The Sewer

Trudi Sterndeiker stumbled through the thick fog, cursing the chill of the night air. She pulled the fine green velvet cloak about her, thankful for its protection in the cutting wind. It tore through the Altdorf streets like a runaway steed, not giving a care for what lay in its path. Trudi was of the nobility, a beautiful girl in her final year of studies. As the moon peeked through the heavy clouds, it illuminated her face, said by some to have an enchantress' powers. It was one known to her many friends at the university, those who knew her as the shy recluse, who topped the class yet never stepped beyond modesty. She knew she had to hurry, this was no place for one of the nobility to walk at night. She had to reurn soon to her home, and she longed to stretch out in front of the log fire that would be waiting. It was indeed a tragedy when the stone from the Gutter Runner's sling smacked her in the forehead, knocking her unconcious, oblivious to the Skaven that approached her. After a brief scurry of paws on flagstones, and a long dragging sound, her body dissapeared into the fog. The entire sequence of events would have gone entirely unnoticed, if it weren't for the shadow of a man leaning against the wall, pretending to be drunk.

As the sound dissapated, the figure moved away from the wall of the warehouse, and ignored the smell of tanned hides from within. He turned into an alleyway to relieve himself - he'd drunk far too much water in the last half hour for proper concentration. As he again stepped out into the thick fog, a purposeful air came about him. He had business to attend to. His original clothes discarded, a mere outer shell to what lay beneath, he dusted off his suit as he walked, and adjusted his tie.

Agent Kim felt better now that he was in his proper uniform. He felt that it suited him better than the peasant's garb he donned for his disguise. It was not the usual suit worn by NASA troops, but rather an adaptation that suited his fighting style. He was a rare find in his organisation's ranks, as he was originally from Cathay, and indeed once one of the Monkey King's elite warriors. His ancestry was as impressive as his prowess, a decendant of Dien Ch'ing, curse his corpse, who had been a fine example of mankind until he had turned his loyalty to Tsien-Tsin, Lord of the Fifteen Devils. This shame upon his bloodline had driven him to seek out evil and destroy it, in whatever way he could. It was not until three months ago, when he had been approached by the tall, almost glowing figure that he had seen where his destiny lay.

Pulling back the entrance to the sewer, he took a small sphere from his side, and dropped it down the hole. He heard the breaking of glass, and the satisfying sound of a rear-guard rat choking to death. Kim counted ten seconds under his breathe, and then launched himself down in the hole, cape billowing behind him. As he landed, he rolled to his left, slamming hard against the brick wall before he gained his footing. There was several small sounds to be heard, of metal on brick, before the splash as the poison darts fell into the puddle beneath the ladder. He was glad his modified uniform included boots, he'd hate to get the trousers wet.

Just as he was about to approach the tunnel on his right, his nostrils alerted him to something beyond the entrance, it was hard in this sewer to detect any other smells, but as far as smells go, the fear musk was in a class of its own - the nasal equivilent of the town crier's bell. There was a clanrat waiting for him as well, trying to hide not only itself but the fear it exuded. Realising he was in a hurry, Agent Kim drew up one knee, with hands outstretched, adopting the traditional crane style. The clatrat moved forward uncertainly, not knowing how to approach such a stance. It saw an unarmed human, standing on one leg. With quick, yet incorrect deduction, it sliced low at the one leg on the ground. By the time the sword arrived, the leg was not there, having slammed into the rat's skull. It was soon followed by the other. Stepping around the body, Kim approached the tunnel at a run.