Windy

[size=5]Hello my darlings![/size] [size=5]I wanted to start a fresh page on this subject to keep it clean. I am asking for volunteers[/size] [size=5]to help me with ideas for The Chronicles of Windy. I revamped the first chapter and it is longer than it was. I hope you get some laughs out of it and will be able to give me input. This was double spaced but something happened when I pasted. Different format?[/size] [center][b]CHAPTER 1[/b][/center] [b] THE SISTERHOOD[/b] It was a warm spring day in the month of May, just like any other ordinary day, if one could call the realm of Magicduel normal. It depends on whom you ask what that definition means to them. For some people in this realm, it would do you well not to ask. My pub, The Wind & Rain, was empty of customers except for five women dressed in green hooded cloaks. They are all members of The Sisterhood, a silly women’s group I created on a whim. When things are slow in the pub and you are bored out of your skull, what else is there to do when the mind wanders? My best ideas come about during these times. Sisters’ Lintara, a lovely red fox being with a huge fluffy tail, which always posed a problem when she sat down and Sagewoman, an Amazon like protector of Loreroot and animals of the forest therein, with legs up to her neck, carefully placed five ivory handled swords on one of my handmade tables. The sharp tips pointed inward on a round table. There was an empty space for a new sword. In the circle of the swords, a large red candle burned, slowly dripping on its way like blood onto its stand. There, next to the candle, glinted the new sword. The two women walked nearby to stand in a line with the other Sisters. They raised their hoods, obscuring their faces. Okay, it was a bit over the top, but that is what we like to do. Our other ceremonies, which I have yet to make up, would be equally over the top. I crowded several ornate goblets onto a tray and carried them over to the table. I reverently set a goblet between each sword. After putting the empty tray on the bar, I double checked to make sure everything was ready. It wouldn’t do to forget something and have to run around like a chicken with its head chopped off to fetch it. I raised a hand to command everyone’s attention. "[i]Hear ye, Hear ye! Sisters harken unto me! The Sisterhood now commences! Tis the sacrament of birth! A new Sister will rise from the ashes from the mediocrity of womanhood! Sister's come raise your swords[/i]!" The women gathered around the table and dramatically raised their swords in the air and then down until the hilts were next to their noses. Knights of old would have been beaming with pride to see such ceremony. I turned to face the green cloaked woman seated anxiously to the bar. I dramatically raised my hand to point at her with a well manicure finger. I would rather eat my weight in brussel sprouts before my nails looked like crap. "[i]Sisters! Cast your eyes upon our newest inductee! What say ye unto her[/i]?" The women turned as one like a squad of Knights to face the visibly shaking newcomer. I made a mental note to tone down the ceremony a bit. It would be disastrous to have an inductee screaming into the night. "[i]Welcome young woman! Tell us your name and state your purpose[/i]." The woman held her chin up and stiffened her spine. She slid off her stool and stood, pinching her skirts between her fingers. "I am called Handy Pockets and my purpose is to join The Sisterhood!" She took a deep shaky breath. I beckoned to her with my hand. "[i]Come forth, young woman and swear an oath to us![/i]" Handy Pockets let go of her skirts and walked toward us. I picked up the lone sword by the candle, which fluttered ominously. I handed her the sword making sure she had a good grip of the handle. Mur forbid if she dropped it and sliced of a toe, either hers or mine. "Take this sword which is a sign of your fidelity, a sign that we are much more than our good looks suggest! A sign that we as women can kick butt as well as any man and better than some men think they can!" Handy Pockets looked at the sword in bewilderment and then raised it to mimic the others and whispered, "Are you serious, Windy?" I bent toward her slightly and whispered out of the corner of my mouth. "Just go with it!" Handy Pockets whispered back, "Okay, if you say so!" I winked. "Trust me." I cleared my throat to get back to the drama of the ceremony. "Now repeat after me, Handy." "I, state your name." "I, state your name." She repeated. "No, your name!" I hissed. The sword-wielding Sisters giggled and snickered. "Oh! Um...I, Handy Pockets.” "Do solemnly swear to do my Sisterly duty." "I have duties? Um...I mean, do solemnly swear to do my Sisterly duty." "Which is to help my Mistress when needed." "What Mistress?" I raised one well arched eyebrow. “Like hello? Who else?” "Oh! Um...which is to help my Mistress when needed." I gave her one of my charming smiles and continued. "And to smooch all men who are unfortunate to cross my path." "Really?" She said incredulously. "Really!" I said with a smug smile. "Cool beans! And to smooch all men who are unfortunate to cross my path!" "So help me, Mur!" I ended. "What's a Mur?" Handy Pockets asked and grinned at my raised eyebrow. She sighed dramatically and finished repeating her oath. " So help me, Mur!" We placed our swords down with a loud clack on the table and faced the ecstatic Handy, whom I am sure was glad that the whole thing was over. I took her sword from her and placed it in the empty spot with the other swords on the table and picked up the goblet sitting next to the candle. I handed it to her and then picked up my own goblet as the Sisters picked up theirs. "My Sisters! May I introduce our sixth Sister? Sister Handy!" The Sisters chanted in tandem. "[i]Hail, Sister Handy[/i]!" We drained our wine in one gulp and then tossed our goblets over our shoulders, which landed on the floor with a cacophony of clangs and clatters. Handy stared at us as if we all had lost our minds. I grinned and motioned for her to do the same. Shrugging, she gulped her wine, looked at her goblet admiringly before tossing it over her shoulder, which also landed on the floor with a healthy sounding clang. "Congratulations! You are now part of The Sisterhood family!" I pounded Sister Handy on the back, knocking her off balance before the other Sisters surrounded us both in a group hug, shrieking and jumping up and down like girls in a slumber party. Sister Sagewoman pushed back the hood of her ceremonial cloak and eyed the bar top laden with scrumptious cakes, cookies, hugely stacked sandwiches, fruit, and other yummy items. “Can we eat now? I’m hungry! I gave up breakfast for this ceremony!” “Me too!” piped up Sister Lintara. “I could eat a Grasan!” hollered Sister Keida. “Oh yea? Well I could eat an entire herd of Knator’s!” Sister Raine boasted. “Ewww! That’s so wrong!” Sister Handy said, sticking out her tongue mock gagging. “Let’s eat, get pleasantly drunk , and be merry!” I said, as I opened the pub door for my impatient customers to enter. The pub soon began to fill up as my regulars piled in. Tired, training beaten, thirsty men lost their scowls upon seeing The Sisterhood in attendance. I started pouring beer, mead, and ale, and everything else that burned on the way down. We partied into the night until the cock crowed, which is saying much as the sun never, ever goes down. [center]~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/center] The very next day, I was busy sweeping the floor of the pub and wiping off tables from the previous night’s debauchery to get things ready for The Sisterhood brunch. How we had heads to eat anything after getting seriously and pleasantly drunk, one never knows. We just do. Raine burst through my doors in a huff. “Mistress Windy! You will never guess what just happened to me!” This sounded important as she had just addressed me as Mistress. I am never addressed as such except during one of our over the top ceremonies. “Sit down Raine, before you fall down.” I ordered, leaning my broom against a table. “Now take a deep cleansing breathe and tell me what happened.” Raine sat down on a chair with a plop, gulping in air and wringing her hands together over and over. “I was walking through Sanctuary’s View when this man jumped out from that tree, grabbed me! And then…and then he planted a huge kiss on me!” She ran out of air like a deflated balloon. I gasped, smacking a hand to my chest. “The Cad! The Scoundrel! The bloody nerve!I can’t believe the audacity! How dare a man kiss you?” I laughed thinking she’d laugh too. “Windy! This is no joke! The man kissed me and then ran off laughing real evil like…but ends up coughing up a lung. It was very strange.” “I don’t see what’s so strange, this is Magicduel after all.” I replied. .” I’ve been here a while so nothing ever surprised me, much. I should have known the inevitable would happen. “It seems like I saw the man’s face, but now I can’t recall who it was!” She continued. “He even gave me a gift though before he run off.” Raine pulled out a single white rose. I was taken aback. The rose looked suspiciously like one of mine in the garden out back. I grabbed it and shrieked. Knators in the nearby woods howled in pain. “Oh, My Dear Mur! It can’t be! It had better not be!” Raine followed me as I charged like a crazed bull through the kitchen to the back yard. Sure enough, several buds were clipped from one of my prized bushes. “I’ll kill him! No! I’ll claw his eyes out and then kill him! No! I’ll claw out his eyes, cut off his hands, and then kill him! Curse this evil doer!” I shook my fist into the air and thunder rolled through the heavens, which happens when I lose my temper. Raine grabbed my arm and dragged me back inside before I could do any damage. She knew that as an Elemental, I could whip up a storm like no other when pissed. We got back into the pub area to find the rest of the Sisters had arrived early. They took one look at my face and knew I was going to explode. Compared to my red furious face, Raine’s face was white as a sheet. “Sisters! Someone is going to die an agonizing and disfiguring death!” I exclaimed, pointing a finger in the air menacingly. I pulled my arm from Raine’s tight grip. The Sister’s collectively gasped and started asking questions all at once, sounding like a chicken coop in an uproar. Raine quieted them all down and bid them to find a seat. Lintara asked what was on everyone’s mind. “Okay, Windy. Who’s got your knickers in a bunch, this time?” Sister Raine crossed her arms over her chest and paced the floor as I explained. “Our dear Raine has been attacked on the way to the brunch this afternoon.” The women murmured amongst themselves. No one was that stupid to attack any of the Sisters. “It’s true!” Raine exclaimed. “This man jumped out from behind a tree at Sanctuary’s View! He grabbed me and kissed me like there’s no tomorrow!” The Sisters exploded into laughter, snorts and guffaws. Pandemonium took over. Sister Keida managed to pipe up. “Oh you poor girl! You say a man kissed you and you survived?” More laughter filled the room. Sister Sagewoman laughed the loudest out of the bunch. “Great Mur! We can’t have men jumping out at us, willy-nilly! It’s just not done!” She said shaking a fist. “We’ll find the bastard!” The room full of laughing women got worse as tears streamed down their faces. Sister Lintara quit laughing suddenly and got a serious look on her face. “Excuse me? But isn’t the smooching OUR job?” The room got quiet as the implications sunk in. “Do you think this is an isolated incident?” another asked anxiously. It was then that Innocence, an intangible(ish) being and Magicduel’s roving and sneaky reporter slunk into the pub. There is just no other way to describe how she just appears out of nowhere. “Hello everyone! I smelled a story all the way from Willow’s Walk! The air just reeks of it! What’s the scoop?” “Just what we need”, I thought. “A small incident for her to blow out of proportion as the media is want to do.” Innocence leaned onto a wood pillar, pulled out a notepad, and yanked a perpetual inked quill from her hair, poised it above a page, and licked her lips eagerly. “Okay! Who, What, Where, When, and better yet, Why?” “Nothing!” I said, waving my hands in the air to get rid of her. “I am sure this was just an isolated incident by one of our many admirers and recipients!” I bit my lip, but it was too late. I really need to learn to keep my big mouth shut. “Ooh!” Innocence cooed. “That tidbit sounds really juicy! Do tell!” The entire Sisterhood stared talking at once. Innocence put two fingers into her mouth and blew out a shrill whistle, silencing everyone, and making all of us jump. Sister Raine stood up, all eyes following her. “Well, I was walking through Sanctuary’s View when a man jumped out from behind that tree! He grabbed me, and kissed me soundly! “ To give her credit, Innocence didn’t laugh no did she lose her reporter demeanor, although one eyelid twitched. “Get out! You say a strange man jumped out and kissed you? What did he look like?” “That’s the odd part!” Raine exclaimed. “I don’t remember! It’s like my memory is blocked or something!” Innocence scribbled into the notepad furiously, her tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth. “And then what happened?” Innocence continued to enquire. “Well, it’s the darndest thing.” Raine said. “I came back to myself to find that the bandit had given me a white rose, and I heard this evil choking laugh. I swear I knew his voice! But I can’t remember that either!” Innocence scribbled some more, muttering. “Hmm! The perpetrator choked on an evil laugh and had disappeared.” Innocence looked up from her notes with a satisfied smirk. “This is some really good stuff! It’s practically the best news story of the century!” I got uncomfortable then. I knew how her mind worked. “Now Inno, this isn’t a big news story. Its only one incident!” “Ha! I can feel it in my gut!” Innocence exclaimed, putting the quill back in her hair. I wondered then how she avoided getting ink in it. “This Front page news!”, she crowed, and was out the door as sneakily as she had come, before I could protest further.

Hello Darlings! Do to unforeseen circumstances, I am am going to over-haul everything. I am going to try to come up with a totally new villain or just a incorrigible scoundrel. Who to choose? Hmm... .

Happy Birthday, Old Bean! SMOOCH!

I think the meditation part of the story is very daunting. It is too long and it will cause players to get frustrated. I know I was.

Hello Readers. I'm so sorry for neglecting to update this story. I've been procrastinating. I plan on getting back to it. If you have any suggestions on where I should go with what is already written. Please post here and I will give it a good look. Thanks again for all the comments.

Happy Belated Birthday, Chewy! Time for a haircut!

Here, at last is Chapter 2. I'm not really happy with it, but maybe your input can jog the fog. [center][b]CHAPTER 2[/b][/center] [center]Stop the Presses![/center] It was mid-morning and I was filling up all the bowls on the bar and tables with beer-nuts and kettle-roasted pretzels to get ready for the afternoon crowd. Princess Katt, (not Royalty) Lintara, and Sagewoman, rushed into the pub waving copies of The Golden Globe Gazette, Magicduel’s only Newspaper in the air. “Windy! You are not going to believe this!” Sagie bellowed as she shook her paper in my face. I quickly snatched it from her hands and gasped when I saw the front headline. Lintara and Katt looked pale and were clutching their own copies and raising a ruckus. I had to shush them so I could read the paper in peace. [center][b]Kissing Bandit Stalks The Sisterhood[/b][/center] [center]By Innocence| The Golden Globe Gazette[/center] Stop the presses! Magicduel has a Kissing Bandit on the loose and he is stalking The Sisterhood! Sister Raine reported that she was walking through Sanctuary’s View when an unknown man jumped out from behind a tree, grabbed her, and smooched her silly on the lips! Sister Raine exclaimed that she thought she knew him, but for some reason couldn’t recall his face or recognize his voice as he ran off, choking on an evil laugh! Sister Raine also mentioned that before the bandit ran off he presented her with a single white rose. Big mistake for the bandit! Everyone knows our beloved Pub owner, Windy, and also Mistress of The Sisterhood cultivates white roses in her garden. Is this Kissing Bandit putting a whammy on women or is it just The Sisterhood he’s after? Is he horning in on The Sisterhood’s smooching antics? Is this sinister bandit an amateur evil laugher? Is this bandit also a sinister thief of prized roses? So, I ask you dear readers, which Sister will be next? “Oh My Dear Mur!” I exclaimed, totally appalled. “This will surely cause uproar in the realm or make The Sisterhood a laughing stock!” The three women went off on a tangent sounding like a bunch of hens in an uproar. Dragual Monarth, Princess Katt’s husband, came skipping down the stairs just then from the upstairs rooms I rent out. He was a pale man, wearing dark robes, trimmed with a sliver of blue. It is all one can tell about him as he keeps his eyes covered with the hood of his robes. “What is all this noise about?” He demanded, arranging his satchel over his shoulder. Katt stopped him at the bottom of the stairs and shoved her copy of the Gazette into his hands. Dragual shook the paper a bit and then read the headline. It was not long before he threw his head back and roared with laughter. Katt smacked his chest. “It’s not funny!” she exclaimed defensively, stomping a foot. “Are you serious?” he asked still laughing, smacking the Gazette with the back of a hand. “The Sisterhood is getting their comeuppance and you expect me to be shocked?” Katt smacked his chest again in protest. “Ooh! This is serious! A man is sneaking around and has accosted one of us! We don’t sneak around when we do our Sisterly smooching!” Katt crossed her arms at her chest and glowered. Dragual got a weird look on his face for a second and then smiled. Running his fingers through her long hair, he kissed her on the nose and then seductively on her mouth. We all got a bit uncomfortable and looked around for something else to look at. “I’m sorry, my Love.” Dragual murmured to her. “To me this [i]is[/i] funny and I’m sure it will be hilarious to all the men in the realm, whom you women have smooched. Trust me.” He said, smacking the Gazette in one hand before crushing it in his fist. “This will blow over, I’m sure of it. It will end soon.” “Do you really think so?” She asked pleadingly. “I know so.” Darth said, kissing her nose. Sagewoman and Lintara shook their heads, not agreeing with Dragual’s sentiment. “I for one won’t stand for it! I am the smoocher, not the smoochee!” Sagewoman injected hotly. “Let this ‘Kissing Bandit’ just try to sneak a smooch from me! He’ll be sorry!” Lintara nodded in agreement. “Well, he isn’t going to get me either!” “Is that a fact, ladies?” Dragual asked incredulously. “Just how do you two propose to stop him if he indeed puts a “whammy” on you?” “Really, Dragual! That sounded awfully like a challenge!” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “It’s almost like you approve of this Kissing Bandit!” Dragual put an arm around Katt comfortingly and led her away from the stairs. “Not at all, Windy, my dear.” Dragual said smugly. “But, you must admit, you and the Sisters’ should have seen this coming. Don’t you think?” When I founded The Sisterhood initially, it never crossed my mind that men would retaliate . I mean, why would they? But it had occurred to me later after the popularity of the club spread through out the realm. I wasn’t going to admit it to Dragual, though. I have my standards. Katt pulled away from her husband’s arm and smacked him in the chest again. It seemed to be her favorite spot as I’ve witnessed this abuse many times. I just love watching the two lovebirds go at it. I just conjure a bowl of popcorn, lean back, and watch the show. “Dragual, that’s an awful thing to say! We are doing the men of Magicdual a service! Sometimes a man needs a good smooch to keep him going!” Katt said and she realized right then and there how silly she sounded. “Well, you know what I mean!” “There, there, sweet cheeks.” Dragual said, smacking her on the ass. “I meant no offense to The Sisterhood. I was just having a bit of fun with you and the other Sisters.” He quickly kissed her again and headed out the door whistling. “Ooh, of all the nerve!” Katt said, once more stomping her foot in temper. Princess Katt, being only nineteen, was still in that bratty stage of teen-age angst. It amazed me that she could love a man like Dragual. It amazed me even more that Dragual could love anyone at all. I’ve known him for a long time and he is often aloof and always muttering to himself. I wouldn’t say that he was up to no good. I pretty much know that he is. Dragual often takes trips to Necrovion, a dark and desolate Land for Mur-knows-what and then off to The Lands of The Tribunal for another trip. It took a lot of work to get him to socialize with me. Almost like teaching a scared and abused dog to trust me. It took even longer to get him to socialize with the rest of my customers at the pub. Sagewoman got up from the barstool and tossed her long black hair over her shoulder. She clasped her hands behind her back and began to pace, her long legs making short work of the room. “I don’t like this, Windy. How can we protect ourselves?” Lintara, a winged cat being, shook her tail and flapped her transparent wings in agitation. “I don’t see why ‘HE’ would smooch me, anyway. I’m not even human.” Sagewoman stopped her pacing. “What are you talking about, Lin? You’re a gorgeous feline!” “Doesn’t your betrothed, Sunfire, kiss you?” I asked in bewilderment. “That’s different! He’s in love with me!” Lintara protested. “Come on, Lin. He must have liked something about you before he took his first kiss, did he not?” I countered. Sagewoman went over to Lintara and played with the tuffs of hair on the tips of her ears, making her squirm. “You have a lot going for you, kiddo.” “Do you really think so?” she asked self-conciously, fluffing up her long mane. “Oh absolutely!” I replied, admiring her slim form. “If the Kissing Bandit doesn’t…..” I had to stop. I knew where I was going with that one and it wasn’t the right path. I shooed the girls out and went into the kitchen to fire up the grill. The men and also a few women who come to my pub are bottomless pits when it comes to food, I had a busy afternoon ahead of me. I still had to make desserts for tomorrow’s brunch.

I don't believe I will get very far with my story. All the rewrites and editing and changes are exasperating! Below are the changes, once again, for Chapter 1. Chapter 2 needs work and don't even get me started on Chapter 3 which is The Kissing Bandit's point of view. Whew! [center][b]CHAPTER 1[/b][/center] [b] THE SISTERHOOD[/b] My pub, The Wind & Rain was empty of customers except for eleven beautiful women, all members of The Sisterhood, a silly women’s group I created on a whim. Today, we are adding to our number. Sisters’ Lintara and Raine, were already wearing their black silk robes. The sleeves and hood were embroidered with red roses an entwined with green vines. They carefully placed eleven ivory handled swords in a circle on the table, leaving one empty space. The sharp tips pointed inward. On an adjacent table lay a single identical sword. In the circle of the swords, a large blood red candle burned, with a wine filled goblet next to it. On a tray on the edge of the table, were more wine filled goblets. I placed each one next to a sword. I raised a hand to command everyone’s attention. "[i]Hear ye, Hear ye! Sisters harken unto me! The Sisterhood now commences! Sister's come raise your swords[/i]!" The women gathered around the table and dramatically raised their swords in the air and then lowered them down until the blades were flat facing their noses. I turned to face the woman seated at the bar and raised a hand to point at her. "[i]Sisters! Cast your eyes upon our newest inductee! What say ye unto her[/i]?" The women, also garbed in their black ceremonial robes, turned as one to face the newcomer. "[i]Welcome young woman! Tell us your name and state your purpose[/i]." The woman nervously slid off her stool and stood, pinching her skirts between her fingers. "I am called Handy Pockets and my purpose is to join The Sisterhood!" I beckoned to her with my hand. "[i]Come forth, young woman and swear an oath to us![/i]" Handy Pockets straightened her spine and walked toward us. I handed her the sword from the other table and commanded. "Take this sword which is a sign of your fidelity, a sign that we are much more than our good looks suggest! A sign that we as women can kick butt as well as any man and better than some men think they can!" Handy Pockets looked at me in bewilderment and then raised her sword to mimic the others and whispered, "Seriously, Windy?" I bent toward her slightly and whispered out of the corner of my mouth. "Just go with it!" Handy Pockets whispered back, "Okay, if you say so!" I winked. "Trust me." I cleared my throat to get back to the drama of the ceremony. "Now repeat after me, Handy." "I, state your name." "I, state your name." She repeated. "No! Your name!" I hissed. The sword-wielding Sisters giggled and snickered. "Oh! Um...I, Handy Pockets.” "Do solemnly swear to do my Sisterly duty." "I have duties? Um...I mean, do solemnly swear to do my Sisterly duty." "Which is to help my Mistress when needed." "What Mistress?" Handy Pockets looked around to see me raise an well-arched eyebrow. "Oh! Um...which is to help my Mistress when needed." I gave her a warning look and continued. "And to smooch all men who are unfortunate to cross my path." "Really?" "Really!" "Cool beans! And to smooch all men who are unfortunate to cross my path!" "So help me, Mur!" "What's a Mur?" Handy Pockets asked and gulped at my glare. She sighed resignedly and finished repeating her oath. "Fine! So help me, Mur!" We placed our swords down with a resounding clack on the table and faced Handy once again. I took her sword from her shaking hands and placed it in the empty spot with the others on the table. I picked up the goblet sitting next to the candle, handing it to her and then picked up my own goblet as the Sisters picked up theirs. "My Sisters! May I introduce our twelfth Sister? Sister Handy Pockets!" The Sisters chanted in tandem. "[i]Hail, Sister Handy[/i]!" We drained our wine in one gulp and then tossed our goblets over our shoulders, which landed on the marble floor, filling the pub with a cacophony of clangs and clatters. Handy stared at us as if we had all lost our minds. I grinned and motioned for her to do the same. Shrugging, she gulped her wine, paused to admire her goblet, before tossing it over her shoulder. "Congratulations! You are now part of The Sisterhood family!" I pounded Sister Handy Pockets on the back, knocking her off balance before the other Sisters surrounded us both in a group hug, shrieking and jumping up and down like girls in a slumber party. Several Sisters hurried over to the swords to put them away as I pointed at all the goblets on the floor and watched them rise up, fly across the room, and dump themselves into the sink behind the bar. A bit showy, but I was in a hurry. Sagewoman pushed back the hood of her ceremonial robe and ruffled her long black hair with one hand. “Thank Mur, that’s over. Can we feast now? I’m starving!” She grinned sheepishly, rubbing her bell as it growled loudly. “I skipped brunch knowing you’d have a spread waiting for us, Windy.” The rest of the Sisters took off their robes as well and headed for the bar, which was laden with food. They weren’t silly enough to ask to wait for permission. Sagewoman shrugged and began to pile a plate full. I headed for the door and unlocked it to let in the riff-raff who were my customers and were waiting impatiently outside. They each gave me quick greetings, heading straight for the food and Ale, as they went. Anything that required copious amount of food and drink was fair game and everyone knew it. When I put a spread out, I go whole hog. It’s one of my gifts. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The very next day, I was busy wiping down tables as my magic broom and mop did their jobs. Last night’s debauchery left a big mess and I needed to get things ready for The Sisterhood’s daily brunch. Raine burst through the pub door in a flurry of billowy skirts and cloak. “Oh! Mistress Windy! You will never guess what just happened to me!” This sounded important as she had just addressed me as Mistress. The Sisters never address me as such except during a ceremony. “Sit down Raine, before you fall down.” I ordered, leaning my broom against a table. “Now breathe and tell me what happened to you.” Raine paced back and forth, wringing her hands together over and over. “I was walking through Sanctuary’s View when this man jumped out, grabbed me, and planted a huge kiss right on my lips!” I gasped, smacking a hand to my chest. “The Cad! The Scoundrel! Call out the Guard! How dare a man kiss you?” I laughed thinking she’d laugh too. “Windy! This is no joke! The man kissed me and then ran off, laughing real evil like…but ends up coughing up a lung. It was very strange.” “I don’t see what’s so strange, this is Magicduel after all.” I replied. I should have kept my big know-it-all mouth shut. “It seems like I saw the man’s face, but now I don’t recall who it was!” She continued. “He even gave me a gift before he run off!” Raine opened up a cloth pouch and pulled out a single white rose. I frowned as the rose looked suspiciously like it came from one of my bushes in the garden out back. I shrieked. “Oh My Dear Mur! Is that one of my prized roses?” Raine followed me as I turned and sprinted through my kitchen to the back yard. Sure enough, several rose buds were clipped from a bush. “I’ll kill him! I’ll cut off his hands and then kill him! Curse this evil doer!” I shook my fist into the air and thunder rolled through the heavens, which happens when I lose my temper. I’m an elemental and everyone in the realm knows that when the weather changes drastically, to head for cover. Raine grabbed my arm and dragged me back inside cursing and screeching before I could do any damage. She knew I could whip up a storm like no other when riled. It was a wonder her ears didn’t drop off from the language I used. Sailors and Pirates would have been proud. We got back into the pub area to find the rest of the Sisters had arrived early, very early, as I hadn’t even put out the food and drink. They took one look at our faces and new something was up. “Sisters! Something evil and dastardly is afoot!” I shouted, pulling my arm from Raine’s tight grip. “Someone’s head is going to roll!” The Sister’s collectively gasped and started asking questions all at once. I stuck my finger and thumb into my mouth and blew a shrill whistle to quiet them all. I was hopping mad, but it sure was funny to watch them all jump. Sister Lintara asked what was on everyone’s mind. “What evil and dastardly thing?” Sister Raine paced the floor and blurted, “I’ve been attacked!” The women murmured amongst themselves, as this has never happened to one of them before. The entire Sisterhood was respected and knew how to protect themselves. “It’s true!” Raine exclaimed. “This man jumped out from behind a tree at Sanctuary’s View, grabbed me and kissed me soundly on the lips!” The Sisters exploded with laughter. It took them awhile to calm down. Sister Keida piped up. “Oh you poor girl! You say a man kissed you and you survived?” More laughter filled the room. Sister Sagewoman laughed the loudest out of the bunch. “Great Mur! We can’t have men jumping out at us, willy-nilly! Call out the hounds!” She said shaking a fist. “We’ll find the bastard!” The room full of laughing women got worse as tears streamed down their faces. Sister Lintara quit laughing suddenly, frowning. She got a seriously concerned look on her face. “Excuse me? EXCUSE ME!” She yelled to get everyone’s attention. “But isn’t the smooching OUR job?” The room got quiet as the implications sunk in. “Do you think this is an isolated incident?” another asked anxiously. It was then that Innocence, an intangible being and Magicduel’s roving and sneaky reporter sashayed into the pub. “I smelled a story all the way from Willow’s Walk! Imagine me finding it ended up here! What’s the scoop?” I groaned, thinking, “Just what we need, a reporter to blow a small incident out of proportion by the media. I had a sick feeling in my gut that things were going to go from bad to worse. Innocence leaned onto a wood pillar, pulled out a notepad, and yanked an enchanted quill from what her hair, and poised it above a page. “Okay then!” She said eagerly. “Who, What, Where, When, and better yet, Why?” “Nothing!” I said, waving my hands, trying to shoo her out of the pub. “I am sure this is all just an isolated incident by one of our many admirers and recipients!” I bit my lip at my blunder, but it was too late. “Ooh!” Innocence crooned, jumping at my mistake like a shark to bait. “That tidbit sounds so juicy! Do tell!” The entire Sisterhood stared talking at once. Innocence put two fingers into her mouth and blew a shrill whistle, silencing everyone. I jumped. Okay, so not so funny when it’s you that jumps. Evidently, she liked making people jump out of their skin as well. Sister Raine stood up a bit disconcerting at all the attention and took a deep breath. “Well… I was walking through Sanctuary’s View when a man jumped out from behind a tree, grabbed me, kissed me on the lips and then ran off!” To give her credit, Innocence didn’t laugh like a hyena, snicker, snort, or lose her reporter demeanor, although one eyelid twitched. “Get out! You say a strange man jumped out and kissed you? What did he look like?” Her hand poised over her notepad. “That’s the odd part!” Raine exclaimed. “I don’t remember! It’s like my memory is blocked or something!” Innocence scribbled into the notepad furiously, her tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth. “And then what happened?” Innocence continued her inquisition. “Well, it’s the darndest thing.” Raine said. “The bandit gave me a white rose and tried to make this evil laugh and ended coughing instead. I swear I knew his voice! But I can’t remember that either!” Innocence scribbled some more, muttering. “Hmm! The perpetrator handed his victim a white rose, choked on an evil laugh and ran off.” Innocence looked up then with a satisfied smirk. “This is really great stuff! I haven’t had this much fun as a reporter for years! This is front page news!” I got uncomfortable then. I knew how her mind worked. I might have well been trying to stop a rampaging stampede. “Come on now Inno, this isn’t a big news story. Let’s not try to get ahead of ourselves. It’s only one incident!” “Ha! I can feel it in my gut!” Innocence exclaimed, putting her quill back into her hair. “This news will sell papers, like hot cakes!” She hurried out the door before I could protest any further. Mur forbid if she didn’t get the story in the paper before the ink dried.

Here is the new Chapter 2. Again, it's is short. I don't know what to do about it yet. I can't merge it with Chapter 3 because it doesn't make sense to do that. >< [center][b]CHAPTER 2[/b][/center] [center]Stop the Presses![/center] It was mid-morning and I was stocking up all the bowls with beer-nuts and kettle-roasted pretzels to get ready for the afternoon crowd. Princess Katt, (not Royalty) Lintara, and Sagewoman, rushed into the pub waving copies of The Golden Globe Gazette, Magicduel’s only Newspaper in the air. “Windy! You are not going to believe this!” Sagie bellowed as she waved her paper in my face. I quickly snatched it from her hands and gasped when I saw the front headline. Lintara and Katt looked shaken and were talking so excitedly; I had to shush them so I could read the paper in peace. [center][b]Kissing Bandit Stalks The Sisterhood[/b][/center] [center]By Innocence| The Golden Globe Gazette[/center] Stop the presses! Magicduel has a Kissing Bandit on the loose and he is stalking The Sisterhood! Sister Raine reported that she was walking through Sanctuary’s View when an unknown man jumped out from behind a tree, grabbed her, and smooched her silly. Sister Raine exclaimed that she thought she knew him, but for some reason couldn’t recall his face or recognize his voice as he ran off, choking on an evil laugh! Sister Raine also mentioned that before the bandit ran off he presented her with a white rose. Is this Kissing Bandit putting a whammy on women or is it just The Sisterhood he’s after? Is he horning in on The Sisterhood’s smooching antics? Is this sinister bandit an amateur evil laugher? Is this bandit also a sinister thief of prized roses? Everyone knows our beloved Pub owner, Windy, and also Mistress of The Sisterhood cultivates white roses in her garden. So, I ask you dear readers, which Sister will be next? “Oh My Dear Mur!” I exclaimed appalled. “This will surely cause uproar in the realm or make The Sisterhood a laughing stock!” The three women went off on a tangent sounding like a bunch of hens in an uproar. Dragual Monarth, Princess Katt’s husband, came skipping down the stairs just then from the upstairs rooms I rent out, no doubt looking for his coffee. “What is all this noise about?” He demanded. Katt stopped him at the bottom of the stairs and shoved her copy of the Gazette into his hands. Dragual shook the paper a bit and then read the headline. It was not long before he threw his head back and roared with laughter. Katt smacked his chest. “It’s not funny!” she exclaimed defensively, stomping a foot. “Are you serious?” he asked still laughing, smacking the Gazette with the back of a hand. “The Sisterhood is getting their comeuppance and you expect me to be shocked?” Katt smacked his chest in protest. “Ooh! This is serious! A man is sneaking around and has accosted one of us! We don’t sneak around when we do our Sisterly smooching!” Katt crossed her arms at her chest and glowered. Dragual got a weird look on his face for a second and then smiled. Running his fingers through her long hair, he kissed her on the nose and then seductively on her mouth. We got a bit uncomfortable and each of us found something else interesting, or not, to look at. “I’m sorry, my Love. To me this [i]is[/i] funny and I’m sure it will be hilarious to all the men in the realm, whom you women have smooched. Trust me.” He said, smacking the Gazette in one hand before crushing it in his fist. “This will blow over, I’m sure of it. Don’t you worry.” Sagewoman and Lintara shook their heads, not agreeing with Dragual’s sentiment. “I for one won’t stand for it! I am the smoocher, not the smoochee!” Sagewoman injected hotly. “Let this ‘Kissing Bandit’ just try to sneak a smooch from me! He’ll be sorry!” Lintara nodded in agreement. “Well, he isn’t going to get me either!” “Is that a fact, ladies?” Dragual asked incredulously. “Just how do you two propose to stop him if he indeed puts a “whammy” on his victims?” “Really, Dragual! That sounds awfully like a challenge!” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “It’s almost like you approve of this Kissing Bandit!” Dragual put an arm around Katt comfortingly and led her away from the stairs. “Not at all Windy, my dear. But you must admit, you and the Sisters’ should have seen this coming. Don’t you think?” When I founded The Sisterhood initially, it never crossed my mind that men would retaliate. Why would they? But it had occurred to me later after the popularity of the club spread through out the realm. I wasn’t going to admit it to Dragual, though. I have my standards. Katt pulled away from her husband’s arm and smacked him in the chest again. It seemed to be her favorite spot as I’ve witnessed this abuse many times. I just love watching the two lovebirds go at it, sometimes. “Dragual, that’s an awful thing to say! We are doing a service! Sometimes a man needs a good smooch to keep him going!” Katt said and she realized right then and there how silly she sounded. “Well, you know what I mean!” “There, there, sweet cheeks.” Dragual said, smacking her on the ass. “I meant no offense to The Sisterhood. I was just a bit of fun with you women.” He then kissed her again and headed out the door whistling. “Ooh, of all the nerve!” Katt said, once more stomping her foot in temper. Princess Katt, being only nineteen, was still in that bratty stage of teen-age angst. It amazed me that she could love an older man like Dragual. One would think she had a “Daddy Complex”, but the love between the two is genuine.

What wikia?Oo

I just wanted to thank everyone for their comments and suggestions. The issue with Innocense and Mur have been resolved. Writing this story is harder than I thought! I've learned a few things since I began this project. If you have a chance, check out the Scribophile website I posted earlier. I will keep making changes so do peek in now and again to see how the story progresses.

After getting more educated on [url="http://www.Scribophile.com"]http://www.Scribophile.com[/url] I made some changes. Chapter 1 & 2 are now blended into One chapter. I hope it flows better and I also made some small changes. As you can no doubt see, I tried to be more true to Innocence, but it was very difficult. [center][b]CHAPTER 1[/b][/center] [b] THE SISTERHOOD[/b] [size=3]My pub, The Wind & Rain was empty of customers except for eleven beautiful women, all members of The Sisterhood, a silly women’s group I created on a whim. Today, we are adding to our number.[/size] [size=3]Sisters’ Lintara and Raine carefully placed eleven ivory handled swords, sharp tips pointed inward on a round table, leaving one empty space; on an adjacent table lay an identical sword. In the circle of the swords, a large blood red candle burned, with a wine filled goblet next to it. I put several ornate goblets on a tray and carried them over to the table, placing one goblet between each sword. [/size] [size=3]I raised a hand to command everyone’s attention. "[i]Hear ye, Hear ye! Sisters harken unto me! The Sisterhood now commences! Sister's come raise your swords[/i]!" The women gathered around the table and dramatically raised their swords in the air and then down until the hilts were next to their noses.[/size] [size=3]I turned to face the woman seated at the bar and raised a hand to point at her. "[i]Sisters! Cast your eyes upon our newest inductee! What say ye unto her[/i]?" The women turned as one to face the newcomer. "[i]Welcome young woman! Tell us your name and state your purpose[/i]." [/size] The woman nervously slid off her stool and stood, pinching her skirts between her fingers. "I am called Handy Pockets and my purpose is to join The Sisterhood!" I beckoned to her with my hand. "[i]Come forth, young woman and swear an oath to us![/i]" Handy Pockets straightened her spine and walked toward us. I handed her the sword from the other table and said in a commanding voice. "Take this sword which is a sign of your fidelity, a sign that we are much more than our good looks suggest! A sign that we as women can kick butt as well as any man and better than some men think they can!" [size=3]Handy Pockets looked at me in bewilderment and then raised her sword to mimic the others and whispered, "Seriously, Windy?" I bent toward her slightly and whispered out of the corner of my mouth. "Just go with it!" Handy Pockets whispered back, "Okay, if you say so!" I winked. "Trust me." I cleared my throat to get back to the drama of the ceremony. [/size] [size=3]"Now repeat after me, Handy."[/size] [size=3]"I, state your name."[/size] [size=3]"I, state your name." She repeated.[/size] [size=3]"No! Your name!" I hissed. The sword-wielding Sisters giggled and snickered.[/size] [size=3]"Oh! Um...I, Handy Pockets.” [/size] [size=3]"Do solemnly swear to do my Sisterly duty."[/size] [size=3]"I have duties? Um...I mean, do solemnly swear to do my Sisterly duty."[/size] [size=3]"Which is to help my Mistress when needed."[/size] [size=3]"What Mistress?" Handy Pockets looked around to see me raise an well-arched eyebrow.[/size] [size=3]"Oh! Um...which is to help my Mistress when needed."[/size] [size=3]I gave her a warning look and continued. [/size] [size=3]"And to smooch all men who are unfortunate to cross my path."[/size] [size=3]"Really?"[/size] [size=3]"Really!"[/size] [size=3]"Cool beans! And to smooch all men who are unfortunate to cross my path!"[/size] [size=3]"So help me, Mur!"[/size] [size=3]"What's a Mur?" Handy Pockets asked and gulped at my glare. She sighed resignedly and finished repeating her oath. "Fine! So help me, Mur!"[/size] [size=3]We placed our swords down with a resounding clack on the table and faced Handy once again. I took her sword and placed it in the empty spot with the other swords on the table and picked up the goblet sitting next to the candle, handing it to her and then picked up my own goblet as the Sisters picked up theirs. [/size] [size=3]"My Sisters! May I introduce our twelfth Sister? Sister Handy Pockets!" The Sisters chanted in tandem. "[i]Hail, Sister Handy[/i]!" We drained our wine in one gulp and then tossed our goblets over our shoulders, which landed on the floor with a cacophony of clangs and clatters. [/size] [size=3]Handy stared at us as if we had all lost our minds. I grinned and motioned for her to do the same. Shrugging, she gulped her wine and looked at her goblet before tossing it over her shoulder.[/size] [size=3]"Congratulations! You are now part of The Sisterhood family!" I pounded Sister Handy Pockets on the back, knocking her off balance before the other Sisters surrounded us both in a group hug, shrieking and jumping up and down like girls in a slumber party. [/size] [size=3]Sagewoman pulled off her ceremonial robe and ruffled her long black hair with one hand. “Thank Mur, that’s over. Can we feast now? I’m starving!” She grinned sheepishly. “I skipped brunch knowing you’d have a spread waiting for us, Windy.”[/size] [size=3]The rest of the Sisters took off their robes as well and headed for the bartop, which was laden with food. They weren’t silly enough to ask to wait for permission. Sagewoman shrugged and began to pile a plate full.[/size] [size=3]I headed for the door and unlocked it to let in the riff-raff that were my beloved customers and the real party began. Anything that required copious amount of food and drink was fair game and everyone knew it. When I put a spread out, I go whole hog. It’s one of my gifts.[/size] The very next day, I was busy sweeping the floor and wiping down tables from last night’s debauchery to get things ready for The Sisterhood’s daily brunch, when Raine burst into the pub in a flurry of billowy skirts and cloak. “Oh! Mistress Windy! You will never guess what just happened to me!” This sounded important as she had just addressed me as Mistress. The Sisters never address me as such unless during a ceremony. “Sit down Raine, before you fall down.” I ordered, leaning my broom against a table. “Now breathe and tell me what happened to you.” Raine paced back and forth, wringing her hands together over and over. “I was walking through Sanctuary’s View when this man jumped out, grabbed me, and planted a huge kiss on me!” I gasped, smacking a hand to my chest. “The cad! The Scoundrel! Call out the Guard! How dare a man kiss you?” I laughed thinking she’d laugh too. “Windy! This is no joke! The man kissed me and then ran off, laughing real evil like…but ends up coughing up a lung. It was very strange.” “I don’t see what’s so strange, this is Magicduel after all.” I replied. I should have kept my big know-it-all mouth shut. “It seems like I saw the man’s face, but now I don’t recall who it was!” She continued. “He even gave me a gift before he run off!” Raine opened up a cloth pouch and pulled out a single white rose, which looked suspiciously like one of mine in the garden out back. I shrieked. “Oh My Dear Mur! Is that one of my prized roses?” Raine followed me as I turned and sprinted through my kitchen to the back yard. Sure enough, several buds were clipped from one of my bushes. “I’ll kill him! I’ll cut off his hands and then kill him! Curse this evil doer!” I shook my fist into the air and thunder rolled through the heavens, which happens when I lose my temper. I’m an elemental and everyone in the realm knows that when the weather changes drastically, to head for cover. Raine grabbed my arm and dragged me back inside cursing and screeching before I could do any damage. She knew I could whip up a storm like no other when riled. It was a wonder her ears didn’t drop off from the language I was using. Sailors and Pirates would have been proud. We got back into the pub area to find the rest of the Sisters had arrived early, very early, as I hadn’t even put out the food and drink. They took one look at our faces and new something was up. “Sisters! Something evil and dastardly is afoot!” I shouted, pulling my arm from Raine’s tight grip. “Someone’s head is going to roll!” The Sister’s collectively gasped and started asking questions all at once. I stuck my finger and thumb into my mouth and blew out a shrill whistle to quiet them all down. It was funny to watch them all jump. Sister Lintara asked what was on everyone’s mind. “What evil and dastardly thing?” Sister Raine paced the floor and blurted, “I’ve been attacked!” The women murmured amongst themselves, as this has never happened to one of them before. The entire Sisterhood was respected and knew how to inflict collateral damage. “It’s true!” Raine exclaimed. “This man jumped out from behind a tree at Sanctuary’s View, grabbed me and kissed me soundly!” The Sisters exploded with laughter. It took them awhile to calm down. Sister Keida piped up. “Oh you poor girl! You say a man kissed you and you survived?” More laughter filled the room. Sister Sagewoman laughed the loudest out of the bunch. “Great Mur! We can’t have men jumping out at us, willy-nilly! Call out the hounds!” She said shaking a fist. “We’ll find the bastard!” The room full of laughing women got worse as tears streamed down their faces. Sister Lintara quit laughing suddenly and got a serious look on her face. “Excuse me? Excuse me! But isn’t the smooching OUR job?” The room got quiet as the implications sunk in. “Do you think this is an isolated incident?” another asked anxiously. It was then that Innocence, an intangible being and Magicduel’s roving and sneaky reporter slunk into the pub. “I smelled a story all the way from Willow’s Walk! Imagine me finding it ended up here! What’s up?” Just what we need, I thought. A small incident to be blown out of proportion by the media. I had a feeling that things were going to go from bad to worse. Innocence leaned onto a wood pillar, pulled out a notepad, and yanked a quill from what her hair, and poised it above a page. “Who, What, Where, When, and better yet, Why?” “Nothing!” I said, waving my hands and trying to get rid of the reporter. “I am sure this is all just an isolated incident by one of our many admirers and recipients!” I bit my lip at my blunder, but it was too late. “Ooh!” Innocence crooned, jumping at my mistake like a shark to bait. “That tidbit sounds so juicy! Do tell!” The entire Sisterhood stared talking at once. Innocence put two fingers into her mouth and blew out a shrill whistle, silencing everyone. Evidently, she likes making people jump out of their skin as well. Sister Raine stood up a bit disconcerting at all the attention and took a deep breath. “Well… I was walking through Sanctuary’s View when a man jumped out from behind a tree, grabbed me, kissed me soundly, gave me a rose and then ran off!” To give her credit, Innocence didn’t laugh like a hyena, snicker, snort, or lose her reporter demeanor, although one eyelid twitched. “Get out! You say a strange man jumped out and kissed you? What did he look like?” Her hand poised over her notepad. “That’s the odd part!” Raine exclaimed. “I don’t remember! It’s like my memory is blocked or something!” Innocence scribbled into the notepad furiously, her tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth. “And then what happened?” Innocence continued her inquisition. “Well, it’s the darndest thing.” Raine said. “The bandit gave me a white rose and tried to make this evil laugh and ended coughing instead. I swear I knew his voice! But I can’t remember that either!” Innocence scribbled some more, muttering. “Hmm! The perpetrator handed his victim a white rose, choked on an evil laugh and ran off.” Innocence looked up then with a satisfied smirk. “This is great stuff! It just writes itself! It’s front page news!” I got uncomfortable then. I knew how her mind worked. I might have well been trying to stop a rampaging stampede. “Come on now Inno, this isn’t a big news story. Let’s not try to get ahead of ourselves. Its only one incident!” “Ha! I can feel it in my gut!” Innocence exclaimed, putting her quill back into her hair. “This is news! Front page news!” and hurried out the door before I could protest any further. Mur forbid if she didn’t get the story in the paper before the ink dried. Thank you Isabella. Those are good ideas. I've known that I should do that but procrastinated. I hate homework.

I don't believe that will work, Lib...er Lightsage.

Thank you so much for all your comments! I have a lot to work on with imagery and stuff. I will go back through and look again as I am already trying to clean up the sentences of non essentical repetition, ie, The Sisters and I. I will work on the descriptions of the pub and women as well. I have taken certain liberties with Inno. I had to as I really don't know much about her, even though I know she/he is intangible...how to make that work in the story...Hmm... Please explain to me what a neko type character is, Isabella. The newspaper is real. The scenario is not. Just a fun story. How do you suggest I warn the readers when I switch from the Bandit's POV to Windy's? It will be difficult to remove Mur from the story as Murweiser really is a drink in Windy's Pub. What do you suggest? It has to be a real character. Should I take that entire part out? Most everyone has read the thread, "What's a Mur". I hope Mur will read what I have so far and give me input. Thanks everybody!

I have no idea how long a chapter is supposed to be, but I aim to find out. The hard part is adding to each chapter. I've neglected things a wee bit. I know Inno has no gender, but how to write it? Chapter 4 is short as well. CHAPTER 4 The Kissing Bandit The bandit leaned against the wall of Willow’s Shop, his arms crossed, waiting for his next victim. The sun shining brightly as it usually did in Magiduel, even though it was night. Eternal sunlight was the curse of the realm. “I’ll show her!” he thought. “I’ll show her good! She’ll never doubt me again!” His smug look dropped from his face and worry took its place. He hoped she would forgive him later. The bandit slowly smiled as two women came into view. Sagewoman was walking by Willow’s Shop with Lintara, chatting away about “Critter Speak”. The bandit grinned as he watched the two women. He was going to kill two birds with one stone. Fortune was his Lady tonight. He stepped forward in front of his prey and greeted each woman, exchanging pleasantries. As darkness fell, the bandit quickly zapped each woman with a whammy of a Mind Sweep, which was his specialty. Sagewoman and Lintara blinked with a start to find themselves thoroughly smooched, each holding a single white rose in her hands. Evil-coughing laughter rang out in the night. He really must practice his evil laughter he thought as he listened to the women scream in frustration at being had. Three down, nine more Sisters to go. I was busy serving my guests and breaking up fights, when Sagewoman and Lintara banged the door open, their faces red with outrage. Their faces said it all. The din in the pub ceased. You could have heard a pin drop. “Windy! He got us!” Lintara yelled, showing her white rose. “I’ll be a Knator’s Uncle! I didn’t even see it coming!” shouted Sagewoman. I quickly served Nadrolski his Murweiser and hustled both women to the only booth in the pub. “The Booth? Really?” Sagewoman complained. Lintara sighed in resignation as a sound not unlike the “Whodunit theme” filled the room. It only went off when someone said those words. The entire room chanted, “What’s that sound?” Nad’s lifted his beer, as did everyone else with his or her drink in salute. “The Booth” was an order I had made with my favorite carpenter; a Dwarf named Gosney. I evidently forgot about the Earth human’s April Fools Day, so Gosney and his cohorts decided to play a prank and somehow charmed the booth to set it off. The booth was gorgeously carved and beyond my expectations. Sure, I love ornate furniture, but Gosney and his crew really outdid themselves. The booth was carved from Lorerootian oak and depicted various creatures in the realm. It seats about 8 people and Mur forbid if the person in the middle has to visit the Privy in a hurry. We have yet to figure out where the sound is coming from. The room was filled with anticipation as the women began their stories. “We were walking together to come here for a drink.” Lintara said, her chin quivering. “Sagewoman was explaining to me how ‘Critter Speak’ worked.” Sagewoman jumped in. “It was just getting dark and suddenly there was a man in front of us.” She frowned in confusion. “I remember talking to him and I know that I knew him personally…” “I even remember what we were discussing!” Lintara interjected. “But suddenly, there we were with these white roses in our hands and no memory of what happened!” “Whoever it is sure knows how to kiss, that’s for sure!” Sagewoman finished, touching her lips. “But no I’ve no memory of who it was!” The crowd in the pub broke into laughter, making Lintara blush with embarrassment. Sagie was not amused and glared, instantly making everyone hastily turn around. I’ll be damned if Innocence didn’t pop out from a corner of the room, her notepad filled with hastily scribbled notes. I forgot she was here having drinks with Maebius and the rest of the Marind Bell Council. Weird thing is we always forget she’s around. That’s scary. “My, my, my!” Innocence cooed as she sashayed up to us. “The Kissing Bandit strikes again! This just keeps getting better and better!” Cocking her head to one side, she looked at the Sisters with a gleam in her eyes. “Care to add anything else, Ladies?” Sagie and Lintara both got beet-red in the face and hollered a resounding “No!” Maebius, a good friend and collector of hats came up with a concerned look on his face. “Windy, I’m worried. Perhaps the rest of the Sisters should be accompanied by escorts?” Sagie snorted. “As If! The Kissing Bandit just gave us huge whammies! What makes you think an escort will make any difference?” Maebius sighed. “Well it’s was worth a shot. How many people do you think this Kissing Bandit can whammy at the same time?” “I for one, do not want to find out.” I said fingering my stolen white roses with a frown. “But I do know that when the perpetrator is found, he’ll be very sorry he messed with my prized roses!”

Here is Chapter 3. It is short as well. After the ideas empty out of my head, it makes sense to start a new chapter. I don't know. I'm still learning how to write. My Muse has been busy with her own book. Here it is! CHAPTER 3 Stop the Presses! It was mid-morning and I was stocking up all the bowls with beer-nuts and kettle-roasted pretzels to get ready for the afternoon crowd. Princess Katt, (not Royalty)Lintara, and Sagewoman, rushed into the pub waving The Golden Globe Gazette, Magicduel’s only Newspaper in the air. “Windy! You are not going to believe this!” Sagie bellowed as she waved the paper in my face. I snatched the paper from her hands and gasped when I saw the front headline. Lintara and Katt looked shaken and were talking so excitedly; I had to shush them so I could read the paper in peace. Kissing Bandit Stalks The Sisterhood By Innocence| The Golden Globe Gazette Stop the presses! Magicduel has a Kissing Bandit on the loose and he is stalking The Sisterhood! Sister Raine reported that she was walking through Sanctuary’s View when an unknown man jumped out from behind a tree, grabbed her, and smooched her silly. Sister Raine exclaimed that she thought she knew him, but for some reason couldn’t recall his face or recognize his voice as he ran off , choking on an evil laugh! Sister Raine also mentioned that before the bandit ran off he presented her with a single white rose. Is this Kissing Bandit putting a whammy on women? Is he horning in on The Sisterhood’s smooching antics? Is this sinister bandit an amateur evil laugher? Is this bandit also a sinister thief of prized roses? Everyone knows our beloved Pub owner, Windy, and also Mistress of The Sisterhood cultivates White Roses in her garden. So, I ask you dear readers, which Sister will be next? “Oh My Dear Mur!” I exclaimed. “This will surely cause an uproar in the realm or make The Sisterhood a laughing stock!” The three women went off on a tangent and sounded like a bunch of hens in an uproar. Dragual Monarth, Princess Katt’s husband, came skipping down the stairs from the rooms I rent out, no doubt looking for his coffee. “What is all this noise about?” He demanded. Katt stopped him at the bottom of the stairs and shoved her copy of the Gazette into his hands. Dragual shook the paper a bit and then began to read the Headline. It was not long before he threw his head back and roared with laughter. Katt smacked his chest. “It’s not funny!” she exclaimed defensively, stomping a foot. “Are you serious?” he asked still laughing. “The Sisterhood is getting their comeuppance and you expect me to be shocked?” Katt smacked his chest in protest. “Ooh! This is serious! A man is sneaking around and has accosted one of us! We don’t sneak around when we do our smooching!” Katt crossed her arms at her chest and glowered. Dragual got a weird look on his face for a second and then smiled. Running his fingers into her hair, he kissed her on the nose. “I’m sorry, my Love. But this is funny to me and I’m sure it will be funny to all the other men you women have smooched. Trust me.” He said, smacking the Gazette in one hand before crushing it in his fist. “This will blow over. You need not worry.” The Sisters shook their heads, not agreeing with Dragual’s sentiment. “I for one, am a strong woman and I can beat most men in a fair fight!” Sagewoman injected. “Let this ‘Kissing Bandit’ just try to sneak a smooch from me! He’ll be sorry!” Lintara nodded in agreement. She wasn’t going to be his next victim either.

I pray that Mur will read this and let me know if it's okay. I just couldn't cook up a wizard because there isn't one...he did say be true to the characters.... Is everyone ready for chapter 3?

I took some creative license. I didn't think calling Innocense "IT" was approriate. While I do have to be true to the name of Characters and Places, I can tweek things a bit. I like your expression, "break your ego like glass at a Jewish wedding", Curiose. Nice Simile! I don't really know how long a chapter should be. Do you happen to know?

It had to be in the East...I hate going there.

Yes, it's short. It's a work in progress. I had to use Muratus because to put anyone else in his spot didn't work. I hope he doesn't feel offended. CHAPTER 2 Trouble with a Capital K It was Saturday, The Sisterhood’s brunch day. I was busy sweeping the floor of the pub and wiping the tables off to get things ready, when Sister Raine burst into the pub. “Oh My Freaking Mur, Mistress Windy! You will never guess what just happened to me!” This sounded important as she had just addressed me as Mistress. “Sit down Raine, before you fall down.” I ordered, leaning my broom against a table. “Now breathe and tell me what happened to you.” Raine looked upset and wrung her hands together over and over. “I was walking through Sanctuary’s View when this man jumped out, grabbed me, and planted a huge kiss on me!” I gasped, smacking a hand to my chest. “The cad! The Scoundrel! Call out the Guard! How dare a man kiss you?” I laughed thinking she’d laugh too. “Windy! This is no joke! The man kissed me and then ran off, laughing real evil like…but ends up coughing up a lung. It was very strange.” “I don’t see what’s so strange, this is Magicduel after all.” I replied. I should have kept my big know-it-all mouth shut. “It seems like I saw the man’s face, but now I don’t recall who it was!” She continued. “He even gave me a gift before he run off!” Raine pulled out a single white rose, which suspiciously looked like one of mine in the garden out back. I shrieked. “Oh My Dear Mur! Is that one of my prized roses?” Raine jumped out of her seat and followed me as I ran through the kitchen to the back yard. Sure enough, several buds were clipped off my prized rose bushes. “I’ll kill him! Curse this evil doer!” I shook my fist into the air and thunder rolled through the heavens with my elemental powers. Raine grabbed my arm and dragged me back inside before I could do any damage. We got back into the pub area to find the rest of the Sisters had arrived and I had not prepared any snacks or drinks. They took one look at our faces and new something was up. “Sisters! Something dastardly is afoot!” I exclaimed, pulling my arm from Raine’s tight grip. The Sister’s collectively gasped and started asking questions all at the same time. Raine had to quiet them all down as they all found a seat. Sister Lintara looked around at her fellow Sisters and then looked at us. “Exactly what happened?” Sister Raine paced the floor. “It seems that Raine has been attacked on the way to the meeting tonight.” The women murmured amongst themselves, as this has never happened before. “It’s true!” Raine exclaimed. “This man jumped out from behind a tree at Sanctuary’s View, grabbed me and kissed me soundly!” The Sisters exploded with laughter. It took them awhile to calm down. Sister Keida pipes up. “Oh you poor girl! You say a man kissed you and you survived?” More laughter filled the room. Sister Sagewoman laughed the loudest out of the bunch. “Great Mur! We can’t have men jumping out at us, willy-nilly! Call out the hounds!” she said shaking a fist. “We’ll find the bastard!” The room full of laughing women got worse as tears streamed down their faces. Sister Lintara quit laughing suddenly and got a serious look on her face. “Excuse me? But isn’t the smooching OUR job?” The room got quiet as the implications sunk in. “Do you think this is an isolated incident?” another asked anxiously. Innocence, Magicduel’s roving and sneaky reporter slunk into the pub. “I smelled a story all the way from Willow’s Walk! What’s up?” Just what we need, I thought. A small incident to be blown out of proportion by the media. Innocence leaned onto a wood pillar, pulled out a notepad, yanked a quill from her hair, and poised it above a page. “Who, What, Where, When, and better yet, Why?” She demanded. “Nothing!” I said, trying to get rid of her. “I am sure this was just an isolated incident by one of our many admirers and recipients!” I bit my lip, but it was too late. “Ooh!” Innocence crooned. “That tidbit sounds juicy! Do tell!” The entire Sisterhood stared talking at once. Innocence put two fingers into her mouth and blew out a shrill whistle, silencing everyone. Sister Raine stood up; all eyes following her. “Well, I was walking through Sanctuary’s View when a man jumped out from behind a tree, grabbed me, kissed me soundly, gave me a rose and then ran off!” To give her credit, Innocence didn’t laugh or lose her reporter demeanor, although one of her eyelids twitched. “Get out! You say a strange man jumped out and kissed you? What did he look like?” “That’s the odd part!” Raine exclaimed. “I don’t remember! It’s like my memory is blocked or something!” Innocence scribbled into the notepad furiously, her tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth. “And then what happened?” Innocence continued to enquire. “Well, it’s the darndest thing.” Raine said. “The bandit gave me a single white rose and He tried to make this evil laugh and ended coughing instead. I swear I knew his voice! But I can’t remember that either!” Innocence scribbled some more, muttering as she wrote. “Hmm! The perpetrator choked on an evil laugh and ran off.” She looked up then with a satisfied smirk on her face. “This is some good stuff! It just writes itself!” I got uncomfortable then. I knew how her mind worked. “Now Inno, this isn’t a big news story. It’s only once incident!” “Ha! I can feel it in my gut!” Innocence exclaimed, putting her quill back in her hair. “This is news! Front page news!” She was gone before I could protest further.

Okay. This looks lonely. Critique away...but not too harshly. I hope you liked it and are thirsting for the next chapter.

I've reedited my story again and I hope it flows better and I hope you enjoy it. Please ignore the other chapters. This is chapter 1 combined with chapter 2. The other chapters are being rewritten. I wish there was an easy way to double space this for easier reading for you. Enjoy! [center][b]CHAPTER 1[/b][/center] [b] THE SISTERHOOD[/b] My pub, The Wind & Rain was empty of customers except for eleven beautiful women, all members of The Sisterhood, a silly women’s group I created on a whim. Today, we are adding to our number. Sisters’ Lintara and Raine carefully placed eleven ivory handled swords, sharp tips pointed inward on a round table, leaving one empty space; on an adjacent table lay an identical sword. In the circle of the swords, a large blood red candle burned, with a wine filled goblet next to it. I put several ornate goblets on a tray and carried them over to the table, placing one goblet between each sword. I raised a hand to command everyone’s attention. "[i]Hear ye, Hear ye! Sisters harken unto me! The Sisterhood now commences! Sister's come raise your swords[/i]!" The women gathered around the table and dramatically raised their swords in the air and then down until the hilts were next to their noses. I turned to face the woman seated at the bar and raised a hand to point at her. "[i]Sisters! Cast your eyes upon our newest inductee! What say ye unto her[/i]?" The women turned as one to face the newcomer. "[i]Welcome young woman! Tell us your name and state your purpose[/i]." The woman nervously slid off her stool and stood, pinching her skirts between her fingers. "I am called Handy Pockets and my purpose is to join The Sisterhood!" I beckoned to her with my hand. "[i]Come forth, young woman and swear an oath to us![/i]" Handy Pockets straightened her spine and walked toward us. I handed her the sword from the other table and said in a commanding voice. "Take this sword which is a sign of your fidelity, a sign that we are much more than our good looks suggest! A sign that we as women can kick butt as well as any man and better than some men think they can!" Handy Pockets looked at me in bewilderment and then raised her sword to mimic the others and whispered, "Seriously, Windy?" I bent toward her slightly and whispered out of the corner of my mouth. "Just go with it!" Handy Pockets whispered back, "Okay, if you say so!" I winked. "Trust me." I cleared my throat to get back to the drama of the ceremony. "Now repeat after me, Handy." "I, state your name." "I, state your name." She repeated. "No! Your name!" I hissed. The sword-wielding Sisters giggled and snickered. "Oh! Um...I, Handy Pockets.” "Do solemnly swear to do my Sisterly duty." "I have duties? Um...I mean, do solemnly swear to do my Sisterly duty." "Which is to help my Mistress when needed." "What Mistress?" Handy Pockets looked around to see me raise an well-arched eyebrow. "Oh! Um...which is to help my Mistress when needed." I gave her a warning look and continued. "And to smooch all men who are unfortunate to cross my path." "Really?" "Really!" "Cool beans! And to smooch all men who are unfortunate to cross my path!" "So help me, Mur!" "What's a Mur?" Handy Pockets asked and gulped at my glare. She sighed resignedly and finished repeating her oath. "Fine! So help me, Mur!" We placed our swords down with a resounding clack on the table and faced Handy once again. I took her sword and placed it in the empty spot with the other swords on the table and picked up the goblet sitting next to the candle, handing it to her and then picked up my own goblet as the Sisters picked up theirs. "My Sisters! May I introduce our twelfth Sister? Sister Handy Pockets!" The Sisters chanted in tandem. "[i]Hail, Sister Handy[/i]!" We drained our wine in one gulp and then tossed our goblets over our shoulders, which landed on the floor with a cacophony of clangs and clatters. Handy stared at us as if we had all lost our minds. I grinned and motioned for her to do the same. Shrugging, she gulped her wine and looked at her goblet before tossing it over her shoulder. "Congratulations! You are now part of The Sisterhood family!" I pounded Sister Handy Pockets on the back, knocking her off balance before the other Sisters surrounded us both in a group hug, shrieking and jumping up and down like girls in a slumber party. Sagewoman pulled off her ceremonial robe and ruffled her long black hair with one hand. “Thank Mur, that’s over. Can we feast now? I’m starving!” She grinned sheepishly. “I skipped brunch knowing you’d have a spread waiting for us, Windy.” The rest of the Sisters took off their robes as well and headed for the bartop, which was laden with food. They weren’t silly enough to ask to wait for permission. Sagewoman shrugged and began to pile a plate full. I headed for the door and unlocked it to let in the riff-raff that were my beloved customers and the real party began. Anything that required copious amount of food and drink was fair game and everyone knew it. When I put a spread out, I go whole hog. It’s one of my gifts. The very next day, I was busy sweeping the floor and wiping down tables from last night’s debauchery to get things ready for The Sisterhood’s daily brunch, when Raine burst into the pub in a flurry of billowy skirts and cloak. “Oh! Mistress Windy! You will never guess what just happened to me!” This sounded important as she had just addressed me as Mistress. The Sisters never address me as such unless during a ceremony. “Sit down Raine, before you fall down.” I ordered, leaning my broom against a table. “Now breathe and tell me what happened to you.” Raine paced back and forth, wringing her hands together over and over. “I was walking through Sanctuary’s View when this man jumped out, grabbed me, and planted a huge kiss on me!” I gasped, smacking a hand to my chest. “The cad! The Scoundrel! Call out the Guard! How dare a man kiss you?” I laughed thinking she’d laugh too. “Windy! This is no joke! The man kissed me and then ran off, laughing real evil like…but ends up coughing up a lung. It was very strange.” “I don’t see what’s so strange, this is Magicduel after all.” I replied. I should have kept my big know-it-all mouth shut. “It seems like I saw the man’s face, but now I don’t recall who it was!” She continued. “He even gave me a gift before he run off!” Raine opened up a cloth pouch and pulled out a single white rose, which looked suspiciously like one of mine in the garden out back. I shrieked. “Oh My Dear Mur! Is that one of my prized roses?” Raine followed me as I turned and sprinted through my kitchen to the back yard. Sure enough, several buds were clipped from one of my bushes. “I’ll kill him! I’ll cut off his hands and then kill him! Curse this evil doer!” I shook my fist into the air and thunder rolled through the heavens, which happens when I lose my temper. I’m an elemental and everyone in the realm knows that when the weather changes drastically, to head for cover. Raine grabbed my arm and dragged me back inside cursing and screeching before I could do any damage. She knew I could whip up a storm like no other when riled. It was a wonder her ears didn’t drop off from the language I was using. Sailors and Pirates would have been proud. We got back into the pub area to find the rest of the Sisters had arrived early, very early, as I hadn’t even put out the food and drink. They took one look at our faces and new something was up. “Sisters! Something evil and dastardly is afoot!” I shouted, pulling my arm from Raine’s tight grip. “Someone’s head is going to roll!” The Sister’s collectively gasped and started asking questions all at once. I stuck my finger and thumb into my mouth and blew out a shrill whistle to quiet them all down. It was funny to watch them all jump. Sister Lintara asked what was on everyone’s mind. “What evil and dastardly thing?” Sister Raine paced the floor and blurted, “I’ve been attacked!” The women murmured amongst themselves, as this has never happened to one of them before. The entire Sisterhood was respected and knew how to inflict collateral damage. “It’s true!” Raine exclaimed. “This man jumped out from behind a tree at Sanctuary’s View, grabbed me and kissed me soundly!” The Sisters exploded with laughter. It took them awhile to calm down. Sister Keida piped up. “Oh you poor girl! You say a man kissed you and you survived?” More laughter filled the room. Sister Sagewoman laughed the loudest out of the bunch. “Great Mur! We can’t have men jumping out at us, willy-nilly! Call out the hounds!” She said shaking a fist. “We’ll find the bastard!” The room full of laughing women got worse as tears streamed down their faces. Sister Lintara quit laughing suddenly and got a serious look on her face. “Excuse me? Excuse me! But isn’t the smooching OUR job?” The room got quiet as the implications sunk in. “Do you think this is an isolated incident?” another asked anxiously. It was then that Innocence, an intangible being and Magicduel’s roving and sneaky reporter slunk into the pub. “I smelled a story all the way from Willow’s Walk! Imagine me finding it ended up here! What’s up?” Just what we need, I thought. A small incident to be blown out of proportion by the media. I had a feeling that things were going to go from bad to worse. Innocence leaned onto a wood pillar, pulled out a notepad, and yanked a quill from what her hair, and poised it above a page. “Who, What, Where, When, and better yet, Why?” “Nothing!” I said, waving my hands and trying to get rid of the reporter. “I am sure this is all just an isolated incident by one of our many admirers and recipients!” I bit my lip at my blunder, but it was too late. “Ooh!” Innocence crooned, jumping at my mistake like a shark to bait. “That tidbit sounds so juicy! Do tell!” The entire Sisterhood stared talking at once. Innocence put two fingers into her mouth and blew out a shrill whistle, silencing everyone. Evidently, she likes making people jump out of their skin as well. Sister Raine stood up a bit disconcerting at all the attention and took a deep breath. “Well… I was walking through Sanctuary’s View when a man jumped out from behind a tree, grabbed me, kissed me soundly, gave me a rose and then ran off!” To give her credit, Innocence didn’t laugh like a hyena, snicker, snort, or lose her reporter demeanor, although one eyelid twitched. “Get out! You say a strange man jumped out and kissed you? What did he look like?” Her hand poised over her notepad. “That’s the odd part!” Raine exclaimed. “I don’t remember! It’s like my memory is blocked or something!” Innocence scribbled into the notepad furiously, her tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth. “And then what happened?” Innocence continued her inquisition. “Well, it’s the darndest thing.” Raine said. “The bandit gave me a white rose and tried to make this evil laugh and ended coughing instead. I swear I knew his voice! But I can’t remember that either!” Innocence scribbled some more, muttering. “Hmm! The perpetrator handed his victim a white rose, choked on an evil laugh and ran off.” Innocence looked up then with a satisfied smirk. “This is great stuff! It just writes itself! It’s front page news!” I got uncomfortable then. I knew how her mind worked. I might have well been trying to stop a rampaging stampede. “Come on now Inno, this isn’t a big news story. Let’s not try to get ahead of ourselves. Its only one incident!” “Ha! I can feel it in my gut!” Innocence exclaimed, putting her quill back into her hair. “This is news! Front page news!” and hurried out the door before I could protest any further. Mur forbid if she didn’t get the story in the paper before the ink dried.

Good by, Marv. Enjoy college.

I think the best song that fits my character, Windy, is "Man Eater" by John & Hall Oats.

I am not happy to see you go, even knowing how debilitating your health issues are. Who can I play "good cop/bad cop" with? Katt has come a long way and might be able to fill your shoes....with lots of rolled up newspaper...but she's not you. I will miss you in game.