CH. 1: Haven and Hell

[djhyland]

Darga frowns at the strange figure. Tall, broad, and with a voice definitely not human...should he flee? But he pushes down the impulse. "I dunno about all that wit' the piper and fool. I'm just here fer some work. Did Haahqae send you, too?" After a moment's hesitation, he adds, "My name's Darga."

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra stretches out a bit once she wakes up before she finally gets out of bed. She went straight to sleep last night after meeting with her family, and since she had the day off, she was actually able to get some decent sleep for a change. As she gets dressed, she mentally looks around the room spotting everything she is going to need if she is going to help those people with that mine. "Would have been nice if they told me where to meet them," she says to herself.

[JadedDM]

While Darga and Coroccoco introduce each other outside of Kynaston's house, Kendra gathers her things and steps outside, contemplating how she would track down the strange group she had met yesterday in the marketplace.

[Haahque]

It's good to be alive Haahqae thinks to himself as on the way to Kynaston's. He had done his streches today. By his own theory the most efficient stretch of them all is spinning in circles until you go dizzy. It stretches every part of your body at once! Haahqae's convinced that if he remembered to do his uber stretching technique every morning, he'd be either really fit or his arms would grow longer or both, but he often forgets to stretch so he seen no visible improvement yet.

Haahqae is in his armour again today. While he may find it gets in the way more often then it helps when it comes to combat, he likes to at least look like one of those people with armour and weapons who fight things and do nasty stuff like that, when he's in town or on the road, that way he doesn't look like a good target to mug. Leather armour is also quite easy to slip out of when one needs to use his more unique skills.

Rounding the corner Haahqae seems his newest addition to the team talking to the large furry one. It had a name... Coroccoco or something like that. Yes, he's sure that was it.

"Hiya Coroccoco. I see you've met Darga, our newest recruit. It's good to see strangers get along so well. Restores one's faith in society."

[mgbevan]

Propping himself up on his bed, Gregeddin blinked his eyes. He was waking up the same time as his parents as he thought it would be best to make a prompt arrival, but this hour seemed a darker shade compared to his yesterday lie in. He gratefully accepts a bowl of warm and wet from his father who stokes the coals under a pot. Not entirely sure what flavours his tongue was sending him it seemed so early.

Once his armour was donned and pack prepared he glanced outside for a few long moments. There were no streaks of morning gold on the underside of the clouds, just an oppressive white with grey hue. Gregedding wondered if the conjurations of wizards and alchemists looked like this in their cauldrons. Perhaps a grey metal possessed by a wizard's power to be glowing white...

As his thoughts trailed off he turns around into the flat. "Excellent braids!" Gregeddin remarks to his mother, Civilia.
Civilia replies with a wide smile "Why thank you"
His father, Rye, slings a satchel over his shoulder and says sternly "Where are the compliments for my hair then?"

Gregeddin's eyes swap back and forth holding Rye's stern gaze and Civilia's placated smile. After about ten seconds which seems like an eternity Gregeddin has no choice but to spit out the stifled laughter he can no longer contain.
Civilia strokes Rye's shaven-bald head and muses rhetorically "Still have a few tricks then?"
Rye responds "Ha Ha! The master wins again! Lets be off then, looks like its getting brighter."

As Gregeddin steps outside he mutters "Wet the bed! That's cold still!" The three of them and a fire in the flat had made it quite toasty in there compared to out here. He hugs his parents in turn and says "See you later then" in farewell.

They liked spending time together, but nature was taking Gregeddin's course away from his parents', I think they was why they had a general unspoken consensus not to make a fuss or even speak in much detail about leaving...

As Gregeddin makes his way across town towards the river the sky stays as cold and white from when he first saw it. Despite the Sun's efforts to rise higher. Approaching what should be #12, he spots three figures, the size of one betraying it was their group. Mind you there was only one shorter chap yesterday...

As he approaches he send out "A good morning folks?" The ring at the end of his question, subconsciously enhanced when he realised he was actually quite looking forward to today.

[HorizonsDream]

"Well, I met them in the marketplace," Kendra says as she tries to figure out what to do. "So I guess that is the best place to start. I suppose I can wait around and see if they show up." With that said, she makes her way to the marketplace.

[djhyland]

Darga relaxes as he sees Haahqae coming up the road, and greets him as he approaches. "It's good to see ya, Haahqae. I was gettin' worried that I was at the wrong place."

When Gregeddin arrives, Darga looks at the tall man curiously. He looks like a dashing adventurer, at least. Perhaps the others that Haahqae had mentioned were also adventuring types, too. The thought makes Darga feel less anxious about the job ahead of him, at least. In response to his jaunty greeting, he replies, "A good day to ya, too."

[JadedDM]

While Darga, Haahqae, Coroccoco and Gregeddin get to know each other outside, inside the barbarian gets up, rubbing his head and moaning and stumbling around the house, knocking a couple things over in the process. "Ah, my head," he complains. "Feels like it's been split open by my own axe!"

Meanwhile, Kendra arrives at the marketplace to find a large crowd of refugees has gathered in protest. They are angrily yelling things like, "Bring back the prophet!" and "Free Darewind!" and "The Master knows all!"

Kendra notices the riot guard, a group of Holy Guard dedicated to quelling public riots, approaching from the south.

[mgbevan]

"Ah indeed it is! A day of promise and possibility. My name is Gregeddin"
Gregeddin clips his feet together makes a curt bow with his left hand pressing the butt of his sword to keep it steadily next to his leg. No need to have any groin injuries this early in the morning, or rather risk blinding any one shorter... speaking of which

"Ah and our grandiose organiser" Gregeddin makes an exaggerated and flamboyant bow towards Haahqae. "How was your evening at the Tankard? Did you say you owed the landlord a performance or something?"

"And of course, Corococo, good to see you here" Gregeddin finishes with a tilt of his head in acknowledgement.

[NoTrammeling]

The hobgoblin priestess nods neutrally to Gregeddin, speaking out with what must be her normal non-irate voice (which only sounds like a file over wood, instead of against metal bars), "Gregeddin, I am pleased to see you here. It might be that together we can prevent the inevitable mortality of this venture." She smirks wryly, never showing teeth.

Turning with Gregeddin to face Haahque she lends her voice to the greetings, "Juggler. I have good news. I made acquaintance with the coffin-maker and he assures me that the smaller ones come at a discount." She seems amused, but it's exceedingly difficult to tell.

[mgbevan]

Gregeddin lets out a low Ahh in exclamation
"Forever as optimistic, we should hope to be!" Smiling widely at Corococo. Gregeddin was willing Haahqae to take the bait she had set out, his hapless positivism was most enjoyable yesterday...

As he waits, he takes off his pack and places it between his feet. Proceeding to remove and stow the two knives which were stuffed in the back of his breeches. The walk this morning was uneventful, perhaps due to the hour or the chill, and he decided he would rather the added comfort now he was with the group. He continues to wait at ease with his pack on the floor.

[Haahque]

"Aye, I said a performance was in order. It was not my most extravagant one I've given, but I still have plenty of time in town to show off some of my finer moves. It just so happens that our new friend Darga here was able to see it."

Turning to Coroccoco, Haahqae responds. "Oh wonderful, then I can order a coffin suiting my extravagant tastes. Hmm... maybe we should make a stop by after we return from the mine."

"Now we're only missing the mine owner the seeker and the hero. Two of them should be inside this house, I wonder when the girl's going to get here."

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra watches the Holy Guard approach with a sigh. "Why does it always turn to this?" she asks herself quietly. There isn't a whole lot she can do about it at this point other than to stay out of the way.

[JadedDM]

Outside Kynaston's House
The front door to Kynaston's place swings open, and the barbarian steps out. After sleeping all day and night, he seems to have fully recovered from his bender. He takes a deep breath of fresh air, hocks a loogie, then stretches before noticing the others standing outside.

"Hey," he says. "Don't I know you folks?"

Marketplace
The riot guard approach the refugees and one of them demands they clear the area. The refugees refuse, demanding that their prophet be released after being unjustly arrested. Tempers flare, and the two groups begin yelling at each other.

One guard grabs a woman's wrist, trying to forcefully move her. She stumbles and falls to the ground. Outraged, another refugee throws a punch at the offending guard, striking him square in the left cheek. The entire marketplace goes quiet as everyone present is watching the spectacle. The riot guard quickly begin drawing their clubs.

[HorizonsDream]

~I'm an idiot,~ Kendra thinks to herself as she rushes over to where the so called prophet stood yesterday. "Everyone, just stop!" she nearly screams in hopes of getting everyone's attention. "Holy Guard, it would be easier to set their new prophet free, get him to leave Haven, and have his new followers follow him out of the city," she says. "It seems they think they will get better treatment out of him, so let them have it."