lizardman22

(Part 1) The Scaleglaze Tea House looked relatively unassuming among the other brick-and-marble buildings of South Dierdre, but it served the best tea in the entire desert country, at least according to its regulars. Patrons drank special blends of tea from heat-resistant tea glasses (made of dragonglass, of course), though it was also common to take tea to go in more disposable drinkware, or even buy teabags for home brewing. It was now early in the morning, and Hari Scaleglaze the Fourth, the dragonfolk who owned and ran the tea house, shuffled about the kitchen, making sure everything was ready for opening hours. All the tables and chairs in the seating area were in order, the till had the right amount of currency in it, she had enough spring water for a whole day's worth of tea, and Gynosphinx Greenmint (one of the establishment's most popular tea blends, named in honor of a particular high-profile customer) was well in stock. Nodding in satisfaction, Hari made sure there was

Mezuno the Fel smiled viciously, easily maintaining his balance as the Pandora Express picked up it's pace. He spoke wordlessly to himself, and black smoke began to waft from his skin. The vapour grew thicker and thicker, enveloping the bandit leader. Lizard felt his fur stand on end, an ill omen washing over him. Beside him, the Necropolin wolf could see the others react in similar fashions as a dread aura radiated from Mezuno. The bandit laughed. In a flash, his skin and clothes flaked away, revealing a deep blue hide, and bulging muscles. A loincloth of white tiger pelt barely stretched around his thick waist. Long, ivory, tusk-like fangs jutted from his mouth, and a crown of three curved horns erupted through his wild, platinum hair. Hamsting swore. "He's a blasted oni!" Mezuno glared at the quartet, his eyes replaced by glowing spectral lights. With a powerful leap, the demonic yokai bounded up onto the coal bunker, the tender vibrating from the impact. Towering above his prey

Diobella slumped in her wheelchair, floating in the limbo between consciousness and sleep. Dimly the werebuffalo heard her brother's voice and tilted her head up to look at him. "Did you say something, Melancott?" "I said, we're almost there," the weredeer replied. Diobella glanced about, the fog currently clouding her mind making it hard to think. "Where?" she asked. "The Hot Springs Bathhouse," Melancott said, gently pushing along the wheelchair. "Today's your hydrotherapy appointment, remember?" "Of course I don't remember," Diobella snapped tersely. "I wouldn't have asked otherwise." The Necropolin buffalo sighed, immediately regretting the outburst. "Sorry, Mel," she said. "I didn't get a good night's rest last night. I'm just..." Melancott placed a hand gently on his sister's shoulder, used to her moods. "It's OK, sis. Once we're done here I'll get you home so you can try and sleep." A groan rumbled from Diobella's throat as a thought came to her. "Did you say the bathhouse?"

Fey glanced out the window as the Pandora Express raced along. The scenery outside was wonderful, with rolling green fields dotted occasionally by groves of trees. At one point she saw a herd of sledge-beaks running along, the giant flightless birds wheeling and flocking about as they easily avoided the lone saber cat trying to hunt them. "This is amazin'," she said. "I've never traveled so fast in me life." "Dwarven design and manufacture," said Hamsting, the lycanthropic dwarf smirking at the gnome. "Ain't nothin' compares to it. Especially them human locomotives." Lizard closed his eyes, feeling the train rock beneath him. It reminded him of the time he had visited a more modern city, and experienced his first car ride. He smiled privately to himself. Unlike then, this time there was little chance he would be drawn into a race, or be involved in a high speed crash. The Necropolin opened his eyes and looked at Maria, the human enjoying her trip alongside her dwarven friend. "Have you

(Part 1) As the sun rose over the Shadow Mountains, Trick stepped out onto the balcony of his home and stretched, a quick breakfast already in his stomach. Today was beat day, the day the Necropolin secretary bird visited all the major locations and districts of Necropolis to gather potential stories for the Necropolin Post. This was half of how he earned his bread and butter, the other half being turning those potential stories into written articles. Patting himself down to make sure he had his note-taking essentials, Trick climbed up on the balcony's railing and spread his wings. A hop and a flap, and he was soaring over the cityscape. His first stop of the day, as usual, would be Market Keep, to gather material for his Beyond the Blackstone column. The Tigris fighting instructor-- who'd introduced himself earlier as Master Ojoku-- threw kicks and punches in rapid fire. Trick stood firm against the onslaught, holding one of his wings in front of him as a shield. Not one blow made it