|
After some training Tiasar feels a little excited. He's seen some of the theater the more free-spirited elves have put on, and he feels like he gets to experience that. It's interesting to say the least.
Back at the tavern Tiasar is surprised his room is already payed for. He leans towards Jusker and says, for probably the 20th time this week, "Is this normal human custom?"
"It is if you know the right people, mate," he tells Tiasar with a smile. "And it looks like now we know the right people."
* * * * *
he yells out angrily. He and Tiasar are standing in the square the next morning, where they'd been discussing their scene quietly. He looks around as if realizing just then that he'd been shouting and lowers his voice a little, but still loud enough that others can hear. "I came down here with you because we had a deal! Twenty gold, I get you here in one piece, THAT was the deal."
|
|
Tiasar looks haughtily past Jusker, as if bored and annoyed at the matter. "Ah, but you didn't you simpleton." Tiasar pulls down the shoulder of his robe, revealing the newly made crossbow-hole in his shoulder. "There's a piece of me out there on the trail somewhere due to your incompetence. The deal was that I was brought here unharmed, and you have failed. No wonder you're a starving street rat, every time you get a job you're lazy and try to break deals." He waves a hand dismissively. "Go back to your gutter and starve. I'm going to find a proper fighter."
"I'm not the one trying to break a deal, you slimy elf. Did the best I could with what I had, didn't I? Ten men against you and me, and all you got was a scratch." He walks away angrily, then stops and turns back around. "There's not a man here could've done better, and you know it. Good luck surviving the trip back." He spits on the ground in Tiasar's direction, then makes his way to the tavern.
"Your strongest ale, if you don't mind," he tells the tender, doing his best to appear sullen.
While your act out in the square did draw a few gawkers, you spend a respectable amount of time in the tavern drinking but no one approaches you. You think it might have failed and get up to leave. Outside you are just deciding how to continue this farce when you here a sound down one of the alleys. You peer down and find it hard to see anything until a figure walks forward. The first thing you see is his smile as it appears out the darkness. Then the figure of a finely dressed half-elf emerges. He wears leather armor with two shortswords at his side and peeking out over his back is a bow and quiver of arrows. "Having some financial difficulties?" he says folding his arms and leaning against the building.
Meanwhile, at the Dragon's Hoard, "Heard ye went ta see the Lord," Thorum says walking up to your group in the tavern's common room.
He rolls his eyes, unsure who this person is but unwilling to break the charade, just in case. "Bloke that hired me didn't pay up. Said I didn't keep my end of the deal for getting his precious shoulder hurt. Now I'm stuck here with no gold to show for it." He folds his arms as well. "Why?"
"Tsk Tsk. That is rough. You can't be blamed for every little bump or scratch one receives on the road. Far too dangerous for that," he says with mock sincerity. He pushes off of the wall and begins to circle you while talking. "Not unless you shove em in a padded trunk the whole way. Doubt they'd like that eh," he laughs and puts an arm around you. "Now, if you are still looking for some money, I think I might know some people. Pays certainly better than you would find here. This towns on its last leg anyway. What do you say? I could get a meeting set up in a day or two."
Jorn sits at the bar in the Dragon's Hoard, nursing a mug of ale. "Yep," he replies to Thorum. "Sadly it wasn't just a social call. Ain't sure how this whole deal's gonna turn out," the druid admits as he swishes the alcohol around in his cup.
|
"Aye," Concurs Liath, ordering a plate of bread and meat. "His Lordship wants us to come in and save the whole town. And we've not the faintest idea how. To add a link to the chain, our high-and-mighty wizard just fired his personal guard, so now we're a good sword down.
Whatever the dwarf is drinking, give me a mug of it to. I think I feel as bad as he looks."
"Towns worse than I thought. Wonderin why I was gettin such good deals," Thorum comments. "Think it'll take more'n a week? Probably head back then," he says to Jorn.
"Might be interested," he tells the half-elf. "What sort of work do you have in mind? I'm not about to go selling pesh, if that's what you mean."
He leads you only a little ways down the ally before letting go and spinning to face you. "It would be mercenary work. Don't mean to salt a wound but it would be much like what you just got fired for, wrongly fired I might add. But the people I work for won't be that unfair. Hey, you look like a man who knows he way around the wilderness right? That is a definite quality they are looking for."
Stalkid had got himself a bit of bread and cheese with some wine to wash it all down. "It will take some time...hopefully not too long. I hate being bored."
"Hm. Whatever that elf might say to the contrary, I can do mercenary work just fine. All right, color me interested." Wow, is it really this easy? I sure hope these are the same bandits who've been waylaying the roads.
"Excellent. I will see you tomorrow then," he says happily. He then bows and disappears into the shadows of the early morning light.
Juskar goes the rest of the day none the wiser to the extra pair of eyes following his every move. Thankfully, he keeps to himself and stays away from the others to continue the act. All appears business as usual. The next day he finds a letter among his possessions that wasn't there before. It describes a place to meet outside the city to the west but that he should head out the south gate first. Following the directions the better part of the morning to walk a round about way to the western trade road. Once out of sight of the city Juskar get's the sneaking suspicion he is being watched. When he turns to take in his surroundings he finds he wasn't wrong. Standing just in the line of trees to the north is a figure leaning against a tree. The figure turns and smiles the same creepy smile from yesterday. "Good eye. Care to go for a walk? Opportunity awaits," he say with a flourish before backing into the forest and disappearing. Entering the forest Juskar sees no sign of the man but their is an easily followed game trial through the forest. Up above, Morde sends his master an impression of contentment through the empathetic link, a sign that things are going smoothly.
|
|
Liath stays hudled with Tiasar in his room, listening to updates on how it is going. To allow him to concentrate, if he needs anything, she will fetch it and bring it back to him.
That such behavior might be fertile for rumor bothers her not at all. Rumormongers field no regiments.
When/If Tiasar reports the latest development that he has made contact, Liath finds the others and relays to them to stay close. They may need to move soon and quickly.
|
|
Tiasar rarely enjoys company in his room, but Liath was quickly becoming an exception. The combination of eagerness to learn, helpful attitude, and (although he would never admit this one) attractive features was welcome. He spent much of his time pouring over some times on the hierarchy and ability of devils, then gives a nod when Morde checks in. "The plan is going well for now. We won't get details until Morde can return."
His suspicions about being followed confirmed, he accompanies the strange man as they walk into the forest. All according to plan, so far. "You live out here?" he asks, feigning ignorance.
"Maybe. Maybe not. I am not in the habit of divulging more info than is necessary mister Juskar Ragnos." With that cryptic comment he disappears into the forest. From then on you only get glimpses of him before you, subtly leading the way and getting you thoroughly lost in the process. The trees give way to a clearing where a man and woman wait for you. The woman looks bored but the man instantly recognizes you and draws steel. "What the hell Owl? You lead one of the people that stopped our raid yesterday right to us?"
"Did I? Apologies. He didn't seem happy with his employment so I brought him to you guys. I get paid either way. I am sure you can work this out." The man, who appears to be named Owl, speaks casually while inspecting his nails as if brandished steel doesn't concern him. And after stating his peace he leaves.
Morde watches from the trees nearby and sends Tiasar a feeling of tense worry. It turns to outright panic when something grabs it from behind. Morde is barely able to turn far enough to see a shinning white smile. "Get your master little birdy," the voice says before tossing the bird into the air. Morde flaps away back to Tiasar.
Morde does eventually make it back and the angry bandit moves threateningly towards Juskar while his companion watches a little bored. "I'll make sure you don't get back to Bastion in one piece."
His heart sinks when one of the bandits grabs Morde and sends it back to town. Jusker had forgotten all about the bird, but knowing that the bandits knew what it was and what it represented is more than enough to put him on edge. He puts a hand on the hilt of his sword. "He brings me out here so you can kill me, is that it? Surrounded by all your friends? Coward."
Jorn grabs his things with haste at Liath's beckoning. "Any news is bad news at this point," he says with a heavy frown. "Let's get movin'. He'll come right back t' ya, Tiasar? We should wait on th' edge o' town for him, at least."
"Better watch the mouth little man. This is a job interview," she says to Juskar. "And put the blade away fool," says the woman to her companion. He stops his progress but doesn't put it away. "Owl knows more than he lets on. If he thanks he's good enough then he is."
"But that b@+#~ nearly gutted Xander and the magic ones grabbed Mark. Bet their in cahoots with him," he says gesturing to Juskar. "Working together to try and stop us," says the man while inching closer. His eyes grow crazier by the second. "Come on. Just a cut. Eye for an eye and all that." The woman rolls her eyes but doesn't stop him. She watches, wanting to see how Juskar reacts.
When Barbie learns of the current predicament, she agrees with Liath wholeheartedly.
"Oh please, hurry! We must save Mr. Jusker!"
Jusker stays where he is. "Keep in mind that you attacked us, mate. If we got the best of you, well I can't help that... but if it's another fight you want, you can have one."
The man circles Juskar for a moment, leering at him, then moves swiftly for a thrust.
But Juskar parries just before it takes off his ear.
The others make haste to their friend, not sure of what is happening.
The man lunges forward, and Jusker rips his sword from its sheath just barely in time to parry the blow. With the man's weapon knocked harmlessly to one side, Jusker thrusts his own blade forward.
Juskar turns the parry into a spinning slash that almost takes the mans head clean off but he manages to sway back. Blood drips from the wound on his neck but it was too shallow.
The return strike is powerful but telegraphed and Juskar ducks it easily.
Jusker dodges the man's next swing and cuts upward with his forked blade.
With an almost casual harrumph, Juskar cleaves upward, cutting deep gash along the chest. The man is out before he hits the and goes still. The woman nods to the ranger and gives him a look of respect and maybe a little lust. "Well done. You can have his job. He was a fool anyway. Follow me. I'll show you to the camp."
The woman proves to be as adept at navigating the forest as Juskar, if not better. She sets a grueling pace as she almost glides over the ground and leaps over obstacles. You travel for the better part of the day and it is afternoon by the time you reach a clearing in the forest. In it is a small camp made up of about a dozen men and women and of varying races. You can guess that there are more than that as you also say several guards around the perimeter that come out of hiding spots to mark your progress. The defensive screen around the camp is formidable, almost professional.
"Grab a bite to eat and settle in. Come see me when you are done and I'll tell you what your duties will be. Might have some night work for you," she says with a wink and walks away to one of the larger tents.
A large pot sits in the coals of the camp fire in the middle of the camp. Men and woman walk up to it without concern and ladle what they want before finding a place to sit. Either rations are not strictly enforced or discipline here is surprisingly high. You ladle some for yourself and find a seat. From the looks of it, it seems to be a rabbi stew and well made. A man sitting next to watches for a moment before finally speaking up. "New guy huh? Heard we were getting a new recruit. Friendly bit of advice. Only one serving per person. You want extra you gotta find it yourself. Usually the scouts bring some extra back and they have reasonable prices. Better than the city that's for sure." He pauses for a moment to take a bite of bread. "Names Hugo by the way."
|
|
Liath is heartened that at least Juskar is still alive, since if the bandits just leave dead bodies, then since this isn't his, he must have walked off under his own power.
"Do you two druids know aught of nature-craft? I should guess so. Would you be able to tell what direction the Ranger and his new fellows marched off in? I shall lend aid whatever way I can."
Liath draws an arcing rune for "Guidance" and touches both druids and herself. She also bends knee and gives whatever advice her own deductions at discerning the trail might offer.
More toilsome than he expected it to be, especially at the pace the woman sets for them, the trek to the camp takes the wind out of him. He's tired by the time they reach the rest of the bandits, though he tries not to show it. "You got it, miss," he tells the woman as she dismisses him. I just hope I'm back up to snuff by then. He decides to take his time eating whatever it is.
"Jusker," he says to the man who talks to him. "Might be I will, I'm a fair hand at finding food out here myself. Used to traipse around these woods when I was a lad."