Pathwalker - RP

[Dragonium]

OOC: Just to point out Warxe, there are 30 people selected, not 7. The other 23 are just NPCs, as it were. Just so you know.

BIC:

"I do not think that this will work", Alziel sighed.

Leyland shook his head. He was standing under the awning of a merchant's stall near to the port, with his hood up closely so that nobody could see his face. In his outstretched hand was a handful of peculiar arrows.

"I made these just this morning", he grumbled. "See, the tips are dipped in Calafas Oil, something which Sprites use for their lanterns on occasion, or so I hear. When you set it on fire, it burns slowly with a white glow and makes a hissing noise. Trust me, it will work".

Leyland had a point. The soldiers on the large ship which had just come into port would still be troubled by the childhood stories about monsters from the West. The boat journey would take overnight, and for any unsuspecting soldier to see peculiar hissing lights whizzing about in the dead of night would result in pure terror.

"People will know about Calafas Oil. They will know it is only someone playing tricks"

"Trust me", Leyland hissed, "Nobody knows about this. I have asked merchants from all over the world, and I have only managed to get this from Sprites. All I get from other merchants are blank looks. Are there any Sprites aboard?"

"Only Liara", Alziel said in thought, "And she will not tell anyone"

Alziel sighed, took the arrows and put them in his quiver. Leyland moved away.

"You should go", he said through his hood. "Good luck, Alziel".

Alziel nodded and walked away to the ship. As he boarded, he ran through the details of his plan in his head.

[Moosetroop11]

Liara was wandering around the main deck as the contestants arrived. A morning breeze blew and people bustled to and fro, loading supplies and busying themselves with small tasks that should only have taken half as many workers to do. This was a trait common in the general human populace, she had noticed.

Liara was interested in the rest of the people that she had not socialised with at the dinner; and spotting the brooding figure of Monty, she made her way over to him.
"This is kinda different to how it was sold, isn't it" She started, leaping into the conversation as she always did when speaking to a stranger. Anything to avoid uncomfortable introductions.

[Emerates]

So, it's murder on the high seas, is it?  Saine thought slowly, carefully.  The man had caught his attention, and Saine had listened to him.  It was indeed a hindrance to have 200 soldiers breathing down their necks.

The man who had made the plan came up the gangplank.  Saine wandered over slowly to intercept.  He was still carrying the facade of being a nobleman, and strode with an arrogant stiffness in his stance.  He had had no heavy luggage on him, and did not much care where his quarters were.  This ship seemed a bit too small for the thirty of them and everything they brought with them.

"Good morning, traveller.  Alziel, isn't it?"  Saine had finally made his way to the man. He offered his hand to shake.  "If you have a moment, I would like to discuss.... strategy."  Saine raised his eyebrows just enough for Alziel to notice and draw out what he was really talking about.  "I think I may be a great asset to your party."

[plightofthepureblood]

With a light but solemn chuckle....

"That it is, fair sprite...Im afraid I let my mouth move faster than the situation allowed for back there..."

Despite Liaras efforts, an akward silence still ensued...
Monty spit a toothpick into the water below the staboard hull, to try and break the odd calm.

"Liara, isn't it? The sprite that has so many of my fellow cotestants smitten...

We have not spoke despite our sharing of company..."
Liara let out a relieved smirk...

"Yes. Liara.
And you, are Montclair. Or Monty."

"Well met. Montclair I am. Id offer you more of an introduction, dear, but Im afraid after that bombshell from the that goon at the palace has left me a touch Unnerved. My mid is unsettled, and I know not what to say. To be at a loss for words is rare for myself."

Monty then pulled a fresh toothpick from his pocket, and placed it clenched in between his teeth as he returned his gaze to the waters below.

"And what twist of fate has brought you to share a path with one as myself, Liara?"

[WarxePB]

OOC: To Drag - Yeah, I know, but since the seven PCs are the most important, I just addressed them like that.

BIC:

Broadsword wandered around the docks, yelling at soldiers and intimidating shopkeepers into giving them free rations - typical noble fare. He still didn't understand why the King had sent him on this effort - he was regarded as the kingdom's finest Knight, and would much rather prefer staying by his liege's side than going on some meaningless voyage. It was obvious that this would end badly - but Broadsword could care less. He was in this for the prestige, the wealth, and, of course, the artifacts said to exist within the West - amulets and bracelets said to give the wearers supernatural abilities

His musings were broken by "Excuse me, Sir Broadsword!", said by a soldier who had came running up to him.

"What? What is it?" Broadsword snapped.
"Pardon my intrusion, but there's a problem. Some of the soldiers scheduled have... not shown up."
"Cowardly bastards. How many?"
"Only about 10, sir. The Chancellor has recruited extras to replace those, and assures you that the deserters will be found and punished."
"Excellent." Though angered at the news, Broadsword always enjoyed torture. "And what of Lords Thenwasth and Harley?"
"They are waiting in the luxury liner, which is fully prepared for departure, sir."
"Very good. You are dismissed."

The soldier ran off. Broadsword was mostly pleased with the news - ignoring a few minor hiccups relating to his "officers", everything was proceeding as planned. He kept walking, thinking more of the power that he could gain in the West.

[Dragonium]

OOC: Okay, I guess I didn't understand your post properly.

Also, Emerates, if there are any problems with me controlling Saine for this post, tell me and I'll edit.

BIC:

Alziel took Saine's hand and shook it.

"Well", he began, unnerved slightly by Saine's eagerness to help, "I am having some difficulty coming up with a plan, but I have a few things in my bag that should at least make the soldiers' night a board their ship an interesting, if not terrifying one". He smiled, and somehow Saine understood.

There was something peculiar about Saine, Alziel mused. It was obvious that he was using a false name, but Alziel's ears had served him well, and he had extracted sufficient information to have a decent conversation.

"We need all the people we can get", he said, "But you and I will certainly not be enough to prevent all those soldiers reaching the shore... And we cannot fight them".

Saine nodded and seemed to be thinking hard about something.

"And if there is nothing we can do, I will at least not be denied the glory of sticking an arrow in Broadsword's arrogant neck".

Alziel looked over to the port, where Broadsword was strutting around barking orders at the assembled sailors.

"They are using a different ship", Saine pointed out. "And I doubt Broadsword would wish to have the displeasure of sharing a ship with we thieves and murderers". The two of them shared their ill-fated joke for a few moments, before the discussion was serious again.

"So Broadsword and his soldiers are on the large ship while we are on this one", Alziel reiterated. "Interesting".

Both of them knew what their point was, but it was Saine who said it.

"Remove Broadsword and stop the soldiers. Two birds with one stone".

[plightofthepureblood]

Before Liara could answer the question, the two were interrupted by the gravelly yell of the arrogant Nobelman, Sir Broadsword, Harassing a merchant into giving up some wares for the voyage.

" I have always avoid dealings with that man...even when offered Jobs throught the agency with lucrative payoff... He is simply an undesirable character. He takes pleasure in the pain of others...for the sake of the pain. He is not driven by profit. A man like that has grown up a spoiled
child. He knows not the value of the money he takes..."

[Kinslayer]

Anyan arrived to the decks. It was a beautiful morning, it had rained at night, and rainbows could be seen far away.

But Anyan seemed troubled... not only was he recognized by his old master, but he seemed to be given some kind of position by him. He didn't want it, Broadsword had put him into trouble amongst that crew, full of criminals and murderees.

But the thing that troubled Anyan even more was the fact that he would travel by sea, being very seasick, thing that Ragnar used to laugh at.

"Where could that old man be...?" thought Anyan as he got closer to the little ship. "It will crack under slight rain... They gave us the worse garbage-ship in the bloody Kingdom" he thought again.

Anyan headed towards the ship, and saw Alziel and Saine talking. He heard most of the conversation and fell free to go and talk to them.

" 'Remove Broadsword'? I bet you are thinking about suicide, my friend" said Anyan, with his always quiet and almost whispering voice: "I swear I've seen that man take down archers before they could shoot an arrow to anywhere, and marksmen have fallen faster, than the speed that the bolts take when they leave the crossbow..."

Alziel and Saine watched Anyan surprised. Such respect towards other warrior was odd in this careless young man.

"If you wish to take down Broadsword, you will need a lot of support, his skills are almost unmatchable, but if we cooperate, anything can be possible. I don't think he has a high steem for me, only for being an old student of his, a lot of lies had been coming and going about my family around the Kingdom, and being as stubborn and faithful in the King as he is, he must have believed all or most of them..." said Anyan again, in a very low voice, so that the guards wouldn't hear.

"I'm waiting for an old friend of mine... perhaps you know him, he's Ragnar. A very skilled old man really, and very useful. I think you (looking at Alziel) and him have very similar skills, and will become very useful... I'm going to take my things inside this ship, we will talk later" he said as he left. Anyan was only carrying a bag, with some supplies and rations he ahd gotten from the feast.

"Old man... hurry up!" thought Anyan as he got inside the ship.

[Dragonium]

Alziel frowned. "I mean no disrespect", he said coldly to Anyan, "But I have been using my bow since I was four years old, taught by my father, one of the best archers in the world, practicing for four hours per day, every day".

Anyan watched, slightly unimpressed. Clearly he did not mean to insult Alziel's skills, but he was also sure that his brother was as good. As any good sibling would have been.

"I have been living in the forests north of here for a long time now, and I can track and hunt. I daresay not even Broadsword, if he is as skilled as you say he is, could avoid one of my arrows".

He decided he was appearing too complacent.

"What I mean to say is, I wil certainly need help, but I am more than capable of doing the job myself".

"We'll see later", Saine replied, rolling his eyes.

[WarxePB]

"Please, sir! I mean you no disrespect, but I cannot give my wares to you for free!" the merchant pleaded.
Broadsword grabbed the man's collar and lifted him by it. "Listen, street scum, your survival depends on this mission. If we don't kill those creatures in the West, we're all doomed."
"But sir... I don't know what creatures you're talking about..."
Of course. The cover story, though known as a fake among the aristocracy, was still believed by the lower classes.
"Hmmph. Just forget what I said, and give me some bread. I'll even give you some money for it." Broadsword took a satchel hanging from his waist, and threw a few gold coins at the merchant. He motioned to a few soldiers standing nearby, who came and took most of the bread in the shop. The merchant grabbed a wooden spear and pointed it at Broadsword.

"I've been robbed far too many times by you nobles. It's time for payback."
Broadsword laughed at the man, and drew the sword on his back - a 5-foot blade, shimmering gold in the light, and a wooden hilt encrusted with jewels, connected by a red metallic piece with the crest of the Kingdom of Inas carved into it. With a single vertical slash, the man was cleaved in two, and with another, the spear was reduced to splinters - all of this in a single second. Broadsword sheathed his weapon, took the last of the bread, and kept walking.

[Moosetroop11]

"I don't know much about Sir Broadsword" admitted Liara. "I'm following my feet here. But I can already tell he won't be the best company..."

Liara and Monty then stood transfixed as Broadsword's debate began. When he delivered his fatal blow, the sprite gasped and instinctively began to run towards the scene. Monty, as quick as lightning, caught Liara's arm and held her back.
"You see now, don't you." Monty said quietly. "We'll all get our revenge soon enough, but this is not the time nor the place."
Liara nodded and held her silence. This was a very different world that she had entered.

[Dragonium]

Alziel watched Broadsword and the merchant. As Liara gasped and was held back by Monty, he stepped forward to stand at Liara's side.

"You watch", he uttered, "He'll keep on like this. I'll have him dead before we make ground".

For the first time since Alziel and Liara had met, a touch of worry crossed her face.

"You saw what he just did", she said quietly. "He'll only do the same to you". She stared into his eyes until he was forced to turn away, and looked over to where Saine was standing near the rear of the ship.

"There are people on this ship who will help. Broadsword is liable to get us all in trouble, just for his own fun and glory. Saine will help, I'll bet, and Monty probably will too".

Liara frowned at him. As a sprite she would be against thoughtless killing, even that of someone as loathsome as Broadsword. Still, it had to be done.

"If he lives, we all die. And if he dies, we all live. Besides, you've already seen him kill an innocent man, and he will have done it many times in the past. An eye for an eye, don't you think?"

She was silent.

"I'm telling you, someone has to do it. Anyone on this ship could want to do it, and everyone bar you probably does. And if it comes to that, I'd very much like the honour of doing it myself".

[plightofthepureblood]

"I have no objection to your logic, Alziel..."

Monty solemnly added, tranfixed by the situation, he noticed his firm grasp on Liaras arm was tighter than it was meant to nbe, and released

"But it would be a foolish thing to kill him, without trying to get his documents. The Maps...His entourage will surely hide those documents, if he dies before we can get them.....

....I tell you this" monty hushed into a low whisper

"I have a map...Like his, but differnt....Fragmented. And I think there are others....

            I will help every step of the way, but I say, we must get his information. As i said before, its our most powerfull weapon here"

[Moosetroop11]

Liara was visibly unsettled by the sudden turn of events.
"I won't help you harm him" she assured. "He's no western unknown creature, he's a human from our world."
Alziel nodded slowly. "I understand if you won't help. But in that case I would ask you to stay out of trouble. We can manage on our own."
"No, I want to help" Liara hurriedly corrected him. "I can't help you kill him but I could get those documents for you." She spread her wings. "I'm the only one here that can fly. It looks like you're going to need some aid getting from ship to ship."

[plightofthepureblood]

Given a few seconds to ponder this monty was impressed by liaras plans...
"aye"
Concurred Monty.

"Liara is a fair sprite to set eyes on too. A man as pig headed as Broadsword would surely have a weakness for the fairer sex....
.....and fairer race...

Her Charm could help this run ever so smoothly. We would have to strike before He realized what Liara had done...act quickly....or risk Liaras safety"