Runs into the tavern, furiously screaming: "JASYNNNNNN!!!!"

[Anaris]

*slams the door behind her after entering the tavern while holding up a Freeportian newspaper*

JASYN!  Where are you, you miserable scoundred!!!  Where??? 

*holds up the paper showing everyone*

Look at what he was up to!  Probably in one of his drunken stupors!

(( http://www.guildportal.com/Guild.aspx?GuildID=209853&ForumID=1023969&TabID=1770902&Replies=8&TopicID=7853487 ))

Not that this surprises me the least bit!  But what I want to make sure of is that you didn't have my bags with me at the time of the incident!!  I can't have my bags spotted in Freeport!!!  It'll ruin my reputation!

[Askari]

<Glances up at the flapping copy of The Freeport Observer>

Anaris, don't tell me you read that drivel? You'll have me believing all the rumors, if I find out you've been searching for news about Lucan...

[Anaris]

*freezes and turns really pale*

I....um......eh....  No!  Wait!  I didn't go out searching for this in the black market so I could read Page 6 and see pictures of who Lucan has been dating lately!  Nor did I want to see what the latest fashion styles are in the Temple Street boutiques!   

*panics*

I.... stumbled upon it!  I saw it in a trash can outside....um...outside Mabb's house!  It's her you should be questioning, not me!  Methinks she still has ties to Freeport! 

*nods vigorously and blinks rapidly*

[Jezerai]

*eyes Anaris sternly*  Mabb can't read ...

[Anaris]

*goes from very pale to flushing very red*


Um.......

Pictures!  She wanted to look at the pictures!!  Or smell them....


*ponders this last statement*

[Jasyn]

* Jasyn -- baffled and confused -- sets down his ale and looks around the room, feeling completely caught off guard.  He holds up the empty palms of his hands at chest height, doing his best to wave off any appearance of guilt that Anaris's accusations may have seeded.

What?  What!?  Wha' did I do this time?  Whatever it was, it ain't my fault!  Scout's honor!

* Jasyn swipes the newspaper out of Anaris's hand to get a quick look and hands it back to her with half a chuckle, folding it back to page 6 as a courtesy to Ana.

Oh.  This thing?  I hear it makes for a great ale coaster.

I don't really know what's goin' on.  I been away from home for a bit 'n just got back.  Ain't really been 'round the right places to hear the skinny, but I'm sure I'll be hearin' 'bout it from the Vagabond folks next time I stop by their hall.  Now don't ya worry ya's purdy l'il head off none now.  I ain't set foot inside Freeport in months 'n ya's bags're perfectly safe right over yonder.

* Jasyn casually motions to an anomolous pile of fashionable leather satchels in a nearby corner.

See.  I told ya I'd take care of 'em.  Well... most of 'em.

[Anaris]

*looks from Jasyn to her bags, back to Jasyn*


Fine....  I'll believe you this time....  I just thought, maybe that is why you failed to pay off the invoices at the spa....are you even still my assistant?  Or is it Njorn now?  I've such a bad memory, these illusionist spells......  Anyway, I'll take your word for it regarding the Freeport incidient......This time.


*takes the newspaper from Jasyn, gives a quick glance to Page 6, frowns, and gently tucks the paper into her purse*


I'll just....dispose of this...this collection of sins in print somewhere it cannot be traced to our tavern.  The last thing we need is for any Qeynosian to think any of us in Saga read this fluff...


*nods*


Very well then, carry on....

[Corsair]

Just then.......a thumping and scratching noise is heard from the largest suitcase sized bag.......

[Jasyn]

* Jasyn arches a brow.

Your... assistant?  Is that like a promotion or somethin'?  'Cause I thought I was just a bag carrier...

* Jasyn frowns upon hearing some strange noises and turns to search for the source.

Um... did anyone else hear that?

[Lyrima]

*flings open the door*

*strides through*

*grins wolfishly as it slams shut*

YO!

How're all y'all doin?

*frowns as a large, leather bag in the back of the room ....hops... forward*

Uh....

[Corsair]

The scratching and thumping stops. A quiet hush comes over the baggage.....

[Lyrima]

*looks at Jasyn*

[Anaris]

*looks horrified from Jasyn to the large bag to Jasyn*


*raises a quizzical eyebrow at Jasyn*

[Corsair]

After a brief pause, a dagger blade punches through the largest case with a loud thump, wiggles, pauses, and slides out of view.....then.....thunp! The blade punches through again....wiggles....and repeats....

[Jasyn]

* Jasyn stares slackjawed at Anaris.

Y'know... I remember how ya used'ta liked to carry around Banco, Ana. 'N just how many of us have seen him again since then?  Huh?

* Jasyn watches the dagger blade punch through a couple of times with concern and turns back to face Anaris pleadingly.

But... please don't tell me ya found a replacement 'n ya's been makin' me carry around some insane, murderous gnome in ya's bags.  Please...?  Gnomes AIN'T pets.

[Corsair]

After several thrusts through the lined leather bag, each with a seemingly growing sense of purpose, the intensity of the assault on the bag increases dramatically. A frenzy of sawing, pushing and what might be....grunting? ....as a bulge grows against the skin of the case. All present hearing the suprisingly loud tearing sound as the material  finally gives way....

[Anaris]

*grows concerned and nervous wondering what, exactly, she packed in that bag*


Um.....well, Gnomes ARE pets, Jasyn!  Just because sometimes I forget to water and feed my pets doesn't mean they disappear never to be heard of...


*remembers Anya the Fae and Banco the Gnome*


*stares with increasing horror as the tearing material beings to unravel what's inside*


Oh oh.....

[Jasyn]

* Jasyn watches worriedly as something begins to emerge from Anaris's bags, looking away briefly to give Anaris a quick glowering glance.

Um... yeah... whatever it is, I'm just SURE ya got it wet 'n fed it after midnight too...

* Jasyn turns his attention back to the bags, barely breathing in the moments leading up to the revelation.

[Lyrima]

After a stretch of interminable silence after Jasyn's final, withering comment,

WaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHOOOOOO!

*pounces on the bag*

*rips it open*

*violently shakes out the contents*

[Corsair]

The llurker within the bag, who had been peering out of a narrow torn gap from the darkness after realizing so many were nearby, watched with widening eyes as she realized the time for indecision was over. Even as she saw Lyrima winding up her mainspring for a leap, the lurker coiled it's own muscles very tight, it's legs pulled under to allow the maximum leverage and force. In unison, it flexed with all it's might, bursting from the much weakened bag even as Lyrima leapt.

Tucking and rolling once as it hit the floor, even as Lyrima landed on the bag, the lurker came to it's feet.

"Stop stop, and none of you will get hurt oh yes!"

It...she...was a ratonga, mottled brown and whitish fur, with fairly close fitting clothes, glasses slightly askew, whiskers and tail flicking in perfect time, and agitated pace. In her paw a vicious looking dagger, weaving  through the air with a mix of anxiety meanace.

"So, you have become rich yes yes?", she said taking in the hall and those around her, "I would thank you for the passage from Freeport oh yes! But of course you did not give it willingly oh no! You would have dotten drunk and celebrated if I had been rounded up and murdered by the militia liek all the rest yes yes? Tavi knows it oh yes!"

Her quickness and attention to details magnified by so much adrenaline, eyes falling on a face or two she had even seen before, Tavi felt fairly sure she might get out of this yet.

"You will all move over to the wall now now please!", motioning with her dagger as she spoke, "Then I can get my things and be on my way yes yes, and none of you need to be stabbed".