The Seven Keys.

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yrismir watched her. He didn't care much for the trip. Occassionally a pirate? Well, he would have preferred full-time, but one can't be picky with what was gets. He smiled at her, and as she sat back down, he put a hand on her thigh, squeezing and smiling at her.

"Very nice. Now, are you sure I can't convince you to join me in my room tonight? I'm only partilly drunk, tonight, Cali, and in the morning you might get the rare opportunity to see me sober..."

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

"Very nice. Now, are you sure I can't convince you to join me in my room tonight? I'm only partilly drunk, tonight, Cali, and in the morning you might get the rare opportunity to see me sober..."

I pondered his proposition. "Well, we make it through saving Sir Knight's girl, then you can join me in my room if you like," I whispered back to him. "Wouldn't do for me to not say at Raven's Inn, being what I am and all. Besides- I don't wear this get up for traveling, only for running amouk."

 

[poohlive]

Most of the slaves were their enjoyment. Goven didn't think he could have much enjoyment from a person whose spirit had already been broken, but still, the idea was promising. And a few of his spells did require certain items a local merchants shop just doesn't carry. Hearts, blood, fingers...
This would prove most rewarding.
He followed her through the portal, stepping aside as a huge brute came in behind him. Tork had done nothing since his initiation, merely following Goven for the time being. His deep cut still bled, sharp drops hitting the now dusty ground.
"Clean yourself up," He said, a wave of disgust passing over him. The ogre cleaned his hand, and used an old piece of cloth to wrap around it.

 

[RoneLith]

Jandar Brae

OOC: Fashionaly late as useal


IC:

Jandar walked as he always did, in his full armor of Chain and Plate the large Gias Axe strapped against his back. The blade was huge nearly three times the size of a regular double bladed axe. The tips of the blade came to a sharp point which was perfect for thrusting through armor. The axe was strapped on top of his twin short swords, crossed on his back. He had two daggers strapped to his plate boots, one on each leg, the same for his thighs, four were strapped to his waist two in front and two crossed in the back, and two were located hidden underneath the chain. Complimenting the rest of his weapons was a large bandiler of about twenty throwing knives. He walked with his pack mule beside him, carrying his food and other supplies. The letter he had recieved ealier that week was in his supplies. He had always been faithful to his God, now it seemed his God was going to reward his loyalty by allowing him to participate in the race.
He stopped walking and smelled the air, a foul scent caught his nose. It smelled as if some one wiped their ass with a towel, pissed on it and left it out in the sun for a week. His sharp eyes looked around the ravine he was walking through. With many blind corners and trees to hide behind, it was the perfect place to hide for an ambush. He did not think that any amount of highway man would attack a knight armed as he but just incase he should issue a warning.
"I am Jandar Brae," he spoke his voice strong. "I am a faithful servant of the God of War, I have been in many battles and have triumphed over every adversary. Attacking me would not only be foolhardy, but suicide. Either let me pass and save your strength for the merchants, or attack me and I promise that all of you shall meet which ever god you worship." The gas they had used to try and stun him faded away, he had lived on the battlefield earlier in his life, no amount of smelling gases could ever compete with the smell of thousands dead and rotting in the hot sun. He continued walking after he was certain they were not attacking him. He would reach the town and the tavern later in the day, just as the sun was sending its main heat apon the world. An ale will be great when I arrive.

~later that day~

The sun had let off its heat earlier than expected, and beeds of sweat rose to the surface of his face. Still he walked on the town was close now and to stop now would be foolish. "We are almost there, Mort," he said to the mule. He was quite fond of the Mule, it had dragged him to the service of a healer one day when a battle had left his opponent dead and he severly wounded. Since that day he treated the mule with the same respect he would a trusted mount or best friend. He had named it Mort the Mule and it seemed to fit, afterall Mort had never complained.

He reached the tavern about an hour later. He walked Mort to a nearby stable, he removed his pack from Mort's back much to the mules delight and paid the keep a few copper to take care of him. Slugging his pack over his shoulder he walked into the tavern.

"An ale to cure me of this hot sun, Keep!" he said as he stepped up to the bar. He noticed the glowing green guy and there were already many people here, he wondered if they were all here for the same reason. He holy symbol, two swords crossed, one white, one black vibrated within his armor. Letting him know that he had finally arrived, his God was pleased.

 

[usmc_sgt]

I frowned a bit as Yris spoke. It wasn't the first time I'd heard others talk to me this way. And perhaps it was true. I did enjoy my little jokes, and they had hurt others, though that was rare. But that didn't mean I would change my ways. I was who I was.

I looked around the table at every face. "You make a good point Yris, but I ask you to remember this. YOU didn't pick me for this. The gods did. You're opinion of my abilities doesn't matter much to me, unless, of course, you regularly barter with the gods?"

I thought of leaving it at that, but decided not to let things end on that note. "However," I continued, "while I may be a bit young in your eyes, I have been traveling for a few years now, sometimes alone and sometimes with companions. I have yet to let anyone down."

I turn to Cali. "And if it comforts you m'lady, I don't make it a habit to play with my allies. I find a dagger in your back while you sleep to be MOST uncomforatable."

 

[Neale]

Sixtus

Sixtus looked over the slaveflesh assembled for the pleasures of those, like he, strong enough to be called to further the dark designs of his darker gods. He walked silently, his black velvet robes making not the faintest whisper, and took one's chin in his carefully manicured hand. "Child," he smiled warmly, "what is your name?" In a tremulous voice, the wan girl replied, "Whatever m'lord desires..."

Chuckling softly, he pulled her to him gently, kissing her brow. "Go and fetch me something to drink, lass." As she turned, he could clearly see with his divine senses the mark he'd left upon her brow. Invisible to mortal senses, it plainly signified the corruption of body, spirit, and immortal soul with which he'd casually infected her.

 

[LadyRozes]

Nina sauntered over to the big pile of metal that decided to join the green man's table.

Forcing a smile she put the pint of ale in front of him. then sauntered back towards the other costumers that wandered in a few minutes after him.

IT seemed that today was just an extremely busy day at the tavern. They would not have to worry for at least two month when is came to the needs of the family and the tavern.

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

"'M'lady- surely you don't mean me," I protest with a laugh. "No lady am I, magelette, though I'll not hold it against you that you called me so. Call me 'Cali' or, if you must be formal, 'Calixte.'"
I took a drink of my ale and grinned. "I'm not the most formal of creatures. Oh, I can act the hoity toity miss but, in reality, I'm a nothing fancier then I've means to be."

 

[RoneLith]

"Thank you m'lady," Jandar said, before she left he placed a silver to pay for the ale and a gold as a tip. He was never one to keep his money for long and it useally ended up in either his church or some serving girls pocket. He looked at the glowing green guy, he knew that was the man to see but he looked a little predisposed at the moment, so he would wait for his friends to calm down and then he would speak with him. Still, why did he have to be glowing green, the color of cowardice and tricksters. Why not chose the color of Honor and Valor, Blue? That would have been much better. Still it was not his place to question a man's, if he is indeed a man, descion to glow the color of his choice.

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yrismir sighed, and leaned back, shaking his head. He turned back to the illusionist, and sighed again. "I just said I thought you had great abilities. I said I wasn't impressed with you. And as for regularly bartering with the Gods, why do you think you were all sent to join me by the Gods, and not the other way around? I am, you could say, the spiritual quide for this journey. It is I who am going to get you in touch with 'the other side' where we will get clues on this hunt for the stuff we're hunting for..."

He shrugged. "Quite frankly, I think we'll need the help. From what I understand, it's basically a very difficult jopb to tell what we're looking for."

He grunted, and stood up, yawning. He scratched his olive skin. "Okay. Your drunken half-orc leader says that we should go get this slave. If the other two sent to join us aren't be by the time we get back, we can assume the other side has interferred and we'll have to push on, trusting in the Gods to help us. Or something. I have no clue. This was klinda pushed on me. Let's get to it!"

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

"Lead the way, boss," I said with a smile. I was itching for some action- had been a quiet journey to this place and well, a girl gets rusty without practice.

 

[Strolling Gecko]

I stood up from my chair along with the group. I wasn't exactly sure how long we had been sitting here. But it didn't really matter. We had most of the party here and we were a formidable bunch. We should be able to handler the slavers and get the girl before anyone knew what hit them. I needed to delay our attack until the moon came up so I could recognize the girl.

"There's one little hitch in finding the girl...." I trailed off, "I don't know where the auction is going to be held." I grinned like an idiot, because that's exactly what I felt like. "I suggest we split up and do some information gathering. We can cover more ground that way. Now who goes with who?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yrismir rolled his eyes. "No problem, I can find out. This island's good about organization, if nothing else. If you know the time of the auction, or some info about teh girl, species, location she was moved from to be here, laving company in question it'll be easier. C'mon, I know where there's a little office with a wormy little man who processes the information."

He got up, and stretched, heading towards the door. Why was splitting up always the first words out of people's lips? Damnit. Splitting up was never a good idea, unless you were being chased by something.

The Gods gather them together, and them want to split up. He turned his eyes heavenward, mouthing a prayer to the Gods.

 

[Strolling Gecko]

My eyes narrowed a bit. Yrismir was not anything like I thought he was going to be. Or at least nothing like Lan had told me about him. Of course, a lot can change since Lan's last adventure before he started training me. I gave a disgruntled sigh that my idea was shot down so quickly. Maybe a preemptive strike against the slavers would be best. I guess Yrismir knew best, but I was slowly growing disenchanted with our "leader."

"If you know a guy that has his finger on the pulse of what goes on around here, then let's head to him. The auction is set from midnight. All we need is where it'll be held." I walked to the door of the tavern. I opened it and with a flourish and gestured to Yrismir dramatically. "After you, 'boss,'" I said with sarcasm in my voice. That's another trait of us Vaes......We can be sarcastic little bastards.

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

I got to my feet smoothly and padded after Yris, my boots silent on the floor. Amazing what a good quiet rune can do when activated, huh?
Midnight slave auction- new one for me. I'd seen them before but- well, I didn't believe slavery was a good thing. Indentured servants were alright, but slavery, with no hope of freedom- that I couldn't condone.
"I'll be joining you gents, if that's alright with you, Sir Vae. Oh- is that what you want to be called? You can call me Cali if you like. Easier on the mouth then saying Calixte."

 

[Strolling Gecko]

I gave Cali a smile. "I'm no 'Sir.' I said I had the skills of a knight, I never said I was one," I chuckled. "I was going to become one, follow in my old man's footsteps......but that was a very long time ago. You can call me whatever you think suits me. Sir Vae if you insist on formalities that don't exsist, but I perfer Ramas. Now let's head on our way, shall we?"

I stepped out of the tavern and into the setting sun. We had been at the tavern longer than I had thought. That was fine with me. We just had to hurry to Yrismir's wormy little contact.

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

"As you like, Ramas," I said with a smile. Hmm- sunset? That's a bit odd but okay.

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yrismir turned, and smiled at the knight. "Well, if you'd prefer to split up, roaming around the different slaver's markets so that only one of us runs up against a meeting of wealthy people all with their own bodyguards intent on buying people, go ahead. I rather lik the idea of finding the auction, and buying whoever it is you want. That way, we don't have to start a fight that'll have everyone on the island trying to kill us. Excuse me if the idea of thought insult you. Midnight auctions are kind of rare, people don't like doing business in the dark. And since it's tonight, there should only be one or two."

He sighed. The kight, or novice as he had just proclaimed himself to be, had a tenmper. He sighed, and mouthed a prayer, hoping that the Gods would give Lan what he deserved. He led the way to a average-sized building amde of wood and poainted a deep red. The color was obvious, because torches glowed in rings outside it. Yrismir led the way inside.

Inside, sitting behind a desk and working through a large stack of papers by lamplight was a short, balding man. He was fat, and his clothes showed that he spent most of his money on food, being of poor quality, dirty and patched, showing stains from a variety of foods. "What ya want?" he asked without even looking up.

Yrismir sighed. "We're interested in buying a slave. Midnight auction. We want to know where."

The man glanced up, staring at Yrismir wordlessly. Yrismir opened a beltpouch, and ifshed out a gold coin, tossing it at the man. His pudgy fingers snapped closed around it with a speed unexpected of such a fat little man. He grinned, showing diseased teeth. "There are three tonight, Wizard Yris. One in Devon LaBlonc's arena. Orc and humans, fighters for games. The Rosewater Company's selling pleasure slaves and serving wenches at their warehouse. And a group of Keldish Clan are selling assorted humans and elves cought in a raid over in the Neitez Quarter. Untrained, no promises made about quality."

Yrismir looked at the Novice Knight. "Well? Any of these sound like what we'd be looking for?"

 

[LadyRozes]

the wormy guy squirmed around in his desk. and then added, "Oh you wont be able to get into the Keldish clan auction in the Nezdeck quarter.. they have a invitation only party .. said .. he had some pecial people comming in from out o fthe area... so that one you must recieve an invitation for.. "

He hated giving out information willingly to the wizard but he knew the man would go through any means to get the info .. so he decided he might as well .. give the info rather than getting it beat out of him.

 

[LadyRozes]

meanwhile baddies...


A fat old man covered in the desert garb, led the people that were invited to come to the place where all the cages were kept and led them passed it to another room. Where there were at least fifty girls all around the same age, born around the same time. He didnt know how many groups were going to come, so led the groups that came and showed him proof that they were told to come to the auction. The letter, that was in blood.. with the directions... he didnt know how to read, but he saw the blood and assumed that they were the ones that were sent to appraise the girls.

"Welcome, I hope you find what you are looking for. I have them exactly as the boss asked me to keep them .. though it was hard not to indulge in these.. innocents.. rest assure they all are .. the ones that werent... " an evil smile crept over his face, "well they arent in this room."

 

[Strolling Gecko]

"How unfortunate. Keldish sounds like the one we want," I sighed. It figured that it would turn out like this. The little wormy man went into the backroom. I turned to Nova. "Fortunately, I think our illusionist friend could help out with that. Have any tricks for this sort of situation, Nova?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yrismir raised an eyebrow. Invitation. He grunted, and led the others outside. He sat back, and stared at the skies. "Yes, let's have the illusionist conjure up an invitation he hasn't seen. No. The Keldish Clan isn't too bright. Most of theirs can't read."

He started off, motioning the others after him. "No, let's just waylay one of them and steal the invitation. They probably won't be able to tell we're not one of their buyers. And if we can't, well,...make sure your swords are clear."

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

"Stealing an invitation- you do know how to have fun," I said softly to Yris. Perhaps I should change into something more subtle though? I didn't expect to be slinking around dressed like this."
The red coat would draw attention as would the boots. Pants would be fine- black was always find for a rouge.

 

[RoneLith]

'Now where did everyone go,' he thought. They were talking about some sort of slave auction, I guess they went to go buy a slave. Strange how people that were supposed to be on the side of good were slave traders. I suppose everyone needs help and I guess if you pay them a monthly wage, perhaps they are no longer slaves, but who says that they are going to pay them.

Jandar felt kind of foolish being one of the only people left in the tavern, just the tender and his daughter, and the glowing green guy. He looked around and decided the quite place needed a decent joke. "What, do I smell that bad?"

 

[usmc_sgt]

"I have to agree with Yris." I begin. "Not only do I have no clue what the invitation looks like, and, if we had to surrender it, well, there would be problems."

I turn to Yris and nod toward the backroom where that wormy little slimeball just went. "Need we pacify that one? We didn't say anything in front of him, but I'd hate to think of the complications that could arise later."