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Archives: Failed Storyline: A New Balance

Chapter 3: Roid’s Mercenaries’ Guild

    Luda returned to her home, which was a fairly large house. Her family had lived there for many years, though there were only three of them now. Her father and grandmother were dead, and her mother’s sister had gone to the forests and married an elf.

    She put the gift for her mother in her room for the moment and went to the study room which housed a wide assortment of books and records that her grandfather collected. Luda was interested in reading records, though at the moment she was reading a rare fictional novel. Often times they were based on real heroes like the six heroes or the free knight of Lodoss and contained a fraction of truth.

    She had just gotten absorbed in the plot when her mother came in. “Gracious Luda, you’re so quiet! I was waiting for you to come home and you’ve been in here?”

    Luda looked up and calmly replied. “What do you need from me?”

    “Your grandfather sent a message, he said you’re needed at the temple of Myrii. It’s urgent.”

    Luda closed the book. “Alright,” she picked up her halberd, which was leaning over her chair, and stood.

    “I told you to leave that thing at the door,” her mother bickered, but Luda was not concerned about that at the moment.

    “If there is trouble at the temple, we may not be home for dinner. Please don’t fret over it.” Her mother walked her to the door and said goodbye. She wondered what matter at the temple could possibly need her assistance.

* * *

    Nipa walked happily beside Moryssa and hummed as he walked. “Excited huh, is something big about to happen? As I do not think you would get this excited over just any business venture. But I must admit that working for you will be rather interesting.”

    As he walked he noticed the breeze and chuckled, “Showing off a little, My Lady?” he asked with a grin.

    Moryssa grinned. “I’m just giving the people what they want. And, I’m going to see my brother hopefully. He usually shows up just when I need him most. Plus, this city is so stuffy.” She scowled at an elderly woman who was looking at her as if she were Kardis herself. The woman’s eyes widened and she hurried back inside her house. “Old bat.”

    “Ah you must mean Toan... I have heard you speak of him before.” Lazily his eyes scanned those that they passed by, some were looking at him and others looking at her. Though the funniest ones were those that kept looking between them. “You know, My Lady,” Nipa said in a low voice so that only Moryssa could hear. “I have a sudden urge to yell mommy and throw myself at you just to see what they will do.” He let his eyes drift back to some that kept looking between him and her trying to find the reason he was walking next to a dark elf.

    “You do whatever well pleases you, Son,” she spoke loudly and winked at Nipa. Though the thought of being with those holier than thou light elves disgusted her, the looks of shock and amazement on the humans’ faces was more than worth it. Roid needed something to shake it up, and fortunately Nipa was game to help her do so.

    Nipa grinned then quickly his face went from happy to sad and he had tears brimming in is eyes. Pitching his voice up a few octaves to make it sound more childish he asked loudly, “Mommy! Are we there yet! I’m tired, and all these people are making me nervous!” Nipa then went for the shock and grabbed Moryssa around the right leg and held himself close to her as though he were afraid of those around him.

    Moryssa was struggling to hold in her laughter. Between Nipa’s all too convincing antics and the shocked and intrigued faces of the Roidians, she was in a good mood. She opened her mouth to speak and then stopped him. “Actually...we are.”

    The dark elf winked at Nipa again before heading inside the Mercenaries’ Guild. Taking her time, she sauntered over to the main desk where a grizzly older human watched her intently. “It’s me again. I have another job. You know the criteria. Anyone that fits?”

    Nipa was still grinning and trying to hide a smile. As they stepped into the guild he saw a human walk into a wall as his eyes were on him and Moryssa. Chuckling lightly, he looked at the man behind the desk and grinned.

* * *

    The three men crossed town to reach the guild, Kiran walked between Jinn and Grimeye for security, his hood still up. The two of them didn’t seem too questionable, so he hoped he could be camouflaged in a way by them.

    Once they reached the guild, Kiran hesitated, then pushed back his hood and examined the room. It took him only a moment to see that the dark elven woman was here, and with a small companion who looked to be a light elf child. Was she married? Was that her child or perhaps an adopted one? Seeming as if he had forgotten his companions, Kiran strode up to the other dark elf and bowed to her. {“Greetings, sister. I am surprised to find one of my own in Roid,”} Kiran said in the dark elven dialect, hoping he didn’t come off too strong.

    Moryssa rolled her eyes as she senses another approaching her, she turned around in time to see an extremely attractive dark elf bow before her. His deep tenor voice spoke her language fluidly. She couldn’t remember the last time it sounded so beautiful. She smiled at him. {“The surprise is mutual. I’ve lived here for a few years and outside of family, you’re the only one of our kind I’ve seen here. Tell me, have you been pestered by the clergy?”}

    Nipa just watched the interaction and made no outward movements. He would speak if needed. Right now it just looked like his friend was enjoying herself. Looking at the three that walked in.

    {“Surprisingly, only one priest spoke to me,”} Kiran decided not to tell her it was the same Myrii priestess that spoke to her earlier. He didn’t want to seem like a stalker. As easy as it was to talk to her so far, he probably should have entered her store. {“I came into the city early this morning, so I’ve yet to encounter more priests. My name is Kiran,”} he said, bowing his head respectfully to her.

    {“Pleased to meet you, Kiran. My name is Moryssa.”} She smiled at the elf, before realizing how rude she was being. Normally she wouldn’t mind, but she actually liked Nipa so she switched over to the common tongue for his benefit. “Oh, this is my business associate and soon to be partner, Nipa. We’re actually here to hire a few able bodies for a little expedition. I own a shop here in Roid.”

    {“Of course if this was just a treasure hunting quest, I’d do it myself. But what I’m searching for is a left over from those foolish human mages and could be dangerous.”} Even though she spoke in the dark tongue, she gave Nipa a wink to give him a hint of what they were talking about.

    Nipa kept his eyes on the three men and gave them a short bow... And for being only four foot two and a half inches tall it was a short bow. He was not sure if he should trust them of not. Though his friend did seem rather open with the dark elf, and Moryssa usually was a pretty good judge of people. He didn’t begrudge any race for being what they were, in fact he was glad that there were dark elves and light elves as it just made business more profitable. Though he did wish that on occasion that most elves and humans for that matter would drop their ego’s.

    One of the men flanking the dark elf was quite large and just his size made Nipa worry that the man might not see him there. “My lady,” He said rather evenly considering he was worried about being stepped on. “Are these friends of yours?” His mind was still not made up on these three, and he was mentally kicking himself for not learning the elven speech.

    Taking Moryssa’s cue, Kiran replied in the common tongue for the sake of their companions. “Well, my friends an I are able bodied and looking for work,” he said, gesturing back to the two men.

    Moryssa smiled at Nipa. “This is Kiran, who I believe we have just hired for our expedition. His friends are also welcome to join.”

    After hearing her refer to the small fellow beside her as a business associate, Kiran was even more confused as to who he was. He didn’t recall the tales of Grassrunners from ancient times, and very few of them had ever ventured to Marmo and made themselves known. He couldn’t help but ask about Nipa, so he asked Moryssa softly in their native tongue, {“I’m sorry if this seems rude, but is he an elven child?”}

    Moryssa nodded in acknowledgment to the two men Kiran considered friends. She smiled even more at Kiran’s naivety. {“He is a grassrunner,”} she replied softly, {“they’re very rare on Lodoss. They appear to be light elven children, but I assure you, Nipa is an adult.”}

    “Oh...OH!” Kiran said as he recalled grassrunners from old stories finally. “Greetings, Nipa,” he said and gave a small bow toward the grassrunner. “My companions are Grimeye and Jinn,” Kiran replied, gesturing to the two men.

    “Greetings to the three of you,” Nipa told them with a slight grin. Looking over the three men Nipa decided that this was definitely going to be an interesting trip.

    Looking to Moryssa, Nipa asked her, “Considering the trip we will be making, do you think, and I mean no disrespect,” he said to the three men. “Do you think that they will be enough or capable?”

    Moryssa looked at Nipa, then at the three men and thought for a moment. “I think between the five of us we can handle anything that comes up. It’s not like we’ll be facing a dragon....at least I hope not,” she winked at Nipa before turning back to Kiran, taking him for the leader. “What do you say?” she asked in the common tongue so that his companions would understand. “We’ll pay each of you ten gold pieces and I’ll allow each of you to bring back three trinkets of non-magical origin. In the case that you can’t find anything, we’ll pay twenty gold pieces.”

    “That sounds like a fine deal to me, what do you men say?” Kiran replied, glancing back at Jinn and Grimeye for their input. So far, his two companions had been silent in the dealings with Moryssa, he could only assume since they didn’t complain, they had no qualms.

    Nipa waited for their reply as well. “They are the silent types it seems,” Nipa grinned. “But from the looks of them, I would think we can face anything. And with Kiran here, not many would be crazy enough to take on a pair of dark elves.”

    The one-armed swordsman remained quiet while Kiran made contact with the female dark elf. “That will be fine.” Jinn raised his single arm towards her. “Jinn of the Wind, my sword is yours.” Grimeye remained quiet and nodded in satisfaction of the deal.

    Nipa smiled and began to think of the trip ahead. “Well, it looks like we have a fine group to start with.” he then looked back to Moryssa. “My Lady, I am used to traveling on my own, but this looks like it is going to be a rather...” he looked back at Kiran, Jinn and Grimeye, “...a rather interesting experience.” Turning his attention back to his partner he just had to know, “So when do we start out?” He hated sounding like an eager kid, but truth be told, he was looking forward to this. The trip was not going to be fast, nor was it going to be easy, but he was still excited at the prospect.

    “I believe my companions and I are fully equipped,” Kiran added to Nipa’s comments.

    Moryssa smiled and nodded at her fellow dark elf before turning to Nipa. “I think it’d be best if we left at dawn tomorrows. I still need to leave instructions for my store and buy our provisions. Plus, I’d love one last good night’s sleep in my bed before we leave.”

    “Dawn tomorrow sounds good,” Nipa said with a grin. He was looking forward to traveling with someone instead of alone like he usually traveled. “Besides, I think we have confused the poor citizens enough for now...Wouldn’t you say... ‘Mom’...” He gave Moryssa a wink as he said that while motioning outside. Their earlier prank that day had been a lot of fun, or at least for him. Sometimes he wondered if he should have been a prankster instead of a merchant.

    Jinn spoke up again. “Very well. Then dawn right outside of this building then?” A thought occurred to him before they could respond. “Are horses necessary? I would need to know so Grimeye and I can make special accommodations.” Jinn spoke, speaking of his handicap and Grimeye’s size.

    “I have my own horse,” Grimeye informed the group.

    “I’m afraid I don’t have one,” Kiran said. He didn’t think he had the funds to buy a horse, however. “I can probably make accommodations, if it’s necessary.”

    Nipa looked over Jinn, then Grimeye and finally Kiran. “A horse would make things easier, though which handicap are you referring to?”

    “Oh, this.” Jinn smiled and wiggled his left shoulder, the sleeve with a weighted collar waved flatly against his side. “Now, I’ll see you all at dawn.” Jinn gave them a wave with his hand and headed out of the building.

    Moryssa looked at Kiran disapprovingly as Jinn walked out. {“You could’ve told me he was a cripple. No matter, we’ll work around it. And I’ll see about procuring you a horse.”} She looked at Nipa. “Get some rest, we have a bit of a journey tomorrow You to, Kiran.” She smiled at the elf and headed out the guild. She had no intentions of finding the elf a horse. None at all.

    Nipa nodded, “That sounds like a good idea, a little rest before traveling is always a good thing. Would you like me to accompany you back to your store?” Though he had his worries about their one-armed companion. Nipa also surmised that they had their misgivings as well about him.

    Kiran was just as surprised as Moryssa to learn Jinn was missing an arm. He stared after the handicapped swordsman incredulously, he wasn’t exactly happy that Jinn didn’t tell him. However, he didn’t want Moryssa to think they’d all just met, so he turned back to the dark elven beauty, and with a wink, told what he hoped was true.

    {“Don’t worry, Jinn’s just as good with one arm as most are with two,”} Kiran said. After all, he’d survived this long as an adventurer with one arm, he seemed self assured. {“And thanks,”} he added, returning her smile with one of his most charming.

    Moryssa smiled at him shrewdly. “Don’t thank me until after our mission.”

    Kiran paused as he noted Moryssa’s smile, it didn’t seem so friendly. Kiran gave her a nod just to end the conversation and headed out the door with Jinn and Grimeye. Maybe he shouldn’t trust her to get him a horse...

    “Kiran right?” Jinn greeted him while turning around. The swordsman walked backwards to properly make conversations. “Will you be needing to make travel accommodations as well?”

    “Yes,” Kiran replied to Jinn. “She isn’t very happy about your ah...handicap. I certainly hope you can handle yourself in battle. I promised her that,” Kiran said, wincing lightly.

    “I certainly would not blame her.” Jinn turned again, his sleeve following his arc. “Just consider that I am a swordsman and I am still alive today. I just need a reign that’s the right length for me to use. But if you have any questions to what I can and cannot do, please ask.”

    Kiran nodded, he had assumed (and hoped) that was the case. “I should probably let you know I have little money, I don’t know how far you’re willing to help me,” Kiran told Jinn.

    “As much as necessary.” Jinn brushed some long locks out of his eyes. “If we are working together we need to help each other out.”

    “It’s appreciated,” Kiran replied to Jinn with a genuinely grateful grin.

* * *

    Soon enough they were at the closest dealer. There were a large selection of beasts, from the tamest donkey to the thickest legged stallion. “Hmmm.” Jinn scratched his chin as he looked over them. “They all look reliable...”

    When they reached the dealer’s lot, Kiran was impressed by the selection. Most of the animals seemed well cared for—after all, it was logical to make a better profit with high quality stock. However, Kiran’s keen elven senses told him not to judge the animals by their appearances. There was just as much variety in breed as there was in personality, age and training amongst the equines here.

    Kiran approached the nearest horse, a wiry black colt, a beautiful animal, but when Kiran came to close for its liking, the colt yanked at his rope and his eyes rolled fearfully, showing the whites. It gave a squeal and Kiran quickly stepped back and walked widely around it to look at another horse.

    A few horses down, he came up along a chestnut mare. She seemed aged to him, probably in her middle years. She had a sturdy build and seemed well trained and friendly. Kiran gave her an affection pat and the mare calmly gazed at him with a mouthful of hay.

    The mare seemed reliable, but Kiran’s pride rose up. He wanted to impress Moryssa. Perhaps if he could tame the wild colt, he’d fall into her favor for his empathy with the animal?

    “Jinn, this mare could be a good choice,” Kiran called to his companion.

    “It’s important to choose one that will get us to the destination.” Jinn gave the mare Kiran spoke of a glance and looked back at the horse he was studying. He ran his hand over a brown mare’s cheekbone. “A mare would be a good choice. Experience and a good temperament.”

    Jinn motioned for a stable hand towards them. “I would like to purchase this mare please. What’s her name?”

    The younger man answered quickly. “Esperanza.”

    “A good name.”

    As Jinn made his choice, Kiran moved back to the black colt. Maybe he should give the flighty little guy a chance, not many humans would be willing to help him, especially like an elf could. Kiran slowly approached the black and reached out his mind with positive emotions.

    The colt shied as the dark elf came close, but it showed a spark of interest in Kiran now. Hesitantly, the colt stretched his nose out to Kiran’s outstretched hand and gave it a curious sniff.

    Meanwhile, the nearby dealer stared in wonder at the cloaked man and his connection with the horse “Hey, I ain’t seen anyone get close to that horse, you got a gift there pal,” he complimented.

    Kiran sneered beneath his hood. Of course he did, he was an elf after all. “I think I could help this horse,” Kiran said. “How much do you want for him?”

    “I’ll let him go for forty gold, I don’t think I’ll be sellin’ him for any higher,” the dealer said.

    “Can I talk you down to thirty, my friend is paying for this, I do not want to strain his coin pouch,” Kiran said.

    “Well, hell, yeah, this colt’s been sittin’ here long enough. Ye wanna buy a saddle?”

    Kiran shook his head no. The colt wouldn’t like that. “Does he have a name?”

    “Eh, I been callin him Blacky, but he don’t respond either way,” the dealer said. “Name him whatcha like.”

    Kiran nodded, then called, “Jinn! I have made my decision.”

    “Very well.” Jinn proceeded to negotiate the price for his mare. The transaction was concluded with little fuss. And after waiting for the dealer to fit Esperanza with a rein with a customized length they were on their way back to an Inn. The rein was made long enough that it would be taught as far as Jinn’s head. The mare was quite tame and knew the commands Jinn was familiar with. “How is yours Kiran?”

    The colt had seemed to develop a trust of Kiran as they walked, but he was nervous around everything else. “He needs an elf’s touch,” Kiran replied and gave the colt a reassuring pet on his white blaze. “I have already gained his trust. I will call him Eberel.”

* * *

    Kiran, Jinn, and Ultarik all returned to the inn Ultarik was staying at with their horses. Grimeye had an impressive black warhorse, Nyghtwalker, stabled there. The huge horse was stabled alongside the mild-mannered Esperanza and flighty little Eberel. Kiran left the black colt in his stall alongside the others, but as he went to the door, Eberel whickered fearfully and started tossing his head. The dark elf cast a glance over his shoulder at his horse and realized just how terrified he was. “I will remain outside,” he told his companions. “My horse requires a little...work.”

    So Kiran returned to Eberel and focused on calming the horse. He stroked the colt’s nose and whispered soothing words in elven to it, focusing positive energy into the terrified animal. Eberel was relaxing. Kiran bought the colt with the intention of impressing Moryssa with his good nature, but now he was beginning to care more for this young creature than the affection of a woman. He was pleased with his progress with Eberel, never before had he been so affectionate towards an animal. It seemed that his ancient elven nature was awakening, and the corruption of Kardis was further losing hold on him. Not that he wanted to become some happy-go-lucky light elf, mind you.

* * *

    Luda returned home from the temple later that evening with a very serious expression, more serious than usual. Her grandfather wore the same face. As they came through the door her mother knew something was wrong.

    “I’m leaving tomorrow,” Luda said, knowing her mother was about to ask. “At the temple today we both received direct guidance from Myrii.”

    “What?” her mother was in shock.

    “God has spoken to me and instructed me to find a certain person, a hero. This journey will begin early tomorrow.”

    “Who is it? What do you mean?”

    Luda rested her halberd by the door and began to make preparations for a journey. “I really am not sure of this person’s exact identity, but I know what group he will be in and when they are leaving the city. I’m going to set out tomorrow and follow them. I’m sure they won’t welcome my company, but I can’t ignore god’s will.”

    “Why wouldn’t they? You’re a desirable companion as far as your capabilities are concerned.”

    Luda smiled. Her mother had just in a round about way made a statement that her personality was less than desirable. “Because mother, they’re leader is a dark elf woman, and a very disagreeable one at that.” Luda found the gift she bought and handed it to her mother. “Happy birthday. I’m afraid I’ll be moving out too early to see you tomorrow, so let’s celebrate tonight.”

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