You stare at the image of Dalt...

You have established contact with Dalt.

To the image of Dalt, Erika smiles, faintly. "Dalt."

The image of Dalt says "Erika."

To the image of Dalt, Erika says "Where are you?"

The image of Dalt says "What you want."

The image of Dalt says "Worlds End."

To the image of Dalt, Erika says "Just to talk. Get some rest. Saw you weren't here, so guessed you might be at the bar."

To the image of Dalt, Erika says "Can I come through?"

The image of Dalt offers to pull you through.

You grasp Dalt's hand and he pulls you through.

The Worlds' End Bar(#250RFJ)

   This is a large spacious bar dimly lit by small oil lamps burning at each table, their smoke disappearing up into the rafters above. Around the edges of the room are booths, and a few tables are scattered in the middle of the scuffed hardwood floor. A long bar with a brass-edged wooden top dominates one wall, with a row of stools placed in front of it. Behind the bar is an old mirror, slightly marred with water stains; a bartender stands behind the bar serving drinks, while another server wanders the floor handling the booths and tables.

   A steep staircase against one wall leads up to a balcony facing the bar, just big enough for one large table. In the opposite corner from the staircase is a short hallway leading to the restrooms. The dusty corner under the staircase is glowing oddly, but none of the locals seem to much notice. To the left of the bar is a door leading out, with a sturdy coatrack in the corner next to it.

Contents:

Dalt

Scott

Gideon

Ophelia(#6675PJOceq$)

Elektra

Monk

Jaz

Obvious exits:

Door Dusty Corner

Dalt doesn't rise as he pulls Erika through into the balcony. He lets go of her hand, turning back to his coffee.

Erika puts her trump away, and moves to take a seat. She smiles warmly at Ophelia.

You go over to join Dalt.

You walk up the staircase to the balcony.

Up in the balcony, Dalt looks over what Erika is wearing.

Up in the balcony, Dalt lifts his chain shirt, revealing the butt of his revolver tucked at his gut. "I want you to carry a gun, Erika. Revolver of your choice."

Up in the balcony, Ophelia sits silently. She nods at Erika, watching her.

Up in the balcony, Erika says, "I have one packed; I just didn't think to carry it here."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Always carry it here. Always expect bloodshed."

Up in the balcony, Erika nods.

Monk pulls out a trump and regards it.

Monk moves forward and vanishes, leaving behind a rapidly fading afterimage.

Monk has left.

Up in the balcony, Erika says "How are you two?"

Up in the balcony, Ophelia says "Everything's been just fine. You settling in okay?"

Up in the balcony, Dalt looks at his coffee, guessing the temperature. He decides to leave it alone and cool. He looks to Erika, curious of her answer.

Up in the balcony, Erika says "A bit, yeah. I really like the area."

Up in the balcony, Erika says "It's nice to be working again."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Wulf watched you lead that small group in training."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Says your skills improved."

Up in the balcony, Erika says "I hope so."

Up in the balcony, Erika says "I still want another shot at him."

Up in the balcony, Dalt glances over at Ophelia, remembering. "You didn't answer my question."

Up in the balcony, Ophelia looks a little startled as Dalt remembers. She answers, "It wasn't just something my brother got into. It had to do with all of Cragvale, from what I heard."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "You dodging."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Your brother shot and wounded."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "I got the will and ability to revenge him."

Up in the balcony, Ophelia says "I'll find out who it is, and tell you. I'm not trying to dodge anything. When I talked to Crimson, I was pissed at him and worried about Santiago. I didn't even think about the rest that had happened."

Jaz places her glass back atop the bar and rises from her seat. She heads towards the corner, giving a nod to the balcony before stepping out of sight.

Jaz heads to the corner behind the stairs, and disappears in a blue glow.

Jaz has left.

Up in the balcony, Dalt informs Erika, "Crimson's Ophelia's brother. He shows reason and respect. We offer him the same."

Up in the balcony, Erika nods, and says, "What's he-" She pauses. "Shit."

Up in the balcony, Ophelia's eyebrows raise as she looks at Erika.

Up in the balcony, Erika says, "I actually- this was a while back, before I found you I think. I got into a dispute with him over a necklace my mother gave me. He wanted it."

Up in the balcony, Erika says "I shot at him. He deflected it, we went on our way. I could make amends."

Up in the balcony, Ophelia says "He doesn't really hold grudges."

Up in the balcony, Dalt looks for Ophelia's reaction.

Up in the balcony, Ophelia shrugs, calm.

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "What kind of necklace."

Up in the balcony, Erika says "Gold scale wrapping, the Cragvale a pendant on it."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Your mama was Cragvale?"

Up in the balcony, Erika says "No, but she was their vassal before she knew about herself."

Up in the balcony, Erika says "She and they didn't get along."

Up in the balcony, Ophelia says "Did he say why he wanted the necklace?"

Up in the balcony, Erika says "Because it was an insult to Lord Cragvale."

Elektra empties her glass and takes a card from the pouch at her side as she slides off her barstool.

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Who is in possession of this necklace now."

Up in the balcony, Erika says "I am."

Elektra stands and leaves the bar.

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Then you will keep it. You and I will ensure peace with Crimson together."

Up in the balcony, Erika says "I honestly don't want a fight if he's close to Ophelia."

Up in the balcony, Erika runs a hand through her hair.

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Erika..."

Up in the balcony, Erika looks at Dalt.

Elektra moves forward and vanishes, leaving behind a rapidly fading afterimage.

Elektra has left.

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "You are training to become my second. It is important to me that you know the value of negotiation. Our weapons for protection, war and the meaningless."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "iN all other things our words and our position our most useful tool."

Up in the balcony, Erika says, "K."

Up in the balcony, Erika moves to light a cigarette.

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Negotiate. First with trade. Then with threat. If you get no respect from your opponant, then shoot or stab the fuck out of them."

Up in the balcony, Dalt finally slurps loudly on his coffee.

Up in the balcony, Ophelia picks at her fingernails, looking down at her hands, grinning.

Up in the balcony, Erika grins, exhaling a stream of smoke.

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "When you Pattern'd and command your own force, you will have plenty to bargain and threaten with."

Up in the balcony, Erika nods.

Up in the balcony, Erika says "That's a bit away though."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Until then you lean on me."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Ophelia too, she got influence."

Up in the balcony, Ophelia says "Not such reliable influence, though."

Up in the balcony, Erika says "I'll worry about it as it comes up."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Your mama was a hot-head, Erika. It served her well in combat."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "You more level."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Will serve you elsewhere."

Up in the balcony, Erika says "Do you think I could be as good as her?"

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "In combat? Who knows. Your mama was better than even me with a weapon."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "But she suffered in politics."

Up in the balcony, Erika looks at Ophelia. "Did you know her?"

Up in the balcony, Ophelia shakes her head, "I don't think so. What was her name?"

Up in the balcony, Erika says "Vierna."

Blade walks in, the door showing a dark street littered with garbage, just before it closes.

Blade has arrived.

Up in the balcony, Ophelia says "That name is not familiar to me."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Vierna was before Ophelia. Back then I was slamming some Sawall bitch."

Blade lets the door slide out of her hand and looks around.

Up in the balcony, Ophelia shifts a little in her chair, attention drifting to the door.

Blade sits down at the booth by the door.

Up in the balcony, Erika looks at Blade a moment as Ophelia shifts.

Up in the balcony, Dalt doesn't look, slurping some more on his coffee.

Blade orders a bottle of beer. The bartender hands it to a server who takes it to booth by the door and sets it before her.

p in the balcony, Erika looks at Dalt; more specifically, perhaps, for something. Then, "What type of gun do you use?"

Up in the balcony, Dalt says ".38 revolver. Not much power but 6 will bring most guys down."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "They never jamb."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Compact, can keep it damn near anywhere on your person."

Up in the balcony, Ophelia comments, "I saw a bra the other day, designed to holster a .38 revolver."

Gideon rises from his seat at the bar.

Up in the balcony, Dalt looks to Ophelia.

Gideon stands and leaves the bar.

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Between the tits?"

Scott stands and leaves the bar.

Scott nods to Gideon to place a hand on his shoulder as a card appears in his hand seemingly out of thin air.

Up in the balcony, Ophelia nods. "Manages a passable job of concealing it."

Up in the balcony, Erika says "Novel."

Blade watchs the men at the bar the tilts up the bottle, taking a long swig.

Gideon moves near Scott and grips his shoulder.

Scott looks to the card.

Gideon has left.

Scott moves forward and vanishes, leaving behind a rapidly fading afterimage.

Scott has left.

Up in the balcony, Dalt looks to everyone leaving.

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "It's late."

Up in the balcony, Dalt says "Time to go home."

Up in the balcony, Ophelia gets to her feet, rubbing at the underside of her belly before she fishes a card out of her pocket.

Up in the balcony, Erika stands, and says, "I'll find my Colt Walker. I will keep it on me.

Up in the balcony, Dalt rises. "All right. I see you tomorrow at the castle, girl."

Up in the balcony, Erika thumbs out a trump, nodding, and saying to Ophelia, "Take care."

Up in the balcony, Dalt steps over to Ophelia.

Up in the balcony, Ophelia looks down at the trump, her hand reaching for Dalt. "See you later, Erika."

s you stare at the image before you, it slowly becomes more real.

Valley of the Stormhold, Myal'Tsareth

            Mile-high mountains stretch from the east to the west, looming over this valley. Shadows shroud this area at all times of the day, one mountain peak or another blocking the dulled sun. When night is in full bloom, those shadows seem to come alive. Storm clouds pass overhead at an alarming rate, never breaking and always rumbling.

            A massive castle, forever buried in darkness, guards the mountain pass here. It is situated between, actually carved into, two mountains. The only way through the range is through the castle: Stormhold. To the north...the unknown, endless flashes of lightning lighting the sky.

            Here to the south, in the valley of Stormhold, there is peace; as though the castle is all that stands between Myal'Tsareth and utter chaos.

Two flags wave in the wind, high above the stormhold: a lion rending a unicorn in gold, set upon a green background. Lower is a black panther, also set on green.

Obvious exits:

Road South <RS>