>>6190500>>6190513>>6190841>>6190967You'd rather not.
For starters, you know that if you give thugs like these an inch, they're prone to taking a mile. "Surrender your stuff" has an unfortunate tendency to become "you're coming with us" when you're a woman or a nobleman. You happen to be both, though the Masterly House of Ivanova is merely given the title of <span class="mu-i">Esquire</span>. That and your rather unappealing body will protect you from the bandits' lusts if you just go along with them, for sure, but...
You'd rather not. You got pushed around enough this morning to last you a week. Besides which, there's something funny about the way they speak that put you on edge. Folk from all over the Middle Kingdom find their way to Port Caplan thanks to the Five <span class="mu-i">Collegia</span> within its walls. Accents range from your own North Isriken to those native to the southron deserts of Plamyan. These men try to imitate the way those of Port Caplan speak the King's Tongue, and they get just close enough to it that the subtle differences are jarring.
Fortunately, you're a sorceress. That alone is enough to spook off most ne'er-do-wells, even if all you can cast are a handful of cantrips.
Cycling your <span class="mu-i">leben</span> through your right hand activates the only piece of jewelry that you wear, a simple silver signet ring that bears the Ivanovan Snowflake and a small ruby. A Light shoots out from the gem and shifts into the shape of the staff that serves as your magic focus. The thugs each take a hesitant step back when they see the the staff take shape. The two subordinates almost look like they whant to ask their boss if they really should be messing with you.
"How wonderful. I've been looking for <span class="mu-i">test subjects</span>," you lie through your teeth. A smile crosses your face as you see the two in the back cowering, while their leader's knife switches to a more defensive stance. Sweat runs down his brow, his eyes locked on you, his feet sliding backwards slowly. Uncertain but steady, a combination rarely seen in your common bandit. "You gentlemen shall have the honor of witnessing an original spell, never before seen in the modern era..."
"Uh, Cap'n...?" one of the thugs stammers out. Interesting, his accent slipped back to normal. It is from a land outside the Middle Kingdom, thick with the brogue of the Kamen people. "I don't wanna get turned to anything unnatural...!"
Their captain weighs something in his mind. His hand goes behind his back, no doubt to flash them some hidden signal. Brave of them to obey, darting to the side alleys. He keeps his fake accent up, telling you to, "Do your worst, witch!"
