* Rocky leaves. * Shiho does too! * The servants ignore you, you being richly dressed enough that they shouldn't bother you. * Shiho stops outside the tower, considering where to try. * You emerge from the tower and you can see the backside of the great ziggurat. On the other side, you know, is the colliseum, and the rest of the city on the other side of that. * The easiest way, you gather, is to go around the ziggurat and colliseum, rather than through it. * Rocky chitters to Shiho as she heads for the colliseum. ~Hey! Weren't you going to see the elves?~ ~I'm not so sure that's such a good idea.~ ~Why not?~ ~If what Ti... Brian says is true, I could get taken advantage of. That certainly won't help anyone.~ * The entrances to the colliseum are wide open, and people are flowing in and out steadily. Inside, you can hear the shouts of the crowd and the bookers shouting over them. ~Yeah, but... A colliseum? You really think they have good archers in there?~ ~But those elves... You saw how skilled they were. And they didn't even fire!~ ~Wouldn't learning from them be more beneficial?~ ~Hmmm....~ * Shiho sighs and goes to find the elves. ~Alright. I'll see what they offer, first.~ * Rocky follows along. ~If nothing else, you can always refuse.~ * The elven district is not particularly hard to find. * YOu just look around and go the way that looks seediest. * As the area around you gets dirtier and dirtier, and the buildings get even more shabby, you begin to notice a number of large people, their sharply pointed ears marking them as elves. The elves of this world appear to average seven feet tall. * Rocky looks around. ~Then again...~ * Rocky hops onto Shiho's shoulder to avoid getting dirty. ~Not the most inviting place.~ The denizens eye Rocky curiously for a moment, and then go back to their own business. There's a definite feeling of "Not my problem." * Rocky eyes them back. ~Ever get the feeling you're not wanted?~ He crawls into Shiho's backpack. ~I'll just be in here for a while.~ * Shiho continues on. * Eventually, following this rule of thumb, you emerge into what natives call "Shadow Square" * It's a large bazaar type setting, with stalls everywhere, staffed entirely by elves. * Shiho looks at the stalls. * There are stalls for EVERYTHING. Animals, weapons, spells, charms, people... * Shiho looks for someone who could train her in archery. Preferablly someone who won't rob her or kill her. * Shiho finds a number of people who have bows handy. Sadly, they're all elves, and will likely rob, kill, betray, or sell her into slavery. * A number of elves are watching Shiho interestedly, fingering daggers. * Shiho approaches one, glancing at the other elves out of the corner of her eyes. * Elf looks down at Shiho curiously. What do you want, human? I'm searching for someone to train me in archery. I was told that this was the place to look. * Elf smirks. Our techniques are not for humans to learn. What makes you think we will teach you? Why wouldn't you? Because you're human. * Elf sneers. Besides that? Because you've got no money. I suppose you've got a point. I don't need you to tell me when I've got a point, human. I had hoped that you were different from the last elves I'd talked to, but I guess not. * Elf shrugs. No money, no deal. Unless you want to pay in... other coin. * Elf grins widely. Such as? * Elf 's grin makes it quite evident what he's thinking of. Oh. Well, I can see this isn't going to get anywhere. Sorry to waste your time. * Shiho heads back to the colliseum. * You leave Shadow Square itself, and proceed down the dark and dirty alleyways that brought you here. * It seems that the area around Shadow Square is made of nothing _but_ dark alleyways. * Elf steps out into the alley exit in front of Shiho. * Shiho halts. Yes? * Elf starts walking slowly toward Shiho, hand on his dagger. You gave up so easily. * Shiho frowns and takes a step back. "I figured I didn't stand much of a chance to begin with." You don't understand our ways at all. I suppose it's fitting that you won't make it out of here. No, I don't. If I did, I wouldn't be trying to learn. And unless you want to be burned, I'd suggest you back off. * Elf grins widely. * Shiho readies her bow, just in case. * A hand with a rag reaches out from behind Shiho and clamps over her mouth. * Shiho's world starts to go black, and the last thing she hears is a somewhat familiar voice, and then there is only blackness. * Rocky sees the bandit elf from the Great Waste melt from the shadows, and he barks something in an unfamiliar language. It's very melodic, and sounds somewhat like Japanese, though the words are unfamiliar. * The new elf gets angry, and draws his knife, but the bandit elf draws his bow in an instant and puts an arrow through his eye. * Shiho awakens some time later. Out the window of the room, the area is dark, it has obviously been some time. * Shiho looks around and tries to get her bearings. * Elf looks down at Shiho. Now that he's cleaned up and in a loincloth and tunic, he bears a striking resemblance to Alric. You're awake? * Shiho nods. "You're... from before?" * The room itself is small, perhaps ten feet on a side, and the only furniture is a small cot. Yes. * Shiho rubs the back of her head. "Why did you help me?" * Elf holds up his hand, which bears the duplicate of Shiho's ring. I am Al'Ric, of clan Magnus, a Star Dancer. The other me made me promise to give aid to whoever bears his ring. Other...? I see. That explains the resemblence. He says ring is for plenty good mate. You very strong. * Shiho closes her eyes and smiles a bit. "Well, I don't know about that. If I was, I wouldn't have been in that situation." You plenty strong, and you get stronger. I leave tribe to follow you. You come back with me? Stay, be mate? We have plenty strong children, yes? * Shiho stares open-mouthed for a few seconds, then regains her composure. "Ah... I... I can't do that." * Al-Ric looks disappointed. I not strong enough? Ah...No! No... It's just... I've still got to help my friends. I understand. * Al-Ric looks very, very disappointed. Why you go to shadow square? I was hoping to find someone to train me in archery. * Al-Ric looks thoughtful. You stay with me for now, learn shoot? We have... fling? You sample now, keep if like? Ah... I can't do that! I'm underaged! * Al-Ric looks Shiho over. You plenty old. You bleed, yes? Er... Look, I can't promise anything until after I help my friends get back home. No promises. We just have fun now, see what happen? * Shiho facepalms. "That's not exactly what I meant." You learn bow, too. I plenty good, best in Star Dancer tribe. I know, but I can't... * Shiho sighs. * Al-Ric looks down. I not good with common words. Not speak clear. You're better than I am with Elfin. You come, I teach you, yes? We see what happen? All I'm trying to say is I can't be your... um... mate, until I get my friends back home. And even then, I can't promise to be it. You come and learn, maybe you change your mind? * Shiho nods. "I'll come, but..." * Al-Ric reaches out to take ahold of Shiho's shoulder. ~Woohoo! Go Shiho!~ ~Quiet, you!~ Is okay. I wait. * Al-Ric looks like he's gonna cry, but doesn't. * Al-Ric stands up. You come and train shoot, yes? * Shiho stands up, wanting to say something, but getting the feeling if she did, she'd just be digging a deeper hole in his heart. * Shiho nods. "Yes." * Shiho gathers her equipment. * Rocky hops onto Shiho's shoulder. * Al-Ric walks out of the room and waits for Shiho downstairs. [End Session]