~ ~ ~ In response to Peppin's disavowal of being a thief, the Mocking Man merely quirked a smile, and gave a slight shrug, saying "Fine have it your way.  I'll report the matter to the constabulary, Jinky-Slink."  The Razor Man tossed out a Thieves' Cant term for a pickpocket just to test for reaction.  Of course, there was a slight hitch in the plan.  The reaction from the Redman was not what Gideon had expected, and caused him to do a surprised doubletake.  The Dragon didn't realize he'd had something stolen from him!  The Master Barber was certain the 'Halfling' had made an attempt, but perhaps was mistaken about the success of the attempt.  The Loremaster stepped back onto the porch, and replaced the Monocle back in his vest pocket, as things seemed to be winding down.  But the excitment wasn't over yet. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ The burst of flames which ate the 'Halfling's' top knot was vastly amusing for the Master Barber, who watched 'alarmed' from the top step of the porch.  It was poetic justice in a way for the Dragon whether he knew it or not.  As the verbal exchange started between the Dragon and Vail and Peppin, Gideon backed up to the door of his shop, still watching the ongoing drama playing out in front of his shop.  The tall gaunt man turned from the action when Peppin started his retort, and retrieved from inside the foyer closet his cape, fedora and cane.  The Loremaster returned back out to the porch in time to hear the Dragon say something about nursery ryhmes.  The Mocking Man popped on his brown fedora hat, and with the Silver Wolf's head handle of the cane hooked over his left forearm, afixed the black half-cape about his neck.  As the Dragon addressed him, the former Guild-Master took the cane from his arm, and stepped to the edge of the porch to answer him. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Only before he could open his mouth to reply, the FUN began once more with the assistance of young Sydney's tantrum.  The young Girl held phenomenal and apparently uncontrolled power.  What he saw coming from the small Girl made Gideon wonder if she was perhaps TOO dangerous let live as there was surely no way to control... her?  Or may be there was a way.  The possibility would require some research perhaps even another expedition for a special trinket he'd heard rumor about in the Anaurach Desert.  The spectacle of power put on by Sydney greatly impressed the Barber who watch a little in awe from the porch. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ The palpable danger radiating from street caused the silver Wolf's Head cane to strongly vibrate in the Loremaster's right hand, and issue a deep threatening growl heard only in his mind.  Seeker, the large crow, also raucously sounded her own alarm, and burst into flight back around the far side of the shop, leaving a few black feather drifting in her wake.  Their warnings alerted Gideon to the danger, and broke him from his entranced thrall with the powers being displayed.  The Mocking Man tightly clenched his left fist, concentrating his will upon the ring, and raised a wall of force across the front of his building to shield it and himself against the coming showdown.  The Dragon had already killed off all the flowers and plants at the front of his shop and blackened the wood with scorching heat. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Gideon knew if someone didn't intervene soon, he'd have to just as he did before on the previous night when the Girl had used her powers.  Only this time it might not go unnoticed.  And if it succeeded, the Dragon, if given the chance, would most certainly ... kill the Girl.  The other two most likely wouldn't stand a chance against the Dragon without Sydney, and if wise would flee with the Girl.  The Loremaster didn't like the options left him, so prepared to use again the magic which had worked previously on the young Girl... SLEEP.  She was making things DISAPPEAR!!  The former Guild-Master couldn't allow this to continue, and cast his magic [8HD affected] upon the area wherein the Girl stood, hoping for similar results. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Secretly relieved that the young girl again proved susceptible to the Sleep magic, Gideon gaped in fake shocked awe as Sydney collapsed in the midst of the trio, and loud enough for the Red Man to hear, 'disbelievingly' whispered "Oh, my Lord..."  The Loremaster released the wall of force, slightly saddened at the waste of some of the ring's power, but upon noting the Dragon's confusion, cheered considerably just seeing that.  The Mocking Man acted awed by holding on to the support post at the top of the stairs, and deferentially flattered "Your Lordship is mighty beyond measure." with a small bow.  In response to the Tetanius' question, the Master Barber stepped down from the porch, and pointing to some powdery ash from his flower garden on the ground where the sedan use to be, exclaimed "My Lord, look there.  She... she must have... vaporized... or disintegrated it... and everything else that disappeared."  The human looked back to the Red Man, and with reasonable suave, suggested "She... must've depleted all her energy, trying to defeat You.  It left her weak and vulnerable to Your awesome power!  Your Lordship, please come away from here.  I think we can do business.  We must talk about your needs where we will not so easily be overheard."  The former Guild Master made to escort Tetanius away from the trio into the central market square. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ A fortnight past, eleven Riders clad all in black and mounted upon equally black steeds galloped hard from Water Deep.  Their destination was a little backwater hill-billy town in the depths of the High Forest called Elmshade.  The black-cloaked Riders were on a mission for the Master of the Thieves' Guild.  Word of the whereabouts of the Mocking Man had reached the ears of the Crime Lord Xanathor.  The King of the Water Deep's Sewers had a long memory, and a ruthless habit of keeping a balance sheet on all debts owed.  And the balance sheet on the Mocking Man was long overdue, and why the Crime Lord had dispatched the Troop of Riders to exact payment due or 'cancel' the debt-holder. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ The Dark Riders, led by an equally Dark Lady, cut east overland, skirting the southern eaves of the ArDeep Forest, and rode across the plains to reach the city of Secomber.  Two days out from Water Deep, the Horsemen rode down a dozen Skeletons wandering the country side, and laid the restless Dead once more to rest in shallow graves, their bones scattered on the ground in Riders' wake.  Seven days out from Water Deep nearing Secomber, the Black Riders encountered a band of seventeen Ogres providing an unofficial service to the town by exacting a toll for crossing through their territories.  A protracted battle with the hulking brutes would slow them down and likely reduce the size of her entourage of Enforcers.  So the black-clad Leader ordered the Troop to charge through the ranks, inflicting what wounds they could.  Blows were exchanged and wounds taken on both sides, but nothing serious enough to kill or maim.  The Troop won through to the city of Secomber.  There the Riders exchanged horses and replaced weapons before again taking to the road and riding north on the eighth day out from Water Deep.  The Troop followed the Unicorn Run River into the High Forest, and on the evening of the thirteenth day out, dined well on frog legs after encountering a pod of two and half dozen Giant Frogs.  It was the last night on the road before reaching their destination. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Morning of the fourteenth day, they'd arrived, at last.  The Troop rode in silent dual columns at the back of the Dark Lady, and scrutinized the locals they passed on the road leading to the central market square.  The entire Troop was irritable from the long ride, but none moreso than the tall statuesque, dark-haired Woman in their lead.  The foulness of Dawn Tier'Reuh's mood was compounded not only by the long journey, her dislike of horses and their stench, but also caused by the extreme discomfort and torment of her womanly cycle, wreaking havoc upon her temperament.  The slightest thing could set her off as the other Riders discovered after leaving Secomber.  And in her present state, clearly discernable to those with a 'heightened' sense of smell, she was purely inclined to rip the head off anyone who got in the way of her search. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Fortunately, their search for the Mocking Man was not long. For, as they reached the central market square, they found the one for whom they searched talking with a gaudily dressed Red Man.  At a simple motion from the Dark Lady, the dual columns of Riders split off, fanning out into a semi-circle as they advanced on and surround whom they were after.  Once the Black Riders closed in around the two 'men', Reuh nudged her horse foward into the ring BEHIND them, and leaned forward upon the saddle horn with her arms crossed. The Half-Breed, with black, glittering eyes, looked solely upon the Mocking Man, and with deceptive calmness in her softly lilting voice, called "Markus, we must talk... now." ~ ~ ~

---

Location:  Gideon's Barber Shop;
Time:  Morning [17th of Summertide (179th day of the year), 1 week after the Red Dragon attack and Weremacht parley];

 ~ ~ ~ Treading carefully in his dealings, there was no way Gideon would allow the Dragon in his shop without first safeguarding all the artifacts and relics he'd collected over the decades, especially the Orb of the Wyrm.  The Loremaster suspected the Orb might be emitting sympathetic resonances which had drawn the Dragon to him and his shop as had happened before.  A second and more compelling reason was the strange silver backpack.  The former Guild Master, during his scryings of the violent battle a week prior, had seen it do some strange things when magic was used against the Dragon.  This effect had been repeated just now during the confrontation between the trio and the Dragon, and reinforced the cautious attitude of the Mocking Man, who continued to eavesdrop on the Dragon's thoughts. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ As they walked toward the center of the market square, the Barber stopped suddenly, and 'looking' abjectly apologetic, deeply bowed, saying "Oh, Your Lordship, please forgive my lack of etiquette."  The Mocking Man straightened from his bow, and meeting the Red Man's gaze, formally introduced himself, saying "If it pleases, Your Lordship, let us begin again.  I am called Gideon, and as the Barber for Elmshade, would be my honor to serve Your needs."  The Loremaster paused, his face taking on a 'pained' expression, as he regretfully related "Unfortunately, Your Lordship, as You are 'new' here, and may 'not' know about this..." and slightly lowering his gaze to the ground, revealed "Just about a week past there was devastating battle here in town, which has damaged the foundation of my shop and home, and left the interior in shambles.  It is not ready to recieve a personage of such grandeur and status as Yourself, Mi'Lord." ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Looking up from the ground, Gideon smiled at the Red Man, as his agile mind touched upon a most clever plan, and launched into an aggrandized version of the battle, animately telling him "But You should've seen it!  So awe inspiring!  There was this incredible Red Dragon, so immense in size that he sheared in two with a simple flick of his tail one of the Mage Towers.  And, the unbelievable power of the Dragon... "  The Loremaster included hand gestures with his tale, making a horizontal slash with his hand about the dragon's tail, and then an upward wrenching motion, as he stated "...enable him to rip the another of the Mage Towers completely out of the ground, foundation and everything!  There was no stopping the Dragon!"  The Mocking Man made sure to measure his tale against the thoughts of the Dragon in order to add more details, and continuing with the hand gestures, added "He was like some cosmic force emboddied in beautiful blood Red scales, magnificent claws longer than I am tall thrice over, and powerful wings, when fully spread blotted out the light from the sun like a Draconic Eclipse."  The former Guild Master threw in an added twist, mentioning, "Oh, and the mighty Red Dragon even had a personal barbarian servant, which He permitted the honor of riding upon His back.  That made me wonder what kind of services the Dragon demanded from His servant, back scratcher, claw sharpener, teeth cleaner, or perhaps more intimate pleasures." and paused, taking a quick lookaround the open plaza. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Noting the horseman spreading out on the farside of the market square, the Mocking Man frowned not liking the look of this, while saying "And speaking of intimate pleasures, Your Lordship, there are few young, unwed ladies, who reside here in this small town; however, no where near as many as you might be accustomed to nor the quaility from the cities over which You rule." and attempting to steer the Red Man away from the approaching riders down the road toward the ruined temple and towers, expounded "You've already met the young girl, Vail out front of my shop.  There's Melanie, a worshipper of the Forest Goddess, Mielikki.  There's Tessa Beauchamps; however, since she returned from exploring the ruins has been vastly more bitchy of late..."  The former Guild Master pulled up short as the riders suddenly closed in around them, and then visibly cringed upon hearing the silken female voice call his old name, causing him to softly mutter "Oh, sh%t." ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Slowly turning about, Gideon looked up at the woman leaning forward from her saddle, and immediately confirmed his fear upon noting the multi-eyed silver emblem of Xanathor afixed to her belt.  The former Guild Master responded "Young Lady, perhaps we could speak later.  I'm busy at the moment with someone vastly more important than you." ~ ~ ~