Of Blood and Honor (Might and Magic RP)

"No, go back. Tell me that last thing again."

"You mean the part where I personally slew two elves with a single arrow?"

"No, no! After that lie! Tell me about the boxes!"

"Uh, they were about a inch or so wide, made of some kind of black metal. Like I said, they wore them around their necks. That's all, Master! I didn't get a closer look."

"Fascinating...thank you for your report, Lieutenant. It's good to hear something interesting for once. You are hereby promoted to Captain. Assemble a search party, and find the strangers carrying those boxes. Bring them to me."

"At once."

"Oh, and if you succeed, you can keep the promotion...as well as your life."

The Emerald Island Scavenger Hunt has drawn all kinds of contestants and their hired men to the small jungled island. The normally tiny village on the south side of the isle has become bloated with the tents and ramshackle huts that these people have erected.

It is here that you all have come, each separately, called to meet with each other and your employer Kristoph. An effeminate young man of obvious wealth, it is clear that he wants the position of Lord of Harmondale, although it isn't clear why. Not that it matters, since the pay is good.

You all have come to the local tavern, whose name is so forgettable that most of the islanders don't even remember it. One by one, you have entered, being directed to the corner table. All that remains is your employer to show up. You all sit in silence, waiting for the first one of you to speak up and introduce themselves...

Shylocke was one of the first to show up. Surprising, as even though it was the only tavern in town, the fact that the building didn't have a name certainly didn't help in finding it. Still, after getting in, he'd made his way to the corner booth and waited for his compatriots to arrive, running through the mental exercise of pondering how he'd steal everything not nailed down or on fire.

Eventually, every one of his co-workers had found their seat. At least, he assumed they were, as the same grimy maid referred all of them to the same booth. Once they were all seated, he figured he needed to break the ice.

"I'm guessing we were all hired by a Mr. Kristoph. This means we'll be working together, so introductions are in order," he opened up with. After an awkward pause, he cleared his throat, adding, "Shylocke. Fingersmith."

edited 24th Aug '15 11:53:04 AM by VocalFox

Sellira sat quite relaxed at the table that had been set up for her... leaning back on her chair, a nice mug of strong mead which she downed in nice even sips. She relished the taste a bright smile on her pretty elven lips as she looked around at the table "Sellira... Mostly just Sellira. Artist of blades, dancer of the wind, tracker and much more... lovely to make your acquaintance gentlemen" she says to them all with a little wink as she finished her drink and set down the mug, then winking at a waitress to fetch her another one.

edited 19th Aug '15 6:26:35 PM by daltar

The gaunt man steepled his fingers in front of his face, observing the others carefully. A goblin and an elf, eh? If our employer has no qualms about hiring non-humans, I suppose he can't begrudge me for my area of expertise. "The name's Esk. Richard Esk - or 'Rich', if you prefer, although you'll find me quite lacking in material possessions."

He took a sip from his own mug of ale. "Looks like we've all come from quite a distance for this 'scavenger hunt'. Makes you wonder what we'll be looking for."

"Who knows? This is quite the mad endeavor really, betting the fate of an entire populace on something so close to chance. Or who has the biggest pockets to hire the best people to do this. I doubt many of the serious people bidding for this are event going into the hunt themselves" says the elven woman quite lightly, smiling as she lets one finger dance around the rim of her empty mug.

Shylocke snorted at Sellira's comment. Couldn't help it, really. He'd been around enough to know the score. "This little contest is just a way to pull the politics out of politics. Trouble is, this is just as much politics as anything else, no matter how we're looking at it." He flags down the maid and gesticulates for her to fetch him a whiskey, thanking his lucky stars that street cants are relatively consistent in this part of the world.

"Our employer paid for our particular skills because he thinks he should be in charge. That's all there is to it."

edited 22nd Aug '15 10:02:04 AM by VocalFox

Naratus had been the last to enter and be seated. He'd nodded at the human and elf then looked suspiciously at the goblin. Well he supposed it must have useful, if assuredly illicit, skills.

"Naratus, lately a knight of the court of King Magnus of Bracada, now on..." How should he put it? "extended leave."

He looked at Shylocke. "One can at least hope that our employer's purposes are noble." And if not, he thought to himself, well, we'll see.

edited 22nd Aug '15 3:17:17 PM by tricksterson

Shylocke gave the Naratus a once-over, thinking to himself, Oh joy, a knight. This is the last thing I need. Still, suppose he could be useful, if he doesn't kill me for existing in his viewspace first... He gave the maid a polite nod as she gave him his whiskey and turned to his compatriots. "As long as I know what I'm doing, the only 'why' I need is a tighter purse."

edited 22nd Aug '15 3:41:41 PM by VocalFox

Naratus looked the goblin up and down. "Yes, well, that's hardly a surprise," he said, just a bit of a sneer in his voice. Then in an attempt at cooperation he conceded, "But then I suppose we all have to work together so we might as well get along as well as possible."

"That's a start," Richard commented. "I am... not well-acquainted with local politics, to say the least, but if such rivals can set aside the urge to murder each other for the sake of this hunt, the least we could do is to attempt the same." And if it doesn't work out... well, more souls for me, I guess, he added silently.

Still, even if he didn't share Naratus's sentiments, something about the goblin's presence bothered him - there were many goblins back in Deyja, but he hadn't expected to see one so far from home. "You're a long way from the Lands of the Dead, Shylocke. What brings you here?"

edited 22nd Aug '15 8:05:36 PM by Pyrite

Before you all can continue your conversation, a cloaked figure approaches your table. Drawing back the hood to reveal his face, Kristoph looks over each of you, before smiling slightly.

"Ah, so you've all made it. Charming. I'm guessing you've all introduced yourself, and you all should know who I am. So, I'm going to skip the formalities, and get to the point." Kristoph grabs a chair from a nearby table and pulls it over, sitting down among you.

"The scavenger hunt began two days ago, and more people are still arriving. With this many competitors, it won't be long before someone obtains all the items and wins the contest. So we'll have to work quickly. However, I do have some good news. Most of the items were simple enough to obtain, and I was able to get them through negotiation and a bit of luck. So now, I only need two more items to complete the list, but I'll need your help getting them."

Kristoph looked over his shoulder nervously, as if expecting someone to sneak up on him. However, no one is approaching your corner table. There are several other contestants and their employees arriving, making the place seem rather crowded. Across the room, you think you can see Lord Markham himself, talking with a sleazy-looking man.

"Anyway, the first of the two items is a giant dragonfly egg, from the ones who nest in the jungles of this island. I dare not face them alone. The second is the more troublesome, a floor tile from a Temple of the Moon, supposedly hidden somewhere on this island too. I'll need help locating that place." Kristoph stops, looking back and forth between each of you.

"So tomorrow, we will try to locate and obtain both. I figure that the egg will be easier to find, so we'll look for it first. And yes, I'll be accompanying you, seeing as I know at least some of the layout of the island and can guide you partway. So, any questions?"

Shylocke was about to answer Rich's question when Kristoph showed up, so instead directed his attention there. Shylocke kept a professional demeanor and listened closely as Kristoph proceeded to spill the beans. When the latter was done, a pause arose before the former decided to ask the most pertinent question. "Our combined skillset seems a bit extreme for a dragonfly nest, wouldn't you say?" Yes, Shylocke knew how big they could get, but even then, the token female of the group could probably get it on her own. "So what other trouble can we expect to run into?"

edited 24th Aug '15 11:53:33 AM by VocalFox

"Any clues about this temple of the moon, boss, Sir? And seems like our job will be easy what with you having so many of the items already" says Sellira stretching a little bit and thanking the waitress as she fills her mug, taking a few more healthy sips "Hmmm temple... I'm no theologian, but a good place to watch the moon seems like a must for that one, no?"

"I did say they were giant dragonflies, did I not?" Kristoph said, addressing Shylocke's question first, "But besides that, a handful of contestants have vanished. There have been a number of rumors, from other contestants ambushing and killing them to a fearsome monster on the island, far worse than the dragonflies. You can't fault a...person like me for wanting to make absolutely sure this works out, right?" He looked at each of you expectantly, then turned to Sellira.

"As for the Temple, I would agree...but I'm no scholar, and we don't have time to check the phases of the moon or anything like that." Kristoph sighed, shaking his head slightly, "We're going to have figure it out on our own, by combing the jungles. It should stand out. I would think so, at any rate."

Shylocke sighed and signaled the maid for another shot. Gods knew he needed one. This was going to be a long two days. He turned to Kristoph, being as frank as possible. "When your representitave hired me, they named my skills as a fingersmith. Nothing else. If I'm going to have to play the warrior as well, then my services will be far from cheap." Overt theft would be one thing, but close combat? Completely unprofessional.

"Ah, shenanigans," Richard remarked dryly, slightly unnerved by his employer's interruption and the news of more trouble. "I do have many questions - most of which I'm sure you're uninterested in hearing, for they are of a metaphysical bent and not particularly relevant to the current job. But most pertinently, do you have a map of the island that we could look at? While I have a healthy respect for nature, I would rather not run half-cocked into the great outdoors."

He was lying about the "healthy respect", of course, but it helped to keep up appearances.

edited 24th Aug '15 5:25:55 PM by Pyrite

"No further questions from me, I mostly understand the current situation" says Sellira, closing her eyes as she relaxes, listens to the others and keeps drinking.

"My own guess would be rival groups although a monster or monsters is always a possibility," Naratus said. "As for combat that would be mostly my own and Sellira's bailiwick with Richard being along for magical problems." He looked at Shylocke. "Although if you encounter any backs I'm sure you'll try to stab them." After a significant pause he added, "Enemy backs of course."

edited 25th Aug '15 4:09:44 AM by tricksterson

"If there is any stabbing to be done, better their backs than ours, for 'It is better that I should wrong the world, than let the world wrong me,' as the sages say. But if I were you, my pointy-eared partner, I'd rather not get on the wrong side of someone who is particularly good at it, as you have assumed." Richard chuckled mirthlessly, recognising Naratus's tone almost immediately: in his experience, the combination of "Bracada", "Elf" and "Nobility" usually led to some of the snootiest beings in the known universe. Besides, the goblins of Deyja actually made pretty good minions - for living beings.

He took a long draught of ale - and nearly choked as he realised one glaring flaw in the elf's battle plan. "And speaking of assumptions, Sir Naratus - the nature of this life is illusion and transience, but what in the world makes you think that I am a wizard?" he sputtered.

edited 25th Aug '15 10:01:33 AM by Pyrite

Shylocke parted his lips in a snarl as he brought his second shot up to his lips, considering Naratus' remark. However, when Richard piped up, he couldn't help but chuckle. Anyone could tell by his accent and clothes he was from Deyja, giving him the perfect quip. "Yeah, Naratus. That's pretty racist." He finally downed the shot, now smirking instead of snarling.

"As for things going south, I have a few tricks up my sleeve, but leaving a trail of bodies is hardly professional."

"Ma'am, more mead! Ohh and bring me an order of fried pork, please! Thank you" goes Sellira, having finished yet another mug, seeming quite happy with herself as she leans back on her chair and looks with a smile how her companions squabble but a little bit. Mostly at the expense of the elven knight... though they shared a race, though, Sellira wasn't inclined to help one side or the other.

"Please, listen," Kristoph had been pleading, but you continued to argue, ignoring him. Suddenly, the young man shouted, voice shrill, "Shut up and listen to me!"

Naturally, every person in the room turns to look at your group. Kristoph, realizing the attention he has drawn, is now a very bright shade of red. Among the silence, the bartender steps out from behind the bar.

"Ladies and uh...well, uh, lady and gentlemen, I'm afraid I'm going to have ask you to leave." Although the bartender sounds polite, his knitted brow, coupled with the fact that the bouncer - a rather heavy set man - walking up behind him tells you all what will happen if you don't leave immediately.

Shylocke fell silent when Kristoph shouted, but instead turned his attention to the bar, anticipating the following reaction. Calmly, he stood up from his seat and put his bill, with a generous tip on the table. "I know when I'm being cut off." He steps away from the table, but waits for his employer to take the lead before exiting.

Sellira seemed a little bit disappointed... only three mugs of sweet mead and no fried pork before the arguing companions had them all chased out of the tavern. Letting out a little sigh, she stands up, letting their patron pick the tab or if he shows no hints of doing it, paying for her drinks before she puts her hands behind her head and follows the group outside "So, boss, how are you feeling about your hires at the moment?" she asks with a bit of humor.

Naratus had been about to answer the goblin to the effect that it wasn't his fault that the universe was ordered so that certain races had certain tendencies when their employer had started yelling and the tavern keeper had ordered them out. He followed quietly reflecting thatg perhaps this had been a mistake. Still he had given his word and was committed.