take a Term as Tyler on occasion. ''

===<span style=color:green>'''Hrolbleit'''</span>; Avasa of Earth===
*Hrolbleit is the Leader of a Warrior Knot consisting of 3 Avasa of Earth & Conflict, 4 Spasa of Earth & Combat, 9 Spasa of Earth and 12 Elementals of Earth.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I sort of met this Earth Avasa at my first Changer's Training Exercise. The Avasa was excused before I could 'meet' it. However, I do have its Calling Tome.''

''While in Paris, Avalon, I used this Dufiro's Calling Tome to make an offer of employment for him and his Knot to work as Guards at the Hotel and Warehouse..... PENDING''

===<span style=color:orange>Hunjanta</span> aka Sunak===
*Avasa of Rot??
**A Tyler of Shifter Hall

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sunak while he was serving as Tyler of Shifters Hall. Hunjanta insisted I had to prove myself worthy of entering Shifters Hall by using my Dufiro Powers to Change myself in some way, which I did; I became an Orc-Lizard, just like the ones I defeated earlier at Red Hall to get my Tome Certified. Sunak was quite gruff but in the end warned me and Adalou about some Death Cult Members residing in Shifters Hall and that if we needed a quick escape, to Call on him. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Jasgl</span>, Spasa of Blending===
*Spasa of Earth, Blending
**New Cook at Shifters Hall Cafeteria

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Jasgl at Shifters Hall Cafeteria where he made me an excellent breakfast based upon a memory I shared with him, literally; Jasgl made physical, then Psychic, contact with me while I was recalling the memory verbally. The food he made, by using his Changer Powers, combined with Earth and Blending on cubes of organic 'matter' was EXACTLY as I remembered it and was both filling and satisfying. Good Service Rendered. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kalaganath</span>, The Guide===
Member of the Party for Life
*Unknown Rank and Races
**Guide at Shifters Hall for Rafe's Change Elemental Initiation & Training

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met 'The Guide' at Shifters Hall after I had proven myself worthy of entering. Guide led me through part of Shifters Hall, past a Witness Chamber in use, to a Training Room where my first Training Exercise took place. He accompanied me and Salaka to a special place inside(?) Shifters Hall where the three of us privately spoke about the Visions that involve me, the Party for Life, the Party for Death and the Azcala World Stone. He was also present when I met Breasda, Masoja of Vision, formerly Masoja of Wisher. He furthered my education in the Dufirosm and gave good advice often.''

===<span style=color:orange>Karyaxyl</span>, Masoja of Life===
Member of the Party for Life

*Masoja of Earth, Shifter, Health, and Life
**Foodie

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Karyaxyl at Shifters Hall Cafeteria while dining. He talked of Food and being a Member for the Party for Life. He invited to me Call him anytime to share a meal or talk of things. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kibrosel</span>, Masoja of Health, ''Al Asgo Illuminar''===
Member of the Party for Life

[[File:Kibrosel.jpg|150 px]]

*Water Elemental, Change, Earth
*Spasa of Water, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Earth, Blending, Defense, Life, Knowledge
*Avasa of Water, Cleanliness, Conflict-War, Growth, Blending, Earth, Ice, Health, Life, Knowledge
*Masoja of Water, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Blending, Life, Health, Rot
*'''''Al Asgo Illuminar'''''. Created an Illuminar by the Stretched One
***Aspires to Earth, Knowledge, Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''

''I met Kibrosel at my first Changer's Training Exercise. Kibro is a Physician and Farmer by Profession. I met with Kirbo again the next day and learned how to Live in my Heartfire, Shape Shift to Stone then Living Stone, and how to Sense thru another's Senses. I have his Calling Name Tome. I owe him a Future Favor. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kichabqhisreeceeb</span>, Avasa of Blending===
[[File:Kichab.jpg|200px]]

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Cleanliness, Paper, Color, light, & Illusion
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending

Aspires to Avasa of Knowledge, Truth, & Whimsy. Masoja of Air, Cleanliness, Knowledge, Wisher

Profession-Alchemist Librarian

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Kichab when I used his Spasa of Paper Calling Tome to show Prince Dalt of Eregenor how Dufiro Summoning works. The Calling Tome came from the Danbury Collection, now a part of Dalt's Personal Library. Dalt traded favors with me; he helped me craft my armor and I help him figure out the Collection. Kichab was a bit haughty and seemed 'put out' by being Called by a much older Tome. During our bargaining I learned what types of books would be best for making copies of '''The Story of the Trio Shifters''' book I was loaned by Breasda to make copies of. I also learned a bit about the Trio Shifters, the different translations and that there is an Opera based on it called '''Shifter Trio'''. Towards the end of our bargaining session he was a bit insulting about my Spasa of Earth Calling Tome; called it pretentious for a Spasa. Curious reminded him that I am an Illuminar and can do things as I please. Curious was NOT going to let an insult to a fellow Illuminar go unchecked.... love that guy. In the end I got Kichab's Avasa of Blending Calling Tome and a Place Tome for his Personal Avasa of Knowledge Library. Good deal in my opinion.''

===<span style=color:gold>Leniya</span>, 'The Origami Dragon', Masoja of Health===
[[File:Leniya.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Growth, Change, Blending, Paper
*Avasa of Earth, Growth, Shifter, Fire, Whimsy, Health
*Masoja of Earth, Fire, Air, Health
***Aspires to Shifter, Change, Knowledge
**Expert in Origami.
**Profession: Apothecary. Supplier of Herbs, Material Components and Paper
**Calling Name is ''Leniya Jasdarniun''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Leniya through Salaka. I get my Urala and other herbs from Leniya, as does Salaka. I was warned to be wary of what I say and who I am seen with around Leniya as he has a tendency to gossip.''
***Leniya to Rafe
''"Paper from your Birth world. Defeat a clown in combat, a fight you start with them unaware.. Plants from your home world. A brandy from your home world."''

===<span style=color:blue>Nippixix</span>, Flux Elemental===
The ''Consigliere'' for Shantranixix & the [[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]

[[File:Nippixx.jpg|200 px]]

*Flux Elemental
*Spasa of
*Avasa of
*Masoja of
**Aspires to

===<span style=color:blue>Nur al-Din El Musifar</span> - The Dufrieanalat, ''Primas Illuminar''===
[[File:Image6.jpg|150 px]] [[File:Nur2.jpg|150 px]]

*Spasa - All except Death, Rust. Did take Rot
*Avasa - All except Death, Rust
*Masoja of Life, all except Death, Vision, Time. Only partially accepted by Wisher
*'''''Primus Illuminar'''''
***Aspires to Wisher
*Born a human on the world of Tosa. Attained the ranks of thrice Crowned Bard. A long time bargainer and a extremely well-respected friend of the Dufirosm. A High Lord in a Shade of Chaos. During a extinction level event involving most the Dufirosim realms Nur Ed Din managed to save the realms and help rebuild after the destruction. As reward he was inhabited by a Shifter Masoja and initiated into the Masoja Dufiro of Life.
*Granted powers from each of the races from Spirit to Masoja. When the forces in his Chaos ousted him from his lordship he relocated to the Dufirosm realms and was invited to join the council.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''It's a complicated story how I know Nur.... ask me about it one day.''

===<span style=color:green>Salaka</span>, Masoja of Knowledge, ''Primas Illuminar''===
Member of the Party for Life

[[File:Dufiro Salaka.jpg|250px]]

(Calling Name: Salakalikintar)
*Water Elemental, Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Change, and Blending
*Avasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Blending, Ice, Shifter, and Knowledge
*Masoja of Air, Water, and Earth, Health, Growth, Shifter, and Knowledge
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' (Secretly?)
***Aspires to Masoja of Life, Change. Perhaps some day Wisher.
**Friend of Veks. A gardener, farmer, brewer, vintner, and vegetarian. A Facilitator for Dufiro who has worked often with Hendrake.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met met Salaka through Fortunadas, sort of. Adalou and Ansahal suggested Salaka bring me into the Dufiro fold, as it were.'' Salaka Facilitated my Transition into the Dufirosm and into a Change Elemental as well as assisted and advised in my first Changer's Training Exercises.''

***Fortunadus Enright's Commentary
''"Salaka is a Water Elemental and an Air Elemental. A Spasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, and Blending. An Avasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Blending, Ice, and Knowledge. A Masoja of Air, Water, and Earth, Health, Growth, and now a Masoja of Knowledge. She is a '''Primus Illuminar'''. She is a player in the '''Party of Life''' and a Member of the '''Dufrieanalat's Inner Circle'''."''

===<span style=color:orange>Shagas</span> of Glass===
A warrior Avasa of Conflict. Glass shard skin

*Earth Elemental. Scent Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Combat, Defense, Speed, Rot, Guard, Motion
*Avasa of Earth, Conflict, Guard, Speed, Ice
***Aspires to Masoja of Earth, Combat, Guard, Warfare, and Death

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Shagas at the Red Hall right after my Certification Fight, still not knowing what was going on and thinking I had just been sold into Slavery. Adalou was there as was Agalat the Red Wizard. Shagas paid to Certify my Tome of Change Elemental and Bind me toward Earth Elemental status. I then learn what was going on, was reunited with Slugger, Curious and The Poodle Boys, then had lunch with Shagas as Adalou further explained what was going and and why he did it the way he did. Shagas seemed a nice enough fellow, but the shards of glass sticking out of him everywhere was a bit offputting.''

===<span style=color:blue>Shantranixix Agfala</span>, Masoja of Life===

Leader of the Shantranixix Fealty Band

[[File:Shantranixix.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth & Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Earth, Carnality, Cleanliness, Combat, Defense, Growth, Guard, Life, Song, Speed, Culinarist
*Avasa of Air, Earth, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Guard, Health, Knowledge, Strength, Warfare, Life, Music, Truth
*Masoja of Air, Earth, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Guard, Health, Knowledge, Warfare, Life
***Aspires to Time and Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''Initially, I knew of Shantranixix 'by reputation' only, but I knew Curious was a Member of the Shantranixix Fealty Band. I was offered an opportunity to join the Shantranixix Fealty Band by Traxal which I considered then Accepted through Curious. Soon after, I met Shantrix when Adalou said he couldn't write my Earth Tomes, but knew someone who could. He promptly disappeared then returned with Shantrix, jokingly saying he found a Spasa of Paper to write my Earth Tomes. I didn't know what Shantrix looked like, but I 'figured things out' quickly and was awed by his presence, his visit and his willingness to Write my Tomes for Elemental and Spasa of Earth.''

===<span style=color:red>Tinsanax</span>, Masoja of Health===
[[File:Tinsanax.jpg|150 px]]

*Fire Elemental, Flux Elemental
*Spasa of Change, Combat, Fire, Speed, Cleanliness, Rot, Health, Life, Carnality
*Avasa of Conflict, Blending, Fire, Health, Shifter, Carnality, Rust, Whimsy, Music, Death
*Masoja of Rust, Warfare, Combat, Health
***Aspires to Shifter, Knowledge.
**Member of the Gxkzle Band. The band is in the Party for War but not the Party of Death. Known as a trouble maker.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Tins at my first Changer's Training Exercise; she crashed the party, but left soon at my insistence. She gave me some info about the Challenges 'for free', but I'm sure I'll have to pay for it some day in some way. I was warned she was trouble, but I could already tell that from the moment I laid eyes on her.''

===<span style=color:blue>Traxalaxax</span>, Avasa of Blending===
Member of the '''Shantranixix Fealty Band'''.

[[File:Traxalaxax.jpg|150px]]

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Air, Song, Paper, Illusion
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, Blending
***Aspires to Avasa of Knowledge. Then Masoja of Knowledge.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met first Traxal through Curious at the bottom of Lily Lake located in the southern most part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range near Fort Garland, Colorado, Shadow Garland; the location of the Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon. Traxal helped in my initial knowledge of the Sigil of Avalon and let me know it was safe to Assay and what power I might gain. He gave me his Calling Name. Sometime later, Traxal acted as Slugger's 'Nanny' and Educator for a time while she and I were in the Dufiro Realms. Traxal also made the initial Offer to me to 'Consider joining the Shantranixix Fealty Band'. I considered for a day then Accepted through Curious, also in the Fealty Band. Later that day, I met Shantranixix through Adalou, also in the Fealty Band.''

===<span style=color:green>ZyxzlokX</span>, Masoja of Rust===
Member of the Party for Life.

Member of the [[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]

[[File:ZyxzlokX.jpg|150 px]]

*Fire Elemental; Iron, Sand. Fire: Smoke. Whimsy
*Spasa of Earth; Iron, Combat, Defense, Rust, Song; Whimsy, Speed, Rot, Change
*Avasa of Earth; Iron, Rust, Whimsy, Conflict, Death, Rust, Shifter
*Masoja of Earth:Iron, Combat, Warfare, Rust, Strength, Rage.
***Aspires to Shifter-Partially to escape Rage. Will take any race to escape rage

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met ZyxzlokX at my first Changer's Training Exercise. He is Brother to Sylex; Avasa of Rot. Zyx is gruff and rough with a mean sense of humor and a love of pranks and lessons learned. Zyx punched me in the chest so fast I never saw it coming, he could have killed me but didn't. He didn't like my candor or opinion of him... and I think he was testing me to see how I'd react. He knew I'd offered his Sister Sylex to join my Adventurers' Band and made me promise to 'only use her Water for Cleanliness, and don't use her other skills." I gained his is Calling Name Tome before he left.''

==Personally Known: Unnamed==

===<span style=color:blue>Avasa of Guard (3)</span>===
*Avasa of Guard
Rafe sort of met this trio of Guard Avasa when Curious Summoned and Bound them to Rafe's trio of Miniature Poodles. The Avasa are Loyal to Curious.

===<span style=color:green>Orc-Lizards (8)</span>===
*Spasa of Combat
Rafe defeated them for Tome Certification at the Red Hall of Agalat.

===<span style=color:orange>Spasa of ?</span>===
*Looks like a tall Hobbit
**Brought food and drink from his restaurant to Rafe and Sylex when she Called.

===<span style=color:orange>Spasa of Earth (2)</span>===
*Spasa of Earth
Rafe sort of met these Earth Spasa at his first Changer's Training Exercise. Both Spasa were excused before Rafe could 'meet' them. However, Rafe does have their Calling Tomes.

===<span style=color:orange>Earth Elemental</span>===
*Elemental of Earth
Rafe met this Earth Elemental at his first Changer's Training Exercise; did not leave Calling Name or Tome.

==Known by Reputation or Other==
===<span style=color:orange>Akgleax</span> of Earth===
[[File:Akgleax of Music.jpg|150px]]

A craftsman of musical items.
*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Water, Blending, Change, Song, Music, and Paper.
*Avasa of Earth
**Achieved Spasa of Paper and Music after writing of her encounters of Alexandra & Duncan of Amber.
***Aspires to Avasa of Music, Water, Blending, and Knowledge. Masoja of Earth, Knowledge or Binding.
Rafe knows her Calling Name only through Adalou.

===<span style=color:orange>Grexil</span> of Knowledge===
*Elemental of Earth
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Earth, Rot, Defense, Speed, Paper, Song, Blending, Rust, Change, Life
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Earth, Conflict, Blending, Rage, Shifter,
*Masoja of Knowledge
Rafe knows only his Calling Name through Adalou.

===<span style=color:red>Hardin Wapak</span>, Leader of the Party for War===
[[File:HARDIN wAPAK.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth & Air Elemental
*Spasa of
*Avasa of
*Masoja of

Rafe knows of Hardin by reputation only. Rafe is aware that Hardin has placed a Bounty on him.

''"His weapon is massive. Normally unwieldly. But it is Bound with Masoja of Combat, Warfare, and Death. The Mace is Bound with the same but lesser ones. It is studded with Avasa and Masoja who begged to serve him. Yet. He has a long knife that bears the Soul of Mortals and Dufiro he has slain. They writhe in unending agony to his delight."'' ~ Curious to Rafe

===<span style=color:green>Tans Tilki</span>, Masoja of Vision, ''Primsa Illuminar''===
[[File:Tans tilki.jpg|200 px]]

One of the most ancient and powerful Dufiro, a perennial member of the Council of the Dufirosm. Resigned from Wishers.

*Elementals: Change, Flux, Earth, Fire, Air
*Spirits: Change, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Defense, Guard, Blending, Rust, Fire, Paper, Illusion,
*Avasa Dufirosm: Shifter, Cleanliness, Conflict, Guard, Growth, Blending, Knowledge, Vision, Truth
*Masoja Dufirosm: Change, Combat, Guard, Health, Growth, Death, Life, Knowledge, Shifter, Binding, Time, Vision
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' Dufirosm

Rafe knows Tans by reputation only. Rafe first heard about Tans when Rafe learned about the Visions about Rafe.

===<span style=color:orange>Twiisi</span>, Spasa of Guard===
[[File:Twiisi-fane guide.jpg|150 px]]

Twiisi was seen serving as a gate guard and greeter at the Fane of the Dufirosm at Zilla

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Cleanliness, Guard, and Paper
**Aspires to Spasa of Song. Avasa of Air,Cleanliness, Guard or conflict, color, Knowledge. Masoja of Air, Combat or Guard, knowledge.
**As Fane Guard she also aspires to rise in rank among the Fane Guards at the temple she is in. Many Guards serve their whole lives guarding one place as well as making deals to gain rank and race.

Rafe was briefly in the presence of Twiisi at the Dufirosm Fane at Zilla when Ansahal was inhabiting Rafe's body and they transported there, but Rafe was transported 'home' before he could interact as himself.

===<span style=color:red>Vrxxkren</span>, Masoja of Strength, 'The Harbinger of Death'===
[[File:Vrxxkren.jpg|150 px]]

A member of the Inner Council of the Party for Death and the Party for War. Known as the Harbinger of Death. A warrior and a herald.

*Earth Elemental. Fire Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Combat, Guard, Rot, and Speed
*Avasa of Earth, Fire, Speed, Rage, Conflict-War, and Knowledge.
*Masoja of Earth, Fire, Combat, Rage, Warfare, Knowledge, Death, and Strength.

Rafe knows the Harbinger by reputation only. Rafe is aware that the Harbinger saw Ansahal exit his (Rafe's) body at the Dufirosm Fane at Zilla. Rafe is also aware that the Harbinger sought out a Dufiro of Vision to learn more about Rafe. Rafe is now aware of the nature and contents of those Visions.

==Beings with a Copy of RaphaX's Dufiro Tomes==
NOTE: ALL Copies of Raphaxaelicus' Tomes that have NOT been Gifted or Bargained for, are Stored in a bookcase in RaphaX's Billet in Shifters Hall at the Hagia Salas in the City of Ahyk within the Dufirtrusa; the Dufiro Realms near to the Black Zone of Chaos.

===Elemental of Change===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Adalou (Author); S/B, Curious; S/B,

===Elemental of Motion===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Adalou (Author); S/B,

===Elemental of Earth===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Shantranixix (Author); S/B,

===Spasa of Earth===
*Calling, Summoning & Binding
*Shantranixix (Author); C.S.B, Kichab; C, Nur al Din; C, Dalt; C, Curious; S, Glax of Rot; C, Coil of Whimsy; C, Bently; C,

==Dufiro Tomes Possessed by RaphaX ==
NOTE: ALL Copies of The Dog Brothers Tomes that have NOT been Gifted or Bargained for, are Stored in a bookcase in RaphaX's Billet in Shifters Hall at the Hagia Salas in the City of Ahyk within the Dufirtrusa; the Dufiro Realms near to the Black Zone of Chaos. As well as any Tomes that have been Gifted to Raphaxaelicus, or Bargained for by him.

===The Dog Brothers' Tomes===
*Calling, Summoning and Binding Name Tomes (90)
**10 of each Tome for each of the 3 Dogs

===Summoning Tomes===
*''Masoja Dufiro of Earth Summoning Tome''
**'''Crizacraxix Galxata''' aka Curious
**Written in Kolbashic
**Trade from Curious for Raphax's Elemental of Change Summoning & Binding Tome

===Calling Tomes===
*''Elemental of Flux Calling Name Tome''
**'''Nippixx'''; Consigliere to Shantranixix and The Shantranixix Fealty Band

*''Masoja of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**'''"Chip"''', Masoja of Earth

*''Spasa of Blending Calling Name Tome''
**'''Bronze Nugget''', Spasa of Blending

*''Avasa of Iron Calling Name Tome''
**'''ZyxzlokX''', Masoja of Rust (Earth-Iron)

*''Masoja of Rot Calling Name Tome''
**'''Kibrosel''', Masoja of Health

*''Spasa of Rot Calling Name Tome''
**'''Sharax''', Masoja of Fire

*''Avasa of Water Calling Name Tome''
**'''Sylex''', Avasa of Health, Rot

*''Spasa of Illusion Calling Name Tome''
**'''Fal Gan''', Masoja of Strength & Warfare

*''Avasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Avasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Spasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Spasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Spasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Spasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Avasa of Blending Calling Tome''
**'''Kichabqhisreeceeb'''; Avasa of Blending
***Also, a Place Tome for Kichab's Personal Library

*Avasa of Rust Calling Tome''
**'''Glkaxxsik'''; Avasa of Rust

*Avasa of Whimsy Calling Tome
**'''Coil'''; Avasa of Whimsy

*Calling Tome for '''Hardin Wapak'''

*''Spasa of Water Calling Tome''
**'''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water

*''Avasa of Whimsy Calling Tome''
**'''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water

==RaphaX's Summoning Log==

===Spasa of Paper - Calling Tome Ritual===
*'''Kichabqhisreeceeb''' aka Kichab
**Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending.
*An old Spasa of Paper Calling Tome was used.

===Avasa of Death- Forced Binding Tome Ritual===
*'''Grytti''', Avasa of Death and Ice
**Forced Binding to a glass
**Bargain with ''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water, who has the Glass

===Spasa of Death - Forced Binding Ritual===
*'''Thanseq'''; Spasa of Death... aka Bruce
**Force Bound to a Crystal Glass - Rafe holds the glass
***Causes any liquid poured into it to become poisoned.
***Does NOT alter smell, taste, or appearance.
[[File:Death Dufiro Poisoning Goblet.jpg|100px]]

===Avasa of Blending - Calling Tome Ritual===
*Avasa of Blending - Calling Tome Ritual
**Kichabqhisreeceeb; Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending.

===Avasa of Earth- Calling Tome Ritual===
*Avasa of Earth- Calling Tome Ritual
**Name; Race(s)

===Avasa of Conflict - Binding Tome Ritual===
*Sylex; Avasa of Water, Carnality, Health, Rot, Conflict

===Masoja of Dance - Binding Ritual===
*Bently

==COLOR KEY:==
===<span style=color:purple>PURPLE</span> = Very Well Known and/or Highly Trusted===
===<span style=color:blue>BLUE</span> = Well Known and/or Trusted===
===<span style=color:green>GREEN</span> = Known and/or Mostly Trusted===
===<span style=color:orange>ORANGE</span> = Semi-Known and/or Semi-Trusted===
===<span style=color:gold>YELLOW</span> = Advise Caution===
===<span style=color:red>RED</span> = NOT Trusted===

Dufiro known by Raphael

2025-07-05T04:19:22Z

Relmopator: /* Avasa of Earth- Calling Tome Ritual */

<big>'''Running Sheet of Dufiro known by Raphael de la Varga'''</big>

==Dufiro Traveling with Rapahx==

===<span style=color:purple>Curious</span>, Masoja of Guard, ''Primas Illuminar''===
Known as '''Crizacraxix Galxata'''

Member of the '''Party for the Defense of Amber'''.

Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

[[File:Curious.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth Elemental.
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Combat, Rot, Speed, Change, Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth)''
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Rage, Water, and Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth & Conflict)''
*Masoja of Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth, Health & Warfare)''
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' ''(Secretly)''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Curious on my Home World after a Virus had wiped out Humanity. Curious was traveling with a young girl of 10ish, Slugger, who quickly made friends with my Poodle Boys, then soon became my Ward when her 'uncle' Buck made me promise to look after her as he lay dying from the Virus. Later I discovered that she was of the Blood of Amber, then later discovered her to be the Daughter of Corwin and Dierdre of Amber, also known as the King and Queen of Avalon. Curious is Slugger's Guardian and I have known this almost since the beginning, just I as knew he was a powerful Dufiro. I later learned how powerful and influential... but I am still unaware of who Contracted Curious to Guard her... somehow I don't think it was her Mother or Father, though they would be the most obvious choices. Curious has acted as an excellent protector to Slugger and as a dependable advisor in many things regarding the Dufirosm to me.''

***'''Game Play Posts & GM Commentary'''
'''GM''' '' "Consider ... Curious, known as Crizacraxix Galxata. His base is Earth and he is beloved of all the Earth ranks. His public races include Masoja of Guard. I happen to know he '''secretly has Masoja of Earth, Health and Warfare'''. He has '''secretly the Spasa of Earth''' and publicly Cleanliness, Combat, Rot, Speed, Change, and Guard. He has Avasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Rage, Water, and Guard. '''Secretly he has Avasa of Earth and Conflict.''' What is he then? A warrior. A fierce warrior. He is a member of several warrior bands including the Shantranixix Fealty Band not to mention his own little fealty band. He is in the thick of the warrior types." ''~Adalou, Masoja of Air to Raphael during his Tome Writing Session.

'''GM''' ''Curious turns to the Guide, then to Rafe. He starts shifting to fill out a short cat/human. "It is. I am a Masoja of Earth and Guard. As well as..." ~ The Guide puts his hand up, "I know what else. Proceed." ~ "These three are friends. They each carry an Avasa of Guard, as you can tell. They are primitive bound to this Changer. I have made bargains to have these three entered into the ranks of the Elementals of Movement. I had not spoken to the Changer yet. It is a matter of some detail." ~ The Guide nods, "Easy enough for a '''Primus Illuminar'''. We can accommodate space for your work toward Shifter. If you need space for the Movement Elementals, we can mange that." ~ Fuzzy Cat looks to Rafe. "The Poodle Boys are eligible to become Movement Elementals. If you wish." ~ '''(Rafe)''' "Yes, by all means, Curious. I would love that for my Poodle Boys. Thank you." ''~Quotes from Game Play.

===<span style=color:purple>The Dog Brothers (3)</span>, Movement Elementals===
aka The Poodle Boys
*'''Kuzco''' aka Swirly(left)
*'''Ninja-Boy''' aka Fudge(center)
*'''Jerk-u-lees''' aka Berk-Berk(right)

[[File:The Poodle Boys2.jpg|200 px]]

[[Running Sheet Raphael - The Poodle Boys]]

Miniature Poodles 'Primitive Bonded' to Rafe.
*Elementals of Movement
**Prevously Inhabited by Avasa Dufiro of Guard

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''They're my Dog Brothers. What more need I say?''

===<span style=color:blue>Sylex</span>, Avasa of Conflict===
[[File:Sylex.jpg|150px]]
[[Running Sheet Sylex]]
*Water Elemental
*Spasa of Water, Carnality, Cleanliness, Motion, Sadness
*Avasa of Water, Carnality, Health, Rot, Conflict.
***Aspires to Masoja of Water.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sylex at my first Changer's Training Exercise at Shifters Hall; she is Sister of ZyxzolX, a Masoja of Iron. I learned of her tragic life from her own lips in front of others who confirmed it. I offered her to join my Adventurers Band for a one year Contract. I was asked by her brother, Zyx, to 'use her Water for Cleanliness. And don't use her for her other skills.' I was asked by Kibrosel, Masoja of Health, to have her spent time in heathly natural environments to help her towards Growth. Curious mentioned she was a known spy, but did not elaborate. We have not finalized our Contract yet, but much has happened suddenly.....''

===<span style=color:blue>Bently</span>, Masoja of Dance===
[[File:Bently.jpg|150px]]
[[Running Sheet Bently]]
*Elemental of Air, Change, Hue, Sound
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Air, Color, Change, Paper, Illusion, Song, motion.
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Air, Change, Blending, Paper, Color, Health, Music, Shifter, Life.
*Masoja of Cleanliness, Air, Change, Shifter, Knowledge, Rust, Paper, Music, Dance.
**''Aspires to Masoja of Life, Vision, Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Bently after returning from the Durfiro Reelms, he came with Slugger... her new Art Instructor...and boyfriend. Even Slugger admitted she should not have gotten involved with him and that he was going to get his ass kicked by someone sooner or later.....''

==='''Adventurers Society Members'''===
====Fitz Williams====
*Life Path: Air Elemental.
**Spasa of Air, Combat, Life, Cleanliness, Paper
**Avasa of Air, Knowledge
**'''''Al Asgo Illuminar'''''

====Elmer Ellswroth====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====Runner====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====Olive====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====???====
*Life Path:

===Bound Dufiro===
====<span style=color:green>Sharax</span>, Masoja of Fire====

[[File:Sharax, Masoja of Fire.jpg| 150px]]

*Elemental of Fire
*Spasa of Fire, Earth, Rot, Growth, Blending
*Avasa of Fire, Conflict, Blending, Health, Life, Rust, Rage, Speed
*Masoja of Fire
***Aspires to Combat,
**Professionally a Carpenter

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sharax of Fire at my first Changer's Training Exercise; he was Bound (in)to a chair. We spoke briefly after the Challenge he was involved in was over, then he departed. The next day, I Called Sharax to thank him for his participation in my Training and for his Calling Tome, when I unexpectedly found myself Bargaining for Sharax to Self-Bind to a Weapon... though he did initiate it... so to speak. After some negotiating, haggling and ironing out of details, an Agreement was reached; Sharax and an unnamed Spasa of Motion would Serve a Two Year'' 'on the hip' ''Term of Service Bound to a suitable weapon that Curious (Crizax) found then gifted to me; a Black Mithril War Hammer.''

***'''Rafe's Fire Hammer'''
Stats: [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/General_and_Known_Pointed_Artifact_Descriptions#Rafe.27s_Fire_Hammer]]

[[File:Firehammer.jpg|150 px]]

====<span style=color:green>Bronze Nugget</span>, Spasa of Blending====

[[File:Bronze nugget.jpg|150px]]
[[File:Bronze Nugget1.jpg|150 px]]

*Elemental of Earth & Mixing
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Rust, Guard, Blending
**''Avasa: Aspires to Earth, Fire, Guard, Rust, Ice, knowledge''
**''Masoja: Aspires to Earth, Fire, Guard, Rust, Knowledge''

Professions-Blacksmith, fine metals worker, brewer.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Bronze Nugget at my first Changer's Training Exercise. At the end of the Challenge involving Bronze, he fell to the floor in the shape of a Bronze Bracer; I now wear Bronze on my left forearm. I am currently in Negotiations with Bronze Nugget to Self-Bind to a suit of armor that is yet to be crafted as I am still lacking the required materials, Magics, tools, facility and personnel... but the list is getting shorter and the time is coming soon...''

==Personally Known: Named==

===<span style=color:orange>Agalat</span> the Red Wizard, Masoja of Knowledge===
Manages the Red Hall of Agalat. A place that sells Tome certification.

*Fire Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Combat, Rust, Paper, Fire, Growth, Change
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Fire, Conflict, Blending, Rage, Knowledge, Growth, Vision
*Masoja of Fire, Growth, Rage, Binding, Warfare, Knowledge
***Aspires to Death

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Agalat at the Red Hall after my Combat Screening for my Changer Tome Certification. At first I thought he was a Slaver, as Adalou tricked me into thinking I'd been 'sold into slavery' so I would fight more fiercely for my Certification Fight.''

===<span style=color:blue>Adalou</span>, Masoja of Air===
Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Dufiro-Adalou.jpg|150px]]

*Elemental of Air, Change
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Air, Song, Paper, Change
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Change, Knowledge
*Masoja of Air, Health, Shifter
***Aspires to Knowledge, Life, Wisher.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Adalou through Zachary Hepplewhite of Amber while we were at Lily Lake in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range near Fort Garland, Colorado, Shadow Garland aka Change World. We were investigating a Low Order Inscription at the bottom of Lily Lake and Zach called in Adalou to help gain us more information about the it; turns out it's a Low Order Version of the Pattern of Avalon. Around a year later I again met Adalou at Castle Garland after a meeting with Fortunadus, Salaka and Curious about me joining the Dufirosm; Adalou was called in to be the Author of my first Dufiro Tome for Change Elemental. He took me to Ahyk, a Realm within the Dufirtrusa, somewhere near the Black Zone of the Court of Chaos. He took me to Agalat Red Hall where I met Agalat, the Red Wizard and was tricked by Adalou into thinking I had been sold into slavery and Slugger, Curious and the Poodle Boys as well; it was so I would fight at my fiercest for my Tome Certification (a faster version than weeks of paperwork and meetings with Officials). Afterwards he explained then he took me to Shifters Hall where I met the then current Tyler, Hunjata, who made me prove I was a Changer, and I did ('''without''' Avalon Shape Change). He left me there to Train, and this is where I met Guide (Kalaganath) and other Powerful Dufiro. Before leaving the Dufirtrusa, I needed his services as a Writer of Tomes again, this time for Elemental of Movement; it was at that time that Adalou introduced me to Shantranixix, with Curious in the room. Shantrix was to Write my Earth Tomes, Elemental and Spasa.''

===<span style=color:blue>Ansahal</span>, Masoja of Water===
Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

An ancient non-corporeal Dufiro
*Elemental: Air, Water, Flux, Change
*Spasa:Air, Cleanliness, Blending, Change
*Avasa:Air, Cleanliness, Blending, Growth, Ice, Shifter, Knowledge, and Rage
*Masoja:Air, Change, Health, Growth, Life, Knowledge, Binding, Shifter, and Water.
***Aspires to Wisher and Illuminar.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Ansahal through Digan the Ruby Mage while I was at Castle Garland. During a Side Quest initiated by Digan, I met Ansahal in an isolated Shadow where he initiated Bargaining by Offering 'power' for the short-term use of my body. After a lot of questions and some haggling, an Agreement was reached by both Parties, witnessed by Digan. After Ansahal did what he need, during which I was fully aware, he went to the Fane of Dufirosm in Zilla, left my body then sent me back to Castle Garland. That visit to Zilla is what may have prompted Ansahal and Salaka to invite me to join the Dufirosm; I was seen by the Harbinger of Death when Anasahal exited my body.''

===<span style=color:green>Breasda</span>, Masoja of Vision===
Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Breasda.jpg|150 px]]

Born Change Elemental. Air Elemental. Raised to Cleanliness, followed by Paper and Blending. Took the Ava D Ritual of Cleanliness, followed by Truth, Knowledge, Vision, and finally Blending. Took the Masoja Ritual of Knowledge, Time, Health, Vision, and finally Wisher.
*Change Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Paper and Blending.
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Truth, Knowledge, Vision, and Blending.
*Masoja Ritual of Knowledge, Time, Health, Vision, and Wisher.
***An incorruptibly good creature with the a powerful Wishing energy. Considered by many the leader of the Dufirosm but denies such office. He is however generally respected or deeply feared. A past Racial Representative of Wishers on the Dufirosm Council. Recently resigned from the race of Wishers, taking on Vision race again as his naming race.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Breasda briefly in Shifters Hall after completing the first of my Changer's Training Exercises. Everyone froze-up at his approach and '''Guide''' advised me to 'say nothing'. Breasda asked '''Guide''' a few questions about me, looked me over, asked me to show him my Avalon Shapes, which I did without comment, then he gave me a book, The Story of the Trio Shifters, and asked me to make 100 copies of it, stating the handwriting was his but the Author was a Challenge for me. He also suggested another 100 copies to the Hall of Paper as a gift if I was interested in gaining Spasa of Paper, which I am. He stated that Trade with Avalon was permitted, then walked away, to everyone's relief... well, everyone let out a sigh and relaxed, to be precise. ''

===<span style=color:green>"Chip"</span>, Masoja of Earth===
''Xghasssrtddsc aQEeeefe Aolmkop'' "Chip"

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Chip-masoja.jpg|150 px]]
*Elemental of Earth.
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Defense, Growth, Rot, Paper
*Avasa of Earth, Fire, Guard, Growth, Colors, Shifter, Knowledge
*Masoja of Earth,
**Aspires to Fire, Guard, Shifter, Knowledge

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Chip during my first Changer's Training Exercise. He was my Third Challenge; he attacked me and I had to use ONLY my Changer Powers to Combat him. I was successful and I passed his Challenge. Later, ZyxZolkX mentioned "Chip" being a part of a Matched Elevation of Earth, him handling the Elemental part. The following day I Called "Chip" and Zyx to Bargain for Matched Elevation in Earth; Zyx did the talking and set the Terms... I ended up having to Call in Nur al-Din, at the suggestion of Sylex in private, to Seal the Deal. I acquired a Copy of Chip's Masoja of Earth Calling Tome. ''

===<span style=color:gold>Dadar Kois</span>===
*Unknown Rank and Race.
**A thin fancy dressed man about 5' tall.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Dadar when Sylex Called him to make a Deal for Production Bowls of food made by the Dufireant; we had just finished a meeting with "Chip", Zyx and Nur, who showed up with a wok full of freshly cooked Broccoli and Habanero Peppers with Noodles... he shared. And though I ate of my portion and all left untouched by Chip and Zyx, Sylex kept hers, divided it between the four bowls, then Called Dadar and made her Deal; keeping three and offering one as payment for Services Rendered. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Dyjik</span>, Avasa of Blending===
*Avasa of Earth, Blending
**Veteran Cook at Shifters Hall Cafeteria

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Dyjik at Shifters Hall Cafeteria where he oversaw Jasgl, a new Spasa of Blending who was making me the breakfast I had requested. Dyjik also made me a very good cup of strong coffee. He was pleasant, helpful and informative. I liked him immediately. ''

===<span style=color:gold>Fal Gan</span>, Masoja of Warfare===
A Member of the Party for Life because he hates certain Members of the Party for Death

*Elemental of ?
*Spasa of Illusion, ?
*Avasa of ?
*Masoja of Strength, Warfare

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I sort of met this Dufiro as an Illusion Spasa at my first Changer's Training Exercise. He was excused before I could 'meet' him. However, I did have his Calling Tome. No name was given or said and he appeared an an Elf at that time. The next day I met with Fal Gan; it did not go well. Fal Gan appeared as a 9ft Orc; armed and armored. Fal Gan was insulted by my speaking to him as though we were equals. Fal Gan struck me and left. ''

===<span style=color:green>Falat Agasta</span>, Avasa of Iron===
*Forge Journeyman under Tursa Ga.
**Forged a Black Mithril and Ang Ri Ironwood War Hammer [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/General_and_Known_Pointed_Artifact_Descriptions#Rafe.27s_Fire_Hammer]] which was purchase by Curious then gifted to Rare.
***'' 'I made this black mithril hammer to accept any Grade of Race. I am pleased a Masoja of Fire will bind to it. The handle changes from a foot to 6 feet. It is a war weapon but can be used as a forge hammer.' ''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Falat Agasta when he arrived with Curious after I asked Curious if he could find a suitable warhammer for Sharax of Fire to be Bound to for his Service to me. Falat was business-like but polite. He work is incredible and I will certainly recommend his Services. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Glkaxxsik of Rust</span>; Avasa of Rust===
"call me Glaxak..."

[[File:DF-Glkaxxsik.jpg|200 px]]
*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Rust, Carnality
*Avasa of Earth, Rust
**Aspires to ...

===<span style=color:orange>Glaxin of Stone</span>, Avasa of Earth===
*Avasa of Earth
**A Tyler of Earthers Hall, East Door

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Glaxin while he was serving as Tyler of Earthers Hall. He asked me show my talent or go; I turned my the skin of my left hand into Milky White Quartz. He welcomed me in and suggested I take a Term as Tyler on occasion. ''

===<span style=color:green>'''Hrolbleit'''</span>; Avasa of Earth===
*Hrolbleit is the Leader of a Warrior Knot consisting of 3 Avasa of Earth & Conflict, 4 Spasa of Earth & Combat, 9 Spasa of Earth and 12 Elementals of Earth.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I sort of met this Earth Avasa at my first Changer's Training Exercise. The Avasa was excused before I could 'meet' it. However, I do have its Calling Tome.''

''While in Paris, Avalon, I used this Dufiro's Calling Tome to make an offer of employment for him and his Knot to work as Guards at the Hotel and Warehouse..... PENDING''

===<span style=color:orange>Hunjanta</span> aka Sunak===
*Avasa of Rot??
**A Tyler of Shifter Hall

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sunak while he was serving as Tyler of Shifters Hall. Hunjanta insisted I had to prove myself worthy of entering Shifters Hall by using my Dufiro Powers to Change myself in some way, which I did; I became an Orc-Lizard, just like the ones I defeated earlier at Red Hall to get my Tome Certified. Sunak was quite gruff but in the end warned me and Adalou about some Death Cult Members residing in Shifters Hall and that if we needed a quick escape, to Call on him. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Jasgl</span>, Spasa of Blending===
*Spasa of Earth, Blending
**New Cook at Shifters Hall Cafeteria

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Jasgl at Shifters Hall Cafeteria where he made me an excellent breakfast based upon a memory I shared with him, literally; Jasgl made physical, then Psychic, contact with me while I was recalling the memory verbally. The food he made, by using his Changer Powers, combined with Earth and Blending on cubes of organic 'matter' was EXACTLY as I remembered it and was both filling and satisfying. Good Service Rendered. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kalaganath</span>, The Guide===
Member of the Party for Life
*Unknown Rank and Races
**Guide at Shifters Hall for Rafe's Change Elemental Initiation & Training

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met 'The Guide' at Shifters Hall after I had proven myself worthy of entering. Guide led me through part of Shifters Hall, past a Witness Chamber in use, to a Training Room where my first Training Exercise took place. He accompanied me and Salaka to a special place inside(?) Shifters Hall where the three of us privately spoke about the Visions that involve me, the Party for Life, the Party for Death and the Azcala World Stone. He was also present when I met Breasda, Masoja of Vision, formerly Masoja of Wisher. He furthered my education in the Dufirosm and gave good advice often.''

===<span style=color:orange>Karyaxyl</span>, Masoja of Life===
Member of the Party for Life

*Masoja of Earth, Shifter, Health, and Life
**Foodie

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Karyaxyl at Shifters Hall Cafeteria while dining. He talked of Food and being a Member for the Party for Life. He invited to me Call him anytime to share a meal or talk of things. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kibrosel</span>, Masoja of Health, ''Al Asgo Illuminar''===
Member of the Party for Life

[[File:Kibrosel.jpg|150 px]]

*Water Elemental, Change, Earth
*Spasa of Water, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Earth, Blending, Defense, Life, Knowledge
*Avasa of Water, Cleanliness, Conflict-War, Growth, Blending, Earth, Ice, Health, Life, Knowledge
*Masoja of Water, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Blending, Life, Health, Rot
*'''''Al Asgo Illuminar'''''. Created an Illuminar by the Stretched One
***Aspires to Earth, Knowledge, Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''

''I met Kibrosel at my first Changer's Training Exercise. Kibro is a Physician and Farmer by Profession. I met with Kirbo again the next day and learned how to Live in my Heartfire, Shape Shift to Stone then Living Stone, and how to Sense thru another's Senses. I have his Calling Name Tome. I owe him a Future Favor. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kichabqhisreeceeb</span>, Avasa of Blending===
[[File:Kichab.jpg|200px]]

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Cleanliness, Paper, Color, light, & Illusion
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending

Aspires to Avasa of Knowledge, Truth, & Whimsy. Masoja of Air, Cleanliness, Knowledge, Wisher

Profession-Alchemist Librarian

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Kichab when I used his Spasa of Paper Calling Tome to show Prince Dalt of Eregenor how Dufiro Summoning works. The Calling Tome came from the Danbury Collection, now a part of Dalt's Personal Library. Dalt traded favors with me; he helped me craft my armor and I help him figure out the Collection. Kichab was a bit haughty and seemed 'put out' by being Called by a much older Tome. During our bargaining I learned what types of books would be best for making copies of '''The Story of the Trio Shifters''' book I was loaned by Breasda to make copies of. I also learned a bit about the Trio Shifters, the different translations and that there is an Opera based on it called '''Shifter Trio'''. Towards the end of our bargaining session he was a bit insulting about my Spasa of Earth Calling Tome; called it pretentious for a Spasa. Curious reminded him that I am an Illuminar and can do things as I please. Curious was NOT going to let an insult to a fellow Illuminar go unchecked.... love that guy. In the end I got Kichab's Avasa of Blending Calling Tome and a Place Tome for his Personal Avasa of Knowledge Library. Good deal in my opinion.''

===<span style=color:gold>Leniya</span>, 'The Origami Dragon', Masoja of Health===
[[File:Leniya.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Growth, Change, Blending, Paper
*Avasa of Earth, Growth, Shifter, Fire, Whimsy, Health
*Masoja of Earth, Fire, Air, Health
***Aspires to Shifter, Change, Knowledge
**Expert in Origami.
**Profession: Apothecary. Supplier of Herbs, Material Components and Paper
**Calling Name is ''Leniya Jasdarniun''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Leniya through Salaka. I get my Urala and other herbs from Leniya, as does Salaka. I was warned to be wary of what I say and who I am seen with around Leniya as he has a tendency to gossip.''
***Leniya to Rafe
''"Paper from your Birth world. Defeat a clown in combat, a fight you start with them unaware.. Plants from your home world. A brandy from your home world."''

===<span style=color:blue>Nippixix</span>, Flux Elemental===
The ''Consigliere'' for Shantranixix & the [[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]

[[File:Nippixx.jpg|200 px]]

*Flux Elemental
*Spasa of
*Avasa of
*Masoja of
**Aspires to

===<span style=color:blue>Nur al-Din El Musifar</span> - The Dufrieanalat, ''Primas Illuminar''===
[[File:Image6.jpg|150 px]] [[File:Nur2.jpg|150 px]]

*Spasa - All except Death, Rust. Did take Rot
*Avasa - All except Death, Rust
*Masoja of Life, all except Death, Vision, Time. Only partially accepted by Wisher
*'''''Primus Illuminar'''''
***Aspires to Wisher
*Born a human on the world of Tosa. Attained the ranks of thrice Crowned Bard. A long time bargainer and a extremely well-respected friend of the Dufirosm. A High Lord in a Shade of Chaos. During a extinction level event involving most the Dufirosim realms Nur Ed Din managed to save the realms and help rebuild after the destruction. As reward he was inhabited by a Shifter Masoja and initiated into the Masoja Dufiro of Life.
*Granted powers from each of the races from Spirit to Masoja. When the forces in his Chaos ousted him from his lordship he relocated to the Dufirosm realms and was invited to join the council.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''It's a complicated story how I know Nur.... ask me about it one day.''

===<span style=color:green>Salaka</span>, Masoja of Knowledge, ''Primas Illuminar''===
Member of the Party for Life

[[File:Dufiro Salaka.jpg|250px]]

(Calling Name: Salakalikintar)
*Water Elemental, Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Change, and Blending
*Avasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Blending, Ice, Shifter, and Knowledge
*Masoja of Air, Water, and Earth, Health, Growth, Shifter, and Knowledge
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' (Secretly?)
***Aspires to Masoja of Life, Change. Perhaps some day Wisher.
**Friend of Veks. A gardener, farmer, brewer, vintner, and vegetarian. A Facilitator for Dufiro who has worked often with Hendrake.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met met Salaka through Fortunadas, sort of. Adalou and Ansahal suggested Salaka bring me into the Dufiro fold, as it were.'' Salaka Facilitated my Transition into the Dufirosm and into a Change Elemental as well as assisted and advised in my first Changer's Training Exercises.''

***Fortunadus Enright's Commentary
''"Salaka is a Water Elemental and an Air Elemental. A Spasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, and Blending. An Avasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Blending, Ice, and Knowledge. A Masoja of Air, Water, and Earth, Health, Growth, and now a Masoja of Knowledge. She is a '''Primus Illuminar'''. She is a player in the '''Party of Life''' and a Member of the '''Dufrieanalat's Inner Circle'''."''

===<span style=color:orange>Shagas</span> of Glass===
A warrior Avasa of Conflict. Glass shard skin

*Earth Elemental. Scent Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Combat, Defense, Speed, Rot, Guard, Motion
*Avasa of Earth, Conflict, Guard, Speed, Ice
***Aspires to Masoja of Earth, Combat, Guard, Warfare, and Death

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Shagas at the Red Hall right after my Certification Fight, still not knowing what was going on and thinking I had just been sold into Slavery. Adalou was there as was Agalat the Red Wizard. Shagas paid to Certify my Tome of Change Elemental and Bind me toward Earth Elemental status. I then learn what was going on, was reunited with Slugger, Curious and The Poodle Boys, then had lunch with Shagas as Adalou further explained what was going and and why he did it the way he did. Shagas seemed a nice enough fellow, but the shards of glass sticking out of him everywhere was a bit offputting.''

===<span style=color:blue>Shantranixix Agfala</span>, Masoja of Life===

Leader of the Shantranixix Fealty Band

[[File:Shantranixix.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth & Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Earth, Carnality, Cleanliness, Combat, Defense, Growth, Guard, Life, Song, Speed, Culinarist
*Avasa of Air, Earth, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Guard, Health, Knowledge, Strength, Warfare, Life, Music, Truth
*Masoja of Air, Earth, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Guard, Health, Knowledge, Warfare, Life
***Aspires to Time and Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''Initially, I knew of Shantranixix 'by reputation' only, but I knew Curious was a Member of the Shantranixix Fealty Band. I was offered an opportunity to join the Shantranixix Fealty Band by Traxal which I considered then Accepted through Curious. Soon after, I met Shantrix when Adalou said he couldn't write my Earth Tomes, but knew someone who could. He promptly disappeared then returned with Shantrix, jokingly saying he found a Spasa of Paper to write my Earth Tomes. I didn't know what Shantrix looked like, but I 'figured things out' quickly and was awed by his presence, his visit and his willingness to Write my Tomes for Elemental and Spasa of Earth.''

===<span style=color:red>Tinsanax</span>, Masoja of Health===
[[File:Tinsanax.jpg|150 px]]

*Fire Elemental, Flux Elemental
*Spasa of Change, Combat, Fire, Speed, Cleanliness, Rot, Health, Life, Carnality
*Avasa of Conflict, Blending, Fire, Health, Shifter, Carnality, Rust, Whimsy, Music, Death
*Masoja of Rust, Warfare, Combat, Health
***Aspires to Shifter, Knowledge.
**Member of the Gxkzle Band. The band is in the Party for War but not the Party of Death. Known as a trouble maker.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Tins at my first Changer's Training Exercise; she crashed the party, but left soon at my insistence. She gave me some info about the Challenges 'for free', but I'm sure I'll have to pay for it some day in some way. I was warned she was trouble, but I could already tell that from the moment I laid eyes on her.''

===<span style=color:blue>Traxalaxax</span>, Avasa of Blending===
Member of the '''Shantranixix Fealty Band'''.

[[File:Traxalaxax.jpg|150px]]

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Air, Song, Paper, Illusion
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, Blending
***Aspires to Avasa of Knowledge. Then Masoja of Knowledge.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met first Traxal through Curious at the bottom of Lily Lake located in the southern most part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range near Fort Garland, Colorado, Shadow Garland; the location of the Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon. Traxal helped in my initial knowledge of the Sigil of Avalon and let me know it was safe to Assay and what power I might gain. He gave me his Calling Name. Sometime later, Traxal acted as Slugger's 'Nanny' and Educator for a time while she and I were in the Dufiro Realms. Traxal also made the initial Offer to me to 'Consider joining the Shantranixix Fealty Band'. I considered for a day then Accepted through Curious, also in the Fealty Band. Later that day, I met Shantranixix through Adalou, also in the Fealty Band.''

===<span style=color:green>ZyxzlokX</span>, Masoja of Rust===
Member of the Party for Life.

Member of the [[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]

[[File:ZyxzlokX.jpg|150 px]]

*Fire Elemental; Iron, Sand. Fire: Smoke. Whimsy
*Spasa of Earth; Iron, Combat, Defense, Rust, Song; Whimsy, Speed, Rot, Change
*Avasa of Earth; Iron, Rust, Whimsy, Conflict, Death, Rust, Shifter
*Masoja of Earth:Iron, Combat, Warfare, Rust, Strength, Rage.
***Aspires to Shifter-Partially to escape Rage. Will take any race to escape rage

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met ZyxzlokX at my first Changer's Training Exercise. He is Brother to Sylex; Avasa of Rot. Zyx is gruff and rough with a mean sense of humor and a love of pranks and lessons learned. Zyx punched me in the chest so fast I never saw it coming, he could have killed me but didn't. He didn't like my candor or opinion of him... and I think he was testing me to see how I'd react. He knew I'd offered his Sister Sylex to join my Adventurers' Band and made me promise to 'only use her Water for Cleanliness, and don't use her other skills." I gained his is Calling Name Tome before he left.''

==Personally Known: Unnamed==

===<span style=color:blue>Avasa of Guard (3)</span>===
*Avasa of Guard
Rafe sort of met this trio of Guard Avasa when Curious Summoned and Bound them to Rafe's trio of Miniature Poodles. The Avasa are Loyal to Curious.

===<span style=color:green>Orc-Lizards (8)</span>===
*Spasa of Combat
Rafe defeated them for Tome Certification at the Red Hall of Agalat.

===<span style=color:orange>Spasa of ?</span>===
*Looks like a tall Hobbit
**Brought food and drink from his restaurant to Rafe and Sylex when she Called.

===<span style=color:orange>Spasa of Earth (2)</span>===
*Spasa of Earth
Rafe sort of met these Earth Spasa at his first Changer's Training Exercise. Both Spasa were excused before Rafe could 'meet' them. However, Rafe does have their Calling Tomes.

===<span style=color:orange>Earth Elemental</span>===
*Elemental of Earth
Rafe met this Earth Elemental at his first Changer's Training Exercise; did not leave Calling Name or Tome.

==Known by Reputation or Other==
===<span style=color:orange>Akgleax</span> of Earth===
[[File:Akgleax of Music.jpg|150px]]

A craftsman of musical items.
*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Water, Blending, Change, Song, Music, and Paper.
*Avasa of Earth
**Achieved Spasa of Paper and Music after writing of her encounters of Alexandra & Duncan of Amber.
***Aspires to Avasa of Music, Water, Blending, and Knowledge. Masoja of Earth, Knowledge or Binding.
Rafe knows her Calling Name only through Adalou.

===<span style=color:orange>Grexil</span> of Knowledge===
*Elemental of Earth
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Earth, Rot, Defense, Speed, Paper, Song, Blending, Rust, Change, Life
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Earth, Conflict, Blending, Rage, Shifter,
*Masoja of Knowledge
Rafe knows only his Calling Name through Adalou.

===<span style=color:red>Hardin Wapak</span>, Leader of the Party for War===
[[File:HARDIN wAPAK.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth & Air Elemental
*Spasa of
*Avasa of
*Masoja of

Rafe knows of Hardin by reputation only. Rafe is aware that Hardin has placed a Bounty on him.

''"His weapon is massive. Normally unwieldly. But it is Bound with Masoja of Combat, Warfare, and Death. The Mace is Bound with the same but lesser ones. It is studded with Avasa and Masoja who begged to serve him. Yet. He has a long knife that bears the Soul of Mortals and Dufiro he has slain. They writhe in unending agony to his delight."'' ~ Curious to Rafe

===<span style=color:green>Tans Tilki</span>, Masoja of Vision, ''Primsa Illuminar''===
[[File:Tans tilki.jpg|200 px]]

One of the most ancient and powerful Dufiro, a perennial member of the Council of the Dufirosm. Resigned from Wishers.

*Elementals: Change, Flux, Earth, Fire, Air
*Spirits: Change, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Defense, Guard, Blending, Rust, Fire, Paper, Illusion,
*Avasa Dufirosm: Shifter, Cleanliness, Conflict, Guard, Growth, Blending, Knowledge, Vision, Truth
*Masoja Dufirosm: Change, Combat, Guard, Health, Growth, Death, Life, Knowledge, Shifter, Binding, Time, Vision
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' Dufirosm

Rafe knows Tans by reputation only. Rafe first heard about Tans when Rafe learned about the Visions about Rafe.

===<span style=color:orange>Twiisi</span>, Spasa of Guard===
[[File:Twiisi-fane guide.jpg|150 px]]

Twiisi was seen serving as a gate guard and greeter at the Fane of the Dufirosm at Zilla

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Cleanliness, Guard, and Paper
**Aspires to Spasa of Song. Avasa of Air,Cleanliness, Guard or conflict, color, Knowledge. Masoja of Air, Combat or Guard, knowledge.
**As Fane Guard she also aspires to rise in rank among the Fane Guards at the temple she is in. Many Guards serve their whole lives guarding one place as well as making deals to gain rank and race.

Rafe was briefly in the presence of Twiisi at the Dufirosm Fane at Zilla when Ansahal was inhabiting Rafe's body and they transported there, but Rafe was transported 'home' before he could interact as himself.

===<span style=color:red>Vrxxkren</span>, Masoja of Strength, 'The Harbinger of Death'===
[[File:Vrxxkren.jpg|150 px]]

A member of the Inner Council of the Party for Death and the Party for War. Known as the Harbinger of Death. A warrior and a herald.

*Earth Elemental. Fire Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Combat, Guard, Rot, and Speed
*Avasa of Earth, Fire, Speed, Rage, Conflict-War, and Knowledge.
*Masoja of Earth, Fire, Combat, Rage, Warfare, Knowledge, Death, and Strength.

Rafe knows the Harbinger by reputation only. Rafe is aware that the Harbinger saw Ansahal exit his (Rafe's) body at the Dufirosm Fane at Zilla. Rafe is also aware that the Harbinger sought out a Dufiro of Vision to learn more about Rafe. Rafe is now aware of the nature and contents of those Visions.

==Beings with a Copy of RaphaX's Dufiro Tomes==
NOTE: ALL Copies of Raphaxaelicus' Tomes that have NOT been Gifted or Bargained for, are Stored in a bookcase in RaphaX's Billet in Shifters Hall at the Hagia Salas in the City of Ahyk within the Dufirtrusa; the Dufiro Realms near to the Black Zone of Chaos.

===Elemental of Change===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Adalou (Author); S/B, Curious; S/B,

===Elemental of Motion===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Adalou (Author); S/B,

===Elemental of Earth===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Shantranixix (Author); S/B,

===Spasa of Earth===
*Calling, Summoning & Binding
*Shantranixix (Author); C.S.B, Kichab; C, Nur al Din; C, Dalt; C, Curious; S, Glax of Rot; C, Coil of Whimsy; C, Bently; C,

==Dufiro Tomes Possessed by RaphaX ==
NOTE: ALL Copies of The Dog Brothers Tomes that have NOT been Gifted or Bargained for, are Stored in a bookcase in RaphaX's Billet in Shifters Hall at the Hagia Salas in the City of Ahyk within the Dufirtrusa; the Dufiro Realms near to the Black Zone of Chaos. As well as any Tomes that have been Gifted to Raphaxaelicus, or Bargained for by him.

===The Dog Brothers' Tomes===
*Calling, Summoning and Binding Name Tomes (90)
**10 of each Tome for each of the 3 Dogs

===Summoning Tomes===
*''Masoja Dufiro of Earth Summoning Tome''
**'''Crizacraxix Galxata''' aka Curious
**Written in Kolbashic
**Trade from Curious for Raphax's Elemental of Change Summoning & Binding Tome

===Calling Tomes===
*''Elemental of Flux Calling Name Tome''
**'''Nippixx'''; Consigliere to Shantranixix and The Shantranixix Fealty Band

*''Masoja of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**'''"Chip"''', Masoja of Earth

*''Spasa of Blending Calling Name Tome''
**'''Bronze Nugget''', Spasa of Blending

*''Avasa of Iron Calling Name Tome''
**'''ZyxzlokX''', Masoja of Rust (Earth-Iron)

*''Masoja of Rot Calling Name Tome''
**'''Kibrosel''', Masoja of Health

*''Spasa of Rot Calling Name Tome''
**'''Sharax''', Masoja of Fire

*''Avasa of Water Calling Name Tome''
**'''Sylex''', Avasa of Health, Rot

*''Spasa of Illusion Calling Name Tome''
**'''Fal Gan''', Masoja of Strength & Warfare

*''Avasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Avasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Spasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Spasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Spasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Spasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Avasa of Blending Calling Tome''
**'''Kichabqhisreeceeb'''; Avasa of Blending
***Also, a Place Tome for Kichab's Personal Library

*Avasa of Rust Calling Tome''
**'''Glkaxxsik'''; Avasa of Rust

*Avasa of Whimsy Calling Tome
**'''Coil'''; Avasa of Whimsy

*Calling Tome for '''Hardin Wapak'''

*''Spasa of Water Calling Tome''
**'''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water

*''Avasa of Whimsy Calling Tome''
**'''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water

==RaphaX's Summoning Log==

===Spasa of Paper - Calling Tome Ritual===
*'''Kichabqhisreeceeb''' aka Kichab
**Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending.
*An old Spasa of Paper Calling Tome was used.

===Avasa of Death- Forced Binding Tome Ritual===
*'''Grytti''', Avasa of Death and Ice
**Forced Binding to a glass
**Bargain with ''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water, who has the Glass

===Spasa of Death - Forced Binding Ritual===
*'''Thanseq'''; Spasa of Death... aka Bruce
**Force Bound to a Crystal Glass - Rafe holds the glass
***Causes any liquid poured into it to become poisoned.
***Does NOT alter smell, taste, or appearance.
[[File:Death Dufiro Poisoning Goblet.jpg|100px]]

===Avasa of Blending - Calling Tome Ritual===
*Avasa of Blending - Calling Tome Ritual
**Kichabqhisreeceeb; Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending.

===Avasa of Earth- Calling Tome Ritual===
*Avasa of Earth- Calling Tome Ritual
**Name; Race(s)

===Avasa of Conflict - Binding Tome Ritual===
*Sylex; Avasa of Water, Carnality, Health, Rot, Conflict

===Masoja of Dance - Binding Ritual===
*Bently

==COLOR KEY:==
===<span style=color:purple>PURPLE</span> = Very Well Known and/or Highly Trusted===
===<span style=color:blue>BLUE</span> = Well Known and/or Trusted===
===<span style=color:green>GREEN</span> = Known and/or Mostly Trusted===
===<span style=color:orange>ORANGE</span> = Semi-Known and/or Semi-Trusted===
===<span style=color:gold>YELLOW</span> = Advise Caution===
===<span style=color:red>RED</span> = NOT Trusted===

Dufiro known by Raphael

2025-07-05T04:18:48Z

Relmopator: /* Avasa of Earth- Calling Tome Ritual */

<big>'''Running Sheet of Dufiro known by Raphael de la Varga'''</big>

==Dufiro Traveling with Rapahx==

===<span style=color:purple>Curious</span>, Masoja of Guard, ''Primas Illuminar''===
Known as '''Crizacraxix Galxata'''

Member of the '''Party for the Defense of Amber'''.

Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

[[File:Curious.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth Elemental.
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Combat, Rot, Speed, Change, Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth)''
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Rage, Water, and Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth & Conflict)''
*Masoja of Guard. ''(Secretly has Earth, Health & Warfare)''
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' ''(Secretly)''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Curious on my Home World after a Virus had wiped out Humanity. Curious was traveling with a young girl of 10ish, Slugger, who quickly made friends with my Poodle Boys, then soon became my Ward when her 'uncle' Buck made me promise to look after her as he lay dying from the Virus. Later I discovered that she was of the Blood of Amber, then later discovered her to be the Daughter of Corwin and Dierdre of Amber, also known as the King and Queen of Avalon. Curious is Slugger's Guardian and I have known this almost since the beginning, just I as knew he was a powerful Dufiro. I later learned how powerful and influential... but I am still unaware of who Contracted Curious to Guard her... somehow I don't think it was her Mother or Father, though they would be the most obvious choices. Curious has acted as an excellent protector to Slugger and as a dependable advisor in many things regarding the Dufirosm to me.''

***'''Game Play Posts & GM Commentary'''
'''GM''' '' "Consider ... Curious, known as Crizacraxix Galxata. His base is Earth and he is beloved of all the Earth ranks. His public races include Masoja of Guard. I happen to know he '''secretly has Masoja of Earth, Health and Warfare'''. He has '''secretly the Spasa of Earth''' and publicly Cleanliness, Combat, Rot, Speed, Change, and Guard. He has Avasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Rage, Water, and Guard. '''Secretly he has Avasa of Earth and Conflict.''' What is he then? A warrior. A fierce warrior. He is a member of several warrior bands including the Shantranixix Fealty Band not to mention his own little fealty band. He is in the thick of the warrior types." ''~Adalou, Masoja of Air to Raphael during his Tome Writing Session.

'''GM''' ''Curious turns to the Guide, then to Rafe. He starts shifting to fill out a short cat/human. "It is. I am a Masoja of Earth and Guard. As well as..." ~ The Guide puts his hand up, "I know what else. Proceed." ~ "These three are friends. They each carry an Avasa of Guard, as you can tell. They are primitive bound to this Changer. I have made bargains to have these three entered into the ranks of the Elementals of Movement. I had not spoken to the Changer yet. It is a matter of some detail." ~ The Guide nods, "Easy enough for a '''Primus Illuminar'''. We can accommodate space for your work toward Shifter. If you need space for the Movement Elementals, we can mange that." ~ Fuzzy Cat looks to Rafe. "The Poodle Boys are eligible to become Movement Elementals. If you wish." ~ '''(Rafe)''' "Yes, by all means, Curious. I would love that for my Poodle Boys. Thank you." ''~Quotes from Game Play.

===<span style=color:purple>The Dog Brothers (3)</span>, Movement Elementals===
aka The Poodle Boys
*'''Kuzco''' aka Swirly(left)
*'''Ninja-Boy''' aka Fudge(center)
*'''Jerk-u-lees''' aka Berk-Berk(right)

[[File:The Poodle Boys2.jpg|200 px]]

[[Running Sheet Raphael - The Poodle Boys]]

Miniature Poodles 'Primitive Bonded' to Rafe.
*Elementals of Movement
**Prevously Inhabited by Avasa Dufiro of Guard

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''They're my Dog Brothers. What more need I say?''

===<span style=color:blue>Sylex</span>, Avasa of Conflict===
[[File:Sylex.jpg|150px]]
[[Running Sheet Sylex]]
*Water Elemental
*Spasa of Water, Carnality, Cleanliness, Motion, Sadness
*Avasa of Water, Carnality, Health, Rot, Conflict.
***Aspires to Masoja of Water.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sylex at my first Changer's Training Exercise at Shifters Hall; she is Sister of ZyxzolX, a Masoja of Iron. I learned of her tragic life from her own lips in front of others who confirmed it. I offered her to join my Adventurers Band for a one year Contract. I was asked by her brother, Zyx, to 'use her Water for Cleanliness. And don't use her for her other skills.' I was asked by Kibrosel, Masoja of Health, to have her spent time in heathly natural environments to help her towards Growth. Curious mentioned she was a known spy, but did not elaborate. We have not finalized our Contract yet, but much has happened suddenly.....''

===<span style=color:blue>Bently</span>, Masoja of Dance===
[[File:Bently.jpg|150px]]
[[Running Sheet Bently]]
*Elemental of Air, Change, Hue, Sound
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Air, Color, Change, Paper, Illusion, Song, motion.
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Air, Change, Blending, Paper, Color, Health, Music, Shifter, Life.
*Masoja of Cleanliness, Air, Change, Shifter, Knowledge, Rust, Paper, Music, Dance.
**''Aspires to Masoja of Life, Vision, Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Bently after returning from the Durfiro Reelms, he came with Slugger... her new Art Instructor...and boyfriend. Even Slugger admitted she should not have gotten involved with him and that he was going to get his ass kicked by someone sooner or later.....''

==='''Adventurers Society Members'''===
====Fitz Williams====
*Life Path: Air Elemental.
**Spasa of Air, Combat, Life, Cleanliness, Paper
**Avasa of Air, Knowledge
**'''''Al Asgo Illuminar'''''

====Elmer Ellswroth====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====Runner====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====Olive====
*Life Path: Air Elemental, Spasa of Combat

====???====
*Life Path:

===Bound Dufiro===
====<span style=color:green>Sharax</span>, Masoja of Fire====

[[File:Sharax, Masoja of Fire.jpg| 150px]]

*Elemental of Fire
*Spasa of Fire, Earth, Rot, Growth, Blending
*Avasa of Fire, Conflict, Blending, Health, Life, Rust, Rage, Speed
*Masoja of Fire
***Aspires to Combat,
**Professionally a Carpenter

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sharax of Fire at my first Changer's Training Exercise; he was Bound (in)to a chair. We spoke briefly after the Challenge he was involved in was over, then he departed. The next day, I Called Sharax to thank him for his participation in my Training and for his Calling Tome, when I unexpectedly found myself Bargaining for Sharax to Self-Bind to a Weapon... though he did initiate it... so to speak. After some negotiating, haggling and ironing out of details, an Agreement was reached; Sharax and an unnamed Spasa of Motion would Serve a Two Year'' 'on the hip' ''Term of Service Bound to a suitable weapon that Curious (Crizax) found then gifted to me; a Black Mithril War Hammer.''

***'''Rafe's Fire Hammer'''
Stats: [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/General_and_Known_Pointed_Artifact_Descriptions#Rafe.27s_Fire_Hammer]]

[[File:Firehammer.jpg|150 px]]

====<span style=color:green>Bronze Nugget</span>, Spasa of Blending====

[[File:Bronze nugget.jpg|150px]]
[[File:Bronze Nugget1.jpg|150 px]]

*Elemental of Earth & Mixing
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Rust, Guard, Blending
**''Avasa: Aspires to Earth, Fire, Guard, Rust, Ice, knowledge''
**''Masoja: Aspires to Earth, Fire, Guard, Rust, Knowledge''

Professions-Blacksmith, fine metals worker, brewer.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Bronze Nugget at my first Changer's Training Exercise. At the end of the Challenge involving Bronze, he fell to the floor in the shape of a Bronze Bracer; I now wear Bronze on my left forearm. I am currently in Negotiations with Bronze Nugget to Self-Bind to a suit of armor that is yet to be crafted as I am still lacking the required materials, Magics, tools, facility and personnel... but the list is getting shorter and the time is coming soon...''

==Personally Known: Named==

===<span style=color:orange>Agalat</span> the Red Wizard, Masoja of Knowledge===
Manages the Red Hall of Agalat. A place that sells Tome certification.

*Fire Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Combat, Rust, Paper, Fire, Growth, Change
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Fire, Conflict, Blending, Rage, Knowledge, Growth, Vision
*Masoja of Fire, Growth, Rage, Binding, Warfare, Knowledge
***Aspires to Death

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Agalat at the Red Hall after my Combat Screening for my Changer Tome Certification. At first I thought he was a Slaver, as Adalou tricked me into thinking I'd been 'sold into slavery' so I would fight more fiercely for my Certification Fight.''

===<span style=color:blue>Adalou</span>, Masoja of Air===
Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Dufiro-Adalou.jpg|150px]]

*Elemental of Air, Change
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Air, Song, Paper, Change
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Change, Knowledge
*Masoja of Air, Health, Shifter
***Aspires to Knowledge, Life, Wisher.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Adalou through Zachary Hepplewhite of Amber while we were at Lily Lake in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range near Fort Garland, Colorado, Shadow Garland aka Change World. We were investigating a Low Order Inscription at the bottom of Lily Lake and Zach called in Adalou to help gain us more information about the it; turns out it's a Low Order Version of the Pattern of Avalon. Around a year later I again met Adalou at Castle Garland after a meeting with Fortunadus, Salaka and Curious about me joining the Dufirosm; Adalou was called in to be the Author of my first Dufiro Tome for Change Elemental. He took me to Ahyk, a Realm within the Dufirtrusa, somewhere near the Black Zone of the Court of Chaos. He took me to Agalat Red Hall where I met Agalat, the Red Wizard and was tricked by Adalou into thinking I had been sold into slavery and Slugger, Curious and the Poodle Boys as well; it was so I would fight at my fiercest for my Tome Certification (a faster version than weeks of paperwork and meetings with Officials). Afterwards he explained then he took me to Shifters Hall where I met the then current Tyler, Hunjata, who made me prove I was a Changer, and I did ('''without''' Avalon Shape Change). He left me there to Train, and this is where I met Guide (Kalaganath) and other Powerful Dufiro. Before leaving the Dufirtrusa, I needed his services as a Writer of Tomes again, this time for Elemental of Movement; it was at that time that Adalou introduced me to Shantranixix, with Curious in the room. Shantrix was to Write my Earth Tomes, Elemental and Spasa.''

===<span style=color:blue>Ansahal</span>, Masoja of Water===
Member of the '''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

An ancient non-corporeal Dufiro
*Elemental: Air, Water, Flux, Change
*Spasa:Air, Cleanliness, Blending, Change
*Avasa:Air, Cleanliness, Blending, Growth, Ice, Shifter, Knowledge, and Rage
*Masoja:Air, Change, Health, Growth, Life, Knowledge, Binding, Shifter, and Water.
***Aspires to Wisher and Illuminar.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Ansahal through Digan the Ruby Mage while I was at Castle Garland. During a Side Quest initiated by Digan, I met Ansahal in an isolated Shadow where he initiated Bargaining by Offering 'power' for the short-term use of my body. After a lot of questions and some haggling, an Agreement was reached by both Parties, witnessed by Digan. After Ansahal did what he need, during which I was fully aware, he went to the Fane of Dufirosm in Zilla, left my body then sent me back to Castle Garland. That visit to Zilla is what may have prompted Ansahal and Salaka to invite me to join the Dufirosm; I was seen by the Harbinger of Death when Anasahal exited my body.''

===<span style=color:green>Breasda</span>, Masoja of Vision===
Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Breasda.jpg|150 px]]

Born Change Elemental. Air Elemental. Raised to Cleanliness, followed by Paper and Blending. Took the Ava D Ritual of Cleanliness, followed by Truth, Knowledge, Vision, and finally Blending. Took the Masoja Ritual of Knowledge, Time, Health, Vision, and finally Wisher.
*Change Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Paper and Blending.
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Truth, Knowledge, Vision, and Blending.
*Masoja Ritual of Knowledge, Time, Health, Vision, and Wisher.
***An incorruptibly good creature with the a powerful Wishing energy. Considered by many the leader of the Dufirosm but denies such office. He is however generally respected or deeply feared. A past Racial Representative of Wishers on the Dufirosm Council. Recently resigned from the race of Wishers, taking on Vision race again as his naming race.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Breasda briefly in Shifters Hall after completing the first of my Changer's Training Exercises. Everyone froze-up at his approach and '''Guide''' advised me to 'say nothing'. Breasda asked '''Guide''' a few questions about me, looked me over, asked me to show him my Avalon Shapes, which I did without comment, then he gave me a book, The Story of the Trio Shifters, and asked me to make 100 copies of it, stating the handwriting was his but the Author was a Challenge for me. He also suggested another 100 copies to the Hall of Paper as a gift if I was interested in gaining Spasa of Paper, which I am. He stated that Trade with Avalon was permitted, then walked away, to everyone's relief... well, everyone let out a sigh and relaxed, to be precise. ''

===<span style=color:green>"Chip"</span>, Masoja of Earth===
''Xghasssrtddsc aQEeeefe Aolmkop'' "Chip"

Member of the '''Party for Life'''.

[[File:Chip-masoja.jpg|150 px]]
*Elemental of Earth.
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Defense, Growth, Rot, Paper
*Avasa of Earth, Fire, Guard, Growth, Colors, Shifter, Knowledge
*Masoja of Earth,
**Aspires to Fire, Guard, Shifter, Knowledge

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Chip during my first Changer's Training Exercise. He was my Third Challenge; he attacked me and I had to use ONLY my Changer Powers to Combat him. I was successful and I passed his Challenge. Later, ZyxZolkX mentioned "Chip" being a part of a Matched Elevation of Earth, him handling the Elemental part. The following day I Called "Chip" and Zyx to Bargain for Matched Elevation in Earth; Zyx did the talking and set the Terms... I ended up having to Call in Nur al-Din, at the suggestion of Sylex in private, to Seal the Deal. I acquired a Copy of Chip's Masoja of Earth Calling Tome. ''

===<span style=color:gold>Dadar Kois</span>===
*Unknown Rank and Race.
**A thin fancy dressed man about 5' tall.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Dadar when Sylex Called him to make a Deal for Production Bowls of food made by the Dufireant; we had just finished a meeting with "Chip", Zyx and Nur, who showed up with a wok full of freshly cooked Broccoli and Habanero Peppers with Noodles... he shared. And though I ate of my portion and all left untouched by Chip and Zyx, Sylex kept hers, divided it between the four bowls, then Called Dadar and made her Deal; keeping three and offering one as payment for Services Rendered. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Dyjik</span>, Avasa of Blending===
*Avasa of Earth, Blending
**Veteran Cook at Shifters Hall Cafeteria

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Dyjik at Shifters Hall Cafeteria where he oversaw Jasgl, a new Spasa of Blending who was making me the breakfast I had requested. Dyjik also made me a very good cup of strong coffee. He was pleasant, helpful and informative. I liked him immediately. ''

===<span style=color:gold>Fal Gan</span>, Masoja of Warfare===
A Member of the Party for Life because he hates certain Members of the Party for Death

*Elemental of ?
*Spasa of Illusion, ?
*Avasa of ?
*Masoja of Strength, Warfare

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I sort of met this Dufiro as an Illusion Spasa at my first Changer's Training Exercise. He was excused before I could 'meet' him. However, I did have his Calling Tome. No name was given or said and he appeared an an Elf at that time. The next day I met with Fal Gan; it did not go well. Fal Gan appeared as a 9ft Orc; armed and armored. Fal Gan was insulted by my speaking to him as though we were equals. Fal Gan struck me and left. ''

===<span style=color:green>Falat Agasta</span>, Avasa of Iron===
*Forge Journeyman under Tursa Ga.
**Forged a Black Mithril and Ang Ri Ironwood War Hammer [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/General_and_Known_Pointed_Artifact_Descriptions#Rafe.27s_Fire_Hammer]] which was purchase by Curious then gifted to Rare.
***'' 'I made this black mithril hammer to accept any Grade of Race. I am pleased a Masoja of Fire will bind to it. The handle changes from a foot to 6 feet. It is a war weapon but can be used as a forge hammer.' ''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Falat Agasta when he arrived with Curious after I asked Curious if he could find a suitable warhammer for Sharax of Fire to be Bound to for his Service to me. Falat was business-like but polite. He work is incredible and I will certainly recommend his Services. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Glkaxxsik of Rust</span>; Avasa of Rust===
"call me Glaxak..."

[[File:DF-Glkaxxsik.jpg|200 px]]
*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Rust, Carnality
*Avasa of Earth, Rust
**Aspires to ...

===<span style=color:orange>Glaxin of Stone</span>, Avasa of Earth===
*Avasa of Earth
**A Tyler of Earthers Hall, East Door

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Glaxin while he was serving as Tyler of Earthers Hall. He asked me show my talent or go; I turned my the skin of my left hand into Milky White Quartz. He welcomed me in and suggested I take a Term as Tyler on occasion. ''

===<span style=color:green>'''Hrolbleit'''</span>; Avasa of Earth===
*Hrolbleit is the Leader of a Warrior Knot consisting of 3 Avasa of Earth & Conflict, 4 Spasa of Earth & Combat, 9 Spasa of Earth and 12 Elementals of Earth.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I sort of met this Earth Avasa at my first Changer's Training Exercise. The Avasa was excused before I could 'meet' it. However, I do have its Calling Tome.''

''While in Paris, Avalon, I used this Dufiro's Calling Tome to make an offer of employment for him and his Knot to work as Guards at the Hotel and Warehouse..... PENDING''

===<span style=color:orange>Hunjanta</span> aka Sunak===
*Avasa of Rot??
**A Tyler of Shifter Hall

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Sunak while he was serving as Tyler of Shifters Hall. Hunjanta insisted I had to prove myself worthy of entering Shifters Hall by using my Dufiro Powers to Change myself in some way, which I did; I became an Orc-Lizard, just like the ones I defeated earlier at Red Hall to get my Tome Certified. Sunak was quite gruff but in the end warned me and Adalou about some Death Cult Members residing in Shifters Hall and that if we needed a quick escape, to Call on him. ''

===<span style=color:orange>Jasgl</span>, Spasa of Blending===
*Spasa of Earth, Blending
**New Cook at Shifters Hall Cafeteria

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Jasgl at Shifters Hall Cafeteria where he made me an excellent breakfast based upon a memory I shared with him, literally; Jasgl made physical, then Psychic, contact with me while I was recalling the memory verbally. The food he made, by using his Changer Powers, combined with Earth and Blending on cubes of organic 'matter' was EXACTLY as I remembered it and was both filling and satisfying. Good Service Rendered. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kalaganath</span>, The Guide===
Member of the Party for Life
*Unknown Rank and Races
**Guide at Shifters Hall for Rafe's Change Elemental Initiation & Training

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met 'The Guide' at Shifters Hall after I had proven myself worthy of entering. Guide led me through part of Shifters Hall, past a Witness Chamber in use, to a Training Room where my first Training Exercise took place. He accompanied me and Salaka to a special place inside(?) Shifters Hall where the three of us privately spoke about the Visions that involve me, the Party for Life, the Party for Death and the Azcala World Stone. He was also present when I met Breasda, Masoja of Vision, formerly Masoja of Wisher. He furthered my education in the Dufirosm and gave good advice often.''

===<span style=color:orange>Karyaxyl</span>, Masoja of Life===
Member of the Party for Life

*Masoja of Earth, Shifter, Health, and Life
**Foodie

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Karyaxyl at Shifters Hall Cafeteria while dining. He talked of Food and being a Member for the Party for Life. He invited to me Call him anytime to share a meal or talk of things. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kibrosel</span>, Masoja of Health, ''Al Asgo Illuminar''===
Member of the Party for Life

[[File:Kibrosel.jpg|150 px]]

*Water Elemental, Change, Earth
*Spasa of Water, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Earth, Blending, Defense, Life, Knowledge
*Avasa of Water, Cleanliness, Conflict-War, Growth, Blending, Earth, Ice, Health, Life, Knowledge
*Masoja of Water, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Blending, Life, Health, Rot
*'''''Al Asgo Illuminar'''''. Created an Illuminar by the Stretched One
***Aspires to Earth, Knowledge, Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''

''I met Kibrosel at my first Changer's Training Exercise. Kibro is a Physician and Farmer by Profession. I met with Kirbo again the next day and learned how to Live in my Heartfire, Shape Shift to Stone then Living Stone, and how to Sense thru another's Senses. I have his Calling Name Tome. I owe him a Future Favor. ''

===<span style=color:blue>Kichabqhisreeceeb</span>, Avasa of Blending===
[[File:Kichab.jpg|200px]]

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Cleanliness, Paper, Color, light, & Illusion
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending

Aspires to Avasa of Knowledge, Truth, & Whimsy. Masoja of Air, Cleanliness, Knowledge, Wisher

Profession-Alchemist Librarian

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Kichab when I used his Spasa of Paper Calling Tome to show Prince Dalt of Eregenor how Dufiro Summoning works. The Calling Tome came from the Danbury Collection, now a part of Dalt's Personal Library. Dalt traded favors with me; he helped me craft my armor and I help him figure out the Collection. Kichab was a bit haughty and seemed 'put out' by being Called by a much older Tome. During our bargaining I learned what types of books would be best for making copies of '''The Story of the Trio Shifters''' book I was loaned by Breasda to make copies of. I also learned a bit about the Trio Shifters, the different translations and that there is an Opera based on it called '''Shifter Trio'''. Towards the end of our bargaining session he was a bit insulting about my Spasa of Earth Calling Tome; called it pretentious for a Spasa. Curious reminded him that I am an Illuminar and can do things as I please. Curious was NOT going to let an insult to a fellow Illuminar go unchecked.... love that guy. In the end I got Kichab's Avasa of Blending Calling Tome and a Place Tome for his Personal Avasa of Knowledge Library. Good deal in my opinion.''

===<span style=color:gold>Leniya</span>, 'The Origami Dragon', Masoja of Health===
[[File:Leniya.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Growth, Change, Blending, Paper
*Avasa of Earth, Growth, Shifter, Fire, Whimsy, Health
*Masoja of Earth, Fire, Air, Health
***Aspires to Shifter, Change, Knowledge
**Expert in Origami.
**Profession: Apothecary. Supplier of Herbs, Material Components and Paper
**Calling Name is ''Leniya Jasdarniun''

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Leniya through Salaka. I get my Urala and other herbs from Leniya, as does Salaka. I was warned to be wary of what I say and who I am seen with around Leniya as he has a tendency to gossip.''
***Leniya to Rafe
''"Paper from your Birth world. Defeat a clown in combat, a fight you start with them unaware.. Plants from your home world. A brandy from your home world."''

===<span style=color:blue>Nippixix</span>, Flux Elemental===
The ''Consigliere'' for Shantranixix & the [[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]

[[File:Nippixx.jpg|200 px]]

*Flux Elemental
*Spasa of
*Avasa of
*Masoja of
**Aspires to

===<span style=color:blue>Nur al-Din El Musifar</span> - The Dufrieanalat, ''Primas Illuminar''===
[[File:Image6.jpg|150 px]] [[File:Nur2.jpg|150 px]]

*Spasa - All except Death, Rust. Did take Rot
*Avasa - All except Death, Rust
*Masoja of Life, all except Death, Vision, Time. Only partially accepted by Wisher
*'''''Primus Illuminar'''''
***Aspires to Wisher
*Born a human on the world of Tosa. Attained the ranks of thrice Crowned Bard. A long time bargainer and a extremely well-respected friend of the Dufirosm. A High Lord in a Shade of Chaos. During a extinction level event involving most the Dufirosim realms Nur Ed Din managed to save the realms and help rebuild after the destruction. As reward he was inhabited by a Shifter Masoja and initiated into the Masoja Dufiro of Life.
*Granted powers from each of the races from Spirit to Masoja. When the forces in his Chaos ousted him from his lordship he relocated to the Dufirosm realms and was invited to join the council.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''It's a complicated story how I know Nur.... ask me about it one day.''

===<span style=color:green>Salaka</span>, Masoja of Knowledge, ''Primas Illuminar''===
Member of the Party for Life

[[File:Dufiro Salaka.jpg|250px]]

(Calling Name: Salakalikintar)
*Water Elemental, Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Change, and Blending
*Avasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Blending, Ice, Shifter, and Knowledge
*Masoja of Air, Water, and Earth, Health, Growth, Shifter, and Knowledge
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' (Secretly?)
***Aspires to Masoja of Life, Change. Perhaps some day Wisher.
**Friend of Veks. A gardener, farmer, brewer, vintner, and vegetarian. A Facilitator for Dufiro who has worked often with Hendrake.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met met Salaka through Fortunadas, sort of. Adalou and Ansahal suggested Salaka bring me into the Dufiro fold, as it were.'' Salaka Facilitated my Transition into the Dufirosm and into a Change Elemental as well as assisted and advised in my first Changer's Training Exercises.''

***Fortunadus Enright's Commentary
''"Salaka is a Water Elemental and an Air Elemental. A Spasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, and Blending. An Avasa of Air, Water, Earth, Cleanliness, Growth, Blending, Ice, and Knowledge. A Masoja of Air, Water, and Earth, Health, Growth, and now a Masoja of Knowledge. She is a '''Primus Illuminar'''. She is a player in the '''Party of Life''' and a Member of the '''Dufrieanalat's Inner Circle'''."''

===<span style=color:orange>Shagas</span> of Glass===
A warrior Avasa of Conflict. Glass shard skin

*Earth Elemental. Scent Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Combat, Defense, Speed, Rot, Guard, Motion
*Avasa of Earth, Conflict, Guard, Speed, Ice
***Aspires to Masoja of Earth, Combat, Guard, Warfare, and Death

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Shagas at the Red Hall right after my Certification Fight, still not knowing what was going on and thinking I had just been sold into Slavery. Adalou was there as was Agalat the Red Wizard. Shagas paid to Certify my Tome of Change Elemental and Bind me toward Earth Elemental status. I then learn what was going on, was reunited with Slugger, Curious and The Poodle Boys, then had lunch with Shagas as Adalou further explained what was going and and why he did it the way he did. Shagas seemed a nice enough fellow, but the shards of glass sticking out of him everywhere was a bit offputting.''

===<span style=color:blue>Shantranixix Agfala</span>, Masoja of Life===

Leader of the Shantranixix Fealty Band

[[File:Shantranixix.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth & Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Earth, Carnality, Cleanliness, Combat, Defense, Growth, Guard, Life, Song, Speed, Culinarist
*Avasa of Air, Earth, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Guard, Health, Knowledge, Strength, Warfare, Life, Music, Truth
*Masoja of Air, Earth, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Guard, Health, Knowledge, Warfare, Life
***Aspires to Time and Wisher

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''Initially, I knew of Shantranixix 'by reputation' only, but I knew Curious was a Member of the Shantranixix Fealty Band. I was offered an opportunity to join the Shantranixix Fealty Band by Traxal which I considered then Accepted through Curious. Soon after, I met Shantrix when Adalou said he couldn't write my Earth Tomes, but knew someone who could. He promptly disappeared then returned with Shantrix, jokingly saying he found a Spasa of Paper to write my Earth Tomes. I didn't know what Shantrix looked like, but I 'figured things out' quickly and was awed by his presence, his visit and his willingness to Write my Tomes for Elemental and Spasa of Earth.''

===<span style=color:red>Tinsanax</span>, Masoja of Health===
[[File:Tinsanax.jpg|150 px]]

*Fire Elemental, Flux Elemental
*Spasa of Change, Combat, Fire, Speed, Cleanliness, Rot, Health, Life, Carnality
*Avasa of Conflict, Blending, Fire, Health, Shifter, Carnality, Rust, Whimsy, Music, Death
*Masoja of Rust, Warfare, Combat, Health
***Aspires to Shifter, Knowledge.
**Member of the Gxkzle Band. The band is in the Party for War but not the Party of Death. Known as a trouble maker.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met Tins at my first Changer's Training Exercise; she crashed the party, but left soon at my insistence. She gave me some info about the Challenges 'for free', but I'm sure I'll have to pay for it some day in some way. I was warned she was trouble, but I could already tell that from the moment I laid eyes on her.''

===<span style=color:blue>Traxalaxax</span>, Avasa of Blending===
Member of the '''Shantranixix Fealty Band'''.

[[File:Traxalaxax.jpg|150px]]

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Speed, Air, Song, Paper, Illusion
*Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, Blending
***Aspires to Avasa of Knowledge. Then Masoja of Knowledge.

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met first Traxal through Curious at the bottom of Lily Lake located in the southern most part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range near Fort Garland, Colorado, Shadow Garland; the location of the Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon. Traxal helped in my initial knowledge of the Sigil of Avalon and let me know it was safe to Assay and what power I might gain. He gave me his Calling Name. Sometime later, Traxal acted as Slugger's 'Nanny' and Educator for a time while she and I were in the Dufiro Realms. Traxal also made the initial Offer to me to 'Consider joining the Shantranixix Fealty Band'. I considered for a day then Accepted through Curious, also in the Fealty Band. Later that day, I met Shantranixix through Adalou, also in the Fealty Band.''

===<span style=color:green>ZyxzlokX</span>, Masoja of Rust===
Member of the Party for Life.

Member of the [[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]

[[File:ZyxzlokX.jpg|150 px]]

*Fire Elemental; Iron, Sand. Fire: Smoke. Whimsy
*Spasa of Earth; Iron, Combat, Defense, Rust, Song; Whimsy, Speed, Rot, Change
*Avasa of Earth; Iron, Rust, Whimsy, Conflict, Death, Rust, Shifter
*Masoja of Earth:Iron, Combat, Warfare, Rust, Strength, Rage.
***Aspires to Shifter-Partially to escape Rage. Will take any race to escape rage

***'''Rafe's Commentary'''
''I met ZyxzlokX at my first Changer's Training Exercise. He is Brother to Sylex; Avasa of Rot. Zyx is gruff and rough with a mean sense of humor and a love of pranks and lessons learned. Zyx punched me in the chest so fast I never saw it coming, he could have killed me but didn't. He didn't like my candor or opinion of him... and I think he was testing me to see how I'd react. He knew I'd offered his Sister Sylex to join my Adventurers' Band and made me promise to 'only use her Water for Cleanliness, and don't use her other skills." I gained his is Calling Name Tome before he left.''

==Personally Known: Unnamed==

===<span style=color:blue>Avasa of Guard (3)</span>===
*Avasa of Guard
Rafe sort of met this trio of Guard Avasa when Curious Summoned and Bound them to Rafe's trio of Miniature Poodles. The Avasa are Loyal to Curious.

===<span style=color:green>Orc-Lizards (8)</span>===
*Spasa of Combat
Rafe defeated them for Tome Certification at the Red Hall of Agalat.

===<span style=color:orange>Spasa of ?</span>===
*Looks like a tall Hobbit
**Brought food and drink from his restaurant to Rafe and Sylex when she Called.

===<span style=color:orange>Spasa of Earth (2)</span>===
*Spasa of Earth
Rafe sort of met these Earth Spasa at his first Changer's Training Exercise. Both Spasa were excused before Rafe could 'meet' them. However, Rafe does have their Calling Tomes.

===<span style=color:orange>Earth Elemental</span>===
*Elemental of Earth
Rafe met this Earth Elemental at his first Changer's Training Exercise; did not leave Calling Name or Tome.

==Known by Reputation or Other==
===<span style=color:orange>Akgleax</span> of Earth===
[[File:Akgleax of Music.jpg|150px]]

A craftsman of musical items.
*Earth Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Water, Blending, Change, Song, Music, and Paper.
*Avasa of Earth
**Achieved Spasa of Paper and Music after writing of her encounters of Alexandra & Duncan of Amber.
***Aspires to Avasa of Music, Water, Blending, and Knowledge. Masoja of Earth, Knowledge or Binding.
Rafe knows her Calling Name only through Adalou.

===<span style=color:orange>Grexil</span> of Knowledge===
*Elemental of Earth
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Earth, Rot, Defense, Speed, Paper, Song, Blending, Rust, Change, Life
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Earth, Conflict, Blending, Rage, Shifter,
*Masoja of Knowledge
Rafe knows only his Calling Name through Adalou.

===<span style=color:red>Hardin Wapak</span>, Leader of the Party for War===
[[File:HARDIN wAPAK.jpg|150 px]]

*Earth & Air Elemental
*Spasa of
*Avasa of
*Masoja of

Rafe knows of Hardin by reputation only. Rafe is aware that Hardin has placed a Bounty on him.

''"His weapon is massive. Normally unwieldly. But it is Bound with Masoja of Combat, Warfare, and Death. The Mace is Bound with the same but lesser ones. It is studded with Avasa and Masoja who begged to serve him. Yet. He has a long knife that bears the Soul of Mortals and Dufiro he has slain. They writhe in unending agony to his delight."'' ~ Curious to Rafe

===<span style=color:green>Tans Tilki</span>, Masoja of Vision, ''Primsa Illuminar''===
[[File:Tans tilki.jpg|200 px]]

One of the most ancient and powerful Dufiro, a perennial member of the Council of the Dufirosm. Resigned from Wishers.

*Elementals: Change, Flux, Earth, Fire, Air
*Spirits: Change, Cleanliness, Combat, Growth, Defense, Guard, Blending, Rust, Fire, Paper, Illusion,
*Avasa Dufirosm: Shifter, Cleanliness, Conflict, Guard, Growth, Blending, Knowledge, Vision, Truth
*Masoja Dufirosm: Change, Combat, Guard, Health, Growth, Death, Life, Knowledge, Shifter, Binding, Time, Vision
*'''''Primas Illuminar''''' Dufirosm

Rafe knows Tans by reputation only. Rafe first heard about Tans when Rafe learned about the Visions about Rafe.

===<span style=color:orange>Twiisi</span>, Spasa of Guard===
[[File:Twiisi-fane guide.jpg|150 px]]

Twiisi was seen serving as a gate guard and greeter at the Fane of the Dufirosm at Zilla

*Air Elemental
*Spasa of Air, Cleanliness, Guard, and Paper
**Aspires to Spasa of Song. Avasa of Air,Cleanliness, Guard or conflict, color, Knowledge. Masoja of Air, Combat or Guard, knowledge.
**As Fane Guard she also aspires to rise in rank among the Fane Guards at the temple she is in. Many Guards serve their whole lives guarding one place as well as making deals to gain rank and race.

Rafe was briefly in the presence of Twiisi at the Dufirosm Fane at Zilla when Ansahal was inhabiting Rafe's body and they transported there, but Rafe was transported 'home' before he could interact as himself.

===<span style=color:red>Vrxxkren</span>, Masoja of Strength, 'The Harbinger of Death'===
[[File:Vrxxkren.jpg|150 px]]

A member of the Inner Council of the Party for Death and the Party for War. Known as the Harbinger of Death. A warrior and a herald.

*Earth Elemental. Fire Elemental
*Spasa of Earth, Fire, Combat, Guard, Rot, and Speed
*Avasa of Earth, Fire, Speed, Rage, Conflict-War, and Knowledge.
*Masoja of Earth, Fire, Combat, Rage, Warfare, Knowledge, Death, and Strength.

Rafe knows the Harbinger by reputation only. Rafe is aware that the Harbinger saw Ansahal exit his (Rafe's) body at the Dufirosm Fane at Zilla. Rafe is also aware that the Harbinger sought out a Dufiro of Vision to learn more about Rafe. Rafe is now aware of the nature and contents of those Visions.

==Beings with a Copy of RaphaX's Dufiro Tomes==
NOTE: ALL Copies of Raphaxaelicus' Tomes that have NOT been Gifted or Bargained for, are Stored in a bookcase in RaphaX's Billet in Shifters Hall at the Hagia Salas in the City of Ahyk within the Dufirtrusa; the Dufiro Realms near to the Black Zone of Chaos.

===Elemental of Change===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Adalou (Author); S/B, Curious; S/B,

===Elemental of Motion===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Adalou (Author); S/B,

===Elemental of Earth===
*Summoning/Binding Tome ONLY
**NO Calling Tome Exists
*Shantranixix (Author); S/B,

===Spasa of Earth===
*Calling, Summoning & Binding
*Shantranixix (Author); C.S.B, Kichab; C, Nur al Din; C, Dalt; C, Curious; S, Glax of Rot; C, Coil of Whimsy; C, Bently; C,

==Dufiro Tomes Possessed by RaphaX ==
NOTE: ALL Copies of The Dog Brothers Tomes that have NOT been Gifted or Bargained for, are Stored in a bookcase in RaphaX's Billet in Shifters Hall at the Hagia Salas in the City of Ahyk within the Dufirtrusa; the Dufiro Realms near to the Black Zone of Chaos. As well as any Tomes that have been Gifted to Raphaxaelicus, or Bargained for by him.

===The Dog Brothers' Tomes===
*Calling, Summoning and Binding Name Tomes (90)
**10 of each Tome for each of the 3 Dogs

===Summoning Tomes===
*''Masoja Dufiro of Earth Summoning Tome''
**'''Crizacraxix Galxata''' aka Curious
**Written in Kolbashic
**Trade from Curious for Raphax's Elemental of Change Summoning & Binding Tome

===Calling Tomes===
*''Elemental of Flux Calling Name Tome''
**'''Nippixx'''; Consigliere to Shantranixix and The Shantranixix Fealty Band

*''Masoja of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**'''"Chip"''', Masoja of Earth

*''Spasa of Blending Calling Name Tome''
**'''Bronze Nugget''', Spasa of Blending

*''Avasa of Iron Calling Name Tome''
**'''ZyxzlokX''', Masoja of Rust (Earth-Iron)

*''Masoja of Rot Calling Name Tome''
**'''Kibrosel''', Masoja of Health

*''Spasa of Rot Calling Name Tome''
**'''Sharax''', Masoja of Fire

*''Avasa of Water Calling Name Tome''
**'''Sylex''', Avasa of Health, Rot

*''Spasa of Illusion Calling Name Tome''
**'''Fal Gan''', Masoja of Strength & Warfare

*''Avasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Avasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Spasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Spasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Spasa of Earth Calling Name Tome''
**Spasa of Earth
***Part of a Warrior Knot#

*''Avasa of Blending Calling Tome''
**'''Kichabqhisreeceeb'''; Avasa of Blending
***Also, a Place Tome for Kichab's Personal Library

*Avasa of Rust Calling Tome''
**'''Glkaxxsik'''; Avasa of Rust

*Avasa of Whimsy Calling Tome
**'''Coil'''; Avasa of Whimsy

*Calling Tome for '''Hardin Wapak'''

*''Spasa of Water Calling Tome''
**'''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water

*''Avasa of Whimsy Calling Tome''
**'''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water

==RaphaX's Summoning Log==

===Spasa of Paper - Calling Tome Ritual===
*'''Kichabqhisreeceeb''' aka Kichab
**Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending.
*An old Spasa of Paper Calling Tome was used.

===Avasa of Death- Forced Binding Tome Ritual===
*'''Grytti''', Avasa of Death and Ice
**Forced Binding to a glass
**Bargain with ''Edasho'''; Masoja of Water, who has the Glass

===Spasa of Death - Forced Binding Ritual===
*'''Thanseq'''; Spasa of Death... aka Bruce
**Force Bound to a Crystal Glass - Rafe holds the glass
***Causes any liquid poured into it to become poisoned.
***Does NOT alter smell, taste, or appearance.
[[File:Death Dufiro Poisoning Goblet.jpg|100px]]

===Avasa of Blending - Calling Tome Ritual===
*Avasa of Blending - Calling Tome Ritual
**Kichabqhisreeceeb; Avasa of Air, Cleanliness, Color, & Blending.

===Avasa of Earth- Calling Tome Ritual===
*Avasa of Earth- Calling Tome Ritual
**Name; Race(s)

===Avasa of Conflict - Binding Tome Ritual===
*Sylex; Avasa of Water, Carnality, Health, Rot, Conflict

===Masoja of Dance - Binding Ritual===
*Bently

==COLOR KEY:==
===<span style=color:purple>PURPLE</span> = Very Well Known and/or Highly Trusted===
===<span style=color:blue>BLUE</span> = Well Known and/or Trusted===
===<span style=color:green>GREEN</span> = Known and/or Mostly Trusted===
===<span style=color:orange>ORANGE</span> = Semi-Known and/or Semi-Trusted===
===<span style=color:gold>YELLOW</span> = Advise Caution===
===<span style=color:red>RED</span> = NOT Trusted===

Running Sheet Raphael

2025-07-03T06:40:35Z

Relmopator: /* Bently */

<big>'''Raphael de la Varga''' aka "Rafe"</big>

<big>''Raphaxaelicus Radaxventurerillidixt Covaladalouaxixisis'' aka "'''RaphaX'''"</big>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|<big>'''<span style="color:blue">AVALON DECK</span>'''</big>
|<big>'''<span style="color:green">TOSIAN BARDIC DECK</span>'''</big>
|<big>'''<span style="color:red">BURSAIN DECK</span>'''</big>
|-
|[[File:AV-Raphael1.jpg|200px]]
|[[File:RafeA.jpg|200px]]
|[[File:AV-Rafe-Slugger's Deck.jpg |200px]]
|-
|XXXXXXXXXX
|XXXXXXXXXX
|XXXXXXXXXX
|-
|<big>'''Dufiro Earth Form Concept'''</big>
|<big>'''WC&LGA'''</big>
|
|-
|[[File:Raphax Earth Form1.jpg|200px]]
|[[File:A--Rafe-front1.jpg|250px]]
|
|-
|}

==GM SECTION==

===<big><span style="color:red">Stats</span></Big>===
*Psyche 21
*Endurance 17
*Strength 15
*Warfare 17

===<Big><span style="color:red">Powers</span></big>===
*18 '''Power Words (13)'''
*10 '''Advanced Low Order Sorcery''' [[Sorcery in Jeweled Amber]]
*4 '''Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon; Advanced Imprint
*3 '''Avalon Shape Change'''; Specific Alternate Forms ONLY
*2 '''[[Cantrip]]'''
*1 Low Order Magic System - Bardic Powers & Spells
*1 Low Order Magic System - Druidic Powers & Spells
*2 Dufiro Rituals
**Summon Dufiro Tomes (Personal)

===<Big><span style="color:red">Skills </span></big>===
*3 Wilderness Survival & Camping
*1 Cooking (incl. Butchering & basic Vegetable Gardening)
*2 Thrown Weapons; All Types (Knives, Daggers, Axes, Darts, Stars, Spikes, Rocks, Beer Bottles... whatever's handy)
*1 Military Basics: (incl: Org, Ops, Commo, Land Nav/Map Reading, Camo, Sm. & Hvy Weapons, Explosives, Vehicles)
*1 Military Field Medic & NBC Specialist (Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Warfare Protection & Decon)
*1 Automobile Mechanics; Internal Combustion Engines (All Types)
*2 Driving; Land-based Vehicles (All Types; Wheeled & Tracked)
*1 Dog Training; all Breeds: Basic (Obedience, Tricks, Chores, etc.)
*1 Games (Tabletop RPG's, Board, Dice, Cards, Gambling, Puzzle, etc.)
*1 Story Telling (RPG Game Master / Player, Writer, Campfire Storyteller)
*1 Acting
*1 Big Top Circus Operations
*1 Juggling
*1 Voice Mimicry
*1 Singing
*1 Musical Instrument: Harmonica
*1 Warlock Thief Skills
*2 Dufiro Languages
*1 Primitive Sign Language
*1 Dancing
*1 Parkour
*1 Shadow Shaving
*1 Acrobatics
Gnome Skills (Bonus)
*2 Gardening.
*1 Dowsing.
*1 Woodcraft
*1 Pottery

====Skill Chart====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|
*1 Weapon Master-Spear
*2
**1
**1
*3
*4
*5
*6
*7
*8
*9
*10
|
*1
*2
*3
*4
*5
*6
*7
*8
*9
*10
|
*1
*2
*3
*4
*5

|-
|}

===Raphael's Wiki Page Links===
[[Raphael's Wiki Page Links]]

==Personal Information==
https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php?title=Running_Sheet_Raphael&action=edit

'''''Active since December 24, 2021'''''

<big>'''Personal Colors:''' Forest Green, Black & Gray. Bronze Metal</big>

'''Father:''' Unknown: Possible Earth Human Male

'''Mother:''' Known: Earth Human Female (deceased)

'''Children:''' (1) Known: Earth Human Male (deceased)

'''Race:''' Human-Mesobian-Dufiro

'''Apparent / Physical Age:''' Early 30's '''Actual Age:''' Late 50's

'''Height:''' 6ft. '''Weight:''' 205lbs '''Build:''' Athletic with well toned muscles.

'''Complexion:''' Fair to Pink w/ Freckles

'''Face:''' Average Looking '''Eyes:''' Dark Brown

'''Facial Hair:''' Heavy Beard, Coppery Red.

'''Hair:''' Coppery Red, Long w/ single Braid down the back

'''Distinguishing Marks:''' Black Scar; Bullet Wound, ribcage under left arm. (The Black Sabbath; Fitz's Healing)

'''Descriptions:'''

[[File:Raphael2.jpg|150px]]

'''Human:''' Rafe usually wears black cotton denim jeans and thick heavy black boots with heavy laces and thick soles (making him appear three inches taller), a long sleeved cotton flannel over-shirt, tri-color plaid of dark green, dark gray & black and a t-shirt beneath, usually of green, black or gray. His hands and half of his forearms are covered in black rough leather gauntlets and a wide black leather weapons belt with a large round silver simple buckle sits around his middle. Hanging from the belt on his right hip and meant for a left-hand draw, is an ornate curved sheath of black leather and brass holding a Nepalese Kuhkuri Knife with an ornate (yet functional) carved wood and brass adorned handle and pommel . And next to it, further back on the belt a bit, is a narrow nylon sheath showing the handles of three flat steel throwing daggers, slightly overlapping each other and each nine inches long. The front of the weapons belt shows four nylon pouches, two on either side of the buckle, each about four inches per side, each filled with three large throwing stars (unseen). Hanging at an angle from the right hip on a 'sword frog' is a simple sheath of brown leather holding a long sword with a curvy edged blade, and showing a simple handle of dark wood with a small simple cross-piece and small flat round pommel that looks like a thick coin with a skull stamped onto each side, both are made of brass. And on the belt farther back behind the sword is another long thin nylon sheath and another set of throwing daggers identical to the ones on his other hip. There is also a Colt .45 Automatic handgun in a custom black leather holster strapped to his right thigh, below the hip with the butt where the hand naturally rests when hanging at the side.

<big>'''Raff aka Rage'''</big>

[[File:Raff the Orc 2.jpg|150 px]]

'''Orc:''' 7 feet 2 inches tall, heavily muscled body with long thickly muscled limbs, large hands with long thick fingers. Hair is darkest of reds leading to browns contrasting the green hued thick hide-like skin, and a pair of double tusks sticking up from a thick lower lip on a heavy squared jaw covered in a thick coarse beard the same color as the hair with a long braid on the chin. A wide nose separates piercing eyes the color of a bright yellow amber beneath a heavy brow line with thick eyebrows that meet in the middle.

<big>'''Raphaelf'''</big>

[[File:Rafeelf.jpg|150 px]]

'''Elf:''' 5 feet tall, lithe of body and limb, pale to white of skin, pointed ears showing through the long flowing hair the color of shiny metallic copper, eyes the color of amethyst crystals set on a narrow angular face with no facial hair.

<big>'''Dwarphael'''</big>

[[File:Rafe-dwarf.jpg|150 px]]

'''Dwarf:''' 4 feet tall and nearly as wide across the shoulders, round barrel chest, thick arms and legs heavy with muscle, thick hands with short thick fingers. Hair and beard are braided but heavier and more coarse, the color much lighter red tending towards blonde, eyes are dark brown.

<big>'''Rafi'''</big>

[[File:Rafe-gnome.jpg|150 px]]

'''Gnome:''' 3 feet tall with a stout looking body, short limbs, big feet, small hands with short fingers, a long gray beard and short gray hair; both neatly groomed, thick gray bushy eyebrows over dark brown eyes with a slight twinkle in them, a bulbous nose, chubby cheeks and big ears that stick out noticeably.

=='''Ranks'''==
*PFC, U.S. Army: Home World aka Plague World
*Co-Mayor (Temporary): Fort Garland, CO, USA; Garland aka Change World
*Citizen: Shadow of Alamond
*Civic Leader/Co-Gaffer: Arco Station & Retreat, Alamond
*Guild Master & Founder: Guardians' Guild of Garland; Fort Garland Chapter
*Society Leader & Founder: Fort Garland Adventurers' Society
*Ringmaster: de la Varga's Circus of Modern Fantasy
*Minor Hero: Venkian Sect of the Church of the Worldly
*Sigil Lord; Fort Garland Sigil (Named by Warrick of Avalon)
*Front Warrior; Ludus Daltus, WC&LGA, Ang Ri
**''Warrior Core & Lord Gladiator Association''
*Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de [[Garde du Corps]]
**Agent of Avalon; Minister without Portfolio
*Spasa Dufiro of Earth; Al Asgo Illuminar
*'''Secret Rank:''' ''Pirate Captain''
**'''Secret Pirate Name:''' ''Captain Thorne Bronzeheart; The Daywraith''

=='''Points Total {204}'''==

'''''Total: 209 = 0 Base +40/-40 Stat Buy Down + 198 Advancement + 4 Bonus + 2 Mesob + 10 Urvile Potion'''''

'''''Stats{+70(-40/+110)} + Powers{41} + Skills{29} + Allies/Enemies{0} + Companions{24} + Items{21} + Shadows{3} + Stuff{+2} + Storage{24} 5 for High Order Sorcery, 16 for Familiar and Animal Companion.'''''

===Point Breakdown===
*Total Points: 209

*Stats Balance: +70
**Stat Sell Down: (ALL to Chaos Rank) +40 pips.
**Stat Buy Up: (all to Amber Rank = +40) +52 (+10 Urvile)

***Psyche: = +10(Amber), +1, +2, +4, +3, +5, +3, +3
***Strength: = +10(Amber), +1, +2, +5, +7
***Endurance: = +3, +7(Amber), +1, +4, +2, +10
***Warfare: = +10(Amber), +3, +5, +4, +5

*Powers: 41
*Skills: 29
*Allies/Enemies: 0 = +18/-18
*Companions: 24
*Items: 21
*Shadow: 3
*Stuff: 2
*Storage 24

==='''[[ Rafe's Advancement & Campaign Highlights]]'''===
*2021 Anniversary Advancement - 10 pips +3 Endurance - SPENT
*First Advancement - 5 Pips - SPENT
*Second Advancement - 10 Pips + 1 Bonus Pip - SPENT
*Third Advancement - 5 Pips - SPENT
*2022 Anniversary Advancement 10 Pips +2 Psyche +2 Skills - SPENT
*2/19/2023 Special Advancement - +10 Strength +3 Psyche - SPENT
*2023 Anniversary Advancement - 10 Pips +3 Skills - SPENT
*Fourth Advancement 35 Pips + 2 Bonus SPENT
*Ludus Daltus 7 pips - SPENT
*Urvile Potion 10 pips (Endurance) - SPENT
*Ang Ri Arena Fights & More 15 Pips - SPENT
*Finding an Easter Egg on the RPGwiki - 1 Pip Bonus SPENT
*Tome Research for Dalt, Calling Ritual, Visit to Dufirtrasa - 20 pips SPENT
*Special Anniversary Gift - 10 Pips SPENT
*2024 Anniversary - 10 pips + more pips - SOME SPENT & SOME STORAGE
*4/23/25 Special Gift - 5 Pips to Stats - SPENT
*6/1325 Alric Slapping Convo - 5 pips - STORAGE

'''Up to date as of 6/13/25'''

==='''Current Advancement Wish List'''===
*1st - High Order Sorcery
*2nd - Raise Psyche
*3rd - Raise Warfare

===='''Someday Advancement Wish List'''====
*20 Conjuration - (When Points allow)
*Full Shape Shifting or Equivalent
*Advanced Shape Shifting or Equivalent

==Dufiro Advancement: 60 Points==
''Dufiro Points are not included in power level totals''
*Life Path: Elemental of Change, Motion and Earth. Spasa of Earth. Al Asgo Illuminar
**(20) Points; Elemental: ''Change'' (10-Granted: Ansahal), ''Motion'' (5-Granted: Shantranixix), ''Earth'' (5-Granted: "Chip")
**(20) Points; Spasa: ''Earth'' (20-Granted: ZyxzlokX),
**(20) Points: Illuminar: ''Al Asgo Illuminar''. (20-Granted: Nur al-Din)

=='''Statistics {70}'''==
*'''Psyche''': '''<big><span style="color:red>21</span></big>''' [+3 NEW]
*'''Strength''': '''<big><span style="color:red>15</span></big>'''
*'''Endurance''': '''<big><span style="color:red>17</span></big>'''
*'''Warfare''': '''<big><span style="color:red>17</span></big>''' [+5 NEW]

=='''Stuff {2 Good}'''==
*1 Good Stuff - Mesob
*1 Good Stuff - Pips Spent

=='''Powers {41(50)}'''==

===<big>Powers, Imprints & Magics {41}</big>===
====18 '''Power Words (13)'''====
**Chaos Negation{POLRZ!}, Magic Negation{NOGTZ!}, Psychic Disrupt{ASKIIR!}, Psychic Defense{SHAGSK!}, Lifeforce{LIEVZ!},
**Weaken Structure{MARSK!}, Process Surge{ZURJ!}, Process Snuff{ZNUF!}, Costume Change{VOILA!}, Burst of Psyche{ZZAAQ!},
**Pain Attack{VOLTZ!}, Pattern Negation; Amber{LEGANT!} (learned from Vek), Pattern Negation; Avalon{TANGENT!}

====10 '''Advanced Low Order Sorcery''' [[Sorcery in Jeweled Amber]]====
**Exact same Principles and Methods as High Order Sorcery
**Able to Cast Low Order versions of High Order Sorcery Spells
***Less powerful overall; less intensity, effectiveness, duration.
***ADVANCED adds more power output.
**This is the Highest Priority of Low Order Magics
***This is NOT a Low Order Magic System, such as; Magery, Wizardry, Listery, etc.

====4 '''Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon; Advanced Imprint'''====
***A Low Order Inscription located at the bottom of Lily Lake, in the southern most part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Ft. Garland, CO, USA, Earth; Shadow Garland aka Change World.
**Sigil can be used as a Lens for Detection purposes.
**Sigil can be used Defensively (mostly against Low Order Magics and some other Low Order Inscriptions).
**Sigil reacts violently vs Woven Logrus; blue lightning (NEW)
**Sigil can be used as a Spell Framework. Holds Spells like a Web. (re: Zachary and Fortunadus)
***High Order Sorcery Spell (2): Holder Frame ONLY (no need to Cast)
***Low Order Sorcery Spells (5): Holder & Casting Frame.
***Other Low Order Spells (?): Holder Frame (currently Holding 4)

====3 '''Avalon Shape Change'''; Specific Forms ONLY:====
**Gained by Assaying the Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon.
**Assayed 5 times choosing each of its Alternate Paths.
***Five [5] Forms: Earth Human (True Form), Garden Gnome (Magical Creature), Hill Dwarf, Sylvan Elf, Green Skinned Orc.

====2 '''[[Cantrip]]''' - Transferred - Medallion of Mesob [1 Mesob, 1 Rafe]====
**Able to Create new Cantrips (2 Pips)
**Sixty Four (64) possible Cantrips: (52 Currently)
***Psyche of 15 = 20 Cantrips + 4 Cantrips / 5 Psyche, X2 Points in Cantrip.

====2 Low Order Magic Systems====
*1 Druidic Powers and Spells - ? Level
**Spells: ?,?,?...

*1 Bardic Powers and Spells - ? Level
**Spells: ?,?,?...

====2 Ritualism (Dufiro-based)====
*Summon Dufiro Tomes (Personal)

===<big>Gnome Powers {Bonus}</big>===
*Travel through Earth

==='''[[Medalion of Mesob]]''' Powers {2}===
**Melts into Body of Wearer/Holder, can't be removed, doesn't detect as magical, its powers can't be dispelled, or suppressed(?).
**Wearer becomes a Mesobian, Racially, but detects & acts as original Race for all practical purposes.

====Automatic Powers====
*''Recognize Mesobian/Medallion Wearers'' - Transferred-No points
**Bears a Symbol on forehead and one palm that only Mesobian/Medallion Wearer and other Mesobians/Medallion Wearers can see.
*''Immortality'' - Istari Immortality; Vast spectrum medical protections.
*''Improved Physical Attributes'' - Transferred-No points
**Raises a Human to '''Chaos Rank''' Stats
*''Immunity to Illness'' - Transferred-No points
**Complete immunity to sickness
*''Immunity to Lycanthropy'' - Transferred-No points
*''Immunity to Undead Magics & Attacks'' - Transferred-No points
*''Regeneration'' - Transferred-No points
**The Power to completely heal wounds and injuries in a fraction of the time the 'original body' was 'normally' capable of.
*''Tongues'' - Transferred-No points
**The ability to understand and speak languages (once heard???)
**Already know/learned: English, Spanish, Thari, Esperanto, Italian, German, Russian, Maandancer,
*''Spidey Sense'' - Transferred-No points '''UNDISCOVERED?'''
**Moments warning before an attack

====Useable Powers====
*''Technopathy'' - Transferred (possible Main Power according to David of Mandalay)
**Ability to 'read' data from electronic/technological devices (touch)

*''Classification'' - Transferred-No points
**The Power to Identify or Divine the Character Class, Level and Race of a Being
***Works upon Touch and sometimes at short distances with eye contact
**Can also Identify certain Creature Types

*''Shadowwalk'' - Transferred-No points
**As Broken Pattern shadow walker
**Shadowwalk toward Mesob Wearer if known.

*''Reverse Conjuration'' - Transferred-No points
**The ability to return an item that has been Conjured to its place and time of origin.

*''Animal Friendship'' - Transsferred-No points
**Animals are friendly. Gentle creatures are near docile. More aggressive creatures are friendly, sometimes submissive.

*''Clean Body'' - Transferred-No points
**The Power to clean a body (self or other) of dirt and grime. It causes all pores to empty of retained oils and removes all bodily refuse; emptying bladders, digestive systems and stomachs.
**This power can be used in two ways.
***Causing all material to Disappear
***Causing all material to Eject violently from the body.
****If used as an attack it reacts with the target's Psyche and if they lose it distracts them for at least a minute.

*''Passwall'' - Transferred-No points
**Used once in an unexpected way that actually worked: Passed through a Magic Barrier (naked)

*''Phase Walk'' - Transferred-No points
**1 Access to the Shadow of Phase that overlaps all of Shadow?
**First used by a Dufiro inhabiting Rafe's body.

*1 ''Cantrip'' - Transferred - 1 pip
**Able to cast Cantrips

*''Flash'' - Transferred-No points '''UNDISCOVERED?'''

=='''Dufirosm Life Path, Advancement & Powers'''==
==='''Life Path:'''===
**Elemental of Change, Movement, Earth
***''Aspires to Sound''
**Spasa of Earth
***''Aspires to Combat, Speed, Paper, Cleanliness, Blending, Life, Motion, Defense, Change, Growth''
****''possibly Motion, Song, and Carnality
**Avasa: ''Aspires to Earth, Cleanliness, Health, Speed, Conflict, Guard, Change, Blending, Growth, Shifter, Life, Knowledge ''
***''possibly Whimsy, Carnality, Vision ''
**Masoja: ''Aspires to Change, Earth, Guard, Shifter, Growth, Health, Knowledge, Life ''
***''possibly Combat, Strength, Warfare, Witness, Vision''

*'''Rank & Race:'''
**'''Spasa of Earth, ''Al Asgo Illuminar'' '''

===Dufiro Advancement: ''{60 Points}''===
''Dufiro Points are not included in power level totals''
*Life Path: Elemental of Change, Motion and Earth. Spasa of Earth. Al Asgo Illuminar
**(20) Points; Elemental: ''Change'' (10-Granted: Ansahal), ''Motion'' (5-Granted: Shantranixix), ''Earth'' (5-Granted: "Chip")
**(20) Points; Spasa: ''Earth'' (20-Granted: ZyxzlokX),
**(20) Points: Illuminar: ''Al Asgo Illuminar''. (20-Granted: Nur al-Din)

===Dufiro Powers {}===
More Info Available at: [[Dufirosm Revision]]

Special Note: Raphael's Heart Fire was Strengthened as Payment for a Fulfilled Contract by Ansahal, a Masoja Dufiro of Shifter (now Water); a mostly non-corporeal Being that '''Inhabited''' Rafe's body for a short time for a Task that Ansahal needed done to Advance to his Next Race.

===='''<big>Heart Fire Powers:</big>''' ====
====='''First Order Defense''' (created by Ansahal)=====
**(need info from GM)
====='''Identify Dufiro Heart Fires'''=====
**Can 'see' /'feel' an Unbound or Bound(sometimes) Dufiro Heart Fire in Beings, Creatures & Objects
**Can Identify the Race(s) of a Dufiro
***This does NOT give a full Life Path, but usually the most prominent or powerful Race or Races.
=====''' 'Living in the Heart Fire' Powers'''=====
**Placing one's Self (aka Psyche/ Mind/ Consciousness) inside one's Heart Fire
***This is draining on Endurance until some level of experience is gained.
**Ability to Leave the Physical Body via one's Heart Fire
***Control of one's Physical Body is maintained in this state.
***Allows for Shape Shifting to Elemental Forms (Stone, Fire, Water, Air, etc.)
***Allows the Dufiro to Experience the Senses of Animals (and possibly other Beings) [DANGEROUS]

===='''<big>Tome Related Powers:</big>'''====
*'''Hear Calling/Summoning Names'''
**Ability to 'hear' Calling Name or Summoning Name spoken anywhere within the Multiverse.
**Ability to 'look in to it to see who is Calling'.
*'''Dufiro Transport Power'''
**Ability to 'temporarily transport' to Caller
***Must maintain Personal Energy & Magics to remain with Caller
**Can be Summoned via Summoning Name - Cannot resist, no Energy needed to remain
**Able to return to 'home realm' upon Compilation of the Pact or if freed from Binding by destruction of the Bound Artifact.
***Holding them against their will in either case is extraordinarily difficult. A Dufiro fighting for its freedom may attract others of its familiarity, race, or proximity to aid it.
===='''<big>Race Specific Powers:</big>''' ====
====='''Change Elemental Powers'''=====
**Limited Form of Shape Shifting
***Alter Facial & Body Features, Skin Color & Texture, Hair Color, Texture & Type, Etc.
**Minor Ability to Change one item to another item (untrained)
====='''Movement Elemental Powers'''=====
**very efficient and nearly effortless movement
**very quick movements, unless restraint is exerted
**Silent Movement possible with extreme restraint and concentration

====='''Earth Elemental Powers'''=====
**Alter Body to Living Stone
**Convert rock to soil.
**Refresh Soil.
**Rock attacks.
====='''Earth Spasa Powers'''=====
**Alter Body to Living Stone
**improved Earth Elemental powers?
**Strength of Earth

=='''Spells'''==

===FRAMEWORK #1===
'''Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon: A Low Order Inscription; Advanced Imprint'''

====High Order Sorcery Spell Slots (2)====
*Holder Frame; no need to Cast.
**[EMPTY SLOT] Stone Binding
**[EMPTY SLOT] Bodily Defense

====Low Order Sorcery Spell Slots (5)====
*Holder & Casting Frame.
**'''''Strength Drain'''''
**'''''Bodily Defense'''''
***As a Low Order spell is mainly useful against Low Order Magic, but it's a must
**'''''Single Wound Healing'''''
***Stops a single wound from causing someone to bleed out. The size of the wound is important.
***A High Order version will stop almost any wound short of decapitation
**'''''Pressurized Holy Water'''''
***A variation on the Pressurized Lava Spell, this spell Summons Blessed Holy Water from the Swimming Pool at the St. Cabrini Shrine in Colorado, USA, Shadow Garland (aka Change World). It creates a Shadow Opening inside the drain pipe just past the pumping mechanism and simultaneously actives the high pressure pump to begin rapidly draining the pool. Once activated, a message appears in green letters on the pump: "Sorry to take without asking; I beg your forgiveness. ~Raphael" Once the Spell ends, the pump deactivates and the message disappears a few hours later. When the Lynchpins are released, it creates a Summoning Portal on the Caster's end about an inch away from his/her palm (right or left) and allows the Caster to direct the pressurized stream of water as he/she desires. The Shadow Opening on the Caster's end is a bit smaller than the pipe it comes from to increase the pressure of the water delivered.
**'''''Giant's Slap''''' [CAST]

====Low Order Magic System Spell Slots (?)====
*Holder Frame; No need to Cast
*Can Hold all forms of Low Order Spell System Spells (NOT Exclusively)
*Currently holds Magery Spells (4); Added by Fortunadus
**''Passenger Teleport''
**''Castle Protection''
**''Summon Person'' - Fortunadus
**''Raise and Restore'' (for Victor)

===SPELL SHURIKEN (12)===
*Each Shuriken can Rack a single (1) Spell; 12 Shuriken total
**''Spells require a Sorcerer to Rack and Release''
***Electric Porcupines, Confusion Storm, Bubble Stream
***Mind Touch, Imperatives, Fire Fountain
***Magical Drain, Replicate Shadow Object, Defensive Shield
***Bodily Defense, Pressurized Lava, Lightning Bolt

===LOW ORDER MAGIC SYSTEM===
[coming soon]

[[Warlock Magery]]
*Bardic Spells - 10th Level
**Spells: 6,4,3,2,2,1

[[Druids in Jeweled Amber]]

[[Druidic Council of Pacifica]]
*Druidic Spells ?Level
**Spells: ?,?,?...

===KNOWN CANTRIPS===
*[10] Firefinger, Clean, Exterminate, Page Light, Stitch, Mend, Chill, Heat, Know Direction, Extinguish,
*[10] Weathertell, Turn Page, Sharpen, Gather, Unseen Hand, Color, Temperature, Werelight, Purify Water
*[10] Sober, Blend(w/shadows), Catfeet, Speed, Shield, Catfall, Gun, Map, Present, Anatomics
*[10] Dampen, Dry, Enrich, Dust, Slip, Knot, 2D-lusion, Hairy (reversible), Unlock, Change
*[7] Druidic Cantrips: Create Bonfire, Control Flame, Mold Earth, Frostbite, Thorn Whip, Shape Water, Gust
*[5] Created Cantrips: 3D-lusion, Deseed Weed, Crumble Bud, Roll a Joint, Shape Smoke,

===Raphael's Spell Books===
*[[Raphael's Spell Book]]
**A collection of Sorcery Spells given to and created by Raphael
**The Spell Book was a Gift from Zacahry
*Halta Spells (from The Danbury Collection)
**Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Relek Rituals (Not strictly a spell book)
**Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Magery: 3rd Level Spells - The Damage Group
**The Lightning Suite: Ball Lightning ,Lightning Bolt, Lightning Dart & Mini-Bolt.
**The Fire Suite: Fire Ball, Fire Dart, Flame, Heat Cone, Ball of Fire, Mini-Wide Heat Cone, Mini-Ball, & Maxi-Ball.
**The Cold Suite: Cold Cone, Mini-Cold Cone, Mini-Wide Cold Cone.
**also has a couple of the Strength Spells, Continual Light, and Wizard Light.
***Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Magery: 6th Level Spells
**This tome has Acid Protection, Astral Eye, Air Wall, Bomb, Animate Object, Geas, Area Muscle Spasm, Projected Image, Move Earth, Part Water, Sustained Dimension Door, Passenger Teleportation, Wizard Wind, Stone to Flesh.
***Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
***''“Of these Astral Eye, Geas, and Sustained Dimension Door are the most useful. A mage might kill to get this in his racks. Of course its all Low Order. A High Order protection spell would wallop all this stuff, but without that... its pretty tough stuff. I've yet to see a really functional High Order Geas spell. But Geas is one of the first powers a Wisher-aspirant dives for when they take Masoja of Knowledge Go figure.”'' '''~Bentalisix'''

=='''Skills {29}'''==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|
*'''3''' Wilderness Survival & Camping
**2 Hunting: Rifle, Shotgun, Archery. Big & Small Game, Birds.
***Includes tracking, skinning, gutting & basic butchering.
**2 Fishing: Fresh Water; Lake & Pond, River & Stream.
***Hook & Line, Trapping, Netting, Bow Fishing. Includes gutting, scaling & boning.
**1 Survival: Multiple wilderness & terrain type, Hot & Cold Climate & Weather Conditions
**1 Land Navigation
**1 Plant & Animal Identification (Basic)
**1 Camping: No Shelter, Crude Shelters, Tents, RVs
*1 Cooking (incl. Butchering & basic Vegetable Gardening)
*2 Thrown Weapons; All Types [1 NEW]
**(Knives, Axes, Darts, Stars, Spikes, Rocks, Beer Bottles... whatever's handy)
*1 Military Basics: Organization, Operations, Comms, Land Nav/Map Reading,
**Camo, Small & Heavy Weapons, Explosives, Vehicles Ops
*1 Military Field Medic & NBC Specialist
**(Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Warfare Protection & Decon)
*1 Automobile Mechanics; Internal Combustion Engines (All Types)

|
*'''2''' Driving; Land-based Vehicles (All Types; Wheeled & Tracked)
**1 Lg. Trucks, Motorcycles, Off-Road, Racing, Long Haul.
**1 Construction & Military Vehicles
**1 Driver Training
**1 Defensive Driving Techniques
*1 Dog Training; all Breeds: Basic (Obedience, Tricks, Chores, etc.)
*2 Games (Tabletop RPG's, Board, Dice, Cards, Gambling, Puzzle, etc.) [1 NEW]
*1 Story Telling (RPG Game Master / Player, Writer, Campfire Storyteller)
*1 Acting
*1 Big Top Circus Operations
**Set up, Tear down, Travel, Animal Handling, Supply & Equipment,
**Show & Boardwalk & Vendor & Crew Management, etc.
**Creation, Management & Performing of Circus Shows & Acts.
*1 Juggling
**Especially Knives
*1 Voice Mimicry
**Combines with Change Elemental Ability
*1 Singing
*1 Musical Instrument: Harmonica
*1 [[Warlock Thievish Skills]]
*1 Shadow Shaving
*1 Acrobatics
*1 Dancing [NEW]
*1 Parkour [NEW]
|-
|'''Languages'''
*2 Dufiro Languages: Studied [1 NEW]
** 1 '''Vomos''' (Conversational to Fluent)
** 1 '''Gorbash''': (Conversational to Fluent).
***Gorbash often empowers Cantripy.
** 1 '''Releck'''*: (Conversational)
***Releck is a language spoken most among the Spasa races.
***Some universes use Releck to empower low level magics 1st to 4th lvl
** 1 '''Nethak''': (Conversational)
** 1 '''Halta''': (Conversational)
** 1 '''Nona''': (Conversational)
** 1 '''Kolbashic''': (Conversational)
*1 Caveman Speak (Implaned Skill)
**Primitive Non-Verbal Language.
**Mostly Signing with some Grunts/Vocalizations
*Other Known Languages
**English, Spanish, Italian, Esperanto, Russian, German, Thari, Maandancer, French, Ang Rian,
***Understood & Spoken Fluently, only some can be Read and Written.
|
'''Bonus Skills:''' Gnome Skills
*'''2''' Gardening
**1 Vegetables & Fruits
**1 Flowers & Shrubberies
**1 Landscaping
*1 Dowsing
**Water and other(?)
*1 Woodcraft
**Carving, Basic Carpentry
*1 Pottery
**Throwing, Sculpting, Glazing, Firing
|-
|'''Other Useful Skills'''
*QWERTY Keyboard Typing, Electronic Equipment Operations: Computers, Smartphones, Office Equipment, Retail Equipment, Angry 'Customer' De-escalation, Drafting & Design/CADD, Swimming/Lifeguard, First Aid/CPR Instructor

|'''Hobbies'''
*Caving, Hiking, Rock Climbing, Running, Bicycling, Water Skiing, Off-Roading, Singing / Karaoke / DJing, Music Appreciation, Wood Carving, Stone Carving, Making Jewelry, Leatherworking, Painting Miniatures, Creative Cartography, Reading, Watching Movies / TV / Streaming Content, PC / Console / Arcade Video Gaming, Cosplay / LARP / SCA, Amusement Parks, Rock Hounding, Collecting; weapons, skull trinkets, little rocks / stones/ crystals

|-
|'''Known Combat Skills''': Strength Related
*Competition Judo - Purple Belt Ranked (attained by age 15)
**Bronze Medal Winner; Junior Olympics Judo Competition (age 13)
*Competition Karate - Green Belt Ranked
*Close Combat Self Defense Basics
*US Military Hand to Hand Basics
*CHAD Hand to Hand Combat Training & Sparring
*WC&LGA Training & Combat: Ludus Daltus; Ang Ri
|'''Known Combat Skills''': Warfare Related
*SCA Fighter Training: Single Weapon, Two Weapon, Weapon & Shield
**Sword, Fencing, Mass Weapons, Shield Fighting, Polearms, Staff Fighting, Archery.
*Professional Sword Training - Fortunadus Enright
*Firearms and Military Weapons Training
*Military Basic Combat Tactics
*Strategy Games: TTRPGs, TT Board Games, Video Games, Real Life Simulations (military)
*WC&LGA Training & Combat: Ludus Daltus; Ang Ri

|-
|}

=='''Allies & Enemies {+18/-18 = 0}'''==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Allies'''
*4 Slugger
*2 Fitz William
*2 Dalt.
*1 Zachary
*1 Corwin
*1 Kalaganath (Guide)
*1 Nur al-Din
*1 Warrick
*1 Digan
*1 Fortunadus
*1 Curious
*1 Wrecker
*1 Reggy

|'''Enemies'''
*4 Victor Price - Albino Drow Mage - Vampire
**[[Running Sheet Victor]]
*3 Unknown '''Dufiro''' Enemy
*2 Unknown Enemy
*2 Unknown Enemy
*1 Blister's Clan
*1 Unknown
*1 Avasa of ''Rudeness''
*1 Unknown '''Dufiro''' Enemy
*1 Unknown Enemy
*1 Unknown Enemy
*1 Unknown Enemy

|-
|}

=='''Companions {24 (16)}'''==

==='''<big>Animals</big>'''===

===='''<big>The Poodle Boys</big> - {24 (16)}'''====
aka ''"The Dog Brothers"''

[[File:The Poodle Boys.jpg|150 px]] [[File:The Poodle Boys2.jpg|275 px]]

[[Running Sheet Raphael - The Poodle Boys]]

Swirly(left), Fudge(center), Berk-Berk(right)
*Elemental Dufirosm of Movement
*All 3 are Litter Brothers

==='''<big>Intelligent Beings aka People</big>'''===

===='''Aanika aka Slugger'''====
[[File:Slugger5.jpg|150 px]]

[[Running Sheet Slugger / Aanika]]

*Found in Tucson, Plague World (Raphael's Home World). Appeared to be a Child of 10 to 11 years of age.
*Later Rafe discovered she was an Amberite but no info on her true name or parentage.
**Rafe discovered later that she is an Avalonian; Daughter of Corwin and presumably Dierdre.
*Holder of a Medallion of Mesob, Holder of Ft. Garland Sigil Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery. Avalon Pattern Imprint
*Shape Shifted back to a young adult (20ish) after completing her Mind Blanking Experience upon walking the Pattern of Avalon
*Fighter, Grenadier, Circus Roustabout

===='''<big>Curious</big>'''====
[[File:Curious.jpg|150 px]]

[[Curious]]

*Large Tuxedo Cat; Masoja Dufiro of Guard
**Slugger's Cat; Slugger's Protector / Guardian

===='''Father Fitz William of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Fitzwilliam.jpg|150 px]]

[[Running Sheet Fitz William]]
*Traveling Companion, Friend and Advisor; Male Dwarf. From Change World; Fort Garland
*Low Order Clericism & Ritualism. Retired Professor & Historian, Retired Military, Walking Deadman Member.
*Medallion of Mesob Holder. Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery.

===='''Wrecker of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Wrecker.jpg|150 px]]

[[Running Sheet Wrecker]]
*Traveling Companion and Friend. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Fighter & Demolisher. Retired Military. Trucker / Wrecker Driver.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Cantrips w/ possibility of Spells
*Best Friends with Reggy

===='''Reggy of the Denver Orcs'''====
[[File:Reggy1.jpg|150 px]]

[[Running Sheet Reggy]]
*Traveling Companion; Male Orc. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Thief. Good Planner & 'Criminal' Thinker. Possible military background.
*Former Police Detective - Denver, CO. (dirty cop?)
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Cantrips w/ possibility of Spells.
*Best Friends with Wrecker.

===='''Collette of Ft. Garland'''====
[[File:Christine Corelle aka Colette.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Christine Corelle]]
*Traveling Companion; Female Human. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Low Order Druid, Alchemist, Mage. Medical Doctor. Avid Hiker
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery. Magical Fairy Shape.

===='''Runner of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:ADV-Runner.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Runner - Arco Boys]]

*Traveling Companion; Elf. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Outdoorsman, Mountain Guide, Marksman, Archer.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery.
*In a relationship with Olive & Sylex
*INHABITED by 3 Spasa Dufiro of Death (willingly)
**Shozuax, Oxozath, Nezhoqeh.

===='''Olive the Orion from Alamond'''====
[[File:Olive7.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Olive-Orion]]

*Traveling Companion [NEW]: Female Orion. Joined up in Alamond, was involved with Candy & Kole already.
*Thief, Motorcycle Stunt Performer, Roller Derby Jammer
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change.
*In a relationship with Runner & Sylex

===='''Gunner of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Gunner.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Gunner - Arco Boys]]

*Traveling Companion; Dwarf. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Fighter, Retired Soldier, Weapons Specialist, Mechanic.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change.
*Short Term Apprentice to Vulcanious (Dwarven version of Vulcan the God of Smithing)

===='''Doctor Len Parsons of Hepplewhite's'''====
[[File:Drlenparsons.jpg|150px]] [[File:Dr.Len2.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Dr. Len Parsons]]

[[Running Sheet Dr Len]]

*Traveling Companion; Human Midget. From Hepplewhite's Traveling Circus ala Zachary Hepplewhite of Amber.
*Multi-World Certified MD, Multi-Decade Veteran of The Circus Life.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint. Low Order Sorcery & Avalon Shape Change.

===='''Candy of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Candy-Arco.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Candy-Arco Boy]]

*Traveling Companion; Female Dwarf. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Fighter, Mechanic, Scout, Information Gatherer.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery.
*In a relationship with Kole

===='''Kole of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Kole2.png|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Kole]]

*Traveling Companion; Male Dwarf. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Genius Mechanic, Retired Soldier, Fighter.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change.
*In a relationship with Candy

===='''Elmer Ellswroth of Alamond'''====
''aka Elmer Frisk aka Ernst Tugendhat''

[[File:ADV-Elmer Ellswroth.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Elmer Ellswroth]]
*Traveling Companion: Male Human. Joined up in Alamond.
*Retired Military, Combat Trainer, Sniper, Tactician.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change.
*Lanthanite; 2,600 plus years old
**Former German and US Marine Sniper
**Born 602 BC on an Earth World
***Same Earth World as the North Dakota Freemasons

===='''<big>Gadia aka Gadget</big>'''====
[[File:Gadget-a.jpg|150px]][[File:Gadget2.jpg|150px]] [[File:Gadget-silky terrier.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Gadia- Gadget]]
*Followed Raphael from Deselduia
*Banished(?) Hound of Mandalay
*Fighter, Musician
*Good with mechanical things
*Currently off on her own adventures

[[Getting the Band Together]]

===='''<big>Sylex</big>'''====
[[File:D-Sylex.jpg|150px]]

Avasa of Water & Conflict

[[Running Sheet Sylex]]

===='''<big>Bently</big>'''====
'''''Bentlisilyoxxous Haxasksadaz'''''

[[File:Bently.jpg|150px]]

Masoja Dufiro of Dance

[[Running Sheet Bently]]

===='''<big>Hasara</big>'''====
[[File:Hasara gomon.jpg|150px]]

Hasara Gomon; Blade Warrior
*Free Warriors of Ang Ri

[[Running Sheet Hasara Goion]]

===='''<big>Syvik</big>'''====
[[File:Syvik.jpg|150px]]

Syvik; Blade Warrior
*Free Warrior of Ang Ri
*From the Ang Ri Swamps

[[Running Sheet Syvik]]

====<big>'''Randy Dandy'''</big>====
[[File:Randy dandy.jpg|150px]]

Randy Dandy; Front Warrior
*Free Warriors of Ang Ri
*Tall Dwarf from a Shadow at War near Ang Ri
*Older Brother to Dekon Dandy

[[Running Sheet Randy dandy]]

===='''<big>Dekon Dandy</big>'''====
[[File:Dekon Dandy.jpg|150px]]

Dekon Dandy; Blade Warrior
*Free Warriors of Ang Ri
*Tall Dwarf from a Shadow at War near Ang Ri
*Younger Brother to Randy Dandy

[[Running Sheet Dekon Dandy]]

===='''<big>Falcion</big>'''====
[[File:Falcion trump.jpg|150px]]

Falcion; Grade (Blade?) Warrior
*Formerly of Ludus CannyCans of Ang Ri
[[Running Sheet Falcion]]

===='''<big>Larry</big>'''====
*Total Warrior Medic from Tosia
**Plays Rugby
**Assigned to the AS by Fortunadus

===='''<big>Barry</big>'''====
*Total Warrior Medic from Tosia
**Computer Hacker
**Assigned to the AS by Fortunadus

==='''Personally Known Dufirosm'''===
Raphael knows SOOOOOO many Dufiro, I had to make a Wiki Page for them all.

[[Dufiro known by Raphael]]

====Raphax's Dufiro Contrats & Agreements====

[[Raphax's Dufiro Contrats & Agreements]]

===Memberships: Guilds, Societies, Parties & Other===

'''[[RaphaXaelicus Adventurers Band]]'''
*Leader and Founder: Rapaheal de la Varga
*All Members of the FG Adventurers Society are Members

'''[[Garde du Corps]]'''
*King Corwin's Elite Advisors of [[Avalon]]
*Newest Member

'''[[Belle Époque salon]]'''
*Paris, Avalon

'''[[Ludus Daltus]]'''
*Fighting School; Ang Ri
**Run by Prince Dalt of Amber
*Member and Front Warrior

'''[[Fort Garland Adventurers' Society]]'''
*Leader & Founder

'''[[Guardians' Guild; Fort Garland Chapter]]'''
*Guild Master & Founder

'''The Dufirosm ([[Dufirosm Revision]])'''
*'''The Party for Life'''
**Member as Written is Rafe's Dufiro Tomes
*'''The Party for the Defense of Amber'''
**Member by Verbal Agreement with Curious aka Crizacraxix Galxata
*'''The Party for the Defense of Avalon'''
**Member by Verbal Agreement with Curious aka Crizacraxix Galxata
*'''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''
**Rafe has Agreed to Join and was given Access to Events and Facilities but Membership is still Pending.
***UPDATE: Rafe has now met Shantranixix, so I think his Membership is now official. hehe
*'''Hierarchy of Shifters'''
**Member by Race: Change Elemental
*'''Hierarchy of Motion'''
**Member by Race: Movement Elemental
*'''Hierarchy of Earth'''
**Member by Race: Earth Elemental & Spasa

=='''Items: Magical or Powered {21 (108)}'''==
Yet to be Acquired: [[Cremator, The Undead Destroyer]] and [[Transforming Combiner Motorcycles]]

==='''(50) [[Medalion of Mesob]]'''===
This medallion was found in the shape of a foot with an odd toe configuration. It appeared to be made of a shiny golden metal, possibly gold or brass, and it bore odd swirl patterns on each toe and a Powerful Design at the center of the foot-shaped medallion. Once touched, it remained solid for only a couple of seconds before appearing to 'disappear'... 'quickly melt away'... 'melt into the body'... 'be absorbed into the body'. It took several hours up to several days before all the Powers became active and for Rafe to discover them... well, most of them.

====Undiscovered Powers====
*Moments warning upon attack, Flash

====Transferred Powers====
*Cantrips - 20 possible, Immortality - Istari Immortality: Vast spectrum medical protections, Improved physical attributes: Raises a Human to '''Chaos Rank''' stats, Immunity to Lycanthropy, Immunity to Undead Magics and Magical Attacks, Immunity to Illness: Complete immunity to sickness, Clean Body - Self and Other, Identify Character Class, Race, Approx. Level, Recognize Mesobians / Medallion Wearers, Shadowwalk - Similar to Broken Pattern Shadow Walk - Shadowwalk toward Medallion Wearer if known, Regeneration, Reverse Conjuration, Animal Friendship, Passwall, Phase Walk

===9 (79) Rafe's Bronze Armor===
[[File:Bronze nugget.jpg|150px]] [[File:Rafe armor.jpg|150px]] [[File:Rafe helms1.jpg|150px]] [[File:Bronze Nugget1.jpg|150 px]]

This Customized suit of armor consisting of custom forged pieces and pieces selected from different Horde Armor Collections, was Crafted at the Lava Forges at Fireside Village on Rasak as a Reward from Prince Dalt of Eregenor. The Armor was conceived of by Raphael, designed by Raphael, Bronze Nugget; a Spasa Dufiro of Blending, and Vulcanious; the Dwarven versions of Vulcan; the God of Smithing. It was Forged, Empowered and Assembled by Valcanious and Bronze Nugget, whose final action was to Inhabit the Cuirass.

''NOTE: In its Base Form, regardless of materials used in each individual piece, all metal pieces appear to be polished dark bronze and all leather and cloth pieces are black.''

{| class="wikitable"
|''' 9 (9) Bronze Lorica Segmentata Cuirass'''
*4 Invulnerable to All Conventional Weapons
**+5 Transfer Quality to Wearer
*2 Danger Sense
*4 <span style=color:red>Limited Shape Shift</span>
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*1 Ability - Weightless
*1 Ability - Fire/Heat Resistant
**Temperature Controlled
*Forged by Vulcanious
*Custom Crafted for Raphael
*Inhabited by Bronze Nugget
**Spasa Dufiro of Blending

|<big>POINT BREAKDOWN</big>

'''9 pips for Bronze Nugget'''
*''Elemental'': Earth & Mixing - Bronze
*''Spasa'': Earth, Guard - Vs Guns (2)
**Fire - Temp Control & Fire Resist (1)
***Mostly Weightless (1)
**Rust - Danger Sense (2)
**Guard - Ability Call to don/ Return (1)
**Blending - N/N Forms (2)

'''9 pips for Rafe'''
*+2 raise Armored vs Guns to Invulnerable
*+5 Transfer Quality (Invulnerable) to Wearer
*+2 raise N/N Forms to Limited Shape Shift

|'''(6) Vorpal Collar'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*4 Invulnerable: Protection from Decapitation.
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Call to don/Return</span>

'''(4) Hidden Cod Piece'''
*4 Invulnerable
*Sewn into groin area of Undergarment pants

'''(5) Undergarments; Black'''
*Pants & Shirt; Padded, Ultrathin
*1 Animal Vitality
*2 Armored Vs Firearms
*2 <span style=color:red>N/N Forms</span>: Ultrathin Padding (X5 sizes), Street Clothes (X4 sizes),

|-
|'''(10) Roman Gladiator Helmet'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*2 Double Damage: Head Butt
*4 Invulnerable
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*2 <span style=color:red>N/N Forms</span>: Helmet w/ Grate Faceplate (X3 sizes), Helmet w/ Skull Faceplate (X2 sizes), Bronze Headband, Green Baseball Cap, Black Gambler Hat w/Bronze Hatband, Green Motorcycle Helmet w/Bronze Tinted Visor,
*Modified Stock Item
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|'''(9) Rasak Gloves (pair)'''
*2 Armored vs Guns
*2 Double Damage: fist attacks
*2 Combat Reflexes
**Equals difficult to drop item in hand
***Avoid using grenades
*1 Self-healing
*2 <span style=color:red>N/N Forms</span>: Bronze Armored Gauntlets (X5 sizes), Black Suede Leather Gauntlets (X3 sizes), White Formal Cloth Gloves, Matching Spiked Leather Bracelets, Insulated Mittens; Industrial Use,
*''Gift from Doria''
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|'''(10) War Boots (pair)'''
*4 Invulnerable
*4 Deadly Damage: Steel Toes
*2 <span style=color:red>N/N Forms</span>: Heavy Boots w/ Bronze Capped Toes (X5 sizes), Green Running Shoes (X5 sizes), Black Dress Boots w/Bronze Trimmings,
*''Gift from Doria''
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|-
|'''(10) Vambraces (pair)'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*2 Double Speed: hand / arm attacks
*2 Double Damage: forearm strike
*4 Invulnerable
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*''Gift from Doria''
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|'''(6) Armor Plated War Kilt'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*4 Invulnerable
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*Modified Stock Item
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|'''(10) Grieves (pair)'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*2 Double Speed: running
*2 Amber Stamina
*4 Invulnerable.
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*''Gift from Doria''
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|-
|}

===(19) Rafe's Fire Hammer, ''Sharax''===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|
[[File:Firehammer.jpg|150 px]][[File:Sharax, Masoja of Fire.jpg|150px]]
|
A Double Headed War Hammer [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/General_and_Known_Pointed_Artifact_Descriptions#Rafe.27s_Fire_Hammer]] with a Hammer Head, Shaft Band and Butt Cap made of Black Mithril, a Shaft made from Ang Ri Ironwood and a Handle that's wrapped with an unknown type of Leather.
*Crafted by Falat Agata, Avasa Duriro of Iron, Forge Journeyman under Tursa Ga.
**'' 'I made this black mithril hammer to accept any grade of race. I am pleased a Masoja of Fire will bind to it. The handle changes from a foot to 6 feet. It is a war weapon but can be used as a forge hammer.' ''
*A gift from Curious, Masoja of Guard, for Rafe's Matched Elevation to Spasa of Earth

|-
|
*2 Chaos Vitality
*2 Double Speed
*2 Combat Reflexes
*2 Double Damage
*4 Deadly Damage to undead
*1 Sensitivity to Undead
*1 Ability Hammer Flames for additional Damage or other uses.
*1 Ability Parry. Effective Parry
*1 Ability Consume and destroy Undead energy forces on contact for damage.
*1 Ability. Call to Hand 100 mile radius
*(2) N/N forms. Shaft changes size. 1ft - 6ft (Ability of the Hammer)
**19 Pips
|
THE CONTRACT: (for above listed Powers minus the N/N forms)
*Self-Bound Masoja Dufiro of Fire (Sharax[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dufiro_known_by_Raphael#Sharax.2C_Masoja_of_Fire]]) and an unnamed Bound Spasa of Motion. (Bound by Sharax)
*Rafe negotiated the Bargain for Self-Bound Service with Sharax.
*'' "So, you offer to Self-Bind to this War Hammer that you find acceptable for Binding and for your Status. You wish to remain submerged, mind dark till the Term of Service is completed, an agreed upon length of two years 'on the hip', when renegotiation takes place. The powers to be provided are: To Combat Undead, Detect Undead, Parry, Flame Weapon, Destruction of Undead Life Force, Fire Powers ranging from cooking to forging or anything between, controllable by me, as needs be. In trade a forest, 50,000sq miles. A Lich slain. If the Lich is not slain by the end of Term I will be registered as breaking a binding oath with the Council of the Dufirosm. Since you wish to be submerged, my Confidentiality Agreement is essentially moot yet fulfilled, so I will give one thousand years of Testimony of Good Service." ''~Rafe
*'' "I would like to request one final Power, if it is yours to grant; the ability to summon the weapon to hand, no matter where it might be." ''~Rafe
*'' "I can not grant that. However, I have a Member of my Knot, a new one, a newly raised Spasa of Motion. He will Serve the same Term as I. Receive your Testimony for his next Spasa Race in the deal. He can provide weapon movement." ''~Sharax of Fire
|-
|}

===(13) Sigil Guardian Blade===
A Minor '''Pattern Blade of Avalon'''

{| class="wikitable"
|[[File:Fortunadus' Officer's Blade2.png]]
*4 Deadly Damage
*4 Invulnerable
*2 Double Speed
*1 Combat Training (specific to this blade)
*1 Stamina (Blade's lightness and custom design causes it to wear on wielder half as much as a similar blade)
*1 Ability Call to hand
*0 Alt. Form: Walking Stick (Warrick)
|
Only four (4) of these Blades are known to exist. They were Gifted/Loaned by Fortunadus Enright.
*Reardan Metal Blade. Light-weight and Fast. Nearly Indestructible. Sharp enough to shave Titanium. Throws well.
*Held by Rafael de la Varga, Fitz William, Kip of the Arco Boys, and the Current Sigil Guard.
*Once the Property of Fortunadus Enright of Tosa; Thrice Crowned Bard, Co-Leader of CHAD
*The Blade Bearer is able to Summon (Call) Fort (Rafe now?) when the blade is drawn and the name 'Fortunadus' (Raphael?) is spoken.
**The Blade Bearer can be Summoned by Fort to his location.
|}

===(7) Red Dagger===
Gift from the Pattern Ghost of King Eric of Amber.
*The Dagger was delivered by Florimel of Amber with a message from the Ghost of King Eric: '' "Don't visit Amber." ''

[[file:ericknife.jpg|150 px]]
*2 Double Speed.
*4 Deadly Damage.
*1 Ability: Call to hand
*Exceptionally well balanced.
*Excellent for Throwing.

===6 Rafe's Backpack of Holding===
[[File:Rafe's Back Pack.jpg|100px]]
*Customized Military Backpack w/ light-weight rigid frame
*1 Bag of Holding - 10x5x5 (main pocket)
*2 Bag of Holding - 5x3x3 (2) (Outer Pocket; front, Hidden Pocket behind)
***Contents are easily accessible and effectively weightless
*1 Ability – Summon to Body
*2 N/N Forms (12)
**(Military Backpack, Well-used Military Backpack, Well-used Leather Backpack)
**(Leather Messenger Bag, Leather Saddle Bags, Large Dog Pack; Leather)
**(Well-used Army Field Jacket, Heavy Hooded Cloak, Heavy Cape w/pockets)
**(Leather Duster, Heavy Insulated Long Parka, Water-proof Trench Coat w/hood)

===4 Rafe's Spell Shuriken (12)===
[[File:Rafe's Spell Shuriken.jpeg|200px]]
*1 Rack Spell
*1 Ability - Summon to Hand
*X2 N/#d Quantity: One Dozen (12)
**Each Shuriken can Rack a single spell. The Spell requires a Sorcerer to Rack and release it (Lynchpins).

===2 Rafe's Desert Eagle Fifty===
[[File:Rafe's Desert Eagle XIX 50AE.jpg|200px]]
* Desert Eagle XIX 50AE, Bronze Edition
**1 Ability – Reload local Ammo
**1 Ability – Summon to Hand
***7 round clip (3 clips)
***2000 rnds ammo

===Bard's Stone===
[[File:Bard's Stone.jpg|200px]] [[File:Bard's Stone2.jpg|200px]]

*Small Round Stone Tablet
**Given by Digan (Gift from Fort?)

===Focus Stone===
[[File:Moai Head Rightside.jpg|100px]] [[File:Moai Head Leftside.jpg|100px]]

*Small Carving of a Moai Head made from Milky Quartz
**(Rafe carved this; his first ever attempt at rock carving.)
**NOT CURRENTLY EMPOWERED... or IS IT???

===Raphael's Poisoning Goblet===
[[File:Death Dufiro Poisoning Goblet.jpg|100px]]
*Fine Crystal Glass inhabited by a Bound Spasa Dufiro of Death: ''Thansheq''
**Force Bound by RaphaXaelicus in Paris, Avalon
*Turns any liquid poured into it, into Poison.
**NO change in color, odor or taste.

=='''Trump Decks & Cards: Magical & Mundane'''==
===Magical===
====Decks: Full & Partial====
*Garde du Corps Cell Phone
**Special Avalon Trump Deck / Artifact
**Part of a larger Construct

*Avalon Trumps (partial) [[King Corwin's Deck]]
**Avalon/Paris-1880
***gift from Warrick
**Aanika, Princess of Avalon
***Gift from Slugger aka Aanika
**Nasine Maker; Druid
**Adaile Dunas; General
**Raphael de la Varga

*Bardic Trump Deck (full) w/Card Box
**Gift from Fortunadus
**Fort, Digan, Bardic College of Wall, Castle Garland, others...

====Individual Cards====
*Archie (Riding a Rollercoaster)
**Alamond Trump
**Makes Popcorn
*Alexandra Mira
**Personal Trump?
**Contact Only

===Mundane Decks===
*King Random Deck in a simple wooden box (Gift from Zachary)
**Accompanying Literature
**Signed Cards: Zachary, Tesara, Alexandra, Dalt, Vek,

*[[Bursain]] Deck [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Jeweled_Amber_Trump_Decks.#The_Bursain_Deck]] in a thin Ebony Box
**Discovered in the left breast pocket of my flannel shirt
**Magically Updates and Distributes
**Signed Cards: Zachary, Vek,

=='''Books & Tomes: Magical & Mundane'''==

===Summoning Tomes: Dufiro & Other===
NOTE: ALL Copies of Raphaxaelicus's Dufiro Tomes, The Dog Brothers Dufiro Tomes and The Guardians Guild Tomes (that have NOT been Gifted or Bargained for) as well as any and all Tomes that have been Gifted to Raphaxaelicus, or Bargained for by him, are Stored in a bookcase in RaphaX's Billet in Shifters Hall at the Hagia Salas in the City of Ahyk within the Dufirtrusa; the Dufiro Realms near to the Black Zone of Chaos.

====Personal Summoning Tomes====
*''Guardians' Guild Summoning Tome'' (5)
**Written by Nur al-Din - Ancient Tosian Magic
***''Selaka looks to Digan, "The Dufireant wrote a summoning book for him? Really?" Digan nods, "Yes, but not a Dufiro Tome. It was Tosian World Stone Magic. Fortunadus is the High Priest of Venki. Rafe here is a user of certain herbs that are part of Venkian Writ. The Summoning Tome makes him a Minor Hero of the Venkian Sect of the Church of the Worldly. His... adventures... are being retold in taverns throughout the Tosian spheres."''

*''Elemental Dufiro of Change Summoning Tome'' (20)
**Written by Adalou; Masoja of Shifter [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dufiro#Adalou]]
***Calling & Summoning Names are in Nethak. Binding Name is in Kolbashic.
**Copies: Adalou (Original), Curious, Shantranixix,

*''Elemental Dufiro of Movement Summoning Tome'' (?)
**Written by Adalou; Masoja of Shifter / Spasa of Speed
***Calling & Summoning Names are in Nethak. Binding Name is in Kolbashic.
**Copies: Adalou (Original), Curious, Shantranixix,

*''Elemental Dufiro of Earth Summoning Tome'' (?)
**Written by Shantranixix; Masoja of Life, Earth
***Calling & Summoning Names are in Nethak. Binding Name is in Kolbashic.
**Copies: Shantranixix (Original), Curious, Adalou,

*''Spasa Dufiro of Earth Summoning Tome'' (?)
**Written by Shantranixix; Masoja of Life, Earth
***Calling & Summoning Names are in Nethak. Binding Name is in Kolbashic.
**Copies: Shantranixix (Original), Curious, Adalou, Kichabqhisreeceeb (Calling), Glkaxxsik (Calling), Dalt of Amber (Calling),

====Dufiro Tomes Possessed by Rafe====
For a List of Tomes Possessed and Whose, click the link [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dufiro_known_by_Raphael#Dufiro_Tomes_Possessed_by_RaphaX]]

====A List of Dufiro Tomes possessed by Dalt====
The Danbury Collection [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dalt's_Tomes#The_Dandbury_Collection]]

===Raphael's Spell Books===
*[[Raphael's Spell Book]]
**A collection of Sorcery Spells given to and created by Raphael
**The Spell Book was a Gift from Zacahry
*Halta Spells (from The Danbury Collection)
**Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Relek Rituals (Not strictly a spell book)
**Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Magery: 3rd Level Spells - The Damage Group
**The Lightning Suite: Ball Lightning ,Lightning Bolt, Lightning Dart & Mini-Bolt.
**The Fire Suite: Fire Ball, Fire Dart, Flame, Heat Cone, Ball of Fire, Mini-Wide Heat Cone, Mini-Ball, & Maxi-Ball.
**The Cold Suite: Cold Cone, Mini-Cold Cone, Mini-Wide Cold Cone.
**also has a couple of the Strength Spells, Continual Light, and Wizard Light.
***Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Magery: 6th Level Spells
**This tome has Acid Protection, Astral Eye, Air Wall, Bomb, Animate Object, Geas, Area Muscle Spasm, Projected Image, Move Earth, Part Water, Sustained Dimension Door, Passenger Teleportation, Wizard Wind, Stone to Flesh.
***Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
***''“Of these Astral Eye, Geas, and Sustained Dimension Door are the most useful. A mage might kill to get this in his racks. Of course its all Low Order. A High Order protection spell would wallop all this stuff, but without that... its pretty tough stuff. I've yet to see a really functional High Order Geas spell. But Geas is one of the first powers a Wisher-aspirant dives for when they take Masoja of Knowledge Go figure.”'' '''~Bentalisix'''

==='''Other Books'''===
*The Story of the Trio Shifters
**Gift from Breasda; Masoja of Vision (formerly Wisher)
**Rafe is to make 100 copies for Breasda
***Figuring out the Author is a Challenge for Rafe to complete
***An additional 100 copies for a Screening in Spasa of Paper

*A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny
**Rafe brought this from his Home World

*The Art of War by Sun Tzu
**Rafe brought this from his Home World

*Origami Basics
**Gift from Lenyia, The Origami Dragon

*Cardinal's Journals; blank (300)
**from St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Plague World

=='''Non-magical Equipment'''==

==='''Armor'''===
*Bullet-Proof Body Armor; full body, light-weight
**Black Plates & Yellow Kevlar-like Fabric
**Looks like a Motorcycle Riding Suit
**Includes Kevlar-like Fabric Coif
[[File:Raphael's Tactical Body Armor.jpg|100px]]

*Wehrmacht Motorcycle Helmet; Bullet-Proof
**Black; padded, chin strap
[[File:Raphael's Wermacht Helmet.jpg|100px]]

*Skull Face-Mask; high quality materials
**Flack Resistant; nearly Bullet-Proof
[[File:SkullMask.jpg|100px]]

*Roman-style Metal Armor
**shiny Steel w/ Brass fittings
**includes Leg Armor
***can be worn Over Bullet-Proof Body Armor
**includes full Padding
***NOT worn with Bullet-Proof Body Armor
*Roman-style Metal Helmet
**shiny Steel, with Brass accents
[[File:Roman Armor.jpg|200px]]

**SPECIAL NOTE: This suit of Armor has been repaired and 'heat tempered' by the Magical Dwarves of Fort Garland

==='''Firearms'''===
*9mm Automatic (Pair); H&K VP9
**20 round clip (10 clips)
**10,000 rnds ammo
*.30-06 cal Rifle, Bolt Action
**5 round built-in clip
**Best Possible Adjustable Scope (NEW)
**1000 rounds 30-06 ammo
*UNKNOWN Handgun from Zachary??
**Did he ask for it back?
*UNKNOWN Handgun from Ansahal??
**Did it teleport with Rafe?

==='''Weapons & Tools'''===
*Light-Saber
[[File:Raphael's Lightsaber Tool.jpg|100px]]
**White energy blade
**Three settings: Sword, Dagger, Needle

*Throwing Weapons; highest quality
**Daggers, Knives, Spikes and Stars
*Khukuri Knife; Thick Heavy Blade w/ throat notch
*Utility & Pocket Knives, Assortment
*Mechanic's Leatherman Tool

====''On Loan or in/on Backpack''====
*Hard-wood Handles (2); 3ft long & Removable Metal Heads (4); custom made
**Warhammer w/Curved Spike, Bearded Axe; Single Blade, Double Pick, Double Mattock
*Modern Forged Swords (2) [with Backpack or On Loan]
**[Highest possible Quality materials and workmanship]
**Katana; folded steel, carved white oak handle (stack of skulls)
**Moro Sword; straight blade w/ wavy edge, double edged, razor sharp, skull coin pommel
[[File:Moro.jpg|100px]]

==='''Clothing & Accessories'''===
*Human-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Dwarf-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Gnome-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Elf-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Orc-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Footwear; assorted sizes & types
*Leather Belts, Baldrics & Sheaths
*Nylon Sheathes, Cases & Ammo Pouches

Specialty Clothing
*Garde du Corps Tabard (Avalon)
**Blue with Bear Emblem
*Avalon Suits (10)
**Formal, Dress, Casual(2), Explorer, Everyday(5)
*Military Rain Gear (Hooded Slicker, Pants, Pull-over Boots, Gauntlets)
*Military Camo Poncho w/ drawstring hood
*Circus Themed Costumes; Assorted
*Circus Themed Accessories; Assorted

==='''Specialized Equipment'''===
*Army Medic First Aid Kit (well stocked)
*Modern Military (Surplus) Gas Mask w/ hood & clean filters
*Dog Gear (3 each): Harnesses, Leashes, Flexi-leashes, Sets of Padded Dog Shoes, Knitted Woolen Jumpers
*Small Assortment of Grooming Tools; Human and Dog
*Camping Gear; Personal (Shelter, Sleeping Gear, Cooking Gear, Folding E-Tool, Fire Starting Kit, Hatchet, Flashlights, Ropes, Spikes)
*Laptop Computer & Accessories (Power & USB Cords, Earbuds, Smart Speakers, 3 USB Charging Batteries)
*Large Assortment of Gaming Dice in a Special Edition Green Crown Royal Bag
*Standard Playing Cards; (2) Decks
*Cribbage Board; small, folding w/ sliding panel & compartment for tiny wooden scoring pegs

*1 Gigawatt TW Micro Nuclear Reactor
**Looks like a USB Drive
**Gift from Fort

*TW (Total Warrior) High Tech Medical Devices
**Medical Tricorder
**Tissue Regenerator
**Bone Regenerator
***All are disguised to look like Magical Items

==='''Food & Luxuries'''===
*Dried & canned foods, including MREs (large assortment)
*Bag of dog food & dog treats (large assortment)
*Box of Cohiba Behike (3/4 gone)
*Box of Delesduia Exploding Cigars (2)
*Box of Delesduia hand rolled skinnies (50 left)
*Large amount of Medical Grade Marijuana; Sativa
*Case of Pappy van Winkle Whiskey (4 bottles remain)
*(9) Cone Joints, Filtered; Half Urala, Half Truncha Green dusted with Colorful Powder
**Acquired from Lenyia
*(1) Bindle of Colorful Powder
**Acquired from Lenyia
*Box of Urala Cigars; 20/box (10 boxes)
**acquired at Vulsar Base
*Case Romulan Ale; 12 bottles
**acquired at Vulsar Base
*Humbolt Purple Frosting; 1kg
**acquired at Vulsar Base
*Candy & Snacks; Assorted (a lot)
**Acquired at Oramuy's in Ahyk

==='''Monies'''===
*49,400 Ounces(3,087.5 Pounds) of Pure Gold (Rated .99999)
**All Stamped Ingots & Mini-Bars: India
**Various Weights: 1oz, 2oz, 4oz, 8oz, 16oz/1lb
*80 Adabalb (metal cubes)
**Currency of The Dufiro Realms
*Coinage of Ang Ri; Silver mostly.
**Fight Winnings and Betting on Fights Winnings
*10 Ingots of Mithril; 1oz each
**Rafe helped smelt the ore with Dalt to make it.

[[San Cristobal Cargo]]

==='''Trinkets/Momento Mori'''===
*Small Harmonica
**Belonged to my Biological Grandfather on my Biological Mother's side
**He carried it during WWII
**Reminds me of half of my biological family that I only bare got to know.
*Eye Necklace
**Made by my Best Friend
**Belonged to and worn by my Best Friend
**Given to me on her death bed
*Strand of medium sized green beads w/ a Llama charm at one end & a Rabbit charm at the other.
**Reminds me of my Son
**Reminds me that no matter how charmed one is, life can be short.
*Leather Wallet, Brown; Black (Ink) Skull in profile
**Gift from Best Friend's Mom
**Reminds me of the true kindness of strangers
*Skull Face Carving; Small, Applewood (I made this)
**Reminds of Mortality Itself and my Mortality.
***Update: Now reminds me that I can still die despite my new Immortality.

==='''Vehicles & Accessories'''===
[[File:Rafe's RV.jpeg|200px]]
*Airstream Motorhome; Large, Steampunk Style
**Exterior: Copper, Brass, Brushed Steel Plates & Rivets
**Exterior: Turn-Wheel Handles, Superfluous Gears, Lenses, Gauges, Vacuum Tubes, Wires, Tubing, Etc.
**Interior: Cock Pit & Main Sitting Area; Steampunk Style
***Lots of Wood; polished Pine
***Lots of Brass and Copper Metal Knobs, Gears, Gauges, Wires, Lenses, etc.
**Interior: Bed Rooms (3) & Bath Rooms (1 1/2)
***Modern Styled; Comfortable, Functional and Durable

[[File:Rafe's Toy Hauler.jpg|200px]]
*Airstream Toy Hauler; Steampunk Style (Converted interior)
**Exterior: (same as Motorhome above)
**Interior: Modern & Functional; Designed to hold 4 motorcycles
***contains Tools and Parts to repair Motorhome and Motorcycles

[[File:BadBoy Harley.jpg|200px]]
*Yellow 1958 Harley Davidson w/ Armored Sidecar
**Gear Shifter on Right Hand side of Gas Tank, Left Foot Clutch(toe down)
**Right Foot Rear Brake(toe down), Left Hand Front Brake
**Fixed Up by the Arco Boys of Fort Garland (Magical Dwarves)
***Armored Sidecar added from different model motorcycle; Perfect Fit
***Throttle Sticks in an odd way; like a Cruise Control
*Green Motorcycle Helmet - Buck's Helmet (in nose of sidecar)

*Kawasaki KTX 500 Enduro Motorcycle
**Stealth Black (New Paint Job coming soon...)

==='''Other Weird Things'''===
*Bullets (2) with Purple Gunpowder
**Gift from Casey; Shade of Caine; Amber Fallen
**Dream Walking when Powder is imbibed in any way
**Casey told Rafe to use one and think of him if he wanted to talk

*Vial - 3 grams (dust) of Paradoxian Tosian Melange (Pmel)
**Gift from Fortunadus Enright
*Sheet - 24 tablets of Yorkian Melange (Ymel)
** -2 tabs
**Gift from Fortunadus Enright

*Confian Silver Coin
**Payment from Conf for delivering a message to Fortunadus
**Opens doors in the Tosian Multiverse
**No actual exchange rate

*ASF Communicator; TOS Style
**Cross-Shadow Comms via Amber Inscribed Trump
**Gift from V'ger; Sentient AI of Vulsar Base
***Rafe is to stay in comms with her re: War in Ang Ri

*Cross-Shadow Time Piece
**Wrist Watch
**picked up at Vulsar Base, Vulsara

=='''Shadows {3}'''==
*1 Phase Access - Mesob
**Ability to Enter and Exit the Shadow of Phase which seems to overlap all of Shadow.

*2 [[Raphael's Personal Shadow]]
**'''"Rest Stop"''' 2 points
***1 Personal Shadow
***1 Control of Contents

*0 Billet at Changers Hall
**Located in the Shadow of Ahyk in the heart of the Dufirtrusa (Dufiro Realms near the Black Zone of Chaos)

*0 ''Garland aka Change World''
**[[Fort Garland, Colorado]]
**Location of Castle Garland and the Sigil of Avalon
**''Previously Attached Shadow'': '''Removed'''. Reallocated 2 Pips.

*0 ''Bundleton Region; Alamond''
**[[Arco Station and Retreat]].

*0 ''Paris; [[Avalon]]''
**[[Hôtel de la Société des Aventuriers]]

=='''Other Important Things'''==
[[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mr. Hepplewhite?]]
*How to Call (Summon) Zachary Hepplewhite of Amber:
**Sing the Song in the Story correctly.

[[Paradoxian Melange]]

'''The Danbury Collection''' [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dalt's_Tomes#The_Dandbury_Collection]]
*A collection of Tomes belonging to Dalt

=='''WC&LGA - Ang Ri'''==

<big><span style=color:red>'''Front Warrior'''</span></big>

[[File:A--Rafe-front1.jpg]]

===Record===
*Official Fights: (31) Thirty-One
*Stats: (17-12-2) Seventeen Wins, Twelve Losses, Two Draws.
**<span style=color:red>W,W</span>,L,L,W,L,W,L,W,W [10]
**W,W,L,L,L,L,W,L,W,L [20]
**<span style=color:red>L,W,L,D,W,W,W,W,D,W</span> [30]
**<span style=color:red>W</span> [31]
***<span style=color:red>Red = RP'd Fights (13)</span>
**Represents over six months of Official Fights at Various Venues.
***Canny's CanCan, Red House, Tor Soltos, Tricha's Field Fights
***Started Grade Warrior. Blade Warrior before 3rd fight. Front Warrior by 32nd fight.
***Most Fights in a Single Day: (6) Six

====Wins====
<big>'''(17) Seventeen'''</big>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|<span style=color:red>Win One: 1st FIGHT - Grade</span>
Falcion/Grade Warrior

Ludus CannyCans - Canny's Can Can
|<span style=color:red>Win Two: 2nd FIGHT - Grade</span>
Karsa/Grade Warrior

Ludus CannyCans - Canny's Can Can
|Win Three: 5th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Four: 7th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|-
|Win Five: 9th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Six: 10th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Seven: 11th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Eight: 12th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|-
|Win Nine: 17th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Ten: 19th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|<span style=color:red>Win Eleven: 22nd FIGHT - Blade</span>
Gartax/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Ludus Krakchas - Tor Soltos
|<span style=color:red>Win Twelve: 25th FIGHT - Blade </span>
Hasara/Blade Warrior

Free Agents - Canny's Can Can; Early Fights
|-
|<span style=color:red>Win Thirteen: 26th FIGHT - Blade</span>
Zretcha/Blade Warrior

Ludus Krakchas - Red House
|<span style=color:red>Win Fourteen: 27th FIGHT - Blade</span>
Faltina; St. of Battle/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Coalition of Tosa - Tricha's Field Fights
|<span style=color:red>Win Fifteen: 28th FIGHT - Blade</span>
Zanach the Fisherman/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Ludus Krakchas - Tricha's Field Fights
|<span style=color:red>Win Sixteen: 30th FIGHT - Blade (Challenge for Front)</span>
Akkabai; Minotaur/Front Warrior

Ludus Desadal- Tricha's Field Fights
|-
|<span style=color:red>Win Seventeen: 31st FIGHT - Blade (Challenge for Front)</span>
Randy Dandy/Front Warrior

Free Agents - Tricha's Field Fights
|-
|}
</div>

====Loses====
<big>'''(12) Twelve'''</big>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|Defeat One: 3rd FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Two: 4th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Three: 6th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Four: 8th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|-
|Defeat Five: 13th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Six: 14th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Seven: 15th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Eight: 16th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|-
|Defeat Nine: 18th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Ten: 20th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|<span style=color:red>Defeat Eleven: 21st FIGHT - Blade</span>
Gartax; Lizardman/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Ludus Krakchas - Tor Soltos
|<span style=color:red>Defeat Twelve: 23rd FIGHT - Blade</span>
Gartax; Lizardman/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Ludus Krakchas - Tor Soltos
|-
|}
</div>

====Draws====
<big>'''(2) Two'''</big>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|<span style=color:red>Draw One: 24th FIGHT - Blade</span>
Dekon Dandy/Blade Warrior

Free Agent - Tor Soltos; Early Fights
|<span style=color:red>Draw Two: 29th FIGHT - Blade</span>
(Ruling by Lord of the Games - Oxil)

Halkask; half-giant/Blade Warrior

Ludus Desadal ; Tricha's Field Fights
|-
|}
</div>

===Rafe's Fighting Gear===
*Customized Drake Hide Rig
*Ceremonial Rig
*Water-proofed Leather Armor Coat
*Steel Toed Boots (2 pair)
*Conical Helm; Aluminum (3)
**(1) Crushed in Combat; Cut from Head
*Blackened Aluminum Arm & Leg Armor
*Wooden Weapons
**Long Swords, Birch (2)
**Long Swords, Maple (2)
**Short Swords, Oak (2)
**Mini Maul, Ironwood Head, Maple Haft
**Naginata, Birch
*Dulled Metal Weapons
**Long Swords (2)
**War Hammer or Mini Maul
*Medium Round Shield, Wooden
*Medium Round Shield, Metal
*Assorted Local Style Clothing w/various Logos
**(Pants, Shirts, Over-shirts, Jackets, Hats) (black, greens and grays)
**(Tor Soltos, The Toy Store, WG&LCA, Ludus Daltus)

===Ranks for the ''[[WC&LGA]]''===

[[File:Warriorgrades1.jpg|450px]]
[[File:Lightened gladiator bar.jpg|450px]]

===Places & People involved with the WC&LGA===
[[Ang Ri]]

[[Warrior Core and Lord Gladiators Association]]

[[Ludus Daltus]]
*Adventurer's Society Home Base

[[Ludus Vexas Avaxala]]
*Vek & Alvah

[[Canny's Can Can]]
*Adventurer's Society 1st and Favorite Fight Club

[[The Great Arena]]

[[Tor Soltos]]
*Adventurer's Society Daytime Job; lots of Challenge Fights

[[Toy Store]]
*Adventurer's Society Favorite Fighting Gear Shop

[[Free Agent Warriors]]
*Some New Friends

[[Ludus Krakchas]]
*Lizardmen. Larzakas is a 'friend' of Rafe

[[Ludus Trasidicus]]
*Mascen, Rede Feldane, others

[[Red House]]
*Adventurer's Society Late Night Clubbing Hot Spot

[[Ludus Desadal]]
*House Desadal of the Courts of Chaos

[[Excursion to Tricha's Field Fights]]
*Oddly, Rafe has been attributed/blamed for this Event occuring.

[[Coalition of Tosa]]

[[Grande arène de défis pour Avalon]]
*Not WC&LGA officially, but related
*Adventurer's Society Assets
**Small Sky Box at the great arena
**Residential Sky Box at the smaller arena
**Sky Box at unchosen Sports Arena

=='''Dufiro'''==
=== Al Asgo Illuminar ===
{| class="wikitable"
| The first Rank of the Illuminar.
| Allows access to special libraries and to the other secret places of the Illuminars.
| It is an extremely rare honor and can only be granted by a handful of great Dufiro.
| Granted by Nur al Din after Rafe's Matched Elevation in Earth.
|-
|}

NOTE ON ILLUMINAR: There are three ranks of Illuminar. Illuminars are a special subset of Dufiro. They are considered specialist and stand outside the usual definitions of race. Illuminars are special cases. The Illuminars have their own ways. Many of the rules that refrain and define other Dufiro do not effect the Illuminars.

=== Change Elemental [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Change_Elemental_Dufiros]]===
{| class="wikitable"
| 1: Be Something Else. The Living Change Form.
*Ability to make Changes to their Physical Body.
| Alter External Features:
*Facial & Body Features, Skin Color & Texture, Hair Color, Texture & Type, Etc.
| Alter Internal Features:
*Minor Alterations to Internal Organs, Systems, Structures are ''possible'' (Improve Night Vision, Improve Hearing, Adapt Lungs, etc.)
| 'Grow' Extra Limbs: '''Potential'''
*Arms, Legs, Tail, Wings, Tentacles.
|-
| 2: Transfer Aspects of Change.
*Minor ability to Change (transform) one item or substance to another.
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
|-
|}

===Movement Elemental [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Movement_Elemental_Dufiros]]===

{| class="wikitable"
| Improved Physical Dexterity, Hand Eye Coordination & Balance
*Very Unlikely to Trip, Stumble or Fumble.
| Very Efficient Movement & Body Movements
*Little to No Wasted Movements
| Nearly Effortless Movement & Body Movements
*Reduces Muscle Fatigue thereby increasing Stamina
|-
| Effective at all Movement-based Activities (Sports).
*This could include Dodging, Evading, Parrying and Blocking to some degree.
*This could include Physical Attacks being more Effective and/or Damaging to some degree.
| Quick Movement & Body Movements
*Restraint ''must'' be exerted to move more normally
| Silent Movement
*''Possible'' with restraint & concentration
|-
| Sense Movement
*Effectively a Motion Detector but similar to Radar
**Includes Sensing ''approximate'' Distance, Direction, Size and Speed
| Alter Movement
*Speed, Direction, Total Stop, Dexterity (Nimble or Fumble),
| Transfer Aspects of Movement
*??
|-
| Double Speed: Long term based on Endurance. 10 to 100 miles
| Engine Speed: Short term- Up to 10 miles based on endurance.
| Bursts of speed: up to 100 feet based on endurance. Effects cumulative
|-
|}

=== Earth Elemental [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Air_Elemental_Dufiros]]===
{| class="wikitable"
| Be a Rock: The Living Earth Form
*Sentient but Inanimate with limited Sensory Input.
**''NOTE: Animate w/ full Sensory Input; '''Change Elemental'''''
*Usually 3-4 Rock Types are known at minimum. Many Earth Elementals chose a Favorite Rock or Mineral Type in time.
| Transfer Aspects of Earth:
*Strength of Earth
*Resistance of Earth
*Stability of Earth (Immovability)
| Identify Rock Types (Igneous, Metamorphic, Sedimentary, etc.)
|-
| Identify Mineral Types (includes Stones, Metals, Crystals, Gemstones & Fossils)
| Detect Minerals, Metals, Crystals, Gemstones & Fossils
| Identify Qualities and Properties of Earth (Age, Composition, How it was Formed, How it was Changed (forged metal as an example), Purity, Radioactivity, etc.)
|-
| Immunity to Earth-Based Attacks and Weapons made of Stone or Crystal
*Reduced Damage for Metals (varies)
| Alter Earth: Soil
*Change Soil Chemistry (Refresh Soil [Fertilize], Sterilize Soil), Change Soil Type (Sand, Clay, Volcanic Earth, Dusty Earth).
| Convert Earth: Soil
*Stone to Soil, Mud to Soil, Sand to Soil.
|-
|10: Earth Attacks
*Fist of Stone, Spray Dirt, Hurl Stones, Grasping Hands of Earth
|
|
|-
|}

=== Earth Spasa [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Earth_Spasa_Dufiros]]===
{| class="wikitable"
| The Living Earth Form
*Usually 6-12 different Rock Types are common.Others vary in rarity
* A Favorite is usually chosen before Advancing to Avasa.
| Alter Earth: Stone
*Change Type of Stone to another Type of a similar rarity
| Convert Earth: Stone
*Soil to Stone, Mud to Stone.
|-
| Move Earth: Soil & Sand
*Holes, Irrigation Rows, Ditches, Trenches
*
| Move Through Earth
*Soil & Sand
*?
| Shape Earth: Soil & Sand
*Landscaping, Sculptures, Structures
*?
|-
| Summon (Create) Earth: Basic Mineral
*Able to Summon (Create) small amounts of Basic Minerals that come from the Earth.
*?
| Earth Attacks
*Gravel Spray, Hot Sand Spray, Hurl Large Stones, Quicksand (NO Water, but same effect)
*?
| <<Power>>
*?
|-
|}

===Aspirations===
{| class="wikitable"
| '''''Spasa:''''' Combat, Speed, Motion, Paper, Cleanliness, Blending, Life, Defense, Change, Growth, Guard, Song, and Carnality
|-
| '''''Avasa:''''' Earth, '''Health''' ''(MUST be 2nd Race)'', Cleanliness, Speed, Conflict, Guard, Change, Blending, Growth, Shifter, Life, Knowledge, Whimsy, Carnality, Vision
|-
| '''''Masoja:''''' Change, Earth, Guard, Shifter, Growth, Health, Knowledge, Life, Combat, Strength, Warfare, Witness, Vision
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable"
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
|-
|}

===Languages===
{| class="wikitable"
| *'''''Vomos''''' or '''''Common''''' spoken by all Dufiro conversationally though most Dufiro speak Thari and other chaos languages. Elementals understand Vomos at birth and as they gain power learn to speak it. Its like a baby language.
| *'''''Gorbash''''' is a Spirit Language spoken by the less powerful Spirit Races. It's also a frequently used Dufiro conversational language.
| *'''''Releck''''' is a Spirit Language for upper power Spirits
| *'''''Nethak''''' is an Avasa language for first Avasa Race choices as well as medium power Avasa Races.
| *'''''Halta''''' is an Avasa Language for upper power Avasa.
| *'''''Nona''''' is a Masoja language often for first Masoja Races.
| *'''''Kolbashic''''' is a Masoja language used by the most powerful Masoja Races.
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|}

===Other===
[[Dufiro foods]]

=='''Miscellany'''==

[[Animals of Ang Ri]]

[[The Avalonian Code Duello-"Pour l'honneur, non pour la haine]]

==='''<big>Medallion of Mesob Emblem / Tattoo</big>'''===

[[File:Medalion of Mesob.jpg]][[File:Medalion of Mesob on hand.jpg|300 px]][[File:Medalion of Mesob on forehead.jpg]]

===Rafe's Billet at Changers Hall===
As he received it: his original Training Room

[[File:Rafe's Billet at Changers Hall.png|500px]]

As it is now, after Glaxak fixed it up

[[File:AT-Rafe's Billet.jpg|500px]]

===Quotes===

''"Adventure Abounds"''

''"Fear does not stop Death; it stops Life. And Worrying does not take away Tomorrow's Troubles; it takes away Today's Peace."'' ~Unknown

''"No amount of Regret changes the Past. No amount of Anxiety changes the Future. But '''any''' amount of Gratitude changes the Present."'' ~Unknown

''“Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie.”'' ~Miyamoto Musashi

''“Never wish them pain. That's not who you are. If they caused you pain, they must have pain inside. Wish them healing. That's what they need.”'' ~Najwa Zebian

''"The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie.'"" ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

==<big>'''Dark Winged Three'''</big>==
[[File:Rafe-Dark Winged Three.jpg|300px]]

{| class="wikitable"
|<Big>'''Sókn (Fight)''' Raven</big>
[[File:Rafe-Dark Winged Three.jpg|100px]]

*'''Description:'''
*'''Ranks'''
**(A)
**(B)

*'''Points{}'''
**'''''Total: = Stats+ Powers{c}+ Skills+{c}+ Items +0/0 allies/Enemies + Stuff+Storage'''''
*'''Statistics{}'''
**Psyche: Chaos
**Strength:1
**Endurance:15
**Warfare:Amber
*s*
**2 Chaos Vitality
**4 engine
**2 Amber Stamina
**4 Combat Mastery
**2 vs Guns
**4 Deadly Damage
**1 Able to Speak
**1 Shadow Trail
**1 Self-Heal
**1 Rack Spell:
**Bonded: Rafe, Hjarta, & Vamm
*'''Powers {}'''
**Sigil of Writnis [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Costs_%26_Powers-Jeweled_Amber#Sigil_of_Writnis]]

*'''Companions'''
** Rafe
**Hjarta
**Vamm
**Viggo Hagelin

*'''Items {}'''
** Red Eye Lens
*'''Miscellany'''
|<big>'''Hjarta (Heart)''' Magpie</big>
[[File:Rafe-Dark Winged Three.jpg|100px]]
*'''Description:'''
*'''Ranks'''
*'''Points{}'''
**'''''Total: = Stats+ Powers{c}+ Skills+{c}+ Items +0/0 allies/Enemies + Stuff+Storage'''''
*'''Statistics{}'''
**Psyche: 10
**Strength: 1
**Endurance:10
**Warfare:Amber
*'''stats '''
**2 Chaos Vitality
**2 Double Speed
**2 Amber Stamina
**1 Combat Training
**2 vs Guns
**2 Double Damage
**2 Speak & SIng
**2 Shadow Path
**1 Self-Heal
**4 Rack and Use Spell:
**Bonded: Sókn, & Vamm
*'''Powers {}'''
**Sigil of Writnis [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Costs_%26_Powers-Jeweled_Amber#Sigil_of_Writnis]]
**
*'''Companions'''
**''Sókn''
**''Vamm''
**''Viggo Hagelin''
*'''Items {}'''
**Red Eye Lens
*'''Miscellany'''
|<big>'''Vamm (Blemish)''' Rook</big>
*[[File:Rafe-Dark Winged Three.jpg|100px]]

*'''Description:'''
*'''Ranks'''
**
**
*'''Points{}'''
**'''''Total: = Stats+ Powers{c}+ Skills+{c}+ Items +0/0 allies/Enemies + Stuff+Storage'''''
*'''Statistics{}'''
**Psyche: Human
**Strength: Chaos
**Endurance:Amber
**Warfare:Human
*s
**1 Animals Vitality
**4 engine
**2 Double Stamina
**4 Invulnerable
**4 Tongues
**4 Seek in shadow
**4 Regeneration
**2 N/N Spell:
**Bonded: Hjarta, & Sókn,
*'''Powers {}'''===
**Sigil of Writnis [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Costs_%26_Powers-Jeweled_Amber#Sigil_of_Writnis]]
**
*'''Companions'''
**Hjarta
**Sókn,
**Viggo Hagelin
*'''Items {}'''
**Red Eye Lens
*'''Miscellany'''
**

Fort Garland Adventurers' Society

2025-06-29T18:13:17Z

Relmopator: /* Member Roster */

==BUSINESS CARDS==

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
{|''' class="wikitable"
|-

|<big>'''The Fort Garland Adventurers' Society'''</big>

<big>'''''"Adventure Abounds!"'''''</big>

<big>Fitz William ~ General Manager, Assistant Director</big>

~ Curiosity ~ Exploration ~ Travel ~ Comradery ~ Assistance ~ Community ~

~ Combat Shows ~ Salvage Operations ~ Specialized Search & Rescue ~ Humanitarian Works ~

|}

''(THE SAMPLE CARD BELOW IS VERY RARE AND ONLY A FEW CARDS USUALLY EXIST; ONLY HANDED OUT TO VERY SPECIAL CLIENTS.)''

{|''' class="wikitable"
|-

|<big>'''The Fort Garland Adventurers' Society'''</big>

<big>'''''"Adventure Abounds!"'''''</big>

<big>Raphael de la Varga ~ Founder, Director of Operations & PR, Team Leader</big>

~ Curiosity ~ Exploration ~ Travel ~ Comradery ~ Assistance ~ Community ~ Fortune & Fame ~

~ Combat Shows ~ Salvage Operations ~ Specialized Search & Rescue ~ Humanitarian Works ~

~ Creative Thinkers ~ Problem Solvers ~ Hired Muscle ~ Undead Slayers ~ Shadow Miners ~

|}
</div>

==SURVIVAL RULES==
<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Adventurers Society Survival Rules Pic2.png]]</div>

==='''<span style=color:green>A.L.W.A.Y.S.</span> Remember'''===

'''AWARENESS''' Keeps You Alive.
*Keep Your Head On A Swivel
*Paying Attention Buys You Time
*Having Time Buys You Options
*Be Aware of People Waiting near Transitional Spaces
*Make Eye Contact to Let Others Know You See Them

'''LOOK''' But DON'T Touch.
*Best to Look from a Distance
*It could be Covered in Poison
*It could Activate a Defense System
*It could Trigger a Trap
*It could Have a Spell upon It

'''WARY''' Is Your Mindset.
*Think that People are Up to No Good
*People ARE up to No Good
*Expect Agendas, Dangers, Motives and Traps

'''ACCEPT''' It For What It Appears To Be.
*Those Who Live By This Rule, Survive
*Don't Hesitate in Disbelief
*Don't Waste Time Rationalizing
*It IS What It Appears To Be
(If it Looks like a Zombie, Acts like a Zombie, Smells like a Zombie: IT'S A FUCKING ZOMBIE!)

'''YOU''' Can Do It.
*YOU Can Make A Difference
*Be Confident in What YOU Can Do, and Do It
*YOU Won't Know What YOU Are Fully Capable of Until YOU Try

'''SAFETY''' Third.
*We've Got a Job To Do, First and Foremost.
*There Is Risk in What We Do and We Accept That.
*Safety IS Awareness and PERSONAL Responsibility.

==='''<span style=color:green>R.E.S.P.E.C.T.</span> the Location.'''===

'''RESEARCH''' the Destination.
*Environment, Inhabitants, Culture, Society
*Regional News and Events
*Location's History
*Local Myths & Legends
*Routes and Travel Times

'''EXPLORE''' Carefully & Thoroughly.
*Don't Rush In
*Move Quietly or Blend In
*Watch Your Back ALWAYS
*Make a Map or Mark your Way

'''STAY''' Together.
*Don't Split-up Too Far
*Line of Sight is Best
*Stay In Communication
*Always Know Where Your Team Is

'''PREPARE''' Accordingly.
*What might you need to do in order to 'fit in'?
*What Supplies, Equipment and Gear will be needed?
*What Specialty Items might be needed?
*What Spells might be needed?
*Do you have current and accurate maps of the area?

'''EXPECT''' the Unexpected.
*Think about anything that could go wrong.
*Think about things that 'can't go wrong'.
*Think of at least one thing you can do if something goes wrong.
*Don't freeze up when it happens.

'''CHECK''' For Traps! (and Secret Doors)
*Traps, Ambushes, Setups & Tests
*Mechanical, Magical & Natural
*(Look behind and under everything.)
*(Look for lines, wear patterns and paths.)
*Surveillance Systems, Motion Sensors, Spells & Wards
*Scrying: Do you feel like someone is watching you?
*Spies: Is someone or something watching or following you?

'''TEAMWORK''' At All Times.
*Aid your Allies with Skills and Powers
*Buff your Buddies before and during combat
*Counter your Teammates weakness with your Strengths
*Focus your Fire and Efforts for better results
*Heal! You can't fight if you're dead, for fuck's sake!

==Coat of Arms==

A peaked Knight's Shield of Vert that bears a Cross of Argent is at the center of this Coat of Arms.

At the center of the Cross of Argent overlapping into the fields of Vert is a Fireball of Sable with lines of Argent to define its features.

Within each of the four fields of Vert surrounding the Cross of Argent there are symbols as follows:
*In the Upper Dexter (left); a Warhammer with a rectangular head of Argent and a handle of Sable crosses a Sword with a hilt of Sable and a long wavy blade of Argent. Beneath the crossed weapons is a gauntleted fist of Argent with lines of Sable defining its features.
*In the Upper Sinister (right); a Silhouette of a Sable Mountain Peak with a snowy peak of Argent and cut-out pine trees showing the Vert beneath.
*In the Lower Dexter; a Crumbling Tower of Sable Blocks and Argent Mortar with partial Crenelated Parapet atop.
*In the Lower Sinister; a Cut-away of a Sable Cavern with tiny Vert Explorers carrying Argent Weapons & Lights.

To the Dexter (left) of the Shield is a Rampant Dragon of Argent with lines of Sable defining its features Facing to the Sinister (right). To the Sinister (right) of the Shield is a Rampant Griffin of Vert with lines of Sable defining its features Facing to the Dexter (left). Atop the Shield's point is a Open-faced Roman Helm of Argent facing to the Dexter with a Brush Guard of Vert atop and Horse Tail of Sable trailing down the back.

Below the Shield there is a wide Ribbon of Argent with a Border of Vert; it bears two words in Sable letters:

'''"Adventure Abounds"'''

==History==
The Fort Garland Adventurers' Society became an Official Society at the same time the Guardians' Guild of Garland became an Official Guild. However, the Adventurers' Society had existed for over a year unofficially; accounting for the time Raphael and his Companions had been 'adventuring' together under his leadership.

Raphael wanted a name for himself and his group of Companions, other than 'my Team'. So, being that Raphael always thought of himself as an Adventurer, even before his Grand Adventure into the Amberverse began, he decided to refer to his Companions and himself as Adventurers... but Adventuring Team or Adventuring Party lacked the 'official' feel he was looking for... and Adventurers' Guild seemed a bit too much for a group their size. So he decided on Adventurers' Society and then tacked on the Fort Garland part as an additional identifier and in honor of the place they all met and the place they all fought together to defend... well, most to them; others from other places have joined since.

It was only when Fortunadus Enright, an acquaintance of Raphael's, came a callin' with a job offer for Rafe and Company... including Rodak and all the newly acquired Arco Boys that joined up then joined Raphael when they all joined the circus; Hepplewhite's Traveling Circus, to be specific. They all spent a full season training and learning, hands-on, how to set-up, tear-down, operate and perform in, a traveling circus... Rafe thought it would make a great cover, when needed, for an Adventurers' Society filled with Dwarves, an Orc, an Elf and several four-legged animals, all out looking for trouble to fix, and fame and fortune to claim.

==Member Roster==
The following is a List of the Eighteen (18) ''Original Founding Members of the Fort Garland Adventurers' Society'', each listed by Name and Description on the ''Fort Garland Adventurers' Society Charter'' when the Society was Officially Created and the Charter was Drafted and Signed by Thirteen of the Original Members; all but the 'animals'... though all Five (5) are still Founding Members and entitled to all Benefits of a Founding Member.

'''FOUNDING MEMBERS:''' '''''Raphael de la Varga, The Poodle Boys (3), Slugger, Curious, Fitz William, Gadget, Wrecker, Reggy, Runner, Gunner, Candy, Kole, Collette, Dr. Len, Olive, Elmer Ellswroth'''''

'''NEW MEMBERS:''' ''Bently, Sylex, Larry, Barry, Hasara, Randy, Dekon, Syvik, Falcion''

*Many of the Adventurers' Society were Changed into Other Races during The Change caused by the Sigil (with a few exceptions)
**Those Changed will have Racial Abilities and Magics
*All of the Adventurers' Society have a Basic Imprint of the Fort Garland Sigil
**All are trained in Sigil Basics
**All can Shape Change (Most: 5 Forms)
**Most know Low Order Sorcery
*Over half of the Adventurers' Society have spent a month in special training at Deselduia
**Raphael, Slugger, Fitz, Wrecker, Reggy, Colette, Runner
*Most of the Adventurers' Society has spent a full Season in training with Hepplewhite's Traveling Circus
*Most of the Adventurers' Society are trained motorcycle riders & truck drivers
*All of the Adventurers' Society have some Combat Training in Unarmed and Armed techniques
**Some have Military or similar training
**Most are WC&LGA Warriors (or above)

===Bios Key===
'''C''' = Cantrips, '''DwM''' = Dwarven Magic, '''DuP''' = Dufiro Powers, '''ElM''' = Elven Magic, '''FGS''' = Fort Garland Sigil, '''FaM''' = Fairy Magic, '''GnM''' = Gnome Magic, '''HMP''' = Hounds of Mandalay Powers, '''KiM''' = Ki-Rin Magic, '''LoM''' = Low-order Magic System, '''LoS''' = Low-order Sorcery, '''MM''' = Mark of Mandalay, '''MMP''' = Medallion of Mesob Powers, '''NyM''' = Nyad Magic, '''OrM''' = Orcish Magic, '''PW''' = Power Words, '''SC''' = Shape Change

===Member Bios===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Raphael de la Varga[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Raphael]]
| Poodle Boys[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Raphael_-_The_Poodle_Boys]]
|-
||[[File:AV-Raphael.jpg|100 px]] [[File:Raphax Earth Form1.jpg|100px]] [[File:A--Rafe-front1.jpg|100px]]

*Founder, Director, Public Relations, Team Leader
*Human-Mesobian-Dufiro, Male
*Human, Dwarf, Elf, Orc, Gnome (Magical Creature)
*Spasa Dufiro of Earth. ''Al Asgo Illuminar''
*Elemental of Change, Motion, Earth. Spasa of Earth.
*Psy: 15, Str: 8, End: 17, War: 8
*('''MMP, PW, FGS, SC, LoS, C, GnM, DuP''')
*Adventurer, Technomancer, Bard, Druid, Front Warrior: WG&LGA
|[[File:The Poodle Boys.jpg|100px]] [[File:The Poodle Boys2.jpg|175px]]

[''Swirly(left), Fudge(center), Berk-Berk(right)'']
*Raphael's Pets & Companions
*Miniature Poodles, Male (Litter Brothers)
*Elemental Dufiro of Movement
*Psy: C, Str: C, End: A, War: C
*('''DuP''')
*Guard Dogs, Circus Performers, Morale Boosters
|-
| Slugger aka Aanika [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Slugger_and_Curious]]
| Curious [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Curious]]
|-
|[[File:Slugger5.jpg|100 px]] [[File:A-Slugger-front.jpg|100px]]

*Fighter, Sorceress, Asst. Team Leader
*Amberite-Avalonian-Mesobian, Female
*Human, Dwarf, Elf, Orc, Nyad (Magical Creature)
*Psy: 35, Str: 30, End: 30, War: 15
*('''MMP, FGS, SC, LoS, C''')
*Front Warrior: WC&LGA, Sorceress, Circus Roustabout,

|[[File:Curious.jpg|100px]] [[File:A--Curious.jpg|100px]]

*Slugger's Guardian
*Masoja Dufiro of Guard,
*Tuxedo Cat, Male
*Psy: X, Str: X, End: X, War: X
*(DuP,)
|-
| Fitz William [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Fitz_William]]
| Gadget aka Gadia [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Gadia-_Gadget]]
|-
|[[File:Fitzwilliam.jpg|100px]] [[File:A--Fitz William blade.jpg|100px]]

*Asst. Director, General Manager, Asst. Team Leader
*Dwarf(Human)-Mesobian, Male
*Human, Dwarf, Elf, Orc, ? (Magical Creature)
*Psy: 3, Str: 2, End: 2, War: 1
*(MMP, FGS, SC, LoS, LoM, C, DwM)
*Sorcerer, Cleric, Scholar, Soldier
|[[File:Gadget2.jpg|100px]] [[File:Gadget-silky terrier.jpg|100px]][[File:Gadget-a.jpg|100px]][[File:A--Gadget1.jpg|100px]]

*Raphael's Traveling Companion,
*Leader of the Poodle Boys Pack,
*Huge Wolf, Hound of Mandalay, Female
*Massive Wolf, Large Wolf, Doggo Argentino, Silky Terrier,
*Huge Orc, (Human?, Elf? & Dwarf?)
*Psy: 17, Str: 33, End: 40, War: 5
*(FGS, SC, HMP, MM)
|-
|Wrecker[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Wrecker]]
|Reggy[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Reggy]]
|-
|[[File:Wrecker.jpg|100 px]][[File:A--Wrecker grade.jpg|100px]]

*Wrecking Crew, Muscle
*Dwarf (Human), Male
*Human, Dwarf, Elf, Orc, ? (Magical Creature)
*Psy: H, Str: 3, End: 3, War: C
*(FGS, SC, C, DwM)
*Fighter, Soldier, Wrecker Driver, Demolition (non-explosive)
|[[File:Reggy1.jpg|100 px]][[File:A--Reggy.jpg|100px]]

*Supply & Salvage Operations, Muscle
*Orc (Human), Male
*Human, Dwarf, Elf, Orc, ? (Magical Creature)
*Psy: H, Str: A, End: C, War: H
*(FGS, SC, C, OrM)
*Fighter/Thief???, Soldier???
|-
|Runner[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Runner_-_Arco_Boys]]
|Gunner[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Gunner_-_Arco_Boys]]
|-
|[[File:Runner2.jpg|100px]] [[File:A--Runner.jpg|100px]]

*Security & Stealth Ops
*Elf (Human), Male
*Human, Dwarf, Elf, Orc, Ki-Rin (Magical Creature)
*Psy: A, Str: C, End: C, War: C
*(FGS, SC, LoS, ElM, KiM)
*Sorcerer, Mountain Guide, Soldier
|[[File:Gunner.jpg|100 px]][[File:A--Gunner.jpg|100px]]

*Weapons & Equipment
*Dwarf (Human), Male
*Human, Dwarf, Elf, Orc, ? (Magical Creature)
*Psy: H, Str: C, End: A, War: C
*(DwM, FGS, SC,)
*Fighter, Mechanic, Weapons Specialist, Soldier
|-
|Candy[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Candy-Arco_Boy]]
|Kole[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Kole]]
|-
|[[File:Candy-Arco.jpg|100px]][[File:A--Candy Grade.jpg|100px]]

*Scouting & Intel
*Dwarf (Human), Female
*Human, Dwarf, Elf, Orc, ? (Magical Creature)
*Psy: C, Str: C, End: A, War: H
*(DwM, FGS, SC,)
*Fighter, Scout,
|[[File:Kole2.png|100px]][[File:A--kole-usmc.jpg|100px]]

*Mechanics, Muscle
*Dwarf (Human), Male
*Human, Dwarf, Elf, Orc, ? (Magical Creature)
*Psy: H, Str: H+5, End: C, War: H
*(DwM, FGS, SC,)
*Fighter, Mechanic, Soldier
|-
|Colette[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Christine_Corelle]]
|Dr. Len[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Dr_Len]]
|-
|[[File:Christine Corelle aka Colette.jpg|100px]][[File:B--Colette Corelle1.jpg|100px]]

*Certified MD, Public Relations
*Human, Female
*Human, Dwarf, Elf, Orc, Winged Fairy (Magical Creature)
*Psy: 5, Str: C, End: C, War: H
*(FGS, SC, LoS, LoM, C, FaM)
*Sorceress, Alchemist/Mage/Chef, minor Druid, Certified MD
*Bachelors of Medicine, University of Illinois.
*Residency, General Hospital, Chicago.
*Internal Medicine, University of Grenada.
*Herbalist
|[[File:Dr.Len2.jpg|100px]][[File:A--dr.jpg|100px]][[File:Drlenparsons.jpg|100px]][[File:B---Len1.jpg|100px]]

*Advisor, Multi-Certified MD
*Halfling, Male
*Halfling, Dwarf, Brownie (Magical Creature)
*Psy: A, Str: H, End: C, War: H
*(FGS, SC, LoS, C, )
*Sorcerer, Certified MD (multiple worlds), Circus Performer
*BA, Pre-med. University of Mississippi
*Med. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
*Med. University of North Alabama
*med. Autonomous University of Chiriqui. Panama
*Surgical Residency, Technological University of Mexico
*Surgical Residency, Johns Hopkins University
|-
|Olive[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_oilve-Orion]]
|Elmer Ellswroth[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Elmer_Ellswroth]]
|-
|[[File:Olive the Orion2.jpg|100px]][[File:Olive.jpg|135px]][[File:A--Olive.jpg|100px]]

*Fighter / Thief. Trick Rider. Motocross. Roller Derby.
*Orion Female
*Human, Dwarf, Elf, Orc, ? (Magical Creature)
*Psy: H, Str: C+3, End: 1, War: H
*(FGS, SC,)
*Motorcycle Stunt Rider, Roller Derby Jammer,
|[[File:Elmer Ellswroth2.jpg|100 px]][[File:A--Elmer Ellswroth.jpg|100px]]

*Combat Trainer, Mechanics, Muscle
*Human, Male
*Human, Dwarf, Elf, Orc, ? (Magical Creature)
*Psy: H, Str: C, End: C, War: A
*(FGS, SC,)
*Fighter, Combat Trainer
|-
|Sylex, Avasa of Rot [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Sylex]]
|Bently, Masoja of Dance [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Bently]]
|-
|[[File:Sylex.jpg|100px]][[File:Sylex2.jpg|100px]] [[File:A--Sylex-Front1.jpg|100px]]

*Water Elemental
*Spasa of Water, Carnality, Cleanliness, Motion, Sadness
*Avasa of Water, Carnality, Health, Rot.
***''Aspires to anything but Rot, Rust, Rage or Sorrow/Despair''
*Psy: 27, Str: 35, End: 65, War: 5
*WC&LGA Blade Warrior; Ludus Daltus
|[[File:Bently.jpg|100px]][[File:B--Bently.jpg|100px]]

*Elemental of Air, Change, Hue, Sound
*Spasa of Cleanliness, Air, Color,
**Change, Paper, Illusion, Song, Motion.
*Avasa of Cleanliness, Air, Change, Blending,
**Paper, Color, Health, Music, Shifter, Life.
*Masoja of Cleanliness, Air, Change, Shifter,
**Knowledge, Rust, Paper, Music, Dance.
|-
|}
</div>

===Members' Vehicles & Trailers===
*Total Vehicles ''typically'' Driven at one time: '''12'''.
**Big Rig w/Double Semi Box Trailers: '''3'''. ''Fitz, Wrecker, Runner''
**Very Lg. Motorhome w/Lg. Camper Trailer '''1'''. ''Collette''
**Lg. Motorhome w/Large Toy Hauler: '''4'''. ''Rafe, Reggy, Gunner, Kole''
**Small Motorhome w/ Small Box Trailer: '''1'''. ''Dr. Len''
**Off Road 4x4 w/ Camper Trailer: '''1'''. ''Elmer''
**Motorcycles: '''2'''. ''Candy, Olive''

*'''Raphael''': (Slugger, The Poodle Boys and Gadget usually ride w/Rafe)
***(Rafe MIGHT NOW share Living Space w/ Sylex)
**Large Airstream Motorhome & Large Airstream Toy Hauler Trailer (Matched Set; Steampunk Styled)
**Yellow 1958 Harley Davidson w/ Armored Sidecar, Kawasaki KTX 500 Enduro,

*'''Slugger''': (NOW shares living space w/Colette) (usually rides w/Rafe)
**Kawasaki KTX 250 Enduro (stored in Rafe's Box Trailer)

*'''Fitz William''': (Lives alone)
**Big Rig w/Sleeper, Double Semi Box Trailers, Motorcycle,
***Double Box Semi-Trailer used for Storing & Transporting Society Camping Gear & Circus Gear plus Dr. Len's Personal Vehicles on occasion.

*'''Colette''': (NOW shares her living space with Slugger)
**Very Lg. Motorhome/Tour Bus (Medical Bay), Large Camper Trailer, Motorcycle (stored in mini-garage of Motorhome)

*'''Dr. Len Parsons''': (Lives alone)
**Small Motorhome w/special controls, Box Trailer, Golf Cart-sized 4x4,

*'''Wrecker''': (shares living space w/Reggy)
**Big Rig w/Sleeper, Double Semi Box Trailer, Motorcycle, Personal Gyro-Copter, Off-Road 4x4
***Double Semi Box Trailer used for Storing & Transporting W&R's Personal Vehicles and Assorted Society Gear

*'''Reggy''': (shares his living space w/Wrecker)
**Large Motorhome, Large Toy Hauler, Motorcycle, Personal Gyro-Copter, Muscle Car
***Large Toy Hauler used for Storing & Tansporting W&R's Cycles & Copters

*'''Runner''': (Lives alone)
**Big Rig w/Sleeper, Double Semi Box Trailer, Motorcycle, International Scout 4x4,
***Double Semi Box Trailer used for Storing & Transporting Runner's Personal Vehicles, Society Motorcycles, Weapons & Tactical Gear

*'''Gunner''': (Lives alone)
**Large Motorhome, Large Toy Hauler w/Gunsmith Shop, Motorcycle,

*'''Candy''': (shares living space w/Kole)
**Motorcycle (Scouting),

*'''Kole''': (shares his living space w/Candy & NOW Olive too)
**Large Motorhome, Large Toy Hauler w/Mechanic Shop, Motorcycle,

*'''Olive''': (currently shares living space w/Kole & Candy)
**Motorcycle, Stunt Motorcycle

*'''Elmer''': (Lives alone)
**Off Road 4x4, Large Camper Trailer, Motorcycle

==Group Equipment==
===Vehicles===
*Motorcycle; Military-styled Stealth Black Kawasaki KTX 500 (6)
**Stored & Transported in Runner's Semi Trailer
*Motorcycle w/Armored Sidecar w/Mounted .50cal Machine Gun; WWII Era Stealth Black Harley Davidson
**Stored & Transported in Runner's Semi Trailer
*Cargo Truck; Reinforced / Armored Vault
**Stored at Arco Station in Alamond with the Arco Boys

===Weapons & Tactical Gear===
**ALL below is Stored & Transported in Runner's Semi Trailer
*Body Armor; human sized: Bullet proof composite weave & plates (8)
*P90 9mm Assault Rifles (8)
**P90 Magazine; 100 rounds(100)
*Light Sabers; white energy blade (10)
**Three Settings: Sword, Dagger, Needle
*Assorted Hand Grenades (Frag, Smoke, Incendiary, White Phosphorus)
*Remote Drones; Video & Audio (12)

===Camping & Circus Gear===
**ALL below is Stored & Transported in Fitz's Semi Trailer
*Pavilion Style Tents, Large (12)
*Camp Stoves, Large (12)
*Wood/Coal Heater, Small (12)
*Assorted Cooking Gear
*Wooden Chairs, Benches and Picnic Tables; multiples of each.
*Canvas & Wood framed Cots; foldable (24)
*Thin Memory Foam Mattress; rollable (for the cots) (24)
*Small Top Circus Tent
*Bleachers; Foldable (for the Small Top)
**(8 Sections, each slightly curved inwards)
*Assorted Costumes & Props

===Tools & Other Gear===
*Shovels; Spade and Square (12 each)
*Pick/Mattock (12)
*Rakes; Gravel and Leaf (12 each)
*Sledge Hammers (12)
*Mauls; Wooden (12)
*Rope; Hemp, 500ft (10)
*Wood Saws; one-man and two-man (12 each)
*Wood Axes and Hatchets (12 each)
*Shearing Axes (12)
*Wood Bores (12)
*Flashlights; Personal, Large and Headlamps (24 each)
**Battery Sets for each Flashlight (20 Replacements each)
*Kerosene Lanterns; Bullseye (24)
**Kerosene; Gallon Jugs (48)
*Assorted Preserved Mesobian Fruits (Apples, Pears, Peaches, Apricots, ?)

===Undead Slaying Gear===
*Holy Water; Five Gallons, Blessed Glass Bottles (5)
*Holy Water Sprayers (big squirt guns) (12)
*Holy Hand Grenades (Holy Water in Mason jars) (24)

==Bases==
*Castle Garland
**[[Fort Garland, Colorado]]; Shadow Garland aka Change World

*[[Arco Station and Retreat]]
**Bundleton Region of [[Alamond]]

*[[Hepplewhite's Circus and Grand Revue]]
**An ancient traveling circus that has been traveling shadow for unknown years. The current Ringmaster is Zachary Amberson Hepplewhite; the son of Sir Franklin Amberson and Dame Rashida Alsala Dweena Hepplewhite. The Circus travels shadow and its appearance and texture take on whatever the common look for such groups does in the shadows they travel in. Along the way they pick up acts, troupes, freaks, animals and diverse other elements. It is a safe environment for many people who have found themselves out of step in their own worlds.

*The Lonely Rest Stop, Shadow: Rest Stop
**[[Raphael's Personal Shadow]]

*[[Hôtel de la Société des Aventuriers]]
**''Paris; [[Avalon]]''

*[[Ludus Daltus]]
**Ang Ri

*''(Coming Soon)'' The Springs; Shadow Mining Base of Operations
**Plague World (Rafe's Home World)

==Traveling Circus==

'''''<big>de la Varga's Circus of Modern Fantasy & Motor Mayhem</big>'''''

'''~Brought to you by The Fort Garland Adventurers' Society'''

==='''Show Types:'''===
*Combat Shows & Demonstrations, Motor Stunt Shows, Circus Performance Shows
*ALL Shows are Themed: Themed Costumes, Lingo/Slang, Sets/Decor, Food/Drink, Merchants, etc.
**Various Eras or Genres are possible for Themes
**Modern Fantasy Themed Shows are typical
**Openly show Race / Species; Dwarves, Orcs, Elves, etc.
**Mixed Theme Motorcycle Stunt Shows are typical
**Mixed Theme Motorcycle Combat Shows are typical
***Old Timey Motorcycle Races when Collaborating with Rodak Raceways are typical

==='''Combat Acts'''===
*Costumes & Armor
*Storylines with Narrative
**Re-enactments & What Ifs
*SCA style combat
**On-going Rivalry Competition
**Less than lethal weapons
**Less than lethal attacks
**Point by Hit System + Honor System for Combat
*Iron Horsed Combat Shows
**Moto-Jousting, Moto-Melee, Moto-Derby (Race + Point Combat)

==='''Personnel'''; 50+ total===
*20+ Combat Performers; Two (2) Teams of Ten plus (10+) each, typically
*15+ Combat Act Support Performers / Park Performers / Security / Medics
*10+ Park Performers / Security / Food Vendor Support
*5+ Merchants & Food Vendors

Possible Support Staff needed: Cooks, Steves, Drivers, ?...

==='''Expenses:'''===
*Basic Operating Expenses: Fuel, Food, Lodging, Supplies, Replacement Parts, etc.
*Salaries: Pay Scale & Pay Periods
*Bonuses, Cuts & Shares
*Permits, Licenses, Fees & Taxes
*Bribes & Pay-Offs ???

==='''Circus Schedule:'''===
*Monday: Off
*Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: Competition Shows; Fighter Ranking Advancements (SCA-type combat; non-lethal but real)
*Wednesday, Friday, Sunday: Themed Shows; Re-enactments or What Ifs (performance combat; choreographed and non-lethal)

==='''Circus Staff:'''===
*''Raphael de la Varga:'' Gaffer, Ringer Master, Narrator, Public Relations, Performer
*''Slugger:'' Animal Handler, Costumer, First Aid, Performer
*''Fitz William:'' General Manager, Business & Public Relations, Combat ONLY Performer
*''Colette:'' Manager: Food & Health Services, Medical Services/Certified MD, ?Performer?
*''Wrecker:'' Manager: Teardown & Wrecking Crews, Performer
*''Reggy:'' Manager: Supply & Salvage Operations, Performer
*''Runner:'' Head of Security & Support Crew Manager, Performer
*''Len Parsons:'' Veteran Circus Advisor, Head of Medical Services, ?Performer?
*''Candy:'' Manager: Setup Crew, Lead Scout/Intel, Performer
*''Gunner:'' Manager: Specialty Equipment & Weaponry, Performer
*''Kole:'' Manager: Road Crew & Mechanics, Performer
*''Olive:'' Motorcycle Stunt Trainer, Scout, Performer
*''Elmer:'' Combat Performance Trainer, Scout/Intel, Performer
*''Sylex:'' Food & Health Services, Medical Services (NEW; 1yr Term)
*''Other Members:'' ???

==Important Links==
[[Guardians' Guild; Fort Garland Chapter]]

==Unfinished Ideas==

Garde du Corps

2025-06-29T00:01:25Z

Relmopator: /* Potentials */

==<Font Face="Parisian"><Font Size ="6">''' Garde du Corps '''==
==='''Gallery'''===
{| class="wikitable"
|'''Raphaël de la Varga'''
[[File:AV-Rapheal.jpg|150px]]

<small><small>Split Class Adventurer, Circus Performer, Polymath, Militarist.[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Raphael]]</small></small>
| '''Alric du Morne'''
[[File:AV-Alaric DuMorne.jpg|150px]]

<small><small>Knight Errant, Arrogant but chivalrously proper.[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Alric_du_Morne]]</small></small>
| '''Aurelius D'Avello'''

[[File:AV-Aurelius D’Avello.jpg|150px]]

<small><small>General, Weapon Master, Master Strategist, a mindbogglingly commanding leader figure.[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Aurelius_D%E2%80%99Avello]]<small>
| '''Cillian Wildmere'''
[[File:AV-Cillian Wildmere.jpg|150px]]
<small><small>[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php?title=Running_Sheet_Cillian_Wildmere&action=edit]]</small></small>
| Le Chevalier Éloise Fleurmont, ''The Duchess''
[[File:AV-Éloise Fleurmont.jpg|150px]]<small><small>Machiavellian, Politician, Philanthropist. Possibly an assassin. Possibly a saint.. [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_%C3%89loise_Fleurmont]]</small></small>,

|-
| '''Zarrinshar'''
[[File:AV-Farideh Zarrinshar.jpg|150px]]

<small><small>[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Zarrinshar]]</small></small>
| '''Morgaine Ashcrest'''
[[File:AV-Morgaine Ashcrest.jpg|150px]]

<small><small>Sea Captain, Privateer Admiral, Pirate Commodore[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Morgaine_Ashcrest]]x</small></small>

|'''Sigvard Frostsbane'''
[[File:AV-Sigvard Frostsbane.jpg|150px]]
<small><small>Masoja of Fire & Guard with a love of the cold [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Sigvard_Frostsbane]]</small></small>

| '''Idris Al-Rihani'''
[[File:AV- Idris Al-Rihani.jpg|150px]]

<small><small>Moor. Ranger[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Idris_Al-Rihani]]</small></small>
|'''Thaddeus Greystone'''
[[File:AV-Thaddeus Greystone.jpg|150px]]

<small><small>Bard, British Explorer, Linguist, Polymath, Militarist. Fencer[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Thaddeus_Greystone]]</small></small>
|-
|'''Rensuke Akahoshi'''
[[File:AV-Rensuke Akahoshi.jpg|150px]]

<small><small>Samurai. [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Rensuke_Akahoshi]]</small></small>
|'''Brayden Grant Rein'''
[[File:AV-REIN.jpg|150px]]

<small><small>[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Brayden_Grant_Rein]]x</small></small>
|'''Dr. Elias "Eli" Blackthorne'''
[[File:AV-Eli Blackthorn.jpg|150px]]

<small><small>Mystic, Professor, Polymath, Wanderer, holder of the Rosagara [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Elias_%22Eli%22_Blackthorn]]</small></small>

|'''Aztilios of Zictala'''
[[File:AV-Aztilios.jpg|150px]]

<small><small>Soldier. Azcalan royal. Granted Asylum. Considers himself married to Avaxala[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Aztilios]]/small></small>

| [[150px]]
|-
|}

==='''Potentials'''===
[[Garde du Corps Scorecards]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Fitzgerald Williams'''
[[File:ADV-FitzWilliam.jpg|100px]]

<small><small>Soldier-USMC Captain, Priest-Roman Catholic, Philosopher, Adventurer, Historian, Dufiro-Spasa of Combat[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Fitz_William]]</small></small>

|'''Clive Hunkster'''
[[File:AV-Clive Hunkster.jpg|100px]]

<small><small>Explorer, Archeologist, Thief, Polymath [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Clive_Hankster]]</small></small>

|'''Babkina Kapitolina Pavlovna of Brunswick'''
[[File:AV-Babkina.jpg|100px]]

<small><small>Explorer, Archeologist, Thief, Polymath, [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Babkina_Kapitolina_Pavlovna_of_Brunswick]]</small></small>

|'''Crizacraxix Galxata'''
[[File:AV-Crizacraxix Galxata.jpg|100px]]

<small><small>Primus Illuminar, Masoja of Guard, Earth, Health, and Warfare[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Crizacraxix_Galxata]]</small></small>

|-
|'''Atabeg Shadmehr Faramarzian''' (اتابک شادمهر فرامرزیان)
[[File:AV-Shadmehr Faramarzian.jpg|100px]]

<small><small>warrior-philosopher, diplomat, explorer, statesmanship with adventure.[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Shadmehr_Faramarzian]]</small></small>

|'''Vicomtesse Francine Rémy de Noailles'''
[[File:AV-Francine Rémy.jpg|100px]]

<small><small>Parisian Socialite. Madame of Grand Salons[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Belle_%C3%89poque_salon]] [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Francine_R%C3%A9my]]</small></small>

|'''Darby Holt'''
[[File:AV-DARBY Holt.jpg|100px]]

<small><small>Adventurer, Thief, Soldier, Collector[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Darby_Holt]]</small></small>
|'''Harvey Elliot'''
[[File:Harvey Elliott-Harvey Elliott.jpg|100px]]

<small><small>Forest Ranger, Survivalist, Ecologist, Hiker[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Harvey_Elliot]]</small></small>
|-
|'''Tobias Leafwalker'''
[[File:AV-tobias Leafwalker.jpg|100px]]

<small><small>Red Walker(A Ranger Order of East Middle Earth), Druid, Bard, Polymath,Thief. Hobbit [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Tobias_Leafwalker]]</small></small>
|'''Mya Downing Breyze '''
[[File:AV-Mya.jpg|100px]]

<small><small>Traveling Entertainer. Refugee from Alamond. [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Mya_Downing_Breyze]]</small></small>
|''' Ziza Kiya Makanika '''
[[File:AT-Ziza Kiya Makanika.jpg|100px]]

<small><small>Uncertain, but Corwin says "In Time" [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Ziza_Kiya_Makanika]]</small></small>
|'''Running Sheet Ecthrois Grimm'''
[[File:AV-Ecthrois Grimm.jpg|100px]]

<small><small>Undead Vampire Lich King-Retired. [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Ecthrois_Grimm]]</small></small>
|-
|'''Phoebe Seacoal'''
[[File:AV-Phoebe Seacoal.jpg|100px]]

<small><small> x [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Phoebe_Seacol]]</small></small>
|'''Vasillia'''
[[File:AV-Vasilla1.jpg|100px]]

<small><small> Healer</small></small>
|'''Wrecker'''
[[File:ADV-Wrecker.jpg|100px]]

<small><small> USMC Sergent. Demolitionist, Truck Driver. Dwarf</small></small
|'''Reggy'''
[[File:ADV-Reggy.jpg|100px]]

<small><small> ''Reginald Ray Clifton'' Police Officer. Fence. USMC Captain. Orc. Winged Stag </small></small>
|-

|}

==='''''King Corwin's Elite Advisors.'''''===

=====<Font Size ="5"><span style=color:Blue>Le Chevalier Alric du Morne, Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de Garde du Corps[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Alric_du_Morne]]</span>=====
Knight Errant, Arrogant but chivalrously proper. Xenophobic hater of the [[Urrokkh]]

=====<span style=color:Blue>Le Chevalier Aurelius D’Avello, Duc de Socuria, Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de Garde du Corps[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Aurelius_D%E2%80%99Avello]]</span>=====
General, Weapon Master, Master Strategist

=====<span style=color:Blue>Le Chevalier Cillian Wildmere, Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de Garde du Corps[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php?title=Running_Sheet_Cillian_Wildmere&action=edit]]</span>=====
Paladin of the Bear
=====<span style=color:Blue>Le Chevalier Éloise Fleurmont, Duchesse de Slealia, Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de Garde du Corps[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_%C3%89loise_Fleurmont]]</span>=====
Machiavellian, Politician, Philanthropist.

=====<span style=color:Blue>Le Chevalier Zarrinshar, Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de Garde du Corps[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Zarrinshar]]</span>=====

=====<span style=color:Blue>Le Chevalier Morgaine Ashcrest, Amiral de la Flotte Royale, Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de Garde du Corps[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Morgaine_Ashcrest]]</span>=====
Sea Captain, Privateer Admiral, Pirate Commodore

=====<span style=color:Blue>Le Chevalier Sigvard Frostsbane, Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de Garde du Corps[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Sigvard_Frostsbane]]</span>=====
Masoja of Fire & Guard with a love of the cold

=====<span style=color:Blue>Le Chevalier Idris Al-Rihani, Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de Garde du Corps[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Idris_Al-Rihani]]</span>=====
Moor. Ranger

=====<span style=color:Blue>Le Chevalier Thaddeus Greystone, Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de Garde du Corps[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Thaddeus_Greystone]]</span>=====
Bard, British Explorer, Linguist, Polymath, Militarist. Fencer.

=====<span style=color:Blue>Le Chevalier Rensuke Akahoshi, Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de Garde du Corps[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Rensuke_Akahoshi]]</span>=====
Samurai

=====<span style=color:Blue>Le Chevalier Raphaël de la Varga, Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de Garde du Corps[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Raphael]]</span>=====
Split Class Adventurer, Circus Performer, Polymath, Militarist.

=====<span style=color:Blue>Le Chevalier Brayden Grant Rein, Duc de Normandala, Socuria,Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de Garde du Corps[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Brayden_Grant_Rein]]</span>=====

=====<span style=color:Blue>Le Chevalier Aztilios of Zictala,Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de Garde du Corps[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Aztilios]]</span>=====
Soldier. Azcalan royal. Granted Asylum.
=====<span style=color:Blue>Le Chevalier Dr. Eli Blackthorne, Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de Garde du Corps[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Elias_%22Eli%22_Blackthorn]]</span>=====
Mystic, Professor, Polymath, Wanderer

=====<span style=color:Blue>Le Chevalier <>, <>,Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de Garde du Corps[[a X z]]</span>=====

==='''Potentials'''===
*'''Fitzgerald Williams'[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Fitz_William]]
Soldier-USMC Captain, Priest-Roman Catholic, Philosopher, Adventurer, Historian, Dufiro-Spasa of Combat

*'''Clive Hunkster'''[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Clive_Hankster]]
Explorer, Archeologist, Thief, Polymath

*'''Babkina Kapitolina Pavlovna of Brunswick''' [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Babkina_Kapitolina_Pavlovna_of_Brunswick]]

*'''Crizacraxix Galxata''' [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Crizacraxix_Galxata]]
Primus Illuminar, Masoja of Guard, Earth, Health, and Warfare

*'''Atabeg Shadmehr Faramarzian''' (اتابک شادمهر فرامرزیان)[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Shadmehr_Faramarzian]]
warrior-philosopher, diplomat, explorer, statesmanship with adventure.

*'''Vicomtesse Francine Rémy de Noailles'''[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Francine_R%C3%A9my]]
Parisian Socialite. Madame of Grand Salons[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Belle_%C3%89poque_salon]]

*'''Doctor Eli Blackthorne'''[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Running_Sheet_Elias_%22Eli%22_Blackthorn#Example_of_Language_Use_in_Rituals]]
Academic. Mystic. Vagabound.

Getting the Band Together

2025-06-28T22:37:57Z

Relmopator: /* Rafe's Mission */

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==<big>'''Getting the Band Together'''</big>==

=='''First Impressions'''==
==='''Arrival'''===
She had walked into town six months earlier. It was a busy place, unlike anything she had seen in her travels. Certainly, it was unlike her home. That was something she could never explain to the people she met here. They would think she had just arrived. Her explorations had been low-key, like a lost puppy. Other cities. Learning languages, manners, cultures. She had to fit in when she got where she was going. Little things went away or were replaced. In time she was ready for the job at hand.

The heavy guitar case needed to look like it was once well cared for, but time and rough living had stained it. Covered in travel stickers she had collected. It was unusually thick since it carried her 6 string bass guitar, a 6 string Fender lead, a ukele, a recorder, and a piccolo. It carried more then that but no one was going to see that.

Her backpack looked like something used a decade ago, large and deep, a grown man's hiking backpack but its hidden depths made it worth it. It was big enough for the beatup gear it carried as well as its necessities and treasures. Paper money and a few gold coins. Her pack had a few practical items. Notebooks filled with songs and music. A cellphone with more music than she had ever heard, but her father had insisted. If she had left it behind, she would have been running away from home. If she took it, she was just traveling.

Her jeans were patched and fraying, her loose shirt faintly smudged with dirt. Her hair—that was a crime, cut and dyed blue, but it was necessary. Less bathing. Her mother would have been annoyed to see her.

The careful disguise had worked well enough: she looked the part of the drifter, the runaway. But under the surface was something sharper, something the average observer wouldn’t see. A hunting knife hung on her belt, and deeper in her pack rested her father’s .45 and ammo—a weight she carried with purpose. She didn’t plan to use it. But then again, planning wasn’t always her strong suit.

She found a shady spot under an oak tree where she could see the musicians take turns performing. The crowd’s reactions told her everything she needed to know—who played for passion and who played for desperation. Gadget leaned against the tree, watching, listening, and feeling the pulse of the park.

It wasn’t long before someone noticed her. A boy, maybe the age she portrayed, with unruly hair and a guarded expression, walked over and sat down beside her, uninvited but not unkind.

“Hey,” he said, nodding toward her guitar case. “You looking to play?”

She hesitated. “Yeah.”

“Well, just so you know, in this stretch, Tiffy’s up now, then I’m next, and Jax gets lunch. Cali is missing, and we are worried about her. Holden would be after her, but he hasn’t shown up today. After that, it’s you, if you’re still here. We’ve got a system.” He smirked faintly, but his eyes were serious. “We all gotta eat.”

“Got it,” Gadget replied, her voice measured. She didn’t need to explain herself yet.

“I'm Eddie. Edwardo, technically,” he said with a half-grin. “Parents thought it was funny. And you?”

“Do I find it funny?”

“What’s your name, new girl?”

“Gadget.”

“Really? That’s what you’re going with? People usually pick something easy, like Gail or Ginger.”

“Gadget’s fine,” she said, unmoving. “Nice to meet you.”

Eddie shrugged. “Suit yourself, Gadget. You new to the city?”

She nodded. “More or less. Wandering mostly. Stayed at the mission for a night.” She paused, shuddering. “That place isn’t what I expected.”

Eddie gave her a knowing look. “Yeah, the mission’s rough. Better to stay in the open if you can. But, you know, stay visible. Shakers come out when you’re alone.”

“Shakers?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Shakers are takers,” he said, gesturing toward the park’s edge. “They roll in, act like they belong, and take what’s ours. They don’t care if you’ve got a spot or if you’re trying to eat. Stay sharp, Gadget.”

She nodded, filing away the warning.

Eddie continued, “Listen, you can wander off if you need to, but be back when Jax is done, or someone else’ll jump in. Holden’s been known to push his way in, but if you stand your ground, he’ll back off. He respects the system, even if he pretends not to.”

“And Cali?” Gadget asked, catching the name from the murmurs earlier.

Eddie frowned. “Cali’s...well, she hasn’t been around. Missed a whole week. She’s in trouble, and we haven't been able to find her. Till we hear something, she’s gotta sort it out herself. That’s how it works.”

Gadget didn’t reply, but her mind turned. Trouble had a way of finding people like her, and she wasn’t sure yet if Cali’s story would intersect with her own. For now, all she could do was wait. And watch.

The guitar case at her side felt heavier now, but not with dread. With purpose. If the park was a stage, she’d play her part soon enough.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

=== '''First Day at the Plaza'''===
She listened to Eddie play for the mid-morning crowd as they cut through the park, going from one tall building to another. He was as good as she remembered. Though maybe not quite as good yet. Style would come in time. Besides, it was Tiffy who blossomed, if they survived.

Eddie had come over to her earlier. “Ah, Gadget. You said you’ve been wandering around? Don't wander south of here. Bad area. Forty Thieves... Actually, the Forty Threes, 43rd Street gang. Fucking takers. Over by the river is a nice place in the summer. Cold as hell this time of year, but there’s a more or less permanent encampment of old timers there. The city comes through and cleans it up sometimes. Gives them time to get their valuables out, then trashes whatever they had been living in. Twice a year. Shows the uptowners they are cleaning the place up. After that, some do-gooders come by and drop off new tents, mattresses, and blankets. The hawks stay away from there because the police got no concern if one or two kiddie pimps end up in the trainyard. Some of those old timers are ex-military and ain’t shy about it. But, some are almost as bad as the hawks. They won’t rent you out, but they will trade warmth for wetness, ya know. Better off finding a squat.”

“You and Tiffy got a squat?” Gadget asked.

“Yeah...but...it’s tight...sorry...I can't help with that. The East industrials by the train-yards have a lot of junkies and packs of wild dogs... You can sleep there, but the temptation is too strong for people. Temptation to use, temptation to steal.” The usual crowds went back and forth with little or no regard for the desperation they passed through. They thought themselves generous if they tossed the change from a six-dollar cup of fifty-cent coffee.

Eddie wandered over to sit as Tiffy finished her set. Gadget wondered if they thought of it in terms of 'Set' yet.

Eddie started playing. Riffing really. Loud, to get attention. He had endurance, Gadget thought.

A couple of hours went by, and Gadget spent it looking over the place, walking around, and getting a feel for the square and its regulars.

A coffee shop, a waitress looked out the window at the buskers sadly. Grief and gratitude. She had escaped the life. A newsstand. No reading. A fat man watched a little TV and collected money. He thought he was sly to slip alcohol from a flask into what was probably coffee.

A Little Caesar’s Pizza. Classic cardboard pizza. The clerk. Another survivor. A paycheck away from being on the street again. Squats. Can’t make rent.

A laundromat. Customers only. A walkway to the parking lot.

A liquor store that looked like a prison with bars and locks.

A big youth came running like he was being chased through the plaza. No one behind him.

He ran past Eddie and Tiffy. Jax had already gathered his blanket and put his arm through loops and was moving. He jumped down stairs only to stop. Tiffy and Eddie were almost up when the runner came walking over to them, hangdogged.

Up the stairs came four guys and a girl. Toughs. Shakers for sure. Their clothes only looked a small bit better than the people they shook down. They walked straight for the three.

Suddenly, she felt a shoulder hitting her from behind, walking past. A big guy, 19, scared and cruel. A follower. He looked back at her, saw the guitar, “I don’t know you. Tax ya later.”

He walked to the top end of this part of the plaza. Another coming in from the parking lot. Jax walked ahead of him, being pushed.

Behind her, two more. The ones the runner was fleeing from. Into their trap, it seemed.

Gadget touched a knob on her hearing aid, and she heard better.

The big guy in front. Army boots. New. “I don’t give a fuck, Eddie. Starve. Fork it over. Hey, Tiffy, you can keep your money for a little help with handsome.”

Eddie scowled, stepped between him and Tiffy, bravely but foolishly. He handed over a wad of bills.

“That’s both of ours...a day’s work, Wart.”

Big Wart... Good. Now I’ve seen him. “Not for me, it wasn’t. All fun. Maurice will fork over a couple hundred for a couple hours with Tiffy.”

Eddie said nothing, smart for once.

Jax said he hadn’t played yet, he didn’t have any money. Wart’s number two grabbed Jax’s bongo drums, and the two struggled. Eddie intervened and got a punch in the face from Wart. Little Wart held Jax’s drums.

“That was stupid, Eddie. Jax, five bucks, and you can have your drums back for tomorrow. Or wet trade. You know where we will be.”

Lastly, Wart turned to the runner. “Holden, you are the stupidest fuck I know. You got taxed, and instead of just playing elsewhere, you tried to warn Eddie and the Stone Benches group.” He said it with an air of mockery.

Gadget smiled for other reasons when she heard Wart’s jab. She was in the right place and time.

Wart laid a smack across Holden’s face, and Little Wart punched him twice in the belly as he fell.

The shakers moved along, laughing. This couldn’t be the only way they made money. Shaking down buskers. Cali... They had her someplace. Making money off her.

Tiffy started crying after the gang had gone. Jax, probably only 13 himself, started sniffling, trying to be tough. Tiffy must have been 14. Eddie would have been 16. Holden 17. Cali would have been 13, if she lived.

Walking over, Gadget heard without the spy ear.

“Those assholes,” Eddie said.

Jax said, “Let’s see if Dearly will spot us a blue plate special or two... it’s been long enough.”

Eddie shook her head, “Can’t. Bossman is there.” Jax whimpered.

She walked up, “Those are the takers?”

Eddie nodded, “Not their name... Just Wart’s guys. They got you, too?”

She shook her head, “That big guy said he would tax me later.”

Holden said, “That’s Waldo. Wants people to call him Eastwood, but Waldo is his name. Big, tough, strong, and mean. One of Wart’s muscles.”

Eddie put his arm around the whimpering Tiffy.

“We ate yesterday. Holden? Jax?” They both shook their heads.

Gadget said, “You all squat together?” Eddie looked at her, confirming, thinking they had to find Cali.

She said, “If I can squeeze into your squat, I’ll get pizza. A couple from that place.” Pointing to Little Caesars. Jax looked at her, then Eddie. Holden looked too. Silent agreement.

“Alright. We should go. If we set up again and start playing, they’ll come back. Today is over.”

Gadget said, "Where do I meet you? I have an errand to run before getting food.”

Eddie gave her directions for four blocks away. “You’ll see a tall water pipe on the side of a building. Painted blue. Hit it a few times, and one of us will come get you.”

She nodded. “An hour at most.”

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==='''Observations'''===

Gadget walked back into the square to get her gear, the familiar rhythm of the park unbroken by the earlier scuffle. People moved about as though nothing unusual had happened, their lives tuned to a frequency that filtered out the kind of trouble she had just witnessed.

She had seen this before in other cities: a practiced indifference to the small tragedies that played out in the corners of urban life. The regulars had walked past the shakedown, unconcerned. Not their problem. Not worth their notice. Even the lack of music didn’t seem to faze anyone. The world kept spinning, and the square moved with it.

Her first stop was a liquor store tucked into a crumbling block of mismatched businesses. The door jingled as she entered, and she felt the clerk’s eyes snap to her immediately. His stare followed her down the rows as she browsed. Gadget ignored him, picking out a flask-sized bottle of whiskey first, then a larger one to refill it. She added a handful of tiny bottles at the register, their colorful labels gleaming in the harsh fluorescent light.

The clerk leaned against the counter, arms crossed, his expression dripping with disdain. “Are you high or just stupid?” he sneered. “Alright, let’s do this. Everyone sing along—*La la la! I have to see some ID!*”

Unbothered, Gadget pulled a crisp hundred-dollar bill from her pocket and laid it on the counter, meeting his gaze with a calm, steady intensity. “Even if I kept the change,” he added, “it’s not worth it without ID.”

She sighed, pulling a slim wallet from her jacket. Opening it just enough for the clerk to see, she watched his eyes widen. The disdain melted into something closer to disbelief.

“Ah... really?” he asked, his tone shifting.

She tilted her head slightly. “I can depend on your keeping it a secret?”

He nodded quickly, his earlier bravado gone. He took the money without another word, bagging the bottles with newfound precision. Gadget took the bag without a thank-you, already moving on.

Her next stop was Little Caesar’s, the faint smell of grease and cheap cheese filling the air before she even entered. The bored teenager at the counter barely glanced up as she ordered four $5 pizzas. She stacked the boxes into a canvas bag, not bothering to align them perfectly. As the bag settled, the pizzas slid, the cheese and toppings undoubtedly pooling at one end of the boxes. She didn’t care. These weren’t about taste.

The park waited as she walked back, her steps deliberate and her mind turning over what came next. Her earlier encounter had shown her more than she expected—not just about the park’s pecking order but about the invisible lines drawn between those who were struggling to survive and those who chose to ignore them. She wasn’t sure yet where she fit into this city, but she’d carve out a place soon enough.

The liquor and the pizzas? They were tools, not comforts. Small investments in goodwill, in leverage. She wasn’t here to play by the rules. Gadget didn’t play by anyone’s rules but her own.

The alley was narrow and quiet, save for the distant hum of city noise. The faint tang of rust and damp concrete filled the air, mingling with the aroma of greasy pizza wafting from the canvas bag Gadget left on the ground. Her ears tingled with the primal electricity of the moment, a sensation she had come to trust. The hunter had become the hunted, and she was more than ready. She set down her guitar and her bag.

[[File:Waldo.jpg|200px]]

Waldo strode into view, his swagger full of self-assurance, the kind that only came from countless successful shakedowns. He grinned as he saw her, his eyes scanning her up and down like she was already his.

“Well, I didn’t think taxing you would make me rich! Booze and food. Fork it over. And any cash you got,” he said, closing the distance without hesitation. Gadget stepped toward him calmly, her expression unreadable. She didn’t flinch as he reached for her with both hands, his grin growing wider as he added, “Maybe a kiss or a fu—”

The rest of the word was swallowed by a sharp, guttural cry as Gadget grabbed his wrists and drove the steel toe of her boot into his groin with the force of a sledgehammer. The sound he made was almost pitiful as he doubled over, but she didn’t stop. Another swift kick sent him crumpling to the ground like a ragdoll.

Before he could recover, she shoved him onto his back and straddled him, delivering two quick punches to his stomach with precision. Waldo gagged, his breath coming in choked gasps. Gadget leaned in close, her voice a low, dangerous growl, her mind reaching out to touch his, instilling fear of her deep in his memory.

“Now, don’t you throw up,” she warned, her tone ice-cold. “All it’ll only make you messy and me pissed off. Look me in the eyes.”

Waldo’s watery gaze met hers, and for the first time, his bravado cracked. Her psyche slammed into him as hard as she could force it.

“You think you’re tough?” she continued, her voice steady but sharp as a blade. “The universe is filled with monsters that wouldn’t blink about squashing you like a potato bug. And I am goddamned well one of them, Waldo. I the apex predator monster around here now. So... you belong to me. Unless you want me to make sure you never get an erection again. We understand each other?”

He nodded frantically, his face pale.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Gadget said, sitting back slightly. “Where’s Cali?”

“Wart has her,” Waldo croaked, his voice hoarse. “He’s got her up at the Station… Passed out last I saw.”

Gadget studied his face for any sign of a lie, then nodded. “The Station. Eddie knows where that is?”

Waldo nodded again, his head bobbing weakly.

“Good.” Gadget stood, brushing herself off. “Now, you go away. Not to the station. It won’t be safe there tonight. Do you understand me?” Waldo nodded once more, trembling as he scrambled to his feet.

She stepped back to her bag and pulled out a pizza box. Opening it, she pulled out three slices and held them out to him. “Here. Just to show I’m not… well, totally a bitch. Remember: don’t go to the station. Don’t tell Wart. And don’t piss me off. Now go.”

Waldo hesitated for a split second before grabbing the slices. He staggered off, clutching the greasy pizza with both hands, his steps uneven but quick. He didn’t look back.

Gadget watched him disappear down the alley, then picked up her bags. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth as she murmured, “Everyone’s gotta eat.”

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

=== '''Squatting'''===

She found the pipe and knocked on it. She waited only a few moments until Holden peeked his head out.

“We were worried you were followed.”

“I was, but it’s okay. Let’s go inside.”

She followed Holden down a short alley to a pried-open side door of an industrial building. The interior showed a lack of traffic. The path made several turns before ending at a dead end. Above were large pipes passing through. Water pipes, probably. On the west wall was a concert poster in a language Gadget did not know.

Those huddled near each other were Eddie, Tiffy, and Jax. A single candle put out light if not warmth. They shivered under blankets, and their breath came out in fog.

They looked up as Gadget entered. Eddie said, “Glad you made it. We were worried.” They looked at the pizza boxes in anticipation.

Eddie went on, “Cali is usually between Jax and Holden, if you don’t mind.”

Gadget moved close to Holden, between him and Jax. She couldn’t tell herself yet, but her pack nature was already forming, even after so little contact. Holden might be the lucky one.

Gadget nodded, taking the top pizza box with the missing pieces, slipping the other three to the group. She pulled out a large bottle of Tabasco that she liberally put on her pizza. The others eagerly grabbed the other boxes. They relished the pizza, a good meal for them. Jax reached for the Tabasco, looking to Gadget for permission. She smiled and handed it to him.

Looking around, the dead end had much to recommend it. Defensible but without an escape route. Out of the elements, sort of. Frigidly cold. Too cold, as she thought about it. It was winter, but the weather outside was hardly cold enough to warrant the cold inside.

“What’s on the other side of the building?”

“Meatpacking plant. It’s why it’s so cold in here. But the squat is too good. Out of the elements and deep enough not to be easy for takers to find unless led here. Holden used to squat here before.”

She reached into her pack and pulled out a small backpacking ring of stainless steel to curious eyes. Popping the lid, she pulled a lighter out and a bit of newspaper. She wrapped coal with the paper and lit it, starting the stove’s fire. The flickering fire caught and warmed the area slowly.

They turned to huddle around the fire in gratitude and surprise. “I’ve been camping a lot,” she explained.

The small area began to heat as they returned to eating. Silence filled the room as they ate. She looked around the space. A bright poster on the wall was in Russian, she thought. Rafe might know what it said. Being a music aficionado, he might know the band anyway. Maybe someone else in the huge Adventure’s Society would know. Time would tell.

While they huddled under blankets that had seen better days, their overcoats were neatly hung for drying. The candle put out light but little heat. Looking up, the ceiling must have had vents somewhere. It was why the space had so little heat. This place wouldn’t do. Not for seven or eight people, as her plans for the group developed.

Gadget stood after they finished eating. “Eddie? Can I speak to you for a moment?”

The two walked out to turn down the hall, out of sight of the others.

“I spoke to Waldo. He tried to tax me, and we came to an understanding. He says Cali is at someplace called the Station. Strung out and in trouble.”

Eddie cursed, “Damn... damn. The Station? Shit... SHIT!... That’s an abandoned gas station at the edge of the industrial area. There’s a huge dog pack that lives there. Used to be security dogs that went wild when the plants closed. Abandoned warehouses mostly. No one squats there because the dogs are vicious. Probably a hundred of them. The city gave up on that whole part of town. South of the railroad and the freeway. Shit... this sucks.”

“Dogs, you say? Vicious ex-guard dogs and their get, I imagine. Good to know. How many people would he have there, this Wart guy?”

“Five maybe, a couple more. Depends where they are in their raiding.”

“How do they handle the dogs? Will you show me where this is?”

“Carefully, I imagine. Sure, I can show it, but why? Do you have an idea? If we could get them to come out chasing me, you might be able to get her out.”

“Do any of you people fight?”

“Holden can land a punch. Jax can fall down and take them for a while. Tiffy, not so much.”

“How tough are these guys? How long have they been around?”

“Tiffy and I have been here about a year. Holden a couple of years. Not sure about Jax and Cali, but longer then Tiffy and I. Wart and his guys have been terrorizing people since grade school, I hear. He’s beat us up several times. Beat Tiffy and I pretty bad when we first got here 'cause she wouldn’t put out. Holden hates them. I think he had run-ins with them before. I know some of the businesses in the plaza lock their doors when they wander in. One of their parents is a cop.”

“Okay, show me this station.”

“Ah... okay... if you’re sure.”

She nodded and followed him as they crossed town.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==='''Dogs'''===

Looking over at a vacant gas station tucked between industrial buildings, Gadget saw lights on in the building but none outside. The walls were covered with graffiti. The windows were covered in newspaper on the inside.

Gadget asked, "Will they have a lookout, you think?"

"No idea. But they probably depend on the dogs. When I start running, I’m going to run back the way we came in. Stay away from the dogs. I'm going to circle around and see if any of them are outside."

Eddie headed off, walking far to the east. .

She pulled out her cell phone and made a call. “Gadget. Wants and warrants on a Wart and known associates. Especially wants and warrants on an associate named Waldo. Police tours in the area of Third Street and Hunsiker Avenue. Yes.” She lit a cigarette and puffed it while she waited.

“Yes. Alright. Route police at least a mile from this location. Okay. Okay. Okay. And Waldo... Okay. Gadget down.”

She watched for any of the gang members returning.

The air around the vacant gas station grew heavier, the tension palpable as Gadget watched her surroundings with predatory focus. The graffiti-covered walls seemed to close in, the windows’ newspaper coverings adding a claustrophobic feel to the eerily quiet industrial zone. As Eddie vanished into the distance, her instincts prickled with the unmistakable feeling of being watched—or perhaps stalked.

Then she smelled them. Dirty dogs.

The dogs were close, their musky scent mingled with the faint metallic tang of rust and oil. Gadget pivoted, slipping behind a building with a crumbling wall, her heart steady but her senses sharpened. From the shadows, three shapes emerged: large, muscular dogs, their eyes reflecting the dim light like embers in the gloom.

The leader—a scarred, thick-furred savage with torn ears—moved forward first, his posture radiating dominance. Behind him, two slightly smaller dogs fanned out, their growls rising in anticipation. The pack began to circle her, their intent clear.

Gadget exhaled slowly, her father's teachings resonating in her mind. She didn’t run. Instead, she dropped to all fours, her movements fluid, deliberate. She raised her hips, her posture bold and challenging. Her eyes locked onto the leader’s, refusing to break the connection. The world seemed to fall away, leaving only the primal, unspoken dialogue between her and the animal.

The leader snarled, testing her, his hackles raised. Gadget bared her teeth and growled low and deep, channeling every ounce of her willpower into the sound. It wasn’t just noise; it was intent, a projection of dominance and confidence that tapped into the primal currents of the canine psyche.

The other two dogs faltered, their growls cutting short as they glanced at each other, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. The leader hesitated, his head lowering slightly, torn between instinct and her overwhelming presence. Gadget growled again, a commanding sound that brooked no argument. The leader stepped back, his defiance faltering under the weight of her gaze.

Then it happened. With a whimper, the leader dropped to his belly, his body language one of submission. Gadget moved forward on all fours, her movements deliberate and measured. She sniffed at the leader, solidifying her claim. The two remaining dogs quickly followed suit, rolling over with their tails tucked.

Gadget straightened and rubbed the leader’s belly, her touch firm but acknowledging his surrender. He rolled to his haunches, sitting obediently, awaiting her command. She rubbed her cheek against him, radiating love of him. Love he had never known till now. "I'll call you Savage."

She greeted the other two the same, feeling them give up their devotion.

Focusing her awareness, Gadget channeled her intent, pushing it outward like a wave. Her thoughts took form, her message clear: “Tell the rest I am coming soon for them. Tell the pack leader.”

The dogs responded instantly, bolting into the shadows without hesitation. Gadget stood and dusted herself off, exhaling slowly. The pack was hers now—or at least, they knew better than to challenge her again.

As the shadows settled once more, Gadget turned her attention back to the gas station. It was time to finish what she started.

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=== '''The Station'''===

A few minutes later, Eddie returned, carrying a half-full 40oz bottle. “No one there. The door is on the west side. Okay... probably won’t be locked. We sneak up. I’ll open the door and yell at them. I’ll throw this bottle of... beer... piss... at them. They’ll chase me out. Especially if I hit Wart. While they’re chasing me, you go in, find Cali, and get her out of there. I’ll run them as far as possible. I’m pretty sure I can outrun them.” He said it uncertainly but with determination.

“Sounds good. Let’s go.”

They sneaked up to the station, going around to try peeking in the windows, finding them taped shut. The industrial buildings surrounded the station and shadowed it from the sun. She looked it over and figured it must have several rooms inside. Two bays in the garage. Six empty gas pumps. A good squat.

Eddie shook his head, looking terrified but determined. He reached up and grabbed the door handle, opening it quickly and stepping in.

Eddie looked around the room and saw the surprised look on Wart’s face. "Look! Eddie’s come to sing for us!"

Eddie yelled raspingly, “YOU FUCKERS!!!!! WHERE’S CALI!!!????” He threw the bottle and hit Wart in the chest, splashing him liberally.

Behind him, Gadget stepped in.

The men jumped up as one to chase Eddie. Eddie turned and bumped surprisingly into Gadget.

Gadget put her right hand on his chest, pushing him hard against the door jamb. With her left hand, she raised a .45 automatic.

The young men stopped. Wart said, "I don’t know you, but pointing a gun at me is going to get you slung up in our back room, Blue."

She looked around the room at the squalor. Cigarettes, beer, takeout boxes. The smell of sweat and male testosterone. Somewhere was the smell of desperation and semen. Her hackles rose.

She regarded the men. She could feel their anger. She looked at Eddie, as her hand pressed him to the door-jam. Fear. Shock. Uncertainty.

"That thing looks like a cannon in your hand, you stupid slit. Put that down, and I might let you walk to the bedroom rather than beat you down and make Eddie watch us."

The loud crack of the gun echoed in the room, shocking everyone except Gadget.

Gadget tracked from left to right, putting a round into each of the chests of the gang members. Eddie’s eyes went wide in shock.

Gadget stepped into the room, slowly walking to each man, kicking them for life signs. Wart was last, looking up in despair. "No!!! Please!!! No!!!" Gadget fired again.

She turned to Eddie, “Find Cali.” He staggered past her, walking past the dead into other rooms.

Gadget moved among them, taking wallets, cash, and jewelry and stashing them in her pack. Weapons she quickly put into plastic ziplock bags and put them into her satchel. She looked over the table and grabbed several bags of green herbs. She walked around the room and found a backpack, looking in she found several kilos of pressed powder.

She stood and went to each of the dead and took a picture of each with her cell phone.

She made a call. "Gadget. Targets Neutralized. Send in the Cleaners."

Eddie came out carrying a limp girl. She was bruised and sweaty, dirty, and clearly had been abused. Nude, of course. He was white as a sheet, a mixture of awe and terror. Gadget stepped to a couch and shook off a comforter. They put her into it, wrapping her.

"You killed them," Eddie stammered, his voice cracking as his mind struggled to reconcile the woman beside him with the efficient, lethal force he had witnessed moments ago. "How could you?"

Gadget didn’t flinch at the accusation. Her gaze remained fixed ahead, her steps even and deliberate. Her voice, when it came, was calm, devoid of the chaos that lingered in Eddie's mind. "How? Efficiently," she repeated, her tone as cold and deliberate as her actions.

The weight of her words struck Eddie harder than the gunshots, leaving him speechless. The horrors of the room behind them—the blood, the screams, the sharp finality of death—clung to him like a suffocating fog. But there was no hesitation in Gadget, no regret in her stride. To her, it was necessary. Clean.

They crossed the empty road, the cracked asphalt beneath their feet a reminder of the desolation that surrounded them. The industrial skyline loomed like a graveyard of forgotten ambitions. Gadget kept her hand on her satchel, its contents jingling faintly—a collection of stolen wallets, weapons, and evidence now safely in her possession. She knew every item had a purpose. Every detail served a larger goal.

Eddie's steps faltered as he glanced down at Cali. Her face, bruised and streaked with grime, remained slack and lifeless. But there was a faint rise and fall to her chest, a fragile confirmation that she was alive. It was enough for now.

"You didn’t have to kill them," Eddie murmured, his voice barely audible.

Gadget stopped abruptly, turning to him with a gaze sharp enough to cut through steel. "Yes, I did," she said firmly. Her tone left no room for argument. "They were predators, Eddie. They thought they were top dogs, apex predators of the scene here. But that’s what happens to beasts when a new hunter shows up. I am the apex predator around here now. I'll do what needs to be done. They preyed on people like you, like Cali. You think they would’ve stopped? Changed? That girl in your arms is living proof of what they were willing to do."

Eddie swallowed hard, unable to look her in the eye. He knew she was right, but the sheer brutality of what he had witnessed gnawed at him. His grip on Cali tightened, as if holding her closer might make sense of the chaos.

"We’ll get her back to the squat," Gadget continued, her voice softening slightly. "She needs rest. Food. Medical attention. And you all need to keep your heads low for a while. This isn’t over."

"What do you mean?" Eddie asked, his voice trembling.

"I mean that there will be repercussions," Gadget said. "Wart’s crew isn’t the only threat out here. There’s always another predator waiting to take their place. But I’ll deal with that when the time comes."

They resumed their walk, the squat just a few blocks away now that offered a distant promise of safety. Eddie held on to that thought, clinging to it as tightly as he clung to Cali.

Behind them, the gas station stood silent, its sordid history now marked by the finality of Gadget’s intervention. Whatever demons she carried, she had made one thing clear: in her world, survival meant making hard choices. And she was prepared to make every single one of them.

Unseen by the pair and their rescued companion, a pair of white vans pulled up to the station. Men in hazmat outfits got out, entered, and began to work.

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=='''Necessities'''==

The squat was cramped with the six people in it, but warmer as they kept the little stove burning. Cali slept hard the first day, but Gadget wasn’t sure she was recovering. Jax never left her side and worried constantly. Gadget went and got pizza again, though only two pies, suggesting that her money was drying up.

The group fervently refused to take her to the hospital. Eddie explained, “Cali’s home life was little better than the way Wart’s people treated her. Her mother and a stepsister beat her regularly enough that she let her stepfather, two stepbrothers, and a couple of their friends treat her like a sex toy so they would defend her. If she turns up at an ER, the best she can hope for is to go into foster care. The worst is being sent home. That happened once before.”

Jax, who Gadget had heard speak in single words till now, said, “She and I ran off together the first time. I had to go back and get her that time. Her idiot brothers kept her in one of their beds every night. Hard to sneak her out.”

Gadget asked, "How did you manage it?"

Looks around the room showed it was a sore subject. Jax returned to Cali and his silence. Tiffy put her head down. Eddie looked at Gadget as if to convey that it was none of her business. Holden smiled, and with a nod from Jax, he told the tale.

“Jax lit the house on fire, then called 911. In the confusion of police, firefighters, and ambulances, Jax stole an ambulance they put Cali in. Drove it for an hour, then stole a car so he could ditch the ambulance. He stripped the thing of meds and supplies. Blankets and stuff. He drove a couple of days, swapped cars, and drove here. Dropped off Cali and the swag, then drove the car another day to ditch it. Good chance that the police are looking for them.”

Jax looked embarrassed but kept next to Cali.

Gadget commented, “Resourceful. Decisive. I respect that.” Jax looked up with a hint of a smile.

Gadget stood, “I’m going to stretch my legs.”

Walking out to the front, she was confronted by a large, beefy cat with a mouse in its sights.

Gadget froze momentarily, her eyes widening at the sight of the large, beefy cat perched atop the windowsill, its amber eyes fixed intently on the tiny mouse scurrying across the ledge. The cat’s fur was a patchy mix of brown and black, giving it a rugged, almost untamed appearance that contrasted sharply with the orderly chaos inside the squat.

“Hey there, big fella,” Gadget whispered softly, taking a cautious step forward. The cat didn’t seem threatened; instead, it watched her with an air of quiet curiosity, perhaps fear at Gadget's canine nature. The mouse, sensing the tension, darted toward the edge of the window, where it paused, twitching its nose before making a desperate leap for the safety of a nearby drainpipe.

As Gadget reached the window, she noticed a small tag hanging from the cat’s collar: “Shadow – Rescued.” A surge of empathy washed over her. Despite the rough exterior, Shadow clearly had a story of his own.

“Looks like Shadow’s been with you for a while,” Gadget remarked, hoping to break the ice.

Eddie stepped forward, his expression softening. “He’s a survivor, just like Cali. Came into our lives a few months back. Helps keep the rat population down around here.”

Tiffy glanced up from her corner. “Shadow’s more than just a cat. He’s a bit of a guardian for us.”

Holden nodded in agreement. “Yeah, he senses when things are off. Last week, he kept me awake all night when we had that break-in attempt.”

Gadget smiled, feeling a connection not just with the people but with their silent protector. “He’s a good cat. Reminds me that even in the darkest places, there’s still something worth protecting.”

Before anyone could respond, Shadow leapt gracefully down from the windowsill, landing softly on the floor. He approached Cali cautiously, circling her before settling beside her side. Cali reached out a tentative hand, and Shadow rubbed his head against her palm, purring softly.

Jax watched the interaction with a mix of relief and lingering worry. “Shadow’s got a good heart. Just like Cali.”

Gadget felt a pang of admiration for Jax. Despite his rough methods, his intentions were clear. “You all are handling things better than I expected.”

Eddie shook his head. “We’re just trying to keep Cali safe and give her a chance to heal. She deserves a second chance.”

As Gadget turned to leave the room, a sense of camaraderie filled the space. The squat, though cramped and imperfect, was a haven for those who had nowhere else to go. She felt a renewed sense of purpose, understanding that their struggles were intertwined, each supporting the other in their own ways.

Stepping out into the chilly evening air, Gadget took a deep breath, the scent of rain lingering in the air. She glanced back at the squat.

Walking away, she considered her options. She didn’t want to involve her police contact in this, but he was her first call anyway.

Calling, "Gadget. Wants and warrants. Names. Photos coming. Out."

Lighting a cigarette, she wandered off a block, looking around. She pondered. She couldn’t involve her police contact more than absolutely necessary. But she needed to know if anyone was looking for those in the squat. They didn’t want to take Cali to the hospital. She couldn’t call home without getting a ton of judgment and, in the end, only getting medical help with strings attached. There was another option, though.

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=== '''Gateway and Allies'''===

She pulled out a couple of decks of cards, tarot cards by their size and shape, looking through them. A Trump card was more than a picture—it was a door. Hold it in your hand, focus, and the image became real. Like calling someone on the phone, except you didn’t just hear their voice—you could step into their world. She remembered her introduction to the cards with Lord David. The card grew cold in her hands, the painted image shimmering like water. Slowly, the air around her twisted, colors bleeding together until she could have stepped through—no longer in the Hub of Mandalay, but in a sunlit courtyard of the Dramaturge.

Shadow was vast, infinite in its possibilities, with worlds ranging from medieval kingdoms to high-tech dystopias. Mandalay was just one of them, a central one of balance—her home, a place of green fields and shimmering towers, where wolves roamed as kin.

She looked over her King Random's deck. That would mean calling Dalt directly. She looked over her Green Deck, the deck of her homeland, Mandalay. David would help her, but that was a nuclear option. She considered the wolves of her pack. Dwarf would come if she asked. That was a lot of trouble, but she might need someone to oversee this massive dog problem. There were hundreds of wild dogs in the area. Generations of wild dogs, hungry and hunting. Capturing a dozen was just a start. Dwarf and the triplets could herd them easily.

"Maybe later...." Putting away her Green deck and her King Random's deck.

She thought carefully. Dalt was a nuclear option. David was a nuclear option. Dwarf was a blitzkrieg on his own, and if he brought the triplets, the humans of this world were likely to freak out at the sudden organization of the dog packs in this part of the state.

Raphael, she thought, would probably come himself if it sounded adventurous, but then this would be his show and not hers. She didn’t need the whole guild. But maybe just a couple. Yes, Wrecker and Reggy. Tough, dangerous, creative, and probably willing to listen to her. Doc Len would be too noticeable. Colette, though, would fit in perfectly. Call Rafe and ask.

She concentrated on her magical inscription for the realm of Pocai and opened a contact with Raphael.

"Who?" came the response to her call. "Gadget," she answered.

The voice at the other side of the mystical barrier seemed surprised, "Hey, Gadget! Great to hear from you. Didn’t know you had a Trump for me. So where’ve you been? Whatcha up to?"

She responded. "I don’t have a trump, Rafe. I have an imprint of Pocai. I am.... I have a situation. I have someone who is hurt. I’m in a world that I can’t use magic openly. I need a doctor and maybe some muscle. I was hoping I could borrow Colette and Wrecker and Reggy. The time ratio is favorable to Ang Ri."

"Yeah, Gadget, no problem. Whatever you need. You know you just have to ask. Give me a sec; they’re actually right here with me." Rafe turned to his companions at the Ludus on the world of Ang Ri. "Colette, Wrecker, Reggy; Gadget needs your help, now. Colette; someone’s hurt, get what you need. Wrecker, Reggy; you’re the muscle. She said she can’t use magic openly, so I suggest human forms for the both of you."

He focused back on Gadget. "Can you transport with this Pocai connection? Or do I need to bring them to you?"

"I’m in the King Random Trump Deck and on I’m in an earth world."

Rafe said, "Right. Hang on a sec."

He looked over to Dalt. "Dalt, can I borrow Gadget’s Trump from your KRD? I’ll give it right back."

He was looking over at the trio as they prepared. "She says it’s an earth world; dress and equip accordingly."

Dalt asked, "Can you use Amber trumps?"

"I’m pretty sure I can...? If not, could you contact her and pass these three through? Please and thanks."

He nodded, "Ah... Sure...I suppose."

"Thank you, Dalt. It’s appreciated."

"Is there anything else you need, Gadget? How serious is the situation?"

"It’s a complicated and musical. We all have our favorites. Shadow is filled with them...I’m here to rescue one set of them...and bring them to the Dramaturge eventually."

"Wooow... sounds like a great adventure. Hope it turns
out well. I look forward to hearing the tale one day. Safe Travels, my Friend. Adventure Abounds. You ready for your support team?"

He looked over to Dalt and the trio to see if they were ready.

Wrecker said, "Were we traded to Cleveland?" As he was putting on his earth boots.

Rafe chuckled. "Don’t think so. Probably just temporary....? But time will tell."

He gave Wrecker a few moments to wonder, then chuckled and said, "She said she’s only going to need you for about a month."

Wreck said, "It’ll be a letdown after the Buffet at the Hall of Water..." He stepped through.

"Everything’s going to be a letdown after that buffet," Rafe said as the portal closed.

Stepping through the portal, the three looked around.

Colette said, "We are not really dressed for it here."

Gadget said, "It’s morning. There is a Walmart about four blocks from here. Here’s about a thousand dollars. Get clothes. Doc, come back here, knock on that blue pipe, and I’ll come to get you. They need stuff. Get some blankets, six sleeping bags. Cheap folding chairs. Medical supplies. Food—bread, peanut butter, jam. Lunch meat for today. Fruit. An ice chest. A bag of cat kibble. These people have been living like wild animals. When they ask, we’ll tell them you’re a friend from home. Leave where vague. I don’t know if they’ll believe me, but they will be grateful for the supplies."

She said, "Runaways? I know the streets. Was on them myself in Chicago as a kid. The charity angle won’t work. Tell them I’m a family friend. I brought this stuff because you called and asked for help. I’ll talk shit about your 'Parents.' I’ll leave off giving you some money. If there is any change."

She nodded and pulled out another thousand. Then decided to give Wrecker and Reggy each a thousand dollars of the money from Wart’s stash.

"Wrecker, Reggy, there is a heavy crime problem here. Take a few days looking the place over and get a sense of things. I have a police contact that can help. When you have a sense of things, let me know, and we’ll decide how to handle it."

She sighed, "Sorry.... It’s good to see you all." She exchanged hugs. Then the three headed off to Walmart, and she went back into the squat.

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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==='''Call a Friend'''===

Gadget sat in the squat for a bit, treating Cali. The blankets under her were threadbare and dirty. "I called a friend for some help. She’s a doctor. She doesn’t hate my parents as much as I do, but it’s close."

"You gave her where we are?" Jax asked, looking wildly.

"I told her to hit the pipe. Leave her car a ways away. Bring some supplies."

Eddie said, with a look of fear in his eyes, "Gadget.... You really shouldn’t do stuff like that without asking us. We vote as a group."

Tiffy held the cat close. "You say she’s a doctor? Can she help Cali?"

"That’s why I called her. She treated me after one of my father’s parties. She was kind to me. After that, she was there when I needed her."

A couple of hours later, the silence was broken by the banging on the pipe. Holden stood and looked to Eddie, who nodded. He followed Gadget out to the pipe.

Colette was there with three shopping carts filled with supplies. Gadget caught the sense of Wrecker and Reggy a ways away. She hugged Colette.

"Holden, this is Colette. Let’s get off the street." They pushed the carts into the corridors and turned through the labyrinth. Holden said, "What is all this.. There’s food in here." He looked at the basket in front of him with naked longing.

Getting to the tight squat, Gadget started unloading the carts as Colette knelt over Cali.

"Guys, this is Colette, a friend of mine. She’s a doctor. She treated me years ago for....family stuff. We’ve been friends ever since."

"Hiya, glad to see Gladys has made friends." Gadget growled, "Gadget!!" Colette nodded. Eddie looked at Gadget and silently mouthed "Gladys?"

Eddie then came over to look over the carts. "What’s all this?"

Colette looked over the devices she set out next to Cali. "Gadget told me you guys were living tight. This won’t solve everything, but it can’t hurt. I figured I owe her this. Gadget, get me a couple of those chicken broths. Bring some of the chicken chunks. Get a pot on that burner going. There’s a pot in there somewhere. Heat the broth. There is a cot on there too. Set it up there. Get a sleeping bag open."

"You, m’lady," looking to Tiffy, "ah, come here. We have to undress her and clean her. She has no broken bones. But there are cuts.. and.. she’s been doped up."

Holden and Eddie set up the cot and spread a sleeping bag out open, laying a towel down in the bag. Colette directed them to put Cali in the cot.

After a few minutes, Colette stood, "Ok, I need the room. Gadget, why don’t you sort out the stuff I brought."

The guys and Gadget went and looked over the supplies. While they were concerned about Cali, the sudden riches gave them all wide eyes. Gadget took a loaf of bread, slathered mayonnaise and mustard on them, with meat and cheese, slipping each sandwich into a zip-lock bag. Despite their hunger, Holden and Eddie helped while Jax stood by the makeshift curtain for Colette and Cali.

Eddie asked, "No ketchup?" Gadget chuckled. "Colette knows I hate ketchup!"

Colette looked out at Jax as he hovered, "You are?" He said, "Jax. How is she?" "She’s asking for you. You can help me."

She looked to Gadget and whispered mentally to her, "She has a lot of bruises. Signs of repeated rapes. A lot of scratches and cuts. Can you get them to play some while I use the Total Warrior Medical stuff?"

Gadget, Eddie, and Holden fixed 20 sandwiches and tucked them into the ice chest. They set up chairs and sat, and Tiffy, Eddie, Holden, and Gadget sat after Gadget slipped a sandwich to Jax. They ate in silence.

Gadget got her guitar out and started strumming. After a few moments, Eddie and Holden picked up theirs. Tiffy picked up her violin and leaned it against her chair as the cat resettled in her lap. She opened the bag of cat food and brought a handful of kibble for the cat to eat.

Behind the curtain, Cali was cleaned and settled in the sleeping bag. Colette gave her an injection from a Total Warrior device with a broad-range antibiotic as well as pain medication. Secretly, she cast her High Order Healing Spell and the Clean cantrips. Jax brought over broth and spoon-fed her. Colette told him to cover her up when he was done and to eat his sandwich. He smiled at her gratefully. She then left to join the others.

She opened a chair and sat, listening to the jam session.

Eddie finally asked, "How is she?"

Colette said, "She’ll heal. She mostly had bruises and a few cuts. It’s pretty clear she was beaten with a belt, but probably as part of the rapes. She was starved for several days to be sure. Dehydrated. The physical stuff will heal. She will have psychological damage to be sure. That will take a long time to get over, and she’ll need help. Did you call the police?"

Eddie lowered his head. Holden said, "Wouldn’t do any good. They always get away with shit. Police connections."

Gadget signaled to Colette to change the topic by using the hand sign language. "How long can you stay, Colette?"

"I’ll leave in a few days. I want to watch her."

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=== '''Finding Their Sound'''===

Several days passed as the band remained in hiding. The band spent the time playing music, getting to know each other’s playing rather than the singular sounds the busking they had been doing taught them. They ate well, finishing off what Colette had brought. She stepped out to make another food run on her last day before she left.

Cali sat beside Jax, silently, her hurts mended as best as medications could, but the memories went deeper. Those scars might never heal.

During that week, the group played for each other as they never had before. They shared the squat but had never shared their music. Now they did. The hallways echoed as they developed rhythms, harmonies, and solos. They sang all the songs they knew and shared the ones they wrote. Gadget sat back a lot, playing her bass guitar and lamenting that the only thing she missed from home was her piano. She let Eddie take the lead on guitar, playing his beloved surfpunk renditions. Holden played rhythm. Tiffy was a virtuoso on the violin, weaving her sound among the others, playing counterpoint and solos. Gadget nearly cried.

Gadget would go out at night alone. She met with groups of dogs that had heard about her, and she bound them to her, as her father and mother had taught her. Her skill at the bonding grew quickly.

The streets were eerily quiet, the distant hum of a generator the only sound as she walked through the deserted industrial areas near the Station. Gadget’s boots scraped against cracked pavement, her mind drifting to Mandalay. In her world, shadows whispered secrets; here they only swallowed sound. She tightened her grip on the Trump card in her pocket. No magic here to guide her—only instinct.

Jax was pretty good on the bongos. He told them about the music store at home that let him play their drums. The school he and Cali had gone to had shut their music departments. Eddie talked about the private school he and Tiffy had attended. It was wonderful to them, but their homes were hells.

The group opened up to each other, sharing their lives. Something they had never done before.

Gadget told a tale that paled to the others, but hers was fiction. They were not ready to learn her truth. Mandalay, Fleece, Snack, the Dramaturge, her pack—the Hounds of Mandalay, Raphael, Ang Ri, Fort Garland.

After four days, Cali was walking, Jax supporting her arm. She carried her bass guitar but didn’t play it. The closest she came was quietly tapping out the beats Jax played.

Jax told a story, "This one time, we played for an audience of zero. Just me and the drums, Cali and her bass in some crummy bar in Wisconsin. Felt like a rehearsal—until the bartender started crying."

Gadget smiled faintly, "Why cry over a song?"

Jax said, "Said it reminded him of his son. Music’s like that—it hits people in ways you don’t expect."

Gadget stared into the camp stove flames, silent. Music and magic weren’t so different. Both were bridges.

Gadget reveled in the experience. Eddie Black and the Stone Bench Group, here, before the fame, before the glory. And in this shadow, Cali lived and didn’t become the inspiration for Jax’s sad ballads and his descent into alcoholism and self-destruction as happened in so many shadows. She knew shadow was vast, and there were places this group never suffered their tragedies. Those shadows sometimes had weaker groups, without the passion. Bands that played at State Fairs, not the Coliseum or Madison Square Gardens. It was a gentle process, but Gadget coaxed them into sharing their tragedies and building on them. After all, they all had horrors in their pasts. Things that brought them together.

She knew one day she would leave them. Leave them to their glory. But till then, she became a member of the Stone Bench Group. She wished she could stay. She also knew that if at all possible, her goal was to guide them past a few roadblocks and eventually bring them to the Dramaturge in Mandalay. If, if...

Eventually, the claustrophobia began to grow on them, and a time came when they returned to the plaza and reclaimed their stone bench. This time, when they took turns leading, singing, solos, the rest of the band played to back them up.

Now the strollers stopped more often. They bought pizza and ate while listening. Some started taking their regular lunch breaks from offices and businesses nearby to come and listen. They might even be the seeds of the fandom that would one day follow them online as well as from city to city.

After a week on the plaza, Waldo showed up. He was apologetic, but Cali couldn’t stand the sight of him. She admitted that Waldo had never touched her, but he had
been part of Wart’s group. He was a shadow of his former swaggering self. Gadget knew Wrecker and Reggy had taken to correcting his attitude while getting all the information out of him they could. It showed. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. In time, Waldo started helping carry things and set things up. Pignoses, a few cables. A mic-stand. Gadget’s eyes nearly popped one day when Waldo brought chalk and drew a half-circle around the front for whoever was doing their lead. The famous singing circle. The cover of their epic first album before her eyes.

Somewhere in there, he and Cali made peace, but Gadget knew that in most of the shadows, Cali was known to hate the chief roadie. She guessed in this shadow that would be Waldo. She never saw Holden exchange more than a few words at a time to Waldo, and he always managed his own amp.

Eddie started to develop the stage presence that would make him famous. Tiffy, on her rock and roll violin, matched his every note, making his voice sound musical. His fingers danced on the strings, while she held the back line steady and soulful. Gadget closed her eyes as the melody washed over her. Each note was a heartbeat, a reminder of what they were fighting for—a world where music didn’t fade into static, where hope lingered in the chords. She could see Cali’s fingers matching her own. It wouldn’t be long till the two of them developed the dual bass sound the group would be famous for. Then Gadget would be replacing stray bassists the band would pick up for a gig or two at a time. Maybe, just maybe, she could stay.

A few days into their second month, Gadget saw Wrecker and Reggy stroll through the plaza. They listened and threw a wad of bills in the guitar case.

Gadget slipped away and met them behind Little Caesar’s.

Wreck lit a cigar as she approached, half offering it to Gadget, who declined. "What’s up?"

Wrecker, the brains of the two such as they were, said, "We have a target. Your contact helped sort it out. The Blind Reapers. A motorcycle gang. They have deep pockets and deep protection. They have a bunch of cops on the payroll."

Reggy said, "Hey! That doesn’t make them bad cops, just realists."

Wrecker looked at him incredulously, "Really, Officer Clifton?" Reggy shrugged.

Wrecker continued, "They are middlemen for sure. They get good product from the people down at the port. They stomp on the stuff at their clubhouse out in Daniville. We’ve looked the place over. Ten targets at least, including two high-value targets. From what we have learned, drug running is top, but they run guns and girls. Slave trade. The gang leaders are Black Carl Smalter and Dale Genkin. They have contacts all over the place. Permission to scrub them."

Gadget asked, "What did Lisha say?"

Wrecker told her, "They are unofficially untouchable by the cops."

She nodded. "Conditionally, permission granted. We need to know more about them. Talk to them first. See if we can flip them." She turned and returned to the band.

Wrecker nodded, "Infiltration it is."

The pair left, and Gadget went back by way of Little Caesar’s for a few $5 pizzas.

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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=='''Places'''==

=== '''At The Ugly Ferret Tavern - Chapter One'''===

The duo sat on their stolen Vespas, looking at the grungy tavern. Reggy said, "Good fields of fire. Perches all over. Not good planning."

Wrecker looked around, "They are a biker gang, not strictly speaking a military unit. They didn’t plan on us."

The air inside the bar was thick with smoke and hostility. Neon lights buzzed weakly over stained pool tables, and a jukebox in the corner played a half-hearted country tune. A dozen leather-clad figures turned to watch as Wrecker and Reggy stepped through the door. Tired-looking girls in blank leather sat out of the way, drunk, stoned, or worn out.

“Welp,” Reggy muttered, glancing at the peeling wallpaper and overturned chairs. “Home sweet home.” His Broncos football jacket did not make any friends this far east. Ravens, Jets, Commanders. Maybe Cowboys for the Cheerleaders.

“You know, if they ever power-washed this place, the health department might faint,” Wrecker replied with a grin, his voice carrying just loud enough to draw a few glares.

At the bar, Dale Genkins, the VP of the Blind Reapers, leaned back on his stool, his leather vest stretching over his broad shoulders. Beside him, Smiley, the club’s Sergeant-at-Arms, cleaned his nails with a knife that looked sharp enough to gut a deer. The bartender looked worn and tired, the result of having these criminals claim his bar without so much as a "If you please."

From a shadowy corner, Black Carl, a mountain of a man with a dark history, watched with quiet intensity, his dark eyes narrowing as the newcomers approached.

“You boys lost?” Dale asked, his voice calm but loaded with menace. “This ain’t exactly tourist country, Peacock.”

“Nah, we’re right where we need to be. It’s been a long ride.” Wrecker said, swaggering up to the bar as though he owned the place. He slid into a stool and gestured to the bartender. “Two beers. Cold, if that’s a thing here. Got any pretzels or peanuts?”

Reggy stayed on his feet, leaning casually against the bar and nodding at Smiley. “Nice knife. Compensating for something?”

Smiley’s grin widened, showing off a row of uneven, chipped teeth. “Keep talking, string bean. We'll see how funny you are when I carve my initials in your forehead.”

“Smiley, enough,” Dale said, raising a hand. He turned his attention to Wrecker, his eyes scanning him up and down. “You got a lot of nerve walking in here unarmed. Either you’re real stupid, or you’ve got a death wish.”

He shrugged, "Having both has worked for me. What makes you think I’m unarmed?” Wrecker replied, taking a slow sip of the beer the bartender slid his way. “I see a bottle of Old Crow down there. Crack that bird and pour two glasses of 6 ounces. Run us a tab." He pulled a roll of bills and stuck it on its bottom. The bartender opened it and counted it. He didn’t wear a cut, so he looked to Black Carl, who gave a slight nod. The money disappeared, and he poured two tall glasses. Wrecker said, "Leave the bottle, Lucky."

Smiley eyeballed Reggy, "What about you, Stretch? You packing?"

Reggy nodded, "Ya, I’m packing, but you’ll only see it if we were in prison, princess." Smiley started moving, and Dale put his hand on his chest. "I said enough."

"So, something on your mind, such as it is?"

Wreck poured a chug of whiskey into his beer and took a drink, nodding his head, "We got a proposition.”

Dale chuckled, a low, humorless sound. “Oh, this oughta be good. What’s your pitch, tough guy?”

Wrecker leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “You boys run this area, right? But I bet the profits could be better. We know how to move goods, no questions asked. We have a great connection for military arms. And we’ve got a knack for... creative problem solving.”

“Creative problem solving,” Dale repeated, his tone flat. “That what you call sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong?”

Reggy smirked, chiming in. “Hey, we’re just trying to make a buck the American way. You know, cash businesses and criminality. Maybe add a little... somtha-somtha on the side? No offense, but subtlety doesn’t seem like your strong suit.”

Smiley growled and took a step forward, but Dale held up a hand again, stopping him in his tracks.

“You’re real funny,” Dale said, his expression unreadable. “But we don’t need outsiders meddling in our business.”

“Fair enough,” Wrecker said, finishing his beer in one long gulp. “Just thought we’d offer. Seems a shame to waste all this... potential.”

Reggy grabbed his glass and matched his friend. Smiley stared at him with naked hatred, showing his broken teeth. Reggy grinned, letting his upper and lower Orc canines show. Smiley blinked in uncertainty.

Wrecker nodded at the bikers staring daggers at them. “Yeah, real welcoming crowd. I feel the love.”

Dale stood, towering over Wrecker, and leaned in close. “The only reason you’re walking out of here in one piece is because I don’t feel like mopping up the mess. But don’t mistake that for an invitation to come back.”

“Understood.” Wrecker said, standing and dusting off his jacket as if he’d just finished a casual lunch meeting. He slipped a photo over on the bar.

Looking down, Dale said, "What are these?"

Wrecker said, "McMillan TAC-50, Heckler & Koch PSG1, and my personal favorite, the Barrett M82. We can get these reliably. We can get as many AR’s as you’d need. Our selection of handguns is diverse. Street walker prices for courtesan service. Pleasure doing business with you. We’ll be around.”

Wrecker and Reggy polished off their beers and whiskey in gulps. Wrecker looked at the bartender. "Don’t forget our tab, Lucky." He grabbed the half-empty bottle as they left.

As they walked to the door, Reggy couldn’t resist one last parting shot. “Hey, Smiley—next life, try flossing. Keeps it from scratching johnsons.”

Smiley surged forward with murder in his eyes, but Dale’s bark stopped him cold.

“Let ’em go,” Dale said, watching as the two men strolled out like they hadn’t just walked through the lion’s den.

Reggy turned at the door, looking back in, "Why Smiley, does this mean we’re not friends anymore? You know Smiley, if I thought you weren’t my friend... I just don’t think I could bear it!" Wrecker chuckled outside.

From his corner, Black Carl’s eyes followed them to the door, his expression unreadable. He whispered to a confederate beside him, "Find out who they are. Call K."

Outside, under the flickering neon sign, Wrecker turned to Reggy with a grin. “That went well.”

“Yeah, if your definition of ‘well’ is not getting stabbed in the spleen,” Reggy replied, shaking his head.

Wrecker laughed, "I was amazed at Genkins’ self-control. And I thought Smiley was going to snap! Johnsons... "

Reggy laughed, "Hey, I tried to break him, but he was just too tough for me, I guess." sighing sarcastically, "So, next round’s on you, genius. Pizza or Sushi?"”

They laughed as they disappeared into the night on their stolen Vespas, the tension of the encounter already fading into the rhythm of their camaraderie.

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=== '''Gadget Visits the Station'''===

As the weeks went by, Eddie and the Stone Bench Band developed their sound. It had gone well after they realized the takers were not around. Eddie wouldn’t talk about it, changing the subject if it was brought up. A few thugs wandered by, but they didn’t bother the buskers in this neck of the plaza. A pair came to the chalk line but shivered and lost their nerve, tossing their money in the guitar case. One caught Gadget’s eye, a street name of Billy, someday known as Billy Sharp. The shadows played tricks.

Eddie worked out a new schedule for the other buskers, keeping the best time for himself and the group. The others liked the situation fairly well. Players before seemed like warmup acts. The ones afterward got the benefit of the people that started having their lunch in the area. Gadget appraised two musicians probably in their 20s, playing saxes; Mack something & Danny Dean. They were familiar to her from other shadows. Maybe they would add the bang the group could use...

Waldo began filling a shopping cart with the group’s supplies as they went out each day and parking it in the increasingly crowded squat. A month had passed, and nerves started getting frayed. Eddie, Tiffy, Jax, Cali, Holden, Gadget, and now Waldo filled the space extremely tight.

Gadget went out on a walk one night, greeting the new dogs. She met with Wrecker and Reggy. “How’s the Station look now?”

Reggy said, “Like a shithole covered in industrial waste. Your dogs are creeping me out. But it doesn’t smell like rotted cheese, takeout, pot, and stale semen. We cleaned out the front room enough to live there. Fixed the plumbing and set up some solar cells. It’s pretty messy. You still thinking of burning it down? We have a few ideas about that. Or are you going to use it?”

Gadget pondered for a moment. “It is just about the same distance of a walk from the Station to the plaza as it is from the plaza to the squat, isn’t it?”

Wreck nodded, “Close enough.”

“Start cleaning it up for us. Leave enough junk so they feel like they clean it out when I get there. Nothing fancy. Clean cantrips and elbow grease. Do something creative in the rape room. It’s going to be hard to convince Cali. Let’s go take a look.”

Gadget looked across the street at the Station, remembering her last time there. Eliminating the lowest rung of the predatory hierarchy. The smell of damp concrete, refuse, dogs, and old grease lingered in the air.

Entering the former convenience store, she wrinkled her nose. "Seriously, guys? This place is a biohazard. You’re telling me you’ve been sleeping
in here? Without even a basic cleaning spell or... I don’t know, a mop?"

Wrecker shrugged, "What can I say? I’ve got low standards. I lived in a truck cab for years—it smelled better than this, but not by much."

Gadget turned at Reggy, who said, "I’m an orc."

Gadget looked at him deadpan, gesturing at a pile of broken furniture. "That explains the piles of ‘decorative garbage.’ What is this? An art installation called ‘Despair in Concrete’? You’ve been here a month."

Wrecker: "Hey, don’t knock it. That’s vintage junk. Wart’s crew left it here—it’s practically historical."

Gadget rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, history needs a pressure washer. Clean this place up. If we’re going to use it, I want it livable. Like, at least one rung above ‘feral.’"

Raising his eyebrow, letting his orc canine teeth show, "‘Use it’? You’re really thinking of moving your whole band here? I thought that was a joke."

"Yeah. The squat’s too crowded."

Wrecker grinned. "I mean, sure. If you’re cool with the charming ambiance of ‘industrial wasteland chic.’"

Reggy settled on the east sofa, casting several Clean cantrips out of courtesy. "We’ve been thinking of getting more than a crash pad anyway."

"Oh? Elaborate."

Wrecker said excitedly. "We’ve been charging up the car—dumping extra power into it. It’s still back in Ang Ri. We think we can use it to anchor something here. At some point, we won’t be able to disguise ourselves."

Narrowing her eyes. "Something? Be specific, Wrecker."

Reggy grinned slyly. "We’ve got a rough sketch for a place."

"And by ‘rough sketch,’ you mean...?"

Wrecker shrugged, "A few napkins. Bells on the doorknobs. Some runes drawn in oil stains. New graffiti. It’s solid, though. There is a bar we are familiar with. The Ugly Ferret. It’s been invaded by that biker gang. We tried to make a deal with them, but no luck. They were Wart’s suppliers. They are next, if you approve, on our hit list."

Gadget sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Why am I not surprised? Fine. Clean this place up first. If I bring the others here and they take one whiff of this dump, I’m blaming you two."

Reggy made a mock salute. "Yes, boss. Operation Mop and Hope, commencing."

Wrecker smirked. "And hey, once we’re done, it’ll be the classiest industrial ruin on the block."

Gadget: "Not exactly a high bar, but I’ll take it. Get to work. I’ll check in soon."

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==='''Biker's Barbeque'''===

Sitting on a rooftop with their backs to a wall, Wrecker and Reggy contemplated their options.

Wrecker was a stocky, husky man with broad shoulders covered in tattoos. He wore a short, neatly trimmed Mohawk in red, green, purple, blue, and white. He had a camouflage jacket over his lap and camouflage pants, having gone through an army surplus store and picked patterns from different countries. He sat on a Belgian rucksack and smoked a small cigar, exhaling multicolored smoke.

Beside him, Reggy snored softly, wearing a Denver Broncos sports jacket and blue jeans, his head on a Belgian rucksack. He seemed fairly relaxed, snoring his relaxation.

Wrecker crawled over and slipped up to look down over the roof edge at the ground with a rifle scope.

Reggy mumbled, “How many? Is he there?”

Wrecker said, “About seven in cuts. Couple of girls. They’re barbecuing.”

Reggy, "Yeah, I can smell it. I’m fraking hungry." He rolled over and fell deeper asleep.

Time passed as Reggy slept, and Wrecker checked the ground.

Wrecker looked over a computer tablet, checking many details. He mumbled.

“Murder, murder, murder, armed robbery, vandalism, vandalism, rape, rape, rape, assault, assault, assault, assault, assault, drug running, gun running. Theft, cleared, cleared, cleared. Payoffs, payoffs. Twelve targets. No female targets. Black Carl... the president of the MC. Dale Genkin, Vice Pres.”

As dusk started, Wrecker looked over the edge of the roof. He laid back and kicked Reggy to wake him.

“Black Carl and Genkin just arrived. Take a look.”

Reggy crawled over and looked down. He nodded. “I see them. Say when.”

Wrecker said, “Thirty seconds.”

Reggy and Wrecker both pulled up M4 rifles, racked rounds, checked the clip, and pulled two extra clips out for each of them.

They turned around and knelt by the roof's edge, putting the four clips between them.

Wrecker said, “I don’t see Smiley. Maybe he’s inside. So let’s both hit Dale and Black Carl, then you get everyone to your right. I’ll get everyone to my left.” Reggy nodded, "Heads are yours, chests are mine."

“One, two, three," Wrecker whispered.

On three, the two swung up and aimed their rifles, taking targets.

The firing lasted fifteen seconds, then there was screaming down below, and the women fled the backyard, running and jumping into two cars and fleeing quickly.

Wrecker surveyed the damage. He and Reggy pulled up their bags and slung their weapons over their shoulders. They leapt off the roof and landed on the ground. Walking through the backyard, they took low-order pictures of the dead. Then they went through pockets, collecting money, wallets, and pocket lint. They piled weapons in a duffel bag.

Dale moaned in pain, and Wrecker looked into his dying face. "Should have made a deal, Dale. Such wasted potential." He drew his Glock and issued the coup de grâce.

Going into the house, they walked through, seeking others.

Reggy stood by the door. "All the listed targets except Smiley were outside. Didn’t see that Prospect either. Hey Wrecker, you realize we’re psychopaths?"

Wrecker nodded. "It’s crossed my mind. I became convinced on the streets of Ahyk. Let’s see what’s inside." He raised his hand, and a small glowing symbol rose in front of it. He moved the glowing symbol around the room. “Something... Move the couch.”

Reggy pulled the couch, pushing it over on its back with ease.

Wrecker knelt down, running his hand along the floor. Stopping, he punched the floor hard, pushing his hand through. He pulled hard, pulling up a large secret door. Looking down into the hole, the first thing they saw were two girls who crouched in fear. Beside them were bags of packed powder. A large collection of guns. Grocery bags of cash held together with rubber bands.

Reggy raised a symbol similar to Wrecker's. He cast a sleep spell, and the two girls went to sleep.

Wrecker removed a cell phone and called. “Wrecker. Targets neutralized except Smiley Russel. Two captives asleep. Weapons in a hole. Drugs. Send in the Cleaners.” Reggy pulled out several bags of the pressed powder, the bags of cash, and a couple of fancy pistols and stashed them in the duffel bag, smiling at Wrecker.

“That was rough out there. Mostly rough on them, of course. So... Pizza?” Reggy said.

A few minutes later, a van showed up at the Motorcycle Club's house.

The black van screeched to a halt outside the motorcycle clubhouse, its headlights cutting through the fading twilight. The Cleaners stepped out—a team of five, clad in nondescript dark clothing, each carrying specialized gear. Among them, a tall woman named Iris took charge, her presence commanding as she assessed the scene.

Inside the house, Wrecker’s phone pinged with a message: “Operation secure. Proceed to drop point.” He nodded to Reggy as he raided the biker’s half-stocked fridge. “Let’s move,” Wrecker said.

The Cleaners began their work. They cataloged the weapons, retrieved the drugs, and carefully extracted the unconscious captives. Iris paused to look at the crude bunker beneath the floor. “They knew what they were hiding,” she muttered to one of her team members, who nodded and bagged up a stash of ledgers. "Any trouble outside?"

Wrecker shook his head. "A few building code violations..."

Walking away from the scene, Wrecker with a duffel bag over his shoulder. Reggy stopped and grabbed steaks and sausages from the BBQ, tossing them in his gun bag.

Wrecker and Reggy cut through a side alley. The city’s glow contrasted with the grimness of their mission. Reggy chewed on a cold slice of leftover pizza he found at the clubhouse. “So,” he said between bites, “how long we gotta stay under the radar now?”

Wrecker smirked. “Not long. Couple of days. Iris's Cleaners know what to do. Black Carl and his crew were overdue for a reckoning. The streets are better off without them.”

Reggy grunted. “Still. It’s a slippery slope. We’re not the law.”

“No,” Wrecker said, pausing. He exhaled multicolored smoke from his cigar. “But sometimes, we’re all that stands between order and chaos.”

Back at their safe house, Wart's Station, a dingy flop in the industrial district, Wrecker checked their spoils. Among the wallets and cash, he found a photo of a young girl tucked into Black Carl’s wallet. Frowning, he set it aside. “Even monsters have something to lose,” he muttered.

Reggy looked over. “You getting soft, or just tired?”

“Neither,” Wrecker said. He locked the photo in a drawer. “This fight isn’t clean. It’s never clean. Gadget really picked a messy place to come. Crap load of thugs. Crime rate higher than the cops can manage. Cops on the criminals' payrolls.”

They turned their attention to the drugs they retrieved. Wrecker pulled out a small vial from one of the bags and examined it under a desk lamp. “This is good stuff. High quality. Got a good connection. This stuff hasn’t been cut yet.” He looked at the rest of the take; cash, pistols, sausages, steaks, herb. Counting cash, sorting it, "About 15 grand of operating money. The pistols look OK, got a nice Desert Eagle. One of their pretty guns. Couple of bags of weed. You had to throw meat on all? The cash smells like grease."

Reggy pulled over the sausages and steaks, setting them on top of an empty pizza box as he listened to his partner. "I learned my lesson, daddy. Eat a good meal before mass murder."

Reggy leaned over, looking at the cut-open bundle. He scooped out a cup full with a coffee cup, cast a Clean cantrip on the table, poured out a pile of powder, and started cutting lines.

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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=='''Surprise'''==

Holden emerged cautiously from beneath the deep shrubbery, his gaze flickering left and right before tilting upward toward the pale glow of the moon. His tangled hair clung to his damp forehead, a testament to the effort that had left him breathless. Slowly, he wiped the sweat from his brow and exhaled.

Rising to his feet, he scanned the empty park. Moonlight bathed the space, casting a soft sheen on his lightly fuzzed chest, still glistening from exertion. His wide-eyed expression held a mix of wonder and disbelief, as if caught between dream and reality. He raked a hand through his unruly hair, smoothing it back as his fingers came away moist.

A glance downward brought a flicker of self-awareness. Though he had never considered his manhood much to boast about, it stirred again, responding in a way that surprised even him. Seventeen years old and hardened by life on the streets, he had spent four years scraping by with odd jobs and busking. Opportunities for intimacy had been rare, fleeting luxuries he could hardly afford to dream about.

Tonight, however, was different. Bliss and awe coursed through him, leaving his mind adrift in the memory of what had just transpired—the highlight of his life thus far.

Then, a firm hand, insistent and unyielding, brought him back to the moment. Startled, he glanced down. Mismatched eyes, one green and one hazel, shimmered in the moonlight, framed by vibrant blue hair. Her mischievous smile captivated him, demanding his full attention.

Wordlessly, he knelt back into the shadows of the shrubbery, surrendering to her unspoken desires, ready to continue their shared exploration of the night.

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=== '''Calling The Car'''===

Wrecker and Reggy had finished clearing the garage of the Station. Years of disuse and misuse had made various squatters throw everything into the garage. Reggy kept joking with things, a doll, a bent bicycle, a fur seat cover. Wrecker had kept them in beer. The smell of mundane cleaning supplies filled the air of the mid-winter day.

One of the advantages that they had gained from the Day of the Change was they had gained greater strength and endurance. Their adventures since had improved them dramatically. Their passage through the Sigil of Fort Garland had changed them even further. Power has its privileges.

They had spent several hours hauling debris from the garage to reveal the cement below. Sweeping got the last of the clutter. That was followed with Clean cantrips to remove decades of oil, gas, grease, and blood.

Reggy said, “Well, that wasn’t too bad. The two storage rooms won’t take long. Though the one with the mattresses is going to take something more than cantrips. Do you remember the Low Order sorcery Clean spell?”

Wrecker shook his head. “No, I didn’t pay attention to the Low Order Sorcery stuff. Too much finger-waving time, lynchpins, and stuff. I always feel like I might be casting something, sneeze, and blast off half my head. Let Gadget clean them when she brings her little band here. We can’t do everything. We don’t need those rooms. The living room has two couches. Those the Clean cantrips can manage till we can get some help.”

Wrecker said, “Then we are ready to see if the summoning will work.”

Reggy nodded, “After some sleep and some beer.”

A few hours later, the two soldiers had stripped down and cast Clean cantrips on their clothes. They had sat in the living room that had once been a convenience store lobby and cast Mend cantrips on their clothes and Chill cantrips on the beer. Getting dressed again, they returned to the garage.

Wrecker chuckled. “When I was a truck driver, I never imagined that one day I would be some kind of half-wizard. OK, the Army made me a soldier for a time, but the rest is just bizarre.”

Reggy nodded, “When I was Denver Police, I thought people who dressed up like elves and orcs were crazy. Now I’m an orc. The Sigil of Fort Garland made me able to become a human again if I want as well as a weird deer thing with wings. I’m not sure I know what a normal life is anymore. But I am enjoying wrecking these thugs.”

Wrecker opened the garage door out to a silent street that rarely saw traffic. Outside, two large dogs looked in at the pair. They felt Gadget's bond urge them to obey the pair. They walked in and settled against a wall out of the way.

The soldiers of Gadget's army settled down to business. “Let’s get our ride.”

Wrecker and Reggy knelt on the cold, cleaned cement, the faint scent of ozone lingering from their earlier cantrips. With careful precision, they drew glowing chalk sigils into twin circles, their lines pulsing faintly with otherworldly energy. Wrecker’s form rippled as he shrank into the squat, rugged shape of a dwarf, his beard thickening like wildfire. Across from him, Reggy’s skin darkened to a deep emerald hue, tusks jutting slightly as his orc form took shape. With synchronized movements, they raised shimmering symbols, their edges crackling like firelight. The garage filled with a low hum, as if the walls themselves held their breath.

Time passed as the two concentrated on the sigils before them, glowing blue and white. Small sparks appeared at junctions where lines crossed.

Soon after the stroke of midnight, a horn bleated as a purple and white 55 Bel-Air turned off the street into the space between the odd pair of friends. Moments later, its exquisite paint scheme changed to a scratched black and a rusty white with a satisfied hum. The car's license plate said, “Strut.”

The pair put a hand on the car's hood. They smiled. Wrecker said, “Hello, boy. You ready to rock and roll?” The engine roared, and the pipes belched a burst of fire.

Reggy stood, “Let’s cruise.”

Wrecker held a door open, and the two dogs leapt into the backseat. He climbed behind the steering wheel with a big smile. Reggy lit a cigar as they backed out of the garage. Three dogs of Gadget's pack skipped in to guard the open garage door.

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=== '''Lucky and the Ugly Ferret'''===

Wrecker and Reggy walked into the quiet, darkened bar, thick with the despair that clung to the place once dominated by the Riders. The bartender, whom Wrecker had dubbed Lucky, was sitting backward on the bar, pouring himself a pint. He looked up and slipped down onto the ground, his expression shifting to one of suspicion as he remembered the last time the two had been there.

"Ah... what can I get you... fellas?" he asked hesitantly.

Wrecker took a seat. "Well, you had a bottle of Old Crow. I know because I took it. Do you happen to have any more?"

Reggy wandered over to the dark booth once inhabited by Black Carl. He peered closely at it before stepping to a doorway covered by a ragged cloth, glancing beyond it.

Lucky brought up a bottle and pushed it toward Wrecker. "Is my tab still good?" Wrecker asked.

Lucky nodded. "It is. You gave me a grand. Not that I got to keep it."

Wrecker raised an eyebrow. "Those guys still own the place?"

Lucky shook his head. "I own it, but they sort of... well, *own it*. They must be on a long run. It’s been a month since they were here." He glanced at Reggy, who chuckled. "Ah, you looking for something?"

Reggy smirked. "Just looking around. Seeing if any of the guys are back there, you know, hiding? That a storeroom? It’s sure full of stuff."

Lucky stiffened. "No one’s here but me. I haven’t had more than a couple of customers a day for a month. Like I said, they’re on a run. Yeah, that’s their stuff, and you should stay out of there. They don’t take kindly to people messing with their stuff."

Wrecker glanced at Reggy, made a hand sign, and spoke to him in Ang Rin—the language of Ang Ri, where the pair had recently spent significant time. "What’s back there?"

Reggy replied in imperfect Ang Rin, struggling for words. "Storage, junk. Couple of..." He paused, searching for the term for “performance space.” "...arena...sands." Switching to English, he clarified, "A couple of stages." Then, in Ang Rin again, "Good space. Stairs upstairs."

Wrecker turned back to Lucky. "You don’t miss them, I bet. They tax you pretty heavy?"

Lucky let out a bitter laugh. "No, they take *everything*. Luckily, I skim enough to live on. I sent my wife to Alabama—kin—three years ago, after the Reapers moved in on me. For her own sake. Look, they really hated you guys. You don’t want to be here when they come back."

Wrecker smiled. "Having no visible means of support makes us hard to find."

Reggy said, "Anyway, Lucky, if they come back, it’s fine. We know necromancers." He rapped his knuckles against the bar. "Beer, any time I knock." He grabbed the beer Lucky passed him, taking a long swig. Wrecker chuckled.

"My name’s Wrecker. My mother had an attitude. He’s Reggy. You’ve got a nice place here, if it weren’t filled with scumbags."

Lucky scowled. "You making a joke, Wrecker? The place is a shithole. I bought it from the previous owner, who didn’t tell me he had these... scumbags squatting here. I put my life savings into buying the place and did some cleanup. I was hoping to have a nice little spot. At first, I didn’t know why the locals avoided it, and I couldn’t get anyone to tell me what the problem was.

“We moved in upstairs. The back was full of junk—boxes, trash, a couple dozen motorcycles in pieces. I was looking through things and found a trunk full of weed. I couldn’t decide if I should go to the police. Then they showed up. Refused to leave, refused to lock up. Hit on my wife hard. Made it clear they owned the place and everyone in it. Made it clear my wife was their whore now. Pretty sure one raped her, but she wouldn’t say anything."

Wrecker polished off his glass and poured
another. "That’s when you sent her south?"

Lucky nodded. "Yeah, and took a hell of a beating for it. They all wanted a taste, I guess. Look, I appreciate you guys coming in and all, but if the Riders find you here, they’ll kill you."

Wrecker shrugged. "I’ll risk it. You know them all, their whole chapter? Know about other chapters?"

"Yeah, sure. There are five other chapters—New York, Toronto, Durham, Jacksonville, and New Orleans. Why?"

"How many in their chapter here?"

"Uh, 13 or 14 patched members, a few prospects. About a dozen girls—four are regulars, the others are hangers-on, hooking for them. They provide protection around here. Protection from them, mostly."

Reggy made a tiny hand gesture, and Wrecker nodded. Reggy pulled out a stack of cardstock and laid them on the bar. Lucky’s eyes widened as he saw the photos on the cards. "Who did we miss?"

Lucky stared at the photos, his face pale. "What... what happened to them?"

Reggy chuckled. "Kinetic energy poisoning. They’re not acting. So, who did we miss?"

Lucky examined the photos. "Ah, Gorgie, Little Harold, oh... Smiley. Smiley’s a psycho. None of the girls."

Reggy shrugged. "Yeah... I’ll catch up with Smiley."

"They’re all dead? Uh... look, why are you showing me these?"

Wrecker leaned in, his voice low and deliberate. "Because we need to know how many are loose. We need to know who they got their stuff from, who they did business with, and who else is going to come looking for us. You look scared."

Lucky hesitated. "I don’t want any trouble."

"You’re not in trouble," Wrecker said. "Look, we need a hangout, and you need new customers. What’s upstairs? How much of the building do you own?"

Lucky sighed. "The club extends into the warehouse. A few stories. It’s got a big space back there, but it’s been empty for years. Not a lot going on around here. We’re in the industrial zone but close enough to get foot traffic. With the Riders gone, things might pick up, depending on what you guys are doing here."

Reggy and Wrecker exchanged glances, then nodded.

"Here’s the deal," Wrecker said, his tone casual but firm. "You get protection, money, and a chance to turn this dump into something respectable. We don’t need your money. Keep it. In return, you keep your mouth shut about what we’re doing here. We’ll even pay for our drinks."

He set a roll of bills on the counter. "That’s about five grand. Any questions?"

Lucky hesitated, his gaze darting between the roll of cash and Wrecker’s steely eyes. He thought of his wife in Alabama, safe but far away, and of the Riders’ blood-stained reign. Finally, he nodded. "Alright. But if this goes south, we’ll all be dead."

Reggy asked, "By the way, what’s your name?"

Lucky looked around, weighed his options, and said, "I’ll stick with Lucky."

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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=='''Moving Day at the Station'''==

The next day, Gadget returned to the squat and explained the situation to Eddie. He groaned about the extra work but eventually agreed. Cali would take the most convincing, of course. At first, Gadget gave up on the move and started thinking of finding someplace else, maybe even taking over the bar Wrecker and Reggy found. In the end, though, the Station made more sense.

Busking had been good for months. The band had started playing together during peak traffic hours in the plaza and had started getting quite a following.

One day, a young woman had asked them how many songs they could do and if they were interested in playing a party. That led them to a backyard on a Saturday evening, playing everything they could think of to a crowd of around sixty partygoers. Cali wouldn’t look at the crowd, but otherwise, the group had a heck of a time and ate well. They got $300 in pocket and another $300 in tips. Afterwards, the squat was a celebration as all six members of the band got $90, and Waldo got $60. Not a fortune, but they talked about months when they wouldn’t get $10 a day busking. To top the evening off, they had another gig the next weekend and a possibility of a second one.

Waldo, who rarely talked anymore, suggested they go to Walmart and buy two or three folding wagons. The group looked at him with uncertainty, but he explained that they all hauled gear to the plaza and back almost every day, but going to a gig might take a bit more work. It wasn’t as if any of them had a car. Eddie looked at Gadget, then Tiffy, then around the group to a general agreement. It was agreed that three wagons would carry most of their gear more easily than they could carry it. It was then they realized it had been four months since Wart’s guys disappeared, and no one was taxing them in their place. Tiffy asked how much money everyone had. They had been eating well since they started chipping in from their take from busking. Sometimes they played as a group, sometimes they played on their own.

The amount was surprising to them, despite the $90 each had got from the gig. The total was over a thousand dollars. For buskers, this was a fortune. The habit of hiding away change was deeply ingrained in them. The total had crept up on all of them.

That was when Gadget made the suggestion that caused the real uproar. The squat had always been tight, and with the addition of Colette's supplies—cots, sleeping bags, ice chest, blankets—the place had become a cozy maze for the group, building and bonding them, but the time for a change was coming. Her suggestion of taking over the Station was met with horror by Cali and Jax, rightly so, but the others wanted to at least see the place.

After an expedition to the dog town the Station was in, Eddie and Holden both agreed it was worth considering. Gadget had to talk Cali into considering it and used a subtle mental push to make her forget parts of the nightmare she had experienced.

As they discussed the move, the fateful question was asked. Cali asked it.

"What do we do if Wart and his guys come back?" Eddie looked at Gadget, passing to her the lie she would tell. Gadget said, "They got in trouble with a biker gang, the Blind Reapers." Holden nodded, "Yeah, they supplied them. Could they have...killed them?"

Eddie told him, "We may never know." Nodding to Gadget, knowing.

Moving into it took a straight run of gear. Holden and Eddie rounded up six shopping carts and the three folding wagons. They packed their meager belongings and made their way across the plaza. People barely glanced at them, so used they were to people living out of shopping carts that they had become invisible to them.

The Station was still a mess. Gadget saw the strategic mess Wrecker and Reggy had left. Piles of debris in the garage mostly pushed aside. A new garage door opener was installed and purposefully distressed. The Station had no electricity, and that would have to wait. Wrecker had explained to her what it would take to connect the place to the local line, and it had seemed prohibitively risky. It was Reggy who suggested they get a power source from the TW guys in Ang Ri. A conversation with Dalt, Rafe, and the Total Warrior medic ended up with them getting a power generator the size of a pair of decks of cards. The TW guy explained that it would be easy to install and explained the process to Wrecker. Gadget knew it would just take stringing the wire. Time enough later.

The bedding where Cali’s ordeal occurred was gone. Gadget shook her head but admired her companions' creative efforts. They had clearly used Fire Cantrips to burn the room once they had emptied offending details. A chest of drawers, tool chests, and various debris had been left to fuel the blaze. She could feel the magical residue of Fire Cantrips and Extinguish Cantrips they had used. For two warriors, they were showing considerable ingenuity in using the few magical talents they had.

After a couple of days, the debris was gone, and conversations about what to do with the place had filled the time in between practicing. Jax made the uncharacteristic comment that they shouldn’t miss too many days of busking, or someone else would take their stone benches. There was general agreement, and it was decided to return to the plaza the next day.

The sun hung low over the city just after dawn as the group filed out of the Station, their spirits buoyed by the new wave of success that came with their latest gig. But beneath the euphoria, the same gnawing fear lingered. Eddie felt it most acutely. His hands were steady, but there was a weight to his thoughts. Since the gig, the extra cash had gone straight to his head. The first drink at the backyard party felt like a celebration, the second like relief, but now… now it was becoming a crutch, an itch he couldn’t scratch fast enough. He caught Holden’s eye as they walked down the street toward the plaza, eyeballing the Goodwill as they went by, trying to ignore the gnawing in his chest. Holden didn’t say anything, but he could tell—Holden could always tell. The old man, at seventeen, had more successfully kicked his habits long ago, but the silence between them now spoke volumes.

“Everything alright?” Holden’s voice was low, careful.

“Yeah. Just thinking,” Eddie muttered, kicking a loose stone down the sidewalk.

Taking their usual spot, Waldo made more complete efforts laying out their instruments, Eddie and Holden's pig-amps, and putting blankets on the stone benches. Passersby in the early morning air noticed them setting up. Some exchanged comments with the group. Several who had bought breakfasts to go decided to sit and listen to them. Their morning was musical and productive. It was also profitable. But they were still at heart a bit nervous.

Among the small crowd, Gadget saw Wrecker and Reggy sit, each with a breakfast pizza rolled like a burrito. They nodded at her gaze.

Afternoon, the Goodwill store was busy as usual, but today the crowd felt heavier, more pressing. They’d come for furniture—a couch, a few chairs, anything that could make the Station feel more like a home and less like a hollow shell. Tiffy and Cali meandered through the aisles, their eyes glazed with the same detached exhaustion that had become their default since moving into the Station. Cali's face was pale under the fluorescent lights, her gaze darting away from the other shoppers. She hadn’t spoken much since her encounter with Wart's gang, her mind still replaying the sharp edges of that time, the familiar terror twisting her gut.

“I don’t know about all this…” Tiffy murmured as she ran her fingers along the chipped edge of a secondhand armchair. “It feels… wrong. Like we’re just asking for trouble.”

Holden paused beside her, giving her a quiet nod. “It’s part of it, Tiff. We get things that make our place ours, and we start making it known. But that doesn’t mean we go looking for trouble.”

“You can’t just pretend trouble’s not gonna find us,” Cali snapped from the far side of the store, her voice tight. She was still raw, still haunted, and the old patterns were creeping back in.

Gadget said, "We aren’t. We are ready to manage whatever happens. Otherwise, we live in fear."

Waldo shuffled up next to them, his eyes scanning the aisles, but his attention was elsewhere. He’d lived through things that none of them could fully understand—not just the streets, but the darker alleyways of the criminal world. He knew how easy it was for someone to slip into their lives, offering help only to tighten the noose around their necks later. He hoped that wasn’t how they saw him. He picked up a book and glanced at the cover.

“You know, these gangs don’t just stay in the shadows forever,” Waldo said softly, his voice carrying a quiet warning. “They’ll come looking for us. Not yet, but soon. We’ve got money now. Not a lot, but enough to make us targets.” He glanced at Gadget, his eyes unwavering, a silent vow there. He was dedicated to her, to keeping her safe and helping her plans, despite knowing firsthand how dangerous she was, but even he knew that safety was just an illusion in a city like this.

They left Goodwill with a pair of couches and some mismatched chairs, enough to make the Station feel less like a forgotten corner of the world and more like a place where people lived. The place still smelled like stale air and gasoline, but now there were splashes of color, the start of a life growing in the space.

Back at the Station, they spread out and got to work. Eddie carried the old couch inside with Holden, while Tiffy and Cali tried to paint the walls. It was grueling, tedious work, but it was
something they could control. Something tangible. Each brushstroke against the cracked walls was a step toward owning their own future. It didn’t change the fact that they were in the middle of a city teeming with danger, but at least it was something real.

“I used to do this in my old life,” Waldo said, taking a break from hauling furniture to help lay a fresh coat of white paint over the yellowed walls. His hands were steady, even if his mind was racing with darker thoughts. He wasn’t sure how long they could keep their heads down, but they had a few months, at least. It was better than nothing. Tiffy asked, “Paint?” Waldo shook his head, “Move furniture.” He blanched, not wanting to remind them that as part of Wart's crew, he would have been in a lot of their burglaries.

The sound of scraping brushes and the occasional burst of laughter filled the Station as the group worked. It was strange, being here, a place that didn’t feel like home but was starting to. Maybe it was the familiar mess, the clutter that had once represented their survival now becoming part of their new normal. Maybe it was the way they laughed at little things that shouldn’t be funny, or the fact that they had enough money to paint the walls and buy furniture. They had a place of pride to hang Eddie's beloved Red Elvisis Ukrainian Rock group poster. He had even joked about getting it framed.

But as the walls of the Station took on new life, so did their dreams of what it could become. Even with the growing danger, even with the looming threat of the gangs and predators that prowled the city, they were starting to see that this might be their chance at something more—something they had been denied for so long. And the price of that dream? They’d have to face down whatever came for them, together. "Alright," Holden said, wiping his hands on his jeans as he surveyed the room. "Let’s get some more work done tomorrow. This place is gonna look like a real home soon enough."

Tiffy and Cali exchanged looks, both of them still unsure, but it was a step forward. It had to be.

Waldo stood off to the side, eyes narrowed, scanning the shadows outside the garage door. It felt like they were waiting for something—waiting for it all to fall apart or waiting for the other shoe to drop. But at least for now, they had their Station. At least for now, they were alive and together. But that was more than they had yesterday.

In the distance, he saw the dogs, behaving oddly somehow. Some were disturbingly close. He began to wonder if Gadget had something to do with that?

Then in the distance, he saw Gadget's two friends, the guy with the Mohawk and the guy with the Denver jacket. Gadget passed him going out.

“Keep a lid on things, Waldo. I'm going for a walk.” She walked directly to them as if she knew they were there.

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Got it! I’ll revise the text you provided to ensure all tense inconsistencies are corrected to past tense. I’ll go through it systematically and make the necessary adjustments. Here's the corrected version:

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Gadget walked a few blocks from the station with Wrecker and Reggy to slip into an industrial warehouse that had walls trashed and falling away. Looking into the shadows, she asked, "So what’s the plan, guys?"

Wrecker said, "We’ve taken over the Ugly Ferret. Its owner is Benjamin Ross, wife Imelda. He’s from Amarillo, Texas. She’s from El Paso but grew up south of the border with family. He goes by Lucky now. The place has a small dive bar area in front and a good-sized side room. The bikers had been storing junk there. It’s got two small stages. It looked like it was a club of some kind a couple of decades ago." He pulled out a Cuban cigar and lit it, inhaling its strong scent. "They kept about 20 boxes of Cuban cigars at the Ferret. Lucky was happy to hand them over."

Gadget took the cigar and tested it, giving Wrecker a look. He chuckled and pulled out another and lit it.

Reggy added, "He also has warehouse space east of the club, part of his back room. Lots of clutter in there as well as a sort of garage area. It looked like they had some medical issues at some point. Dried blood, bandages. Just pushed into a corner. Years old. The place is a fucking mess. He has a floor over the warehouse with a few crappy apartments. Lucky and his wife started renovations there but stopped when the wackos took over the place. It looked like it was abandoned with the rest of the place decades ago, just leaving the bar open. Lucky bought the place at a steal. If we weren’t taking the place over ourselves, I’d be inclined to find the realtor that sold it to him and shoot a toe off him. As it is though...."

Gadget nodded, "Ok, how long till it’s ready for the group? We did a backyard party, have one on Saturday and another next week."

Wrecker and Reggy looked at each other for a few moments, then Wrecker nodded, "Week after. Let us haul out the junk. Check the wiring and the lighting. The place needs a coat of paint, but that would take a while....."

Gadget chuckled, "You know what, how about this? The Opening Night show could be a paint night. Get a couple dozen cases of spray paint and give them to customers. Let them paint the walls. If Lucky is OK with it, of course." The three chuckled.

"It’s a start. I’d say we need to drop a few hundred grand into general renovations throughout, but we need professionals for that. In the meantime, the crappy look is perfect for a rave space. Expand into the big space once we sort the place out. You’re planning to push your group hard, it seems. I thought they did in the other shadows on their own?"

"I’ve done some exploring. They had a manager and three diehard roadies, plus a brass section that backed them in most shadows. Here, that manager and two of the roadies are dead. The 5-piece brass only has 3 in this section, still in high school, but they were at the backyard party. I’ll make sure they’re there for the Ferret opening..."

Gadget raised her hand, sniffing the air. She was being hunted. Wrecker and Reggy knew her look and flipped their Glocks to their hands, Wrecker putting the handle of his lightsaber in his left.

She looked around, trying to find the cause. After a few moments, she saw a group of dogs slowly spreading out in the dark.

Wrecker said softly, "I’m guessing these aren’t yours?"

Gadget said, "No.... I’ve gotten about 70 or so of the local pack. From them, I’ve learned that’s around half. And the leader... I think it’s the brute in the center."

Reggy, Glock in his left hand, said, "I count about 25, but there are more in the dark. It’s your ballgame, Gadg. Fight or flight?"

Wrecker said, "The car isn’t far. Dash distance."

Gadget said, "If I run, I’ll lose the rest of the pack. I need to make it clear to this guy who’s in charge."

She stepped away from her friends, inhaling deeply, growling, centering her psyche. Standing, she watched the big brute come away from the others, who spread out behind him.

"I don’t want to kill you. I can tell you’ve been hurt. Beaten. Tortured. Come to me. Join me." She emitted the sensation of love offered, of healing offered. She sent thoughts of the pack, her pack, a great pack.

From him, she felt anger. Fear. Desperation. The insistent demand that she submit. That she roll her belly over. Let him mount her. Be his bitch.

She almost chuckled. He had to learn or die. She felt the moment approaching. She growled and lowered to her hands and knees. Arching her back and raising her hackles. The brute started to circle, but Gadget was unmoved.

Her shape shifted, her clothing falling away, stepping out of shoes, slipping out of trousers, and pulling shirts up and off. Nude for a moment, her skin grew fur, bright white, her eyes bright blue. The brute looked on uncertainly, growing angry. He leaped, clearing Gadget the wolf, who rolled under the leap.

The brute had fought thousands of battles in its long, tortured years, but it had never faced an actual wolf like his father. But this wasn’t an actual wolf. Its scent was terrifying and different. Unlike anything he had ever met. Worse than the cruel men whose hot blood he had drunk to free himself. This was... something else.

Gadget had rarely fought in this form. But this was a challenge. And it began. The brute ran hard rather than leaping, grabbing her fur and trying to sink his teeth into her flesh. She twisted beneath him, grabbing his claws and tearing them with her great strength. He howled in shock at the sudden pain.

Pouncing away, he turned on her, going low, growling. Gadget curved to face him. She felt his desire to die rather than lose. She couldn’t destroy this ancient warrior.

The brute lunged again, this time aiming for Gadget’s throat. She sidestepped with the grace of a predator, her movements fluid and precise. His teeth snapped shut on empty air, and she retaliated with a swift, powerful swipe of her paw, catching him across the muzzle. The brute stumbled back, shaking his head, blood dripping from his nose. But he didn’t retreat. His eyes burned with a mix of rage and desperation, and Gadget could feel his resolve hardening. He wasn’t just fighting for dominance—he was fighting for survival, for the only life he had ever known.

The brute charged again, this time feinting to the left before darting to the right, trying to catch her off guard. Gadget anticipated the move, her heightened senses giving her an edge. She met him head-on, their bodies colliding with a force that sent a shockwave through the air. They grappled, teeth snapping, claws slashing, each trying to gain the upper hand. The brute’s strength was immense, his muscles coiled like steel springs, but Gadget’s agility and cunning gave her the advantage. She twisted and turned, using his momentum against him, forcing him to overextend.

With a sudden burst of speed, she broke free and circled him, her icy blue eyes locked onto his. The brute growled, low and guttural, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his gaze now. He had never faced an opponent like her—a creature that was both wolf and something more. Gadget took a step forward, her hackles raised, her teeth bared in a silent snarl. The brute hesitated, and in that moment, she struck.

She lunged, her powerful jaws clamping down on his shoulder. He howled in pain, thrashing wildly, but she held firm, her grip unyielding. With a fierce shake of her head, she threw him to the ground, pinning him beneath her. The brute struggled, his claws raking at her sides, but she ignored the pain, her focus unwavering. She released his shoulder and placed a paw on his chest, her weight pressing him down. Her muzzle dipped close to his, her breath hot against his face.

“Submit,” she growled, her voice a low rumble that reverberated through the air. The brute’s struggles slowed, then stopped. His body went still, and for a moment, there was only silence. Then, with a whimper, he lowered his head, exposing his throat in a gesture of surrender. Gadget stepped back, releasing him, and watched as he slowly rose to his feet. His eyes met hers, and she saw the change in him—the fear and anger replaced by a grudging respect. He laid his belly to the ground. Gadget stepped over, laying a paw on his hip. She laid over him, letting her body warm him. Accepting him. He shuddered beneath her uncertainly, unsure. Not since his littermates had he felt the warmth. He felt his body surrender to her. He was her Brute.

She stepped back, raising to her feet. She shimmered, and her fur started shifting, her size increased. It had been years since she held her true form as a Hound of Mandalay, a Lady of Mandalay, and blood of Amber. Her size increased to the size of a large Clydesdale horse. Small for her race, small compared to her father Fleece, son of Oberon, but still greater than any wolf this world had ever known. Seated on her haunches, she howled at the moon, a sound heard for miles around. They needed to see her, who they followed.

The other dogs, who had been watching the fight in tense silence, began to approach, their tails low, their heads bowed. Gadget stood tall, her white fur gleaming in the dim light, her presence commanding. She had won not just the fight but their loyalty. The brute stepped forward, his movements stiff and pained, and bowed his head once more. Gadget reached out, her muzzle brushing against his in a gesture of acceptance. The pack was hers.

From far and wide, her part of the pack came in response to her howl and joined in, seeing their former comrades now joined into Gadia's Pack. Gadia, called Gadget, though they would not understand the name.

She stood, walking among the dogs, greeting them, Brute beside her,
soon joined by Savage, now the Second of Gadget's pack behind the Brute. Toward the other dogs, they fell in submission, the Brute beside her. She gathered them around her. They howled together.

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Continuing with the revision to ensure all tense inconsistencies are corrected to past tense. Here's the next section:

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As the howls of the pack echoed through the industrial wasteland, Gadget stood tall, her massive form radiating authority. The brute, now named Brute by her, stood at her side, his earlier defiance replaced by a quiet loyalty. Savage, the scarred leader of the smaller pack she had already tamed, took his place as her second-in-command, his eyes gleaming with newfound purpose. The rest of the dogs—some mangy, some scarred, all survivors—circled her, their tails low but their spirits lifted by her presence.

Gadget’s voice, a deep, resonant growl, carried over the pack. “You are mine now. Together, we are strong. No more fighting among yourselves. No more fear. We protect each other. We hunt together. We survive together.” The dogs whined and yipped in response, their instincts recognizing her as their alpha.

Wrecker and Reggy watched from a distance, their expressions a mix of awe and unease. Reggy holstered his pistol, his hands still trembling slightly. “I’ve seen some crazy shit in my time,” he muttered, “but that? That’s next level. I think I'm going to need a change of pants.”

Wrecker nodded, his cigar dangling from his lips. “She’s not just a wolf. She’s something else entirely. She’s an Amberite after all.” He exhaled a plume of smoke, his eyes narrowing as he watched Gadget move among the dogs, her presence commanding yet strangely nurturing. “We’re lucky she’s on our side.”

Gadget turned to them, her glowing blue eyes piercing through the dim light. “We’re done here,” she said, her voice shifting back to its human tone as her form shimmered and shrank, fur receding, limbs reshaping until she stood before them, fully human once more. She grabbed her discarded clothes and began dressing, her movements calm and deliberate. “The pack will keep watch over the Station and the Ferret. They’ll alert us if anyone—or anything—tries to cause trouble.”

Reggy raised an eyebrow. “You’re seriously going to have a bunch of dogs as your security detail?”

Gadget smirked. “Not just dogs. A pack. And they’re more loyal—and more effective—than most humans I’ve met.” She glanced at Brute, who sat obediently at her feet, his massive frame still trembling slightly from the fight. “Besides, they’ve got a leader now who knows what it means to survive.”

Wrecker chuckled, shaking his head. “Alright, boss. Whatever you say. But if I wake up to a bunch of dogs licking my face, I’m blaming you.” Gadget laughed, the sound sharp and bright in the otherwise grim surroundings. “Deal. Now, let’s get back to the Station. We’ve got a lot of work to do before the Ferret’s opening night.”

As they walked back, the pack followed at a distance, their presence a silent but powerful reminder of Gadget’s growing influence. The industrial zone, once a place of danger and decay, now felt like territory under her control. The dogs patrolled the edges, their sharp eyes and keen noses alert for any threat.

When they reached the Station, the rest of the Stone Bench Group was waiting, their faces a mix of curiosity and concern. Eddie was the first to speak. “What the hell happened out there? We heard howling—like, a lot of howling.”

Gadget shrugged, her expression casual but her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Just a little pack bonding. Nothing to worry about.”

Cali crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. “Pack bonding? You mean you went out and tamed a bunch of wild dogs?”

“Something like that. I tamed two. They tamed the rest,” Gadget replied, her smirk widening. “Let’s just say we’ve got some new friends watching our backs now.”

Jax, who had been quietly tuning his bongos, looked up with a grin. “Dogs, huh? That’s kinda cool. Can they play drums?” Gadget laughed. “Not yet. But give me time.”

The group chuckled, unsure how serious she was, the tension easing as they returned to their preparations for an upcoming party gig. But as Gadget settled into a chair, her mind was already racing ahead. The pack was just the beginning. With their help, she could secure the area, protect her friends, and build something lasting. And when the time came to face whatever threats lay ahead, she knew they’d be ready.

Behind her, Brute lay down at her feet, his massive head resting on his paws. Savage curled up nearby, his scarred face calm for the first time in years. The pack was hers, and together, they were unstoppable. The rest of the band looked at them with concern. "Are they safe? They look vicious."

Gadget regarded her two new friends. Standing, she clucked her fingers, and they came to her. She walked around the room, holding each band member around the shoulders and guiding a hand for the dogs to smell, lick. Eddie looked as if he was going to pop his eyes out of his head, but he knew well what Gadget was capable of. Holden and Tiffy managed the introductions well. Jax petted them eagerly, apparently a fan of dogs.

When she came to Cali, her bag shook. Buster stuck his head out, and the dogs instantly thought prey. Gadget slammed her thought into the two warrior dogs that the cat Buster was part of the pack. They looked at her and accepted it with uncertainty. But she was the alpha. Cali let them sniff her hand and smell Buster on it. Gadget was satisfied.

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Continuing with the revision to ensure all tense inconsistencies are corrected to past tense. Here's the next section:

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Reggy, still looking a little shaken, leaned over to Wrecker and whispered, “You think she’s done surprising us yet?” Wrecker shook his head, his grin widening. “Not a chance. With Gadget, the surprises are just getting started.”

The two left the place of battle, followed by a dozen dogs who knew what their duties were. Several liked the two rough friends of the wolf.

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==='''It’s All About the Basses'''===

Cali sat cross-legged on the floor of the Station, her bass resting across her lap. She ran her fingers lightly over the strings, plucking out a slow, melancholic rhythm. Her bass was a classic Fender Precision Bass, a 4-string with a deep, resonant tone that had been her companion through countless performances. It was simple, reliable, and familiar—a grounding force in her chaotic life.

Gadget walked in, her 6-string bass slung over her shoulder. It was a battered Ibanez BTB686SC, its polished wood barely held together by polish under the dim light. She sat down beside Cali, setting the bass across her knees. Cali glanced at it, her curiosity piqued. “That thing looks like a spaceship compared to mine,” she said, a small smile tugging at her lips, a smile still a new thing for her.

Gadget chuckled, running her hand along the neck of her bass. “Six-strings. Two extra strings—a low B and a high C—give it a wider range. It’s like having a bass and a guitar rolled into one.” She plucked the low B string, the deep, rumbling note vibrating through the room. “This one’s for those earth-shaking lows,” she said, then shifted to the high C, producing a bright, almost guitar-like tone. “And this one’s for when you want to soar.”

Cali tilted her head, listening intently. “It’s a whole different sound.”

“Exactly,” Gadget replied. “With a 4-string, you’re locked into that classic bass role—holding down the low end, keeping the rhythm tight. But with a 6-string, you can step into the spotlight. You can play chords, melodies, even solos if you’re feeling bold.” She demonstrated, her fingers dancing across the strings as she played a complex, melodic line that wove seamlessly between low and high registers.

Cali watched, her eyes wide with admiration. “That’s… incredible. But doesn’t it make things harder? More strings, more to think about.”

Gadget nodded. “It can be overwhelming at first. The neck is wider, and you’ve got to be precise with your fingering. But once you get the hang of it, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities.” She handed the bass to Cali. “Here, give it a try.”

Cali hesitated, then took the bass, adjusting it in her lap. She plucked the strings tentatively, her fingers fumbling slightly on the wider neck. “It feels… different. Like I’m learning all over again.”

“That’s the beauty of it,” Gadget said, her voice soft but encouraging. “It challenges you. Pushes you to grow. And when you find your groove, it’s like nothing else.” She reached over, guiding Cali’s fingers to the frets, extending her psych to guide the hands, pushing for strength she did not understand she had. “Start slow. Feel the strings. Let them tell you where to go. Play the middle 4 you know, then step up, step down.”

Cali closed her eyes, letting the vibrations of the bass guide her. Slowly, she began to play, her movements growing more confident with each note. The low B string added a richness to her sound, while the high C allowed her to explore melodies she’d never attempted before. When she opened her eyes, Gadget was smiling.

“See? You’re a natural,” Gadget said. “The 4-string will always be your foundation, but the 6-string? That’s your wings.”

Cali smiled back, a rare spark of excitement in her eyes. “Maybe one day I’ll get one of these. Till then, I’ll stick to what I know.”

Gadget nodded. “There’s no rush. Music’s a journey, not a race. But… I am thinking we can almost afford getting a pair of new basses. And no matter what you play, it’s your voice that matters.”

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==='''The Pawnshop'''===

The Baltimore Subway Metrolink rattled through the tunnels, its fluorescent lights flickering as Gadget and Cali sat side by side. Cali fidgeted with the strap of her bag, her eyes darting to the passing stations. “You sure this place is worth it?” she asked, her voice tinged with skepticism, her mind just a touch in fear.

Gadget leaned back, her arms crossed, a small smirk playing on her lips. “Trust me. This pawnshop’s got a reputation for musical gear. If we’re lucky, we’ll find something special.”

When they stepped off the train, the neighborhood was a mix of faded brick buildings and graffiti-covered storefronts. The pawnshop was tucked between a laundromat and a convenience store, its window cluttered with guitars, amplifiers, and other instruments. A bell jingled as they pushed the door open, the smell of old wood and dust greeting them.

Cali’s eyes widened as she took in the rows of instruments lining the walls. “This place is like a treasure chest,” she whispered, her fingers brushing against the neck of a vintage Fender Stratocaster.

Gadget headed straight for the bass section, her eyes scanning the lineup. She paused, her gaze locking onto two instruments hanging side by side. One was a dark brown Ibanez GSR206 6-string bass, its sleek design and polished finish catching the light. The other was a Dean Edge 6-string bass in a stunning blue quilted maple, its body shimmering like the ocean.

“Cali, come here,” Gadget called, her voice low but excited. Cali hurried over, her eyes widening as she saw the basses. “These are perfect,” Gadget said, lifting the Ibanez off the wall and handing it to Cali. “Feel that. Solid construction, smooth neck. And the Dean? That’s a beauty.”

Cali strummed the Ibanez, the low B string rumbling through the shop. “It’s amazing,” she admitted, her voice tinged with awe. But then she glanced at the price tags and frowned. “Two hundred for the Ibanez? Three-fifty for the Dean? That’s way too much. We’re buskers, Gadget. We can’t afford this.”

Gadget shook her head, her expression firm. “These are worth every penny. A good instrument isn’t just a tool—it’s an extension of you. And you deserve something that can keep up with your talent. These are beat up looking, but I’ll check the works and the sound before buying them. Looks we can fix.”

She walked to a chair by the amps and plugged each in by turns, strummed, picked, and looked them over closely. Cali watched in anticipation. Then Gadget let her sit and handed her the Ibanez. Gadget whispered, "Nothing wrong with them we can't fix."

Before Cali could protest further, Gadget flagged down the shop owner and handed over the cash. “We’ll take both.”

Cali stared at her, stunned. “You’re insane,” she muttered, but there was a hint of gratitude in her voice as she slung the Ibanez over her shoulder.

As they went to leave, Gadget stopped. She walked to a dusty corner of the store where boxes had a wide variety of items, most unsorted. She dug through them, chuckling with delight. She found four plastic recorders, a dozen toy kazoos, three harmonicas, finger cymbals, and some small rattles. Such potential. Gadget thought of her flute, the fine mithril silver flute sitting in Mandalay, shadows away. Recorders and harmonicas would have to do.

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==='''Yard Sale'''===

On the subway ride back, Cali couldn’t stop glancing at the basses, her fingers twitching as if she were already playing them. But when Gadget suddenly stood up and motioned for her to follow at an unfamiliar stop, Cali hesitated. “Where are we going now?” she asked, her brow furrowed.

Gadget just grinned. “You’ll see.”

They walked a few blocks to a quiet residential street, where a yard sale was in full swing. Tables were piled with clothes, books, and household items. She looked to a man coming over to her, "You the one who called?" Gadget nodded, and the man led them into the back of the garage. In a corner, a 5-piece starter drum set sat gleaming in the sunlight. The sign taped to it read: $100 – OBO. and another Sold. He said, "I'll be glad to see that go. My son whined and whined for it for a year. He played it for about a month, then it sat in his room for a couple of years, then in the garage till he left for college. Get it out of my garage, please. I saw ya walking? You can have the red wagon over there for free."

Cali’s jaw dropped. “No way,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. She turned to Gadget, her eyes wide. “Is this why we stopped? For Jax?”

Gadget shrugged, her smirk widening. “He’s been playing on bongos and makeshift kits long enough. He deserves something real.”

Cali’s eyes welled up with tears, but she quickly wiped them away, shaking her head. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? First the basses, now this? How do you even know about this stuff?”

Gadget chuckled, pulling out her wallet. “Let’s just say I’ve got a knack for finding stuff.” She handed the cash to the seller, who helped them load the drum kit into a red wagon he threw in.

Cali stood silently as she watched Gadget's back while she looked through the piles on the tables.

Cali squinted at the pile in Gadget’s arms as they walked back to the car, raising an eyebrow. "Okay, I get the shirts—they’re kinda cool in a retro way—but what are you gonna do with a thousand loose sheets of sheet music and a couple hundred random Polaroids of strangers?"

Gadget grinned, adjusting her grip on the stack of faded photographs. "I have an idea." She tossed the shirts into her backpack. "The music—some of it’s bound to be interesting. We can play around with the arrangements, maybe mash some things up. And these photos?" She held up a random shot of a man in oversized sunglasses standing next to a station wagon. "They’ve got stories. Even if we don’t know them, we can make them up. Give them new lives."

She asked the guy about the Polaroids. "I bought a storage unit. It had some good furniture. But there were boxes of those. Someone's whole life, forgotten." Gadget asked him, "You have more?" He responded with, "Boxes and boxes. Not here though." Gadget told him she would take them all and would come back later to pick them up.

As they made their way back to the subway, Cali walked in silence for a while, her mind racing. Finally, she turned to Gadget, her voice soft but sincere. “Thank you. For everything. I don’t know how we’re ever going to repay you.”

Gadget waved her off, her tone light but firm. “You don’t have to repay me. This is out of our busking fund. Just let me handle Eddie when we get back. He put me in charge of group money, and this is what I did with it. Just keep playing. With both of us on good pieces finally. That’s all I want.”

Cali shrugged, shaking her head as they walked into a parking lot. "You’re weird, you know that?"

"Yeah, but admit it—it’s an interesting kind of weird."

Gadget smirked before disappearing into a hardware store by the subway's stop. Ten minutes later, she came out with a bag full of spray cans. Paint and adhesives.

As they made their way back to the subway, Cali walked in silence for a while, her mind racing. Finally, she turned to Gadget, her voice soft but sincere. “Thank you. For everything. I don’t know how we’re ever going to repay you.”

Gadget waved her off, her tone light but firm. “You don’t have to repay me. This is out of our busking fund. Just let me handle Eddie when we get back. He put me in charge of group money, and this is what I did with it. Just keep playing. With both of us on good pieces finally. That’s all I want.”

"Deal," she responded.

Back at the Station, Gadget wasted no time. She took spray paint cans and started painting designs on the walls. Holden and Eddie joined in while Eddie grilled her about the money.

Jax filled the room with a heavy loud beat on the new-to-him drums, dusting off the years of loneliness from the forgotten instrument. It soared under their new owner's sticks. Cali grew a wide smile seeing her beloved happy.

She cracked open a can of aerosol adhesive, shaking it with a satisfying rattle before coating a section of the wall. "Alright," she said, handing out stacks of Polaroids and sheet music around, "help me stick this stuff up."

The others got to work, pressing the yellowed sheets of music against the walls, overlapping them with faded Polaroids—snapshots of birthdays, vacations, blurry party moments, and forgotten faces frozen in time. The effect was chaotic, a collage of unknown lives and untold melodies.

Gadget stepped back, hands on her hips, surveying the growing wall of history. "Not bad," she murmured, picking up a random photo from the pile still in her lap. She studied it—the faint outline of a woman sitting on a porch, caught mid-laugh, a glass in her hand.

She smirked. "Alright, lady—what’s your story?"

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==='''The Ugly Ferret - Used Gear'''===
The garage of the Ugly Ferret smelled like motor oil, old leather, and stale beer. Fluorescent lights buzzed above, casting a sickly glow over a collection of battered equipment: Marshall stacks with torn grille cloth, Peavey and Fender amps that had seen better days, a tangled mess of cables, and microphones with dented grilles. It was a graveyard of rock and roll relics.

Gadget, her electric blue hair tied back, crossed her arms and surveyed the lineup. She stepped over a coiled snake of dusty XLR cables and knelt by a beaten-up Ampeg SVT bass amp. She tapped the side, and a loose panel rattled. “This thing gonna hold up, or is it gonna catch fire the second I plug in?”

Reggy, a thick-built man with sleeves of faded tattoos, grinned around a toothpick. “Ah, don’t be a wuss. It’s just a little character.”

Wrecker, his wiry counterpart with a permanent scowl, ran a hand over the torn tolex of a Marshall JCM800 half-stack. “Most of this stuff’s better than what you’ve been using,” he pointed out. “We can get better, sure, but it’ll cost, and kinda break character for us, wouldn’t it?”

Gadget sighed and rolled her shoulders before slinging her six-string bass over her shoulder. “Let’s see if this junk actually works.” She plugged in, twisting the worn-out input jack until it settled in place with a crackle. The amp gave a brief hum of protest before Reggy stepped in, adjusting the settings. He turned a few dials, knocked the casing, and muttered something under his breath.

She played a few deep, resonant notes, testing for dead spots. The sound was rough, but not completely unusable. “Eh,” she grumbled. “I’ve played worse.”

Reggy nodded, stepping back with his arms crossed. “I’ll clean up the electrical. Most of it’s just buzz and loose connections. The rest—well, looks are just vanity at this point.”

Gadget exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of her neck. “Fine. But buy two small, inexpensive amps—one dedicated for Tiffy’s electric violin and the uke, another for Eddie’s mic. The rest of our mics can pop off occasionally, but lead vocals have to be dependable.” She gave him a pointed look. “And get a good mic. None of this garage sale shit.”

Reggy smirked. “Demanding, huh?”

“Just making sure we don’t sound like total garbage.”

She looked around, thoughtful. “Also—get a couple outside security cameras in here. I’ll put one of my great cameras up, but the security cams are for show and B-roll. We’ll throw some video clips on the CD. Never can tell.”

Wrecker nodded. “Yeah, not a bad idea. Might as well milk this gig for all it’s worth.”

Gadget slung her bass back over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes at Wrecker. “And while we’re at it—talk to Lucky. Tell him to water down the band’s booze. Especially Eddie’s. He’s getting too much of a habit, and I don’t need him falling off the damn stage.”

Wrecker sighed, rubbing a calloused hand over his face. “Yeah, I figured. I’ll have Lucky keep an eye on him.”
Reggy clapped his hands together. “Alright then, sounds like we got ourselves a damn plan.”

Gadget gave the amp one last skeptical look before finally nodding. “Let’s hope it doesn’t blow up in our faces.”
Wrecker grinned. “Wouldn’t be rock and roll if it didn’t.”

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=='''The Night at the Ugly Ferret'''==

The night of the Stone Bench Group’s first performance at the Ugly Ferret had a strange energy—equal parts excitement, nerves, and underlying tension. The word had spread fast among the people who had seen them play at backyard parties, and a fair number had shown up, eager to see if the SBG could bring that same magic to a real venue. But there were also others in the crowd—some curious, some skeptical, and a few who made the air feel heavier just by being there.

Lucky worked the bar, keeping a close eye on the crowd. He was the kind of man who had seen enough trouble in his life to know when it was creeping in, and tonight, trouble might be lurking in the shadows. He was scared as hell. Maybe it was Wrecker and Reggy and their constant cheerfulness, the jokes they told. The money they had. But he also knew they were easily as bloodthirsty and ruthless as the bikers had been. Maybe worse. But his side room with its two stages had been cleaned by the pair, of the motorcycles, junk, boxes, and years of trash. They had put in lights, wiring, and even passed the city's inspection to get a venue permit.

Ominously as well was the warehouse space. They cleaned it and talked about extending the side area to the back. In the meantime, they had their incredible '57 coupe in there and seemed to live out of its trunk. A pair of cots, a coffee maker, and a fridge. A keg of beer and bottles of booze. A coffee table and their ever-present cigars. The two were not just weird rich killers. They were something beyond his ability to understand. That was scary. But they wanted a dance club and this band to play, so they got it.

Smiley, though unrecognizable in his disguise, sat in a corner nursing a drink, a couple of the old biker girls with him, chatting in low voices. Scattered through the room were members of local gangs, their eyes sharp, assessing, waiting to see what kind of place this would become.

The SBG huddled in the back before their set. Gadget could see the nervous energy in them—Eddie was bouncing on the balls of his feet, Holden kept checking his guitar, Jax had a protective arm around Cali, whispering to her. Tiffy, usually the loudest, was oddly quiet, biting her lip as she adjusted her mic. “You guys got this,” Gadget said firmly, making eye contact with each of them. Holden said, "It really isn't the plaza. This ain't busking."

“Yeah, it’s playing in front of people who might stab us if they don’t like the music,” Eddie muttered.

“Then play like your life depends on it,” Waldo said with a smirk.

Time came, and the Ugly Ferret was packed to the brim, the air thick with the buzz of anticipation and the faint hiss of spray paint cans as the crowd added their own colorful chaos to the walls.

Waldo walked to the front of the stage and sprayed a yellow semicircle in front of the stage, the crowd stepping back as he did. Behind him, the Stone Bench Group took the stage, their instruments gleaming under the dim, flickering lights. Eddie stepped up to the mic, his first time in a real joint. “Alright, Ferrets,” he called out, his voice cutting through the noise. “Let’s make some noise!”

The set started rough—Cali's hands were shaking, and Eddie missed some chords in the first song. Gadget did a bass ZINGER noise for each fumble, to the amusement of the crowd. Jax dropped his sticks. But then something shifted. Maybe it was the way the crowd responded, the way the backyard party crowd cheered them on, drowning out the murmurs of the skeptics. Maybe it was the spray paint event happening around them—cans hissing as people tagged the walls in wild, chaotic bursts of color, marking over the old grime and the ghosts of the bar’s past. The energy in the room changed, and so did the music.

The third song changed it all. A high-energy cover of '''''The Stray Cats’ “Rock This Town,”''''' Eddie’s guitar slicing through the room with razor-sharp precision. Tiffy’s violin wailed like a siren, weaving in and out of the melody, while Jax pounded the drums with a ferocity that had the crowd bouncing. But it was Gadget and Cali on their new 6-string basses that stole the show. Gadget’s fingers danced across the fretboard, her low B string rumbling like thunder, while Cali’s high C added a bright, melodic counterpoint that lifted the song to new heights. The audience erupted into cheers, swept up in the infectious energy.

Next came a surf medley, starting with '''''The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA.”''''' Gadget and Cali locked into a tight, driving rhythm, their basses intertwining to create that iconic surf sound—deep, resonant lows paired with shimmering highs. Eddie’s vocals soared, and Tiffy’s violin added a haunting, reverb-drenched edge that had the crowd swaying like waves. The transition into '''''Dick Dale’s “Misirlou”''''' was seamless, the rapid-fire picking on Gadget’s bass sending shockwaves through the room. Cali, still getting used to her 6-string, held her own, her confidence growing with every note. Try as she could, Gadget could barely get Cali to look at the audience.

Next up was '''''Red Elvises’ “Red Lips, Red Eyes, Red Stockings,”''''' a raucous rockabilly number that had the room shaking. Eddie’s vocals were full of swagger he hadn't known he had, and Tiffy’s violin added a wild, Eastern European flair that perfectly complemented the song’s infectious energy.

Tiffy stepped into the spotlight for her haunting original, '''''“Black Road Away from Home.”''''' Her voice sang with a mournful beauty, weaving a tale of loss and longing that left the crowd spellbound. Gadget and Cali’s basses provided a dark, brooding foundation, their 6-strings adding layers of texture and depth that elevated the song to something truly special.

The mood shifted slightly as they launched into '''''Duane Eddy’s “Peter Gunn,”''''' the iconic riff ringing out with a fresh, gritty edge. Tiffy played the sax line on the violin, giving the piece a fresh, bright note. Holden’s rhythm guitar was rock-solid, while Jax’s drumming added a punchy, almost primal intensity. Gadget took the lead on this one, her 6-string bass adding a deep, resonant growl that gave the classic tune a modern twist.

Midway through the set, Eddie introduced a surprise. “Alright, folks, we’re gonna slow it down for a minute. But don’t worry—it’s still gonna get weird.” He stepped aside as Gadget and Holden walked to the front of the stage, each holding a kazoo. The crowd erupted into laughter and cheers as they launched into a hilariously heartfelt rendition of '''''“Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”''''' Holden’s kazoo playing was surprisingly soulful, while Gadget’s added a playful, almost comedic flair. By the end, the entire room was singing along, their voices rising in unison.

A surprise awaited them after the kazoos as Gadget and Holden jumped into the '''''Time Warp from Rocky Horror Picture Show'''''. Tiffy jumped in to sing for Little Nell's part. The dance number was a classic even after so many years, and the crowd of Ferrets loved it.

Jax got his moment to shine with '''''“Thumpa Thumpa,”''''' a percussive, high-energy Buddy Rich-influenced solo that showcased his incredible drumming skills.

The energy ramped back up with an original track, '''''“Stone Bench Blues,”''''' a rockabilly-infused number that showcased the group’s growing chemistry. Eddie’s vocals were raw and impassioned, while Tiffy’s violin solo brought the house down. Gadget and Cali’s basslines locked into a tight, driving groove, their 6-strings adding a richness and depth that elevated the song to another level. The crowd was on their feet, dancing and clapping along, completely swept up in the music.

With a blistering cover of '''''The Stray Cats’ “Built for Speed,”''''' the room exploded into chaos as the audience sang along at the top of their lungs. Eddie’s vocals were raw and impassioned, while Tiffy's voice in unison with Eddie’s practically brought the house down.

As the set drew to a close, Eddie grabbed the mic, his face flushed with excitement. “You’ve been an incredible crowd tonight! Let’s end this with a bang!” The group launched into a raucous cover of '''''Red Elvises’ “Surfing in Siberia,”''''' the room exploding into chaos as the audience sang along at the top of their lungs. Gadget and Cali’s basses thundered through the room, their 6-strings adding a wild, untamed energy that perfectly matched the song’s frenetic pace. Jax’s drumming was relentless, and Tiffy’s violin screeched like a banshee, driving the song to its explosive finale.

When the last note faded, the room erupted into deafening applause, the crowd chanting for an encore. The Stone Bench Group exchanged grins, their faces glowing with sweat and triumph. They had done it—they had turned the Ugly Ferret into a place of magic, even if just for one night. And as they launched into their encore, a soulful rendition of '''''“Stand by Me,”''''' Gadget couldn’t help but smile. This was just the beginning.

By the time they finished, the crowd erupted in cheers. Even the ones who had been skeptical at first seemed to have been won over. Smiley, still hidden in his disguise, gave a slow nod of approval. The gang members in the back exchanged looks, their interest piqued. Money to be made.

The Stone Bench Group had made their mark. The Ugly Ferret was no longer just a relic of its past—it was becoming something new.

Lucky looked to Wrecker. "We are going to need a staff. This could get messy." Wrecker nodded, "I know a guy."

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[[File:Cali-Gadget.jpg|300px]]
==='''Meeting on the Street'''===

Smiley and his two girls walked the four blocks to where he had parked their battered van.

When they reached it, Reggy stepped out in front. "Smiley, I love what you've done with your hair. Washed it, right?"

Smiley put his hand on his hip, clipping open his draw holster. "Yeah, I wanted to look my best for you." The girls started backing away, the black-haired one slipping a hand in her jacket.

"Lady, I have no qualms about shooting a woman if you draw on me. Let’s take a deep breath and show your hands. If I wanted you all dead, we wouldn’t be talking."

"So, what are we talking about?" Smiley asked. "And you know there is only one of you against the three of us."

"Is that what you think? Look at blondy there." They turned to look, and the green dot on her chest moved a bit, signaling that Wrecker was somewhere nearby.

Reggy said, "Wrecker wanted to talk to you, but he really wanted to drill a .50 caliber BMG through your front teeth much more. Now, in respect to a friend who prefers accommodation to bloodshed, I want to talk about our situation."

"Our situation? You mean you two killing my chapter? I’ve killed my share of dudes, but that was mass murder, you psychopath!"

"Yeah, we did that, but that’s done. So... How do you feel about taking your prospects and your ladies and moving to, say, New Orleans? New York is too close. Toronto? By the way, where are your prospects?"

"I don’t know. They disappeared after your massacre. Did you kill them too?"

Reggy shook his head, "No, we missed them as well as you. Till now. So... What will it be? New Orleans or Toronto?"

Smiley looked up to the roof line where Wrecker swung the green dot to flash in his eyes. He scowled, his hatred growing deeper.

"New Orleans."

Reggy nodded, "Good. You lost your Baltimore privileges. Let the girls know we don’t have wanted posters on them, but finding new places to live can be liberating."

"Can we go?"

Reggy backed away, nodding, letting Smiley have the last word.

As the van drove away, Wrecker came scaling down to the ground and crossed the street, cradling the M82.

"I really should have drilled him."

"After Gadget didn’t kill that huge monster dog, it seemed a little awkward thinking of killing Smiley without at least giving him a chance to flee."

"Sure. Sure. But you know he’ll be back."

"Of course. No chance he’ll stay away. Then he’s fish food."

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==='''Forty Threes'''===

Looking out from the shadows at the Ugly Ferret, the boys of the 43rd Street gang, often called the Forty Thieves as an homage to the movie *Gangs of New York*, watched the crowds of people going into the crappy old bar for a performance of the weird twangy group called the Stone Bench Group.

The bar had belonged to the Blind Reapers for years until their sudden disappearance. The boys didn’t know why but knew they couldn’t find as good a source for their habits. Sucked for them, but life went on. The new popularity of the old Ferret was an opportunity. They had gone to a few of the shows and didn’t understand why people liked these freaks. But money was money.

After the music was going and the people had all gone in, they moved. Running low to avoid cameras recently installed on the outside of the building, they ran past parked cars, sticking long sharpened screwdrivers into the tires on the street side, dragging them along the paint, and occasionally breaking a window. They laughed as they went by, peeking in the cars occasionally. Toward the end, two slipped into minivans and, popping the ignition, hot-wired them, filling the vehicles. They drove away, laughing.

Inside, Reggy watched the screen of a widescreen TV set up in the garage area he and Wrecker used as living quarters for now. The feed was from security cameras set up with a great deal more skill to be hidden from sight. He smoked a Urala cigar and listened to the surfpunk sound from the other room.

"Well?" he said.

Wrecker said, "Yeah. Let them make their play. Maybe we can use them. Twenty-two of the rattlings in the gang. Ten out there. Two stolen cars. Ask Lucky who he would call to fix flats. Talk to Gadget. There are going to be some angry people after the show. She and the group should go out and help change tires, meet the fans, pitch in. Hand out kazoos. Order a thousand kazoos." He handled a kazoo, the top emblazoned with the letters SBG, tooting on it with amusement. Reggy wandered out to talk to Lucky.

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==='''Later That Night'''===

Later that night, the Stone Bench Group was outside, leading a kazoo-a-thon as a dozen garage workers helped car owners replace tires.

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=='''A Few Days Later'''==

A few days later, it was an afternoon when Reggy and Wrecker were taking a break in the bar and chatting with Lucky when two guys entered. They were dressed in casual clothes with an urban chic, but were clearly gang members. Tattoos with the numbers 43 on their necks were telling. Their haircuts were overly detailed, as if it was someone’s hobby to cut them. They wandered to the bar and took seats, looking at Lucky.

"What can I get ya guys?" he asked.

One said, "Tequila, a couple shots each." They collected the shots, taking one each quickly.

The tall one said, "You’ve been getting pretty good business lately, friend. Where did the Reapers go?"

Lucky shrugged, "No idea. They cleared out of here and out of their place over in Dani. I don’t miss them."

Tall guy said, "Without the Reapers around, there sure has been an upturn in crime, don’t you think? Like at the show nights?"

Wrecker and Reggy looked at each other, a small smile on their faces.

Wrecker stood and joined Lucky at the bar. "Lucky, double Old Crow, and a frosty." He sipped the whiskey before looking at the Hispanic gang member. "Yeah, we had some trouble on Saturday. What about it?"

The man shrugged, "Shit happens. Could happen again, maybe even worse. Might be more than just tires."

Wrecker nodded, "And what will it cost to keep you from hassling our customers?" He finished his whiskey, and Lucky poured another.

He drank the other tequila, "10% of the profits on show night. Or next time it’s windows."

Wrecker said, "You know, we could do this differently, but it really depends on your interest in doing nothing for pocket change or doing something for big money."

Wrecker took the tequila bottle and poured each of them another shot, holding the glasses while pouring, letting a tiny slip of rice paper slide into the glass and dissolve before passing them over, talking over the handwork.

"What kind of work?"

Wrecker leaned over the bar, pulling out a small wood box. Opening it, he pulled a medications bottle out and poured the contents on the table. A tablespoon of white powder. Wrecker took a driver's license out of the box and started cutting lines in the powder. Laying the card down face up, he leaned over with a straw and drew in a pair of lines.

The two became very interested and eagerly inhaled the drugs that had been in the Blind Reapers' hiding hole. The first of the two, Juan, inhaled without looking, but the second looked at the card, picking it up. He read, "Nick Haskin, he’s a Reaper.... How did you get this?"

Wrecker said, "I got it after I drilled a hole in his forehead. Keep it. I have others. Lots of others. It is important that you consider just how angry you want to make me, Juan."

"How do you know my name?"

"Ya see," Wrecker said, "That’s something else you should think about. Now, I have a lot of this powder. It used to belong to the Reapers. I’d like to unload it. 10k a kilo. Pure stuff. You stomp on it carefully, it could retail for 35k easily. Or, you let my partner and I do the mix, you take the packets, and we want 17k a kilo. Sell it for what you want."

Juan, starting to feel a slight bit disoriented from the LSD in the tequila, said, "The Reapers always bundled it for us. We paid them out of profits."

"You ever short them?"

"Hell no. Those guys are animals," Juan answered.

"They *were* animals," Wrecker smiled at Juan’s wide eyes.

From the table, Reggy cast the Anatomics cantrip, causing Juan’s companion to start yawning repeatedly, uncontrollably.

Juan nodded at the inevitable, "Ok. Deal."

"Lay off our customers, or your ID will join my collection. Savvy?"

Juan nodded.

Wrecker looked to Lucky, who brought a leather zippered bag out from behind the bar, opening it to reveal bundles and packaged packets. Wrecker pulled out a pewter coin pressing with an X marking, its unnaturally warm. The packets were sealed like sugar packets with Norse runes on them.

"Hold on to the coin. If you get hassled by the police, show them the coin. The fix is in. Now don’t screw me. If you want more, you know where we are."

The two left as the acid started kicking in.

Lucky asked, "What’s with the coin?"

Wrecker answered, "It’s a tracker. Lets us know where Juan is. We’ll follow him and learn about their processes. In the meantime, they’ll leave our customers alone."

Lucky nodded, "Smart. Diabolical but smart. What happens if they get pinched and show the coin to the cops?"

Reggy, coming up, said, "Then we see how well Juan can dance. The cops have never heard of us."

Lucky went on, "Then what happens if they don’t pay off the fronted stuff?"

Reggy knocked on the bar, and Lucky poured the beer the knock ordered. "Well then, Lucky, think of it as evolution in action."

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==='''The Acid Trip'''===

Juan and his companion, Gustov, stumbled out of the Ugly Ferret, the world around them shifting and warping. The neon sign above the bar flickered, its letters melting like wax. Juan clutched the pewter coin, its surface pulsing with an otherworldly glow in his vision.

“What the hell did they give us?” Gustov slurred, his voice echoing as if from a great distance.

Juan’s vision blurred, and he saw the faces of the Blind Reapers staring at him from the shadows. Their eyes were hollow, their mouths twisted in silent screams. He shook his head, trying to clear the hallucination, but it only grew more vivid.

“We need to get out of here,” Juan muttered, stumbling toward their car. But the vehicle seemed to stretch and distort, its doors sliding out of reach.

"It’s going to cost us a lot to get out of their way. Mano, this didn’t work out. But I think if we didn’t take the bag, they would have killed us right there. Fuckers gave us acid. Homicidal fuckers."

As they drove away, the city streets twisted into a labyrinth, the buildings leaning inward as if to crush them. Juan gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. The coin in his pocket hummed softly, a reminder that the SBG was always watching.

Gustov mumbled, "They own us...."

Juan growled, "There are only three of them. How hard could they be to kill?"

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==='''Next Steps '''===

Back at the Ugly Ferret, Wrecker and Reggy watched the security feed, their expressions calm but calculating. The screen showed Juan and Gustov stumbling into their car and driving off, their movements erratic and unsteady.

“Think they’ll stick to the deal?” Reggy asked, leaning back in his chair and lighting a cigar.

Wrecker smirked. “For now. The acid will keep them paranoid for a while. And if they try anything stupid, we’ll know.” He tapped the monitor, where a small blinking dot represented the pewter coin’s signal.

Lucky, who had been quietly polishing glasses behind the bar, spoke up. “You two are playing a dangerous game. Those guys aren’t just small-time thugs. They’ve got connections.”

Reggy shrugged. “So do we. And ours are a lot scarier.”

Wrecker chuckled, taking a sip of his whiskey. “Besides, Lucky, this is just the beginning. Once the Forty Threes realize how much money they can make working with us instead of against us, they’ll fall in line.”

Lucky shook his head, muttering under his breath. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Wrecker looks at Reggy who shrugs.

He says, “About half the time. The other half, well, its been said that ''Adventurer Abounds''. Besides, its all in the reflexes. Hey, Lucky, close up. Join us in the garage. Its time we tell you some stuff that will make you dig in or freak out. Either way, bring a bottle Old Crow when you come back. You'll need it.

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=='''Double Bass '''==

Meanwhile, Gadget and the Stone Bench Group were busy preparing for their next show. The success of their first performance at the Ugly Ferret had boosted their confidence, but they knew they couldn’t afford to get complacent. Gadget sat cross-legged on the floor of the Station, her 6-string bass resting across her lap. She plucked at the strings, experimenting with a new riff.

Cali walked in, her own bass slung over her shoulder. She winced slightly as she flexed her fingers. “What’s that?” she asked, nodding toward Gadget’s instrument.

“Just something I’m working on,” Gadget replied, her fingers dancing across the fretboard. “Thought it might be a good riff for the next show.”

Cali listened for a moment, then grinned. “I like it. It’s got a dark, edgy vibe. Kind of like you.”

Gadget smirked. “Thanks, I think.”

Cali set her bass down and shook out her hands, grimacing. “Ugh, my hands are killing me. This 6-string is a beast. I’m not used to the wider neck, and my fingers feel like they’re about to fall off.”

Gadget nodded sympathetically. “Yeah, it takes some getting used to. But there are ways to make it easier. Here, let me show you.”

She scooted closer to Cali and gestured for her to pick up her bass. “First, you’ve got to adjust your grip. You’re pressing too hard on the strings. You don’t need to crush them—just enough pressure to get a clean note.” Gadget demonstrated, her fingers lightly grazing the strings as she played a quick run. “See? Less tension in your hands means less pain.”

Cali tried it, her brow furrowing in concentration. She played a few notes, then shook her head. “It still feels awkward. My fingers keep getting tangled on the extra strings.”

“That’s because you’re thinking about it too much,” Gadget said with a chuckle. “Don’t focus on the strings individually. Think of them as zones. The low B is your anchor—use it to ground your playing. The high C is your flourish—use it to add color. The middle four are your home base. Start there, then branch out.” She played a simple riff, her fingers moving effortlessly across the fretboard. “Here, try this. It’s a basic pattern, but it’ll help you get comfortable with the extra strings.”

She reached to Cali's hand gently extending the fingers to the proper positions on Cali's sixer but also extending her psyche to channel healing into the hand, a purple stone on a chain hidden around her waist warmed, adding its potent magic. As Gadget rubbed the hand Cali felt the stretching become more comfortable without knowing why. Just Gadget's touch.

Cali mimicked the riff, her movements slow and deliberate at first. Gradually, she picked up speed, her fingers finding their rhythm. “Okay, that’s not bad,” she admitted, a small smile tugging at her lips. “But my wrist still hurts a bit.”

“That’s because you’re holding the neck too high,” Gadget said, adjusting Cali’s posture. “Lower the bass a bit. It’ll take the strain off your wrist and give your fingers more room to move.”

Cali adjusted the strap on her bass, lowering it slightly. She played the riff again, her movements smoother this time. “Hey, that does feel better,” she said, her smile widening. “You’re full of tricks, aren’t you?”

Gadget grinned. “Years of practice. Now, let’s try playing in unison. It’ll help you lock into the groove.”

The two fell into an easy rhythm, their basses intertwining as they played. At first, Cali struggled to keep up, her fingers fumbling on the wider neck. But Gadget was patient, slowing down when needed and offering tips along the way. Gradually, Cali’s confidence grew, her playing becoming more fluid and precise.

The rest of the group soon joined in, and before long, the Station was filled with sound. It was rough and unpolished, but there was something raw and powerful about it—a reflection of the band itself. Eddie’s guitar added a sharp edge, while Tiffy’s violin wove in and out of the melody, creating a haunting counterpoint. Jax’s drumming provided a steady backbone, his rhythms driving the song forward.

As they played, Gadget kept an eye on Cali, offering encouragement and guidance when needed. “You’re getting it,” she said, her voice barely audible over the music. “Just relax and let the bass do the work. Don't over think it, but don't think of anything else.”

Cali nodded, her focus unwavering. She could feel the music flowing through her, the pain in her hands fading as she lost herself in the rhythm. For the first time since switching to the 6-string, she felt like she was in control.

When the song ended, the group erupted into cheers, their faces flushed with excitement. “That was awesome!” Eddie said, slapping Cali on the back. “You’re really getting the hang of that thing.”

Cali grinned, her earlier frustration replaced by a sense of accomplishment. “Thanks. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m getting there.”

Gadget smiled, her eyes gleaming with pride. “You’ll be a pro in no time. Just keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to experiment. The 6-string opens up a whole new world of possibilities. If it helps when we play, think of my bass as the lead and yours as rhythm. We can practice matching it with Eddie and Holden. Same riffs, different keys.”

Cali nodded, her determination renewed. “I will. And thanks, Gadget. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Gadget shrugged, her tone light but sincere. “That’s what friends are for. Now, let’s run through that riff one more time. I think we’ve got something special here.”

The group launched into the song again, their energy infectious and their bond stronger than ever. As the music filled the room, Gadget couldn’t help but smile. It was coming together
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==='''The Ukulele '''===
[[File:Holden and Uk.jpg|200px]]

The group’s impromptu jam session was in full swing when Holden, ever the quiet observer, wandered over to Gadget’s large guitar case. Being a couple now he didn't ask permission when he crouched down, flipping open the latches with a curious grin. Inside, nestled among an assortment of instruments and gear, was a well-worn ukulele. He picked it up, strumming a few experimental chords. The bright, cheerful sound cut through the room, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Since when do you play the ukulele?” Gadget asked, raising an eyebrow.

Holden shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “Since forever. My grandma taught me when I was a kid. She was born in Hawaii. It’s been a while, but I think I’ve still got it.”

He launched into a simple, upbeat melody, his fingers dancing across the strings with surprising skill. The ukulele’s bright, twangy tone added a new layer to the music, giving it a distinctly surfpunk vibe. Eddie’s eyes lit up, and he quickly adjusted his guitar, playing in harmony with Holden. The two instruments intertwined, creating a sound that was both nostalgic and fresh.

Tiffy, never one to be left out, grabbed her flute and joined in, her high, lilting notes weaving through the melody like sunlight on waves. The room filled with the sound of their combined efforts, the music growing richer and more complex with each passing moment.

Gadget and Cali exchanged a glance, then joined in, their basses providing a deep, resonant foundation. Gadget leaned over to Cali, murmuring, “Try this,” and played a simple but effective bassline that anchored the song. Cali followed her lead, her fingers moving more confidently now, the pain in her hands forgotten as she lost herself in the music.

Jax, ever the multitasker, passed around plastic cups of whiskey before settling behind his drum kit. He tapped lightly on the snare, his rhythms subtle but precise, adding just enough structure to keep the jam session from spiraling into chaos. The whiskey made its way around the room, the warm burn adding to the camaraderie.

Waldo, the silent, ever-present muscled roadie, lay on a bedroll by the wall, seemingly uninterested in the music. Gadget’s two huge dogs, Brute and Savage, curled up beside him, their massive forms making him look like a sleeping packmate. Shadow, Cali’s cat, ignored everyone, dozing peacefully next to her owner, unbothered by the noise.

The room was alive with energy, the music flowing effortlessly as the group played off each other. Eddie and Holden dominated the surf tunes, their guitars and ukulele creating a sound that was both playful and intense. Tiffy’s flute added a whimsical touch, while Gadget and Cali’s basses provided a steady, grounding rhythm. Jax’s drumming tied it all together, his light taps gradually building into a more complex beat.

As the song reached its peak, the group fell into a natural harmony, their individual styles blending seamlessly. The whiskey and the tray of green weed on the table added to the relaxed, almost euphoric atmosphere. It was clear they had been drinking more recently, but the music was too good to care.

When the song finally wound down, the room erupted into cheers and laughter. Eddie clapped Holden on the back. “Man, I had no idea you could play like that. The ukulele’s a killer addition. We’ve got to work that into the next set.”

Holden grinned, his usual quiet demeanor replaced by a rare moment of pride. “Yeah, it’s fun. I forgot how much I missed playing it.”

Gadget leaned back, her bass resting across her lap. “This is what we needed. A little experimentation, a little fun. We’re onto something here.”

Cali nodded, her cheeks flushed from the whiskey and the excitement. “Yeah, this feels right. Like we’re finally finding our sound.”

Jax raised his plastic cup in a toast. “To the Stone Bench Group. May we never stop surprising each other.”

The group clinked their cups together, the sound of laughter and music filling the room once more. Even Waldo cracked a smile, though he didn’t say a word. The dogs stirred slightly, their tails thumping against the floor, while Shadow stretched lazily before settling back into her nap.

As the night wore on, the music continued, the group experimenting with new sounds and ideas. The ukulele became a permanent fixture in their jam sessions, its bright tones adding a unique flavor to their surfpunk sound. And though the whiskey and weed flowed freely, the music remained the focus, a testament to their growing bond and shared passion.

Gadget couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as she watched her friends. They were more than a band—they were a family. And with every note they played, they were building something truly special.

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==='''Exploring Musical Knowledge'''===
[[File:Sbg-violin.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg-kazoo.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg strings.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg-drums1.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg-violin.jpg|200px]]

As the jam session wound down, Eddie leaned back against the wall, his guitar resting across his lap. He looked around at the group, a thoughtful expression on his face. “So Holden plays the ukulele, and I assume Gadget does too because it’s hers. It’s funny; we’ve been playing around each other and now with each other for a while. What other things do we play? I play guitar, obviously, played standup bass in Jazz Band, as well as tuba and French horn in the orchestra back in junior high. Tiffy’s tried teaching me violin. I can mostly not embarrass myself on harmonica. What else?”

Tiffy smirked, setting her flute down. “Violin, viola, cello, flute, and a number of those like recorder, fife, some woodwinds. Some brass, but I couldn’t get the hang of them. And… ah… well… the piano.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow. “You never mentioned most of those, but… the piano? Are you any good at it?”

She nodded, a small, proud smile playing on her lips. “Yeah, I’m pretty good.”

Jax chimed in, tapping lightly on his snare. “I toyed around with sax but left before I did a lot with it. Played the xylophone a few times. Just like they’re drums, ya know. Did a bunch of other percussion before Cali and I ran off the first time. Ya know, any of us could play stuff like tambourines, maracas, other percussion noise makers.”

Holden added, “Guitar, ya know. Some bass. The ukulele and ah… banjo. I actually started as a little punk on the banjo. But Mom loved that, and Dad hated it. When she died, he got rid of all her stuff, including the uke and the banjo. After that, it was guitar.”

Cali shrugged, her bass resting against her leg. “Bass, some guitar, but I loved the low sound. Jax taught me bongos pretty good.”

They all turned to Gadget, expectantly.

She hesitated for a moment, then said, “Well, mainly kazoo.” The room erupted into laughter and good-natured goading.

“Bass. Lead guitar. Ah… Irish folk harp. Dulcimer. Flute was my first love, but it brings back memories for me I avoid. But recorder, piccolo, fife, a few of the woodwinds. Ya know, a conch might be a good addition to our sound. I’ve tooted them.”

She paused, as if hesitant to go on. “And damn… I’m pretty good on the piano. Spent some time on the road with a hell of a jazz piano player. Learned a lot from him… ah, too much… too much drinking… too much… well, he was the first I let. Not my first, but the first I let…” Her voice trailed off, and Cali reached over, gripping her hand, understanding now why she felt so comfortable with the wild girl; shared grief and experiences.

Holden put his hand on her shoulder. “I hope I get to meet him someday, if he was kind to you.”

Gadget nodded, implying he was. “Holden, if you ever meet him, we will know a hell of a lot more about each other than you could possibly imagine.” She chuckled, thinking of her piano man, the Lord of Chaos.

They talked for a bit longer, sharing stories and jamming a little more before eventually drifting off to their respective corners. Brute, Gadget’s massive dog, wandered over to lie near Holden, while Gadget herself settled down with a thoughtful expression.

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---

==='''Eddie and Waldo’s Conversation'''===
[[File:Holden and Uk.jpg|150px]]

Eddie stepped outside, lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag. The cool night air was a welcome relief after the heat and noise of the jam session. After a few moments, Waldo and Savage, Gadget’s other dog, joined him. Savage disappeared into the night, running off to patrol the area, while Waldo leaned against the wall, lighting a joint. He took a hit and passed it to Eddie.

“Trombone,” Waldo said suddenly, his voice low and gravelly.

Eddie looked surprised. “Really?”

“Yeah. Long arms, ya know. Big sax some. And… tuba.”

Eddie nodded, passing the joint back. “Well, damn, Waldo!”

“It’s Earnest Bluebonnet Pavlovich. Mom called me ''Ernie''; Dad called me ''Pasha''. I like Waldo better, but it was Wart’s idea. Ya know… ‘Where’s Waldo? Go get me some smokes, Waldo…’ I had to make my own way among Wart’s guys. I was never one of his favorites. Got cut out of everything. That probably saved my life because I never touched Cali, and she knows I argued with Wart about her. I got beat down twice telling him to let her go. Gadget killed him, didn’t she?”

Eddie looked at him hard, his cigarette dangling from his lips. “Why do you think that?”

“I tried to tax her that last time Wart got you all. She put me down hard. Like, *hard*, man. I’m a big fucking guy, and she put me down like I was a toddler. Called herself an ‘apex predator monster.’ I had to look that up online to know what she meant. Later… I met Wrecker and Reggy before I came around you guys. They work for her, you know, not the other way around. There’s something just not right about her. Those guys, they’re hard men. Bad hard, like nothing Wart ever was, more like the Blind Reapers were. The Reapers were mean, cruel… killers. Wrecker and Reggy, though? They’re terrifying. And they answer to your bassist. Just so you know, man; there’s something seriously dangerous-crazy about her.”

Eddie nodded, taking another drag of his cigarette. He knew firsthand how right Waldo was. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I know.”

“You saw the Station a couple times while Wart used it. It was a pit. I’m not saying it was clean when we got here, but I lived there. It was a slum-filled torture house out of a movie. Her tied down back there. The place smelled like… you know. It was professionally cleaned, then made to look dirty so *we* could clean it. Dirty, messy, but not Andy Gump, cumdump, rotted meat, sweaty dirty. It was cleaned and staged, man.”

The two stood in silence for a while, the joint passing back and forth between them as the night stretched on. Somewhere in the distance, Savage howled, a long, mournful sound that echoed through the darkness.

“Then there are the dogs,” Waldo said, breaking the silence.

Eddie shivered. “Brute and Savage? I thought you liked them?”

Waldo nodded. “I do. A lot. I had a big dog when I was a kid. My dad killed it. But it’s not just them.”

“Huh?”

“Dude, this is dog land. Wart never left the place except in a group, and he killed more than a few dogs coming and going till they left him alone. I also got around pretty good, but I knew when to walk and where to run. And there were hundreds of them, ya know. The cops stayed out of this area. The city abandoned it. Wart said some guy named Kane told him the owners of the buildings around here were all dead or corporations that everyone had given up on. Cheaper to let them fall apart than tear them down.”

“So the dogs owned the place. Where are they now? We’ve been coming and going for weeks now. I’ve seen a few here and there. You heard Savage a few seconds ago. He wasn’t alone. He had more howling with him. Why aren’t they here? It’s fucking weird. Creepy. Like horror-show creepy. Like in the movie where the group decides to split up and you howl at the screen to stick together creepy. Am I the only one who noticed?”

Eddie looked around, as if for the first time. “Maybe… I never thought about it. I guess I thought Wart had handled them…”

“Look,” Waldo said softly, “I like Gadget. Hell, she saved my life, so I may love her, and I’m grateful. But there’s something just fuckin’ weird about her. That’s all I’m saying, dude.”

Eddie nodded. “Yeah, okay.”

Waldo nodded and went back inside, leaving Eddie alone with his troubled thoughts and his last cigarette.

===''in progress- Holden gadget, hotel''===
Here’s a small scene for you:

The neon light from the motel sign outside flickered against the thin curtains, casting restless shadows across the dingy room. The place smelled of stale cigarettes and cheap disinfectant, the kind that never quite covered up the history of bad decisions made between its walls. It was the bands first out of town gig but the perks didn't include rooms at the Hilton.

Holden sat on the edge of the lumpy mattress, pulling on his jeans while Gadget lounged on the bed, still tangled in the sheets, her electric blue hair fanned out over the pillow. He moved around, picking up their scattered clothes from the floor.

“Here,” he said, tossing her shirt onto the bed before bending down to retrieve her pants. As he lifted them, something tumbled out and hit the threadbare carpet with a soft *thud*. A wallet. It had landed open, revealing something that made his stomach drop.

The badge gleamed under the flickering motel light. *Federal Bureau of Investigation.* Holden’s hands clenched around it as his breath caught. He flipped the ID up, staring at the picture—her picture—next to the name: **Special Agent Rowena Kessler.**

“What the hell is this?” His voice was sharp, disbelief coloring every word.

Gadget, still stretching lazily, turned her head toward him. When she saw what he was holding, her entire body tensed. The playfulness in her eyes vanished, replaced by something colder, more calculating.

“Holden,” she started, voice low, but he was already on his feet, badge still in hand.

“You’re FBI?” His jaw clenched. “What the actual fuck, Gadget?”

She sat up, the sheets slipping down her bare shoulders, but she didn’t reach for the badge. Instead, she sighed, rubbing her temple. “It’s real,” she admitted, her voice softer now. “I’ve been undercover for a while.”

Holden took a step back, his mind racing. “You’ve been lying to me this whole time?”

“No,” she said firmly, finally swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She looked up at him, her eyes steady. “What you and I have? That’s separate from my work. I never lied to you about us.”

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “Then tell me. What the hell are you doing?”

Gadget hesitated for only a second before deciding. “I’m here for Victor Kane.”

Holden’s brows furrowed. “The city council guy?”

“The underworld boss,” she corrected. “He’s running half the crime in Baltimore, and I’m getting close to exposing him.” She leaned forward, her voice dropping. “I need you to keep this quiet, Holden. No one can know. Not Eddie, not Tiffy, not Waldo—no one.”

Holden’s hands tightened around the badge. His world had just tilted sideways, but the way she looked at him—steady, honest, and completely serious—made it clear she wasn’t playing him.

Finally, he exhaled, tossing the wallet onto the nightstand. “You could’ve told me.”

She gave him a small, almost regretful smile. “No, Holden. I couldn’t.” She paused, then exhaled. “But just so you know, Wrecker and Reggy don’t run me—I run them. They work for me, not the other way around.”

Holden’s eyes narrowed, his grip on the badge tightening. Gadget crossed her arms and leaned against the nightstand. “I’ve got a senior agent overseeing things, Lisha. We have… a lot of freedom to operate however we need to.” She glanced away for a second, then back at him. “The original plan was simple: track down Wart’s guys, follow them up the chain, and get a clear line to Kane.”

She gave a dry chuckle, shaking her head. “Didn’t work out that way. I got a little… sidetracked. The music, the band—it wasn’t supposed to be anything more than a cover, a way to blend in. But then, I actually started *liking* it. The guys, the gigs, the late-night jams—it became real. Saying that its different then what i'm used to is a humongous understatement. Reminded me of my dreams before things got complicated. Music. Performing. And for a while, I let myself forget why I was really here.”

Holden swallowed hard, trying to process everything. “And now?”

Her expression hardened. “Now, I’m back on track but i want the music too.”

She stepped closer, voice lowering. “Those guys who have been pushing Lucky around? They’re Kane’s. Low-level enforcers, but still connected. That means we’re already in the game. I just have to work my way up, get closer to Kane’s inner circle.” Her fingers drummed against the nightstand as she thought. “Once I’m in, things change. I stop being the one looking for an opening, and I *become* the opening.”

Holden’s stomach twisted. “And then what? You take him down? Just like that?”

Gadget gave him a long look. “It’s not going to be that simple, but yeah. That’s the idea.”

He let out a slow breath and rubbed his face. “Jesus, Gadget… This is dangerous. Kane’s not just some street thug. He’s got politicians, cops, hell—probably half the damn city in his pocket.”

“I know.” Her voice was calm, steady. “That’s why I need to be careful. And that’s why I need you to keep this secret. No matter what happens.”

Holden looked at her, searching her face for any sign of hesitation. There was none. Just that same fierce determination that had drawn him to her in the first place.

Finally, he sighed and dropped onto the edge of the bed, running his hands through his hair. “You’re asking a lot, you know that?”

She sat beside him, bumping her shoulder against his. “I know.”

He let out a dry laugh. “Figures I’d fall for a fed.”

Gadget smirked. “Figures I’d fall for a guy who could keep up.”

A moment of silence passed between them. Then, softly, Holden said, “Just… don’t get yourself killed, alright?”

She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Not planning on it.”

But the weight of her words hung between them, a silent acknowledgment that plans didn’t always go the way they should.

==Dalt Sniper==
He looked down the sight at his target. It had been a long time since he had done this kind of wetwork but the skills were still there. It wasn't very chivalric but this guy had made his own bed and then shat it.
He followed the target around as he socialized. His stable of girls started filtering out. Anger raised in him. As the began being pawed over by Alverez's guests Dalt decided that Alverez wasn't going to go off alone.

An ahour in he had seen enough. He picked up the burner phone he had picked up in the airport and called 911. He reported hearing gunshots.

Five minutes later he saw police starting to arrive. “Better make this quick”

He sighted his target. Moved to six others on the patio. Alvarez was first.

Dalt decided not to be as vindictive as Reggy wanted. One to the head each would do enough damage.

Alvarez went down hard, flopping backward and breaking a very expensive bottle of Patron. Yellow shirt next, falling sideways leaving his girl to watch. Big ears took his in the ear but it was plenty splashy. Ugly hat guy took his in the nose. Fat Hawaiian shirt guy was slapping his girl and took his round under an upraised arm in the side, blasting explosively out he other side.

By then the party crowd knew the party was over and began to run inside. Number six almost made it indoors when his back erupted out his front. Number seven poked his head up out of the pool one last time.

Three guards came out with fancy customized Ar-15s Dalt was sure they were proud of. They peppered the hell far below him. He didn't see any reason to kill them though they were probably guilty of sampling the merchandise. A shot to each of their knees would probably not be fatal but they would certainly not be running on two good legs anymore.

Putting another clip in her aimed past the mansion to slam shots into police cars. That was enough to freak them out enough. Time to go.

He quickly policed his brass, out of reflex, and then withdrew a trump card.

“Tesara. Pull me through.”

Dalt grabbed the good catholic sicario. He had run out of liquid to piss out and he was really going to want it.

Dalt extended his hand to the girl with colorful short hair on the other side of the open trump gate leading to Ang Ri, an unimaginable distance away, in distance and worlds.

==Big Trouble in a Little Club==
((Rafe comes to help))

==Rafe's Mission==
When the crowds are gone, Rafe slipped out of his chair and walked over to the bar to tip Lucky a 'C Note'. He then headed outside to wander the area... to keep on eye on things, just in case.

He had already informed his crew they were staying for two or three days to keep on eye on things, and that they were to remain low key as they were playing the part of 'plain-clothes security'. He told them not to interact with Gadget or the band unless Gadget initiated the contact. Rafe had also worked a bit of TechnoMagic to give everyone unlimited access to the local cell network on their Society SmartPhones so they could use the local Google Maps to find their way around and not get lost. Rafe also added the location of a few motels and hotels not too far away from the bar; low rent for sure, but not the sleazy hourly kind.

Once Rafe was away from the bar a little ways, he slipped into the shadows of an alley while drawing up the hood of his field jacket. He Changed his Shape to his Elf Form; a full foot shorter, a hundred pounds lighter, better night vision, better hearing, better sense of smell, and more graceful/stealthy movements. He stalked the 'neighborhood' unseen and unheard; sticking to the shadows, moving like a cat on padded feet. He gave the area around The Station a wide berth, watching carefully for Gadget's Pack and making sure to not enter their territory. The night was uneventful; the 'neighborhood' was oddly quiet with only a little random crime around the edges where it butted up against other 'neighborhoods'.

A couple of hours before dawn, Rafe Changed back to his Human Form then made his way to one of the low rent hotels he had suggested to his crew and got a room for the night, paying with the cash Wrecker had given him. His room was on the 4th floor, near the ice machine. The room was small; bed, chair, nightstand, standing wardrobe, single window with a fire escape. The bathroom was the size of a closet with a toilet, a sink and a shower crammed in so tightly there was almost no walk-able floor space. Rafe didn't care; he only needed a place to crash for a few hours. He hung his field jacket over the back of the chair then dropped onto the bed without bothering to undress or pull back the covers.
Rafe oddly felt comfortable in this place where no one knew him, and no one was looking for him. The sounds of the city lulled him to sleep rather quickly.

Rafe awoke to the sound of someone knocking on his door, followed by a female voice saying: “Check out; one hour.” He had overslept. He smiled. It had felt good to sleep soundly. He rose and stretched and decided to skip the morning workout today. He pulled back the covers and rumpled the sheets to make the bed look slept in. He left his clothing wrinkled so they also looked slept in. He used a few reversed Clean Cantrips to dirty up his clothing and shoes. He pulled on his field jacket, added a few stains to it, then turned his attention to his hair and beard. Using his Change Elemental Powers, he lightened his hair color and added streaks of gray to hair and beard. He also added a few more wrinkles to his face and a few liver spots to the backs of his hands. He looked himself over in the mirror over the sink in the tiny water closet, then headed downstairs. He left his key at the front desk then pulled up his hood as he headed out into the streets. His head was down, his shoulders hunched, his hands in his jacket pockets. His gait was slow with a slight limp. He didn't make eye contact with anyone he passed and stayed out of the middle of the sidewalks, closer to the buildings. He went as unnoticed as any other homeless person on the streets that morning.

He made his way to The Ugly Ferret Tavern. Across the street from the bar was a homeless guy sleeping in the doorway of a boarded up building. It took Rafe a few moments to realize it was Gunner in his Human Form; so used to seeing him as a Dwarf, Rafe didn't recognize him, at first. Rafe nodded his head ever so slightly in the direction of Gunner, who 'shifted in his sleep', but made no other outward signs of being conscious... he must have drawn the short straw for morning watch over the bar.

When Rafe entered the tavern he didn't see Reggy and Wrecker in the bar area, but wasn't too worried about seeing them today; he knew if they needed him, they would call him. Lucky was behind the bar, he looked half asleep. Rafe waved for him to not get up, before he could. Rafe headed over to the club side of the building, looking the place over sans people, sans band, sans explosives and assassins. He smiled as he admired the artwork on the walls made by the patrons and fans, artwork he had only read about on his Personal Wiki, until now.

He looked at the now empty stage, then smiled. He pulled his D Harmonica from his jacket pocket as he mounted the stage. He turned to face 'the crowd' as he brought the harmonica to his mouth. He drew in on the number two hole producing a clean sounding G note in the now empty club. He bent the note into an F#, held it a moment, back down to G, bent back to F# then ended abruptly. A brief pause, then he repeats the same four notes. Another brief pause, then Rafe launches into the familiar harmonica intro of The Wizard by Black Sabbath. Ordinarily, Rafe would Technopathically queue up his special karaoke version of the song, to back up his harmonica and singing with guitars and drums.... but this time, he didn't. Instead, he just imagined he was playing with Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. His eyes were closed as he 'listened' to the music in his head and played and sang his parts, Ozzy's, parts. For the first time, he really 'felt' the music, and perhaps, even understood the lyrics better. Not too long ago Rafe had adopted the song as his Personal Theme Song, but suddenly he realized that the song might just be about Mesob. And that Ozzy might have met him, knew him.... could possibly be a Mesobian himself. He shook his head. Something to ponder.

As he pocketed his harmonica, and sat down on the edge of the stage, he recalled something else he had read about on his Personal Wiki. His plans for the day changed in that moment. To an outside observer it appeared that Rafe was staring off into space, perhaps lost in thought, but only for a few moments, then he hopped off the stage with a broad smile on his face...

However, in those short moments, what he actually did was Technopathically access Google Maps via his Society SmartPhone to find local pawn shops that carry musical instruments, then he used Google Earth Street View on each one until he found the one nestled between a laundromat and a convenience store, the one with its window cluttered with guitars, amplifiers, and other instruments. He mapped out a walking route using both public buses and subways to get there. He also included extra stops at other pawn shops that offered 'top dollar' for precious metals; their reviews seemed to back their claims. Rafe needed some extra cash and he didn't feel right about using the money Wrecker gave him, Gadgets's money, for his purchases. When Rafe snapped out of his Techno Trance, he marveled at how little time had passed; his powers as a Technomancer had grown. Being back in a technological world with technology he was familiar with and could mentally access with ease, made Rafe feel, well, almost god-like. He smiled pridefully.

As he left the Ugly Ferret he waved goodbye to Lucky then donned a green baseball cap instead of pulling up the hood of his field jacket as he did before. His posture was now upright instead of slumped. His gait was now quick and purposeful, instead of slow and seemingly aimless with a limp.
He was looking around and making eye contact to show that he was fully aware of his surroundings, instead of looking down and avoiding eye contact. Though he still looked like a dirty, homeless, late middle aged man, he also looked more confident, aware and possibly dangerous; someone to avoid.

As Rafe neared the first stop on his long list of stops that day, a pawnshop, he looked at everyone near the place, he looked at adjacent buildings and alleys, escape routes, dangers and hazards. He did not try to hide what he was doing, in fact, he was purposefully displaying it, but not in a fearful manner, but in the manner of a hunter, a warrior, an 'Apex Predator'. There were a couple of low life Takers hanging around the place, not too close though. When they made eye contact with Rafe, and he make it back, unbroken and unwavering, they looked away quickly, pretending they didn't see him seeing them. He entered the pawnshop unmolested.

Once inside, Rafe saw the usual low dollar items that a pawnshop might have up front, more useful items closer to the cage, expensive stuff behind the bars. The proprietor eyed Rafe as he entered and approached the window.

“How can I help you?” he asked in a not so friendly tone, thinking the 'homeless man' had come to pawn trinkets or trash.

“You buy gold, yes?” Rafe asked, though it didn't sound like a question. He pulled up the brim of his baseball cap as he raised his head and smiled.

The proprietor looked up at Rafe and saw someone he was not expecting; an middle-aged man, hardened by the years, dirty from working, NOT the dirty old homeless man he thought he saw entering his establishment.

“Yes, I buy gold; whatcha got?” he asked, expecting jewelry of some sort; maybe family 'heirlooms'.

Rafe placed two, one ounce gold ingots with the seal of India stamped upon them on the counter between them. The proprietor's eyes bugged out and his mouth fell open.

“You were expecting jewelry, right? Me too.” Rafe chuckled. “When I inherited my dad's piece of shit house with an unpaid mortgage and back taxes and found his hidden safe, I thought it would be jewelry too. Maybe some stocks or bonds. Nope. Pure gold ingots from India. My dad was a secret gold hoarder; who knew? Certainly not me or any of the family. And certainly not the IRS. And I'm willing to take less than market value to keep it that way.”

After a few moments of silence, the proprietor caught on and asked: “How much less?”

“Fifty percent less, but not a penny less... or as close as you can get with the cash you have on hand.” Rafe replied with a smile.

The proprietor did some quick mental math and said: “I've got enough to cover what you've got here.”

Rafe smiled again. “This isn't all I've got here.”

The proprietor's eyes narrowed. “How much have you got?”

Rafe's eyes narrowed. “How much cash you got?”

They both laughed. Twenty minutes later Rafe had five grand in cash, mostly hundreds, and the proprietor had four, one ounce ingots of 99.99999% pure gold, getting the better end on the deal by far. But Rafe wasn't worried about the loss; he was on a mission to spread the wealth.

As he left the pawn shop he saw the pair of Takers 'hiding' in a nearby alley. Rafe took note of them, but not outwardly, and continued on his route to the next pawnshop several blocks away. He made it obvious that he was alert and aware of his surroundings, and when he turned a corner he looked back the way he came... and saw the that two Takers were following him, as he expected, and that they had become four. Rafe was careful not to make eye contact with them, allowing them to think they had gone unseen. Another three blocks and another turn and the four Takers had closed the gap. Up ahead he saw two more Takers look past him, then quickly dart into an alley; the four had become six. Rafe smiled. A few years ago, if he had been in this situation, he would have been scared, maybe even panicked. He would have ran across the street or tried to find a cop, or tried to find some way to escape or find safety. But that was a lifetime ago. He turned into the alley and waited for the prey that thought they were predators to come to him.

The alley was empty. Ahead on the right about fifty feet away was a dumpster, just beyond it a recessed doorway; Rafe knew they were waiting for him there. When he passed the dumpster the two Takers stepped out of the doorway to block Rafe's way. Both were boys in their late teens. One was tall, over six feet, lanky, with long arms. The other boy was about 5'8”, thick, but not fat.

“Where you goin', old man?” the tall one asked Rafe. “This is our Territory. You gotta pay to travel here.”

“Yeah, you gotta pay” the shorter one echoed.

Rafe knew the four Takers following him would be entering the alley soon. He looked past the two blocking his way, to the other end of the alley; two more youths entered the alley from that end, and upon seeing Rafe, began moving quickly towards him. Rafe heard the other Takers enter the alley behind him. He knew this could get messy. Eight to one was never good odds. But he had faced those odds before, in Agalat's Red Room when he fought to prove his worthiness to become a Dufiro. And those Orc-Lizards were way tougher than these punk-ass kids. Still, it could get messy.

Rafe knew he could end them all in an instant, if he so desired. He could Summon his .50cal Desert Eagle to hand and head-shot each of them before any of them could even draw a weapon. But that would be noisy and messy. He knew once they get in close he could end them all quickly and silently, with his Red Dagger; his time in the arenas and fighting pits of Ang Ri and his Movement Powers made him a lethal fighter at close quarters. But this option was also messy. And Rafe didn't really want to kill them, just teach them a lesson they would never forget.

“I don't have any money” Rafe lied as he looked the tall boy in the eyes.

“Why you lyin', old man?” Rafe heard a youthful voice taunt him from behind. Rafe turned to look, acting mildly surprised at the group of boys behind him.

“We saw you at the pawn shop. We know you got money, old man. Hand it over and we let you go without a beating.” This from the boy Rafe had eyed down outside the pawn shop.

Rafe acted like he was nervous, letting it show to the boys to give them a false sense of security. Still facing the four that had just entered the alley, Rafe moved to his right, their left, looking like he was trying to get past them and out the way he had come in; they spread out and move to block his escape. He back up as they moved in, he turned back to the two that had blocked his passage initially and made like he was trying to get past them; they backed up a bit and moved to block Rafe as the other two coming down the alley from the other end arrived, slightly winded; they moved to block Rafe as well. Rafe backed away a bit, he looked all around; he was surrounded. And they were closing in. Exactly as Rafe had wanted.

“There's nowhere to go, old man.” One of the winded boys said.

“Yeah. Nowhere to go.” The thick boy echoed, then laughed. “OLD man.”

Rafe kept looking around at the faces of the boys, looking nervous, even a bit scared. He was waiting for them to close in a little bit more.... and they did.

“You're trapped, old man” the youth from the pawn shop said. “Just hand over the ca—”

Rafe channeled all of his Movement Powers into Speed, but was careful to control his Strength so as to not seriously harm or even kill these Normal Humans. His movements were all but a blur to the eyes of those viewing him. Rafe took a step forward and delivered a jab to the chin of the boy speaking; a perfect knockout punch. He dropped in his tracks, but not before Rafe had delivered a punch with his other hand to the temple of the boy to his left and a kick to the jaw of the boy to his right, knocking them out and off their feet as well. The others fell just as quickly from precisely delivered knockout punches and kicks, the last two falling from having their heads bashed together. It was all over in a matter of seconds. Rafe hadn't even broken a sweat... and it was already a rather humid day.

Rafe checks each for a pulse and when he does he also enters their mind. He leaves a False Memory of their death at his hands and a Psychic Suggestion to 'change your life path'. He leaves the alley the way he came in and heads for the next pawn shop on his list.

By mid afternoon, Rafe had unloaded a little over four pounds of gold ingots and had nearly one hundred thousand dollars in cash. More than enough for his needs. He headed to the last stop on his list; the pawn shop where Gadget had gotten her and Cali's new basses.

(more to come)

=='''Stage Presence'''==

Wrecker and Reggy park their Harley’s outside the Ugly Ferret. A busy day, tricky, but a job well done. Its Miller time. And Jack Daniel time. And Urala time!

As they enter they can hear the argument going on in the stage hall. Walking to the bar they look to Lucky. Wrecker and Reggy knock knuckles on the bar. Glasses and bottles follow.

Wrecker asks, "Whats going on in there?"

Lucky shrugs, "Creative differences it sounds like. Trying to break Cali of that ''passive avoidance'' stage thing of hers. She plays like a monster but won’t look at the crowd, ya know the problem. Eddie and Gadget and Tiffy have been trying to talk her through it. Not having much luck. She keeps getting weepy. Thought she was tougher then that."

Reggy looks to the back, listening, while Wrecker says, "Lucky, we three have not had the bad time she had. Well, maybe you did--how was your time in prison?"

Lucky nods, "ah.. ya…..not that bad I guess."

Reggy starts into the back, pulling aside the curtain between the barroom and the stage hall. Wrecker follows, worried what his partner might do.

Reggy comes and sits on the edge of the stage next to Cali. The move surprises not just her but everyone. Wrecker and Reggy have become part of the background at the Ugly Ferret — they’re starting to become friends with everyone, like they already are with Gadget — but the two are clearly a lot older. No one but Holden and Gadget had said more then a few words at a time to them. All business.

Cali starts to scoot aside, her eyes wide. Reggy softly puts a hand on her leg, gently projecting his calm psyche toward her. Jax stands behind the drums, frowning. Eddie and Tiff come alert too. Holden looks up from his guitar at the sudden silence. Gadget starts to say something, then stops.

Reggy says softly, "Cali, I don’t want to get in the middle of y’alls music, but it sounds like they’re pushing you away instead of helping you." She looks at him — really looks at him, maybe for the first time — seeing the older man there beside her.

"Gadget’s right — you do need to look at the crowd more. Eddie’s right — you’re missing the fun of playing. Jax is right to let you do what works for you. Holden minds his own business — smart, when it comes to other people’s problems. Tiff’s right too — no one’s going to hurt you when you’re with them. She doesn’t even know how right she is."

He says, "Look at me, Cali." She turns and meets his eyes. "If Wrecker or I are here, no one’s going to lay a hand on you — any of you — without walking away with a broken one. I promise. Wrecker and I have seen some shit. And we aren’t in the ''giving a shit about consequences'' business if someone does something to hurt you folks."

He taps her knee lightly. "But listen — the stage is a performance space. You can play for yourself all you want, but the band needs you to participate. Help build the group vibe. So…I have a suggestion. Back in the day, a guy named Jim Morrison used to piss his bandmates off by not facing the crowd — and he was their front man! I saw them — '''''The Doors''''' — in Los Angeles, when I was way too young to be loose on my own. The show was wild — he was in his own world, and people loved it. When he did turn and face them, they went insane."

She sniffles, fighting back tears. "What are you saying?"

"Give the crowd what they want — on your terms. They want a gorgeous girl shredding the bass like a wood chipper. They want an '''''icon'''''. You can be that."

"How?"

"There’s a great song by some hoopy frood wackos from the ’80s. You’ve probably heard them."

Eddie steps forward. "Who? What are you talking about?"

Reggy pulls out his phone and cues it up, slipping the earbuds to Cali.

"Just listen to this. Listen to that bass line. It’s got a front bass, a second bass, a rhythm guitar, hard-thumping drums. Imagine this: you do most of the show like normal, look at the crowd a bit here and there — they start chanting <big>CALI! CALI!</big> like they do… Then there’s a pause. The rhythm guitar hits a few notes. Then you step forward to the front of the stage, looking down that gorgeous chin — you throw your glasses into the crowd and launch into this hard-driving, relentless bass line. '''''Rule the stage. Own the crowd'''''. Eddie comes over and sings right up on you — runs a hand through your hair, under your chin, down your arms. You trust him, but you ignore him."

He smiles, "You ignore the crowd. You own the music. Own the bass — that pounding, front-of-the-stage bass. Now listen."

She slips the earbuds on, head down as usual. He presses play, the sharp, robotic bass riff punching into her ears. She closes her eyes and nods, lost in it already.

After a moment, she looks at the phone and restarts the song.

She does it again — a third time.

Finally, she hands the phone back to Reggy and gives him a shy smile. "I can do that."

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

The set is cruising through familiar songs — the crowd singing along, half drunk, half alive. Then the lights dip. Cali stands alone at the front, head lowered, her dark stylized glasses flashing under the stage lights. But these aren’t the real ones — just cheap knockoffs waiting for the right moment.

The rhythm guitar drops into Devo’s ''" Girl U Want." '' The crowd sort of half recognizing the riff. Cali stays turned, shoulders stiff. On the first pounding drum beat, she spins — sharp, clean — and rips the glasses from her face, flinging them into the crowd. Hands shoot up, fighting for a piece of her.

Her eyes, dark and electric, stay locked just over their heads. Eddie comes in close, singing into her space, tracing fingers through her hair, under her chin, teasing the line. She ignores him. Ignores all of them. The bass is hers — grinding, fierce, owning every note.
Eddie circles her as he sings each line:

<big>'''"She sings from somewhere you can't see..."'''</big> — he slides behind her, leaning in, his breath on her neck.

<big>'''"She sits in the top of the greenest tree..."'''</big> — he moves to her side, one hand tracing just above her shoulder.

<big>'''"She sends out an aroma of undefined love..."'''</big> — he lifts his hand to the crowd, taunting them with her.

<big>'''"It drips on down in a mist from above..."'''</big> — he drops to a knee, looking up at her like a devotee.

He snaps up and turn, pounding the crowd.

<big>'''"She's just the girl, she's just the girl, The girl you want! She's just the girl, she's just the girl, The girl you want !!"'''</big>

Holden stands behind them, hair shrouding his eyes as he hammers the rhythm. Beside Cali, and a pair of steps behind her, Gadget prowls the second bass line, those angular high parts slicing the air. Tiffy moves in and out like a ghost, filling shot glasses and passing them between beats.

Wrecker and Reggy pace the edge of the stage front, arms folded, eyes sharp, grinning at each other when the chant swells:

<big>'''"She's just the girl, she's just the girl, the girl you want!"'''</big>

Eddie leans close on the chorus, his hand threading through her hair, under her chin, never breaking his stare with the front row while she ignores him completely:

<big>'''"Look at you with your mouth watering, Look at you with your mind spinning! Why don't we just admit it's all over? She's just the girl you want."'''</big>

When Eddie sings the final:
<big><big>'''"She's just the girl you want!"'''</big></big> — she tears a ripping tone that shakes the lights.

When the last note hits, she tosses her guitar pick out into the sea of grabbing hands. She turns her back on them all, grabs the waiting shot of whiskey, downs it, and slips her real glasses back on just as the next song kicks in. The spell breaks — but the rumor is already alive: next show, they’ll chant her name louder.

On You Tube find-(/watch?v=e5bqKafk9HA)- wiki wouldn't let me publish a youtube link

==Cast of Characters==
''Click to Enlarge''
{| class="wikitable"
| Gadget, Bass, Lead guitar, Irish folk harp, Dulcimer, Mandolin, Balalaika, Flute, recorder, piccolo, fife, woodwinds, conch, piano, orgaan, accordion, harpsichord.
[[File:Gadget6.jpg|50px]]
| Eddie-Lead Guitar, Vocals
[[File:Gadget Story Eddie.jpg|50px]]
| Tiffy-Violin, Flute,Vocals, viola, cello, flute, recorder, fife, woodwinds. piano.
[[File:Tiffy5.jpg|50px]]
| Jax -Drums, Percussion, xylophone,tambourines, maracas, other percussion noise makers.”
[[File:Gadget Story jax.jpg|50px]]
| Cali- Bass, Guitar. Bongos, Tambourine, Percussion.
[[File:Cali-.jpg|50px]]
| Holden- Rhythm Guitar, ukulele, Kazoo
[[File:Gadget Story Holden.jpg|50px]]
|-
| Waldo -Roadie. Trombone, Bass Sax
[[File:Waldo.jpg|50px]]
| Wrecker- Promoter
[[File:ADV-Wrecker.jpg|50px]]
| Reggy- Comic Relief
[[File:ADV-Reggy.jpg|50px]]
| Lucky-Owner of the Ugly Ferret
[[File:SbG-Lucky7.jpg|50px]]
| Colette -Doctor
[[File:ADV-Colette.jpg|50px]]
| 12
[[50px]]
|-
|}

=='''Album Covers'''==
{| class="wikitable"
| Stone Bench Group
[[File:Stonebench Group2.jpg|300px]]
| Baltimore Times
[[File:SBG-Bt1.jpg|350px]]
| Call of the Wolves
[[x]]
|-
| Night at the Ugly Ferret Live
[[x]]
| The Hollyhock Sanitarium Tapes
[[x]]
| 6
[[x]]

|-
|}
---------------------------
=='''[[working pages]]'''==

Getting the Band Together

2025-06-28T20:03:42Z

Relmopator: /* Rafe's Mission */

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==<big>'''Getting the Band Together'''</big>==

=='''First Impressions'''==
==='''Arrival'''===
She had walked into town six months earlier. It was a busy place, unlike anything she had seen in her travels. Certainly, it was unlike her home. That was something she could never explain to the people she met here. They would think she had just arrived. Her explorations had been low-key, like a lost puppy. Other cities. Learning languages, manners, cultures. She had to fit in when she got where she was going. Little things went away or were replaced. In time she was ready for the job at hand.

The heavy guitar case needed to look like it was once well cared for, but time and rough living had stained it. Covered in travel stickers she had collected. It was unusually thick since it carried her 6 string bass guitar, a 6 string Fender lead, a ukele, a recorder, and a piccolo. It carried more then that but no one was going to see that.

Her backpack looked like something used a decade ago, large and deep, a grown man's hiking backpack but its hidden depths made it worth it. It was big enough for the beatup gear it carried as well as its necessities and treasures. Paper money and a few gold coins. Her pack had a few practical items. Notebooks filled with songs and music. A cellphone with more music than she had ever heard, but her father had insisted. If she had left it behind, she would have been running away from home. If she took it, she was just traveling.

Her jeans were patched and fraying, her loose shirt faintly smudged with dirt. Her hair—that was a crime, cut and dyed blue, but it was necessary. Less bathing. Her mother would have been annoyed to see her.

The careful disguise had worked well enough: she looked the part of the drifter, the runaway. But under the surface was something sharper, something the average observer wouldn’t see. A hunting knife hung on her belt, and deeper in her pack rested her father’s .45 and ammo—a weight she carried with purpose. She didn’t plan to use it. But then again, planning wasn’t always her strong suit.

She found a shady spot under an oak tree where she could see the musicians take turns performing. The crowd’s reactions told her everything she needed to know—who played for passion and who played for desperation. Gadget leaned against the tree, watching, listening, and feeling the pulse of the park.

It wasn’t long before someone noticed her. A boy, maybe the age she portrayed, with unruly hair and a guarded expression, walked over and sat down beside her, uninvited but not unkind.

“Hey,” he said, nodding toward her guitar case. “You looking to play?”

She hesitated. “Yeah.”

“Well, just so you know, in this stretch, Tiffy’s up now, then I’m next, and Jax gets lunch. Cali is missing, and we are worried about her. Holden would be after her, but he hasn’t shown up today. After that, it’s you, if you’re still here. We’ve got a system.” He smirked faintly, but his eyes were serious. “We all gotta eat.”

“Got it,” Gadget replied, her voice measured. She didn’t need to explain herself yet.

“I'm Eddie. Edwardo, technically,” he said with a half-grin. “Parents thought it was funny. And you?”

“Do I find it funny?”

“What’s your name, new girl?”

“Gadget.”

“Really? That’s what you’re going with? People usually pick something easy, like Gail or Ginger.”

“Gadget’s fine,” she said, unmoving. “Nice to meet you.”

Eddie shrugged. “Suit yourself, Gadget. You new to the city?”

She nodded. “More or less. Wandering mostly. Stayed at the mission for a night.” She paused, shuddering. “That place isn’t what I expected.”

Eddie gave her a knowing look. “Yeah, the mission’s rough. Better to stay in the open if you can. But, you know, stay visible. Shakers come out when you’re alone.”

“Shakers?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Shakers are takers,” he said, gesturing toward the park’s edge. “They roll in, act like they belong, and take what’s ours. They don’t care if you’ve got a spot or if you’re trying to eat. Stay sharp, Gadget.”

She nodded, filing away the warning.

Eddie continued, “Listen, you can wander off if you need to, but be back when Jax is done, or someone else’ll jump in. Holden’s been known to push his way in, but if you stand your ground, he’ll back off. He respects the system, even if he pretends not to.”

“And Cali?” Gadget asked, catching the name from the murmurs earlier.

Eddie frowned. “Cali’s...well, she hasn’t been around. Missed a whole week. She’s in trouble, and we haven't been able to find her. Till we hear something, she’s gotta sort it out herself. That’s how it works.”

Gadget didn’t reply, but her mind turned. Trouble had a way of finding people like her, and she wasn’t sure yet if Cali’s story would intersect with her own. For now, all she could do was wait. And watch.

The guitar case at her side felt heavier now, but not with dread. With purpose. If the park was a stage, she’d play her part soon enough.

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=== '''First Day at the Plaza'''===
She listened to Eddie play for the mid-morning crowd as they cut through the park, going from one tall building to another. He was as good as she remembered. Though maybe not quite as good yet. Style would come in time. Besides, it was Tiffy who blossomed, if they survived.

Eddie had come over to her earlier. “Ah, Gadget. You said you’ve been wandering around? Don't wander south of here. Bad area. Forty Thieves... Actually, the Forty Threes, 43rd Street gang. Fucking takers. Over by the river is a nice place in the summer. Cold as hell this time of year, but there’s a more or less permanent encampment of old timers there. The city comes through and cleans it up sometimes. Gives them time to get their valuables out, then trashes whatever they had been living in. Twice a year. Shows the uptowners they are cleaning the place up. After that, some do-gooders come by and drop off new tents, mattresses, and blankets. The hawks stay away from there because the police got no concern if one or two kiddie pimps end up in the trainyard. Some of those old timers are ex-military and ain’t shy about it. But, some are almost as bad as the hawks. They won’t rent you out, but they will trade warmth for wetness, ya know. Better off finding a squat.”

“You and Tiffy got a squat?” Gadget asked.

“Yeah...but...it’s tight...sorry...I can't help with that. The East industrials by the train-yards have a lot of junkies and packs of wild dogs... You can sleep there, but the temptation is too strong for people. Temptation to use, temptation to steal.” The usual crowds went back and forth with little or no regard for the desperation they passed through. They thought themselves generous if they tossed the change from a six-dollar cup of fifty-cent coffee.

Eddie wandered over to sit as Tiffy finished her set. Gadget wondered if they thought of it in terms of 'Set' yet.

Eddie started playing. Riffing really. Loud, to get attention. He had endurance, Gadget thought.

A couple of hours went by, and Gadget spent it looking over the place, walking around, and getting a feel for the square and its regulars.

A coffee shop, a waitress looked out the window at the buskers sadly. Grief and gratitude. She had escaped the life. A newsstand. No reading. A fat man watched a little TV and collected money. He thought he was sly to slip alcohol from a flask into what was probably coffee.

A Little Caesar’s Pizza. Classic cardboard pizza. The clerk. Another survivor. A paycheck away from being on the street again. Squats. Can’t make rent.

A laundromat. Customers only. A walkway to the parking lot.

A liquor store that looked like a prison with bars and locks.

A big youth came running like he was being chased through the plaza. No one behind him.

He ran past Eddie and Tiffy. Jax had already gathered his blanket and put his arm through loops and was moving. He jumped down stairs only to stop. Tiffy and Eddie were almost up when the runner came walking over to them, hangdogged.

Up the stairs came four guys and a girl. Toughs. Shakers for sure. Their clothes only looked a small bit better than the people they shook down. They walked straight for the three.

Suddenly, she felt a shoulder hitting her from behind, walking past. A big guy, 19, scared and cruel. A follower. He looked back at her, saw the guitar, “I don’t know you. Tax ya later.”

He walked to the top end of this part of the plaza. Another coming in from the parking lot. Jax walked ahead of him, being pushed.

Behind her, two more. The ones the runner was fleeing from. Into their trap, it seemed.

Gadget touched a knob on her hearing aid, and she heard better.

The big guy in front. Army boots. New. “I don’t give a fuck, Eddie. Starve. Fork it over. Hey, Tiffy, you can keep your money for a little help with handsome.”

Eddie scowled, stepped between him and Tiffy, bravely but foolishly. He handed over a wad of bills.

“That’s both of ours...a day’s work, Wart.”

Big Wart... Good. Now I’ve seen him. “Not for me, it wasn’t. All fun. Maurice will fork over a couple hundred for a couple hours with Tiffy.”

Eddie said nothing, smart for once.

Jax said he hadn’t played yet, he didn’t have any money. Wart’s number two grabbed Jax’s bongo drums, and the two struggled. Eddie intervened and got a punch in the face from Wart. Little Wart held Jax’s drums.

“That was stupid, Eddie. Jax, five bucks, and you can have your drums back for tomorrow. Or wet trade. You know where we will be.”

Lastly, Wart turned to the runner. “Holden, you are the stupidest fuck I know. You got taxed, and instead of just playing elsewhere, you tried to warn Eddie and the Stone Benches group.” He said it with an air of mockery.

Gadget smiled for other reasons when she heard Wart’s jab. She was in the right place and time.

Wart laid a smack across Holden’s face, and Little Wart punched him twice in the belly as he fell.

The shakers moved along, laughing. This couldn’t be the only way they made money. Shaking down buskers. Cali... They had her someplace. Making money off her.

Tiffy started crying after the gang had gone. Jax, probably only 13 himself, started sniffling, trying to be tough. Tiffy must have been 14. Eddie would have been 16. Holden 17. Cali would have been 13, if she lived.

Walking over, Gadget heard without the spy ear.

“Those assholes,” Eddie said.

Jax said, “Let’s see if Dearly will spot us a blue plate special or two... it’s been long enough.”

Eddie shook her head, “Can’t. Bossman is there.” Jax whimpered.

She walked up, “Those are the takers?”

Eddie nodded, “Not their name... Just Wart’s guys. They got you, too?”

She shook her head, “That big guy said he would tax me later.”

Holden said, “That’s Waldo. Wants people to call him Eastwood, but Waldo is his name. Big, tough, strong, and mean. One of Wart’s muscles.”

Eddie put his arm around the whimpering Tiffy.

“We ate yesterday. Holden? Jax?” They both shook their heads.

Gadget said, “You all squat together?” Eddie looked at her, confirming, thinking they had to find Cali.

She said, “If I can squeeze into your squat, I’ll get pizza. A couple from that place.” Pointing to Little Caesars. Jax looked at her, then Eddie. Holden looked too. Silent agreement.

“Alright. We should go. If we set up again and start playing, they’ll come back. Today is over.”

Gadget said, "Where do I meet you? I have an errand to run before getting food.”

Eddie gave her directions for four blocks away. “You’ll see a tall water pipe on the side of a building. Painted blue. Hit it a few times, and one of us will come get you.”

She nodded. “An hour at most.”

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==='''Observations'''===

Gadget walked back into the square to get her gear, the familiar rhythm of the park unbroken by the earlier scuffle. People moved about as though nothing unusual had happened, their lives tuned to a frequency that filtered out the kind of trouble she had just witnessed.

She had seen this before in other cities: a practiced indifference to the small tragedies that played out in the corners of urban life. The regulars had walked past the shakedown, unconcerned. Not their problem. Not worth their notice. Even the lack of music didn’t seem to faze anyone. The world kept spinning, and the square moved with it.

Her first stop was a liquor store tucked into a crumbling block of mismatched businesses. The door jingled as she entered, and she felt the clerk’s eyes snap to her immediately. His stare followed her down the rows as she browsed. Gadget ignored him, picking out a flask-sized bottle of whiskey first, then a larger one to refill it. She added a handful of tiny bottles at the register, their colorful labels gleaming in the harsh fluorescent light.

The clerk leaned against the counter, arms crossed, his expression dripping with disdain. “Are you high or just stupid?” he sneered. “Alright, let’s do this. Everyone sing along—*La la la! I have to see some ID!*”

Unbothered, Gadget pulled a crisp hundred-dollar bill from her pocket and laid it on the counter, meeting his gaze with a calm, steady intensity. “Even if I kept the change,” he added, “it’s not worth it without ID.”

She sighed, pulling a slim wallet from her jacket. Opening it just enough for the clerk to see, she watched his eyes widen. The disdain melted into something closer to disbelief.

“Ah... really?” he asked, his tone shifting.

She tilted her head slightly. “I can depend on your keeping it a secret?”

He nodded quickly, his earlier bravado gone. He took the money without another word, bagging the bottles with newfound precision. Gadget took the bag without a thank-you, already moving on.

Her next stop was Little Caesar’s, the faint smell of grease and cheap cheese filling the air before she even entered. The bored teenager at the counter barely glanced up as she ordered four $5 pizzas. She stacked the boxes into a canvas bag, not bothering to align them perfectly. As the bag settled, the pizzas slid, the cheese and toppings undoubtedly pooling at one end of the boxes. She didn’t care. These weren’t about taste.

The park waited as she walked back, her steps deliberate and her mind turning over what came next. Her earlier encounter had shown her more than she expected—not just about the park’s pecking order but about the invisible lines drawn between those who were struggling to survive and those who chose to ignore them. She wasn’t sure yet where she fit into this city, but she’d carve out a place soon enough.

The liquor and the pizzas? They were tools, not comforts. Small investments in goodwill, in leverage. She wasn’t here to play by the rules. Gadget didn’t play by anyone’s rules but her own.

The alley was narrow and quiet, save for the distant hum of city noise. The faint tang of rust and damp concrete filled the air, mingling with the aroma of greasy pizza wafting from the canvas bag Gadget left on the ground. Her ears tingled with the primal electricity of the moment, a sensation she had come to trust. The hunter had become the hunted, and she was more than ready. She set down her guitar and her bag.

[[File:Waldo.jpg|200px]]

Waldo strode into view, his swagger full of self-assurance, the kind that only came from countless successful shakedowns. He grinned as he saw her, his eyes scanning her up and down like she was already his.

“Well, I didn’t think taxing you would make me rich! Booze and food. Fork it over. And any cash you got,” he said, closing the distance without hesitation. Gadget stepped toward him calmly, her expression unreadable. She didn’t flinch as he reached for her with both hands, his grin growing wider as he added, “Maybe a kiss or a fu—”

The rest of the word was swallowed by a sharp, guttural cry as Gadget grabbed his wrists and drove the steel toe of her boot into his groin with the force of a sledgehammer. The sound he made was almost pitiful as he doubled over, but she didn’t stop. Another swift kick sent him crumpling to the ground like a ragdoll.

Before he could recover, she shoved him onto his back and straddled him, delivering two quick punches to his stomach with precision. Waldo gagged, his breath coming in choked gasps. Gadget leaned in close, her voice a low, dangerous growl, her mind reaching out to touch his, instilling fear of her deep in his memory.

“Now, don’t you throw up,” she warned, her tone ice-cold. “All it’ll only make you messy and me pissed off. Look me in the eyes.”

Waldo’s watery gaze met hers, and for the first time, his bravado cracked. Her psyche slammed into him as hard as she could force it.

“You think you’re tough?” she continued, her voice steady but sharp as a blade. “The universe is filled with monsters that wouldn’t blink about squashing you like a potato bug. And I am goddamned well one of them, Waldo. I the apex predator monster around here now. So... you belong to me. Unless you want me to make sure you never get an erection again. We understand each other?”

He nodded frantically, his face pale.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Gadget said, sitting back slightly. “Where’s Cali?”

“Wart has her,” Waldo croaked, his voice hoarse. “He’s got her up at the Station… Passed out last I saw.”

Gadget studied his face for any sign of a lie, then nodded. “The Station. Eddie knows where that is?”

Waldo nodded again, his head bobbing weakly.

“Good.” Gadget stood, brushing herself off. “Now, you go away. Not to the station. It won’t be safe there tonight. Do you understand me?” Waldo nodded once more, trembling as he scrambled to his feet.

She stepped back to her bag and pulled out a pizza box. Opening it, she pulled out three slices and held them out to him. “Here. Just to show I’m not… well, totally a bitch. Remember: don’t go to the station. Don’t tell Wart. And don’t piss me off. Now go.”

Waldo hesitated for a split second before grabbing the slices. He staggered off, clutching the greasy pizza with both hands, his steps uneven but quick. He didn’t look back.

Gadget watched him disappear down the alley, then picked up her bags. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth as she murmured, “Everyone’s gotta eat.”

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=== '''Squatting'''===

She found the pipe and knocked on it. She waited only a few moments until Holden peeked his head out.

“We were worried you were followed.”

“I was, but it’s okay. Let’s go inside.”

She followed Holden down a short alley to a pried-open side door of an industrial building. The interior showed a lack of traffic. The path made several turns before ending at a dead end. Above were large pipes passing through. Water pipes, probably. On the west wall was a concert poster in a language Gadget did not know.

Those huddled near each other were Eddie, Tiffy, and Jax. A single candle put out light if not warmth. They shivered under blankets, and their breath came out in fog.

They looked up as Gadget entered. Eddie said, “Glad you made it. We were worried.” They looked at the pizza boxes in anticipation.

Eddie went on, “Cali is usually between Jax and Holden, if you don’t mind.”

Gadget moved close to Holden, between him and Jax. She couldn’t tell herself yet, but her pack nature was already forming, even after so little contact. Holden might be the lucky one.

Gadget nodded, taking the top pizza box with the missing pieces, slipping the other three to the group. She pulled out a large bottle of Tabasco that she liberally put on her pizza. The others eagerly grabbed the other boxes. They relished the pizza, a good meal for them. Jax reached for the Tabasco, looking to Gadget for permission. She smiled and handed it to him.

Looking around, the dead end had much to recommend it. Defensible but without an escape route. Out of the elements, sort of. Frigidly cold. Too cold, as she thought about it. It was winter, but the weather outside was hardly cold enough to warrant the cold inside.

“What’s on the other side of the building?”

“Meatpacking plant. It’s why it’s so cold in here. But the squat is too good. Out of the elements and deep enough not to be easy for takers to find unless led here. Holden used to squat here before.”

She reached into her pack and pulled out a small backpacking ring of stainless steel to curious eyes. Popping the lid, she pulled a lighter out and a bit of newspaper. She wrapped coal with the paper and lit it, starting the stove’s fire. The flickering fire caught and warmed the area slowly.

They turned to huddle around the fire in gratitude and surprise. “I’ve been camping a lot,” she explained.

The small area began to heat as they returned to eating. Silence filled the room as they ate. She looked around the space. A bright poster on the wall was in Russian, she thought. Rafe might know what it said. Being a music aficionado, he might know the band anyway. Maybe someone else in the huge Adventure’s Society would know. Time would tell.

While they huddled under blankets that had seen better days, their overcoats were neatly hung for drying. The candle put out light but little heat. Looking up, the ceiling must have had vents somewhere. It was why the space had so little heat. This place wouldn’t do. Not for seven or eight people, as her plans for the group developed.

Gadget stood after they finished eating. “Eddie? Can I speak to you for a moment?”

The two walked out to turn down the hall, out of sight of the others.

“I spoke to Waldo. He tried to tax me, and we came to an understanding. He says Cali is at someplace called the Station. Strung out and in trouble.”

Eddie cursed, “Damn... damn. The Station? Shit... SHIT!... That’s an abandoned gas station at the edge of the industrial area. There’s a huge dog pack that lives there. Used to be security dogs that went wild when the plants closed. Abandoned warehouses mostly. No one squats there because the dogs are vicious. Probably a hundred of them. The city gave up on that whole part of town. South of the railroad and the freeway. Shit... this sucks.”

“Dogs, you say? Vicious ex-guard dogs and their get, I imagine. Good to know. How many people would he have there, this Wart guy?”

“Five maybe, a couple more. Depends where they are in their raiding.”

“How do they handle the dogs? Will you show me where this is?”

“Carefully, I imagine. Sure, I can show it, but why? Do you have an idea? If we could get them to come out chasing me, you might be able to get her out.”

“Do any of you people fight?”

“Holden can land a punch. Jax can fall down and take them for a while. Tiffy, not so much.”

“How tough are these guys? How long have they been around?”

“Tiffy and I have been here about a year. Holden a couple of years. Not sure about Jax and Cali, but longer then Tiffy and I. Wart and his guys have been terrorizing people since grade school, I hear. He’s beat us up several times. Beat Tiffy and I pretty bad when we first got here 'cause she wouldn’t put out. Holden hates them. I think he had run-ins with them before. I know some of the businesses in the plaza lock their doors when they wander in. One of their parents is a cop.”

“Okay, show me this station.”

“Ah... okay... if you’re sure.”

She nodded and followed him as they crossed town.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==='''Dogs'''===

Looking over at a vacant gas station tucked between industrial buildings, Gadget saw lights on in the building but none outside. The walls were covered with graffiti. The windows were covered in newspaper on the inside.

Gadget asked, "Will they have a lookout, you think?"

"No idea. But they probably depend on the dogs. When I start running, I’m going to run back the way we came in. Stay away from the dogs. I'm going to circle around and see if any of them are outside."

Eddie headed off, walking far to the east. .

She pulled out her cell phone and made a call. “Gadget. Wants and warrants on a Wart and known associates. Especially wants and warrants on an associate named Waldo. Police tours in the area of Third Street and Hunsiker Avenue. Yes.” She lit a cigarette and puffed it while she waited.

“Yes. Alright. Route police at least a mile from this location. Okay. Okay. Okay. And Waldo... Okay. Gadget down.”

She watched for any of the gang members returning.

The air around the vacant gas station grew heavier, the tension palpable as Gadget watched her surroundings with predatory focus. The graffiti-covered walls seemed to close in, the windows’ newspaper coverings adding a claustrophobic feel to the eerily quiet industrial zone. As Eddie vanished into the distance, her instincts prickled with the unmistakable feeling of being watched—or perhaps stalked.

Then she smelled them. Dirty dogs.

The dogs were close, their musky scent mingled with the faint metallic tang of rust and oil. Gadget pivoted, slipping behind a building with a crumbling wall, her heart steady but her senses sharpened. From the shadows, three shapes emerged: large, muscular dogs, their eyes reflecting the dim light like embers in the gloom.

The leader—a scarred, thick-furred savage with torn ears—moved forward first, his posture radiating dominance. Behind him, two slightly smaller dogs fanned out, their growls rising in anticipation. The pack began to circle her, their intent clear.

Gadget exhaled slowly, her father's teachings resonating in her mind. She didn’t run. Instead, she dropped to all fours, her movements fluid, deliberate. She raised her hips, her posture bold and challenging. Her eyes locked onto the leader’s, refusing to break the connection. The world seemed to fall away, leaving only the primal, unspoken dialogue between her and the animal.

The leader snarled, testing her, his hackles raised. Gadget bared her teeth and growled low and deep, channeling every ounce of her willpower into the sound. It wasn’t just noise; it was intent, a projection of dominance and confidence that tapped into the primal currents of the canine psyche.

The other two dogs faltered, their growls cutting short as they glanced at each other, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. The leader hesitated, his head lowering slightly, torn between instinct and her overwhelming presence. Gadget growled again, a commanding sound that brooked no argument. The leader stepped back, his defiance faltering under the weight of her gaze.

Then it happened. With a whimper, the leader dropped to his belly, his body language one of submission. Gadget moved forward on all fours, her movements deliberate and measured. She sniffed at the leader, solidifying her claim. The two remaining dogs quickly followed suit, rolling over with their tails tucked.

Gadget straightened and rubbed the leader’s belly, her touch firm but acknowledging his surrender. He rolled to his haunches, sitting obediently, awaiting her command. She rubbed her cheek against him, radiating love of him. Love he had never known till now. "I'll call you Savage."

She greeted the other two the same, feeling them give up their devotion.

Focusing her awareness, Gadget channeled her intent, pushing it outward like a wave. Her thoughts took form, her message clear: “Tell the rest I am coming soon for them. Tell the pack leader.”

The dogs responded instantly, bolting into the shadows without hesitation. Gadget stood and dusted herself off, exhaling slowly. The pack was hers now—or at least, they knew better than to challenge her again.

As the shadows settled once more, Gadget turned her attention back to the gas station. It was time to finish what she started.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

=== '''The Station'''===

A few minutes later, Eddie returned, carrying a half-full 40oz bottle. “No one there. The door is on the west side. Okay... probably won’t be locked. We sneak up. I’ll open the door and yell at them. I’ll throw this bottle of... beer... piss... at them. They’ll chase me out. Especially if I hit Wart. While they’re chasing me, you go in, find Cali, and get her out of there. I’ll run them as far as possible. I’m pretty sure I can outrun them.” He said it uncertainly but with determination.

“Sounds good. Let’s go.”

They sneaked up to the station, going around to try peeking in the windows, finding them taped shut. The industrial buildings surrounded the station and shadowed it from the sun. She looked it over and figured it must have several rooms inside. Two bays in the garage. Six empty gas pumps. A good squat.

Eddie shook his head, looking terrified but determined. He reached up and grabbed the door handle, opening it quickly and stepping in.

Eddie looked around the room and saw the surprised look on Wart’s face. "Look! Eddie’s come to sing for us!"

Eddie yelled raspingly, “YOU FUCKERS!!!!! WHERE’S CALI!!!????” He threw the bottle and hit Wart in the chest, splashing him liberally.

Behind him, Gadget stepped in.

The men jumped up as one to chase Eddie. Eddie turned and bumped surprisingly into Gadget.

Gadget put her right hand on his chest, pushing him hard against the door jamb. With her left hand, she raised a .45 automatic.

The young men stopped. Wart said, "I don’t know you, but pointing a gun at me is going to get you slung up in our back room, Blue."

She looked around the room at the squalor. Cigarettes, beer, takeout boxes. The smell of sweat and male testosterone. Somewhere was the smell of desperation and semen. Her hackles rose.

She regarded the men. She could feel their anger. She looked at Eddie, as her hand pressed him to the door-jam. Fear. Shock. Uncertainty.

"That thing looks like a cannon in your hand, you stupid slit. Put that down, and I might let you walk to the bedroom rather than beat you down and make Eddie watch us."

The loud crack of the gun echoed in the room, shocking everyone except Gadget.

Gadget tracked from left to right, putting a round into each of the chests of the gang members. Eddie’s eyes went wide in shock.

Gadget stepped into the room, slowly walking to each man, kicking them for life signs. Wart was last, looking up in despair. "No!!! Please!!! No!!!" Gadget fired again.

She turned to Eddie, “Find Cali.” He staggered past her, walking past the dead into other rooms.

Gadget moved among them, taking wallets, cash, and jewelry and stashing them in her pack. Weapons she quickly put into plastic ziplock bags and put them into her satchel. She looked over the table and grabbed several bags of green herbs. She walked around the room and found a backpack, looking in she found several kilos of pressed powder.

She stood and went to each of the dead and took a picture of each with her cell phone.

She made a call. "Gadget. Targets Neutralized. Send in the Cleaners."

Eddie came out carrying a limp girl. She was bruised and sweaty, dirty, and clearly had been abused. Nude, of course. He was white as a sheet, a mixture of awe and terror. Gadget stepped to a couch and shook off a comforter. They put her into it, wrapping her.

"You killed them," Eddie stammered, his voice cracking as his mind struggled to reconcile the woman beside him with the efficient, lethal force he had witnessed moments ago. "How could you?"

Gadget didn’t flinch at the accusation. Her gaze remained fixed ahead, her steps even and deliberate. Her voice, when it came, was calm, devoid of the chaos that lingered in Eddie's mind. "How? Efficiently," she repeated, her tone as cold and deliberate as her actions.

The weight of her words struck Eddie harder than the gunshots, leaving him speechless. The horrors of the room behind them—the blood, the screams, the sharp finality of death—clung to him like a suffocating fog. But there was no hesitation in Gadget, no regret in her stride. To her, it was necessary. Clean.

They crossed the empty road, the cracked asphalt beneath their feet a reminder of the desolation that surrounded them. The industrial skyline loomed like a graveyard of forgotten ambitions. Gadget kept her hand on her satchel, its contents jingling faintly—a collection of stolen wallets, weapons, and evidence now safely in her possession. She knew every item had a purpose. Every detail served a larger goal.

Eddie's steps faltered as he glanced down at Cali. Her face, bruised and streaked with grime, remained slack and lifeless. But there was a faint rise and fall to her chest, a fragile confirmation that she was alive. It was enough for now.

"You didn’t have to kill them," Eddie murmured, his voice barely audible.

Gadget stopped abruptly, turning to him with a gaze sharp enough to cut through steel. "Yes, I did," she said firmly. Her tone left no room for argument. "They were predators, Eddie. They thought they were top dogs, apex predators of the scene here. But that’s what happens to beasts when a new hunter shows up. I am the apex predator around here now. I'll do what needs to be done. They preyed on people like you, like Cali. You think they would’ve stopped? Changed? That girl in your arms is living proof of what they were willing to do."

Eddie swallowed hard, unable to look her in the eye. He knew she was right, but the sheer brutality of what he had witnessed gnawed at him. His grip on Cali tightened, as if holding her closer might make sense of the chaos.

"We’ll get her back to the squat," Gadget continued, her voice softening slightly. "She needs rest. Food. Medical attention. And you all need to keep your heads low for a while. This isn’t over."

"What do you mean?" Eddie asked, his voice trembling.

"I mean that there will be repercussions," Gadget said. "Wart’s crew isn’t the only threat out here. There’s always another predator waiting to take their place. But I’ll deal with that when the time comes."

They resumed their walk, the squat just a few blocks away now that offered a distant promise of safety. Eddie held on to that thought, clinging to it as tightly as he clung to Cali.

Behind them, the gas station stood silent, its sordid history now marked by the finality of Gadget’s intervention. Whatever demons she carried, she had made one thing clear: in her world, survival meant making hard choices. And she was prepared to make every single one of them.

Unseen by the pair and their rescued companion, a pair of white vans pulled up to the station. Men in hazmat outfits got out, entered, and began to work.

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=='''Necessities'''==

The squat was cramped with the six people in it, but warmer as they kept the little stove burning. Cali slept hard the first day, but Gadget wasn’t sure she was recovering. Jax never left her side and worried constantly. Gadget went and got pizza again, though only two pies, suggesting that her money was drying up.

The group fervently refused to take her to the hospital. Eddie explained, “Cali’s home life was little better than the way Wart’s people treated her. Her mother and a stepsister beat her regularly enough that she let her stepfather, two stepbrothers, and a couple of their friends treat her like a sex toy so they would defend her. If she turns up at an ER, the best she can hope for is to go into foster care. The worst is being sent home. That happened once before.”

Jax, who Gadget had heard speak in single words till now, said, “She and I ran off together the first time. I had to go back and get her that time. Her idiot brothers kept her in one of their beds every night. Hard to sneak her out.”

Gadget asked, "How did you manage it?"

Looks around the room showed it was a sore subject. Jax returned to Cali and his silence. Tiffy put her head down. Eddie looked at Gadget as if to convey that it was none of her business. Holden smiled, and with a nod from Jax, he told the tale.

“Jax lit the house on fire, then called 911. In the confusion of police, firefighters, and ambulances, Jax stole an ambulance they put Cali in. Drove it for an hour, then stole a car so he could ditch the ambulance. He stripped the thing of meds and supplies. Blankets and stuff. He drove a couple of days, swapped cars, and drove here. Dropped off Cali and the swag, then drove the car another day to ditch it. Good chance that the police are looking for them.”

Jax looked embarrassed but kept next to Cali.

Gadget commented, “Resourceful. Decisive. I respect that.” Jax looked up with a hint of a smile.

Gadget stood, “I’m going to stretch my legs.”

Walking out to the front, she was confronted by a large, beefy cat with a mouse in its sights.

Gadget froze momentarily, her eyes widening at the sight of the large, beefy cat perched atop the windowsill, its amber eyes fixed intently on the tiny mouse scurrying across the ledge. The cat’s fur was a patchy mix of brown and black, giving it a rugged, almost untamed appearance that contrasted sharply with the orderly chaos inside the squat.

“Hey there, big fella,” Gadget whispered softly, taking a cautious step forward. The cat didn’t seem threatened; instead, it watched her with an air of quiet curiosity, perhaps fear at Gadget's canine nature. The mouse, sensing the tension, darted toward the edge of the window, where it paused, twitching its nose before making a desperate leap for the safety of a nearby drainpipe.

As Gadget reached the window, she noticed a small tag hanging from the cat’s collar: “Shadow – Rescued.” A surge of empathy washed over her. Despite the rough exterior, Shadow clearly had a story of his own.

“Looks like Shadow’s been with you for a while,” Gadget remarked, hoping to break the ice.

Eddie stepped forward, his expression softening. “He’s a survivor, just like Cali. Came into our lives a few months back. Helps keep the rat population down around here.”

Tiffy glanced up from her corner. “Shadow’s more than just a cat. He’s a bit of a guardian for us.”

Holden nodded in agreement. “Yeah, he senses when things are off. Last week, he kept me awake all night when we had that break-in attempt.”

Gadget smiled, feeling a connection not just with the people but with their silent protector. “He’s a good cat. Reminds me that even in the darkest places, there’s still something worth protecting.”

Before anyone could respond, Shadow leapt gracefully down from the windowsill, landing softly on the floor. He approached Cali cautiously, circling her before settling beside her side. Cali reached out a tentative hand, and Shadow rubbed his head against her palm, purring softly.

Jax watched the interaction with a mix of relief and lingering worry. “Shadow’s got a good heart. Just like Cali.”

Gadget felt a pang of admiration for Jax. Despite his rough methods, his intentions were clear. “You all are handling things better than I expected.”

Eddie shook his head. “We’re just trying to keep Cali safe and give her a chance to heal. She deserves a second chance.”

As Gadget turned to leave the room, a sense of camaraderie filled the space. The squat, though cramped and imperfect, was a haven for those who had nowhere else to go. She felt a renewed sense of purpose, understanding that their struggles were intertwined, each supporting the other in their own ways.

Stepping out into the chilly evening air, Gadget took a deep breath, the scent of rain lingering in the air. She glanced back at the squat.

Walking away, she considered her options. She didn’t want to involve her police contact in this, but he was her first call anyway.

Calling, "Gadget. Wants and warrants. Names. Photos coming. Out."

Lighting a cigarette, she wandered off a block, looking around. She pondered. She couldn’t involve her police contact more than absolutely necessary. But she needed to know if anyone was looking for those in the squat. They didn’t want to take Cali to the hospital. She couldn’t call home without getting a ton of judgment and, in the end, only getting medical help with strings attached. There was another option, though.

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=== '''Gateway and Allies'''===

She pulled out a couple of decks of cards, tarot cards by their size and shape, looking through them. A Trump card was more than a picture—it was a door. Hold it in your hand, focus, and the image became real. Like calling someone on the phone, except you didn’t just hear their voice—you could step into their world. She remembered her introduction to the cards with Lord David. The card grew cold in her hands, the painted image shimmering like water. Slowly, the air around her twisted, colors bleeding together until she could have stepped through—no longer in the Hub of Mandalay, but in a sunlit courtyard of the Dramaturge.

Shadow was vast, infinite in its possibilities, with worlds ranging from medieval kingdoms to high-tech dystopias. Mandalay was just one of them, a central one of balance—her home, a place of green fields and shimmering towers, where wolves roamed as kin.

She looked over her King Random's deck. That would mean calling Dalt directly. She looked over her Green Deck, the deck of her homeland, Mandalay. David would help her, but that was a nuclear option. She considered the wolves of her pack. Dwarf would come if she asked. That was a lot of trouble, but she might need someone to oversee this massive dog problem. There were hundreds of wild dogs in the area. Generations of wild dogs, hungry and hunting. Capturing a dozen was just a start. Dwarf and the triplets could herd them easily.

"Maybe later...." Putting away her Green deck and her King Random's deck.

She thought carefully. Dalt was a nuclear option. David was a nuclear option. Dwarf was a blitzkrieg on his own, and if he brought the triplets, the humans of this world were likely to freak out at the sudden organization of the dog packs in this part of the state.

Raphael, she thought, would probably come himself if it sounded adventurous, but then this would be his show and not hers. She didn’t need the whole guild. But maybe just a couple. Yes, Wrecker and Reggy. Tough, dangerous, creative, and probably willing to listen to her. Doc Len would be too noticeable. Colette, though, would fit in perfectly. Call Rafe and ask.

She concentrated on her magical inscription for the realm of Pocai and opened a contact with Raphael.

"Who?" came the response to her call. "Gadget," she answered.

The voice at the other side of the mystical barrier seemed surprised, "Hey, Gadget! Great to hear from you. Didn’t know you had a Trump for me. So where’ve you been? Whatcha up to?"

She responded. "I don’t have a trump, Rafe. I have an imprint of Pocai. I am.... I have a situation. I have someone who is hurt. I’m in a world that I can’t use magic openly. I need a doctor and maybe some muscle. I was hoping I could borrow Colette and Wrecker and Reggy. The time ratio is favorable to Ang Ri."

"Yeah, Gadget, no problem. Whatever you need. You know you just have to ask. Give me a sec; they’re actually right here with me." Rafe turned to his companions at the Ludus on the world of Ang Ri. "Colette, Wrecker, Reggy; Gadget needs your help, now. Colette; someone’s hurt, get what you need. Wrecker, Reggy; you’re the muscle. She said she can’t use magic openly, so I suggest human forms for the both of you."

He focused back on Gadget. "Can you transport with this Pocai connection? Or do I need to bring them to you?"

"I’m in the King Random Trump Deck and on I’m in an earth world."

Rafe said, "Right. Hang on a sec."

He looked over to Dalt. "Dalt, can I borrow Gadget’s Trump from your KRD? I’ll give it right back."

He was looking over at the trio as they prepared. "She says it’s an earth world; dress and equip accordingly."

Dalt asked, "Can you use Amber trumps?"

"I’m pretty sure I can...? If not, could you contact her and pass these three through? Please and thanks."

He nodded, "Ah... Sure...I suppose."

"Thank you, Dalt. It’s appreciated."

"Is there anything else you need, Gadget? How serious is the situation?"

"It’s a complicated and musical. We all have our favorites. Shadow is filled with them...I’m here to rescue one set of them...and bring them to the Dramaturge eventually."

"Wooow... sounds like a great adventure. Hope it turns
out well. I look forward to hearing the tale one day. Safe Travels, my Friend. Adventure Abounds. You ready for your support team?"

He looked over to Dalt and the trio to see if they were ready.

Wrecker said, "Were we traded to Cleveland?" As he was putting on his earth boots.

Rafe chuckled. "Don’t think so. Probably just temporary....? But time will tell."

He gave Wrecker a few moments to wonder, then chuckled and said, "She said she’s only going to need you for about a month."

Wreck said, "It’ll be a letdown after the Buffet at the Hall of Water..." He stepped through.

"Everything’s going to be a letdown after that buffet," Rafe said as the portal closed.

Stepping through the portal, the three looked around.

Colette said, "We are not really dressed for it here."

Gadget said, "It’s morning. There is a Walmart about four blocks from here. Here’s about a thousand dollars. Get clothes. Doc, come back here, knock on that blue pipe, and I’ll come to get you. They need stuff. Get some blankets, six sleeping bags. Cheap folding chairs. Medical supplies. Food—bread, peanut butter, jam. Lunch meat for today. Fruit. An ice chest. A bag of cat kibble. These people have been living like wild animals. When they ask, we’ll tell them you’re a friend from home. Leave where vague. I don’t know if they’ll believe me, but they will be grateful for the supplies."

She said, "Runaways? I know the streets. Was on them myself in Chicago as a kid. The charity angle won’t work. Tell them I’m a family friend. I brought this stuff because you called and asked for help. I’ll talk shit about your 'Parents.' I’ll leave off giving you some money. If there is any change."

She nodded and pulled out another thousand. Then decided to give Wrecker and Reggy each a thousand dollars of the money from Wart’s stash.

"Wrecker, Reggy, there is a heavy crime problem here. Take a few days looking the place over and get a sense of things. I have a police contact that can help. When you have a sense of things, let me know, and we’ll decide how to handle it."

She sighed, "Sorry.... It’s good to see you all." She exchanged hugs. Then the three headed off to Walmart, and she went back into the squat.

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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==='''Call a Friend'''===

Gadget sat in the squat for a bit, treating Cali. The blankets under her were threadbare and dirty. "I called a friend for some help. She’s a doctor. She doesn’t hate my parents as much as I do, but it’s close."

"You gave her where we are?" Jax asked, looking wildly.

"I told her to hit the pipe. Leave her car a ways away. Bring some supplies."

Eddie said, with a look of fear in his eyes, "Gadget.... You really shouldn’t do stuff like that without asking us. We vote as a group."

Tiffy held the cat close. "You say she’s a doctor? Can she help Cali?"

"That’s why I called her. She treated me after one of my father’s parties. She was kind to me. After that, she was there when I needed her."

A couple of hours later, the silence was broken by the banging on the pipe. Holden stood and looked to Eddie, who nodded. He followed Gadget out to the pipe.

Colette was there with three shopping carts filled with supplies. Gadget caught the sense of Wrecker and Reggy a ways away. She hugged Colette.

"Holden, this is Colette. Let’s get off the street." They pushed the carts into the corridors and turned through the labyrinth. Holden said, "What is all this.. There’s food in here." He looked at the basket in front of him with naked longing.

Getting to the tight squat, Gadget started unloading the carts as Colette knelt over Cali.

"Guys, this is Colette, a friend of mine. She’s a doctor. She treated me years ago for....family stuff. We’ve been friends ever since."

"Hiya, glad to see Gladys has made friends." Gadget growled, "Gadget!!" Colette nodded. Eddie looked at Gadget and silently mouthed "Gladys?"

Eddie then came over to look over the carts. "What’s all this?"

Colette looked over the devices she set out next to Cali. "Gadget told me you guys were living tight. This won’t solve everything, but it can’t hurt. I figured I owe her this. Gadget, get me a couple of those chicken broths. Bring some of the chicken chunks. Get a pot on that burner going. There’s a pot in there somewhere. Heat the broth. There is a cot on there too. Set it up there. Get a sleeping bag open."

"You, m’lady," looking to Tiffy, "ah, come here. We have to undress her and clean her. She has no broken bones. But there are cuts.. and.. she’s been doped up."

Holden and Eddie set up the cot and spread a sleeping bag out open, laying a towel down in the bag. Colette directed them to put Cali in the cot.

After a few minutes, Colette stood, "Ok, I need the room. Gadget, why don’t you sort out the stuff I brought."

The guys and Gadget went and looked over the supplies. While they were concerned about Cali, the sudden riches gave them all wide eyes. Gadget took a loaf of bread, slathered mayonnaise and mustard on them, with meat and cheese, slipping each sandwich into a zip-lock bag. Despite their hunger, Holden and Eddie helped while Jax stood by the makeshift curtain for Colette and Cali.

Eddie asked, "No ketchup?" Gadget chuckled. "Colette knows I hate ketchup!"

Colette looked out at Jax as he hovered, "You are?" He said, "Jax. How is she?" "She’s asking for you. You can help me."

She looked to Gadget and whispered mentally to her, "She has a lot of bruises. Signs of repeated rapes. A lot of scratches and cuts. Can you get them to play some while I use the Total Warrior Medical stuff?"

Gadget, Eddie, and Holden fixed 20 sandwiches and tucked them into the ice chest. They set up chairs and sat, and Tiffy, Eddie, Holden, and Gadget sat after Gadget slipped a sandwich to Jax. They ate in silence.

Gadget got her guitar out and started strumming. After a few moments, Eddie and Holden picked up theirs. Tiffy picked up her violin and leaned it against her chair as the cat resettled in her lap. She opened the bag of cat food and brought a handful of kibble for the cat to eat.

Behind the curtain, Cali was cleaned and settled in the sleeping bag. Colette gave her an injection from a Total Warrior device with a broad-range antibiotic as well as pain medication. Secretly, she cast her High Order Healing Spell and the Clean cantrips. Jax brought over broth and spoon-fed her. Colette told him to cover her up when he was done and to eat his sandwich. He smiled at her gratefully. She then left to join the others.

She opened a chair and sat, listening to the jam session.

Eddie finally asked, "How is she?"

Colette said, "She’ll heal. She mostly had bruises and a few cuts. It’s pretty clear she was beaten with a belt, but probably as part of the rapes. She was starved for several days to be sure. Dehydrated. The physical stuff will heal. She will have psychological damage to be sure. That will take a long time to get over, and she’ll need help. Did you call the police?"

Eddie lowered his head. Holden said, "Wouldn’t do any good. They always get away with shit. Police connections."

Gadget signaled to Colette to change the topic by using the hand sign language. "How long can you stay, Colette?"

"I’ll leave in a few days. I want to watch her."

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=== '''Finding Their Sound'''===

Several days passed as the band remained in hiding. The band spent the time playing music, getting to know each other’s playing rather than the singular sounds the busking they had been doing taught them. They ate well, finishing off what Colette had brought. She stepped out to make another food run on her last day before she left.

Cali sat beside Jax, silently, her hurts mended as best as medications could, but the memories went deeper. Those scars might never heal.

During that week, the group played for each other as they never had before. They shared the squat but had never shared their music. Now they did. The hallways echoed as they developed rhythms, harmonies, and solos. They sang all the songs they knew and shared the ones they wrote. Gadget sat back a lot, playing her bass guitar and lamenting that the only thing she missed from home was her piano. She let Eddie take the lead on guitar, playing his beloved surfpunk renditions. Holden played rhythm. Tiffy was a virtuoso on the violin, weaving her sound among the others, playing counterpoint and solos. Gadget nearly cried.

Gadget would go out at night alone. She met with groups of dogs that had heard about her, and she bound them to her, as her father and mother had taught her. Her skill at the bonding grew quickly.

The streets were eerily quiet, the distant hum of a generator the only sound as she walked through the deserted industrial areas near the Station. Gadget’s boots scraped against cracked pavement, her mind drifting to Mandalay. In her world, shadows whispered secrets; here they only swallowed sound. She tightened her grip on the Trump card in her pocket. No magic here to guide her—only instinct.

Jax was pretty good on the bongos. He told them about the music store at home that let him play their drums. The school he and Cali had gone to had shut their music departments. Eddie talked about the private school he and Tiffy had attended. It was wonderful to them, but their homes were hells.

The group opened up to each other, sharing their lives. Something they had never done before.

Gadget told a tale that paled to the others, but hers was fiction. They were not ready to learn her truth. Mandalay, Fleece, Snack, the Dramaturge, her pack—the Hounds of Mandalay, Raphael, Ang Ri, Fort Garland.

After four days, Cali was walking, Jax supporting her arm. She carried her bass guitar but didn’t play it. The closest she came was quietly tapping out the beats Jax played.

Jax told a story, "This one time, we played for an audience of zero. Just me and the drums, Cali and her bass in some crummy bar in Wisconsin. Felt like a rehearsal—until the bartender started crying."

Gadget smiled faintly, "Why cry over a song?"

Jax said, "Said it reminded him of his son. Music’s like that—it hits people in ways you don’t expect."

Gadget stared into the camp stove flames, silent. Music and magic weren’t so different. Both were bridges.

Gadget reveled in the experience. Eddie Black and the Stone Bench Group, here, before the fame, before the glory. And in this shadow, Cali lived and didn’t become the inspiration for Jax’s sad ballads and his descent into alcoholism and self-destruction as happened in so many shadows. She knew shadow was vast, and there were places this group never suffered their tragedies. Those shadows sometimes had weaker groups, without the passion. Bands that played at State Fairs, not the Coliseum or Madison Square Gardens. It was a gentle process, but Gadget coaxed them into sharing their tragedies and building on them. After all, they all had horrors in their pasts. Things that brought them together.

She knew one day she would leave them. Leave them to their glory. But till then, she became a member of the Stone Bench Group. She wished she could stay. She also knew that if at all possible, her goal was to guide them past a few roadblocks and eventually bring them to the Dramaturge in Mandalay. If, if...

Eventually, the claustrophobia began to grow on them, and a time came when they returned to the plaza and reclaimed their stone bench. This time, when they took turns leading, singing, solos, the rest of the band played to back them up.

Now the strollers stopped more often. They bought pizza and ate while listening. Some started taking their regular lunch breaks from offices and businesses nearby to come and listen. They might even be the seeds of the fandom that would one day follow them online as well as from city to city.

After a week on the plaza, Waldo showed up. He was apologetic, but Cali couldn’t stand the sight of him. She admitted that Waldo had never touched her, but he had
been part of Wart’s group. He was a shadow of his former swaggering self. Gadget knew Wrecker and Reggy had taken to correcting his attitude while getting all the information out of him they could. It showed. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. In time, Waldo started helping carry things and set things up. Pignoses, a few cables. A mic-stand. Gadget’s eyes nearly popped one day when Waldo brought chalk and drew a half-circle around the front for whoever was doing their lead. The famous singing circle. The cover of their epic first album before her eyes.

Somewhere in there, he and Cali made peace, but Gadget knew that in most of the shadows, Cali was known to hate the chief roadie. She guessed in this shadow that would be Waldo. She never saw Holden exchange more than a few words at a time to Waldo, and he always managed his own amp.

Eddie started to develop the stage presence that would make him famous. Tiffy, on her rock and roll violin, matched his every note, making his voice sound musical. His fingers danced on the strings, while she held the back line steady and soulful. Gadget closed her eyes as the melody washed over her. Each note was a heartbeat, a reminder of what they were fighting for—a world where music didn’t fade into static, where hope lingered in the chords. She could see Cali’s fingers matching her own. It wouldn’t be long till the two of them developed the dual bass sound the group would be famous for. Then Gadget would be replacing stray bassists the band would pick up for a gig or two at a time. Maybe, just maybe, she could stay.

A few days into their second month, Gadget saw Wrecker and Reggy stroll through the plaza. They listened and threw a wad of bills in the guitar case.

Gadget slipped away and met them behind Little Caesar’s.

Wreck lit a cigar as she approached, half offering it to Gadget, who declined. "What’s up?"

Wrecker, the brains of the two such as they were, said, "We have a target. Your contact helped sort it out. The Blind Reapers. A motorcycle gang. They have deep pockets and deep protection. They have a bunch of cops on the payroll."

Reggy said, "Hey! That doesn’t make them bad cops, just realists."

Wrecker looked at him incredulously, "Really, Officer Clifton?" Reggy shrugged.

Wrecker continued, "They are middlemen for sure. They get good product from the people down at the port. They stomp on the stuff at their clubhouse out in Daniville. We’ve looked the place over. Ten targets at least, including two high-value targets. From what we have learned, drug running is top, but they run guns and girls. Slave trade. The gang leaders are Black Carl Smalter and Dale Genkin. They have contacts all over the place. Permission to scrub them."

Gadget asked, "What did Lisha say?"

Wrecker told her, "They are unofficially untouchable by the cops."

She nodded. "Conditionally, permission granted. We need to know more about them. Talk to them first. See if we can flip them." She turned and returned to the band.

Wrecker nodded, "Infiltration it is."

The pair left, and Gadget went back by way of Little Caesar’s for a few $5 pizzas.

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

=='''Places'''==

=== '''At The Ugly Ferret Tavern - Chapter One'''===

The duo sat on their stolen Vespas, looking at the grungy tavern. Reggy said, "Good fields of fire. Perches all over. Not good planning."

Wrecker looked around, "They are a biker gang, not strictly speaking a military unit. They didn’t plan on us."

The air inside the bar was thick with smoke and hostility. Neon lights buzzed weakly over stained pool tables, and a jukebox in the corner played a half-hearted country tune. A dozen leather-clad figures turned to watch as Wrecker and Reggy stepped through the door. Tired-looking girls in blank leather sat out of the way, drunk, stoned, or worn out.

“Welp,” Reggy muttered, glancing at the peeling wallpaper and overturned chairs. “Home sweet home.” His Broncos football jacket did not make any friends this far east. Ravens, Jets, Commanders. Maybe Cowboys for the Cheerleaders.

“You know, if they ever power-washed this place, the health department might faint,” Wrecker replied with a grin, his voice carrying just loud enough to draw a few glares.

At the bar, Dale Genkins, the VP of the Blind Reapers, leaned back on his stool, his leather vest stretching over his broad shoulders. Beside him, Smiley, the club’s Sergeant-at-Arms, cleaned his nails with a knife that looked sharp enough to gut a deer. The bartender looked worn and tired, the result of having these criminals claim his bar without so much as a "If you please."

From a shadowy corner, Black Carl, a mountain of a man with a dark history, watched with quiet intensity, his dark eyes narrowing as the newcomers approached.

“You boys lost?” Dale asked, his voice calm but loaded with menace. “This ain’t exactly tourist country, Peacock.”

“Nah, we’re right where we need to be. It’s been a long ride.” Wrecker said, swaggering up to the bar as though he owned the place. He slid into a stool and gestured to the bartender. “Two beers. Cold, if that’s a thing here. Got any pretzels or peanuts?”

Reggy stayed on his feet, leaning casually against the bar and nodding at Smiley. “Nice knife. Compensating for something?”

Smiley’s grin widened, showing off a row of uneven, chipped teeth. “Keep talking, string bean. We'll see how funny you are when I carve my initials in your forehead.”

“Smiley, enough,” Dale said, raising a hand. He turned his attention to Wrecker, his eyes scanning him up and down. “You got a lot of nerve walking in here unarmed. Either you’re real stupid, or you’ve got a death wish.”

He shrugged, "Having both has worked for me. What makes you think I’m unarmed?” Wrecker replied, taking a slow sip of the beer the bartender slid his way. “I see a bottle of Old Crow down there. Crack that bird and pour two glasses of 6 ounces. Run us a tab." He pulled a roll of bills and stuck it on its bottom. The bartender opened it and counted it. He didn’t wear a cut, so he looked to Black Carl, who gave a slight nod. The money disappeared, and he poured two tall glasses. Wrecker said, "Leave the bottle, Lucky."

Smiley eyeballed Reggy, "What about you, Stretch? You packing?"

Reggy nodded, "Ya, I’m packing, but you’ll only see it if we were in prison, princess." Smiley started moving, and Dale put his hand on his chest. "I said enough."

"So, something on your mind, such as it is?"

Wreck poured a chug of whiskey into his beer and took a drink, nodding his head, "We got a proposition.”

Dale chuckled, a low, humorless sound. “Oh, this oughta be good. What’s your pitch, tough guy?”

Wrecker leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “You boys run this area, right? But I bet the profits could be better. We know how to move goods, no questions asked. We have a great connection for military arms. And we’ve got a knack for... creative problem solving.”

“Creative problem solving,” Dale repeated, his tone flat. “That what you call sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong?”

Reggy smirked, chiming in. “Hey, we’re just trying to make a buck the American way. You know, cash businesses and criminality. Maybe add a little... somtha-somtha on the side? No offense, but subtlety doesn’t seem like your strong suit.”

Smiley growled and took a step forward, but Dale held up a hand again, stopping him in his tracks.

“You’re real funny,” Dale said, his expression unreadable. “But we don’t need outsiders meddling in our business.”

“Fair enough,” Wrecker said, finishing his beer in one long gulp. “Just thought we’d offer. Seems a shame to waste all this... potential.”

Reggy grabbed his glass and matched his friend. Smiley stared at him with naked hatred, showing his broken teeth. Reggy grinned, letting his upper and lower Orc canines show. Smiley blinked in uncertainty.

Wrecker nodded at the bikers staring daggers at them. “Yeah, real welcoming crowd. I feel the love.”

Dale stood, towering over Wrecker, and leaned in close. “The only reason you’re walking out of here in one piece is because I don’t feel like mopping up the mess. But don’t mistake that for an invitation to come back.”

“Understood.” Wrecker said, standing and dusting off his jacket as if he’d just finished a casual lunch meeting. He slipped a photo over on the bar.

Looking down, Dale said, "What are these?"

Wrecker said, "McMillan TAC-50, Heckler & Koch PSG1, and my personal favorite, the Barrett M82. We can get these reliably. We can get as many AR’s as you’d need. Our selection of handguns is diverse. Street walker prices for courtesan service. Pleasure doing business with you. We’ll be around.”

Wrecker and Reggy polished off their beers and whiskey in gulps. Wrecker looked at the bartender. "Don’t forget our tab, Lucky." He grabbed the half-empty bottle as they left.

As they walked to the door, Reggy couldn’t resist one last parting shot. “Hey, Smiley—next life, try flossing. Keeps it from scratching johnsons.”

Smiley surged forward with murder in his eyes, but Dale’s bark stopped him cold.

“Let ’em go,” Dale said, watching as the two men strolled out like they hadn’t just walked through the lion’s den.

Reggy turned at the door, looking back in, "Why Smiley, does this mean we’re not friends anymore? You know Smiley, if I thought you weren’t my friend... I just don’t think I could bear it!" Wrecker chuckled outside.

From his corner, Black Carl’s eyes followed them to the door, his expression unreadable. He whispered to a confederate beside him, "Find out who they are. Call K."

Outside, under the flickering neon sign, Wrecker turned to Reggy with a grin. “That went well.”

“Yeah, if your definition of ‘well’ is not getting stabbed in the spleen,” Reggy replied, shaking his head.

Wrecker laughed, "I was amazed at Genkins’ self-control. And I thought Smiley was going to snap! Johnsons... "

Reggy laughed, "Hey, I tried to break him, but he was just too tough for me, I guess." sighing sarcastically, "So, next round’s on you, genius. Pizza or Sushi?"”

They laughed as they disappeared into the night on their stolen Vespas, the tension of the encounter already fading into the rhythm of their camaraderie.

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=== '''Gadget Visits the Station'''===

As the weeks went by, Eddie and the Stone Bench Band developed their sound. It had gone well after they realized the takers were not around. Eddie wouldn’t talk about it, changing the subject if it was brought up. A few thugs wandered by, but they didn’t bother the buskers in this neck of the plaza. A pair came to the chalk line but shivered and lost their nerve, tossing their money in the guitar case. One caught Gadget’s eye, a street name of Billy, someday known as Billy Sharp. The shadows played tricks.

Eddie worked out a new schedule for the other buskers, keeping the best time for himself and the group. The others liked the situation fairly well. Players before seemed like warmup acts. The ones afterward got the benefit of the people that started having their lunch in the area. Gadget appraised two musicians probably in their 20s, playing saxes; Mack something & Danny Dean. They were familiar to her from other shadows. Maybe they would add the bang the group could use...

Waldo began filling a shopping cart with the group’s supplies as they went out each day and parking it in the increasingly crowded squat. A month had passed, and nerves started getting frayed. Eddie, Tiffy, Jax, Cali, Holden, Gadget, and now Waldo filled the space extremely tight.

Gadget went out on a walk one night, greeting the new dogs. She met with Wrecker and Reggy. “How’s the Station look now?”

Reggy said, “Like a shithole covered in industrial waste. Your dogs are creeping me out. But it doesn’t smell like rotted cheese, takeout, pot, and stale semen. We cleaned out the front room enough to live there. Fixed the plumbing and set up some solar cells. It’s pretty messy. You still thinking of burning it down? We have a few ideas about that. Or are you going to use it?”

Gadget pondered for a moment. “It is just about the same distance of a walk from the Station to the plaza as it is from the plaza to the squat, isn’t it?”

Wreck nodded, “Close enough.”

“Start cleaning it up for us. Leave enough junk so they feel like they clean it out when I get there. Nothing fancy. Clean cantrips and elbow grease. Do something creative in the rape room. It’s going to be hard to convince Cali. Let’s go take a look.”

Gadget looked across the street at the Station, remembering her last time there. Eliminating the lowest rung of the predatory hierarchy. The smell of damp concrete, refuse, dogs, and old grease lingered in the air.

Entering the former convenience store, she wrinkled her nose. "Seriously, guys? This place is a biohazard. You’re telling me you’ve been sleeping
in here? Without even a basic cleaning spell or... I don’t know, a mop?"

Wrecker shrugged, "What can I say? I’ve got low standards. I lived in a truck cab for years—it smelled better than this, but not by much."

Gadget turned at Reggy, who said, "I’m an orc."

Gadget looked at him deadpan, gesturing at a pile of broken furniture. "That explains the piles of ‘decorative garbage.’ What is this? An art installation called ‘Despair in Concrete’? You’ve been here a month."

Wrecker: "Hey, don’t knock it. That’s vintage junk. Wart’s crew left it here—it’s practically historical."

Gadget rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, history needs a pressure washer. Clean this place up. If we’re going to use it, I want it livable. Like, at least one rung above ‘feral.’"

Raising his eyebrow, letting his orc canine teeth show, "‘Use it’? You’re really thinking of moving your whole band here? I thought that was a joke."

"Yeah. The squat’s too crowded."

Wrecker grinned. "I mean, sure. If you’re cool with the charming ambiance of ‘industrial wasteland chic.’"

Reggy settled on the east sofa, casting several Clean cantrips out of courtesy. "We’ve been thinking of getting more than a crash pad anyway."

"Oh? Elaborate."

Wrecker said excitedly. "We’ve been charging up the car—dumping extra power into it. It’s still back in Ang Ri. We think we can use it to anchor something here. At some point, we won’t be able to disguise ourselves."

Narrowing her eyes. "Something? Be specific, Wrecker."

Reggy grinned slyly. "We’ve got a rough sketch for a place."

"And by ‘rough sketch,’ you mean...?"

Wrecker shrugged, "A few napkins. Bells on the doorknobs. Some runes drawn in oil stains. New graffiti. It’s solid, though. There is a bar we are familiar with. The Ugly Ferret. It’s been invaded by that biker gang. We tried to make a deal with them, but no luck. They were Wart’s suppliers. They are next, if you approve, on our hit list."

Gadget sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Why am I not surprised? Fine. Clean this place up first. If I bring the others here and they take one whiff of this dump, I’m blaming you two."

Reggy made a mock salute. "Yes, boss. Operation Mop and Hope, commencing."

Wrecker smirked. "And hey, once we’re done, it’ll be the classiest industrial ruin on the block."

Gadget: "Not exactly a high bar, but I’ll take it. Get to work. I’ll check in soon."

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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==='''Biker's Barbeque'''===

Sitting on a rooftop with their backs to a wall, Wrecker and Reggy contemplated their options.

Wrecker was a stocky, husky man with broad shoulders covered in tattoos. He wore a short, neatly trimmed Mohawk in red, green, purple, blue, and white. He had a camouflage jacket over his lap and camouflage pants, having gone through an army surplus store and picked patterns from different countries. He sat on a Belgian rucksack and smoked a small cigar, exhaling multicolored smoke.

Beside him, Reggy snored softly, wearing a Denver Broncos sports jacket and blue jeans, his head on a Belgian rucksack. He seemed fairly relaxed, snoring his relaxation.

Wrecker crawled over and slipped up to look down over the roof edge at the ground with a rifle scope.

Reggy mumbled, “How many? Is he there?”

Wrecker said, “About seven in cuts. Couple of girls. They’re barbecuing.”

Reggy, "Yeah, I can smell it. I’m fraking hungry." He rolled over and fell deeper asleep.

Time passed as Reggy slept, and Wrecker checked the ground.

Wrecker looked over a computer tablet, checking many details. He mumbled.

“Murder, murder, murder, armed robbery, vandalism, vandalism, rape, rape, rape, assault, assault, assault, assault, assault, drug running, gun running. Theft, cleared, cleared, cleared. Payoffs, payoffs. Twelve targets. No female targets. Black Carl... the president of the MC. Dale Genkin, Vice Pres.”

As dusk started, Wrecker looked over the edge of the roof. He laid back and kicked Reggy to wake him.

“Black Carl and Genkin just arrived. Take a look.”

Reggy crawled over and looked down. He nodded. “I see them. Say when.”

Wrecker said, “Thirty seconds.”

Reggy and Wrecker both pulled up M4 rifles, racked rounds, checked the clip, and pulled two extra clips out for each of them.

They turned around and knelt by the roof's edge, putting the four clips between them.

Wrecker said, “I don’t see Smiley. Maybe he’s inside. So let’s both hit Dale and Black Carl, then you get everyone to your right. I’ll get everyone to my left.” Reggy nodded, "Heads are yours, chests are mine."

“One, two, three," Wrecker whispered.

On three, the two swung up and aimed their rifles, taking targets.

The firing lasted fifteen seconds, then there was screaming down below, and the women fled the backyard, running and jumping into two cars and fleeing quickly.

Wrecker surveyed the damage. He and Reggy pulled up their bags and slung their weapons over their shoulders. They leapt off the roof and landed on the ground. Walking through the backyard, they took low-order pictures of the dead. Then they went through pockets, collecting money, wallets, and pocket lint. They piled weapons in a duffel bag.

Dale moaned in pain, and Wrecker looked into his dying face. "Should have made a deal, Dale. Such wasted potential." He drew his Glock and issued the coup de grâce.

Going into the house, they walked through, seeking others.

Reggy stood by the door. "All the listed targets except Smiley were outside. Didn’t see that Prospect either. Hey Wrecker, you realize we’re psychopaths?"

Wrecker nodded. "It’s crossed my mind. I became convinced on the streets of Ahyk. Let’s see what’s inside." He raised his hand, and a small glowing symbol rose in front of it. He moved the glowing symbol around the room. “Something... Move the couch.”

Reggy pulled the couch, pushing it over on its back with ease.

Wrecker knelt down, running his hand along the floor. Stopping, he punched the floor hard, pushing his hand through. He pulled hard, pulling up a large secret door. Looking down into the hole, the first thing they saw were two girls who crouched in fear. Beside them were bags of packed powder. A large collection of guns. Grocery bags of cash held together with rubber bands.

Reggy raised a symbol similar to Wrecker's. He cast a sleep spell, and the two girls went to sleep.

Wrecker removed a cell phone and called. “Wrecker. Targets neutralized except Smiley Russel. Two captives asleep. Weapons in a hole. Drugs. Send in the Cleaners.” Reggy pulled out several bags of the pressed powder, the bags of cash, and a couple of fancy pistols and stashed them in the duffel bag, smiling at Wrecker.

“That was rough out there. Mostly rough on them, of course. So... Pizza?” Reggy said.

A few minutes later, a van showed up at the Motorcycle Club's house.

The black van screeched to a halt outside the motorcycle clubhouse, its headlights cutting through the fading twilight. The Cleaners stepped out—a team of five, clad in nondescript dark clothing, each carrying specialized gear. Among them, a tall woman named Iris took charge, her presence commanding as she assessed the scene.

Inside the house, Wrecker’s phone pinged with a message: “Operation secure. Proceed to drop point.” He nodded to Reggy as he raided the biker’s half-stocked fridge. “Let’s move,” Wrecker said.

The Cleaners began their work. They cataloged the weapons, retrieved the drugs, and carefully extracted the unconscious captives. Iris paused to look at the crude bunker beneath the floor. “They knew what they were hiding,” she muttered to one of her team members, who nodded and bagged up a stash of ledgers. "Any trouble outside?"

Wrecker shook his head. "A few building code violations..."

Walking away from the scene, Wrecker with a duffel bag over his shoulder. Reggy stopped and grabbed steaks and sausages from the BBQ, tossing them in his gun bag.

Wrecker and Reggy cut through a side alley. The city’s glow contrasted with the grimness of their mission. Reggy chewed on a cold slice of leftover pizza he found at the clubhouse. “So,” he said between bites, “how long we gotta stay under the radar now?”

Wrecker smirked. “Not long. Couple of days. Iris's Cleaners know what to do. Black Carl and his crew were overdue for a reckoning. The streets are better off without them.”

Reggy grunted. “Still. It’s a slippery slope. We’re not the law.”

“No,” Wrecker said, pausing. He exhaled multicolored smoke from his cigar. “But sometimes, we’re all that stands between order and chaos.”

Back at their safe house, Wart's Station, a dingy flop in the industrial district, Wrecker checked their spoils. Among the wallets and cash, he found a photo of a young girl tucked into Black Carl’s wallet. Frowning, he set it aside. “Even monsters have something to lose,” he muttered.

Reggy looked over. “You getting soft, or just tired?”

“Neither,” Wrecker said. He locked the photo in a drawer. “This fight isn’t clean. It’s never clean. Gadget really picked a messy place to come. Crap load of thugs. Crime rate higher than the cops can manage. Cops on the criminals' payrolls.”

They turned their attention to the drugs they retrieved. Wrecker pulled out a small vial from one of the bags and examined it under a desk lamp. “This is good stuff. High quality. Got a good connection. This stuff hasn’t been cut yet.” He looked at the rest of the take; cash, pistols, sausages, steaks, herb. Counting cash, sorting it, "About 15 grand of operating money. The pistols look OK, got a nice Desert Eagle. One of their pretty guns. Couple of bags of weed. You had to throw meat on all? The cash smells like grease."

Reggy pulled over the sausages and steaks, setting them on top of an empty pizza box as he listened to his partner. "I learned my lesson, daddy. Eat a good meal before mass murder."

Reggy leaned over, looking at the cut-open bundle. He scooped out a cup full with a coffee cup, cast a Clean cantrip on the table, poured out a pile of powder, and started cutting lines.

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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=='''Surprise'''==

Holden emerged cautiously from beneath the deep shrubbery, his gaze flickering left and right before tilting upward toward the pale glow of the moon. His tangled hair clung to his damp forehead, a testament to the effort that had left him breathless. Slowly, he wiped the sweat from his brow and exhaled.

Rising to his feet, he scanned the empty park. Moonlight bathed the space, casting a soft sheen on his lightly fuzzed chest, still glistening from exertion. His wide-eyed expression held a mix of wonder and disbelief, as if caught between dream and reality. He raked a hand through his unruly hair, smoothing it back as his fingers came away moist.

A glance downward brought a flicker of self-awareness. Though he had never considered his manhood much to boast about, it stirred again, responding in a way that surprised even him. Seventeen years old and hardened by life on the streets, he had spent four years scraping by with odd jobs and busking. Opportunities for intimacy had been rare, fleeting luxuries he could hardly afford to dream about.

Tonight, however, was different. Bliss and awe coursed through him, leaving his mind adrift in the memory of what had just transpired—the highlight of his life thus far.

Then, a firm hand, insistent and unyielding, brought him back to the moment. Startled, he glanced down. Mismatched eyes, one green and one hazel, shimmered in the moonlight, framed by vibrant blue hair. Her mischievous smile captivated him, demanding his full attention.

Wordlessly, he knelt back into the shadows of the shrubbery, surrendering to her unspoken desires, ready to continue their shared exploration of the night.

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=== '''Calling The Car'''===

Wrecker and Reggy had finished clearing the garage of the Station. Years of disuse and misuse had made various squatters throw everything into the garage. Reggy kept joking with things, a doll, a bent bicycle, a fur seat cover. Wrecker had kept them in beer. The smell of mundane cleaning supplies filled the air of the mid-winter day.

One of the advantages that they had gained from the Day of the Change was they had gained greater strength and endurance. Their adventures since had improved them dramatically. Their passage through the Sigil of Fort Garland had changed them even further. Power has its privileges.

They had spent several hours hauling debris from the garage to reveal the cement below. Sweeping got the last of the clutter. That was followed with Clean cantrips to remove decades of oil, gas, grease, and blood.

Reggy said, “Well, that wasn’t too bad. The two storage rooms won’t take long. Though the one with the mattresses is going to take something more than cantrips. Do you remember the Low Order sorcery Clean spell?”

Wrecker shook his head. “No, I didn’t pay attention to the Low Order Sorcery stuff. Too much finger-waving time, lynchpins, and stuff. I always feel like I might be casting something, sneeze, and blast off half my head. Let Gadget clean them when she brings her little band here. We can’t do everything. We don’t need those rooms. The living room has two couches. Those the Clean cantrips can manage till we can get some help.”

Wrecker said, “Then we are ready to see if the summoning will work.”

Reggy nodded, “After some sleep and some beer.”

A few hours later, the two soldiers had stripped down and cast Clean cantrips on their clothes. They had sat in the living room that had once been a convenience store lobby and cast Mend cantrips on their clothes and Chill cantrips on the beer. Getting dressed again, they returned to the garage.

Wrecker chuckled. “When I was a truck driver, I never imagined that one day I would be some kind of half-wizard. OK, the Army made me a soldier for a time, but the rest is just bizarre.”

Reggy nodded, “When I was Denver Police, I thought people who dressed up like elves and orcs were crazy. Now I’m an orc. The Sigil of Fort Garland made me able to become a human again if I want as well as a weird deer thing with wings. I’m not sure I know what a normal life is anymore. But I am enjoying wrecking these thugs.”

Wrecker opened the garage door out to a silent street that rarely saw traffic. Outside, two large dogs looked in at the pair. They felt Gadget's bond urge them to obey the pair. They walked in and settled against a wall out of the way.

The soldiers of Gadget's army settled down to business. “Let’s get our ride.”

Wrecker and Reggy knelt on the cold, cleaned cement, the faint scent of ozone lingering from their earlier cantrips. With careful precision, they drew glowing chalk sigils into twin circles, their lines pulsing faintly with otherworldly energy. Wrecker’s form rippled as he shrank into the squat, rugged shape of a dwarf, his beard thickening like wildfire. Across from him, Reggy’s skin darkened to a deep emerald hue, tusks jutting slightly as his orc form took shape. With synchronized movements, they raised shimmering symbols, their edges crackling like firelight. The garage filled with a low hum, as if the walls themselves held their breath.

Time passed as the two concentrated on the sigils before them, glowing blue and white. Small sparks appeared at junctions where lines crossed.

Soon after the stroke of midnight, a horn bleated as a purple and white 55 Bel-Air turned off the street into the space between the odd pair of friends. Moments later, its exquisite paint scheme changed to a scratched black and a rusty white with a satisfied hum. The car's license plate said, “Strut.”

The pair put a hand on the car's hood. They smiled. Wrecker said, “Hello, boy. You ready to rock and roll?” The engine roared, and the pipes belched a burst of fire.

Reggy stood, “Let’s cruise.”

Wrecker held a door open, and the two dogs leapt into the backseat. He climbed behind the steering wheel with a big smile. Reggy lit a cigar as they backed out of the garage. Three dogs of Gadget's pack skipped in to guard the open garage door.

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=== '''Lucky and the Ugly Ferret'''===

Wrecker and Reggy walked into the quiet, darkened bar, thick with the despair that clung to the place once dominated by the Riders. The bartender, whom Wrecker had dubbed Lucky, was sitting backward on the bar, pouring himself a pint. He looked up and slipped down onto the ground, his expression shifting to one of suspicion as he remembered the last time the two had been there.

"Ah... what can I get you... fellas?" he asked hesitantly.

Wrecker took a seat. "Well, you had a bottle of Old Crow. I know because I took it. Do you happen to have any more?"

Reggy wandered over to the dark booth once inhabited by Black Carl. He peered closely at it before stepping to a doorway covered by a ragged cloth, glancing beyond it.

Lucky brought up a bottle and pushed it toward Wrecker. "Is my tab still good?" Wrecker asked.

Lucky nodded. "It is. You gave me a grand. Not that I got to keep it."

Wrecker raised an eyebrow. "Those guys still own the place?"

Lucky shook his head. "I own it, but they sort of... well, *own it*. They must be on a long run. It’s been a month since they were here." He glanced at Reggy, who chuckled. "Ah, you looking for something?"

Reggy smirked. "Just looking around. Seeing if any of the guys are back there, you know, hiding? That a storeroom? It’s sure full of stuff."

Lucky stiffened. "No one’s here but me. I haven’t had more than a couple of customers a day for a month. Like I said, they’re on a run. Yeah, that’s their stuff, and you should stay out of there. They don’t take kindly to people messing with their stuff."

Wrecker glanced at Reggy, made a hand sign, and spoke to him in Ang Rin—the language of Ang Ri, where the pair had recently spent significant time. "What’s back there?"

Reggy replied in imperfect Ang Rin, struggling for words. "Storage, junk. Couple of..." He paused, searching for the term for “performance space.” "...arena...sands." Switching to English, he clarified, "A couple of stages." Then, in Ang Rin again, "Good space. Stairs upstairs."

Wrecker turned back to Lucky. "You don’t miss them, I bet. They tax you pretty heavy?"

Lucky let out a bitter laugh. "No, they take *everything*. Luckily, I skim enough to live on. I sent my wife to Alabama—kin—three years ago, after the Reapers moved in on me. For her own sake. Look, they really hated you guys. You don’t want to be here when they come back."

Wrecker smiled. "Having no visible means of support makes us hard to find."

Reggy said, "Anyway, Lucky, if they come back, it’s fine. We know necromancers." He rapped his knuckles against the bar. "Beer, any time I knock." He grabbed the beer Lucky passed him, taking a long swig. Wrecker chuckled.

"My name’s Wrecker. My mother had an attitude. He’s Reggy. You’ve got a nice place here, if it weren’t filled with scumbags."

Lucky scowled. "You making a joke, Wrecker? The place is a shithole. I bought it from the previous owner, who didn’t tell me he had these... scumbags squatting here. I put my life savings into buying the place and did some cleanup. I was hoping to have a nice little spot. At first, I didn’t know why the locals avoided it, and I couldn’t get anyone to tell me what the problem was.

“We moved in upstairs. The back was full of junk—boxes, trash, a couple dozen motorcycles in pieces. I was looking through things and found a trunk full of weed. I couldn’t decide if I should go to the police. Then they showed up. Refused to leave, refused to lock up. Hit on my wife hard. Made it clear they owned the place and everyone in it. Made it clear my wife was their whore now. Pretty sure one raped her, but she wouldn’t say anything."

Wrecker polished off his glass and poured
another. "That’s when you sent her south?"

Lucky nodded. "Yeah, and took a hell of a beating for it. They all wanted a taste, I guess. Look, I appreciate you guys coming in and all, but if the Riders find you here, they’ll kill you."

Wrecker shrugged. "I’ll risk it. You know them all, their whole chapter? Know about other chapters?"

"Yeah, sure. There are five other chapters—New York, Toronto, Durham, Jacksonville, and New Orleans. Why?"

"How many in their chapter here?"

"Uh, 13 or 14 patched members, a few prospects. About a dozen girls—four are regulars, the others are hangers-on, hooking for them. They provide protection around here. Protection from them, mostly."

Reggy made a tiny hand gesture, and Wrecker nodded. Reggy pulled out a stack of cardstock and laid them on the bar. Lucky’s eyes widened as he saw the photos on the cards. "Who did we miss?"

Lucky stared at the photos, his face pale. "What... what happened to them?"

Reggy chuckled. "Kinetic energy poisoning. They’re not acting. So, who did we miss?"

Lucky examined the photos. "Ah, Gorgie, Little Harold, oh... Smiley. Smiley’s a psycho. None of the girls."

Reggy shrugged. "Yeah... I’ll catch up with Smiley."

"They’re all dead? Uh... look, why are you showing me these?"

Wrecker leaned in, his voice low and deliberate. "Because we need to know how many are loose. We need to know who they got their stuff from, who they did business with, and who else is going to come looking for us. You look scared."

Lucky hesitated. "I don’t want any trouble."

"You’re not in trouble," Wrecker said. "Look, we need a hangout, and you need new customers. What’s upstairs? How much of the building do you own?"

Lucky sighed. "The club extends into the warehouse. A few stories. It’s got a big space back there, but it’s been empty for years. Not a lot going on around here. We’re in the industrial zone but close enough to get foot traffic. With the Riders gone, things might pick up, depending on what you guys are doing here."

Reggy and Wrecker exchanged glances, then nodded.

"Here’s the deal," Wrecker said, his tone casual but firm. "You get protection, money, and a chance to turn this dump into something respectable. We don’t need your money. Keep it. In return, you keep your mouth shut about what we’re doing here. We’ll even pay for our drinks."

He set a roll of bills on the counter. "That’s about five grand. Any questions?"

Lucky hesitated, his gaze darting between the roll of cash and Wrecker’s steely eyes. He thought of his wife in Alabama, safe but far away, and of the Riders’ blood-stained reign. Finally, he nodded. "Alright. But if this goes south, we’ll all be dead."

Reggy asked, "By the way, what’s your name?"

Lucky looked around, weighed his options, and said, "I’ll stick with Lucky."

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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=='''Moving Day at the Station'''==

The next day, Gadget returned to the squat and explained the situation to Eddie. He groaned about the extra work but eventually agreed. Cali would take the most convincing, of course. At first, Gadget gave up on the move and started thinking of finding someplace else, maybe even taking over the bar Wrecker and Reggy found. In the end, though, the Station made more sense.

Busking had been good for months. The band had started playing together during peak traffic hours in the plaza and had started getting quite a following.

One day, a young woman had asked them how many songs they could do and if they were interested in playing a party. That led them to a backyard on a Saturday evening, playing everything they could think of to a crowd of around sixty partygoers. Cali wouldn’t look at the crowd, but otherwise, the group had a heck of a time and ate well. They got $300 in pocket and another $300 in tips. Afterwards, the squat was a celebration as all six members of the band got $90, and Waldo got $60. Not a fortune, but they talked about months when they wouldn’t get $10 a day busking. To top the evening off, they had another gig the next weekend and a possibility of a second one.

Waldo, who rarely talked anymore, suggested they go to Walmart and buy two or three folding wagons. The group looked at him with uncertainty, but he explained that they all hauled gear to the plaza and back almost every day, but going to a gig might take a bit more work. It wasn’t as if any of them had a car. Eddie looked at Gadget, then Tiffy, then around the group to a general agreement. It was agreed that three wagons would carry most of their gear more easily than they could carry it. It was then they realized it had been four months since Wart’s guys disappeared, and no one was taxing them in their place. Tiffy asked how much money everyone had. They had been eating well since they started chipping in from their take from busking. Sometimes they played as a group, sometimes they played on their own.

The amount was surprising to them, despite the $90 each had got from the gig. The total was over a thousand dollars. For buskers, this was a fortune. The habit of hiding away change was deeply ingrained in them. The total had crept up on all of them.

That was when Gadget made the suggestion that caused the real uproar. The squat had always been tight, and with the addition of Colette's supplies—cots, sleeping bags, ice chest, blankets—the place had become a cozy maze for the group, building and bonding them, but the time for a change was coming. Her suggestion of taking over the Station was met with horror by Cali and Jax, rightly so, but the others wanted to at least see the place.

After an expedition to the dog town the Station was in, Eddie and Holden both agreed it was worth considering. Gadget had to talk Cali into considering it and used a subtle mental push to make her forget parts of the nightmare she had experienced.

As they discussed the move, the fateful question was asked. Cali asked it.

"What do we do if Wart and his guys come back?" Eddie looked at Gadget, passing to her the lie she would tell. Gadget said, "They got in trouble with a biker gang, the Blind Reapers." Holden nodded, "Yeah, they supplied them. Could they have...killed them?"

Eddie told him, "We may never know." Nodding to Gadget, knowing.

Moving into it took a straight run of gear. Holden and Eddie rounded up six shopping carts and the three folding wagons. They packed their meager belongings and made their way across the plaza. People barely glanced at them, so used they were to people living out of shopping carts that they had become invisible to them.

The Station was still a mess. Gadget saw the strategic mess Wrecker and Reggy had left. Piles of debris in the garage mostly pushed aside. A new garage door opener was installed and purposefully distressed. The Station had no electricity, and that would have to wait. Wrecker had explained to her what it would take to connect the place to the local line, and it had seemed prohibitively risky. It was Reggy who suggested they get a power source from the TW guys in Ang Ri. A conversation with Dalt, Rafe, and the Total Warrior medic ended up with them getting a power generator the size of a pair of decks of cards. The TW guy explained that it would be easy to install and explained the process to Wrecker. Gadget knew it would just take stringing the wire. Time enough later.

The bedding where Cali’s ordeal occurred was gone. Gadget shook her head but admired her companions' creative efforts. They had clearly used Fire Cantrips to burn the room once they had emptied offending details. A chest of drawers, tool chests, and various debris had been left to fuel the blaze. She could feel the magical residue of Fire Cantrips and Extinguish Cantrips they had used. For two warriors, they were showing considerable ingenuity in using the few magical talents they had.

After a couple of days, the debris was gone, and conversations about what to do with the place had filled the time in between practicing. Jax made the uncharacteristic comment that they shouldn’t miss too many days of busking, or someone else would take their stone benches. There was general agreement, and it was decided to return to the plaza the next day.

The sun hung low over the city just after dawn as the group filed out of the Station, their spirits buoyed by the new wave of success that came with their latest gig. But beneath the euphoria, the same gnawing fear lingered. Eddie felt it most acutely. His hands were steady, but there was a weight to his thoughts. Since the gig, the extra cash had gone straight to his head. The first drink at the backyard party felt like a celebration, the second like relief, but now… now it was becoming a crutch, an itch he couldn’t scratch fast enough. He caught Holden’s eye as they walked down the street toward the plaza, eyeballing the Goodwill as they went by, trying to ignore the gnawing in his chest. Holden didn’t say anything, but he could tell—Holden could always tell. The old man, at seventeen, had more successfully kicked his habits long ago, but the silence between them now spoke volumes.

“Everything alright?” Holden’s voice was low, careful.

“Yeah. Just thinking,” Eddie muttered, kicking a loose stone down the sidewalk.

Taking their usual spot, Waldo made more complete efforts laying out their instruments, Eddie and Holden's pig-amps, and putting blankets on the stone benches. Passersby in the early morning air noticed them setting up. Some exchanged comments with the group. Several who had bought breakfasts to go decided to sit and listen to them. Their morning was musical and productive. It was also profitable. But they were still at heart a bit nervous.

Among the small crowd, Gadget saw Wrecker and Reggy sit, each with a breakfast pizza rolled like a burrito. They nodded at her gaze.

Afternoon, the Goodwill store was busy as usual, but today the crowd felt heavier, more pressing. They’d come for furniture—a couch, a few chairs, anything that could make the Station feel more like a home and less like a hollow shell. Tiffy and Cali meandered through the aisles, their eyes glazed with the same detached exhaustion that had become their default since moving into the Station. Cali's face was pale under the fluorescent lights, her gaze darting away from the other shoppers. She hadn’t spoken much since her encounter with Wart's gang, her mind still replaying the sharp edges of that time, the familiar terror twisting her gut.

“I don’t know about all this…” Tiffy murmured as she ran her fingers along the chipped edge of a secondhand armchair. “It feels… wrong. Like we’re just asking for trouble.”

Holden paused beside her, giving her a quiet nod. “It’s part of it, Tiff. We get things that make our place ours, and we start making it known. But that doesn’t mean we go looking for trouble.”

“You can’t just pretend trouble’s not gonna find us,” Cali snapped from the far side of the store, her voice tight. She was still raw, still haunted, and the old patterns were creeping back in.

Gadget said, "We aren’t. We are ready to manage whatever happens. Otherwise, we live in fear."

Waldo shuffled up next to them, his eyes scanning the aisles, but his attention was elsewhere. He’d lived through things that none of them could fully understand—not just the streets, but the darker alleyways of the criminal world. He knew how easy it was for someone to slip into their lives, offering help only to tighten the noose around their necks later. He hoped that wasn’t how they saw him. He picked up a book and glanced at the cover.

“You know, these gangs don’t just stay in the shadows forever,” Waldo said softly, his voice carrying a quiet warning. “They’ll come looking for us. Not yet, but soon. We’ve got money now. Not a lot, but enough to make us targets.” He glanced at Gadget, his eyes unwavering, a silent vow there. He was dedicated to her, to keeping her safe and helping her plans, despite knowing firsthand how dangerous she was, but even he knew that safety was just an illusion in a city like this.

They left Goodwill with a pair of couches and some mismatched chairs, enough to make the Station feel less like a forgotten corner of the world and more like a place where people lived. The place still smelled like stale air and gasoline, but now there were splashes of color, the start of a life growing in the space.

Back at the Station, they spread out and got to work. Eddie carried the old couch inside with Holden, while Tiffy and Cali tried to paint the walls. It was grueling, tedious work, but it was
something they could control. Something tangible. Each brushstroke against the cracked walls was a step toward owning their own future. It didn’t change the fact that they were in the middle of a city teeming with danger, but at least it was something real.

“I used to do this in my old life,” Waldo said, taking a break from hauling furniture to help lay a fresh coat of white paint over the yellowed walls. His hands were steady, even if his mind was racing with darker thoughts. He wasn’t sure how long they could keep their heads down, but they had a few months, at least. It was better than nothing. Tiffy asked, “Paint?” Waldo shook his head, “Move furniture.” He blanched, not wanting to remind them that as part of Wart's crew, he would have been in a lot of their burglaries.

The sound of scraping brushes and the occasional burst of laughter filled the Station as the group worked. It was strange, being here, a place that didn’t feel like home but was starting to. Maybe it was the familiar mess, the clutter that had once represented their survival now becoming part of their new normal. Maybe it was the way they laughed at little things that shouldn’t be funny, or the fact that they had enough money to paint the walls and buy furniture. They had a place of pride to hang Eddie's beloved Red Elvisis Ukrainian Rock group poster. He had even joked about getting it framed.

But as the walls of the Station took on new life, so did their dreams of what it could become. Even with the growing danger, even with the looming threat of the gangs and predators that prowled the city, they were starting to see that this might be their chance at something more—something they had been denied for so long. And the price of that dream? They’d have to face down whatever came for them, together. "Alright," Holden said, wiping his hands on his jeans as he surveyed the room. "Let’s get some more work done tomorrow. This place is gonna look like a real home soon enough."

Tiffy and Cali exchanged looks, both of them still unsure, but it was a step forward. It had to be.

Waldo stood off to the side, eyes narrowed, scanning the shadows outside the garage door. It felt like they were waiting for something—waiting for it all to fall apart or waiting for the other shoe to drop. But at least for now, they had their Station. At least for now, they were alive and together. But that was more than they had yesterday.

In the distance, he saw the dogs, behaving oddly somehow. Some were disturbingly close. He began to wonder if Gadget had something to do with that?

Then in the distance, he saw Gadget's two friends, the guy with the Mohawk and the guy with the Denver jacket. Gadget passed him going out.

“Keep a lid on things, Waldo. I'm going for a walk.” She walked directly to them as if she knew they were there.

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Got it! I’ll revise the text you provided to ensure all tense inconsistencies are corrected to past tense. I’ll go through it systematically and make the necessary adjustments. Here's the corrected version:

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Gadget walked a few blocks from the station with Wrecker and Reggy to slip into an industrial warehouse that had walls trashed and falling away. Looking into the shadows, she asked, "So what’s the plan, guys?"

Wrecker said, "We’ve taken over the Ugly Ferret. Its owner is Benjamin Ross, wife Imelda. He’s from Amarillo, Texas. She’s from El Paso but grew up south of the border with family. He goes by Lucky now. The place has a small dive bar area in front and a good-sized side room. The bikers had been storing junk there. It’s got two small stages. It looked like it was a club of some kind a couple of decades ago." He pulled out a Cuban cigar and lit it, inhaling its strong scent. "They kept about 20 boxes of Cuban cigars at the Ferret. Lucky was happy to hand them over."

Gadget took the cigar and tested it, giving Wrecker a look. He chuckled and pulled out another and lit it.

Reggy added, "He also has warehouse space east of the club, part of his back room. Lots of clutter in there as well as a sort of garage area. It looked like they had some medical issues at some point. Dried blood, bandages. Just pushed into a corner. Years old. The place is a fucking mess. He has a floor over the warehouse with a few crappy apartments. Lucky and his wife started renovations there but stopped when the wackos took over the place. It looked like it was abandoned with the rest of the place decades ago, just leaving the bar open. Lucky bought the place at a steal. If we weren’t taking the place over ourselves, I’d be inclined to find the realtor that sold it to him and shoot a toe off him. As it is though...."

Gadget nodded, "Ok, how long till it’s ready for the group? We did a backyard party, have one on Saturday and another next week."

Wrecker and Reggy looked at each other for a few moments, then Wrecker nodded, "Week after. Let us haul out the junk. Check the wiring and the lighting. The place needs a coat of paint, but that would take a while....."

Gadget chuckled, "You know what, how about this? The Opening Night show could be a paint night. Get a couple dozen cases of spray paint and give them to customers. Let them paint the walls. If Lucky is OK with it, of course." The three chuckled.

"It’s a start. I’d say we need to drop a few hundred grand into general renovations throughout, but we need professionals for that. In the meantime, the crappy look is perfect for a rave space. Expand into the big space once we sort the place out. You’re planning to push your group hard, it seems. I thought they did in the other shadows on their own?"

"I’ve done some exploring. They had a manager and three diehard roadies, plus a brass section that backed them in most shadows. Here, that manager and two of the roadies are dead. The 5-piece brass only has 3 in this section, still in high school, but they were at the backyard party. I’ll make sure they’re there for the Ferret opening..."

Gadget raised her hand, sniffing the air. She was being hunted. Wrecker and Reggy knew her look and flipped their Glocks to their hands, Wrecker putting the handle of his lightsaber in his left.

She looked around, trying to find the cause. After a few moments, she saw a group of dogs slowly spreading out in the dark.

Wrecker said softly, "I’m guessing these aren’t yours?"

Gadget said, "No.... I’ve gotten about 70 or so of the local pack. From them, I’ve learned that’s around half. And the leader... I think it’s the brute in the center."

Reggy, Glock in his left hand, said, "I count about 25, but there are more in the dark. It’s your ballgame, Gadg. Fight or flight?"

Wrecker said, "The car isn’t far. Dash distance."

Gadget said, "If I run, I’ll lose the rest of the pack. I need to make it clear to this guy who’s in charge."

She stepped away from her friends, inhaling deeply, growling, centering her psyche. Standing, she watched the big brute come away from the others, who spread out behind him.

"I don’t want to kill you. I can tell you’ve been hurt. Beaten. Tortured. Come to me. Join me." She emitted the sensation of love offered, of healing offered. She sent thoughts of the pack, her pack, a great pack.

From him, she felt anger. Fear. Desperation. The insistent demand that she submit. That she roll her belly over. Let him mount her. Be his bitch.

She almost chuckled. He had to learn or die. She felt the moment approaching. She growled and lowered to her hands and knees. Arching her back and raising her hackles. The brute started to circle, but Gadget was unmoved.

Her shape shifted, her clothing falling away, stepping out of shoes, slipping out of trousers, and pulling shirts up and off. Nude for a moment, her skin grew fur, bright white, her eyes bright blue. The brute looked on uncertainly, growing angry. He leaped, clearing Gadget the wolf, who rolled under the leap.

The brute had fought thousands of battles in its long, tortured years, but it had never faced an actual wolf like his father. But this wasn’t an actual wolf. Its scent was terrifying and different. Unlike anything he had ever met. Worse than the cruel men whose hot blood he had drunk to free himself. This was... something else.

Gadget had rarely fought in this form. But this was a challenge. And it began. The brute ran hard rather than leaping, grabbing her fur and trying to sink his teeth into her flesh. She twisted beneath him, grabbing his claws and tearing them with her great strength. He howled in shock at the sudden pain.

Pouncing away, he turned on her, going low, growling. Gadget curved to face him. She felt his desire to die rather than lose. She couldn’t destroy this ancient warrior.

The brute lunged again, this time aiming for Gadget’s throat. She sidestepped with the grace of a predator, her movements fluid and precise. His teeth snapped shut on empty air, and she retaliated with a swift, powerful swipe of her paw, catching him across the muzzle. The brute stumbled back, shaking his head, blood dripping from his nose. But he didn’t retreat. His eyes burned with a mix of rage and desperation, and Gadget could feel his resolve hardening. He wasn’t just fighting for dominance—he was fighting for survival, for the only life he had ever known.

The brute charged again, this time feinting to the left before darting to the right, trying to catch her off guard. Gadget anticipated the move, her heightened senses giving her an edge. She met him head-on, their bodies colliding with a force that sent a shockwave through the air. They grappled, teeth snapping, claws slashing, each trying to gain the upper hand. The brute’s strength was immense, his muscles coiled like steel springs, but Gadget’s agility and cunning gave her the advantage. She twisted and turned, using his momentum against him, forcing him to overextend.

With a sudden burst of speed, she broke free and circled him, her icy blue eyes locked onto his. The brute growled, low and guttural, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his gaze now. He had never faced an opponent like her—a creature that was both wolf and something more. Gadget took a step forward, her hackles raised, her teeth bared in a silent snarl. The brute hesitated, and in that moment, she struck.

She lunged, her powerful jaws clamping down on his shoulder. He howled in pain, thrashing wildly, but she held firm, her grip unyielding. With a fierce shake of her head, she threw him to the ground, pinning him beneath her. The brute struggled, his claws raking at her sides, but she ignored the pain, her focus unwavering. She released his shoulder and placed a paw on his chest, her weight pressing him down. Her muzzle dipped close to his, her breath hot against his face.

“Submit,” she growled, her voice a low rumble that reverberated through the air. The brute’s struggles slowed, then stopped. His body went still, and for a moment, there was only silence. Then, with a whimper, he lowered his head, exposing his throat in a gesture of surrender. Gadget stepped back, releasing him, and watched as he slowly rose to his feet. His eyes met hers, and she saw the change in him—the fear and anger replaced by a grudging respect. He laid his belly to the ground. Gadget stepped over, laying a paw on his hip. She laid over him, letting her body warm him. Accepting him. He shuddered beneath her uncertainly, unsure. Not since his littermates had he felt the warmth. He felt his body surrender to her. He was her Brute.

She stepped back, raising to her feet. She shimmered, and her fur started shifting, her size increased. It had been years since she held her true form as a Hound of Mandalay, a Lady of Mandalay, and blood of Amber. Her size increased to the size of a large Clydesdale horse. Small for her race, small compared to her father Fleece, son of Oberon, but still greater than any wolf this world had ever known. Seated on her haunches, she howled at the moon, a sound heard for miles around. They needed to see her, who they followed.

The other dogs, who had been watching the fight in tense silence, began to approach, their tails low, their heads bowed. Gadget stood tall, her white fur gleaming in the dim light, her presence commanding. She had won not just the fight but their loyalty. The brute stepped forward, his movements stiff and pained, and bowed his head once more. Gadget reached out, her muzzle brushing against his in a gesture of acceptance. The pack was hers.

From far and wide, her part of the pack came in response to her howl and joined in, seeing their former comrades now joined into Gadia's Pack. Gadia, called Gadget, though they would not understand the name.

She stood, walking among the dogs, greeting them, Brute beside her,
soon joined by Savage, now the Second of Gadget's pack behind the Brute. Toward the other dogs, they fell in submission, the Brute beside her. She gathered them around her. They howled together.

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Continuing with the revision to ensure all tense inconsistencies are corrected to past tense. Here's the next section:

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As the howls of the pack echoed through the industrial wasteland, Gadget stood tall, her massive form radiating authority. The brute, now named Brute by her, stood at her side, his earlier defiance replaced by a quiet loyalty. Savage, the scarred leader of the smaller pack she had already tamed, took his place as her second-in-command, his eyes gleaming with newfound purpose. The rest of the dogs—some mangy, some scarred, all survivors—circled her, their tails low but their spirits lifted by her presence.

Gadget’s voice, a deep, resonant growl, carried over the pack. “You are mine now. Together, we are strong. No more fighting among yourselves. No more fear. We protect each other. We hunt together. We survive together.” The dogs whined and yipped in response, their instincts recognizing her as their alpha.

Wrecker and Reggy watched from a distance, their expressions a mix of awe and unease. Reggy holstered his pistol, his hands still trembling slightly. “I’ve seen some crazy shit in my time,” he muttered, “but that? That’s next level. I think I'm going to need a change of pants.”

Wrecker nodded, his cigar dangling from his lips. “She’s not just a wolf. She’s something else entirely. She’s an Amberite after all.” He exhaled a plume of smoke, his eyes narrowing as he watched Gadget move among the dogs, her presence commanding yet strangely nurturing. “We’re lucky she’s on our side.”

Gadget turned to them, her glowing blue eyes piercing through the dim light. “We’re done here,” she said, her voice shifting back to its human tone as her form shimmered and shrank, fur receding, limbs reshaping until she stood before them, fully human once more. She grabbed her discarded clothes and began dressing, her movements calm and deliberate. “The pack will keep watch over the Station and the Ferret. They’ll alert us if anyone—or anything—tries to cause trouble.”

Reggy raised an eyebrow. “You’re seriously going to have a bunch of dogs as your security detail?”

Gadget smirked. “Not just dogs. A pack. And they’re more loyal—and more effective—than most humans I’ve met.” She glanced at Brute, who sat obediently at her feet, his massive frame still trembling slightly from the fight. “Besides, they’ve got a leader now who knows what it means to survive.”

Wrecker chuckled, shaking his head. “Alright, boss. Whatever you say. But if I wake up to a bunch of dogs licking my face, I’m blaming you.” Gadget laughed, the sound sharp and bright in the otherwise grim surroundings. “Deal. Now, let’s get back to the Station. We’ve got a lot of work to do before the Ferret’s opening night.”

As they walked back, the pack followed at a distance, their presence a silent but powerful reminder of Gadget’s growing influence. The industrial zone, once a place of danger and decay, now felt like territory under her control. The dogs patrolled the edges, their sharp eyes and keen noses alert for any threat.

When they reached the Station, the rest of the Stone Bench Group was waiting, their faces a mix of curiosity and concern. Eddie was the first to speak. “What the hell happened out there? We heard howling—like, a lot of howling.”

Gadget shrugged, her expression casual but her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Just a little pack bonding. Nothing to worry about.”

Cali crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. “Pack bonding? You mean you went out and tamed a bunch of wild dogs?”

“Something like that. I tamed two. They tamed the rest,” Gadget replied, her smirk widening. “Let’s just say we’ve got some new friends watching our backs now.”

Jax, who had been quietly tuning his bongos, looked up with a grin. “Dogs, huh? That’s kinda cool. Can they play drums?” Gadget laughed. “Not yet. But give me time.”

The group chuckled, unsure how serious she was, the tension easing as they returned to their preparations for an upcoming party gig. But as Gadget settled into a chair, her mind was already racing ahead. The pack was just the beginning. With their help, she could secure the area, protect her friends, and build something lasting. And when the time came to face whatever threats lay ahead, she knew they’d be ready.

Behind her, Brute lay down at her feet, his massive head resting on his paws. Savage curled up nearby, his scarred face calm for the first time in years. The pack was hers, and together, they were unstoppable. The rest of the band looked at them with concern. "Are they safe? They look vicious."

Gadget regarded her two new friends. Standing, she clucked her fingers, and they came to her. She walked around the room, holding each band member around the shoulders and guiding a hand for the dogs to smell, lick. Eddie looked as if he was going to pop his eyes out of his head, but he knew well what Gadget was capable of. Holden and Tiffy managed the introductions well. Jax petted them eagerly, apparently a fan of dogs.

When she came to Cali, her bag shook. Buster stuck his head out, and the dogs instantly thought prey. Gadget slammed her thought into the two warrior dogs that the cat Buster was part of the pack. They looked at her and accepted it with uncertainty. But she was the alpha. Cali let them sniff her hand and smell Buster on it. Gadget was satisfied.

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Reggy, still looking a little shaken, leaned over to Wrecker and whispered, “You think she’s done surprising us yet?” Wrecker shook his head, his grin widening. “Not a chance. With Gadget, the surprises are just getting started.”

The two left the place of battle, followed by a dozen dogs who knew what their duties were. Several liked the two rough friends of the wolf.

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==='''It’s All About the Basses'''===

Cali sat cross-legged on the floor of the Station, her bass resting across her lap. She ran her fingers lightly over the strings, plucking out a slow, melancholic rhythm. Her bass was a classic Fender Precision Bass, a 4-string with a deep, resonant tone that had been her companion through countless performances. It was simple, reliable, and familiar—a grounding force in her chaotic life.

Gadget walked in, her 6-string bass slung over her shoulder. It was a battered Ibanez BTB686SC, its polished wood barely held together by polish under the dim light. She sat down beside Cali, setting the bass across her knees. Cali glanced at it, her curiosity piqued. “That thing looks like a spaceship compared to mine,” she said, a small smile tugging at her lips, a smile still a new thing for her.

Gadget chuckled, running her hand along the neck of her bass. “Six-strings. Two extra strings—a low B and a high C—give it a wider range. It’s like having a bass and a guitar rolled into one.” She plucked the low B string, the deep, rumbling note vibrating through the room. “This one’s for those earth-shaking lows,” she said, then shifted to the high C, producing a bright, almost guitar-like tone. “And this one’s for when you want to soar.”

Cali tilted her head, listening intently. “It’s a whole different sound.”

“Exactly,” Gadget replied. “With a 4-string, you’re locked into that classic bass role—holding down the low end, keeping the rhythm tight. But with a 6-string, you can step into the spotlight. You can play chords, melodies, even solos if you’re feeling bold.” She demonstrated, her fingers dancing across the strings as she played a complex, melodic line that wove seamlessly between low and high registers.

Cali watched, her eyes wide with admiration. “That’s… incredible. But doesn’t it make things harder? More strings, more to think about.”

Gadget nodded. “It can be overwhelming at first. The neck is wider, and you’ve got to be precise with your fingering. But once you get the hang of it, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities.” She handed the bass to Cali. “Here, give it a try.”

Cali hesitated, then took the bass, adjusting it in her lap. She plucked the strings tentatively, her fingers fumbling slightly on the wider neck. “It feels… different. Like I’m learning all over again.”

“That’s the beauty of it,” Gadget said, her voice soft but encouraging. “It challenges you. Pushes you to grow. And when you find your groove, it’s like nothing else.” She reached over, guiding Cali’s fingers to the frets, extending her psych to guide the hands, pushing for strength she did not understand she had. “Start slow. Feel the strings. Let them tell you where to go. Play the middle 4 you know, then step up, step down.”

Cali closed her eyes, letting the vibrations of the bass guide her. Slowly, she began to play, her movements growing more confident with each note. The low B string added a richness to her sound, while the high C allowed her to explore melodies she’d never attempted before. When she opened her eyes, Gadget was smiling.

“See? You’re a natural,” Gadget said. “The 4-string will always be your foundation, but the 6-string? That’s your wings.”

Cali smiled back, a rare spark of excitement in her eyes. “Maybe one day I’ll get one of these. Till then, I’ll stick to what I know.”

Gadget nodded. “There’s no rush. Music’s a journey, not a race. But… I am thinking we can almost afford getting a pair of new basses. And no matter what you play, it’s your voice that matters.”

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==='''The Pawnshop'''===

The Baltimore Subway Metrolink rattled through the tunnels, its fluorescent lights flickering as Gadget and Cali sat side by side. Cali fidgeted with the strap of her bag, her eyes darting to the passing stations. “You sure this place is worth it?” she asked, her voice tinged with skepticism, her mind just a touch in fear.

Gadget leaned back, her arms crossed, a small smirk playing on her lips. “Trust me. This pawnshop’s got a reputation for musical gear. If we’re lucky, we’ll find something special.”

When they stepped off the train, the neighborhood was a mix of faded brick buildings and graffiti-covered storefronts. The pawnshop was tucked between a laundromat and a convenience store, its window cluttered with guitars, amplifiers, and other instruments. A bell jingled as they pushed the door open, the smell of old wood and dust greeting them.

Cali’s eyes widened as she took in the rows of instruments lining the walls. “This place is like a treasure chest,” she whispered, her fingers brushing against the neck of a vintage Fender Stratocaster.

Gadget headed straight for the bass section, her eyes scanning the lineup. She paused, her gaze locking onto two instruments hanging side by side. One was a dark brown Ibanez GSR206 6-string bass, its sleek design and polished finish catching the light. The other was a Dean Edge 6-string bass in a stunning blue quilted maple, its body shimmering like the ocean.

“Cali, come here,” Gadget called, her voice low but excited. Cali hurried over, her eyes widening as she saw the basses. “These are perfect,” Gadget said, lifting the Ibanez off the wall and handing it to Cali. “Feel that. Solid construction, smooth neck. And the Dean? That’s a beauty.”

Cali strummed the Ibanez, the low B string rumbling through the shop. “It’s amazing,” she admitted, her voice tinged with awe. But then she glanced at the price tags and frowned. “Two hundred for the Ibanez? Three-fifty for the Dean? That’s way too much. We’re buskers, Gadget. We can’t afford this.”

Gadget shook her head, her expression firm. “These are worth every penny. A good instrument isn’t just a tool—it’s an extension of you. And you deserve something that can keep up with your talent. These are beat up looking, but I’ll check the works and the sound before buying them. Looks we can fix.”

She walked to a chair by the amps and plugged each in by turns, strummed, picked, and looked them over closely. Cali watched in anticipation. Then Gadget let her sit and handed her the Ibanez. Gadget whispered, "Nothing wrong with them we can't fix."

Before Cali could protest further, Gadget flagged down the shop owner and handed over the cash. “We’ll take both.”

Cali stared at her, stunned. “You’re insane,” she muttered, but there was a hint of gratitude in her voice as she slung the Ibanez over her shoulder.

As they went to leave, Gadget stopped. She walked to a dusty corner of the store where boxes had a wide variety of items, most unsorted. She dug through them, chuckling with delight. She found four plastic recorders, a dozen toy kazoos, three harmonicas, finger cymbals, and some small rattles. Such potential. Gadget thought of her flute, the fine mithril silver flute sitting in Mandalay, shadows away. Recorders and harmonicas would have to do.

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==='''Yard Sale'''===

On the subway ride back, Cali couldn’t stop glancing at the basses, her fingers twitching as if she were already playing them. But when Gadget suddenly stood up and motioned for her to follow at an unfamiliar stop, Cali hesitated. “Where are we going now?” she asked, her brow furrowed.

Gadget just grinned. “You’ll see.”

They walked a few blocks to a quiet residential street, where a yard sale was in full swing. Tables were piled with clothes, books, and household items. She looked to a man coming over to her, "You the one who called?" Gadget nodded, and the man led them into the back of the garage. In a corner, a 5-piece starter drum set sat gleaming in the sunlight. The sign taped to it read: $100 – OBO. and another Sold. He said, "I'll be glad to see that go. My son whined and whined for it for a year. He played it for about a month, then it sat in his room for a couple of years, then in the garage till he left for college. Get it out of my garage, please. I saw ya walking? You can have the red wagon over there for free."

Cali’s jaw dropped. “No way,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. She turned to Gadget, her eyes wide. “Is this why we stopped? For Jax?”

Gadget shrugged, her smirk widening. “He’s been playing on bongos and makeshift kits long enough. He deserves something real.”

Cali’s eyes welled up with tears, but she quickly wiped them away, shaking her head. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? First the basses, now this? How do you even know about this stuff?”

Gadget chuckled, pulling out her wallet. “Let’s just say I’ve got a knack for finding stuff.” She handed the cash to the seller, who helped them load the drum kit into a red wagon he threw in.

Cali stood silently as she watched Gadget's back while she looked through the piles on the tables.

Cali squinted at the pile in Gadget’s arms as they walked back to the car, raising an eyebrow. "Okay, I get the shirts—they’re kinda cool in a retro way—but what are you gonna do with a thousand loose sheets of sheet music and a couple hundred random Polaroids of strangers?"

Gadget grinned, adjusting her grip on the stack of faded photographs. "I have an idea." She tossed the shirts into her backpack. "The music—some of it’s bound to be interesting. We can play around with the arrangements, maybe mash some things up. And these photos?" She held up a random shot of a man in oversized sunglasses standing next to a station wagon. "They’ve got stories. Even if we don’t know them, we can make them up. Give them new lives."

She asked the guy about the Polaroids. "I bought a storage unit. It had some good furniture. But there were boxes of those. Someone's whole life, forgotten." Gadget asked him, "You have more?" He responded with, "Boxes and boxes. Not here though." Gadget told him she would take them all and would come back later to pick them up.

As they made their way back to the subway, Cali walked in silence for a while, her mind racing. Finally, she turned to Gadget, her voice soft but sincere. “Thank you. For everything. I don’t know how we’re ever going to repay you.”

Gadget waved her off, her tone light but firm. “You don’t have to repay me. This is out of our busking fund. Just let me handle Eddie when we get back. He put me in charge of group money, and this is what I did with it. Just keep playing. With both of us on good pieces finally. That’s all I want.”

Cali shrugged, shaking her head as they walked into a parking lot. "You’re weird, you know that?"

"Yeah, but admit it—it’s an interesting kind of weird."

Gadget smirked before disappearing into a hardware store by the subway's stop. Ten minutes later, she came out with a bag full of spray cans. Paint and adhesives.

As they made their way back to the subway, Cali walked in silence for a while, her mind racing. Finally, she turned to Gadget, her voice soft but sincere. “Thank you. For everything. I don’t know how we’re ever going to repay you.”

Gadget waved her off, her tone light but firm. “You don’t have to repay me. This is out of our busking fund. Just let me handle Eddie when we get back. He put me in charge of group money, and this is what I did with it. Just keep playing. With both of us on good pieces finally. That’s all I want.”

"Deal," she responded.

Back at the Station, Gadget wasted no time. She took spray paint cans and started painting designs on the walls. Holden and Eddie joined in while Eddie grilled her about the money.

Jax filled the room with a heavy loud beat on the new-to-him drums, dusting off the years of loneliness from the forgotten instrument. It soared under their new owner's sticks. Cali grew a wide smile seeing her beloved happy.

She cracked open a can of aerosol adhesive, shaking it with a satisfying rattle before coating a section of the wall. "Alright," she said, handing out stacks of Polaroids and sheet music around, "help me stick this stuff up."

The others got to work, pressing the yellowed sheets of music against the walls, overlapping them with faded Polaroids—snapshots of birthdays, vacations, blurry party moments, and forgotten faces frozen in time. The effect was chaotic, a collage of unknown lives and untold melodies.

Gadget stepped back, hands on her hips, surveying the growing wall of history. "Not bad," she murmured, picking up a random photo from the pile still in her lap. She studied it—the faint outline of a woman sitting on a porch, caught mid-laugh, a glass in her hand.

She smirked. "Alright, lady—what’s your story?"

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==='''The Ugly Ferret - Used Gear'''===
The garage of the Ugly Ferret smelled like motor oil, old leather, and stale beer. Fluorescent lights buzzed above, casting a sickly glow over a collection of battered equipment: Marshall stacks with torn grille cloth, Peavey and Fender amps that had seen better days, a tangled mess of cables, and microphones with dented grilles. It was a graveyard of rock and roll relics.

Gadget, her electric blue hair tied back, crossed her arms and surveyed the lineup. She stepped over a coiled snake of dusty XLR cables and knelt by a beaten-up Ampeg SVT bass amp. She tapped the side, and a loose panel rattled. “This thing gonna hold up, or is it gonna catch fire the second I plug in?”

Reggy, a thick-built man with sleeves of faded tattoos, grinned around a toothpick. “Ah, don’t be a wuss. It’s just a little character.”

Wrecker, his wiry counterpart with a permanent scowl, ran a hand over the torn tolex of a Marshall JCM800 half-stack. “Most of this stuff’s better than what you’ve been using,” he pointed out. “We can get better, sure, but it’ll cost, and kinda break character for us, wouldn’t it?”

Gadget sighed and rolled her shoulders before slinging her six-string bass over her shoulder. “Let’s see if this junk actually works.” She plugged in, twisting the worn-out input jack until it settled in place with a crackle. The amp gave a brief hum of protest before Reggy stepped in, adjusting the settings. He turned a few dials, knocked the casing, and muttered something under his breath.

She played a few deep, resonant notes, testing for dead spots. The sound was rough, but not completely unusable. “Eh,” she grumbled. “I’ve played worse.”

Reggy nodded, stepping back with his arms crossed. “I’ll clean up the electrical. Most of it’s just buzz and loose connections. The rest—well, looks are just vanity at this point.”

Gadget exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of her neck. “Fine. But buy two small, inexpensive amps—one dedicated for Tiffy’s electric violin and the uke, another for Eddie’s mic. The rest of our mics can pop off occasionally, but lead vocals have to be dependable.” She gave him a pointed look. “And get a good mic. None of this garage sale shit.”

Reggy smirked. “Demanding, huh?”

“Just making sure we don’t sound like total garbage.”

She looked around, thoughtful. “Also—get a couple outside security cameras in here. I’ll put one of my great cameras up, but the security cams are for show and B-roll. We’ll throw some video clips on the CD. Never can tell.”

Wrecker nodded. “Yeah, not a bad idea. Might as well milk this gig for all it’s worth.”

Gadget slung her bass back over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes at Wrecker. “And while we’re at it—talk to Lucky. Tell him to water down the band’s booze. Especially Eddie’s. He’s getting too much of a habit, and I don’t need him falling off the damn stage.”

Wrecker sighed, rubbing a calloused hand over his face. “Yeah, I figured. I’ll have Lucky keep an eye on him.”
Reggy clapped his hands together. “Alright then, sounds like we got ourselves a damn plan.”

Gadget gave the amp one last skeptical look before finally nodding. “Let’s hope it doesn’t blow up in our faces.”
Wrecker grinned. “Wouldn’t be rock and roll if it didn’t.”

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=='''The Night at the Ugly Ferret'''==

The night of the Stone Bench Group’s first performance at the Ugly Ferret had a strange energy—equal parts excitement, nerves, and underlying tension. The word had spread fast among the people who had seen them play at backyard parties, and a fair number had shown up, eager to see if the SBG could bring that same magic to a real venue. But there were also others in the crowd—some curious, some skeptical, and a few who made the air feel heavier just by being there.

Lucky worked the bar, keeping a close eye on the crowd. He was the kind of man who had seen enough trouble in his life to know when it was creeping in, and tonight, trouble might be lurking in the shadows. He was scared as hell. Maybe it was Wrecker and Reggy and their constant cheerfulness, the jokes they told. The money they had. But he also knew they were easily as bloodthirsty and ruthless as the bikers had been. Maybe worse. But his side room with its two stages had been cleaned by the pair, of the motorcycles, junk, boxes, and years of trash. They had put in lights, wiring, and even passed the city's inspection to get a venue permit.

Ominously as well was the warehouse space. They cleaned it and talked about extending the side area to the back. In the meantime, they had their incredible '57 coupe in there and seemed to live out of its trunk. A pair of cots, a coffee maker, and a fridge. A keg of beer and bottles of booze. A coffee table and their ever-present cigars. The two were not just weird rich killers. They were something beyond his ability to understand. That was scary. But they wanted a dance club and this band to play, so they got it.

Smiley, though unrecognizable in his disguise, sat in a corner nursing a drink, a couple of the old biker girls with him, chatting in low voices. Scattered through the room were members of local gangs, their eyes sharp, assessing, waiting to see what kind of place this would become.

The SBG huddled in the back before their set. Gadget could see the nervous energy in them—Eddie was bouncing on the balls of his feet, Holden kept checking his guitar, Jax had a protective arm around Cali, whispering to her. Tiffy, usually the loudest, was oddly quiet, biting her lip as she adjusted her mic. “You guys got this,” Gadget said firmly, making eye contact with each of them. Holden said, "It really isn't the plaza. This ain't busking."

“Yeah, it’s playing in front of people who might stab us if they don’t like the music,” Eddie muttered.

“Then play like your life depends on it,” Waldo said with a smirk.

Time came, and the Ugly Ferret was packed to the brim, the air thick with the buzz of anticipation and the faint hiss of spray paint cans as the crowd added their own colorful chaos to the walls.

Waldo walked to the front of the stage and sprayed a yellow semicircle in front of the stage, the crowd stepping back as he did. Behind him, the Stone Bench Group took the stage, their instruments gleaming under the dim, flickering lights. Eddie stepped up to the mic, his first time in a real joint. “Alright, Ferrets,” he called out, his voice cutting through the noise. “Let’s make some noise!”

The set started rough—Cali's hands were shaking, and Eddie missed some chords in the first song. Gadget did a bass ZINGER noise for each fumble, to the amusement of the crowd. Jax dropped his sticks. But then something shifted. Maybe it was the way the crowd responded, the way the backyard party crowd cheered them on, drowning out the murmurs of the skeptics. Maybe it was the spray paint event happening around them—cans hissing as people tagged the walls in wild, chaotic bursts of color, marking over the old grime and the ghosts of the bar’s past. The energy in the room changed, and so did the music.

The third song changed it all. A high-energy cover of '''''The Stray Cats’ “Rock This Town,”''''' Eddie’s guitar slicing through the room with razor-sharp precision. Tiffy’s violin wailed like a siren, weaving in and out of the melody, while Jax pounded the drums with a ferocity that had the crowd bouncing. But it was Gadget and Cali on their new 6-string basses that stole the show. Gadget’s fingers danced across the fretboard, her low B string rumbling like thunder, while Cali’s high C added a bright, melodic counterpoint that lifted the song to new heights. The audience erupted into cheers, swept up in the infectious energy.

Next came a surf medley, starting with '''''The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA.”''''' Gadget and Cali locked into a tight, driving rhythm, their basses intertwining to create that iconic surf sound—deep, resonant lows paired with shimmering highs. Eddie’s vocals soared, and Tiffy’s violin added a haunting, reverb-drenched edge that had the crowd swaying like waves. The transition into '''''Dick Dale’s “Misirlou”''''' was seamless, the rapid-fire picking on Gadget’s bass sending shockwaves through the room. Cali, still getting used to her 6-string, held her own, her confidence growing with every note. Try as she could, Gadget could barely get Cali to look at the audience.

Next up was '''''Red Elvises’ “Red Lips, Red Eyes, Red Stockings,”''''' a raucous rockabilly number that had the room shaking. Eddie’s vocals were full of swagger he hadn't known he had, and Tiffy’s violin added a wild, Eastern European flair that perfectly complemented the song’s infectious energy.

Tiffy stepped into the spotlight for her haunting original, '''''“Black Road Away from Home.”''''' Her voice sang with a mournful beauty, weaving a tale of loss and longing that left the crowd spellbound. Gadget and Cali’s basses provided a dark, brooding foundation, their 6-strings adding layers of texture and depth that elevated the song to something truly special.

The mood shifted slightly as they launched into '''''Duane Eddy’s “Peter Gunn,”''''' the iconic riff ringing out with a fresh, gritty edge. Tiffy played the sax line on the violin, giving the piece a fresh, bright note. Holden’s rhythm guitar was rock-solid, while Jax’s drumming added a punchy, almost primal intensity. Gadget took the lead on this one, her 6-string bass adding a deep, resonant growl that gave the classic tune a modern twist.

Midway through the set, Eddie introduced a surprise. “Alright, folks, we’re gonna slow it down for a minute. But don’t worry—it’s still gonna get weird.” He stepped aside as Gadget and Holden walked to the front of the stage, each holding a kazoo. The crowd erupted into laughter and cheers as they launched into a hilariously heartfelt rendition of '''''“Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”''''' Holden’s kazoo playing was surprisingly soulful, while Gadget’s added a playful, almost comedic flair. By the end, the entire room was singing along, their voices rising in unison.

A surprise awaited them after the kazoos as Gadget and Holden jumped into the '''''Time Warp from Rocky Horror Picture Show'''''. Tiffy jumped in to sing for Little Nell's part. The dance number was a classic even after so many years, and the crowd of Ferrets loved it.

Jax got his moment to shine with '''''“Thumpa Thumpa,”''''' a percussive, high-energy Buddy Rich-influenced solo that showcased his incredible drumming skills.

The energy ramped back up with an original track, '''''“Stone Bench Blues,”''''' a rockabilly-infused number that showcased the group’s growing chemistry. Eddie’s vocals were raw and impassioned, while Tiffy’s violin solo brought the house down. Gadget and Cali’s basslines locked into a tight, driving groove, their 6-strings adding a richness and depth that elevated the song to another level. The crowd was on their feet, dancing and clapping along, completely swept up in the music.

With a blistering cover of '''''The Stray Cats’ “Built for Speed,”''''' the room exploded into chaos as the audience sang along at the top of their lungs. Eddie’s vocals were raw and impassioned, while Tiffy's voice in unison with Eddie’s practically brought the house down.

As the set drew to a close, Eddie grabbed the mic, his face flushed with excitement. “You’ve been an incredible crowd tonight! Let’s end this with a bang!” The group launched into a raucous cover of '''''Red Elvises’ “Surfing in Siberia,”''''' the room exploding into chaos as the audience sang along at the top of their lungs. Gadget and Cali’s basses thundered through the room, their 6-strings adding a wild, untamed energy that perfectly matched the song’s frenetic pace. Jax’s drumming was relentless, and Tiffy’s violin screeched like a banshee, driving the song to its explosive finale.

When the last note faded, the room erupted into deafening applause, the crowd chanting for an encore. The Stone Bench Group exchanged grins, their faces glowing with sweat and triumph. They had done it—they had turned the Ugly Ferret into a place of magic, even if just for one night. And as they launched into their encore, a soulful rendition of '''''“Stand by Me,”''''' Gadget couldn’t help but smile. This was just the beginning.

By the time they finished, the crowd erupted in cheers. Even the ones who had been skeptical at first seemed to have been won over. Smiley, still hidden in his disguise, gave a slow nod of approval. The gang members in the back exchanged looks, their interest piqued. Money to be made.

The Stone Bench Group had made their mark. The Ugly Ferret was no longer just a relic of its past—it was becoming something new.

Lucky looked to Wrecker. "We are going to need a staff. This could get messy." Wrecker nodded, "I know a guy."

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[[File:Cali-Gadget.jpg|300px]]
==='''Meeting on the Street'''===

Smiley and his two girls walked the four blocks to where he had parked their battered van.

When they reached it, Reggy stepped out in front. "Smiley, I love what you've done with your hair. Washed it, right?"

Smiley put his hand on his hip, clipping open his draw holster. "Yeah, I wanted to look my best for you." The girls started backing away, the black-haired one slipping a hand in her jacket.

"Lady, I have no qualms about shooting a woman if you draw on me. Let’s take a deep breath and show your hands. If I wanted you all dead, we wouldn’t be talking."

"So, what are we talking about?" Smiley asked. "And you know there is only one of you against the three of us."

"Is that what you think? Look at blondy there." They turned to look, and the green dot on her chest moved a bit, signaling that Wrecker was somewhere nearby.

Reggy said, "Wrecker wanted to talk to you, but he really wanted to drill a .50 caliber BMG through your front teeth much more. Now, in respect to a friend who prefers accommodation to bloodshed, I want to talk about our situation."

"Our situation? You mean you two killing my chapter? I’ve killed my share of dudes, but that was mass murder, you psychopath!"

"Yeah, we did that, but that’s done. So... How do you feel about taking your prospects and your ladies and moving to, say, New Orleans? New York is too close. Toronto? By the way, where are your prospects?"

"I don’t know. They disappeared after your massacre. Did you kill them too?"

Reggy shook his head, "No, we missed them as well as you. Till now. So... What will it be? New Orleans or Toronto?"

Smiley looked up to the roof line where Wrecker swung the green dot to flash in his eyes. He scowled, his hatred growing deeper.

"New Orleans."

Reggy nodded, "Good. You lost your Baltimore privileges. Let the girls know we don’t have wanted posters on them, but finding new places to live can be liberating."

"Can we go?"

Reggy backed away, nodding, letting Smiley have the last word.

As the van drove away, Wrecker came scaling down to the ground and crossed the street, cradling the M82.

"I really should have drilled him."

"After Gadget didn’t kill that huge monster dog, it seemed a little awkward thinking of killing Smiley without at least giving him a chance to flee."

"Sure. Sure. But you know he’ll be back."

"Of course. No chance he’ll stay away. Then he’s fish food."

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==='''Forty Threes'''===

Looking out from the shadows at the Ugly Ferret, the boys of the 43rd Street gang, often called the Forty Thieves as an homage to the movie *Gangs of New York*, watched the crowds of people going into the crappy old bar for a performance of the weird twangy group called the Stone Bench Group.

The bar had belonged to the Blind Reapers for years until their sudden disappearance. The boys didn’t know why but knew they couldn’t find as good a source for their habits. Sucked for them, but life went on. The new popularity of the old Ferret was an opportunity. They had gone to a few of the shows and didn’t understand why people liked these freaks. But money was money.

After the music was going and the people had all gone in, they moved. Running low to avoid cameras recently installed on the outside of the building, they ran past parked cars, sticking long sharpened screwdrivers into the tires on the street side, dragging them along the paint, and occasionally breaking a window. They laughed as they went by, peeking in the cars occasionally. Toward the end, two slipped into minivans and, popping the ignition, hot-wired them, filling the vehicles. They drove away, laughing.

Inside, Reggy watched the screen of a widescreen TV set up in the garage area he and Wrecker used as living quarters for now. The feed was from security cameras set up with a great deal more skill to be hidden from sight. He smoked a Urala cigar and listened to the surfpunk sound from the other room.

"Well?" he said.

Wrecker said, "Yeah. Let them make their play. Maybe we can use them. Twenty-two of the rattlings in the gang. Ten out there. Two stolen cars. Ask Lucky who he would call to fix flats. Talk to Gadget. There are going to be some angry people after the show. She and the group should go out and help change tires, meet the fans, pitch in. Hand out kazoos. Order a thousand kazoos." He handled a kazoo, the top emblazoned with the letters SBG, tooting on it with amusement. Reggy wandered out to talk to Lucky.

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==='''Later That Night'''===

Later that night, the Stone Bench Group was outside, leading a kazoo-a-thon as a dozen garage workers helped car owners replace tires.

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=='''A Few Days Later'''==

A few days later, it was an afternoon when Reggy and Wrecker were taking a break in the bar and chatting with Lucky when two guys entered. They were dressed in casual clothes with an urban chic, but were clearly gang members. Tattoos with the numbers 43 on their necks were telling. Their haircuts were overly detailed, as if it was someone’s hobby to cut them. They wandered to the bar and took seats, looking at Lucky.

"What can I get ya guys?" he asked.

One said, "Tequila, a couple shots each." They collected the shots, taking one each quickly.

The tall one said, "You’ve been getting pretty good business lately, friend. Where did the Reapers go?"

Lucky shrugged, "No idea. They cleared out of here and out of their place over in Dani. I don’t miss them."

Tall guy said, "Without the Reapers around, there sure has been an upturn in crime, don’t you think? Like at the show nights?"

Wrecker and Reggy looked at each other, a small smile on their faces.

Wrecker stood and joined Lucky at the bar. "Lucky, double Old Crow, and a frosty." He sipped the whiskey before looking at the Hispanic gang member. "Yeah, we had some trouble on Saturday. What about it?"

The man shrugged, "Shit happens. Could happen again, maybe even worse. Might be more than just tires."

Wrecker nodded, "And what will it cost to keep you from hassling our customers?" He finished his whiskey, and Lucky poured another.

He drank the other tequila, "10% of the profits on show night. Or next time it’s windows."

Wrecker said, "You know, we could do this differently, but it really depends on your interest in doing nothing for pocket change or doing something for big money."

Wrecker took the tequila bottle and poured each of them another shot, holding the glasses while pouring, letting a tiny slip of rice paper slide into the glass and dissolve before passing them over, talking over the handwork.

"What kind of work?"

Wrecker leaned over the bar, pulling out a small wood box. Opening it, he pulled a medications bottle out and poured the contents on the table. A tablespoon of white powder. Wrecker took a driver's license out of the box and started cutting lines in the powder. Laying the card down face up, he leaned over with a straw and drew in a pair of lines.

The two became very interested and eagerly inhaled the drugs that had been in the Blind Reapers' hiding hole. The first of the two, Juan, inhaled without looking, but the second looked at the card, picking it up. He read, "Nick Haskin, he’s a Reaper.... How did you get this?"

Wrecker said, "I got it after I drilled a hole in his forehead. Keep it. I have others. Lots of others. It is important that you consider just how angry you want to make me, Juan."

"How do you know my name?"

"Ya see," Wrecker said, "That’s something else you should think about. Now, I have a lot of this powder. It used to belong to the Reapers. I’d like to unload it. 10k a kilo. Pure stuff. You stomp on it carefully, it could retail for 35k easily. Or, you let my partner and I do the mix, you take the packets, and we want 17k a kilo. Sell it for what you want."

Juan, starting to feel a slight bit disoriented from the LSD in the tequila, said, "The Reapers always bundled it for us. We paid them out of profits."

"You ever short them?"

"Hell no. Those guys are animals," Juan answered.

"They *were* animals," Wrecker smiled at Juan’s wide eyes.

From the table, Reggy cast the Anatomics cantrip, causing Juan’s companion to start yawning repeatedly, uncontrollably.

Juan nodded at the inevitable, "Ok. Deal."

"Lay off our customers, or your ID will join my collection. Savvy?"

Juan nodded.

Wrecker looked to Lucky, who brought a leather zippered bag out from behind the bar, opening it to reveal bundles and packaged packets. Wrecker pulled out a pewter coin pressing with an X marking, its unnaturally warm. The packets were sealed like sugar packets with Norse runes on them.

"Hold on to the coin. If you get hassled by the police, show them the coin. The fix is in. Now don’t screw me. If you want more, you know where we are."

The two left as the acid started kicking in.

Lucky asked, "What’s with the coin?"

Wrecker answered, "It’s a tracker. Lets us know where Juan is. We’ll follow him and learn about their processes. In the meantime, they’ll leave our customers alone."

Lucky nodded, "Smart. Diabolical but smart. What happens if they get pinched and show the coin to the cops?"

Reggy, coming up, said, "Then we see how well Juan can dance. The cops have never heard of us."

Lucky went on, "Then what happens if they don’t pay off the fronted stuff?"

Reggy knocked on the bar, and Lucky poured the beer the knock ordered. "Well then, Lucky, think of it as evolution in action."

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==='''The Acid Trip'''===

Juan and his companion, Gustov, stumbled out of the Ugly Ferret, the world around them shifting and warping. The neon sign above the bar flickered, its letters melting like wax. Juan clutched the pewter coin, its surface pulsing with an otherworldly glow in his vision.

“What the hell did they give us?” Gustov slurred, his voice echoing as if from a great distance.

Juan’s vision blurred, and he saw the faces of the Blind Reapers staring at him from the shadows. Their eyes were hollow, their mouths twisted in silent screams. He shook his head, trying to clear the hallucination, but it only grew more vivid.

“We need to get out of here,” Juan muttered, stumbling toward their car. But the vehicle seemed to stretch and distort, its doors sliding out of reach.

"It’s going to cost us a lot to get out of their way. Mano, this didn’t work out. But I think if we didn’t take the bag, they would have killed us right there. Fuckers gave us acid. Homicidal fuckers."

As they drove away, the city streets twisted into a labyrinth, the buildings leaning inward as if to crush them. Juan gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. The coin in his pocket hummed softly, a reminder that the SBG was always watching.

Gustov mumbled, "They own us...."

Juan growled, "There are only three of them. How hard could they be to kill?"

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==='''Next Steps '''===

Back at the Ugly Ferret, Wrecker and Reggy watched the security feed, their expressions calm but calculating. The screen showed Juan and Gustov stumbling into their car and driving off, their movements erratic and unsteady.

“Think they’ll stick to the deal?” Reggy asked, leaning back in his chair and lighting a cigar.

Wrecker smirked. “For now. The acid will keep them paranoid for a while. And if they try anything stupid, we’ll know.” He tapped the monitor, where a small blinking dot represented the pewter coin’s signal.

Lucky, who had been quietly polishing glasses behind the bar, spoke up. “You two are playing a dangerous game. Those guys aren’t just small-time thugs. They’ve got connections.”

Reggy shrugged. “So do we. And ours are a lot scarier.”

Wrecker chuckled, taking a sip of his whiskey. “Besides, Lucky, this is just the beginning. Once the Forty Threes realize how much money they can make working with us instead of against us, they’ll fall in line.”

Lucky shook his head, muttering under his breath. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Wrecker looks at Reggy who shrugs.

He says, “About half the time. The other half, well, its been said that ''Adventurer Abounds''. Besides, its all in the reflexes. Hey, Lucky, close up. Join us in the garage. Its time we tell you some stuff that will make you dig in or freak out. Either way, bring a bottle Old Crow when you come back. You'll need it.

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=='''Double Bass '''==

Meanwhile, Gadget and the Stone Bench Group were busy preparing for their next show. The success of their first performance at the Ugly Ferret had boosted their confidence, but they knew they couldn’t afford to get complacent. Gadget sat cross-legged on the floor of the Station, her 6-string bass resting across her lap. She plucked at the strings, experimenting with a new riff.

Cali walked in, her own bass slung over her shoulder. She winced slightly as she flexed her fingers. “What’s that?” she asked, nodding toward Gadget’s instrument.

“Just something I’m working on,” Gadget replied, her fingers dancing across the fretboard. “Thought it might be a good riff for the next show.”

Cali listened for a moment, then grinned. “I like it. It’s got a dark, edgy vibe. Kind of like you.”

Gadget smirked. “Thanks, I think.”

Cali set her bass down and shook out her hands, grimacing. “Ugh, my hands are killing me. This 6-string is a beast. I’m not used to the wider neck, and my fingers feel like they’re about to fall off.”

Gadget nodded sympathetically. “Yeah, it takes some getting used to. But there are ways to make it easier. Here, let me show you.”

She scooted closer to Cali and gestured for her to pick up her bass. “First, you’ve got to adjust your grip. You’re pressing too hard on the strings. You don’t need to crush them—just enough pressure to get a clean note.” Gadget demonstrated, her fingers lightly grazing the strings as she played a quick run. “See? Less tension in your hands means less pain.”

Cali tried it, her brow furrowing in concentration. She played a few notes, then shook her head. “It still feels awkward. My fingers keep getting tangled on the extra strings.”

“That’s because you’re thinking about it too much,” Gadget said with a chuckle. “Don’t focus on the strings individually. Think of them as zones. The low B is your anchor—use it to ground your playing. The high C is your flourish—use it to add color. The middle four are your home base. Start there, then branch out.” She played a simple riff, her fingers moving effortlessly across the fretboard. “Here, try this. It’s a basic pattern, but it’ll help you get comfortable with the extra strings.”

She reached to Cali's hand gently extending the fingers to the proper positions on Cali's sixer but also extending her psyche to channel healing into the hand, a purple stone on a chain hidden around her waist warmed, adding its potent magic. As Gadget rubbed the hand Cali felt the stretching become more comfortable without knowing why. Just Gadget's touch.

Cali mimicked the riff, her movements slow and deliberate at first. Gradually, she picked up speed, her fingers finding their rhythm. “Okay, that’s not bad,” she admitted, a small smile tugging at her lips. “But my wrist still hurts a bit.”

“That’s because you’re holding the neck too high,” Gadget said, adjusting Cali’s posture. “Lower the bass a bit. It’ll take the strain off your wrist and give your fingers more room to move.”

Cali adjusted the strap on her bass, lowering it slightly. She played the riff again, her movements smoother this time. “Hey, that does feel better,” she said, her smile widening. “You’re full of tricks, aren’t you?”

Gadget grinned. “Years of practice. Now, let’s try playing in unison. It’ll help you lock into the groove.”

The two fell into an easy rhythm, their basses intertwining as they played. At first, Cali struggled to keep up, her fingers fumbling on the wider neck. But Gadget was patient, slowing down when needed and offering tips along the way. Gradually, Cali’s confidence grew, her playing becoming more fluid and precise.

The rest of the group soon joined in, and before long, the Station was filled with sound. It was rough and unpolished, but there was something raw and powerful about it—a reflection of the band itself. Eddie’s guitar added a sharp edge, while Tiffy’s violin wove in and out of the melody, creating a haunting counterpoint. Jax’s drumming provided a steady backbone, his rhythms driving the song forward.

As they played, Gadget kept an eye on Cali, offering encouragement and guidance when needed. “You’re getting it,” she said, her voice barely audible over the music. “Just relax and let the bass do the work. Don't over think it, but don't think of anything else.”

Cali nodded, her focus unwavering. She could feel the music flowing through her, the pain in her hands fading as she lost herself in the rhythm. For the first time since switching to the 6-string, she felt like she was in control.

When the song ended, the group erupted into cheers, their faces flushed with excitement. “That was awesome!” Eddie said, slapping Cali on the back. “You’re really getting the hang of that thing.”

Cali grinned, her earlier frustration replaced by a sense of accomplishment. “Thanks. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m getting there.”

Gadget smiled, her eyes gleaming with pride. “You’ll be a pro in no time. Just keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to experiment. The 6-string opens up a whole new world of possibilities. If it helps when we play, think of my bass as the lead and yours as rhythm. We can practice matching it with Eddie and Holden. Same riffs, different keys.”

Cali nodded, her determination renewed. “I will. And thanks, Gadget. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Gadget shrugged, her tone light but sincere. “That’s what friends are for. Now, let’s run through that riff one more time. I think we’ve got something special here.”

The group launched into the song again, their energy infectious and their bond stronger than ever. As the music filled the room, Gadget couldn’t help but smile. It was coming together
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==='''The Ukulele '''===
[[File:Holden and Uk.jpg|200px]]

The group’s impromptu jam session was in full swing when Holden, ever the quiet observer, wandered over to Gadget’s large guitar case. Being a couple now he didn't ask permission when he crouched down, flipping open the latches with a curious grin. Inside, nestled among an assortment of instruments and gear, was a well-worn ukulele. He picked it up, strumming a few experimental chords. The bright, cheerful sound cut through the room, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Since when do you play the ukulele?” Gadget asked, raising an eyebrow.

Holden shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “Since forever. My grandma taught me when I was a kid. She was born in Hawaii. It’s been a while, but I think I’ve still got it.”

He launched into a simple, upbeat melody, his fingers dancing across the strings with surprising skill. The ukulele’s bright, twangy tone added a new layer to the music, giving it a distinctly surfpunk vibe. Eddie’s eyes lit up, and he quickly adjusted his guitar, playing in harmony with Holden. The two instruments intertwined, creating a sound that was both nostalgic and fresh.

Tiffy, never one to be left out, grabbed her flute and joined in, her high, lilting notes weaving through the melody like sunlight on waves. The room filled with the sound of their combined efforts, the music growing richer and more complex with each passing moment.

Gadget and Cali exchanged a glance, then joined in, their basses providing a deep, resonant foundation. Gadget leaned over to Cali, murmuring, “Try this,” and played a simple but effective bassline that anchored the song. Cali followed her lead, her fingers moving more confidently now, the pain in her hands forgotten as she lost herself in the music.

Jax, ever the multitasker, passed around plastic cups of whiskey before settling behind his drum kit. He tapped lightly on the snare, his rhythms subtle but precise, adding just enough structure to keep the jam session from spiraling into chaos. The whiskey made its way around the room, the warm burn adding to the camaraderie.

Waldo, the silent, ever-present muscled roadie, lay on a bedroll by the wall, seemingly uninterested in the music. Gadget’s two huge dogs, Brute and Savage, curled up beside him, their massive forms making him look like a sleeping packmate. Shadow, Cali’s cat, ignored everyone, dozing peacefully next to her owner, unbothered by the noise.

The room was alive with energy, the music flowing effortlessly as the group played off each other. Eddie and Holden dominated the surf tunes, their guitars and ukulele creating a sound that was both playful and intense. Tiffy’s flute added a whimsical touch, while Gadget and Cali’s basses provided a steady, grounding rhythm. Jax’s drumming tied it all together, his light taps gradually building into a more complex beat.

As the song reached its peak, the group fell into a natural harmony, their individual styles blending seamlessly. The whiskey and the tray of green weed on the table added to the relaxed, almost euphoric atmosphere. It was clear they had been drinking more recently, but the music was too good to care.

When the song finally wound down, the room erupted into cheers and laughter. Eddie clapped Holden on the back. “Man, I had no idea you could play like that. The ukulele’s a killer addition. We’ve got to work that into the next set.”

Holden grinned, his usual quiet demeanor replaced by a rare moment of pride. “Yeah, it’s fun. I forgot how much I missed playing it.”

Gadget leaned back, her bass resting across her lap. “This is what we needed. A little experimentation, a little fun. We’re onto something here.”

Cali nodded, her cheeks flushed from the whiskey and the excitement. “Yeah, this feels right. Like we’re finally finding our sound.”

Jax raised his plastic cup in a toast. “To the Stone Bench Group. May we never stop surprising each other.”

The group clinked their cups together, the sound of laughter and music filling the room once more. Even Waldo cracked a smile, though he didn’t say a word. The dogs stirred slightly, their tails thumping against the floor, while Shadow stretched lazily before settling back into her nap.

As the night wore on, the music continued, the group experimenting with new sounds and ideas. The ukulele became a permanent fixture in their jam sessions, its bright tones adding a unique flavor to their surfpunk sound. And though the whiskey and weed flowed freely, the music remained the focus, a testament to their growing bond and shared passion.

Gadget couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as she watched her friends. They were more than a band—they were a family. And with every note they played, they were building something truly special.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==='''Exploring Musical Knowledge'''===
[[File:Sbg-violin.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg-kazoo.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg strings.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg-drums1.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg-violin.jpg|200px]]

As the jam session wound down, Eddie leaned back against the wall, his guitar resting across his lap. He looked around at the group, a thoughtful expression on his face. “So Holden plays the ukulele, and I assume Gadget does too because it’s hers. It’s funny; we’ve been playing around each other and now with each other for a while. What other things do we play? I play guitar, obviously, played standup bass in Jazz Band, as well as tuba and French horn in the orchestra back in junior high. Tiffy’s tried teaching me violin. I can mostly not embarrass myself on harmonica. What else?”

Tiffy smirked, setting her flute down. “Violin, viola, cello, flute, and a number of those like recorder, fife, some woodwinds. Some brass, but I couldn’t get the hang of them. And… ah… well… the piano.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow. “You never mentioned most of those, but… the piano? Are you any good at it?”

She nodded, a small, proud smile playing on her lips. “Yeah, I’m pretty good.”

Jax chimed in, tapping lightly on his snare. “I toyed around with sax but left before I did a lot with it. Played the xylophone a few times. Just like they’re drums, ya know. Did a bunch of other percussion before Cali and I ran off the first time. Ya know, any of us could play stuff like tambourines, maracas, other percussion noise makers.”

Holden added, “Guitar, ya know. Some bass. The ukulele and ah… banjo. I actually started as a little punk on the banjo. But Mom loved that, and Dad hated it. When she died, he got rid of all her stuff, including the uke and the banjo. After that, it was guitar.”

Cali shrugged, her bass resting against her leg. “Bass, some guitar, but I loved the low sound. Jax taught me bongos pretty good.”

They all turned to Gadget, expectantly.

She hesitated for a moment, then said, “Well, mainly kazoo.” The room erupted into laughter and good-natured goading.

“Bass. Lead guitar. Ah… Irish folk harp. Dulcimer. Flute was my first love, but it brings back memories for me I avoid. But recorder, piccolo, fife, a few of the woodwinds. Ya know, a conch might be a good addition to our sound. I’ve tooted them.”

She paused, as if hesitant to go on. “And damn… I’m pretty good on the piano. Spent some time on the road with a hell of a jazz piano player. Learned a lot from him… ah, too much… too much drinking… too much… well, he was the first I let. Not my first, but the first I let…” Her voice trailed off, and Cali reached over, gripping her hand, understanding now why she felt so comfortable with the wild girl; shared grief and experiences.

Holden put his hand on her shoulder. “I hope I get to meet him someday, if he was kind to you.”

Gadget nodded, implying he was. “Holden, if you ever meet him, we will know a hell of a lot more about each other than you could possibly imagine.” She chuckled, thinking of her piano man, the Lord of Chaos.

They talked for a bit longer, sharing stories and jamming a little more before eventually drifting off to their respective corners. Brute, Gadget’s massive dog, wandered over to lie near Holden, while Gadget herself settled down with a thoughtful expression.

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---

==='''Eddie and Waldo’s Conversation'''===
[[File:Holden and Uk.jpg|150px]]

Eddie stepped outside, lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag. The cool night air was a welcome relief after the heat and noise of the jam session. After a few moments, Waldo and Savage, Gadget’s other dog, joined him. Savage disappeared into the night, running off to patrol the area, while Waldo leaned against the wall, lighting a joint. He took a hit and passed it to Eddie.

“Trombone,” Waldo said suddenly, his voice low and gravelly.

Eddie looked surprised. “Really?”

“Yeah. Long arms, ya know. Big sax some. And… tuba.”

Eddie nodded, passing the joint back. “Well, damn, Waldo!”

“It’s Earnest Bluebonnet Pavlovich. Mom called me ''Ernie''; Dad called me ''Pasha''. I like Waldo better, but it was Wart’s idea. Ya know… ‘Where’s Waldo? Go get me some smokes, Waldo…’ I had to make my own way among Wart’s guys. I was never one of his favorites. Got cut out of everything. That probably saved my life because I never touched Cali, and she knows I argued with Wart about her. I got beat down twice telling him to let her go. Gadget killed him, didn’t she?”

Eddie looked at him hard, his cigarette dangling from his lips. “Why do you think that?”

“I tried to tax her that last time Wart got you all. She put me down hard. Like, *hard*, man. I’m a big fucking guy, and she put me down like I was a toddler. Called herself an ‘apex predator monster.’ I had to look that up online to know what she meant. Later… I met Wrecker and Reggy before I came around you guys. They work for her, you know, not the other way around. There’s something just not right about her. Those guys, they’re hard men. Bad hard, like nothing Wart ever was, more like the Blind Reapers were. The Reapers were mean, cruel… killers. Wrecker and Reggy, though? They’re terrifying. And they answer to your bassist. Just so you know, man; there’s something seriously dangerous-crazy about her.”

Eddie nodded, taking another drag of his cigarette. He knew firsthand how right Waldo was. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I know.”

“You saw the Station a couple times while Wart used it. It was a pit. I’m not saying it was clean when we got here, but I lived there. It was a slum-filled torture house out of a movie. Her tied down back there. The place smelled like… you know. It was professionally cleaned, then made to look dirty so *we* could clean it. Dirty, messy, but not Andy Gump, cumdump, rotted meat, sweaty dirty. It was cleaned and staged, man.”

The two stood in silence for a while, the joint passing back and forth between them as the night stretched on. Somewhere in the distance, Savage howled, a long, mournful sound that echoed through the darkness.

“Then there are the dogs,” Waldo said, breaking the silence.

Eddie shivered. “Brute and Savage? I thought you liked them?”

Waldo nodded. “I do. A lot. I had a big dog when I was a kid. My dad killed it. But it’s not just them.”

“Huh?”

“Dude, this is dog land. Wart never left the place except in a group, and he killed more than a few dogs coming and going till they left him alone. I also got around pretty good, but I knew when to walk and where to run. And there were hundreds of them, ya know. The cops stayed out of this area. The city abandoned it. Wart said some guy named Kane told him the owners of the buildings around here were all dead or corporations that everyone had given up on. Cheaper to let them fall apart than tear them down.”

“So the dogs owned the place. Where are they now? We’ve been coming and going for weeks now. I’ve seen a few here and there. You heard Savage a few seconds ago. He wasn’t alone. He had more howling with him. Why aren’t they here? It’s fucking weird. Creepy. Like horror-show creepy. Like in the movie where the group decides to split up and you howl at the screen to stick together creepy. Am I the only one who noticed?”

Eddie looked around, as if for the first time. “Maybe… I never thought about it. I guess I thought Wart had handled them…”

“Look,” Waldo said softly, “I like Gadget. Hell, she saved my life, so I may love her, and I’m grateful. But there’s something just fuckin’ weird about her. That’s all I’m saying, dude.”

Eddie nodded. “Yeah, okay.”

Waldo nodded and went back inside, leaving Eddie alone with his troubled thoughts and his last cigarette.

===''in progress- Holden gadget, hotel''===
Here’s a small scene for you:

The neon light from the motel sign outside flickered against the thin curtains, casting restless shadows across the dingy room. The place smelled of stale cigarettes and cheap disinfectant, the kind that never quite covered up the history of bad decisions made between its walls. It was the bands first out of town gig but the perks didn't include rooms at the Hilton.

Holden sat on the edge of the lumpy mattress, pulling on his jeans while Gadget lounged on the bed, still tangled in the sheets, her electric blue hair fanned out over the pillow. He moved around, picking up their scattered clothes from the floor.

“Here,” he said, tossing her shirt onto the bed before bending down to retrieve her pants. As he lifted them, something tumbled out and hit the threadbare carpet with a soft *thud*. A wallet. It had landed open, revealing something that made his stomach drop.

The badge gleamed under the flickering motel light. *Federal Bureau of Investigation.* Holden’s hands clenched around it as his breath caught. He flipped the ID up, staring at the picture—her picture—next to the name: **Special Agent Rowena Kessler.**

“What the hell is this?” His voice was sharp, disbelief coloring every word.

Gadget, still stretching lazily, turned her head toward him. When she saw what he was holding, her entire body tensed. The playfulness in her eyes vanished, replaced by something colder, more calculating.

“Holden,” she started, voice low, but he was already on his feet, badge still in hand.

“You’re FBI?” His jaw clenched. “What the actual fuck, Gadget?”

She sat up, the sheets slipping down her bare shoulders, but she didn’t reach for the badge. Instead, she sighed, rubbing her temple. “It’s real,” she admitted, her voice softer now. “I’ve been undercover for a while.”

Holden took a step back, his mind racing. “You’ve been lying to me this whole time?”

“No,” she said firmly, finally swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She looked up at him, her eyes steady. “What you and I have? That’s separate from my work. I never lied to you about us.”

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “Then tell me. What the hell are you doing?”

Gadget hesitated for only a second before deciding. “I’m here for Victor Kane.”

Holden’s brows furrowed. “The city council guy?”

“The underworld boss,” she corrected. “He’s running half the crime in Baltimore, and I’m getting close to exposing him.” She leaned forward, her voice dropping. “I need you to keep this quiet, Holden. No one can know. Not Eddie, not Tiffy, not Waldo—no one.”

Holden’s hands tightened around the badge. His world had just tilted sideways, but the way she looked at him—steady, honest, and completely serious—made it clear she wasn’t playing him.

Finally, he exhaled, tossing the wallet onto the nightstand. “You could’ve told me.”

She gave him a small, almost regretful smile. “No, Holden. I couldn’t.” She paused, then exhaled. “But just so you know, Wrecker and Reggy don’t run me—I run them. They work for me, not the other way around.”

Holden’s eyes narrowed, his grip on the badge tightening. Gadget crossed her arms and leaned against the nightstand. “I’ve got a senior agent overseeing things, Lisha. We have… a lot of freedom to operate however we need to.” She glanced away for a second, then back at him. “The original plan was simple: track down Wart’s guys, follow them up the chain, and get a clear line to Kane.”

She gave a dry chuckle, shaking her head. “Didn’t work out that way. I got a little… sidetracked. The music, the band—it wasn’t supposed to be anything more than a cover, a way to blend in. But then, I actually started *liking* it. The guys, the gigs, the late-night jams—it became real. Saying that its different then what i'm used to is a humongous understatement. Reminded me of my dreams before things got complicated. Music. Performing. And for a while, I let myself forget why I was really here.”

Holden swallowed hard, trying to process everything. “And now?”

Her expression hardened. “Now, I’m back on track but i want the music too.”

She stepped closer, voice lowering. “Those guys who have been pushing Lucky around? They’re Kane’s. Low-level enforcers, but still connected. That means we’re already in the game. I just have to work my way up, get closer to Kane’s inner circle.” Her fingers drummed against the nightstand as she thought. “Once I’m in, things change. I stop being the one looking for an opening, and I *become* the opening.”

Holden’s stomach twisted. “And then what? You take him down? Just like that?”

Gadget gave him a long look. “It’s not going to be that simple, but yeah. That’s the idea.”

He let out a slow breath and rubbed his face. “Jesus, Gadget… This is dangerous. Kane’s not just some street thug. He’s got politicians, cops, hell—probably half the damn city in his pocket.”

“I know.” Her voice was calm, steady. “That’s why I need to be careful. And that’s why I need you to keep this secret. No matter what happens.”

Holden looked at her, searching her face for any sign of hesitation. There was none. Just that same fierce determination that had drawn him to her in the first place.

Finally, he sighed and dropped onto the edge of the bed, running his hands through his hair. “You’re asking a lot, you know that?”

She sat beside him, bumping her shoulder against his. “I know.”

He let out a dry laugh. “Figures I’d fall for a fed.”

Gadget smirked. “Figures I’d fall for a guy who could keep up.”

A moment of silence passed between them. Then, softly, Holden said, “Just… don’t get yourself killed, alright?”

She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Not planning on it.”

But the weight of her words hung between them, a silent acknowledgment that plans didn’t always go the way they should.

==Dalt Sniper==
He looked down the sight at his target. It had been a long time since he had done this kind of wetwork but the skills were still there. It wasn't very chivalric but this guy had made his own bed and then shat it.
He followed the target around as he socialized. His stable of girls started filtering out. Anger raised in him. As the began being pawed over by Alverez's guests Dalt decided that Alverez wasn't going to go off alone.

An ahour in he had seen enough. He picked up the burner phone he had picked up in the airport and called 911. He reported hearing gunshots.

Five minutes later he saw police starting to arrive. “Better make this quick”

He sighted his target. Moved to six others on the patio. Alvarez was first.

Dalt decided not to be as vindictive as Reggy wanted. One to the head each would do enough damage.

Alvarez went down hard, flopping backward and breaking a very expensive bottle of Patron. Yellow shirt next, falling sideways leaving his girl to watch. Big ears took his in the ear but it was plenty splashy. Ugly hat guy took his in the nose. Fat Hawaiian shirt guy was slapping his girl and took his round under an upraised arm in the side, blasting explosively out he other side.

By then the party crowd knew the party was over and began to run inside. Number six almost made it indoors when his back erupted out his front. Number seven poked his head up out of the pool one last time.

Three guards came out with fancy customized Ar-15s Dalt was sure they were proud of. They peppered the hell far below him. He didn't see any reason to kill them though they were probably guilty of sampling the merchandise. A shot to each of their knees would probably not be fatal but they would certainly not be running on two good legs anymore.

Putting another clip in her aimed past the mansion to slam shots into police cars. That was enough to freak them out enough. Time to go.

He quickly policed his brass, out of reflex, and then withdrew a trump card.

“Tesara. Pull me through.”

Dalt grabbed the good catholic sicario. He had run out of liquid to piss out and he was really going to want it.

Dalt extended his hand to the girl with colorful short hair on the other side of the open trump gate leading to Ang Ri, an unimaginable distance away, in distance and worlds.

==Big Trouble in a Little Club==
((Rafe comes to help))

==Rafe's Mission==
When the crowds are gone, Rafe slipped out of his chair and walked over to the bar to tip Lucky a 'C Note'. He then headed outside to wander the area... to keep on eye on things, just in case.

He had already informed his crew they were staying for two or three days to keep on eye on things, and that they were to remain low key as they were playing the part of 'plain-clothes security'. He told them not to interact with Gadget or the band unless Gadget initiated the contact. Rafe had also worked a bit of TechnoMagic to give everyone unlimited access to the local cell network on their Society SmartPhones so they could use the local Google Maps to find their way around and not get lost. Rafe also added the location of a few motels and hotels not too far away from the bar; low rent for sure, but not the sleazy hourly kind.

Once Rafe was away from the bar a little ways, he slipped into the shadows of an alley while drawing up the hood of his field jacket. He Changed his Shape to his Elf Form; a full foot shorter, a hundred pounds lighter, better night vision, better hearing, better sense of smell, and more graceful/stealthy movements. He stalked the 'neighborhood' unseen and unheard; sticking to the shadows, moving like a cat on padded feet. He gave the area around The Station a wide berth, watching carefully for Gadget's Pack and making sure to not enter their territory. The night was uneventful; the 'neighborhood' was oddly quiet with only a little random crime around the edges where it butted up against other 'neighborhoods'.

A couple of hours before dawn, Rafe Changed back to his Human Form then made his way to one of the low rent hotels he had suggested to his crew and got a room for the night, paying with the cash Wrecker had given him. His room was on the 4th floor, near the ice machine. The room was small; bed, chair, nightstand, standing wardrobe, single window with a fire escape. The bathroom was the size of a closet with a toilet, a sink and a shower crammed in so tightly there was almost no walk-able floor space. Rafe didn't care; he only needed a place to crash for a few hours. He hung his field jacket over the back of the chair then dropped onto the bed without bothering to undress or pull back the covers.
Rafe oddly felt comfortable in this place where no one knew him, and no one was looking for him. The sounds of the city lulled him to sleep rather quickly.

Rafe awoke to the sound of someone knocking on his door, followed by a female voice saying: “Check out; one hour.” He had overslept. He smiled. It had felt good to sleep soundly. He rose and stretched and decided to skip the morning workout today. He pulled back the covers and rumpled the sheets to make the bed look slept in. He left his clothing wrinkled so they also looked slept in. He used a few reversed Clean Cantrips to dirty up his clothing and shoes. He pulled on his field jacket, added a few stains to it, then turned his attention to his hair and beard. Using his Change Elemental Powers, he lightened his hair color and added streaks of gray to hair and beard. He also added a few more wrinkles to his face and a few liver spots to the backs of his hands. He looked himself over in the mirror over the sink in the tiny water closet, then headed downstairs. He left his key at the front desk then pulled up his hood as he headed out into the streets. His head was down, his shoulders hunched, his hands in his jacket pockets. His gait was slow with a slight limp. He didn't make eye contact with anyone he passed and stayed out of the middle of the sidewalks, closer to the buildings. He went as unnoticed as any other homeless person on the streets that morning.

He made his way to The Ugly Ferret Tavern. Across the street from the bar was a homeless guy sleeping in the doorway of a boarded up building. It took Rafe a few moments to realize it was Gunner in his Human Form; so used to seeing him as a Dwarf, Rafe didn't recognize him, at first. Rafe nodded his head ever so slightly in the direction of Gunner, who 'shifted in his sleep', but made no other outward signs of being conscious... he must have drawn the short straw for morning watch over the bar.

When Rafe entered the tavern he didn't see Reggy and Wrecker in the bar area, but wasn't too worried about seeing them today; he knew if they needed him, they would call him. Lucky was behind the bar, he looked half asleep. Rafe waved for him to not get up, before he could. Rafe headed over to the club side of the building, looking the place over sans people, sans band, sans explosives and assassins. He smiled as he admired the artwork on the walls made by the patrons and fans, artwork he had only read about on his Personal Wiki, until now.

He looked at the now empty stage, then smiled. He pulled his D Harmonica from his jacket pocket as he mounted the stage. He turned to face 'the crowd' as he brought the harmonica to his mouth. He drew in on the number two hole producing a clean sounding G note in the now empty club. He bent the note into an F#, held it a moment, back down to G, bent back to F# then ended abruptly. A brief pause, then he repeats the same four notes. Another brief pause, then Rafe launches into the familiar harmonica intro of The Wizard by Black Sabbath. Ordinarily, Rafe would Technopathically queue up his special karaoke version of the song, to back up his harmonica and singing with guitars and drums.... but this time, he didn't. Instead, he just imagined he was playing with Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. His eyes were closed as he 'listened' to the music in his head and played and sang his parts, Ozzy's, parts. For the first time, he really 'felt' the music, and perhaps, even understood the lyrics better. Not too long ago Rafe had adopted the song as his Personal Theme Song, but suddenly he realized that the song might just be about Mesob. And that Ozzy might have met him, knew him.... could possibly be a Mesobian himself. He shook his head. Something to ponder.

As he pocketed his harmonica, and sat down on the edge of the stage, he recalled something else he had read about on his Personal Wiki. His plans for the day changed in that moment. To an outside observer it appeared that Rafe was staring off into space, perhaps lost in thought, but only for a few moments, then he hopped off the stage with a broad smile on his face...

However, in those short moments, what he actually did was Technopathically access Google Maps via his Society SmartPhone to find local pawn shops that carry musical instruments, then he used Google Earth Street View on each one until he found the one nestled between a laundromat and a convenience store, the one with its window cluttered with guitars, amplifiers, and other instruments. He mapped out a walking route using both public buses and subways to get there. He also included extra stops at other pawn shops that offered 'top dollar' for precious metals; their reviews seemed to back their claims. Rafe needed some extra cash and he didn't feel right about using the money Wrecker gave him, Gadgets's money, for his purchases. When Rafe snapped out of his Techno Trance, he marveled at how little time had passed; his powers as a Technomancer had grown. Being back in a technological world with technology he was familiar with and could mentally access with ease, made Rafe feel, well, almost god-like. He smiled pridefully.

As he left the Ugly Ferret he waved goodbye to Lucky then donned a green baseball cap instead of pulling up the hood of his field jacket as he did before. His posture was now upright instead of slumped. His gait was now quick and purposeful, instead of slow and seemingly aimless with a limp.
He was looking around and making eye contact to show that he was fully aware of his surroundings, instead of looking down and avoiding eye contact. Though he still looked like a dirty, homeless, late middle aged man, he also looked more confident, aware and possibly dangerous; someone to avoid.

As Rafe neared the first stop on his long list of stops that day, a pawnshop, he looked at everyone near the place, he looked at adjacent buildings and alleys, escape routes, dangers and hazards. He did not try to hide what he was doing, in fact, he was purposefully displaying it, but not in a fearful manner, but in the manner of a hunter, a warrior, an 'Apex Predator'. There were a couple of low life Takers hanging around the place, not too close though. When they made eye contact with Rafe, and he make it back, unbroken and unwavering, they looked away quickly, pretending they didn't see him seeing them. He entered the pawnshop unmolested.

Once inside, Rafe saw the usual low dollar items that a pawnshop might have up front, more useful items closer to the cage, expensive stuff behind the bars. The proprietor eyed Rafe as he entered and approached the window.

“How can I help you?” he asked in a not so friendly tone, thinking the 'homeless man' had come to pawn trinkets or trash.

“You buy gold, yes?” Rafe asked, though it didn't sound like a question. He pulled up the brim of his baseball cap as he raised his head and smiled.

The proprietor looked up at Rafe and saw someone he was not expecting; an middle-aged man, hardened by the years, dirty from working, NOT the dirty old homeless man he thought he saw entering his establishment.

“Yes, I buy gold; whatcha got?” he asked, expecting jewelry of some sort; maybe family 'heirlooms'.

Rafe placed two, one ounce gold ingots with the seal of India stamped upon them on the counter between them. The proprietor's eyes bugged out and his mouth fell open.

“You were expecting jewelry, right? Me too.” Rafe chuckled. “When I inherited my dad's piece of shit house with an unpaid mortgage and back taxes and found his hidden safe, I thought it would be jewelry too. Maybe some stocks or bonds. Nope. Pure gold ingots from India. My dad was a secret gold hoarder; who knew? Certainly not me or any of the family. And certainly not the IRS. And I'm willing to take less than market value to keep it that way.”

After a few moments of silence, the proprietor caught on and asked: “How much less?”

“Fifty percent less, but not a penny less... or as close as you can get with the cash you have on hand.” Rafe replied with a smile.

The proprietor did some quick mental math and said: “I've got enough to cover what you've got here.”

Rafe smiled again. “This isn't all I've got here.”

The proprietor's eyes narrowed. “How much have you got?”

Rafe's eyes narrowed. “How much cash you got?”

They both laughed. Twenty minutes later Rafe had five grand in cash, mostly hundreds, and the proprietor had four, one ounce ingots of 99.99999% pure gold, getting the better end on the deal by far. But Rafe wasn't worried about the loss; he was on a mission to spread the wealth.

As he left the pawn shop he saw the pair of Takers 'hiding' in a nearby alley. Rafe took note of them, but not outwardly, and continued on his route to the next pawnshop several blocks away. He made it obvious that he was alert and aware of his surroundings, and when he turned a corner he looked back the way he came... and saw the that two Takers were following him, as he expected, and that they had become four. Rafe was careful not to make eye contact with them, allowing them to think they had gone unseen. Another three blocks and another turn and the four Takers had closed the gap. Up ahead he saw two more Takers look past him, then quickly dart into an alley; the four had become six. Rafe smiled. A few years ago, if he had been in this situation, he would have been scared, maybe even panicked. He would have ran across the street or tried to find a cop, or tried to find some way to escape or find safety. But that was a lifetime ago. He turned into the alley and waited for the prey that thought they were predators to come to him.

(more to come)

=='''Stage Presence'''==

Wrecker and Reggy park their Harley’s outside the Ugly Ferret. A busy day, tricky, but a job well done. Its Miller time. And Jack Daniel time. And Urala time!

As they enter they can hear the argument going on in the stage hall. Walking to the bar they look to Lucky. Wrecker and Reggy knock knuckles on the bar. Glasses and bottles follow.

Wrecker asks, "Whats going on in there?"

Lucky shrugs, "Creative differences it sounds like. Trying to break Cali of that ''passive avoidance'' stage thing of hers. She plays like a monster but won’t look at the crowd, ya know the problem. Eddie and Gadget and Tiffy have been trying to talk her through it. Not having much luck. She keeps getting weepy. Thought she was tougher then that."

Reggy looks to the back, listening, while Wrecker says, "Lucky, we three have not had the bad time she had. Well, maybe you did--how was your time in prison?"

Lucky nods, "ah.. ya…..not that bad I guess."

Reggy starts into the back, pulling aside the curtain between the barroom and the stage hall. Wrecker follows, worried what his partner might do.

Reggy comes and sits on the edge of the stage next to Cali. The move surprises not just her but everyone. Wrecker and Reggy have become part of the background at the Ugly Ferret — they’re starting to become friends with everyone, like they already are with Gadget — but the two are clearly a lot older. No one but Holden and Gadget had said more then a few words at a time to them. All business.

Cali starts to scoot aside, her eyes wide. Reggy softly puts a hand on her leg, gently projecting his calm psyche toward her. Jax stands behind the drums, frowning. Eddie and Tiff come alert too. Holden looks up from his guitar at the sudden silence. Gadget starts to say something, then stops.

Reggy says softly, "Cali, I don’t want to get in the middle of y’alls music, but it sounds like they’re pushing you away instead of helping you." She looks at him — really looks at him, maybe for the first time — seeing the older man there beside her.

"Gadget’s right — you do need to look at the crowd more. Eddie’s right — you’re missing the fun of playing. Jax is right to let you do what works for you. Holden minds his own business — smart, when it comes to other people’s problems. Tiff’s right too — no one’s going to hurt you when you’re with them. She doesn’t even know how right she is."

He says, "Look at me, Cali." She turns and meets his eyes. "If Wrecker or I are here, no one’s going to lay a hand on you — any of you — without walking away with a broken one. I promise. Wrecker and I have seen some shit. And we aren’t in the ''giving a shit about consequences'' business if someone does something to hurt you folks."

He taps her knee lightly. "But listen — the stage is a performance space. You can play for yourself all you want, but the band needs you to participate. Help build the group vibe. So…I have a suggestion. Back in the day, a guy named Jim Morrison used to piss his bandmates off by not facing the crowd — and he was their front man! I saw them — '''''The Doors''''' — in Los Angeles, when I was way too young to be loose on my own. The show was wild — he was in his own world, and people loved it. When he did turn and face them, they went insane."

She sniffles, fighting back tears. "What are you saying?"

"Give the crowd what they want — on your terms. They want a gorgeous girl shredding the bass like a wood chipper. They want an '''''icon'''''. You can be that."

"How?"

"There’s a great song by some hoopy frood wackos from the ’80s. You’ve probably heard them."

Eddie steps forward. "Who? What are you talking about?"

Reggy pulls out his phone and cues it up, slipping the earbuds to Cali.

"Just listen to this. Listen to that bass line. It’s got a front bass, a second bass, a rhythm guitar, hard-thumping drums. Imagine this: you do most of the show like normal, look at the crowd a bit here and there — they start chanting <big>CALI! CALI!</big> like they do… Then there’s a pause. The rhythm guitar hits a few notes. Then you step forward to the front of the stage, looking down that gorgeous chin — you throw your glasses into the crowd and launch into this hard-driving, relentless bass line. '''''Rule the stage. Own the crowd'''''. Eddie comes over and sings right up on you — runs a hand through your hair, under your chin, down your arms. You trust him, but you ignore him."

He smiles, "You ignore the crowd. You own the music. Own the bass — that pounding, front-of-the-stage bass. Now listen."

She slips the earbuds on, head down as usual. He presses play, the sharp, robotic bass riff punching into her ears. She closes her eyes and nods, lost in it already.

After a moment, she looks at the phone and restarts the song.

She does it again — a third time.

Finally, she hands the phone back to Reggy and gives him a shy smile. "I can do that."

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

The set is cruising through familiar songs — the crowd singing along, half drunk, half alive. Then the lights dip. Cali stands alone at the front, head lowered, her dark stylized glasses flashing under the stage lights. But these aren’t the real ones — just cheap knockoffs waiting for the right moment.

The rhythm guitar drops into Devo’s ''" Girl U Want." '' The crowd sort of half recognizing the riff. Cali stays turned, shoulders stiff. On the first pounding drum beat, she spins — sharp, clean — and rips the glasses from her face, flinging them into the crowd. Hands shoot up, fighting for a piece of her.

Her eyes, dark and electric, stay locked just over their heads. Eddie comes in close, singing into her space, tracing fingers through her hair, under her chin, teasing the line. She ignores him. Ignores all of them. The bass is hers — grinding, fierce, owning every note.
Eddie circles her as he sings each line:

<big>'''"She sings from somewhere you can't see..."'''</big> — he slides behind her, leaning in, his breath on her neck.

<big>'''"She sits in the top of the greenest tree..."'''</big> — he moves to her side, one hand tracing just above her shoulder.

<big>'''"She sends out an aroma of undefined love..."'''</big> — he lifts his hand to the crowd, taunting them with her.

<big>'''"It drips on down in a mist from above..."'''</big> — he drops to a knee, looking up at her like a devotee.

He snaps up and turn, pounding the crowd.

<big>'''"She's just the girl, she's just the girl, The girl you want! She's just the girl, she's just the girl, The girl you want !!"'''</big>

Holden stands behind them, hair shrouding his eyes as he hammers the rhythm. Beside Cali, and a pair of steps behind her, Gadget prowls the second bass line, those angular high parts slicing the air. Tiffy moves in and out like a ghost, filling shot glasses and passing them between beats.

Wrecker and Reggy pace the edge of the stage front, arms folded, eyes sharp, grinning at each other when the chant swells:

<big>'''"She's just the girl, she's just the girl, the girl you want!"'''</big>

Eddie leans close on the chorus, his hand threading through her hair, under her chin, never breaking his stare with the front row while she ignores him completely:

<big>'''"Look at you with your mouth watering, Look at you with your mind spinning! Why don't we just admit it's all over? She's just the girl you want."'''</big>

When Eddie sings the final:
<big><big>'''"She's just the girl you want!"'''</big></big> — she tears a ripping tone that shakes the lights.

When the last note hits, she tosses her guitar pick out into the sea of grabbing hands. She turns her back on them all, grabs the waiting shot of whiskey, downs it, and slips her real glasses back on just as the next song kicks in. The spell breaks — but the rumor is already alive: next show, they’ll chant her name louder.

On You Tube find-(/watch?v=e5bqKafk9HA)- wiki wouldn't let me publish a youtube link

==Cast of Characters==
''Click to Enlarge''
{| class="wikitable"
| Gadget, Bass, Lead guitar, Irish folk harp, Dulcimer, Mandolin, Balalaika, Flute, recorder, piccolo, fife, woodwinds, conch, piano, orgaan, accordion, harpsichord.
[[File:Gadget6.jpg|50px]]
| Eddie-Lead Guitar, Vocals
[[File:Gadget Story Eddie.jpg|50px]]
| Tiffy-Violin, Flute,Vocals, viola, cello, flute, recorder, fife, woodwinds. piano.
[[File:Tiffy5.jpg|50px]]
| Jax -Drums, Percussion, xylophone,tambourines, maracas, other percussion noise makers.”
[[File:Gadget Story jax.jpg|50px]]
| Cali- Bass, Guitar. Bongos, Tambourine, Percussion.
[[File:Cali-.jpg|50px]]
| Holden- Rhythm Guitar, ukulele, Kazoo
[[File:Gadget Story Holden.jpg|50px]]
|-
| Waldo -Roadie. Trombone, Bass Sax
[[File:Waldo.jpg|50px]]
| Wrecker- Promoter
[[File:ADV-Wrecker.jpg|50px]]
| Reggy- Comic Relief
[[File:ADV-Reggy.jpg|50px]]
| Lucky-Owner of the Ugly Ferret
[[File:SbG-Lucky7.jpg|50px]]
| Colette -Doctor
[[File:ADV-Colette.jpg|50px]]
| 12
[[50px]]
|-
|}

=='''Album Covers'''==
{| class="wikitable"
| Stone Bench Group
[[File:Stonebench Group2.jpg|300px]]
| Baltimore Times
[[File:SBG-Bt1.jpg|350px]]
| Call of the Wolves
[[x]]
|-
| Night at the Ugly Ferret Live
[[x]]
| The Hollyhock Sanitarium Tapes
[[x]]
| 6
[[x]]

|-
|}
---------------------------
=='''[[working pages]]'''==

Getting the Band Together

2025-06-28T08:23:02Z

Relmopator: /* Rafe's Mission */

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==<big>'''Getting the Band Together'''</big>==

=='''First Impressions'''==
==='''Arrival'''===
She had walked into town six months earlier. It was a busy place, unlike anything she had seen in her travels. Certainly, it was unlike her home. That was something she could never explain to the people she met here. They would think she had just arrived. Her explorations had been low-key, like a lost puppy. Other cities. Learning languages, manners, cultures. She had to fit in when she got where she was going. Little things went away or were replaced. In time she was ready for the job at hand.

The heavy guitar case needed to look like it was once well cared for, but time and rough living had stained it. Covered in travel stickers she had collected. It was unusually thick since it carried her 6 string bass guitar, a 6 string Fender lead, a ukele, a recorder, and a piccolo. It carried more then that but no one was going to see that.

Her backpack looked like something used a decade ago, large and deep, a grown man's hiking backpack but its hidden depths made it worth it. It was big enough for the beatup gear it carried as well as its necessities and treasures. Paper money and a few gold coins. Her pack had a few practical items. Notebooks filled with songs and music. A cellphone with more music than she had ever heard, but her father had insisted. If she had left it behind, she would have been running away from home. If she took it, she was just traveling.

Her jeans were patched and fraying, her loose shirt faintly smudged with dirt. Her hair—that was a crime, cut and dyed blue, but it was necessary. Less bathing. Her mother would have been annoyed to see her.

The careful disguise had worked well enough: she looked the part of the drifter, the runaway. But under the surface was something sharper, something the average observer wouldn’t see. A hunting knife hung on her belt, and deeper in her pack rested her father’s .45 and ammo—a weight she carried with purpose. She didn’t plan to use it. But then again, planning wasn’t always her strong suit.

She found a shady spot under an oak tree where she could see the musicians take turns performing. The crowd’s reactions told her everything she needed to know—who played for passion and who played for desperation. Gadget leaned against the tree, watching, listening, and feeling the pulse of the park.

It wasn’t long before someone noticed her. A boy, maybe the age she portrayed, with unruly hair and a guarded expression, walked over and sat down beside her, uninvited but not unkind.

“Hey,” he said, nodding toward her guitar case. “You looking to play?”

She hesitated. “Yeah.”

“Well, just so you know, in this stretch, Tiffy’s up now, then I’m next, and Jax gets lunch. Cali is missing, and we are worried about her. Holden would be after her, but he hasn’t shown up today. After that, it’s you, if you’re still here. We’ve got a system.” He smirked faintly, but his eyes were serious. “We all gotta eat.”

“Got it,” Gadget replied, her voice measured. She didn’t need to explain herself yet.

“I'm Eddie. Edwardo, technically,” he said with a half-grin. “Parents thought it was funny. And you?”

“Do I find it funny?”

“What’s your name, new girl?”

“Gadget.”

“Really? That’s what you’re going with? People usually pick something easy, like Gail or Ginger.”

“Gadget’s fine,” she said, unmoving. “Nice to meet you.”

Eddie shrugged. “Suit yourself, Gadget. You new to the city?”

She nodded. “More or less. Wandering mostly. Stayed at the mission for a night.” She paused, shuddering. “That place isn’t what I expected.”

Eddie gave her a knowing look. “Yeah, the mission’s rough. Better to stay in the open if you can. But, you know, stay visible. Shakers come out when you’re alone.”

“Shakers?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Shakers are takers,” he said, gesturing toward the park’s edge. “They roll in, act like they belong, and take what’s ours. They don’t care if you’ve got a spot or if you’re trying to eat. Stay sharp, Gadget.”

She nodded, filing away the warning.

Eddie continued, “Listen, you can wander off if you need to, but be back when Jax is done, or someone else’ll jump in. Holden’s been known to push his way in, but if you stand your ground, he’ll back off. He respects the system, even if he pretends not to.”

“And Cali?” Gadget asked, catching the name from the murmurs earlier.

Eddie frowned. “Cali’s...well, she hasn’t been around. Missed a whole week. She’s in trouble, and we haven't been able to find her. Till we hear something, she’s gotta sort it out herself. That’s how it works.”

Gadget didn’t reply, but her mind turned. Trouble had a way of finding people like her, and she wasn’t sure yet if Cali’s story would intersect with her own. For now, all she could do was wait. And watch.

The guitar case at her side felt heavier now, but not with dread. With purpose. If the park was a stage, she’d play her part soon enough.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

=== '''First Day at the Plaza'''===
She listened to Eddie play for the mid-morning crowd as they cut through the park, going from one tall building to another. He was as good as she remembered. Though maybe not quite as good yet. Style would come in time. Besides, it was Tiffy who blossomed, if they survived.

Eddie had come over to her earlier. “Ah, Gadget. You said you’ve been wandering around? Don't wander south of here. Bad area. Forty Thieves... Actually, the Forty Threes, 43rd Street gang. Fucking takers. Over by the river is a nice place in the summer. Cold as hell this time of year, but there’s a more or less permanent encampment of old timers there. The city comes through and cleans it up sometimes. Gives them time to get their valuables out, then trashes whatever they had been living in. Twice a year. Shows the uptowners they are cleaning the place up. After that, some do-gooders come by and drop off new tents, mattresses, and blankets. The hawks stay away from there because the police got no concern if one or two kiddie pimps end up in the trainyard. Some of those old timers are ex-military and ain’t shy about it. But, some are almost as bad as the hawks. They won’t rent you out, but they will trade warmth for wetness, ya know. Better off finding a squat.”

“You and Tiffy got a squat?” Gadget asked.

“Yeah...but...it’s tight...sorry...I can't help with that. The East industrials by the train-yards have a lot of junkies and packs of wild dogs... You can sleep there, but the temptation is too strong for people. Temptation to use, temptation to steal.” The usual crowds went back and forth with little or no regard for the desperation they passed through. They thought themselves generous if they tossed the change from a six-dollar cup of fifty-cent coffee.

Eddie wandered over to sit as Tiffy finished her set. Gadget wondered if they thought of it in terms of 'Set' yet.

Eddie started playing. Riffing really. Loud, to get attention. He had endurance, Gadget thought.

A couple of hours went by, and Gadget spent it looking over the place, walking around, and getting a feel for the square and its regulars.

A coffee shop, a waitress looked out the window at the buskers sadly. Grief and gratitude. She had escaped the life. A newsstand. No reading. A fat man watched a little TV and collected money. He thought he was sly to slip alcohol from a flask into what was probably coffee.

A Little Caesar’s Pizza. Classic cardboard pizza. The clerk. Another survivor. A paycheck away from being on the street again. Squats. Can’t make rent.

A laundromat. Customers only. A walkway to the parking lot.

A liquor store that looked like a prison with bars and locks.

A big youth came running like he was being chased through the plaza. No one behind him.

He ran past Eddie and Tiffy. Jax had already gathered his blanket and put his arm through loops and was moving. He jumped down stairs only to stop. Tiffy and Eddie were almost up when the runner came walking over to them, hangdogged.

Up the stairs came four guys and a girl. Toughs. Shakers for sure. Their clothes only looked a small bit better than the people they shook down. They walked straight for the three.

Suddenly, she felt a shoulder hitting her from behind, walking past. A big guy, 19, scared and cruel. A follower. He looked back at her, saw the guitar, “I don’t know you. Tax ya later.”

He walked to the top end of this part of the plaza. Another coming in from the parking lot. Jax walked ahead of him, being pushed.

Behind her, two more. The ones the runner was fleeing from. Into their trap, it seemed.

Gadget touched a knob on her hearing aid, and she heard better.

The big guy in front. Army boots. New. “I don’t give a fuck, Eddie. Starve. Fork it over. Hey, Tiffy, you can keep your money for a little help with handsome.”

Eddie scowled, stepped between him and Tiffy, bravely but foolishly. He handed over a wad of bills.

“That’s both of ours...a day’s work, Wart.”

Big Wart... Good. Now I’ve seen him. “Not for me, it wasn’t. All fun. Maurice will fork over a couple hundred for a couple hours with Tiffy.”

Eddie said nothing, smart for once.

Jax said he hadn’t played yet, he didn’t have any money. Wart’s number two grabbed Jax’s bongo drums, and the two struggled. Eddie intervened and got a punch in the face from Wart. Little Wart held Jax’s drums.

“That was stupid, Eddie. Jax, five bucks, and you can have your drums back for tomorrow. Or wet trade. You know where we will be.”

Lastly, Wart turned to the runner. “Holden, you are the stupidest fuck I know. You got taxed, and instead of just playing elsewhere, you tried to warn Eddie and the Stone Benches group.” He said it with an air of mockery.

Gadget smiled for other reasons when she heard Wart’s jab. She was in the right place and time.

Wart laid a smack across Holden’s face, and Little Wart punched him twice in the belly as he fell.

The shakers moved along, laughing. This couldn’t be the only way they made money. Shaking down buskers. Cali... They had her someplace. Making money off her.

Tiffy started crying after the gang had gone. Jax, probably only 13 himself, started sniffling, trying to be tough. Tiffy must have been 14. Eddie would have been 16. Holden 17. Cali would have been 13, if she lived.

Walking over, Gadget heard without the spy ear.

“Those assholes,” Eddie said.

Jax said, “Let’s see if Dearly will spot us a blue plate special or two... it’s been long enough.”

Eddie shook her head, “Can’t. Bossman is there.” Jax whimpered.

She walked up, “Those are the takers?”

Eddie nodded, “Not their name... Just Wart’s guys. They got you, too?”

She shook her head, “That big guy said he would tax me later.”

Holden said, “That’s Waldo. Wants people to call him Eastwood, but Waldo is his name. Big, tough, strong, and mean. One of Wart’s muscles.”

Eddie put his arm around the whimpering Tiffy.

“We ate yesterday. Holden? Jax?” They both shook their heads.

Gadget said, “You all squat together?” Eddie looked at her, confirming, thinking they had to find Cali.

She said, “If I can squeeze into your squat, I’ll get pizza. A couple from that place.” Pointing to Little Caesars. Jax looked at her, then Eddie. Holden looked too. Silent agreement.

“Alright. We should go. If we set up again and start playing, they’ll come back. Today is over.”

Gadget said, "Where do I meet you? I have an errand to run before getting food.”

Eddie gave her directions for four blocks away. “You’ll see a tall water pipe on the side of a building. Painted blue. Hit it a few times, and one of us will come get you.”

She nodded. “An hour at most.”

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==='''Observations'''===

Gadget walked back into the square to get her gear, the familiar rhythm of the park unbroken by the earlier scuffle. People moved about as though nothing unusual had happened, their lives tuned to a frequency that filtered out the kind of trouble she had just witnessed.

She had seen this before in other cities: a practiced indifference to the small tragedies that played out in the corners of urban life. The regulars had walked past the shakedown, unconcerned. Not their problem. Not worth their notice. Even the lack of music didn’t seem to faze anyone. The world kept spinning, and the square moved with it.

Her first stop was a liquor store tucked into a crumbling block of mismatched businesses. The door jingled as she entered, and she felt the clerk’s eyes snap to her immediately. His stare followed her down the rows as she browsed. Gadget ignored him, picking out a flask-sized bottle of whiskey first, then a larger one to refill it. She added a handful of tiny bottles at the register, their colorful labels gleaming in the harsh fluorescent light.

The clerk leaned against the counter, arms crossed, his expression dripping with disdain. “Are you high or just stupid?” he sneered. “Alright, let’s do this. Everyone sing along—*La la la! I have to see some ID!*”

Unbothered, Gadget pulled a crisp hundred-dollar bill from her pocket and laid it on the counter, meeting his gaze with a calm, steady intensity. “Even if I kept the change,” he added, “it’s not worth it without ID.”

She sighed, pulling a slim wallet from her jacket. Opening it just enough for the clerk to see, she watched his eyes widen. The disdain melted into something closer to disbelief.

“Ah... really?” he asked, his tone shifting.

She tilted her head slightly. “I can depend on your keeping it a secret?”

He nodded quickly, his earlier bravado gone. He took the money without another word, bagging the bottles with newfound precision. Gadget took the bag without a thank-you, already moving on.

Her next stop was Little Caesar’s, the faint smell of grease and cheap cheese filling the air before she even entered. The bored teenager at the counter barely glanced up as she ordered four $5 pizzas. She stacked the boxes into a canvas bag, not bothering to align them perfectly. As the bag settled, the pizzas slid, the cheese and toppings undoubtedly pooling at one end of the boxes. She didn’t care. These weren’t about taste.

The park waited as she walked back, her steps deliberate and her mind turning over what came next. Her earlier encounter had shown her more than she expected—not just about the park’s pecking order but about the invisible lines drawn between those who were struggling to survive and those who chose to ignore them. She wasn’t sure yet where she fit into this city, but she’d carve out a place soon enough.

The liquor and the pizzas? They were tools, not comforts. Small investments in goodwill, in leverage. She wasn’t here to play by the rules. Gadget didn’t play by anyone’s rules but her own.

The alley was narrow and quiet, save for the distant hum of city noise. The faint tang of rust and damp concrete filled the air, mingling with the aroma of greasy pizza wafting from the canvas bag Gadget left on the ground. Her ears tingled with the primal electricity of the moment, a sensation she had come to trust. The hunter had become the hunted, and she was more than ready. She set down her guitar and her bag.

[[File:Waldo.jpg|200px]]

Waldo strode into view, his swagger full of self-assurance, the kind that only came from countless successful shakedowns. He grinned as he saw her, his eyes scanning her up and down like she was already his.

“Well, I didn’t think taxing you would make me rich! Booze and food. Fork it over. And any cash you got,” he said, closing the distance without hesitation. Gadget stepped toward him calmly, her expression unreadable. She didn’t flinch as he reached for her with both hands, his grin growing wider as he added, “Maybe a kiss or a fu—”

The rest of the word was swallowed by a sharp, guttural cry as Gadget grabbed his wrists and drove the steel toe of her boot into his groin with the force of a sledgehammer. The sound he made was almost pitiful as he doubled over, but she didn’t stop. Another swift kick sent him crumpling to the ground like a ragdoll.

Before he could recover, she shoved him onto his back and straddled him, delivering two quick punches to his stomach with precision. Waldo gagged, his breath coming in choked gasps. Gadget leaned in close, her voice a low, dangerous growl, her mind reaching out to touch his, instilling fear of her deep in his memory.

“Now, don’t you throw up,” she warned, her tone ice-cold. “All it’ll only make you messy and me pissed off. Look me in the eyes.”

Waldo’s watery gaze met hers, and for the first time, his bravado cracked. Her psyche slammed into him as hard as she could force it.

“You think you’re tough?” she continued, her voice steady but sharp as a blade. “The universe is filled with monsters that wouldn’t blink about squashing you like a potato bug. And I am goddamned well one of them, Waldo. I the apex predator monster around here now. So... you belong to me. Unless you want me to make sure you never get an erection again. We understand each other?”

He nodded frantically, his face pale.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Gadget said, sitting back slightly. “Where’s Cali?”

“Wart has her,” Waldo croaked, his voice hoarse. “He’s got her up at the Station… Passed out last I saw.”

Gadget studied his face for any sign of a lie, then nodded. “The Station. Eddie knows where that is?”

Waldo nodded again, his head bobbing weakly.

“Good.” Gadget stood, brushing herself off. “Now, you go away. Not to the station. It won’t be safe there tonight. Do you understand me?” Waldo nodded once more, trembling as he scrambled to his feet.

She stepped back to her bag and pulled out a pizza box. Opening it, she pulled out three slices and held them out to him. “Here. Just to show I’m not… well, totally a bitch. Remember: don’t go to the station. Don’t tell Wart. And don’t piss me off. Now go.”

Waldo hesitated for a split second before grabbing the slices. He staggered off, clutching the greasy pizza with both hands, his steps uneven but quick. He didn’t look back.

Gadget watched him disappear down the alley, then picked up her bags. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth as she murmured, “Everyone’s gotta eat.”

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=== '''Squatting'''===

She found the pipe and knocked on it. She waited only a few moments until Holden peeked his head out.

“We were worried you were followed.”

“I was, but it’s okay. Let’s go inside.”

She followed Holden down a short alley to a pried-open side door of an industrial building. The interior showed a lack of traffic. The path made several turns before ending at a dead end. Above were large pipes passing through. Water pipes, probably. On the west wall was a concert poster in a language Gadget did not know.

Those huddled near each other were Eddie, Tiffy, and Jax. A single candle put out light if not warmth. They shivered under blankets, and their breath came out in fog.

They looked up as Gadget entered. Eddie said, “Glad you made it. We were worried.” They looked at the pizza boxes in anticipation.

Eddie went on, “Cali is usually between Jax and Holden, if you don’t mind.”

Gadget moved close to Holden, between him and Jax. She couldn’t tell herself yet, but her pack nature was already forming, even after so little contact. Holden might be the lucky one.

Gadget nodded, taking the top pizza box with the missing pieces, slipping the other three to the group. She pulled out a large bottle of Tabasco that she liberally put on her pizza. The others eagerly grabbed the other boxes. They relished the pizza, a good meal for them. Jax reached for the Tabasco, looking to Gadget for permission. She smiled and handed it to him.

Looking around, the dead end had much to recommend it. Defensible but without an escape route. Out of the elements, sort of. Frigidly cold. Too cold, as she thought about it. It was winter, but the weather outside was hardly cold enough to warrant the cold inside.

“What’s on the other side of the building?”

“Meatpacking plant. It’s why it’s so cold in here. But the squat is too good. Out of the elements and deep enough not to be easy for takers to find unless led here. Holden used to squat here before.”

She reached into her pack and pulled out a small backpacking ring of stainless steel to curious eyes. Popping the lid, she pulled a lighter out and a bit of newspaper. She wrapped coal with the paper and lit it, starting the stove’s fire. The flickering fire caught and warmed the area slowly.

They turned to huddle around the fire in gratitude and surprise. “I’ve been camping a lot,” she explained.

The small area began to heat as they returned to eating. Silence filled the room as they ate. She looked around the space. A bright poster on the wall was in Russian, she thought. Rafe might know what it said. Being a music aficionado, he might know the band anyway. Maybe someone else in the huge Adventure’s Society would know. Time would tell.

While they huddled under blankets that had seen better days, their overcoats were neatly hung for drying. The candle put out light but little heat. Looking up, the ceiling must have had vents somewhere. It was why the space had so little heat. This place wouldn’t do. Not for seven or eight people, as her plans for the group developed.

Gadget stood after they finished eating. “Eddie? Can I speak to you for a moment?”

The two walked out to turn down the hall, out of sight of the others.

“I spoke to Waldo. He tried to tax me, and we came to an understanding. He says Cali is at someplace called the Station. Strung out and in trouble.”

Eddie cursed, “Damn... damn. The Station? Shit... SHIT!... That’s an abandoned gas station at the edge of the industrial area. There’s a huge dog pack that lives there. Used to be security dogs that went wild when the plants closed. Abandoned warehouses mostly. No one squats there because the dogs are vicious. Probably a hundred of them. The city gave up on that whole part of town. South of the railroad and the freeway. Shit... this sucks.”

“Dogs, you say? Vicious ex-guard dogs and their get, I imagine. Good to know. How many people would he have there, this Wart guy?”

“Five maybe, a couple more. Depends where they are in their raiding.”

“How do they handle the dogs? Will you show me where this is?”

“Carefully, I imagine. Sure, I can show it, but why? Do you have an idea? If we could get them to come out chasing me, you might be able to get her out.”

“Do any of you people fight?”

“Holden can land a punch. Jax can fall down and take them for a while. Tiffy, not so much.”

“How tough are these guys? How long have they been around?”

“Tiffy and I have been here about a year. Holden a couple of years. Not sure about Jax and Cali, but longer then Tiffy and I. Wart and his guys have been terrorizing people since grade school, I hear. He’s beat us up several times. Beat Tiffy and I pretty bad when we first got here 'cause she wouldn’t put out. Holden hates them. I think he had run-ins with them before. I know some of the businesses in the plaza lock their doors when they wander in. One of their parents is a cop.”

“Okay, show me this station.”

“Ah... okay... if you’re sure.”

She nodded and followed him as they crossed town.

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==='''Dogs'''===

Looking over at a vacant gas station tucked between industrial buildings, Gadget saw lights on in the building but none outside. The walls were covered with graffiti. The windows were covered in newspaper on the inside.

Gadget asked, "Will they have a lookout, you think?"

"No idea. But they probably depend on the dogs. When I start running, I’m going to run back the way we came in. Stay away from the dogs. I'm going to circle around and see if any of them are outside."

Eddie headed off, walking far to the east. .

She pulled out her cell phone and made a call. “Gadget. Wants and warrants on a Wart and known associates. Especially wants and warrants on an associate named Waldo. Police tours in the area of Third Street and Hunsiker Avenue. Yes.” She lit a cigarette and puffed it while she waited.

“Yes. Alright. Route police at least a mile from this location. Okay. Okay. Okay. And Waldo... Okay. Gadget down.”

She watched for any of the gang members returning.

The air around the vacant gas station grew heavier, the tension palpable as Gadget watched her surroundings with predatory focus. The graffiti-covered walls seemed to close in, the windows’ newspaper coverings adding a claustrophobic feel to the eerily quiet industrial zone. As Eddie vanished into the distance, her instincts prickled with the unmistakable feeling of being watched—or perhaps stalked.

Then she smelled them. Dirty dogs.

The dogs were close, their musky scent mingled with the faint metallic tang of rust and oil. Gadget pivoted, slipping behind a building with a crumbling wall, her heart steady but her senses sharpened. From the shadows, three shapes emerged: large, muscular dogs, their eyes reflecting the dim light like embers in the gloom.

The leader—a scarred, thick-furred savage with torn ears—moved forward first, his posture radiating dominance. Behind him, two slightly smaller dogs fanned out, their growls rising in anticipation. The pack began to circle her, their intent clear.

Gadget exhaled slowly, her father's teachings resonating in her mind. She didn’t run. Instead, she dropped to all fours, her movements fluid, deliberate. She raised her hips, her posture bold and challenging. Her eyes locked onto the leader’s, refusing to break the connection. The world seemed to fall away, leaving only the primal, unspoken dialogue between her and the animal.

The leader snarled, testing her, his hackles raised. Gadget bared her teeth and growled low and deep, channeling every ounce of her willpower into the sound. It wasn’t just noise; it was intent, a projection of dominance and confidence that tapped into the primal currents of the canine psyche.

The other two dogs faltered, their growls cutting short as they glanced at each other, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. The leader hesitated, his head lowering slightly, torn between instinct and her overwhelming presence. Gadget growled again, a commanding sound that brooked no argument. The leader stepped back, his defiance faltering under the weight of her gaze.

Then it happened. With a whimper, the leader dropped to his belly, his body language one of submission. Gadget moved forward on all fours, her movements deliberate and measured. She sniffed at the leader, solidifying her claim. The two remaining dogs quickly followed suit, rolling over with their tails tucked.

Gadget straightened and rubbed the leader’s belly, her touch firm but acknowledging his surrender. He rolled to his haunches, sitting obediently, awaiting her command. She rubbed her cheek against him, radiating love of him. Love he had never known till now. "I'll call you Savage."

She greeted the other two the same, feeling them give up their devotion.

Focusing her awareness, Gadget channeled her intent, pushing it outward like a wave. Her thoughts took form, her message clear: “Tell the rest I am coming soon for them. Tell the pack leader.”

The dogs responded instantly, bolting into the shadows without hesitation. Gadget stood and dusted herself off, exhaling slowly. The pack was hers now—or at least, they knew better than to challenge her again.

As the shadows settled once more, Gadget turned her attention back to the gas station. It was time to finish what she started.

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=== '''The Station'''===

A few minutes later, Eddie returned, carrying a half-full 40oz bottle. “No one there. The door is on the west side. Okay... probably won’t be locked. We sneak up. I’ll open the door and yell at them. I’ll throw this bottle of... beer... piss... at them. They’ll chase me out. Especially if I hit Wart. While they’re chasing me, you go in, find Cali, and get her out of there. I’ll run them as far as possible. I’m pretty sure I can outrun them.” He said it uncertainly but with determination.

“Sounds good. Let’s go.”

They sneaked up to the station, going around to try peeking in the windows, finding them taped shut. The industrial buildings surrounded the station and shadowed it from the sun. She looked it over and figured it must have several rooms inside. Two bays in the garage. Six empty gas pumps. A good squat.

Eddie shook his head, looking terrified but determined. He reached up and grabbed the door handle, opening it quickly and stepping in.

Eddie looked around the room and saw the surprised look on Wart’s face. "Look! Eddie’s come to sing for us!"

Eddie yelled raspingly, “YOU FUCKERS!!!!! WHERE’S CALI!!!????” He threw the bottle and hit Wart in the chest, splashing him liberally.

Behind him, Gadget stepped in.

The men jumped up as one to chase Eddie. Eddie turned and bumped surprisingly into Gadget.

Gadget put her right hand on his chest, pushing him hard against the door jamb. With her left hand, she raised a .45 automatic.

The young men stopped. Wart said, "I don’t know you, but pointing a gun at me is going to get you slung up in our back room, Blue."

She looked around the room at the squalor. Cigarettes, beer, takeout boxes. The smell of sweat and male testosterone. Somewhere was the smell of desperation and semen. Her hackles rose.

She regarded the men. She could feel their anger. She looked at Eddie, as her hand pressed him to the door-jam. Fear. Shock. Uncertainty.

"That thing looks like a cannon in your hand, you stupid slit. Put that down, and I might let you walk to the bedroom rather than beat you down and make Eddie watch us."

The loud crack of the gun echoed in the room, shocking everyone except Gadget.

Gadget tracked from left to right, putting a round into each of the chests of the gang members. Eddie’s eyes went wide in shock.

Gadget stepped into the room, slowly walking to each man, kicking them for life signs. Wart was last, looking up in despair. "No!!! Please!!! No!!!" Gadget fired again.

She turned to Eddie, “Find Cali.” He staggered past her, walking past the dead into other rooms.

Gadget moved among them, taking wallets, cash, and jewelry and stashing them in her pack. Weapons she quickly put into plastic ziplock bags and put them into her satchel. She looked over the table and grabbed several bags of green herbs. She walked around the room and found a backpack, looking in she found several kilos of pressed powder.

She stood and went to each of the dead and took a picture of each with her cell phone.

She made a call. "Gadget. Targets Neutralized. Send in the Cleaners."

Eddie came out carrying a limp girl. She was bruised and sweaty, dirty, and clearly had been abused. Nude, of course. He was white as a sheet, a mixture of awe and terror. Gadget stepped to a couch and shook off a comforter. They put her into it, wrapping her.

"You killed them," Eddie stammered, his voice cracking as his mind struggled to reconcile the woman beside him with the efficient, lethal force he had witnessed moments ago. "How could you?"

Gadget didn’t flinch at the accusation. Her gaze remained fixed ahead, her steps even and deliberate. Her voice, when it came, was calm, devoid of the chaos that lingered in Eddie's mind. "How? Efficiently," she repeated, her tone as cold and deliberate as her actions.

The weight of her words struck Eddie harder than the gunshots, leaving him speechless. The horrors of the room behind them—the blood, the screams, the sharp finality of death—clung to him like a suffocating fog. But there was no hesitation in Gadget, no regret in her stride. To her, it was necessary. Clean.

They crossed the empty road, the cracked asphalt beneath their feet a reminder of the desolation that surrounded them. The industrial skyline loomed like a graveyard of forgotten ambitions. Gadget kept her hand on her satchel, its contents jingling faintly—a collection of stolen wallets, weapons, and evidence now safely in her possession. She knew every item had a purpose. Every detail served a larger goal.

Eddie's steps faltered as he glanced down at Cali. Her face, bruised and streaked with grime, remained slack and lifeless. But there was a faint rise and fall to her chest, a fragile confirmation that she was alive. It was enough for now.

"You didn’t have to kill them," Eddie murmured, his voice barely audible.

Gadget stopped abruptly, turning to him with a gaze sharp enough to cut through steel. "Yes, I did," she said firmly. Her tone left no room for argument. "They were predators, Eddie. They thought they were top dogs, apex predators of the scene here. But that’s what happens to beasts when a new hunter shows up. I am the apex predator around here now. I'll do what needs to be done. They preyed on people like you, like Cali. You think they would’ve stopped? Changed? That girl in your arms is living proof of what they were willing to do."

Eddie swallowed hard, unable to look her in the eye. He knew she was right, but the sheer brutality of what he had witnessed gnawed at him. His grip on Cali tightened, as if holding her closer might make sense of the chaos.

"We’ll get her back to the squat," Gadget continued, her voice softening slightly. "She needs rest. Food. Medical attention. And you all need to keep your heads low for a while. This isn’t over."

"What do you mean?" Eddie asked, his voice trembling.

"I mean that there will be repercussions," Gadget said. "Wart’s crew isn’t the only threat out here. There’s always another predator waiting to take their place. But I’ll deal with that when the time comes."

They resumed their walk, the squat just a few blocks away now that offered a distant promise of safety. Eddie held on to that thought, clinging to it as tightly as he clung to Cali.

Behind them, the gas station stood silent, its sordid history now marked by the finality of Gadget’s intervention. Whatever demons she carried, she had made one thing clear: in her world, survival meant making hard choices. And she was prepared to make every single one of them.

Unseen by the pair and their rescued companion, a pair of white vans pulled up to the station. Men in hazmat outfits got out, entered, and began to work.

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=='''Necessities'''==

The squat was cramped with the six people in it, but warmer as they kept the little stove burning. Cali slept hard the first day, but Gadget wasn’t sure she was recovering. Jax never left her side and worried constantly. Gadget went and got pizza again, though only two pies, suggesting that her money was drying up.

The group fervently refused to take her to the hospital. Eddie explained, “Cali’s home life was little better than the way Wart’s people treated her. Her mother and a stepsister beat her regularly enough that she let her stepfather, two stepbrothers, and a couple of their friends treat her like a sex toy so they would defend her. If she turns up at an ER, the best she can hope for is to go into foster care. The worst is being sent home. That happened once before.”

Jax, who Gadget had heard speak in single words till now, said, “She and I ran off together the first time. I had to go back and get her that time. Her idiot brothers kept her in one of their beds every night. Hard to sneak her out.”

Gadget asked, "How did you manage it?"

Looks around the room showed it was a sore subject. Jax returned to Cali and his silence. Tiffy put her head down. Eddie looked at Gadget as if to convey that it was none of her business. Holden smiled, and with a nod from Jax, he told the tale.

“Jax lit the house on fire, then called 911. In the confusion of police, firefighters, and ambulances, Jax stole an ambulance they put Cali in. Drove it for an hour, then stole a car so he could ditch the ambulance. He stripped the thing of meds and supplies. Blankets and stuff. He drove a couple of days, swapped cars, and drove here. Dropped off Cali and the swag, then drove the car another day to ditch it. Good chance that the police are looking for them.”

Jax looked embarrassed but kept next to Cali.

Gadget commented, “Resourceful. Decisive. I respect that.” Jax looked up with a hint of a smile.

Gadget stood, “I’m going to stretch my legs.”

Walking out to the front, she was confronted by a large, beefy cat with a mouse in its sights.

Gadget froze momentarily, her eyes widening at the sight of the large, beefy cat perched atop the windowsill, its amber eyes fixed intently on the tiny mouse scurrying across the ledge. The cat’s fur was a patchy mix of brown and black, giving it a rugged, almost untamed appearance that contrasted sharply with the orderly chaos inside the squat.

“Hey there, big fella,” Gadget whispered softly, taking a cautious step forward. The cat didn’t seem threatened; instead, it watched her with an air of quiet curiosity, perhaps fear at Gadget's canine nature. The mouse, sensing the tension, darted toward the edge of the window, where it paused, twitching its nose before making a desperate leap for the safety of a nearby drainpipe.

As Gadget reached the window, she noticed a small tag hanging from the cat’s collar: “Shadow – Rescued.” A surge of empathy washed over her. Despite the rough exterior, Shadow clearly had a story of his own.

“Looks like Shadow’s been with you for a while,” Gadget remarked, hoping to break the ice.

Eddie stepped forward, his expression softening. “He’s a survivor, just like Cali. Came into our lives a few months back. Helps keep the rat population down around here.”

Tiffy glanced up from her corner. “Shadow’s more than just a cat. He’s a bit of a guardian for us.”

Holden nodded in agreement. “Yeah, he senses when things are off. Last week, he kept me awake all night when we had that break-in attempt.”

Gadget smiled, feeling a connection not just with the people but with their silent protector. “He’s a good cat. Reminds me that even in the darkest places, there’s still something worth protecting.”

Before anyone could respond, Shadow leapt gracefully down from the windowsill, landing softly on the floor. He approached Cali cautiously, circling her before settling beside her side. Cali reached out a tentative hand, and Shadow rubbed his head against her palm, purring softly.

Jax watched the interaction with a mix of relief and lingering worry. “Shadow’s got a good heart. Just like Cali.”

Gadget felt a pang of admiration for Jax. Despite his rough methods, his intentions were clear. “You all are handling things better than I expected.”

Eddie shook his head. “We’re just trying to keep Cali safe and give her a chance to heal. She deserves a second chance.”

As Gadget turned to leave the room, a sense of camaraderie filled the space. The squat, though cramped and imperfect, was a haven for those who had nowhere else to go. She felt a renewed sense of purpose, understanding that their struggles were intertwined, each supporting the other in their own ways.

Stepping out into the chilly evening air, Gadget took a deep breath, the scent of rain lingering in the air. She glanced back at the squat.

Walking away, she considered her options. She didn’t want to involve her police contact in this, but he was her first call anyway.

Calling, "Gadget. Wants and warrants. Names. Photos coming. Out."

Lighting a cigarette, she wandered off a block, looking around. She pondered. She couldn’t involve her police contact more than absolutely necessary. But she needed to know if anyone was looking for those in the squat. They didn’t want to take Cali to the hospital. She couldn’t call home without getting a ton of judgment and, in the end, only getting medical help with strings attached. There was another option, though.

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=== '''Gateway and Allies'''===

She pulled out a couple of decks of cards, tarot cards by their size and shape, looking through them. A Trump card was more than a picture—it was a door. Hold it in your hand, focus, and the image became real. Like calling someone on the phone, except you didn’t just hear their voice—you could step into their world. She remembered her introduction to the cards with Lord David. The card grew cold in her hands, the painted image shimmering like water. Slowly, the air around her twisted, colors bleeding together until she could have stepped through—no longer in the Hub of Mandalay, but in a sunlit courtyard of the Dramaturge.

Shadow was vast, infinite in its possibilities, with worlds ranging from medieval kingdoms to high-tech dystopias. Mandalay was just one of them, a central one of balance—her home, a place of green fields and shimmering towers, where wolves roamed as kin.

She looked over her King Random's deck. That would mean calling Dalt directly. She looked over her Green Deck, the deck of her homeland, Mandalay. David would help her, but that was a nuclear option. She considered the wolves of her pack. Dwarf would come if she asked. That was a lot of trouble, but she might need someone to oversee this massive dog problem. There were hundreds of wild dogs in the area. Generations of wild dogs, hungry and hunting. Capturing a dozen was just a start. Dwarf and the triplets could herd them easily.

"Maybe later...." Putting away her Green deck and her King Random's deck.

She thought carefully. Dalt was a nuclear option. David was a nuclear option. Dwarf was a blitzkrieg on his own, and if he brought the triplets, the humans of this world were likely to freak out at the sudden organization of the dog packs in this part of the state.

Raphael, she thought, would probably come himself if it sounded adventurous, but then this would be his show and not hers. She didn’t need the whole guild. But maybe just a couple. Yes, Wrecker and Reggy. Tough, dangerous, creative, and probably willing to listen to her. Doc Len would be too noticeable. Colette, though, would fit in perfectly. Call Rafe and ask.

She concentrated on her magical inscription for the realm of Pocai and opened a contact with Raphael.

"Who?" came the response to her call. "Gadget," she answered.

The voice at the other side of the mystical barrier seemed surprised, "Hey, Gadget! Great to hear from you. Didn’t know you had a Trump for me. So where’ve you been? Whatcha up to?"

She responded. "I don’t have a trump, Rafe. I have an imprint of Pocai. I am.... I have a situation. I have someone who is hurt. I’m in a world that I can’t use magic openly. I need a doctor and maybe some muscle. I was hoping I could borrow Colette and Wrecker and Reggy. The time ratio is favorable to Ang Ri."

"Yeah, Gadget, no problem. Whatever you need. You know you just have to ask. Give me a sec; they’re actually right here with me." Rafe turned to his companions at the Ludus on the world of Ang Ri. "Colette, Wrecker, Reggy; Gadget needs your help, now. Colette; someone’s hurt, get what you need. Wrecker, Reggy; you’re the muscle. She said she can’t use magic openly, so I suggest human forms for the both of you."

He focused back on Gadget. "Can you transport with this Pocai connection? Or do I need to bring them to you?"

"I’m in the King Random Trump Deck and on I’m in an earth world."

Rafe said, "Right. Hang on a sec."

He looked over to Dalt. "Dalt, can I borrow Gadget’s Trump from your KRD? I’ll give it right back."

He was looking over at the trio as they prepared. "She says it’s an earth world; dress and equip accordingly."

Dalt asked, "Can you use Amber trumps?"

"I’m pretty sure I can...? If not, could you contact her and pass these three through? Please and thanks."

He nodded, "Ah... Sure...I suppose."

"Thank you, Dalt. It’s appreciated."

"Is there anything else you need, Gadget? How serious is the situation?"

"It’s a complicated and musical. We all have our favorites. Shadow is filled with them...I’m here to rescue one set of them...and bring them to the Dramaturge eventually."

"Wooow... sounds like a great adventure. Hope it turns
out well. I look forward to hearing the tale one day. Safe Travels, my Friend. Adventure Abounds. You ready for your support team?"

He looked over to Dalt and the trio to see if they were ready.

Wrecker said, "Were we traded to Cleveland?" As he was putting on his earth boots.

Rafe chuckled. "Don’t think so. Probably just temporary....? But time will tell."

He gave Wrecker a few moments to wonder, then chuckled and said, "She said she’s only going to need you for about a month."

Wreck said, "It’ll be a letdown after the Buffet at the Hall of Water..." He stepped through.

"Everything’s going to be a letdown after that buffet," Rafe said as the portal closed.

Stepping through the portal, the three looked around.

Colette said, "We are not really dressed for it here."

Gadget said, "It’s morning. There is a Walmart about four blocks from here. Here’s about a thousand dollars. Get clothes. Doc, come back here, knock on that blue pipe, and I’ll come to get you. They need stuff. Get some blankets, six sleeping bags. Cheap folding chairs. Medical supplies. Food—bread, peanut butter, jam. Lunch meat for today. Fruit. An ice chest. A bag of cat kibble. These people have been living like wild animals. When they ask, we’ll tell them you’re a friend from home. Leave where vague. I don’t know if they’ll believe me, but they will be grateful for the supplies."

She said, "Runaways? I know the streets. Was on them myself in Chicago as a kid. The charity angle won’t work. Tell them I’m a family friend. I brought this stuff because you called and asked for help. I’ll talk shit about your 'Parents.' I’ll leave off giving you some money. If there is any change."

She nodded and pulled out another thousand. Then decided to give Wrecker and Reggy each a thousand dollars of the money from Wart’s stash.

"Wrecker, Reggy, there is a heavy crime problem here. Take a few days looking the place over and get a sense of things. I have a police contact that can help. When you have a sense of things, let me know, and we’ll decide how to handle it."

She sighed, "Sorry.... It’s good to see you all." She exchanged hugs. Then the three headed off to Walmart, and she went back into the squat.

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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==='''Call a Friend'''===

Gadget sat in the squat for a bit, treating Cali. The blankets under her were threadbare and dirty. "I called a friend for some help. She’s a doctor. She doesn’t hate my parents as much as I do, but it’s close."

"You gave her where we are?" Jax asked, looking wildly.

"I told her to hit the pipe. Leave her car a ways away. Bring some supplies."

Eddie said, with a look of fear in his eyes, "Gadget.... You really shouldn’t do stuff like that without asking us. We vote as a group."

Tiffy held the cat close. "You say she’s a doctor? Can she help Cali?"

"That’s why I called her. She treated me after one of my father’s parties. She was kind to me. After that, she was there when I needed her."

A couple of hours later, the silence was broken by the banging on the pipe. Holden stood and looked to Eddie, who nodded. He followed Gadget out to the pipe.

Colette was there with three shopping carts filled with supplies. Gadget caught the sense of Wrecker and Reggy a ways away. She hugged Colette.

"Holden, this is Colette. Let’s get off the street." They pushed the carts into the corridors and turned through the labyrinth. Holden said, "What is all this.. There’s food in here." He looked at the basket in front of him with naked longing.

Getting to the tight squat, Gadget started unloading the carts as Colette knelt over Cali.

"Guys, this is Colette, a friend of mine. She’s a doctor. She treated me years ago for....family stuff. We’ve been friends ever since."

"Hiya, glad to see Gladys has made friends." Gadget growled, "Gadget!!" Colette nodded. Eddie looked at Gadget and silently mouthed "Gladys?"

Eddie then came over to look over the carts. "What’s all this?"

Colette looked over the devices she set out next to Cali. "Gadget told me you guys were living tight. This won’t solve everything, but it can’t hurt. I figured I owe her this. Gadget, get me a couple of those chicken broths. Bring some of the chicken chunks. Get a pot on that burner going. There’s a pot in there somewhere. Heat the broth. There is a cot on there too. Set it up there. Get a sleeping bag open."

"You, m’lady," looking to Tiffy, "ah, come here. We have to undress her and clean her. She has no broken bones. But there are cuts.. and.. she’s been doped up."

Holden and Eddie set up the cot and spread a sleeping bag out open, laying a towel down in the bag. Colette directed them to put Cali in the cot.

After a few minutes, Colette stood, "Ok, I need the room. Gadget, why don’t you sort out the stuff I brought."

The guys and Gadget went and looked over the supplies. While they were concerned about Cali, the sudden riches gave them all wide eyes. Gadget took a loaf of bread, slathered mayonnaise and mustard on them, with meat and cheese, slipping each sandwich into a zip-lock bag. Despite their hunger, Holden and Eddie helped while Jax stood by the makeshift curtain for Colette and Cali.

Eddie asked, "No ketchup?" Gadget chuckled. "Colette knows I hate ketchup!"

Colette looked out at Jax as he hovered, "You are?" He said, "Jax. How is she?" "She’s asking for you. You can help me."

She looked to Gadget and whispered mentally to her, "She has a lot of bruises. Signs of repeated rapes. A lot of scratches and cuts. Can you get them to play some while I use the Total Warrior Medical stuff?"

Gadget, Eddie, and Holden fixed 20 sandwiches and tucked them into the ice chest. They set up chairs and sat, and Tiffy, Eddie, Holden, and Gadget sat after Gadget slipped a sandwich to Jax. They ate in silence.

Gadget got her guitar out and started strumming. After a few moments, Eddie and Holden picked up theirs. Tiffy picked up her violin and leaned it against her chair as the cat resettled in her lap. She opened the bag of cat food and brought a handful of kibble for the cat to eat.

Behind the curtain, Cali was cleaned and settled in the sleeping bag. Colette gave her an injection from a Total Warrior device with a broad-range antibiotic as well as pain medication. Secretly, she cast her High Order Healing Spell and the Clean cantrips. Jax brought over broth and spoon-fed her. Colette told him to cover her up when he was done and to eat his sandwich. He smiled at her gratefully. She then left to join the others.

She opened a chair and sat, listening to the jam session.

Eddie finally asked, "How is she?"

Colette said, "She’ll heal. She mostly had bruises and a few cuts. It’s pretty clear she was beaten with a belt, but probably as part of the rapes. She was starved for several days to be sure. Dehydrated. The physical stuff will heal. She will have psychological damage to be sure. That will take a long time to get over, and she’ll need help. Did you call the police?"

Eddie lowered his head. Holden said, "Wouldn’t do any good. They always get away with shit. Police connections."

Gadget signaled to Colette to change the topic by using the hand sign language. "How long can you stay, Colette?"

"I’ll leave in a few days. I want to watch her."

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=== '''Finding Their Sound'''===

Several days passed as the band remained in hiding. The band spent the time playing music, getting to know each other’s playing rather than the singular sounds the busking they had been doing taught them. They ate well, finishing off what Colette had brought. She stepped out to make another food run on her last day before she left.

Cali sat beside Jax, silently, her hurts mended as best as medications could, but the memories went deeper. Those scars might never heal.

During that week, the group played for each other as they never had before. They shared the squat but had never shared their music. Now they did. The hallways echoed as they developed rhythms, harmonies, and solos. They sang all the songs they knew and shared the ones they wrote. Gadget sat back a lot, playing her bass guitar and lamenting that the only thing she missed from home was her piano. She let Eddie take the lead on guitar, playing his beloved surfpunk renditions. Holden played rhythm. Tiffy was a virtuoso on the violin, weaving her sound among the others, playing counterpoint and solos. Gadget nearly cried.

Gadget would go out at night alone. She met with groups of dogs that had heard about her, and she bound them to her, as her father and mother had taught her. Her skill at the bonding grew quickly.

The streets were eerily quiet, the distant hum of a generator the only sound as she walked through the deserted industrial areas near the Station. Gadget’s boots scraped against cracked pavement, her mind drifting to Mandalay. In her world, shadows whispered secrets; here they only swallowed sound. She tightened her grip on the Trump card in her pocket. No magic here to guide her—only instinct.

Jax was pretty good on the bongos. He told them about the music store at home that let him play their drums. The school he and Cali had gone to had shut their music departments. Eddie talked about the private school he and Tiffy had attended. It was wonderful to them, but their homes were hells.

The group opened up to each other, sharing their lives. Something they had never done before.

Gadget told a tale that paled to the others, but hers was fiction. They were not ready to learn her truth. Mandalay, Fleece, Snack, the Dramaturge, her pack—the Hounds of Mandalay, Raphael, Ang Ri, Fort Garland.

After four days, Cali was walking, Jax supporting her arm. She carried her bass guitar but didn’t play it. The closest she came was quietly tapping out the beats Jax played.

Jax told a story, "This one time, we played for an audience of zero. Just me and the drums, Cali and her bass in some crummy bar in Wisconsin. Felt like a rehearsal—until the bartender started crying."

Gadget smiled faintly, "Why cry over a song?"

Jax said, "Said it reminded him of his son. Music’s like that—it hits people in ways you don’t expect."

Gadget stared into the camp stove flames, silent. Music and magic weren’t so different. Both were bridges.

Gadget reveled in the experience. Eddie Black and the Stone Bench Group, here, before the fame, before the glory. And in this shadow, Cali lived and didn’t become the inspiration for Jax’s sad ballads and his descent into alcoholism and self-destruction as happened in so many shadows. She knew shadow was vast, and there were places this group never suffered their tragedies. Those shadows sometimes had weaker groups, without the passion. Bands that played at State Fairs, not the Coliseum or Madison Square Gardens. It was a gentle process, but Gadget coaxed them into sharing their tragedies and building on them. After all, they all had horrors in their pasts. Things that brought them together.

She knew one day she would leave them. Leave them to their glory. But till then, she became a member of the Stone Bench Group. She wished she could stay. She also knew that if at all possible, her goal was to guide them past a few roadblocks and eventually bring them to the Dramaturge in Mandalay. If, if...

Eventually, the claustrophobia began to grow on them, and a time came when they returned to the plaza and reclaimed their stone bench. This time, when they took turns leading, singing, solos, the rest of the band played to back them up.

Now the strollers stopped more often. They bought pizza and ate while listening. Some started taking their regular lunch breaks from offices and businesses nearby to come and listen. They might even be the seeds of the fandom that would one day follow them online as well as from city to city.

After a week on the plaza, Waldo showed up. He was apologetic, but Cali couldn’t stand the sight of him. She admitted that Waldo had never touched her, but he had
been part of Wart’s group. He was a shadow of his former swaggering self. Gadget knew Wrecker and Reggy had taken to correcting his attitude while getting all the information out of him they could. It showed. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. In time, Waldo started helping carry things and set things up. Pignoses, a few cables. A mic-stand. Gadget’s eyes nearly popped one day when Waldo brought chalk and drew a half-circle around the front for whoever was doing their lead. The famous singing circle. The cover of their epic first album before her eyes.

Somewhere in there, he and Cali made peace, but Gadget knew that in most of the shadows, Cali was known to hate the chief roadie. She guessed in this shadow that would be Waldo. She never saw Holden exchange more than a few words at a time to Waldo, and he always managed his own amp.

Eddie started to develop the stage presence that would make him famous. Tiffy, on her rock and roll violin, matched his every note, making his voice sound musical. His fingers danced on the strings, while she held the back line steady and soulful. Gadget closed her eyes as the melody washed over her. Each note was a heartbeat, a reminder of what they were fighting for—a world where music didn’t fade into static, where hope lingered in the chords. She could see Cali’s fingers matching her own. It wouldn’t be long till the two of them developed the dual bass sound the group would be famous for. Then Gadget would be replacing stray bassists the band would pick up for a gig or two at a time. Maybe, just maybe, she could stay.

A few days into their second month, Gadget saw Wrecker and Reggy stroll through the plaza. They listened and threw a wad of bills in the guitar case.

Gadget slipped away and met them behind Little Caesar’s.

Wreck lit a cigar as she approached, half offering it to Gadget, who declined. "What’s up?"

Wrecker, the brains of the two such as they were, said, "We have a target. Your contact helped sort it out. The Blind Reapers. A motorcycle gang. They have deep pockets and deep protection. They have a bunch of cops on the payroll."

Reggy said, "Hey! That doesn’t make them bad cops, just realists."

Wrecker looked at him incredulously, "Really, Officer Clifton?" Reggy shrugged.

Wrecker continued, "They are middlemen for sure. They get good product from the people down at the port. They stomp on the stuff at their clubhouse out in Daniville. We’ve looked the place over. Ten targets at least, including two high-value targets. From what we have learned, drug running is top, but they run guns and girls. Slave trade. The gang leaders are Black Carl Smalter and Dale Genkin. They have contacts all over the place. Permission to scrub them."

Gadget asked, "What did Lisha say?"

Wrecker told her, "They are unofficially untouchable by the cops."

She nodded. "Conditionally, permission granted. We need to know more about them. Talk to them first. See if we can flip them." She turned and returned to the band.

Wrecker nodded, "Infiltration it is."

The pair left, and Gadget went back by way of Little Caesar’s for a few $5 pizzas.

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

=='''Places'''==

=== '''At The Ugly Ferret Tavern - Chapter One'''===

The duo sat on their stolen Vespas, looking at the grungy tavern. Reggy said, "Good fields of fire. Perches all over. Not good planning."

Wrecker looked around, "They are a biker gang, not strictly speaking a military unit. They didn’t plan on us."

The air inside the bar was thick with smoke and hostility. Neon lights buzzed weakly over stained pool tables, and a jukebox in the corner played a half-hearted country tune. A dozen leather-clad figures turned to watch as Wrecker and Reggy stepped through the door. Tired-looking girls in blank leather sat out of the way, drunk, stoned, or worn out.

“Welp,” Reggy muttered, glancing at the peeling wallpaper and overturned chairs. “Home sweet home.” His Broncos football jacket did not make any friends this far east. Ravens, Jets, Commanders. Maybe Cowboys for the Cheerleaders.

“You know, if they ever power-washed this place, the health department might faint,” Wrecker replied with a grin, his voice carrying just loud enough to draw a few glares.

At the bar, Dale Genkins, the VP of the Blind Reapers, leaned back on his stool, his leather vest stretching over his broad shoulders. Beside him, Smiley, the club’s Sergeant-at-Arms, cleaned his nails with a knife that looked sharp enough to gut a deer. The bartender looked worn and tired, the result of having these criminals claim his bar without so much as a "If you please."

From a shadowy corner, Black Carl, a mountain of a man with a dark history, watched with quiet intensity, his dark eyes narrowing as the newcomers approached.

“You boys lost?” Dale asked, his voice calm but loaded with menace. “This ain’t exactly tourist country, Peacock.”

“Nah, we’re right where we need to be. It’s been a long ride.” Wrecker said, swaggering up to the bar as though he owned the place. He slid into a stool and gestured to the bartender. “Two beers. Cold, if that’s a thing here. Got any pretzels or peanuts?”

Reggy stayed on his feet, leaning casually against the bar and nodding at Smiley. “Nice knife. Compensating for something?”

Smiley’s grin widened, showing off a row of uneven, chipped teeth. “Keep talking, string bean. We'll see how funny you are when I carve my initials in your forehead.”

“Smiley, enough,” Dale said, raising a hand. He turned his attention to Wrecker, his eyes scanning him up and down. “You got a lot of nerve walking in here unarmed. Either you’re real stupid, or you’ve got a death wish.”

He shrugged, "Having both has worked for me. What makes you think I’m unarmed?” Wrecker replied, taking a slow sip of the beer the bartender slid his way. “I see a bottle of Old Crow down there. Crack that bird and pour two glasses of 6 ounces. Run us a tab." He pulled a roll of bills and stuck it on its bottom. The bartender opened it and counted it. He didn’t wear a cut, so he looked to Black Carl, who gave a slight nod. The money disappeared, and he poured two tall glasses. Wrecker said, "Leave the bottle, Lucky."

Smiley eyeballed Reggy, "What about you, Stretch? You packing?"

Reggy nodded, "Ya, I’m packing, but you’ll only see it if we were in prison, princess." Smiley started moving, and Dale put his hand on his chest. "I said enough."

"So, something on your mind, such as it is?"

Wreck poured a chug of whiskey into his beer and took a drink, nodding his head, "We got a proposition.”

Dale chuckled, a low, humorless sound. “Oh, this oughta be good. What’s your pitch, tough guy?”

Wrecker leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “You boys run this area, right? But I bet the profits could be better. We know how to move goods, no questions asked. We have a great connection for military arms. And we’ve got a knack for... creative problem solving.”

“Creative problem solving,” Dale repeated, his tone flat. “That what you call sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong?”

Reggy smirked, chiming in. “Hey, we’re just trying to make a buck the American way. You know, cash businesses and criminality. Maybe add a little... somtha-somtha on the side? No offense, but subtlety doesn’t seem like your strong suit.”

Smiley growled and took a step forward, but Dale held up a hand again, stopping him in his tracks.

“You’re real funny,” Dale said, his expression unreadable. “But we don’t need outsiders meddling in our business.”

“Fair enough,” Wrecker said, finishing his beer in one long gulp. “Just thought we’d offer. Seems a shame to waste all this... potential.”

Reggy grabbed his glass and matched his friend. Smiley stared at him with naked hatred, showing his broken teeth. Reggy grinned, letting his upper and lower Orc canines show. Smiley blinked in uncertainty.

Wrecker nodded at the bikers staring daggers at them. “Yeah, real welcoming crowd. I feel the love.”

Dale stood, towering over Wrecker, and leaned in close. “The only reason you’re walking out of here in one piece is because I don’t feel like mopping up the mess. But don’t mistake that for an invitation to come back.”

“Understood.” Wrecker said, standing and dusting off his jacket as if he’d just finished a casual lunch meeting. He slipped a photo over on the bar.

Looking down, Dale said, "What are these?"

Wrecker said, "McMillan TAC-50, Heckler & Koch PSG1, and my personal favorite, the Barrett M82. We can get these reliably. We can get as many AR’s as you’d need. Our selection of handguns is diverse. Street walker prices for courtesan service. Pleasure doing business with you. We’ll be around.”

Wrecker and Reggy polished off their beers and whiskey in gulps. Wrecker looked at the bartender. "Don’t forget our tab, Lucky." He grabbed the half-empty bottle as they left.

As they walked to the door, Reggy couldn’t resist one last parting shot. “Hey, Smiley—next life, try flossing. Keeps it from scratching johnsons.”

Smiley surged forward with murder in his eyes, but Dale’s bark stopped him cold.

“Let ’em go,” Dale said, watching as the two men strolled out like they hadn’t just walked through the lion’s den.

Reggy turned at the door, looking back in, "Why Smiley, does this mean we’re not friends anymore? You know Smiley, if I thought you weren’t my friend... I just don’t think I could bear it!" Wrecker chuckled outside.

From his corner, Black Carl’s eyes followed them to the door, his expression unreadable. He whispered to a confederate beside him, "Find out who they are. Call K."

Outside, under the flickering neon sign, Wrecker turned to Reggy with a grin. “That went well.”

“Yeah, if your definition of ‘well’ is not getting stabbed in the spleen,” Reggy replied, shaking his head.

Wrecker laughed, "I was amazed at Genkins’ self-control. And I thought Smiley was going to snap! Johnsons... "

Reggy laughed, "Hey, I tried to break him, but he was just too tough for me, I guess." sighing sarcastically, "So, next round’s on you, genius. Pizza or Sushi?"”

They laughed as they disappeared into the night on their stolen Vespas, the tension of the encounter already fading into the rhythm of their camaraderie.

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=== '''Gadget Visits the Station'''===

As the weeks went by, Eddie and the Stone Bench Band developed their sound. It had gone well after they realized the takers were not around. Eddie wouldn’t talk about it, changing the subject if it was brought up. A few thugs wandered by, but they didn’t bother the buskers in this neck of the plaza. A pair came to the chalk line but shivered and lost their nerve, tossing their money in the guitar case. One caught Gadget’s eye, a street name of Billy, someday known as Billy Sharp. The shadows played tricks.

Eddie worked out a new schedule for the other buskers, keeping the best time for himself and the group. The others liked the situation fairly well. Players before seemed like warmup acts. The ones afterward got the benefit of the people that started having their lunch in the area. Gadget appraised two musicians probably in their 20s, playing saxes; Mack something & Danny Dean. They were familiar to her from other shadows. Maybe they would add the bang the group could use...

Waldo began filling a shopping cart with the group’s supplies as they went out each day and parking it in the increasingly crowded squat. A month had passed, and nerves started getting frayed. Eddie, Tiffy, Jax, Cali, Holden, Gadget, and now Waldo filled the space extremely tight.

Gadget went out on a walk one night, greeting the new dogs. She met with Wrecker and Reggy. “How’s the Station look now?”

Reggy said, “Like a shithole covered in industrial waste. Your dogs are creeping me out. But it doesn’t smell like rotted cheese, takeout, pot, and stale semen. We cleaned out the front room enough to live there. Fixed the plumbing and set up some solar cells. It’s pretty messy. You still thinking of burning it down? We have a few ideas about that. Or are you going to use it?”

Gadget pondered for a moment. “It is just about the same distance of a walk from the Station to the plaza as it is from the plaza to the squat, isn’t it?”

Wreck nodded, “Close enough.”

“Start cleaning it up for us. Leave enough junk so they feel like they clean it out when I get there. Nothing fancy. Clean cantrips and elbow grease. Do something creative in the rape room. It’s going to be hard to convince Cali. Let’s go take a look.”

Gadget looked across the street at the Station, remembering her last time there. Eliminating the lowest rung of the predatory hierarchy. The smell of damp concrete, refuse, dogs, and old grease lingered in the air.

Entering the former convenience store, she wrinkled her nose. "Seriously, guys? This place is a biohazard. You’re telling me you’ve been sleeping
in here? Without even a basic cleaning spell or... I don’t know, a mop?"

Wrecker shrugged, "What can I say? I’ve got low standards. I lived in a truck cab for years—it smelled better than this, but not by much."

Gadget turned at Reggy, who said, "I’m an orc."

Gadget looked at him deadpan, gesturing at a pile of broken furniture. "That explains the piles of ‘decorative garbage.’ What is this? An art installation called ‘Despair in Concrete’? You’ve been here a month."

Wrecker: "Hey, don’t knock it. That’s vintage junk. Wart’s crew left it here—it’s practically historical."

Gadget rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, history needs a pressure washer. Clean this place up. If we’re going to use it, I want it livable. Like, at least one rung above ‘feral.’"

Raising his eyebrow, letting his orc canine teeth show, "‘Use it’? You’re really thinking of moving your whole band here? I thought that was a joke."

"Yeah. The squat’s too crowded."

Wrecker grinned. "I mean, sure. If you’re cool with the charming ambiance of ‘industrial wasteland chic.’"

Reggy settled on the east sofa, casting several Clean cantrips out of courtesy. "We’ve been thinking of getting more than a crash pad anyway."

"Oh? Elaborate."

Wrecker said excitedly. "We’ve been charging up the car—dumping extra power into it. It’s still back in Ang Ri. We think we can use it to anchor something here. At some point, we won’t be able to disguise ourselves."

Narrowing her eyes. "Something? Be specific, Wrecker."

Reggy grinned slyly. "We’ve got a rough sketch for a place."

"And by ‘rough sketch,’ you mean...?"

Wrecker shrugged, "A few napkins. Bells on the doorknobs. Some runes drawn in oil stains. New graffiti. It’s solid, though. There is a bar we are familiar with. The Ugly Ferret. It’s been invaded by that biker gang. We tried to make a deal with them, but no luck. They were Wart’s suppliers. They are next, if you approve, on our hit list."

Gadget sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Why am I not surprised? Fine. Clean this place up first. If I bring the others here and they take one whiff of this dump, I’m blaming you two."

Reggy made a mock salute. "Yes, boss. Operation Mop and Hope, commencing."

Wrecker smirked. "And hey, once we’re done, it’ll be the classiest industrial ruin on the block."

Gadget: "Not exactly a high bar, but I’ll take it. Get to work. I’ll check in soon."

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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==='''Biker's Barbeque'''===

Sitting on a rooftop with their backs to a wall, Wrecker and Reggy contemplated their options.

Wrecker was a stocky, husky man with broad shoulders covered in tattoos. He wore a short, neatly trimmed Mohawk in red, green, purple, blue, and white. He had a camouflage jacket over his lap and camouflage pants, having gone through an army surplus store and picked patterns from different countries. He sat on a Belgian rucksack and smoked a small cigar, exhaling multicolored smoke.

Beside him, Reggy snored softly, wearing a Denver Broncos sports jacket and blue jeans, his head on a Belgian rucksack. He seemed fairly relaxed, snoring his relaxation.

Wrecker crawled over and slipped up to look down over the roof edge at the ground with a rifle scope.

Reggy mumbled, “How many? Is he there?”

Wrecker said, “About seven in cuts. Couple of girls. They’re barbecuing.”

Reggy, "Yeah, I can smell it. I’m fraking hungry." He rolled over and fell deeper asleep.

Time passed as Reggy slept, and Wrecker checked the ground.

Wrecker looked over a computer tablet, checking many details. He mumbled.

“Murder, murder, murder, armed robbery, vandalism, vandalism, rape, rape, rape, assault, assault, assault, assault, assault, drug running, gun running. Theft, cleared, cleared, cleared. Payoffs, payoffs. Twelve targets. No female targets. Black Carl... the president of the MC. Dale Genkin, Vice Pres.”

As dusk started, Wrecker looked over the edge of the roof. He laid back and kicked Reggy to wake him.

“Black Carl and Genkin just arrived. Take a look.”

Reggy crawled over and looked down. He nodded. “I see them. Say when.”

Wrecker said, “Thirty seconds.”

Reggy and Wrecker both pulled up M4 rifles, racked rounds, checked the clip, and pulled two extra clips out for each of them.

They turned around and knelt by the roof's edge, putting the four clips between them.

Wrecker said, “I don’t see Smiley. Maybe he’s inside. So let’s both hit Dale and Black Carl, then you get everyone to your right. I’ll get everyone to my left.” Reggy nodded, "Heads are yours, chests are mine."

“One, two, three," Wrecker whispered.

On three, the two swung up and aimed their rifles, taking targets.

The firing lasted fifteen seconds, then there was screaming down below, and the women fled the backyard, running and jumping into two cars and fleeing quickly.

Wrecker surveyed the damage. He and Reggy pulled up their bags and slung their weapons over their shoulders. They leapt off the roof and landed on the ground. Walking through the backyard, they took low-order pictures of the dead. Then they went through pockets, collecting money, wallets, and pocket lint. They piled weapons in a duffel bag.

Dale moaned in pain, and Wrecker looked into his dying face. "Should have made a deal, Dale. Such wasted potential." He drew his Glock and issued the coup de grâce.

Going into the house, they walked through, seeking others.

Reggy stood by the door. "All the listed targets except Smiley were outside. Didn’t see that Prospect either. Hey Wrecker, you realize we’re psychopaths?"

Wrecker nodded. "It’s crossed my mind. I became convinced on the streets of Ahyk. Let’s see what’s inside." He raised his hand, and a small glowing symbol rose in front of it. He moved the glowing symbol around the room. “Something... Move the couch.”

Reggy pulled the couch, pushing it over on its back with ease.

Wrecker knelt down, running his hand along the floor. Stopping, he punched the floor hard, pushing his hand through. He pulled hard, pulling up a large secret door. Looking down into the hole, the first thing they saw were two girls who crouched in fear. Beside them were bags of packed powder. A large collection of guns. Grocery bags of cash held together with rubber bands.

Reggy raised a symbol similar to Wrecker's. He cast a sleep spell, and the two girls went to sleep.

Wrecker removed a cell phone and called. “Wrecker. Targets neutralized except Smiley Russel. Two captives asleep. Weapons in a hole. Drugs. Send in the Cleaners.” Reggy pulled out several bags of the pressed powder, the bags of cash, and a couple of fancy pistols and stashed them in the duffel bag, smiling at Wrecker.

“That was rough out there. Mostly rough on them, of course. So... Pizza?” Reggy said.

A few minutes later, a van showed up at the Motorcycle Club's house.

The black van screeched to a halt outside the motorcycle clubhouse, its headlights cutting through the fading twilight. The Cleaners stepped out—a team of five, clad in nondescript dark clothing, each carrying specialized gear. Among them, a tall woman named Iris took charge, her presence commanding as she assessed the scene.

Inside the house, Wrecker’s phone pinged with a message: “Operation secure. Proceed to drop point.” He nodded to Reggy as he raided the biker’s half-stocked fridge. “Let’s move,” Wrecker said.

The Cleaners began their work. They cataloged the weapons, retrieved the drugs, and carefully extracted the unconscious captives. Iris paused to look at the crude bunker beneath the floor. “They knew what they were hiding,” she muttered to one of her team members, who nodded and bagged up a stash of ledgers. "Any trouble outside?"

Wrecker shook his head. "A few building code violations..."

Walking away from the scene, Wrecker with a duffel bag over his shoulder. Reggy stopped and grabbed steaks and sausages from the BBQ, tossing them in his gun bag.

Wrecker and Reggy cut through a side alley. The city’s glow contrasted with the grimness of their mission. Reggy chewed on a cold slice of leftover pizza he found at the clubhouse. “So,” he said between bites, “how long we gotta stay under the radar now?”

Wrecker smirked. “Not long. Couple of days. Iris's Cleaners know what to do. Black Carl and his crew were overdue for a reckoning. The streets are better off without them.”

Reggy grunted. “Still. It’s a slippery slope. We’re not the law.”

“No,” Wrecker said, pausing. He exhaled multicolored smoke from his cigar. “But sometimes, we’re all that stands between order and chaos.”

Back at their safe house, Wart's Station, a dingy flop in the industrial district, Wrecker checked their spoils. Among the wallets and cash, he found a photo of a young girl tucked into Black Carl’s wallet. Frowning, he set it aside. “Even monsters have something to lose,” he muttered.

Reggy looked over. “You getting soft, or just tired?”

“Neither,” Wrecker said. He locked the photo in a drawer. “This fight isn’t clean. It’s never clean. Gadget really picked a messy place to come. Crap load of thugs. Crime rate higher than the cops can manage. Cops on the criminals' payrolls.”

They turned their attention to the drugs they retrieved. Wrecker pulled out a small vial from one of the bags and examined it under a desk lamp. “This is good stuff. High quality. Got a good connection. This stuff hasn’t been cut yet.” He looked at the rest of the take; cash, pistols, sausages, steaks, herb. Counting cash, sorting it, "About 15 grand of operating money. The pistols look OK, got a nice Desert Eagle. One of their pretty guns. Couple of bags of weed. You had to throw meat on all? The cash smells like grease."

Reggy pulled over the sausages and steaks, setting them on top of an empty pizza box as he listened to his partner. "I learned my lesson, daddy. Eat a good meal before mass murder."

Reggy leaned over, looking at the cut-open bundle. He scooped out a cup full with a coffee cup, cast a Clean cantrip on the table, poured out a pile of powder, and started cutting lines.

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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=='''Surprise'''==

Holden emerged cautiously from beneath the deep shrubbery, his gaze flickering left and right before tilting upward toward the pale glow of the moon. His tangled hair clung to his damp forehead, a testament to the effort that had left him breathless. Slowly, he wiped the sweat from his brow and exhaled.

Rising to his feet, he scanned the empty park. Moonlight bathed the space, casting a soft sheen on his lightly fuzzed chest, still glistening from exertion. His wide-eyed expression held a mix of wonder and disbelief, as if caught between dream and reality. He raked a hand through his unruly hair, smoothing it back as his fingers came away moist.

A glance downward brought a flicker of self-awareness. Though he had never considered his manhood much to boast about, it stirred again, responding in a way that surprised even him. Seventeen years old and hardened by life on the streets, he had spent four years scraping by with odd jobs and busking. Opportunities for intimacy had been rare, fleeting luxuries he could hardly afford to dream about.

Tonight, however, was different. Bliss and awe coursed through him, leaving his mind adrift in the memory of what had just transpired—the highlight of his life thus far.

Then, a firm hand, insistent and unyielding, brought him back to the moment. Startled, he glanced down. Mismatched eyes, one green and one hazel, shimmered in the moonlight, framed by vibrant blue hair. Her mischievous smile captivated him, demanding his full attention.

Wordlessly, he knelt back into the shadows of the shrubbery, surrendering to her unspoken desires, ready to continue their shared exploration of the night.

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=== '''Calling The Car'''===

Wrecker and Reggy had finished clearing the garage of the Station. Years of disuse and misuse had made various squatters throw everything into the garage. Reggy kept joking with things, a doll, a bent bicycle, a fur seat cover. Wrecker had kept them in beer. The smell of mundane cleaning supplies filled the air of the mid-winter day.

One of the advantages that they had gained from the Day of the Change was they had gained greater strength and endurance. Their adventures since had improved them dramatically. Their passage through the Sigil of Fort Garland had changed them even further. Power has its privileges.

They had spent several hours hauling debris from the garage to reveal the cement below. Sweeping got the last of the clutter. That was followed with Clean cantrips to remove decades of oil, gas, grease, and blood.

Reggy said, “Well, that wasn’t too bad. The two storage rooms won’t take long. Though the one with the mattresses is going to take something more than cantrips. Do you remember the Low Order sorcery Clean spell?”

Wrecker shook his head. “No, I didn’t pay attention to the Low Order Sorcery stuff. Too much finger-waving time, lynchpins, and stuff. I always feel like I might be casting something, sneeze, and blast off half my head. Let Gadget clean them when she brings her little band here. We can’t do everything. We don’t need those rooms. The living room has two couches. Those the Clean cantrips can manage till we can get some help.”

Wrecker said, “Then we are ready to see if the summoning will work.”

Reggy nodded, “After some sleep and some beer.”

A few hours later, the two soldiers had stripped down and cast Clean cantrips on their clothes. They had sat in the living room that had once been a convenience store lobby and cast Mend cantrips on their clothes and Chill cantrips on the beer. Getting dressed again, they returned to the garage.

Wrecker chuckled. “When I was a truck driver, I never imagined that one day I would be some kind of half-wizard. OK, the Army made me a soldier for a time, but the rest is just bizarre.”

Reggy nodded, “When I was Denver Police, I thought people who dressed up like elves and orcs were crazy. Now I’m an orc. The Sigil of Fort Garland made me able to become a human again if I want as well as a weird deer thing with wings. I’m not sure I know what a normal life is anymore. But I am enjoying wrecking these thugs.”

Wrecker opened the garage door out to a silent street that rarely saw traffic. Outside, two large dogs looked in at the pair. They felt Gadget's bond urge them to obey the pair. They walked in and settled against a wall out of the way.

The soldiers of Gadget's army settled down to business. “Let’s get our ride.”

Wrecker and Reggy knelt on the cold, cleaned cement, the faint scent of ozone lingering from their earlier cantrips. With careful precision, they drew glowing chalk sigils into twin circles, their lines pulsing faintly with otherworldly energy. Wrecker’s form rippled as he shrank into the squat, rugged shape of a dwarf, his beard thickening like wildfire. Across from him, Reggy’s skin darkened to a deep emerald hue, tusks jutting slightly as his orc form took shape. With synchronized movements, they raised shimmering symbols, their edges crackling like firelight. The garage filled with a low hum, as if the walls themselves held their breath.

Time passed as the two concentrated on the sigils before them, glowing blue and white. Small sparks appeared at junctions where lines crossed.

Soon after the stroke of midnight, a horn bleated as a purple and white 55 Bel-Air turned off the street into the space between the odd pair of friends. Moments later, its exquisite paint scheme changed to a scratched black and a rusty white with a satisfied hum. The car's license plate said, “Strut.”

The pair put a hand on the car's hood. They smiled. Wrecker said, “Hello, boy. You ready to rock and roll?” The engine roared, and the pipes belched a burst of fire.

Reggy stood, “Let’s cruise.”

Wrecker held a door open, and the two dogs leapt into the backseat. He climbed behind the steering wheel with a big smile. Reggy lit a cigar as they backed out of the garage. Three dogs of Gadget's pack skipped in to guard the open garage door.

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=== '''Lucky and the Ugly Ferret'''===

Wrecker and Reggy walked into the quiet, darkened bar, thick with the despair that clung to the place once dominated by the Riders. The bartender, whom Wrecker had dubbed Lucky, was sitting backward on the bar, pouring himself a pint. He looked up and slipped down onto the ground, his expression shifting to one of suspicion as he remembered the last time the two had been there.

"Ah... what can I get you... fellas?" he asked hesitantly.

Wrecker took a seat. "Well, you had a bottle of Old Crow. I know because I took it. Do you happen to have any more?"

Reggy wandered over to the dark booth once inhabited by Black Carl. He peered closely at it before stepping to a doorway covered by a ragged cloth, glancing beyond it.

Lucky brought up a bottle and pushed it toward Wrecker. "Is my tab still good?" Wrecker asked.

Lucky nodded. "It is. You gave me a grand. Not that I got to keep it."

Wrecker raised an eyebrow. "Those guys still own the place?"

Lucky shook his head. "I own it, but they sort of... well, *own it*. They must be on a long run. It’s been a month since they were here." He glanced at Reggy, who chuckled. "Ah, you looking for something?"

Reggy smirked. "Just looking around. Seeing if any of the guys are back there, you know, hiding? That a storeroom? It’s sure full of stuff."

Lucky stiffened. "No one’s here but me. I haven’t had more than a couple of customers a day for a month. Like I said, they’re on a run. Yeah, that’s their stuff, and you should stay out of there. They don’t take kindly to people messing with their stuff."

Wrecker glanced at Reggy, made a hand sign, and spoke to him in Ang Rin—the language of Ang Ri, where the pair had recently spent significant time. "What’s back there?"

Reggy replied in imperfect Ang Rin, struggling for words. "Storage, junk. Couple of..." He paused, searching for the term for “performance space.” "...arena...sands." Switching to English, he clarified, "A couple of stages." Then, in Ang Rin again, "Good space. Stairs upstairs."

Wrecker turned back to Lucky. "You don’t miss them, I bet. They tax you pretty heavy?"

Lucky let out a bitter laugh. "No, they take *everything*. Luckily, I skim enough to live on. I sent my wife to Alabama—kin—three years ago, after the Reapers moved in on me. For her own sake. Look, they really hated you guys. You don’t want to be here when they come back."

Wrecker smiled. "Having no visible means of support makes us hard to find."

Reggy said, "Anyway, Lucky, if they come back, it’s fine. We know necromancers." He rapped his knuckles against the bar. "Beer, any time I knock." He grabbed the beer Lucky passed him, taking a long swig. Wrecker chuckled.

"My name’s Wrecker. My mother had an attitude. He’s Reggy. You’ve got a nice place here, if it weren’t filled with scumbags."

Lucky scowled. "You making a joke, Wrecker? The place is a shithole. I bought it from the previous owner, who didn’t tell me he had these... scumbags squatting here. I put my life savings into buying the place and did some cleanup. I was hoping to have a nice little spot. At first, I didn’t know why the locals avoided it, and I couldn’t get anyone to tell me what the problem was.

“We moved in upstairs. The back was full of junk—boxes, trash, a couple dozen motorcycles in pieces. I was looking through things and found a trunk full of weed. I couldn’t decide if I should go to the police. Then they showed up. Refused to leave, refused to lock up. Hit on my wife hard. Made it clear they owned the place and everyone in it. Made it clear my wife was their whore now. Pretty sure one raped her, but she wouldn’t say anything."

Wrecker polished off his glass and poured
another. "That’s when you sent her south?"

Lucky nodded. "Yeah, and took a hell of a beating for it. They all wanted a taste, I guess. Look, I appreciate you guys coming in and all, but if the Riders find you here, they’ll kill you."

Wrecker shrugged. "I’ll risk it. You know them all, their whole chapter? Know about other chapters?"

"Yeah, sure. There are five other chapters—New York, Toronto, Durham, Jacksonville, and New Orleans. Why?"

"How many in their chapter here?"

"Uh, 13 or 14 patched members, a few prospects. About a dozen girls—four are regulars, the others are hangers-on, hooking for them. They provide protection around here. Protection from them, mostly."

Reggy made a tiny hand gesture, and Wrecker nodded. Reggy pulled out a stack of cardstock and laid them on the bar. Lucky’s eyes widened as he saw the photos on the cards. "Who did we miss?"

Lucky stared at the photos, his face pale. "What... what happened to them?"

Reggy chuckled. "Kinetic energy poisoning. They’re not acting. So, who did we miss?"

Lucky examined the photos. "Ah, Gorgie, Little Harold, oh... Smiley. Smiley’s a psycho. None of the girls."

Reggy shrugged. "Yeah... I’ll catch up with Smiley."

"They’re all dead? Uh... look, why are you showing me these?"

Wrecker leaned in, his voice low and deliberate. "Because we need to know how many are loose. We need to know who they got their stuff from, who they did business with, and who else is going to come looking for us. You look scared."

Lucky hesitated. "I don’t want any trouble."

"You’re not in trouble," Wrecker said. "Look, we need a hangout, and you need new customers. What’s upstairs? How much of the building do you own?"

Lucky sighed. "The club extends into the warehouse. A few stories. It’s got a big space back there, but it’s been empty for years. Not a lot going on around here. We’re in the industrial zone but close enough to get foot traffic. With the Riders gone, things might pick up, depending on what you guys are doing here."

Reggy and Wrecker exchanged glances, then nodded.

"Here’s the deal," Wrecker said, his tone casual but firm. "You get protection, money, and a chance to turn this dump into something respectable. We don’t need your money. Keep it. In return, you keep your mouth shut about what we’re doing here. We’ll even pay for our drinks."

He set a roll of bills on the counter. "That’s about five grand. Any questions?"

Lucky hesitated, his gaze darting between the roll of cash and Wrecker’s steely eyes. He thought of his wife in Alabama, safe but far away, and of the Riders’ blood-stained reign. Finally, he nodded. "Alright. But if this goes south, we’ll all be dead."

Reggy asked, "By the way, what’s your name?"

Lucky looked around, weighed his options, and said, "I’ll stick with Lucky."

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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=='''Moving Day at the Station'''==

The next day, Gadget returned to the squat and explained the situation to Eddie. He groaned about the extra work but eventually agreed. Cali would take the most convincing, of course. At first, Gadget gave up on the move and started thinking of finding someplace else, maybe even taking over the bar Wrecker and Reggy found. In the end, though, the Station made more sense.

Busking had been good for months. The band had started playing together during peak traffic hours in the plaza and had started getting quite a following.

One day, a young woman had asked them how many songs they could do and if they were interested in playing a party. That led them to a backyard on a Saturday evening, playing everything they could think of to a crowd of around sixty partygoers. Cali wouldn’t look at the crowd, but otherwise, the group had a heck of a time and ate well. They got $300 in pocket and another $300 in tips. Afterwards, the squat was a celebration as all six members of the band got $90, and Waldo got $60. Not a fortune, but they talked about months when they wouldn’t get $10 a day busking. To top the evening off, they had another gig the next weekend and a possibility of a second one.

Waldo, who rarely talked anymore, suggested they go to Walmart and buy two or three folding wagons. The group looked at him with uncertainty, but he explained that they all hauled gear to the plaza and back almost every day, but going to a gig might take a bit more work. It wasn’t as if any of them had a car. Eddie looked at Gadget, then Tiffy, then around the group to a general agreement. It was agreed that three wagons would carry most of their gear more easily than they could carry it. It was then they realized it had been four months since Wart’s guys disappeared, and no one was taxing them in their place. Tiffy asked how much money everyone had. They had been eating well since they started chipping in from their take from busking. Sometimes they played as a group, sometimes they played on their own.

The amount was surprising to them, despite the $90 each had got from the gig. The total was over a thousand dollars. For buskers, this was a fortune. The habit of hiding away change was deeply ingrained in them. The total had crept up on all of them.

That was when Gadget made the suggestion that caused the real uproar. The squat had always been tight, and with the addition of Colette's supplies—cots, sleeping bags, ice chest, blankets—the place had become a cozy maze for the group, building and bonding them, but the time for a change was coming. Her suggestion of taking over the Station was met with horror by Cali and Jax, rightly so, but the others wanted to at least see the place.

After an expedition to the dog town the Station was in, Eddie and Holden both agreed it was worth considering. Gadget had to talk Cali into considering it and used a subtle mental push to make her forget parts of the nightmare she had experienced.

As they discussed the move, the fateful question was asked. Cali asked it.

"What do we do if Wart and his guys come back?" Eddie looked at Gadget, passing to her the lie she would tell. Gadget said, "They got in trouble with a biker gang, the Blind Reapers." Holden nodded, "Yeah, they supplied them. Could they have...killed them?"

Eddie told him, "We may never know." Nodding to Gadget, knowing.

Moving into it took a straight run of gear. Holden and Eddie rounded up six shopping carts and the three folding wagons. They packed their meager belongings and made their way across the plaza. People barely glanced at them, so used they were to people living out of shopping carts that they had become invisible to them.

The Station was still a mess. Gadget saw the strategic mess Wrecker and Reggy had left. Piles of debris in the garage mostly pushed aside. A new garage door opener was installed and purposefully distressed. The Station had no electricity, and that would have to wait. Wrecker had explained to her what it would take to connect the place to the local line, and it had seemed prohibitively risky. It was Reggy who suggested they get a power source from the TW guys in Ang Ri. A conversation with Dalt, Rafe, and the Total Warrior medic ended up with them getting a power generator the size of a pair of decks of cards. The TW guy explained that it would be easy to install and explained the process to Wrecker. Gadget knew it would just take stringing the wire. Time enough later.

The bedding where Cali’s ordeal occurred was gone. Gadget shook her head but admired her companions' creative efforts. They had clearly used Fire Cantrips to burn the room once they had emptied offending details. A chest of drawers, tool chests, and various debris had been left to fuel the blaze. She could feel the magical residue of Fire Cantrips and Extinguish Cantrips they had used. For two warriors, they were showing considerable ingenuity in using the few magical talents they had.

After a couple of days, the debris was gone, and conversations about what to do with the place had filled the time in between practicing. Jax made the uncharacteristic comment that they shouldn’t miss too many days of busking, or someone else would take their stone benches. There was general agreement, and it was decided to return to the plaza the next day.

The sun hung low over the city just after dawn as the group filed out of the Station, their spirits buoyed by the new wave of success that came with their latest gig. But beneath the euphoria, the same gnawing fear lingered. Eddie felt it most acutely. His hands were steady, but there was a weight to his thoughts. Since the gig, the extra cash had gone straight to his head. The first drink at the backyard party felt like a celebration, the second like relief, but now… now it was becoming a crutch, an itch he couldn’t scratch fast enough. He caught Holden’s eye as they walked down the street toward the plaza, eyeballing the Goodwill as they went by, trying to ignore the gnawing in his chest. Holden didn’t say anything, but he could tell—Holden could always tell. The old man, at seventeen, had more successfully kicked his habits long ago, but the silence between them now spoke volumes.

“Everything alright?” Holden’s voice was low, careful.

“Yeah. Just thinking,” Eddie muttered, kicking a loose stone down the sidewalk.

Taking their usual spot, Waldo made more complete efforts laying out their instruments, Eddie and Holden's pig-amps, and putting blankets on the stone benches. Passersby in the early morning air noticed them setting up. Some exchanged comments with the group. Several who had bought breakfasts to go decided to sit and listen to them. Their morning was musical and productive. It was also profitable. But they were still at heart a bit nervous.

Among the small crowd, Gadget saw Wrecker and Reggy sit, each with a breakfast pizza rolled like a burrito. They nodded at her gaze.

Afternoon, the Goodwill store was busy as usual, but today the crowd felt heavier, more pressing. They’d come for furniture—a couch, a few chairs, anything that could make the Station feel more like a home and less like a hollow shell. Tiffy and Cali meandered through the aisles, their eyes glazed with the same detached exhaustion that had become their default since moving into the Station. Cali's face was pale under the fluorescent lights, her gaze darting away from the other shoppers. She hadn’t spoken much since her encounter with Wart's gang, her mind still replaying the sharp edges of that time, the familiar terror twisting her gut.

“I don’t know about all this…” Tiffy murmured as she ran her fingers along the chipped edge of a secondhand armchair. “It feels… wrong. Like we’re just asking for trouble.”

Holden paused beside her, giving her a quiet nod. “It’s part of it, Tiff. We get things that make our place ours, and we start making it known. But that doesn’t mean we go looking for trouble.”

“You can’t just pretend trouble’s not gonna find us,” Cali snapped from the far side of the store, her voice tight. She was still raw, still haunted, and the old patterns were creeping back in.

Gadget said, "We aren’t. We are ready to manage whatever happens. Otherwise, we live in fear."

Waldo shuffled up next to them, his eyes scanning the aisles, but his attention was elsewhere. He’d lived through things that none of them could fully understand—not just the streets, but the darker alleyways of the criminal world. He knew how easy it was for someone to slip into their lives, offering help only to tighten the noose around their necks later. He hoped that wasn’t how they saw him. He picked up a book and glanced at the cover.

“You know, these gangs don’t just stay in the shadows forever,” Waldo said softly, his voice carrying a quiet warning. “They’ll come looking for us. Not yet, but soon. We’ve got money now. Not a lot, but enough to make us targets.” He glanced at Gadget, his eyes unwavering, a silent vow there. He was dedicated to her, to keeping her safe and helping her plans, despite knowing firsthand how dangerous she was, but even he knew that safety was just an illusion in a city like this.

They left Goodwill with a pair of couches and some mismatched chairs, enough to make the Station feel less like a forgotten corner of the world and more like a place where people lived. The place still smelled like stale air and gasoline, but now there were splashes of color, the start of a life growing in the space.

Back at the Station, they spread out and got to work. Eddie carried the old couch inside with Holden, while Tiffy and Cali tried to paint the walls. It was grueling, tedious work, but it was
something they could control. Something tangible. Each brushstroke against the cracked walls was a step toward owning their own future. It didn’t change the fact that they were in the middle of a city teeming with danger, but at least it was something real.

“I used to do this in my old life,” Waldo said, taking a break from hauling furniture to help lay a fresh coat of white paint over the yellowed walls. His hands were steady, even if his mind was racing with darker thoughts. He wasn’t sure how long they could keep their heads down, but they had a few months, at least. It was better than nothing. Tiffy asked, “Paint?” Waldo shook his head, “Move furniture.” He blanched, not wanting to remind them that as part of Wart's crew, he would have been in a lot of their burglaries.

The sound of scraping brushes and the occasional burst of laughter filled the Station as the group worked. It was strange, being here, a place that didn’t feel like home but was starting to. Maybe it was the familiar mess, the clutter that had once represented their survival now becoming part of their new normal. Maybe it was the way they laughed at little things that shouldn’t be funny, or the fact that they had enough money to paint the walls and buy furniture. They had a place of pride to hang Eddie's beloved Red Elvisis Ukrainian Rock group poster. He had even joked about getting it framed.

But as the walls of the Station took on new life, so did their dreams of what it could become. Even with the growing danger, even with the looming threat of the gangs and predators that prowled the city, they were starting to see that this might be their chance at something more—something they had been denied for so long. And the price of that dream? They’d have to face down whatever came for them, together. "Alright," Holden said, wiping his hands on his jeans as he surveyed the room. "Let’s get some more work done tomorrow. This place is gonna look like a real home soon enough."

Tiffy and Cali exchanged looks, both of them still unsure, but it was a step forward. It had to be.

Waldo stood off to the side, eyes narrowed, scanning the shadows outside the garage door. It felt like they were waiting for something—waiting for it all to fall apart or waiting for the other shoe to drop. But at least for now, they had their Station. At least for now, they were alive and together. But that was more than they had yesterday.

In the distance, he saw the dogs, behaving oddly somehow. Some were disturbingly close. He began to wonder if Gadget had something to do with that?

Then in the distance, he saw Gadget's two friends, the guy with the Mohawk and the guy with the Denver jacket. Gadget passed him going out.

“Keep a lid on things, Waldo. I'm going for a walk.” She walked directly to them as if she knew they were there.

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Got it! I’ll revise the text you provided to ensure all tense inconsistencies are corrected to past tense. I’ll go through it systematically and make the necessary adjustments. Here's the corrected version:

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Gadget walked a few blocks from the station with Wrecker and Reggy to slip into an industrial warehouse that had walls trashed and falling away. Looking into the shadows, she asked, "So what’s the plan, guys?"

Wrecker said, "We’ve taken over the Ugly Ferret. Its owner is Benjamin Ross, wife Imelda. He’s from Amarillo, Texas. She’s from El Paso but grew up south of the border with family. He goes by Lucky now. The place has a small dive bar area in front and a good-sized side room. The bikers had been storing junk there. It’s got two small stages. It looked like it was a club of some kind a couple of decades ago." He pulled out a Cuban cigar and lit it, inhaling its strong scent. "They kept about 20 boxes of Cuban cigars at the Ferret. Lucky was happy to hand them over."

Gadget took the cigar and tested it, giving Wrecker a look. He chuckled and pulled out another and lit it.

Reggy added, "He also has warehouse space east of the club, part of his back room. Lots of clutter in there as well as a sort of garage area. It looked like they had some medical issues at some point. Dried blood, bandages. Just pushed into a corner. Years old. The place is a fucking mess. He has a floor over the warehouse with a few crappy apartments. Lucky and his wife started renovations there but stopped when the wackos took over the place. It looked like it was abandoned with the rest of the place decades ago, just leaving the bar open. Lucky bought the place at a steal. If we weren’t taking the place over ourselves, I’d be inclined to find the realtor that sold it to him and shoot a toe off him. As it is though...."

Gadget nodded, "Ok, how long till it’s ready for the group? We did a backyard party, have one on Saturday and another next week."

Wrecker and Reggy looked at each other for a few moments, then Wrecker nodded, "Week after. Let us haul out the junk. Check the wiring and the lighting. The place needs a coat of paint, but that would take a while....."

Gadget chuckled, "You know what, how about this? The Opening Night show could be a paint night. Get a couple dozen cases of spray paint and give them to customers. Let them paint the walls. If Lucky is OK with it, of course." The three chuckled.

"It’s a start. I’d say we need to drop a few hundred grand into general renovations throughout, but we need professionals for that. In the meantime, the crappy look is perfect for a rave space. Expand into the big space once we sort the place out. You’re planning to push your group hard, it seems. I thought they did in the other shadows on their own?"

"I’ve done some exploring. They had a manager and three diehard roadies, plus a brass section that backed them in most shadows. Here, that manager and two of the roadies are dead. The 5-piece brass only has 3 in this section, still in high school, but they were at the backyard party. I’ll make sure they’re there for the Ferret opening..."

Gadget raised her hand, sniffing the air. She was being hunted. Wrecker and Reggy knew her look and flipped their Glocks to their hands, Wrecker putting the handle of his lightsaber in his left.

She looked around, trying to find the cause. After a few moments, she saw a group of dogs slowly spreading out in the dark.

Wrecker said softly, "I’m guessing these aren’t yours?"

Gadget said, "No.... I’ve gotten about 70 or so of the local pack. From them, I’ve learned that’s around half. And the leader... I think it’s the brute in the center."

Reggy, Glock in his left hand, said, "I count about 25, but there are more in the dark. It’s your ballgame, Gadg. Fight or flight?"

Wrecker said, "The car isn’t far. Dash distance."

Gadget said, "If I run, I’ll lose the rest of the pack. I need to make it clear to this guy who’s in charge."

She stepped away from her friends, inhaling deeply, growling, centering her psyche. Standing, she watched the big brute come away from the others, who spread out behind him.

"I don’t want to kill you. I can tell you’ve been hurt. Beaten. Tortured. Come to me. Join me." She emitted the sensation of love offered, of healing offered. She sent thoughts of the pack, her pack, a great pack.

From him, she felt anger. Fear. Desperation. The insistent demand that she submit. That she roll her belly over. Let him mount her. Be his bitch.

She almost chuckled. He had to learn or die. She felt the moment approaching. She growled and lowered to her hands and knees. Arching her back and raising her hackles. The brute started to circle, but Gadget was unmoved.

Her shape shifted, her clothing falling away, stepping out of shoes, slipping out of trousers, and pulling shirts up and off. Nude for a moment, her skin grew fur, bright white, her eyes bright blue. The brute looked on uncertainly, growing angry. He leaped, clearing Gadget the wolf, who rolled under the leap.

The brute had fought thousands of battles in its long, tortured years, but it had never faced an actual wolf like his father. But this wasn’t an actual wolf. Its scent was terrifying and different. Unlike anything he had ever met. Worse than the cruel men whose hot blood he had drunk to free himself. This was... something else.

Gadget had rarely fought in this form. But this was a challenge. And it began. The brute ran hard rather than leaping, grabbing her fur and trying to sink his teeth into her flesh. She twisted beneath him, grabbing his claws and tearing them with her great strength. He howled in shock at the sudden pain.

Pouncing away, he turned on her, going low, growling. Gadget curved to face him. She felt his desire to die rather than lose. She couldn’t destroy this ancient warrior.

The brute lunged again, this time aiming for Gadget’s throat. She sidestepped with the grace of a predator, her movements fluid and precise. His teeth snapped shut on empty air, and she retaliated with a swift, powerful swipe of her paw, catching him across the muzzle. The brute stumbled back, shaking his head, blood dripping from his nose. But he didn’t retreat. His eyes burned with a mix of rage and desperation, and Gadget could feel his resolve hardening. He wasn’t just fighting for dominance—he was fighting for survival, for the only life he had ever known.

The brute charged again, this time feinting to the left before darting to the right, trying to catch her off guard. Gadget anticipated the move, her heightened senses giving her an edge. She met him head-on, their bodies colliding with a force that sent a shockwave through the air. They grappled, teeth snapping, claws slashing, each trying to gain the upper hand. The brute’s strength was immense, his muscles coiled like steel springs, but Gadget’s agility and cunning gave her the advantage. She twisted and turned, using his momentum against him, forcing him to overextend.

With a sudden burst of speed, she broke free and circled him, her icy blue eyes locked onto his. The brute growled, low and guttural, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his gaze now. He had never faced an opponent like her—a creature that was both wolf and something more. Gadget took a step forward, her hackles raised, her teeth bared in a silent snarl. The brute hesitated, and in that moment, she struck.

She lunged, her powerful jaws clamping down on his shoulder. He howled in pain, thrashing wildly, but she held firm, her grip unyielding. With a fierce shake of her head, she threw him to the ground, pinning him beneath her. The brute struggled, his claws raking at her sides, but she ignored the pain, her focus unwavering. She released his shoulder and placed a paw on his chest, her weight pressing him down. Her muzzle dipped close to his, her breath hot against his face.

“Submit,” she growled, her voice a low rumble that reverberated through the air. The brute’s struggles slowed, then stopped. His body went still, and for a moment, there was only silence. Then, with a whimper, he lowered his head, exposing his throat in a gesture of surrender. Gadget stepped back, releasing him, and watched as he slowly rose to his feet. His eyes met hers, and she saw the change in him—the fear and anger replaced by a grudging respect. He laid his belly to the ground. Gadget stepped over, laying a paw on his hip. She laid over him, letting her body warm him. Accepting him. He shuddered beneath her uncertainly, unsure. Not since his littermates had he felt the warmth. He felt his body surrender to her. He was her Brute.

She stepped back, raising to her feet. She shimmered, and her fur started shifting, her size increased. It had been years since she held her true form as a Hound of Mandalay, a Lady of Mandalay, and blood of Amber. Her size increased to the size of a large Clydesdale horse. Small for her race, small compared to her father Fleece, son of Oberon, but still greater than any wolf this world had ever known. Seated on her haunches, she howled at the moon, a sound heard for miles around. They needed to see her, who they followed.

The other dogs, who had been watching the fight in tense silence, began to approach, their tails low, their heads bowed. Gadget stood tall, her white fur gleaming in the dim light, her presence commanding. She had won not just the fight but their loyalty. The brute stepped forward, his movements stiff and pained, and bowed his head once more. Gadget reached out, her muzzle brushing against his in a gesture of acceptance. The pack was hers.

From far and wide, her part of the pack came in response to her howl and joined in, seeing their former comrades now joined into Gadia's Pack. Gadia, called Gadget, though they would not understand the name.

She stood, walking among the dogs, greeting them, Brute beside her,
soon joined by Savage, now the Second of Gadget's pack behind the Brute. Toward the other dogs, they fell in submission, the Brute beside her. She gathered them around her. They howled together.

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As the howls of the pack echoed through the industrial wasteland, Gadget stood tall, her massive form radiating authority. The brute, now named Brute by her, stood at her side, his earlier defiance replaced by a quiet loyalty. Savage, the scarred leader of the smaller pack she had already tamed, took his place as her second-in-command, his eyes gleaming with newfound purpose. The rest of the dogs—some mangy, some scarred, all survivors—circled her, their tails low but their spirits lifted by her presence.

Gadget’s voice, a deep, resonant growl, carried over the pack. “You are mine now. Together, we are strong. No more fighting among yourselves. No more fear. We protect each other. We hunt together. We survive together.” The dogs whined and yipped in response, their instincts recognizing her as their alpha.

Wrecker and Reggy watched from a distance, their expressions a mix of awe and unease. Reggy holstered his pistol, his hands still trembling slightly. “I’ve seen some crazy shit in my time,” he muttered, “but that? That’s next level. I think I'm going to need a change of pants.”

Wrecker nodded, his cigar dangling from his lips. “She’s not just a wolf. She’s something else entirely. She’s an Amberite after all.” He exhaled a plume of smoke, his eyes narrowing as he watched Gadget move among the dogs, her presence commanding yet strangely nurturing. “We’re lucky she’s on our side.”

Gadget turned to them, her glowing blue eyes piercing through the dim light. “We’re done here,” she said, her voice shifting back to its human tone as her form shimmered and shrank, fur receding, limbs reshaping until she stood before them, fully human once more. She grabbed her discarded clothes and began dressing, her movements calm and deliberate. “The pack will keep watch over the Station and the Ferret. They’ll alert us if anyone—or anything—tries to cause trouble.”

Reggy raised an eyebrow. “You’re seriously going to have a bunch of dogs as your security detail?”

Gadget smirked. “Not just dogs. A pack. And they’re more loyal—and more effective—than most humans I’ve met.” She glanced at Brute, who sat obediently at her feet, his massive frame still trembling slightly from the fight. “Besides, they’ve got a leader now who knows what it means to survive.”

Wrecker chuckled, shaking his head. “Alright, boss. Whatever you say. But if I wake up to a bunch of dogs licking my face, I’m blaming you.” Gadget laughed, the sound sharp and bright in the otherwise grim surroundings. “Deal. Now, let’s get back to the Station. We’ve got a lot of work to do before the Ferret’s opening night.”

As they walked back, the pack followed at a distance, their presence a silent but powerful reminder of Gadget’s growing influence. The industrial zone, once a place of danger and decay, now felt like territory under her control. The dogs patrolled the edges, their sharp eyes and keen noses alert for any threat.

When they reached the Station, the rest of the Stone Bench Group was waiting, their faces a mix of curiosity and concern. Eddie was the first to speak. “What the hell happened out there? We heard howling—like, a lot of howling.”

Gadget shrugged, her expression casual but her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Just a little pack bonding. Nothing to worry about.”

Cali crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. “Pack bonding? You mean you went out and tamed a bunch of wild dogs?”

“Something like that. I tamed two. They tamed the rest,” Gadget replied, her smirk widening. “Let’s just say we’ve got some new friends watching our backs now.”

Jax, who had been quietly tuning his bongos, looked up with a grin. “Dogs, huh? That’s kinda cool. Can they play drums?” Gadget laughed. “Not yet. But give me time.”

The group chuckled, unsure how serious she was, the tension easing as they returned to their preparations for an upcoming party gig. But as Gadget settled into a chair, her mind was already racing ahead. The pack was just the beginning. With their help, she could secure the area, protect her friends, and build something lasting. And when the time came to face whatever threats lay ahead, she knew they’d be ready.

Behind her, Brute lay down at her feet, his massive head resting on his paws. Savage curled up nearby, his scarred face calm for the first time in years. The pack was hers, and together, they were unstoppable. The rest of the band looked at them with concern. "Are they safe? They look vicious."

Gadget regarded her two new friends. Standing, she clucked her fingers, and they came to her. She walked around the room, holding each band member around the shoulders and guiding a hand for the dogs to smell, lick. Eddie looked as if he was going to pop his eyes out of his head, but he knew well what Gadget was capable of. Holden and Tiffy managed the introductions well. Jax petted them eagerly, apparently a fan of dogs.

When she came to Cali, her bag shook. Buster stuck his head out, and the dogs instantly thought prey. Gadget slammed her thought into the two warrior dogs that the cat Buster was part of the pack. They looked at her and accepted it with uncertainty. But she was the alpha. Cali let them sniff her hand and smell Buster on it. Gadget was satisfied.

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Reggy, still looking a little shaken, leaned over to Wrecker and whispered, “You think she’s done surprising us yet?” Wrecker shook his head, his grin widening. “Not a chance. With Gadget, the surprises are just getting started.”

The two left the place of battle, followed by a dozen dogs who knew what their duties were. Several liked the two rough friends of the wolf.

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==='''It’s All About the Basses'''===

Cali sat cross-legged on the floor of the Station, her bass resting across her lap. She ran her fingers lightly over the strings, plucking out a slow, melancholic rhythm. Her bass was a classic Fender Precision Bass, a 4-string with a deep, resonant tone that had been her companion through countless performances. It was simple, reliable, and familiar—a grounding force in her chaotic life.

Gadget walked in, her 6-string bass slung over her shoulder. It was a battered Ibanez BTB686SC, its polished wood barely held together by polish under the dim light. She sat down beside Cali, setting the bass across her knees. Cali glanced at it, her curiosity piqued. “That thing looks like a spaceship compared to mine,” she said, a small smile tugging at her lips, a smile still a new thing for her.

Gadget chuckled, running her hand along the neck of her bass. “Six-strings. Two extra strings—a low B and a high C—give it a wider range. It’s like having a bass and a guitar rolled into one.” She plucked the low B string, the deep, rumbling note vibrating through the room. “This one’s for those earth-shaking lows,” she said, then shifted to the high C, producing a bright, almost guitar-like tone. “And this one’s for when you want to soar.”

Cali tilted her head, listening intently. “It’s a whole different sound.”

“Exactly,” Gadget replied. “With a 4-string, you’re locked into that classic bass role—holding down the low end, keeping the rhythm tight. But with a 6-string, you can step into the spotlight. You can play chords, melodies, even solos if you’re feeling bold.” She demonstrated, her fingers dancing across the strings as she played a complex, melodic line that wove seamlessly between low and high registers.

Cali watched, her eyes wide with admiration. “That’s… incredible. But doesn’t it make things harder? More strings, more to think about.”

Gadget nodded. “It can be overwhelming at first. The neck is wider, and you’ve got to be precise with your fingering. But once you get the hang of it, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities.” She handed the bass to Cali. “Here, give it a try.”

Cali hesitated, then took the bass, adjusting it in her lap. She plucked the strings tentatively, her fingers fumbling slightly on the wider neck. “It feels… different. Like I’m learning all over again.”

“That’s the beauty of it,” Gadget said, her voice soft but encouraging. “It challenges you. Pushes you to grow. And when you find your groove, it’s like nothing else.” She reached over, guiding Cali’s fingers to the frets, extending her psych to guide the hands, pushing for strength she did not understand she had. “Start slow. Feel the strings. Let them tell you where to go. Play the middle 4 you know, then step up, step down.”

Cali closed her eyes, letting the vibrations of the bass guide her. Slowly, she began to play, her movements growing more confident with each note. The low B string added a richness to her sound, while the high C allowed her to explore melodies she’d never attempted before. When she opened her eyes, Gadget was smiling.

“See? You’re a natural,” Gadget said. “The 4-string will always be your foundation, but the 6-string? That’s your wings.”

Cali smiled back, a rare spark of excitement in her eyes. “Maybe one day I’ll get one of these. Till then, I’ll stick to what I know.”

Gadget nodded. “There’s no rush. Music’s a journey, not a race. But… I am thinking we can almost afford getting a pair of new basses. And no matter what you play, it’s your voice that matters.”

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==='''The Pawnshop'''===

The Baltimore Subway Metrolink rattled through the tunnels, its fluorescent lights flickering as Gadget and Cali sat side by side. Cali fidgeted with the strap of her bag, her eyes darting to the passing stations. “You sure this place is worth it?” she asked, her voice tinged with skepticism, her mind just a touch in fear.

Gadget leaned back, her arms crossed, a small smirk playing on her lips. “Trust me. This pawnshop’s got a reputation for musical gear. If we’re lucky, we’ll find something special.”

When they stepped off the train, the neighborhood was a mix of faded brick buildings and graffiti-covered storefronts. The pawnshop was tucked between a laundromat and a convenience store, its window cluttered with guitars, amplifiers, and other instruments. A bell jingled as they pushed the door open, the smell of old wood and dust greeting them.

Cali’s eyes widened as she took in the rows of instruments lining the walls. “This place is like a treasure chest,” she whispered, her fingers brushing against the neck of a vintage Fender Stratocaster.

Gadget headed straight for the bass section, her eyes scanning the lineup. She paused, her gaze locking onto two instruments hanging side by side. One was a dark brown Ibanez GSR206 6-string bass, its sleek design and polished finish catching the light. The other was a Dean Edge 6-string bass in a stunning blue quilted maple, its body shimmering like the ocean.

“Cali, come here,” Gadget called, her voice low but excited. Cali hurried over, her eyes widening as she saw the basses. “These are perfect,” Gadget said, lifting the Ibanez off the wall and handing it to Cali. “Feel that. Solid construction, smooth neck. And the Dean? That’s a beauty.”

Cali strummed the Ibanez, the low B string rumbling through the shop. “It’s amazing,” she admitted, her voice tinged with awe. But then she glanced at the price tags and frowned. “Two hundred for the Ibanez? Three-fifty for the Dean? That’s way too much. We’re buskers, Gadget. We can’t afford this.”

Gadget shook her head, her expression firm. “These are worth every penny. A good instrument isn’t just a tool—it’s an extension of you. And you deserve something that can keep up with your talent. These are beat up looking, but I’ll check the works and the sound before buying them. Looks we can fix.”

She walked to a chair by the amps and plugged each in by turns, strummed, picked, and looked them over closely. Cali watched in anticipation. Then Gadget let her sit and handed her the Ibanez. Gadget whispered, "Nothing wrong with them we can't fix."

Before Cali could protest further, Gadget flagged down the shop owner and handed over the cash. “We’ll take both.”

Cali stared at her, stunned. “You’re insane,” she muttered, but there was a hint of gratitude in her voice as she slung the Ibanez over her shoulder.

As they went to leave, Gadget stopped. She walked to a dusty corner of the store where boxes had a wide variety of items, most unsorted. She dug through them, chuckling with delight. She found four plastic recorders, a dozen toy kazoos, three harmonicas, finger cymbals, and some small rattles. Such potential. Gadget thought of her flute, the fine mithril silver flute sitting in Mandalay, shadows away. Recorders and harmonicas would have to do.

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==='''Yard Sale'''===

On the subway ride back, Cali couldn’t stop glancing at the basses, her fingers twitching as if she were already playing them. But when Gadget suddenly stood up and motioned for her to follow at an unfamiliar stop, Cali hesitated. “Where are we going now?” she asked, her brow furrowed.

Gadget just grinned. “You’ll see.”

They walked a few blocks to a quiet residential street, where a yard sale was in full swing. Tables were piled with clothes, books, and household items. She looked to a man coming over to her, "You the one who called?" Gadget nodded, and the man led them into the back of the garage. In a corner, a 5-piece starter drum set sat gleaming in the sunlight. The sign taped to it read: $100 – OBO. and another Sold. He said, "I'll be glad to see that go. My son whined and whined for it for a year. He played it for about a month, then it sat in his room for a couple of years, then in the garage till he left for college. Get it out of my garage, please. I saw ya walking? You can have the red wagon over there for free."

Cali’s jaw dropped. “No way,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. She turned to Gadget, her eyes wide. “Is this why we stopped? For Jax?”

Gadget shrugged, her smirk widening. “He’s been playing on bongos and makeshift kits long enough. He deserves something real.”

Cali’s eyes welled up with tears, but she quickly wiped them away, shaking her head. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? First the basses, now this? How do you even know about this stuff?”

Gadget chuckled, pulling out her wallet. “Let’s just say I’ve got a knack for finding stuff.” She handed the cash to the seller, who helped them load the drum kit into a red wagon he threw in.

Cali stood silently as she watched Gadget's back while she looked through the piles on the tables.

Cali squinted at the pile in Gadget’s arms as they walked back to the car, raising an eyebrow. "Okay, I get the shirts—they’re kinda cool in a retro way—but what are you gonna do with a thousand loose sheets of sheet music and a couple hundred random Polaroids of strangers?"

Gadget grinned, adjusting her grip on the stack of faded photographs. "I have an idea." She tossed the shirts into her backpack. "The music—some of it’s bound to be interesting. We can play around with the arrangements, maybe mash some things up. And these photos?" She held up a random shot of a man in oversized sunglasses standing next to a station wagon. "They’ve got stories. Even if we don’t know them, we can make them up. Give them new lives."

She asked the guy about the Polaroids. "I bought a storage unit. It had some good furniture. But there were boxes of those. Someone's whole life, forgotten." Gadget asked him, "You have more?" He responded with, "Boxes and boxes. Not here though." Gadget told him she would take them all and would come back later to pick them up.

As they made their way back to the subway, Cali walked in silence for a while, her mind racing. Finally, she turned to Gadget, her voice soft but sincere. “Thank you. For everything. I don’t know how we’re ever going to repay you.”

Gadget waved her off, her tone light but firm. “You don’t have to repay me. This is out of our busking fund. Just let me handle Eddie when we get back. He put me in charge of group money, and this is what I did with it. Just keep playing. With both of us on good pieces finally. That’s all I want.”

Cali shrugged, shaking her head as they walked into a parking lot. "You’re weird, you know that?"

"Yeah, but admit it—it’s an interesting kind of weird."

Gadget smirked before disappearing into a hardware store by the subway's stop. Ten minutes later, she came out with a bag full of spray cans. Paint and adhesives.

As they made their way back to the subway, Cali walked in silence for a while, her mind racing. Finally, she turned to Gadget, her voice soft but sincere. “Thank you. For everything. I don’t know how we’re ever going to repay you.”

Gadget waved her off, her tone light but firm. “You don’t have to repay me. This is out of our busking fund. Just let me handle Eddie when we get back. He put me in charge of group money, and this is what I did with it. Just keep playing. With both of us on good pieces finally. That’s all I want.”

"Deal," she responded.

Back at the Station, Gadget wasted no time. She took spray paint cans and started painting designs on the walls. Holden and Eddie joined in while Eddie grilled her about the money.

Jax filled the room with a heavy loud beat on the new-to-him drums, dusting off the years of loneliness from the forgotten instrument. It soared under their new owner's sticks. Cali grew a wide smile seeing her beloved happy.

She cracked open a can of aerosol adhesive, shaking it with a satisfying rattle before coating a section of the wall. "Alright," she said, handing out stacks of Polaroids and sheet music around, "help me stick this stuff up."

The others got to work, pressing the yellowed sheets of music against the walls, overlapping them with faded Polaroids—snapshots of birthdays, vacations, blurry party moments, and forgotten faces frozen in time. The effect was chaotic, a collage of unknown lives and untold melodies.

Gadget stepped back, hands on her hips, surveying the growing wall of history. "Not bad," she murmured, picking up a random photo from the pile still in her lap. She studied it—the faint outline of a woman sitting on a porch, caught mid-laugh, a glass in her hand.

She smirked. "Alright, lady—what’s your story?"

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==='''The Ugly Ferret - Used Gear'''===
The garage of the Ugly Ferret smelled like motor oil, old leather, and stale beer. Fluorescent lights buzzed above, casting a sickly glow over a collection of battered equipment: Marshall stacks with torn grille cloth, Peavey and Fender amps that had seen better days, a tangled mess of cables, and microphones with dented grilles. It was a graveyard of rock and roll relics.

Gadget, her electric blue hair tied back, crossed her arms and surveyed the lineup. She stepped over a coiled snake of dusty XLR cables and knelt by a beaten-up Ampeg SVT bass amp. She tapped the side, and a loose panel rattled. “This thing gonna hold up, or is it gonna catch fire the second I plug in?”

Reggy, a thick-built man with sleeves of faded tattoos, grinned around a toothpick. “Ah, don’t be a wuss. It’s just a little character.”

Wrecker, his wiry counterpart with a permanent scowl, ran a hand over the torn tolex of a Marshall JCM800 half-stack. “Most of this stuff’s better than what you’ve been using,” he pointed out. “We can get better, sure, but it’ll cost, and kinda break character for us, wouldn’t it?”

Gadget sighed and rolled her shoulders before slinging her six-string bass over her shoulder. “Let’s see if this junk actually works.” She plugged in, twisting the worn-out input jack until it settled in place with a crackle. The amp gave a brief hum of protest before Reggy stepped in, adjusting the settings. He turned a few dials, knocked the casing, and muttered something under his breath.

She played a few deep, resonant notes, testing for dead spots. The sound was rough, but not completely unusable. “Eh,” she grumbled. “I’ve played worse.”

Reggy nodded, stepping back with his arms crossed. “I’ll clean up the electrical. Most of it’s just buzz and loose connections. The rest—well, looks are just vanity at this point.”

Gadget exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of her neck. “Fine. But buy two small, inexpensive amps—one dedicated for Tiffy’s electric violin and the uke, another for Eddie’s mic. The rest of our mics can pop off occasionally, but lead vocals have to be dependable.” She gave him a pointed look. “And get a good mic. None of this garage sale shit.”

Reggy smirked. “Demanding, huh?”

“Just making sure we don’t sound like total garbage.”

She looked around, thoughtful. “Also—get a couple outside security cameras in here. I’ll put one of my great cameras up, but the security cams are for show and B-roll. We’ll throw some video clips on the CD. Never can tell.”

Wrecker nodded. “Yeah, not a bad idea. Might as well milk this gig for all it’s worth.”

Gadget slung her bass back over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes at Wrecker. “And while we’re at it—talk to Lucky. Tell him to water down the band’s booze. Especially Eddie’s. He’s getting too much of a habit, and I don’t need him falling off the damn stage.”

Wrecker sighed, rubbing a calloused hand over his face. “Yeah, I figured. I’ll have Lucky keep an eye on him.”
Reggy clapped his hands together. “Alright then, sounds like we got ourselves a damn plan.”

Gadget gave the amp one last skeptical look before finally nodding. “Let’s hope it doesn’t blow up in our faces.”
Wrecker grinned. “Wouldn’t be rock and roll if it didn’t.”

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=='''The Night at the Ugly Ferret'''==

The night of the Stone Bench Group’s first performance at the Ugly Ferret had a strange energy—equal parts excitement, nerves, and underlying tension. The word had spread fast among the people who had seen them play at backyard parties, and a fair number had shown up, eager to see if the SBG could bring that same magic to a real venue. But there were also others in the crowd—some curious, some skeptical, and a few who made the air feel heavier just by being there.

Lucky worked the bar, keeping a close eye on the crowd. He was the kind of man who had seen enough trouble in his life to know when it was creeping in, and tonight, trouble might be lurking in the shadows. He was scared as hell. Maybe it was Wrecker and Reggy and their constant cheerfulness, the jokes they told. The money they had. But he also knew they were easily as bloodthirsty and ruthless as the bikers had been. Maybe worse. But his side room with its two stages had been cleaned by the pair, of the motorcycles, junk, boxes, and years of trash. They had put in lights, wiring, and even passed the city's inspection to get a venue permit.

Ominously as well was the warehouse space. They cleaned it and talked about extending the side area to the back. In the meantime, they had their incredible '57 coupe in there and seemed to live out of its trunk. A pair of cots, a coffee maker, and a fridge. A keg of beer and bottles of booze. A coffee table and their ever-present cigars. The two were not just weird rich killers. They were something beyond his ability to understand. That was scary. But they wanted a dance club and this band to play, so they got it.

Smiley, though unrecognizable in his disguise, sat in a corner nursing a drink, a couple of the old biker girls with him, chatting in low voices. Scattered through the room were members of local gangs, their eyes sharp, assessing, waiting to see what kind of place this would become.

The SBG huddled in the back before their set. Gadget could see the nervous energy in them—Eddie was bouncing on the balls of his feet, Holden kept checking his guitar, Jax had a protective arm around Cali, whispering to her. Tiffy, usually the loudest, was oddly quiet, biting her lip as she adjusted her mic. “You guys got this,” Gadget said firmly, making eye contact with each of them. Holden said, "It really isn't the plaza. This ain't busking."

“Yeah, it’s playing in front of people who might stab us if they don’t like the music,” Eddie muttered.

“Then play like your life depends on it,” Waldo said with a smirk.

Time came, and the Ugly Ferret was packed to the brim, the air thick with the buzz of anticipation and the faint hiss of spray paint cans as the crowd added their own colorful chaos to the walls.

Waldo walked to the front of the stage and sprayed a yellow semicircle in front of the stage, the crowd stepping back as he did. Behind him, the Stone Bench Group took the stage, their instruments gleaming under the dim, flickering lights. Eddie stepped up to the mic, his first time in a real joint. “Alright, Ferrets,” he called out, his voice cutting through the noise. “Let’s make some noise!”

The set started rough—Cali's hands were shaking, and Eddie missed some chords in the first song. Gadget did a bass ZINGER noise for each fumble, to the amusement of the crowd. Jax dropped his sticks. But then something shifted. Maybe it was the way the crowd responded, the way the backyard party crowd cheered them on, drowning out the murmurs of the skeptics. Maybe it was the spray paint event happening around them—cans hissing as people tagged the walls in wild, chaotic bursts of color, marking over the old grime and the ghosts of the bar’s past. The energy in the room changed, and so did the music.

The third song changed it all. A high-energy cover of '''''The Stray Cats’ “Rock This Town,”''''' Eddie’s guitar slicing through the room with razor-sharp precision. Tiffy’s violin wailed like a siren, weaving in and out of the melody, while Jax pounded the drums with a ferocity that had the crowd bouncing. But it was Gadget and Cali on their new 6-string basses that stole the show. Gadget’s fingers danced across the fretboard, her low B string rumbling like thunder, while Cali’s high C added a bright, melodic counterpoint that lifted the song to new heights. The audience erupted into cheers, swept up in the infectious energy.

Next came a surf medley, starting with '''''The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA.”''''' Gadget and Cali locked into a tight, driving rhythm, their basses intertwining to create that iconic surf sound—deep, resonant lows paired with shimmering highs. Eddie’s vocals soared, and Tiffy’s violin added a haunting, reverb-drenched edge that had the crowd swaying like waves. The transition into '''''Dick Dale’s “Misirlou”''''' was seamless, the rapid-fire picking on Gadget’s bass sending shockwaves through the room. Cali, still getting used to her 6-string, held her own, her confidence growing with every note. Try as she could, Gadget could barely get Cali to look at the audience.

Next up was '''''Red Elvises’ “Red Lips, Red Eyes, Red Stockings,”''''' a raucous rockabilly number that had the room shaking. Eddie’s vocals were full of swagger he hadn't known he had, and Tiffy’s violin added a wild, Eastern European flair that perfectly complemented the song’s infectious energy.

Tiffy stepped into the spotlight for her haunting original, '''''“Black Road Away from Home.”''''' Her voice sang with a mournful beauty, weaving a tale of loss and longing that left the crowd spellbound. Gadget and Cali’s basses provided a dark, brooding foundation, their 6-strings adding layers of texture and depth that elevated the song to something truly special.

The mood shifted slightly as they launched into '''''Duane Eddy’s “Peter Gunn,”''''' the iconic riff ringing out with a fresh, gritty edge. Tiffy played the sax line on the violin, giving the piece a fresh, bright note. Holden’s rhythm guitar was rock-solid, while Jax’s drumming added a punchy, almost primal intensity. Gadget took the lead on this one, her 6-string bass adding a deep, resonant growl that gave the classic tune a modern twist.

Midway through the set, Eddie introduced a surprise. “Alright, folks, we’re gonna slow it down for a minute. But don’t worry—it’s still gonna get weird.” He stepped aside as Gadget and Holden walked to the front of the stage, each holding a kazoo. The crowd erupted into laughter and cheers as they launched into a hilariously heartfelt rendition of '''''“Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”''''' Holden’s kazoo playing was surprisingly soulful, while Gadget’s added a playful, almost comedic flair. By the end, the entire room was singing along, their voices rising in unison.

A surprise awaited them after the kazoos as Gadget and Holden jumped into the '''''Time Warp from Rocky Horror Picture Show'''''. Tiffy jumped in to sing for Little Nell's part. The dance number was a classic even after so many years, and the crowd of Ferrets loved it.

Jax got his moment to shine with '''''“Thumpa Thumpa,”''''' a percussive, high-energy Buddy Rich-influenced solo that showcased his incredible drumming skills.

The energy ramped back up with an original track, '''''“Stone Bench Blues,”''''' a rockabilly-infused number that showcased the group’s growing chemistry. Eddie’s vocals were raw and impassioned, while Tiffy’s violin solo brought the house down. Gadget and Cali’s basslines locked into a tight, driving groove, their 6-strings adding a richness and depth that elevated the song to another level. The crowd was on their feet, dancing and clapping along, completely swept up in the music.

With a blistering cover of '''''The Stray Cats’ “Built for Speed,”''''' the room exploded into chaos as the audience sang along at the top of their lungs. Eddie’s vocals were raw and impassioned, while Tiffy's voice in unison with Eddie’s practically brought the house down.

As the set drew to a close, Eddie grabbed the mic, his face flushed with excitement. “You’ve been an incredible crowd tonight! Let’s end this with a bang!” The group launched into a raucous cover of '''''Red Elvises’ “Surfing in Siberia,”''''' the room exploding into chaos as the audience sang along at the top of their lungs. Gadget and Cali’s basses thundered through the room, their 6-strings adding a wild, untamed energy that perfectly matched the song’s frenetic pace. Jax’s drumming was relentless, and Tiffy’s violin screeched like a banshee, driving the song to its explosive finale.

When the last note faded, the room erupted into deafening applause, the crowd chanting for an encore. The Stone Bench Group exchanged grins, their faces glowing with sweat and triumph. They had done it—they had turned the Ugly Ferret into a place of magic, even if just for one night. And as they launched into their encore, a soulful rendition of '''''“Stand by Me,”''''' Gadget couldn’t help but smile. This was just the beginning.

By the time they finished, the crowd erupted in cheers. Even the ones who had been skeptical at first seemed to have been won over. Smiley, still hidden in his disguise, gave a slow nod of approval. The gang members in the back exchanged looks, their interest piqued. Money to be made.

The Stone Bench Group had made their mark. The Ugly Ferret was no longer just a relic of its past—it was becoming something new.

Lucky looked to Wrecker. "We are going to need a staff. This could get messy." Wrecker nodded, "I know a guy."

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[[File:Cali-Gadget.jpg|300px]]
==='''Meeting on the Street'''===

Smiley and his two girls walked the four blocks to where he had parked their battered van.

When they reached it, Reggy stepped out in front. "Smiley, I love what you've done with your hair. Washed it, right?"

Smiley put his hand on his hip, clipping open his draw holster. "Yeah, I wanted to look my best for you." The girls started backing away, the black-haired one slipping a hand in her jacket.

"Lady, I have no qualms about shooting a woman if you draw on me. Let’s take a deep breath and show your hands. If I wanted you all dead, we wouldn’t be talking."

"So, what are we talking about?" Smiley asked. "And you know there is only one of you against the three of us."

"Is that what you think? Look at blondy there." They turned to look, and the green dot on her chest moved a bit, signaling that Wrecker was somewhere nearby.

Reggy said, "Wrecker wanted to talk to you, but he really wanted to drill a .50 caliber BMG through your front teeth much more. Now, in respect to a friend who prefers accommodation to bloodshed, I want to talk about our situation."

"Our situation? You mean you two killing my chapter? I’ve killed my share of dudes, but that was mass murder, you psychopath!"

"Yeah, we did that, but that’s done. So... How do you feel about taking your prospects and your ladies and moving to, say, New Orleans? New York is too close. Toronto? By the way, where are your prospects?"

"I don’t know. They disappeared after your massacre. Did you kill them too?"

Reggy shook his head, "No, we missed them as well as you. Till now. So... What will it be? New Orleans or Toronto?"

Smiley looked up to the roof line where Wrecker swung the green dot to flash in his eyes. He scowled, his hatred growing deeper.

"New Orleans."

Reggy nodded, "Good. You lost your Baltimore privileges. Let the girls know we don’t have wanted posters on them, but finding new places to live can be liberating."

"Can we go?"

Reggy backed away, nodding, letting Smiley have the last word.

As the van drove away, Wrecker came scaling down to the ground and crossed the street, cradling the M82.

"I really should have drilled him."

"After Gadget didn’t kill that huge monster dog, it seemed a little awkward thinking of killing Smiley without at least giving him a chance to flee."

"Sure. Sure. But you know he’ll be back."

"Of course. No chance he’ll stay away. Then he’s fish food."

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==='''Forty Threes'''===

Looking out from the shadows at the Ugly Ferret, the boys of the 43rd Street gang, often called the Forty Thieves as an homage to the movie *Gangs of New York*, watched the crowds of people going into the crappy old bar for a performance of the weird twangy group called the Stone Bench Group.

The bar had belonged to the Blind Reapers for years until their sudden disappearance. The boys didn’t know why but knew they couldn’t find as good a source for their habits. Sucked for them, but life went on. The new popularity of the old Ferret was an opportunity. They had gone to a few of the shows and didn’t understand why people liked these freaks. But money was money.

After the music was going and the people had all gone in, they moved. Running low to avoid cameras recently installed on the outside of the building, they ran past parked cars, sticking long sharpened screwdrivers into the tires on the street side, dragging them along the paint, and occasionally breaking a window. They laughed as they went by, peeking in the cars occasionally. Toward the end, two slipped into minivans and, popping the ignition, hot-wired them, filling the vehicles. They drove away, laughing.

Inside, Reggy watched the screen of a widescreen TV set up in the garage area he and Wrecker used as living quarters for now. The feed was from security cameras set up with a great deal more skill to be hidden from sight. He smoked a Urala cigar and listened to the surfpunk sound from the other room.

"Well?" he said.

Wrecker said, "Yeah. Let them make their play. Maybe we can use them. Twenty-two of the rattlings in the gang. Ten out there. Two stolen cars. Ask Lucky who he would call to fix flats. Talk to Gadget. There are going to be some angry people after the show. She and the group should go out and help change tires, meet the fans, pitch in. Hand out kazoos. Order a thousand kazoos." He handled a kazoo, the top emblazoned with the letters SBG, tooting on it with amusement. Reggy wandered out to talk to Lucky.

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==='''Later That Night'''===

Later that night, the Stone Bench Group was outside, leading a kazoo-a-thon as a dozen garage workers helped car owners replace tires.

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=='''A Few Days Later'''==

A few days later, it was an afternoon when Reggy and Wrecker were taking a break in the bar and chatting with Lucky when two guys entered. They were dressed in casual clothes with an urban chic, but were clearly gang members. Tattoos with the numbers 43 on their necks were telling. Their haircuts were overly detailed, as if it was someone’s hobby to cut them. They wandered to the bar and took seats, looking at Lucky.

"What can I get ya guys?" he asked.

One said, "Tequila, a couple shots each." They collected the shots, taking one each quickly.

The tall one said, "You’ve been getting pretty good business lately, friend. Where did the Reapers go?"

Lucky shrugged, "No idea. They cleared out of here and out of their place over in Dani. I don’t miss them."

Tall guy said, "Without the Reapers around, there sure has been an upturn in crime, don’t you think? Like at the show nights?"

Wrecker and Reggy looked at each other, a small smile on their faces.

Wrecker stood and joined Lucky at the bar. "Lucky, double Old Crow, and a frosty." He sipped the whiskey before looking at the Hispanic gang member. "Yeah, we had some trouble on Saturday. What about it?"

The man shrugged, "Shit happens. Could happen again, maybe even worse. Might be more than just tires."

Wrecker nodded, "And what will it cost to keep you from hassling our customers?" He finished his whiskey, and Lucky poured another.

He drank the other tequila, "10% of the profits on show night. Or next time it’s windows."

Wrecker said, "You know, we could do this differently, but it really depends on your interest in doing nothing for pocket change or doing something for big money."

Wrecker took the tequila bottle and poured each of them another shot, holding the glasses while pouring, letting a tiny slip of rice paper slide into the glass and dissolve before passing them over, talking over the handwork.

"What kind of work?"

Wrecker leaned over the bar, pulling out a small wood box. Opening it, he pulled a medications bottle out and poured the contents on the table. A tablespoon of white powder. Wrecker took a driver's license out of the box and started cutting lines in the powder. Laying the card down face up, he leaned over with a straw and drew in a pair of lines.

The two became very interested and eagerly inhaled the drugs that had been in the Blind Reapers' hiding hole. The first of the two, Juan, inhaled without looking, but the second looked at the card, picking it up. He read, "Nick Haskin, he’s a Reaper.... How did you get this?"

Wrecker said, "I got it after I drilled a hole in his forehead. Keep it. I have others. Lots of others. It is important that you consider just how angry you want to make me, Juan."

"How do you know my name?"

"Ya see," Wrecker said, "That’s something else you should think about. Now, I have a lot of this powder. It used to belong to the Reapers. I’d like to unload it. 10k a kilo. Pure stuff. You stomp on it carefully, it could retail for 35k easily. Or, you let my partner and I do the mix, you take the packets, and we want 17k a kilo. Sell it for what you want."

Juan, starting to feel a slight bit disoriented from the LSD in the tequila, said, "The Reapers always bundled it for us. We paid them out of profits."

"You ever short them?"

"Hell no. Those guys are animals," Juan answered.

"They *were* animals," Wrecker smiled at Juan’s wide eyes.

From the table, Reggy cast the Anatomics cantrip, causing Juan’s companion to start yawning repeatedly, uncontrollably.

Juan nodded at the inevitable, "Ok. Deal."

"Lay off our customers, or your ID will join my collection. Savvy?"

Juan nodded.

Wrecker looked to Lucky, who brought a leather zippered bag out from behind the bar, opening it to reveal bundles and packaged packets. Wrecker pulled out a pewter coin pressing with an X marking, its unnaturally warm. The packets were sealed like sugar packets with Norse runes on them.

"Hold on to the coin. If you get hassled by the police, show them the coin. The fix is in. Now don’t screw me. If you want more, you know where we are."

The two left as the acid started kicking in.

Lucky asked, "What’s with the coin?"

Wrecker answered, "It’s a tracker. Lets us know where Juan is. We’ll follow him and learn about their processes. In the meantime, they’ll leave our customers alone."

Lucky nodded, "Smart. Diabolical but smart. What happens if they get pinched and show the coin to the cops?"

Reggy, coming up, said, "Then we see how well Juan can dance. The cops have never heard of us."

Lucky went on, "Then what happens if they don’t pay off the fronted stuff?"

Reggy knocked on the bar, and Lucky poured the beer the knock ordered. "Well then, Lucky, think of it as evolution in action."

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==='''The Acid Trip'''===

Juan and his companion, Gustov, stumbled out of the Ugly Ferret, the world around them shifting and warping. The neon sign above the bar flickered, its letters melting like wax. Juan clutched the pewter coin, its surface pulsing with an otherworldly glow in his vision.

“What the hell did they give us?” Gustov slurred, his voice echoing as if from a great distance.

Juan’s vision blurred, and he saw the faces of the Blind Reapers staring at him from the shadows. Their eyes were hollow, their mouths twisted in silent screams. He shook his head, trying to clear the hallucination, but it only grew more vivid.

“We need to get out of here,” Juan muttered, stumbling toward their car. But the vehicle seemed to stretch and distort, its doors sliding out of reach.

"It’s going to cost us a lot to get out of their way. Mano, this didn’t work out. But I think if we didn’t take the bag, they would have killed us right there. Fuckers gave us acid. Homicidal fuckers."

As they drove away, the city streets twisted into a labyrinth, the buildings leaning inward as if to crush them. Juan gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. The coin in his pocket hummed softly, a reminder that the SBG was always watching.

Gustov mumbled, "They own us...."

Juan growled, "There are only three of them. How hard could they be to kill?"

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==='''Next Steps '''===

Back at the Ugly Ferret, Wrecker and Reggy watched the security feed, their expressions calm but calculating. The screen showed Juan and Gustov stumbling into their car and driving off, their movements erratic and unsteady.

“Think they’ll stick to the deal?” Reggy asked, leaning back in his chair and lighting a cigar.

Wrecker smirked. “For now. The acid will keep them paranoid for a while. And if they try anything stupid, we’ll know.” He tapped the monitor, where a small blinking dot represented the pewter coin’s signal.

Lucky, who had been quietly polishing glasses behind the bar, spoke up. “You two are playing a dangerous game. Those guys aren’t just small-time thugs. They’ve got connections.”

Reggy shrugged. “So do we. And ours are a lot scarier.”

Wrecker chuckled, taking a sip of his whiskey. “Besides, Lucky, this is just the beginning. Once the Forty Threes realize how much money they can make working with us instead of against us, they’ll fall in line.”

Lucky shook his head, muttering under his breath. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Wrecker looks at Reggy who shrugs.

He says, “About half the time. The other half, well, its been said that ''Adventurer Abounds''. Besides, its all in the reflexes. Hey, Lucky, close up. Join us in the garage. Its time we tell you some stuff that will make you dig in or freak out. Either way, bring a bottle Old Crow when you come back. You'll need it.

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=='''Double Bass '''==

Meanwhile, Gadget and the Stone Bench Group were busy preparing for their next show. The success of their first performance at the Ugly Ferret had boosted their confidence, but they knew they couldn’t afford to get complacent. Gadget sat cross-legged on the floor of the Station, her 6-string bass resting across her lap. She plucked at the strings, experimenting with a new riff.

Cali walked in, her own bass slung over her shoulder. She winced slightly as she flexed her fingers. “What’s that?” she asked, nodding toward Gadget’s instrument.

“Just something I’m working on,” Gadget replied, her fingers dancing across the fretboard. “Thought it might be a good riff for the next show.”

Cali listened for a moment, then grinned. “I like it. It’s got a dark, edgy vibe. Kind of like you.”

Gadget smirked. “Thanks, I think.”

Cali set her bass down and shook out her hands, grimacing. “Ugh, my hands are killing me. This 6-string is a beast. I’m not used to the wider neck, and my fingers feel like they’re about to fall off.”

Gadget nodded sympathetically. “Yeah, it takes some getting used to. But there are ways to make it easier. Here, let me show you.”

She scooted closer to Cali and gestured for her to pick up her bass. “First, you’ve got to adjust your grip. You’re pressing too hard on the strings. You don’t need to crush them—just enough pressure to get a clean note.” Gadget demonstrated, her fingers lightly grazing the strings as she played a quick run. “See? Less tension in your hands means less pain.”

Cali tried it, her brow furrowing in concentration. She played a few notes, then shook her head. “It still feels awkward. My fingers keep getting tangled on the extra strings.”

“That’s because you’re thinking about it too much,” Gadget said with a chuckle. “Don’t focus on the strings individually. Think of them as zones. The low B is your anchor—use it to ground your playing. The high C is your flourish—use it to add color. The middle four are your home base. Start there, then branch out.” She played a simple riff, her fingers moving effortlessly across the fretboard. “Here, try this. It’s a basic pattern, but it’ll help you get comfortable with the extra strings.”

She reached to Cali's hand gently extending the fingers to the proper positions on Cali's sixer but also extending her psyche to channel healing into the hand, a purple stone on a chain hidden around her waist warmed, adding its potent magic. As Gadget rubbed the hand Cali felt the stretching become more comfortable without knowing why. Just Gadget's touch.

Cali mimicked the riff, her movements slow and deliberate at first. Gradually, she picked up speed, her fingers finding their rhythm. “Okay, that’s not bad,” she admitted, a small smile tugging at her lips. “But my wrist still hurts a bit.”

“That’s because you’re holding the neck too high,” Gadget said, adjusting Cali’s posture. “Lower the bass a bit. It’ll take the strain off your wrist and give your fingers more room to move.”

Cali adjusted the strap on her bass, lowering it slightly. She played the riff again, her movements smoother this time. “Hey, that does feel better,” she said, her smile widening. “You’re full of tricks, aren’t you?”

Gadget grinned. “Years of practice. Now, let’s try playing in unison. It’ll help you lock into the groove.”

The two fell into an easy rhythm, their basses intertwining as they played. At first, Cali struggled to keep up, her fingers fumbling on the wider neck. But Gadget was patient, slowing down when needed and offering tips along the way. Gradually, Cali’s confidence grew, her playing becoming more fluid and precise.

The rest of the group soon joined in, and before long, the Station was filled with sound. It was rough and unpolished, but there was something raw and powerful about it—a reflection of the band itself. Eddie’s guitar added a sharp edge, while Tiffy’s violin wove in and out of the melody, creating a haunting counterpoint. Jax’s drumming provided a steady backbone, his rhythms driving the song forward.

As they played, Gadget kept an eye on Cali, offering encouragement and guidance when needed. “You’re getting it,” she said, her voice barely audible over the music. “Just relax and let the bass do the work. Don't over think it, but don't think of anything else.”

Cali nodded, her focus unwavering. She could feel the music flowing through her, the pain in her hands fading as she lost herself in the rhythm. For the first time since switching to the 6-string, she felt like she was in control.

When the song ended, the group erupted into cheers, their faces flushed with excitement. “That was awesome!” Eddie said, slapping Cali on the back. “You’re really getting the hang of that thing.”

Cali grinned, her earlier frustration replaced by a sense of accomplishment. “Thanks. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m getting there.”

Gadget smiled, her eyes gleaming with pride. “You’ll be a pro in no time. Just keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to experiment. The 6-string opens up a whole new world of possibilities. If it helps when we play, think of my bass as the lead and yours as rhythm. We can practice matching it with Eddie and Holden. Same riffs, different keys.”

Cali nodded, her determination renewed. “I will. And thanks, Gadget. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Gadget shrugged, her tone light but sincere. “That’s what friends are for. Now, let’s run through that riff one more time. I think we’ve got something special here.”

The group launched into the song again, their energy infectious and their bond stronger than ever. As the music filled the room, Gadget couldn’t help but smile. It was coming together
<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==='''The Ukulele '''===
[[File:Holden and Uk.jpg|200px]]

The group’s impromptu jam session was in full swing when Holden, ever the quiet observer, wandered over to Gadget’s large guitar case. Being a couple now he didn't ask permission when he crouched down, flipping open the latches with a curious grin. Inside, nestled among an assortment of instruments and gear, was a well-worn ukulele. He picked it up, strumming a few experimental chords. The bright, cheerful sound cut through the room, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Since when do you play the ukulele?” Gadget asked, raising an eyebrow.

Holden shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “Since forever. My grandma taught me when I was a kid. She was born in Hawaii. It’s been a while, but I think I’ve still got it.”

He launched into a simple, upbeat melody, his fingers dancing across the strings with surprising skill. The ukulele’s bright, twangy tone added a new layer to the music, giving it a distinctly surfpunk vibe. Eddie’s eyes lit up, and he quickly adjusted his guitar, playing in harmony with Holden. The two instruments intertwined, creating a sound that was both nostalgic and fresh.

Tiffy, never one to be left out, grabbed her flute and joined in, her high, lilting notes weaving through the melody like sunlight on waves. The room filled with the sound of their combined efforts, the music growing richer and more complex with each passing moment.

Gadget and Cali exchanged a glance, then joined in, their basses providing a deep, resonant foundation. Gadget leaned over to Cali, murmuring, “Try this,” and played a simple but effective bassline that anchored the song. Cali followed her lead, her fingers moving more confidently now, the pain in her hands forgotten as she lost herself in the music.

Jax, ever the multitasker, passed around plastic cups of whiskey before settling behind his drum kit. He tapped lightly on the snare, his rhythms subtle but precise, adding just enough structure to keep the jam session from spiraling into chaos. The whiskey made its way around the room, the warm burn adding to the camaraderie.

Waldo, the silent, ever-present muscled roadie, lay on a bedroll by the wall, seemingly uninterested in the music. Gadget’s two huge dogs, Brute and Savage, curled up beside him, their massive forms making him look like a sleeping packmate. Shadow, Cali’s cat, ignored everyone, dozing peacefully next to her owner, unbothered by the noise.

The room was alive with energy, the music flowing effortlessly as the group played off each other. Eddie and Holden dominated the surf tunes, their guitars and ukulele creating a sound that was both playful and intense. Tiffy’s flute added a whimsical touch, while Gadget and Cali’s basses provided a steady, grounding rhythm. Jax’s drumming tied it all together, his light taps gradually building into a more complex beat.

As the song reached its peak, the group fell into a natural harmony, their individual styles blending seamlessly. The whiskey and the tray of green weed on the table added to the relaxed, almost euphoric atmosphere. It was clear they had been drinking more recently, but the music was too good to care.

When the song finally wound down, the room erupted into cheers and laughter. Eddie clapped Holden on the back. “Man, I had no idea you could play like that. The ukulele’s a killer addition. We’ve got to work that into the next set.”

Holden grinned, his usual quiet demeanor replaced by a rare moment of pride. “Yeah, it’s fun. I forgot how much I missed playing it.”

Gadget leaned back, her bass resting across her lap. “This is what we needed. A little experimentation, a little fun. We’re onto something here.”

Cali nodded, her cheeks flushed from the whiskey and the excitement. “Yeah, this feels right. Like we’re finally finding our sound.”

Jax raised his plastic cup in a toast. “To the Stone Bench Group. May we never stop surprising each other.”

The group clinked their cups together, the sound of laughter and music filling the room once more. Even Waldo cracked a smile, though he didn’t say a word. The dogs stirred slightly, their tails thumping against the floor, while Shadow stretched lazily before settling back into her nap.

As the night wore on, the music continued, the group experimenting with new sounds and ideas. The ukulele became a permanent fixture in their jam sessions, its bright tones adding a unique flavor to their surfpunk sound. And though the whiskey and weed flowed freely, the music remained the focus, a testament to their growing bond and shared passion.

Gadget couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as she watched her friends. They were more than a band—they were a family. And with every note they played, they were building something truly special.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==='''Exploring Musical Knowledge'''===
[[File:Sbg-violin.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg-kazoo.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg strings.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg-drums1.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg-violin.jpg|200px]]

As the jam session wound down, Eddie leaned back against the wall, his guitar resting across his lap. He looked around at the group, a thoughtful expression on his face. “So Holden plays the ukulele, and I assume Gadget does too because it’s hers. It’s funny; we’ve been playing around each other and now with each other for a while. What other things do we play? I play guitar, obviously, played standup bass in Jazz Band, as well as tuba and French horn in the orchestra back in junior high. Tiffy’s tried teaching me violin. I can mostly not embarrass myself on harmonica. What else?”

Tiffy smirked, setting her flute down. “Violin, viola, cello, flute, and a number of those like recorder, fife, some woodwinds. Some brass, but I couldn’t get the hang of them. And… ah… well… the piano.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow. “You never mentioned most of those, but… the piano? Are you any good at it?”

She nodded, a small, proud smile playing on her lips. “Yeah, I’m pretty good.”

Jax chimed in, tapping lightly on his snare. “I toyed around with sax but left before I did a lot with it. Played the xylophone a few times. Just like they’re drums, ya know. Did a bunch of other percussion before Cali and I ran off the first time. Ya know, any of us could play stuff like tambourines, maracas, other percussion noise makers.”

Holden added, “Guitar, ya know. Some bass. The ukulele and ah… banjo. I actually started as a little punk on the banjo. But Mom loved that, and Dad hated it. When she died, he got rid of all her stuff, including the uke and the banjo. After that, it was guitar.”

Cali shrugged, her bass resting against her leg. “Bass, some guitar, but I loved the low sound. Jax taught me bongos pretty good.”

They all turned to Gadget, expectantly.

She hesitated for a moment, then said, “Well, mainly kazoo.” The room erupted into laughter and good-natured goading.

“Bass. Lead guitar. Ah… Irish folk harp. Dulcimer. Flute was my first love, but it brings back memories for me I avoid. But recorder, piccolo, fife, a few of the woodwinds. Ya know, a conch might be a good addition to our sound. I’ve tooted them.”

She paused, as if hesitant to go on. “And damn… I’m pretty good on the piano. Spent some time on the road with a hell of a jazz piano player. Learned a lot from him… ah, too much… too much drinking… too much… well, he was the first I let. Not my first, but the first I let…” Her voice trailed off, and Cali reached over, gripping her hand, understanding now why she felt so comfortable with the wild girl; shared grief and experiences.

Holden put his hand on her shoulder. “I hope I get to meet him someday, if he was kind to you.”

Gadget nodded, implying he was. “Holden, if you ever meet him, we will know a hell of a lot more about each other than you could possibly imagine.” She chuckled, thinking of her piano man, the Lord of Chaos.

They talked for a bit longer, sharing stories and jamming a little more before eventually drifting off to their respective corners. Brute, Gadget’s massive dog, wandered over to lie near Holden, while Gadget herself settled down with a thoughtful expression.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

---

==='''Eddie and Waldo’s Conversation'''===
[[File:Holden and Uk.jpg|150px]]

Eddie stepped outside, lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag. The cool night air was a welcome relief after the heat and noise of the jam session. After a few moments, Waldo and Savage, Gadget’s other dog, joined him. Savage disappeared into the night, running off to patrol the area, while Waldo leaned against the wall, lighting a joint. He took a hit and passed it to Eddie.

“Trombone,” Waldo said suddenly, his voice low and gravelly.

Eddie looked surprised. “Really?”

“Yeah. Long arms, ya know. Big sax some. And… tuba.”

Eddie nodded, passing the joint back. “Well, damn, Waldo!”

“It’s Earnest Bluebonnet Pavlovich. Mom called me ''Ernie''; Dad called me ''Pasha''. I like Waldo better, but it was Wart’s idea. Ya know… ‘Where’s Waldo? Go get me some smokes, Waldo…’ I had to make my own way among Wart’s guys. I was never one of his favorites. Got cut out of everything. That probably saved my life because I never touched Cali, and she knows I argued with Wart about her. I got beat down twice telling him to let her go. Gadget killed him, didn’t she?”

Eddie looked at him hard, his cigarette dangling from his lips. “Why do you think that?”

“I tried to tax her that last time Wart got you all. She put me down hard. Like, *hard*, man. I’m a big fucking guy, and she put me down like I was a toddler. Called herself an ‘apex predator monster.’ I had to look that up online to know what she meant. Later… I met Wrecker and Reggy before I came around you guys. They work for her, you know, not the other way around. There’s something just not right about her. Those guys, they’re hard men. Bad hard, like nothing Wart ever was, more like the Blind Reapers were. The Reapers were mean, cruel… killers. Wrecker and Reggy, though? They’re terrifying. And they answer to your bassist. Just so you know, man; there’s something seriously dangerous-crazy about her.”

Eddie nodded, taking another drag of his cigarette. He knew firsthand how right Waldo was. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I know.”

“You saw the Station a couple times while Wart used it. It was a pit. I’m not saying it was clean when we got here, but I lived there. It was a slum-filled torture house out of a movie. Her tied down back there. The place smelled like… you know. It was professionally cleaned, then made to look dirty so *we* could clean it. Dirty, messy, but not Andy Gump, cumdump, rotted meat, sweaty dirty. It was cleaned and staged, man.”

The two stood in silence for a while, the joint passing back and forth between them as the night stretched on. Somewhere in the distance, Savage howled, a long, mournful sound that echoed through the darkness.

“Then there are the dogs,” Waldo said, breaking the silence.

Eddie shivered. “Brute and Savage? I thought you liked them?”

Waldo nodded. “I do. A lot. I had a big dog when I was a kid. My dad killed it. But it’s not just them.”

“Huh?”

“Dude, this is dog land. Wart never left the place except in a group, and he killed more than a few dogs coming and going till they left him alone. I also got around pretty good, but I knew when to walk and where to run. And there were hundreds of them, ya know. The cops stayed out of this area. The city abandoned it. Wart said some guy named Kane told him the owners of the buildings around here were all dead or corporations that everyone had given up on. Cheaper to let them fall apart than tear them down.”

“So the dogs owned the place. Where are they now? We’ve been coming and going for weeks now. I’ve seen a few here and there. You heard Savage a few seconds ago. He wasn’t alone. He had more howling with him. Why aren’t they here? It’s fucking weird. Creepy. Like horror-show creepy. Like in the movie where the group decides to split up and you howl at the screen to stick together creepy. Am I the only one who noticed?”

Eddie looked around, as if for the first time. “Maybe… I never thought about it. I guess I thought Wart had handled them…”

“Look,” Waldo said softly, “I like Gadget. Hell, she saved my life, so I may love her, and I’m grateful. But there’s something just fuckin’ weird about her. That’s all I’m saying, dude.”

Eddie nodded. “Yeah, okay.”

Waldo nodded and went back inside, leaving Eddie alone with his troubled thoughts and his last cigarette.

===''in progress- Holden gadget, hotel''===
Here’s a small scene for you:

The neon light from the motel sign outside flickered against the thin curtains, casting restless shadows across the dingy room. The place smelled of stale cigarettes and cheap disinfectant, the kind that never quite covered up the history of bad decisions made between its walls. It was the bands first out of town gig but the perks didn't include rooms at the Hilton.

Holden sat on the edge of the lumpy mattress, pulling on his jeans while Gadget lounged on the bed, still tangled in the sheets, her electric blue hair fanned out over the pillow. He moved around, picking up their scattered clothes from the floor.

“Here,” he said, tossing her shirt onto the bed before bending down to retrieve her pants. As he lifted them, something tumbled out and hit the threadbare carpet with a soft *thud*. A wallet. It had landed open, revealing something that made his stomach drop.

The badge gleamed under the flickering motel light. *Federal Bureau of Investigation.* Holden’s hands clenched around it as his breath caught. He flipped the ID up, staring at the picture—her picture—next to the name: **Special Agent Rowena Kessler.**

“What the hell is this?” His voice was sharp, disbelief coloring every word.

Gadget, still stretching lazily, turned her head toward him. When she saw what he was holding, her entire body tensed. The playfulness in her eyes vanished, replaced by something colder, more calculating.

“Holden,” she started, voice low, but he was already on his feet, badge still in hand.

“You’re FBI?” His jaw clenched. “What the actual fuck, Gadget?”

She sat up, the sheets slipping down her bare shoulders, but she didn’t reach for the badge. Instead, she sighed, rubbing her temple. “It’s real,” she admitted, her voice softer now. “I’ve been undercover for a while.”

Holden took a step back, his mind racing. “You’ve been lying to me this whole time?”

“No,” she said firmly, finally swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She looked up at him, her eyes steady. “What you and I have? That’s separate from my work. I never lied to you about us.”

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “Then tell me. What the hell are you doing?”

Gadget hesitated for only a second before deciding. “I’m here for Victor Kane.”

Holden’s brows furrowed. “The city council guy?”

“The underworld boss,” she corrected. “He’s running half the crime in Baltimore, and I’m getting close to exposing him.” She leaned forward, her voice dropping. “I need you to keep this quiet, Holden. No one can know. Not Eddie, not Tiffy, not Waldo—no one.”

Holden’s hands tightened around the badge. His world had just tilted sideways, but the way she looked at him—steady, honest, and completely serious—made it clear she wasn’t playing him.

Finally, he exhaled, tossing the wallet onto the nightstand. “You could’ve told me.”

She gave him a small, almost regretful smile. “No, Holden. I couldn’t.” She paused, then exhaled. “But just so you know, Wrecker and Reggy don’t run me—I run them. They work for me, not the other way around.”

Holden’s eyes narrowed, his grip on the badge tightening. Gadget crossed her arms and leaned against the nightstand. “I’ve got a senior agent overseeing things, Lisha. We have… a lot of freedom to operate however we need to.” She glanced away for a second, then back at him. “The original plan was simple: track down Wart’s guys, follow them up the chain, and get a clear line to Kane.”

She gave a dry chuckle, shaking her head. “Didn’t work out that way. I got a little… sidetracked. The music, the band—it wasn’t supposed to be anything more than a cover, a way to blend in. But then, I actually started *liking* it. The guys, the gigs, the late-night jams—it became real. Saying that its different then what i'm used to is a humongous understatement. Reminded me of my dreams before things got complicated. Music. Performing. And for a while, I let myself forget why I was really here.”

Holden swallowed hard, trying to process everything. “And now?”

Her expression hardened. “Now, I’m back on track but i want the music too.”

She stepped closer, voice lowering. “Those guys who have been pushing Lucky around? They’re Kane’s. Low-level enforcers, but still connected. That means we’re already in the game. I just have to work my way up, get closer to Kane’s inner circle.” Her fingers drummed against the nightstand as she thought. “Once I’m in, things change. I stop being the one looking for an opening, and I *become* the opening.”

Holden’s stomach twisted. “And then what? You take him down? Just like that?”

Gadget gave him a long look. “It’s not going to be that simple, but yeah. That’s the idea.”

He let out a slow breath and rubbed his face. “Jesus, Gadget… This is dangerous. Kane’s not just some street thug. He’s got politicians, cops, hell—probably half the damn city in his pocket.”

“I know.” Her voice was calm, steady. “That’s why I need to be careful. And that’s why I need you to keep this secret. No matter what happens.”

Holden looked at her, searching her face for any sign of hesitation. There was none. Just that same fierce determination that had drawn him to her in the first place.

Finally, he sighed and dropped onto the edge of the bed, running his hands through his hair. “You’re asking a lot, you know that?”

She sat beside him, bumping her shoulder against his. “I know.”

He let out a dry laugh. “Figures I’d fall for a fed.”

Gadget smirked. “Figures I’d fall for a guy who could keep up.”

A moment of silence passed between them. Then, softly, Holden said, “Just… don’t get yourself killed, alright?”

She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Not planning on it.”

But the weight of her words hung between them, a silent acknowledgment that plans didn’t always go the way they should.

==Dalt Sniper==
He looked down the sight at his target. It had been a long time since he had done this kind of wetwork but the skills were still there. It wasn't very chivalric but this guy had made his own bed and then shat it.
He followed the target around as he socialized. His stable of girls started filtering out. Anger raised in him. As the began being pawed over by Alverez's guests Dalt decided that Alverez wasn't going to go off alone.

An ahour in he had seen enough. He picked up the burner phone he had picked up in the airport and called 911. He reported hearing gunshots.

Five minutes later he saw police starting to arrive. “Better make this quick”

He sighted his target. Moved to six others on the patio. Alvarez was first.

Dalt decided not to be as vindictive as Reggy wanted. One to the head each would do enough damage.

Alvarez went down hard, flopping backward and breaking a very expensive bottle of Patron. Yellow shirt next, falling sideways leaving his girl to watch. Big ears took his in the ear but it was plenty splashy. Ugly hat guy took his in the nose. Fat Hawaiian shirt guy was slapping his girl and took his round under an upraised arm in the side, blasting explosively out he other side.

By then the party crowd knew the party was over and began to run inside. Number six almost made it indoors when his back erupted out his front. Number seven poked his head up out of the pool one last time.

Three guards came out with fancy customized Ar-15s Dalt was sure they were proud of. They peppered the hell far below him. He didn't see any reason to kill them though they were probably guilty of sampling the merchandise. A shot to each of their knees would probably not be fatal but they would certainly not be running on two good legs anymore.

Putting another clip in her aimed past the mansion to slam shots into police cars. That was enough to freak them out enough. Time to go.

He quickly policed his brass, out of reflex, and then withdrew a trump card.

“Tesara. Pull me through.”

Dalt grabbed the good catholic sicario. He had run out of liquid to piss out and he was really going to want it.

Dalt extended his hand to the girl with colorful short hair on the other side of the open trump gate leading to Ang Ri, an unimaginable distance away, in distance and worlds.

==Big Trouble in a Little Club==
((Rafe comes to help))

==Rafe's Mission==
When the crowds are gone, Rafe slipped out of his chair and walked over to the bar to tip Lucky a 'C Note'. He then headed outside to wander the area... to keep on eye on things, just in case.

He had already informed his crew they were staying for two or three days to keep on eye on things, and that they were to remain low key as they were playing the part of 'plain-clothes security'. He told them not to interact with Gadget or the band unless Gadget initiated the contact. Rafe had also worked a bit of TechnoMagic to give everyone unlimited access to the local cell network on their Society SmartPhones so they could use the local Google Maps to find their way around and not get lost. Rafe also added the location of a few motels and hotels not too far away from the bar; low rent for sure, but not the sleazy hourly kind.

Once Rafe was away from the bar a little ways, he slipped into the shadows of an alley while drawing up the hood of his field jacket. He Changed his Shape to his Elf Form; a full foot shorter, a hundred pounds lighter, better night vision, better hearing, better sense of smell, and more graceful/stealthy movements. He stalked the 'neighborhood' unseen and unheard; sticking to the shadows, moving like a cat on padded feet. He gave the area around The Station a wide berth, watching carefully for Gadget's Pack and making sure to not enter their territory. The night was uneventful; the 'neighborhood' was oddly quiet with only a little random crime around the edges where it butted up against other 'neighborhoods'.

A couple of hours before dawn, Rafe Changed back to his Human Form then made his way to one of the low rent hotels he had suggested to his crew and got a room for the night, paying with the cash Wrecker had given him. His room was on the 4th floor, near the ice machine. The room was small; bed, chair, nightstand, standing wardrobe, single window with a fire escape. The bathroom was the size of a closet with a toilet, a sink and a shower crammed in so tightly there was almost no walk-able floor space. Rafe didn't care; he only needed a place to crash for a few hours. He hung his field jacket over the back of the chair then dropped onto the bed without bothering to undress or pull back the covers.
Rafe oddly felt comfortable in this place where no one knew him, and no one was looking for him. The sounds of the city lulled him to sleep rather quickly.

Rafe awoke to the sound of someone knocking on his door, followed by a female voice saying: “Check out; one hour.” He had overslept. He smiled. It had felt good to sleep soundly. He rose and stretched and decided to skip the morning workout today. He pulled back the covers and rumpled the sheets to make the bed look slept in. He left his clothing wrinkled so they also looked slept in. He used a few reversed Clean Cantrips to dirty up his clothing and shoes. He pulled on his field jacket, added a few stains to it, then turned his attention to his hair and beard. Using his Change Elemental Powers, he lightened his hair color and added streaks of gray to hair and beard. He also added a few more wrinkles to his face and a few liver spots to the backs of his hands. He looked himself over in the mirror over the sink in the tiny water closet, then headed downstairs. He left his key at the front desk then pulled up his hood as he headed out into the streets. His head was down, his shoulders hunched, his hands in his jacket pockets. His gait was slow with a slight limp. He didn't make eye contact with anyone he passed and stayed out of the middle of the sidewalks, closer to the buildings. He went as unnoticed as any other homeless person on the streets that morning.

He made his way to The Ugly Ferret Tavern. Across the street from the bar was a homeless guy sleeping in the doorway of a boarded up building. It took Rafe a few moments to realize it was Gunner in his Human Form; so used to seeing him as a Dwarf, Rafe didn't recognize him, at first. Rafe nodded his head ever so slightly in the direction of Gunner, who 'shifted in his sleep', but made no other outward signs of being conscious... he must have drawn the short straw for morning watch over the bar.

When Rafe entered the tavern he didn't see Reggy and Wrecker in the bar area, but wasn't too worried about seeing them today; he knew if they needed him, they would call him. Lucky was behind the bar, he looked half asleep. Rafe waved for him to not get up, before he could. Rafe headed over to the club side of the building, looking the place over sans people, sans band, sans explosives and assassins. He smiled as he admired the artwork on the walls made by the patrons and fans, artwork he had only read about on his Personal Wiki, until now.

He looked at the now empty stage, then smiled. He pulled his D Harmonica from his jacket pocket as he mounted the stage. He turned to face 'the crowd' as he brought the harmonica to his mouth. He drew in on the number two hole producing a clean sounding G note in the now empty club. He bent the note into an F#, held it a moment, back down to G, bent back to F# then ended abruptly. A brief pause, then he repeats the same four notes. Another brief pause, then Rafe launches into the familiar harmonica intro of The Wizard by Black Sabbath. Ordinarily, Rafe would Technopathically queue up his special karaoke version of the song, to back up his harmonica and singing with guitars and drums.... but this time, he didn't. Instead, he just imagined he was playing with Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. His eyes were closed as he 'listened' to the music in his head and played and sang his parts, Ozzy's, parts. For the first time, he really 'felt' the music, and perhaps, even understood the lyrics better. Not too long ago Rafe had adopted the song as his Personal Theme Song, but suddenly he realized that the song might just be about Mesob. And that Ozzy might have met him, knew him.... could possibly be a Mesobian himself. He shook his head. Something to ponder.

As he pocketed his harmonica, and sat down on the edge of the stage, he recalled something else he had read about on his Personal Wiki. His plans for the day changed in that moment. To an outside observer it appeared that Rafe was staring off into space, perhaps lost in thought, but only for a few moments, then he hopped off the stage with a broad smile on his face...

However, in those short moments, what he actually did was Technopathically access Google Maps via his Society SmartPhone to find local pawn shops that carry musical instruments, then he used Google Earth Street View on each one until he found the one nestled between a laundromat and a convenience store, the one with its window cluttered with guitars, amplifiers, and other instruments. He mapped out a walking route using both public buses and subways to get there. He also included extra stops at other pawn shops that offered 'top dollar' for precious metals; their reviews seemed to back their claims. Rafe needed some extra cash and he didn't feel right about using the money Wrecker gave him, Gadgets's money, for his purchases. When Rafe snapped out of his Techno Trance, he marveled at how little time had passed; his powers as a Technomancer had grown. Being back in a technological world with technology he was familiar with and could mentally access with ease, made Rafe feel, well, almost god-like. He smiled pridefully.

As he left the Ugly Ferret he waved goodbye to Lucky then donned a green baseball cap instead of pulling up the hood of his field jacket as he did before. His posture was now upright instead of slumped. His gait was now quick and purposeful, instead of slow and seemingly aimless with a limp.
He was looking around and making eye contact to show that he was fully aware of his surroundings, instead of looking down and avoiding eye contact. Though he still looked like a dirty, homeless, late middle aged man, he also looked more confident, aware and possibly dangerous; someone to avoid.

As Rafe neared the first stop on his long list of stops that day, a pawnshop, he looked at everyone near the place, he looked at adjacent buildings and alleys, escape routes, dangers and hazards. He did not try to hide what he was doing, in fact, he was purposefully displaying it, but not in a fearful manner, but in the manner of a hunter, a warrior, an 'Apex Predator'. There were a couple of low life Takers hanging around the place, not too close though. When they made eye contact with Rafe, and he make it back, unbroken and unwavering, they looked away quickly, pretending they didn't see him seeing them. He entered the pawnshop unmolested.

Once inside, Rafe saw the usual low dollar items that a pawnshop might have up front, more useful items closer to the cage, expensive stuff behind the bars. The proprietor eyed Rafe as he entered and approached the window.

“How can I help you?” he asked in a not so friendly tone, thinking the 'homeless man' had come to pawn trinkets or trash.

“You buy gold, yes?” Rafe asked, though it didn't sound like a question. He pulled up the brim of his baseball cap as he raised his head and smiled.

The proprietor looked up at Rafe and saw someone he was not expecting; an middle-aged man, hardened by the years, dirty from working, NOT the dirty old homeless man he thought he saw entering his establishment.

“Yes, I buy gold; whatcha got?” he asked, expecting jewelry of some sort; maybe family 'heirlooms'.

Rafe placed two, one ounce gold ingots with the seal of India stamped upon them on the counter between them. The proprietor's eyes bugged out and his mouth fell open.

“You were expecting jewelry, right? Me too.” Rafe chuckled. “When I inherited my dad's piece of shit house with an unpaid mortgage and back taxes and found his hidden safe, I thought it would be jewelry too. Maybe some stocks or bonds. Nope. Pure gold ingots from India. My dad was a secret gold hoarder; who knew? Certainly not me or any of the family. And certainly not the IRS. And I'm willing to take less than market value to keep it that way.”

After a few moments of silence, the proprietor caught on and asked: “How much less?”

“Fifty percent less, but not a penny less... or as close as you can get with the cash you have on hand.” Rafe replied with a smile.

The proprietor did some quick mental math and said: “I've got enough to cover what you've got here.”

Rafe smiled again. “This isn't all I've got here.”

The proprietor's eyes narrowed. “How much have you got?”

Rafe's eyes narrowed. “How much cash you got?”

They both laughed. Twenty minutes later Rafe had five grand in cash, mostly hundreds, and the proprietor had four, one ounce ingots of 99.99999% pure gold, getting the better end on the deal by far. But Rafe wasn't worried about the loss; he was on a mission to spread the wealth.

As he left the pawn shop he saw the pair of Takers 'hiding' in a nearby alley. Rafe took note of them, but not outwardly, and continued on his route to the next pawnshop several blocks away. He made it obvious that he was alert and aware of his surroundings, and when he turned a corner he looked back the way he came... and saw the that two Takers were following him, as he expected, and that they had become four. Rafe was careful not to make eye contact with them, allowing them to think they had gone unseen. Another three blocks and another turn and the four Takers had closed the gap. Up ahead he saw to more Takers look past him, then quickly dart into an alley; the four had become six. Rafe smiled. A few years ago, if he had been in this situation, he would have been very concerned, perhaps even scared. He would have ran across the street or tried to find a cop, or find some way to escape or find safety. But that was a lifetime ago. He turned into an alley and waited for the prey that thought they were predators to come to him.

(more to come)

=='''Stage Presence'''==

Wrecker and Reggy park their Harley’s outside the Ugly Ferret. A busy day, tricky, but a job well done. Its Miller time. And Jack Daniel time. And Urala time!

As they enter they can hear the argument going on in the stage hall. Walking to the bar they look to Lucky. Wrecker and Reggy knock knuckles on the bar. Glasses and bottles follow.

Wrecker asks, "Whats going on in there?"

Lucky shrugs, "Creative differences it sounds like. Trying to break Cali of that ''passive avoidance'' stage thing of hers. She plays like a monster but won’t look at the crowd, ya know the problem. Eddie and Gadget and Tiffy have been trying to talk her through it. Not having much luck. She keeps getting weepy. Thought she was tougher then that."

Reggy looks to the back, listening, while Wrecker says, "Lucky, we three have not had the bad time she had. Well, maybe you did--how was your time in prison?"

Lucky nods, "ah.. ya…..not that bad I guess."

Reggy starts into the back, pulling aside the curtain between the barroom and the stage hall. Wrecker follows, worried what his partner might do.

Reggy comes and sits on the edge of the stage next to Cali. The move surprises not just her but everyone. Wrecker and Reggy have become part of the background at the Ugly Ferret — they’re starting to become friends with everyone, like they already are with Gadget — but the two are clearly a lot older. No one but Holden and Gadget had said more then a few words at a time to them. All business.

Cali starts to scoot aside, her eyes wide. Reggy softly puts a hand on her leg, gently projecting his calm psyche toward her. Jax stands behind the drums, frowning. Eddie and Tiff come alert too. Holden looks up from his guitar at the sudden silence. Gadget starts to say something, then stops.

Reggy says softly, "Cali, I don’t want to get in the middle of y’alls music, but it sounds like they’re pushing you away instead of helping you." She looks at him — really looks at him, maybe for the first time — seeing the older man there beside her.

"Gadget’s right — you do need to look at the crowd more. Eddie’s right — you’re missing the fun of playing. Jax is right to let you do what works for you. Holden minds his own business — smart, when it comes to other people’s problems. Tiff’s right too — no one’s going to hurt you when you’re with them. She doesn’t even know how right she is."

He says, "Look at me, Cali." She turns and meets his eyes. "If Wrecker or I are here, no one’s going to lay a hand on you — any of you — without walking away with a broken one. I promise. Wrecker and I have seen some shit. And we aren’t in the ''giving a shit about consequences'' business if someone does something to hurt you folks."

He taps her knee lightly. "But listen — the stage is a performance space. You can play for yourself all you want, but the band needs you to participate. Help build the group vibe. So…I have a suggestion. Back in the day, a guy named Jim Morrison used to piss his bandmates off by not facing the crowd — and he was their front man! I saw them — '''''The Doors''''' — in Los Angeles, when I was way too young to be loose on my own. The show was wild — he was in his own world, and people loved it. When he did turn and face them, they went insane."

She sniffles, fighting back tears. "What are you saying?"

"Give the crowd what they want — on your terms. They want a gorgeous girl shredding the bass like a wood chipper. They want an '''''icon'''''. You can be that."

"How?"

"There’s a great song by some hoopy frood wackos from the ’80s. You’ve probably heard them."

Eddie steps forward. "Who? What are you talking about?"

Reggy pulls out his phone and cues it up, slipping the earbuds to Cali.

"Just listen to this. Listen to that bass line. It’s got a front bass, a second bass, a rhythm guitar, hard-thumping drums. Imagine this: you do most of the show like normal, look at the crowd a bit here and there — they start chanting <big>CALI! CALI!</big> like they do… Then there’s a pause. The rhythm guitar hits a few notes. Then you step forward to the front of the stage, looking down that gorgeous chin — you throw your glasses into the crowd and launch into this hard-driving, relentless bass line. '''''Rule the stage. Own the crowd'''''. Eddie comes over and sings right up on you — runs a hand through your hair, under your chin, down your arms. You trust him, but you ignore him."

He smiles, "You ignore the crowd. You own the music. Own the bass — that pounding, front-of-the-stage bass. Now listen."

She slips the earbuds on, head down as usual. He presses play, the sharp, robotic bass riff punching into her ears. She closes her eyes and nods, lost in it already.

After a moment, she looks at the phone and restarts the song.

She does it again — a third time.

Finally, she hands the phone back to Reggy and gives him a shy smile. "I can do that."

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

The set is cruising through familiar songs — the crowd singing along, half drunk, half alive. Then the lights dip. Cali stands alone at the front, head lowered, her dark stylized glasses flashing under the stage lights. But these aren’t the real ones — just cheap knockoffs waiting for the right moment.

The rhythm guitar drops into Devo’s ''" Girl U Want." '' The crowd sort of half recognizing the riff. Cali stays turned, shoulders stiff. On the first pounding drum beat, she spins — sharp, clean — and rips the glasses from her face, flinging them into the crowd. Hands shoot up, fighting for a piece of her.

Her eyes, dark and electric, stay locked just over their heads. Eddie comes in close, singing into her space, tracing fingers through her hair, under her chin, teasing the line. She ignores him. Ignores all of them. The bass is hers — grinding, fierce, owning every note.
Eddie circles her as he sings each line:

<big>'''"She sings from somewhere you can't see..."'''</big> — he slides behind her, leaning in, his breath on her neck.

<big>'''"She sits in the top of the greenest tree..."'''</big> — he moves to her side, one hand tracing just above her shoulder.

<big>'''"She sends out an aroma of undefined love..."'''</big> — he lifts his hand to the crowd, taunting them with her.

<big>'''"It drips on down in a mist from above..."'''</big> — he drops to a knee, looking up at her like a devotee.

He snaps up and turn, pounding the crowd.

<big>'''"She's just the girl, she's just the girl, The girl you want! She's just the girl, she's just the girl, The girl you want !!"'''</big>

Holden stands behind them, hair shrouding his eyes as he hammers the rhythm. Beside Cali, and a pair of steps behind her, Gadget prowls the second bass line, those angular high parts slicing the air. Tiffy moves in and out like a ghost, filling shot glasses and passing them between beats.

Wrecker and Reggy pace the edge of the stage front, arms folded, eyes sharp, grinning at each other when the chant swells:

<big>'''"She's just the girl, she's just the girl, the girl you want!"'''</big>

Eddie leans close on the chorus, his hand threading through her hair, under her chin, never breaking his stare with the front row while she ignores him completely:

<big>'''"Look at you with your mouth watering, Look at you with your mind spinning! Why don't we just admit it's all over? She's just the girl you want."'''</big>

When Eddie sings the final:
<big><big>'''"She's just the girl you want!"'''</big></big> — she tears a ripping tone that shakes the lights.

When the last note hits, she tosses her guitar pick out into the sea of grabbing hands. She turns her back on them all, grabs the waiting shot of whiskey, downs it, and slips her real glasses back on just as the next song kicks in. The spell breaks — but the rumor is already alive: next show, they’ll chant her name louder.

On You Tube find-(/watch?v=e5bqKafk9HA)- wiki wouldn't let me publish a youtube link

==Cast of Characters==
''Click to Enlarge''
{| class="wikitable"
| Gadget, Bass, Lead guitar, Irish folk harp, Dulcimer, Mandolin, Balalaika, Flute, recorder, piccolo, fife, woodwinds, conch, piano, orgaan, accordion, harpsichord.
[[File:Gadget6.jpg|50px]]
| Eddie-Lead Guitar, Vocals
[[File:Gadget Story Eddie.jpg|50px]]
| Tiffy-Violin, Flute,Vocals, viola, cello, flute, recorder, fife, woodwinds. piano.
[[File:Tiffy5.jpg|50px]]
| Jax -Drums, Percussion, xylophone,tambourines, maracas, other percussion noise makers.”
[[File:Gadget Story jax.jpg|50px]]
| Cali- Bass, Guitar. Bongos, Tambourine, Percussion.
[[File:Cali-.jpg|50px]]
| Holden- Rhythm Guitar, ukulele, Kazoo
[[File:Gadget Story Holden.jpg|50px]]
|-
| Waldo -Roadie. Trombone, Bass Sax
[[File:Waldo.jpg|50px]]
| Wrecker- Promoter
[[File:ADV-Wrecker.jpg|50px]]
| Reggy- Comic Relief
[[File:ADV-Reggy.jpg|50px]]
| Lucky-Owner of the Ugly Ferret
[[File:SbG-Lucky7.jpg|50px]]
| Colette -Doctor
[[File:ADV-Colette.jpg|50px]]
| 12
[[50px]]
|-
|}

=='''Album Covers'''==
{| class="wikitable"
| Stone Bench Group
[[File:Stonebench Group2.jpg|300px]]
| Baltimore Times
[[File:SBG-Bt1.jpg|350px]]
| Call of the Wolves
[[x]]
|-
| Night at the Ugly Ferret Live
[[x]]
| The Hollyhock Sanitarium Tapes
[[x]]
| 6
[[x]]

|-
|}
---------------------------
=='''[[working pages]]'''==

Getting the Band Together

2025-06-28T05:49:16Z

Relmopator: /* Rafe's Mission */

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==<big>'''Getting the Band Together'''</big>==

=='''First Impressions'''==
==='''Arrival'''===
She had walked into town six months earlier. It was a busy place, unlike anything she had seen in her travels. Certainly, it was unlike her home. That was something she could never explain to the people she met here. They would think she had just arrived. Her explorations had been low-key, like a lost puppy. Other cities. Learning languages, manners, cultures. She had to fit in when she got where she was going. Little things went away or were replaced. In time she was ready for the job at hand.

The heavy guitar case needed to look like it was once well cared for, but time and rough living had stained it. Covered in travel stickers she had collected. It was unusually thick since it carried her 6 string bass guitar, a 6 string Fender lead, a ukele, a recorder, and a piccolo. It carried more then that but no one was going to see that.

Her backpack looked like something used a decade ago, large and deep, a grown man's hiking backpack but its hidden depths made it worth it. It was big enough for the beatup gear it carried as well as its necessities and treasures. Paper money and a few gold coins. Her pack had a few practical items. Notebooks filled with songs and music. A cellphone with more music than she had ever heard, but her father had insisted. If she had left it behind, she would have been running away from home. If she took it, she was just traveling.

Her jeans were patched and fraying, her loose shirt faintly smudged with dirt. Her hair—that was a crime, cut and dyed blue, but it was necessary. Less bathing. Her mother would have been annoyed to see her.

The careful disguise had worked well enough: she looked the part of the drifter, the runaway. But under the surface was something sharper, something the average observer wouldn’t see. A hunting knife hung on her belt, and deeper in her pack rested her father’s .45 and ammo—a weight she carried with purpose. She didn’t plan to use it. But then again, planning wasn’t always her strong suit.

She found a shady spot under an oak tree where she could see the musicians take turns performing. The crowd’s reactions told her everything she needed to know—who played for passion and who played for desperation. Gadget leaned against the tree, watching, listening, and feeling the pulse of the park.

It wasn’t long before someone noticed her. A boy, maybe the age she portrayed, with unruly hair and a guarded expression, walked over and sat down beside her, uninvited but not unkind.

“Hey,” he said, nodding toward her guitar case. “You looking to play?”

She hesitated. “Yeah.”

“Well, just so you know, in this stretch, Tiffy’s up now, then I’m next, and Jax gets lunch. Cali is missing, and we are worried about her. Holden would be after her, but he hasn’t shown up today. After that, it’s you, if you’re still here. We’ve got a system.” He smirked faintly, but his eyes were serious. “We all gotta eat.”

“Got it,” Gadget replied, her voice measured. She didn’t need to explain herself yet.

“I'm Eddie. Edwardo, technically,” he said with a half-grin. “Parents thought it was funny. And you?”

“Do I find it funny?”

“What’s your name, new girl?”

“Gadget.”

“Really? That’s what you’re going with? People usually pick something easy, like Gail or Ginger.”

“Gadget’s fine,” she said, unmoving. “Nice to meet you.”

Eddie shrugged. “Suit yourself, Gadget. You new to the city?”

She nodded. “More or less. Wandering mostly. Stayed at the mission for a night.” She paused, shuddering. “That place isn’t what I expected.”

Eddie gave her a knowing look. “Yeah, the mission’s rough. Better to stay in the open if you can. But, you know, stay visible. Shakers come out when you’re alone.”

“Shakers?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Shakers are takers,” he said, gesturing toward the park’s edge. “They roll in, act like they belong, and take what’s ours. They don’t care if you’ve got a spot or if you’re trying to eat. Stay sharp, Gadget.”

She nodded, filing away the warning.

Eddie continued, “Listen, you can wander off if you need to, but be back when Jax is done, or someone else’ll jump in. Holden’s been known to push his way in, but if you stand your ground, he’ll back off. He respects the system, even if he pretends not to.”

“And Cali?” Gadget asked, catching the name from the murmurs earlier.

Eddie frowned. “Cali’s...well, she hasn’t been around. Missed a whole week. She’s in trouble, and we haven't been able to find her. Till we hear something, she’s gotta sort it out herself. That’s how it works.”

Gadget didn’t reply, but her mind turned. Trouble had a way of finding people like her, and she wasn’t sure yet if Cali’s story would intersect with her own. For now, all she could do was wait. And watch.

The guitar case at her side felt heavier now, but not with dread. With purpose. If the park was a stage, she’d play her part soon enough.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

=== '''First Day at the Plaza'''===
She listened to Eddie play for the mid-morning crowd as they cut through the park, going from one tall building to another. He was as good as she remembered. Though maybe not quite as good yet. Style would come in time. Besides, it was Tiffy who blossomed, if they survived.

Eddie had come over to her earlier. “Ah, Gadget. You said you’ve been wandering around? Don't wander south of here. Bad area. Forty Thieves... Actually, the Forty Threes, 43rd Street gang. Fucking takers. Over by the river is a nice place in the summer. Cold as hell this time of year, but there’s a more or less permanent encampment of old timers there. The city comes through and cleans it up sometimes. Gives them time to get their valuables out, then trashes whatever they had been living in. Twice a year. Shows the uptowners they are cleaning the place up. After that, some do-gooders come by and drop off new tents, mattresses, and blankets. The hawks stay away from there because the police got no concern if one or two kiddie pimps end up in the trainyard. Some of those old timers are ex-military and ain’t shy about it. But, some are almost as bad as the hawks. They won’t rent you out, but they will trade warmth for wetness, ya know. Better off finding a squat.”

“You and Tiffy got a squat?” Gadget asked.

“Yeah...but...it’s tight...sorry...I can't help with that. The East industrials by the train-yards have a lot of junkies and packs of wild dogs... You can sleep there, but the temptation is too strong for people. Temptation to use, temptation to steal.” The usual crowds went back and forth with little or no regard for the desperation they passed through. They thought themselves generous if they tossed the change from a six-dollar cup of fifty-cent coffee.

Eddie wandered over to sit as Tiffy finished her set. Gadget wondered if they thought of it in terms of 'Set' yet.

Eddie started playing. Riffing really. Loud, to get attention. He had endurance, Gadget thought.

A couple of hours went by, and Gadget spent it looking over the place, walking around, and getting a feel for the square and its regulars.

A coffee shop, a waitress looked out the window at the buskers sadly. Grief and gratitude. She had escaped the life. A newsstand. No reading. A fat man watched a little TV and collected money. He thought he was sly to slip alcohol from a flask into what was probably coffee.

A Little Caesar’s Pizza. Classic cardboard pizza. The clerk. Another survivor. A paycheck away from being on the street again. Squats. Can’t make rent.

A laundromat. Customers only. A walkway to the parking lot.

A liquor store that looked like a prison with bars and locks.

A big youth came running like he was being chased through the plaza. No one behind him.

He ran past Eddie and Tiffy. Jax had already gathered his blanket and put his arm through loops and was moving. He jumped down stairs only to stop. Tiffy and Eddie were almost up when the runner came walking over to them, hangdogged.

Up the stairs came four guys and a girl. Toughs. Shakers for sure. Their clothes only looked a small bit better than the people they shook down. They walked straight for the three.

Suddenly, she felt a shoulder hitting her from behind, walking past. A big guy, 19, scared and cruel. A follower. He looked back at her, saw the guitar, “I don’t know you. Tax ya later.”

He walked to the top end of this part of the plaza. Another coming in from the parking lot. Jax walked ahead of him, being pushed.

Behind her, two more. The ones the runner was fleeing from. Into their trap, it seemed.

Gadget touched a knob on her hearing aid, and she heard better.

The big guy in front. Army boots. New. “I don’t give a fuck, Eddie. Starve. Fork it over. Hey, Tiffy, you can keep your money for a little help with handsome.”

Eddie scowled, stepped between him and Tiffy, bravely but foolishly. He handed over a wad of bills.

“That’s both of ours...a day’s work, Wart.”

Big Wart... Good. Now I’ve seen him. “Not for me, it wasn’t. All fun. Maurice will fork over a couple hundred for a couple hours with Tiffy.”

Eddie said nothing, smart for once.

Jax said he hadn’t played yet, he didn’t have any money. Wart’s number two grabbed Jax’s bongo drums, and the two struggled. Eddie intervened and got a punch in the face from Wart. Little Wart held Jax’s drums.

“That was stupid, Eddie. Jax, five bucks, and you can have your drums back for tomorrow. Or wet trade. You know where we will be.”

Lastly, Wart turned to the runner. “Holden, you are the stupidest fuck I know. You got taxed, and instead of just playing elsewhere, you tried to warn Eddie and the Stone Benches group.” He said it with an air of mockery.

Gadget smiled for other reasons when she heard Wart’s jab. She was in the right place and time.

Wart laid a smack across Holden’s face, and Little Wart punched him twice in the belly as he fell.

The shakers moved along, laughing. This couldn’t be the only way they made money. Shaking down buskers. Cali... They had her someplace. Making money off her.

Tiffy started crying after the gang had gone. Jax, probably only 13 himself, started sniffling, trying to be tough. Tiffy must have been 14. Eddie would have been 16. Holden 17. Cali would have been 13, if she lived.

Walking over, Gadget heard without the spy ear.

“Those assholes,” Eddie said.

Jax said, “Let’s see if Dearly will spot us a blue plate special or two... it’s been long enough.”

Eddie shook her head, “Can’t. Bossman is there.” Jax whimpered.

She walked up, “Those are the takers?”

Eddie nodded, “Not their name... Just Wart’s guys. They got you, too?”

She shook her head, “That big guy said he would tax me later.”

Holden said, “That’s Waldo. Wants people to call him Eastwood, but Waldo is his name. Big, tough, strong, and mean. One of Wart’s muscles.”

Eddie put his arm around the whimpering Tiffy.

“We ate yesterday. Holden? Jax?” They both shook their heads.

Gadget said, “You all squat together?” Eddie looked at her, confirming, thinking they had to find Cali.

She said, “If I can squeeze into your squat, I’ll get pizza. A couple from that place.” Pointing to Little Caesars. Jax looked at her, then Eddie. Holden looked too. Silent agreement.

“Alright. We should go. If we set up again and start playing, they’ll come back. Today is over.”

Gadget said, "Where do I meet you? I have an errand to run before getting food.”

Eddie gave her directions for four blocks away. “You’ll see a tall water pipe on the side of a building. Painted blue. Hit it a few times, and one of us will come get you.”

She nodded. “An hour at most.”

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==='''Observations'''===

Gadget walked back into the square to get her gear, the familiar rhythm of the park unbroken by the earlier scuffle. People moved about as though nothing unusual had happened, their lives tuned to a frequency that filtered out the kind of trouble she had just witnessed.

She had seen this before in other cities: a practiced indifference to the small tragedies that played out in the corners of urban life. The regulars had walked past the shakedown, unconcerned. Not their problem. Not worth their notice. Even the lack of music didn’t seem to faze anyone. The world kept spinning, and the square moved with it.

Her first stop was a liquor store tucked into a crumbling block of mismatched businesses. The door jingled as she entered, and she felt the clerk’s eyes snap to her immediately. His stare followed her down the rows as she browsed. Gadget ignored him, picking out a flask-sized bottle of whiskey first, then a larger one to refill it. She added a handful of tiny bottles at the register, their colorful labels gleaming in the harsh fluorescent light.

The clerk leaned against the counter, arms crossed, his expression dripping with disdain. “Are you high or just stupid?” he sneered. “Alright, let’s do this. Everyone sing along—*La la la! I have to see some ID!*”

Unbothered, Gadget pulled a crisp hundred-dollar bill from her pocket and laid it on the counter, meeting his gaze with a calm, steady intensity. “Even if I kept the change,” he added, “it’s not worth it without ID.”

She sighed, pulling a slim wallet from her jacket. Opening it just enough for the clerk to see, she watched his eyes widen. The disdain melted into something closer to disbelief.

“Ah... really?” he asked, his tone shifting.

She tilted her head slightly. “I can depend on your keeping it a secret?”

He nodded quickly, his earlier bravado gone. He took the money without another word, bagging the bottles with newfound precision. Gadget took the bag without a thank-you, already moving on.

Her next stop was Little Caesar’s, the faint smell of grease and cheap cheese filling the air before she even entered. The bored teenager at the counter barely glanced up as she ordered four $5 pizzas. She stacked the boxes into a canvas bag, not bothering to align them perfectly. As the bag settled, the pizzas slid, the cheese and toppings undoubtedly pooling at one end of the boxes. She didn’t care. These weren’t about taste.

The park waited as she walked back, her steps deliberate and her mind turning over what came next. Her earlier encounter had shown her more than she expected—not just about the park’s pecking order but about the invisible lines drawn between those who were struggling to survive and those who chose to ignore them. She wasn’t sure yet where she fit into this city, but she’d carve out a place soon enough.

The liquor and the pizzas? They were tools, not comforts. Small investments in goodwill, in leverage. She wasn’t here to play by the rules. Gadget didn’t play by anyone’s rules but her own.

The alley was narrow and quiet, save for the distant hum of city noise. The faint tang of rust and damp concrete filled the air, mingling with the aroma of greasy pizza wafting from the canvas bag Gadget left on the ground. Her ears tingled with the primal electricity of the moment, a sensation she had come to trust. The hunter had become the hunted, and she was more than ready. She set down her guitar and her bag.

[[File:Waldo.jpg|200px]]

Waldo strode into view, his swagger full of self-assurance, the kind that only came from countless successful shakedowns. He grinned as he saw her, his eyes scanning her up and down like she was already his.

“Well, I didn’t think taxing you would make me rich! Booze and food. Fork it over. And any cash you got,” he said, closing the distance without hesitation. Gadget stepped toward him calmly, her expression unreadable. She didn’t flinch as he reached for her with both hands, his grin growing wider as he added, “Maybe a kiss or a fu—”

The rest of the word was swallowed by a sharp, guttural cry as Gadget grabbed his wrists and drove the steel toe of her boot into his groin with the force of a sledgehammer. The sound he made was almost pitiful as he doubled over, but she didn’t stop. Another swift kick sent him crumpling to the ground like a ragdoll.

Before he could recover, she shoved him onto his back and straddled him, delivering two quick punches to his stomach with precision. Waldo gagged, his breath coming in choked gasps. Gadget leaned in close, her voice a low, dangerous growl, her mind reaching out to touch his, instilling fear of her deep in his memory.

“Now, don’t you throw up,” she warned, her tone ice-cold. “All it’ll only make you messy and me pissed off. Look me in the eyes.”

Waldo’s watery gaze met hers, and for the first time, his bravado cracked. Her psyche slammed into him as hard as she could force it.

“You think you’re tough?” she continued, her voice steady but sharp as a blade. “The universe is filled with monsters that wouldn’t blink about squashing you like a potato bug. And I am goddamned well one of them, Waldo. I the apex predator monster around here now. So... you belong to me. Unless you want me to make sure you never get an erection again. We understand each other?”

He nodded frantically, his face pale.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Gadget said, sitting back slightly. “Where’s Cali?”

“Wart has her,” Waldo croaked, his voice hoarse. “He’s got her up at the Station… Passed out last I saw.”

Gadget studied his face for any sign of a lie, then nodded. “The Station. Eddie knows where that is?”

Waldo nodded again, his head bobbing weakly.

“Good.” Gadget stood, brushing herself off. “Now, you go away. Not to the station. It won’t be safe there tonight. Do you understand me?” Waldo nodded once more, trembling as he scrambled to his feet.

She stepped back to her bag and pulled out a pizza box. Opening it, she pulled out three slices and held them out to him. “Here. Just to show I’m not… well, totally a bitch. Remember: don’t go to the station. Don’t tell Wart. And don’t piss me off. Now go.”

Waldo hesitated for a split second before grabbing the slices. He staggered off, clutching the greasy pizza with both hands, his steps uneven but quick. He didn’t look back.

Gadget watched him disappear down the alley, then picked up her bags. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth as she murmured, “Everyone’s gotta eat.”

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=== '''Squatting'''===

She found the pipe and knocked on it. She waited only a few moments until Holden peeked his head out.

“We were worried you were followed.”

“I was, but it’s okay. Let’s go inside.”

She followed Holden down a short alley to a pried-open side door of an industrial building. The interior showed a lack of traffic. The path made several turns before ending at a dead end. Above were large pipes passing through. Water pipes, probably. On the west wall was a concert poster in a language Gadget did not know.

Those huddled near each other were Eddie, Tiffy, and Jax. A single candle put out light if not warmth. They shivered under blankets, and their breath came out in fog.

They looked up as Gadget entered. Eddie said, “Glad you made it. We were worried.” They looked at the pizza boxes in anticipation.

Eddie went on, “Cali is usually between Jax and Holden, if you don’t mind.”

Gadget moved close to Holden, between him and Jax. She couldn’t tell herself yet, but her pack nature was already forming, even after so little contact. Holden might be the lucky one.

Gadget nodded, taking the top pizza box with the missing pieces, slipping the other three to the group. She pulled out a large bottle of Tabasco that she liberally put on her pizza. The others eagerly grabbed the other boxes. They relished the pizza, a good meal for them. Jax reached for the Tabasco, looking to Gadget for permission. She smiled and handed it to him.

Looking around, the dead end had much to recommend it. Defensible but without an escape route. Out of the elements, sort of. Frigidly cold. Too cold, as she thought about it. It was winter, but the weather outside was hardly cold enough to warrant the cold inside.

“What’s on the other side of the building?”

“Meatpacking plant. It’s why it’s so cold in here. But the squat is too good. Out of the elements and deep enough not to be easy for takers to find unless led here. Holden used to squat here before.”

She reached into her pack and pulled out a small backpacking ring of stainless steel to curious eyes. Popping the lid, she pulled a lighter out and a bit of newspaper. She wrapped coal with the paper and lit it, starting the stove’s fire. The flickering fire caught and warmed the area slowly.

They turned to huddle around the fire in gratitude and surprise. “I’ve been camping a lot,” she explained.

The small area began to heat as they returned to eating. Silence filled the room as they ate. She looked around the space. A bright poster on the wall was in Russian, she thought. Rafe might know what it said. Being a music aficionado, he might know the band anyway. Maybe someone else in the huge Adventure’s Society would know. Time would tell.

While they huddled under blankets that had seen better days, their overcoats were neatly hung for drying. The candle put out light but little heat. Looking up, the ceiling must have had vents somewhere. It was why the space had so little heat. This place wouldn’t do. Not for seven or eight people, as her plans for the group developed.

Gadget stood after they finished eating. “Eddie? Can I speak to you for a moment?”

The two walked out to turn down the hall, out of sight of the others.

“I spoke to Waldo. He tried to tax me, and we came to an understanding. He says Cali is at someplace called the Station. Strung out and in trouble.”

Eddie cursed, “Damn... damn. The Station? Shit... SHIT!... That’s an abandoned gas station at the edge of the industrial area. There’s a huge dog pack that lives there. Used to be security dogs that went wild when the plants closed. Abandoned warehouses mostly. No one squats there because the dogs are vicious. Probably a hundred of them. The city gave up on that whole part of town. South of the railroad and the freeway. Shit... this sucks.”

“Dogs, you say? Vicious ex-guard dogs and their get, I imagine. Good to know. How many people would he have there, this Wart guy?”

“Five maybe, a couple more. Depends where they are in their raiding.”

“How do they handle the dogs? Will you show me where this is?”

“Carefully, I imagine. Sure, I can show it, but why? Do you have an idea? If we could get them to come out chasing me, you might be able to get her out.”

“Do any of you people fight?”

“Holden can land a punch. Jax can fall down and take them for a while. Tiffy, not so much.”

“How tough are these guys? How long have they been around?”

“Tiffy and I have been here about a year. Holden a couple of years. Not sure about Jax and Cali, but longer then Tiffy and I. Wart and his guys have been terrorizing people since grade school, I hear. He’s beat us up several times. Beat Tiffy and I pretty bad when we first got here 'cause she wouldn’t put out. Holden hates them. I think he had run-ins with them before. I know some of the businesses in the plaza lock their doors when they wander in. One of their parents is a cop.”

“Okay, show me this station.”

“Ah... okay... if you’re sure.”

She nodded and followed him as they crossed town.

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==='''Dogs'''===

Looking over at a vacant gas station tucked between industrial buildings, Gadget saw lights on in the building but none outside. The walls were covered with graffiti. The windows were covered in newspaper on the inside.

Gadget asked, "Will they have a lookout, you think?"

"No idea. But they probably depend on the dogs. When I start running, I’m going to run back the way we came in. Stay away from the dogs. I'm going to circle around and see if any of them are outside."

Eddie headed off, walking far to the east. .

She pulled out her cell phone and made a call. “Gadget. Wants and warrants on a Wart and known associates. Especially wants and warrants on an associate named Waldo. Police tours in the area of Third Street and Hunsiker Avenue. Yes.” She lit a cigarette and puffed it while she waited.

“Yes. Alright. Route police at least a mile from this location. Okay. Okay. Okay. And Waldo... Okay. Gadget down.”

She watched for any of the gang members returning.

The air around the vacant gas station grew heavier, the tension palpable as Gadget watched her surroundings with predatory focus. The graffiti-covered walls seemed to close in, the windows’ newspaper coverings adding a claustrophobic feel to the eerily quiet industrial zone. As Eddie vanished into the distance, her instincts prickled with the unmistakable feeling of being watched—or perhaps stalked.

Then she smelled them. Dirty dogs.

The dogs were close, their musky scent mingled with the faint metallic tang of rust and oil. Gadget pivoted, slipping behind a building with a crumbling wall, her heart steady but her senses sharpened. From the shadows, three shapes emerged: large, muscular dogs, their eyes reflecting the dim light like embers in the gloom.

The leader—a scarred, thick-furred savage with torn ears—moved forward first, his posture radiating dominance. Behind him, two slightly smaller dogs fanned out, their growls rising in anticipation. The pack began to circle her, their intent clear.

Gadget exhaled slowly, her father's teachings resonating in her mind. She didn’t run. Instead, she dropped to all fours, her movements fluid, deliberate. She raised her hips, her posture bold and challenging. Her eyes locked onto the leader’s, refusing to break the connection. The world seemed to fall away, leaving only the primal, unspoken dialogue between her and the animal.

The leader snarled, testing her, his hackles raised. Gadget bared her teeth and growled low and deep, channeling every ounce of her willpower into the sound. It wasn’t just noise; it was intent, a projection of dominance and confidence that tapped into the primal currents of the canine psyche.

The other two dogs faltered, their growls cutting short as they glanced at each other, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. The leader hesitated, his head lowering slightly, torn between instinct and her overwhelming presence. Gadget growled again, a commanding sound that brooked no argument. The leader stepped back, his defiance faltering under the weight of her gaze.

Then it happened. With a whimper, the leader dropped to his belly, his body language one of submission. Gadget moved forward on all fours, her movements deliberate and measured. She sniffed at the leader, solidifying her claim. The two remaining dogs quickly followed suit, rolling over with their tails tucked.

Gadget straightened and rubbed the leader’s belly, her touch firm but acknowledging his surrender. He rolled to his haunches, sitting obediently, awaiting her command. She rubbed her cheek against him, radiating love of him. Love he had never known till now. "I'll call you Savage."

She greeted the other two the same, feeling them give up their devotion.

Focusing her awareness, Gadget channeled her intent, pushing it outward like a wave. Her thoughts took form, her message clear: “Tell the rest I am coming soon for them. Tell the pack leader.”

The dogs responded instantly, bolting into the shadows without hesitation. Gadget stood and dusted herself off, exhaling slowly. The pack was hers now—or at least, they knew better than to challenge her again.

As the shadows settled once more, Gadget turned her attention back to the gas station. It was time to finish what she started.

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=== '''The Station'''===

A few minutes later, Eddie returned, carrying a half-full 40oz bottle. “No one there. The door is on the west side. Okay... probably won’t be locked. We sneak up. I’ll open the door and yell at them. I’ll throw this bottle of... beer... piss... at them. They’ll chase me out. Especially if I hit Wart. While they’re chasing me, you go in, find Cali, and get her out of there. I’ll run them as far as possible. I’m pretty sure I can outrun them.” He said it uncertainly but with determination.

“Sounds good. Let’s go.”

They sneaked up to the station, going around to try peeking in the windows, finding them taped shut. The industrial buildings surrounded the station and shadowed it from the sun. She looked it over and figured it must have several rooms inside. Two bays in the garage. Six empty gas pumps. A good squat.

Eddie shook his head, looking terrified but determined. He reached up and grabbed the door handle, opening it quickly and stepping in.

Eddie looked around the room and saw the surprised look on Wart’s face. "Look! Eddie’s come to sing for us!"

Eddie yelled raspingly, “YOU FUCKERS!!!!! WHERE’S CALI!!!????” He threw the bottle and hit Wart in the chest, splashing him liberally.

Behind him, Gadget stepped in.

The men jumped up as one to chase Eddie. Eddie turned and bumped surprisingly into Gadget.

Gadget put her right hand on his chest, pushing him hard against the door jamb. With her left hand, she raised a .45 automatic.

The young men stopped. Wart said, "I don’t know you, but pointing a gun at me is going to get you slung up in our back room, Blue."

She looked around the room at the squalor. Cigarettes, beer, takeout boxes. The smell of sweat and male testosterone. Somewhere was the smell of desperation and semen. Her hackles rose.

She regarded the men. She could feel their anger. She looked at Eddie, as her hand pressed him to the door-jam. Fear. Shock. Uncertainty.

"That thing looks like a cannon in your hand, you stupid slit. Put that down, and I might let you walk to the bedroom rather than beat you down and make Eddie watch us."

The loud crack of the gun echoed in the room, shocking everyone except Gadget.

Gadget tracked from left to right, putting a round into each of the chests of the gang members. Eddie’s eyes went wide in shock.

Gadget stepped into the room, slowly walking to each man, kicking them for life signs. Wart was last, looking up in despair. "No!!! Please!!! No!!!" Gadget fired again.

She turned to Eddie, “Find Cali.” He staggered past her, walking past the dead into other rooms.

Gadget moved among them, taking wallets, cash, and jewelry and stashing them in her pack. Weapons she quickly put into plastic ziplock bags and put them into her satchel. She looked over the table and grabbed several bags of green herbs. She walked around the room and found a backpack, looking in she found several kilos of pressed powder.

She stood and went to each of the dead and took a picture of each with her cell phone.

She made a call. "Gadget. Targets Neutralized. Send in the Cleaners."

Eddie came out carrying a limp girl. She was bruised and sweaty, dirty, and clearly had been abused. Nude, of course. He was white as a sheet, a mixture of awe and terror. Gadget stepped to a couch and shook off a comforter. They put her into it, wrapping her.

"You killed them," Eddie stammered, his voice cracking as his mind struggled to reconcile the woman beside him with the efficient, lethal force he had witnessed moments ago. "How could you?"

Gadget didn’t flinch at the accusation. Her gaze remained fixed ahead, her steps even and deliberate. Her voice, when it came, was calm, devoid of the chaos that lingered in Eddie's mind. "How? Efficiently," she repeated, her tone as cold and deliberate as her actions.

The weight of her words struck Eddie harder than the gunshots, leaving him speechless. The horrors of the room behind them—the blood, the screams, the sharp finality of death—clung to him like a suffocating fog. But there was no hesitation in Gadget, no regret in her stride. To her, it was necessary. Clean.

They crossed the empty road, the cracked asphalt beneath their feet a reminder of the desolation that surrounded them. The industrial skyline loomed like a graveyard of forgotten ambitions. Gadget kept her hand on her satchel, its contents jingling faintly—a collection of stolen wallets, weapons, and evidence now safely in her possession. She knew every item had a purpose. Every detail served a larger goal.

Eddie's steps faltered as he glanced down at Cali. Her face, bruised and streaked with grime, remained slack and lifeless. But there was a faint rise and fall to her chest, a fragile confirmation that she was alive. It was enough for now.

"You didn’t have to kill them," Eddie murmured, his voice barely audible.

Gadget stopped abruptly, turning to him with a gaze sharp enough to cut through steel. "Yes, I did," she said firmly. Her tone left no room for argument. "They were predators, Eddie. They thought they were top dogs, apex predators of the scene here. But that’s what happens to beasts when a new hunter shows up. I am the apex predator around here now. I'll do what needs to be done. They preyed on people like you, like Cali. You think they would’ve stopped? Changed? That girl in your arms is living proof of what they were willing to do."

Eddie swallowed hard, unable to look her in the eye. He knew she was right, but the sheer brutality of what he had witnessed gnawed at him. His grip on Cali tightened, as if holding her closer might make sense of the chaos.

"We’ll get her back to the squat," Gadget continued, her voice softening slightly. "She needs rest. Food. Medical attention. And you all need to keep your heads low for a while. This isn’t over."

"What do you mean?" Eddie asked, his voice trembling.

"I mean that there will be repercussions," Gadget said. "Wart’s crew isn’t the only threat out here. There’s always another predator waiting to take their place. But I’ll deal with that when the time comes."

They resumed their walk, the squat just a few blocks away now that offered a distant promise of safety. Eddie held on to that thought, clinging to it as tightly as he clung to Cali.

Behind them, the gas station stood silent, its sordid history now marked by the finality of Gadget’s intervention. Whatever demons she carried, she had made one thing clear: in her world, survival meant making hard choices. And she was prepared to make every single one of them.

Unseen by the pair and their rescued companion, a pair of white vans pulled up to the station. Men in hazmat outfits got out, entered, and began to work.

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=='''Necessities'''==

The squat was cramped with the six people in it, but warmer as they kept the little stove burning. Cali slept hard the first day, but Gadget wasn’t sure she was recovering. Jax never left her side and worried constantly. Gadget went and got pizza again, though only two pies, suggesting that her money was drying up.

The group fervently refused to take her to the hospital. Eddie explained, “Cali’s home life was little better than the way Wart’s people treated her. Her mother and a stepsister beat her regularly enough that she let her stepfather, two stepbrothers, and a couple of their friends treat her like a sex toy so they would defend her. If she turns up at an ER, the best she can hope for is to go into foster care. The worst is being sent home. That happened once before.”

Jax, who Gadget had heard speak in single words till now, said, “She and I ran off together the first time. I had to go back and get her that time. Her idiot brothers kept her in one of their beds every night. Hard to sneak her out.”

Gadget asked, "How did you manage it?"

Looks around the room showed it was a sore subject. Jax returned to Cali and his silence. Tiffy put her head down. Eddie looked at Gadget as if to convey that it was none of her business. Holden smiled, and with a nod from Jax, he told the tale.

“Jax lit the house on fire, then called 911. In the confusion of police, firefighters, and ambulances, Jax stole an ambulance they put Cali in. Drove it for an hour, then stole a car so he could ditch the ambulance. He stripped the thing of meds and supplies. Blankets and stuff. He drove a couple of days, swapped cars, and drove here. Dropped off Cali and the swag, then drove the car another day to ditch it. Good chance that the police are looking for them.”

Jax looked embarrassed but kept next to Cali.

Gadget commented, “Resourceful. Decisive. I respect that.” Jax looked up with a hint of a smile.

Gadget stood, “I’m going to stretch my legs.”

Walking out to the front, she was confronted by a large, beefy cat with a mouse in its sights.

Gadget froze momentarily, her eyes widening at the sight of the large, beefy cat perched atop the windowsill, its amber eyes fixed intently on the tiny mouse scurrying across the ledge. The cat’s fur was a patchy mix of brown and black, giving it a rugged, almost untamed appearance that contrasted sharply with the orderly chaos inside the squat.

“Hey there, big fella,” Gadget whispered softly, taking a cautious step forward. The cat didn’t seem threatened; instead, it watched her with an air of quiet curiosity, perhaps fear at Gadget's canine nature. The mouse, sensing the tension, darted toward the edge of the window, where it paused, twitching its nose before making a desperate leap for the safety of a nearby drainpipe.

As Gadget reached the window, she noticed a small tag hanging from the cat’s collar: “Shadow – Rescued.” A surge of empathy washed over her. Despite the rough exterior, Shadow clearly had a story of his own.

“Looks like Shadow’s been with you for a while,” Gadget remarked, hoping to break the ice.

Eddie stepped forward, his expression softening. “He’s a survivor, just like Cali. Came into our lives a few months back. Helps keep the rat population down around here.”

Tiffy glanced up from her corner. “Shadow’s more than just a cat. He’s a bit of a guardian for us.”

Holden nodded in agreement. “Yeah, he senses when things are off. Last week, he kept me awake all night when we had that break-in attempt.”

Gadget smiled, feeling a connection not just with the people but with their silent protector. “He’s a good cat. Reminds me that even in the darkest places, there’s still something worth protecting.”

Before anyone could respond, Shadow leapt gracefully down from the windowsill, landing softly on the floor. He approached Cali cautiously, circling her before settling beside her side. Cali reached out a tentative hand, and Shadow rubbed his head against her palm, purring softly.

Jax watched the interaction with a mix of relief and lingering worry. “Shadow’s got a good heart. Just like Cali.”

Gadget felt a pang of admiration for Jax. Despite his rough methods, his intentions were clear. “You all are handling things better than I expected.”

Eddie shook his head. “We’re just trying to keep Cali safe and give her a chance to heal. She deserves a second chance.”

As Gadget turned to leave the room, a sense of camaraderie filled the space. The squat, though cramped and imperfect, was a haven for those who had nowhere else to go. She felt a renewed sense of purpose, understanding that their struggles were intertwined, each supporting the other in their own ways.

Stepping out into the chilly evening air, Gadget took a deep breath, the scent of rain lingering in the air. She glanced back at the squat.

Walking away, she considered her options. She didn’t want to involve her police contact in this, but he was her first call anyway.

Calling, "Gadget. Wants and warrants. Names. Photos coming. Out."

Lighting a cigarette, she wandered off a block, looking around. She pondered. She couldn’t involve her police contact more than absolutely necessary. But she needed to know if anyone was looking for those in the squat. They didn’t want to take Cali to the hospital. She couldn’t call home without getting a ton of judgment and, in the end, only getting medical help with strings attached. There was another option, though.

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=== '''Gateway and Allies'''===

She pulled out a couple of decks of cards, tarot cards by their size and shape, looking through them. A Trump card was more than a picture—it was a door. Hold it in your hand, focus, and the image became real. Like calling someone on the phone, except you didn’t just hear their voice—you could step into their world. She remembered her introduction to the cards with Lord David. The card grew cold in her hands, the painted image shimmering like water. Slowly, the air around her twisted, colors bleeding together until she could have stepped through—no longer in the Hub of Mandalay, but in a sunlit courtyard of the Dramaturge.

Shadow was vast, infinite in its possibilities, with worlds ranging from medieval kingdoms to high-tech dystopias. Mandalay was just one of them, a central one of balance—her home, a place of green fields and shimmering towers, where wolves roamed as kin.

She looked over her King Random's deck. That would mean calling Dalt directly. She looked over her Green Deck, the deck of her homeland, Mandalay. David would help her, but that was a nuclear option. She considered the wolves of her pack. Dwarf would come if she asked. That was a lot of trouble, but she might need someone to oversee this massive dog problem. There were hundreds of wild dogs in the area. Generations of wild dogs, hungry and hunting. Capturing a dozen was just a start. Dwarf and the triplets could herd them easily.

"Maybe later...." Putting away her Green deck and her King Random's deck.

She thought carefully. Dalt was a nuclear option. David was a nuclear option. Dwarf was a blitzkrieg on his own, and if he brought the triplets, the humans of this world were likely to freak out at the sudden organization of the dog packs in this part of the state.

Raphael, she thought, would probably come himself if it sounded adventurous, but then this would be his show and not hers. She didn’t need the whole guild. But maybe just a couple. Yes, Wrecker and Reggy. Tough, dangerous, creative, and probably willing to listen to her. Doc Len would be too noticeable. Colette, though, would fit in perfectly. Call Rafe and ask.

She concentrated on her magical inscription for the realm of Pocai and opened a contact with Raphael.

"Who?" came the response to her call. "Gadget," she answered.

The voice at the other side of the mystical barrier seemed surprised, "Hey, Gadget! Great to hear from you. Didn’t know you had a Trump for me. So where’ve you been? Whatcha up to?"

She responded. "I don’t have a trump, Rafe. I have an imprint of Pocai. I am.... I have a situation. I have someone who is hurt. I’m in a world that I can’t use magic openly. I need a doctor and maybe some muscle. I was hoping I could borrow Colette and Wrecker and Reggy. The time ratio is favorable to Ang Ri."

"Yeah, Gadget, no problem. Whatever you need. You know you just have to ask. Give me a sec; they’re actually right here with me." Rafe turned to his companions at the Ludus on the world of Ang Ri. "Colette, Wrecker, Reggy; Gadget needs your help, now. Colette; someone’s hurt, get what you need. Wrecker, Reggy; you’re the muscle. She said she can’t use magic openly, so I suggest human forms for the both of you."

He focused back on Gadget. "Can you transport with this Pocai connection? Or do I need to bring them to you?"

"I’m in the King Random Trump Deck and on I’m in an earth world."

Rafe said, "Right. Hang on a sec."

He looked over to Dalt. "Dalt, can I borrow Gadget’s Trump from your KRD? I’ll give it right back."

He was looking over at the trio as they prepared. "She says it’s an earth world; dress and equip accordingly."

Dalt asked, "Can you use Amber trumps?"

"I’m pretty sure I can...? If not, could you contact her and pass these three through? Please and thanks."

He nodded, "Ah... Sure...I suppose."

"Thank you, Dalt. It’s appreciated."

"Is there anything else you need, Gadget? How serious is the situation?"

"It’s a complicated and musical. We all have our favorites. Shadow is filled with them...I’m here to rescue one set of them...and bring them to the Dramaturge eventually."

"Wooow... sounds like a great adventure. Hope it turns
out well. I look forward to hearing the tale one day. Safe Travels, my Friend. Adventure Abounds. You ready for your support team?"

He looked over to Dalt and the trio to see if they were ready.

Wrecker said, "Were we traded to Cleveland?" As he was putting on his earth boots.

Rafe chuckled. "Don’t think so. Probably just temporary....? But time will tell."

He gave Wrecker a few moments to wonder, then chuckled and said, "She said she’s only going to need you for about a month."

Wreck said, "It’ll be a letdown after the Buffet at the Hall of Water..." He stepped through.

"Everything’s going to be a letdown after that buffet," Rafe said as the portal closed.

Stepping through the portal, the three looked around.

Colette said, "We are not really dressed for it here."

Gadget said, "It’s morning. There is a Walmart about four blocks from here. Here’s about a thousand dollars. Get clothes. Doc, come back here, knock on that blue pipe, and I’ll come to get you. They need stuff. Get some blankets, six sleeping bags. Cheap folding chairs. Medical supplies. Food—bread, peanut butter, jam. Lunch meat for today. Fruit. An ice chest. A bag of cat kibble. These people have been living like wild animals. When they ask, we’ll tell them you’re a friend from home. Leave where vague. I don’t know if they’ll believe me, but they will be grateful for the supplies."

She said, "Runaways? I know the streets. Was on them myself in Chicago as a kid. The charity angle won’t work. Tell them I’m a family friend. I brought this stuff because you called and asked for help. I’ll talk shit about your 'Parents.' I’ll leave off giving you some money. If there is any change."

She nodded and pulled out another thousand. Then decided to give Wrecker and Reggy each a thousand dollars of the money from Wart’s stash.

"Wrecker, Reggy, there is a heavy crime problem here. Take a few days looking the place over and get a sense of things. I have a police contact that can help. When you have a sense of things, let me know, and we’ll decide how to handle it."

She sighed, "Sorry.... It’s good to see you all." She exchanged hugs. Then the three headed off to Walmart, and she went back into the squat.

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==='''Call a Friend'''===

Gadget sat in the squat for a bit, treating Cali. The blankets under her were threadbare and dirty. "I called a friend for some help. She’s a doctor. She doesn’t hate my parents as much as I do, but it’s close."

"You gave her where we are?" Jax asked, looking wildly.

"I told her to hit the pipe. Leave her car a ways away. Bring some supplies."

Eddie said, with a look of fear in his eyes, "Gadget.... You really shouldn’t do stuff like that without asking us. We vote as a group."

Tiffy held the cat close. "You say she’s a doctor? Can she help Cali?"

"That’s why I called her. She treated me after one of my father’s parties. She was kind to me. After that, she was there when I needed her."

A couple of hours later, the silence was broken by the banging on the pipe. Holden stood and looked to Eddie, who nodded. He followed Gadget out to the pipe.

Colette was there with three shopping carts filled with supplies. Gadget caught the sense of Wrecker and Reggy a ways away. She hugged Colette.

"Holden, this is Colette. Let’s get off the street." They pushed the carts into the corridors and turned through the labyrinth. Holden said, "What is all this.. There’s food in here." He looked at the basket in front of him with naked longing.

Getting to the tight squat, Gadget started unloading the carts as Colette knelt over Cali.

"Guys, this is Colette, a friend of mine. She’s a doctor. She treated me years ago for....family stuff. We’ve been friends ever since."

"Hiya, glad to see Gladys has made friends." Gadget growled, "Gadget!!" Colette nodded. Eddie looked at Gadget and silently mouthed "Gladys?"

Eddie then came over to look over the carts. "What’s all this?"

Colette looked over the devices she set out next to Cali. "Gadget told me you guys were living tight. This won’t solve everything, but it can’t hurt. I figured I owe her this. Gadget, get me a couple of those chicken broths. Bring some of the chicken chunks. Get a pot on that burner going. There’s a pot in there somewhere. Heat the broth. There is a cot on there too. Set it up there. Get a sleeping bag open."

"You, m’lady," looking to Tiffy, "ah, come here. We have to undress her and clean her. She has no broken bones. But there are cuts.. and.. she’s been doped up."

Holden and Eddie set up the cot and spread a sleeping bag out open, laying a towel down in the bag. Colette directed them to put Cali in the cot.

After a few minutes, Colette stood, "Ok, I need the room. Gadget, why don’t you sort out the stuff I brought."

The guys and Gadget went and looked over the supplies. While they were concerned about Cali, the sudden riches gave them all wide eyes. Gadget took a loaf of bread, slathered mayonnaise and mustard on them, with meat and cheese, slipping each sandwich into a zip-lock bag. Despite their hunger, Holden and Eddie helped while Jax stood by the makeshift curtain for Colette and Cali.

Eddie asked, "No ketchup?" Gadget chuckled. "Colette knows I hate ketchup!"

Colette looked out at Jax as he hovered, "You are?" He said, "Jax. How is she?" "She’s asking for you. You can help me."

She looked to Gadget and whispered mentally to her, "She has a lot of bruises. Signs of repeated rapes. A lot of scratches and cuts. Can you get them to play some while I use the Total Warrior Medical stuff?"

Gadget, Eddie, and Holden fixed 20 sandwiches and tucked them into the ice chest. They set up chairs and sat, and Tiffy, Eddie, Holden, and Gadget sat after Gadget slipped a sandwich to Jax. They ate in silence.

Gadget got her guitar out and started strumming. After a few moments, Eddie and Holden picked up theirs. Tiffy picked up her violin and leaned it against her chair as the cat resettled in her lap. She opened the bag of cat food and brought a handful of kibble for the cat to eat.

Behind the curtain, Cali was cleaned and settled in the sleeping bag. Colette gave her an injection from a Total Warrior device with a broad-range antibiotic as well as pain medication. Secretly, she cast her High Order Healing Spell and the Clean cantrips. Jax brought over broth and spoon-fed her. Colette told him to cover her up when he was done and to eat his sandwich. He smiled at her gratefully. She then left to join the others.

She opened a chair and sat, listening to the jam session.

Eddie finally asked, "How is she?"

Colette said, "She’ll heal. She mostly had bruises and a few cuts. It’s pretty clear she was beaten with a belt, but probably as part of the rapes. She was starved for several days to be sure. Dehydrated. The physical stuff will heal. She will have psychological damage to be sure. That will take a long time to get over, and she’ll need help. Did you call the police?"

Eddie lowered his head. Holden said, "Wouldn’t do any good. They always get away with shit. Police connections."

Gadget signaled to Colette to change the topic by using the hand sign language. "How long can you stay, Colette?"

"I’ll leave in a few days. I want to watch her."

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=== '''Finding Their Sound'''===

Several days passed as the band remained in hiding. The band spent the time playing music, getting to know each other’s playing rather than the singular sounds the busking they had been doing taught them. They ate well, finishing off what Colette had brought. She stepped out to make another food run on her last day before she left.

Cali sat beside Jax, silently, her hurts mended as best as medications could, but the memories went deeper. Those scars might never heal.

During that week, the group played for each other as they never had before. They shared the squat but had never shared their music. Now they did. The hallways echoed as they developed rhythms, harmonies, and solos. They sang all the songs they knew and shared the ones they wrote. Gadget sat back a lot, playing her bass guitar and lamenting that the only thing she missed from home was her piano. She let Eddie take the lead on guitar, playing his beloved surfpunk renditions. Holden played rhythm. Tiffy was a virtuoso on the violin, weaving her sound among the others, playing counterpoint and solos. Gadget nearly cried.

Gadget would go out at night alone. She met with groups of dogs that had heard about her, and she bound them to her, as her father and mother had taught her. Her skill at the bonding grew quickly.

The streets were eerily quiet, the distant hum of a generator the only sound as she walked through the deserted industrial areas near the Station. Gadget’s boots scraped against cracked pavement, her mind drifting to Mandalay. In her world, shadows whispered secrets; here they only swallowed sound. She tightened her grip on the Trump card in her pocket. No magic here to guide her—only instinct.

Jax was pretty good on the bongos. He told them about the music store at home that let him play their drums. The school he and Cali had gone to had shut their music departments. Eddie talked about the private school he and Tiffy had attended. It was wonderful to them, but their homes were hells.

The group opened up to each other, sharing their lives. Something they had never done before.

Gadget told a tale that paled to the others, but hers was fiction. They were not ready to learn her truth. Mandalay, Fleece, Snack, the Dramaturge, her pack—the Hounds of Mandalay, Raphael, Ang Ri, Fort Garland.

After four days, Cali was walking, Jax supporting her arm. She carried her bass guitar but didn’t play it. The closest she came was quietly tapping out the beats Jax played.

Jax told a story, "This one time, we played for an audience of zero. Just me and the drums, Cali and her bass in some crummy bar in Wisconsin. Felt like a rehearsal—until the bartender started crying."

Gadget smiled faintly, "Why cry over a song?"

Jax said, "Said it reminded him of his son. Music’s like that—it hits people in ways you don’t expect."

Gadget stared into the camp stove flames, silent. Music and magic weren’t so different. Both were bridges.

Gadget reveled in the experience. Eddie Black and the Stone Bench Group, here, before the fame, before the glory. And in this shadow, Cali lived and didn’t become the inspiration for Jax’s sad ballads and his descent into alcoholism and self-destruction as happened in so many shadows. She knew shadow was vast, and there were places this group never suffered their tragedies. Those shadows sometimes had weaker groups, without the passion. Bands that played at State Fairs, not the Coliseum or Madison Square Gardens. It was a gentle process, but Gadget coaxed them into sharing their tragedies and building on them. After all, they all had horrors in their pasts. Things that brought them together.

She knew one day she would leave them. Leave them to their glory. But till then, she became a member of the Stone Bench Group. She wished she could stay. She also knew that if at all possible, her goal was to guide them past a few roadblocks and eventually bring them to the Dramaturge in Mandalay. If, if...

Eventually, the claustrophobia began to grow on them, and a time came when they returned to the plaza and reclaimed their stone bench. This time, when they took turns leading, singing, solos, the rest of the band played to back them up.

Now the strollers stopped more often. They bought pizza and ate while listening. Some started taking their regular lunch breaks from offices and businesses nearby to come and listen. They might even be the seeds of the fandom that would one day follow them online as well as from city to city.

After a week on the plaza, Waldo showed up. He was apologetic, but Cali couldn’t stand the sight of him. She admitted that Waldo had never touched her, but he had
been part of Wart’s group. He was a shadow of his former swaggering self. Gadget knew Wrecker and Reggy had taken to correcting his attitude while getting all the information out of him they could. It showed. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. In time, Waldo started helping carry things and set things up. Pignoses, a few cables. A mic-stand. Gadget’s eyes nearly popped one day when Waldo brought chalk and drew a half-circle around the front for whoever was doing their lead. The famous singing circle. The cover of their epic first album before her eyes.

Somewhere in there, he and Cali made peace, but Gadget knew that in most of the shadows, Cali was known to hate the chief roadie. She guessed in this shadow that would be Waldo. She never saw Holden exchange more than a few words at a time to Waldo, and he always managed his own amp.

Eddie started to develop the stage presence that would make him famous. Tiffy, on her rock and roll violin, matched his every note, making his voice sound musical. His fingers danced on the strings, while she held the back line steady and soulful. Gadget closed her eyes as the melody washed over her. Each note was a heartbeat, a reminder of what they were fighting for—a world where music didn’t fade into static, where hope lingered in the chords. She could see Cali’s fingers matching her own. It wouldn’t be long till the two of them developed the dual bass sound the group would be famous for. Then Gadget would be replacing stray bassists the band would pick up for a gig or two at a time. Maybe, just maybe, she could stay.

A few days into their second month, Gadget saw Wrecker and Reggy stroll through the plaza. They listened and threw a wad of bills in the guitar case.

Gadget slipped away and met them behind Little Caesar’s.

Wreck lit a cigar as she approached, half offering it to Gadget, who declined. "What’s up?"

Wrecker, the brains of the two such as they were, said, "We have a target. Your contact helped sort it out. The Blind Reapers. A motorcycle gang. They have deep pockets and deep protection. They have a bunch of cops on the payroll."

Reggy said, "Hey! That doesn’t make them bad cops, just realists."

Wrecker looked at him incredulously, "Really, Officer Clifton?" Reggy shrugged.

Wrecker continued, "They are middlemen for sure. They get good product from the people down at the port. They stomp on the stuff at their clubhouse out in Daniville. We’ve looked the place over. Ten targets at least, including two high-value targets. From what we have learned, drug running is top, but they run guns and girls. Slave trade. The gang leaders are Black Carl Smalter and Dale Genkin. They have contacts all over the place. Permission to scrub them."

Gadget asked, "What did Lisha say?"

Wrecker told her, "They are unofficially untouchable by the cops."

She nodded. "Conditionally, permission granted. We need to know more about them. Talk to them first. See if we can flip them." She turned and returned to the band.

Wrecker nodded, "Infiltration it is."

The pair left, and Gadget went back by way of Little Caesar’s for a few $5 pizzas.

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

=='''Places'''==

=== '''At The Ugly Ferret Tavern - Chapter One'''===

The duo sat on their stolen Vespas, looking at the grungy tavern. Reggy said, "Good fields of fire. Perches all over. Not good planning."

Wrecker looked around, "They are a biker gang, not strictly speaking a military unit. They didn’t plan on us."

The air inside the bar was thick with smoke and hostility. Neon lights buzzed weakly over stained pool tables, and a jukebox in the corner played a half-hearted country tune. A dozen leather-clad figures turned to watch as Wrecker and Reggy stepped through the door. Tired-looking girls in blank leather sat out of the way, drunk, stoned, or worn out.

“Welp,” Reggy muttered, glancing at the peeling wallpaper and overturned chairs. “Home sweet home.” His Broncos football jacket did not make any friends this far east. Ravens, Jets, Commanders. Maybe Cowboys for the Cheerleaders.

“You know, if they ever power-washed this place, the health department might faint,” Wrecker replied with a grin, his voice carrying just loud enough to draw a few glares.

At the bar, Dale Genkins, the VP of the Blind Reapers, leaned back on his stool, his leather vest stretching over his broad shoulders. Beside him, Smiley, the club’s Sergeant-at-Arms, cleaned his nails with a knife that looked sharp enough to gut a deer. The bartender looked worn and tired, the result of having these criminals claim his bar without so much as a "If you please."

From a shadowy corner, Black Carl, a mountain of a man with a dark history, watched with quiet intensity, his dark eyes narrowing as the newcomers approached.

“You boys lost?” Dale asked, his voice calm but loaded with menace. “This ain’t exactly tourist country, Peacock.”

“Nah, we’re right where we need to be. It’s been a long ride.” Wrecker said, swaggering up to the bar as though he owned the place. He slid into a stool and gestured to the bartender. “Two beers. Cold, if that’s a thing here. Got any pretzels or peanuts?”

Reggy stayed on his feet, leaning casually against the bar and nodding at Smiley. “Nice knife. Compensating for something?”

Smiley’s grin widened, showing off a row of uneven, chipped teeth. “Keep talking, string bean. We'll see how funny you are when I carve my initials in your forehead.”

“Smiley, enough,” Dale said, raising a hand. He turned his attention to Wrecker, his eyes scanning him up and down. “You got a lot of nerve walking in here unarmed. Either you’re real stupid, or you’ve got a death wish.”

He shrugged, "Having both has worked for me. What makes you think I’m unarmed?” Wrecker replied, taking a slow sip of the beer the bartender slid his way. “I see a bottle of Old Crow down there. Crack that bird and pour two glasses of 6 ounces. Run us a tab." He pulled a roll of bills and stuck it on its bottom. The bartender opened it and counted it. He didn’t wear a cut, so he looked to Black Carl, who gave a slight nod. The money disappeared, and he poured two tall glasses. Wrecker said, "Leave the bottle, Lucky."

Smiley eyeballed Reggy, "What about you, Stretch? You packing?"

Reggy nodded, "Ya, I’m packing, but you’ll only see it if we were in prison, princess." Smiley started moving, and Dale put his hand on his chest. "I said enough."

"So, something on your mind, such as it is?"

Wreck poured a chug of whiskey into his beer and took a drink, nodding his head, "We got a proposition.”

Dale chuckled, a low, humorless sound. “Oh, this oughta be good. What’s your pitch, tough guy?”

Wrecker leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “You boys run this area, right? But I bet the profits could be better. We know how to move goods, no questions asked. We have a great connection for military arms. And we’ve got a knack for... creative problem solving.”

“Creative problem solving,” Dale repeated, his tone flat. “That what you call sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong?”

Reggy smirked, chiming in. “Hey, we’re just trying to make a buck the American way. You know, cash businesses and criminality. Maybe add a little... somtha-somtha on the side? No offense, but subtlety doesn’t seem like your strong suit.”

Smiley growled and took a step forward, but Dale held up a hand again, stopping him in his tracks.

“You’re real funny,” Dale said, his expression unreadable. “But we don’t need outsiders meddling in our business.”

“Fair enough,” Wrecker said, finishing his beer in one long gulp. “Just thought we’d offer. Seems a shame to waste all this... potential.”

Reggy grabbed his glass and matched his friend. Smiley stared at him with naked hatred, showing his broken teeth. Reggy grinned, letting his upper and lower Orc canines show. Smiley blinked in uncertainty.

Wrecker nodded at the bikers staring daggers at them. “Yeah, real welcoming crowd. I feel the love.”

Dale stood, towering over Wrecker, and leaned in close. “The only reason you’re walking out of here in one piece is because I don’t feel like mopping up the mess. But don’t mistake that for an invitation to come back.”

“Understood.” Wrecker said, standing and dusting off his jacket as if he’d just finished a casual lunch meeting. He slipped a photo over on the bar.

Looking down, Dale said, "What are these?"

Wrecker said, "McMillan TAC-50, Heckler & Koch PSG1, and my personal favorite, the Barrett M82. We can get these reliably. We can get as many AR’s as you’d need. Our selection of handguns is diverse. Street walker prices for courtesan service. Pleasure doing business with you. We’ll be around.”

Wrecker and Reggy polished off their beers and whiskey in gulps. Wrecker looked at the bartender. "Don’t forget our tab, Lucky." He grabbed the half-empty bottle as they left.

As they walked to the door, Reggy couldn’t resist one last parting shot. “Hey, Smiley—next life, try flossing. Keeps it from scratching johnsons.”

Smiley surged forward with murder in his eyes, but Dale’s bark stopped him cold.

“Let ’em go,” Dale said, watching as the two men strolled out like they hadn’t just walked through the lion’s den.

Reggy turned at the door, looking back in, "Why Smiley, does this mean we’re not friends anymore? You know Smiley, if I thought you weren’t my friend... I just don’t think I could bear it!" Wrecker chuckled outside.

From his corner, Black Carl’s eyes followed them to the door, his expression unreadable. He whispered to a confederate beside him, "Find out who they are. Call K."

Outside, under the flickering neon sign, Wrecker turned to Reggy with a grin. “That went well.”

“Yeah, if your definition of ‘well’ is not getting stabbed in the spleen,” Reggy replied, shaking his head.

Wrecker laughed, "I was amazed at Genkins’ self-control. And I thought Smiley was going to snap! Johnsons... "

Reggy laughed, "Hey, I tried to break him, but he was just too tough for me, I guess." sighing sarcastically, "So, next round’s on you, genius. Pizza or Sushi?"”

They laughed as they disappeared into the night on their stolen Vespas, the tension of the encounter already fading into the rhythm of their camaraderie.

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=== '''Gadget Visits the Station'''===

As the weeks went by, Eddie and the Stone Bench Band developed their sound. It had gone well after they realized the takers were not around. Eddie wouldn’t talk about it, changing the subject if it was brought up. A few thugs wandered by, but they didn’t bother the buskers in this neck of the plaza. A pair came to the chalk line but shivered and lost their nerve, tossing their money in the guitar case. One caught Gadget’s eye, a street name of Billy, someday known as Billy Sharp. The shadows played tricks.

Eddie worked out a new schedule for the other buskers, keeping the best time for himself and the group. The others liked the situation fairly well. Players before seemed like warmup acts. The ones afterward got the benefit of the people that started having their lunch in the area. Gadget appraised two musicians probably in their 20s, playing saxes; Mack something & Danny Dean. They were familiar to her from other shadows. Maybe they would add the bang the group could use...

Waldo began filling a shopping cart with the group’s supplies as they went out each day and parking it in the increasingly crowded squat. A month had passed, and nerves started getting frayed. Eddie, Tiffy, Jax, Cali, Holden, Gadget, and now Waldo filled the space extremely tight.

Gadget went out on a walk one night, greeting the new dogs. She met with Wrecker and Reggy. “How’s the Station look now?”

Reggy said, “Like a shithole covered in industrial waste. Your dogs are creeping me out. But it doesn’t smell like rotted cheese, takeout, pot, and stale semen. We cleaned out the front room enough to live there. Fixed the plumbing and set up some solar cells. It’s pretty messy. You still thinking of burning it down? We have a few ideas about that. Or are you going to use it?”

Gadget pondered for a moment. “It is just about the same distance of a walk from the Station to the plaza as it is from the plaza to the squat, isn’t it?”

Wreck nodded, “Close enough.”

“Start cleaning it up for us. Leave enough junk so they feel like they clean it out when I get there. Nothing fancy. Clean cantrips and elbow grease. Do something creative in the rape room. It’s going to be hard to convince Cali. Let’s go take a look.”

Gadget looked across the street at the Station, remembering her last time there. Eliminating the lowest rung of the predatory hierarchy. The smell of damp concrete, refuse, dogs, and old grease lingered in the air.

Entering the former convenience store, she wrinkled her nose. "Seriously, guys? This place is a biohazard. You’re telling me you’ve been sleeping
in here? Without even a basic cleaning spell or... I don’t know, a mop?"

Wrecker shrugged, "What can I say? I’ve got low standards. I lived in a truck cab for years—it smelled better than this, but not by much."

Gadget turned at Reggy, who said, "I’m an orc."

Gadget looked at him deadpan, gesturing at a pile of broken furniture. "That explains the piles of ‘decorative garbage.’ What is this? An art installation called ‘Despair in Concrete’? You’ve been here a month."

Wrecker: "Hey, don’t knock it. That’s vintage junk. Wart’s crew left it here—it’s practically historical."

Gadget rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, history needs a pressure washer. Clean this place up. If we’re going to use it, I want it livable. Like, at least one rung above ‘feral.’"

Raising his eyebrow, letting his orc canine teeth show, "‘Use it’? You’re really thinking of moving your whole band here? I thought that was a joke."

"Yeah. The squat’s too crowded."

Wrecker grinned. "I mean, sure. If you’re cool with the charming ambiance of ‘industrial wasteland chic.’"

Reggy settled on the east sofa, casting several Clean cantrips out of courtesy. "We’ve been thinking of getting more than a crash pad anyway."

"Oh? Elaborate."

Wrecker said excitedly. "We’ve been charging up the car—dumping extra power into it. It’s still back in Ang Ri. We think we can use it to anchor something here. At some point, we won’t be able to disguise ourselves."

Narrowing her eyes. "Something? Be specific, Wrecker."

Reggy grinned slyly. "We’ve got a rough sketch for a place."

"And by ‘rough sketch,’ you mean...?"

Wrecker shrugged, "A few napkins. Bells on the doorknobs. Some runes drawn in oil stains. New graffiti. It’s solid, though. There is a bar we are familiar with. The Ugly Ferret. It’s been invaded by that biker gang. We tried to make a deal with them, but no luck. They were Wart’s suppliers. They are next, if you approve, on our hit list."

Gadget sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Why am I not surprised? Fine. Clean this place up first. If I bring the others here and they take one whiff of this dump, I’m blaming you two."

Reggy made a mock salute. "Yes, boss. Operation Mop and Hope, commencing."

Wrecker smirked. "And hey, once we’re done, it’ll be the classiest industrial ruin on the block."

Gadget: "Not exactly a high bar, but I’ll take it. Get to work. I’ll check in soon."

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==='''Biker's Barbeque'''===

Sitting on a rooftop with their backs to a wall, Wrecker and Reggy contemplated their options.

Wrecker was a stocky, husky man with broad shoulders covered in tattoos. He wore a short, neatly trimmed Mohawk in red, green, purple, blue, and white. He had a camouflage jacket over his lap and camouflage pants, having gone through an army surplus store and picked patterns from different countries. He sat on a Belgian rucksack and smoked a small cigar, exhaling multicolored smoke.

Beside him, Reggy snored softly, wearing a Denver Broncos sports jacket and blue jeans, his head on a Belgian rucksack. He seemed fairly relaxed, snoring his relaxation.

Wrecker crawled over and slipped up to look down over the roof edge at the ground with a rifle scope.

Reggy mumbled, “How many? Is he there?”

Wrecker said, “About seven in cuts. Couple of girls. They’re barbecuing.”

Reggy, "Yeah, I can smell it. I’m fraking hungry." He rolled over and fell deeper asleep.

Time passed as Reggy slept, and Wrecker checked the ground.

Wrecker looked over a computer tablet, checking many details. He mumbled.

“Murder, murder, murder, armed robbery, vandalism, vandalism, rape, rape, rape, assault, assault, assault, assault, assault, drug running, gun running. Theft, cleared, cleared, cleared. Payoffs, payoffs. Twelve targets. No female targets. Black Carl... the president of the MC. Dale Genkin, Vice Pres.”

As dusk started, Wrecker looked over the edge of the roof. He laid back and kicked Reggy to wake him.

“Black Carl and Genkin just arrived. Take a look.”

Reggy crawled over and looked down. He nodded. “I see them. Say when.”

Wrecker said, “Thirty seconds.”

Reggy and Wrecker both pulled up M4 rifles, racked rounds, checked the clip, and pulled two extra clips out for each of them.

They turned around and knelt by the roof's edge, putting the four clips between them.

Wrecker said, “I don’t see Smiley. Maybe he’s inside. So let’s both hit Dale and Black Carl, then you get everyone to your right. I’ll get everyone to my left.” Reggy nodded, "Heads are yours, chests are mine."

“One, two, three," Wrecker whispered.

On three, the two swung up and aimed their rifles, taking targets.

The firing lasted fifteen seconds, then there was screaming down below, and the women fled the backyard, running and jumping into two cars and fleeing quickly.

Wrecker surveyed the damage. He and Reggy pulled up their bags and slung their weapons over their shoulders. They leapt off the roof and landed on the ground. Walking through the backyard, they took low-order pictures of the dead. Then they went through pockets, collecting money, wallets, and pocket lint. They piled weapons in a duffel bag.

Dale moaned in pain, and Wrecker looked into his dying face. "Should have made a deal, Dale. Such wasted potential." He drew his Glock and issued the coup de grâce.

Going into the house, they walked through, seeking others.

Reggy stood by the door. "All the listed targets except Smiley were outside. Didn’t see that Prospect either. Hey Wrecker, you realize we’re psychopaths?"

Wrecker nodded. "It’s crossed my mind. I became convinced on the streets of Ahyk. Let’s see what’s inside." He raised his hand, and a small glowing symbol rose in front of it. He moved the glowing symbol around the room. “Something... Move the couch.”

Reggy pulled the couch, pushing it over on its back with ease.

Wrecker knelt down, running his hand along the floor. Stopping, he punched the floor hard, pushing his hand through. He pulled hard, pulling up a large secret door. Looking down into the hole, the first thing they saw were two girls who crouched in fear. Beside them were bags of packed powder. A large collection of guns. Grocery bags of cash held together with rubber bands.

Reggy raised a symbol similar to Wrecker's. He cast a sleep spell, and the two girls went to sleep.

Wrecker removed a cell phone and called. “Wrecker. Targets neutralized except Smiley Russel. Two captives asleep. Weapons in a hole. Drugs. Send in the Cleaners.” Reggy pulled out several bags of the pressed powder, the bags of cash, and a couple of fancy pistols and stashed them in the duffel bag, smiling at Wrecker.

“That was rough out there. Mostly rough on them, of course. So... Pizza?” Reggy said.

A few minutes later, a van showed up at the Motorcycle Club's house.

The black van screeched to a halt outside the motorcycle clubhouse, its headlights cutting through the fading twilight. The Cleaners stepped out—a team of five, clad in nondescript dark clothing, each carrying specialized gear. Among them, a tall woman named Iris took charge, her presence commanding as she assessed the scene.

Inside the house, Wrecker’s phone pinged with a message: “Operation secure. Proceed to drop point.” He nodded to Reggy as he raided the biker’s half-stocked fridge. “Let’s move,” Wrecker said.

The Cleaners began their work. They cataloged the weapons, retrieved the drugs, and carefully extracted the unconscious captives. Iris paused to look at the crude bunker beneath the floor. “They knew what they were hiding,” she muttered to one of her team members, who nodded and bagged up a stash of ledgers. "Any trouble outside?"

Wrecker shook his head. "A few building code violations..."

Walking away from the scene, Wrecker with a duffel bag over his shoulder. Reggy stopped and grabbed steaks and sausages from the BBQ, tossing them in his gun bag.

Wrecker and Reggy cut through a side alley. The city’s glow contrasted with the grimness of their mission. Reggy chewed on a cold slice of leftover pizza he found at the clubhouse. “So,” he said between bites, “how long we gotta stay under the radar now?”

Wrecker smirked. “Not long. Couple of days. Iris's Cleaners know what to do. Black Carl and his crew were overdue for a reckoning. The streets are better off without them.”

Reggy grunted. “Still. It’s a slippery slope. We’re not the law.”

“No,” Wrecker said, pausing. He exhaled multicolored smoke from his cigar. “But sometimes, we’re all that stands between order and chaos.”

Back at their safe house, Wart's Station, a dingy flop in the industrial district, Wrecker checked their spoils. Among the wallets and cash, he found a photo of a young girl tucked into Black Carl’s wallet. Frowning, he set it aside. “Even monsters have something to lose,” he muttered.

Reggy looked over. “You getting soft, or just tired?”

“Neither,” Wrecker said. He locked the photo in a drawer. “This fight isn’t clean. It’s never clean. Gadget really picked a messy place to come. Crap load of thugs. Crime rate higher than the cops can manage. Cops on the criminals' payrolls.”

They turned their attention to the drugs they retrieved. Wrecker pulled out a small vial from one of the bags and examined it under a desk lamp. “This is good stuff. High quality. Got a good connection. This stuff hasn’t been cut yet.” He looked at the rest of the take; cash, pistols, sausages, steaks, herb. Counting cash, sorting it, "About 15 grand of operating money. The pistols look OK, got a nice Desert Eagle. One of their pretty guns. Couple of bags of weed. You had to throw meat on all? The cash smells like grease."

Reggy pulled over the sausages and steaks, setting them on top of an empty pizza box as he listened to his partner. "I learned my lesson, daddy. Eat a good meal before mass murder."

Reggy leaned over, looking at the cut-open bundle. He scooped out a cup full with a coffee cup, cast a Clean cantrip on the table, poured out a pile of powder, and started cutting lines.

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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=='''Surprise'''==

Holden emerged cautiously from beneath the deep shrubbery, his gaze flickering left and right before tilting upward toward the pale glow of the moon. His tangled hair clung to his damp forehead, a testament to the effort that had left him breathless. Slowly, he wiped the sweat from his brow and exhaled.

Rising to his feet, he scanned the empty park. Moonlight bathed the space, casting a soft sheen on his lightly fuzzed chest, still glistening from exertion. His wide-eyed expression held a mix of wonder and disbelief, as if caught between dream and reality. He raked a hand through his unruly hair, smoothing it back as his fingers came away moist.

A glance downward brought a flicker of self-awareness. Though he had never considered his manhood much to boast about, it stirred again, responding in a way that surprised even him. Seventeen years old and hardened by life on the streets, he had spent four years scraping by with odd jobs and busking. Opportunities for intimacy had been rare, fleeting luxuries he could hardly afford to dream about.

Tonight, however, was different. Bliss and awe coursed through him, leaving his mind adrift in the memory of what had just transpired—the highlight of his life thus far.

Then, a firm hand, insistent and unyielding, brought him back to the moment. Startled, he glanced down. Mismatched eyes, one green and one hazel, shimmered in the moonlight, framed by vibrant blue hair. Her mischievous smile captivated him, demanding his full attention.

Wordlessly, he knelt back into the shadows of the shrubbery, surrendering to her unspoken desires, ready to continue their shared exploration of the night.

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=== '''Calling The Car'''===

Wrecker and Reggy had finished clearing the garage of the Station. Years of disuse and misuse had made various squatters throw everything into the garage. Reggy kept joking with things, a doll, a bent bicycle, a fur seat cover. Wrecker had kept them in beer. The smell of mundane cleaning supplies filled the air of the mid-winter day.

One of the advantages that they had gained from the Day of the Change was they had gained greater strength and endurance. Their adventures since had improved them dramatically. Their passage through the Sigil of Fort Garland had changed them even further. Power has its privileges.

They had spent several hours hauling debris from the garage to reveal the cement below. Sweeping got the last of the clutter. That was followed with Clean cantrips to remove decades of oil, gas, grease, and blood.

Reggy said, “Well, that wasn’t too bad. The two storage rooms won’t take long. Though the one with the mattresses is going to take something more than cantrips. Do you remember the Low Order sorcery Clean spell?”

Wrecker shook his head. “No, I didn’t pay attention to the Low Order Sorcery stuff. Too much finger-waving time, lynchpins, and stuff. I always feel like I might be casting something, sneeze, and blast off half my head. Let Gadget clean them when she brings her little band here. We can’t do everything. We don’t need those rooms. The living room has two couches. Those the Clean cantrips can manage till we can get some help.”

Wrecker said, “Then we are ready to see if the summoning will work.”

Reggy nodded, “After some sleep and some beer.”

A few hours later, the two soldiers had stripped down and cast Clean cantrips on their clothes. They had sat in the living room that had once been a convenience store lobby and cast Mend cantrips on their clothes and Chill cantrips on the beer. Getting dressed again, they returned to the garage.

Wrecker chuckled. “When I was a truck driver, I never imagined that one day I would be some kind of half-wizard. OK, the Army made me a soldier for a time, but the rest is just bizarre.”

Reggy nodded, “When I was Denver Police, I thought people who dressed up like elves and orcs were crazy. Now I’m an orc. The Sigil of Fort Garland made me able to become a human again if I want as well as a weird deer thing with wings. I’m not sure I know what a normal life is anymore. But I am enjoying wrecking these thugs.”

Wrecker opened the garage door out to a silent street that rarely saw traffic. Outside, two large dogs looked in at the pair. They felt Gadget's bond urge them to obey the pair. They walked in and settled against a wall out of the way.

The soldiers of Gadget's army settled down to business. “Let’s get our ride.”

Wrecker and Reggy knelt on the cold, cleaned cement, the faint scent of ozone lingering from their earlier cantrips. With careful precision, they drew glowing chalk sigils into twin circles, their lines pulsing faintly with otherworldly energy. Wrecker’s form rippled as he shrank into the squat, rugged shape of a dwarf, his beard thickening like wildfire. Across from him, Reggy’s skin darkened to a deep emerald hue, tusks jutting slightly as his orc form took shape. With synchronized movements, they raised shimmering symbols, their edges crackling like firelight. The garage filled with a low hum, as if the walls themselves held their breath.

Time passed as the two concentrated on the sigils before them, glowing blue and white. Small sparks appeared at junctions where lines crossed.

Soon after the stroke of midnight, a horn bleated as a purple and white 55 Bel-Air turned off the street into the space between the odd pair of friends. Moments later, its exquisite paint scheme changed to a scratched black and a rusty white with a satisfied hum. The car's license plate said, “Strut.”

The pair put a hand on the car's hood. They smiled. Wrecker said, “Hello, boy. You ready to rock and roll?” The engine roared, and the pipes belched a burst of fire.

Reggy stood, “Let’s cruise.”

Wrecker held a door open, and the two dogs leapt into the backseat. He climbed behind the steering wheel with a big smile. Reggy lit a cigar as they backed out of the garage. Three dogs of Gadget's pack skipped in to guard the open garage door.

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=== '''Lucky and the Ugly Ferret'''===

Wrecker and Reggy walked into the quiet, darkened bar, thick with the despair that clung to the place once dominated by the Riders. The bartender, whom Wrecker had dubbed Lucky, was sitting backward on the bar, pouring himself a pint. He looked up and slipped down onto the ground, his expression shifting to one of suspicion as he remembered the last time the two had been there.

"Ah... what can I get you... fellas?" he asked hesitantly.

Wrecker took a seat. "Well, you had a bottle of Old Crow. I know because I took it. Do you happen to have any more?"

Reggy wandered over to the dark booth once inhabited by Black Carl. He peered closely at it before stepping to a doorway covered by a ragged cloth, glancing beyond it.

Lucky brought up a bottle and pushed it toward Wrecker. "Is my tab still good?" Wrecker asked.

Lucky nodded. "It is. You gave me a grand. Not that I got to keep it."

Wrecker raised an eyebrow. "Those guys still own the place?"

Lucky shook his head. "I own it, but they sort of... well, *own it*. They must be on a long run. It’s been a month since they were here." He glanced at Reggy, who chuckled. "Ah, you looking for something?"

Reggy smirked. "Just looking around. Seeing if any of the guys are back there, you know, hiding? That a storeroom? It’s sure full of stuff."

Lucky stiffened. "No one’s here but me. I haven’t had more than a couple of customers a day for a month. Like I said, they’re on a run. Yeah, that’s their stuff, and you should stay out of there. They don’t take kindly to people messing with their stuff."

Wrecker glanced at Reggy, made a hand sign, and spoke to him in Ang Rin—the language of Ang Ri, where the pair had recently spent significant time. "What’s back there?"

Reggy replied in imperfect Ang Rin, struggling for words. "Storage, junk. Couple of..." He paused, searching for the term for “performance space.” "...arena...sands." Switching to English, he clarified, "A couple of stages." Then, in Ang Rin again, "Good space. Stairs upstairs."

Wrecker turned back to Lucky. "You don’t miss them, I bet. They tax you pretty heavy?"

Lucky let out a bitter laugh. "No, they take *everything*. Luckily, I skim enough to live on. I sent my wife to Alabama—kin—three years ago, after the Reapers moved in on me. For her own sake. Look, they really hated you guys. You don’t want to be here when they come back."

Wrecker smiled. "Having no visible means of support makes us hard to find."

Reggy said, "Anyway, Lucky, if they come back, it’s fine. We know necromancers." He rapped his knuckles against the bar. "Beer, any time I knock." He grabbed the beer Lucky passed him, taking a long swig. Wrecker chuckled.

"My name’s Wrecker. My mother had an attitude. He’s Reggy. You’ve got a nice place here, if it weren’t filled with scumbags."

Lucky scowled. "You making a joke, Wrecker? The place is a shithole. I bought it from the previous owner, who didn’t tell me he had these... scumbags squatting here. I put my life savings into buying the place and did some cleanup. I was hoping to have a nice little spot. At first, I didn’t know why the locals avoided it, and I couldn’t get anyone to tell me what the problem was.

“We moved in upstairs. The back was full of junk—boxes, trash, a couple dozen motorcycles in pieces. I was looking through things and found a trunk full of weed. I couldn’t decide if I should go to the police. Then they showed up. Refused to leave, refused to lock up. Hit on my wife hard. Made it clear they owned the place and everyone in it. Made it clear my wife was their whore now. Pretty sure one raped her, but she wouldn’t say anything."

Wrecker polished off his glass and poured
another. "That’s when you sent her south?"

Lucky nodded. "Yeah, and took a hell of a beating for it. They all wanted a taste, I guess. Look, I appreciate you guys coming in and all, but if the Riders find you here, they’ll kill you."

Wrecker shrugged. "I’ll risk it. You know them all, their whole chapter? Know about other chapters?"

"Yeah, sure. There are five other chapters—New York, Toronto, Durham, Jacksonville, and New Orleans. Why?"

"How many in their chapter here?"

"Uh, 13 or 14 patched members, a few prospects. About a dozen girls—four are regulars, the others are hangers-on, hooking for them. They provide protection around here. Protection from them, mostly."

Reggy made a tiny hand gesture, and Wrecker nodded. Reggy pulled out a stack of cardstock and laid them on the bar. Lucky’s eyes widened as he saw the photos on the cards. "Who did we miss?"

Lucky stared at the photos, his face pale. "What... what happened to them?"

Reggy chuckled. "Kinetic energy poisoning. They’re not acting. So, who did we miss?"

Lucky examined the photos. "Ah, Gorgie, Little Harold, oh... Smiley. Smiley’s a psycho. None of the girls."

Reggy shrugged. "Yeah... I’ll catch up with Smiley."

"They’re all dead? Uh... look, why are you showing me these?"

Wrecker leaned in, his voice low and deliberate. "Because we need to know how many are loose. We need to know who they got their stuff from, who they did business with, and who else is going to come looking for us. You look scared."

Lucky hesitated. "I don’t want any trouble."

"You’re not in trouble," Wrecker said. "Look, we need a hangout, and you need new customers. What’s upstairs? How much of the building do you own?"

Lucky sighed. "The club extends into the warehouse. A few stories. It’s got a big space back there, but it’s been empty for years. Not a lot going on around here. We’re in the industrial zone but close enough to get foot traffic. With the Riders gone, things might pick up, depending on what you guys are doing here."

Reggy and Wrecker exchanged glances, then nodded.

"Here’s the deal," Wrecker said, his tone casual but firm. "You get protection, money, and a chance to turn this dump into something respectable. We don’t need your money. Keep it. In return, you keep your mouth shut about what we’re doing here. We’ll even pay for our drinks."

He set a roll of bills on the counter. "That’s about five grand. Any questions?"

Lucky hesitated, his gaze darting between the roll of cash and Wrecker’s steely eyes. He thought of his wife in Alabama, safe but far away, and of the Riders’ blood-stained reign. Finally, he nodded. "Alright. But if this goes south, we’ll all be dead."

Reggy asked, "By the way, what’s your name?"

Lucky looked around, weighed his options, and said, "I’ll stick with Lucky."

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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=='''Moving Day at the Station'''==

The next day, Gadget returned to the squat and explained the situation to Eddie. He groaned about the extra work but eventually agreed. Cali would take the most convincing, of course. At first, Gadget gave up on the move and started thinking of finding someplace else, maybe even taking over the bar Wrecker and Reggy found. In the end, though, the Station made more sense.

Busking had been good for months. The band had started playing together during peak traffic hours in the plaza and had started getting quite a following.

One day, a young woman had asked them how many songs they could do and if they were interested in playing a party. That led them to a backyard on a Saturday evening, playing everything they could think of to a crowd of around sixty partygoers. Cali wouldn’t look at the crowd, but otherwise, the group had a heck of a time and ate well. They got $300 in pocket and another $300 in tips. Afterwards, the squat was a celebration as all six members of the band got $90, and Waldo got $60. Not a fortune, but they talked about months when they wouldn’t get $10 a day busking. To top the evening off, they had another gig the next weekend and a possibility of a second one.

Waldo, who rarely talked anymore, suggested they go to Walmart and buy two or three folding wagons. The group looked at him with uncertainty, but he explained that they all hauled gear to the plaza and back almost every day, but going to a gig might take a bit more work. It wasn’t as if any of them had a car. Eddie looked at Gadget, then Tiffy, then around the group to a general agreement. It was agreed that three wagons would carry most of their gear more easily than they could carry it. It was then they realized it had been four months since Wart’s guys disappeared, and no one was taxing them in their place. Tiffy asked how much money everyone had. They had been eating well since they started chipping in from their take from busking. Sometimes they played as a group, sometimes they played on their own.

The amount was surprising to them, despite the $90 each had got from the gig. The total was over a thousand dollars. For buskers, this was a fortune. The habit of hiding away change was deeply ingrained in them. The total had crept up on all of them.

That was when Gadget made the suggestion that caused the real uproar. The squat had always been tight, and with the addition of Colette's supplies—cots, sleeping bags, ice chest, blankets—the place had become a cozy maze for the group, building and bonding them, but the time for a change was coming. Her suggestion of taking over the Station was met with horror by Cali and Jax, rightly so, but the others wanted to at least see the place.

After an expedition to the dog town the Station was in, Eddie and Holden both agreed it was worth considering. Gadget had to talk Cali into considering it and used a subtle mental push to make her forget parts of the nightmare she had experienced.

As they discussed the move, the fateful question was asked. Cali asked it.

"What do we do if Wart and his guys come back?" Eddie looked at Gadget, passing to her the lie she would tell. Gadget said, "They got in trouble with a biker gang, the Blind Reapers." Holden nodded, "Yeah, they supplied them. Could they have...killed them?"

Eddie told him, "We may never know." Nodding to Gadget, knowing.

Moving into it took a straight run of gear. Holden and Eddie rounded up six shopping carts and the three folding wagons. They packed their meager belongings and made their way across the plaza. People barely glanced at them, so used they were to people living out of shopping carts that they had become invisible to them.

The Station was still a mess. Gadget saw the strategic mess Wrecker and Reggy had left. Piles of debris in the garage mostly pushed aside. A new garage door opener was installed and purposefully distressed. The Station had no electricity, and that would have to wait. Wrecker had explained to her what it would take to connect the place to the local line, and it had seemed prohibitively risky. It was Reggy who suggested they get a power source from the TW guys in Ang Ri. A conversation with Dalt, Rafe, and the Total Warrior medic ended up with them getting a power generator the size of a pair of decks of cards. The TW guy explained that it would be easy to install and explained the process to Wrecker. Gadget knew it would just take stringing the wire. Time enough later.

The bedding where Cali’s ordeal occurred was gone. Gadget shook her head but admired her companions' creative efforts. They had clearly used Fire Cantrips to burn the room once they had emptied offending details. A chest of drawers, tool chests, and various debris had been left to fuel the blaze. She could feel the magical residue of Fire Cantrips and Extinguish Cantrips they had used. For two warriors, they were showing considerable ingenuity in using the few magical talents they had.

After a couple of days, the debris was gone, and conversations about what to do with the place had filled the time in between practicing. Jax made the uncharacteristic comment that they shouldn’t miss too many days of busking, or someone else would take their stone benches. There was general agreement, and it was decided to return to the plaza the next day.

The sun hung low over the city just after dawn as the group filed out of the Station, their spirits buoyed by the new wave of success that came with their latest gig. But beneath the euphoria, the same gnawing fear lingered. Eddie felt it most acutely. His hands were steady, but there was a weight to his thoughts. Since the gig, the extra cash had gone straight to his head. The first drink at the backyard party felt like a celebration, the second like relief, but now… now it was becoming a crutch, an itch he couldn’t scratch fast enough. He caught Holden’s eye as they walked down the street toward the plaza, eyeballing the Goodwill as they went by, trying to ignore the gnawing in his chest. Holden didn’t say anything, but he could tell—Holden could always tell. The old man, at seventeen, had more successfully kicked his habits long ago, but the silence between them now spoke volumes.

“Everything alright?” Holden’s voice was low, careful.

“Yeah. Just thinking,” Eddie muttered, kicking a loose stone down the sidewalk.

Taking their usual spot, Waldo made more complete efforts laying out their instruments, Eddie and Holden's pig-amps, and putting blankets on the stone benches. Passersby in the early morning air noticed them setting up. Some exchanged comments with the group. Several who had bought breakfasts to go decided to sit and listen to them. Their morning was musical and productive. It was also profitable. But they were still at heart a bit nervous.

Among the small crowd, Gadget saw Wrecker and Reggy sit, each with a breakfast pizza rolled like a burrito. They nodded at her gaze.

Afternoon, the Goodwill store was busy as usual, but today the crowd felt heavier, more pressing. They’d come for furniture—a couch, a few chairs, anything that could make the Station feel more like a home and less like a hollow shell. Tiffy and Cali meandered through the aisles, their eyes glazed with the same detached exhaustion that had become their default since moving into the Station. Cali's face was pale under the fluorescent lights, her gaze darting away from the other shoppers. She hadn’t spoken much since her encounter with Wart's gang, her mind still replaying the sharp edges of that time, the familiar terror twisting her gut.

“I don’t know about all this…” Tiffy murmured as she ran her fingers along the chipped edge of a secondhand armchair. “It feels… wrong. Like we’re just asking for trouble.”

Holden paused beside her, giving her a quiet nod. “It’s part of it, Tiff. We get things that make our place ours, and we start making it known. But that doesn’t mean we go looking for trouble.”

“You can’t just pretend trouble’s not gonna find us,” Cali snapped from the far side of the store, her voice tight. She was still raw, still haunted, and the old patterns were creeping back in.

Gadget said, "We aren’t. We are ready to manage whatever happens. Otherwise, we live in fear."

Waldo shuffled up next to them, his eyes scanning the aisles, but his attention was elsewhere. He’d lived through things that none of them could fully understand—not just the streets, but the darker alleyways of the criminal world. He knew how easy it was for someone to slip into their lives, offering help only to tighten the noose around their necks later. He hoped that wasn’t how they saw him. He picked up a book and glanced at the cover.

“You know, these gangs don’t just stay in the shadows forever,” Waldo said softly, his voice carrying a quiet warning. “They’ll come looking for us. Not yet, but soon. We’ve got money now. Not a lot, but enough to make us targets.” He glanced at Gadget, his eyes unwavering, a silent vow there. He was dedicated to her, to keeping her safe and helping her plans, despite knowing firsthand how dangerous she was, but even he knew that safety was just an illusion in a city like this.

They left Goodwill with a pair of couches and some mismatched chairs, enough to make the Station feel less like a forgotten corner of the world and more like a place where people lived. The place still smelled like stale air and gasoline, but now there were splashes of color, the start of a life growing in the space.

Back at the Station, they spread out and got to work. Eddie carried the old couch inside with Holden, while Tiffy and Cali tried to paint the walls. It was grueling, tedious work, but it was
something they could control. Something tangible. Each brushstroke against the cracked walls was a step toward owning their own future. It didn’t change the fact that they were in the middle of a city teeming with danger, but at least it was something real.

“I used to do this in my old life,” Waldo said, taking a break from hauling furniture to help lay a fresh coat of white paint over the yellowed walls. His hands were steady, even if his mind was racing with darker thoughts. He wasn’t sure how long they could keep their heads down, but they had a few months, at least. It was better than nothing. Tiffy asked, “Paint?” Waldo shook his head, “Move furniture.” He blanched, not wanting to remind them that as part of Wart's crew, he would have been in a lot of their burglaries.

The sound of scraping brushes and the occasional burst of laughter filled the Station as the group worked. It was strange, being here, a place that didn’t feel like home but was starting to. Maybe it was the familiar mess, the clutter that had once represented their survival now becoming part of their new normal. Maybe it was the way they laughed at little things that shouldn’t be funny, or the fact that they had enough money to paint the walls and buy furniture. They had a place of pride to hang Eddie's beloved Red Elvisis Ukrainian Rock group poster. He had even joked about getting it framed.

But as the walls of the Station took on new life, so did their dreams of what it could become. Even with the growing danger, even with the looming threat of the gangs and predators that prowled the city, they were starting to see that this might be their chance at something more—something they had been denied for so long. And the price of that dream? They’d have to face down whatever came for them, together. "Alright," Holden said, wiping his hands on his jeans as he surveyed the room. "Let’s get some more work done tomorrow. This place is gonna look like a real home soon enough."

Tiffy and Cali exchanged looks, both of them still unsure, but it was a step forward. It had to be.

Waldo stood off to the side, eyes narrowed, scanning the shadows outside the garage door. It felt like they were waiting for something—waiting for it all to fall apart or waiting for the other shoe to drop. But at least for now, they had their Station. At least for now, they were alive and together. But that was more than they had yesterday.

In the distance, he saw the dogs, behaving oddly somehow. Some were disturbingly close. He began to wonder if Gadget had something to do with that?

Then in the distance, he saw Gadget's two friends, the guy with the Mohawk and the guy with the Denver jacket. Gadget passed him going out.

“Keep a lid on things, Waldo. I'm going for a walk.” She walked directly to them as if she knew they were there.

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Got it! I’ll revise the text you provided to ensure all tense inconsistencies are corrected to past tense. I’ll go through it systematically and make the necessary adjustments. Here's the corrected version:

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Gadget walked a few blocks from the station with Wrecker and Reggy to slip into an industrial warehouse that had walls trashed and falling away. Looking into the shadows, she asked, "So what’s the plan, guys?"

Wrecker said, "We’ve taken over the Ugly Ferret. Its owner is Benjamin Ross, wife Imelda. He’s from Amarillo, Texas. She’s from El Paso but grew up south of the border with family. He goes by Lucky now. The place has a small dive bar area in front and a good-sized side room. The bikers had been storing junk there. It’s got two small stages. It looked like it was a club of some kind a couple of decades ago." He pulled out a Cuban cigar and lit it, inhaling its strong scent. "They kept about 20 boxes of Cuban cigars at the Ferret. Lucky was happy to hand them over."

Gadget took the cigar and tested it, giving Wrecker a look. He chuckled and pulled out another and lit it.

Reggy added, "He also has warehouse space east of the club, part of his back room. Lots of clutter in there as well as a sort of garage area. It looked like they had some medical issues at some point. Dried blood, bandages. Just pushed into a corner. Years old. The place is a fucking mess. He has a floor over the warehouse with a few crappy apartments. Lucky and his wife started renovations there but stopped when the wackos took over the place. It looked like it was abandoned with the rest of the place decades ago, just leaving the bar open. Lucky bought the place at a steal. If we weren’t taking the place over ourselves, I’d be inclined to find the realtor that sold it to him and shoot a toe off him. As it is though...."

Gadget nodded, "Ok, how long till it’s ready for the group? We did a backyard party, have one on Saturday and another next week."

Wrecker and Reggy looked at each other for a few moments, then Wrecker nodded, "Week after. Let us haul out the junk. Check the wiring and the lighting. The place needs a coat of paint, but that would take a while....."

Gadget chuckled, "You know what, how about this? The Opening Night show could be a paint night. Get a couple dozen cases of spray paint and give them to customers. Let them paint the walls. If Lucky is OK with it, of course." The three chuckled.

"It’s a start. I’d say we need to drop a few hundred grand into general renovations throughout, but we need professionals for that. In the meantime, the crappy look is perfect for a rave space. Expand into the big space once we sort the place out. You’re planning to push your group hard, it seems. I thought they did in the other shadows on their own?"

"I’ve done some exploring. They had a manager and three diehard roadies, plus a brass section that backed them in most shadows. Here, that manager and two of the roadies are dead. The 5-piece brass only has 3 in this section, still in high school, but they were at the backyard party. I’ll make sure they’re there for the Ferret opening..."

Gadget raised her hand, sniffing the air. She was being hunted. Wrecker and Reggy knew her look and flipped their Glocks to their hands, Wrecker putting the handle of his lightsaber in his left.

She looked around, trying to find the cause. After a few moments, she saw a group of dogs slowly spreading out in the dark.

Wrecker said softly, "I’m guessing these aren’t yours?"

Gadget said, "No.... I’ve gotten about 70 or so of the local pack. From them, I’ve learned that’s around half. And the leader... I think it’s the brute in the center."

Reggy, Glock in his left hand, said, "I count about 25, but there are more in the dark. It’s your ballgame, Gadg. Fight or flight?"

Wrecker said, "The car isn’t far. Dash distance."

Gadget said, "If I run, I’ll lose the rest of the pack. I need to make it clear to this guy who’s in charge."

She stepped away from her friends, inhaling deeply, growling, centering her psyche. Standing, she watched the big brute come away from the others, who spread out behind him.

"I don’t want to kill you. I can tell you’ve been hurt. Beaten. Tortured. Come to me. Join me." She emitted the sensation of love offered, of healing offered. She sent thoughts of the pack, her pack, a great pack.

From him, she felt anger. Fear. Desperation. The insistent demand that she submit. That she roll her belly over. Let him mount her. Be his bitch.

She almost chuckled. He had to learn or die. She felt the moment approaching. She growled and lowered to her hands and knees. Arching her back and raising her hackles. The brute started to circle, but Gadget was unmoved.

Her shape shifted, her clothing falling away, stepping out of shoes, slipping out of trousers, and pulling shirts up and off. Nude for a moment, her skin grew fur, bright white, her eyes bright blue. The brute looked on uncertainly, growing angry. He leaped, clearing Gadget the wolf, who rolled under the leap.

The brute had fought thousands of battles in its long, tortured years, but it had never faced an actual wolf like his father. But this wasn’t an actual wolf. Its scent was terrifying and different. Unlike anything he had ever met. Worse than the cruel men whose hot blood he had drunk to free himself. This was... something else.

Gadget had rarely fought in this form. But this was a challenge. And it began. The brute ran hard rather than leaping, grabbing her fur and trying to sink his teeth into her flesh. She twisted beneath him, grabbing his claws and tearing them with her great strength. He howled in shock at the sudden pain.

Pouncing away, he turned on her, going low, growling. Gadget curved to face him. She felt his desire to die rather than lose. She couldn’t destroy this ancient warrior.

The brute lunged again, this time aiming for Gadget’s throat. She sidestepped with the grace of a predator, her movements fluid and precise. His teeth snapped shut on empty air, and she retaliated with a swift, powerful swipe of her paw, catching him across the muzzle. The brute stumbled back, shaking his head, blood dripping from his nose. But he didn’t retreat. His eyes burned with a mix of rage and desperation, and Gadget could feel his resolve hardening. He wasn’t just fighting for dominance—he was fighting for survival, for the only life he had ever known.

The brute charged again, this time feinting to the left before darting to the right, trying to catch her off guard. Gadget anticipated the move, her heightened senses giving her an edge. She met him head-on, their bodies colliding with a force that sent a shockwave through the air. They grappled, teeth snapping, claws slashing, each trying to gain the upper hand. The brute’s strength was immense, his muscles coiled like steel springs, but Gadget’s agility and cunning gave her the advantage. She twisted and turned, using his momentum against him, forcing him to overextend.

With a sudden burst of speed, she broke free and circled him, her icy blue eyes locked onto his. The brute growled, low and guttural, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his gaze now. He had never faced an opponent like her—a creature that was both wolf and something more. Gadget took a step forward, her hackles raised, her teeth bared in a silent snarl. The brute hesitated, and in that moment, she struck.

She lunged, her powerful jaws clamping down on his shoulder. He howled in pain, thrashing wildly, but she held firm, her grip unyielding. With a fierce shake of her head, she threw him to the ground, pinning him beneath her. The brute struggled, his claws raking at her sides, but she ignored the pain, her focus unwavering. She released his shoulder and placed a paw on his chest, her weight pressing him down. Her muzzle dipped close to his, her breath hot against his face.

“Submit,” she growled, her voice a low rumble that reverberated through the air. The brute’s struggles slowed, then stopped. His body went still, and for a moment, there was only silence. Then, with a whimper, he lowered his head, exposing his throat in a gesture of surrender. Gadget stepped back, releasing him, and watched as he slowly rose to his feet. His eyes met hers, and she saw the change in him—the fear and anger replaced by a grudging respect. He laid his belly to the ground. Gadget stepped over, laying a paw on his hip. She laid over him, letting her body warm him. Accepting him. He shuddered beneath her uncertainly, unsure. Not since his littermates had he felt the warmth. He felt his body surrender to her. He was her Brute.

She stepped back, raising to her feet. She shimmered, and her fur started shifting, her size increased. It had been years since she held her true form as a Hound of Mandalay, a Lady of Mandalay, and blood of Amber. Her size increased to the size of a large Clydesdale horse. Small for her race, small compared to her father Fleece, son of Oberon, but still greater than any wolf this world had ever known. Seated on her haunches, she howled at the moon, a sound heard for miles around. They needed to see her, who they followed.

The other dogs, who had been watching the fight in tense silence, began to approach, their tails low, their heads bowed. Gadget stood tall, her white fur gleaming in the dim light, her presence commanding. She had won not just the fight but their loyalty. The brute stepped forward, his movements stiff and pained, and bowed his head once more. Gadget reached out, her muzzle brushing against his in a gesture of acceptance. The pack was hers.

From far and wide, her part of the pack came in response to her howl and joined in, seeing their former comrades now joined into Gadia's Pack. Gadia, called Gadget, though they would not understand the name.

She stood, walking among the dogs, greeting them, Brute beside her,
soon joined by Savage, now the Second of Gadget's pack behind the Brute. Toward the other dogs, they fell in submission, the Brute beside her. She gathered them around her. They howled together.

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As the howls of the pack echoed through the industrial wasteland, Gadget stood tall, her massive form radiating authority. The brute, now named Brute by her, stood at her side, his earlier defiance replaced by a quiet loyalty. Savage, the scarred leader of the smaller pack she had already tamed, took his place as her second-in-command, his eyes gleaming with newfound purpose. The rest of the dogs—some mangy, some scarred, all survivors—circled her, their tails low but their spirits lifted by her presence.

Gadget’s voice, a deep, resonant growl, carried over the pack. “You are mine now. Together, we are strong. No more fighting among yourselves. No more fear. We protect each other. We hunt together. We survive together.” The dogs whined and yipped in response, their instincts recognizing her as their alpha.

Wrecker and Reggy watched from a distance, their expressions a mix of awe and unease. Reggy holstered his pistol, his hands still trembling slightly. “I’ve seen some crazy shit in my time,” he muttered, “but that? That’s next level. I think I'm going to need a change of pants.”

Wrecker nodded, his cigar dangling from his lips. “She’s not just a wolf. She’s something else entirely. She’s an Amberite after all.” He exhaled a plume of smoke, his eyes narrowing as he watched Gadget move among the dogs, her presence commanding yet strangely nurturing. “We’re lucky she’s on our side.”

Gadget turned to them, her glowing blue eyes piercing through the dim light. “We’re done here,” she said, her voice shifting back to its human tone as her form shimmered and shrank, fur receding, limbs reshaping until she stood before them, fully human once more. She grabbed her discarded clothes and began dressing, her movements calm and deliberate. “The pack will keep watch over the Station and the Ferret. They’ll alert us if anyone—or anything—tries to cause trouble.”

Reggy raised an eyebrow. “You’re seriously going to have a bunch of dogs as your security detail?”

Gadget smirked. “Not just dogs. A pack. And they’re more loyal—and more effective—than most humans I’ve met.” She glanced at Brute, who sat obediently at her feet, his massive frame still trembling slightly from the fight. “Besides, they’ve got a leader now who knows what it means to survive.”

Wrecker chuckled, shaking his head. “Alright, boss. Whatever you say. But if I wake up to a bunch of dogs licking my face, I’m blaming you.” Gadget laughed, the sound sharp and bright in the otherwise grim surroundings. “Deal. Now, let’s get back to the Station. We’ve got a lot of work to do before the Ferret’s opening night.”

As they walked back, the pack followed at a distance, their presence a silent but powerful reminder of Gadget’s growing influence. The industrial zone, once a place of danger and decay, now felt like territory under her control. The dogs patrolled the edges, their sharp eyes and keen noses alert for any threat.

When they reached the Station, the rest of the Stone Bench Group was waiting, their faces a mix of curiosity and concern. Eddie was the first to speak. “What the hell happened out there? We heard howling—like, a lot of howling.”

Gadget shrugged, her expression casual but her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Just a little pack bonding. Nothing to worry about.”

Cali crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. “Pack bonding? You mean you went out and tamed a bunch of wild dogs?”

“Something like that. I tamed two. They tamed the rest,” Gadget replied, her smirk widening. “Let’s just say we’ve got some new friends watching our backs now.”

Jax, who had been quietly tuning his bongos, looked up with a grin. “Dogs, huh? That’s kinda cool. Can they play drums?” Gadget laughed. “Not yet. But give me time.”

The group chuckled, unsure how serious she was, the tension easing as they returned to their preparations for an upcoming party gig. But as Gadget settled into a chair, her mind was already racing ahead. The pack was just the beginning. With their help, she could secure the area, protect her friends, and build something lasting. And when the time came to face whatever threats lay ahead, she knew they’d be ready.

Behind her, Brute lay down at her feet, his massive head resting on his paws. Savage curled up nearby, his scarred face calm for the first time in years. The pack was hers, and together, they were unstoppable. The rest of the band looked at them with concern. "Are they safe? They look vicious."

Gadget regarded her two new friends. Standing, she clucked her fingers, and they came to her. She walked around the room, holding each band member around the shoulders and guiding a hand for the dogs to smell, lick. Eddie looked as if he was going to pop his eyes out of his head, but he knew well what Gadget was capable of. Holden and Tiffy managed the introductions well. Jax petted them eagerly, apparently a fan of dogs.

When she came to Cali, her bag shook. Buster stuck his head out, and the dogs instantly thought prey. Gadget slammed her thought into the two warrior dogs that the cat Buster was part of the pack. They looked at her and accepted it with uncertainty. But she was the alpha. Cali let them sniff her hand and smell Buster on it. Gadget was satisfied.

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Reggy, still looking a little shaken, leaned over to Wrecker and whispered, “You think she’s done surprising us yet?” Wrecker shook his head, his grin widening. “Not a chance. With Gadget, the surprises are just getting started.”

The two left the place of battle, followed by a dozen dogs who knew what their duties were. Several liked the two rough friends of the wolf.

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==='''It’s All About the Basses'''===

Cali sat cross-legged on the floor of the Station, her bass resting across her lap. She ran her fingers lightly over the strings, plucking out a slow, melancholic rhythm. Her bass was a classic Fender Precision Bass, a 4-string with a deep, resonant tone that had been her companion through countless performances. It was simple, reliable, and familiar—a grounding force in her chaotic life.

Gadget walked in, her 6-string bass slung over her shoulder. It was a battered Ibanez BTB686SC, its polished wood barely held together by polish under the dim light. She sat down beside Cali, setting the bass across her knees. Cali glanced at it, her curiosity piqued. “That thing looks like a spaceship compared to mine,” she said, a small smile tugging at her lips, a smile still a new thing for her.

Gadget chuckled, running her hand along the neck of her bass. “Six-strings. Two extra strings—a low B and a high C—give it a wider range. It’s like having a bass and a guitar rolled into one.” She plucked the low B string, the deep, rumbling note vibrating through the room. “This one’s for those earth-shaking lows,” she said, then shifted to the high C, producing a bright, almost guitar-like tone. “And this one’s for when you want to soar.”

Cali tilted her head, listening intently. “It’s a whole different sound.”

“Exactly,” Gadget replied. “With a 4-string, you’re locked into that classic bass role—holding down the low end, keeping the rhythm tight. But with a 6-string, you can step into the spotlight. You can play chords, melodies, even solos if you’re feeling bold.” She demonstrated, her fingers dancing across the strings as she played a complex, melodic line that wove seamlessly between low and high registers.

Cali watched, her eyes wide with admiration. “That’s… incredible. But doesn’t it make things harder? More strings, more to think about.”

Gadget nodded. “It can be overwhelming at first. The neck is wider, and you’ve got to be precise with your fingering. But once you get the hang of it, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities.” She handed the bass to Cali. “Here, give it a try.”

Cali hesitated, then took the bass, adjusting it in her lap. She plucked the strings tentatively, her fingers fumbling slightly on the wider neck. “It feels… different. Like I’m learning all over again.”

“That’s the beauty of it,” Gadget said, her voice soft but encouraging. “It challenges you. Pushes you to grow. And when you find your groove, it’s like nothing else.” She reached over, guiding Cali’s fingers to the frets, extending her psych to guide the hands, pushing for strength she did not understand she had. “Start slow. Feel the strings. Let them tell you where to go. Play the middle 4 you know, then step up, step down.”

Cali closed her eyes, letting the vibrations of the bass guide her. Slowly, she began to play, her movements growing more confident with each note. The low B string added a richness to her sound, while the high C allowed her to explore melodies she’d never attempted before. When she opened her eyes, Gadget was smiling.

“See? You’re a natural,” Gadget said. “The 4-string will always be your foundation, but the 6-string? That’s your wings.”

Cali smiled back, a rare spark of excitement in her eyes. “Maybe one day I’ll get one of these. Till then, I’ll stick to what I know.”

Gadget nodded. “There’s no rush. Music’s a journey, not a race. But… I am thinking we can almost afford getting a pair of new basses. And no matter what you play, it’s your voice that matters.”

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==='''The Pawnshop'''===

The Baltimore Subway Metrolink rattled through the tunnels, its fluorescent lights flickering as Gadget and Cali sat side by side. Cali fidgeted with the strap of her bag, her eyes darting to the passing stations. “You sure this place is worth it?” she asked, her voice tinged with skepticism, her mind just a touch in fear.

Gadget leaned back, her arms crossed, a small smirk playing on her lips. “Trust me. This pawnshop’s got a reputation for musical gear. If we’re lucky, we’ll find something special.”

When they stepped off the train, the neighborhood was a mix of faded brick buildings and graffiti-covered storefronts. The pawnshop was tucked between a laundromat and a convenience store, its window cluttered with guitars, amplifiers, and other instruments. A bell jingled as they pushed the door open, the smell of old wood and dust greeting them.

Cali’s eyes widened as she took in the rows of instruments lining the walls. “This place is like a treasure chest,” she whispered, her fingers brushing against the neck of a vintage Fender Stratocaster.

Gadget headed straight for the bass section, her eyes scanning the lineup. She paused, her gaze locking onto two instruments hanging side by side. One was a dark brown Ibanez GSR206 6-string bass, its sleek design and polished finish catching the light. The other was a Dean Edge 6-string bass in a stunning blue quilted maple, its body shimmering like the ocean.

“Cali, come here,” Gadget called, her voice low but excited. Cali hurried over, her eyes widening as she saw the basses. “These are perfect,” Gadget said, lifting the Ibanez off the wall and handing it to Cali. “Feel that. Solid construction, smooth neck. And the Dean? That’s a beauty.”

Cali strummed the Ibanez, the low B string rumbling through the shop. “It’s amazing,” she admitted, her voice tinged with awe. But then she glanced at the price tags and frowned. “Two hundred for the Ibanez? Three-fifty for the Dean? That’s way too much. We’re buskers, Gadget. We can’t afford this.”

Gadget shook her head, her expression firm. “These are worth every penny. A good instrument isn’t just a tool—it’s an extension of you. And you deserve something that can keep up with your talent. These are beat up looking, but I’ll check the works and the sound before buying them. Looks we can fix.”

She walked to a chair by the amps and plugged each in by turns, strummed, picked, and looked them over closely. Cali watched in anticipation. Then Gadget let her sit and handed her the Ibanez. Gadget whispered, "Nothing wrong with them we can't fix."

Before Cali could protest further, Gadget flagged down the shop owner and handed over the cash. “We’ll take both.”

Cali stared at her, stunned. “You’re insane,” she muttered, but there was a hint of gratitude in her voice as she slung the Ibanez over her shoulder.

As they went to leave, Gadget stopped. She walked to a dusty corner of the store where boxes had a wide variety of items, most unsorted. She dug through them, chuckling with delight. She found four plastic recorders, a dozen toy kazoos, three harmonicas, finger cymbals, and some small rattles. Such potential. Gadget thought of her flute, the fine mithril silver flute sitting in Mandalay, shadows away. Recorders and harmonicas would have to do.

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==='''Yard Sale'''===

On the subway ride back, Cali couldn’t stop glancing at the basses, her fingers twitching as if she were already playing them. But when Gadget suddenly stood up and motioned for her to follow at an unfamiliar stop, Cali hesitated. “Where are we going now?” she asked, her brow furrowed.

Gadget just grinned. “You’ll see.”

They walked a few blocks to a quiet residential street, where a yard sale was in full swing. Tables were piled with clothes, books, and household items. She looked to a man coming over to her, "You the one who called?" Gadget nodded, and the man led them into the back of the garage. In a corner, a 5-piece starter drum set sat gleaming in the sunlight. The sign taped to it read: $100 – OBO. and another Sold. He said, "I'll be glad to see that go. My son whined and whined for it for a year. He played it for about a month, then it sat in his room for a couple of years, then in the garage till he left for college. Get it out of my garage, please. I saw ya walking? You can have the red wagon over there for free."

Cali’s jaw dropped. “No way,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. She turned to Gadget, her eyes wide. “Is this why we stopped? For Jax?”

Gadget shrugged, her smirk widening. “He’s been playing on bongos and makeshift kits long enough. He deserves something real.”

Cali’s eyes welled up with tears, but she quickly wiped them away, shaking her head. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? First the basses, now this? How do you even know about this stuff?”

Gadget chuckled, pulling out her wallet. “Let’s just say I’ve got a knack for finding stuff.” She handed the cash to the seller, who helped them load the drum kit into a red wagon he threw in.

Cali stood silently as she watched Gadget's back while she looked through the piles on the tables.

Cali squinted at the pile in Gadget’s arms as they walked back to the car, raising an eyebrow. "Okay, I get the shirts—they’re kinda cool in a retro way—but what are you gonna do with a thousand loose sheets of sheet music and a couple hundred random Polaroids of strangers?"

Gadget grinned, adjusting her grip on the stack of faded photographs. "I have an idea." She tossed the shirts into her backpack. "The music—some of it’s bound to be interesting. We can play around with the arrangements, maybe mash some things up. And these photos?" She held up a random shot of a man in oversized sunglasses standing next to a station wagon. "They’ve got stories. Even if we don’t know them, we can make them up. Give them new lives."

She asked the guy about the Polaroids. "I bought a storage unit. It had some good furniture. But there were boxes of those. Someone's whole life, forgotten." Gadget asked him, "You have more?" He responded with, "Boxes and boxes. Not here though." Gadget told him she would take them all and would come back later to pick them up.

As they made their way back to the subway, Cali walked in silence for a while, her mind racing. Finally, she turned to Gadget, her voice soft but sincere. “Thank you. For everything. I don’t know how we’re ever going to repay you.”

Gadget waved her off, her tone light but firm. “You don’t have to repay me. This is out of our busking fund. Just let me handle Eddie when we get back. He put me in charge of group money, and this is what I did with it. Just keep playing. With both of us on good pieces finally. That’s all I want.”

Cali shrugged, shaking her head as they walked into a parking lot. "You’re weird, you know that?"

"Yeah, but admit it—it’s an interesting kind of weird."

Gadget smirked before disappearing into a hardware store by the subway's stop. Ten minutes later, she came out with a bag full of spray cans. Paint and adhesives.

As they made their way back to the subway, Cali walked in silence for a while, her mind racing. Finally, she turned to Gadget, her voice soft but sincere. “Thank you. For everything. I don’t know how we’re ever going to repay you.”

Gadget waved her off, her tone light but firm. “You don’t have to repay me. This is out of our busking fund. Just let me handle Eddie when we get back. He put me in charge of group money, and this is what I did with it. Just keep playing. With both of us on good pieces finally. That’s all I want.”

"Deal," she responded.

Back at the Station, Gadget wasted no time. She took spray paint cans and started painting designs on the walls. Holden and Eddie joined in while Eddie grilled her about the money.

Jax filled the room with a heavy loud beat on the new-to-him drums, dusting off the years of loneliness from the forgotten instrument. It soared under their new owner's sticks. Cali grew a wide smile seeing her beloved happy.

She cracked open a can of aerosol adhesive, shaking it with a satisfying rattle before coating a section of the wall. "Alright," she said, handing out stacks of Polaroids and sheet music around, "help me stick this stuff up."

The others got to work, pressing the yellowed sheets of music against the walls, overlapping them with faded Polaroids—snapshots of birthdays, vacations, blurry party moments, and forgotten faces frozen in time. The effect was chaotic, a collage of unknown lives and untold melodies.

Gadget stepped back, hands on her hips, surveying the growing wall of history. "Not bad," she murmured, picking up a random photo from the pile still in her lap. She studied it—the faint outline of a woman sitting on a porch, caught mid-laugh, a glass in her hand.

She smirked. "Alright, lady—what’s your story?"

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==='''The Ugly Ferret - Used Gear'''===
The garage of the Ugly Ferret smelled like motor oil, old leather, and stale beer. Fluorescent lights buzzed above, casting a sickly glow over a collection of battered equipment: Marshall stacks with torn grille cloth, Peavey and Fender amps that had seen better days, a tangled mess of cables, and microphones with dented grilles. It was a graveyard of rock and roll relics.

Gadget, her electric blue hair tied back, crossed her arms and surveyed the lineup. She stepped over a coiled snake of dusty XLR cables and knelt by a beaten-up Ampeg SVT bass amp. She tapped the side, and a loose panel rattled. “This thing gonna hold up, or is it gonna catch fire the second I plug in?”

Reggy, a thick-built man with sleeves of faded tattoos, grinned around a toothpick. “Ah, don’t be a wuss. It’s just a little character.”

Wrecker, his wiry counterpart with a permanent scowl, ran a hand over the torn tolex of a Marshall JCM800 half-stack. “Most of this stuff’s better than what you’ve been using,” he pointed out. “We can get better, sure, but it’ll cost, and kinda break character for us, wouldn’t it?”

Gadget sighed and rolled her shoulders before slinging her six-string bass over her shoulder. “Let’s see if this junk actually works.” She plugged in, twisting the worn-out input jack until it settled in place with a crackle. The amp gave a brief hum of protest before Reggy stepped in, adjusting the settings. He turned a few dials, knocked the casing, and muttered something under his breath.

She played a few deep, resonant notes, testing for dead spots. The sound was rough, but not completely unusable. “Eh,” she grumbled. “I’ve played worse.”

Reggy nodded, stepping back with his arms crossed. “I’ll clean up the electrical. Most of it’s just buzz and loose connections. The rest—well, looks are just vanity at this point.”

Gadget exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of her neck. “Fine. But buy two small, inexpensive amps—one dedicated for Tiffy’s electric violin and the uke, another for Eddie’s mic. The rest of our mics can pop off occasionally, but lead vocals have to be dependable.” She gave him a pointed look. “And get a good mic. None of this garage sale shit.”

Reggy smirked. “Demanding, huh?”

“Just making sure we don’t sound like total garbage.”

She looked around, thoughtful. “Also—get a couple outside security cameras in here. I’ll put one of my great cameras up, but the security cams are for show and B-roll. We’ll throw some video clips on the CD. Never can tell.”

Wrecker nodded. “Yeah, not a bad idea. Might as well milk this gig for all it’s worth.”

Gadget slung her bass back over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes at Wrecker. “And while we’re at it—talk to Lucky. Tell him to water down the band’s booze. Especially Eddie’s. He’s getting too much of a habit, and I don’t need him falling off the damn stage.”

Wrecker sighed, rubbing a calloused hand over his face. “Yeah, I figured. I’ll have Lucky keep an eye on him.”
Reggy clapped his hands together. “Alright then, sounds like we got ourselves a damn plan.”

Gadget gave the amp one last skeptical look before finally nodding. “Let’s hope it doesn’t blow up in our faces.”
Wrecker grinned. “Wouldn’t be rock and roll if it didn’t.”

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=='''The Night at the Ugly Ferret'''==

The night of the Stone Bench Group’s first performance at the Ugly Ferret had a strange energy—equal parts excitement, nerves, and underlying tension. The word had spread fast among the people who had seen them play at backyard parties, and a fair number had shown up, eager to see if the SBG could bring that same magic to a real venue. But there were also others in the crowd—some curious, some skeptical, and a few who made the air feel heavier just by being there.

Lucky worked the bar, keeping a close eye on the crowd. He was the kind of man who had seen enough trouble in his life to know when it was creeping in, and tonight, trouble might be lurking in the shadows. He was scared as hell. Maybe it was Wrecker and Reggy and their constant cheerfulness, the jokes they told. The money they had. But he also knew they were easily as bloodthirsty and ruthless as the bikers had been. Maybe worse. But his side room with its two stages had been cleaned by the pair, of the motorcycles, junk, boxes, and years of trash. They had put in lights, wiring, and even passed the city's inspection to get a venue permit.

Ominously as well was the warehouse space. They cleaned it and talked about extending the side area to the back. In the meantime, they had their incredible '57 coupe in there and seemed to live out of its trunk. A pair of cots, a coffee maker, and a fridge. A keg of beer and bottles of booze. A coffee table and their ever-present cigars. The two were not just weird rich killers. They were something beyond his ability to understand. That was scary. But they wanted a dance club and this band to play, so they got it.

Smiley, though unrecognizable in his disguise, sat in a corner nursing a drink, a couple of the old biker girls with him, chatting in low voices. Scattered through the room were members of local gangs, their eyes sharp, assessing, waiting to see what kind of place this would become.

The SBG huddled in the back before their set. Gadget could see the nervous energy in them—Eddie was bouncing on the balls of his feet, Holden kept checking his guitar, Jax had a protective arm around Cali, whispering to her. Tiffy, usually the loudest, was oddly quiet, biting her lip as she adjusted her mic. “You guys got this,” Gadget said firmly, making eye contact with each of them. Holden said, "It really isn't the plaza. This ain't busking."

“Yeah, it’s playing in front of people who might stab us if they don’t like the music,” Eddie muttered.

“Then play like your life depends on it,” Waldo said with a smirk.

Time came, and the Ugly Ferret was packed to the brim, the air thick with the buzz of anticipation and the faint hiss of spray paint cans as the crowd added their own colorful chaos to the walls.

Waldo walked to the front of the stage and sprayed a yellow semicircle in front of the stage, the crowd stepping back as he did. Behind him, the Stone Bench Group took the stage, their instruments gleaming under the dim, flickering lights. Eddie stepped up to the mic, his first time in a real joint. “Alright, Ferrets,” he called out, his voice cutting through the noise. “Let’s make some noise!”

The set started rough—Cali's hands were shaking, and Eddie missed some chords in the first song. Gadget did a bass ZINGER noise for each fumble, to the amusement of the crowd. Jax dropped his sticks. But then something shifted. Maybe it was the way the crowd responded, the way the backyard party crowd cheered them on, drowning out the murmurs of the skeptics. Maybe it was the spray paint event happening around them—cans hissing as people tagged the walls in wild, chaotic bursts of color, marking over the old grime and the ghosts of the bar’s past. The energy in the room changed, and so did the music.

The third song changed it all. A high-energy cover of '''''The Stray Cats’ “Rock This Town,”''''' Eddie’s guitar slicing through the room with razor-sharp precision. Tiffy’s violin wailed like a siren, weaving in and out of the melody, while Jax pounded the drums with a ferocity that had the crowd bouncing. But it was Gadget and Cali on their new 6-string basses that stole the show. Gadget’s fingers danced across the fretboard, her low B string rumbling like thunder, while Cali’s high C added a bright, melodic counterpoint that lifted the song to new heights. The audience erupted into cheers, swept up in the infectious energy.

Next came a surf medley, starting with '''''The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA.”''''' Gadget and Cali locked into a tight, driving rhythm, their basses intertwining to create that iconic surf sound—deep, resonant lows paired with shimmering highs. Eddie’s vocals soared, and Tiffy’s violin added a haunting, reverb-drenched edge that had the crowd swaying like waves. The transition into '''''Dick Dale’s “Misirlou”''''' was seamless, the rapid-fire picking on Gadget’s bass sending shockwaves through the room. Cali, still getting used to her 6-string, held her own, her confidence growing with every note. Try as she could, Gadget could barely get Cali to look at the audience.

Next up was '''''Red Elvises’ “Red Lips, Red Eyes, Red Stockings,”''''' a raucous rockabilly number that had the room shaking. Eddie’s vocals were full of swagger he hadn't known he had, and Tiffy’s violin added a wild, Eastern European flair that perfectly complemented the song’s infectious energy.

Tiffy stepped into the spotlight for her haunting original, '''''“Black Road Away from Home.”''''' Her voice sang with a mournful beauty, weaving a tale of loss and longing that left the crowd spellbound. Gadget and Cali’s basses provided a dark, brooding foundation, their 6-strings adding layers of texture and depth that elevated the song to something truly special.

The mood shifted slightly as they launched into '''''Duane Eddy’s “Peter Gunn,”''''' the iconic riff ringing out with a fresh, gritty edge. Tiffy played the sax line on the violin, giving the piece a fresh, bright note. Holden’s rhythm guitar was rock-solid, while Jax’s drumming added a punchy, almost primal intensity. Gadget took the lead on this one, her 6-string bass adding a deep, resonant growl that gave the classic tune a modern twist.

Midway through the set, Eddie introduced a surprise. “Alright, folks, we’re gonna slow it down for a minute. But don’t worry—it’s still gonna get weird.” He stepped aside as Gadget and Holden walked to the front of the stage, each holding a kazoo. The crowd erupted into laughter and cheers as they launched into a hilariously heartfelt rendition of '''''“Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”''''' Holden’s kazoo playing was surprisingly soulful, while Gadget’s added a playful, almost comedic flair. By the end, the entire room was singing along, their voices rising in unison.

A surprise awaited them after the kazoos as Gadget and Holden jumped into the '''''Time Warp from Rocky Horror Picture Show'''''. Tiffy jumped in to sing for Little Nell's part. The dance number was a classic even after so many years, and the crowd of Ferrets loved it.

Jax got his moment to shine with '''''“Thumpa Thumpa,”''''' a percussive, high-energy Buddy Rich-influenced solo that showcased his incredible drumming skills.

The energy ramped back up with an original track, '''''“Stone Bench Blues,”''''' a rockabilly-infused number that showcased the group’s growing chemistry. Eddie’s vocals were raw and impassioned, while Tiffy’s violin solo brought the house down. Gadget and Cali’s basslines locked into a tight, driving groove, their 6-strings adding a richness and depth that elevated the song to another level. The crowd was on their feet, dancing and clapping along, completely swept up in the music.

With a blistering cover of '''''The Stray Cats’ “Built for Speed,”''''' the room exploded into chaos as the audience sang along at the top of their lungs. Eddie’s vocals were raw and impassioned, while Tiffy's voice in unison with Eddie’s practically brought the house down.

As the set drew to a close, Eddie grabbed the mic, his face flushed with excitement. “You’ve been an incredible crowd tonight! Let’s end this with a bang!” The group launched into a raucous cover of '''''Red Elvises’ “Surfing in Siberia,”''''' the room exploding into chaos as the audience sang along at the top of their lungs. Gadget and Cali’s basses thundered through the room, their 6-strings adding a wild, untamed energy that perfectly matched the song’s frenetic pace. Jax’s drumming was relentless, and Tiffy’s violin screeched like a banshee, driving the song to its explosive finale.

When the last note faded, the room erupted into deafening applause, the crowd chanting for an encore. The Stone Bench Group exchanged grins, their faces glowing with sweat and triumph. They had done it—they had turned the Ugly Ferret into a place of magic, even if just for one night. And as they launched into their encore, a soulful rendition of '''''“Stand by Me,”''''' Gadget couldn’t help but smile. This was just the beginning.

By the time they finished, the crowd erupted in cheers. Even the ones who had been skeptical at first seemed to have been won over. Smiley, still hidden in his disguise, gave a slow nod of approval. The gang members in the back exchanged looks, their interest piqued. Money to be made.

The Stone Bench Group had made their mark. The Ugly Ferret was no longer just a relic of its past—it was becoming something new.

Lucky looked to Wrecker. "We are going to need a staff. This could get messy." Wrecker nodded, "I know a guy."

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[[File:Cali-Gadget.jpg|300px]]
==='''Meeting on the Street'''===

Smiley and his two girls walked the four blocks to where he had parked their battered van.

When they reached it, Reggy stepped out in front. "Smiley, I love what you've done with your hair. Washed it, right?"

Smiley put his hand on his hip, clipping open his draw holster. "Yeah, I wanted to look my best for you." The girls started backing away, the black-haired one slipping a hand in her jacket.

"Lady, I have no qualms about shooting a woman if you draw on me. Let’s take a deep breath and show your hands. If I wanted you all dead, we wouldn’t be talking."

"So, what are we talking about?" Smiley asked. "And you know there is only one of you against the three of us."

"Is that what you think? Look at blondy there." They turned to look, and the green dot on her chest moved a bit, signaling that Wrecker was somewhere nearby.

Reggy said, "Wrecker wanted to talk to you, but he really wanted to drill a .50 caliber BMG through your front teeth much more. Now, in respect to a friend who prefers accommodation to bloodshed, I want to talk about our situation."

"Our situation? You mean you two killing my chapter? I’ve killed my share of dudes, but that was mass murder, you psychopath!"

"Yeah, we did that, but that’s done. So... How do you feel about taking your prospects and your ladies and moving to, say, New Orleans? New York is too close. Toronto? By the way, where are your prospects?"

"I don’t know. They disappeared after your massacre. Did you kill them too?"

Reggy shook his head, "No, we missed them as well as you. Till now. So... What will it be? New Orleans or Toronto?"

Smiley looked up to the roof line where Wrecker swung the green dot to flash in his eyes. He scowled, his hatred growing deeper.

"New Orleans."

Reggy nodded, "Good. You lost your Baltimore privileges. Let the girls know we don’t have wanted posters on them, but finding new places to live can be liberating."

"Can we go?"

Reggy backed away, nodding, letting Smiley have the last word.

As the van drove away, Wrecker came scaling down to the ground and crossed the street, cradling the M82.

"I really should have drilled him."

"After Gadget didn’t kill that huge monster dog, it seemed a little awkward thinking of killing Smiley without at least giving him a chance to flee."

"Sure. Sure. But you know he’ll be back."

"Of course. No chance he’ll stay away. Then he’s fish food."

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==='''Forty Threes'''===

Looking out from the shadows at the Ugly Ferret, the boys of the 43rd Street gang, often called the Forty Thieves as an homage to the movie *Gangs of New York*, watched the crowds of people going into the crappy old bar for a performance of the weird twangy group called the Stone Bench Group.

The bar had belonged to the Blind Reapers for years until their sudden disappearance. The boys didn’t know why but knew they couldn’t find as good a source for their habits. Sucked for them, but life went on. The new popularity of the old Ferret was an opportunity. They had gone to a few of the shows and didn’t understand why people liked these freaks. But money was money.

After the music was going and the people had all gone in, they moved. Running low to avoid cameras recently installed on the outside of the building, they ran past parked cars, sticking long sharpened screwdrivers into the tires on the street side, dragging them along the paint, and occasionally breaking a window. They laughed as they went by, peeking in the cars occasionally. Toward the end, two slipped into minivans and, popping the ignition, hot-wired them, filling the vehicles. They drove away, laughing.

Inside, Reggy watched the screen of a widescreen TV set up in the garage area he and Wrecker used as living quarters for now. The feed was from security cameras set up with a great deal more skill to be hidden from sight. He smoked a Urala cigar and listened to the surfpunk sound from the other room.

"Well?" he said.

Wrecker said, "Yeah. Let them make their play. Maybe we can use them. Twenty-two of the rattlings in the gang. Ten out there. Two stolen cars. Ask Lucky who he would call to fix flats. Talk to Gadget. There are going to be some angry people after the show. She and the group should go out and help change tires, meet the fans, pitch in. Hand out kazoos. Order a thousand kazoos." He handled a kazoo, the top emblazoned with the letters SBG, tooting on it with amusement. Reggy wandered out to talk to Lucky.

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==='''Later That Night'''===

Later that night, the Stone Bench Group was outside, leading a kazoo-a-thon as a dozen garage workers helped car owners replace tires.

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=='''A Few Days Later'''==

A few days later, it was an afternoon when Reggy and Wrecker were taking a break in the bar and chatting with Lucky when two guys entered. They were dressed in casual clothes with an urban chic, but were clearly gang members. Tattoos with the numbers 43 on their necks were telling. Their haircuts were overly detailed, as if it was someone’s hobby to cut them. They wandered to the bar and took seats, looking at Lucky.

"What can I get ya guys?" he asked.

One said, "Tequila, a couple shots each." They collected the shots, taking one each quickly.

The tall one said, "You’ve been getting pretty good business lately, friend. Where did the Reapers go?"

Lucky shrugged, "No idea. They cleared out of here and out of their place over in Dani. I don’t miss them."

Tall guy said, "Without the Reapers around, there sure has been an upturn in crime, don’t you think? Like at the show nights?"

Wrecker and Reggy looked at each other, a small smile on their faces.

Wrecker stood and joined Lucky at the bar. "Lucky, double Old Crow, and a frosty." He sipped the whiskey before looking at the Hispanic gang member. "Yeah, we had some trouble on Saturday. What about it?"

The man shrugged, "Shit happens. Could happen again, maybe even worse. Might be more than just tires."

Wrecker nodded, "And what will it cost to keep you from hassling our customers?" He finished his whiskey, and Lucky poured another.

He drank the other tequila, "10% of the profits on show night. Or next time it’s windows."

Wrecker said, "You know, we could do this differently, but it really depends on your interest in doing nothing for pocket change or doing something for big money."

Wrecker took the tequila bottle and poured each of them another shot, holding the glasses while pouring, letting a tiny slip of rice paper slide into the glass and dissolve before passing them over, talking over the handwork.

"What kind of work?"

Wrecker leaned over the bar, pulling out a small wood box. Opening it, he pulled a medications bottle out and poured the contents on the table. A tablespoon of white powder. Wrecker took a driver's license out of the box and started cutting lines in the powder. Laying the card down face up, he leaned over with a straw and drew in a pair of lines.

The two became very interested and eagerly inhaled the drugs that had been in the Blind Reapers' hiding hole. The first of the two, Juan, inhaled without looking, but the second looked at the card, picking it up. He read, "Nick Haskin, he’s a Reaper.... How did you get this?"

Wrecker said, "I got it after I drilled a hole in his forehead. Keep it. I have others. Lots of others. It is important that you consider just how angry you want to make me, Juan."

"How do you know my name?"

"Ya see," Wrecker said, "That’s something else you should think about. Now, I have a lot of this powder. It used to belong to the Reapers. I’d like to unload it. 10k a kilo. Pure stuff. You stomp on it carefully, it could retail for 35k easily. Or, you let my partner and I do the mix, you take the packets, and we want 17k a kilo. Sell it for what you want."

Juan, starting to feel a slight bit disoriented from the LSD in the tequila, said, "The Reapers always bundled it for us. We paid them out of profits."

"You ever short them?"

"Hell no. Those guys are animals," Juan answered.

"They *were* animals," Wrecker smiled at Juan’s wide eyes.

From the table, Reggy cast the Anatomics cantrip, causing Juan’s companion to start yawning repeatedly, uncontrollably.

Juan nodded at the inevitable, "Ok. Deal."

"Lay off our customers, or your ID will join my collection. Savvy?"

Juan nodded.

Wrecker looked to Lucky, who brought a leather zippered bag out from behind the bar, opening it to reveal bundles and packaged packets. Wrecker pulled out a pewter coin pressing with an X marking, its unnaturally warm. The packets were sealed like sugar packets with Norse runes on them.

"Hold on to the coin. If you get hassled by the police, show them the coin. The fix is in. Now don’t screw me. If you want more, you know where we are."

The two left as the acid started kicking in.

Lucky asked, "What’s with the coin?"

Wrecker answered, "It’s a tracker. Lets us know where Juan is. We’ll follow him and learn about their processes. In the meantime, they’ll leave our customers alone."

Lucky nodded, "Smart. Diabolical but smart. What happens if they get pinched and show the coin to the cops?"

Reggy, coming up, said, "Then we see how well Juan can dance. The cops have never heard of us."

Lucky went on, "Then what happens if they don’t pay off the fronted stuff?"

Reggy knocked on the bar, and Lucky poured the beer the knock ordered. "Well then, Lucky, think of it as evolution in action."

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==='''The Acid Trip'''===

Juan and his companion, Gustov, stumbled out of the Ugly Ferret, the world around them shifting and warping. The neon sign above the bar flickered, its letters melting like wax. Juan clutched the pewter coin, its surface pulsing with an otherworldly glow in his vision.

“What the hell did they give us?” Gustov slurred, his voice echoing as if from a great distance.

Juan’s vision blurred, and he saw the faces of the Blind Reapers staring at him from the shadows. Their eyes were hollow, their mouths twisted in silent screams. He shook his head, trying to clear the hallucination, but it only grew more vivid.

“We need to get out of here,” Juan muttered, stumbling toward their car. But the vehicle seemed to stretch and distort, its doors sliding out of reach.

"It’s going to cost us a lot to get out of their way. Mano, this didn’t work out. But I think if we didn’t take the bag, they would have killed us right there. Fuckers gave us acid. Homicidal fuckers."

As they drove away, the city streets twisted into a labyrinth, the buildings leaning inward as if to crush them. Juan gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. The coin in his pocket hummed softly, a reminder that the SBG was always watching.

Gustov mumbled, "They own us...."

Juan growled, "There are only three of them. How hard could they be to kill?"

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==='''Next Steps '''===

Back at the Ugly Ferret, Wrecker and Reggy watched the security feed, their expressions calm but calculating. The screen showed Juan and Gustov stumbling into their car and driving off, their movements erratic and unsteady.

“Think they’ll stick to the deal?” Reggy asked, leaning back in his chair and lighting a cigar.

Wrecker smirked. “For now. The acid will keep them paranoid for a while. And if they try anything stupid, we’ll know.” He tapped the monitor, where a small blinking dot represented the pewter coin’s signal.

Lucky, who had been quietly polishing glasses behind the bar, spoke up. “You two are playing a dangerous game. Those guys aren’t just small-time thugs. They’ve got connections.”

Reggy shrugged. “So do we. And ours are a lot scarier.”

Wrecker chuckled, taking a sip of his whiskey. “Besides, Lucky, this is just the beginning. Once the Forty Threes realize how much money they can make working with us instead of against us, they’ll fall in line.”

Lucky shook his head, muttering under his breath. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Wrecker looks at Reggy who shrugs.

He says, “About half the time. The other half, well, its been said that ''Adventurer Abounds''. Besides, its all in the reflexes. Hey, Lucky, close up. Join us in the garage. Its time we tell you some stuff that will make you dig in or freak out. Either way, bring a bottle Old Crow when you come back. You'll need it.

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=='''Double Bass '''==

Meanwhile, Gadget and the Stone Bench Group were busy preparing for their next show. The success of their first performance at the Ugly Ferret had boosted their confidence, but they knew they couldn’t afford to get complacent. Gadget sat cross-legged on the floor of the Station, her 6-string bass resting across her lap. She plucked at the strings, experimenting with a new riff.

Cali walked in, her own bass slung over her shoulder. She winced slightly as she flexed her fingers. “What’s that?” she asked, nodding toward Gadget’s instrument.

“Just something I’m working on,” Gadget replied, her fingers dancing across the fretboard. “Thought it might be a good riff for the next show.”

Cali listened for a moment, then grinned. “I like it. It’s got a dark, edgy vibe. Kind of like you.”

Gadget smirked. “Thanks, I think.”

Cali set her bass down and shook out her hands, grimacing. “Ugh, my hands are killing me. This 6-string is a beast. I’m not used to the wider neck, and my fingers feel like they’re about to fall off.”

Gadget nodded sympathetically. “Yeah, it takes some getting used to. But there are ways to make it easier. Here, let me show you.”

She scooted closer to Cali and gestured for her to pick up her bass. “First, you’ve got to adjust your grip. You’re pressing too hard on the strings. You don’t need to crush them—just enough pressure to get a clean note.” Gadget demonstrated, her fingers lightly grazing the strings as she played a quick run. “See? Less tension in your hands means less pain.”

Cali tried it, her brow furrowing in concentration. She played a few notes, then shook her head. “It still feels awkward. My fingers keep getting tangled on the extra strings.”

“That’s because you’re thinking about it too much,” Gadget said with a chuckle. “Don’t focus on the strings individually. Think of them as zones. The low B is your anchor—use it to ground your playing. The high C is your flourish—use it to add color. The middle four are your home base. Start there, then branch out.” She played a simple riff, her fingers moving effortlessly across the fretboard. “Here, try this. It’s a basic pattern, but it’ll help you get comfortable with the extra strings.”

She reached to Cali's hand gently extending the fingers to the proper positions on Cali's sixer but also extending her psyche to channel healing into the hand, a purple stone on a chain hidden around her waist warmed, adding its potent magic. As Gadget rubbed the hand Cali felt the stretching become more comfortable without knowing why. Just Gadget's touch.

Cali mimicked the riff, her movements slow and deliberate at first. Gradually, she picked up speed, her fingers finding their rhythm. “Okay, that’s not bad,” she admitted, a small smile tugging at her lips. “But my wrist still hurts a bit.”

“That’s because you’re holding the neck too high,” Gadget said, adjusting Cali’s posture. “Lower the bass a bit. It’ll take the strain off your wrist and give your fingers more room to move.”

Cali adjusted the strap on her bass, lowering it slightly. She played the riff again, her movements smoother this time. “Hey, that does feel better,” she said, her smile widening. “You’re full of tricks, aren’t you?”

Gadget grinned. “Years of practice. Now, let’s try playing in unison. It’ll help you lock into the groove.”

The two fell into an easy rhythm, their basses intertwining as they played. At first, Cali struggled to keep up, her fingers fumbling on the wider neck. But Gadget was patient, slowing down when needed and offering tips along the way. Gradually, Cali’s confidence grew, her playing becoming more fluid and precise.

The rest of the group soon joined in, and before long, the Station was filled with sound. It was rough and unpolished, but there was something raw and powerful about it—a reflection of the band itself. Eddie’s guitar added a sharp edge, while Tiffy’s violin wove in and out of the melody, creating a haunting counterpoint. Jax’s drumming provided a steady backbone, his rhythms driving the song forward.

As they played, Gadget kept an eye on Cali, offering encouragement and guidance when needed. “You’re getting it,” she said, her voice barely audible over the music. “Just relax and let the bass do the work. Don't over think it, but don't think of anything else.”

Cali nodded, her focus unwavering. She could feel the music flowing through her, the pain in her hands fading as she lost herself in the rhythm. For the first time since switching to the 6-string, she felt like she was in control.

When the song ended, the group erupted into cheers, their faces flushed with excitement. “That was awesome!” Eddie said, slapping Cali on the back. “You’re really getting the hang of that thing.”

Cali grinned, her earlier frustration replaced by a sense of accomplishment. “Thanks. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m getting there.”

Gadget smiled, her eyes gleaming with pride. “You’ll be a pro in no time. Just keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to experiment. The 6-string opens up a whole new world of possibilities. If it helps when we play, think of my bass as the lead and yours as rhythm. We can practice matching it with Eddie and Holden. Same riffs, different keys.”

Cali nodded, her determination renewed. “I will. And thanks, Gadget. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Gadget shrugged, her tone light but sincere. “That’s what friends are for. Now, let’s run through that riff one more time. I think we’ve got something special here.”

The group launched into the song again, their energy infectious and their bond stronger than ever. As the music filled the room, Gadget couldn’t help but smile. It was coming together
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==='''The Ukulele '''===
[[File:Holden and Uk.jpg|200px]]

The group’s impromptu jam session was in full swing when Holden, ever the quiet observer, wandered over to Gadget’s large guitar case. Being a couple now he didn't ask permission when he crouched down, flipping open the latches with a curious grin. Inside, nestled among an assortment of instruments and gear, was a well-worn ukulele. He picked it up, strumming a few experimental chords. The bright, cheerful sound cut through the room, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Since when do you play the ukulele?” Gadget asked, raising an eyebrow.

Holden shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “Since forever. My grandma taught me when I was a kid. She was born in Hawaii. It’s been a while, but I think I’ve still got it.”

He launched into a simple, upbeat melody, his fingers dancing across the strings with surprising skill. The ukulele’s bright, twangy tone added a new layer to the music, giving it a distinctly surfpunk vibe. Eddie’s eyes lit up, and he quickly adjusted his guitar, playing in harmony with Holden. The two instruments intertwined, creating a sound that was both nostalgic and fresh.

Tiffy, never one to be left out, grabbed her flute and joined in, her high, lilting notes weaving through the melody like sunlight on waves. The room filled with the sound of their combined efforts, the music growing richer and more complex with each passing moment.

Gadget and Cali exchanged a glance, then joined in, their basses providing a deep, resonant foundation. Gadget leaned over to Cali, murmuring, “Try this,” and played a simple but effective bassline that anchored the song. Cali followed her lead, her fingers moving more confidently now, the pain in her hands forgotten as she lost herself in the music.

Jax, ever the multitasker, passed around plastic cups of whiskey before settling behind his drum kit. He tapped lightly on the snare, his rhythms subtle but precise, adding just enough structure to keep the jam session from spiraling into chaos. The whiskey made its way around the room, the warm burn adding to the camaraderie.

Waldo, the silent, ever-present muscled roadie, lay on a bedroll by the wall, seemingly uninterested in the music. Gadget’s two huge dogs, Brute and Savage, curled up beside him, their massive forms making him look like a sleeping packmate. Shadow, Cali’s cat, ignored everyone, dozing peacefully next to her owner, unbothered by the noise.

The room was alive with energy, the music flowing effortlessly as the group played off each other. Eddie and Holden dominated the surf tunes, their guitars and ukulele creating a sound that was both playful and intense. Tiffy’s flute added a whimsical touch, while Gadget and Cali’s basses provided a steady, grounding rhythm. Jax’s drumming tied it all together, his light taps gradually building into a more complex beat.

As the song reached its peak, the group fell into a natural harmony, their individual styles blending seamlessly. The whiskey and the tray of green weed on the table added to the relaxed, almost euphoric atmosphere. It was clear they had been drinking more recently, but the music was too good to care.

When the song finally wound down, the room erupted into cheers and laughter. Eddie clapped Holden on the back. “Man, I had no idea you could play like that. The ukulele’s a killer addition. We’ve got to work that into the next set.”

Holden grinned, his usual quiet demeanor replaced by a rare moment of pride. “Yeah, it’s fun. I forgot how much I missed playing it.”

Gadget leaned back, her bass resting across her lap. “This is what we needed. A little experimentation, a little fun. We’re onto something here.”

Cali nodded, her cheeks flushed from the whiskey and the excitement. “Yeah, this feels right. Like we’re finally finding our sound.”

Jax raised his plastic cup in a toast. “To the Stone Bench Group. May we never stop surprising each other.”

The group clinked their cups together, the sound of laughter and music filling the room once more. Even Waldo cracked a smile, though he didn’t say a word. The dogs stirred slightly, their tails thumping against the floor, while Shadow stretched lazily before settling back into her nap.

As the night wore on, the music continued, the group experimenting with new sounds and ideas. The ukulele became a permanent fixture in their jam sessions, its bright tones adding a unique flavor to their surfpunk sound. And though the whiskey and weed flowed freely, the music remained the focus, a testament to their growing bond and shared passion.

Gadget couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as she watched her friends. They were more than a band—they were a family. And with every note they played, they were building something truly special.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==='''Exploring Musical Knowledge'''===
[[File:Sbg-violin.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg-kazoo.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg strings.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg-drums1.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg-violin.jpg|200px]]

As the jam session wound down, Eddie leaned back against the wall, his guitar resting across his lap. He looked around at the group, a thoughtful expression on his face. “So Holden plays the ukulele, and I assume Gadget does too because it’s hers. It’s funny; we’ve been playing around each other and now with each other for a while. What other things do we play? I play guitar, obviously, played standup bass in Jazz Band, as well as tuba and French horn in the orchestra back in junior high. Tiffy’s tried teaching me violin. I can mostly not embarrass myself on harmonica. What else?”

Tiffy smirked, setting her flute down. “Violin, viola, cello, flute, and a number of those like recorder, fife, some woodwinds. Some brass, but I couldn’t get the hang of them. And… ah… well… the piano.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow. “You never mentioned most of those, but… the piano? Are you any good at it?”

She nodded, a small, proud smile playing on her lips. “Yeah, I’m pretty good.”

Jax chimed in, tapping lightly on his snare. “I toyed around with sax but left before I did a lot with it. Played the xylophone a few times. Just like they’re drums, ya know. Did a bunch of other percussion before Cali and I ran off the first time. Ya know, any of us could play stuff like tambourines, maracas, other percussion noise makers.”

Holden added, “Guitar, ya know. Some bass. The ukulele and ah… banjo. I actually started as a little punk on the banjo. But Mom loved that, and Dad hated it. When she died, he got rid of all her stuff, including the uke and the banjo. After that, it was guitar.”

Cali shrugged, her bass resting against her leg. “Bass, some guitar, but I loved the low sound. Jax taught me bongos pretty good.”

They all turned to Gadget, expectantly.

She hesitated for a moment, then said, “Well, mainly kazoo.” The room erupted into laughter and good-natured goading.

“Bass. Lead guitar. Ah… Irish folk harp. Dulcimer. Flute was my first love, but it brings back memories for me I avoid. But recorder, piccolo, fife, a few of the woodwinds. Ya know, a conch might be a good addition to our sound. I’ve tooted them.”

She paused, as if hesitant to go on. “And damn… I’m pretty good on the piano. Spent some time on the road with a hell of a jazz piano player. Learned a lot from him… ah, too much… too much drinking… too much… well, he was the first I let. Not my first, but the first I let…” Her voice trailed off, and Cali reached over, gripping her hand, understanding now why she felt so comfortable with the wild girl; shared grief and experiences.

Holden put his hand on her shoulder. “I hope I get to meet him someday, if he was kind to you.”

Gadget nodded, implying he was. “Holden, if you ever meet him, we will know a hell of a lot more about each other than you could possibly imagine.” She chuckled, thinking of her piano man, the Lord of Chaos.

They talked for a bit longer, sharing stories and jamming a little more before eventually drifting off to their respective corners. Brute, Gadget’s massive dog, wandered over to lie near Holden, while Gadget herself settled down with a thoughtful expression.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

---

==='''Eddie and Waldo’s Conversation'''===
[[File:Holden and Uk.jpg|150px]]

Eddie stepped outside, lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag. The cool night air was a welcome relief after the heat and noise of the jam session. After a few moments, Waldo and Savage, Gadget’s other dog, joined him. Savage disappeared into the night, running off to patrol the area, while Waldo leaned against the wall, lighting a joint. He took a hit and passed it to Eddie.

“Trombone,” Waldo said suddenly, his voice low and gravelly.

Eddie looked surprised. “Really?”

“Yeah. Long arms, ya know. Big sax some. And… tuba.”

Eddie nodded, passing the joint back. “Well, damn, Waldo!”

“It’s Earnest Bluebonnet Pavlovich. Mom called me ''Ernie''; Dad called me ''Pasha''. I like Waldo better, but it was Wart’s idea. Ya know… ‘Where’s Waldo? Go get me some smokes, Waldo…’ I had to make my own way among Wart’s guys. I was never one of his favorites. Got cut out of everything. That probably saved my life because I never touched Cali, and she knows I argued with Wart about her. I got beat down twice telling him to let her go. Gadget killed him, didn’t she?”

Eddie looked at him hard, his cigarette dangling from his lips. “Why do you think that?”

“I tried to tax her that last time Wart got you all. She put me down hard. Like, *hard*, man. I’m a big fucking guy, and she put me down like I was a toddler. Called herself an ‘apex predator monster.’ I had to look that up online to know what she meant. Later… I met Wrecker and Reggy before I came around you guys. They work for her, you know, not the other way around. There’s something just not right about her. Those guys, they’re hard men. Bad hard, like nothing Wart ever was, more like the Blind Reapers were. The Reapers were mean, cruel… killers. Wrecker and Reggy, though? They’re terrifying. And they answer to your bassist. Just so you know, man; there’s something seriously dangerous-crazy about her.”

Eddie nodded, taking another drag of his cigarette. He knew firsthand how right Waldo was. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I know.”

“You saw the Station a couple times while Wart used it. It was a pit. I’m not saying it was clean when we got here, but I lived there. It was a slum-filled torture house out of a movie. Her tied down back there. The place smelled like… you know. It was professionally cleaned, then made to look dirty so *we* could clean it. Dirty, messy, but not Andy Gump, cumdump, rotted meat, sweaty dirty. It was cleaned and staged, man.”

The two stood in silence for a while, the joint passing back and forth between them as the night stretched on. Somewhere in the distance, Savage howled, a long, mournful sound that echoed through the darkness.

“Then there are the dogs,” Waldo said, breaking the silence.

Eddie shivered. “Brute and Savage? I thought you liked them?”

Waldo nodded. “I do. A lot. I had a big dog when I was a kid. My dad killed it. But it’s not just them.”

“Huh?”

“Dude, this is dog land. Wart never left the place except in a group, and he killed more than a few dogs coming and going till they left him alone. I also got around pretty good, but I knew when to walk and where to run. And there were hundreds of them, ya know. The cops stayed out of this area. The city abandoned it. Wart said some guy named Kane told him the owners of the buildings around here were all dead or corporations that everyone had given up on. Cheaper to let them fall apart than tear them down.”

“So the dogs owned the place. Where are they now? We’ve been coming and going for weeks now. I’ve seen a few here and there. You heard Savage a few seconds ago. He wasn’t alone. He had more howling with him. Why aren’t they here? It’s fucking weird. Creepy. Like horror-show creepy. Like in the movie where the group decides to split up and you howl at the screen to stick together creepy. Am I the only one who noticed?”

Eddie looked around, as if for the first time. “Maybe… I never thought about it. I guess I thought Wart had handled them…”

“Look,” Waldo said softly, “I like Gadget. Hell, she saved my life, so I may love her, and I’m grateful. But there’s something just fuckin’ weird about her. That’s all I’m saying, dude.”

Eddie nodded. “Yeah, okay.”

Waldo nodded and went back inside, leaving Eddie alone with his troubled thoughts and his last cigarette.

===''in progress- Holden gadget, hotel''===
Here’s a small scene for you:

The neon light from the motel sign outside flickered against the thin curtains, casting restless shadows across the dingy room. The place smelled of stale cigarettes and cheap disinfectant, the kind that never quite covered up the history of bad decisions made between its walls. It was the bands first out of town gig but the perks didn't include rooms at the Hilton.

Holden sat on the edge of the lumpy mattress, pulling on his jeans while Gadget lounged on the bed, still tangled in the sheets, her electric blue hair fanned out over the pillow. He moved around, picking up their scattered clothes from the floor.

“Here,” he said, tossing her shirt onto the bed before bending down to retrieve her pants. As he lifted them, something tumbled out and hit the threadbare carpet with a soft *thud*. A wallet. It had landed open, revealing something that made his stomach drop.

The badge gleamed under the flickering motel light. *Federal Bureau of Investigation.* Holden’s hands clenched around it as his breath caught. He flipped the ID up, staring at the picture—her picture—next to the name: **Special Agent Rowena Kessler.**

“What the hell is this?” His voice was sharp, disbelief coloring every word.

Gadget, still stretching lazily, turned her head toward him. When she saw what he was holding, her entire body tensed. The playfulness in her eyes vanished, replaced by something colder, more calculating.

“Holden,” she started, voice low, but he was already on his feet, badge still in hand.

“You’re FBI?” His jaw clenched. “What the actual fuck, Gadget?”

She sat up, the sheets slipping down her bare shoulders, but she didn’t reach for the badge. Instead, she sighed, rubbing her temple. “It’s real,” she admitted, her voice softer now. “I’ve been undercover for a while.”

Holden took a step back, his mind racing. “You’ve been lying to me this whole time?”

“No,” she said firmly, finally swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She looked up at him, her eyes steady. “What you and I have? That’s separate from my work. I never lied to you about us.”

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “Then tell me. What the hell are you doing?”

Gadget hesitated for only a second before deciding. “I’m here for Victor Kane.”

Holden’s brows furrowed. “The city council guy?”

“The underworld boss,” she corrected. “He’s running half the crime in Baltimore, and I’m getting close to exposing him.” She leaned forward, her voice dropping. “I need you to keep this quiet, Holden. No one can know. Not Eddie, not Tiffy, not Waldo—no one.”

Holden’s hands tightened around the badge. His world had just tilted sideways, but the way she looked at him—steady, honest, and completely serious—made it clear she wasn’t playing him.

Finally, he exhaled, tossing the wallet onto the nightstand. “You could’ve told me.”

She gave him a small, almost regretful smile. “No, Holden. I couldn’t.” She paused, then exhaled. “But just so you know, Wrecker and Reggy don’t run me—I run them. They work for me, not the other way around.”

Holden’s eyes narrowed, his grip on the badge tightening. Gadget crossed her arms and leaned against the nightstand. “I’ve got a senior agent overseeing things, Lisha. We have… a lot of freedom to operate however we need to.” She glanced away for a second, then back at him. “The original plan was simple: track down Wart’s guys, follow them up the chain, and get a clear line to Kane.”

She gave a dry chuckle, shaking her head. “Didn’t work out that way. I got a little… sidetracked. The music, the band—it wasn’t supposed to be anything more than a cover, a way to blend in. But then, I actually started *liking* it. The guys, the gigs, the late-night jams—it became real. Saying that its different then what i'm used to is a humongous understatement. Reminded me of my dreams before things got complicated. Music. Performing. And for a while, I let myself forget why I was really here.”

Holden swallowed hard, trying to process everything. “And now?”

Her expression hardened. “Now, I’m back on track but i want the music too.”

She stepped closer, voice lowering. “Those guys who have been pushing Lucky around? They’re Kane’s. Low-level enforcers, but still connected. That means we’re already in the game. I just have to work my way up, get closer to Kane’s inner circle.” Her fingers drummed against the nightstand as she thought. “Once I’m in, things change. I stop being the one looking for an opening, and I *become* the opening.”

Holden’s stomach twisted. “And then what? You take him down? Just like that?”

Gadget gave him a long look. “It’s not going to be that simple, but yeah. That’s the idea.”

He let out a slow breath and rubbed his face. “Jesus, Gadget… This is dangerous. Kane’s not just some street thug. He’s got politicians, cops, hell—probably half the damn city in his pocket.”

“I know.” Her voice was calm, steady. “That’s why I need to be careful. And that’s why I need you to keep this secret. No matter what happens.”

Holden looked at her, searching her face for any sign of hesitation. There was none. Just that same fierce determination that had drawn him to her in the first place.

Finally, he sighed and dropped onto the edge of the bed, running his hands through his hair. “You’re asking a lot, you know that?”

She sat beside him, bumping her shoulder against his. “I know.”

He let out a dry laugh. “Figures I’d fall for a fed.”

Gadget smirked. “Figures I’d fall for a guy who could keep up.”

A moment of silence passed between them. Then, softly, Holden said, “Just… don’t get yourself killed, alright?”

She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Not planning on it.”

But the weight of her words hung between them, a silent acknowledgment that plans didn’t always go the way they should.

==Dalt Sniper==
He looked down the sight at his target. It had been a long time since he had done this kind of wetwork but the skills were still there. It wasn't very chivalric but this guy had made his own bed and then shat it.
He followed the target around as he socialized. His stable of girls started filtering out. Anger raised in him. As the began being pawed over by Alverez's guests Dalt decided that Alverez wasn't going to go off alone.

An ahour in he had seen enough. He picked up the burner phone he had picked up in the airport and called 911. He reported hearing gunshots.

Five minutes later he saw police starting to arrive. “Better make this quick”

He sighted his target. Moved to six others on the patio. Alvarez was first.

Dalt decided not to be as vindictive as Reggy wanted. One to the head each would do enough damage.

Alvarez went down hard, flopping backward and breaking a very expensive bottle of Patron. Yellow shirt next, falling sideways leaving his girl to watch. Big ears took his in the ear but it was plenty splashy. Ugly hat guy took his in the nose. Fat Hawaiian shirt guy was slapping his girl and took his round under an upraised arm in the side, blasting explosively out he other side.

By then the party crowd knew the party was over and began to run inside. Number six almost made it indoors when his back erupted out his front. Number seven poked his head up out of the pool one last time.

Three guards came out with fancy customized Ar-15s Dalt was sure they were proud of. They peppered the hell far below him. He didn't see any reason to kill them though they were probably guilty of sampling the merchandise. A shot to each of their knees would probably not be fatal but they would certainly not be running on two good legs anymore.

Putting another clip in her aimed past the mansion to slam shots into police cars. That was enough to freak them out enough. Time to go.

He quickly policed his brass, out of reflex, and then withdrew a trump card.

“Tesara. Pull me through.”

Dalt grabbed the good catholic sicario. He had run out of liquid to piss out and he was really going to want it.

Dalt extended his hand to the girl with colorful short hair on the other side of the open trump gate leading to Ang Ri, an unimaginable distance away, in distance and worlds.

==Big Trouble in a Little Club==
((Rafe comes to help))

==Rafe's Mission==
When the crowds are gone, Rafe slipped out of his chair and walked over to the bar to tip Lucky a 'C Note'. He then headed outside to wander the area... to keep on eye on things, just in case.

He had already informed his crew they were staying for two or three days to keep on eye on things, and that they were to remain low key as they were playing the part of 'plain-clothes security'. He told them not to interact with Gadget or the band unless Gadget initiated the contact. Rafe had also worked a bit of TechnoMagic to give everyone unlimited access to the local cell network on their Society SmartPhones so they could use the local Google Maps to find their way around and not get lost. Rafe also added the location of a few motels and hotels not too far away from the bar; low rent for sure, but not the sleazy hourly kind.

Once Rafe was away from the bar a little ways, he slipped into the shadows of an alley while drawing up the hood of his field jacket. He Changed his Shape to his Elf Form; a full foot shorter, a hundred pounds lighter, better night vision, better hearing, better sense of smell, and more graceful/stealthy movements. He stalked the 'neighborhood' unseen and unheard; sticking to the shadows, moving like a cat on padded feet. He gave the area around The Station a wide berth, watching carefully for Gadget's Pack and making sure to not enter their territory. The night was uneventful; the 'neighborhood' was oddly quiet with only a little random crime around the edges where it butted up against other 'neighborhoods'.

A couple of hours before dawn, Rafe Changed back to his Human Form then made his way to one of the low rent hotels he had suggested to his crew and got a room for the night, paying with the cash Wrecker had given him. His room was on the 4th floor, near the ice machine. The room was small; bed, chair, nightstand, standing wardrobe, single window with a fire escape. The bathroom was the size of a closet with a toilet, a sink and a shower crammed in so tightly there was almost no walk-able floor space. Rafe didn't care; he only needed a place to crash for a few hours. He hung his field jacket over the back of the chair then dropped onto the bed without bothering to undress or pull back the covers.
Rafe oddly felt comfortable in this place where no one knew him, and no one was looking for him. The sounds of the city lulled him to sleep rather quickly.

Rafe awoke to the sound of someone knocking on his door, followed by a female voice saying: “Check out; one hour.” He had overslept. He smiled. It had felt good to sleep soundly. He rose and stretched and decided to skip the morning workout today. He pulled back the covers and rumpled the sheets to make the bed look slept in. He left his clothing wrinkled so they also looked slept in. He used a few reversed Clean Cantrips to dirty up his clothing and shoes. He pulled on his field jacket, added a few stains to it, then turned his attention to his hair and beard. Using his Change Elemental Powers, he lightened his hair color and added streaks of gray to hair and beard. He also added a few more wrinkles to his face and a few liver spots to the backs of his hands. He looked himself over in the mirror over the sink in the tiny water closet, then headed downstairs. He left his key at the front desk then pulled up his hood as he headed out into the streets. His head was down, his shoulders hunched, his hands in his jacket pockets. His gait was slow with a slight limp. He didn't make eye contact with anyone he passed and stayed out of the middle of the sidewalks, closer to the buildings. He went as unnoticed as any other homeless person on the streets that morning.

He made his way to The Ugly Ferret Tavern. Across the street from the bar was a homeless guy sleeping in the doorway of a boarded up building. It took Rafe a few moments to realize it was Gunner in his Human Form; so used to seeing him as a Dwarf, Rafe didn't recognize him, at first. Rafe nodded his head ever so slightly in the direction of Gunner, who 'shifted in his sleep', but made no other outward signs of being conscious... he must have drawn the short straw for morning watch over the bar.

When Rafe entered the tavern he didn't see Reggy and Wrecker in the bar area, but wasn't too worried about seeing them today; he knew if they needed him, they would call him. Lucky was behind the bar, he looked half asleep. Rafe waved for him to not get up, before he could. Rafe headed over to the club side of the building, looking the place over sans people, sans band, sans explosives and assassins. He smiled as he admired the artwork on the walls made by the patrons and fans, artwork he had only read about on his Personal Wiki, until now.

He looked at the now empty stage, then smiled. He pulled his D Harmonica from his jacket pocket as he mounted the stage. He turned to face 'the crowd' as he brought the harmonica to his mouth. He drew in on the number two hole producing a clean sounding G note in the now empty club. He bent the note into an F#, held it a moment, back down to G, bent back to F# then ended abruptly. A brief pause, then he repeats the same four notes. Another brief pause, then Rafe launches into the familiar harmonica intro of The Wizard by Black Sabbath. Ordinarily, Rafe would Technopathically queue up his special karaoke version of the song, to back up his harmonica and singing with guitars and drums.... but this time, he didn't. Instead, he just imagined he was playing with Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. His eyes were closed as he 'listened' to the music in his head and played and sang his parts, Ozzy's, parts. For the first time, he really 'felt' the music, and perhaps, even understood the lyrics better. Not too long ago Rafe had adopted the song as his Personal Theme Song, but suddenly he realized that the song might just be about Mesob. And that Ozzy might have met him, knew him.... could possibly be a Mesobian himself. He shook his head. Something to ponder.

As he pocketed his harmonica, and sat down on the edge of the stage, he recalled something else he had read about on his Personal Wiki. His plans for the day changed in that moment. To an outside observer it appeared that Rafe was staring off into space, perhaps lost in thought, but only for a few moments, then he hopped off the stage with a broad smile on his face...

However, in those short moments, what he actually did was Technopathically access Google Maps via his Society SmartPhone to find local pawn shops that carry musical instruments, then he used Google Earth Street View on each one until he found the one nestled between a laundromat and a convenience store, the one with its window cluttered with guitars, amplifiers, and other instruments. He mapped out a walking route using both public buses and subways to get there. He also included extra stops at other pawn shops that offered 'top dollar' for precious metals; their reviews seemed to back their claims. Rafe needed some extra cash and he didn't feel right about using the money Wrecker gave him, Gadgets's money, for his purchases. When Rafe snapped out of his Techno Trance, he marveled at how little time had passed; his powers as a Technomancer had grown. Being back in a technological world with technology he was familiar with and could mentally access with ease, made Rafe feel, well, almost god-like. He smiled pridefully.

As he left the Ugly Ferret he waved goodbye to Lucky then donned a green baseball cap instead of pulling up the hood of his field jacket as he did before. His posture was now upright instead of slumped. His gait was now quick and purposeful, instead of slow and seemingly aimless with a limp.
He was looking around and making eye contact to show that he was fully aware of his surroundings, instead of looking down and avoiding eye contact. Though he still looked like a dirty, homeless, late middle aged man, he also looked more confident, aware and possibly dangerous; someone to avoid.

(more to come)

=='''Stage Presence'''==

Wrecker and Reggy park their Harley’s outside the Ugly Ferret. A busy day, tricky, but a job well done. Its Miller time. And Jack Daniel time. And Urala time!

As they enter they can hear the argument going on in the stage hall. Walking to the bar they look to Lucky. Wrecker and Reggy knock knuckles on the bar. Glasses and bottles follow.

Wrecker asks, "Whats going on in there?"

Lucky shrugs, "Creative differences it sounds like. Trying to break Cali of that ''passive avoidance'' stage thing of hers. She plays like a monster but won’t look at the crowd, ya know the problem. Eddie and Gadget and Tiffy have been trying to talk her through it. Not having much luck. She keeps getting weepy. Thought she was tougher then that."

Reggy looks to the back, listening, while Wrecker says, "Lucky, we three have not had the bad time she had. Well, maybe you did--how was your time in prison?"

Lucky nods, "ah.. ya…..not that bad I guess."

Reggy starts into the back, pulling aside the curtain between the barroom and the stage hall. Wrecker follows, worried what his partner might do.

Reggy comes and sits on the edge of the stage next to Cali. The move surprises not just her but everyone. Wrecker and Reggy have become part of the background at the Ugly Ferret — they’re starting to become friends with everyone, like they already are with Gadget — but the two are clearly a lot older. No one but Holden and Gadget had said more then a few words at a time to them. All business.

Cali starts to scoot aside, her eyes wide. Reggy softly puts a hand on her leg, gently projecting his calm psyche toward her. Jax stands behind the drums, frowning. Eddie and Tiff come alert too. Holden looks up from his guitar at the sudden silence. Gadget starts to say something, then stops.

Reggy says softly, "Cali, I don’t want to get in the middle of y’alls music, but it sounds like they’re pushing you away instead of helping you." She looks at him — really looks at him, maybe for the first time — seeing the older man there beside her.

"Gadget’s right — you do need to look at the crowd more. Eddie’s right — you’re missing the fun of playing. Jax is right to let you do what works for you. Holden minds his own business — smart, when it comes to other people’s problems. Tiff’s right too — no one’s going to hurt you when you’re with them. She doesn’t even know how right she is."

He says, "Look at me, Cali." She turns and meets his eyes. "If Wrecker or I are here, no one’s going to lay a hand on you — any of you — without walking away with a broken one. I promise. Wrecker and I have seen some shit. And we aren’t in the ''giving a shit about consequences'' business if someone does something to hurt you folks."

He taps her knee lightly. "But listen — the stage is a performance space. You can play for yourself all you want, but the band needs you to participate. Help build the group vibe. So…I have a suggestion. Back in the day, a guy named Jim Morrison used to piss his bandmates off by not facing the crowd — and he was their front man! I saw them — '''''The Doors''''' — in Los Angeles, when I was way too young to be loose on my own. The show was wild — he was in his own world, and people loved it. When he did turn and face them, they went insane."

She sniffles, fighting back tears. "What are you saying?"

"Give the crowd what they want — on your terms. They want a gorgeous girl shredding the bass like a wood chipper. They want an '''''icon'''''. You can be that."

"How?"

"There’s a great song by some hoopy frood wackos from the ’80s. You’ve probably heard them."

Eddie steps forward. "Who? What are you talking about?"

Reggy pulls out his phone and cues it up, slipping the earbuds to Cali.

"Just listen to this. Listen to that bass line. It’s got a front bass, a second bass, a rhythm guitar, hard-thumping drums. Imagine this: you do most of the show like normal, look at the crowd a bit here and there — they start chanting <big>CALI! CALI!</big> like they do… Then there’s a pause. The rhythm guitar hits a few notes. Then you step forward to the front of the stage, looking down that gorgeous chin — you throw your glasses into the crowd and launch into this hard-driving, relentless bass line. '''''Rule the stage. Own the crowd'''''. Eddie comes over and sings right up on you — runs a hand through your hair, under your chin, down your arms. You trust him, but you ignore him."

He smiles, "You ignore the crowd. You own the music. Own the bass — that pounding, front-of-the-stage bass. Now listen."

She slips the earbuds on, head down as usual. He presses play, the sharp, robotic bass riff punching into her ears. She closes her eyes and nods, lost in it already.

After a moment, she looks at the phone and restarts the song.

She does it again — a third time.

Finally, she hands the phone back to Reggy and gives him a shy smile. "I can do that."

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

The set is cruising through familiar songs — the crowd singing along, half drunk, half alive. Then the lights dip. Cali stands alone at the front, head lowered, her dark stylized glasses flashing under the stage lights. But these aren’t the real ones — just cheap knockoffs waiting for the right moment.

The rhythm guitar drops into Devo’s ''" Girl U Want." '' The crowd sort of half recognizing the riff. Cali stays turned, shoulders stiff. On the first pounding drum beat, she spins — sharp, clean — and rips the glasses from her face, flinging them into the crowd. Hands shoot up, fighting for a piece of her.

Her eyes, dark and electric, stay locked just over their heads. Eddie comes in close, singing into her space, tracing fingers through her hair, under her chin, teasing the line. She ignores him. Ignores all of them. The bass is hers — grinding, fierce, owning every note.
Eddie circles her as he sings each line:

<big>'''"She sings from somewhere you can't see..."'''</big> — he slides behind her, leaning in, his breath on her neck.

<big>'''"She sits in the top of the greenest tree..."'''</big> — he moves to her side, one hand tracing just above her shoulder.

<big>'''"She sends out an aroma of undefined love..."'''</big> — he lifts his hand to the crowd, taunting them with her.

<big>'''"It drips on down in a mist from above..."'''</big> — he drops to a knee, looking up at her like a devotee.

He snaps up and turn, pounding the crowd.

<big>'''"She's just the girl, she's just the girl, The girl you want! She's just the girl, she's just the girl, The girl you want !!"'''</big>

Holden stands behind them, hair shrouding his eyes as he hammers the rhythm. Beside Cali, and a pair of steps behind her, Gadget prowls the second bass line, those angular high parts slicing the air. Tiffy moves in and out like a ghost, filling shot glasses and passing them between beats.

Wrecker and Reggy pace the edge of the stage front, arms folded, eyes sharp, grinning at each other when the chant swells:

<big>'''"She's just the girl, she's just the girl, the girl you want!"'''</big>

Eddie leans close on the chorus, his hand threading through her hair, under her chin, never breaking his stare with the front row while she ignores him completely:

<big>'''"Look at you with your mouth watering, Look at you with your mind spinning! Why don't we just admit it's all over? She's just the girl you want."'''</big>

When Eddie sings the final:
<big><big>'''"She's just the girl you want!"'''</big></big> — she tears a ripping tone that shakes the lights.

When the last note hits, she tosses her guitar pick out into the sea of grabbing hands. She turns her back on them all, grabs the waiting shot of whiskey, downs it, and slips her real glasses back on just as the next song kicks in. The spell breaks — but the rumor is already alive: next show, they’ll chant her name louder.

On You Tube find-(/watch?v=e5bqKafk9HA)- wiki wouldn't let me publish a youtube link

==Cast of Characters==
''Click to Enlarge''
{| class="wikitable"
| Gadget, Bass, Lead guitar, Irish folk harp, Dulcimer, Mandolin, Balalaika, Flute, recorder, piccolo, fife, woodwinds, conch, piano, orgaan, accordion, harpsichord.
[[File:Gadget6.jpg|50px]]
| Eddie-Lead Guitar, Vocals
[[File:Gadget Story Eddie.jpg|50px]]
| Tiffy-Violin, Flute,Vocals, viola, cello, flute, recorder, fife, woodwinds. piano.
[[File:Tiffy5.jpg|50px]]
| Jax -Drums, Percussion, xylophone,tambourines, maracas, other percussion noise makers.”
[[File:Gadget Story jax.jpg|50px]]
| Cali- Bass, Guitar. Bongos, Tambourine, Percussion.
[[File:Cali-.jpg|50px]]
| Holden- Rhythm Guitar, ukulele, Kazoo
[[File:Gadget Story Holden.jpg|50px]]
|-
| Waldo -Roadie. Trombone, Bass Sax
[[File:Waldo.jpg|50px]]
| Wrecker- Promoter
[[File:ADV-Wrecker.jpg|50px]]
| Reggy- Comic Relief
[[File:ADV-Reggy.jpg|50px]]
| Lucky-Owner of the Ugly Ferret
[[File:SbG-Lucky7.jpg|50px]]
| Colette -Doctor
[[File:ADV-Colette.jpg|50px]]
| 12
[[50px]]
|-
|}

=='''Album Covers'''==
{| class="wikitable"
| Stone Bench Group
[[File:Stonebench Group2.jpg|300px]]
| Baltimore Times
[[File:SBG-Bt1.jpg|350px]]
| Call of the Wolves
[[x]]
|-
| Night at the Ugly Ferret Live
[[x]]
| The Hollyhock Sanitarium Tapes
[[x]]
| 6
[[x]]

|-
|}
---------------------------
=='''[[working pages]]'''==

Getting the Band Together

2025-06-28T05:46:01Z

Relmopator: /* Dalt Sniper */

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==<big>'''Getting the Band Together'''</big>==

=='''First Impressions'''==
==='''Arrival'''===
She had walked into town six months earlier. It was a busy place, unlike anything she had seen in her travels. Certainly, it was unlike her home. That was something she could never explain to the people she met here. They would think she had just arrived. Her explorations had been low-key, like a lost puppy. Other cities. Learning languages, manners, cultures. She had to fit in when she got where she was going. Little things went away or were replaced. In time she was ready for the job at hand.

The heavy guitar case needed to look like it was once well cared for, but time and rough living had stained it. Covered in travel stickers she had collected. It was unusually thick since it carried her 6 string bass guitar, a 6 string Fender lead, a ukele, a recorder, and a piccolo. It carried more then that but no one was going to see that.

Her backpack looked like something used a decade ago, large and deep, a grown man's hiking backpack but its hidden depths made it worth it. It was big enough for the beatup gear it carried as well as its necessities and treasures. Paper money and a few gold coins. Her pack had a few practical items. Notebooks filled with songs and music. A cellphone with more music than she had ever heard, but her father had insisted. If she had left it behind, she would have been running away from home. If she took it, she was just traveling.

Her jeans were patched and fraying, her loose shirt faintly smudged with dirt. Her hair—that was a crime, cut and dyed blue, but it was necessary. Less bathing. Her mother would have been annoyed to see her.

The careful disguise had worked well enough: she looked the part of the drifter, the runaway. But under the surface was something sharper, something the average observer wouldn’t see. A hunting knife hung on her belt, and deeper in her pack rested her father’s .45 and ammo—a weight she carried with purpose. She didn’t plan to use it. But then again, planning wasn’t always her strong suit.

She found a shady spot under an oak tree where she could see the musicians take turns performing. The crowd’s reactions told her everything she needed to know—who played for passion and who played for desperation. Gadget leaned against the tree, watching, listening, and feeling the pulse of the park.

It wasn’t long before someone noticed her. A boy, maybe the age she portrayed, with unruly hair and a guarded expression, walked over and sat down beside her, uninvited but not unkind.

“Hey,” he said, nodding toward her guitar case. “You looking to play?”

She hesitated. “Yeah.”

“Well, just so you know, in this stretch, Tiffy’s up now, then I’m next, and Jax gets lunch. Cali is missing, and we are worried about her. Holden would be after her, but he hasn’t shown up today. After that, it’s you, if you’re still here. We’ve got a system.” He smirked faintly, but his eyes were serious. “We all gotta eat.”

“Got it,” Gadget replied, her voice measured. She didn’t need to explain herself yet.

“I'm Eddie. Edwardo, technically,” he said with a half-grin. “Parents thought it was funny. And you?”

“Do I find it funny?”

“What’s your name, new girl?”

“Gadget.”

“Really? That’s what you’re going with? People usually pick something easy, like Gail or Ginger.”

“Gadget’s fine,” she said, unmoving. “Nice to meet you.”

Eddie shrugged. “Suit yourself, Gadget. You new to the city?”

She nodded. “More or less. Wandering mostly. Stayed at the mission for a night.” She paused, shuddering. “That place isn’t what I expected.”

Eddie gave her a knowing look. “Yeah, the mission’s rough. Better to stay in the open if you can. But, you know, stay visible. Shakers come out when you’re alone.”

“Shakers?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Shakers are takers,” he said, gesturing toward the park’s edge. “They roll in, act like they belong, and take what’s ours. They don’t care if you’ve got a spot or if you’re trying to eat. Stay sharp, Gadget.”

She nodded, filing away the warning.

Eddie continued, “Listen, you can wander off if you need to, but be back when Jax is done, or someone else’ll jump in. Holden’s been known to push his way in, but if you stand your ground, he’ll back off. He respects the system, even if he pretends not to.”

“And Cali?” Gadget asked, catching the name from the murmurs earlier.

Eddie frowned. “Cali’s...well, she hasn’t been around. Missed a whole week. She’s in trouble, and we haven't been able to find her. Till we hear something, she’s gotta sort it out herself. That’s how it works.”

Gadget didn’t reply, but her mind turned. Trouble had a way of finding people like her, and she wasn’t sure yet if Cali’s story would intersect with her own. For now, all she could do was wait. And watch.

The guitar case at her side felt heavier now, but not with dread. With purpose. If the park was a stage, she’d play her part soon enough.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

=== '''First Day at the Plaza'''===
She listened to Eddie play for the mid-morning crowd as they cut through the park, going from one tall building to another. He was as good as she remembered. Though maybe not quite as good yet. Style would come in time. Besides, it was Tiffy who blossomed, if they survived.

Eddie had come over to her earlier. “Ah, Gadget. You said you’ve been wandering around? Don't wander south of here. Bad area. Forty Thieves... Actually, the Forty Threes, 43rd Street gang. Fucking takers. Over by the river is a nice place in the summer. Cold as hell this time of year, but there’s a more or less permanent encampment of old timers there. The city comes through and cleans it up sometimes. Gives them time to get their valuables out, then trashes whatever they had been living in. Twice a year. Shows the uptowners they are cleaning the place up. After that, some do-gooders come by and drop off new tents, mattresses, and blankets. The hawks stay away from there because the police got no concern if one or two kiddie pimps end up in the trainyard. Some of those old timers are ex-military and ain’t shy about it. But, some are almost as bad as the hawks. They won’t rent you out, but they will trade warmth for wetness, ya know. Better off finding a squat.”

“You and Tiffy got a squat?” Gadget asked.

“Yeah...but...it’s tight...sorry...I can't help with that. The East industrials by the train-yards have a lot of junkies and packs of wild dogs... You can sleep there, but the temptation is too strong for people. Temptation to use, temptation to steal.” The usual crowds went back and forth with little or no regard for the desperation they passed through. They thought themselves generous if they tossed the change from a six-dollar cup of fifty-cent coffee.

Eddie wandered over to sit as Tiffy finished her set. Gadget wondered if they thought of it in terms of 'Set' yet.

Eddie started playing. Riffing really. Loud, to get attention. He had endurance, Gadget thought.

A couple of hours went by, and Gadget spent it looking over the place, walking around, and getting a feel for the square and its regulars.

A coffee shop, a waitress looked out the window at the buskers sadly. Grief and gratitude. She had escaped the life. A newsstand. No reading. A fat man watched a little TV and collected money. He thought he was sly to slip alcohol from a flask into what was probably coffee.

A Little Caesar’s Pizza. Classic cardboard pizza. The clerk. Another survivor. A paycheck away from being on the street again. Squats. Can’t make rent.

A laundromat. Customers only. A walkway to the parking lot.

A liquor store that looked like a prison with bars and locks.

A big youth came running like he was being chased through the plaza. No one behind him.

He ran past Eddie and Tiffy. Jax had already gathered his blanket and put his arm through loops and was moving. He jumped down stairs only to stop. Tiffy and Eddie were almost up when the runner came walking over to them, hangdogged.

Up the stairs came four guys and a girl. Toughs. Shakers for sure. Their clothes only looked a small bit better than the people they shook down. They walked straight for the three.

Suddenly, she felt a shoulder hitting her from behind, walking past. A big guy, 19, scared and cruel. A follower. He looked back at her, saw the guitar, “I don’t know you. Tax ya later.”

He walked to the top end of this part of the plaza. Another coming in from the parking lot. Jax walked ahead of him, being pushed.

Behind her, two more. The ones the runner was fleeing from. Into their trap, it seemed.

Gadget touched a knob on her hearing aid, and she heard better.

The big guy in front. Army boots. New. “I don’t give a fuck, Eddie. Starve. Fork it over. Hey, Tiffy, you can keep your money for a little help with handsome.”

Eddie scowled, stepped between him and Tiffy, bravely but foolishly. He handed over a wad of bills.

“That’s both of ours...a day’s work, Wart.”

Big Wart... Good. Now I’ve seen him. “Not for me, it wasn’t. All fun. Maurice will fork over a couple hundred for a couple hours with Tiffy.”

Eddie said nothing, smart for once.

Jax said he hadn’t played yet, he didn’t have any money. Wart’s number two grabbed Jax’s bongo drums, and the two struggled. Eddie intervened and got a punch in the face from Wart. Little Wart held Jax’s drums.

“That was stupid, Eddie. Jax, five bucks, and you can have your drums back for tomorrow. Or wet trade. You know where we will be.”

Lastly, Wart turned to the runner. “Holden, you are the stupidest fuck I know. You got taxed, and instead of just playing elsewhere, you tried to warn Eddie and the Stone Benches group.” He said it with an air of mockery.

Gadget smiled for other reasons when she heard Wart’s jab. She was in the right place and time.

Wart laid a smack across Holden’s face, and Little Wart punched him twice in the belly as he fell.

The shakers moved along, laughing. This couldn’t be the only way they made money. Shaking down buskers. Cali... They had her someplace. Making money off her.

Tiffy started crying after the gang had gone. Jax, probably only 13 himself, started sniffling, trying to be tough. Tiffy must have been 14. Eddie would have been 16. Holden 17. Cali would have been 13, if she lived.

Walking over, Gadget heard without the spy ear.

“Those assholes,” Eddie said.

Jax said, “Let’s see if Dearly will spot us a blue plate special or two... it’s been long enough.”

Eddie shook her head, “Can’t. Bossman is there.” Jax whimpered.

She walked up, “Those are the takers?”

Eddie nodded, “Not their name... Just Wart’s guys. They got you, too?”

She shook her head, “That big guy said he would tax me later.”

Holden said, “That’s Waldo. Wants people to call him Eastwood, but Waldo is his name. Big, tough, strong, and mean. One of Wart’s muscles.”

Eddie put his arm around the whimpering Tiffy.

“We ate yesterday. Holden? Jax?” They both shook their heads.

Gadget said, “You all squat together?” Eddie looked at her, confirming, thinking they had to find Cali.

She said, “If I can squeeze into your squat, I’ll get pizza. A couple from that place.” Pointing to Little Caesars. Jax looked at her, then Eddie. Holden looked too. Silent agreement.

“Alright. We should go. If we set up again and start playing, they’ll come back. Today is over.”

Gadget said, "Where do I meet you? I have an errand to run before getting food.”

Eddie gave her directions for four blocks away. “You’ll see a tall water pipe on the side of a building. Painted blue. Hit it a few times, and one of us will come get you.”

She nodded. “An hour at most.”

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==='''Observations'''===

Gadget walked back into the square to get her gear, the familiar rhythm of the park unbroken by the earlier scuffle. People moved about as though nothing unusual had happened, their lives tuned to a frequency that filtered out the kind of trouble she had just witnessed.

She had seen this before in other cities: a practiced indifference to the small tragedies that played out in the corners of urban life. The regulars had walked past the shakedown, unconcerned. Not their problem. Not worth their notice. Even the lack of music didn’t seem to faze anyone. The world kept spinning, and the square moved with it.

Her first stop was a liquor store tucked into a crumbling block of mismatched businesses. The door jingled as she entered, and she felt the clerk’s eyes snap to her immediately. His stare followed her down the rows as she browsed. Gadget ignored him, picking out a flask-sized bottle of whiskey first, then a larger one to refill it. She added a handful of tiny bottles at the register, their colorful labels gleaming in the harsh fluorescent light.

The clerk leaned against the counter, arms crossed, his expression dripping with disdain. “Are you high or just stupid?” he sneered. “Alright, let’s do this. Everyone sing along—*La la la! I have to see some ID!*”

Unbothered, Gadget pulled a crisp hundred-dollar bill from her pocket and laid it on the counter, meeting his gaze with a calm, steady intensity. “Even if I kept the change,” he added, “it’s not worth it without ID.”

She sighed, pulling a slim wallet from her jacket. Opening it just enough for the clerk to see, she watched his eyes widen. The disdain melted into something closer to disbelief.

“Ah... really?” he asked, his tone shifting.

She tilted her head slightly. “I can depend on your keeping it a secret?”

He nodded quickly, his earlier bravado gone. He took the money without another word, bagging the bottles with newfound precision. Gadget took the bag without a thank-you, already moving on.

Her next stop was Little Caesar’s, the faint smell of grease and cheap cheese filling the air before she even entered. The bored teenager at the counter barely glanced up as she ordered four $5 pizzas. She stacked the boxes into a canvas bag, not bothering to align them perfectly. As the bag settled, the pizzas slid, the cheese and toppings undoubtedly pooling at one end of the boxes. She didn’t care. These weren’t about taste.

The park waited as she walked back, her steps deliberate and her mind turning over what came next. Her earlier encounter had shown her more than she expected—not just about the park’s pecking order but about the invisible lines drawn between those who were struggling to survive and those who chose to ignore them. She wasn’t sure yet where she fit into this city, but she’d carve out a place soon enough.

The liquor and the pizzas? They were tools, not comforts. Small investments in goodwill, in leverage. She wasn’t here to play by the rules. Gadget didn’t play by anyone’s rules but her own.

The alley was narrow and quiet, save for the distant hum of city noise. The faint tang of rust and damp concrete filled the air, mingling with the aroma of greasy pizza wafting from the canvas bag Gadget left on the ground. Her ears tingled with the primal electricity of the moment, a sensation she had come to trust. The hunter had become the hunted, and she was more than ready. She set down her guitar and her bag.

[[File:Waldo.jpg|200px]]

Waldo strode into view, his swagger full of self-assurance, the kind that only came from countless successful shakedowns. He grinned as he saw her, his eyes scanning her up and down like she was already his.

“Well, I didn’t think taxing you would make me rich! Booze and food. Fork it over. And any cash you got,” he said, closing the distance without hesitation. Gadget stepped toward him calmly, her expression unreadable. She didn’t flinch as he reached for her with both hands, his grin growing wider as he added, “Maybe a kiss or a fu—”

The rest of the word was swallowed by a sharp, guttural cry as Gadget grabbed his wrists and drove the steel toe of her boot into his groin with the force of a sledgehammer. The sound he made was almost pitiful as he doubled over, but she didn’t stop. Another swift kick sent him crumpling to the ground like a ragdoll.

Before he could recover, she shoved him onto his back and straddled him, delivering two quick punches to his stomach with precision. Waldo gagged, his breath coming in choked gasps. Gadget leaned in close, her voice a low, dangerous growl, her mind reaching out to touch his, instilling fear of her deep in his memory.

“Now, don’t you throw up,” she warned, her tone ice-cold. “All it’ll only make you messy and me pissed off. Look me in the eyes.”

Waldo’s watery gaze met hers, and for the first time, his bravado cracked. Her psyche slammed into him as hard as she could force it.

“You think you’re tough?” she continued, her voice steady but sharp as a blade. “The universe is filled with monsters that wouldn’t blink about squashing you like a potato bug. And I am goddamned well one of them, Waldo. I the apex predator monster around here now. So... you belong to me. Unless you want me to make sure you never get an erection again. We understand each other?”

He nodded frantically, his face pale.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Gadget said, sitting back slightly. “Where’s Cali?”

“Wart has her,” Waldo croaked, his voice hoarse. “He’s got her up at the Station… Passed out last I saw.”

Gadget studied his face for any sign of a lie, then nodded. “The Station. Eddie knows where that is?”

Waldo nodded again, his head bobbing weakly.

“Good.” Gadget stood, brushing herself off. “Now, you go away. Not to the station. It won’t be safe there tonight. Do you understand me?” Waldo nodded once more, trembling as he scrambled to his feet.

She stepped back to her bag and pulled out a pizza box. Opening it, she pulled out three slices and held them out to him. “Here. Just to show I’m not… well, totally a bitch. Remember: don’t go to the station. Don’t tell Wart. And don’t piss me off. Now go.”

Waldo hesitated for a split second before grabbing the slices. He staggered off, clutching the greasy pizza with both hands, his steps uneven but quick. He didn’t look back.

Gadget watched him disappear down the alley, then picked up her bags. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth as she murmured, “Everyone’s gotta eat.”

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

=== '''Squatting'''===

She found the pipe and knocked on it. She waited only a few moments until Holden peeked his head out.

“We were worried you were followed.”

“I was, but it’s okay. Let’s go inside.”

She followed Holden down a short alley to a pried-open side door of an industrial building. The interior showed a lack of traffic. The path made several turns before ending at a dead end. Above were large pipes passing through. Water pipes, probably. On the west wall was a concert poster in a language Gadget did not know.

Those huddled near each other were Eddie, Tiffy, and Jax. A single candle put out light if not warmth. They shivered under blankets, and their breath came out in fog.

They looked up as Gadget entered. Eddie said, “Glad you made it. We were worried.” They looked at the pizza boxes in anticipation.

Eddie went on, “Cali is usually between Jax and Holden, if you don’t mind.”

Gadget moved close to Holden, between him and Jax. She couldn’t tell herself yet, but her pack nature was already forming, even after so little contact. Holden might be the lucky one.

Gadget nodded, taking the top pizza box with the missing pieces, slipping the other three to the group. She pulled out a large bottle of Tabasco that she liberally put on her pizza. The others eagerly grabbed the other boxes. They relished the pizza, a good meal for them. Jax reached for the Tabasco, looking to Gadget for permission. She smiled and handed it to him.

Looking around, the dead end had much to recommend it. Defensible but without an escape route. Out of the elements, sort of. Frigidly cold. Too cold, as she thought about it. It was winter, but the weather outside was hardly cold enough to warrant the cold inside.

“What’s on the other side of the building?”

“Meatpacking plant. It’s why it’s so cold in here. But the squat is too good. Out of the elements and deep enough not to be easy for takers to find unless led here. Holden used to squat here before.”

She reached into her pack and pulled out a small backpacking ring of stainless steel to curious eyes. Popping the lid, she pulled a lighter out and a bit of newspaper. She wrapped coal with the paper and lit it, starting the stove’s fire. The flickering fire caught and warmed the area slowly.

They turned to huddle around the fire in gratitude and surprise. “I’ve been camping a lot,” she explained.

The small area began to heat as they returned to eating. Silence filled the room as they ate. She looked around the space. A bright poster on the wall was in Russian, she thought. Rafe might know what it said. Being a music aficionado, he might know the band anyway. Maybe someone else in the huge Adventure’s Society would know. Time would tell.

While they huddled under blankets that had seen better days, their overcoats were neatly hung for drying. The candle put out light but little heat. Looking up, the ceiling must have had vents somewhere. It was why the space had so little heat. This place wouldn’t do. Not for seven or eight people, as her plans for the group developed.

Gadget stood after they finished eating. “Eddie? Can I speak to you for a moment?”

The two walked out to turn down the hall, out of sight of the others.

“I spoke to Waldo. He tried to tax me, and we came to an understanding. He says Cali is at someplace called the Station. Strung out and in trouble.”

Eddie cursed, “Damn... damn. The Station? Shit... SHIT!... That’s an abandoned gas station at the edge of the industrial area. There’s a huge dog pack that lives there. Used to be security dogs that went wild when the plants closed. Abandoned warehouses mostly. No one squats there because the dogs are vicious. Probably a hundred of them. The city gave up on that whole part of town. South of the railroad and the freeway. Shit... this sucks.”

“Dogs, you say? Vicious ex-guard dogs and their get, I imagine. Good to know. How many people would he have there, this Wart guy?”

“Five maybe, a couple more. Depends where they are in their raiding.”

“How do they handle the dogs? Will you show me where this is?”

“Carefully, I imagine. Sure, I can show it, but why? Do you have an idea? If we could get them to come out chasing me, you might be able to get her out.”

“Do any of you people fight?”

“Holden can land a punch. Jax can fall down and take them for a while. Tiffy, not so much.”

“How tough are these guys? How long have they been around?”

“Tiffy and I have been here about a year. Holden a couple of years. Not sure about Jax and Cali, but longer then Tiffy and I. Wart and his guys have been terrorizing people since grade school, I hear. He’s beat us up several times. Beat Tiffy and I pretty bad when we first got here 'cause she wouldn’t put out. Holden hates them. I think he had run-ins with them before. I know some of the businesses in the plaza lock their doors when they wander in. One of their parents is a cop.”

“Okay, show me this station.”

“Ah... okay... if you’re sure.”

She nodded and followed him as they crossed town.

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

==='''Dogs'''===

Looking over at a vacant gas station tucked between industrial buildings, Gadget saw lights on in the building but none outside. The walls were covered with graffiti. The windows were covered in newspaper on the inside.

Gadget asked, "Will they have a lookout, you think?"

"No idea. But they probably depend on the dogs. When I start running, I’m going to run back the way we came in. Stay away from the dogs. I'm going to circle around and see if any of them are outside."

Eddie headed off, walking far to the east. .

She pulled out her cell phone and made a call. “Gadget. Wants and warrants on a Wart and known associates. Especially wants and warrants on an associate named Waldo. Police tours in the area of Third Street and Hunsiker Avenue. Yes.” She lit a cigarette and puffed it while she waited.

“Yes. Alright. Route police at least a mile from this location. Okay. Okay. Okay. And Waldo... Okay. Gadget down.”

She watched for any of the gang members returning.

The air around the vacant gas station grew heavier, the tension palpable as Gadget watched her surroundings with predatory focus. The graffiti-covered walls seemed to close in, the windows’ newspaper coverings adding a claustrophobic feel to the eerily quiet industrial zone. As Eddie vanished into the distance, her instincts prickled with the unmistakable feeling of being watched—or perhaps stalked.

Then she smelled them. Dirty dogs.

The dogs were close, their musky scent mingled with the faint metallic tang of rust and oil. Gadget pivoted, slipping behind a building with a crumbling wall, her heart steady but her senses sharpened. From the shadows, three shapes emerged: large, muscular dogs, their eyes reflecting the dim light like embers in the gloom.

The leader—a scarred, thick-furred savage with torn ears—moved forward first, his posture radiating dominance. Behind him, two slightly smaller dogs fanned out, their growls rising in anticipation. The pack began to circle her, their intent clear.

Gadget exhaled slowly, her father's teachings resonating in her mind. She didn’t run. Instead, she dropped to all fours, her movements fluid, deliberate. She raised her hips, her posture bold and challenging. Her eyes locked onto the leader’s, refusing to break the connection. The world seemed to fall away, leaving only the primal, unspoken dialogue between her and the animal.

The leader snarled, testing her, his hackles raised. Gadget bared her teeth and growled low and deep, channeling every ounce of her willpower into the sound. It wasn’t just noise; it was intent, a projection of dominance and confidence that tapped into the primal currents of the canine psyche.

The other two dogs faltered, their growls cutting short as they glanced at each other, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. The leader hesitated, his head lowering slightly, torn between instinct and her overwhelming presence. Gadget growled again, a commanding sound that brooked no argument. The leader stepped back, his defiance faltering under the weight of her gaze.

Then it happened. With a whimper, the leader dropped to his belly, his body language one of submission. Gadget moved forward on all fours, her movements deliberate and measured. She sniffed at the leader, solidifying her claim. The two remaining dogs quickly followed suit, rolling over with their tails tucked.

Gadget straightened and rubbed the leader’s belly, her touch firm but acknowledging his surrender. He rolled to his haunches, sitting obediently, awaiting her command. She rubbed her cheek against him, radiating love of him. Love he had never known till now. "I'll call you Savage."

She greeted the other two the same, feeling them give up their devotion.

Focusing her awareness, Gadget channeled her intent, pushing it outward like a wave. Her thoughts took form, her message clear: “Tell the rest I am coming soon for them. Tell the pack leader.”

The dogs responded instantly, bolting into the shadows without hesitation. Gadget stood and dusted herself off, exhaling slowly. The pack was hers now—or at least, they knew better than to challenge her again.

As the shadows settled once more, Gadget turned her attention back to the gas station. It was time to finish what she started.

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=== '''The Station'''===

A few minutes later, Eddie returned, carrying a half-full 40oz bottle. “No one there. The door is on the west side. Okay... probably won’t be locked. We sneak up. I’ll open the door and yell at them. I’ll throw this bottle of... beer... piss... at them. They’ll chase me out. Especially if I hit Wart. While they’re chasing me, you go in, find Cali, and get her out of there. I’ll run them as far as possible. I’m pretty sure I can outrun them.” He said it uncertainly but with determination.

“Sounds good. Let’s go.”

They sneaked up to the station, going around to try peeking in the windows, finding them taped shut. The industrial buildings surrounded the station and shadowed it from the sun. She looked it over and figured it must have several rooms inside. Two bays in the garage. Six empty gas pumps. A good squat.

Eddie shook his head, looking terrified but determined. He reached up and grabbed the door handle, opening it quickly and stepping in.

Eddie looked around the room and saw the surprised look on Wart’s face. "Look! Eddie’s come to sing for us!"

Eddie yelled raspingly, “YOU FUCKERS!!!!! WHERE’S CALI!!!????” He threw the bottle and hit Wart in the chest, splashing him liberally.

Behind him, Gadget stepped in.

The men jumped up as one to chase Eddie. Eddie turned and bumped surprisingly into Gadget.

Gadget put her right hand on his chest, pushing him hard against the door jamb. With her left hand, she raised a .45 automatic.

The young men stopped. Wart said, "I don’t know you, but pointing a gun at me is going to get you slung up in our back room, Blue."

She looked around the room at the squalor. Cigarettes, beer, takeout boxes. The smell of sweat and male testosterone. Somewhere was the smell of desperation and semen. Her hackles rose.

She regarded the men. She could feel their anger. She looked at Eddie, as her hand pressed him to the door-jam. Fear. Shock. Uncertainty.

"That thing looks like a cannon in your hand, you stupid slit. Put that down, and I might let you walk to the bedroom rather than beat you down and make Eddie watch us."

The loud crack of the gun echoed in the room, shocking everyone except Gadget.

Gadget tracked from left to right, putting a round into each of the chests of the gang members. Eddie’s eyes went wide in shock.

Gadget stepped into the room, slowly walking to each man, kicking them for life signs. Wart was last, looking up in despair. "No!!! Please!!! No!!!" Gadget fired again.

She turned to Eddie, “Find Cali.” He staggered past her, walking past the dead into other rooms.

Gadget moved among them, taking wallets, cash, and jewelry and stashing them in her pack. Weapons she quickly put into plastic ziplock bags and put them into her satchel. She looked over the table and grabbed several bags of green herbs. She walked around the room and found a backpack, looking in she found several kilos of pressed powder.

She stood and went to each of the dead and took a picture of each with her cell phone.

She made a call. "Gadget. Targets Neutralized. Send in the Cleaners."

Eddie came out carrying a limp girl. She was bruised and sweaty, dirty, and clearly had been abused. Nude, of course. He was white as a sheet, a mixture of awe and terror. Gadget stepped to a couch and shook off a comforter. They put her into it, wrapping her.

"You killed them," Eddie stammered, his voice cracking as his mind struggled to reconcile the woman beside him with the efficient, lethal force he had witnessed moments ago. "How could you?"

Gadget didn’t flinch at the accusation. Her gaze remained fixed ahead, her steps even and deliberate. Her voice, when it came, was calm, devoid of the chaos that lingered in Eddie's mind. "How? Efficiently," she repeated, her tone as cold and deliberate as her actions.

The weight of her words struck Eddie harder than the gunshots, leaving him speechless. The horrors of the room behind them—the blood, the screams, the sharp finality of death—clung to him like a suffocating fog. But there was no hesitation in Gadget, no regret in her stride. To her, it was necessary. Clean.

They crossed the empty road, the cracked asphalt beneath their feet a reminder of the desolation that surrounded them. The industrial skyline loomed like a graveyard of forgotten ambitions. Gadget kept her hand on her satchel, its contents jingling faintly—a collection of stolen wallets, weapons, and evidence now safely in her possession. She knew every item had a purpose. Every detail served a larger goal.

Eddie's steps faltered as he glanced down at Cali. Her face, bruised and streaked with grime, remained slack and lifeless. But there was a faint rise and fall to her chest, a fragile confirmation that she was alive. It was enough for now.

"You didn’t have to kill them," Eddie murmured, his voice barely audible.

Gadget stopped abruptly, turning to him with a gaze sharp enough to cut through steel. "Yes, I did," she said firmly. Her tone left no room for argument. "They were predators, Eddie. They thought they were top dogs, apex predators of the scene here. But that’s what happens to beasts when a new hunter shows up. I am the apex predator around here now. I'll do what needs to be done. They preyed on people like you, like Cali. You think they would’ve stopped? Changed? That girl in your arms is living proof of what they were willing to do."

Eddie swallowed hard, unable to look her in the eye. He knew she was right, but the sheer brutality of what he had witnessed gnawed at him. His grip on Cali tightened, as if holding her closer might make sense of the chaos.

"We’ll get her back to the squat," Gadget continued, her voice softening slightly. "She needs rest. Food. Medical attention. And you all need to keep your heads low for a while. This isn’t over."

"What do you mean?" Eddie asked, his voice trembling.

"I mean that there will be repercussions," Gadget said. "Wart’s crew isn’t the only threat out here. There’s always another predator waiting to take their place. But I’ll deal with that when the time comes."

They resumed their walk, the squat just a few blocks away now that offered a distant promise of safety. Eddie held on to that thought, clinging to it as tightly as he clung to Cali.

Behind them, the gas station stood silent, its sordid history now marked by the finality of Gadget’s intervention. Whatever demons she carried, she had made one thing clear: in her world, survival meant making hard choices. And she was prepared to make every single one of them.

Unseen by the pair and their rescued companion, a pair of white vans pulled up to the station. Men in hazmat outfits got out, entered, and began to work.

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=='''Necessities'''==

The squat was cramped with the six people in it, but warmer as they kept the little stove burning. Cali slept hard the first day, but Gadget wasn’t sure she was recovering. Jax never left her side and worried constantly. Gadget went and got pizza again, though only two pies, suggesting that her money was drying up.

The group fervently refused to take her to the hospital. Eddie explained, “Cali’s home life was little better than the way Wart’s people treated her. Her mother and a stepsister beat her regularly enough that she let her stepfather, two stepbrothers, and a couple of their friends treat her like a sex toy so they would defend her. If she turns up at an ER, the best she can hope for is to go into foster care. The worst is being sent home. That happened once before.”

Jax, who Gadget had heard speak in single words till now, said, “She and I ran off together the first time. I had to go back and get her that time. Her idiot brothers kept her in one of their beds every night. Hard to sneak her out.”

Gadget asked, "How did you manage it?"

Looks around the room showed it was a sore subject. Jax returned to Cali and his silence. Tiffy put her head down. Eddie looked at Gadget as if to convey that it was none of her business. Holden smiled, and with a nod from Jax, he told the tale.

“Jax lit the house on fire, then called 911. In the confusion of police, firefighters, and ambulances, Jax stole an ambulance they put Cali in. Drove it for an hour, then stole a car so he could ditch the ambulance. He stripped the thing of meds and supplies. Blankets and stuff. He drove a couple of days, swapped cars, and drove here. Dropped off Cali and the swag, then drove the car another day to ditch it. Good chance that the police are looking for them.”

Jax looked embarrassed but kept next to Cali.

Gadget commented, “Resourceful. Decisive. I respect that.” Jax looked up with a hint of a smile.

Gadget stood, “I’m going to stretch my legs.”

Walking out to the front, she was confronted by a large, beefy cat with a mouse in its sights.

Gadget froze momentarily, her eyes widening at the sight of the large, beefy cat perched atop the windowsill, its amber eyes fixed intently on the tiny mouse scurrying across the ledge. The cat’s fur was a patchy mix of brown and black, giving it a rugged, almost untamed appearance that contrasted sharply with the orderly chaos inside the squat.

“Hey there, big fella,” Gadget whispered softly, taking a cautious step forward. The cat didn’t seem threatened; instead, it watched her with an air of quiet curiosity, perhaps fear at Gadget's canine nature. The mouse, sensing the tension, darted toward the edge of the window, where it paused, twitching its nose before making a desperate leap for the safety of a nearby drainpipe.

As Gadget reached the window, she noticed a small tag hanging from the cat’s collar: “Shadow – Rescued.” A surge of empathy washed over her. Despite the rough exterior, Shadow clearly had a story of his own.

“Looks like Shadow’s been with you for a while,” Gadget remarked, hoping to break the ice.

Eddie stepped forward, his expression softening. “He’s a survivor, just like Cali. Came into our lives a few months back. Helps keep the rat population down around here.”

Tiffy glanced up from her corner. “Shadow’s more than just a cat. He’s a bit of a guardian for us.”

Holden nodded in agreement. “Yeah, he senses when things are off. Last week, he kept me awake all night when we had that break-in attempt.”

Gadget smiled, feeling a connection not just with the people but with their silent protector. “He’s a good cat. Reminds me that even in the darkest places, there’s still something worth protecting.”

Before anyone could respond, Shadow leapt gracefully down from the windowsill, landing softly on the floor. He approached Cali cautiously, circling her before settling beside her side. Cali reached out a tentative hand, and Shadow rubbed his head against her palm, purring softly.

Jax watched the interaction with a mix of relief and lingering worry. “Shadow’s got a good heart. Just like Cali.”

Gadget felt a pang of admiration for Jax. Despite his rough methods, his intentions were clear. “You all are handling things better than I expected.”

Eddie shook his head. “We’re just trying to keep Cali safe and give her a chance to heal. She deserves a second chance.”

As Gadget turned to leave the room, a sense of camaraderie filled the space. The squat, though cramped and imperfect, was a haven for those who had nowhere else to go. She felt a renewed sense of purpose, understanding that their struggles were intertwined, each supporting the other in their own ways.

Stepping out into the chilly evening air, Gadget took a deep breath, the scent of rain lingering in the air. She glanced back at the squat.

Walking away, she considered her options. She didn’t want to involve her police contact in this, but he was her first call anyway.

Calling, "Gadget. Wants and warrants. Names. Photos coming. Out."

Lighting a cigarette, she wandered off a block, looking around. She pondered. She couldn’t involve her police contact more than absolutely necessary. But she needed to know if anyone was looking for those in the squat. They didn’t want to take Cali to the hospital. She couldn’t call home without getting a ton of judgment and, in the end, only getting medical help with strings attached. There was another option, though.

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=== '''Gateway and Allies'''===

She pulled out a couple of decks of cards, tarot cards by their size and shape, looking through them. A Trump card was more than a picture—it was a door. Hold it in your hand, focus, and the image became real. Like calling someone on the phone, except you didn’t just hear their voice—you could step into their world. She remembered her introduction to the cards with Lord David. The card grew cold in her hands, the painted image shimmering like water. Slowly, the air around her twisted, colors bleeding together until she could have stepped through—no longer in the Hub of Mandalay, but in a sunlit courtyard of the Dramaturge.

Shadow was vast, infinite in its possibilities, with worlds ranging from medieval kingdoms to high-tech dystopias. Mandalay was just one of them, a central one of balance—her home, a place of green fields and shimmering towers, where wolves roamed as kin.

She looked over her King Random's deck. That would mean calling Dalt directly. She looked over her Green Deck, the deck of her homeland, Mandalay. David would help her, but that was a nuclear option. She considered the wolves of her pack. Dwarf would come if she asked. That was a lot of trouble, but she might need someone to oversee this massive dog problem. There were hundreds of wild dogs in the area. Generations of wild dogs, hungry and hunting. Capturing a dozen was just a start. Dwarf and the triplets could herd them easily.

"Maybe later...." Putting away her Green deck and her King Random's deck.

She thought carefully. Dalt was a nuclear option. David was a nuclear option. Dwarf was a blitzkrieg on his own, and if he brought the triplets, the humans of this world were likely to freak out at the sudden organization of the dog packs in this part of the state.

Raphael, she thought, would probably come himself if it sounded adventurous, but then this would be his show and not hers. She didn’t need the whole guild. But maybe just a couple. Yes, Wrecker and Reggy. Tough, dangerous, creative, and probably willing to listen to her. Doc Len would be too noticeable. Colette, though, would fit in perfectly. Call Rafe and ask.

She concentrated on her magical inscription for the realm of Pocai and opened a contact with Raphael.

"Who?" came the response to her call. "Gadget," she answered.

The voice at the other side of the mystical barrier seemed surprised, "Hey, Gadget! Great to hear from you. Didn’t know you had a Trump for me. So where’ve you been? Whatcha up to?"

She responded. "I don’t have a trump, Rafe. I have an imprint of Pocai. I am.... I have a situation. I have someone who is hurt. I’m in a world that I can’t use magic openly. I need a doctor and maybe some muscle. I was hoping I could borrow Colette and Wrecker and Reggy. The time ratio is favorable to Ang Ri."

"Yeah, Gadget, no problem. Whatever you need. You know you just have to ask. Give me a sec; they’re actually right here with me." Rafe turned to his companions at the Ludus on the world of Ang Ri. "Colette, Wrecker, Reggy; Gadget needs your help, now. Colette; someone’s hurt, get what you need. Wrecker, Reggy; you’re the muscle. She said she can’t use magic openly, so I suggest human forms for the both of you."

He focused back on Gadget. "Can you transport with this Pocai connection? Or do I need to bring them to you?"

"I’m in the King Random Trump Deck and on I’m in an earth world."

Rafe said, "Right. Hang on a sec."

He looked over to Dalt. "Dalt, can I borrow Gadget’s Trump from your KRD? I’ll give it right back."

He was looking over at the trio as they prepared. "She says it’s an earth world; dress and equip accordingly."

Dalt asked, "Can you use Amber trumps?"

"I’m pretty sure I can...? If not, could you contact her and pass these three through? Please and thanks."

He nodded, "Ah... Sure...I suppose."

"Thank you, Dalt. It’s appreciated."

"Is there anything else you need, Gadget? How serious is the situation?"

"It’s a complicated and musical. We all have our favorites. Shadow is filled with them...I’m here to rescue one set of them...and bring them to the Dramaturge eventually."

"Wooow... sounds like a great adventure. Hope it turns
out well. I look forward to hearing the tale one day. Safe Travels, my Friend. Adventure Abounds. You ready for your support team?"

He looked over to Dalt and the trio to see if they were ready.

Wrecker said, "Were we traded to Cleveland?" As he was putting on his earth boots.

Rafe chuckled. "Don’t think so. Probably just temporary....? But time will tell."

He gave Wrecker a few moments to wonder, then chuckled and said, "She said she’s only going to need you for about a month."

Wreck said, "It’ll be a letdown after the Buffet at the Hall of Water..." He stepped through.

"Everything’s going to be a letdown after that buffet," Rafe said as the portal closed.

Stepping through the portal, the three looked around.

Colette said, "We are not really dressed for it here."

Gadget said, "It’s morning. There is a Walmart about four blocks from here. Here’s about a thousand dollars. Get clothes. Doc, come back here, knock on that blue pipe, and I’ll come to get you. They need stuff. Get some blankets, six sleeping bags. Cheap folding chairs. Medical supplies. Food—bread, peanut butter, jam. Lunch meat for today. Fruit. An ice chest. A bag of cat kibble. These people have been living like wild animals. When they ask, we’ll tell them you’re a friend from home. Leave where vague. I don’t know if they’ll believe me, but they will be grateful for the supplies."

She said, "Runaways? I know the streets. Was on them myself in Chicago as a kid. The charity angle won’t work. Tell them I’m a family friend. I brought this stuff because you called and asked for help. I’ll talk shit about your 'Parents.' I’ll leave off giving you some money. If there is any change."

She nodded and pulled out another thousand. Then decided to give Wrecker and Reggy each a thousand dollars of the money from Wart’s stash.

"Wrecker, Reggy, there is a heavy crime problem here. Take a few days looking the place over and get a sense of things. I have a police contact that can help. When you have a sense of things, let me know, and we’ll decide how to handle it."

She sighed, "Sorry.... It’s good to see you all." She exchanged hugs. Then the three headed off to Walmart, and she went back into the squat.

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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==='''Call a Friend'''===

Gadget sat in the squat for a bit, treating Cali. The blankets under her were threadbare and dirty. "I called a friend for some help. She’s a doctor. She doesn’t hate my parents as much as I do, but it’s close."

"You gave her where we are?" Jax asked, looking wildly.

"I told her to hit the pipe. Leave her car a ways away. Bring some supplies."

Eddie said, with a look of fear in his eyes, "Gadget.... You really shouldn’t do stuff like that without asking us. We vote as a group."

Tiffy held the cat close. "You say she’s a doctor? Can she help Cali?"

"That’s why I called her. She treated me after one of my father’s parties. She was kind to me. After that, she was there when I needed her."

A couple of hours later, the silence was broken by the banging on the pipe. Holden stood and looked to Eddie, who nodded. He followed Gadget out to the pipe.

Colette was there with three shopping carts filled with supplies. Gadget caught the sense of Wrecker and Reggy a ways away. She hugged Colette.

"Holden, this is Colette. Let’s get off the street." They pushed the carts into the corridors and turned through the labyrinth. Holden said, "What is all this.. There’s food in here." He looked at the basket in front of him with naked longing.

Getting to the tight squat, Gadget started unloading the carts as Colette knelt over Cali.

"Guys, this is Colette, a friend of mine. She’s a doctor. She treated me years ago for....family stuff. We’ve been friends ever since."

"Hiya, glad to see Gladys has made friends." Gadget growled, "Gadget!!" Colette nodded. Eddie looked at Gadget and silently mouthed "Gladys?"

Eddie then came over to look over the carts. "What’s all this?"

Colette looked over the devices she set out next to Cali. "Gadget told me you guys were living tight. This won’t solve everything, but it can’t hurt. I figured I owe her this. Gadget, get me a couple of those chicken broths. Bring some of the chicken chunks. Get a pot on that burner going. There’s a pot in there somewhere. Heat the broth. There is a cot on there too. Set it up there. Get a sleeping bag open."

"You, m’lady," looking to Tiffy, "ah, come here. We have to undress her and clean her. She has no broken bones. But there are cuts.. and.. she’s been doped up."

Holden and Eddie set up the cot and spread a sleeping bag out open, laying a towel down in the bag. Colette directed them to put Cali in the cot.

After a few minutes, Colette stood, "Ok, I need the room. Gadget, why don’t you sort out the stuff I brought."

The guys and Gadget went and looked over the supplies. While they were concerned about Cali, the sudden riches gave them all wide eyes. Gadget took a loaf of bread, slathered mayonnaise and mustard on them, with meat and cheese, slipping each sandwich into a zip-lock bag. Despite their hunger, Holden and Eddie helped while Jax stood by the makeshift curtain for Colette and Cali.

Eddie asked, "No ketchup?" Gadget chuckled. "Colette knows I hate ketchup!"

Colette looked out at Jax as he hovered, "You are?" He said, "Jax. How is she?" "She’s asking for you. You can help me."

She looked to Gadget and whispered mentally to her, "She has a lot of bruises. Signs of repeated rapes. A lot of scratches and cuts. Can you get them to play some while I use the Total Warrior Medical stuff?"

Gadget, Eddie, and Holden fixed 20 sandwiches and tucked them into the ice chest. They set up chairs and sat, and Tiffy, Eddie, Holden, and Gadget sat after Gadget slipped a sandwich to Jax. They ate in silence.

Gadget got her guitar out and started strumming. After a few moments, Eddie and Holden picked up theirs. Tiffy picked up her violin and leaned it against her chair as the cat resettled in her lap. She opened the bag of cat food and brought a handful of kibble for the cat to eat.

Behind the curtain, Cali was cleaned and settled in the sleeping bag. Colette gave her an injection from a Total Warrior device with a broad-range antibiotic as well as pain medication. Secretly, she cast her High Order Healing Spell and the Clean cantrips. Jax brought over broth and spoon-fed her. Colette told him to cover her up when he was done and to eat his sandwich. He smiled at her gratefully. She then left to join the others.

She opened a chair and sat, listening to the jam session.

Eddie finally asked, "How is she?"

Colette said, "She’ll heal. She mostly had bruises and a few cuts. It’s pretty clear she was beaten with a belt, but probably as part of the rapes. She was starved for several days to be sure. Dehydrated. The physical stuff will heal. She will have psychological damage to be sure. That will take a long time to get over, and she’ll need help. Did you call the police?"

Eddie lowered his head. Holden said, "Wouldn’t do any good. They always get away with shit. Police connections."

Gadget signaled to Colette to change the topic by using the hand sign language. "How long can you stay, Colette?"

"I’ll leave in a few days. I want to watch her."

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=== '''Finding Their Sound'''===

Several days passed as the band remained in hiding. The band spent the time playing music, getting to know each other’s playing rather than the singular sounds the busking they had been doing taught them. They ate well, finishing off what Colette had brought. She stepped out to make another food run on her last day before she left.

Cali sat beside Jax, silently, her hurts mended as best as medications could, but the memories went deeper. Those scars might never heal.

During that week, the group played for each other as they never had before. They shared the squat but had never shared their music. Now they did. The hallways echoed as they developed rhythms, harmonies, and solos. They sang all the songs they knew and shared the ones they wrote. Gadget sat back a lot, playing her bass guitar and lamenting that the only thing she missed from home was her piano. She let Eddie take the lead on guitar, playing his beloved surfpunk renditions. Holden played rhythm. Tiffy was a virtuoso on the violin, weaving her sound among the others, playing counterpoint and solos. Gadget nearly cried.

Gadget would go out at night alone. She met with groups of dogs that had heard about her, and she bound them to her, as her father and mother had taught her. Her skill at the bonding grew quickly.

The streets were eerily quiet, the distant hum of a generator the only sound as she walked through the deserted industrial areas near the Station. Gadget’s boots scraped against cracked pavement, her mind drifting to Mandalay. In her world, shadows whispered secrets; here they only swallowed sound. She tightened her grip on the Trump card in her pocket. No magic here to guide her—only instinct.

Jax was pretty good on the bongos. He told them about the music store at home that let him play their drums. The school he and Cali had gone to had shut their music departments. Eddie talked about the private school he and Tiffy had attended. It was wonderful to them, but their homes were hells.

The group opened up to each other, sharing their lives. Something they had never done before.

Gadget told a tale that paled to the others, but hers was fiction. They were not ready to learn her truth. Mandalay, Fleece, Snack, the Dramaturge, her pack—the Hounds of Mandalay, Raphael, Ang Ri, Fort Garland.

After four days, Cali was walking, Jax supporting her arm. She carried her bass guitar but didn’t play it. The closest she came was quietly tapping out the beats Jax played.

Jax told a story, "This one time, we played for an audience of zero. Just me and the drums, Cali and her bass in some crummy bar in Wisconsin. Felt like a rehearsal—until the bartender started crying."

Gadget smiled faintly, "Why cry over a song?"

Jax said, "Said it reminded him of his son. Music’s like that—it hits people in ways you don’t expect."

Gadget stared into the camp stove flames, silent. Music and magic weren’t so different. Both were bridges.

Gadget reveled in the experience. Eddie Black and the Stone Bench Group, here, before the fame, before the glory. And in this shadow, Cali lived and didn’t become the inspiration for Jax’s sad ballads and his descent into alcoholism and self-destruction as happened in so many shadows. She knew shadow was vast, and there were places this group never suffered their tragedies. Those shadows sometimes had weaker groups, without the passion. Bands that played at State Fairs, not the Coliseum or Madison Square Gardens. It was a gentle process, but Gadget coaxed them into sharing their tragedies and building on them. After all, they all had horrors in their pasts. Things that brought them together.

She knew one day she would leave them. Leave them to their glory. But till then, she became a member of the Stone Bench Group. She wished she could stay. She also knew that if at all possible, her goal was to guide them past a few roadblocks and eventually bring them to the Dramaturge in Mandalay. If, if...

Eventually, the claustrophobia began to grow on them, and a time came when they returned to the plaza and reclaimed their stone bench. This time, when they took turns leading, singing, solos, the rest of the band played to back them up.

Now the strollers stopped more often. They bought pizza and ate while listening. Some started taking their regular lunch breaks from offices and businesses nearby to come and listen. They might even be the seeds of the fandom that would one day follow them online as well as from city to city.

After a week on the plaza, Waldo showed up. He was apologetic, but Cali couldn’t stand the sight of him. She admitted that Waldo had never touched her, but he had
been part of Wart’s group. He was a shadow of his former swaggering self. Gadget knew Wrecker and Reggy had taken to correcting his attitude while getting all the information out of him they could. It showed. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. In time, Waldo started helping carry things and set things up. Pignoses, a few cables. A mic-stand. Gadget’s eyes nearly popped one day when Waldo brought chalk and drew a half-circle around the front for whoever was doing their lead. The famous singing circle. The cover of their epic first album before her eyes.

Somewhere in there, he and Cali made peace, but Gadget knew that in most of the shadows, Cali was known to hate the chief roadie. She guessed in this shadow that would be Waldo. She never saw Holden exchange more than a few words at a time to Waldo, and he always managed his own amp.

Eddie started to develop the stage presence that would make him famous. Tiffy, on her rock and roll violin, matched his every note, making his voice sound musical. His fingers danced on the strings, while she held the back line steady and soulful. Gadget closed her eyes as the melody washed over her. Each note was a heartbeat, a reminder of what they were fighting for—a world where music didn’t fade into static, where hope lingered in the chords. She could see Cali’s fingers matching her own. It wouldn’t be long till the two of them developed the dual bass sound the group would be famous for. Then Gadget would be replacing stray bassists the band would pick up for a gig or two at a time. Maybe, just maybe, she could stay.

A few days into their second month, Gadget saw Wrecker and Reggy stroll through the plaza. They listened and threw a wad of bills in the guitar case.

Gadget slipped away and met them behind Little Caesar’s.

Wreck lit a cigar as she approached, half offering it to Gadget, who declined. "What’s up?"

Wrecker, the brains of the two such as they were, said, "We have a target. Your contact helped sort it out. The Blind Reapers. A motorcycle gang. They have deep pockets and deep protection. They have a bunch of cops on the payroll."

Reggy said, "Hey! That doesn’t make them bad cops, just realists."

Wrecker looked at him incredulously, "Really, Officer Clifton?" Reggy shrugged.

Wrecker continued, "They are middlemen for sure. They get good product from the people down at the port. They stomp on the stuff at their clubhouse out in Daniville. We’ve looked the place over. Ten targets at least, including two high-value targets. From what we have learned, drug running is top, but they run guns and girls. Slave trade. The gang leaders are Black Carl Smalter and Dale Genkin. They have contacts all over the place. Permission to scrub them."

Gadget asked, "What did Lisha say?"

Wrecker told her, "They are unofficially untouchable by the cops."

She nodded. "Conditionally, permission granted. We need to know more about them. Talk to them first. See if we can flip them." She turned and returned to the band.

Wrecker nodded, "Infiltration it is."

The pair left, and Gadget went back by way of Little Caesar’s for a few $5 pizzas.

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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=='''Places'''==

=== '''At The Ugly Ferret Tavern - Chapter One'''===

The duo sat on their stolen Vespas, looking at the grungy tavern. Reggy said, "Good fields of fire. Perches all over. Not good planning."

Wrecker looked around, "They are a biker gang, not strictly speaking a military unit. They didn’t plan on us."

The air inside the bar was thick with smoke and hostility. Neon lights buzzed weakly over stained pool tables, and a jukebox in the corner played a half-hearted country tune. A dozen leather-clad figures turned to watch as Wrecker and Reggy stepped through the door. Tired-looking girls in blank leather sat out of the way, drunk, stoned, or worn out.

“Welp,” Reggy muttered, glancing at the peeling wallpaper and overturned chairs. “Home sweet home.” His Broncos football jacket did not make any friends this far east. Ravens, Jets, Commanders. Maybe Cowboys for the Cheerleaders.

“You know, if they ever power-washed this place, the health department might faint,” Wrecker replied with a grin, his voice carrying just loud enough to draw a few glares.

At the bar, Dale Genkins, the VP of the Blind Reapers, leaned back on his stool, his leather vest stretching over his broad shoulders. Beside him, Smiley, the club’s Sergeant-at-Arms, cleaned his nails with a knife that looked sharp enough to gut a deer. The bartender looked worn and tired, the result of having these criminals claim his bar without so much as a "If you please."

From a shadowy corner, Black Carl, a mountain of a man with a dark history, watched with quiet intensity, his dark eyes narrowing as the newcomers approached.

“You boys lost?” Dale asked, his voice calm but loaded with menace. “This ain’t exactly tourist country, Peacock.”

“Nah, we’re right where we need to be. It’s been a long ride.” Wrecker said, swaggering up to the bar as though he owned the place. He slid into a stool and gestured to the bartender. “Two beers. Cold, if that’s a thing here. Got any pretzels or peanuts?”

Reggy stayed on his feet, leaning casually against the bar and nodding at Smiley. “Nice knife. Compensating for something?”

Smiley’s grin widened, showing off a row of uneven, chipped teeth. “Keep talking, string bean. We'll see how funny you are when I carve my initials in your forehead.”

“Smiley, enough,” Dale said, raising a hand. He turned his attention to Wrecker, his eyes scanning him up and down. “You got a lot of nerve walking in here unarmed. Either you’re real stupid, or you’ve got a death wish.”

He shrugged, "Having both has worked for me. What makes you think I’m unarmed?” Wrecker replied, taking a slow sip of the beer the bartender slid his way. “I see a bottle of Old Crow down there. Crack that bird and pour two glasses of 6 ounces. Run us a tab." He pulled a roll of bills and stuck it on its bottom. The bartender opened it and counted it. He didn’t wear a cut, so he looked to Black Carl, who gave a slight nod. The money disappeared, and he poured two tall glasses. Wrecker said, "Leave the bottle, Lucky."

Smiley eyeballed Reggy, "What about you, Stretch? You packing?"

Reggy nodded, "Ya, I’m packing, but you’ll only see it if we were in prison, princess." Smiley started moving, and Dale put his hand on his chest. "I said enough."

"So, something on your mind, such as it is?"

Wreck poured a chug of whiskey into his beer and took a drink, nodding his head, "We got a proposition.”

Dale chuckled, a low, humorless sound. “Oh, this oughta be good. What’s your pitch, tough guy?”

Wrecker leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “You boys run this area, right? But I bet the profits could be better. We know how to move goods, no questions asked. We have a great connection for military arms. And we’ve got a knack for... creative problem solving.”

“Creative problem solving,” Dale repeated, his tone flat. “That what you call sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong?”

Reggy smirked, chiming in. “Hey, we’re just trying to make a buck the American way. You know, cash businesses and criminality. Maybe add a little... somtha-somtha on the side? No offense, but subtlety doesn’t seem like your strong suit.”

Smiley growled and took a step forward, but Dale held up a hand again, stopping him in his tracks.

“You’re real funny,” Dale said, his expression unreadable. “But we don’t need outsiders meddling in our business.”

“Fair enough,” Wrecker said, finishing his beer in one long gulp. “Just thought we’d offer. Seems a shame to waste all this... potential.”

Reggy grabbed his glass and matched his friend. Smiley stared at him with naked hatred, showing his broken teeth. Reggy grinned, letting his upper and lower Orc canines show. Smiley blinked in uncertainty.

Wrecker nodded at the bikers staring daggers at them. “Yeah, real welcoming crowd. I feel the love.”

Dale stood, towering over Wrecker, and leaned in close. “The only reason you’re walking out of here in one piece is because I don’t feel like mopping up the mess. But don’t mistake that for an invitation to come back.”

“Understood.” Wrecker said, standing and dusting off his jacket as if he’d just finished a casual lunch meeting. He slipped a photo over on the bar.

Looking down, Dale said, "What are these?"

Wrecker said, "McMillan TAC-50, Heckler & Koch PSG1, and my personal favorite, the Barrett M82. We can get these reliably. We can get as many AR’s as you’d need. Our selection of handguns is diverse. Street walker prices for courtesan service. Pleasure doing business with you. We’ll be around.”

Wrecker and Reggy polished off their beers and whiskey in gulps. Wrecker looked at the bartender. "Don’t forget our tab, Lucky." He grabbed the half-empty bottle as they left.

As they walked to the door, Reggy couldn’t resist one last parting shot. “Hey, Smiley—next life, try flossing. Keeps it from scratching johnsons.”

Smiley surged forward with murder in his eyes, but Dale’s bark stopped him cold.

“Let ’em go,” Dale said, watching as the two men strolled out like they hadn’t just walked through the lion’s den.

Reggy turned at the door, looking back in, "Why Smiley, does this mean we’re not friends anymore? You know Smiley, if I thought you weren’t my friend... I just don’t think I could bear it!" Wrecker chuckled outside.

From his corner, Black Carl’s eyes followed them to the door, his expression unreadable. He whispered to a confederate beside him, "Find out who they are. Call K."

Outside, under the flickering neon sign, Wrecker turned to Reggy with a grin. “That went well.”

“Yeah, if your definition of ‘well’ is not getting stabbed in the spleen,” Reggy replied, shaking his head.

Wrecker laughed, "I was amazed at Genkins’ self-control. And I thought Smiley was going to snap! Johnsons... "

Reggy laughed, "Hey, I tried to break him, but he was just too tough for me, I guess." sighing sarcastically, "So, next round’s on you, genius. Pizza or Sushi?"”

They laughed as they disappeared into the night on their stolen Vespas, the tension of the encounter already fading into the rhythm of their camaraderie.

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=== '''Gadget Visits the Station'''===

As the weeks went by, Eddie and the Stone Bench Band developed their sound. It had gone well after they realized the takers were not around. Eddie wouldn’t talk about it, changing the subject if it was brought up. A few thugs wandered by, but they didn’t bother the buskers in this neck of the plaza. A pair came to the chalk line but shivered and lost their nerve, tossing their money in the guitar case. One caught Gadget’s eye, a street name of Billy, someday known as Billy Sharp. The shadows played tricks.

Eddie worked out a new schedule for the other buskers, keeping the best time for himself and the group. The others liked the situation fairly well. Players before seemed like warmup acts. The ones afterward got the benefit of the people that started having their lunch in the area. Gadget appraised two musicians probably in their 20s, playing saxes; Mack something & Danny Dean. They were familiar to her from other shadows. Maybe they would add the bang the group could use...

Waldo began filling a shopping cart with the group’s supplies as they went out each day and parking it in the increasingly crowded squat. A month had passed, and nerves started getting frayed. Eddie, Tiffy, Jax, Cali, Holden, Gadget, and now Waldo filled the space extremely tight.

Gadget went out on a walk one night, greeting the new dogs. She met with Wrecker and Reggy. “How’s the Station look now?”

Reggy said, “Like a shithole covered in industrial waste. Your dogs are creeping me out. But it doesn’t smell like rotted cheese, takeout, pot, and stale semen. We cleaned out the front room enough to live there. Fixed the plumbing and set up some solar cells. It’s pretty messy. You still thinking of burning it down? We have a few ideas about that. Or are you going to use it?”

Gadget pondered for a moment. “It is just about the same distance of a walk from the Station to the plaza as it is from the plaza to the squat, isn’t it?”

Wreck nodded, “Close enough.”

“Start cleaning it up for us. Leave enough junk so they feel like they clean it out when I get there. Nothing fancy. Clean cantrips and elbow grease. Do something creative in the rape room. It’s going to be hard to convince Cali. Let’s go take a look.”

Gadget looked across the street at the Station, remembering her last time there. Eliminating the lowest rung of the predatory hierarchy. The smell of damp concrete, refuse, dogs, and old grease lingered in the air.

Entering the former convenience store, she wrinkled her nose. "Seriously, guys? This place is a biohazard. You’re telling me you’ve been sleeping
in here? Without even a basic cleaning spell or... I don’t know, a mop?"

Wrecker shrugged, "What can I say? I’ve got low standards. I lived in a truck cab for years—it smelled better than this, but not by much."

Gadget turned at Reggy, who said, "I’m an orc."

Gadget looked at him deadpan, gesturing at a pile of broken furniture. "That explains the piles of ‘decorative garbage.’ What is this? An art installation called ‘Despair in Concrete’? You’ve been here a month."

Wrecker: "Hey, don’t knock it. That’s vintage junk. Wart’s crew left it here—it’s practically historical."

Gadget rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, history needs a pressure washer. Clean this place up. If we’re going to use it, I want it livable. Like, at least one rung above ‘feral.’"

Raising his eyebrow, letting his orc canine teeth show, "‘Use it’? You’re really thinking of moving your whole band here? I thought that was a joke."

"Yeah. The squat’s too crowded."

Wrecker grinned. "I mean, sure. If you’re cool with the charming ambiance of ‘industrial wasteland chic.’"

Reggy settled on the east sofa, casting several Clean cantrips out of courtesy. "We’ve been thinking of getting more than a crash pad anyway."

"Oh? Elaborate."

Wrecker said excitedly. "We’ve been charging up the car—dumping extra power into it. It’s still back in Ang Ri. We think we can use it to anchor something here. At some point, we won’t be able to disguise ourselves."

Narrowing her eyes. "Something? Be specific, Wrecker."

Reggy grinned slyly. "We’ve got a rough sketch for a place."

"And by ‘rough sketch,’ you mean...?"

Wrecker shrugged, "A few napkins. Bells on the doorknobs. Some runes drawn in oil stains. New graffiti. It’s solid, though. There is a bar we are familiar with. The Ugly Ferret. It’s been invaded by that biker gang. We tried to make a deal with them, but no luck. They were Wart’s suppliers. They are next, if you approve, on our hit list."

Gadget sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Why am I not surprised? Fine. Clean this place up first. If I bring the others here and they take one whiff of this dump, I’m blaming you two."

Reggy made a mock salute. "Yes, boss. Operation Mop and Hope, commencing."

Wrecker smirked. "And hey, once we’re done, it’ll be the classiest industrial ruin on the block."

Gadget: "Not exactly a high bar, but I’ll take it. Get to work. I’ll check in soon."

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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==='''Biker's Barbeque'''===

Sitting on a rooftop with their backs to a wall, Wrecker and Reggy contemplated their options.

Wrecker was a stocky, husky man with broad shoulders covered in tattoos. He wore a short, neatly trimmed Mohawk in red, green, purple, blue, and white. He had a camouflage jacket over his lap and camouflage pants, having gone through an army surplus store and picked patterns from different countries. He sat on a Belgian rucksack and smoked a small cigar, exhaling multicolored smoke.

Beside him, Reggy snored softly, wearing a Denver Broncos sports jacket and blue jeans, his head on a Belgian rucksack. He seemed fairly relaxed, snoring his relaxation.

Wrecker crawled over and slipped up to look down over the roof edge at the ground with a rifle scope.

Reggy mumbled, “How many? Is he there?”

Wrecker said, “About seven in cuts. Couple of girls. They’re barbecuing.”

Reggy, "Yeah, I can smell it. I’m fraking hungry." He rolled over and fell deeper asleep.

Time passed as Reggy slept, and Wrecker checked the ground.

Wrecker looked over a computer tablet, checking many details. He mumbled.

“Murder, murder, murder, armed robbery, vandalism, vandalism, rape, rape, rape, assault, assault, assault, assault, assault, drug running, gun running. Theft, cleared, cleared, cleared. Payoffs, payoffs. Twelve targets. No female targets. Black Carl... the president of the MC. Dale Genkin, Vice Pres.”

As dusk started, Wrecker looked over the edge of the roof. He laid back and kicked Reggy to wake him.

“Black Carl and Genkin just arrived. Take a look.”

Reggy crawled over and looked down. He nodded. “I see them. Say when.”

Wrecker said, “Thirty seconds.”

Reggy and Wrecker both pulled up M4 rifles, racked rounds, checked the clip, and pulled two extra clips out for each of them.

They turned around and knelt by the roof's edge, putting the four clips between them.

Wrecker said, “I don’t see Smiley. Maybe he’s inside. So let’s both hit Dale and Black Carl, then you get everyone to your right. I’ll get everyone to my left.” Reggy nodded, "Heads are yours, chests are mine."

“One, two, three," Wrecker whispered.

On three, the two swung up and aimed their rifles, taking targets.

The firing lasted fifteen seconds, then there was screaming down below, and the women fled the backyard, running and jumping into two cars and fleeing quickly.

Wrecker surveyed the damage. He and Reggy pulled up their bags and slung their weapons over their shoulders. They leapt off the roof and landed on the ground. Walking through the backyard, they took low-order pictures of the dead. Then they went through pockets, collecting money, wallets, and pocket lint. They piled weapons in a duffel bag.

Dale moaned in pain, and Wrecker looked into his dying face. "Should have made a deal, Dale. Such wasted potential." He drew his Glock and issued the coup de grâce.

Going into the house, they walked through, seeking others.

Reggy stood by the door. "All the listed targets except Smiley were outside. Didn’t see that Prospect either. Hey Wrecker, you realize we’re psychopaths?"

Wrecker nodded. "It’s crossed my mind. I became convinced on the streets of Ahyk. Let’s see what’s inside." He raised his hand, and a small glowing symbol rose in front of it. He moved the glowing symbol around the room. “Something... Move the couch.”

Reggy pulled the couch, pushing it over on its back with ease.

Wrecker knelt down, running his hand along the floor. Stopping, he punched the floor hard, pushing his hand through. He pulled hard, pulling up a large secret door. Looking down into the hole, the first thing they saw were two girls who crouched in fear. Beside them were bags of packed powder. A large collection of guns. Grocery bags of cash held together with rubber bands.

Reggy raised a symbol similar to Wrecker's. He cast a sleep spell, and the two girls went to sleep.

Wrecker removed a cell phone and called. “Wrecker. Targets neutralized except Smiley Russel. Two captives asleep. Weapons in a hole. Drugs. Send in the Cleaners.” Reggy pulled out several bags of the pressed powder, the bags of cash, and a couple of fancy pistols and stashed them in the duffel bag, smiling at Wrecker.

“That was rough out there. Mostly rough on them, of course. So... Pizza?” Reggy said.

A few minutes later, a van showed up at the Motorcycle Club's house.

The black van screeched to a halt outside the motorcycle clubhouse, its headlights cutting through the fading twilight. The Cleaners stepped out—a team of five, clad in nondescript dark clothing, each carrying specialized gear. Among them, a tall woman named Iris took charge, her presence commanding as she assessed the scene.

Inside the house, Wrecker’s phone pinged with a message: “Operation secure. Proceed to drop point.” He nodded to Reggy as he raided the biker’s half-stocked fridge. “Let’s move,” Wrecker said.

The Cleaners began their work. They cataloged the weapons, retrieved the drugs, and carefully extracted the unconscious captives. Iris paused to look at the crude bunker beneath the floor. “They knew what they were hiding,” she muttered to one of her team members, who nodded and bagged up a stash of ledgers. "Any trouble outside?"

Wrecker shook his head. "A few building code violations..."

Walking away from the scene, Wrecker with a duffel bag over his shoulder. Reggy stopped and grabbed steaks and sausages from the BBQ, tossing them in his gun bag.

Wrecker and Reggy cut through a side alley. The city’s glow contrasted with the grimness of their mission. Reggy chewed on a cold slice of leftover pizza he found at the clubhouse. “So,” he said between bites, “how long we gotta stay under the radar now?”

Wrecker smirked. “Not long. Couple of days. Iris's Cleaners know what to do. Black Carl and his crew were overdue for a reckoning. The streets are better off without them.”

Reggy grunted. “Still. It’s a slippery slope. We’re not the law.”

“No,” Wrecker said, pausing. He exhaled multicolored smoke from his cigar. “But sometimes, we’re all that stands between order and chaos.”

Back at their safe house, Wart's Station, a dingy flop in the industrial district, Wrecker checked their spoils. Among the wallets and cash, he found a photo of a young girl tucked into Black Carl’s wallet. Frowning, he set it aside. “Even monsters have something to lose,” he muttered.

Reggy looked over. “You getting soft, or just tired?”

“Neither,” Wrecker said. He locked the photo in a drawer. “This fight isn’t clean. It’s never clean. Gadget really picked a messy place to come. Crap load of thugs. Crime rate higher than the cops can manage. Cops on the criminals' payrolls.”

They turned their attention to the drugs they retrieved. Wrecker pulled out a small vial from one of the bags and examined it under a desk lamp. “This is good stuff. High quality. Got a good connection. This stuff hasn’t been cut yet.” He looked at the rest of the take; cash, pistols, sausages, steaks, herb. Counting cash, sorting it, "About 15 grand of operating money. The pistols look OK, got a nice Desert Eagle. One of their pretty guns. Couple of bags of weed. You had to throw meat on all? The cash smells like grease."

Reggy pulled over the sausages and steaks, setting them on top of an empty pizza box as he listened to his partner. "I learned my lesson, daddy. Eat a good meal before mass murder."

Reggy leaned over, looking at the cut-open bundle. He scooped out a cup full with a coffee cup, cast a Clean cantrip on the table, poured out a pile of powder, and started cutting lines.

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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=='''Surprise'''==

Holden emerged cautiously from beneath the deep shrubbery, his gaze flickering left and right before tilting upward toward the pale glow of the moon. His tangled hair clung to his damp forehead, a testament to the effort that had left him breathless. Slowly, he wiped the sweat from his brow and exhaled.

Rising to his feet, he scanned the empty park. Moonlight bathed the space, casting a soft sheen on his lightly fuzzed chest, still glistening from exertion. His wide-eyed expression held a mix of wonder and disbelief, as if caught between dream and reality. He raked a hand through his unruly hair, smoothing it back as his fingers came away moist.

A glance downward brought a flicker of self-awareness. Though he had never considered his manhood much to boast about, it stirred again, responding in a way that surprised even him. Seventeen years old and hardened by life on the streets, he had spent four years scraping by with odd jobs and busking. Opportunities for intimacy had been rare, fleeting luxuries he could hardly afford to dream about.

Tonight, however, was different. Bliss and awe coursed through him, leaving his mind adrift in the memory of what had just transpired—the highlight of his life thus far.

Then, a firm hand, insistent and unyielding, brought him back to the moment. Startled, he glanced down. Mismatched eyes, one green and one hazel, shimmered in the moonlight, framed by vibrant blue hair. Her mischievous smile captivated him, demanding his full attention.

Wordlessly, he knelt back into the shadows of the shrubbery, surrendering to her unspoken desires, ready to continue their shared exploration of the night.

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=== '''Calling The Car'''===

Wrecker and Reggy had finished clearing the garage of the Station. Years of disuse and misuse had made various squatters throw everything into the garage. Reggy kept joking with things, a doll, a bent bicycle, a fur seat cover. Wrecker had kept them in beer. The smell of mundane cleaning supplies filled the air of the mid-winter day.

One of the advantages that they had gained from the Day of the Change was they had gained greater strength and endurance. Their adventures since had improved them dramatically. Their passage through the Sigil of Fort Garland had changed them even further. Power has its privileges.

They had spent several hours hauling debris from the garage to reveal the cement below. Sweeping got the last of the clutter. That was followed with Clean cantrips to remove decades of oil, gas, grease, and blood.

Reggy said, “Well, that wasn’t too bad. The two storage rooms won’t take long. Though the one with the mattresses is going to take something more than cantrips. Do you remember the Low Order sorcery Clean spell?”

Wrecker shook his head. “No, I didn’t pay attention to the Low Order Sorcery stuff. Too much finger-waving time, lynchpins, and stuff. I always feel like I might be casting something, sneeze, and blast off half my head. Let Gadget clean them when she brings her little band here. We can’t do everything. We don’t need those rooms. The living room has two couches. Those the Clean cantrips can manage till we can get some help.”

Wrecker said, “Then we are ready to see if the summoning will work.”

Reggy nodded, “After some sleep and some beer.”

A few hours later, the two soldiers had stripped down and cast Clean cantrips on their clothes. They had sat in the living room that had once been a convenience store lobby and cast Mend cantrips on their clothes and Chill cantrips on the beer. Getting dressed again, they returned to the garage.

Wrecker chuckled. “When I was a truck driver, I never imagined that one day I would be some kind of half-wizard. OK, the Army made me a soldier for a time, but the rest is just bizarre.”

Reggy nodded, “When I was Denver Police, I thought people who dressed up like elves and orcs were crazy. Now I’m an orc. The Sigil of Fort Garland made me able to become a human again if I want as well as a weird deer thing with wings. I’m not sure I know what a normal life is anymore. But I am enjoying wrecking these thugs.”

Wrecker opened the garage door out to a silent street that rarely saw traffic. Outside, two large dogs looked in at the pair. They felt Gadget's bond urge them to obey the pair. They walked in and settled against a wall out of the way.

The soldiers of Gadget's army settled down to business. “Let’s get our ride.”

Wrecker and Reggy knelt on the cold, cleaned cement, the faint scent of ozone lingering from their earlier cantrips. With careful precision, they drew glowing chalk sigils into twin circles, their lines pulsing faintly with otherworldly energy. Wrecker’s form rippled as he shrank into the squat, rugged shape of a dwarf, his beard thickening like wildfire. Across from him, Reggy’s skin darkened to a deep emerald hue, tusks jutting slightly as his orc form took shape. With synchronized movements, they raised shimmering symbols, their edges crackling like firelight. The garage filled with a low hum, as if the walls themselves held their breath.

Time passed as the two concentrated on the sigils before them, glowing blue and white. Small sparks appeared at junctions where lines crossed.

Soon after the stroke of midnight, a horn bleated as a purple and white 55 Bel-Air turned off the street into the space between the odd pair of friends. Moments later, its exquisite paint scheme changed to a scratched black and a rusty white with a satisfied hum. The car's license plate said, “Strut.”

The pair put a hand on the car's hood. They smiled. Wrecker said, “Hello, boy. You ready to rock and roll?” The engine roared, and the pipes belched a burst of fire.

Reggy stood, “Let’s cruise.”

Wrecker held a door open, and the two dogs leapt into the backseat. He climbed behind the steering wheel with a big smile. Reggy lit a cigar as they backed out of the garage. Three dogs of Gadget's pack skipped in to guard the open garage door.

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=== '''Lucky and the Ugly Ferret'''===

Wrecker and Reggy walked into the quiet, darkened bar, thick with the despair that clung to the place once dominated by the Riders. The bartender, whom Wrecker had dubbed Lucky, was sitting backward on the bar, pouring himself a pint. He looked up and slipped down onto the ground, his expression shifting to one of suspicion as he remembered the last time the two had been there.

"Ah... what can I get you... fellas?" he asked hesitantly.

Wrecker took a seat. "Well, you had a bottle of Old Crow. I know because I took it. Do you happen to have any more?"

Reggy wandered over to the dark booth once inhabited by Black Carl. He peered closely at it before stepping to a doorway covered by a ragged cloth, glancing beyond it.

Lucky brought up a bottle and pushed it toward Wrecker. "Is my tab still good?" Wrecker asked.

Lucky nodded. "It is. You gave me a grand. Not that I got to keep it."

Wrecker raised an eyebrow. "Those guys still own the place?"

Lucky shook his head. "I own it, but they sort of... well, *own it*. They must be on a long run. It’s been a month since they were here." He glanced at Reggy, who chuckled. "Ah, you looking for something?"

Reggy smirked. "Just looking around. Seeing if any of the guys are back there, you know, hiding? That a storeroom? It’s sure full of stuff."

Lucky stiffened. "No one’s here but me. I haven’t had more than a couple of customers a day for a month. Like I said, they’re on a run. Yeah, that’s their stuff, and you should stay out of there. They don’t take kindly to people messing with their stuff."

Wrecker glanced at Reggy, made a hand sign, and spoke to him in Ang Rin—the language of Ang Ri, where the pair had recently spent significant time. "What’s back there?"

Reggy replied in imperfect Ang Rin, struggling for words. "Storage, junk. Couple of..." He paused, searching for the term for “performance space.” "...arena...sands." Switching to English, he clarified, "A couple of stages." Then, in Ang Rin again, "Good space. Stairs upstairs."

Wrecker turned back to Lucky. "You don’t miss them, I bet. They tax you pretty heavy?"

Lucky let out a bitter laugh. "No, they take *everything*. Luckily, I skim enough to live on. I sent my wife to Alabama—kin—three years ago, after the Reapers moved in on me. For her own sake. Look, they really hated you guys. You don’t want to be here when they come back."

Wrecker smiled. "Having no visible means of support makes us hard to find."

Reggy said, "Anyway, Lucky, if they come back, it’s fine. We know necromancers." He rapped his knuckles against the bar. "Beer, any time I knock." He grabbed the beer Lucky passed him, taking a long swig. Wrecker chuckled.

"My name’s Wrecker. My mother had an attitude. He’s Reggy. You’ve got a nice place here, if it weren’t filled with scumbags."

Lucky scowled. "You making a joke, Wrecker? The place is a shithole. I bought it from the previous owner, who didn’t tell me he had these... scumbags squatting here. I put my life savings into buying the place and did some cleanup. I was hoping to have a nice little spot. At first, I didn’t know why the locals avoided it, and I couldn’t get anyone to tell me what the problem was.

“We moved in upstairs. The back was full of junk—boxes, trash, a couple dozen motorcycles in pieces. I was looking through things and found a trunk full of weed. I couldn’t decide if I should go to the police. Then they showed up. Refused to leave, refused to lock up. Hit on my wife hard. Made it clear they owned the place and everyone in it. Made it clear my wife was their whore now. Pretty sure one raped her, but she wouldn’t say anything."

Wrecker polished off his glass and poured
another. "That’s when you sent her south?"

Lucky nodded. "Yeah, and took a hell of a beating for it. They all wanted a taste, I guess. Look, I appreciate you guys coming in and all, but if the Riders find you here, they’ll kill you."

Wrecker shrugged. "I’ll risk it. You know them all, their whole chapter? Know about other chapters?"

"Yeah, sure. There are five other chapters—New York, Toronto, Durham, Jacksonville, and New Orleans. Why?"

"How many in their chapter here?"

"Uh, 13 or 14 patched members, a few prospects. About a dozen girls—four are regulars, the others are hangers-on, hooking for them. They provide protection around here. Protection from them, mostly."

Reggy made a tiny hand gesture, and Wrecker nodded. Reggy pulled out a stack of cardstock and laid them on the bar. Lucky’s eyes widened as he saw the photos on the cards. "Who did we miss?"

Lucky stared at the photos, his face pale. "What... what happened to them?"

Reggy chuckled. "Kinetic energy poisoning. They’re not acting. So, who did we miss?"

Lucky examined the photos. "Ah, Gorgie, Little Harold, oh... Smiley. Smiley’s a psycho. None of the girls."

Reggy shrugged. "Yeah... I’ll catch up with Smiley."

"They’re all dead? Uh... look, why are you showing me these?"

Wrecker leaned in, his voice low and deliberate. "Because we need to know how many are loose. We need to know who they got their stuff from, who they did business with, and who else is going to come looking for us. You look scared."

Lucky hesitated. "I don’t want any trouble."

"You’re not in trouble," Wrecker said. "Look, we need a hangout, and you need new customers. What’s upstairs? How much of the building do you own?"

Lucky sighed. "The club extends into the warehouse. A few stories. It’s got a big space back there, but it’s been empty for years. Not a lot going on around here. We’re in the industrial zone but close enough to get foot traffic. With the Riders gone, things might pick up, depending on what you guys are doing here."

Reggy and Wrecker exchanged glances, then nodded.

"Here’s the deal," Wrecker said, his tone casual but firm. "You get protection, money, and a chance to turn this dump into something respectable. We don’t need your money. Keep it. In return, you keep your mouth shut about what we’re doing here. We’ll even pay for our drinks."

He set a roll of bills on the counter. "That’s about five grand. Any questions?"

Lucky hesitated, his gaze darting between the roll of cash and Wrecker’s steely eyes. He thought of his wife in Alabama, safe but far away, and of the Riders’ blood-stained reign. Finally, he nodded. "Alright. But if this goes south, we’ll all be dead."

Reggy asked, "By the way, what’s your name?"

Lucky looked around, weighed his options, and said, "I’ll stick with Lucky."

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Certainly! Below is the continuation of the story, revised to maintain consistent past tense. I'll continue from where we left off, ensuring all tenses are corrected and the narrative flows smoothly.

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=='''Moving Day at the Station'''==

The next day, Gadget returned to the squat and explained the situation to Eddie. He groaned about the extra work but eventually agreed. Cali would take the most convincing, of course. At first, Gadget gave up on the move and started thinking of finding someplace else, maybe even taking over the bar Wrecker and Reggy found. In the end, though, the Station made more sense.

Busking had been good for months. The band had started playing together during peak traffic hours in the plaza and had started getting quite a following.

One day, a young woman had asked them how many songs they could do and if they were interested in playing a party. That led them to a backyard on a Saturday evening, playing everything they could think of to a crowd of around sixty partygoers. Cali wouldn’t look at the crowd, but otherwise, the group had a heck of a time and ate well. They got $300 in pocket and another $300 in tips. Afterwards, the squat was a celebration as all six members of the band got $90, and Waldo got $60. Not a fortune, but they talked about months when they wouldn’t get $10 a day busking. To top the evening off, they had another gig the next weekend and a possibility of a second one.

Waldo, who rarely talked anymore, suggested they go to Walmart and buy two or three folding wagons. The group looked at him with uncertainty, but he explained that they all hauled gear to the plaza and back almost every day, but going to a gig might take a bit more work. It wasn’t as if any of them had a car. Eddie looked at Gadget, then Tiffy, then around the group to a general agreement. It was agreed that three wagons would carry most of their gear more easily than they could carry it. It was then they realized it had been four months since Wart’s guys disappeared, and no one was taxing them in their place. Tiffy asked how much money everyone had. They had been eating well since they started chipping in from their take from busking. Sometimes they played as a group, sometimes they played on their own.

The amount was surprising to them, despite the $90 each had got from the gig. The total was over a thousand dollars. For buskers, this was a fortune. The habit of hiding away change was deeply ingrained in them. The total had crept up on all of them.

That was when Gadget made the suggestion that caused the real uproar. The squat had always been tight, and with the addition of Colette's supplies—cots, sleeping bags, ice chest, blankets—the place had become a cozy maze for the group, building and bonding them, but the time for a change was coming. Her suggestion of taking over the Station was met with horror by Cali and Jax, rightly so, but the others wanted to at least see the place.

After an expedition to the dog town the Station was in, Eddie and Holden both agreed it was worth considering. Gadget had to talk Cali into considering it and used a subtle mental push to make her forget parts of the nightmare she had experienced.

As they discussed the move, the fateful question was asked. Cali asked it.

"What do we do if Wart and his guys come back?" Eddie looked at Gadget, passing to her the lie she would tell. Gadget said, "They got in trouble with a biker gang, the Blind Reapers." Holden nodded, "Yeah, they supplied them. Could they have...killed them?"

Eddie told him, "We may never know." Nodding to Gadget, knowing.

Moving into it took a straight run of gear. Holden and Eddie rounded up six shopping carts and the three folding wagons. They packed their meager belongings and made their way across the plaza. People barely glanced at them, so used they were to people living out of shopping carts that they had become invisible to them.

The Station was still a mess. Gadget saw the strategic mess Wrecker and Reggy had left. Piles of debris in the garage mostly pushed aside. A new garage door opener was installed and purposefully distressed. The Station had no electricity, and that would have to wait. Wrecker had explained to her what it would take to connect the place to the local line, and it had seemed prohibitively risky. It was Reggy who suggested they get a power source from the TW guys in Ang Ri. A conversation with Dalt, Rafe, and the Total Warrior medic ended up with them getting a power generator the size of a pair of decks of cards. The TW guy explained that it would be easy to install and explained the process to Wrecker. Gadget knew it would just take stringing the wire. Time enough later.

The bedding where Cali’s ordeal occurred was gone. Gadget shook her head but admired her companions' creative efforts. They had clearly used Fire Cantrips to burn the room once they had emptied offending details. A chest of drawers, tool chests, and various debris had been left to fuel the blaze. She could feel the magical residue of Fire Cantrips and Extinguish Cantrips they had used. For two warriors, they were showing considerable ingenuity in using the few magical talents they had.

After a couple of days, the debris was gone, and conversations about what to do with the place had filled the time in between practicing. Jax made the uncharacteristic comment that they shouldn’t miss too many days of busking, or someone else would take their stone benches. There was general agreement, and it was decided to return to the plaza the next day.

The sun hung low over the city just after dawn as the group filed out of the Station, their spirits buoyed by the new wave of success that came with their latest gig. But beneath the euphoria, the same gnawing fear lingered. Eddie felt it most acutely. His hands were steady, but there was a weight to his thoughts. Since the gig, the extra cash had gone straight to his head. The first drink at the backyard party felt like a celebration, the second like relief, but now… now it was becoming a crutch, an itch he couldn’t scratch fast enough. He caught Holden’s eye as they walked down the street toward the plaza, eyeballing the Goodwill as they went by, trying to ignore the gnawing in his chest. Holden didn’t say anything, but he could tell—Holden could always tell. The old man, at seventeen, had more successfully kicked his habits long ago, but the silence between them now spoke volumes.

“Everything alright?” Holden’s voice was low, careful.

“Yeah. Just thinking,” Eddie muttered, kicking a loose stone down the sidewalk.

Taking their usual spot, Waldo made more complete efforts laying out their instruments, Eddie and Holden's pig-amps, and putting blankets on the stone benches. Passersby in the early morning air noticed them setting up. Some exchanged comments with the group. Several who had bought breakfasts to go decided to sit and listen to them. Their morning was musical and productive. It was also profitable. But they were still at heart a bit nervous.

Among the small crowd, Gadget saw Wrecker and Reggy sit, each with a breakfast pizza rolled like a burrito. They nodded at her gaze.

Afternoon, the Goodwill store was busy as usual, but today the crowd felt heavier, more pressing. They’d come for furniture—a couch, a few chairs, anything that could make the Station feel more like a home and less like a hollow shell. Tiffy and Cali meandered through the aisles, their eyes glazed with the same detached exhaustion that had become their default since moving into the Station. Cali's face was pale under the fluorescent lights, her gaze darting away from the other shoppers. She hadn’t spoken much since her encounter with Wart's gang, her mind still replaying the sharp edges of that time, the familiar terror twisting her gut.

“I don’t know about all this…” Tiffy murmured as she ran her fingers along the chipped edge of a secondhand armchair. “It feels… wrong. Like we’re just asking for trouble.”

Holden paused beside her, giving her a quiet nod. “It’s part of it, Tiff. We get things that make our place ours, and we start making it known. But that doesn’t mean we go looking for trouble.”

“You can’t just pretend trouble’s not gonna find us,” Cali snapped from the far side of the store, her voice tight. She was still raw, still haunted, and the old patterns were creeping back in.

Gadget said, "We aren’t. We are ready to manage whatever happens. Otherwise, we live in fear."

Waldo shuffled up next to them, his eyes scanning the aisles, but his attention was elsewhere. He’d lived through things that none of them could fully understand—not just the streets, but the darker alleyways of the criminal world. He knew how easy it was for someone to slip into their lives, offering help only to tighten the noose around their necks later. He hoped that wasn’t how they saw him. He picked up a book and glanced at the cover.

“You know, these gangs don’t just stay in the shadows forever,” Waldo said softly, his voice carrying a quiet warning. “They’ll come looking for us. Not yet, but soon. We’ve got money now. Not a lot, but enough to make us targets.” He glanced at Gadget, his eyes unwavering, a silent vow there. He was dedicated to her, to keeping her safe and helping her plans, despite knowing firsthand how dangerous she was, but even he knew that safety was just an illusion in a city like this.

They left Goodwill with a pair of couches and some mismatched chairs, enough to make the Station feel less like a forgotten corner of the world and more like a place where people lived. The place still smelled like stale air and gasoline, but now there were splashes of color, the start of a life growing in the space.

Back at the Station, they spread out and got to work. Eddie carried the old couch inside with Holden, while Tiffy and Cali tried to paint the walls. It was grueling, tedious work, but it was
something they could control. Something tangible. Each brushstroke against the cracked walls was a step toward owning their own future. It didn’t change the fact that they were in the middle of a city teeming with danger, but at least it was something real.

“I used to do this in my old life,” Waldo said, taking a break from hauling furniture to help lay a fresh coat of white paint over the yellowed walls. His hands were steady, even if his mind was racing with darker thoughts. He wasn’t sure how long they could keep their heads down, but they had a few months, at least. It was better than nothing. Tiffy asked, “Paint?” Waldo shook his head, “Move furniture.” He blanched, not wanting to remind them that as part of Wart's crew, he would have been in a lot of their burglaries.

The sound of scraping brushes and the occasional burst of laughter filled the Station as the group worked. It was strange, being here, a place that didn’t feel like home but was starting to. Maybe it was the familiar mess, the clutter that had once represented their survival now becoming part of their new normal. Maybe it was the way they laughed at little things that shouldn’t be funny, or the fact that they had enough money to paint the walls and buy furniture. They had a place of pride to hang Eddie's beloved Red Elvisis Ukrainian Rock group poster. He had even joked about getting it framed.

But as the walls of the Station took on new life, so did their dreams of what it could become. Even with the growing danger, even with the looming threat of the gangs and predators that prowled the city, they were starting to see that this might be their chance at something more—something they had been denied for so long. And the price of that dream? They’d have to face down whatever came for them, together. "Alright," Holden said, wiping his hands on his jeans as he surveyed the room. "Let’s get some more work done tomorrow. This place is gonna look like a real home soon enough."

Tiffy and Cali exchanged looks, both of them still unsure, but it was a step forward. It had to be.

Waldo stood off to the side, eyes narrowed, scanning the shadows outside the garage door. It felt like they were waiting for something—waiting for it all to fall apart or waiting for the other shoe to drop. But at least for now, they had their Station. At least for now, they were alive and together. But that was more than they had yesterday.

In the distance, he saw the dogs, behaving oddly somehow. Some were disturbingly close. He began to wonder if Gadget had something to do with that?

Then in the distance, he saw Gadget's two friends, the guy with the Mohawk and the guy with the Denver jacket. Gadget passed him going out.

“Keep a lid on things, Waldo. I'm going for a walk.” She walked directly to them as if she knew they were there.

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Got it! I’ll revise the text you provided to ensure all tense inconsistencies are corrected to past tense. I’ll go through it systematically and make the necessary adjustments. Here's the corrected version:

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Gadget walked a few blocks from the station with Wrecker and Reggy to slip into an industrial warehouse that had walls trashed and falling away. Looking into the shadows, she asked, "So what’s the plan, guys?"

Wrecker said, "We’ve taken over the Ugly Ferret. Its owner is Benjamin Ross, wife Imelda. He’s from Amarillo, Texas. She’s from El Paso but grew up south of the border with family. He goes by Lucky now. The place has a small dive bar area in front and a good-sized side room. The bikers had been storing junk there. It’s got two small stages. It looked like it was a club of some kind a couple of decades ago." He pulled out a Cuban cigar and lit it, inhaling its strong scent. "They kept about 20 boxes of Cuban cigars at the Ferret. Lucky was happy to hand them over."

Gadget took the cigar and tested it, giving Wrecker a look. He chuckled and pulled out another and lit it.

Reggy added, "He also has warehouse space east of the club, part of his back room. Lots of clutter in there as well as a sort of garage area. It looked like they had some medical issues at some point. Dried blood, bandages. Just pushed into a corner. Years old. The place is a fucking mess. He has a floor over the warehouse with a few crappy apartments. Lucky and his wife started renovations there but stopped when the wackos took over the place. It looked like it was abandoned with the rest of the place decades ago, just leaving the bar open. Lucky bought the place at a steal. If we weren’t taking the place over ourselves, I’d be inclined to find the realtor that sold it to him and shoot a toe off him. As it is though...."

Gadget nodded, "Ok, how long till it’s ready for the group? We did a backyard party, have one on Saturday and another next week."

Wrecker and Reggy looked at each other for a few moments, then Wrecker nodded, "Week after. Let us haul out the junk. Check the wiring and the lighting. The place needs a coat of paint, but that would take a while....."

Gadget chuckled, "You know what, how about this? The Opening Night show could be a paint night. Get a couple dozen cases of spray paint and give them to customers. Let them paint the walls. If Lucky is OK with it, of course." The three chuckled.

"It’s a start. I’d say we need to drop a few hundred grand into general renovations throughout, but we need professionals for that. In the meantime, the crappy look is perfect for a rave space. Expand into the big space once we sort the place out. You’re planning to push your group hard, it seems. I thought they did in the other shadows on their own?"

"I’ve done some exploring. They had a manager and three diehard roadies, plus a brass section that backed them in most shadows. Here, that manager and two of the roadies are dead. The 5-piece brass only has 3 in this section, still in high school, but they were at the backyard party. I’ll make sure they’re there for the Ferret opening..."

Gadget raised her hand, sniffing the air. She was being hunted. Wrecker and Reggy knew her look and flipped their Glocks to their hands, Wrecker putting the handle of his lightsaber in his left.

She looked around, trying to find the cause. After a few moments, she saw a group of dogs slowly spreading out in the dark.

Wrecker said softly, "I’m guessing these aren’t yours?"

Gadget said, "No.... I’ve gotten about 70 or so of the local pack. From them, I’ve learned that’s around half. And the leader... I think it’s the brute in the center."

Reggy, Glock in his left hand, said, "I count about 25, but there are more in the dark. It’s your ballgame, Gadg. Fight or flight?"

Wrecker said, "The car isn’t far. Dash distance."

Gadget said, "If I run, I’ll lose the rest of the pack. I need to make it clear to this guy who’s in charge."

She stepped away from her friends, inhaling deeply, growling, centering her psyche. Standing, she watched the big brute come away from the others, who spread out behind him.

"I don’t want to kill you. I can tell you’ve been hurt. Beaten. Tortured. Come to me. Join me." She emitted the sensation of love offered, of healing offered. She sent thoughts of the pack, her pack, a great pack.

From him, she felt anger. Fear. Desperation. The insistent demand that she submit. That she roll her belly over. Let him mount her. Be his bitch.

She almost chuckled. He had to learn or die. She felt the moment approaching. She growled and lowered to her hands and knees. Arching her back and raising her hackles. The brute started to circle, but Gadget was unmoved.

Her shape shifted, her clothing falling away, stepping out of shoes, slipping out of trousers, and pulling shirts up and off. Nude for a moment, her skin grew fur, bright white, her eyes bright blue. The brute looked on uncertainly, growing angry. He leaped, clearing Gadget the wolf, who rolled under the leap.

The brute had fought thousands of battles in its long, tortured years, but it had never faced an actual wolf like his father. But this wasn’t an actual wolf. Its scent was terrifying and different. Unlike anything he had ever met. Worse than the cruel men whose hot blood he had drunk to free himself. This was... something else.

Gadget had rarely fought in this form. But this was a challenge. And it began. The brute ran hard rather than leaping, grabbing her fur and trying to sink his teeth into her flesh. She twisted beneath him, grabbing his claws and tearing them with her great strength. He howled in shock at the sudden pain.

Pouncing away, he turned on her, going low, growling. Gadget curved to face him. She felt his desire to die rather than lose. She couldn’t destroy this ancient warrior.

The brute lunged again, this time aiming for Gadget’s throat. She sidestepped with the grace of a predator, her movements fluid and precise. His teeth snapped shut on empty air, and she retaliated with a swift, powerful swipe of her paw, catching him across the muzzle. The brute stumbled back, shaking his head, blood dripping from his nose. But he didn’t retreat. His eyes burned with a mix of rage and desperation, and Gadget could feel his resolve hardening. He wasn’t just fighting for dominance—he was fighting for survival, for the only life he had ever known.

The brute charged again, this time feinting to the left before darting to the right, trying to catch her off guard. Gadget anticipated the move, her heightened senses giving her an edge. She met him head-on, their bodies colliding with a force that sent a shockwave through the air. They grappled, teeth snapping, claws slashing, each trying to gain the upper hand. The brute’s strength was immense, his muscles coiled like steel springs, but Gadget’s agility and cunning gave her the advantage. She twisted and turned, using his momentum against him, forcing him to overextend.

With a sudden burst of speed, she broke free and circled him, her icy blue eyes locked onto his. The brute growled, low and guttural, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his gaze now. He had never faced an opponent like her—a creature that was both wolf and something more. Gadget took a step forward, her hackles raised, her teeth bared in a silent snarl. The brute hesitated, and in that moment, she struck.

She lunged, her powerful jaws clamping down on his shoulder. He howled in pain, thrashing wildly, but she held firm, her grip unyielding. With a fierce shake of her head, she threw him to the ground, pinning him beneath her. The brute struggled, his claws raking at her sides, but she ignored the pain, her focus unwavering. She released his shoulder and placed a paw on his chest, her weight pressing him down. Her muzzle dipped close to his, her breath hot against his face.

“Submit,” she growled, her voice a low rumble that reverberated through the air. The brute’s struggles slowed, then stopped. His body went still, and for a moment, there was only silence. Then, with a whimper, he lowered his head, exposing his throat in a gesture of surrender. Gadget stepped back, releasing him, and watched as he slowly rose to his feet. His eyes met hers, and she saw the change in him—the fear and anger replaced by a grudging respect. He laid his belly to the ground. Gadget stepped over, laying a paw on his hip. She laid over him, letting her body warm him. Accepting him. He shuddered beneath her uncertainly, unsure. Not since his littermates had he felt the warmth. He felt his body surrender to her. He was her Brute.

She stepped back, raising to her feet. She shimmered, and her fur started shifting, her size increased. It had been years since she held her true form as a Hound of Mandalay, a Lady of Mandalay, and blood of Amber. Her size increased to the size of a large Clydesdale horse. Small for her race, small compared to her father Fleece, son of Oberon, but still greater than any wolf this world had ever known. Seated on her haunches, she howled at the moon, a sound heard for miles around. They needed to see her, who they followed.

The other dogs, who had been watching the fight in tense silence, began to approach, their tails low, their heads bowed. Gadget stood tall, her white fur gleaming in the dim light, her presence commanding. She had won not just the fight but their loyalty. The brute stepped forward, his movements stiff and pained, and bowed his head once more. Gadget reached out, her muzzle brushing against his in a gesture of acceptance. The pack was hers.

From far and wide, her part of the pack came in response to her howl and joined in, seeing their former comrades now joined into Gadia's Pack. Gadia, called Gadget, though they would not understand the name.

She stood, walking among the dogs, greeting them, Brute beside her,
soon joined by Savage, now the Second of Gadget's pack behind the Brute. Toward the other dogs, they fell in submission, the Brute beside her. She gathered them around her. They howled together.

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Continuing with the revision to ensure all tense inconsistencies are corrected to past tense. Here's the next section:

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As the howls of the pack echoed through the industrial wasteland, Gadget stood tall, her massive form radiating authority. The brute, now named Brute by her, stood at her side, his earlier defiance replaced by a quiet loyalty. Savage, the scarred leader of the smaller pack she had already tamed, took his place as her second-in-command, his eyes gleaming with newfound purpose. The rest of the dogs—some mangy, some scarred, all survivors—circled her, their tails low but their spirits lifted by her presence.

Gadget’s voice, a deep, resonant growl, carried over the pack. “You are mine now. Together, we are strong. No more fighting among yourselves. No more fear. We protect each other. We hunt together. We survive together.” The dogs whined and yipped in response, their instincts recognizing her as their alpha.

Wrecker and Reggy watched from a distance, their expressions a mix of awe and unease. Reggy holstered his pistol, his hands still trembling slightly. “I’ve seen some crazy shit in my time,” he muttered, “but that? That’s next level. I think I'm going to need a change of pants.”

Wrecker nodded, his cigar dangling from his lips. “She’s not just a wolf. She’s something else entirely. She’s an Amberite after all.” He exhaled a plume of smoke, his eyes narrowing as he watched Gadget move among the dogs, her presence commanding yet strangely nurturing. “We’re lucky she’s on our side.”

Gadget turned to them, her glowing blue eyes piercing through the dim light. “We’re done here,” she said, her voice shifting back to its human tone as her form shimmered and shrank, fur receding, limbs reshaping until she stood before them, fully human once more. She grabbed her discarded clothes and began dressing, her movements calm and deliberate. “The pack will keep watch over the Station and the Ferret. They’ll alert us if anyone—or anything—tries to cause trouble.”

Reggy raised an eyebrow. “You’re seriously going to have a bunch of dogs as your security detail?”

Gadget smirked. “Not just dogs. A pack. And they’re more loyal—and more effective—than most humans I’ve met.” She glanced at Brute, who sat obediently at her feet, his massive frame still trembling slightly from the fight. “Besides, they’ve got a leader now who knows what it means to survive.”

Wrecker chuckled, shaking his head. “Alright, boss. Whatever you say. But if I wake up to a bunch of dogs licking my face, I’m blaming you.” Gadget laughed, the sound sharp and bright in the otherwise grim surroundings. “Deal. Now, let’s get back to the Station. We’ve got a lot of work to do before the Ferret’s opening night.”

As they walked back, the pack followed at a distance, their presence a silent but powerful reminder of Gadget’s growing influence. The industrial zone, once a place of danger and decay, now felt like territory under her control. The dogs patrolled the edges, their sharp eyes and keen noses alert for any threat.

When they reached the Station, the rest of the Stone Bench Group was waiting, their faces a mix of curiosity and concern. Eddie was the first to speak. “What the hell happened out there? We heard howling—like, a lot of howling.”

Gadget shrugged, her expression casual but her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Just a little pack bonding. Nothing to worry about.”

Cali crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. “Pack bonding? You mean you went out and tamed a bunch of wild dogs?”

“Something like that. I tamed two. They tamed the rest,” Gadget replied, her smirk widening. “Let’s just say we’ve got some new friends watching our backs now.”

Jax, who had been quietly tuning his bongos, looked up with a grin. “Dogs, huh? That’s kinda cool. Can they play drums?” Gadget laughed. “Not yet. But give me time.”

The group chuckled, unsure how serious she was, the tension easing as they returned to their preparations for an upcoming party gig. But as Gadget settled into a chair, her mind was already racing ahead. The pack was just the beginning. With their help, she could secure the area, protect her friends, and build something lasting. And when the time came to face whatever threats lay ahead, she knew they’d be ready.

Behind her, Brute lay down at her feet, his massive head resting on his paws. Savage curled up nearby, his scarred face calm for the first time in years. The pack was hers, and together, they were unstoppable. The rest of the band looked at them with concern. "Are they safe? They look vicious."

Gadget regarded her two new friends. Standing, she clucked her fingers, and they came to her. She walked around the room, holding each band member around the shoulders and guiding a hand for the dogs to smell, lick. Eddie looked as if he was going to pop his eyes out of his head, but he knew well what Gadget was capable of. Holden and Tiffy managed the introductions well. Jax petted them eagerly, apparently a fan of dogs.

When she came to Cali, her bag shook. Buster stuck his head out, and the dogs instantly thought prey. Gadget slammed her thought into the two warrior dogs that the cat Buster was part of the pack. They looked at her and accepted it with uncertainty. But she was the alpha. Cali let them sniff her hand and smell Buster on it. Gadget was satisfied.

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Continuing with the revision to ensure all tense inconsistencies are corrected to past tense. Here's the next section:

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Reggy, still looking a little shaken, leaned over to Wrecker and whispered, “You think she’s done surprising us yet?” Wrecker shook his head, his grin widening. “Not a chance. With Gadget, the surprises are just getting started.”

The two left the place of battle, followed by a dozen dogs who knew what their duties were. Several liked the two rough friends of the wolf.

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==='''It’s All About the Basses'''===

Cali sat cross-legged on the floor of the Station, her bass resting across her lap. She ran her fingers lightly over the strings, plucking out a slow, melancholic rhythm. Her bass was a classic Fender Precision Bass, a 4-string with a deep, resonant tone that had been her companion through countless performances. It was simple, reliable, and familiar—a grounding force in her chaotic life.

Gadget walked in, her 6-string bass slung over her shoulder. It was a battered Ibanez BTB686SC, its polished wood barely held together by polish under the dim light. She sat down beside Cali, setting the bass across her knees. Cali glanced at it, her curiosity piqued. “That thing looks like a spaceship compared to mine,” she said, a small smile tugging at her lips, a smile still a new thing for her.

Gadget chuckled, running her hand along the neck of her bass. “Six-strings. Two extra strings—a low B and a high C—give it a wider range. It’s like having a bass and a guitar rolled into one.” She plucked the low B string, the deep, rumbling note vibrating through the room. “This one’s for those earth-shaking lows,” she said, then shifted to the high C, producing a bright, almost guitar-like tone. “And this one’s for when you want to soar.”

Cali tilted her head, listening intently. “It’s a whole different sound.”

“Exactly,” Gadget replied. “With a 4-string, you’re locked into that classic bass role—holding down the low end, keeping the rhythm tight. But with a 6-string, you can step into the spotlight. You can play chords, melodies, even solos if you’re feeling bold.” She demonstrated, her fingers dancing across the strings as she played a complex, melodic line that wove seamlessly between low and high registers.

Cali watched, her eyes wide with admiration. “That’s… incredible. But doesn’t it make things harder? More strings, more to think about.”

Gadget nodded. “It can be overwhelming at first. The neck is wider, and you’ve got to be precise with your fingering. But once you get the hang of it, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities.” She handed the bass to Cali. “Here, give it a try.”

Cali hesitated, then took the bass, adjusting it in her lap. She plucked the strings tentatively, her fingers fumbling slightly on the wider neck. “It feels… different. Like I’m learning all over again.”

“That’s the beauty of it,” Gadget said, her voice soft but encouraging. “It challenges you. Pushes you to grow. And when you find your groove, it’s like nothing else.” She reached over, guiding Cali’s fingers to the frets, extending her psych to guide the hands, pushing for strength she did not understand she had. “Start slow. Feel the strings. Let them tell you where to go. Play the middle 4 you know, then step up, step down.”

Cali closed her eyes, letting the vibrations of the bass guide her. Slowly, she began to play, her movements growing more confident with each note. The low B string added a richness to her sound, while the high C allowed her to explore melodies she’d never attempted before. When she opened her eyes, Gadget was smiling.

“See? You’re a natural,” Gadget said. “The 4-string will always be your foundation, but the 6-string? That’s your wings.”

Cali smiled back, a rare spark of excitement in her eyes. “Maybe one day I’ll get one of these. Till then, I’ll stick to what I know.”

Gadget nodded. “There’s no rush. Music’s a journey, not a race. But… I am thinking we can almost afford getting a pair of new basses. And no matter what you play, it’s your voice that matters.”

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==='''The Pawnshop'''===

The Baltimore Subway Metrolink rattled through the tunnels, its fluorescent lights flickering as Gadget and Cali sat side by side. Cali fidgeted with the strap of her bag, her eyes darting to the passing stations. “You sure this place is worth it?” she asked, her voice tinged with skepticism, her mind just a touch in fear.

Gadget leaned back, her arms crossed, a small smirk playing on her lips. “Trust me. This pawnshop’s got a reputation for musical gear. If we’re lucky, we’ll find something special.”

When they stepped off the train, the neighborhood was a mix of faded brick buildings and graffiti-covered storefronts. The pawnshop was tucked between a laundromat and a convenience store, its window cluttered with guitars, amplifiers, and other instruments. A bell jingled as they pushed the door open, the smell of old wood and dust greeting them.

Cali’s eyes widened as she took in the rows of instruments lining the walls. “This place is like a treasure chest,” she whispered, her fingers brushing against the neck of a vintage Fender Stratocaster.

Gadget headed straight for the bass section, her eyes scanning the lineup. She paused, her gaze locking onto two instruments hanging side by side. One was a dark brown Ibanez GSR206 6-string bass, its sleek design and polished finish catching the light. The other was a Dean Edge 6-string bass in a stunning blue quilted maple, its body shimmering like the ocean.

“Cali, come here,” Gadget called, her voice low but excited. Cali hurried over, her eyes widening as she saw the basses. “These are perfect,” Gadget said, lifting the Ibanez off the wall and handing it to Cali. “Feel that. Solid construction, smooth neck. And the Dean? That’s a beauty.”

Cali strummed the Ibanez, the low B string rumbling through the shop. “It’s amazing,” she admitted, her voice tinged with awe. But then she glanced at the price tags and frowned. “Two hundred for the Ibanez? Three-fifty for the Dean? That’s way too much. We’re buskers, Gadget. We can’t afford this.”

Gadget shook her head, her expression firm. “These are worth every penny. A good instrument isn’t just a tool—it’s an extension of you. And you deserve something that can keep up with your talent. These are beat up looking, but I’ll check the works and the sound before buying them. Looks we can fix.”

She walked to a chair by the amps and plugged each in by turns, strummed, picked, and looked them over closely. Cali watched in anticipation. Then Gadget let her sit and handed her the Ibanez. Gadget whispered, "Nothing wrong with them we can't fix."

Before Cali could protest further, Gadget flagged down the shop owner and handed over the cash. “We’ll take both.”

Cali stared at her, stunned. “You’re insane,” she muttered, but there was a hint of gratitude in her voice as she slung the Ibanez over her shoulder.

As they went to leave, Gadget stopped. She walked to a dusty corner of the store where boxes had a wide variety of items, most unsorted. She dug through them, chuckling with delight. She found four plastic recorders, a dozen toy kazoos, three harmonicas, finger cymbals, and some small rattles. Such potential. Gadget thought of her flute, the fine mithril silver flute sitting in Mandalay, shadows away. Recorders and harmonicas would have to do.

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==='''Yard Sale'''===

On the subway ride back, Cali couldn’t stop glancing at the basses, her fingers twitching as if she were already playing them. But when Gadget suddenly stood up and motioned for her to follow at an unfamiliar stop, Cali hesitated. “Where are we going now?” she asked, her brow furrowed.

Gadget just grinned. “You’ll see.”

They walked a few blocks to a quiet residential street, where a yard sale was in full swing. Tables were piled with clothes, books, and household items. She looked to a man coming over to her, "You the one who called?" Gadget nodded, and the man led them into the back of the garage. In a corner, a 5-piece starter drum set sat gleaming in the sunlight. The sign taped to it read: $100 – OBO. and another Sold. He said, "I'll be glad to see that go. My son whined and whined for it for a year. He played it for about a month, then it sat in his room for a couple of years, then in the garage till he left for college. Get it out of my garage, please. I saw ya walking? You can have the red wagon over there for free."

Cali’s jaw dropped. “No way,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. She turned to Gadget, her eyes wide. “Is this why we stopped? For Jax?”

Gadget shrugged, her smirk widening. “He’s been playing on bongos and makeshift kits long enough. He deserves something real.”

Cali’s eyes welled up with tears, but she quickly wiped them away, shaking her head. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? First the basses, now this? How do you even know about this stuff?”

Gadget chuckled, pulling out her wallet. “Let’s just say I’ve got a knack for finding stuff.” She handed the cash to the seller, who helped them load the drum kit into a red wagon he threw in.

Cali stood silently as she watched Gadget's back while she looked through the piles on the tables.

Cali squinted at the pile in Gadget’s arms as they walked back to the car, raising an eyebrow. "Okay, I get the shirts—they’re kinda cool in a retro way—but what are you gonna do with a thousand loose sheets of sheet music and a couple hundred random Polaroids of strangers?"

Gadget grinned, adjusting her grip on the stack of faded photographs. "I have an idea." She tossed the shirts into her backpack. "The music—some of it’s bound to be interesting. We can play around with the arrangements, maybe mash some things up. And these photos?" She held up a random shot of a man in oversized sunglasses standing next to a station wagon. "They’ve got stories. Even if we don’t know them, we can make them up. Give them new lives."

She asked the guy about the Polaroids. "I bought a storage unit. It had some good furniture. But there were boxes of those. Someone's whole life, forgotten." Gadget asked him, "You have more?" He responded with, "Boxes and boxes. Not here though." Gadget told him she would take them all and would come back later to pick them up.

As they made their way back to the subway, Cali walked in silence for a while, her mind racing. Finally, she turned to Gadget, her voice soft but sincere. “Thank you. For everything. I don’t know how we’re ever going to repay you.”

Gadget waved her off, her tone light but firm. “You don’t have to repay me. This is out of our busking fund. Just let me handle Eddie when we get back. He put me in charge of group money, and this is what I did with it. Just keep playing. With both of us on good pieces finally. That’s all I want.”

Cali shrugged, shaking her head as they walked into a parking lot. "You’re weird, you know that?"

"Yeah, but admit it—it’s an interesting kind of weird."

Gadget smirked before disappearing into a hardware store by the subway's stop. Ten minutes later, she came out with a bag full of spray cans. Paint and adhesives.

As they made their way back to the subway, Cali walked in silence for a while, her mind racing. Finally, she turned to Gadget, her voice soft but sincere. “Thank you. For everything. I don’t know how we’re ever going to repay you.”

Gadget waved her off, her tone light but firm. “You don’t have to repay me. This is out of our busking fund. Just let me handle Eddie when we get back. He put me in charge of group money, and this is what I did with it. Just keep playing. With both of us on good pieces finally. That’s all I want.”

"Deal," she responded.

Back at the Station, Gadget wasted no time. She took spray paint cans and started painting designs on the walls. Holden and Eddie joined in while Eddie grilled her about the money.

Jax filled the room with a heavy loud beat on the new-to-him drums, dusting off the years of loneliness from the forgotten instrument. It soared under their new owner's sticks. Cali grew a wide smile seeing her beloved happy.

She cracked open a can of aerosol adhesive, shaking it with a satisfying rattle before coating a section of the wall. "Alright," she said, handing out stacks of Polaroids and sheet music around, "help me stick this stuff up."

The others got to work, pressing the yellowed sheets of music against the walls, overlapping them with faded Polaroids—snapshots of birthdays, vacations, blurry party moments, and forgotten faces frozen in time. The effect was chaotic, a collage of unknown lives and untold melodies.

Gadget stepped back, hands on her hips, surveying the growing wall of history. "Not bad," she murmured, picking up a random photo from the pile still in her lap. She studied it—the faint outline of a woman sitting on a porch, caught mid-laugh, a glass in her hand.

She smirked. "Alright, lady—what’s your story?"

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==='''The Ugly Ferret - Used Gear'''===
The garage of the Ugly Ferret smelled like motor oil, old leather, and stale beer. Fluorescent lights buzzed above, casting a sickly glow over a collection of battered equipment: Marshall stacks with torn grille cloth, Peavey and Fender amps that had seen better days, a tangled mess of cables, and microphones with dented grilles. It was a graveyard of rock and roll relics.

Gadget, her electric blue hair tied back, crossed her arms and surveyed the lineup. She stepped over a coiled snake of dusty XLR cables and knelt by a beaten-up Ampeg SVT bass amp. She tapped the side, and a loose panel rattled. “This thing gonna hold up, or is it gonna catch fire the second I plug in?”

Reggy, a thick-built man with sleeves of faded tattoos, grinned around a toothpick. “Ah, don’t be a wuss. It’s just a little character.”

Wrecker, his wiry counterpart with a permanent scowl, ran a hand over the torn tolex of a Marshall JCM800 half-stack. “Most of this stuff’s better than what you’ve been using,” he pointed out. “We can get better, sure, but it’ll cost, and kinda break character for us, wouldn’t it?”

Gadget sighed and rolled her shoulders before slinging her six-string bass over her shoulder. “Let’s see if this junk actually works.” She plugged in, twisting the worn-out input jack until it settled in place with a crackle. The amp gave a brief hum of protest before Reggy stepped in, adjusting the settings. He turned a few dials, knocked the casing, and muttered something under his breath.

She played a few deep, resonant notes, testing for dead spots. The sound was rough, but not completely unusable. “Eh,” she grumbled. “I’ve played worse.”

Reggy nodded, stepping back with his arms crossed. “I’ll clean up the electrical. Most of it’s just buzz and loose connections. The rest—well, looks are just vanity at this point.”

Gadget exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of her neck. “Fine. But buy two small, inexpensive amps—one dedicated for Tiffy’s electric violin and the uke, another for Eddie’s mic. The rest of our mics can pop off occasionally, but lead vocals have to be dependable.” She gave him a pointed look. “And get a good mic. None of this garage sale shit.”

Reggy smirked. “Demanding, huh?”

“Just making sure we don’t sound like total garbage.”

She looked around, thoughtful. “Also—get a couple outside security cameras in here. I’ll put one of my great cameras up, but the security cams are for show and B-roll. We’ll throw some video clips on the CD. Never can tell.”

Wrecker nodded. “Yeah, not a bad idea. Might as well milk this gig for all it’s worth.”

Gadget slung her bass back over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes at Wrecker. “And while we’re at it—talk to Lucky. Tell him to water down the band’s booze. Especially Eddie’s. He’s getting too much of a habit, and I don’t need him falling off the damn stage.”

Wrecker sighed, rubbing a calloused hand over his face. “Yeah, I figured. I’ll have Lucky keep an eye on him.”
Reggy clapped his hands together. “Alright then, sounds like we got ourselves a damn plan.”

Gadget gave the amp one last skeptical look before finally nodding. “Let’s hope it doesn’t blow up in our faces.”
Wrecker grinned. “Wouldn’t be rock and roll if it didn’t.”

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=='''The Night at the Ugly Ferret'''==

The night of the Stone Bench Group’s first performance at the Ugly Ferret had a strange energy—equal parts excitement, nerves, and underlying tension. The word had spread fast among the people who had seen them play at backyard parties, and a fair number had shown up, eager to see if the SBG could bring that same magic to a real venue. But there were also others in the crowd—some curious, some skeptical, and a few who made the air feel heavier just by being there.

Lucky worked the bar, keeping a close eye on the crowd. He was the kind of man who had seen enough trouble in his life to know when it was creeping in, and tonight, trouble might be lurking in the shadows. He was scared as hell. Maybe it was Wrecker and Reggy and their constant cheerfulness, the jokes they told. The money they had. But he also knew they were easily as bloodthirsty and ruthless as the bikers had been. Maybe worse. But his side room with its two stages had been cleaned by the pair, of the motorcycles, junk, boxes, and years of trash. They had put in lights, wiring, and even passed the city's inspection to get a venue permit.

Ominously as well was the warehouse space. They cleaned it and talked about extending the side area to the back. In the meantime, they had their incredible '57 coupe in there and seemed to live out of its trunk. A pair of cots, a coffee maker, and a fridge. A keg of beer and bottles of booze. A coffee table and their ever-present cigars. The two were not just weird rich killers. They were something beyond his ability to understand. That was scary. But they wanted a dance club and this band to play, so they got it.

Smiley, though unrecognizable in his disguise, sat in a corner nursing a drink, a couple of the old biker girls with him, chatting in low voices. Scattered through the room were members of local gangs, their eyes sharp, assessing, waiting to see what kind of place this would become.

The SBG huddled in the back before their set. Gadget could see the nervous energy in them—Eddie was bouncing on the balls of his feet, Holden kept checking his guitar, Jax had a protective arm around Cali, whispering to her. Tiffy, usually the loudest, was oddly quiet, biting her lip as she adjusted her mic. “You guys got this,” Gadget said firmly, making eye contact with each of them. Holden said, "It really isn't the plaza. This ain't busking."

“Yeah, it’s playing in front of people who might stab us if they don’t like the music,” Eddie muttered.

“Then play like your life depends on it,” Waldo said with a smirk.

Time came, and the Ugly Ferret was packed to the brim, the air thick with the buzz of anticipation and the faint hiss of spray paint cans as the crowd added their own colorful chaos to the walls.

Waldo walked to the front of the stage and sprayed a yellow semicircle in front of the stage, the crowd stepping back as he did. Behind him, the Stone Bench Group took the stage, their instruments gleaming under the dim, flickering lights. Eddie stepped up to the mic, his first time in a real joint. “Alright, Ferrets,” he called out, his voice cutting through the noise. “Let’s make some noise!”

The set started rough—Cali's hands were shaking, and Eddie missed some chords in the first song. Gadget did a bass ZINGER noise for each fumble, to the amusement of the crowd. Jax dropped his sticks. But then something shifted. Maybe it was the way the crowd responded, the way the backyard party crowd cheered them on, drowning out the murmurs of the skeptics. Maybe it was the spray paint event happening around them—cans hissing as people tagged the walls in wild, chaotic bursts of color, marking over the old grime and the ghosts of the bar’s past. The energy in the room changed, and so did the music.

The third song changed it all. A high-energy cover of '''''The Stray Cats’ “Rock This Town,”''''' Eddie’s guitar slicing through the room with razor-sharp precision. Tiffy’s violin wailed like a siren, weaving in and out of the melody, while Jax pounded the drums with a ferocity that had the crowd bouncing. But it was Gadget and Cali on their new 6-string basses that stole the show. Gadget’s fingers danced across the fretboard, her low B string rumbling like thunder, while Cali’s high C added a bright, melodic counterpoint that lifted the song to new heights. The audience erupted into cheers, swept up in the infectious energy.

Next came a surf medley, starting with '''''The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA.”''''' Gadget and Cali locked into a tight, driving rhythm, their basses intertwining to create that iconic surf sound—deep, resonant lows paired with shimmering highs. Eddie’s vocals soared, and Tiffy’s violin added a haunting, reverb-drenched edge that had the crowd swaying like waves. The transition into '''''Dick Dale’s “Misirlou”''''' was seamless, the rapid-fire picking on Gadget’s bass sending shockwaves through the room. Cali, still getting used to her 6-string, held her own, her confidence growing with every note. Try as she could, Gadget could barely get Cali to look at the audience.

Next up was '''''Red Elvises’ “Red Lips, Red Eyes, Red Stockings,”''''' a raucous rockabilly number that had the room shaking. Eddie’s vocals were full of swagger he hadn't known he had, and Tiffy’s violin added a wild, Eastern European flair that perfectly complemented the song’s infectious energy.

Tiffy stepped into the spotlight for her haunting original, '''''“Black Road Away from Home.”''''' Her voice sang with a mournful beauty, weaving a tale of loss and longing that left the crowd spellbound. Gadget and Cali’s basses provided a dark, brooding foundation, their 6-strings adding layers of texture and depth that elevated the song to something truly special.

The mood shifted slightly as they launched into '''''Duane Eddy’s “Peter Gunn,”''''' the iconic riff ringing out with a fresh, gritty edge. Tiffy played the sax line on the violin, giving the piece a fresh, bright note. Holden’s rhythm guitar was rock-solid, while Jax’s drumming added a punchy, almost primal intensity. Gadget took the lead on this one, her 6-string bass adding a deep, resonant growl that gave the classic tune a modern twist.

Midway through the set, Eddie introduced a surprise. “Alright, folks, we’re gonna slow it down for a minute. But don’t worry—it’s still gonna get weird.” He stepped aside as Gadget and Holden walked to the front of the stage, each holding a kazoo. The crowd erupted into laughter and cheers as they launched into a hilariously heartfelt rendition of '''''“Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”''''' Holden’s kazoo playing was surprisingly soulful, while Gadget’s added a playful, almost comedic flair. By the end, the entire room was singing along, their voices rising in unison.

A surprise awaited them after the kazoos as Gadget and Holden jumped into the '''''Time Warp from Rocky Horror Picture Show'''''. Tiffy jumped in to sing for Little Nell's part. The dance number was a classic even after so many years, and the crowd of Ferrets loved it.

Jax got his moment to shine with '''''“Thumpa Thumpa,”''''' a percussive, high-energy Buddy Rich-influenced solo that showcased his incredible drumming skills.

The energy ramped back up with an original track, '''''“Stone Bench Blues,”''''' a rockabilly-infused number that showcased the group’s growing chemistry. Eddie’s vocals were raw and impassioned, while Tiffy’s violin solo brought the house down. Gadget and Cali’s basslines locked into a tight, driving groove, their 6-strings adding a richness and depth that elevated the song to another level. The crowd was on their feet, dancing and clapping along, completely swept up in the music.

With a blistering cover of '''''The Stray Cats’ “Built for Speed,”''''' the room exploded into chaos as the audience sang along at the top of their lungs. Eddie’s vocals were raw and impassioned, while Tiffy's voice in unison with Eddie’s practically brought the house down.

As the set drew to a close, Eddie grabbed the mic, his face flushed with excitement. “You’ve been an incredible crowd tonight! Let’s end this with a bang!” The group launched into a raucous cover of '''''Red Elvises’ “Surfing in Siberia,”''''' the room exploding into chaos as the audience sang along at the top of their lungs. Gadget and Cali’s basses thundered through the room, their 6-strings adding a wild, untamed energy that perfectly matched the song’s frenetic pace. Jax’s drumming was relentless, and Tiffy’s violin screeched like a banshee, driving the song to its explosive finale.

When the last note faded, the room erupted into deafening applause, the crowd chanting for an encore. The Stone Bench Group exchanged grins, their faces glowing with sweat and triumph. They had done it—they had turned the Ugly Ferret into a place of magic, even if just for one night. And as they launched into their encore, a soulful rendition of '''''“Stand by Me,”''''' Gadget couldn’t help but smile. This was just the beginning.

By the time they finished, the crowd erupted in cheers. Even the ones who had been skeptical at first seemed to have been won over. Smiley, still hidden in his disguise, gave a slow nod of approval. The gang members in the back exchanged looks, their interest piqued. Money to be made.

The Stone Bench Group had made their mark. The Ugly Ferret was no longer just a relic of its past—it was becoming something new.

Lucky looked to Wrecker. "We are going to need a staff. This could get messy." Wrecker nodded, "I know a guy."

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[[File:Cali-Gadget.jpg|300px]]
==='''Meeting on the Street'''===

Smiley and his two girls walked the four blocks to where he had parked their battered van.

When they reached it, Reggy stepped out in front. "Smiley, I love what you've done with your hair. Washed it, right?"

Smiley put his hand on his hip, clipping open his draw holster. "Yeah, I wanted to look my best for you." The girls started backing away, the black-haired one slipping a hand in her jacket.

"Lady, I have no qualms about shooting a woman if you draw on me. Let’s take a deep breath and show your hands. If I wanted you all dead, we wouldn’t be talking."

"So, what are we talking about?" Smiley asked. "And you know there is only one of you against the three of us."

"Is that what you think? Look at blondy there." They turned to look, and the green dot on her chest moved a bit, signaling that Wrecker was somewhere nearby.

Reggy said, "Wrecker wanted to talk to you, but he really wanted to drill a .50 caliber BMG through your front teeth much more. Now, in respect to a friend who prefers accommodation to bloodshed, I want to talk about our situation."

"Our situation? You mean you two killing my chapter? I’ve killed my share of dudes, but that was mass murder, you psychopath!"

"Yeah, we did that, but that’s done. So... How do you feel about taking your prospects and your ladies and moving to, say, New Orleans? New York is too close. Toronto? By the way, where are your prospects?"

"I don’t know. They disappeared after your massacre. Did you kill them too?"

Reggy shook his head, "No, we missed them as well as you. Till now. So... What will it be? New Orleans or Toronto?"

Smiley looked up to the roof line where Wrecker swung the green dot to flash in his eyes. He scowled, his hatred growing deeper.

"New Orleans."

Reggy nodded, "Good. You lost your Baltimore privileges. Let the girls know we don’t have wanted posters on them, but finding new places to live can be liberating."

"Can we go?"

Reggy backed away, nodding, letting Smiley have the last word.

As the van drove away, Wrecker came scaling down to the ground and crossed the street, cradling the M82.

"I really should have drilled him."

"After Gadget didn’t kill that huge monster dog, it seemed a little awkward thinking of killing Smiley without at least giving him a chance to flee."

"Sure. Sure. But you know he’ll be back."

"Of course. No chance he’ll stay away. Then he’s fish food."

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==='''Forty Threes'''===

Looking out from the shadows at the Ugly Ferret, the boys of the 43rd Street gang, often called the Forty Thieves as an homage to the movie *Gangs of New York*, watched the crowds of people going into the crappy old bar for a performance of the weird twangy group called the Stone Bench Group.

The bar had belonged to the Blind Reapers for years until their sudden disappearance. The boys didn’t know why but knew they couldn’t find as good a source for their habits. Sucked for them, but life went on. The new popularity of the old Ferret was an opportunity. They had gone to a few of the shows and didn’t understand why people liked these freaks. But money was money.

After the music was going and the people had all gone in, they moved. Running low to avoid cameras recently installed on the outside of the building, they ran past parked cars, sticking long sharpened screwdrivers into the tires on the street side, dragging them along the paint, and occasionally breaking a window. They laughed as they went by, peeking in the cars occasionally. Toward the end, two slipped into minivans and, popping the ignition, hot-wired them, filling the vehicles. They drove away, laughing.

Inside, Reggy watched the screen of a widescreen TV set up in the garage area he and Wrecker used as living quarters for now. The feed was from security cameras set up with a great deal more skill to be hidden from sight. He smoked a Urala cigar and listened to the surfpunk sound from the other room.

"Well?" he said.

Wrecker said, "Yeah. Let them make their play. Maybe we can use them. Twenty-two of the rattlings in the gang. Ten out there. Two stolen cars. Ask Lucky who he would call to fix flats. Talk to Gadget. There are going to be some angry people after the show. She and the group should go out and help change tires, meet the fans, pitch in. Hand out kazoos. Order a thousand kazoos." He handled a kazoo, the top emblazoned with the letters SBG, tooting on it with amusement. Reggy wandered out to talk to Lucky.

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==='''Later That Night'''===

Later that night, the Stone Bench Group was outside, leading a kazoo-a-thon as a dozen garage workers helped car owners replace tires.

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=='''A Few Days Later'''==

A few days later, it was an afternoon when Reggy and Wrecker were taking a break in the bar and chatting with Lucky when two guys entered. They were dressed in casual clothes with an urban chic, but were clearly gang members. Tattoos with the numbers 43 on their necks were telling. Their haircuts were overly detailed, as if it was someone’s hobby to cut them. They wandered to the bar and took seats, looking at Lucky.

"What can I get ya guys?" he asked.

One said, "Tequila, a couple shots each." They collected the shots, taking one each quickly.

The tall one said, "You’ve been getting pretty good business lately, friend. Where did the Reapers go?"

Lucky shrugged, "No idea. They cleared out of here and out of their place over in Dani. I don’t miss them."

Tall guy said, "Without the Reapers around, there sure has been an upturn in crime, don’t you think? Like at the show nights?"

Wrecker and Reggy looked at each other, a small smile on their faces.

Wrecker stood and joined Lucky at the bar. "Lucky, double Old Crow, and a frosty." He sipped the whiskey before looking at the Hispanic gang member. "Yeah, we had some trouble on Saturday. What about it?"

The man shrugged, "Shit happens. Could happen again, maybe even worse. Might be more than just tires."

Wrecker nodded, "And what will it cost to keep you from hassling our customers?" He finished his whiskey, and Lucky poured another.

He drank the other tequila, "10% of the profits on show night. Or next time it’s windows."

Wrecker said, "You know, we could do this differently, but it really depends on your interest in doing nothing for pocket change or doing something for big money."

Wrecker took the tequila bottle and poured each of them another shot, holding the glasses while pouring, letting a tiny slip of rice paper slide into the glass and dissolve before passing them over, talking over the handwork.

"What kind of work?"

Wrecker leaned over the bar, pulling out a small wood box. Opening it, he pulled a medications bottle out and poured the contents on the table. A tablespoon of white powder. Wrecker took a driver's license out of the box and started cutting lines in the powder. Laying the card down face up, he leaned over with a straw and drew in a pair of lines.

The two became very interested and eagerly inhaled the drugs that had been in the Blind Reapers' hiding hole. The first of the two, Juan, inhaled without looking, but the second looked at the card, picking it up. He read, "Nick Haskin, he’s a Reaper.... How did you get this?"

Wrecker said, "I got it after I drilled a hole in his forehead. Keep it. I have others. Lots of others. It is important that you consider just how angry you want to make me, Juan."

"How do you know my name?"

"Ya see," Wrecker said, "That’s something else you should think about. Now, I have a lot of this powder. It used to belong to the Reapers. I’d like to unload it. 10k a kilo. Pure stuff. You stomp on it carefully, it could retail for 35k easily. Or, you let my partner and I do the mix, you take the packets, and we want 17k a kilo. Sell it for what you want."

Juan, starting to feel a slight bit disoriented from the LSD in the tequila, said, "The Reapers always bundled it for us. We paid them out of profits."

"You ever short them?"

"Hell no. Those guys are animals," Juan answered.

"They *were* animals," Wrecker smiled at Juan’s wide eyes.

From the table, Reggy cast the Anatomics cantrip, causing Juan’s companion to start yawning repeatedly, uncontrollably.

Juan nodded at the inevitable, "Ok. Deal."

"Lay off our customers, or your ID will join my collection. Savvy?"

Juan nodded.

Wrecker looked to Lucky, who brought a leather zippered bag out from behind the bar, opening it to reveal bundles and packaged packets. Wrecker pulled out a pewter coin pressing with an X marking, its unnaturally warm. The packets were sealed like sugar packets with Norse runes on them.

"Hold on to the coin. If you get hassled by the police, show them the coin. The fix is in. Now don’t screw me. If you want more, you know where we are."

The two left as the acid started kicking in.

Lucky asked, "What’s with the coin?"

Wrecker answered, "It’s a tracker. Lets us know where Juan is. We’ll follow him and learn about their processes. In the meantime, they’ll leave our customers alone."

Lucky nodded, "Smart. Diabolical but smart. What happens if they get pinched and show the coin to the cops?"

Reggy, coming up, said, "Then we see how well Juan can dance. The cops have never heard of us."

Lucky went on, "Then what happens if they don’t pay off the fronted stuff?"

Reggy knocked on the bar, and Lucky poured the beer the knock ordered. "Well then, Lucky, think of it as evolution in action."

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==='''The Acid Trip'''===

Juan and his companion, Gustov, stumbled out of the Ugly Ferret, the world around them shifting and warping. The neon sign above the bar flickered, its letters melting like wax. Juan clutched the pewter coin, its surface pulsing with an otherworldly glow in his vision.

“What the hell did they give us?” Gustov slurred, his voice echoing as if from a great distance.

Juan’s vision blurred, and he saw the faces of the Blind Reapers staring at him from the shadows. Their eyes were hollow, their mouths twisted in silent screams. He shook his head, trying to clear the hallucination, but it only grew more vivid.

“We need to get out of here,” Juan muttered, stumbling toward their car. But the vehicle seemed to stretch and distort, its doors sliding out of reach.

"It’s going to cost us a lot to get out of their way. Mano, this didn’t work out. But I think if we didn’t take the bag, they would have killed us right there. Fuckers gave us acid. Homicidal fuckers."

As they drove away, the city streets twisted into a labyrinth, the buildings leaning inward as if to crush them. Juan gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. The coin in his pocket hummed softly, a reminder that the SBG was always watching.

Gustov mumbled, "They own us...."

Juan growled, "There are only three of them. How hard could they be to kill?"

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==='''Next Steps '''===

Back at the Ugly Ferret, Wrecker and Reggy watched the security feed, their expressions calm but calculating. The screen showed Juan and Gustov stumbling into their car and driving off, their movements erratic and unsteady.

“Think they’ll stick to the deal?” Reggy asked, leaning back in his chair and lighting a cigar.

Wrecker smirked. “For now. The acid will keep them paranoid for a while. And if they try anything stupid, we’ll know.” He tapped the monitor, where a small blinking dot represented the pewter coin’s signal.

Lucky, who had been quietly polishing glasses behind the bar, spoke up. “You two are playing a dangerous game. Those guys aren’t just small-time thugs. They’ve got connections.”

Reggy shrugged. “So do we. And ours are a lot scarier.”

Wrecker chuckled, taking a sip of his whiskey. “Besides, Lucky, this is just the beginning. Once the Forty Threes realize how much money they can make working with us instead of against us, they’ll fall in line.”

Lucky shook his head, muttering under his breath. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Wrecker looks at Reggy who shrugs.

He says, “About half the time. The other half, well, its been said that ''Adventurer Abounds''. Besides, its all in the reflexes. Hey, Lucky, close up. Join us in the garage. Its time we tell you some stuff that will make you dig in or freak out. Either way, bring a bottle Old Crow when you come back. You'll need it.

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=='''Double Bass '''==

Meanwhile, Gadget and the Stone Bench Group were busy preparing for their next show. The success of their first performance at the Ugly Ferret had boosted their confidence, but they knew they couldn’t afford to get complacent. Gadget sat cross-legged on the floor of the Station, her 6-string bass resting across her lap. She plucked at the strings, experimenting with a new riff.

Cali walked in, her own bass slung over her shoulder. She winced slightly as she flexed her fingers. “What’s that?” she asked, nodding toward Gadget’s instrument.

“Just something I’m working on,” Gadget replied, her fingers dancing across the fretboard. “Thought it might be a good riff for the next show.”

Cali listened for a moment, then grinned. “I like it. It’s got a dark, edgy vibe. Kind of like you.”

Gadget smirked. “Thanks, I think.”

Cali set her bass down and shook out her hands, grimacing. “Ugh, my hands are killing me. This 6-string is a beast. I’m not used to the wider neck, and my fingers feel like they’re about to fall off.”

Gadget nodded sympathetically. “Yeah, it takes some getting used to. But there are ways to make it easier. Here, let me show you.”

She scooted closer to Cali and gestured for her to pick up her bass. “First, you’ve got to adjust your grip. You’re pressing too hard on the strings. You don’t need to crush them—just enough pressure to get a clean note.” Gadget demonstrated, her fingers lightly grazing the strings as she played a quick run. “See? Less tension in your hands means less pain.”

Cali tried it, her brow furrowing in concentration. She played a few notes, then shook her head. “It still feels awkward. My fingers keep getting tangled on the extra strings.”

“That’s because you’re thinking about it too much,” Gadget said with a chuckle. “Don’t focus on the strings individually. Think of them as zones. The low B is your anchor—use it to ground your playing. The high C is your flourish—use it to add color. The middle four are your home base. Start there, then branch out.” She played a simple riff, her fingers moving effortlessly across the fretboard. “Here, try this. It’s a basic pattern, but it’ll help you get comfortable with the extra strings.”

She reached to Cali's hand gently extending the fingers to the proper positions on Cali's sixer but also extending her psyche to channel healing into the hand, a purple stone on a chain hidden around her waist warmed, adding its potent magic. As Gadget rubbed the hand Cali felt the stretching become more comfortable without knowing why. Just Gadget's touch.

Cali mimicked the riff, her movements slow and deliberate at first. Gradually, she picked up speed, her fingers finding their rhythm. “Okay, that’s not bad,” she admitted, a small smile tugging at her lips. “But my wrist still hurts a bit.”

“That’s because you’re holding the neck too high,” Gadget said, adjusting Cali’s posture. “Lower the bass a bit. It’ll take the strain off your wrist and give your fingers more room to move.”

Cali adjusted the strap on her bass, lowering it slightly. She played the riff again, her movements smoother this time. “Hey, that does feel better,” she said, her smile widening. “You’re full of tricks, aren’t you?”

Gadget grinned. “Years of practice. Now, let’s try playing in unison. It’ll help you lock into the groove.”

The two fell into an easy rhythm, their basses intertwining as they played. At first, Cali struggled to keep up, her fingers fumbling on the wider neck. But Gadget was patient, slowing down when needed and offering tips along the way. Gradually, Cali’s confidence grew, her playing becoming more fluid and precise.

The rest of the group soon joined in, and before long, the Station was filled with sound. It was rough and unpolished, but there was something raw and powerful about it—a reflection of the band itself. Eddie’s guitar added a sharp edge, while Tiffy’s violin wove in and out of the melody, creating a haunting counterpoint. Jax’s drumming provided a steady backbone, his rhythms driving the song forward.

As they played, Gadget kept an eye on Cali, offering encouragement and guidance when needed. “You’re getting it,” she said, her voice barely audible over the music. “Just relax and let the bass do the work. Don't over think it, but don't think of anything else.”

Cali nodded, her focus unwavering. She could feel the music flowing through her, the pain in her hands fading as she lost herself in the rhythm. For the first time since switching to the 6-string, she felt like she was in control.

When the song ended, the group erupted into cheers, their faces flushed with excitement. “That was awesome!” Eddie said, slapping Cali on the back. “You’re really getting the hang of that thing.”

Cali grinned, her earlier frustration replaced by a sense of accomplishment. “Thanks. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m getting there.”

Gadget smiled, her eyes gleaming with pride. “You’ll be a pro in no time. Just keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to experiment. The 6-string opens up a whole new world of possibilities. If it helps when we play, think of my bass as the lead and yours as rhythm. We can practice matching it with Eddie and Holden. Same riffs, different keys.”

Cali nodded, her determination renewed. “I will. And thanks, Gadget. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Gadget shrugged, her tone light but sincere. “That’s what friends are for. Now, let’s run through that riff one more time. I think we’ve got something special here.”

The group launched into the song again, their energy infectious and their bond stronger than ever. As the music filled the room, Gadget couldn’t help but smile. It was coming together
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==='''The Ukulele '''===
[[File:Holden and Uk.jpg|200px]]

The group’s impromptu jam session was in full swing when Holden, ever the quiet observer, wandered over to Gadget’s large guitar case. Being a couple now he didn't ask permission when he crouched down, flipping open the latches with a curious grin. Inside, nestled among an assortment of instruments and gear, was a well-worn ukulele. He picked it up, strumming a few experimental chords. The bright, cheerful sound cut through the room, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Since when do you play the ukulele?” Gadget asked, raising an eyebrow.

Holden shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “Since forever. My grandma taught me when I was a kid. She was born in Hawaii. It’s been a while, but I think I’ve still got it.”

He launched into a simple, upbeat melody, his fingers dancing across the strings with surprising skill. The ukulele’s bright, twangy tone added a new layer to the music, giving it a distinctly surfpunk vibe. Eddie’s eyes lit up, and he quickly adjusted his guitar, playing in harmony with Holden. The two instruments intertwined, creating a sound that was both nostalgic and fresh.

Tiffy, never one to be left out, grabbed her flute and joined in, her high, lilting notes weaving through the melody like sunlight on waves. The room filled with the sound of their combined efforts, the music growing richer and more complex with each passing moment.

Gadget and Cali exchanged a glance, then joined in, their basses providing a deep, resonant foundation. Gadget leaned over to Cali, murmuring, “Try this,” and played a simple but effective bassline that anchored the song. Cali followed her lead, her fingers moving more confidently now, the pain in her hands forgotten as she lost herself in the music.

Jax, ever the multitasker, passed around plastic cups of whiskey before settling behind his drum kit. He tapped lightly on the snare, his rhythms subtle but precise, adding just enough structure to keep the jam session from spiraling into chaos. The whiskey made its way around the room, the warm burn adding to the camaraderie.

Waldo, the silent, ever-present muscled roadie, lay on a bedroll by the wall, seemingly uninterested in the music. Gadget’s two huge dogs, Brute and Savage, curled up beside him, their massive forms making him look like a sleeping packmate. Shadow, Cali’s cat, ignored everyone, dozing peacefully next to her owner, unbothered by the noise.

The room was alive with energy, the music flowing effortlessly as the group played off each other. Eddie and Holden dominated the surf tunes, their guitars and ukulele creating a sound that was both playful and intense. Tiffy’s flute added a whimsical touch, while Gadget and Cali’s basses provided a steady, grounding rhythm. Jax’s drumming tied it all together, his light taps gradually building into a more complex beat.

As the song reached its peak, the group fell into a natural harmony, their individual styles blending seamlessly. The whiskey and the tray of green weed on the table added to the relaxed, almost euphoric atmosphere. It was clear they had been drinking more recently, but the music was too good to care.

When the song finally wound down, the room erupted into cheers and laughter. Eddie clapped Holden on the back. “Man, I had no idea you could play like that. The ukulele’s a killer addition. We’ve got to work that into the next set.”

Holden grinned, his usual quiet demeanor replaced by a rare moment of pride. “Yeah, it’s fun. I forgot how much I missed playing it.”

Gadget leaned back, her bass resting across her lap. “This is what we needed. A little experimentation, a little fun. We’re onto something here.”

Cali nodded, her cheeks flushed from the whiskey and the excitement. “Yeah, this feels right. Like we’re finally finding our sound.”

Jax raised his plastic cup in a toast. “To the Stone Bench Group. May we never stop surprising each other.”

The group clinked their cups together, the sound of laughter and music filling the room once more. Even Waldo cracked a smile, though he didn’t say a word. The dogs stirred slightly, their tails thumping against the floor, while Shadow stretched lazily before settling back into her nap.

As the night wore on, the music continued, the group experimenting with new sounds and ideas. The ukulele became a permanent fixture in their jam sessions, its bright tones adding a unique flavor to their surfpunk sound. And though the whiskey and weed flowed freely, the music remained the focus, a testament to their growing bond and shared passion.

Gadget couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as she watched her friends. They were more than a band—they were a family. And with every note they played, they were building something truly special.

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==='''Exploring Musical Knowledge'''===
[[File:Sbg-violin.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg-kazoo.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg strings.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg-drums1.jpg|200px]][[File:Sbg-violin.jpg|200px]]

As the jam session wound down, Eddie leaned back against the wall, his guitar resting across his lap. He looked around at the group, a thoughtful expression on his face. “So Holden plays the ukulele, and I assume Gadget does too because it’s hers. It’s funny; we’ve been playing around each other and now with each other for a while. What other things do we play? I play guitar, obviously, played standup bass in Jazz Band, as well as tuba and French horn in the orchestra back in junior high. Tiffy’s tried teaching me violin. I can mostly not embarrass myself on harmonica. What else?”

Tiffy smirked, setting her flute down. “Violin, viola, cello, flute, and a number of those like recorder, fife, some woodwinds. Some brass, but I couldn’t get the hang of them. And… ah… well… the piano.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow. “You never mentioned most of those, but… the piano? Are you any good at it?”

She nodded, a small, proud smile playing on her lips. “Yeah, I’m pretty good.”

Jax chimed in, tapping lightly on his snare. “I toyed around with sax but left before I did a lot with it. Played the xylophone a few times. Just like they’re drums, ya know. Did a bunch of other percussion before Cali and I ran off the first time. Ya know, any of us could play stuff like tambourines, maracas, other percussion noise makers.”

Holden added, “Guitar, ya know. Some bass. The ukulele and ah… banjo. I actually started as a little punk on the banjo. But Mom loved that, and Dad hated it. When she died, he got rid of all her stuff, including the uke and the banjo. After that, it was guitar.”

Cali shrugged, her bass resting against her leg. “Bass, some guitar, but I loved the low sound. Jax taught me bongos pretty good.”

They all turned to Gadget, expectantly.

She hesitated for a moment, then said, “Well, mainly kazoo.” The room erupted into laughter and good-natured goading.

“Bass. Lead guitar. Ah… Irish folk harp. Dulcimer. Flute was my first love, but it brings back memories for me I avoid. But recorder, piccolo, fife, a few of the woodwinds. Ya know, a conch might be a good addition to our sound. I’ve tooted them.”

She paused, as if hesitant to go on. “And damn… I’m pretty good on the piano. Spent some time on the road with a hell of a jazz piano player. Learned a lot from him… ah, too much… too much drinking… too much… well, he was the first I let. Not my first, but the first I let…” Her voice trailed off, and Cali reached over, gripping her hand, understanding now why she felt so comfortable with the wild girl; shared grief and experiences.

Holden put his hand on her shoulder. “I hope I get to meet him someday, if he was kind to you.”

Gadget nodded, implying he was. “Holden, if you ever meet him, we will know a hell of a lot more about each other than you could possibly imagine.” She chuckled, thinking of her piano man, the Lord of Chaos.

They talked for a bit longer, sharing stories and jamming a little more before eventually drifting off to their respective corners. Brute, Gadget’s massive dog, wandered over to lie near Holden, while Gadget herself settled down with a thoughtful expression.

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---

==='''Eddie and Waldo’s Conversation'''===
[[File:Holden and Uk.jpg|150px]]

Eddie stepped outside, lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag. The cool night air was a welcome relief after the heat and noise of the jam session. After a few moments, Waldo and Savage, Gadget’s other dog, joined him. Savage disappeared into the night, running off to patrol the area, while Waldo leaned against the wall, lighting a joint. He took a hit and passed it to Eddie.

“Trombone,” Waldo said suddenly, his voice low and gravelly.

Eddie looked surprised. “Really?”

“Yeah. Long arms, ya know. Big sax some. And… tuba.”

Eddie nodded, passing the joint back. “Well, damn, Waldo!”

“It’s Earnest Bluebonnet Pavlovich. Mom called me ''Ernie''; Dad called me ''Pasha''. I like Waldo better, but it was Wart’s idea. Ya know… ‘Where’s Waldo? Go get me some smokes, Waldo…’ I had to make my own way among Wart’s guys. I was never one of his favorites. Got cut out of everything. That probably saved my life because I never touched Cali, and she knows I argued with Wart about her. I got beat down twice telling him to let her go. Gadget killed him, didn’t she?”

Eddie looked at him hard, his cigarette dangling from his lips. “Why do you think that?”

“I tried to tax her that last time Wart got you all. She put me down hard. Like, *hard*, man. I’m a big fucking guy, and she put me down like I was a toddler. Called herself an ‘apex predator monster.’ I had to look that up online to know what she meant. Later… I met Wrecker and Reggy before I came around you guys. They work for her, you know, not the other way around. There’s something just not right about her. Those guys, they’re hard men. Bad hard, like nothing Wart ever was, more like the Blind Reapers were. The Reapers were mean, cruel… killers. Wrecker and Reggy, though? They’re terrifying. And they answer to your bassist. Just so you know, man; there’s something seriously dangerous-crazy about her.”

Eddie nodded, taking another drag of his cigarette. He knew firsthand how right Waldo was. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I know.”

“You saw the Station a couple times while Wart used it. It was a pit. I’m not saying it was clean when we got here, but I lived there. It was a slum-filled torture house out of a movie. Her tied down back there. The place smelled like… you know. It was professionally cleaned, then made to look dirty so *we* could clean it. Dirty, messy, but not Andy Gump, cumdump, rotted meat, sweaty dirty. It was cleaned and staged, man.”

The two stood in silence for a while, the joint passing back and forth between them as the night stretched on. Somewhere in the distance, Savage howled, a long, mournful sound that echoed through the darkness.

“Then there are the dogs,” Waldo said, breaking the silence.

Eddie shivered. “Brute and Savage? I thought you liked them?”

Waldo nodded. “I do. A lot. I had a big dog when I was a kid. My dad killed it. But it’s not just them.”

“Huh?”

“Dude, this is dog land. Wart never left the place except in a group, and he killed more than a few dogs coming and going till they left him alone. I also got around pretty good, but I knew when to walk and where to run. And there were hundreds of them, ya know. The cops stayed out of this area. The city abandoned it. Wart said some guy named Kane told him the owners of the buildings around here were all dead or corporations that everyone had given up on. Cheaper to let them fall apart than tear them down.”

“So the dogs owned the place. Where are they now? We’ve been coming and going for weeks now. I’ve seen a few here and there. You heard Savage a few seconds ago. He wasn’t alone. He had more howling with him. Why aren’t they here? It’s fucking weird. Creepy. Like horror-show creepy. Like in the movie where the group decides to split up and you howl at the screen to stick together creepy. Am I the only one who noticed?”

Eddie looked around, as if for the first time. “Maybe… I never thought about it. I guess I thought Wart had handled them…”

“Look,” Waldo said softly, “I like Gadget. Hell, she saved my life, so I may love her, and I’m grateful. But there’s something just fuckin’ weird about her. That’s all I’m saying, dude.”

Eddie nodded. “Yeah, okay.”

Waldo nodded and went back inside, leaving Eddie alone with his troubled thoughts and his last cigarette.

===''in progress- Holden gadget, hotel''===
Here’s a small scene for you:

The neon light from the motel sign outside flickered against the thin curtains, casting restless shadows across the dingy room. The place smelled of stale cigarettes and cheap disinfectant, the kind that never quite covered up the history of bad decisions made between its walls. It was the bands first out of town gig but the perks didn't include rooms at the Hilton.

Holden sat on the edge of the lumpy mattress, pulling on his jeans while Gadget lounged on the bed, still tangled in the sheets, her electric blue hair fanned out over the pillow. He moved around, picking up their scattered clothes from the floor.

“Here,” he said, tossing her shirt onto the bed before bending down to retrieve her pants. As he lifted them, something tumbled out and hit the threadbare carpet with a soft *thud*. A wallet. It had landed open, revealing something that made his stomach drop.

The badge gleamed under the flickering motel light. *Federal Bureau of Investigation.* Holden’s hands clenched around it as his breath caught. He flipped the ID up, staring at the picture—her picture—next to the name: **Special Agent Rowena Kessler.**

“What the hell is this?” His voice was sharp, disbelief coloring every word.

Gadget, still stretching lazily, turned her head toward him. When she saw what he was holding, her entire body tensed. The playfulness in her eyes vanished, replaced by something colder, more calculating.

“Holden,” she started, voice low, but he was already on his feet, badge still in hand.

“You’re FBI?” His jaw clenched. “What the actual fuck, Gadget?”

She sat up, the sheets slipping down her bare shoulders, but she didn’t reach for the badge. Instead, she sighed, rubbing her temple. “It’s real,” she admitted, her voice softer now. “I’ve been undercover for a while.”

Holden took a step back, his mind racing. “You’ve been lying to me this whole time?”

“No,” she said firmly, finally swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She looked up at him, her eyes steady. “What you and I have? That’s separate from my work. I never lied to you about us.”

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “Then tell me. What the hell are you doing?”

Gadget hesitated for only a second before deciding. “I’m here for Victor Kane.”

Holden’s brows furrowed. “The city council guy?”

“The underworld boss,” she corrected. “He’s running half the crime in Baltimore, and I’m getting close to exposing him.” She leaned forward, her voice dropping. “I need you to keep this quiet, Holden. No one can know. Not Eddie, not Tiffy, not Waldo—no one.”

Holden’s hands tightened around the badge. His world had just tilted sideways, but the way she looked at him—steady, honest, and completely serious—made it clear she wasn’t playing him.

Finally, he exhaled, tossing the wallet onto the nightstand. “You could’ve told me.”

She gave him a small, almost regretful smile. “No, Holden. I couldn’t.” She paused, then exhaled. “But just so you know, Wrecker and Reggy don’t run me—I run them. They work for me, not the other way around.”

Holden’s eyes narrowed, his grip on the badge tightening. Gadget crossed her arms and leaned against the nightstand. “I’ve got a senior agent overseeing things, Lisha. We have… a lot of freedom to operate however we need to.” She glanced away for a second, then back at him. “The original plan was simple: track down Wart’s guys, follow them up the chain, and get a clear line to Kane.”

She gave a dry chuckle, shaking her head. “Didn’t work out that way. I got a little… sidetracked. The music, the band—it wasn’t supposed to be anything more than a cover, a way to blend in. But then, I actually started *liking* it. The guys, the gigs, the late-night jams—it became real. Saying that its different then what i'm used to is a humongous understatement. Reminded me of my dreams before things got complicated. Music. Performing. And for a while, I let myself forget why I was really here.”

Holden swallowed hard, trying to process everything. “And now?”

Her expression hardened. “Now, I’m back on track but i want the music too.”

She stepped closer, voice lowering. “Those guys who have been pushing Lucky around? They’re Kane’s. Low-level enforcers, but still connected. That means we’re already in the game. I just have to work my way up, get closer to Kane’s inner circle.” Her fingers drummed against the nightstand as she thought. “Once I’m in, things change. I stop being the one looking for an opening, and I *become* the opening.”

Holden’s stomach twisted. “And then what? You take him down? Just like that?”

Gadget gave him a long look. “It’s not going to be that simple, but yeah. That’s the idea.”

He let out a slow breath and rubbed his face. “Jesus, Gadget… This is dangerous. Kane’s not just some street thug. He’s got politicians, cops, hell—probably half the damn city in his pocket.”

“I know.” Her voice was calm, steady. “That’s why I need to be careful. And that’s why I need you to keep this secret. No matter what happens.”

Holden looked at her, searching her face for any sign of hesitation. There was none. Just that same fierce determination that had drawn him to her in the first place.

Finally, he sighed and dropped onto the edge of the bed, running his hands through his hair. “You’re asking a lot, you know that?”

She sat beside him, bumping her shoulder against his. “I know.”

He let out a dry laugh. “Figures I’d fall for a fed.”

Gadget smirked. “Figures I’d fall for a guy who could keep up.”

A moment of silence passed between them. Then, softly, Holden said, “Just… don’t get yourself killed, alright?”

She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Not planning on it.”

But the weight of her words hung between them, a silent acknowledgment that plans didn’t always go the way they should.

==Dalt Sniper==
He looked down the sight at his target. It had been a long time since he had done this kind of wetwork but the skills were still there. It wasn't very chivalric but this guy had made his own bed and then shat it.
He followed the target around as he socialized. His stable of girls started filtering out. Anger raised in him. As the began being pawed over by Alverez's guests Dalt decided that Alverez wasn't going to go off alone.

An ahour in he had seen enough. He picked up the burner phone he had picked up in the airport and called 911. He reported hearing gunshots.

Five minutes later he saw police starting to arrive. “Better make this quick”

He sighted his target. Moved to six others on the patio. Alvarez was first.

Dalt decided not to be as vindictive as Reggy wanted. One to the head each would do enough damage.

Alvarez went down hard, flopping backward and breaking a very expensive bottle of Patron. Yellow shirt next, falling sideways leaving his girl to watch. Big ears took his in the ear but it was plenty splashy. Ugly hat guy took his in the nose. Fat Hawaiian shirt guy was slapping his girl and took his round under an upraised arm in the side, blasting explosively out he other side.

By then the party crowd knew the party was over and began to run inside. Number six almost made it indoors when his back erupted out his front. Number seven poked his head up out of the pool one last time.

Three guards came out with fancy customized Ar-15s Dalt was sure they were proud of. They peppered the hell far below him. He didn't see any reason to kill them though they were probably guilty of sampling the merchandise. A shot to each of their knees would probably not be fatal but they would certainly not be running on two good legs anymore.

Putting another clip in her aimed past the mansion to slam shots into police cars. That was enough to freak them out enough. Time to go.

He quickly policed his brass, out of reflex, and then withdrew a trump card.

“Tesara. Pull me through.”

Dalt grabbed the good catholic sicario. He had run out of liquid to piss out and he was really going to want it.

Dalt extended his hand to the girl with colorful short hair on the other side of the open trump gate leading to Ang Ri, an unimaginable distance away, in distance and worlds.

==Big Trouble in a Little Club==
((Rafe comes to help))

==Rafe's Mission==

=='''Stage Presence'''==

Wrecker and Reggy park their Harley’s outside the Ugly Ferret. A busy day, tricky, but a job well done. Its Miller time. And Jack Daniel time. And Urala time!

As they enter they can hear the argument going on in the stage hall. Walking to the bar they look to Lucky. Wrecker and Reggy knock knuckles on the bar. Glasses and bottles follow.

Wrecker asks, "Whats going on in there?"

Lucky shrugs, "Creative differences it sounds like. Trying to break Cali of that ''passive avoidance'' stage thing of hers. She plays like a monster but won’t look at the crowd, ya know the problem. Eddie and Gadget and Tiffy have been trying to talk her through it. Not having much luck. She keeps getting weepy. Thought she was tougher then that."

Reggy looks to the back, listening, while Wrecker says, "Lucky, we three have not had the bad time she had. Well, maybe you did--how was your time in prison?"

Lucky nods, "ah.. ya…..not that bad I guess."

Reggy starts into the back, pulling aside the curtain between the barroom and the stage hall. Wrecker follows, worried what his partner might do.

Reggy comes and sits on the edge of the stage next to Cali. The move surprises not just her but everyone. Wrecker and Reggy have become part of the background at the Ugly Ferret — they’re starting to become friends with everyone, like they already are with Gadget — but the two are clearly a lot older. No one but Holden and Gadget had said more then a few words at a time to them. All business.

Cali starts to scoot aside, her eyes wide. Reggy softly puts a hand on her leg, gently projecting his calm psyche toward her. Jax stands behind the drums, frowning. Eddie and Tiff come alert too. Holden looks up from his guitar at the sudden silence. Gadget starts to say something, then stops.

Reggy says softly, "Cali, I don’t want to get in the middle of y’alls music, but it sounds like they’re pushing you away instead of helping you." She looks at him — really looks at him, maybe for the first time — seeing the older man there beside her.

"Gadget’s right — you do need to look at the crowd more. Eddie’s right — you’re missing the fun of playing. Jax is right to let you do what works for you. Holden minds his own business — smart, when it comes to other people’s problems. Tiff’s right too — no one’s going to hurt you when you’re with them. She doesn’t even know how right she is."

He says, "Look at me, Cali." She turns and meets his eyes. "If Wrecker or I are here, no one’s going to lay a hand on you — any of you — without walking away with a broken one. I promise. Wrecker and I have seen some shit. And we aren’t in the ''giving a shit about consequences'' business if someone does something to hurt you folks."

He taps her knee lightly. "But listen — the stage is a performance space. You can play for yourself all you want, but the band needs you to participate. Help build the group vibe. So…I have a suggestion. Back in the day, a guy named Jim Morrison used to piss his bandmates off by not facing the crowd — and he was their front man! I saw them — '''''The Doors''''' — in Los Angeles, when I was way too young to be loose on my own. The show was wild — he was in his own world, and people loved it. When he did turn and face them, they went insane."

She sniffles, fighting back tears. "What are you saying?"

"Give the crowd what they want — on your terms. They want a gorgeous girl shredding the bass like a wood chipper. They want an '''''icon'''''. You can be that."

"How?"

"There’s a great song by some hoopy frood wackos from the ’80s. You’ve probably heard them."

Eddie steps forward. "Who? What are you talking about?"

Reggy pulls out his phone and cues it up, slipping the earbuds to Cali.

"Just listen to this. Listen to that bass line. It’s got a front bass, a second bass, a rhythm guitar, hard-thumping drums. Imagine this: you do most of the show like normal, look at the crowd a bit here and there — they start chanting <big>CALI! CALI!</big> like they do… Then there’s a pause. The rhythm guitar hits a few notes. Then you step forward to the front of the stage, looking down that gorgeous chin — you throw your glasses into the crowd and launch into this hard-driving, relentless bass line. '''''Rule the stage. Own the crowd'''''. Eddie comes over and sings right up on you — runs a hand through your hair, under your chin, down your arms. You trust him, but you ignore him."

He smiles, "You ignore the crowd. You own the music. Own the bass — that pounding, front-of-the-stage bass. Now listen."

She slips the earbuds on, head down as usual. He presses play, the sharp, robotic bass riff punching into her ears. She closes her eyes and nods, lost in it already.

After a moment, she looks at the phone and restarts the song.

She does it again — a third time.

Finally, she hands the phone back to Reggy and gives him a shy smile. "I can do that."

<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">[[File:Musicline1.jpg]]</div>

The set is cruising through familiar songs — the crowd singing along, half drunk, half alive. Then the lights dip. Cali stands alone at the front, head lowered, her dark stylized glasses flashing under the stage lights. But these aren’t the real ones — just cheap knockoffs waiting for the right moment.

The rhythm guitar drops into Devo’s ''" Girl U Want." '' The crowd sort of half recognizing the riff. Cali stays turned, shoulders stiff. On the first pounding drum beat, she spins — sharp, clean — and rips the glasses from her face, flinging them into the crowd. Hands shoot up, fighting for a piece of her.

Her eyes, dark and electric, stay locked just over their heads. Eddie comes in close, singing into her space, tracing fingers through her hair, under her chin, teasing the line. She ignores him. Ignores all of them. The bass is hers — grinding, fierce, owning every note.
Eddie circles her as he sings each line:

<big>'''"She sings from somewhere you can't see..."'''</big> — he slides behind her, leaning in, his breath on her neck.

<big>'''"She sits in the top of the greenest tree..."'''</big> — he moves to her side, one hand tracing just above her shoulder.

<big>'''"She sends out an aroma of undefined love..."'''</big> — he lifts his hand to the crowd, taunting them with her.

<big>'''"It drips on down in a mist from above..."'''</big> — he drops to a knee, looking up at her like a devotee.

He snaps up and turn, pounding the crowd.

<big>'''"She's just the girl, she's just the girl, The girl you want! She's just the girl, she's just the girl, The girl you want !!"'''</big>

Holden stands behind them, hair shrouding his eyes as he hammers the rhythm. Beside Cali, and a pair of steps behind her, Gadget prowls the second bass line, those angular high parts slicing the air. Tiffy moves in and out like a ghost, filling shot glasses and passing them between beats.

Wrecker and Reggy pace the edge of the stage front, arms folded, eyes sharp, grinning at each other when the chant swells:

<big>'''"She's just the girl, she's just the girl, the girl you want!"'''</big>

Eddie leans close on the chorus, his hand threading through her hair, under her chin, never breaking his stare with the front row while she ignores him completely:

<big>'''"Look at you with your mouth watering, Look at you with your mind spinning! Why don't we just admit it's all over? She's just the girl you want."'''</big>

When Eddie sings the final:
<big><big>'''"She's just the girl you want!"'''</big></big> — she tears a ripping tone that shakes the lights.

When the last note hits, she tosses her guitar pick out into the sea of grabbing hands. She turns her back on them all, grabs the waiting shot of whiskey, downs it, and slips her real glasses back on just as the next song kicks in. The spell breaks — but the rumor is already alive: next show, they’ll chant her name louder.

On You Tube find-(/watch?v=e5bqKafk9HA)- wiki wouldn't let me publish a youtube link

==Cast of Characters==
''Click to Enlarge''
{| class="wikitable"
| Gadget, Bass, Lead guitar, Irish folk harp, Dulcimer, Mandolin, Balalaika, Flute, recorder, piccolo, fife, woodwinds, conch, piano, orgaan, accordion, harpsichord.
[[File:Gadget6.jpg|50px]]
| Eddie-Lead Guitar, Vocals
[[File:Gadget Story Eddie.jpg|50px]]
| Tiffy-Violin, Flute,Vocals, viola, cello, flute, recorder, fife, woodwinds. piano.
[[File:Tiffy5.jpg|50px]]
| Jax -Drums, Percussion, xylophone,tambourines, maracas, other percussion noise makers.”
[[File:Gadget Story jax.jpg|50px]]
| Cali- Bass, Guitar. Bongos, Tambourine, Percussion.
[[File:Cali-.jpg|50px]]
| Holden- Rhythm Guitar, ukulele, Kazoo
[[File:Gadget Story Holden.jpg|50px]]
|-
| Waldo -Roadie. Trombone, Bass Sax
[[File:Waldo.jpg|50px]]
| Wrecker- Promoter
[[File:ADV-Wrecker.jpg|50px]]
| Reggy- Comic Relief
[[File:ADV-Reggy.jpg|50px]]
| Lucky-Owner of the Ugly Ferret
[[File:SbG-Lucky7.jpg|50px]]
| Colette -Doctor
[[File:ADV-Colette.jpg|50px]]
| 12
[[50px]]
|-
|}

=='''Album Covers'''==
{| class="wikitable"
| Stone Bench Group
[[File:Stonebench Group2.jpg|300px]]
| Baltimore Times
[[File:SBG-Bt1.jpg|350px]]
| Call of the Wolves
[[x]]
|-
| Night at the Ugly Ferret Live
[[x]]
| The Hollyhock Sanitarium Tapes
[[x]]
| 6
[[x]]

|-
|}
---------------------------
=='''[[working pages]]'''==

Running Sheet Drexel

2025-06-15T21:45:32Z

Relmopator: /* Statistics {71} */

<big>'''Drexel of Caradala'''</big>

aka Drexel op Hamilton

aka Drexel Sei Dita

[[File:Drexel Sei Dita2.jpg|250px]]

'''Father:''' Hamilton op Oberon

'''Mother:''' Unknown; died during childbirth

'''Children:''' None known

'''Description:''' A tall (6'6"), stocky (350#) man with bronzed skin, dark brown hair, a wide mustache and dark brown eyes. He looks like a late period Italian Cavalier based upon his fancy clothing and even fancier armor.

'''Unusual Characteristic:''' 6 fingers on his right hand.

'''Colors:''' Black and Gray.

'''Favorite Expressions:'''
*''Tutti devono mangiare.'' (Everyone's gotta eat)
*''Niente nella vita è gratis.'' (Nothing in life is free)

=='''Ranks'''==
*Imperial Prince of Caradala (Only by birth; no actual Title passed)
*Duke of Rocara (Title passed by Hamilton)
*Knight of the Order of Caradala (Knighted by Hamilton)
*Adept Graduate - Afkir Academy
*Wyrm Slayer of Tondril - Black Road Wars
**aka Tondril Wyrm Slayer
*Knight Savior of the Order of the Healing Heart

=='''Points {140}'''==

'''''Total: = 71 Stats +1(63) Powers +8(+18) Skills +21(37) Items +36 Creatures + 0(6/6) Allies/Enemies +2 Shadows +1 Stuff +0 Storage'''''

*71 in Stats
*1 (63) in Powers
*8 (18) in Skills
*21 (37) in Items
*36 in Creatures
*0 in Allies (6/6)
*2 in Shadows
*1 in Stuff
*0 in Storage

===''Advancement''===
*125 pips starting - SPENT
*10 additional pips - SPENT
*5 pips 2024 Anniversary - SPENT
*5 pips to Stats: Special Gift - SPENT

=='''Statistics {76}'''==
*Psyche: '''10'''
*Strength: '''23'''
*Endurance: '''20'''
*Warfare: '''23'''

=='''Powers {1 (63)}'''==
*(50) Pattern of Caradala; Basic Imprint (GRANTED - Hamilton)
*(10) Limited Shape Shift - Amber Racial
*1 Cantrips

<span style=color:green>'''Afkir Academy Adept Powers'''</span>
*0 Cantrips
*(1) Survey of Powers
*(1) Survey of Multiversal Geography
*(1) Exposure to the Mark of the Battlemoon

=='''Skills {8 (18)}'''==
<span style=color:green><big>'''Afkir Academy - Basic Training''' ''(GRANTED - Hamilton)''</big></span>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|<span style=color:green>'''Horsemanship & Military Education'''</span>
*1 Horsemanship-Riding & Care
*1 Tactics
*1 Logistics
*1 Horse Archery
*1 Horse Weapon Combat
*1 Physical Fitness-Strength Training
*1 Physical Fitness-Endurance Training
|<span style=color:green>'''Academics & Craftsmanship'''</span>
*1 Academics- General Requirements
*1 Academics- History
*1 Academics- Survey of Languages
*2 Craftsmanship-Leather
*2 Craftsmanship-Woodwork Furniture
|<span style=color:green>'''Unofficial Talents'''</span>
*1 Alcohol Tolerance
*1 Games of Skill
*1 Card Games
*1 Dice Games
|-
|}
<span style=color:green><big>'''Caradalan Martial Arts''' </big></span>

<span style=color:green>'''Loha dar (Iron Hand Way)'''</span>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|Combines elements of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Capoeira, and Wing Chun.

*Loha Dar focuses on fluidity, circular motion, and adaptability.
*Blends defensive grappling techniques from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
*Rhythmic strikes & acrobatics from Capoeira
*Close-quarters trapping & parrying of Wing Chun
|Key Features:
**Footwork & Flow: Movements mimic a spinning sphere, allowing practitioners to seamlessly transition between offense and defense.
**Grappling: Focuses on dynamic takedowns and submissions, ensuring control in ground combat.
**Striking: Emphasizes quick, unpredictable strikes with limbs that come from various angles using Capoeira's circular momentum.
*Signature Technique: Iron Coil Submission – A combination of Capoeira's evasive spins to close distance and a Jiu-Jitsu rear-naked choke for a decisive finish.
|-
|}

<big>'''Skills and Hobbies'''</big>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Pointed Skills'''
*+1 Horsemanship - Riding & Care
*2 Cooking & Butchering
*1 Etiquette
*1 Blacksmith / Ferrier
*1 Weapon Smith
*1 Armorer - Metal
*1 Wainwright
|'''Other Notable Skills'''
*0
*0
|''Hobbies''
*Collecting Dragon Parts
*Whistling & Whittling
|-
|}

=='''Allies & Enemies {6/-6 = 0}'''==
===Allies-6===
*3 Lan'thalasa (not known)
*2 Dame Margot (not known)
*1 (Squire) Known

===Enemies-6===
*3 Unknown Enemy (Dufiro?)
*2 Unknown Enemy (Chaos?)
*1 Unknown Enemy

=='''Companions'''==
*Lan'thalasa SidiZ'Apaufix: Healer
***aka 'Lan', 'Lana', 'SidiZ'
**Pale Adask Fey; Female
**Dufiro; Spasa of Life
***Air Elemental, Spasa of Cleanliness, Health, Life
**Cleric; Order of the Healing Heart

*Curtis aka 'Curt': Squire
**Male: Human?
**Too Strong and Hearty to be a Normal Human
**Good with a shield, especially unarmed.

=='''Items {21(37)}'''==
===(37) Signature Piece; Full Plate Armor===
**9 Invulnerable 4 +5 Transfer
**9 Engine Speed 4 +5 Transfer
**2 Danger Sense
**2 Psychic Neutral
**4 Amber Vitality
**4 Tireless Stamina
**4 Regeneration
**2 N/#d Forms (12)
***Fancy Full Plate Armor, Heavy Hooded Cloak, etc.
**1 Ability - Summon to Body / Return

===15 Great Sword===
*2 Chaos Vitality
*2 Amber Stamina
*2 Double Speed
*2 Combat Reflexes
**The above 4 Qualities translate to a lighter weapon that requires less strength and is less draining to wield, which equates to faster and more effective attacks and defenses.
*4 Deadly Damage
*1 Summon to hand / Return to sheath
*2 N/# Forms (12)
**(Great Sword, Great Mace, Great Axe)
**(Combat Lance, Broadhead Spear, Halberd)
**(Ball & Chain Flail, War Hammer, Bastard Sword)
**(Great Bow, +2 more)

===3 Vardo Wagon===
*2 Armored vs Firearms
**Includes Explosions and Fire
*1 Mold Shadow Stuff
**Minor Terrain Alterations
*Hard wood, painted greens & browns
**Hand-made by Drexel
*Also see below: Creatures

===2 All-Terrain Horse Shoes===
*2 Rocaran Steel Horseshoes (12)
**1 Mold Shadow Stuff
***Minor Terrain Alterations
**X2 Qty: N/# (12)
***3 Sets of 4
***War Horse & 2 Draft Horses

===1 'Chaos' War Saddle===
*1 Chaos Wyrm Hide War Saddle
**1 Minor Shape Shift
***Minor Size/Shape Adjustments

===Low Order Items===
*Low Order Cooking Gear (Continualism)
**Pots, Pans, Grills, Griddles, Utensils, Supports, etc.
*Low Order Camp Gear (Continualism)
**Large Tent (complete set), Sleeping Gear (complete set w/cot), etc.

===Normal Items===
*Rocaran Steel Bearded Axes (2)
*Rocaran Steel Fighting Knives (2)
*Tondril Steel Daggers; Throwing (2)
*Rocaran Steel Heater Shield
*Assorted Sundries
*Food Stuffs
*Assorted Gemstones of Varying Values
*Assorted Coins of Various Precious Metals
*Tools of the Trade
**Smithing, Leatherworking, Woodworking
*Tondril Steel Barding
**Rocaran War Horse

=='''Creatures{36}'''==
===24 Rocaran War Horse (Shire Horse)===
''Fratellone'' (Big Brother)
*4 Amber Vitality
*4 Engine Speed
*4 Tireless Stamina
*4 Combat Mastery
*2 Armor vs Guns
*2 Double Damage
*2 Rapid Healing
*1 Psychic Sense
*1 Bond / Link to Drexel
**Always knows where Drexel is
**Always knows when Drexel needs him.

HORSE GEAR:
*A full set (4) of All-Terrain Horse Shoes
**(see Items above)
*A full set of Tondril Steel Plate Barding
**(see Normal Items above)
*A 'Chaos' War Saddle
**(see Items above)

===10 Daxori Coon===
*''Ladro'' (thief) the Guard Coon (raccoon)
**4 Extraordinary Psychic Sense
**2 Psychic Neutral / Amber Defense
**1 Intelligence: Able to Speak
**1 Chaos Stamina
**2 Rapid Healing

===2 Shire Draft Horses (2)===
*1 Double Stamina
*X2 N/# Qty (2)
**''Sorellonas'' (Big Sisters)
**Used to pull Drexel's Vardo Wagon (one alone could do the job.)
**Mares not fit for War Horse Service
***Improper Temperament: Do NOT like to be ridden.
**Both Horses wear a full set (4) of All-Terrain Horse Shoes

===Normal Creatures===
*Tondril Chicken
**''Gallina'' (Hen)
**Triple sized Hen
**Triple sized eggs. No Rooster needed.
**Lays 3-6 eggs per day depending on rest time.

*Tondril Milking Goat
**''Sorellina'' (Little Sister)
**double-sized Goat
**triple milk production

=='''Shadows{2}'''==
*2 Unnamed Shadow
**1 Personal Shadow
**1 Control of Contents

=='''Stuff{1}'''==
1 Pip Good Stuff

=='''Miscellany'''==
[[Afkir Academy of the Carardala]]

[[Caradala]]

[[Hamilton]]

[[Drexel]]'s History

Running Sheet Drexel

2025-06-15T21:43:03Z

Relmopator: /* Advancement */

<big>'''Drexel of Caradala'''</big>

aka Drexel op Hamilton

aka Drexel Sei Dita

[[File:Drexel Sei Dita2.jpg|250px]]

'''Father:''' Hamilton op Oberon

'''Mother:''' Unknown; died during childbirth

'''Children:''' None known

'''Description:''' A tall (6'6"), stocky (350#) man with bronzed skin, dark brown hair, a wide mustache and dark brown eyes. He looks like a late period Italian Cavalier based upon his fancy clothing and even fancier armor.

'''Unusual Characteristic:''' 6 fingers on his right hand.

'''Colors:''' Black and Gray.

'''Favorite Expressions:'''
*''Tutti devono mangiare.'' (Everyone's gotta eat)
*''Niente nella vita è gratis.'' (Nothing in life is free)

=='''Ranks'''==
*Imperial Prince of Caradala (Only by birth; no actual Title passed)
*Duke of Rocara (Title passed by Hamilton)
*Knight of the Order of Caradala (Knighted by Hamilton)
*Adept Graduate - Afkir Academy
*Wyrm Slayer of Tondril - Black Road Wars
**aka Tondril Wyrm Slayer
*Knight Savior of the Order of the Healing Heart

=='''Points {140}'''==

'''''Total: = 71 Stats +1(63) Powers +8(+18) Skills +21(37) Items +36 Creatures + 0(6/6) Allies/Enemies +2 Shadows +1 Stuff +0 Storage'''''

*71 in Stats
*1 (63) in Powers
*8 (18) in Skills
*21 (37) in Items
*36 in Creatures
*0 in Allies (6/6)
*2 in Shadows
*1 in Stuff
*0 in Storage

===''Advancement''===
*125 pips starting - SPENT
*10 additional pips - SPENT
*5 pips 2024 Anniversary - SPENT
*5 pips to Stats: Special Gift - SPENT

=='''Statistics {71}'''==
*Psyche: '''10'''
*Strength: '''22'''
*Endurance: '''18'''
*Warfare: '''21'''

=='''Powers {1 (63)}'''==
*(50) Pattern of Caradala; Basic Imprint (GRANTED - Hamilton)
*(10) Limited Shape Shift - Amber Racial
*1 Cantrips

<span style=color:green>'''Afkir Academy Adept Powers'''</span>
*0 Cantrips
*(1) Survey of Powers
*(1) Survey of Multiversal Geography
*(1) Exposure to the Mark of the Battlemoon

=='''Skills {8 (18)}'''==
<span style=color:green><big>'''Afkir Academy - Basic Training''' ''(GRANTED - Hamilton)''</big></span>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|<span style=color:green>'''Horsemanship & Military Education'''</span>
*1 Horsemanship-Riding & Care
*1 Tactics
*1 Logistics
*1 Horse Archery
*1 Horse Weapon Combat
*1 Physical Fitness-Strength Training
*1 Physical Fitness-Endurance Training
|<span style=color:green>'''Academics & Craftsmanship'''</span>
*1 Academics- General Requirements
*1 Academics- History
*1 Academics- Survey of Languages
*2 Craftsmanship-Leather
*2 Craftsmanship-Woodwork Furniture
|<span style=color:green>'''Unofficial Talents'''</span>
*1 Alcohol Tolerance
*1 Games of Skill
*1 Card Games
*1 Dice Games
|-
|}
<span style=color:green><big>'''Caradalan Martial Arts''' </big></span>

<span style=color:green>'''Loha dar (Iron Hand Way)'''</span>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|Combines elements of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Capoeira, and Wing Chun.

*Loha Dar focuses on fluidity, circular motion, and adaptability.
*Blends defensive grappling techniques from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
*Rhythmic strikes & acrobatics from Capoeira
*Close-quarters trapping & parrying of Wing Chun
|Key Features:
**Footwork & Flow: Movements mimic a spinning sphere, allowing practitioners to seamlessly transition between offense and defense.
**Grappling: Focuses on dynamic takedowns and submissions, ensuring control in ground combat.
**Striking: Emphasizes quick, unpredictable strikes with limbs that come from various angles using Capoeira's circular momentum.
*Signature Technique: Iron Coil Submission – A combination of Capoeira's evasive spins to close distance and a Jiu-Jitsu rear-naked choke for a decisive finish.
|-
|}

<big>'''Skills and Hobbies'''</big>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Pointed Skills'''
*+1 Horsemanship - Riding & Care
*2 Cooking & Butchering
*1 Etiquette
*1 Blacksmith / Ferrier
*1 Weapon Smith
*1 Armorer - Metal
*1 Wainwright
|'''Other Notable Skills'''
*0
*0
|''Hobbies''
*Collecting Dragon Parts
*Whistling & Whittling
|-
|}

=='''Allies & Enemies {6/-6 = 0}'''==
===Allies-6===
*3 Lan'thalasa (not known)
*2 Dame Margot (not known)
*1 (Squire) Known

===Enemies-6===
*3 Unknown Enemy (Dufiro?)
*2 Unknown Enemy (Chaos?)
*1 Unknown Enemy

=='''Companions'''==
*Lan'thalasa SidiZ'Apaufix: Healer
***aka 'Lan', 'Lana', 'SidiZ'
**Pale Adask Fey; Female
**Dufiro; Spasa of Life
***Air Elemental, Spasa of Cleanliness, Health, Life
**Cleric; Order of the Healing Heart

*Curtis aka 'Curt': Squire
**Male: Human?
**Too Strong and Hearty to be a Normal Human
**Good with a shield, especially unarmed.

=='''Items {21(37)}'''==
===(37) Signature Piece; Full Plate Armor===
**9 Invulnerable 4 +5 Transfer
**9 Engine Speed 4 +5 Transfer
**2 Danger Sense
**2 Psychic Neutral
**4 Amber Vitality
**4 Tireless Stamina
**4 Regeneration
**2 N/#d Forms (12)
***Fancy Full Plate Armor, Heavy Hooded Cloak, etc.
**1 Ability - Summon to Body / Return

===15 Great Sword===
*2 Chaos Vitality
*2 Amber Stamina
*2 Double Speed
*2 Combat Reflexes
**The above 4 Qualities translate to a lighter weapon that requires less strength and is less draining to wield, which equates to faster and more effective attacks and defenses.
*4 Deadly Damage
*1 Summon to hand / Return to sheath
*2 N/# Forms (12)
**(Great Sword, Great Mace, Great Axe)
**(Combat Lance, Broadhead Spear, Halberd)
**(Ball & Chain Flail, War Hammer, Bastard Sword)
**(Great Bow, +2 more)

===3 Vardo Wagon===
*2 Armored vs Firearms
**Includes Explosions and Fire
*1 Mold Shadow Stuff
**Minor Terrain Alterations
*Hard wood, painted greens & browns
**Hand-made by Drexel
*Also see below: Creatures

===2 All-Terrain Horse Shoes===
*2 Rocaran Steel Horseshoes (12)
**1 Mold Shadow Stuff
***Minor Terrain Alterations
**X2 Qty: N/# (12)
***3 Sets of 4
***War Horse & 2 Draft Horses

===1 'Chaos' War Saddle===
*1 Chaos Wyrm Hide War Saddle
**1 Minor Shape Shift
***Minor Size/Shape Adjustments

===Low Order Items===
*Low Order Cooking Gear (Continualism)
**Pots, Pans, Grills, Griddles, Utensils, Supports, etc.
*Low Order Camp Gear (Continualism)
**Large Tent (complete set), Sleeping Gear (complete set w/cot), etc.

===Normal Items===
*Rocaran Steel Bearded Axes (2)
*Rocaran Steel Fighting Knives (2)
*Tondril Steel Daggers; Throwing (2)
*Rocaran Steel Heater Shield
*Assorted Sundries
*Food Stuffs
*Assorted Gemstones of Varying Values
*Assorted Coins of Various Precious Metals
*Tools of the Trade
**Smithing, Leatherworking, Woodworking
*Tondril Steel Barding
**Rocaran War Horse

=='''Creatures{36}'''==
===24 Rocaran War Horse (Shire Horse)===
''Fratellone'' (Big Brother)
*4 Amber Vitality
*4 Engine Speed
*4 Tireless Stamina
*4 Combat Mastery
*2 Armor vs Guns
*2 Double Damage
*2 Rapid Healing
*1 Psychic Sense
*1 Bond / Link to Drexel
**Always knows where Drexel is
**Always knows when Drexel needs him.

HORSE GEAR:
*A full set (4) of All-Terrain Horse Shoes
**(see Items above)
*A full set of Tondril Steel Plate Barding
**(see Normal Items above)
*A 'Chaos' War Saddle
**(see Items above)

===10 Daxori Coon===
*''Ladro'' (thief) the Guard Coon (raccoon)
**4 Extraordinary Psychic Sense
**2 Psychic Neutral / Amber Defense
**1 Intelligence: Able to Speak
**1 Chaos Stamina
**2 Rapid Healing

===2 Shire Draft Horses (2)===
*1 Double Stamina
*X2 N/# Qty (2)
**''Sorellonas'' (Big Sisters)
**Used to pull Drexel's Vardo Wagon (one alone could do the job.)
**Mares not fit for War Horse Service
***Improper Temperament: Do NOT like to be ridden.
**Both Horses wear a full set (4) of All-Terrain Horse Shoes

===Normal Creatures===
*Tondril Chicken
**''Gallina'' (Hen)
**Triple sized Hen
**Triple sized eggs. No Rooster needed.
**Lays 3-6 eggs per day depending on rest time.

*Tondril Milking Goat
**''Sorellina'' (Little Sister)
**double-sized Goat
**triple milk production

=='''Shadows{2}'''==
*2 Unnamed Shadow
**1 Personal Shadow
**1 Control of Contents

=='''Stuff{1}'''==
1 Pip Good Stuff

=='''Miscellany'''==
[[Afkir Academy of the Carardala]]

[[Caradala]]

[[Hamilton]]

[[Drexel]]'s History

Running Sheet Relmopator

2025-06-15T21:21:25Z

Relmopator: /* Skills {19} */

'''<big>Relmopator Barimen'''; aka ''‘Realmer’'' </big>

[[File:AT-Relmopator.jpg]] [[File:Realmer3.jpg]] [[File:Relmopator.jpg]]

=='''Personal Information'''==
'''''Active since March 10, 2019'''''
===Family===
*''GRANDFATHER: Dworkin of Amber aka The Mad Mage of Montagar''
*''GRANDMOTHER: Verna, The Primal Adask''
*''FATHER: Hagalta, Gray Adask son of Dworkin and Verna''
*''MOTHER: Satura, Pale Adask Fey daughter of Dworkin and Verna''
*''SIBLINGS: Dwynwen; younger sister, Drixtra; younger half-sister(Hagalta)/ half-niece(Dwynwen), Xorax; younger half-brother (Hagalta/ Uxtrasa)''
===Description===
*Apparent Age: 27 yrs old (Actual Age: 220 yrs old)
*Height: 5’11” Weight: 150 (solid cable-like muscles)
*Build: Thin, Long Limbed, Lanky
*Complexion: Pale but Healthy looking; slightest hint of 'pinkish' undertones
*Face: Clean Shaven, Smooth, Overly Good Looking; Pretty in fact
*Hair: Long Thick Silky White; pulled back into a Single Braid
*Eyes: Reddish Pink Iris, Light Blue Sclera
*Race: Amberite / Pale Adask Fey
*Personal Colors: Dark Gray, Dark Red & Dark Purple

=='''Ranks'''==
*''(Former) Vampire of the Dungeons''
*''(Former) Ambassador of Amber to the Primal Realm of Adagalasck''
*''Lord of Amber''
*''Knight of Amber - Graduate of Rasak aka [[Nasty Place]]''
*''[[Odaraxta]] War Chief of Clan Kalota; Adagalasck''
*''Lord (Duke) of the South Wind & Master of Fire; [[Adagalasck]]''

=='''Points'''==

Total: 339 Pips = 200 Base +10 Contribution: Player's Game Log +129 Advancement

*75 Stats
*216 Powers
*14 Skills
*7 Shadows
*0 14 Allies/14 Enemies
*11 Followers
*9 Creature
*6 Items
*2 Stuff

<big>Total 339</big>

===ADVANCEMENT [99] & CONTRIBUTIONS [10]===

====First: 10 Pips-Advancement Pips: Spent====
*5 Bonus (GM Assistance)
*4 Mission with Aries; Received Satura's Ring from Hagalta, Received Ice Orc Marbles from Xorit, Recovered Tome, Learned that Satura still lives
*1 Quiz
----------
====Second: 10 Pips-The Opening of Adagalasck: Spent====
*3 From the Courtyard to the Arch. Reunion or Severance.
*3 The plains of the Wild Grass Clan to the meeting with the Horse Lord.
*3 Water Crossing and Family business.
*1 Ambassador Plenipotentiary
----
*2 pips towards WARFARE-Conversations With Gangdis, Julian and Caine

----
Experience with general Sleight of hand / Card work. Tasa spends a lot of time in camp and on the trail working card passes and practicing sleight of hand tricks. She often works with others.

----
====Third: 30 pips-Campaign 1st Advancement: Spent====
**Raised Strength and Warfare to Amber Rank. Enhanced Kevin; pet poodle. Invested in Tasa Resa (Shape Shift and Magic) and Sir Carston (Magic). Claimed a Personal Shadow within the Adagalasck Sway; part of the North Stair most likely. Basic Imprint of the Spiral of the Winds (granted by Julian)

Completed.
----------
====Fourth: 30 pips-2nd Campaign Advancement; Rasak and Adledross: Spent====

**5 pips Paragon
**3 Pips Warfare
**1 Pip Strength
**1 Pip Endurance
**5 pips Psyche
**1 Pip Skill-Dufirosim (assisted by experience with ritualism)
**4 Pips 2 Artifacts add 2 pips each for N/#'d Spells
**10 Pips Fey Basic

Rasak Advancement - granted: Benedict (16) - Below is a list of Bonuses that all graduates receive upon Graduation. It is a base after which Pips can be spent according to the character's interests.
*5 Pips Warfare-Graduates reaches at Least Amber Rank in Warfare
*3 Pips Endurance-graduates gains at least Chaos Rank in Endurance with 5 pip toward Amber rank
*2 Pip Strength-Graduates gains at least Amber Strength
Skills are a base and if the individual has them this advances them to a maximum of 2 pips.
*1 Pip Skill-Military Technology
*1 Pip Skill-Military Command and Communications.
*1 Pip Skill-Military Horsemanship
*1 Pip Skill-Gymnastics
*1 Pip Skill-Medical Training
*1 Pips Skill-Cooking-Butchering general for cooking. Some gardening training for growing herbs and vegetables. Presentation.
*(10) Pips Jewel of Judgment (Dworkin)

====Fifth: 11 Pips (Still Ongoing...)====
*10 pips Contribution: Player's Game Log (ongoing) <SPENT>
**2 Good Stuff
**5 Psyche
**3 Skill: Linguistics
*1 pip Kabuki Theater (Granted-GM; Whimsical)

====Sixth:30 Pips====
*20 pips [[Relmapator Running Journal]]-SPENT
*2021 Anniversary Advancement.
**10 Pips- Advancement: SPENT
**3 Pips to Endurance: ADDED

====Seventh:10 Pips====
*2022 Anniversary Advancement.
**10 Pips- Advancement: SPENT
**2 Pips to Psyche: ADDED
**2 Pips to Skills: ADDED
**1 Pip to Ally/Enemy
====Eighth:2023 Anniversary Advancement====
*10 pip Anniversary Advancement
*3 pips of skills for new skills.
====Ninth: As of 1/30/2024====
15 Pips.Spent
*10 pips: Fey Powers advance 10 pips
*5 pips: Stair powers

====Tenth: 2024 Anniversary - SPENT====
*10 pips of Regular Pips.
*1 Pip for a skill of 1 Pip or 2 Pips that raises the skill to 2 or 3. A skill that the character has used.
*2 Pips for new 1 pip skills.
*8 Pips for a Main Creature advancement.
*5 Pips for Secondary Creature
*1 Pip of Good Stuff.

====Special Bounus - SPENT====
*5 Pips for Stats

===ADVANCEMENT WISHLIST===
*(30) New Artifact: Sorcerer's Shuriken

=='''Statistics {105}'''==
*PSYCHE: 75 - ['''245''' - (5) Mandalay Stones = Psyche x3.5] '''{5 NEW}'''
**['''Extraordinary Psychic Sense'''; Bob the Beholder & Hex the Scrimshawed Staff]
**['''Danger Sense'''; Satura's Ring, Sorcerer's Robe and Kalota Clan Blade]
*STRENGTH: 3
*ENDURANCE: 7
**['''Endless Stamina'''; Satura's Ring]
**['''Regeneration'''; Satura's Ring & Kalota Clan Blade]
*WARFARE: 20 '''{10 NEW}'''

=='''Stuff {+1}'''==
2 Pips PERMANENT BAD STUFF
*SHARED DOOM: The Death Curse of Hiroaki, Son of Borlak, Grandson of Oberon.
3 Pips GOOD STUFF '''{1 NEW}'''
*To help offset the effects of his Doom.

=='''Powers''' {359} [231] (128)==
*75 (50) ADVANCED PATTERN IMPRINT (50-Amber Basic Imprint Granted-Random) + (Ambir Basic Imprint Granted-Dworkin)
**Can be used as a Spell Framework; holds 18 Major Spells
*(25) MASTER'S ATTUNEMENT to the Amber Jewel of Judgment (Granted-Dworkin-Random)
**UPDATE: New Assisted Attunement given by Benedict; equals Master Level
*3 ATTUNEMENT to the Ambir Shade Jewel of Judgement
*40 TRUMP ARTISTRY
**Trump Sketches, Create Trumps, Trump Identification, Trump Defense, Sensing Trump, Create Trump Powered Artifacts
*35 (10) SHAPE SHIFTING (10 Granted-Racial)
**(Chaos Form: Winged multi-limbed Nosferateau Vampire; appears undead, not rotting)
**(Avatar/Animal Form: Extra Large Vulture)
*60 (30) SPIRAL OF THE FOUR WINDS; ADVANCED IMPRINT (30 Granted - Nina)
**Spiral Imprint x4 (North Wind, West Wind, South Wind, East Wind)
**Can be used as a Spell Framework; holds 6 Major Spells & 12 Minor Spells
**Ability to enter Stairs and lead others on them
**Ability to create holographic Trump Images with a small glass sphere and a ritual
***Contact & Transport within Realm, Contact only out of Realm
**Basic Concord: Up to 20th lvl Magery Low Order Magic
**Advanced Concord: Up to 60th lvl Magery
**Ability to use Tomes of the Stairs
**Ability to Call a 4 Winds of Force: (multiple Imprints)
***Cold Wind of the North, Warm Wind of the West and Hot Wind of the South, Fierce Wind of the East.
*? MASTER'S ATTUNEMENT to the South Wind Spiral; Claimed
**Power and Rulership of the South Wind Realms
*? MASTER'S ATTUNEMENT to the South Stair of Codupia; Claimed.
**Access to all Stair Realms within.
**Able to transport to Stair Realm Entrances.
**Able to Seal/Unseal Stair Realms.
*5 SIGIL OF PARAGON; Sawall Shard - Basic Imprint - Non-Holder of the Shard
**Holds the Sigil of Paragon
**Sorcerers may summon a Sigil of High Order for many uses.
**Initiates of the Stone gain a frame of 4 spells that may be used by non-sorcerers
**Initiates of the stone with the skill of Sorcery can access a frame of 8 Major spells and 12 minor spells.
**Initiates of a Shard of Paragon gain access to one Shadow-The contents of the shard's choosing.
**Able to use the Sigil as a Lens to detect most other Powers but especially Magic.
**Can Replay the Past when viewing through the Paragon Lens.
*30 ADVANCED SORCERY
**Shorter Casting/Weaving times, less Lynchpins, more Stable Spells
*25 CONJURATION & COMPELLING
**Basic Conjuration, Shadow Shape Conjuration, Complex Conjuration, Empowerment, Conjure Compelling
*17 POWER WORDS {12 Power Gestures}
**(Pattern Negation, Chaos Negation, Trump Disrupt, Magic Negation, Resume True Form, Psychic Disrupt, Neural Disrupt, Pain Attack, Lifeforce, Process Surge, Process Snuff, Spiral Negation)
*20 FEY POWERS - Advanced [[Fey Powers]] (unlocked by Finndo)
*15 (9) LOW ORDER MAGIC SYSTEMS
**3 Wizardry: (AD&D System; Level 24 approx.)
***Spell/Lvl: 5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,4
**3 Magery: (Warlock System; Level 30 Approx.)[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Warlock_Magery]]
***Spell/Lvl: 16,10,8,7,5,5,3,2,1
**(3) [[Cantrips]] (granted for knowledge in multiple Magics)
**(3) Ritualism (granted for knowledge in multiple Magics) Note skill in Dufirosim
**(3) [[Continualism]] (granted for knowledge in multiple Magics)
*(2) TROLL STONE; Four Color: Blue, Jade, White, Brown - Lightning, Acid, Ice, Stone (Both Protection & Attacks)
*(2) TROLL STONE; Single Color: Red - Fire (Both Protection & Attacks)
*5 Stair Control.

=='''Skills {19}'''==
*3 Linguistics (Even prior to ADRPG Realmer was a 'linguist' of sorts)
**Knows several dialects of Thari & multiple Thari-based languages
**Knows Multiple non-Thari Racial Languages from various Shadows
**Knows Multiple non-Thari Regional Languages from various Shadows
*Literacy: Reading and Writing; multiple languages
*2 Military Horsemanship (mounted combat, group mounted combat, warhorse usage) '''{1 NEW}'''
*1 Military Command and Communications (includes Hand Battle Sign Language)
*1 Military Technology (Weapons, Defenses, Vehicles, etc.)
*1 Medical Training (Triage, First Aid, Field Surgery)
*1 Herbalism (Plants, Roots, Fungi, Etc.)
*1 Brewing (Potions, Ales, Tonics, Etc.)
*1 Cooking: Presentation, general Butchering for cooking, basic gardening for growing herbs and vegetables
*1 Gymnastics (mostly Combat Movement related)
*1 Sleight of Hand (Basic Palming, Card Tricks, Basic Picking and Placing techniques)
*1 Knowledge: [[Dufiro]]sim (assisted by experience with Ritualism)
*1 Kabuki Theatre (GM Granted-Whimsical Skill)
*1 Diplomacy
*1 Distilling (Alcohols, and to increase potency of Potions and Tonics)
*1 Cartography '''{NEW}'''
*1 Thrown Weapons '''{NEW}'''

==='''Other Useful Skills'''===
*Artistry: Ink: Tattooing
*Artistry: Ink; Pen & Stylus
*Artistry: Ink; Brush
*Artistry: Writing Styles; Calligraphy, Runes, etc.
*Mixology (Spent lots of time in Taverns, Pubs & Bars)
*Apothecary (Remedies, Medicines, Etc.)
*Anatomy (Human, Demi-Human, Humanoid)
*Embalming
*Chemistry
*Alchemy

=='''Shadows {7}'''==
[5] SHADOW: "[[Adagaar]]"; Relmopator’s NEW Personal Shadow (and possible Construct) (NEW)

*[1] Shadow Type: Personal Shadow
*[2] Control over Shadow: Control of Contents & Time Flow
*[2] Shadow Barriers: Restricted Communication & Access
*Description: High Fantasy World

[2] SHADOW: Relmopator’s Personal Shadow, “[[Oerth]]”

*Shadow Type: [1] Personal Shadow
*Control over Shadow: [1] Control of Contents

*Description: High Fantasy World

=='''Allies & Enemies {+19/-19}'''==
==='''Allies'''===
*6 AMBER COURT DEVOTEE: Dworkin
*4 Amber Ally: Florimel
*2 CHAD Ally: Fortunadus
*3 Amber Ally: Gangdis of Gallowsill
*1 Chaos Ally: Jurt
*1 Amber/Adagalasck Ally: Julian
*1 Adagalasck Ally: Trualta; East Wind
*1 Adagalasck Ally: Xorit of Clan Trixta

==='''Enemies'''===
*6 Unknown Enemy #1 (possibly Emilisa)
*4 House Bayle
*2 Zictalas
*1 Bleys (was Arloxedra but he withdrew his pip)
*1 Droppa Mapants
*1 New enemy in Adagalsack.
*1 New enemy in Adagalsack
*1 New enemy in Adagalsack.
*1 New enemy in Adagalsack
*1 New enemy in Adagalsack

=='''Companions {11}'''==
===Sworn Followers===
*Jack; the Vampire of Oerth: Left Hand of Lord Relmopator

===Partnerships===
*8 Tesa Resa aka Lady Tesara [[Trrs]]
**Originally Hired as a Padfoot/Assassin, recommended by Sir Gangdis. Later discovered to be part of the Amber Royal Family.
**5 pips to Partial Shape Shift
**3 pips to Adv. Concord

===Hired===
*3 CHAD Merc; Sir [[Carston]] Brak, Knight of Wall. CHAD Bodyguard.
**3 pips to Adv. Concord

===Assigned===
*Elite Sergeant [[Gangdis]] of Casowill[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Elites#Gangdis_of_Casowill-Active]]

===Known Associates===
[[CI-Relmopator]]

=='''Creatures {22}'''==
===16 PET: “Kevin”; White Teacup Poodle===
*14 pips [Realmer] 2 pips (?someone else?)
**2 Armor Vs Gun
**2 Double Damage
**2 Rapid-Healing
**2 Double Speed
**1 Able to Speak
**1 Double Stamina
**2 Combat Reflexes '''{+1 NEW}'''
**2 Psychic Neutral '''{NEW}'''
**2 Double Vitality '''{NEW}'''

===8 MOUNT: "Graso"; a Ranyhyn===
*+2 Resistance to Damage
*+2 Movement
*+2 Stamina
*+2 Healing
**Resembles a gray horse w/ multicolored mane & tail (gifted by Lord Trualta)
**Bonded Mount; Bonding comes from the Ranyhyn which chooses the Rider who must accept for Bond to exist.
**Rider is able to Summon from anywhere to anywhere by whispering his name.
**Must be ridden Bare Backed; refuses any form of Tack or Saddle, barely tolerates Saddle Bags, will NEVER serve as a Draft Horse.
**Controlled / Guided by Bonded Rider's body movements, thoughts, desires and needs.
**Ranyhyn has some control over Horses.
**Graso, specifically, is a Herd Lead Stallion (Alpha) and personal friend of Morganstern, the Primal Horse.
**'''''Need more notes from GM'''''

===(50)FAMILIAR [Signature Creature - 50 Granted] (“Bob”; Miniature Beholder)===
*See notes below

=='''Artifacts & Items'''==
*2 PIPS IN CRAFTED ARTIFACTS
*4 PIPS IN GIFTED ARTIFACTS

===WEAPONS===
====Kalota Clan Blade (68)====
[[File:Kalota blade.jpg|400 px]]

*4 Immense Vitality (Amber Strength)
*2 Double Speed + 5 Transfer
*2 Amber Stamina
*4 Combat Mastery
*4 Invulnerable
*4 Deadly Damage-sears.
*4 Tongues-IQ/EGO Blade-Memory
*2 Danger Sense-Self Preservation-Jealous
*2 Psychic Neutral-Petulant
*4 Seek in Shadow-Refuses to be left behind-Will follow
*4 Regeneration + 10 Transfer
*4-Ability-Refuses Shapechange-Will not reside in a holding space
*4 Ability- Consume Powers
*1-Ability-Lawful Evil
*1-Ability-Telepathy-Will not communicate with others unless in great need
*1-Ability-Diplomacy
*1-Ability-Cause fear
*1-Ability-Hatred of Shaxta
*1-Ability-Freefall
*1-Ability-call to hand
*1 Ability-Dance in self-defense
*1 Ability-Binds Loyalty
**Might be more trouble then its worth.

====Defender Blade (8)====
*2 Double Speed.
*2 Vs Guns-Hard to destroy
*2 Combat Reflexes-Attack or Defend-Each round it can attack on its own or parry a blow.
*2 Shadow Beacon-Shadow Trail.
X3 Horde (Jurt)

====Blade of Colossal Excavation (22)====
[[File:Sword of colossal excavation.jpg]]

*2 Chaos Vitality-Feels eager to be used
*4 Engine Speed-Moves swiftly and exacting.
*4 Combat Mastery( Light an easy to use)
*8 Extraordinary damage-
*4 Tongues- Sense of Purpose. No actual intellect. Summons Jeremy if a serious attempt to destroy it is made.
*Cannot be shapechanged.
X3 horde-(Jeremy Lockpick Fairhand)
Acquired from Jurt

====Nasty Place Graduate Dagger - Personal: 7 (5)====

[[File:BenBlade1.jpg]]
*(4) Deadly Damage
**Effective vs Reardon armor,
*(1) Return to Hand
*0 '''Summon Benedict once'''
*2 Rack N/N Spells: (12)
**Ice Storm x3, Bodily Deep Freeze x3, AoE Deep Freeze x3, Icy Path x2, Limitless Deep Freeze x1
*'''Blue Mandalay Stone''' (Cold) embedded in the pommel.
**Cold Based magics, weapon chill. Placed in cold liquid up to 50 gallons will freeze; stone/dagger floats to the surface of the ice
***Those who complete the training then forge a blade made on Rasak at the end of training and have permission to wear the blade on all military attire. The blade is forged mithril with a blade 5" long and a handle 4" long. Ceremonial and honorary in intent, the blades have their own history as deadly weapons.
***(A red gemstone was embedded in the pommel by Benedict; later it was absorbed into the weapon.)

====Nasty Place Graduate Dagger - Gift: made by Vulcan: 7 (5)====

[[File:BenBlade1.jpg]]
*(4) Deadly Damage
**Effective vs Reardon armor,
*(1) Return to Hand
*0 '''Contact Vulcan'''
*2 Rack N/N Spells: (12)
**Heat Metal x3, Fire Fountain x3, Mini-Fireball x3, Fireball x2, Elemental Fireball x1
*'''Red Mandalay Stone''' (Fire/Heat) embedded in pommel
**Fire Effects, Fire Ripple on Weapons-Double Damage. Dropped in up to 50 gallons of liquid will cause the liquid to boil. When urged by psyche can create an area of 100sq feet to rise or fall in ambient temperature to a temperature comfortable to the stone holder.(This does not mean immunity to fire)

===="Hex" Scrimshawed Bone Staff====
[1 Pip] (45 Point Blood Conjured & Empowered Artifact)
*Green Mandalay Stone is Set in Artifact
**Healing, earth magic. Heal plants. Left in contact to a plant will cause it to grow 3 times as fast and will grow in a healthy manner along the genetic ideal of their type. Buried in the ground will cause up to a plot of 16 acres of plants to grow at double speed and in a health fruitful manner.
*4 Extraordinary Psychic Sense; Danger Sense and Link to Realmer
*2 Psychic Neutral; Hide its Pysche and Amber Defense
*2 Speak & Sing; non-verbal equivalent intelligence
*2 Double Vitality; Chaos Strength, brings inanimate objects to life.
*4 Engine Speed; 60mph+
*4 Tireless Stamina
*4 Combat Reflexes; Amber Warfare
*4 Deadly Damage
*4 Limited Shape Shift (most Shapes are of bone and living vines)
*4 Regeneration
*4 Mold Shadow Reality
*[1] Contains Trump Image (Relmopator)
*2 Contains Power Words: N/N (11 currently); used for self defense mostly.
**Pattern Negation, Chaos Negation, Trump Disrupt, Magic Negation, Resume True Form, Psychic Disrupt, Neural Disrupt, Pain Attack, Lifeforce, Process Surge, Process Snuff
*4 Rack & Use Spells: N/N (12)
**Racked Spells: Empowered Monster Champion, Empowered Monster Group, Empowered Monster Hoard, Mass Empowerment I, Mass Empowerment II, Elemental Fireball, Confusion Storm, Pressurized Lava, Deep Freeze, Evict Invading Entity, Cardiac Arrest, Giant’s Slap

===ASSORTED ITEMS===
====Sorcerer’s Robe of Flight & Many Pockets====
[1 Pip] (45 Point Blood Conjured & Empowered Artifact)
*Originally named 'Jeff' by Realmer, the Robe prefers to be called 'The Arch Robe Godfried the First' or just 'Robe'.
*Yellow Mandalay Stone is set in this Artifact
**Concentration spells, research spells, mental magics. The stone when held in a hand will cure confusions, inebriations, and other focus issues. When urged by psyche the stone will emit ambient light, suitable for reading.
**The 'setting' is usually a mithril amulet on a heavy mithril chain; the amulet/chain are actually part of the Robe and cannot be removed.
*9 (4) Engine Speed + (5) Transfer Quality
*9 (4) Invulnerable + (5) Transfer Quality
*2 Double Vitality
*2 Sensitivity to Danger
*2 Psychic Neutral; hide Psyche, Amber Defense
*2 Speak & Sing; non-verbal; equivalent intelligence
*4 Limited Shape Shift; clothing/armor + accessories (attached/part of the Robe)
*4 Regeneration
*4 Mold Shadow Reality
*1 Contains a Trump Image (Relmopator)
*2 Contains Power Words: N/N (11 currently)
**Pattern Negation, Chaos Negation, Trump Disrupt, Magic Negation, Resume True Form, Psychic Disrupt, Neural Disrupt, Pain Attack, Lifeforce, Process Surge, Process Snuff
*4 Rack & Use N/N Spells (12)
**Racked Spells (12): Bodily Defense, Diamond Bubble, Defensive Shield, Special Effects Teleport, R’s Secure Shelter, R’s Resplendent Refreshments, Mind Touch, Quell, R’s Loaded Laboratory, Spirit Split, Unweaving, Grease

====Ring Of Trollish Fortitude aka “Satura's Ring”====
[Signature Item] (60 Point Artifact)
*Purple Mandalay Stone is set in this Artifact
*A mysterious stone, lending its powers to diverse efforts. Healing magics. The touch of the stone will expel malicious possession. Certain classes of spirit based creatures shy away from the stone. Mounted in items that have bound spirits or Dufiro the item will be extra robust and encourage the most powers from it.
*9 (4) Immense Vitality + (5) Transfer Quality (Amber Strength; can be turned off)
*9 (4) Combat Mastery + (5) Transfer Quality (Amber Warfare; can be turned off)
*9 (4) Tireless Stamina + (5) Transfer Quality (can be turned off)
*14 (4) Regeneration + (10) Transfer Power
*4 Mold Shadow Reality
*2 Sensitivity to Danger
*2 Psychic Neutral; hide Psyche and Amber Defense
*2 Speak & Sing; non-verbal equivalent intelligence
*1 Contains a Trump Image (Relmopator)
*2 Contains Power Words: N/N (11 currently)
**Pattern Negation, Chaos Negation, Trump Disrupt, Magic Negation, Resume True Form, Psychic Disrupt, Neural Disrupt, Pain Attack, Lifeforce, Process Surge, Process Snuff
*4 Rack & Use N/N Spells (12)
**Magical Drain, Magic Missile, Mind Touch, Haste, Elemental Fireball, Paralysis, Web, Fire Fountain, Self Teleport, Empowered Monster Champion, Bodily Defense, Invisibility.
*2 Shape Shift: N/N Forms (12)
**Simple Gold Ring w/ a Purple Stone <> Jeweled Platinum Ring w/ a Purple Stone & 2 Sm. Black Opals <> Large Mithril Signet Ring w/ Stylized ‘R’ surrounded by a Stone Archway, a Purple Stone is barely visible under the design <> Flattened Heavy Link Silver Wrist Chain w/ Dragon’s Head Clasp and a Purple Stone embedded in the Dragon's head <> Hammered Copper Wrist Band w/ a Purple Stone <> Red Gold Circlet w/ a Purple Stone embedded in the front <> Platinum Chain Necklace of many small-link chains twisted together w/ a Purple Stone held within the twisted chains <> Aztec Style Gold Plates Necklace w/ a Purple Stone embedded in the center-piece <> Nordic Dragon Torc w/ a Purple Stone in the Dragon's mouth <> Mechanical Wolf Spider of black metal w/ a Purple Stone abdomen <> Small Mechanical Octopus w/ a Purple Stone body <> Very Large Gold Hornet w/ a Purple Stone and gold striped abdomen

====Ambir Shade Jewel of Judgment====
Dark Green in color (on Loan from Dworkin) [currently on Loan to Finndo]

====Mandalay Stones====
(5): Full set; one of each Color. A Gift from Ninaaratres.
*The Stones are fully attuned to Realmer.
*Each is currently Set in the following Items.
**Red; Vulcan's NP Dagger
**Yellow; Sorcerer's Robe
**Green; Bone & Vine Staff
**Blue; Personal NP Dagger
**Purple; Satura's Ring

====Bag of Ice Orc Marbles (19)====
(gifted by Xorit of Clan Trixta; Bannerlord of the Odaraxta)
*possibly Earthpower Magic
*made by Clan Trixta Sorcerers
*creates an Orc made of Living Ice when thrown to the ground
*Follows commands/orders until destroyed or completes orders then melts away

====Bottle of Red Tequila====
*1 Ability-Self-refilling bottle (gift from Jurt)

====High Order Magic Dinnerware; Set for One Person====
*Contains a dinner plate, salad plate, dessert plate, and a cup& saucer. Three times a day each one can fill. One never knows what will be on them except its food. As I understand it the longer a person owns them the closer they get to providing food to their racial preference.

====The Key of the "South Stair" of Adagalasck====
*Allows access to The South Stair and its Realms

====Troll Stones; Assorted====
IMPLANTED STONES
*Realmer: (2)
**Four Color: Blue/White/Jade/Brown = Lightning/Ice/Acid/Earth
**Single Color: Red = Fire
*Bob: (2)
**Single Color: Red = Fire
**Single Color: White = Cold

LOOSE STONES
*2 Two Color: Blue/Jade = Lightning/Acid
*2 Red = Fire
*2 White = Ice
*1 Jade = Acid
*1 Brown = Earth

GIFTED STONES
*Venki: 4 Red, 2 White, 2 Blue, 1 Jade, 1 Brown
*Auro: 1 Tri-color (Jade/Red/White), 4 Red, 4 White, 1 Blue, 1 Jade
*Xorit: 3 Blue (ALL Implanted; Xorit, Ganax, Traxle)

====Azcalan Crystal Heart of Hagalta====
Given to Realmer by Hagalta himself after Hagalta sat the Oracle of Night and before being imprisoned in the Dungeons of Amber.

====Azcalan Tier Stone====
Being held in a tiny secured Stair Realm on the South Stair of Codupia - Favor for Vance.

===TRUMPS===
====Trump Deck====
**King Random Edition (x2)
====Personal Trumps====
**Private Quarters in Castle of Gateway Island on Oerth; Personal Shadow
**Bob the Beholder, Jeff the Sorcerer's Robe, Hex the Bone Staff, Satura's Ring
**Sir Gangdis of Cogswell, Sir Carston Brak of Wall, Tesa Resa
**Carved Trump Bust of Percy Shelley - made by Realmer

====Dragonskin Trumps of Adledross====
**[[Fortunadas]] of Wall, Alexandir kos Korag, Carston, Tesa, Kablin, Traxton, Dandilar, Trudeaux, Ranatal, Drishti, Tolodak of Anzara Reen, Twis Andala of Reskara, T'Fanal of Kanzari Kzin, (plus several locations on Adledross.)

====Trumps given by Julian====
**Ninaartes and Emiliesa
====Spiral of the Four Winds Trump Artifact====
A Specially Prepared Small Glass Sphere

====Trump give by Random====
Random's Private Line
*'Picking up the envelop he (Realmer) finds inside a paper and a trump. The Trump has Random playing cards at Neal's Diner. The title is "Random's Private Line". Opening the paper it says, "By my order and for the good of the state, the bearer has done what has been done. King Random of Amber, First of His Name. "

=='''Descriptions'''==
==='''Miniature Beholder - "Bob" [Altered]'''===
Relmopator’s Familiar (50 [60] Pips - Signature Creature)
*4 Psychic Quality: Extraordinary Psychic Sense
*2 Psychic Defense: Psychic Neutral
*2 Item Vitality: Double Vitality
**2 (Added) Amber Vitality
*4 Movement: Engine Speed; Flight
*4 Stamina: Tireless Stamina
*4 Resistance to Damage: Invulnerable to all Conventional Weapons
*4 Intelligence & Communication: Speak in Tongues & Voices; prefers Telepathy
*8 Item Shape Shifting: Expanded Shape Shift
**4 (Added) Shapechange to Smoke
*4 (Added) Shadowjack
*4 Item Healing: Regeneration
*4 Item Control over Shadow: Mold Shadow Reality
*4 Trump Powers: Powered by Trump (Observation, Communication and Transport)
*4 Spell Storage: Rack & Use Named/#’d Spells (12)
*2 Contains Power Words: Named/Numbered
*? Troll Stone: Red - Fire
*? Troll Stone: White - Cold

Compellings: (12)
* “I feel safe with Relmopator but less safe when away from Relmopator”,
*“Always obey Relmopator’s commands and wishes first and foremost”,
* “Protect Relmopator and always warn him of danger”
*“Relmopator is the ONLY Being that can use my Powers, Magics and Spells”
*“Hide my Psyche and Powers from all but Relmopator”,
*“If I am lost, I must help Relmopator find me and/or I must find a way to Relmopator; through others if needed, but only if this can be done secretly”
*“Use any Powers and Magics necessary to ‘protect’ Relmopator and ‘return to’ Relmopator”
*“Always be hyper-observant of all details of everything in my area; places, people, things, events, conversations, etc.”
*“Keep a well organized memory of all observed details for later recall”.
*(Added)"Warn the Other if Relmopator or Tesara is at death's door."
*(Added)"Summon the Other if Relmopator or Tesara are in the presence of Av Reet"
*(Added)"Warn Dworkin if Relmopator or Tesara are in the presence of specific artifacts"

*'''Racked Spells (12):''' Enlarge, Far Reaching, Magical Drain, Confusion Storm, Magic Missiles, Invisibility, Strength Drain, Bodily Defense, Greater Disjunction, Lightning Bolt, Deep Freeze, Empowered Monster Group (Giant, 2-headed, 4-armed Trolls)

*'''Beholder Eye Powers (11):''' Central Eye = Anti-Magic Ray/Field, Ten Eye Stalks = Charm Ray, Paralyzing Ray, Fear Ray, Slowing Ray, Enervation Ray, Telekinetic Ray, Sleep Ray, Petrification Ray, Disintegration Ray, Death Ray.

*'''Power Words (11):''' Pattern Negation, Chaos Negation, Trump Disrupt, Magic Negation, Resume True Form, Psychic Disrupt, Neural Disrupt, Pain Attack, Lifeforce, Process Surge, Process Snuff

“Bob” was Realmer’s first Creation and his longest lasting Familiar. Bob was Created soon after Realmer gained most of his Powers during the time he was training with Dworkin during his time in Ambir; a Shade of Amber and the nearby Shadows.

The ‘body’ of the Miniature Beholder is a little bigger than a human head, about eight inches in diameter. Through the use of his Expanded Shape Shifting Power, Bob can decrease his size to a little smaller than a golf ball and increase his size to a littler bigger than a beach ball. Bob can Shape Shift into any Creature or Animal Form he or Realmer desires; some relative size restrictions apply. Bob can also Shape Shift into inanimate objects; very useful for hiding and/or spying. Also, through the use of Shape Shifting, Bob has an incredible Camouflage Ability allowing him to easily change the texture, color and translucency of his skin to blend in with any environment or background; nearly invisible if holding still, and completely invisible in dark and shadowy areas, if holding still.

Bob also has the amazing ability to create Remote Eyes by way of his Expanded Shape Shifting Power; Bob can create one or more eyes, with or without an eye stalk, and leave the eye behind, or Transport it somewhere nearby, for remote viewing via Extraordinary Psychic Sense and Trump Powers. The Remote Eye can move as if in an eye socket, but can also hover and fly, but only if it has a stalk and only if directed to follow a subject. The Remote Eyes can be recalled via Bob's Trump Power and reabsorbed via his Expanded Shape Shifting at any time Bob or Realmer desires it. Anything Bob can see or experience, personally or via Remote Eyes, Realmer can also ‘see’ and ‘experience’ via Bob’s Telepathy/Extraordinary Psychic Sense and/or his Trump Powers; the ‘Link’ between Realmer and his Familiar, Bob, is nearly constant and Bob can and does ‘spy/eavesdrop’ on Realmer’s Trump conversations, now at Realmer's request, and can also screen incoming Trump calls for Realmer, so he knows who's calling.

Although Bob's Trump Powers seem to make him a 'Living Trump', there are Limitations to those Powers.

[NOTE] The Mini-Bob is an Expanded version of Bob the Beholder's 'Remote Eye', which was designed to spy upon remote locations, visual and auditory, and report back to Bob or Realmer. During Realmer and Bob's campaign on Adledross, the Remote Eye was upgraded to include Trump Communication and used to coordinate between Realmer and his other commanders on and off the battle field. Later, when transport was also needed, Realmer had Bob re-absorb all the Remote Eyes and then create Mini-Bobs with nearly all the Powers 'the original' Bob possesses, in order to better serve Realmer's needs as a General of an Army.

A Mini-Bob is the result of Bob the Beholder using his Expanded Shape Shifting Power to Shape Shift a part of himself off his body to create an exact duplicate of himself in every respect, except a Mini-Bob has a size limitation of about the size of a golf ball. A Mini-Bob also has all the same Qualities and Powers of 'the original' Bob, except it does not possess any Racked Spells or the Power to Rack Spells, it does not possess any Beholder Eye Powers and does not possess any Troll Stone Powers... and its Shape Shifting Power is considered (4) Limited Shape Shifting, so it cannot create mini-mini-bob's. A Mini-Bob's Trump Powers work for communication and transport normally, but are linked to 'the original' Bob and Relmopator and either of their current locations. If there are other Mini-Bob's and a Network has been setup, then the communication and transport extends to each and every Mini-Bob in the Network, as well as Bob himself and Relmopator.

[UPDATE] Bob's ADDED Powers & Compellings/Directives are the result of Conf of Shadows tampering with Bob to keep an eye on Tesa, his daughter. Realmer was aware of tampering with Bob's Main Compellings/Directives, which Conf admitted to and removed. Though Realmer checked the powers and compellings for tampering and found none... oddly missing the upgrade in Vitality, and completely forgetting to look for 'additions' in either case.

===Ring of Trollish Fortitude - "Satura's Ring"===
*(Signature Item) {Permanently Empowered Blood Item}

[Signature Item] (60 Point Item) Time Spent Permanently Empowering Item: Total time spent Creating Original Item: 28 days; assuming no more than 20 hours of Conjuring per day; this time accounts for 334 hours and 30 minutes of Empowering and Compelling; spending at least one full hour on each Compelling Geas.
*9 points- Vitality: Immense Vitality (4) + Transfer Quality (5) Amber Ranked Strength
*9 points- Stamina: Supernatural Stamina (4) + Transfer Quality (5) -Beyond Amber Endurance
*9 points- Aggression: Combat Mastery (4) + Transfer Quality (5)-Amber Ranked Warfare
*14 points- Item Healing: Regeneration (4) + Transfer Power (10)
*2 points- Item Shape Shift: Named/#’d Forms (12)
*4 points- Spell Storage: Rack & Use Named/#’d Spells (12)-
*4 points- Item Control over Shadow: Mold Shadow Reality
*2 points- Psychic Quality: Sensitivity to Danger
*2 points- Psychic Defense: Psychic Neutral
*2 points- Intelligence & Communication: Speak & Sing; non-verbal
*1 point- Trump Powers: Contains a Trump Image (Relmopator)
*2 points- Contains Power Words: Named/Numbered

*Compellings (7):
**“I feel safe with Relmopator but uncomfortable when away from Relmopator”, “Relmopator is the ONLY Being that can use my Powers, Magics and Spells”, “Hide my Psyche and Powers from all but Relmopator”, “If I am lost, I must help Relmopator find me and/or I must find a way to Relmopator; through others if needed, but only if this can be done secretly”, Protect Relmopator and always warn him of danger”, “Use any Powers and Magics necessary to ‘protect’ Relmopator and ‘return to’ Relmopator”, “Always obey Relmopator’s commands and wishes first and foremost”

*Racked Spells (12):
**Magical Drain, Magic Missile, Mind Touch, Haste, Elemental Fireball, Paralysis, Web, Fire Fountain, Self Teleport, Empowered Monster Champion, Bodily Defense, Invisibility.

*Shape Shift: N/N Forms (12):
**Gold Ring w/ Purple Stone; Platinum Ring, Jeweled w/ Purple Stone & Sm. Black Opals; Large Mithril Signet Ring, Stylized ‘R’ surrounded by a Stone Archway (Purple Stone barely visible under the design); Silver Wrist Chain, Flattened Heavy Links w/ Dragon’s Head Clasp, Purple Stone embedded in the head; Copper Wrist Band, Hammered w/ Purple Stone; Red Gold Circlet w/ Purple embedded in front; Necklace, Platinum Chains, many small-link chains twisted together, Purple Stone held in twisted chains; Necklace, Gold Plates, Aztec Style w/ Purple Stone; Torc, Nordic Dragon w/ Purple Stone in mouth; Wolf Spider, Medium sized, Purple Stone body/abdomen; Octopus, Very Small sized, Purple Stone body; Hornet, Large sized, Purple Stone abdomen/body

*Purple Mandalay Stone is set in this Artifact
**A mysterious stone, lending its powers to diverse efforts. Healing magics. The touch of the stone will expel malicious possession. Certain classes of spirit based creatures shy away from the stone. Mounted in items that have bound spirits or Dufiro the item will be extra robust and encourage the most powers from it.

===Sorcerer's Robe of Flight - "The Archrobe Godfried the First" aka "Godfried" aka "Robe"===
* (Sorcerer's Flying Robe of Many Deep Pockets) {Permanently Empowered Blood Item}

[1 Pip] (45 Point Item)(0 Points in [[Empowerment Pool]])
*2 points- Psychic Quality: Sensitivity to Danger
*2 points- Psychic Defense: Psychic Neutral
*2 points- Item Vitality: Double Vitality
*9 points- Movement/Flight: Engine Speed (4) + Transfer Quality (5)
*9 points- Resistance to Damage: Invulnerable to all Conventional Weapons (4) + Transfer Quality (5)
*2 points- Intelligence & Communication: Speak & Sing; non-verbal but can 'speak in words' telepathically when desired
*4 points- Item Shape Shifting: Limited Shape Shift
*4 points- Item Healing: Regeneration
*4 points- Item Control over Shadow: Mold Shadow Reality
*4 points- Spell Storage: Rack & Use Named/#’d Spells (12)
*[1 point]- Trump Powers: Contains a Trump Image (Relmopator)
*2 points- Contains Power Words: Named/Numbered (equal to Realmer's)

*Compellings (7):
**“I feel safe with Relmopator but uncomfortable when away from Relmopator”, “Always obey Relmopator’s commands and wishes first and foremost”, “Defend Relmopator and always warn him of danger”, “Use any Powers and Magics necessary to ‘defend’ Relmopator and ‘return to’ Relmopator”, “Relmopator is the ONLY Being that can use my Powers, Magics and Spells”, “Hide my Psyche and Powers from all but Relmopator”, “If I am lost, I must help Relmopator find me and/or I must find a way to Relmopator; through others if needed, but only if this can be done secretly”.

*Racked Spells (12):
**Bodily Defense, Diamond Bubble, Defensive Shield, Special Effects Teleport, Relmopator’s Secure Shelter, Relmopator’s Resplendent Refreshments, Mind Touch, Quell, Relmopator’s Loaded Laboratory, Spirit Split, Unweaving, Grease

*Yellow Mandalay Stone is set in this Artifact
**Concentration spells, research spells, mental magics. The stone when held in a hand will cure confusions, inebriations, and other focus issues. When urged by psyche the stone will emit ambient light, suitable for reading.
**The 'setting' is usually a mithril amulet on a heavy mithril chain; the amulet & chain are actually part of the Robe and cannot be removed.

*Description: (similar to the Cloak of Levitation from Doctor Strange)
**Originally named 'Jeff' by Realmer, the Robe prefers to be called 'The Arch Robe Godfried the First', 'Godfried' or just 'Robe'.
**The Robe was created to serve several purposes; clothing, armor, speedy travel, and storage (mundane and magical), but Robe's main purpose is to defend and carry Relmopator and his belongings. To that end, Realmer designed Robe to have many pockets, both visible and hidden, throughout the robe's exterior and interior. ALL of the pockets are 'Extra-Dimensional Spaces' of varying internal size and all are ‘connected’ to each other through a main 'Space', thus allowing Realmer to reach into any pocket and retrieve anything within Robe’s many pockets and spaces; Realmer’s desire is transferred to Robe and it helps by bringing the desired object to Realmer’s hand, even though he is not reaching into the same pocket the object is actually in. The 'Extra-Dimensional Spaces' are actually one Shadow Pocket, created through the use of Realmer's Advanced Pattern Imprint Powers, that is located between the inner and outer layer of the Robe and is able to change its shape (section off pockets, create new inner space pockets, etc.) via use of the Shape Shifting Powers of the Robe itself. The Robe's Shape Shifting Powers allow it to assume the Form of any type of clothing or armor Realmer desires, but can also change into other objects as well, like a shield, a blanket or a rug, or even a small piece of furniture or wall hanging; but never a living creature. The Robe not only has normal Movement capabilities, but also possesses Flight capabilities as well, and both are quite fast and both can be transferred to Realmer.

==='''Scrimshawed Bone & Living Vine Staff - "Hex"'''===
*[Staff of Necro-Botany Beasts] {Permanently Empowered Blood Item}

[1 Pip] (45 Point Item) Time Spent Permanently Empowering Item:
Total time spent Creating Original Item: 18 days; assuming no more than 20 hours of Conjuring per day; this time accounts for 240 hours and 50 minutes of Empowering and Compelling; spending at least one full hour on each Compelling Geas.

*4 points} Psychic Quality: Extraordinary Psychic Sense
*2 points} Psychic Defense: Psychic Neutral
*2 points} Item Vitality: Double Vitality
*4 points} Movement: Engine Speed
*4 points} Stamina: Tireless Stamina
*4 points} Aggression: Combat Reflexes
*4 points} Weapon Damage: Deadly Damage
*2 points} Intelligence & Communication: Speak & Sing; non-verbal
*4 points} Item Shape Shifting: Limited Shape Shift
*4 points} Item Healing: Regeneration
*4 points} Item Control over Shadow: Mold Shadow Reality
*4 points} Spell Storage: Rack & Use Named/#’d Spells (12)
*1 point} Trump Powers: Contains a Trump Image (Relmopator)
*2 points} Contains Power Words: Named/Numbered

*Compellings: (7) “I feel safe with Relmopator but uncomfortable when away from Relmopator”, “Always obey Relmopator’s commands and wishes first and foremost”, “Protect Relmopator and always warn him of danger”, “Use any Powers and Magics necessary to ‘protect’ Relmopator and ‘return to’ Relmopator”, “Relmopator is the ONLY Being that can use my Powers, Magics and Spells”, “Hide my Psyche and Powers from all but Relmopator”, “If I am lost, I must help Relmopator find me and/or I must find a way to Relmopator; through others if needed, but only if this can be done secretly”.

*Racked Spells (12): Empowered Monster Champion, Empowered Monster Group, Empowered Monster Hoard, Mass Empowerment I, Mass Empowerment II, Elemental Fireball, Confusion Storm, Pressurized Lava, Deep Freeze, Evict Invading Entity, Cardiac Arrest, Giant’s Slap

*Green Mandalay Stone is Set in Artifact
**Healing, earth magic. Heal plants. Left in contact to a plant will cause it to grow 3 times as fast and will grow in a healthy manner along the genetic ideal of their type. Buried in the ground will cause up to a plot of 16 acres of plants to grow at double speed and in a health fruitful manner.

Description/Explanation: ‘Hex’, the Staff of Necro-Beasts was Conjured from Relmopator’s blood into the initial Form of a Scrimshaw Bone Staff. After 'setting' the Green Mandalay Stone into the eye socket of on of the skulls on the Staff, it now has vines twisting around the staff and growing from the skulls' eye sockets. The Staff's most used alternate Forms are that of a Carved Bone Wand with tiny vines wrapping around it and a large green gemstone in the 'pommel', and a Displacer Beast looking to be made solely of Bone and Vine. The Staff of Necro-Beasts can also Shape Shift into any Form it likes or is commanded to take, but will usually look to be made of living Bone and Vine or Rotting Flesh and Vegetation of some sort. It will take the Form of a variety of creatures to fight for and protect Relmopator as the situation demands.

==='''The Stones of Mandalay'''===

The Stones of [[Mandalay]] are major Artifacts of Power, linked directly to the Hub of Mandalay itself.

In the creation of the Mark, Adrian had taken half of 5 First-Shadows of the Jewel of Judgment; Emerald, Ruby, Citrine, Sapphire, and Amethyst, and cut them in half. One half of each he put away, one half of each he carefully crushed, leaving tiny chips of each half. He then meticulously embedded each one into the root of Ygg. He used the Primal Jewel of Judgment to inscribe the Mark of Mandalay, each chip became a Stone the size of a shooter marble.

The Stones have powers based on their attunement but also have social importance. To become a Lord of Mandalay one must present to King Adrian of Mandalay one of each of the stones and 50 Coins of Service.

Each Stone has specific powers and powers in common. They work especially well in conjunction with Sorcery-based Magics but can also forcefully boost Wizardry, Magery, Listry and other wide-spread Low Order Magics. They have effects in controlling Trumps and may help boost them into protected realms.

*Common Powers
**Psyche Boost x1.5. This can be used in Psyche Battles and to push Magics as a focus. One of each type of Stone can be used at a time, their powers additive, not multiplicative. One Stone is Psyche x 1.5. Two Stones is Psyche x 2, three is Psyche x 2.5, four is Psyche x 3, and five is Psyche x 3.5. This is a general rule and the Stones may work in different ways in different Shadows. They are dangerous and temperamental items that may cause more trouble then they are worth sometimes.
**A Stone placed in a body of water up to 50 gallons will purify it to pure water.
**A Stone placed in any liquid will purify it of poison to the person drinking it.
**Stones tend to react to each other magnetically.
**A tiny effort of concentration, a reaching to Psyche, can cause the Stones to glow and emit light.
*Specific Powers
**Red: Fire Effects, Fire Ripple on Weapons-Double Damage. Dropped in up to 50 gallons of liquid will cause the liquid to boil. When urged by Psyche it can create an area of 100sq feet to rise or fall in ambient temperature to a temperature comfortable to the Stone holder. (This does not mean immunity to fire!)
**Green: Healing, Earth Magic. Heal plants. Left in contact with a plant will cause it to grow 3 times as fast and to grow in a healthy manner along the genetic ideal of its type. Buried in the ground it will cause a plot of up to 16 acres of plants to grow at double speed and in a health fruitful manner.
**Blue: Cold Based magics, weapon chill. In cold liquid up to 50 gallons will freeze, the Stone rising to float on the surface of the ice.
**Yellow: Concentration spells, research spells, mental magics. The Stone when held in a hand will Cure confusions, inebriations and other focus issues. When urged by Psyche the Stone will emit ambient light, suitable for reading.
**Purple: a mysterious stone, lending its powers to diverse efforts. Healing magics. The touch of the Stone will Expel malicious Possession. Certain classes of spirit-based creatures shy away from the Stone. Mounted in items that have bound Spirits or Dufiro, the item will be extra robust and encourage the most powers from it.

==='''Troll Stones'''===
Troll Stones are the Magical Gemstones found embedded in the heads' of Stone Trolls; massive and powerful creatures made of solid stone as large as a house, and summoned using Earth Magic. Troll Stones come in 5 colors; Red, White, Blue, Jade and Brown, and in 5 types; single-color, two-colored, tri-colored, four-colored and five-colored.
*Troll Stones must be 'surgically' implanted in the head, touching the brain, in order for their powers to be used.
*Each Troll Stone, once implanted, gives both offensive and defensive powers based upon the color of the Stone.
**Red: Fire Protection, Fire Attack. Good distance, flame thrower, fireball(?).
**White: Ice/Cold Protection, Ice Attack. Good distance, freezing dry ice-like attack.
**Blue: Lightning Protection, Lightning Attack. Long distance, precise, little collateral damage.
**Jade: Acid Protection, Acid Attack. Short distance: 20ft max.
**Brown: Stone/Earth Protection, Stone/Earth Attacks. Stone missiles of varying size with good distance, stone fists, stone body armor.
*Multi-colored Stones grant the powers of each color and allows for multi-powered attack combinations.
*Two-Colored Troll Stone combination.
**Red + White / Fire + Ice: Boiling Water Blast; non-lethal, good crowd control.
**Red + Blue / Fire + Lightning: Burning Lightning Blast; burns on contact and ignites combustibles.
**Red + Brown / Fire + Stone: Flaming Rocks, Lava Bombs(?), Lava Blast(?).
**White + Blue / Ice + Lightning: Freezing Lightning; freezes on contact and afterwards.
**White + Jade / Ice + Acid: Freezing Acid, Acid Ice Blast
**White + Brown / Ice + Stone: Freezing Rocks(?), Frozen Earth(?)
**Blue + Jade / Lightning + Acid: Acid Lightning; burns on contact and for long afterwards.
**Blue + Brown / Lightning + Stone: Electric Rocks(??)
**Jade + Brown / Acid + Stone: Acid Rocks, Acid Earth
*Tri-Colored Troll Stone Combinations.
**Red + White + Blue / Fire + Ice + Lightning: Electrified Boiling Water Blast(???)
**Red + White + Jade/ Fire + Ice + Acid: Boiling Acid Blast with greater distance
**Red + White + Brown / Fire + Ice + Stone: Boiling Mud and Rock Blast; mostly non-lethal
**White + Blue + Jade / Ice + Lightning + Acid: Freezing Acid Lightning
**

=='''SHIFTED FORMS'''==

==='''Chaos/Demon Form: Winged Nosferateau'''===

[[File:Realmerform1.jpg|300 px]] [[File:Realmerform2.jpg|300 px]]

==='''Avatar Form: Very Large Vulture'''===

[[File:Relmopator's_Avatar_Form.jpg]]

=='''LIST OF HUNG, RACKED & MEMORIZED SPELLS'''==
128 High Order Spells in total. 94 Low Order Spells in total between 2 different Low Order Systems.

===HUNG SPELLS: (56)===
*'''ADVANCED PATTERN FRAMEWORK: (18 - All Major Spells)'''
**Paralyze (Opasen Vrag), Paralyze (Emilisa Codwallow), Dispel Magic (Emilisa Codwallow), Stone Binding (Emilisa Codwallow), Fear Compellings, Amnesia Compellings, Elemental Fireball, Wound Transferal, Dispelling Screen, Time Stop, Mind Touch (x2), Disintegrate (x6).

*'''SPIRAL OF THE WINDS FRAMEWORK:'''
**'''(6) Major Spells''' Cardiac Arrest, Magic Drain, Strength Drain, Magical Energy Infusion, +2 more
***'''(12) Minor Spells:''' Audio Blast (Music), Sound Capture, Trump Image Enhancement, R's Secure Shelter, R's Resplendent Refreshments, R's Loaded Laboratory I & II, Control Weather, +4 more

*'''SIGIL OF PARAGON FRAMEWORK:'''
**'''(8) Major Spells:''' Hallucinogenic Injection, Empowered Undead Horde, Empowered Undead Group, Lifeforce Transfer, Polymorph Anything, Electric Arcs of Disruption, Banishment, Steal/Transfer Enchantment
***'''(12) Minor Spells:''' Privacy Spell, Displacement, Recall Death(x2), Legend Lore(x2), Illusion Spell, Neutralize Gas, Stone to Flesh(R), Stone to Mud(R), Passwall, Blink

===RACKED SPELLS:(72)===
*'''Beholder (12):''' Enlarge, Far Reaching, Magical Drain, Confusion Storm, Magic Missiles, Invisibility, Strength Drain, Bodily Defense, Greater Disjunction, Lightning Bolt, Deep Freeze, Empowered Monster Group (Giant, 2-headed, 4-armed Trolls)

*'''Ring (12):''' Magical Drain, Haste, Mind Touch, Evict Invading Entity, Elemental Fireball, Paralysis, Web, Fire Fountain, Bodily Defense, Invisibility, Self Teleport, Empowered Monster Champion (Umber Hulk)

*'''Robe (12):''' Bodily Defense, Diamond Bubble, Defensive Shield, Special Effects Teleport, Relmopator’s Secure Shelter, Relmopator’s Resplendent Refreshments, Mind Touch, Sleep (Quell), Relmopator’s Loaded Laboratory I, Spirit Split, Unweaving, Grease

*'''Staff (12):''' Empowered Monster Champion (Bugbear War Lord), Empowered Monster Group (Bugbear War Chiefs), Empowered Monster Hoard (Bugbear Warriors), Mass Empowerment I & II, Elemental Fireball, Confusion Storm, Pressurized Lava, Deep Freeze, Magic Missiles, Cardiac Arrest, Giant’s Slap

*'''Blue NP Dagger (12):''' Ice Storm x3, Bodily Deep Freeze x3, AoE Deep Freeze x3, Icy Path x2, Limitless Deep Freeze x1

*'''Red NP Dagger (12):''' Heat Metal x3, Fire Fountain x3, Mini-Fireball x3, Fireball x2, Elemental Fireball x1

===MEMORIZED SPELLS:===
*'''LOW ORDER - MAGERY (Warlock) SPELLS: (60th Level)'''
**(1st) Telescope, Sound Amplification, Sleep, Silence 1” radius, Read Magic, Read Languages, Protection, Light, Individual Silence, Hold Portal, Detect Complex (x2), Detect Simple (x2), Charm Person, Charm Animal Class.
**(2nd) Awaken, Continual Light, Darkness 3” radius, Deodorant, Detect Concealed, Extinguish Fire, Knock, Locate Object, Wizard Lock, See Invisible.
**(3rd) Ball Lightning, Dispel Magic, Magic Analyze, Whirlwind, Mirror Image, Mental Static, Clairaudience, Clairvoyance.
**(4th) Animal Control, Protection from Missiles, Remove Curse, X-ray Vision, Plant Control (x2), Hallucinatory Terrain.
**(5th) Cloudkill, Dragon Control, Giant Control, Feeblemind, Polymorph Others.
**(6th) Bomb, Control Weather, Move Earth, Homing Ball Lightning, Lower Water.
**(7th) Area Weakness, Picket Ball Lightning, Returning.
**(8th) Magic Dampening Field, Reflector Wall.
**(9th) 1(?)

*'''LOW ORDER - WIZARDRY (AD&D) SPELLS: (24th Level)'''
**(1st) Ray of Fatigue, Exterminate, Corpse Link, Chill Touch, Detect Undead
**(2nd) Spectral Hand, Choke, Ghoul Touch, Vocalize, Skeletal Hands
**(3rd) Vampiric Touch (x2), Feign Death, Delay Death, Skull Trap
**(4th) Enervation (x2), Mask of Death, Brainkill, Empathic Wound Transfer
**(5th) Animate Dead, Magic Jar, Throbbing Bones, Bind Undead, Graft Flesh
**(6th) Blackmantle, Deadman's Eyes, Transmute Bone to Steel(R), Reincarnation, Death Spell
**(7th) Control Undead, Suffocate, Wound Conferral, Banishment, Vision
**(8th) Death Shroud, Shadow Form, Defoliate, Heart of Stone, Mass Charm
**(9th) Elemental Aura, Energy Drain, Meteor Swarm, Crystalbrittle

=='''Relmopator's Running Journal'''==

[[Relmapator Running Journal]]

=='''Select Convos'''==
==='''Convo with Fortunadus about Troll Stones'''===

Fort chuckles as he walks over. "The more Stones you get the harder they are to use. Especially mixed Stones. It takes practice to single out an attack. And not to blast your own head off with it. Acid is a hanger. It can be used on its own but its a close attack. Beyond about 20' it dissipates. But attached to a Lighting Bolt it goes the distance... same with Ice and Earth. It tends to burn off with Fire. Fire (Stones) are most common. The Earth Mage doesn't' have a lot of control over what stones appear. …... Fire is the easiest to use and the easiest on one's brain. Nearly any amount of Psyche will drive a Red. White too. Bursts of freezing ice, like dry ice. Nasty, but effective. …... ...the Blue; Lighting Stones, these are the most directable. You pick a point and fire. There isn't a lot of collateral damage unless you shoot it into a crowd. Acid Stones... Don't let someone with control issues have those. A sneeze, or anger can blast off Acid. An Earth Stone wielded can do many things if trained. Certainly one can blast the hell out of someone like a cannon shell. But it can be used to batter fortifications, destroy wood buildings. It can also be used to fill holes. A wielder can learn how to turn his hands to stone for fist fights. He can focus the stone into natural body armor."

“Another thing about Earth (Stones) is that once trained, some of its defenses are automatic. My skin has a stone defense all the time. …... Now, these two. A Tri-Stone of jade, red, and white is a solid attack stone. Fire and Ice, channeled together is a blast attack of Boiling Water... nice for dispersing a crowd. Add the Acid and its a hell of a punch. And easy to control. This is a good stone for someone without magic."

He picks up the 4 color, admiring it. "This is an excellent Stone. Earth Stone defenses and a Freezing Lighting attack, dripping with Acid. Messy... It will take training but worth it. Especially for a non-mage warrior. Gives them natural body armor and a nice blast of freezing electricity in battle. Be careful who you give these to."

Realmer's eyes have not left the pile of Stones since Fort began talking, but Realmer DID hear every word and understood their meaning perfectly. "Can an implanted Stone be removed, safely, for the patient I mean? I'm sure the Stone would survive. And can an implanted Stone be swapped for a different one?"

"They can be removed. Lots of ways to do it. But you have access to Star Fleet... the easiest thing is to use a medical transporter and remove them surgically, reconnecting nerves that way... or putting another Stone in. But it's tricky and I don't recommend it. If a Stone is replaced the wielder may focus attack wrong, expecting a different response.”

“How much Psychic Energy one applies to each Stone, or Segment of a Stone, is important. Venki about blasted his own head off the first time he used his 5 color Stone. Messy, destructive and bloody. Blood came out his ears, eyes, nose, and from around the Stone. He was gorked for a month even with Clerical Healing. That was eons before the World Stone.. Think calmly. Don't fire in anger"

Fort says, "You have one in now. As an Amberite I suspect you could manage a second well. When we installed these, Carston wanted it immediately. Knew what to expect, has heard the tales for years. He is the first CHAD to get a Stone in hundreds of years. They have been extinct in Tosa. Paradox had them in huge numbers and was the land Lord Vargus and the Ravers ravaged for millennia. Understand something; I understand Earth Power and can work it, but creating the Stone Trolls is an abomination. It is drawing the Powers of the Earth together in a way that leaves scars in the World. I could raise them if I wanted but it would mar me, and ruin my place among the people of Tosa. But the Stones were deemed useful enough to use once it was figured out how to implant them. They can be implanted safely and painlessly. You have access to Star Fleet technology. I'd suggest getting a medical ship here to do the implantations. You could swap yours out or remove it at any time."

"They hurt to use. They itch. You have to learn discipline with them or else sneezing redecorates your rooms. There are a lot of down sides to using them. We really have not had the time to sit down and have Venki, or one of the other Bards train you in their use. The swath of dead Stone Trolls tells me you about blew your head off using what you have now. A 4 color Stone might literally have blown your head open with that kind of untrained, unrestrained blast. Think long and hard before putting it in. And if you do, consider redecorating with stuff that doesn't burn"

"I intend to contact Vance and get a Star Fleet medical ship here as soon as possible. I would like to have the two-colored Stone replaced with the four-colored stone and then also add a red so that I can have a full array of elemental powers. And after that big blast" he points towards the swath of destruction he created "I have a better idea of the control needed to use the stone's power safely. But I do have a logistical question for you. Won't you or Venki need to be present to perform the ritual of implantation? Or can the stones be implanted without the ritual? And speaking of, is there anyway I could learn that ritual myself so that I could do the implantation for others when needed?"

"You saw the surgical precision we used for you and Carston. A d6 dagger to the forehead. Can't get more painful then that. It is a straightforward project. Expose the brain, put the stone on it. Expect a lot of screaming. But if you have Star Fleet medical equipment it becomes a lot easier. I have guys who are technically skilled too. Veterans of the Paradox Wars that implanted thousands of them. York has Star Fleet Shadows. Hell, the Total Warriors have fucking Jedi. Get the tech here so you don't lose time. I'll be in Tosa in a few hours and get a few people from the Total Warrior Med to come. …... It might be useful for Vance's Star Fleet medical guys to learn the procedure from the Total Warriors. If there are Ravers around, there will be a lot of Stone Trolls. Ur-viles can raise them so we won't have thousands at once but an Ur-vile wedge might well have 20 or 30."

==='''Convo with Tesara about Money and Trade in Adagalasck'''===

"Money... In my limited travels I have seen a number of monetary systems. Gold based, silver based, Gem based, Dorna tells me Dreana has a wood based one. I've seen large and small barter systems. In general, a monetary systems works when someone with goods sets the price for their goods, and someone else provides currency or goods that the seller agrees is equally worthy. That is Buying Stuff & Selling stuff in a nutshell. In general, as you know, this world has a gem based economy."

"These people see the arrangement reversed. The seller states they have goods and services for sale, the buyer tells them how much they can pay. The seller can then agree or decline but the problem is there is no set price. I've seen two buyers, side by side, purchase the same amount of the same food stuffs and pay different amounts. When I asked why, I was told by one that she only had 3 of the small white gems, while the other had 5, and the butcher prefers the white stones. The same stuff was about one green stone. But then I saw 3 green stones buying a large tankard of beer. The rate is what the seller can part with as fair for any good. While that's interesting its hell on thieves."

"Also, many of the sellers do not watch over their wares. I've seen knife merchants up north lay out a table of knives, hand axes, carving tools, and knickknacks, then leave for the day. They come back at night to collect their gem bowls and put their stock away. Once goods are set out for sale, thieves don't touch them... bizarre."

"That was all up in Northwind but the same seems to work here. The problem you are going to have is that you essentially have endless gems. They will expect you to pay a lot more for things. There does not seem to be a correlation between gems. It's not 100 copper is 10 silver is 1 gold. Its not 50 garnets equals 5 amethysts equals 1 diamond. There is no relative value. It seems merchants let it be known which stones they find prettiest and which ugliest, and that means they will take less of the pretty stones or more of the ugly stones for their goods and services. This works for a bowl of soup, a keg of beer, or a family farm. Now, you can't buy a farm for 5 garnets no matter how much the owner likes garnets, but the relative values change rapidly. Most people here carry a pouch with a small number of different gems."

"Oh... one other thing. Cutpurses are a staple of thieves guilds across Shadow. They are ubiquitous. Not here. Thieves her might steal goods, they might knock someone down and steal their shoes. But they will not steal a gem pouch. It's not that it's against the law, it's that their hands won't do it. I asked about it up north and the thief looked at me like I was an Azcalan with a glass knife walking into the room.."

"This concept means that the Orc raiders are not gathering gems. Gold, Silver, copper are artisan metals with no commercial value except that people tend to pay more gems for gold then silver, and silver then copper, which in a regular universe would have created a gold based economy thousands of years ago. But it didn't. Thieves steal Art. But they don't steal gems. Art objects here rarely have gems mounted ornamentaly. There are masterful Gemcutters here and they cut gems in many different ways, many artistically, but they have retail value by weight, not artistic skill. I think Fisk might cut his wrists if he had to live his whole life here."

"It makes me wonder what some of these groups are fighting over? Rich farm land? Good harbors? Some other aesthetic we don't understand? Bragging rights? Honor? Feuds? I don't know. It's perplexing."

"Oh, and to make my eyes itch more, I watched two merchants trade equal numbers of stones with each other because one had gathered 100 blue stones, despite not liking them and the other had gained 100 white stones despite him not liking them! They traded 1 for 1!"

==Time Line==
*Amber Year 5230:
**Realmer brought to Amber by Dworkin; meets with King Random, Fiona and Benedict
**Sent to Academy at Fantalin immediately; meets Aries Colbriesi, Dean of Fantalin Academy
**Meets Arloxedra at Fantalin serving as an Instructor... Realmer gets the feeling Arlo does not like him.
*Amber Year 5231:
**Realmer graduates the Academy, so to speak, when Aries calls him into his private office for a meeting
**He accompanies Aries into Shadow on a mission of great importance to Amber and Realmer personally
**Meets Hagalta, Xorit and Krelet; learns his mother lives and is the wife of Hagalta
**Acquires Satura's Ring from Hagalta and a Tome of great importance to Amber
**Returns to Amber with Aries, meets with Random, walks the Pattern in the dungeons of Castle Amber
**Assigned rooms in the Castle and a Laboratory on the Pattern level of the dungeons
**Meets Gerard and then Flora, each on Pattern Guard Duty, while visiting Pattern for research
*Amber Year 5271-5272
**Eavesdrops on Random and others discussing a great valley filled with dead bodies and a powerfully magical sword.
***Invited in to contribute to the conversation, meets Vander. Recognized the Swords of Power for what they are, knows their legend
*Amber Year 5281
**Has a conversation with Arlo in the Library about Adagalasck, his mother Satura and Vox.
***Arlo shows new cards soon to arrive in the Deck; gives the new ones to Realmer
***Arlo gives Realmer a stone from Adagalasck and tells him to walk the Pattern with it and that will allow access to the sealed Realm
***Realmer walks the Pattern with the Stone from Adagaalasck as Arlo suggested.
**Realmer has a conversation with Julian and Gangdis in his rooms/lab, shares his background with Julian, he offers help and Trumps of Nina & Emilie.
**Realmer gathers a small team; Sir Gangdis of Casowill, Sir Carston of Wall and Tasa, an assassin from Sanctuary.
***Defeats Azcalan attack while traveling the Jeweled Road towards Adagalasck; meets Aztalios, Azcalan War Cheif
**Arrives at the Great Arch just prior to a Battle Drill where Xorit and Hagalta are both present
***Meets with Xorit, sits in his Clan Box for Battle Drill, meets Xorit's brother; Zarxit
****During Battle Drill Hagalta sees Realmer and rides over, orders him to leave the field and go to his camp where Satura awaits; Realmer refuses to leave until Battle Drill is complete
****Gangdis breaks Clan Shaxta's Battle Signs and Zarxit wants this info, will pay for it
***Clan Trixta defeats Clan Shaxta in the Battle Drill
****Realmer meets with Xorit afterwards and tells him of what transpired during the drill; pulled into Campaign Tent for privacy
****Xorit says Hagalta is lying about Satura being present, suggests we go thru Arch immediately
****Realmer shows Xorit the Stone Arlo gave him; Xorit calls it a Stair Key; belongs to the Arch Mage of the North Wind
****Gangdis suggests using it to contact her, she is Nina of Amber; makes Contact instantly
***Nina comes to Realmer, she 'awakens', knows Gangdis, says Hagalta is coming, opens portal to Adagalasck, takes Realmer's crew and Xorit and crew
****Hagalta rushes Portal, Nina puts up barrier, Hagalta rages then draws Farslayer and holds it high... but does not use it
**Traveling through Adagalasck with Ninaartres, the Arch Mage of the North Wind

Running Sheet Raphael

2025-06-15T20:58:39Z

Relmopator: /* Ranks */

<big>'''Raphael de la Varga''' aka "Rafe"</big>

<big>''Raphaxaelicus Radaxventurerillidixt Covaladalouaxixisis'' aka "'''RaphaX'''"</big>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|<big>'''<span style="color:blue">AVALON DECK</span>'''</big>
|<big>'''<span style="color:green">TOSIAN BARDIC DECK</span>'''</big>
|<big>'''<span style="color:red">BURSAIN DECK</span>'''</big>
|-
|[[File:AV-Raphael1.jpg|200px]]
|[[File:RafeA.jpg|200px]]
|[[File:AV-Rafe-Slugger's Deck.jpg |200px]]
|-
|XXXXXXXXXX
|XXXXXXXXXX
|XXXXXXXXXX
|-
|<big>'''Dufiro Earth Form Concept'''</big>
|<big>'''WC&LGA'''</big>
|
|-
|[[File:Raphax Earth Form1.jpg|200px]]
|[[File:A--Rafe-front1.jpg|250px]]
|
|-
|}

==GM SECTION==

===<big><span style="color:red">Stats</span></Big>===
*Psyche 21
*Endurance 17
*Strength 15
*Warfare 17

===<Big><span style="color:red">Powers</span></big>===
*18 '''Power Words (13)'''
*10 '''Advanced Low Order Sorcery''' [[Sorcery in Jeweled Amber]]
*4 '''Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon; Advanced Imprint
*3 '''Avalon Shape Change'''; Specific Alternate Forms ONLY
*2 '''[[Cantrip]]'''
*1 Low Order Magic System - Bardic Powers & Spells
*1 Low Order Magic System - Druidic Powers & Spells
*2 Dufiro Rituals
**Summon Dufiro Tomes (Personal)

===<Big><span style="color:red">Skills </span></big>===
*3 Wilderness Survival & Camping
*1 Cooking (incl. Butchering & basic Vegetable Gardening)
*2 Thrown Weapons; All Types (Knives, Daggers, Axes, Darts, Stars, Spikes, Rocks, Beer Bottles... whatever's handy)
*1 Military Basics: (incl: Org, Ops, Commo, Land Nav/Map Reading, Camo, Sm. & Hvy Weapons, Explosives, Vehicles)
*1 Military Field Medic & NBC Specialist (Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Warfare Protection & Decon)
*1 Automobile Mechanics; Internal Combustion Engines (All Types)
*2 Driving; Land-based Vehicles (All Types; Wheeled & Tracked)
*1 Dog Training; all Breeds: Basic (Obedience, Tricks, Chores, etc.)
*1 Games (Tabletop RPG's, Board, Dice, Cards, Gambling, Puzzle, etc.)
*1 Story Telling (RPG Game Master / Player, Writer, Campfire Storyteller)
*1 Acting
*1 Big Top Circus Operations
*1 Juggling
*1 Voice Mimicry
*1 Singing
*1 Musical Instrument: Harmonica
*1 Warlock Thief Skills
*2 Dufiro Languages
*1 Primitive Sign Language
*1 Dancing
*1 Parkour
*1 Shadow Shaving
*1 Acrobatics
Gnome Skills (Bonus)
*2 Gardening.
*1 Dowsing.
*1 Woodcraft
*1 Pottery

====Skill Chart====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|
*1 Weapon Master-Spear
*2
**1
**1
*3
*4
*5
*6
*7
*8
*9
*10
|
*1
*2
*3
*4
*5
*6
*7
*8
*9
*10
|
*1
*2
*3
*4
*5

|-
|}

===Raphael's Wiki Page Links===
[[Raphael's Wiki Page Links]]

==Personal Information==
https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php?title=Running_Sheet_Raphael&action=edit

'''''Active since December 24, 2021'''''

<big>'''Personal Colors:''' Forest Green, Black & Gray. Bronze Metal</big>

'''Father:''' Unknown: Possible Earth Human Male

'''Mother:''' Known: Earth Human Female (deceased)

'''Children:''' (1) Known: Earth Human Male (deceased)

'''Race:''' Human-Mesobian-Dufiro

'''Apparent / Physical Age:''' Early 30's '''Actual Age:''' Late 50's

'''Height:''' 6ft. '''Weight:''' 205lbs '''Build:''' Athletic with well toned muscles.

'''Complexion:''' Fair to Pink w/ Freckles

'''Face:''' Average Looking '''Eyes:''' Dark Brown

'''Facial Hair:''' Heavy Beard, Coppery Red.

'''Hair:''' Coppery Red, Long w/ single Braid down the back

'''Distinguishing Marks:''' Black Scar; Bullet Wound, ribcage under left arm. (The Black Sabbath; Fitz's Healing)

'''Descriptions:'''

[[File:Raphael2.jpg|150px]]

'''Human:''' Rafe usually wears black cotton denim jeans and thick heavy black boots with heavy laces and thick soles (making him appear three inches taller), a long sleeved cotton flannel over-shirt, tri-color plaid of dark green, dark gray & black and a t-shirt beneath, usually of green, black or gray. His hands and half of his forearms are covered in black rough leather gauntlets and a wide black leather weapons belt with a large round silver simple buckle sits around his middle. Hanging from the belt on his right hip and meant for a left-hand draw, is an ornate curved sheath of black leather and brass holding a Nepalese Kuhkuri Knife with an ornate (yet functional) carved wood and brass adorned handle and pommel . And next to it, further back on the belt a bit, is a narrow nylon sheath showing the handles of three flat steel throwing daggers, slightly overlapping each other and each nine inches long. The front of the weapons belt shows four nylon pouches, two on either side of the buckle, each about four inches per side, each filled with three large throwing stars (unseen). Hanging at an angle from the right hip on a 'sword frog' is a simple sheath of brown leather holding a long sword with a curvy edged blade, and showing a simple handle of dark wood with a small simple cross-piece and small flat round pommel that looks like a thick coin with a skull stamped onto each side, both are made of brass. And on the belt farther back behind the sword is another long thin nylon sheath and another set of throwing daggers identical to the ones on his other hip. There is also a Colt .45 Automatic handgun in a custom black leather holster strapped to his right thigh, below the hip with the butt where the hand naturally rests when hanging at the side.

<big>'''Raff aka Rage'''</big>

[[File:Raff the Orc 2.jpg|150 px]]

'''Orc:''' 7 feet 2 inches tall, heavily muscled body with long thickly muscled limbs, large hands with long thick fingers. Hair is darkest of reds leading to browns contrasting the green hued thick hide-like skin, and a pair of double tusks sticking up from a thick lower lip on a heavy squared jaw covered in a thick coarse beard the same color as the hair with a long braid on the chin. A wide nose separates piercing eyes the color of a bright yellow amber beneath a heavy brow line with thick eyebrows that meet in the middle.

<big>'''Raphaelf'''</big>

[[File:Rafeelf.jpg|150 px]]

'''Elf:''' 5 feet tall, lithe of body and limb, pale to white of skin, pointed ears showing through the long flowing hair the color of shiny metallic copper, eyes the color of amethyst crystals set on a narrow angular face with no facial hair.

<big>'''Dwarphael'''</big>

[[File:Rafe-dwarf.jpg|150 px]]

'''Dwarf:''' 4 feet tall and nearly as wide across the shoulders, round barrel chest, thick arms and legs heavy with muscle, thick hands with short thick fingers. Hair and beard are braided but heavier and more coarse, the color much lighter red tending towards blonde, eyes are dark brown.

<big>'''Rafi'''</big>

[[File:Rafe-gnome.jpg|150 px]]

'''Gnome:''' 3 feet tall with a stout looking body, short limbs, big feet, small hands with short fingers, a long gray beard and short gray hair; both neatly groomed, thick gray bushy eyebrows over dark brown eyes with a slight twinkle in them, a bulbous nose, chubby cheeks and big ears that stick out noticeably.

=='''Ranks'''==
*PFC, U.S. Army: Home World aka Plague World
*Co-Mayor (Temporary): Fort Garland, CO, USA; Garland aka Change World
*Citizen: Shadow of Alamond
*Civic Leader/Co-Gaffer: Arco Station & Retreat, Alamond
*Guild Master & Founder: Guardians' Guild of Garland; Fort Garland Chapter
*Society Leader & Founder: Fort Garland Adventurers' Society
*Ringmaster: de la Varga's Circus of Modern Fantasy
*Minor Hero: Venkian Sect of the Church of the Worldly
*Sigil Lord; Fort Garland Sigil (Named by Warrick of Avalon)
*Front Warrior; Ludus Daltus, WC&LGA, Ang Ri
**''Warrior Core & Lord Gladiator Association''
*Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de [[Garde du Corps]]
**Agent of Avalon; Minister without Portfolio
*Spasa Dufiro of Earth; Al Asgo Illuminar
*'''Secret Rank:''' ''Pirate Captain''
**'''Secret Pirate Name:''' ''Captain Thorne Bronzeheart; The Daywraith''

=='''Points Total {204}'''==

'''''Total: 209 = 0 Base +40/-40 Stat Buy Down + 198 Advancement + 4 Bonus + 2 Mesob + 10 Urvile Potion'''''

'''''Stats{+70(-40/+110)} + Powers{41} + Skills{29} + Allies/Enemies{0} + Companions{24} + Items{21} + Shadows{3} + Stuff{+2} + Storage{24} 5 for High Order Sorcery, 16 for Familiar and Animal Companion.'''''

===Point Breakdown===
*Total Points: 209

*Stats Balance: +70
**Stat Sell Down: (ALL to Chaos Rank) +40 pips.
**Stat Buy Up: (all to Amber Rank = +40) +52 (+10 Urvile)

***Psyche: = +10(Amber), +1, +2, +4, +3, +5, +3, +3
***Strength: = +10(Amber), +1, +2, +5, +7
***Endurance: = +3, +7(Amber), +1, +4, +2, +10
***Warfare: = +10(Amber), +3, +5, +4, +5

*Powers: 41
*Skills: 29
*Allies/Enemies: 0 = +18/-18
*Companions: 24
*Items: 21
*Shadow: 3
*Stuff: 2
*Storage 24

==='''[[ Rafe's Advancement & Campaign Highlights]]'''===
*2021 Anniversary Advancement - 10 pips +3 Endurance - SPENT
*First Advancement - 5 Pips - SPENT
*Second Advancement - 10 Pips + 1 Bonus Pip - SPENT
*Third Advancement - 5 Pips - SPENT
*2022 Anniversary Advancement 10 Pips +2 Psyche +2 Skills - SPENT
*2/19/2023 Special Advancement - +10 Strength +3 Psyche - SPENT
*2023 Anniversary Advancement - 10 Pips +3 Skills - SPENT
*Fourth Advancement 35 Pips + 2 Bonus SPENT
*Ludus Daltus 7 pips - SPENT
*Urvile Potion 10 pips (Endurance) - SPENT
*Ang Ri Arena Fights & More 15 Pips - SPENT
*Finding an Easter Egg on the RPGwiki - 1 Pip Bonus SPENT
*Tome Research for Dalt, Calling Ritual, Visit to Dufirtrasa - 20 pips SPENT
*Special Anniversary Gift - 10 Pips SPENT
*2024 Anniversary - 10 pips + more pips - SOME SPENT & SOME STORAGE
*4/23/25 Special Gift - 5 Pips to Stats - SPENT
*6/1325 Alric Slapping Convo - 5 pips - STORAGE

'''Up to date as of 6/13/25'''

==='''Current Advancement Wish List'''===
*1st - High Order Sorcery
*2nd - Raise Psyche
*3rd - Raise Warfare

===='''Someday Advancement Wish List'''====
*20 Conjuration - (When Points allow)
*Full Shape Shifting or Equivalent
*Advanced Shape Shifting or Equivalent

==Dufiro Advancement: 60 Points==
''Dufiro Points are not included in power level totals''
*Life Path: Elemental of Change, Motion and Earth. Spasa of Earth. Al Asgo Illuminar
**(20) Points; Elemental: ''Change'' (10-Granted: Ansahal), ''Motion'' (5-Granted: Shantranixix), ''Earth'' (5-Granted: "Chip")
**(20) Points; Spasa: ''Earth'' (20-Granted: ZyxzlokX),
**(20) Points: Illuminar: ''Al Asgo Illuminar''. (20-Granted: Nur al-Din)

=='''Statistics {70}'''==
*'''Psyche''': '''<big><span style="color:red>21</span></big>''' [+3 NEW]
*'''Strength''': '''<big><span style="color:red>15</span></big>'''
*'''Endurance''': '''<big><span style="color:red>17</span></big>'''
*'''Warfare''': '''<big><span style="color:red>17</span></big>''' [+5 NEW]

=='''Stuff {2 Good}'''==
*1 Good Stuff - Mesob
*1 Good Stuff - Pips Spent

=='''Powers {41(50)}'''==

===<big>Powers, Imprints & Magics {41}</big>===
====18 '''Power Words (13)'''====
**Chaos Negation{POLRZ!}, Magic Negation{NOGTZ!}, Psychic Disrupt{ASKIIR!}, Psychic Defense{SHAGSK!}, Lifeforce{LIEVZ!},
**Weaken Structure{MARSK!}, Process Surge{ZURJ!}, Process Snuff{ZNUF!}, Costume Change{VOILA!}, Burst of Psyche{ZZAAQ!},
**Pain Attack{VOLTZ!}, Pattern Negation; Amber{LEGANT!} (learned from Vek), Pattern Negation; Avalon{TANGENT!}

====10 '''Advanced Low Order Sorcery''' [[Sorcery in Jeweled Amber]]====
**Exact same Principles and Methods as High Order Sorcery
**Able to Cast Low Order versions of High Order Sorcery Spells
***Less powerful overall; less intensity, effectiveness, duration.
***ADVANCED adds more power output.
**This is the Highest Priority of Low Order Magics
***This is NOT a Low Order Magic System, such as; Magery, Wizardry, Listery, etc.

====4 '''Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon; Advanced Imprint'''====
***A Low Order Inscription located at the bottom of Lily Lake, in the southern most part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Ft. Garland, CO, USA, Earth; Shadow Garland aka Change World.
**Sigil can be used as a Lens for Detection purposes.
**Sigil can be used Defensively (mostly against Low Order Magics and some other Low Order Inscriptions).
**Sigil reacts violently vs Woven Logrus; blue lightning (NEW)
**Sigil can be used as a Spell Framework. Holds Spells like a Web. (re: Zachary and Fortunadus)
***High Order Sorcery Spell (2): Holder Frame ONLY (no need to Cast)
***Low Order Sorcery Spells (5): Holder & Casting Frame.
***Other Low Order Spells (?): Holder Frame (currently Holding 4)

====3 '''Avalon Shape Change'''; Specific Forms ONLY:====
**Gained by Assaying the Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon.
**Assayed 5 times choosing each of its Alternate Paths.
***Five [5] Forms: Earth Human (True Form), Garden Gnome (Magical Creature), Hill Dwarf, Sylvan Elf, Green Skinned Orc.

====2 '''[[Cantrip]]''' - Transferred - Medallion of Mesob [1 Mesob, 1 Rafe]====
**Able to Create new Cantrips (2 Pips)
**Sixty Four (64) possible Cantrips: (52 Currently)
***Psyche of 15 = 20 Cantrips + 4 Cantrips / 5 Psyche, X2 Points in Cantrip.

====2 Low Order Magic Systems====
*1 Druidic Powers and Spells - ? Level
**Spells: ?,?,?...

*1 Bardic Powers and Spells - ? Level
**Spells: ?,?,?...

====2 Ritualism (Dufiro-based)====
*Summon Dufiro Tomes (Personal)

===<big>Gnome Powers {Bonus}</big>===
*Travel through Earth

==='''[[Medalion of Mesob]]''' Powers {2}===
**Melts into Body of Wearer/Holder, can't be removed, doesn't detect as magical, its powers can't be dispelled, or suppressed(?).
**Wearer becomes a Mesobian, Racially, but detects & acts as original Race for all practical purposes.

====Automatic Powers====
*''Recognize Mesobian/Medallion Wearers'' - Transferred-No points
**Bears a Symbol on forehead and one palm that only Mesobian/Medallion Wearer and other Mesobians/Medallion Wearers can see.
*''Immortality'' - Istari Immortality; Vast spectrum medical protections.
*''Improved Physical Attributes'' - Transferred-No points
**Raises a Human to '''Chaos Rank''' Stats
*''Immunity to Illness'' - Transferred-No points
**Complete immunity to sickness
*''Immunity to Lycanthropy'' - Transferred-No points
*''Immunity to Undead Magics & Attacks'' - Transferred-No points
*''Regeneration'' - Transferred-No points
**The Power to completely heal wounds and injuries in a fraction of the time the 'original body' was 'normally' capable of.
*''Tongues'' - Transferred-No points
**The ability to understand and speak languages (once heard???)
**Already know/learned: English, Spanish, Thari, Esperanto, Italian, German, Russian, Maandancer,
*''Spidey Sense'' - Transferred-No points '''UNDISCOVERED?'''
**Moments warning before an attack

====Useable Powers====
*''Technopathy'' - Transferred (possible Main Power according to David of Mandalay)
**Ability to 'read' data from electronic/technological devices (touch)

*''Classification'' - Transferred-No points
**The Power to Identify or Divine the Character Class, Level and Race of a Being
***Works upon Touch and sometimes at short distances with eye contact
**Can also Identify certain Creature Types

*''Shadowwalk'' - Transferred-No points
**As Broken Pattern shadow walker
**Shadowwalk toward Mesob Wearer if known.

*''Reverse Conjuration'' - Transferred-No points
**The ability to return an item that has been Conjured to its place and time of origin.

*''Animal Friendship'' - Transsferred-No points
**Animals are friendly. Gentle creatures are near docile. More aggressive creatures are friendly, sometimes submissive.

*''Clean Body'' - Transferred-No points
**The Power to clean a body (self or other) of dirt and grime. It causes all pores to empty of retained oils and removes all bodily refuse; emptying bladders, digestive systems and stomachs.
**This power can be used in two ways.
***Causing all material to Disappear
***Causing all material to Eject violently from the body.
****If used as an attack it reacts with the target's Psyche and if they lose it distracts them for at least a minute.

*''Passwall'' - Transferred-No points
**Used once in an unexpected way that actually worked: Passed through a Magic Barrier (naked)

*''Phase Walk'' - Transferred-No points
**1 Access to the Shadow of Phase that overlaps all of Shadow?
**First used by a Dufiro inhabiting Rafe's body.

*1 ''Cantrip'' - Transferred - 1 pip
**Able to cast Cantrips

*''Flash'' - Transferred-No points '''UNDISCOVERED?'''

=='''Dufirosm Life Path, Advancement & Powers'''==
==='''Life Path:'''===
**Elemental of Change, Movement, Earth
***''Aspires to Sound''
**Spasa of Earth
***''Aspires to Combat, Speed, Paper, Cleanliness, Blending, Life, Motion, Defense, Change, Growth''
****''possibly Motion, Song, and Carnality
**Avasa: ''Aspires to Earth, Cleanliness, Health, Speed, Conflict, Guard, Change, Blending, Growth, Shifter, Life, Knowledge ''
***''possibly Whimsy, Carnality, Vision ''
**Masoja: ''Aspires to Change, Earth, Guard, Shifter, Growth, Health, Knowledge, Life ''
***''possibly Combat, Strength, Warfare, Witness, Vision''

*'''Rank & Race:'''
**'''Spasa of Earth, ''Al Asgo Illuminar'' '''

===Dufiro Advancement: ''{60 Points}''===
''Dufiro Points are not included in power level totals''
*Life Path: Elemental of Change, Motion and Earth. Spasa of Earth. Al Asgo Illuminar
**(20) Points; Elemental: ''Change'' (10-Granted: Ansahal), ''Motion'' (5-Granted: Shantranixix), ''Earth'' (5-Granted: "Chip")
**(20) Points; Spasa: ''Earth'' (20-Granted: ZyxzlokX),
**(20) Points: Illuminar: ''Al Asgo Illuminar''. (20-Granted: Nur al-Din)

===Dufiro Powers {}===
More Info Available at: [[Dufirosm Revision]]

Special Note: Raphael's Heart Fire was Strengthened as Payment for a Fulfilled Contract by Ansahal, a Masoja Dufiro of Shifter (now Water); a mostly non-corporeal Being that '''Inhabited''' Rafe's body for a short time for a Task that Ansahal needed done to Advance to his Next Race.

===='''<big>Heart Fire Powers:</big>''' ====
====='''First Order Defense''' (created by Ansahal)=====
**(need info from GM)
====='''Identify Dufiro Heart Fires'''=====
**Can 'see' /'feel' an Unbound or Bound(sometimes) Dufiro Heart Fire in Beings, Creatures & Objects
**Can Identify the Race(s) of a Dufiro
***This does NOT give a full Life Path, but usually the most prominent or powerful Race or Races.
=====''' 'Living in the Heart Fire' Powers'''=====
**Placing one's Self (aka Psyche/ Mind/ Consciousness) inside one's Heart Fire
***This is draining on Endurance until some level of experience is gained.
**Ability to Leave the Physical Body via one's Heart Fire
***Control of one's Physical Body is maintained in this state.
***Allows for Shape Shifting to Elemental Forms (Stone, Fire, Water, Air, etc.)
***Allows the Dufiro to Experience the Senses of Animals (and possibly other Beings) [DANGEROUS]

===='''<big>Tome Related Powers:</big>'''====
*'''Hear Calling/Summoning Names'''
**Ability to 'hear' Calling Name or Summoning Name spoken anywhere within the Multiverse.
**Ability to 'look in to it to see who is Calling'.
*'''Dufiro Transport Power'''
**Ability to 'temporarily transport' to Caller
***Must maintain Personal Energy & Magics to remain with Caller
**Can be Summoned via Summoning Name - Cannot resist, no Energy needed to remain
**Able to return to 'home realm' upon Compilation of the Pact or if freed from Binding by destruction of the Bound Artifact.
***Holding them against their will in either case is extraordinarily difficult. A Dufiro fighting for its freedom may attract others of its familiarity, race, or proximity to aid it.
===='''<big>Race Specific Powers:</big>''' ====
====='''Change Elemental Powers'''=====
**Limited Form of Shape Shifting
***Alter Facial & Body Features, Skin Color & Texture, Hair Color, Texture & Type, Etc.
**Minor Ability to Change one item to another item (untrained)
====='''Movement Elemental Powers'''=====
**very efficient and nearly effortless movement
**very quick movements, unless restraint is exerted
**Silent Movement possible with extreme restraint and concentration

====='''Earth Elemental Powers'''=====
**Alter Body to Living Stone
**Convert rock to soil.
**Refresh Soil.
**Rock attacks.
====='''Earth Spasa Powers'''=====
**Alter Body to Living Stone
**improved Earth Elemental powers?
**Strength of Earth

=='''Spells'''==

===FRAMEWORK #1===
'''Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon: A Low Order Inscription; Advanced Imprint'''

====High Order Sorcery Spell Slots (2)====
*Holder Frame; no need to Cast.
**[EMPTY SLOT] Stone Binding
**[EMPTY SLOT] Bodily Defense

====Low Order Sorcery Spell Slots (5)====
*Holder & Casting Frame.
**'''''Strength Drain'''''
**'''''Bodily Defense'''''
***As a Low Order spell is mainly useful against Low Order Magic, but it's a must
**'''''Single Wound Healing'''''
***Stops a single wound from causing someone to bleed out. The size of the wound is important.
***A High Order version will stop almost any wound short of decapitation
**'''''Pressurized Holy Water'''''
***A variation on the Pressurized Lava Spell, this spell Summons Blessed Holy Water from the Swimming Pool at the St. Cabrini Shrine in Colorado, USA, Shadow Garland (aka Change World). It creates a Shadow Opening inside the drain pipe just past the pumping mechanism and simultaneously actives the high pressure pump to begin rapidly draining the pool. Once activated, a message appears in green letters on the pump: "Sorry to take without asking; I beg your forgiveness. ~Raphael" Once the Spell ends, the pump deactivates and the message disappears a few hours later. When the Lynchpins are released, it creates a Summoning Portal on the Caster's end about an inch away from his/her palm (right or left) and allows the Caster to direct the pressurized stream of water as he/she desires. The Shadow Opening on the Caster's end is a bit smaller than the pipe it comes from to increase the pressure of the water delivered.
**'''''Giant's Slap''''' [CAST]

====Low Order Magic System Spell Slots (?)====
*Holder Frame; No need to Cast
*Can Hold all forms of Low Order Spell System Spells (NOT Exclusively)
*Currently holds Magery Spells (4); Added by Fortunadus
**''Passenger Teleport''
**''Castle Protection''
**''Summon Person'' - Fortunadus
**''Raise and Restore'' (for Victor)

===SPELL SHURIKEN (12)===
*Each Shuriken can Rack a single (1) Spell; 12 Shuriken total
**''Spells require a Sorcerer to Rack and Release''
***Electric Porcupines, Confusion Storm, Bubble Stream
***Mind Touch, Imperatives, Fire Fountain
***Magical Drain, Replicate Shadow Object, Defensive Shield
***Bodily Defense, Pressurized Lava, Lightning Bolt

===LOW ORDER MAGIC SYSTEM===
[coming soon]

[[Warlock Magery]]
*Bardic Spells - 10th Level
**Spells: 6,4,3,2,2,1

[[Druids in Jeweled Amber]]

[[Druidic Council of Pacifica]]
*Druidic Spells ?Level
**Spells: ?,?,?...

===KNOWN CANTRIPS===
*[10] Firefinger, Clean, Exterminate, Page Light, Stitch, Mend, Chill, Heat, Know Direction, Extinguish,
*[10] Weathertell, Turn Page, Sharpen, Gather, Unseen Hand, Color, Temperature, Werelight, Purify Water
*[10] Sober, Blend(w/shadows), Catfeet, Speed, Shield, Catfall, Gun, Map, Present, Anatomics
*[10] Dampen, Dry, Enrich, Dust, Slip, Knot, 2D-lusion, Hairy (reversible), Unlock, Change
*[7] Druidic Cantrips: Create Bonfire, Control Flame, Mold Earth, Frostbite, Thorn Whip, Shape Water, Gust
*[5] Created Cantrips: 3D-lusion, Deseed Weed, Crumble Bud, Roll a Joint, Shape Smoke,

===Raphael's Spell Books===
*[[Raphael's Spell Book]]
**A collection of Sorcery Spells given to and created by Raphael
**The Spell Book was a Gift from Zacahry
*Halta Spells (from The Danbury Collection)
**Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Relek Rituals (Not strictly a spell book)
**Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Magery: 3rd Level Spells - The Damage Group
**The Lightning Suite: Ball Lightning ,Lightning Bolt, Lightning Dart & Mini-Bolt.
**The Fire Suite: Fire Ball, Fire Dart, Flame, Heat Cone, Ball of Fire, Mini-Wide Heat Cone, Mini-Ball, & Maxi-Ball.
**The Cold Suite: Cold Cone, Mini-Cold Cone, Mini-Wide Cold Cone.
**also has a couple of the Strength Spells, Continual Light, and Wizard Light.
***Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Magery: 6th Level Spells
**This tome has Acid Protection, Astral Eye, Air Wall, Bomb, Animate Object, Geas, Area Muscle Spasm, Projected Image, Move Earth, Part Water, Sustained Dimension Door, Passenger Teleportation, Wizard Wind, Stone to Flesh.
***Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
***''“Of these Astral Eye, Geas, and Sustained Dimension Door are the most useful. A mage might kill to get this in his racks. Of course its all Low Order. A High Order protection spell would wallop all this stuff, but without that... its pretty tough stuff. I've yet to see a really functional High Order Geas spell. But Geas is one of the first powers a Wisher-aspirant dives for when they take Masoja of Knowledge Go figure.”'' '''~Bentalisix'''

=='''Skills {29}'''==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|
*'''3''' Wilderness Survival & Camping
**2 Hunting: Rifle, Shotgun, Archery. Big & Small Game, Birds.
***Includes tracking, skinning, gutting & basic butchering.
**2 Fishing: Fresh Water; Lake & Pond, River & Stream.
***Hook & Line, Trapping, Netting, Bow Fishing. Includes gutting, scaling & boning.
**1 Survival: Multiple wilderness & terrain type, Hot & Cold Climate & Weather Conditions
**1 Land Navigation
**1 Plant & Animal Identification (Basic)
**1 Camping: No Shelter, Crude Shelters, Tents, RVs
*1 Cooking (incl. Butchering & basic Vegetable Gardening)
*2 Thrown Weapons; All Types [1 NEW]
**(Knives, Axes, Darts, Stars, Spikes, Rocks, Beer Bottles... whatever's handy)
*1 Military Basics: Organization, Operations, Comms, Land Nav/Map Reading,
**Camo, Small & Heavy Weapons, Explosives, Vehicles Ops
*1 Military Field Medic & NBC Specialist
**(Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Warfare Protection & Decon)
*1 Automobile Mechanics; Internal Combustion Engines (All Types)

|
*'''2''' Driving; Land-based Vehicles (All Types; Wheeled & Tracked)
**1 Lg. Trucks, Motorcycles, Off-Road, Racing, Long Haul.
**1 Construction & Military Vehicles
**1 Driver Training
**1 Defensive Driving Techniques
*1 Dog Training; all Breeds: Basic (Obedience, Tricks, Chores, etc.)
*2 Games (Tabletop RPG's, Board, Dice, Cards, Gambling, Puzzle, etc.) [1 NEW]
*1 Story Telling (RPG Game Master / Player, Writer, Campfire Storyteller)
*1 Acting
*1 Big Top Circus Operations
**Set up, Tear down, Travel, Animal Handling, Supply & Equipment,
**Show & Boardwalk & Vendor & Crew Management, etc.
**Creation, Management & Performing of Circus Shows & Acts.
*1 Juggling
**Especially Knives
*1 Voice Mimicry
**Combines with Change Elemental Ability
*1 Singing
*1 Musical Instrument: Harmonica
*1 [[Warlock Thievish Skills]]
*1 Shadow Shaving
*1 Acrobatics
*1 Dancing [NEW]
*1 Parkour [NEW]
|-
|'''Languages'''
*2 Dufiro Languages: Studied [1 NEW]
** 1 '''Vomos''' (Conversational to Fluent)
** 1 '''Gorbash''': (Conversational to Fluent).
***Gorbash often empowers Cantripy.
** 1 '''Releck'''*: (Conversational)
***Releck is a language spoken most among the Spasa races.
***Some universes use Releck to empower low level magics 1st to 4th lvl
** 1 '''Nethak''': (Conversational)
** 1 '''Halta''': (Conversational)
** 1 '''Nona''': (Conversational)
** 1 '''Kolbashic''': (Conversational)
*1 Caveman Speak (Implaned Skill)
**Primitive Non-Verbal Language.
**Mostly Signing with some Grunts/Vocalizations
*Other Known Languages
**English, Spanish, Italian, Esperanto, Russian, German, Thari, Maandancer, French, Ang Rian,
***Understood & Spoken Fluently, only some can be Read and Written.
|
'''Bonus Skills:''' Gnome Skills
*'''2''' Gardening
**1 Vegetables & Fruits
**1 Flowers & Shrubberies
**1 Landscaping
*1 Dowsing
**Water and other(?)
*1 Woodcraft
**Carving, Basic Carpentry
*1 Pottery
**Throwing, Sculpting, Glazing, Firing
|-
|'''Other Useful Skills'''
*QWERTY Keyboard Typing, Electronic Equipment Operations: Computers, Smartphones, Office Equipment, Retail Equipment, Angry 'Customer' De-escalation, Drafting & Design/CADD, Swimming/Lifeguard, First Aid/CPR Instructor

|'''Hobbies'''
*Caving, Hiking, Rock Climbing, Running, Bicycling, Water Skiing, Off-Roading, Singing / Karaoke / DJing, Music Appreciation, Wood Carving, Stone Carving, Making Jewelry, Leatherworking, Painting Miniatures, Creative Cartography, Reading, Watching Movies / TV / Streaming Content, PC / Console / Arcade Video Gaming, Cosplay / LARP / SCA, Amusement Parks, Rock Hounding, Collecting; weapons, skull trinkets, little rocks / stones/ crystals

|-
|'''Known Combat Skills''': Strength Related
*Competition Judo - Purple Belt Ranked (attained by age 15)
**Bronze Medal Winner; Junior Olympics Judo Competition (age 13)
*Competition Karate - Green Belt Ranked
*Close Combat Self Defense Basics
*US Military Hand to Hand Basics
*CHAD Hand to Hand Combat Training & Sparring
*WC&LGA Training & Combat: Ludus Daltus; Ang Ri
|'''Known Combat Skills''': Warfare Related
*SCA Fighter Training: Single Weapon, Two Weapon, Weapon & Shield
**Sword, Fencing, Mass Weapons, Shield Fighting, Polearms, Staff Fighting, Archery.
*Professional Sword Training - Fortunadus Enright
*Firearms and Military Weapons Training
*Military Basic Combat Tactics
*Strategy Games: TTRPGs, TT Board Games, Video Games, Real Life Simulations (military)
*WC&LGA Training & Combat: Ludus Daltus; Ang Ri

|-
|}

=='''Allies & Enemies {+18/-18 = 0}'''==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Allies'''
*4 Slugger
*2 Fitz William
*2 Dalt.
*1 Zachary
*1 Corwin
*1 Kalaganath (Guide)
*1 Nur al-Din
*1 Warrick
*1 Digan
*1 Fortunadus
*1 Curious
*1 Wrecker
*1 Reggy

|'''Enemies'''
*4 Victor Price - Albino Drow Mage - Vampire
**[[Running Sheet Victor]]
*3 Unknown '''Dufiro''' Enemy
*2 Unknown Enemy
*2 Unknown Enemy
*1 Blister's Clan
*1 Unknown
*1 Avasa of ''Rudeness''
*1 Unknown '''Dufiro''' Enemy
*1 Unknown Enemy
*1 Unknown Enemy
*1 Unknown Enemy

|-
|}

=='''Companions {24 (16)}'''==

==='''<big>Animals</big>'''===

===='''<big>The Poodle Boys</big> - {24 (16)}'''====
aka ''"The Dog Brothers"''

[[File:The Poodle Boys.jpg|150 px]] [[File:The Poodle Boys2.jpg|275 px]]

[[Running Sheet Raphael - The Poodle Boys]]

Swirly(left), Fudge(center), Berk-Berk(right)
*Elemental Dufirosm of Movement
*All 3 are Litter Brothers

==='''<big>Intelligent Beings aka People</big>'''===

===='''Aanika aka Slugger'''====
[[File:Slugger5.jpg|150 px]]

[[Running Sheet Slugger / Aanika]]

*Found in Tucson, Plague World (Raphael's Home World). Appeared to be a Child of 10 to 11 years of age.
*Later Rafe discovered she was an Amberite but no info on her true name or parentage.
**Rafe discovered later that she is an Avalonian; Daughter of Corwin and presumably Dierdre.
*Holder of a Medallion of Mesob, Holder of Ft. Garland Sigil Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery. Avalon Pattern Imprint
*Shape Shifted back to a young adult (20ish) after completing her Mind Blanking Experience upon walking the Pattern of Avalon
*Fighter, Grenadier, Circus Roustabout

===='''<big>Curious</big>'''====
[[File:Curious.jpg|150 px]]

[[Curious]]

*Large Tuxedo Cat; Masoja Dufiro of Guard
**Slugger's Cat; Slugger's Protector / Guardian

===='''Father Fitz William of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Fitzwilliam.jpg|150 px]]

[[Running Sheet Fitz William]]
*Traveling Companion, Friend and Advisor; Male Dwarf. From Change World; Fort Garland
*Low Order Clericism & Ritualism. Retired Professor & Historian, Retired Military, Walking Deadman Member.
*Medallion of Mesob Holder. Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery.

===='''Wrecker of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Wrecker.jpg|150 px]]

[[Running Sheet Wrecker]]
*Traveling Companion and Friend. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Fighter & Demolisher. Retired Military. Trucker / Wrecker Driver.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Cantrips w/ possibility of Spells
*Best Friends with Reggy

===='''Reggy of the Denver Orcs'''====
[[File:Reggy1.jpg|150 px]]

[[Running Sheet Reggy]]
*Traveling Companion; Male Orc. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Thief. Good Planner & 'Criminal' Thinker. Possible military background.
*Former Police Detective - Denver, CO. (dirty cop?)
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Cantrips w/ possibility of Spells.
*Best Friends with Wrecker.

===='''Collette of Ft. Garland'''====
[[File:Christine Corelle aka Colette.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Christine Corelle]]
*Traveling Companion; Female Human. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Low Order Druid, Alchemist, Mage. Medical Doctor. Avid Hiker
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery. Magical Fairy Shape.

===='''Runner of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:ADV-Runner.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Runner - Arco Boys]]

*Traveling Companion; Elf. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Outdoorsman, Mountain Guide, Marksman, Archer.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery.
*In a relationship with Olive & Sylex
*INHABITED by 3 Spasa Dufiro of Death (willingly)
**Shozuax, Oxozath, Nezhoqeh.

===='''Olive the Orion from Alamond'''====
[[File:Olive7.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Olive-Orion]]

*Traveling Companion [NEW]: Female Orion. Joined up in Alamond, was involved with Candy & Kole already.
*Thief, Motorcycle Stunt Performer, Roller Derby Jammer
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change.
*In a relationship with Runner & Sylex

===='''Gunner of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Gunner.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Gunner - Arco Boys]]

*Traveling Companion; Dwarf. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Fighter, Retired Soldier, Weapons Specialist, Mechanic.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change.
*Short Term Apprentice to Vulcanious (Dwarven version of Vulcan the God of Smithing)

===='''Doctor Len Parsons of Hepplewhite's'''====
[[File:Drlenparsons.jpg|150px]] [[File:Dr.Len2.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Dr. Len Parsons]]

[[Running Sheet Dr Len]]

*Traveling Companion; Human Midget. From Hepplewhite's Traveling Circus ala Zachary Hepplewhite of Amber.
*Multi-World Certified MD, Multi-Decade Veteran of The Circus Life.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint. Low Order Sorcery & Avalon Shape Change.

===='''Candy of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Candy-Arco.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Candy-Arco Boy]]

*Traveling Companion; Female Dwarf. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Fighter, Mechanic, Scout, Information Gatherer.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery.
*In a relationship with Kole

===='''Kole of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Kole2.png|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Kole]]

*Traveling Companion; Male Dwarf. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Genius Mechanic, Retired Soldier, Fighter.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change.
*In a relationship with Candy

===='''Elmer Ellswroth of Alamond'''====
''aka Elmer Frisk aka Ernst Tugendhat''

[[File:ADV-Elmer Ellswroth.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Elmer Ellswroth]]
*Traveling Companion: Male Human. Joined up in Alamond.
*Retired Military, Combat Trainer, Sniper, Tactician.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change.
*Lanthanite; 2,600 plus years old
**Former German and US Marine Sniper
**Born 602 BC on an Earth World
***Same Earth World as the North Dakota Freemasons

===='''<big>Gadia aka Gadget</big>'''====
[[File:Gadget-a.jpg|150px]][[File:Gadget2.jpg|150px]] [[File:Gadget-silky terrier.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Gadia- Gadget]]
*Followed Raphael from Deselduia
*Banished(?) Hound of Mandalay
*Fighter, Musician
*Good with mechanical things
*Currently off on her own adventures

[[Getting the Band Together]]

===='''<big>Sylex</big>'''====
[[File:D-Sylex.jpg|150px]]

Avasa of Water & Conflict

[[Running Sheet Sylex]]

===='''<big>Bently</big>'''====
[[File:Bently.jpg|150px]]

Masoja Dufiro of Dance

[[Running Sheet Bently]]

===='''<big>Hasara</big>'''====
[[File:Hasara gomon.jpg|150px]]

Hasara Gomon; Blade Warrior
*Free Warriors of Ang Ri

[[Running Sheet Hasara Goion]]

===='''<big>Syvik</big>'''====
[[File:Syvik.jpg|150px]]

Syvik; Blade Warrior
*Free Warrior of Ang Ri
*From the Ang Ri Swamps

[[Running Sheet Syvik]]

====<big>'''Randy Dandy'''</big>====
[[File:Randy dandy.jpg|150px]]

Randy Dandy; Front Warrior
*Free Warriors of Ang Ri
*Tall Dwarf from a Shadow at War near Ang Ri
*Older Brother to Dekon Dandy

[[Running Sheet Randy dandy]]

===='''<big>Dekon Dandy</big>'''====
[[File:Dekon Dandy.jpg|150px]]

Dekon Dandy; Blade Warrior
*Free Warriors of Ang Ri
*Tall Dwarf from a Shadow at War near Ang Ri
*Younger Brother to Randy Dandy

[[Running Sheet Dekon Dandy]]

===='''<big>Falcion</big>'''====
[[File:Falcion trump.jpg|150px]]

Falcion; Grade (Blade?) Warrior
*Formerly of Ludus CannyCans of Ang Ri
[[Running Sheet Falcion]]

===='''<big>Larry</big>'''====
*Total Warrior Medic from Tosia
**Plays Rugby
**Assigned to the AS by Fortunadus

===='''<big>Barry</big>'''====
*Total Warrior Medic from Tosia
**Computer Hacker
**Assigned to the AS by Fortunadus

==='''Personally Known Dufirosm'''===
Raphael knows SOOOOOO many Dufiro, I had to make a Wiki Page for them all.

[[Dufiro known by Raphael]]

====Raphax's Dufiro Contrats & Agreements====

[[Raphax's Dufiro Contrats & Agreements]]

===Memberships: Guilds, Societies, Parties & Other===

'''[[RaphaXaelicus Adventurers Band]]'''
*Leader and Founder: Rapaheal de la Varga
*All Members of the FG Adventurers Society are Members

'''[[Garde du Corps]]'''
*King Corwin's Elite Advisors of [[Avalon]]
*Newest Member

'''[[Belle Époque salon]]'''
*Paris, Avalon

'''[[Ludus Daltus]]'''
*Fighting School; Ang Ri
**Run by Prince Dalt of Amber
*Member and Front Warrior

'''[[Fort Garland Adventurers' Society]]'''
*Leader & Founder

'''[[Guardians' Guild; Fort Garland Chapter]]'''
*Guild Master & Founder

'''The Dufirosm ([[Dufirosm Revision]])'''
*'''The Party for Life'''
**Member as Written is Rafe's Dufiro Tomes
*'''The Party for the Defense of Amber'''
**Member by Verbal Agreement with Curious aka Crizacraxix Galxata
*'''The Party for the Defense of Avalon'''
**Member by Verbal Agreement with Curious aka Crizacraxix Galxata
*'''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''
**Rafe has Agreed to Join and was given Access to Events and Facilities but Membership is still Pending.
***UPDATE: Rafe has now met Shantranixix, so I think his Membership is now official. hehe
*'''Hierarchy of Shifters'''
**Member by Race: Change Elemental
*'''Hierarchy of Motion'''
**Member by Race: Movement Elemental
*'''Hierarchy of Earth'''
**Member by Race: Earth Elemental & Spasa

=='''Items: Magical or Powered {21 (108)}'''==
Yet to be Acquired: [[Cremator, The Undead Destroyer]] and [[Transforming Combiner Motorcycles]]

==='''(50) [[Medalion of Mesob]]'''===
This medallion was found in the shape of a foot with an odd toe configuration. It appeared to be made of a shiny golden metal, possibly gold or brass, and it bore odd swirl patterns on each toe and a Powerful Design at the center of the foot-shaped medallion. Once touched, it remained solid for only a couple of seconds before appearing to 'disappear'... 'quickly melt away'... 'melt into the body'... 'be absorbed into the body'. It took several hours up to several days before all the Powers became active and for Rafe to discover them... well, most of them.

====Undiscovered Powers====
*Moments warning upon attack, Flash

====Transferred Powers====
*Cantrips - 20 possible, Immortality - Istari Immortality: Vast spectrum medical protections, Improved physical attributes: Raises a Human to '''Chaos Rank''' stats, Immunity to Lycanthropy, Immunity to Undead Magics and Magical Attacks, Immunity to Illness: Complete immunity to sickness, Clean Body - Self and Other, Identify Character Class, Race, Approx. Level, Recognize Mesobians / Medallion Wearers, Shadowwalk - Similar to Broken Pattern Shadow Walk - Shadowwalk toward Medallion Wearer if known, Regeneration, Reverse Conjuration, Animal Friendship, Passwall, Phase Walk

===9 (79) Rafe's Bronze Armor===
[[File:Bronze nugget.jpg|150px]] [[File:Rafe armor.jpg|150px]] [[File:Rafe helms1.jpg|150px]] [[File:Bronze Nugget1.jpg|150 px]]

This Customized suit of armor consisting of custom forged pieces and pieces selected from different Horde Armor Collections, was Crafted at the Lava Forges at Fireside Village on Rasak as a Reward from Prince Dalt of Eregenor. The Armor was conceived of by Raphael, designed by Raphael, Bronze Nugget; a Spasa Dufiro of Blending, and Vulcanious; the Dwarven versions of Vulcan; the God of Smithing. It was Forged, Empowered and Assembled by Valcanious and Bronze Nugget, whose final action was to Inhabit the Cuirass.

''NOTE: In its Base Form, regardless of materials used in each individual piece, all metal pieces appear to be polished dark bronze and all leather and cloth pieces are black.''

{| class="wikitable"
|''' 9 (9) Bronze Lorica Segmentata Cuirass'''
*4 Invulnerable to All Conventional Weapons
**+5 Transfer Quality to Wearer
*2 Danger Sense
*4 <span style=color:red>Limited Shape Shift</span>
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*1 Ability - Weightless
*1 Ability - Fire/Heat Resistant
**Temperature Controlled
*Forged by Vulcanious
*Custom Crafted for Raphael
*Inhabited by Bronze Nugget
**Spasa Dufiro of Blending

|<big>POINT BREAKDOWN</big>

'''9 pips for Bronze Nugget'''
*''Elemental'': Earth & Mixing - Bronze
*''Spasa'': Earth, Guard - Vs Guns (2)
**Fire - Temp Control & Fire Resist (1)
***Mostly Weightless (1)
**Rust - Danger Sense (2)
**Guard - Ability Call to don/ Return (1)
**Blending - N/N Forms (2)

'''9 pips for Rafe'''
*+2 raise Armored vs Guns to Invulnerable
*+5 Transfer Quality (Invulnerable) to Wearer
*+2 raise N/N Forms to Limited Shape Shift

|'''(6) Vorpal Collar'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*4 Invulnerable: Protection from Decapitation.
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Call to don/Return</span>

'''(4) Hidden Cod Piece'''
*4 Invulnerable
*Sewn into groin area of Undergarment pants

'''(5) Undergarments; Black'''
*Pants & Shirt; Padded, Ultrathin
*1 Animal Vitality
*2 Armored Vs Firearms
*2 <span style=color:red>N/N Forms</span>: Ultrathin Padding (X5 sizes), Street Clothes (X4 sizes),

|-
|'''(10) Roman Gladiator Helmet'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*2 Double Damage: Head Butt
*4 Invulnerable
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*2 <span style=color:red>N/N Forms</span>: Helmet w/ Grate Faceplate (X3 sizes), Helmet w/ Skull Faceplate (X2 sizes), Bronze Headband, Green Baseball Cap, Black Gambler Hat w/Bronze Hatband, Green Motorcycle Helmet w/Bronze Tinted Visor,
*Modified Stock Item
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|'''(9) Rasak Gloves (pair)'''
*2 Armored vs Guns
*2 Double Damage: fist attacks
*2 Combat Reflexes
**Equals difficult to drop item in hand
***Avoid using grenades
*1 Self-healing
*2 <span style=color:red>N/N Forms</span>: Bronze Armored Gauntlets (X5 sizes), Black Suede Leather Gauntlets (X3 sizes), White Formal Cloth Gloves, Matching Spiked Leather Bracelets, Insulated Mittens; Industrial Use,
*''Gift from Doria''
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|'''(10) War Boots (pair)'''
*4 Invulnerable
*4 Deadly Damage: Steel Toes
*2 <span style=color:red>N/N Forms</span>: Heavy Boots w/ Bronze Capped Toes (X5 sizes), Green Running Shoes (X5 sizes), Black Dress Boots w/Bronze Trimmings,
*''Gift from Doria''
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|-
|'''(10) Vambraces (pair)'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*2 Double Speed: hand / arm attacks
*2 Double Damage: forearm strike
*4 Invulnerable
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*''Gift from Doria''
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|'''(6) Armor Plated War Kilt'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*4 Invulnerable
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*Modified Stock Item
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|'''(10) Grieves (pair)'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*2 Double Speed: running
*2 Amber Stamina
*4 Invulnerable.
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*''Gift from Doria''
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|-
|}

===(19) Rafe's Fire Hammer, ''Sharax''===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|
[[File:Firehammer.jpg|150 px]][[File:Sharax, Masoja of Fire.jpg|150px]]
|
A Double Headed War Hammer [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/General_and_Known_Pointed_Artifact_Descriptions#Rafe.27s_Fire_Hammer]] with a Hammer Head, Shaft Band and Butt Cap made of Black Mithril, a Shaft made from Ang Ri Ironwood and a Handle that's wrapped with an unknown type of Leather.
*Crafted by Falat Agata, Avasa Duriro of Iron, Forge Journeyman under Tursa Ga.
**'' 'I made this black mithril hammer to accept any grade of race. I am pleased a Masoja of Fire will bind to it. The handle changes from a foot to 6 feet. It is a war weapon but can be used as a forge hammer.' ''
*A gift from Curious, Masoja of Guard, for Rafe's Matched Elevation to Spasa of Earth

|-
|
*2 Chaos Vitality
*2 Double Speed
*2 Combat Reflexes
*2 Double Damage
*4 Deadly Damage to undead
*1 Sensitivity to Undead
*1 Ability Hammer Flames for additional Damage or other uses.
*1 Ability Parry. Effective Parry
*1 Ability Consume and destroy Undead energy forces on contact for damage.
*1 Ability. Call to Hand 100 mile radius
*(2) N/N forms. Shaft changes size. 1ft - 6ft (Ability of the Hammer)
**19 Pips
|
THE CONTRACT: (for above listed Powers minus the N/N forms)
*Self-Bound Masoja Dufiro of Fire (Sharax[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dufiro_known_by_Raphael#Sharax.2C_Masoja_of_Fire]]) and an unnamed Bound Spasa of Motion. (Bound by Sharax)
*Rafe negotiated the Bargain for Self-Bound Service with Sharax.
*'' "So, you offer to Self-Bind to this War Hammer that you find acceptable for Binding and for your Status. You wish to remain submerged, mind dark till the Term of Service is completed, an agreed upon length of two years 'on the hip', when renegotiation takes place. The powers to be provided are: To Combat Undead, Detect Undead, Parry, Flame Weapon, Destruction of Undead Life Force, Fire Powers ranging from cooking to forging or anything between, controllable by me, as needs be. In trade a forest, 50,000sq miles. A Lich slain. If the Lich is not slain by the end of Term I will be registered as breaking a binding oath with the Council of the Dufirosm. Since you wish to be submerged, my Confidentiality Agreement is essentially moot yet fulfilled, so I will give one thousand years of Testimony of Good Service." ''~Rafe
*'' "I would like to request one final Power, if it is yours to grant; the ability to summon the weapon to hand, no matter where it might be." ''~Rafe
*'' "I can not grant that. However, I have a Member of my Knot, a new one, a newly raised Spasa of Motion. He will Serve the same Term as I. Receive your Testimony for his next Spasa Race in the deal. He can provide weapon movement." ''~Sharax of Fire
|-
|}

===(13) Sigil Guardian Blade===
A Minor '''Pattern Blade of Avalon'''

{| class="wikitable"
|[[File:Fortunadus' Officer's Blade2.png]]
*4 Deadly Damage
*4 Invulnerable
*2 Double Speed
*1 Combat Training (specific to this blade)
*1 Stamina (Blade's lightness and custom design causes it to wear on wielder half as much as a similar blade)
*1 Ability Call to hand
*0 Alt. Form: Walking Stick (Warrick)
|
Only four (4) of these Blades are known to exist. They were Gifted/Loaned by Fortunadus Enright.
*Reardan Metal Blade. Light-weight and Fast. Nearly Indestructible. Sharp enough to shave Titanium. Throws well.
*Held by Rafael de la Varga, Fitz William, Kip of the Arco Boys, and the Current Sigil Guard.
*Once the Property of Fortunadus Enright of Tosa; Thrice Crowned Bard, Co-Leader of CHAD
*The Blade Bearer is able to Summon (Call) Fort (Rafe now?) when the blade is drawn and the name 'Fortunadus' (Raphael?) is spoken.
**The Blade Bearer can be Summoned by Fort to his location.
|}

===(7) Red Dagger===
Gift from the Pattern Ghost of King Eric of Amber.
*The Dagger was delivered by Florimel of Amber with a message from the Ghost of King Eric: '' "Don't visit Amber." ''

[[file:ericknife.jpg|150 px]]
*2 Double Speed.
*4 Deadly Damage.
*1 Ability: Call to hand
*Exceptionally well balanced.
*Excellent for Throwing.

===6 Rafe's Backpack of Holding===
[[File:Rafe's Back Pack.jpg|100px]]
*Customized Military Backpack w/ light-weight rigid frame
*1 Bag of Holding - 10x5x5 (main pocket)
*2 Bag of Holding - 5x3x3 (2) (Outer Pocket; front, Hidden Pocket behind)
***Contents are easily accessible and effectively weightless
*1 Ability – Summon to Body
*2 N/N Forms (12)
**(Military Backpack, Well-used Military Backpack, Well-used Leather Backpack)
**(Leather Messenger Bag, Leather Saddle Bags, Large Dog Pack; Leather)
**(Well-used Army Field Jacket, Heavy Hooded Cloak, Heavy Cape w/pockets)
**(Leather Duster, Heavy Insulated Long Parka, Water-proof Trench Coat w/hood)

===4 Rafe's Spell Shuriken (12)===
[[File:Rafe's Spell Shuriken.jpeg|200px]]
*1 Rack Spell
*1 Ability - Summon to Hand
*X2 N/#d Quantity: One Dozen (12)
**Each Shuriken can Rack a single spell. The Spell requires a Sorcerer to Rack and release it (Lynchpins).

===2 Rafe's Desert Eagle Fifty===
[[File:Rafe's Desert Eagle XIX 50AE.jpg|200px]]
* Desert Eagle XIX 50AE, Bronze Edition
**1 Ability – Reload local Ammo
**1 Ability – Summon to Hand
***7 round clip (3 clips)
***2000 rnds ammo

===Bard's Stone===
[[File:Bard's Stone.jpg|200px]] [[File:Bard's Stone2.jpg|200px]]

*Small Round Stone Tablet
**Given by Digan (Gift from Fort?)

===Focus Stone===
[[File:Moai Head Rightside.jpg|100px]] [[File:Moai Head Leftside.jpg|100px]]

*Small Carving of a Moai Head made from Milky Quartz
**(Rafe carved this; his first ever attempt at rock carving.)
**NOT CURRENTLY EMPOWERED... or IS IT???

===Raphael's Poisoning Goblet===
[[File:Death Dufiro Poisoning Goblet.jpg|100px]]
*Fine Crystal Glass inhabited by a Bound Spasa Dufiro of Death: ''Thansheq''
**Force Bound by RaphaXaelicus in Paris, Avalon
*Turns any liquid poured into it, into Poison.
**NO change in color, odor or taste.

=='''Trump Decks & Cards: Magical & Mundane'''==
===Magical===
====Decks: Full & Partial====
*Garde du Corps Cell Phone
**Special Avalon Trump Deck / Artifact
**Part of a larger Construct

*Avalon Trumps (partial) [[King Corwin's Deck]]
**Avalon/Paris-1880
***gift from Warrick
**Aanika, Princess of Avalon
***Gift from Slugger aka Aanika
**Nasine Maker; Druid
**Adaile Dunas; General
**Raphael de la Varga

*Bardic Trump Deck (full) w/Card Box
**Gift from Fortunadus
**Fort, Digan, Bardic College of Wall, Castle Garland, others...

====Individual Cards====
*Archie (Riding a Rollercoaster)
**Alamond Trump
**Makes Popcorn
*Alexandra Mira
**Personal Trump?
**Contact Only

===Mundane Decks===
*King Random Deck in a simple wooden box (Gift from Zachary)
**Accompanying Literature
**Signed Cards: Zachary, Tesara, Alexandra, Dalt, Vek,

*[[Bursain]] Deck [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Jeweled_Amber_Trump_Decks.#The_Bursain_Deck]] in a thin Ebony Box
**Discovered in the left breast pocket of my flannel shirt
**Magically Updates and Distributes
**Signed Cards: Zachary, Vek,

=='''Books & Tomes: Magical & Mundane'''==

===Summoning Tomes: Dufiro & Other===
NOTE: ALL Copies of Raphaxaelicus's Dufiro Tomes, The Dog Brothers Dufiro Tomes and The Guardians Guild Tomes (that have NOT been Gifted or Bargained for) as well as any and all Tomes that have been Gifted to Raphaxaelicus, or Bargained for by him, are Stored in a bookcase in RaphaX's Billet in Shifters Hall at the Hagia Salas in the City of Ahyk within the Dufirtrusa; the Dufiro Realms near to the Black Zone of Chaos.

====Personal Summoning Tomes====
*''Guardians' Guild Summoning Tome'' (5)
**Written by Nur al-Din - Ancient Tosian Magic
***''Selaka looks to Digan, "The Dufireant wrote a summoning book for him? Really?" Digan nods, "Yes, but not a Dufiro Tome. It was Tosian World Stone Magic. Fortunadus is the High Priest of Venki. Rafe here is a user of certain herbs that are part of Venkian Writ. The Summoning Tome makes him a Minor Hero of the Venkian Sect of the Church of the Worldly. His... adventures... are being retold in taverns throughout the Tosian spheres."''

*''Elemental Dufiro of Change Summoning Tome'' (20)
**Written by Adalou; Masoja of Shifter [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dufiro#Adalou]]
***Calling & Summoning Names are in Nethak. Binding Name is in Kolbashic.
**Copies: Adalou (Original), Curious, Shantranixix,

*''Elemental Dufiro of Movement Summoning Tome'' (?)
**Written by Adalou; Masoja of Shifter / Spasa of Speed
***Calling & Summoning Names are in Nethak. Binding Name is in Kolbashic.
**Copies: Adalou (Original), Curious, Shantranixix,

*''Elemental Dufiro of Earth Summoning Tome'' (?)
**Written by Shantranixix; Masoja of Life, Earth
***Calling & Summoning Names are in Nethak. Binding Name is in Kolbashic.
**Copies: Shantranixix (Original), Curious, Adalou,

*''Spasa Dufiro of Earth Summoning Tome'' (?)
**Written by Shantranixix; Masoja of Life, Earth
***Calling & Summoning Names are in Nethak. Binding Name is in Kolbashic.
**Copies: Shantranixix (Original), Curious, Adalou, Kichabqhisreeceeb (Calling), Glkaxxsik (Calling), Dalt of Amber (Calling),

====Dufiro Tomes Possessed by Rafe====
For a List of Tomes Possessed and Whose, click the link [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dufiro_known_by_Raphael#Dufiro_Tomes_Possessed_by_RaphaX]]

====A List of Dufiro Tomes possessed by Dalt====
The Danbury Collection [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dalt's_Tomes#The_Dandbury_Collection]]

===Raphael's Spell Books===
*[[Raphael's Spell Book]]
**A collection of Sorcery Spells given to and created by Raphael
**The Spell Book was a Gift from Zacahry
*Halta Spells (from The Danbury Collection)
**Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Relek Rituals (Not strictly a spell book)
**Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Magery: 3rd Level Spells - The Damage Group
**The Lightning Suite: Ball Lightning ,Lightning Bolt, Lightning Dart & Mini-Bolt.
**The Fire Suite: Fire Ball, Fire Dart, Flame, Heat Cone, Ball of Fire, Mini-Wide Heat Cone, Mini-Ball, & Maxi-Ball.
**The Cold Suite: Cold Cone, Mini-Cold Cone, Mini-Wide Cold Cone.
**also has a couple of the Strength Spells, Continual Light, and Wizard Light.
***Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Magery: 6th Level Spells
**This tome has Acid Protection, Astral Eye, Air Wall, Bomb, Animate Object, Geas, Area Muscle Spasm, Projected Image, Move Earth, Part Water, Sustained Dimension Door, Passenger Teleportation, Wizard Wind, Stone to Flesh.
***Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
***''“Of these Astral Eye, Geas, and Sustained Dimension Door are the most useful. A mage might kill to get this in his racks. Of course its all Low Order. A High Order protection spell would wallop all this stuff, but without that... its pretty tough stuff. I've yet to see a really functional High Order Geas spell. But Geas is one of the first powers a Wisher-aspirant dives for when they take Masoja of Knowledge Go figure.”'' '''~Bentalisix'''

==='''Other Books'''===
*The Story of the Trio Shifters
**Gift from Breasda; Masoja of Vision (formerly Wisher)
**Rafe is to make 100 copies for Breasda
***Figuring out the Author is a Challenge for Rafe to complete
***An additional 100 copies for a Screening in Spasa of Paper

*A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny
**Rafe brought this from his Home World

*The Art of War by Sun Tzu
**Rafe brought this from his Home World

*Origami Basics
**Gift from Lenyia, The Origami Dragon

*Cardinal's Journals; blank (300)
**from St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Plague World

=='''Non-magical Equipment'''==

==='''Armor'''===
*Bullet-Proof Body Armor; full body, light-weight
**Black Plates & Yellow Kevlar-like Fabric
**Looks like a Motorcycle Riding Suit
**Includes Kevlar-like Fabric Coif
[[File:Raphael's Tactical Body Armor.jpg|100px]]

*Wehrmacht Motorcycle Helmet; Bullet-Proof
**Black; padded, chin strap
[[File:Raphael's Wermacht Helmet.jpg|100px]]

*Skull Face-Mask; high quality materials
**Flack Resistant; nearly Bullet-Proof
[[File:SkullMask.jpg|100px]]

*Roman-style Metal Armor
**shiny Steel w/ Brass fittings
**includes Leg Armor
***can be worn Over Bullet-Proof Body Armor
**includes full Padding
***NOT worn with Bullet-Proof Body Armor
*Roman-style Metal Helmet
**shiny Steel, with Brass accents
[[File:Roman Armor.jpg|200px]]

**SPECIAL NOTE: This suit of Armor has been repaired and 'heat tempered' by the Magical Dwarves of Fort Garland

==='''Firearms'''===
*9mm Automatic (Pair); H&K VP9
**20 round clip (10 clips)
**10,000 rnds ammo
*.30-06 cal Rifle, Bolt Action
**5 round built-in clip
**Best Possible Adjustable Scope (NEW)
**1000 rounds 30-06 ammo
*UNKNOWN Handgun from Zachary??
**Did he ask for it back?
*UNKNOWN Handgun from Ansahal??
**Did it teleport with Rafe?

==='''Weapons & Tools'''===
*Light-Saber
[[File:Raphael's Lightsaber Tool.jpg|100px]]
**White energy blade
**Three settings: Sword, Dagger, Needle

*Throwing Weapons; highest quality
**Daggers, Knives, Spikes and Stars
*Khukuri Knife; Thick Heavy Blade w/ throat notch
*Utility & Pocket Knives, Assortment
*Mechanic's Leatherman Tool

====''On Loan or in/on Backpack''====
*Hard-wood Handles (2); 3ft long & Removable Metal Heads (4); custom made
**Warhammer w/Curved Spike, Bearded Axe; Single Blade, Double Pick, Double Mattock
*Modern Forged Swords (2) [with Backpack or On Loan]
**[Highest possible Quality materials and workmanship]
**Katana; folded steel, carved white oak handle (stack of skulls)
**Moro Sword; straight blade w/ wavy edge, double edged, razor sharp, skull coin pommel
[[File:Moro.jpg|100px]]

==='''Clothing & Accessories'''===
*Human-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Dwarf-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Gnome-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Elf-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Orc-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Footwear; assorted sizes & types
*Leather Belts, Baldrics & Sheaths
*Nylon Sheathes, Cases & Ammo Pouches

Specialty Clothing
*Garde du Corps Tabard (Avalon)
**Blue with Bear Emblem
*Avalon Suits (10)
**Formal, Dress, Casual(2), Explorer, Everyday(5)
*Military Rain Gear (Hooded Slicker, Pants, Pull-over Boots, Gauntlets)
*Military Camo Poncho w/ drawstring hood
*Circus Themed Costumes; Assorted
*Circus Themed Accessories; Assorted

==='''Specialized Equipment'''===
*Army Medic First Aid Kit (well stocked)
*Modern Military (Surplus) Gas Mask w/ hood & clean filters
*Dog Gear (3 each): Harnesses, Leashes, Flexi-leashes, Sets of Padded Dog Shoes, Knitted Woolen Jumpers
*Small Assortment of Grooming Tools; Human and Dog
*Camping Gear; Personal (Shelter, Sleeping Gear, Cooking Gear, Folding E-Tool, Fire Starting Kit, Hatchet, Flashlights, Ropes, Spikes)
*Laptop Computer & Accessories (Power & USB Cords, Earbuds, Smart Speakers, 3 USB Charging Batteries)
*Large Assortment of Gaming Dice in a Special Edition Green Crown Royal Bag
*Standard Playing Cards; (2) Decks
*Cribbage Board; small, folding w/ sliding panel & compartment for tiny wooden scoring pegs

*1 Gigawatt TW Micro Nuclear Reactor
**Looks like a USB Drive
**Gift from Fort

*TW (Total Warrior) High Tech Medical Devices
**Medical Tricorder
**Tissue Regenerator
**Bone Regenerator
***All are disguised to look like Magical Items

==='''Food & Luxuries'''===
*Dried & canned foods, including MREs (large assortment)
*Bag of dog food & dog treats (large assortment)
*Box of Cohiba Behike (3/4 gone)
*Box of Delesduia Exploding Cigars (2)
*Box of Delesduia hand rolled skinnies (50 left)
*Large amount of Medical Grade Marijuana; Sativa
*Case of Pappy van Winkle Whiskey (4 bottles remain)
*(9) Cone Joints, Filtered; Half Urala, Half Truncha Green dusted with Colorful Powder
**Acquired from Lenyia
*(1) Bindle of Colorful Powder
**Acquired from Lenyia
*Box of Urala Cigars; 20/box (10 boxes)
**acquired at Vulsar Base
*Case Romulan Ale; 12 bottles
**acquired at Vulsar Base
*Humbolt Purple Frosting; 1kg
**acquired at Vulsar Base
*Candy & Snacks; Assorted (a lot)
**Acquired at Oramuy's in Ahyk

==='''Monies'''===
*49,400 Ounces(3,087.5 Pounds) of Pure Gold (Rated .99999)
**All Stamped Ingots & Mini-Bars: India
**Various Weights: 1oz, 2oz, 4oz, 8oz, 16oz/1lb
*80 Adabalb (metal cubes)
**Currency of The Dufiro Realms
*Coinage of Ang Ri; Silver mostly.
**Fight Winnings and Betting on Fights Winnings
*10 Ingots of Mithril; 1oz each
**Rafe helped smelt the ore with Dalt to make it.

[[San Cristobal Cargo]]

==='''Trinkets/Momento Mori'''===
*Small Harmonica
**Belonged to my Biological Grandfather on my Biological Mother's side
**He carried it during WWII
**Reminds me of half of my biological family that I only bare got to know.
*Eye Necklace
**Made by my Best Friend
**Belonged to and worn by my Best Friend
**Given to me on her death bed
*Strand of medium sized green beads w/ a Llama charm at one end & a Rabbit charm at the other.
**Reminds me of my Son
**Reminds me that no matter how charmed one is, life can be short.
*Leather Wallet, Brown; Black (Ink) Skull in profile
**Gift from Best Friend's Mom
**Reminds me of the true kindness of strangers
*Skull Face Carving; Small, Applewood (I made this)
**Reminds of Mortality Itself and my Mortality.
***Update: Now reminds me that I can still die despite my new Immortality.

==='''Vehicles & Accessories'''===
[[File:Rafe's RV.jpeg|200px]]
*Airstream Motorhome; Large, Steampunk Style
**Exterior: Copper, Brass, Brushed Steel Plates & Rivets
**Exterior: Turn-Wheel Handles, Superfluous Gears, Lenses, Gauges, Vacuum Tubes, Wires, Tubing, Etc.
**Interior: Cock Pit & Main Sitting Area; Steampunk Style
***Lots of Wood; polished Pine
***Lots of Brass and Copper Metal Knobs, Gears, Gauges, Wires, Lenses, etc.
**Interior: Bed Rooms (3) & Bath Rooms (1 1/2)
***Modern Styled; Comfortable, Functional and Durable

[[File:Rafe's Toy Hauler.jpg|200px]]
*Airstream Toy Hauler; Steampunk Style (Converted interior)
**Exterior: (same as Motorhome above)
**Interior: Modern & Functional; Designed to hold 4 motorcycles
***contains Tools and Parts to repair Motorhome and Motorcycles

[[File:BadBoy Harley.jpg|200px]]
*Yellow 1958 Harley Davidson w/ Armored Sidecar
**Gear Shifter on Right Hand side of Gas Tank, Left Foot Clutch(toe down)
**Right Foot Rear Brake(toe down), Left Hand Front Brake
**Fixed Up by the Arco Boys of Fort Garland (Magical Dwarves)
***Armored Sidecar added from different model motorcycle; Perfect Fit
***Throttle Sticks in an odd way; like a Cruise Control
*Green Motorcycle Helmet - Buck's Helmet (in nose of sidecar)

*Kawasaki KTX 500 Enduro Motorcycle
**Stealth Black (New Paint Job coming soon...)

==='''Other Weird Things'''===
*Bullets (2) with Purple Gunpowder
**Gift from Casey; Shade of Caine; Amber Fallen
**Dream Walking when Powder is imbibed in any way
**Casey told Rafe to use one and think of him if he wanted to talk

*Vial - 3 grams (dust) of Paradoxian Tosian Melange (Pmel)
**Gift from Fortunadus Enright
*Sheet - 24 tablets of Yorkian Melange (Ymel)
** -2 tabs
**Gift from Fortunadus Enright

*Confian Silver Coin
**Payment from Conf for delivering a message to Fortunadus
**Opens doors in the Tosian Multiverse
**No actual exchange rate

*ASF Communicator; TOS Style
**Cross-Shadow Comms via Amber Inscribed Trump
**Gift from V'ger; Sentient AI of Vulsar Base
***Rafe is to stay in comms with her re: War in Ang Ri

*Cross-Shadow Time Piece
**Wrist Watch
**picked up at Vulsar Base, Vulsara

=='''Shadows {3}'''==
*1 Phase Access - Mesob
**Ability to Enter and Exit the Shadow of Phase which seems to overlap all of Shadow.

*2 [[Raphael's Personal Shadow]]
**'''"Rest Stop"''' 2 points
***1 Personal Shadow
***1 Control of Contents

*0 Billet at Changers Hall
**Located in the Shadow of Ahyk in the heart of the Dufirtrusa (Dufiro Realms near the Black Zone of Chaos)

*0 ''Garland aka Change World''
**[[Fort Garland, Colorado]]
**Location of Castle Garland and the Sigil of Avalon
**''Previously Attached Shadow'': '''Removed'''. Reallocated 2 Pips.

*0 ''Bundleton Region; Alamond''
**[[Arco Station and Retreat]].

*0 ''Paris; [[Avalon]]''
**[[Hôtel de la Société des Aventuriers]]

=='''Other Important Things'''==
[[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mr. Hepplewhite?]]
*How to Call (Summon) Zachary Hepplewhite of Amber:
**Sing the Song in the Story correctly.

[[Paradoxian Melange]]

'''The Danbury Collection''' [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dalt's_Tomes#The_Dandbury_Collection]]
*A collection of Tomes belonging to Dalt

=='''WC&LGA - Ang Ri'''==

<big><span style=color:red>'''Front Warrior'''</span></big>

[[File:A--Rafe-front1.jpg]]

===Record===
*Official Fights: (31) Thirty-One
*Stats: (17-12-2) Seventeen Wins, Twelve Losses, Two Draws.
**<span style=color:red>W,W</span>,L,L,W,L,W,L,W,W [10]
**W,W,L,L,L,L,W,L,W,L [20]
**<span style=color:red>L,W,L,D,W,W,W,W,D,W</span> [30]
**<span style=color:red>W</span> [31]
***<span style=color:red>Red = RP'd Fights (13)</span>
**Represents over six months of Official Fights at Various Venues.
***Canny's CanCan, Red House, Tor Soltos, Tricha's Field Fights
***Started Grade Warrior. Blade Warrior before 3rd fight. Front Warrior by 32nd fight.
***Most Fights in a Single Day: (6) Six

====Wins====
<big>'''(17) Seventeen'''</big>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|<span style=color:red>Win One: 1st FIGHT - Grade</span>
Falcion/Grade Warrior

Ludus CannyCans - Canny's Can Can
|<span style=color:red>Win Two: 2nd FIGHT - Grade</span>
Karsa/Grade Warrior

Ludus CannyCans - Canny's Can Can
|Win Three: 5th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Four: 7th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|-
|Win Five: 9th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Six: 10th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Seven: 11th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Eight: 12th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|-
|Win Nine: 17th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Ten: 19th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|<span style=color:red>Win Eleven: 22nd FIGHT - Blade</span>
Gartax/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Ludus Krakchas - Tor Soltos
|<span style=color:red>Win Twelve: 25th FIGHT - Blade </span>
Hasara/Blade Warrior

Free Agents - Canny's Can Can; Early Fights
|-
|<span style=color:red>Win Thirteen: 26th FIGHT - Blade</span>
Zretcha/Blade Warrior

Ludus Krakchas - Red House
|<span style=color:red>Win Fourteen: 27th FIGHT - Blade</span>
Faltina; St. of Battle/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Coalition of Tosa - Tricha's Field Fights
|<span style=color:red>Win Fifteen: 28th FIGHT - Blade</span>
Zanach the Fisherman/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Ludus Krakchas - Tricha's Field Fights
|<span style=color:red>Win Sixteen: 30th FIGHT - Blade (Challenge for Front)</span>
Akkabai; Minotaur/Front Warrior

Ludus Desadal- Tricha's Field Fights
|-
|<span style=color:red>Win Seventeen: 31st FIGHT - Blade (Challenge for Front)</span>
Randy Dandy/Front Warrior

Free Agents - Tricha's Field Fights
|-
|}
</div>

====Loses====
<big>'''(12) Twelve'''</big>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|Defeat One: 3rd FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Two: 4th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Three: 6th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Four: 8th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|-
|Defeat Five: 13th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Six: 14th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Seven: 15th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Eight: 16th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|-
|Defeat Nine: 18th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Ten: 20th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|<span style=color:red>Defeat Eleven: 21st FIGHT - Blade</span>
Gartax; Lizardman/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Ludus Krakchas - Tor Soltos
|<span style=color:red>Defeat Twelve: 23rd FIGHT - Blade</span>
Gartax; Lizardman/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Ludus Krakchas - Tor Soltos
|-
|}
</div>

====Draws====
<big>'''(2) Two'''</big>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|<span style=color:red>Draw One: 24th FIGHT - Blade</span>
Dekon Dandy/Blade Warrior

Free Agent - Tor Soltos; Early Fights
|<span style=color:red>Draw Two: 29th FIGHT - Blade</span>
(Ruling by Lord of the Games - Oxil)

Halkask; half-giant/Blade Warrior

Ludus Desadal ; Tricha's Field Fights
|-
|}
</div>

===Rafe's Fighting Gear===
*Customized Drake Hide Rig
*Ceremonial Rig
*Water-proofed Leather Armor Coat
*Steel Toed Boots (2 pair)
*Conical Helm; Aluminum (3)
**(1) Crushed in Combat; Cut from Head
*Blackened Aluminum Arm & Leg Armor
*Wooden Weapons
**Long Swords, Birch (2)
**Long Swords, Maple (2)
**Short Swords, Oak (2)
**Mini Maul, Ironwood Head, Maple Haft
**Naginata, Birch
*Dulled Metal Weapons
**Long Swords (2)
**War Hammer or Mini Maul
*Medium Round Shield, Wooden
*Medium Round Shield, Metal
*Assorted Local Style Clothing w/various Logos
**(Pants, Shirts, Over-shirts, Jackets, Hats) (black, greens and grays)
**(Tor Soltos, The Toy Store, WG&LCA, Ludus Daltus)

===Ranks for the ''[[WC&LGA]]''===

[[File:Warriorgrades1.jpg|450px]]
[[File:Lightened gladiator bar.jpg|450px]]

===Places & People involved with the WC&LGA===
[[Ang Ri]]

[[Warrior Core and Lord Gladiators Association]]

[[Ludus Daltus]]
*Adventurer's Society Home Base

[[Ludus Vexas Avaxala]]
*Vek & Alvah

[[Canny's Can Can]]
*Adventurer's Society 1st and Favorite Fight Club

[[The Great Arena]]

[[Tor Soltos]]
*Adventurer's Society Daytime Job; lots of Challenge Fights

[[Toy Store]]
*Adventurer's Society Favorite Fighting Gear Shop

[[Free Agent Warriors]]
*Some New Friends

[[Ludus Krakchas]]
*Lizardmen. Larzakas is a 'friend' of Rafe

[[Ludus Trasidicus]]
*Mascen, Rede Feldane, others

[[Red House]]
*Adventurer's Society Late Night Clubbing Hot Spot

[[Ludus Desadal]]
*House Desadal of the Courts of Chaos

[[Excursion to Tricha's Field Fights]]
*Oddly, Rafe has been attributed/blamed for this Event occuring.

[[Coalition of Tosa]]

[[Grande arène de défis pour Avalon]]
*Not WC&LGA officially, but related
*Adventurer's Society Assets
**Small Sky Box at the great arena
**Residential Sky Box at the smaller arena
**Sky Box at unchosen Sports Arena

=='''Dufiro'''==
=== Al Asgo Illuminar ===
{| class="wikitable"
| The first Rank of the Illuminar.
| Allows access to special libraries and to the other secret places of the Illuminars.
| It is an extremely rare honor and can only be granted by a handful of great Dufiro.
| Granted by Nur al Din after Rafe's Matched Elevation in Earth.
|-
|}

NOTE ON ILLUMINAR: There are three ranks of Illuminar. Illuminars are a special subset of Dufiro. They are considered specialist and stand outside the usual definitions of race. Illuminars are special cases. The Illuminars have their own ways. Many of the rules that refrain and define other Dufiro do not effect the Illuminars.

=== Change Elemental [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Change_Elemental_Dufiros]]===
{| class="wikitable"
| 1: Be Something Else. The Living Change Form.
*Ability to make Changes to their Physical Body.
| Alter External Features:
*Facial & Body Features, Skin Color & Texture, Hair Color, Texture & Type, Etc.
| Alter Internal Features:
*Minor Alterations to Internal Organs, Systems, Structures are ''possible'' (Improve Night Vision, Improve Hearing, Adapt Lungs, etc.)
| 'Grow' Extra Limbs: '''Potential'''
*Arms, Legs, Tail, Wings, Tentacles.
|-
| 2: Transfer Aspects of Change.
*Minor ability to Change (transform) one item or substance to another.
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
|-
|}

===Movement Elemental [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Movement_Elemental_Dufiros]]===

{| class="wikitable"
| Improved Physical Dexterity, Hand Eye Coordination & Balance
*Very Unlikely to Trip, Stumble or Fumble.
| Very Efficient Movement & Body Movements
*Little to No Wasted Movements
| Nearly Effortless Movement & Body Movements
*Reduces Muscle Fatigue thereby increasing Stamina
|-
| Effective at all Movement-based Activities (Sports).
*This could include Dodging, Evading, Parrying and Blocking to some degree.
*This could include Physical Attacks being more Effective and/or Damaging to some degree.
| Quick Movement & Body Movements
*Restraint ''must'' be exerted to move more normally
| Silent Movement
*''Possible'' with restraint & concentration
|-
| Sense Movement
*Effectively a Motion Detector but similar to Radar
**Includes Sensing ''approximate'' Distance, Direction, Size and Speed
| Alter Movement
*Speed, Direction, Total Stop, Dexterity (Nimble or Fumble),
| Transfer Aspects of Movement
*??
|-
| Double Speed: Long term based on Endurance. 10 to 100 miles
| Engine Speed: Short term- Up to 10 miles based on endurance.
| Bursts of speed: up to 100 feet based on endurance. Effects cumulative
|-
|}

=== Earth Elemental [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Air_Elemental_Dufiros]]===
{| class="wikitable"
| Be a Rock: The Living Earth Form
*Sentient but Inanimate with limited Sensory Input.
**''NOTE: Animate w/ full Sensory Input; '''Change Elemental'''''
*Usually 3-4 Rock Types are known at minimum. Many Earth Elementals chose a Favorite Rock or Mineral Type in time.
| Transfer Aspects of Earth:
*Strength of Earth
*Resistance of Earth
*Stability of Earth (Immovability)
| Identify Rock Types (Igneous, Metamorphic, Sedimentary, etc.)
|-
| Identify Mineral Types (includes Stones, Metals, Crystals, Gemstones & Fossils)
| Detect Minerals, Metals, Crystals, Gemstones & Fossils
| Identify Qualities and Properties of Earth (Age, Composition, How it was Formed, How it was Changed (forged metal as an example), Purity, Radioactivity, etc.)
|-
| Immunity to Earth-Based Attacks and Weapons made of Stone or Crystal
*Reduced Damage for Metals (varies)
| Alter Earth: Soil
*Change Soil Chemistry (Refresh Soil [Fertilize], Sterilize Soil), Change Soil Type (Sand, Clay, Volcanic Earth, Dusty Earth).
| Convert Earth: Soil
*Stone to Soil, Mud to Soil, Sand to Soil.
|-
|10: Earth Attacks
*Fist of Stone, Spray Dirt, Hurl Stones, Grasping Hands of Earth
|
|
|-
|}

=== Earth Spasa [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Earth_Spasa_Dufiros]]===
{| class="wikitable"
| The Living Earth Form
*Usually 6-12 different Rock Types are common.Others vary in rarity
* A Favorite is usually chosen before Advancing to Avasa.
| Alter Earth: Stone
*Change Type of Stone to another Type of a similar rarity
| Convert Earth: Stone
*Soil to Stone, Mud to Stone.
|-
| Move Earth: Soil & Sand
*Holes, Irrigation Rows, Ditches, Trenches
*
| Move Through Earth
*Soil & Sand
*?
| Shape Earth: Soil & Sand
*Landscaping, Sculptures, Structures
*?
|-
| Summon (Create) Earth: Basic Mineral
*Able to Summon (Create) small amounts of Basic Minerals that come from the Earth.
*?
| Earth Attacks
*Gravel Spray, Hot Sand Spray, Hurl Large Stones, Quicksand (NO Water, but same effect)
*?
| <<Power>>
*?
|-
|}

===Aspirations===
{| class="wikitable"
| '''''Spasa:''''' Combat, Speed, Motion, Paper, Cleanliness, Blending, Life, Defense, Change, Growth, Guard, Song, and Carnality
|-
| '''''Avasa:''''' Earth, '''Health''' ''(MUST be 2nd Race)'', Cleanliness, Speed, Conflict, Guard, Change, Blending, Growth, Shifter, Life, Knowledge, Whimsy, Carnality, Vision
|-
| '''''Masoja:''''' Change, Earth, Guard, Shifter, Growth, Health, Knowledge, Life, Combat, Strength, Warfare, Witness, Vision
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable"
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
|-
|}

===Languages===
{| class="wikitable"
| *'''''Vomos''''' or '''''Common''''' spoken by all Dufiro conversationally though most Dufiro speak Thari and other chaos languages. Elementals understand Vomos at birth and as they gain power learn to speak it. Its like a baby language.
| *'''''Gorbash''''' is a Spirit Language spoken by the less powerful Spirit Races. It's also a frequently used Dufiro conversational language.
| *'''''Releck''''' is a Spirit Language for upper power Spirits
| *'''''Nethak''''' is an Avasa language for first Avasa Race choices as well as medium power Avasa Races.
| *'''''Halta''''' is an Avasa Language for upper power Avasa.
| *'''''Nona''''' is a Masoja language often for first Masoja Races.
| *'''''Kolbashic''''' is a Masoja language used by the most powerful Masoja Races.
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|}

===Other===
[[Dufiro foods]]

=='''Miscellany'''==

[[Animals of Ang Ri]]

[[The Avalonian Code Duello-"Pour l'honneur, non pour la haine]]

==='''<big>Medallion of Mesob Emblem / Tattoo</big>'''===

[[File:Medalion of Mesob.jpg]][[File:Medalion of Mesob on hand.jpg|300 px]][[File:Medalion of Mesob on forehead.jpg]]

===Rafe's Billet at Changers Hall===
As he received it: his original Training Room

[[File:Rafe's Billet at Changers Hall.png|500px]]

As it is now, after Glaxak fixed it up

[[File:AT-Rafe's Billet.jpg|500px]]

===Quotes===

''"Adventure Abounds"''

''"Fear does not stop Death; it stops Life. And Worrying does not take away Tomorrow's Troubles; it takes away Today's Peace."'' ~Unknown

''"No amount of Regret changes the Past. No amount of Anxiety changes the Future. But '''any''' amount of Gratitude changes the Present."'' ~Unknown

''“Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie.”'' ~Miyamoto Musashi

''“Never wish them pain. That's not who you are. If they caused you pain, they must have pain inside. Wish them healing. That's what they need.”'' ~Najwa Zebian

''"The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie.'"" ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

==<big>'''Dark Winged Three'''</big>==
[[File:Rafe-Dark Winged Three.jpg|300px]]

{| class="wikitable"
|<Big>'''Sókn (Fight)''' Raven</big>
[[File:Rafe-Dark Winged Three.jpg|100px]]

*'''Description:'''
*'''Ranks'''
**(A)
**(B)

*'''Points{}'''
**'''''Total: = Stats+ Powers{c}+ Skills+{c}+ Items +0/0 allies/Enemies + Stuff+Storage'''''
*'''Statistics{}'''
**Psyche: Chaos
**Strength:1
**Endurance:15
**Warfare:Amber
*s*
**2 Chaos Vitality
**4 engine
**2 Amber Stamina
**4 Combat Mastery
**2 vs Guns
**4 Deadly Damage
**1 Able to Speak
**1 Shadow Trail
**1 Self-Heal
**1 Rack Spell:
**Bonded: Rafe, Hjarta, & Vamm
*'''Powers {}'''
**Sigil of Writnis [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Costs_%26_Powers-Jeweled_Amber#Sigil_of_Writnis]]

*'''Companions'''
** Rafe
**Hjarta
**Vamm
**Viggo Hagelin

*'''Items {}'''
** Red Eye Lens
*'''Miscellany'''
|<big>'''Hjarta (Heart)''' Magpie</big>
[[File:Rafe-Dark Winged Three.jpg|100px]]
*'''Description:'''
*'''Ranks'''
*'''Points{}'''
**'''''Total: = Stats+ Powers{c}+ Skills+{c}+ Items +0/0 allies/Enemies + Stuff+Storage'''''
*'''Statistics{}'''
**Psyche: 10
**Strength: 1
**Endurance:10
**Warfare:Amber
*'''stats '''
**2 Chaos Vitality
**2 Double Speed
**2 Amber Stamina
**1 Combat Training
**2 vs Guns
**2 Double Damage
**2 Speak & SIng
**2 Shadow Path
**1 Self-Heal
**4 Rack and Use Spell:
**Bonded: Sókn, & Vamm
*'''Powers {}'''
**Sigil of Writnis [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Costs_%26_Powers-Jeweled_Amber#Sigil_of_Writnis]]
**
*'''Companions'''
**''Sókn''
**''Vamm''
**''Viggo Hagelin''
*'''Items {}'''
**Red Eye Lens
*'''Miscellany'''
|<big>'''Vamm (Blemish)''' Rook</big>
*[[File:Rafe-Dark Winged Three.jpg|100px]]

*'''Description:'''
*'''Ranks'''
**
**
*'''Points{}'''
**'''''Total: = Stats+ Powers{c}+ Skills+{c}+ Items +0/0 allies/Enemies + Stuff+Storage'''''
*'''Statistics{}'''
**Psyche: Human
**Strength: Chaos
**Endurance:Amber
**Warfare:Human
*s
**1 Animals Vitality
**4 engine
**2 Double Stamina
**4 Invulnerable
**4 Tongues
**4 Seek in shadow
**4 Regeneration
**2 N/N Spell:
**Bonded: Hjarta, & Sókn,
*'''Powers {}'''===
**Sigil of Writnis [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Costs_%26_Powers-Jeweled_Amber#Sigil_of_Writnis]]
**
*'''Companions'''
**Hjarta
**Sókn,
**Viggo Hagelin
*'''Items {}'''
**Red Eye Lens
*'''Miscellany'''
**

Running Sheet Raphael

2025-06-15T20:48:00Z

Relmopator: /* Points Total {204} */

<big>'''Raphael de la Varga''' aka "Rafe"</big>

<big>''Raphaxaelicus Radaxventurerillidixt Covaladalouaxixisis'' aka "'''RaphaX'''"</big>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|<big>'''<span style="color:blue">AVALON DECK</span>'''</big>
|<big>'''<span style="color:green">TOSIAN BARDIC DECK</span>'''</big>
|<big>'''<span style="color:red">BURSAIN DECK</span>'''</big>
|-
|[[File:AV-Raphael1.jpg|200px]]
|[[File:RafeA.jpg|200px]]
|[[File:AV-Rafe-Slugger's Deck.jpg |200px]]
|-
|XXXXXXXXXX
|XXXXXXXXXX
|XXXXXXXXXX
|-
|<big>'''Dufiro Earth Form Concept'''</big>
|<big>'''WC&LGA'''</big>
|
|-
|[[File:Raphax Earth Form1.jpg|200px]]
|[[File:A--Rafe-front1.jpg|250px]]
|
|-
|}

==GM SECTION==

===<big><span style="color:red">Stats</span></Big>===
*Psyche 21
*Endurance 17
*Strength 15
*Warfare 17

===<Big><span style="color:red">Powers</span></big>===
*18 '''Power Words (13)'''
*10 '''Advanced Low Order Sorcery''' [[Sorcery in Jeweled Amber]]
*4 '''Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon; Advanced Imprint
*3 '''Avalon Shape Change'''; Specific Alternate Forms ONLY
*2 '''[[Cantrip]]'''
*1 Low Order Magic System - Bardic Powers & Spells
*1 Low Order Magic System - Druidic Powers & Spells
*2 Dufiro Rituals
**Summon Dufiro Tomes (Personal)

===<Big><span style="color:red">Skills </span></big>===
*3 Wilderness Survival & Camping
*1 Cooking (incl. Butchering & basic Vegetable Gardening)
*2 Thrown Weapons; All Types (Knives, Daggers, Axes, Darts, Stars, Spikes, Rocks, Beer Bottles... whatever's handy)
*1 Military Basics: (incl: Org, Ops, Commo, Land Nav/Map Reading, Camo, Sm. & Hvy Weapons, Explosives, Vehicles)
*1 Military Field Medic & NBC Specialist (Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Warfare Protection & Decon)
*1 Automobile Mechanics; Internal Combustion Engines (All Types)
*2 Driving; Land-based Vehicles (All Types; Wheeled & Tracked)
*1 Dog Training; all Breeds: Basic (Obedience, Tricks, Chores, etc.)
*1 Games (Tabletop RPG's, Board, Dice, Cards, Gambling, Puzzle, etc.)
*1 Story Telling (RPG Game Master / Player, Writer, Campfire Storyteller)
*1 Acting
*1 Big Top Circus Operations
*1 Juggling
*1 Voice Mimicry
*1 Singing
*1 Musical Instrument: Harmonica
*1 Warlock Thief Skills
*2 Dufiro Languages
*1 Primitive Sign Language
*1 Dancing
*1 Parkour
*1 Shadow Shaving
*1 Acrobatics
Gnome Skills (Bonus)
*2 Gardening.
*1 Dowsing.
*1 Woodcraft
*1 Pottery

====Skill Chart====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|
*1 Weapon Master-Spear
*2
**1
**1
*3
*4
*5
*6
*7
*8
*9
*10
|
*1
*2
*3
*4
*5
*6
*7
*8
*9
*10
|
*1
*2
*3
*4
*5

|-
|}

===Raphael's Wiki Page Links===
[[Raphael's Wiki Page Links]]

==Personal Information==
https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php?title=Running_Sheet_Raphael&action=edit

'''''Active since December 24, 2021'''''

<big>'''Personal Colors:''' Forest Green, Black & Gray. Bronze Metal</big>

'''Father:''' Unknown: Possible Earth Human Male

'''Mother:''' Known: Earth Human Female (deceased)

'''Children:''' (1) Known: Earth Human Male (deceased)

'''Race:''' Human-Mesobian-Dufiro

'''Apparent / Physical Age:''' Early 30's '''Actual Age:''' Late 50's

'''Height:''' 6ft. '''Weight:''' 205lbs '''Build:''' Athletic with well toned muscles.

'''Complexion:''' Fair to Pink w/ Freckles

'''Face:''' Average Looking '''Eyes:''' Dark Brown

'''Facial Hair:''' Heavy Beard, Coppery Red.

'''Hair:''' Coppery Red, Long w/ single Braid down the back

'''Distinguishing Marks:''' Black Scar; Bullet Wound, ribcage under left arm. (The Black Sabbath; Fitz's Healing)

'''Descriptions:'''

[[File:Raphael2.jpg|150px]]

'''Human:''' Rafe usually wears black cotton denim jeans and thick heavy black boots with heavy laces and thick soles (making him appear three inches taller), a long sleeved cotton flannel over-shirt, tri-color plaid of dark green, dark gray & black and a t-shirt beneath, usually of green, black or gray. His hands and half of his forearms are covered in black rough leather gauntlets and a wide black leather weapons belt with a large round silver simple buckle sits around his middle. Hanging from the belt on his right hip and meant for a left-hand draw, is an ornate curved sheath of black leather and brass holding a Nepalese Kuhkuri Knife with an ornate (yet functional) carved wood and brass adorned handle and pommel . And next to it, further back on the belt a bit, is a narrow nylon sheath showing the handles of three flat steel throwing daggers, slightly overlapping each other and each nine inches long. The front of the weapons belt shows four nylon pouches, two on either side of the buckle, each about four inches per side, each filled with three large throwing stars (unseen). Hanging at an angle from the right hip on a 'sword frog' is a simple sheath of brown leather holding a long sword with a curvy edged blade, and showing a simple handle of dark wood with a small simple cross-piece and small flat round pommel that looks like a thick coin with a skull stamped onto each side, both are made of brass. And on the belt farther back behind the sword is another long thin nylon sheath and another set of throwing daggers identical to the ones on his other hip. There is also a Colt .45 Automatic handgun in a custom black leather holster strapped to his right thigh, below the hip with the butt where the hand naturally rests when hanging at the side.

<big>'''Raff aka Rage'''</big>

[[File:Raff the Orc 2.jpg|150 px]]

'''Orc:''' 7 feet 2 inches tall, heavily muscled body with long thickly muscled limbs, large hands with long thick fingers. Hair is darkest of reds leading to browns contrasting the green hued thick hide-like skin, and a pair of double tusks sticking up from a thick lower lip on a heavy squared jaw covered in a thick coarse beard the same color as the hair with a long braid on the chin. A wide nose separates piercing eyes the color of a bright yellow amber beneath a heavy brow line with thick eyebrows that meet in the middle.

<big>'''Raphaelf'''</big>

[[File:Rafeelf.jpg|150 px]]

'''Elf:''' 5 feet tall, lithe of body and limb, pale to white of skin, pointed ears showing through the long flowing hair the color of shiny metallic copper, eyes the color of amethyst crystals set on a narrow angular face with no facial hair.

<big>'''Dwarphael'''</big>

[[File:Rafe-dwarf.jpg|150 px]]

'''Dwarf:''' 4 feet tall and nearly as wide across the shoulders, round barrel chest, thick arms and legs heavy with muscle, thick hands with short thick fingers. Hair and beard are braided but heavier and more coarse, the color much lighter red tending towards blonde, eyes are dark brown.

<big>'''Rafi'''</big>

[[File:Rafe-gnome.jpg|150 px]]

'''Gnome:''' 3 feet tall with a stout looking body, short limbs, big feet, small hands with short fingers, a long gray beard and short gray hair; both neatly groomed, thick gray bushy eyebrows over dark brown eyes with a slight twinkle in them, a bulbous nose, chubby cheeks and big ears that stick out noticeably.

=='''Ranks'''==
*PFC, U.S. Army: Home World aka Plague World
*Co-Mayor (Temporary): Fort Garland, CO, USA; Garland aka Change World
*Citizen: Shadow of Alamond
*Civic Leader/Co-Gaffer: Arco Station & Retreat, Alamond
*Guild Master & Founder: Guardians' Guild of Garland; Fort Garland Chapter
*Society Leader & Founder: Fort Garland Adventurers' Society
*Ringmaster: de la Varga's Circus of Modern Fantasy
*Minor Hero: Venkian Sect of the Church of the Worldly
*Sigil Lord; Fort Garland Sigil (Named by Warrick of Avalon)
*Front Warrior; Ludus Daltus, WC&LGA, Ang Ri
**''Warrior Core & Lord Gladiator Association''
*Le Chevalier Raphaël de la Varga, Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de [[Garde du Corps]]
**Agent of Avalon; Minister without Portfolio
*Spasa Dufiro of Earth; Al Asgo Illuminar
*'''Secret Rank:''' ''Pirate Captain''
**'''Secret Pirate Name:''' ''Captain Thorne Bronzeheart; The Daywraith''

=='''Points Total {204}'''==

'''''Total: 209 = 0 Base +40/-40 Stat Buy Down + 198 Advancement + 4 Bonus + 2 Mesob + 10 Urvile Potion'''''

'''''Stats{+70(-40/+110)} + Powers{41} + Skills{29} + Allies/Enemies{0} + Companions{24} + Items{21} + Shadows{3} + Stuff{+2} + Storage{24} 5 for High Order Sorcery, 16 for Familiar and Animal Companion.'''''

===Point Breakdown===
*Total Points: 209

*Stats Balance: +70
**Stat Sell Down: (ALL to Chaos Rank) +40 pips.
**Stat Buy Up: (all to Amber Rank = +40) +52 (+10 Urvile)

***Psyche: = +10(Amber), +1, +2, +4, +3, +5, +3, +3
***Strength: = +10(Amber), +1, +2, +5, +7
***Endurance: = +3, +7(Amber), +1, +4, +2, +10
***Warfare: = +10(Amber), +3, +5, +4, +5

*Powers: 41
*Skills: 29
*Allies/Enemies: 0 = +18/-18
*Companions: 24
*Items: 21
*Shadow: 3
*Stuff: 2
*Storage 24

==='''[[ Rafe's Advancement & Campaign Highlights]]'''===
*2021 Anniversary Advancement - 10 pips +3 Endurance - SPENT
*First Advancement - 5 Pips - SPENT
*Second Advancement - 10 Pips + 1 Bonus Pip - SPENT
*Third Advancement - 5 Pips - SPENT
*2022 Anniversary Advancement 10 Pips +2 Psyche +2 Skills - SPENT
*2/19/2023 Special Advancement - +10 Strength +3 Psyche - SPENT
*2023 Anniversary Advancement - 10 Pips +3 Skills - SPENT
*Fourth Advancement 35 Pips + 2 Bonus SPENT
*Ludus Daltus 7 pips - SPENT
*Urvile Potion 10 pips (Endurance) - SPENT
*Ang Ri Arena Fights & More 15 Pips - SPENT
*Finding an Easter Egg on the RPGwiki - 1 Pip Bonus SPENT
*Tome Research for Dalt, Calling Ritual, Visit to Dufirtrasa - 20 pips SPENT
*Special Anniversary Gift - 10 Pips SPENT
*2024 Anniversary - 10 pips + more pips - SOME SPENT & SOME STORAGE
*4/23/25 Special Gift - 5 Pips to Stats - SPENT
*6/1325 Alric Slapping Convo - 5 pips - STORAGE

'''Up to date as of 6/13/25'''

==='''Current Advancement Wish List'''===
*1st - High Order Sorcery
*2nd - Raise Psyche
*3rd - Raise Warfare

===='''Someday Advancement Wish List'''====
*20 Conjuration - (When Points allow)
*Full Shape Shifting or Equivalent
*Advanced Shape Shifting or Equivalent

==Dufiro Advancement: 60 Points==
''Dufiro Points are not included in power level totals''
*Life Path: Elemental of Change, Motion and Earth. Spasa of Earth. Al Asgo Illuminar
**(20) Points; Elemental: ''Change'' (10-Granted: Ansahal), ''Motion'' (5-Granted: Shantranixix), ''Earth'' (5-Granted: "Chip")
**(20) Points; Spasa: ''Earth'' (20-Granted: ZyxzlokX),
**(20) Points: Illuminar: ''Al Asgo Illuminar''. (20-Granted: Nur al-Din)

=='''Statistics {70}'''==
*'''Psyche''': '''<big><span style="color:red>21</span></big>''' [+3 NEW]
*'''Strength''': '''<big><span style="color:red>15</span></big>'''
*'''Endurance''': '''<big><span style="color:red>17</span></big>'''
*'''Warfare''': '''<big><span style="color:red>17</span></big>''' [+5 NEW]

=='''Stuff {2 Good}'''==
*1 Good Stuff - Mesob
*1 Good Stuff - Pips Spent

=='''Powers {41(50)}'''==

===<big>Powers, Imprints & Magics {41}</big>===
====18 '''Power Words (13)'''====
**Chaos Negation{POLRZ!}, Magic Negation{NOGTZ!}, Psychic Disrupt{ASKIIR!}, Psychic Defense{SHAGSK!}, Lifeforce{LIEVZ!},
**Weaken Structure{MARSK!}, Process Surge{ZURJ!}, Process Snuff{ZNUF!}, Costume Change{VOILA!}, Burst of Psyche{ZZAAQ!},
**Pain Attack{VOLTZ!}, Pattern Negation; Amber{LEGANT!} (learned from Vek), Pattern Negation; Avalon{TANGENT!}

====10 '''Advanced Low Order Sorcery''' [[Sorcery in Jeweled Amber]]====
**Exact same Principles and Methods as High Order Sorcery
**Able to Cast Low Order versions of High Order Sorcery Spells
***Less powerful overall; less intensity, effectiveness, duration.
***ADVANCED adds more power output.
**This is the Highest Priority of Low Order Magics
***This is NOT a Low Order Magic System, such as; Magery, Wizardry, Listery, etc.

====4 '''Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon; Advanced Imprint'''====
***A Low Order Inscription located at the bottom of Lily Lake, in the southern most part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Ft. Garland, CO, USA, Earth; Shadow Garland aka Change World.
**Sigil can be used as a Lens for Detection purposes.
**Sigil can be used Defensively (mostly against Low Order Magics and some other Low Order Inscriptions).
**Sigil reacts violently vs Woven Logrus; blue lightning (NEW)
**Sigil can be used as a Spell Framework. Holds Spells like a Web. (re: Zachary and Fortunadus)
***High Order Sorcery Spell (2): Holder Frame ONLY (no need to Cast)
***Low Order Sorcery Spells (5): Holder & Casting Frame.
***Other Low Order Spells (?): Holder Frame (currently Holding 4)

====3 '''Avalon Shape Change'''; Specific Forms ONLY:====
**Gained by Assaying the Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon.
**Assayed 5 times choosing each of its Alternate Paths.
***Five [5] Forms: Earth Human (True Form), Garden Gnome (Magical Creature), Hill Dwarf, Sylvan Elf, Green Skinned Orc.

====2 '''[[Cantrip]]''' - Transferred - Medallion of Mesob [1 Mesob, 1 Rafe]====
**Able to Create new Cantrips (2 Pips)
**Sixty Four (64) possible Cantrips: (52 Currently)
***Psyche of 15 = 20 Cantrips + 4 Cantrips / 5 Psyche, X2 Points in Cantrip.

====2 Low Order Magic Systems====
*1 Druidic Powers and Spells - ? Level
**Spells: ?,?,?...

*1 Bardic Powers and Spells - ? Level
**Spells: ?,?,?...

====2 Ritualism (Dufiro-based)====
*Summon Dufiro Tomes (Personal)

===<big>Gnome Powers {Bonus}</big>===
*Travel through Earth

==='''[[Medalion of Mesob]]''' Powers {2}===
**Melts into Body of Wearer/Holder, can't be removed, doesn't detect as magical, its powers can't be dispelled, or suppressed(?).
**Wearer becomes a Mesobian, Racially, but detects & acts as original Race for all practical purposes.

====Automatic Powers====
*''Recognize Mesobian/Medallion Wearers'' - Transferred-No points
**Bears a Symbol on forehead and one palm that only Mesobian/Medallion Wearer and other Mesobians/Medallion Wearers can see.
*''Immortality'' - Istari Immortality; Vast spectrum medical protections.
*''Improved Physical Attributes'' - Transferred-No points
**Raises a Human to '''Chaos Rank''' Stats
*''Immunity to Illness'' - Transferred-No points
**Complete immunity to sickness
*''Immunity to Lycanthropy'' - Transferred-No points
*''Immunity to Undead Magics & Attacks'' - Transferred-No points
*''Regeneration'' - Transferred-No points
**The Power to completely heal wounds and injuries in a fraction of the time the 'original body' was 'normally' capable of.
*''Tongues'' - Transferred-No points
**The ability to understand and speak languages (once heard???)
**Already know/learned: English, Spanish, Thari, Esperanto, Italian, German, Russian, Maandancer,
*''Spidey Sense'' - Transferred-No points '''UNDISCOVERED?'''
**Moments warning before an attack

====Useable Powers====
*''Technopathy'' - Transferred (possible Main Power according to David of Mandalay)
**Ability to 'read' data from electronic/technological devices (touch)

*''Classification'' - Transferred-No points
**The Power to Identify or Divine the Character Class, Level and Race of a Being
***Works upon Touch and sometimes at short distances with eye contact
**Can also Identify certain Creature Types

*''Shadowwalk'' - Transferred-No points
**As Broken Pattern shadow walker
**Shadowwalk toward Mesob Wearer if known.

*''Reverse Conjuration'' - Transferred-No points
**The ability to return an item that has been Conjured to its place and time of origin.

*''Animal Friendship'' - Transsferred-No points
**Animals are friendly. Gentle creatures are near docile. More aggressive creatures are friendly, sometimes submissive.

*''Clean Body'' - Transferred-No points
**The Power to clean a body (self or other) of dirt and grime. It causes all pores to empty of retained oils and removes all bodily refuse; emptying bladders, digestive systems and stomachs.
**This power can be used in two ways.
***Causing all material to Disappear
***Causing all material to Eject violently from the body.
****If used as an attack it reacts with the target's Psyche and if they lose it distracts them for at least a minute.

*''Passwall'' - Transferred-No points
**Used once in an unexpected way that actually worked: Passed through a Magic Barrier (naked)

*''Phase Walk'' - Transferred-No points
**1 Access to the Shadow of Phase that overlaps all of Shadow?
**First used by a Dufiro inhabiting Rafe's body.

*1 ''Cantrip'' - Transferred - 1 pip
**Able to cast Cantrips

*''Flash'' - Transferred-No points '''UNDISCOVERED?'''

=='''Dufirosm Life Path, Advancement & Powers'''==
==='''Life Path:'''===
**Elemental of Change, Movement, Earth
***''Aspires to Sound''
**Spasa of Earth
***''Aspires to Combat, Speed, Paper, Cleanliness, Blending, Life, Motion, Defense, Change, Growth''
****''possibly Motion, Song, and Carnality
**Avasa: ''Aspires to Earth, Cleanliness, Health, Speed, Conflict, Guard, Change, Blending, Growth, Shifter, Life, Knowledge ''
***''possibly Whimsy, Carnality, Vision ''
**Masoja: ''Aspires to Change, Earth, Guard, Shifter, Growth, Health, Knowledge, Life ''
***''possibly Combat, Strength, Warfare, Witness, Vision''

*'''Rank & Race:'''
**'''Spasa of Earth, ''Al Asgo Illuminar'' '''

===Dufiro Advancement: ''{60 Points}''===
''Dufiro Points are not included in power level totals''
*Life Path: Elemental of Change, Motion and Earth. Spasa of Earth. Al Asgo Illuminar
**(20) Points; Elemental: ''Change'' (10-Granted: Ansahal), ''Motion'' (5-Granted: Shantranixix), ''Earth'' (5-Granted: "Chip")
**(20) Points; Spasa: ''Earth'' (20-Granted: ZyxzlokX),
**(20) Points: Illuminar: ''Al Asgo Illuminar''. (20-Granted: Nur al-Din)

===Dufiro Powers {}===
More Info Available at: [[Dufirosm Revision]]

Special Note: Raphael's Heart Fire was Strengthened as Payment for a Fulfilled Contract by Ansahal, a Masoja Dufiro of Shifter (now Water); a mostly non-corporeal Being that '''Inhabited''' Rafe's body for a short time for a Task that Ansahal needed done to Advance to his Next Race.

===='''<big>Heart Fire Powers:</big>''' ====
====='''First Order Defense''' (created by Ansahal)=====
**(need info from GM)
====='''Identify Dufiro Heart Fires'''=====
**Can 'see' /'feel' an Unbound or Bound(sometimes) Dufiro Heart Fire in Beings, Creatures & Objects
**Can Identify the Race(s) of a Dufiro
***This does NOT give a full Life Path, but usually the most prominent or powerful Race or Races.
=====''' 'Living in the Heart Fire' Powers'''=====
**Placing one's Self (aka Psyche/ Mind/ Consciousness) inside one's Heart Fire
***This is draining on Endurance until some level of experience is gained.
**Ability to Leave the Physical Body via one's Heart Fire
***Control of one's Physical Body is maintained in this state.
***Allows for Shape Shifting to Elemental Forms (Stone, Fire, Water, Air, etc.)
***Allows the Dufiro to Experience the Senses of Animals (and possibly other Beings) [DANGEROUS]

===='''<big>Tome Related Powers:</big>'''====
*'''Hear Calling/Summoning Names'''
**Ability to 'hear' Calling Name or Summoning Name spoken anywhere within the Multiverse.
**Ability to 'look in to it to see who is Calling'.
*'''Dufiro Transport Power'''
**Ability to 'temporarily transport' to Caller
***Must maintain Personal Energy & Magics to remain with Caller
**Can be Summoned via Summoning Name - Cannot resist, no Energy needed to remain
**Able to return to 'home realm' upon Compilation of the Pact or if freed from Binding by destruction of the Bound Artifact.
***Holding them against their will in either case is extraordinarily difficult. A Dufiro fighting for its freedom may attract others of its familiarity, race, or proximity to aid it.
===='''<big>Race Specific Powers:</big>''' ====
====='''Change Elemental Powers'''=====
**Limited Form of Shape Shifting
***Alter Facial & Body Features, Skin Color & Texture, Hair Color, Texture & Type, Etc.
**Minor Ability to Change one item to another item (untrained)
====='''Movement Elemental Powers'''=====
**very efficient and nearly effortless movement
**very quick movements, unless restraint is exerted
**Silent Movement possible with extreme restraint and concentration

====='''Earth Elemental Powers'''=====
**Alter Body to Living Stone
**Convert rock to soil.
**Refresh Soil.
**Rock attacks.
====='''Earth Spasa Powers'''=====
**Alter Body to Living Stone
**improved Earth Elemental powers?
**Strength of Earth

=='''Spells'''==

===FRAMEWORK #1===
'''Fort Garland Sigil of Avalon: A Low Order Inscription; Advanced Imprint'''

====High Order Sorcery Spell Slots (2)====
*Holder Frame; no need to Cast.
**[EMPTY SLOT] Stone Binding
**[EMPTY SLOT] Bodily Defense

====Low Order Sorcery Spell Slots (5)====
*Holder & Casting Frame.
**'''''Strength Drain'''''
**'''''Bodily Defense'''''
***As a Low Order spell is mainly useful against Low Order Magic, but it's a must
**'''''Single Wound Healing'''''
***Stops a single wound from causing someone to bleed out. The size of the wound is important.
***A High Order version will stop almost any wound short of decapitation
**'''''Pressurized Holy Water'''''
***A variation on the Pressurized Lava Spell, this spell Summons Blessed Holy Water from the Swimming Pool at the St. Cabrini Shrine in Colorado, USA, Shadow Garland (aka Change World). It creates a Shadow Opening inside the drain pipe just past the pumping mechanism and simultaneously actives the high pressure pump to begin rapidly draining the pool. Once activated, a message appears in green letters on the pump: "Sorry to take without asking; I beg your forgiveness. ~Raphael" Once the Spell ends, the pump deactivates and the message disappears a few hours later. When the Lynchpins are released, it creates a Summoning Portal on the Caster's end about an inch away from his/her palm (right or left) and allows the Caster to direct the pressurized stream of water as he/she desires. The Shadow Opening on the Caster's end is a bit smaller than the pipe it comes from to increase the pressure of the water delivered.
**'''''Giant's Slap''''' [CAST]

====Low Order Magic System Spell Slots (?)====
*Holder Frame; No need to Cast
*Can Hold all forms of Low Order Spell System Spells (NOT Exclusively)
*Currently holds Magery Spells (4); Added by Fortunadus
**''Passenger Teleport''
**''Castle Protection''
**''Summon Person'' - Fortunadus
**''Raise and Restore'' (for Victor)

===SPELL SHURIKEN (12)===
*Each Shuriken can Rack a single (1) Spell; 12 Shuriken total
**''Spells require a Sorcerer to Rack and Release''
***Electric Porcupines, Confusion Storm, Bubble Stream
***Mind Touch, Imperatives, Fire Fountain
***Magical Drain, Replicate Shadow Object, Defensive Shield
***Bodily Defense, Pressurized Lava, Lightning Bolt

===LOW ORDER MAGIC SYSTEM===
[coming soon]

[[Warlock Magery]]
*Bardic Spells - 10th Level
**Spells: 6,4,3,2,2,1

[[Druids in Jeweled Amber]]

[[Druidic Council of Pacifica]]
*Druidic Spells ?Level
**Spells: ?,?,?...

===KNOWN CANTRIPS===
*[10] Firefinger, Clean, Exterminate, Page Light, Stitch, Mend, Chill, Heat, Know Direction, Extinguish,
*[10] Weathertell, Turn Page, Sharpen, Gather, Unseen Hand, Color, Temperature, Werelight, Purify Water
*[10] Sober, Blend(w/shadows), Catfeet, Speed, Shield, Catfall, Gun, Map, Present, Anatomics
*[10] Dampen, Dry, Enrich, Dust, Slip, Knot, 2D-lusion, Hairy (reversible), Unlock, Change
*[7] Druidic Cantrips: Create Bonfire, Control Flame, Mold Earth, Frostbite, Thorn Whip, Shape Water, Gust
*[5] Created Cantrips: 3D-lusion, Deseed Weed, Crumble Bud, Roll a Joint, Shape Smoke,

===Raphael's Spell Books===
*[[Raphael's Spell Book]]
**A collection of Sorcery Spells given to and created by Raphael
**The Spell Book was a Gift from Zacahry
*Halta Spells (from The Danbury Collection)
**Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Relek Rituals (Not strictly a spell book)
**Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Magery: 3rd Level Spells - The Damage Group
**The Lightning Suite: Ball Lightning ,Lightning Bolt, Lightning Dart & Mini-Bolt.
**The Fire Suite: Fire Ball, Fire Dart, Flame, Heat Cone, Ball of Fire, Mini-Wide Heat Cone, Mini-Ball, & Maxi-Ball.
**The Cold Suite: Cold Cone, Mini-Cold Cone, Mini-Wide Cold Cone.
**also has a couple of the Strength Spells, Continual Light, and Wizard Light.
***Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Magery: 6th Level Spells
**This tome has Acid Protection, Astral Eye, Air Wall, Bomb, Animate Object, Geas, Area Muscle Spasm, Projected Image, Move Earth, Part Water, Sustained Dimension Door, Passenger Teleportation, Wizard Wind, Stone to Flesh.
***Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
***''“Of these Astral Eye, Geas, and Sustained Dimension Door are the most useful. A mage might kill to get this in his racks. Of course its all Low Order. A High Order protection spell would wallop all this stuff, but without that... its pretty tough stuff. I've yet to see a really functional High Order Geas spell. But Geas is one of the first powers a Wisher-aspirant dives for when they take Masoja of Knowledge Go figure.”'' '''~Bentalisix'''

=='''Skills {29}'''==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|
*'''3''' Wilderness Survival & Camping
**2 Hunting: Rifle, Shotgun, Archery. Big & Small Game, Birds.
***Includes tracking, skinning, gutting & basic butchering.
**2 Fishing: Fresh Water; Lake & Pond, River & Stream.
***Hook & Line, Trapping, Netting, Bow Fishing. Includes gutting, scaling & boning.
**1 Survival: Multiple wilderness & terrain type, Hot & Cold Climate & Weather Conditions
**1 Land Navigation
**1 Plant & Animal Identification (Basic)
**1 Camping: No Shelter, Crude Shelters, Tents, RVs
*1 Cooking (incl. Butchering & basic Vegetable Gardening)
*2 Thrown Weapons; All Types [1 NEW]
**(Knives, Axes, Darts, Stars, Spikes, Rocks, Beer Bottles... whatever's handy)
*1 Military Basics: Organization, Operations, Comms, Land Nav/Map Reading,
**Camo, Small & Heavy Weapons, Explosives, Vehicles Ops
*1 Military Field Medic & NBC Specialist
**(Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Warfare Protection & Decon)
*1 Automobile Mechanics; Internal Combustion Engines (All Types)

|
*'''2''' Driving; Land-based Vehicles (All Types; Wheeled & Tracked)
**1 Lg. Trucks, Motorcycles, Off-Road, Racing, Long Haul.
**1 Construction & Military Vehicles
**1 Driver Training
**1 Defensive Driving Techniques
*1 Dog Training; all Breeds: Basic (Obedience, Tricks, Chores, etc.)
*2 Games (Tabletop RPG's, Board, Dice, Cards, Gambling, Puzzle, etc.) [1 NEW]
*1 Story Telling (RPG Game Master / Player, Writer, Campfire Storyteller)
*1 Acting
*1 Big Top Circus Operations
**Set up, Tear down, Travel, Animal Handling, Supply & Equipment,
**Show & Boardwalk & Vendor & Crew Management, etc.
**Creation, Management & Performing of Circus Shows & Acts.
*1 Juggling
**Especially Knives
*1 Voice Mimicry
**Combines with Change Elemental Ability
*1 Singing
*1 Musical Instrument: Harmonica
*1 [[Warlock Thievish Skills]]
*1 Shadow Shaving
*1 Acrobatics
*1 Dancing [NEW]
*1 Parkour [NEW]
|-
|'''Languages'''
*2 Dufiro Languages: Studied [1 NEW]
** 1 '''Vomos''' (Conversational to Fluent)
** 1 '''Gorbash''': (Conversational to Fluent).
***Gorbash often empowers Cantripy.
** 1 '''Releck'''*: (Conversational)
***Releck is a language spoken most among the Spasa races.
***Some universes use Releck to empower low level magics 1st to 4th lvl
** 1 '''Nethak''': (Conversational)
** 1 '''Halta''': (Conversational)
** 1 '''Nona''': (Conversational)
** 1 '''Kolbashic''': (Conversational)
*1 Caveman Speak (Implaned Skill)
**Primitive Non-Verbal Language.
**Mostly Signing with some Grunts/Vocalizations
*Other Known Languages
**English, Spanish, Italian, Esperanto, Russian, German, Thari, Maandancer, French, Ang Rian,
***Understood & Spoken Fluently, only some can be Read and Written.
|
'''Bonus Skills:''' Gnome Skills
*'''2''' Gardening
**1 Vegetables & Fruits
**1 Flowers & Shrubberies
**1 Landscaping
*1 Dowsing
**Water and other(?)
*1 Woodcraft
**Carving, Basic Carpentry
*1 Pottery
**Throwing, Sculpting, Glazing, Firing
|-
|'''Other Useful Skills'''
*QWERTY Keyboard Typing, Electronic Equipment Operations: Computers, Smartphones, Office Equipment, Retail Equipment, Angry 'Customer' De-escalation, Drafting & Design/CADD, Swimming/Lifeguard, First Aid/CPR Instructor

|'''Hobbies'''
*Caving, Hiking, Rock Climbing, Running, Bicycling, Water Skiing, Off-Roading, Singing / Karaoke / DJing, Music Appreciation, Wood Carving, Stone Carving, Making Jewelry, Leatherworking, Painting Miniatures, Creative Cartography, Reading, Watching Movies / TV / Streaming Content, PC / Console / Arcade Video Gaming, Cosplay / LARP / SCA, Amusement Parks, Rock Hounding, Collecting; weapons, skull trinkets, little rocks / stones/ crystals

|-
|'''Known Combat Skills''': Strength Related
*Competition Judo - Purple Belt Ranked (attained by age 15)
**Bronze Medal Winner; Junior Olympics Judo Competition (age 13)
*Competition Karate - Green Belt Ranked
*Close Combat Self Defense Basics
*US Military Hand to Hand Basics
*CHAD Hand to Hand Combat Training & Sparring
*WC&LGA Training & Combat: Ludus Daltus; Ang Ri
|'''Known Combat Skills''': Warfare Related
*SCA Fighter Training: Single Weapon, Two Weapon, Weapon & Shield
**Sword, Fencing, Mass Weapons, Shield Fighting, Polearms, Staff Fighting, Archery.
*Professional Sword Training - Fortunadus Enright
*Firearms and Military Weapons Training
*Military Basic Combat Tactics
*Strategy Games: TTRPGs, TT Board Games, Video Games, Real Life Simulations (military)
*WC&LGA Training & Combat: Ludus Daltus; Ang Ri

|-
|}

=='''Allies & Enemies {+18/-18 = 0}'''==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Allies'''
*4 Slugger
*2 Fitz William
*2 Dalt.
*1 Zachary
*1 Corwin
*1 Kalaganath (Guide)
*1 Nur al-Din
*1 Warrick
*1 Digan
*1 Fortunadus
*1 Curious
*1 Wrecker
*1 Reggy

|'''Enemies'''
*4 Victor Price - Albino Drow Mage - Vampire
**[[Running Sheet Victor]]
*3 Unknown '''Dufiro''' Enemy
*2 Unknown Enemy
*2 Unknown Enemy
*1 Blister's Clan
*1 Unknown
*1 Avasa of ''Rudeness''
*1 Unknown '''Dufiro''' Enemy
*1 Unknown Enemy
*1 Unknown Enemy
*1 Unknown Enemy

|-
|}

=='''Companions {24 (16)}'''==

==='''<big>Animals</big>'''===

===='''<big>The Poodle Boys</big> - {24 (16)}'''====
aka ''"The Dog Brothers"''

[[File:The Poodle Boys.jpg|150 px]] [[File:The Poodle Boys2.jpg|275 px]]

[[Running Sheet Raphael - The Poodle Boys]]

Swirly(left), Fudge(center), Berk-Berk(right)
*Elemental Dufirosm of Movement
*All 3 are Litter Brothers

==='''<big>Intelligent Beings aka People</big>'''===

===='''Aanika aka Slugger'''====
[[File:Slugger5.jpg|150 px]]

[[Running Sheet Slugger / Aanika]]

*Found in Tucson, Plague World (Raphael's Home World). Appeared to be a Child of 10 to 11 years of age.
*Later Rafe discovered she was an Amberite but no info on her true name or parentage.
**Rafe discovered later that she is an Avalonian; Daughter of Corwin and presumably Dierdre.
*Holder of a Medallion of Mesob, Holder of Ft. Garland Sigil Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery. Avalon Pattern Imprint
*Shape Shifted back to a young adult (20ish) after completing her Mind Blanking Experience upon walking the Pattern of Avalon
*Fighter, Grenadier, Circus Roustabout

===='''<big>Curious</big>'''====
[[File:Curious.jpg|150 px]]

[[Curious]]

*Large Tuxedo Cat; Masoja Dufiro of Guard
**Slugger's Cat; Slugger's Protector / Guardian

===='''Father Fitz William of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Fitzwilliam.jpg|150 px]]

[[Running Sheet Fitz William]]
*Traveling Companion, Friend and Advisor; Male Dwarf. From Change World; Fort Garland
*Low Order Clericism & Ritualism. Retired Professor & Historian, Retired Military, Walking Deadman Member.
*Medallion of Mesob Holder. Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery.

===='''Wrecker of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Wrecker.jpg|150 px]]

[[Running Sheet Wrecker]]
*Traveling Companion and Friend. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Fighter & Demolisher. Retired Military. Trucker / Wrecker Driver.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Cantrips w/ possibility of Spells
*Best Friends with Reggy

===='''Reggy of the Denver Orcs'''====
[[File:Reggy1.jpg|150 px]]

[[Running Sheet Reggy]]
*Traveling Companion; Male Orc. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Thief. Good Planner & 'Criminal' Thinker. Possible military background.
*Former Police Detective - Denver, CO. (dirty cop?)
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Cantrips w/ possibility of Spells.
*Best Friends with Wrecker.

===='''Collette of Ft. Garland'''====
[[File:Christine Corelle aka Colette.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Christine Corelle]]
*Traveling Companion; Female Human. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Low Order Druid, Alchemist, Mage. Medical Doctor. Avid Hiker
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery. Magical Fairy Shape.

===='''Runner of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:ADV-Runner.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Runner - Arco Boys]]

*Traveling Companion; Elf. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Outdoorsman, Mountain Guide, Marksman, Archer.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery.
*In a relationship with Olive & Sylex
*INHABITED by 3 Spasa Dufiro of Death (willingly)
**Shozuax, Oxozath, Nezhoqeh.

===='''Olive the Orion from Alamond'''====
[[File:Olive7.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Olive-Orion]]

*Traveling Companion [NEW]: Female Orion. Joined up in Alamond, was involved with Candy & Kole already.
*Thief, Motorcycle Stunt Performer, Roller Derby Jammer
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change.
*In a relationship with Runner & Sylex

===='''Gunner of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Gunner.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Gunner - Arco Boys]]

*Traveling Companion; Dwarf. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Fighter, Retired Soldier, Weapons Specialist, Mechanic.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change.
*Short Term Apprentice to Vulcanious (Dwarven version of Vulcan the God of Smithing)

===='''Doctor Len Parsons of Hepplewhite's'''====
[[File:Drlenparsons.jpg|150px]] [[File:Dr.Len2.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Dr. Len Parsons]]

[[Running Sheet Dr Len]]

*Traveling Companion; Human Midget. From Hepplewhite's Traveling Circus ala Zachary Hepplewhite of Amber.
*Multi-World Certified MD, Multi-Decade Veteran of The Circus Life.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint. Low Order Sorcery & Avalon Shape Change.

===='''Candy of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Candy-Arco.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Candy-Arco Boy]]

*Traveling Companion; Female Dwarf. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Fighter, Mechanic, Scout, Information Gatherer.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change. Low Order Sorcery.
*In a relationship with Kole

===='''Kole of the Arco Boys'''====
[[File:Kole2.png|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Kole]]

*Traveling Companion; Male Dwarf. From Change World; Fort Garland.
*Genius Mechanic, Retired Soldier, Fighter.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change.
*In a relationship with Candy

===='''Elmer Ellswroth of Alamond'''====
''aka Elmer Frisk aka Ernst Tugendhat''

[[File:ADV-Elmer Ellswroth.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Elmer Ellswroth]]
*Traveling Companion: Male Human. Joined up in Alamond.
*Retired Military, Combat Trainer, Sniper, Tactician.
*Low Order Sigil of Avalon; Basic Imprint & Avalon Shape Change.
*Lanthanite; 2,600 plus years old
**Former German and US Marine Sniper
**Born 602 BC on an Earth World
***Same Earth World as the North Dakota Freemasons

===='''<big>Gadia aka Gadget</big>'''====
[[File:Gadget-a.jpg|150px]][[File:Gadget2.jpg|150px]] [[File:Gadget-silky terrier.jpg|150px]]

[[Running Sheet Gadia- Gadget]]
*Followed Raphael from Deselduia
*Banished(?) Hound of Mandalay
*Fighter, Musician
*Good with mechanical things
*Currently off on her own adventures

[[Getting the Band Together]]

===='''<big>Sylex</big>'''====
[[File:D-Sylex.jpg|150px]]

Avasa of Water & Conflict

[[Running Sheet Sylex]]

===='''<big>Bently</big>'''====
[[File:Bently.jpg|150px]]

Masoja Dufiro of Dance

[[Running Sheet Bently]]

===='''<big>Hasara</big>'''====
[[File:Hasara gomon.jpg|150px]]

Hasara Gomon; Blade Warrior
*Free Warriors of Ang Ri

[[Running Sheet Hasara Goion]]

===='''<big>Syvik</big>'''====
[[File:Syvik.jpg|150px]]

Syvik; Blade Warrior
*Free Warrior of Ang Ri
*From the Ang Ri Swamps

[[Running Sheet Syvik]]

====<big>'''Randy Dandy'''</big>====
[[File:Randy dandy.jpg|150px]]

Randy Dandy; Front Warrior
*Free Warriors of Ang Ri
*Tall Dwarf from a Shadow at War near Ang Ri
*Older Brother to Dekon Dandy

[[Running Sheet Randy dandy]]

===='''<big>Dekon Dandy</big>'''====
[[File:Dekon Dandy.jpg|150px]]

Dekon Dandy; Blade Warrior
*Free Warriors of Ang Ri
*Tall Dwarf from a Shadow at War near Ang Ri
*Younger Brother to Randy Dandy

[[Running Sheet Dekon Dandy]]

===='''<big>Falcion</big>'''====
[[File:Falcion trump.jpg|150px]]

Falcion; Grade (Blade?) Warrior
*Formerly of Ludus CannyCans of Ang Ri
[[Running Sheet Falcion]]

===='''<big>Larry</big>'''====
*Total Warrior Medic from Tosia
**Plays Rugby
**Assigned to the AS by Fortunadus

===='''<big>Barry</big>'''====
*Total Warrior Medic from Tosia
**Computer Hacker
**Assigned to the AS by Fortunadus

==='''Personally Known Dufirosm'''===
Raphael knows SOOOOOO many Dufiro, I had to make a Wiki Page for them all.

[[Dufiro known by Raphael]]

====Raphax's Dufiro Contrats & Agreements====

[[Raphax's Dufiro Contrats & Agreements]]

===Memberships: Guilds, Societies, Parties & Other===

'''[[RaphaXaelicus Adventurers Band]]'''
*Leader and Founder: Rapaheal de la Varga
*All Members of the FG Adventurers Society are Members

'''[[Garde du Corps]]'''
*King Corwin's Elite Advisors of [[Avalon]]
*Newest Member

'''[[Belle Époque salon]]'''
*Paris, Avalon

'''[[Ludus Daltus]]'''
*Fighting School; Ang Ri
**Run by Prince Dalt of Amber
*Member and Front Warrior

'''[[Fort Garland Adventurers' Society]]'''
*Leader & Founder

'''[[Guardians' Guild; Fort Garland Chapter]]'''
*Guild Master & Founder

'''The Dufirosm ([[Dufirosm Revision]])'''
*'''The Party for Life'''
**Member as Written is Rafe's Dufiro Tomes
*'''The Party for the Defense of Amber'''
**Member by Verbal Agreement with Curious aka Crizacraxix Galxata
*'''The Party for the Defense of Avalon'''
**Member by Verbal Agreement with Curious aka Crizacraxix Galxata
*'''[[Shantranixix Fealty Band]]'''
**Rafe has Agreed to Join and was given Access to Events and Facilities but Membership is still Pending.
***UPDATE: Rafe has now met Shantranixix, so I think his Membership is now official. hehe
*'''Hierarchy of Shifters'''
**Member by Race: Change Elemental
*'''Hierarchy of Motion'''
**Member by Race: Movement Elemental
*'''Hierarchy of Earth'''
**Member by Race: Earth Elemental & Spasa

=='''Items: Magical or Powered {21 (108)}'''==
Yet to be Acquired: [[Cremator, The Undead Destroyer]] and [[Transforming Combiner Motorcycles]]

==='''(50) [[Medalion of Mesob]]'''===
This medallion was found in the shape of a foot with an odd toe configuration. It appeared to be made of a shiny golden metal, possibly gold or brass, and it bore odd swirl patterns on each toe and a Powerful Design at the center of the foot-shaped medallion. Once touched, it remained solid for only a couple of seconds before appearing to 'disappear'... 'quickly melt away'... 'melt into the body'... 'be absorbed into the body'. It took several hours up to several days before all the Powers became active and for Rafe to discover them... well, most of them.

====Undiscovered Powers====
*Moments warning upon attack, Flash

====Transferred Powers====
*Cantrips - 20 possible, Immortality - Istari Immortality: Vast spectrum medical protections, Improved physical attributes: Raises a Human to '''Chaos Rank''' stats, Immunity to Lycanthropy, Immunity to Undead Magics and Magical Attacks, Immunity to Illness: Complete immunity to sickness, Clean Body - Self and Other, Identify Character Class, Race, Approx. Level, Recognize Mesobians / Medallion Wearers, Shadowwalk - Similar to Broken Pattern Shadow Walk - Shadowwalk toward Medallion Wearer if known, Regeneration, Reverse Conjuration, Animal Friendship, Passwall, Phase Walk

===9 (79) Rafe's Bronze Armor===
[[File:Bronze nugget.jpg|150px]] [[File:Rafe armor.jpg|150px]] [[File:Rafe helms1.jpg|150px]] [[File:Bronze Nugget1.jpg|150 px]]

This Customized suit of armor consisting of custom forged pieces and pieces selected from different Horde Armor Collections, was Crafted at the Lava Forges at Fireside Village on Rasak as a Reward from Prince Dalt of Eregenor. The Armor was conceived of by Raphael, designed by Raphael, Bronze Nugget; a Spasa Dufiro of Blending, and Vulcanious; the Dwarven versions of Vulcan; the God of Smithing. It was Forged, Empowered and Assembled by Valcanious and Bronze Nugget, whose final action was to Inhabit the Cuirass.

''NOTE: In its Base Form, regardless of materials used in each individual piece, all metal pieces appear to be polished dark bronze and all leather and cloth pieces are black.''

{| class="wikitable"
|''' 9 (9) Bronze Lorica Segmentata Cuirass'''
*4 Invulnerable to All Conventional Weapons
**+5 Transfer Quality to Wearer
*2 Danger Sense
*4 <span style=color:red>Limited Shape Shift</span>
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*1 Ability - Weightless
*1 Ability - Fire/Heat Resistant
**Temperature Controlled
*Forged by Vulcanious
*Custom Crafted for Raphael
*Inhabited by Bronze Nugget
**Spasa Dufiro of Blending

|<big>POINT BREAKDOWN</big>

'''9 pips for Bronze Nugget'''
*''Elemental'': Earth & Mixing - Bronze
*''Spasa'': Earth, Guard - Vs Guns (2)
**Fire - Temp Control & Fire Resist (1)
***Mostly Weightless (1)
**Rust - Danger Sense (2)
**Guard - Ability Call to don/ Return (1)
**Blending - N/N Forms (2)

'''9 pips for Rafe'''
*+2 raise Armored vs Guns to Invulnerable
*+5 Transfer Quality (Invulnerable) to Wearer
*+2 raise N/N Forms to Limited Shape Shift

|'''(6) Vorpal Collar'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*4 Invulnerable: Protection from Decapitation.
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Call to don/Return</span>

'''(4) Hidden Cod Piece'''
*4 Invulnerable
*Sewn into groin area of Undergarment pants

'''(5) Undergarments; Black'''
*Pants & Shirt; Padded, Ultrathin
*1 Animal Vitality
*2 Armored Vs Firearms
*2 <span style=color:red>N/N Forms</span>: Ultrathin Padding (X5 sizes), Street Clothes (X4 sizes),

|-
|'''(10) Roman Gladiator Helmet'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*2 Double Damage: Head Butt
*4 Invulnerable
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*2 <span style=color:red>N/N Forms</span>: Helmet w/ Grate Faceplate (X3 sizes), Helmet w/ Skull Faceplate (X2 sizes), Bronze Headband, Green Baseball Cap, Black Gambler Hat w/Bronze Hatband, Green Motorcycle Helmet w/Bronze Tinted Visor,
*Modified Stock Item
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|'''(9) Rasak Gloves (pair)'''
*2 Armored vs Guns
*2 Double Damage: fist attacks
*2 Combat Reflexes
**Equals difficult to drop item in hand
***Avoid using grenades
*1 Self-healing
*2 <span style=color:red>N/N Forms</span>: Bronze Armored Gauntlets (X5 sizes), Black Suede Leather Gauntlets (X3 sizes), White Formal Cloth Gloves, Matching Spiked Leather Bracelets, Insulated Mittens; Industrial Use,
*''Gift from Doria''
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|'''(10) War Boots (pair)'''
*4 Invulnerable
*4 Deadly Damage: Steel Toes
*2 <span style=color:red>N/N Forms</span>: Heavy Boots w/ Bronze Capped Toes (X5 sizes), Green Running Shoes (X5 sizes), Black Dress Boots w/Bronze Trimmings,
*''Gift from Doria''
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|-
|'''(10) Vambraces (pair)'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*2 Double Speed: hand / arm attacks
*2 Double Damage: forearm strike
*4 Invulnerable
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*''Gift from Doria''
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|'''(6) Armor Plated War Kilt'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*4 Invulnerable
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*Modified Stock Item
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|'''(10) Grieves (pair)'''
*1 Animal Vitality
*2 Double Speed: running
*2 Amber Stamina
*4 Invulnerable.
*1 Ability: <span style=color:green>Summon to Don/Return</span>
*''Gift from Doria''
**from Armory Warehouse on Rasak

|-
|}

===(19) Rafe's Fire Hammer, ''Sharax''===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|
[[File:Firehammer.jpg|150 px]][[File:Sharax, Masoja of Fire.jpg|150px]]
|
A Double Headed War Hammer [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/General_and_Known_Pointed_Artifact_Descriptions#Rafe.27s_Fire_Hammer]] with a Hammer Head, Shaft Band and Butt Cap made of Black Mithril, a Shaft made from Ang Ri Ironwood and a Handle that's wrapped with an unknown type of Leather.
*Crafted by Falat Agata, Avasa Duriro of Iron, Forge Journeyman under Tursa Ga.
**'' 'I made this black mithril hammer to accept any grade of race. I am pleased a Masoja of Fire will bind to it. The handle changes from a foot to 6 feet. It is a war weapon but can be used as a forge hammer.' ''
*A gift from Curious, Masoja of Guard, for Rafe's Matched Elevation to Spasa of Earth

|-
|
*2 Chaos Vitality
*2 Double Speed
*2 Combat Reflexes
*2 Double Damage
*4 Deadly Damage to undead
*1 Sensitivity to Undead
*1 Ability Hammer Flames for additional Damage or other uses.
*1 Ability Parry. Effective Parry
*1 Ability Consume and destroy Undead energy forces on contact for damage.
*1 Ability. Call to Hand 100 mile radius
*(2) N/N forms. Shaft changes size. 1ft - 6ft (Ability of the Hammer)
**19 Pips
|
THE CONTRACT: (for above listed Powers minus the N/N forms)
*Self-Bound Masoja Dufiro of Fire (Sharax[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dufiro_known_by_Raphael#Sharax.2C_Masoja_of_Fire]]) and an unnamed Bound Spasa of Motion. (Bound by Sharax)
*Rafe negotiated the Bargain for Self-Bound Service with Sharax.
*'' "So, you offer to Self-Bind to this War Hammer that you find acceptable for Binding and for your Status. You wish to remain submerged, mind dark till the Term of Service is completed, an agreed upon length of two years 'on the hip', when renegotiation takes place. The powers to be provided are: To Combat Undead, Detect Undead, Parry, Flame Weapon, Destruction of Undead Life Force, Fire Powers ranging from cooking to forging or anything between, controllable by me, as needs be. In trade a forest, 50,000sq miles. A Lich slain. If the Lich is not slain by the end of Term I will be registered as breaking a binding oath with the Council of the Dufirosm. Since you wish to be submerged, my Confidentiality Agreement is essentially moot yet fulfilled, so I will give one thousand years of Testimony of Good Service." ''~Rafe
*'' "I would like to request one final Power, if it is yours to grant; the ability to summon the weapon to hand, no matter where it might be." ''~Rafe
*'' "I can not grant that. However, I have a Member of my Knot, a new one, a newly raised Spasa of Motion. He will Serve the same Term as I. Receive your Testimony for his next Spasa Race in the deal. He can provide weapon movement." ''~Sharax of Fire
|-
|}

===(13) Sigil Guardian Blade===
A Minor '''Pattern Blade of Avalon'''

{| class="wikitable"
|[[File:Fortunadus' Officer's Blade2.png]]
*4 Deadly Damage
*4 Invulnerable
*2 Double Speed
*1 Combat Training (specific to this blade)
*1 Stamina (Blade's lightness and custom design causes it to wear on wielder half as much as a similar blade)
*1 Ability Call to hand
*0 Alt. Form: Walking Stick (Warrick)
|
Only four (4) of these Blades are known to exist. They were Gifted/Loaned by Fortunadus Enright.
*Reardan Metal Blade. Light-weight and Fast. Nearly Indestructible. Sharp enough to shave Titanium. Throws well.
*Held by Rafael de la Varga, Fitz William, Kip of the Arco Boys, and the Current Sigil Guard.
*Once the Property of Fortunadus Enright of Tosa; Thrice Crowned Bard, Co-Leader of CHAD
*The Blade Bearer is able to Summon (Call) Fort (Rafe now?) when the blade is drawn and the name 'Fortunadus' (Raphael?) is spoken.
**The Blade Bearer can be Summoned by Fort to his location.
|}

===(7) Red Dagger===
Gift from the Pattern Ghost of King Eric of Amber.
*The Dagger was delivered by Florimel of Amber with a message from the Ghost of King Eric: '' "Don't visit Amber." ''

[[file:ericknife.jpg|150 px]]
*2 Double Speed.
*4 Deadly Damage.
*1 Ability: Call to hand
*Exceptionally well balanced.
*Excellent for Throwing.

===6 Rafe's Backpack of Holding===
[[File:Rafe's Back Pack.jpg|100px]]
*Customized Military Backpack w/ light-weight rigid frame
*1 Bag of Holding - 10x5x5 (main pocket)
*2 Bag of Holding - 5x3x3 (2) (Outer Pocket; front, Hidden Pocket behind)
***Contents are easily accessible and effectively weightless
*1 Ability – Summon to Body
*2 N/N Forms (12)
**(Military Backpack, Well-used Military Backpack, Well-used Leather Backpack)
**(Leather Messenger Bag, Leather Saddle Bags, Large Dog Pack; Leather)
**(Well-used Army Field Jacket, Heavy Hooded Cloak, Heavy Cape w/pockets)
**(Leather Duster, Heavy Insulated Long Parka, Water-proof Trench Coat w/hood)

===4 Rafe's Spell Shuriken (12)===
[[File:Rafe's Spell Shuriken.jpeg|200px]]
*1 Rack Spell
*1 Ability - Summon to Hand
*X2 N/#d Quantity: One Dozen (12)
**Each Shuriken can Rack a single spell. The Spell requires a Sorcerer to Rack and release it (Lynchpins).

===2 Rafe's Desert Eagle Fifty===
[[File:Rafe's Desert Eagle XIX 50AE.jpg|200px]]
* Desert Eagle XIX 50AE, Bronze Edition
**1 Ability – Reload local Ammo
**1 Ability – Summon to Hand
***7 round clip (3 clips)
***2000 rnds ammo

===Bard's Stone===
[[File:Bard's Stone.jpg|200px]] [[File:Bard's Stone2.jpg|200px]]

*Small Round Stone Tablet
**Given by Digan (Gift from Fort?)

===Focus Stone===
[[File:Moai Head Rightside.jpg|100px]] [[File:Moai Head Leftside.jpg|100px]]

*Small Carving of a Moai Head made from Milky Quartz
**(Rafe carved this; his first ever attempt at rock carving.)
**NOT CURRENTLY EMPOWERED... or IS IT???

===Raphael's Poisoning Goblet===
[[File:Death Dufiro Poisoning Goblet.jpg|100px]]
*Fine Crystal Glass inhabited by a Bound Spasa Dufiro of Death: ''Thansheq''
**Force Bound by RaphaXaelicus in Paris, Avalon
*Turns any liquid poured into it, into Poison.
**NO change in color, odor or taste.

=='''Trump Decks & Cards: Magical & Mundane'''==
===Magical===
====Decks: Full & Partial====
*Garde du Corps Cell Phone
**Special Avalon Trump Deck / Artifact
**Part of a larger Construct

*Avalon Trumps (partial) [[King Corwin's Deck]]
**Avalon/Paris-1880
***gift from Warrick
**Aanika, Princess of Avalon
***Gift from Slugger aka Aanika
**Nasine Maker; Druid
**Adaile Dunas; General
**Raphael de la Varga

*Bardic Trump Deck (full) w/Card Box
**Gift from Fortunadus
**Fort, Digan, Bardic College of Wall, Castle Garland, others...

====Individual Cards====
*Archie (Riding a Rollercoaster)
**Alamond Trump
**Makes Popcorn
*Alexandra Mira
**Personal Trump?
**Contact Only

===Mundane Decks===
*King Random Deck in a simple wooden box (Gift from Zachary)
**Accompanying Literature
**Signed Cards: Zachary, Tesara, Alexandra, Dalt, Vek,

*[[Bursain]] Deck [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Jeweled_Amber_Trump_Decks.#The_Bursain_Deck]] in a thin Ebony Box
**Discovered in the left breast pocket of my flannel shirt
**Magically Updates and Distributes
**Signed Cards: Zachary, Vek,

=='''Books & Tomes: Magical & Mundane'''==

===Summoning Tomes: Dufiro & Other===
NOTE: ALL Copies of Raphaxaelicus's Dufiro Tomes, The Dog Brothers Dufiro Tomes and The Guardians Guild Tomes (that have NOT been Gifted or Bargained for) as well as any and all Tomes that have been Gifted to Raphaxaelicus, or Bargained for by him, are Stored in a bookcase in RaphaX's Billet in Shifters Hall at the Hagia Salas in the City of Ahyk within the Dufirtrusa; the Dufiro Realms near to the Black Zone of Chaos.

====Personal Summoning Tomes====
*''Guardians' Guild Summoning Tome'' (5)
**Written by Nur al-Din - Ancient Tosian Magic
***''Selaka looks to Digan, "The Dufireant wrote a summoning book for him? Really?" Digan nods, "Yes, but not a Dufiro Tome. It was Tosian World Stone Magic. Fortunadus is the High Priest of Venki. Rafe here is a user of certain herbs that are part of Venkian Writ. The Summoning Tome makes him a Minor Hero of the Venkian Sect of the Church of the Worldly. His... adventures... are being retold in taverns throughout the Tosian spheres."''

*''Elemental Dufiro of Change Summoning Tome'' (20)
**Written by Adalou; Masoja of Shifter [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dufiro#Adalou]]
***Calling & Summoning Names are in Nethak. Binding Name is in Kolbashic.
**Copies: Adalou (Original), Curious, Shantranixix,

*''Elemental Dufiro of Movement Summoning Tome'' (?)
**Written by Adalou; Masoja of Shifter / Spasa of Speed
***Calling & Summoning Names are in Nethak. Binding Name is in Kolbashic.
**Copies: Adalou (Original), Curious, Shantranixix,

*''Elemental Dufiro of Earth Summoning Tome'' (?)
**Written by Shantranixix; Masoja of Life, Earth
***Calling & Summoning Names are in Nethak. Binding Name is in Kolbashic.
**Copies: Shantranixix (Original), Curious, Adalou,

*''Spasa Dufiro of Earth Summoning Tome'' (?)
**Written by Shantranixix; Masoja of Life, Earth
***Calling & Summoning Names are in Nethak. Binding Name is in Kolbashic.
**Copies: Shantranixix (Original), Curious, Adalou, Kichabqhisreeceeb (Calling), Glkaxxsik (Calling), Dalt of Amber (Calling),

====Dufiro Tomes Possessed by Rafe====
For a List of Tomes Possessed and Whose, click the link [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dufiro_known_by_Raphael#Dufiro_Tomes_Possessed_by_RaphaX]]

====A List of Dufiro Tomes possessed by Dalt====
The Danbury Collection [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dalt's_Tomes#The_Dandbury_Collection]]

===Raphael's Spell Books===
*[[Raphael's Spell Book]]
**A collection of Sorcery Spells given to and created by Raphael
**The Spell Book was a Gift from Zacahry
*Halta Spells (from The Danbury Collection)
**Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Relek Rituals (Not strictly a spell book)
**Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Magery: 3rd Level Spells - The Damage Group
**The Lightning Suite: Ball Lightning ,Lightning Bolt, Lightning Dart & Mini-Bolt.
**The Fire Suite: Fire Ball, Fire Dart, Flame, Heat Cone, Ball of Fire, Mini-Wide Heat Cone, Mini-Ball, & Maxi-Ball.
**The Cold Suite: Cold Cone, Mini-Cold Cone, Mini-Wide Cold Cone.
**also has a couple of the Strength Spells, Continual Light, and Wizard Light.
***Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
*Magery: 6th Level Spells
**This tome has Acid Protection, Astral Eye, Air Wall, Bomb, Animate Object, Geas, Area Muscle Spasm, Projected Image, Move Earth, Part Water, Sustained Dimension Door, Passenger Teleportation, Wizard Wind, Stone to Flesh.
***Payment from Dalt - Calling Ritual / Ahyk
***''“Of these Astral Eye, Geas, and Sustained Dimension Door are the most useful. A mage might kill to get this in his racks. Of course its all Low Order. A High Order protection spell would wallop all this stuff, but without that... its pretty tough stuff. I've yet to see a really functional High Order Geas spell. But Geas is one of the first powers a Wisher-aspirant dives for when they take Masoja of Knowledge Go figure.”'' '''~Bentalisix'''

==='''Other Books'''===
*The Story of the Trio Shifters
**Gift from Breasda; Masoja of Vision (formerly Wisher)
**Rafe is to make 100 copies for Breasda
***Figuring out the Author is a Challenge for Rafe to complete
***An additional 100 copies for a Screening in Spasa of Paper

*A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny
**Rafe brought this from his Home World

*The Art of War by Sun Tzu
**Rafe brought this from his Home World

*Origami Basics
**Gift from Lenyia, The Origami Dragon

*Cardinal's Journals; blank (300)
**from St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Plague World

=='''Non-magical Equipment'''==

==='''Armor'''===
*Bullet-Proof Body Armor; full body, light-weight
**Black Plates & Yellow Kevlar-like Fabric
**Looks like a Motorcycle Riding Suit
**Includes Kevlar-like Fabric Coif
[[File:Raphael's Tactical Body Armor.jpg|100px]]

*Wehrmacht Motorcycle Helmet; Bullet-Proof
**Black; padded, chin strap
[[File:Raphael's Wermacht Helmet.jpg|100px]]

*Skull Face-Mask; high quality materials
**Flack Resistant; nearly Bullet-Proof
[[File:SkullMask.jpg|100px]]

*Roman-style Metal Armor
**shiny Steel w/ Brass fittings
**includes Leg Armor
***can be worn Over Bullet-Proof Body Armor
**includes full Padding
***NOT worn with Bullet-Proof Body Armor
*Roman-style Metal Helmet
**shiny Steel, with Brass accents
[[File:Roman Armor.jpg|200px]]

**SPECIAL NOTE: This suit of Armor has been repaired and 'heat tempered' by the Magical Dwarves of Fort Garland

==='''Firearms'''===
*9mm Automatic (Pair); H&K VP9
**20 round clip (10 clips)
**10,000 rnds ammo
*.30-06 cal Rifle, Bolt Action
**5 round built-in clip
**Best Possible Adjustable Scope (NEW)
**1000 rounds 30-06 ammo
*UNKNOWN Handgun from Zachary??
**Did he ask for it back?
*UNKNOWN Handgun from Ansahal??
**Did it teleport with Rafe?

==='''Weapons & Tools'''===
*Light-Saber
[[File:Raphael's Lightsaber Tool.jpg|100px]]
**White energy blade
**Three settings: Sword, Dagger, Needle

*Throwing Weapons; highest quality
**Daggers, Knives, Spikes and Stars
*Khukuri Knife; Thick Heavy Blade w/ throat notch
*Utility & Pocket Knives, Assortment
*Mechanic's Leatherman Tool

====''On Loan or in/on Backpack''====
*Hard-wood Handles (2); 3ft long & Removable Metal Heads (4); custom made
**Warhammer w/Curved Spike, Bearded Axe; Single Blade, Double Pick, Double Mattock
*Modern Forged Swords (2) [with Backpack or On Loan]
**[Highest possible Quality materials and workmanship]
**Katana; folded steel, carved white oak handle (stack of skulls)
**Moro Sword; straight blade w/ wavy edge, double edged, razor sharp, skull coin pommel
[[File:Moro.jpg|100px]]

==='''Clothing & Accessories'''===
*Human-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Dwarf-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Gnome-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Elf-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Orc-sized Clothing; Assorted
*Footwear; assorted sizes & types
*Leather Belts, Baldrics & Sheaths
*Nylon Sheathes, Cases & Ammo Pouches

Specialty Clothing
*Garde du Corps Tabard (Avalon)
**Blue with Bear Emblem
*Avalon Suits (10)
**Formal, Dress, Casual(2), Explorer, Everyday(5)
*Military Rain Gear (Hooded Slicker, Pants, Pull-over Boots, Gauntlets)
*Military Camo Poncho w/ drawstring hood
*Circus Themed Costumes; Assorted
*Circus Themed Accessories; Assorted

==='''Specialized Equipment'''===
*Army Medic First Aid Kit (well stocked)
*Modern Military (Surplus) Gas Mask w/ hood & clean filters
*Dog Gear (3 each): Harnesses, Leashes, Flexi-leashes, Sets of Padded Dog Shoes, Knitted Woolen Jumpers
*Small Assortment of Grooming Tools; Human and Dog
*Camping Gear; Personal (Shelter, Sleeping Gear, Cooking Gear, Folding E-Tool, Fire Starting Kit, Hatchet, Flashlights, Ropes, Spikes)
*Laptop Computer & Accessories (Power & USB Cords, Earbuds, Smart Speakers, 3 USB Charging Batteries)
*Large Assortment of Gaming Dice in a Special Edition Green Crown Royal Bag
*Standard Playing Cards; (2) Decks
*Cribbage Board; small, folding w/ sliding panel & compartment for tiny wooden scoring pegs

*1 Gigawatt TW Micro Nuclear Reactor
**Looks like a USB Drive
**Gift from Fort

*TW (Total Warrior) High Tech Medical Devices
**Medical Tricorder
**Tissue Regenerator
**Bone Regenerator
***All are disguised to look like Magical Items

==='''Food & Luxuries'''===
*Dried & canned foods, including MREs (large assortment)
*Bag of dog food & dog treats (large assortment)
*Box of Cohiba Behike (3/4 gone)
*Box of Delesduia Exploding Cigars (2)
*Box of Delesduia hand rolled skinnies (50 left)
*Large amount of Medical Grade Marijuana; Sativa
*Case of Pappy van Winkle Whiskey (4 bottles remain)
*(9) Cone Joints, Filtered; Half Urala, Half Truncha Green dusted with Colorful Powder
**Acquired from Lenyia
*(1) Bindle of Colorful Powder
**Acquired from Lenyia
*Box of Urala Cigars; 20/box (10 boxes)
**acquired at Vulsar Base
*Case Romulan Ale; 12 bottles
**acquired at Vulsar Base
*Humbolt Purple Frosting; 1kg
**acquired at Vulsar Base
*Candy & Snacks; Assorted (a lot)
**Acquired at Oramuy's in Ahyk

==='''Monies'''===
*49,400 Ounces(3,087.5 Pounds) of Pure Gold (Rated .99999)
**All Stamped Ingots & Mini-Bars: India
**Various Weights: 1oz, 2oz, 4oz, 8oz, 16oz/1lb
*80 Adabalb (metal cubes)
**Currency of The Dufiro Realms
*Coinage of Ang Ri; Silver mostly.
**Fight Winnings and Betting on Fights Winnings
*10 Ingots of Mithril; 1oz each
**Rafe helped smelt the ore with Dalt to make it.

[[San Cristobal Cargo]]

==='''Trinkets/Momento Mori'''===
*Small Harmonica
**Belonged to my Biological Grandfather on my Biological Mother's side
**He carried it during WWII
**Reminds me of half of my biological family that I only bare got to know.
*Eye Necklace
**Made by my Best Friend
**Belonged to and worn by my Best Friend
**Given to me on her death bed
*Strand of medium sized green beads w/ a Llama charm at one end & a Rabbit charm at the other.
**Reminds me of my Son
**Reminds me that no matter how charmed one is, life can be short.
*Leather Wallet, Brown; Black (Ink) Skull in profile
**Gift from Best Friend's Mom
**Reminds me of the true kindness of strangers
*Skull Face Carving; Small, Applewood (I made this)
**Reminds of Mortality Itself and my Mortality.
***Update: Now reminds me that I can still die despite my new Immortality.

==='''Vehicles & Accessories'''===
[[File:Rafe's RV.jpeg|200px]]
*Airstream Motorhome; Large, Steampunk Style
**Exterior: Copper, Brass, Brushed Steel Plates & Rivets
**Exterior: Turn-Wheel Handles, Superfluous Gears, Lenses, Gauges, Vacuum Tubes, Wires, Tubing, Etc.
**Interior: Cock Pit & Main Sitting Area; Steampunk Style
***Lots of Wood; polished Pine
***Lots of Brass and Copper Metal Knobs, Gears, Gauges, Wires, Lenses, etc.
**Interior: Bed Rooms (3) & Bath Rooms (1 1/2)
***Modern Styled; Comfortable, Functional and Durable

[[File:Rafe's Toy Hauler.jpg|200px]]
*Airstream Toy Hauler; Steampunk Style (Converted interior)
**Exterior: (same as Motorhome above)
**Interior: Modern & Functional; Designed to hold 4 motorcycles
***contains Tools and Parts to repair Motorhome and Motorcycles

[[File:BadBoy Harley.jpg|200px]]
*Yellow 1958 Harley Davidson w/ Armored Sidecar
**Gear Shifter on Right Hand side of Gas Tank, Left Foot Clutch(toe down)
**Right Foot Rear Brake(toe down), Left Hand Front Brake
**Fixed Up by the Arco Boys of Fort Garland (Magical Dwarves)
***Armored Sidecar added from different model motorcycle; Perfect Fit
***Throttle Sticks in an odd way; like a Cruise Control
*Green Motorcycle Helmet - Buck's Helmet (in nose of sidecar)

*Kawasaki KTX 500 Enduro Motorcycle
**Stealth Black (New Paint Job coming soon...)

==='''Other Weird Things'''===
*Bullets (2) with Purple Gunpowder
**Gift from Casey; Shade of Caine; Amber Fallen
**Dream Walking when Powder is imbibed in any way
**Casey told Rafe to use one and think of him if he wanted to talk

*Vial - 3 grams (dust) of Paradoxian Tosian Melange (Pmel)
**Gift from Fortunadus Enright
*Sheet - 24 tablets of Yorkian Melange (Ymel)
** -2 tabs
**Gift from Fortunadus Enright

*Confian Silver Coin
**Payment from Conf for delivering a message to Fortunadus
**Opens doors in the Tosian Multiverse
**No actual exchange rate

*ASF Communicator; TOS Style
**Cross-Shadow Comms via Amber Inscribed Trump
**Gift from V'ger; Sentient AI of Vulsar Base
***Rafe is to stay in comms with her re: War in Ang Ri

*Cross-Shadow Time Piece
**Wrist Watch
**picked up at Vulsar Base, Vulsara

=='''Shadows {3}'''==
*1 Phase Access - Mesob
**Ability to Enter and Exit the Shadow of Phase which seems to overlap all of Shadow.

*2 [[Raphael's Personal Shadow]]
**'''"Rest Stop"''' 2 points
***1 Personal Shadow
***1 Control of Contents

*0 Billet at Changers Hall
**Located in the Shadow of Ahyk in the heart of the Dufirtrusa (Dufiro Realms near the Black Zone of Chaos)

*0 ''Garland aka Change World''
**[[Fort Garland, Colorado]]
**Location of Castle Garland and the Sigil of Avalon
**''Previously Attached Shadow'': '''Removed'''. Reallocated 2 Pips.

*0 ''Bundleton Region; Alamond''
**[[Arco Station and Retreat]].

*0 ''Paris; [[Avalon]]''
**[[Hôtel de la Société des Aventuriers]]

=='''Other Important Things'''==
[[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mr. Hepplewhite?]]
*How to Call (Summon) Zachary Hepplewhite of Amber:
**Sing the Song in the Story correctly.

[[Paradoxian Melange]]

'''The Danbury Collection''' [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Dalt's_Tomes#The_Dandbury_Collection]]
*A collection of Tomes belonging to Dalt

=='''WC&LGA - Ang Ri'''==

<big><span style=color:red>'''Front Warrior'''</span></big>

[[File:A--Rafe-front1.jpg]]

===Record===
*Official Fights: (31) Thirty-One
*Stats: (17-12-2) Seventeen Wins, Twelve Losses, Two Draws.
**<span style=color:red>W,W</span>,L,L,W,L,W,L,W,W [10]
**W,W,L,L,L,L,W,L,W,L [20]
**<span style=color:red>L,W,L,D,W,W,W,W,D,W</span> [30]
**<span style=color:red>W</span> [31]
***<span style=color:red>Red = RP'd Fights (13)</span>
**Represents over six months of Official Fights at Various Venues.
***Canny's CanCan, Red House, Tor Soltos, Tricha's Field Fights
***Started Grade Warrior. Blade Warrior before 3rd fight. Front Warrior by 32nd fight.
***Most Fights in a Single Day: (6) Six

====Wins====
<big>'''(17) Seventeen'''</big>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|<span style=color:red>Win One: 1st FIGHT - Grade</span>
Falcion/Grade Warrior

Ludus CannyCans - Canny's Can Can
|<span style=color:red>Win Two: 2nd FIGHT - Grade</span>
Karsa/Grade Warrior

Ludus CannyCans - Canny's Can Can
|Win Three: 5th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Four: 7th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|-
|Win Five: 9th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Six: 10th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Seven: 11th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Eight: 12th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|-
|Win Nine: 17th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Win Ten: 19th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|<span style=color:red>Win Eleven: 22nd FIGHT - Blade</span>
Gartax/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Ludus Krakchas - Tor Soltos
|<span style=color:red>Win Twelve: 25th FIGHT - Blade </span>
Hasara/Blade Warrior

Free Agents - Canny's Can Can; Early Fights
|-
|<span style=color:red>Win Thirteen: 26th FIGHT - Blade</span>
Zretcha/Blade Warrior

Ludus Krakchas - Red House
|<span style=color:red>Win Fourteen: 27th FIGHT - Blade</span>
Faltina; St. of Battle/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Coalition of Tosa - Tricha's Field Fights
|<span style=color:red>Win Fifteen: 28th FIGHT - Blade</span>
Zanach the Fisherman/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Ludus Krakchas - Tricha's Field Fights
|<span style=color:red>Win Sixteen: 30th FIGHT - Blade (Challenge for Front)</span>
Akkabai; Minotaur/Front Warrior

Ludus Desadal- Tricha's Field Fights
|-
|<span style=color:red>Win Seventeen: 31st FIGHT - Blade (Challenge for Front)</span>
Randy Dandy/Front Warrior

Free Agents - Tricha's Field Fights
|-
|}
</div>

====Loses====
<big>'''(12) Twelve'''</big>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|Defeat One: 3rd FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Two: 4th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Three: 6th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Four: 8th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|-
|Defeat Five: 13th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Six: 14th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Seven: 15th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Eight: 16th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|-
|Defeat Nine: 18th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|Defeat Ten: 20th FIGHT - Blade
Name/Rank

Ludus - Place
|<span style=color:red>Defeat Eleven: 21st FIGHT - Blade</span>
Gartax; Lizardman/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Ludus Krakchas - Tor Soltos
|<span style=color:red>Defeat Twelve: 23rd FIGHT - Blade</span>
Gartax; Lizardman/Grade Warrior (Challenge)

Ludus Krakchas - Tor Soltos
|-
|}
</div>

====Draws====
<big>'''(2) Two'''</big>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|<span style=color:red>Draw One: 24th FIGHT - Blade</span>
Dekon Dandy/Blade Warrior

Free Agent - Tor Soltos; Early Fights
|<span style=color:red>Draw Two: 29th FIGHT - Blade</span>
(Ruling by Lord of the Games - Oxil)

Halkask; half-giant/Blade Warrior

Ludus Desadal ; Tricha's Field Fights
|-
|}
</div>

===Rafe's Fighting Gear===
*Customized Drake Hide Rig
*Ceremonial Rig
*Water-proofed Leather Armor Coat
*Steel Toed Boots (2 pair)
*Conical Helm; Aluminum (3)
**(1) Crushed in Combat; Cut from Head
*Blackened Aluminum Arm & Leg Armor
*Wooden Weapons
**Long Swords, Birch (2)
**Long Swords, Maple (2)
**Short Swords, Oak (2)
**Mini Maul, Ironwood Head, Maple Haft
**Naginata, Birch
*Dulled Metal Weapons
**Long Swords (2)
**War Hammer or Mini Maul
*Medium Round Shield, Wooden
*Medium Round Shield, Metal
*Assorted Local Style Clothing w/various Logos
**(Pants, Shirts, Over-shirts, Jackets, Hats) (black, greens and grays)
**(Tor Soltos, The Toy Store, WG&LCA, Ludus Daltus)

===Ranks for the ''[[WC&LGA]]''===

[[File:Warriorgrades1.jpg|450px]]
[[File:Lightened gladiator bar.jpg|450px]]

===Places & People involved with the WC&LGA===
[[Ang Ri]]

[[Warrior Core and Lord Gladiators Association]]

[[Ludus Daltus]]
*Adventurer's Society Home Base

[[Ludus Vexas Avaxala]]
*Vek & Alvah

[[Canny's Can Can]]
*Adventurer's Society 1st and Favorite Fight Club

[[The Great Arena]]

[[Tor Soltos]]
*Adventurer's Society Daytime Job; lots of Challenge Fights

[[Toy Store]]
*Adventurer's Society Favorite Fighting Gear Shop

[[Free Agent Warriors]]
*Some New Friends

[[Ludus Krakchas]]
*Lizardmen. Larzakas is a 'friend' of Rafe

[[Ludus Trasidicus]]
*Mascen, Rede Feldane, others

[[Red House]]
*Adventurer's Society Late Night Clubbing Hot Spot

[[Ludus Desadal]]
*House Desadal of the Courts of Chaos

[[Excursion to Tricha's Field Fights]]
*Oddly, Rafe has been attributed/blamed for this Event occuring.

[[Coalition of Tosa]]

[[Grande arène de défis pour Avalon]]
*Not WC&LGA officially, but related
*Adventurer's Society Assets
**Small Sky Box at the great arena
**Residential Sky Box at the smaller arena
**Sky Box at unchosen Sports Arena

=='''Dufiro'''==
=== Al Asgo Illuminar ===
{| class="wikitable"
| The first Rank of the Illuminar.
| Allows access to special libraries and to the other secret places of the Illuminars.
| It is an extremely rare honor and can only be granted by a handful of great Dufiro.
| Granted by Nur al Din after Rafe's Matched Elevation in Earth.
|-
|}

NOTE ON ILLUMINAR: There are three ranks of Illuminar. Illuminars are a special subset of Dufiro. They are considered specialist and stand outside the usual definitions of race. Illuminars are special cases. The Illuminars have their own ways. Many of the rules that refrain and define other Dufiro do not effect the Illuminars.

=== Change Elemental [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Change_Elemental_Dufiros]]===
{| class="wikitable"
| 1: Be Something Else. The Living Change Form.
*Ability to make Changes to their Physical Body.
| Alter External Features:
*Facial & Body Features, Skin Color & Texture, Hair Color, Texture & Type, Etc.
| Alter Internal Features:
*Minor Alterations to Internal Organs, Systems, Structures are ''possible'' (Improve Night Vision, Improve Hearing, Adapt Lungs, etc.)
| 'Grow' Extra Limbs: '''Potential'''
*Arms, Legs, Tail, Wings, Tentacles.
|-
| 2: Transfer Aspects of Change.
*Minor ability to Change (transform) one item or substance to another.
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
|-
|}

===Movement Elemental [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Movement_Elemental_Dufiros]]===

{| class="wikitable"
| Improved Physical Dexterity, Hand Eye Coordination & Balance
*Very Unlikely to Trip, Stumble or Fumble.
| Very Efficient Movement & Body Movements
*Little to No Wasted Movements
| Nearly Effortless Movement & Body Movements
*Reduces Muscle Fatigue thereby increasing Stamina
|-
| Effective at all Movement-based Activities (Sports).
*This could include Dodging, Evading, Parrying and Blocking to some degree.
*This could include Physical Attacks being more Effective and/or Damaging to some degree.
| Quick Movement & Body Movements
*Restraint ''must'' be exerted to move more normally
| Silent Movement
*''Possible'' with restraint & concentration
|-
| Sense Movement
*Effectively a Motion Detector but similar to Radar
**Includes Sensing ''approximate'' Distance, Direction, Size and Speed
| Alter Movement
*Speed, Direction, Total Stop, Dexterity (Nimble or Fumble),
| Transfer Aspects of Movement
*??
|-
| Double Speed: Long term based on Endurance. 10 to 100 miles
| Engine Speed: Short term- Up to 10 miles based on endurance.
| Bursts of speed: up to 100 feet based on endurance. Effects cumulative
|-
|}

=== Earth Elemental [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Air_Elemental_Dufiros]]===
{| class="wikitable"
| Be a Rock: The Living Earth Form
*Sentient but Inanimate with limited Sensory Input.
**''NOTE: Animate w/ full Sensory Input; '''Change Elemental'''''
*Usually 3-4 Rock Types are known at minimum. Many Earth Elementals chose a Favorite Rock or Mineral Type in time.
| Transfer Aspects of Earth:
*Strength of Earth
*Resistance of Earth
*Stability of Earth (Immovability)
| Identify Rock Types (Igneous, Metamorphic, Sedimentary, etc.)
|-
| Identify Mineral Types (includes Stones, Metals, Crystals, Gemstones & Fossils)
| Detect Minerals, Metals, Crystals, Gemstones & Fossils
| Identify Qualities and Properties of Earth (Age, Composition, How it was Formed, How it was Changed (forged metal as an example), Purity, Radioactivity, etc.)
|-
| Immunity to Earth-Based Attacks and Weapons made of Stone or Crystal
*Reduced Damage for Metals (varies)
| Alter Earth: Soil
*Change Soil Chemistry (Refresh Soil [Fertilize], Sterilize Soil), Change Soil Type (Sand, Clay, Volcanic Earth, Dusty Earth).
| Convert Earth: Soil
*Stone to Soil, Mud to Soil, Sand to Soil.
|-
|10: Earth Attacks
*Fist of Stone, Spray Dirt, Hurl Stones, Grasping Hands of Earth
|
|
|-
|}

=== Earth Spasa [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Earth_Spasa_Dufiros]]===
{| class="wikitable"
| The Living Earth Form
*Usually 6-12 different Rock Types are common.Others vary in rarity
* A Favorite is usually chosen before Advancing to Avasa.
| Alter Earth: Stone
*Change Type of Stone to another Type of a similar rarity
| Convert Earth: Stone
*Soil to Stone, Mud to Stone.
|-
| Move Earth: Soil & Sand
*Holes, Irrigation Rows, Ditches, Trenches
*
| Move Through Earth
*Soil & Sand
*?
| Shape Earth: Soil & Sand
*Landscaping, Sculptures, Structures
*?
|-
| Summon (Create) Earth: Basic Mineral
*Able to Summon (Create) small amounts of Basic Minerals that come from the Earth.
*?
| Earth Attacks
*Gravel Spray, Hot Sand Spray, Hurl Large Stones, Quicksand (NO Water, but same effect)
*?
| <<Power>>
*?
|-
|}

===Aspirations===
{| class="wikitable"
| '''''Spasa:''''' Combat, Speed, Motion, Paper, Cleanliness, Blending, Life, Defense, Change, Growth, Guard, Song, and Carnality
|-
| '''''Avasa:''''' Earth, '''Health''' ''(MUST be 2nd Race)'', Cleanliness, Speed, Conflict, Guard, Change, Blending, Growth, Shifter, Life, Knowledge, Whimsy, Carnality, Vision
|-
| '''''Masoja:''''' Change, Earth, Guard, Shifter, Growth, Health, Knowledge, Life, Combat, Strength, Warfare, Witness, Vision
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable"
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
| <power>
?
|-
|}

===Languages===
{| class="wikitable"
| *'''''Vomos''''' or '''''Common''''' spoken by all Dufiro conversationally though most Dufiro speak Thari and other chaos languages. Elementals understand Vomos at birth and as they gain power learn to speak it. Its like a baby language.
| *'''''Gorbash''''' is a Spirit Language spoken by the less powerful Spirit Races. It's also a frequently used Dufiro conversational language.
| *'''''Releck''''' is a Spirit Language for upper power Spirits
| *'''''Nethak''''' is an Avasa language for first Avasa Race choices as well as medium power Avasa Races.
| *'''''Halta''''' is an Avasa Language for upper power Avasa.
| *'''''Nona''''' is a Masoja language often for first Masoja Races.
| *'''''Kolbashic''''' is a Masoja language used by the most powerful Masoja Races.
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|}

===Other===
[[Dufiro foods]]

=='''Miscellany'''==

[[Animals of Ang Ri]]

[[The Avalonian Code Duello-"Pour l'honneur, non pour la haine]]

==='''<big>Medallion of Mesob Emblem / Tattoo</big>'''===

[[File:Medalion of Mesob.jpg]][[File:Medalion of Mesob on hand.jpg|300 px]][[File:Medalion of Mesob on forehead.jpg]]

===Rafe's Billet at Changers Hall===
As he received it: his original Training Room

[[File:Rafe's Billet at Changers Hall.png|500px]]

As it is now, after Glaxak fixed it up

[[File:AT-Rafe's Billet.jpg|500px]]

===Quotes===

''"Adventure Abounds"''

''"Fear does not stop Death; it stops Life. And Worrying does not take away Tomorrow's Troubles; it takes away Today's Peace."'' ~Unknown

''"No amount of Regret changes the Past. No amount of Anxiety changes the Future. But '''any''' amount of Gratitude changes the Present."'' ~Unknown

''“Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie.”'' ~Miyamoto Musashi

''“Never wish them pain. That's not who you are. If they caused you pain, they must have pain inside. Wish them healing. That's what they need.”'' ~Najwa Zebian

''"The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie.'"" ~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

==<big>'''Dark Winged Three'''</big>==
[[File:Rafe-Dark Winged Three.jpg|300px]]

{| class="wikitable"
|<Big>'''Sókn (Fight)''' Raven</big>
[[File:Rafe-Dark Winged Three.jpg|100px]]

*'''Description:'''
*'''Ranks'''
**(A)
**(B)

*'''Points{}'''
**'''''Total: = Stats+ Powers{c}+ Skills+{c}+ Items +0/0 allies/Enemies + Stuff+Storage'''''
*'''Statistics{}'''
**Psyche: Chaos
**Strength:1
**Endurance:15
**Warfare:Amber
*s*
**2 Chaos Vitality
**4 engine
**2 Amber Stamina
**4 Combat Mastery
**2 vs Guns
**4 Deadly Damage
**1 Able to Speak
**1 Shadow Trail
**1 Self-Heal
**1 Rack Spell:
**Bonded: Rafe, Hjarta, & Vamm
*'''Powers {}'''
**Sigil of Writnis [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Costs_%26_Powers-Jeweled_Amber#Sigil_of_Writnis]]

*'''Companions'''
** Rafe
**Hjarta
**Vamm
**Viggo Hagelin

*'''Items {}'''
** Red Eye Lens
*'''Miscellany'''
|<big>'''Hjarta (Heart)''' Magpie</big>
[[File:Rafe-Dark Winged Three.jpg|100px]]
*'''Description:'''
*'''Ranks'''
*'''Points{}'''
**'''''Total: = Stats+ Powers{c}+ Skills+{c}+ Items +0/0 allies/Enemies + Stuff+Storage'''''
*'''Statistics{}'''
**Psyche: 10
**Strength: 1
**Endurance:10
**Warfare:Amber
*'''stats '''
**2 Chaos Vitality
**2 Double Speed
**2 Amber Stamina
**1 Combat Training
**2 vs Guns
**2 Double Damage
**2 Speak & SIng
**2 Shadow Path
**1 Self-Heal
**4 Rack and Use Spell:
**Bonded: Sókn, & Vamm
*'''Powers {}'''
**Sigil of Writnis [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Costs_%26_Powers-Jeweled_Amber#Sigil_of_Writnis]]
**
*'''Companions'''
**''Sókn''
**''Vamm''
**''Viggo Hagelin''
*'''Items {}'''
**Red Eye Lens
*'''Miscellany'''
|<big>'''Vamm (Blemish)''' Rook</big>
*[[File:Rafe-Dark Winged Three.jpg|100px]]

*'''Description:'''
*'''Ranks'''
**
**
*'''Points{}'''
**'''''Total: = Stats+ Powers{c}+ Skills+{c}+ Items +0/0 allies/Enemies + Stuff+Storage'''''
*'''Statistics{}'''
**Psyche: Human
**Strength: Chaos
**Endurance:Amber
**Warfare:Human
*s
**1 Animals Vitality
**4 engine
**2 Double Stamina
**4 Invulnerable
**4 Tongues
**4 Seek in shadow
**4 Regeneration
**2 N/N Spell:
**Bonded: Hjarta, & Sókn,
*'''Powers {}'''===
**Sigil of Writnis [[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Costs_%26_Powers-Jeweled_Amber#Sigil_of_Writnis]]
**
*'''Companions'''
**Hjarta
**Sókn,
**Viggo Hagelin
*'''Items {}'''
**Red Eye Lens
*'''Miscellany'''
**