Mercanaries (Arubion Sivart)

[DergTheDergon]

A mercenary company stationed in the outskirts of stockholm, the human-crontrolled capital of the continent of Niern, has been in business for many years. They've gotten by taking requests from the townsfolk of both Stockholm and the smaller villages nearby for quite a long time. They never accept requests that invlove breaking any laws, or that seem shady or possibly detrimental to the townsfolk as a whole. That changed when recently they were asked to free non-human slaves that were forced to work all the most dangerous and degrading jobs in Niern and the surrounding areas for free, or die. They freed so many of the slaves, as well as killing some of the slaveers that worked them to death, that it angered the currrupt ruler of stockholm. He set a trap that looks like a request to simply clear a den of predators that have been harassing the towsnfolk. but what they find is far more dangerous then a pack of wild animals...

 

[DergTheDergon]

Four figures advanced through the forest, on their way to a supposed den of wolves. Their guild received a request to clear them out, which specified that it was a larger pack than normal. Two of the mercenaries were new recruits, and this mission is what the more experieneced members called their "blooding", their final test before they can start taking jobs on their own. The other two were seasoned veterans.


One was an aging Dwarven man, short and stocky with a bald head and a long brown beard, hefting a great axe on his back. The other was a human with short blonde hair, two swords sheathed at his hips, one on each side. The older mercs were slightly ahead of the two new recruits. The dwarf looked back towards the new recruits, an annoyed expression on his face. "Oi! Ye newbloods! Pick up the pace, will, ye? It's disgraceful that ye ain't keepin' up with me old fat arse!" The human man sighed. "Give the newbloods a break, Gromm. They'll catch up. They're just not used to traversing wild terrain as much as we are."


"Sorry,! I'm trying my best!" Said the young elf girl that was lagging behind, and quickened her pace a little.

 

[Arubion Sivart]

The Young Fox Boy stops being lazy then overtakes the Two Vets in speed and gets ahead of them. "Hmmm? Can't keep up?" He'd laugh trip backwards then catch himself and continue to keep the lead.

 

[DergTheDergon]

The human man chuckles a bit. he looks down at the dwarf. 'The kid's got some spunk, right Gromm?" The Dwarf rolls his eyes. "Aye... but if he don't watch his 'Spunk', he'll 'ave an axe haft shoved up under that tail of 'is." The human laughed again, and at this point Neimi sped up in front of the vets as well, giggling. At this point, the human spoke up. "Hey, Neimi, I understand it's all fun and games now, but at the very least you shouldn't go as far ahead as Arubion. We don't want a repeat of last time you went too far ahead." Neimi sighed. "I know, Ven. I'm being careful." The human, known as Ven, nodded. "Just stay back when we get there, alright? You getting right in thick thick of things won't do one bit of good. That's our job."


As they neared the cave they were sent for, the human calls out to Arubion. "Hey! don't go too far ahead, now, we need to discuss a plan." Neimi backs up and joins ven and Gromm, as they stood near the cave entrance. Gromm strokes his beard. "Odd. Seems a bit big for a wolves' Den. usually there are nastier things in these kind o' places." Ven peers into the cave, a puzzled expression on his face. "yeah, I was just thinking the same... the request did seem rather shady..."

 

[Arubion Sivart]

Arubion Disappears from their sight and then Appears on the Top of a tree above them. His 9 tails flared out to keep him balanced. "I smell something funny...... Its not a normal scent....."

 

[DergTheDergon]

Ven looks up at Arubion, then nods."Well kid, I don't have a nose like yours but I do have a warrior's intuition... this place doesn't feel normal, either. But we've got a job to do. There's something evil in here and we're gonna get rid of it. Gromm, you know the drill." Gromm nods, and holds his axe firmly in both hands, slowly trudging into the cave. Ven turns to Neimi and Arubion. "Gromm'll scout ahead a bit and let me know if he sees anything suspicious. Both of you, stick close me, and don't go ahead unless I give you the signal. Tread carefully, and be ready for a fight at any moment." With that, Ven takes out a lantern and lights it, holding it in one hand and resting the other on the hilt of one of his swords, then looks towards the recruits once more.


Neimi nods, takes her bow off her back, and and knocks an arrow, stopping at half-knock, moving closer to Ven.

 

[Arubion Sivart]

Arubion Walks right behind Neimi, His Hands motionless by his sides as he walked behind her. "Neimi I've got you back covered." He'd sniff the air and smell a Vicious intent....."This isn't good..... It smells like a trap...."

 

[DergTheDergon]

Neimi nods towards Arubion, "thanks." The three head into the cave, Ven at the front, holding his lantern in front of him. The tunnel began winding in many directions. Each time there was a sharp turn, The lantern's light barely illuminated Gromm's back before he turned the corner, looked around for a bit, and then peeked back around the corner gesturing for the rest to follow. This pattern persisted for a while before, At one point, Gromm stands still, putting his hand out to signal the recruits to stop.


Suddenly, out of nowhere, he hears faint hissing noises. He looks all around, when suddenly, he hears hissing behind him, not unlike a snake. He turns towards the noise, and starts to yell "lami- "when he feels a very painful prick on his neck. Something just bit into him. He began to feel himself going numb, as poison flooded his veins. The others see, just for a split second, what had bitten him, before it disappears into the darkness. it seemed to be some sort of giant amalgamation of human and snake.


Ven gasps, reaching for his sword. "A Lamia! here? Damn... be alert, recruits." A feminine laught is heard, before the creature appears behind arubion, seemingly out of nowhere. "Hahahaha, you found me... I am Vaissa, queen of sserpentsss... and I have been tasssked with killing you all."

She snapped her fingers, then Behind the snake-woman was a strange purple forcefield, blocking the way out. Gromm tried to run to the group, but fell short, falling to his knees. the poison was acingt very quickly. Ven dropped his lantern and pulled out both his swords. "Watch out, boy!" Venn swiftly ran past Arubion and slashed at the snake-woman, and after hissing in pain, held her hand out and said "immobus." Ven froze in place, and couldn't move. neime fired an arrow,only for it to hit a wall as the snake woman dissapeared again. Her laughter could be heard through the cave. Ven looked to Arubion, and was barely able to say "she's... weak to fire." Neimi panicked, knocking another arrow as fast as she could. The snake-woman then ppeared in front of Arubion once more.

 

[Arubion Sivart]

Arubion Whose reflexes were considered to be Lightning Had Slashed at the Lami only to hit The Tip of It's tail along with three of it's fingers... "This isn't good.... Neimi get out of here... Your bow skills won't be good here.... Nine Fox Flames Come off the tips of Arubion's Tails and Stay there as a Gaurd and Sensor for the Lamia.....

 

[DergTheDergon]

The Lamia reels back and hisses at the flames. This causes her to lose concentration, and so her spell on Ven is broken. Realizing he can move, Ven dashes towards the Lamia, slashing her with both his swords, wounding her gravely. However, she retaliates with a bite, and now both her and Venn are close to death. At about this point, Gromm collapses, the poison having run it's quick and deadly course.. Neimi watches in horror as this happens, but know that Arubion is right. She slowly begins to back away. The Lamia hisses and scowls at the fox-flames being held towards her, looking to find an opening to bite arubion, but is close to death.

 

[Arubion Sivart]

Arubion then Sheathes His Katana. It may look like he is Surrendering, but with a sudden movement he Throws a Fury of Kunai at the Lamia all of which were covered by the flame.... He then goes over to Ven and drops to one knee to see if he is alright....

 

[DergTheDergon]

The lamia screams 'CURSSE YOU" before succumbing to the flames. Ven looks up at Arubion, wincing in pain, but smiling slightly. "good job,kid. you're offically one of us... don't worry about me, i'm long gone. get Neimi and yourself out of here." Neimi rushes up towards the two as she notices how hurt ven is. "Don't give up hope, ven, i can save you." she kneells down and starts concentrating her healing maig,c but Ven grabs her arm, and shakes his head at her. "Cleansing poison is a very advanced healing technique... it'll just weaken you too much... I'm long gone...." neimi's eyes begin to tear up. "But..." "but, nothing. This was a trap, and I think I know who set it... he'll have backup plans... you need to save your strength to keep yourself and arubion alive... this is my last wish, Neimi... save yourself, not an old man at the end of his road..." Just then, he closes his eyes. "Ven! Ven, no!" Neimi begins to cry, and doesn't show any signs of giving up on either Ven or Gromm.

 

[Arubion Sivart]

Arubion turns away and only a Single Tear drops from his face... He grabs Neimi and tries to force her to let him go so they could get out of their.

 

[DergTheDergon]

It takes a while, but Neimi eventually stops resisting, and looks down sadly at ven, and then gromm. she mutters very quietly. "Okay, venn.... I'm not going to let your sacrifice be in vain." She looks to Arubion for a second, and grips her bow tightly, knuckles white, and starts heading out of the cave.

 

[Arubion Sivart]

Upon taking the lead Arubion notices movement outside to be that of a Assassins... He Quickly dispatches one but misses the other..

 

[DergTheDergon]

Neimi followed Arubion cautiously until two roguish types with Daggers attack him. Niemi instinctively crouches near the cave entrance as they didn't seem to have spotted her yet, knock an arrrow, and shoots the second assassin straight through the neck as he lunged towards Arubion. She then went up to him, and looked all around. "If there are more, we could lose them in the forest, jumping through the trees maybe.'

 

[Arubion Sivart]

Arubion was deep in thought.. "We need to distance ourself from here....Maybe one of the outer villages..."

 

[DergTheDergon]

'hmmm...." neimi looked down in thought for a moment, before looking back up at Arubion. "I know a a wood elf settlement east of here. They're nomads, they move around a lot so they won't be captured and made into slaves... they might let us stay with them for a while."

 

[Arubion Sivart]

Arubion looks up at the sky then back at Neimi.... "Alright we should start moving before who ever came after us comes back..." Arubion's ears peak up to see if anyone is close by but doesn't nothing peaks his ears...

 

[DergTheDergon]

Neimi nods. "Agreed. The tribe should be deep in the woods to the east, but not for much longer." Neimi began walking that direction, beconing Arubion to follow, looking and listening for anything suspicious.

 

[Arubion Sivart]

Arubion follows closely behind her keeping his ears on alert. He pulls out a White Talisman and puts it on her back. It read "scentless" he then continued to follow her. "That should keep them from following your scent...."

 

[DergTheDergon]

Neimi nodded towards him. 'Thank you." She led him through the forest for a couple of hours, thankfully not coming upon anymore assassins. At one point, a voice came from high up in a ree. "You there! state your business!" Neimi looked up and saw a wood elf training his bow on her. Recognizng her face as she looked up at him, the wood elf lowered his bow. "Neimi? What are you doing here? Wasn't today your blooding?" Neimi llooked down sadly. "Y-yes, but.... something went very wrong. I need to speak with Calor, its an urgent matter." The wood elf's eyes widened in shock. "Wh-where's Ven and Gromm? Are they alright?" Neimi shook her head, looking down ashamedly, eyes tearing up. The archer in the tree looked down as well, jumping down to meet them. He rested his hand on Neimi's shoulder reassuringly. "It's very urgent then... in that case," He looked to Arubion, then back to neimi, "I suppose I should lead you two to Calor. follow me."

 

[Arubion Sivart]

Arubion Looks at the Archer then at Neimi. He then tries to mouth something and he collapses, unconscious. On his side almost hidden from view was a dart. The Contents of the dart are unknown. But his face starts to burn up as if he has a fever now.

 

[DergTheDergon]

The second Arubion drops unconscious, the elven man knocks another arrow as fast as lightning. He just barely caught sight of a hooded individual with a blowgun, running away, and shot him in the leg. He tried to stumble away, and the archer looked to neimi. ''Do whatever you can for him. I'm going to capture our culprit see if I can't make him talk." Neimi was already kneeling down and looking for what might have happened to Arubion. Turning him over, she saw the dart, and sighed. "It may be hard but if i act now, i can get whatever this is out of his system." She pulled the dart out, then gently placed both of her palms over the area of Arubion's skin where the dart stuck. A faint gold light emanated from her palms, and slowly, whatever was in the dart began to be cleansed from Arubion. At about this time, the eleven man came back with a hooded figured, wrists bound with rope, a dagger to his throat. The elf looked to Neimi. "Is he going to be alright?" Neimi wiped her brow, rather exhausted after that, then nodded. "Yes, i was able to cleanse the poison from his blood." The elf smiled. 'I knew ven took you in for a reason." Neimi looked down sadly at the mention of ven. "Oh, sorry.... something must have happened... he was a good man. i'm sure the afterlife is treating him well." The elf then sighed, and looked to the assassin he had at dagger-point. "Tell me who you work for and your death will be quick."

 

[Arubion Sivart]

The Assassin Just looked at them and laughed. "You won't get a answer from me... But I'll tell you this That man who hired me must of been really greedy to get you Mercs out of the way..." He'd spit at Them, then laugh again. He then Started to choke, and move around violently, then grew still...