There and Back Again

Green Sailor Inn

Damar was about to correct the bartender, but decided against it. For the most part, meat rolls were meat rolls, and he'd had just as many good beef or chicken meat rolls as he'd had zabu ones. Hopefully his red leaf tea would still be good. As for the men chuckling at his decision to switch to tea.... well, he just ignored them. After all, if a human had downed the amount of kanar that he'd had, they'd be struggling to form coherent sentences.

Taking a quick look back, he saw a table where three humans - two men and a woman - sat talking, but turned back, their conversation not catching his interest. At least, not yet, anyway.

Edited by MasterOfAntics on Feb 18th 2019 at 7:35:30 AM

Conan; The Green Inn

The barbarian king was no stranger to taverns, and he was not inclined to give chase to a petty thief. He himself had been a thief once, and so he understood the impulse better than most. Instead, he let the pirate girl and her hangers-on dash away, before walking his employer to her table. The nag stood and snorted outside at the end of her tether, staring at the dusty paving with some disdain.

"You ask for more haste than most, woman," he said. "My horse can barely carry me. To ride her at full gallop to the King's palace would kill her."

When Akane sauntered into the conversation, Conan cast a dark look at her, his hooded eyes clouding at the hint of witchery. Though the woman seemed innocuous on the outside, her garb was instinctively distasteful to Conan's savage senses, and at any rate he distrusted priestesses of all sorts. He turned back to Christie and folded his arms.

"If you truly wish to travel light, then leave your goods behind. If you cannot, I will still grant you my aid - you will come to no harm as long as I draw breath. This I swear."

He did not swear by any gods, for Crom, the god of the Cimmerians, was cruel and capricious and paid no heed to the affairs of mortals. No, it was by the strength of his arm that Conan swore, for his own brute strength was the only certainty that he could count on in this subtle and treacherous world.

"My fee will be commensurate to the danger," he said immediately after, as if to banish any hint of sentiment from his claim. "I will need a new horse. You can take it from my wages."

Edited by troydenite on Feb 18th 2019 at 12:08:20 AM

Green Sailor Inn

Akane’s cheery expression stayed the same on the surface after Conan turned to make his demands, but much of its light drained away as if the sun had been abruptly replaced by an equally-bright candle flame. “Goodness, all this talk of payment! My goals are far more simple.” Akane asserted in a clearly competitive spirit, bringing her over-sleeved hands together as she leaned forward gently in prayer. “The vassal king has proven more willing than ever to accommodate religions not of his own. Why, I’ve even seen temples dedicated to Poseidon himself!” One of her hands slid off the next, the first coming to land solemnly over a space near her heart, while the other sailed skyward in an open-palmed gesture toward the heavens. "If you would merely be willing to take care of the travel expenses for the journey, I would take my payment solely in the ability to bend an ear that is already open, and make my case: more places of worship for He that arrived to find an imperfect world, and resolved to reshape it as though clay on the wheel!”

As if to offer evidence of said reshaping, Akane would then take a step back to reveal the spiny creation nipping almost literally on the summoner's heels. Akane would kneel down to pick Rikka up before plopping it down next to her empty glass, then sweeping her hand from one end of the table to the next. "If any of you have any doubts about how He could help us on this journey, this humble servant of a humble servant will gladly tend to any small wounds or injuries that you'd resigned yourselves to suffering. Broken bones are also within her reach, but you all look a tad too hale and healthy for that~.” Akane finished her spiel with a giggle, before her gaze swept the table again and landed coolly on Conan with all of the subtle menace of a blade concealed in the sleeve. "I hear that bravado can be the result of a head wound, however.”

Edited by Uncandescent on Feb 18th 2019 at 3:57:25 PM

On the Road Again

Phew. The kid's okay! A sense of relief sets in as Shoto opens his eyes.

"It's okay. You're doing fine. Just take as much time as you need to catch your breath."

Turning to the rest of the party, she adds "I think now's as good a time as any for us to rest for a few hours. The kids could definitely use the extra energy."

She's only hoping that her reputation hasn't spread to Gdonya. If so, there's no way any of them will trust her after they get there, no matter how much she's trying to put that behind her...

Startled by the wide web coming at him, the thief attempted to somehow leap to the side on the wall. This of course failed, and he would have plummeted to a messy end, had his foot not got snagged in the web. Now he dangled upside down on the side of the wall, chin bumping into the brick surface, stolen bag hanging from his shoulders. He spent a moment or two in shell shock, before wildly failing his arms about, hoping to gore someone with his pitons. "Back off, man!" he yelped at whoever came near first.

Meanwhile, out in the dusty streets, a party of diminutive fellows in striped headscarves came staggering up the road, heading in one most definite direction...

Christie glanced between the two, weighing up her options and becoming increasingly aware of a well known fact among adventurers.◊ "L-Let's not argue now," she said. "I'm grateful to you both for offering your aid... I understand your concerns, Mister Conan, sir. My cargo is currently in a secure location, away from prying eyes. I suppose I could leave two of them in town, if I could find a way to make absolutely certain they'd never be stolen. I'd need to bring at least one along, though. Though it isn't so urgent you'd need to risk your poor horse's health. I wouldn't be in such a rush, except-"

Just then, the door burst open, and a flood of short headscarfed sailors came piling in. Damar soon found the bar getting rather cramped as they all piled on to wave the barman over. Though most of them looked hairy or ugly enough to be of drinking age, some of them seemed no older than cabin boys, but all of them were shouting their orders, loudly chatting and laughing amongst themselves, and just generally being a nuisance.

Back at the table, Christie stared at the new arrivals, pupils dilated and face white as a sheet. If she was nervous when Akane sauntered up, she was downright terrified now. "...Oh gods..." she gasped, "They found me. I don't know how, but they found me..." Without warning, she dived under the table to cower, knocking the sleeping drunk onto his side.

The shapeshifter glared at Kled, giving only a spiteful growl as response to him. But then Seras came up, and the little man scrabbled backwards, wide eyed and fearful. "I...I am a creature of the underground, domain of King Kostiei the immortal. I can't speak for whatever other dark spirits may come, but I am alone on this road and I've learned a lesson, I swear it!" His eye briefly darted to Seras' left arm. "Please, great traveller, spare me my life and I'll give anything you ask of me. I've seen that armband before. I know its meaning. Surely you of all people would know the value of a second chance?"

Unable to actually shake his head, Shoto closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Clearly this wasn't his mother, their slight similarities weren't that distracting. He needed to get ahold of himself.

When Caitlin suggested staying for longer, he immediately tried to stand back up again and said, "no, no, I'm fine. I can't keep wasting time out here." He didn't need to rest, he needed to eat.

While he didn't want to mention what was actually made him so weak, his stomach decided to speak up itself, rumbling loudly enough that Caitlin would have no trouble hearing it, even over the yelling of the creature who was professing to have learned its lesson. If Shoto wasn't so hungry, he might've spoken up, but he couldn't care about that.

Well then, Kled didn't exactly knew who the hell was this King Kostei, or what kind of underground place he was from. Worst of all, he didn't even seemed intimidated by him! Oh if that bastard only knew he was Sir Admiral Major Kled, he would piss his goddamn pants at who he is facing!

He eyed suspiciously at the shapeshifter as he attempted to convince Seras to spare him by saying some weird mumbo jumbo about her armband. Rule number one he always lived by, never trust someone who just attempted to kill you...or was that number two?

Hell, he didn't remember, but still, it was pretty important. The other rule was, kill them afterwards though. He really needed some mushroom juice right now to clear his mind.

Kled looked at Seras once the shapeshifter was done pleading to her, before giving his opinion. "You know, it's always a bad idea to spare someone who just tried to kill you a few moments ago. Usually ends up biting you in the ass. My opinion is that we kill him and get the hell out of this shithole!"

The rumbling sounds of Shoto's stomach were, in fact, loud enough to get Caitlin's attention. Turning to the monster hunter, she chimes "Seras, do you have any more of those apples left? The kid HAS to eat something."

Kled is suggesting they just kill the shapeshifter. And to some extent, Caitlin sees where he's coming from. But at the same time, she's not sure if she's up for outright killing a sentient being... "I don't know. I understand your reasoning and I'm almost inclined to agree with you, but...if that ends up being our decision, I'd rather not be a part of it. I've seen enough death... She trails off there, realizing she may have said too much.

"Woah, hang on!" shouted Finn, lowering his sword an inch and looking at the helpless form of the pinned-down thief. "What's your deal, man?" he asked, daring to take another step closer to the helplessly flailing man. "This one of those city of thieves type-deals, or what?"

Seras, Quest Found, Road to Gdonya

Kostiei the Immortal? Well, now they were getting somewhere. She's heard the name here and there, but now it seemed it was finally time to test the authenticity of that title. "I can handle this." She reached down to gently lower Kled's halberd away from the creature's neck. "Thanks for your help, everyone, but you should be on your way to Gdonya, especially since Mr. Fugitive and Mathilda aren't feeling very well. I need to ask our new friend a couple more questions..." Why did it sound so ominous...?

"Incidentally, I've no apples left. You folks go on ahead. I'll meet you in the city."

If Shoto was in the habit of expressing his emotions, he would've sighed in relief when he was given the go ahead to just get to Gdonya. He was tired of being distracted.

"Yes, I'll do that," he said as he stood up, blinking away the swirling colors that erupted within his vision as he did. From the outside, he just looked like he was very deliberate with each step he took as he walked over to his horse, who was both too tired and well-trained to run from such a fight. He took its reins back in his hand and they started back on the road again.

Caitlin traveled alongside Shoto, trying to ensure he keeps his balance. She's cautiously optimistic about the prospects ahead of them. "Matilda, I think it's best if you come along as well. There's safety in numbers, after all, and I don't want to risk there might be anything else attacking you while I'm not around."

She adjusts the hood of her cloak slightly, suggesting a bit of uncertainty, but she's trying her best to look confident...

Kanae, To Gdonya

Kanae, who was currently carrying the tired Matilda, decided to make her way towards Gdonya with Shoto and Caitlin.

"I'm gonna get moving. You do what you want with the shape-shifting weirdo."

Edited by HilarityEnsues on Feb 21st 2019 at 11:58:20 AM

The woman who was definitely not his mom and Shoto's dumb brain needed to stop making that connection... was still following him, as if trying to look out for him. Once again, he felt himself bristling at the thought, reminded of all those times the bastard had called him weak for wanting to see his mother again.

"I can take care of myself," he said, trying to inch away from her. It wasn't too easy, since on the other side was the horse, who was not eager to have him walk into it. He still focused on moving forward, eager to get some food and hopefully a change of clothes. He had no idea what his plan was from there, but baby steps.

Awwww, he wanted to kill the weird guy, though it seemed the human lady wanted him all for herself. Eh, he will let her have her fun, besides, getting Gdoyna as his own property will be more fun! That, and he can get to kill any Atlantean soldier that recognizes him and want him dead!

"Well, human, you go have fun with the weirdo over there. Yip, yip, Skaarl!"

The Duo moved along with the others headed to Gdoyna. The boy with the weird hairstyle insisted he was fine, but even he could tell he looked like crap.

The fairy bull flew away from the now suspended thief in a manner that seemed too calm for being on his case seconds before, to return to ground level by its owner. At that point said owner put both his hands back down again and sighed in relief, suddenly less wobbly again. Tinkerbull looked mildly disappointed at apparently being denied the opportunity to annoy the man, but seemed to brush it off quickly and bumped the troll's shoulder as if trying to egg him into something.

"A-alright, I guess it couldn't hurt now. I don't like confrontation though...uhh, I mean. You there! You, can't run, so give back the...thing you stole, whatever it was. I didn't...really see. Uh."

Conan; The Green Sailor Inn

Conan was a patient man, after his own fashion. A yipping pirate girl he could stomach, if only as an amusing and harmless treat. The humiliation of poverty was to him a garment far more fitting than the pomp and glory of a King's mantle, and the rough life of a wanderer was to him, more honest and simple than any settled merchant's. His was the horseman's restless fear of complacency.

The gods, too, he feared. It was the completely logical fear of a wild wolf for the flaming torch, or of a pregnant woman for the barber's saw: one did not trifle with those who had the power to maim and kill. And so when the priestess Akane smiled her belittling smile, he did not remove his hand from his cloak and strike her in the face, or call her a witch and temptress.

He simply laughed a wild and dangerous laugh, like the bark of a savage dog, the same way he laughed at all things he feared.

"My head has been wounded many times over, O Priestess. Perhaps if I ask, Alexis Carab shall cure me of my manhood, and turn me into a snivelling sop!"

So saying, he cast back his gray wanderer's hood, turning from her with a sneer of contempt. His tangled mane shone thick and black as bile, and his eyes gleamed blue as Hyperborean ice. His bearded face was thick with scars, and his nose, broken and rebroken, had the knapped smoothness of a flinty stub.

"Answer me, louts!" he roared at the sailors, heedless of their number. "Is it your practice to disturb the peace and terrify women? Where is your captain?"

Edited by troydenite on Feb 23rd 2019 at 2:42:33 AM

All eyes turned among the pirate crew to Conan bellowing to them from the corner. None of them seemed terribly happy about this brute of a man letting the wind out of their sails. "Cap'n's got business elsewhere," said one of the older, hairier ones. "Y' oughta be mindin' yours yourself."

"Yeah, lay off of us, willya?"

"You even know who y'r messin' with, ya ugly son of a bum?"

"Y'know fellas, I don't think he does."

The crew slowly got off their seats, and began creeping over to the corner table, sinister grins on their faces. Under the table, Christie gasped with dread and tried to flatten herself against the bench. The barkeep, meanwhile, leaned over the bar and barked "Hey, hey! Not in my bar, you don't. You want to make trouble, you take it outside. Are you listening to me? Hey!"

The thief's gaze darted from one heroic type to the other, until his attention was fixed at Tavros' weak attempt at a command. "Or what?" he sneered, ignoring his current position. "I can still take you clowns. All at once or one at a time, I don't care! Guards never caught me before, you're not gonna take me now!"

As the rest of the motley crew pressed on the beaten road, the little man looked up at his interrogator. "So, then...what do you wish to know...or did you only wish for no witnesses to an execution? Be warned, my blood has a terrible aftertaste."

Meanwhile, if the rest of the group should get so far, they would find the skyline of Gdonya drawing ever closer, and maybe even the scent of sea drifting down the prevailing south-westerly breeze. Soon enough, the gate to the town would be in sight, with a stagecoach parked outside currently negotiating with two guardsmen, each dressed in the colours of the national flag.

Kled started to see in the far distance his objective. Finally, maybe Skaarl will stop whining once she gets all the fish she wants from this port.

"Woo, it's darn pretty round here...glad it's mine!"

Kled saw what seemed like guards wearing the stupid colours of the Atlantean flag. Pfft. Once this place is officially his property, that stupid flag will not be seen any longer.

Well, time for the damn trespassers to know this land here is HIS.

"Gleeflarg?"

"What are we gonna do, Skaarl? Oh, you know, the usual. Letting the varmints know this land here is ours!"

The duo approached the gate, Kled not caring he was interrupting, before clearing his throat, making his presence known to the guards.

"Humans! I am Rear Forward Brigadier Admiral Kled, and this land here is now my property! So you best let your new leader pass now, unless you want me to put my boot in both of your watooisees and kick you off my new land!"

Yeah, this surely will work! At least, he thinks so.

Edited by Darkomega245 on Feb 25th 2019 at 11:28:47 AM

Seras, Road to Gdonya - Grim Duty of a Good Hunter

The vampire made a sour face. Luckily, everyone had already left, so now it was just the merry two of them. "I'll pass on the latter. Anyway, I want you tell me all you know about Koschei, his forces and his lands. Anything that comes to mind will do. Just don't try to be cheeky with me. I haven't yet decided if I'll be skinning you for earlier."

Shoto was more relieved seeing the gates to Gdonya than possibly he'd ever felt in his life. Not that he changed expressions much or anything. There was a slight tenseness that seemed to evaporate once they were in sight.

To his surprise, the yordle started acting as if he was taking over the town or something. Really, he wasn't too interested in that. The only thing he cared about was the moment of silence that gave him the opening to ask, "is there a stable nearby where I can have my horse looked after for the time being?"

Green Sailor Inn

Damar groaned at this recent development. Pirates. And not particularly bright ones, if their current behavior was anything to go by. He reached down to his hip, checking his arcane flintlock. To his relief, the weapon was still fully charged, should the pirates do anything stupid. Which, given the amount of alcohol in this place, was a given. Although, it seemed that they didn't need alcohol to do anything stupid, given the way they were antagonizing that human man - who Damar now noticed was a Cimmerian, which only proved their idiocy in his mind.

"Seems Oralius got lazy when they were born." he said under his breath. Clearly, the Goddess of Wisdom had overlooked these sods. And Galor, the God of Might, had certainly smiled upon the Cimmerian. Things would almost certainly get ugly very quickly.

Any thoughts of the impending barfight, however, were quickly chased from his mind, when the distinct sweet-and-spicy aroma of red leaf tea wafted across the air. Turning back to the bar, he saw his order placed right in front of him. Red leaf tea, and some sort of meat rolls. He grabbed a meat roll and bit down into it. Not bad. he thought. Sure, there was only a bit of zabu meat in there, the rest being a mix of beef, pork, and fish, but he'd certainly had far worse than this. Not great, but certainly better than I was expecting.

"You're lucky your sticky little fingers didn't grab anything," Captain Toad backed up as the pirate began to speak to him, nearly stumbling in the process. "Or you'd be losing them all to my blade. Y'thought I'd be an easy target cause I was young, shroom?" Captain Toad for his part hopped in fright at her words, pointing in the direction had left after making his statement. He shook his head back and forth, his words coming out in jumbles as he replied to her.

"I'm...not thief...my bag...stolen!"

He waved frantically, trying to get Tetra to leave him alone.

Edited by Chariot on Feb 25th 2019 at 10:58:15 AM

Caitlin's a bit taken aback by Shoto's brushing her off. Luckily, it's not solely her concern for his well-being that leads her to want to travel with him. "Oh, I have no doubt that you can take care of yourself. I was just thinking...we made a good team back there. Plus, I need some source of heat, and you're a bit warmer than everyone else in this group."

When she catches glimpse of the guards, she's a bit apprehensive. So she pulls the hood of her cloak over her face, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. So far, she hasn't seen any signs that her reputation has spread this far, but if any of them have heard of her, it's going to definitely impede her attempts to start a new life for herself...

Outside Green Sailor Inn

Alarmingly enough, there was enough evidence to corroborate Toad's insistence that he wasn't a thief, but instead a victim; he lacked the hard edge in his eye that, in Tetra's experience, was a defining trait of those desperate enough to steal from a weapons-wielder. On top of that was the exploratory headlight wrapped around his shroomish head, which was markedly out of place unless it had been paired with other equipment that got stolen.

It was then natural to conclude that he was telling the truth, and hadn't tried to steal from her. Which, after all her posturing, would be a much worse scenario than if he had.

Lowering her sword, Tetra's features skimmed across a series of emotions- aghast, embarrassed, annoyed- before settling back into a well-worn frown. "If you ain't no thief, then don't go barging into people and making 'em think you are one!" She turned quickly and dashed in the direction that the web-slinger and troll boy had gone in pursuit of the real culprit. It really wasn't any of her business, now that she knew she hadn't been a target, but... dammit, her conscience wouldn't let her walk away after she'd accused Toad of villainy.