Post by Harkovast on Dec 16, 2018 20:34:53 GMT
Thoughts on Chaos.
It is early morning and a Nymus and a Darsai are walking and talking to each other. The Darsai has ashy grey fur and is the louder of the two, whereas the Nymus has brown feathers and spends most of his time listening. Behind them merchants ply their trade, a young Panvos dashes after a pet grobla, an Onrapa youth chats up an Al-Saigal girl at her stand and some young Darsai fight mock battles with sticks for swords.
“The Watch isn't doing anything right, these days.” The Darsai complained.
“How so?”
“Too much going on, too few results.”
“Well... remember that Beast thing a while back? They seem to have got that-”
“That was weeks ago! And what did they do? They bumbled about until they beat some poor baker silly and killed something. It isn't important. Not to mention, the Watch wasn't even responsible! They hired some poor sods to go chasing after the thing!”
The Nymus smirks. “Alright, Gareth. What have the Watch not gotten right this time?”
“Everything! Robberies are up, even murder! You remember that poor fellow, whotsisname? Well it don't matter. He took a step out one day and kaboom! His house goes up. He could have been in there! What do they do about it? Nothing! And another Moneychanger robbed yesterday. And one two days before that... and one before that too. Anarchy, my good beak sporting friend! Especially out in the lows, the Watch just don't care.”
“I blame Golta when things explode. Not the Watch.”
“The Watch should be doing something. But that brings me to another point. Did you hear about the Golta?”
“You mean what the Preservation League people have been saying? They might be right, you know. That Fort Gerrit worries me.”
“Oh, who cares about those idiots! No, I mean the Golta. This morning. Found outside a guard house, dressed nearly in the way their mama's brought em into the world.”
“In eggs?” The Nymus looked confusedly at the Darsai until he got it. “Oh right. You lot have really twisted births, don't you?”
“Matter of opinion, egg man, but they were almost completely na-”
The young Onrapa accidentally runs right into Gareth, knocking him silly, while shouting “Saerry!” over his shoulder.
Gareth started puffing himself up with righteous indignation. “What in Thane's name?! You crazed young whippersnappers have no respec-”
A decidedly older male Al-Saigal smacks into poor Gareth next, all the while screaming the terrible things he intended to do to the Onrapa if he caught him.
“What was that all about?” The Nymus asked as he steadied Gareth.
“No idea.” Gareth grunts, calming himself down. “Anyway, people these days have no respect. I mean, look at that! They just run off like maniacs who...” Gareth continues in that line of complaint for the next half an hour.
After a little while of running, the young Onrapa makes sure the Al-Saigal man is out of sight before he hops onto one of the shorter buildings and flattens himself against the roof to wait out the ridiculous furor. All he had done was comment on how pretty his daughter's ears must be and the man had gone plain berserk!
He hears the man pass the building and run down another street. Pleased, McGloon gets right off the building and goes in the opposite direction.
Shortly thereafter he sees a large Ivos in armour who appears to be taking a leisurely walk. He recognizes Marcus from the battle in Lost Cove, where Marcus and two Golta (Konrad and Alex) rescued him and several other people from slavery with the help of several Eslum.
Marcus is heading in his direction, and is not far away.
McGloon springs down from the roof top and rushes excitedly over to Marcus waving to get their attention.
"Hey! Over here! Marcus! Over here!”
Marcus walks over to McGloon and pleasantly says "Hello."
"Oh wow, this is great! I can't it's believe you! This is amazing!"
McGloon enthusiastically grabs Marcus by the hand and gives it a shake.
"I don't believe I've ever been greeted so enthusiastically before. You know who I am, but who are you? The only Onrapa I've met recently were over in Lost Cove, and I wasn't doing particularly well in the aftermath of that battle."
"Exactly, mate ! Exactly! I was there! Me! McGloon! I was one of the prisoners you set free! Brilliant! You guys are huge heroes!"
"Heroes?" Marcus chuckles at this. "Well, it was heroic enough, I suppose. You'll have to tell me how you got sent off into slavery like that. Made someone back home angry? The Cult of the Harvester seems to be a-"
A short Panvos man comes running up to the two of them. "Marcus? Of house Galii?"
Marcus grimaces. "I don't know how I became so popular all of the sudden. First gangs, then slaving Golta, then cannibalistic Brorg-Dao..." He turns to the Panvos. "Yes?"
"Sir! I'm a courier. There was a holdup but we have some messages for you."
McGloon notices Marcus twitch a little. "Very well."
If the message is on a scroll or sheet of paper, McGloon will grab it and read it himself.
"What is this ? Some kind of danger? Invading cannibal gangs of slavers? Back for revenge? Or trying to avenge your revenge from the last time?" looking over at marcus "Did I just find you in the middle of an amazing adventure?"
The courier is carrying a long case that contain the messages. He protectively yanks it away from McGloon.
The Courier gives the Onrapa a scowl. "I don't know what it is about. I just have it. From the Ivos Empire. Let me see... Marcus, two from your son Zunius, two from your father Hostus and one from your brother Proculus."
"Zunius? Very well, hand them over."
The Courier opens the container and hands over four letters, the first of which Marcus begins to read on the spot.
McGloon looks eagerly over Marcus shoulder to read what its about.
He sees part of the end of the letter:
“Father, be careful. You know how dangerous making powerful people angry can be. And come home when you can. Uncle is coming back, and Grandfather leaving.”
"And." The courier reaches into his carrying case, "a message from Proculus."
Marcus looks up in time to react to the "courier's" small curved, dagger by pushing both himself and McGloon back, but the Panvos comes after him slashing, and cuts Marcus on the left leg. As Marcus begins to fall backwards, he flails with his right arm and catches hold of the Panvos' face tusk, yanking him down as well (and cutting his hand).
McGloon jumps on the Panvos 's back and wraps his legs around hte mans body. He then grabs the knife arm with one hand and puts his other arm around the assassins neck to choke him into unconciousness.
"What the hell are you doing, you nutter?!" Mc’Gloon growls.
The Panvos struggles to slash Marcus again, but McGloon's grip prevents any real power being put into the attack. He only manages to nick Marcus' face.
Trying to ignore McGloon is having a negative effect on the Panvos, he is slowly getting weaker as the chokehold begins to have an effect. Marcus tries to grab the attacker's knife arm as well, but misses. On a second attempt he manages to get a grip, but lacks the strength to completely push it away.
McGloon meanwhile, manages to grab the attackers the arm, which causes the Panvos to drop the knife. Disarmed, the Panvos attempt to gore Marcus in the face with his tusks. McGloon's grip on the man's neck prevents that from being particularly effective.
Marcus weakly gropes for his own dagger, but before he draws it a Brorg-Dao watchman arrives and smacks the Panvos square on the head with a club. The Panvos goes limp and the watchman yanks him away.
Marcus groans and tries to stand up, having some trouble with it.
"Yeah! Thats what you get!" shouts Mc’Gloon
McGloon spring up and mimes rapid punches at the air while bobbing and weaving before noticng Marcus is wounded and rushing to help support him.
"Are you alright? That loony sliced you up pretty nasty."
He looks to the guard "You better get that bastard out of here! Before I give him another going over! Someone starts trouble with me and Marcus, they need to be ready for a beating!"
The Onrapa turns back to Marcus "Do you know a doctor? There's an Onrapa pub near here, you're a big name amongst us, someone there might be able to help you. I don't know anything about poison but someone there might."
The guard laughs out loud as he carries the Panvos away. The idea of a furskin like McGloon giving anyone a beating is funny to him.
Marcus shakes his head. "No. I need to get back to the Cabbage and Onion. My writing implements are there and I need to read and reply to these at once. Time is essential here. Also, I left Konrad and Alexandra there to work out their differences. Konrad, at least, will want to know about this. Would you mind helping me get there? And perhaps you could tell me how you came to be on that slave ship?"
Mc’gloon says "Writing? Mate you need sewing not writing! You’re all cut up! You know how fast someone can bleed to death? I've got no idea, but I dont want to find out!"
McGloon starts helping Marcus to walk.
"This is nothing. I got nicked on the face and a cut to the leg, thankfully with no cut major arteries..." Marcus glances down at the wound. "Hmm. Though... I think I'll put something makeshift to work once I get there. Then after I'm done with my writing I'll hobble down to get something properly done up. And that is the last time I leave my shield back home. You can expect Konrad and Alex to be in a bad mood. They've had some arguments and I left to give them some time to sort it out just between the two of them. That proved unfortunate, things would have gone badly without your help."
They start heading off towards the Cabbage and Onion, Marcus leaning on McGloon.
Mc’Gloon seems enthusiastic "Wow, Konrad and Alex? They're BOTH there? This is amazing! I'm meeting so many celebrities today. If you recon these cuts are okay I'll take your word for it. Big heroes like you probably know all about getting injured. Me? I just try not to get stabbed in the first place. I haven't been stabbed but I bet I wouldn't like it."
Marcus chuckles. "Oh yes, both of them. I imagine that they will be very glad to meet you too.":
SCENE 2
Before he went on a walk, Marcus put his hoof down.
He sat Konrad and Alex and sat them down at a table in The Cabbage and Onion, and told them to work it out. He figured they'd be less likely to murder each other in public. Then he left for his walk thinking they'd probably get over their problems, even if only because they could bond over how obnoxious he was being by forcing them into conversation.
Konrad waves at one of Gallee's sons and asks for a bottle of brandy and two glasses, "We're going half on that bottle Alexandra."
”I want you to apologise to her.”
”No, don’t be ridiculous.”
”Either you apolgoise or…I dunno…” Alex strains to think of a retaliation that doesn’t involve blowing anything up.
”I’m not apologising to her because she…I mean it! I’m not apologising to it because IT is not a person! It is a gun!”
Alex puts a hand on her grenade launcher Grace.
”You just don’t care who you hurt, do you?”
”Hurt? How can I…?”
Alex says softly to her gun “Don’t listen to him, he’ just angry when hes been drinking.”
”I haven’t been drinking.” He takes pours a glass of brandy and downs it .
”Well what was that?”
”That wasn’t drinking. That was just taking the edge off.” He pours another glass.
”He drinks far too much.” Alex confides in Grace.
”I do not!” Says Konrad to Grace. He pauses , looks annoyed and then says to Alex “Damn it! I do not! I only drink when I’m annoyed, so around you I probably do seem to be drinking all the time!”
Alex whispers to Grace “I bet he starts playing cards with the Zadakine again.” She nods as if hearing a reponse “Yes, everytime. You would think he’d have won once by now.”
Konrad “What do you two…I mean you ONE! I mean what do YOU know about card playing? It’s about working out the pattern.”
”Is there a bit of the pattern where you end up with more money rather than less?”
Konrad downs another glass “What’s taking Marcus so long? Its too early in the day for this! I should have taken up that job in the Tendu Raj. That was guaranteed work, but instead I’m out here in the back end of nowhere talking to lunatics!”
A large red vasp lands on a ledge outside the window, both Alex and Konrad notice it looking at them specifically, strange behaviour for such an animal, watching them intently through the glass.
Konrad ponders “I wonder if Marcus would feel better if I fried up that vasp for him? Ivos love eating awful things like that."
The vasp cocks its head at him.
Konrad laughs and taps on the window, "That's right, I might feed you to my friend if that keeps him from being pissy.” He ponders a moment “ I think someone owns this particular vasp."
She looks up at the bird and tilts head to the side "I think it's looking at us, maybe it knows who we are?"
"First you’re giving me your guns opinions, now the Vasps? It's probably looking for us to feed it."
"well if someone out there I don't know knows my name I'd be worried. Well I don't plan on feeding it, want me to shoot it?" She taps a hand on Grace..
"No, I think we'd piss off whoever owns it, and Eltim mightn't be so welcoming if you shoot out her windows!"
The vasp turns about, looks in the opposite direction . It tracks the movement of something all the way to the door.
The door opens, and Marcus and McGloon arrive.
It makes an almost comical sight. Marcus, the heavily armoured Ivos, is partially leaning on a younger looking Onrapa. The Onrapa has a kilt, a tartan sash over his shoulder, and a rather impressive looking backpack that looks like it could be carrying all manner of things. He appears young and strong. His fur is bright red with a white under belly. He appears to be quite excited.
Marcus points towards Alex and Konrad. "There. And it would be nice if you could contain your excitement to the point you don't drop me."
Alex stands up shocked "oh shit what happened?"
"White Mother, let me help you!” Konrad rushes over to Marcus, grabs him by the should, and looks him over, "You're lucky, that wound in your leg could have been worse... is anyone coming after you?"
Marcus says "This is McGloon. He was with those Onrapa slaves that we rescued from Hendrick. That is all the introduction required, as he knows who you two are. Also, he just saved my life. Let me sit down, and I'll explain."
Konrad grabs a chair at a nearby table and turns it around for Marcus, "Here, now should I be worried about someone coming through that door to finish us off?"
"No. No... the Watch knocked the fellow on the head. An assassin disguising himself as a courier, carrying a small dagger in his carrying case. Konrad, I'll give you three guesses who that fellow was working for."
"Flowers Bloom, Henrick, or Proculus?" Says Kornad “We’re stacking up people who want to kill us.” He points at the table he and Alexandra were sitting at, "Onrapa, get that brandy over there, the man needs a drink."
Konrad takes a pack of bandages from his pocket and wraps Marcus’ wounds as best he can.
”These don’t look too bad, but you need to see Dr Kevico and get these looked at properly.”
"No brandy.” Marcus shakes his head “I have some letters to read and write. And yes, you're right about Proculus. He's finally given me a direct reason to take his head. But I need to make sure that he knows I survived, otherwise he might attack Zunius directly. Also, he was carrying actual letters, it seems. I recognize the writing. And I wonder what my father has to say, he wrote me two letters."
Alex says “The way you talk about family makes it sound more like some polticial game.”
Marcus says “To Ivos those are often one and the same.”
Mc’gloon grins at Konrad and Alex, almost dropping Marcus in his hurry to rush over to them.
"Wow! Konrad and Alexandra! Fantastic! I'm McGloon, I was with the Onrapa that got rescued at Last Cove! I can't believe I'm meeting all three of you! This is such an honour!” He pause and then says "Oh yeah, the brandy, right away!" mcgloon grabs the brandy and the nearest empty cup on a table, fills it with brandy and puts it down hurridly on the table infront of Marcus, splashing some on the letters. The amount of brandy he has put in the large cup seems completely excessive, suggesting McGloon knows nothing about Brandy.
Mcgloon says cheerfully "So who did you say was behing this? I'll happily kick his arse for you. Get some of my mates from down The Bendy Tree, we'll stomp all over this Procondosis....Protagon.....whatever hes called...we'll beat him so bad he'll be able to floss his tusks with his tail!"
Alex seems thoughtful "well if you are worried about assasins I can rig your door and window to your room with pyronite. Anyone opens them and…"
Eltim calls across the room “No, Alex!”
Alex crosses her arms in a huff “I was just thinking outloud!”
Marcus wipes off as much of the spilled brandy from the letters as he can.
"Anyway, I just hope Baldamson doesn't find something else for us to do when I'm like this. I won't be much help.” He rolls his shoulder “I believe the dagger was poisoned. I recognise the symptoms. It was a type Proculus makes use of to weaken slaves for transportation. Not fatal, but I'm not going to be fighting any time soon."
Konrad says “An assains with none fatal poison? A strange choice.”
Marcus says to Mc’Gloon “McGloon, Proculus is my brother, he's back on the mainland."
Alex whispers "So is that a yes or no on rigging your room?"
Konrad say to Mc’Gloon "Giving Proculus a sound beating would just give the little runt more reason to want Marcus dead."
Konrad pours the brandy back into the bottle, and glares at the people in the bar gawking at them.
Konrad says more quietly to Marucs “I can have Proculus killed, I can get a letter out to a friend in Jaydia and she'll sneak into the Ivos Empire through one of the ports and push him down a well or something. It will be expensive but I’d pay for the peace of mind. Fuck honour at this point, he's not just a danger to you, think about young Zunius.”
Marcus says "This needs to be handled careful. Proculus is still family.”
Konrad says “You care more about the family name than the families lives!”
Marcus says “I don’t expect you to understand these things, but let me deal with it in my own way.”
Mcgloon say to Alex "You three are big heroes, at least in all the pubs I go to. I Love the mask, that's awesome. Like a masked hero. It looks really good."
Alex looks a bit awkward at this “Er, thanks. Its just a mask.”
Mcgloom says "It's a unique look, most people couldn't make that work. Its daring, but you carry it off. Have you got a drink? Let me get you one. What are you having?"
Mc’Gloon addresses the Inn in general "Crazy knife man tried to cut up Marcus, and I turned around and said "I dont think so, knifey. The only thing getting cut, is your life!”
Well I was thinking that anyway...or at least I thought of it later. Than I was all over him like moss on trees. BAM BAM BAM! And Marcus was fighting him too ! We were a perfect team, there was an unspoken connection. By the time I'd finished with him, that assassin was wishing he'd pulled a knife on someone else...cause he was unconscious. It was great."
The other patrons at the Inn, at this point three men Nymus, and a Junlock, give McGloon a confused look. Eltim chuckles and continues cleaning glasses.
Ignoring Mc’Gloon embellishments Marcus says to Konrad "I'll write to Valerius and have him call in some... friends. People with a grudge. That was the plan if Proculus started getting too threatening anyway, I'd think this counts. It should... I don't like the idea of killing Proculus, but at this point... well... this should at least scare him away."
At this point a Cansaibe at one corner of the bar comes over, clearly interested in what Mc’Gloon is saying "Hey, really? Sounds interesting, what else happened?"
Mc’gloon looks to the bar "Don't you people keep up with current events? These are big heroes! Didn't you hear about how they saved all those women from monsters, or cannibals or something?"
Alex says "So what does one of these Pan-er whatever people look like so I know what to watch our for?"
Mcgloon "They look ugly and hairy, with big teeth. I wouldn't shag one, lets put it that way."
Konrad say to Marcus "Yshould worry about writing letters after we get you to a surgeon."
He glances at McGloon, "Well, I'm glad some people are grateful for our work, I feel as though I've made more enemies than friends since showing up here."
Konrad can feel the brandy starting to kick in at this point, and while he's not letting it show, McGloon's enthusiasm is begining to grate on his nerves.
The Cansaibe says to Mc’Gloon "Yeah, I heard about that, The Beast thing and Vakari's report, right?."
One of the Nymus grumbles “Golta doing something positive? Colour me surprised."
"Oh no, here we go again! Stop with the Golta stuff." The Junlock snaps.
"Hey, you hear about those Golta attacked and left half naked in front of a Watch barracks?" Another Nymus added. "Good work."
"Yeah I did! Something about Tolpish with spots! Hah! You ever seen a spotted Tolpish?"
The Cansaibe looks a bit nervous here.
Alex says "So can anyone other than Mc’Gloon tell me and Grace what a Panvos looks like?”
Konrad glares at the Nymus, "Golta attacked and you're having a good laugh eh? What's this about?"
He puts his hand on the grip of his pistol.
Mcgloon continues trying to describe a Panvos "They look a bit like if you took an Ivos, punched him in the head a few times, messed up his fur and ruined his teeth.”
He then notices Konrad becoming and the Nymus "Whoa now lads, lets keep it friendly here. Why dont I get some drinks in and we all just calm down. No need to ruin anyones afternoon, right?"
Marcus takes a sip of the brandy, scrunches his face up, then starts coughing as his attempt to swallow it cause some of it to go down the wrong way. "That arrogant, old..." Marcus scrunches up one letter from his father. "Ahem. Sitting down has done wonders for me. I'll be fine."
Mcgloon “"Don't over do it mate. As my old mum used to say 'you look like someone knocked seven shades of shit out of you.'"
Eltim gets in between the Nymus and Konrad. "None of that, all of you! I won't have anyone insulting my patrons."
The Cansaibe nods. "Well better be off." He puts money on the table. "Have a good, pleasant day!" He leaves a tad bit quickly.
Mc’Gloons says to Eltim "No trouble from us, Ma'am. Great Inn you have here. You own it?"
Eltim says “I do, and it’s a full time job keeping people from wrecking it!”
One of the Nymus says. "Ay-Go-So might want to hear about that. Go inform her." The loudmouth one that first started the arguments shuts up and leaves
Konrad smiles at Eltim, "Sorry love, I guess I'm still in a foul mood."
Eltim nods. "They were being insulting. Just don't actually shoot things."
Marcus seems to be okay, so he walks over to the table with the other patrons, "So what's this about Golta being stripped and left somewhere? Were they hurt or killed? And what does your Cansaibe friend know about it?"
The Nymus shrugs. "Happened this morning, don't know too much about it."
Mc’Gloon says "Probably just people getting drunk and getting into fights. I've got into a few scrapes when I've had a few, believe me! I'm sure this Goltus guy is fine, whoever he is."
The third Nymus shakes his head. "No no, they were tied up and beaten, I know that much. Not doing fine at all. And it was a family too, of Golta, not a person named Goltus. Nasty business, of course.”
Konrad says " Konrad "Who's Ay-Go-So, and that one," he jabs his thumb towards the door, "who's the Cansaibe?"
The Nymus responds: "Ay-Go-So? A... Friend of the family, likes hearing about all the interesting goings on. As for the Cansaibe, no idea, he was here when we got here."
Konrad "A family, stripped beaten half to death, and left in the street... has that 'preservation society' said anything about it?"
The Nymus laughs. "Preservation Society? They must be just hearing about it now. They aren't the sharpest bunch, those loons."
Konrad glances up and notices the red vasp at the window flying away.
Mcgloon says "Damn, there are some really scum bags around these days. I dont think I've ever even met a Golta."
Konrad "I know, I walked into the middle of one of the preservation leagues rallies the other day with no less than two guns, a Golta sailor's cutlass, and dressed like a Golta, and it took them a few minutes to figure out that I wasn't an Ano-Chee. “
He looks to Mc’Gloon “McGloon, Alexandra and most of the guards at Last Cove are full-breed Golta, I'm a half-caste Golta, I'm part Ano-Chee."
Mc’Gloon says “I can’t be the only one who finds all these different races hard to keep track of!”
Marcus chuckles. "Konrad's father was an Ano-Chee, but his mother was Golta . Which explains his good looks and grumpy personality.”
Mcgloon Not entirely listening-"Right, Alex is a half Golta, Konrad isn't an ano-chee, but hes dressed like one, yeah got it."
Alex looks to Mc and sighs in annoyince "Grace this little guy has no attension span what so ever, no Grace it's not "kinda cute" it's just annoying"
Konrad gives McGloon a sour look before returning to business.
Marcus says to the Nymus "That Cansaibe that ran off…don't know that much about him. He was, as I said, here when we got here. Seemed like a pleasant enough fellow until your friend brought up spotted Tolpish."
Konrad says “Okay, maybe he knows someone involved. How about Ay-Go-So?"
The door opens and a Panvos comes in. He has light grey fur, is of a shorter but solid stature. He's dressed in some leather armour, a thick leather bracer, and a thick leather pauldron on his right shoulder. Upon this pauldron is the very same vasp from before, looking pleased with himself. He also carries a bow and quiver.
Behind him is a nervous looking Zadakine woman, who immediately darts ahead towards Marcus, Konrad, and Alex.
The two Nymus takes this opportunity to slip out. Leaving a good amount of money at the table.
Mcgloon To Konrad "Just becuase a guy is spotty doesn't make him a criminal. There are plenty of spotty people out there. If I was him, I would have left too. That winged guy was being a dick." He starts to say to the Nymus "No offense, mate. Nothing against wings. Wings are great by…” he realises the Nymus have slipped away while he was distracted. "Oh, he left. Seems everyone is going all of a sudden. Is happy hour over?"
Konrad looks at the Panvos for a moment before addressing the Zadakine, "Looking for us?"
Mcgloon points to the Panvos excitedly "There ya go! Panvos! Thats one!”
Konrad puts a hand to his pistol, for a second wondering if this is the assasins returned, but relaxes again seeing Marcus’ calm reaction.
The Zadakine shakes her head rapidly. " I have a job for you! That's all!" She raises her hands. "I need your help!” The Zadakine points to the Panvos “I hired him too. He helped me find you."
Marcus looks up again. "Interesting. Hey, anybody got paper for a letter?"
Konrad "Ask Eltim... Eltim, have you got any paper for Marcus?"
Konrad sits down and motions for everyone to sit, including the Zadakine and Panvos, "So you want us to do some work for you, what are the details?"
Mc’Gloon says to the upset zadakine woman "So whats the problem, lass? You look a bit shaken. Do you need a drink?"
One of Eltim's sons nods and heads off to get some paper.
Marcus mutters to himself "Hmm. What should I say? Something simple and to the point."
Mcgloon turns a chair around and sits on it backwards. "So what do you need? Anything I can do to help, I'll do it. Someone giving you trouble?"
"Well, see, I was robbed. I'm a moneychanger in the Lows, in a particularly decent section too, I might add. And suddenly this gang of... well, most of them were Cansaibe. There were two Darsai and an Al-Saigal as well. They came in and..." She sobbed a little. "Well, took almost everything. They warned us against talking to the Watch... but didn't mention you."
She looks around at them. "See. I need some of that to pay my prot-, er, rent. I've been given an extension, but I need help desperately."
Alex says “More cannibals? Don’t any Tolpish just eat food instead of people?”
Konrad "Cansaibe not cannibals! The yellow ones with the spots! Like that one who left a few minutes ago!"
Alex says to Mc’Gloon “You were right! All the different races in this town do get confusing.”
Marcus says "We were talking about how some Cansaibe stripped and beat a Golta family earlier today, maybe we'll get lucky and find out that the people you're sending us after are the same ones.”
McGloon says to Marcus “Yeah, kill two vasp with one stone.” He looks at the Red Vasp on the Panvos’ shoulder “No offence.”
Mcgloon turns back to the zadakine woman "Alright darling, dry your eyes, we’ll find these thugs and teach them a lesson! I dont stand for anyone pushing a lady around. Don't worry about paying, I'm happy to help." Looks at Konrad and Alex "I'm sure you two are ready for some more adventure."
"You'll do it then?!" The Zadakine smiles. "Thank you! You can have ten percent of what you find. Plus any other loot they have. I just need most of it back."
Alex says "Sounds all good let me grab my kit."
Mcgloon to the zadakine "Sugar, the cash is all yours. We dont need a cut. I just want to see them punished. Its civic duty, isn't it?"
Konrad says sternly " Oi Mc’Gloon! Speak for yourself, I don’t work for nothing. And we need details before we jump head first into a job, Obviously you don’t know much about what being a mercenary means.."
He shakes his head and sighs loudly, "Okay. So what can you tell us about these thieves, do you know any of them? Are they well known in your area? How much did they take?"
The Panvos has stood silently during all this, scanning the room.
"Ma'am, are you sure it's a good idea to hire these …mercenaries? They seem more skilled at squabbling then anything else.”
"Squawk" goes the vasp
He sits down, and observe everyone intently. The vasp leaps off my shoulder and perches on the table in front of me.
The zadakine waves a hadn to dismiss his concerns and continues to speak enthusiastically to the others "Thank you! I really must pay this all off! Not only is it a matter of honour, but of survival too!"
Marcus sighs. "I can't be much help, I've been wounded and poisoned. But I'll see what else I can do. I'll keep an eye out down here."
Konrad say to the Panvos “If the lady wants to hire us I'm sure she can make that decision herself. Two of us are decorated soldiers after all."
The zadakine adds. "They've also got a proven reputation, Athanas. You and they are the best I can find."
Marcus looks over Athanas. "Interesting vasp. I may, may, have heard of you, depending on how many Athanas Panvos were running about during the war."
"Mayhaps you did. I've been here and there during that war." The Panvos seems to have lightened up a bit, when talking to Marcus. "And I may have heard about you too, sir... but one way or another, it's nice to see someone of us in this foreign land... 'strength to the empire', as the long ears say."
Mc’Gloon says"Athanas? Nice to meet you. I'm McGloon. Now can we just lay out some ground rules on this job everyone? We dont need to go in guns blazing. We can just rough them up a bit and hand them over to the guard. No need to start a blood bath. These blokes are scum for attacking an unarmed woman, but we dont need to resort to killing everyone immedately, right?"
Konrad says "Sounds alright, if they raise a hand against us we'll send them all to the Black Protector, but if they give up nice an easy then we won't have to hurt anyone."
The zadakine says "I don't know them personally. But I could swear I've seen one of the Cansaibe before. Just wandering about. Listening to people..."
"the amount taken was 750 Doubloons... 2047 Drachmas... 336 Realms, we sometimes get Darsai, believe it or not. Oh and about 138 Sovereigns. I don't care if you kill them or turn them over to the watch in the end, so long as they can't come back for me and my family."
Mc’Gloon says "If we just go in there, give em a thrashing, they'll probably back down and give up. I just dont want anyone dead if we can avoid it."
Konrad says to Mc’Gloon “Yeah but if things do turn sideways, I hope you aren’t going to freeze up on us..”
Alex looks at her fingers as she counts “Okay, so we're getting 75 doubloons, 205 drachmas, 34 realms, and 14 sovereigns between us? “
Konrad rubs his muzzle and thinks for a moment, "Is the Panvos being paid separately or is he getting a cut of that 10 percent?
Mcgloon "Come on Konrad, this is a woman in distress! Dont joke around." To the zadakine "mighty heroes dont need payment for their services ma' am. We are just glad to be able to help you out."
The Zadakine thinks for a moment. "Well, the Onrapa is being so kind as to not require loot." She smiles at McGloon. "And Marcus there isn't able to come... I could... I could go to..." She clenches her jaw, not so much in anger as in thought and calculation. "Fifteen percent for the three of you to split. If they haven't spent a large amount by the time you recover it."
Marcus laughs. "This sounds familiar! Konrad, remember Porgro?"
He pushes a letter he has just finished to the side. It reads 'You'll have to do better than that, little brother.'
Konrad says "That's more like it. We'll ask Alexandra when she comes back, though I'm sure she'll agree. “
He leans his chair back against a table, "I wonder how Porgro is doing? I hope he didn't get himself killed, That would be a waste."
The zadakine says"Remember, if you find anything else that they've stolen or have, I don't want it."
Mcgloon says "So how are we going to find these blokes?"
The zadakine says "Well... I was thinking that I could take you to the area this happened in. It is in the Lows. See what you could find? Athanas' vasp should be really helpful for looking around up above the streets, but I've made sure nobody touched anything.
"The one that talked to me... he was a tall, whip-like Cansaibe. I know I've never seen him before. He carried two short spears and he was very very scary."
Mcgloon says "The Lows? Probably should have seen that coming. We'll do what we can but dont get your hopes up too much. You might never see that stuff again unfortunately.
The zadakine nods "I know it might be a long shot, but that is why I need the best."
Mcgloon says "Well I can vouch for these folk. When I was in trouble, they rescued me so if there is a way to get it done, they'll find it."
The zadakine says "Well, the sooner we start the better our chances are, but if you all want to wait around until morning, that makes sense too."
Mcgloon "I'm ready to go, what about eveyrone else? We need to get over there before the trail goes cold."
The vasp turns to look at Marcus, and so does Athanas.
Athanas smiles at McGloon, when he listens to Mc’Gloon’s enthusiasm. "So, you want to be a real hero, Onrapa? That's a job with high demand and low supply" he says jokingly.
Mcgloon says "Me? Oh no, I'll never make a hero, not like Alex and Konrad and Marcus. But I'll help out if I can. I'm pretty handy in a scrape."
Athanas shakes hands with Marcus.
Marcus returns the handshake and says “Hail Caesar”
"Ale Seero" Says McGloon, entirely sincerely to Athanas, also shaking his hand. "Have you done this kind of thing before?"
Marcus stifles laughter at this.
Konrad says to Athanas "So what's the deal with that vasp of yours?"
"The deal? What do you mean? She's a vasp. She's very good at finding things, with those six eyes of hers. Aren't you?" The last words he directs at the Vasp, who spreads out its wings over its head and lets out a loud screech. "Though finding, I quote, 'a Golta with a mask covering her whole face and a Ano-Chee that dresses like a Golta', was hardly a difficult task.
She does look a bit conspicuous flying around a city, but it can't be helped I guess. I usually do outdoor jobs, but lady Didao was in a grave need. And I'm eager to try if the bird will be up to that task.".
"He considers what Mc’Gloon just said and says “Though pardon me... Ale what?"
Mcgloon tries again "Male Seara?"
Marcus says "Nevermind, McGloon, it is a reference to the ruler of the Ivos Empire." To Athanas "I think he meant Hail Caesar."
Marcus says “Never mind. Anyway, McGloon, you never did tell me how you got on that slave ship."
Mc’Gloon chuckles "The same reason for all the problems in my life, trying to impress a girl.
I'm not exactly very political, but I knew this girl who was always talking about how much she hated the druids.
Now we all know, ladies love a guy that's musical, right? And I'm really musical so I figure its a great idea to write a song she'll like.
decide to do something political, show that I'm paying attention, and I write a song about Go'Blarn. You know her right? The Arch Druid?
It was mainly about that yellow stuff that leaks out of her left ear.
The girl really liked it, and so did everyone else, pretty soon the whole clan are singing it.
Well...turns out druids dont have the best sense of humour.
Next thing I know i've been arrested and flung on a slave boat!
Thats why I'm here, with just my kilt and my sporan"
He gestures to his back pack
"And these sacred items I nicked off one of the druids boats after they were beaten. Crazy, right?"
Athanas looks bemused "So you brought woe to your whole clan with a stupid joke?"
"I've seen Ivos react to less with more, though." Marcus chuckled. "I remember this one time, back when we were really young before the Nameless War broke out, Konrad made a bit of a pass at my mother. He didn't know it was my mother, and she may have taken it as a compliment, but if my father was there, I'm positive he would have had Konrad nailed to somewhere unpleasant."
Marcus taps the table. "I've got to tell Koun about this. He was a druid, you see, until the Harvester's minions had him expelled from the Onrapa homelands and sold into slavery to the Ivos. From what I understand of it, father got him out of a particularly sticky situation. Though they seem to have known each other from a time before that. I don't know who this Glow Barn is, but he would. And might find it somewhat funny."
Mcgloon laughs "Haha, your mother? Thats fantastic! Brilliant! I love the confidence! "I dunno much of what goes on back home., evne when I was there! The druids run things, for the Harvester. Shes sleeping...or missing or something like that. She's the God of the forest, the biggest spirit...I think that’s how it works.”
He then says to Athanas "Oi! The Clan loved it! They thought it was hillarious! I was a minor celebrity! The druids in charge of the clan...not so much."
Konrad says "I still don't understand why your father would be so upset; I'd be flattered if some handsome young man was flirting with my wife, especially if she was old enough to have two grown sons."
Marcus says to mcGloon "Well, all I know is that Koun had it out with the druids and it didn't end well for him. As for the nature of The Harvester, she's one of the minions of the West, on of fourteen incredibly powerful beings we call the fourteen Evils. They tried invading Vellastrom fifteen or so years ago, and the Harvester brought the Onrapa in on the side of the invaders. That was a bit of a surprise, I was fighting Darsai when the armies of The West first showed up, so I don't know what happened specifically on the border with the Onrapa, but I think the border garrisons were overwhelmed quite quickly. But The Harvester... her powers seem to come from The West, and are not natural. Koun was quite clear on that point to me."
Mcgloon pauses and considers this and then asks“"What is your wife? Is that...some kind of innuendo?"
Konrad says “ Yeah Koun as always a good sort. Good cook too. Could use him out here.”
Marcus says "By the way my father definitely would not be flattered. He didn't see my mother as a trophy to show off, so he didn't care if she looked young for her age. His relationship with her, I recall, was entirely utilitarian and therefore had to be within what was socially acceptable at all times. Being flirted at by young handsome men was not considered socially acceptable for a marriage woman."
He pauses as he considers what Mc’Gloon just asked.
"What's that McGloon? My wife? What about her?"
Mcgloon seems thoughtful about what he’s heard “"Invaders? Hmm, well I remember getting told stories about my uncle dying in the war, fighting....um...might have been Nymus? I remember it was a big deal. I didn't pay all that much attention...I think we won though.
Is wife someones name?"”
Marcus rolls his eyes "You most definitely did not win!. The West was pushed out of Vellastrom. But we left the Onrapa alone for the most part... because they are too difficult to invade properly and we were exhausted. Onrapa are tough. And we thought we had killed The Harvester, but I was never sure of that."
Alex comes down with a large back pack full of her equipment and supplies "Alright I'm all set, how much will I be payed and when do we get going?"
Marcus looks confused at McGloon's statement. Didao, the Zadakine, speaks up. "Oh, right! Onrapa don't have marriage. They just do what they want."
Konrad gives McGloon a strange look, "You Onrappa don't have 'traditional' sorts of marriages like most other cultures, do you? I'd forgotten about that."
Marcus, growing a bit exasperated with Mc’Gloon says “Wife isn't someone's name, it's the woman that you have as a partner, and in most cultures they're supposed to be your only partner."
Athanas sneers a bit at McGloom's remarks about the war. "Yeah, you could say we won. The Onrapa... you know better than I do how things look on the inside of your lands, but from the outside, well, you kinda were on the enemy's side, and just barely escaped retribution. Nothing personal, it's just..." He shrugs.
Mc’Gloon scratches his head "wait... you lost me here...is it like your partners job? She works as a wife?"
We lost the war? Dang, well we'll get you next time, right? Hehe." McGloon clearly has no concept of the seriousness of the war he is talking about.
He doesn’t seem to have much knowledge of anything outside of day to day Onrapa life in the forest.
The bird flies over to the counter, walking along it and regarding the beverages on display.
Mcgloon says to Marcus "You've lost me...are you a wife too? I dont get it."
Mc’Gloon then says to Athanas "Well yeah of course we were the enemy from your point of view. You must have been the enemy to us...who the hell were we fighting anyway? Starting to seem like everyone was against us. Doesn't matter, I mean that was decades ago, who even cares?...Awesome Vasp! Never see none this nice before."
Marcus nods. "Exactly Athanas. Hopefully next time we've got the Onrapa on our side instead of against us though. Maybe that O'Kyle person will have some luck."
Konrad says “No again McGloon. The woman in a relationship is a wife, a man is a husband. You really aren't getting this?"
The Zadakine speaks up. "Are we ready to go? I can take you all over now if you want? We could talk more on the way?"
Alex says “Are you lot going to sit reminiscing or are we going to get to work?”
Mcgloon says "Oh yeah, lets get going!" He rushes to the door way, ready to go.
His is not carrying any obvious weapons, though his back pack may contain some.
"Alright, off with you." Marcus waves them off. "I've got some writing to do and then I'll go get this properly fixed."
The Zadakine seems happy to get going.
Alex "you sure your going to be okay alone? There could be more assassins or that same one could break out"
konrad says "I'm sure he'll be fine, he's on his guard now." He syas to Marcus “Just stay in your room for now though.”
Marcus smiles at Alex. "No, I'll be fine. I'll be really careful. I wasn't expecting it, but now I am."
The vasp turns three of its eyes to McGloon, seemingly unnerved by his attention.
Athanas says “Fine, then let's get on to it. Lady Didao, if you please, I have one more condition to the contract. That the Golta go before me" he says half-jokingly.
The Panvos gets up and casually walks towards the door.
As they walk McGloon moves up alongside Konrad to talk
"So...that Eltim lady...is she seeing anyone at the minute?"
Konrad "I don't even know if she's married... and if she is, her husband wouldn't want you seeing her. Those lads working at the inn are her sons, just letting you know."
It is early morning and a Nymus and a Darsai are walking and talking to each other. The Darsai has ashy grey fur and is the louder of the two, whereas the Nymus has brown feathers and spends most of his time listening. Behind them merchants ply their trade, a young Panvos dashes after a pet grobla, an Onrapa youth chats up an Al-Saigal girl at her stand and some young Darsai fight mock battles with sticks for swords.
“The Watch isn't doing anything right, these days.” The Darsai complained.
“How so?”
“Too much going on, too few results.”
“Well... remember that Beast thing a while back? They seem to have got that-”
“That was weeks ago! And what did they do? They bumbled about until they beat some poor baker silly and killed something. It isn't important. Not to mention, the Watch wasn't even responsible! They hired some poor sods to go chasing after the thing!”
The Nymus smirks. “Alright, Gareth. What have the Watch not gotten right this time?”
“Everything! Robberies are up, even murder! You remember that poor fellow, whotsisname? Well it don't matter. He took a step out one day and kaboom! His house goes up. He could have been in there! What do they do about it? Nothing! And another Moneychanger robbed yesterday. And one two days before that... and one before that too. Anarchy, my good beak sporting friend! Especially out in the lows, the Watch just don't care.”
“I blame Golta when things explode. Not the Watch.”
“The Watch should be doing something. But that brings me to another point. Did you hear about the Golta?”
“You mean what the Preservation League people have been saying? They might be right, you know. That Fort Gerrit worries me.”
“Oh, who cares about those idiots! No, I mean the Golta. This morning. Found outside a guard house, dressed nearly in the way their mama's brought em into the world.”
“In eggs?” The Nymus looked confusedly at the Darsai until he got it. “Oh right. You lot have really twisted births, don't you?”
“Matter of opinion, egg man, but they were almost completely na-”
The young Onrapa accidentally runs right into Gareth, knocking him silly, while shouting “Saerry!” over his shoulder.
Gareth started puffing himself up with righteous indignation. “What in Thane's name?! You crazed young whippersnappers have no respec-”
A decidedly older male Al-Saigal smacks into poor Gareth next, all the while screaming the terrible things he intended to do to the Onrapa if he caught him.
“What was that all about?” The Nymus asked as he steadied Gareth.
“No idea.” Gareth grunts, calming himself down. “Anyway, people these days have no respect. I mean, look at that! They just run off like maniacs who...” Gareth continues in that line of complaint for the next half an hour.
After a little while of running, the young Onrapa makes sure the Al-Saigal man is out of sight before he hops onto one of the shorter buildings and flattens himself against the roof to wait out the ridiculous furor. All he had done was comment on how pretty his daughter's ears must be and the man had gone plain berserk!
He hears the man pass the building and run down another street. Pleased, McGloon gets right off the building and goes in the opposite direction.
Shortly thereafter he sees a large Ivos in armour who appears to be taking a leisurely walk. He recognizes Marcus from the battle in Lost Cove, where Marcus and two Golta (Konrad and Alex) rescued him and several other people from slavery with the help of several Eslum.
Marcus is heading in his direction, and is not far away.
McGloon springs down from the roof top and rushes excitedly over to Marcus waving to get their attention.
"Hey! Over here! Marcus! Over here!”
Marcus walks over to McGloon and pleasantly says "Hello."
"Oh wow, this is great! I can't it's believe you! This is amazing!"
McGloon enthusiastically grabs Marcus by the hand and gives it a shake.
"I don't believe I've ever been greeted so enthusiastically before. You know who I am, but who are you? The only Onrapa I've met recently were over in Lost Cove, and I wasn't doing particularly well in the aftermath of that battle."
"Exactly, mate ! Exactly! I was there! Me! McGloon! I was one of the prisoners you set free! Brilliant! You guys are huge heroes!"
"Heroes?" Marcus chuckles at this. "Well, it was heroic enough, I suppose. You'll have to tell me how you got sent off into slavery like that. Made someone back home angry? The Cult of the Harvester seems to be a-"
A short Panvos man comes running up to the two of them. "Marcus? Of house Galii?"
Marcus grimaces. "I don't know how I became so popular all of the sudden. First gangs, then slaving Golta, then cannibalistic Brorg-Dao..." He turns to the Panvos. "Yes?"
"Sir! I'm a courier. There was a holdup but we have some messages for you."
McGloon notices Marcus twitch a little. "Very well."
If the message is on a scroll or sheet of paper, McGloon will grab it and read it himself.
"What is this ? Some kind of danger? Invading cannibal gangs of slavers? Back for revenge? Or trying to avenge your revenge from the last time?" looking over at marcus "Did I just find you in the middle of an amazing adventure?"
The courier is carrying a long case that contain the messages. He protectively yanks it away from McGloon.
The Courier gives the Onrapa a scowl. "I don't know what it is about. I just have it. From the Ivos Empire. Let me see... Marcus, two from your son Zunius, two from your father Hostus and one from your brother Proculus."
"Zunius? Very well, hand them over."
The Courier opens the container and hands over four letters, the first of which Marcus begins to read on the spot.
McGloon looks eagerly over Marcus shoulder to read what its about.
He sees part of the end of the letter:
“Father, be careful. You know how dangerous making powerful people angry can be. And come home when you can. Uncle is coming back, and Grandfather leaving.”
"And." The courier reaches into his carrying case, "a message from Proculus."
Marcus looks up in time to react to the "courier's" small curved, dagger by pushing both himself and McGloon back, but the Panvos comes after him slashing, and cuts Marcus on the left leg. As Marcus begins to fall backwards, he flails with his right arm and catches hold of the Panvos' face tusk, yanking him down as well (and cutting his hand).
McGloon jumps on the Panvos 's back and wraps his legs around hte mans body. He then grabs the knife arm with one hand and puts his other arm around the assassins neck to choke him into unconciousness.
"What the hell are you doing, you nutter?!" Mc’Gloon growls.
The Panvos struggles to slash Marcus again, but McGloon's grip prevents any real power being put into the attack. He only manages to nick Marcus' face.
Trying to ignore McGloon is having a negative effect on the Panvos, he is slowly getting weaker as the chokehold begins to have an effect. Marcus tries to grab the attacker's knife arm as well, but misses. On a second attempt he manages to get a grip, but lacks the strength to completely push it away.
McGloon meanwhile, manages to grab the attackers the arm, which causes the Panvos to drop the knife. Disarmed, the Panvos attempt to gore Marcus in the face with his tusks. McGloon's grip on the man's neck prevents that from being particularly effective.
Marcus weakly gropes for his own dagger, but before he draws it a Brorg-Dao watchman arrives and smacks the Panvos square on the head with a club. The Panvos goes limp and the watchman yanks him away.
Marcus groans and tries to stand up, having some trouble with it.
"Yeah! Thats what you get!" shouts Mc’Gloon
McGloon spring up and mimes rapid punches at the air while bobbing and weaving before noticng Marcus is wounded and rushing to help support him.
"Are you alright? That loony sliced you up pretty nasty."
He looks to the guard "You better get that bastard out of here! Before I give him another going over! Someone starts trouble with me and Marcus, they need to be ready for a beating!"
The Onrapa turns back to Marcus "Do you know a doctor? There's an Onrapa pub near here, you're a big name amongst us, someone there might be able to help you. I don't know anything about poison but someone there might."
The guard laughs out loud as he carries the Panvos away. The idea of a furskin like McGloon giving anyone a beating is funny to him.
Marcus shakes his head. "No. I need to get back to the Cabbage and Onion. My writing implements are there and I need to read and reply to these at once. Time is essential here. Also, I left Konrad and Alexandra there to work out their differences. Konrad, at least, will want to know about this. Would you mind helping me get there? And perhaps you could tell me how you came to be on that slave ship?"
Mc’gloon says "Writing? Mate you need sewing not writing! You’re all cut up! You know how fast someone can bleed to death? I've got no idea, but I dont want to find out!"
McGloon starts helping Marcus to walk.
"This is nothing. I got nicked on the face and a cut to the leg, thankfully with no cut major arteries..." Marcus glances down at the wound. "Hmm. Though... I think I'll put something makeshift to work once I get there. Then after I'm done with my writing I'll hobble down to get something properly done up. And that is the last time I leave my shield back home. You can expect Konrad and Alex to be in a bad mood. They've had some arguments and I left to give them some time to sort it out just between the two of them. That proved unfortunate, things would have gone badly without your help."
They start heading off towards the Cabbage and Onion, Marcus leaning on McGloon.
Mc’Gloon seems enthusiastic "Wow, Konrad and Alex? They're BOTH there? This is amazing! I'm meeting so many celebrities today. If you recon these cuts are okay I'll take your word for it. Big heroes like you probably know all about getting injured. Me? I just try not to get stabbed in the first place. I haven't been stabbed but I bet I wouldn't like it."
Marcus chuckles. "Oh yes, both of them. I imagine that they will be very glad to meet you too.":
SCENE 2
Before he went on a walk, Marcus put his hoof down.
He sat Konrad and Alex and sat them down at a table in The Cabbage and Onion, and told them to work it out. He figured they'd be less likely to murder each other in public. Then he left for his walk thinking they'd probably get over their problems, even if only because they could bond over how obnoxious he was being by forcing them into conversation.
Konrad waves at one of Gallee's sons and asks for a bottle of brandy and two glasses, "We're going half on that bottle Alexandra."
”I want you to apologise to her.”
”No, don’t be ridiculous.”
”Either you apolgoise or…I dunno…” Alex strains to think of a retaliation that doesn’t involve blowing anything up.
”I’m not apologising to her because she…I mean it! I’m not apologising to it because IT is not a person! It is a gun!”
Alex puts a hand on her grenade launcher Grace.
”You just don’t care who you hurt, do you?”
”Hurt? How can I…?”
Alex says softly to her gun “Don’t listen to him, he’ just angry when hes been drinking.”
”I haven’t been drinking.” He takes pours a glass of brandy and downs it .
”Well what was that?”
”That wasn’t drinking. That was just taking the edge off.” He pours another glass.
”He drinks far too much.” Alex confides in Grace.
”I do not!” Says Konrad to Grace. He pauses , looks annoyed and then says to Alex “Damn it! I do not! I only drink when I’m annoyed, so around you I probably do seem to be drinking all the time!”
Alex whispers to Grace “I bet he starts playing cards with the Zadakine again.” She nods as if hearing a reponse “Yes, everytime. You would think he’d have won once by now.”
Konrad “What do you two…I mean you ONE! I mean what do YOU know about card playing? It’s about working out the pattern.”
”Is there a bit of the pattern where you end up with more money rather than less?”
Konrad downs another glass “What’s taking Marcus so long? Its too early in the day for this! I should have taken up that job in the Tendu Raj. That was guaranteed work, but instead I’m out here in the back end of nowhere talking to lunatics!”
A large red vasp lands on a ledge outside the window, both Alex and Konrad notice it looking at them specifically, strange behaviour for such an animal, watching them intently through the glass.
Konrad ponders “I wonder if Marcus would feel better if I fried up that vasp for him? Ivos love eating awful things like that."
The vasp cocks its head at him.
Konrad laughs and taps on the window, "That's right, I might feed you to my friend if that keeps him from being pissy.” He ponders a moment “ I think someone owns this particular vasp."
She looks up at the bird and tilts head to the side "I think it's looking at us, maybe it knows who we are?"
"First you’re giving me your guns opinions, now the Vasps? It's probably looking for us to feed it."
"well if someone out there I don't know knows my name I'd be worried. Well I don't plan on feeding it, want me to shoot it?" She taps a hand on Grace..
"No, I think we'd piss off whoever owns it, and Eltim mightn't be so welcoming if you shoot out her windows!"
The vasp turns about, looks in the opposite direction . It tracks the movement of something all the way to the door.
The door opens, and Marcus and McGloon arrive.
It makes an almost comical sight. Marcus, the heavily armoured Ivos, is partially leaning on a younger looking Onrapa. The Onrapa has a kilt, a tartan sash over his shoulder, and a rather impressive looking backpack that looks like it could be carrying all manner of things. He appears young and strong. His fur is bright red with a white under belly. He appears to be quite excited.
Marcus points towards Alex and Konrad. "There. And it would be nice if you could contain your excitement to the point you don't drop me."
Alex stands up shocked "oh shit what happened?"
"White Mother, let me help you!” Konrad rushes over to Marcus, grabs him by the should, and looks him over, "You're lucky, that wound in your leg could have been worse... is anyone coming after you?"
Marcus says "This is McGloon. He was with those Onrapa slaves that we rescued from Hendrick. That is all the introduction required, as he knows who you two are. Also, he just saved my life. Let me sit down, and I'll explain."
Konrad grabs a chair at a nearby table and turns it around for Marcus, "Here, now should I be worried about someone coming through that door to finish us off?"
"No. No... the Watch knocked the fellow on the head. An assassin disguising himself as a courier, carrying a small dagger in his carrying case. Konrad, I'll give you three guesses who that fellow was working for."
"Flowers Bloom, Henrick, or Proculus?" Says Kornad “We’re stacking up people who want to kill us.” He points at the table he and Alexandra were sitting at, "Onrapa, get that brandy over there, the man needs a drink."
Konrad takes a pack of bandages from his pocket and wraps Marcus’ wounds as best he can.
”These don’t look too bad, but you need to see Dr Kevico and get these looked at properly.”
"No brandy.” Marcus shakes his head “I have some letters to read and write. And yes, you're right about Proculus. He's finally given me a direct reason to take his head. But I need to make sure that he knows I survived, otherwise he might attack Zunius directly. Also, he was carrying actual letters, it seems. I recognize the writing. And I wonder what my father has to say, he wrote me two letters."
Alex says “The way you talk about family makes it sound more like some polticial game.”
Marcus says “To Ivos those are often one and the same.”
Mc’gloon grins at Konrad and Alex, almost dropping Marcus in his hurry to rush over to them.
"Wow! Konrad and Alexandra! Fantastic! I'm McGloon, I was with the Onrapa that got rescued at Last Cove! I can't believe I'm meeting all three of you! This is such an honour!” He pause and then says "Oh yeah, the brandy, right away!" mcgloon grabs the brandy and the nearest empty cup on a table, fills it with brandy and puts it down hurridly on the table infront of Marcus, splashing some on the letters. The amount of brandy he has put in the large cup seems completely excessive, suggesting McGloon knows nothing about Brandy.
Mcgloon says cheerfully "So who did you say was behing this? I'll happily kick his arse for you. Get some of my mates from down The Bendy Tree, we'll stomp all over this Procondosis....Protagon.....whatever hes called...we'll beat him so bad he'll be able to floss his tusks with his tail!"
Alex seems thoughtful "well if you are worried about assasins I can rig your door and window to your room with pyronite. Anyone opens them and…"
Eltim calls across the room “No, Alex!”
Alex crosses her arms in a huff “I was just thinking outloud!”
Marcus wipes off as much of the spilled brandy from the letters as he can.
"Anyway, I just hope Baldamson doesn't find something else for us to do when I'm like this. I won't be much help.” He rolls his shoulder “I believe the dagger was poisoned. I recognise the symptoms. It was a type Proculus makes use of to weaken slaves for transportation. Not fatal, but I'm not going to be fighting any time soon."
Konrad says “An assains with none fatal poison? A strange choice.”
Marcus says to Mc’Gloon “McGloon, Proculus is my brother, he's back on the mainland."
Alex whispers "So is that a yes or no on rigging your room?"
Konrad say to Mc’Gloon "Giving Proculus a sound beating would just give the little runt more reason to want Marcus dead."
Konrad pours the brandy back into the bottle, and glares at the people in the bar gawking at them.
Konrad says more quietly to Marucs “I can have Proculus killed, I can get a letter out to a friend in Jaydia and she'll sneak into the Ivos Empire through one of the ports and push him down a well or something. It will be expensive but I’d pay for the peace of mind. Fuck honour at this point, he's not just a danger to you, think about young Zunius.”
Marcus says "This needs to be handled careful. Proculus is still family.”
Konrad says “You care more about the family name than the families lives!”
Marcus says “I don’t expect you to understand these things, but let me deal with it in my own way.”
Mcgloon say to Alex "You three are big heroes, at least in all the pubs I go to. I Love the mask, that's awesome. Like a masked hero. It looks really good."
Alex looks a bit awkward at this “Er, thanks. Its just a mask.”
Mcgloom says "It's a unique look, most people couldn't make that work. Its daring, but you carry it off. Have you got a drink? Let me get you one. What are you having?"
Mc’Gloon addresses the Inn in general "Crazy knife man tried to cut up Marcus, and I turned around and said "I dont think so, knifey. The only thing getting cut, is your life!”
Well I was thinking that anyway...or at least I thought of it later. Than I was all over him like moss on trees. BAM BAM BAM! And Marcus was fighting him too ! We were a perfect team, there was an unspoken connection. By the time I'd finished with him, that assassin was wishing he'd pulled a knife on someone else...cause he was unconscious. It was great."
The other patrons at the Inn, at this point three men Nymus, and a Junlock, give McGloon a confused look. Eltim chuckles and continues cleaning glasses.
Ignoring Mc’Gloon embellishments Marcus says to Konrad "I'll write to Valerius and have him call in some... friends. People with a grudge. That was the plan if Proculus started getting too threatening anyway, I'd think this counts. It should... I don't like the idea of killing Proculus, but at this point... well... this should at least scare him away."
At this point a Cansaibe at one corner of the bar comes over, clearly interested in what Mc’Gloon is saying "Hey, really? Sounds interesting, what else happened?"
Mc’gloon looks to the bar "Don't you people keep up with current events? These are big heroes! Didn't you hear about how they saved all those women from monsters, or cannibals or something?"
Alex says "So what does one of these Pan-er whatever people look like so I know what to watch our for?"
Mcgloon "They look ugly and hairy, with big teeth. I wouldn't shag one, lets put it that way."
Konrad say to Marcus "Yshould worry about writing letters after we get you to a surgeon."
He glances at McGloon, "Well, I'm glad some people are grateful for our work, I feel as though I've made more enemies than friends since showing up here."
Konrad can feel the brandy starting to kick in at this point, and while he's not letting it show, McGloon's enthusiasm is begining to grate on his nerves.
The Cansaibe says to Mc’Gloon "Yeah, I heard about that, The Beast thing and Vakari's report, right?."
One of the Nymus grumbles “Golta doing something positive? Colour me surprised."
"Oh no, here we go again! Stop with the Golta stuff." The Junlock snaps.
"Hey, you hear about those Golta attacked and left half naked in front of a Watch barracks?" Another Nymus added. "Good work."
"Yeah I did! Something about Tolpish with spots! Hah! You ever seen a spotted Tolpish?"
The Cansaibe looks a bit nervous here.
Alex says "So can anyone other than Mc’Gloon tell me and Grace what a Panvos looks like?”
Konrad glares at the Nymus, "Golta attacked and you're having a good laugh eh? What's this about?"
He puts his hand on the grip of his pistol.
Mcgloon continues trying to describe a Panvos "They look a bit like if you took an Ivos, punched him in the head a few times, messed up his fur and ruined his teeth.”
He then notices Konrad becoming and the Nymus "Whoa now lads, lets keep it friendly here. Why dont I get some drinks in and we all just calm down. No need to ruin anyones afternoon, right?"
Marcus takes a sip of the brandy, scrunches his face up, then starts coughing as his attempt to swallow it cause some of it to go down the wrong way. "That arrogant, old..." Marcus scrunches up one letter from his father. "Ahem. Sitting down has done wonders for me. I'll be fine."
Mcgloon “"Don't over do it mate. As my old mum used to say 'you look like someone knocked seven shades of shit out of you.'"
Eltim gets in between the Nymus and Konrad. "None of that, all of you! I won't have anyone insulting my patrons."
The Cansaibe nods. "Well better be off." He puts money on the table. "Have a good, pleasant day!" He leaves a tad bit quickly.
Mc’Gloons says to Eltim "No trouble from us, Ma'am. Great Inn you have here. You own it?"
Eltim says “I do, and it’s a full time job keeping people from wrecking it!”
One of the Nymus says. "Ay-Go-So might want to hear about that. Go inform her." The loudmouth one that first started the arguments shuts up and leaves
Konrad smiles at Eltim, "Sorry love, I guess I'm still in a foul mood."
Eltim nods. "They were being insulting. Just don't actually shoot things."
Marcus seems to be okay, so he walks over to the table with the other patrons, "So what's this about Golta being stripped and left somewhere? Were they hurt or killed? And what does your Cansaibe friend know about it?"
The Nymus shrugs. "Happened this morning, don't know too much about it."
Mc’Gloon says "Probably just people getting drunk and getting into fights. I've got into a few scrapes when I've had a few, believe me! I'm sure this Goltus guy is fine, whoever he is."
The third Nymus shakes his head. "No no, they were tied up and beaten, I know that much. Not doing fine at all. And it was a family too, of Golta, not a person named Goltus. Nasty business, of course.”
Konrad says " Konrad "Who's Ay-Go-So, and that one," he jabs his thumb towards the door, "who's the Cansaibe?"
The Nymus responds: "Ay-Go-So? A... Friend of the family, likes hearing about all the interesting goings on. As for the Cansaibe, no idea, he was here when we got here."
Konrad "A family, stripped beaten half to death, and left in the street... has that 'preservation society' said anything about it?"
The Nymus laughs. "Preservation Society? They must be just hearing about it now. They aren't the sharpest bunch, those loons."
Konrad glances up and notices the red vasp at the window flying away.
Mcgloon says "Damn, there are some really scum bags around these days. I dont think I've ever even met a Golta."
Konrad "I know, I walked into the middle of one of the preservation leagues rallies the other day with no less than two guns, a Golta sailor's cutlass, and dressed like a Golta, and it took them a few minutes to figure out that I wasn't an Ano-Chee. “
He looks to Mc’Gloon “McGloon, Alexandra and most of the guards at Last Cove are full-breed Golta, I'm a half-caste Golta, I'm part Ano-Chee."
Mc’Gloon says “I can’t be the only one who finds all these different races hard to keep track of!”
Marcus chuckles. "Konrad's father was an Ano-Chee, but his mother was Golta . Which explains his good looks and grumpy personality.”
Mcgloon Not entirely listening-"Right, Alex is a half Golta, Konrad isn't an ano-chee, but hes dressed like one, yeah got it."
Alex looks to Mc and sighs in annoyince "Grace this little guy has no attension span what so ever, no Grace it's not "kinda cute" it's just annoying"
Konrad gives McGloon a sour look before returning to business.
Marcus says to the Nymus "That Cansaibe that ran off…don't know that much about him. He was, as I said, here when we got here. Seemed like a pleasant enough fellow until your friend brought up spotted Tolpish."
Konrad says “Okay, maybe he knows someone involved. How about Ay-Go-So?"
The door opens and a Panvos comes in. He has light grey fur, is of a shorter but solid stature. He's dressed in some leather armour, a thick leather bracer, and a thick leather pauldron on his right shoulder. Upon this pauldron is the very same vasp from before, looking pleased with himself. He also carries a bow and quiver.
Behind him is a nervous looking Zadakine woman, who immediately darts ahead towards Marcus, Konrad, and Alex.
The two Nymus takes this opportunity to slip out. Leaving a good amount of money at the table.
Mcgloon To Konrad "Just becuase a guy is spotty doesn't make him a criminal. There are plenty of spotty people out there. If I was him, I would have left too. That winged guy was being a dick." He starts to say to the Nymus "No offense, mate. Nothing against wings. Wings are great by…” he realises the Nymus have slipped away while he was distracted. "Oh, he left. Seems everyone is going all of a sudden. Is happy hour over?"
Konrad looks at the Panvos for a moment before addressing the Zadakine, "Looking for us?"
Mcgloon points to the Panvos excitedly "There ya go! Panvos! Thats one!”
Konrad puts a hand to his pistol, for a second wondering if this is the assasins returned, but relaxes again seeing Marcus’ calm reaction.
The Zadakine shakes her head rapidly. " I have a job for you! That's all!" She raises her hands. "I need your help!” The Zadakine points to the Panvos “I hired him too. He helped me find you."
Marcus looks up again. "Interesting. Hey, anybody got paper for a letter?"
Konrad "Ask Eltim... Eltim, have you got any paper for Marcus?"
Konrad sits down and motions for everyone to sit, including the Zadakine and Panvos, "So you want us to do some work for you, what are the details?"
Mc’Gloon says to the upset zadakine woman "So whats the problem, lass? You look a bit shaken. Do you need a drink?"
One of Eltim's sons nods and heads off to get some paper.
Marcus mutters to himself "Hmm. What should I say? Something simple and to the point."
Mcgloon turns a chair around and sits on it backwards. "So what do you need? Anything I can do to help, I'll do it. Someone giving you trouble?"
"Well, see, I was robbed. I'm a moneychanger in the Lows, in a particularly decent section too, I might add. And suddenly this gang of... well, most of them were Cansaibe. There were two Darsai and an Al-Saigal as well. They came in and..." She sobbed a little. "Well, took almost everything. They warned us against talking to the Watch... but didn't mention you."
She looks around at them. "See. I need some of that to pay my prot-, er, rent. I've been given an extension, but I need help desperately."
Alex says “More cannibals? Don’t any Tolpish just eat food instead of people?”
Konrad "Cansaibe not cannibals! The yellow ones with the spots! Like that one who left a few minutes ago!"
Alex says to Mc’Gloon “You were right! All the different races in this town do get confusing.”
Marcus says "We were talking about how some Cansaibe stripped and beat a Golta family earlier today, maybe we'll get lucky and find out that the people you're sending us after are the same ones.”
McGloon says to Marcus “Yeah, kill two vasp with one stone.” He looks at the Red Vasp on the Panvos’ shoulder “No offence.”
Mcgloon turns back to the zadakine woman "Alright darling, dry your eyes, we’ll find these thugs and teach them a lesson! I dont stand for anyone pushing a lady around. Don't worry about paying, I'm happy to help." Looks at Konrad and Alex "I'm sure you two are ready for some more adventure."
"You'll do it then?!" The Zadakine smiles. "Thank you! You can have ten percent of what you find. Plus any other loot they have. I just need most of it back."
Alex says "Sounds all good let me grab my kit."
Mcgloon to the zadakine "Sugar, the cash is all yours. We dont need a cut. I just want to see them punished. Its civic duty, isn't it?"
Konrad says sternly " Oi Mc’Gloon! Speak for yourself, I don’t work for nothing. And we need details before we jump head first into a job, Obviously you don’t know much about what being a mercenary means.."
He shakes his head and sighs loudly, "Okay. So what can you tell us about these thieves, do you know any of them? Are they well known in your area? How much did they take?"
The Panvos has stood silently during all this, scanning the room.
"Ma'am, are you sure it's a good idea to hire these …mercenaries? They seem more skilled at squabbling then anything else.”
"Squawk" goes the vasp
He sits down, and observe everyone intently. The vasp leaps off my shoulder and perches on the table in front of me.
The zadakine waves a hadn to dismiss his concerns and continues to speak enthusiastically to the others "Thank you! I really must pay this all off! Not only is it a matter of honour, but of survival too!"
Marcus sighs. "I can't be much help, I've been wounded and poisoned. But I'll see what else I can do. I'll keep an eye out down here."
Konrad say to the Panvos “If the lady wants to hire us I'm sure she can make that decision herself. Two of us are decorated soldiers after all."
The zadakine adds. "They've also got a proven reputation, Athanas. You and they are the best I can find."
Marcus looks over Athanas. "Interesting vasp. I may, may, have heard of you, depending on how many Athanas Panvos were running about during the war."
"Mayhaps you did. I've been here and there during that war." The Panvos seems to have lightened up a bit, when talking to Marcus. "And I may have heard about you too, sir... but one way or another, it's nice to see someone of us in this foreign land... 'strength to the empire', as the long ears say."
Mc’Gloon says"Athanas? Nice to meet you. I'm McGloon. Now can we just lay out some ground rules on this job everyone? We dont need to go in guns blazing. We can just rough them up a bit and hand them over to the guard. No need to start a blood bath. These blokes are scum for attacking an unarmed woman, but we dont need to resort to killing everyone immedately, right?"
Konrad says "Sounds alright, if they raise a hand against us we'll send them all to the Black Protector, but if they give up nice an easy then we won't have to hurt anyone."
The zadakine says "I don't know them personally. But I could swear I've seen one of the Cansaibe before. Just wandering about. Listening to people..."
"the amount taken was 750 Doubloons... 2047 Drachmas... 336 Realms, we sometimes get Darsai, believe it or not. Oh and about 138 Sovereigns. I don't care if you kill them or turn them over to the watch in the end, so long as they can't come back for me and my family."
Mc’Gloon says "If we just go in there, give em a thrashing, they'll probably back down and give up. I just dont want anyone dead if we can avoid it."
Konrad says to Mc’Gloon “Yeah but if things do turn sideways, I hope you aren’t going to freeze up on us..”
Alex looks at her fingers as she counts “Okay, so we're getting 75 doubloons, 205 drachmas, 34 realms, and 14 sovereigns between us? “
Konrad rubs his muzzle and thinks for a moment, "Is the Panvos being paid separately or is he getting a cut of that 10 percent?
Mcgloon "Come on Konrad, this is a woman in distress! Dont joke around." To the zadakine "mighty heroes dont need payment for their services ma' am. We are just glad to be able to help you out."
The Zadakine thinks for a moment. "Well, the Onrapa is being so kind as to not require loot." She smiles at McGloon. "And Marcus there isn't able to come... I could... I could go to..." She clenches her jaw, not so much in anger as in thought and calculation. "Fifteen percent for the three of you to split. If they haven't spent a large amount by the time you recover it."
Marcus laughs. "This sounds familiar! Konrad, remember Porgro?"
He pushes a letter he has just finished to the side. It reads 'You'll have to do better than that, little brother.'
Konrad says "That's more like it. We'll ask Alexandra when she comes back, though I'm sure she'll agree. “
He leans his chair back against a table, "I wonder how Porgro is doing? I hope he didn't get himself killed, That would be a waste."
The zadakine says"Remember, if you find anything else that they've stolen or have, I don't want it."
Mcgloon says "So how are we going to find these blokes?"
The zadakine says "Well... I was thinking that I could take you to the area this happened in. It is in the Lows. See what you could find? Athanas' vasp should be really helpful for looking around up above the streets, but I've made sure nobody touched anything.
"The one that talked to me... he was a tall, whip-like Cansaibe. I know I've never seen him before. He carried two short spears and he was very very scary."
Mcgloon says "The Lows? Probably should have seen that coming. We'll do what we can but dont get your hopes up too much. You might never see that stuff again unfortunately.
The zadakine nods "I know it might be a long shot, but that is why I need the best."
Mcgloon says "Well I can vouch for these folk. When I was in trouble, they rescued me so if there is a way to get it done, they'll find it."
The zadakine says "Well, the sooner we start the better our chances are, but if you all want to wait around until morning, that makes sense too."
Mcgloon "I'm ready to go, what about eveyrone else? We need to get over there before the trail goes cold."
The vasp turns to look at Marcus, and so does Athanas.
Athanas smiles at McGloon, when he listens to Mc’Gloon’s enthusiasm. "So, you want to be a real hero, Onrapa? That's a job with high demand and low supply" he says jokingly.
Mcgloon says "Me? Oh no, I'll never make a hero, not like Alex and Konrad and Marcus. But I'll help out if I can. I'm pretty handy in a scrape."
Athanas shakes hands with Marcus.
Marcus returns the handshake and says “Hail Caesar”
"Ale Seero" Says McGloon, entirely sincerely to Athanas, also shaking his hand. "Have you done this kind of thing before?"
Marcus stifles laughter at this.
Konrad says to Athanas "So what's the deal with that vasp of yours?"
"The deal? What do you mean? She's a vasp. She's very good at finding things, with those six eyes of hers. Aren't you?" The last words he directs at the Vasp, who spreads out its wings over its head and lets out a loud screech. "Though finding, I quote, 'a Golta with a mask covering her whole face and a Ano-Chee that dresses like a Golta', was hardly a difficult task.
She does look a bit conspicuous flying around a city, but it can't be helped I guess. I usually do outdoor jobs, but lady Didao was in a grave need. And I'm eager to try if the bird will be up to that task.".
"He considers what Mc’Gloon just said and says “Though pardon me... Ale what?"
Mcgloon tries again "Male Seara?"
Marcus says "Nevermind, McGloon, it is a reference to the ruler of the Ivos Empire." To Athanas "I think he meant Hail Caesar."
Marcus says “Never mind. Anyway, McGloon, you never did tell me how you got on that slave ship."
Mc’Gloon chuckles "The same reason for all the problems in my life, trying to impress a girl.
I'm not exactly very political, but I knew this girl who was always talking about how much she hated the druids.
Now we all know, ladies love a guy that's musical, right? And I'm really musical so I figure its a great idea to write a song she'll like.
decide to do something political, show that I'm paying attention, and I write a song about Go'Blarn. You know her right? The Arch Druid?
It was mainly about that yellow stuff that leaks out of her left ear.
The girl really liked it, and so did everyone else, pretty soon the whole clan are singing it.
Well...turns out druids dont have the best sense of humour.
Next thing I know i've been arrested and flung on a slave boat!
Thats why I'm here, with just my kilt and my sporan"
He gestures to his back pack
"And these sacred items I nicked off one of the druids boats after they were beaten. Crazy, right?"
Athanas looks bemused "So you brought woe to your whole clan with a stupid joke?"
"I've seen Ivos react to less with more, though." Marcus chuckled. "I remember this one time, back when we were really young before the Nameless War broke out, Konrad made a bit of a pass at my mother. He didn't know it was my mother, and she may have taken it as a compliment, but if my father was there, I'm positive he would have had Konrad nailed to somewhere unpleasant."
Marcus taps the table. "I've got to tell Koun about this. He was a druid, you see, until the Harvester's minions had him expelled from the Onrapa homelands and sold into slavery to the Ivos. From what I understand of it, father got him out of a particularly sticky situation. Though they seem to have known each other from a time before that. I don't know who this Glow Barn is, but he would. And might find it somewhat funny."
Mcgloon laughs "Haha, your mother? Thats fantastic! Brilliant! I love the confidence! "I dunno much of what goes on back home., evne when I was there! The druids run things, for the Harvester. Shes sleeping...or missing or something like that. She's the God of the forest, the biggest spirit...I think that’s how it works.”
He then says to Athanas "Oi! The Clan loved it! They thought it was hillarious! I was a minor celebrity! The druids in charge of the clan...not so much."
Konrad says "I still don't understand why your father would be so upset; I'd be flattered if some handsome young man was flirting with my wife, especially if she was old enough to have two grown sons."
Marcus says to mcGloon "Well, all I know is that Koun had it out with the druids and it didn't end well for him. As for the nature of The Harvester, she's one of the minions of the West, on of fourteen incredibly powerful beings we call the fourteen Evils. They tried invading Vellastrom fifteen or so years ago, and the Harvester brought the Onrapa in on the side of the invaders. That was a bit of a surprise, I was fighting Darsai when the armies of The West first showed up, so I don't know what happened specifically on the border with the Onrapa, but I think the border garrisons were overwhelmed quite quickly. But The Harvester... her powers seem to come from The West, and are not natural. Koun was quite clear on that point to me."
Mcgloon pauses and considers this and then asks“"What is your wife? Is that...some kind of innuendo?"
Konrad says “ Yeah Koun as always a good sort. Good cook too. Could use him out here.”
Marcus says "By the way my father definitely would not be flattered. He didn't see my mother as a trophy to show off, so he didn't care if she looked young for her age. His relationship with her, I recall, was entirely utilitarian and therefore had to be within what was socially acceptable at all times. Being flirted at by young handsome men was not considered socially acceptable for a marriage woman."
He pauses as he considers what Mc’Gloon just asked.
"What's that McGloon? My wife? What about her?"
Mcgloon seems thoughtful about what he’s heard “"Invaders? Hmm, well I remember getting told stories about my uncle dying in the war, fighting....um...might have been Nymus? I remember it was a big deal. I didn't pay all that much attention...I think we won though.
Is wife someones name?"”
Marcus rolls his eyes "You most definitely did not win!. The West was pushed out of Vellastrom. But we left the Onrapa alone for the most part... because they are too difficult to invade properly and we were exhausted. Onrapa are tough. And we thought we had killed The Harvester, but I was never sure of that."
Alex comes down with a large back pack full of her equipment and supplies "Alright I'm all set, how much will I be payed and when do we get going?"
Marcus looks confused at McGloon's statement. Didao, the Zadakine, speaks up. "Oh, right! Onrapa don't have marriage. They just do what they want."
Konrad gives McGloon a strange look, "You Onrappa don't have 'traditional' sorts of marriages like most other cultures, do you? I'd forgotten about that."
Marcus, growing a bit exasperated with Mc’Gloon says “Wife isn't someone's name, it's the woman that you have as a partner, and in most cultures they're supposed to be your only partner."
Athanas sneers a bit at McGloom's remarks about the war. "Yeah, you could say we won. The Onrapa... you know better than I do how things look on the inside of your lands, but from the outside, well, you kinda were on the enemy's side, and just barely escaped retribution. Nothing personal, it's just..." He shrugs.
Mc’Gloon scratches his head "wait... you lost me here...is it like your partners job? She works as a wife?"
We lost the war? Dang, well we'll get you next time, right? Hehe." McGloon clearly has no concept of the seriousness of the war he is talking about.
He doesn’t seem to have much knowledge of anything outside of day to day Onrapa life in the forest.
The bird flies over to the counter, walking along it and regarding the beverages on display.
Mcgloon says to Marcus "You've lost me...are you a wife too? I dont get it."
Mc’Gloon then says to Athanas "Well yeah of course we were the enemy from your point of view. You must have been the enemy to us...who the hell were we fighting anyway? Starting to seem like everyone was against us. Doesn't matter, I mean that was decades ago, who even cares?...Awesome Vasp! Never see none this nice before."
Marcus nods. "Exactly Athanas. Hopefully next time we've got the Onrapa on our side instead of against us though. Maybe that O'Kyle person will have some luck."
Konrad says “No again McGloon. The woman in a relationship is a wife, a man is a husband. You really aren't getting this?"
The Zadakine speaks up. "Are we ready to go? I can take you all over now if you want? We could talk more on the way?"
Alex says “Are you lot going to sit reminiscing or are we going to get to work?”
Mcgloon says "Oh yeah, lets get going!" He rushes to the door way, ready to go.
His is not carrying any obvious weapons, though his back pack may contain some.
"Alright, off with you." Marcus waves them off. "I've got some writing to do and then I'll go get this properly fixed."
The Zadakine seems happy to get going.
Alex "you sure your going to be okay alone? There could be more assassins or that same one could break out"
konrad says "I'm sure he'll be fine, he's on his guard now." He syas to Marcus “Just stay in your room for now though.”
Marcus smiles at Alex. "No, I'll be fine. I'll be really careful. I wasn't expecting it, but now I am."
The vasp turns three of its eyes to McGloon, seemingly unnerved by his attention.
Athanas says “Fine, then let's get on to it. Lady Didao, if you please, I have one more condition to the contract. That the Golta go before me" he says half-jokingly.
The Panvos gets up and casually walks towards the door.
As they walk McGloon moves up alongside Konrad to talk
"So...that Eltim lady...is she seeing anyone at the minute?"
Konrad "I don't even know if she's married... and if she is, her husband wouldn't want you seeing her. Those lads working at the inn are her sons, just letting you know."
