CH. 1: Haven and Hell

[JadedDM]

Outside Kynaston's House
"Aye, I'm out 250 steel if you lot succeed, but it's worth it to save my mine," the barbarian states. "Of course, anyone who dies won't get a share, naturally!"

"Haven't gone too deep at all, myself," he explains to the monk. "That's why I sent in another group first, but they never came back."

Not long after, a woman approaches in an ordinary cloak with the hood up. She looks at the rest of the group with uncertainty, before turning toward Coroccoco. "These are the men you say will help protect me?" she asks skeptically.

Marketplace
Kendra ducks and weaves about, avoiding the punches of the refugees and the clubs of the riot guards as best she could. A full scale riot had broken out within seconds, and the guard were clubbing anyone and everyone they saw move in a wild attempt to protect themselves from the mob.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra tries to take cover in a nearby shop, she doesn't really much care what shop it is just as long as it gets her out of the riot.

[Just_Ice]

It isn't every day that fifty steel is thrust into one's hands. Sometimes it comes and goes quite quickly, as with giving away a sword, but when it comes so quickly- especially upfront- it is something to be wary of. The thought reached Kynaston's head that had he wanted to, he could have easily slew or mislead this man the previous day and been at least two-hundred fifty steel richer. He'd certainly heard (and perhaps even seen) others do the same for less. Mr. Trench would like to attribute the fact he was not such a person to his wholesome and earthy Haven upbringing, but then that same upbringing had also produced his brother.



"Fifty steel, huh?" he asked the old man, incredulous, "It's rare to see this kind of coin without at least haggling. I'll show good faith; I'll refund what's lacking if it ain't a fifty-steel job. That said, if you paid big expecting to pull it off our corpses, you've got another thing coming. Now, if you don't mind, boss, lead the way."


As he steps out, he hears the hooded woman speak- We're to protect someone? What crockpot madness has come about now?

"Hobgoblin," he tells her, red in the face and so strained that he eschews the use of names, "Where we are headed is nowhere safe. Please explain why the hell you'd offer our services to this woman!"

[NoTrammeling]

Coroccoco shifts her weight from foot to foot as Daxia approaches, crooking a claw toward the cloaked figure. She utterly misses Gregeddin's musings to pensively greet her contact. "Daxia Tch, be welcome. These are my... acquaintances, trustworthy in that I believe them incapable of deceit by lack of-" She stops, cut short by Kynaston's beet-red blustering. Rather than become cowed or angry in return a rare smile creeps its way onto her face but it is not mocking, clearly she finds something about his manner pleasing.

"Little man," rasps the priestess in equally pleased tones, "are you refusing to aid a lady in need? I have not yet informed Daxia as to our fool's errand, and she is sorely hounded by murderous men." She turns to the woman. "We are set to investigate certain distressing reports from this man's mine," a claw waves toward the barbarian, all languid grace. "It was my thought you would accompany us if you are indeed a weaver of the arcane, if not..." She fixes Trench with a challenging look, "I am sure we can manage to stow you away. And yes, she has offered to pay."

[Haahque]

"Well it has never been my policy to not help a delightful damsel when she's down on her luck. I was never in it for the money, but believe me, I do like being paid. If she does indeed know the arcane language, she is more then welcome to join us." It is quite possible that it has never been his policy to help delightful damsels when they're down on they're luck either, but that needn't be brought up now. Really, having as few policies as possible allows a lot of freedom of one's actions. Oh good thought -> make a mental note of that.

[JadedDM]

Outside Kynaston's House
"Aye, fifty steel each," the barbarian says. "Not that I carry that kind of coin on me, of course. And that's probably for the best, as I'd have spent it all by now on rum," he admits. "But once we get to the mine, I can show you the coin if you don't believe I have it."

The woman in the hood seems just as confused as to what is going on as anyone else. "I don't understand. You said these men would agree to protect me. Now you are trying to bring me along on some dangerous quest, like a common mercenary?"

Marketplace
Kendra hurries to the nearest shop, a cobbler's shop. However, the terrified shopkeep, watching through the store front window, quickly locks the door before she arrives. This turned out to be a good idea, actually--for as the riot swelled, several people began looting nearby shops.

"Up here!" a voice calls to her. Should she look up, she'll see a blond kender crouching on the building's roof. He's wearing a white cap that has little fox ears on it, and has a long sword strapped to his back. He gestures around the side of the building. "This way, hurry!"

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra quickly follows after the kender, even though it is probably against her best judgement on the matter to follow a kender. She didn't have a lot of choices as she didn't want to be caught up in the riot.

[Haahque]

"Yes, of course we'll protect you. The mission may have a little danger involved, but I can assure you we are no common mercenaries. I myself and the extraordinary Haahqae, the wandering gnome!" Haahqae pulls out some sling bullets from his pouch and begins juggling a simple routine.

[djhyland]

Darga frowns at Haahqae's promise of protection. He knows that one doesn't protect another by taking them into a mine full of demons. Furthermore, the gnome is right--his group is not common mercenaries; they aren't even mercenaries! But if the woman in the hood needs their help and is willing to risk going with them into a demon-filled mine, then what she's hiding from must be even worse. Nodding at the gnome's words, Darga tries to look stern and capable, like the guardsmen and mercenaries that he's met in his travels.

Wanting to start earning his keep, Darga leans close to Haahqae and asks, "If we're to go, then, mebbe we should find the Seeker? If ya tell me what she looks like, I could go an' find her." Gesturing to the newcomer, he adds, "If there's bad men looking fer her, she shouldn't go 'round town more than she has to, but nobody's looking fer me."

[Haahque]

"Why yes, she is tall, but not imposingly tall, a like height to this one." Haahqae motions to Gregeddin, "Her hair, which would shine like a goddess’s in the sun is tied off with a blue ribbon in such a way that it dances whenever she walks. Her radiant hair frames a kind face, which is the best kind of face, with deep blue eyes one could stair into and lose track of time. Her becoming uniform is the red and white of the holy guard and covers a suit of well fitted armour, as fair as it is effective. You really can’t miss her, she’s likely in the center of the square, interrogating the prophet by now."

(OOC: oh no, you asked Haahqae for a description, oh my)

[NoTrammeling]

Coroccoco flits her eyes to Daxia, snorting indignantly. "I promised to secret you, Daxia Tch. It is possible we can arrange that here and now, but if you wish to accompany us you will find what protection we offer. The mine will be dangerous, but you will be out of the city and surrounded by... competent warriors." The last bit sounds strained indeed. "This is what I offer, you may leave us if you see fit, but there is safety here."

[JadedDM]

Outside Kynaston's House
"I don't think that sounds like a good idea at all," Daxia says, looking from Coco to the juggling gnome, then back. "In fact, this is starting to sound like a mistake." She takes a few steps back, nervously. "I told you people were after me, and your suggestion is that I follow you, out into the wild, away from civilization? Do you have any idea how much of a trap that sounds like?" she asks.

Marketplace
Hurrying, Kendra follows the kender's instructions and circles the building. She finds a series of crates stacked there that prove to be an adequate ladder up to the roof. She climbs up them without any problem, and finds herself on the roof of the shop.

The kender, still crouching, looks out at the madness that is spreading throughout the market square. He only gives her a glance over his shoulder before returning his gaze to the action. "Wow, you really started one big riot! And here I was thinking this town was starting to get boring," he says.

[Just_Ice]

"It's not a good idea," Kynaston assures the troubled maiden while sighing, "But it isn't a trap, either. I don't know what trouble you're in, but unless you're in mortal danger you should stay clear of where we're headed. I'm not sure about this... lot, but I actually am a mercenary of sorts; if I'm still breathing tomorrow, perhaps you can hire me then."

He wasn't even sure how he'd gotten into this mess- he seemed to be surrounded predominantly by clowns- and now even the hobgoblin seemed a bit unsteady. It didn't matter though- he was expecting rabble. He was just hoping that whatever was in the mine wasn't worth 250 steel.

"Right then," he announced, "If we're quite done being a ship of fools, let's get this rolling. Miss... whomever you are, I am Mister Kynaston Trench, and if you feel you still need protection tomorrow, please search me out."

[Haahque]

"Aww, I was hoping we'd be able to travel with a mage." Haahqae says, looking glum. He catches the sling bullets and puts them back in his pouch. "I do always like mages, they make for much more interesting conversation then the common folk.

"Well I guess we're back to the plan before miss whomever arrived, and I have to admit, I did like that plan, even if it didn't involve any mages. Shall we off to the market then?"

[NoTrammeling]

Coroccoco shrugs, Daxia's reluctance to listen to her offer of help was no trouble of hers. She certainly was not inclined to berate the flighty woman into understanding her point. "Very well Daxia Tch. Stay in the city, alone, in your rich garb and see what becomes of you. For the third and final time you need not accompany us to accept our protection, we are offering the choice between joining us in the mine or staying in a safe house of ours such as this." She gestures to Kynaston's house, offering the man's property as if it were her own. "There is naught more in our power."