joshuadim
the writer
"We need Gerwin's services." Arnas added to Fraskia's words and putting emphasis for urgency, as the mention of the Utterlin captain made Lanya's eyes widen in surprise. "We may have entered based on a lie, but we couldn't get any other easy way in to tell the truth." He then pulled out the talisman that the Guardian had given him and gently tossed it over to Lanya, who caught it and inspected it for a moment. "The Guardian sent us for an important task." the young mercenary then continued, "Surely you've heard of what's happened recently? Or at least, heard some hearsay? It's why we're here."
Lanya was quiet for a moment as she set down the talisman onto the table in front of her and sighed: "There have been rumours of what's happened across the continent, yes." she said, "...that new rifts have appeared. Some say it's the end of days." She then looked up to the two strangers in her midst, still harbouring her doubts visibly as she sighed. "And how does he play into this?"
"He knows the best way to get past the elvish coastal patrols. We need to get to Argos. Believe me when I say that if there was another... more reliable way to do so, we would not be here." Arnas then pulled out the small envelope that he had been handed by Gerwin and set it onto the table. "And... he also wanted to give this to you too."
Lanya looked at the parchment for a moment before - with caution - taking and opening it to reveal its contents: a single letter of with the writing in a deep black ink that nearly bled through to the other side. Her eyes scanned over the writings, and her once hardened expression softened from suspicion and agitation to melancholy. Arnas said nothing, save for sharing a glance with Fraskia, as he watched her lean back into her seat and crumpled the letter gently in one hand. "...I've been let down by him so many times, it's hard to keep count. And here he is again, still haunting me and my doings." Lanya cradled the paper close to her chest, and both Arnas and Fraskia could see how tumultuous her thoughts were. "If only you knew him the way I do."
"And we probably never will... but he's willing to help us through all this, and he needs our help first."
Setting the paper back down, Lanya let out another sigh and shook her head: "I can't just... give it to you is the problem." she spoke with resignation, "There's a whole process with appeals, and it would need to be officially judiated..."
Arnas could only pace around the room as Lanya listed the issues, scratching his head in frustration: "Please, there has to be some way. Anything."
A moment passed as Lanya scratched her chin, lost in thought, before pulling out another envelope and set it on the table in front of her. "Well, I said I can't give it to you. But... if you took it, well, that would be another story altogether. I would have to send the guards after you though." She did, however, look uncomfortable as to the potential consequences.
Ornam twiddled with the end of his beard as he listened to both Vera and Reece's thoughts on the matter, and let out a quiet snort. "Aye, need to be smart about this. I agree." the dwarf stated as he looked back to the wooden gate leading into the yard before back to Vera. "Alright, I'll have a look. See how many I can make out." he then said quietly, before slowly making his way over to the gate. The wood itself seemed to be in decent condition, which meant there was little in the way of sneaking a look to the inside of the yard and in turn getting a good look at Kiri and his fellows. However, there was a small gap in the planks that provided some leeway and allowed only a glimmer of sight. A moment passed as he stood, hands cupped around his face he struggled to get as much as he could.
Meanwhile, more conversation could be heard from the rowdy bunch that was in the back courtyard of the inn: "Been thinkin' of collecting some o' that brine I been hearin' 'bout." another voice chimed in, "Heard it's good stuff."
"I also heard that it completely screws you. I wouldn't touch that. Stick with the ale and mead." spoke who was presumably to be Kiri.
It was then that Ornam quietly shuffled back to the others and whispered: "I count six. Five if that other one be too drunk ta fight." he said, sparing a glance over to Levy. "I think we can take them if things get ugly."
Jannah looked between the trio and the brigands with fearful eyes as the former tried to defuse the situation, offering to heal their man and get their deal through. The leader of the brigands, however, looked less than trusting of such flowered language as he spit onto the mossy bricks below. "Yeah, lay your hands on our lad... then slit his throat yeah?" he asked with a snarl, pointing his blade towards Edoardo. "You're already in league with this scale-fuck aren't you!?" It was more than obvious that he himself, and his other companions, were all intoxicated to varying degrees; and this in turn meant that they weren't in their right minds, seeing enemies everywhere and ultimately seeing those they had confronted as more bodies to deal with as they had before.
"Listen, man-idiot!" Jannah then shouted angrily in response to the insult directed at him, "No bad! They he-"
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" the brigand shouted again, immedaitely shutting down the kobold's protest and in turn sent him shirking back behind the chair for cover. It was then that he pointed his blade back towards the group, switching targets as if unable to choose who to threaten the most in that moment. A toothy grin encapsulated his face as he turned back to his compatriots: "...I think I smell good business here lads." he spoke, a comment that brought out a series of chuckles from the other men as he turned his attention back to Aelestra, Terrence and Edoardo, before settling his blade on Terrence. " 'specially from this traveling green gobshite... he practically reeks of money. Drop yer weapons, and all your purses, and your belongings. We'll be taking those, and whatever shite your priest has for our man. Then I'll consider letting you all leave here."
Last edited:
