Fantasy The Dragon of The North

[TheDarkOwl]

Cyra walked on the stone path leading to the big city hall. All kind of questions were going through her head; ‘why am I here? Why was I, out of all people, summoned? Will there be others?’ She had been to Shukumei a few times before, as there were enough rumors in cities and when you pulled the right strings, it wasn’t too hard to figure out the truth behind some of the rumors, well at least not for her. Sometimes people needed to be “persuaded” though, but she had no problem with doing that. So now she stood in front of the room she needed to be in. She heard voices coming from the inside, one booming, loud and clearly irritated voice and a few other voices, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying due to the thick wooden doors. She decided it wouldn’t serve any purpose to eavesdrop any longer, as she couldn’t make out what they were saying anyway. So she pushed open the doors and looked at the five people already gathered there. She noticed a man, probably a knight, aim a glare towards a blonde woman, who made a sarcastic respond. After that she heard a few others say something else. ‘Well it seems like I stepped right into an argument’ she said

 

[XxLuluxX]

He looked back toward Tabitha, with an intense glare. "Mercenaries are untrustworthy scum. You're all bought and paid for, not an honourable bone in your body" He snapped, getting dangerously close to another outburst. Bennett then turned to the rambling woman, who chattered on about alcohol and drunkenness. He raised a hand, putting it over her mouth. "Please. Let me think." He remarked. "Your chattering is getting on my nerves. I do know what a pub is, and I regularly, drink myself into passing out." He looked up at the newcomer, with a face that resembled the statement.


'Kill me.'





@Wild Born @TheDarkOwl

 

[SdrawcabDaer]

Uki looked at the money the large man was handing out. Although it was tempting her, no one else seemed to be planning to enrichen themselves, so she refrained. She wasn't that desperate. Instead she watched the scene unfolding. So the blonde woman was a mercenary that probably took on rather questionable jobs. No surprise really, although Uki started to wonder if she could actually trust her. However, she had said that she was in the top three, one of the best. Maybe Uki would be able to adapt to her sarcastic remarks. She'd easily spend any amount of time with someone less nice if it meant retrieving the North.


Suddenly she heard a voice from the door. A woman stood there and spoke about walking into an argument, although it was obvious that she had eavesdropped them. Uki cursed to herself, dissapointed that she hadn't noticed her before.

 

[wolfborn4]

Tabitha called out when the newcomer came in " Late " in a sing song voice, before looking up back to Bennett she made a fake surprised face and gasped bringing her hands to her chest " And u thought we where getting along...sorry if you don't like my personality Mr. Grumpy " her voice proggresivly getting more sharp and at the end of her sentence she glared then burst back to smugness and looked to the...fat...guy, she really didn't know his name yet, much less anyone else's " Exciting would be an understatement, I can do whatever I want and get paid...its fun to play with the M.W.B.D.K " she clasped her hands together and set them in her lap looking back to the newcomer

 

[Calcifer]

Astrid immediately glared at the knight whom's hand was on her mouth. She then bit down hard on his hand before pulling it away from her with force. "Never. Talk about mercenaries like that again. And never hold my mouth like that either." She warned, full of spite and venom. She wasn't in a mood to be annoyed. Astrid hadn't actually noticed the newcomer come through the doors. She was a little preoccupied 'talking' to the knight whom was really starting to get on her nerves...


@XxLuluxX

 

[TheDarkOwl]

Her attention was immediately drawn to a gigantic man sitting down in a corner, If she had heard him right, he must be a mage. She was going to sit down on one of the chairs, when something the knight said caught her attention. Mercenaries are all untrustworthy scum. You’re all bought and paid for, not an honourable bone in your body. It wasn’t really what he said, because she knew some of it was true, but how he said it that made her blood boil. She wanted to tell him off, that not all mercenaries were like that, when she realized how he had looked at her. He hasn't realized I am a mercenary too. Well that would be very useful, if I need any information.she thought. So instead of telling him off, she responded to his facial statement, with a sympathetic smile and sat down close to the tiny woman and him ignoring the blonde woman’s statement. She then saw another woman, probably also a mercenary, biting down on the knight’s hand he had held on her mouth and had trouble with keeping a straight face. As she thought: Well you deserved that!

 

[XxLuluxX]

The knight barely flinched, now glaring over at Astrid. "Well its true." He growled, his tone lower. "I was abandoned by fucking mercenaries. In the middle of a battlefield. We waited for reinforcements, till I found out they'd all fucked off on their merry way with payment. We lost half my regiment. You can never, trust a man nor woman who works solely for money" He spat. "They were good soldiers, who died ALL because of some mercenaries cowardliness. I am reminded everytime I see one of you. EVERY FUCKING TIME." He erupted.

 

[TheDarkOwl]

She clenched her fist and quickly hid it behind her back when she heard what the knight said. Don’t get angry. Don’t get angry. She thought to herself, but she couldn’t help but frown anyway.

 

[Kulu]

"Please let us all stop this bickering. Your soldiers what where their names? You may talk to them if you wish, and surely not all mercenaries arw bad I have met many whom where quite nice." He said to the room hoping to stop the arguments. "Come now we may all be working together so let's behave like a team."

 

[wolfborn4]

Tabitha would have gotten a pang of guilt, if he hadn't just cussed and yelled at her...but deciding yelling would only bring more yelling she got dead serious, not a single glint of humor in her eyes she spoke dewp and quiet but all the harshness as she clipped her words " If you could please, not say that again ever....now once you think about it, that was poor choice to go and judge all mercenaries just because you where let down one time, not all of us play by the same rules...and if you'd stop and notice, its obvious to see the difference in those of us you can truley trust so stop whining about your problems with mercenaries and actually get to know us better before yyou judge us " then she pulled out Big Daddy and began polishing its blade with a cloth from her bag

 

[Calcifer]

She ignored the mage's words as all she wanted to do was draw her sword, but that would be unwise. Astrid sighed angrily. "Well luckily for you, I actually enjoy fighting." She snapped. "Now...money is great, but I like a battle! So don't fucking lump me in that fucking shitty little category of yours!" Astrid burst out in rage. Then after, she felt slightly more relaxed. "I like money and I like fighting." She said to the knight in a more calm manner.


@XxLuluxX

 

[SdrawcabDaer]

It seemed like the male knight was loosing popularity. He deserved it, seein how he spoke about all mercenaries the same, though. Even if Uki herself never had broken a deal or taken on some shady job, seeing how she always tried to follow her tribes code, she could understand the ones that did. The knight had to remember that it was the ''lords'' that ordered the mercenaries to do less honourable jobs in the first place, and that they would rarely pay with the promised money had they decided to pay after the job had been done.


As she watched the scene unfolding, Uki noticed that the woman beside her was clenching her fists. A fight would ensue if no one made the knight shut up. She looked at the big man in the room and gave him a smile, thankful that he was trying to solve the situation. Uki pondered on how she could reduce the tension in the room. A brawl would only get them further away from the real goal of the meeting; freeing the North.


@Kulu

 

[XxLuluxX]

"Do you know what it's like? You must. Mustn't you?" He asked, turning to Astrid slowly. "Battle. After battle. After battle." His hands started to knead together. "Watching each man be felled, and asking yourself- Am I next? Have you seen the men, you've laughed and cried with pulled apart? Have you had to tell mothers, fathers, wives and children- That their loved one is dead, and you're alive? You say, 'They died peacefully'. The oldest lie in the book. WHY? Because in truth, you held them in your arms whilst they screamed to be put out their misery. I see them every-time I close my eyes."


He exhaled with a laugh "Now the doctor say's im going insane, and the only woman I thought I loved has left me. Fun isn't it? Give me a break with your bullshit about how you're all different." He slumped over, holding his face. Mainly because he'd just had a breakdown infront of a room full of strangers, and the fact most of them disliked him. Then again, he wasn't looking for sympathy. Merely understanding.

 

[Calcifer]

Astrid slumped back in her chair aswell. Now she could see why he was so against mercenaries. He had to live with battles and the people he cared about dying around him. He sounded like he truly needed help. However, the knight didn't strike her as being crazy or insane. She didn't really know what to say to him. "It is good to let it all out sometimes." Astrid reassured him, infact it made her understand a little better...

 

[TheDarkOwl]

She was happy things had calmed down a bit now, because even though she didn’t mind a little fight at all, if people already began fighting the first time they met, they wouldn’t be able to work together at all. So thankful to the mage for trying to try to calm everything down, she relaxed a bit and stopped clenching her fists. She then looked over to the knight as all had seemed to calm down at least a bit except for him. What she didn’t expect was him breaking down, she did understand him though. So to try to relax the tension a bit and show she understood him, she said; everything needs time to heal and you can’t heal on your own.

 

[XxLuluxX]

The knight remained silent this time. His head down. He'd already said too much, and it hurt. Not like any wound he'd bled. Of course, with his sudden flashbacks, or images. Sometimes even hallucinations of men speaking, seeing them walking. The night terrors. Tremors in his hands. They hadn't diagnosed him with anything more, than the beginning of insanity. This mission, was a lifeline. Possibly some part of him, hoped that he'd die along the way.


Twas at that moment, an older man entered the room. His beard and hair tousled, looking as if he was in a rush. "AH! Found it! Awfully sorry for the wait chaps. Now, you are...The...Oh, yes. The northern crusaders or whatever they call this suicide mission. Hmph."


@Wild Born

 

[wolfborn4]

Tabitha frowned and turned her head away, she had never known the feeling of being loved, or sympathy...her parents where always to busy with trying to find a job, that's why she ran away in the first place...she work alone anyway since no one ever liked her anyways, why would this be any different it may be difficult to work with so many people, but its not like she cared if they all hated her


She blinked when a man came in she put away Big Daddy and shoved the cloth back in her bag " Look who decided to show up " a smile tuged at the corners of her mouth as she called out so it would echo " Late! " her smile never came as she sighed

 

[Abendrot]

Einarr had never liked large cities like Shukumei. They were too crowded and congested for his liking, and the constant clamor of the markets quickly became bothersome. But Einarr would not ignore a summon from a king, especially not one with the prospect of reclaiming his homeland. And so Einarr arrived at the the towering bronze doors of the king's palace, though he was weary from the long journey. There came a deafening creak as Einarr pushed the doors open. The king's estate was quite lavish indeed. Daksinan carpets covered the floors. The walls were hung with an array of intricate tapestries and paintings, all glowing with bright, warm colors.


Einarr immediately made for the common room, where he was expected. He peeled his gloves of as he came in, and found several other champions waiting for him. Einarr furrowed his brow. There was a somber, morose, but also dignified attitude about him. A white bear skin cloak wrapped around his neck and flowed down to his mud caked boots. After seeing the other champions that were summoned, all of whom looked quite miffed, he remained unimpressed.


Still, Einarr had little desire to be dragged into their foolish quarrel, and so he took a seat without saying another word.

 

[Kulu]

"Please forgive her late remark. Are you the host of this lovely estate and the one whom sent us the notes?" Xamien asked the older gentleman, while standing up and bowing as was proper. Although he wondered if this old man was someone they should know considering he somehow knew of the people he was gathered with.

 

[Calcifer]

Astrid looked up at the man as soon as he had come in. He was probably the one to give the speech. But Astrid didn't like the fact that he called it a suicide mission. Well, if the pay was good enough then she would still join. After all, she still had a chance for survival. Right? Astrid sat there patiently in her seat, ready for him to start whatwver he was going to say.

 

[XxLuluxX]

The older man waved off Tabitha's comments, now proceeding to put down an armful of books onto one of the common room tables. "Im here to debrief you all on why you're being sent into the enemy territory, chances of survival, and what you're doing chasing after a childrens fable." The bearded man coughed, popping his knuckles. "Truth is we don't know if the Dragon of the North even exists. This is...As they say a leap of faith. I've done my research into it, and from what I gathered, the Dragon could be multiple things. A person, artefact, giant fire breathing lizard you expect, and a mermaid. The mermaid theory was from a half drunk sailor, experimenting with opium at the time. So we'll call that poppycock." He turned looking at each of them. "This so called Dragon, is said to be found far within the northern mountains, filled with indigenous cannibalistic tribes, and sabre tooth cats. Don't forget the wolves, bears, nasty stags...Frozen rivers, snow drifts, avalanches, and a whole host of Lord Glendors Troops. Chance of death, through the roof ladies and gentlemen- And I should mention, the person originally supposed to give you an awe inspiring speech, called in sick. So you have me. NOW! Any questions?"


@Wild Born @TheDarkOwl @Kulu @SdrawcabDaer

 

[Calcifer]

Astrid was certainly intrigued of the risks involved, but one question stood out in her mind. She stood up in front of her seat, coughing to clear her throat. "What is the coin like? Is it good payment?" Astrid asked, full of confidence.


@XxLuluxX

 

[Abendrot]

Einar could feel the entire room's spirits sink all at once. Not only was this man basing his plan to save the North off of minstrel's tales, but he did so in the most unconvincing manner possible. Einarr rose from his seat, staring down the old man incredulously. "Do you mock us with your lunacy, fool?" he grumbled. "Believe me when I say I have nothing left to live for, but at least let us die for an honorable cause."

 

[Kulu]

"I will happily do it my good sir. I for one think that if it can help then I should put in an effort." Xamien stated standing straight up almost like a salute of his own. "Plus this gives me a chance to explore more of our wonderous world that we inhabit. Oh and try more spells." Xamien finished with a large smile on the even larger man.

 

[TheDarkOwl]

‘wait, wait, wait’ she said ‘you want US to go to those mountains? We don’t even know each others names yet, let alone that we can work together in a group. ’ Her expression made clear she thought he had to be kidding. This only seemed to go in two directions, one being that they would go on a dangerous quest that could take months in which they could get killed and the second being just walking out of this place and having come to Shukumei for nothing. So because she wouldn’t be able to sell gained information during the quest and if she walked away there would not be any information to sell, she had decided to drop the act and show that crazy old man how ridiculous his idea was. Even though she mainly thought this idea was a suicide mission, like the man had said, deep down she was also kind of excited to do something like this and of course if they were paid well, there would be a pretty big chance she would join.