private The Fall of Andalasia ~Book 1~

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@Dji,

 

Robert looked down at Helena as he felt her arms around his neck. "You know, whatever you call that, if anyone who didn't know better were to see us, they'd think we were lovers, the way you have your arms around me." He grinned, never tiring of teasing with her. Or was it more like flirting? He didn't really know.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

(Whelp, guess I was pretty much left behind... Is this village now the same one as what Adrass and Flinch found then?

 

Regardless, time to skip ahead a little.)

 

Adrass.

 

It had been a fairly peaceful rest, when they had finally done so. The village might not be all that well travelled, but it had a smooth enough road and a gate that was easily navigated. The guards (few as there might have been) were of course uneasy at first, but claiming to be worse off after being attacked by a Mage in the woods quickly - a grim truth that needed little in the way of embellishment - settled their consciences enough to let them inside.

 

Unhappy with the obvious solution of finding an inn (which if they were being followed, would have been a terrible idea), Adrass scanned the area quickly before settling down to sleep in a alleyway secluded alleyway where he was unlikely to attract attention.

 

---------------

 

With morning came the sound of the bustle of a market - exactly what the hunter had been hoping for. He hadn't eaten since the previous evening, but food wasn't high on his priorities. Clothing: something that would help him conceal his identity - that was what was needed.

 

Closing his eyes for a moment, the hunter almost yawned as he shook himself awake and stepped out into the cool morning light. He didn't check on the doctor - let the fellow sleep a while longer if he liked, it had been a rough night after all and the healer hasn't technically had anything to do with the war that had erupted - merely been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

He strode out into the market. Thievery wasn't going to be easy without a coat, so that would need to be his first priority. If he could raise the funds legitimately for that, perhaps he could steal what else he needed without stirring up the town? It would be nice to not have them wanting him dead after all... It was a shame they didn't have a Witch problem (at least as far as he could tell - muttering and discontent could usually be recognised from a half-mile away) - he could have earned his keep properly them, and done the world some good while he was at it! As it was, he would probably need to earn his pay in a more mundane method, or at least, the first part of it.

[Sekel 694]

@@Alex Kennedy
Helena thought about the way she had her arms around his neck and what he teased her about. "You really like teasing me, don't ya? I just do this so that I won't fall. Even though your arms are strong enough to hold me ..." Helena said, getting a red tinge to her cheeks as she tried to find an answer that didn't sound like flirting.

Edited July 27, 2014 by Dji

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@Dji,

 

Robert gave a faint smirk. "Take it as a compliment. I only tease girls I like. And you know, you're cute when you blush. Anyway- and I'm just saying hypothetically- even if you did have a thing for me, would that really be so terrible?" He sighed and carried her. "You don't have to answer that. I'm not sure why I said it in the first place."

[Sekel 694]

@@Alex Kennedy

Helena wondered what to make of this conversation. Was it flirting? Was it something entirely different? She didn't know and she definitely did not want to know. "Thank you... I think? Anyway ... what about the other girls in this party? Why don't you tease them as much as you tease me?"

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@Dji,

 

Robert shrugged. "Well, you can't expect me to tease the princess. That would be all kinds of stupid. And I've barely gotten to speak to her anyway. And I'd feel bad about teasing Tulla too much since I owe her my life. Plus, you're kind of an easy target, what with me carrying you around and all. You also just have the best reaction to it. Whisper would take it personally, and Tulla would probably just shrug it off." He paused for a while. "And if I'm being honest... it's probably because I think you're cute. Is that a good enough answer for you?"

[Flying Ace 142]

@@Shadow Dancer,

Dresden looked around as him and his 'bodyguard' were walking though the small village, ​'humph it reminds me of my village back in Andalasia...I wonder how everyone back at the orphanage is doing?' Dresden turned to his companion. "Well, that little conversation with the inn owner went well huh?" Dresden said, though his face had a look of annoyance, "But the nerve of that guy! Calling Whisper a whore. How dare he!"

[Sekel 694]

@@Alex Kennedy

Helena nodded and looked to the front. She unhooked an arm to pull up a black cloth mask she had hidden under her armor. Hopefully the mask hid the tinge on her cheeks.After having done so, she hooked her arm back around his neck. "Yeah. Good enough answer." Helena breathed, her voice slightly muffled due to the mask covering her lower face.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@Dji,

 

Robert tried to find something to say that wouldn't be so awkward. "So... that mask. It's nice. I think your face is too pretty to be hid behind a mask though, really. But I guess that's kind of irrelevant in your line of work. That reminds me... are you native to Illia? I get the impression you know this place better than most of us." 

[Sekel 694]

@@Alex Kennedy

Helena nodded her head and was thankful for the change of subject. "Yeah, I'm a native. What I do makes me travel all over the country but I always end up going back home some way or another. I live near the military base but I don't really mind it. As long as my hideout and I stay out of sight of the base and its many guards then I'll be fine to live there."

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

"I just learned not to mess with men who bat their eyes at every passing pretty" Tulla replied curtly, having overheard them. She left Tugg next to the cart and went back inside, heading over to the old bar to get a drink. She rubbed her temple as she waited for a cup of brandy; sighing as she did so.

[Shadow Dancer 111]

@@Flying Ace, 
"He'll die soon enough." I replied the cowl and my voice hiding my emotion like always, like I was trained to do. It became a shield for me against the outside world. I never made effort to fit in, to make friends, not when you can end up having to kill them on contract during some meeting seeming pretty emotionless helped keep detached. The raven brings contracts, or grim news.  

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@Dji,@@RunsWithSquirlz,

 

Robert huffed, mildly offended by Tulla's comment. "Well excuse me for having warm blood. I might try to have a good time, but I don't go after just anyone you know. I do believe in love, and I only pursue a woman if I think there's something there. It's more than them being pretty. Otherwise, I'd spend a lot more time hitting on the princess. But she's just not really my type, beautiful though she may be." He followed her inside and- after setting Helena down in the chair next to him- took a seat a little ways away from Tulla.

[Sanctified Absence 126]

"You know you didn't have to give up any of your jewellery," Zaddion finally came out of his admittedly eerie silent state, Clarke wasn't the only one collecting information, although the Mage was doing it more out of passive nature without purpose. He sighed a little, what was so special about Whisper that had made him so... Kind compared to his norm all of a sudden? It could've been many things from his interest in her strange Magick to the aura he had already mentally catalogued.

 

"Your friend told me that these garments would've been worth something here, and I certainly have no use for them anymore... Oh and to answer your previous question in full, Zaddion Octus at your service," if it didn't arouse further suspicion he would've given some sort of bow, but now was no time to draw further attention to their, to his charge.

[Flying Ace 142]

@@Shadow Dancer, @@RunsWithSquirlz

,

Dresden sighed, "Ah well once we have supplies we can leave, common let's see if we can sell this." Dresden looked around at the many stalls in the market before choosing one and walking up to the counter, "Excuse me but I would like to sell this." Dresden said holding up the earring but still having a tight grip on it.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

"Its alright, what would I have done with just one earring?" She smiled at Zaddion thankfully. But she was wary of continuing their conversation outside "If you would, join me in my room please?"

----

If Tulla heard him, she paid him no mind. She was occupied by drinking down her alcohol without pause, lost in thought.

------

 

The merchant was a man decked in scarves and robes in colors much like a peacock. After much convincing, he held the earring in his palm, inspecting it with his tiny magnification lenses. He babbled about the craftmanship and the clean cut of the jewel, only made by Andalasian hands of course.

 

"10 silver" he stated, trying to trick Dresden. The thing was worth much gold, but he wouldn't tell him that. Better to have a bargain over a young fool.

[Sanctified Absence 126]

Zaddion barely registered Whisper's voice as he scanned the environment. Once again there was something off with his senses, looks like he was going to have to grow used to the Princess's aura after all as for all its waxing and waning it didn't look like it was going to go completely away. Thinking of the aura reminded him of the rather worrying experience she went through just before the attack, it could've been many possibilities each one more worrying than the last. "Oh uh- of course."

[Sekel 694]

Helena listened to what Robert and Tulla said, not planning to intervene on their conversation. She laid her chin in her hands as she thought about her makeshift home and all the trinkets she's gathered. She fingered the dagger that was hooked on to her armor and thought about how she stole it from Adrass's Order of Witch Hunters. It was a fairly tough job now that she thought about it, especially for someone that was as young as her when she got it.

Edited July 27, 2014 by Dji

[Shadow Dancer 111]

@@RunsWithSquirlz, I sighed knowing the merchant was taking Dresden for a fool the thing earring was worth at least fifty or more gold even a fool could see that. I held myself and let him take care of it, knowing or at least hoping the young man would have some sense, if not then I would intervene.

[Flying Ace 142]

@@RunsWithSquirlz

Dresden raised an eyebrow before laughing outright, "Okay, sir I've traveled a lot most of my life in fact so I know that is worth more then ten silver." Dresden said trying to stop his laughing fit, "Listin my group is in a tight spot we were attacked by bandits and I would like to get supplies."

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

"I can assure you that im the only man in this market that can pay you. As it is, its only one earring, not two. 1 gold for it. You can get enough supplies for your unlucky group" he handed Dresden back the earring and withdrew a coin from his sleeve.

----

Whisper sat in the window, looking at Zaddion "Is something bothering you? Besides the trouble we're in of course"

[Torrent505 370]

@@Alex Kennedy, @@RunsWithSquirlz, @@Dji,

 

Clarke smirked, he wasn't a man of humor but when a bard, a cripple and an alcoholic walked into the tavern he half expected to be told a punchline. This morning just continued to get more and more intriguing, he didn't want to miss a single detail due his lack of attentiveness so he quickly rushed out to his cart for more coffee. However he was unfortunately looking back toward the strange trio and not were he was going; the tinkerer walked head first into the chimera with quite a bit of force. The sudden impediment knocked him off his feet and he found himself on his ass looking up at the large beast.

 

Clarke's mind went blank as he stared into its armored face, the fact that most creatures seemed to despise tinkerers was not lost on him. His breathing became a little stressed and he slowly started reaching back for his scatter gun in fear.

[Sekel 694]

@@Torrent505

Helena was broken out of her thinking by a rather loud thud. She turned around in her chair without causing too much pain in her legs and looked at the source. Her eyes widened when she saw that it was a Tinkerer based on those weird goggles that were on his head. She watched him reach for some type of gun that was behind him. Looking further ahead of him, Helena saw Tugg looking down at þhe Tinkerer. 'Oh no ... if he shoots that thinng at Tugg, Tulla will be pissed, not to mention Tugg himself.' Helena thought with worry, not wishing to see an angry and drunk Tulla.

 

She grabbed her dagger and taking careful aim, lobbed it at the Tinkerer's hand. It missed by a few inches and ended up quivering in the floorboards. "Missed ... Don't reach for that gun otherwise you'll regret it!" Helena called out to him.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Tugg growled in annoyance and raised himself up, towering over Clarke. He had been resting against the cart, using it to scratch places he couldnt reach until he had been disturbed. Tulla was already on her second glass, trying to shift through hazy thoughts in her head about roads and villages nearby.

 

He snorted, looming over Clarke. He swat Helenas dagger away as he raised a heavy paw and lurched forward.

[Sanctified Absence 126]

"I guess you could say I'm worried about you right now," Zaddion took a few steps into the room before closing and leaning on the same door, his gaze cast across the room in an empty manner as though not looking at anything in particular. "You may or may not remember it but back at the camp I was forced to use my... Skills on you," he could never tell when someone else was hearing, so even in the privacy of Whisper's temporary room he skill left his speech vague enough so few others would understand what he was saying. "You seemed hurt and I didn't know... Still don't know why. I was only lucky that my first guess of what to do was the right one."