Athkathla II

[Xandax]

Somebody tapping him on the shoulder pulled Xandax from his thoughts – it was Faisal.
“Oh – so you’ve returned” Xandax said – “what’s with the happy grin” Xandax noticed Faisal looking pleased with himself.
”I’ve just made an excellent deal – from a very beautiful woman” he replied
“Hmm – don’t think I want to know what you’ve been up to” Xandax grinned back sheeting his weapon.

“Have you found your deity yet?” Xandax asked.
“Ehh – not yet, I still need to talk to one of the priests called Ribald”
“Have you given any thought to Magus’ offer, to help investigate for him” Xandax asked while he thought to himself “ Investigate – hmm, spy is a better word”
“I think it would be a good opportunity for you to raise a fair amount of gold to help your family with” Xandax continued.

“When are you going to speak to this priest of yours? – When you are finished with him, we can worry about finding Magus” Xandax said. “Or him finding us” he thought to himself.
“I’ll be waiting for you here – when you are ready to proceed with this Black Helm business. Or would you rather we did it the other way around – and return to the temple later?”
Xandax picked up his shield and started polishing it.

[Craig]

Thryn walks in to the CC, hidden, he snaeks up to Faisal(in the same manner as Faisel did to Xandax) "Lets stop playing games and start planning how to gey into these guilds"

[CM]

=============================================
Faisal startled "Ah its you, good to see you joined us".

"Well, i think i will take magus up on his offer, as i need the money bad and i spent most of it on the boots and this amulet."

Faisal thoughtful for a moment, then continues " I think i would like to meet Magus before i go to the cleric, so we all in or what?"

Faisal turned to Xandax and asked "Also did you hear me come up to you from behind?, These boots are called the boots of silence, i can traverse any surface without making a sound. Plus nice armor is that all you bought?"
=============================================

[Xandax]

“Actually I didn’t hear you at all – I just thought it was because I didn’t pay attention.” Xandax replied to Faisal’ question.

“I’m ready to see Magus, so we can find out where these Helm-people’ headquarters is located, so we can join them.”

[Aegis]

Ferchen waited patiently by the door to her temporary home by the cities main gates. She had expected Virdel to have come back in the morning, in order to receive his next job. Where was he? He had never dissappeared for this long with out telling her. She leaned against the frame of the door, running her fingers up and down the flechting of an arrow, a small habit she picked up on the field. The cold morning air was comfortable on her skin, so she didn't mind waiting outside, but she was deeply worried from Virdel's dissappearance. She raised her hand slightly, and motioned for one of her Ranger aids to come to her.

Without looking up, and she began to address the Ranger. "I want you to find Virdel. I don't like the fact he is missing." The other Ranger nodded, and began out the door. Ferchen stopped him momentarly. "Give him this," she removed her pendant, and tossed it to the man. "It will tell him your genuine. Don't cause any trouble" The Ranger then darted off into the early morning, and down twisting streets of Athkatla. Ferchen watched from the door, before placing the arrow back in her quiver, and turning inside.

*****

[Magus]

@Aegis: Ah ha! Now I know this Magus you’re talking about! Actually, his name was MAGIUS. And the staff is the Staff of Magius. He was a friend of Huma, the legendary knight that defeated Takhisis.
BTW, I’ll let you handle the ranger.

@Xandax + Fas: Why don’t you follow craig’s suggestion and start planning? Magus will be tied up with Virdel for a little bit more, and Void is likewise occupied with Kierran.

@Brink: Waiting for your response/reaction.

*****

Virdel didn't respond, he remained still, possibly pondering the offer. After a few minutes of thought, he had come to one conclusion. "Give me my weapons."

“Actual savior...” Magus murmurs with a wry smirk. It was certainly more than one person that slew Raistlin that day. Glancing up, he sees Virdel’s impatience. “Very well. I am satisfied,” Magus replies after a slight pause. He mutters a word of magic, and closes his hands together as if in prayer. When they pull apart, a scimitar appears as if from inside his hands. He hands this to Virdel, then repeats the action for the other scimitar, also handing it to the drow.

“So, do you want to hear me out? The reward will be the same as the others’, though your task will be different,” Magus states cooly, though his mind is elsewhere. So if it wasn’t Fallout or Rail, that left only three other people: Aerie, Keldorn, and Aran. Aerie hadn’t told a soul, preferring to put the ghastly event behind them. And Keldorn surely wouldn’t have spread the story of the Order’s disgrace. So that meant it must have been Aran. –It’s about time I paid him a visit- thinks Magus, a slight frown twisting his lips. Some secrets were never meant to be revealed, and this was one of them. He had a personal interest in the secret remaining a secret.

*****

[Brink]

@Magus-Sorry

*****

"What manner of beast are you?"Kierran questioned the creature in front of him," how is it that you know," And how did you know the purpose of my presence in this city?".Kierran was beginning to feel uneasy conversing with the creature, as if the creature could read his mind...

[Rail]

@all- Sorry for the delayed response. Did I mention I'm getting swamped IRL?

@Aegis- right on. I would certainly have wanted Tolgeiras dead, as I would any other mage. Present company excluded, of course, Magus.

@Magus- IIRC, in the last story, fairly early on, Void offered to help or instruct Rail, though on what remains unspoken. That was the offer referred to in "Void's Post". I just thought everyone could use an intro to Void. Cast, meet Void. Void, cast.
* * *

Rail watched from invisibility as the others left the room until Magus stood facing only the dark elf. The others had proven themselves not to be a danger, but the dark elf had yet to give away any position whatsoever, friend or foe. Scimitars in hand, the elf did seem to relax a bit, though he was still as tightly strung as a Cormyran crossbow. And far more deadly.

A great question still lingered for the assassin. Why had the dark elf killed Tolgieras? Certainly the Shadow Thieves were the main rivals of the Cowled Wizards, but this had no taste of the Shadowmaster's flair or panache. The fool wizard was simply cut down and looted like a common mugging. Why the dark elf? Who was he working for? A lone dark elf simply can't survive long in Athkatla without the aid or alliance of one of the city's power factions.

Tolgeiras! The thought of the corrupt fool disgusted the assassin. Rail had indeed been gone from the city far too long, and the cowled wizards had prospered because of his abscense. It pained him that he had a hand in their rise to power, since Rail had helped defeat Raistlin, and as a result, the wizards built upon the returning people's overwhelming fear of magic. Why can't they see they have replaces one monster with another? A dragon for a hydra.

The scimitar-swinging dark elf moved closer to the windowsill where Rail was reclining, and rather than move, Rail decided to reveal himself. Clearing his throat, he materialized behind the elf, who started ever-so-slightly at the sudden appearance.

Even though he knew the human to be lurking somewhere nearby, it unnerved him just how close the man was to him. The pinnacle of a drow warrior, he let very little show on his face, but he couldn't help but tense at the sound and grip his scimitars a bit tighter. He calmly turned toward the human and put his weapons between them cautiously, but not threateningly.

Rail still reclined on the windowsill, though he didn't quite appear relaxed. Frowning as always, he unfolded his arms only enough to motion the dark elf to sheath his blades. "You should choose your enemies when you have studied them, not when they have studied you."

Virdel tilted his head slightly at the human saying, but but nodded slowly to himself seeing the man was unarmed and apparently meant no threat. However, he preferred to keep his blades in his hands a bit longer, though he did lower them to his sides. "I choose my enemies when and where I wish, human. Pray you are not one."

Rail smiled and shrugged nonchalantly. "Shall I make that a prayer to Llolth, while I'm at it?"

The dark elf tensed far more than when startled, though Rail couldn't tell if it was from his words or his inaction. The warrior's thoughts seemed to spike with the assassin's shrug, though Rail was certainly no psionicist. Hanging around Void, however, you couldn't help but develop a few talents.

Virdel paused for several moments before turning from the assassin in impatience. "Are we finished here?", he asked Magus in cautious disgust.

Magus appeared as if her were interrupted from his thoughts, though he recovered quickly as always. "Indeed, elf. I have no quarrel with you. In fact, I have a task of you, if you will permit it. But first, I must know where you stand."

The dark elf looked confused, unsure what the mage was asking, or unwilling to answer openly.

"Come now, Virdel," Magus responded, causing the dark elf to take a step back defensively. "I see pictures of places and people, but they are unfamiliar to me. I need to know where you stand before I trust you with any amount of trust at all." He left the threat of mentally probing the dark elf unspoken, though it undoubtedly hung openly in the warrior's mind. Magus would never really take such action, but he doubted the elf knew this. It was important the dark elf came even with him on his won. "Trust begets trust."

Rail awaited the dark elf's response, though he kept his eye warily on the young newcomer in the doorway. The one Void had intercepted.

[CM]

OOC {Some news, i will be on vacation for a month period - 27th of july to the 1st of sept - and won't have much time for the comp. So i will try to post a message a week, be off for 4 weeks, so 4 posts. But if there is a need to move my character along you guys can do whatever you want other than changing him in to a cow or a woman! }

Faisal took one of the few chairs not totally destroyed and sat down next to Xandax.
He asked the other 2 "Do you have any idea where we can contact the head quarters or any recruiters? I would like some background info on the people before we join, no need to rush in blindly esp. if a wizard wants us to do something for him."

"Or we can..." continued faisal after a pause "or we can spilt up for another couple of hours, i need to see the cleric and it would be best if i do this alone. Also you two can scout out for any information on the Black Helm. So it is up to the 2 of you to decide."

[Craig]

{OOC But my dude is going into the shadow theives

[ 07-21-2001: Message edited by: craig ]

[CM]

OOC {My bad, ok so i will wait till Xandax posts, you can head off to the Shadow Thieves if you wish}

[Xandax]

Xandax looked at Faisal.

"We might have better luck to infiltrate this organisation individually. If we enter together it could restrict our attempt to access deeper into the organisation. But that is just a thought.”


{OOC: I have a to go on a vacation around 06.08 -> 18.08 where I most likely wont be able to post - but I'll cross that brigde when I get to it.

I'll post later again today }

[Magus]

@Rail: IRL???
Oh I remember what you’re talking about. It was in the Rift, when you first conversed with Void. Ahh, the memories...

@Xandax: Do you mean 6 of August to 18 of August?

@all: I won’t be able to post August 11-18 (also part of vacation). Since Fas, me, and Xandax at the least will be gone for that period, perhaps we can put the story on hold then. It’s up to the rest of you who will still be here. If no one else will be gone, we can probably manage for the few days without Xandax, and we’ll have to manage while Fas is gone.

*****

"What manner of beast are you?" Kierran questioned the creature in front of him. “How is it that you know? And how did you know the purpose of my presence in this city?" Kierran was beginning to feel uneasy conversing with the creature, as if the creature could read his mind...

-I can, human. And much more. I’m what you mortals call a hakeashar, though my link to Magus makes me unique- Void pauses to let his mortal mind comprehend. –Much can be seen by peering into the subconscious of you manlings. The way your minds work is so odd. It withholds information even as you search for it.- Kierran is baffled by the cryptic explanation.

Void loses his patience. -I see explaining this is a complete waste of my time. Regardless, know that you seek Magus, and that he will find you when he has need of you. But for now, your destiny converges with the drow’s. Go with him, and you will find your place in this city-

That said, the hakeashar vanishes, leaving Kierran feeling confused and vulnerable.

{OOC: Don’t you just love a good puzzle? Can you figure it out? Can Aegis figure it out? }

*****

Two glowing eyes materialize next to Rail.

-Your sluggish fleshling minds never cease to amaze me- The words drip with weary sarcasm.

*****

[Aegis]

@Magus: I get. Don't worry about all of you being gone. I can hold down the fort, and provide little bits of stroy progression. Besides, I'm gonna be busy in the coming months, I finally got a girl I'm after, so I'll be decidating a lot of time to trying to go out with her

[Xandax]

Xandax and Faisal agreed to split up for a while – this giving Faisal time to finish his business with the priests.
They agreed that they could leave messages for each other with the barkeep in the Copper Coronet if they needed to contact each other – the barkeep all the more happy at the prospect of earning a some easy gold, agreed to this.
Xandax picked up his shield and fasten it on his back together with his sword, and parted from Faisal.
”I wonder if the kid will be all right – he seems pretty new at this adventure business. But of course, he does know some fighting – he did good last time” Xandax thought to himself as he once again was on his own.

Xandax was walking down the street when he noticed a band of city guards. Walking up to them he noticed their insignia. They were Black Helms all right. Thinking this was a good a time as ever he approached what seemed to be the leader.
”Excuse me Sir” Xandax said to him.
“Yes – can I help you?” the man replied.
After a short dialog, where Xandax had explained he were seeking adventure in the city, and had heard the Black Helm were hiring mercenaries he were told to seek out their headquarter in the Government Quarters, right next to the prison, and talk to the officer on duty there.

Xandax made his way towards the quarters while carefully watching the people of Athkatla, trying to blend in, luckily there were a lot of fighting men in town, so the task was not hard.
Reaching the Black Helms building Xandax entered and asked to speak to the on duty officer.
“Yes” a large elderly man approached Xandax, he looked that of a veteran fighter if one could count on the scars he bore.
“Excuse me Sir” Xandax said “I hear that you might be hiring mercenaries in your organisation”
“That we do – but I don’t know if we have need of any right now. Also can you handle yourself in a fight?” the man asked Xandax sizing him up.
“Yes – I’m an okay fighter, I’ve been involved in campaigns in Comyr, the Dalelands, and some north of here, in Baldurs Gate. I can handle myself okay” Xandax seriously underplayed his skills, so not to seem overconfident and be thrown out.
“We’ll see about that, follow me” the man walked into another room. “Wait here” and then he left.
Moments later another man, dressed in normal clothes, and a sage entered the room.
“Hello – so you are thinking of joining the Helm?” he asked. “Well then, we have some questions to ask you before we can let you try out” he continued without waiting for Xandax’ answer.
“The sage will determine if you tell us the truth, sit down” The man sat down behind a desk and pointed to the chair in front of it. Xandax sat down – clearing his mind.
“Are you ready?” the man behind the desk asked.
“Yes, I’m ready” Xandax replied – the sage stood directly behind Xandax now.

“Where do you originate?” the man asked.
“Daggerdale” Xandax replied.
“Why did you leave your home?”
“My parents were killed, so I took up the road”
“Why do you want to join the Black Helm?”
“I seek adventure and gold”
“What do you know of Athkatla and it’s current situation?”
”I know there is some kind of turmoil between the wizards and the thieves”
“What do you think about that?”
“Not much – I care not much for either group of people”
“Okay – that will do” the man behind the desk said, as he got a signal from the sage behind Xandax.
Both of them left the room with Xandax still sitting there.

Xandax smiled pleased, everything he said had been the truth, or at least a part of the whole truth.
The normally dressed man re-entered the room.
“I think we can use you” he said, “Go and talk to Langly, whom you talked to first” then he left again.
Xandax stood up, feeling a bit dizzy due to the sage’ invasion of his mind to determine if Xandax spoke the truth. Xandax walked out to the man, Langly. He showed Xandax to the barracks, and to his bunk.
”This is all you get, for now” Langly said to Xandax. Since you are only a mercenary at this time, you must supply your own weapons – but that doesn’t seem to be a problem” Langly glanced at Xandax’ sword. “You can rest for a couple of hours – I know that sage have caused you some fatigue, lousy wizards” Langly said with contempt in his voice. He was apparently not found of wizards. “Rest now” he said and left Xandax.

Xandax looked around – the room was big, there were about 60 bunks altogether – placed in 4 rows of 15. There were some men resting in a few of the bunks, and some sitting on the bunk looking around like Xandax with their weapons at hand.
“Mercenaries, just like me, or almost like me” Xandax though
Xandax had gotten a bunk near a window looking outside to the square of the Government Quarters. Xandax looked out and ponder at what would happen next.
It started to rain. “Ominous” Xandax thought as he saw the dark clouds hanging low.


{OOC: Long post
@Magus, yeah - I'm on vacation in august - not that I care much for it }

[ 07-21-2001: Message edited by: Xandax ]