Just another Adventure,

Episode One.

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The sky held only a few lazy clouds and the sun beamed warmly down upon the enormous city. A sprawling urban metropolis in the middle of the medieval world. Within it's walls held a city that could take more than a days journey on foot to cross, and for anyone content to browse the shops, they could spend their lives and never see it all. 

The black marble tower of the mage guild, rising up past the clouds, loomed it's enormous shadow across the landscape to the north of the city. It's position chosen to prevent parts of the city from being obscured from sunlight during the day, though outside the city construction had started on streets that seemed to correspond to the position of the shadow at the various hours.

The city was located on the shore of a great sea and next to a river delta, though huge aqueducts from the northeast provided fresh mountain water to the citizens.

The city's western quarter, which held the harbor and most of the merchant district, was buzzing with activity. street vendors peddled everything from food, clothing, weapons, herbs, and anything else that might be of use to travelers.

Guards patrolling the area provided police protection, if limited. Thieves and scam artists were always out in full force trying to relieve the rich and foolish of their money.

Causally strolling through the marketplace were two elven women in matched royal blue robes. Thieves would avoid these two on site, their appearance alone giving a hint as to their chosen profession.

They were almost identical twins, both blonde hair that fell to their middle back, however one had a curious patch of strawberry tint that started in the roots above her right eye and continued down her hair's length.

One wore her mage robe fastened down most of the length, leaving only the bottom to separate for freedom of movement. A simple cloth skirt left only her legs exposed.

The other preferred to wear her robe like a cloak with arms. She wore a white cloth tunic with a halter neckline that was tucked into brown leather leggings. Her figure was a bit more revealed and several merchants found themselves staring as they passed.

Both had large quivers slung behind them, and a seasoned weapon smith or bowman could have attested to the worth of the compound longbows nestled within.

They both wore bronze wrist bracers covered with arcane runes, pearl pendants hung from their necks, and a leather belt hung off their hips, a small pouch tied to one side. 

Their shoes also were of high quality leather. Boots with a modest heel to make them seem just a hint taller than they were, which for elves at over one and three-quarters of a meter was quite unique to begin with.

These two were members of a different calling. They belonged to a organization which had no headquarters, kept no membership records, and never had a meeting. 

These were the adventurers, the dungeon delvers. If their was evil afoot, then you could be sure that these two, or others like them would somehow know to come together to face down the threat.
Strangers or not, adventurers could always recognize their own even in passing along a busy street.

However on this day, our two adventures were taking up a little more mundane pursuit.

"So what are we looking for?" Asked Allystra, having to adjust her quiver strap to release her hair behind her so she could turn her head to the left.

Mikaela, her loose robe flapped lightly from the steady breeze, replied, "I'm in need of a tailor. Someone with skill and a professional attitude."

"You are going to hire someone? Why just buy what you need off a merchant?" She gestured with a sweep of her arm toward the goods on either side of them.

"First off, this is a special situation. I need some things done that will be extensive and may require repeated fittings. Then there is the problem of my wardrobe. it's a bit limited." Mikaela stated.

Allystra stifled a small giggle. "How long have you been in this city, and you haven't had time to do a bit of shopping?"

She turned toward her companion, waiting for a reply, and met up with slitted eyes and a scowl, that curved into a devilish smile.

"You keep forgetting who you are talking to 'Sister Dear'. I have plenty of clothes, but I'm not exactly the same dimensions anymore, if you know what I mean."

Allystra winced under her twin's stare. "Uhm, yeah. How long you going to stay that way?"

"I can't tell you that right now."

"Okay then. I guess I can understand your need for a 'Professional attitude' then. You wouldn't want someone who would take advantage of the fact that he'd have you all pinned up to cope a quick feel, huh?"

"Yes, quite astute of you. Now help me look for one."

"Why isn't MJ out here doing this? I'm not the shopping type like her. she'd love this."

"Actually, MJ is out here somewhere. I don't know exactly where but she said she had some things she needed to get and wouldn't let me come along."

"It was she who suggested that I needed more closet accouterments and she told me to bring you along, so you can thank her later."

"I personally don't have quite the enthusiasm for this activity at all, though I suppose having a twin makes trying out clothes much easier."

Allystra nodded. "I'll have to remember that next time I need new threads."

"If I'm paying a tailor for awhile and he'll have my measurements, you could likely save yourself the trouble and simply get something made to fit."

"So where is everyone else?" Allystra asked.

"Well, Gryff is busy teaching his golems how to play a card game. I suppose he wants opponents that he can't read as easily."

"Magnus is still tinkering in the lab. He is assisting Bubba in augmenting his staff again."

"And what about Arianna, or is she still avoiding you?"

"Well, I honestly don't understand her problem. She seems upset at me about something, but I can't figure it out." Commented Mikaela idly.

"Maybe you jilted her on one of your previous adventures." Replied Allystra. "You left her alone, stranded and without love, on some cold rock somewhere." She swooned, her eyes wide and her hands were clasped together tightly.

"Probably nothing so dramatic or harlequin romance-ish. More likely still pissed about that gag gift I gave her when we first met." 

"That was almost mean of you. Why must you give that thing to everyone who joins us?"

"Well, if you remember correctly, I never asked you to put it on, did I?"

"That reminds me, are you wearing it now?" Asked Allystra, her head craning to see over at Mikaela's obscured left side.

"Nope, I used my own magic this time. I don't feel like explaining it right now though."

"Oooh, I can almost smell the sense of foreboding. Can we be any less original?"

"Silly Allykins, you can't smell literary techniques." Smiled Mikaela.

Allystra turned to look at the merchants on her other side as she walked, before realizing that Mikaela had stopped several feet behind her. She quickly crossed the distance to rejoin her twin.

Mikaela was staring down a bare alleyway that ran off toward the south.

Allystra was about to ask when Mikaela spoke. "This way." and took off at a hustled pace. Allystra was curious and followed, having to nearly jog to keep up.

They continued walking in silence until Mikaela turned down another narrow passage behind buildings and stopped just short of an open doorway.

"What is it Miki? Why are we here?"

Mikaela put her finger to her mouth. "Shhh. It's time to look a little less conspicuous." She whispered.

Allystra nodded, slipping her quiver off her shoulder, holding it with her right hand and tapping a unremarkable copper looking band on her right arm with her free hand, watching Mikaela mimic her except for tapping a ring on her right hand.

Their quivers, robes, earrings, and boots popped out of existence without a sound, leaving both girls barefoot wearing dusty looking cloth tunics and oversized, baggy cloth shorts that ended above the knee. Anyone gazing on them might confuse them for common street urchin.

Allystra mumbled under her breath, her hair becoming softly tangled and dusty. The skin on her arms and legs taking on a dirt-dyed appearance. Her face remained a blotch of fairer skin that had been splashed with water.

Mikaela didn't take this extra length of cosmetic changes, instead she nodded, smiled and continued on and through the door.

Allystra followed her into an empty building. The wall on one side was beginning to crack and fall. It gave several shafts of light into the otherwise darkened interior.

A few old dusty chairs and a table with a rotted leg were the only items in the building. The floor was covered in a thin layer of dirt, but the only tracks on the floor were those of small rodents and other small animals that were beginning to reclaim the residence.

"Hmm, I felt a reason to come here, but there is nothing here." commented Mikaela as she surveyed the place.

Allystra went to respond, but a sharp explosion of pain on the back of her head marked the impact of a club from behind and her world went black.

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Allystra woke up from the rattle and bounce of the cart she now occupied. She was gagged and chained, riding in the rear.

As her eyes began to focus, she turned to the left to see Mikaela snoozing against her left shoulder. She had been incapacitated as well, judging by the swollen red welt easily visible under her hair.

The cart stopped alongside a seedy-looking building on the waterfront. The side of the cart fell, and Mikaela was shaken awake, and she and Allystra were grabbed by an arm each and manhandled all the way down to the dock, their feet having trouble keeping up with the sailor's brisk pace as he nearly dragged them both along.

Finally they were pushed into a single file line up a gangplank onto a wooden sailing ship that smelled highly of mold and beer.

They were escorted down below deck into the hold, toward the barred cell that marked the ships brig.

Allystra realized that they were the final shipment as she felt the ship begin to move.

Their gags were removed and they pushed inside, only to land face down on the floor.

Allystra turned to Mikaela. "Well, this is a fine mess you've gotten me into Miki. Why did I get talked into going out with you today?"

"You were bored and thought there might be some excitement. This has been personally the most excitement I've had in awhile."

"Oh, goody me. I'm going to put the hurting on MJ for making me go with you if we ever get back from this."

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