Love Poison No Cure Needed

Stealth Comp Rules 3.19

Sorrel gunned the throttle on his bike as he raced after Kayad and Dr Alfair. The widening road through the forest was picturesque save for the roar of the bikes as they passed through. sorrel heard Blaine swearing from behind but shook his head at the useless effort. After he’d been caught for the second time by Throttle’s gang when they woke up Dt Alfair had supposedly taken him for special training though it seemed the effort was not fruitful given that Blaine still couldn’t keep up even with just riding the bikes

Moreover it apparently hadn’t knocked any humility into the i***t either. It was particularly annoying the way he acted like everyone she waited around on him. He was just too entitled for Sorrel to like even when he tried. It might have been easier if he’d showed skills to match his attitude but so far as Sorrel had been able to tell he just didn’t have the skills.

 The only thing that he had going for him was that his choices made him score higher than the rest of the class. Though it was primarily through what would be cheating in any other course. It was just the rule in stealth that it wasn’t cheating if you didn’t get caught.

 Pity he couldn’t translate his ability to not get caught to the major practical exercises. He'd been caught in the mid term exam. scraped through by time limit in the end term exams and was of course caught in the club break in.

 Up ahead Dr Alfair made an abrupt turn down a partially obscured gravel track into the forest itself. Sorrel mirrored Kayad and slid into a turn before they gunned it down the road. Five minutes later they slowed to a stop in a small clearing. There were five small groups clustered in the clearing already. However the only other vehicles were a large all terrain jeep. As well as two very out of place sports cars.

 Sorrel figured that the other two groups came by Other means particularly since they consisted entirely of Realmskin.

 “Heh, Alfair decided to show have you? Though it seems you're one short.” A long haired Feyskin commented with a laugh.

 “Well what do you expect mixing so easily with the humans, it's not surprising that he cant make his numbers.”  A short haired Lionskin with a scar across his forehead sneered. As he finished speaking Blaine finally came up the path to stop beside us.

 Dr Alfair rolled his eyes and ignored the others in favour of moving over to speak quietly to Blaine. Sorrel let his sight flicker and examined the other people.

 Mostly Realmskin, with a particularly high concentration of Feyskin. Sorrel looked at the trees, probably to take advantage of their familiarity with plants from their home Realm. Though there were a few Beastskin, two Wolfskins and a Pantherskin. The rest were a scattering of races.

An indistinct music sounded from the forest and Sorrel smiled. This place was old. Not quite as old as the elder trees in Saige Park but close.

After taking in the competitors Sorrel focused his attention on the old Harpy crouched in the tree at the edge of the clearing while she watched the various groups bickering and provocations.

When she turned her head and looked at Sorrel he smiled and nodded politely before shifting his sight back and turning to Kayad. The two Wolfskins were calling Kayad names, mixed blood inferior blend and the like but Kayad seemed oblivious as he leaned on his bike with his eyes closed.

Interestingly an archdemon in one of the other groups was similarly leaning against a tree with his eyes closed. He was somewhat understated in appearance, dark brown hair with lightly tanned skin and an almost petite build he really didn’t give the impression of being a high ranked demon.

“Something interesting?” Kayad asked as he opened his eyes to look at Sorrel.

“Hmm, not really, just saw someone that wasn’t what I expected,” Sorrel replied as he started loading up needles in his belt slips. He was completely dressed in the leathers Aunt Birch had originally made for him.

As Sorrel loaded his needles, he checked their potency. The first three batches whereas they should be when he got to the last batch, he felt the potency drop and smiled sadly. He’d been careful with where he had stored each lot and knew who had access to each lot. The third lot had only been accessible by the four people.

Sorrel took a deep breath and pulled out a bottle from his hair and checked it before dipping the needles in just as the Harpy revealed herself and spoke.

“Well now that we are here. If you have finished your pissing contests I’ll lay down the instructions.” Her voice was sharp but subtle like it seeped into the mind and drove out other thoughts.

Sorrel blinked and opened his senses. He couldn’t hear the forest. This was a lady not to be trifled with. Clearly she had a very good method of making sure no one ignored her instructions.

“I am Master Katan, instructions are simple: the game is won by scoring points, you gain points every hour you're active in the field. Which is the 10 mile radius or forest around us. You also gain points by taking opposing competitors out, they are out when they are rendered unconscious. You lose points if you are spotted by a supervisor who will capture your image in a recording orb as proof. Any supervisor who claims to have spotted someone but doesn’t have a record will be recorded for fabrication of results. I don’t want a repeat of last year.” Master Katan swept a look over the long haired Fey skin as she spoke.

The Feyskin winced and nodded. Sorrel figured that the instructors had probably falsely marked sightings of others to drop points.

“the rules are simple. No lethal attacks. Weapons may not exceed 30cm in length and bladed weapons will be covered with a dulling spell. Any medicines to be used must be examined for toxicity. The contest lasts three days. Don’t disappoint me.” Master Katan vanished as the last word fell.

Sorrel rolled backwards in time with Kayad and blended into the forest. Aside from the Archdemon the remaining competitors were dazed for a moment before the supervisors prompted them and they rushed into the forest.

Dr Alfair waited for Blaine to move before he turned away from the other supervisors. He slung his recording orb over his neck and strolled into the woods.