CH. 1: Haven and Hell

[Haahque]

"Here, as I'm sure you all remember, is the bold and generous owner of the mine that we will heroically exterminate the demon presence in." Haahqae explains, popping up beside the barbarian. "If he is as skilled with the blade as he is with the goblet, then I'm sure we have nothing to fear.

"However, your presence without the home owner puzzles me. Where is the bold hero who so gallantly joined us yesterday and was so humbly offered a spare bed to you when your accommodations were compromised yesterday? Surely he must be right behind you, perhaps preparing a snack for the journey."

[Just_Ice]

"Guilty as charged."

Pushing his way past the mine owner, Kynaston picks his teeth clean of something white. Being able to see him in better weather, it's clear that his hair is long, greasy and disheveled and that his eyes are as sunken as tired as they seemed to be before. Despite his looks, his voice is quite chipper.

"Right, gents," He announces, "Sorry about the wait for yer' 'hero'. Let's head out- and don't forget to write a note or something for that guardswoman from yesterday."

He sees a new face, but given the nature of the task it's only natural that someone else would be roped in.

[NoTrammeling]

Coroccoco steps right up to the barbaric man, locking eyes. "Questions, first." She lifts up a finger, holding it up for all the group to see. "What manner of remuneration do you offer? We will not risk our lives for an absent reward."

"Second," another of her fingers springs up to join the first, "Tell us everything you know about these... 'demons' and when your troubles began." She backs away a bit to allow all of the others to see the barbarian as he gives his answers, arms crossing across her chest.

[mgbevan]

"Your audience awaits" Gregeddin bows while taking off an imaginary hat. This morning's spout of bows and introduction was actually quite pleasing in a droll sort of manner.

[djhyland]

Darga considers the gathered crowd of people. The two that had come out of the house looked to be two of the people Haahqae had mentioned--the barbarian fit his description of the mine's owner, and the other man looked like he could be heroic--and anyway, neither of them seemed to be a good match for a Seeker.

With no sign of the promised last member of their party imminent, Darga leans in close to Haahqae. "Ya mentoned a Seeker, ya did. Ya think we might want to be lookin' fer that 'un?"

[Haahque]

"Yes a seeker. Wonderful girl, even if she was too busy to help purge the mine with us yesterday, it turns out the mine owner was as well. I don't quite know why she's not here yet. Maybe she slept in? We could try her house, but I don't know where that is. She wasn't with us still when we were discussing sleeping locations yesterday, you see, so she never told us."

[djhyland]

Darga thinks for a long moment on Haahqae's words, then says, "Mebbe ya can ask at the Temple. If she's a Seeker, they'd be able to help. Or mebbe ya can ask around where ya met her, mebbe she has friends there."

[Just_Ice]

Kynaston doesn't worry about it too much. "Guess we forgot to tell her where we were meeting up. If someone leaves a note at the mine, that oughtta do the trick."

[JadedDM]

Outside Kynaston's House
The barbarian stares blankly at Haahqae for a few moments before speaking. "What? I remember vaguely hiring a band of heroes to clear out my mind, that was sure. I thought I remember them wearing shining armor and bearing magical, glowing weapons...not you lot." He shakes his head, then puts a hand to his forehead.

When Coroccoco speaks, he takes a step back. "Ah! A hobgoblin! By the old gods, just what have I got myself into? Well, I suppose I'll have to take what I can get. Alright then. I'll pay the lot of you fifty steel each, plus a share of whatever the demons might have," he offers. This is quite a lot of money for most people. Gregeddin's parents don't make that much in a year, for instance.

"The trouble started about a fortnight ago. I never saw no demons myself, mind you. At first, it was just tales told by the miners. Thought they had just drank too much and saw demons in shadows. But sure enough, people started turning up dead--torn to shreds by claws and teeth. The miners abandoned me, refusing to work in such conditions. The few warriors I scrounged together and sent in to investigate never returned. That's all I know, I'm afraid."

Marketplace
The riot guard pay little heed to Kendra. She is not in her uniform, and in any case, the riot guard wouldn't have the authority to release a prisoner anyway, only the Highseekers could authorize such a thing.

The mob, however, does pay attention and at once begin yelling and shouting, demanding their prophet be released. It's uncertain who throws the first punch, but within seconds a melee breaks out. The riot guard draw their clubs and begin attacking anyone in sight.

[Haahque]

"Why yes, you are too kind. I know it is true, my armour does shine a bit when it's raining, but fortunately it's nice and dull most of the time. As for glowing weapons? No, blasted hard to ambush someone if you stick out like a torch at night time. Now we still need to find the shinyest member of our merry band, I imagine she's probably rounding up some scaled one prophet in market square right now, if we hurry we could get there before she brings him into the seekers again."

Most of the time Haahqae finds jobs very boring and repetitive, if you're doing something on a job one day, you're likely going to do that on the job every day for years. A bar tender serves drinks at night and meals at mealtime every day for days, an entertainer performs a show in the same spot every day for weeks or months. This logic naturally leads to him presuming all jobs like this until proven otherwise. A guard bringing in a criminal off first street one day will bring a criminal off first street the next day at the same time, but Haahqae usually isn't in the same place at the same time the next day, so he doesn't always see it happen.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra resists the urge to slap her forehead at the antics pretty much everyone. This was only going to fill the jails more, and she knew it. Instead, she jumped down from where she was standing, and tried to avoid the riot as much as possible.

[djhyland]

Darga listens to the mine owner's words in silence, then considers for a long moment. Demons that tear people to shreds are bad enough, but ones that had already killed a band of warriors sent in to drive them out are worse. But still...fifty steel pieces sounds like a lot of money. Probably a lot more than two steel pieces! For that kind of money, maybe the risk is worth it. And maybe this previous band of warriors killed some or all of the demons already, and there wouldn't be that many left. And with such obviously skilled companions, perhaps he won't have to put his life at risk at all!

Darga relaxes a bit. Only now that he'd thought things through does he realize that he'd been on the brink of fleeing and seeking a safer kind of job. But maybe, just maybe, these companions of his might need him to get out of the demon mines alive. Holding his head just a little bit higher, he waits for further instructions from the barbarian or further questions from his companions.

[NoTrammeling]

The prickly priestess steps back, folding her arms across her chest. She turns her head slightly first to one side and then the other, gauging the group's reaction. "By tooth and claw," Coco muses aloud, "these are familiar weapons. Likely some wild beast has made your mine its lair... Unless... How deep have you gone?" Frowning at her last question, she tries not to consider the challenges they may face if the mine connected with something's subterranean burrow.

"Yes, very well. The guard seems sensible enough. Perhaps her presence will be of use in legitimizing this band." She plants her feet, making it clear that she herself is going nowhere. "There is another I have asked along, she may be of use."

EDIT: color

[Haahque]

"Oh good, I do like making new friends. Where is she?"

[mgbevan]

Fifty Steel... Gregeddin muses, "Fifty each you say? Well that is certainly very g..." Gregeddin trails off
A quick scan of the group with some muttering "Fif... one... two....Fif..."

Gregeddin thumbs his chin in thought as he addresses everyone "How much does a mine make these days anyway? Not a lot with demons in it!" Gregeddin smiles widely at his one liner, though as he locks eyes with the barbarian there is a slight pang of nerves that it may be in bad taste. Corococo might like it though. Roughly on par with the coffin maker I wonder

"Alright good then! I don't fancy 'ripped to shreds' therefore I concur it would be beneficial to have more hands in helping"