Fantasy Guilds of Fortune

[kitsunemage]

"Hm. I fear I would make quite the poor meal. Too stringy." Nari threw her arms behind her head, walking with her face to the sky. It was very blue today- nice and clear. Perfect for tracking a flying Wyvern- she wondered if the Rathalos they would be slaying was out enjoying the sun as well.


"So have you been in this area before? Ever hunted by the volcano?"

 

[Sansa Stark]

"Once," he admitted, "some time ago. Don't remember what I fought. I hardly ever do. I like to end my fights with a nice night at a tavern, rum and women, the few things in life a man truly needs." Balthier chuckled and watched her relax--she was certainly at home in such an environment, that much was clear.


"Do you know how close we are to the damned thing? I want to get this over with as soon as possible."

 

[kitsunemage]

"So you can get back to your guild sweethearts?" Nari gave him a rather dry look, shaking her head at his words. From what she'd seen of the man so far, was there ever a time he didn't want rum and women? Well, She would just have to make sure she was careful not to show up on his list. If he kept a list.


Considering he couldn't remember the monsters he hunted she highly doubted it.


"Don't worry - I've got contacts here. Took care of a rather nasty Agnaktor problem not too long ago - there he is." Nari started waving at the horizon, briefly cupping her hands around her mouth to call out to the balloon rising over a cliff. This particular felyne ferried trade goods from the volcano back to town. A braver cat she'd never seen. Useful too.


A series of flashes came from the basket of the balloon, though it was too far to see exactly what had caused it - Nari smiled at the signal.


"Looks like it's sunning itself over in area three. That's good for us - there's water if either of us catch fire." She smiled impertinently, drawing her twin swords from their sheathes. Without any more warning she started up a light jog, heading for a small path winding up the side of a cliff.

 

[Sansa Stark]

Her attitude on the field of work much reminded him of a child at play. Balthier watched her talk about this thing and that thing, still confused as to what she meant but captivated by her all the same. As he watched her run off, he paced himself at a jog to follow her.


"Area three?" he asked, rushing to catch up to the fast woman. "What the bloody hell is this place, why not just climb the mountain and be done with it?!"

 

[kitsunemage]

"Well I don't know about you - but I'm not a fan of crispy feet. The smell can be quite atrocious. " She tilted her head to look over her shoulder, shimmying up a particularly narrow part of the trail.


"There are patches of surface lava all over these cliffs, and the caves in the volcano itself can be rather complex. So for a while now hunters have been referring to the places frequented by Wyverns as 'areas'. I suppose we could have come up with something as little more creative - but generally we aren't a creative bunch. " From there the path widened, opening up onto a small plateau - steam could be seen rising over the edge above them. They were there, now all they had to do was come up with a battle plan.

 

[Sansa Stark]

"Could've been much more creative, yeah. But I suppose it suits your little town." Balthier took a seat on a large rock, taking the skin full of water from his belt and taking a long drink. He examined the plains before them, steaming as if they were on fire. The pirate knew well of the nasty beast they were to slay. He only hoped she did to.


"The sooner we get this done, the better." He never liked the countrysides anyway. "Got a plan, miss HR 5?"

 

[kitsunemage]

"How about: don't get killed?" Black wing grinned arrogantly, a feral look overcoming her eyes. She loved hunting. It was one of the few things that let her really relax and let go if all of her anger and frustration. Something she had built up in spades dealing with the man standing beside her.


Nari crouched on the path, black clothed knees kicking up swirls of dust.


"Alright, in all seriousness, there's a ledge here to the side. I'm going to assume you can use that crossbow and wait here. I want you to grab it's attention, draw it down here. In going to see if I can't get onto it's back. Our first priority is the wings. " Nari began to draw a small diagram of the area just beyond their small sanctuary, a small layer of dust coating the tip of her gauntlet.

 

[Sansa Stark]

There she is. That look in her eyes was much too familiar to him. It revealed a hunter's true self, if they take their job seriously, if they're determined enough to survive. This would be a short battle with her on his side. Balthier had no doubts she would reach HR 6, the same rank as he was, with more than enough ease.


"Alright, you're impressing me. Let's see if it lasts." The pirate placed his skin of water back on his belt and looked to the area she referred to in her little diagram. He pulled the crossbow from his back and loaded it, keeping his guns and rapier at his sides in case of trouble. "Go and lure out our terrible beastie, ay?"

 

[kitsunemage]

"My pleasure." Without any more then another wide teeth baring grin, Nari sheathed her dual swords. Hands clapped together, and she jumped- catching onto a small ledge above her. She was up with minimal effort. Before she disappeared she poked her head back over the rocky face of the cliff, calling down to her new partner.


"Don't screw up! I would like to keep my limbs intact." That said Nari continued on her way, quickly scaling the terrain to a small rocky outcropping- one that would be just level with the creatures back if she calculated correctly. She inched out on the ledge, the armor covering her chest and legs scraping against the barren rock. There-


Azure scales flashed in the high sun, mingling with the sparkles glinting off of the steaming water. Red clouded the area around the Rathalos' short muzzle, a kelbi lay half-eaten beneath it's jaws. Hard ridges and edges swept back from the creatures face, forming rocky spines up over it's back and wings. She would have to be careful when she jumped. She stood, removing one gauntlet and fitting two fingers into her mouth- the piercing whistle that ensued more then caught the Wyverns attention.


One great triangular head swung in her direction, sparks began to fly from it's dripping mouth. Claws gouged the rock as it turned, eyeing her for one long tense moment.


Then it charged. Now all she had to do was hope that Balthier was ready to draw it's attention away from her. 
<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2014_05/2075767.jpg.0c83cd21537231b0084ac648b5590159.jpg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="19141" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2014_05/2075767.jpg.0c83cd21537231b0084ac648b5590159.jpg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p>

 

[Sansa Stark]

Balthier had fought a monster like this one before, but every time he was sent to slay one his memories never seemed to justify the beast's enormous size and ferocity. He was proud to be able to brush off such a vicious creature and held his ground, and though he knew Black Wing to be a brilliant fighter, her hadn't known her long enough to be confident in her abilities. He only hoped that she would do her duty for this fight, seeing as it was more for her benefit than for his.


Once the dragon-like being was in sight, the pirate didn't hesitate to fire his first shot. He fired his crossbow immediately and watched it rip through the monster's left wing, leaving a small enough hole which was certainly better than nothing. He had to get closer to be able to do more significant damage.


"Ay, beastie!" he shouted from below. "Get you scaly arse down here, I've got some rank progression to catch!"

 

[kitsunemage]

Nari ducked as soon as she saw the bolt soar through the membrane of the azure wing. It was nothing more then a small nick to a creature of that size - but it served it's purpose. The Rathalos swerved mid charge - Nari had narrowly avoided the wildly swinging tail - skid to a stop and roared. A cringe inducing sound to be certain.


It's muscles bunched and tensed for another run - this time at Balthier.


Moving quickly Nari scrambled to her feet, dust clouding the site around her from both her own movement and the wind of the Rathalos' tail whip. She crouched, legs tense - one massive lunge was all it took to have her soaring through the air, missing the tail by a hairswidth to land squarely on the beasts back. She ignored the squeel of scale on scale, reaching back to draw one of her twin swords. Down the blade plunged, scraping against the scales before catching in a small groove right where the azure wing met the creatures Rocky body.


Blue - black claws slowed to a near stop, scales shook and cracked as the Rathalos shook it's body. She could feel the growl coming from the Wyverns chest.

 

[Sansa Stark]

Balthier knew all too well how close Nari could be to instant death in this moment. He supposed this is why the Guild always sent a team of hunters rather than just one to fight beasts like the Rathalos and those akin to it. Not even Quenari, the great warrior from the miniscule, nearly-abolished tribes in Paydos could kill one by himself. Balthier heard that doing so would be his final quest to complete the HR 7 rank and move on, but he also knew Quenari personally. The Ratholos was not the final fight he wanted to had.


There were worse enemies in the world than Wyrvens and other menial things.


With this in mind, Balthier drew his dual rapiers and lunged himself at the wing opposite Nari's target to confuse the beast on which person to go after. He sliced at the wing multiple times until he was certain it couldn't fly any longer, before pulling back to quickly figure out how to strike its heart.

 

[kitsunemage]

The Rathalos growled beneath her, raising back on its hind legs to release another roar. She couldn't let go, or she would tumble from the spiny back, And falling to the ground was not high on her list of priorities. Of course those priorities changed once more when the great Azure body crouched low to the ground, wings lifting with a grate of scales on scales - and despite all the damage they'd done to the joint of its wing and body, it slowly and laboriously lifted itself from the ground.


She was not going to wait for the inevitable landing.


Nari scrambled to her feet, shoving both swords into their homes rather unceremoniously, and quickly located Balthier through the stumbling and grasping she had to do to keep from falling. Without further ado, and with a grin to match the insanity of her actions, Nari jumped from the creatures back - helm lifting off of her hair to tumble to the ground separate from her, dark strands whipping behind her. She couldn't help but laugh at the feeling of her stomach lifting into her throat, though she wasn't sure wether it was from excitement or hysterics; and as the Rathalos struggled to lift itself further into the sky, Nari shouted- hoping Balthier was quick on his feet.


"Balthier! Catch!"

 

[Sansa Stark]

"Bloody hell, what the--" was all Balthier could manage to say before he scrambled to catch Black Wing in his arms just in time, saving her from a disastrous landing that could have cost her life. "Are you bloody kidding me?!" he shouted to her. "What kind of crazy trust exercise was that?!"


But he knew there was no time to argue. Balthier set her ungraciously on the dirt before charging at the Rathalos, gripping the rapier in his hand and giving a great leap directly towards the beast's jaw.





He had to be quick or he risked losing limbs, of not his own life. The roar would make him temporarily deaf, that much was certain, but the pirate was proud of his speed in battle and knew that such an ability would save him. Hanging from the beast's nose, Balthier gripped his sword and plunged it up through the beast's massive jaw, the end of the blade sticking out from the Rathalos's skull.

 

[kitsunemage]

No. He was fast but was he fast enough? Nari couldn't even tell if he had noticed the expanding of the Rathalos' chest, the sparks emanating from between long white teeth. Nari had scrambled to her feet at soon as her hips thumped against the warm rock beneath her, following close behind to offer assistance. Now, she was ready to offer it.


Just as his blade sunk into the jaw of the Wyvern, her hands wrapped around his. She pulled back with all of her strength, freeing him and his rapier - bringing them both to the ground as one last defiant gout of flame soared through the now dead Rathalos' jaws. The impact left her winded, breath coming in heavy pants as she tried to recuperate from the adrenaline rush.

 

[Sansa Stark]

Dust swirled around them, the rocky ground less than inviting as Balthier rolled his sore body to lay on his back and catch his breath. When the dirt was cleared and nothing but warmth and dead Rathalos remained, the pirate began to laugh. The sound echoed along the cliffs and off of tall hills, so much that after he collected his mind once again he thought perhaps he might have attracted another beast.


"That was fun," he panted with a smile. "Good job, mate. I'd say you got your rank well enough."


Balthier pushed himself to his feet with a long groan and rested his hands on his knees, looking up at the Rathalos and continuing his gleeful chuckles. "Right, then. Come and help me take some of this bastard's scales, aye? They're worth more than you'd think."

 

[kitsunemage]

Nari took her time, arms tucked behind her head comfortably and amber eyes on the sky. This was what life was all about. That rush of adrenaline feeling the hilt of her blades in the palms of her hands, feet pounding against rock and dirt and sometimes water. Afterwards everything seemed so much more vivid- the sky was bluer, the sun was brighter. She could fall asleep like this, daze around all day with the buzzing remnants of energy still in her veins.


It was with much reluctance that she finally dragged herself to her feet with a sigh.


"The scales are all well and good- but i've heard some rumours about a better treasure." She made her way to the back of the creature, stopping at the end of the tail, eyes on the slightly bulbed scaled appendage. She promptly drew one of her dual swords and began prying the scales off of the tail.


"Have you ever heard the story about the Rathalos and the gem?"


------------------------------


"Aedan!" Aislyn couldn't help the grin that spread across her face upon the sight of her elder brother. It didn't matter that the merchant in front of her was grumbling under his breath with irritation over being so suddenly and totally ignored- her brother was home. He had been gone for a few months this time around- most of his jobs only took weeks tops. He had also refused to take her with him. Not that she could hold a grudge against him for it- he was only looking out for her after all.


Aedan himself could feel the beginnings of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips upon seeing his baby sister. He worried about her whenever he left for an extended job- she never could speak up and tell people when something was too much for her, and she refused to avoid taking jobs on her own when he was gone.


It wasn't until she vaulted herself at him and wrapped her arms around his waist that he recalled the grave news he was carrying along with his injuries. He sucked in a hiss of breath, and Aislyn immediately let go with a frantic look. It wasn't often that he came home injured- he was the defense of the hunters on the front lines.


"Are you okay?! What happened out there? I thought you were only fighting a Jhen Mohran?" Aedan placed his hand on the top of his sisters blonde head, ruffling her hair affectionately. His lips were drawn in a grim line.


"It's all right. I'm okay- though I do need to go change. I have to report to the palace on what the guild found out there. The news isn't good sis." A small crease formed between the girls brows, her cherubic face exuding worry. She didn't argue any longer, silently nodding and returning to her haggling. He would be barraged with questions tonight no doubt, when he returned home.


For now though he was off to the palace to report to the royal family. They needed to know exactly what was happening out there- he'd never seen anything like it. It was like a plague that infected everything it touched. He regretted not being able to stop to change- or shave, he thought as his fingers rasped against the stubble on his chin. This was too important- and they needed reinforcements now.


The royal family were the only ones with the authority to send the hunters out in force. They needed all the hands they could get.

 

[Sansa Stark]

"Which gem?" he chuckled. "I've probably heard every variation of that bloody story possible, sweetheart. Do tell though. Sometimes it varies from place to place." Balthier drew his knife and began popping off one scale after another, clear that he had done such things before. He thought about how much they would pay for such scales in Leyvetten, and he held one up the sky to watch it glint like a sapphire.


"Perfect."

-------------




​

The King of Araenor was a man as ancient as his kingdom, deep wrinkles and crevices in his face aging him some eighty years. He was frail but not braindead quite yet, and with his wife of fourty-four years sitting beside him in the throne room, it made him feel like he was younger than he truly was.


"Your Grace," a soldier stated, stepping forward from the entrance to the homely throne room. "There is a hunter here to see you. He says the matter is urgent and begs a council with you immediately."


Archon gave a short sigh and waved his bony hand, gesturing for the doors to be opened to allow the guest in to plead his case.

 

[kitsunemage]

"It starts with a war on the world." Nari continued prying the scales off of the creature as she spoke, each piece glinting in the sun as it parted from its fleshy home.


"A young princess, born into the strife and hardship that came with battle, prayed every night for the end of the war. Her soldiers were dying, their enemies were dying, And her people were fading away.


One night, She saw a light in the darkness. She called out as it approached, and begged it for help. After all, a light where there ought not be must have been sent by the gods. The light, which happened to be the eyes of a Rathalos as dark as the night, agreed on one condition.


The greatest jewel in the princess' treasury was to be given to him in exchange for ending the war. She agreed with no hesitation.


The next morning the princess woke to find both armies razed to the ground. The earth itself was on fire, and every person who had been on the battlefield was dead. The only thing in sight was a dark scaled wyvern- the Rathalos the princess had unwittingly beseeched the previous night.


So great was her grief that as she fell to her knees, choosing to perish along with all of her felled citizens, her Sorrow crystallized and embedded itself upon the Rathalos' tail. They say that it stripped the beast of all of its knowledge, and left it nothing but a mindless shell."


She continued working at the tail, beginning to slice through the fleshy inside- waiting for that telltale flash of blue.


"Well that's how the story goes. In any case, sometimes you can find a gem inside the tail- like the purest sapphire you've ever seen."


----------------- 
As the doors opened before Aeden, he felt supremely conscious of exactly how raggedy he must look. Torn and ripped clothes- his armor having been abandoned with his cart of belongings back at the house. He preferred not to wear it when he had the opportunity. He had gone at least two days- maybe three without a proper bath, and dunks in an ice cold river did not count in his opinion. He was tired, hungry, and wanted nothing more then to walk back home, pass out on his bed, and never even lift a weapon again.


Instead he walked into the throne room, kneeling at the bottom of the dais until the king gave him leave to stand.


"Your majesty, I have grave news from the eastern shore." His voice was a deep bass in the echoing throne room, no hesitation or worry- as if he were simply stating the numbers for the harvest. Internally he was writhing in pain- hating the formalities, the ridiculous opinions of those who saw him in the palace, the judgement. He had only been a lowly merchant before- and even then the expectations were much too high for his tastes. He much preferred the freedom of hunting.


"A disease has shown itself among the monsters- they infect everything around them. Plants, animals, water- It has even begun to spread to humans... I.. The Wyverian Hunters guilds have come to the decision that we must move in force to stop this threat." He had to hold back a wince at the mincing of his own words. He had never had a smooth tongue- why the guild had chosen to send him he had no notion of.

 

[Sansa Stark]

Balthier listened to her story, and by the time she was finished he had already removed twenty scales from the Rathalos's body. The sack he carried on his belt began to weigh heavy but the pirate thought he could do with a few more.


"A princess and her sorrow, hm? Not a very happy story. Though I don't suppose many of those come from a place like this, so high up in the mountains, away from people, the sea. I'd hate it here. Not sure why you'd choose to stay." When Balthier had plucked a few more sapphire scales from the hide he turned to Nari and gave a confident grin. "Ready to report back, then?"

-------------------------------




​

"Eastern shore?" Archon questioned as he stroked his grey beard in deep thought. "I received word this morning of similar reports on the Western shore as well. Unfortunately for us, Leyvetten has more manpower than we do. We are a kingdom of crops and fields, young man. We do not fight monsters for a living. Why the Guild ever decided to come here, I'll never know..."


The queen shifted uncomfortably in her seat, clearly troubled by the news Aedan had brought, and instead of listening to her husband's ramblings she gave orders of her own, as she often had.


"There is a pirate," Queen Dalma stated, hating the word as it fell off her tongue. "A hunter. He was assigned to Yukumo, but I have heard that he knows about this monster plague. If I were you, I would speak to the guildmaster there and try to find him. I believe his name is Balthier de Ravin, from Leyvetten. You may send word to the guild that they can have two-hundred of the Araenor army. You yourself will find this pirate and go with him to investigate further. The protection of our farmers and crops is of the utmost priority."


She hoped that would be enough to satisfy the man's concerns. She looked over to her husband for approval, but noted that the old man had fallen asleep.

 

[kitsunemage]

"I suppose." Nari stared down at the tail rather discouraged. She had her own fair share of the scales she'd pried away from it's tail- but there had been no sign of the Rathalos' gem. A pity- she knew the legend to be more then just a fable, at least the part of the gems in some Rathalos' tails. This one must have been too young to carry such a treasure.


She stood lethargically, her own scales tucked away in the small pouch she carried beneath the leggings of her armour, and her arms thrown behind her head in the laziest expression she could think of. She really didn't want to move- the intense expression she had worn earlier had faded back to whatever depths she had drawn it from, and all of her energy seemed to have deserted her. A much different person then the one who had jumped onto the Rathalos' back with no hesitation.


"I didn't think you could actually do any damage with that little sticker of yours. Must be sharp." She nodded towards the weapon in question, Balthiers rapier. She was walking backwards as she spoke, leading them both in the direction of the camp with hardly a stumble.


---------------------------------


Aedan bowed stiffly, acknowledging the queen and the king- who could hardly even be called that now. Wisdom was one thing, but growing so old he couldn't even sit through dire news without falling asleep? Aeden hadn't had much respect for the royal family before, indulging it's nobles and higher class before their more common people. Now he had even less. It was with stiff shoulders and a grim countenance that he left the palace, quickly telling his sister to pack her things before re-packing his own. He had with him a paper with the queens signature, orders for the captain of the royal army, and a map to one of the most out of the way towns he knew of.


At least it had a guild hall. That much could be said for the small town.


They rested that night, giving Aeden the chance to shave and bathe. Early morning sun lit their way as they left the city, Aislyn quiet by his side. No doubt concious of the travelling companions they shared- some caravan heading north with supplies for the more out of the way settlements. All Aeden could think of, was how the queen would know of a pirate of all things- and how on earth such scum could be of use to them in their battle. What would pirates know of diseases?

 

[Sansa Stark]

Balthier, though wishing he could have the room to snag more scales before the beast began to disintegrate, followed Black Wing as she left the area and assumed she was leading him back to the camp. He gave a little smile as she walked backwards, clearly confident in her steps, and he patted his now-sheathed rapier as if he was high-fiving an old friend.


"Aye," he concurred with a nod of his head. "Very sharp. Enchanted, some believe. I stole her and now she's mine, not unlike other things in my possession." Balthier gave her a wink and tossed one of the scales up in his hand, catching it perfectly. "How much do you think these'll fetch in Leyvetten?"

 

[kitsunemage]

Amber eyes observed Balthier once again. She had some witty reply- one she would have used on any of her other hunting buddies about taking something that wasn't theirs- but that wink threw her off. Was he flirting with her again? Would that be considered flirting back? She didn't think she wanted to. It seemed more risky then jumping on that Wyvern's back had been. At least he had caught her, small blessings she supposed.


"All questionable ownership aside- you're planning on going back? Seems like a long trip for just a visit..." Nari withdrew her vision from the mans handsome face, staring instead up at the sky that was suddenly seeming not quite as blue. After hunt clarity always lasted less and less. Soon she would have to hunt 24/7 in order to keep that same rush she loved.

 

[Sansa Stark]

"Ah, the inevitable questions. Why am I here? What are my motives? Why waste my time on a girl like you?" Balthier gave a low chuckle as the two reached the flat plateau at the base of the volcano, and he grinned a small bit as the town of Yukumo was in sight on the horizon.


"Not sure you'd believe me if I told you, sweetheart. No matter. I'll meet with the guildmaster and you'll get your new rank, and I'll be gone before tomorrow. Would you like that? Can't imagine the stigma of working with a pirate is something you signed up for."

 

[kitsunemage]

Nari was silent for a long time, her lips pursed thoughtfully as she truly thought about his words. Was she reluctant to work with him? At first, yes. Showing up late by almost an entire day to the hunt they were supposed to complete together certainly didn't get him in her good graces right away. She also wasn't quite certain she approved of his teasing- at least not of her.


All that aside he had made a good partner for the hunt itself; he didn't argue, or complain about taking orders from a girl. He had actually caught her when she jumped, though he did drop her only moments afterwards.


"Nari. My name is Nari. None of this 'black wing' or 'sweetheart' nonesense. Just...Nari." She turned around to face the growing village on the horizon, also to avoid having look at him as she admitted:


"You were a good partner. I honestly don't give a rat's ass what you were before this. I don't..." Nari sighed, removing her helmet to drag her fingers through the tangled locks underneath. She could hardly tell him she didn't exactly want to demand his immediate removal. She certainly couldn't say she wanted him to stay. It was nice though, having someone to watch her back. Did he have that? Back in Leyvetten?