And how would I know that? You haven't finished telling us what's happened! I just want you to be safe. And sicne you won't make sure you go places unescorted at least I can make sure you don't go places unarmed.

Going to the Market is a bit different than going into some weird abandoned building to fight monsters!

Expanding your skills and your options, is never a bad idea. I am glad you had help, and wish you a speedy recovery.
Also I ask that you try to have somebody with you if you try something like this again please?

Well you obviously ended up there! Ron and I are Gunsmiths! Let us put something special together for you!

I was thinking a Gun-Cane myself...

But regardless! If you take the proper precautions it would be almost perfectly safe.

Of course it would be safe.

Just don't 'look' down the barrel.

If you will pm me the address to send it to I believe I may have a more "acceptable" solution. In my homelands past, weapons were outlawed many times, leading to a wide variety of improvised and concealed eqipment.

I am thinking something akin to a shikomi-zue, with a slight difference. I am thinking a non-lethal stun device in the far end, and a blade runing teh length inside the cane.

Yea once again I was not trying to funny.

People seem to think that I am trying to be funny.

Exactly! I’m not going to NEED a shotgun going to the market, am I!? So why should I carry one!?

Depends on where you shop.

just because you survived now doesn't mean you always will in the future. you may not want a gun, but any weapon's better than going alone and unarmed.

Are you versed in Bhuddist doctrine Ms. Solstice? I may have just the thing for you, I kept it from going on display in a museum due to some anomolous magnetic readings.

GhostSpider wrote:So Az is still alive. Wonder if he would be interested in a sparring match. I've always wondered who the better swordsman is, and Karlash would just love to meet Deathkiss.

I hope you’re right about Azrael still being alive, Konrad. But to be honest, I’m not entirely sure . . . .


My dreams were disjointed . . . I had a dim recollection of them. I was pleading for the help of a faceless crowd gathered in a half circle. I was watching as though from above, as though I had eyes again. They were discussing something I could not hear while I begged for their attention. . . .


And then I was jerked back awake as though someone threw water in my face. I felt the climax of magic like an explosion, and then it slowly dimmed. Still Open to the Supernatural, I searched frantically for the culprit.

I barely had time to turn away from Ben before I fell to my hands and knees again and threw up at the perverse, festering evil that haunted the second floor like the rankling pus of Ben’s injuries. My mouth was gaping open as the steel jaws of their thoughts slammed shut against my mind. My body quivered with the intensity of their search for an opening . . . gathering the core of my willpower, I staved them off. Another mental attack came, stronger than the first, intended to break down my mind block. My clenched jaw quaked, but I repelled them.

By this time, they were on the top floor. There were five of them . . . the Harbingers Tony spoke of. Raising my head defiantly, I turned from my sick and planted the butt of my staff into the ground and forced my quivering legs to stand. All my weight was leaning on my staff, but I was straight and still.

“Interesting,” the foremost one said; its well-deep, smooth voice grated on my sheltered mind. “Interesting indeed . . . .”

“Where’s Azrael?” I demanded. As a vampire, I had once possessed the ability to make my voice carry with the same intensity of a leopard’s roar . . . as a human, my voice sounded puny and uninspiring. The demons started chuckling at my words. It was a terrible sound, like the gates of hell creaking open and shut, stimulating despairing prisoners in a false hope of escape. “Where is Azrael!?” I shrieked, trying to stifle my fear as they moved closer, one by one, in a half circle that encompassed me completely. My dream . . .?

“Do you mean . . . this?” The leader had remained where it was, facing me directly at the apex of the half-circle. Something snapped in the air, like a cloak in the wind. But the gesture was lost on me; I asked for no explanation and the demons gave none; they continued to chuckle and jeer, abrading my nerves with each inflection, if I could call the hollow, dead sound that. I pursed my lips and gathered my courage as they stepped forward and drew the circle tighter like a noose. I would like to say I took a step back in order to better protect Ben, but I cannot say I did so without fear for my own life, too. If they had killed Azrael . . . what threat would I pose?

No. I refused to let thoughts like that enter my mind. Tony had said this wouldn’t work, but I had to at least try . . . I gathered my courage and thoughts into a single, powerful core. Then I hurled all the mental energy I could muster at the leader. It slammed into the demon like a battering ram. It rocked back with the force of my blow and fell to one knee.

“You . . . shall die for your insolence,” it growled wrathfully, getting back to its feet. “But first you shall beg for death before I am through with you!” Anger and hatred slammed back at me with so much force I might as well been roundhoused in the face by Chuck Norris. I shuddered, stumbled, and fell back at the blow, collapsing like a doll. Fear clogged my senses; I dragged myself backward on my elbow even as it advanced. At the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction . . . a pillar of light touched my thoughts.

Whenever I see green, I switch on the lights.

Kolya wrote:Whenever I see green, I switch on the lights.

I’m glad it makes a difference for you, Kolya . . . .


I became aware of a ley point suddenly appearing far to my right. The demons noticed it too, and turned to face the strange tear in reality. I heard a familiar voice cry out in words of magic, and then such a massive influx of energy scythed through the air I had to turn my sightless gaze away from it. The energy struck the harbinger leader like lightning. The creature was lifted off its feet and hammered into the wall.

“Seventh Harbinger of the seventh layer of your Realm,” the familiar voice thundered, “I name you! Hothbara, back to the Mists of Shadow and ne’er return!” The Harbinger screamed as its name was spoken, and then the magic engulfed even whatever its discorporated remains were.

“Josephus?” my cry was drowned in the sounds of the fray. I flinched as raw magic seared through the air in hot ribbons. I retreated and found Ben, quickly covering him with my own body as bursts of energy highlighted my mind like sparks in the darkness. Various voices could be heard, some human and some not, but all were lost in the din of mystic mêlée. The harbingers fought back ferociously. I shut my eyes tight and held Ben close.

All became quiet. I sensed about; the Harbingers were gone. I heard the minute sounds of living beings standing still, and somehow I knew they were watching me. I lifted my head cautiously.

“Celeste?” a young woman broke the silence, taking a step nearer.

“Felicia?” I said weakly, climbing back to my feet. I tilted my head. “Josephus?”

“I am here,” the old man came to me quickly, taking my hands in one of his and my shoulders in the other. “When you called for us, we feared the worst. Luckily, the rip of magic gave us the power needed to get us all here in time to save you.”

I turned my head in confusion. “All?”

“The Elders of Oldsalem,” he replied. “We have been working tirelessly in order to keep the return of the Crimson King from happening. Yes, we know of him. In fact, we were in the very act of discussing in a meeting just how to do it when you arrived and . . . alerted us to your peril.” He gently released me and shifted. “We must take this man back to Oldsalem if he is to be healed—we can do nothing for him here, and neither can your doctors.”

I touched Josephus’ shoulder. “He has a daughter. Molly. She shouldn’t be separated from him.” I told him of the arrangement with Bert the Turtle.

“Very well,” he said after a moment. “Our magic grows weaker so far from Oldsalem. We will return this man there first. Then we will return you home, and finally . . . we shall retrieve this man’s daughter.”

“Wait,” I tightened my grip on his arm when he started to move away. “I lost my staff . . . and a ring. Will you help me search for them?”

He hesitated before answering. “Celeste, we have little time before the rip closes. We will do what we can, but . . .” he sighed and gently my fingers off.

Two minutes later, I was standing their midst, Felicia hugging me tightly. The swirls of magic energy surrounding us pulsated, and my stomach went nauseous when I felt their magic lift me through the air. I clutched my staff in one hand and the amulet in the other as we teleported away; we had not found the ring.

I felt too drained to weep.

I trust the item I shipped has reached you. Take the handle of the cane, twist clockwise 1/8th of a turn, pull aproximately 7 inches. The cane itseld is rather sturdy, and should be able to serve as a bludgeon untill you decide to pull the weapon from it.