World Lore, Dice Rolls, Tables and Cypher System mechanics (Dropbox Folder)

It wasn’t for several more blocks that looked behind me to see if Nox had followed me. But he was no where to be seen. And those creatures were getting away with shit we didn’t even know was ours. Did I really care?

I did. No one stole from me. And then a memory flooded my mind and I stopped cold in my tracks. A mugging had been the very thing that ended my life.

The vibe around me had changed. Where before the hum of magic was present on my skin, now I felt a different feeling — shadows and darkness seemed daker. And the kids had disappeared. “Fuck!”

I looked around and didn’t really see much of anything other than houses. One stood out more than others. It was larger than most of the townhouses and condos. This place reminded of some of the shadier nooks of The City where I’d grown up. Wasn’t too far from where I had lived before either.

Despite the darker feel of the neighborhood people were outside watering their yards, gardening, walking their dogs. One kid was even delivering newspapers on some fancy hover craft on a skate board. It was magic and tech and holy fucking shit that’s cool going on here.

I walked looking around. I didn’t expect to find the kids I’d been chasing. But they were looking around a bush in the other direction. I stalked up to them and grabbed them both by the nap of their neck.

Their rough scales pierced my skin and I held on to them as the squirmed and shouted. “Letz us go!”

They dropped the bags they were holding and I dropped them. “Now get!”

One of them looked up at me abashed, while the other one hung his head. “Wez can’t. Youz come.”

“Go where?” I asked. “I need to find my friend.” Was he just a friend? I thought about what I could be doing instead and growled. I was so not happy about this detour.

“Toz our boss.” The abashed one said with what I thought was a shy grin across his reptilian face. He almost looked like a dragon. But weren’t dragon’s bigger?

“Hez help you.” The other said.

“Fine.” I agreed.

The two kids. I wanted to say they were both male by the way they were dressed but how the fuck could I tell. They didn’t look human so I was at a complete loss of gender — so kids it was.

The two kids handed my the bags and started down street towards the towering building that I’d spied earlier. The one with the dark facade. As we got closer the ivy grew up and wrapped it in an eerie snake like texture. It felt like we were walking into the belly of the snake when we walked through the dark jutting stone walls that surrounded the place.

All the places seemed to have the same sort of walls. These were thicker and more sinister looking. I wasn’t exactly sure this was going to go well. I almost turned around and ran, but the gates behind me closed and I was utterly trapped.

I felt like I was walking into a haunted house — it was that creepy.

The kids ran through the door like it was nothing — again that haunted house feeling. I expected something to jump out me. Or like Lurch to answer the door or something. But the house looked normal. No floating shit. No cobwebs. It was clean and well lit. I was surprised but not surprised. My mind was notorious for playing tricks on me — usually I was stoned, but hey I could be. Fucking magic and flying cars!

Once I was inside the doors closed behind me as if by magic. I looked around and saw no one. But moments later a female dragon like creature of the same small stature as the kids came out. Her black scales shimmered in the lamp light. Rings and other jewelry proclaimed her wealth and I assumed her position as head of the house. The kids boss.

“What do you want with me?” I asked rudely.

The creature chuckled, it sounded more like a growl and I wasn’t sure it was humor I heard in the undertones or not.

“Why just your cooperation.” She said and waved a bejeweled claw for me to follow her.

I did only because I had no other real choice. She walked into a room full of books and a comfortable seating arrangement around a fire pit. “This isn’t a book safe environment.” I said as I sat down.

She laughed. “It’s Alex, right? The dark haired one with the flaming guitar.” She said but it really wasn’t to me, or to anyone else in the room. Was more like she was talking to herself.

“That is my name. Why?”

“Are you always so distrusting?”

“I am.” I said flatly.

“Well then. My name is Dazzle Quickspark, and I work for the Crimson Scale Cartel.” She paused to let the word cartel sink in. This was the house of the nefarious underworld — every city had one or more. And I was now sitting in the house of one.

“My bosses always try to recruit newcomers. Easier to mold.”

“I’m not moldable.” I smirked.

“But you do need a job, a purpose. yes? We all do. Or did you plan on navigating this world with nothing but what the IREC people gave you?”

“I have no idea who these people are. If I work for them, or work for you what does it matter?” I was confused. And sorta wishing I had paid attention when the woman had been talking. But then again I liked what I was doing then. And wished I was doing it now.

“We have a proposition for you and your friend.” She said and steepled her fingers in a very imposing way.

I definitely didn’t l ike the implications.

The Whole Story

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