The Rizzo Files: A Legend of Chima by Epicninja1

Yep.   It'll take a while to post it on here, but I will eventually. First I have to read the whole thing myself. 

You haven't read the whole thing, but you still think it's worth archiving? Wow. I'm . . . flattered. Thanks.

Nah, of course not.


...But if he doesn't start posting moar soon...

Uh....... *posts moar* 

I limped along one of the many bridges, my metallic artificial leg clacking against the wooden slats. Unlike my metal eye-patch (underneath which was a normal, undamaged eye), the artificial leg was actually replacing a missing part. I shuddered whenever I thought about the time I had lost it, but the more limbs one lost, the more one was respected among ravens, it seemed. My mind jolted back to the task at hand as a raven bumped into me. I instantly felt the inside of my money pouch, which, predictably, was empty. I barred his way as he tried to walk past. "I would like to inquire as to where my coins are," I said, "as they are not in my pouch." The raven smiled nervously, trying to edge past without my noticing. "Well," he said, "How would I know about that? I don't keep track of your money..." I felt inside my pouch again, pretending to consider his words. "No," I said, "you're quite right. Go about your business." I clapped him on the shoulder, snatching my coins back in the same instant. He hadn't noticed anything, however, and walked away looking relieved.


Soon after the encounter, I arrived at the market area: a giant, circular platform built around a tree, the surface of which was covered by flimsy-looking birch-bark stalls that sold everything I could conceive of and more. There were food stalls and drink stalls, Chi vendors (sadly, Chi was not evenly distributed here, but sold), paint and dye stalls, and ravens everywhere; from working at stalls to standing at walkway corners with cans, (expecting money), to sleeping on stolen goods-to-be-sold. I singled out an equipment stall and headed towards it. While walking there I had to avoid getting pickpocketed thrice more, and the "owner" of the equipment kept changing his mind as to what price I was to pay. Once I finally got away (with all the supplies), I limped off towards Rawzom's dwelling, from which the group would depart for the lion temple.

As we walked to the glider pad, Razar introduced me to the rest of the party. "That's Raze," he said, pointing to a raven with silver charms dangling from every feather. "She's our weapons expert. And Rerde there"-Razar pointed again, this time to a wiry raven with a crystal monocle-"He's going to help Rawzom with the negotiations, I guess. The rest are just random-picked warriors." After telling me this, Razar took out his pouches and began counting his money. It sickened me to watch him do so, and so I looked the other way and sank into my thoughts. The other ravens seemed emboldened by the promise of treasure, but Rawzom's plan appeared thin to me at best. Would the lions be able to tell that we were more interested in the night raid to come than discussing peace? Possibly. And why had I been included in the group? There didn't seem to be any logical reasoning behind it. And the more I thought about it, the more I worried about what part I had to play in the plan. Perhaps Rawzom hadn't told us the whole plan. Still, I always seemed to be paired with Razar on missions. It was hard to follow Rawzom's logic. "You look worried." Razar's voice cut into my thoughts. I instantly put on my "no shame reckless smile". "That's better," said Razar. He then lowered his voice. "Don't let Rawzom catch you looking worried. He might think you're unhappy with your wages...and he doesn't like giving pay raises." "Quite right," I said quickly. "Make haste," Rawzom rasped from the front of the group. "We are almost at the landing pad."



After about fifteen more minutes of walking, we reached the landing pad. Every kind of aircraft from gliders to jets (and even some ground vehicles) were there. Razar started to drift towards his fighter jet, but Rawzom shook his head furiously and pointed to ten gliders nearby. The ravens hurried towards them, starting to prepare them for flight. Razcal looked particularly excited, most likely because we were flying gliders he designed himself. As I secured my Bazooklaw and Grabberatus in the storage compartment and sat down at the controls, I could not help noticing a large chain tied to the back of each glider. "Ah, Razcal," I said, indicating said chain. "What might that be used for?" "Oh, that," said Razcal. "That's a new feature I've installed. If someone tries to attack you from the ground, or if someone gets in your way, just wrap them up in that chain and bring them with you until you feel like dropping them..." Razcal smiled mischievously. I nodded, quickly averting my eye from his. Somehow, I didn't think I'd be using that chain. Shaking my head, I placed a Chi orb in the power socket. Around me the other ravens were doing the same. "Right then," said Rawzom. "Start up the engines." We all complied, the gliders rising off the ground. "Now test flight positions." I fiddled with the controls, angling the wings forward and backward, up and down, until I was comfortable with how it felt. "Alright, let's head out now," said Rawzom. And lifting above the trees one by one, we took flight.