Sanguinem Symbolum (SS members only, ended)

[Rogus]

Rogus lay in a hammock, his tunic removed, and bandages covering his left shoulder. His tunic and torn cloak were strewn next to a bloody-water filled bucket and a few rags. He tried to rest, but he could barely contain his excitement, he was having a party after all. He'd made all the necessary arrangements for the four thieves in the only other room in the over-glorified shack he lived in. The table was set with quills and candle-light, even a few cheap wine bottles. He was a good thief, but he refused to steal good alcohol, instead he bought it cheap. He'd likely drink himself into oblivion otherwise; as evident by the pile of empty bottles inside his humble bed chambers.

Ryuzaki knew to use the back door, as the front door faced the street. Though it was night time and no one would be in the streets, Rogus had his front door barred, call it paranoia but he knew how easy it was to break into a house with only a lock on the door. His back door however was kept locked, but unbarred just in case Rogus fell asleep while he rested; Ryu would be able to open it. He sighed as he finished thinking of the rules of the guild. He'd have to think up more to ensure no one in the guild could exploit a loop hole. He didn't like being tyrranical about it, but to him they were necessary to preserve the future business.

As the minutes went by, Rogus began to feel his eyes become heavy, and in no time at all he fell asleep. One couldn't help passing out after losing so much blood AND drinking so much earlier. He dreamed of a tavern filled with people, and flowing with alcohol. After a week of nightmare filled nights he finally managed to have a good one at least.

It was too bad it would soon be interrupted by his visitors.

[Ryuzaki]

There was a soft rap at the door.

No response.

A louder rap.

No response.

Ryu sighed, exasperated. Rogus would chew him out for being late, but knowing him, he was fast asleep, drunk, or not even home. Figured. His compatriot was always a bit... Wild. Looking at the door, Ryu found it best not to open the front door in view of the street. Instead, he walked around to the back, noting the light of candles through the window. Hmm. Hopefully he was home, then.

The thief looked at the door, and then looked around. His eye caught on the shabby roof, some of the thatching loose and frayed. Perfect time for a surprise. Walking up to the roof's edge, the lightweight thief plunged his scythes into the thatch and then proceeded to walk up the wall. Crouching on the roof's edge, he put his scythes away before carefully finding a roofbeam under the strawlike covering, creeping up a meter until he found the hole.

Peering through, Ryu saw Rogus, asleep in a hammock. There were bottles everywhere, and the table was set with four chairs. Well, at least he'd prepared. Now, to enter... It wasn't that far of a drop to the floor. Maybe two meters. But he had to be silent.

The thief took one last look around before lowering himself through the thatch, replacing it over his head. Hanging now, he swung his legs and managed to balance on one of the low rafters and snuck to the wall, where he again used his scythes to lower himself to ground level. Silently hooking the blades back on, Ryu walked over to the table and took a seat, placing his cloak on the chair's back. Exposed now were his two bandoliers, with a dozen throwing knives, his Killing Edge and Iron Sword, and his two belts. One was a whip, although it'd be hard to tell from an idle glance. His scythes were crossed on his back, giving him a formidable and unnerving resemblance to the God of Death.

Now, to wait.

[Charlotte]

The night air was cool and quiet as Charlotte slinked down the back alleys, to the same house the small group had been in earlier that night. They’d parted ways for a while to allow everyone some time to themselves, to clean up or whatever it was thieves did in their spare time. Charlotte had taken the opportunity to try and meet with a client, but when he didn’t show, the woman ended up having a rather insightful conversation with one of her new companions. Her emerald green dress not feeling appropriate for a thief induction, Charlotte decided to don a more appropriate outfit.

So clothed in her dark brown traveling leathers and thigh-high leather boots, Charlotte found herself in front of the same door the group had entered earlier. It was the back door of the house, as Rogus seemed to never use the main entrance, so it was secluded and quiet as it was in the back alley. Charlotte lifted her hand, curling her hand into a fist and rapping on the door. She stood silently waiting for a half a minute, but when no one came she knocked again.

Nothing. Charlotte rolled her eyes. Her impatience got the better of her, so the tired woman crouched down, slipping her lock pick set out of a pouch on the back of her belt. Slipping the tip of the hook pick into the keyhole, Charlotte began carefully and quietly using it to pick the pins of the lock one by one, her twist-flex readied in her left hand.

[Charlotte]

Click! And with that, the back door creaked open, Charlotte having successfully picked the lock open. Tucking her hook pick and twist-flex back into her lock pick kit, the lithe woman slipped the small kit into its appropriate waist pouch as she walked into the house, closing and locking the door behind her as she passed through the entry. It was fairly quiet in the house, so Charlotte assumed she might be the first one there – besides Rogus, of course.

Charlotte walked through the humble kitchen into the small dining area, which was set with low burning candles and rather ridiculous looking quills. She only saw one sitting at the table, that person being the strange, bloodthirsty man that was Ryuzaki. But she didn’t need to look far to see Rogus, passed out in a hammock, clearly exhausted and likely still drunk. Charlotte shook her head; the man would end up a liability if he would always be this way. Then again, there were days where Charlotte wished to drink herself into oblivion as well. Thing was, she never acted on it.

Rogus was awfully pale, though. “Is he going to be alright?” Charlotte aimed her question towards the blue-cloaked thief, sitting down across from him and crossing her legs.

[Ryuzaki]

"..."

Ryuzaki didn't speak at first, instead choosing simply to stand up and bow to the woman. Then, as he stood, he slowly and methodically stretched, bending like a cat and warming up all of his muscles. As he did so, the light twinkled on his assortment of weapons - knives, sword, scythes, and his Killing Edge. Although it looked like a normal sword, on closer inspection, it would reveal an interesting amount of care and craftsmanship. The dual-edged blade's keen edge was razor sharp and wider than a usual blade, and the handle was unusually thick. It almost appeared to be two handles put together. The only visible defect seemed to be a jagged crack in the center of the blade, moving from tip to pommel.

"He'll be fine, once he wakes," the thief muttered to nobody in particular."Seen the other one?"

Done, Ryu moved over to Rogus, bending over and speaking softly into his friend's ear.

"We'd be very glad if your highness would grace us with your presence...And ideally a shirt, you lout." All joking aside, this was business, and Ryu preferred that his friend look presentable.

[Rogus]

Five more minutes mother... His eyes opened to find Ryuzaki leaning over him, their faces a tad too close for comfort. His expression changed from drowsy to a mixture of angry and embarassed. Hurriedly, he shoved Ryuzaki away from the hammock and proceded to usher him out into the larger of the two rooms-- after nearly tripping on all the empty bottles on the ground, of course. He pulled the curtain over his bedroom's doorway to cover his indecency, promptly kicking a bottle across the floor out of frustration. Of course he let himself fall asleep. He was a noble brat after all, he'd rather sleep through an important event such as this than suffer through the dull pain his shoulder was giving him. No matter where he stayed, he still felt pampered and spoiled. It sickened him.

Just one moment. He yawned out as he threw on a rather nice shirt compared to the stained yellow tunic he usually wore. Briefly, he considered wearing his cloak but deemed it unecessary, and rather tacky. Rogus rolled his sleeves up to his elbows and pulled the curtain back again. The man rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as he did, when he looked at the two thieves gathered before him he grinned and rubbed the back of his head in embarassment.

Sorry about that, I figured you'd come earlier. Rogus's voice was haggard, yet punctual. He was drunk, it was obvious from how he stumbled a tad through the doorway, and the smell of whiskey that lingered subtely in the air, but his speech was not slurred, and his eyes were as keen as ever as he looked his visitors over.

I suppose one of us is missing since i only see four of you. He joked. Make yourselves at home. We'll wait a tad longer, if its not too much trouble.
Rogus's home was empty save for the bare necessities, but there was a desk on top of which multiple pieces of paper lay as well as a inkwell and quill. Even a set of tools lay strewn over the papers, it was really the only thing that would draw much interest inside the place.

[Burgid]

She was running late. Not one day and she already was late to get where she needed to be. It was mostly not her fault of course, but she was still late nevertheless. She had been pushing her time already by going a bit off route to pick up of few things she might need later. When she was making her way to Rogus' house she just so happened to literately bump into a person she had met before, and cheated before too. He had only got a quick glace at her, not enough for him to know who she was, but enough to make him want to find out. She could not run, that would be suspicious, So she had to speed walk and use escape tactics. He had been most insistent, following her for quite some time. Once she did manage to lose him and start making her progress back, he somehow was in front of her every time. It was slightly funny at first but it got old real fast.

She finally got past him and to make up for some lost time chose to take a roof level path, taking her rout quickly and skillfully. She arrived uneventfully to her destination. She dropped out of a tree in the back and went to test the door. It was locked. Guessing a test or trap for her being late she looked for a different way in. There looked like a way in from the roof, but that could be risky of damaging something. She found a window instead and felt it, lucky it was operable. She peeked in then quietly slipped into the house behind Rogus. She could tell be they way he moved that he was a little intoxicated. She took to steeping in his rythem best she could until he stopped and spoke.


"Make yourselves at home. We'll wait a tad longer, if its not too much trouble."

Burgid gave a nod to the two seated thiefs before speaking. "Oh, that is fine. But for what?"

[Rogus]

Good thing he wasn't armed at the moment, otherwise Rogus might have killed the voice behind him. To say he was caught off-guard would be a bit of a over-statement, but he was definitely spooked. His right arm twitched to grab for something on his belt as soon as the first syllable left burgid's mouth. In fact, he looked more surprised that he grasped at air instead of a hilt than at Burgid's stealthy entry. Rogus allowed his mind to register the familiar voice after nearly gutting the woman, and turned around with a smile, praying she hadn't noticed his initial reaction.

You! He threw his hands up in the air as if to celebrate, to disguise his earlier reaction. Of course, the two in front of him would have seen it no matter what unless they were blind, Burgid probably couldn't see through his back. He clapped his hands together and chuckled a bit.

Take a seat. Anyone got anything to say? He looked at all three of them with the same empty gaze as he normally gave off.

[Ryuzaki]

"Heh, heh, heh. Should've said 'boo'. He might've died of surprise."

Smirking at Rogus, the thief indulged in a brief laugh before again becoming deadly serious.

"Let's begin, shall we?"

Taking his seat again, Ryu readied himself, steadying his breathing until it was faint and nearly unnoticeable. His eyes narrowed slightly and blinked only rarely, instead slowly swiveling and surveying the three other thieves. This was an important moment for all of them. He would not have it ruined by any mistakes or foolishness. This guild would have power, honor, and prestige. It would show the world that they were a force to be reckoned with, a powerful ally or foe.

[Charlotte]

Drunk as usual, it seemed. Charlotte had met the man less than 8 hours ago, but it seemed his problems were so great they required alcohol at all times of day to cope. Charlotte was honestly surprised Rogus could drink as much as he did and still be standing. Maybe the man could manage it now, but one day the impairment would catch up to him. Charlotte saw nothing wrong with having a good time and drinking to forget, but when it permeated one’s business was when it became a flight risk. That would have to be addressed at one point, of course.

“A fantastic idea,” the woman said in reply to Ryu’s motion to the group. She instinctively looked to Rogus, who seemed to have been deemed the unofficial “leader” of the small group. Charlotte would never dare say the word out loud or make reference to any of them as anything more than a partner, though. The blonde didn’t find having a leader all that appealing, especially when she did so much work as, essentially, her own “boss.” She picked her own jobs and chose her own clients, so this whole working with a group thing would take some getting used to.

[Burgid]

In hind sight, her sneaking up behind Rogus was not the best idea. While it was a bit more of a habit to do that, she had scared him well. She also recalled him beating someone from earlier and would have been bad if he had attacked her reflexively rather than his reaction he actually did have. Yes that could have gone much worse.

Burgid took a seat were she was directed to take and sat down. "Yes, let us begin." She gazed about the three other thieves waiting for the show to get on the road. It was interesting, knowing three people that knew her at the same time at the same place under the same identity. It was something she had not had for quite some time, and it was a bit unsettling. But still was nice to have her very own protection.

[Rogus]

Rogus felt three pairs of eyes on him as he took his seat at the table. He'd done some serious thinking about what he would say when the time came, now all he had to do was remember everything and leave nothing unsaid. They all deserved to know what it would take to make this formation a successful venture, and he'd make sure every man and woman sitting in the room would know what they were getting into.

The four of us are an ambitious lot, aren't we? Its promising that everyone decided to show up... but... The three of you should know what exactly we're getting ourselves into. I'm prepared to make the necessary sacrifices and changes to make this work, but before we all make our oaths I think it only fair to give you all a chance to back out after you hear how this is going to play out. Despite being drunk, Rogus was surprisingly aware and vigilant, looking at each of the other three knaives in the eye before continuing. It wasn't for dramatic effect either, he was making sure they understood that this was business and not some flight of fancy.

By joining this pact, you'll no longer be entirely independent. We won't be four individual thieves, we'll be four peices of a well oiled machine. Without complete trust in our other parts to do their jobs our machine will fall apart. Additionally, for all four to work in conjunction with each other, someone must be coordinating our efforts. In other words, we'll need a bonafide leader to keep our machine running smoothly.We can take it to a vote if you'd like, but for now I nominate myself. He paused and let the idea sink in, he doubted there would be a lack of objections. He'd cut them off for now.

None of us like the idea of superiority, its against our nature. I understand that the idea won't sit well with independent mules like ourselves, its why something like this has never worked. Its also why the leading thief will not be considered a 'boss' to his or her fellows. The four of us have an equal say in our actions, but someone has to make decisions. Someone has to have the power we all detest so much; Authority. Without the force of running water mills will not turn. Without a king there is no kingdom. Without a leader, each and every cause the people take up will fail. This doesn't mean the position has absolute authority. Checks and balances to assure that, whoever our leader is, that they cannot act as a dictator. We're thieves, not nobles or soldiers, we don't have divine authority like the ruling class, nor the structure and discipline of a military. Our leader can be overruled by agreement of three of our four founders. And the three not chosen as our head of affairs will each have a specific and unique role to fufill in the guild. For now let's get the business of choosing our leading thief out of the way first, we'll discuss the other threes' roles and the other pieces of business afterward. If anyone wants to leave now after hearing this first proposal, go ahead and may lady luck be kind on you in the future.

Rogus leaned back. This was what had concerned him the most. He was all for equality in the ranking structure, but he was also too smart to think that a system of four equal leaders could work in the long run. It showed in history. Every successful rebellion, movement, guild, business and nation all had one thing in common, a leader. Every time one of these things arose without a defacto figure of authority, they were inevitably crushed or splintered into smaller factions; as proven by the Lycian League. Hopefully those at the table shared his clarity on the matter, and didn't think he was making a play for power for the sake of it. It was a necessary evil, and Rogus would accept his fate if the others deemed him unworthy of the role. Though, he'd still have the helm of the meeting until the blood pact was signed, after all he'd gathered them here and formed much of the guild's affairs already and he doubted that any of the others had any experience in a leadership role. They were all thieves after all, a profession attributed to independent operators and agents. The key difference Rogus had as a candidate for leadership was his pedigree. THat didn't mean he ruled out the potential for any of the others as the head of affairs. He simply acknoweledged that he was groomed to lead from a young age. He waited for the others to respond in silent anticipation, Rogus knew that if anything about their meeting would be highly interesting it would be this.

[Ryuzaki]

"Sacrifices."

One word came from the blue-clad thief. One word, full of meaning and implications.

"I know I for one don't need any long speeches and idealistic fodder. Words are cheap. Actions are what matter. If we're going to be successful, we have to work together. We have to sacrifice for the good of the organization. Therefore, I too will place my confidence and trust in Rogus. If I find he is not worthy of it, I will rescind that confidence and trust. If it is necessary, I will, without any hesitation, kill anyone who would jeopardize our group. External threats...Or internal ones."

The flatly calm tone and cold voice of Ryuzaki was unnerving and eerie at best as he finished his statements. His eyes were still moving and watching, but his face was blank, almost as if it was nothing more than a mask. Inwardly, though, he was struggling to maintain the facade of detachment. He didn't like knowing that he was willingly putting himself under anyone's power, especially someone as inconsistent as Rogus. For now, he would bide his time. But if necessary, he would not hesitate to act. The guild came before personal doubts.

[Charlotte]

Charlotte remained silent for the entirety of Rogus’s piece, but as the drunken man spoke Charlotte’s eyes narrowed, her mind very alive with her racing thoughts. She certainly had an opinion or two to voice when he was finished, and if there was one thing these thieves would learn, it was that Charlotte would not shy away from making herself heard when she heard something she liked – or didn’t like, which was the case more often than not.

Of course Ryuzaki was the first to declare his trust in Rogus – after all, the two were fairly close. And not out of character, he also threatened death to anyone who stood in their way, which was not surprising coming from a man who believed using death as a tool was more valuable than sometimes keeping your enemies alive for your gain. Still, his declaration did nothing to quell the young woman’s growing concerns.

“Of the four of us, Rogus is presumably the most qualified, sure,” Charlotte began, “But does that make him the right choice?” She looked over to the man, who was visibly intoxicated, while motioning to the state of the man’s home around them. “Can we truly trust you to take care of the affairs of other thieves when you seemingly can’t even take care of your own?” Of course, trust was a petty word when used around thieves, but when Charlotte was considering opening her network to a drunk and a sadist the word held a lot more weight than it usually did.

“And you’ve already made quite clear that we all chose this life as a way around authority, so let me also make something clear as well: I don’t take orders.” Charlotte’s tone was serious, as was her expression. “It won’t happen. If you want to do something that benefits the group but hurts one of my clients or I, there’s nothing in Elibe that will make me agree to do it. And that includes killing just for the sake of it,” her eyes briefly flitted over to Ryu at this moment before they continued to bounce between all three of them. “We’re thieves, for goodness sake, not assassins.” The blonde still held the opinion that the majority of people she stole from or swindled were better off left alive. She was lacking in morals but that didn’t mean she though killing for the sake of it was ever beneficial.

After a moment Charlotte realized it might sound like she wanted to lead the lot of them, so she decided to clarify. “I have no intention of putting myself up for ‘leader,’” the woman punctuated, using her hands to make air quotations as she did, “but if we have to have one, I need to know he’s going to be reliable and level-headed the majority of the time before I sign anything. Let’s face it, we’re thieves, but we don’t have to be unprofessional about it. That’s the whole point of this, right?” Content with having given her say on the matter at hand, Charlotte grew silent again, switching the way she had her legs crossed and crossing her arms as she looked over the group. The young woman was sure more conversation would be had before there was any pomp and circumstance, but it was conversation that needed to be had. Everything had to be out on the table, and Charlotte wouldn’t compromise her business method for three people she still barely knew.

[Rogus]

I for one don't believe words are cheap. Sure actions make a greater impact, but words carry great worth when spoken with intent. He glared at Ryuzaki as if to say 'That didn't help'. He then looked at Burgid for her take but she appeared to not have anything to say, and finally moved his gaze over to Myscha. She was smart, charismatic and very observant. He wagered he had a rival of sorts, one that he was certain could be his better. Rogus respected what she said, and conceded that under normal circumstances she had the winning argument; but these weren't normal circumstances, and Rogus refused to allow this conversation to boil down into a petty argument.

You're right. He shrugged one shoulder, the uninjured one. Whether she did it knowingly or not, she had damaged his image in front of the others by bringing up his faults. Her insults were well aimed well at valid targets, and the delivery! If he wasn't so stubborn he'd have given up then and there.

I don't want to drag this on, but I have to agree, we aren't soldiers and thus we shouldn't be forced to follow orders, nor are we killers and thus the talk of killing should be left out.


I am a hot-blooded lout of a thief, I drink myself into oblivion at the wrong times, and my home is little more than a shack. I appear to be quite the poor example of what you want, don't I? He glanced at Burgid, but didn't look to see Ryuzaki he didn't need to know what he thought of him. Have you ever tried to stitch a wound without the numbing bliss of being drunk, or found an independent thief's lodgings to be particularly impressive? He looked back at Myscha and pulled his tunic to the side to show the stitchings of the wound for effect and proof he hadn't gotten drunk simply for the fun of it.

I admit I am a man of my drinks. I admit my affairs are rather sketchy. I admit I am prone to being angered. I admit all of my faults. I don't mean to argue or insult you Milady, but could you do the same? He stressed the bit about his intention not to argue with, or insult Myscha. Rogus was only subtley challenging her, but it was largely an attempt to dispell her (and the others') apprehension of him.

You overlooked a few positive traits of mine too, you know. He half-joked to lighten the mood. It was all too often the negative in a person is seen before the positive. Though, Rogus supposed it was better than the opposite scenario.