Marcus put his sword away as he noticed the commotion outside. Thinking he will be able to come back and persuade the blacksmith into giving up information, Marcus runs out into the crowd of people, trying to find Ahriman.

The blacksmith looked over at the man that glanced at the swords. He had previously criticized it, but this time the man was much softer in his offer to change the weaponry. Trying to brush off Marcus' threatening demeanor, he smiled wide to the man, calling him to the counter and exchanging the swords, as well as giving Ravin a scabbard for the new found sword. "This is one of the best weaponry around. Top-notch design, sharp, and can be deadly when used by the right person."

He then turned to Boris, who practically shoved the silver staff in his face, he glanced at the family marking for a moment, and seemed genuinely confused by this. "I feel like I should...," He then stopped at the mention of a woman by the name of Themba. He was thrown off by the name, however it was obvious that he recognized it.

"She used to be a regular around these parts," The blacksmith replied, "Then, one day she just went poof. Nobody's seen her in the last month. I think she had mentioned something about finding a lost friend. I don't know for certain."

As Jessica and Septimius stepped out in search of Adric, they looked to the boarded house once more. While it was barely noticeable, if Septimius was to glance closely he could see that the door was being shut from the inside.

Ravin pulled the scabbard close like a child would with a loved you. Upon setting his hands on the blade, he had already named it "Cerulean". The lack of blue anywhere on it did not faze him at all. He began to caress the intricate design and fantasizes about all the adventures he would probably never have with it. Damsels in need of slaying, cliched villains in need of thwarting, and wisecracking young wards in need of instructing. In his mind, he lived out the various exploits of Montfort de Corbin, dashing swordsman and permanent foil of Duke Darkterror, both of whom sought the affection of Lady Hazelwood. Did it dawn in Ravin that his form would be more disturbing than charming? Or that if the world wasn't saved there would be no Hazelwood to save either? Or most importantly, the fact that his closest friend was currently missing?

Well, the last fact snapped him back, and sent him running out the door. The crowd was still there, though the center of it seemed to be missing. He quickly joined up with Septimius and Jessica

"Worry not friends, for I am a master tracker. Normally I would only need a sample of their clothes to pick out, but, knowing Adric, I need only follow the scent of heavy alcohol! Unfortunately, he is an example of not splitting up, so we must wait for the whole group, as much as it pains me"

Marcus made his way through the crowd, not seeing Adric anywhere he noticed the door on a boarded house being shut. Was it possible another one of their companions could have been captured? Marcus ran for the door st the barricaded house and jumped into the door, shoulder first trying to break the door down.

Desmond watched as his friends split up, not really knowing who to go with, he settled with Marcus who was closer.

Ghan and his stitcher approached the door.

"Maybe Ghan can be of service?" Desmond suggested. Ghan quickly moved up his claw, opening and closing it in demonstration. "The hinges should be easy pickings for the claw."

The stitched companion began his work on the hinges, each of the metal clasps were easily plucked out by the metallic claw.

"You may now enter. Its also silent. At least not to alert anyone too much."

Ahriman taps Borislav's shoulder and points to Septimus and the others, then joins them. "Shall we see what hides behind this clever façade?"

No one was answering his questions and he grit his teeth in anger. "Doesn't anyone know what happened to Adric!" He seethed, whispering to Jessica, "They all bought something from the fool, but they don't know where he went?" He looked around while running his fingers through his hair, trying to calm down. Suddenly a house that wasn't like the rest caught his eye. While all the others were occupied and had flower beds and open windows to let in the nice warm wind, one was boarded up and dilapidated. The door was closed, and he squinted with curiosity at a peculiarity. He could just see through the gap between the poorly constructed door and frame a bar shutting the door.

"Hey Jessica," he looked at the swordswoman, "follow me, I think I found something." He walked over to the house, fingering his staff as he got paranoid. He tried to look through the windows but what the boards didn't cover, cobwebs and dust did. He went to the door and hesitantly knocked with his left hand, the buckler making a solid metal thunk on the wood, while his right drew his staff. He tried to look through the cracks in the door to see anyone who approached.

This was bad. It looked like people were splitting up, but that was exactly what he feared that they would do. If anyone, anyone happened to be left alone for too long, it could easily be them who found themselves snatched up too.

Following close behind Jessica and Septimus, he muttered, "It looks like we've found a town after all, but once again, that drink is going to have to wait." Sighing with exaggerated forlornness, he was suddenly back to business once more. He didn't draw his weapon but he said, "If anything happens, I have you covered, brother."

Jessica got more worried as she heard the door from a house nearby shutting down. The feeling that something terribly bad was happening won't leave her body, she said to Septimius as she started to run towards the house "Yeah I noticed, tho Marcus is already on his way by himself... again. C'mmon let's hurry!" she quickly approacjed the house following behind Marcus, with her hand on the handle of her sword. Ready for anything.

Ravin sniffed the air. His extreme senses, despite not having sensors to pick them up with, could smell the alcohol that always announced Adric's arrival. He was about to step in that direction when he noticed everyone running to a house.
"Uhh... Friends? I can smell the alcohol and he's that way. I'm sure that house has many mysteries to solve but right now we must solve the mystery of where Adric is. And we already know how to find him." He hesitated "I very much don't want to split up, but I feel like our companions come first"

OOC: Ravin they're all assuming Adric is in the house

They all burst through the door as fast as they possibly could, Marcus making the aggressive approach by practically breaking the rickety door down. The wood crumbled, and everyone pretty much fell into the house. As they looked around, everything was pitch black, save for the illumination by the now late afternoon sun. There seems to be nothing at first, however upon closer inspection were words on the walls, written in what was now dry blood.

No Place Safe

Groans were heard from upstairs. Was it Adric?

[spoiler=]Adric hated things. He couldn't find any specific thing to hate, all he knew was that things, in general, deserved to be hated. As his vision blurred, and his knees weakened, Adric tried to send a message to his friends. "Mph Mphphhh" he slurred beneath the rag. Not only was it too quiet to be heard, but there was not a person around that good decipher it. Adric instead tried to leave a mental note, suspended in air above his pack. "The money you fools!" It would read "Don't forget the money!" Adric then blacked out, hoping his friends would somehow read the non-existent note he just left for them.

Adric woke with a start. His vision was clear. His breath didn't smell of alcohol. Samson sat across the table from him.

"Adric, howzit going pal?" Adric tried to reach and grab samson, but found his arms could not move. Ah he thought a dream then. Samson smiled at Adric. Adric glared back. Samson still smiled. Adric hated him for it. "C'mon old pal! We can't let the silly semantics of previous escapades sully our friendship!" Adric leaned in closer

"You left me for dead while you ran off with your tail between your legs you coward!" Samson's face became red with embarrassment. Or was it with pride?

"Details, pal, details! We both knew that whole deal never woulda worked forever!" Samson still smiled. Adric hated that type, the type that always smiled no matter what. They were the worst. Adric growled between gritted teeth.

"'Details'? I think you owe me a bit more than 'details'!" Adric managed to fight off the power of the dream to move his arms half an inch.

"Why'se that pal? What'd you lose? I can't quite place my FINGER on it?" Samson leaned in closer with a giant, fake, saccharine smile on his face. Adric glared for a moment. Then he began to laugh. A huge, uproarious laugh. Adric wanted to cave in Samson's ugly nose. But alas, he couldn't move. Why is the way always barred!? he thought lamenting

"Say, Samson?" Adric said, having collected himself from his laughter, "If this is my dream, why can't I move, grab you by the throat, and break every bone in your body?" Samson smiled at the morbid question.

"Well pal, that's cuz this ain't your dream!" Adric blinked "You'se sleepin, or in your case knocked out, and I decided that would be uh, what word would you use, uh, 'a most opportune time' to chat" Adric's voice took on a pleading, puppy dog quality

"Well then, my dear and great friend, can you please allow me to move freely?" Samson's smile went dark for a moment, before he picked right back up

"And let you crush my mind? Not a chance pal!" Adric watched as Samson began to walk into the distance "Now listen pal, you'll be safe-ish for the time being. Trust me, alright? Would I lie to you?" Adric smiled

"At any and all opportunities" Samson smiled back.
"See ya around pal!" And he faded into the darkness[/spoiler]