'Twas a calm day in the Circle Realm, anchored in the outer planes, with a gate leading to the world of Khir Khira... but it was always calm there... the sky a deep crimson, and the ground a shimmering ethereal. The Village of Circles was busy for this time of year, with various interdimensional merchants constantly coming and going, poring through the shops therein, exchanging ethereal crystals, strange glowing crystals formed by shifts in reality, for goods and services.

Ranarak Tarandis, known to friend and foe alike as Rannis of the 4th Circle padded alongside his superior, and longtime friend, Charit of the 3rd. Rannis sniffed the air as he walked, sensing various scents and odors, his tattered ears pricking at each new sound.

Rannis was an alleycat, with his smooth midnight black fur specked with dust, that showed his activelifestyle. The tip of his tail was slightly bent, and swished through the air behind him happily as he strolled along on Charit's heels. His eyes were the most outstanding part of him though, being a deep luminous green... so enticing that one could lose themselves for hours, staring into their depths. On his face was what could be considered for a cat, a smirk.

Charit, contrasting to Rannis's black fur, was attired in plain white robes. His hair blended against the robes, coming down to about the center of his back, and spilling over his shoulders. From his chin a few white whispy strands of a beard remained. His skin was wrinkled with age, and a gnarled walking stick was clutched in his hands, which he seemed to rely heavily upon, hunched slightly over. His eyes seemed ancient, a deep grey, almost flowing with their wisdom, speaking of their long history.

Charit looked down at his friend, Rannis, who, even now, was sniffing an overturned jar in the street, then spoke in a cracked, but almost laughing voice, "Come Rannis. We're keeping the council elders waiting. you know they hate that." Rannis smirked, looking up at Charit with his luminous green eyes, sniffed the air indignantly, "Pfft. Let em wait. They're just gonna tell us to check on the Magi Academy. It's that time of the month," He rolled his eyes as he said the last statement, chuckling inwardly at its double meaning. Charit shook a withered finger at Rannis, "Come now Rannis. Try and be reasonable. Even those routine checks are important. Everything is important, in the scheme of things."

Rannis snickered to himself, muttering to himself, "Yeah right, old man." Charit smiled knowingly, used to Rannis's comments, knowing they were meant in good humor. He continued forth slowly, favoring his cane, as his legs have grown tired of late.

Suddenly, a flash of gold and crimson light flashed in front of the two, causing them to draw back in alarm. A second flash of light, and a brief explosion, and a laughable little man appeared, standing no more than 3' tall. He crouched down to pet Rannis, who immediately flattened his ears to his skull, resisting the urge to hiss, then spoke through clenched teeth, "Oh great, just what we need. A visit from Gudrar the Magnificent," Then under his breath added, "Gudrar the Insane Nut Bag."

Gudrar stood to his full height, which wasn't very much, spoke in a jovial, and rhythmic tone of voice, "Gudrar come search for you he has! Found you has he, yes he has! Bring treat, and tidy welcome from Gudrar the Magnificent!" Rannis smirked, "Oh a treat? You're leaving?"

Gudrar giggled insanely, before tapping Rannis lightly between the ears with his index finger, "Gudrar leaving not be. Not be leave until give gift!" Rannis nearly hissed at Gudrar, his tail twitching, and his eyes beginning to glow as he prepared to use his magic. Sensing this, Charit stepped in, "Greetings, friend Gudrar. Allow me to apologize for Rannis. I, well... disturbed him from his lady friend. He is a little cranky at the moment. What gift do you bring us, Gudrar? And why?"

Gudrar giggled again, cartwheeled around them enthusiastically, ending up in front of them again, "Make for you have I something you want!" He looks at Rannis, "Something you need! Heeheeheeheehee!" Rannis snarled silently, "Then let's have what it is you're bringing and let us be on our way!" Charit chuckled lightly, "Yes Gudrar, please do. We need to be on our way. We have already kept the Council waiting." This brought on another brief round of giggling by Gudrar, and finally he reached a long slender arm into the pack behind him, his arm seeming to bend as though rubber. He brought his arm out again, holding a rubber chicken. He presented it to Rannis, "Kitty be this for you! Kitty kitty kitty! Heeheehee!" Then rubbed Rannis on the head.

Rannis sniffed the chicken, glaring at Gudrar's touch, "Oh boy. Just what I needed. A chicken. Charit, I think this guy's just asking to be a mouse!" Charit smiled, then shook his head, "Rannis is very grateful, Gudrar, our thanks. Will that be all?" Gudrar frowned, an odd site for the goblin-like man, "Gudrar no finish! No explain! Not just chicken. Chicken of Annihilation!!!!"

Rannis smirked, looking at Gudrar for a moment, his expression growing lighter. He snickered lightly, then broke out into a fit of giggles, and finally, burst out into complete laughter, rolling around on the glowing material of the streets, drawing the attention of passersby. Even Charit seemed on the verge of laughing, his wrinkled hand going up over his mouth, "Ahem, perhaps if you'd... um... explain," He said with a long pause, "Perhaps we might um... understand better."

Gudrar frowned, "What understand!? Annihilating chicken!! Chicken of death and destruction for you!!!! And for you, Charit 3rd of!!! The Rubber Ducky of Doom!!!" The last bit he said with a dramatic pause, then an overly embellished voice. This drew another long fit of laughter from Rannis, and even Charit started chuckling lightly.

Rannis looked up, his luminous green eyes wild with his new light mood as he watched Gudrar take another item out of his pack.. a friendly looking rubber duck. He burst out laughing once more, and over this noise, Gudrar began to explain, "Chicken power have! Be strong it is! Five spells, unleashed, once used! All of death! Enchant have I!! Ducky strong be even more! Be powerful to end no!!!! Use wise! Both be use 3 times only! Gift I give to you!!" And with that, he disappeared as quickly as he came, leaving the two deadly rubber fowls lying on the ground.

Rannis was still rolling around on the ground laughing, covering his fur with a glittering dust as Charit looked at him with twinkling eyes then stooped down to pick up the duck. He closed his eyes, concentrating, trying to discern its powers. The duck glowed slightly under his touch. His eyes snapped open, and he spoke in alarm, "My word..." He looked down at Rannis, thrust a sandaled foot into his companion's side. Rannis looked up, blinked a few times, still chuckling, "Rannis. Calm yourself. Despite outward appearances.. these 'things' are quite deadly. Sense them yourself."

Rannis, still chuckling, picked himself up off the ground, shaking dust out of his fur. He padded over slowly to the chicken, sniffed it. His eyes glowed slightly as he cast a detect magic spell on it, then his eyes widened in surprise. "Gudrar wasn't kidding. This thing, if used right, could wipe out an entire village!"

Charit smiled lightly, used to Rannis's quickly shifting moods, "You shall have to thank Gudrar the next time you see him, Rannis." Rannis smirked, then stooped to pick up the chicken, "Yeah right. I'll do that, old man." He picked the chicken up in his mouth, then twitched his tail. A shimmering portal appeared in the air.. his carrying portal. He poked his head in, stashed the chicken, then withdrew his head, and closed the portal. It winked out of existence, then he looked up at Charit, "Let's not keep the council waiting, old man."

Charit chuckled, then hobbled his way forwards through the city. Their path lead them through the main street of the village, towards a large tower at the east end.. The Tower of Elders. As they approached the tower, which seemed to vanish into the crimson sky overhead, they noticed the shimmering white walls.. no seams visible, seeming to have been constructed from one large ethereal crystal. The large oaken door which barred their way as they grew nearer shimmered with a light of its own, and the ugly gargoyle doorknocker seemed to leer at them.

Charit spoke to the door directly, "Charit of the 3rd Circle, and subordinate Rannis of the 4th reporting to see the council. May we pass?" The gargoyle on the knocker leered at Charit, its eyes beginning to glow slightly red, "Oh, you think I care if you come or go? You mages are all alike. 'Let's just use the door knocker to gain entry, then ignore him'. Door knockers have feelings too, you know! Oh, and another thing! What if the council doesn't WANT to see you? What then? Maybe THAT would throw a monkey wrench in your carefully laid out plans. Maybe I should jus---*" Charit cut off the knocker's speech with a sharp rap between the eyes with the head of his cane, "I'm sorry if you're feeling mistreated, but that is none of our concern. We have orders to enter. Will you let us in? Yea, or nay? The doorknocker grumbled for another few minutes before finally muttering, "Yeah, go ahead." The door swung open, to reveal a shimmering blue portal. Charit stepped forwards, disappearing into the murky portal, vanishing as he stepped through. Rannis smirked, stuck his tongue out at the knocker, then bounded in after Charit, the door's attempt to slam on his tail failing.

They reappeared in the council chambers at the very top room of the tower.. a large, seemingly wall-less room, in which they stood in front of a long oaken table. Seated behind this table were the members of the 1st Circle.. wizened elders, and leaders of the Circle of Spellcasters. Charit stood silently, Rannis sitting near his heels, both waiting for the elders to permit them to speak.

High Elder Tarmalis, seated in the center of the room, seemingly too ancient to move without flaking to dust began to speak, his ancient voice crackling, but booming to be heard through the whole room, "Charit of the 3rd... do you know why you were summoned here?" Charit responded quickly and to the point, "No, Great One." The High Elder looked at Charit and his companion, "It is a matter of great importance. Are you late for all matters of great importance?" Charit looked down, resting both hands on his staff in front of him, "No, Great One." The High Elder looked to Rannis, "And you should know that Duty is first. Always. You are of the 4th Circle. If ever you wish to obtain 3rd Circle, remember this. Always." Rannis bowed his head, nodding, not daring to mouth off to the High Elder. Tarmalis turned his gaze to Charit, "Charit of the 3rd.. News has come to me of a powerful mage, Jithrixen, who has risen to threaten an area in the forests near Khiran Brook. It is said that he has killed many townsmen around that area. Your task is to locate and destroy this vermin. At all cost. Do you understand your duty?" Charit nodded his head slowly, "Yes, Great One." "Good," Said the Elder, "Then Go in peace. And may the Circle guide and protect you both."

With that, the Elder waved his hand, and Rannis and Charit found themselves standing just on the outside of the township of Khiran Brook.. a small little town, nestled near a large forest, just about 2 days travel from the capital of Khir Khira, Khiranseth. Charit turned to his companion, looked down, "My friend. One of us should ask townsmen for information. The other should search the woods. Perhaps we will be lucky enough and just stumble across something." He chuckled lightly, still gripping his staff with both hands. Rannis smirked, "I'll take the forest any day. I've dealt with kids in that town. They can get pretty nasty. That and I don't think a talking cat would go over well with people there." Charit nodded slowly at this wisdom, "Very well then Rannis. May the Circle guide and protect you." "You too, old man," Rannis muttered, turning towards the looming forest, then sprinting across the grass into the trees. Charit chuckled, turned from Rannis, and hobbled towards the town. The dark forest was unusually silent as Rannis entered, not even birds were chirping, or leaves rustling in the wind. Just a deadly silence. Rannis padded along softly, staying alert, not liking this at ALL as he made his way through the forest.

Finally there was a sound.. a crack, then a loud BOOM as the ground gave way beneath Rannis, and he tumbled into the darkness. He twisted in midair, then landed on his feet on the soft ground, several feet below. "Ouch." Rannis said, curling up a paw to lick it, soothing the pain of landing somewhat. He suddenly stiffened as he heard an echoing laugh through the darkness, which was illuminated by his keen night vision, which was a benefit of being a cat. A voice spoke, booming through what appeared to be a natural tunnel, roots and moss showing through the walls, and damp with moisture, "I knew they'd send someone from the Circle to counter me. I've been waiting for you, Rannis of the 4th. But it will take someone higher than the 4th Circle to defeat ME!." Rannis smirked, "Defeat you? Nah. I thought we'd sit around sharing stories of the good old days." The voice snickered, "Your humor is lost on me, cat. But come find me... if you CAN." Rannis chuckled, "Doncha know the good guys always win?"

An eerie stillness drifted through the tunnel, and Rannis chuckled lightly to himself, "Guess not." He padded forth, his paws sinking into the moss lining the floor slightly, a cool moisture filling his nose as he went. He came to a wooden bridge, stretching across a small gap in the tunnel.. a cool breeze blowing through it. Rannis sniffed the bridge before proceeding. His paws touched across the wood softly, noiselessly, but a shrill screech broke the silence from his left. His ears perked as he looked to the left. Burning embers of fire appeared for eyes as the wraith appeared, shooting out tendrils of cold at Rannis.

Rannis twitched his tail, ears flattening to his skull as he countered the spell with a barrier. He threw his own spell at the wraith, 'Banishment', and a swirling green flash enveloped the wraith, as it was devoured from the inside out with a portal, screaming in protest as it was flung from the tunnel to another dimension.

Rannis smiled at his success, then flicked his ears towards the end of the bridge, listening. Finally, he deemed it safe to continue, finding his feet touching the cold floor of a worn stone passageway. As he continued deeper down the hallway, flickering torches began to line the passage, set in sconces, and burning brightly. The passage ended in a large room.. more torches lining the walls. A throne set in the center of the room was surrounded by statues of four evil looking dogs, keeping a watchful vigilance over the throne. The throne was empty, made of gold, and padded with red leather.

Rannis looked curiously around the room, finding no other possible exits. "Hmmm... if I were a deranged, power hungry, immortal-wannabe, where would I hide?" He padded across the room, sniffed the throne. The floor tile in front of the throne clicked in place as he stepped on it. He looked down, "Oops." A low growling filled the room, originating from four points very near Rannis. "Oh great. I HATE dogs." He bounded away from the throne, giving himself breathing space as a dog statue came to life, and pounced on the spot he last occupied, jaws snapping loudly together. The other statues took off towards him. Rannis waited until they grew nearer.. then nearer.. then nearer. Finally, just as they pounced, he twitched his tail, and disappeared in a scattering flash of white lights, gathering once again at the other end of the room, rematerializing just in time to see two of the statues shatter against each other. Rannis winced, "Oooh, that's gotta hurt!" He then grinned, and winked at the other two mutts, who quickly swung around to the sound of his voice and charged. Rannis aimed his tail at one of the statues, fired a solid energy blast from his tail, slamming into the dog, blasting off a large part of the head. The dog faultered, but kept persistant in its goal. Rannis hopped up on the arm of the throne, turned to face his attackers. He cast 'Earthquake' directly upon a dog, shattering it almost instantly, as a tremor rocked through its body. He once again disappeared in a scattering flash of lights as the remaining dog, with half a face slashed viciously at claws in the place he had just been. Rannis reappeared a short distance behind the dog, "Why hallo there. Aren't I annoying like this?" He grinned, then cast 'Energy Orb' on the statue. A warm glowing aura of energy surrounded it briefly, swirling.. paralyzing it. It flared up abruptly, waves of energy arcing throughout the sphere, obscuring its occupant from view. Finally, the sphere faded, and the collapsed rubble of the statue fell scattered on the stone floor. Rannis chuckled, "I think I'm enjoying this just a little too much." The room abruptly shook, and a pale glow enveloped a corner of the room. The sound of a lone person clapping reverberated through the room, sounded as empty as it was meant to sound, and Jithrixen appeared. A mage who appeared in his 40's, he wore the rich clothes of a nobleman, too colorful, and hard on the eyes. In his hand was clutched a golden scepter with a ruby head. He spoke in a confident, and leering voice, "Very good, cat. But you've already spent mana fighting my minions. And you have yet to face me." Rannis smirked, "Yeah. Wanna surrender?" "How amusing.. CAT." "I thought so. Care for a burrito?" Rannis twitched his tail absently, watching Jithrixen with his luminous green eyes.

The mage pointed the Scepter at Rannis, and a brilliant crimson beam of light poured out if it, washing over him instantly, enveloping him, and the air around him. Rannis cried out in agony as he sunk to the ground, mana being drained from his body, pulled through the scepter. Jithrixen continued to draw energy until Rannis was lying on the ground, panting for breath, his tail twitching ever so slightly. Rannis struggled slowly to his feet, backed away from the mage as he drew closer... The mage laughed, enjoying the ease of this kill, backing Rannis up into a wall, where he sat, crouched, ears flattened against his skull. "Tsk tsk. Has the Circle grown this weak? I believe after I kill you, the other will be no problem."

Rannis tried desperately to summon his magic, finding that he was just too weak, even to draw from lifeforce. "You.. *pant* Charit'll *gasp* Drive your ass into the ground. *Groaaaan*" Jithrixen chuckled menacingly, "I think not.. cat." He leveled his finger at Rannis, his fingertip beginning to glow, charging up for the blast which would end Rannis's life.

In desperation, Rannis opened his carrying portal... which was always there, and required no mana to open. He poked his head in quickly, taking in his mouth the first thing his grabbed, then stood at ready, facing Jithrixen. The mage looked at Rannis, and his finger stopped glowing brighter, then faded altogether, but still pointed at Rannis, his expression beginning to grow lighter, the corners of his mouth turned upwards in a smile, "You expect.... to beat me.... with THAT???" The mage laughed lightly, watching Rannis, powering up his finger again. Rannis looked down to see what brought on the laughter, and inwardly kicked himself, seeing the rubber chicken in his mouth, held by the neck, and looking extremely comical. Rannis spit the chicken out on the floor in front of himself, looked up at Jithrixen defiantly, "Back it up pal. That there's the Chicken of Annihilation. It could kill you, me, and everyone else on this rock."

The mage's finger stopped glowing entirely, and his expression cracked. He laughed, a tittering laugh at first, then doubled over with laughter, clutching at his stomach, his hoots echoing through the room. Rannis watched, the mage for a moment, smirking at the laughing Jithrixen. He poked his head into the carrying portal, withdrew a mana potion. Uncapping it with his teeth while the mage continued to roar with laughter, he picked the bottle neck up in his mouth, throwing his head back, guzzling the potion. The air around him tingled slightly as his mana returned and he felt stronger.

He looked at the mage, still laughing loudly, with his luminous green eyes. He twitched his tail, and it began to glow, "Lunchtime," Said Rannis, as he licked his chops, his eyes glowing as well.

Jithrixen looked up at Rannis's sudden statement, the realization of what had just happened flickering over his features, in the few seconds before he was enveloped by a flash of white light, reappearing on the floor next to his over sized scepter as a small white mouse. He squeaked in protest, and tried to scurry away. Rannis grinned cat-like, then pounced, pinning the mouse to the ground with his front paws. He quickly ended the mouse's life, then devoured the mage, Jithrixen, licking his paws afterwards, and smiling contentedly. He picked up the scepter in his teeth, tossed it in his carrying portal, then closed it.

Rannis closed his eyes, then disappeared in a scattering flash of white lights, reappearing once more on the small hill overlooking Khiran Brook. He send out a mindlink message, "Hey Charit. Our mage has been dealt with. Let's go home." The only response was a faint chuckling, then about 10 minutes later, the mage, Charit, made his way back to Rannis. He crouched next to the feline, stroking his head gently and scratching behind the ears, "Well done, my friend. What say we go back? I believe a certain lady-friend is still waiting for you."

Rannis grinned hugely, "After where I left her??? Count on it, old man." Charit chuckled, struggling to rise, "Then let us depart, my friend. Tis time." The two overlooking the town of Khiran Brook suddenly appeared to explode in a cloud of lights, as suddenly as they appeared on the bluff overlooking the town, their work completed for yet another day. And without knowing it, the townsmen freed from the sorcerer.

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