Pathwalker - RP

[Dragonium]

Alziel sighed and adjusted the light leather sheath across his chest. He had heard the dull knock upon the wall; sensing that it might have been an accident on Liara's part, but doubted that this was the case.

He covered himself with the complementary robe and walked across the room to pick up his bow and a single arrow, nocking it to the string and lifting the bow in one fluid motion. Still as fast as ever. He would need that speed if he was selected.

The draw would be in a few hours. He had ample time to prepare.

A maid came in with a clean tunic and placed it at the foot of the bed. As soon as she had gone he slipped it on. It was comfortable - a welcome bit of luxury - but something inside it was not as tender...

As he ruffled it a piece of parchment fell out. Alziel recognised the scrawl as Leyland's.

If you get selected go west. Most sensible people will go east. Don't tell anyone about this note. Good luck. L.

Alziel smiled. Leyland was helping him. But now something preyed on his mind. What did Leyland mean, "most sensible people"? And why would he suggest Alziel went in the other direction?

Eventually he put the note away, put the knife in its sheath, sat on the bed and put the bow and quiver down beside him. He had a few hours to go, and until then, he could wait.

Silently his thoughts drifted back to Liara in the next room.

[plightofthepureblood]

Monty awoke stiff, with the sun peering in through the window just enough to reflect into his Cornea...The bed was soft, but unfamiliar.

Monty oft prefered to sleep on gravel, as opposed to a soft bed that was not his own. This was one of the luxuries Monty had grown accustomed to.....His own Bed, or at the least, his own Bedroll....

"If the placididty of me sleep is my only trouble this day, it will truly be a good one." MOnty thought to himself....

He lay in Bed for a moment before arising, reflecting on the conversation he had heard the evening before....

"So one of the High ups has decided to add some 'controlls' to this experiment...."

Monty arose, still wearing his cotton underclothing, and proceeded to re-apply his various pouches, bucklingthem one after another....then donning his padded leather tunic, and today he would show his arms and equipment, rather than coverit with travel cloaks, and scarves...His cloak was fastened about his neck, in the fasion of a cape, and scarf was tied and wrapped around his forearm, under which, he kept his documents, which he intened to share with Alziel pending his acceptance to the expidition...

"I cant believe I thought of showing him last night...mustve been the drinks....I dont know if hes even been chosen as of yet....allthough Im sure he will be"

Montys finely honed ears could pick up dull murmurs, indicating that others were begining to shamble their way out of bed....But by this time, monty had his provisions prepared.

He thought for a moment, about the look on the face of the Nobel whose door he had marred with chewing tobacco and a condescending note.....A smirk came across Montys now stubbly Chin, as he fastened the last clamp on his Gaitors....

Taking one last look around the room, Monty decided it would be wise to gather in the main Chambers before the Rest of the Crowd could block his way to the front ranks of the crowd.

"Big day today..."

As Monty Passed Bowens room, He gave a loud kick to the base of the door, with a friendly shout...."Bowen....Wakey wakey......Today is the Big day......COme, friend, get some breakfast, time is golden this day!"

Monty proceeded away down the hall, leering at the door of the room which the last evenings events transpired as he passed.

[Red XIII]

Ragnar woke up, after a bad dream. He dreamed about a dark, horrible prison, but he didnīt remember why he was there.
"Damn!!!" Ragnar said to himself "The last time I had a dream like this, I was undercover in an enemyīs castle. The next day, I was caught and thrown in prison, because someone had seen me doing something suspicius". After sayig that, Ragnar became very quiet. "Maybe Iīm just thinking things, seeing enemies were there is only shadows.However, I better follow my gut here. itīs time to contact the Daggers....."
The Shadow Daggers was a thiefīs Guild, founded by Ragnar and some of his friends after Ragnarīs retirement. The Guild was very powerful, being the main secret organization, with contacts even on the Kingīs Spy force. And Ragar was one of the Masteīrs of that Guild.
It was still dark, and Ragnar had time. He went silently out of the castle and into the town, to a tavern. There he met an old friend of him, "Black Dog". He looked like a filthy old man, in his ragged lothes. He was i that tavern every night, drinking, although nobody knew were he got the money for it. However, Ragnar knew not to judge a book by its cover. Though Dog was a filthy drunk, he was the Chief of the Guild in the Kingdomīs Capital, and he was a very skilled man.
"Dog!!!! you old scoundrel!!!" Ragnar said.
Black dog turned and saw him, and his look changed.
"Master!!!" Black Dog said. "What brings you here?".
"The Shadow Daggers, of course. I have to give a look to mi guild every now and then, you know!!!" Ragnar answered in a very low voice.
"Well, everything is going alright. Griffin just found a new bussines, we are spying noblemen, looking for secrets, and later we blackmail them for silence" Black Dog was a little drunk, and was raising his voice.
"SHHH!! You are too loud, damn it!!" Ragnar said. "I know you guys are good with bussines, and that is why I gave you the authority in that field after I founded the Guild. But now I have special orders for you".
Black Dog came closer to Ragnar. "Of course, Master. Of course. What do you need?"
"Mainly two things: First, have this mold. I want a copy of this key made right now. It opens a secret file of this Kingdom, its the number 534. We have a men working there, right?" Ragnar waited for an answer.
"Yes, I have someone doing bussines there. He can get the files for you this very night. It will be easy"
"Ok, then do it. the second thing, I believe someone is overlooking my operation, and I donīt like it. I want you to find what you can, and give me the info. I need it for tomorrowīs afternoon, at least"
Black Dog looked at his boss, worried "Tomorrow... Canīt I have a little more time?"
Ragnar answered quickly "No. I need it for tomorrow. Remember the Mark!!!" He said while pointing to a hidden place in black Dogīs chest "Remember that nobody, including me, can ever try to betray the Guild without suffering horrible consecuences" [Sorry if I mispelled here] Black Dog became pale, and looked at his Masterīs expression. "Donīt worry, Master" Black Dog said, in such a low voice that Ragnar almost didnīt hear. "Your orders will be acomplished as you wish. You will have my report tomorrow, as soon as I can"
Ragnar looked at him with piety, and seeing that Dog was notgoing to betray him, he said: "Donīt worry. you are a good man, and a valuable element of the Guild. When come back of my journey, weīll have a few drinks together. Until that day, goodbye!!!"
Ragnar quickly left the Tavern, as the day seemed to close in. He was in the castle within the blink of an eye, without nobody seeing him. He had only two hours of sleep, but he looked like he had sleep for days. "Well, Iīm not going to sleep" Ragnar said as he secretly entered his room. "Iīd better take my stuff and go down to the Main chambers".
So he did. He entered the main chambers, seeing that he was the second contestant there. The other man.... he looked kind of noble. Ragnar remembered his name from the feast.... it was Monty.
"Well, Iīm not the only one who gets up with the sun, huh?!" Ragnar said. "Good morning!!!"
As Monty turned back to talk to him, Ragnar saw that he looked like a man who knows more than he should. "Yes." Ragnar thought "I need to have an honest conversation with him right now. He could be very helpful"

[Kinslayer]

Anyan woke up as the sun touched his face with it's light. He thought that his past day had been perfect, so he got out of the room with a good mood, as he walked towards the Main Chamber of the Castle.

Anyan saw how some guards, looking surprised, were taking Klerr's body out of his room. A man, who seemed to be a doctor, was talking to an important-looking guard (probably a leutenant) and was telling him: "This man has died from a heart-attack, justa natural death. No poison or drowning simptoms were found..."

Anyan though for himself: "They're not investigating, it seems... I wonder if when the King gets it..." but he stopped thinking about that and kept walking.

"The Main Chaber..." whispered Anyan to himself. He was in it. He saw Ragnar talking to Monty. "Heh... you already started to look for allies..." he thought. Anyan decided not to start the day by chatting, he just stood against the wall and waited for the rest of the contestants to arrive.

[plightofthepureblood]

"With as much on the line, as there is in a competition like this, one would be a fool to not awaken early....despite the draws being rigged, rest assured, friend, the early Bird gets the worm, as it were."

Monty lookk with intense scrutiny into the eyes of Rangar trying to make a guess as to his motives...
'a friend, for now...but he bears the presence of a guilded theif...'
Theives guilds were always a source of Bane for Monty...For any Freelance Bounty HUnter really....or guilded Bounty HUnter....(Which was rare to find. Bounty hunters in these parts usually stayed freelance as opposed to joining a Union, and oft operated through employment and contracting halls

"So, friend, Tell me your name again....I did not catch it.....And tell me a story...of your vocation" Monty's eyes were unrelenting in their gaze, despite monty observing Anyan entering the room...

 

[Dragonium]

OOC: Drace, post. You're getting behind the storyline.

BIC:

Alziel waited at the back of the room.

The Main Chamber was slowly filling. More than half of the competitors were now here, and only a few remained. Alziel had observed that Liara had not yet arrived, and the same was true for Bowen and a number of other members.

The guard swept in from outside the room. Morning was in full swing, and he looked to the sky outside before speaking.

"We have encountered a problem with transportation. The draw will be earlier than usual. It will commence in roughly ten minutes. Please wait until then". Then the guard was gone again.

Alziel cursed. Ten minutes. That would not give the contestants who were not here much time to prepare. The guard was gone now, but his voice could still be heard echoing up the dormitory corridor, repeating the message. Nobody could fail to hear that.

All of the contestants would be on time, but they were still cutting it fine. That was not the quality for a winner.

Glances were cast around the room, suspicion for the other potential winners, and Alziel made sure Leyland's note was securely in his pocket.

[Moosetroop11]

Liara burst into the room, beaming widely at the congregation in the hall. "I'm not late am I?"
"No" replied a guard curtly. "Not all of the contestants have arrived yet."
The sprite made her way towards Alziel. He had begun to wonder at her tendancy to seek him out and keep his company wherever he was, but this was not nesicarilly a sign of weakness. Some people just need a constant to rely on.
"Hey" She said breathless. Clearly she had sprinted to the hall. "It's amazing, I got ready so early and yet I'm always still late."

At that moment the doors swung open and Shell entered, looking very much as though he had spent the night in his jacket without any thought to changing or washing. In contrast to Liara, he walked with an air of a man in no hurry, strolling across the hall with his hands in his pockets. "Bowen's late" He remarked to no-one in particular. Then he sat down with his back to a marble pillar and closed his eyes.

[Red XIII]

"Ragnar Lodbroke is my name. And about my profession... I started out as a soldier, and I moved on from there. Now my specialty is information. Getting info... Thatīs what I do."
Ragnar closed in and in a very low voice tone said "You know a thing or two about the strange things that happened last night. I believe that we have similar objectives, and we can probably win big time if we stick together"
Monty looked at Ragnar, and when he was about to answer, about three or four of the contestants entered the room.
"We should talk later, when there are no strange ears hearing our talk" Ragnar said. "until that moment comes, you can count on me, is you need any service".
Ragnar walked away from Monty, and closed to Anyan
"My dear friend, there is a good chance that we are discovered before time. Try to keep a low profile"

[Kinslayer]

Anyan stared at Ragnar and said: "I'm keeping it low, I've done enough ruckus I think..."
Ragnar stared at Anyan a bit nervous. He couldn't believe how "this brat is so careless", as he used to say to him.
Anyan was watching the room, as it filled with the contestants. There was Monty, at the right time. Alziel was there too, with the beautiful Liara next to him. There was Shell. Only Bowen wasn't there, from the ones he had gotten any knowledge of.

"What will be next...?" thought Anyan. He had heard the guard. Ten minutes. He wondered what was the next move...

[Emerates]

Saine strode into the main chamber slowly, his black cloak swirling about his ankles.  He had snuck into the room reserved for the man he had killed during the night, going through several back doors and through the kitchens to avoid the other contestants.  He kept his face placid, but stood with an eased arrogance, showing his confidence but at the same time appearing unconcerned with the outcome.

People watched him enter for a moment, but turned back to their own business after a moment.  To them, Saine was just another hopeful contestant, like all of them.  Saine stroked his chin stubble, and slowly began to wander through the maze created by the small clusters of people, chatting quietly.  Some were making alliances, others feigning friendship, seeking information on their opponents instead.

As Saine continued through the crowds, he noticed something unusual.  Of all the hardened warriors and criminals, there was but one woman.  She was talking to another man quietly, and he responded quietly, trying not to let others overhear their conversation.  Saine drifted slowly towards them.

Saine slowly closed the distance between them.  Casually, he strode up to them.  The man was a well-sized man, with lean muscles and a strong build, but Saine still stood a good three inches above him.

"Good morning, my friends.  Exciting day, isn't it?"

[Dragonium]

"Most of these people will have no hope of managing to live if they are selected", Alziel remarked. Liara nodded, scanning the room as well.

They had nearly all arrived; after a quick count, Alziel had listed 96 people, and every so often one other person would enter the room. Bowen was late, but he would be here.

"I wonder what animals and plants are there?", Liara mused. Alziel nodded and thought.

"I expect there will be a few things we have not seen before. I can hunt, I expect I am the one of the only men in here who can hunt fluently". He looked around the room at the other contestants. Most seemed to be hunters or warriors. "Can you hunt at all?"

Alziel already knew the answer. He had seen Liara at the feast, taking the usual Sprite food and avoiding the meat with great displeasure.

He did not wait for a reply. Liara sighed and shook her head.

Something did not seem right here, that Liara, if she was selected and Alziel was not, would have to fend for herself out there. She was strong, Alziel did not doubt that, but there were some men in here - Alziel noticed that the tall man, Saine, kept moving his eyes back to rest on Liara - yes, some men in here would only take advantage.

He had heard Saine introduce himself earlier to another man in the room, and had overheard. Something about him did not seem right, not correct...

"I'll tell you what", Alziel said to Liara, and his and Saine's eyes met across the room, "If we both get selected, I can look after you. But when we get there, we go west from where the ship lands. Agreed?"

Liara frowned. "Why west?".

Alziel stopped and thought of a reply quickly. "I was thinking that maybe it would be a good direction to go in. Since we don't know the best direction to go, we should just select one at random and hope for the best".

Liara seemed skeptical for a moment, then smiled and nodded.

"Do we have a bargain?"

Liara stood and seemed to be weighing up her options. Alziel stood back and waited for a reply.

[Moosetroop11]

Liara leaned back on her heels and stared forward. Then she spoke. "This isn't just for me" she said. "I think this'll be harder than any of us think. You can hunt, but who beside me could, say, heal an injury?"
She looked up at Alziel. She knew that he was concerned for her, which both frustrated and pleased her at the same time.
"It's a deal" she said, "but for one condition. When we return victorious, you get the reward. All of it."

[Red XIII]

Ragnar was in the right place at the right time. Most of the contestants didnīt know him, so he was able to walk from group to roup, overhearing details of pretty much everyone's conversations.
"Well, this is a good set of idiots" He thought, as he overheard a small group of warriors discussing the amount of booze they could drink "Anyone of that group that gets selected will end up drunk on the boat, and will probably get into a fight with the crew, or worst. The best that culd happen to any of them is falling of the ship, before we get to the Western Lands."
As he was thinking tht, he passed by that Alziel fellow, who was talking to a beatiful sprite.
Ragnar couldnīt help to look at her. She resembled a certain someone Ragnar knew some years ago. Ragnar smiled, as he heard that short dialogue between Alziel and the fairie (Whose name was Liara, he learned from the talk)
"See, this is different" Ragnar thought "If ANYONE of the people who stand in this room today get back n one piece, it will prbaby be them. Maybe I should follow them, who knows, I might need them."
Alziel looked at him, and Ragnar noticed that he had been discovered. "Well, at least he doesnīt look mad" Ragnar thought.
Alziel kept looking at him, so Ragnar decided to leave.
"No one should never interrupt a young couple" Ragnar said to himself. "Iīd better go talk to Anyan. That kid is a pain, but he is my best ally"

[plightofthepureblood]

Monty was eager to get a move on.


At this point, he wanted, mopre than anything else for the draw to be underway.

With or without absent members.

[Moosetroop11]

Monty was probably right, And Shell would probably agree. In fact, Bowen could have been the man Saine killed. You never know.