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Post by Horsie on Jan 2, 2015 21:07:21 GMT
Canuovea compiled this into a story for us
Chapter 3- The long shadow He casts.
Prelude:
A figure runs across the roof tops of Port Yorgerson.
His body is covered by a black cloak and cloth wrapped around his arms, legs and hands. He is a fast moving silhouette against the star filled sky. His hoofed feet occasionally knock up sparks from the tiles as he runs.
"He is coming, coming for all of you." He mutters to himself, before leaping between two buildings. "You're all so arrogant, thinking you can save yourselves, thinking you can hide."
He springs from the building to land on the roof of a covered wagon rolling down the street, and springs from this towards the other side of the street. He catches onto a window ledge and proceeds to rapidly swings himself up between windows before flipping up onto the roof.
"You can't stand against the will of God," he continues muttering, "He is too strong, too terrible... so cruel... always cruel."
As he reaches two taller buildings he jumps against the wall of one and kick off it to the other, proceeding to work his way up between the two by springing between them. When he reaches the spire at the top of one of the towers he holds onto it to look over the city, toying with a thin chain that is wrapped around one of his gloved hands.
"He has already ordained your destruction, every one of you. We are in the end times, all we can hope for now is a stay of execution. It is more than we deserve... filthy as we are..."
Scene 1:
Marcus, Konrad and Alexandra are relaxing in the Cabbage and Onion Inn.
Konrad is engaged in a game of Four Boats with the Inn's owner Eltim and two of her sons, trying his best to impress them. Unfortunately, Konrad is not great at cards and Zadakine are devilishly good at games of chance and betting, so he is not having much success.
Suddenly, there comes the sound of shouting and fighting outside the tavern.
"What?" Marcus gets up to take a look outside to figure out what is going on.
Outside he sees a fist fight in progress between several Darsai and Junlock men. It is clearly evident that most of them have been drinking. At one side is a young Junlock woman, stood next to a small cart, attached to a hanup. On the back of the cart is a big stack paper. A couple of these sheets are blowing around amongst the groups fighting. She seems very angry and appears to be shouting for the two groups to pack it in.
"I need a break from getting my arse handed to me" Says Konrad "Marcus, do you feel like watching those savages beat each other bloody? Should be fun."
"Not really. What a racket. I'm going to shut them up." Marcus steps outside and bellows. Being an Ivos officer, this is shouting is something he is quite good at. "Just what is going on here!? Cease this buffoonery at once!"
"Lovely." Konrad mutters as he follows Marcus, stopping short of the door. He doesn't want to get pulled into a fight unless he has to.
"What the hell!?" says Eltim. "It's bad enough that she has to stir up trouble, but does she have to do it in front of my business?"
The Junlocks and Darsai are not fighting terribly effectively, and they stop their fighting when Marcus yells at them and look over to him.
"Piss off!" says one of the Darsai, after a brief pause.
Konrad says to Eltim "What's that ma'am? Do you know that Junlock? And Marcus, maybe we really should piss off, we're outnumbered." He puts his hand on the hilt of his cutlass, just in case things get ugly.
Eltim says "That's Vakari, she's always causing trouble like this with her stupid pamphlets."
Alexandra is humming to herself and is carefully cleaning Grace as she wanders over to the doorway.
Marcus looks at the mouthy Darsai and steps towards him. "Excuse me?" Marcus growls menacingly, drawing himself up to his full height. "When I say to shut up and stand down, you do so!" He looks over the group. "What is this mess about!?"
Suddenly an angry female voice yells from behind the brawlers "Alright, break it up, you scum!" A group of Brorg-Dao guards arrive, led by a tough looking woman in armour, carrying a wooden baton.
"Oh yeah?" says one of the Darsai, getting up in her face. "Well maybe I don't like being told what to do. Maybe I don't like you!"
“Well, I like you" she responds, before smacking him across the nose with her baton. "You're pretty." The man falls over, blood spurting from his face. The brawlers quickly disperse rather than face the guards' clubs.
Alexandra laughs out loud as the rioters disappeared.
"Good to know I can leave the pummelling of undisciplined thugs to someone else." Marcus mutters. Curious about the pamphlets, he grabs one of the ones that are still fluttering through the air.
"That's that sorted," says Konrad "but now they're going to pester us, what with you shouting orders at everyone." he continues to complain as he glances between the guard leader and Alexandra. "Maybe we should go inside before the Watch turns those batons on us for a laugh."
“Maybe...” Marcus first looks at the pamphlet though.
The pamphlet appears to have been printed in a uniform way and is titled "The Results of my Sincere Study." It features a series of articles, the largest of which says "Astounding Victory in Twen Valley." It proceeds to describe that word has reached Rhoadira that the Junlocks have won a great victory over the Darsai in the Twen Valley. It indicates that the Junlock High King was slain but that a large force of Darsai were lured into a trap in the valley and were destroyed. The tone of the writing suggests the author saw this as a good thing and seems very excited at the news.
"Well, that explains why the Junlocks and the Darsai were fighting.” Marcus grunts. “I don't understand these Darsai crusades. They claim it has something to do with the Junlocks supporting the West. Ridiculous! If anything, someone should point them in the direction of the Onrapa and let those two murder each other." Noticing that there is more on the other side, Marcus flips it around.
There is another story saying that there have been several killings in Port Yorgerson, which are being being blamed on some kind of wild animal that has got into the city.
The Headline calls it "The Beast Runs Amok!" and seems rather sensationalist in its description.
There are other more mundane stories of rumours in the port and news from Vellastrom.
"The Beast? Huh.” Marcus waves the others over. “Konrad, Alexandra, what do you make of this? Think maybe our favourite Commander of the Watch will have a job for us soon? Heh."
"Do you want to buy a pamphlet?" Asks Vakari, leading her cart over to Marcus, Konrad and Alexandra. "Only 5 pennies."
Eltim says "Why do you have to sell that thing around here? All you do is get people worked up. I'll take one... better make it two, the boys will want one."
Marcus drops the, dirty, crumpled, one he caught out of the air and buys a new one, more to be polite than anything else. After all, it isn't nice to be taking advantage of a product you didn't pay for right in front of the vendor's eyes.
"This is interesting,” Konrad says as he reads the fresher pamphlet over, focusing on the Beast. “I think I heard someone in the bar talking about this, but I assumed it was something going on out in the wilderness. They're probably just blowing it out of proportion, but we should be even more careful in town. Animals worry me more than people sometimes.” Konrad gives an annoyed sigh. "You're probably right, Baldamson is more than likely going to ask us to figure it out, hopefully he'll be nicer this time around."
"They're calling it a 'beast' but whether or not it actually is, as opposed to a very vicious person..." Marcus shrugs. "Intriguing."
"Oh, I never thought of that.” Konrad says. “I know some pretty vicious people myself, I've got a lady-friend who tends to bite people, and I knew one nasty fucker who used to make necklaces out of ears, so this should be a treat. A man-eater is still an animal, so you can track it like one, but a killer in a big town like this could be a challenge. Hell, this might be some fun."
Vakari says "Those stories aren't exaggerated! They all come from very reliable sources that I have personally investigated! When you buy my pamphlet, you are paying for the truth."
Once all the rioters have been seen off, the Brorg-Dao commander comes over to the group in front of the inn. "Vakari, I should have known! Peddling that ridiculous rag of yours. Nothing but gossip and rumours... Give me one." She then turns to Marcus, Konrad and Alex. "I've been looking for you three. We need to have words..."
Marcus gives Konrad a look. "As you wish. Here or elsewhere?”
"And should we take our weapons and equipment, or is this just a chat?" Konrad asks.
"Yeah, I think weapons would be smart at this point.” The guardswoman says. “Lets go inside. Eltim, get us some drinks."
Vakari immediately pipes up. "Wow, this sounds exciting! Eltim, get me some mead and..."
"You just cant give it a rest, can you?" Says the guardswoman "Bugger off, and take that cart with you!"
Vakari looks irritated. "The truth will get out, officer!" She shouts before setting off with her cart, walking alongside the hanup.
"I'm captain Klysis Currat-dotir" She states as she takes a seat in the tavern. "My father says you fur skins are useful in a fix, so I'm here to enlist you. Those stories of a beast are half true. There is a killer on the lose, but its no beast. The bodies have been mauled, clawed, some of them even look partly eaten, but the houses of the victims were also robbed of everything of value. The killer... or killers... are people. You should know by now how stretched the guards are. This city is always on the brink of another riot between one group and another. So I want you three to help investigate these attacks."
Konrad stuffs his pipe and thinks for a minute. "How many killings, where did they take place, and is there anything in common besides the brutality?"
Marcus nods. "I had a feeling it wasn't some animal. Or if it is an animal, then it must have a handler. If it is a person, than they have no aversion to cannibalism and must be physically capable of such."
"You don't need some special abilities to eat people Marcus." Says Konrad "You just need to watch out not to eat anyone who looks sick." He points the stem of his pipe at Currat-dotir, "Not that I'm a cannibal, it's just something I know. Actually, did it look like the dead were eaten or did they just have a bunch of bites and chunks taken out of them? If that's the case it mightn't have been anything to do with cannibalism, the bastard might just have used his teeth to attack his victims as well. Hell, just the other week I bit some wanker on the skull when he tried to kill me, and I'm blaming you for that one Marcus!"
Marcus gives Konrad a sardonic glance. "I've heard rumours that Ano-Chee are Cannibals. I'm sure they aren't really, but maybe some cultures don't have an aversion to eating people. By physically capable, I meant that we could probably rule out Nymus with their beaks. Depending on the damage done, it might do to look at the size of the wounds, the bites, etc." Marcus gives a dismissive hand gesture.
"Don't look at me like that Marcus, Ano-Chee aren't cannibals, and Golta aren't either, so don't give me that look." Konrad taps his pipe to his mouth thoughtfully, "Supposedly there are people in Jaydia called Knarl who are cannibals though. I've never had the misfortune of meeting one, which is pretty good considering that their Empire controls the eastern half of the continent."
"...Anyway,” Marcus says, “I am curious about the specifics of the wounds. Aside from location I think we need to know about who was attacked. If there is an intelligence behind this, there may also be a motive beyond thievery."
"So far there have been three murders that have been confirmed,” Klysis explains, after watching Marcus and Konrad banter, “though there are other cases we are looking at that may be connected. The earliest one was an Ivos Jeweller called Blikius. His lodging was above his shop, and what was left of him was found in his Jewellers, which had been robbed and everything of value taken.
"Yesterday an Ivos potter called Badarus and his wife Iseeno were also found murdered. Once again, the place had been ransacked and robbed and the bodies dismembered. I can take you to the scene of the most recent crime. The bodies have been removed, but it is still not a pretty sight."
Alexandra nods. "Okay so we know they have all been Tolpish though we as in me and Grace are not sure what an Ivos is." She looks at Marcus, "You're the culture knowing guy, what the hell is an Ivos Tolpish?"
"Alexandra, I'm an Ivos." Marcus smiles, looking mildly amused.
"...Oh, my bad." Alexandra growls. "Damn it Grace, stop laughing, you liar, you knew what he was," she whispers to herself. "Bloody gun, trying to make me look ignorant."
"Don't worry about it, you had no reason to care until now." Marcus reassures Alexandra, before turning back to the other business. "Yes, we probably should see the scene of the most recent crime. Most interesting is that several of the victims have been Ivos, so far. Us Ivos are not widely liked, and with good reason, so this is... interesting."
"Well, if it was Darsai getting slaughtered I'd suspect a Junlock,” Konrad adds, “but like Marcus said, the Ivos don't have many friends among the other races... lets get going."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 2, 2015 21:07:46 GMT
Scene 2:
Upon reaching the scene of the crime, the group sees that outside the shop a small crowd has gathered, being held in check by a couple of Brorg-Dao guards. The crowd is largely Ivos, who make up the bulk of the residents in this part of the city.
The pottery shop has had it's door smashed open and the inside has been ransacked. Though the bodies have been removed, there is still a lot of blood and bits of flesh around. The pottery on the shelves has largely been smashed to pieces.
"Do you want the crowd dispersed? Or do you think some of them may have heard something? This must have made some noise. I could talk to them." Marcus asks Klysis before turning to Konrad. "You're a Ranger, see if you can make anything out of this mess... but personally? I don't see how theft could be much of a motive. The pottery is smashed, and would be too incriminating anyway, but this is a pottery place. Why attack it? A Jeweller has Jewels... but this?"
Klysis says "The pottery shop contained a lot of money that was all stolen. The owners were very wealthy. The crowd are causing no trouble, there is no need to disperse them at the moment. Go ahead and question them, this attack must have made a lot of noise so someone must have seen or heard something."
"I'll see what I can do, Marcus," says Konrad "but Rangers don't usually go poking around trying to solve murders."
Marcus nods. "Okay, Konrad and Alexandra, you handle the examining of the evidence and remains. I will talk to the crowd."
Alexandra does as Marcus instructed, though figures she won't be much help, she's a pyrotechnician not a detective. Grace, on the other hand, is more keen on such things, so Alex walks around and points Grace at various things.
Konrad looks over the scene. He notices there seem to be scratch marks around, probably caused during the struggle, that seem to have been caused by large claws. There are others notches in the broken door and floor boards that seem deeper and were probably caused by a sword or axe. And everywhere he finds some slight traces of a white powder on the floor.
Marcus approaches the crowd. "Your attention please. I am Marcus of the house of Galii, I fought in the Nameless War and served as a commander on Galmonion's Wall. I tell you this so you can know where I come from and where I stand in relation to this matter. I wish to know which of you heard or saw anything while this was happening. Even a smell, if there was one."
An older Ivos from the crowd says to Marcus: "I saw the murderer! I saw him fleeing the scene! A cloaked figure! He fled towards the Lows!"
"Yeah, I saw him too!" Says another, "He ran off real fast, climbed up to the roof tops and legged it! Looked like he was carrying something."
"A skinny bastard, in a cloak!"
"He had hooves, I could hear them hitting the tiles."
"Yeah, I saw, he definitely had big hooves. Big ugly hooves, not like Ivos hooves, bigger... bigger and uglier!"
Marcus looks to be thinking, and then address the crowd. "Thank you. Anyone get a sense of size or anything else?"
From the crowd's description, the impression of a fairly short, skinny individual in a cloak with a hood and some type of mask or scarf over his face, who moved with great agility and had big hooves emerges quite clearly. The witnesses give a reasonably good idea of what direction he was fleeing into the Lows.
Marcus thanks the crowd and returns to Konrad, Alexandra, and Klysis. “We have one suspect who is nimble enough to run across buildings and roofs... skinny, short and with hooves, larger hooves than an Ivos. That one is definitely not an Ano-Chee, Onrapa, Darsai, or Junlock. Then again, it could also be an Ivos, but if the witnesses are to be believed the hooves were not the Ivos variety... And how could one skinny, nimble, assailant cause so much damage?”
"There's a lot of claw marks in here Marcus,” Konrad says, “with that and the size of this individual, maybe that means there was more than one murderer? There's also some sort of powder all over everything, maybe something to do with pottery?” He shrugs. "For all we know the man could just be a really ugly Ivos with big hooves, I can't imagine that anyone got a proper look at him, and people tend to exaggerate a bit at times. The only other races I know of who have hooves would be the Bardabor and Gotetra, from Jaydia.”
“It could be more than one person, or a handler with some animal. It is even possible that the person on the roof is not the murderer, and is just a thief. I doubt it though.” Marcus glances up at the rooftops. “You may be right about the Ivos, but, hooves that large are not a common trait, the community would recognize it. Other races? I'm not sure... aren't most Bardabor quite tall? I've heard of them being described as large and stupid by people smaller, and probably stupider, than them. I know nothing about these... Gotetra?"
“Gotetra don't have claws, they're also compulsive vegetarians.” Klysis says, sounding disgusted. “Though the hooves fit.”
Alexandra speaks up suddenly. “They said it was a short person with large hooves they saw, there are Nameless Tolpish from the West , though it's more east of here, that have hooves.”
“No.” Marcus says. “I don't think so. At least it isn't one of the Nameless, those things aren't... well, likely, to be able to operate like this. Definitely not alone. And there are some very bad implications if that were true.”
Alexandra glances from her gun to Marcus, and back. "Yeah I think your right Grace," she whispers then looks at Marcus again. "Grace and I agree that you'd hate to come to that conclusion and let it get out because we would have an epidemic of people freaking out thinking the West is striking here."
"You might be right.” Marcus admits. “And it could... could be one of their priests. The description does somewhat match, if the claws don't quite... But! They don't just show up like this. And why would a Priest of the West murder and steal from Ivos? That makes no sense. It just draws attention to them. Though if it were they maybe could be commanding a Nameless of some kind, which could explain the heavy damage... Even then, though, it doesn't... the motive. There wouldn't be a motive.” Marcus sighs. “Grace is right that I really, really do not want this to have anything to do with the West. We need more information, and this roof jumper did head for the Lows. We should follow and try to find some more evidence."
"Whatever you say Tolpish,” Alexandra sings out softly,
Konrad stops pondering and turns to Klysis. "Are we going to have Watch protection going into the Lows? We've pissed off a lot of people, and even if they don't call the Lows home they might take advantage of us going slumming and strike."
"I fear that the watch would draw even more attention to us." Marcus says, pleased to have an excuse to change the subject from the West.
"Maybe,” Konrad says, “but it's hard to draw more attention to a bright orange Ano-Chee with a gun, a woman in a leather mask, strapped with explosives, and an Ivos legionary with a penchant for shouting orders. Besides that, I'm sure word has gotten around about us wasting several lieutenants of a powerful crime boss, and I doubt she has forgotten."
"Wait a minute!” Alexandra asks, “Who the hell did you guys piss off that we need to be worried about?"
"A woman named Flowers Bloom,” Konrad explains, “she's an Ano-Chee which means that she looks a bit like I do. Apparently she's in charge of a criminal organisation, and our first job when we got off the boat ended with us killing two of her lieutenants and about a dozen of her thugs. I think she has it out for us now."
"Oh good job boys," says Alex, rolling her eyes "always good to piss off powerful people. You two seem to do that a lot from what me and Grace have seen."
Klysis watches this with amusement, then speaks up. "I'll go with you. Make sure you don't get yourselves killed, and see that this is all above board."
"Well if we are going to do this let's get moving, I'm getting bored." Alexandra bounces a little in place, the explosives in her bag jangling.
Kylsis says "All right, this cloaked runner sounds quite distinctive, someone must know where he's staying."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 2, 2015 21:08:25 GMT
Scene 3:
The team heads down to the Lows, the most run-down, impoverished part of the city. Beggars sit with bowls amid rubbish piled high in the streets. Many windows are broken or boarded up and some buildings are burned out or in ruins, though still appear to have occupants. Women in revealing costumes are stood on many of the street corners, attempting to attract the attention of passers-by.
"This place reminds me of the bad old days, before I went to Jaydia, when I still worked for the Ivos." Konrad says, causing Marcus to grunt.
Alexandra looks all around, rather astounded. "Wow this most be the happiest place in town, very welcoming and homey." She speaks in such a cheerful way it's impossible to tell if she's being sarcastic.
"Where should we start? Any suggestions ma'am?" Konrad asks.
Klysis shrugs. "Question the locals, someone must know about a hoofed, cloaked killer."
"Take your pick Marcus, who looks interesting?" Konrad prods Marcus.
Marcus looks about. "Well, we must start somewhere."
Asking around, many of the people are unwilling talk, while those that do don't seem to know anything about this cloaked figure.
Eventually, after some amount of frustration, Konrad speaks a group of Tendu women who are dressed in quite revealing outfits. They seem a little disappointed to realise he just want to ask them questions.
One of them nods. "Yeah, I know him. Hoof is what they call him around here. Never seen him run on any roofs, but who knows, he's a weird one. So what do you want to pay to know more about him?"
“Well...” Konrad says, a little put off, “we'd probably like to speak to him, but I didn't bring a lot of cash..."
"I bet you could make it worth my while to help. You seem pretty eager to find that little weirdo." She says.
Alexandra starts reaching for her pistol, suddenly getting angry. “You're going to tell u-”
Marcus pulls Alexandra back and spins her around. “Sorry about that, Konrad, you do the negotiation." he steers Alex away.
“Hey!” Alexandra snaps at Marcus.
“What in Shaledemos' name do you think you're doing?” He asks, keeping a fairly level voice.
“Shalley-what?”
Marcus blinks. “It is an expression. What were you doing there?”
“She's extorting us! There is a killer and she's wasting time, I'm not paying her anything.”
Marcus sighs. “Look, Alexandra, you can't just go about threatening people. And can you really blame her? Look at her, she has next to nothing, and she's selling herself in order to survive.”
“That's no excuse.”
“Just try to imagine what she is going through her mind, and why she does what she does.”
Alex looks to her gun and says "Well of course you don't mind paying them, Grace. You're always wasting money! If I listened to you I'd have blown everything on fancy gun oil and polish."
Konrad looks over his shoulder as Marcus moves Alexandra away, one of his ears swivelling to follow them, then it swivels back. As he returns to the matter at hand, he finds that the Tendu woman's demeanour has soured, considerably.
“She was going to attack me!” The woman shouts angrily. “I shouldn't expect any better from the guards in this city! All thugs in the pocket of the rich! People like me just get swept under the rug." She starts to walk away.
Konrad sighs. “I'll give you twenty for the information.”
“Seventy.” She snaps back, “you're lucky that I haven't just walked away!”
Konrad glances over to Marcus, who is still talking to Alex. “She didn't hurt you, and we're investigating a murder here, come on...” He looks back. “Fifty.” The woman opens her mouth, looking angry- “five.” Konrad says, turning on the charm. “Come on, ladies. Show a poor sinner a little kindness here. We're all just trying to make our way in the Lows, right?"
The Tendu woman sighs. “Fine. The guy you're looking for, he's a regular with me and the girls. Real freak, real weird. Never takes off his cloak and hood, not even when he's with one of us. Rags and cloths wrapped all around his body. He has us dress up too, in cloaks so we're all covered. Can you imagine? A client who wants us to put on MORE clothes?"
"Deviant... makes sense." Says Klysis "This type of killer most often have some sort of sexual dysfunction."
"He's killing people? Really?” The Tendu woman shakes her head. “He always seemed pretty... well pretty pathetic. Scared all the time, nervous. All the girls just felt sorry for the poor little bastard. He's so jumpy you want to give him a hug. But you never really know people... not even in my job. He doesn't have any place of his own. Hides out in abandoned buildings. I think people scare him mostly. I can show you the building if you follow me."
The Tendu woman leads them to an abandoned looking, two story building. It looks to be in a very bad state of repair and there are large holes in the roof. "He's been staying in there recently. Hoof isn't his real name, he wont give his name to anybody, gets upset if you ask him. We just call him that because of those big clomping things he has for feet..." She looks down at Marcus' hooves, "No offence."
"No offence taken.” Marcus says.
"Maybe he's dangerous, I know some girls won't see him. They say he reminds them of some kind of priest. I dunno, I just thought they found him gross, but maybe they knew something I didn't?"
"I've seen some nasty slums before," says Konrad "but this place takes the prize... I don't expect you to go poking around inside with us, so is there anywhere else we might look for him if he isn't here?"
"No, but he does move around.” She says. “I'll keep an eye out and let you know if he shows up anywhere else. I hope you find whoever is doing those killings."
“Thank you,” Marcus says, “you've been more helpful than you had any need to be. Stay safe."
Konrad says "Don't forget to pay the woman, Marcus."
"Pay her?"
Konrad says "Yeah, I had to do some tough negociating for her help...but I'm a little short at the minute."
Marcus frowns as reaches for his money.
Klysis cuts that short. "Alright, what's our plan going into this place?" She looks at Alexandra, "keeping in mind we want him alive and we don't want to turn the Lows into more of a war zone than it already is."
"Room to room is probably the only way we'll find him.” Konrad says. “When we go in we should stay together and be wary, but let's keep our weapons sheathed unless we need them, I imagine that people around here wouldn't react well if they saw a Watch captain and some strangers walking around with drawn weapons."
"I concur, we should stay as civil as we can.” Marcus agrees. “This fellow... he is a suspect, but he could also be a witness..."
“She did say he was like a priest.” Alexandra speaks up.
Marcus glances at her, giving a concerned look. “Yes. You may be right. I will go first. I'm bulkier than most of you and well armoured, so if he attacks I'll have the best chance of survival."
"You shouldn't assume the worst may happen, Marcus,” Alexandra says, “for some odd reason it tends to happen more when you do."
This causes Marcus to look back at Alexandra, slightly surprised by her change in tone. "Maybe, but I try to be careful."
Konrad says "I'll follow behind Marcus. You two," he nods at Grace and Klysis, "follow behind me, and be careful that no one sneaks up on us. I've got a chill in my spine, I feel like we might be walking into trouble here."
Entering the building, they see that inside is strewn with dirt and bits of broken furniture. Small rodents scurry away as the new arrivals startle them. Moving through the first room into a hall way, there are several doors and a flight of stairs with a broken banister. From upstairs, some sort of chanting or prayer can be heard.
Alexandra glances around and whispers, "Not the most cheerful, I feel bad for him living here."
Everyone else ignores her and Marcus slows the group down slightly. He gestures towards the stairs and continues moving, glancing carefully at the doorways as they pass. The stairs creek slightly as Marcus steps on them, causing him to wince, but the chanting from upstairs does not stop. Finally they reach the top of the stairs and can see two doors. One is slightly ajar and it is from behind that one that the chanting is coming from.
Marcus risks a quick and careful glance into the room. Less interested in checking on Hoof as he is checking if there are any windows or escape routes. Peeking in, Marcus sees a figure in filthy, ragged black robes, kneeling seemingly in prayer. There is one window to the room and a hole in the roof through which the sky is visible. In one corner of the sparse chamber are some blankets, laid out as a simple bed. A couple of loaves of bread, one with some bites taken out of it, are laid beside the bed.
Marcus notices the praying figure has a necklace wrapped around one of his hands, looping between his fingers. Hanging from this is a small symbol consisting of a half circle attached to a flat line, like a setting sun. Marcus is familiar with this as the primary symbol of the West.
Marcus turns to the others and nods, indicating they have found what they are looking for. He opens the door and steps inside quickly, letting the others rush in after him. Though he is the first one in, he holds his hands forward, palms out, indicating he does not have a weapon in his hands. As Marcus enters the figure spins around and springs to his feet with great speed. He has a thick snout, covered by a hood like an executioner's, with eye holes and pieces that cover his ears, and he had the hood of his robe pulled over this. He has a thin tail that is bound up in cloth. His feet are heavy hooves. He looks thin and small, but moves with a lot of energy and agility.
He pulls a short, curved blade from his belt an slashes the air between him and Marcus.
"Get back! GET BACK! Keep away!"
There goes that plan, Marcus thinks as he stops, hands still out. Though he moves them back, signalling everyone to not move past him. "We simply wish to ask a few questions. Though I am surprised to see a Priest of the West here."
"Get out! Get out! DON'T TOUCH US!"
Konrad cocks his pistol and moves to have a better line of sight on the priest.
"I can only see one of you." Marcus says, as calmly a he can. Though he does take a bit of a step back, allowing Konrad the line of sight he needs if necessary.
Hoof seems frantic, waving the blade to keep them away. "We said to get out! Leave us alone! GO GO GO!"
"Who is this 'us'?" Marcus asks, carefully. "You were seen leaving the scene of a murder, we want to know if you know what happened?"
Konrad takes aim with his pistol. "Look, we aren't out to hurt you, but if you don't drop the blade and sit down I'm going to dig a trough through your head."
"No murder! Leave us alone! Get back! Don't come closer!"
"You saw nothing?" Marcus asks.
"We've got people saying they saw you at the scene.” snarls Klysis
Suddenly, Hoof springs to the hole in the roof, catches on with one hand and swings himself up onto the roof of the building. He seems to be very nimble.
"Sorry... the bastard was faster than I thought he'd be.” Konrad says, disappointed. “If he moves like that he'll be long gone by the time we even get outside."
Klysis shouts: "You're the Ranger! Get after him!" She moves under the hole and positions her hands to give Konrad a boost up.
Konrad shoves his pistol into it's holster and takes a boost from Klysis, he pulls himself onto the roof and sees Hoof fleeing. He takes quick aim and fires with the carbine, but Hoof darts behind a chimney, the shot knocking a chunk out of the bricks.
"Alexandra, could you go up there too? I fear I'm too heavy." Marcus says.
Seeing that he'd have to jump between roofs, Konrad shouts down: "Like hell! How about you jump from rooftop to rooftop?!"
Marcus sighs and says to Klysis. "Try giving me a hand up. We train in vaulting, so if I must run and jump along rooftops I can." Klysis boosts Marcus up, though he is forced to discard his shield so he can climb effectively.
Hoof darts from the cover of the chimney to jump to another roof top.
"Take care of that shield! And search that room for any hint of anything!" Marcus shouts as he runs after Hoof. Preparing to jump after him.
Alex takes a boost up from Klysis and runs past Marcus, jumping to the next roof after Hood. "Come on Marcus, you gotta not think about it and just do it!" She shouts back at him from over her shoulder while continuing to chase.
"I'm being outrun by a Golta." Marcus mutters under his breath as he runs and jumps. "The boys are never going to let me live this down."
Konrad lowers himself back down into Hoof's room, then starts loading his carbine. "While they're chasing him I think we should see if he left anything behind, and if we're lucky Hoof may circle back to collect his belongings." Searching, they find very little in the room. Aside from the two loaves of bread, there is a small bag of coins that also contains what looks to be an Ivos style ring made of gold with red jewels in it.
"It looks like he has some Ivos jewellery, a very expensive-looking ring no less. There's some money as well, but not much..." Konrad puts the pouch with the coins and ring into his pocket, he stands up and looks around the room. "The potter had all of his money taken, and the jeweller's was emptied as well, but the only thing Hoof has is a few coins and a nice ring. He can't have spent all of the money, and I can't imagine a man dumping enough jewellery and coin to set him up for a few years, so he must have stashed it somewhere."
Klysis says, "If the other two can catch him we'll soon get out of him where he stashed the rest, don't worry about that."
"A sound beating should be enough to loosen his tongue, assuming they can catch him.” Konrad says, annoyed. “I don't think we'll find anything more here, it would probably be a waste of time to tear up the floorboards on the slim chance he stashed something. Do you think we should wait?"
"We should go out to the street, see if we can head them off." This said, Klysis rushes downstairs.
Hoof stamps his foot down onto a roof tile so it breaks off. He then grabs it and hurls it at Alexandra, sending it spinning through the air at her.. She darts to the side and the tile hurtles past her. Hoof continues running, springing down from the rooftop and through the window of a neighbouring building.
Marcus intends to follow onto the roof of the building, feeling rather pleased with himself for his agility only to find that there is no hole in this roof, leaving him stuck on top of the building, while Hoof is inside.
Grace dives after Hoof through the window, curling herself so she can roll off her back, onto her feet and keep up the chase. "Please stop running sir, we have not intention of hurting you," she calls to him in her soft, truthful voice. She finds herself in what seems to be an empty bedroom. As she stands and attempts to get her bearings, Hoof kicks off from the wall and jumps at her with a flying kick. She evades Hoof's first kick but as he lands he kicks out at her body, striking her in the stomach and knocking her back against a wall.
Hoof then flees out of the room. "Keep away! Don't touch us!"
Konrad and Klysis get outside in time to see Marcus on the roof of a nearby building, just before Marcus swings himself down to crash through a window into the building.
Marcus gets a few cuts on his legs from smashing through the glass. He lands in a hall way with several doors and stairs leading down at the end of it. Coming from the other direction, Marcus sees Hoof running down the corridor towards him.
That's just about enough! Marcus thinks to himself. Dashes towards Hoof, watching the doorways so that if Hoof turns into one he can follow. In his left hand, Marcus draws his dagger, point downwards. That way he can use the pommel to hit at Hoof if necessary and it won't hurt him, but he can also use the blade to block Hoof's dagger. He is using it defensively, so will avoid actually cutting the man. "Stop! Or you leave me no choice!" Marcus shouts.
Hoof jumps up and kicks off from the one wall, and then the other, and then springs over Marcus, landing behind him in the corridor and continuing to flee at full speed.
Marcus turns and throws the dagger, but he feels a pressure on his shoulders as Alexandra uses them to leapfrog over him, land on her feet in front of him a take off after Hoof. This causes Marcus to fall forward and fumble his knife.
Hoof moves quickly to get out of the way, but Alexandra still manages to catch him around the waist with her arms. Hoof thrashes around in a panic to try to get her off. "RELEASE US! DON'T TOUCH US! STOP TOUCHING US! LET GO!" He slashes at Alex's arm with his curved blade, which he is holding in a reverse grip.
Marcus runs forward, goes to the ground, and uses both hands to grab at the knife arm, to prevent it from harming Alexandra any further. "If you had just cooperated..." Marcus huffs, "we wouldn't have to be touching you at all! Be still!"
Marcus grabs hold of his arms, which seems to get Hoofs even more distressed. He suddenly pulls up both his legs and pushes off from the wall, driving backwards and slamming Marcus and Grace into the opposite wall.
"Please stop fighting us we just want to talk to you," Alexandra says softly in a calm voice, she doesn't seem to even notice that she is bleeding.
Tightening his grip, Marcus growls to Hoof. "Stop struggling, or I will hamstring you! I don't want to, but I will!" Marcus tries to wrench the knife from Hoof's hands.
"Marcus don't you dare do such a thing! He's just scared, we can do this without hurting him." Say Alexandra.
Marcus manages yet another confused look at Alexandra.
Marcus manages to force the weapon out of Hoof's grip. Konrad runs up the stairs and sees Marcus and Alexandra struggling with Hoof, who is wildly thrashing around. With Konrad's help, the three pin Hoof down until Klysis can get over to him and manacle his hands behind his back, restraining him. Hoof starts making weird, distressed wailing sound.
"Stop crying or I'll bloody well give you something to cry about!” Konrad shouts angrily. “I'd actually take him waving that knife around over this racket!"
"Why did you guys have to get so violent with him, scaring and hurting someone isn't a good way of getting answers from them you know!" Alexandra says, sounding disappointed, though she still doesn't know she's bleeding.
“Viole- you were going to threaten to shoot that Tendu woman.” Marcus says, “and she had offered no real provocation.”
“I'm just doing what you told me to do.”
“Yes, but, but... the situation was-”
Klysis pulls Hoof to his feet. "Got you, you little shit! I ought to let Konrad give you a beating for messing us around so much. Fleeing when you are ordered to stop is an insult to the city guards!" She glances at Alexandra's arm and looks worried. "You've bleeding! This scrawny bastard must have nicked you."
This interrupts Marcus' train of thought, and Alexandra looks down at her arm, surprised. "He did?" She blinks. “Well, Grace still agrees that you were too harsh on him.”
Marcus sighs. "He doesn't understand, and he wouldn't have stopped running. So we had to get him somehow. Though, I'd say it isn't really his fault, he is definitely a Priest of the West. We will need to question him about the murders, but what he is actually doing here is of vital importance as well. There is a good chance He,” Marcus emphasizes the H, “knows about Rhoadira, and may have plans for it."
"Let me get some bandages out of my pack for you Alexandra...” Konrad says. “I'd expect a bit more of a 'thank you' from someone who nearly got herself cut to ribbons. Besides, he's fine, if we'd properly hurt him he wouldn't be walking." He gives Hoof a sharp look, "Keep that in mind, if you try anything stupid I'll put a stop to it damned fast, and you'd better feel like answering our questions or you'll risk pissing me off."
"What is this Grace crap anyway?" Asks Klysis.
Hoof continues to wail, he seems very distressed.
"Grace is her gun... don't ask." Konrad says as he pulls the bandages from his pack and tosses them to Alexandra. He looks through a window to see if they attracted much attention. "Can we shut him up? Either gag him or I'll smack him with my carbine, but he needs to be quiet."
"We need to get him to some place secure” Marcus gestures to the wailing Hoof, “and quickly. Not only is the noise grating, but the Ivos think him responsible for the murders, whether he did them or not." He glances at Hoof. "Did you commit the murders? Did you kill three people?"
"You know what he's going to say, Marcus. Let's just put a bag over his head, give him a whack, and get the hell out of the Lows before trouble shows up."
"I don't know.” Marcus says, “I feel kind of sorry for him, and yes, it took three of us to pin him down, but I'm still having trouble believing he did that. Do you see claws, Konrad? Or a large enough weapon to make that damage you saw?"
"You don't have to carry a weapon around with you to own it, for all we know it could be stashed somewhere. But he doesn't have claws, which means that someone else has to be involved. All the more reason to get him back to safety and convince him to talk about it." Konrad sighs. "I honestly don't give a damn if you feel sorry for him. We know he was involved in the murder of the jeweller, Klysis and I found Ivos jewellery in his room, so... let's get out of here before people show up and cause us trouble, okay?"
"No, we failed! Too scared, we are a coward, we failed! Let us go! He will find us! He is watching!" Hoof declares as they move outside.
Outside, a small crowd is gathering wondering what is going on. Klysis says "Take him to the guard house, I'll take care of this situation, and compensate whoever owns that house we were just chasing around in."
As they take him away, Alexandra looks to Hoof. "I really wish you would calm down please, if you could do that for me I promise I wont let these brutes hurt you any more then they already have," she says, trying to calm him down.
Hoof seems frantic, shaking his head and talking in a panicked voice. "He will find us! We must hide! Too scared to fight, scared of the apostates! We will be punished, you will be punished too! Punished for your defiance. You must let us go!"
With talk of being punished, Marcus nearly snaps. "Punished? Me? If your King wins, then I'll be punished alright! I was part of the army that killed The Harlequin! So if anyone comes after us, I am to give them a fair bit of a fight!"
"Why can't he just calm down normally?” Alexandra laments. “I think he's just really scared, he sounded fine till you walked into his room Marcus."
"He's scared of something, but not us. He is scared of his God.” Marcus says, sounding more subdued.
"It looks like your insistence on staying has paid off, Marcus,” Konrad says, after thinking for a bit. “You might just have gotten me sucked into another fight with the West. My people back home are a little pissed that I got sent down here, but if the West is involved and we can do something... well I think they'd be itching to be here too." He sighs. “Alright Hoof, if you stop crying and wailing I promise I won't beat you, and we'll try to keep you from getting hurt. Though if you try to run I'll shoot you in a heartbeat."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 2, 2015 21:08:55 GMT
Scene 4:
Hoof continues to seem distressed but does not resist as he is moved around. The group heads out of the Lows and to the main guard house. As they get close to it, they can see a small crowd has gathered in the square nearby. A few guards seem to be stood around watching the crowd. As the three get nearer they can see a Brorg-Dao stood on a small podium, speaking to the crowd. The crowd is not getting in the way of the guard house, so Hoof can still be delivered with no problem.
"I've got a bad feeling about all this guys,” Alexandra says, “Hoof may or may not be speaking about "Him" in the west and if he's not then there could be danger close."
"I'm very certain he is.” Marcus responds. “Okay, lets go around and get Hoof to the guardhouse. We can ask the guards there what this is about, but I want him secured now. Unless... Konrad, do you want to see what they're up to while we bring Hoof in? Up to you, I'm most concerned about Hoof, though."
"Sure, I'll go listen. I'm tired of the little man here blubbering, it's shameful really." Konrad walks over to the crowd.
A Darsai woman handing out fliers hands him one. It is a printed leaflet with a picture of fierce looking Golta face on it. "Beware the black and white menace!" reads the heading. The text seems to describe the threat that the Golta of Fort Gerrit pose to Port Yorgerson.
"They haven't built a city or a village." Says the man on the podium. "They built a FORT! A military base where they are massing their warriors! We all know about their slave trade, putting their prisoners to work to make more weapons for them, weapons that they will turn against us! Are we going to accept this appeasement from our mayor? When will the Golta start making US into their slaves?" The man begins to become emotional as he speaks. "Friends," he says, his eyes filling with tears. "Port Yorgerson is a beautiful...*sniff*....beautiful city and I know you all want to protect it as much ...*sniff*...as I do. Your donations to the Preservation League will help preserve the dream that is our great city."
Konrad nudges the Darsai. "What's this 'Preservation League' about? You lot don't like the Golta from the fort, right?"
She says "Those Golta have already begun hijacking ships headed to Port Yorgerson and harassing prospectors and settlers from here. Those stripey bastards wont rest until they've driven us into the sea."
"Its just like the Nameless war" says an Ivos next to her. "We didn't negotiate with them! You have to confront evil and destroy it before it destroys you! We need to defend ourselves before its too late! We didn't start the war, they did!" The other people around nod in agreement.
Konrad begins to feel really uncomfortable. "They've been hijacking ships? You're sure they're Golta from the fort?" He gets ready to turn tail and bolt for the guard station, but he's curious about these supposed Golta pirates.
The angry crowd do not seem to have identified Konrad as a Golta, because he looks Ano-Chee and has an unusual helmet for a Golta. He suspects the crowd, already whipped in a frenzy by all these speeches and leaflets, would turn ugly very quickly if they were confronted with an actual Golta right now.
"Golta are always impounding our ships." The woman explains "It says in their Charter that they are allowed to lie to the Tolpish, that's everyone else, or steal from them if it helps the Golta nation. Its a duty for them to make war against other countries. That's why their mercenaries are always showing up in other peoples' wars. They want to practice fighting other nations, learn how to defeat them. Then when they strike they'll already have warriors in place to do it!"
"Those bastards need to be stopped!" say the Ivos man, who seems to be getting so worked up the end of his snout is turning red. "Crucify em! They're just the Nameless in black and white, just the same! Plotting against us! Its time to pick sides! Us or them! We need go after them, go after anyone who supports them, go after anyone who sympathises with them, go after anyone who supports them, go after...er..." he seems to get stuck thinking of anything else to add to the list. "Go after their leaders, go after their forts.... go after people who support them, people who help them...."
The Darsai woman is starting to looking at Konrad's coat and her eyes begin to widen.
"Cheers." Konrad turns and walks away very quickly.
Konrad makes a quick retreat into the guard house. The guards have been alerted by Klysis that she is employing Marcus, Konrad and Alexandra and so they allow the three to enter with their prisoner and make use of the building.
Marcus takes Hoof into a cell and sits him down on the bed. "I fear this is a stupid question, but what is your name? Or what are you called?"
"We are a priest of God. When will you release us? It is not safe here."
"We're not letting you out until we know what we want to know." Konrad says, gruffly.
Alexandra looks straight at Hoof. "Why is it not safe, please tell us," she smiles at him being as friendly as possible.
MArcus says "We will release you when we discover who, or what, is responsible for these murders and have them face justice. And we learn about you. It is in your interest to help us. So on to business. You say it is not safe here, what threatens this place? A guardhouse of the city watch?"
"The crowd?” Konrad suggests. “They said that Golta out of Fort Gerrit have been hijacking ships, it looked like they would have killed a Darsai if the poor bastard was black and white, I bolted when they realized that I was a Golta. There was a lot of talk about striking out at the Golta before they could strike themselves... fucking morons, they're libel to kill someone who doesn't have it coming. The priests and politicians back home would love to have heard that speech, everyone would be praying three times as hard and the defence budget would quadruple. I need my pipe." Konrad pulls up a chair and stuffs his pipe while Marcus asks questions. The last thing he wants is to hear that the West has arrived, he's worried enough knowing that people like he saw outside are prowling the city, and he's thinking that he might want to keep his pistols on the bedside table tonight.
Hoof is still covered by his hood and robes, which he tugs at nervously. "Him... He is looking, He will find us. God will punish us for failure, you cannot escape Him. We failed, we were too afraid, He never forgives..."
"What have you failed?" Then Marcus glances at Konrad. "If He never forgives, hopefully whoever was in charge of that terribly mismanaged invasion of Vellastrom is still suffering. Because that? That was a huge failure."
Hoof finally breaks down and talks. "Kill the apostates, kill the enemies of God. Representative Vy-Ko-Da, Nymus, grey feathers, pale brown beak. Strong advocate of increased cooperation of the Nymus Republic with the Darsai Kingdom. Weakening alliances between enemy nations is an essential element of strategy. We are a special chosen force of assassins. God has blessed us. We will enjoy many wondrous gifts and happiness when our targets are killed. We must eliminate our targets to pave the way for the end of days and divine judgement. We are to arrive in Vellastrom and be coordinated by The Speaker or one of his aids. He will direct each of us to our targets. But we were afraid... we were too scared... we did not want to fight... wanted to go home. The others went to their missions, we do not know if they succeeded. We fled, but God is looking for us. He must be! Even here He will be looking, God sees all, He is all powerful! And He is cruel! He is very cruel!"
Alexandra starts to talk. "Look we just need to calm him and be friendly, what we should do is..." she stops suddenly and grabs at her head, suddenly rocking back and forth and groaning.
Konrad sits up straight, pipe hanging from his mouth, and looks at Marcus, who has stepped up and rested a hand on Alexandra's shoulder.
Alexandra's sudden behaviour causes Hoof to start wailing in panic. "Him! It is Him! He is here! He has found us! We repent! We beg forgiveness! Mighty King, spare us your wrath! Turn your harsh gaze away from us to other nations! Let other peoples be crushed under your foot!" He continues to say this sort of thing in a panic.
“Alexandra?” Marcus asks. “Are you alright?”
The disfigured Golta woman sits on the floor, crosslegged. “I'm fine!” She snaps, “and you shut up!” She shouts to her grenade launcher.
Marcus and Konrad share a concerned look. Konrad pours some brandy into a tin cup and hands it to Alexandra. “Here, drink up. You look like you need a bit.”
Alexandra takes the cup, drains it, hands it back and says, “I have my own, I don't need... oh...” She puts a hand to her forehead. "Thanks for that, Konny.”
Marcus looks to Konrad. "Get a guard here, ask him if there is a Nymus called Representative Vy-Ko-Da here, and if not we need to get into contact with someone on the mainland...." He twitches as Hoof continues with his blubbering. "Will you stop that?" He growls at Hoof. "She isn't being attacked by your master!” Then, quietly, “I think...”
In a surprising display of flexibility, Hoof stands and jumps with both feet over his manacles so his hands are now in front of him. For a moment, everyone present is concerned he is about to make a run for it but instead he drops to his stomach, flattens his body to the ground and starts mumbling some type of prayer to the little West symbol necklace he has around his hand.
Alexandra points Grace at him.
"Can we tie him down?” Konrad asks, “I'd feel safer that way."
"The door is locked, and I've got both my dagger and his. We're safe." Marcus reassures Konrad.
"So we're locked in with a trained assassin from the West, and there are two knives and a cutlass in the room? Funny how that doesn't allay my fears."
Klysis wanders in, screwing up a pamphlet and throwing is aside. “Bloody Preservationists, everything they say is an insult! I'll send out a few of the boys with clubs and chase them off. I blame those bloody printing presses! Some clever dick of an Eslum sold a load of them here a few months ago, and now everyone is printing off their opinions and stirring up more trouble that I have to deal with! I'd smash all those bloody things to bits if I got chance... anyway... what did I miss?"
Hoof looks up "Representative Vy-Ko-Da lives in Nylanak. Her address is 74 East Rise. Her death would remove a strong advocate of the Darsai-Nymus Alliance. Weakening alliances between enemy nations is an essential element of strategy. We are a special chosen force of assassins..."
"Has he told you anything meaningful?" says Klysis, "Or do I need to hit him?"
"Well, he's told us that he's an assassin from the West,” Konrad explains, “but it sounds like he got cold feet when he was supposed to go to Vellastrom and murder some Nymus, so he came here instead. That's the only useful thing he's said though. Should I be worried about that lot outside?"
Klysis snorts. "So he put his killing skills to work over here instead, eh? Like I said, I'll get some of the guards to go and whack some heads and chase those idiots outside away. This city is like a tiny version of Harkovast... lots of people looking for excuses to start fighting each other. They're just a little fringe group though, don't worry about them. They talk a lot but that's about it."
“He was part of a group of assassins sent to kill people working for cohesion in Vellastrom, or who pose a threat.” Marcus nods. “This requires an immediate response, some kind of warning to Vellastrom. This is more like it, too. If I were in charge of an invasion, divide and conquer is the way to go about it. Hell, the Junlock High King has been killed, perhaps not by the Darsai. He could have been a target as well. Despite having had to fight his forces myself, he was a decent and clever fellow. His son is much more sympathetic to the West than he was, even more so since the Darsai crusades." Marcus begins to pace. “And the gods know who else is a tar- Dominius! I need to warn him as well! Not only would he be a target, but he would know what to do! Though... I'm not sure an assassin from the West would stand a chance against that man. He's killed more Nameless than anyone I know. Nothing about the murders have come up yet."
Hoof begins to blubber. "No killing. We were too scared. No murder. We have failed."
"Is there another assassin here? Someone else who serves your master?" Konrad asks.
"No, missions were in Vellastrom... have they sent someone? Is someone coming for us?" he begins to become panicked again at this idea.
"Maybe I should strap some landmines to the bottom of his feet so he can't jump around without blowing his legs off." Alexandra says, annoyed. This breaks Marcus out of his pondering and pacing for a moment, just to give her a confused look, which she ignores.
"No Alexandra,” Konrad says, “that's plain stupid."
Hoof cringes at Alexandra's words. "Don't hurt us! We just want to be left alone! Let us hide from Him."
"You fled from the house of an Ivos Jeweller and Potter, both were found dead. You may have seen something. That is the, well, I'd like to say secondary issue, but it is the most direct one. We just want to know what you saw." Marcus grunts. "After that, you can maybe tell me who else was on that list. And if my name is on it, I'll know I'm doing something right."
“People saw you at the Ivos jewellers, and the Ivos potter.” Kornad continues, focusing on the task at hand. “Were they dead when you arrived, or were they still alive when you left?"
Hoof quails. "Saw big green monsters breaking down door. Killing inside. Ivos you call them? Ivos were killed. One was taken away though. Younger one. They carried her away. Scary... hid. When they were gone we went inside. Lots of broken pots. Bodies cut up. We didn't like that. Made us feel ill. Found some coins and a ring, found some bread. We took them, ran away. Could not eat much bread that night. We felt ill."
"Big green monsters?" Marcus looks at Klysis and Konrad, more at Klysis. "That describe anyone you know? They must have claws and use large weapons. I mean, Brorg-Dao tend to be large, have claws, and use large weapons... but there might be others. I haven't seen many straight out green Brorg-Dao."
"It would make sense,” Konrad nods. “I can't believe we didn't think of that before."
"This sounds like one scary-ass Tolpish,” Alexandra says, “type of thing you'd see on some Golta propaganda."
"And they took a young one.” Marcus groans. “Someone forgot to take note of that, somehow. This just got even more serious and time constrained."
Hoof points at Klysis. "Green monsters. We saw them go. We watched it, they were frightening."
"I think it goes without saying that that's an insult...” Klysis says, “but I'll overlook it for now. Hmm... the pottery sellers might have had a daughter, the investigation was still ongoing when we went to the Lows. I can check if any more information has come in since then." She leaves the room to go confer with some of the watchmen.
"Did you see which direction they went in? Or any idea of where?" Marcus asks.
"We saw them going, big bags they had taken. Didn't leave much. We could see from the roof top when they left. Left the same way they came." Hoof seems very encouraged by the positive reaction he is getting for telling you this "We say it! Brog-Don did it! Went off into city. We could see them."
"Do you think you could show us where they went, lead us to them maybe?" Alexandra asks.
"Yes, we can show you. You will let us free if we show you, wont you?" Hoof seems more than a little pleased with this, getting excited and hopping about a little.
Marcus is pondering to himself, muttering under his breath. "It seems to become... a standard robbery. There must be some type of pattern... Oh, what I wouldn't give to have Valerius here right now, he sees patterns everywhere. Ah... The white powder, what was it? Could it have been from the intruders? Or just from pottery being smashed? If it was from the pottery... it would have covered the intruders... nothing a wash wouldn't have taken care of...” He looks up. "Oh. Okay, Priest of the West. We should leave when Klysis returns.”
Konrad nods. “And before we let you go,” he says Hoof, “we're going to have to find the people responsible for the murders. So it is in your best interest to be right about this."
"We can tie him and have him lead us, and if he makes a run for it I blow him up into little pieces!" Alexandra says, smiling happily and cheerfully.
"I'd prefer to avoid the explosive outcome." Marcus says.
"Well, only if I have to,” Alexandra says, not sounding disappointed at all, “I'll try and only blow his legs off then.”
"Now that we've got him calmed down a bit I don't think he's libel to run off on us,” Konrad says, “at least he won't if we avoid threatening to blow him up."
Marcus nods, and turns to the Priest. "That's just her way of saying 'don't try to run away before we let you go' politely."
"We will show you, then you will let us go. You will find monsters. We will guide you." Hoof says gleefully as Kylsis returns and they start to leave.
"If the motive for this murderers was just robbery,” Klysis says, “I don't know why they resorted to such brutal tactics. They've just drawn attention to themselves. They could be insane, or just incompetent. More reports have reached me, it seems another death has been reported with similar circumstances, a Nymus clothing merchant called Lak. So far all of the killings have been in the same district of the city. I can also confirm that the pottery merchant had a daughter named Cartina. A young woman, about 20. I can't say I hold much hope that she is still live if she has been taken by such a violent gang."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 2, 2015 21:09:19 GMT
Scene 5:
Hoof is eager to serve as a guide, and seems very confident that this will lead to his release, although Klysis has yet to confirm this bargain. With a rope tied to his manacles, Hoof can lead everyone through the streets to show where he claims the killers went.
He leads the group to an area with numerous shops and businesses, located close to one of the cities outter walls. There is quite a bit of city beyond the walls, as new houses and small settlements are always springing up, but the walls provide protection for the city proper.
"Here, here!" says Hoof "We saw them go here, three of them with bags and Ivos. We saw them! We led you here!"
The businesses on the street include a large blacksmith, a baker's, a large private residence, a shop selling furniture, a fletcher's shop and a shop selling fruit and vegetables.
"Which place in particular, do you know?" Konrad asks.
"Don't know,” Hoof says, “we saw them come down this street, didn't see them come out. Stopped watching. Should be in one of these buildings."
"I don't want to start searching at random,” Klysis says, “the residents might refuse to cooperate if we don't have a firm reason to search them, and while I can force the issue, I'd rather not. The property owner could take it as an insult and dad won't be happy at us stirring up a lot of trouble. More importantly, if we search one place, the murderers will probably realise we're onto them and do a runner. Do we have anything else to go on?"
Alexandra speaks up, “Grace wants to know if we can let that thing go now," she points at Hoof.
"He's not going anywhere until we we know that he's led us to the right place." Konrad says.
"Funny how you say that yet you took that whore on her word, bit of a double standard." Alexandra says, discontented.
"To be fair, Alexandra, the 'whore' wasn't a murder suspect who might be trying to misdirect us. I believe him," Marcus gestures at Hoof, "but we should be certain."
Alexandra addss, “At least he isn't charging us for information either!"
Klysis looks at Hoof. "He can stay exactly where he is. He is still guilty of petty theft, so if we don't catch the murderer he is going to have things to answer for."
"There Grace, I asked if they'd let him go, seems like a no.” Alexandra mutters to herself, or her gun, nobody is quite sure which at this point. “Well it's not my fault the captain is a Tolpish bitch, why should you care? He's from the West... oh just shut up about it for now." She goes back to talking to everyone else. "I say you give me a day and I can wipe this place out, heheh saves the time of having to search for them."
Marcus, Konrad, and Klysis look at her, dumbfounded, for a couple of seconds. Konrad is thinking that maybe Alexandra might be more danger than she's worth. Marcus is trying to figure out if she's joking. Finally, Klysis speaks. "You should be careful with the insults, Golta, you're pushing your luck. And I'll assume you are joking about blowing everything up."
“Back to the matter at hand...” Marcus says.
Konrad looks at the buildings along the street. "How about I have a look at the baker's shop, perhaps that stuff we found spread around the potter's house was flour? I'll go buy myself some bread and get a measure of the people there, then we can decide if it's worth searching the property."
"I could check the blacksmith, inspect their wares. See how good they are at making heavy axes, things like that." Marcus says. “Though personally I suspect the residence. It is large, two stories, and you could store plenty of goods in there.”
Klysis nods. "Alright, try not to seem suspicious. And Konrad, get me a pasty." She hands him a few coins. "A meat one."
Hoof says: "We want pasty."
"You can fuck off you thieving little shit, that's what you can do." Klysis growls.
Marcus speaks to Hoof. "You know, for a Priest of a power hungry killer, you're beginning to grow on me. I mean, you're oddly likeable."
Hoof looks at Marcus. "Can we have a pasty... or a cake? Hungry."
Marcus sighs and tosses Konrad a few coins. Konrad gives Marcus a look of disbelief, then shrugs. “It's your money, Marcus.”
They move off to investigate their respective marks, and Alexandra comes with Marcus. "I will go with you to the blacksmith, I could use some things from one."
Konrad walks into the Bakery, passing under a sign that reads "Gorbalie's Bakery"
Inside is a pleasant smell of fresh baked bread, with shelves of loaves and tasty looking cakes. There is a thin layer of flower all over the floor and counter. Behind the counter is a smiling, middle aged Zadakine woman. "Hello there! Welcome to Gorbalie's (that's me!) bakery. What can we get for you?"
"I suppose I'll have two pasties, maybe two sausage rolls if you've got any. This seems like a nice street, quiet." Konrad says.
Gorbalie nods. "Oh yes, it's a bit out of the way but we get more and more business all the time. I think word's getting out that it's a nice area." She calls to another Zadakine woman (who looks younger) who takes Konrad's order and hurries to the back. "Do you live near here?" asks Gorbalie.
"No, I'm from Jaydia, here on business. I couldn't even tell you what part of the city I'm staying in to be honest, I've spent most of my time here out in the bush. I've noticed that there's a lot of Zadakine in Port Yorgerson though, good business opportunities I suppose." Konrad looks around (trying not to seem suspicious), looking for anything besides the flour that sticks out.
There are lots of cakes, pies, buns and all sorts of other bakery related food items. One of the staff brings out Konrad's order, which Gorbalie wraps in a bag and hands to him. Konrad hands her the money for the two pasties and two sausage rolls. "Thank you! Have a great day!"
"You too." Konard leaves, returning to Klysis.
Marcus walks over to the blacksmith. The sign outside says "The Enlightened Hammer Moves Metal Closer To Divine Perfection." Inside are racks of metal tools and objects, making it quite cramped to move through. The counter is manned by a rather dark green Tsung-Dao. He nods in acknowledgement as Marcus enters.
Marcus nods back to the Tsung-Dao and immediately begins looking at some of the tools and equipment, checking their metal quality and composition, trying to determine two things: 1) the skill of the smith and 2) the quality of the metal. Those two things would indicate if the smith was capable of producing heavy weapons like axes, and if the metal was capable of being made into heavy weapons. There are no weapons on the shelves. After a cursory inspection, the quality seems good, and it is clear that the blacksmith could make effective weapons if he wanted.
Alexandra walks in, goes up to the blacksmith, and asks "Do you sell different types of powder?"
The Blacksmith shop owner raises an eyebrow at Alexandra. "Powder? What kind of powder?"
"What powder does not matter, do you have any or no?" Alexandra asks.
"You mean Pyronite?" Marcus asks Alexandra. He is satisfied with the quality of the equipment and metal, so, once Alexandra and the Smith are done, he asks "Do you have any lead or metal pellets? As if for bullets, for a sling I mean, not a gun?" Marcus produces one from his sling pouch.
The Blacksmith says to Marcus, "Sling shot is no problem. Tell me how many you need and I should have them ready for you by tomorrow.”
"Six." Marcus pays the man now.
Then the smith gives Alexandra an annoyed look. “I don't know what you're talking about with this 'powder'. What kind of idiot would store pyronite in a smithy? As for easily shaped metal... you come here to get metal shaped, this is a blacksmith! If you've got your own forge what are you bothering me for?"
Alexandra's eye twitches. "Just some thin metal I can buy, do you have any or no?"
"I suppose so." The blacksmith says to Alexandra and gets some metal bars and puts them on the counter. They are quite big and heavy and look to be made of iron. He then scoops the money from the counter. He says to Marcus "That's just right, come back tomorrow, I will have them waiting for you."
Alexandra looks at the iron bars. "Yeah, no those won't do, sorry shouldn't of expected a Tolpish to sell what I needed. I'm going to get Vakari to write a really bad review about this place."
"You have a shameful and rude manner, get out of my shop!" The Smith shouts at Alexandra, who storms out muttering expletives to herself and Grace.
Marcus sighs, then examines the iron. "Hmm, I know some Brorg-Dao who have been looking for new weapons and some upkeep on their remaining ones. It is a pity they prefer larger, heavier weapons like big axes, I've never understood that, and Tsung-Dao smiths are best known for their skill at making fine, sharp, blades."
"I must make what people need and what they request. Most of it isn't weapons, tools mainly, people always need tools. Everyone is always building around here." The smith shrugs.
Marcus nods. "Building is good. There seems to be a lot of it going on around here, and some of it quite grand, like that house there." Marcus gestures towards the residence. "Business must be booming."
"I do well enough" says the Blacksmith. He doesn't comment on the house.
"That is good to know. Thank you for your service." He leaves.
Konrad gets back to Klysis. "The bakery is run by a couple of Zadakine women, they seemed nice enough, the owner was curious about where I lived in the city as well. I'd chalk that up to harmless banter, but everything was covered in white flour. Where did Marcus and Alexandra go?" He hands one of the pasties to Klysis.
"They're checking the blacksmith.” Klysis says as she takes the pasty. “So you think the Bakery is suspicious? I'll trust your judgement on this."
"I'm not really sure.” Konrad says, weighing his thoughts. “I think that anyone who spent any time in the baker's would probably get flour on themselves, I probably tracked some out myself. We should see what Marcus has to say about the smith before we do anything."
Konrad does indeed have some flower on him. Klysis dusts him off and takes a quick bite of her pasty.
"Food for us?" says Hoof "Give us food."
Konrad sighs and hands the man the last pasty. Hoof gobbles it up as soon as he gets his manacled hands on it, nearly eating some of the wrapping as he shoves it under his face veil. Konrad makes a disgusted sound and starts on one of his sausage rolls.
By the time Marcus gets out of the shop Alexandra is standing facing it, a little distance off, and muttering to herself. "Hmm if I place some there there and... there," she says as she points at different places around the base of the shop.
Marcus leaves and immediately sees Alexandra doing what she is doing. "No."
Alexandra acts cheerfully innocent. "What do you mean, no? I wasn't going to do nothing, you're paranoid."
"Of course not, Alex.” He says as he walks with her back to Klysis. “We're going to talk about appropriate levels or response one of these days, just so you know.”
“Well?” Klysis asks as they reach her.
"Well, of the two possibilities we've looked at... The smithy is big enough for something to be hidden in it, though the front of the store is cluttered. The counter was run by a green Tsung-Dao. He says that he mostly makes tools for building, though most of the building occurs outside the walls now, I suspect... and he claims he does well enough. The metal could be used for making weapons, and I think the smith has the skill. Motive? I don't know. Tsung-Dao do have claws, but you said that the bodies had been partially eaten? I don't really see that as... likely with a Tsung-Dao... but there could be Brorg-Dao in there. Brorg-Dao might get along better with a Tsung-Dao, who isn't a... fur skin. Brorg-Dao like smithing, yes?" Marcus shrugs. “Not exactly much to go on, though."
Klysis laughs. "You do realise that the killer could buy weapons anywhere? You don't have to make your own weapons to do murders. Being a blacksmith with the ability to make weapons does not connect you to murder. And as for claws, on a Tsung-Dao? Please! Stubby little child's claws. They couldn't scratch butter. You insult people with REAL claws!" She grins and holds up a hand. Deadly sharp claws spring out from her fingers and thumb, each about an inch long. "Now THESE are claws!"
“Point, uh, point taken, Klysis.” Marcus nods. “What about the bakery?”
"Klysis is right Marcus; I don't know how to make a gun, but I've lost count of how many people I've sent to the Protector.” Konrad agrees. “Beyond the man being green and knowing how to make a good, sharp axe we really don't have anything that links him to the crimes. Maybe he is involved, but I doubt the captain is going to let us search people based on suspicion alone. As for the bakery, Marcus, flour. Flour everywhere.”
“Ah. Well, I was simply laying out the case. And I doubt that we'll find Brorg-Dao at a grocery.” Marcus glances at Klysis' claws, then teeth. “Not likely to be big fan of veg. The smith didn't seem to have any powder at all, not that I could see. And there was certainly no flour at the smith, and whoever works there probably goes to the bakery from time to time. Someone tracking flour all the way to the victim's house would have to be spending considerable time in the bakery. Ergo we search there."
"That sounds all fine and dandy,” Alexandra says, “but what can I do? Me in an enclosed building sounds like a bad idea if things go south. Grace does not handle enclosed spaces well!"
"That is a good point.” Marcus nods. “Not to mention that if fighting does start, you'd probably not want to fire the grenade launcher because that woman who was abducted may still be alive. You have a pistol, though, and maybe you could load Grace with something else?" Marcus takes Hoof's knife out. "And maybe keep this with you until this situation is over with."
Alexandra rolls her eyes. "Yeah because I'd hate to kill some Tolpish I don't know, but you're right, I guess I can use my pistol and use Grace like the blunderbuss she once was, I have my own knife, maybe give it to that thing,” she gestures to Hoof, “and let him help." She reaches her hand down the barrel, shakes Grace a little and twists her hand then pulls out the special grenade she had loaded, then drops it into her bag and proceeds to load Grace with pellets.
"No, the captain ought to keep him shackled until we're satisfied, and I don't trust him enough to give him anything that he could use as a weapon.” He turns to Klysis. “Actually captain, I'll have to speak to you about him later... something just sprung to mind, but it can wait a bit."
Klysis nods.
Alexandra continues on, oblivious. "I doubt captain lady would let us anyway. I don't trust it much either but he could be usefully, it's called taking a risk." She smiles cheerfully, "You know like you boys do all the time in staying around me and trusting me to not blow you up! Talk about fool hardy! You guys must be nuts!"
This really doesn't help soothe Konrad's growing concerns about Alexandra's mental state. "There's a difference between a calculated risk and a needless risk, and I'd say giving a weapon to an assassin from the West is just plain stupid.” He finally says. “Stark raving mad, actually.”
"Oh I'm not crazy, right Grace?" She smiles. "See? She agrees with me!" she tilts head to the side and giggles a little.
"Alright then, lets turn this place over." Klysis says, getting everyone back on track. She looks to Hoof. "You're coming with me, so don't get any smart ideas."
"Boys, captain, and whatever that is," Alexandra points to Hoof, "shouldn't we come up with a plan of attack just in case we need to fight? I'm sure we can't go in and start demanding they give themselves up." She looks at Marcus, "It never works."
"If they want to start trouble with us then they're going to be sorry.” Klysis says, determinedly. “They've got nowhere to escape in there." Bringing Hoof along by the rope tied to his manacles, she strides up to the shop and through the door.
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Post by Horsie on Jan 2, 2015 21:09:46 GMT
Scene 6:
Marcus follows Klysis in, with his shield his pilum in hands. He has no desire to get closer to angry Brorg-Dao than he has to, so if he must fight, he'd prefer to do it with a longer, spear-like javelin.
Marcus notices Alex tapping her bag of landmines.
“No.” He says.
"Fine, have it your way." Alexandra sulks. "If I was in charge this investigation would be way more exciting."
"One of these days we'll end up in the outback, and then we'll all be encouraging you to use landmines. Something out there just gives me creeps, as it were." Marcus says, reassuringly.
Konrad comes in behind them, though he gets past Alexandra as soon as they enter.
"Hello there! Welcome to Gorbalie(that's me)'s bakery. What can we get for you?" Says the woman behind he counter.
"Shut your yap!" snaps Klysis. "I'm Captain Klysis and this shit shack is under investigation by the city guard. No one move while we search this place. Nobody try anything and we won't have any trouble!" She looks to Marcus and Konrad. "Alright lads, go in the back and turn this place over till you find something. Alex, cover the front door. LET'S GO!"
Gorbalie looks rather shocked at this.
Alex stands near the door, Grace is armed and ready. "Hope this is the right place."
"Right." Marcus does as he is told. "And Klysis? You'd make a wonderful Centurion."
In the back are several other Zadakine engaged in baking bread, moving bread around, kneading bread and the other varied activities of baking. They all look terrified and raise their hands in surrender as Konrad and Marcus storm in.
"Stay where you are." Marcus looks them and the room over. "Storage room? Where is it?" He asks.
The Zadakine nervously point to the back area.
Klysis shouts at them: "Tear this place apart! Stop being so bloody delicate, you fur skins!"
"Thank you." Marcus makes his way quickly towards the back room, as he does so he checks for anything out of the ordinary. Once he gets to the storage room, he kicks at the door, pilum ready. "Konrad! Check the tables, under the tables, the cupboards and everything. I'm taking point through this door."
The door breaks open revealing a room packed with boxes and bags of backing supplies. It is quite dark in there, with only one small window and the light from the door way.
Marcus isn't totally stupid. He waits a bit for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. And also listens to determine if he can hear breathing or anything out of place. Suddenly, a young Zadakine man peeks out from behind some of the boxes nervously.
"You. Out of the room." Marcus growls, and the Zadakine marches his way out of the room, hands up in surrender. Marcus cautiously enters the room. He begins opening boxes and sacks, checking the contents carefully, and also checking to see if the floor is solid or if there is some kind of chamber below it.
Konrad begins opening cupboards and checks the floor for any sign of a hatch. "Do you lot have anything you'd like to say, anything you'd like to tell us? White Mother help you if we find what we're looking for and you don't cooperate."
"We're just bakers!" says one the Zadakine sounding afraid. And indeed, nothing other than baking equipment presents itself.
"You boys got something back there?" Alexandra calls from her spot by the door.
"Zados and baked goods in the kitchen, Marcus is in the storeroom over there." Konrad points Alexandra towards the door across the room.
"Well that's just fine but I meant useful things not bread and stuff." Alexandra calls to where Marcus is, "Damn it...now I'm hungry for bread."
Meanwhile, Marcus judges that the floor seems solid. There is a lot of flour in the air in here, more than in the main area, he thinks to himself. Then he notices scratches on the stone floor in one corner of the room. Looking closer, the scratches seem to come from under a crate in one corner, suggesting it has been pulled out across the ground and back again repeatedly. The crate is nailed shut, so Marcus can't quite determine the contents, but he decides to give the thing a shove and see what is beneath it anyway. Pushing the crate makes a scraping sound on the stone floor. Under the crate is a wooden hatch with a small cut in it that can be used as a hand hold.
Marcus grunts. He then leans his shield aside lightly and, holding the pilum overhand, points it at the hatch as he gives it a tug. Opening the hatch reveals a tunnel dug underground and supported by wooden struts. Considering the position of the bakery, Marcus thinks to himself, the tunnel must lead under the city wall... Then, despite, the low level of light being admitted through the window, Marcus notices a shadow being cast over him.
Marcus strikes first, slamming the back of his pilum into the attacker behind him and reaching for his shield. There is a roar from behind Marcus as the butt of his javelin hits into something, but it doesn't buy him enough time. Marcus is struck very forcefully across the back of the head, sending him sprawling across the floor and knocking a dent in his helmet. He loses his grip on his shield which falls down into the tunnel, but keeps hold of the javelin.
This Konrad and Alexandra hear. Konrad hears the commotion he wheels around with his pistol raised, ready to open fire if need be. Alex runs to the room, very fast, carrying her blunderbuss and intent on using it.
Konrad shouts at the Zadakine, "All of you, sit down and don't move, or I'll cut you down!" He runs towards the storeroom door, holstering his pistol, swinging his carbine into his hands, and snapping the cutlass onto the bayonet lug; whatever that was sounded big, so he'd like to make sure it stays dead when he shoots it.
Marcus looks up and sees a huge hulking figure charging towards him, silhouetted in the dim light. In each hand it holds an axe and a long tail lashes behind it as it rushes forward, bellowing in rage!
Marcus gets into a crouching position and, holding the pilum with both hands, waits until the most opportune moment to strike. When he does strike, it is a springing lunge with the pila at the upper chest of the Brorg-Dao. Marcus successfully thrusts into his enemies chest and the pilum digs into the attacker a couple of inches before it is smashed aside with an axe. The Brorg-Dao catches Marcus off guard by continuing to attack despite this wound and hits Marcus in the face with a head butt, knocking the Ivos tumbling back over some bags of floor, knocking yet more white dust into the air. Marcus is feeling dazed from the blows to the head and unsuccessfully struggles to get up.
Alex gets to the door first and sees the huge Brorg-Dao bearing down on Marcus. However, as she raises her gun to fire, a Zadakine woman jumps up and strikes the gun barrell with both hands.. "Don't! You'll kill us all!" She wails. This knocks the pistol from Alex's hand, sending it tumbling into the store room. Konrad slams the butt of his carbine into the woman's stomach, which knocks her backwards and doubles her over. The other Zadakine all dive for cover as the pistol hits the floor and goes off. The shot thuds harmlessly into a crate, but the spark from the firing mechanism ignites the flour in the air of the store room, causing an explosion.
The blast slams into Konrad and Alexandra, the force of the blast throwing them both backwards, with the sleeve of Alex's pistol arm on fire.
A burst of fire rushes through the store room. Marcus feel his fur being singed by the heat. Fortunately, being low to the ground, currently the bulk of the fire is above him. He hears a roar of pain from the attacker, who is still standing.
As she frantically tries to put her sleave out, Alex cries "Does flour normally do that?"
Konrad, who was least addled by the blast, recovers his wits quickly and staggers to his feet, before helping to pat out Alex. "Why do you always have to be do quick to start shooting? And coming from me, that question should worry you!" He looks to the store room, "Marcus! Are you alive?!"
Konrad looks into the room, the smoke makes it hard to get a clear shot. Suddenly the Brorg-Dao leaps from the smoke, axes raised to attack Konrad.
Konrad does not think Brorg-Dao are very attractive, but even by their standards this is an ugly bastard. He also has a single horn on the right side of his head curving back, making his head look rather misshapen. The Brorg-Dao looks badly burned by the flames and some of his cloths are still on fire.
The sudden jolt of pain from the flames around him snaps Marcus back to his sense. Before the axe blow can land, he charges the Brorg-Dao from the side, driving his dagger into the man's kidney area. But the flames coming off the man force Marcus to abort the attack so it does not inflict much damage. It does distract the burning attacker, however, and as the Brorg-Dao turns to Marcus, his axe swing at Konrad goes quite wide as Konrad drops to the floor and fires his gun. The shot blasts the warrior in the chest and he keels over, dead.
The rest of the area is singed but nothing seem to have caught alight except Alexandra, who has managed to put herself out with only minor burns to her arm.
Marcus got knocked around a bit and he is not feeling great. So not great that he leans on the door frame a moment before collapsing onto his knees, taking his helmet off, and feeling his skull.
Alexandra complains "Why do bad things always happen to my left side," She gestures to her burnt left arm, masked left side of her face and then to Konrad, stood to her left.
Konrad unclips the cutlass from his carbine and swings the gun onto his back, drawing his pistol and holding the cutlass in his off hand. Seeing that Marcus and Alex are still breathing he pokes his head into the front room to see what happened to Klysis and Hoof.
Klysis runs into the kitchen, dragging hoof with her and almost barging into Konrad. She looks around confused for a moment and then clubs a Zadakine baker over the head with her baton a couple of times, knocking him to the floor.
Marcus, remembering the important part, says "Klysis! Konrad! There is a tunnel back there!" This is followed by a stoic: "ouch."
"Shit, where does it go?" Konrad starts reloading his carbine and glares at the Zadakine. "You lot know where that tunnel goes, don't you? I'll get rough with someone if I have to, don't give me an excuse!"
"Under the wall?" Marcus suggests as he leans back, properly sitting down and resting against the wall.
"A tunnel?! Sneaky bastards!" Klysis pulls in Gorbalie and throws her with the other Zadakine and then hits her with her baton for good measure. "I ought to batter the lot of you!" She looks at Alex, "You alright? What the hell just happened? And who is that big ugly bastard?" She points to the dead Brorg-Dao.
"Damnit...” Konard groans. “Klysis, is there any way you can get more guardsmen down here? We might need backup. That fellow came out of nowhere and nearly killed Marcus in the storeroom, I'm worried about how many more could be waiting to ambush us down there."
"Sure, I'll get back up. But...what the hell just happened here?" Klysis asks.
"He... attacked me. I'd guess he was one of those who attacked the merchants. I want to know why that happened, and were the young woman is. If she is alive, maybe I'll be lenient."
"Did you know that flour is flammable?” Konrad asks rhetorically. “Alex bloody well didn't."
Alexandra says "That's not common knowledge! That is an obscure fact most people wouldn't think of in a violent situation." She looks at her gun "Oh you claim you know everything, smarty pants. Always perfect hinde sight when you're around."
Konrad continues "We nearly got ourselves blown up when Alex shot at that woman over there.” He gestures to the still form of the Zadakine woman who tried to grab Grace. She has serious burns on her back, but while unconscious, she seems to be breathing. "I'm not sure what to say about the ugly git sitting in his own blood. Marcus, where did he come from?"
"I found the tunnel and he attacked me from behind.” Marcus explains. “I got him with the pila in the chest. He broke it, the bastard. Got me on the head a couple times." Marcus groans. "Then the explosion. I got lucky, I was knocked on the ground. Then I stabbed him in the side and you shot him, Konrad. That's about it. My shield is in the tunnel. Need to get that."
"I never thought baking seemed very interesting." Muses Alex "But I may have missed my calling. Maybe I'll take some floor home and run some tests."
Klysis says to Alexandra, "Come with me, we'll get you patched up. Konrad and Marcus, watch hoof and these prisoners. And no hurting them. That's the job of official city guards." She whacks at a couple of them with her club, causing them to cower in fear. Alexandra followers her as she leaves, the Golta nursing her wounded arm.
"I suppose I did kill him... that's another notch to carve." Konrad looks at the dead Brorg-Dao, then to a Zadakine, "I told you we'd find what we were looking for eventually, no one had to get hurt if you'd just cooperated with us. One of you, check her," he gestures to the unconscious, and burnt, Zadakine woman, "I hope she's not too badly hurt."
One of the Zadakine goes over and turns her over, checking the woman for more injuries. She seems to be in a survivable condition.
Klysis and Alex arrive back at the guard house. The captain organises for the guards to go down and secure the bakery. Meanwhile she sits Alex down and starts treating her wound herself. She uses a knife to cut off the sleeve of Alex's coat and starts treating her arm with a balm. "Sorry if you liked that coat." She says. "No insult intended. From the looks of you I don't think this is the first time this has happened to you."
When Klysis rips off the sleeve she can see there is little to no fur all the way up to Alexandra's shoulder and it's heavily scarred. "No, the coat is fine, I've got one more I brought with me and I can fix this one later." Alexandra sighs. "Yeah when I was 18 the White Mother saw it fitting to do this to me for my experiments. I make a lot of dangerous bombs, I think maybe the Gods don't want to make that kind of thing too easy to create, if you see what I mean?"
"White Mother? Is that a Golta god?” Klysis asks. “My people have many gods, some as harsh as yours."
"She is the mother to all Golta and very beautiful, she welcomes our dead into the after life and watches over us, I think she did this to me as a toll for what I was working on. She took my beauty, so now I look like this." She takes off her mask, and Klysis can see the left side of her face is scared all to hell and the only fur is the black fur circle that is around her left eye, though Klysis had already seen that most of the left side of her muzzle is covered with scars "I think it was a fair trade, better then killing me and sending me to the Protector and I still look better then any Tolpish."
Klysis doesn't seem fazed by such bad injury. "Fur skins worry too much about appearance. Brorg-dao value strength, in body and spirit. Better to lose your face than a limb, that's what I'd say. Your White Mother must have great work planned for you to survive such wounds. Most would die from less."
She finishes dressing the burns. "You should be alright to go, could have been a lot worse. We need to get back down to that bakery. Knock some heads, find out what those bakers are up to."
Marcus laughs. "You know, you and Alex are natural Brorg-Dao killers. The bastards give me some trouble, it seems." Marcus wrenches his dagger out of the dead man. "I'll get the shield later, it's in the tunnel. Oh, and you know what? There was a crate that I couldn't open."
"We don't have to be within reach of them to attack, that's why.” Konrad says. “As for the crate, we ought to wait for backup before we go back there and check it, I don't want anyone else getting the jump on us."
“No, you're right, I agree, I agree.” Marcus turns to the Zadakine. "What is in that crate? Hmm? And what is this about? You might want to start being honest."
One of the Zadakine speaks up, confidently. "It's full of rolling pins, that's all. We didn't know about any tunnel. That guy must have snuck in while we were out."
"Sure. That's believable.” Marcus says, sarcastically. “That crate was moved a lot. And where is the man who was in there?"
"I don't know, we've never seen him before."
"I meant the Zadakine. Not the Brorg-Dao." Marcus says, annoyed.
"I forgot about him...” Konrad says. “I bet he came out of the tunnel himself, maybe I ought to ask Klysis to have all of them beaten bloody? How do you lot like the sound of that?"
"No, they might not be lying. But the man who was in there? I suspect he was covering the tunnel with the crate." Marcus looks back to the Zadakine. "Which one is he?"
The man raises his hand. "I didn't see him, he must have hid! You didn't see him right away, either!"
"You don't really think we're that stupid, do you?" says Konrad "I'm a little insulted. Either you give us the truth or you keep quiet, I can always ask the captain to single out certain people for some really nasty treatment. I'm sure she'd be happy to oblige." Konrad takes out his pipe and sits on one of the tables. "So, is anyone going to tell us what this is about, because I doubt you're unaware."
Gorbalie, seeing you are not impressed, says: "Look, yeah we let them dig the tunnel to get in the city, so they could avoid paying tolls on goods they were taking out."
"Now we're getting somewhere!” Konrad says. “Did they tell you anything else about the goods? I imagine they paid you as well. Just remember that you can't get much deeper in shit right now, so if you help us it's only going to help you."
"No, they were just taking things out of the city. Goods of some kind. They live out in the outback, loads of em. A little village." Gorbalie is quick to explain.
Hoof starts eating some beard that is sitting around. He hides a couple of loaves in his robes.
"Indeed?” Konrad asks. “I don't suppose you know where this village is?"
"Well, I've never been there, but I can give you a rough idea if you get me a map." Gorbalie says.
"You." Marcus says to Hoof. "Just... don't take any more without asking. Though you've definitely earned yourself a bit of food.” Then to Gorbalie. “Loads of them, eh? Well some of the goods they've been moving out have been stolen from murdered merchants. Not to mention the girl they kidnapped. If you lot are any more responsible for this mess than you say, you'd best hope the Watch kills you quickly."
Konrad pulls the map case from his belt and spreads the map out on the table. Gorbalie points to an area out in the outback. "I think its in that area. The tunnel comes out just outside the city and then you'd need to track through the jungle from there." It looks less than a day's travel away.
"It looks like we'll be doing more trekking through the jungle.” Konrad says, annoyed. “I wonder if we'll run into some of our friends from the beach? And here you wanted to reason with them, telling them we worked for Baldamson, you know better than that now, Marcus!"
“Might not be the same ones.” Marcus grumbles. “And we can go through the tunnel, if we wish. Your guns should be effective there."
"I'd get a good laugh out of it if we did run into the same ones, this time I'll make sure to pulp a few of them before they can thrash you.” Konrad chuckles. “We can take the tunnel, but it still only leads outside of the city walls, probably to just inside the tree-line, out of view of the guards on the wall. We'll have to do some trekking regardless, and I'll probably be stuck scouting again... now I wish I had kept that crossbow."
Lots of guards arrive to secure the bakery, soon followed by Klysis and Alex, who is missing a coat sleave, revealing her bandaged arm. "Alright," says Klysis to Marcus, "did they tell you anything? I am in no mood for any pissing around from these jokers."
Konrad turns to Klysis, "Well captain, they said that the Brorg-Dao was with a group of smugglers who they let dig the tunnel in their shop, and that the bastards used it to avoid paying tariffs on goods. We've got an idea of where their camp is, but it's going to take the better part of a day trekking through the jungle to reach it.”
Alex sees her pistol is still on the ground blackended but undamaged, and holsters it.. "Thanks for picking it up boys," she says sarcastically as she picks it up, reloads it then puts it back in its holster on her hip. "Can we take a little more care of the finely crafted weapons?"
"So who are these people then?" asks Klysis These smugglers? Why are they camped in the outback?"
"Tunnel leads to some kind of enclave, seems like Brorg-Dao. They were trying to skimp on tolls according to the Zadakine. But they were also raiding and pillaging. You know, I'm not so certain about these Zadakine. I doubt they all knew everything about the murders, but..." Marcus shrugs.
"So some crazy clan of settlers, out in the outback, taking to sneaking into town to steal stuff?" Klysis asks for confirmation.
"That seems to be the long and short of it,” Konrad nods, “although it seems odd that they'd suddenly take to murder."
Klysis thinks for a moment. "LYING LITTLE SHITS!" She shouts as she starts beating Gorbalie on the shoulder with her baton, causing the Zadakine to howl in pain. "You expect me to believe that these thugs, who live out in the wilderness, somehow knew where the rich businesses to attack are in the town? And then when they came through the tunnel, armed to the teeth, and then come back covered in blood with sacks of money, you didn't think there was anything suspicious there? Or when they carried back some Ivos girl, that didn't strike you as odd? You think I'm an idiot? THIS IS AN INSULT!" She stops hitting Gorbalie and turns to her guards "Get this filth out of here!”
"Can I deal with bakery once everyone's out?" Asks Alexandra in a cheerful voice. "We don't need this place any more do we?" She pulls out a grenade, tossing it up and down in her hand.
"No!” Konrad barks. “You already nearly blew the place up! Once is enough!"
Alex says "I just don't feel like justice is properly served until there is a retaliatory explosion of some kind."
“Don't worry about dealing with them, Alexandra," Says Kylsis, reassuringly "I'll see to it they get what's coming to them. Alright, we need to scout out this little camp of theirs, find out what we're up against. I want you three with me to do that. " She points to Marcus, Konrad and Alex. "We can take a day or two to heal, then we move out. Once we know the lay of the land, and what forces there are we can come back, get the guards mobilised and round them all up. We need to be careful though, if that girl is still alive we don't want to get her killed by what we do."
"That is true, but the longer we leave her in their claws the less likely she is to survive.” Marcus says. “I just need to quick rest to clear my head and I'll be ready to go. If they took the girl to the village, then she would have just gotten there..."
"I should probably do the scouting myself,” Konrad says, “I was an elite scout in the Golta military during the Nameless War and I've only gotten better with age. Send word to us when you're ready to head out, captain. We'll be at the Cabbage and Onion."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 2, 2015 21:10:23 GMT
Scene 7:
“Oh,” Marcus turns back, “what about Hoof?"
"Him?” Klysis gives it a thought. “Well, he is still guilty of theft... I'm too young to have fought in the war, and I don't really know much about it. I was born over here anyway... so its far off to me. But I dunno, a lot would say being an agent of the West is guilt enough. I thought you lot might be more hard on him... considering that."
"I'm no fan of the West,” Alexandra says. “I wasn't in the war, I was still a young girl at the time, but my mother was killed in the war. But Grace thinks we should let him go for he's been helpful and straight with us."
"I don't really know.” Marcus says. “He might be a menace, but he has been helpful. That and... those from the West are... they are different. Like the most frightened, downtrodden slaves there are. Just seeing what they are like forced me to be kinder to my family slaves. He just doesn't... he has no choice. It seems hard to really blame him." He grits his teeth. "The Fourteen, though, they know what they are doing and chose to be what they are. Damn them."
"Captain, I'd like to talk to you about Hoof... in private please." Konrad says, and Klysis steps over to talk with him, leaving Marcus and Alexandra to their discussion of the war. "Hoof has been helpful, I'll give him that much, but he just doesn't sit well with me. I'm not sure how involved the Brorg-Dao were in the Nameless War, and I you're too young to have fought that one regardless, but the West is as close to pure evil as you can get. So what I'm getting at it this; Hoof admitted that he's a servant of the West, he still prays to the King in the West like he's a god, and he told us that he's been trained as an assassin. He may have got cold feet when it came time to go to Vellastrom, but who's to say he won't grow some stones? He might be afraid of being punished for failing, but what if he thinks he can win back favour by causing mayhem here?” Konrad lets this sink in. "I wouldn't treat him like a common thief, and I bloody well wouldn't just let him go. The man could be very dangerous, so don't you think it's safer for everyone if you just kill him? I'm not one for casually executing people, but I think it would be foolish not to in this case. Don't think I'm telling you what to do, just think about this before you make any decision, and let's not tell my comrades over there that I told you this, I don't think they'd approve..."
"Could you so easily pass up such power if offered?” Alexandra asks Marcus. “The only one of the Fourteen I know of was the Machine, and he was scary.”
"I don't know much about The Machine. But some of them were very powerful, that is true. The Harlequin was a pain, but strategically and tactically no match for my commanding officer Dominius. I can't match that man either, and I'm not a tactical slouch. As for power. I suppose it is understandable to some degree. But they don't have anything to offer me. I'm already powerful enough, personally, and unless they can bring the dead back to life..." Marcus shrugs. "They'd have nothing to offer me."
"Well aren't you the strong willed one," says Alexandra "I dunno what I would do... depends on the deal." Alexandra says.
Konrad walks over grinning, "I know I couldn't be bought. I'm still young...ish, I've money, men at command, and I've yet to fuck up my good looks. What else could a man ask for?” He pretends to think for a moment. “Hmm... on second thought they could probably threaten to kill me; the pleasures the living enjoy aren't much fun when you're dead." He laughs again. "You're buying the first round Marcus, I've lost count of how many times I've saved you're hide."
"I'll buy the first round, as you insist.” Marcus grumbles. “It isn't as if I distracted that one," he gestures in the dead Brorg-Dao's direction, "when he was about to stick an axe in your pretty face."
"And I thank you for that,” Konrad nods, “but you've yet to buy me a drink for the other times I've saved your arse, or the times you've been a pain in my arse. You do remember the beach, right? I'm not letting you live that down."
"What beach? We haven't been on a beach?" Marcus grins. "Yeah, the beach was a mess. But it isn't as if I had other options. And that time it was Alex who saved me. And you do remember that Al-Saigal I stabbed in the throat for you?"
“Hey!" says Alex "Me and Grace saved both your asses on the beach that day, I think we deserve a couple of free drinks for that!"
"I know that Alex saved us on the beach, thank you Alex,” Konrad nods at Alexandra before focusing back on Marcus, “but I told you not to start ordering the Brorg-Dao around, I told you not to bother them about the legality of what they were doing, and I insisted that you shouldn't mention us working for Baldamson. And what do you do? You say we represent Baldamson, you tell them that looting is highly illegal, and you demand that they leave the area at once. I guess you nobles aren't used to dealing with us shady plebs, are you?"
"Shady plebs... hmm. I like that.” Marcus chuckles. “I'm going to be shelling out a lot for you all. Though I suppose you're right. I'm more of a military person, I don't always interact well with civvies.”
"Has that shouting orders ever worked for you since you got here?" Alexandra asks Marcus. "Maybe you should learn people don't always give a shit who you are."
"It isn't because I think people care about who I am.” Marcus says, after giving it some thought. “I don't have much other experience of resolving conflicts with people in other ways. Though it did work for that crowd a little bit."
“Well, I'll have you know that most don't like being told what to do and you could get yourself killed, don't think you're above people because your some big stuff back home." She laughs a little, "we are just the most fucked up group of misfits aren't we? A guy in heavy armour who bosses people around that don't care, an orange guy dressed like a Golta who always talks about the past and how much of a bad ass he's been and then me and Grace are the normal ones.”
Marcus shrugs. "I'm used to command, what can I say? It try to listen though. I do have some basic social skills, at least, and I try to be polite. I only start shouting when I need to make an impact. It gives them an opportunity to surrender."
"I still have what it takes Alexandra, I've been at this for nearly a quarter century, almost as long as you've been alive." Konrad says, annoyed. Then he pauses, like he is remembering something. "Marcus, could I have a word with you when we get back to the tavern? My father-in-law is going to be looking at a deal to supply refined gold to the Ivos Empire over the next few years, we're dealing with a certain nobleman and I'd like some advice on dealing with him. He's a miserable bastard to have as an intermediary."
"Sure. I know about shipping and trade deals.” Marcus grins. “As well as the idiots involved."
"That sounds all rather boring to me!"Alexandra chirps, chipper as usual all the sudden.
Klysis comes over, looking troubled. "I need to think things over about... what to do..." She glances at Konrad, "We'll leave tomorrow to scout out this village. Make yourselves ready for then."
"Don't make any final decisions until after we've scouted the village, for all we know the situation could change somewhat.” Konrad says. “We'll be at the tavern, like usual."
Marcus nods. "Excellent. That will allow me to pick up the sling pellets. Pity I don't have time to modify the pila and add some weight to it, but I'll have time to fix it at least."
The three of them head back to the Cabbage and Onion. Zadakine love an exciting night life, so the cabbage and onion is usually has an fun atmoshere after dark. Eltim keeps Marcus and Konrad well furnished with drinks and three of her sons are playing musical instruments in one corner. The air is heavy with Yowboo smoke.
Alex, on the other hand, heads back upstairs, not being such a fan of loud music, smoke, and drinking.
Marcus has several letters he is busy writing splayed out in front of him. "So Konrad, I know you don't want to talk business, so what's really on your mind. Let's hear it."
Konrad sighs "Well, alright I'll get right too it. It's just that I'm a harsh bastard and a damned realist.” Konrad begins. "The short and sweet is that I told Klysis that Hoof could be far more dangerous than you lot give him credit for, and I told her that she might want to ere on the side of caution and kill the man. You lot seem to think that he's harmless, or at least pathetic enough that he can just be let loose, but I'd have expected you of all people to see just how stupid that is! The man told us that he's a priest of the West, that he was trained as an assassin, and you've seen yourself what the man is capable of when he nearly escaped us this morning. I don't expect that he's serving the West right now, we likely wouldn't have found him if he was, and we definitely wouldn't have taken him alive, but what if he tries to win back favour with his masters? Then we've got a man who can run and jump like the blazes, is probably tougher than boot leather when he wants to be, and is trained in killing important targets in enemy territory. Imagine if that sort of man was let loose on civilians, it would be a nightmare."
"I see." Marcus stops his writing to listen. "You do know that I'd have preferred if you had given Alexandra and I a chance to have some input with Klysis before telling her that? Ignoring that, though, I see your point."
"I would have told you if Alexandra wasn't there, given how she took a shine to Hoof, I wasn't sure what sort of reaction I'd have gotten out of her. More than anything I wanted Klysis to treat that man as a serious threat, the last thing we want is the Watch underestimating him and something happening.”
Marcus sighs. "I'll grant you that, he'll almost certainly go back to petty thievery immediately, and probably be a bit of a thorn in the Watch's side. But... you're right, I did see what he was capable of this morning. As is, here is my impression of him: gore makes him sick and he can't take a life even to escape. You remember when he kicked Alexandra and ran? Had he been truly dangerous, he would have knifed her when she was down. If he had done so, he might have escaped. Furthermore, he knows he will never be forgiven for his lapses. He is more interested in hiding. And even when he thought that The King in the West himself was attacking Alexandra, he cowered and the furthest he went to gain favour was denounce us and descend into feeble prayer. Surely he would have tried to attack us if he thought that would appease his master? He was manacled, true, but he almost escaped them just to start praying.” Marcus thinks for a moment. “As for his being an assassin... and this is conjecture... I think he is a throwaway, not important in the least. He was trained to go after that Nymus, and only that Nymus. Something I doubt his handler's expected him to survive."
"As far as I'm concerned, you must have let vasps eat your brain.” Konrad says flatly. “You're one of Dominius' men, and I know you've seen combat against the West just as I have. Maybe it's because we Golta lost nearly half of our homeland, but I have no sympathy for that wretched little bastard; but for the grace of the White Mother we'd all be like Hoof, if we were lucky enough to keep our lives."
"I'm trying to look at this the same way I'd look at anything. And I don't feel comfortable killing a man for what he might do just because what he is." Marcus grunts. "If I did that... well, you know a Junlock slave killed my wife, yes? He was one of my most trusted slaves, but he turned on me simply because of a deeply engrained cultural attitude. Should I sell all the Junlocks I own? Just because their culture?" Marcus shrugs. "Though I am surprised at the popularity of Junlock slaves."
"No offence Marcus, but you know what I think of owning slaves. Nothing good ever comes of it.” Konrad continues. "That's a bad comparison anyway; no one wants to be a slave, helpless to the whims and demands of someone else. It's awful that Illia got killed, but owning people is just asking for trouble like that if you ask me. You can't compare a Junlock slave to a man from the West. Junlocks like their freedom and hate being imprisoned, let alone enslaved, but the West is just evil, and everything from the West is dangerous. I don't know about you, but I still have nightmares, and I'll never forget the shit I went through. That man is from the West, and that makes him one of the enemy, he's dangerous, and he can't be trusted." Konrad rubs his eyes in frustration, "I'd rather kill an innocent man from the West than even consider risking the life of someone from the civilized world. We'll talk to Alexandra after, she's going to agree with you, and the two of you are going to talk Klysis out of it, I can tell the captain isn't comfortable with this either, but at least if he does something stupid no one can blame me.
"Really? Well, I suppose I shouldn't expect a Golta to understand. You might even be right; maybe the Junlocks having are right to want to slit my throat, Shaledemos knows that I wouldn't have been half so concerned if Averix had tore my throat out!” Marcus raises his voice just a little bit. “But he didn't. The comparison is warranted because, according to you, I shouldn't trust Junlocks. They love their freedom too much. And strange, isn't it, how you side with the slaves in that case, but then turn around and want to have one killed because he might act according to his slavery. What do you think that snivelling thing is? If you have pity for the Junlocks in my household, but none for him? I don't understand you." Marcus groans."But as much as I hate to admit it... you're right. There is a chance he'll come back to haunt... me. If he survives. I doubt Alexandra will care, and you're absolved of blame, if Hoof kills someone. I think that chance is miniscule, but it is still there. It's a damn mess. And fine. I'll admit that much to Klysis. That yes, there is a chance. I think a small chance, but a chance."
“Let me straighten this out;" says Konrad "the majority of Junlocks aren't trying to take over the world, while the West is, which means that I like Junlocks a lot more. I don't expect you Ivos to understand. I've got enough dealing with Alexandra's craziness, without you wanting to set another looney loose."
Marcus smiles "At least she's our looney."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 2, 2015 21:10:48 GMT
Scene 8:
The next morning, Klysis arrives to collect the group. She is wearing a helmet, from which the back curving horns on her head protrude. (Brorg-Dao helmets open on a hinge.) She is just wearing normal cloths and has an axe in each hand, small hand axes on her hips and a couple more axes on her back along with a backpack with supplies. "Alright then, lets get moving. Now from what I've learned from the Zadakine, this is a group of settlers who are living in deliberate isolation. They call themselves Gogarmson's Kin. Apparently they've decided to supplement their income with thievery. The one you killed had traces of Blue Cap Spores on him. When inhaled they produce a sense of invincibility and confidence, a crutch for the weak willed. They're a pretty expensive habit, so that might explain why they are willing to take risks to get more money. All they had to do was pay a small percentage to the bakers to look the other way and point out choice targets, so they'll have gained a lot of money. It's safe to assume they have probably also been raiding travellers and settlers outside the walls, so they may have taken other prisoners. We don't know who they're paying for their spores, or whatever else they might be buying. Money is no good without a seller.
"Hoof will remain in the cells for now till... till I decide what to do with him. I'll deal with that when we get back. Now I don't want anyone doing anything crazy," she looks at Alex, "we need to get in there and get back. We may have to fight, but I would rather we didn't. We've got to gather as much intelligence as we can before I send in the guards and round these raiders up. Remember, they know the terrain and are Brorg-Dao, so they will tough fighters, not soft and squishy like the fur skin warriors you might be used to fighting. We will be going into their back garden here, so don't let your guard down. Let's move."
"So this is just recon, no need to attack if not needed?" Alex is only bring one ammo bag with her for this so moving in this jungle won't be as hard as it would if she brought two. "I can sneak and stuff, avoiding people is something I'm good at."
"Well, the first time I met your father he called us effeminate and weak looking.” Marcus says to Klysis. “I like to think I've killed enough people for him to prove that idea wrong. And I'd wager that Junlock Frost Beserkers can be a good deal larger and more dangerous than most Brorg-Dao. Especially Brorg-Dao so hyped up on drugs they can't think carefully enough. I'd be more worried about clear headed Brorg-Dao than this gang so hyped up on drugs they can't think properly. I've already seen how recklessly violent they are."
"I like your confidence.” Klysis says to Marcus. “Confidence is the first step towards victory. Hopefully you can back it up. I wouldn't wear so much armour though, we are going cross country."
"Take off this armour? I'm an Ivos. This armour is designed to hamper my movements as little as possible. We also march for days in full battle gear, and are expected to fight when we reach our destinations. Legionnaires are not supposed to tire easily." Still, Marcus checks if there is anything extraneous he doesn't need, and removes it for travel.
"As you wish," laughs Kylsis, "but make sure you keep up. I am not carrying anyone!"
Konrad moves up beside Alexandra on the march, "Alright now don't go rushing in and doing anything crazy. Remember this is ust scouting."
Alexandra looks at Konrad. "Crazy? I won't do anything crazy. And I'll keep an eye on Grace so she behaves."
"That'll have to do, Alexandra." Konrad sighs, then looks to Klysis "Captain, how long a march is it to the village? I prefer to do my scouting at night, my eyesight in the dark is very good, and I'm less likely to be spotted myself."
"I'd like to know how thick the trees are in the area around this village, I could make my way through the trees and find a nice out of sight vantage point to provide a distraction or cover fire if needed." Alexandra explains.
"Before we do anything we'll need to find out if and where they keep captives," says Konrad "we don't want them caught in the crossfire, and we don't want the raiders killing the captives when we storm the village either."
"I get that,” Alexandra agrees, “but it's still not a bad idea for me to be up in the trees, it's easier to drop bombs from above."
"The tree idea is good.” Marcus says. “But we should only act once Konrad scouts the area. Even if you can see the captives from there, we need to know the rest of the layout. If it is dark, it may be best to just let Konrad do his thing alone. Ano-Chee have good eyesight, and he inherited that from his father. We can decide once we are there. That's when we'll make the call. No use making solid plans when we don't have enough information, I like to keep the plan fluid until it can be properly solidified."
“Sure.” Alex skips a little bit.
The trek through the jungle is tough going, as always, with thick undergrowth and annoying insects. Occasionally they hear a strange screeching in the distance, an ugly, pained sound they echos through the trees. It gradually grows dark as they walk.
"There are stories of a terrible beast,” Klysis says, “that feeds on the heads of those it kills. They say those are its calls. If such a thing is out there, I hope it is stupid enough to cross my path."
"We've encountered that creature before, well, heard its sound.” Marcus says. “Did your father tell you how he first met us? We were defending a caravan from bandits and protecting a mining claim from Flowers Bloom's henchmen. We didn't mention it to him later, but when we were fighting to defend the caravan the first time we heard a screech just like that. Made everyone stop for a moment. I'd taken a Frost Beserker shot to the head, but that cleared my mind pretty quickly."
Konrad says "I've never seen anything that makes a sound like that. Even the biggest Veth can't skreech that loud."
"You fur skins sure do yack a lot.” Klysis states, without looking around. She ducks down and lowers her voice, gesturing for the others to do the same "Konrad needs to scout ahead, I can see lights. It might be the village."
Marcus nods and stays hidden from the light.
"So should I get up in a tree and go with him or no?” Alex asks. “I'm fine with staying if it seems like a better idea to you guys."
"If you think you can keep up with him, sure.” Klysis says. “Just be careful."
"I don't need to keep up, no point in us look in the same place now is there captain?" She takes off her ammo bag she takes out a two shells and puts them in different pockets and does up her coat. "Watch my bag for me please." With Grace on her back she climes up a tree and then quietly moves from tree to tree where it is possible towards the light.
Klysis hisses to Marcus. "She could have waited to find out where Konrad was going to go before rushing off..."
Konrad stops his observation for a moment. "It looks like they've gathered in that bigger house there... a mead hall maybe? I'm not what you'd call an expert on Brorg-Dao society. I'll try to get as close as I can while I'm still confidant I won't be spotted, the last thing we want is to have them know that we're here before we're ready to attack, they might kill any captives they have." He sits down on a log and pulls his boots off, "I'll leave my boots and coat here, they're too loud and too white to wear while I'm sneaking around, hopefully we'll be able to deal with this situation without it turning out like Last Cove did, that was a fucking nightmare..." With that, Konrad takes off, silently, towards the buildings.
After a moment, Marcus speaks up quietly. "Klysis. Do you want my opinion on Hoof? Konrad told me about what he advised you."
"I suppose you wish me to kill him as well? Ivos practicality?" Klysis says quietly.
"Surprisingly... in your place, I wouldn't.” Marcus says. “I see the risk as... possible. But unlikely. Don't get me wrong, he'll probably continue with petty thievery. But he wants to hide from The West, not go back to it. And the most he did when he thought his Master was personally attacking Alex is contort himself into a strange shape and start praying. He's frightened and gets sick at the sight of gore. Yes, he has the skills to be dangerous, but he'd have to receive a direct order... and I think that unlikely. The West isn't all knowing, despite what Hoof may think. That and... his previous mission was a throwaway one. He wasn't coming back." Marcus almost shudders. "They viewed him as utterly disposable. And from a perspective of morality and justice..." Marcus sighs. "He should be let go." Marcus gives her a sympathetic glance. "You do realize, that in advising this, his future actions become partially my responsibility to bear, but not as much as yours. Your duty is to the Watch and Port Yorgerson. If you judge execution to be worth it on a pragmatic level, you will have done your duty and failed in your duty. If you judge he should be freed, as perhaps justice dictates, you will also have done your duty, and may fail your duty in the future. You've got a very difficult choice."
"This hoof is a troublesome little creature, isn't he?" Says Klysis, smiling. "He is causing me no end of headaches."
"Yes. He's a pain. The worst thing... is you can't really say it's his fault for it either. He's a beaten down slave who literally worships his master. That is terrifying, the poor thing. And of course, if the West contacted him here, that means they'd be here and have a purpose. We'd all be pretty much doomed at that point, there isn't a lot Port Yorgerson and Fort Gerrit combined could do against a fair sized invasion force. In fact... I'm concerned Rhoadira would make a decent base of naval operations for The West. Hopefully the Evils don't come up with the same thought." Marcus shrugs.
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Post by Horsie on Jan 2, 2015 21:11:19 GMT
Scene 9:
Alex continues to work her way between the thick branches of the tree tops.
Eventually she reaches the edge of the tree line, where a clearing has been cut amongst the forest. Below her she can see five log cabins of various sizes. The largest one has a glow coming from inside.
The occasional figure can be seen walking around in the darkness around the cabins and the surrounding trees.
Konrad advances through the forest. He notices the large shapes of figures, though in the darkness he can't pick out any details of them. He would guess from their outline they are Brorg-Dao. He keeps low to the ground, moving slowly. He tries to count how many lookouts are guarding the approach to the village from this direction, he also tries to guess how many people might live in the village. As he gets closer he keeps an eye out for somewhere to keep captives, maybe a pen, or one of the huts.
Alex moves around the village. There are cleared areas behind the houses that seem to be for to grow crops and to graze gimbits. Seeing as there is not much else she can do she tries to spot Konrad, before resolving to head back.
Konrad manages to evade the figures patrolling the jungle and get closer. There are a couple of log cabins that don't look to have any windows. He would need to get closer to tell if either contains any captives. Konrad has a hard time judging how many people would live in a village like this, as it would depend on their level of comfort. Also there could be more houses in other similar clearings nearby.
He moves closer still, trying to get a better look at the cabins without windows, as those are likely to be the best places to keep captives. But as the mead hall is nearer, he moves to check that out first. Konrad darts across the open and flattens himself against the wall of the cabin. Looking in through the crack between the shutters on a window, he can see a scene of drinking and eating.
Brorg-Dao, mostly men with a few women, are sat at several long tables. Younger Brorg-Dao girls and women are serving horns of ale and plates of roast meat to those present. A large Brorg-Dao at one end of one of the tables is sat in a large, decoratively carved chair. "There are a lot of ways you can get killed out there." He says, loudly. "Norgok could have slipped down a slope and broken his neck, something could have eaten him, bandits... all sorts of things... could just be late, lazy bastard busy drinking in town."
"But what if the city people got him?" Asks one of the Brorg-Dao at his table. "What if he talks?"
"What?!" The father roars and throws a lump of meat at the one who spoke. It misses, sailing over the target's head and landing on the straw covered ground where several grobla's start fighting over it. "You think your brother would betray us? No...no chance of that."
"There's enough now to pay, isn't there?" Asks another warrior.
"Aye, you've done good work my sons, good work. The Brotherhood will be paid. Speaking of which... wives, bring us more spores!"
Several female Brorg-Dao bring out plates piled with a blue powder. The Brorg-Dao snort small amounts of it through small wooden tubes.
"Let me tell you of my victory!" Says one of them, standing up. "I bested two fierce fur skins, came at me with blade and tusks! A lesser warrior would have fled!"
Konrad remains unseen, for now so he looks around for patrolling Brorg-Dao, if he can check the windowless cabins for captives he will, at the very least listening at the doors. Suddenly, Konrad has to duck down as a couple of guards walk by, both armoured in chainmail and helmets and carrying axes and shields. Once they have passed, Konrad moves over one of the windowless cabins. There are two Brorg-Dao warriors stood guarding the door. It looks like it's some kind of shed.
Konrad takes note of the guarded cabin, he figures if they are keeping captives that would be the place. He backs off, intending to move away to the rest of the group waiting in the tree line. Just as he starts moving away, though Konrad notices a figure going over to the other windowless cabin from the drinking hall. The single guard on this building nods to them, opens the door and lets them inside. This causes Konrad to stop for a moment to study the cabin that the Brorg-Dao went into, before he carefully makes his way behind it and presses his ear to the wall. Listening against the side of the building, he can hear sound from inside, but is unable to make out who or how many are speaking.
Then Konrad hears a, muffled, female voice with a Brorg-Dao accent speaking. "They'll come and collect you tomorrow." She says.
Judging from what he heard Konrad suspects that the Brorg-Dao are either buying the spores from the Yellow Brotherhood, paying to keep them away, or both, and he thinks they're going to add the Ivos girl to their next payment. He looks back to where the others are waiting. I'll need their help, he thinks, we can't wait for the attack tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Alex has still not caught sight of Konrad and is just thinking about going back to the others. She notices a group of three figures moving in her direction on ground level. She goes very still, confident in her hiding spot. I don't know where they're going, she thinks, I can't tell, I hope they're not going towards the captain. Once they disappear she begins to make her way back to the others. However, it is dark and she loses her footing for just one instant. She falls against another branch, so her body is bent over it. The impact knocks the wind out of her. The sling holding Grace snaps and the gun tumbles away into the darkness.
Alex swears in her head as she sees Grace fall, she works herself up to a sitting position then starts working her way down quietly and slowly to look for her gun. Alexandra's Golta magic gives her a good sense of the position of her weapon, even through the darkness. She climbs down the tree and starts feeling her way through the under growth.
Suddenly, she hears a roar from behind her. "Trespasser! Stop right there!"
Konrad's ears perk up when he hears the lookout shouting. "That idiot got spotted, so much for surprise." He fits the cutlass to his carbine and cocks the weapon.
That moment, the Brorg-Dao woman exits the building Konrad is hiding next to. The guard says "Get inside" to her, pointing to the main hall. She sets off running in that direction. The guard begins to move off, but then looks back into the shed and decides to remain where he is.
The barking of groblas can be heard, along with a lot of commotion. Figures are running around in the darkness in the direction of the shouting.
Marcus and Klysis can also hear the commotion. Klysis narrows her eyes and twirls one of her axes around her hand. "This is going to get messy. Think you can handle that, Marcus?"
"Certainly. Ridiculous odds is what I do. I'll have a hard time if they bring groblas, though. I hate killing those things, it makes me feel bad." Marcus chuckles. "Lets go."
"I never feel bad killing anything that can fit my whole head in its mouth!"
The two of them head off through the jungle, Klysis stays low and moves slowly to try to avoid being seen. Marcus following her, moving as stealthily as he can.
Konrad hesitates. He could go in the direction of the shouting, but decides against it. This is dangerous, he thinks, but here goes nothing... he slings his carbine and draws his dagger. He creeps up behind the larger man, making sure that he isn't spotted by the other Brorg-Dao rushing off to the forest. When he gets closer he springs up and wraps his arm tight around the man's throat, simultaneously driving the knife into his back several times, going for the artery alongside his spine.
The force of the jabs is enough to pierce the touch scales of the Brorg-dao's back. Spurts of warm blood spray over Konrad's forearm until the warrior goes limp, dropping his axe to the ground. Konrad looks around quickly and does not think he has been noticed. He pokes his head into the shed.
In the shed, chained to a stake in the ground, is an young Ivos woman, two Zadakine women and a Darsai woman. There is bowl with vegetables in it that they were eating when Konrad enters, startling them as he does so. Konrad grabs the Brorg-Dao and hauls him into a corner, taking the keys from his belt.
Konrad begins unlocking the manacles. "I'm Konrad, I'm a mercenary working for the Yorgerson Watch, and you're all bloody lucky I decided to snoop around tonight, otherwise you'd be going off with the Yellow Brotherhood." Once he has the manacles undone he open the door a crack and crouches down with his carbine propped next to him and his pistol in hand, "I hope you're ready to run if we have to, ideally I'd have you stay here until the fighting is done, but we mightn't have that luxury. If one of those bastards comes here I'll have to kill him and we'll all have to leg it out of the village before they all come after us. So while I figure out what we're doing, how about you tell me about your hosts?"
The Darsai woman speaks to Konrad. "They're all crazy, they live out here thinking the people in the city are out to get them. They only captured young women to trade to the Brotherhood, they murder everyone else they come across. They killed my husband when we were travelling through the woods taking lumber out to some settlers, and brought me here. I think...." She looks around and seems a bit distressed "I think they might have eaten his body."
One of the Zadakine women says: "They keep the money they've stolen in that building there." She points to the other windowless building. One of the guards has moved away to investigate the commotion. "There is only one guard there now, if you can kill him we can take some of the cash with us."
"Are you insane?" Asks the Darsai woman. "We need to go! We should get out of here while they're distracted."
"And let those bastards keep our hard earned money? After all they've done? I want to make them suffer!” The Zadakine insists. “Konrad, you said you're a mercenary, surely you want to collect a bonus for yourself while we're here? I guarantee there is more cash in there than you are getting paid and most of the owners are dead."
"Well that's why I like you Zadakine.” Konrad says, “but I've already got more money than I want, I'm just out here because I'm stupid, reckless, and pretending I'm young." Konrad eyes the guard. "Although if I can sneak up on that bastard and put a knife in him quiet-like... one less drug-addled thug should make our work here easier, and it's not like I can sneak you girls past him if he's standing there..." He gestures to the women to follow him really quietly.
Konrad sneaks up behind the guard on the shed. Konrad is tall and thin, so is slightly taller than the guard, though far less bulky. He catches hold of the guard from behind, stabbing him in the back.
The guard struggles and attempts to call for help, however the Darsai woman with Konrad grabs the guard's snout with her hands, clamping it shut until he goes limp.
With him dead, the Zadakine woman who spoke before, takes the keys from the dead guard and opens the shed. Within are large boxes with rope handles on the sides. "Quick! Grab some!" says the Zadakine, taking hold of the handle on one side of a box.
Konrad drags the corpse inside the second shed, thanking the Darsai.
He scowls at the Zadakine and looks at the boxes, "Come on, we'll break our necks trying to carry all of this through a jungle at night." Konrad pokes at a box of jewellery and pulls out a silver ring. "Though... I'm sure you could talk the Watch into letting you keep a portion of this, some of it is yours after all. If you don't trust them then I suggest you hide what you can on your person, but don't expect me to be able to do anything if they find it on you and lock you up for theft or something silly like that."
The Zadakine responds quickly. "I don't need the money! I'm taking revenge here! If it makes you feel better we can hand it to the Watch, or throw it in the jungle. This is retribution on these savages. I want them to pay for what they've done. Now they know they're discovered they'll have emptied this place by morning. This is our chance to strike at them! You're a big lad, you could easily carry one and we we could carry one between two of us, no problem."
Konrad does recall from dealing with Zadakine that when they talk about 'paying for crimes' they mean it in a literal sense, and view justice as something that can be settled financially. They also hold grudges very firmly until they feel they have been compensated.
The Darsai woman says "Zadakine are all bloody mad!"
The Zadakine narrows her eyes. "And I just thought, tomorrow the Yellow Brotherhood are going to be coming expecting payment from these guys. We just need to hide a load of their money in the jungle till after that. Do you know what the Yellow Brotherhood do to people they think are trying to cheat them?" She grins, evilly.
"We're going to wipe the bastards out if we can, at least that's what I figure the Watch wants to do. If you're willing to risk your life hiding this stuff that's your choice, but I'm not going to put the others in danger if they don't want to go along with this. You make perfect sense, but I don't want any more bad memories to keep me up at night." Konrad looks out at the village again, trying to spot the lookouts and anyone standing guard in the village itself. "I don't know anything about the Yellow Brotherhood, besides them being yellow, but these Brorg-Dao will be just as dead regardless of who kills them and how long it takes."
"They'll be gone by morning now they know they've been found.” The Zadakine explains. “Unless the guards are here right now, they'll escape unless we do something. They're more than capable of building a new village somewhere else. These people live in the outback. If we take their money there will be no where they can hide on Rhoadira. Not with the Brotherhood after them. I can't carry enough myself to make a difference. If we want to hurt them I'll need all of you to help. We can carry the boxes out about half an hour and them just throw them into the undergrowth. The outback is huge, no one will ever find them, certainly not by tomorrow."
Konrad pokes his head outisde and can't see any guards near the shed they are in, he reckons if they make a run for it now they have a good chance of getting away unnoticed.
"You heard Konrad, lets just go and let the guards deal with them!" Says the Darsai woman, "you're going to get us all killed trying to settle scores."
"Damn it..." Konrad looks at the Darsai, "I'm sorry to say this, but she's got a point. We've only come with a scouting party, without knowing how many are in the village we don't know if we're outnumbered, so the captain will probably want to fall back and wait for our reinforcements to arrive. If that happens they'll grab their payment for the Brotherhood, go deeper into the jungle and start killing again, only the next time they'll be harder to find and stop. If we can hide this crap, even just dump it out of sight, then they can't hide in the outback. So, who's in?"
The Darsai woman rolls her eyes. "Fine, lets just get going then. Its always bloody money with you Zados, one way or another!" The women pick up two boxes between them. "Alright," says the Darsai "What now?"
"Can any of you fight?” Konrad asks, and they shake their heads. “Just in case...” He gives his dagger to the Darsai, she showed some real initiative when she helped kill the guard. "I guess it doesn't matter which direction we go in, as long as it's away from the village." With that Konrad hefts a box onto his shoulder and leads the way to the edge of the village, keeping an eye out for any Brorg-Dao hiding in the darkness. He has a compass with his kit, good eyesight in the dark, and a good sense of direction, they won't get lost easily.
Alexandra makes a dash for Grace, but is unable to reach the gun before several large figures come bearing down on her, rushing through the under growth. She can't make them out well in the darkness, but they are coming at her very quickly, roaring with rage. She runs towards the nearest tree, but a thrown axe pins into the tree right next to her head, and the pursuers are getting closer.
Alexandra drops down from the tree and draws her pistol as she flees. One of the Brorg-Dao chasing her yells at her; "Get back here or we'll set the Grobla's on you!" She can hear barking, and also light from torches carried by approaching warriors.
"Sod that!" She yells, pulls out a grenade from her pocket, whacks the base hard on a tree to activate the mechanism inside then turns and throws it behind her at a tree near her chasers, and then she turns and keeps running.
The esplosive round slams into the tree, the impact setting it off. Hurling the warriors giving chase to the ground. As Alex runs she can hear barking and snarling behind her, which sounds like it is getting closer very quickly. She holsters the pistol and dashes partway up the nearest tree when she suddenly feels a sharp, stabbing pain in her ankle as the jaws of some creature bites onto her. She is forcefully pulled down from the tree trunk and crashes to the ground on her back in the prickly under growth.
Alex pulls her dagger from her boot and plunges it into the creature attacking her. It is a Grobla, a fur covered creature with a wide mouth that opens in four directions. The smaller side "jaws" each have a single barb to help them latch onto the flesh of things they bite. They have long, weasel like bodies with their arms and legs mounted on the sides like a lizard rather than under their bodies. The creature convulses but maintains its grip. After a few more stabs it collapses, but its jaws remain locked in place, Alex's blood running from its mouth.
By this point Marcus and Klysis are running through the forest, they can see fiery torches up ahead amongst the trees, still some way off.
Alexandra tries to pry the dead grobla's mouth off her leg, muttering angrily as she does so. "Fucking piece of fucking shit get the fuck off my foot!" But as she pries the thing's mouth off, she looks up to see another snarling Grobla coming rushing through the under growth towards her, its disproportionately large mouth open and ready to latch on. She pulls up her pistol and fires, for a moment she winces as the open mouth comes hurtling at her, and then feel the thing's lifeless body land on top of her, a hole shot through its head.
She puts a hand against a tree and pulls herself up. Her ankle seems quite badly injured, she would not be able to do more than limp on it. A Brorg-Dao warrior, holding an axe and dressed in a chainmail shirt over his clothes, rushes towards her, attempting to barge into her with his shoulder. She grips the blade of her knife and throws it hard at his head. The knife glances off his head, causing him to scream in pain and lose his footing. He crashes into her, knocking her against the tree and then falls to the ground clutching his head.
At this point Alexandra blacks out.
Konrad and the women flee with the crates into the tree line. The Brorg-Dao are too preoccupied to realise that they have escaped with the cash, and so for now do not seem to be giving chase.
"The Brorg-Dao will be busy with my comrades, judging from that explosion. We'll keep going until we're sure they won't find the money. Let's just try to avoid making too much noise, I'm not sure what could be out here." Konrad keeps his head on a swivel, watching the terrain for a good place to hide the crates, looking for any sign of animals or, White Mother forbid, anyone following them, his ears darting to listen at the slightest sound.
Konrad stops for a moment and turns back towards the village, they haven't gone too far, but the foliage muffles much of the sound. "I think I heard some shouting back there... I hope I don't have to tell Marcus' son that the poor bastard got eaten by madmen. We'll have to be careful when we've finished hiding this, I'll have to scout the village to make sure we aren't walking into an ambush when we return." He turns back in the direct they'd be walking, listening for movement, "Right, let's keep going."
Then a little later Konrad stops again, this time hearing screams and finally a series of explosions coming from somewhere far behind them. "That was loud. It sounds like Alex set off most of her bombs at once... I've got a sinking feeling that we'll be making our way back to town without the others, if we're lucky we might run into the Watch reinforcements on our way."
"Is it the others that are making all that noise?" Asks the Darsai woman.
"Yes, I had an Ivos, another Golta, and a Brorg-Dao Watch captain with me. I saw a trail leading further out into the wilderness when we were leaving, so it's possible that there might be another village near that one. If that's the case I can't see my friends taking them all on, hopefully they did the smart thing and turned tail, but even then..." He turns and keeps walking, "Even if they ran they'd have a hard time keeping ahead of those drug-fuelled villagers, and that's assuming no one is wounded. If any of them got killed... well, it sounds like they took some with them when they did."
After a while of fleeing, the Zadakine who suggested stealing the money speaks up. "Are we going to carry this stuff back to town, or stash it somewhere and come back for it later? I think we're far enough out that they aren't going to come chasing us."
Konrad stops again. "Let's just drop it here. We don't know who or what could be out here in the bush, and I'd at least like to keep you four from getting killed. We'll try to get back to town... and then Baldamson is going to knock my teeth in for getting his daughter killed." He reaches into the box he was carrying and takes a few assorted rings and other jewellery from a bag, "You might as well take a few things for yourselves, I know I am."
The women fill their pockets, put rings on their fingers and generally take what they can before putting the boxes down. The Zadakine woman tries to use Konrad's compass to pin point the location of the boxes, but Konrad suspects the odds of ever finding them in the jungle are very low indeed.
After a long trek, Konrad and the women reach the gates of Port Yorgerson. Baldamson is waiting at the gates with a force of about fifty guards, evidently prepared to set off into the jungle.
Konrad is far too worn out from this mission to contemplate accompanying them.
"Where is Klysis?" Baldamson immediately demands.
"I don't know where she is. I went ahead to scout the village and find the captives," Konrad jerks a thumb towards the women, "but as soon as I found them all hell broke loose, one of the others must have been spotted by the villagers. Those maniacs are dealing with the Yellow Brotherhood, and they've been using the goods they steal to pay them off, so the five of us took off with their loot and ditched it. We figured that the Yellow Brotherhood would go after them if they lost a payment, and I thought the others would have the good sense to run rather than fight a dozen warriors on their own." Konrad sighs and takes a pull from his flask, "I don't know what to tell you, maybe they got away, but I doubt it. I wish I could have helped them, but I was more worried about getting these ladies to safety."
The commander grabs Konrad by the collar, snarling and showing rows of sharp teeth. After a moment he releases Konrad and takes out a map. "Show us where they are, and we'll move."
Konrad points at the location of the village on the map, "I'm not sure what you'll find there, I saw about a dozen warriors and I killed two of them myself, but it looked like there might be other settlements nearby. Good luck, I'll be at the tavern if you need me, I've got some things I need to think over in case the others don't come back."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 2, 2015 21:11:46 GMT
Scene 10:
Alexandra awakens to the feeling of sharp pain from her bleeding leg. She is thrown thrown roughly to the ground in the village clearing. There are Brorg Dao warriors stood all around her.
"She killed Stortak! Maybe others!" Says a booming voice ahead of her.
"And look at my head!" she can see the Brorg-Dao who got hit on the head with a knife showing his rather grisly wound to an older looking Brorg-Dao (the patriarch that Konrad observed before, who is now holding a bullwhip).
"I want her lungs for this!" Snarls an especially large, bare-chested warrior holding a two-handed axe, whose voice is the booming one she heard. "I'll rip them out of her with my own claws!"
"You'll have them, my son" says the patriarch "But not yet. She may have secrets she does not want us to get. I want to know what she was doing here. City folk, working against us, obviously...but we should know what they're up to. After that..." He leans closer to Alex, so she can smell his rancid breath "...then we'll make her wish she'd never been born."
Klysis and Marcus can see four Brorg-Dao warriors making their way back to the village through the jungle. One of them is helping a badly injured comrade.
"I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding,” Alexandra lies, “I was just out hunting in the dark when one of your boys yelled that I was intruding, I got scared and ran and when they started attacking me I had no choice but to defend myself, I'm sure a fine man like yourself can understand my position in this." she says in her soft voice as she stares back at him.
"Lying scum!" He strikes her across the shoulder with his whip with great force. This triggers something in Alexandra's addled mind. Already stressed, she giggles like a little child, and then stops.
The patriarch seems taken aback by this reaction and hesitates, regarding his captive uncertainly.
Marcus leans to Klysis and whispers. "Lets thin them out. We get close enough, you on one side, I on the other. I'll hit the one closest with a sling stone, you throw one of those axes, I'll throw the pilum, and rush the one supporting the wounded fellow, hopefully before he can do much. It should be over fairly quickly."
Klysis shakes her head. "Just move quick, don't stop." She hurls an axe at one of the Brorg-dao, striking him in the back of the head, causing a spray of blood to burst from the man's skull as he falls forwards. Klysis then rushes forward towards the rest of this group.
Marcus hurls the pilum at the other free standing Brorg-Dao, draws his sword, and moves in after the one supporting the wounded Brorg-Dao. The point of the pilum punches through the man's chainmail, impaling him in the back. He collapses forward.
Klysis reaches the remaining two first, darting low and striking the unwounded man on the knee with her axe, causing him to fall to the ground and drop his wounded comrade. She does not stop to finish them off but just continues running towards the clearing.
Marcus, sheaths the sword, slams his shield into the two wounded Brorg-Dao to ensure they don't toss an axe at his or Klysis' back, then rips the pilum out and continues running after Klysis.
The Brorg-Dao leader pauses for a moment, and then grabs Alex by the shoulder and starts driving his clawed thumb into the front of her shoulder, trying to illicit a reaction. He is very strong and his claw is very sharp, but Alex continues to grin at him, offering only strange laughter.
Klysis and Marcus can see into the clearing and see the Brorg-Dao gathered around what can be assumed to be Alex.
Marcus decides it's time to do a Lungoss impersonation. A little surprise and insanity should work well in their favour. "Klysis, you have plenty of throwing axes? Stay back and use them, then get in there. I'm going to charge right in and make a mess."
Klysis shouts over her shoulder "Heh, me staying back... you Ivos and your jokes!"
She charges head long at the Brorg-Dao, throwing her axe horizontally, taking a big chunk out of one warrior's neck before pulling two axes from her back. She jumps out of the tree line and hits a Brorg-Dao in the back of the neck while still in the air.
"Tactics. Brorg-Dao have none." Marcus mutters as he follows Klysis, once again throwing his pilum.
A Brorg-Dao is hit with the pilum just above the hip and curls up in pain. Marcus then rushes in amongst them, stabbing frantically at the warriors around him. Klysis leaps at her enemies, knocking down their shields with one axes so she can strike at them with the other.
Seeing her opportunity, Alexandra pulls out a concealed knife and stabs it into the Patriarchs forarm, causing him to recoil in pain.
One of the Brorg-Dao swings an axe downward towards Marcus' head. Marcus pulls the shield upwards to absorb the shot of the axe on the rim of the shield, then steps in against his opponent, thrusting up into the Brorg-Dao's stomach. The Brorg-dao lets out a painful gurgle and slumps against Marcus' shield, who pushes the dying man off so he can keep fighting.
A warrior with a sword and shield steps towards Marcus from the right side and takes a back handed swing at this body. Marcus intercepts the sword with his own, flicking it up and over his head while his shield strikes the Brorg-Dao in the upper knee with a crack, causing him to fall to one knee in pain. Marcus notices another Brorg-Dao rushing at him with an axe raised. He also notices another warrior hurling an axe towards Klysis, who is preoccupied hacking an opponent in the chest with her two weapons.
Marcus steps in the way to block the thrown axe with his shield. The weapon thuds solidly into it, blade first. He then brings up his sword to fend off the axe blow, striking the weapons shaft to knock it to the side. As this Brorg-Dao attempts to bring his weapon around to strike again, another of them rush forward, attempting to barge into Marcus' shield to knock him over.
Marcus adjusts for the charge, waits for the impact, and then shifts his own weight, ducking slightly, using his sword arm to brace the shield, and lets the impact hit, but since his centre of gravity is now lower, he lets the shield shift so that he can lift and throw the Brorg-Dao, using his own momentum against him. This works like a charm, flinging the charging Brorg-Dao over Marcus' shoulder and into one of his other comrades. Marcus then strikes a warrior bringing a weapon around in the face with his shield, sending a spray of blood from the warriors mouth and knocking him off his feet.
Marcus looks up and sees the huge, shirtless Brorg-Dao holding a large, double headed battle axe with both hands. He has a mad look in his eye and flecks of foam around his mouth. Around his nose can be seen remnants of blue powder which he seems to have quickly snorted when the fight started. He leans forward and lets out a thunderous roar before charging at Marcus and swinging his axe towards the Ivos' body in a huge arc. Marcus lifts the shield up, and punches the bottom edge into the axe haft. This successfully stops the swing, but there was such force behind it that Marcus staggers back, unable to follow up, while the Brorg-Dao simply brings the axe around for another swing.
Marcus leaps back, just narrowly avoiding the axe swing. He then springs forward, delivering a deep cut into the Brorg-Dao's forearm. The large warrior gives only a slight reaction despite the messy injury. However, his weakened arm slips off the axe as he draws it back and takes a one handed chop diagonally down at Marcus.
A Brorg Dao warrior running over towards Marcus has his lower leg sliced off by a thrown axe from Klysis. She strikes an opponent next to her in the stomach with one axe, causing him to double forward. She releases this axe and uses his falling body as a stepping stone to jump up and strike down with her other axe over another opponents guard, hitting him in the shoulder with an unpleasant crunch.
Marcus swings the shield up and out to knock the axe aside and sparks fly from the shield as the axe strikes it. Suddenly Marcus' sword lashes out in a quick jab. The Brorg-Dao rushes forward attempting to grab at his opponent, but Marcus' sword finds its mark and the Brorg-Dao but stumbles past Marcus, flailing his arms and grasping at the air. His mind has been affected by enough blue spores to null almost all pain, but Marcus' thrust has pierced his heart and the blood pressure in his body is dropping rapidly. His head lolls back and he collapses to his knees before falling forward on the grass.
A warrior with a shield and sword charges from one of the nearby buildings towards Marcus and Klysis, screaming a war cry. Klysis hurls her axe at him, but he holds up his shield to block and keeps running. She then grabs the handle of the axe in Marcus' shield, puts her foot against it and pulls it free, spinning round to hurl it at the new attacker. As he lowers his shield to see where he is going the axe strikes him in the chest knocking him off his feet.
The patriarch of the clan, who has so far stood back form the fighting, clutching his injured arm, looks distressed as the warriors around Klysis and Marcus are either dead, injured or stunned. He drops his bull whip and takes a couple of steps back. However, cries go up from the forests behind him, as more Brorg-Dao warriors charge into the clearing. Dozens of them can be seen rushing into view, presumably from other connected villages nearby.
"We're done here!" says Klysis urgently, turning to flee. As she does so she takes the pack that Alex left for her to look after from her back.
Marcus sheaths his sword and follows Klysis, yanking the pilum from the body of the Brorg-Dao as he goes."Looks like Alex got out." He looks at the bag. "Don't drop that, we might need it.”
When Marcus and Klysis reach the tree line, she stops, spins the bag around over her head by the strap. "Oh, I'm not going to just drop it!" She flings the bag by the straps back into the clearing, onto a burning torch dropped by a Brorg-Dao. She turns to follow Marcus as the bag ignites. The flames cause the pyronite to explode, hurling spare grenades into the air which then also explode in a spectacular conflagration. "That should make them think twice about following."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 2, 2015 21:12:32 GMT
Scene 11:
Running through the jungle Marcus and Klysis see Alexandra leaning against a tree. She appears very badly injured. She has managed to locate the grenade launcher, but now seems to be in a very bad way. She is mumbling incoherently to herself and seems oblivious to her surroundings.
Marcus tries to help steady her "Alex? Can you walk? That's a stupid question. We need to move, but Alex can't at the moment. If I put her on the shield I should be able to carry her if she curls up a bit. Klysis? Some help?" He takes his shield and braces it against a tree, boss side down so the concave of the shield makes lying in it possible. "Unless anyone has a better idea, I vote we use the shield as a stretcher.”
Klysis and Marcus bandage Grace as best they can and carry her on the shield, with one of them taking hold of each end. Alex clutches the grenade launcher to her body as she is carried and continues to mumble incoherently. It seems like the Brorg-Dao are not giving chase.
"A great battle and a greater victory, worthy of Brorg-Holm." Klysis says, sounding quite pleased with herself.
"Yes, Klysis. Two of us against who knows how many of them? And we just ran in there, either like a bunch of crazy Junlock berserkers who have no understanding of the word "tactics" or like Lungoss himself on a rampage. It worked out surprisingly well. It shouldn't have, but it did. I hope Konrad found the captives and what this was all about, though. That is quite important. Without that information this was useless." Marcus chuckles. "And thank you for stopping that charging one. You throw axes masterfully."
"Thanks," Klysis says. "You can't go wrong with an axe. And surprise attacks are a valid tactic! They sure didn't see that coming. We made it count when it mattered. I suppose you think I am soft like your Ivos women, and wouldn't be able to go toe to toe? Hehe, you Ivos men couldn't handle Brorg-Dao women, you'd get snapped in half on your wedding night!"
"Hah!” Marcus laughs. “No. Not at all. A Junlock woman almost took my shoulder off with a falx once. I'm not about to underestimate any woman after that! Though I did think you should've stayed back, throwing most of your axes at the ones who seemed to figure out what was going on first, before you charged in. But I that was more my Ivos way of seeing ranged weaponry. You proved me wrong on that point. Had you already thrown all your axes, you wouldn't have been able to get that other fellow running at me."
"Never noticed how small you were till I was looking up at you, that or it's the lack of blood." Alexandra mumbles.
Marcus continues speaking with Klysis "But don't underestimate Ivos women. Some are quiet, meek, unassuming, dutiful, and terribly boring. They'll poison you in a heartbeat if you make them angry enough. Others are manipulating, cunning, and always get what they want. Some are normal. Some have a temper, wit, can be decidedly vicious and are great fun. The normal ones and the fun ones almost never end up married to the nobility though."
"Brorg-Dao women will headbutt you as a sign that they're interested. Or that they want to kill you..." says Klysis thoughtfully. "Alex, you must rest, save your strength. You shouldn't be in a rush to get to Brorg-Holm... or where ever they put dead Golta."
"My wife threw an entree at me." Marcus chuckles to himself.
"Entree? Hmm perhaps she is more Brorg-Dao then most... Entree is a kind of club, isn't it?"
"No. It's a type of food category. But it came with a rather heavy plate."
"Hmm, a plate will do.”
"Yes... it certainly did. And then after a Junlock assassin had torn her throat out and was trying to kill our son, she stabbed him in the leg... cut something important. Tougher than most Ivos women."
"Oh," Klysis looks a bit shocked. "I didn't know she was dead. I meant no insult to her or you."
"No... no insult. She... she would have liked being compared to a Brorg-Dao."
Scene 12
Gogarmson's Kin, having gathered up their belongings, carrying their children and leading their animals through the jungle, trekking away from their villages, heading deeper in to the jungle.
"Damn them!" says the Patriarch, nursing an injured arm "Damn those thieving raiders! Attacking us in our homes! Stealing from us! Typical of those city dwellers. Didn't I warn that they were plotting? I said..." He stops speaking as he pulls his hand back from a tree he touched as he was pushing through the under growth. His hand is covered in a thick yellow mud that was splattered on the tree. "Oh no..." the colour drains from the Patriarchs face.
"Going somewhere?" Says a figure, sat under the shadow of a nearby tree. The figure rolls a coin back and forth over his knuckles.
"We...we were attacked!" Blubbers the Patriarch frantically "We had to flee for our lives! We barely got away!"
"You are in a hurry, that's true. Trying to get a away from something."
"No! Not at all! We were all ready to pay you."
"Well that's good. Because weapons and spores aren't cheap... are they?"
"But... there was..."
"Where's our money?"
"We have some of it...they took some, we were robbed by the city folk. They took the slaves and..."
"You don't have the money?"
"We have some money, we're good for it though! We can get more! That city is rich pickings, we can easily get more. Please! Please give us more time! PLEASE!"
"I think we've got a problem here." The figure stands up.
Conclusion:
Marcus, Klysis and Alexandra arrive at Port Yorgerson.
Baldamson rushes over to his daughter. She puts down Alex just as her father reaches her and punches her forcefully on the arm. She doesn't seem upset by this and does the same thing back. It appears to be just considered friendly rough housing to them.
Baldamson seems very happy, probably the first time Marcus, Konrad or Alexandra have seen him smile. He delivers a cheerful punch to Marcus arm (which actually really hurts! The Brorg-Dao idea of being playful is very rough!)
Baldamson then becomes more serious, and states "You have done your task, we will hunt down these raiders now. GUARDS! MOVE!"
Some other guards take Alexandra to a doctor for some healing. The doctor is an Eslum dressed in a leather apron, named Kevico. He is renowned as an excellent healer though Alexandra has lost a lot of blood from her leg wound and will need intensive care.
Klysis and Marcus head to the tavern where they find an anxious Konrad waiting. "Oi, here!" Konrad runs over, "What the hell happened out there? I came back expecting full well that I'd have to tell your boy that you'd gotten turned inside-out by a savage! Where's Alexandra, did she blow herself up?"
"Your friend Alex was caught by some of them, there was a glorious battle.” Klysis says. “Had you seen it you'd be sad you did not take part. We scattered them like leaves."
The Darsai woman speaks up. "Konrad was rescuing us from those savages. If it wasn't for his heroic bravery we'd all still be there waiting to be sold to the Yellow Brotherhood!"
Konrad smiles at the Darsai. "Thanks for the compliment, you'd be surprised how many thankless people I've dealt with lately!"
"Hmm,” Klysis says, “I underestimated you and Marcus, you have the courage of true warriors. You're friend Alexandra is also very brave. She was wounded in the battle. I do not know the White Mother god of the Golta, but I will pray that she will show mercy on one of her daughters."
"Yes,” Marcus says solemnly, “Alex is in bad shape, but Klysis and I got her out. I don't know very many people who would be able or willing to run into a bunch of crazed Brorg-Dao and do half as much damage as Klysis did. I see you got the captives away safe, that's good. Did you find anything else out?"
"We killed two of the villagers before they noticed you lot, and we managed to make off with a few boxes of gold and money that they had planned to pay off the Yellow Brotherhood with.” Konrad explains. “Apparently them not having the coin to pay off their debt ought to get the Brotherhood angry with them... what exactly is it that makes those people so frightening?"
"They were dealing with the Yellow Brotherhood?” Marcus thinks for a moment. “Hmm. What did Senchos say about them? Something about attaching bodies to their ships?"
"Really?” Konrad looks surprised. “I don't think I remember that discussion... serves them right anyway."
"The Yellow Brotherhood are the most feared pirates in Rhoadira.” Klysis explains. “Merciless killers. They murder and torture their victims for sport. Cruel as those villagers were... they were nothing compared to the evil of the Brotherhood."
"I'm just glad we didn't blunder into them on our way back to town.” Konrad shakes his head. “I nearly got caught by some Ano-Chee when I worked for the Empire, bastards nearly cut off my lieutenant's nose, and since then just the thought of being tortured turns my stomach. I'm brave, but I've got limits."
"Alex looked pretty bad.” Marcus growls. “They won't get any sympathy from me."
"Worse than usual? Is that even possible for her?" Konrad asks, either seriously or mockingly, Marcus isn't sure.
"Yes Konrad.” Marcus says. “She couldn't walk, we brought her back on my shield."
"By the way...” Klysis says. “I've made a decision about Hoof. I am an officer of the law, and I can only rightly punish someone that is guilty of a crime. The only crime Hoof committed was petty theft because he was destitute. I'm willing to over look that considering his help with our investigation. I'm going to take him to a Nymus mission in the lows. They try to help homeless, down-and-out types. Perhaps they can do something for him..." She looks at Konrad. "I feel like the West has taken almost everything from him, he doesn't have a name, he won't show his face... he can't even talk about himself as one person. He's got so little left... I don't have it in me to take anything else away from him."
"Suit yourself.” Konrad says. “Even if he doesn't hurt anyone else until the end of his days, I suspect putting a bullet in the back of his head would be doing the poor bastard a favour."
Marcus, Kylsis and Konrad relax at the tavern until the guards return from their mission. When Beldamson and some of the guards come into the Cabbage and Onion, they all look quite glum. Klysis jumps up, excitedly to see her father's safe return but hesitates when she sees him seriously expression.
Baldamson reports the results of the hunt solemnly. "We found the village deserted, the only thing we found was a stack... more like an idol, made from bones.... not just animal bones either. They looked chewed. I don't mean bitten to death in a fight, I mean eaten. Cannibals. Like an altar of death. But we soon found the raiders. It seems they were trying to flee when the Brotherhood caught up with them. Yellow mud everywhere, and the bodies hanging up in the trees. Cut em all up, skinned, sliced open. Dreadful mess. Damn yellow mud, blood... all over the place. Even killed the animals. Not just the warriors either. The Brotherhood didn't leave anything of value. If any of the villagers survived, the Brotherhood took them... and for all they'd done I pity any poor bastard taken by the Brotherhood. I've seen a lot of death and combat...but that... We were denied righteous battle. Nasty business."
"They knew what they were getting into dealing with those savages." Konrad says bluntly.
"Savages killed by worse savages. The gods' jokes are cruel." Klysis says.
"Well.” Marcus says thoughtfully. “Sometimes the bigger fish eat the little fish, this time the Brotherhood was the bigger fish. The sooner someone deals with them, the better. Still, that will be in time. I'm more concerned about what happens to the surviving captives, I know the Ivos girl lost her parents. Does she have family she can contact? What about the rest of them?”
Baldamson nods to Marcus and Konrad. "The prisoners seemed to come back with a lot of money on them. I see no reason not to let them keep it. Help them get back on their feet. Good work you two, good work."
End of Chapter 3
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