Captured City #1

A shadow seemed to slip quickly in the jungle of roofs. The only light came from the sliver of moon overhead. The shadows destination was clear. It bounded over rooftops with a purposeful ease that could come only from years of experience. Bane "Quiet Step" Merldon was destined for Toprise, Lord Draggelmon’s manor house.

Finally the huge tower was in sight. Bane could see the watchman’s silhouette in the top window. Without a sound Bane jumped from the edge of the rooftop and land in an alley. He sprinted into the street and towards the watchman’s tower. When his back was against the cold stone, he crept alongside the high walls until he was out of the towers sight. Reaching into the pack slung across his back he pulled out a long length of knotted rope, and a grappling hook. He wrapped all the exposed metal in a thick cloth, skillfully slung it up, and was rewarded with the muffled sound of a catch. Bane tugged the rope to ensure its security and pulled himself up hand over hand.

He landed in the soft grass surrounding the imposing castle. To the right was a large mausoleum, and before him lay the sprawling grounds. Bane crept in the shadow cast by the wall until his sharp eyes caught a side entrance to the stronghold. Casting his eyes about he made it to the door in nine bounds. Now, producing a brass listening cone from his strange uniform’s pocket he listened for the slightest noise coming from the door. Hearing nothing he slipped the cone away, and began to work on the door with skillful hands and a set of picks like no other.

In but a moment the door was unlocked, but before he opened it he took out a small flask of oil and soaked each hinge liberally. The door opened without so much as a whisper.

Bane opened the door only as much as necessary, and walked in, deliberately billowing his cape out, to block as muck light coming form the door as possible. It was unnecessary. He stepped into a corridor that was entirely without light. Now that he was inside he could hear the steady drip of water coming from down the hall. Pulling a small sulfurous smelling stick from his pocket, and scraping one end with his fingernail, Bane was able to produce a small glow that extended a few feet from him. There were great cobwebs hanging all through the hall, and he heard the skittering of rats as the fled from the light. Waving his hand to brush aside the webbing he proceeded without fear down the musty corridor.

He walked some ways through the dank basement before he came to a long, stone spiral staircase extending far overhead. Extinguishing the little sulfur light and tossing it behind he ascended the stairs.

At the head of the stairs he came to a wooden door with a small iron grate. After oiling this down too he pulled it aside to reveal a large, empty kitchen, stocked with the choicest morsels ready for a lordly snack, or a massive feast. Betraying his silence with rare words he spoke, "He eats like a king, while the people starve!" Oiling the door he slipped inside, and pulled a plain, but razor sharp dagger. After a quick search he found a dumbwaiter in the corner. Before entering Bane slipped a thin mask over his face so he was completely cloaked in black.