A Scripta

Tub Ci steepled his hands below his chin and regarded the five men standing before him. “Gentlemen, we have a problem.”

The men stood perfectly still. All of them looked like sorcerers, with the long gown-like hakama, some with shirts, others without and proudly exposing their yazuka tattoos. They were more than sorcerers, but warriors with some sorcerer abilities, and five of the best from all over Paragon and beyond.

"I have summoned you here because we have a traitor that needs to be destroyed."

"A traitor!" snarled Red Mist, "I will tear his soul from his body."

"I expect you do to more than that." He put his hands down. "He has taken down my gambling dens, he has attacked and killed many of my men in Steel Canyon, Talos Island, and Independence Port. And now, his most recent offense..." He pulled out a piece of paper and passed it across his desk.

Mr. Po, one of the Dragonfly, picked it up. His eyes widened. "This is...one of our basic spells! Translated into English!"

Others peered over his shoulder, and Red Mist tore it out of Po's hand. "This is a sacrilege!"

Icy Rage said quietly, "He must be more than destroyed. He must be made an example of."

Tub Ci said, "Him, and his sidekick, a Crystal Boy."

A couple of the men chuckled, knowing that meant it would be easier to get to main target. Take out the support, and then the target would be alone. The others looked angry - to associate with a gay man, a so-called "crystal boy", was worse than marrying your sister. Homosexuality was very taboo among the Hmong, and even worse among the Triads, where men were expected to be men, and not effeminate weaklings.

"The Crystal Boy has been passing these out in Steel Canyon. I want one of you to follow him, and then lay in wait for him. You will attack and destroy him and these pamphlets. Who will go?"

"I will," said Master Li, drawing his swords with a bow and presenting them lengthwise to Tub Ci. "He will have no chance against me."

Tub Ci nodded. "He's just a simple summoner from what I understand, who can do nothing without assistance." He looked to the other men. "The rest of you will have your chance against Lue Xiong, who shall be known from now on among us as The Traitor Serpent."