Brutii

This sounds like a Long winded attempt at sneering at others.. Is that your intent?Sneering? Not entirely (Though the final paragraph was snarky, the first paragraphs were really just me rambling about perceptions of the past. I ramble a lot whenever history is involved, I apologise for that.). Lamenting is more on the mark. The entire issue has been one long winded joke. Who is using what bathrooms should be a lot further down on the list of "Issues that need addressing" than, say, the nearly 800 million people starting. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

I was going to write some kind of refutation to half of this because it paints a very dystopian picture of our society, even by my cynical standards. I really can't be bothered this late. So I'll simply say that our modern society is really very equal and its very hard to find anything that resembles legal inequality, barring a few professions that are only open to men due to purely physical reasons. Even socially it's really not that cut and dry; for example a man with 3 girlfriends would probably just be seen as a cheating bastard and would run the risk of being slapped by each girl if they figured out. If all three girls new and it was a polygamous relationship then it would probably just be seen as weird by everyone. Our culture holds the monogamy thing to be quite important. Sure, there are some sexists still just as there are some racists but in general our culture and society, at least where I live, just really isn't . Historically, it really depends on which culture, which point in history etc. There have been some pretty damn equal societies out there. I don't mean to challenge you in the fact that there have been (an embarrassingly considerable number of) times when women have been given the short end of the stick, I just want to be fair to our forerunners. As it turns out, some of them were pretty great guys and girls and it's rather condescending of us to judge them all by the actions of some of them. Yes, there were cultures which were total dicks to their women but there were also cultures where this was not the case and some, such as Anglo Saxon England, were actually quite gender equal (Class distinction was much more important.) The major problem is that everybody loves to hate the past, I think its in part because we want to feel superior to our predecessors. On to the actual point of the thread: As far as I care, whether you can go into a women's bathroom or whether the inverse is the case and women who have transitioned start waltzing into the men's bathroom is really not an issue. As long as nobody is sticking their head through the cubicle door or staring over the edge of the urinal I couldn't care any less. Go do your business somewhere and be done with it, why does it matter? It's a source of amusement to me that where people are going to dump their bodily wastes is seen as an issue by anyone. Honestly, can the west just have a quick reality check and rally to deal with more pressing matters, like the countless starving people, the chilling number of children without any access to education, the staggering number of people who have to live without clean water, the many sweatshops all around the world, the slow destruction of our planets ecosystem, the ticking time bomb that is our world economy, the crazy terrorists and the civil wars? No? The bathroom issue is really so pressing? Okay then.

I win...

Daud reclined in a chair, running his fingers along the edge of the blade. Now they'd have to watch the shadows, terrific. This opened up many problems, anyone could be coming at them with a blade and any of them could be innocent and completely out of control of their actions. He wondered how the less... dark of the party would take that, if they wound up killing any innocents. They'd be hearing from this assassin again no doubt and the sooner the better. If they were able to find him and put a blade through his throat, then they would be on a much smoother path, at least for the moment. He doubted the assassin would try again today though, and probably wasn't still lurking among the people. Even if he was, another attempt while the group was together would be folly. It had been prevented the first time by there being a number of them together, and it would be wiser to pick them off individually. That didn't mean he could relax, however. Just because one assassin had given up for the time being didn't mean others might not lurk in the shadows or alleys, awaiting their chance to slip a blade into their spines.

Daud nodded and listened intently as Rhaine spoke "Consider it yours" He said, before quickly darting outside and through the panicked crowds towards the fallen assassin, shoving anyone in his path to the side as he dashed towards the blade. In the scuffle of the crowd's quick dispersal, the blade was kicked to the side and Daud chased after it, shoving aside a man, who collapsed against a market stall. and grabbing it from the floor. He rose quickly from the floor and turned dashing backwards... As he passed the body he quickly acknowledged the blow. Straight through the heart. A nasty way to go. He bolted back through the door, the blade clutched tightly in his hand "I've retrieved his blade" He held it up and ran his eyes over it quickly before raising it to his nose and smelling it, inhaling the putrid mix of blood and... Something else. He frowned and glanced down to Conall, before looking back to Rhaine "Someone's got coin. The blade is coated in Black Lotus Extract, it costs at least four and a half thousand. And with good reason too, it's extremely effective." He bit his bottom lip as he finished speaking, and lowered his arm to the side again

Would it be alright for Daud to identify the poison by taste or smell? Or does someone else want to identify it?

Daud turned his head to the screaming from the market stall where he had been spending what little money he had in order to get something to eat. His first instinct was to slip into the crowd and disappear... then he remembered he was meant to be the good guy here. He quickly dashed off in the direction of the screaming, arriving just in time to see Weyland and Dagny dragging Connall. Daud rushed over, drawing his sword as he approached "What's happening?" He inquired, bluntly, scanning the crowd as if expecting something to jump out at any moment. One appeared to be dead, but there could be more. He frowned, what if the group turned on him, he hadn't exactly made the best case and he was an assassin by trade. He pushed that thought from his head quickly and returned to the present

Daud turned his head to the noise and his eyes came to rest on a new comer. He examined him from a distance, running his eyes over him. He stood slowly, placing down the last scraps of food he had been holding, stretching and turning before walking across the camp, coming to a halt near the others. He repeated his careful examination of the man again. He seemed friendly enough and the others seemed to treat him well, seeing as Rhaine had given him what he assumed to be a friendly hug, but he could see a few not so approving glances coming from Sybille and Marie, so he'd reserve judgement for now. Daud folded his arms before speaking "Seems you've all met before. May I know who this is?" He said as he gave a smile, though it was forced and one could tell that from his eyes, the smile didn't suit his face. In some ways it was almost as though he was forcing himself to appear nice in order to sort of atone, in his own odd perception, for what he had said earlier, and he realised too late it probably made him look more of a fool. He glanced quickly up to the sky. Idiot, he branded himself inside his head, just keep the cruel attitude in future

Daud tilted his head towards Nawen "Well, because it's the truth." He rubbed his chin, maybe it wasn't such a good idea to talk about it "Of course, the truth isn't always the best to share, I guess. I didn't used to enjoy it if you're thinking I started killing people just because I liked it, over time it got easier but it didn't get to the point I enjoyed it until just a few years back. Then I realised that it wasn't just a job anymore, it was becoming more like a game. I'll admit I always found enjoyment in the fear of being caught, but never in the act its self. I ignored it a while, but in the end its what made me stop. I didn't want to go that way and I'm not going to. So be careful if you want to, I was just talking to Tannin. And he is right, we aren't alike and that's good, I didn't mean to make anyone uncomfortable" He turned his head towards Aurora and Tak'we, waiting for them to begin before adding a final comment "I do see your point though, I'll stop talking about murder and killing, it's probably not the best way to introduce myself to people." He gave a small smile and waited for Aurora and Tak'we to begin fighting

"I meant in murder" Daud said with a chuckle "I didn't mean anything past that. For a start you seem much more... Unstable. And I disagree, its intriguing, how weakly we're tethered to this world. Someone just comes along and snaps the cord and your soul goes off to the afterlife. We're so weak and yet we think ourselves so strong. Its not fun, by any stretch, but it is a feeling of power, even if it does become double edged after a while. So pity me all you like, it wont change my opinion. There's nothing left that I could think off to be any more satisfying and why should there be? Its pretty hellish here anyway, so why shouldn't the bad stuff be most prevalent. Its the best I can do, maybe life is easier when you live longer, in which case congratulations on being born right your high and mightiness. Honestly, there is a reason cliches and stereotypes exist, its because there is often some truth to them, even if its hidden in the false." Daud grinned as he looked away "And you aren't exactly clean of the sin of clichés yourself, so neither of us can talk in that respect now, can we?"

Daud gave a small chuckle "I've never been a pirate, too be honest I think I'd get tired of the sea quickly... but profit, now that's my business. Blood for coin, easy, pays highly too. There's nothing more satisfying than slitting a mans throat before he even knows you're there... Or making some pompous fool jump at his own shadow. Haha, us mortals are so greedy aren't we? You could fill a lake with the amount of blood I've spilt for coin, and I reckon your not too dissimilar Tannin, killed a lot of people for profit... and pleasure. That comes with being a pirate, doesn't it." His voice had grown slowly darker and graver, before he tilted his head towards the Pirate and Nawen and smirked, his voice returning to normal"Mantis men and Drow... Just don't let me know if it happens, alright? My mind can do without THAT image." He gave a fake shudder as he said that, before leaning backwards and turning his attention to Aurora and Tak'we "Now this will be fun to watch."

Daud nodded in response to the pirate saying it was a shame the dragon left... Then paused and watched the dancing seal with amusement... And surprise. Conjured, bearded dancing seals? Now he has seen everything "I bet you could turn a profit playing such tricks..." he said with a grin as he turned to look at Annette "Not to mention the commotion it could cause, and it's certainly catch the attention of a crowd" He then looked back to Shalena "It certainly got her attention..." he shook his head slowly as he said that smirking "Watch her, she might try to steal it., ha"

Daud nodded as Azuris mentioned Hexols junk laden pockets "I'll see if its his when he shows up then, not that its worth much" He said, then watched the banter about the dreams. He smiled weakly as it progressed and Nawen tried to block it out and focus on making the food. When she offered them all breakfast, he looked down to the food as he took a plate, giving a mumbled 'Thank you' before turning his head towards Shalena. He smirked and shook his head "You're quick to jump on a way to get some gold, aren't you? It's just Zircon anyway, you aren't missing much, I just found it queer where it was but it seems to be a boring reason after all. Couldn't have been a diamond could it, has to be one of the worthless ones." He looked back down to the food and began to eat slowly

Daud roused from his slumber and then sat bolt upright, looking around for a moment, before relaxing. Right, that was correct, Tannin had conjured up a set of Cabins. That had been impressive, he had to admit... Though he had been reluctant to trust Tannin, and had checked his bed and much of the Cabin for anything out of the ordinary... not that Cabins appearing out of the air was ordinarly. He gave a short sigh as he remembered exactly what was going on... "Can't live in dreams" he mumbled to himself as he clambered out of the bed and stretched. He took his equipment from the floor, examining his swords edge before sheathing it into it's scabbard. Daud took the crossbow from the floor and slung it over his back, before turning to leave... but something else caught his eye. He turned back to it and knelt down, checking over his shoulder as he did, before picking the small gem off the floor.At first his eyes were large at the prospect of the valuable gem before him... until he examined it closer... Zircon. He recognised it. After all, how could he forget? These gems had been involved in the time he had almost been duped in Scardale, he'd left that bastard with a hole in his chest. So what was this, a cruel joke? His face hardened and he went to toss it to the side, but stopped and quickly looked over his shoulder again, before standing and placing it into the pouch on his chest and sealing it. He didn't know why yet, but he felt compelled to hold onto it... how did it even get here? He must have spent at least 20 minutes scouring the cabin for any sign of where it could come from, before finally giving up and uncomfortably leaving the cabin. He proceeded outside and looked up to the sky, before looking back around the camp. He declared a half hearted good morning which implied he found it anything but good, and slumped himself down near the fire pit, staring into the flames his thoughts a mile away from the group and their task. His mind told him it had to be a prank, but something made him doubt that... one way to settle it "Did any of you put a gemstone near my bed?" He asked slowly "I found one this morning, I figure it must be someone elses."

My laptop broke so I had to send it off to be looked at (hopefully the warranty will cover it) , so I won't be posting for a while. It should hopefully be fixed sometime in the week