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Re: A Village in Need

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:55 pm
by Berry!
"Desert woman, I am tired of arguing. We arrived yesterday and have just met with the honorable mayor and settled the conditions of our assistance." He bit his tongue to keep from commenting that since the infantry was welcomed after these mercenaries had already been hired, perhaps it was with the mercenaries that His Honor lacked faith. "I was curt with the merchant to drive him on his way. You have been invited to join us in the defense of this village, nothing more." The sergeant nodded respectfully to the dwarf. "Son of the underland kingdoms, I weep for those you keep company with. They lead a lonely life to be so distrustful. Be well." With that, he turned and walked away to tend to his own affairs.

Re: A Village in Need

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:55 pm
by Soul of Innuendo
The soldiers said nothing of interest. Rashid and the others got up and took a peek, it was clear.

"It looks like there isn't much open, the inns are taken up by soldiers, so it looks like we'll camp out later, meet me in the forest to the north at sunset, we'll camp there, but for now stay put." Rashid said getting his sack from a pile of goods they placed in the corner of the stall.

"Alright," one of them spoke.

Rashid then made his way about town back to the square, he could see Zaole, Terelyn, and Smolgar talking to the lieutenant. Rashid could hear them but it wasn't clear as to what their words were. As he approached them the lieutenant had slowly walked off. Rashid didn't know his position here neither did he have much faith in the other strangers, but he headed toward them trusting his instinct.

"Well, what was that all about?", Rashid said as he faced toward Terelyn, "There isn't much, no ones coming out, there isn't much for me to do unless anyone is willing to trade. Unless this escapade is over with, I cant get my job done, I'm sure you know how it feels to be deterred from you have to do...hhmmm...so.... what do you guys plan to do?"

Rashid looked at the three with a tiny smile, arms crossed with his right hand tapping slowly on his left arm. He was interested in them, and he didn't care much as to who or what this is all about, only that the safety of the town is returned, and that he can go about his business, even if it meant he would have to side with these mercenaries..... whatever it takes.

Re: A Village in Need

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:56 pm
by Berry!
The paired soldiers shuffled through the stables with fatigue starting to set in. It had been a long day and they were eager for their day's duty to come to an end. The fair haired soldier idly conversed with his darker and taller partner while they poked through the bales of straw and hay, "You said you were Zetian, what were the crops like in the province?"

"Awful. Ever since this Darkness has fallen I know not of a single farm that isn't hungry."

"Aye, we fared the same than. My wife and I lost our child to the accursed Risen. This is all we can do now, serve as best as we can to keep others from the same fate."

"I grieve for you. A parent should never have to see their child go through the Shining Gates."

"What have you left back in Zet?"

The dark soldier smiled wanly and shrugged, "The blasted and dead farmlands of my father and exactly one bottle of my grandfather's spirits. To hope that one day soon I will be able to drink a toast to my ancestors from that bottle is motivation enough to do all I can to help bring an end to these black times."

The fair soldier laughed, "Tonight, I'll toast to your toast if you toast to my wife. May we see them soon."

Not finding anything of note hidden in the bales, the infantrymen continued of their way, taking in the area and insuring it's safety.

Moments later, the two drunken soldiers from the tavern tumbled out the doors. As they lay sprawled in the dust, the Lieutenant, cold faced and terrifying, stepped from the doorway and stood over them. "Soldiers! How dare you disgrace yourselves, your company and His Lordship!" His voice was stern and clipped. It was only slightly louder than a conversational level but his depth and intensity carried it and gave it more force than if someone had shrieked across the square. "You are still on duty and I find you drunk on wine! Where is your vigilance? Where is your discipline? Where is your duty?" They laid sprawled out and speechless before the officer. "Drunk soldiers are of no use to me nor our mission. How do you expect to wield a sword with a tankard in one hand?" He gruffly hauled them up by their collars and ambled them to the well. Staring with intensity, he commanded, "Soldier, draw a bucket of water." Clumsily, the soldier obeyed. Fixing them both in the eye, the Lieutenant gave them their orders. "You will both march 500 hundred paces, turn around and march 500 hundred paces back to this pail. You will each take a mouthful of water and continue until you have drained the pail. You will report to me when you are finished." They snapped to attention as best as they could and managed an ashamed affirmation before diligently carrying out their sobering punishment.

Sullen, the Lieutenant went off muttering under his breath, "Blasted Darkness, if only it would end."

Re: A Village in Need

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:56 pm
by Alera Tai'var
Berry! wrote:"Desert woman, I am tired of arguing. We arrived yesterday and have just met with the honorable mayor and settled the conditions of our assistance." He bit his tongue to keep from commenting that since the infantry was welcomed after these mercenaries had already been hired, perhaps it was with the mercenaries that His Honor lacked faith. "I was curt with the merchant to drive him on his way. You have been invited to join us in the defense of this village, nothing more." The sergeant nodded respectfully to the dwarf. "Son of the underland kingdoms, I weep for those you keep company with. They lead a lonely life to be so distrustful. Be well." With that, he turned and walked away to tend to his own affairs.
As he walked off, she yelled after him,"We weren't invited you pompous fool!" She quieted back to talking again. "Sheesh! The nerve of soldiers. If only they knew how easily we could kill them. Maybe then they would show some respect."

Re: A Village in Need

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:57 pm
by nmnmrm
Smolgar said to Terelyn and Zaole "Well, we will work alone, what do you suggest we do right now Terelyn? Talking to the soldiers won't help us, neither it will help them". He looked at the merchant guy, Rashid, he came back from wherever he was.

Re: A Village in Need

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:57 pm
by Zaole
Zaole sighed as the soldier walked away, relaxing her bow. They most likely were being honest in their intentions. Too bad, she wanted to test herself against these wetland soldiers.

Re: A Village in Need

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:57 pm
by Soul of Innuendo
The merchant sauntered over to speak to Terelyn and Zaole watched him from the corner of her eye. "They say they are just defending the village," Zaole said with no hint of emotion in her voice. She then turned out of the square and walked toward one of the small buildings where she had tossed her cloak aside.

Rashid turned towards Zaole, who had said something about the soldiers. "hmmmm..", Rashid looked at her with a raised eyebrow as she walked away," Maybe they are here to do just that." She probably didn't hear that but it didn't matter. Rashid noticed everyones indecisiveness, and he understood to them he is also a stranger, he did not expect to get answers from them but,....

"Well then," Rashid said," Would you like to take a look at what I have? I'm sure that theres something you'd be looking for, some cinnamon, or basil? A waterskin perhaps?" Rashid tried not to think of the problem at hand for a moment, but instead he had something else in mind.

Re: A Village in Need

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:58 pm
by Zaole
Zaole was still frustrated as she sat against the wall of a building. She found a small piece of wood that she was whittling with her belt knife out of boredom and to relieve her frustration. It wasn't helping.

The day was waning. Though they couldn't see much through the heavy clouds, it was slowly getting darker. Zaole's piece of wood had been whittled to nothing, so now she twisted the tip of her knife into the dirt to see how deep of a hole she could make before something happened or she ran out of blade.

Re: A Village in Need

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:58 pm
by nmnmrm
Smolgar stayed quiet next to a barrel, he stayed thoughtful for some time, until he got tired and took a bottle of wine out of his backpack and drank some. He looked in all directions, thinking when the attack would begin, if it would; and then decided not to drink more wine, he shouldn't get drunk before the attack. So, he stayed there, looking at Zaole's knife.

Re: A Village in Need

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:58 pm
by Zaole
Zaole glanced over at Smolgar. "What are you drinking?" she asked curiously. Before he had the chance to reply, she dug in her pack and produced a small earthen flask. "This is what we drink back home." The cap was a tiny matching clay cup over a cork. She took off the cup, then pulled out the cork. Pouring him a small amount, she passed it over to the dwarf. "Try it, but you may not want to know what it's made from," she said with a small smirk.

Re: A Village in Need

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:58 pm
by nmnmrm
Before trying what Zaole gave him, Smolgar replied to her "I'm drinking wine". He tried the small amount Zaole gave him and said "It's fine, but I still like wine better, want to drink some wine?", he opened his backpack and got out another bottle of wine, he passed it to Zaole and said "Don't drink too much... not now"

Re: A Village in Need

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:58 pm
by Zaole
Zaole shook her head and pushed the wine bottle back to Smolgar. "Not now, we should both put our drinks away," she said, then put the cap back on her flask and tucked it away in her pack. "Perhaps when we are not on the job we can sample more of our drinks," Zaole said with a smirk.

Re: A Village in Need

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:59 pm
by Berry!
Dusk. Lanterns and candles begin to flicker behind shutters. A handful of stars manage to persevere against the ever-present darkness in the sky and dimly glitter down to Lodoss. The moon promises to be little more than a faint glow behind the shadows above. A piercing shrill whistle screams across the sky. A signal arrow from the south ends. What few soldiers remained in the town center, rush across the square towards the south side of town to join in the fray. The Sergent passed the mercenaries crouched in the square and spoke out. "The town center is yours to protect now. Goblins aren't known for strategy but they may have a handful come from the North. Watch your... grrra!" The Sergent fell with a short and crude spear jutting from his thigh. Squat, ugly shapes oozed from the shadows, scarcely half a dozen but armed and desperate. Sergent Scherat grabbed his sword from the dust and, with a grimace, formidably held his guard from the ground.

Re: A Village in Need

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:59 pm
by Alera Tai'var
Terelyn watched him fall and smiled. "Its great how being a butt head comes back to people later," she muttered. "Life's great," she yelled afterwards and took a peer out. They were coming. She didn't have to see them to know. "Smolgar, Zaole! To arms! We have new playmates!" she yelled. She closed her eyes and embraced nature. her body turned a sultry blue and and mist began to surround her. She lifted into the air to peer over the land. Goblins were coming from the north. To her back, a small task force was coming from the south, and makeshift war machines pummeled the east wall. What was it that they wanted so badly in this city? The goblins from the south had broken from the force and were charging through the city, three larger beings driving the attack in front.

Re: A Village in Need

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:59 pm
by nmnmrm
Smolgar took his axe and got ready to fight. "I was falling asleep! Those goblins took long" he said and suddenly a first goblin ran to them followed by the others, Smolgar made a quick movement and hit the goblin with his axe from above cutting it's arm off and then he finished it with a horizontal blow on it's chest. "They will have to do better, they will need a lot more to defeat us" he said while getting ready for more goblins.