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| 22 Nov 2015 05:08 PM |
Cain, once a noble of some status in the Empire, due to inherit no small amount of wealth. Yet your lofty ideals have led you to the lowest of scum, banditry. Now your ambition leads you west, to the untamed wilderness that hugs the western mountain range.
You know little of the region, the road you have been following supposedly leads to Vaikmont, the last town before the mountains themselves which loom ominously over everything. On either side is dense woodland, a fact that is confirmed by any scouting attempts.
But ignorance goes both ways, your reputation is not great, the lands you once plagued far behind you. Aside from your ragtag appearance and weapons, there is nothing to mark you as a bandit. This could be a fresh start, doubly so if you do manage to make it over the mountains.
But I digress, this is your story Cain, and now it's time for it to begin.
(and yes, you do get to select your own weapon)
"Sure"~Romuluz 2014 |
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Z0rr0w
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| Joined: 06 Jul 2008 |
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| 22 Nov 2015 05:34 PM |
(Then a one-handed axe for me, please.)
I've had a fresh start once before, one that led me to where I am now. Another fresh start on top of that one couldn't hurt. Though, I'm sure I'll just go from being a bandit to being a wealthier bandit. Still, that's a welcome change. East to west, poverty to wealth, and banditry to banditry. Some things don't change.
If I were to enter Vaikmont, then I shouldn't be recognized as a bandit. And hopefully, those following me won't be recognized either. As long as we keep our weapons in their sheathes, we should be just fine going into town for awhile. It is the last town after all, and it may be good to stock up on supplies.
"We're stopping in Vaikmont for awhile once we get there," I announce as I continue along on the road, "just to grab supplies and a bit of drink. How much coin do we have on us?" |
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| 22 Nov 2015 05:59 PM |
Your second in command whoever he or she may be, it is not for a mere observer such as I to decide, replies after a moments consideration, a rare late summer breeze rustling through the trees.
"After these last couple of days, only sixty gold. We still have four days worth of supplies with us though."
Ah, the currency of the Empire, collectively referred to as 'gold' or 'gold pieces' it is anything but, a dull circle of brass embossed with the image of whichever ruling emperor was alive when the coin in question was made. A pair of coins could pay for a mans lodging and meals in a inn of some status. As a result of their value, it is commonplace to split the coins into as many as eight pieces for smaller purchases.
"Sure"~Romuluz 2014 |
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Z0rr0w
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| 22 Nov 2015 06:21 PM |
"Hopefully it'll be enough to buy a few more days' worth of supplies. I doubt there'll be people selling anything past those mountains, so we might as well spend what we can," I say to Eve.
Eve. I recall her now, the young tan-skinned girl with an ancestry stemming from Far East, though she speaks just like any citizen of Saerus. She has dark eyes and long black hair that reaches down to her waist. With a cute face and a cute body, she's very useful for luring lustful lads into an ambush. I do use the word "cute," as she looks fairly young, perhaps in her very early twenties or younger. I've never bothered to ask her age. Age doesn't matter in this group of mine. Whatever age she is though, she's attractive. Being as young as she is, it's no surprise that she'd joined this group of bandits after I'd joined, though before our previous leader passed on.
I had chosen her as my second-in-command due to the fact that she's one of the few people here with some form of education. She's also well-liked by the rest in the group, so there wasn't any controversy over my decision. Good for me, good for her, good for everyone.
With the comforting sound of trees rustling, I continue onwards down the road with my traveling companions. |
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| 22 Nov 2015 06:37 PM |
And so Cain, your journey continues, an uneventful trip to be sure, unless there is to be an objection in your story. The sun droops lower in the sky, disappearing 'neath the snow capped peaks and day turns first to dusk, then to night.
It is at this time that you come across Vaikmont, at least one must assume its Vaikmont, the only thing you and your band can see from the road is the palisade and gate illuminated by the torches of watchmen and the cold light of a full moon.
"Sure"~Romuluz 2014 |
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Z0rr0w
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| 22 Nov 2015 07:08 PM |
When night falls, we all do well to fall into a warm bed. Bandit or not, everybody needs rest. We should have enough money for everyone to get a room. The only question is if the Vaikmont inn will have enough rooms. After such a boring trip, I could use the rest.
I head towards Vaikmont, or what I assume is Vaikmont. If the gates are wide-open, I walk straight on through with my merry friends.
If the gates are sealed shut, then I speak to one of the watchmen. "May we come in?" I ask. |
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| 22 Nov 2015 07:26 PM |
This late at night it's no surprise that the gates are shut tightly. And so Cain, you walk up to the gate, immediately drawing the suspicion of the watchmen for good reason. A man dressed in leather armor with a weapon and rather raggedy looking with fifteen equally raggedy looking fellows behind him. The watchmen level their crossbows at you.
"How about you stay the fv*k outside until dawn?" He says, an edge of nervousness creeping into his tone.
Did you really think that'd work Cain?
"Sure"~Romuluz 2014 |
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Z0rr0w
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| 22 Nov 2015 07:35 PM |
"Because we may get eaten by rabid wolves, or attacked by rabid bandits," I explain, "I'm sure you've seen a bandit attack before. They're not pretty."
I must enter that town. Really, I'd rather not be out here when I can be in there. Nice and comfy in there, unharmed by the elements of the outdoors. I really, really must enter. Sneaking in is possible, of course. So is killing this nervous man and his friends. Maybe, a bit of intimidation, and a bit of persuasion is what this situation calls for.
"They attack with axes a lot," I say, moving my cloak a bit, so the man can just barely see the edge of my axe, "they're very violent with their axes. They just tear through the flesh and cut through bone. It's horrible, it really is. So please, sir, do let us in. You wouldn't want us, or anyone else, to be killed, would you?" |
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| 22 Nov 2015 07:36 PM |
cain ate himself
sight at dusk, love at dawn |
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| 22 Nov 2015 07:41 PM |
The man considers your words as his crossbow wavers in the torchlight. My, for such noble ideas you are quite vicious when it comes to getting your way. The tension is palpable in the air, but finally he reaches a decision.
"How about this, you and little troop here drop your weapons and let us take 'em. You'll get 'em back whenever you decide to leave Vaikmont. And if you try to start anything you'll have to deal with the whole watch."
"Sure"~Romuluz 2014 |
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Z0rr0w
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| 22 Nov 2015 07:49 PM |
A fair enough deal. I had no plans to try to pillage this place anyway. In fact, I don't think we have the numbers of strength to do something like that, even if I wanted to. But, only a fool would tell bandits to turn in their weapons before asking them if they're okay with that. Hopefully, they would be.
So, I turn to my band of bandits. "Are you all fine with turning in your weapons for the night, or would you rather we all sleep out in the cold?" I ask them. |
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| 22 Nov 2015 08:06 PM |
The men and women under your leadership are all rough people who generally wouldn't part with their weapons if they could help it. However with a chilling wind coming down from the mountains and after a days travel, they are mostly amicable to the suggestion of leaving their weapons if it meant sleep under a roof for once.
"Sure"~Romuluz 2014 |
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Z0rr0w
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| 22 Nov 2015 08:18 PM |
| I turn away from my men and women, facing the watchman once more. Pushing my cloak out of the way, I unsheathe my axe and drop it to the ground in front of him, then signalling for those following me to do the same. |
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| 22 Nov 2015 08:20 PM |
With a collective grumble, your loyal sheep drop their weapons with a resounding clatter. After a moment, the watchmen nods, opening the palisade gate a smidge to allow one of his fellows to collect all your weapons and bring them inside. Once this is done, the gate is opened all the way to allow entry.
"Welcome to Vaikmont." The watchman mutters.
"Sure"~Romuluz 2014 |
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Z0rr0w
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| 22 Nov 2015 08:30 PM |
"Thank you," I say, walking through the gates with the rest of my fellows. Truth be told, I felt a bit naked without that axe at my side. Well, it's worth it if it means I won't freeze to death outside.
Having entered the safety of Vaikmont, I start to look around, searching for a suitable inn to rest at. |
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| 22 Nov 2015 08:31 PM |
YOU SAID NAKED ahahaha
sight at dusk, love at dawn |
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| 22 Nov 2015 08:34 PM |
The town of Vaikmont was small, perhaps 600 souls, and as such the streets were deserted and it took no time at all to find the tavern, the one source of light and noise in the town once darkness was upon it. A tattered sign hanging over it identified it as the 'Drank' Executioner, clearly whoever owns it doesn't have much in the way of grammar.
"Sure"~Romuluz 2014 |
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Z0rr0w
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| 22 Nov 2015 08:51 PM |
I wonder how many rooms the place will have open. If it's less than 15, some people will have to share rooms. And, it almost certainly /will/ be less than 15, judging by the sound coming from within. Must be quite a few visitors here on their way to the West.
"We might have to share room," I say, "better decide who you want to buddy up with if that happens to be the case."
Having said that, I'd probably end up in a room with someone too. I can figure out who that person would be once I've actually discovered how many rooms are free. And so, I head into the inn. Once inside, I walk straight to the innkeeper.
"Excuse me," I say to get their attention, or to make sure I have it, "how many rooms do you have free tonight?" |
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| 22 Nov 2015 08:55 PM |
the end
if life is my dik, then it's pretty short |
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| 22 Nov 2015 09:12 PM |
After shoving your way through the packed tavern, no doubt full of adventurers and mercenaries all drawn by the rumors of the western passage, you manage to get the tavernkeepers attention with your inquiry. Barely sparing you a glance as he fills yet another tankard with ale he answers your question.
"All our rooms are full, you're welcome to stay out in the stables."
I hope you are ready to live up to my expectations Cain, trials await that no man here is prepared for.
"Sure"~Romuluz 2014 |
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Z0rr0w
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| 22 Nov 2015 09:35 PM |
The stables? The stables. Mmm. No. Never. Not for as long as I live, I'd rather die and be encased in ice. We are people, not horses. We're not going to stay in the stables. I reach for my axe to threaten the man, then remember I don't have an axe. Could I bribe him to open up space for us? Possibly, but we need that money for supplies. Oh, what to do? Well, I do have Eve. I look at the innkeeper for a few more moments, then walk off towards Eve. Gently pulling her head towards me, I whisper into her ear.
"Go pretend to be helpless and very cold and hurt for the innkeeper so we don't have to sleep like animals. And be extra cute when you're doing it." |
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| 22 Nov 2015 09:51 PM |
Eve nods, taking a moment to compose herself for her act before limping over to the counter clutching her side. Over the din of the tavern it's impossible to make out their conversation. However you can hear the table over from you, four large men who judging by the swords at their sides and their mannerisms are mercenaries or adventurers of some sort.
"The pass? It's about three miles northwest of Vaikmont. Aye Josef and George tried to get past it just yesterday, haven't heard back from them since."
"I heard there's a boar as tall as a mans head guarding the pass, probably some peasant bulls*1t. I'm betting those bandits have just holed up there."
Any eavesdropping you may have been doing is interrupted by Eves return, a scowl on her face. "The b@sterd wouldn't budge on the rooms but he said I could use the great room after hours. Apparently he gets sob stories like this all the time." |
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Z0rr0w
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| 22 Nov 2015 10:57 PM |
Swords at their sides? No fair, why don't I get to keep my weapon? Well, I guess four people with weapons is a lot easier to deal with than sixteen. Still, I wasn't comfortable being around people with weapons when I didn't have a weapon myself. Best not to bother them, then.
I look towards Eve as she comes back. The great room? Well, it's better than the stables. I don't mind that. Though... was he only talking about Eve? "Did he say only you get to use the room, or all of us do?" |
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| 23 Nov 2015 11:17 AM |
It's probable Cain, that if you hadn't shown up in the middle of the night looking rather scruffy you wouldn't have scared the watchmen into their actions. But the past is behind us now isn't it? On to your future actions.
"He said only me, but I'm sure after dark I can unlock the door and let a few of you in if we're quiet about it." Eve replies.
"Sure"~Romuluz 2014 |
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Z0rr0w
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| 23 Nov 2015 01:45 PM |
Only her. How unfair. And there's only room for a few of us to sneak in? How much would a few be? Three or four maybe? Wouldn't want too many in there, they might get caught and then everybody's thrown out. In any case, that still leaves the majority of us out in the cold. I'll be a part of that majority then, I'll have to find a place for us all to stay. Certainly not in those stables, though.
"There's going to be room for three other people in the great room. Who wants to sleep there, and who wants to come with me to find some other place to sleep?" |
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