❖ A DEBT TO REPAY ❖ (ER/Intro)

The grounds of the mountain appeared peaceful for the most part; the thick, billowing snow, the icy sting of the bitter frost, the elegant quiet of the undisturbed land. It was pleasant, some might say beautiful. Which was why it was so undeniably jarring when from the castle where the visitor was waiting for a strange sound began to echo in the air. Piercing, Loud, and strangely melodic in nature.  A curious sound, like a concoction of laughing and singing, reverberating behind this sound a growing rumbled, supporting the singing in an almost 'bass-like' manner. As the sound grew louder, in the far outskirts of the castle's grounds, a figure could emerge. Bobbing his head side to side, his flaming red hair swept up behind him. Dressed from top to bottom in a rather elaborate purple suit and black tophat. A star and love heart painted on either side of his pale cheeks, stretched across his face in a glorious grin as he sang.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha!" He continued in his playful tune, moving in perfect sync with the song all the riding perched atop of his colorful unicycle. Now normally such a contraption shouldn't be able to move in the snow, but this wasn't a normal unicycle. The snow seemed to almost hover above the snow without sinking, held up by the clown's own malevolent energy and making his approach much easier than it would be under normal circumstances. And not so far behind him, more figures appeared. A large gathering, of at least ten, rather angry and particularly aggressive mages. Running after the clown with determined rage, and firing spells after him with a disappointing about of lackluster.

As the clown wheeled into the courtyard and towards the front door, where a random blonde fellow was staring in between the planks of the door. Jester stopped singing, cocking his head curiously as he spotted the fellow. Before taking a deep, breathe and shouting at the top of his lungs. "TALLY HO!" As he continued to rush towards the castle doors, if the man didn't move out of the way, the clown would likely crash straight into him.

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The man's response was quite pleasing to the clown, as he repeated his shout back to him twice and moved out of the way. This was good, the clown clapped his hands together loudly and one of his dolls appeared. A harlequin, the same size as a slender woman, dressed from head to in a red and navy diamond-patterned leotard. A white mask on her face without a mouth, and upside-down crescent slits for eyes, on her head she sported a hat that split into two tails, one red, the other navy, with little gold bells on either end. The Harlequin opened the door for the clown, allowing for him to cycle inside smoothly. It would have been fun to crash the door down, but his Queenie might not like it and he wanted her sweet for all their fun little games. The clown then hopped off his bike, landing delicately on the ground as it vanished into thin air.

Turning swiftly, he popped his head back around the door to look at the blonde man who had asked him a question, wearing a wide grin that matched the enthusiasm of their guest. "Trouble is always welcome! Come, come, good sir!" He remarked perkily, waggling his fingers at the man at an indication for him to step inside. He was in a rather playful mood today. In the distance, the horde of angry mages grew rowdier. "YOU CAN'T RUN FROM US YOU CRAZY CLOWN, WE'LL BURN THIS CASTLE DOWN WITH YOU IN IT!" One of them roared furiously, Jester chuckled delightedly, waving a hand lazily in their direction as he addressed the blonde man once more. "Don't mind them, they are just today's entertainment." He was curious about the newcomer, who'd obviously sought out the castle and most likely the guild that resided here. There were only two reasons one came to this castle; To either attempt at destroying ER or to Join it. Either way, the clown was eager to see which one the stranger had in mind.

Jester snapped his fingers, "Want to see them dance?" He asked excitedly, playing cards appeared around him, flying towards the group. Familiar with this attack, they immediately began jumping around to avoid the sharp edge of the steely cards. Jester could have easily ordered the cards to kill them, but making them dance to avoid them was much more fun. "Say, Good sir, do you like to play?" He would ask, his golden eyes moving to the man once more, glinting with malevolent intrigue.

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Chatty fellow he was, this blond man. Jester giggled happily as together they watched the dancing folk. He would begin to clapping repetitively, creating a melodic beat as he did so that matched the dancing mages perfectly. Jester said nothing as the man spoke, just bobbed his head side to side, clapping along to the beat. He heard it all, but react, he did not. Until finally, he spoke, asking his final question, Jester giggled as a fun idea game to mind. "How fortuitous we have just the pawns for such. Three games, oh no no, how about six? He snickered, raising his finger, he would point it at the dancing men. A haggle of bodies, prancing around desperate, unable to fight, unable to flee. "Eenie... meenie..." One by one he moved his finger along, moving from person to person, "...miney... mo!" He cocked his finger, and suddenly every mage bar the one he was pointing to had their throat slits by his glass, falling to the ground in a slow slump, leaving the standing man whimpering in horror at the sight of his fallen comrades.

"Now then," He turned his hand towards the sky and snapped his fingers, in the distance one of his dolls would appear behind the sole survivor of the death dance. Placing a machete to his throat, the doll would guide the man towards the two of them. "So, initially you thought it was your fate to die, what if the only way to pay off your debt is to die. Death is the ultimate offering after all, the highest cost. Perhaps it was your purpose, to die after your Lord, or maybe you're meant for something much more... thrilling." He said with a giggle, at this point the remaining mage has reached them, shaking under the grip of the doll. "You're here because you're looking for a purpose, a purpose within Errings Rising. So, let us tempt fate, to learn your destiny..." The Harlequin doll moving away from the mage, so that it was standing between the two men. She brought her hands together, as she pulled her hands apart, following which a revolver would appear between.

"Are you familiar with this game gentlemen; six chambers, one bullet." He said with a giggle, the Harlequin doll would hand the gun to the blond man. Jester stepped over to him, walking around the men, leaning close to whisper in his ear."Fate will choose, either you will die, or survive, and become a part of Errings Rising." He purred, before circling round to the other man. "Don't worry good man, I haven't forgotten you. If fate spares you from this bullet, then you may leave here alive. If you fail to partake or attempt to run... then my doll here will butcher you anyway." He hissed the last part, before snickering delightedly. He stepped back, clapping his hands together, "So what say you boys? Shall we play!"

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Oh it's your own grave you'll dig, boy, you're playing with
the big boys now, playing with the big boys, now!
Jester

The blonde fellows response did not fail to delight the clown, he giggled gleefully as he took the gun. Twirling on the spot happily, before stepping back to watch as an observer. On one side you had the curious visitor, eagerly ready to partake in the game Jester had presented to him. Whilst on the other side you had the terrified legal mage, trembling with trepidation over what was about to happen. Perhaps he didn't fancy his chances, he really should have, they were good odds. Sort of. Maybe.

"Yes, yes. This is one of my favourites, toying with death is most exquisite." He mused in response to the man's delighted words as he handled the revolver. His golden eyes followed the end of the barrel as it made it's way to the blonde's skull, it's lethal tip pressed to flesh. Jester made a small intake of breath, his lithe fingers rising before his lips, the tips pressed together in a gesture akin to a prayer. Except praying he was not, instead he waited in earnest anticipation. Excitement filing his core as he watched the game hungrily, waiting, seconds passing in a manner that seemed slower than usual, teasing him. And then it arrived, that sweet, sweet moment.

Click.

Followed by silence, blissful crushing silence. Jester would tremble in satisfaction, his eyes closing for a moment as he would relish that sweet thrills that befell him. Only popping open once more when the man began to yell in exuberant glee. Jester's mouth would widen into an unnatural smile, his response proved only more entertaining. So much so that even Jester found himself playing a favourite on the result, not to say that his death wouldn't be quite entertaining, and a quite delightful twist of fate. But this wandering stranger was proving to be quite enjoyable to watch, it seemed almost wasteful to lose him. Alas, they would simply have to see what fate had in store for them. [color=#ff0033"My my, such confidence in your winning. Of course, if the bullet should end up in our friend here, you may keep the toy that bestowed it there."[/color] He turned to the other player, eying his petrified expression, "Freedom for one, and a toy for the other, what interesting trophies."  He said with a snicker as the nervous opponent took the gun.

Jester cocked his head, watching him pitiful handle the weapon. His fear was palpable, true terror. It was such a perfect reaction to the game, an ideal opposite to the blonde's excitement. With shaky hands he would raise the gun to his own head, his composure disintegrating even further. Eyes watering, snot dripping from his nose. Perfectly pathetic. Jester watched unblinkingly, eyes wide, smile frozen place. Seconds passing by until finally.

Click.

Followed by silence once more. The man would choke with relief, near enough sobbing as he weakly handed the gun over once more.

---

Oh it's your own grave you'll dig, boy, you're playing with
the big boys now, playing with the big boys, now!
Jester

Jester had to admit, when he had been given the role of Ace, there had been question in his mind to the extent of which he could fulfil such a role. A doubt of whether he would be willing or able to push through such idle and uninteresting tasks. And yet here he was, with a potential new recruit, ready and able to join it's ranks. Enduring a savage yet highly effectively initiation, that was immensely effective in proving his determination and capabilities in joining the ranks of Errings Rising. This recruit, was the exact ideal of what the guild needed in it's new members, and there was no doubt in the clowns mind that when he brought this newbie to his Queenie, she would be very pleased with his methods. He was so keen to see how it progress, his golden eyes following the path of the gun as it returned from the legal mage back to the newcomer. The blonde would point the gun at himself, speaking with completes confidence as he pulled the trigger.

Only for the gun to illicit an echoing boom.

Jester blinked for a moment, as he watched the body of the once Fane Howler slump to the ground dead. Blood and brain stretched across the floors of the guild, pooling out in a chaotic mess utter gore. Jester turned to the other man, who was looking at him with a bewildered expression, "Can...Can I go?" Jester said nothing, looking down at the corpse once more. With a motion of his hand, he would shoo the victim away. Not watching as he turned on his boot and sprinted out of the guild. Jester reached up, scratching his head. He would pull off his top hat, spinning it for a moment in his hands. Paused in quiet reflection.

And then he would shrug, "Oh well!"He chirped, spinning the hat once more, following which a furless rabid mammal would leap out of it. Sprinting off in the distraction of the man as he fled if he was fast enough, the deranged rabbit wouldn't catch him. If he didn't well... that would be unfortunate indeed. He turned, skipping through the guildhall, as a servant rounded the corner. "Ah you! Yes, Go fetch our dear Oakey, tell him there is a matter in the main hall that requires his urgent attention!"  He told them, before continuing down the halls of the guild, merrily humming to himself.

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