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Two figures stare each other down in the dim lighting of a bar. Their features are devoid of emotion until one of them places an object on the table. The other's eyes go wide, and a look of fear fills his face. He manages to squeak a few words out "No, you can't! Don't do it!"
As the one man cowers, the other grins and nods his head. He then raises his fist into the air and slams it on the table, knocking the drinks clear off.
"Go fish!"
Pratts whines as he grabs a card from the deck. "You always seem to win this game, but we both know it's not my favorite. I will always beat you when it comes to roulette and poker!"
"Hush, I said 'go fish' so now it's my turn! Hmm... got any queens?" Tarelno asks.
"Bah! No... and how could any woman resist this figure of rugged masculinity?" Pratts says as he grins widely and flexes a bit.
"Well, most women don't go for your smell. They like riches and wealth of course. Besides, who needs em?" Tarelno says as he takes a gulp of red stuff from a flask.
"Wealth and riches," Pratts says, "are overrated. They just want to be with someone that will make them look good. Someone powerful. Yeah, who needs em anyway." But Pratts leans back and closes his eyes for a bit.
"Hey, we gonna play or not?" Tarelno asks.
"Nah, I'm done... but hang on. I have an idea..." Pratts says with an evil grin.
Moments later, the pair stands on the causeway spying on a group of late night hunters. The fighters are surrounded by a rather large group of renegade sprites, and ogres. Pratts and Tarelno laugh from the shadows as the fighters hack their foes to pieces, leaving piles of gold and jewels. In a flash, before the fighters even knew what hit them, their booty was gone. Pratts and Tarelno sniggered in the night counting over the produce of the recent theft.
"Bah, 30,000 gold pieces... chump change!" Tarelno mumbled. "There has to be something that would make us richer, and more powerful than stealing this pocket money."
Pratts grinned at Tarelno then said, "Hey, follow me and I'll show you what I really had in mind." Then, Pratts skidded off into the forests surrounding the causeway.
Tarelno followed quickly behind Pratts until they came upon the fighter group once more. Pratts looked over and nodded at Tarelno, the signal to strike. Both jumped quickly out of the shadows with masks on to hide their faces. The group was surprised and quickly fell to the two rogues. The group lay on the floor, tied to each other with gags in their mouths.
Pratts grinned with delight as he poked his prisoners with a small stick. He cleared his throat and began to address the fighters. "Greetings kiddies... we have a proposition for ya. You all know of the many clans we have in Moorgate, do you not? Well, there's a new clan comin... and it's going to be the best ever because we have no rules, only to become the strongest, and the wealthiest. No, we are not the Dons, or Clandestine, we are..." Pratts looked at Tarelno quickly, racking his mind for a suitable name.
Tarelno shrugged at Pratts and whispered, "The Radical Rogues? P.T. & Co.?"
Pratts rolled his eyes at Tarelno, then licked his lips. "We are, 'The Syndicate.' I suggest you spread word of our existance and make sure every clan and organization steers clear of us or face the consequences. If you promise to do so, we will let you go now, with no permanent damage." he said with a slight chuckle.
"Yeah... we mean business. We're going to set things straight in Moorgate once and for all. Go! Tell everyone that you've been spared for now, by 'The Syndicate!' But be wary, we shall return!" Tarelno exclaimed, grinning widely when he finished.
As the group collected their things and ran off into the night, Pratts and Tarelno removed their masks and laughed loudly. Pratts suddenly stopped and said, "Hey! We're going to need to plan for this... it's going to happen. We're going to become the most powerful and strongest of all Moorgate!"
Tarelno nodded and said "Yeah, but we gotta be original. We're not to be labeled as those of the past, we're the new, the smart, and the powerful!"
The two dashed into the gates of Moorgate and were lost in the alleys... their only trace: a loud sniggering at what was to come for all of Moorgate.
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