I met the man's gre, unmoved by his intimidation tactics as he failed to take either the former captives, the master of the defunct pleasure house, or me. I gnced at the shrouded figures who had surprisingly shown up, [Unknown] was the only tag they had, but it was readily apparent that the City Guards knew who or what they were. "A crime was committed here; the perpetrator is right there. He will come with us as well as all the witnesses," the irritated Sergeant yelled at the shrouded figures.

  Based on the throbbing veins I could see, the man was extremely irritated. "No, I am not," I told the man, cutting through the growing tension as I felt Bast's presence again.

  I had requested her assistance, and she had disappeared without any resistance, surprisingly. 'They come!' I couldn't keep the smile off my face.

  The corrupt guards should have been more worried about destroying any evidence of their involvement with Seb, thankfully the man was meticulous with keeping his records otherwise I may have been screwed. "What are you smiling at?!?!" the guard screamed at me.

  I smirked and gnced behind him as a half dozen Medjay appeared out darkness that enveloped the street, "Hey Hakim!" I called out as I waved to him.

  Sos and a few others I had traveled with chuckled while the older Medjay gred at me, "I thought you were going to stay out of trouble?" I shrugged my shoulders.

  Was I embarrassed by what I had done? Not at all, just embarrassed by the fact I had to do it in the first pce, "Well, you know how it goes, you meet up with family you never expected to see again. Then, when you are catching up, the apartments where they are living are attacked by some svers." I punctuated the point by kicking Seb lightly. The man grunted and gred at me, but the gag kept him quiet. "Worse, you discover the sving ring has paid off some of the local guard and officials to work in complete anonymity," I told him as I turned my focus towards the group of armored guards.

  The lead guard, Ryjek Still, based on the records Seb kept, snarled and began to draw his sword when Akasha appeared. The Rogue quickly pressed her dagger to the City Guard's throat as she brought him to his knees. The other City Guards began to react, but the Medjay quickly subdued them.

  I turned my attention towards the cloth-covered figures, who were openly wielding knives but did not intervene, "Hakim and whoever leads you guys, come with me!" I ordered once the guards were tied up. I looked at Sos, "Keep the City Guards, Seb, and the other sver alive! If any more of the City Guard show up, tell them to fuck off." I instructed the man.

  The Medjay acknowledged the order as I turned and led Hakim and the cloth-covered figure into the former whorehouse. "Will you tell me why you got involved with a whorehouse? Why did you attack its owners?" Hakim demanded.

  I stopped and turned toward him, "Do you think I would do all of this for no reason?" I demanded as I stared the other man down.

  Hakim finally grimaced and shook his head, "No, I don't think that at all," the Medjay finally replied as I gnced at the cloth-covered figure.

  The captives had been through enough. "Take off the hood, the people I am taking you to see have been through enough, you don't need to scare them any further," I told them as I turned and headed for the basement.

  The two followed me, and I was relieved to see the hooded figure was a woman, and while her garb and weapons were ominous, I was hoping her sex was a point in her favor. Bast was still there, surrounded by all the people who had been caged by Seb. "Ladies and gentlemen, I want you to tell these two your stories of how you ended up here. They will probably ask you questions, and while I know you all want to get out of here, they will need this information to deal with Seb and anyone else who was involved in this sve trade." I urged them.

  The cloth-covered woman, I still didn't know her name, cleared her throat. "Svery is not illegal, sir," she pointed out.

  I could tell she was uncomfortable pointing it out to me, "True, but ensving people just because you can, isn't legal, is it?" as I turned to face her.

  The woman paled and shook her head, "No, criminals and captives from war are the usual reason why people are ensved. Taking someone and ensving them just for your benefit is outwed, sir." The woman quickly replied as she moved towards the former captives.

  I gnced at Hakim. "Who is she?" I asked the Medjay.

  Hakim grimaced, "A Shadow of the Pharaoh," he softly whispered before moving towards the former sves as they began to talk. I took a seat near the stairs while I pulled out a canteen and the notifications from the battle.

  Spoiler--- System Alert --- Quest Complete: Root and Branch Notice: While you could have ignored the plight of the people ensved by Seb, you chose to stand and fight for those who could not. You have also discovered that Seb was a traitor, selling those he ensved to the Ilithian invaders to the north. Only time will tell how far his traitorous deeds will go. You have received +2,500 Experience, +50 (+25) Renown, your Reputation with the denizens of New Memphis has increased to Friendly, your Reputation with the Medjay Order has increased, and your Reputation with Mentu Thespa has increased to Liked. Skill Name: Unarmed CombatSkill Level: 6Skill Type: PassiveEffect: Increase the Damage you inflict when unarmed by 15%.Cost: N/ACooldown: N/A Skill Name: Blunt WeaponsSkill Level: 7Skill Type: PassiveEffect: Increase the Base Damage of any equipped Blunt weapon by 17%.Cost: N/ACooldown: N/A Skill Name: Medium ArmorSkill Level: 5Skill Type: PassiveEffect: Increase the Base Armor of any equipped Medium armor by 16%.Cost: N/ACooldown: N/A Skill Name: Light ArmorSkill Level: 6Skill Type: PassiveEffect: Increase the Base Armor of any equipped Light armor by 18%.Cost: N/ACooldown: N/A Skill Name: StealthSkill Level: 6Skill Type: ActiveEffect: Increase the chance to hide from enemies by 18%.Restriction: Cannot be directly observed be enemies to activate.Range: SelfDuration: Until Canceled or Broken.Cast Time: InstantCost: 20 StaminaCooldown: 30 Seconds Skill Name: BackstabSkill Level: 3Skill Type: ActiveRequires: Stealth must be activeEffect 1: Increase the Damage of your next attack by 520%. (Restriction: Knives Only)Effect 2: Increase the Damage of your next attack by 270%. (All other weapons)Effect 3: Increase the Critical Hit Chance of your next attack by 5%.Range: MeleeCast Time: InstantCost: 20 StaminaCooldown: 30 Seconds Skill Name: AcrobaticsSkill Level: 3Skill Type: PassiveEffect 1: Decrease Stamina Drain/Fatigue while jumping or performing aerial maneuvers by 3%.Effect 2: Decrease Damage from falling by 3%.Cost: N/ACooldown: N/A Ability Name: Spark of CreationAbility Level: 2Ability Type: PassiveEffect 1: The Holy Light is unlocked. Effect 2: Increase the Damage of Light-Based Skills and Spells by 2% per Spark of Creation Level. (Current= 4%)Range: N/ACost: N/ACooldown: N/A 1 X Level up! Racial Bonus: +1 Endurance and Dexterity You have 5 free Attribute Points. You have 4 free Skill Points. --- System Alert ---

  [colpse]Not bad, "You realize that Hakim will want you to move after this?" Bast asked as she sauntered over to me.

  I smiled at the tan and silver cat, "People can want all they want, doesn't mean they will get it." I told the Goddess. I could feel more than one gnce thrown my way, but I ignored them. "Can you tell me anything about the trial?" I asked the Goddess as I pulled up the Css Skill Sheet.

  Spoiler--- Tempr Skill Sheet --- NameLevelGeneral Info Light's EmbraceInitiateThis passive skill utilizes the Light to enhance your natural Health Regeneration. Increasing this Skill will increase the boost to your Health Regeneration at the Skill's current Level. Light's PotentialUnlockedUnlocking this passive skill allows you to utilize the Light to enhance your natural Spirit Regeneration. Radiant StrikeInitiateWith this skill, the Tempr infuses their next attack with a potent bolt of Light to increase the damage they deal. Increasing this Skill will increase the Damage you deal to your enemies. Light BoltNoviceWith this skill, the Tempr unches a concentrated bolt of Light energy at their enemies, causing damage and blinding them for a time. Increasing this Skill will increase the Damage you deal to your enemies.

  [colpse]I considered the choices and dropped a single point into Light's Potential before closing out the Skill sheet. "You will be pressed to your limits and beyond, that is all I can tell you, Alexander," Bast commented.

  --- System Alert --- Skill Unlocked: Light's PotentialSkill Level: InitiateSkill Type: PassiveSkill Description: Draw on the ever-present power of the Holy Light to restore your Spirit from the strains of battle and spell casting. As your mastery of this Skill increases, so to will the effects of this Skill. At higher Levels, new effects may be unlocked.Effect 1: Increase Spirit Regeneration by 15%.Cost: N/ACooldown: N/A --- System Alert ---I grimaced at her response, while the boost to my Spirit Regen was nice, I wanted and needed more information. "You can't tell me anything else? I am putting my life and future on the line here Bast, tell me something, please." I urged her.

  Bast shook her head, the human action was still odd on her cat figure in my mind. "It's forbidden and I will not go against my father's order," I grunted, annoyed but accepted her expnation.

  I wouldn't want Ra pissed off at me either for breaking an order from him without a damned good expnation and curiosity wasn't a good reason. "What about the temple and the people there, what will we do if they oppose my admittance?" I asked the cat Goddess.

  If a cat could smirk, Bast would be doing it right now. "They will be removed if they do anything to oppose Ra's mandate," Bast said with such certainty, that I didn't doubt it. One thing was certain, it would be interesting.