Age of Ruin IC: Tempting Fate

[Ozzy_G]

Ah, yes, says the balding middle-aged man, pushing his spectacles back up his nose slightly nervously. He bows forward slightly. His body is thin, his fingers delicate and inkstained, his clothes of middling quality. Well, my name is Kohan. I am the group's treasurer. I'll be paying the money out, I'll be hiring a ship, and so on. Um... I do speak Mokai and Dar Ven, which will be useful.

[Toliudar]

Dion

"Party? You don't look like you want a party, sweetheart."

Dion grins lopsidedly, and steps into some of the space that Jackal's move provides for her and Reyhan. Her assessment of him is frank and approving.

Oh, I think I'm all the party you can handle, bud.

Runa's addressing Dion and Reyhan by name brings a sharp look of surprise to her face and she wheels to stare at the petite woman.

Yeah? We met before, sweetie? I'm usually pretty good with faces.

She sits, clearly still perturbed, but drinks back half of her beer as Kohan speaks.

Well, as missy here said, I'm Dion. I'm...crackly. Oh, and I guess it won't come in too handy round here, but my Shi Lun is pretty good. Accent's crap, but it's a bloody hard language.

[The Great Skenardo]

Jackel Betruger

Verlyn

" We should all go around and tell each others our names and, as the case may be, titles we hold and with which we expect be be addressed and of course our given special skills. So that everybody knows who is the scout and who is the medic. That sort of thing."

Jackel snickers. "Sure thing, sure thing. Heh." He turns in his seat to face Dion and Reyhan.
"Hello class, my name's Mr. Betruger. But y'all can call me Jackel. We're gonna be real good friends, I can tell. I'm escort an' bodyguard on this trip. Anyone wants a personal escort or wants their body taken special care of, well...Talk to me later."
He laughs, slapping the grubby floor with the heel of his boot.
"Anyways... I'm a damn good warrior, and I've got a certain way with finding out what I want to know."

[knewsom]

Runa smiled politely.

"Met? No, I know you only by reputation. A small town like this, there are only so many clerics of Calamesh, ever fewer with friends named Reyhan, and you know... people talk."

She remained seated for her own introduction.

"I see we have plenty of brawn in this group... I will of course be providing arcane support and subterfuge. I'm afraid I don't speak Mokai, but I do speak Dwarven, Draconic, Infernal, and Kumari, in addition to Davethran. My name... is Runa Redgrave."

[NobleSavage]

Reyhan

Behind the smiling illusion the demonic mouth scowled. I am friends with her? Unacceptable. She should be friends with me.

"That would make me Reyan, Reyan Ilsombreh." Dipping into a low bow, he takes a moment to look around for some sign of recognition. Vaguely disappointed with the result, he shrugs and continues. "I have many friends, got the gift, I suppose. I'm pretty good at picking up on local customs, too, which looks like it could be an asset where we're going. Um..." he bobs his head about as if thinking "I'd like to say I can hold my own in combat, but I'm not sure I'd measure up to the rest of you..." he smiles a bit sheepishly. "I'm good at finding things?" he almost asks, "Friends, though" he states more assertively, "I am good at making friends." Piquing his eyebrows, he looks around at the rest of the group.

[The Great Skenardo]

Jackel
Jackel squints at the seeming-merchant, his lips moving as if trying to work something out.
" Uh...Huh."
The Mokai man folds his hands over his stomach for a moment, watching Reyhan closely. It's clear he's not taking the merchant's words at face value, and his gaze is once more one that seems to harbor some invisible grudge.
Almost as quickly as it comes, the look melts into an easy smile. He winks at Dion.
"Takes all types, I guess. So what's our first move, Boss?"
This last is addressed to the man in the shadows.

[Lycar]

Verlyn

(All right, here it comes. easy now. Don't screw this up now...)

"Ah Master Betruger, so eager to earn your reward. But we haven't quite finished introductions, now have we..."

The man leans foreward, thereby allowing more light to fall upon him and thus revealing himself to the gathered party. He looks like a Davethran all right. Bronze skin, black hair and all. Except that, while most Davethrans tend to have little hair, this one has strong and thick hair. His eyes are of a deep green which, maybe only on second though, seems to be just a bit too brilliant to be entirely human.

Apart from that, he looks completely human. Aren't davethran nobles supposed to be the unholy spawn of demons and dragons and whatnot?

Of course, as soon as he starts speaking again, the more observant might notice that his canines are just a bit too pointy to be entirely ... well, you get the idea.

Now that more of him is revealed, the fine garb he wears appears to have the cut and style of a courtier's outfit. While his robe sports red or reddish tones as the prominent colour, hinting at his status among the davethran mage caste, he seems to favour emeralds for his jewelry. In additon to the ring on his right hand, he wears a signet ring on his left and also ear studs, a necklace and, is this a golden armband?

A slight stiffness and the soft tinkle of metal hint at some kind of armour under his robes. At his right side, the handle of a dagger or other short blade protrudes from his belt, adorned with a crystal the colour of a cloudless sky.

Although it is hard to tell with him sitting down, he seems to be tall and his broad chest and deep, resonant voice hint at some upper body strength.

"My turn now. I am Verlyn Felyx Stillwater, of House Stillwater. That makes me a noble and it makes you adress me as Lord Stillwater."

He rolls his eyes a bit and makes a dismissive gesture with his hands.

"And if you fail to adress me by my proper title, I shall have to draw your blood to avenge the insult, yadda yadda .. you are all professionals, you know the spiel. If you have trouble remembering this though, think of how it may be Kohan who hands you your money after we get back here, but it will be me who actually tells him who to pay."

Leaning back again, Verlyn adds "And it also means that you will protect him as much as you will protect me. More so even. As for our mission: I am on a .. quest if you will. We will cross the Bitter Sea and travel to the city of Kael Rekan. Where Master Jackel will ensure that we do get to replenish our supplies unmolested."

"From there we travel due east to Mount Keshra. That is Dar Ven territory. They have some peculiar traditions regarding strangers, which we do not want to learn about personally. There is a place I need to visit."

"Once I am finished there, we go all the way back we came to Bemin. We all safely arrive back here, you get paid. Questions?"

Lycar

[The Great Skenardo]

Jackel Betruger
Jackel's grin freezes for a moment as the introduction of their employer is finally made. A strange gleam enters his eye.
"That...a ...fact?" he manages "A-heh. Heh-heh."
He swallows, and abruptly he relaxes, draping his shoulders across the back of the chair he now lounges in.
"Sure, your Lordship. Ain't no trouble at all. Heh." Jackel pats his dusty black frock coat, as if looking for something, until he finally pulls out a battered pad of paper and a stub of charcoal.
"Just a sec." he scribbles something down, and then replaces charcoal and paper back in a pocket.
"Okay. So... When you wanna leave?"

[Toliudar]

Dion

Dion focuses on the long, lean drink of water from Davethra, their real employer on the gig, it seemed. She seems to be fumbling for some detail, but shakes it off as he speaks. Her voice softens into the cultured tones of a court-trained Davethran noble.

My Lord, I'm assuming that My Lord will of course be covering travelling expenses for we, his humblest servants. Will he not, my Lord?

A flicker of a smile is visible as she dips her head down down, her hair covering her face.

[Lycar]

Verlyn

Verlyn sighs "Expenses, yes. A little up-front payment as a token of good faith. Of course you won't require too much. Poor Kohan likes to keep our gold together and only parts with it under duress. Or on a direct order. So Kohan, if you please... "

Verlyn makes a sweeping gesture, encompassing the entire party. Kohan won't be happy. Poor guy.

Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

Kohan looks slightly disgruntled, but masks it. Of course, my lord, he says sweetly. He pulls up a rucksack. It doesn't really look anywhere big enough to have all the gold you've been told you'll be paid. How much shall I give them now? Remember that I booked passage for us earlier today, and that includes food across the sea, my lord.

[knewsom]

Dion
My Lord, I'm assuming that My Lord will of course be covering travelling expenses for we, his humblest servants. Will he not, my Lord?

A spark appears in Runa's eyes - anger perhaps for such insolence? No... something else... The corners of her mouth twist upward in a quiet smile of amusement. Anytime a Noble is a minority in company is a GOOD time.

[The Great Skenardo]

Jackel Betruger
Jackel twiddles his thumbs, but his gaze fixes upon the satchel of coins, avarice in his eyes.

[Lycar]

Verlyn

Verlyn waves dismissivly at his aide.

"Relax Kohan. It is just a token of good faith. After all, you would not hire someone who is so poorly equipped, that he, or she, would need substantial funding to be considered fit for the job, now would you. Give them whatever you feel in your heart is appropriate."

Casting a glance around the group he adds "... unless any of you feel you are inadequate for the job?"

"Oh sorry, I meant to say 'inadequatly equipped' of course."

Lycar

[The Great Skenardo]

Jackel
Jackel scratches his short curly beard, and smiles a wolfish smile.
"Your Lordship. Folks have called me a lot of different names, but no one's ever called me inadequate. And I mean no-one."
He bounces his heel against the floor, and his gaze returns to the satchel of coins.

[Ozzy_G]

Kohan reaches into his bag and starts to count out coins. I'll give them 100 gold coins each my lord, he says, that's a lot of money. Assuming that is, that they will be coming.

[The Great Skenardo]

Jackel Betruger
Jackel reaches out and takes the 100 gold coins slowly, almost languorously.
"Ahh...Say what you like, a noble's most always good for it. Thanks."
Filtering the gold into a worn purse in a breast pocket, Jackel smiles a little wider. There's still something in his eyes that isn't simple pleasure or even greed. Mischief? Madness?

[Toliudar]

Dion

The redheaded woman is quick enough to take her pile of coins, counting it at the table before sliding it into her belt sack.

Ah, so THAT's what a noble's good for, Jackal. Thanks for clearing that up.

She smiles at Verlyn.

Don't get me wrong, Lord. I appreciate this, and it'll take care of one or two minor inconveniences before we leave in the morning. But, my Lord, I was kind of meaning expenses along the way - inns, transportation...bandages. That kind of thing, Lord. And it sounds like your man Kohan here has that well in hand as well, Lord, so I'm happy.

As if demonstrating, she drains off another portion of her beer.

[Lycar]

Verlyn

Verlyn ignores Jackel and smiles at Dion instead "I am glad to hear that. And yes, Kohan here has been a faithful servant of House Stillwater for many years. He is very experienced."

"But there is something that troubles me... you are of the clergy caste, do you not have a title or something to adress you by?"

Lycar

[knewsom]

Runa rolled her eyes as she pocketed the coin without a second thought.

"I'm sure if she wanted to be called something else, that's how she'd have introduced herself... If you doubt her credentials, ask her to heal you."

As she said this last line, a baleful glint appeared in here eye, a friendly reminder that a lack of wounds was an easy thing to remedy.

The blonde wizard stood and started towards the door, but stopped and turned back for a moment.

"Where and when exactly are we meeting tomorrow?"

[NobleSavage]

Reyhan

Dragging an unattended chair into the circle, Reyhan fills the gap next to Dion. Leaning forward a moment as Kohan begins to divvy out the gold, Reyhan seems to reconsider, slouching back into his seat. "Thank you, my Lord," a playful smile creases his lips as his eyebrows jump, "But my equipment is adequate, I will need no advances at present. I trust, though," his smile turning sly "that you will be covering expenses, including security and information gathering, and in that vein a discretionary fund would be appreciated." The Shavaran offers a hand once more, suggesting more than demanding. Catching Kohan's concerned expression as if for the first time, Reyhan pats the air in deference, "Don't worry, don't worry, I will an account of what I spend, to be approved by yourself, of course."

[Lycar]

Verlyn

Smiling sweetly at Runa, Verlyn retorts with a purring voice "Touchy touchy... don't you think it would behoove me to afford the same priviledge, of being adressed by the proper title, that I claim for me, to any others who have a claim to a title?"

"Oh, silly me... that has always been a bit of a.. sore spot for you, hasn't it?"

Getting earnest again, he goes on, adressing the whole group "Besides, if I doubted any of your references, you wouldn't be here in the first place."

"As for specific expenses," Verlyn adds, looking at Reyhan, "they will need to be approved on a case-by-case basis. We don't actually have that much gold with us."

Leaning back into the shadows again he closes with "Or did you really think we would be lugging around 10.000 gold pieces with us? That is just another reason why your mission is to escort us back here: If you want to be paid, you have to go where the money is."

"About tomorrow: Our ship sails with the morning tide. That would be.. oh, somewhere around the 10th hour or so. So you will meet us in front of the harbourmaster's office. On the 9th hour. I am certain I don't have to remind professionals, such as you are, to be punctual."

Lycar

[The Great Skenardo]

Jackel Betruger
The Mokai man scratches his chin again.
"Yeah, sure... Guess I can find a clock somewhere in this town."
He stands slowly. He really isn't tall, but still his presence gives him a sense of stature unmeasurable in inches. Or perhaps quite measurable in inches.
Absently, Jackel flicks the heavy pommel of the blade across his back with one finger, eliciting a dull ring.
"Be seeing y'all tomorrow. Stay safe... I ain't getting paid to protect you tonight."
He cackles softly to himself as he heads to the bar to see about some kind of lodging for the night.

[knewsom]

Runa raised an eyebrow at Verlyn, but didn't show any other sign of emotion.

"How gracious of you. I've just always thought they were silly. ..my lord."

She followed this with a flourish and a deep bow before turning to leave once more, saying her goodbye's loudly without turning her head.

"Goodnight friends, old and new, see you tomorrow."

[Toliudar]

But there is something that troubles me... you are of the clergy caste, do you not have a title or something to adress you by?

Dion blanches.

I am way beyond all of that caste crap, and I have never clerged in my life, My Lord - as will we all be when the world is remade anew. Meantime, Dion will do just fine.

She regains her composure, and her tone becomes cultured again.

If it please your Lordship.

She executes some variant on what a curtsey would look like in plate armour. And reaches down to finish off the beer. Always finish off the beer.

Tomorrow morning, in front of the harbourmasters, then.

Nodding to the others, and putting a friendly hand on Reyhan's shoulder, she departs.

[Ozzy_G]

Kohan looks at Reyhan uncomfortably, glances at Verlyn, sighs, and hands him 100 gold as well. See you tomorrow then, he says with a slight tension.

[NobleSavage]

Reyhan

"Mmm, so I am to return to you before paying out the bribe I've convinced a doorman to take in order to acquire potentially critical information my Lord?" Grinning, he waves his hand, as if to take back his words, "Do not worry, my Lord. That is all hyperbole, I believe I understand your intent well enough. I will not spill out your coffers," though talking to Verlyn, Reyhan's eye's make contact with Kohan's, "on drink and... other vices... for myself. I will use discretion." He shrugs, grins, and takes a large gulp from his mug.

Wincing as Dion slips into her dogmatic jargon, he still offers her a smile as she stands to leave. Forcibly restraining himself from cringing as the woman lays a hand on his shoulder he puts on his best air of calm. Well, she can probably deal with what she sees here. She's proved reasonably trustworthy in the past. Unless this whole thing is a trap... No, no, I'm not worth the expense such actors would require. Not yet anyway.

Leaning back, Reyhan continues to drink as the others filter out. Obviously in little hurry, he shifts his seat so that he can see more of the tavern. Once the rest of his companions have left, or the small talk runs out, the Shavaran returns to his seat at the card table, and continues to lose his money.

[Lycar]

Verlyn

Verlyn just quirks an eyebrow at Dion's reaction, although that is obscured by the shadows.

After all but Reyhan have left, Verlyn gets up and announces his departure.

"Very well then. See you tomorrow Master Reyhan."

And so he retreats to his quarters, to rest for the night.

Once he is certain to be alone with Kohan, he turns to him and asks "So, how was I?"

Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

Kohan sits down and the bed and sighs, then replies.

Spoiler

Show

Not terrible, I'll give you that. But did it never occur to you that they might take our money and run off with it?

[Lycar]

Verlyn

Verlyn frowns.

Spoiler

Show

""Actually, no. I mean, I was kinda expecting you to select people who would stick for the chance to earn the 2000 gold, rather then run off with a paltry 100 gold pieces and risk to get a bad reptuation for it. You know, people who live by their word. Do you fear they will not show up tomorrow?"

Lycar