“So I used to work as a guard in one of those noble shindigs, and let me tell you, they were really freaky. There was a tank of human fish things that floated, people wore masks, talking dogs, flying maids, and a whole bunch of things. I was paid good coin not to tell anyone too......don’t tell anyone I told you that alright...”

  -last words of a random patron found in a bar

  Knives

  In a tent adorned with skulls, swords, roses, and scented candles, a man stood infront of a mirror brushing his hair. Knives knew how important image is to a person, so he took out all the stops. He used all his expensive makeu- I mean warpaint to craft his visage into that of an eminence in the shadow. He looked intimidating and dashing with his painted crown with fake gems and wings attached to his sickass cloak. If he could show what he looked like to his younger self, he would undoubtedly be proud of where he was today.

  Tonight he was going to deal with his challenge to his plans to become a bandit king yet, to attend a ball. He needed to connect and build alliances with influential people, regardless if he is actually welcome to ball due to the stolen invitations.

  Though it made his nerves tense and knees shaky, he loves balls a lot. He couldn’t stop thinking about balls. It was shiny, big, and made him feel special. He still remembers the moments in his youth to interact with balls for the first time. It was special, welcoming, like the warm embrace of family in cold winter nights. Truly, he needed to be fully prepared to be embraced by it’s warmth for the whole night.

  He put on his mask, it was a deer skull with antlers and red eyes, a design that one of his younger goons showed to him. Honestly he’s liking masks more and more now, it made him look cool and mysterious, a quality he needs to start sowing the seeds for his inevitable rise in power.

  He was pretty little in influence compared to other bandit heads, like having only three or four bases under his name. But it quickly changed since he took in the three teens under his wings. They were proving to be boons in his future and current empire, making it possible for him to do things others would have difficulty over, like food shortages, medicine, and politics.

  He should start collecting more outcasts like them. He liked the idea of becoming a Bandit king leading witches and cursed folk. It made him cool and sexy.

  With the curse boy in his employ, they had an unlimited supply of beef and chicken. None of them went hungry or cold now. They had an unlimited amount of horse glue. They also had a witch that could heal wounds, though he should probably take the recipe with him to the grave. He also has a surprisingly capable goon, number 61 or Rob, who suddenly riled him up and gave him the plan to cement himself into society as an underworld boss.

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  Hours of brainstorming gave them the plan of making Trisha Berfast, the current city lord, an offer she can’t refuse. He was going to propose a merger. She would be the one leading the front of the business, while he would deal with everything in the dark.

  Honestly if there’s one thing he knows about rich people, it’s that they want more of what they currently have. He was going to use that to his advantage and take a big chunk of her property, contracts, and wealth as a hostage. He would have a bunch of teams go in and take all the wealth from all the rich guys all across the city, while he distracted all of them in the ball. They would take any sensitive documents, contracts, keys, and basically any wealthy object they could find and use it to establish himself as the king of the underworld.

  Essentially he would take everyone hostage in and out of the ball. He had to give credit to Goon number 61, that kid is really good at scheming. Also they kept talking about cheese, which knives couldn’t understand at all. He should probably start an underground cheese trade just for them when everything is over.

  Honestly with enough time, he was sure to become the next bandit king.

  World domination here I come!

  He admired his new look infront of his mirror. It had multiple batwings, courtesy of Lodur, and the ability to fly, thanks to Beelza. He looked so cool with all the makeup he had on. He’s going to wow the folks in the party and probably inspire them to join his cause.

  He got the three invitations and planned to go with goon number 1 and number 2. At first he thought of sending the three teens in, then swooping down the sky with a big entrance of fireworks, but after much deliberation, he couldn’t let three kids feel the pang of social judgement. Nobles were the biggest bullies in the world and he had to protect them from such a cruel thing. Sure they can kill, rob, and steal, but bullying, that’s where he draws the line.

  When I become the Bandit King, I should make bullying illegal. And also maybe create a castle that floats, not made by baby ointment though.

  He squirmed at the scene when Beelza showed them how to make the ointment.

  He’s glad to have met them. Surprisingly they’re all orphans, just like him!

  “Goons get the harness!” He had them make a contraption that would allow him to make a spectacular entrance filled with several goons that were trained to fly.

  Ooooo this is gonna be so much fun!

  Trisha Berfast

  “I just love balls! I love looking at them, basking in it’s warmth, and even the smell of balls gets me going.” Trisha was excited for the ball tonight. She’s been preparing for months to invite all the important people to her celebration. After tonight, she’s going to have a hand in every major faction. She’ll have all of them in the palm of her hands one day.

  World domination here I come!

  Trisha had made sure the masquerade ball would go off without a hitch. She’s been making tons and tons of deals. Purchasing food from the best chefs and bakers money could buy, a resource she had in ample amounts. She invited princes and princesses to partake in the ball, where everything was made by artisans of the highest renown.

  There was recently an uptick of meat sales her city, horse meat to be specific. She bought large amounts of meat to be roasted, glazed, baked into pies, and made into stews. Since the beast tide that mysteriously happened in a forest miles from her city, meat has been hard to come by. So when there was suddenly a literal flood of horse meat being sold in her city for cheap, she made sure to buy every carcass her servants could get. Strangely enough all the horse carcasses looked the same, probably a new farming method.

  She entered her dark basement with the pit of crawling maggots. She breathed in the stagnant air as if it was a bouquet of fragrant flowers.

  “Servants!” She clapped her hands and a line of aides appeared behind her. They carried empty barrels with ease as if they were weightless.

  Aahh, the joys of having perfect servants. Her treasure has truly made it possible to have such a thing.

  “Fill up the barrels and mix them with the food. Wrap them in wax paper and dip them in honey, make it look like candy. I need those things alive when you give them to the children in the streets.”

  She planned to improve everyone and make them loyal to her and only her. Soon she’ll have the world in her fingers.

  She smiled and turned to the cursed tongue on the podium.

  Soon.