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Post by Grimmlocke on Mar 29, 2006 23:36:13 GMT -5
The low murmer of conversation and the sounds of money jingling of purses filled the old tavern as a summer's storm howed outside. Patrons were illuminated by the ruddy light of a fire burning quietly in the hearth. Grizzled mercenaries gulped ale from large tankards, swapping stories and showing scars. The place had long been known as one of the best recruitment sites in the area. Any mercenary that entered the place was almost guaranteed work. The fat, jovial proprietor went by the name Verald, though few knew if that was his real name or not. Many mercenaries had something to hide, so they didn't pry. Busty barmaids, the best money could buy, carried drinks to and from the counter, smiling at the appreciative smiles they recieved from the customers.
The door opened, a gust of warm wind blowing another mercenary into the tavern. Few of the seasoned warriors took notice of the young man that entered, his dark red cloak soaked from the wet. He walked quietly over to an open stool and took a seat. Verald made his way over to the newcomer as the young man unwound a long piece of black cloth from around his face. Undeterred by the three claw marks that ran from the boy's temples to his lip, the old fellow smiled."What'll ya have, young master?" He asked.
"Water, please." Was the quiet reply.
"Water, young master? Pardon my saying so, but you look to have had enough of that. Perhaps a good tankard of ale, or a-"
"Water, friend." The reply caused Verald to frown, but he obligingly filled a mug and handed it over to the young man. "That'll be a copper, young master."
"I'm Tham." The young man reached into some hidden pocket in his cloak and rummaged for a second. Metal clinked on metal as he searched for a minute before finally drawing out the required payment.
"Ah, thank you kindly, young master Tham. Is there anything else I can do for ya?" Verald knew of his Tavern's reputation. In fact, he encouraged it. It kept the truely noisey drunks out.
"Yes. I'm looking for work. You wouldn't happen to know of any...developments, would you?" Tham asked in his quiet voice.
"Well, the Merchant-Kings of Wyyr look to be eyeing their neighbor, Korba. They've been buying up all the mercs they can find."
"Korba? As in the Empire of Korba? For a kingdom without a standing army, Wyyr sure is ambitious."
Verald gave a chuckle. "Aye, that they are. If there was ever a time to strike though, now would be the time. With Vain's defeat being so recent, few Kingdoms are prepared for another war. Wyyr was already buying mercs for that, but they weren't about to enter the war without the Warlord being on their doorstep. They decided to let Korba weaken him first. But now that Korba is weak, all those Mercs could be well used."
"You're telling me things I already know, Verald. Anything else?"
"The usual, protecting carriages, finding lost purses. Nothing serious. Nothing that pays like the Merchant-Kings."
"And where can I find a contact?"
"There's one upstairs, lad. He'll be down in a little while."
Tham nodded and went back to sipping his water.
OOC: So there it is. I don't have a planned storyline, so...whatever. Join if you like.
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Post by Sapphire on Apr 3, 2006 23:48:11 GMT -5
Rose ran into the tavern, practically looking like a drowned rat because of all the rain. Her jet black hair was everywhere and her light blue dress clung to her. Her ice blue eyes sparkled with her smile as she made way inside, fixing her hair into a long braid down her back and fixed and dried her dress to become presentable.She was a regular at the tavern, often helping out and things. Only 18 and spent more time there, than home, which got a lot of scolding when she actually was there.
She made her way over to Verald with a smile, giving him a slight hug."Well good evening you."She said in a cheerful but quiet voice, looking around at the usual crowd, noticing the young man before Verald, never seeing him before."Do you need any help with anything tonight?"She asked Verald, though she started to clean anyway, not waiting for an answer, she giving the newcomer a smile as she did.
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M@X
Sapling
Posts: 43
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Post by M@X on Apr 9, 2006 15:08:26 GMT -5
((Reckon there's any point in joining?))
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Post by Grimmlocke on May 20, 2006 0:52:06 GMT -5
"Now, lass. When did you ever take a mere 'No' as an answer?" Verald teased. "I might need you tonight though. Two of the other girls didn't make it in today. Curious day to get married, but who am I to question love?" With a dramatic sigh, Verald pulled out an old rag and began to wipe down the bar.
Tham watched, half interested, as the barkeep told the girl what she needed to do. The young man couldn't help but glance at her after she had smiled at him. It was rare for anyone to smile around him, rare enough that he had learned to appreciate the beauty of one. He made a half-hearted attempt at a chuckle at the old man's antics.
That girl was still there. If she stuck around much longer, Tham would have to speak with her, something he ususally avoided as much as possible. Thankfully, just as she opened her mouth to say something, an old wound flared up, and Tham was able to excuse himself and make his way to one of the private rooms upstairs.
After re-dressing the deep cut on his side, Tham decided to check out the recruiter the old man had mentioned. He could use the work, and if he went before the recruiter came down the stairs, he could assure himself a job.
Tham went down the hallway, checking rooms. After a particularly hair-raising mistake, the now red-eared young man discovered the recruiter's chamber.
"Excuse me sir, but are you the man in charge of buying mercenaries?" Tham asked.
"Yes, yes, yes, my boy. Come and sit down." A rather officious looking gentleman gestured to a nearby seat. "Have some interest in making ten gold pieces a day, do you? Of course, that's only the starting wage of a soldier in the Merchant Kings' employ. If you have enough skill, we could offer you more. The only stipulation is that you actually have to demonstrate said skill on the battlefield." As he spoke, the recruiter was pulling out an assortment of legal documents.
Tham mulled over what the man had said so far. With the offered amount of money, he would be able to afford his own house within....a few months in the campaign.
"Well, sounds like a good deal to me. Where do I sign?"
After he had completed all the necessary paperwork, Tham went back downstairs, where he plopped back onto his stool and resumed sipping his water. As he scanned the room he realized that the girl was still there, yet the room was spotless. Had he been gone that long? "You're good." He said, his quiet voice delievering the compliment with the utmost sincerity.
OOC: Ug, disgusting. I'm SO out of practice right now. Join if you wish, Max.
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Post by The Lawyer Pixie on Jun 5, 2006 20:51:59 GMT -5
OOC: Oh, I'd like to join! I have a new character, and this would be a good first thread for her. She's TECHNICALLY from th eighteenth century (1700s), but she's pretty versatile ^^
IC:
The door to the tavern was pushed open and a grinning figure in what once was a bright red cloak quickly stepped inside. "It's quite a night, isn't it?" she inquired to nobody in particular, her voice thickly Irish sounding. She pushed back her hood to reveal bouncy red curls and two nearly as red cheeks. "Nearly drowned in a drop o' the rain!" Unhooking the cloak from around her neck, she uncovered garments that were distinctly that of an Irish Traveller or gypsy.
"S'cuse me," she asked Verald, walking up to the bar, "but I happen to be a humble musician, and I'm wondering if I might play my tune for these nice folks, and hope for a coin or two they toss my way for my purse." She winked at him ad took out and Irish tin whistle. "I thought I might ask the man running the place, just in case. The name's Blair, by the way."
OOC: Woo, I lurves Blair! I'm hoping to get a tin whistle (penny whistle, whistle, Irish whistle) for my birthday, which just so happens to be on Saturday. The big 1-5!
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Post by The Lawyer Pixie on Jun 8, 2006 0:24:22 GMT -5
OOC: POST, please, Grimm! As a birthday present! Or something! (My birthday's on Saturday)
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Post by Fyreblade on Jun 10, 2006 15:53:12 GMT -5
OOC: Hmmm....to join or not to to join. That is the question. Oh wth I'll join as soon as char is developed.
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Post by Grimmlocke on Jun 19, 2006 1:22:22 GMT -5
OOC: Original Message: Oh, I think you got plenty of things for your birthday, Sadie m'dear. But I might just post something when I'm not dead tired. I spent most of the night with some friends rolling assorted dice and dealing death to hordes of foes. That's right, I'm starting to get into paper and pencil rpgs...gah, I've sunk to such depths of geekdom that it's starting to worry even me.
Edit: God, I just got a jolt from the Dr. Pepper at my side. ALL HAIL THE MIGHT OF SUGAR (among other substances...)!
IC: Tham turned and tossed the musician three coppers. "That's for you not to play. There are people here who have headaches from last night still, so high pitched noise, no matter how beautiful, will most likely cause a bit of a ruckus." He turned back to the bar. He had accomplished his goal for the night, but he was loathe to rent a room anywhere in the town, what with the large percentage of greedy warriors in the area.
OOC: Ah, surge is over. Night for now. More to follow soon...maybe
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Post by Fyreblade on Jun 21, 2006 1:28:44 GMT -5
OOC: I have a character! (At last) IC: The tavern's door swung open once more as a young looking man stumbled in, his dark green cloak streaming water. He raised his weary head showing silver eyes, dulled by exhaustion. He shook back his hood and smiled briefly before walking over to the bar. He sat in in a seat for a moment before quietly asking for a mug of mead. His questing fingers found his belt pouch and pulled out a few coppers and laid them on the bar. As he waited for his drink he st there, weight on his elbows as his fogged mind slowly gathered it's few (if any) wits. Safe. Warmth. C'mon Scallion, Scalli pull your thoughts together. You got out of that rat hole with a minimum of slashes and cuts. Your safe here.A mug of bitter mead appeared near his hand, causing the owner of said hand to show a little more interest in life. Scallion (better known as Scalli) sipped the contents of the mug as his eyes looked over the tavern, unconsciously adjusting to acommodate his two swords. As he shifted most of his weight to his right arm he winced and hissed in sudden pain.
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Post by The Lawyer Pixie on Jun 21, 2006 15:48:59 GMT -5
Blair scowled, put off. "Of all the places to walk into...." She pocketed the copper, not about to let any money escape her. "Say, d'you know of any other places around I could try?"
Before an answer could be given her, the door was opened with a bang and a very wet and very tired young man stumbled in. He smiled wearily, and Blair caught the gleam of silver in his eyes.
Now isn't that odd...? she thought to herself, watching him. She saw him sit down and request a drink, before just sitting there, presumably thinking. Blair leaned against the counter, wondering about this newcomer. He didn't seem like any of the other men in the bar, most of which looked mean and grizzled.
As he tried to pick up his mug of mead he winced in pain. Blair smirked and turned away. He was in the middle of something, just ending something or just starting somehting. At any rate something was going on, and Blair didn't like to get involved in things. Made it too difficult to continue on with HER things.
"You know what? Never mind. I'm not about to go out in that again." She jerked her thumb at the door. "Just give me a mug of what he's having." She indicated toward the newcomer and slapped her given money back on the counter. "Tonight, I'm just a patron."
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Post by Grimmlocke on Jun 22, 2006 1:43:40 GMT -5
Tham saw the newcomer wince in pain. He gave a silent prayer that he hadn't dragged the entire tavern into a fight. All he wanted to do was rest. "Please, just let me rest." He whispered into his cup. Maybe whatever local deity was in charge would take mercy on him. Maybe. Tham shook his head in silent self-admonition. For him, no luck was good luck. Always be ready for the worst.
The young mercenary looked around the room, spotting a few windows in the back of the establishment that would serve as decent exits in case he was forced to make a quick escape. He finished his water and pushed the cup back towards Verald before allowing his head to fall into his arms.
Tham pretended to sleep. Who would know that his cup had been mere water? It would afford him an excellent opportunity to escape notice in the event of a fight. He thought he heard Verald say something to the other patrons, but his arms muffled the low voice of the barkeep enough to make whatever was said unintelligible.
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Post by Fyreblade on Jun 23, 2006 1:15:25 GMT -5
OOC: Must...have caffine/sugar....Oh, does someone want me to start a major brawl? If So I will next post
IC: Scalli shifted his weight onto his left elbow as a man down the bar a ways suddenly slumped, forward apparrently asleep. Scalli smiled into his mug as he finished off the mead. He glanced outside and winced as he saw the rate at which the rain was pelting down. Frankly, no one would be out in that. Unless they're very insane, very mad or very desprate. He shuddered at that last thought before asking for a refill.
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Post by The Lawyer Pixie on Jun 23, 2006 23:34:40 GMT -5
OOC: Wonder if Rose is gonna be posting again?
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Post by Fyreblade on Jun 25, 2006 15:50:51 GMT -5
OOC: I certainly hope so...gah, it's a tad warm. I love heat, I really do, but try being in a car wearing pants for more that 6 hours! >.<'
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Post by The Lawyer Pixie on Jun 25, 2006 17:10:05 GMT -5
OOC: blargh.... TOO HOT!! I think I'm gonna go to the river later
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